Thus the Lord has preserved water
on three fourths of the globe and has made it salty to preserve it.
Salty water does not decompose, and that is the arrangement of
providence. The Lord has engaged the powerful sun to evaporate the water
of planets like earth and distill it into clear water
in the clouds and then stock it on the peaks of mountains, as we stock
water in overhead tanks for later distribution. part of the stock of
water is refrigerated into ice, so that it will not flood the earth for
no good purpose. The ice melts gradually throughout the year, flows down
through the great rivers, and glides down to the sea again for
preservation.
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
Think Before You Eat
Every day, several times a day, every
living being, in whichever part of the world he may be, enjoys a
universal ritual - eating.
Most people decide what they eat based
mainly on taste, cost, habit, nutrition and convenience. But for those
who are a little more thoughtful, here are some other points worth
considering.
A Few Facts …
NutritionLet us compare the nutrition values of some common vegetarian foods and some common flesh foods:
Vegetarian foods (100 gm)
|
Name of food stuff
|
Medical calories
|
|
Cashewnut
|
596
|
|
Coconut
|
444
|
|
Groundnut
|
549
|
|
Cheese
|
348
|
|
Ghee
|
900
|
Flesh foods (100 gm)
|
Name of food stuff
|
Medical calories
|
|
Egg
|
173
|
|
Fish
|
91
|
|
Mutton
|
194
|
|
Pork
|
114
|
|
Beef
|
114
|
Anatomy
Let us compare some of the physiological features of flesh eaters, plant eaters and human beings:
|
Features of flesh eaters
|
Features of plant eaters
|
Features of human beings
|
|
Intestinal tract only 3 times body length, so rapidly decaying meat can pass out of body quickly
|
Intestinal tract 10-12 times body length, fruits do not decay as rapidly, so can pass more slowly through body
|
Intestinal tract 12 times body length
|
|
Small salivary glands in the mouth (not needed to predigest grains and fruits )
|
Well developed salivary glands, needed to predigest grains and fruits
|
Well developed salivary glands needed to predigest grains and fruits
|
|
Acid saliva; no enzyme ptyalin to predigest grains
|
Alkaline saliva; much ptyalin to predigest grains
|
Alkaline saliva;
Much ptyalin to predigest grains.
|
|
No flat back molar teeth to grind good
|
Flat back molar teeth to grind food
|
Flat back molar teeth to grind food
|
|
Features of flesh eaters
|
Features of Plant eaters
|
Features of human beings
|
Clearly the human body is not made for a non-vegetarian diet.
Health
Due to their unnatural diet meat-eating
human beings are far more susceptible to diseases and disorders as
compared to their vegetarian counterparts. Comprehensive investigations
by groups such as the National Academy of Sciences have linked meat
eating to cancer, and the Journal of American Medicine reports: "90-97%
of heart disease could be prevented by a vegetarian diet."
Environment
Meat eating also has hazardous effects
on the environment, such as forest destruction, agricultural
inefficiency, soil erosion and desertification, air pollution, water
depletion and water pollution.
World Hunger
Consider the following data. One
thousand acres of Soyabeans yield 1124 pound of usable protein. One
thousand acres of rice yield 938 pound of usable protein. One thousand
acres of corn yield 1009 pound of usable protein. One thousand acres of
wheat yield 1043 pound of usable protein. Now consider: this one
thousand acres of Soyabeans, corn, rice or wheat, when fed to a steer,
will yield only about 125 pounds of usable protein.
These and other findings point to a
disturbing conclusion: meat eating is directly related to world hunger.
Here are some more statistics establishing this:
- If all the Soyabeans and grains fed yearly to U. S. livestock were set aside for human consumption, it would feed 1.3 billion people.
- It takes 16 pounds of grains and Soyabeans to produce 1 pound of feedlot beef. Therefore about 20 vegetarians can be fed on the land that it takes to feed 1 meat eater.
- Feeding the average meat eater requires about 4,200 gallons of water per day, versus 1,200 gallons per day for lacto-vegetarian diet.
- While it takes only 25 gallons of water to produce a pound of wheat, it takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce a pound of meat.
- Harvard nutritionist Jean Mayer has estimated that reducing meat production by just 10 percent would release enough grain to feed 60 million people.
A Few Quotes …
"Truly man is the king of beasts, for his brutality exceeds them. We live by the death of others. We are burial places! I have since an early age abjured the use of meat."
- Leonardo Da Vinci
"When a man wants to murder a tiger, he calls it sport; when a tiger
wants to murder him, he calls him ferocity."
- George Bernard Shaw
"It is my view that the vegetarian manner of living, by its purely
physical effect on the human temperament, would most beneficially
influence the lot of mankind."
- Albert Einstein
"I do feel that spiritual progress does demand at some stage that we
should cease to kill our fellow creatures for the satisfaction of our
bodily wants. "
- M. K. Gandhi
"The flesh eating is simply immoral, as it involves the performance
of an act which is contrary to moral feeling- killing. By killing man
suppresses in himself, unnecessarily, the highest spiritual capacity-
that of sympathy and pity towards living creatures like himself and by
violating this his own feelings become cruel."
- Leo Tolstoy
"Flesh eating is unprovoked murder."
- Benjamin Franklin
"As long as man massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed,
he who sows the seeds of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love."
- Pythagoras
"A dead cow or sheep lying in a pasture is recognized as carrion. The
same sort of a carcass dressed and hung up in a butcher's stall passes
as food."
- J. H. Kellogg.
The Vedic Perspective
The Bhagavad Gita states that foods such
as milk products, grains, fruits, and vegetables increase the duration
of life and give strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction.
Conversely, foods such as, meat, fish and fowl are putrid, decomposed
and unclean. They cause numerous hazards to physical health.
The Srimad Bhagavatam, the summum bonum
of all Vedic literature, states that meat-eating is one of the four
pillars of sinful life. Apart from bringing severe sinful reactions,
meat-eating also dulls the human intellect thus rendering it incapable
of understanding the higher dimensions of life. Therefore real spiritual
life, nay real human life, cannot begin unless a human being stops
killing his younger brothers, innocent animals, just for the
satisfaction of his tongue.
Can robots be conscious?
Scientific advancement in fields like artificial intelligence promises
to produce conscious robots. When consciousness is thus produced by
robots, will the soul hypothesis – the theory that the soul is the
source of consciousness – be disproved?
The advances in artificial intelligence are proving, not disproving, the soul hypothesis. Let’s see how.
Most of us get our ideas of scientific advancement in artificial intelligence from science fiction movies depicting conscious robots. But such fictional robots can never be actualized, no matter how much science advances, because, as eminent authority John Searle of the University of California at Berkeley explains: “You can expand the power all you want, hooking up as many computers as you think you need, and they still won’t be conscious, because all they’ll ever do is shuffle symbols.” Despite all their technological wizardry, the most sophisticated computer at the level of digital circuitry does nothing more that change digital signals from zero to one or one to zero. Such processing, even if done at phenomenal, incredible speeds, can never produce consciousness because it does not even refer to consciousness.
One of the most dramatic successes of the artificial intelligence program was the victory of the chess-playing computer Deep Blue over the then world chess champion, Gary Kasparov. After the match, Kasparov was disgusted and C.J. Tan, the scientist who led the team that made Deep Blue, was delighted. But what were the feelings of Deep Blue which had actually “won” the match? No feelings. Deep Blue had simply done number processing as per the sophisticated program that had been written with the guidance of several chess masters. Thus, it had “played” chess and “won” the match without experiencing any of the essential emotions of playing and winning: the excitement of confrontation, the thrill of victory. In other words, its artificial intelligence didn’t make it conscious. Consciousness was not present in the digital circuitry of Deep Blue, but in its maker Tan. Taking this analysis further, where was the consciousness of Tan present? In his brain? But his brain, like Deep Blue, is merely an information processing structure; all it does is change the electrochemical signals in its neuronal cells. Just as the changing of digital signals cannot produce consciousness, nor can the changing of electrochemical signals. The logical inference is that his consciousness comes from the non-mechanistic, irreducible source of consciousness, the soul.
This indeed was the conclusion of Noble Laureate neurophysiologist John C Eccles, who after four decades of brain research dismissed the promise that consciousness can be mechanistically explained or produced as “extravagant and unfulfillable” and asserted that each person has a "divinely created psyche,” or, in other words, a soul.
The advances in artificial intelligence are proving, not disproving, the soul hypothesis. Let’s see how.
Most of us get our ideas of scientific advancement in artificial intelligence from science fiction movies depicting conscious robots. But such fictional robots can never be actualized, no matter how much science advances, because, as eminent authority John Searle of the University of California at Berkeley explains: “You can expand the power all you want, hooking up as many computers as you think you need, and they still won’t be conscious, because all they’ll ever do is shuffle symbols.” Despite all their technological wizardry, the most sophisticated computer at the level of digital circuitry does nothing more that change digital signals from zero to one or one to zero. Such processing, even if done at phenomenal, incredible speeds, can never produce consciousness because it does not even refer to consciousness.
One of the most dramatic successes of the artificial intelligence program was the victory of the chess-playing computer Deep Blue over the then world chess champion, Gary Kasparov. After the match, Kasparov was disgusted and C.J. Tan, the scientist who led the team that made Deep Blue, was delighted. But what were the feelings of Deep Blue which had actually “won” the match? No feelings. Deep Blue had simply done number processing as per the sophisticated program that had been written with the guidance of several chess masters. Thus, it had “played” chess and “won” the match without experiencing any of the essential emotions of playing and winning: the excitement of confrontation, the thrill of victory. In other words, its artificial intelligence didn’t make it conscious. Consciousness was not present in the digital circuitry of Deep Blue, but in its maker Tan. Taking this analysis further, where was the consciousness of Tan present? In his brain? But his brain, like Deep Blue, is merely an information processing structure; all it does is change the electrochemical signals in its neuronal cells. Just as the changing of digital signals cannot produce consciousness, nor can the changing of electrochemical signals. The logical inference is that his consciousness comes from the non-mechanistic, irreducible source of consciousness, the soul.
This indeed was the conclusion of Noble Laureate neurophysiologist John C Eccles, who after four decades of brain research dismissed the promise that consciousness can be mechanistically explained or produced as “extravagant and unfulfillable” and asserted that each person has a "divinely created psyche,” or, in other words, a soul.
Isn’t science better than religion because science is objective whereas religion is subjective?
How do we respond to rational atheist’s claim that science is never
wrong because it is objective, and religion is purely subjective?
First of all, no honest scientist will say that science is never wrong. What they will say is that science has a self-correcting mechanism by which it detects wrongs. Whenever it goes wrong, then tries to correct it.
So, in fact, the whole history of what is called scientific progress is a correction of past wrongs. So, Newton proposed the classical mechanics, the classical Physics, and then Einstein primarily was the singular developer of relativity, but then, quantum theory was developed by various scientists, like Plank and others. So, they developed the other theories, which explained the universal phenomenon much better. And they found that Newton’s theory was a limited application over a limited range, in terms of objects that were not moving in the speed of light, and objects that were not microscopic. So, in many ways Newton was wrong when he said that the laws of motion were universal.
So now, first of all, it is not that science is never wrong; it has a self-correcting mechanism. Now, is it objective? Again, quantum physics is definitely not objective. It is dependent on the observer’s presence and perception, for the reality to be observed in quantum physics. Because consciousness plays an indispensible role in quantum physics, it is definitely not objective in the sense of it being an object out there, which can be observed, measured and tested. So, in that way, science is not necessarily always objective. But it is true that many of the observations and findings and experiments and processes of science are repeatable, and when different scientists repeat them, they give the same result. In that sense, they can be called objective.
But, the converse that religion is purely subjective is wrong; it’s based on a particular conception of religion. Many religions, especially Abrahamic religions, they have simply the three point formulae of pray, pay, and obey. Come to the place of worship, pray over there, give some donation, and obey whatever commandments or rules are told over there. Now, this is very dogmatic and ritualistic, but the eastern or the Dharmic religious traditions focus on inner transformation and there is a pathway given for that inner transformation, and there is a process of sadhana bhakti that brings about the transformation.
In many lecture, tapping the Power of Faith, It has explained the nine stages. It starts from Shraddha, and then moves towards Prema. So there is an inner transformation that is repeatable, verifiable, in that sense it is objective. Lust, anger, greed, envy, pride, illusion will decrease for anyone who practices the process of Krishna Consciousness, be that person in India, America, or Africa or even Antartica, or anywhere else. So, in that sense of it being repeatable, it is also objective. It’s subjective in the sense that it is an experience within one’s consciousness. So in that sense, it is experiential, and not experimental, as in modern science, but at the same time, because the experience also has outer expressions, which can be objectively verified. If a person is an addict, and the person becomes free from addiction, now the sense of freedom from addiction is internal, but the fact that the person has become free is also an externally observable reality. So the changes that happen in a devotee’s life, the spiritual happiness that a devotee experiences will be an internal experience. “Bhakti pareshanubhava, viraktiranyatraca”. So there is inner experience of God, para isha anubhava, that may be subjective, but there are external effects of that, which are objective, Viraktiranyatraca; one is no longer infatuated with by material things. So, in this sense, religion is at least not the process of spirituality that is taught in the Vedic tradition, and especially within that, Bhakti yoga, it is not purely subjective. There is objectivity in it, and that objectivity is the clarity of the pathway of the inner transformation, the cleardelineation for the process of transformation, and the repeatability and verifiability of that process.
But, it suffices to say that science being objective and religion being subjective is a division that is based on a very limited conception of science and a limited conception of religion. The deeper we go into science, in terms of quantum physics, we realize that science is not all that objective as it often made out, and when we explore alternatives to the conventionally known forms of religion in the West, the Abhramic religions, then we see that religion which offers pathways and processes for inner transformation and verifiable characteristics for inner transformation, then that religion no longer remains subjective.
First of all, no honest scientist will say that science is never wrong. What they will say is that science has a self-correcting mechanism by which it detects wrongs. Whenever it goes wrong, then tries to correct it.
So, in fact, the whole history of what is called scientific progress is a correction of past wrongs. So, Newton proposed the classical mechanics, the classical Physics, and then Einstein primarily was the singular developer of relativity, but then, quantum theory was developed by various scientists, like Plank and others. So, they developed the other theories, which explained the universal phenomenon much better. And they found that Newton’s theory was a limited application over a limited range, in terms of objects that were not moving in the speed of light, and objects that were not microscopic. So, in many ways Newton was wrong when he said that the laws of motion were universal.
So now, first of all, it is not that science is never wrong; it has a self-correcting mechanism. Now, is it objective? Again, quantum physics is definitely not objective. It is dependent on the observer’s presence and perception, for the reality to be observed in quantum physics. Because consciousness plays an indispensible role in quantum physics, it is definitely not objective in the sense of it being an object out there, which can be observed, measured and tested. So, in that way, science is not necessarily always objective. But it is true that many of the observations and findings and experiments and processes of science are repeatable, and when different scientists repeat them, they give the same result. In that sense, they can be called objective.
But, the converse that religion is purely subjective is wrong; it’s based on a particular conception of religion. Many religions, especially Abrahamic religions, they have simply the three point formulae of pray, pay, and obey. Come to the place of worship, pray over there, give some donation, and obey whatever commandments or rules are told over there. Now, this is very dogmatic and ritualistic, but the eastern or the Dharmic religious traditions focus on inner transformation and there is a pathway given for that inner transformation, and there is a process of sadhana bhakti that brings about the transformation.
In many lecture, tapping the Power of Faith, It has explained the nine stages. It starts from Shraddha, and then moves towards Prema. So there is an inner transformation that is repeatable, verifiable, in that sense it is objective. Lust, anger, greed, envy, pride, illusion will decrease for anyone who practices the process of Krishna Consciousness, be that person in India, America, or Africa or even Antartica, or anywhere else. So, in that sense of it being repeatable, it is also objective. It’s subjective in the sense that it is an experience within one’s consciousness. So in that sense, it is experiential, and not experimental, as in modern science, but at the same time, because the experience also has outer expressions, which can be objectively verified. If a person is an addict, and the person becomes free from addiction, now the sense of freedom from addiction is internal, but the fact that the person has become free is also an externally observable reality. So the changes that happen in a devotee’s life, the spiritual happiness that a devotee experiences will be an internal experience. “Bhakti pareshanubhava, viraktiranyatraca”. So there is inner experience of God, para isha anubhava, that may be subjective, but there are external effects of that, which are objective, Viraktiranyatraca; one is no longer infatuated with by material things. So, in this sense, religion is at least not the process of spirituality that is taught in the Vedic tradition, and especially within that, Bhakti yoga, it is not purely subjective. There is objectivity in it, and that objectivity is the clarity of the pathway of the inner transformation, the cleardelineation for the process of transformation, and the repeatability and verifiability of that process.
But, it suffices to say that science being objective and religion being subjective is a division that is based on a very limited conception of science and a limited conception of religion. The deeper we go into science, in terms of quantum physics, we realize that science is not all that objective as it often made out, and when we explore alternatives to the conventionally known forms of religion in the West, the Abhramic religions, then we see that religion which offers pathways and processes for inner transformation and verifiable characteristics for inner transformation, then that religion no longer remains subjective.
Saturday, 25 January 2014
Sat-tila Ekadasi
Sri Daalbhya Rishi said to Palastya Muni, “When the spirit soul comes
in contact with the material energy, he immediately begins to perform
sinful activities, such as stealing, killing, and illicit sex. He may
even perform many other terrible deeds, such as killing a brahmin. Oh
purest of personalities, please tell me how these unfortunate souls may
escape the punishment of being sent to hellish regions of creation.
Kindly inform me how, by giving even a little in charity, one may be
easily released from the reactions of his sins.”
Pulastya Muni replied, “Oh fortunate one, you have asked me an important and confidential question, which not even Brahmaa, Vishnu, Shiva or Indra has ever asked. Please listen very carefully to my answer.
“With the arrival of the month of Magh (January – February), one should bathe, carefully control his senses by giving up lust, anger, pride, jealousy, faultfinding, and greed, and meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna. One should then gather up some cow dung before it touches the ground and, after mixing it with sesame seeds and cotton, form 108 balls. This should be done on the day when the constellation of Purva-ashadha nakshatra arrives. then one should follow the rules and regulations of Sri Ekaadasii, which I shall now explain to you.
“After bathing, the person who intends to observe Ekaadasii should worship the Supreme Lord. While praying to Lord Sri Krishna by chanting His holy name, he should promise to observe the Ekaadasii fast. He should remain awake overnight and perform a homa (fire sacrifice). Then the devotee should perform an Arati ceremony for the pleasure of the Lord – Who holds a conch, disk, club, and so on in His hands – offering Him sandalwood paste to his feet, incense, camphor, a bright ghee lamp, and delicious food preparations. Next the devotee should offer the 108 balls of cow dung, sesame seeds, and cotton wool into the sacred fire whilst chanting such holy names of the Lord as Purusha sukta, and other names. Throughout the whole day and night he should also observe the standard Ekaadasii vrata (fast, which in this case is a fast from all kinds of grains and beans). On this occasion one should offer the Lord pumpkin, coconut, and guava. If these items are unavailable, betel nut may be substituted.
“The devotee should pray to Lord Sri Janardana, the benefactor of all living beings, in this way; ‘Oh Lord Sri Krishna, You are the most merciful Personality of Godhead and the giver of liberation to all fallen souls. Oh Lord, we have fallen into the ocean of material existence. Please be kind to us. Oh lotus-eyed divinity, please accept our most humble, affectionate and respectful obeisances. Oh protector of the entire world, we offer You our humble respects again and again. Oh Supreme Spirit, Oh Supreme One, Oh source of all our forefathers, may You and Your eternal consort, Srimati Laxmi-devi, please accept these humble offerings.’
“The devotee should then try to please a qualified brahmin with a warm welcome, a pot full of water (purna kumbha), an umbrella, a pair of shoes, and clothes (cloth – dhoti, and anga vaastra), requesting him at the same time to bestow his blessings, by which one may develop unalloyed love for Lord Sri Krishna. According to one’s ability, one may also donate a black cow to such a brahmin, particularly to one who is very well versed in all the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures. One should also offer him a pot full of sesame seeds.
“Oh exalted Daalbhya Muni, black sesame seeds are especially suitable for formal worship and fire sacrifices while white or brown ones are meant to be eaten by a qualified brahmin. One who can arrange to give both kinds of sesame seeds (black and white or brown) especially on this Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii day will be promoted to at least the heavenly planets after leaving this present body, for as many thousands of years as the number of seeds that would be produced if the seeds he donated were sown in the ground and grew into mature, seed bearing plants.
“On this Ekaadasii a faithful person should (1) bathe in the water mixed with sesame seeds, (2) rub sesame seed paste on his body, (3) offer sesame seeds into the fire in sacrifice, (4) eat sesame seeds, (5) give sesame seeds away in charity, (6) accept charitable gifts of sesame seeds. These are the six (sat) ways in which sesame seeds (tilaa) are utilised for spiritual purification on this Ekaadasii. Therefore it is called Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii.
“The great Devarishi Naarad Muni once asked the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, ‘Oh mighty armed Lord, Oh You who are so affectionate to Your loving devotees, please accept my most humble obeisances. Oh Yaadava, kindly tell me the result one obtains by observing Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii.’
“Lord Sri Krishna replied, ‘Oh best of the twice born brahmins, I shall narrate to you an account of an incident I personally witnessed. Long ago on earth there lived an old female brahmini who worshipped Me every day with controlled senses. She very faithfully observed many a fast, especially on special days honouring Me (My various appearance days Janmaasthami, Rama-navami, Vaman Dwadasi, Nrisimha Chaturdasi, Varaha Dwadasi, Gaura Purnima, etc. – Calendar) and served Me with full devotion, devoid of any personal motive. Her rigorous fasting made her quite weak and thin. She gave charity to brahmanas and to young maidens (kanyas), and even planned to give away her house in charity. Oh best of the brahmanas although this spiritually minded woman gave charitable donations to worthy people, the odd feature of her austerity was that she never gave food to brahmanas or the devas (demigods).
“‘I began to reflect on this curious omission: “This fine woman has purified herself by fasting on all the auspicious occasions and by offering Me strict devotional worship. Therefore she certainly has become eligible to enter My personal abode, which is unattainable by ordinary persons.” So I came down to this planet to examine her, disguising Myself as a follower of Lord Shiva’s, complete with a garland of skulls draped around My neck and a begging pot (kumandalu) in My hand.
“‘As I approached her, she said toMe, “Oh respectful one, tell me truthfully why You have come before me.”
“‘I replied, “Oh beautiful one, I have come to get some sacred alms from you” – whereupon she angrily threw a dense lump of mud into My begging pot! Oh Naarada Muni I simply turned around and went back to My personal abode, astonished at this fine brahmani’s peculiar mixture of great magnanimity and stinginess.
“‘At last this austere lady reached the spiritual world in her self-same body, so great were her efforts at fasting and charity. And because she had indeed offered Me a lump of mud, I transformed that mud into a beautiful home. However, Oh Naradaji, this particular house was just like that mud completely devoid of any edible grains, as well as any furniture or ornamentation, and when she entered it she found only an empty structure. She therefore approached Me and said with great anger, “I have fasted repeatedly on so many auspicious occasions, making my body weak and thin. I have worshipped You and prayed to You in so many different ways for You are truly the master and protector of all the universes. Yet despite all this there is no food or wealth to be seen in my new home, Oh Janardana, please tell me. Why is this?”
“‘I replied, “Please return to your house. Sometime later the wives of the devas (demigods) will pay you a visit out of curiosity to see the new arrival, but do not open your door until they have described to you the glories and importance of Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii.”
“‘Hearing this, she returned to her house. Eventually the devas’ wives arrived there and in unison said, “Oh beautiful one, we have come to have your darshan. Oh auspicious one, please open the doorto your house and let us see you.
“‘The lady replied, “Oh most dear ones, if you want me to open this door, you will have to describe to me the merit one obtains by observing the sacred fast of Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii.” But to this request, not even one of the wives responded.
“‘Later, however, they returned to the house, and one of the wives nicely explained the sublime nature of this sacred Ekaadasii. And when the lady at last opened her door, they saw that she was neither a demigoddess, a Gandharvi, a she-demon, nor even a Naga-patni. She was simply an ordinary human lady.
“‘From then on the lady observed Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii, which awards ALL material enjoyment and liberation at the same time, as it has been described to her. And she finally received the beautiful furnishings and grains she had expected for her home. Moreover, her once ordinary material body was transformed into a beautiful spiritual form made of sac-cid-ananda (eternality, knowledge,and bliss), with a fine complexion. So, by the mercy and grace of Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii, both the lady and her new home in the spiritual world were at last radiantly splendid and lustrous with gold, silver, jewels, and diamonds.
“‘Oh Naradaji, a person should not ostentatiously observe Ekaadasii out of greed, with the hope of attaining wealth dishonestly. Selflessly, he should simply donate sesame seed, clothes, and food according to his capacity, for by doing so he will achieve good health and exalted spiritual consciousness, birth after birth. Ultimately, he will begiven release from the bonds of this world (liberation) and admittance into the Lord’s supreme abode will be his to enjoy. That is my opinion, Oh best of the demigods deva-rishis).’
“Oh Daalbhya Muni,” Pulastya Rishi concluded, “one who properly observes this wonderful Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii with great faith become free from all kinds of poverty – spiritual, mental, physical, social, and intellectual – as well as all kinds of ill luck and evil omens (sakuna). Indeed, following this Ekaadasii fast by donating, sacrificing, or eating sesame seeds frees one of all past sin, without a doubt. One need not wonder how this happens. The rare soul who properly performs these acts of charity in the right devotional mood, following the Vedic injunctions, will become utterly free of all sinful reactions and go back to Godhead, back home to the spiritual world.”
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Magh-krishna Ekaadasii, or Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii,
from the sacred Bhavishya-uttara Purana of Srila Krishna Dwaipayana Vyaasa.
Pulastya Muni replied, “Oh fortunate one, you have asked me an important and confidential question, which not even Brahmaa, Vishnu, Shiva or Indra has ever asked. Please listen very carefully to my answer.
“With the arrival of the month of Magh (January – February), one should bathe, carefully control his senses by giving up lust, anger, pride, jealousy, faultfinding, and greed, and meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna. One should then gather up some cow dung before it touches the ground and, after mixing it with sesame seeds and cotton, form 108 balls. This should be done on the day when the constellation of Purva-ashadha nakshatra arrives. then one should follow the rules and regulations of Sri Ekaadasii, which I shall now explain to you.
“After bathing, the person who intends to observe Ekaadasii should worship the Supreme Lord. While praying to Lord Sri Krishna by chanting His holy name, he should promise to observe the Ekaadasii fast. He should remain awake overnight and perform a homa (fire sacrifice). Then the devotee should perform an Arati ceremony for the pleasure of the Lord – Who holds a conch, disk, club, and so on in His hands – offering Him sandalwood paste to his feet, incense, camphor, a bright ghee lamp, and delicious food preparations. Next the devotee should offer the 108 balls of cow dung, sesame seeds, and cotton wool into the sacred fire whilst chanting such holy names of the Lord as Purusha sukta, and other names. Throughout the whole day and night he should also observe the standard Ekaadasii vrata (fast, which in this case is a fast from all kinds of grains and beans). On this occasion one should offer the Lord pumpkin, coconut, and guava. If these items are unavailable, betel nut may be substituted.
“The devotee should pray to Lord Sri Janardana, the benefactor of all living beings, in this way; ‘Oh Lord Sri Krishna, You are the most merciful Personality of Godhead and the giver of liberation to all fallen souls. Oh Lord, we have fallen into the ocean of material existence. Please be kind to us. Oh lotus-eyed divinity, please accept our most humble, affectionate and respectful obeisances. Oh protector of the entire world, we offer You our humble respects again and again. Oh Supreme Spirit, Oh Supreme One, Oh source of all our forefathers, may You and Your eternal consort, Srimati Laxmi-devi, please accept these humble offerings.’
“The devotee should then try to please a qualified brahmin with a warm welcome, a pot full of water (purna kumbha), an umbrella, a pair of shoes, and clothes (cloth – dhoti, and anga vaastra), requesting him at the same time to bestow his blessings, by which one may develop unalloyed love for Lord Sri Krishna. According to one’s ability, one may also donate a black cow to such a brahmin, particularly to one who is very well versed in all the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures. One should also offer him a pot full of sesame seeds.
“Oh exalted Daalbhya Muni, black sesame seeds are especially suitable for formal worship and fire sacrifices while white or brown ones are meant to be eaten by a qualified brahmin. One who can arrange to give both kinds of sesame seeds (black and white or brown) especially on this Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii day will be promoted to at least the heavenly planets after leaving this present body, for as many thousands of years as the number of seeds that would be produced if the seeds he donated were sown in the ground and grew into mature, seed bearing plants.
“On this Ekaadasii a faithful person should (1) bathe in the water mixed with sesame seeds, (2) rub sesame seed paste on his body, (3) offer sesame seeds into the fire in sacrifice, (4) eat sesame seeds, (5) give sesame seeds away in charity, (6) accept charitable gifts of sesame seeds. These are the six (sat) ways in which sesame seeds (tilaa) are utilised for spiritual purification on this Ekaadasii. Therefore it is called Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii.
“The great Devarishi Naarad Muni once asked the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, ‘Oh mighty armed Lord, Oh You who are so affectionate to Your loving devotees, please accept my most humble obeisances. Oh Yaadava, kindly tell me the result one obtains by observing Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii.’
“Lord Sri Krishna replied, ‘Oh best of the twice born brahmins, I shall narrate to you an account of an incident I personally witnessed. Long ago on earth there lived an old female brahmini who worshipped Me every day with controlled senses. She very faithfully observed many a fast, especially on special days honouring Me (My various appearance days Janmaasthami, Rama-navami, Vaman Dwadasi, Nrisimha Chaturdasi, Varaha Dwadasi, Gaura Purnima, etc. – Calendar) and served Me with full devotion, devoid of any personal motive. Her rigorous fasting made her quite weak and thin. She gave charity to brahmanas and to young maidens (kanyas), and even planned to give away her house in charity. Oh best of the brahmanas although this spiritually minded woman gave charitable donations to worthy people, the odd feature of her austerity was that she never gave food to brahmanas or the devas (demigods).
“‘I began to reflect on this curious omission: “This fine woman has purified herself by fasting on all the auspicious occasions and by offering Me strict devotional worship. Therefore she certainly has become eligible to enter My personal abode, which is unattainable by ordinary persons.” So I came down to this planet to examine her, disguising Myself as a follower of Lord Shiva’s, complete with a garland of skulls draped around My neck and a begging pot (kumandalu) in My hand.
“‘As I approached her, she said toMe, “Oh respectful one, tell me truthfully why You have come before me.”
“‘I replied, “Oh beautiful one, I have come to get some sacred alms from you” – whereupon she angrily threw a dense lump of mud into My begging pot! Oh Naarada Muni I simply turned around and went back to My personal abode, astonished at this fine brahmani’s peculiar mixture of great magnanimity and stinginess.
“‘At last this austere lady reached the spiritual world in her self-same body, so great were her efforts at fasting and charity. And because she had indeed offered Me a lump of mud, I transformed that mud into a beautiful home. However, Oh Naradaji, this particular house was just like that mud completely devoid of any edible grains, as well as any furniture or ornamentation, and when she entered it she found only an empty structure. She therefore approached Me and said with great anger, “I have fasted repeatedly on so many auspicious occasions, making my body weak and thin. I have worshipped You and prayed to You in so many different ways for You are truly the master and protector of all the universes. Yet despite all this there is no food or wealth to be seen in my new home, Oh Janardana, please tell me. Why is this?”
“‘I replied, “Please return to your house. Sometime later the wives of the devas (demigods) will pay you a visit out of curiosity to see the new arrival, but do not open your door until they have described to you the glories and importance of Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii.”
“‘Hearing this, she returned to her house. Eventually the devas’ wives arrived there and in unison said, “Oh beautiful one, we have come to have your darshan. Oh auspicious one, please open the doorto your house and let us see you.
“‘The lady replied, “Oh most dear ones, if you want me to open this door, you will have to describe to me the merit one obtains by observing the sacred fast of Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii.” But to this request, not even one of the wives responded.
“‘Later, however, they returned to the house, and one of the wives nicely explained the sublime nature of this sacred Ekaadasii. And when the lady at last opened her door, they saw that she was neither a demigoddess, a Gandharvi, a she-demon, nor even a Naga-patni. She was simply an ordinary human lady.
“‘From then on the lady observed Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii, which awards ALL material enjoyment and liberation at the same time, as it has been described to her. And she finally received the beautiful furnishings and grains she had expected for her home. Moreover, her once ordinary material body was transformed into a beautiful spiritual form made of sac-cid-ananda (eternality, knowledge,and bliss), with a fine complexion. So, by the mercy and grace of Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii, both the lady and her new home in the spiritual world were at last radiantly splendid and lustrous with gold, silver, jewels, and diamonds.
“‘Oh Naradaji, a person should not ostentatiously observe Ekaadasii out of greed, with the hope of attaining wealth dishonestly. Selflessly, he should simply donate sesame seed, clothes, and food according to his capacity, for by doing so he will achieve good health and exalted spiritual consciousness, birth after birth. Ultimately, he will begiven release from the bonds of this world (liberation) and admittance into the Lord’s supreme abode will be his to enjoy. That is my opinion, Oh best of the demigods deva-rishis).’
“Oh Daalbhya Muni,” Pulastya Rishi concluded, “one who properly observes this wonderful Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii with great faith become free from all kinds of poverty – spiritual, mental, physical, social, and intellectual – as well as all kinds of ill luck and evil omens (sakuna). Indeed, following this Ekaadasii fast by donating, sacrificing, or eating sesame seeds frees one of all past sin, without a doubt. One need not wonder how this happens. The rare soul who properly performs these acts of charity in the right devotional mood, following the Vedic injunctions, will become utterly free of all sinful reactions and go back to Godhead, back home to the spiritual world.”
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Magh-krishna Ekaadasii, or Sat-tilaa Ekaadasii,
from the sacred Bhavishya-uttara Purana of Srila Krishna Dwaipayana Vyaasa.
Friday, 24 January 2014
Supreme Godhead-Śrī Brahma-saḿhitā
Śrī Brahma-saḿhitā 5.1
Kṛṣṇa who is known as Govinda
is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He
is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause
of all causes.
The very intensely blended entity of eternal presence of felicitous cognition is the charming targeted holding or transcendental icon. It follows that the conception of the indistinguishable formless magnitude (Brahman) which is an indolent, lax, presentment of cognitive bliss, is merely a penumbra of intensely blended glow of the three concomitants, viz., the blissful, the substantive and the cognitive. This transcendental manifestive icon Kṛṣṇa in His original face is primordial background of magnitudinal infinite Brahman and of the all-pervasive oversoul. Kṛṣṇa as truly visioned in His variegated pastimes, such as owner of transcendental cows, chief of cowherds, consort of milk-maids, ruler of the terrestrial abode Gokula and object of worship by transcendental residents of Goloka beauties, is Govinda. He is the root cause of all causes who are the predominating and predominated agents of the universe. The glance of His projected fractional portion in the sacred originating water viz., the personal oversoul or Paramātmā, gives rise to a secondary potency — nature who creates this mundane universe. This oversoul's intermediate energy brings forth the individual souls analogously to the emanated rays of the sun.
This is treatise of Kṛṣṇa; so the preamble is enacted by chanting His name in the beginning.
anādir ādir govindaḥ
SYNONYMS
īśvaraḥ — the controller; paramaḥ — supreme; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; sat — comprising eternal existence; cit — absolute knowledge; ānanda — and absolute bliss; vigrahaḥ — whose form; anādiḥ — without beginning; ādiḥ — the origin; govindaḥ — Lord Govinda; sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam — the cause of all causes.
TRANSLATION
PURPORT
Kṛṣṇa is the exalted Supreme entity having His eternal name, eternal form, eternal attribution and eternal pastimes. The very name "Kṛṣṇa" implies His love-attracting designation, expressing by His eternal nomenclature the acme of entity. His eternal beautiful heavenly blue-tinged body glowing with the intensity of ever-existing knowledge has a flute in both His hands. As His inconceivable spiritual energy is all-extending, still He maintains His all-charming medium size by His qualifying spiritual instrumentals. His all-accommodating supreme subjectivity is nicely manifested in His eternal form. The concentrated all-time presence, uncovered knowledge and inebriating felicity have their beauty in Him. The mundane manifestive portion of His own Self is known as all-pervading Paramātmā, Īśvara (Superior Lord) or Viṣṇu (All-fostering). Hence it is evident that Kṛṣṇa is sole Supreme Godhead. His unrivaled or unique spiritual body of superexcellent charm is eternally unveiled with innumerable spiritual instrumentals (senses) and unreckonable attributes keeping their signifying location properly, adjusting at the same time by His inconceivable conciliative powers. This beautiful spiritual figure is identical with Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual entity of Kṛṣṇa is identical with His own figure.The very intensely blended entity of eternal presence of felicitous cognition is the charming targeted holding or transcendental icon. It follows that the conception of the indistinguishable formless magnitude (Brahman) which is an indolent, lax, presentment of cognitive bliss, is merely a penumbra of intensely blended glow of the three concomitants, viz., the blissful, the substantive and the cognitive. This transcendental manifestive icon Kṛṣṇa in His original face is primordial background of magnitudinal infinite Brahman and of the all-pervasive oversoul. Kṛṣṇa as truly visioned in His variegated pastimes, such as owner of transcendental cows, chief of cowherds, consort of milk-maids, ruler of the terrestrial abode Gokula and object of worship by transcendental residents of Goloka beauties, is Govinda. He is the root cause of all causes who are the predominating and predominated agents of the universe. The glance of His projected fractional portion in the sacred originating water viz., the personal oversoul or Paramātmā, gives rise to a secondary potency — nature who creates this mundane universe. This oversoul's intermediate energy brings forth the individual souls analogously to the emanated rays of the sun.
This is treatise of Kṛṣṇa; so the preamble is enacted by chanting His name in the beginning.
What is Ekadashi?
Many devotees are very inquisitive about the appearance of Sri Ekadashi and about her special characteristics. Therefore I am presenting this description from the fourteenth chapter of the Padma Purana, from the section entitled “Kriya-sagara-sara.”
Once
the great sage Jaimini Rishi said to his spiritual master Srila
Vyasadeva, “Oh Gurudeva ! Previously, by your mercy, you described to me
the history of the glories of the Ganga river, the benefits of
worshipping Vishnu, the giving of grains in charity, the giving of water
in charity, and the magnanimity of drinking the water that has washed
the feet of the brahmanas. O best of the sages, Sri Gurudeva, now, with
great enthusiasm, I desire to hear the benefits of fasting on Ekadashi
and the appearance of Ekadashi.kasmad Ekadashi jata tasyah ko va vidhir dvija
kada va kriyate kim va phalam kim va vadasva me
ka va pujyatama tatra deva ta sad-gunarnava
akurvatah syat ko dosa etan me vaktum arhasi
“Oh Gurudeva! When did Ekadashi take birth and from whom did she appear? What are the rules of fasting on the Ekadashi? Please describe the benefits of following this vow and when it should be followed. Who is the utmost worshippable presiding deity of Sri Ekadashi? What are the faults in not following Ekadashi properly? Please bestow your mercy upon me and tell about these subjects, as you are the only personality able to do so.”
Srila
Vyasadeva, upon hearing this enquiry of Jaimini Rishi, became situated
in transcendental bliss. “Oh! brahmana sage Jaimini! The results of
following Ekadashi can only be perfectly described by the Supreme Lord,
Narayana, because Sri Narayana is the only personality capable of
describing them in full. But I will give a very brief description in
answer to your question.”“At the beginning of the material creation, the Supreme Lord created the moving and nonmoving living entities within this world made of five gross material elements. Simultaneously, for the purpose of punishing the human beings, He created a personality whose form was the embodiment of sin (Papa-purusha). The different limbs of this personality were constructed of the various sinful activities. A horrible personality embodying all the sinful activities and vices was created. His bodily colour is black, and his eyes are yellow. He inflicts extreme misery upon sinful persons.”
“The
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vishnu, upon seeing this
personality of sin, began to think to Himself as follows: ‘I am the
creator of the miseries and happiness for the living entities. I am
their master because I have created this personality of sin, who gives
distress to all dishonest, deceitful, and sinful persons. Now I must
create someone who will control this personality.’ At this time Sri
Bhagavan created the personality known as Yamaraj and the different
hellish planetary systems. Those living entities who are very sinful
will be sent after death to Yamaraj, who will in turn, according to
their sins, send them tom a hellish region to suffer.“After these adjustments had been made, the Supreme Lord, who is the giver of distress and happiness to the living entities, went to the house of Yamaraj, with the help of Garuda, the king of birds. When Yamaraj saw that Lord Vishnu had arrived, he immediately washed His feet and made an offering unto Him. He then had Him sit upon a golden throne. The Supreme Lord, Vishnu, became seated on the throne, whereupon He heard very loud crying sounds coming from the southern direction. He became surprised by this and thus enquired from Yamaraj, ‘From where is this loud crying coming?’
“Yamaraj
in reply said, ‘Oh Deva! The different living entities of the earthly
planetary systems have fallen into the hellish regions. They are
suffering extremely for their misdeeds. The horrible crying is because
of suffering from the inflictions of their past bad karma (actions).’“After hearing this, the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, went to the hellish region to the south. When the inhabitants saw who had come they began to cry even louder. The heart of the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, became filled with compassion. Lord Vishnu thought to Himself, ‘I have created all this progeny, and it is because of Me that they are suffering.’“
Srila Vyasadeva continued: “Oh Jaimini, just listen to what the Supreme Lord did next. ‘After the merciful Supreme Lord thought over what He had previously considered, He suddenly manifested from His own form the deity of the lunar day Ekadashi. Afterwards the different sinful living entities began to follow the vow of Ekadashi and were then elevated quickly to the abode of Vaikuntha. Oh my child Jaimini, therefore the lunar day of Ekadashi is the selfsame form of the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, and the Supersoul within the heart of the living entities. Sri Ekadashi is the utmost pious activity and is situated as the head among all vows.
“Following the ascension of Sri Ekadashi, that personality who is the form of the sinful activity gradually saw the influence she had. He approached Lord Vishnu with doubts in his heart and began offering many prayers, whereupon Lord Vishnu became very pleased and said, ‘I have become very pleased by your nice offerings. What boon is it that you want?’
“The
Papa-purusha replied, ‘I am your created progeny, and it is through me
that you wanted distress given to the living entities who are very
sinful. But now, by the influence of Sri Ekadashi, I have become all but
destroyed. Oh Prabhu! After I die all of Your parts and parcels who
have accepted material bodies will become liberated and therefore return
to the abode of Vaikuntha. If this liberation of all living entities
takes place, then who will carry on Your activities? There will be no
one to enact the pastimes in the earthly planetary systems! Oh Keshava!
If You want these eternal pastimes to carry on, then You please save me
from the fear of Ekadashi. No type of pious activity can bind me. But
Ekadashi only, being Your own manifested form, can impede me. Out of
fear of Sri Ekadashi I have fled and taken shelter of men; animals;
insects; hills; trees; moving and nonmoving living entities; rivers;
oceans; forests; heavenly, earthly, and hellish planetary systems;
demigods; and the Gandarvas. I cannot find a place where I can be free
from fear of Sri Ekadashi. Oh my Master! I am a product of Your
creation, so therefore very mercifully direct me to a place where I can
reside fearlessly.’“Srila Vyasadeva then said to Jaimini, “After saying this, the embodiment of all sinful activities (Papa-purusha) fell down at the feet of the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, who is the destroyer of all miseries and began to cry. “After this, Lord Vishnu, observing the condition of the Papa-purusha with laughter, began to speak thus: ‘Oh Papa-purusha! Rise up! Don’t lament any longer. Just listen and I’ll tell you where you can stay on the auspicious lunar day of Ekadashi. On the day of Ekadashi, which is the benefactor of the three worlds, you can take shelter of foodstuff in the form of grains. There is no reason to worry about this any more, because My form as Sri Ekadashi Devi will no longer impede you.’ After giving direction to the Papa-purusha, the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, disappeared and the Papa-purusha returned to the performance of his own activities.
“Therefore those persons who are serious about the ultimate benefit for the soul will never eat grains on the Ekadashi tithi. According to the instructions of Lord Vishnu, every kind of sinful activity that can be found in the material world takes its residence in this place of foodstuff (grain). Whoever follows Ekadashi is freed from all sins and never enters into hellish regions. If one doesn’t follow Ekadashi because of illusion, he is still considered the utmost sinner. For every mouthful of grain that is eaten by a resident of the earthly region, one receives the effect of killing millions of brahmanas. It is definitely necessary that one give up eating grains on Ekadashi. I very strongly say again and again, ‘On Ekadashi, don’t eat grains, don’t eat grains, don’t eat grains!’ Whether one be a kshatriya, vaishya, shudra, or of any family, he should follow the lunar day of Ekadashi. From this the perfection of varna and ashram will be attained. Especially since even if one by trickery follows Ekadashi, all of his sin become destroyed and he very easily attains the supreme goal, the abode of Vaikuntha.”
Significance of Ekadashi
Srila Prabhupada explained that Ekadashi
means “the eleventh” and it refers to the eleventh day of both the
waxing and the waning moon. So Ekadashi falls twice a month.
The shastra explains that the
papa-purusha (sin personified) takes shelter in grains on Ekadashi, and
therefore we avoid grains at all cost on that day.
Benefits of observing Ekadashi
Although Ekadashi is not difficult to follow, the results, materially and spiritually, are most beneficial.
-
In
the Brahma-vaivarta Purana it is said that one who observes fasting on
Ekadashi day is freed from all kinds of reactions to sinful activities
and advances in pious life. -
The basic principle is not just to fast, but to increase one’s faith and love for Govinda, or Krishna. The real reason for observing fasting on Ekadashi is to minimize the demands of the body and to engage our time in the service of the Lord by chanting or performing similar service.
-
The best thing to do on fasting days is to remember the pastimes of Govinda and to hear His holy name constantly. (Chapter 7, Evidence Regarding Devotional Principles, Nectar of Devotion). It gives one a taste for renunciation, and thus helps one to give up sense gratification.
-
Fasting gives the system a rest: The physiological system may become overworked
due to a little overeating or indiscrimination in diet. Fasting gives the system a chance to catch up. -
Fasting helps us practice self-discipline in eating and concentrate more on pleasing God.Ekadashi literally means "the eleventh day." There are two Ekadashis in a month : on the eleventh day after the new moon, and on the eleventh day after the full moon.
Of all vratas (vows of austerity), Vishnu is most pleased with those who observe the Ekadashi vrata.
Therefore anyone who does not observe the vrata and eats grains on Ekadashi is said to eat sin, for he disobeys the Lord's order and thus displeases Him.
Thus, although Ekadashi fasting is good for health, it should be undertaken principally for the sake of pleasing Krishna. To observe Ekadashi vrata and Dvadashi vrata means to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Those interested in advancing in Krishna consciousness must observe Ekadashi regularly.(SB 9.4.29)
Prohibited food- What to eat and what not to eat?
There are different ways to observe Ekadashi.
You
may fast the entire day; you may eat only fruit, milk, milk products,
and root vegetables (such as potatoes, beets, white radishes, and
peanuts) that are very simply spiced, can also eat varai and sabudana. - But most commonly, devotees observe Ekadashi by abstaining from all grains and beans. In other words, they avoid rice, wheat, corn, string beans, peas, mustard, dals, sesame.
- Do not use any cooking ingredients that might be mixed with grains, such as ghee that has been used to fry puris, or spices touched by hands dusted with chapatti flour.
- Ekadasi fasting ends with parana, i.e., breaking the fast the next day (Dvadashi) by taking grain prasada.
Thursday, 23 January 2014
Gajendra's Prayers of Surrender
SB 8.3.7
didṛkṣavo yasya padaṁ sumaṅgalaṁ
vimukta-saṅgā munayaḥ susādhavaḥ
caranty aloka-vratam avraṇaṁ vane
bhūtātma-bhūtāḥ suhṛdaḥ sa me gatiḥ
vimukta-saṅgā munayaḥ susādhavaḥ
caranty aloka-vratam avraṇaṁ vane
bhūtātma-bhūtāḥ suhṛdaḥ sa me gatiḥ
Saturday, 11 January 2014
Thursday, 9 January 2014
Significance of Vaikuntha Ekadashi
Vaishnavas (devotees of Lord Vishnu)
observe Ekadashi Vrata and engage in remembering the Supreme Lord by
chanting His Holy Names and singing His glories. Ekadashi is the
eleventh day of the fortnight of waxing or waning moon and occurs twice a
month. But the Ekadashi that occurs in the month of Margasirsa
(December - January) during the fortnight of waxing moon is of special
significance, and is glorified as Vaikuntha Ekadashi. This is a major
festival of South India celebrated in all the temples of Lord Vishnu.
Significance of Vaikuntha Ekadashi
Nammalwar,
one of the great devotees in the Sri Sampradaya (the disciplic
succession descending from Lakshmi Devi) went back to Godhead on this
day. To commemorate this event, in all the Vishnu temples, the Vaikuntha
Dwara (the gate to Vaikuntha) a special entrance in the north side of
the temple is opened once in a year on this particular day. It is
believed that anyone who enters the Vaikuntha Dwara on this day is
guaranteed to attain the spiritual abode.
Sunday, 5 January 2014
WHY TO VISIT TEMPLES
There are thousands of temples all over India in different size, shape and locations but not all of them are considered to be built the Vedic way. Generally, a temple should be located at a place where earth's magnetic wave path passes through densely. It can be in the outskirts of a town/village or city, or in middle of the dwelling place, or on a hilltop. The essence of visiting a temple is discussed here.
Now, these temples are located strategically at a place where the positive energy is abundantly available from the magnetic and electric wave distributions of north/south pole thrust. The main idol is placed in the core center of the temple, known as "*Garbhagriha*" or *Moolasthanam*. In fact, the temple structure is built after the idol has been placed. This *Moolasthanam* is where earth’s magnetic waves are found to be maximum. We know that there are some copper plates, inscribed with Vedic scripts, buried beneath the Main Idol. What are they really? No, they are not God’s / priests’ flash cards when they forget the *shlokas*. The copper plate absorbs earth’s magnetic waves and radiates it to the surroundings. Thus a person regularly visiting a temple and walking clockwise around the Main Idol receives the beamed magnetic waves and his body absorbs it. This is a very slow process and a regular visit will let him absorb more of this positive energy. Scientifically, it is the positive energy that we all require to have a healthy life.
Further, the Sanctum is closed on three sides. This increases the effect of all energies. The lamp that is lit radiates heat energy and also provides light inside the sanctum to the priests or *poojaris* performing the pooja. The ringing of the bells and the chanting of prayers takes a worshipper into trance, thus not letting his mind waver. When done in groups, this helps people forget personal problems for a while and relieve their stress. The fragrance from the flowers, the burning of camphor give out the chemical energy further aiding in a different good aura. The effect of all these energies is supplemented by the positive energy from the idol, the copper plates and utensils in the *Moolasthan*am / *Garbagraham*. *Theertham*, the “holy” water used during the pooja to wash the idol is not
plain water cleaning the dust off an idol. It is a concoction of Cardamom,*Karpura* (Benzoin), zaffron / saffron, *Tulsi* (Holy Basil), Clove, etc...Washing the idol is to charge the water with the magnetic radiations thus increasing its medicinal values. Three spoons of this holy water is distributed to devotees. Again, this water is mainly a source of magneto-therapy. Besides, the clove essence protects one from tooth decay, the saffron & *Tulsi* leafs protects one from common cold and cough, cardamom and *Pachha Karpuram* (benzoin), act as mouth fresheners. It is proved that *Theertham* is a very good blood purifier, as it is highly energized. Hence it is given as *prasadam* to the devotees. This way, one can claim to remain healthy by regularly visiting the Temples. This is why our elders used to suggest us to offer prayers at the temple so that you will be cured of many ailments. They were not always superstitious. Yes, in a few cases they did go overboard when due to ignorance they hoped many serious diseases could be cured at temples by deities. When people go to a temple for the *Deepaaraadhana*, and when the doors open up, the positive energy gushes out onto the persons who are there. The water that is sprinkled onto the assemblages passes on the energy to all. This also explains why men are not allowed to wear shirts at a few temples and women are requested to wear more ornaments during temple visits. It is through these jewels (metal) that positive energy is absorbed by the women. Also, it is a practice to leave newly purchased jewels at an idol’s feet and then wear them with the idol’s blessings. This act is now justified after reading this article. This act of “seeking divine blessings” before using any new article, like books or pens or automobiles may have stemmed from this through mere observation.
Energy lost in a day’s work is regained through a temple visit and one is refreshed slightly. The positive energy that is spread out in the entire temple and especially around where the main idol is placed, are simply absorbed by one's body and mind. Did you know, every Vaishnava(Vishnu devotees), “must” visit a Vishnu temple twice every day in their location. Our practices are NOT some hard and fast rules framed by 1 man and his followers or God’s words in somebody’s dreams. All the rituals, all the practices are, in reality, well researched, studied and scientifically backed thesis which form the ways of nature to lead a good healthy life.
The scientific and research part of the practices are well camouflaged as “elder’s instructions” or “granny’s teaching’s” which should be obeyed as a mark of respect so as to once again, avoid stress to the mediocre brains
Monday, 30 December 2013
Humans and Earth, Guna and karma
Humans and Earth, Guna and karma
Universe
consists of 8,400,000 species of plants, animals and humans.- There are 900,000 species living in the water.
- There are also 2,000,000 non-moving living entities (sthavara)
such as trees and plants. - There are also 1,100,000 species of insects and reptiles.
- There are 1,000,000 species of birds.
- As far as quadrupeds are concerned there are 3,000,000 varieties.
- There are 400,000 human species. (Padma Purana)
"While rotating in the cycle of birth and death again and again in different species because of his own fruitive activities, the dependent living entity, by good fortune, may happen to become a human being. This human birth is very rarely obtained." (SB 8.22.25)
"After many, many births and deaths one achieves the rare human form of life, which, although temporary, affords one the opportunity to attain the highest perfection. Thus a sober human being should quickly endeavor for the ultimate perfection of life as long as his body, which is always subject to death, has not fallen down and died. After all, sense gratification is available even in the most abominable species of life, whereas Krsna consciousness is possible only for a human being." (SB 11.9.29)
| HUMANS |
 1)
Uncivilized tribes like the Pulindas (aborigines) and the Sabaras
(mountain people), etc.
"Kirata, Huna, Andhra, Pulinda, Pulkasa, Abhira, Sumbha, Yavana, members
of the Khasa races and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified
by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the
supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him." (SB
2.4.18)  2)
Civilized races with developed materialistic knowledge and science,
as well as an emphasis on industrialized production; they do not know
what is proper moral conduct, nor do they have actual faith in God; these
are the characteristics of the mlecchas (meat-eating races), etc.
"My dear Thakura Haridasa, in this age
of Kali most people are bereft of Vedic culture, and therefore they
are called yavanas. They are concerned only with killing cows and brahminical
culture. In this way they all engage in sinful acts. (Caitanya-caritamrta,
Antya 3.50)  3)
Those who have no personal God but are very fond of the natural beauty
of the material world, like the Buddhists, etc.
"Then, in the beginning of Kali-yuga, the Lord will appear as Lord
Buddha, the son of Anjana, in the province of Gaya, just for the purpose
of deluding those who are envious of the faithful theist." (SB 1.3.24)"The scriptures of the Buddhist cult are chiefly based on argument and logic, and they contain nine chief principles. Because Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu defeated them in their argument, they could not establish their cult." (Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 9.49)  4)
Those whose ethics are endowed with a philosophy and faith of an imaginary
God, like the karma-vadis (worshipers of various demigods, etc.,
who do good with the hope of being elevated to higher planets. This is
called imaginary because they believe various demigods to be the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.).
"Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender
unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship
according to their own natures." (BG 7.20)"Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet." (BG 7.23)  5)
Those worshipers who accept the true Lord of Creation, but do not
perform devotional service unto Him.
"Persons who want to advance in superior religion are advised to give
up all envy of other living entities, whether in relationship to the
body, words or mind. There is no religion superior to this." (SB 7.15.8)
"O lotus-eyed Lord, although nondevotees who accept severe austerities and penances to achieve the highest position may think themselves liberated, their intelligence is impure. They fall down from this position of imagined superiority because they have no regard for Your lotus feet." (SB 10.2.32)
After being born among the uncivilized humans I will be elevated among the civilized races. My further progress will depend on my guna and karma. Related: Guna table Three gunas
GUNA
 "Material
nature consists of three modes - goodness, passion and ignorance. When
the eternal living entity comes in contact with nature, O mighty-armed
Arjuna, he becomes conditioned by these modes." (BG 14.5) Sattva - "O sinless one, the mode of goodness, being purer than the others, is illuminating, and it frees one from all sinful reactions. Those situated in that mode become conditioned by a sense of happiness and knowledge." (BG 14.6) Rajas - "The mode of passion is born of unlimited desires and longings, O son of Kunti, and because of this the embodied living entity is bound to material fruitive actions." (BG 14.7) Tamas - "O son of Bharata, know that the mode of darkness, born of ignorance, is the delusion of all embodied living entities. The results of this mode are madness, indolence and sleep, which bind the conditioned soul." (BG 14.8)
KARMA
 Bhakti
- "In this Age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence
will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance
of sankirtana-yajna [congregational chanting of the holy names of the
Lord]." (SB 11.5.32)"Transcendental practices that do not ultimately help one realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead are useless, be they mystic yoga practices, the analytical study of matter, severe austerity, the acceptance of sannyasa, or the study of Vedic literature. All these may be very important aspects of spiritual advancement, but unless one understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, all these processes are useless." (SB 4.31.12)  Jnana
- "Neither religious activities endowed with honesty and mercy nor knowledge
obtained with great penance can completely purify one's consciousness
if they are bereft of loving service to Me." (SB 11.14.22)"The seven great sages [Marici, Vasistha, Atri and so on] reside on planets beneath Dhruvaloka. Well aware of the influence of the water of the Ganges, to this day they keep Ganges water on the tufts of hair on their heads. They have concluded that this is the ultimate wealth, the perfection of all austerities, and the best means of prosecuting transcendental life. Having obtained uninterrupted devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they neglect all other beneficial processes like religion, economic development, sense gratification and even merging into the Supreme. Just as jnanis think that merging into the existence of the Lord is the highest truth, these seven exalted personalities accept devotional service as the perfection of life." (SB 5.17.3)  Yoga
- "In this way, being purified by ritualistic sacrifices, the heart of
Maharaja Bharata was completely uncontaminated. His devotional service
unto Vasudeva, Lord Krsna, increased day after day. Lord Krsna, the son
of Vasudeva, is the original Personality of Godhead manifest as the Supersoul
[Paramatma] as well as the impersonal Brahman. Yogis meditate upon the
localized Paramatma situated in the heart, jnanis worship the impersonal
Brahman as the Supreme Absolute Truth, and devotees worship Vasudeva,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose transcendental body is described
in the sastras. His body is decorated with the Srivatsa, the Kaustubha
jewel and a flower garland, and His hands hold a conchshell, disc, club
and lotus flower. Devotees like Narada always think of Him within their
hearts." (SB 5.7.7)  Karma
- "Karmis are always anxious to accumulate wealth for their sense gratification,
but for that purpose they must work very hard. Yet even though they work
hard, the results are not satisfying. Indeed, sometimes their work results
only in frustration. But devotees who have dedicated their lives to the
service of the Lord can achieve substantial results without working very
hard. These results exceed the devotee's expectations." (SB 8.5.47) Vikarma
- "Suta Gosvami said: Maharaja Pariksit, thus being petitioned by the
personality of Kali, gave him permission to reside in places where gambling,
drinking, prostitution and animal slaughter were performed." (SB 1.17.38)"If a human being is engaged in sinful, irreligious activities, either because of bad association or because of his failure to control his senses, then such a person will certainly develop a personality full of material desires. He thus becomes miserly toward others, greedy and always anxious to exploit the bodies of women. When the mind is so polluted one becomes violent and aggressive and without the authority of Vedic injunctions slaughters innocent animals for sense gratification. Worshiping ghosts and spirits, the bewildered person falls fully into the grip of unauthorized activities and thus goes to hell, where he receives a material body infected by the darkest modes of nature. In such a degraded body, he unfortunately continues to perform inauspicious activities that greatly increase his future unhappiness, and therefore he again accepts a similar material body. What possible happiness can there be for one who engages in activities inevitably terminating in death?" (SB 1.10.27-29) For those who are on the level of Vedic life, dharma sastras (scriptures on dharma) provide definition of the proper behavior leading to elevation. Any deviation from it is called vikarma (negative, degrading karma). Let me examine motivations directing my life and choose my further destination:
SB 2.2.15-31 describes the path from the point of view of yoga (Satya-yuga-dharma), SB 7.15.54-55 from the point of view of yajna (Treta-yuga-dharma), BG 8.23-27 from the point of view of upasana (Dvapara-yuga-dharma) and Brhad Bhagavatamrta, part 2, from the point of view of harinama-sankirtana (Kali-yuga-dharma, the process for the current age). Dharma - "The Yamadutas replied: That which is prescribed in the Vedas constitutes dharma, the religious principles, and the opposite of that is irreligion. The Vedas are directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, and are self-born. This we have heard from Yamaraja." (SB 6.1.40) "The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self." (SB 1.2.6) |
Results of our karma
“If everything happens as a result of our karma, why do we speak of
fate and lord and why should we surrender to God? why god tests only the
devotees more?”
Only the karma is otherwise called fate. In other words, your fate is written based on your karma. SO, both can not be separated.
Entrusting the results to krishna means that, you can just do your works, without expecting the results and accepting whatever results Krishna gives you. The results must be decided by krishna. However, Krishna says in Gita that ONE SHOULD NEVER SKIP HIS DUTY; He must do his duties, otherwise he can not even maintain his body. If you skip your duties, you will incur the karma of skipping your duties. So, Krishna advised us to do the duties and allow Krishna to decide what, how and when to give fruits to you.
Why failures and pains come in our life? For example, if a person had stopped the marriages of 10 girls in his previous birth, the marriage of his daughter will be stopped 10 times by others in this birth. So, if he expects instant results, it will not be given immediately. But, if he tries without expectation, his daughter will get a good husband in his 11th attempt.
In case he skips trying to seek groom for his daughter frustrated with repeated failure, she will never get married. So, better do your duty instead of skipping it. You will get the fruit atleast on a later date. If you skip duty believing that everything is by fate, you will never get what you needed.
Next, problems come when you become a devotee of Lord and start chanting. True. Until you clean your house, all the dust are silent. But, when you start cleaning the dusts the dusts starts to spread throughout the room. Similarly, when you chant Hare krishna and involve seriously in devotional practices, all the material dusts come out of your heart and thus you are stage by stage purified. So, you feel that problems are more when you involve in devotion. It is nothing wrong. Only when such problems come, your heart will be cleansed. So, feel happy that your devotional practices cleanse you. Don’t worry.
Lord never gives problems to his devotees without reasons. By giving problems to devotees, He makes His devotees get purified from past karma earlier and hence come to Him earlier.
So, if you face more problems, be happy that Lord is fastening your going back to Him. If you escape from such problems, you will have to take birth again to face them.
So, all for good. Believe that and be relieved.
Only the karma is otherwise called fate. In other words, your fate is written based on your karma. SO, both can not be separated.
Entrusting the results to krishna means that, you can just do your works, without expecting the results and accepting whatever results Krishna gives you. The results must be decided by krishna. However, Krishna says in Gita that ONE SHOULD NEVER SKIP HIS DUTY; He must do his duties, otherwise he can not even maintain his body. If you skip your duties, you will incur the karma of skipping your duties. So, Krishna advised us to do the duties and allow Krishna to decide what, how and when to give fruits to you.
Why failures and pains come in our life? For example, if a person had stopped the marriages of 10 girls in his previous birth, the marriage of his daughter will be stopped 10 times by others in this birth. So, if he expects instant results, it will not be given immediately. But, if he tries without expectation, his daughter will get a good husband in his 11th attempt.
In case he skips trying to seek groom for his daughter frustrated with repeated failure, she will never get married. So, better do your duty instead of skipping it. You will get the fruit atleast on a later date. If you skip duty believing that everything is by fate, you will never get what you needed.
Next, problems come when you become a devotee of Lord and start chanting. True. Until you clean your house, all the dust are silent. But, when you start cleaning the dusts the dusts starts to spread throughout the room. Similarly, when you chant Hare krishna and involve seriously in devotional practices, all the material dusts come out of your heart and thus you are stage by stage purified. So, you feel that problems are more when you involve in devotion. It is nothing wrong. Only when such problems come, your heart will be cleansed. So, feel happy that your devotional practices cleanse you. Don’t worry.
Lord never gives problems to his devotees without reasons. By giving problems to devotees, He makes His devotees get purified from past karma earlier and hence come to Him earlier.
So, if you face more problems, be happy that Lord is fastening your going back to Him. If you escape from such problems, you will have to take birth again to face them.
So, all for good. Believe that and be relieved.
Saturday, 28 December 2013
Thursday, 26 December 2013
Yoga for modern age
The breathing exercise of the yoga system that is generally practiced is
just the beginning of the system. Meditation on the Supersoul is just a
step forward. Achievement of wonderful material success is also only a
step forward. But to attain direct contact with the Supersoul and to
take dictation from Him is the highest perfectional stage.
The breathing exercises and meditational practices of yoga are very difficult in this age. They were difficult even five thousand years ago, or else Arjuna would not have rejected the proposal of Krishna. This age of Kali is called a fallen age. At the present moment, people in general are short-living and very slow in understanding self-realization, or spiritual life. They are mostly unfortunate, and as such, if someone is a little bit interested in self-realization, he is misguided by so many frauds.
In the present age, however, if you want success in practical yoga, take to the chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, and feel for yourself how you are making progress. Lord Chaitanya practically demonstrated Krishna consciousness yoga simply by chanting the holy names of Krishna, as they are mentioned in the Vedanta, the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and many important Puranas.It is very easy and practical for this age, especially for those who are serious about success in yoga. No other process can be successful in this age.
Ref : Chapter 5a, Science of Self Realization authored by Srila Prabhupada
The breathing exercises and meditational practices of yoga are very difficult in this age. They were difficult even five thousand years ago, or else Arjuna would not have rejected the proposal of Krishna. This age of Kali is called a fallen age. At the present moment, people in general are short-living and very slow in understanding self-realization, or spiritual life. They are mostly unfortunate, and as such, if someone is a little bit interested in self-realization, he is misguided by so many frauds.
In the present age, however, if you want success in practical yoga, take to the chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, and feel for yourself how you are making progress. Lord Chaitanya practically demonstrated Krishna consciousness yoga simply by chanting the holy names of Krishna, as they are mentioned in the Vedanta, the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and many important Puranas.It is very easy and practical for this age, especially for those who are serious about success in yoga. No other process can be successful in this age.
Ref : Chapter 5a, Science of Self Realization authored by Srila Prabhupada
scriptures about 4 yugas
References from different scriptures for the 4 yuga timings:
Srimad Bhagavatam
http://vedabase.net/sb/3/11/en
In this page, click on verses 18 to 20 for reading.
Bhagavd Gita
The verses we read today 8.17 and 8.18
Other shastras
The Mahabharata (Shanti Parva, 231.29-32) continues: "The learned say
that these 12,000 celestial years form what is called a cycle. A thousand such
cycles form a single day of Brahma. The same is the duration of Brahma’s night.
With the beginning of Brahma’s day the universal entities come into being.
During the period of universal dissolution the Creator [Brahma] sleeps in
Yoga-meditation. When the period of sleep expires, He awakes. What is Brahma’s
day covers a thousand such cycles. His night also covers a thousand similar
cycles. They who know this are said to know the day and the night. On the expiry
of His night, Brahma, waking up, modifies the indestructible intelligence by
causing it to be overlaid with ignorance. He then causes Consciousness to spring
up, whence it originates Mind which is at one with the Manifest." [This creative
process is described in detail in my book How the Universe was Created and
Our Purpose In It.]
In calculating the duration of the different yugas, there are a few
differences between the Puranas, otherwise their descriptions are all the
same. The Brahmanda Purana (1.2.29.31-34) specifically states that Krita
or Satya-yuga is 1,440,000 human years in length, Treta-yuga is 1,080,000 years,
Dvapara-yuga is 720,000 years, and Kali-yuga is 360,000 years in length. The
Linga Purana (4.24-35) also agrees with this except for Treta-yuga, which it
says is 1,800,000 years in length. These figures are correct when we leave out
the conjoining Sandhya [at the beginning of each yuga] and the Sandhyansa
[ending of each yuga] periods.
When explaining the various measurements of time, the Vishnu Purana
(Book One, Chapter Three) and the Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.11.19), along with
the Bhagavad-gita (8.17), the Vayu Purana (Chapter 57), and
Bhavishya Purana (Brahma Parva, 2.86-107), and others, such as the
Mahabharata as quoted above, also all agree on the measurements of the
durations of the yugas. This shows that these time measurements are corroborated
throughout the Vedic texts, and if anyone has a different theory about the Vedic
time frame, then they are going outside the Vedic descriptions.
We will describe
this in more simplified terms as follows:
In the explanations of the measurements of time found therein, one cycle of
the four yugas together is 12,000 years of the demigods, called divine
years. Each of these years is composed of 360 days, and each of their days is
equal to one human year. So Krita-yuga is 4000 divine years in length,
Treta-yuga is 3000 divine years in length, Dvapara-yuga is 2000 divine years in
length, and Kali-yuga is 1000 divine years long, each one a quarter less than
Krita or Satya-yuga, with the addition of the conjoining portions of the Sandhya
and Sandhyansa.
In this way, each yuga is preceded by a period called a Sandhya, which
is as many hundred years in length as there are thousands of years in that
particular yuga. Each yuga is also followed by a period of time
known as a Sandhyansa, which is also as many hundreds of years in length as
there are thousands of years in the yuga. In between these periods of
time is the actual yuga. Therefore, we have:
Krita-yuga = 4000 divine years, Sandhya = 400 divine years, Sandhyansa = 400
divine years. Total = 4800 divine years x 360 days = 1,728,000 human years.
Treta-yuga = 3000 divine years, Sandhya = 300 divine years, Sandhyansa = 300
divine years. Total = 3600 divine years x 360 days = 1,296,000 human years.
Dvapara-yuga = 2000 divine years, Sandhya = 200 divine years, Sandhyansa =
200 divine years. Total = 2400 divine years x 360 days = 864,000 human years.
Kali-yuga = 1000 divine years, Sandhya = 100 divine years, Sandhyansa = 100
divine years. Total = 1200 divine years x 360 days = 432,000 human years.
This equals 4,320,000 human years, or 12,000 divine years, in one cycle of
the four yugas together, and 1000 cycles of these yugas equals a
Chaturyuga at 12,000,000 divine years and 4,320,000,000 human years in
one day of Brahma. It is also explained that Kali-yuga began with the
disappearance of Lord Krishna from the planet. This has been calculated to be
3102 BCE. Since Kali-yuga is described as being 432,000 earth years in length,
with 5,000 years and more already passed, then the age of Kali-yuga has
approximately 326,000 more years to go.
To be more clear about this, these calculations are further confirmed in the
Brahma-Vaivarta Purana which relates the same figures in the following
way:
"Now I will tell you about the counting of time. As the days rise and end,
similarly all the four yugas also come and end. A single divine day and
night of Manu compares with the completed year of the humans. Those well-versed
in the signs of time, ordain that after the passing of the three hundred and
sixty yugas of the humans, a divine yuga of the gods is made.
Seventy-one divine years [of the gods] comprise a manvantara. An age of
Indra is equivalent to one manvantara. Thus, after the existence of
twenty-eight Indras, there is one day and night of Brahma. Thus, after the lapse
of one hundred and eight years, the life of Brahma comes to an end." (Brahma-Vaivarta
Purana, Prakriti Khanda, 7.72-75)
The same time frame is calculated with a different description in the
Kalki Purana (19.12-14) as follows:
"Twelve thousand years of the demigods is the duration of the four yugas
on earth. The duration of Satya-yuga is four thousand celestial years,
Treta-yuga is three thousand celestial years, Dvapara-yuga is two thousand
celestial years, and Kali-yuga is one thousand celestial years. The transitional
periods of the four yugas are four hundred, three hundred, two hundred,
and one hundred celestial years respectively. In this way, the total comes to
twelve thousand celestial years. The duration of the reign of each Manu is
seventy-one cycles of the four yugas. Fourteen Manus reign during one day of
Brahma. This is also the duration of Brahma’s night [which is as long as his
day]."
To understand this in greater detail and to also show the consistency of
these calculations throughout the Vedic literature, we can use the additional
example. Here Suta Gosvami explains to the sages during the huge gathering at
the forest of Naimisaranya 5000 years ago, all of the divisions of time and how
the lengths of the yugas are formulated, as related in the Vayu Purana.
"In the context of the description of the earth, etc., I have already said
about the four yugas. Now I shall recount them in detail. (Listen and)
understand them. Calculating everything and mentioning in detail, I shall
narrate in full the six aspects of yugas, namely yugabheda (difference in
yugas), yugadharma (the particular characteristics of each yuga),
yugasandhi (the junction of yugas), yugamsha (the parts of yugas),
and yugasandhana (the joints of the yugas). The human year can be
understood (calculated) by means of valid working knowledge. Calculating on the
basis of that year [in the human time frame], I shall explain the four yugas.
The time taken to utter a short syllable is equal to a Nimesha. Nimesha, Kashtha,
Kala, and Muhurta are the units of time. Fifteen Nimeshas constitute a Kashtha,
thirty Kashthas make one Kala, and thirty Kalas make one Muhurta. Thirty
Muhurtas make one full day and night. The sun demarcates the human as well as
the divine days and nights. The day is intended for activity and the night is
meant for sleep. A (human) month constitutes the day and night of the Pitris
[the departed ancestors, now included as part of the celestials]. Its division
is thus: The dark half is the day for them and the bright half is their night
for sleep [as calculated by the waning and waxing of the moon]." (Vayu Purana
57.2-9)
"Therefore, thirty human months make one month of the Pitris [the celestial
ancestors]. On the basis of the human calculation, three hundred and sixty
months constitute a year of the Pitris. A hundred human years constitute three
years and four months of the Pitris. A human year in accordance with the human
calculation is one day and one night of the Devas [the higher demigods]. This is
the conclusion in this scripture." (Vayu Purana 57.10-12)
"So, the divine day and night together [of the Devas] make a human year. A
further classification is that the Uttarayana period (northern transit of the
sun) is the day and the Dakshinayana period (southern transit of the sun) is the
night (of the Devas). Thirty of the days and nights of the gods, or thirty human
years make one divine month (of the gods). One hundred human years make three
divine months and three divine days. Thus is the divine reckoning for divisions
of time." (Vayu Purana 57.13-15)
"Three hundred and sixty years according to human calculation constitute one
divine year. Three thousand and thirty years according to human calculation
constitute one year of the Seven Sages (Saptarishis) or the (astrological
constellation of) the Great Bear. Nine thousand and ninety human years make one
Kraunchan year. Thirty-six thousand human years should be known as one hundred
divine years. Thus is the calculation of the divine unit of time. Persons well
versed in calculation say that three hundred and sixty thousand (360,000) years
reckoned on the basis of human time units constitute a thousand divine years [of
the Devas]. It is thus that the sages sang about the divine calculation. They
have formulated the reckoning of the yugas and their duration on the
basis of this divine calculation." (Vayu Purana 57.16-21)
Now with all of this calculating we reach the point where it is used to
establish the durations of the four yugas as followed:
"Wise people know that there are four yugas in Bharata Varsha [the area of
India and sometimes considered planet earth in general]. The first one is Krita,
followed by Treta, Dvapara, and Kali-yuga. One should reckon these yugas in this
order. They say that the Krita-yuga consists of four thousand years. The Sandhya
(transition period) consists of as many hundreds of years (400 divine years).
The Sandhyamsha (part of the junction with the next yuga) is equal to the
Sandhya period. In the Sandhyas and Sandhyamshas of the other yugas there is a
gradual reduction of a thousand [years of the yuga] and hundred years [in the
Sandhya and Sandhyamsha transitions]. [This means that] Treta-yuga contains
three thousand years, and its Sandhya and Sandhyamsha [junctions with the
preceding and following yugas] consist of three hundred years each. The wise say
that Dvapara-yuga contains two thousand [celestial] years, and the Sandhya
consists of two hundred years and the Sandhyamsha is equal to the Sandhya [two
hundred years]. The learned say that Kali-yuga consists of a thousand years, and
its Sandhya is of a hundred years and the Sandhyamsha is the same. This period
of twelve thousand (divine) years is known as a Maha-yuga. The four yugas
together are Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali." (Vayu Purana 57.22-28)
"In this world the calculation of years is based on the human level. Now I
shall mention the duration of Krita-yuga in accordance with that type of [human]
calculation. The duration [of Krita-yuga] is one million, four hundred and forty
thousand [human] years. As for Kali-yuga, it is one fourth of that. Thus the
specific duration of time of the four yugas excluding the Sandhyas and
Sandhyamshas is declared. Including the Sandhyas and Sandhyamshas the duration
of the four yugas put together is four million three hundred and twenty thousand
[4,320,000] human years." (Vayu Purana 57.29-32)
Thus, we have provided the different ways of explaining the units of time to
calculate the length of the yugas according to the references in the Vedic
texts. I hope this has provided enough information and evidence to clarify and
conclude what is sometimes a confusing issue, and that the same figures and
conclusions are arrived at in various texts.
Thanks to preethi mataji for sending sources....
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