Tamil Nadu Temple Bike Ride Diaries: Day-2 :17-02-2024(Continued)

The second Temple that I visited today is Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple.

I was fortunate enough to participate in the Kamakshi Amman Procession around the Temple Premises.

Its historic and spiritual centre in South India, Kanchipuram is the seat of Goddess Kamakshi. It is one of the seven Mokshapuris (Ayodhya Mathura Maya Kashi Kanchi Avantika Puri Dwarakavati caiva saptaide moksha dayika) and fifty one Shakti Peethas.The Goddess Kamakshi is in a sitting posture resembling a Lotus, and hence called the Padmasana. The Goddess holds a Sugarcane bow in her left arm and Lotus and Parrot in her right, in addition to Pasha-Ankusha. A Chandra Prabhai (Crescent shape of the moon) on the forehead is also present. The Ambal Sannadhi is in the Gayatri Mandapam.

History Behind the Kanchi Kamakshi Temple

Counted among one of the Shakti Peetha’s, this is the place where the Navel or Nabhi of Goddess Sati fell when Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshana Chakra touched Goddess Sati’s body.

The temple is also believed as the center of the earth or eastern hemisphere. There is a belief that after taking birth for killing Asur Bhandasur, Devi sat here taking “Kanya Swarup.” The idol is “Swayambhu,” which signifies it has appeared and not created. She is believed to have three Swarups in the temple. These include Sthula, Sukshama, and Shunya.

Goddess Kamakshi created the mud idol of Lord Shiva in Kanchi to worship him. To test her worship, Lord Shiva incarnated himself as Kamba River that has high tides. But the Goddess did not let the mud idol erode away in tides. She grasped it closely with her hands.She also prayed on a needle tip that is surrounded by 5 fires (Panchakagni) to free her from the livelihood interest. Lord Shiva became happy with her worship and married her.

There are various Shiva temples in Kanchi, but “Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple” is the only one with the Goddess Sanctorum. Eight Shakti Goddesses also surround the temple.There was a standing image of Kamakshi Devi in Gold. This is a pose in which she prayed and is called Bangaru Kamakshi. An attack was expected at the temple, so the image in Gold gets shifted to Thanjavur

Lord Shiva and Vishnu surround Kamakshi temple situated in the heart of Kanchipuram. On one side, there are various Shiva temples and few Vishnu temples and is referred as big or Shiva Kanchi. The other side of the Kamakshi temple has big Vishnu temples and some Shiva temples too. This side is known as small or Vishnu Kanchi.

Stories linked to the Temple:

• Rishi Durvasa overcame his curse after worshipping and praying to Kamakshi. Later, he installed Sri Chakra here and wrote Saubhagya Chintamani Kalpa, also known as Durvasa Samhita. He has written a detailed Vidhi (way) in this about how to worship Kamakshi Devi. Today also the worship is done exactly as it is mentioned in Saubhagya Chintamani Kalpa.7 Gotras priests called Shastri’s can worship here. But, only two priests worship here and the rest five worship at Thanjavur Kamakshi temple.

• The sanctum of the Goddess remained very hot that signifies her Raudra Rup. It was only after Adi Shankara pacified her that she came in her peaceful form. Adi Shankara also wrote “Saundra Lahiri” here.

• Ayodhya’s King Dasaratha from Suryavanshi Ikshvaku Vansh is believed of performing “Putra Kameshi Yagam” here for the child’s birth. After performing Puja at the “Nabisthanam,” the King was blessed with a child within a few months. Devi Kamakshi is also Ikshvashu Clan’s Kuldevi. Since then, there became beliefs that childless couples get children after praying here. The story has a reference in Markandeya Purana.

• “Mookan,” a dumb devotee visited the temple and begged Goddess for freeing him from dumbness. He wanted to perform poems in the praise of Goddess. She freed him from dumbness and gave him the power to think and create poetry. He also wrote poetry “Mookapanchashati” in 500 verses praising about the Goddess beauty and grace.

Festivals of the Temple:

• Shiva and Kamakshi’s marriage is celebrated in Phalgun month that falls in February or March. There is a belief that people who are getting married should come and attend this festival.

Goddess Kamakshi is taken on a boat ride on this special day. Rukmani temple in Dwarka also celebrates this day.

• Sharda Navratri and Chaitra are celebrated here in the same way as other Devi Temples of India. Special celebrations take place every full moon day or Purnima.

• Brahmotsava is celebrated in Magh that is in January or February. During this time, the idol is taken every morning and evening out. Kamakshi Devi rides on Golden lion on the 4th day and on the silver chariot on the 9th day. Then on the final or 10th day that is also a full moon, all the devotees and Goddess take a holy dip in the temple tank.

• Kamakshi Amman rides in Gold chariot on Chaitra month’s first day.

• Four worships are offered every day.

• Navaratri, Sankara Jayanthi, Aadi, Vasanta Utsavam, and Aippasi Pooram are the other festivals celebrated in this temple.

Source:Behindeverytemple.org

Tamil Nadu Temple Ride Diaries

Temple Darshan Ride, Day 1:

The Ranganayaka Swamy Temple, Nellore

The Ranganayaka Swamy Temple, 

also known as the Talpagiri Ranganathaswami Temple or the Ranganayakulu Temple, 

is an ancient temple in Nellore. 

It dates back to the 7th century CE and was founded by the kings of the Pallava dynasty, who ruled over this region for many centuries. In the 12th century CE, it was renovated and expanded by King Raja Mahendra Varma, who belonged to the Chola dynasty.

There is a beautiful story behind the name “Talpagiri.” It is said that when Lord Sri Maha Vishnu came to Earth, he wanted to rest alongside his wife, Sridevi. He asked the serpent deity, Adisesha, to be his dwelling during their stay on Earth. Adisesha then transformed into a mountain at a special location, which we now call “Talpagiri Kshetram.” The name “Talpa” means the divine bed of Adisesha, which is where Lord Maha Vishnu rests. 

According to legend, the great Sage Kashyapa conducted a sacred ceremony called the Poundarika Yagna at this location on the day of Ekadasi. As a result, Lord Maha Vishnu appeared and blessed the sage. 

This is why Talpagiri Kshetram is considered a very special and holy place.

The main deity worshipped at the temple is Lord Ranganatha, who is depicted lying on a serpent bed named Anantha. 

The Lord Ranganatha vigraha is a beautiful black stone sculpture that measures about 10 feet long. It features the goddess Sridevi sitting on the Lord’s chest, while Lord Brahma sits on a lotus that rises from the Lord’s navel. At the Lord’s feet, you’ll find smaller statues of Sridevi and Bhudevi. In front of the main deity, you’ll see the Utsava murtis, which are festival deities. There’s also a lovely sitting statue of the goddess Sridevi, known as Ranganayaka Devi.

One unique thing about this temple is that the idols face west, towards the Penna River, which is different from most temples where the deity faces east.

Secularism

Secularism ..the most maligned word in India:

The meaning of secularism as per the dictionary,  

--- the belief that religion should not be  involved with the ordinary social and political activities of a country

---- not having any connection with religion

But,

Secularism in India means equal treatment of all religions by the state. With the 42nd Amendment of the Constitution of India enacted in 1976, the Preamble to the Constitution asserted that India is a secular nation. 

However, neither India's constitution nor its laws define the relationship between religion and state.

This is how , in 1976 our Politicians changed the meaning of secularism to take advantage that arises from the confusion of the definition.  Inserting the meaning - as equal treatment to all religions for secularism is a sham in itself. Its an excuse and a license to appease the Minorities for political gains. The original meaning of secularism says  - not having any connection with religion and religion should not be involved with the social and Political activities of a country. Because of the narrow sense of the definition given to the word, now,  the majority  people have been sidelined and trampled of their rights to express  views contrarian to the views of minority religions. This the result for  the number of bans ..books, film, shows etc., which in a secular and democratic environment ..shouldn’t have happen. And may be , this is one of the reason , for the rise of the so called right wing organisations to prosper. I don’t think any democratic country has separate rules for its Minorities, apart from India. 

In a secular country every individual  is free to practice, propagate  their own religion and beliefs, And the government duty is to see to it , that both majority or minority people do not infringe over the right of others, and strike a balance. But, what we see, in India is , minority rights are given prime importance over ruling  the rights of the others. Individual rights should take precedence over the religious rights. 

“The phrases ‘religious liberty’ and ‘religious freedom’ will stand for nothing except hypocrisy so long as they remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance,” 

“Religious liberty was never intended to give one religion dominion over other religions, or a veto power over the civil rights and civil liberties of others, said Martin R. Castro, a Chicago Democrat named USCCR chairman by President Obama in 2011

How the US does it and would be an ideal for us also…

HOW DO YOU KNOW THE GOVERNMENT IS "ESTABLISHING RELIGION"?

In 1971, the Supreme Court of USA  decided Lemon v. Kurtzman which created three tests for determining whether a particular government act or policy unconstitutionally promotes religion. 

The Lemon test says that in order to be constitutional, a policy must:

1. Have a non-religious purpose;   

2. Not end up promoting or favoring any set of religious beliefs; and   

3. Not overly involve the government with religion. 

The same should be ideal for any country, which declares it as a democratic and secular.

SatChitAnanda

When I see an object with my eyes, does the object lies outside of me or inside . If I close my eyes, or when I sleep,  objects disappear. They are not there. And in sleep, I dream something and feel as if the happenings in the dream are real. The world is there only for the senses. Hence, what ever I do in my life is for the satisfaction of my senses and nothing else. Our whole life is spent in satisfying the senses and we think , that is living . And the world as experienced with the senses is not the real world. Its Maya , ephemeral or just like the dream in our sleep.  Then, who am I, without all the senses and experiences there off........Consciousness? 
Our journey is to regain or become the Pure Consciousness, SatChitAnanda..

Prayer

What is a prayer?

Prayer doesn't just happen when we kneel or put our hands together and focus and expect things from God. *Thinking positive and wishing good for others is a prayer.* When you hug a friend. *That's a prayer.* When you cook something to nourish family and friends. *That's a prayer.* When we send off our near and dear ones and say, 'drive safely' or 'be safe'. *That's a prayer.* When you are helping someone in need by giving your time and energy. *You are praying.* When you forgive someone by your heart. *That is prayer.* *Prayer is a vibration. A feeling. A thought. Prayer is the voice of love, friendship, genuine relationships. Prayer is an expression of your silent being.* Keep praying always... Stay Blessed.

I did not choose

I did not choose my Birth, My parents did, but still took birth!
I didn't choose my name, My parents choose, but still am attached to it!
I didn't choose my religion, my birth into my family did it, but still accepted it and attached to it,  without questioning!
I didn't choose to go to school, My parents choose, I followed!
I didn't choose my profession, Circumstances decided it, I followed!
Married,  raised a family as per the societal norms and also to satisfy personal, social and psychologiacal needs and aspirations.
Most of the time you never realize , you are living the life that is choosen by people around you and not your original Choice.
Nobody raised any objections or raised doubts for all the above , because it was normal.
When ,ultimately, I  'choose' to be myself and become 'free' from the choices being made on behalf of me, the world raised eyebrows and questioned my 'choice'.
The world around you always want  you to conform to it, at all costs. Very few around you encourage questioning the norm. Anyone, who questions the norm is branded weird, thereby killing the natural Inquiry nature of the individual.
But, it is never too late to realize and come out of the cage one is in and experience the real happiness, peace and freedom.

Cease

Cease listening to what is being heard,
Listen to what is hearing instead!
Then listening will become what is hearing,
And hearing will be what is heard.

Cease looking at what is being seen,
Look at what is seeing instead!
Then looking will become what is seeing,
And seeing will be what is seen.

Cease seeking the sought of the seeker,
Seek what is seeking instead!
Then seeking will become what is searching,
And searching will be what is sought.

Cease cognising what is objective,
Turn sentience back on itself!
Cognising will become what is cognising,
And perceiving will be the perceived.

Leave sound unheard,
And 'hearing' hear instead,
For hearing lives,
But sound, as such, is dead

-WeiWuWei

Realizing Non-Duality

All our lives are a series of experiences. Every experience is different from every other experience. Experiences come & go. Each experience has two parts, a changing part & an unchanging part. Objects of experiences are changing and the awareness of all the experiences is the unchanging part.
Dreams come when one is asleep. Mind generates dreams. But the unchanging awareness is still there in the background. The same awareness is there in the waking life and in  dream state.
Deep sleep is not the absence of experience, it's an experience of absence. Deep sleep is not unconsciousness. It is consciousness without an object of consciousness. It's a container which is empty.
In all the three states of daily existence, waking , dreaming & Deep sleep , one thing is common, that is the unchanging awareness . Because of which through the mind & sense organs , we experience the waking world. Because of which through the mind & sense organs , we experience the dream world. Because of which when mind & sense organs are shut down in Deep sleep , we experience the blankness. That unchanging consciousness is who you are. Not this waking body, body is physical. You are not a body with awareness. You are the awareness in which body is experiencing. You are the unchanging awareness in which the body is experiencing. Same is the case in dream and Deep sleep.
You the consciousness neither appears nor disappears, like the sun , it neither rises nor goes down, it's just an illusion created by the rotation of the earth.
The gist of  a talk by Swami Sarvapriyananda on Realizing Non-Duality .

Secularism

SECULARISM

Secularism ..the most maligned word in India:
The meaning of secularism as per the dictionary,
 --- the belief that religion should not be involved with the ordinary social and political activities of a country
---- not having any connection with religion

But,
Secularism in India means equal treatment of all religions by the state. With the 42nd Amendment of the Constitution of India enacted in 1976, the Preamble to the Constitution asserted that India is a secular nation.

However, neither India's constitution nor its laws define the relationship between religion and state.

This is how , in 1976 our Politicians changed the meaning of secularism to take advantage that arises from the confusion of the definition. Inserting the meaning - as equal treatment to all religions for secularism is a sham in itself. Its an excuse and a license to appease the Minorities for political gains. The original meaning of secularism says - not having any connection with religion and religion should not be involved with the social and Political activities of a country. Because of the narrow sense of the definition given to the word, now, the majority people have been sidelined and trampled of their rights to express views contrarian to the views of minority religions. This the result for the number of bans ..books, film, shows etc., which in a secular and democratic environment ..shouldn’t have happen. And may be , this is one of the reason , for the rise of the so called right wing organisations to prosper. I don’t think any democratic country has separate rules for its Minorities, apart from India.

In a secular country every individual is free to practice, propagate their own religion and beliefs, And the government duty is to see to it , that both majority or minority people do not infringe over the right of others, and strike a balance. But, what we see, in India is , minority rights are given prime importance over ruling the rights of the others. Individual rights should take precedence over the religious rights.

“The phrases ‘religious liberty’ and ‘religious freedom’ will stand for nothing except hypocrisy so long as they remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance,”

“Religious liberty was never intended to give one religion dominion over other religions, or a veto power over the civil rights and civil liberties of others, said Martin R. Castro, a Chicago Democrat named USCCR chairman by President Obama in 2011

How the US does it and would be an ideal for us also…

HOW DO YOU KNOW THE GOVERNMENT IS "ESTABLISHING RELIGION"?
In 1971, the Supreme Court of USA decided Lemon v. Kurtzman which created three tests for determining whether a particular government act or policy unconstitutionally promotes religion.

The Lemon test says that in order to be constitutional, a policy must:
1. Have a non-religious purpose;
 2. Not end up promoting or favoring any set of religious beliefs; and
 3. Not overly involve the government with religion.

The same should be ideal for any country, which declares it as a democratic and secular.

Year End Musings

Year End Musings :

Today is the last day of the year, end of a calendar year. Tomorrow is the beginning of a calendar year. One year ends and another begins. Do you actually pin point today as the end of the year or tomorrow as the beginning of the year? There is no beginning and there is no end. Its a continuum . We have calibrated for our convenience . Each day is new one , a rebirth. When we sleep in the night , and wake up the next morning , if all our senses are working, including the consciousness , we know we are alive otherwise we don't know. That knowing that we are alive , after we wake up is in itself a new birth. Everyday we temporarily die when we go to sleep and reborn when we wake up, until the consciousness , permanently leaves the being. Live everyday, between death and birth.

In that living , give a thought , Who is living?

Birth is not the beginning and Death is not the end . Its continuum Wherever birth is there, Death is there in its shadow. Wherever Death is there, Birth is there in its shadow. They are inseparable, like day and night. We (our consciousness or life force or aatma, whatever you call it) have been before birth, hence its not the beginning. We will be after death also, hence, its not the end. Consciousness comes into the being through birth and goes through death. Perhaps birth is a door, and death too! Perhaps they are the same door, just the direction is different. When we enter this door we read the word push, and when we go out the same door, from the other side, only the word changes: pull.

But the real thing is: Who is to push and who is to pull?
Who is it who knows of birth and death and who is it who experiences birth and death?
Again: who is it who does not know where we come from and where we go ?
It is the same being. Awakened it knows, asleep it does not know.
Who is it who suddenly realizes where he comes from and where he goes to?

Have a wonderful and Awakening Year.

Idleness

IDLENESS

“Every man is, or hopes to be, an Idler.”  -- Dr. Samuel Johnson

Idling is the "act of doing nothing"

And doing nothing is not Laziness by any means. It’s a choice and way of life. For some reason deciding to do nothing is seen as negative and something only lazy people do. There are some very subtle differences between the two words Lazy and Idle , which means we can’t use them completely interchangeably. For example, “lazy” will always have a negative connotation; it will give us a very negative idea of the person it’s being used to describe. So lazy is always seen as a very bad thing. 

However, idle can be used in other contexts, still to mean something or someone doesn’t work, but without the negative judgement.

Doing nothing does not mean, literally doing nothing. The idler does not ‘work’ for benefits(monetary or otherwise) and you will not see him in the rat race for position, power, money etc.,

*Recent research suggests that, though our instinct is for idleness, people will pick upon the flimsiest excuse to keep busy. Moreover, people feel happier for being busy, even if their busyness is imposed upon them. In their paper, Idleness aversion and the need for justifiable busyness (2010), Hsee and colleagues surmise that many purported goals that people pursue may be little more than justifications for keeping busy.

This, I believe, is a manifestation of the manic defence: the tendency, when presented with uncomfortable thoughts or feelings, to distract the conscious mind either with a flurry of activity or with the opposite thoughts or feelings. 'To do nothing at all,' said Oscar Wilde, 'is the most difficult thing in the world, the most difficult and the most intellectual.'*

Have you ever given a thought, what people did before the advent of this ‘Work’ culture of 9-5?

After the advent of Industrial revolution in the west, work has become the byword for ‘living’. Our society values work, productivity and ‘doing’ and not ‘Living’. Not being engaged in some type of activity is seen as negative and unproductive. Consider the inherent danger in non-stop productivity. It can separate you from yourself. If you don’t work , you have no Identity. If you are always doing, when do you get a chance to just be? And in the present world, work is everything, including your Identity. You run the risk of seeing your identity only in terms of what you do, and not in terms of what you are. Work is not an enemy, it only becomes the enemy when we allow work to take over our lives and our sense of self. When we ask  the question “who are you?” and we reply ” I am an accountant, lawyer, policeman, CEO…”, it is a sign that our self worth and our identity is based on the economic value of the job we do! Doing nothing will give you a chance to reconnect with your inner self*.

Idleness, is a  movement to stop all movement. An invitation to fully be in the present moment. A moment to simply embrace life as it is. As such, being idle can become a part of the broader celebration of life

Doing absolutely nothing costs absolutely nothing.

 In Allan Watts words :

Nothing is easier than to give up the world, because one is incompetent in the affairs of the world. There is no wisdom in scorning riches simply because one is unable to obtain them, nor in despising the pleasures of senses, because one has not the means of fulfilling them. If the desire for these things exists, and if that desire is thwarted by circumstances, to add self deception to frustration, is to exchange a lesser hell for a greater. No hell is worse than that in which one lives without knowing it. For the desire which is scorned for no other reason than it cannot be satisfied is the greatest of man’s enemies.

*from Psychology Today by  Dr.Neel Burton 

Who or What is the 'I' in in my being?

Who or what  is the ‘I’ in my being 

( an humble attempt to knowing ‘I’)

All our crucial internal physical process in our body like  -- blood circulation, digestion, heart beat, cell functions and divisions, our physical growth from birth, hunger, thirst, etc. etc., -- functions without any consent from ‘ME’. Do these functions take instructions from ‘ME’? A BIG NO! when the body is hungry, or it feels that to pee, the body sends signals to Brain and ‘I’ act according to its direction. Most of the times ‘I’ act or react to the body and its senses. From the time “I” got conceived in my mother’s womb, it (All internal body functions) works  completely like an automatic mechanism. Then , what is the function of “I” in this body ? Who is this ‘I” at all, in this whole scenario? Whether the “I” is in the body or outside of it?  I don’t know. ‘I’ know , ‘I’ exist only through the  senses. When my senses don’t function, I do not exist, like when I sleep or unconscious. Sense’s by itself does not mean anything , they need the ‘Mind’ to receive the data it sees or receives,  to comprehend. So, if one has functional senses and don’t have a mind, then also it seems one does not exist. Its funny, isn’t it. So , in all ‘Mind’ is the key . And, Mind is related to brain. Most people do not find any difference between the two words ‘mind’ and ‘brain’. Most scientists and thinkers believe that the brain and the mind are one and cannot be separated. Most of the time these two words are used interchangeably. While brain is considered to be a physical thing, mind is not. It is believed that the minds place is brain, but no one has proved that yet.

So, coming back to the query of “I”. ‘I’ am not the physical body, then! Physical body is there , only , to manifest the “I” or whatever it is.

So, is the ‘Mind’ is what we call ‘I’? Let me think. THINK? Who is thinking? Big question ? Normally, people say, ‘thinking’ happens in ‘Mind’. It is generally agreed that mind is that which enables a being to have subjective awareness and intentionality towards their environment, to perceive and respond to stimuli it receives from sense organs and to have consciousness, including thinking and feeling etc., So, whatever, my ‘thinking’ , ‘expreiences’ etc.,  is the result of all the stimuli , my sense organs receives and processed by the Mind, since , may be from my birth or even earlier from inside my mother’s womb! *The mind is an instrument of thinking and sensing on various levels. Mind is called the ‘inner instrument’ or antahkarana  in Sanskrit, related to the body which is our outer instrument. The mind is looked upon as the sixth sense after the five bodily senses and is regarded as an organ, not our true being or the basis of our sense of self. The mind is a product of time and outer experiences, which leave their characteristic marks upon it. So, Mind cannot be the ‘I’, since it appears only  in relation to senses.

But, sometimes , it is ‘observed’ that there is some ‘entity’(inside or outside, no idea)  which seems to ‘see’ or ‘observing’ what I am thinking or doing without any involvement, as if some cc camera is recording all the activity without any action or reaction to what it is recording. Is it the ‘I’ that I am searching?  I Think, some people call it ‘Consciousness’!

*Yoga regards consciousness, called Chit as something other than the mind or Chitta . Chit is pure consciousness unmodified by any mental activity. Chit is awareness of what is called the Purusha, the inner Being, for which the mind is but a tool of perception and expression.

Then, the question is --- Is there no such thing as ‘I’ in my being? Only pure consciousness and the physical body is simply  acting as a vehicle?

 (Conclusion: think, Still long way to go, before the mystery is revealed)

*italics -- taken from Yoga sutras.

Corruption

Corruption:
I think this is the one word or topic , almost everyone's is discussing or on one's thoughts, after the demonetisation declaration by GOI.
Everyone, says and talks that ,Politicians are Corrupt, Govt.officials are corrupt, Society at large is corrupt. But, conveniently forget  what one is doing or try to curb this menace. Pointing the fingers on others is easy. I know most of us are not corrupt and work sincerely to the best of our abilities. But, then how does it grow. Corruption does not rise without ones express involvement, either as giver or taker. How many of the people , who take a high stand on corruption has not wet the hand of officials to get their work done? Society is a reflection of the same people , who make the society they live in. So, what does that mean? Most of the people are corrupt in one way or the other. Change can be brought by individual actions. And each individual action collectively becomes a collective change. Whatever change we want in the society, has to come from the Individual first,  society comes later. It cannot be brought from the above I.e., Govt or PM or CM or Minister or Mayor etc. Ofcourse, govt has to bring in the changes for easy compliance of taxes etc., Unless there is collective will , whatever the steps govt. take or plan will be successful only upto the level of sincere  participation of its targeted people. Blaming everything and everyone for the ills of the society is best time pass for most of the people. It does not work. Be the change , in whatever way , whichever way , however little / small it may be (as small as stopping at red light even Police is not present) to the one of  biggest source of Black money - real estate registrations ( Registering for the full value or price for which it is bought and not for a lower amount)

Nature vs Humans

                       Nature vs Humans

The Nature of a Rose plant is to produce or give Rose flowers, and it is same with all flowering plants, I.e., to give respective flowers according to its nature. And , similarly, with all fruit trees. And, different animals, birds etc , each have its own nature , specific to its species. And , now, coming to HUMANS , What is the true Nature of Human beings? What are we here for , on this earth? All other living beings , except humans, live at peace with themselves, except, may be killing for its food for its survival. They live as part of the Nature. Human beings, with the so called 'thinking' 'Intelligent' being among all other living beings on this planet, are using their Intelligence, to destroy Nature , of which they are part and also destroy each other! Instead being a part of the Nature, we started, behaving as the Masters of the Nature and treat the rest of the Nature as 'Slaves'. Most of time, we spend our lives accumulating material wealth, which is created by exploiting Nature and polluting it , further. The so called development of modern man is directly proportional to the destruction of our Natural Habitat. So, is destruction is the primary nature of human nature? If not, what is the True Nature of Humans?

Bhagavad Gita 2.16

नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सत: |
उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽन्तस्त्वनयोस्तत्वदर्शिभि: || 2.16||

nāsato vidyate bhāvo nābhāvo vidyate sataḥ
ubhayorapi dṛiṣhṭo ’nta stvanayos tattva-darśhibhiḥ

(Excerpts from Universal message of Bhgavad Gita by Swami Ranganathananda of Ramakrishna Math.)

Asat and sat , these words were used. The word asat means the unreal. So the sloka says, na asato vidyte bhavo , ‘the unreal never is’ ; similarly , nabhavo vidyate satah  ‘the word “non-existent” cannot be applied to what is real’. The sat is the real; it can never be the non-existent.

Our thinkers , when they studied the world, found two aspects of the world: one is changeable aspect and another an unchangeable aspect. Everything in this world is changeable; every second it is changing. Change is the characteristic of this external and much of the internal world. And anything that changes, moment to moment, Vedanta calls it unreal. That is how we use the word unreal; it exists, but it is unreal. It appears, but it is unreal. The nature of this manifested universe, a universe which one experiences with five senses, is that, it is constantly changing, and therefore unreal. Whatever changes is unreal. Then where is the reality? Vedanta says, yes, there is changeless reality beyond the sensory level, you come to the world of reality, which is unchanging, infinite, eternal.

But man feels there is a unity where all this change is really centered. Just like all the changes of pictures in a film, making for the unity of the film. That is due to the curtain behind the film. That makes the unity. Similarly, we search for the unity behind the multiplicity in the universe. The first truth is change, and we see that whatever changes is unreal.

Then what is real? That which exists in the past, present and future, that is called real. Is there such a real? Yes says Vedanta, and that search is the search of philosophy everywhere in the world.

So we use the word sat for that infinite imperishable reality; asat for this perishable universe. The belief that this sensory world alone is true, is called materialism and that materialism is a strong philosophy today. An astro-physict , Millikan, has said “ to me a philosophy of materialism is the height of un-intelligence”. Matter is just a symbol. Nobody has seen matter. We are seeing , from the Indian point of view, one infinite reality, which appears as matter in the world outside, and as the Self within us. There is one reality in this world, and we call it Brahman or Atman, of the nature of pure consciousness.

So, Sri Krishna says here, ubhayorapi dṛiṣhṭo ’nta stvanayos tattva-darśhibhiḥ. This anta , ‘this conclusion’ , nirnaya, has been arrived by whom? Tattvadarsibhih by those who have realized the tattvam.  Tattvam also is a scientifically precise word of Sanskrit. Tasya bhavah tattvam – the nature of a particular thing is called tattvam . Not what it appears to be. Just like the earth is flat, is not tattvam but matam, opinion. Our senses tell us the earth is flat., but what is tattvam. It is round, the earth is globe. That is tattvam. Those who know the tattvam of things, by scientific investigation, they have come to this conclusion; that this sat, reality, is always, is. and what is asat, that which doesn’t exist , has no reality. So the sages , who have discriminated and investigated this subject, have come to this conclusion -- There is one reality in this world, and we call it Brahman or Atman, of the nature of pure consciousness. This is tattva; not what appears, not what is pleasing; these are called beliefs and dogmas. Have plenty of them, but tattvam is different.

What is tattvam of a thing? Suppose I have an opinion. I can hold on to an opinion; but , it must be based on truth. It must be a true opinion. Then only it gets the status of a tattvam. Otherwise, it is called matam. The word opinion in English is called matam in Sanskrit. Tad-asmakam matam , ‘it is our opinion’ or ‘it is my religion’. It is not the truth, I have not investigated it. But when you investigate and find it to be true, then that opinion becomes true opinion. It can stand challenge. So ordinarily, our religions in the world are always a plural. They are matams. What pleases me, what attracts me, what is relevant to my needs, that is called matam. I choose to be a Vaishnava, a Saiva, a Hindu, a Muslim, a Christian, all these constitutes matam. That is one aspect of it. The second aspect is: if you scientifically investigate, what is all this matam? Is there a truth behind all this? That discovery will lead you to tattvam of religion. When  tattvam is discovered, there will be no conflict in religions. Scientific truths do not conflict; only dogmas conflict. We know that all these are forms of the same single reality. There will be no conflict thereafter. Harmony and peace alone can come. And respect for each other: your opinion I respect, you also respect my opinion. You take some food, I respect it. I take some food, you respect that also. Don’t say that my food alone is food, your food is poison. That is what we have done in the name of religion, mistaking it to be tattvam . Tattvam is quite different. Any food you may take – that is matam . but see that you take so many calories, so much of nourishment needed for health; that is tattvam.

So, you can see in religion as well as in food the distinction between matam and tatvam . only when you investigate, you will come to this truth. In our country today, when more people begin to question, why so many religion? What is the truth about all of them? Every religion says I am true; yes you are true. But you can’t take a copyright of all truth. Others also say they are true. When such questions come, very impartial objective investigation is needed, and that is what our ancient and modern sages did, and raised matam to the level of tattvam. And tattvam is one. Tattvam can never be plural. Matam can be plural. So, matams are but different expressions of that one tattvam. That is how our Indian sages discovered that wonderful unity behind the diversity of religions, established harmony and peace, with so little of intolerance in the name of religion on the soil of India.

But that tattvam is spoken in differently in language and style by different people. What are these? Some call It Brahman , some call It Paramatma, the supreme Self, and some call It Bhagwan, the all-loving God.

In this way, this investigation of matam and tattvam has done immense good to the country. And today, we have to  inaugurate that kind of investigation, to find harmony behind these diverse manifestations.

(Excerpts from Universal message of Bhgavad Gita by Swami Ranganathananda of Ramakrishna Math.)

Random thoughts on Janmashtami

Random thoughts on Janmashtami (Sri  Krishna’s Birthday)

I think , its not simply not enough to be simply ritualistic on such as these occasions. What we do on such day’s, mostly, do some Pooja, go to temples, offer prasads, fire agarnbathi’s, break coconuts, eat and be satisfied that , we have pleased the Lord and Lord will shower His blessings on us. By evening we forget , and do what we were doing all the while as usual. There wont be any change in the life style or thinking etc., Same mundane things, worries, jealousies, hatred, etc., Nothing is changed and will be changed.

We  should take this opportunitiy of Krishn’a Birthday(Janmashtami) to reflect on what he has said , esp.  what we call “Bhagavad Gita” .  I find it very Unfortunate and a bit amusing, to hear Bhagavad Gita, rendered by late Ghantasala, ONLY on someone Death. Is it really meant only for the ‘Dead” or for the people who are in mourning?

Actually , Bhagavad Gita is a Comprehensive philosophy of life and work.

Here I share some of the words Swami Ranganathananda, of Ramakrishna Math, spoke on Bhagavad Gita.

 The Bhagavad Gita was and is read as a pious act and for a little peace of Mind. We never realized that - this is a book of intense practicality, that this is the greatest book of practical Vedanta, capable of helping in to create a Society of fully developed human beings. We never understood the practical application of Gita teachings. If we had done so, we would not have had the thousand years of foreign invasions, Internal caste conflicts, feaudal oppressions and mass poverty. We never took Gita seriously. But, now, we have to.

The Gita is philosophy that will train people’s mind and hearts to build a new welfare society, based on human dignitiy, freedom and equality. But the tragedy is, we have, converted it into a mere Book of Piety.

The Gita is compared to the Milk taken out of cow, meaning Vedas, by Sri Krishna, the Milkman. What is the Milk for? It is not meant for Worship, but it is meant to be drank for nourishment. Then alone can one get strength. But all these hundreds of years, we took that glass of Milk, worshipped it with flowers and saluted it, but never drank it. That is why, we are feeble, physically, mentally and socially. Start drinking this Milk and assimilate it. That will help us to develop character, strength, work efficiency and spirit of service and to forge a new national destiny.

(Unquote)

Relationships

Now if we examine our life, our relationship with another, we shall see that it is a process of isolation. We are really not concerned with another; though we talk a great deal about it, actually we are not concerned. We are related to someone only so long as that relationship gratifies us, so long as it gives us a refuge, so long as it satisfies us. But the moment there is a disturbance in the relationship which produces discomfort in ourselves, we discard that relationship. In other words, there is relationship only so long as we are gratified. This may sound harsh, but if you really examine your life very closely you will see it is a fact; and to avoid a fact is to live in ignorance, which can never produce right relationship. If we look into our lives and observe relationship, we see it is a process of building resistance against another, a wall over which we look and observe the other; but we always retain the wall and remain behind it, whether it be a psychological wall, a material wall, an economic wall or a national wall.

 So long as we live in isolation, behind a wall, there is no relationship with another; and we live enclosed because it is much more gratifying, we think it is much more secure. The world is so disruptive, there is so much sorrow, so much pain, war, destruction, misery, that we want to escape and live within the walls of security of our own psychological being. So, relationship with most of us is actually a process of isolation, and obviously such relationship builds a society which is also isolating. That is exactly what is happening throughout the world: you remain in your isolation and stretch your hand over the wall, calling it nationalism, brotherhood or what you will, but actually sovereign governments, armies, continue. Still clinging to your own limitations, you think you can create world unity, world peace - which is impossible. So long as you have a frontier, whether national, economic, religious or social, it is an obvious fact that there cannot be peace in the world.

~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

From 'The First And Last Freedom', ch. 14

How different species differ in intelligence

How Different Species differ from each other in their Intelligence

When I saw the above photo of the Birds and its nest for its babies, My mind/thoughts went into a spiral. How come only this bird species are capable of building such beautiful nests and others not. Different birds build nests of different sizes and shapes, specific to their breeds.

That's the beauty of Nature. Only, that specific breed of birds can build such a nest. No other bird builds this type of nest. How? No one teaches it. May be the technique of building such a nest exists, in the consciousness of those birds, only and  Its passed on through successive generations, only through these birds, but not to others.

This led me into thinking.

It is said that the flow of “Consciousness” is the essence of all sentient and non sentient beings whatever their body is. Then, when the flow of consciousness is same in all beings, how different beings , have different levels of Intelligence. How those birds differ from each species and with other animals, including Humans?  This is What, my take,  after doing some research and thinking,  on this subject.

All beings, be it birds, animals, etc., have brains, but not as evolved as Humans. I think, that’s where , the secret of different levels of Intelligence, lies , in different beings.

In different studies, pertaining to Brain, it was found that --- It is not the size of the Brain, that determines the Intelligence of a species/animal etc., But , it is the -- Ratio of the Brain size to the entire Body weight of the a species. For example: Humans have a Ratio of 1 : 50. Most other Mammals have a Ratio of 1 to 180.

For , Birds , it is 1 to 220.

And , Intelligence, also has to do with the different components of the Brain. Humans have the largest ‘Cerebral Cortex” of all Mammals, relative to the size of their Brains. This area , homes for the Cerebral Hemispheres, which, are responsible for Higher functions like, Memory, Communication, thinking etc.,

Birds, Fish, Reptiles, etc., have smaller Cerebral Cortex, relative to the size of their Brains. This explains the low level of Intelligence, in these species.

Studies show that , ‘the Cortex’ is the seat of Higher Brain functions, the bit of the brain we see with, hear with. In particular, one of the main functions is – association/cognition  – bringing sensory information together with information on Internal states and motivation to enable flexible and context dependent decisions to be taken, rather than simple reflexive action in response to Isolated stimuli. Most of the Birds and animals act with simple reflexive action to external stimuli, because of smaller Cerebral Cortices in them.

From the above, it can be summarized, that the level of Intelligence in different beings/species , is directly proportional to the Cerebral Cortex to the brain and in turn , to the size of the brain to the Body weight of the species.

Also, it can be assumed that the ‘Cerebral Cortex’ is the recipient of the ‘Consciousness’ in all beings. This explains, the different levels of Intelligence in different beings, even though the flow of consciousness is same in all beings, based on the relative sizes of Cerebral cortex, in the brain of different beings.

I think, this can be explained with a simple analogy --- comparing  Electricity to Consciousness and Cerebral cortex/Brain to Wattage in bulbs. More wattage more bright light, even though the flow of electricity is same to all Bulbs.  More of the Cerebral Cortex/Brain more Intelligence.

As Humans, Where we differ from Other is not in Consciousness itself, but in the picture we paint in our individual thinking minds and to which we choose to become attached. This is our sense of separation - the beliefs about ourselves which are the source of our limitations.