GUIDING LIGHTS
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Bhagwan Parshuram |
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Bhagwan Parshuram, the sixth Incarnation of
Vishnu, belongs to the Tretayug, and is the
son of Jamadagni and Renuka. Parshu means axe, hence
His name literally means Ram-with-the-axe. He received
an axe after undertaking a terrible penance to please
Lord Shiva, from whom He learned the methods of warfare
and other skills. Even though He was born as a Brahmin,
He had Kshatriya (warrior) traits in terms of aggression,
warfare and valour. Hence He is said to be a 'Brahma-Kshatriya'
and one who possesses Brahmatej and Kshatratej.
He killed the entire army and King Kartavirya Sahasrarjuna, who took away the magical cow (Kamadhenu) forcibly, that belonged to His father Jamadagni. In revenge the King's sons killed Jamadagni in Parshuram's absence. Furious at their unrighteous act, He killed all sons of the King and also went on killing all corrupt Haihaya Kings and warriors on the earth 21 times.
He then conducted the Ashvamedha sacrifice, done only by sovereign Kings and gave the entire land He owned to priests who performed the sacrifice (Yadnya).
He is a Chiranjeevi (Immortal) who fought the advancing ocean back, thus saving the lands of Konkan and Malabar (Maharashtra - Karnataka - Kerala coastline). The coastal area of Kerala state along with the Konkan region, i.e., coastal Maharashtra and Karnataka, is known as Parshuram Kshetra (area).
He has been a Guru to Bhishma, Dronacharya and later also to Karna. He taught Karna the extremely powerful Brahmastra (a celestial weapon). But He also cursed that the knowledge would be useless to Karna, predicting much in advance that Karna will join the unrighteous Duryodhana in the Kurukshetra war. Such was His love for Righteousness.
Also, the Sudarshan chakra (or Sudarshan Vidya) is said to be given by Parshuram to Lord Krushna. The purpose of the sixth Incarnation of Vishnu is considered by religious scholars to be to relieve the earth's burden by exterminating the sinful, destructive and irreligious kings that pillaged its resources, and neglected their duties.
Parshuram is a martial Shraman ascetic. However, unlike all other Incarnations, Parshuram lives on earth even today. The Kalki Purana states Parshuram will be the martial guru of Sri Kalki, the 10th and final Incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is He who instructs Kalki to perform a long penance unto Shiva to receive celestial weaponry.
He created a temple of worship right after He resurfaced Kerala from the sea. He placed statues of various Deities in 108 different places and introduced martial arts to protect the temple from the evil.
Parshuram Jayanti falls on 7th May 2008. We pay our obeisance to this Incarnation of Lord Vishnu who reinstated Dharma in Tretayug and Dwaparyug.
Sant Tukdoji Maharaj (1909 - 1968) was born in Yawali, Maharastra. He received spiritual initiation from Samarth Adokji Maharaj of Warkhed gram. Early in childhood, Sant Tukdoji Maharaj performed rigorous penance and spiritual exercises in self-realisation. He also was a great orator and a musician who composed more than 3000 bhajans (spiritual poems) in Hindi and Marathi. He has also written many articles on Dharma, society, Nation and education.
He studied the existing religious sects and other schools of thought and discussed religious and secular problems of the devotees. He was determined to re-define socio-Spirituality and revitalise and awaken the Nation.
In 1941 he performed individual satyagrah and he took part in the mass upsurge of the
'Quit India' movement in 1941. He strongly opposed the inhuman repressive measures, adopted at that time by the British rulers. He was arrested in 1942 and was imprisoned in Nagpur and Raipur Central Jails. After the dawn of Independence, Sant Tukdoji concentrated on rural reconstruc-tion. He established the
'All India Shri Gurudev Seva Mandal' and developed many programmes for integrated rural development. His activities were so impressive that, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of Bharat at that time, bestowed the title of
'Rashtra Sant' on Him.
He was one of the founder Vice Presidents of Vishwa Hindu Parishad. He worked on many fronts for National cause - at the hour of the Bengal famine (1945), at the time of the China war (1962), and aggression of Pakistan (1965), the Koyna earthquake devastation (1962). Rashtra Sant Tukdoji Maharaj went with His mission to help the affected and organised constructive relief works.
He took part in Acharya Vinobha Bhave's Bhudan Movement. He attended the World Conference of Religion and World Peace in Japan in 1955. His wisdom lives on in His
'Gram Gita' which provides inspiration for village development and National reconstruction. He worked hard to convert devotion to God into service to mankind and the Nation. He transformed a traditional prayer Organisation into disciplined, broad based groups of devout young men and women who engaged in constructive social works. He left his mortal body on 11th October 1968. Rashtra Sant Tukdoji Maharaj's Jayanti falls on 27th May 2008.We pay obeisance to this son of the soil who combined devotion and action to bring about changes in the society.
Ahilyadevi Holkar (1735 - 1795): Bharat has had many women rulers, warrior women and poet queens, but Ahilyadevi Holkar commands more
affection and respect for her accomplishments during her 30-year-long reign than any other does. She was noted for her piety, for her administrative ability, for her keen interest in her people and for an extraordinary amount of building at Holy sites all over the country. Her rule of Malwa in the 18th century is still cited as a model of benevolent and effective governance.
Her entrance on to the stage of history was something of an accident: Malhar Rao Holkar, a commander in the service of the Peshwa Bajirao and lord of the Malwa territory, according to legend, saw the eight-year-old Ahilyadevi at a temple service in the Chondi village. Recognising her piety and her character, he brought the girl to the Holkar territory as a bride for his weak son, Khande
Rao.
Ahilyadevi's husband was killed in battle in 1754. Twelve years later, her father-in-law, Malhar Rao died. Some in Malwa objected to her taking the reigns; but the army of Holkar was enthusiastic about her leadership. She had led them in person, with four bows and quivers of arrows fitted to the corners of the howdah of her favourite elephant.
From 1766 until her death in 1795, she ruled Malwa, trained in both administrative and military matters by Malhar Rao.
She personally led armies into battle. She is also famous for justice - once she gave the order for killing her only son under the elephant feet for his punishable activities. The great Maratha lady affords the noblest example of wisdom, goodness and virtue.
This great ruler in Indore encouraged all within her realm to do their best - Merchants produced their finest cloths, trade flourished, the farmers were at peace and oppression ceased, as each case that came to the queen's notice was dealt with severely. She also built forts and roads in Malwa, sponsored festivals and gave donations for regular worship in many Hindu temples. Outside Malwa, she built dozens of temples, ghats, wells, tanks and rest-houses across an area stretching from the Himalayas to pilgrimage centres in South Bharat.
Craftsmen, sculptors and artists received salaries and honours at her capital.
Historians of the 19th and 20th centuries agree that the reputation of Ahilyadevi Holkar in Malwa and Maharashtra was then, and is, even now, that of a Saint. She was truly a magnificent woman, an able ruler and a great queen. Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar's Jayanti falls on 27th May 2008. We pay obeisance to this great Maratha lady.
(Compiled by Ms. Chitra Srinivasan, Mumbai.)
Gandhi:Father of the Nation?-XII
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Unconditional Muslim appeasement as Gandhi's philosophy
Mohandas Gandhi's philosophy is often assumed to be pillared by 'Satya' and 'Ahimsa'. But the fact is that his philosophy was not just this, but also unconditional Muslim appeasement. Gandhi's behavior was inconsistent with
'Satya' and 'Ahimsa' and yet it was always consistent with the principle of Muslim appeasement. Veer Savarkar called his philosophy
'tattva-adnyaan' (Principle-Ignorance). (Ref: Gandhi Gondhal; Author: Veer Savarkar)
'Blank cheque' facility to Muslims
From 1919 onwards, Gandhi began making several legally questionable and illogical promises to the Muslims, in order to become their undisputed leader! Gandhi gave them a
'Blank cheque facility', to ask for any-thing. Due to such facilities, all major Muslim leaders in Bharat became followers of Gandhi.
(Ref: Panchavan Kotinche Bali; Author: Gopal Godse)
Trampling the faith of hundreds of Congress workers for one Muslim's fanaticism!
To show respect to Gandhi, the Congress adopted as its flag the Tricolor with a charkha, which would be unfurled on every major event of the Congress. This flag was hoisted in all rallies; even homes of Gandhiwadis were decorated with this flag. Students hoisted this flag on the University building to demonstrate their Nationalist sentiments. In 1946, after the great Hindu slaughter, Gandhi was roaming around the Tippora region. The flag was hoisted on his temporary tent. Once a Muslim found the flag unbearable and took objection to it. Gandhi immediately ordered that the flag be taken down! He did not even bother to ask other Congress workers.
(Ref: Panchavan Kotinche Bali; Author: Gopal Godse)
Islam spread by the teachings of fakirs and not by the sword!
Hassan Nizami, a fanatic Muslim leader from the North once met Gandhi. At that time, Gandhi used the following lies to appease the Muslims,
"I know the secret of the spread of Islam. I am aware that Islam spread not by the sword but by the teachings of fakirs and maulavis, the sword has been used to merely protect Muslim culture!".
(Ref: Writings of Veer Savarkar)
(To be continued)
(For more on this subject, visit: www.HinduJagruti.org)
Christianity in a different light
Face behind the mask - II
Christians do not believe in many Gods; what is the result of such belief? Author Maanoj Rakhit has a look at some of their books and strategies that have preached hatred and subordinated Bharatiyas. In a short series here, we present an excerpt from his article.
As Christians believe in one God, and that too only a Christian God they eliminated all civilisations that believed in many Gods. They did not eliminate Islam because it believed in one God, like them; but they had been continually at war with Islam because they believed in another God. Even today what is happening between Osama Bin Laden and President Bush is nothing but same Jihad and Crusade, though Christians do not say it because they have learned with time to hide their true motives. They could not eliminate Hindu civilisation, but they substantially corrupted it through imposed Christian education for the past six generations. They have effectively destroyed the fabric of Hindu society.
Saint Francis Xavier took a large grant from Hindu king of Quilon to build churches, and then he converted entire villages into Christianity in one stroke, and then he got Hindu temples pulled down and Hindu God-idols destroyed, and he wrote to the Society of Jesus that he could not describe in words the joy he felt watching this happen.
In Christianity such people are respected as Saints. In Hinduism such people are not respected because they posses inhuman qualities. The two religions are opposite in their values.
T B Macaulay: "I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Bhaaratiyas think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native self-culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation. We must at present do our best to form a class who may be interpreters between us and the millions whom we govern; a
class of persons, Bhaaratiyas in blood and color, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals and in intellect." And, this is how Hindus were turned substantially anti-Hindu by implementing Macaulay's Christian Missionary Education system.
Macaulay wrote to his father in 1836 - "Our (Christian missionary) English schools are flourishing wonderfully….. It is my belief that if our plans of education are followed up, there will not be a single idolater among the respectable classes in Bengal thirty years hence. Macaulay himself was fiercely Christian and he could not tolerate the survival of a Hindu nation with Hindu civilisation on the face of this earth. It was his masked crusade against Hinduism.
HINDU TEMPLES
What Happened to them?- XII
"Chosen" People
The other side of the coin of a "Jealous God" is the concept of a "Chosen People" or a Church or Ummah. The chosen God has a chosen people (and even his chosen enemies). Both assist each other. While their God helps the believers in fighting their neighbours, the believers help their God in fighting his rival-Gods. In short, they are to become his swordsmen and salesmen, his
"witnesses", his martyrs and Ghazis. They must fight not only their unbelieving neighbours but also, even more specifically, their
(neighbours') Gods. For these Gods are not only the Gods of their enemies, but they are also the enemies of their God, which is even worse. The believers have taken this God-given mission seriously. The Hedaya (Guidance), the Muslim Law Book par excellence, quotes the Prophet and lays down:
"We are directed to make war upon men until such time as they shall confess. There is no God but Allah."
Earthly Reward
However, it is not all God and his glory all the time. The undertaking has its practical side too. The crusaders are not without their earthly rewards. They work to extend the sovereignty of their God and, in the process, their own too. A pious tradition proclaims that the earth belongs to Allah and his Prophet. Therefore, the inescapable conclusion is that the infidels are merely squatters, and they should be dispossessed and the land returned to its rightful owners, the believers.
Today, the intellectual fashion is to emphasise the political and economic aims of imperialism and to neglect its theological component. But history shows that the most durable imperial-isms have been those which had the support of a continuing theological motive. Such imperial-isms dominated without a conscience - or, rather, whatever conscience they had supported their domination. The power of faith killed all possible doubts and self-criticism.
"Hideaway Communalism" quotes extensively from the Foreword of Maulana Abul-Hasan Ali Nadwi which he contributed to the book,
'Hindustan under Islamic Rule'. These quotes show that in its self-estimation and self-righteousness, the white-man's burden of civilising the world is a poor match to Islam's responsibility of bringing the earth under Allah and his Prophet.
Iconoclasm
Semitic "My-Godism" described as Monotheism, has another dimension: Iconoclasm. In fact, the two are two sides of the same coin. When worshippers of the Semitic God came into contact with their neighbours, it was not clear what they abhorred more, their Gods or their idols. In point of fact, they made no such fine distinction. Trained as they were, they made war on both indiscriminately.
The Judaic God commands his worshippers that when they enter the land of their enemies, they will
"destroy their altars, and break their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graves images with fire" (Bible, Deut. 7.5). Perhaps the Judaic Revelation was meant to apply only to the territory of the Promised Land; but when Christianity and, in due course, Islam became its proud inheritors and adopted the Biblical God, its operation became universal. Wherever the two creeds went, temple-razing followed. Today, Christianity seems to present a different face but during the better part of its career it was stoutly iconoclastic. In the Mediterranean countries, in Northern Europe, in Asia and the two Americas, it destroyed shrines of the pagans with unparalleled thoroughness and perfect self-satisfaction. When America was discovered, the Benedictine monks who came in the train of Columbus boasted of having destroyed single-handed 170,000 images in Haiti alone. Juan de Zummarage, the first Bishop of Mexico, writing as early as 1531, claimed that he destroyed 500 temples and 20,000 idols of the heathens. In our own country, in Goa, Jesuit fathers destroyed many Hindu temples.
Islam did the same. Wherever it went, it carried fire and sword and destroyed the temples of the conquered people. Goel has documented some of the cases but as he himself says, they represent merely the tip of an iceberg.
In the next Issue, we will have a look at Islam's Religious Policy - 'No imperialism is secure unless it destroys the pride, culture and valour of a conquered people. People who retain their religions, their Gods and their priests make poor subjects and remain potential rebels'.
(To be continued)
(Condensed from: Hindu Temples - What happened to them?; By Sitaram Goel & others. Published by: Voice of India, New Delhi)
Muslims run riot on Hindu New Year Day!
Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad, Maharashtra) - On the eve of Gudipadwa about 1000 fanatic Muslims gathered near the mosque in Sambhaji Peth, raising slogans of
'Allah ho Akbar'. They alleged that the wall, which a Hindu had built, was disrupting the road to the mosque and moved to destroy it. In fact the wall was built with the permission of the Court. (Hindus should remember these Muslims for future action; these elements deliberately create riots on every Hindu festival!
- Editor) Those who incited the rioters included local Muslim Corporators and leaders. (Hindus should teach a lesson to the anti-Hindus parties who have sided with Muslims!
- Editor) The mob then resorted to stone pelting near the vegetable market. During the stone throwing, a group of Shiv Sainiks reached the spot and started raising slogans of
'Jai Bhavani Jai Shivaji'. The atmosphere became tense, when the groups came face to face; the Police reached there and hurled tear gas shells.
(When the Muslims are rioting, the Police are no where to be seen; but when Hindus retaliate, the Police immediately rush to the spot !
- Editor) On the day of Gudipadwa, again a mob of 300 Muslims gathered near the mosque waving green flags and raising slogans of
'Nara e Tadbeer Allah ho Akbar'. They pelted stones on two buses. The Police resorted to a cane charge and hurled tear gas shells in a bid to disperse the mob. However, despite the Police warning to go back, the mob marched towards the city Police station and started pelting stones at the Police station. (It is well nigh impossible that the Police, who are often at the receiving end of the Muslims, will ever teach a lesson to those who go to the extent of destroying National property and even throwing stones at Police stations. So now the Hindus alone should take the onus of reigning in the fanatic Muslims. For that they ought to join Dharmashakti
Sena! - Editor)
Due to the incident, the atmosphere in the town was tense on the day of Gudipadwa. (Ref:
'Dainik Sanatan Prabhat')
A guide to Sattvik Living
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1.Introduction
In this Article, we explore the various aspects of sattvik living. The importance of a sattvik lifestyle cannot be overstated. Just as the physical elements such as the wind, weather, pollution etc. affect us on a daily basis, the spiritual frequencies of the subtle basic sattva, raja and tama in the environment and our activities also affect us. Even though most people cannot perceive subtle spiritual frequencies due to a lack of sixth sense ability, the frequencies, however, subtly affect us all the time at a physical, mental and spiritual level. According to the science of Spirituality, all created objects are composed of three subtlest particles namely, sattva, raja, and tama. The sattva component corresponds to purity, the raja component corresponds to activity or passion, and the tama component corresponds to inertia or negativity. The proportion of sattva, raja, tama components in an average person is 20%, 30%, and 50% respectively. Thus, an average individual is more tama predominant than sattva predominant. As one undertakes regular spiritual practice, his sattva component starts increasing while the tama component starts decreasing. Once an individual crosses the spiritual level of 50%, his attitude becomes introverted. Then no importance is attached to the three components (triguns) in his constitution.
The table 'A' below will elucidate this concept a little more. It shows various activities and the environment that would be favourable or unfavourable.
The more the element of sattvikta, the more favourable is the environment for holistic well-being and sustainable development. Accordingly all unfavourable environments for positive activity have higher raja and tama elements. The elements in any environment as well as any activity can either enhance or reduce the sattvikta in our lives and hence respectively enhance or reduce the overall quality of our life. Rajasik and tamasik lifestyles invariably are laden with unhappiness, expectations and a lower quality of existence. It is important to note that it is not just one activity that makes or breaks the sattvikta in our life
but that every activity either adds to or reduces it.
2. Yogic Asans & Pranayam
Attending yoga classes has become quite popular around the world. Many yoga classes are limited to yogic asans (yogasans) or yogic exercises and pranayam. Pranayam is a breathing exercise developed by the ancient yogis for regulating the vital energies in the body. So from the perspective of spiritual growth what is the benefit of attending yoga classes that are limited to yogic asans and pranayam?
Spiritual research undertaken by SSRF has revealed that if one just does yogic asans and pranayam, it is insufficient to achieve spiritual growth. Yogic asans and pranayam only purify the physical body and the vital energy body (prandeh) respectively, that is increase the sattva component in them.
Chart 'B' on the right shows the average spiritual purification that takes place across various bodies of our existence after undertaking asans and pranayam.
From this chart, one can see that benefit from yogic asans and pranayam is limited to the physical and vital bodies. For example, by yogic asans the physical body will be spiritually purified upto 20%, by an increase in the sattva component, but this will take 10 years on an average. Increasing the sattva component in the more subtle bodies such as the mind, intellect and subtle ego will require a more subtle type of spiritual practice. Moreover the purification achieved in the physical and vital bodies by yogic asans and pranayam can occur by following other paths of spiritual practice as well. Hence, from a spiritual growth point of view, yogic asans and pranayam by themselves are inadequate. It is important to add that there is no connection between purification of the body and the destiny to be experienced by it. For example if a person is destined to have an accident, or develop some muscle disease like a degenerative myopathy, just by yogic asans one will not be able to prevent it. Purification of the body however, increases the tolerance of the body to face its destiny.
One of the objectives of spiritual growth is to attain a higher plane of existence like Heaven, Mahalok, Janalok, Tapalok or Satyalok after death. Even to attain the subtle region of Heaven, which is the lowest among the aforementioned positive regions, in one's afterlife each of the various bodies of our existence (mentioned in the table) should be at least 50% pure. However yogic asans and pranayam are useful in worldly life to make the physical body and vital body healthy, especially to those who are unable to follow other paths such as Path of Meditation or Path of Devotion.
3. Offering to God as per talent or capacity
All of us have some resources at our disposal. These have been given to us by God. A basic principle in spiritual practice is that we use the same resources to serve Him as part of our spiritual practice and grow spiritually. The resources we have fall broadly into four categories. Let us look at these four in a little detail:
1. Our body: Serving by our body
means using our body to serve God. For example:
a.Cleaning a venue and getting it ready for a lecture on Spirituality
b.Driving seekers to the venue.
c.Putting up posters to advertise a lecture on Spirituality
2. Our wealth and worldly connections: Examples
of serving God will be -
Paying for the venue where a spiritual discourse is to be conducted
Arranging for a lecture on Spirituality at an Institute one is associated with
3. Our mind and intellect: Using
these is about using our creative and intellectual
processes to serve God. Examples of this will include:
a.Using our intellect to study Spirituality, put it into practice and then tell others about it
b.Using our writing skills to spread Spirituality by writing articles on Spirituality
c.Helping in the maintaining of records and administration of an event
4. Our sixth sense: Some of us have
been gifted with sixth sense from an early age. This
is due to spiritual practice from either a previous
birth or from this birth. The onus is on us to use
it only to facilitate spiritual growth in us and others.
The use of our sixth sense should be done under the
guidance of a Spiritual Master.
4. In Summary
a.By consistently offering what we have to serve God as part of our spiritual practice, we grow spiritually.
b.Even if one does not have wealth or a high intellect he can still offer his body in service to God and thereby grow spiritually.
c.The four types of offerings mentioned here are not mutually exclusive. If a person has a good intellect and a strong under-standing of Spirituality, he may be inclined just to offer his intellect. However, the principle is about
'offering all what one has'. As the person has a body and also may have some wealth, he should offer that along with his intellect.
d.Of all offerings, the mind and intellect is the most superior as through that medium one can help others understand and practice Spirituality.
(For more on the subject, please visit: www.SpiritualResearch Foundation.org)
Maharushi Vyas Jayanti
Vaishakh Shukla Trayodashi, Kaliyug Varsh 5110 (17th May 2008)
Honour of being equal to Vishnu
Vyasaya Vishnu Roopaya, Vyasa Roopaya Vishnave |
Namove Bhrama Nithaye, Vasishtaya Namo Namaha:||
Meaning: Salutation to Vyas who is in the form of Vishnu and Vishnu who is in the form of Vyas and one who is the treasure house of the Vedas. Salutation to one who was born in the noble family of Vasishta. The honour of being equal to Vishnu belonged to
Maharushi Vyas.
Work of Maharushi Vyas
In ancient days, our forefathers, the Rushis of Aryavarta, went to the forest to do Tapasya during the four months following Vyas Pournima - a particular and important day in the Hindu calendar. On this memorable day, Vyas, began to write his Brahma Sutras.
He studied the Shastras under Sages Sanaka and Sanandana and others. He arranged the Vedas for the good of mankind and wrote the Brahma Sutras for the quick and easy understanding of the Srutis; He also wrote the Mahabharata to enable women, shudras and other people of lesser intellect to understand the highest knowledge in the easiest way. Vyas wrote the eighteen Purans and established the system of teaching them through Upakhyanas or discourses. In this way, He established the three paths, viz., Karma, Upasana and Jnana. Vyas' last work was the Bhagavat which He undertook at the instance of Devrushi Narad, who once came to Him and advised Him to write it as, without it, His goal in life would not be reached.
Writing of the world's longest epic - Mahabharat
Maharushi Vyas knows the secret of all Creation. His vast knowledge of the past, present and future made Him apt to author the Mahabharat, the greatest epic in the Hindu scriptures. As Vyas knew all about prayers, Karma, Vedas, practice of asceticism and yog, Dharma (Religion and duty), Artha (material wealth) and Kama (desire), Shastras and the society, He put all this knowledge in the Mahabharat.
Vyas wanted someone to write the epic as He spoke the Shlokas to be included in the epic. So He went to Brahma and requested Him to provide Him a writer who would pen the epic. Brahma told Vyas that He should ask Ganapati to write the epic for Him. Ganapati agreed to write but on the condition that Vyas would not stop dictating even for a minute. Vyas also laid down His condition,
"Whatever I say should be written only after comprehending its meaning thoroughly, not blindly scribbled." Thus, Maharushi Vyas recited the Mahabharat, which has more than one lakh verses, without stopping even once, in order to fulfill Lord Ganapati's condition!
Lord Ganapati had a sharp intellect. As Vyas kept reciting, He kept comprehending the meaning and writing it down. Vyas had no time to think. But He too was clever; when He needed time to mentally organise the next verse, He would recite a difficult verse, which could have two or three interpretations and hence, was difficult to comprehend at once. This would force Lord Ganapati to stop and ponder over its meaning and this gave Vyas the time to mentally compose the next few verses. In this manner the Mahabharat was recited by Vyas and written by Ganapati. That which is not found in the Mahabharat, is not found anywhere else in the world.
The world has nothing additional to speak of!
All that is written in this world is the uttering of Vyas; that is why it is said,
(Meaning - That which is spoken by the world, is nothing
but the 'left-overs' of Vyas) - Gurudev Dr. Kate
Swamiji.
Vyas is beyond Pravrutti and Nivrutti
'Vyas' is the line joining the centre point of a circular object to the circumference on both the sides.
'Vyas' brings about a division of the circular wheel of Creation. Maharushi Vyas touches both sides
- these two sides are 'Pravrutti' and 'Nivrutti'; and yet, He remains unbound by them
- this is the reason He is known as 'Vyas'.
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Shankaracharya, Karveerpeeth, Kolhapur.
Maharushi Vyas - A Chiranjeevi
Vyas is considered by all Hindus as a Chiranjeevi - one who is still living and roaming throughout the world for the well-being of His devotees. It is said that He appears to the true and the faithful. Thus, in short, Vyas lives for the welfare of the world.
Let us pray for His blessings on us all and on the whole world!
(Compiled by: Ms. Nandita Verma, Sanatan's Ramnathi Ashram, Goa.)
Akshayya Trutiya
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The Holy text Madanratna explains how the third day (Trutiya) of the bright half of Vaishakh acquired its name thus.
Meaning: (Lord Krushna says) O Yudhishthir,
the offerings made and the oblations offered in the
sacrificial fire on this day never go in vain. Hence,
Sages have imparted the name Akshayya Trutiya
to this day. Everything done on this day for the sake
of Deities and ancestors is permanent.
AkshayyaTrutiya is one of the three and a half auspicious occasions in a year. This day is significant, as according to some it is the beginning of the Krutayug or the Tretayug. Since Bharatiyas always consider the first day of any time period to be auspicious, the scriptures prescribe rituals like ritualistic bathing, donations etc. on such days. The ritual performed on this day includes a bath with Holy water, ritualistic worship of Lord Vishnu, chanting, a sacrificial fire, donations and offering to ancestors. The scriptures recommend a rite for the departed (known as apindak shraddha) without the use of rice balls if feasible, or atleast an offering of sesame seeds (known as tiltarpan). Articles which give protection from the sun, like an umbrella, a pair of slippers etc. should also be donated on this day.
One must take care to donate only to the worthy, so that the act becomes a akarma-karma and one does not incur merits-demerits. Thus, the one donating does not get bound by the act and makes rapid spiritual progress.
This day is also of great significance to women, as they are supposed to immerse Chaitragouri (a female Deity) worshipped by them in the lunar month of Chaitra. Under that pretext they also perform the ceremony of haldi-kumkum.
(Ref: Sanatan's Publication - Holy Festivals, Religious Festivals and Vowed Religious Observances)
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