Welcome to the 13^th Issue of Veda gyan.

Importance of Months in Tamil Calendar.

All of us have celebrated Karthigai festival and later the month of Margazi began with its own grand festivities. These are some of the gifts that our tradition has handed down to future generations. Let us also know more about them so that we appreciate them and look at them at proper perspective. The month of Karthigai comes after the celebrations of Deepavali of previous month. Festival of lights brings joy and prosperity to the people. The same festive mood continues but with some sobriety in the month of Karthigai. Every day lamps are lit in the evenings at the entrance gate of the house and at all doors within the house. These lamps signify presence of goddess Lakshmi in every house in Jothi swaroopa! As a culmination of a month long festival on the day of Thirukarthigai Lamps are adorned with flowers and sandal paste,kunkum and they are worshiped and food is offered to these lamps and to the deities in the pooja room. It is described in the sastras that by observing these rituals one is endowed with good health and harmony among the members of a family. Incidentally it is during this month the men folk remember their sisters who have been married into other families and send them gifts and good wishes. It is worth mentioning here that during Deepavali people pray for wealth and during a month long festival of lights in Karthigai people pray for health and harmony. This month also serves as a preparatory step for totally spiritual festivals to follow!

During the month of Margazi Lighting of lamps are done in the dawn! It has a great significance. This month is considered to be the morning for the devatas! Their calendar is different; our one month constitutes a day (morning) for them! So the month of  Margazi is considered important. Even for us the twilight hour just before the sunrise is considered very good because during this time cosmic radiation bring favourable rays of energy upon earth. Similarly the sun set time is considered equally good.

The nithya or daily karmas like sandhyavandanam are to be performed only during this time.

Persons doing Yoga and Meditation attain maximum results when they are undertaken during this time period. Since our entire attention will have to be focused on the attainment of expanded consciousness, the month of Margazi is considered good for prayers and not for any social activity. But why a stigma is attached to this month by calling it a soonya masa or empty month?

Because they wanted us to fully concentrate on God and not divert our attention. Similarly people of our village consider the neem tree to be holy and will not venture cutting it down unnecessarily. This saved the tree and an ecology disaster. Also people were advised not to sleep under the trees at night because the harbour goblins!! This prevented even the commoner to obey explicitly thereby he was prevented in getting excess of Carbon dioxide. These are thoughtful strategies adopted by our earlier societies to conveniently educate the masses about the ill effects as well as good ones. Whether a person is fully informed or not full compliance will be achieved quite easily. To day we are seeing the amount of propaganda that goes on to educate people about ill effects of AIDS! These were achieved through much simpler ways!

Life of a great spiritual personality of recent times.

Sri Ramana was born in a village near Madurai in the Year 1879 and was named Venkatraman. His family was a religious Brahmin family and he grew up between his brother and sister and like every one, went to school to pursue his modern education. Some how from the early years he was attracted by the call of the eternal and would spend long hours in silence!

He was even pulled up for performing badly in his studies by his teachers and his brother. Once he was on a trip to his uncle’s house on a holiday while he was sixteen years old. This trip transformed his life all together. When he was fast asleep he had an experience of death! He felt that slowly he is dying and his body was loosing the signs of life and becoming stiff! But to his won surprise he was observing every minute change that was taking place! At that time a thought struck him, even though his body was dying there is something that does not die and is eternal! After he woke up his out look towards the entire world had changed.

 Six weeks after this incident he went away from his family to Tiruvannamalai, the abode of Sri Arunachaleswara. He had once visited this shrine when he was younger along with his friend and was drawn to this lord. In the shrine he chose to sit inside a cave temple that was beneath the surface for over a week. But by then the insects and rodents had eaten the flesh on his thigh but he was totally unaware of all this and was immersed in deep meditation on the lord! The local children accidentally found out his presence and informed their elders. Sri Seshadri swamigal who was an accomplished ascetic living in Tiruvannamalai at that time, heard of this and immediately brought him out of the cave and nursed him. Even while he was being brought out he was still in trance!

 Sri Seshadri swamigal realised that Ramana was no ordinary person and a realised soul! After this incident Ramana used to be lost in meditation in and around temple precincts for long hours! But the visitors to the temple and children used to disturb his meditation quite often. So he chose to migrate to a cave atop the hill and was lost in meditation for years together rarely coming to earthly consciousness. But the rise of spiritual power within could not be kept a secret any more. Soon the word spread all over and people thronged to visit him. He spent most of his time in total silence. But people around him would get immediate peace and were free of all their worries. He was much sought after by people of the far off lands of the globe! Slowly his family also realised his greatness and came to him for solace! His mother was a permanent resident at his abode. Ramana took upon himself to teach her the essence of Vedanta and made her realise her true self!

One astonishing fact of this great soul is that even the member of animal kingdom felt an affinity towards him and sought his presence irrespective of their surroundings. Unusually they would behave like human beings and were lost unto themselves in his presence. They included cows, monkeys, snakes, squirrels, crows, deer and peacocks. One such famous animal was the cow named Lakshmi, by Sri Ramana that attained mukthi at his feet. Ramana shined like a sun and as an embodiment of Brahman till 1950. During the last days of his earthly presence he was afflicted by cancer on his shoulder, but his attitude towards his illness was great example for yogic achievement! He never showed any reaction to pain and was totally detached from his body consciousness and had the operation performed on his tumour without anaesthesia. During his lifetime people of all walks of life from India and abroad alike sought him after. A number of miracles have happened during his lifetime that bears testimony to his realisation.     

Story Time!

The Lord of Death pretended ignorance of the fact that Nachiketas was emphasising and told him that he was not that knowledgeable and it would be proper for Nachiketas to approach others for an answer. Nachiketas answered the Lord that he was not the one to be deceived by such diversionary tactics, and he knew very well that among all the devatas he was the right one to answer the question in its totality.

This attitude of Nachiketas gave no room for any diversion of attention and the Lord of death had to reluctantly agree to answer the question. But again he did not want it to be an easy give away! He started the answer with an elaborate offer of

Huge wealth in terms of elephants, horses, gold, and other precious metals and ornaments and most beautiful damsels! That earthlings would not have seen, offered entire world as a kingdom to rule with its accompaniment retinues of attendants the chariots etc.

These offers were made to Nachiketas if he would not persist on getting the answer to his last question. But Nachiketas was unmoved! The Lord of death continued with different sets of offers now. He said that Nachiketas would be blessed with many

Wives and off springs! He went ahead and added that he would grant him longevity and as long as Nachiketas whished he could live and rule the kingdom. To this Nachiketas replied in the most exemplary manner. He said that he knew that what ever that was offered is to perish at some point of time. So hankering for them is futile. He adds little sarcastically that Lord of Death’s offer of longevity is the very purpose. Because by the boon only he could survive and all others would perish! And surviving among new generations would be impractical. Lord of Death listening to all these were sure that Nachiketas is not the one to relent. So he finally started explaining the concept of God. He began with the process of contemplation. He went on to elaborate the fire sacrifice or Agnihotra and right from the construction of the fire altar up to the offerings to the fire was explained. Upon finishing the treatise He made sure that Nachiketas had the grasp of what has been taught, by asking him to repeat whatever was told! Nachiketas was at his best and repeated in Toto. Lord of death was immensely pleased and offered a garland of precious stones and told that the fire sacrifice will be named after Nachiketas. He later blesses Nachiketas to realise himself and get the answers to his questions!! The Upanishad ends with suspense without explaining what Nachiketas finally learnt! Perhaps we are to toil like Nachiketas to know the secret.

From the story one aspect comes clear. That is one should never leave the focus of his objectives. What ever be the diversions

That arise one should not rest until the goal is reached. One should have lot of patience till the objective is realised.

Another Upanishad called Brhadaranyaka Upanishad answers the questions of Nachiketas, which we shall see in future issues.               

Now I take leave and shall meet you in the next issue.

Welcome to the 12th issue of Vedagyan

Our Culture

Our culture and tradition is much older than our science age and it is very clear that our forefathers had adopted technologies that are far superior to ours. It is because they did not deny the role for the human mind in their approach to truths about cosmos and its physical operations.

In fact their approach was a complete one, whereas ours is fragmented. The following facts will prove the above line of argument.

You have already read in the earlier issues of this bulletin about Geometry during the Apahstamba Rishi period, the science of flying or Aeronautical Science in the early scriptures, you would have also noticed the advanced language skills that they adopted and their wealth of literature in writing many commentaries. Vyasa Bhagavan’s monumental works are classic example of this. Panini’s grammar is an exhaustive work, the epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata give us a lot of information on the warfare and weaponry. The various Sutras by the Rishis tell us about the great value based society that had existed.

Just to know how catering technology had developed during the epic era, you should go through Ramayana’s passage wherein Sri Hanuman who had come in search of Sita visits the palace of Ravana, and he enters the palace after the night has fallen. Only the previous night a grand feast had taken place! The variety and the wafting flavours that emanated from those preparations and they are described in great detail! In Valmiki Ramayana. The same epic also narrates the Pushpaka vimana the aircraft that took Rama back to Ayodhya from Lanka!

Ramayana also narrates the interesting event. Kausalya personally attended all the female members of the monkey clan and had the hairdo done by her for the occasion of Rama’s ascendancy to the throne! A fashion statement of epic era!

The technology of healthcare was at its glory, and that is being rediscovered today in the form of Yoga therapies, pranic-healing centres that have become a part of modern health care procedures! Every one of you might have heard of Charaka an incarnate of Adishesha of Vaikunta. He was a great personage whose contribution to the medical science is immense. Even today there is no parallel to this work. Plastic reconstructive surgery had been performed successfully during those times!

Story Time

To continue from where we left…

 The Brahma rakshas was eating people who happened to pass by. This went on for long time. One day Gokarna visited his native village and went about enquiring the whereabouts of his ancestral house and was shown a dilapidated house. He went around the house and felt sad deep within his heart and as he was very tired due to his long journey he felt sleepy and rested in the courtyard. Suddenly he was rudely shaken and he woke up to a shrieking sound! It was dark all around but some thing strange; dark was lurking in the dark! It was a huge beast. It advanced menacingly towards Gokarna. But Gokarna was unmoved. He cast a cool and calm look and asked the beast who he was. The beast obviously could not tolerate this indictment and changed its form into a bison and then into a wild goat. All this only amused Gokarna and he persisted with his question. He addressed the beast as an unfortunate one and asked it to come clean. Hearing this the beast assumed its original Brahmarakshas form and talked to Gokarna. He enquired why Gokarna was here. Gokarna reassured the goblin that he was here in search of his ancestral home and also to know about his lost brother. Immediately the goblin came very near to Gokarna and was sure that he was his own brother. The goblin narrated the whole story of his and pleaded with him to somehow get rid of this curse that has befallen on him. Gokarna felt very sad at the plight of his brother and promised him to find a cure. Saying so he went towards the forest in search of great seers who could give him a solution. On the way he met many sadus and seers but none of them could give him a solution. At last he came across a sage who asked Gokarna to go to Kasi and said the solution would be found there. So Gokarna rushed to Kasi and there he found many seers were discussing the outcome of bad karmas and methods to atone them and get salvation. He approached them with reverence and narrated the story of his brother. They listened to him and said that observing the vow and discipline for a fortnight and reciting the Srimad Baghavata Mahapurana for seven days and making his brother listen to the discourse would cure him of his curse and he will be rid of the goblin form!         

Gokarna went back satisfied and immediately took steps to organise the discourse as suggested by the seers.

On an auspicious day on a decorated stage duly observing all the rules and injunctions

In front of pious audience Gokarna performed the initial poojas and started his discourse. Having been told by Gokarna about the discourse, his brother Dundukari who was in the form of a goblin came to the venue and hid himself in a bamboo stalk with seven nodes! At the end of the day after listening to the discourse the first node exploded with a thud! Like this all the seven days the discourse was heard by all devotees and also by Dundukari and every day one by one the nodes exploded and the last day, from the bamboo, Dundukari emerged not with his goblin form but with brilliant princely form. There stood a celestial vehicle with attendants ready to receive him. Dundukari saluted all the pious ones gathered over there and boarded the celestial vehicle and departed to the heavens! Among the awe struck on lookers was his brother Gokarna with a satisfied look.

This story illustrates the greatness of Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana.

Let us look at another story that is the central theme of an Upanishad called Kathopanisad.

This story emphasises several important points in the quest for the truth.

They are 1. When should the enquiry into the self or the Truth about God be started?

              2. What should be the attitude and aptitude of such an enquirer?

              3. What can be achieved by steadfast contemplation on God?

              4.What are the pitfalls that are likely surface on such a mission?

              5. Which are the aspects a sadak should avoid?

THE STORY OF NACHIKETAS……

King Vajasrava was ruler of Vedic age who had a son called Nachiketas a strict follower of Brahmacharyam or celibacy and also a well-read student of dharma and sastras. The king was known for his broad mindedness and had performed many yagnas or sacrifices and had given a lot of gifts to the needy and deserving. During one such yagna he had vowed to give away all his wealth! In the process he distributed his wealth to all the Brahmins, the poor, and the needy. While he was at it he gave a cow that was old, barren, ill fed and obviously the Brahman could not get any benefit out of it and also not maintain it.

Nachiketas was observing this and got disturbed and went up to his father and asked him that act of his is not in tune with the dharmasastra and explained that instead of giving the benefit his act will result in loosing the benefit of yagna. This act of his infuriated the king and immediately king asked Nachiketas what else could be offered? Pat came the reply from Nachiketas that the King could offer Nachiketas if so desired. This reply in front of every one further angered the king who said that he wishes to make the offering to the lord of Death. Nachiketas readily agreed. He instantly walked in space towards the abode of Lord of Death. When he reached the destination, it so happened that Yamadharma the Lord of Death had gone away from his abode! So Nachiketas had to wait at the gate for three days to meet the Lord of Death. At last when he arrived on the third day he was surprised as well as worried to see a Brahman at his gate. Enquiries revealed that he had been staying there for three days and had gone without food. According to sastras a Brahmachari who arrives at ones doorstep should be treated as an Athiti(Guest) and should be offered food and shelter before even the household partake food. If an Athiti goes hungry, untold miseries will descend upon the host! Lord of Death feared that he would loose his exalted position due to this mistake, as he was the foremost upholder of Dharma.

Yamadharmaraja addressed Nachiketas and explained that first of all he was not to have come to his abode, as Nachiketas has good longevity. Later he added that having come he has not received the due honours. He also said that Nachiketas would have to eventually return to earth. As an atonement of this sin Yamadharmaraja offered three boons to Nachiketas, and asked him that whatever he wished would be granted. To this Nachiketas thoughtfully replied that by first boon he would request the lord of death to make his father forget the animosity against him and also not have memories of himself coming here. Lord of Death felt happy and immediately granted this boon. Second boon was redeemed by requesting the Lord of Death to absolve the King Vajasravas of the sin he had acquired by offering an inappropriate gift to the Brahman. But the third and final boon came as jolt to the Lord of Death. Nachiketas asked the Lord a very difficult question about the concept of death and its aftermath! He asked what happens to people after they die? Sastras say that they take two different routes on of sun and the other of moon. Where do they go? And Nachiketas wanted the concept of rebirth explained to him. This question of Nachiketas really rattled the Lord of Death and he decided to divert Nachiketas from the topic and started talking to him.    

Did he succeed ?  Let us see in the next issue.

Answers to the Quiz shall appear in the next issue.