Aarsha Vani (Voice of Sanatana Dharma)
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Aarsha Vani (Voice of Sanatana Dharma) February 2019 Volume: 5 Issue: 01 GURUVĀṆI (As Aarshavani is Entering into 5th year...) ‘Started to propagate the Dharma handed over by Rishis with 2 pages in the first issue, 'Aarshavani’, free e- magazine, grew into 20 pages supported by the patronage of readers all over the world. At this auspicious moment when 'Aarshavani' is entering into its 5th year with the blessings of Rishis publishing many articles aligning the wishes of readers, we offer our prayers to Lord Almighty to pronounce His blessings upon all those contributing essays, gathering and translating articles, and all the readers generously supporting this effort.’ – Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Dear Readers, Namaste. With your patronage, Title Page# 1 Sūryōpāsana – Satyōpāsana 1 ‘Aarshavani’ is in its fifth year. We take 2 Śukla Saraswati 2 this opportunity to express our 3 Aditya Mantra 2 gratitude for your continuous support. 4 Efficacy of ‘Gopichandana’ 3 Spirituality is not just for elders. 5 Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa 4 Dhruva, Prahlada and Markandeya were 6 Major Festivals in This Month 5 small children when they had the 7 The Eternal - Devatārchana – Devalaya 7 darshan of God. Hence, children should 8 Śiva jñānaṁ - First Nandi – Then Śiva 8 be inculcated into Sanatana Dharma 9 Śyāmalāmbikē Pāhimāṁ 9 right from childhood. Elders also 10 Śrī Ādi Śaṅkara Jñāna Yajñaṁ - Bhaja Gōvindam 10 11 Humility is the Only Means to Win Over God 11 should make conscious effort to imbibe 12 Sanatana Dharma Around the World 11 the eternal values of Hindu Dharma, 13 Children’s Corner – Bala Siksha 12 teach their children, and be a role Vedic Mathematics - Sūtrās 13 model. To enable the grasp and 14 The Mahabharata True Story from Sage practice of Aarsha Dharma, a new Veda Vyasa - Siva Leelas in Mahabharata 14 feature ‘Children’s Corner’ is 15 Bhishma Gita 14 introduced. Along with this, ‘Garuḍa 16 Hindu Dharma – Form, Nature and Effect 15 Mahā Purāṇa’ and ‘Śrī Ādi Śaṅkara Jñāna 17 Śrī Varāha Swāmi 15 Yajñaṁ’ series have also been stared. 18 Announcements 16 19 ‘Siva Padam’ - Program Coverage 18 To express your views about this e- 20 Photo Gallery 19 magazine, and make it more rewarding and spiritually uplifting, please write to [email protected] with the subject line ‘VIEW’. Thanks & Namaste, Aarshavani Team. Copyright © 2019 | Rushipeetham Charitable Trust. All Rights Reserved. ‘Samanvaya is San tana – S marasya is Bh rat yata’ Aarshavani Vol. 5 February | 2019 ā ā ā ī SŪRYŌPĀSANA – SATYŌPĀSANA SĀMAVĒDĪYAṀ (‘Worship of Surya’ is the ‘Worship of Truth’) (QUINTESSENCE OF SANATANA DHARMA) Upāsana of Surya is the upāsana of Satya. Here, the word ‘Satya’ is used. “A lamp with a home has no darkness According to Sanskrit dictionary called ‘Nirukta’, ‘Satya’ means not only and poverty. The person whose heart is being truthful or true, but also one filled with the effulgence of Iswara has that never goes in vain. In other words, worship of Surya is certain to no dearth, distress, or ignorance. If one yield results and benefit the is blessed with the vision of Iswara in the worshipper. heart, one will be absolved of the Sun’s worship grants everything darkness of many previous births”. here in mundane and the supreme - Brahmasri Dr.Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma. hereafter. In fact, one who does not perform the worship of Surya accrues Upcoming Pravachanams sin. Sleeping during twilight times, non-practice of customs and traditions Date: Jan 31 – Feb 7, 2019 6:30 PM etc. are mentioned as sins committed towards Sun. Topic: “Siva Parvatula Kalyana Vaibhavam” One obtains the grace of Surya just by showing water mixed with Venue: Kodhanda Ramalayam, Konthamuru, flowers in a copper pot and offering as arghya to Him. Rajamahendravaram ‘Light Energy’ received is not different to those who worship or don’t Contact: Ravindranath 9110320236 K Varaprasad 9849660056 worship Him. He is the direct conscious incarnate who immediately responds in proportion to our devotion and prayers. He is an embodiment Date: Feb 18 - 26, 2019 6:30 PM Topic: “Srimad Ramayana Vaibhavam” of Light. His light can be termed as His love. In other words, Surya is an Venue: Sarada Sangeeta Sahitya Sabha embodiment of love. Every ray of light from Him is an expression of His DRR Municipal High School Grounds love. God’s love is nothing but His compassion. Hence, Surya is the Near Nellore Bus stand, Ongole. embodiment of supreme compassion. One of His names is ‘Raktasarva Contact: Smt. B Saradamba 9618643374 9948341774 Bhavōdbhava:’ Here, the word ‘Rakta’ does not mean red hue. It means (For details visit http://rushipeetham.org/ Event Calendar) affection, love, and attachment. Supreme God Himself declared He is Traditions-Fulfilments permeating His radiance everywhere as Sun. yad āditya-gataḿ tējō | jagad bhāsayatēkhilam || campakāśōka punnāga yaccandramasi yaccāgnau | tattējō viddhi māmakam || saugandhika lasatkacā! - Srimad Bhagavad Gita Long, smooth and thick curly hairs of Lord Krishna distinctly declared in Srimad Bhagavad Gita that It is His Sri Lalitha Devi are filled with the effulgence that is coming through Sun. Hence, the halo present in Sun is fragrance of chapaka, aśōka, punnāga, none other than the Supreme Parameswara. That Supreme can be called and saugandhika flowers. Yama the Siva or Vishnu or Divine Mother. Sri Lalita Sahasranama Stotra also god of death, was created from these mentions ‘Bhānu maṇḍala madhyastha bhairavī bhāgamālinī’ indicating the hairs. Those who meditate upon these same. (Contd.. Page2) hairs shall get rid of Yama’s afflictions. Sadhu Vachanam Recitation of ‘Aditya Hrudaya’ as mentioned below makes one victorious "The manifestation of the Divinity must be understood to be in greater even in tumultuous situations. degree in those who are honoured, respected, and obeyed by a large 1. Do achamana 3 times. following, than in those who have gained no such influence.” 2. Chant the mantra ‘Śrī bhagavatē - Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. hiraṇya garbhāya nama:’ 12 times. Bharateeyam 3. Recite ‘Aditya Hrudaya’ 3 times. "There has been no more revolutionary contribution than the one 4. Chant the mantra ‘Śrī bhagavatē which the Hindus (Indians) made when they invented ZERO." hiraṇya garbhāya nama:’ 12 times. - Lancelot Hogben, British experimental zoologist and medical statistician. 5. Do achamana 3 times. Spiritual Quest (Answers by Sri Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma) It is mentioned that Saptaswaras i.e. the Seven Notes of Music have presiding deities. From where these seven notes are adopted? Please explain their names. If these seven notes are treated as gods, what are their forms? Names of Saptaswaras i.e. The Seven Notes of Music are – 1. Ṣaḍja (Sa) 2. r̥ṣabha (Ri) 3. Gāndhāra (Ga) 4. Madhya (Ma) 5. Pan̄cama (Pa) 6. Daivatam (Da) and 7. Niṣādaṁ (Ni) Their presiding deities – Sa – Agni, Ri – Brahma, Ga – Saraswati, Ma – Siva, Pa – Vishnu, Da – Ganapati, and Ni – Surya. Their weapons respectively are sword, knife, mace, disc, bhindivala, arrow, and goad. Their forms: Sa – Big; Ri – Small; Ga – Big; Ma – Tall; Pa – Well balanced; Da – Tall; and Ni – Micro. Their sounds have been adopted as follows – 1. Ṣaḍja - Sound of peacock 2. r̥ṣabha – Sound of bull 3. Gāndhāra (Ga) – Sound of goat 4. Madhya – Sound of female curlew 5. Pan̄cama – Sound of cuckoo 6. Daivataṁ - Sound of horse niegh and 7. Niṣādaṁ - Sound of elephant’s trumpeting Gems related to these seven notes of music respectively are – Pearl, Sapphire, Diamond, Hessonite, Emerald, Garnet, and Ruby. Their wives respectively are – Gandharva Stree, Kinnera Kanta, Yaksha Vanita, Kimpurusha Stree, Naga Vanita, Sura Kanta, and Rakshasa Stree. Their Vehicles are - Sa – Hamsa (Swan), Ri – Simha (Lion), Ga - Grabha (Griphon), Ma - Mrgḁ (Deer), Pa - Sāḷuva (ancient extinct bird), Dha – Śuka (Parrot), Ni – Madana(Maina) (Contd.. Page 9) Copyright © 2019 | Rushipeetham Charitable Trust. All Rights Reserved. ‘Samanvaya is Sanātana – Sāmarasya is Bhāratīyata’ Aarshavani Vol. 5 – February | 2019 1 SŪRYŌPĀSANA – SATYŌPĀSANA ‘‘ŚUKLA SARASWATI” – Contd.. from page 1 In totality, it has to be understood that Surya is ‘Sarvadevatmaka’ i.e. the embodiment of all gods who has been postulated in Upanishads. Epithet of any God fits in quite appropriately to Sun. All the thousand names in Sri Vishnu Sahasranama stotra can be demonstrated as names of Sun, not just with scholastic ability, but with enough Vedic corroboration. Hence, worship of Surya is ‘Truthful’ i.e. ‘Satya’. Worship of Sun as a chosen path was widely prevalent previously. Sri Adi Sankara mentioned it as one of the six paths of worship. We have to reciprocate the love and enthusiasm of Sun in our worship. Because, beasts does not have that kind of awareness to worship Sun. If we also don’t worship, what is the difference between humans and beasts? Though Sun is raining His love through His light on birds, beasts, and humans alike providing them the much-required nourishment and consciousness, it’s only humans who worship the Supreme orchestrating creation, sustenance and dissolution, by worshipping the Sun. One should always be aware of this fact while worshipping Sun. śarajjyotsnā śuddhāṃ śaśiyuta Though Lord Narayana Himself incarnated as Sri Rama, - jaṭājūṭa-makuṭāṃ | introduction of ‘Aditya Hrudaya’ stotram at the exact moment of Vara trāsatrāṇa sphaṭika ghuṭikā achieving the welfare of this universe has deeper significance. pustaka karām|| Maharshi Valmiki here is declaring that ‘Aditya Hrudayam’ sakṛnnatvā natvā kathamiva stotram is absolutely essential for the protection of this satāṃ sannidadhate| universe. It is very important that strenuous efforts are made in this direction to make this stotra gain prominence so as to reache madhu-kṣīra-drākṣā-madhurima- everyone overcoming any obstacles that might come on this path dhurīṇāḥ phaṇitayaḥ ||| to prevent the same. "How can torrents of words excelling even Let’s all pray Bhagavan Surya to remove those hinderances, honey, milk and grapes, help flowing from the enable the devout recitation of ‘Aditya Hrudaya’ stotra by all and mouth of good men who once make prostration bestow His grace! to Thee who art endowed with the luster of the –Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma.