Aarsha Vani (Voice of Sanatana Dharma) January 2019 Volume: 4 Issue:12 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Title P a g e # Title P a g e # 1 Tattvamasi Svarūpa Ayyappa 1 9 How to unite Bhārata and make it more 8 2 Annadā, Vasudhā… 2 robust? – Swami Vivekananda 3 Kanuma – Worship of Cow 2 10 Sanatana Dharma Around the World 8 4 Who, how and when one should wear Bhasma 3 The Mahabharata True Story from Sage 5 Garuda Maha Purana 4 11 Open letter to Arthur Vullampalli 9 6 Major Festivals in This Month 5 12 Veda Vyasa - Siva Leelas in Mahabharata 10 7 The Eternal - ‘The institution of ‘ālaya’ 13 Hindu Dharma – Form, Nature and Effect 1 1 āgama stipulations - Hindu Temples are 14 Pitr̥ dēvō bhava – Śrī Janārdhanāya Namaḥ, centers of concentrated energy – Part 2 6 Śrī Upēndrāya Namaḥ, Śrī Harayē Namaḥ, 8 The Four Strategic Forms - Caturvyūha Rūpā: 7 Śrī Kr̥ ṣṇāya Namaḥ 11 15 Śiva jñānaṁ - Philosophy of Five-Faced Śiva 1 2 With your patronage ‘Aarshavani’ is in its fourth year. We take this opportunity to express our gratitude for your continuous support. To express your views about this e-newsletter, and make it more rewarding and spiritually uplifting, please write to [email protected] with the subject line ‘VIEW’. “सरस्वती श्रुततमहती महीयत 車" - "Sarasvatī śrutimahatī mahīyatāṁ" (The above phrase in Rushipeetham logo is said by King Dushyanta in Sri Kalidasa’s Abhignana Sakuntalam. “Pravartatāṁ prakr̥tihitāya pārthivaḥ; sarasvatī śrutimahatī mahīyatāṁ; mamāpi ca kṣapayatu nīlalōhitaḥ; punarbhavaṁ........" - ‘Rulers shall strive to save nature. Education derived from Vedas shall become venerable paving the path to universal welfare. Vedic education stipulating the directives of Dharma shall thrive. Let there be no rebirth to me by the grace of Svayambhu Sada Śiva’. King Dushyantha aspired for the above.) ‘Samanvaya is San tana – S marasya is Bh rat yata’ © Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma ā ā ā ī Aarsha Vani (Voice of Sanatana Dharma) January 2019 Volume: 4 Issue: 12 Tattvamasi Svarūpa Ayyappa Upcoming Pravachanams Lord Ayyappa is the embodiment of ‘Guru’. He is also called the ‘Śāsta’. ‘Śāsta’ Date: Dec 31, 2018 – Jan 5, 2019 6:15 PM means one who commands. It is the Guru Topic: "Mukunda Mala – Sri Lakshmi Narasimha who commands and directs towards Karavalambam” Venue: Sri Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam Satram following the scriptural decrees. Shraddha is Simhachalam, Visakhapatnam nothing but following the instructions of Organized by Sri Samavedam Dharmika Guru without any rational deductions or Pravachana Nirvahana Sangham logical interpretations. Upon sincere Contact: Bandi Ramesh Kumar 9441050226 execution of Guru’s instructions which are PS Raju 9849071266 Mindi Babji 9052628203 nothing, but the stipulations as prescribed by scriptures, Guru bestows the supreme Date: Jan 6, 2019 5:30 PM Topic: SIVA PADAM knowledge which makes one realize the Singers: SP Balasubrahmanyam, SP Sailaja & Team Maha Vakyas ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ and Venue: Convocation Hall, Andhra University, ‘Tattvamasi’. It is quite astounding to observe Visakhapatnam that this mahavakya ‘Tattvamasi’ is seen only Contact: M Rajashekar 9989991112 in Swami Ayyappa temples. Mahavakyas are Date: Jan 8 – 16, 2019 6:30 PM decrees mentioned in Vedas that postulate Topic:"Tulasidasa Virachita Ramacharita Manas” Venue: Kshipraprasada Ganapati Devalayam, the non-difference of self and supreme. When one continuously reminisces Kapra, ECIL post, Saket Colony, Hyderabad. these mahavakyas, there awakens an inner consciousness that there is no Contact: M Somanath, Sakuntala, Smt. Durga difference between the self and supreme ultimately leading to the realization of 8008003120, 8008003125 the supreme. Only He who makes His disciple realize the profundity and truth Date: Jan 29, 2019 6:30 PM hidden in these mahavakyas is a true ‘Guru’ or ‘Acharya’. Hence, Ayyappa Swami Topic: Felicitation to Brahmasri Samavedam is that Guru who bestows the ‘Brahmajnana’ i.e. The Supreme Knowledge, Shanmukha Sarmagaru with ‘Veturi’ Award attaining after which all searches, craves for everything ends. His very posture Venue: Sri Prakash Vidya Samstha, indicates this. He seats in ‘Veera’ asana. In Yoga, there are many kinds of ‘Veera’ Payakarao Peta, Tuni Contact: Ch.KV Narasimha Rao 8106574448 postures are mentioned, But, this posture is specific to a Guru. And, He is surrounded by ‘Yoga’ pattam. This extends up to the back Date: Jan 30 – Feb 2, 2019 6:30 PM Topic: "Siva Parvatula Kalyanam” from the legs. This aids in holding this posture steady. Venue: Kodanda Ramalayam, Konthamuru, Remaining resolutely in this posture itself is near Rajamahendravaram. impossible, except for those who are the embodiment of Contact: V Ravindranath 9110320236 K Varaprasad 9849660056 Brahman themselves. He holds ‘Chinmudra’ with His right hand akin to Lord (For details visit http://rushipeetham.org/ Event Calendar) Dakshinamurti. (Contd.. Page2) Traditions-Fulfilments Sadhu Vachanam Scriptures advocate that one should not "Hinduism is the mother of all religions. This is the ancient land, where wisdom travel on Kanuma during day time. made its home before it went into any other country… Here is the same India whose soil has been trodden by the feet of the greatest sages that ever lived… Worship of Lord Lakṣmi Nārāyaṇa Look back, therefore, as far as you can, drink deep of the eternal fountains that with Tulasi leaves from Puṣya are behind, and after that look forward, march forward, and make India brighter, ŚuklaVidiya to Pan̄cami fulfills all greater, much higher, than she ever was.” - Swami Vivekananda. desires. Bharateeyam "The Indian air surrounds us, the original thoughts of kindred spirits.....And O! Reciting ‘śrī surabhyai namaḥ’ as how the mind is here washed clean of all its early ingrafted Jewish superstition! many number of times every day to It is the most profitable and most elevating reading which is possible in the reach one lakh grants the fulfilment of world." - Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher and writer. all wishes. - Devi Bhagavata. Spiritual Quest (Answers by Sri Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma) Is it justifiable for courts to deliver judgement lifting restrictions on women entry alleging discrimination and inequality in Sabarimala temple? Entry of women is not restricted in all Hindu temples. It is not traditional in Sanatana Dharma for women to enter temples during the period of menstruation cycle, about which every woman is aware. During other times, women enter just like men in all other temples except Sabarimala. This is the unique distinction of that temple, in which there is neither discrimination nor inequality. All our temples are not of same kind. Each has it’s own distinction with respect to the form of deity, stipulations according to Agama scriptures, traditions, customs etc. Only who has thorough knowledge of all these can comprehend. These are the aspects that are not to be looked into just with a social angle. One should understand scriptures with positivity. Lord Ayyappa Swami is the direct embodiment of one who is observing the vow of celibacy. This rule is in vogue as part of those observances since ancient times. Violation of this rule does not augur favor to the country. One should understand this rule as the diety’s special observance of a vow. In fact, other religions also have some specific similar rules which seem like discrimination. Why do the courts who do not interfere into those show discernments against Hindu Dharma? This inequality is not required. ‘Samanvaya is Sanātana – Sāmarasya is Bhāratīyata’ © Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma 1 Tattvamasi Svarūpa Ayyappa – Contd.. from page 1 ANNAD , VASUDH …’ ‘ Ā Ā Ajñāna (Ignorance) of all the Rishis vanished completely without even a trace just by looking at Lord Dakshinamurti in that posture. His very form represents the unification of Hari and Hara. Looking at Hari and Hara as one form without any differences, and realizing that the entire universe is pervaded by one God i.e. ‘Sivāya Viṣṇu Rūpāya Śiva Rūpāya Viṣṇavē’ leading to Harihara Advaita is the quintessence of His form. Vedas decree - ‘Śivāya Viṣṇu Rūpāya Śiva Rūpāya Viṣṇavē | Śivasya hr̥dayaṁ viṣṇu: Viṣṇōśca hr̥dayaṁ śiva: || Yathā śivamayaṁ viṣṇu: Ēvaṁ viṣṇumayaṁ śiva: | Yathāntaraṁ na paśyāmi tathāmē svastirāyuṣi || “Śiva is the form of Viṣṇu; Viṣṇu is the form of Śiva; Śiva is the heart of This nāmās are in continuation of the ‘Sāvitri’ Viṣṇu; Viṣṇu is the heart of Śiva; Śiva is the amalgamation of Viṣṇu; nāma. ‘Sāvitri’ is nothing but worship of Divine Viṣṇu is the amalgamation of Śiva; Those who does not observe any Mother present in the halo of Sun. Such worship difference between Śiva and Viṣṇu shall be bestowed with long life and grants ‘Anna’ i.e. foods. Hence, Mother is called all auspiciousness.” ‘Annadā’. One should ask not only hygenic food, but pure food, because food is the root cause of many maladies (dōṣa) such as ‘Jāti’, ‘āśraya’, and ‘Nimitta’. ‘Jāti’ is by nature such as using onions, radish etc. ‘āśraya’ is by containers such as using copper etc. for offering naivedya. ‘Nimitta’ is from where the origin of the material is. For example, one should not use Bilva leaves obtained from burial grounds for worship. Similarly, if some animals such as cats, dogs, crows etc. see the food, that food should not be consumed. Eating with left hands or while standing should be avoided. Any other maladies that are not within our purview or control are destroyed when the food is offered to Worship of Ayyappa directly enables one to follow the above directive God as naivedya and consumed later. Here, ‘Anna’ of Veda thereby realizing the mahavakya ‘Tattvamasi’. Let’s all worship does not mean just food. Any kinds of mundane Swami Ayyappa and attain the Brahman with His grace! pleasures are also called ‘Anna’. One should ask –Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma. (Adapted from ‘Ayyappa Swami Vaibhavam’ Pravachanam) Divine Mother to grant such kind of food that purifies one’s mind and intellect.