1999, Vol.2 No. 2

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

1999, Vol.2 No. 2 Newsletter of the Bal Sabha of Columbia, MO May 1999 Summer 1999 Issue Volume 2, Issue 2 Swami Vivekananda Sangita Sharma EDITOR’S NOTE Second Grade Ridgeway Elementary School Welcome to another issue of Bal Sandesh, this issue is a column entitled Letters to the the newsletter of the youth group Bal Editor, one which I would like to become a Sabha. This issue includes many diverse permanent addition. As many of you know, this Summer Swami Vivekananda, the great submissions from Bal Sabha kids. It includes articles ranging from religion to Edition of the Bal Sandesh is the last issue religious leader and philosopher, was school activities, as well as creative work with which Gaurav Jashnani and I will be born on January 12, 1863 in Calcutta, such as poetry and pencil sketches. Three involved. We have both enjoyed working India. In his childhood, Biley, as he adult contributors have been invited to on the staff and wish the continuing was lovingly called, was bright and full write articles for this issue – one a feature member Ansuman Satpathy best of luck. of energy. Although his mother found article, Ayurvedic Medicine, provides an We would also like to thank our parent him extremely restless and hard to excellent background on holistic medicine advisors Vellore S. Gopalaratnam, Sandhya Sharma, and Shailesh control, he was not a bad boy. He was practiced in India since the ages. I would Vengurlekar for their support and fascinated by the wandering monks like to thank the kids and adult contributors for their support and willingness to share enthusiasm[ who were so common in India, and their work. would practice meditation for fun. As I also would like to invite submissions for Tara Chandrasekhar he grew older, he did very well in the next issue and to encourage feedback Senior, Hickman High School school and amazed his teachers. He on previously published articles. New to always wanted to test the truth of what he was told. He would not believe house did not like the noise. One day THANK YOU anything just because someone said it he went out and shook his fist at This issue of Bal Sandesh has been made was true. Biley. "Don't climb that tree any possible through financial sponsorship from: more," he said. "Don't you know that it Days Inn/Travelodge is haunted? There is a ghost in that Howard Johnson/Panda Pals tree, and it will grab you by the neck India’s Rasoi and kill you!" Taj Emporium Biley quietly listened to the old man and said nothing in reply. But as soon as the man went back into the house, RAINBOW Biley began to climb the tree again. One of the boys said, "Oh Biley, don't climb the tree anymore. That ghost will catch you by the neck. Please Meghna Srinath come down Biley. Let's go home." Fourth Grade Biley laughed and said, "Don't be a Fairview Elementary School fool. You know how many times I have climbed this tree. If a ghost lived Beautiful faded blurry colors, in it, it would have caught me a long opening the door to a new day. time ago." The sky looks like a soaked When Biley grew up he always told light blue paper with fluffy soft white people, "Have no fear! Ask questions cotton spread out everywhere. and find out the truth for yourself. Rain droplets have vanished after Never believe anything, unless you mixing with the dazzling sun light. know it is true. Be strong and A peaceful silence grows, as the fearless!" curved arch spreads across the Biley and his friends would often pleasant sky. play on a big tree in a neighbor's Reference Joy, happiness and excitement fill up house. Like all children, they made a 'The story of Vivekananda' published every corner of my heart as this lot of noise. The grandfather of the by the Advaita Ashrama[ image in front of me gets painted[ 2 Bal Sandesh Tri-Yearly Newsletter of the Bal Sabha of Columbia, MO DashaDasha AvatarAvatar Sagar Vengurlekar Third Grade, Ridgeway Elementary School An incarnation is a manifestation of the demon Hayagriva, who had stolen the hands hold the wheel and the conch-shell God on earth. Hindus believe that Vedas when Brahma was asleep. and the other two may hold a sword, a whenever the forces of evil begin to gain mace or a lotus, or they may be in the control of the world, Vishnu the great KURMA AVATAR protection and boon giving modes. preserver leaves the heavens and Vishnu in his second incarnation is in Vishnu turned himself into a boar descends to the earth in different forms to the form of half-man, half-tortoise (Kurma), (Varaha) and rescue mankind. Vishnu is said to have the lower body being the tortoise. He is descended to the taken on ten incarnations but sometimes normally shown as having four arms. In bottom of the ocean to more than twenty-two forms are ascribed the upper two he carries the conch-shell rescue the earth which to him. Some of the forms are cosmic in and the wheel while the lower two are in had been abducted and character while some are based on the protection and boon giving postures or hidden there by a historical events. It is interesting to note carrying a mace and a lotus. demon. After a long that the evolution of these incarnations When the gods were in danger of losing struggle Vishnu (as the from lower to higher forms of life is their authority over boar) slew the demon, reflected in the evolution of mankind. the demons, Vishnu rescued the earth, and Formerly Yagnas were the form of advised them to brought it to the surface worshipping, and after that the worshipping of churn the ocean so and made it ready to the gods began. The first gods are Indra, that they might support life by modeling Varuna, and the sky. Then came Brahma, procure amrita the mountains and Vishnu, and Mahesha. The idol of this Trinity (ambrosia) which shaping the continents. was made and placed in the temple for would make them In this way the world worship. The Trinity gave the stories of the strong and was brought into being once again to begin ten incarnations of Vishnu. Of the ten immortal. He another kalpa or cycle. The extrication of incarnations (avataras), the most popular promised to the world from the deluge of sin is are Rama and Krishna become a tortoise symbolised by this legend and is a creation on which would rest myth. The ten different incarnations are illustrated the mountain as: Mandar, which was NARASIMHA AVATAR 1) Matsya 2) Kurma used as the churning stick. Narasimha, the fourth incarnation of 3) Varaha 4) Narasimha Together with ambrosia, the churning Vishnu, is in the form of half-man (Nara)and 5) Vamana 6) Parashurama brought to the surface the other thirteen half-lion (Simha), having four hands. Two 7) Rama 8) Krishna objects that had been lost in the deluge. hands carry a wheel and a conch-shell and 9) Buddha 10) Kalki They were Lakshmi (consort of Vishnu), two are in the boon giving and protection Sura (goddess of wine), Chandra (the modes or tearing at the stomach of the MATSYA AVATAR moon), Apsaras (celestial nymphs), demon-king. Vishnu assumed this form in In his first incarnation, Vishnu has the Kaustabha (the precious gem for Vishnu’s order to overcome a demon-king who could lower body of a fish (Matsya) and the body), Uchchaihshravas (the divine horse), not be slain by a man nor by a beast, upper part body of a man. He has four Parijata (the wish granting coral tree), neither inside nor outside a palace, during arms; with two he holds a conch-shell and Surabhi (the cow that grants all desires), the day nor the night. Adopting the form of a wheel, while the other two are holding a Airavata (the four-tusked elephant), a lion headed man, Vishnu approached the lotus or a mace, or are in the protection Panchajanya (conch-shell) and Sharanga palace at dusk and hid himself in a pillar at and boon giving postures. (the invincible bow). However, after more the entrance, out of which he sprang and There are several explanations as to churning, the power of the ambrosia was killed the demon-king, Hiranyakashipu. why Vishnu assumed the form of the fish. almost neutralized by the appearance of According to some scriptures the incident One of them describes him as turning into its oppposite, halahala (poison). Shiva took place inside a pillar, while according to a fish so as to be able to tow a ship in held this poison in his throat and saved others which Manu, the mankind. The poison was so powerful that Narasimha progenitor of the it turned Shiva’s throat blue, giving him the placed the human race, had name “Neel-kantha” or the “blue-throated demon on his lap taken refuge from a one”. The churning also brought out and tore out his devastating flood. Dhanvantari (physician of the gods), entrails. The same story is carrying the pot of ambrosia (amrita) in his The symbolism found in the hands. here is of the Mahabharata where lion-like the fish is described VARAHA AVATAR characteristics of as having a horn. In Varaha (the boar) is the third incarnation fierceness, the Bhagvad-Purana of Vishnu. Its images are divided into two bravery, and the story is further main groups - those entirely in animal form independence elaborated by the and those having an animal’s head on a that claim almost addition of a fight human body with four arms.
Recommended publications
  • Ascetic Yogas the PATH of SELF-REALIZATION Robert Koch Robert Koch Was Initiated As Sri Patraka Das at the Lotus Feet of H.H
    Sri Jagannath Vedic Center, USA Drig dasa August 23, 2002 Ukiah, USA © Robert Koch, 2002 – Published in Jyotish Digest 1 Ascetic Yogas THE PATH OF SELF-REALIZATION Robert Koch Robert Koch was initiated as Sri Patraka Das at the lotus feet of H.H. Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in March, 1971. He lived in India for 6 years till 1983, studying Jyotish and has received certificate of commendation for spreading Hindu astrology in the USA, from the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, in 1999. Web site: http://www.robertkoch.com n the first Canto of the great Vedic Purana Srimad Bhagavatam, there is a very interesting and instructional conversation that took place between a bull personifying I Dharma, or religion, and Bhumi, the mother earth in the form of a cow. The bull was standing on one leg, suggesting that that one out of four pillars of religious principles (represented by each leg of Dharma, the bull) was still existing, and that in itself was faltering with the progress of Kali-yuga. The four legs of the Dharma are truthfulness, cleanliness, mercy, and austerity. If most or all of these legs of Dharma are broken, or if 3 out of 4 Dharmic principles exist very rarely, in human society, then we can be confident that Kali-yuga – the age of quarrel and darkness – is well upon us. Given that there are some rare souls existing who speak and live the Supreme Absolute Truth, as is found in various Vedic literatures, the remaining leg of truthfulness still exists. Such persons are characterized by complete self-control, or the ability to detach themselves from the relative world of the senses and the objects of sense pleasure.
    [Show full text]
  • Rochyderabad 27072017.Pdf
    List of Companies under Strike Off Sl.No CIN Number Name of the Company 1 U93000TG1947PLC000008 RAJAHMUNDRY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LIMITED 2 U80301TG1939GAP000595 HYDERABAD EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE 3 U52300TG1957PTC000772 GUNTI AND CO PVT LTD 4 U99999TG1964PTC001025 HILITE PRODUCTS PVT LTD 5 U74999AP1965PTC001083 BALAJI MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION PRIVATE LIMITED 6 U92111TG1951PTC001102 PRASAD ART PICTURES PVT LTD 7 U26994AP1970PTC001343 PADMA GRAPHITE INDUSTRIES PRIVATE LIMITED 8 U16001AP1971PTC001384 ALLIED TOBBACCO PACKERS PVT LTD 9 U63011AP1972PTC001475 BOBBILI TRANSPORTS PRIVATE LIMITED 10 U65993TG1972PTC001558 RAJASHRI INVESTMENTS PRIVATE LIMITED 11 U85110AP1974PTC001729 DR RANGARAO NURSING HOME PRIVATE LIMITED 12 U74999AP1974PTC001764 CAPSEAL PVT LTD 13 U21012AP1975PLC001875 JAYALAKSHMI PAPER AND GENERAL MILLS LIMITED 14 U74999TG1975PTC001931 FRUTOP PRIVATE LIMITED 15 U05005TG1977PTC002166 INTERNATIONAL SEA FOOD PVT LTD 16 U65992TG1977PTC002200 VAMSI CHIT FUNDS PVT LTD 17 U74210TG1977PTC002206 HIMALAYA ENGINEERING WORKS PVT LTD 18 U52520TG1978PTC002306 BLUEFIN AGENCIES AND EXPORTS PVT LTD 19 U52110TG1979PTC002524 G S B TRADING PRIVATE LIMITED 20 U18100AP1979PTC002526 KAKINADA SATSANG SAREES PRINTING AND DYEING CO PVT LTD 21 U26942TG1980PLC002774 SHRI BHOGESWARA CEMENT AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED 22 U74140TG1980PTC002827 VERNY ENGINEERS PRIVATE LIMITED 23 U27109TG1980PTC002874 A P PRECISION LIGHT ENGINEERING PVT LTD 24 U65992AP1981PTC003086 CHAITANYA CHIT FUNDS PVT LTD 25 U15310AP1981PTC003087 R K FLOUR MILLS PVT LTD 26 U05005AP1981PTC003127
    [Show full text]
  • Samskara-By-Ur-Anantha-Murthy.Pdf
    LITERATURE ~O} OXFORD"" Made into a powerful, award-winning film in 1970, this important Kannada novel of the sixties has received widespread acclaim from both critics and general read­ ers since its first publication in 1965. As a religious novel about a decaying brahmin colony in the south Indian village of Karnataka, Samskara serves as an allegory rich in realistic detail, a contemporary reworking of ancient Hindu themes and myths, and a serious, poetic study of a religious man living in a community of priests gone to seed. A death, which stands as the central event in the plot, brings in its wake a plague, many more deaths, live questions with only dead answers, moral chaos, and the rebirth of one man. The volume provides a useful glos­ sary of Hindu myths, customs, Indian names, flora, and other terms. Notes and an afterword enhance the self­ contained, faithful, and yet readable translation. U.R. Anantha Murthy is a well-known Indian novelist. The late A.K. Ramanujan w,as William E. Colvin Professor in the Departments of South Asian Languages and Civilizations and of Linguistics at the University of Chicago. He is the author of many books, including The Interior Landscape, The Striders, The Collected Poems, and· several other volumes of verse in English and Kannada. ISBN 978-0-19-561079-6 90000 Cover design by David Tran Oxford Paperbacks 9780195 610796 Oxford University Press u.s. $14.95 1 1 SAMSKARA A Rite for a Dead Man Sam-s-kiira. 1. Forming well or thoroughly, making perfect, perfecting; finishing, refining, refinement, accomplishment.
    [Show full text]
  • Bhoga-Bhaagya-Yogyata Lakshmi
    BHOGA-BHAAGYA-YOGYATA LAKSHMI ( FULFILLMENT AS ONE DESERVES) Edited, compiled, and translated by VDN Rao, Retd. General Manager, India Trade Promotion Organization, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, currently at Chennai 1 Other Scripts by the same Author: Essence of Puranas:-Maha Bhagavata, Vishnu Purana, Matsya Purana, Varaha Purana, Kurma Purana, Vamana Purana, Narada Purana, Padma Purana; Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana, Markandeya Purana, Devi Bhagavata;Brahma Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Agni Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Nilamata Purana; Shri Kamakshi Vilasa Dwadasha Divya Sahasranaama: a) Devi Chaturvidha Sahasra naama: Lakshmi, Lalitha, Saraswati, Gayatri; b) Chaturvidha Shiva Sahasra naama-Linga-Shiva-Brahma Puranas and Maha Bhagavata; c) Trividha Vishnu and Yugala Radha-Krishna Sahasra naama-Padma-Skanda-Maha Bharata and Narada Purana. Stotra Kavacha- A Shield of Prayers Purana Saaraamsha; Select Stories from Puranas Essence of Dharma Sindhu Essence of Shiva Sahasra Lingarchana Essence of Paraashara Smtiti Essence of Pradhana Tirtha Mahima Dharma Bindu Essence of Upanishads : Brihadaranyaka , Katha, Tittiriya, Isha, Svetashwara of Yajur Veda- Chhandogya and Kena of Saama Veda-Atreya and Kausheetaki of Rig Veda-Mundaka, Mandukya and Prashna of Atharva Veda ; Also ‘Upanishad Saaraamsa’ (Quintessence of Upanishads) Essence of Virat Parva of Maha Bharata Essence of Bharat Yatra Smriti Essence of Brahma Sutras Essence of Sankhya Parijnaana- Also Essence of Knowledge of Numbers Essence of Narada Charitra; Essence Neeti Chandrika-Essence of Hindu Festivals and Austerities- Essence of Manu Smriti*- Quintessence of Manu Smriti* - *Essence of Pratyaksha Bhaskara- Essence of Maha Narayanopanishad*-Essence of Vidya-Vigjnaana-Vaak Devi* Note: All the above Scriptures already released on www.
    [Show full text]
  • Divya Dvaita Drishti
    Divya Dvaita Drishti PREETOSTU KRISHNA PR ABHUH Volume 1, Issue 4 November 2016 Madhva Drishti The super soul (God) and the individual soul (jeevatma) reside in the Special Days of interest same body. But they are inherently of different nature. Diametrically OCT 27 DWADASH - opposite nature. The individual soul has attachment over the body AKASHA DEEPA The God, in spite of residing in the same body along with the soul has no attach- OCT 28 TRAYODASHI JALA POORANA ment whatsoever with the body. But he causes the individual soul to develop at- tachment by virtue of his karmas - Madhvacharya OCT 29 NARAKA CHATURDASHI OCT 30 DEEPAVALI tamasOmA jyOtirgamaya OCT 31 BALI PUJA We find many happy celebrations in this period of confluence of ashwija and kartika months. NOV 11 KARTIKA EKA- The festival of lights dipavali includes a series of celebrations for a week or more - Govatsa DASHI Dvadashi, Dhana Trayodashi, Taila abhyanjana, Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja on NOV 12 UTTHANA Amavasya, Bali Pratipada, Yama Dvititya and Bhagini Tritiya. All these are thoroughly en- DWADASHI - TULASI joyed by us. Different parts of the country celebrate these days in one way or another. The PUJA main events are the killing of Narakasura by Sri Krishna along with Satyabhama, restraining of Bali & Lakshmi Puja on amavasya. Cleaning the home with broom at night is prohibited on other days, but on amavasya it is mandatory to do so before Lakshmi Puja. and is called alakshmi nissarana. Next comes completion of chaturmasa and tulasi puja. We should try to develop a sense of looking for the glory of Lord during all these festivities.
    [Show full text]
  • Spiritual Perspectives Or Iskcon
    May 2019 SpiritualSeeing the World Perspectives through Spiritual Eyes For Friends and Followers of Mukunda Goswami Spiritual Solutions and Climate Change By Radha devi dasi The United Nations amounts of the drug simply General Assembly recently to feel normal. But nothing marked the celebration of material ever provides lasting International Mother Earth happiness. Day with a discussion of the The solution to our envi- urgent need to take action ronmental crisis does not rest against global warming, not- in new technologies or political ing that climate change is the agreements. To save our planet single greatest threat to sus- (and ourselves) requires a shift tainable development glob- in consciousness. In addition to ally. According to President of developing “green industries” the General Assembly, Maria we all have to commit to reduc- Fernanda Espinosa, “We are ing consumption and living the last generation that can https://bit.ly/30chHkh less materially opulent lives. prevent irreparable damage to the planet and to its in- This need is especially prevalent in the developing and habitants. We are at a crossroads; this is the moment developed countries where we have the margin to reduce in which we decide the path we wish to take, to avoid consumption while still living comfortably. reaching a point of no return in global warming. We But to convince others (and ourselves) to live more already know the results of inaction.” simply requires an understanding of the source of real Unfortunately, the urgency around global warming happiness. Without understanding our identity as spiri- is nothing new. Despite widespread, scientifically based tual beings, we will continue to seek satisfaction in the confirmation of the problem, despite international trea- wrong places.
    [Show full text]
  • Sri Aurobindo's Aswapati
    Sri Aurobindo’s Aswapati : Negotiating the Vedic ‘Horse’ as a Symbol Rudrashis Datta Raiganj B. Ed. College, Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal Abstract The horse has occupied a pride of place among the animals in most civilizations since ancient times, more so in the Vedic age where it was not only used as a military asset but also as a powerful symbol that concerned the kings and the subjects alike. However, it is in its symbolic context that the horse or aswa in Sanskrit has generated multiple interpretations. This study focuses on some of the symbolic aspects of the horse as evident in early Vedic Sanskrit texts and highlights the interpretation of Sri Aurobindo which served in significantly bringing down semantic differences in the context of the horse symbol. Aswapati, an important character in Sri Aurobindo’s epic Savitri is an elaborate illustration of Sri Aurobindo’s reading of the aswa as representative of ‘prana’ or life energy. This study illustrates that Sri Aurobindo’s approach essentially harmonized the varied and often conflicting nuances which were generated as different systems of interpretations approached the symbol in accordance with their limited range of belief systems. [Keywords: Sri Aurobindo, Savitri, Aswapati, Horse, Symbol] It is perhaps universally accepted that the horse has occupied a primal place among animals in the context of the classical Sanskrit texts right up to the puranas. Aswa, as it was so termed, was a prized creature since the early Vedic age largely because of the leverage it gave to humans in terms of its mobility, agility and resilience.
    [Show full text]
  • A Thesis Submitted for the Award of the Ph.D. Degree of UNIVERSITY of KOTA in the Faculty of Arts by TANU RAJPAL Under the Supe
    MYTHOLOGICAL AND FOLK ELEMENTS: A CRITICAL STUDY OF THE SELECTED NOVELS OF RAJA RAO AND R.K.NARAYAN A Thesis Submitted for the Award of the Ph.D. degree of UNIVERSITY OF KOTA in the Faculty of Arts By TANU RAJPAL Under the supervision of Dr. (Mrs.) Jatinder Kohli Department of English Government College Kota, Kota. UNIVERSITY OF KOTA, KOTA 2017 (i) Dedicated to my Father & Mother, For their ceaseless Love and Inspiration. (ii) DECLARATION I, Ms. Tanu Rajpal D/o Sh. Anil Rajpal resident of Vigyan Nagar, Kota, hereby, declare that the research work incorporated in the present thesis entitled Mythological and Folk Elements: A Critical Study of Selected Novels of Raja Rao and R. K. Narayan is my own work and is original. This work (in part or in full) has not been submitted to any University for the award of a Degree or a Diploma. I have properly acknowledged the material collected from secondary sources wherever required. I solely own the responsibility for the originality of the entire content. Date: Signature of the Candidate Place: Kota (iii) SUPERVISOR'S CERTIFICATE I feel great pleasure in certifying that the thesis entitled Mythological and Folk Elements: A Critical Study of Selected Novels of Raja Rao and R. K. Narayan embodies a record of the results of investigations carried out by Ms Tanu Rajpal for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of English, Govt. College, Kota, Kota (Rajasthan) under my guidance. I am satisfied with the analysis of data, interpretation of results and the conclusions drawn. It is an original piece of research carried out by the candidate under my supervision.
    [Show full text]
  • Islamic and Indian Art Including Sikh Treasures and Arts of the Punjab
    Islamic and Indian Art Including Sikh Treasures and Arts of the Punjab New Bond Street, London | 23 October, 2018 Registration and Bidding Form (Attendee / Absentee / Online / Telephone Bidding) Please circle your bidding method above. Paddle number (for office use only) This sale will be conducted in accordance with 23 October 2018 Bonhams’ Conditions of Sale and bidding and buying Sale title: Sale date: at the Sale will be regulated by these Conditions. You should read the Conditions in conjunction with Sale no. Sale venue: New Bond Street the Sale Information relating to this Sale which sets out the charges payable by you on the purchases If you are not attending the sale in person, please provide details of the Lots on which you wish to bid at least 24 hours you make and other terms relating to bidding and prior to the sale. Bids will be rounded down to the nearest increment. Please refer to the Notice to Bidders in the catalogue buying at the Sale. You should ask any questions you for further information relating to Bonhams executing telephone, online or absentee bids on your behalf. Bonhams will have about the Conditions before signing this form. endeavour to execute these bids on your behalf but will not be liable for any errors or failing to execute bids. These Conditions also contain certain undertakings by bidders and buyers and limit Bonhams’ liability to General Bid Increments: bidders and buyers. £10 - 200 .....................by 10s £10,000 - 20,000 .........by 1,000s £200 - 500 ...................by 20 / 50 / 80s £20,000
    [Show full text]
  • The Bhagavad Gita and an Autobiography
    TThhee BBhhaaggaavvaadd GGiittaa Translation by Shri Purohit Swami. A NOTE ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR Shri Purohit Swami was born into a religious and wealthy family in Badners, India, in 1882. He studied philosophy and law, received his LL.B. from Decan College, Poona, married and had three children. However, he did not practice law, and instead spent his entire life in spiritual devotion. He wrote in his native Marathi, in Hindi, Sanskrit and English – poems, songs, a play, a novel, a commentary on The Bhagavad Gita and an autobiography. He left India in 1930 at the suggestion of his Master to interpret the religious life of India for the West, and made his new home in England. It was here that he produced beautiful translations of The Bhagavad Gita, Patanjali’s Aphorisms of Yoga and – in collaboration with his great friend, the Irish poet W.B. Yeats – The Ten Principal Upanishads. He died in 1946. CONTENTS ONE: THE DESPONDENCY OF ARJUNA ................................................................................... 1 TWO: THE PHILOSOPHY OF DISCRIMINATION..................................................................... 4 THREE: KARMA-YOGA – THE PATH OF ACTION ................................................................... 9 FOUR: DNYANA-YOGA – THE PATH OF WISDOM................................................................ 12 FIVE: THE RENUNCIATION OF ACTION................................................................................ 15 SIX: SELF-CONTROL...................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • ESSENCE of VAMANA PURANA Composed, Condensed And
    ESSENCE OF VAMANA PURANA Composed, Condensed and Interpreted By V.D.N. Rao, Former General Manager, India Trade Promotion Organisation, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, Union Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India 1 ESSENCE OF VAMANA PURANA CONTENTS PAGE Invocation 3 Kapaali atones at Vaaranaasi for Brahma’s Pancha Mukha Hatya 3 Sati Devi’s self-sacrifice and destruction of Daksha Yagna (Nakshatras and Raashis in terms of Shiva’s body included) 4 Shiva Lingodbhava (Origin of Shiva Linga) and worship 6 Nara Narayana and Prahlada 7 Dharmopadesha to Daitya Sukeshi, his reformation, Surya’s action and reaction 9 Vishnu Puja on Shukla Ekadashi and Vishnu Panjara Stotra 14 Origin of Kurukshetra, King Kuru and Mahatmya of the Kshetra 15 Bali’s victory of Trilokas, Vamana’s Avatara and Bali’s charity of Three Feet (Stutis by Kashyapa, Aditi and Brahma & Virat Purusha Varnana) 17 Parvati’s weds Shiva, Devi Kaali transformed as Gauri & birth of Ganesha 24 Katyayani destroys Chanda-Munda, Raktabeeja and Shumbha-Nikumbha 28 Kartikeya’s birth and his killings of Taraka, Mahisha and Baanaasuras 30 Kedara Kshetra, Murasura Vadha, Shivaabhisheka and Oneness with Vishnu (Upadesha of Dwadasha Narayana Mantra included) 33 Andhakaasura’s obsession with Parvati and Prahlaad’s ‘Dharma Bodha’ 36 ‘Shivaaya Vishnu Rupaaya, Shiva Rupaaya Vishnavey’ 39 Andhakaasura’s extermination by Maha Deva and origin of Ashta Bhairavaas (Andhaka’s eulogies to Shiva and Gauri included) 40 Bhakta Prahlada’s Tirtha Yatras and legends related to the Tirthas 42 -Dundhu Daitya and Trivikrama
    [Show full text]
  • Shri Guru Charitra
    Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshwara Guru Sakshat Parabrahmah Tasmai Shree Guru Veh Namah Shri Guru Charitra Introduction 'Shri Guru Charitra' is the life of 'Shri Guru Dattatreya' (an incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara). It was originally written in Ovi form (a Marathi Metre) in Marathi by Shri Saraswati Gangadhar, whose ancestor Sayamdev had personally lived and served with devotion, Guru Narasimha Saraswati, an incarnation of Shri Dattatreya about 600 years ago. It was later translated into Sanskrit by Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati (Tembye Swamy), who is regarded by many as an incarnation of Shri Dattatreya and who lived about a hundred years ago. It has been later translated into several other languages. This volume is regarded as Divine; capable of blessing one and all who read it with respect and is placed with images of Gods and adored in almost all devotees' houses of Maharashtra. It is much respected and is very popular like Vedas, Ramayan, Mahabharat, Bhagawat and other Puranas in Sanskrit and Dnyaneshwari, Dasbodh, Ekanathi Bhagawat etc. in Marathi. In the last century, it has spread its influence far and wide and legion are the experiences got by those devotees who read it regularly with respect. Shri Dattatreya had taken birth at the Ashram of Atri and Anasuya in very very old times (Krita Yug) and it is believed that his two incarnations namely Shripada Shri Vallabha and Shri Narasimha Saraswati had taken place in the Deccan in about the 14th and 15th Century (A.D.) respectively. Shri Manikya Prabhu, Shri Akkalkot Maharaj, Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi and Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati are some of the great Saints who are considered as the Avatars (incarnations) or Amsas (taking a part of His powers) of Shri Dattatreya.
    [Show full text]