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Hinduism

Issue 6 Vol. 1, August 2016

Krishna’s : A Devotional Hymn ...

ISKCON After Fifty Years …

Taj Mahal: Bitter Truth, Blatant Lies

Autobiography of the —Excerpt

Satyabhama: The Bold and Beautiful HINDUISM NOW HINDUISM NOW

Issue 6- Volume 1 - August 2016

Owned, Created, Designed by: —August 2016 Contents Nithyananda University Press

Message from the Avatar...... 3 Published by: 02 August Amavasya, Darsha Amavasya, Nithyananda Peetham, Bengaluru Adheenam Hariyali Amavasya, Gauri Vrat Hinduism Around the World...... 7 Kallugopahalli, Off Road, Bidadi *North, Aadi Amavasai, Aadi Perukku Janmashtami—Celebrating a Purnavatar...... 10 Ramanagaram - 562109 04 August Darshan Main Feature Phone: +91 80 2727 9999 Birth of ...... 12 Website: www.hinduismnow.org 05 August Hariyali , Jayanthi An Incorrigible Prankster...... 15 Editorial Reviewers 06 August Vinayaka Chaturthi Purnavatar Krishna...... 18 Sri Nithya Mukthananda Sri Nithya Medhananda Maharaj 07 August Nag Decoding the 16,000 Wives of Krishna...... 20 Krishna and —An Eternal Relationship...... 22 Editor 08 August Jayanti, Skanda Sashti, Usha K Kent Somwar Vrat Krishna & —Friends First...... 24 ’s in Gita ...... 26 Featured Writers 09 August Mangala Gauri Vrat Stephen Knapp (Nandanandana Dasa) Rasa Lila —A Devotional Hymn 10 August Jayanti Sent to Future Generations...... 28 Writers Alicia Morrissey 11 August Masik Durgashtami Special Feature Avinash Narrikkadan ISKCON—After 50 Years...... 32 Charuyan Srikumaran 12 August Varalakshmi Vrat Deepika Raja Other Columns Dr. Ma Nithya Devaroopananda 14 August Shravana Putrada The Curse and End of the Clan...... 36 Dr. Ma Nithya Balananda Dr. Shubhamangala 15 August Damodara , Shravan Somwar Autobiography of the Avatar— Kanaka Nagaraj Sabapathy Vrat, Pradosh Vrat, Independence Day Memories of ...... 38 Krishnan Natarajan Maheenath Ananda 16 August Mangala Gauri Vrat, Simha Taj Mahal—Bitter Truth, Blatant Lies...... 40 Ma Nithya Kavyaroopini The Schools of Thought...... 44 Ma Nithya Mayatitananda 17 August , Jayanti, Ma Nithya Priyatmananda New Year Aparigraha—Forge Your Identity...... 47 Ma Nithya Satyajnanananda Nithyananda —The Original Yoga… Ma Nithya Shantini 18 August Shravana , Bandhan, From the Origin...... 48 Ma Nithya Tripurananda Narali Purnima Milind Tamhane Nithya Kriya Cure for Food Allergies...... 50 Prerna Dusija 19 August Gayathri Japam, Bhadrapada Begins - Sushruta, Originator of Surgery...... 52 Pushpa Gopee-Somra North Sathish Selvakumar —Seek with the Shubhangi Deshpande 21 August Kajari Teej, , Sangada Guidance of a Master...... 54 Sri Nithya Mitrananda Hara Chathurti *Tamil, Bol Choth Tenmozhi Kaliyaperumal * Sant Tukoba...... 56 Trisha Singh —The Bold and Beautiful...... 60 Usha K Kent 22 August Nag Pancham *Gujarat Veena Nagaraj The Thulabharam that Tamed Bhama’s Arrogance...... 62 23 August Jayanti, Randhan Understanding — Chalisa...... 64 Designer *Gujarat Ma Nithya Gurupriya ’s Neeti—Part IV...... 66 24 August Satam *Gujarat, Adya Disclaimer Jayanti, The School of ...... 68 The techniques described herein is not intended to Jain Basadis—Marvel of be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis 25 August , Kalashtami or treatment. Individuals with any type of medical Larger-than-Life-...... 70 condition, the elderly, children below 14, women who 26 August Dahi , Rohini Vrat are pregnant or suspect they may be pregnant are Teertha Sthala ...... 74 advised to seek professional medical advice before Srimad Bhagavatam— practicing this technique. Viewers who are not on two- 28 August Aja Ekadashi way video conferencing are cautioned that they are Poonthanam Attracts ...... 76 practicing these techniques at their own risk. 29 August Parvarambha, Pradosh Vrat —The Embodiment of Integrity...... 78 © 2016 Nithyananda University Press 30 August Masik Shivaratri Jataka Tales—The Crane and the Crab...... 80 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or 31 August Darsha Amavasya Life is Bliss...... 82 transmitted by any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. In the event that you use any of the information in this book for yourself, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for our actions. 1 Message from the Avatar

First, peace and friendliness with the whole universe is a prerequisite for manifesting powers. Each Upanishad starts and ends with a verse that is called the Shanthi Pada. It reinforces the truth that all knowledge is towards achieving peace with oneself, peace with the world and peace with the universe. The Shanthi Pada of Keno Upanishad is not just a peace prayer, it is a peace declaration. It declares for the integration of body and sense organs to happen and be established in the truths declared by the . Only this abiding results in lasting peace. This is the space of Oneness for which all powers are just a side effect and just a play.

Second, use your WILL to manifest what you want. The ability to will is a unique power that only human beings have. It is the umbilical cord that connects you with the Cosmos. Use your will and declare what you want to manifest in your life, including powers, and see them come alive. Declaration happens to be the purest form of prayer as it emanates from the space of Oneness. There is no option for the Cosmos other than to make such declarations come alive. Your maturity is nothing but being integrated with your will.

Third, declare Shivatvamasi. Declare Sadashivoham. This is the best declaration there is. This is sweeter than as it is not just an experience but an expression also. When you are in this plane, your oneness with Sadashiva naturally reflects as extraordinary powers getting casually expressed. This declaration is also your access to the secret life of Sadashiva. When you take his name, do , , etc. you are part of His public life. Once in a while He gives darshan and fulfils what you want. When you are an enlightened being, you become part of his private life. You will enrich yourself and a few people around you and guide them to a better life. When you declare Sadashivoham, you become part of His secret life. You are then an and Sadashiva rushes to express through you. He does not feel threatened when more and more people declare Sadashivoham and repeat it as many number of times.

Fourth, even when (due to some lingering self-doubt), things do not manifest the way you want and the pace at which you want, do not divorce the divine and from your life. Never deny the existence of Brahman, the Cosmic Consciousness. Negating Existence, Brahman is like denying a board on which one writes ‘there is no board’ or like denying the existence of a father who has always nurtured you.

Fifth, use TARKA as a tool to manifest powers. Tarka is intra-analyzing, arguing, debating with yourself or with a group the great Truths of Life, till it becomes a foundation and base of your Life. And only with great Satsangis, the spiritual community tuned to Satsang (the company of truth) such a Tarka revealed by Sadashiva becomes possible.

Sixth, follow a system that empowers you eternally. Such a faith system has the following characteristics: • retaining pure questioning that is devoid of any assumptions or conclusions • protecting you from cultural shocks when you discover the truth for yourself and • allowing the space for addition to the tradition happen based on his / her own spiritual discovery.

Religious leaders of the world have the responsibility to lead humanity through faith systems that adhere to the above tenets. Where we fail is when people do not want to affiliate with any religion. Disillusion with religion happens when what they discover for themselves in not aligned to the belief system shared with them. This makes the role of Guru most significant in the life of a human being.

My Guru Poornima message for this year is Mahadevarahasya.

i. The essence of () and Agamas (Agamanta) is Shivatvamasi. This is His initiation. Your experiential expression or declaration of this truth is Shivoham / Sadashivoham.

ii. When you declare Shivoham, Mahadeva does not feel threatened because he knows resources are endless. He is going to support you, encourage you to manifest Shivoham completely.

My Dear Ones, iii. Mahadeva has nothing to gain from you other than fulfilling you by manifesting Himself through your My commitment to you has been to continue with my interception of the sacred secrets embedded in the being.. Upanishadic verses and also lead you to manifest the various powers of Sadashiva. Remember, Agamantha Live it. Will it. Manifest it. Radiate it. is straight harvesting. And I have a bountiful harvest to share with you based on what Sadashiva revealed in and back here in Bidadi over the past few weeks. Be blissful! His Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda

HINDUISM NOW HINDUISM NOW 2 3 From the Editor’s Desk HINDU FESTIVALS After a lull on Hindu festivities, comes the deluge, literally and figuratively, as Bharatavarsha welcomes the monsoons and a string of festivals that follow suit. No other people in the world have as many festive celebrations as the do, making them the most vibrant, colorful, joyous, and celebratory human beings in the world! From now until November, in regular intervals of 10-15 days, the subcontinent will witness one major Hindu festival after another. It will start with Nag Panchami (Serpent Worship) on August 8.

A hoary tradition coming down from very ancient times, and are the only countries where the serpent, particularly the sacred cobra, is worshipped on this day. Nag Panchami is a homage to the end of the Sarpa yagna started by king Janmejaya of , to annihilate the entire snake world or Naga Loka, as a vengeance on the serpent-king, for killing his father . The yagna was stopped with the intervention of a Astika on Shukla Panchami day in the month of Shravan. Since that day, the festival is observed as Nag Panchami.

Another uniquely Hindu festival is which falls this year on August 18—a day when brothers and sisters strengthen their bonds of duty and promises to and protect each other. On this day, a sister ties a rakhi (sacred thread) on her brother’s wrist. This symbolizes the sister’s love Nag Panchami and prayers for her brother’s well-being, and the brother’s lifelong vow to protect her. August 07, 2016 But neither of these festivals can match the fervour, , vibrance, dance, vermillion drenching festivities that will mark Janmashtami on August 25, to celebrate the birth of the last great purnavatar, Lord Krishna. He who descended on earth nearly 9,000 years ago to bring an end to the chaos, pain, Nag Panchami is a traditional worship of snakes or serpents observed by Hindus throughout India suffering, and evil in the world. He who is immortalised in this famous verse of the Bhagavad Gita, and Nepal. Serpent made of silver, stone or wood or the of snakes on the wall are given a bath with and then revered. Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya, Glanirva Bhavathi Bharatha, Abhyurhanam Adharmasya Tadatmanan Srijami . Praritranaya Sadhunam Vinashaya Cha Dushkritam, Dharamasansthapnaya,Sambhavami Yuge-Yuge.

We do not slot, categorise or even try to define an avatar, particularly not Krishna. Which is why we allowed different people to give us a glimpse into his world—from his miraculous birth, to his innumerable pranks, the immense rasa lilas, the intensely longing relationship with Radha and the gopikas, the larger-than-life yet eternal bond with Arjuna, the sweet sakha-sakhi relationship with Draupadi. Krishna had more than 16,000 wives—or did he? We decode the myth of the 16,000 and also give a glimpse into the bold, haughty, naive yet incredibly beautiful world of Satyabhama, Krishna’s warrior-wife. With an entire dance form Bhama Kalapam to define her many splendored qualities, need we say more about this ethereal ? His mission accomplished Lord Krishna was also to bear witness to the annihilation of his Yadava clan, bringing to fruit the curse of the ill-fated , matriarch of the clan, for not preventing the that destroyed her entire family.

The single credit for taking Krishna Consciousness, Hindu traditions, Bhagavatam scriptures and literature, vegetarianism, and Vedic organic living to every corner of the world goes to ISKCON. Driven Raksha Bandhan/Nariyal Poornima by the passionate relentless efforts of its founder Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who August 18, 2016 began it all at the ripe young age of 60 years! On its 50th anniversary, Stephen Knapp (Nandanandana Dasa), in a touching tribute, tells us about the major contributions of ISKCON to the world.

Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival which celebrates the love and duty between brothers and In the end, Hinduism Now is much more than Sri Krishna. Read on for many of our regular columns sisters. On this day, a sister ties a rakhi (sacred thread) on their brother’s wrist. This symbolizes the and do give us your feedback and comments. sister’s love and prayers for her brother’s well-being, and the brother’s lifelong vow to protect her. A speciality dish is that made of (nariyal) which is a must to be served on this day. HAPPY JANMASHTAMI. Usha K Kent HINDUISM NOW HINDUISM NOW 4 5 HINDUISM AROUND THE WORLD HINDUISM AROUND THE WORLD

Krishna’s

SRI NITHYA MUKTHANANDA World induism idolizes its heroes—warriors, quoted chapter 11, text 32, “Now I am become what is real? What is the truth? And Bhagavad attracted to Lord Krishna for his grace, for his leaders, philosophers and artists; it death, the destroyer of worlds.” Einstein’s Gita is required reading.4 universality, for his love, for his wisdom, and his reveres those who take us closer to famously said “When I read the Bhagavad Gita all-encompassing personality that is an ideal for H The triumphant story of Krishna has not only consciousness; but above all, it totally worships and reflect about how created this universe everyone to live up to. These are all the hallmarks influenced thinkers but other religions also. Many the rarest of the rare being who is Poornavatar— everything else seems so superfluous.” of yet another Poornavatar, one who is amongst believe that many themes in the story of Jesus an ideal incarnation—who is a warrior, leader, us now—His Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda. A few years ago Bloomberg magazine asked Christ—like immaculate conception, a bright star philosopher, artist and satguru, all in one—and For all of us who wished intensely that we lived whether the Bhagavad Gita has become the hip appearing in the sky, and resurrection—were the first example of such a poornavatar is Lord during the times of Lord Krishna, our wish has new source for management wisdom in the West. borrowed from Krishna’s story and Hindu ideas.5 Krishna. No wonder, for billions worldwide, the come true—we live in the times of Bhagawan It said that phrases from the Bhagavad Gita are mention of Hinduism brings up the image of Lord Finally, the ISKCON movement has captured the Nithyananda. A few thousand years from now popping up in management tomes and on web Krishna as its quintessential symbol, and his imagination of popular culture worldwide and someone like me will be writing an article like this sites of consultants.2 Top business schools like divine song The Bhagavad Gita as the essence of made the name of Sri Krishna a household name on Paramahamsa Nithyananda. Let us make sure Columbia University have introduced happiness Hindu thought and philosophy. Many interfaith for millions. The appears that we enjoy this unique time with him, NOW. 1 and self-mastery classes based on its teaching references in books or songs, refer to Krishna as in many famous songs sung by members of to help managers make meaning of their lives, References the representative personality of Hinduism. The the Beatles, especially the track “Living in the 1. Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, and Lao Tzu: The Parallel Sayings, become better leaders and also find inner peace Richard Hooper, Hampton Road Publishings, May 2012. Bhagavad Gita has no doubt solidified its place in Material World” (1973) with the lyrics: “I hope in this increasingly stressful world. Business 2. Influence of Bhagavad Gita, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ the spiritual core of the world’s collective psyche. to get out of this place by the Lord Sri Krishna’s Influence_of_Bhagavad_Gita Week magazine coined the word “ 3. Karma Capitalism, Pete Engardio and Jena Mcgregor, http:// grace. My from the material world.”6 The Bhagavad Gita has influenced so many Capitalism”—a gentler, more empathetic ethos of www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2006-10-19/karma-cap- italismbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-fi- 3 Western thinkers and philosophers like Aldous management—to describe this trend. Thousands and thousands of years after his birth, nancial-advice Huxley, Thoreau and Emerson. Oppenheimer, Lord Krishna is not only staying immensely and 4. The urgent need of liberal education for Indian youth, Bhagavad Gita is required reading for many http://hinduismnow.org/blog/2013/10/25/bhagavad-gita-among- the world famous physicist, learned just intimately relevant to this world, his influence texts-that-is-required-reading-for-seton-hall-freshmen/ college freshmen around the world. For example, to read the Bhagavad Gita in the original, citing in growing. People in all walks of life, with all 5. Christianity and the Vedic Teachings Within It, Stephen in Seton Hall University in the US, the Journey Knapp, http://www.stephen-knapp.com/christianity_and_ it later as one of the most influential books to types of personalities, from various religions of Transformation class is required for everyone; the_vedic_teachings_within_it.htm shape his philosophy of life. Upon witnessing and various countries, from various races, all are 6.  Krishna in Popular Culture, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ it challenges students to ponder questions like the world’s first nuclear test in 1945, he instantly Hare_Krishna_in_popular_culture

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Roots of the Crowd-Pulling Dahi Handi rice flour paste and is a sign of welcoming Lord One of the more famous stories from Krishna’s Krishna home. These footprints represent the childhood was his love for curd and butter. In the baby Krishna walking in with curds all over his village of where he grew up, these little feet, stolen from curd pots from his own or items were stored in clay pots and hung from the fellow cowherd homes! ceiling in the kitchen. In order to get to it, Krishna No matter where in the world you celebrate Janmashtami and his friends would form a human pyramid to Janmashtami, the highlight is the ceremonial climb to that height and steal the butter or curd. bathing of Krishna at the stroke of midnight. CELEBRATING THE This has turned into a modern day gala The utsava of Krishna are anointed with celebration known as Dahi Handi. It involves fragrant oils and are bathed with auspicious items making a human pyramid and breaking an like milk, yogurt, , honey, sweet water and earthen handi or pot, filled with vermillion water, fresh juices. They are then smeared with Birth of a money donated by several people, and such paste and bathed in water. Flowers are other goodies all tied high above street level. The showered until the deity virtually disappear in the topmost person tries to break the handi by hitting petals. Alankaram is performed, decking them Purnavatar it with a blunt object. When the handi breaks, the out in new garments and jewels before they are vermillion water is spilled over the entire group. revealed to the rest of the family or the world.

Participating in this event is not for the faint The feast spread include a whole host of hearted. Usually these human pyramids are pros delicacies made of the boy Krishna’s favorite MA NITHYA MAYATITANANDA from local yoga centers and gyms who turn out food—milk products such as curds, butter, paneer in large numbers during Janmashtami to enthrall (cottage cheese), buttermilk, ghee and the like. he celebration of Krishna’s birth is one of and his wife who raised him as their the crowds with their skills of making human At many Krishna temples and religious institutes the largest Hindu festivals in the world, own. As a youth Krishna did indeed slay the evil pyramids. This is a huge uproarious event that little children are dressed as Krishna in prize Tcelebrated by nearly 930 million people and free his parents from prison. brings wild excitement to the crowd. Over time winning competitions to win the coveted trophy worldwide. the human pyramids have gotten higher, the as the best imitation of the little lord! This was the beginning of one of the most participants more daring, and the prize money References: Popularly known as Krishna Janmashtami, the majestic lifetimes seen on the planet Earth by an more alluring. Most recently one group (called a 1. https://www.iskconbangalore.org/sri-krishna-janmashtami festival falls on the eighth day (Ashtami) of incarnation of the Divine. The celebration of Lord 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishna_Janmashtami mandal) known as Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak from 3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamsa Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of the month of Krishna’s birth is therefore a day of recounting Jogeshwari, , made it into the Guinness 4. http://www.krishna.com/how-celebrate-janmashtami Bhadrapad (August–September) in the Hindu the amazing events of his life (Rasa Lila), , World Record by forming a human pyramid 9-tiers 5. http://events.iskcon.org/event/radhadesh- janmashtami-2016/ calendar. This year it falls on August 25, 2016. singing , preparing food offerings, and high, totalling 43.79 feet (13.35 m) in . 6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahi_Handi dancing. 7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rasa_lila Krishna’s Birth—Prophecy to End Evil Rasa Lila Krishna, the 8th incarnation of , took birth Janmashtami at ISKCON In the north of India the celebrations of 1000s of years ago, to destroy the evil forces ISKCON, heart of the Hare Krishna movement, Janmashtami include a variation of the Rasa Lila controlling the world. It was prophesied that begins planning for this auspicious festival months (the divine play), as a popular form of folk theatre Krishna would be responsible for the death of his in advance. Thousands of devotees visit the in the regions of and Vrindavan in Uttar evil uncle Kamsa, the ruler of Vrishini whose capital ISKCON temple on the day of Janmashtami to be Pradesh, especially during this festival. This Rasa was Mathura. He imprisoned Krishna’s parents a part of the festivities, receive the , and Lila usually depict scenes of the child prankster Vasudev and and killed each child born to eat the freely offered vegetarian meals. Devotees Krishna, miracles he displayed as a child such as them, in an attempt to negate the prophecy. are encouraged to use this day to: “Prepare for this in the Kalinga Mardana (taming of the 7-headed spiritual festival by recalling the things in life for serpent Kalinga), or his endearing relationship The night of Krishna’s birth was a night steeped which you are grateful; by forgiving your enemies; with his adoptive mother Yashoda. in magic and divine intervention. The shackles fell by tolerating others mistakes; by expressing off his father’s ankles, the prison doors swung happiness for whatever God gives you on this The Festivities open, and all the guards slept as if drugged. day. Most of all, be respectful to devotees and The entire day is a grand celebration of life. He escaped from the prison with his new-born other pilgrims. This is the success formula for lots In many houses in , people draw son under the cloak of darkness and a torrential of blessings on this special day,” says ISKCON footsteps of Lord Krishna from the entrance of downpour. Krishna was left with of devotee Radhadesh, Belgium. the house to the Puja room, which are drawn with

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Lord Krishna—The Righteous One Kamsa got very nervous when the eighth child was rishna Janmashtami is the celebration of due and he shackled Devaki and her husband in Lord Krishna, the 8th Avatar of Lord Vishnu. a heavily guarded prison. Puthana, Kamsa’s most KHe was born on 27th July 3115 BCE. This trusted aide, was entrusted with the job of midwife. date is now contentious since new evidences and She was to hand over the child on birth to Kamsa, dating of Krishna’s Dwaraka at the bottom of the who would kill the newborn immediately. The Birth of sea, have pushed back his happening by nearly 6,000 years (read Paradise Lost: Dwaraka, March Day of Birth 2016 issue of Hinduism Now) On the night of the birth of the child, Puthana waited for Devaki to deliver and finally went for The following sloka from Bhagavad Gita (Chapter a visit to her home for a few minutes to come Lord Krishna IV-7,8) explicitly and beautifully describes the back to the prison soon. However, a heavy rain essence of Sri Krishna Avatar: flooded the streets and she was unable to go back to the prison that night. That was when “Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya Glanirva Bhavathi Devaki, delivered her eighth child, a son. A MAHEENATH ANANDA Bharatha, Abhyurhanam Adharmasya blinding light filled the prison and Devaki fainted Tadatmanan Srijami Aham.” Praritranaya at the sight. An akashvani, (voice from the sky) Sadhunam Vinashaya Cha Dushkritam, spoke to thus: Dharamasansthapnaya,Sambhavami Yuge-Yuge.” “Take the child across the River to your “Whenever there is a decline in righteousness friend, King Nanda, the ruler of the Gokul kingdom, O! Bharatha, and a rise in the unrighteous, I whose wife Queen Yashoda just gave birth to a manifest Myself! For the protection of the good, daughter. Bring the child back in exchange for your for the destruction of the wicked and for the son and return to the prison immediately.” establishment of righteousness, I am born in every age.”1 Miracles at Birth Vasudeva took the child away when Devaki was Background of the Birth of Lord Krishna asleep. He was scared to take the child out of was a prominent chief of the Yadava the prison as hundred of soldiers guarded the community who was becoming old and Kamsa, prison. But a miracle happened. The prison his extremely ambitious son, did not want to doors opened automatically and he found to his wait for him to die to succeed to the throne. surprise that all the guards were asleep. He mercilessly imprisoned his own father and crowned himself King of Mathura. His sister, Vasudeva reached the banks of the Yamuna Devaki married Vasudeva, another Yadava which was in a state of aggravation. Then another chief. On the day Devaki married Vasudeva, an miracle happened. The moment the feet of the akashvani, astral voice from the sky prophesied baby Krishna touched the river, it became normal that her 8th son would annihilate Kamsa. On to make way for Him. A huge black snake, hearing this, Kamsa was about to kill his sister Sheshnag, arose from the ocean from behind but Vasudeva begged him to spare his wife and him, positioning its hood like an umbrella to told him that he would hand over to him every protect the newborn baby from the torrential rain. new child born to Devaki. Sheshnag is the roofing canopy of Lord Vishnu.

Kamsa agreed subject to the condition he Amazed at these miracles Vasudev crossed the would imprison them both so that they would river and reached Gokul. He went to the palace of be under his constant watch. He killed seven of King Nanda, whose doors of the palace were wide the children born to Devaki. After nine years of open. He entered Queen Yashoda’s quarters and her marriage, Devaki became pregnant for the placed his child next to Yashoda and lifted the girl eighth time. She bemoaned the fact that her child and left for Gokul. He once again crossed the cruel brother would kill this child also and she river which was still in spate, and the moment he implored God to save her child. entered the prison, the doors automatically closed

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An Incorrigible PRANKSTER

PUSHPA GOPEE-SOMRA

behind him. The guards who were asleep awoke, know that her son was alive and in safe hands. and became aware that a baby was born. They Both prayed to God that her son should not fall rushed to Kamsa to deliver the news to him. into the hands of Kamsa.

Goddess Appears The Celebration of Lord Krishna’s Birth In the meanwhile, Puthana, the mid-wife, had Gokul erupted in great rejoicing. The cowherds returned. Kamsa came and saw that the child were smiling that a new baby boy was born to was a girl. Suspecting something was wrong, their loved king Nanda! All the streets were swept Kamsa questioned Puthana. Puthana lied that the clean and the houses were decorated with the child was born right before her eyes. Both Devaki whole place wearing a festive look. Everyone in and Vasudeva begged Kamsa to spare the child, his palace were in a joyous mood as he named specially because it was a girl. But Kamsa said the child Krishna. All danced with joy and flocked that he would not take any chances and took the to Nanda’s house to offer the child gifts and to see child and threw it in the air. the baby boy. All people noticed that the child’s skin was dark-blue colour, he never cried but had At that moment the child flew out of his hand and a smile for everyone and his eyes twinkled merrily. remained suspended in the air filling the prison Lord Krishna was the cynosure of all eyes! with a blinding light. The child had changed into an eight-armed form of Goddess Durga after the Yashoda felt overjoyed at the birth of Lord light subsided. Dressed in shining garments and Krishna, the Supreme God, the Sustainer. Lord dazzling jewels, she looked fierce and divine at Krishna was born to save everyone from Kamsa, the same time. She informed Kamsa thus: “No who was a terrible tyrant. Fulfilling the prophecy force on heaven and earth can kill me. Your slayer made before his birth, in his youth, Krishna killed is already born. He is alive and well in a safe Kamsa and reinstated Ugrasena, Kamsa’s father, place. He will come one day and kill you.”2 as the ruler of Mathura.

She then disappeared leaving Kamsa, terror- References 1. Story of Lord Krishna’s birth and Krishna Janmashtami stricken and confused. Kamsa, in haste, freed Celebrations, Ananya Chand, August 24, 2013 both Vasudev and Devaki from prison. 2. http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fairytales/indian_my- thology_stories/birth_of_sri_krishna.htm#1ielX73CcZwE- HLGt.99 Vasudev narrated to his wife all that had happened that night. Devaki became happy to

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rishna is well known for having the most Showing Cosmic Vision to Yashoda fight between Krishna and , at the end of clothes. This illustrates the act of surrendering to entertaining Bal Leela (childhood stories) As a kid, Krishna used to eat soil. One day, which the serpent asked for and left the feet of the God out of devotional love. of all times. He is the most adorable and Yashoda caught him and asked whether he was the river. This is popularly represented in dance K The play between the and Krishna are pampered child in Indian mythology. eating soil and he said no. To believe him, his forms as ‘Kalinga Mardana’. hallmark of the dance form called Rasa Lila made mother asked him to open his mouth. When The people of Vrindavan, used to pray to , famous by the poems of Jayadeva in the Gita ’s Deliverance he did so, his mother saw the whole universe the king of the , for rain to have good Govinda. Kansa, ordered the demoness Putana to kill within and she became unconscious. However, all the infants in Gokul, in the hope of killing harvest. On Krishna’s suggestion they start after knowing Sri Krishna was the Lord of the The message that Krishna conveyed through Krishna too. Putana filled her breasts with poison praying at the Hill. Lord Indra was universe, mother Yashoda could never treat Him his life and his pranks is that our life is to be and went on feeding the infants. She disguised furious and sent storms with lasted for several like a son and show her affection towards Him. lived with laughter and joy even as one pursues herself as a beautiful lady to enter Krishna’s days. Krishna lifted the with his So by His internal potency or yogamaya, Krishna devotion in seeking God. little finger to protect the people of Vrindavan house and tried to feed him. Bal Krishna sucked made her forget His divinity. her life out of her fake body and she came into from the raging storms. Indra realised his References 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishna her true form and died of pain. Krishna liberated Deliverance of Yamala—Arjuna Trees mistake and asked for forgiveness. 2. https://theindianmythology.wordpress.com/tag/story- Putana because by offering her milk, she had One day, finding young Krishna stealing butter from how-krishna-killed-putana/ Murali—The Flute Player 3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Putana performed the supreme act of maternal devotion. the kitchen, Yashoda quietly crept up from behind 4. http://www.indianetzone.com/38/childhood_lord_krishna. Krishna was such a marvelous flute player that the to try to catch him. After tiring his mother, Krishna htm vibrations of the basuri or bamboo flute would 5. http://hinduism.stackexchange.com/questions/6827/what- Overturning the Cart got caught and Yashoda tied him up. But Yashoda enchant the whole Vrindavan. The gopis or milk scriptures-mention-krishna-killing-sakatasura-the-cart-de- Another incident is when Kansa sent a demon realised that the rope was too small. To get more mon-as-a-baby maidens would leave all tasks they were doing 6. https://thebookthisweek.wordpress.com/picview/dance- called Sakatasur, who took the form of a large rope, she secured the baby Krishna to a mortar. and follow him to enjoy his music. This is the of-govinda-and-flute-of-vrindavan hand-cart. The aim was to crush and kill the baby 7. http://www.iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/the-glori- Krishna, who in turn gave a hard blow on the cart Soon there was a loud noise. Everyone rushed out example of (devotion) in its purest form. ous-fruitseller-story and everything fell apart and killed the demon. to see that Krishna had dragged the heavy mortar, 8. http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fairytales/indian_my- The gopis were very fond of Krishna and would thology_stories/the_vision.htm and when he got stuck between two trees he had 9. http://hinduism.stackexchange.com/questions/2650/why- always tease him. They would request him to Salvation of Trnavarta pulled so hard that they had fallen down. These did--krishna-show-the-whole-universe-to-his-mother dance for them in exchange for Makhan or butter, 10. http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fairytales/indian_my- One of the servants of Kansa, known as Trnavarta, trees were the sons of Kuber, the god of wealth. thology_stories/yashoda_ties_krishna.htm which he was so fond of. Sometimes being fed as instructed by Kansa, appeared there in the Their names were Nalakubara and Manigreeva. 11. https://www.iskconbangalore.org/little-krishna/balara- up by Krishna pranks, they would also report him ma-kills-pralambasura/ shape of a whirlwind. The Trnavarta demon took By making them fall Krishna freed them from the to Yashoda. To teach the gopis a lesson Krishna 12. http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fairytales/indian_my- baby Krishna on his shoulder, went high in the curse given to them by because of their thology_stories/krishna_and_kaliya.htm once stole their clothes while they were bathing 13. http://krsnabook.com/ch11.html sky, but the baby assumed such a weight that arrogant attitude in an earlier time. suddenly the demon could not go any further, in the river. They pleaded him to return their and he had to stop his whirlwind activities. The Fruit Seller Krishna caught hold of his neck and pushed the Once, a lady fruit seller came across to Krishna’s demon to the ground and he was killed. house. Seeing such a divine child, the fruit seller heart was overwhelmed. Krishna hurriedly Makhan Chor—The Butter Thief brought a fistful of grains in exchange of some As a growing child, Krishna’s mischief and juicy fruits. By the time he reached the fruit seller pranks knew no bound. He loved his makhan though, most of the grains had flowed out of (butter) a lot. While the gopis (milkmaids) would his little hands. The lady told Krishna if He called be sleeping, Krishna together with his brother her ‘mother’, she would give him all the fruits. Balarama and his friends would be stealing butter Krishna sat on her lap called her “Ma” and got from all the neighbouring houses. Yashoda down quickly and walked away happily with his would receive lots of complains on Krishna being little hands full of fruits. Once back home the fruit the notorious Makhan Chor of Gokul. Krishna seller was amazed to find the basket of fruits was would share the butter with his friends who full of countless wonderful jewels. A beautiful did not have a cow and could not prepare their surprising reward for just pleasing the Lord! own butter. When Yashoda would be angry over Krishna’s pranks, the cunning Krishna with his Deliverance of People of Vrindavan cute smile and innocent face would always melt There was a huge black 7-headed serpent named her heart and she would forgive him. Kaliya (Kalinga), who with his venom was poisoning the Yamuna River. There was a great

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be able to connect effectively with a person like An Embodiment of Love . Shiva would satisfy the One that is woven into the very fabric of last category of people who are centered on their Krishna is the concept of Love. It is no wonder beings and seek spiritual experiences. he has a reputation as “the romance” or the flirt. He was able to elicit the feeling of love from his Who is a Purnavatar? gopikas. He was able to elicit the feeling and also There are some we call purnavatar. make them totally satisfied that their love was Purnavatar This roughly translates to a complete avatar. accepted and returned. Men of all ages loved him In reference to the earlier point of how certain like a brethren, an intimate friend, and a leader. avatars appeal to certain people, purnavatars can His charm was so strong that even his enemies appeal to all types of people. They can connect would stop and admire his unique, and appreciable Krishna intellectually, emotionally and through the personality—when their logic was not on guard ability of giving direct spiritual experiences. One that is. Everyone loved him. Everything he did, example of a purnavatar is Sri Krishna. whether it was entertaining, advising, protecting or shouting—all of it was infused with love. Krishna, the Purnavatar Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is one of Many of the Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu the greatest and beings of all times. Pantheon receive praise, and devotion. He is a jagathguru, a guru for the whole universe. But hardly any of them are really loved—not in He can relate to and help all types of people at the way Krishna is. different levels. He is a macrocosm expressing References in the microcosm of his 6-foot body. Krishna has 1. https://youtu.be/9CTCa6NTpXM all the qualities needed to bring human beings to 2. https://youtu.be/L2jDGkLkfj8 3. https://youtu.be/fSpTXAGspZk their divinity. 4. https://youtu.be/VURHo7YwLpI 5. https://youtu.be/nCUI21BmOcg 6. https://youtu.be/IBAJBZRMY5Q CHARUYAN SRIKUMARAN 7. https://youtu.be/MOUXjYMIhxg

n the Hindu tradition, we recognize that we Avatar Defined have an ultimate goal of (liberation) Avatars are beings with immense energy, power Ior enlightenment. But with all the distractions and . There are many instances and in life, we tend to stray off from the original examples of avatars that descended throughout essence of the (spiritual scriptures). So history. For example, Shankara, , are all incarnations, or avatars, descend to this planet examples of incarnations. to show people the way back to divinity and the true nature of . This is one clear difference The world has many different types of people. between Hinduism and many of the world’s So it stands to reason that there are many religions today. Existence itself assumes for us to different incarnations that people have access realize our true nature of divinity. to. For example, many people may consider themselves to be intellectuals and for them the “Scientist is a person that create a formula to best way to learn spirituality is through sacred reproduce the outer world experiences. Master is texts and the teachings of an enlightened being. a person who creates the formula to reproduce Since they relate to intellectual understandings the experience of the inner world. Incarnation easier, an intellectual avatar like Buddha would is a person who can directly give (you) the be ideal. A person seeking emotional fulfillment experience without using the formula.” may not connect with Buddha well but would

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However, when Krishna asked the 16,000 women Srila Prabhupada Says to return to their homes the women cowered. A beautiful interpretation is that by ISCKON They said society would question their chastity, founder Srila Prabhupada who writes in his book, as they had been held captive by another man, Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead: and therefore they had nowhere to go. Instead, they asked Krishna to restore their honor and “The Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna dignity by marrying all of them. Being a divine certainly has no business being any one’s being and an incarnation, Krishna assumed as husband or son or father, because everything many bodies as there were 16,000 women, and belongs to Him and everyone is under His married all of them at the same auspicious time. control. He does not require any one’s help for For each of them he constructed a palace with His satisfaction. He is atmarama, self-satisfied; He huge gardens full of flowers and treated them can derive all pleasure by Himself, without any equal to his eight principal wives. one’s help. When the Lord descends to play the Decoding the part of a human being, He plays a role either as a Interpretations of the 16,000 Wives husband, son, friend or enemy, in full perfection. There are several interpretations in the As such, when He was playing as the perfect and Vedic texts about the 16,000 wives. husband of the queens, especially of Rukminiji, 16,000 Wives He enjoyed conjugal love in complete perfection. According to one legend, each of the 16,000 of Krishna women were from the past who wanted According to Vedic culture, although polygamy ow many wives did Krishna have? A boon from that his death be in the hands to be part of Krishna’s incarnation on earth, who is allowed, none of the wives should be ill- derisive comment often made of Krishna of his own mother, which Brahma granted. With wanted to live closer to him and witness his life. treated. In other words, one may take many His about his ‘16,000 wives’. How did He the boon, felt invincible, and became Upon their prayer to lord Vishnu he granted them wives only if he is able to satisfy all of them manage to have so many? As a divine being, why arrogant with power, knowing full well a mother the boon to be his wives in his next incarnation equally as an ideal householder; otherwise it is did he need wives at all? How was his domestic would never kill her son. on earth. not allowed. Lord Krishna is the world-teacher; life like with these many wives, and so on? Here therefore, even though He had no need for a we shall clear the air around the legends and Lording Over Three Worlds Another relate Krishna, the flautist and lover of wife, He expanded Himself into as many forms myths of the 16,000 wives. Narakasura went on to become extraordinarily music, and his 16,000 wives to be the 16,000 as He had wives, and He lived with them as powerful, and conquered all three worlds— or musical modes in , and an ideal householder, observing the regulative Krishna was known as ashtabharya, or one with -loka, bhuloka and finally (nether their wives—the raginis (female ). The raginis principles, rules and commitments in accordance eight wives. These eight wives were , world, earthly world and world of the gods) selected one of these ragas to which to modulate with the Vedic injunctions and the social laws Satyabhama, , Kalindi, , plunging all of them into darkness. Narakasura her strains for affecting and securing the heart and customs of society. For each of His 16,000 , , and . Another wife kidnapped and held captive 16,000 women from of Krishna. Krishna who was devoted to music wives, He simultaneously maintained different mentioned is Rohini, the most important among devaloka, in his capital Pragjyotisha. Things came received and enjoyed every variety of modulation, palaces, different establishments and different the 16,000 wives. to a head when Narakasura stole the earrings multiplied to the number of 16,000, personified atmospheres. Thus the Lord, although one, and some properties of divine mother , in the form of the women derived from Bhauma 2 How the 16,000 Wives Happened—The exhibited Himself as 16,000 ideal householders.” the mother of all the gods. A distraught Aditi (also the name of Narakasura), a five-stringed Arrogance of Narakasura approached her cousin Satyabhama for help musical instrument. Each of the 16,000 wives of Krishna had golden As per the Purana, , Vishnu and to intervene on behalf of the gods to release palaces with huge gardens full of colorful flowers. Purana, and there was an the hapless women and get back her properties. Some symbolize the number 16,000 to represent This is symbolic and means that he who weds the named Narakasura. Narakasura was the son Now, Satyabhama was none other than Bhudevi 16 qualities (or arts or vidyas) that Krishna had, supreme soul (one who attains self-realization) will of the demon king and Bhudevi, reborn in Dwapara to be Krishna’s wife. which is higher than the previous incarnations of have all the gold (, psychic powers), palace, conceived at a time when hapless mother earth Vishnu that is Rama who had 14 qualities. beauty (satisfactions) that he wishes for. was pushed to the far end of the universe by 16,000 Become Wives of Krishna “When a devotee realizes god, God appears to References Hiranyaksha. Bhudevi was rescued by Vishnu, in Krishna, with Satyabhama by his side, attacked each as his own (here Krishna manifested 16,000 1. http://www.newindianexpress.com/education/student/arti- the incarnation of a boar or avatar. the heavily guarded capital of Pragjyotisha and cle1333576.ece forms to love them individually), each devotee 2. Srila Prabhupada’s book Krihna, the Supreme Personality fought a fierce battle with the demons. Fulfilling Narakasura was a smart asura. When he set out feels God in his heart as his own lover, he does of Godhead the boon given by Vishnu, Satyabhama finally 3. http://hindumythologyforgennext.blogspot.in/2012/07/ on his path to absolute power and universal not reject any one’s love. He treats them all death-of-narakasura-origins-of-.html killed Narakasura and released the 16,000 destruction, he made sure no matter what he did, equally, them all equally.”1 4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junior_wives_of_Krishna captured women. 5. Mahabharata Chapter 130, Udyogaparva - brief account of he was taken care of for life. For this he sought a Narakasura

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Friends Forever Krishna plays the role of a mentor when he finally hile Krishna and Arjuna shared a succeeds in empowering his best friend in the inner Krishna and deep and intimate friendship in their world as well. Wchildhood through adulthood—their relationship is truly epic. For Arjuna, Krishna Sri Krishna as Advisor was his friend, mentor, divine guide, Guru and Sri Krishna advises Arjuna to take concrete charioteer and they are Nara (embodiment of all action and attack his kinsmen and teachers Arjuna humanity) and (Lord Vishnu who in (the and those who were against the turn is Sri Krishna) respectively. As Paramahamsa ) because “Arjuna would try to convince 2 An Eternal Relationship Nithyananda says in his interpretation of the himself through arguments that lacked strength.” Bhagavad Gita, the relationship between Krishna However, if he didn’t do this he would not reach and Arjuna is the highest form of interaction the stage where Sri Krishna gives Arjuna the PRERNA DUSIJA between the human and the Divine.1 technique of entering eternal bliss and tells him that “you are my devotee as well as my friend In the Bhagavad Gita we look at the test of and can therefore understand the transcendental Arjuna’s faith in Krishna and how he overcomes mystery of this science.”3 the doubts he has about the Supreme Godhead. Although initially Arjuna is engulfed by doubt— Krishna also dispels Arjuna’s doubts by telling him it is through having doubts and working with that there is no happiness for those who continue questions that Arjuna evolves into a beautiful to try and destroy themselves by doubts despite and confident being, who develops respect and having knowledge and faith. He urges Arjuna remains in awe of Krishna’s friendship towards to take things slowly and carefully in a state of him. It is a very tedious process for them conscious awareness, so that a cognition shift takes because although Krishna reveals his true Self or place, which will then lead him to do the right thing incarnation-hood to Arjuna, he is still besieged always, promptly, proactively and intensely. with doubt and is even unable to pick up the bow A friend always shows the way, mostly by and fight the battle in the Kurukshetra field of the listening intently which allows him to lead him Mahabharata war. The questions Arjuna has for Sri or her to the light. What Krishna tells Arjuna is Krishna, however, in no way affect their closeness. that the light (doubtlessness) is within us all. All The battle within Arjuna is a reflection of the Arjuna needed to do is, never take it (the light) battle outside for which reason he is not able for granted, allow the master to work for him, to believe his friend that he is capable of so that he is able to find his true Self back, to be doing something great, despite being told and what he really is—righteous. reassured by his dearest friend that he will What we need to understand from Krishna and be successful in pulling himself and the other Arjuna’s relationship is that ultimately God Pandavas out of their plight. and human beings are together, in an eternal At the end of the day all of us have an Arjuna and quest to direct one another to higher and higher Krishna within us, Arjuna representing the Body and truths. With the right questions, clarity can be Krishna the Spirit which is the ultimate reality for achieved which frees up tremendous space in mankind and Godhood, and is also responsible for both the Supreme and human beings for greater the maintenance of relationships that last eternally. expansion to take place. What we witness is not Also, God speaks to them as a friend, (the way just Arjuna’s doubtful mind and lack of action, but Krishna spoke to Arjuna) who truly have faith in Krishna’s test too, while he does his utmost best Him even if they are battling with themselves in the to be an inspiration for Arjuna. lowest way possible. Krishna’s friendship towards References Arjuna stands as a testimony that withstood all 1. Pg 36, Bhagavad Gita Demystified by Paramahamsa Nithyananda possible pressures Arjuna gave to himself, while Sri 2. Pg 45, Bhagavad Gita Demystified by Paramahamsa Krishna took all possible measures to vanquish the Nithyananda 3. Pg 210, Bhagavad Gita Demystified by Paramahamsa doubts Arjuna had in waging the external war. Sri Nithyananda

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raupadi has to be introduced as dice to the Kauravas. purposely the heroine of the great Hindu epic, sends Muni to visit his cousins in the DMahabharata. Her ferociousness, valor, forest after they had already finished their meal. and courage are unparalleled and she takes on a When Durvasa Muni visits, they have nothing powerful feminist role in the epic tale. She had a to feed him, and they fear that Durvasa Muni close bond with Krishna, and immense devotion will curse their whole family. During this time, for Him, as she considered Him the Paramatma Draupadi silently prays to Krishna. He appears at (the Ultimate). the forest and asks her for food. Perplexed, she tells him that the precise reason she prayed to Their friendship was so pure, and Draupadi’s him was because she had no food left to give. He devotion to Krishna was such, that there were no takes the lone grain of rice left on the plate and borders that separated the two. They were simply announces that he is fulfilled. This satiated the a part of each other. They experienced a space hunger of Durvasa Muni and the Pandavas were of true friendliness, very unlike the concept of spared his wrath. friendliness that society holds in the modern day. The relationship is best described as a sakhi- Many, with a narrow concept of friendship, would sakha relationship (bond of pure friendship), one have seen the relationship between Draupadi and that transcends societal rules and restrictions. Krishna as an adultrous one. However, a deeper They maintained a close bond even after their look shows that their relationship was one that respective marriages. Beyond this, Draupadi could not be understood by a simple mind. In was a great devotee of Krishna. She trusted Him the modern day, many commit the grave mistake as a God, and so their relationship could not be of pulling the great epics down to an ordinary judged on human terms. level in order to understand them. However, in order to experience the truths revealed in these Once when Krishna hurt His finger while scriptures, it is necessary to attempt to raise beheading his cousin Sishupala, Draupadi rushed oneself to their level. to his aid with tears in her eyes, tore her , and bandaged His finger. Krishna, seeing her love, vowed to repay her for each thread that was present in that bandage, and said, “Whenever you need me, I will be there.” And to the end, He fulfilled His words without fail.

When Draupadi stood in the middle of the royal court filled with elders, kings, and even her own husbands, ready to be disrobed, she called to Krishna for help. She trusted Him so completely Draupadi and had unshakable faith in Him that she cursed everyone in the court and waited for Krishna to Friends come to her aid. And Krishna was the only one who immediately came to her aid when even her husbands sat there watching powerless and and helpless to help her. She trusted Krishna First unconditionally, and He protected Draupadi whenever necessary. This shows that she truly believed Krishna to be the Lord. She knew he Krishna would protect her even though he was not physically present.

The Pandavas and Draupadi were living in the KAVEA PANNERASELVAM forest for fourteen years after losing a game of

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Krishna feels remorseful, as he realizes, while And the gopika further plays cupid and guides being with other gopis, he has neglected his Radha, how she should go to Krishna: beloved Radha, and made her feel jealous and Leave your noisy anklets, they clang like traitors turn away from him in anger. Radha’s friend in love play decides to go to Krishna as a messenger, and hidden in the cloak of night, friend, go to the describes Radha’s sweet pain to him: darkened thicket, where he awaits. How when you have turned your face away, even He imagines you coming, when a bird feather moonlight scorches her falls or leaf stirs Lying dejected by your desertion, fearing love’s making a bed of love, he eyes your pathway, and arrows anxiously awaits you. she clings to you in fantasy, . And at last, we see a picture of an abashed Jayadeva’s Radha in An exquisite lying on her breast Krishna feeling sorry to have left Radha and asking is a burden to the frail wasted girl her forgiveness. Radha cannot bear to see Krishna MA NITHYA KAVYAROOPINI Krishna, Radhika suffers in your desertion! when he pleads forgiveness, and all her suffering And finally Radha’s friend warns Krishna in no escapes from her lips in these jealous words: ayadeva was the court poet of King Radha—An Embodiment of Mahabhava uncertain terms, highlighting the peak of her Damn you Madhava, Keshava, leave me Lakshmanasena a ruler of Bengal in the The essence of prema is bhava or spiritual emotion, agony thus: J12th century CE. His mastery of the Sanskrit and the ultimate development of bhava is called Don’t plead your lies with me, Go after her language was matched by his proficiency in mahabhava. Radha, the very embodiment of She bristles with pain, sucks in breath Krishna! both music and dancing. He was a mystic and a mahabhava, is likened to a mine of all precious cries, shudders, gasps, She will ease your despair devotee of Krishna. Gita Govinda is a great poetical qualities and she is the crest jewel among Krishna’s broods deep, reels, stammers Radha’s friend admonishes her with: masterpiece in twelve cantos of mellifluous verses beloved gopis or cowherd girls. The work is to falls, raises herself, then faints comes when spring winds, bearing honey and songs in Sanskrit, set to music and adapted to be understood as symbolic of the human soul’s When fevers of passion rage so high blow representation through different dance forms, like straying from its true allegiance but returning at A frail girl may live by your charm What greater pleasure exists in the world, friend? Rasa Lila, and . length to God, culminating in their blissful union. If you feel sympathy, Krishna! Don’t turn wounded pride on Madhava Play Godly healer! Or Death may take her. He is proud too, sullen Radha! Grasping Gita Govinda Lovelorn, tormented Radha is portrayed as the The devotion of Radha is centered on Krishna. We are left to figure out, how the painfully sweet One needs to be truly discerning to understand frail beauty, where everything conspires to Even moonlight, cooling sandal paste, beautiful interaction between the two lovers would end. the subtlety in the text of the Gita increase her love agony: lotus pools are unable to divert her. Finally, Jayadeva’s Radha encompasses the whole Govinda, to appreciate the profound sentiments When spring came, tender limbed Radha wandered exhaustion forces her to meditate on Him, and narrative lyrics with her tender, yet passionate expressed by Jayadeva. The pastimes of Radha Like a flowering creeper in the forest wilderness she feels secretly revived, for a moment. love for Krishna, and rises to be a tall figure. She is and Krishna are the transcendental loving play Seeking Krishna in his many haunts immortalized as the epitome of love and longing, of and Shaktiman. This divine couple have Lotus Eyed Krishna’s longing for Radha is The God of love increased her ordeal appearing to be greater than the Lord himself. the power to sanctify the whole world because Tormenting her with fevered thoughts described as: they were completely free from even the slightest And so it is with every soul, that feels the And her friend sang to heighten the mood Appease Radha and bring her to me!! trace of lust. A study of the pastimes of Radha and separation from its source. It longs for the source, Krishna is a peep into the quest of enlightenment Radha Feels Mocked by the Carelessness of These words told by the gopika to Radha covers its own journey of misconceptions, and through the path of bhakti or devotion. her Lord describe Krishna’s condition: right cognitions, till it finally finds completion and knows that the source is also waiting for it to The Love Song of the Dark Lord Radha visualises Krishna being with her with all his ardor and describes in vivid detail their Your neglect affects his heart, come home. Krishna—the Dark Lord of Love, is shown in human inflicting pain night after night form, as a young cowherd, living near Vrindavan. meeting. The mahakavya shows the love that Reference: Krishna carries for her, and the journey of wild-flower garlanded Krishna 1. Sri Gita Govinda, Commentary by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Jayadeva declares, who Krishna is, alluding to him suffers in your desertion, friend Narayana Goswami Maharaja being an avatar of Vishnu in these lines: Radha’s many moods that her passion leads 2. Love Song of the Dark Lord : Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda, her into, her deep yearning, desolation of not He plays your name on his sweet reed flute, Miller, Barbara Stoler (1977).  Your beauty is fresh as rain clouds, having her Beloved with her. Knowing He is with he cherishes breeze blown pollen, which touched You hold the mountain to churn elixir from the sea, other gopikas, her resultant jealousy increases. your fragile body Your eyes are night birds drinking from Sri’s Struggling with her love, and her jealousy, she in woods on the wind swept Yamuna bank moon face tells her friend, to somehow bring Him to her. Krishna waits in wild flower . Triumph, God of Triumph Hari!

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Krishna’s Rasa Lila A Devotional Hymn Sent to Future Generations

Part 1

DR. NITHYA BALANANDA

he Rasa Lila is one of the most famous involves the gopis experience of a deeply and mystifying of all Hindu Puranas. The tender, and amorous union with the divine Tterm comes from the Sanskrit words rasa incarnation of God, Lord Krishna. This union, and leela, with rasa meaning “juice”, “nectar”, however, ultimately leads to disillusionment and “emotion” or “sweet ” and lila meaning separation. “act”. By taking this etymological breakdown of the word literally, “Rasa Lila” means the Is this Lila of Krishna, an ancient parody, “sweet act” (of Krishna). It is often freely implicitly loaded with guidance for a modern rendered as “the dance of love.”1 The word, lila, world, 1,000s of years later? has been described as “the play and display of Is it an ancient account of man’s continuous consciousness.”2 desire for union in a loving relationship, and the total misunderstanding that pain results in the The setting in the Rasa Lila as described in the separation and abandonment of God? Let us Srimad Bhagavatam, is the beautiful pastoral enter into the account of this Rasa Lila with our town in India of Vrindavan, on a full moon night. eyes open to the implications it has for our own The river Yamuna is flowing gently, fragrant journey into our quest for union with God. breezes are blowing, and the jasmine flowers are filling the air with their nectar. The gopis, who are In the Srimad Bhagavatam, the gopis lament, Krishna’s dearest and most devoted followers, “Oh hero, kindly distribute to us the nectar of are called by Krishna to leave their households, your lips, which enhances conjugal pleasure husbands, and family responsibilities to and vanquishes grief. That nectar is thoroughly experience this nighttime vigilance called relished by your vibrating flute and makes people the Rasa Lila. This deep spiritual experience forget any other attachments.”3

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In this excerpt, the gopis are experiencing what In his Lila, Krishna manifests himself dancing The key to any perfect relationship is Union, the absolute truth, Krishna… but we want is termed “pure desire,” which is supposedly with each and every one of the gopis, as if each “” Sanskrit for “choicelessness.” The it our way. without the tarnish of worldly attachment. one had him only unto herself: “Among the ultimate reciprocation that is given to us in The true nature of Reality is non-attachment Krishna also tells the gopis to “go back to the assembled gopis, the infallible Lord Krishna any relationship is based in non-attachment cowherd village; serve your husbands and give appeared just like the moon surrounded by stars. to the outcome in our relationships. to the expected outcome. milk to your crying babies and calves. Krishna He whose activities are so magnanimous made When we embody the “purest love” in In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna states, “as states night-time has a frightening appearance, their faces blossom with his affectionate glances, relationships, our income is maximized. When people approach me I reciprocate with them Agorha Roopa, inhabiting this place are creatures and his broad smiles revealed the effulgence of we exhibit “Pride” as Lord Krishna names it, we accordingly.” Regardless of how we approach the that are fearsome, please return to , oh ones his Jasmine Bud Light teeth.” The Lord Krishna separate from God. In the Bible, Christ states,”Pride Lord and what our expectations are, our purest with beautiful waists.”4 did not fail to give pleasure to each and every goeth before a fall!” Pride seems to have a new desire is to have full union. This reciprocation is in the nocturnal assembly.7 definition, in this ancient account of the Rasa Lila. The dichotomy of being with Krishna, and always given, even in apparent separation from Pride is the feeling of separation from God, the enjoying his “internal pleasure potency,” is mixed This Rasa Lila clearly illustrates a play and God. The gopis’ prayer was, please help me to love disappointment of not getting what we want. What with Krishna’s advice to the gopis to serve their display of purest intelligence, Krishna, and you “purely”, and the result of this prayer is what we think is best for us and the world may not be families. This juxtaposition forces the gopis to the gopis’ aesthetic experience of union with God ultimately gave them—separation.The result of delivered by God. Pride is thinking that we know examine their true goal in life—was it to be with the divine. This sacred experience, however, “pure love” is expansion, beyond the boundaries of what is best for us … not God. Krishna, or their worldly responsibilities? metamorphosed into extreme anxiety, and personal “pride” and expectation. Krishna states in separation. According to the Bhagavatam, the the Bhagavatam, “The reason I do not immediately (to be concluded) Sukadeva Gosvami, points out that the gopis gopis became “proud” of themselves for having reciprocate the affection of living beings even when References: real, eternal husband is Lord Krishna. That received such special attention from Krishna. they worship me is that I want to intensify their 1. Wikipedia “dharmah”, (right action) and “amamaya” 2. Srimad Bhagavatam,Tenth Canto Part 2, AC.Bhaktivedanta Each of them thought herself “to be the best loving devotion. They then become like a poor man, Swami Prabhupada (without duplicity, or illusion), are the keywords woman on earth.” Lord Krishna seeing the gopis who has gained some wealth and then lost it, and 3. IBID for the gopis to favor. This higher cognition of 4. IBID were experiencing pride, “wanted to relieve who thus becomes so anxious about it, that he can 5. Dance of Divine Love, being married to God is reiterated as the gopis 10 them, show them mercy, so he immediately think of nothing else.” 6. Srimad Bhagavatam,Tenth Canto Part 2, AC.Bhaktivedanta are referred to as “” of love, their minds Swami Prabhupada disappeared.”8 5 Yet we question our spiritual experiences “when 7. IBID and hearts ever fixed on their beloved Lord. 8 IBID Is the Rasa Lila of Krishna an ancient the going gets rough.” We lose our “pure desire” 9. Wikipedia A natural conclusion then is that Krishna, who 10. The Book of Krishna, Pavan Verma reflection of approach/avoid? when God does not reciprocate, or give us what resides eternally in the heart, is the true spouse we want. But the Divine gives us, ultimately what Kurt Lewen, a modern psychologist, characterizes of everyone. The cowherd husbands of the gopis, we need for our highest good. What we have all human relationships as having features of on the other hand, are temporary relationships in always wanted and prayed for is for completion— this life, and therefore illusory. “approach/avoid.” This psychological syndrome is characterized by the expectation that one has for The gopis are “-”, a spiritually another in the relationship, whether it is mother/ perfected body. A body that the devoted soul son, father/daughter, or romantic relationships. ultimately develops during the course of pursuing The push/pull of expectations not being fulfilled the process of bhakti (devotion to God). For by the “other” leads to incompletion, many times the Caitanya school, the dance of divine love, leading to ultimate separation from the beloved.9 meditation on the Rasa Lila, enables the absorbed devotee to develop a spiritual form so that one is In earlier verses of the Bhagavatam, Krishna able to be even more fully immersed in devotion. leaves the gopis, stating that in separation their devotion to the Lord will expand. The gopis were But is the gopis’ devotion enough to “on the highest platform of spiritual perfection, produce total saturation in the Divine? transcendental to all positive and negative Lord Krishna, the original Lord Narayan, “master religious considerations. They were eternal lovers of the goddess of fortune, took pleasure in the of the absolute truth.” Yet after their experience of company of the young women of Vraja, by ecstatic union with the divine, they experienced embracing them, caressing them and glancing the pain of separation. The gopis were fraught lovingly at them as he smiled his broad, playful with the pain of separation, asking trees, plants, smiles. It was just as if a child were playing with even the ground upon which Krishna walked, his own reflection.”6 “Where is Krishna”?

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his is a significant year for ISKCON, during the blossoming of America’s hedonistic The International Society for Krishna counterculture movement. But it was also TConsciousness, otherwise known as the the right time when many of the youth were Hare Krishna Movement. It was incorporated questioning their existence. 50 years ago, in 1966. Of course, when we talk about the accomplishments of ISKCON, Sankirtan—To Spread Krishna practically every development was guided by the Consciousness founder acharya, Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami In New York City, he sent his followers, chanting the Prabhupada. So in many ways, these were his names of God, known as sankirtan, into the streets accomplishments and contributions to the world. and to Tompkins Square Park, which attracted others. As the movement grew with temples Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada around the world, they also engaged in sankirtan Ventures West in cities and towns everywhere, and Hare Krishna It was in 1965, at seventy years of age, he became famous in every corner of the world. ventured outside India for the first time to He sent a few of his disciples to London, where fulfill the order of his spiritual master, Srila they recorded the single, “Hare Krsna Mantra” Bhaktisiddhanta Swami, who told him, on with George Harrison, in 1969. It became the their first meeting, that Srila Prabhupada fastest selling of all the Apple Corporation’s should preach this Vedic culture and Krishna releases, including those of the Beatles. The consciousness to the English speaking language. record reached #3 in Czechoslovakia, #9 in He did not think much of that at first, but later Britain, and made the top ten in Germany, Japan, began to take the spiritual message of his teacher Australia, South Africa, Yugoslavia, and many more seriously, took initiation, and later began to other countries. meditate on how to fulfill the instructions he had received from his master. 108 Temples to Lord Krishna He only came to America by getting a free ride on He established 108 Krishna temples on six a cargo ship called the Jaladuta. However, that continents, installed the deity of Krishna in each was not without risk. During his voyage at sea, center and trained his disciples in the process of he suffered two severe heart attacks, yet he was deity worship. Thirty-two new temples (almost consoled by having a dream that Lord Krishna three a month) were opened in a single year, Himself was massaging his heart. He reached the between 1970 and 1971. This later became known shores of America with the equivalent of seven as the Hare Krishna explosion. dollars to his name, and a case of his books, and One significant event that he inaugurated that lots of faith that Lord Krishna brought him here continues to be observed is the Rathayatra Festival for a reason. ISKCON of Lord Jagannatha in major cities around the ISKCON is Born globe, in effect, bringing the temple to the people. After Fifty Years He first stayed with his sponsor in Butler, He also gave initiation to women, something that Pennsylvania, but soon went to New York City was previously not the norm in the tradition. He where he rented a small storefront on the lower also instructed his disciples in 1967 to start an Some of the Contributions east side and would sing the Hare Krishna business to provide financial support mantra and offer classes in Bhagavad Gita. With for the temples. Within four years the business, this format he founded the International Society Spiritual Sky Incense, generated an annual it Made to the World for Krishna Consciousness with a small group revenue of one million dollars. of disciples, after a year of struggling alone in New York City. This marked the only time in Promoting Vegetarianism history that a Krishna devotee successfully began One event that ISKCON started, that was STEPHEN KNAPP (NANDANANDANA DASA) training non-Indians in the strict disciplines of later recognized by the magazine Vegetarian . Amazingly, this was achieved Times as one of the key factors in promoting vegetarianism was the “Sunday Love Feast.”

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The Sunday program was especially geared To push on this endeavor, he wrote approximately knowledge within the scientific community, been emphasized by his own spiritual master, Srila for guests and devotees so they could come seventy books on spiritual science and Krishna engaging serious academics in the consideration Bhaktisiddhanta Swami. Now a variety of temples to the temple and gather like a family, listen to consciousness, sleeping only a few hours per of the science of self-realization. have diorama displays to show various spiritual class, enjoy kirtan, ask questions, and enjoy a day. Dozens of prominent scholars and educators principles and the pastimes of Lord Krishna. multi-course feast based on Krishna prasadam from leading universities praised his work. The Promoting Organic Living and Brilliant (sanctified food offered first to Lord Krishna). Encyclopaedia Britannica proclaimed that his Krishna A Relentless Globetrotter This is still done at ISKCON temples throughout voluminous translations from the original Sanskrit Srila Prabhupada also set up various farm Prabhupada circled the globe fourteen times, the world, and many regular Hindu temples that and his lucid commentaries “have astounded communities to teach “simple living and high visiting twenty-four countries, preaching, were established later throughout America also literary and academic communities worldwide.” thinking”, emphasizing the Vedic lifestyle of cow inspiring his followers and making countless observe a similar Sunday program. This feat is even more astonishing considering the protection and dependence on God and nature. public appearances before multitudes of people. translations and commentaries were in English, This was especially for people who wanted to Before he left this world in 1977, he formally Other prasadam distribution programs that which was a second language to the author. live a more natural life, in the country, growing initiated approximately five thousand disciples. have been developed, provide millions of free their own food, and being free from the modern These initiates represented a sweeping diversity meals to the public. Steve Jobs was one of To assist in this matter, Srila Prabhupada complexities of life, and centering their existence of nationalities, races, ethnicities, and religious those who had mentioned that he would have at founded the (BBT) on spiritual development. And for becoming free backgrounds. All of this was done within the last least one good meal a week at the local prasada in 1972, to produce his books. By 1976, over from the increasingly contaminated food being years of Srila Prabhupada’s life, in a span of only distribution program in Florida, while he was in 55,000,000 books had been published in twenty- produced today. 12 years. college. They still have the free lunch program in five languages and distributed in almost every Gainesville, Florida. Today, especially in India, country, making the BBT the world’s largest He also commissioned his artist disciples to Since 1977, ISKCON has continued to develop, with various ISKCON temples have provided the publisher of Indian religious and philosophical produce hundreds of illustrations of Krishna now over 650 temples worldwide, 75,000 initiated facility for bringing nutritious food for school texts at the time. One printing alone of Bhagavad pastimes based on his meticulous instructions devotees, and over 500 million books distributed. children, so that they will be attracted to going to Gita As It Is required seventy-six train cars to ship and the descriptions in his books. These have It also has distributed as many as 3 billion plates of school so they can have at least one good meal the paper needed to print it! become famous as some of the most beautiful prasadam food worldwide, and runs 110 vegetarian a day. Before this, many children were forced “windows into the spiritual world.” restaurants. It presently has 65 eco-villages and by hunger to work instead of getting educated. Chanting the Hare Krishna Mantra farms communities around the world, and runs He also directed some of his followers to learn This program, called “Food for Life,” or Akshaya However, Srila Prabhupada laid much emphasis 54 educational institutions for students of various the of “doll making” to present Vedic Patra has helped change that. Of course, it is also on the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, ages. These are but a few of the developments that philosophy through diorama exhibits. This had prasadam, food first offered to Lord Krishna. and the singing of other devotional songs by have continued through the last 50 years. the previous . He recorded more than ISKCON also created the world’s first chain twenty albums of devotional music. of vegetarian restaurants, usually known as “Govinda’s” where everyone could come to enjoy a He also started one of the first monthly spiritual vegetarian prasadam meal outside a temple setting. magazines, known as Back to Godhead. At the height of its circulation in the mid seventies, over Educating the West on Vedic and Bhagavata a million copies per issue were sold. This is still Literature being publisher today. One of the main principles of the movement was He built major temples in Bombay and Vrindavana, to educate people in the traditions and spiritual and founded a spiritual city at in knowledge of the Vedic literature, focusing West Bengal. All became international sites of especially on the Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavata . Today ISKCON is building the Temple Purana, and other texts. Many Hindu temples of the Vedic Planetarium at Mayapur, the largest before this, and many to this day, focus mostly temple in West Bengal, with an emphasis on on rituals and pujas, without the emphasis on explaining and displaying the Vedic conception of teaching the spiritual knowledge behind it. For the cosmological arrangement of the universe. This that reason, Srila Prabhupada spoke daily on the temple was a dream of Srila Prabhupada’s, who philosophy of Krishna consciousness, delivering had requested his disciples to develop this temple, thousands of formal lectures. Over 2,200 were which they are now doing, with the hope that it recorded and archived. Beyond that he also taught may be ready for opening in the next several years. his followers on the need to be able to clearly understand and explain this knowledge to others, ISKCON still has the Bhaktivedanta Institute, and to distribute books, which goes on to this day. founded by Srila Prabhupada, to advance Vedic

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Bhagavad Gita, that although he controls the trip, they came upon a place called Prabasha, entire cosmos, he does not interfere with it. He which was where the iron from was allows people to choose their own actions. buried many years ago. After bathing in the sea, the men drank and became intoxicated. A Under the protection of Lord Krishna, the fight erupted between and , were a powerful clan. They could not two Yadava men who had fought on the side be destroyed by any external force in any war. of Pandavas and Kauravas respectively. The However, Krishna could see that if they were left argument escalated, and Satyaki drew his sword unchecked, they could become a burden to the and killed Kritavarma. All the other men drew Earth. Now that Gandhari has cursed him, he their weapons and a fight began. When their had a solution as to how to dissolve the clan. He weapons are exhausted, they use the club-like knew it would occur from within them, as they iron bamboo that is growing nearby to beat were undefeatable by external sources. each other. This went on for several days, and The Curse of the Sages nearly forty lakh Yadava men were killed this way. Krishna and Balarama were unable to stop the The sages Vishwamitra, Durvasa, Vashista, Narada carnage, just as Gandhari had cursed them. and many others visited Krishna and Balarama in Dwaraka while they were on pilgrimage. At the The Incarnation Leaves His Body time, certain Yadava clans were known to have Krishna then sent for Arjuna, so that the Yadava lost the culture and discipline. Of these, a group women could be escorted to Hastinapur. He of small boys decided to play a prank on the retired into the forest. On his way there, he saw a sages to test them. They dressed Samba, the son The Curse and End of serpent emerging from Balarama and going into of Krishna and Jambavati, as a pregnant woman. the ocean. In this way, Balarama left his body. They approached the rishis and asked them if they Krishna sat down to meditate upon all that had the Yadava Clan could predict if the ‘lady’ would give birth to a boy happened, and realised that his true purpose on or girl. Seeing that the boys were playing a trick, Earth had been achieved, and that it was time for the rishis were angered. They cursed Samba, that TRISHA SINGH him to leave the body as well. he would give birth to a lump of iron which would bring about the destruction of the entire Yadava The small piece of unpowdered iron that Samba Who were the Yadavas? She blames him for not preventing the bloodshed race. The boys laughed at this, until Samba’s belly and his friends had thrown into the sea was he Yadavas were an ancient people, who that occurred. In a fit of rage, she curses him that began to feel heavy and he delivered an iron later swallowed by a fish. A man named Jara descended from a legendary king named the Yadava clan will fight amongst themselves, block. They run to Ugrasena, the King of Mathura caught the fish and found the piece of iron. He TYadu. Sahasrajit and Kroshtu were the which will lead to their destruction, in the same way at the time, for his advice. He advises them to sharpened this piece, poisoned it, and added two sons of from whom the various Yadava that the Pandavas and Kauravas fought amongst grind the lump into a powder and throw it into the it to the end of his arrow. Jara walked into the clans originate. The Haihanyas descend from themselves. The widows of the Yadava clan will sea. From the lump, a small piece of iron could forest and mistook Krishna’s feet for a deer’s. He Sahasrajit, the elder son, while all other clans lament over their husbands death, the same way not be powdered. They threw the powdered iron shot arrows at it, and realised too late that it was descend from Kroshtu. They were spread out the widows of the Pandavas and Kauravas are as well as the tiny piece into the sea. The powder Krishna. He begged for forgiveness, but Krishna over several regions, including the Aravalli lamenting. FInally, she curses Krishna that he will got deposited on the seabed and eventually grew consoled him by explaining that in a previous region, Gujarat, Narmada Valley, Northern be a silent witness to this carnage, and will himself into stalks of bamboo that were made of the same birth, Krishna had taken birth as Lord Rama. Deccan and and the Eastern Ganges Valley. In the die an undignified death. iron. Gandhari’s curse thus begins to take shape. Rama had killed a king named from behind. Mahabharata, it is mentioned that the Yadavas Jara, who was King Vali in his previous birth, was Krishna’s Reply to Gandhari were the rulers of the Mathura region. This is the The Destruction of the Yadavas destined to do the same to Krishna in this birth. To this, Krishna says that the war was inevitable. clan that Krishna is born into. Many years passed, and the curse upon the In this way, Krishna left his body, and this event He reminds Gandhari that he was once a Yadavas was forgotten. Ominous incidents marked the beginning of Kaliyuga and the end of Gandhari’s Curse messenger of peace, but it was Duryodhana’s began to occur in Dwaraka. The Sudarshana the Yadava clan of Krishna. At the end of the Mahabharata war, all the Kauravas arrogance and his refusal to share land with , shankh, Krishna’s are defeated. After this, Krishna visits Gandhari. the Pandavas. He reminds her of Duryodhana’s References: and the plough weapon of Balarama somehow 1. http://mahabharata.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Mausala_Parva Seeing the widows of the Kuru soldiers lament, and various schemes with to destroy the disappeared from Earth. These signs started to 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yadava experiencing grief over the death of her own sons, Pandavas. It was Krishna’s duty to protect 3. http://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-vishnu-pu- create a panic among the Yadava men about their rana/d/doc57643.html she curses Krishna. She believed that Krishna had , and so the war was inevitable. He impending destruction. To help them, Krishna the power to prevent the war, and yet he did not. reiterates to her, as he did to Arjuna in the advised them to go on a pilgrimage. During this

HINDUISM NOW HINDUISM NOW 36 37 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE AVATAR AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE AVATAR

civilization. It was from there that Meenakshi assumed the body. So in the Meenakshi body conquered the world. as a reminder not to get married to any ordinary fellow, as a reminder was the third breast ­ I can Her divinity is still seen today in the decision- say as Ananda Gandha ­ that was there. making skills and highly competent micro- management of Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda As a responsibility of being queen I started going Swami. “Capture it!” he says with a snap of around and conquered all fifty ­four communities. his fingers and vocal precision that makes your There were only fifty four settlements of human insides shudder. “Conquer that kingdom and beings at that time, so all the fifty four were surrender it at my feet!” he calls, even though brought under the control of Meenakshi. kingdoms are long gone and corrupt democracies Then I went to Kailash to conquer Kailash also. have replaced them. Swamiji has selected this I even conquered , but when Shiva part of Meenakshi to express within him once came face to face, the third breast disappeared. again. This expression is called a bio-memory. Maha Deva revealed the true identity and A bio-memory is, “your decision to respond to enlightenment happened. a certain situation in a certain way”. Swamiji says, “So when I was deciding to play with the Then I told him, “I want to be with you and you body just out of joy, the bio-­memory search had be with me.” started for the components and the contents with which this body needed to be created”. A Shiva said, “Alright let us rule and show how the muscle memory is all the physical activities you ruling has to be done. Go back to Madhurai and I do during the day that gets engraved into you will come there.” to the point where you don’t think twice about I put the condition, “You have to be very how you should wake up in the morning, get handsome and cannot be like a or ascetic.” out bed, brush your teeth and so forth. Swamiji summarizes, “Muscle memory is the pattern of Shiva was in the higher frequency, so he your actions. The bio-memory is the pattern of assumed the human body as Sundareswara Memories of Meenakshi: An Excerpt your decisions”. handsome being, beautiful being, and the marriage ceremony happened. All the Shiva He himself has added that he also incorporated bhootas and Shiva started living in from Autobiography of The Avatar Arunagiri Yogishwara’s verbal language and Lord Madurai. A new humanity happened. Genetically Venkateshwara’s muscle memory, or his body transformed human beings were created. Those structure, into himself. These stories, however, days the average height itself was nine feet. I are for another. With Queen Meenakshi, we [Paramahamsa Nithyananda’s life is extraordinary in every meaning of the word. We must study every was eight and a half feet. Along with the Kailash learn Swamiji’s purpose to reestablish the vedic single branch that makes up the vast tree that he is. The Autobiography of the Avatar is just intelligence and Yoga, with that mixture a new civilization that he once had on a much more that. It is anticipated to be published in five volumes over the course of the next few years. As we put kingdom the Pandya kingdom was created The colossal level. together what He has spoken about his life, we are inviting you to explore the work at best humans who ever walked the planet Earth www.autobiographyoftheavatar.org] Meenakshi’s Voice from Swamiji were Pandya beings. The intelligence of Kailash I was born out of —fire. I did not stay in and the physical structure of the Dravidian civilization mixed and a new civilization evolved. ome types of fish are able to fertilize their of India. Meenakshi assumed her form from the the womb of the mother but came out of . eggs just by looking at them. Only their akashic layer using a medium of fire. She had I was brought up as a princess because my I lived 190 years without growing old or showing Seyes have to fall on the ovum for life a third breast located in between and below adopted father did not have a son. He brought any symptoms of old age or disease or tiredness. to begin. Similarly, there are people who can her two biological ones. This breast was a boon me up almost like a man, giving all the training I lived just like an 18 year old for 190 years. liberate souls with just their . This is the true to remind young Meenakshi to only marry necessary to rule a kingdom including archery, To read more go to www.autobiographyoftheavatar.org” origin of the name of Meenakshi, the eternally the person who makes the breast disappear. horse riding, waging a war, all the methods, celebrated queen of Madurai. She is the one who Fatefully, it was Shiva himself who did that. techniques, methodology and everything. By liberates with just her eyes. birth I had a third breast. As per the boon, when Shiva took the form of Sundareshwara and I saw the right person as a life partner, the third The setting is 2,300 years ago in the southern descended to Earth to live with Meenakshi in breast was supposed to disappear. It was actually portion of what is now called the subcontinent Madurai. Madurai became the center of the new a symbol not to forget the purpose for which I

HINDUISM NOW HINDUISM NOW 38 39 HINDUISM NOW CRIMES AGAINST HINDUISM

Taj Mahal Bitter Truth, Blatant Lies Part 1

USHA K. KENT

“The Taj Mahal (Persian for Crown of Palaces) with the coming of age of the internet, P N Oak is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the did get to tell his story in Taj Mahal: The True south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian Story, in 1989. city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by What was so alarming about P N Oak’s the Mughal emperor Jahan (reigned discoveries about the Taj that he was shushed 1628–1658), to house the tomb of his favorite about it, to such an extent that even in 2016 wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The tomb is the centre piece Wikipedia and the world at large know it as a of a 42-acre complex, which includes a mosque beautiful mausoleum and the greatest tribute of and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens love in the world? bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall.” This is because Taj Mahal is a corruption of Tejo This is how Wikipedia introduces Taj Mahal, now Mahalaya, an ancient marble Shiva temple built officially declared as one of Seven Wonders of around 10th - 11th century CE once patronized by the World by The New7Wonders Foundation- the Jat community of Agra. Zurich, in 2014. Here we bring you some elements of the startling Yet, nothing could be further from the truth. For findings by P N Oak, summarized by the author years the world has been lied to about the story himself. of the Taj Mahal, even as the Indian Government has raked in the moolah by making it the most Tejo Mahalaya to Taj Mahal sought after tourist destination in the country. The term Taj Mahal itself never occurs in any In the 1980s it was historian Purushottam Nagesh Mughal court paper or chronicles of Shah Oak (P N Oak) who first made the murmurs about Jahan or his successor Aurangzeb. The ending the truth of the Taj Mahal. He was threatened “mahal” is never Muslim because in none of from making his discoveries public. Nevertheless, the Islamic countries around the world is there a

HINDUISM NOW HINDUISM NOW 40 41 CRIMES AGAINST HINDUISM HINDUISM NOW

building known as “mahal”. Further, the unusual lost track of the fifth Shiva deity which their explanation of the term Taj Mahal derived from forefathers worshipped. This 5th being the Mumtaz Mahal who is buried in it, is illogical Agreshwar Mahadev Naganatheshwara i.e., The in that her name was never Mumtaj Mahal but Lord of Agra, The Deity of the King of Cobras, Mumtaz-ul-Zamani. Besides, if the Taj is believed consecrated in the Tejo Mahalaya. to be a burial place, how can the term mahal or The people who dominate the Agra region are mansion apply to it? Jats. Their name for Shiva is Tejaji and their Inscriptional Proofs Desecrated temples are called Teja Mandir. The Taj Mahal is A Sanskrit inscription too supports the Tejo Mahalaya, the Great Abode of Tej. conclusion that the Taj originated as a Shiva How Shah Jahan Obtained Tejo Mahalaya temple. Wrongly termed as the Bateshwar The temple was obtained by Shah Jahan by two inscription, it refers to the raising of a “crystal decrees from Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur, a white Shiva temple so alluring that Lord Shiva vassal under the Mughal ruler. The ex-Maharaja once enshrined in it decided never to return to The State archives at Bikaner preserve (now occupied by the cenotaphs) for what it is. of Jaipur retains in his secret personal `Kapad , his usual abode”. That inscription three other firmans (orders) addressed by Shah Dwara’ collection two orders from Shah Jahan It is interesting that in entering the Taj the dated 1155 CE was removed from the Taj Mahal Jahan to Jai Singh ordering him to supply marble dated Dec 18, 1633 (bearing modern nos. R.176 tradition of removing the shoes before climbing garden at Shah Jahan’s orders. (for Mumtaz’s grave and koranic grafts) from his and 177) requisitioning the Taj complex. This the marble platform is followed, which is a Makrana quarries** and stone cutters. Jai Singh A clue to the tampering by Shah Jahan is was so blatant a usurpation at the time that the throwback to pre-Shah Jahan times when the Taj was so enraged at the blatant seizure of the Tejo found on pages 216-217, volume IV, of the then ruler of Jaipur was ashamed to make the was a Shiva temple. Mahalaya that he refused to oblige Shah Jahan, Archaeological Survey of India Reports document public. in order to prevent further desecration of the The pitchers carved inside the upper border (published 1874) stating that a “great square Shah Jahan’s own court chronicle the Badshah building. These firmans were sent within two of the marble lattice plus those mounted on it black balistic pillar which, with the base and Nama, admits (page 403, volume 1) that a grand years of Mumtaz’s death. Had Shahjahan really number 108 - a sacred number in capital of another pillar... now in the grounds mansion of unique splendor, capped with a dome built the Taj Mahal over a period of 22 years as tradition. of Agra, … it is well known, once stood in the (Imaarat-a-Alishan wa Gumbaz) was taken from is popularly claimed, he would have needed the garden of Taj Mahal.” The Taj is only a typical illustration of how all the Jaipur Maharaja Jai Singh for Mumtaz’s marble only after 15-20 years of construction historic buildings and townships from to Several European visitors of Shahjahan’s time burial, and the building was known as Raja Man of the monument, and not within two years of though of Hindu origin have been allude to the building as Taj-e-Mahal, the old Singh’s palace. The marblework of Taj is similar Mumtaz’s death. ascribed to this or that Muslim ruler or courtier. Sanskrit name for Tejo Mahalaya, signifying a Shiva to the Amber palace at Jaipur built some six The temple being converted into a tomb was It is hoped that people the world over who study temple. The deity consecrated in it was Agreshwar hundred years earlier by Raja Man Singh I and in keeping with the trend of Shah Jahan’s Indian history will awaken to these new findings Mahadev, meaning Lord of Agra. The famous completed by Sawai Jai Singh I. forefathers. Dead Muslim courtiers and royalty and revise their erstwhile beliefs. Hindu treatise on architecture titled Vishwakarma More Documents that Nail the Truth which included Humayun, Akbar, Mumtaz, Itmad- Vastushastra mentions the Tej Linga amongst the We will further explore the blatant lies told about Prince Aurangzeb in letters to his father Shah ud-Daula and Safdarjang, had all been buried in Shiva lingas. Such a Tej Linga was consecrated the Taj – the “greatest tribute to love” angle, Jahan, has recorded in 1652 CE, at least three captured Hindu mansions and temples. in the Tejo Mahalaya. Shahjahan and Aurangzeb where Mumtaz is actually buried, the drunk, chronicles titled Aadaab-e-Alamgiri, Yadgar scrupulously avoided using the Sanskrit term, Proofs of a Temple debauch, addicted, Shah Jahan’s empty coffers, Nama, and the Muraqqa-i-Akbarabadi that instead simply calling it a holy grave. Seen from the context of a temple the size, and so on, in the forthcoming issues of Hinduism several buildings in the fancied burial place grandeur, majesty, and beauty of Taj, a complete Now. A Lost Limb of the Jats of Mumtaz were seven storeyed and were anomaly in a tomb, all fits in beautifully. If Agra city, where Taj Mahal is located, is an ancient so old that they were all leaking, while the Reference told that you are visiting a temple palace you 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal center of Shiva worship. Its orthodox residents dome had developed a crack on the northern immediately notice the Taj’s annexes, ruined 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New7Wonders_of_the_World had through ages continued the tradition of side. Aurangzeb therefore ordered immediate 3. http://www.stephen-knapp.com/true_story_of_the_taj_ma- defensive walls, hillocks, moats, cascades, hal.htm - A synopsis of “Taj Mahal The True Story”, P. N. Oak, worshipping at five Shiva shrines, before taking repairs to the buildings at his own expense fountains, majestic garden, hundreds of rooms pub. 1989 their last meal every night, especially during while recommending to the emperor that more 4. http://www.harekrsna.de/taj-mahal/tejo-mahalaya.html arcaded verandahs, terraces, multi-storeyed 5. https://missionisi.wordpress.com/2007/11/24/taj-ma- the month of Shravan. However, in the last elaborate repairs be carried out later. This is the towers, secret sealed chambers, guest rooms, hal-or-tejo-mahalaya-2/ few centuries the residents of Agra had to be proof that during Shah Jahan’s reign itself the 6. http://veda.wikidot.com/taj-mahal stables, the (Trishul) pinnacle on the content with worshipping at only four prominent Taj complex was so old as to need immediate 7. http://www.booksfact.com/archeology/taj-mahal-original- dome and the sacred letter “” carved on the name-tejo-mahalaya-ancient-siva-temple-built-1155-ad.html Shiva temples namely Balkeshwar, Prithvinath, repairs. ** Makarana in Rajasthan is famous the world over for its exterior of the wall of the sanctum sanctorum Mankameshwar, and Rajarajeshwara. They had marble and granite stone supplies

HINDUISM NOW HINDUISM NOW 42 43 HINDUISM NOW VEDIC PHILOSOPHY

buddhi’. How does one get established in the ‘ Buddhi’. They needed a way to understanding that Vedas are our own extension digest and put a frame. The only way they knew and the way we trust our eyes and ears, we are was to create categories based on the sub-set of to trust them? thoughts that were being prioritized to establish one in reality. This gets established by the grace of a Guru. A Guru is one who embodies all the Vedas. Guru Astika Schools of Thought makes the Vedas come alive for an ordinary This codification classified Vedic thought human being. A Guru states the Vedas (shastra currents into six systems and even called it by pramana), gives sufficient proof through his an authentic sounding term ‘saddarshana’ (six words and actions that what is revealed in the world views / teachings / philosophies). Though Vedas is his/her experience (apta pramana) and we will see what these six schools of thought are, has the ability to transmit this experience to his we need to keep in mind that each one of them disciples or followers (atma pramana). operate from ‘Shastra Pramana Buddhi’, which is the sole requirement for being established in When these three happen for a human reality and achieving the purpose of assuming a being, he/ she gets established unshakably in human body. ‘Shastra Pramana Buddhi’. The six schools of thought are , Yoga, Purity of Vedas , , Mimamsa and Vedanta Vedas are akashic records that exist by themselves. They are self-effulgent and stand Samkhya The Astika Schools of Thought on their own strength. They do not need a This system is one that finds pratyaksa substratum or a separate entity to assert (), anumna (inference) and sabda themselves. They are ‘apourushya’ (not a (aptavacana, word/testimony of reliable sources) product of human intellect) and ‘sarvaboumya’ sufficient to experience moksha (liberation). This SATHISH SELVAKUMAR (applicable across space and time). The one who system uses ideas of purusa (consciousness) and has purified and enriched his / her senses and prakrti (matter) to establish a baseline that can body can listen to them at any point in time and be related to by human beings. A living being he way we see the world and engage from all social and economic backgrounds. We in any place in the universe. In many cases, such is said to be one where purusa and prakrti are with it is largely determined by the kind experience the world through our senses. It is a person can also see the verses in text form intertwined. The system then expands this world Tof ideas we carry about ourselves and easy to see that what can be revealed by one appear in their inner space. Such a person is view to explain the cause of the universe. the environment around us. If one is interested sense cannot be substantiated or disproved by called a ‘Rishi’. in understanding the reality as it is, there is no another sense. For example, if a shirt is white, Samkhya also uses the Gunas to explain the greater source than the Vedas. A person who is it can be revealed to us only from the sense of Working with a Sub-set outer and inner states of what one observes in interested in reality as it is and trusts the Vedas to sight. Ears or nose cannot help us to prove or The Vedas are a collection of ways to understand, the universe. The three Gunas are (poised), establish him/her in that state is an Astika. disprove whether the shirt is white or not. interpret and ultimately merge with reality. When (restless energy) and (ignorance/ a set of people work with a sub-set of ideas lethargy). All observable phenomena have Prevalent Understanding One way to approach the Vedas is that they are presented in the Vedas, one can, for the sake varying degrees of these Gunas and they also There are varying definitions to the word an external sense organ provided to us. That is of differentiating, classify them as expounding determine the progress of their life over lifetimes. ‘Astika’. It means ‘orthodox’ or one who is a the access to understand reality as it is and know different philosophies or schools of thought. Yo g a ‘theist’/‘pious’. The word ‘Nastika’ is then being who we really are. Yoga aligns largely with the Samkhya system. used to refer to one who is ‘heterodox’ and who What we need to keep in mind is that any work ‘Shastra Pramana’ Buddhi It incorporates the concept of ishta is an ‘atheist’/‘not pious’. we do with the implicit trust in the Vedas makes We implicitly trust our sense organs. Irrespective one an Astika. The categorization into schools (personal god) to help one in their progress It is better to see it as is, in the Sanskrit meaning of what even modern day science such as of thoughts is just the human mind’s way of towards moksha. This system also prescribes ‘one who sees reality as it is’. quantum physics has revealed about the nature trying to make it into digestible parts and create a set of practices or techniques that need to of matter etc., we continue to relate with the unnecessary complications that can then be used be followed along the knowledge set of the How Can One See ‘Reality’? world in a certain fashion. to undermine the system itself. Samkhya system to achieve moksha. It takes a certain faculty to see reality as it is. All of us are striving towards it. Complete fulfilment One who implicitly trusts what has been revealed This classification was done in the medieval Nyaya and complete completion in life eludes people in the Vedas is said to have ‘shastra pramana period by those who were not established in Apart from pratyaksa, anumna and sabda, the

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Aparigraha—Forge Your Identity

AVINASH NARRIKKADAN

parigraha is mentioned last among the do that sincerely we will be overwhelmed with the (restraints) prescribed in abundance of Existence that we will not feel the AYoga . The meaning of aparigraha is need to possess anymore than what is. Through commonly understood as being non-possessive the practice of Yoga we gain the intelligence to or non-hoarding. discriminate between what is absolutely necessary and what is an excess. The dependence on external Aparigrahasthairye janmakathantasanbodhah” objects and people to secure our happiness and Patanjali Yoga Sutras ( Pada : Verse 39) false feeling of wellbeing drops . We become more Meaning: with constancy of Aparigraha, a relaxed and silent within ourselves. spiritual illumination of the how and why of motives and birth emerges.1 For Health At the material level being non-possessive is When practiced, aparigraha will eventually lead understood as a moral guideline to leading to a point where we realize that we are not the an ascetic life by giving up one’s luxuries and body. Through practice of spiritual techniques 2 material possessions. The simplicity in personal like Unclutching we can be non-possessive of life that would result from doing so will be quite the body. All the diseases and physical problems fulfilling and ideal for the path of Yoga. Aparigraha are maintained because of the us possessing the is a technique that has much deeper implication, body. When we are able to detach from the urge one that can independently lead to liberation. to identifying with the body, the body naturally realigns itself into its healthy state. Identity Crisis and Resolution Possessiveness is born of greed to accumulate For Wealth Nyaya system uses Upamna (comparison and Vedanta and fear of letting go things and people. As long We can think objectively about something analogy) to lead one to reality. It holds that Veda stands for “knowledge” and anta means as we equate our self-worth with our possessions, only if we do not possess it, or it is not a part human suffering is a function of ignorance and “end”. This system is built on the study of we make material accumulation the way of life. of our identity. This is why doctors do not right knowledge is the access to moksha. This classical portions of the Vedas such as the The cause of all human conflicts, if reduced to undertake surgical operations for their own right knowledge is an outcome of Principal Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, and a fundamental form using concepts of vedic family members. Similarly only a person who (cross-examination of cognition, reflective Bhagavad Gita to achieve moksha. Based on science, is ‘Identity Crisis’—the delusion about practices non-possession can think objectively cognition of what one thinks one knows). the core idea followed from the Vedas, Vedanta who or what we actually are. Aparigraha is a and take calculated risks with his wealth. A large has been further classified into , powerful tool in the quest to end this delusion and percentage of the Jain community run very Vaisheshika Dvaita, and so on. achieve self realization. It is a path of eliminating successful businesses. Aparigraha is one of the This system uses pratyaksa and anumna. from our identity all that we are not. When all that main virtues of Jainism founded by . According to this system, one gets established A follower of any one of the above mentioned can be removed, is removed, what remains is in reality when one completely understands schools of thought is an Astika. He / she would In a world where humans are made to believe that the pure self aware presence or intelligence. This the experiential world. To this end, it uses the benefit from dedicated study of Vedas under the they are absolutely dependent on unnecessary is the technique that has been explained in the postulation from the Vedas that objects in the guidance of an enlightened master by accepting drugs, pseudo nutrition theories, extravagant above . When the identity crisis is resolved, physical world can be reduced to him / her as their Guru. comforts etc. for commercial profits, Aparigraha the how and why of the various levels of our (atoms). One’s experience is a function of interplay can rid these unnecessary crutches and help An astika is a matured soul on whom the gaze of expressions and births become apparent. The of matter and its inherited and assumed qualities. rediscover our physical and mental the Guru has fallen. He / she will quickly flower into being gains a timeless vantage point from where independence. Mimamsa an enlightened being by the grace of the Guru. the cycles of birth and death and its causes can be References: Mimamsa is a Sanskrit word that means seen and understood as a whole. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aparigraha 1 If you read this article this far, you have all the 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPYyupfZgjI (Ashtanga “reflection” or “critical investigation”. This uses qualifications to be established in ‘Shastra Thus aparigraha addresses the cause of the Yoga: Aparigraha - Paramahamsa Nithyananda) dharma as expounded in the Vedas as the means 3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1oSyAOXirM&list=PL- Pramana Buddhi’. Seek a Guru who will establish identity crisis that is the root of all conflicts. to moksha. It also gives priority to Vedic rituals as 139D6E87175F6B4D (Be Unclutched® - Paramahamsa you in the reality of the Vedas. Nithyananda) 2 a lifestyle component that hastens the progress The Practice 4. Patanjali Yoga Sutras Sanskrit text with Transliteration, towards moksha. Aparigraha is possible only when we start enjoying Translation & Commentary - completely what we have in the present. When we HINDUISM NOW HINDUISM NOW 46 47 HELATH AND WELLNESS

instructions on Yoga as revealed by Shiva Himself. for the clear reference. Where did this technique These records are called The Shiva Agamas. come from? Always ask for the source. Only then you should even consider practicing these Nithyananda “All the revelations of Shiva are called Agamas, techniques safely. the complete work of Shiva, where he presents detailed, elaborate material with high quality Yoga is the Science of Radiating precision.” Enlightenment Paramahamsa Nithyananda’s mission is to bring The third important truth revealed by yoga back to its original form, as the authentic Paramahamsa Nithyananda is that Yoga is not Yoga just the science of keeping you healthy, Yoga is way to connect directly with the Divine. People are very comfortable having Patanjali as the the science of radiating enlightenment. The Original Yoga… originator of yoga because Patanjali can be “[Yoga] is not just the ability to stretch your body. secularized, but not Sadashiva. But it’s time for It is the ability to manifest what you want. Yoga is from the Origin the world to know and understand that Yoga is not all about making you a better man. Yoga is all rooted in Sanatana Hindu Dharma. about making you Superman.”

Yoga Cannot be DEVELOPED—It Can Only The best that can happen to you on the path be DILUTED of Yoga is getting rid of all self-doubt, self- SRI NITHYA MITRANANDA The second important truth He revealed on hatred and self-denial, the root cause of all International Day of Yoga is that yoga cannot be incompletions. Paramahamsa Nithyananda separated from Hinduism. actively teaches the science of completing with these, collectively called SDHD, discarding all hether it’s through the modern yoga Speaking on the occasion of the International Day “Always ask for the original source. It is mental patterns that limit us from living to our literature, as part of a simple yoga of Yoga at the holy city of Varanasi on June 21st unfortunate that the original scriptures revealed highest potential. Wclass or a full-fledged teacher training, 2016, Paramahamsa Nithyananda revealed three by Sadashiva are not available for the masses. It the global yoga community generally accepts, powerful truths about Yoga, which people at large is unfortunate nobody promoted that. Because it Yoga is the ultimate merging of the individual teaches and acclaims Patanjali, as the Father and the misguided yoga community need to know. is very easy to secularize Patanjali; very difficult consciousness with the Cosmic Consciousness. of Yoga. Patanjali, author of the famous Yoga to secularize Sadashiva”, He said. It is designed to experience Oneness, Advaita, Sutras, was an enlightened Master who took Sadashiva is the Founder and Father of the and express all the mystical powers outlined by The stylized “religion-free” yoga have become birth in the town of Chidambaram, in the south Yoga System Shiva. As long as we carry inadequate, immature the flavour of the day. Yoga has become a mere of India, about 5,000 years ago. He organized a This first truth is that Yoga did not originate cognitions about ourselves, about life, others, God, synonym of body workout, along with Pilates, system known as Ashtanga Yoga, the eight limbs from Patanjali. “Patanjali is the organizer, not world, we continue to feel separate from the whole. Zumba and Gymming… Such is the extent of or parts of Yoga. originator. That’s the first thing you need to know”, When we complete with all our limited cognitions dilution. said Paramahamsa Nithyananda. and discover our true Self, Yoga happens. While we know Patanjali was an enlightened We need to understand that Yoga cannot be master from India, there is an irrational mass He explained, “With all my respects to Patanjali, Paramahamsa Nithyananda now offers this developed. It is a perfect system that was belief that “Yoga has no religion”, Yoga is for I want to declare this truth to the world: at least whole science to the world; from 2-day revealed by Sadashiva and further organized by everyone and “Yoga is secular”. The world feels 15, 000 years before Patanjali, a Being walked on programs to 21-day yoga and meditation spiritual living enlightened masters, disciples of Shiva very comfortable separating Yoga from any the Planet Earth, assuming the physical form, Adi retreats like Inner Awakening, and 200-hrs over thousands of years, with a clear purpose religious connotation, from its roots in Hinduism. Guru Sadashiva, the Founder and Father of the Nithyananda University Certified Nithyananda and intention. Yoga has become so diluted, anyone with a mere Yoga system. Yoga Teacher TrainingSM for those who really want 200-hrs of training can brand their own of to deepen their experience and enrich the world Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is a great book, no doubt, “You cannot develop on Sadashiva”, Paramahamsa yoga! Surely Patanjali would think: what in the with the authentic yoga. but not the first book. Unfortunately, many Nithyananda said. “Yoga is a complete science that world is happening with Yoga? has taken into account all types of bodies past, popular yoga all over the world, always Join us on the amazing discovery of the original present and yet to come in the future. Altering Yoga With the advent of Living Incarnation stop with Patanjali. Very few say yoga was before Yoga… from the origin! Paramahamsa Nithyananda however, it’s time to Patanjali, and even if they say, they’re not able to is not development but dilution.” Reference present the scriptures and literature.” shake these myths and misbeliefs about Yoga. The secular world has diluted a great science that 1. Satsang on June 21, 2016 at Varanasi on International Day Yoga was diluted to make it popular. It worked. of Yoga On the International Day of Yoga, Swamiji we are yet to discover and reveal to the masses. 2. www.innerawakening.org Now it’s time to get back to the original source. presented the ancient scriptures and the original But first understand, if you have practiced 3. www.nithyanandauniversity.org/courses/nytt something in the name of yoga, ask your teacher

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2. Sheethalee Kumbhaka Kumbhithe Jvalanam Dhyaayeth Samaanasya Thu Gheranda , Upadesha 5, Verse 73-74 Kumbhakaha ||62|| Jihvayaa Vaayum Aakrushya Udare Poorayet Nithya Kriya—Cure for Food Translation Shanaihi | After filling the navel region with the air that is Kshanam Cha Kumbhakam Krutvaa Naasaabhyaam allergies spread and held all over the body, one should Rechayet Punaha || 5.73 || concentrate on fire and this is known as Samana What is Nithya Kriya? Translation Kumbhaka. Nithya Kriya are a series of unique yogic healing processes revealed by Paramahamsa Nithyananda. The breath has to be filled in the abdomen by Technique While the knowledge and techniques are drawn from the most authentic and sacred yogic scriptures drawing air through the tongue. After having 1. Inhale completely till the navel is filled of India, the specific combinations are expressed from the personal experiences, research and retained the breath for a moment, the exhalation 2. While inhaling visualize that the prana is spread development of Paramahamsa Nithyananda, with the objective of curing various ailments. should be done through the nostrils. and held all over the body Here we discuss the Nithya Kriya to Cure Food Allergies. Technique 3. Hold as long as you can judiciously 1. Protrude your tongue as much as possible 4. While you hold, visualize the fire element in your Steps to be followed: 2. Roll the sides of the tongue like a tube navel region 1. Durvaasa 3. Now inhale through the tube formed by the 5. When you can not hold any more, exhale 2. Sheetalee Kumbhaka tongue 6. Do this 21 times 3. Seethkaaree Praanaayaamaa 4. After inhaling, close your mouth In Durvaasasana, Next 4. Samaana Kumbhaka 5. Retain it there for a short time 5. Bhastrikaa Kumbhaka 6. Exhale through both the nostrils 5. Bhastrikaa Kumbhaka 7. Do this for 21 minutes Kumbhaka Paddhati, Verses 164 & 165 Bhastreva Lohakaarasya Rechapoorau Shramaavadhi | 1. Durvasaa Asana In Durvaasasana, Next Vegena Sthanayoroordhvam Thathaha Yogaasana Maala Sachitra, Verse 87 3. Seethakaaree Praanaayamaa Poororkavarthmanaa ||164|| Daayee Jaangh Parikaree Jeemanau Paga Hatha Pradeepikaa, Upadesha 4, Verse 43 Jaalandharam Dhrudam Badhvaa Kumbhitham Daayee Paashati Aani | Seethkaam dadyaath sadaa Vaktre Ghraanenaiva Chandra-Varthmanaa | Phanaa Dovu Dharathi Tekee Baarala Gulph Kulaa Visarjayet | Rechayeth Bhasthrikaa Kumbhaha Shareeraagni- Kee Baarilee Kanee Lagaavai | Evam Abhyaasa-Yogena Kaamadevo Dviteeyakaha Vivardhanaha ||165|| Daavaa Haath Kee Aagulyaa Kee Beechali ||4.43|| Syandhi Syoo | Translation Jeemanaa Haathkee Aagulyaa Kaa Agra Lagaavai | Translation One should rapidly inhale and exhale similar to the Ooparaa Thalee Sudhaa Haath Raashai Hathelee The breath needs to be sucked in through the mouth bellows of a blacksmith till he becomes fatigued. Kee Baaralee Kor Medra Urddha Lagaavai | with a hissing sound and the exhalation to be done Followed by this he should inhale through the right Drishti Thrikutee Aasana Kauguna Garameee through the nostrils. By practicing this — nostril and then having held the breath with the Aadhidhi Roga Jaay Seethala Rahai ||87|| the Cupid becomes the second. Jalandhara , he should exhale through the left nostril. This is Bhastrika Kumbhaka that increases Translation Technique bodily heat. 1. Sit on the floor 1. Continue to sit in the same posture and close your 2. Bend your right knee and place the right leg on eyes Technique the left side hip 2. Press the lower teeth with the upper teeth and 1. Rapidly inhale and exhale like the bellows of the 3. Bend the left knee and place the left foot on open the lips comfortably blacksmith until you become fatigued the above the right thigh so that the left foot is 3. Suck air through the gaps in between the teeth and 2. Then inhale through the right nostril placed near the right side hip close the mouth at the end of the inhalation and 3. Press the chin on the chest so that the throat is 4. Touch the right hand finger tips with the middle immediately exhale through the nostrils locked joints of left fingers 4. Do this 21 times 4. Hold the breath as long as you can judiciously 5. Place the hands above the genitals In Durvaasasana, Next 5. Relax the chin and exhale through left nostril 6. Fix the gaze at the eye brow center 6. Do this 21 times 4. Samaana Kumbhaka 7. Remain in this position for 30 seconds Reference Kumbhaka Paddhati, Verse 62 In Durvaasasana, Next http://www.nithyananda.org/nithya-kriyas/cure-food-allergies#gsc. Naabhaavaapoorya Vaayushcheth Dehe Vyaapya tab=0 Vidhaaritaha |

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Shalya denotes broken parts of an arrow /other detoxification of the blood. Different instruments sharp weapons, and denotes manoeuvre. were used to discard blood in different diseases. Broken parts of arrows or similar pointed Leeches were considered as one of the best weapons were regarded as the commonest bloodletting instruments. Even today and most dangerous objects requiring surgical vaidyas follow this procedure successfully. treatment. First Translations Cauterization using hot metal rods (agni karma) was translated into Arabic as or alkalies (kshara) was well practiced in many Kitab-Shaw Shoon-a-Hindi and Kitab-i-Susrud. diseases. The translation of Sushruta Samhita was ordered by the Caliph Mansur (A.D.753 -774. The first Pain management during surgery was European translation of Sushruta Samhita was mentioned. He says patient should eat before published by Hessler in Latin, and into German surgery to tolerate the pain. To alleviate the by Muller in the early 19th century. The first pain during surgery, patient was asked to drink complete English translation was done by Kaviraj alcohol. (Sushruta Sutrastana 17/11, 12) Sushruta Kunja Lal Bhishagratna in three volumes in 1907 During Sushruta’s time, surgeries for the removal at Calcutta. of kidney stones or a dead foetus required the the Originator of Surgery Sushruta was an accomplished surgeon and consent of the patient’s family. great philosopher. As this affirms: 120 Surgical Instruments and 300 Procedures! sharire sushrutah prokta charakastu chikitsakah DR. SHUBHAMANGALA ACHARYA The Sushruta Samhita classifies human surgery into eight categories, describes over 120 surgical meaning, “Sushruta is the best in the study of instruments, and 300 surgical procedures. Fine human anatomy while Charaka is the best in ncient ayurveda followed two major sufficient knowledge of relevant branches of needles and threads made of silk, barks of general medicine.” It is a heritage we all need to schools of treatment: one dealt with learning, one cannot attain proficiency in one’s different plants, and ligaments were used. Special be proud of! general medicine, and was lead by Acharya own subject of study (Sushruta Sutrastana 1/51). A techniques for surgeries were used. For example, Charaka. The second focused on surgery though Reference Sushruta said, “Anyone who wishes to acquire a perforated intestine was repaired using ants, 1. Sushruta Samhita it dealt with general medicine as well. Acharya a thorough knowledge of anatomy must which were made to bite together the torn parts 2. Sushruta the first plastic Surgeon 600 BC, Sanjay Saraf, Sushruta was the pioneer of the second school. Ravi Parthar prepare a dead body, and carefully observe and (Sushruta Chikitsa 25). 3. Smskruta Acharya Sushruta was a great surgeon who lived examine all its parts.” (Sushruta Sharira chapter Sterilization and fumigation were used. The in the holy city of Varanasi. He wrote Sushruta 5). The method of study was to submerge the former was done by heating the surgical Samhita, the first surgical book of humankind. body in water and allow it to decompose. The instruments in a naked flame, or washing in strong His time period is not very clear but most decomposing body was examined at intervals alkalis. The operation theatres and wards were scholars place him between 1,000 and 600 BC. to study structures, layer by layer, as they were fumigated using ghee and other herbal drugs. But with recent studies where Vedic time dates exposed following decomposition. The most are being pushed back by several thousand important point to note here is that the dissection Mastery of Plastic Surgery years, these dates are contentious. was performed without using a knife. He used Acharya Sushruta was well versed in plastic brushes made of different herbs. surgery. During those days cutting off the nose Sushruta Samhita—World’s First Text on or ear as a punishment was common. Surgeons Surgery Tantra—The Science of Surgery used to conduct reconstruction of the nose Sushruta Samhita elaborates not only on surgery, The ancient surgical science was called shalya (rhinoplasty) which was called as nasa sandhana including plastic surgery, but contains composite tantra. This embraces removing of all factors that in their terminology, and reconstruction of the ear teachings on allied branches including midwifery, create pain or misery to the body and mind. To karnasandhana successfully. Hare lip was also making it a comprehensive treatise on the gain thorough knowledge of surgery, Sushruta corrected by plastic surgery (Sushruta Sutrastana entire medical discipline. Sushruta believed that wanted his disciples to conduct mock surgeries 25). knowledge of both surgery and medicine are on gourds, watermelon, and dead animals. By essential to make a good doctor who otherwise this the surgeon will remain perpetually skilled. While explaining panchakarma (detoxification of “is like a bird with only one wing”. In fact, In Yogyasutriya Adhyaya he specifically explains body), Sushruta mentions one of the procedures Sushruta emphasized that unless one possesses the importance of proper surgical training. as raktamokshana or bloodletting. This is for

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know Arjuna better, one would have considered Process of Transformation SEEK WITH THE him a coward. He was not concerned that he Arjuna’s dilemma was an existential one. What might be injured or that he might die. But he was is the point of eliminating others if it results in GUIDANCE OF A MASTER afraid of breaking social and ethical laws. His one’s own elimination? It is a dilemma born out values and beliefs, his samskaras, told him that of partial understanding. If Arjuna was unaware what he was doing was wrong and unacceptable. as Duryodhana, this doubt would have never So powerful was this feeling, that he was reeling, entered his mind. Were he enlightened as Krishna About this column— quivering, dazed and unable to think or function. is, the answer would have been obvious. Arjuna This column shares excerpts from the commentary on Bhagavad was in between, hence his dilemma. Gita by Enlightened Master and rare living incarnation Arjuna was frightened that he would be held Paramahamsa Nithyananda. The intention is to highlight the eternal responsible for the death of his kinsmen. Even ‘Why should I destroy myself? For what purpose?’ relevance of Bhagavad Gita in addressing challenges, issues and if others did not blame him, he would regret These are the questions that naturally follow dilemmas faced by human beings in the present day. his actions for the rest of his life. So great was this line of reasoning, Arjuna was far wiser than his fear of potential guilt that it drove Arjuna to many modern philosophers in posing this as a behaving like a coward. All he could foresee was doubt, but without venturing any answers. Arjuna disaster and evil. At another, far deeper level, is undergoing a process of transformation. The Verses 1.25 to 1.30 describe the scene where Arjuna after Arjuna was terrified of his own destruction. The problem was that Arjuna was a thinking man moment one starts identifying with kinsmen, it unlike Duryodhana, or even his own brother inspecting the army in front of him and those alongside him, is a material identification. It is an identification Bhima. This ability to think, to be aware, was what born out of possession. Possession is born of had got him into trouble now. Doubts assailed tells Krishna that he is in no position to wage this war. attachment and leads to further attachment him. ‘Am I really doing the right thing? Am I as well. There can be no feeling of possessing destroying myself and all that I stand for when I rishna parked the chariot between the two Himsa something unless one is attached to it. wage this war against my own people?’ armies and said to Arjuna, ‘Here are the What follows now is a bunch of fantasies ‘Mine’ Leads to ‘I’ Kpeople you wish to see’. Arjuna wanted to that Arjuna’s mind weaves in an attempt to Seeker of Truth see those who were about to fight him and die. justify his dilemma. It is what the human mind People speak of attachment, liking and love. Arjuna had become a seeker of Truth. He wished to Krishna with no mercy at all, showed him that conjures up time and again as its projection All these are valid only as long as a sense of go beyond the sastras, the and the sutras. these were Arjuna’s near and dear ones. of the unconscious samskaras, trying to possession exists. The moment the object of He questioned them. Arjuna Vishada Yoga is the justify its actions. says that Arjuna love turns around and displays independence name of the first chapter of Gita. Vishada means Arjuna’s Dilemma was overwhelmed with pity. Some translate and unwillingness to be possessed, the love grief, sorrow, despondency, despair, depression, Assembled in front of Arjuna were grandfathers this as compassion. True compassion is non- disappears. Possession arises out of our survival dilemma and such. Here what we see is the and great grandfathers such as Bhishma, his own discriminatory. To the truly compassionate need, from our muladhara chakra, an energy dilemma that Arjuna was in not knowing whether teachers such as and , uncles such as person, the whole world is an extension of his center located at the base of the spine. Out of the what he had been taught all his life and what he Sakuni, brothers and cousins as all the Kaurava own self. Anything that hurts any object around need for possession, feelings of lust, greed and believed to be true, was really true after all. princes were, friends and well-wishers. At one anger arise. We often feel, ‘What I cannot have, such a person would hurt him and he too would Though we identify with incompletions all our time or another, each of them had been an object let no one have’. It is also a deep rooted desire for feel the pain. life, they are not a part of us. We need to find of affection and respect to Arjuna. Now they were possessions, the feeling of ‘mine’, that gives rise the courage to confront them and vanquish part of the enemy army. However, Arjuna’s emotion was discriminatory. to our identity ‘I’. ‘Mine’ leads to ‘I’, not ‘I’ leads He felt pity only because they were his kinsmen to ‘mine’. This is why we cannot eliminate our them. Only when we to seek the guidance of a As a , Arjuna was no stranger to death and he identified with them. This was pity born identity until we transcend our attachment to or Master to be rid of our incompletions, our false and violence. As long as those who faced him out of himsa, violence. True compassion arises identity with all our desires and possessions. We identity gets weakened and path to knowing our were his enemies, Arjuna had no difficulty in from a state of absence of ego, where the need to dissolve the identification with the ‘mine’ right identity opens up. Great Doubt in what we carrying out the execution. However, those in feelings of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ have disappeared. It is a first. Only then the ‘I’ disappears. consider as ourselves, Great Belief in the words front of him now were his relatives – father, state of bliss. It happens when the individual self of the Master and the Sastras, and Great Work in grandfathers, uncles, brothers, sons and merges with the universal Self. Arjuna is in this mood and frame of mind. It completing all incompletions and dropping them grandsons. He could not bear to kill those strikes him at the moment of waging war that he at the Master’s feet is the way out of our limited whom he could relate with himself in one way Arjuna’s pity arose out of fear of losing his is about to destroy his own kinsmen, a part of his identity and our own Vishada. identity, his ego. He was mortally afraid. He own identity. If he were to destroy them he would or another. The bonds of family were rooted in Source : his ego and to cut these bonds was to destroy claimed that his throat was parched, his hair be destroying a part of his own self. It would be Bhagavad Gita Demystified by Paramahamsa Nithyananda; p. himself. This was Arjuna’s dilemma. was standing on edge and his divine bow was akin to committing suicide. 39 – 42 ISBN 13: 978-1-60607-132-8 slipping from his sweaty hands. If one did not

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ant , also called Tukoba, is one of badly. His business suffered huge losses, and due the greatest poet from , to lack of food, Tukoba lost both his parents, his Swho is well known for his spiritual first wife and her son and even the cows that he known as and his devotion toward owned. He tried in vain in various ways to take Vitthala (aka Panduranga, —another form care of his family. But to no avail. In bad times, of Lord Krishna/Vishnu). He was born in the 17th a common man usually blames God for his century and also lived in the same age of the . But Tukoba was very devoted to Vithoba, great Hindu ruler Chatrapati and Sant and his faith only grew stronger in these trying . circumstances. He was already shaken by the bitter experiences from the samsar (mundane The Accumulated ‘’ Took a Form—Birth life) and seeing the death of thousands of people of Tukaram (aka Tukoba). due to famine his vairagya ( from About 700 years ago, there was a devotee of mundane life) grew stronger. Vitthala, named Vishvambharbua Ambile from the village of . He was a varkari (pilgrims— Guru in His Life and Spiritual Progress who followed the tradition of going to pilgrimage He started spending his time in thinking of God, to every year). But due to old age, but did not give up his wife and kids. He left he could not follow the tradition and missed the everything on God’s will. His constant prayers vari. Due to his fervent devotion, Lord Vitthala dissolved the heart of Panduranga. appeared in his dream and told him not to come One night, Panduranga in the form of Sadguru to Pandharpur anymore but He would be in came in Tukoba’s dreams and gave him anugraha Ambevan in Dehu. Next day Vishvambharbua (mantra deeksha). When Tukoba woke up, he along with some residents of Dehu, searched started chanting the mantra ‘Ram Krishna Hari’. in Ambevan area and found beautiful deities of His wife asked him about it. It was the most Vithoba-Rakhumai which Vishvambharbua took important moment in his life. All his miseries and installed in a temple close to his home. He ceased to exist from that moment and he felt like spent the rest of his life in service and worship of he had entered into a new world. Vithoba. From then on Tukoba started to chant the mantra Tukoba was born in the seventh generation of in a secluded place, on a hill called Bhandara. He Vishvambharbua. Therefore, from the ancestors, experienced more and more happiness, bliss and the accumulated punya came to fruition in the found his mind becoming still. He would feel very form of Tukoba. His mother was Kanakai and distressed whenever he had to go home and leave father was Bolhoba. Bolhoba had three sons— the sadhana, or spiritual practice. Jijabai was a Savaji, Tukoba and Kanhoba. Bolhoba was very devoted wife but a short-tempered woman. She pious and had a routine of reading religious books would constantly chide Tukoba for not providing and doing Vitthal puja daily. Those samskaras even the essentials to run the household. Yet imprinted on his children and they too became she would not eat unless Tukoba had eaten first. pious, devoted and always followed Dharma (right Tukoba knowing her mindset, would calmly her conduct). down with good words and try to get her mind Turmoil Before Sainthood towards God. Sometimes due to her insistence he Tukoba was married soon after his older brother had to come home. Savaji left home. Tukoba being very pious never Tukoba Carries Forward Sant ’s took a break in his nem or daily routine of reading on Abhangas religious books and darshan of Vithoba. Since his Tukoba reached the state Dev Pahayala Gelo Tethe Sant Tukoba wife developed asthma just after their marriage, a Devachi Houni Thelo (Went to see God; instead I second marriage was arranged for Tukoba. became God). The only desire remained was to MILIND TAMHANE Soon afterwards, there was a severe famine in enjoy the Bliss and make others enjoy it too. He Maharashtra and it affected Tukoba’s family very started serving the public with bhajans and .

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It was Monday of Phalgun Vaidya Dvitiya (Month Phalgun and 2nd day of waning moon cycle) of Saka 1571 (1650 CE). Since no body was found, it is believed that Sant Tukaram ascended to in his human body. On the same day every year, lakhs (100s of thousands) of varkaris gather at the Indrayani banks and witness around noon time the Nandurki tree showing some distinct movement in its leaves. It is said that ‘’ (the eagle) who carried the Viman (carrier like plane or spaceship) taking Sant Tukaram to Vaikuntha had touched the tree before leaving.

In 1937 at Venice Film Festival, a film based on his life ‘Sant Tukaram’ (1st Indian entry to at international level) was adjudged as one of the 3 best films and is still popular on Youtube away from the region. Then suddenly Rameshwar and regional Indian channels. This film has a Bhat started feeling immense burning sensation profound spiritual effect on all ages, and sections all over his body. He tried many remedies but of society across the globe. A website tukaram. did not get any relief. Finally he surrendered to com is available in many languages which has a Tukoba and begged his pardon. Only then did collection of his abhangas. the burning sensation cease. Realizing Tukoba’s References 1. Sant Mela, Param Pujya Aai Shri Kalavati Devi, - story #26, greatness he became his disciple. page 149-162, 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Tukaram_(film) Exit from This World 3. http://tukaram.com/ Once Sant Namdev (who lived 200 years before open behavior, his simple preachings attracted One day Tukoba said to his wife, “Very soon I’ll Tukoba) requested before Vitthala that he people from all walks of life and he gathered a receive the invitation from Vaikuntha (abode of should complete 100 crore (1 crore is 10 million) large following. Those who could not understand Vishnu/Vitthala), that day be prepared to come Abhangas. Vitthala told him that this wish won’t his inner state of mind, thought him a mad along with me. Till now, at every foot step you’ve be fulfilled in (his) this birth. Namdev could person. Some became jealous of his popularity helped me and allowed my sweet ending (to finish, with the help of his household folks, 94.5 among the masses while there were others who happen). That is why the Gods will felicitate you.” crore abhangas before his death. To fulfill his had blind and dogmatic beliefs and couldn’t sankalpa (wish/declaration) he appeared in the tolerate Tukoba’s teachings. All these would But she was ignorant about spiritual knowledge. dreams of Tukoba along with Vitthala, and asked persecute, insult and abuse Tukoba in many ways. So she replied, “The buffalo is yet to deliver, so him to fulfil it. To which Vitthala also consented. how can I come? You go to Vaikuntha and return Some shastris (those well versed and Tukoba started writing abhangas. He wrote 5 quickly, in the meantime I will cook and we both knowledgeable in Vedas and shastras), buas (may crore 1 lakh 34 thousand abhangas (50,134,000). will have lunch together.” He told his disciples or may not have spiritual knowledge but are Due to this, people say that Tukoba was the too, “I’ve received the invite from my ‘maaher’ regarded as spiritual person), and their followers avatar of Namdev. (my original place), and will soon have to go.” came together and gave against Tukoba. Before Guru Deeksha Tukoba used to say, “no They drowned his notebooks of abhangas in the In few days Tukoba was doing kirtan at the more births for me” but later he declared in his river Indrayani. From that moment Tukoba sat at banks of Indrayani river. Everyone was chanting abhangas – “I don’t want the ‘Mukti’ (release the river bank giving up food and sleep and prayed ‘Vitthal, Vitthal, Vitthal’ and they lost the body from the birth-death cycle); give me birth without fervently to Vitthala. On the 14th day Indrayani consciousness, drinking the nectar of God’s name. any hesitance. But let me have Your constant brought those notebooks back to Tukoba in the Taking this chance, Tukoba suddenly vanished. remembrance and let me always serve You.” same condition as it was before drowning. After sometime the folks came back to normal body consciousness, and upon opening their eyes they Persecuted by The Ignoramus One of Tukoba’s main opponent/enemy could not find Tukoba anywhere. With his saintly childlike, friendly and completely Rameshwar Bhat tried very hard to make him run

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allegations against Krishna gave his daughter in she was infuriated. Satyabhama discussed this marriage to Krishna. problem with Lord Krishna and took permission to declare a war against Narakasura. Krishna The Covetous Wife agreed and presented his Garuda as her mount Krishna had made a pledge to Vishnu that he and both rode to the city ruled by Narakasura. Satyabhama: would keep Satyabhama happy at all times. In the war Satyabhama fought with Narakasura Indian mythology provides colorful depiction and valiantly but he was more skillful. After a few The Bold and stories of mercurial Satyabhama, the third wife days Narakasura got a chance to hurt Krishna. of Krishna being light-heartedly having family Krishna fainted (feigning it). When Satyabhama strife with Krishna’s first wife Rukmini. These saw Narakasura attacking Krishna she got Beautiful stories are kept alive in Indian folklore in the furious. form of prose and poetry. In some parts of India farmer women still sing these poems lovingly, She doubled her strength and killed the demon while doing hard work such as sowing seeds or king Narakasura. Before Narakasura`s death, he grinding grains, etc. requested a boon from his mother—Satyabhama (Bhudevi reborn), that everyone should celebrate SHUBHANGI DESHPANDE Some of the popular folklores include: his death with colourful lights. Accordingly, this day is celebrated as the first day of Diwali or The Parijat Story: Krishna brought a beautiful Chaturdashi. tree of coral jasmine called Parijat from Heaven. Satyabhama, insisted that it should be planted After her victory, Satyabhama and Krishna freed in Rukhmini’s garden such that she gets to all the prisoners of Narakasura. Satyabhama atyabhama was ashtabharya Krishna’s Satyabhama having undergone a lot of suffering water and till it, but all the flowers fell into rescued the sixteen thousand women and Lord second most important wife and an in her previous mortal life on earth, sought refuge Satyabhama’s garden. Krishna noticed this Krishna married them for the reason of their avatar of Bhudevi, the goddess of earth in Vaikuntha, Vishnu’s abode after her death. She S mischief and told that every time the flowers purity which they preserved regardless of being and consort of Vishnu. Based on Vedic literature, did relentless service to Lord Vishnu as his care- bloom Krishna will spend time with Rukmini. made captives. Vishnu tatva had three energies, Sri—the taker. Vishnu promised to take her as his wife in This made Satyabhama learn her lesson and she goddess ; Bhu—the goddess Earth and her next life and assured her a happy life. So in apologized for the pettiness. Remembering Bhama Nila or Lila—the goddess of pastimes. Lakshmi Krishna avatara, when Satyabhama was re-born There is a beautiful Satyabhama temple Tulabharam and Value of Love : (Described in was Vishnu’s Sri-shakti and Vishnupriya was as the daughter of , she was given in at Putaparthi in , India, following article, The Thulabharam That Tamed his Bhu-shakti, the energy that created the marriage to Krishna, Vishnu’s avatara. commemorating her strength. In addition, Bhama’s Arrogance) cosmic manifestation. Further, knowledge was Bhama’s immense beauty, her courage, of two kinds: apara or material knowledge The Engaging Marriage ferociousness, righteousness, her various hues of Satyabhama’s marriage is a fascinating story. The Ferocious Warrior—Satyabhama and and or transcendental knowledge. emotions, intelligence, haughtiness and love for Prasena, the brother of Satrajit went out hunting Narakasura Vishnupriya Devi was the personification of Krishna is beautifully captured in a dance form wearing the jewel but was killed by a lion. Narakasura was a demon king who ruled transcendental knowledge. Satyabhama was re- called Bhama Kalapam in the classical , known for his role in the , Pragjothishyapur. He was blessed by Lord born as Vishnupriya Devi. dance form of Andhra Pradesh. The Kuchipudi killed the lion and gave the jewel to his daughter Brahma that he would be unbeatable and would dancers therefore “live” her on everyday basis. The Valiant Daughter Jambavati. When Prasena did not return, Satrajit die only in the hands of his mother. Narakasura Satyabhama was the only child of the Yadava falsely accused Krishna of killing Prasena for the used this power of immortality and became a References 1. https://www.quora.com/Hindu-Mythology-Who-is-Satyabha- chief Satrajit. Satrajit was the royal treasurer of sake of the jewel. tyrant. He became infamous for his evil ruling ma-Is-she-Mandoodari-reborn-or-an-incarnation-of-Bhudevi Dwaraka, who was the owner of the and for disrespecting the Devas and women. 2. Satyabhama : Krishna’s Warrior Wife - HHR August 29, 2013 When Krishna learnt about it, he set out with his Understanding Hinduism jewel. Satrajit, who secured the jewel from the Further, Narakasura gained control over all three 3. Mischievous intentions, Published in Corporate Dossier, ET, men in search of the jewel. Krishna found the sun-god and would not part with it even worlds, and defeated Lord Indra, king of gods of Oct. 21, 2011 jewels in Jambavan’s cave. Jambavan attacked 4. http://vedicgoddess.weebly.com/joy-ma-blog/devi-sathya- with Krishna, the king of Dwaraka. devaloka, and snatched sixteen thousand women bama-2nd-of--principle-wives--ananda-saras- Krishna, after fierce fight of 28 days Jambavan and imprisoned them in his palace. He stole the wathi-httpswwwfacebookcomyogianandasaraswathi In those days it was a practice to teach martial surrendered to Krishna. He recognized the god earrings of Aditi, the heavenly mother goddess, 5. Devi Sathyabama 2nd of Krishna’s Principle Wives, Yogi Ananda Saraswathi https://www.facebook.com/yogi.anan- arts, athletic pursuits and Puranas to boys and then gave the jewel to Krishna who in turn and seized some of her territory. dasaraswathi 7/25/2012 only. But Satraijit observed equality among his returned it to Satrajit. 6. http://www.culturalcentreofindia.com/DancesofIndiaKu- children, and as a result Satyabhama gained When Satyabhama heard of Narakasura`s cruelty chipudiRangaPravesamDancesDVD.html Satrajit, realized his mistake of making false knowledge of Vedas, Puranas and armory. towards women and his behaviour with Aditi,

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Ashtabharya Krishna from Rukmini. By this time Satyabhama was in Krishna, the king of Dwaraka, was an ashtabharya such a state that all her ill will towards Rukmini i.e. he had eight wives. They included Rukmini, vanished. Rushing to Rukmini’s private chambers Satyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Mitravinda, she poured out the dire state of matters. Rukmini Nagnajiti, Bhadra and Lakshmana. Of these, didn’t panic and came along with Satyabhama. Sathyabhama stood out because of her pride, On the way she passed the sacred tulasi (sacred arrogance, haughtiness which came from her basil leaf) plant and plucking a single leaf of royal lineage and good looks. She prided herself tulasi, she continued her way to the hall. She on her pure love for Krishna but was also very quietly walked towards the balance and jealous of Rukmini, the Chief Queen of Dwaraka. praying to Krishna, placed the single tulasi leaf Rukmini, on the other hand, was a very humble on all the piled up wealth. Lo and behold! The lady and a pious wife. She let nothing come in pan containing Krishna flew up and became the way of her devotion to Krishna and served underbalanced. Shocked at this, Satyabhama him with whole hearted love and devotion. looked to Krishna for explanation. “Try removing your riches Bhama,” Krishna told her, all smiles. Narada Hooks Satyabhama to Sell Krishna! One day, the trouble making heavenly Satyabhama Humbled Narada decided to teach Sathyabhama a lesson. A skeptical Satyabhama removed all her riches When he met her he mooted a plan to attract until nothing but the single tulasi leaf sat on the Krishna towards her. Sathyabhama fell prey to pan. And yet, it weighed more than Krishna. his clever and cunning plan. The plan was to She was stunned and humbled. Krishna jumped sell Krishna as a slave to Narada and buy him down from his high hanging pan and came to back with gold. Whoever pays more would win her, saying: Krishna. Sathyabhama was confident that she “Bhama, you gave all your riches to me, but would win hands down because she was the there was no devotion in that offering. Just the richest of all the queens. Innocent Rukmini had to feeling of possessiveness. When you made your accept this especially because Krishna, knowing offerings with such a thought in your mind, they the result of the game, himself agreed to be sold. The Thulabharam That lost their value and became mundane things. The scene was set with a large tula, and Krishna On the other hand, Rukmini offered just a single sat on one pan of the scale. And the thulabharam tulasi leaf. But her intentions were noble. She Tamed Bhama’s Arrogance began. The palace courtiers and other wives of made the offering with utmost love and devotion Krishna watched in horror as Satyabhama brought towards me. And that single leaf was sufficient all her gold and diamond jewelry and placed it to please me beyond expectations. Remember it on the other pan of the scale. But the scale did is not the offering that matters, but the love and not tip! All the jewelry and gold could not match devotion with which you do it that does.” What is Thulabharam The thulabharam is a hoary tradition dating Krishna’s weight. In her arrogance, Sathyabhama hulabharam is a or divine offering back to Vedic times. The earliest reference to Then leaving Satyabhama standing stunned virtually emptied the coffers of the palace. But made to a temple, where a devotee sits a thulabharam comes from the Mahabharata, in the court, Krishna returned to his chambers. to no avail. The scale would not tip. Undaunted, in one side of a large weighting scale about the great and just chakravartin (emperor) Turning to Narada, her eyes bright with tears, T Sathyabhama asked the other wives to give their or tula. The devotee then is weighed against Sivi, during the period of highest consciousness Satyabhama said, “, thank you for gold and jewelry. Out of their devotion to their a particular item of choice like paddy, sugar, living, the Yuga. The last witnessed and teaching me this hard learnt lesson today. I will lord, the wives removed every gold ornament bananas, jaggery, rice, gold, silver and the like. recorded gold Thulabharam was in the Dwapara never ever underestimate the power of devotion on their body until they were wearing only the When this item exceeds his or her weight, it is Yuga, during the time of the last Purnavatara, and love towards the lord.” mangalsutra (the Hindu symbol of marriage a wife donated to the temple for the worship of the Krishna. The Krishna story of thulabharam makes wears around her neck), and placed it on the pan. References god. The thulabharam seva is most famous in for a delightful read and is often praised as a 1. https://kshetrapuranas.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/when- But the scale showed no signs of motion. the in , although other spectacular Krishna Leela teaching people about love-outweighed-everything-sri-krishna-tulabharam/ 2. http://ignca.nic.in/jatak048.htm temples such as Devasthanam, Udupi, the power of devotion and love. Narada Taunts Satyabhama 3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibi_(king) 4. https://ramanan50.wordpress.com/2013/11/16/how-to-per- Dwaraka, also offer this seva. Of the various Seeing Satyabhama struggling at the fear of form-tulabharam items, the Gold Thulabharam is the highest form losing Krishna as a slave, the mischievous of offering to a deity. Narada suggested that she borrow some gold

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and intelligence and removes all blemishes. Couplet 31 speaks of Hanuman as the bestower One couplet at the end reiterates a prayer to of the ashta siddhis and nava nidhis. He was Hanuman to dwell in his heart, alongside Rama, granted this boon by . Lakshmana and Sita; between which are forty Ashta siddhis are eight powers described as: verses of the Chalisa. 1. Anima—ability to reduce one’s body to the size The first ten couplets describe theGunas of an atom (attributes) of Lord Hanuman as one who is the ocean of wisdom and virtues, one with 2. Mahima—expanding one’s body to infinitely immeasurable strength, exceptional valour, large size radiance, courage, intelligence and dispeller of wicked thoughts. They also define strength of 3. Garima—becoming infinitely heavy his surrender and devotion to Lord Rama, apart 4. Laghima—becoming infinitely light from his physical attributes and his origin as an incarnation of Lord Shiva and son of Kesari. 5. Prapti—unrestricted access to all places Bestowed the eight siddhis (powers) and nine 6. Prakamya—realising whatever one desires treasures by Sita, Hanuman manifests Anima and Mahima to accomplish his Master’s mission 7. Ishitva—leadership consciousness of rescuing Sita and destroying Lanka and the demons. 8. Vasitva—ability to have the five elements under control Couplets 11-17 describe the acts of Hanuman in reviving an unconscious Lakshmana which was Nava Nidhis are the nine treasures churned out acclaimed and acknowledged by Lord Rama by of the milky ocean, also understood as the nine embracing and declaring him a brother as dear to types of devotion. They are listening to stories Rama as Bharatha! of the Lord, singing glories of Lord’s name, remembrance of Lord, service to His Lotus Feet, Couplet 18 throws light on the precision of worship of Lord, salutation of the Lord, serving information that our Masters have had access to the Lord in the capacity of servant, as a friend, from times immemorial. The verse describes the and ultimately offering oneself in complete HINDU Mantras act of Hanuman trying to savour the sun, assuming surrender.3 it to be a sweet fruit. Calculations made of distance between the earth and sun based on this verse Subsequent couplets continue to describe is precisely what scientists have concluded with the grace showered by devotion to Hanuman; modern day amenities and technology. including freedom from worldly bondage and attainment of Lord’s feet. “The Surya, sun situated {1 Yug = 12,000 years, Keeping Shiva as witness, Tulsidas claims that DR. MA NITHYA DEVAROOPANANDA 1 Sahastra = 1000, 1 Yojan = 8 Miles, (Yug x Sahastra x Yojan) = 12,000x1,000x8 miles = whoever reads Hanuman Chalisa with devotion 96,000,000 miles (1 mile = 1.6 km) 96,000,000 will become “perfect”, the perfection that miles = 96,000,000x1.6 km = 153,600,000 km} Hanuman exuded is guaranteed. 153,600,000 km from the earth” References: anuman is one of the most revered God Hanuman Chalisa is a beautiful devotional 1 Authenticity is your Vitamin “A” https://youtu.be/5eZwWr- in Hindu tradition. More temples are composition of forty couplets dedicated to Lord Couplets 20-30 describe the benefits enjoyed M8uKc 2. Hanuman Chalisa- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia built for Hanuman than Rama himself to Hanuman, in Avadhi language, authored by by devotees by grace of Hanuman; difficult H 3. Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.23-24 whom he served his whole life. His whole life is Tulsidas, a poet saint, philosopher and social tasks rendered easy, bestowal of all happiness dedicated to Rama; he is Rama dasa (servant of reformer who lived in the 16th century, during the including the grace of Sri Rama, protection from Rama). Hanuman is an epitome of devotion and .2 evil spirits, freedom from disease, pain and surrender!1 suffering, and realisation of all desires including There are two couplets in the beginning the highest reality. Chalisa literally means forty. honouring Guru; humility and surrender at Guru’s feet makes space for true knowledge

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Skill is like the best friend in foreign territories. A A father who leaves debt for children is like an woman with good nature is truly the best friend enemy. of a man. You can win a scholar by truth and only truth. The Inevitable Truth that One Needs to It is better not to have a kingdom than having it Accept in a bad state. Similarly, it is better to have no Rain over ocean, giving help to capable, and friends, pupils and wife than have bad ones. lighting a lamp in daylight are nothing but useless acts. There is no happiness in a kingdom being ruled by a wicked king; there is no benefit from a Rain water is purest of all and in same manner deceitful friend. Similarly, there is no happiness Chankaya’s Neeti—Part 4 willpower is the mightiest of all powers. in homes where wife quarrel. Also, there is no Truth keeps the earth in its place, truth is benefit in having bad pupils. responsible for wind to blow. Truth makes the sun Acharya Chanakya says that every creature has shine and it’s the primary force for existence of KRISHNAN NATARAJAN some special qualities from which a human can everything. gain benefit. Below, are a few:

Money comes and goes, so does youth. Life goes Lion: teaches to perform actions wholeheartedly hanakya Neeti is all about understanding Some Facts of Life which Shapes our Future and out goes the soul. Nothing lasts forever. Only and not to relax until successful accomplishment human nature and its weaknesses. One Administrators are corrupt in one manner or thing that stays firm is your faith. of the task. can use it as a reference manual in another. The person who preens is likely to be C By listening to religious scriptures the person facing the of life. It must be understood romantic. A foolish person cannot be a polite Crane: teaches man to focus and concentrate gains knowledge about religion. You can get that spirituality is not about putting a break talker and a frank person faces difficulty in telling over the task and act instantaneously upon rid of evil-ideas by talking to a scholar, and on on thinking. It is more about thinking the right lies. requirement. following the advice of a guru you’ll easily reach things. Chanakya Neeti is a complete blend of the door-steps of heaven. Cock: to rise early in the morning, being ready science and spirituality. This will give a new Fools envy wise men and the poor envy the rich. In the same manner prostitutes are jealous of to defend and attack, grabbing one’s share and dimension to the life of the readers. This is a Crow is most cunning amongst the birds; In pious ladies. sharing with other. summary of chapters 5 and 6. sages, the one with short temper is the most The best way to sabotage knowledge is to remain harmful. But above all, the most harmful is the Crow: makes love privately, does not get scared What Shapes a Person’s Character? idle. Those persons will be cursed who make person who is jealous of you. easily and collects things for use in future. It is Infatuation is the biggest disease and greed is of knowledge-full people. always alert and never trusts anyone. the worst enemy of an individual. Anger is the A ruler gets fame on visiting different parts of most damaging fire and among all possessions Those who disrespect the rituals stated in his kingdom, a preacher gets glory by spreading Dog: It can go without food for a while but when knowledge is supreme. scriptures, and who wrongfully accuse a serene knowledge in foreign territories, and same it finds food, it can overeat in moments. It is alert person will suffer for sure. happens with a Yogi traveling distant places. even in sleep and wakes with slightest sound. It The test for purity of gold is performed by is loyal and fights ferociously when defending his rubbing, heating, pounding and cutting. You cannot gain a good harvest by sowing less The Kaal [time] consumes every person and master. Similarly, the true characteristic of a person seeds. everything. It can and it will destroy everything. are revealed at the time of intense trouble. His It is in action even when you sleep. None can Donkey: It works tirelessly and even in harsh manners, voice and actions will reveal a lot about After execution of the commander his army escape him. weather conditions. him. becomes ineffective. A person born as blind is unable to see things Chanakya says that any man acquiring Everyone is likely to face troubles in life and Charity puts an end to poverty, knowledge to and same is the case with people in love. An these qualities cannot face failure under any even wise men fear from them. Anyhow, a really ignorance. Good behavior eliminates most of the alcoholic cannot differentiate between good and circumstance. troubles, and devotion in God marks an end to all wise man deals with trouble wholeheartedly and bad. In same manner a selfish person gets blind References boldly upon its arrival. fears. under effect of his selfish goals. 1. Kautilya’s translated to English by R. Shama Shastry Children born from same mother and also under For a person with absolute knowledge, heaven is A king pays for the sins of his countrymen and 2. Chanakya Neeti by B.K. Chaturvedi of least significance. A true warrior gives a little 3. Chanakya Neeti Shastra - The Political Ethics of Chanakya same stars; might differ in their characteristics. royal priest has to pay for the deed of the king. translated by Miles Davis Like the the ber (berry) tree which has sweet importance to his life. For a true sage woman is A husband has to pay for deeds of his wife and a 4. http://www.indiadivine.com/chanakya-niti-shastra.html fruits as well as painful thorns on it. of no use, and for a person with control on his teacher pays for the deeds of his pupils. desires the whole world loses its significance.

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They neither beg nor carry bowls for food. The Expositions. , a great Dighambara Digambara School monks eats only once a day. Accepting whatever acharya and prolific writer of books on Jainism is offered in cupped hands they eats without lived in . He is venerated by both utensils. The says nothing Shvetambaras and as a , of Jainism but if requested may give a spiritual talk to the chief disciple of Mahavira. assembled people. If a monk cannot stand and Extensive literature of commentaries and eat any more due to old age or illness the body is VEENA NAGARAJ expositions grew around the scriptures but discarded by fasting till death called . systematic presentation of the Jaina thought Path for the Householder and Followers was done by Acharya Umasvathi. He is the ainism is one of the most ancient religions prominence and is considered the eternal law for Female ascetics wear white garments and they most celebrated Acharya after Kundakunda. His of India. It is also one of the three major them. are considered as lay women who have taken work Tattvartadhigamasutra or Tattvartasutra, Jreligions of early India which produced advance vows. Lay persons too can make “manual for understanding all that is”, is the Origins of Digambara one of the greatest spiritual leaders, Mahavira. progress in a number of ways. They keep vows of only philosophical text both Svethambaras and The upto Mahavira has no The word “Jain” is derived from the root “ji”, to undertaking fasts, practice daily meditation, and Digambaras regard as authoritative. Written mention of sects or subjects. According to conquer. It signifies the view point or status of devotional practices which are regarded as formal in Sanskrit in the sutra style, it sums up in 350 one account, during a famine in a group one who has victory over the lower principles meditation. The five lay vows are non-violence, aphorisms the main points of Jaina philosophy. of monks migrated to Karnataka. When they of existence (desires, including desire to hurt). A truthfulness, non-stealing, and abstaining from returned years later, they found that the monks The Philosophy jina is also called a . Those who follow illicit sex and attachment to possessions. the path of Jinas are known as Jains. who stayed back, no longer followed the rules The in general is structured laid by Mahavira. They had taken to wearing The Digambara sect is divided into sub-sects. around seven or principles, which can be and Their Significance in Jain clothing, while Mahavira had been utterly Three most important of them are Visapanthis or linked together in seven propositions to provide Tradition possessionless. Moreover, they had adopted Bispanthis, Terapanthis and Teranapanthis. The a summary of Jaina view of existence. The soul In Jain tradition the Tirthankaras are creators certain beliefs which were unacceptable by the differences between these sub-sects are minor. (jiva), is of the nature of consciousness. Lifeless of Jain religion and prophets who are born to southern group. So there was split in the Jainas substance () is inert and unconscious. Souls revive and spread the teachings of Jainism. They and were categorised into two schools. The Digambara Worship come into contact with substance by means of are individuals who have achieved “Moksha” or Shvetambaras (those who wore white clothes) Digambaras worship images of their Tirthankaras. influx () of karma, which in Jainism is a liberation.They are born as humans but through and Digambaras (for whom the sky was their They do not touch the image but have priests called fine form of matter. As a result there is bonding their intense practice of or nonviolence, clothing). The central doctrine of both the sects upadhye. He carries out worship and pujas in the of inert substance to the soul. It is possible to equanimity and meditation attain the state of is the same. The differences are in certain beliefs temple. The worship is simple with flowers. The put a stop () to influx of karma. Residual Jina. They are special or liberated souls and practices. sub-sect of Teranapanthis don’t worship images but karma too can fall away (). As a result the who have attained omniscience and guide others they worship scriptures by placing them at the . soul achieves liberation (moksha) from karmic Digambara means skyclad in Sanskrit. They are towards liberation or enlightenment. bondage, and lives forever in bliss. also called Digvasanas. They reject clothing The holiest site for Digambaras is Sravanabelagola (Karnataka) where there is the Historical Evidence of Tirthankaras as a part of their renunciation of all worldly Another important contribution of Jainism is 57 foot image of or Gommateshwara The Jains owe the major features of their attachments. Even a loin cloth is a compromise. the theory of . It says universe is (king of Podanpur) standing in meditation. As per tradition to the teachings of Mahavira the 24th They are thus no longer subject to pride and independent of mind and consciousness. There their tradition, Bahubali was the first person to and last Tirthankaras (527 to 599 BCE). The 23rd shame socially. is no place for God as creator. By God Jainism achieve liberation. Tirthankara was Parshwanatha (877 to 777 BCE). understands liberated soul, where the Jain The Solitary Path of the Digambara Monks Parshwanatha is said to have flourished 250 Tirthankaras provide highest spiritual ideals to The path of a Digambara monk is a rigorous one. Jain Scriptures years before Mahavira. The history of Jainism which every soul can aspire. The great vows taught by Mahavira are more Jinas pass on their knowledge orally to their chief before Mahavira and Parshwanatha is shrouded severe for monks than the house holders. Their disciples known as and to successive References in considerable obscurity. 1. http://www.jainlibrary.org/articles austerities are a daily practice. leaders known as acharyas. All the teachings 2. http://www.indianetzone.com/Jainism 3. http://www.hermitary.com/Jainism The main teachings of Mahavira are captured were eventually written down producing holy They have no possessions except a whisk of found 4. http://www.jainpedia.org/Digambaras in the Three Jewels or Triratna. They are right texts. These are called in Sanskrit or 5. http://www.jainworld.com/history peacock feathers for dispersing insects. A gourd 6. Indian Religions - The Spiritual Traditions of South Asia - An knowledge, right faith and right conduct. Nigganta in Prakrit. for clean water. They walk from place to place Anthology, Peter Heehs, published by Permanent Black-Del- Besides this his followers had to take Five Vows hi, Pages - 90-91, 230-232. barefoot. They must not stay anywhere more than Mahavira’s closest disciples or ganadharas of Conduct which are practice of non-violence, 7. Jainism - Pictorial Guide to Religion of Nonviolence, Kurt a day except during rainy season. The monks wrote group of scriptures called . Later Titze, Motilal Banarsidass (1998), page - 52 truthfulness, non-stealing, non-acquisition, and accept whatever vegetarian food people offer. texts composed by mendicants make up the control of sexual desires. Ahimsa is given special second group of scriptures called Anuyogas or

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two categories—basadi and betta. Basadi is a The texts were rediscovered in the 1800s, and Jain monastery or temple where an image of these are revered as the oldest one of the 24 tirthankaras () is installed (scribed circa 1060 CE) written materials of the and worshipped. They were built in the Dravidian tradition going back to the Arihants ( style and the oldest basadi can be traced back “conqueror”, is a soul who has conquered to at least the first century CE. The temples are inner passions such as attachment, anger, marked by three main characteristics—pillars pride and greed). The collection of three which are the main motif; followed by intricately ancient manuscripts—Dhavala, Jayadhavala carved stone iconography, and larger-than-life and Mahadhavala—are collectively called the stone deities. “Siddhanta” in Digambara tradition and for many centuries they were the only copy of the Betta is a hill with an open courtyard containing Siddhanta available. the image of Gommata or Gommateshwara. The deity of Lord Gomateshwara at The Tribhuvana Chudamani Basadi is the is a striking example of a betta temple and the 57 largest of its kind in coastal Karnataka and is feet statue hewn from the top of a granite hill, is the considered to be the most ornate of the Jain highest free standing stone structure in the world. temples of this region. Due to the large number and variety of pillars in this basadi it is known as Jain Kashi of the South—Moodabidri 1,000 Pillar Temple (Savira Kambada Basadi). Tucked away in a corner of Dakshina district in Karnataka, is the tiny town of Jain Bettas Moodabidri known popularly as the “Jain Kashi There are altogether five monolithic bettas of the South”, which draws both devotees and or deities of Lord Bahubali in Karnataka visitors from around the globe to marvel at the measuring more than 20 feet in height. The one Jain Basadis architecture of its famous 18 Jain basadis. at Shravanabelagola built in 981 CE is 57 feet followed by a 42 feet statue at dating to Moodabidri witnessed an unprecedented growth 1432 CE; the 35 feet statue at in in 1604 CE; as a center of Jain religion, culture, art and The Marvel of a 20 feet statue at in Mysore District architecture during 14th to 16th centuries and built in the 12th Century CE. More recently in 1973 these 18 basadis were constructed during this a 39 feet statue was installed at in period. The most famous among them are Guru Larger-than-Life Architecture District. Basadi, The Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani Basadi and Ammanavara Basadi. Discovery of Jain In all of the betta temples, the holy festival of Canonical Texts is held once every 12 KANAKA NAGARAJ SABAPATHY years when the statue of Bahubali is worshiped The Guru Basadi, also called Siddhantha Basadi and bathed in holy water, milk, turmeric, and Hale (old) Basadi, is believed to be the and other natural herbs. The 1,000th year Roots of continued to live on this earliest of the Jain monuments in Moodabidri Mahamastakabhisheka of this statue was held rd istorical association of Jainism with hill worshipping the footprints of his teacher (714 CE). Lord Parshvanath, the 23 Tirthankara in 1981 when flowers were strewn over it from Karnataka dates back to the 3rd century and later he too took sallekhana. There are two of Jainism, is the presiding deity of this temple. a helicopter for the first time ever, by the then HBCE when Acharya , monuments on the hill recalling this event, a A beautiful stone idol of Parshvanath is installed prime minister of India, Indira Gandhi. in the sanctum here. It is in this basadi that the predicting a 12-year long famine in north rock cut cave called Bhadrabahu cave and a References: th India, led the migration of Jain groups to the structural shrine called the Chandragupta Basadi. rare Jain palm leaf manuscripts of 12 century CE 1. http://jainsamaj.org/magazines/ahimsatimesshow. known as ‘Dhavala texts’ were discovered. php?id=97 south. He was accompanied by his disciple Jainism, as a religion enjoyed patronage of 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism_in_Karnataka and emperor Chandragupta Maurya. The group major dynasties in Karnataka such as the Western 3. https://www.makemytrip.com/blog/indias-top-5-jain-tem- These texts along with a number of palm leaf ples halted at in Shravanabelagola. Gangas, Kadambas, Chalukyas, and Hoysalas. manuscripts of immense literary value are now 4. http://www.trayaan.com/2015/05/neminatha-mandir-manas- Realising that he was nearing the end of his life, tambha-jain-basadi-historical-architecture-manasthamb- in the possession of this Jain monastery. It is said Bhadrabahu instructed his disciples to spread Characteristics of Jain Basadis and Bettas ha-monument-ananthapadmanabha-temple-ramasam- that during the Mughal assaults, these Jain texts udra-lake-karkala-udupi-karnataka.html#.VwN5Ok997IU the religion and undertook sallekhana (fasting to The word basadi is used to refer to Jain temples were shifted from Shravanabelagola in Hassan death) at Chandragiri. in South India and even Maharashtra. Jain architecture in Karnataka can be classified into district to safer Moodabidri.

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HINDUISM NOW HINDUISM NOW 72 73 HINDUISM NOW TEERTHA STHALA

History of Guruvayur: day, the Udayasthamana Pooja (dawn to dusk According to the legends the temple idol pooja) is conducted by the Devaswom itself. of Guruvayur is more than 5,000 years old, After the morning seeveli, on Ekadasi there is a although there are no historical records to grand elephant procession to the Parthasarathi establish it. It is said that Lord Krishna, asked temple since it is regarded as Geethopadesam two sages to take the idol from his temple in Day too. On Ekadasi after the night pooja, the while the city was being destroyed and famous Ekadasi Vilakku with elephant procession establish it in Kerala. In the 14th century Tamil takes place which provides a fitting finale to the literature ‘Kokasandesam’, references about a festival. place called Kuruvayur is made. As early as the 16th century, many references are seen about Sangeetholsavam Kuruvayur. In ancient Dravidic, Kuruvai means Chembai Sangeetholsavam is an annual sea, hence the village on the coast may be called festival held in Guruvayur by the Kuruvayur. Guruvayur was a subordinate shrine Guruvayur Devaswom at Thiruvaiyaru as a kind of Trikkunavay Shiva temple before the latter of homage to Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, was destroyed by the Dutch in 1755. Trikkunavay one of the titans of Carnatic Classical Music. in the Guruvayur documents is the same as Chembai had conducted the festival in the temple Thrikkani Mathilakam or Mathilakam mentioned town on his own for about 60 years. He used to in the Dutch and British records. And this place invite all the great Carnatic Musicians to perform was in between Guruvayur and . in the temple town and in course of time, the Teertha Sthala Guruvayur scale of the festival rivalled the Thiruvaiyaru Gajarajan Kesavan—Celebrating a Devout Thyagaraja Aradhana, which is recognised as one Elephant of the most important festivals of homage paid to Ekadasi, the eleventh day of every lunar fortnight, Saint Thyagaraja. MA NITHYA SATYAJNANANANDA SWAMI is very auspicious to the Hindus. Of the 24 The Guruvayur Devaswom decided to take Ekadasis in a year, the Vrishchika Ekadasi (Sukla charge after his death in 1974, and renamed it as paksha) has got special significance in Guruvayur uruvayur is also written as Guruvayoor or tall. Even though this is not a small idol, devotees Chembai Sangeetholsavam in his memory. About temple. Gurupavanapuri, is a municipal town in consider him as Little Krishna. He is worshipped 2,000-2,500 musicians participate in this festival District, of Kerala State in India. according to the pooja routines laid down by Adi G Gajarajan Guruvayur Kesavan was the most every year, and it is held for about 12–15 days It houses the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple, Sankaracharya and later written formally in the famous and celebrated captive elephant in culminating on the Guruvayur Ekadasi day, when the fourth largest temple in India in terms of the Tantri way by Chennas Narayanan Namboodiri Kerala. Kesavan was donated to the Guruvayur all the musicians sing five favourite songs of number of devotees visiting per day. (born in 1427). temple by the royal family of Nilambur in 1916, Chembai and also the Pancharatna Kritis. Bhooloka Vaikuntam The Chennas Namboodiris are the hereditary as an offering to the deity. The Guruvayur temple Reference has in excess of 50 elephants for its services. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guruvayur_Temple The temple at Guruvayur is a famous Krishna Tantris of the Guruvayur temple. The temple/ 2. http://guruvayurdevaswom.nic.in temple and is one of the most important places pooja routines are strictly followed without any Kesavan was known for his devout behavior. 3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guruvayur_Keshavan of worship for Hindus and is often referred to compromise. The Tantri is available full-time at the Kesavan died on December 2, 1976 aged 72, as Bhooloka Vaikuntam which translates to the Temple to ensure this. The Melsanthi (Chief Priest) on the auspicious Guruvayur Ekadasi day. On holy abode of Vishnu on Earth. The divine idol enters the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) at 2:30 the day, Kesavan fasted for the entire day and installed here represents the enchanting form AM and does not drink even a glass of water up dropped down facing the direction of the temple of Sree Krishna endowed with the four lustrous to the completion of noon poojas at 12:30 PM. with his trunk raised as a mark of prostration. arms carrying the Panchajanya, the discus The vedic traditions being followed here with Kesavan was conferred the unique title , the mace and the absolute perfection and sincerity is the hallmark “Gajarajan” (Elephant King), by the Guruvayoor lotus. Adorned with the divine Tulasi garland the of the Guruvayur temple. Devaswom. idol represents the majestic form of Maha Vishnu It is important to note here that, even though the A memorial honour for Gajarajan Kesavan is as revealed to Vasudeva and Devaki at the time of shrine is considered to be one of the holiest spots conducted in Guruvayur. The Karanavar or head Krishna Avatar. for Vaishnavites, the temple is not a part of the of the elephant family places a wreath at the The presiding deity in the sanctum-sanctorum 108 Divya Desams. statue of Kesavan and all the other elephants is Maha Vishnu. He faces east and his idol is 4 ft stand around and pay obeisance. On Ekadasi

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Once Poonthanam reached temple from inside the temple reciting the same chapter and had a bath in the river. He worshipped the from the Bhagavatam that he had read. When he compassionate Lord Shiva, felt very happy peeped through the keyhole, he was surprised and stayed there for a few days. He recited to see Lord Shiva Himself reading from his Bhagavatam in front of the deity and several Bhagavatam. hundred people listened to his sweet discourse, Listening intently to this rendering were Devi on the wonderful pastime in the 10th canto 60th of and all of Shiva’s bootaganas. Their eyes Srimad Bhagavatam called Lord Krishna Teases were filled with devotion. Poonthanam stood Queen Rukmini. there spellbound listening to the whole recitation. Lord Krishna decided to play with his beloved Poonthanam Attracts Shiva At the end, Lord Shiva asked Devi Parvati, “Did wife Queen Rukmini and wanted to listen to you like the Bhagavatam recitation?” Devi her. He playfully asked her why she wanted to Parvati replied it was nice, but not as good as marry Lord Krishna when she had better choices THENMOZHI KALIYAPERUMAL Poonthanam recitation. To which Lord Shiva like , Salva, , and so on. replied, “Yes that is true. That is why I placed the Hearing this Queen Rukmini faints and Lord bookmark at the beginning of the same topic oonthanam (1547–1640 CE) was a famous himself, who lay down on his Krishna consoles her. devotee of Guruvayurappan (the form of lap, for a moment, as a child. In that moment he everyday.” Poonthanam finished reading this part of the PKrishna worshipped in Kerala), who lived considered Lord Krishna as his son and achieved Hearing this, Poonthanam, who was standing chapter and kept the bookmark at the end of in Keezhattoor in (), Kerala, enlightenment. In the he wrote: outside, was shaken and uttered the holy name chapter, so that he could begin reciting from the India. He is remembered for his masterpiece, “While little Krishna is dancing in our hearts, do of Krishna loudly. When he peeped in again, Lord next chapter. So Poonthanam read the same part Jnanappana which means ‘the song of wisdom’ we need little ones of our own?”. Shiva and Devi Parvati had disappeared! in Malayalam. for a second time and this he repeated for some Poonthanam spent the rest of his life reading more days. Soon it was the last day to close the From this simple story it is clear that even the He married at 20, but for a long time, the couple the Bhagavatam and singing the Lord’s glories temple for the rest of the year. gods and and all living creatures loved had no children. He began to propitiate the Lord in simple Malayalam. People loved him for his the great literature called the Bhagavatam. It is Poonthanam finished the discourse and was of Guruvayur by reciting the ‘Santhana Gopalam’ beautiful Bhagavatam discourses. Below is an a spotless Purana. Anyone who seriously tries returning from the temple with other devotees, and a son was born. He called for a celebration enlightening page from his glorious life. to understand Srimad Bhagavatam and chants it and everybody known was invited, but the child but forgot to take the Bhagavatam back with him There is a temple in North Kerala called Kottiyoor. with devotion becomes liberated. died an hour before the Annaprasana (first and remembered it only after having walked The significant deity here is Lord Shiva. This Reference: feeding) ceremony. Grief-stricken, Poonthanam away from the temple for quite some distance. temple was kept open only for few days during 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poonthanam sought refuge at Guruvayur and started praying 2. https://www.bhagavatam-katha.com the year. There was no human activities during He hurried back, crossed the river and reached with the puranic story of Kumaraharanam. The the rest of the year. the temple, by which time it was closed. He found heartbroken Poonthanam, was consoled by himself alone there. But he could hear someone

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being. So Narada took Kayadhu to his and even in that pillar too father!” Beside himself starts sharing his experiences and Lilas (divine with rage tore open the pillar Prahlada—The plays) of Lord Narayana. Kayadhu wasn’t the only with his mace; revealing , a half- one benefiting from these powerful experiences. lion half-man- neither man nor beast. Prahlada After some time, Kayadhu gave birth to a cute immediately realizes that Narayana is that Embodiment of Integrity boy named Prahlada, who was born with deep ferocious form and is overjoyed. After a long devotion and Advaita towards Narayana. battle, Narasimha places Hiranyakashipu on his MA NITHYA TRIPURANANDA lap, not the ground nor sky. And at dusk, sat right Prahlada - The Embodiment of Integrity on the doorstep/threshold, (neither inside or As Prahlada grew, his devotion towards Lord outside) and tore him apart with his long nails. Narayana intensified. The truth - ‘Narayana exists ust imagine—a small 6-7-year-old boy, but malevolent brothers. The world was never everywhere’ weaved itself into his every moment. All this for a six-year year old. thrown inside a dark, closed cave, all alone, enough for them. Hiranyaksha, the eldest one, Hiranyakashipu got really scared that his son with 100 varieties of poisonous snakes. ascended the throne and did severe to Lord Just because of Prahlada’s devotion, Narayana J would replace him with Lord Narayana as the Instead of getting terrorized, the boy sees the Brahma for power. Upon Lord Brahma’s Darshan took the ferocious form of Narasimha lord of the world. Hiranyakashipu immediately Lord even in those snakes; as he is intensely in (Divine Sight) he was granted the boon that no and circumvented the intricate boon that allotted two teachers to force Prahlada to Advaita with them, and comes out of the cave God, human, or Asura would be able to Hiranyakashipu received. Even after killing concede that Hiranyakashipu is the only God and unharmed! kill him. This made Hiranyaksha hungry for more Hiranyakashipu, Narasimha was far from calm. no one else is more powerful than him. While power and hence started torturing everyone; His anger threatened to destroy the three worlds! This is one of the incidents that the child prodigy they tried their best to make him shift beliefs, including other worlds to follow whatever All the gods from different worlds tried their of Hinduism, Prahlada went through almost Prahlada’s subjective experience of Advaita with Hiranyaksha commanded. level best; even his consort! Nothing and nobody Narayana remained untouched. The teachers tried every day with his father, the demon-king could calm him down. Hiranyakashipu. Prahlada wasn’t any ordinary He desperately wanted to be powerful than all doing everything possible to change the kid’s kid. He developed a deep feeling connection the gods and therefore took the entire Earth mind but failed. At long last, Prahlada came and touched towards the Lord he loved; Lord Narayana. He into a round ball and went to the Patala Loka Narasimha’s feet with so much of love and Upon hearing this news, Hiranyakashipu became is a living example of integrity towards his own (underworld) in search of Narayana, the one devotion and asked him to calm down and angry and started threatening Prahlada that Being and ultimately, cosmos itself. who he felt he needed to conquer in order to within seconds, Narasimha became the peaceful he would kill him if Prahlada didn’t concede become powerful. In that immediate emergency Narayana. Narayana coronated Prahlada as the Hiranyakashipu’s superiority. However, An Introduction to protect Mother Earth, Narayana took the next ruler of Hiranyakashipu’s kingdom and Prahlada continued to smile even in the face The best introduction of Prahlada lies in these form of Varaha (boar) and went straight to blessed him with abundance and prosperity. of death! Hiranyakashipu tried to threaten him words, Pure Devotion, and Surrender. He is Hiranyaksha, killed him, and restored Mother physically by putting him in a closed cave of revered as one of the many child saints of Earth back in her position. This made all the The Essence poisonous snakes. Prahlada just saw Narayana Prahlada’s implicit trust and devotion towards Hinduism, whose devotion and love towards God people of the three worlds happy and relieved, in every single snake and with that surrender, Narayana became his very life. He was has no boundaries. As per the but for Hiranyakashipu, this was dreadful news. the snakes just give him the way out. After so devoted that he literally saw Narayana (Stories of the divine), Prahlada experienced Outraged, he left the palace to perform tapas to that, Hiranyakashipu pushed him off of a high everywhere. Even when Hiranyakashipu asked God in the form of Narayana even as he was a Lord Brahma vowing to ascend the throne after mountain, but even then he just fell in the space him if Narayana is present in the pillar, he just month old fetus in his mother’s womb. However receiving potent and deadly powers. After years of Advaita that Narayana is everything and as knew that he is there and Narayana appeared! his devotion was not accepted by his father, of tapas, Lord Brahma granted him the boon of a response to that, nature didn’t harm him. Prahlada’s integrity with his Advaita experience Hiranyakashipu, the wicked asura ruler of the not being killed indoors or outdoors, during day Hiranyakashipu even tried to feed him poisonous and devotion is the best moral to learn and world. His father had enmity towards Narayana or night, on the ground nor in the sky, by any milk, but Prahlada saw Narayana in the poison imbibe from this story. Even at such a young age, from the core of his being, and persecuted weapon, animal or human, or demon. his son Prahlada through many bizarre ways. and turned it into nectar. having a strong feeling connection to the source Hiranyakashipu wanted to insert the idea that He While Hiranyakashipu was absorbed in tapas, is the best gift anyone can have. Vishnu’s Narasimha Avatara to Protect the Devas captured the capital. Lord Devendra is god instead of Maha Vishnu. Reference had an easy victory and took Hiranyakashipu’s Prahlada 1. http://www.bhagavatam-katha.com/narada-muni-story-nara- Withstanding the mistreatment by his own father, pregnant queen, Kayadhu, so that he could Hiranyakashipu tried EVERYTHING to intimidate da-muni-teachning-prahlad-in-womb-of-his-mother/ Prahlada, but it was all in vain. As a last resort, 2. http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/vol- Prahlada’s life is a sweet yet an intense story kill the fetus, thinking it will be twice as evil as ume_4/lectures_and_discourses/the_story_of_prahlada.htm for anyone to hear. Unlike many biographies, Hiranyakashipu and dragged her along. Sensing Hiranyakashipu dragged Prahlada into a hall 3. http://www.importantindia.com/2693/varaha-avatar-story/ Prahlada’s story begins centuries before his birth…. and asks him, “You claim that Narayana is 4. http://www.nithyananda.org/video/paramaham- Kayadhu’s distress, Sage Narada stops Devendra sa-nithyanandas-message-new-year-2013-10th-aniver- telling him that the fetus has no harm and has everywhere, if he is everywhere, is he in this sary-mission#gsc.tab=0 An Unborn’s Experience of God 5. http://www.apnisanskriti.com/the-story-of-hiranyaka- endless possibilities of transforming as a good pillar too?!” Prahlada laughs and says, “He is Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu were powerful shipu-and-prahlada-narsimha-avatar-61

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n the Jataka Tale known as “The Crab and desire to go to the new pond, he thought he could the Crane Story”, the Buddha in his previous hold onto the crane’s neck during the flight and if Ibirth was living in the form of a Varana tree, the crane tried to eat him, he would then just nip near a beautiful lotus pond. Being this tree, the crane’s head off with his claw. he witnessed the mischievous behavior of one Without revealing his plan, the crab convinced particular crane. the crane to allow him to hold onto his neck Living in a smaller pond nearby were many with his claw on the way to the pond. Not fish but the water level was very low due to the surprisingly, instead of putting the crab in the summer season. Filled with temptation the crane pond, the crane attempted to kill the him. The wanted to figure out a way to cajole and eat up crab exclaimed that he wasn’t going to allow the all of those fish. The crane offered to take all of crane to eat him and ordered the crane to bring the fish one by one in his beak to a large beautiful him to the pond or else he would nip off his head pond filled with 5 types of lotuses where they with his claw. Trembling with fear, the crane would have plenty of water to swim in and food brought the crab to the lotus pond and upon to eat. But the fish didn’t believe the crane and lowering his head to let the crab into the pond, thought that that he was just trying to eat them. the crane quickly nips off the head of the crane. Despite this, the fish agreed to send one of their Moral of this Jataka Tale as witnessed by the biggest fish with the crane to the new pond and Varana tree: you may be a fool if you believe to have the crane bring him back to tell them everything you hear and think twice before using what he saw there. cunningness or deception to get what you want - When the big fish returned safely to tell about the it may lead to your own destruction.

new pond, the fish agreed to have the crane take References them there one by one. However, rather than 1. https://www.google.co.in/search?q=meaning+of+jataka&o- putting the fish into the pond, the crane dropped q=meaning+of+jataka&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.6384j0j9&- sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 them each onto the fork of the Varana tree and 2. https://archive.org/details/jatakatales00fran (Jataka Tales killed and ate up each one. After doing this to by Francis, H. T. (Henry Thomas), 1837-1924; Thomas, E. J. (Edward Joseph), 1869-) all of the fish, the crane asked the remaining 3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EizzCS1dOlw (Comple- crab in the pond if he wanted to be taken to the tion, Shortcut to a Joyful Life, Paramahamsa Nithyananda’s morning satsang July 8, 2013) new pond as well. The crab however, doubted 4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EizzCS1dOlw (Comple- whether the crane had actually brought the fish tion, the Only Way to Liberation, Paramahamsa Nithyanan- da’s morning satsang July 27, 2013) to the pond as he claimed. But due to his strong Jataka Tales The Crane and the Crab

ALICIA MORRISSEY

The Jataka Tales of Buddha are the legendary recordings of the Buddha’s previous births in plant, animal and human form. There are 64 records of the Jataka Tales in total, which were revealed to the Buddha in a fast-forward flash before his enlightenment (Paramahamsa Nithyananda morning Satsang, July 8, 2013). Each story teaches moral life lessons and beautifully depicts the different levels of evolution the Buddha took from one life to the next, until He got Enlightenment.

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Tulsidas Jayanti August 10, 2016

Tulsidas Jayanti celebrates the birth anniversary of the great Hindu saint poet Goswami Tulsidas, a resident of Varanasi and a contemporary of poetess-saint . He is the acclaimed author of the great Hindu epic . Written in Avadhi, a dialect of Hindi, this rendering of the Ramayana made the epic popular amongst the common people of . August 10, 2016 marks the 519th birth anniversary of this great poet. Life is Bliss

DEEPIKA RAJA

am from . I came to know about my other experience on the I got from Paramahamsa Nithyananda in 2009 through Paramahamsa Nithyananda. it is that the Short Ia program called ASP and it was my first distance eyesight power which I had for past 4 experience to get trust on spirituality. From then yrs got reduced and I am able to manage without I started meeting Him through other programs my glasses. which helped me come out of problems that I Following Paramahamsa Nithyananda’s teachings was facing in life with my mother and people always helped me to face challenges in life with around me. It was only after meeting Him I was courage and practice completion where there able to enjoy what is “ Bliss’’ and awakening of is no room to encourage depressed mind state Kundalini energy was my first great experience for longer period in life. To share with my family which made me completely trust Swamiji’s experience teachings on Completion helped me principles and start living it. to maintain good relationship with my mother Ever since I got my Kundalini awakened I felt where we were not in good terms most of the increase in my energy level which kept me time before meeting Paramahamsa Nithyananda. Balarama Goswami Tulsidas active and energetic. I also experienced great It also helped me to build good relationship with improvement in my immunity level. Before people around me and be in completion with my Kundalini awakening, I had the problem of Balarama Jayanti them.To end up in a single line, it is after getting falling tired whenever I would go out. I also had Paramahamsa Nithyananda as a Guru in my life this strange ilness of having fever once a year! August 23, 2016 I was able to take life very lightly with full of joy However, after my Kundalini got awakened I have and excitement. And now I am on the journey Balarama Jayanti celebrates the birth anniversary of Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Krishna. felt tremendous increase in my energy level and I to experience and manifest the oneness with the Balarama is known to be the extension of Lord Krishna and is the incarnation of Sheshnag, the was out from travel sickness. incarnation. great 1000-headed snake on which Lord Vishnu/Lord Krishna would rest on. This day is observed by I would also say that these changes in me were devotees with the purpose to receive a healthy life with physical strength. I am feeling Blessed and Thankful to be around also due to regular practice of Nithya Dhyanam Paramahamsa Nithyananda. everyday where I always start my day with Nithya Dhyan before going to work. I am adding

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