`. 25 VOL. XXI, No. 3 January - February, 2019 17. Om paramarthavide namah ¬ ijekFkZfons ue%A One who knows the ultimate reality and has realised the truth Self alone is the truth. To lose one’s identity and to remain as the underlying source is to be self-aware. 18. Om tivraya namah ¬ rhozk; ue%A One who is intensely active Laziness and sloth are a sign of ignorance. In the steady state of knowledge, there is no idleness. 19. Om pitrpadanvesine namah ¬ fir`inkUosf"k.ks ue%A One who went in search of his Father’s abode, the Father’s presence Ramana, while leaving home for good to reach Arunachala left a letter “I have set out in quest of my Father in accordance with his command. This (meaning his person) has only embarked on a virtuous enterprise. Therefore, no one need grieve over this act. And no money need be spent in search of this. ….”. When he entered the sanctum sanctorum of the Arunachala temple, and as he stood before his Father Arunachalesvara he experienced great ecstasy and unspeakable joy. The epic journey had ended. Regd. RNI No. 72142/99 Printed and Published by Mr. Justice K. Ramamoorthy (Rtd.) for and on behalf of Ramana Kendra, (Regd.) 8, Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003, Ph: 24626997 at Calcutta Giris Halftone Co., D-20, South Extn.-I, New Delhi-110049. Ph: 24616829 Original ink sketch of Arunachala by Sri Ramana Maharshi from Kunju Swami's notebook VOLUME XXI ISSUE 3 JANUARY - FEBRUARY, 2019 CONTENTS Universal Quest – The Creation Shiromani Vijay 3 Divinity Vijay Vancheswar 5 The Eternal In The Transient Tuktuk Ghosh 7 Sakshi- The Witness Geeta Ravichandran 9 The Origins of Pradakshina Micheal Highburger 13 Poem - Become the Sky Steve Taylor 16 Sekkizhar’s Periapuranam P.N. Vijay 17 139th Jayanti Celebrations Tuktuk Ghosh/Neera Kashyap 24 A Divine visit to Sri Ramanasramam Parveen Singh/Bobby Dewan 28 Aksharamanamalai Part 12 Dr. T.M.P Mahadevan 31 Jh je.k egf"kZ ds laLej.k 35 Jh je.k egf"kZ ls ckrphr 43 Editor : Shiromani Vijay - e-mail: [email protected] Editorial Board : Dr. Tuktuk Ghosh, Neera Kashyap and R. Seetharaman Website: www.ramanakendradelhi.in ; E Mail: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION/DONATION Ramana Kendra, 8 Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003 Bank Details “Ramana Kendra” A/c No 149801000026733 Indian Overseas Bank, Lok Kala Manch Branch, New Delhi IFS Code: IOBA0001498 Schedule of Rates Direct Path: One Year: Rs 150/- Life: Rs 2500/- Satsang Sponsorship: Rs 3000/- per Satsang Kendra Membership: Rs 1000/- Special Events Sponsorship: Jayanthi/Aradhana/Advent/ Karthigai Deepam/Poor feeding Rs 5000/- per Event Dear Readers Wish you all a very Happy New Year! May 2019 bring Peace and Joy to one and all. Please send your articles for consideration to [email protected] Readers are welcome to express their views on the articles printed (in not more than 200 words) and send them to [email protected] 2 January - February 2019 Universal Quest – The Creation Shiromani Vijay ne of the oldest pastimes certain points. Vedanta upholds the notion of man is to search with his of the pulsating or oscillating universe. Ocontemplative and analytical Creation is followed by dissolution and faculties to find out the final answer to this process will continue ad infinitum. the riddle of creation of the universe. The "cosmic egg" of Vedanta, which This quest has been continuing both for is like a point, is called singularity in scientists and philosophers all over the astrophysics. This corresponds to our world. concept of Brahman which has no size. Astrophysicist, Stephen Hawking, In our scriptures including Upanishads writes: "At the big bang itself, the and Puranas, description of creation is a universe is thought to have had zero very big aspect. In fact, one of the 10 size, and so to have been infinitely hot . major characteristics (Lakshanas) of a . The whole history of science has been Purana is that it should elaborate on the the gradual realization that events do not concept of creation (Srusti). happen in an arbitrary manner, but they One of most recited hymns, -the reflect a certain underlying order, which Purusha Sukta of Rig Veda graphically may or may not be divinely inspired. describes an ideal Being existing …Thus, when we see the universe, we before any phenomenal existence. He are seeing it as it was in the past. … is conceived as a cosmic person with a But how did he [God] choose the initial thousand heads, eyes and feet, who filled state or configuration of the universe? the whole universe and extended beyond One possible answer is to say that God it. The world form is only a fragment of chose the initial configuration of the this divine reality. This first principle universe for reasons that we cannot hope called Purusha is later referred to and to know." described in the Upanishads as the spirit Astrophysics and Vedanta agree on or Atman in man (at microcosm) and as Ramana Gyan - Direct Path 3 the spirit or Brahman (at macrocosm) not a fixed or unreal thing but a mere which is the cause of the world. perception of each of the creatures? In Aiterriya Upanishad, it says Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi in his “Originally, there was nothing. Death inimitable style explains the world as we was enveloping everything.” perceive, in shloka 9 of Saddarshanam. The first verse of the chathusshloki "dhiyA sahodeti dhiyAstameti Bhagavatam of the Bhagavad purana, lokastato dhIpravibhAsya eShaH | succinctly puts the how the universe came dhIlokajanmakShayadhAma about and how it will dissolve. pUrNaM "aham-evAsam-evAgre nAnyad-yat sadvastu janmakShaya sad-asat-paraM | shUnyamekam" pashcAd-ahaM yad-etacca This world rises and sets with the yo’vashishhyeta so’smyahaM" I-thought (ego). Therefore, this world It is I, who am indeed pre-existent, is illumined by the ‘I-thought’. The real when there was nothing except Myself. thing (reality, truth) is the substratum for There was nothing else: Being, non- the birth and decay of ‘I- thought’ and Being or anything beyond these. That world; the real thing is one; free from which is manifest now is also Myself, and birth and decay. after annihilation what remains will also The sense organs are directed by be Myself. The “I” refers to Brahman. the mind. Both the sense organs and In a simple way, let us look at the way the mind are insentient. The mind with we perceive the universe. It is through our sentient consciousness (also known as five sense organs and hence we call the ego) carries the notion of being limited universe “Prapancha”. Every creature has and is identified with the body and world different capability of the sense organs. becomes the cause of misery. Even a Based on the capability of our senses and realised person has a fully functional our prior experience and intellect, each of mind like all others. Since he does not us form our own opinion of the universe. identify himself with the unreal world This reminds me of the story of blind that is seen and has the knowledge of men describing an elephant based on the the “sadvastu” or the reality, he does not part they came into contact with - as a have the misery of the world. After all, if pot, or a winnowing basket, or a plough, the created world is just an illusion and or a granary, or a pillar, or a brush and where and why the quest!! n coming to blows when they did not [e-mail: Shiromani.vijay@yahoo. agree. Does this not make the universe co.in] 4 January - February 2019 Divinity Vijay Vancheswar hat is divinity? Simply an alcoholic who knowingly follows put, it is an expression the recipe for disaster, or another who Wof who we really are. becomes a slave to lust and sex or What are we in reality? We are what yet another who is overpowered by we really are, when we are not what the greed for wealth and mindlessly we think we are! What is it that we pursues material acquisition or seeks think we are? What is it that we are the gratification of power, status, name always obsessed with, consciously or and fame. In the process we end up unconsciously? What is it that is the forfeiting the path of righteousness and centerpiece of our life? In almost all restraint. It is aptly said that ‘Power cases, except in the marginal few, the is the greatest aphrodisiac’ Few have fact of the matter is, we are explicitly the moral fibre and tenacity like King or subtly only thinking, doing or Janaka of yore, not to be enslaved feeling about our psychosomatic by the draconic grips of lust, wealth, body, mind organism. Why is this so? greed, power and related bodily and This is so, because of the power of mental pleasures.The key factor here ‘divine hypnosis’ or maya. Much as we is moderation, not necessarily the intellectualize, read scriptures, discuss, idealistic state of abstinence. Realistic debate and acknowledge that this is a and practical as ever, Bhagavan sureshot route to pain and suffering, Ramana advocated this. He has said we helplesslesly get drawn into the “Moderation in speech, sleep and cycle of unpredictable ups and downs work” should be our guiding principles called life -much like the fireflies in life. “When asked what is the sign which voluntarily seek the glow of of a divinity in a sage or master”? Sri the flame, only to perish. This innate Ramana is purported to have simply tendency of ours is no different than responded, “The peace that you get in Ramana Gyan - Direct Path 5 his presence”.