From the Editors' desk CONTENTS Dear@ Readers, Sri Vidyamanya Sandesha 5 The topics covered in spiritual columns of TATVAVADA(PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY) some news papers are meditation, social Yativaani 9 Research Article 15 Volume : 2 Issue : 4 July-August 2002 Dharma, crisis management of family problems and the like. Major points brought Sarvamula Section 18 out in those columns are found in our Vaidik, Presidential Address 20 Puranik and such Sanatana literatuers. But, F LOAT - DO NOT SINK somehow, the columns carry the names of Upanishad Section 24 Budhism, Jainism etc. as sources, which are Geeta Section 28 A leaf floats on water; wood also floats. Even boats non-Vaidik. Basic differences in matters of the Special Report 32 and ships do float. But a leaf can only make itself float. Jeevatma, Paramatma, their relation, Mukti Pavana Yatra 36 etc. exist in between schools of thoughts. But In case a crow or sparrow lands on a floating leaf it in matters of individual and collective dharma Comment 38 would sink. But a boat isn't like that; it floats and also there exists hardly any difference. Yet it is Bhisma's Prayer 41 makes those sitting on it afloat. A ship can cause many unfortunate that, the sanatana philosophy the God is beyond reasoning 45 oldest of and the origin of all philosophies, not more people and goods to float. Thus, such ships which withstanding the misinterpretations made by Reader's Column 50 could make more and more things to float also become some philosophies, does not get its due more and more valued. respectful mention in such columns. Type setting : For this, the reason is that the concerned Poornaprajna Samshodhana This Samsara is an ocean. Many would only sink champions of such sanatana philosophy do not Mandiram, Bangalore-28. bother to give wide publicity to the contents in it. A few can float only themselves, like a leaf. Some Cover design by : of Vedas, Mahabharatha, etc,. Bhagavad Sri K. M. Sheshagiri others can, along with them, make a few others also geetha which can be acclaimed as to comprise afloat like a boat and ship. Thus, our life also should of solutions for all problems & crisis in life has SUBSCRIPTION to be preached widely. Mahabharata of which Issue : Rs. 10-00 be exemplary so as to uplift others; and should not Geeta is honey-essence is again an untapped Yearly : Rs. 50-00 cause others to sink. treasure of political, social, individual, Patron : Rs. 1000-00 dharmik, judicial, administrative and what ABROAD H.H. SRI VISHVESHA TIRTHA SWAMIJI not events and case studies. Very importantly Issue : $ 5/- Yearly : $ 30/- a word of caution here is that while drawing (Outstation cheques must include the Editorial Board Advisory Board up urgent schemes for the propogation of these Bank charges.) Chief Editor : Prof. K.T. Pandurangi Dr. V.R. Panchamukhi we require to know the pulse, problems, needs, Cheque/D.D./M.O. for subscription may Prof. D. Prahlada Char moods, capacities, likes, languages etc. of be sent in favour of : Editors Prof. D.N. Shanubhag Tatvavada (English), Prof. A. Haridasa Bhat, Sri K.V. Murthy Yerkadithaya common man. He should be attracted towards The Secretary, A.B.M.M.Mandala, Dr.C.H. Srinivasa Murthy Sri K. Gopinath our programmes. Circus on shastric concepts would not help him. He understands plain P.P. Vidyapeetha, Bangalore-28 Executive Editors Publisher 2 Sri U.B. Gururajacharya, Sri Vasanata Kumar Parigi speaking & simple approaches to address his Tel : 080-6690068, 6694026 Pt. Tirumala Kulkarni, Secretary, problems. Let us all do start right now to E-mail : [email protected] Pt. Srinivasa Varakhedi A.B.M.M.Mandala, Bangalore-28 achieve it together. -Editors Web address : http://www.tatvavada.org Jul.-Aug.-2002 TATVAVADA 56 TATVAVADA Jul.-Aug.-2002 Sri Vidyamanya Sandesha : just as in a court, a witness for prosecution gives evidence NINE GEMS OF TATVAVADA favourable to the defence. The last and lasting message of Sri Sri Vidyamanya Tirtha swamiji In gods, there is a rule stated in Brahmanda Purana - ëli˙"ik"· µ"<eE"{ß"i˙" „"<òÒ˘"{E"i E" ≤"{EÎ"¨"{í. Amongst gods who incarnate English translation : Sri N.A.P.S. Rao. on the earth, who so ever is stronger will also have greater (Contd. from the previous issue) devotion and knowledge (bhakthi and Jnana). Thus all the There is a shloka in Mahabharatha as follows : qualities Jnana, Bhakthi and Strength must be greater in ëµ"e<ß"EÿCÎ" <ˆ"´ªU"# <ˆ"´ªU"CÎ" µ"ew ß"P|"Ø $ Bhimasena than in Aswatthama, an incarnation of Rudra. Thus µ"ew |"CÎ" ∫´ª# C"{A"{|"Ø E" ∫ªi: µ"eß"EÎ"|"# $$í Vayu is proved to be the Jivotthama. Thus the second subject of 'Vayu Jivotthamathva' is established by Geetha also. Indra is the king of all gods. Rudra gives strength even to Indra. Marutha or Vayu gives strength to Rudra himself. “SATHYAM JAGATH” – ëC"|Î"w ¬"ˆ"|"Øí Vayu is given his strength by Sri Hari Himself. Narayana or “sathyam jagath” is the third subject. Acharya Madhva has Hari does not get his strength from any one else. This shows stated authoritatively that the world is real. Advaitha says – that Vayu is jivotthama being greater than even Rudra who When we see a shell from a distance, we think it is silver, is himself a great soul and known to be superior to the other but when we go near it, we see that it is not silver, but is shell. The silver is therefore unreal. According to Advaitha, the souls. We can also see a Pramana from Geetha for Vayu only real entity, Nirguna Brahma is all pervading every where, Jivotthamathva. In the beginning of the Mahabharatha war, and nothing else is real. He is wrongly seen as the world, Duryodhana after seeing the vast armies on both sides gets just as the shell is seen as silver. The world is aropitha bewildered and goes to Dronacharya and tells him : “ParyAptham (superposed) on the adhishtana (stratum) of Brahma and hence thvidamEthEshAm balam bhImAbhirakshitham, aparyAptham is unreal. If the world is unreal, the greatness of the Supreme thadsmAkam balam bhIshmAbhirakshitham”. Bhima was an Being stated in the Shasthras is lost – Bahuchithrajagath incarnation of Vayu and his presence in the much smaller army bahudhAa karanAth parashakthirananthagunah paramah” – of the Pandavas made it adequate (paryaptham) as compared The Supreme Being has infinite auspicious qualities and his to the much larger army of the Kauravas led by great warriors greatness is indescribable as He has created this immense and like Bhishma, Drona and Ashwathama, an incarnation of wonderful world with a large number of special features. He Rudra, which was considered inadequate to fight by Duryodhana has infinite capacity to do so. With the knowledge of His himself. This proves that Bhimasena’s presence in the smaller greatness and infinite auspicious qualities, we offer our deep army made it superior to the much larger army where devotion and secure His blessings to get ourselves released from Aswathama was also fighting. Thus, Vayu is superior to Rudra. the Samsara or the cycle of births and deaths. If the world itself is unreal, its creation is also unreal and so is His greatness. Duryodhana was an enemy of Pandavas and his words 3 We will not have devotion in God and thus will be unable expressing a judgement against his own side carry conviction Jul.-Aug.-2002 TATVAVADA 78 TATVAVADA Jul.-Aug.-2002 to secure His grace and redemption from the Samsara. In entity and from that point of view the world is Ashubha – order to avoid this most undesirable but logical end of the being associated with sorrow. Acharya Madhva has established Advaitha tenet of unreality of the world, Acharya Madhva has both by the Veda and Geetha texts that the world is real, established the Reality of the world as the next important tenet its creation is real and the greatness of the God who creates of his philosophy. such a world is also real. By realising His greatness, devotion The absolute reality of the world is given in the Vedas : to Him follows. With this true devotion, God is pleased and liberates us from the bondage of the Samsara. Thus, Acharya ëë<˙"X"w C"|Î"w ß"x"˙"{E"{ Î"·˙"{i´ªl{Â"‚" E" Â"‡ <ß"E"ìE|" ˙"‡|"w ˙"{ß"Øíí (Rigveda) Madhva has given the correct explanation of the reality of the The world is real and not unreal. world, the knowledge of which finally leads to God’s grace. ëëÎ"<Ç"÷iÒ|" C"|Î"<ß"|"Øíí - (Rigveda) What is the teaching of Sri Ramanujacharya on Jagathsathyathva? He also says that the world is real. If this The world created by God is real and true and is not unreal. teaching is not unique to Acharya Madhva, how can it be Similarly in the well known Geetha shloka : ëëÈC"|Î"ß"Ø included in the list of his tenets? Ramanuja says that Karya ÈÂ"‡<|"Ê>w |"i ¬"ˆ"l{∫sªE"”X"ªß"Øíí – Those who say that the world (resultant product) and Karana (transformatory causes) are is unreal are Asuras. They also say that there is no God. identical. Thus the pot which is produced out of clay is identical with it. Similarly, the world is the product of One would like to know the basis on which Advaitha holds Prakruthi and is identical with it. Acharya Madhva accepts that the world is unreal or whether they have no basis at all. both Bheda (difference) and Aikya (identity) for such Karya They base their statement on the text – ëëE"i∫ E"{E"{ìC|" and Karana, but Ramanuja accepts only Aikya or Identity.