परमात्मा की इक्षा.

‘Hoihen soi jo Raam rachi raakhaa, kokari tarak badhaavanhi shaakhaa.’ What happened in the past, what is happening in the present and what will happen in the future are always good and for the benefit of the person. We all are like newborn children of our eternal mother. Mother knows every requirement of the baby and fulfils it. After some months when the baby starts movement, it wants to touch and eat harmful things. It moves to touch fire and eat soil, insects and so many other injurious things. Mother does not allow. The baby feels very pain and begins to cry, but does not matter. Mother takes it in the lap and diverts its mind towards other side. If the result of any action is according to our will, it is good. If the result is adverse, it is far better. In ordinary sense, it seems inappropriate. Nevertheless, when I go in depth and think minutely, the theme becomes clear. When I find the result as my desire, a stoppage may come and sharpness of the effort may decrease. If the result is adverse, I try for better with more endeavors. If I get good result, it is God’s grace. If the result is not good, it is His will. However, I should thank the almighty for both events. The better may be hidden in the failure. Mahamahopadhyay Sir Ganganath Jha was a great scholar and famous personality of Mithila. His five sons are also well-known and great scholars like their father. The eldest, the great English scholar, Dr. Amarnath Jha is called the Shakespeare of India. Ganganath Jha was related to Darbhanga Raj. He was made librarian of Raj library. He was working well and was pleased with his literary job finding himself among books. Some bitterness developed with Raj and he was terminated. He became jobless with burden of the family. He increased his effort and got job in Allahabad University. Latter, he became vice chancellor of this university three times continuously. His son Amarnath Jha took charge from his father and he also honoured the post three times. This is a record that a son took the charge from the father and repeated the terms like the father. Sir Ganganath Jha, in his autobiography, has specially quoted the termination event from library, a mile stone for success. Had he not terminated, he would have continued as librarian and people would know him simple librarian.                                                                                        Narad is called Devarshi. Dev-yoni (god specie) is called Bhog-yony (the specie who can only enjoy the past good deeds and cannot do new work). However, Narad is Devarshi (= sage of gods), away from this restriction and he is the dearest of God Vishnu. He knows his previous births. In one of his previous births, he was the son of a maidservant. His mother served so many houses. Once some sages visited the village and stayed there for some time. His mother served the sages. He accompanied his mother. He enjoyed the company of sages too much and wished to go with them. The sages forbade, due to his being the mother’s single shelter. However, they consoled for future. After a short time, his mother died due to snake biting. He became alone and joined the company of sages. When we see back, we find that the worst event happened with the boy. But, the better part is that Narad became Devarshi due to the adverse circumstance which was God’s will. The original shine of gold comes when it is put in the fire. Plant develops properly and gives good yield when it is planted in the open sky and where it faces the sun, the rain and the wind. The plant in the shade does not produce. The person who has struggled becomes successful in the life.--------Ohm namobhagvate Sri Ramanay.

NEIGHBOURS

I have a few neighbours in my life. This sentence seems a bit ambiguous. Literal meaning is, persons residing in our surrounding. Nevertheless, minutely, the sense is somewhat else. They all are my neighbours whose minds move in the same atmosphere as that of mine. In this aspect, the dwellers of surrounding may not be our neighbor. Even the family members may not come in this category. Perversely, the persons residing far away may come in this group. In our day-to-day life, we see worldly neighbours always quarreling and very often, they take the help of polices and courts. What to talk about rift among brothers, even wife-husband, father-son, mother-son quarrelling cases have become common. These all are due to selfishness. Son is son before marriage. After marriage, he becomes short-circuited. This is not our Indian culture. This has been imported from west. Lack of moral teachings is the root of these evils. Our’s is the country of Shravan kumar who takes his blind parents to all pilgrimages. We belong to the dynasty of Ram, Bharat, Krishna, Gandhi who know only sacrifice. We only know to conquer self. We only know giving instead of taking. There is only one field in which we were the tutor of the world and again can teach the world. That is spiritualism, the originator of morality. When we shall give education of morality to our children, they will become Sravans and the whole world will be our neighbours. ‘Vashudhaiv kutumbkam.’

LABOUR

'Udyamen hee sidhyanti kaaryaani na manorathaih, nahi suptasya singhasya pravishanti mukhe mrigaah.' 'Works are performed by labour. Mere will will do nothing. Deers do not enter the mouth of sleeping lion'. There is no substitute of labour. Labour never goes in-vain. I remember one boy who was very intelligent. He got first position from class one to class four. In class five he started ignoring his studies. He gave much time to recreation and cultural programmes. He started taking part in Raamleela. In night he was busy in Raamleela and in day time he slept. Naturally he became very week in studies and failed. Latter he dropped his studies. Now a days he works in the fields as ordinary labour. Another boy was very dull. Initially, his father awoke him earlier. But latter, by the grace of Maan Shaarade, interest developed in him and he started hard labour. His result improved and now a days he has got a prestijous job. Suppose an intelligent boy understands things in a single time reading. Another boy is less intelligent. He understands things in two time reading but he reads the lessons four times. Who will top. The less intelligent will top. Similar is the case with every work. Keeping patience and praying God, all wills shall be fulfilled if one labours hard with full interest. When we see the work a burden, it becomes impossible to have the best result. -----May Ramana fulfill the wills of devotees.

COLOURS

Our body is a small unit of the universe or the nature. ‘Yat pinde tat brahmande.’ All things in the universe are in our body also. We never like to remain in the same state. Remaining in one state is the nature of lifelessness. Dead body, stone, dry wood etc. can remain in the same state. Human being, animals, plants etc. are live and have varying states. According to the variable behaviors, nature has made different types of seasons for changes of life styles and tastes. In winter, we feel cold and wear warm clothes, eat hot food, take hot drinks and use heaters and blowers. Perversely, in summer we take cold items. We use fans, coolers and air-conditioners. After summer, rains come. We prepare for heavy rains. In our old culture, we were managing all requirements in advance, for the four months of the rains (Chaturmaasa). Chaitanya Mahaaprabhu used to spend these four months in Puri, the sacred place of Lord Jagannathjee. After winter, spring comes. This is the king of all seasons (Rituraaj). We become free from the pain of the cold burning. Specially, for the downtrodden, winter is curse. They can spend the summer under the trees, rains under temporary sheds and cottages but the cold burning of the bones is unbearable. An old man spent three cold months November, December and January. Nevertheless, the coldness of February became unbearable. He sold his she-calf and purchased a blanket to fight with February cold. Spring season represents the youth period of men’s life. All ills of every season disappear. High coldness, painful scorching sun or fearful thunders during pouring rains disappear. Only youthful vitality is seen everywhere. Blossoming flowers, new leaves on trees, scented mildly blowing pleasant cold wind forcefully attract the mind towards liveliness. During this very vivacity, two main festivals of Hindus are celebrated. The first, Saraswati pooja (worshipping goddess of learning) on Vasant-Panchami (the fifth day after Maagh-Purnimaa) is the start of spring. The second, Holi (the festival of colours), celebrated on the full moon day of Falgun (this year 20th March, 2011) is the start of the new year. It is the festival of brotherhood and equality. We forget enmity and sprinkle colour on each other. It is the memorial of victory of goodness over evils. Hiranyakashipu was the king of demon. He got boon from Brahmaa, neither to be killed by men nor beasts, neither in night nor in day, neither inside nor outside, neither on the earth nor in the sky and not by any weapons (directly applied by hand or projected). Previously his brother Hiranyaaksha was killed by Lord Vishnu, in the carnation of boar (Baaraah Avtaar). Since that time, he tamed enmity with Vishnu. Thinking himself immortal, he became arrogant. He started demolishing god’s temples and started torturing Vishnu’s devotees. His wife Kayaadhu was a spiritual woman. When she was pregnant, Hiranyakashipu was out for a few days. Naarad preached her the Bhaagvat Mahaapuraan. The baby in the womb (Prahlaad) listened the whole Bhagvat. From the very beginning, Prahlaad started reciting god’s name, which made his father most irritated. It became unbearable that his own son became devotee of his enemy. He took all possible attempts to forbid Prahlaad taking Vishnu’s name but all in vain. At last, he ordered to kill him. Killing attempts also went in vain. He was thrown from the mountain peak but was saved. He was poisoned but nothing happened. Hiranyakashipu’s sister was Holikaa. Lord Brahmaa had given her a shawl. She had a boon. If she covered herself with the shawl and entered in the fire, she would not be harmed. She took Prahlaad in her lap and sat in the potter’s oven. Miraculously, oven could not harm Prahlaad but Holikaa was burnt to ashes. Since then, we celebrate holi. Latter, Hiranyakashipu was killed by God Nrishingh who took him in the lap. By his nails, taking him in the balcony at twilight he tore his chest and killed, fulfilling his boon which Lord Brahmaa had given him. To conquer ego is ultimate knowledge. We are carrying so many anxieties in our mind. To become thought free is the summary of gyaan (knowledge). Jest makes life free from tensions. Benevolence helps in defeating ego and attainment of the knowledge that One Almighty is enjoying in all. Evils, howsoever strong, shall get end. Devotees shall be saved from all calamities. Livelihood differentiates us from lifelessness. Colour represents charmfulness and victory of pleasure over sorrows. Wish Ramana always keep us coloured.-----Ohm Ramanarpanmastu.

SATEE'S DOUBT

“Atmaa twan Girijaa matih sahcharaah pranah shareeram griham
Pooja te vishayopbhograchanaa, nidraa samaadhisthitih.
Sanchaarah padayoh pradakshinvidhih stotraani sarwaa giro
Yadyatkarma karomi tattadakhilam Shambho tawaaraadhanam.”
Who does not know the grace of Adharan-Dharan? He is the first person of the world who gave gyaan (knowledge) to the world. The original alphabet of the world is Maaheshwar-Sootraani which is on the name of Lord Shiva (Maheshwar). It has come from Baabaa’s damroo (drum) while he was dancing Taandav-dance. Saints heard every letter of the alphabet in their meditation. They collected all forty nine letters. Latter Parini wrote sutras (formulae). These sutras are the root of Sanskrit grammar, SiddhaantKaumudi. Sages Kaatyaayani and Paatanjali explained the sutras.
Once, in Tretaa-Yug, Lord Shiva went to great sage Agastya. Maan Bhavaani (Sati) was also with him. Seeing The God of the whole world in his cottage, the sage adored Him. The sage told Shiva the story of Raam in detail. Maheshwar heard the story of his guru with great pleasure. The sage eagered to listen from Bholenaath about devotion. Seeing him the right person, Shiva explained devoutness before him. Bholenath passed somedays there enjoying the time in hearing and telling the stories of Dashrath-Nandan and then started to his abode Kailash with Satee. Those days, Lord Raam had taken birth in Raghukul as the son of king Dashrath. By the order of his father, he with his brother Lakshaman was wandering in Dandak forest in the outfit of a sage. Raavan had kidnapped his wife Seeta. Shivjee was eager to see his Lord Raam who had taken birth secretly. 'If he goes to Ayodhyaa, all will be acquainted with the divinity of Raam'. There was great disturbances in Shivjee’s heart but Sati didn’t know all these things. Bholenaath was feared of disclosure of Raam’s secrecy, but his eyes were very greedy to have a sight of his god.
Raavan had pleased Brahmaa by his penance and had wished to be killed by man. To make true the word of Brahmaa, Raam had taken birth in human form. Shiva was thinking that he would have to repent if he failed to have Raam’s vision but he was not finding solution. In the meantime, Raavan had kidnapped Sita with the help of Maareech, in the facade of a golden deer. Killing Maareech, when Raam came to the cottage with Lakshaman, he did not see Sita. He began to weep bitterly like ordinary man. He became very nervous and was wandering in the forest in search of Sita Like mad. He is asking trees, bushes, birds and animals miserably about the trace of Sita. Raam, who is far away from illusion, is showing the deep sorrow of separation. His character is peculiar and only gyaani (knower to God) can know this. Ordinary person thinks and behaves like himself in delusion and is trapped in doubt. In that very moment Bholenaath saw Raam from a distance. He saw him and became overwhelmed. He bowed and greeted before his guru in himself. Seeing the time not appropriate, he did not become familiar physically. Satee felt and marked all these activities of his husband. She was captured by Suspicion. ‘All creatures of the universe worship my husband and he is bowing before an ordinary person who is himself very pitiable and helpless. Raavan has kidnapped his wife and without doing anything, he is weeping bitterly like helpless. He cannot be God. Lord Vishnu is similar powerful and gyaani (knowledgeable) like Shiva. He cannot search his wife like an ignorant person’. Sati was totally in the grip of illusion. She was unable to think that Lord Vishnu was performing such type of act. ‘But Shiva is sarvagya (knower of everything). He cannot tell a lie’. This type of predicament trounced her. Though Sati didn’t disclose anything, the all knower Shiva knew everything. He forbade Sati to doubt about Raam. ‘He is none but Lord Himself. He is the very person whose story we have heard from Agastya and whose piety I have explained. Raam is the very person about whom we read in Vedas, Puranas and in all shastras. Lord has taken birth as the son of king Dasrath for the welfare of the devotees’. Shiva did all efforts but Sati’s doubt could not be removed. At last, he told to examine herself. ‘Till you come back, I am sitting under this banyan tree. You do as you like to do away with your doubt.’
Sati thought a plan to test. She went before them in the semblance of Sita. Lakshaman saw Sati in Sita’s facade. He became a bit doubtful why Sati was coming in Sita’s guise. He didn’t understand the matter. But Raam knew everything and thought to give her a surprise. He bowed and asked why she was alone and where Maheshwar was. Sati didn’t reply and became ashamed for her act. She turned back. In that direction she saw Raam, Sita and Lakshaman with all gods and sages serving them. She again turned towards another direction. The same scene was there also. Now in every direction, she saw the same scene. She sat down closing her eyes and remembering Shiva for help. When she opened her eyes, there was nothing there. She at once came to Shiva. When He asked about the test she told a lie. ‘I simply went there and came back. I didn’t examine him.’ But Shiva knew everything in perception. Now there became a big dilemma in Shivas mind. He treated Sita like mother. Sati had taken Sita’s appearance. It was impossible for him to continue the wife-husband relationship with Sati. Bhakti-Maarg (piety) was being disturbed. He resolved in the mind not to treat Sati as his wife. Sati marked the changes and her heart was full with remorse. They came to Kailash. Bhole went in long trance (samaadhi-deep long meditation). His meditation continued till eighty seven thousand years. For Sati, one moment became like years. When we are in sorrow, every second seems like years. Perversely in pleasure, years pass like moment. She meditated Raam and prayed to get rid of the sorrow and end of life.
Bhole started to recite Raam-naam. That meant the over of his meditation. In those days, Sati’s father Daksha was made head of prajaapatis by Brahmaa (the creator). His ego had reached climax. He started a jagya. All gods and sages were invited except Shiva. He had kept enmity with Shiva. Once, Shiva was attending a meeting at Brahmaajee’s residence. Daksha also reached there. All gods stood and greeted him. Shiva didn’t perform the formalities. The reason may be his bhang (noxious plant) or thinking no need of formality before too close like father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law or thinking himself the oldest of the universe (in this context, Daksha should bow) etc. Daksha felt insulted. He forgot the established superiority, divinity and highest power of Lord Shiva. He thought him simply Shivshakar, his son-in-law, a big drinker and leader of inferiors. Since that day, he began to hate and ignore Shiva. Gods, except Brahmaa, Vishnu and Shiva were going, by planes in the sky, to attend the yagya. Sati saw the planes and enquired about that. Shanakar described Daksha’s yagya. Hearing about the yagya at father’s residence, Sati willed to go there. Rudra forbade to go without invitation. But, when he saw her eagerness, sent her with some of his disciples. Sati went there but none greeted her except mother. Sisters laughed and father did not take notice. Sati saw that all gods were worshipped except Mahaadeo. She did not tolerate the dishonor of her husband. She committed suicide in the yogaagni (fire produced by self-yoga). Shiva’s disciples started to destroy the yagya, but Bhrigu saved it. When Shiva heard Sati’s death, his anger bursted. He sent Veerbhadra to punish Daksha. Veerbhadra destroyed the yagya, slew Daksha by cutting his head and punished the participating gods.

RAAMAAYAN

“Prasannataan yaa na gataabhishektah, tathaa na mamle vanvaas dukkhatah.
Mukhaambujashree Raghunanandanasya men sadaastu saa manjulmangalapradaa.”
‘May the beauty of the face of Raghunandan Raam be always graceful to do good to me, which neither became overwhelmed hearing to be invested regal dignity nor became dull hearing the order to go to the forest.’
Among the world’s epics, the character of Raam is the rarest. He never crosses the established social antecedence & dignities. The epic indicates about the idealism of brothers. The throne is rolling between the feet of brothers like football. It looks like soil-lump before the love among brothers, for which the latter princes killed their so many brothers. The idealism of relation between father and son, among brothers, between mother and son, between wife and husband has been shown perfectly in the epic, which is the rarest.
Ravan is the representative of all evils. He snatches the power of all gods and enjoys their shares. He does not allow saints to perform penance. Gods and saints went to lord Vishnu and told the anecdote of anarchism of Ravan. Lord Vishnu assured to take birth on the earth as the son of king Dasrath. He took birth as Ram. His other three companions became his brothers as Lakshaman, Bharat and Satrughna. Maan Lakshami (Lord Vishnu’s consort) took birth at another place in Mithila. Janak (the most gyani person) was the king of Mithila. He is called Videh (the person without body). When I think that I am the body, I live for the body and merge myself with the sorrows and joys as well as friends and foes of the body. Gyani thinks himself as the soul, which is seer only. The body is his home. He is the dweller only. The dweller is not the home. The relation between the body and the soul is similar to the home and its dweller. We ordinary persons also experience this fact in our daily life but the feeling remains for a short period. When we go to a famous temple, come in contact of a saint, or see the scene of death of some near and dear, we experience for a while. It vanishes after some time. Gyanis always feel the fact and remain in it all the time. Therefore, they are called videh. King Janak was param gyani and hence videh. Once there became a great famine in Mithila. The sages told that the rain could come if the king himself ploughed the field. The king ploughed the field in the village Punoura at Sitamarhi. While ploughing, he found a newborn baby girl in the field. He brought the girl to his palace. She was named Sita (also Janaki). She is the very Maan Lakshami whom Ram (lord Vishnu) married latter.
Once, Sita was wiping the floor. While cleaning, she lifted the Lord Shiva’s legendary bow by her left hand and cleaned the surface by her right hand, in a normal way. King Janak saw this. Shiva’s dhanu (bow) was so heavy that none could lift it except Lord Vishnu or his consort. He was overwhelmed. He promised to give her hand to the person who can lift Shiv-Dhanu and make it ready to throw the arrow to the target. When Jaankee became marriageable, Janakjee invited all the princes and kings. No one could lift the bow. At last, ten thousand kings started to lift collectively but they were also unable. Ram and Lakshaman had also come in the celebration with the famous saint Vishwaamitra.
Vishwaamitra is a famous saint known for his tough penance. Giants disturbed him in the forest. Once meditating, he perceived that Lord Vishnu had taken birth as the son of king Dashrath. He went to Dashrath and begged Ram and Lakshaman. At first, Dashrah saw negative view. When the sage made him aware with the fact that Ram is none, but Lord Vishnu himself who had come to kill the giants, he bowed and became ready. Both the princes went with the sage. They killed so many giants who came to disturb the sage during his penance. The sage made them skilled in all fields. Vishwaamitra heard about Sita’s bridal ceremony. By intuition, he knew that Sita is none but Ram’s spouse. He took the two brothers to the celebration.
Janakjee became desperate. He pronounced to all kings to leave hope and to go to their own place, Jaanakee would remain unmarried. ” Tajahu aas nij nij grih jaahoo; Likhaa na vidh Vaidehi vivaahoo.” Though Lakshaman is called the human form of the earth, there is a bit differences between the two. The earth never loses patience where as Lakshaman is short tempered. You can say that the role is allotted to him like that. Lakshaman represents us. In Jeev-Jagat-Brhma concept, Lakshaman represents Jeev, Maan Jaanaki is Jagat and Raam is Brahma. When Lakshaman (jeev) remains in the light of Raam(Brahma), he talks like gyani. When Maayaa captures him, he behaves like ordinary person. Hearing the version of Janak, Lakshaman roars proudly. Vishwaamitra knowing everything, requests Raam to do with Shiv-Dhanu. As soon as Raam touched Shiv-Dhanu, it cracked and was broken into pieces. Janakjee and all others became pleased. Raam married Sita, his permanent consort.
Latter Raam went to the forest for fourteen years by the order of his father. His father could not bear the departure of his son and died. Kaikeyee, Raam’s stepmother, was blamed for the event. Nevertheless, the whole story is linked with each other and everyone does his role ideally. Lastly, Raavan was killed with his whole family. His brother Vibheeshan became his successor, the king of Lankaa.
Ramayan is the mirror of Indian culture. Our rituals are based on the very epic. The marriage ceremony and its songs are the same as it was in the marriage of Ram and Sita. We keep our children’s name Raam, Lakshaman, Bharat, Saatrughna, Sita, Kaushalyaa, Sumitraa but not Kaikeyee, the villain. The story of Ramaayan is on the tongue of every person of India. Raamleela is acted in every village. Brothers want to copy Bharat and Lakshaman. Daughters copy Sita, Urmila, Shrutikeerti, Ansuiyaa, Damyantee and Mandodaree. Wives copy Sita. Kings copy Raam. Hanumaanjee is the favorite god of all Indians.
We can get all knowledge at a single place in this epic. The character Bharat shows the love among brothers and sacrifices. When elder is in the forest, younger also leads the same life. The elder is bound to do so; the younger willfully adopts the path. The great economist and prime minister of Chandragupta, Chaanakya lived in a cottage. Once a foreigner visited India and met Chaanakya. He asked about his living in a cottage. Chaanakya replied,”When prime minister lives in cottage, subjects (citizens) live in palaces.” This was the idealism of our ancestors Bharat, Chaanakya etc. That was the reason why, we were on top and tutor of the world. Another younger Lakshaman goes to forest willfully to serve his brother. Ram was ordered by the king to go to forest, not Lakshaman. See Lakshaman who has seen only the feet of his sister-in-law, Sita. Compare the character of present youths and sister-in-laws relation. See the character of Urmila. She becomes very pleased and sends her husband happily to the forest for fourteen years. Think the sacrifice of a woman of our old India and compare it with present. In the present context, it looks like imaginary story. Sita is ideal of all wives, sister-in-laws and daughter-in-laws. She does not need a tutor but Ansuiyaa teaches Sita the duties of a devoted wife. This is only for the present women. Ram is born gyaani(having all knowledges) but Sage Vashishtha gives Raam the knowledge of Gyaan-Marg. This is also for us only. Hanumaan teaches bhakti-marg. The role of Vibheeshan says that one can easily defeat the person who has differences with his brothers. The act of Ravan teaches that evils will surely be defeated. Raavan, Kumbhakaran, Meghnaad etc. represent the collection of ego and tamogun; which is to be ruined surely. Vibheeshan represents Satwagun, devotion to God and well adviser. There is always victory for those who have adopted Satwagun, dedication to Almighty and truth.
The story of the epic is blissful and remover of sin. The regular reader of this epic with full devotion is blessed and his all wills are fulfilled. This epic is worshiped in Hindu society like The Bible, The Quraan and Gurugranth Saahib. The original book was written by the great sage Walmiki , which is the world’s first book written in poetries. Tulsidas wrote Ram Charit Manas in rural poems of that time which became more popular in the society. The original was in Sanskrit, which was tougher to be understood by common people. You will find the book in every Hindu family.’ Siyaa-Raam may sab jag jaanee, Karaun pranaam jori yug paanee.’ May Almighty Raam (Ramana) pour grace on those who meditate Him in their hearts!