Cleanliness is Godliness

Cleanliness is Godliness.

There are two aspects of rules. One known as Yama and the other known as Niyama.  Yama is Self-imposed while Niyama is imposed by another. Godliness is attained by following both. Yama is imposed by oneself, for the benefit of others & indirectly benefiting oneself. Niyama is for the benefit of us but imposed by other.

This is a Sanatana Dharma (eternal principle) and therefore applies not only to humans. In the context of cleanliness, let us see how the laws of nature follow the eternal principles of cleanliness. In the natural world, it may be also known as 'scavenging'. Therefore, the fundamental principle adopted here may be that, "a discard of one is a need of another'. In simple terms, it is similar to the popular concept of the food chain / cycle amongst the creatures - though, the said principle applies to non living as well. For example, the small stones falling off from the mountains reach the sea bed to help preserve the waters. 

Cleanliness also follows this principle. What is unclean for one may not be unclean for someone else. Further, what was considered unclean earlier might not be unclean now. A mother has no issues  / qualms in cleaning up her baby until the baby grows of age. Has the object that was unclean got impurified over time? A child wouldn't interact too closely with a new born as much as he would have, had the new born been another child of his or near his age. A small child eats even mud; while we won't, unless it is part of a medical treatment!.

Thus, is the mud unclean by itself? Then why is the house made of mud clean? (May substitute mud with cement if necessary). 

Human faeces is eaten by dogs or pigs. Is the pig unclean? Pork (meat of pigs) is eaten by humans. Therefore it seems that cleanliness though a feeling, cannot be attained thru Yama alone, rather by following Niyama too.

Systemic Niyama can be achieved only by enforcing it subconsciously. How can we achieve that in the context of cleanliness?  As mentioned above, if we can create a need for someone else, in the discard of some other, then recycling could become part of a system. 

Scavenging is one of the best methods of nature's way of maintaining cleanliness. (Even rain is one form of scavenging. Haven't we noted that places that have enough rain are found to be much cleaner than there aren't).

In modern day world, plastic has become a menace. Recycling of plastic is the biggest problem facing humans and others alike. Developing countries like India that have huge population below poverty line, may be able to overcome by creating a need for some (especially the poor) in waste-plastic. Food being the primary need for the poor, and since plastic can't be had as it is, (though we do see cattle feeding on plastic sometimes) if plastic-waste could be turned to finance food, then there would be some relief. Hence if it be insisted that gold grains  (say) be embedded in plastic of the bags and items made of plastic so as to improve the value of the plastic, then there is greater chance for the plastic to get recycled.

In essence, this means that subjects like cleanliness can gather dust  unless the need for scavenging is not seminally enabled as an underlying principle. 

There isn't any doubt that enforcement is one of the biggest problem faced by humanity as well as God almighty.

Sometimes, one might be also inclined to believe that untouchability in India might have been an outcome of extreme belief in cleanliness. The conscious cleanliness observed by the brahmins in temples in contrast to the unclean living standards of 'mlaechas' (mala+icha, meaning those who love to be in dirty environment) adds reason for such doubt.  Though undoubtedly, it has been a cause for many wrongs committed to Indians as a whole, it also underlines that the sense of cleanliness was not brought in to India by the Moghuls or the British.

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Nostalgic Story of an epic project

Nostalgic Story of an epic project.


It was decided to start a project and a team was formed of some of the most brilliant names who were undoubtedly known to be very knowledgeable and hard-working.

As it started gaining momentum, some started eyeing golden opportunities within. Many team leaders started eating the others. Then a newly formed team-lead who initially had very insignificant role, grew large enough day by day and swallowed them one by one. The project moved forward. It started producing good as well as bad results after all the members were taken into confidence and therefore results started becoming visible. Suddenly,  and unforeseen, the core team started sinking and a new leader emerged from nowhere to take charge & held it on his back to prevent the sinking.

After a while, the results were distributed and accolades were handed over to many. Some however, felt ignored or that they weren't rewarded well and therefore decided to leave the project after a bit of fight.

Perhaps as if by a curse or that they were indeed really eligible to have been recognized better, the entire project submerged into the waters!!

A newly appointed leader dived deep into that dirty and stinking ocean and redeemed the project and everyone praised him for that.

As the project stabilized, new 'Kings' arose, with their own self declared small kingdoms and started causing tremendous trouble to the smooth functioning. Suddenly a devout & otherwise pious person turned violent and decided to remove those Kings one by one. After replacing each, similar ones sprung up again and again. He anulled them as well. It is told that he conducted that as a passion for as many as 21 times!!

Having brought it to a logical conclusion, he became very egoistic - no doubt he had achieved an otherwise impossible task. A new leader came up then, who was also challenged by that great reviver, as the new one was also thought to be one amongst the trouble-making Kings. In a straight fight where the predecessor challenged the successor, the successor proved his material and the take-over thereafter, was rather smooth without any bloodshed. The predecessor willfully handed over the mantle to the new incumbent. The new leader was greatly respected, was well behaved, simple & humble, yet powerful and determined. He brought about stability and made rules and regulations so as to establish a system that would work in order.

Everything went well for a long time until, noises arose within, and rules started getting flouted gradually. Situation worsened & turned ugly and anarchy became the order of the day, and a statesman cum reformist new leader brought about sanity & sanctified it through a total revamp of the system, also defining value systems and properly defining duties and responsibilities, in the process, displacing all men and material that came in the way, though resorting to a remarkable bloodshed war.

Now the system is moving with nostalgic memoirs of the past, expecting a final Terminator.

If you find this story and wish to name it Dasha-Avatar, it is only a coincidence!

Purpose of Life

Purpose of Life

What is the purpose of Life?

Let us try answering this question from various perspectives and known sources of answers.  

1. Some say, God created life to show HIS prowess !!

2. Some say, God wished to do something creative and therefore created!!

3. Some say, God just wished and therefore it came!!

4. Some say, There is no real reason, but it is God's leela.

5. Some say, There is no God, it just evolved from original cause

6. Some say, God wanted to teach a lesson to the original sinners

and so on and so forth.

Most of these beliefs are based on what they have perceived in their life on Earth.  It was not possible for them to think beyond the life on Earth.

In my school days, as part of history studies, we had chapters on Jainism & Budhism. And then we also read Amar Chitra Katha pictorial story books.  We read that Prince Sidhartha, once when he went out into the streets in his chariot, saw a sick man and he asked his charioteer, why he was not walking properly. The charioteer replied that it was because he was sick, tired and weak. Then saw a procession and when enquired as to what it was, the charioteer replied that the man who was being carried was dead. Sidhaartha then asked why do people fall sick? And why do people die? And why do people suffer?
The charioteer didn't have any answer to the young seeker.

As I read those stories, I used to think what stupid questions were those that the 'supposedly' great man asking?.  But when I contemplate on those now, there is more clarity to my humble vision.

When Siddhartha became Budha, the enlightened, he deduced few simple tricks to be followed that would deliver anyone from innumerable suffering.

My simple & innocent understanding as I crossed my half century yesterday, is that (contrary to common reasoning & arguments about a cause and effect) we have been created with a higher purpose that we are not very clear about. Whatever be that purpose, (and that I would attempt to elaborate later on below), the success of that purpose lies in maintaining this body of ours until it depreciates and disperses back into the components by which it has been made or created. An energy by whatever name it could be understood (if at all), derives or otherwise maintains infinite knowledge within us through our existence. Therefore it is our responsibility to maintain that data base and help preserve it to the best of our abilities. For this, we should take care of our body like a temple (the word Kshetra, incidently denotes both temple as well as the body). Unless we take care of the temple properly we can't take care of the energy source inside its sanctum sanctorum.

It is this, that gives happiness to that energy and also to us equally.  Happiness induces vibrations that maintain peace and tranquility.

While we take care of the body thru proper food, exercise and the like, we also need to take care of the mind and thoughts thru techniques like meditation, self introspection, and self control (Yama) thru rules (Niyama) if necessary. Such Yama and Niyama bring about a sustained energy within us and controls unnecessary controversies & life conflicts with anyone or anything (including nature) around us.

Only a healthy body has a healthy mind.

Buddha didn't speak about existence or non existence of a God. It was for him, not necessary to have one, as we are ordained to conduct our duty that is to maintain healthy happiness thru a healthy body and a happy mind.

When we are created in our mother's wombs there are many physical qualities that get added; at the same time, few errors or noises or impurities also get added. We call them as inherited attributes. Thus, many of our concerns are about those we inherited (paramparaa). Others are acquired over a period of time due to our living conditions, environment, situations, interactions with others, behaviourial etc. (praarabdha : praayaena labhadhae).

A gradual decease of the body ensures a smooth switch over from one data body to another.

Therefore our duty lies solely on maintaining a fit physical infrastructure (body) and a stable & happy mind.

The principles of achieving those lies in proper yoga & exercises and meditation and sama-bhaava for an all encompassing feeling of love that we know as Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

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Evolution of Religions

Evolution of Religions

Man created the idea of God.

He who has a मन​: (Manah) is मनुष्य​: (Manushyah  = Man)

मन​:  (Manah) in Sanskrit means Mind. नमः (Namah) is the reverse of Manah and it indicates veneration.

Let us trace the man from the start of creation.  Hindu texts point to creation in large numbers and not through a single father & mother.

With the assumption that Man was created or at least came into being somehow, let us sew a story around man.

Having landed on Earth, he was initially a nomad and wandered upon Earth.

He grew lot of hair to protect himself from heat and cold.

He found many animals around him; some lovable and others not.

He lived in great fear from predators; just like any other animal.
Unfortunately, he was not blessed with natural protection faculties that we find in other animals like fir all over body, thick skin, tail as a balancer while escaping, horns or tusks for defense, protective shoes etc.  Therefore, what developed in him more than any part was his intellect. 

Thanks to intellectual development, he started finding means to protect himself from the predators and also the forces of nature viz cold heat fire rains and flood etc

He cut out stones, spears, and then discovered fire too, which he used for his defence.

Though he lived on fruits initially, after he killed his enemies/predators and then, happened to taste cooked meat (cooked probably out of forest fire) he became non-vegetarian.

However some travelled and settled near river banks and lived on grains of rice, wheat and barley.

This group were vegetarians and satwic in nature. Basically agrarian, they invented techniques in tilling and farming. They met other similar gotras and decided to fix rules for inter gotra marriage - viz. people from the same gotra shouldn't marry and the like. This was to ensure that better peace prevailed thru inclusion.

Later on, they observed that one man couldn't conduct everything own his own, and therefore delegation of responsibilities was required. Thus they decided and divided themselves into broadly four colours or varnas. One Varna took care of education and preservation of extant knowledge and improvement on the same. Another took care of safety from predators and execution and implementation of rules, another took care of economics and commerce while another took care of production. This became the Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vysya and Shudra varnaas, classified based on temperament of one's aptitude and nature of occupation.

None needed God or perhaps ever had the concept of it.

Each progressed in their own varnas.

Science developed to great heights.

Governance to exemplary heights with knowledge of even warfare of probably Air Force & Atomic warfare

Commerce involved even through naval means apart from surface.

Produce was exemplary and none starved and had aplenty.

With saturation at every field, the scientists and the teachers needed a way out to preserve the great knowledge. Thus they developed a language called Sanskrit that had great potential to encapsulate different streams of knowledge in short words. They further developed the idea of sutras wherein The interpreter of the sutras could easily gather and elaborate upon the deeper meanings. Thus the Vedas were formed. As it was derived from accumulated wisdom of thousands of years, they weren't written by any one and therefore called apaurusheya.

At the zenith of luxury, when desires were reasonably fulfilled, in that golden era, the scientists started thinking inwards as well, and then the question of why we are born, what is the reason of our existence, what am I, who am I and so on were asked. This resulted in the Upanishads and the discovery of God. To explain science along with philosophy, puranas were introduced with many gods with different qualities relevant to the story that was discussed.

Every cycle has a zenith/crest and then the trough. The terrible war of Kurukshetra might have ruined the entire progress and growth.  The slow-down started and interpretations started failing for want of proper teachers. Enforcement became tough by men or even Kings. Thus the idea of fear was introduced. And so the Gods turned fiery.

The wonderful One God now turned to be a commander and the ten commandments of old testament came into being. Like the small baby who is shown and told the stories about the crow, the cat or even the devil, Fear of hell was introduced so that people's emotions could be adapted for the population good.

Along with the commandments, Christianity spoke more of love and cordiality, but rules were flouted (because, wherever there is an obstruction, there can be found a diversion). These commandments were an attempt to external enforcement.

Islam emphasized more on and secretly adopted psychology and took to the technique that was more of a kind of 'hypnotizing the reader' and attempted to enforce stricter rules to hold back the ones straying away.

Sadly though, what resulted is that we have now the many fans associations of gods fighting with each other; or rather, in fact have a set of warring groups not on the path of progress at all, but on total destruction through terrorist mindset.

The need of the hour is that Someone should disassemble the human brain again to completely unlearn and relearn from the basic rules of the original Vedas. Otherwise we would continue to be in a fools paradise never to climb the walls of the enclosed well that we now live in, (koopa mandooka - that the Upanishads spoke of) to see the beautiful universe outside.

Jai Vijaya Dashami.

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Who am I

Who am I

The thought and search for 'Who am I' started with the Upanishads which are known as Vedanta or the final part of the Veda (knowledge).

Rightly so, That thought of What and Why we are, would come only after rational & scientific pursuit of knowledge.

Let us examine ourselves scientifically.

There is this body that is a beautiful system by itself - with most of it being self assisted and sustained. The component & process of birth and death happens in every molecule within the body, each element though having a different time span or Kaala.

This body is essentially a universe unto itself; a habitat of lots of other vegetation and not vegetation. Many viruses and bacterial clusters are populated and multiply regularly in this body. Blood corpuscles of different nature, red and white, provide security from succumbing to external influences.  Many energies flow in and out as 'bhootas' (called rightly so because they soon become a thing of past); Air, Water, Fire and Matter gets created & destroyed quickly. 

Such being the system, let us consider another subtle aspect called the mind. Mind is result of various chemical and electrical changes that happen inside the brain. They function as responses to the sense organs. (The karmaendriyas and jnaanaendriyas).

The feeling of I and Me is thus inflicted upon the brain through the ceremonies conducted by the indriyas. So we think that it is:  my hand, my leg, my eye etc.   However, when the brain also receives impulses from external elements like mother, father, brother, sister, spouse, son daughter, relatives, boss, subordinate, pet, etc. The feeling of I and mine gradually extends to encompass and encircles those elements as well. For each individual, that Circle is different and therefore, the feeling of responsibility and ownership is limited to only as much.

Anything outside of that Circle is considered yours or theirs.

The concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam comes when that Circle grows to infinity thereby engulfing the entire universe.

Whenever that Circle is achieved, the Adwaita sets in. This is absolute knowledge.

Where the level expands to finiteness, there Dwaita sets in.

Dwaita is in individuality. Adwaita is in beyond individuality.

Due to the individual nature of Dwaita, the concept of God is necessary. Otherwise, it is not possible to explain existence.  As the Circle for each human is different in say radius, each one has a different concept of God and therefore, each human being in this universe follows a different God, however similar one might think them to be.  Only that the radius starts from zero to infinity.

Whereas in Advaita, the concept of God itself may not be necessary and therefore if at all it is required, it is one with the I or the Me.

The Upanishads highlight that Oneness thru various stories.  The Vedas say: That cannot be known by anyone. Who knows? even That might not know Itself.

Naasadiya Sukta (ná ásat - not non-existent), also known as the Hymn of Creation : (129th hymn of the tenth Mandala of the RgVeda (10:129) talks thus about cosmology and the origin of the universe:-

इयं विसृष्टिर्यत आबभूव यदि वा दधे यदि वा न |
यो अस्याध्यक्षः परमे व्योमन्सो अङ्ग वेद यदि वा न वेद ॥७॥

Whence all creation had its origin,
he, whether he fashioned it or whether he did not,
he, who surveys it all from highest heaven,
he knows - or maybe even he does not know.

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Krishna Janma-Ashtami-Rohini

Krishna Janma-Ashtami-Rohini

Today (12 Sep 2017) is Shri Krishna Ashtami Rohini. Ashtami in the Zodiac means that, the Moon is about 3 raasis away from Sun and therefore at right angles to Sun.  The Moon can be at right angles to the Sun either on the front side or on the rear side. On the front side, when it moves away from the Sun, it is called Shukla Paksham  (White side - Waxing) and on the rear side when it approaches the Sun, it is called Krishna Paksham (Black side - Waning).  Why is it that when the Moon goes towards the Sun, it is Waning and Krishna? It is because, it is then that there is a combined effect of the Moon and Sun on the Earth so that there is added attraction - Krishna means attracting; Krishna also means Blue and therefore the culmination of the waning moon is the Blue Moon or the New Moon or Amaavaasi.  On Amaavaasi, the Sun-Moon-Earth are almost linear in that order.

In North India (as well as in the West), the calendar followed is Solar. While in South India, a Lunar calendar is followed.  In the strict sense the Hindu Calendar is based on a far star and therefore known as the Sidereal System.  The West usually follows the Tropical System that is based entirely on the Sun.  (It is generally believed that in 290CE, both had coincided).  The North adopts the Eighth phase of Krishna Paksham (waning) Moon in the month of Shraavanam, as Krishna Ashtami. Whereas in the South, it is the Krishna paksham Eighth phase of the Moon in the month of Simham (Chingam) that usually coincides on Rohini Nakshatra as well.

The Southern calendar lays stress additionally on the Nakshatram (star) and therefore, require that the Moon reach the Rohini star inorder that Shri Krishna Jayanti be celebrated.  Only then would the Ashtami (8th phase of the Moon) be located in the Krishna Paksha (Waning phase) of Simha month. Therefore, this time round, the North celebrated Krishna Ashtami on 15th August 2017 while the South celebrated on 12th September 2017.

As an aside, it needs to be mentioned that there is a view that it was on Rohini star that the Universe came into existence.  The concept is based on the Moola-aadhaara Zodiac which says that the Nakshatra opposite to the 4th Paada of Moolam Nakshatram (which is incidently Rohini) is the point in time of the creation of the universe.  (May also note that the Moolaadhaara of the Kundalini placed upon the Vaastu Purusha on the Zodiac coincides with the Moolam Nakshatram of the Raasi-Chakram).  That date when the Moon traverses the Rohini Nakshatra in the month of Simha is Sri Krishna Jayanti as Lord Vishnu is considered to be the Sustainer of the Universe.   The Zodiac had started on Rohini at that point of time; however, due to the Sun's precession, the epoch of the start of the year has migrated to that of Ashwini (Ashwati) in the Mesha Raasi.  The Rohini Nakshatra is the sector between 10deg 0min and 13deg 20min of the Raasi-Chakram (Hindu Zodiac) and falls in the Vrishabha (Bull) Raasi (House). 

Another point to note is that the Sidereal calendar has a shift of nearly 24-25 days for the Summer Equinox (Vishu).  This is because of the precession of the Sun - The Solar Calendar of the North & the West, still follows March 21st as the start of Mesha.  The Lunar Calendar of the South has it between April 14 to April 16 which is approximately the Ayanamsa of about 24 degrees. This is generally the difference between the Tropical and the Sidereal calendars.

As per astrological terms, the Lord of the Rohini Nakshatra is Moon (denoting Love & Emotions); Raasi is Bull (of Cow or गौ family) and Shri Krishna is also known as Govinda, Gopaala, Govardhaka;  the Deity is Brahma or Prajapati - meaning the Creator; the Symbol is Chariot, Temple or Banyan Tree (very prominent symbols related to Shri Krishna - the Charioteer of Arjuna, the propounder of the Kshetra-Kshetrajna Yoga that considers the created Body as a Temple as mentioned in the Bhagawad Geeta, the symbol of  the inverted Banyan Tree in the Bhagawad Geeta as well as the Vision to Manu at the start of creation as a small baby on a Banyan Leaf - all reminds us of Shri Krishna).

The First Paada of Rohini is called ओ (English letter O) which refers to the Pranava Mantram ॐ.

Hence, Shri Krishna Janma-Ashtami-Rohini. (ie. Janma-Ashtami ~ Ashtami Rohini)

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Brahma Satyam; Jagat Mithyaa

Brahma Satyam; Jagat Mithyaa

Jagat (जगत्) is composed of ja (ज) meaning knowledge and gat (गत्) meaning movement or going. Thus जगत् means that which is in movement (i.e in time) - which may be loosely interpreted as universe.

Jaagrat (जाग्रत् derived from jagat) is Awareness of jagat (जगत्). Without that awareness, certainly, there cannot be a concept of matter or universe. 

We are aware of this jagat because we are able to differentiate between the pancha bhootas (five elements) namely Earth, Water, Fire, Air & Space (पृथ्व्यब्तेजोवाय्वाकाश in that order)

A lowly intelligent robot or a metallic / wooden object, we may say, does not differentiate between Fire (agnih अग्नि:), Air (vaayuh वायु:) or  Space (aakaasah आकाश:).  But can differentiate from Earth (prithvi पृथ्वि) and Water (jalam जलम्) as there is some difference in say, the density of matter in them.  It may rest on earth or float on water.

As the robot becomes (artificially) intelligent, it could even differentiate between agnih, vaayuh and aakaasah. Humans being more intelligent may be able to differentiate and understand even beyond the pancha bhootas (पञ्च भूता).

Thus every object assumes reality to the heights of its own intelligence and not beyond.

Beyond that, it assumes to be non existing and therefore terms it as mithyaa (मिथ्या) or illusion.

Therefore, the mithya level (or mithyaa layer) of each object is different.  As the understanding  (of satyam / truth) increases from dimension to dimension, the understander realizes that what lay in the lower dimension is only a lesser expression of that lying in the higher dimension. In other words, objects in a 2D (2nd Dimension) talam (layer तलम्), understands that the 2D objects are made up of many objects of the 1D talam.  That object in the 3D talam understands all that is known by the 2D objects as before (mentioned in the previous sentence), as well as that the 3D objects are made up of many objects of the 2D talam; that in the 4D talam understands all those properly understood by 3D objects and that the 4D objects are made up of many objects of the 3D talam and so on.  

At the same time, those objects in a particular talam do not natively understand those objects in higher talam. Therefore it understands all that is existing in the higher talams to be mithyaa (illusion).

Hence for that pure energy that is zero (percent) matter, and therefore existing in the 0D talam would only understand anything in any higher talam as Mithyaa.  At that talam therefore, entire universe is Mithyaa.

And since that pure energy is known as Brahma, in that state of Brahma-Jnaanam (ब्रह्म ज्ञानम्), the entire awareness of jagat, is verily mithyaa. That state of Brahma that is Brahma-Jnaanam is where the quest of 'Who-Am-I' realizes to 'I-am-Brahma' (Aham-Brahama-Asmi अहम् ब्रह्मास्मि) & 'You-are-That' (Tat-Twam-Asi तत् त्वमसि).

If one were to consider an object in that highest talam (infinity talam), where all talams are readily experienceable (thanks to the relative position of all other talams falling below it), one might be tempted to also say 'Jagat Satyam Brahma Mithyaa' (Universe is True, Energy is Illusion). Both would nearly mean the same.  However, at the point of singularity, where there is verily no jagat, it would be wiser to understand that Brahma is Satyam (सत्यम्) and Jagat is Mithyaa (मिथ्या) and not the other way round.

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Pranava Mantram & Daiva Mantram

Pranava Mantram & Daiva Mantram

In Kathopanishad, Yama (the lord of Death) tells Nachiketa that ॐ (Aum) is verily Brahman, this word is the highest and he who knows this word obtains whatever he desires.

The syllable ॐ  arises from the Sanskrit root अव्  which means to Protect.  Protection of the universe is that inclusive part of Sustenance.  Hence etymology of Pranavam says: "प्राणन सर्वान परमात्मनि प्रणामयति इति प्रणवम् " - That which is always to be revered (bowed before), is Pranavam.   Also,  प्रकर्षेण नवमिति प्रणवम् - That which is eternally new is Pranavam.

The tantric concept of Life as a dot (Bindu) and as a Circle that expands from that dot (Bindu) to that Circle and thereafter returns to that Bindu is about the Creation (Bindu) & Preservation/Sustenance (the Circle).

The Circle can be further divided horizontally into two parts, the lower semi-circle being Preservation/Sustenance and the upper semi-circle being Beyond Existence.  The lower part of the Life is Soorya governed (Solar) and  the upper part is Chandra (Moon) governed (Lunar). We can see this division in the Jyotisha (Zodiac division) as well - the Raasis from Simha to Makara governed by Sun and from Kumbha to Karkataka governed by Moon.   The Solar is what you are and what you experience as material.  The Lunar is that beyond our normal existence.  The Solar is day and Lunar is night. The Solar is Sura and the Lunar is Asura.  Solar is Presevation/Sustenance and Lunar is Beyond Existence. Solar is Vishnu,  Lunar is Shiva.  Solar is Physical, Lunar is Abstract. Solar is Body, Lunar is Mind, Solar is Experiential while Lunar is Imaginable.

The Pranava Mantram is  ॐ  and the Daiva Mantram is अऌः .

ॐ is VaiShnava & अऌः is ShaiVa.  They are two parts of the same circle.  Vishnu is comprised of व & श  while Shiva is comprised of  श & व.   शव्  in Sanskrit also means dead.  Thus Shiva is also the Lord beyond Death and his abode is the Cremation ground (grave-yard).  वश्  in Sanskrit also means attraction (possession) - Vishnu is also Krishna - the attracting. When the Praana is kept attracted (attached/possessed) to the material body, there is the feeling of Existence. It is Vishnu that keeps it attached (until decided to liberate) and it is Shiva that takes care of it when it is liberated.  Vishnu has his consort as Lakshmi (prosperity).  Shiva lost Sati and thereafter is an ascetic who is consorted by the very nature of the existence Paarvati (Prakriti).

Shivam means  मङ्गलम् (Mangalam - Happiness & Well-being). Shiva is the one who consumed विषम् (poison) for the well-being (शिवम्) of all.

The following table details the same.

Pranava Mantram	Daiva Mantram
ॐ	अऌः
Lower Semi-circle   ँ	Upper Semi-circle   ऀ
Sandalwood Paste with Kumkum above	Bhasma (Ash) with Kumkum below
Solar	Lunar
Direct influence	Indirect (Reflective) influence
Simha to Makara	Kumbha to Karkataka
Light	Dark
Lord of the Day	Lord of the Night
Heat	Cold
Physical	Abstract
Existence	Beyond Existense
Experiential	Imaginable
Experienceable	Not Experienceable
Known	Unknown
Knowable	Beyond Knowledge
Attached / Attracted to Physical	Liberated from Physical  Attachments/Attractions
Consorted by Prosperity	Consorted by Prakriti (Nature)
Lakshmi	Parvati
Samsaara (Bondage)	Samskaara (Liberation)
Sura	Asura
Vishnu (Sustenance)	Shiva (Destroyed)
वश् (Attracted/Attached)	शव् (Liberated)
Vishnu (विष्णु - Prevailing)	Shiva (शिवम् / मंगलम्  - Happiness)
Active	Passive
Energized	Neutralized
(Controls the विषम्  Poison of Life)	Consumed विषम् (Destroyer of विषम् Poison)
with प्राण (with Praana / Life)	bereft of प्राण (without Praana / Life)
अ  + उ  +  अम्	अ + ऌ + अ:

As Pranavam is related to Vishnu, Vaishnavites usually adorn their forehead, a 'gopi' - an upward open crescent with Saffron Kumkum dot above it.  Shaivites on the other hand adorn their forehead with a long drawn Bhasma (hot ash - ideally from the cremation grounds) which forms a downward open crescent with Saffron Kumkum dot below it.  The Kumkum indicates the Female power - Shakti. The Sandalwood paste cools the heat of the Sun and the Bhasma heats the cold nature of the Moon (Chandra).  Thus they are used as compensating factors.

We can also see that the representation of अऌः resembles the figure of Ganesha with the visarga turned anti-clockwise to form the eyes of the elephant god; the ऌ  forming the head and the trunk; and also including the अ placed anti-clockwise to form a straight line umbrella on top of the head.  The upper semi-circle with the bindu (dot) below it, depicts the large belly of the Ganesha.  Incidentally, there is also a close connection between Ganesha and the Moon (Chandra) as can be seen in the Vinayaka Chaturthi story. 

Considering that the ॐ and Ganesha are declared to be revered, venerated & invoked before any action/invocation that is intended to be undertaken, it implies therefore that Ganesha or Vigneshwara (the remover of obstacles) is none but अऌः.   Ganesha is also considered to be the Pranavam ॐ.  The elephant trunk and the belly is depicted in the script of ॐ.  In otherwords, it could be said that Ganesha is a confluence of the Vaishnavaite and Shaivite principles uniquely representing both ॐ and अऌः in one symbol.  (May also wish to know that on the same lines, Ganesha's brother Subrahmania is a confluence of Shiva and Brahma!)


While  ॐ  is Pranava mantra, अऌः is Daiva mantra. 

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Ref: Yoga-Vasishtam : https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/yoga-vasistha-volume-1/d/doc117974.html

Jyotishastra - Synastry (Horoscopes matching)

Jyotishastra - Synastry
(Horoscopes matching) 

Jyotishastra is considered to be the eyes of the Vedas. The eyes are used to see ahead so that we go in the right direction. We can see only where there is light or where light has fallen on. In other words, we can look only where there is some form of data present. Statistics and related predictive Technology works on such data. Prediction therefore may never be 100% right because of limitations in the data itself.

For example, most of us can say (predict) that the Mangala Express train from New Delhi station will leave for my destination to Payyanur at 09:15 today and would reach Payyanur at 04:08 day after tomorrow.  How? By looking at the time table.
Now if it started late by an hour today, some might predict that it would reach Payyanur at 05:08 only. Few others would take the historical data for last few days and then say that it would reach half hour late at  04:38 hrs. Yet another set of people might consider the weather forecast for today, tomorrow and day-after to say that it will reach 2 hrs late at 06:08.  Thus, we see that based on different data, different people predict differently. And actually, the train might reach at a different time altogether. So, that doesn't also mean that all those who attempted to predict are fools or ignorant 'believers'.

Now what about that person who wasn't concerned about that time the train was to reach? It doesn't matter for him, at what time the train reached or whether it would reach at all!!  Thus this means that, the prediction affects only to who are worried about the time of reaching a destination point. He who isn't worried about that, would be careless about the prediction as well.

Hence, can't we say that prediction is for the worried mind not for the sthitha-prajna (defined in the Bhagawad Gita).

Today we are again at many heights in science, mathematics and statistics. Predictive computing tools are deployed even at super market stores that collect and analyze data and place the right items at appropriate places in the super market/malls. Haven't you noticed that you would have (unknowingly) walked miles (not by desire, but by design though) inside a super market to collect the few items that you wanted to purchase and found that there are a few additional (necessary or not) items also in your hand as you walked out from that mall?

The fact is that the placement of items in the malls is 'engineered' such that you purchase more than you actually wanted, thru Predictive Technology. Even the day of the week matter and therefore you might have also heard  'Wednesday discounts' announced and the like.

Returning to matching of horoscopes for couples, i feel that, that technique was probably employed during a phase when marriages were fixed by parents and elders alone. And the only tool they could depend upon was some form of predictive science evolved and understood at that time. (We cannot therefore vouch for it in toto). Incidently, that predictive mechanism also reiterated that a sync of the minds supercedes the algorithm!!

Not to mention, that a sync of minds is also required to resolve even national disputes for peaceful co-existence. If the minds of the leaders cannot display any sync, then probably algorithms could be applied.

Don't you think so?