Shiva-Shakti ~ Radha-Krishna

 Shiva-Shakti ~ Radha-Krishna

From the static Shiva (Sat-chit-Aananda) came dynamic Shakti (Parvati). Similarly from static Raadhaa came dynamic Krishna.

Both the concepts are  similar.

Raadhaa is obstruction - that is static. Dhaaraa (is the opposite of Raadhaa) is flow and is about dynamics.
Krishna is what attracts and melts down Raadhaa. That is why Raadhaa (static) goes to Krishna (the attractive [force]).

In the former, the dynamic Shakti is attracted to static Shiva. Whereas in the latter, the static Raadhaa is attracted to dynamic Krishna.

In physics, an object brought from (ananta) infinity is enlivened by what is known as potential energy. And there is a continuous tendency to return to its original place. (That is why we die). This infinity stretches like the long serpent Ananta (=infinity) of Vishnu (=omnipresent, that which is filled throughout the Vishwam i.e. universe). SkyBlue is the colour of the universe. It was caused by the Visham (poison) of Vasuki serpent (during churning of the Milky way). Vasu is matter. That's why vasudha in some context also means earth. Visham is what comes out when matter is churned. Energy is that what comes from matter. So Visham is energy. That Visham covered Vishnu (=everywhere) and therefore Vishnu turned SkyBlue. Shiva drank (absorbed) that Visham (energy from matter) to neutralized it. Shakti however caught his throat with both her (electro-magnetic) hands and coagulated that Visham to concentrate and remain passive at a single point.

And the universe was perhaps created thus!!
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(This is symbolic)

Intelligence, Faith & Management of Duty

 Intelligence, Faith & Management of Duty

Intelligence is one among the many things that is distributed unequally amongst creatures of this world (and interestingly, for which no rights activists have ever fought for!!) Others  may be ignorance, stupidity, wisdom, etc. All these are activities of brain. We do not really know whether intelligence is trainable like that of any other physical activity of physiology. That is to say, we could train for physical fitness, but not really with intelligence. Some day, perhaps that method might also be discovered.

Therefore, inorder to contain ill effects of a debilitated intelligence, intelligent people all over the world have devised a temporary solution which we call as 'Faith'.

Because, the amount of intelligence varies in different people (or even animals, birds etc.), communication often becomes a problem. This is because each one tends to understand things in the perspective of vision limited by one's own intelligence. To resolve this differential communication, some or a group of intellectuals have many times in history sat together to scribble such areas of concern in communication and those scripts were later compiled and called as scriptures.  The idea of writing those scriptures were to ask the lesser intelligent to keep away their reasoning and follow the scriptures whenever in doubt. Such an activity is termed as faith. But the problem faced by them was, as to how to inject faith? They found that faith could be injected by stories and that the stories influenced the mind. The mind is a mystery and a good psychiatrist could direct it to everyone's benefit. Hence, we find that most scriptures are backed by stories to add faith.

When a small group of people nowadays assemble to attempt to create such scriptures, they are called cult leaders or godmen. While they essentially derive from the extant scriptures only, they try to adapt and interpret in line with modern terms, as they think they communicate that way better.

To improve the quality of faith, they add extra 'nutrients' with 'salt' and 'pepper' too and create the effect of calling themselves as avatars.

(All these contribute to enhancing the faith. However, being human, they may err on certain other moral values and occasionally end up in captivity by law enforcing agencies!!)

Let us also broadly understand the miseries of humans & the Hierarchy of Human control system.

Taapa-trayam ताप त्रयं  are Tri-dukham त्रिदु:खं which are of three types:-

Aadhi-aatmikam (caused by oneself - birth, death etc),

Aadhi-Bhautikam (those caused by external materials - animals, metals, chemicals etc.),

Aadhi-Daivikam (those caused by the gods - air, wind, storm, water, fire, electricity, lightning, earthquake, etc.)

Is there any means to control these difficulties (dukham दु:खं) ?

Perhaps knowing the organizational hierarchy of our self & body organs might help. Let us ponder a bit about them.

Karma-indriya (5 Nos. Organs of Action) are controlled by Jnana-Indriya (5 Nos.).

Jnana-Indriyas (Organs of Sense/Perception) are controlled by Praana (Praanic Energy).

Praana (life energy) is controlled by Manas (mind).

Manas is controlled by Buddhi (intellect).

Buddhi is controlled by Aatma (soul).

Aatma is controlled by Aham (Self).

Aham is none but Brahma.

In other words, the Chairman of our body is Brahma / Parabrahma.

The lowest in the hierarchy are the Karmendriyas.

Therefore, we could say, that all our actions are actually performed by para-Brahma only. (who might have of course down-delegated to others in the hierarchy - but essentially, the doer is HIM/THAT only).

Therefore inorder to contribute to the requirement of the Isha (controller), faith is necessary and absolutely necessary where individual intelligence tend to fail. Intelligence is necessary to understand the hierarchy and once the hierarchy is properly understood, faith and trust is one of the primary guiding principles of successful living.

For example, a new employee to an organization needs to seek and understand the objectives, mission and vision of the Chairman of that organization.  Once understood, there can be unlimited faith in that Chairman. Otherwise, the limbs of action would lead the organization to hell and not heaven.

This may be the concept of Brahma-jnaanam - that of Jnaana-yoga, Bhakti-yoga as well as Karma/Raaja-Yoga.

The understanding of the hierarchy is Jnaana-yoga, the unconditional faith in the supreme personality is Bhakti-yoga, and the resulting work/karma or duty that is performed in accordance and in synergy with the Jnaana & Bhakti is the Karma/Raaja Yoga. Karma/Raaja yoga may lead one to prosperity (heaven) or otherwise delusion (hell) - based on the balance sheet prepared by none other than Chitra-Gupta (the secret cinematographer)!!.

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Moksha & the Escape Velocity of an Aatma

Moksha - & the Escape Velocity of an Aatma

Like a satellite that is controlled by a space station, the Aatma, from a distance or otherwise, controls the life of matter. When it controls a biological matter, we call that as posessing life.

The Aatma distributes energy that activates biological matter of the like of humans, animals, plants, etc.

That control of the Aatma on the matter continues in cycles, until the Aatma is released out of, like that of 'escape velocity'. Those cycles of events when the Aatma regulates and deregulates matter may be known as birth and death.

To be released from the cycle of birth and death, it needs to attain at least (in astronomical terms) an escape velocity.

That escape velocity enables Aatma to escape from its attachment to matter so as to enable itself for moksha.

That is essentially why ancient India spoke about detachment and ways to achieve it for moksha. That state is better still than the state of heaven or hell.
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Spare the rod and Spoil the child

Spare the rod and Spoil the child - An Indian Perspective

Maha-Nirvana-Tantra :

चतुर्वर्षावधि सुताँल्लालयेत् पालयेत् पिता।
ततः षोडशपर्यन्तं गुणान् विद्यां च शिक्षयेत्॥

लालयेत् पञ्च वर्षाणि दश वर्षाणि ताडयेत् / प्राप्ते तु षोडशे वर्षे पुत्रं मित्रवदाचरेत्

"Indulge our children upto the age of five years, teach them to be disciplined between five to fifteen years, and beyond sixteen years we should treat them as a friend."

Many descriptions even in the internet about the above verse impresses the word 'Taadayet' to mean discipline by the stick. Something that seems to have come as 'parampara' from "Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child" hypothesis.

If we avoid & keep aside those kind of interpretations, and try to find the real meaning of the word 'Taadayet', we may like to understand as below.

The Dhyaana Shlokam of Bhagawad Gita has the mention of this word 'tata':
भीष्मद्रोणतटा जयद्रथजला गान्धारनीलोपला
शल्यग्राहवती कृपेण वहनी कर्णेन वेलाकुला।
अश्वत्थामविकर्णघोरमकरा दुर्योधनावर्तिनी
सोत्तीर्णा खलु पान्डवै रणनदी कैवर्तकः केशवः॥६॥

"Bhishma Drona tataa Jayadratha jala Gandhara Nilotpala
Salya Grahavati krpena vahant karnena velakula
Asvathama Vikarna ghora makara Duryodhanavartini
Sottirna khalu Pandavai Rana nadi Kaivartakah Kesavah.

The battle (river) whose banks were Bhishma and Drona, whose water was Jayadratha, whose blue-lily was the King Gandhara, whose crocodile was Salya, whose current was Kripa, whose billow was Karna, whose terrible alligators were Asvatthama & Vikarna, whose whirlpool was Duryodhana - even such was crossed over by the Pandavas, with Kesava as the ferry man".

It describes Bhishma and Drona of the Mahabharata epic, as the 'tata' or bank of the waters.

The word 'Tada' may have come from the word 'Tata' meaning bank/embankment or bund. (Perhaps that sounds more appropriate.) For a fish swimming in the river, the bunds create obstacles inorder to direct/re-direct, prompting it, sometimes to flow over and sometimes to adopt diversions. Therefore it educates the little one about the nuances of proper learning and living. The bunds are also obstacles purposefully created so that the young one overcomes it, finding ways genuine to its intellect. Therefore, the word 'Taadayet', may not have a negative significance at all as many pandits believe it to be; rather may have a purely positive meaning, enough to prove that the "rod is not at all required, but only the bund".

One could imagine a small tiger cub being caressed by its mother until a few days later, when it starts fighting with its fellows, helping itself experience and gain that knowledge about living. While the elder looks on and occasionally moves its paws to create obstacles when straying away. That is perhaps the real meaning of 'Taadayet' is my opinion.

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Vyasa Vishaala-Budhe

Namostu Vyaasa Vishaala Budhe

I have wondered often as to why Indians have so many gods and why there are so many religions in this world.

Maharishi Vyasa is addressed as 'vishaala-budhe' thanks to his superior intellect. Certainly, he is the only one of the kind in the history of mankind who exhibited exceptional intellect.

He compiled the four Vedas, he wrote more than 108 (known) Upanishads and multiple Puranas including the great, Mahabharata, MahaBhagavata, Adhyatma Ramayana etc., so much so that people wonder whether he indeed was a human or not!! While the Vedas and the Upanishads seem to be focused in same direction, the Puraanas may quite confuse common seeker because, each Puraana exemplifies a different God; while the puraana itself is, usually named by that referred God.

It would indeed have been a herculean task for him to create so many gods. I was told that similar attempt in not so far off times, was made by the author of the many Theyyams of North Malabar (& thottams including their unique facial-drawings, so that each one was different from all others in the specifics & story) as it seems, all those were written in very short time.

There is virakti in abundance or plenitude, whereas attachment in scarcity. In attachment there is selfishness. In selfishness there is clash of egos. In egoism there is hatred. In hatred there is conflict. In conflict there is fight. In fight there is disaster. In disaster there is chaos. In chaos there is annihilation/death.

Veda-Vyasa understood the psychology of humans very well and therefore prescribed multitude of gods to attend to the _monkey_ like mind of humans. Mind is easwara (commander) of the body. Hence, if the mind is controlled, everything falls well in place. Concentration is certainly a big difficulty and therefore not very easy. Multi-tasking is inherent in humans. Hence, one light is not enough, rather, many lights are needed to focus towards one's progress (pragati). Each such light is known as divine or Deva or Devi (div = that which shines and emits / blesses). Just as there is a lot of difference between one LED & group of LEDs - and lo! what a beauty! if all were twinkling !!

Vyasa therefore bestowed upon us 'Twinkle-twinkle wonderful gods' thru the various Puraanas!! Though the essence is vedaanta (Upanishads) and the Vedas (science). Just as we don't need to know the chemical composition of LPG inorder to cook our daily meal, though however, knowing it definitely would only enhance our 'love', appreciation and affection for that LPG; and not knowing however, will not starve us from the experience of having sumptuously!!

At the same time, the connoisseur of food needn't ignore the properties of his intake and get into health issues thru consumption of junk food that is not backed by a scientific (Vedic) culture!!

We are indeed fortunate to have had the benefit of the benevolence of the great Maharshi Veda Vyasa who encoded the entire concepts in the most cultured & scientific language called Sanskrit - especially designed for such purposes. (Today we have many computer languages each capable in its own way and competent to handle our commands according to the requirement & use of the technology prevalent of that time. From simple procedural language to object oriented and purely object, loaded with statistical & analytical capabilities for artificial or machine learning intelligence and so on and so forth). The Sanskrit language is the language of science and spirituality as both can be expressed simultaneously using similar words that provoke intellectual activity and resolve their meanings unambiguously. It understands the language in which God codified His creation, so much so, that it is also called Deva-Bhaasha and usually written in Deva-Nagiri script.

The saints, pious and the learned from Kerala were perhaps the least affected by the onslaught of various religions that mis-interpreted or were not properly understood in the correct sense as proposed by Veda Vyasa. Ezhuthachan, the Father of Malayalam literature, Poonthanam, Melpathur etc., were the few who understood Maharshi Veda Vyasa rightly, that their contributions reflect the original thought and his Prescription. That is why, Poonthanam uses Soham as the ultimate understanding in his 'Poetry of Nectar of Knowledge'.

"മോഹംതീർന്നു മനസ്സു ലയിക്കുമ്പോൾ
സോഹമെന്നിട കൂടുന്നു ജീവനും".
"Desires having saturated, the mind dissolves,
That the Soul merges as HE = I".

Two great symbols of India are the Hamsa and the Padma.

Hamsah may be closely translated as Swan, which is attributed with the capabilities of even separating essence of milk from water!! Great saints are referred to as 'ParamaHamsas'. It is said as per himdu mythology that in the Manasarovar (= pool {Sarovar} of the mind {Manas}) in Kailasa mountains, many swans live with that quality.

Going by the Sanskrit language technique of swapping letters, we see that Hamsa हंस: is that which identifies things separately - like the swan (meaning Dvaita bhava) while (स: + अहम् = सोहम्) soham means one with HIM (Advaita bhava).

Further, Paramahamsa may be seen as Param + Aham + Sa (परम् अहम् स: = परमहंसः ) meaning ultimately I is HE.

Padma (=lotus) blooms in dirty waters. People generally tend to see dirt more clearly. An exception to that is when they look at lotus bloomed in dirty waters - when they tend to admire only the lotus and ignore the dirty waters.

That is why, Lotus has lot of meaning in Hindu philosophy. Our happiness lies in seeing the lotus in everything (be it dirty or clean). He who wears spectacles of such (lotus) vision over his eyes is the one who is Lotus-eyed. He who sees the lotus (niceties, goodness) even in the foot (dirty, beneath, down and trodden) is to be known as Padma-paada (with the Lotus Feet).

Happiness is when Lotus blooms in all of us and we can see the Lotus even in the feet of others!!

And that may come from soham (identifying the other as oneself) by inclusiveness of all that living or non living. Then we become Paramahamsa.

I therefore salute the Lotus eyed Vyaasa who is indeed Paramahamasa.

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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!