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. 

---

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?

An Easter Note - Cross, Crucification, Krish, Christ & Pre-Christian Beliefs

An Easter Note - Cross, Crucification, Krish, Christ & Pre-Christian Beliefs

Today is Easter & understanding the notes on Easter was of interest.

Googled and fell upon the following:

See link

See link

So much that, the Cross seems to be as revered as the Swastika and that the early Romans & Egyptians used the '+' sign for denoting the Sun - the God of Life.

Thus there exists a definitive adoptive link and therefore a continuity between the early customs and those adopted by the relatively new religions and that gives more authenticity & divinity to the ritual itself.

0 - x -- x0x -- x - 0

Zero divided by Zero

Zero divided by Zero

This might look very absurd but is interesting as a concept.  I believe that was sometime while I was in my 4th or 5th class, I asked my father about One divided by Zero (1/0).  He said that it cannot be determined.  He then asked a counter question of what was Zero divided by Zero (0/0).  I blinked as I didn't know nor could I deduce. He then said that it could be Zero, relating to the philosophy of the Upanishads that the Whole remains a Whole how many ever wholes you take out or don't. 

The Isaa-vaasya Upanishad says:

ऊँ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदच्यते ।

पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ।।

OM poornamadah poornamidam

poornaat poornamudachyate

poornasya poornamaadaaya

poornamevaavashishyate

That (God) is whole; this (world) is whole;

The whole manifested from the Whole.

From the Whole, even if whole is taken away,

what remains again is the Whole.

Thus Zero being considered a whole number in the Number System, just as its philosophical interpretation the above verse is, in terms of God/That as Infinity, the same applies to Zero too.  However, the young boy couldn't digest much of what he said then and it was left there.

When later on, I pursued my graduation in the Mathematics (1985-88), with the study of Real Numbers, Complex Numbers etc., the same problem returned for a better analysis again. 

During this time, I had few discussions with my classmates and with one of my Mathematics professors at St. Joseph's College, Calicut on my understanding of the concept of Zero divided by Zero. While one of my classmates thought there was merit, the professor rubbished though!. 

About that time, I had written an article in a magazine called 'Aarsha-naadam' combining the concept of Vedic Mathematics in arriving at the result of dividing Zero by Zero. (Though I had preserved the copy of the book for a long time, am unable to trace it now after many relocations in the many years that followed. My father used to subscribe to  copies of that bi-monthly magazine those days).

However, I will briefly explain the concept that I had tried to impress on the readers then.  

In the methodology of Vedic Mathematics, (Nikhilam sutra), in case of a division, instead of subtraction, addition is performed by 'Nikhilam' of the divisor, so as to equalize the multiplier to the quotient part of resultant (i.e. excluding the remainder).  (Nikhilam is defined as "nikhilam navatas-charamam dasatah" ie. difference all from 9, last from 10. This in effect becomes the tens complement).  The resultant will have two parts namely the quotient part and the remainder part;  the remainder part will have as many digits as there are in the divisor.  Initially, the dividend itself is considered as the resultant and the multiplier is assumed to be equal (or about) the quotient part of the resultant.  

To be more detail, let us say we want to divide 9 by 7.  For this, the dividend is 9, the divisor is 7.  Considering, the dividend itself as the initial resultant, reserving as many digits as there are in the divisor for the remainder, which is 1 (as the divisor 7 is single digit), we get the initial multiplier as 0 and initial remainder as 9 (assuming that the dividend is 09).  Taking Nikhilam of 7, we get 3 which is (10 - 7). Multiply this 3 by a suitable multiplier in this case 1 giving 1 x 3 = 3 and Add this product 3 to the dividend 9 to get 12.  Since the base of the nikhilam was 10, and the power of the base being 1, we partition the resultant into two parts; the last 1 digit forms the remainder part and the remaining forms the quotient part.  Partitioning the resultant 12 into two by removing the last 1 digit we have 1 in the quotient part and 2 in the remainder part.  Well that is exactly the answer provided that the remainder is not bigger than the value of the quotient in which case, the next higher multiplier is to be considered. This condition hasn't arisen here, since the quotient part of the resultant is 1 which happens to be equal to the multiplier, we can conclude that our quotient is 1 and remainder is 2. 

---

Eg: Divide 9 by 7:

		Resultant
		(quotient-part)	(remainder-part)
	divisor	dividend		multiplier
	7	0	9	0
Nikhilam  of divisor =	3		3	1
		12
(Note:- multiplier to be maintained equal to quotient always)		1	2
		quotient	remainder

In the above example, if we were to consider 0 as the quotient, then the remainder would have been 9 which is not allowed since the remainder cannot be greater than the divisor.  Hence the next number to be taken ie. 1.  Multiplying the multiplier 1 by the Nikhilam of 7 which is 3, we get 1 x 3 = 3 which is put below the dividend.  The sum gives 12 with 1 in the quotient part and 2 in the remainder part.  The number of digits in the remainder part is understood from the number of digits in the divisor (because the remainder has to be less than the divisor).  Thus the end result is that 9 divided by 7 gives 1 as quotient and 2 as remainder.

---

Eg: Divide 4536132 by 8996:-

		Resultant
		(quotient-part)	(remainder-part)
	divisor	dividend		multiplier
	8996	0453	6132	0453
Nikhilam  of divisor =	1004	000	0	0
		40	16	4
		5	020	5
			3012	3
multiplier not tallying:-		0499	0944	0045 / 0498
		000	0	0
		00	00	0
		4	016	4
			5020	5
multiplier not tallying:-		0503	6124	0004 / 0502
		000	0	0
		00	00	0
		0	000	0
			4016	4
multiplier not tallying:-		0504	0140	0002 / 0504
		000	0	0
		00	00	0
		0	000	0
0504 - 0502 = 2			2008	2
(Note:- multiplier to be maintained equal to quotient always)		0504	2148
		quotient	remainder

---

A non-detailed way of writing the above would be as follows:-

		Resultant
		(quotient-part)	(remainder-part)
	divisor	dividend		multiplier
	8996	0453	6132	0453
Nikhilam of divisor =	1004	40	16	4
		5	020	5
			3012	3
		4	016	4
			5020	5
			4016	4
multiplier not tallying:-		0504	0140	0002 / 0504
0504 - 0502 = 2			2008	2
(Note:- multiplier to be maintained equal to quotient always)		0504	2148
		quotient	remainder

---

Thus 4536132 divided by 8996 gives 504 as quotient and remainder 2148. 

Having understood the above division technique let us summarize the following rules:-
1. The number of digits of the remainder should be equal to the number of digits of the Nikhilam of the divisor. 
2. If the remainder is 0, then the divisor is fully divisible.  Otherwise, the remainder should be less than the divisor so that it ends up as a proper fraction.

3. The multiplier of the Nikhilam of the divisor should be equal to the quotient. 
   

Let us now try to divide 0 by 0 using this Vedic Mathematics method. 
The Nikhilam of 0 is expressed as a single digit below as 'T' indicating the value Ten.  Having taken T to represent 10, the arithmetic of T could be defined as:- 

1  x  T   =  T

 2  x  T  =  1T

  3  x  T  =  2T

  4  x  T  =  3T

.... 

....

 T  x  T  =  9T

		Resultant
		(quotient-part)	(remainder-part)
	divisor	dividend		multiplier
	0	0	0	0
Nikhilam  of divisor =	T		0
multiplier tallying:-		0	0	0 / 0
(Note:- multiplier to be maintained equal to quotient always)		0	0
		quotient	remainder

While the rules have been applied properly and the right answer has been obtained as quotient = 0 and remainder = 0,  for academic interest let us see, what would happen if the multiplier was taken as 1 instead of 0?

		Resultant
		(quotient-part)	(remainder-part)
	divisor	dividend		multiplier
	0	0	0	1
Nikhilam  of divisor =	T		T
multiplier not tallying:-		0	T	1 / 0
(Note:- multiplier to be maintained equal to quotient always)		0	T
		quotient (Erroneous)	remainder  (Erroneous)

Here we can see that it is not possible to have the multiplier equal to the quotient part as the quotient part is 0 while the multiplier part is 1.    Hence, it has to be concluded that the quotient for 0 divided by 0 is 0 and not any other number. 

Caution:-  However, there is a word of caution in this answer.  This is simple Arithmetic and not Mathematics.  In Arithmetic, I would hold that 0 divided by 0 = 0.  However in Mathematics, I would like to believe that it could be something else too.  

The reason for this is because, Arithmetic deals with absolute numbers.  Whereas Mathematics deals will approximate numbers as well.  Just as in physics, mathematics has for eg. in case of differentiation, say, 

                                 Limit    [Sin(A) /  A]   =   1

A --> 0

If A were to be substituted by 0, then Sin(A) would have been 0 and A itself is 0 which could have given [ Sin(A) / A ] =  [0 / 0]   = 0.   Whereas since we deal here with approximate 0 and not absolute 0,  we get the result 1. 

Therefore, what I would like to mention is that even though arithmetically,  0 / 0 = 0 in its absolute terms, mathematically, it cannot be considered so due to the fact that mathematics and physics consider numbers as approximates.  Another example to the same is the number  2.99999999999......  which in mathematics is equal to 3.  The number 3.00000000........000001  is also equal to 3 in mathematics.

x -  0 -  x -  0  -  x

Is God Personal or Impersonal

Is God Personal or Impersonal


Was going through an article on Personal God vis-a-vis Impersonal God and that kept me wondering whether God is personal or impersonal - if so at what level and state of our mind?

For that matter, I have many times wondered whether animals too have God!!  Is their God similar to ours? Do they have different religions and do they fight between each other to establish the supremacy of one God over the other - at least for their emotional satisfaction?  For that matter do animals have emotions at all?  Certain animals have been seen to show emotion at times!!

Sometime in 2007-08, when Orkut was very popular, I had once posted a small analogy about idol-worship to be more precise about the use of Linga (Shiva Linga) in worship.  Many posts recommended that Idol worship is not sanctioned in Vedas or Hinduism or any other religion.  To which I had commented in the following manner.

"Assume that you asked a mathematician to find out son's age if the son's age times the age of his nineteen year older mother, would give six hundred and sixty six. What would the mathematician do?.  He would most probably convert the question into something as follows:

   Let the unknown age of the son be x.
   Then, his mother's age would be (x + 19).
   Stated that   x ( x + 19) = 666
   ie.     x²  + 19x - 666 = 0
   ie.     (x + 37) (x - 18) = 0
   ie.   x = -37    or    x = 18
  Thus  the age of the son is 18 yrs."

The mathematician in the story could be any one of us in pursuit of God the unknown.  Inorder to find that God, (albeit it is not impossible to find the age of the son in the problem stated above without writing down anything, but by effectively utilizing faculties of the mind by good concentration and mediation, and with all its abstractness by perhaps a genius or one with good practice), an ordinary mathematician would just love to use the 'unknown variable', name it 'x' and try to solve the mystery.

Doesn't this analogy correspond to an Advaita/Vedantic philosopher pursuing an Impersonal God (Nir-Guna) in his capacity of possessing more intelligence with practice that he undertakes vis-a-vis a Dwaita-vaadi philosopher pursuing a God with Personal characteristics (Sa-Guna) conceived with a form that is Human or otherwise, or even a sound (viz. ॐ),  a story, a verse or a poem, a symbol (viz. Linga / Swastika, Cross etc.) or an Idol (viz. of Rama, Krishna, Durga, Mecca etc.).

While an abstract concentrated and intellectual effort is required in the former case by an intellectual mathematician, the latter gives a solution in more easily understandable, approachable and reachable way wherein each step can be verified anytime later, if required, for any errors or faults with scope for rectification wherever.  While in the former case, practice, intuition and experience is important, the latter requires dedication and devotion along with firm belief that the path is right, more so because it has already been tread and because it can be used and reused by anybody anytime (that methodology which is nowadays usually termed as 'scientific').

Thus the concept of Idol worship is to stay and should we say, that is a more easier and safer path than the abstract path which might not be easy enough for anyone with not-that sufficient mental faculties. 

I love to say anytime at such discussions that it is said that Adi-Shankaracharya the greatest Advaita-vaadi, knowing this fact very well, established temples throughout the length and breadth of India, installed idols of gods and goddesses for the comfort and upliftment of lesser souls and his invocations to Personal God-head viz. Krishna, Shiva, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Lalita etc. are filled with height of Devotion.  Alongside, it can be noted that Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (Guru of Swami Vivekananda) was an ardent Idol worshiper with impeccable Bhakti / Devotion who later-on, also practiced Advaita-Vedantic style and concluded that the same goal was achieved following both the paths.

Thus, the answer is the same, while different people use different methods to arrive at it.  Just as the case of the genius and the mathematician would have solved the problem stated above.

Some Dvaita-vaadis however try to establish that God is but Personal and cannot be Impersonal at all. They like to tell us that God is benevolent, talks, shares & helps, etc. etc. and therefore should have a mind, a tongue, a hand, a heart etc.  The question that could be put across to such arguments is to try to find an analogy in a Computer.

A computer responds to questions and commands that we give.  Does it mean that it has a mind?  It talks to another computer in a LAN (Local Area Network) using a protocol like TCP/IP after making a handshake.  Does it mean that it has a hand for the hand-shake to happen?  It shares its files and folders with another computer and helps it get what it needs.  Does it mean that it has a 'heart'?

Thus it can also be understood that when the Upanishads or the Vedas speak of Brahman in terms of benevolence, talking, waving, etc., or having many hands, heads, intelligence etc., it does not mean that the God has a particular form.

The Upanishads proclaim that God does not have a likeliness to anything other that it; “न तस्य प्रतिमा अस्ति”. This means that none can be equal to or like God. Thus the 'x' in our equation is not equal to the answer itself, but is only a means to achieving the answer.  Therefore, idols or images could be tools to reach the ultimate. In other words, it makes sense to understand that Idol worship is also a form of worship that can give results just as any other.

Brahman cannot be likened to any other and therefore, it is unique - Advaita - that which is unlike another.

The Vedas say that it is not possible to even describe Brahman because, the moment we start to try to, we disqualify it of itself.

Being Nirguna, the Lord does not interfere in our daily lives - rather should not be doing so.  Imagine the Chairman of a large organization who interferes in each and everything that even the attender does?.  Will he be then doing the Chairman's job or the attenders' job?.  Therefore, the Chairman should ideally be concentrating on the policy matters and not even in the execution of the policy. This Policy is to be rather understood as 'Dharma' of the different jobs that are to be done by each and every one in the organization.  The hierarchy is defined and thanks to the intellectual and physical capabilities of each individual, he applies and is awarded the specific job that he is supposed to undertake inorder to contribute to the welfare of each and every one in the organization.  This is what is known as 'Varna' Dharma.

The Chairman has to be nirguna as he should not have any attributes attached to himself.  There could be a Director of Human Resources, a Director of Finance, a Director of Marketing, a Director of Operations or a Director of Information Technology who all have Gunas (Attributes); but not the Chairman (Guna-Ateeta).  This will ensure that there be no prejudice of any sort and that would improve confidence and belief in each of the many humans in the organization.

- 0 - x - 0 -

The Natural Cries are Praise to God

The Natural Cries are in Praise of God within us

What is a praise to God?  Is it singing any prayer or crying for help or even scolding in despair?

It came to me today that there are a few words that are uttered not as words belonging to any particular language but those that come out from our own within.  These words are very natural for any human being (and perhaps even animals) and across all boundaries of faith or non-faith.

Assume you are totally exhausted for the day, helpless to the core, unable to even stand up on your foot, forget taking even a step forward. In that condition of helplessness, few words emanate naturally from your mouth; repeat 'naturally' and not by the effect of any pre-conditioning of the mind that you might have undergone earlier due to some religion that you follow or have been made to follow. 

These words could be:-

a)     अम्मे    (Ammae / Amen)     [http://penguinbooks]
b)     ॐ          (Aum / Om)          [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om]
c)     अऌः     (Allah)                    [http://allah-in-sanskrit]

All these words are words of elevation that tries to uplift or restore any deficient energy. The initial premise being that our original state of happiness is divinity which reduced within us in due course of our material existence.

These words when uttered in desperation alleviates our grief as well as any bodily discomfort.

अम्मे also means Mother.  Our gratitude to the creator is expressed by this word.  It is quite a natural word and relieving when uttered in grief.  The sigh of relief that this word can give is immense.  It gives more of emotional relief than physical relief.  It also signifies Creation or Srishti (स​ृष्टि). 

ॐ  is also known  as the Pranava mantram.  It is assumed that there are Nine ventilators (नव द्वारं Nava-Dwaaram) for our body.  The word ॐ supports and energizes these nine ventilators that are essential for the proper sustenance of our body and therefore subsequently generates happiness in the mind.  Chanting this word opens up all the entry and exit points in the desired & proper way.  It therefore denotes spiritual relaxation.  The pranavam also signifies preservation and existence or Stithi (स्थिति). 

अऌः generates physical energy so as to relieve pain; especially when it is uttered very softly.  When uttered aloud, it exposes the bottom of the tongue and therefore releases lot of water content along with air.  It also signifies culmination or annihilation or Samhaaram (संहारम्).

These three therefore corresponds to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.  The first may be thought to be similar to Christian faith and the Old Testament and to Brahma in the likeliness of the Commandments and the rules and restriction that are set upon the newly born by the heavenly Mother who is the Creator.  The second is of preservation and belong to the Vaishnava services.  The third is of destruction and culmination of the existence where the Shiva, the Lord of the Lord of Justice (Yama) controls the nature of death.

The commandments are for us to follow told at the time of birth.  What we follow depends upon the factors of humility & peaceful co-existence quotient we obtained during our existence and the way we dealt with others including every creature or thing of this universe.  The death is achieved in that form according to the law of karma that we followed during our existence.   While this could be seen as verily human, the same might be true for any living or non-living object in this world.  (The rules have been framed by Manu in this Kalpa.) 

   x - 0 - o - 0 - x

See also:

http://mickeymathur.blogspot.in/2010/10/in-sanskrit-language-allah-akka-and.html

http://viprayami.blogspot.in/2012/02/hindu-deity-god-shiva-shakti-found-in.html

Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva - the Trinities

Trinity - the Great Division

Let us demarcate our earth into three parts namely, the East, the Middle and the West.  East comprising all those areas that are beyond say Japan  - ie. from say Alaska/Canada upto Europe towards the right-side of the World map;  West comprising the Arab world to the right of Europe and upto and perhaps including Pakistan; and the Middle comprising India to Japan.

The East is where the light is created, the Middle is where it reaches Zenith and the West is where it destroys itself. 

Let us also regard that the Middle belongs to Brahma, East belongs to Vishnu, and West belongs to Shiva.  

Vishnu

Vishnu of the Trinities (Brahma - the Creator, Vishnu the Sustainer and Shiva the Annihilator) is the Lord of the East.  Lakshmi Devi (prosperity) flatters Vishnu, though Vishnu is not so much bothered about her affection, service or love.  Vishnu is on top of eternity and is in sleeping posture unless awakened by the need of any hour when He actually is called to descend down (incarnates) inorder to prevail upon any egoistic culture that tries to scuttle the order of Dharma for he is Omniscient as well as powerful and establisher of Dharma / Order.  He is however postured as self contained, in Yoga-nidra (Sleep that is in a state of awareness though unattached and at the same time, bound to the world - his other wife - Bhoomi Devi).

His followers are better known as Gods / Suras / Devas.  He is also in control of the Aakaasha Ganga (Milky way) and has a purview of the entire world from the skies and space. 

The Suras have good understanding between them and always stand united even if it be at the cost of any of their smallest fellow allies.

Shiva

Shiva lives in the coldest of Regions known as Kailaasa near crematorium near the dead and therefore is considered to be the Annihilator.  He is the lord of the West - the areas governed by the Asuras who worship him not in any form, but only as a symbol.  The equivalent of symbol in Sanskrit is 'Lingam'.  Though Lakshmi Devi (prosperity) is not with Him, He rules Shakti Devi / Parvathi / Nature and therefore is very powerful. He is also known as Lord of Death.

Those who follow him worship him as the lord of Death and therefore, the gurus of this group are more commemorated by their place of death than by their place of birth.  Closely connected to death, the prosperity of Asuras are from the Dead (living and non-living natural elements - fossils, crude oil etc.).  They are found to be more financially powerful and live in echelons of power.  This result in high ego and mostly the Asura rulers end up in losing everything and even face death at the hands of Vishnu who curtails, whenever their Ego touches extremely high levels.

Unfortunately due to their heightened  ego and love for wine and women, and as described in their holy books enshrined by their one-eyed (short-sighted but benevolent) guru Shukra (also means the white / semen in Sanskrit, Venus the lord of Love), who also researched and found the medicine of rejuvenation and restoring one from death, the Asuras always fought not only with the Suras, but also with their fellow Asuras as well.

The Asuras are also called Daanavas as they are very charitable and are generally more philanthropic even at the cost of their own existence if situation warranted. They stick dogmatically to their religion of charity, and to the words of God as they have rightly or wrongly understood etc.

Brahma

Brahma, the creator, is four headed and therefore sees and looks to all the four sides and is knowledgeable and is more non-aligned to both the Suras or the Asuras and tries to therefore please not only the Suras, but also the Asuras.   It is believed that both the Suras and the Asuras were born of the same father - Kashyapa Prajapati (father of living beings) from two of his 13 wives Aditi (Not bright - Dark) and Diti (Bright) respectively who are granddaughters of Brahma (father of Daksha-Prajapati). Thus from Aditi (darkness) were born Sura (Day / Light) and from Diti (Brightness) were born Asura (Night / Darkness). 

Those who followed Brahma were the Brahmanas which later got divided during the course of time into Kshatriyas, Vysyas and Shudras for occupational reasons & their psychological temperaments. (There is a place east of Himalayas called Burma which is known as the land of Brahma).

Offerings are usually made only to the Suras and not to the Asuras because the Asuras are considered to be of upholding lesser moral values - though not necessarily so - except that the Asuras were always demanding and used force for their success whereas the Suras mostly used coercive techniques in peaceful manner for converting the Brahmanas to their fold.

No wonder some of the best Kshatriyas sided with the Suras during fights with Asuras though, the Brahmanas / Manushyas are considered to be neutral and non-aligned. Some of the examples are Dasharatha (father of Sri-Rama) of the Ramayana and Arjuna of the Mahabharata who participated in wars siding the Suras against Asuras.

 However, the Asuras were great Daanavaas (liberal donators) and therefore, the Manushyas hold some of them in good regard.

Psycho-Analysis

If we analyze thus the different great religions of the world in the light of the above, certain religions could be classified belonging or showing adherence to the principles referred above.  For example, due to their benevolence, the East could be classified under Vaishnavaite, the Middle as Brahmanaite and the West as Shaivaite. In this light, the Middle has a concept of God as Impersonal (as in Advaita Philosophy) while the East and the West have a more Personal God.  Where the God is more personal, He has established rules and dogmas for his followers.  In case of the Middle, the laws of nature & rational thought are more prevalent.  The basic mentality of the East is to Create / Conceptualize; that of the Middle is to Preserve / Maintain and that of the West is to Consume / Annihilate.

Conceptualization, Discovery and creation is done in the East; while innovation and betterment of the same is of the Middle and Consumption, Burial, Destruction etc are of the West.