Guru Poornima

Guru Poornima

This Guru-poornima of today, which coincides with a red lunar eclipse reflects a different full moon (poornima). It is a red moon!!

Amongst the ancient Rishis and gurus of India, the re-affirmation & re-establishment of the essential fundamentals of Vedic knowledge drawn down thru a parampara of saints and gurus, was by Adi-Sankara.  The Vedic way prescribed the four Varna-Aashramaas, namely Brahma-charyam, Gaarhyastyam,  Vana-prastham & Sannyaasam.  Adi-Sankara debated throughout to establish Vedic way of life. However, in his lovely life of 32 years, it seems to me that he transgressed thru the four Aashrams in the opposite order, i.e.,  from Sannyaasam to Vanaprastham, to Gaarhastyam, to Brahmacharyam.

So as to say, that when he was hardly eight years of age, he renounced the world after obtaining permission from his mother for his Sannyaasam, thereby relieving himself from the crocodile that caught him at the now famous crocodile ghat (Mutala-kkadavu = in Malayalam, may be translated also as, three headed/staged transgression!! or in Sanskrit, crocodile is known as a makara; मकरः = म {not} + करः {do / perform} i.e., caught in a river bank, bereft of work, non-performance, or in other words, inertia) at Kaladi in Kerala; thereafter, performed Vanaprastham - travelled the length and breadth of India, not just once, but more than once, debated with the greatest scholars, established study centers at pivotal places; thereafter during the course of debates entered Gaarhastyam,  unconventionally transmigrating into the body of a King and in the end, set in to the path of ultimate devotion, set up and prescribed temples all over India writing & reciting the many haloed poems of his, attributing to Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu & Devi, treading the path of Brahma-charyam and then climbing  up the steps of ultimate knowledge (Sarvajna peethom), before his Samadhi at the age of just 32.

That in short was a progress from renunciation (Sannyasi) to dolls (idols / Vigrahas) - as we may call it.

Whereas, his knowledge and logic was exquisite & without parallels, and confirming to scientific discoveries & truths that even today, there hasn't been any other philosophy capable enough to surpass the depth and universality of the understanding set forth by him, be it thru scientific pursuit or thru interpretations by Orthodox faiths.

The temples that he setup are testimony to the fact that he realized that, though in the abstract level, the concept of universality can be spoken thru Prajnaanam Brahma, Aham brahmaasmi, Tat-twamAsi, &  Ayamaatmaa Brahma, uncovered by the Upanishads of Rg, Yajur, Saama, Atharva Vedas,  in the common parlance, people can be lead more easily to absolute truth, thru Idols of wood or stone, those gullible or otherwise.  And that, just as an architect's presentation,  the 'Saguna' stone model of the Absolute, happens to become easily understandable to majority of humans, than the abstract 'Nirguna' definitions by the Vedas or the Upanishads.  That might seem defying the very ideology that he professed, but in reality, he showed us that he does not, and none should, have any fundamentalistic assertion onto alternate understanding of Brahman or upon the practice or the worship of the same. (While for a mathematician, it may be akin to the assumption of the unknown variable as x, and finally the value of that x is found. Needles to say, that once found, the x loses it's significance)

Therefore those gurus are adorable and respectable, who care for the universal jnaana and understanding.

Hence, my humble salutations to the great gurus!!!

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The Trinity Magic

The Trinity Magic

Three letters of Sanskrit have been instrumental in changing the conveniences of modern human life. That conspicuous manifest, could be found in the development of computing through electronics. The binary system of arithmetic was transformed through symbols and signals and the world was transformed from absolute arithmetic to symbolic computing. Further developments, applied that arithmetic to almost every happening in this world today - from calculators to computers to smart TVs, to washing machines to refrigerators and even to electric fans and lights that obey commands given even through our speech! - not to mention air travel or a launch to outer space in the skies!.

The basic composition of logic based on which the entire computer systems work are formed out of a combination of three logical operations namely:-  OR, AND & NOT.

Those three, are known as 'gates' in modern electronics and they are very fundamental to computer science. In fact, computer science starts with creating a 'truth' table, defining the arithmetic operations of those three.

The language of the Gods, as it is rightly known, Sanskrit has three letters that correspond to these. They are:- Va (व), Cha (च) & Na (न). Together they may be called as Vachana (व + च + न = वचन). 

In the Bible, it is believed that, "in the beginning, there was only the 'Word'". Wasn't hitherto aware that Biblical writers too, like the authors of  the Quran who adopted the  Sanskrit word 'Allah' for God (http://sunambiar.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-sanskrit-word-allah.html?m=1) had in fact, also followed original Sanskrit principles and the Vedic religion per-se giving credentials to and reaffirming that the Sanskrit language is indeed 'DevaNaagari' (language of the Kingdom of Gods & Godesses).

In Sanskrit, 'Vachana' (वचन) means 'Word'. 

How is it that in Sanskrit, Vachana represents OR, AND, NOT?  Let us examine right away. 

Typically, in Sanskrit vocabulary, the letter 'VA' is used as a conjunct with the meaning OR; while the letter 'CHA' is used as a conjunct with the meaning AND; whereas, the letter 'NA' means NOT.

Therefore one could say, that the very foundations of computers is also based on the Trinity letters VA+CHA+NA, together known as VACHANA meaning WORD. 

Isn't it a fact, that a word is nothing but a set of letters? Unlike in many other languages, in Sanskrit, there are a lot of letters that are words themselves. (Very few letters like 'I' & 'a' have corresponding meanings as 'myself' & 'one'/'single' respectively in English language). Right from the vowels in Sanskrit to the consonants, Sanskrit alphabet have corresponding meanings and are used to describe and even denote many attributes of this universe. Many such letters are used extensively in tantric discussions.

Therefore, this relationship, if at all, it is not incidental, whether or not it was accidental, (from a language described worldwide as the language of the computers - Sanskrit), is left to the imagination of common human intelligence.

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Life Principles

 Communication & Networking is the basis of Life

Life is about communication & networking. The millions of cells and other living objects in each of us communicate constantly and therefore there is continuity of life.

Death is, we may say, discontinuity in communication.

Communication is such that a group of cells and some living objects talk to each other and help each other in a particular way so that overall, the organization or the body, displays itself as another type of life.

Therefore life is a conglomerate of many lives. Each cell in our body has a soul within itself which gives life and death at specific cycles of time. New cells are created and those souls jump into new ones (cells), when the old starts debilitating. The time gap between such rebirth according to Vedic scriptures, is almost immediate - just as short a time required for a caterpillar to move from one leaf to another, leaving the former. Thus rebirth is a continuous phenomena that cannot be denied.

When the cells in our body fail in their proper communication; i.e., when there is a probable communication breakdown, so to say, we say, we are unhealthy and there is some disease in us. If we aren't able to bring in consonance so that the communication is restored properly & timely, then we say we decided to choose a new organization or body! (Just as we switch new jobs!!)

 What more to say, our brain itself maintains memory and intelligence thru it's own unique communication network unmatched even today by any modern day computers

Why then, some love to  blame God for such of our incompetence in communication?

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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