Satsangam - Thai Amavaasai post

வணக்கம்.

இன்று (24-01-2020), வெள்ளிக்கிழமை, தை அமாவாசை இரண்டும் சேர்ந்த புனித நாள்.

அரசன் ஒருவன், "இன்று என்ன நாள்?" என்றான், அம்பிகையை தியானித்துக் கொண்டிருந்த அபிராமி பட்டர், "இன்று பௌர்ணமி" என்று சொன்னார். கோபம் கொண்ட அரசன், "இன்று மாலை, நிலவு வருமா?" என்றான் அரசன். அம்பிகையின் பூரண சந்திர வதனத்தை, மனக்கண்ணில் கண்டு வந்த பட்டரோ, "அதற்கு என்ன? நிலவு வரும்." என்றார். ஒருவேளை நிலவு வரவில்லை எனில், தண்டனைக்கு உரியவனாவாய் என்றான் அரசன்.

மாலை வேளை வந்தது. வானில் நிலவு வரவில்லை. அபிராமி பட்டருக்கு, எல்லாமே அம்பிகை தான். அவர் வாயில் இருந்து வந்த வாக்கும், அந்த வாக்தேவியின் வாக்கே என்று நம்பிக்கை கொண்டிருந்தார். அன்னை அபிராமியை வணங்கி, பாடல்களைப் பாடத் தொடங்கினார். அப்பாடல்களே அபிராமி அந்தாதி. 79 ஆவது பாடலைப் பாடினார்.

விழிக்கே அருள் உண்டு, அபிராம வல்லிக்கு, வேதம் சொன்ன
வழிக்கே வழிபட நெஞ்சு உண்டு எமக்கு, அவ்வழி கிடக்க,
பழிக்கே சுழன்று, வெம் பாவங்களே செய்து, பாழ் நரகக்
குழிக்கே அழுந்தும் கயவர் தம்மோடு, என்ன கூட்டு இனியே?

இப்பாடலின் பொருள்:

அபிராமியின் விழிகளில் என்றும் அருளுண்டு. வேதமுறைப்படி அவளை வழிபட எனக்கு நெஞ்சமும் உண்டு. அப்படி இருக்க, பழியையும், பாவத்தையுமே விளைவித்து, பாழ் நரகக்குழியில் அழுந்தி வாடும் பேதையர்களோடு எனக்கு இனித் தொடர்பு வேண்டுமா? வேண்டவே வேண்டாம்.

இப்பாடலைப் பாடியதும், அன்னை, தன் அணிகலன் ஒன்றைக் கழற்றி, வானில் வீச, முழு நிலவாய், மாலை வானில் மிளிர்ந்தது. அரசன் முதலிய அனைவரும் அதிசயித்தனர். பட்டரின் விழியும் மனமும் குளிர்ந்தது.

ஸத்ஸங்கம் (நல்லாரோடு கூடுதல், சேர்தல்) என்பது எவ்வளவு முக்கியம் என்பதை வலியுறுத்தும் பாடலாக எனக்குத் தோன்றுகிறது. ஆதி சங்கரர், பஜ கோவிந்தம் ஸ்தோத்திரத்தில்,

ஸத்சங்கத்வே நிஸ்சங்கத்வம்
நிஸ்சங்கத்வே நிர்மோஹத்வம்
நிர்மோஹத்வே நிஸ்சலதத்வம்
நிஸ்சலதத்வே ஜீவன்முக்தி:

என்கிறார்.

ஸத்சங்கத்தில் இருந்தால் பற்றை விடலாம். பற்றை விட்டால் அழிவு வராது. அழிவு இல்லை எனில், அறிவு வரும். அறிவு வந்தால், முக்தி பெறலாம்.

திவ்ய ப்ரபந்தம் - முதல் திருவந்தாதி, பொய்கை ஆழ்வார் எழுதியதில், பத்தாம் திருமொழி, ஐந்தாம் பாடலில்,

நா வாயில் உண்டே நமோநாரணா என்று
ஓவாது உரைக்கும் உரை உண்டே - மூவாத
மாக்கதிக்கண் செல்லும் வகை உண்டே, என்னொருவர்
தீக்கதிக்கண் செல்லும் திறம்.

நம் வாயில், நாக்கு உள்ளது. அதனால் "நமோ நாரணா" என்று பகவன் நாமத்தை, மந்திரத்தைச் சொல்லக்கூடிய திறம் உண்டு. மாறுதல் (அழிவு) இல்லாத நல்ல வழிக்குச் செல்லும் வழியும் உண்டு. அப்படி இருக்க, தீய வழியில் எதற்காக ஒருவர் செல்ல வேண்டும்? அப்படி விழும் அவர்கள் திறமைத்தான் என்னே!

என்று பாடுகிறார்.

ஆண்டாள் நாச்சியாரும், திருப்பாவைப் பாடல்களில், கூடி இருந்து குளிர்ந்தேலோர் எம்பாவாய் என்று கூடாரை வெல்லும் சீர் பாடலில் பாடுகிறார். சங்கத் தமிழ் மாலை என்றே சொல்கிறாள். சங்கம் என்றால் கூட்டம். எல்லோரும் சேர்ந்து, இறைவனை வழிபட்டு, பெற்ற பேற்றினைப் பற்றிப் பாடுகிறாள். பகவத் கைங்கர்யம் என்பதே அந்தப் பேறு.

எல்லாரும் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து, நல் வழியில் செல்ல வேண்டும் என்று தான் நம் பெரியோர்கள், முன்னோர்கள் சொல்லி இருக்கிறார்கள். அவர்களது வாக்கைப் புரிந்து கொண்டு, நல்ல வழியில் நாமும் சேர்ந்து செல்வோம்.

ஸத்சங்கம் எல்லாருக்கும் கிட்ட, இறைவன் அருள் வேண்டி,
சரண்யா

Devi's Naamaa

Today 10-03-2017, Friday morning at 6.15 I had a chance to listen to the speech of Shri P.Swaminathan in Podhigai TV. He was sharing an experience related to Shree Lalitha Sahasranamam. I wanted to share with you the same.

In a village, there lived a scholar who was very well versed in Lalitha Sahsranama and other sanskrit granthaas. He was also so proud of his knowledge and was always asking whoever he meets, some questions related to sahasranamam and will make fun of them as they don't know the answer for the same. This was a routine thing happening over there and the poor people could not do anything. They respected his knowledge. So they remained calm.

Ok. Our Maathaa Lalithamba is Omniscient, Omnipresent and Omnipotent. All are her children. If a child does some mischief on his or her siblings, the mother will interfere at some point of time. Lalithamba is not an exception to it. Indeed she loves to play with us, Her child.

The scholar met a man who looks after cows in that village. He has nearly 50 cows with him. He use to feed them, give bath to them and clean the places. He does nothing other than this noble task of Go samrakshana.

The scholar asked the man if he knows to recite Lalitha Sahasranama. The man replied, "I don't know that and all. Also it wont be easy for him to recite. But I have heard it being recited in the temple on Fridays. I have 50 cows with me. I have named them with the names that came in the sloka and also easy for me to call - like Sandhya, Savithri, Gayathri, Saraswathi, Lakshmi, Kamala etc.. Daily I use to meet each of that 50 cows atleast 20 times and inquire them like -

'Kamala, did you drink water?'
'Savithri, have you finished eating the hay?'
'Saraswathi, finished eating the fodder?'

so on.

The scholar could realize a sudden blow on his head. From that moment onwards he saw the cattle herd as Lord Krishna. He started to respect people and he stayed away from mocking at people.

What we have to take from this is - we need to be humble. Reciting naamaas with correct pronunciation is important. But reciting them with utmost love to Devi is more important. So let us not stay away from reciting God's naama having we don't know the proper pronunciation as a reason. Start saying. Pronunciation will be coming perfectly in the due course of time with the God's grace.

Saint Valmiki who was a thief in the previous birth, got upadesam from Sage Narada - the word "ma-ra". He kept chanting mara mara mara mara till his death in that birth. Ultimately rama rama rama rama came from his mouth. Then came the Rama avatara and Valmiki wrote the epic Ramayana!

The sound of the bell comes first. Then the Elephant. 

Rains in 2015 (Nov-Dec) – pros and cons - My experiences

After a long time, I am back to this blog with fresh experiences. 

People of Tamil Nadu, witnessed heavy rain fall this year. This is known to have occurred earlier in 1918. So nearly after a century, such a heavy down pour, accompanied with floods, paralyzed the normal life in most parts of Tamil Nadu, especially in Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur and Cuddalore districts.

There are definitely cons due to floods. But how come there will be pros? Well to know that, request you to read the below jottings of mine, which are completely my view. I have no intention to hurt anyone. All that is mentioned here are my personal opinion. Unintentionally, if this hurts anyone, my sincere apologies.

Reasons for flooding (with respect to Chennai):

1. Clogged Storm water drains
2. Clogged underground drainage
3.  Polluting the river course, there by affecting its flow
4. Constructing homes near the river bed, marsh areas 
5. Re-laying of roads, without scrapping
6. Garbage disposal issues

These are the few reasons that come to my mind on analyzing. All these are age old problems. These have been growing up for more than 5 decades. I heard from one of my relative, when they were staying in chenai, they experienced a heavy rain fall in 1960s. There was power cut for a week. But there was no water logging then. They were able to move around in day time and manage the situation. So now, there was a problem. Water logging and associated hurdles. These cannot be attributed to one entity, just the government. We citizens are also the reason for it. We shall see about these in detail.

1.       Clogged Storm water drains

The storm water drains, which collect the rain water in the streets and join them to the river (adyar/cooum/ buckingham) has not been checked for blocks for years together. There need to be a periodic checking of the same. There was lethargy in checking the same. Beautiful footpaths were built on the drains, which were blocked with nasty garbage things, liquor bottles, leaves etc. This was unfolded when the drain’s lid was opened and checked for blocks by the workers, during the recent floods.

2.       Clogged underground drainage

In city like Chennai, we have underground drainage. Most other tier 2 cities still have open drainage systems in interior streets. The process of converting them to underground drainage is in progress. This is a very good sign. Underground drainage is hygienic. There will be less mosquitoes, flies etc., thereby reducing the cause of diseases. But, if the pumping of drainage is not done properly, this is worse than open drainage. In the recent rains we witnessed this too. When all the rain water started to recede, drainage started to seep out, creating fear among the residents.

3.       Polluting the river course, there by affecting its flow

The garbage in our home or office or shop needs to be properly channeled. It need to be put in the common dust bin kept by the local authorities or handed over to the sanitary workers who normally collect at a particular time of the day. Instead most of the citizens learned or not, out of laziness, throw them in the street or in the river banks. Even they put the garbage, near the storm water drain unknowingly. This attitude has to change. We need to keep the streets clean and green as we would like to keep our living room. What happens is this garbage, in highly populated city like Chennai, on reaching the river banks, obstructs the flow of river.

Had the river’s flow not obstructed as it was the case during floods this year, there won’t be floods. The flow of the released water from chembarambakkam dam would have been smooth along the adyar river and the places like kotturpuram, adyar, saidapet, jhafferkhanpet, ramapuram, manapakkam etc would have not been inundated.

Again, this problem had been persisting for years together and let us all see if this doesn’t happen once again.

4.       Constructing homes near the river bed, marsh areas

While travelling through MRTS train, I have seen several huts, near the banks of Adyar and Cooum River. We need to ensure that those without proper homes need to be provided with one and the area near the banks should be clear.

There are few areas that are named as marsh lands. Before constructing we need to be aware of the soil type and if it is a marsh land, we should not construct home there. If there are rains, marsh lands will be severely inundated. It will take time for those lands to dry. Water stagnation will be there and it will lead to several water borne diseases.

5.       Re-laying of roads, without scrapping

Whenever a road is laid newly, the existing road should be scrapped and then new road has to be laid. If this is done, the houses built in the street will not go to the lower level. If it is not scrapped and the road is laid on the existing road, then the houses will keep going to the low level. Then if it rains and if flood comes, water will enter the houses, causing problems to the inmates.

6.       Garbage disposal issues

As already discussed above in point 3, garbage disposal need to be done properly. As good citizens, we need to be responsible. We need to remember that garbage needs to be put in the bins and not in streets. Even if we see someone putting garbage on streets, tell them politely this. If they refuse, you take the garbage bag in your hand, in front of them and dispose it properly. There are bins in almost every street. If it is not properly cleared, make a complaint to the zonal offices in your area. Most of the problems persist due to absence of communication. This thing I have personally witnessed during this rains.

All the points discussed above needs co-operation from both the public and the government. At least the garbage disposal point can be done by us with immediate effect. This will bring a drastic change. This is the first step in the swachh bharat initiative started by the central government this year in 2015.

Positive aspects gained during the rains:

Power cut for a prolonged period during the rains, due to water stagnation in streets, made people to come together. We have been sticking a lot to televisions, music players, smart phones, social networks all these days. We seldom talked to our neighbor or even with our family members. Since there was no electricity, the gadgets stopped working. So people resorted to in person communication. This made them to know about each other personally.

There was signal problem due to electricity failure. Cell phones didn’t work. There was neither charge in the battery nor signal to speak. So internet didn’t work. All these whatspp, facebook, twitter were not used. So this prompted us to visit our relatives, friends in person and it was a get together.

People whose home were inundated with water, moved to their friend’s home or relative’s home which are at a height and at a safe area. Even there, they were not sure of electricity. But they felt a sense of security in being with their kiths and kins. Candle light dinner was also there!

Due to floods, there was trouble in movement of autos, cars, two wheelers. So people resorted to walking to areas nearby. They even made use of public transport like bus, train etc. Whatever they had they shared with themselves. In a way there was conservation of energy.

In my area, there was no power for 5 days. So people with inverter or generator facility judicially used the lights. They switched it off during day and conserved it for night. Diesel was also of great demand, which made hotels/shops to judicially use the resource without wasting it.

So, let me put the points learned.

•  Conserve resources.
• Make hay while the sun shines. Start saving for the rainy day. Get stock of imperishable things, like medicines etc that have longer shelf life.
• Get the things done on time. Don’t postpone that it can be done later. Time and tide wait for none.
• Share our belongings with others and help others during needy time.
• Do not buy the things you wish to have. Buy the things you actually want. Because most of the perishable things bought out of wish went waste due to power cuts.
• Walk as much as you can. It is good for your health. It saves fuel and checks pollution level.
• Use air conditioner only when you actually need. Just because you see an AC don’t switch it on while the climate itself is chill. The more your AC is in off state, the more global warming is cut.

In short, lead a simple life and be happy.

Power of Bhagawan Nama

Name of the God (Irai Namam or Bhagawan Namam), if uttered consciously or unconsciously, with or without devotion, it will definitely protect us. Such is the power of the Name. If somebody calls out our name, we will look back at them right? Same is the case for God. If we call out His name, He will definitely look back at us. This is the simple concept behind name.

Ajamila charitram of Srimad Bhagavatam tells about the power of bhagawan namam. Ajamila, who lead a life full of materialistic desires attained salvation because of Narayana namam. Let us see his story. Ajamila was leading a life that was full of mundane desires. He had many children. His last son's name was Narayanan. Ajamila had a special love for this son Narayanan. When Ajamila was on his death bed, he was calling all of his children one by one. When he called his lovable son Narayanan, his soul departed. He died while calling "Narayana". So he was taken to vaikuntam by attendants of Maha Vishnu, after posting a win over the Yama's attendants.

Narayana, Hari and more.. there are many names for Lord Vishnu. If we say "Hari", all our sins will be washed away. It is good to say "Hari" 7 times in the morning immediately after waking up.

Even a robber, who was asked to chant "mara mara .." by Narada, was born as a great sage - valmiki -  in his next birth and gave the world Ramayana. Though he uttered the rama nama in reverse order, he was given a good position.

Heated coal will be red in colour. After some time ash will cover it. But if we touch, still we feel the heat. Retaining heat is the property of coal. Such is the Bhagawan name. If we start saying the same, the fruit of it will be keep on accumulating and we can feel that whenever we want.

Sastras say, if we chant 1000 names (sahasranama) of god, 1008 times, we will attain all good things. But that is not possible for most of us. But keeping on chanting a single nama is possible. Even Yama (the lord of death) will  fear if one utters the bhagawan nama.

With a small story I will finish this post. A man rose up from his seat in his home and took a bag. his wife asked him where he had started. He said "Arisi vanga poren" (meaning he is going to buy rice). No sooner did he said, than he collapsed and died. He was immediately surrounded by attendants of Shiva and Vishnu. How come?? See what he told before collapsing. ari siva nga poren (the same sentence split like this). Now the meaning is he is going to tell hari,siva... He attained mukthi. This is just an imaginative story. Why I told this is we will get good and only good merits if we tell the name of God with or without our notice. So only  we keep God's names for our children. Atleast by calling their name, we can call God. But pity is we don't call their names fully. We abbreviate it and lose the chance of uttering the Nama.

Rama Namam

With prayers to Lord Rama on the day after Sri Rama Navami of Vijaya Samvatsaram (2014 April 08), I am writing this blog.

Rama is a two letter mantra derived out of the ashtakshara (Aum Na mo Na ra ya na ya) and Panchakshara (Na ma Shi va ya) as we all know. Many saints have spoken about the power of this RaMa nama.

Goddess Parvathi asked Lord Shiva which is told in Sri Vishnu Sahasranama of the Mahabharata epic. "Keno Payena lakuna vishnoor naama sahasrakam - Patyathe pandithair nithyam srothumicchyaamyaham Prabho". She asked, "how a lay man can achieve the fruits of reciting vishnu sahasranama that can be read by learned person?". Lord Shiva answered, "Just tell rama rama rama. Rama nama has the essence of Vishnu sahasranama or 1000 names of Lord Vishnu". This is told in the sloka "sri raAa rAma rAmEthi ramE rAmE manOramE sahasranAma thathulyam rAma nAma varAnane".

In my childhood days I have heard a bhajan "Rama namame kalkandu" i.e. Rama nama is sugar crystals. This is the taste of nama. Bhadrachala Ramadasa, an ardent devotee of Rama sings, "Entha ruchira rama yemi ruchira - sri rama ni namam yemi ruchira - O rama ni namam entha ruchi". How sweet is rama namam... aaah.. so sweet... he says.

A composer Tanjore Shankara Iyer, sings in his composition -
Maduram maduram sri ramanamam
Manadhirkku inbam alithidum namam
Yedhu vandhu nammai yedhirtha podhum
Innarul purindhu rakshikum namam
Yenniya karumangal inidhe mudiyum
Rama nama mahimai adhuve aagum
Vinnavarum Pottrum tharaka manthram
Veeramum alithidum avan thiru namam

Rama namam is so sweet as a nectar. It gives happiness to the mind. Whatever comes in our way as an obstacle, Rama namam will protect us. What we desire to have, we get it. That is the prowess of the nama. The celestials too sing the pride of this taraka mantra and it installs bravery in one's heart.

After performing several crores of Ramanama, even in 19th century, one great soul got the vision of Sri Rama with his Bow. He is Saint Tyagaraja. He has composed numerous songs on Lord Rama. Who is equal to you Rama?, he asks in his kriti Rama Ni samanam evaru. Also he says Rama nama will give such a comfort to one who says it in another kriti Sukhi evvaro rama nama. In another kriti "rama katha sudha", he says Listening to Ramayana is so soothing and one will get dharma, artha, dhairya and ananda and more good deeds. Above all, rama bhakti (devotion to rama) will fetch you kingdom (Rama bhakti Samrajya).

The power of Rama nama is depicted by Hanuman (Ever living - chiranjeevi). He crossed the ocean by chanting the Rama nama. Rama built a bridge across the ocean to reach Lanka, but hanuman just like that crossed the Ocean by just chanting Rama nama. So this means, Rama nama is mightier than Lord Rama himself.

A small song (composer unknown) depicts the characteristics of rama nama.

Ramanin namame tharaka namam
Vendum varangalai thandhidum namam
Anjanai maindhan aanjaneyanukku
alaikadal thandida udhaviya namam
Jai jai ram ram jai seetha ram
Jai jai ram ram jai seetha ram

Narayana enum ashtaksharathil
Ra venum aksharam olithidume - adhu
Namasivaya enum panchaksharathil
Ma enum jeevanil inaindhidume
thondriyadhe rama namame
thudhithiduvome rama namame
Jai jai ram ram jai seetha ram
Jai jai ram ram jai seetha ram

Hariyum Sivanum ondre endru
anaivarum unarndhu thudhippome
Igaparam irandilum inbam alithidum
Inai yilla namam thudhippome
Adiyavar idargalai pokkidum namam
Arumarundhagiya annalin namam
Amudhamanaya sri ramanin namatthai
anudinam paadi avanarul peruvom
Jai jai ram ram jai seetha ram
Jai jai ram ram jai seetha ram

Ramanamam is the tharaka namam, that gives all you want. It helped Hanuman to cross the ocean. It was born out of the ashtakshara and panchakshara mantras. Let us all chant it. Hari and siva are one and Rama nama gives happiness both in this birth and in the next birth. It erases the difficulties of the deveotees, cures the illness. Let us all chant the nectar like Rama nama daily and get His blessings.

Nanmaiyum Selvamum naalum nalgume
Thinmayum Papamum sidhaindhu theyume
Janmamum maranamum indri theerume
Immaiye Ra Ma yendra irandu yezhuthinal

As quouted by Kambar in his Kamba Ramayanam, if one says RaMa in this birth, it will give him goodness, money for ever. His sorrow, sins will all be evacuated. He will be free from births and deaths. Let us all chant Rama Nama whenever possible (atleast 12 times a day) and get His blessings.

One more note: Samartha Ramadas (who was guru of Chatrapati Sivaji) was an ardent devotee of Rama. He has asked Rama to go in front of a person who has chanted RamaNama 13 crore times in his life. Also he asked Rama to keep the count himself as human may make mistakes while counting. So Rama's Bow (Kodhandam) which has a bell will hit once if a devotee completes 1 crore name. With this the devotees work is easy. He need not have to keep count. He need not bother about that. His only work is to chant Rama nama. Let us start from today.

Rama Rama Rama Rama..........

Vadai or Jhagiri malai to Lord Aanjaneya

Many of us will be wondering why do devotees offer jhangiri malai (in north india) and vadai malai (in south india) to the lord Aanjaneya.

This doubt was raised before Sri Kanchi Maha Periyava Sri Chandrasekara saraswathi swamigal. This was the explanation given by him.

When aanjaneya was a small kid, he saw the sun in the evening time before sun-set. For him it appeared like a fruit. So Aanjaneya being pavana kumaran (son of pavan or vayu), went so fast near sun and was about to swallow it. Then Lord Surya appeared before him and told that he should not do that and its against nature. Agreeing to that, hanuman came back.

This act of shadowing the sun, was appreciated by Lord Rahu (one of the nava grahas) who use to cause solar eclipse. He granted a boon to aanjaneya that people will worship him with substances made out of urid dal (ulundhu in tamil). So we are worshipping him with vadai and jhangiri made out of urid.

Why do people in north india worship with sweet jhangiri and people in south india worship with salt vadai?

It is because of the availability of sugar and salt. If you see in north India, sugar cane is in abundance. So sweet jhangiri. And in south india, salt is in abundance because of the sea shores. So the salted vada with pepper (found in abundance in kerala) is offered.

Foreign nations are clean! India very dirty!!

This kind of irritating statement most of us would have heard from NRIs and those who had been to foreign nations and have returned back.

Its in our hands. We obey the rules in foreign government. "You should not spit on the roads or you should not throw papers on the foot path" - if this has been written in other country, we obey it. But if it is written in India, we never care about it and sometime put garbage on the sign board itself that will hide the signs with the passage of time.

Say a person X who use to chew pan masala in India, stops it temporarily in other countries or spits it in the dustbin. But the moment he enters Indian airport, he is tempted to spit on the road side. He searches for dust bins to throw torn pieces of paper, but in India he throws them right under his feet and walks carelessly as if he is no longer connected with this world.

The moment Indian government brings a rule, the law breakers are busy in finding loop holes to escape from the rule.

Only if we start following these small practices, others will follow and practice it. Let us all join together to preserve the heritage of our nation.

Mother's Day

This year (2009) Mother's day is on May 10. Usually 2nd sunday in the month of May is celebrated as Mother's day. Staunch Indian People may comment that this kind of celebrations is an impact of westernization. According to me there is nothing like that. Mother has given birth to us. She has been our teacher in our initial stages. She has taught us to walk, to run, to speak and what not! So when there is an occasion to thank her, do it. Do not miss it.

Again don't mistake me that I am restraining the love to a single day. We can and we must thank her for ever. For people who have failed to do that, let this be a start.

Our spiritual books have mentioned, that an Indian child encounters 5 mothers in its lifetime.

1. DEha mAthA - One who has given birth to us
2. bhoo mAthA - The mother Earth who sustains us
3. gO mAthA - The mother cow who has been nourishing us all these days
4. vEda mAthA - The mother of all vEdAs which has picked us an identity among rest of the world.
5. dEsa mAthA - Our motherland where we have been living so far.

So every one should take care of these mAthAs and they will in turn take care of us.

There is a shlOkA in our ancient texts:

gAyatrI tulasI gangAm kAmadhEnum arundhatheem |
pancha mAthu smarEn nityam mahA pAtaka nAsanam ||

This means, remembering the 5 mAthAs - gAyatri, tulasi, gangA, kAmadhenu, arundhathee daily will slay all our sins.

Thus is the greatness of a mother.

Humanity and Divinity

The advaitaa philosophy stresses a lot on the fact that both ParamAtmA and JeevAtmA are one and the same. Though the two remain physically separated, at a particular point of time, JeevAtmA will merge with the paramAtmA. This was said by the divine Adhi Shankara BhagavathpAdhAL.

Even the vEdAs say the same. Rig vEdA says - "PragyAnam Brahmma" (Pure knowledge is God) and its the pure knowledge that resides in the AtmA. Yajur vEdA says - "Aham BrahmmAsmi" (I am the God and God is me). SAma vEdA says - "tat tvam asi" (Thou art that) and the Atharva vEda says - "AyamAtmA Brahmmam" (My soul is God). If one starts to think this way, he will never be tempted to do blunders or even a mean mistake. He will follow the straight path. His mind will be set broad.

Lord KrishnA says in GitA, "He who sees all things in me and me in all things, will never be separated from me nor do I get separated from him".

So make a note that God resides in yourself and you are God's form or incarnation. Love All, Serve All. Help Ever and Hurt Never. This is one of the philosophy of Saint Vallalar too. His mission was to spread Jeeva kaarunyam and Divinity comes in the place where there is abundance of Love.

Love is God and God is Love.

Leave aside the mediocre desires. You will become God. The equations to be kept in mind is:

God = Human - Desires
God = Human + Love

EGO or ahankAram

Ego is the worst foe for a human. A man fails in his life if he has even the slightest tint of ego in him.

There may be several reasons for a man to be affected by the disease called EGO. His scholastic nature, money, power and many more. But one day or the other the stimulus for his ego will be deprived from him.

A man thinks that these things (money, power, knowledge) will be with him forever. The truth is that, these elements will be with him as long as he is free from ego. The moment he starts thinking "I have lot of money. I am powerful. I am a wise man.." and so on, those things will start moving away from him and will gradually fade with the passage of time.

He will no longer be rich, wise and powerful.

So what one need to do is, shed off the feeling "I", "Mine". Submit all the happenings whether good or bad at the lotus feet of lord. He will take care of us.

Bhagawan Sri Krishna, says in Bhagavad Gita - "Kadamaiyai Sei! Palanai Yedhir Paaraathey!!"

Sir Aadhi Sankara Bhagawad PadA says in his Bhaja Govindam - "
Maa guru dhana gana yauvana garvam
harathi nimEshAth kAla sarvam
Maayaam mayam itham akhilam hitwaa
Brahmma padam thwam pravisha vidhithvA
", which means - the pride and ego one gets as a result of his affluence in wealth, knowledge, power will be vanishing. They are temporal things. Time will wash away them and make the place clean without any traces of these elements. Only the feet of Brahmman is permanent.

-- Compiled from speeches of various Mahatmas.

Frank Speaking

Frank speaking - Is it possible?

Many will say Yes. But I say its not possible. Even if we speak, we are highly prone to get more bad opinions like - he/she will not speak softly or he or she doesnot know how to speak.

Consider this case - There is a relative who use to come to your home regularly. He/she will always torture us by saying something foolish and expecting us to say he/she is a genius. If you are a frank speaking person, if you say to him/her that he/she is talking ridiculously, imagine what will happen. If the relative is an easy going person, no problem. On the other hand, if that relative is a sort of person who cant accept bad facts about him/her, you will be getting a bad name in his perspective.

The same case is with your boss or even with your friend or spouse.Frank speaking is not always 100% possible. It has its own limitations.

You can speak up openly. But the next time, you cant see the person to whom you spoke frankly, with the same comfort level that the person had with you, before you spoke.

Speak out only good things

See good things alone
Say good things alone
Hear to good things alone

Sounds to be heard some where. Well, the idol or picture of the popular 3 monkeys will depict the above sayings.

If we see good things, we will be happy. If we hear good things, then also we will be happy. But does saying good things, will make us happy? Whay not? It will.

Why to say good things alone? Here is the explanation for this.

"Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed. It can be changed from one form to another form, but the total energy of the system remains the same".

This is the popular law of conservation of energy.

Similarly, the words we utter is the sound. Sound is a form of energy. So if we say good words, the goodness will come to us in another form. If we say bad things, only bad results will come to us, not in the form of words, but as some other event. What ever we say is a sound. Going close with the law,
sound can neither be created, nor be destroyed. It can be changed from one form to another form, but the total result remains the same.