Sunday Programme of May 2011

Hari Om
The monthly programme for the month of May is on 1 May 2011.Swamiji will be continuing the class on Aproksha Anubhudhi. As usual, the class will start at 10-30 A.M sharp.After the class there will be Arti for lord Arunachaleswara , followed by Maha prasada.

This month's maha prasadam is given by the participants of Tirtha Yatra 2011. All are welcome for the class. The Yatrikas are specially reminded to be positively present .
Yatrikas who has taken photos on the trip are requested to forward the photos to avstblr@gmail.com, so that the same can be published.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 - Koramangala

On 27 April ’11, Swamiji continued further with the sloka 6.

Everything in this universe is good or beautiful, only when it is in the right place. One of the slokas refers to this aspect, which says – Every alphabet has the possibility of being a mantra, every plant has the possibility of a medicine, no one is useless, in other words, every person has a quality (yogkyada), but the person who connects the things rightly is rare. Bija mantras such as hrim, klim, and gam are more powerful than expanded mantras. Anything which is not in its place becomes garbage. For example, hair, nails are all beautiful as long as they are in their respective places.

No action can be said as good or bad, it depends on the person concerned. Good / bad tags are added only by the people, not by the creator (Bhagavan).It is said that one’s food is poison for another. Only right combination is important.

Unless one has gone through the karma yoga, he cannot succeed in sanyasa yoga. One, who does karma yoga, attains Brahman (Moksha) very soon.

 Jnani, who is full of actions (karma), is not bound by these actions. Karmas are necessary for attaining chittashuddhi - freedom from likes (raga) and dislikes (Dvesha). Mastery over senses does not mean restricting them. Closing the eyes to avoid seeing anything is not mastery. Having control over senses without preventing is the real mastery

Viveka Chudamani- 17/04/11

Acharya wants to highlight the various things that are not being taken care of by humanbeings.They should understand that getting Nara Janma is not as easy as one thinks.”Jantunam Nara Janma Durlabham”.Anyone subject to birth and death is a Jantu including devas.The only difference between devas and us is that the gap between birth and death is longer in devas.To get Nara Janma papa and punya should be in equal measures.

Manusmruti says more Punya – Deva yoni, more Paapa – all other than humanbeings. Manusha yoni is called Mishra yoni – mixture of papa and punya in equal measures.

Punya Sukha kaaranam, Paapa Dukha Kaaranam. Here Dukha means dependence on others – Paravasham as sashtra says. Example elephants and lions –Though they are big and ferocious in their own way they have to depend on others for survival.

As human beings, we all are subject to punya and papa or sukha and dukha.Each one have their own set of dukhas and sukhas at their own level rich or poor, literate of illiterate.

Exceptions are
1.Jnani – because of his Purushartha 
2.Balaha – Child  
3.Unmattaha – mentally retarded or a mad

Of these three which is a better option? 1.Balaha – not in our hands 2.Unmattaha – one would not like to be. 3. Jnani seems desirable . so seek to be one.

Hence put your effort to be a jnani which is a state of mind. Mind is governed by Purushartha

and body is governed by Prarabda. Purushartha – means manliness not the physical entity .It is a quality where thinking dominates life.Lack of manliness means one is dominated by emotions-Heart.

Head represents thinking – Viveka and Heart represents emotions.

Emotions darken our thinking Viveka takes charge of our life.Thus head should rule our life.In general a female is led by emotions and male by viveka

Thus human being with purushartha quality is difficult but not impossible.

S.K.Lokanathan.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5- Koramangala

On 20 April'11, Swamiji continued  with the next slokas (5/6).

Both Karma Yoga and jnana yoga achieve the same result for the people who follow them truly.The person who understands this, sees the truth.

Anyone ,who wants Moksha,should go through karma yoga and jnana yoga just like one goes to college after schooling. Both are equally important and one is incomplete without the other.But there are exceptions.There are many cases where one has gone straight to jnana yoga from ancient times. Sukhamaharishi is a great example from puranas. Again, Vamadeva rishi, was a jnani even when he was in his mother's womb. In recent times, Ramana maharishi never did any karma yoga.

Shastra explains that the sequence of karma yoga and jnana yoga need not be completed in one janma.Also it is said that the sadhanas done in one janma is not lost and one starts from that level achieved in the earlier janma, in the subsequent birth. Going back to our earlier example,  This is similar to a student ,who has completed his schooling in Mumbai, starts his college education at Bangalore, when he shifts himself there.He does not ( need not) repeat his schooling again. 

Karma yoga prepares one for Jnana yoga.But one cannot really find out when he has completed his karma yoga  and qualified  for taking up jnana yoga. Without karma yoga, Samyasa (jnana ) yoga will be torturous. Anyone who is not qualified will never enjoy his job for which he is not suited. for example , a person who is very kind in nature, can never fit to be a butcher. 

In this world , there is nothing really good or bad. Only the combination makes any thing one way or other.While we can never tolerate the gutters, a pig will enjoy that surrounding , not a rose garden

Maandukya Upanishad

Maanduukya Upanishad comes under Atharva veda. This is one of the major Upanishads, credited to Maanduukya Rishi, (son of Manduka rishi). A number of commentaries (bhashyams) are written on this.

Swamiji started with explanation on word UPANISHAD

Upa + ni= shad
upa and ni form preposition - meaning going closer to guru or shastras
Shad is root (Dhatu) carrying three meanings

Visharanam  - Loosening – to destroy ignorance which is like a hard rock or a concrete block. We need to hammer continuously to loosen the rock.

Avasanam  - destruction - removing the Ajnana after loosening.

Ghathi – Saadya Prapti. Reaching the goal 

Saadyam means Goal - Aham Brahamasmi which is to be realised by human being

Then started the sloka  Om ityetad aksharam idam

Here Omkara is chosen as a means to explain how Brahman is all pervasive.

Thru Omkara vichara we enquire the phrase" Sarvam khalvidam Brahma"

Omkara is comprised of 3 letters Aa + Au + Ma

As per Panini Aa is the first letter. When one opens the mouth Aa is the first sound that comes out. Similarly Ma is the last sound that closes the mouth. like Ramam and Krishnam. Au kara represents all other in between letters. Thus in Aum all alphabets are included.

Thus saying Aum in front of deity with bhava and shraddha is like providing raw materials to Bhagvan and asking to compose a prayer to any form. Thus Aum becomes the best name to remember God.

Much thought and work has been done by the great grammarian Panini in structure of alphabets in the form of 14 Sutras..Thus in some temples in the north India you may hear prayers in form of only alphabets where these 14 sutras being chanted. Like whole prapancha can be divided into 3 Kalas – Past, present and future omkara also has 3 Matras  Aa represents the Past, Au represents present and Ma represents the future.

For any Nami to be in existence Nama should be there. Thus Bhagavan is inseparable from his Nama. While whole Universe is created by Him. It is to be understood He is the Creator as well as Creation Himself. Thus both are one and same. He is manifesting as Jata. Thus Bhagavan is in form of Bhuta Bhavishya Atma tattvam which is beyond time and space So also is Omkara.

The class on Maandukya Upanishad started on 6 April ’11. As this requires detailed explanations, the weekly bulletin on this topic will Not be there any further. Those who are interested are welcome to attend the classes at Jnana Sanjeevani Medical Centre, 1^st “A” cross, Marenahalli, J.P.Nagar 2^nd Phase. on Wednesdays evening 6-30 P.M

Sender - S.K.Lokanathan

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 - Koramangala

Swamiji has recently started with the fifth chapter -"Samyasa Yogah".

Bhagavan has given His full advice to Arjuna in the second and third chapter. Had Arjuna understood that, then Bhagavad Gita would have ended there. As Arjuna was not convinced fully , he raises a question so that he could run away from the war.

His question was " When Jnana Yoga is the best, why do you ask me  to do Karma Yoga, Oh Krishna? "

Bhagavan said that even though both were considered good, Karma Yoga was better. One who is above the likes (Raga) and dislikes (Dvesha)  is called Nitya Sanyasi and he easily gets out of samsaram. Bhagavan explains further.

On 13 April '11, Swamiji taught the meaning of sloka  3 & 4.

Samyasa  is the fourth ashrama in the vedic system, which aims at a high goal (Moksha). Other Ashramas aim at Dharma,Artha, Kama, purusharthas, which have their limitations. Arjuna  wanted to avoid day to day unpleasant duties ,and did not aim at Moksha in taking to Samyasa. This was not encouraged  by Bhagavan. He wanted Arjuna to adopt internal Samyasa , while doing his duty and not running away. Shastra does not approve the external show, Ravana adopted the role of sanyasi only to get Sita out of the hut. One who polishes his/ her likes  and dislikes and not affected, is a nitya sanyasi.

Sankyam,Jnana yogam, sanyasam are all synonymous. Jnanayoga and karma Yoga cannot be compared as they are different in nature. Karma yoga is the stepping stone for Jnanam. Swamiji  told about the story which Pujyasri  Dayananda Saraswati used in his lectures. A miser who went to a hotel for the 'vadai' , about which everybody was praising. As the vadai was tasty and he was hungry, he ordered seven vadais , one after the another. He was fully satisfied with the last one and he was no more hungry. He got the bill for what he ate. But he argued with the cashier, that he was satisfied only with the seventh one and he would pay only for that.

Just like this story, one cannot get  to Sanyasa (Moksha) without going through the Karma yoga .

The class is held every Wednesday from 11-30 A.M to 12-30 P.M at 453, 8th Main, 4th Block Koramangala, Bangalore-560034. All are welcome to attend

Viveka Chudamani

After completing the classes on Bhagavad Gita, Swamiji started the class on Viveka Chudamani at Jnana Sanjivini Medical centre, J.P.Nagar..The gist of the class of 4th April 2011  is given by Sri. S.K Lokanathan.

The class began with the invocation Sloka of Viveka Chudamani.

समाप्ति कामो मंगलं आचरेत्

samāpti kāmo maṁgalaṁ ācaret

In any venture , we start with mangalam. In marriages, mangala dwani is in playing Nadaswaram. The mangala dwani of war is in blowing conches and beating of drums. Mangalam is in trusting the unknown power to shower his  grace for the occasion.

In this invocation, Shankaracharya invokes the blessings of his guru, Govinda Bhagavadpada as well as the grace of Lord Govinda. He salutes Lord Krishna, the parambrahma  who is both accessible  and inaccessible – gocharam & agocharam. God is to be known through the scriptures (Vedas). One’s mind cannot grasp the Atma Tatvam, without the blessing of Chaitanyam.

Sadguru is Brahma Vidya Pradaata and he teaches the Brahma Vidya.

Viveka Chudamani class is held every Sunday between 9-30 A.M. to 10-30 A.M at Jnana Sanjeevani Medical Centre, 1^st “A” Cross, Marenahalli, J.P.Nagar 2^nd phase. The gist of the class will be given in this bulletin every week. However, those who are interested to attend the class are most welcome.

Devayajna -Offering to God

Today , being the Janma day of Lord Rama, We give the details of formal announcement of Deiva yajna made on 3 April'11.
This is regarding the Anna neivedyam to Lord Arunachaleswara at our Ashram.
Swamiji told about the importance of Pancha yajna.   In this present day situation, where people are regulated by their office duty timings., it is a bit difficult to perform the Deiva yajna without fail. Based on the "Pidi Arisi " scheme of Maha periaval Sri Chandrasekara Saraswati, Swamiji has introduced this.
Everyday, before you cook the rice, one handful of rice is put separately in a bag, chanting the following Sloka.
OM Naha: Shivaya
Annam dadaami te sambho Arunachalavaasine!
Ambikesa prasaadena annapurna prasidatu!!
Om Arunachalaswamine namah Annam samarpayaami ! Om Tat Sat
Also one coin to be offered along with the rice.
Whenever the bag is full, it can be given to the temple. the rice will be used for daily neivedyam.
For this, the sloka booklet along with a bag is available at the ashram. All are invited to do the Deivayajna.  The bag full rice can be offered at the temple when you come for  the first Sunday class at the ashram. In case , you are not able to come to ashram , it can be given to your area volunteer.
All, who wish to participate in this, can write their wish in the comments column below. This way it is easier for us to co-ordinate.
Also you can contact Sri. Ramesh Saraf ( 26642713 / 9343831722 )
                                  Sri. V.Krishnamurthy ( 23313898 / 9902919611)

                                  Sri.N.D.Subramanian ( 23410493 / 9916087519 )

                                  Smt. Gita Kalyanasundaram (25504931 / 9902253184 )
Hari Om.

Rudraabhishekam on 3 April '11

The Tirtha yatra concluding puja and rudraabhishekam to Lord Arunachaleswara  was done on 3 April ’11. The abhishekam started at 10-30 A.M. Rudram and Chamakam were recited by many of the devotees . After the alankara to Lord, Swamiji read ashtrota namas and all repeated. After this, Swamiji gave his anugraha bhashanam, the gist of which is given below. After the mangala Arti and
theertha prasadam, all had the maha prasadam.

अन्यक्षेत्रे कृतं पापं तीर्थक्षेत्रे विनश्यति।

तीर्थक्षेत्रे कृतं पापं वज्रलेपो भविष्यति॥

anyakṣetre kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ tīrthakṣetre vinaśyati|

tīrthakṣetre kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ vajralepo bhaviṣyati||

This nice sloka tells the importance of tirtha yatra – Any paapam committed in other places is totally destroyed by visiting theertham but anyone in the theertha place commits paapam, it sticks like glue (vajra).

The tirtha yatra concept is an ancient practice in our society. This can be seen by the “kasi yatra” ritual in the marriages. In this connection, Swamiji mentioned the rajput marriage custom, where the mother of the groom vanishes after the Bharaat, only to get the promise from her dear son, that she will get her due respects and care from her son, after his marriage.

Himalayas and Uttarkhand are always referred as Deva Bhumi and Swamiji feels that the Thanjavur district Is a Devalaya Bhumi, with so many temples. He also expressed concern about the condition of the temples. Neglect of such great treasures will be great loss for the future generations. He concluded saying that temples are important for the society and society is equally important for the temple. He quoted Vidhura sloka which says that if tigers are not there, the forest will vanish and if the forest is not there, there will be no tigers.

Last but not the least, he mentioned that many yatrikas were not present and that one should consider that the yatra as completed only with the prayer to the Lord- as per our convention, with abhishekam to lord Arunachaleswara.