Hidden History!!!

Today in no mood to touch tradition. :-) lets try to learn from History.
 
In one of my previous posts, I was talking about my colleague to whom I asked some questions about god. Surprisingly same Guy came back to me, and now it was his turn!!! The Question was, 

Is Mahabharata real?? Isn't it only the story of a king and his family. Where is common man and his life style explained in it? Once my sister also asked similar doubt.

I was feeling like he is taking revenge for my previous questions!!! Then I gave a second thought, It was a very thoughtful doubt and I always enjoy them.

I replied, Basically it is not a documentation of whole Dwapara yuga, So expecting such minute details of common man life style is ruled out. In-spite of that, every ups and downs of a common man and his family are been addressed here as pandavas face different role and responsibilities. All credit goes to Vedavyasa!!!!

Why I took this topic today: In the current world where we hear "A guy and a girl cant be just best friends". Our mind presumes that they might be in love!!! 

I want to quote an Example of one of the finest and beautiful relationship. A relation between most gorgeous among women and a most attractive amongst men. Draupadi and Krishna. But still they did not have a thought of marrying each other. Draupadi single-mindedly followed the advice that Krishna gave and never wavered from her devotion to her husbands. They just had an unimaginably pure relationship. we have lot to learn from it.!!!

Secondly,
About the reality of the script. There are plenty of sub stories in Mahabharata. If you have a doubt on reality of the story, try to take essence of each sub stories quoted in it. Apply it in your life. Experience it. you will have answer by yourself..! Personally I learned a lot from character of Krishna and his thoughts, Karna and his bad mistakes!! sometimes I wonder on how beautifully each situation conveys a message of life.

There is a famous saying, Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.!

Thanks for reading..:-)

Forgetten Truth, A Money Maaya!!!

Today lets talk about Wealth.. Everyone's Pleasure "Money".


    Like Children's day, Teacher's day, Sports day, In our Tradition "Money" Day is also celebrated. Yes, I am talking about Akshaya tritiya. From years, It is believed that on this auspicious day the wealth will get multiplied, Never diminish (Akshaya)!!! so rush to the jewellery, hit or get, bring some gold home (as gold symbolizes wealth). Especially women, so eager to get the long time pending jewels to come home :-)

 You think Akshaya tritiya meant for this????!!!!

Certainly, your answer may be a hard "NO!". let me come to the actual reasons later, if it is a "Yes". Then, it is a big reason of worry. I said Akshaya means "Never diminish" right, you are not just bringing wealth to your home, along with it you bring, your never satisfying "Greed", "I", "Mine", selfish attachment with that wealth which takes you no where.!!!! this selfishness never diminish.

Do you really need that??? Come, lets list out the real, worthy facts about your "Money" day..

Historically,

  1. Yudishtira receives Akshaya paatre on this day by Lord Surya. (So the name Akshaya)
  2. More importantly, Scripting of Epic Story, Mahabharatha Started on this day by Ganapathi narreted by lord Vedavyasa.
  3. Most importantly, Lord Parashurama took birth same day.
  4. Krishna visits to Sudhama's home
  5. Finally, Its the day Kubera is appointed as the Wealth God after Lakshmi.

These are some of the reasons why it is so auspicious. If Know the background of each of these reasons. you realize that, it is not the money behind it. Dont know from where the Gold factor got attatched to this day!!!

Vedic scriptures say that knowledge gained or charity done on Akshay Tritiya is very fruitful.

Speciality of this day,
 Any personal work with a good intention is to be started, start straight away this day without consulting an astrologer.
 Like this, there are 3 more days which doesnt require a second thought to start a good work, and astrologically auspicious

  1.Yugadi.
  2.Vijaya Dashami. (Dasara)
  3.Half day of Bali paadyami. (Deepavali)
 
 Personally I feel, Giving is the real Wealth. No Money,No Gold can equalize the wealth of it.!!!! Develop a habit of giving on these festive days. You never get a feeling of loosing something, Instead you experience a breath of satisfaction in giving something.

I Wish your deposit of real wealth multiplies every day!!
Thanks for Reading.. :)

What to Offer God, who Has Everything within!!!!

Why we offer FIRE while pooja?? what pooja actually is? why fire is used most of the times while offering god??


We Know that the supreme god has everything and doesn't expect anything from us, but then why we must offer POOJA to him.?

Yesss!, He Needs nothing from us. It becomes our duty to offer something from our end to the person who is helping us every moment.!. Honestly telling, Don't offer something to god just because it is written in some holy script or somebody says to do it, Offer him because He is the reason behind everything.

Ok, Offering make sense, Now, What to offer? Why our religion scripted to use FIRE in the first place for Pooja? .

While offering someone, we follow an untold rule that, The thing which we are offering should be a equalizer to his current status. Meaning, if he is a teacher we get a book of his interest. For a sportsman may be a track suite etc etc. But What to gift A person who is omnipotent.??? 

Our ancestors found an Interesting thing which by itself shown characteristics of Omnipotent. The FIRE. 
It can Prepare and Destroy. Burn and Build. Every living being need this fire in the form of SUN. Everything needs its very presence.

Summary,
Fire is just a  representation of a simple yet powerful thing which a every individual (no matter you are poor or rich) can offer to a most superior one. While doing the pooja this should come to our mind, that "Even though I am unable to offer everything I have to you, but take this, and burn my ego destroy my selfishness prepare me to face worst of the situations build me for the best of the society"


Thanks for reading :)

Fasting a Testing!!

Does fasting make you weak?? or it strengthens your body?? It has anything to do with mental stability?


Wherever you are, whichever religion you follow, whatever your profession is remember this one of the golden rule "Reserve A day to brain and a day to your stomach of complete rest in a fortnight". I bet, every tradition has a statement alike. further I personally believe the first day of every fortnight should be a rest to brain, i.e, Don't try to learn anything new by intention. and 11th day of fortnight should be given rest to stomach and other digestive organs. Means a Fast. Everybody needs a rest!! so as your organs. nothing special to quote for this, but still there are some major reason to why we have to fast on the that day.

As per our Hindu religion, its called Ekadashi (meaning 11th day), It symbolizes to have control over 11 things. 5 sensory organs + 5 motor organs + Mind, to channelize towards your goal. Spiritually saying, towards God. Not eating food a complete day is the toughest thing anyone wants to do. Idea behind is, On this day whenever we think of the eating something, we forcibly made to think of God and control your hunger. This habit unknowingly builds an ability in us, and makes us to control our mind. In everyone's life there will be situation where we know that the path we are moving is not the right one but still we tend to continue same path due to the instantaneous pleasure it provide and forget the goal we want to achieve.

 Some follow fasting in the name of sankashta chaturthi once in a month. which is is also a good practice. but still I suggest to follow the above one!! :-)

And about the rest to our brain, I have not come across a specific reason why it has to be first day of fortnight yet. If anybody knows pls comment on this post or provide a link of reference.

Thanks for reading.. Happy Fasting.. :-)

Crazy Castes

Basically what is caste.? what is its very meaning? what might be its origin!!!

Think of a situation where there are no caste system built around us.! People are busy in minding their own business.  Definitely the interest of every individual varies. Also surprisingly for some, interests matches with some others. Consider 100 people around us divided into chunks depending on their likings , say 10 groups, some group likes to Teach, some protects, some are business minded, and some likes to do service and maintenance etc. It will then become usual practice to call the group of people to which they belong by their group name.!!!

Exactly in same way the caste system originated. In olden days the group of people who were teaching good things were called "Brahmanas", one who Protected the society called as "Kshatriyas" etc.. Gradually each group divided into many sub divisions depending on the thinking and occupation they do. Now we have whole lot of castes in-front of us as every subdivisions evolved it its own way.

So basically the word "Caste" refers to what you are doing, what is your status and contribution to society. its not just caste of your father defines yours. If one follows the way their ancestor used to follow then its perfectly fine, if not then you are out of that caste. It requires a common sense and mind of acceptance.

Now the situation has come where the question of caste come only at the time of marriages!!. Its my humble request to change your thoughts on the caste system built by our ancestors. Don't quarrel in the name of castes. Understand that we are divided by thoughts. Caste is just a System, should not become an Issue.!!

Think, which is your caste!!!!!??? do U really belong to the one you are claiming to be!!?
 
Thanks for reading.. :)

Success In Bheemasena's words.

Once discussing with my colleague I raised an unusual, rather a simple question "whether you believe in god?".
He paused for a minute and replied "sometimes yes, and sometimes No!!".. Most expected answer.. but still I reacted to his reply quite unusually, I said "what!!!, why is that so??".. He replied, "whenever I ask something to him he fulfills only few of them"... I seriously felt bad!!.. and my straight forward reply was, "See dude, you are servant of god not the other way!!, may be to prove this again n again he doesn't give everything you ask for!!!".

Problem

• Problem here is the "thought behind it". We just ask, if not fruitful we again ask, still if its not the expected one, we finally point out the god!!!. 

Solution

We forget that Actually the Result of every act is a product of effort and god grace. In Bheemasena's words,
the success is defined as a product of
    1.Goodness of the Intention.
    2.Actual Effort - you should try to reach your limits.
    3.God's Grace.
If one amongst the three is zero, the product is zero!!!

The message conveyed here is, before pointing to the god you must sincerely carry out your duty and then rest should be left to the supreme.

Aacharagala Vichara.

Sashtanga Namaskara to whom and Why???
(steping towards to know simple reasons behind our tradition)

Meaning

• Most superior way of saluting someone.

• Involves Heart, Head, Eyes, Mind, Words (tongue), Legs, Hands and Knees – since namaskara (prostration) is done with these eight parts, it is known as “Ashtanga Namaskara”
  

•  Two hands, Two legs, Two arms, Chest and Forehead, touch the ground while saluting.
  For ladies its just a Panchanga namaskara (Two hands, Two legs and Forehead). 
   

To Whom:

1. Supreme God
2. Parents
3. Gurus (Teachers)

Concept Behind It:

• Mentally,It is an act of being extremely thankful to them, since whatever we are now is all because of them.
• Phisically, It is an act of showing "I am no way greater than you, so I am grounding before you"
• There are other ways to salute someone, but sashatanga refers to the most important contributors for our life.

Why,

• To the God, Since he is the creator of this Universe & Providing every need of our life.
• Parents, Doesnt need a reason to give I guess :-)
• Finally Guru, Ppl say Knowledge is power. A teacher empowers us by sharing valueable knowledge, in every step of our life. Induces the thirst to more and be knowledgeable.

Note: There is a must and should rule that for above 3, the salutation must be always "Sashtanga Namaskara". For other it can be panchanga or just abhivadana.


Intention of this post is to bring it to action. Its not just for Information!!!!

Reference: Krishnamruta maharnava.