tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78303921232643711172024-03-05T21:02:36.386+05:30A Telugu Guy's BlogA Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-54753061005476764812011-09-10T11:20:00.000+05:302011-09-10T11:22:16.744+05:30Rama and Sita are inseperable (Same as Siva and Sakti being inseperable)When one thinks of the Sun, he thinks of its radiance, its brightness. Just as brightness and the Sun can never be dissociated, so too can Sita and Lord Rama never be viewed separately, and should not be viewed separately, said V.S. Karunakarachariar in a discourse. Rama with Sita is benevolent. Rama without Sita is dangerous.<br />
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Whenever He killed, it was when Sita was not beside Him. He killed Tataka, Subahu, Vali, Ravana and Kara and Dooshana, when Sita was not beside Him. He did not kill Kakasura because Sita was with Him at the time. This is a very interesting episode, which highlights the importance of approaching Rama when He is with Sita. Ravana's sins of coveting another man's wife and then carrying Her away were unpardonable. But even he did not cause Sita any bodily harm.<span id="fullpost"><br />
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<!-- adsense -->Kakasura, on the other hand, pecked at Sita's breast. When compared with Ravana's act of kidnapping Sita, Kakasura's sin is more serious. Yet Kakasura was spared by Rama, who only blinded him in one eye. How did Kakasura get away with a mild punishment? The answer lies in the fact that Sita was beside Rama, when Kakasura surrendered to Him. In fact, even this Saranagati (surrender) of Kakasura was deficient, for instead of placing his head at the Lord's feet, the demon placed his feet at the Lord's feet. This is not the way to surrender, for the act of surrender must be done with humility, by placing one's head at the feet of the Lord. Sita, noticing that Kakasura had not surrendered as required, turned him over so that his head now rested near the Lord's feet. Thus it was through Sita's act of kindness that Kakasura was saved.<br />
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Rama is the Lord of the universe, yet it is the presence of Sita that makes Him our protector. Rama is every inch a king, and the way Rama sits on His throne indicates His Supremacy. Such is His bearing. But Rama is like a cool ocean. Just as we retire to the seaside on a hot day and find the sea breeze soothing, so can we approach Rama, for His mercy will rid us of the heat from our sins. The feeling of safety we get in His presence comes from the fact that Sita is beside Him.</span><br />
A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com1Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India16.29851 80.43364716.237548 80.354683 16.359472 80.512610999999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-63652431242215293412011-08-12T22:40:00.001+05:302011-08-12T22:41:10.491+05:30Rama and the vision of lifeAll of us have read or at least know about the Ramayana. But do we understand its vision? Even those who were present at that time and watched the events unfold would get deluded by the spell of maya (illusion). They could gain clarity only by listening to the story of Rama again. Like Parvati, who saw Rama lamenting Sita’s absence and wondered how He could be the Lord if He also cried and felt sad like ordinary mortals. Her doubts and delusion were cleared after listening to the story of Rama (Ramkatha) in detail from Lord Siva.<br />
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It is not enough just to listen to the story or watch a television serial on Ramayana. Serious thinking on what is heard is important. If a student goes to a medical college, we expect him/her to come out a doctor, not a patient. Similarly, if you study the Ramayana, you must become like Rama and not Ravana. It is Rama’s vision of life that is the true vision of Ramayana, which we must comprehend.<span id="fullpost"><br />
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Everyone has a vision of life, whether it is couched in philosophy or not. A person’s behaviour, actions and reactions are based on his vision and values. An atheist who does not believe in God, scriptures or saints, and thinks that this body and the world around is all there is, will naturally value money and pleasures more than anything else. His goal in life will be to earn money and enjoy life.<br />
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This importance attached to money is reflected even in our everyday language. We hear many women say, "I don’t work, I am only a housewife." The never-ending work done by her does not earn any money directly; hence it is not considered work! This is because we value money. Work that does not pay is not considered work. This is how our values are decided by our vision of life. Higher vision of life triggers questions like, “Who is this God I am serving?” and “What is the purpose of my life?”<br />
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<!-- adsense -->The thirst for self-knowledge arises. On analysing life we find that the Lord alone dwells in all people, all creatures, all things. We will, therefore, not develop hatred even towards our foes and detractors. This is the vision of life we should have. Lord Rama’s vision of life offers us a standard against which we can measure ourselves and improve. Even his enemy, Maricha, said: “He is the very embodiment of dharma.” Dharma is that which integrates and creates harmony within us, in our inner being, outside, in our family, and so on. If we hold on to dharma, it will protect us. It is said, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for everything.” If you don’t have any higher values or goals in life, you will fall easily. It is said that knowledge is our friend in our travels, the spouse is our friend at home, medicine is the friend for the ailing and dharma is our friend after death.<br />
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In the Kishkindha Kanda of Tulsi Ramayana, we find many gems of wisdom embedded in the poetry. Some verses describe the monsoons. The search for Sita had to be halted during this period. Rama and Lakshmana lived in a cave on the Pravarshana mountain. They did not play cards or hunt to while away their time. Rama used to tell Lakshmana kathas (stories) — their conversation increased devotion and dispassion; they talked about how a king should live and rule his kingdom, and about common sense, which is so uncommon.</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-41949670032224077472011-08-11T20:17:00.000+05:302011-08-11T20:17:34.669+05:30The impact of not worshiping Goddess Parvati before worshiping Lord SivaThe Karthika women, who brought up Lord Subrahmanya, went to the abode of Lord Siva, and requested Him to teach them the ashta siddhis. The Lord agreed. But while they showed a keenness to learn the use of these ashta siddhis, they ignored an important instruction of His, namely, that they should first worship Goddess Parvati, before they worshipped Him.<br />
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Lord Siva was going to be their guru. And it is imperative that anyone seeking instruction should obey the guru implicitly. But the Karthika women, by ignoring Parvati, did not pay heed to the instruction of their guru, namely, the Lord Himself. So the Lord said that they would forget the siddhis that He taught. They would have to go to Earth and become stones there. They would be liberated from that state by the Lord Himself. Thus the six women went to the Earth, and became stones in a place called Pattamangai. The place is in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu, and is now known as Pattamangalam, said Raghubai in a discourse.<span id="fullpost"><br />
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<!-- adsense -->Under a banyan tree the women lay as stones for thousand years, and the stones were covered with falling leaves. The Lord then took the form of a gnani, and came to the banyan tree. He cast His merciful glance on the women turned to stones, and they came to life at once. What a miracle it was, like iron turning to gold! The women were lucky to have had the Lord's eyes rest on them. This is known as nayana deeksha. The Lord then put His hand on their heads. Thus they also got sparsa deeksha- deeksha by touch. Then the Lord taught them the eight siddhis.<br />
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The eight siddhis give one the power to take any form, to traverse all worlds, to make a light object heavy and vice versa, to control the planets, to subjugate even the celestials. These powers were conferred on the women by the Lord. However, He added that those who were His true devotees, would never use any of these powers. These powers would follow them as their own shadows, and reveal the greatness of such devotees to the world.<br />
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The Karthika women thus afford an example of what happens to those who ignore Parvati. The Lord and the Goddess are both to be worshipped for worship to be meaningful.</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-63186601155090871572011-08-01T19:49:00.000+05:302011-08-01T19:49:07.836+05:30King Mahabali is a MahatmaMahabali, the king who was sent to the netherworld by Lord Narayana, was a rare person, one who can be called a mahatma, said B. Sundar Kumar. He may be called a mahatma for many reasons. He had promised Vamana that he would give Him whatever He desired, and when it came to bending his head before the Lord, who had expanded from the little Vamana to the enormous Trivikrama, Mahabali did not hesitate to offer his head as the next place for the Lord to put His foot on.<br />
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When Vamana approached Mahabali and asked him for land that He could measure with three steps of His feet, Mahabali washed the Lord's feet. The water that washed the Lord's feet was later to become the sacred Ganga. Mahabali was blessed to wash the Lord's feet. How many are so blessed?<span id="fullpost"><br />
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On Mahabali's head the Lord placed His foot. What greater fortune can there be than this?<br />
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Mahabali was a man who had great guru bhakti, and never went against his guru Sukracharya's words. Mahabali was so obedient to his guru that the latter gave him a golden chariot.<br />
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<!-- adsense -->Yet, when Sukracharya warned him not to pay heed to Vamana for, Sukracharya suspected that something untoward was going to happen, Mahabali did not obey his guru. He, who had never gone against his guru's wishes, ignored him on this one occasion, for to obey his guru would have meant that he would have had to break his promise to Vamana, and Mahabali was never one to break a promise. Mahabali had the support of his wife in his act of generosity to Vamana. She stood by him when he kept his promise to the Lord. How many are blessed with such a wife? Only a mahatma is so blessed.<br />
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It is our duty to behave in such a way that we earn the approbation of our forefathers. Mahabali pleased his grandfather Prahlada so much that the latter gave Mahabali a garland of never fading flowers.<br />
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He who is indifferent to wealth and women is a mahatma. Mahabali was a king, who was prepared to give away everything he possessed. Only one with supreme detachment to wealth would be willing to part from all that he owned. Thus Mahabali was a mahatma in this sense too.</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-19710181574475687532011-07-21T15:04:00.000+05:302011-07-21T15:04:19.525+05:30Reaching God through various meansLord Krishna tells Arjuna that devoting one's entire mind and heart to Him is the essence of Bhakti Yoga. When with this involvement one also seeks refuge in Him, one will gradually understand His infinite greatness without any trace of doubt and thereby gain the highest spiritual experience, Bhakti.<br />
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In a lecture, Nochur Sri Venkataraman pointed out that Bhakti is something already inherent in the mind and heart of the individual soul. But with the appearance of the sense of I and Mine, the individual becomes involved with the world. When this involvement is directed towards God, it becomes Bhakti and this is the state of mind of saints and realised souls.<span id="fullpost"><br />
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In the Bhagavata Purana , Yudhishtira asks Narada how Sisupala, who displayed open enmity to Lord Krishna, attained salvation instead of getting punished. Narada replies that God waits for some kind of relationship with Him who is the Antaryami, even if the relationship hinges on hatred.<br />
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Sisupala's enmity to Krishna occupied his mind with such tenacity that he never forgot his sworn enemy. Because of this association, he merged with the Lord in a dramatic manner when Krishna was honoured for His pre-eminence during the Rajasuya Yaga performed by Yudhishtira.<br />
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<!-- adsense -->Narada also explained the story of the gatekeepers of Vaikunta, Jaya and Vijaya, who were cursed and sent away from their posts for preventing the sages Sanat Kumaras from seeing the Lord. They regretted their mistake and opted to fulfil the curse through three consecutive births when they would seek God by showing enmity to Him. Their births show that it is easy to think of God constantly as an enemy.<br />
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In like manner, God can be reached through love, fear, friendship or kinship. The Gopis sought God through love and were steeped in Krishna to the extent of forgetting their own status and position. Kamsa's thoughts dwelt on Krishna, propelled by fear ever since he became aware of the prediction of his death. The Vrishnis sought Him through kinship, while the Pandavas' friendship with Krishna was tantamount to Bhakti.</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-20970370017909914182011-07-17T10:51:00.001+05:302011-07-17T13:33:44.050+05:30How to use your wealth in a wise mannerThere is a deep-seated desire for wealth in every individual and sastras accept wealth as a legitimate aspiration. It is included in the four main goals of life (Purusharthas) — righteousness (Dharma), wealth (Artha), desire (Kama) and liberation (Moksha). Scriptures teach us to evaluate wealth in philosophical and secular terms, said Srimati Prema Pandurang in a lecture.<br />
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Though renunciation is the ideal to be practised in one's lifetime for the attainment of salvation, wealth is shown as necessary for worldly upkeep. Scriptures teach us that wealth has to be earned by rightful means and warn us of its dangers. An excess of wealth can make one inebriate, become a constant worry and, if put to wrong uses, can destroy one's peace of mind.<span id="fullpost"><br />
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When Bali began an Asvamedha Yaga to gain mastery over the worlds, the Lord incarnated as Vamana and approached Him for alms. Bali was impressed by the handsome youth and was willing to give him whatever he wanted. The boy wanted only that much of land he could cover with three paces. Sukracharya warned Bali not to give all in haste. His insightful advice at this juncture is practical and teaches us how to use wealth in a wise manner. Charity should not endanger one's life and livelihood.<br />
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<!-- adsense -->Wealth has to be used for the practice of one's religion. A part of our earnings has to be set aside for selfless acts that will bring us fame even after we die — such as protection of the scriptures, cows, etc. Acts of charity for the purpose of people's welfare, for the family and for the needy are also encouraged. This paves the way for the growth of a welfare society. There are long-term benefits as well for those who engage in such deeds — for their generous acts take care of their well-being in this world and hereafter. Such is the power of righteous deeds.<br />
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But Bali had already committed himself to the youth and found himself shorn of the immense wealth that had been his just a minute ago. He had to offer his head in all humility to fulfil his promise. This shows that wealth is slippery especially when one lacks humility.</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-5579931469690702012011-07-14T11:39:00.000+05:302011-07-14T11:39:53.731+05:30The story of Lord Siva as bangle sellerOnce Lord Siva took the form of one involved in penance and appeared before the wives of sages. He looked so handsome that it seemed the God of love, Manmatha, himself had come as a sage. The women ran towards Him. Their hearts melted at His sight. Such was their anxiety to make acquaintance with Him, they lost their weight instantly and their bangles slipped off! They then asked Him to return the bangles.<br />
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Lord Siva then indulged in some teasing conversation with them. They then looked into His eyes and saw images of some women in His eyes. The women were none other than these women themselves but they were unable to discern this. So they requested Him to hold their images in His eyes too.<br />
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The Lord replied that a handsome man could be seen in their eyes too, but they must have the capacity to discern this.<span id="fullpost"><br />
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What He meant was that the Lord resided in everyone but only realised souls were aware of this.<br />
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<!-- adsense -->The women then tried to embrace Him, but He eluded their hug, for He can be caught only in the net of bhakti. He is easily approached by His devotees but not by others, said Raghu Bai, in a discourse.<br />
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The women asked the Lord when He would return their bangles and He promised to return them soon. They tried to embrace Him, but He vanished.<br />
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The sages, whose wives had thus seen the Lord but failed to recognise Him, knew that the One who had appeared before them was Lord Siva.<br />
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Yet the sages' wives had sinned in trying to embrace someone other than their husbands. So the sages cursed their wives and said they would take another birth and that Siva would rid them of their curse.<br />
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The women were reborn accordingly. And when they attained marriageable age, Lord Siva appeared before them as a bangle seller. He displayed the bangles He had, and when He slipped them on the hands of the women, they had goose bumps. He then revealed His true form, and He ascended in a vimana.<br />
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As for the women, they were rid of their curse, because they were touched by the Lord, and thus rendered pure.</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-8245643425362505362011-07-12T22:23:00.000+05:302011-07-12T22:23:14.081+05:30True bhaktiThe Tamil poet Kambar said of Rama, that those who saw His shoulders, continued to see only His shoulders.<br />
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Those who saw His feet saw nothing else. But this is not a matter of surprise, for who can see the Infinite One in His entirety?<br />
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Every aspect of Him is enough to hold our attention forever. So where is the question of our turning our attention from one aspect of the Supreme One to another aspect of His? Can He be comprehended so easily?<br />
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One would think that if a person could see nothing but His shoulders, there must be some defect in the person's vision. But Kambar describes those who saw Rama as having sharp vision.<span id="fullpost"><br />
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The fault was not theirs. The reason for their focus lay in the greatness of Rama. What they saw was so great, that taking in everything was impossible.<br />
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<!-- adsense -->When we say we have seen the sea, do we mean that we have seen the sea up to its other end? What we mean is that we have seen a portion of it. If that is the case with the ocean, what of the One who made the oceans? Can we expect to see all of Him?<br />
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But He can be reached through love, said Damodara Dikshitar.<br />
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All He expects is a simple offering of flowers. Or if even that is not possible, then just a sloka that we know should do. If even that is not possible, then just love towards Him will do. But when we worship God, we must not place before Him a list of our demands.<br />
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In other words, our bhakti must not be to get something in return. We must expect nothing in return.<br />
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The joy that devotion towards Him brings knows no bounds. Devotion towards the Lord with a view to attaining something can never qualify as true bhakti.<br />
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There have been devotees like Tukaram, who did not even seek moksha as a boon from God. God is the embodiment of love. His body is made of love.<br />
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He can be reached only through love. He can be likened to a mountain in His greatness. And yet this mountain can be held in the fist of love.<br />
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The Omnipotent One submits to His humble devotees, who seek nothing from Him, and whose bhakti is not with a view to getting some boon from Him.</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-88072255375231868322011-07-11T12:05:00.001+05:302011-07-11T12:33:16.122+05:30Teachings on human conductThe Mahabharata lays emphasis on good conduct and virtuous behaviour. A deferential(i.e., courteous) attitude to the superiors, performance of yagas and sacrificial rites, adherence to truth, freedom from anger, pride, lust and avarice(extreme greed for material wealth) — are to be practised by those desiring to be virtuous.<br />
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Those who reflect upon the sense of the scriptures with patience and carefulness develop good behaviour, said Srimati Prema Pandurang in a lecture. They are devoted to the study of the Vedas and follow only the practices of the honest and the good.<br />
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But those who do not have faith in the Sastras tend to become self-indulgent and mock, belittle or ignore the tenets enjoined in the scriptures. If they thus fall into wrong ways, they invite their own downfall.<span id="fullpost"><br />
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<!-- adsense -->The Yaksha Prasna episode is a dialogue between a Yaksha and Yudhishtira. The questions have a bearing on the philosophical and metaphysical aspects that govern human nature and conduct. A vast range of subjects is covered and Yudhishtira, by virtue of his upright nature and adherence to the code of Dharma, is able to promptly answer the questions accurately. The dialogue is a manual for good living and an individual would gain insight into the matter of dealing with problems that may arise when he relates to family, society, and country.<br />
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The story of Rantideva teaches a valuable lesson in sharing and caring for fellow beings. He spent his entire wealth to feed the hungry and the distressed people during a famine.<br />
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He vowed to observe a fast for 48 days without food and water; and at the end of it, even at the risk of his own life, he did not hesitate to give up the last morsel of food and the drop of water that he was about to partake.<br />
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He stated that he did not seek the bliss or attainment of the eight siddhis or even freedom from the cycle of birth. His only desire was to empathise with the sufferings of beings and serve them so that their misery could be alleviated.<br />
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The Rig Veda hails the man who cares for the poor and the hungry, and asserts that not only will he really enjoy his food but his charitable and philanthropic acts will confer on him plenty of wealth and friends who would offer help in times of need.<br />
</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-80722197466114101822011-07-10T19:56:00.000+05:302011-07-10T19:56:45.104+05:30The people's grief upon the Lord's separationThe people of Ayodhya sensed Lord Rama's imminent departure (along with Sita and Lakshmana) to the forest when He began giving away His possessions as charity, in keeping with the practice of the times. They were shocked, disturbed and filled with grief.<br />
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Sage Valmiki describes this grief of the people in moving terms. He says the people feel extreme pain at the thought of the hardship inflicted on this protector of the world, as a tree which acquired flowers and fruits is damaged by injury caused to its root. If the root of a tree is affected, the tree falls; in a similar manner, the people depended on Rama as a root and His going away would render them rudderless since He is their supporter. Their anguish is similar to the one undergone by organisms in water when they are afflicted by water scarcity in summer.<br />
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The same sentiment is expressed in the context of Lord Krishna's departure from Gokula, said Sri B. Sundarkumar in a lecture. Akrura, an emissary of Kamsa, came to the land of the Vrajas to take Krishna and Balarama with him to Mathura to attend a bow festival at Kamsa's court. The entire country was unable to bear the separation.<span id="fullpost"><br />
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<!-- adsense -->The Gopikas became sorrow-struck at this turn of events. Even the trees began to stoop, the sun looked eclipsed, and the ponds withered without water. There was no life in nature. Krishna left behind not only the sorrowing Gopikas but also the grief-stricken animals and trees of the forests and was gripped by the thoughts of the Gopikas.<br />
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Rama then bestows parting gifts to Vedic scholars and their wives, the servants, children, the aged, and the poor. One brahmin named Trijata, is given an unusual gift — of cows filling a distance of many miles.<br />
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All those who received gifts from the Lord blessed Him a safe stay in the forest, wishing Him enhanced reputation, strength, delight and happiness. The people extol Rama's greatness.<br />
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Rama knew the taste of sovereignty and was one who could grant the desires to the desirous. Even then, because of his respect for virtue, he is careful not to transgress his father's words.</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-75771148035995762432011-07-09T14:50:00.000+05:302011-07-09T14:50:59.445+05:30Importance of EducationEducation helps us to realise our flaws and correct them. That is why Greek philosopher Diogenes observed that the foundation of every state is the education of its youth. Education helps a poor man come out of his poverty. As for the rich man, education becomes an ornament for him.<br />
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When the Gurukula system of education was prevalent in India, students served their teachers in their spare time, for the teacher was considered on a par with God Himself. Students from different strata of society studied under the same guru, and their years of study together led to a deep bond of friendship developing among them. And there can be nothing greater than friendship in this world, because friends do not bother about differences in status between them. Thus a poor Kuchela and Lord Krishna were friends. To Krishna, Kuchela's affection was all that mattered. Kuchela's poverty did not put Him off.<br />
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Education has a vital role to play in our lives, for not only does it impart knowledge and provide us with skills to make a living but it also teaches us the value of interpersonal relationships. We also learn the value of friendship in the course of our years of study.<span id="fullpost"><br />
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<!-- adsense -->If a person does not use the gift of sight to read, his eyes are of no use to him, says Thiruvalluvar. Knowledge we acquire in one birth will stand us in good stead for seven births. When we are in difficulty, our education and knowledge will come to our rescue.<br />
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When a man is learned, and can give us timely advice, or can help us in a moment of crisis, do we not look forward to meeting him and benefiting from his knowledge?<br />
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Those who seek the company of the learned are to be treated with as much respect as the learned themselves. The flame of a lamp is not huge, and yet we light lamps and worship them. A fire in a stove gives out a lot more heat than a lamp, but we do not give it the regard we give to the light from a lamp. Likewise, educated people may be small in physical stature, or they may be poor. But people will show them more regard than they would to a rich man who has no education.</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-4532499032173890772011-07-05T10:12:00.000+05:302011-07-05T10:12:45.065+05:30Sweetness of the Lord's name, RAMADasaratha had at first refused to send Rama to the forest with Viswamitra. It was Vasistha who convinced him to send his son with the visiting sage. Thinking of how Vasistha had done it so easily, Viswamitra was silent for the first few miles of the journey from Ayodhya. He then addressed Rama. What a sweet name is Rama!<br />
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Viswamitra was known for his anger. But even on his tongue, the name Rama sounded pleasing. Having composed the 24,000 verses of the Ramayana, Valmiki enjoyed their beauty. How could the verses not be beautiful when they were about Rama? The name Rama is simple to say, yet how potent it is! Recitation of the Lord's name will ensure peace of mind and all auspiciousness, said Adur Asuri Madhavachari.<span id="fullpost"><br />
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It is a name so simple, even a child can say it. In fact, the verses of the Ramayana are themselves easy to recite, unlike the verses of Srimad Bhagavata, which are far more difficult. To test the knowledge of a scholar, he is asked to recite the verses of Srimad Bhagavata, not the Ramayana, since the latter is easy to recite, and the former is not.<br />
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<!-- adsense -->The sweetness of the name Rama was such that Viswamitra, who thought of Sage Vasistha as his arch rival, still chose to use the name that Vasistha had given the Lord. Viswamitra could not think of a sweeter name than Rama. He had thought hard for a long time of what to call the prince of Ayodhya and concluded that there could be no substitute for the name Rama. Having decided to go along with the name Vasistha had chosen for the son of Dasaratha, Viswamitra continued to use the name. Hence, his famous words to wake up the Lord, in which he used the name Rama and elevated Kausalya by referring to Rama as her son.<br />
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Rama was a strict adherent of the dharmas. He never preached what He himself did not practise. His obedience to His parents, His refusal to go back on His word, His embrace of those who surrendered to Him, His righteous anger when needed — all these show His exemplary conduct. Rama is a name we should utter and Rama is the One who should be our role model in life.</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-22422785800733573102011-06-30T11:22:00.001+05:302011-06-30T11:22:33.219+05:30Dangers of wealthAt different times different things have been thought of as constituting wealth. There was a time when wealth was measured in the number of cows a man possessed. There was a time when only those with an abundance of gold or land were considered rich. The danger with wealth is that we get too attached to it, and then we are reluctant to let go of it. It becomes the most important thing in our lives, and we cannot have enough of it. We even think of relatives and friends as less important than money. That is why Adi Sankara, in his Bhaja Govindam warned of the dangers inherent in wealth. It is often wealth that makes children turn against parents and friends turn into enemies, Goda Venkateswara Sastrigal said, explaining Bhartrhari's Neeti Satakam.<br />
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When we earn money, we think it will bring us happiness. But does it? After we have earned money, we begin to think of ways of saving it. And then when we have thought of varying ways of saving it, we begin to worry if<span id="fullpost"> our investments are good ones. We wonder if we have saved enough. So it is not merely the earning of money that keeps us preoccupied and therefore keeps us from acquiring spiritual knowledge, it is also the saving of money that keeps us from spiritual pursuits. If in the past, when people did not have options for investment, they worried about keeping their gold or silver safe from thieves, the modern-day investor has worries relating to his investments. So wealth brings with it worry, and this has been true at all times.<br />
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<!-- adsense -->But the problem with wealth is not only for those who want to save; the problem is equally one of knowing how to spend and how much. Our attachment to money being great, often, after we have given in to an urge to spend, we begin to worry whether that was such a wise expenditure after all. We feel guilty about the money we have spent and lose sleep over an expense we now think we must have avoided. And yet, in spite of all this, we think wealth is what gives us happiness!<br />
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We do not understand, in spite of the words of warning of great seers, that the acquisition of spiritual knowledge is more important than the acquisition of wealth.</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-57800012911732610202011-06-29T20:18:00.000+05:302011-06-29T20:18:21.053+05:30Greatness of Vedas - Unfathomable VedasSage Bharadwaja spent his life studying the Vedas, and yet he felt he had more to study and know. Once he did penance, and when asked what boon he wanted, he replied that he wanted his lifespan extended by hundred years.<br />
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When asked why he wanted his lifespan extended for so long, Bharadwaja replied that he wanted to study the Vedas more thoroughly, and for that another hundred years were necessary. At the end of the extra hundred years, when Bharadwaja was asked what boon he wanted, he again asked for a further extension of his life by hundred years. And at the end of the second hundred years, he again asked for another hundred years. And at the end of the three hundredth year of his life, he asked for yet another extension. The Lord of the celestials then created three hills. From each of them, he picked up a fist of mud.<span id="fullpost"> He then said to Bharadwaja: “This is the extent to which you have studied the Vedas.” Thus even three hundred years of diligent study by a sage of the calibre of Bharadwaja was insufficient to master the Vedas. There is so much to learn and understand from the Vedas, said M.V. Anantapadmanabha chariar.<br />
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<!-- adsense -->The greatness of Bharadwaja is seen in many respects. And to understand his greatness, one has to begin with the story with Valmiki. Valmiki was himself so great a rishi that Sage Narada came in search of him. Bharadwaja was Valmiki's disciple. One day, when Valmiki had to go out for his daily rituals, he took Bharadwaja along. When they came to the Tamasa river, Valmiki said to Bharadwaja: “This river is clear and pure like the heart of great men.” Hearing the call of birds, he looked up and saw a pair of birds, happily chirping to each other. But just then a hunter's arrow struck the male bird, and it dropped down dead. Seeing the agony of the female bird, Valmiki cursed the hunter. Upon their return to the ashram, Bharadwaja told all the other disciples of Valmiki what had happened in the forest. Thus, he was the one to kindle their curiosity and make popular the first verse of Valmiki's. And if even such a great sage could not comprehend the Vedas fully in three hundred years, it shows the greatness of the Vedas.</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-84071560446529486162011-06-27T18:29:00.000+05:302011-06-27T18:29:26.865+05:30Lord Rama's commitment to truthThe Ramayana teaches the values of life and also demonstrates the ways to uphold them. Excellent conduct has been emphasised right from the inception of this epic when the sages Narada and Valmiki discuss the qualities that ennoble human nature. Was it not a cruel fate that left Dasaratha in a situation from which he could not escape? What could be more painful for him than to banish his beloved Lord Rama to the forest at the moment when he had planned His coronation with so much enthusiasm and joy?<br />
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The upheavals in the king's emotional state become manifest when he has to bid farewell to his beloved Rama, said Sri B. Sundarkumar in a lecture.When Lord Rama comes to see Dasaratha to take leave and also to get his permission to take Sita and Lakshmana along with Him, Dasaratha breaks down. In the presence of his wives, the distressed king told Rama that he was bound by a boon to Kaikeyi and that now Rama could win the kingdom from Dasaratha and become the ruler of Ayodhya. But Lord Rama promptly replied that truth should not be compromised and that He will fulfil the order and stay in the forest for fourteen years and come back to seek Dasaratha's blessings. Though Dasaratha died shortly after Rama's departure, he comes with the celestials to bless Rama after the defeat of Ravana.<span id="fullpost"><br />
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<!-- adsense -->Dasaratha then bid a tearful farewell with many auspicious blessings to Lord Rama. He wished that this journey would bring honour and fame to Him. Knowing Rama's truthful nature, he had to reconcile himself to the impending separation.<br />
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He felt very much for the fact that Rama would have to leave all the comforts and live an austere life in the forest. At the same time he appreciated the fact that Rama would never allow Dasaratha's name to be tarnished at any cost. He wished Rama would stay one night at least with them.<br />
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Rama reiterated that His only desire was to fulfil the banishment order. He had already relinquished this earth. He did not desire the kingdom or the happiness it brings. He reassured His father and asked him not to shed tears. Righteousness is the watchword in the Ramayana.</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-13184686630385387282011-02-04T22:24:00.000+05:302011-02-04T22:24:56.714+05:30Importance of FastingFeasting comes easily to us, since eating is one of the pleasures we never tire of. But fasting is what we should focus on, from the point of view of our spiritual well being, said V.S. Karunakarachariar.<br />
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But while cutting down on food may be good from the health point of view, how could it bring us spiritual benefits? When we fast, the Lord will be near us, and if He is near is, then we will not be troubled by bad thoughts.<br />
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That is why everyone is asked to fast for at least one day a month. Everyone must observe a fast on Ekadasi.<br />
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There are eleven culprits who trouble us — the five karmendriyas, the five gnanendriyas and our mind. That is why we are asked to fast on the eleventh day of every month, which is Ekadasi. It is no ordinary fast. We should not consume even water to quench our thirst. This is the best way to fast on Ekadasi.<br />
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<span id="fullpost"> <!-- adsense -->But what of those who are unable to do this? The injunction is that they should not eat rice. So maybe some compromises can be made. They could perhaps eat some fruits, or drink some milk. Or, in the event of their not being able to keep rice totally off their plates, they could break the rice and make porridge with the broken rice.<br />
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But what they should not do is to consume whole rice grains. Thus, while it would be better if one could observe a total fast, shunning even water, the rules can be relaxed for those who are unable to adhere to such a strict fast.<br />
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Everyone knows the story of Lord Siva consuming the Halahala poison, and of Goddess Parvati holding His throat and thus preventing Him from swallowing the poison.<br />
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Lord Siva says that He transferred the ill effects of the poison to the stomachs of those who ate rice on Ekadasi. We are asked to fast for just one day every month. That cannot be too difficult for us, can it?<br />
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The fasting will help us think of God, and not keep our attention on worldly things. Our mind tends to move in all directions, except the right one, and it requires practice and concentration for us to keep our minds on God. Fasting is one way to help us achieve this. </span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-22828345859707414602010-12-15T22:53:00.001+05:302010-12-15T22:55:41.267+05:30[ Tiruppavai/Thiruppavai/Tiruppaavai/Thiruppaavai ] - Download MP3 audio, text (PDF) in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalm, Sanskrit, English and Pravachanam in Telugu<b>Text in Telugu: </b>The following sacred texts are present in this pdf - <a href="http://www.pravachanam.com/tiruppavai/tiruppavai%20telugu.pdf">Link / Click here</a><br />
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Tiruppaavai (Telugu)<br />
Tiruppalliyezhuchchi (Telugu)<br />
Amalanaadipiraan (Telugu)<br />
Kanninun sirutthaambu (Telugu)<br />
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Podhu-thaniyankaL (English and Sanskrit)<br />
sARRumuRai (English and Sanskrit)<br />
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</div><b>MP3 Audio and Text in other languages:</b> Tiruppavai or Thiruppavai MP3 audio and text in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Devanaagari (Sanskrit) and Roman (English) languages can be found in the below webpage. This webpage also has many other important stotrams with both mp3 audio and text in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, etc.<br />
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<a href="http://www.prapatti.com/slokas/slokasbyname.html">http://www.prapatti.com/slokas/slokasbyname.html</a> (search - Ctrl+F - for 'tiruppaavai' in this webpage )<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Explanations and Pravachanams:</span></b><br />
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<b>Explanations in English</b>: Excellent explanation of each Pasuram line by line can be found in the below PDF:<br />
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<a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/sadagopan/sundarasimham/ebooks/Thiruppavai.pdf">http://www.ibiblio.org/sadagopan/sundarasimham/ebooks/Thiruppavai.pdf</a><br />
OR<br />
(same document as above) <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/99872/Thiruppavai">http://www.scribd.com/doc/99872/Thiruppavai</a><br />
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(Another different one) - <a href="http://www.sadagopan.org/dp/dp58-thiruppavai.PDF">http://www.sadagopan.org/dp/dp58-thiruppavai.PDF</a><br />
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<span id="fullpost"><!-- adsense --><b>Tiruppavai Pravachanam in Telugu </b>: Pravachanam is nothing but explaining in great detail with the help of stories from mythology and a great deal of other things in a very interesting manner and easy, simple to understand language. Excellent pravachanams in Telugu of Thiruppavai by various eminent personalities are present at the below webpage. Pravachanams of many other sacred texts are also present in this webpage:<br />
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<a href="http://www.pravachanam.com/tiruppavai/">http://www.pravachanam.com/tiruppavai/</a><br />
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In the context of pravachanams in Telugu, I would like to draw your attention to this below website:<br />
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<a href="http://www.srichaganti.net/">www.srichaganti.net</a><br />
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which hosts pravachanams of Sarada Gnanaputra Brahmasri Chaganti Koteswara Rao garu. His pravachanams are interesting, marvellous and easy to understand which renders them invaluable. I request you all to at least consider listening to SrimadBhagavatam or a pravachanam on your favorite deity/topic.<br />
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Wish you all a happy and spiritually enlightening Dhanurmasam or Margazhi.<br />
Om namO srI vEnkatAchalapatayE namaha<br />
Om namO vEnkatesAya.<br />
Om srI gOdAyai namaha<br />
Om srI mAtrE namaha</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-84108820970151185612010-05-12T23:12:00.001+05:302010-05-12T23:12:08.561+05:30The Lord is the only person who can show us the right path<p>During the incarnation as Krishna, the Lord asserts His Supreme Nature as and when necessary right from His birth. The entire incarnation teaches us the way to salvation by seeking His feet. </p> <p> </p> <p>Lord Krishna has many names, but as Arjuna's charioteer He is mostly known as Parthasarathy. Partha (son of Pritha) is one of the names of Arjuna and Kunti was originally known as Pritha. Pritha also means the earth and the name Partha can refer to all of us who are born in this earth. The Lord's teaching to Arjuna before the war is thus very pertinent to the whole human race at all times, said Dr. Sudha Seshaiyan in a lecture. </p> <p> </p> <p>When Arjuna had the privilege to choose between Krishna and His army, he rightly chose the Lord, who not merely steered his chariot to safety but also taught him the truths of the Upanishads. Arjuna also faithfully imbibed the essence of what the Lord taught.</p> <p> </p> <span id="fullpost"><!-- adsense --> <p>Arjuna symbolises the dilemma which each one of us face in our day-to-day life. We are all struggling to know the right path as we are generally deluded by the world's attractions and pulls. When engaged in worldly activities with attachment for material gain, we get entangled in the web of samsara. But only when we withdraw from worldly activities and are determined to pursue the path of knowledge, can we transcend samsara. Our ignorance prevents us to choose what is beneficial rather than what is pleasing. Our mind and intellect succumb to the senses that get attracted to the outside world. The Lord is the only person who can help us to overpower the horses (senses) and lead us to the ultimate goal.</p> <p> </p> <p>More than that, the Lord shows that He is a practical exponent of the path of Karma that He taught. His commitment to the task at hand went beyond the demands of driving the chariot with dexterity and with a shrewd grasp of war tactics to taking care of the horses and the chariot as well. It is said that Krishna tended the horses lovingly each evening after the war — bathing their wounds, feeding them and speaking soft words of comfort to alleviate the strain they underwent.</p> </span> A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-15350016492340699972010-05-01T00:17:00.001+05:302010-05-01T00:17:15.944+05:30God expects only simple worship from us!<p>We wrongly assume that God expects us to resort to difficult modes of worship, when actually He is waiting to show us mercy, if we just fold our hands before Him.</p> <p> </p> <p>In fact, if we undergo any difficulties in the course of our worship, Lord Narayana will shed tears for us. If we hurt, He will be hurt. And since our aim in seeking moksha is to serve Him and to delight in His happiness, we should not do anything that will make Him sad. </p> <p> </p> <p>To do difficult things that hurt us in some way is to doubt His grace, said M. A. Venkatakrishnan in a lecture. </p> <p> </p> <p>The word ‘namaha,' which we use to salute Him, means burden. When we use the word ‘namaha,' He sees the need to save us as an urgent obligation. And He becomes anxious to save us. </p> <p> </p> <p>In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says that He will ensure that the good things we already have will continue to remain, and that He will also grant more good to us. </p><span id="fullpost"> <p> </p> <!-- adsense --><p>In other words, what we have, shall be made lasting. What we do not have shall be given to us by Him. </p> <p> </p> <p>But instead of merely saying that He shall do these things for us, Krishna says in the Gita that He bears the burden of doing these things. </p> <p> </p> <p>Thus once we surrender at His feet, He feels obligated to save us, and this feeling of being obliged to save becomes almost a burden to Him. </p> <p> </p> <p>And yet, for Him to feel this way, we do not have to trouble ourselves in any way, or think of difficult penances. </p> <p> </p> <p>Just a folding of our hands before Him will do. So, simple worship is enough, for Him to grant us His grace. </p> <p> </p> <p>When He is so ready to give, need we torture ourselves, by resorting to difficult methods of worship? It is said that flowers of thorny plants should not be offered to the Lord. </p> <p> </p> <p>That is because, should a thorn prick our fingers, while we pluck the flowers, He will be unhappy. He gets hurt when a devotee is hurt. This being the case, how would He expect us to suffer in any way, in the name of worship? </p> <p> </p> <p>He is the embodiment of simplicity, and expects only simple worship from us.</p></span> A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-13289684154628398712010-04-08T19:34:00.000+05:302010-04-08T19:38:38.346+05:30Lord Srinivas's Mercy - The Only Saviour!We might think that those with wealth are lucky. Others may think that those with power or fame are wealthy. But the really lucky ones are those who think of nothing but Lord Srinivasa's mercy, said Valayapet Ramachariar.<br />
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They are like the chataka bird, which is different from other birds. It is, in fact, different from any living thing. Every living thing, animal, bird or human, needs water to sustain itself. And every one of these, bird, beast, or human being, will go in search of water to quench thirst. But the chataka bird will not drink any water, but rainwater. It will look up at the sky, and await the arrival of rain bearing clouds. And when they shed rain, the chataka bird will open its beak, and receive the rain water directly in its beak. Lucky human beings are those who, like this bird, are always looking to be recipients of the grace of Lord Srinivasa.<br />
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<span id="fullpost"><!-- adsense -->The Lord's mercy is certainly like life giving rains, because without His mercy, life becomes meaningless. But the rain that is His mercy, is different from the monsoon rains that we get every year. While the monsoon rains often wreak havoc, either by coming down in torrents, or not raining enough, His mercy is there in abundance, but is not shown in such a way as to cause us distress. His mercy is gentle, overlooking our faults, condoning our mistakes, if we only surrender to Him, and like the chataka bird, seek nothing but the comforting rain of His mercy.<br />
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When it has been a hot summer, we find the rains most welcome and refreshing, because the rains give us relief from the heat. The Lord's mercy gives us relief from the heat of worldly life. Worldly life is full of difficulties, and there can be no greater sorrow than to be born repeatedly, and go through the problems, trials and tribulations that are a daily feature of life.<br />
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Only the Lord's mercy can save us from these ills. If we think there are other means of liberation, we would only be fooling ourselves. So like the chataka bird, we must look only towards the pouring of the Lord's mercy. To receive this relieving mercy, we must surrender at His feet.<br />
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</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-75147705919960241522010-04-08T19:31:00.000+05:302010-04-08T19:31:31.459+05:30Religion has a place too!In a Tamil work of literature, a story is told of how a discussion was once organised, in which many scholars participated. One of them was a devotee of Lord Siva, and He described Siva's qualities to the assembled gathering. He said that Siva was seen in eight things- the Sun, Moon, the five elements- namely earth, space, water, air and fire, and also in all atmas. He has no death. He has no birth. He lasts always and always has the same qualities.<br />
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Devotees sing of Him. But He is beyond our reach and beyond description. True devotees of the Lord do not even seek moksha. All they want is to worship Him in temples. It is said, for example, that the Linga in the Madurai Meenakshi temple in Tamil Nadu, is older than even the Himalayas. When compared with other mountains in this world, the Himalayas are younger. The Himalayas are a recent formation due to tectonic activity,. So Madurai, the Lord's abode is even older than Mount Kailas. No wonder then that the Lord's devotees want to worship Him there, and even prefer places like Madurai and Chidambaram, famous for Lord Nataraja, the Cosmic Dancer, to moksha.<br />
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<span id="fullpost"><!-- adsense -->True devotees are so immersed in thoughts of Him, that to them all else in this world is unimportant, said K.Sambandan. If, while walking on the road, we were to see anything that glistens, our first reaction would be to think that it is perhaps a gold ornament that someone has lost. We may even try to take possession of it, if here is no one to claim it. But to one who has bhakti, a gold bar and a cake of mud have the same value. If such a one were to pass by a gold ornament, he would not even notice that it glistens. He will be indifferent to it.<br />
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And yet we cannot understand the Lord. That is because we try to analyse Him through our intellect. He can be known only through devotion, not through the intellect. Even scientists have professed their belief in God. Albert Einstein said, "Science without religion is blind." So while we must have regard for science, we must also realise that there are some things that even science cannot explain. So religion has a place too in life.<br />
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</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-82007733549696306472010-03-28T15:47:00.001+05:302010-03-28T15:49:30.590+05:30Pleasing Him is most importantWe should realise that our atma belongs to the Lord, therefore we should serve Him. To think the atma belongs to anyone else amounts to insulting God.<br /><br />If a queen begs, it is not so much an insult to the queen herself as it is to her husband, the king. Our aim must be to please God. We should not take pride in our service to the Lord.<br /><br />The Vaishnavite Acharya Ramanuja once asked those who took food offerings to Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam to show him the vessel of food, after they had placed it before the Lord in His sanctum sanctorum. The priests were puzzled.<br /><br />Ramanuja's request is a reflection of how we should think of offerings to God. Ramanuja asked them to show him the vessel because he was hoping that the Lord would have taken at least a little bit of what had been offered to Him.<br /><br />And when the Lord accepted the food offering, Ramanuja would be pleased. That is how we should feel about our offerings to God, said M.A. Venkatakrishnan in a discourse.<span id="fullpost"><!-- adsense --><br /><br />We should not offer something simply because that is what we would like to eat. But that is what we often do. There is no point in saying that instead of a sweet, we will offer something else to the Lord, simply because we have been asked by the doctor to avoid sweets.<br /><br />If the custom is to offer sweets to the Lord, that is what we must offer, for after all, the offering is not to please our palate, but for the Lord's enjoyment.<br /><br />Seeking enjoyment for ourselves can lead us to unhappiness. We may seek one thing and end up having to face many unforeseen difficulties. We may get sidetracked, and be led into paths not of our choosing.<br /><br />Our position would be like that of a farmer, who manures his fields and adds fertilizers, in the hope of improving the yield. But while the crops he has planted do not thrive, weeds sprout, thanks to his generous use of fertilizers.<br /><br />In the same way, we may set out to do something, but the result may be something unexpected. But if we surrender at Lord Narayana's feet, we know that the result will definitely be moksha.</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-25561577028754262022010-03-28T15:45:00.000+05:302010-03-28T15:47:26.684+05:30Lord Krishna's love for His devoteesThe ceremonial dancer of the Srirangam temple once did abhinaya for a verse, which expressed Thirumangai Azhvar's argument with the Lord. To represent Azhvar's anger, the dancer kicked his foot and waved his hands menacingly in the direction of the Lord.<br /><br />Embar, a Vaishnavite preceptor who was there at the time, felt this was the most inappropriate abhinaya.<br /><br />The reason for his displeasure was that the Lord would not be provoked by a bhakta kicking out at Him. He would, out of His love for His devotees, be happy at such a gesture, said K.B. Devarajan in a discourse.<br /><br />There is a verse by Jayadeva, in which Lord Krishna tells a Gopika to put her feet on His head. The story goes that Jayadeva left to have an oil bath. While he was gone, the Lord Himself wrote this verse.<span id="fullpost"><!-- adsense --><br /><br />When Jayadeva returned from his bath, he found this verse written, and the parchment on which it was written was covered with oil since the author Jayadeva had been having an oil bath. So Lord Krishna Himself wrote the verse which talks of His delight in bearing the feet of the Gopikas on His head.<br /><br />Such is the lenience He shows His devotees, and such is His love for them. So He will not at all be angry if a devotee were to kick his feet in His direction, or wave his hands impertinently.<br /><br />The Lord will only be pleased that His devotee has taken such liberties with Him. What will make Him sad will be the separation of His devotees from Him. That parting He cannot bear.<br /><br />Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that those who want to recover lost wealth approach Him. Others approach Him for new sources of wealth. There are the ‘kaivalyarthis' who do not progress to the bhakti yoga, which will help them to get the boon of serving the Lord in Sri Vaikuntha.<br /><br />The gnanis are the ones who know what moksha is, and who seek it earnestly. Krishna says that such gnanis are His Atma.<br /><br />While the Lord Himself is the Atma of the entire universe, imagine His love for His devotees, if He describes them as His Atma.</span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-49496909246123090452010-03-28T15:42:00.000+05:302010-03-28T15:44:51.693+05:30The Five forms of Lord Narayana/Vishnu/HariLord Narayana is in five forms. He is in Sri Vaikuntha, with Goddess Mahalakshmi. He is in the milky ocean. He appeared as Incarnations. He is inside everything (Antaryami). He is seen in idol form (Archa) in temples. In Sri Vaikuntha, the only thing that is heard by Him is the Sama Veda. He does not hear the cries of people on earth, or the cries for help from the Devas. And if He only hears the Sama Veda in SriVaikuntha, how will come to our rescue? Our cries are heard by him in His abode in the milky ocean. So He resides in the milky ocean. This is His Vyuha form.<br /><br />When He hears people's requests for help, He appears as avataras to save them. These avataras are known as His Vibhava forms. While ten incarnations are popularly known, He has taken many more avataras to save His devotees, and to establish dharma. He resides inside every one of us. Finally, He is also seen in temples, as idols. If we have a picture of Him and worship it at home, He is there in the picture too. Different people have worshipped different forms of the Lord, said K.B. Devarajan.<span id="fullpost"><!-- adsense --><br /><br />Thus, Suka Brahmam and the early Azhvars celebrated the Lord at Sri Vaikuntha. Sage Narada, Thiruppaan Azhvar and Thondardippodi Azhvar celebrated Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam. Valmiki and Kulasekhara Azhvar celebrated the Rama avatara. Parasara, Vyasa, Nammazhvar, Periazhvar and Andal celebrated Krishna. Sage Sounaka and Thirumangai Azhvar celebrated the idol form in many temples.<br /><br />The Lord is celebrated as Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent. When we say He is Omnipresent, it means He is everywhere. So why should we worship Him in temples is the question that might arise. We need to worship Him in idol form in temples, because He is the most accessible in it. We are not in Sri Vaikuntha to enjoy His presence there. We do not live in the time of Rama or Krishna to enjoy the Vibhava form. We are not gnanis to realise His presence inside us as Antaryami. But we can and must worship Him in idol form. We must concentrate on His beautiful form in temples and seek salvation.<br /></span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830392123264371117.post-81032145979553155662010-03-28T15:37:00.002+05:302010-03-28T15:42:22.305+05:30The Six Temples of Lord Subrahmanya/SwaminathaSoorapadman was an asura who secured a boon that made it impossible for him to be vanquished. Unable to bear the torture he inflicted on them, the celestials prayed to Lord Siva to help them. Siva took a form with six faces. From the third eye of each face, a spark emanated. The six fire sparks became six beautiful babies.<br /><br />Goddess Parvati hugged the babies, and they fused into one with six faces and 12 arms. This divine child was Lord Subrahmanya, also called Karthikeya, because he was taken care of by six maidens known as the Karthikai maidens.<br /><br />When the time came for Soorapadman to be destroyed, Subrahmanya set out with the blessings of His parents. Parvati gave Him a spear. The battle between Subrahmanya and Soorapadman took place at Tiruchendur, in the southern tip of Tamil Nadu.<br /><br />The battle went on for 10 days, and once the Lord had killed Soorapadman's brothers and was about to kill the asura himself, the asura transformed himself into a tree. Subrahmanya split the tree into two with the spear that Parvati had given Him. One half of the tree became a peacock, which became Subrahmanya's mount. The other became a cock and took its place on Subrahmanya's flag. Adi Sankara has composed Subrahmanya Bhujangam in praise of the Lord.<span id="fullpost"><!-- adsense --><br /><br />On the way to Tiruchendur to battle Soorapadman, Subrahmanya stayed in many places, with His army. These places came to be known in Tamil as ‘padai veedu' (army camp).<br /><br />In each of these places, a temple of Subrahmanya can be seen even today. Offering worship at these temples will bring us auspiciousness, said Mathivannan in a discourse. There is one at Tiruchendur.<br /><br />There is the temple at Swamimalai, where Subrahmanya taught the Pranava mantra to His father, Siva, and thus earned the name Swaminatha. The temple at Tiruttani is the one where He is seen with His two consorts. It would be of great benefit to people if they visited the six temples and worshipped the Lord who advised His own father and who vanquished the asura, whom none could kill.<br /></span>A Telugu Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156676727385025760noreply@blogger.com0