09 December to 15 December 2013
What is the inner significance of ringing the bell in a temple (any place of worship)?
What is the inner significance of ringing the bell in a temple (any place of worship)-2.29-1993 October 18
 |
| Bell serves as a visiting card to see God!! |
There is great joy even in listening. It is Naada(Divine sound). There is great power in sound. We have bells in a temple. All who visit the temple ring the bell. Why are bells kept in a temple? Are they kept to wake up God who is sleeping? No, no, no. Those who do not know Vedam, regard this very Naada as Vedam and make God hear this sound.
Not just that. God protects one and all. He listens to so many prayers regarding so many matters. He may be lost in the thought of someone; He may also be engaged in protecting someone. In the modern world, when we visit somebody’s residence, we send in our visiting card. The owner will then come out telling himself, “O, so and so has come”. If we do not send in our visiting card, the important person would not come out at all. In the same way, when the bell is rung in the temple, it is like a visiting card to the great Lord. He sees, “O, who is this who has rung the bell?”
Thus the vision of the Lord has to be turned towards us through the aid of the sound. But that does not mean we can make any type of sound. It must be the Omkaaram that is the combination of Akaara, Ukaara and MaIkaara. That is the correct address of God! The bell is not to be rung merely to silence a child that is crying (using it as a plaything to divert the attention of the crying child).
18 October 1993
02 December to 08 December 2013
What is the correct method of chanting Omkaara?
What is the correct method of chanting Omkaara-2.34-1993 October 18
The Omkaaram must be chanted in a very pleasant, sweet and soft manner. It must sound as though it comes from very far, approaches very close and then goes very far again. The people from urban areas must have experienced this. When the plane is flying somewhere far off, you can hear a little bit of the sound. When it comes close, the sound is heard very loudly. Again when it moves far away, the sound keeps on decreasing. Omkaaram must be chanted in a similar manner.
Swami demonstrates the correct method of chanting Omkaara.
Omkaara has a spelling. In the case of God, we have the spelling G O D. In the same way, when Akaara, Ukaara and Makaaraare joined, they become Omkaara. However, we need not go by mere spelling and chant Omkaara as Aaa Uuu Mmm. This is not Omkaara.
The sound “Aa” must emanate from within. “Uu” must come from the tongue. “Mm” should emerge from the lips. The three should be united and there should be no gap in between.
Swami demonstrates the correct method of chanting Omkaara.
The three should be united and that is the proper way of chanting Omkaara.
18 October 1993
25 November to 01 December 2013
What are the nine heads under which Vedic knowledge has been propagated?
What are the nine heads under which Vedic knowledge has been propagated-7.34-1989 October 03
The Vedas were propagated under nine heads or titles. :
1. Sruti
2. Anuswara
3. Trayee
4. Aamnaayam
5. Samaamnaayam
6. Chandas
7. Swaadhyaayam
8. Gama
9. Aagama
These titles that have been given to the Vedas are embedded with lot of significance.
Sruti(hearing):
Srutimeans the disciple must listen to what the preceptor chants with all sincerity, repeat the same mantras with sincerity and thus acquire proficiency in recitation of the Vedas. Therefore Srutimeans listening to what the preceptor tells with earnestness and then reproducing the same sounds in exactly the same manner. It must be practiced only through hearing.
Anuswara (literally – a diacritic used in the Devanagari script as a nasal consonant):
Anuswara refers to contemplating on that which has been practiced by listening and repeating and developing the same. Thus, the inner meaning of Srutiis listening, practicing, contemplating and thus imbibing the mantras.
Trayee (triad):
Earlier there were only three Vedas – Rig, Yajur and Sama Veda. These were also called Apourusheya (authorless – anonymous, or of divine origin). Atharvana Veda actually consists of some hymns taken from the Yajur Veda and separated out. As these three Vedas were called Apourusheya, they were referred to as Trayee (the triad).
Aamnaayamand Samaamnaayam:
Aamnaayammeans constantly thinking of and practicing the recitation of the root principle or the root syllable “Na”. As the knowledge of the Vedas can be propagated only through practice (chanting repeatedly), it came to be known as Aamnaayamand Samaamnaayam.
Chandas(metre):
The next title is Chandas. Chandas has certain meanings. One inner meaning of Chandas is that the Vedas have to be guarded in secret and propagated with care. Chandasis another name for the hymns of the Vedas. SamaVeda is full of Chandas. As the Vedas is full of such hymns it is referred to as Chandas.
(The verses of the Vedas have a variety of different meters. They are grouped by the number of padas in a verse, and by the number of syllables in a pada. Chandas, the study of Vedic meter, is one of the six Vedanga disciplines, or “organs of the vedas”. There are several Chandas. The seven main ones are: Gayatri, Ushnuk, Anustubh, Brihati, Pankti, Tristubh and Jagati).
Swaadhyaayaam(self-study):
Swaadhyaayamrefers to the process by which the Vedas have come down from generation to generation, through great grandfather to grandfather to father to son, in genealogical succession. It is not just a matter of studying from a text. It is a tradition that has been transmitted from preceptor to disciple over the years merely through hearing. It is because this knowledge was handed down over generations as a tradition, it has been described as Swaadhyaaya.
Gamaand Aagama (to go and to come):
Gama and Aagama are the names given to the inhaling and exhaling of the Lord’s breath, which are the origin of the Vedas. All in all, the Vedas are the very embodiment of the inhalation and exhalation of the breath of the Lord.
The great sages who listened to these mantras as revelations from the Divine found the key to them in eight basic letters: Aa, Ka, Cha, Ta, Tha, Pa, Ya, Sa.
03 October 1989
18 November to 24 November 2013
What are the five types of knowledge?
What are the five types of knowledge-1.18-1989 September 03
So students, what do you need to do primarily? Study well and concentrate on our studies. Recognize and develop discrimination with respect to that knowledge. Make an effort to put this knowledge into practice, to the extent possible. I have told a couple of times, there are five types of knowledge. However, students today are ending their pursuit (of knowledge) with just bookish knowledge itself. Some students go further and achieve the level of superficial knowledge. But there is a lack of general knowledge. Discrimination knowledge is totally absent. How then, can one acquire practical knowledge? Therefore, practical knowledge is very important. Because of lack of practical knowledge, our education is very artificial.
03 September 1989
11 November to 17 November 2013
Why is this world called Jagath?
Why is this world called Jagath-0.59-1996 July 06
 |
| Jagath is nothing but going and coming… |
This world is called Jagath. Jagath means Jaa + Gath, Jaa + Gath i.e. to go and to come, to go and to come. Everything goes and comes. Nothing remains permanently. Nothing goes permanently. Whatever goes, comes again. Whatever comes, goes again. That is why this world is called Nityam (transient). It is also called Sadasat (neither true nor untrue). It is thus referred to as Jagath.
We are experiencing this world in varied ways. It is not possible for us to leave this world. In this Jagath itself we need to see (have the Darshan of) Jagadeeswara (Divinity). Jagath (world) is the very form of Chaitanya (Awareness). This Awareness is verily the form of Divinity.
06 July 1996
04 November to 10 November 2013
Deepavali Special
What is the scientific significance for the practice of bursting crackers?
What is the scientific significance for the practice of bursting crackers-1.19-1988 November 09
 |
| Bursting crackers within limits has benefits too |
There is a scientific explanation also (for bursting crackers during Diwali). The season that has just gone by is the monsoon season. Wherever you see, you find stagnated water and puddles of water. On account of this unhygienic environment, many germs and insects start increasing in number. Ill health starts progressing in humans because of these germs and insects. By bursting crackers, the fumes and the toxic materials kills these germs and insects. This helps man to be healthy and happy. Bharatiyas started all these festivities and practices with lot of inner significance.
09 November 1988
What is the scientific explanation for the existence of Demon Narakaasura?
What is the scientific explanation for the existence of Demon Narakaasura-3.29-1992 October 24
 |
| Narakaa was truly a planet approaching earth |
There is a scientific history (for the story of Narakaasura). There are many planets in the sky. Many planets revolve in this universe. But the nine planets (Navagrahaas) are very important for the planet of earth. There are many more sub-planets too. In the Dwaapara Yuga, a planet called Narakaa was moving very close to the planet earth. If this planet would crash into earth, the entire earth would be turned into ashes. In fact, even if the moon that is so cool would come even a few feet closer to the earth, the earth would be turned into ashes. There can be so many calamities. The planet Narakaa came very close to earth and was about to crash into earth.
Witnessing the demon like planet that was about to destroy their world, all people started praying, “Krishna, Krishna, Krishna…”. At that time, the event wherein the planet Narakaa was destroyed and the world was protected is referred to as Narakaasura Samhaaram. Everybody considered Narakaa as a demon. Was any entity, which would destroy their world, not equivalent to a demon?
Earlier the chancellor of Germany, Hitler travelled around the world. In those days, even he was considered as a demon. (Swami sings a lullaby in Telugu, the lyrics of which talk about Hitler waging a war on Russia, and Stalin ready to fight against his army, which mothers used to sing in those days to put their children to sleep). Similarly, in the Dwaapara Yuga, when the planet Naraka approached the earth, they believed it to be a demon. Lord Krishna killed the demon Narakaasura, as is explained in the scriptures, and he freed all those who were victims of the demon’s atrocities. In other words, he destroyed the planet Narakaa and rescued all those who were to become victims of the planet crash.
24 October 1992
What are the four items required to light the lamp of wisdom?
What are the four items required to light the lamp of wisdom-2.06-1988 November 09
 |
| Light the lamp of wisdom in your heart |
To light a lamp we need four items. One is the container, second is the oil, third is the wick and the fourth is the match box. Even if one of these four items is missing, we will not be able to light the lamp. All these four items are essential. But what type of darkness does this light remove? It dispels only the outer (physical) darkness.
But how can we light the light of wisdom? In order to remove the inner darkness we need the Atma Jyothi (light of the inner Self-Atman), the Jnaana Jyothi (the light of wisdom). To light this lamp also, we need four items. Vairagya (detachment) is the container for this lamp, Bhakti (devotion) is the oil, Chitta Ekaagrata (one pointed concentration of awareness) is the wick and Tatva Jnaana (wisdom of the Atman) is the match box. Without these four, we cannot get Atma Jnaana. For all these, Vairaagya (detachment) is the most essential. It is the foundation for all these. Without Vairaagya (detachment), acquiring any type of education, any amount of studying of scriptures or studying of the Vedas, is of no use.
The Vedas declare;
Na Karmana Na Prajaya Dhanena Tyage Naike Amrutatva Maanashuhu
Not by action, not by progeny, nor by wealth; it is by sacrifice alone that one can attain immortality.
09 November 1988
28 October to 03 November 2013
Who are our true family members?
Who are our true family members-9.23-1998 September 25
Satyam Maata, Pita Jnaanam
Dharmo Bhraata, Daya Sakhaa
Shantah Patni, Kshama Putra
Shadete Jana Bhaandhava (2)
Truth is our mother, Wisdom is our father
Righteousness is our brother, Compssion is our friend
Peace is our wife (consort), Forbearance is our son
These six are our true relatives
Embodiments of Love!
Satyam Maata – Truth is our Mother. In this world, every individual has a mother. But in this creation, for all human beings, there is one Mother. We must recognize that single Mother. This mother – the Truth, is Trikaala Baadhyam – it remains the same in all three periods of time, it is the head of Trilokaa (the three worlds) and it transcends the three qualities or attributes (Satva, Rajas and Tamas). The physical mother may undergo change, she may change her geographical location and she may even die. But Truth as the Mother is always the same at any place, at any time and for any individual. Everybody must consider Truth as their Mother and it is necessary that they have faith in Her and follow Her.
Pita Jnaanam – Next, who is the father? Wisdom is the father. There are many types of knowledge: viz worldly, material, scientific. But wisdom does not mean these. Adwaita Darshanam Jnaanam. Wisdom is that which confers the experience of oneness (non-dualism). This wisdom is Truth. Vedas refer to this as Satyam Jnaanam Anantham Brahma (Brahma is Truth, Wisdom and Infinity). Therefore, Truth is the very form of the mother for all. Wisdom is the father.
Dharmo Bhraata – Dharma takes a different form for every nation, every religion, and every tradition. But for all human beings, for all nations and for all times, the brother who loves with a feeling of oneness is Dharma (Righteousness). This brother is the very embodiment of Love. It is in this context that right from the ancient times, in the country of Bhaarath, the Vedas have declared – Satyam Vada, Dharmam Chara (Speak the Truth, Practice Righteousness). So much importance has been given to Truth and Righteousness. Rama and Lakshmana being brothers set such an ideal for the world. At one point of time, when Lakshmana fell unconscious, Rama felt very sad. Rama declared, “Lakshmana, I may get a wife like Sita somewhere, I may even struggle and manage to get a mother like Kausalya, but I can never get a brother like Lakshmana again. It is because of having a brother like you, that the principle of Rama is shining so brilliantly. Therefore, Dharma is our brother. Dharmo Bhraata.
Daya Sakhaa – Compassion is our friend. Today’s friends may turn into enemies tomorrow. We have been witness so many such experiences in the world. But, we can never find a friend greater than compassion. A true friend is the very embodiment of compassion.
Shantah Patni – Who is the wife? Peace is the wife. Peace is the one that assumes the form of oneness and continuously shows unity in diversity, in all paths of life and in all living beings. Peace is the ornament of the Maharishis (great saints). It is the crown of the Rishis (saints). It is the royal path in the spiritual journey. Such peace is the wife (consort) for one and all.
Kshama Putra – Forbearance is the son. There is no other nobler son than forbearance. Kshamais Truth, Kshama is the Veda, Kshama is Dharma, Kshama is Ahimsa (Non-violence), Kshama is Shaurya (valour). In this world, there is no power greater than Forbearance.
Therefore, Sathyam (Truth), Jnaanam (Wisdom), Dharma(Righteousness), Daya (Compassion), Shanti (Peace) and Kshama (Forbearance) – these six are the true relatives of humans. Today, on account of losing such a mother, such a father, such a friend, such a brother, such a wife and such a son, the world is subject to so much agitation and disturbances.
25 September 1998
21 October to 27 October 2013
.jpg)
