Dear All,
I have completed my purpose of writing on Valmiki and Adhyatma Ramayana. Hence closing down the blog http://prasad-adhyatmaramayana.blogspot.com/ .
I am also closing down http://atmajyoti-prasad-ramayana.blogspot.com/ (Valmiki Ramayan) and http://sriramana-prasad.blogspot.com/ (SriRamana Teachings) .
I sincerely thank all of you for the feedback you have provided.
However I have not stopped writing. I will maintain all my future postings on spirituality on just one blog, namely http://atmajyoti-prasad-prabhu.blogspot.com/ . If you liked my articles earlier, then you can subscribe to the above blog.
Thanks
Prasad
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Stand firm on word given
Rama gives refuge to the sages in Dandaka-aranya and vows to protect them from the demons who descend right at the time of fire oblation. Sita expresses concern and advices Rama against it, for which Rama says "I will stand by my word even foregoing my life, Lakshmana, and you. I cannot forego my word. I will protect them at any cost."
Moral 1 : One has to protect righteousness even at the cost of one's life
Moral 2: One has to stand firm on the word given
Moral 1 : One has to protect righteousness even at the cost of one's life
Moral 2: One has to stand firm on the word given
Another way to understand this is :
Rishi : stands for wisdom
Yajna : Jnana yajna
Rakshasas : Negative tendencies
Wisdom seeks refuge in Rama - Atma
Thursday, July 16, 2009
dharma
Dharma : means essential nature. It is the nature of fire to burn, nature of water to cool etc.
What does this line mean ? "Ramo vigrahavan dharmaha"
It means The essential nature of Rama is that of bliss.
Rama shows perfect Dharma in each aspects - As son, as king, as friend, as enemy, as a wise man, as husband.
What does this line mean ? "Ramo vigrahavan dharmaha"
It means The essential nature of Rama is that of bliss.
Rama shows perfect Dharma in each aspects - As son, as king, as friend, as enemy, as a wise man, as husband.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Gurupoornima
i make the following resolves on Gurupoornima.
Follow the path shown by Guru. Never swerve from the path due to ego. Let the Jnana flow be uninterrupted between Guru, Sishya, and the world. Do Jnana Yagna.
Prostrations to Guru on Gurupoornima.
The path is said to be sharp like razor's edge. Either one can grasp truth or one can let misunderstandings cloud mind. Truth is subtle and fine.
Let the truth/jnana from Sadguru flow through me to the world.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Ramayana and Bhakti
Dear Readers,
One important lesson today for us on Bhakti and Ramayana.
Approach Ramayana with reverence and respect.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Hari Pungava Hanuman
Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah
Hari Pungava = Best among monkeys (Hanuman).
Sugriva sends a legion of monkeys towards south under the leadership of Angada to search for Sitamata. Hanuman and Jambavantha were among the group that went south. They reach the southern tip of Bharata and encounter ocean. They see an old Eagle named 'Sampati' who can see far regions, and who was once a mighty flier. As fate has it , its wings are burnt.
Story of Sampathi the Eagle
Sampathi and Jatayu (I will tell later how Jatayu fought with Ravana valiently and lost his life) are brothers. They were arrogrant that they can fly to any heights. Once they raced towards Sun. Jatayu lost his eyesight and capacity to fly anymore due to the heat of Sun, and started falling, calling out for help from his elder brother Sampathi. Out of Compassion, Sampathi takes his brother under his wings and shields him. As a result Sampathi's wings were burnt.
In Sanatana Dharma, Elder brother is compared to Father. Sampathi's compassion for his younger brother is an example of that.
Sampathi gets a boon from Nishakara Rishi that on informing the whereabouts of Sita-mata to search party He will get back his wings, life force (prana), vital energies back.
Vanaras approach Sampathi for information on Sitamata. He informs with his far-sightedness that she will be accross the ocean as a Bandhi in Ravana Lanka. As soon as he gives this information, Sampathi gets back his wings.
Now, the debate starts as to who can cross the ocean. Every vanara give their capacity to jump as 100 feet, 1000 ft etc.
Jambavantha says about himself : When I was young, Mahavishnu as Vamana became Trivikrama and occupied entire universe in three strides. I made a pradakshina to Earth 21 times within no time. As I grew old, I lost my vigor. I am not suitable for this.
While this discussion is going on Hanuman is sitting quietly and happily at a distance on a rock. Jambavantha starts extolling virtues of Hanuman and reminds him of his powers.
Jambavantha's says to Hanuman :
O Hanuman, Mighty among monkeys, learned in all scriptures, why are you silent. You are equal to Sugriva, King of monkeys. I saw how Garutmanta the son of Vinata used to snatch powerful serpents from ocean. Your stamina is equal to Garuda.
Shloka :
Balam buddishcha tejascha satvam cha Hari pungava
vishishtam sarva bhuteshu kim atmanam na budhyase
Meaning : You are foremost in Strength, Intelligence, Stamina, Valour and courage among all living beings .
You are son of Vayu. Once in your childhood, you mistook Sun for a red fruit and wanted to eat it. You flew towards solar orbit. Sun's heat havent affected you, and you have flown hundreds and thousands of yojanas. Indra got angry that you are trying to eat Sun, and used his vajrayudha on you. It has injured your Hanu (Jaws) and you fell from sky unconscious to earth , so you are known as Hanuman. Your father Vayu on seeing this, out of grief and anger has stilled the air(Prana) in the universe. This has made universe chaotic as there is no air to breath. All the Devathas (Angels) requested,prayed to Vayu to release air (Prana). As Vayu releases Prana for the benefit of the universe. Brahmadeva blesses you with the boon that none of the Astras or weapons can harm you in a battlefield. Hence you are invincible. You are equivalent to Vayu in speed, power and stamina. You are the only one who can do this Karya of crossing the ocean twice.
On Hearing this Hanuman shows his Wonderful form to the Vanara veeras.
Shloka :
Yatha vijrumbhate simho vivrudho giri gahvare
Maratsya Aurasa putraha tatha samprathi jrumbhate
Meaning : As Lion gets up in his cave shaking his mane, So Hanuman rises and expands his form
Hanuman Yawns and he address the elders in Vanara army and says :
Vayu is very powerful, there are no limits to his powers. He has Fire as his friend. With his speed he can explode the mountains and blow it to smithereens. He is like Garuda in speed. I am son of such Vayu. I am unmatched in flying.
I can make several roundtrips accross Meru mountain which is touching the sky. With my strength of my arms I can create depression in Ocean and make the earth submerged. Garuda flies high with high speed. I can make circles around him with even greater speed.
I can start from Udayadri (Mountain on East) along with Sun and before him I can reach Astadri (Mountain on west) and before afternoon I can meet Sun again without taking rest. For me crossing this ocean is not a big deal.
Shloka :
Utsaheyam ati krantum sarvaan akasha gocharan
Sagaram shoshayishyami daarayishyami medinim
Parvataham choornayishyami plavamanaha plavangama, Harishyamyooru vegena plavamano mahaarnavam
Meaning : With the my speed, I can surpass planets and stars, I can make ocean dry, I can jump on mountains and blast them, I can jump any ocean.
Thus Hanuman has solaced the Vanara veeras and he climbed MahendraGiri and embarked on the journey called Sagara Langanam (crossing the ocean).
Shloka :
Sa vegavan vega samahitatma, Hari pravira paraveerahanta
manas samadhaya mahanubhavo jagama lankam manasa manasvi
Meaning : Capable of destroying the enemies, Best of monkeys, Who can travel fast, who can control his mind, has decided that he will cross ocean and reach lanka and he started thinking how to execute that task.
Let us pray to the Maruti
Shloka :
Manojavam maruta tulya vegam, vatatmajam vanara yudha sa mukhyam
Srirama dutam sharanam prapadye
Sri Sadgurubhyoh namah
Hari Pungava = Best among monkeys (Hanuman).
Sugriva sends a legion of monkeys towards south under the leadership of Angada to search for Sitamata. Hanuman and Jambavantha were among the group that went south. They reach the southern tip of Bharata and encounter ocean. They see an old Eagle named 'Sampati' who can see far regions, and who was once a mighty flier. As fate has it , its wings are burnt.
Story of Sampathi the Eagle
Sampathi and Jatayu (I will tell later how Jatayu fought with Ravana valiently and lost his life) are brothers. They were arrogrant that they can fly to any heights. Once they raced towards Sun. Jatayu lost his eyesight and capacity to fly anymore due to the heat of Sun, and started falling, calling out for help from his elder brother Sampathi. Out of Compassion, Sampathi takes his brother under his wings and shields him. As a result Sampathi's wings were burnt.
In Sanatana Dharma, Elder brother is compared to Father. Sampathi's compassion for his younger brother is an example of that.
Sampathi gets a boon from Nishakara Rishi that on informing the whereabouts of Sita-mata to search party He will get back his wings, life force (prana), vital energies back.
Vanaras approach Sampathi for information on Sitamata. He informs with his far-sightedness that she will be accross the ocean as a Bandhi in Ravana Lanka. As soon as he gives this information, Sampathi gets back his wings.
Now, the debate starts as to who can cross the ocean. Every vanara give their capacity to jump as 100 feet, 1000 ft etc.
Jambavantha says about himself : When I was young, Mahavishnu as Vamana became Trivikrama and occupied entire universe in three strides. I made a pradakshina to Earth 21 times within no time. As I grew old, I lost my vigor. I am not suitable for this.
While this discussion is going on Hanuman is sitting quietly and happily at a distance on a rock. Jambavantha starts extolling virtues of Hanuman and reminds him of his powers.
Jambavantha's says to Hanuman :
O Hanuman, Mighty among monkeys, learned in all scriptures, why are you silent. You are equal to Sugriva, King of monkeys. I saw how Garutmanta the son of Vinata used to snatch powerful serpents from ocean. Your stamina is equal to Garuda.
Shloka :
Balam buddishcha tejascha satvam cha Hari pungava
vishishtam sarva bhuteshu kim atmanam na budhyase
Meaning : You are foremost in Strength, Intelligence, Stamina, Valour and courage among all living beings .
You are son of Vayu. Once in your childhood, you mistook Sun for a red fruit and wanted to eat it. You flew towards solar orbit. Sun's heat havent affected you, and you have flown hundreds and thousands of yojanas. Indra got angry that you are trying to eat Sun, and used his vajrayudha on you. It has injured your Hanu (Jaws) and you fell from sky unconscious to earth , so you are known as Hanuman. Your father Vayu on seeing this, out of grief and anger has stilled the air(Prana) in the universe. This has made universe chaotic as there is no air to breath. All the Devathas (Angels) requested,prayed to Vayu to release air (Prana). As Vayu releases Prana for the benefit of the universe. Brahmadeva blesses you with the boon that none of the Astras or weapons can harm you in a battlefield. Hence you are invincible. You are equivalent to Vayu in speed, power and stamina. You are the only one who can do this Karya of crossing the ocean twice.
On Hearing this Hanuman shows his Wonderful form to the Vanara veeras.
Shloka :
Yatha vijrumbhate simho vivrudho giri gahvare
Maratsya Aurasa putraha tatha samprathi jrumbhate
Meaning : As Lion gets up in his cave shaking his mane, So Hanuman rises and expands his form
Hanuman Yawns and he address the elders in Vanara army and says :
Vayu is very powerful, there are no limits to his powers. He has Fire as his friend. With his speed he can explode the mountains and blow it to smithereens. He is like Garuda in speed. I am son of such Vayu. I am unmatched in flying.
I can make several roundtrips accross Meru mountain which is touching the sky. With my strength of my arms I can create depression in Ocean and make the earth submerged. Garuda flies high with high speed. I can make circles around him with even greater speed.
I can start from Udayadri (Mountain on East) along with Sun and before him I can reach Astadri (Mountain on west) and before afternoon I can meet Sun again without taking rest. For me crossing this ocean is not a big deal.
Shloka :
Utsaheyam ati krantum sarvaan akasha gocharan
Sagaram shoshayishyami daarayishyami medinim
Parvataham choornayishyami plavamanaha plavangama, Harishyamyooru vegena plavamano mahaarnavam
Meaning : With the my speed, I can surpass planets and stars, I can make ocean dry, I can jump on mountains and blast them, I can jump any ocean.
Thus Hanuman has solaced the Vanara veeras and he climbed MahendraGiri and embarked on the journey called Sagara Langanam (crossing the ocean).
Shloka :
Sa vegavan vega samahitatma, Hari pravira paraveerahanta
manas samadhaya mahanubhavo jagama lankam manasa manasvi
Meaning : Capable of destroying the enemies, Best of monkeys, Who can travel fast, who can control his mind, has decided that he will cross ocean and reach lanka and he started thinking how to execute that task.
Let us pray to the Maruti
Shloka :
Manojavam maruta tulya vegam, vatatmajam vanara yudha sa mukhyam
Srirama dutam sharanam prapadye
Sri Sadgurubhyoh namah
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Jambavantha's Mountian of Wisdom
Jambavantha's Mountian of Wisdom
Sri Sadgurubhyoh namah!!
Shloka :
Anjana supraja yena matariswa cha nairrutha, Hanuman vanara shreshta praanaan dharayate kwachit.
Meaning : Is Hanuman, the best among monkeys, safe ?
Hanuman on hearing this, becomes a mountain himself and flies across ocean to reach Himalayas and brings back the entire mountain where herbs are.
Sri Sadgurubhyoh namah !
Sri Sadgurubhyoh namah!!
During the Ramayana war, Indrajit enters the battlefield and starts destroying the enemies of Ravana. His valor is unmatched on that day. His arrows found target. None of the 'Vanara shreshtas' (Best among monkeys army) were spared. Finally Indrajit fires 'Brahma-Astra' the ultimate weapon. SriRama says to Lakshmana, "We have to leave our pride and honour the power of this Astra. We have to act like we are dead, so that Indrajit thinks that he is victorious and goes back". As SriRam, Lakhsman are fainted and most of the monkey army is destroyed, Indrajit goes back to his father Ravan victorious.
Vibhishana pacifies the remaining army saying "SriRama and Lakshmana are not dead, they have only fainted, let us not mourn". On hearing this, Hanuman, who is feigning fainting because he wants to honour Brahma-Astra even though he cannot be harmed by any weapons, spoke. Hanuman : "Let us console the alive ones".
Both Vibhishana and Hanuman starts looking for vanaras that are alive. On that day 67,00,00,000 monkeys were killed or incapacitated.
King of monkeys Sugriva, Crown prince of monkeys Angada, Neela, Sharabha, Gandhamadana, Gavaksha, Sushena, Vegadarsi, Ahuka, Mynda, Nala, Jyotimukha, Dvidha, Panasa are the prominent among the vanaras that are on deathbed.
Hanuman, Vibhishana searched for Jambavantha the wise. Jambavantha is a bear, He is son of Brahma, nobody knows his age. Veera Jambavantha is lying on the battleground injured by hundreds of arrows. Vibhishana approaches and asks, "Arya, is your life in danger, are you mortally wounded?". Jambavantha recognises vibhishana with difficulty, and with great difficulty replies, "I hardly am able to see you nor recognise you due to the injuries, but able to do recognise you by your voice".
Jambavantha says:Shloka :
Anjana supraja yena matariswa cha nairrutha, Hanuman vanara shreshta praanaan dharayate kwachit.
Meaning : Is Hanuman, the best among monkeys, safe ?
Vibhishana is surprised at this question. He says "You have not asked about King Sugriva, Crown prince Angada, Srirama, and Lakshamana. Why are you asking about Vayusutha Hanuman" ?
Jambavantha says :
Shloka :
Tasmin Jivati Veere tu hatamapyahatam balam, Hanumatyujgitha praane Jivam to api vayam hata ha!
Meaning :
If Hanuman is alive, we are alive even if we are dead. If Hanuman leaves his life, we are dead even if we are alive.
Shloka :
Dharate marutistata, maarutapratimo yadi, Vaishwanarasamo veerye Jivitaasa tato bhavet!meaning : As long long as Hanuman is having life, the desire for life is alive in living beings.
On hearing this Hanuman approaches Jambavantha and introduces himself with his pravara and does pranam. Jambavantha informs him about the four herbs that can save the monkey army and SriRama, Lakshamana and the location of herbs as 'Oshadhi parvatha(mountain) in himalayas'. Jambavantha extolls virtues of Hanuman as the only capable person to cover that distance in such a short distance and bring back the herbs.Hanuman on hearing this, becomes a mountain himself and flies across ocean to reach Himalayas and brings back the entire mountain where herbs are.
Sri Sadgurubhyoh namah !
Thursday, July 2, 2009
SrimadRamayanam
Correction on July-7-2009
The shloka actually is :
Ramo vigahavan dharmaha, sadhu satya parakaramaha
raja sarvasya lokasya devanamiva vasava!!
I stand corrected not only on the shloka, but also my lack of understanding of the topic.
Hari Aum tat sat
Sri Ganeshaya namah
Sri Saraswatyai namah
Sri Gurubhyoh namah
Hari hi Om
I start from today study of SrimadRamayanam by Valmiki and Adhyatma Ramayanam, and compare them. Purpose is to find the path for mukti illustrated by the above scriptures for my understanding, if it helps others it is an added advantage. I will pick some shlokas randomly from these works everyday and try to understand them and put my thoughts here.
All the below are from Valmiki Ramayan:
Prayer :
aapadaam apahartaaram daataaram sarvasaMpadaam.h
lokaabhiraamam shriiraamam bhuuyo bhuuyo namaamyaham.h
Meaning : Not necessary to translate
1. Shloka :
Yatra yatra Raghunatha keerthanam, tatra tatra kritamastakanjalim
bhashpavaari paripoorna lochanam, Marutim namatam rakshasa anthakam
Meaning :
Wherever Raghunatha is worshipped, there you will find a person with folded hands and bowed head, eyes moistened. I pray to that Maruti who is the destroyer of rakshasas (evil tendencies).
I further pray to Maruti to inculcate that bhakti bhava in me.
2. What is Rama :
Ramo Vigrahavan Dharmaha, Satya dharma vratayacha
Meaning :
SriRama is Dharma personified. What is the Dharma we are talking here ? It is Satya Dharma. Meaning abiding in and by Truth (Satya). Satya is defined in scriptures as that which is unaffected by(deshataha , kalataha, vastutaha) three states of consciousness waking, dream, and sushupti, kala, geography etc. Always constant. Which can be further defined as Atma or Self.
We can correlate to Gita shloka "Yada Yada hi Dharmasya" with this and can say that in Gita shloka He is talking about if 'Satya Dharma' is declining (meaning spiritual journey has hindrences), He will manifest to uplift the seekers.
3. Who is Rama ?
Shloka :
sarvadaa abhigataH sadbhiH samudra iva sindhubhiH
aryaH sarvasamaH ca eva sadaiva priya darshanaH
Meaning :
Like an ocean that is reached by many rivers , that reverential one too is always accessible and reachable by clean-minded ones, and he treats all equally, and ever a feast to eye.
My understanding :
SriRama is the final destination to Sadbhih (clean minded) just like ocean is to rivers and always accessible. Hence he is Paramatma.
Further reference can be made to other shlokas like,
"Sarva deva namaskaram kesavam pratigachchati"
How to recognise Srirama :
Shloka :
aham vedmi mahaatmaanam raamam satya paraakramam
vasiSTho.api mahaatejaa ye ca ime tapasi sthitaaH
Meaning :
Vishwamitra comes to Dasharatha and requests him to send His Eldest son SriRama to protect teh Yajna. When Dasharatha expresses his inability to part with his Son citing that he is young and incapable, Vishwamitra says that "I know that SriRama is Mahatma, and he is Satya Parakrami. Vasista also recognised him as mahatejaa and so are all the Tapasis present there".
This tells us that Sages can realise God/Self, and this experience is uniform, experienciable for sadhakas and experience is similar to all Tapasis.
the Aham can know itself as Ramam.
Meaning of Rama : (Not original thought)
Alphabet 'Ra' is life of Ashtakshari mantra 'Aum namo Narayana' , without this alphabet 'Ra', Ashtakshari loses its meaning. It becomes 'Na ayana' meaning there is no refuge.
Alphabet 'ma' is the life of Pachakshari mantra 'Aum namah Shivaya', without this alphabet 'ma', Panchakshari loses its meaning. It becomes ' Na Shivaya' meaning there is no Shiva.
'Rama' is the mantra which is a combination of both the mantras and its associated bhava.
Hari Aum tat sat
The shloka actually is :
Ramo vigahavan dharmaha, sadhu satya parakaramaha
raja sarvasya lokasya devanamiva vasava!!
I stand corrected not only on the shloka, but also my lack of understanding of the topic.
Hari Aum tat sat
Sri Ganeshaya namah
Sri Saraswatyai namah
Sri Gurubhyoh namah
Hari hi Om
I start from today study of SrimadRamayanam by Valmiki and Adhyatma Ramayanam, and compare them. Purpose is to find the path for mukti illustrated by the above scriptures for my understanding, if it helps others it is an added advantage. I will pick some shlokas randomly from these works everyday and try to understand them and put my thoughts here.
All the below are from Valmiki Ramayan:
Prayer :
aapadaam apahartaaram daataaram sarvasaMpadaam.h
lokaabhiraamam shriiraamam bhuuyo bhuuyo namaamyaham.h
Meaning : Not necessary to translate
1. Shloka :
Yatra yatra Raghunatha keerthanam, tatra tatra kritamastakanjalim
bhashpavaari paripoorna lochanam, Marutim namatam rakshasa anthakam
Meaning :
Wherever Raghunatha is worshipped, there you will find a person with folded hands and bowed head, eyes moistened. I pray to that Maruti who is the destroyer of rakshasas (evil tendencies).
I further pray to Maruti to inculcate that bhakti bhava in me.
2. What is Rama :
Ramo Vigrahavan Dharmaha, Satya dharma vratayacha
Meaning :
SriRama is Dharma personified. What is the Dharma we are talking here ? It is Satya Dharma. Meaning abiding in and by Truth (Satya). Satya is defined in scriptures as that which is unaffected by(deshataha , kalataha, vastutaha) three states of consciousness waking, dream, and sushupti, kala, geography etc. Always constant. Which can be further defined as Atma or Self.
We can correlate to Gita shloka "Yada Yada hi Dharmasya" with this and can say that in Gita shloka He is talking about if 'Satya Dharma' is declining (meaning spiritual journey has hindrences), He will manifest to uplift the seekers.
3. Who is Rama ?
Shloka :
sarvadaa abhigataH sadbhiH samudra iva sindhubhiH
aryaH sarvasamaH ca eva sadaiva priya darshanaH
Meaning :
Like an ocean that is reached by many rivers , that reverential one too is always accessible and reachable by clean-minded ones, and he treats all equally, and ever a feast to eye.
My understanding :
SriRama is the final destination to Sadbhih (clean minded) just like ocean is to rivers and always accessible. Hence he is Paramatma.
Further reference can be made to other shlokas like,
"Sarva deva namaskaram kesavam pratigachchati"
How to recognise Srirama :
Shloka :
aham vedmi mahaatmaanam raamam satya paraakramam
vasiSTho.api mahaatejaa ye ca ime tapasi sthitaaH
Meaning :
Vishwamitra comes to Dasharatha and requests him to send His Eldest son SriRama to protect teh Yajna. When Dasharatha expresses his inability to part with his Son citing that he is young and incapable, Vishwamitra says that "I know that SriRama is Mahatma, and he is Satya Parakrami. Vasista also recognised him as mahatejaa and so are all the Tapasis present there".
This tells us that Sages can realise God/Self, and this experience is uniform, experienciable for sadhakas and experience is similar to all Tapasis.
the Aham can know itself as Ramam.
Meaning of Rama : (Not original thought)
Alphabet 'Ra' is life of Ashtakshari mantra 'Aum namo Narayana' , without this alphabet 'Ra', Ashtakshari loses its meaning. It becomes 'Na ayana' meaning there is no refuge.
Alphabet 'ma' is the life of Pachakshari mantra 'Aum namah Shivaya', without this alphabet 'ma', Panchakshari loses its meaning. It becomes ' Na Shivaya' meaning there is no Shiva.
'Rama' is the mantra which is a combination of both the mantras and its associated bhava.
Hari Aum tat sat
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
