‘Having examined the worlds that can be obtained through ‘karma’, a brahmin has to attain complete dispassion & should recognise the fact that the ‘Uncreated Whole’ cannot be attained through action. Therefore to know the Truth, the seeker should, in the traditional manner, take
a bundle of ‘Samit’ (sacrificial banyan twigs) & with all humility approach a Guru who has deeply imbibed the essence of Upanishads & is established in Brahman.’
(Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad - 1-2-12)
In the Gita Bhashyam Acharya explains the meaning of ‘Pandita’ as
'panda atmavishayamati: yesham te hi pandita’ - ‘Pandityam’ is not bookish knowledge, it is the ‘intelligence that reveals the Self’, or knowledge of the Self’. The term ‘panda’ means. ‘Knowledge of the Self’. One who has the knowledge of the oneness of Brahman & Atman as stated
in the 'Stuti',is a 'srotriya'.
(The below explanation is an Ultimate Gem) :
In Vivekacūḍāmaṇi, Acharya says ‘nanye parokshay kathabhidayinah’ - ‘others who blabber second hand information are not fit for this’. A wick on a lamp can be lit only from another lamp, not from a
painting of a flame.
Ultimate destruction of sorrow is the aim of Vedānta & not mesmerising others with intellectual gymnastics.
is clearly recognised only in the state of ‘nirvikalpa samadhi’, & not when the mind is active. In any other state the pure awareness of ‘I’ gets limited by images created by thoughts.’
Govinda Bhagavatpāda taught Śaṅkarā in the conventional manner. ‘Proudhanubhuti’ describes
how an enlightened Guru imparts knowledge to an ardent seeker.
Pacifying the fury of Narmada :
Once when Govinda Bhagavatpāda was being absorbed in yoga with the ‘manonmani mudra’, there was a flood in the Narmada & the villages on the banks for submerged. The villagers
hastened to Govindaguru & prayed to him. But then, the Guru was immersed in ‘samadhi’. The villagers & the monks got upset & looked at Śaṅkarā helplessly. Śaṅkarā, remaining cool & serene, went down the hill, with the others following him,. He placed his ‘kamandala’ (water-pot)
on the banks & chanted a hymn adoring Narmada :
{Enclosed is the ॥ नर्मदाष्टकम ॥}
Śaṅkarā spent the daytime in study, discussion & performance of daily rituals. From evening till midnight he remained in ‘nirvikalpa samadhi’. Three years passed by in this manner. Śaṅkarā
’Thought modifications such as ‘you’, ‘I’ and ‘it’ appear in the ‘Paramatma’, the
non-dual self, due to the defects of the intellect. As one becomes more & more established in the ‘samadhi’, and when the perception of the self becomes clearer & clearer, all the inner limitations get dissolved & the awareness of the Self shines forth within’.
Śaṅkarā,
established in this ‘sahaja nirvikalpa’ state,became ‘lokasankara’ ( a great blessing to the world).
Śaṅkarā’s divine brilliance had an irresistible attraction for everyone ; his knowledge of the ’sastras’, and his understanding of the path of yoga & ‘upasana’ were phenomenal.
He shone forth as a living illustration of the mantra ‘ ya: Sarvajna : ya: sarvavid’.
One day Govinda Bhagavatpāda called Śaṅkarā to his side. Śaṅkarā stood near him with great humility. The guru said, “ Thou must now start travelling for the benefit of the world. Impart the
essence of the Upanishads and Gita and the bliss of Self-experience to ardent seekers of Truth, who, tormented by the fire of ‘samsara’, approach thee.
Asking Śaṅkarā to go to Kāśī and impart to the ardent seekers, the self-knowledge that he had obtained by the grace of Guru &
the ‘sastra’, Govindapada, hitherto limited by the body, became all-pervading in his presence by merging in the Infinite.
The Church uses the process of inculturation with an aim to adopt the well-established Hindu cultural practices to confuse, corrupt and change the minds of the gullible masses.
& the most potent weapon in its armoury has been Inculturation.
Religious conversion has been a subject of dispute for ages and the Church has been well-known for conversion activities to spread Christianity throughout the world in its pursuit of souls for harvesting. It mostly
follows the strategies of allurement and pressure to convert the people following other religions.However, the most potent weapon in its armoury has been inculturation. The Church has started setting up Hindu “type” of buildings and calling them as ‘Ashrams’ controlled by
Timeless Glories of Gōmaṭā ~ नित्यः महिमानं गोमाता : - (अंश - i )
Gōmaṭā ; Sanātani's have always worshipped Cow as a Mother !
I intend to explore this in multiple series & will try to bring out the essence of Param Pavitrā Param Pūjya Gōmaṭā.
For thousands of years in our civilizational history, Hindus have worshipped cows, looking upon the cow as their own mother, Gōmaṭā.
Since Pre-Vedic times there are countless hymns glorifying the sacred Cow , it can be found through out the Vedic Literature, Scriptures, Puranas
&Epics!
Let’s begin our journey with this beautiful & divine description of Cow in “Gōmaṭā- Vidya” by Parasuram :
“ Wherever the thirsty cow drinks water from, that body of water is as good as the Ganga, yamuna, sindhu, or Saraswati. In the body of the cows, all holy places
॥ हनुमान चालीसा ॥
Hanuman Chalisa is a timeless ode to devotion.
The 'Hanuman Chalisa' is composed by Saint Goswami Tulsidas, the author of the Tulsi Ramayana (Ramacharitamanasa).
It is believed that an ailing Tulsidas composed the Hanuman Chalisa. Composing and singing the praises of Lord Hanuman, helped Tulsidas regain his health.
Composed of 40 verses filled with praises for Lord Hanuman, the Hanuman Chalisa is composed in Avadhi.
This dialect of Hindi was spoken in Ayodhya, Lord Rama’s birthplace.
Lord Hanuman is known for his devotion to Lord Ram and is considered to be the embodiment of faith, surrender, and devotion.
॥ योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः ॥
On studying the first sutra of Yoga darshan ‘Atha Yogaanushasnam’ one wants to know ‘What is Yoga?’To understand Yoga in entirety one must know what is mind, vritti and nirudh. The original and the actual meaning of Yoga cannot be understood without
understanding this.
Let us first know what is mind- in simple words mind refers to the land where our thoughts are born, formed and remain firm as sacraments. This mind land is of five types.
1. Kshipt- restless state 2. Vikshipt- distracted state 3. Mudha-confused state
worlds (ie,the whole Universe), what is his gesture ? What is his body ? What is his plan? What is his basis (support)? What are his means (instruments,resources) ? These are the useless questions raised by some stupid critics, in order to mislead people, against one (i.e., you)
The Shiva Mahimna Stotra composed by Pushhpadanta, is considered one of the best among all Stotras (or Stutis) offered to Lord Shiva.
It has 43 beautiful verses.
From today onwards each day will share 4 verses !