MIND THE TRUSTED FRIEND

YOUR MIND SHOULD BE A GOOD FRIEND.MAKE IT STRONGER, SWEETER AND PEACEFUL.IN MAN, THE MIND IS AN INSTRUMENT TO WORK. OUR EXTERNAL FEATURES OF BODY, COMPLEXION,ETC CANNOT BE CHANGED. BUT  THE MIND  CHANGE EVERY DAY, EVERY MOMENT. GOD HAS GIVEN AMPLE FREEDOM. UNDERSTAND THIS FACT. MAKE YOUR MIND PURE, OPTIMISTIC, FAITHFUL AND CHEERFUL. THAT,S THE BIGGEST WEALTH,TREASURE AND PURSUIT. WHILE THE BODY MAY AGE, TRY TO MAKE THE MIND GROW YOUNGER. HAVE DETACHMENT  AND DISPASSION TOWARDS MATERIALISTIC PLEASURES, THAT ARE TEMPORARY.INSTEAD GO FOR ATMIC STRENGTH AND STABILITY.HAVE ENOUGH HARMONY AND SWEETNESS AT HOME IS A MUST. IF THE HOME IS NOT SWEET, YOU CANNOT EXPECT SOLACE FROM OUTSIDE.HENCE TRY TO LOVE YOUR OWN KITH AND KIN. EXTEND THE LOVE TOWARDS FRIENDS AND FOES . FROM FOES UNDERSTAND OUR SHORTCOMINGS. TRY TO IMPROVE UPON IT. MOST OFTEN OUR CRITICS ARE THE BEST ONES TO TEACH US THE REALITY.ALL MENTAL PROBLEMS HAVE  SOLUTION AND CAN BE CURED. FAITH IN ONESELF AND ISHWARA ARE THE GREATEST STRENGTH.. MIND YOU THE WORLD IS BAD FOR THOSE WHOSE MIND IS WICKED AND BROKEN. IT,S BEAUTIFUL TO HIM WHOSE MIND IS FULL AND COMPLETE.THE MIND HAS THE POWER AND DEPTH TO SUBLIMATE EVEN THE GREATEST CRISES.LET THE POWER OF SEEKING THE TRUTH MAY GUIDE YOU TO THE RIGHT PATH THROUGH DIVINITY. LET THIS PURE MIND BRING YOU HAPPINESS PERMANENTLY THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE. MY HAPPIEST WISHES FOR TAMIL PUTHANDU AND VISHU. LET THE NEW YEAR BRING YOU ALL MENTAL PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

LORD,S GRACE.

DSHAKAM-93-VERSE-1------------BANDHU SNEHAM VIJAHYAM, TAVA HEE KARUNAYA TVAYUUPAVESHITATHMA, SARVAM TYAKTHVA CHAREYAM, SAKALAMAPI JAGADH VEEKSHYA MAYAVILASAM.-NANATHVADHBRANTHI JANYATH, SATHI KALU GUNADHOSHAVABODHE VIDHIRVA, VYASETHO VA KATHAM TVAYEE NIHEETHAMATHER VEETHA VYSHAMYA BUDHHE.---------- HERE NARAYANA BATTATHIRI SAYS  IT,S ONLY YOUR GRACE THAT I SHALL BE ABLE TO GIVE UP ATTACHMENT TOWARDS ALL RELATIVES. WITH MY MIND ABSORBED IN YOU I SHALL WANDER ABOUT, RENOUNCING EVERYTHING LOOKING UPON THE WHOLE UNIVERSE AS MERELY AN EXPRESSION OF MAYA.DO'S AND DONT'S OF SHASTRAS APPLY ONLY TO ONE  WHO HAVE CONCEPTS OF GOOD AND BAD BECAUSE OF DUALITY.[AVIDHYA DUE TO BHEDA-ABHEDA] CAUSED BY WRONG UNDERSTANDING.HOW CAN THESE APPLY TO ONE WHOS'E MIND IS ABSORBED IN THEE.THUS HE IS FREED FROM DELUSION.------ATTACHMENT TO KITH AND KIN STANDS FOR MINENESS[MAMAKRAM] IN ALL FORMS.

CRUEL FEB-15TH

DEAR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES,        IT'S WITH A DEEP REGRET THAT I REMEMBER FEB15,THE DAY WHEN CRUEL DEATH SNATCHED MY BELOVED WIFE PARVATHY VERY SUDDENLY, WHEN EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE FINE.THOUGH THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT WERE NOT CONDUCIVE FOR HER HEALTH, IT WAS ONLY A MILD COLD THAT DEVELOPED LATER INTO A PNEUMONIA, WHEN HER IMMUNITY WAS SUDDENLY LOW.REALLY I WAS CONFUSED AS TO HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS SUDDEN SITUATION. UNDER THE ADVICE OF MY RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF GODREJ COLONY, SHE WAS ADMITTED TO GODREJ CASUALTY WARD AFTER WHICH SHE WAS IN THE I.C.U AND IN SPITE OF TREATMENTS SHE DIDN'T SURVIVE.ALL I CAN SAY THAT WHETHER IT'S MY OR HER BAD LUCK TO LOOSE A FINE ,INNOCENT SOUL.  AND A PARTNER FOR MORE THAN 35 YRS.I CANNOT FORGET HER CHARMING SMILE, AND HER HEART FELT ADVICES MADE ME A SOMEWHAT A REFINED INDIVIDUAL, THOUGH BY NATURE I AM A REBEL.HER PLAIN SINCERE TRUTHFUL ADVICES MADE ME TO THINK AGAIN AND AGAIN, WHENEVER I WAS IN UTMOST DIFFICULT SITUATIONS..MANY TIMES SHE WAS A COOL AND TRUE ADVISER WHICH MADE MY LIFE SO SMOOTH,SO MUCH SO THAT IF TODAY OTHERS SEE ME AS A RESPECTABLE INDIVIDUAL AMONGST MY FRIENDS AND RELATIONS.I WOULD ACCEPT THAT SHE MADE ME PSYCHOLOGICALLY STRONGER, THEREBY INTERACTION WITH OTHERS BECAME EASIER.ALTHOUGH I AM NOT ABLE TO FORGET FEB15TH, MY DEEP INSIGHT INTO VEDAS AND UPANISHADSHAD  HAD GIVEN ME A TOTAL FAITH AND COURAGE TO DEAL WITH ANY SITUATION,SPECIALLY DEATH, WHICH  CERTAINLY CANNOT BE AVOIDED BY ANY INDIVIDUAL OF THIS WORLD.HOWEVER DEAR THEY MAY BE.FURTHER I WOULD STATE THAT ALL THE OBSTACLES WHICH CAME IN MY LIFE MADE ME MORE STRONGER THAN EVER AND MY FAITH IN ISHWARA AND SHASTRAS INCREASED MORE AND MORE, MY VEDIC STUDIES ARE BECOMING MORE INTENSE AND NOW I AM IN THE FOREST OF VEDANTA, WHEREIN THERE IS NO PLACE FOR ANY DUKKHA., SINCE OUR SAGES REVEALED AND ANALYSED THAT TRUTH WHICH IS EVER PERMANENT, SO THAT MANKIND WILL COME OUT OF SAMSARA ONE DAY OR THE OTHER. I SHALL NOW QUOTE A FAMOUS VERSE FROM BAGAVATH GEETA[ 2ND CHAPT] WHICH SAYS THUS----NAINAM CHINTANTHI SHASTRANI, NAINAM DAHATI PAVAKAHA. NACHETAM CLETAYANTHYAPO, NA SHOSHAYATHI  MARUTAHA.[WEAPONS DO NOT SLAY ATMA,NOR DOES FIRE BURN IT. WATER DOES'NT WET OR DROWN IT.NOR DOES THE WIND DRY IT.]. MAY THIS ATMA BE REVEALED TO US BY OUR VEDAS AND UPANISHADS.--------V.VEERARAGHAVAN

SWETASHWATAROPANISHAD

THE GOD WHO FIRST CREATED THE CREATOR AND DELIVERED TO HIM THE VEDAS, HE WHO IS WITHOUT PARTS, WITHOUT ACTIVITY, EVER PEACEFUL    AND WHO IS WITHOUT ANY TAINT, WHO IS LIKE A FIRE THAT HAS CONSUMED IT'S FUEL AND WHO IS THE HIGHEST BRIDGE TO IMMORTALITY- IN THAT LORD, WHO IS LIGHTED BY HIS OWN THOUGHT, I TAKE REFUGE, SEEKING MOKSHA OR LIBERATION.--------------------------------------------------YO BRAHMANAM, VIDADAHATI POORVAM, YO WHY VEDAMSCHA PRAHINOTHI THASMYE, TAM HA DEVAAM, ATMA BUDDHI PRAKASHAM, MUMUKSHURVE, SHARANAM AHAM PRAPADYE. NISHPHALAM,NISHKRIYAM,SHANTHAM,NIRAVADHYAM, NIRANJANAM. AMRUTHASYA PARAM SETUM, DAGDENDANAMIVANALAM.

NAMA SHIVAYA-MEDITATION

NAMSHIVAYA IS A PANCHAKSHARA MANTRA.THAT WHICH PROTECTS THE MIND IS MANTRA RISHIS ARE MANTRA DRRASHTAS.. THEY HAVE SEEN THE MEANING OF A PARTICULAR MANTRA, DUE TO INTENSE TAPASYA OR DHYANA.IT'S TO BE NOTED THAT SADASHIVA SHOULD BE INVOKED IN HRUDAYA KAMALA.TO MEDITATE ONE SHOULD BE PURE. ONE SHOULD SIT DOWN QUIETLY AT A PLACE WHERE  THERE IS NO DISTRACTION.HAVING SAT DOWN QUIETLY AT A PLACE,CLOSING YOUR EYES, DO PRANAYAMA[RECHAKA AND KUMBHAKA-FILLING AND EXPELLING THE VITAL BREATH]HAVING DONE THE PRANAYAM FOR FIVE MINUTES,INVOKE GODDESS SARASWATHI[UTTERANCE OF SARSWATHYE NAMAHA], FEEL AS IF SHE IS BLESSING YOU WITH ALL POSITIVE ENERGY FOR YOUR MIND AND SPEECH.NOW LET IT BE KNOWN THAT SHIVA HAS THREE EYES[THRINAYANM]----RIK,SAMA,YAJUS.[NAMA RUPA OF SHIVA IS THUS INVOKED]EVERY MANTRA HAS  A METRE.METRE FOR NAMSHIVAYA IS CALLED PANKTHI.THERE IS A RISHI FOR A MANTRA. HERE THE RISHI IS VAMADEVA.EACH MANTRA OF NAMASHIVAYA IS EQUIVALENT TO FIVE LAKHS PURASSARA OF ANY OTHER MANTRAS.[PURASSARA=REPETITIONS TILL IT  IS UTTERED AUTOMATICALLY], THAT CAN WASH OF THOUSANDS OF SINS. HENCE THIS MANTRA IS TO BE CHANTED CAREFULLY WITH UTMOST PURITY.THUS MEDITATION ON OM NAMASHIVAYA AFTER SEVERAL UTTERANCES CAN GIVE YOU A MENTAL PEACE AND TRANQUILITY AND HAVING A BALANCED MIND, ONE SHOULD TRY TO ENQUIRE ABOUT THAT BRAHMAN WHICH IS THE ULTIMATE REALITY.

JANAKA'S QUESTINS TO ASHTAVAKRA.

KATHAM JNYANAM AVAPNOTHI,  KATHAM                    MUKTHIRBAVISHYATHI. VAIRAGYAM CHA PRAPTHAM, ETHAD BRUHI, MAMA PRABHO?-----JANAKA SAID;HOW CAN KNOWLEDGE BE ACQUIRED?HOW CAN LIBERATION BE ATTAINED? HOW IS RENUNCIATION POSSIBLE?--TELL ME THIS O LORD.----------KNOWLEDGE IS REALISATION OF  THE IDENTITY OF  THE INDIDIVIDUAL SELF  AND SUPREME SELF OR BRAHMAN WHICH IS EXISTENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND  ABSOLUTE HAPPINESS. LIBERATION MEANS FREEDOM FROM IGNORANCE, ALL BONDAGES, AND LIMITATIONS  ARISING OUT OF KNOWLEDGE IE COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF MISERY, AND T5HE ATTAINMENT OF SUPREME HAPPINESS.-----RENUNCIATION MEANS UNATTACHMENTS TO THE PLEASURE AND PAIN DERIVEDE FROM WORLDLY OBJECTS AND EVEN TO TYHE JOYFUL LIFE IN HEAVEN, WHICH IS ALSO IMPERMANENT.THIS FORMS THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY IE REQD OF AN ASPIRANT FOR ATTAINMENT OF SELF KNOWLEDGE.

VAIRAGYA SHATAKAM----BHARTRHARI ----VERSE -31

BHOGE ROGABAYAM,KULECHUTI BAYAM,VITTHA NRUPALATBAYAM,MANE DHAINYA BAYAM, BALE RIPU BAYAM, RUPE JARAYA BAYAM. SHASTRE VADI BAYAM, GUNE KHALA BAYAM KHAYE KRUTANTHATH BAYAM, SARVAM VASTU BAYANVITHAM, BHUVI NRUNAM VAIRAGYAMEVA BAYAM.----------------------------------------IN ENJOYMENT, THERE IS THE FEAR OF DISEASE, IN SOCIAL POSITION, THE FAR OF FALLING OFF, IN WEALTH, THE FEAR OF HOSTILE KINGS, IN HONOUR THE FEAR OF HUMILIATION, IN POWER THE FEAR OF ENEMIES, IN BEAUTY, THE FEAR OF OLD AGE, IN SCRIPTURAL ERUDITION, THE FEAR OF OPPONENTS, IN VIRTUE, THE FEAR OF MISREPRESENTATION IN AN UNFAVOURABLE WAY, IN BODY THE FEAR OF DEATH,ALL THE THINGS OF THE WORLD PERTAINING TO MAN ARE FILLED WITH FEAR, RENUNCIATION ALONE STANDS FOR FEARLESSNESS.