VIVDISA AND VIDVAT SANYASA-AN OVERVIEW

BY THE STUDY OF VEDAS AND OTHER RELIGIOUS TEXTS,THE DESIRE FOR SELF REALIZATION ARISES.   AND WHEN IT ARISES ONE WILL NATURALLY GO FOR ATMIC PURSUITS RATHER THAN ANITYA VASTUS.WHICH ARE BUT TEMPORARY. NOW IN ORDER TO CONCENTRATE TOTALLY ON BRAHMAN WHICH IS LIMITLESS AND ABSOLUTE TRUTH,THE SEEKER DECIDES TO TAKE SANYAS. THIS  IS CALLED RENUNCIATION OF THE SEEKER. AT THIS STAGE A SANYASIIN PERFORMS STUDY ETC FOR REALISATION OF ULTIMATE TRUTH. WHERE AS IN VIDVAT SANYASA, HE ALREADY HAS A KNOWLEDGE OF BRAHMAN THIS IS CALLED KNOWER'S RENUNCIATION. HENCE MANY A TIMES PEOPLE TAKE TO SANYAS FOR TOTAL DEVOTION TOWARDS  SCRIPTURAL TEXTS WITHOUT ANY FAMILY ATTACHMENTS  AND FEELINGS WHICH ARE BONDAGES  ,TO SOME EXTENT   FOR A FULL TIME STUDIES. IN VIDVAT SANYASA HE ALREADY KNOWS THE LIMITATIONS OF BODY AND MIND AND PURSUES BRAHMAN  SO IN ONE TYPE OF SANYASA ONE IS A SEEKER AND IN ANOTHER ONE, THE RENUNCIATION IS DONE BY THE KNOWER. NOW WHAT  DOES ONE RENUNCIATE. IT'S ONES EGO, THE FALSE IDENTIFICATION WITH BODY AND MIND THAT ARE NOT NITYAM.HENCE IN VIVIDEESHA SANYASA ONE IS SEEKER OF ALL-PERVADING BRAHMAN, AND IN VIDVAT SANYASA, HE IS  A KNOWER OF ALL PERVADING BRAHMAN AND THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO BE KNOWN., FOR HIM.

HASTHAMALAKA GEETAM-----ADISHANKARA

HASTHA=HAND, AMALAKA=AMLA FRUIT[WHEN AMALAKA IS ON UR PALM, THESE CAN BE SEEN AS CLEARLY AS POSSIBLE. HENCE NAME HASTHAMALAKA INDICATES ONE WHO EXPLAINS TRUTH AS CLEARLY AS POSSIBLE.-------THIRD VERSE STATES------NIMITTHAM MANHA,CHAKSHURADHI PRAVRUTHOU,NIRASTHAKI LOPADIRAKASHA KALPAHA.------RAVIRLOKACHESHTA NIMITHAM YADAYAHA,     SA NITHYOPALABDHI,  --SWARPOHAMATMA.       PURPORT---JUST AS THE SUN IS THE WITNESS OF ALL KARMAS DONE BY HUMAN-BEINGS,OUR MIND,EYES AND OTHER SENSE ORGANS GET THE SENTIENCY DUE TO ATMA ALONE. ALTHOUGH ATMA DOES NOT DO ANY WORK.  BUT SENTIENCY HAPPENS BECAUSE OF ATMA AND ATMA ALONE. IT,S LIKE THIS------IN  THIS WORLD WHEN SUN  RISES,EVERYBODY GETS UP AND INVOLVES THEMSELVES IN DAY TO DAY WORK.[INVARIABLY ANIMALS AND BIRDS ALSO DO THEIR JOBS TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES.]BUT SUN JUST REMAINS AS WITNESS. IT DOES NOT DO ANY JOB.IT JUST LIGHTENS OBJECTS,IT NEITHER FORCES ANYBODY TO DO KARMA. THUS WE FIND SUN IS  ONLY A NIMTHA. IT,S ONLY A WITNESS OF ALL TRANSACTIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING. IN THIS VERSE ATMA  IS COMPARED TO SUN[ONLY A COMPARISON MIND YOU]. IN FACT ATMA IS BRAHMASWAROOPA ITSELF---THUS YOU FIND IN OUR VEDAS, MANY SHRUTHI TEXTS REFERS TO DO UPASNA ON SUN AS BRAHMAN----[--ASAVADITHYO BRAHMA ], INCIDENTALLY IT JUST TELLS YOU TO SAGUNOPASANA, AND LATER, WHEN YOU MATURE, YOU MAY KNOW NRGUNATWAM OF ATMA OR BRAHMAN   --------

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.