April 8, 2017 archive

Vanara Gita 8: Significance of giving cow in charity (godānam)

All Vedas and Scriptures declare that among all the forms of life birth as human being is the best! In such human birth, the cow is considered sacred and is duly worshipped. Hence it can be concluded that the cow which is being worshipped by the humans is more sacred than the human being himself!

The sight of a cow should bring into memory all the Vedas. Its milk is nectar (amrita). In fact, in terms of respect, the cow is at par with the status of a mother. Rearing and nourishing a cow means nourishing and protecting Mother Goddess Herself! All the deities (Devatas) reside subtly within the body of the cow.

Have you ever observed a cow minutely? Its beautiful, proportionately shaped body and its gentle traits are very appealing. No other animal can produce milk that is as tasty as the cow’s milk. Cow is said to have descended directly from Vaikunṭha (abode of Lord Maha Vishnu). The deed of giving away such a cow in charity is considered extremely meritorious.

Gold and cow thus are said to be the best items to be given away in charity. The merit that can be earned by giving them away in charity is beyond all measures. Giving away in charity just an iota of gold, or a cow together with its calf, or the fodder of a cow for just one day showers limitless merit (punya). This does not mean that a fistful of grass be plucked and fed to the cow expecting great merit. Fodder should be given in generous quantities or money equivalent of that should be offered to the person who is rearing the cow towards its fodder.

Previously when people gave away a cow in charity to the ashram they would daily contribute a little fodder for the cow, a cloth to cover its body and the like. Through these small donations for its fodder etc., our balance of merit (punya) multiplies significantly. We should therefore learn about these small charitable activities and whole-heartedly participate in them.

If just generously feeding a cow grants immense merit, what can be said about the merit earned by gifting away billions of cows and billions of mountains of gold? The merit earned is beyond imagination. The kings, in the ancient past, gifted away cows and gold in large quantities. In the more recent past, saint Purandara dasa, gifted away his house itself.

Om namo Hanumate namaha.

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-8-significance-of-giving-cow-in-charity-godanam/

Vanara Gita 7: Significance of Gold and of charitable activities

Among all actions, charitable activities are the most supreme! They pave the way for increase in devotion, supreme knowledge and dispassion in the person.

Gold occupies the most exalted position among all the objects in this universe. It is the most superior, sacred and precious metal. It is said that even the touch of an iota of gold has a profound influence on the body. For this reason, the tradition of incorporating at least a small bit of gold in the mangala sutra (chain worn by married hindu ladies) or of wearing a golden finger ring have all emerged. The power within this gold is unimaginable.

The best should always be given away in charity. Our smritis emphasize that charity paves the way for the growth of dharma (rules of righteousness). Dharma causes a growth not only to the individual who undertakes charity, but to all the persons who are in the vicinity This has been emphatically laid down by our scriptures (shastras). Such is the merit that can be earned due to charity.

Among all the various forms of life on earth, human life is the most supreme. Often elders reprimand- ‘don’t behave like an animal after having been born a human’. Or they scold- ‘don’t eat like a pig’, don’t behave like an ass. Why are you staring like an owl?’ When these animal tendencies are being referred to, it means that some of those animal tendencies still exist within us. Those traits that we exhibited when we took on the birth in those animal forms (in our earlier lives), still have their grip upon us. It is very rare to be blessed with a human birth. God only knows when we shall get it again.

Om namo Hanumate namaha.

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-7-significance-of-gold-and-of-charitable-activities/

Vanara Gita 6: Sugriva’s hymn; importance of charitable activities

Sri Sugriva uvaca-

Suvara sailasya gavām ca koi satasya koeschya satasya yaccha

Dānasya nai vāsti sama phalancha druvam ca tanmāruti darśanena.

The merit that is earned through donating 1 billion (100 crores) gigantic golden mountains, the merit that can be earned through donating billions of cows can be earned just by the darshan of Lord Hanuman!

Sugriva was the king of Vānaras. It is the nature of kings to undertake deeds of charity in large scale and thus to teach their citizens the value and merit that can be earned through these acts of charity.

Among all the actions undertaken, actions relating to charity are the most supreme. Charity is hardest of all the actions performed. Not everyone gets the heart to give away in charity, what they possess. The truth is that here on earth, we are but custodians of the wealth that inherently belongs to the Supreme Lord. Giving away in charity amounts to giving back to God what originally belongs to Him!

  Hoarding and storing wealth is not a healthy attitude. Feeling dejected that we are not able to save up for the future of the children is an unhealthy attitude. Such thoughts should be driven away from the mind. Your duty as a parent is to show them the right way of life that is essential to survive in this world. Teach them how to withstand the difficulties that land upon the head and how to survive even under such circumstances. That’s all.

If a person hoards all his wealth with intent of saving for the future of his children and hence does not even give away a rupee in charity, then what is the use? What will come with you at the time of death? Do you realize that by not indulging in deeds of charity in this lifetime, your account of merit has completely depleted and that there is no balance left in it? Furthermore, too much of money in hand leads the children on the wrong path and they will become victims of bad habits. Good habits such as charity will never be imbibed by them. They will turn out to be self centered and selfish. They will waste the money unlawfully. Children learn only when parents practice good traits. But in our foolishness, we only think of saving up for the children and distance ourselves from healthy karmas.

Charity has been called the best among actions. Charity paves the way for devotion (bhakti), supreme knowledge (jnana) and thus takes the person towards dispassion (vairagya). It is incorrect to think that devotion towards the Lord and supreme knowledge will sprout automatically in the person at a certain time. Towards this proper foundation is essential. Where the child is taught the essence of sharing and charity, then bhakti (devotion) sprouts automatically within him.

Om namo Hanumate namaha.

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-6-sugrivas-hymn-importance-of-charitable-activities/

Vanara Gita 5: Meaning of Dhyana shloka 2

During the Rama Ravana battle, Indrajit (son of Demon Ravana) grievously wounded Lakshmana. Seeing the fallen Lakshmana, many army leaders concluded that he was dead.

The sorrow experienced by Rama at that minute was far greater than that he had experienced when his wife Sita was kidnapped. For months he had been grieving for Sita, but he was most inconsolable with this loss. At this juncture, the doctor of the Vānara army proclaimed that Lakshmaṇa could be revived provided that the herb Sanjivini is brought and supplied to him immediately. But how was this to be accomplished? The war was being fought in the island Lanka while the herb was available in the far away Himalayas. With great difficulty, the monkey army had constructed the bridge to reach this island. To go and fetch this herb was very time consuming. Any delay in getting the herb meant that Lakshmaṇa could not be revived.

In this situation, where every minute was precious, Hanuman volunteered for the highly impossible task. He flew at the speed of wind braving all the obstacles on his path and without wasting any time in searching for the herb, carried the entire mountain itself to Lanka! He thus became the cause for the restoration of the life of Lakshmana and in turn brought about immense joy to Lord Rama. He dispelled all the mental sorrows of Lord Rama.

Thus the meaning implied in the dhyana shloka is – Can’t this Lord who could dispel the sorrows of Lord Rama himself, dispel the sorrows and troubles that afflict our mind?

Om namo Hanumate namaha.

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-5-meaning-of-dhyana-shloka-2/

Vanara Gita 4: Dhyāna shloka 2

Yet another dhyana shloka of Hanuman is-

Sanjīva parvotōddhāra mano dukha nivaraya

Praseeda sumahabahū trāyasva harisattama. 

Meaning- O Lord who lifted up the Mountain Sanjeevini! Please relieve me of my mental afflictions. O Lord who possesses mighty arms! Please shower your grace on me.

It is a common understanding that Hanuman lifted and carried the Mountain Sanjeevini to revive Lakshmana, who was injured in the battlefield, and to thus bring about joy and happiness to Lord Rama and Lakshmana. The truth however is that in bringing this mountain and in reviving Lakshmana, he destroyed the mental sorrows of every being present there.

Sanjeev refers to prana (life force). The intellect (buddhi) and actions (karma) attach themselves to this life force. Hanuman is the Lord who lifts up this life force (prana, sanjeeva) and thus dispels all mental afflictions of the being. Here the prayer is- O Lord, you could life the sanjeevini mountain itself. To such a powerful Lord, how large can my distress be? Please relieve me of my mental distress.’ Once mental afflictions are eliminated, all that remains is devotion (bhakti).

The second line in the hymn refers to His mighty shoulders. Shoulders and arms are symbolic of protection. They rescue the person in distress. Here, the prayer is – ‘O powerful Lord, with your mighty arms you could destroy all demons. Please hold me too with those arms’. In other words, it means please shower your grace on me and rescue me.

It is said that the war between Rama and Ravana is beyond all forms of comparisons. When a person is asked draw a parallel to this war, he will say ‘Rama-Ravana war is like Rama- Ravana war itself’. No other war is equivalent to this. Likewise this Vānara Gita is beyond comparisons.

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-4-dhyana-shloka-2-of-vanara-gita/

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