April 2017 archive

Vanara Gita 11: Importance of upāsana and of Guru darshan

In Maharashtra the quote- ‘dhanya dhanya o pradakshina’- is often heard. Pradakshina (circumambulation) to the Guru is considered to be very auspicious and sacred!

People of Maharashtra do not go to bed until they have remembered the Lord and sung bhajans praising Him. They consider circumambulating a Guru very sacred.

Great saints have often said that remembering our Guru smaran itself is Pradakshina (circumambulating) to Him! Remembering Him is itself the holy bath (snana)! This itself is penance (japa)!

Having Guru darshan is a sacred pilgrimage! Each visit undertaken for Guru darshan is a sacred pilgrimage! No other pilgrimages are required.

This is not some rule that has been incorporated so as to benefit the sick people. Even when a person is fit and fine and is capable of undertaking pilgrimages to holy centers, he should opt for Guru darshan only!

In Maharashtra people believe that sleeping in His sacred presence is meditation. Even sitting for an hour in His sacred presence is akin to visiting Vaikunṭha (abode of Lord Vishnu). In fact the person should spend a greater part of his time in such sacred premises such as temples.

It is very essential to sit in a temple and meditate or chant divine names. Japam performed in a temple or in Guru’s presence is turns very powerful provided it is performed with concentration.

Similarly, to Gandhamādana, recollection of Hanuman’s name is itself a holy bath as well as a penance. Hanuman is his upasana.

Our scriptures state that along with the physical body the mind is also purified during bathing and that it ultimately brings mental peace. Many people wonder about the necessity of bathing in daily life. The truth is that we have not evolved to a state wherein we are able to achieve absolute purity purely through chanting divine names. Bathing ensures that along with the physical body, the subtle body is also cleansed.

Bathing and Sandhya vandana have been mandated by our scriptures for the same reason. Sandhya vandana also means recollection of the divine names. While it is easy to understand that bathing cleanses our physical body, we wonder as to how the mind is rendered pure with bathing. The trick lies in reciting names of the Lord during bath. The power that exists in divine names cleanses the mind. Ultimately the mind is rendered peaceful.

 

Om namo Hanumate namaha.

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-11-importance-of-upasana-and-of-guru-darshan/

Vanara Gita 10: Importance of Upāsana (focus upon our favorite deity)

Just because Gandhamādana states that reciting ‘Hanuman’ itself is a sacred bath, it does not imply that a person should skip his daily mandatory bath just because he performs nama japa. Bathing is pre-requisite for cleansing the physical body. Reciting the name of Hanuman is a sacred mental bath.

The term ‘upāsana’ means visualizing the favorite deity in every deed performed in the daily life.

There are millions of Devatas. Each Devata has millions of mantras associated with Him/Her. If so, how is a person to choose which mantra is supposedly superior? To a person, that mantra into which he has received initiation from his Guru is the most superior mantra. Based on the individual destiny, buddhi (intellect) and mental tendencies (nature) of the person, the spiritual Self-realized Guru will bless the devotee with a particular mantra. Such mantra should become the most superior mantra for the person.

There are some who do not see the necessity of securing a spiritual Guru or initiation into a mantra from a spiritual Guru. They believe that locating mantras in books and reciting them is good enough. Fine. In this case, it will be apt if you consider the holy book as your Guru and treat the mantra as initiation from that Guru. Those who have not found a Guru can treat the sound of the mantra that they have heard as a Guru and meditate upon it. Suppose your neighbour is listening to a TV programme and the mantra ‘Sita rāmābhyām namaḥ’ falls into your ears, treat that itself as an initiation and focus on that mantra.

Mantra thus received from the Guru should be treated as the most supreme mantra and hence it should be recollected and recited at all times! This is ‘upāsana’ of the mantra. There is a very sacred hymn ‘sandhyā vandana bhadramastu’ wherein the poet very marvelously states- ‘I offer my obeisance to all these obligatory duties of bathing, sandhya vandana etc. However to me undertaking the japa of Lord Krishna’s name is of utmost importance.’

Om namo Hanumate namaha.

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-10-importance-of-upasana-focus-upon-our-favorite-deity/

Vanara Gita 9: Gandhamādhana’s hymn; What is true worship?

The merit that is earned by giving away billions of mountains of gold and that which is earned through gifting away billions of cows can be achieved merely by having the darshan of Lord Hanuman, says Sugriva, the King of Vānaras!

Swamiji is going one step further- “I am saying that this same merit will be earned by chanting or writing the mantra ‘Om namo Hanumate namaha’ in all earnest”. This is your Guru’s order. Every true disciple should just abide by your Guru’s order. Laziness is unacceptable in this regard.

It should not be misinterpreted to understand that those who have had the darshan of Lord Hanuman could stop all their acts of charity. On the contrary, it means that by having the darshan of this Lord Hanuman, a person is blessed with the prosperity that is needed to conduct such charity. More importantly, he is blessed with the good intellect (buddhi) that is critical to undertake deeds of charity. Even reciting the mantra ‘Om Namo Hanumate Namaha’ bestows the same fruit.

Let us now move on to the second hymn in this Vanara Gita.

Gandhamādhana, the most superior among all the Vānaras, states-

Hanumann ithi may snānam Hanumann ithi may japaha

Hanumann ithi may dhyānam Hanumat keertanaṃ sadaa.

Reciting the name ‘Hanuman’ is my bath, ‘Hanuman’ is itself my penance, Hanuman is the Lord on whom I meditate, eternally I seek to hear and sing the glory of Lord Hanuman (keertana). This itself is my liberation.

Some people always rush for river baths as they grant immense merit. Even when the Supreme Lord is seated directly in front of them, they plan trips to sacred temple towns. What to say to such people? Ok, let us suppose they travel to that temple town. Are they at peace in this town? No. They worry endlessly about their belongings and home. A pilgrimage that is devoid of devotion and dedication is not a pilgrimage at all! 

What is the use of a river bath if faith is missing? What is the use of visiting temple towns when dedication towards them is missing?

Here Gandhamādhana states that chanting the name ‘Hanuman’ is itself a sacred river bath! It is my japam! It is my meditation! I only want to think of Hanuman all the time!

In this hymn, Gandhamādana highlights the method of worshipping (upāsana) Lord Hanuman. What does upasana mean? The devotee should, in every action of his, perceive the presence of his most loved deity!  Witnessing the mantra received from the Guru in every deed and in every moment is itself upasana. The mantra received from our Guru should ring in our ears at all times. If we have received initiation into the mantra ‘Om Namo Hanumate Namaha’ then it should ring in our ears at all times!

Om Namo Hanumate Namaha.

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-9-gandhamadhanas-hymn-what-is-true-worship/

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/

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