Puttugam2
Author's posts
Jul 03 2017
Datta maata 44: Time is a precious gift bestowed by God
Kālāya tasmai namaḥ! Arjuna who saw the Vishwaroopa felt happy but at the same time, he succumbed to great fear. With such fear in his mind, he asked Vishwaroopa Sree Krishna that he is unable to see his form. He asked Krishna who he is and how to understand him. Krishna answered that his form is nothing but kāla (time) and that he absorbs everything into him. God blessed us with so many things. Most valuable amongst them is the time. Those who understand the principle of time can achieve anything. Many waste time and lose.
Long ago, there lived a king. He went for a jungle to hunt. There, he found an old man who was cutting the wooden logs. Seeing him, the king mercifully went to him and talked to him. That old man told about his hardships – that no one takes care of him and that he lives alone. The king, out of compassion, gave the old man a piece of land for agriculture near the forest in charity. That forest had big sandalwood trees as well. The king left the place after doing his charity.
Two-three years passed by. The king once again went to the jungle for hunting. Once again, he saw the old man cutting the wooden logs. The king was surprised to see him. He sent out his army, called the old man and asked him about the land he has given and why he has not undertaken any agriculture over there. The king opined that the old man can live happily by doing agriculture in that piece of land instead of working hard cutting the logs. Then the old man replied that he could not plough the land that the king has given because of the presence of valuable trees over there. He felt very sad to cut the trees and sell them. But, instead he destroyed the trees, burnt them and sold the ash obtained thereafter. He also told that the money obtained by selling the ash is spent away and hence he has once again taken up the task of cutting the logs. The king then worriedly told the old man that those trees were the sandalwood trees and by selling them, even his future generations could have lived happily. The king felt sad for the ignorance of the old man who wasted a golden opportunity.
Let us think for a while. The king named ‘God’ has given us valuable sandalwood trees called ‘time’. We must understand whether to utilize it properly or to waste it like ashes. This time is like kalpavruksha (wish yielding tree). We can even attain salvation with this kalpavruksha. We can do our spiritual practice to any extent and utilize it for anything good. Hence, do not destroy and waste time. It is much valuable than the sandalwood trees. In short, you must cash this time. Hope you will understand better. It is good and can be used for anything.
Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!
Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-44-time-is-a-precious-gift-god-has-bestowed-upon-us/
Jul 03 2017
Datta maata 43: Be cautious when entertaining desires
We must carefully pray for our desires. Any work we do yields results. Not just a work, even a thought has some result. Hence, the scriptures suggest us to change our thinking process. Only few accept that our thoughts also lead to some results. Every action has its own reaction. This means that every work will have its own result. Since a thought is the one that involves the intellect, it too yields some results. To understand this very easily, we must discuss about a folk story.
On his way, a traveler reached an open ground. Since he was walking in the sun, he wanted to take rest for a while because he was completely tired and sweaty. Surprisingly, there was a tree in that ground. The traveler wanted to rest under the tree. He sat there for a while. After sometime, he felt very happy seeing the beauty of the tree and wished for a cot to rest. That tree under which he sat is ‘Kalpavruksha’, a wish yielding tree. He does not know that. Soon, a cot appeared over there because of the power of the Kalpavruksha. The traveler happily saw the cot and rested on it. He later wished for a beautiful lady to press his feet. Again, with the influence of Kalpavruksha, a beautiful lady appeared immediately and pressed his feet. His joy knew no bounds. After a while, he felt hungry. He wished for a grand feast. As soon as he wished, he was granted the wish. He ate the dishes to his heart’s content. Later, he recollected all the surprising incidents that happened till then. At once, he thought what would happen if a tiger suddenly comes and eats him. Within no time, a tiger came and ate him.
Usually, the situation of many of us is like that. God grants us all that we want. But, it is our responsibility to avoid the thoughts like that of a big tiger. The ego itself is the biggest tiger. If it finds its way in our thoughts, it will not only wash away the riches but also our intellect too. We must remember this every time. We must purify our thoughts every now and then. We must not forget that our thoughts get transformed into our actions. We must only wish for noble desires and avoid the bad thoughts. Wishing is also a great fortune. It is like a dream. Sometimes, when all our wishes are fulfilled, we get bad thoughts easily. Just because something good has happened, you wish for something else which is actually bad and it will happen just like the Kalpavruksha has fulfilled. Hence, we can be successful if an only if our thoughts are pure and correct.
Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!
Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-43-be-cautious-when-entertaining-desires/
Jul 03 2017
Datta maata 42: Every place has positive or negative vibrations associated with it.
Even though the entire creation is a part of God, each and every place has its own significance. Each one of us must acknowledge this fact. Let us remember this. We know about the story of Narada who forgot the greatness of Himalayas (place of penance) and instead assumed that the power of his penance is the result of his own energy.
There are many who argue that there is no necessity to go to temples when God resides right here in one’s own heart. Such people cannot understand that the temple and the surroundings are rich with positive vibes and sanctity because of the powerful recitation of Veda hymns during the consecration of the deity of the temple. The good or bad that happens to us will definitely have at least some or the other connection with our surroundings. There is a story that describes about the importance of the place of stay and surroundings.
Sree Rama entered Dandakaranya (forest) during the period of exile. Lakshmana followed Sree Rama by carrying the belongings of Sree Rama and Sita matha. When they came to a particular place, without any reason, Lakshmana told Sita Rama that he can no longer carry their belongings because he is not their coolie. Saying so, he gave all of them to Sree Rama. After walking further, Lakshmana realized that Sree Rama was carrying their belongings and repented for his mistake. He begged Sree Rama’s pardon by prostrating at his feet. Then Sree Rama told that it was not the mistake of Lakshmana. It was because of the negative vibrations of that place. The demons have performed rituals at that place and hence those negative vibes are still influencing the air waves of that place. Sree Rama further added that the mind of the person who comes there will automatically become like that of Lakshmana.
Once, they crossed the place, Lakshmana’s mind behaved well. Hence, it was not his mistake at all. Thus we understand about the influence of the place in every good or bad that happens to us. When we go to certain places, we feel so peaceful and forget all our sorrows. That is the energy of the surroundings. The mahatmas (noble souls) fill positivity to such places. Hence, in order to repair and calm our mind, we must go to peaceful temples every day. Only then we can pacify our inner self and the positive energy of the surroundings can influence us. We must go to temples at least once in a week, if not every day, the peaceful environment there will influence us and make our lives beautiful.
The same impact is felt when we make the friendship of Guru. In the presence of Guru, we feel very peaceful and forget all the sorrows. At the place of Guru, we eat very well, get good sleep and feel relaxed. Many say that they get relaxed after coming to Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Ashrama. They feel like eating well and sleeping happily. It is because of the relaxation of the mind because it no longer remembers the sufferings. Let us say that there is a faithful dog that takes care of its owner and his house. As soon as the dog sees its owner, it gradually rests to sleep. This means that it feels very secure because of the presence of his owner by his side. That is because of the power of surroundings. This is the impact of the surroundings and the penance of mahatmas.
Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!
Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-42-every-place-has-positive-or-negative-vibrations-associated-with-it/
Jul 03 2017
Datta maata 41: Develop unflinching devotion towards your Guru and God
There is no fear when one possesses jnana (knowledge). It is good. There is an age old adage that says: A full pot does not spill. A person with complete jnana has no fear at all. Only a person who has half knowledge faces all kinds of troubles.
There was a disciple named Deepaka who had the jnana that his everything is his Guru. With such jnana, he never succumbed to any desire or greediness. Few thought Deepaka’s devotion to be madness. It is very common to think so. But few others thought it was good to have such devotion.
Even Hari, Hara and Brahma also felt very happy for his devotion towards Guru. One day, Brahma himself came to Deepaka and asked him to wish for some boon. But, Deepaka humbly rejected saying that he needs nothing and sent away Brahma. Later, Shiva also came and he too asked him to pray for a boon. Deepaka rejected once again and sent away Shiva. This time, Vishnu came and tried to convince Deepaka in many ways but he did not have any agitation in the mind. Vishnu got irritated and he too left the place. In this way, Deepaka rejected the boons that Trimurthis were about to give. No person can be like him. He had no fear at all. Usually, when mahatmas offer boons, we fear to reject them because they may curse instead. But, Deepaka had no such fears because his everything was his Guru. Such jnana did not leave his mind even when the Trimurthis descended down to grant him boons. Secondly, he did not have wavering in his mind. Hence, he became eligible for Guru’s grace. Trimurthis blessed him with several boons happily.
Hence, a seeker, if possesses stable jnana like Deepaka will definitely receive the blessings of the Gods. We also must possess such jnana. Devotion towards Guru should be unwavering. That devotion is like a pure crystal. Guru is everything. One must keep on recollecting in the mind that Guru is the Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and he is the Parabrahma. We must strongly believe that the happiness and sorrow is also Guru. He is the foundation for all kinds of education. There is no education without Guru. It can be any field and not merely the spiritual field. Even in this worldly life, we need a Guru to learn driving. Someone has to guide even to operate a screw driver. We might have learnt it all by ourselves, but here our own heart is our Guru. So, even here there is an importance for Guru. You have learnt it by seeing someone else or listening to someone or by reading it somewhere or because someone has told you. That source is your Guru. Even though you do not have a Guru directly, by seeing, by listening or by reading, by experiencing, you learn. That itself is the Guru. When we practice such devotion, victory will definitely be ours.
Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!
Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-41-develop-unflinching-devotion-towards-your-guru-and-god/
Jul 03 2017
Datta maata 40: Discarding luxuries and sleep intensify your dedication
Each and every kind of education has its own way. The various walks of life are just like the different forms of education. These days, in order to obtain the B.A (Bachelor of Arts) degree, one has to study for 4 hours in a day. But, one who aspires to become an IAS officer must study at least for 12 hours a day. At present, we see that there is a huge competition in the field of education. This is also good. Our elders say “Vidya turānām na sukham na nidra”. This means that those who neglect the pleasures, sleep and concentrate totally on studies will get good education. Education comes to only those who struggle day and night. Else it will not.
Sage Bharadwaja is one of the strongest personalities amongst all the sages. But, we must also remember that he was a very great student. While he was obtaining his education, after finishing his part of studies, he asked his Guru whether he had completed the education or not. Then Guru told him that not even a small portion has been completed. Instead, he told Bharadwaja that only if he is born again with a long life, he can complete his study in Vedas. Bharadwaja did penance with strong determination. Indra appeared and blessed him with longevity in this lifetime itself. He again continued to study Vedas. Once again, he understood that he could not complete the study. So, he once again did penance to please Indra. This happened thrice.
On the fourth time, Indra appeared and blessed him with a lifetime of 1000 years and questioned him how he would utilize it. Bharadwaja told about his strong resolve to study the Vedas. Then, Indra showed three sandy hills and told him that they are analogous to the limitless Vedas. Further, he took out three fistfuls of sand from the three hills and compared them to the study that Bhardawaja has done. If the Vedas are infinite, then the study of Bharadwaja is so infinitesimal. This shows us the vastness of Vedas. Bharadwaja now understood the essence of Vedas and offered prostrations to Indra. Then, Indra blessed Bharawaja and told that a student must be like him because he possesses a strong determination. With such a strong will, any education will appear lucid and it will lead to victory. Such a student will develop innovative ways of thinking too. Indra then taught “Savitri vidya” to Bharadwaja and also told him that he has no further need to study because he can now visualize the divine hymns. He further blessed that Bharadwaja will become famous as “Mantra drasta” and left the place. Bharadwaja remained as a student forever and helped the world. Taking him as the role model, hope that both the children and elders will obtain good education. May you all become well versed in education!
Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!
Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-40-a-student-should-discard-luxuries-and-sleep-he-should-intensify-his-dedication/
Guinness World Record
Puttu Gam App
