Category: Datta Maata

Jul 03 2017

Datta maata 41: Develop unflinching devotion towards your Guru and God

July 3, 2017

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!

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Jul 03 2017

Datta maata 40: Discarding luxuries and sleep intensify your dedication

July 3, 2017

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!

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Jul 03 2017

Datta maata 39: The significance of Fire-worship

July 3, 2017

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Jul 03 2017

Datta maata 38: Influence of planets; story of Maharishi Pippalada

July 3, 2017

Few argue that planets influence us whereas few others opine otherwise. Let us keep that discussion aside. However, some or the other force drives this entire creation including humans. It is some invisible energy. Our elders have named that energy as ‘planetary force’. In order to counter the influence of such force on us, we must try to pacify them by performing “Shanti”, a ritual. Shani (Saturn) is the most powerful amongst the planets. Everybody knows this. Our elders suggest us that we must perform “Shanti” to reduce the impacts of Shani. The procedure to perform shanti was laid down by sage Pippalada. The effects of Shani can be pacified by reading the Shani stotra written by him. This is known to the world. Many saints have written many stotras but how did the stotra written by Pippalada become so famous? If we think deeply, we understand about the penance done by Pippalada. It is not an ordinary penance.

Pippalada is the son of sage Dadheechi. He behaved just like his father. The wife of Dadheechi, Gabhastini gave birth to Pippalada under a peepul tree and sacrificied her life immediately. From that day onwards, the peepul tree became the mother of that child. That child grew up by eating the seeds of peepul tree and hence the sages named him as “Pippalada”. As the little one grew up, he understood that his parents are not alive and that was a cause of his worry. He also got to know that demigods are the reason behind his grief and he wanted to curse them. Then, Soma came there, pacified Pippalada telling him that his parents have attained the superior position and that demigods are not the reason behind their death. Thus, Pippalada was blessed. He later went on to do penance on Lord Shiva and was blessed by Shiva. With Shiva’s boon, he could see his parents in the higher planes of existence.

Once, Pippalada asked Narada why he did not have parents since his childhood. Narada then told him that it was because Shani was seeing him in a wrong way. Pippalada became very furious and made Shani lose his position. All the demigods then prayed the sage to withdraw his curse. Then, Pippalada ordered all the planets including Shani to bother anyone only after one attains the age of 16. Pippalada obeyed to the prayers of demigods, brought back Shani to his earlier position and prayed him with a mantra that starts with “Konasthah pingalah”. Mere remembrance of the name of Pippalada will remove the negative impacts of Shani. That is the power of the penance of Shani. May all the adverse effects of Shani be removed for everybody! Let us pray to the sage Pippalada to remove all the troubles caused by Shani.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-episode-38-influence-of-planets-story-of-maharishi-pippalada/

Jun 27 2017

Datta maata 37: Downfall is inevitable if eyes are blinded due to arrogance

June 27, 2017

Ego is not at all good. If a person is able enough to kick a palm tree, there will also be someone who kicks him. There are many great and revered people in this world. But, instead of being down to earth, they show their egoistic nature which sometimes makes them face harsh punishments.

Samudra (Ocean god) was really great. But what is the use? He showed his arrogance in front of Sree Rama. As a result, he had to surrender to his arrows. We know that story. Later, Samudra also had to surrender to sage Agastya and became the water in his water pot. You know this story too.

Similarly, Vindya also was really great. But, the ego that he is much greater than Meru took roots in him. Vindya was very humble. But, it was of no use. One day, sage Narada came to the mountain Vindya. He honored the sage and poured his heart out. Narada understood the egoistic nature of Vindya and said that he is indeed greater than Meru. Saying so, Narada left the place. Those with ego become blindfolded. Vindya also comes under that category. He did not know what he was doing. Because of ego, his humility and wisdom went in vain. He kept his peaks in between the way of Surya. Thinking himself to be superior, he troubled the people of all the three worlds and beings. The demigods prayed Lord Brahma to protect them from this calamity. But, he told them that he cannot do anything for them and instead advised them that sage Agastya alone can protect them. Then demigods went to Agastya and told about their problems. He was a staunch devotee of Shiva. It is Shiva who bestows peace to the world. Since Agstya followed Shiva, his master, he accepted the prayers of demigods and started his journey from north direction towards to the south. On his way, he reached Vindya, who knew about sage Agastya very well. Hence he bowed his head in front of him. Agastya praised him for his respect and humility towards elders. He said that he will go towards the south direction and come back while he ordered Vindya to stay in that bowing position. The sage came to the south.

Any education or greatness is of no use when one is not humble enough. Else, one has to face the same situation as that of Vindya. One must possess education which is deprived of ego. Parōpakārāya idaṁ sharēraṁ! Just like Agastya, one has to lead one’s life to help others.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

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