Religion

'Festival of Sivarathri'

Prof. Pon Sakthivel

FESTIVAL: Saiva festival of great religious significance is celebrated in February on Friday 16th 2007 by Hindus with all night prayers and devotional celebrations and rites for God Shiva.

Shiva is shown as Ardha-Nari-Nateswara, symbolising in himself the twin principles of Purusha and Prakriti or consciousness manifest as the material universe. This Mahadeva or the manifest as the material universe. This Mahadeva or the Supreme Lord of the universe is said to be watching, with joy. His own creation through His Third Eye. This joy, in turn is keeping Shiva eternally engaged in His cosmic dance (Thandava Natiya) of Rhythm and Harmony, Love and Light, Peace and Bliss.

The omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent principle of Shiva, the ultimate reality underlying creation at levels of manifestation is the core of the inner being of Man. As the Chandogya Upanishad proclaims (Etadaalmiyamidam, Sarvam Tat Satyam, Sa Atma Tattwamasi.) Oh Man! that subtle entity which has become all this universe is the only reality underlying creation and that eternal entity. "Thou thyself art" - Man two.

Therefore has the potential of awakening two eyes in the right direction simultaneously perceiving matter and spirit in one and the same objective. That perception in which the gross and the subtle, the outward and the inward the objective and subjective blend into one is the Eye of wisdom of Shiva.

Shiva is said to be save or a corpse without Parvathi or Sakthi and helpless to perform his Panchakrtya. The idea of Shiva-Sakthi union is elaborated among various texts, in the Saiva Siddhanta.

According to the Paushkara Agama. Sakthi called Kundalini or Suddhamaya is that form which Shiva derives his function and in which his being is grounded. Sakthi is the intermediate link between Shiva pure consciousness and matter the unconscious. It is the upadhi, the cause of the differentiation of Shiva's functions.

It is the cause of the bondage of all beings from Ananta, who is next only to Siva downwards and also of their release Sakthi often called Uma is but the reflex or Shiva and not independent existence. The absolute of itself is called Shiva and the absolute in relation to objects is called Sakthi.

Shiva as Ardhanarisvara is logical development of a god representing a synthesis of many concepts and ideas. The uniting of two sexes in one body points to a profound truth the presence of the male and female principles together in all creatures. Arthaneriswaran stand for the urge in nature for what are sexually apart to come together and form a single entity.

The most wondrous manifestation of Shiva is Nataraja or Natesa. The dance of Shiva is phantasmagoria. It portrays the works being formed and dissolved. The swirl of Shiva's matted hair is like galaxies pulsating and his footwork is the very throb of the universe.

All the music and rhythm of creation are in his dance the heartbeats of man and beast, the rhythm of the waves lashing against the shores of lovers in embrace of volcanoes erupting, of mountains rising and crumbling of plants sprouting seeds and growing and spreading their branches or flowers thrusting from their stems and glaring in the sun.

Nataraja dances in our hearts, in Chidambaram the sky of our consciousness. The word akasa signifies the atman. Chidambaram is also the akasa of awareness. When we know ourselves we realise that our heart and the source of all our thinking are of the nature of the sky.

If the world is thought of as a purusha, the heart will be recognised as Chidambaram. When Nataraja dances at Chidambaram he is indeed dancing in our hearts in the hrdayakamala (lotus-heart) of each one of us.

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St. Valentine, Patron of young couples celebrated

Valentine Day: World celebrates the Valentine Day, today, February 14. In the recent past Sri Lanka celebrated with events to mark the day, but this year the day is marked in a low key.

Whether knowingly or unknowingly the world celebrates the 1746 death anniversary of St.Valentine, Priest and Physician today who was martyred for his refusal to comply with all decrees forbidding him to officiate at the marriage among the youth.

The Saint let the young couples tie nuptial knot in secret. And He was put to death on February 14, in the year 270 AD in Rome. Because He refused to obey and continued in promoting the youth marriages, He was assassinated.

The Church named Him, the Patron Saint of the young lovers. His intercession is sought by the young lovers to carry on a chaste-relationship with whom they are in love. The celebration of the feast of St. Valentine in the United Kingdom started way back in the 17th century.And subsequently spread into other parts of the globe and in Sri Lanka civil society began to mark the day from the very recent past.

It is said that the days gone-by the eligible bachelors and spinsters put their names in a bowl and the names they pick up from the bowl, they used to wear on the sleeves for a week or so, displaying the names of the person of their choice known to others. That was the way they selected their life partners. It is very much similar to the Swayanvaraya we read in Eastern literature.

It also reminds the reading of banners in the churches before new couples enter the marriage bliss. The announcement is made for the community to know of their marriage and to come out with any objections if they know before the marriage takes place.

Although we know not how the trend followed to the present day practice of offering "Red Roses", it is believed that the present practice had its origin in the 19th century.

The practice now has developed to sending printed cards worth words " I Love You" and today via internet the circulating of the message is faster than the hand written notes or printed cards indicating their preferences and expressing their love, to the one who receives the message.

So in selecting your life partner this way would be wonderful if you make the right choice. Seek the help of St. Valentine, He will not fail you!

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Charity - in Islam

Kalabooshanam M. Y. M. Meeadh

CHARITY: In Islam, charity is not merely giving of money, goods and other things to the poor - but doing of good acts - to others - preventing others from committing sins. Even if one keeps away from sins and bad companions he gets the reward for giving of charity. Hence, according to Islam, charity covers a wide range of welfare activities done for the good of fellow men.

Let me quote a prophetic tradition in support of the above concept of charity: On the authority of Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Every part of a person's body must perform a charity everyday the sun comes up: to act justly between two people is a charity; to help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting his belongings on to it is a charity; a good word is a charity; every step you take to prayers is a charity; and removing a harmful things from the road is a charity."

(Bukhari and Muslim)

From the above Hadees on charity, it is quite obvious that charity, is something common to all without any religious differences. Removing a harmful thing from the road is the bounden duty of all, whether Muslims or non-Muslims.

This is a social welfare activity - whoever finds a sharp rock, or broken bottle or nails or any obstacle lying on the road that is bothering pedestrians, he should immediately remove it in order to protect the people from being injured or damaged by these harmful things.

Another prophetic tradition is reported by Anas (Roli) as Prophet (Sal) said: "If a Muslim plants or cultivation whatever another man or animal eats from his plants is charity for him."

(Muslim)

In conclusion, one can find in Islam that all good words and deeds are treated as acts of charity. Hence, if a man follows Islam perfectly, he is fully engaged in the activities of charity.

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Hinduism for society... Continued from last week

Prof. Pon Sakthivel

HISTORY: For generations, they were passed on through experience and word of mouth until documented. There are four Vedas: 1) Rig Veda has 10,552 mantras. 2) Yajur Veda has 1,975 mantras. 3) Sam Veda has 1,875 mantras. 4) Atharva Veda has 5,987 mantras.

Veda means knowledge. Two types of knowledge are necessary to perfect human life. 1) Apara Vidya: Knowledge of the world. 2) Para Vidya: Knowledge of the Divine. Hence, the Vedas are the reservoir of all wisdom of the universe.

They contain the knowledge of art, music, linguistics, literature, economics, religion, weaponry, space science, geometry, logic, technology, hypnotism, mathematics, philosophy, ritual, health and long life, magic, medicine, architecture, aeronautics, spiritual wisdom.

Thoreau (American Thinker) said, "whenever I have read any part of the Vedas. I have felt that some unearthly and unknown light illuminated me.

In the great teaching of the Vedas, there is no touch of sectarianism. It is of all ages, climes and nationalities and is the royal road for the attaintment of the great knowledge.

When I am at it, I feel that I am under the spangled heavens of a summer night.

World's first university around 2,700 years ago As early as 700 BCE there existed a giant university at Takshashila, located in north-west region of India. Not only Indians but students from Babylonia, Greece, Syria, Arabia and China came to study.

India invented the zero, without which there would be no binary system. No computers, counting would be clumsy and cumbersome. The earliest record date, an inscription of zero on Sankheda copper plate was found in Gujarat, India (585-586 CE).

In Brahama - Phula - Siddhanta of Brahmagupta, the zero is lucidly explained and was rendered into Arabic books around 770 CE. From these it was carried to Europe in the 8th century. However, the concept of zero is referred to as Shunya in the early Sanskrit texts of 4th century BCE and clearly explained in Pingalas Chandah Sutra of the 2nd century.

Plastic surgery in India 2600 years ago

Shushrula known as the father of surgery, practised his skill as early as 600 BCE. He used cheek skin to perform plastic surgery to restore or reshape the nose, ears and lips with incredible results.

Modern plastic surgery acknowledges his contributions by calling this methods as the Indian method. 125 types of surgical instruments could cut a hair longitudinally.

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Laments of the Quran ( 1 of 7) (Lit from a blessed tree)

I am a Holy Book, now in worldly elegant prints,
To know my Holy nature here are some hints,
Rich in cover and also very nicely bound,
But in most hearts am I rarely found.

On shelves high, Reverently am I kept,
Only to be forgotten and alone to be left,
Sometimes with respect a lot am I kissed,
But my main points always sadly missed.

In rhyming tones am beautifully recited,
But my Heavenly paths, very rarely sighted,
These Heavenly paths clearly have I shown,
To believing hearts are they easily known.

I am most often used for false swear,
But mostly, my true use is extremely rare,
A miracle am I, that can transform any world,
And your world too, if you will only read my
words.

I have unfathomable wisdom and imperishable
treasure,
All freely to be given to you, in vast unbounded
measure.
I am your faithful saviour and I am your
guiding light,
I am your best friend and also your
unknown might.

You are truly now in darkness and not in light,
Read me right and I will change your plight,
Light on light to heaven's sublime height,
To live there forever in bliss and delight.

To enter the paths, lend me your heart,
Heaven's gates will surely open apart,
The paths are flights, straight from start,
Right into the palace, of his Majesty's heart.

Right from wrong is my fame,
And The Holy Quran is my name.

(It's Oil Glows forth, yet, no fire touches it!)

(The Counsellor)

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God's Grace

Everyday is a new day
God created it
We must walk along the path
Which is the right way.

We'll be blessed abundantly
If we listen to God
Till we die a good death
God will be with us all.

Gracious God please see the plight
Our country is facing with
Dreadful life with us
Full of mourners, widows and orphans.

This is not the life
That we want to lead
My loving father God
Give us happiness and peace.

This life is not worth
Without you my father
Shower your Grace upon us
To have a peaceful country.

Thank you Heavenly Father
For listening to our request
We need a country to live
With milk and sweet honey

Malika Anthony

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New Church at Midellawita

MIDELLAWITA: Colombo Archbishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis will consecrate the new church at Niwandama, Annasiwatta, Midellawita on February 18 with a Holy Mass at 8.30 a.m.

Feasts :

PARAKADUWA: Feast of Mother of Perpetual Succour will be celebrated at Parakaduwa (Ratnapura district) on February 18 with a festive High Mass at 9.00 a.m. sung by Galle Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Harold Anthony Perera.

The hoisting of flag will take place today at 4.00 p.m. and the Novena will follow. On Saturday, February 17 after the Vespers there will be a Eucharistic procession. People from far and near Parakaduwa will join celebrating the feast.

ARIYAGAMA: The feast of Blessed Virgin Mary, (patroness of the expectant mothers) will be celebrated at Ariyagama, Kanjukkuliya on February 18 with a festival High Mass at 8.30 a.m. Chilaw Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Valences Mendis will be the chief celebrant. On Saturday, February 17 at 7.30 p.m. Vespers will be sung on the final day of the Novenas.

Those visiting the Church at the Govigammanaya-Ariyagama could reach by travelling towards Deduru Oya via Chilaw-Kurunegala and passing about one mile towards Mugunuwatawana junction.