Religion

Hinduism:

Siva Yogaswami: sage and mystic of Sri Lanka

Dr. Vimala KRISHNAPILLA

Many of us in Sri Lanka, count ourselves blessed to have had a sage and mystic of such stature as Siva Yogaswami in our midst during the past century. His forty fourth Gurupuja, the anniversary of his Mahatthi day falls on March 18 this year.

In whichever part of the world the devotees may be they would not fail to observe this day in great solemnity.

In Hindu tradition the spiritual preceptor the Guru is venerated as God himself. He is unique in that, it is he the Guru who wakens the slumbering soul enmeshed in bondage and ignorance.

Siva Yogaswami’s conception of his own Satguru Chellappa Swamigal was that his Guru was verily the supreme Shivam in human form.

On the eve of his own mahsamadhi in 1964 Yogaswami said, “If I served my Satguru Chellappa Swamigal as a slave for ever and ever, I should not have given in return even a thousandth part of thousand of what I owe him. Assuming the form of Guru I Shiva, cuts asunder the noose of worldly bondage” assurances the scriptures.

Yogaswami was born in Mavitapuram in the Jaffna peninsula in 1872 and named Sathasivam by his parents later came to be referred to as Yoganathan. He was educated at St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna and later found employment as a Government servant.

As an ardent seeker of truth he spent his spare time gardening, diligently studying not only the Hindu scriptures but the scriptures of other major religions and contemplation. The turning point in his life occurred when he came under the magnetic pull of his Satguru Chellappa Swamigal at about 30 yrs of age.

He met his Satguru, seated in deep contemplation in his favourite spot, the steps of famous Nallur Kadasamy Kovil Theradi. As his chosen disciple Yoganathan trailed his Satguru and was subjected to many a fiery ordeal and severe tests which brought about a great transformation in him.

The severe training beings over after a few years the Satguru ordered the disciple to get away “Go hither and thither, stand on yours own feet and beg for your food.”

Yogaswami in later days recalling his Guru’s grace and the profuse blessing said, “By the grace of my Satguru the endless anxieties of endless births and all delusions ended, maya the illusion tormenting me vanished forever and my mind became still.”

Yoga swami went on a padayatra to Kathirgamam, returned to Columbuthurai and took his seat under a Illupai tree there, he became absorbed in meditation for months in, sun, rain, floods whatever came he was deeply rooted there.

Seeing this great tapasi and yogi a devoted kindly old lady pleaded with him to take permanent residence in a humble hut in her compound at Columbuthurai.

Complying, the request, he lived there to the end for over 50 years, to this day this remains as a venerated shrine and Ashram. During the early part of his life he traversed the length and breath of Sri Lanka and mingled with all categories of people.

He was far above all boundaries he never identified himself with a particular, place, age, race or religion. “At the top of the mountain, you would find it very cool.” he would say.

“There would be none of the dissimilarity that you see at the bottom of the path.” The fundamental principles of all religions are the same was his experience for he had reached the summit of all philosophies and religions.

To seek solace and spiritual guidance the people, from all walks of life thronged to him. Well-known politicians from South, other luminaries of this country belonging to all major communities, those from India and the far off foreign countries found solace in his presence.

He could read their past and foresee their future like an open book. A few feared to approach him for they feared their hidden motives and evil thoughts would be exposed. When a devotee reported “Swami the people often complain about your apparent temper and harsh words” Swami responded “Is not fire necessary to burn rubbish”.

Swami was fluent in Sinhala and English and from all walks of life thronged to him, he never identified himself with a particular place, race and transcended the narrow confines of orthodox religion. In addition Yogaswami had innumerable household devotees.

The writer counts herself fortunate in that her grandparents and parents too were ardent devotees of Swami which enabled her to come under his influence at a tender age. Innumerable personal experiences and miraculous episodes reiterated by Swami’s, devotes makes one feel that Swami had an unusual awareness that went beyond the limits of time and space.

It was his earnest wish that harmony and oneness of the world should not be disturbed. Among the Sri Lankan disciples who renounced Markandu Swami of Kaithady and Chellathurai Swami who was in charge of the Sivathondan Nilayam established with Yogaswami’s permission at Jaffna and Chenkaladi were well-known.

Notable western disciples who renounced the world mention may be made of Robert Hansen a Danish American who was initiated him in 1949 by Yogaswami giving him a thundering slap between the rear shoulders and said.

“This will be heard in America, now go round the world and roar like a lion, build a bridge of understanding between the East and West.” He was known as Gurudev Sivaya Suburumuniya Swami, a pioneer and an international personality residing in Kuai Ashram in Hawaii.

James Ramsbothm, the son of Lord Soulbury the last English Governor of Sri Lanka arrived from Oxford in 1953 and lived here for many years farming and helping to translate and publish in English the songs and sayings which poured out spontaneously from Yogaswami - “Good Thoughts” and “Words of our Master”.

He was known as Santhaswami. Swami Gauribala popularly known as German Swami and Narrikutty Swami from Australia too took to a life of renunciation.

Utterances of this great Master:

Satysya satyam and the truth shall make you free.

God is always with you - you and he are inseparably linked in oneness - this is the greatest news I have for you.

Do not lament that your days are gone - Accept that you exist forever!

Be pure in thought, word and deed. This is all ye need to know in life

Only one task to do here - find out who you are? Dive into silence and see.

“One world, one God”

Siva Yogaswami chose to cast his lot with the people of this country and was ever so close to them. With deep gratitude and reverence we pay homage to Siva Yogaswami and cherish his memory and his immortal words.

Special Pooja

Aruna Ponnambalam - Kotagalla group corr.

There will be special pooja taking place for Sri Nagarajah at All Ceylon Anantha Iyappa Devasthanam, Aluthmawatha on March 18 at 9.00 a.m., the day is special as his birth star ‘Aylyam’ falls or the day.

Those who are faced with unfavourable deeds, obstacles in marriage proposals are well believed to have sought redress by attending this Nagarajah pooja.

This also helps those who suffer from deadly diseases and the effects caused by the unfarable Location of “Rahu and Kethu”. This special pooja take place every month on the day of the star ‘Aylyam’. There are several devotes who fulfil their rows on this day.

Islam:

Prophet Muhammad:

The perfect model of humanity

Alhaj A. M. M. Rauf

Before he was called to prophethood, he was a peerless example of the good youth, of complete purity. The people of his own tribe called him the Trustworthy. He was affectionate to the poor, tender hearted to the weak, and a supporter of the oppressed.

After his prophethood, A’ishah, the Mother of Believers (May Allah be pleased with her) described him in this way in a sound Hadith: His morals were the Q’uran itself, meaning that the moral qualities mentioned in the Q’uran and the injunctions revealed by divine Command, were all harmonized in his person.

A’ishah also said that Allah’s Messenger’ (peace be on him) never took revenge for himself unless the things made inviolate by Allah were violated; he then took revenge for Allah.

After the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Prophet in the cave of Hira and he came home trembling to tell his wife Khadijah about what had happened, she said “By Allah, will never let you down” you keep good relations with your Kith and Kin, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving who have been affected by calamity”.

Our Prophet (peace be on him) combined in a single personality the highest degrees of spirituality through diligent worship of Allah with the highest degree of industrious struggle and constructive effort in the service of mankind. He excelled in exerting himself to worship Allah and looking forward to the Day of Judgement.

He was sincere in his desire and delight to please Allah. He gave Charity in the cause of Allah without limit. Also he would stand in night prayer and his feet became swollen and would fast continually, spending the night and days in hunger.

Right action

However, he dissuaded his Companions from uninterrupted fasting in the way, lest it prove unbearable to them, he said: As for me I spend the night (in such a state) that my Lord feels me and provides me drink”.

Once his wife A’ishah, the mother of the Believers (may Allah pleased with her) asked him about his exertion in worship in spite of the fact that Allah had pardoned him for everything he had sent ahead or left behind. He replied “should I not be a thankful servant”. And in a sound Hadith, he says: “If you know what I know you would weep such and laugh little”.

Such diligence in worship did not prevent the Prophet (peace be on him) from initiating the right action at the proper moment in all manner of administrative, legislative, economic, political and military affairs.

The Hijrah marked the beginning of the Islamic era, the Muslims were beset with many Problems, in addition to their shortage of armed forces, as a result of their forced migration.

Nevertheless, the Prophet (peace be on him) seized the opportunity to intercept the great annual trade caravan returning from Syria under the leadership of Abu Sufyan. In consequence the Prophet (peace be on him) entered the Battle of Badr in which he humbled the unbelievers of the Quraysh and impressed upon the enemies of the Muslims a new respect and administration.

Later in the battle of Uhud, Victory into defeat when a group of archers deserted the position the Prophet (peace be on him) had assigned to them and the Muslims had to return to Madinah greatly weakened. The Prophet (peace be on him), despite the high solemnity of his state and the freely-given reverence of his Companions, shunned all forms of pomp and appearances of pride such as those that typically characterize rulers, heads of state, and holders of high office.

Outward

The Prophet (peace be on him) and his followers were the same in outward manner, in dress, in their attitude when seated, even in the physical work they undertook. For example, in the battle of Al-Khandaq (the Trench) they personally took part in the digging and carrying load.

When travelling the Prophet (peace be on him) used to gather firewood to preparing food, and he was so much like any one of them that new comers were unable to distinguish him among his followers in the mosque.

Of his modesty, a sound Hadith reported by Abu Saieed al Khudri, (may Allah be pleased with him) records: The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) was more modest than the virgin behind the curtain (or inside the apartment)

It was related from A’ishah, (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: “Never did the family of Muhammad (peace be on him) eat their full of barley-bread for three successive days”. According to Al-Bukhari and Muslims, the prophet (peace be on him) died in a such a condition that his armour was mortgaged to a Jew.

The Prophet’s submission to right is the third of his unique traits, addressing Omar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) who wanted to deal forcefully with a Jew who had come to the Prophet (peace be on him) then in straitened circumstances to demand payment of a debt and had done so harshly, the Prophet said: “Let him be, for the creditor has the right to speak harshly”.

The Prophet’s ideal life was characterized by full adherenee in practice to the high moral standards he taught. There were no gaps between his words and his deeds. The Prophet (peace be on him) also prescribed peace and goodwill between nations as well as individuals encouraged their knowing each other and co-operating in noble objectives.

Allah says: “O Mankind we created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Truly the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you”. (Quran 49:13), Allah also says: “But if the enemy inclines towards peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace (Quran 8:61)

The Prophet (peace be on him) enjoined humility among Muslim brothers, saying: “He who behaves humbly and modestly, Allah will elevate him”. The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him), recommended forgiving offenses related to individual, personal rights according to the words of the Quran: “But if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah”. (Quran 42:40).

The Prophet (peace be on him) is also known to have bantered with children in order to amuse and delight them. Thus he would bend down so that his grandsons, Al-Hasan and Al-Husain could ride on his back, and he said: “How excellent a camel is yours! And how excellent a pair of loads are you”.

Q’uranic Verse

The Prophet (peace be on him) was the most merciful of people as stressed in the Q’uranic Verse which describes in the words: “To believers he is most kind and merciful” - (Quran 9:127)

The Sunnah of Prophet (peace be on him) and the Q’uran itself, concentrate on the high value to be placed on Da’wah and Jihad. Thus the Prophet’s Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) longed for the Jihad and its rewards, and were grieved at the prospects of being denied martyrdom or death in Jihad.

The Prophet said: “Jihad is carried on till the Day of Resurrection”. The Prophet used to pray to Allah for “the life of the happy and the abode (or rank) of martyrs”. It is on account of the martyrs for Islam that there are now in the world so many hundreds of millions of Muslims.

Three important features of the Prophet’s teachings are especially worth noting.

Reform

Firstly, he placed due emphasis on individual education and did not restrict himself to general, collective guidance. Reform of the individual was the essential foundation for reform of the community virtue and right guidance spread outward from each virtuous and right guided individual to influence the community, which, in its turn, offers the best environment for other individuals to realize their potential for virtue and right guidance.

Secondly, the Prophet (peace be on him) picked the moment when, as well as the person, whom he would seek to improve. If there is inward readiness for it, acquisition of knowledge is easier, more enduring and more fruitful.

Michael Hart, an American historian and mathematician, recently published. The Hundred Greatest Men in History. He places the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) at the head of his list as the most influential of all men - His study does not reflect upon the virtue or otherwise of the personages he mentions, measuring only the extent of their influence.

The life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), remains known to us in the smallest detail.

He remains the perfect model, fresh in Muslim heart, of the devout and trustworthy youth, the most honest of traders, the most reliable friend, the perfect husband, the most loving father, the wisest leader and Commander of men in peace and war, the greatest and merciful of men to the needy, the weak those far from home, the most just of judges, and the truest and most steadfast in worship, with the purest devotion to the One God, and he knows best to whom to entrust his last message.

The writer is a retired University Officer

Meelad un Nabi Celebrations

Ruzaik Farook, Colpetty Correspondent

u The All Ceylon YMMA Conference in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Muslim Service and Negombo YMMA has organised the fifty-eighth Meelad Un Nabi (Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday) Celebration to be held on March 20, 2008 from 9.00 a.m. at Rahumana Badh, Periyamulla, Negombo. The SLBC Muslim Service will live broadcast the Mowlood programme over the Muslim Service from 9.00 a.m. In the Evening Session Meelad Lecturer at 4.00 p.m. by Ash Sheik A.C. Agar Mohamed. Deputy Director, Jamiah Naleemiah, Beruwala will be the Guest Speaker. The fifty-eighth year Meelad Souvenir will also be published and distributed awards to the winners of Meelad contest on this day. The Religious Dignitaries, Mayor of Negombo, Western Province Governor and distinguished personalities will participate in this programme.

u The Sri Lanka Islamic Society has organised a programme to distribute Uniform Materials, Exercise Books and Stationeries for orphanage children to mark the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday on March 20, 2008 at 5.00 p.m.

u Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Muslim Unit will present Meelad un Nabi programme on March 18, 2008 at 6.05 p.m. over Rupavahini. Ash Sheik Ashroff Naleemi will participate in the programme. Marshad Barry will be conducting the programme.