HINDUISM

Living a technique

Combining peace and prosperity:

An ancient philosophy of India, Vedanta is a body of knowledge that expounds the technique of life and living. Also called Sanatana Dharma, meaning ‘Eternal principles’, its principles are applicable to all people at all places and time. Hence, they are regarded as universal truths of human existence.

With the knowledge of Vedanta, one is able to live life, combining mental peace with dynamic action. One gains a clear vision of the mission and the purpose of life. Hence, the knowledge of Vedanta assumes vital significance in today’s world.

Swami Parthasarathy is acclaimed as the greatest living exponent of Vedanta. His outstanding contribution has been to translate subtle philosophical truths into contemporary thought and language, including techniques of self-management suited for the corporate world.

Swamiji explains that no one considers living as a technique that needs to be learnt and practiced. However, as opposed to other creatures, a human being does need knowledge of life and living. Other creatures lead a set, programme life, which involves no conscious choice of action. A tiger has to lead a ferocious life whereas a deer lives a meek, mild existence. A tiger cannot choose any other way, nor can the deer. However, a human being can choose to be more destructive than a tiger, or meeker than a deer.

Thus, a human being alone needs instructions for living. Without these instructions, one falls victim to stress and strain. And that is exactly what has happened today. In spite of tremendous advancement in the standards of living, there is also a sharp deterioration in the quality of life.

Worries and anxieties consume human beings. People have developed a loathing towards work. They look forward to a break from work in order to enjoy themselves and to get away from the mechanical, monotonous life style. Though these provide only a short relief, they can in no way solve the problem.

This is resulted from a lack of self-analysis. The problem lies within us. Yet we remain unaware of this fundamental truth. The physical body is only a container, a vehicle that carries us from place to place. Within the body lie two equipment that propel our actions the mind and intellect. The mind consists of emotions, impulses, likes and dislikes. The intellect consists of the capacity to reason, analyse and judge a situation. Stress and other problems arise when the intellect is not strong enough to control the mind.

A simple example illustrates this danger. A diabetic succumbs to his desire to eat sweets, even though he understands he ought not to. Eventually he suffers.

The development of the human intellect in today’s world is alarmingly low. Universities only provide intelligence, which is information on one or more subjects. One may be a scientist or an extremely intelligent professional, but still succumb to temper, alcohol or other problems, because one possesses a poor intellect.

The mind has a devastating impact upon the personality if not controlled by a powerful intellect. It has a restless, unstable nature. It is prone to worry about past failures and becomes anxious about future results. This destroys one’s equilibrium and poise. In addition, it also affects productivity in action.

A typical example is a batsman in cricket. He walks in, plays majestically and manages to reach a score of 90. Suddenly, his batting becomes tense, erratic. Chances are he gets out.

Why cannot a player who is playing so well until 90, score another 10 runs? It is because his mind is disturbed. Its focus shifts to the future. He starts wondering as to whether he would be able to score a hundred.

This disturbs his concentration. He is not able to focus on the ball. His lack of control over his mind renders it agitated and disturbed. A state commonly referred to as “pressure”. A mind thus disturbed cannot concentrate. And lack of concentration leads to failure in one’s activity.

This restless tendency of the mind also creates mental fatigue. People feel tired after a days’ work not because they lack physical strength, but because they lack control over the vacillating nature of their minds. Worries and anxieties concerning the past and future sap their strength.

Analyse the lives of small children. In spite of little physical strength, they remain active throughout the day as though never seeming to get tired. The secret of their stamina is lack of past worry or future anxiety. Thus, professionals and executives throughout the world suffer because of their own minds. Nobody is even aware that the problem lies within.

The study and reflection upon Vedanta enable one to develop a strong intellect. One gains clarity in life and a complete control over one’s mind. A powerful intellect alone ensures mental peace.

Besides, it provides the concentration and consistency needed for dynamic, productive action. Such a person alone can relish the world and lead a fulfilling and a purposeful life.

Swami Parthasarathy has brought practical Vedanta available to humanity. He has dedicated over five decades to the study, research and propagation of Vedanta and its practical application to life. Has written nine books out of which three have earned bestselling status.

These books provide the material and guidance for intellectual growth. The latest book titled Governing Business and Relationship has tools that businesses require in the present day competitive environment to be successful with values.

Swamiji also founded the Vedanta Academy near Mumbai, India, which offers residential courses on Vedanta to students from all over the world. The alumni are themselves dedicated to spreading the knowledge in India and abroad.

The pioneering research work in Vedanta has merited Indian governmental recognition for his organization Vedanta Cultural Foundation as a scientific and industrial research body.

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Profile of Sunandaji

Sunanda Leelaram is the daughter disciple of Swami Parthasarathy.

Dedicating her life to the propagation of Vedanta philosophy, Sunandaji has addressed diverse audiences across four continents for the past twenty years. Her clear and powerful presentation of ancient wisdom in contemporary thought has been acclaimed by prestigious organizations including the Young Presidents Organization and many leading universities around the world.

As a worldwide resource, Sunandaji assists Swami Parthasarathy in the administration of Vedanta Institutes in India, the US, UK, South Africa, Middle East, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia.

Some of her recent presentations have been at the federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kentucky University, USA, International Vedanta Retreat, Australia, Hindustan Chamber of Commerce, Harvard Business School, USA.She is an ardent follower of the Vedantic lifestyle and hold lectures and classes on this way of life across the country and abroad. Under Swamiji’s guidance, Sunandaji has been studying and imbibing vedanta for four decades. Sunandaji is not only a world renowned Vedanta speaker but a senior administrator and trustee of the Vedanta Cultural Foundation also a mother having a grandchild. One may wonder how does this dynamic lady balances work, home, family and be happy.

It is possible through learning and imbibing the knowledge of Vedanta. Sunandaji will be conducting a public lecture series, in English on Chapter 12 of Bhagavad Gita entitled ‘Yoga of Devotion’, at Ramakrishna mission hall Wellawatta, 6.30 pm – 7.45 pm, from January 19 to 22, 2011 sponsored by Kanapathy Chetty Selvanathan Charitable Trust.

Smt Umayal, senior disciple of Swami Parthsarathy, chief coordinator of the Bhagavad Gita lectue series conducts weekly classes to the public indifferent parts of Colombo. You can reach at [email protected] for further information. The lectures and classes are open for public free of charge.

Thiruvembavai Festival:

Universe awakening from slumber

Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar

The Thiruvembavai Festival which is celebrated for ten days in all Hindu Temples from yesterday. The chief figure of Thiruvembavai Festival is Saint Manickavasagar. The Saint’s life story Thiru Vathavur – Adigal Puranam is read during these nine days and early in the morning of the Tenth day in the Nadarasan Dharshanam.

In fact, during the Thiruvembavai Festival special poojas are performed daily in all temples particularly in Shivan Temple. The day commences with the singing of Thirupalli Elluchchi hymns awakening God from His slumber. In the opening lyric Saint Manickavasagar recites that Lord Shiva as the embodiment and personification of spiritual light and wisdom.

Further, Thiruvembavai or the mystic song of the maidens is said to have been composed by Saint Manickavasagar for the use of maiden. During the rainy cold months of December-January the females of the village and city of all ages for ten successive days rise before dawn, arousing their companions from house to house and proceed to bathe in the sacred tank. The bath in the holy waters of the tank is symbolic of bathing in God’s Grace. These maidens sing and pray not for material gains only, but for mental purity and freedom from birth and death. Singing and bathing together gives a sense of social awareness and togetherness, caring and sharing the pleasures with one another brings about social harmony.

The spiritual significance of wakening of the maidens who are asleep is in reality to wake them up from the State of ignorance to the state of spiritual enlightenment. The last day of Thiruvempavai fast culminates in the early hours of the morning with ‘Nadarasar Dharshanam.

This is a day of great significance to the Hindus, the day Nataraja disports himself in the universe and in the souls of individuals. Tradition has it that Nataraja danced the cosmic dance in the golden hall of Chidabaram on this day. This dance is symbolic of his gracious perpetual actions, the Panchkrityas.

It was also on this day that Shiva annihilated the Demon Andhaka, which is an allegory depicting the conflict between knowledge and ignorance within oneself. God is the spiritual wisdom while Andhaka is ‘Avidya,’ the personification of ignorance and darkness. During the traditional rituals of Tiruvaadirai one of the rites performed is the burning of a straw effigy of the Demon Andhaka, signifying the eradication of evil.

According to Saint Manickavasagar in Thiruvembavai and Thiruvasagam that Lord Shiva becomes accessible to the devotees whose hearts melt with tears while uttering as listening to his glory.

Saint Manickavasagar’s culture, philosophy, social consciousness and literary excellences are still seen in Tamilnadu. The mind that is attached to objects of enjoyment makes one miserable and it fetches release when detached from them.

Indeed, prayers and devotion will help to get rid of misery, anguish, distrust and hate and lead us on the path of understanding peace and harmony.

Thiruvilaiadal Puranam:

He performs alchemy

Thilaka V Wijeyaratnam

In the Pandiya Kingdom was a small town with a Sivan Temple. This town was called Thirupoovanam. This was the sacred temple where Indra and other devas worshipped God Siva. Incidentally, the 30 odd million devas spoken of in Hinduism do not belong to the categories of Gods. Hindus have only one Supreme God Siva and He goes by many names according to the functions He performs.

The well-known Devas are Indra (Lord of the Thunder), Vayu (Lord of the Winds), Varuna (Lord of the Rain), Agni (Lord of the Fire), Kaman (Lord of Love – Cupid) and so on. These devas are immortals and they worship God Siva. Hindu mythology is not Hindu religion although the gods and the devas figure in it.

Coming to the town of Thirupoovanam – there lived in this town a beautiful lady called Ponnanaiyal. She was an ardent devotee of God Siva, and daily fed the Sanyasis, followers of God Siva.

In order to let the world know of her deep devotion to God Siva and her charity, feeding Saiva Sanyasis, God Siva roused an eagerness in her to make a statue of God Siva in Gold. She developed a great, uncontrollable desire to have God Siva’s image cast in gold. But her daily income was just enough to feed the devotees of God Siva. She prayed to God Siva to help her make an image of Him in gold.

One day to her doorstep came a Sithar – a mystic in saffron robes and the holy ash on his forehead, along with a few Sanyasis.

She called them into have a meal. But the Sithar didn’t join them. He stayed outside. After all the Sanyasis left, she came out and seeing the Sithar begged Him to come in and have a meal. Seeing her thin form, the Sithar asked, what worries her that much for her to lose weight. She then told Him of her desire to make an image of God Siva in gold but whatever income she got was just enough to do Maheswara Poosai giving alms to sanyasis and the poor and so didn’t have enough wealth to fulfill her desire.

“O maiden, you have full well realised that youth, beauty, wealth are impermanent. Only charity lasts – even in charity serving God Siva is preferable.

Among the various poosai done for God Siva, Maheswara Poosaiis the best. Therefore you are blessed both in this world and the next. You will make a statue of God Siva in gold. Bring all the pots and pans made of bronze, brass and other metals.” She did likewise.

He threw some holy ash on all the vessels and told her to put all in the fire. They will turn into gold. With that gold you can make the image of God Siva. Filled with gratitude, she asked Him to stay there and see it done. He said, “I am a Sithar of Madurai,” and disappeared.

Ponnanaiyal realised it was God Somasundarar of the Madurai Temple who came in the guise of the Sithar, and was overjoyed.

She put all the pots and pans in the fire. They turned to gold. She had an image made of God Siva, had it consecrated in a temple and had the regular rituals done including the chariot festival.

Her fame as a sincere devotee of God Siva spread far and wide, just as God Siva wanted.