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Religions
Islam:
Grand feast of Darga Town
B.M. Mukthar
Beruwala special correspondent
The “Dharga” at Dharga Town where his holiness Asseikhu Hassan Ibunu
Uthumanul Mahdoomi (Ral) was enshrined stands as a monument to the
spiritual development of the Muslims especially of the south.
Consequently devotees in their hundreds pay visits to the shrine of
this great saint who was affectionately known as Alim Sahib Appa
(religious scholar) by the disciples and the devotees.
The annual grand feast is held this week at Dharga that was initiated
by Alim Sahil Appa two centuries back. Our great saint Alim Sahib Appa
was born in Jambugoda, Galle in 1785 (Hijri 1200) to Asseikhu Usman Al-Mahdoomiyi
and Fathima Siddeekiyya. Unfortunately mother of this wonderful child,
Fathima Siddeekiyya passed away.
This spiritual leader joined a famous Madrasa in Kayalpatnam in South
India to go further area in his spiritual
studies under his holiness Allama Asseikh Abdul Cadir Naina Lebbe Alim,
one of the best scholars in South India at that time.
After having conferred Al-Alim on this saint he returned to his
mother land. He toiled very hard to uplift the standard of the Muslim
Community not only spiritually but also morally, socially and
economically. On his return to the island he was appointed the Katheeb
of Fort Mosque in Galle.
His leisure hours were used for meditation recitals and prayers,
sometimes he prayed throughout many nights. He never cared about his
physical conditions above all he possessed the sterling qualities of
being a humble, innovative, truthful figure in the society until he
became closer to Almighty Allah.
As he realised his responsibilities to his community, he travelled
every nook and corner of the island to serve his fellowmen especially
underprivileged.
His miracles had a vigilant power to attract even the non-Muslims
towards Islam. Apart from loving Allah he loved Hilr (Alai) and Mohamed
(sal) than his life.
Hassan (Rali) which is the name given by his parents to this saint
attained ‘Kilafath” through His holiness Ahamed Ibunu Abdillah
Ibunusseikhu Ba Fakeeh Ba Alayiyi (Rali) on the instruction of Hilr (Alaihi).
Later Hassan (Rali) was appointed by the latter to organise and guide
the followers of the four major sects (Thareekas) of this island.
Generations of this saint are the direct descendants of Aboobucker
Siddeek (Rali) second Kaleefa of Islam. He attempted throughout his life
to preach and practice what Prophet Mohamed (sal) preached to the human
society, thus he came very closer to almighty Allah.
Most of the saints enshrined in Sri Lanka soil had sailed from
foreign countries, but Asseikhu Hassan Ibunu Uthumanul Mahdoomi (Rali)
has a pride of place among the moors of Sri Lanka as this saint emerged
from the moors society.
He settled in temporarily in so many places of Sri Lanka such as
Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Kandy, Mawanella, Ganetenne, Hingula,
Colombo, Kalutara, Maggona, Beruwala, and Dharga Town to serve and guide
the community in the correct path He was in forefront to solve the
problems and disputes that arose among muslims and was respected even by
Non Muslims too for his simplicity, kindness, generosity, piety and
hospitality.
During the later part of his life he had a miraculous feeling that
his death was approaching very closer and divulged this secret to his
disciples. Similarly he forecast the date and the day of his own son’s
death.
“Mashakish Ratheeb” one of the events initiated by this great pontiff
is being recited on every Friday night at this Dharga even today where
hundreds of devotees assemble to grace the occasion.
Eventually Alim Sahib Appa passed away answering the call of Almighty
Allah in 1866 at the age of 83. Generations of generations will remember
the services rendered by this great pontiff throughout their lives.
Hindu:
Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba - a reincarnation of God Vishnu
Dr. Mirando Obeysekere
The founder of universal religion Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is
worshipped by billions of devotees all over the world. ‘Sarva dharma’
the universal religion preached by Baba is the essence of all the
religions that are existing today. According to Baba like the blood that
circulate all the parts of human body, so is the supreme love that flows
like a river in all the religions.
Most of Baba’s devotees including myself have never seen him, but we
have a good understanding regarding
his new and scientific vision. Baba is being worshipped by Christians,
Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and many other devotees of other faiths.
He has a chain of devotees such as kings, rulers, Presidents, Prime
Ministers, Ministers, Governors, Diplomats, Military Generals,
university dons, doctors, scientists, poets, writers and ordinary people
of various religions.
I have seen him through his Dharma and endless mission.
Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born about 81 years ago, 23rd
November 1926 as a Andra Brahmin called Sathya Narayana Raju, in the
hamlet called Puththaparthi of Andra Pradesh.
So, as soon as he reached his 14th birthday he left home to serve the
people and called himself as Sathya Sai Baba, and began to preach a very
new philosophy called ‘Sarva dharma’ the essence and extract of all the
religions.
According to Howard Murphet famous writer, Author and journalist
there had been many miracles at the time of Sathya Narayana’s birth,
that all the musical instruments of his house rang automatically to a
interesting tune of Veda hymns.
So, the rishis and learned elders told that it is a good omen and the
newly born child will be a universal power on the future.
It is a pleasure to note here that Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has
overtaken all the challenges, difficulties and obstacles reached against
him. Baba says, “if you construct a house you install a door in the
front of the building.
What is the purpose of the door? To admit all whom you welcome and
keep out those whom you do not wish to enter. It has a double purpose.
You do not keep the door wide for all and sundry to come in as and
when they like.Similarly take care to select the impulses, the
incentives that enter your mind keeping out the demeaning, the debasing
the deleterious from the crucible of experience. (The Divine Heritage P.
62 Opel Macre).
Now, Baba has done innumerable miracles and displayed his power and
sainthood to the world.
According to my knowledge Baba’s doctrine is more suitable to our
society and I believe that his guidance will be able to lead all of us
for the supreme happiness.
I wish him a happy birthday!
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AUM - the name of God
Dr. C. Srideva
None of the Telephone directories in the whole world give the
telephone number of GOD. Swami, Sri Sathya Sai Baba has given us the
number as AUM -with three syllables AUM.
The sound caused by the primal movement that resulted in enveloping
Brahman by self evolved Maya is the Aum or also called Pranava. Aum is
the Primordial word which gives life to all other words. All the Vedas,
Upanishads, and the Puranas have extolled the Aum, the Pranava in many
ways.
Indestructibility is the form of God and for his indestructible God,
Aum is the name. Aum is the Primordial word, contains the essence of all
the Vedas and is the source of all the Sastras. Aum is the Primordial
letter, and all other letters are its derivatives. Thus the Divine
letter Aum represents Parabrahaman, the Supreme Lord.
The OM symbol representing the original sound of creation is topped
by the Sun and the Moon, harmonised opposites. It is not possible for
any one to recognise or even describe the integral form of the Sacred
Word Aum.
It is an integral word that stands for the Divine. It is Divinely
precious and should be recognised as the Name of God. Aum has eight
Divine treasures or qualities or Aishwaryas.
Firstly, It is the audible form of Brahman called Sabda Brahma Mayi.
Secondly, it pervades the entire Cosmos, Universe of Animate Inanimate
beings and thus called Chara Chara Mayi. Next, it is Jothir Mayi,
meaning, it is resplendent Divine light.
Fourthly, it is the speech called Vaang Mayi, Fifthly, it is the
eternal delight meaning Nithyananda Mayi.
Next, it is Parat para Mayi that is transcendental. Next, it is the
mother of Maya, delusion itself, the creative consciousness of Brahman
called Maya Mayi. And finally its auspiciousness called Sri Mayi.
Swami has quoted that in Ramayana, the three brothers Luxmana,
Bahratha, and Satrughna exhibited the qualities associated respectively
with the three syllables “A” “U” “M”, But Aum itself is personified in
Rama. Aum is the name of God which can find universal acceptance.
Life is a mighty river. Aum is the boat that takes you across the
river. So chant the Pranava - Aum within you repeatedly. Apart from what
Swami has said, even the Vedas declare that, he who chants OM fully
comprehending its meaning will merge with Brahma.
When it is said fully comprehending, it really means that when OM is
chanted the person who is chanting should be conscious that everything
around him is really a manifestation of God.
For example, the sounds of nature such as the call of the Cuckoo, the
buzz of the Bees, the rustle of Leaves, the roar of the waves in Ocean,
the howl of the Gale, the chatter of Thunder, the croak of a Frog, —all
these are sounds emanating from creation and thus constitute AUM.
Thus when we hear the sounds of nature we must actually feel that we
are hearing the voice of God. Swami often says that God can be and
should be perceived as sound. That is Nada Brahmam, so that we do not
forget the importance of Aum. The phenomenal world is the form of AUM or
Brahman. That means, the world is God or AUM manifested.
Latent in the Supreme are the Spirit called Purusha and the
unmanifest inert matter called Prakriti. This Prakriti is composed of
three Gunas, namely Sattva, Thamas, and Rajas, which initially were in
balance. Diversity emerged when this balance was upset.
And Swami has said that this Primordial sound accompanying this
disturbance is Aum. And the sound is Divine in character. Aum is thus
God’s Signature. This tune was heard not only at the very beginning but
continues to be heard in various ways and forms as a constant reminder
of WHOM, the author of creation is.
To add to the list mentioned earlier Swami on another occasion in His
discourse has said that God is the echo of the flutter of the leaves,
the whisper of men, the babble of children and that Aum is wafted
everywhere. That is God is present at all places.
Pranava uttered at end of a Mantra is, as recognition by worshipper
of his true nature, that is “I am that Brahman expressed by the syllable
OM. “Pranava is the symbol and representation of the Supreme.
The syllable OM is the means of attaining release from the cycle of
birth and death. It is the source and substance of Vedas. The name
designating the Self Luminous Reality and consisting of the syllable OM
is hidden in the Vedas.
By contemplating on the Supreme along with the slow repetition of
that name one attains to Immorality. This designation of the Supreme is
on the lips of contemplative Sages and it is the central support of
underlying Bliss.
According to the Upanishad, Meditation on the Pranava, OM, confers on
the aspirant spiritual riches. OM is conceived as a White Bull, where,
whiteness is the result of being repeated by Holy men free from all
worldly desires.
It has four horns which represent the four sound elements in the
Pranava. It has three feet meaning that OM is also the Reality expressed
by it any that Reality can be reached through the three feet or steps,
namely Waking, Dreaming and Deep Sleep, states of the Atman.
It has two heads, which represent the higher (God) and lower (Human)
aspects of the Prakriti Nature/Cosmos /Universe. It has seven hands
meaning the seven worlds or the seven meters headed by Gayatri. And the
noise of the Bull is the chant of the Vedas at the sacrifice.
One should Meditate on the three elements of Pranava, A,U,M,
representing A-Virat/Material; U-Hiranyagharba/Mind; M-Avyakrta/the
Prakriti, the casual aspect of the Universe. So the Material dissolves
in Mind and the Mind dissolves in Prakriti.
Beyond Prakriti, Causal principle is the Supreme, corresponding to
the intangible reverberation which continues for ever when the three
syllable of the Pranava are uttered in succession and their physical
sound has subsided.
The syllable AUM is used for the union with Brahman who exists as the
manifold Universe. To chant AUM is to commune with this cosmic sound
vibration.
Pranava also stands for the Supreme Truth. The seeker of the Supreme,
practices contemplation, taking Pranava as the aid for focusing his
thoughts. This syllable OM verily is the substance of many great
Upanishads and a great secret guarded by God without imparting to the
unfit.
He who practises Meditation on the Supreme thus with the aid of
Pranava, attains to the unlimited greatness of the Supreme. By that he
attains to the greatness of Brahman. Thus the secret knowledge has been
imparted.
Chanting the sacred syllable is thought to still the Mind and attune
the devotee to the Divine ground of existence. Hindus like the Mind to
the trunk of an Elephant always straying restlessly here and there. If
an Elephant is given a small stick to hold in its trunk it will hold it
steadily losing interest in other objects.
In the same way chanting the syllable AUM, gives the restless mind to
something to hold, quieting it by focusing awareness in one place. If
chanted with devoted concentration the Mantra may also invoke the
presence and blessing of the Deity.
Constant repetition of AUM, and Meditation on its meaning lead to
enlightening introspection and elimination of all obstacles such as
Diseases, mental torpor, doubt, indifference, laziness, craving for
pleasure, delusion, inability to practice concentration, and maintain
concentration and restlessness of mind due to distractions. Symptoms of
distracted state of mind are mental pain, depression physical
nervousness, and irregular breathing.
The Mandukya Upanishad relates the three states of man, namely
waking, dreaming, and sleeping to the three letters AUM and then it
relates to a fourth state called Thuriya to OM and it further states
that AUM leads to OM. According to Upanishads, OM is considered the
Primordial sound vibration by which everything was created.
The Atma is the individual soul. The syllable OM is the Bow, the Atma
is the Arrow. It is said that the Brahman is the object of the Bow and
Arrow. Do not hesitate in trying to achieve your aim, be as unmoving as
the arrow and attain your target.
References: Bhagavad Gita, Upanishad, Message of the Lord as a
practical Philosophy. |
