Inside this issue: Prabhuji Speaks
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Mahalaya Amavasya
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Hamsavahana Alankara Brahmi
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Vrishabhavahana Alankara
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Mayuravahana Alankara
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Garudavahana
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Indrani Alankara
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Veena Sharadha Alankara
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Mohini Alankara
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Rajarajeshwari Alankara
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Divya Jyothi I S S U E
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O C T
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From the editors desk Hari om
Simhavahana Alankara 18 Gajalakshmi Alankara 19 Jambavantha’s mountain of wisdom
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Brahma Satya Jagat Mithya
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Anahata
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Prabhuji’s articles in Bodhi Vruksha
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Prabhuji’s talk on Navaratri
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Yogasana
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Just like a mother can show a child its father, it is only by the condescension of the divine mother that an individual can realize his nature as consciousness. Yes, we are celebrating Mother’s blessings on the occasion of Navaratri this month Its pure bliss to share the wonderful and deep spiritual articles of Navaratri. This month's issue is a collection of articles on the nine forms of Shakthi and Sadguru Prabhuji's talk on the spiritual significance of Navaratri. The force of Consciousness behind this creation is called Shakti, the energy. Everything in the Universe is the dance of this energy. The celebration of this dance of energy is called Navaratri. When you respect and celebrate energy which helps you evolve and get ready for Liberation, it is called Navaratri. All the quotes in this edition are dedicated to Shakthi These nine days we worship nine forms of Shakthi called as Nava Durgas and they represent nine powers of the Consciousness which will help you to evolve and finally attain Moksha. each day is dedicated to one power of Consciousness which is called Nava Durga. The first three days we worship different forms of Durga to destroy our negative qualities, next three days we pray Lakshmi to bless us with positive qualities and last three days we pray Saraswati to bless us with the highest Wisdom. And the tenth day is Vijaya Dasami, celebration of Enlightenment. - In Guruseva
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Prabhuji Speaks Navadurga - Spiritual significance of Navaratri - Vijaya Dashami There are three different types of Shakthis who have come from Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. They are called Brahmi, Vaishnavi and Koumari. From these three Shakthis, different Shakthis manifest and they are called Nava Durga. They are nine different Durgas and each day one name is given for the Durga Shakthi. First day she is called 'Shaila putri', second day she is called 'Brahmacharini', third day, 'Chadraghanta', fourth day, 'Koushmanda', fifth day she is called, 'Skanda Mata', sixth day is called, 'Kathyayini', seventh day, 'Kalaratri', eight day is called, 'Maha Gowri' and ninth day is called, 'Siddhi Pradayini'. So these are the nine shakthis that manifest. In a way, these Shakthis represent the powers of Consciousness. And these different powers of Consciousness are represented through Shakthis. 1. Shailaputri, she represents the rebirth of the Energy in various forms. 2. Brahmacharini represents, the power of Consciousness to contemplate and meditate on the Higher Consciousness. Brahmacharini means contemplation on the Truth. 3. The third one is called Chandraghanta. Chandra means moon. One who is wearing the moon as her abharana. The moon represents the mind. The mind, which is disturbing, becomes the abharana. Gradually the Consciousness is able to use the mind as the abharana rather than a disturbing aspect. 4. Koushmanda means, in the darkness of the night there is a birth of the egg of the Universe. The whole Universe is born in the form of an egg. She represents the birth of the Universe. Actually this represents the Big Bang. 5. Skanda Mata represents Skanda. Skanda is Subramanya, she is the Mother of Subramanya. Subramanya, if you know, is the Senadhipati, the Chieftain of army of divine beings. The divine beings represent the divine qualities. Skanda represents the six chakras in the human body. That is why he is called Subramanya. Muladhara to Sahasrara are the six chakras. When these chakras are awakened the divine qualities manifest in you and these divine qualities are called devatas and Skanda Mata is the representation of the Master of that. That is why Skanda has the weapon called 'vel' which represents the spinal cord. 6. Then Kathyayini represents the action. Kathyayini is power of the action in the Universe. Everything in the Universe is moving. The earth, planets, stars, mind etc. are moving all the time. Constantly there are thoughts moving in the mind. The power behind this movement is called Kathyayini. 7.Then we have Kalaratri. Kalaratri represents the power of time. Time is not seeing, time cannot be seen. Only the effect of time can be felt. Time is responsible for our birth, growth, death and evolution. The power of that is called kalaratri.
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8. Maha Gowri represents the auspiciousness, the ability of the human beings to evolve 9. Finally 'Siddhi pradayini' represents the higher powers of the mind. Whatever various powers of the mind you have is nothing; in reality there are many more powers of the mind, which are called Siddhis. So these are called Nava Durgas represent nine powers of the Consciousness, which will help you to evolve. The puja is three days of Durga, three days of Lakshmi and three days of Saraswati and each day is dedicated to one power of Consciousness, which is called Nava Durga. Spiritual Significance of Navaratri : Like all other festival India, Navaratri festival carries a deeper spiritual meaning. Festival is not only time for celebration and feasting but also time for realizing deeper Truths. Coming just after festival of Ananta Chaturthi and Mahalaya Amavasya, Dussera carries deeper spiritual significance. Anantha Chatudashi: Day when idol of Shri Ganeshji is immersed in ocean - calling all of us to merge our form into infinite "Anantha" formless - Paramatman beyond fourteen aspects ( 5 karmendriya, 5 jnanendriya, manas, buddhi, ahankara, Chitta). Call for realization of Self.
Practicing the four virtues, personified as goddesses which produce tranquility of mind aimed at securing peace, one should perform japa.
Mahalaya Amavasya Mahalaya Amavasya carries the message forward. It shows the way to transcend ourselves through Yagna - especially pitr yagna (representing other four yagnas) to reduce the vasanas in the mind and transcend the mind through meditation ( laya). Maha - means great, laya - means sublimation, suppression. Amavasya is the time when moon does not reflect sun light. Moon is the representation for mind. Sun represents the Self - Atman. During the state of meditation, mind becomes thoughtless. Silent. This is called laya of the mind. All the tendencies of the mind become dormant. We experience the bliss of the self. Dasara Do not be satisfied by laya ( suppression of the mind). Mind needs to be totally transcended. Impure samskaras of the mind to be totally annihilated. Dasaras shows the way. 3 Days of worship of Durga - for overcoming 6 demonic tendencies - kama, krodha, ... lobha. To remove all the negative tendencies of the mind. 3 days of worship of Laxmi - to bestow positive tendencies - shama, dama, .... shraddha. Called sadhana sampattis. 3 days of worship of Saraswati - To bestow upon the Jnana and Vairagya. Ayudha puja represents - respecting sharpest instrument - intellect ready to penetrate the veil of ignorance. Dassara - Represents defeating the ten. - Ten organs of senses and organs of action represented by 10 headed monster Ravana - getting defeated. Vijaya dashami - represents the ultimate victory - enlightenment - liberation.
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Mahalaya Amavasya Jagat Prasutika - The Universal Mother in Confi finement fi With a smile on her face the Universal Mother fondles a cute baby on her lap as if she is telling her devotee, “I am the mother of the whole creation and you are my child. You will always be taken care as this baby, if you seek me”.
Know that it is myself, Laksmi, in the form of the exalted
Mahalaya Amavasya – It is the great dissolution new moon day. Mahalaya Amavasya and Dasara (Navaratri) in spiritual terms is as follows:
creatively active state, who manifests the creation.
Maha - means great, laya - means sublimation, suppression. Amavasya is the time when moon does not reflect sun light. Moon is the representation for mind. Sun represents the Self - Atman. During the state of meditation, mind becomes thoughtless. Silent. This is called laya of the mind. All the tendencies of the mind become dormant. We experience the bliss of the self. The day before Navarathri starts, it is the day when the Universal Mother gives new birth to the human beings who seek her. It is the day when our entire ego, ignorance gets dissolved and new birth happens. It is the new moon day, the day when the darkness vanishes. Darkness means the ignorance or the absence of Jnana. The dissolution of ego and ignorance – the ajnana, is the new birth for a seeker. This dissolution of ego and ignorance is Mahalaya and the new birth is Jnana Wisdom. Mahalaya Amavasya also carries the message forward. It shows the way to transcend ourselves through Yagna - especially pitr yagna (representing other four yagnas) to reduce the vasanas in the mind and transcend the mind through meditation ( laya). Nine days represent nine months which is a symbolic representation of new birth in spirituality. Very appropriately this festival is a nine day celebration of the Universal Mother giving birth to the spiritually evolved child. Manifestation is of three modes – satva, rajo and tamo gunas. The festival is invocation of the Divine energy, seeking her blessings to overcome these three modes of nature and realize the Self which is beyond the three modes. We will go through the significance of each day of Navaratri which starts from tomorrow.
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Hamsavahana Alankarara – BRAHMI The Universal Mother manifests as Brahmi the queen of Brahma Deva, sitting on Hamsavaahana and blesses her devotees holding in her hands the Kamandalu, Aksha Maala, Pustaka, Pasha and Chinmudra. Consider that which is the first active state, which embraces the three worlds and is the basis of the entire creation, as a glowing form.
Kamandalu: A water pot (Kamandalu) made from a dry pumpkin contains nectar. The process of making Kamandalu has a deep spiritual significance. A ripe pumpkin is plucked from a plant, its fruit is removed and the shell is cleaned for containing the nectar. In the same way, an individual must break away from attachment to the physical world and clean his inner self of egoistic desires in order to experience the bliss of the Self, symbolized by the nectar in the Kamandalu. Aksha Maala: Aksha – which cannot perish; which is eternal. Maala (garland) – The maala, which contains the essence of the alphabets of all the languages in the world, is Akara – Ukara – Makara. There are three alphabets ‘A’kara – ‘U’kara – ‘Ma’ kara. The specialty of these three alphabets is, when these alphabets join together in different ways, they become various words. There is something special when we chant A-U-M. The tongue is not required. Any other word, the tongue comes into play, So, the tongue is mixing ‘A’kara – ‘U’kara – ‘Ma’kara, in different proportions. Therefore every Akshara, every alphabet, all the names in the world are nothing but Omkara because A-U-M is the root word for all the words. This applies to all the languages of the world. When whatever is seen in any form of vapor, solid or liquid or through electron microscopes the formula of its essence H2O remains the same. Similarly whatever name and form you see through the electron microscope called Jnana is Omkara only. The Mandukya Upanishad represents once such microscope of Jnana. Omkara represents the Name and Form of God; it becomes the bridge between seen to unseen. This is the Aksha Maala. Pustaka Books or scriptures in one hand also indicate that this knowledge alone can bring us to the Truth. Pustaka (book) also represents the knowledge of all sciences and the secular knowledge. Saraswati bestows wisdom in the form of the teaching of the enlightened Masters (Rishis) – Upanishads. Pasha – Noose With the noose of desire everyone is bound to worship the Universal Mother. Desire is the supreme vasana form and noose is the gross form. The weapon that the Universal Mother uses to control the whole universe is Raga or desire. The first disturbance of peace is attraction towards an object, the seed i.e. attraction towards an object, grows into a tree i.e. desire for that ob-
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ject. So the problem is ignorance, worldly knowledge. We know what is agreeable and disagreeable. Attraction towards an object is agreeable, but, the desire to achieve that object is disagreeable. It is this desire, which agitates us; this agitation may lead us to commit a sin. The Universal Mother whose form itself is Ananda controls the Universe with the noose of desire.
The original, unique absolute Brahman is omniscient and consists of existence and consciousness, active through its own Sakti.
Chinmudra The thumb and the index finger grasp a fine object as a grain of truth. This is a symbol for spiritual understanding. Assume the Gyan mudra but invert your hands with the palms facing the floor. The meditative mudra redirects the prana emitted by hands back into body. When the fingers point up it is called Gyan (Jnana) mudra when they point down it is called Chin mudra. Brahmi is Saraswati is the one who gives the essential knowledge of our own Self. ‘Sara’ means essential and ‘Swa’ means Self. Brahmi as Saraswati bestows the knowledge of wisdom to a seeker. Goddess Saraswati is the source of all knowledge. As the consort of Brahma, Brahmi is knowledge herself. Knowledge of intelligence, crafts, arts, and skills etc., Thus, many students or even scholars will worship her for her blessings. She is, therefore, depicted as white in complexion, and quite beautiful and graceful. Hamsa Vahini Brahmi is often depicted sitting on a Hamsa, which symbolizes that she is founded in the experience of the Absolute Truth. Thus, she not only has the knowledge but also the experience of the Highest Reality. Hamsa separates water from milk. The ignorance of a person is removed like water from milk when one seeks Brahmi. Hamsa is ‘Soham’ meditation. Soham means ‘I am that’. The mantra is also inverted from so 'ham (the sandhi of saḥ + aham) to ham + sa. The combination of so 'haṃ haṃsaḥ has also been interpreted as "I myself am the Swan", where the swan symbolizes the Atman. An etymology of haṃsa "swan, as from ahaṃ sa "I am that" is found in commentary on the Vedas in Sanatana Dharma. When a child is born it cries Koham-Koham which means Who am I? That is when the Universal Mother Brahmi replies back Soham. You are the same as I am. Sri Saraswathi Maa Sri means Shuba or auspicious and Saraswathi is Vidya or Knowledge. Getting worldly knowledge is good and necessity for survival, but getting the Knowledge of Wisdom is the blessing from Sri Saraswathi Maa, which not only liberates us from bondage but also gives the ability to discriminate what is conclusively decided to be right, rejecting that what is said to be wrong after proper analysis. Rejecting what is not permanent in this world and moving towards the permanent one through the Knowledge of Wisdom is the Auspicious Knowledge. When Brahmi or Saraswathi becomes one with the Universal Mother, she becomes Maha Kaali. Maha means not the terrible one; it means Paraatpara - Highest of the High. The first three days of Navaratri is dedicated to the Universal Mother as Maha Kali who manifests in different forms of which one is Brahmi on the first day.
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Vrishabhavahana Alankara Maheshwari Adi Shakti, the concert of Maheshwara, sitting on Vrishabhavaahana, wearing Crest-Moon, beholding Trishula and blesses her devotees. On the second day of Navaratri, the Universal Mother Adi Shakti manifests as Maheshwari, the chethana shakti of Maheshwara. Maha means the great and Ishvari means one who protects the whole Universe.
The primary state, the absolute Brahman, subtle and with Sakti, that which is motionless, is the base on which Tara expands into creation
Crest-Moon Crest-Moon represents the mind of the human beings, which is under the control of the Universal Mother. In ignorance, the mind is full of materialistic desires and noise. When one seeks the Mother, she destroys the ignorance by imparting the knowledge of wisdom through Sadguru Darshana. Crest-Moon represents the spiritual evolution of the seeker. The word crescent is derived etymologically from the present participle of the Latin verb crescere "to grow", thus meaning "increasing", and so was originally applied to the form of the waxing moon (luna crescens). Trishula Trishula represent various trinities — creation, maintenance and destruction; past, present and future; the rajo, tamo and sattva guna. When looked upon as a weapon of the Universal Mother, the trishula is said to destroy the three worlds: the waking, dreaming and deep sleep. In the human body, the trishula also represents the place where the three main nadis, or energy channels (ida, pingala and sushumna) meet at the middle of the eyebrows. Sushumna, the central nadi, continues upward to the seventh chakra or the energy center, while the other two nadis end at the middle of the eyebrows. The trishula's central point represents Sushumna, and that is why it is longer than the other two which represent ida and pingala. The Universal Mother’s love for her children is divine and unconditional. She wants her children to come back to her. It may take millions of births, but finally in one particular auspicious birth, they will come back to the Universal Mother. The Universal mother who created, sustains and finally destroys the Universe is Sri Maheshwari, known as Sri Maharagni in Sri Lalita Sahasranama. Sri is auspicious; Maharagni means The Coronated Universal Mother, the controller and caretaker of the highest of the high. It is said "तेन वना तृणम प न चलित"
which means that without her even a blade of grass cannot move. She takes care of the nature by controlling the natural calamities and protects her children. As Maheshwari, she destroys the ignorance, creating the burning desire for liberation – मुमु व and imparts the knowledge of Wisdom, which is the Supreme Truth. She makes that Knowledge to stay Achala, permanently in. As chethana. Shakti of Shiva, she destroys the negative qualities that are of demonic nature in the inner world. The Coronated Universal Mother creates the desire
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for liberation, sustains the desire at the highest level and makes it eternal by destroying the negativity in us.
The universe is produced from me as a mode of myself, there-
Maheshwari is Sri Parvathi Maa - Sri means Shuba or Auspicious and Parvathi means the daughter of the mountain and the Positive Strength that destroys the negativity (demon nature) in us. What does the daughter of the mountain mean and why is it considered as auspicious? Mountain means Achala - immovable. Parvathi destroys the negativity in us and gives way for the knowledge of Wisdom and makes it Achala - immovable or eternal (shasvata). When the knowledge of Wisdom is Achala in us, we are not attracted to the materialistic objects that are Anitya and move forward and reach the goal, which is Nitya Sathya - Moksha. One who blesses you with this Auspicious Strength is The Auspicious Mother Sri Parvathi Maa.
fore I am called Prakriti.
Mayuravahana Alankara Koumari The Universal Mother sitting on a Peacock, beholding Shakthi Ayudha, in the form of the Power of Kumaraswamy Koumari to protect the world with her grace. Shakthi Ayudha The Universal Mother presented the Shakthi Ayudha to Kumara Swamy as an embodiment of her Shakthi. Wielded by Lord Kartikeya or Skanda, Shakthi Ayudha represents discrimination and spiritual insight. Its blade is wide, long and sharp implying that our knowledge must be broad, deep and penetrating. The shakthi power of the weapon, the eminent, intricate power of righteousness over the wrongdoing, conquers confusion within the realms below. The holy Ayudha, when thrown, always hits the target and returns back to Karttikeya's mighty hand. It rewards us when righteousness prevails and becomes the kundalini serpent's unleashed power thwarting our every effort with punishes us in form of remorse when we transgress dharma's law. Thus, the holy Shakthi Ayudha represents a shift from ignorance to knowledge, a shift from vanity to modesty and a shift from sinfulness to purity through tapas. When we perform penance and beseech Koumari's blessing, this Shakthi Ayudha hurls into the astral plane, piercing discordant sounds, colors and shapes, removing the mind's darkness. She is the Queen of Queens. That is power in the scepter. Standing behind the temporal majesty, She advises and authorizes. Her weapon empowering the ruler, sees to it that justice prevails and
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enriches the minds of human beings with the highest wisdom. Peacock Peacock, the vehicle of Koumari represents the vehicle of thousands of eyes. The sharpness, Viveka required in conquering the forces of darkness – negative qualities in us. The entire world consisting of words and their objects is woven through and through with me
Kundalini It is the supreme spiritual power residing in the lowest of the six psychic centers in an individual (muladhara) as a coiled serpent in sleep. As long as this energy is asleep, the individual is outward oriented; he is involved in the world and lives an ordinary life. The grace of Sadguru is the only way to wake up this energy. When an individual is graced with Shakthi-path deeksha from his Sadguru , the Kundalini gets awakened and suddenly the individual becomes inward-oriented and intensifies his spiritual practices. When the Kundalini is awake, the energy moves upwards, breaking through the three phenomenal knots of life named Brahma granti, Vishnu granti and Rudra granti burning up the six lotus chakras and reaches the thousand-petalled lotus on top of the head Sahasrara where Shiva-Pure Consciousness resides. The Kundalini shakthi moves upwards and unites with Shiva and this Union is the purpose of what is known as Kundalini –yoga. The awakening and arising of Kundalini uncoiling itself, along the central channel and reaching the thousand petalled lotus is the union of Shiva and Shakthi - The eternal Bliss. The Universal Mother manifests as Koumari to awaken the kundalini Shakthi in sadhaka – the seeker.
Garudavahana Vaishnavi The Universal Mother as the Power of Sri Mahavishnu, sitting on the Garuda, beholding Shankha - Conch, Chakra - Disc, and Gadaa, blesses her devotees.
Garuda Garuda is strong and is said to be the worst enemy of the snake. The Universal Mother is the Kundalini Shakti in all human beings. When the Kundalini Shakti awakens and starts moving, the Garuda acts as the vehicle for the Universal Mother.
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Shankha
My intergral existence is a constant form containing
The shankha (conch-shell) is considered sacred and auspicious. The conch and the bell produce blissful sounds. A great yogi is said to subliminally hear the shankhanaada - sound of perfect blowing of Conch, within him during the higher stages of trance in Sadhana. When the conch is blown with controlled breath, the primordial sound of "Om" emanates from it. This eternal sound is said to be the origin of all Vedas. All knowledge enshrined in the Vedas is an elaboration of the omnipresent sublime sound of ‘Om’. It was this sound that was chanted by the Lord before manifesting the cosmos. It represents the creation and the Truth behind it. It represents Dharma or righteousness that is one of the four noble goals of human life - Dharma; Artha; Kama; Moksha. It represents the victory over the evil. Spiritually saying, it represents the victory over the ego and ignorance.
consciousness and bliss, the
Chakra
supreme state,
The Universal Mother beholding the Sudarshana Chakra bestows with Su –auspicious, darshana – vision by which the seeker (sadhaka) evolves in his spiritual journey. When the seeker starts moving upwards from muladhara chakra to sahasrara after the awakening of the Kundalini shakti, he starts visualizing auspicious forms of the Universal Mother in each chakra.
everlasting to the knower of Brahman
Gada Gada is the weapon used to destroy the evil - the demonic nature in the seeker.
Vaishnavi Vaishnavi' means the one who is related to lord "Vishnu''. Goddess Vaishnavi is the manifestation of the collective spiritual strengths of Mata Maha Kali, Mata Maha Lakshmi and Mata Maha Saraswati. It is described in Durga Saptashati that the goddess was born as a young girl of extraordinary beauty and strength, out of the collectively pooled 'Tejas' of various 'Devtas' and three lords Brahma, Vishnu and Shankar. The immediate purpose of the creation of the goddess was the annihilation of Asura (Devil). Vaisnavi is Sri Lakshmi Maa - Sri means Shuba or auspicious, Lakshmi means wealth. Wealth here not only means the materialistic wealth, but also the spiritual wealth which helps us realize our true nature and go back to the source or merge with Parabrahma. The six spiritual wealth (shat sampatti) are Shama - Controlling the mind, Dhama - Controlling the senses, Uparati - Satiety in enjoyment of sense-objects, Titiksha – Endurance, Shradda – Faith, Samaadhaana - Proper Concentration and patience and all these lead to Mumukshatva Burning desire for Liberation or Moksha. One who blesses us with all these auspicious wealth and takes care is The Auspicious Mother - Sri Maha Lakshmi - Vaishnavi.
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Indrani Alankara Mahendri Devi beholding the Vajrayudha, sitting on Airavata, as the chethana shakti of Devendra and as the destroyer of demons like Vritrasura, takes care of her devotees. The Universal Mother manifests as Indrani (queen of Indra). Indrani is the goddess of wrath and jealousy. She is one of the seven Matrikas (mother goddesses). She is described as beautiful and having one thousand eyes. She is associated with lions and elephants. It is said that Indrani has similar characteristics of Indra and the same Vahana (vehicle) – white elephant.
There is nothing in this world that is not produced by mantras. Although mantras are divine and eternal, mantras are produced by letters.
Airavata Rising from the ocean during the churning of the ocean (samudra manthan) as Airavat, the elephant becomes associated with Indra and assumes celestial importance early in the tradition. He is mounted upon the white elephant Airavata, who has seven trunks, denoting the six chakras in the body and the seventh one is the Sahasrara. Samudra manthan is the awakening of the Kundalini shakti and moving upwards unleashing the knots of six energy chakras. Airavata is associated with Ganesha who is the deity of Muladhara chakra. Vajrayudha Vajrayudha is the weapon made from the backbone of Dadhichi Rishi. Vajrayudha represents the Suhumna Nadi where the six energy chakras move upwards towards Sahasrara. Indrani is the Devata means light, the shining one. This is not physical light, it is the light of the consciousness shining through the sense organs. Indrani means master of Indriyas, the sense organs. Indira is the master of all Devatas and Indrani is the chethana shakti of Indra. When the Devatas are in some trouble, the Universal Mother manifests to support them and to safeguard them. Why are the Devatas in trouble? Devatas are the subordinates of lord Indira. Even though they are Devatas, they are not yet liberated, hence get attracted to the sensual pleasures and get into troubles. As jÄŤvas (human beings) need food for survival, Devatas need Amrutha for survival. As human beings are attracted towards the sensual pleasure, Devatas are also attracted. The only difference is they live for a long time, but after their good get exhausted, they have to take birth as human beings. They can never get liberated as Devatas. Vritrasura The Asura who attacked the Devatas is Vritrasura who represents the disturbances in our mind. Vritrasura is the Chitta (Intellect), vrittis are the impressions and vasanas stored in Chitta. The mind filled with desire is full of disturbances due to the stored impressions and vasanas is Vritrasura. Devatas represent our sense organs. The inputs from sense organs are received by the objective mind (manas). When the senses become aware of some object, an impression of the object is created in the objective mind and the associated impressions and vasanas for that particular object arise from the subconscious mind. For example, if the chair is the object here, then Chitta (stores
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impressions and vasanas) identifies the object as “plastic chair or wooden chair”. Egoistic impressions color the perception with “my chair, nice chair ... etc.” The intellect takes decision based on the inputs from Chitta and directs the organs of action. This ego and ignorance is our lower mind. This lower mind is Bhandasura – the stubborn nature of the mind which causes the disturbance Vritrasura. The divine and highest existence, consisting of five mantras, consists of me: Sakti.
When these sense organs get fed up of the outer world (materialistic), they start moving inwards surrendering completely to the Universal Mother. Out of compassion the Universal Mother manifests in the form of Saraswathi on the seventh day of Navaratri – The auspicious Knowledge - the knowledge of Wisdom which liberates the mind from pain and suffering. When the Vritrasura attacks the Devatas, they surrender to the Universal Mother and she comes in the form of Sadguru. Sadguru darshana is the end of your inner journey. The Universal Mother is Sadguru, the Knowledge imparted by Sadguru is Srividya. So, Indrani means the Universal Mother who manifests to fulfill the wish of the devatas - Mukthi from Vritrasura.
Veena Sharada Alankara Sharada Mother Sharada beholding Veena in her hands, gives knowledge, also to a dull-headed devotee which reminds of मूकं करोित वाचालं - dumb speaks with eloquence. Speaking only about the worldly knowledge is as good as being dumb. Only the grace of Sri Sharada makes a dumb person give an eloquent speech on the Supreme Truth. This Alankara is very beautiful to see which reminds of the Vedic sloka, भिं पँयेमा िभय जऽाः Ð May we see with our eyes what is Auspicious, O Yajatraa. Here the Universal Mother manifest as Sri Vidya – The Auspicious Knowledge. Here, she is not the Chethana Shakti of Brahma, but the source of Brahma Vidya. Veena The Goddess is shown playing a musical instrument called ‘Kachhapi’ in Sanskrit. Playing the instrument symbolizes mind and intellect. This symbol conveys that the seeker must tune his mind and
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intellect in order to live in perfect harmony with the world. Such harmonious living enables the individual to utilize acquired knowledge for the welfare of all mankind.
All the worlds have emanated from the letter 'a.' From 'a' have emanated the three brilliant energies of the sun, moon, and fire.
Sri Vidya The Knowledge acquired by the seeker is Sri Vidya – The Auspicious Knowledge. ‘’I Salute to Srividya who exists in the Dot Triangle at the head of the complete Meru , who is the mother of Brahma and all other beings , who bestows power to Lord Shiva , who is Kamaakshi , the ocean of Mercy, who exists in the body of Lord Shiva , who is the divine Goddess of Kamakoti Peeta and is the Brahma Vidya '' The Dot Triangle is at the top of the Meru - Sri Chakra. Srividya is the Universal Mother who resides in the Royal Sri Chakra, consisting of Bindu, Triangle. It is said that Srichakra is the body of Shiva and Shakti. She is the mother of Brahma (Vaageesha) and all the creations of Brahma. She is the Chetana Shakti of Shiva. She is Kamaakshi, the sight of desire in Shiva for the creation. She is the Universal Mother with ocean of Mercy, existing in Lord Shiva. The whole Universe is the body of Lord Shiva, and Devi is the power of the Universe in the form of Sri Vidya. Sri means auspicious, Vidya means Knowledge. Which is the most auspicious knowledge? It is the Knowledge of The Supreme Reality - The Brahma Vidya. She is the mother of Chit, means the mother of intellect, the divine Goddess. Sri Vidya is the Universal Mother in the form of Sri Sharada, one who transcends the entire world she sports and hence she is called Sharada. Sharada also means who takes care of her children with compassion by imparting the Highest Knowledge. Knowledge of Wisdom is the blessing from Sri Sharada, which not only liberates us from bondage but gives the ability to discriminate between temporary and permanent and move towards the permanent. One who blesses you with this Auspicious Knowledge is the Auspicious Mother Sri Sharada. Sri Sharada is Tatvajnana Pradayini : Tat means 'That', Tvam means 'You', Jnana means Knowledge , Pradayini means blesses you with (gives). Sri Vidya blesses you with the Knowledge of Wisdom' That Thou Art '.
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Mohini Alankara Mohini It is a life-time-opportunity for the devotees to see this Alankara of Jaganmaata carrying Amritha Kalasha in her hand, who deluded the demons by her charm and beauty for the sake of distributing the Amritha to the angels.
The so-called course of the
Mohini (Sanskrit: मो"हनी, Mohinī), is the only female avatar
world begins
of the Lord Vishnu.
with maya
The Universal Mother manifests as female avatar of Vishnu – Mohini. She is portrayed as an enchantress – a woman who breaks men’s heart, maddens the lovers and sometimes leading them to their doom especially adverse fate. The name Mohini comes from the verb root ‘moha’, meaning "to enchant, perplex, or disillusion," and literally means "delusion personified."
and terminates with the dissolution of the world.
Amrita Kalasha The Universal Mother manifests as Mohini during the Samudra manthan. Mohini is introduced in the Hindu mythology in the narrative epic of the Mahabharata. Here, she appears as a form of Vishnu, acquires the pot of Amrita (an elixir of immortality) from thieving asuras (demons), and gives it back to the devas (gods), helping them retain their immortality. The Amrita, or nectar of immortality, is produced by the churning of the Ocean of Milk. The Devas (demi-gods) and the Asuras (demons) fight over its possession. Vishnu, wise to their plan, assumes the form of an "enchanting damsel" (a lady with noble birth). She uses her charm to trick the Asuras into giving her the Amrita, and then distributes it amongst the Devas. Ya devi sarvabhuteshu, Vishnu mayeti shabdita, Namastastyai Namastastyai Namastastyai namo namaha. We bow to the divine Goddess in all existence that is addressed as the perceivable form of the consciousness (output from the senses) which pervades all. We bow to her, we bow to her, and we continually bow to her. Mohini is described as the maya (illusion) of Vishnu. But, even to this day, the name of this form of Vishnu is known as Mohini which comes from the original phrase describing his deliberate false appearance (mayam ashito mohinim). Moha is caused due to our wrong identification with the body, mind and intellect which results in attachment to the ‘I’ ness. We forget that we are the Pure Atma. We get attached and become very possessive about the money, power, people etc. which we think to be our’s. This makes us cling to them and the result of this attachment and dependency on those objects creates the fear of losing them. This in turn agitates the mind. Desire is the first disturbance of the mind and this is the seed which grows into a huge tree with different branches like name, form, and thing etc to
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The absolute reality is pure, spontaneous and consists of concentrated consciousness. I am its supreme Sakti -- in union with all states.
which we get attached. We cling to them physically, emotionally and intellectually. When you lose that object, you feel as if a part of you has been taken away and you are incomplete without that. You cannot function without that. This is Maha Moha which is also called Maha Maya! When the grace of the Universal Mother showers on you, she imparts the knowledge of Unity, merging with the Supreme Reality. In Mahabharata, Arjuna was in confusion due to his attachment with his relatives and he could not fight in the battle field. Arjuna surrendered himself to Sri Krishna. Arjuna was the means to impart the knowledge of wisdom to millions of millions of human beings by Sri Krishna. This was the grace showered on Arjuna. Arjuna is not just a person in Mahabharata or Srimad Bhagavadgita, he is the state of mind, and the way of living our daily life. Sri Krishna came in the form of Sadguru. Similarly, the Universal Mother showers unlimited grace on her devotees or disciple who has surrendered to Her. She destroys the ignorance which is the root cause of Moha with the weapon called Knowledge. Spiritual significance of Mohini avatar - The Universal Mother manifests during the Samudra manthan. Mohini is the Maya (illusion), our dream world. Mandara Parvata is the spinal cord. Churning represents discriminaton through viveka. Devatas are the positive thoughts; Asuras are the negative thoughts. Vasuki is the kundalini Shakti which awakens during sadhana (churning). Shiva is the Adi Guru who consumes the negativity (haalahala) of the disciple at the time of spiritual evolution and imparts him the knowledge of wisdom. Amrita is the immortality - liberation from bondage; liberation from pain and suffering - jeevanadalli mukti.
Rajarajeshwari Alankara Sri Rajarajeshwari Mother Rajarajeshwari who is the consort of Kameshwara, beholding Pasha, Ankusha, Pushpabaana and Chapa, with her merciful-eyes, adorned with all the ornaments, fulfills all the desires of her devotees through her divine grace. Pasha Raga means desire, joy. From the noose of desire everyone are bound to worship the Universal Mother. Desire is a subtle form of supreme vasana and the noose is the gross form. The weapon that the Universal Mother uses to control the whole universe is the Raga or the desire. Sugarcane - Mind is like a sugarcane bow in the hands of the Universal Mother. Desire is like sugar cane juice, which seems to be sweet. The thoughts are never ending; it moves on and on and gets stored as impressions. These impressions are the vikalpa (disturbances) of the mind. The mind in the form of Sugarcane bow is the weapon in the left hand
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of the Universal Mother by which she controls the whole Universe Pushpabana The bow of the desire is of flowers – the desires that manifest in our mind are like a bow of colorful flowers which represent our different colorful desires. This is nothing but our dreamland (Mayaloka). The most exalted manifestation of mine, infused with consciousness and power, undergoes a transformation so as to undertake creation.
Sri Rajarajeshwari Usually Sri means auspicious but here Sri means the honorific word used in prefix to the Great personality. Rajarajeswari - The Universal Mother is the Queen of Queens; highest of the high Paraatpara and she is honored with the word Sri - The Auspicious Honor for the Greatest Mother is not the Honor given by someone, but it is the Honor prefixed along with her auspicious name – Sri Rajarajeswari. Kameshwara As consort of Kameshwara she not only creates the burning desire for liberation - मुमु व but imparts the knowledge of Wisdom which is the highest of the high. Sri Rajareshwari is the Creator, the Sustainer and the Destroyer. As the Prime mover, the supreme nature of Sri Rajarajeshwari and the entire Universal activities are referred in first three Names of Sri Lalita Sahasranama. Srimata - As the Mother, she creates the Universe. Sri Maharagni - As Guardian, she takes care of the entire Universe. Srimath Simhasaneshwari - As dissolver, she dissolves the entire Universe in her womb for new creation to happen again, this is the outer world - Brahmanda. As Mother, she creates the inner real world in the sadhaka. As Guardian, she takes care of the created inner world. As dissolver, she destroys the vasanas, karmic bondage and liberates us by dissolving the inner world, and takes us back to her womb eternally - Pindanda. When Lakshmi, Saraswathi and Parvathi become one with the Universal Mother, then she is called as Sri Rajarajeshwari and they become Maha Lakshmi, Maha Saraswati and Maha Kaali. Maha means Paraatpara - Highest of the High. All three mothers in One single form is Sri Rajarajeshwari - The Auspicious Queen of Queens.
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Simhavahana Alankara Chamunda Jaganmaata has taken this form of Chamunda to protect the people from the demons Chanda and Munda. She sits on Simhavaahana holding Trishula in her hand.
I reveal my power during the six courses of creation -sound, kalas, tattva, mantras, pada, and worldly existence.
Simhavahana The Universal Mother seated (asana) on Simhavahana. Simha is derived from the root 'himsa' means pain and suffering. 'Vahana' has come from the root 'vas' means desires. Asana is derived from the root 'as' means to expel or to drive out. 'Isvari' means the destroyer of the Universe. The two demons represent two types of ignorance in us. Munda means the head without body and Chanda means the body without a head. The qualities of the people who have only body without a head and who have only head without a body are: • The people with Chanda qualities in them always act in life without thinking. • They blindly do the work given to them without questioning. They are called as Chanda. Another quality of Chanda is anger. • Extreme desire or attraction towards an object and losing that object results in anger. In anger we lose the discriminating power and we do not accept or listen to what others say. People with Munda qualities use their head for all wrong purposes in life. They only think, criticize and find fault in others, but they are never ready to work. They are Munda, they have only head, but they don’t have a body which in reality means they have a head but no Intellect (buddhi), they are full of ignorance. The Universal Mother cuts off the head of Chanda, and starts consuming his body. She holds the head of Chanda in her hand. Cutting off the head represents destroying the ego and ignorance. Mother destroys the body which is being wrongly used by the ignorant head. Witnessing the death of Chanda, his brother Munda, starts criticizing the Universal Mother. She holds the hair of Munda and splits his head into two with her sword and consumes that head. Consuming the head implies, destroying the ignorance. Trishula Trishula represents Trishakti – Maha Kali; Maha Saraswati; Maha Lakshmi. Spiritual significance - Our desire and aspiration (yearning) are like hunted animals. 'Simha' is the king of all the animals and when Simha is there all other hunted animals are silent, that is to say that The Lion King controls all our desires and aspirations (senses). 'Simha' is the intellect shining with the Knowledge of Wisdom. The one seated on that Simhvahana is 'Sakshi' (Atman) - Chamunda - The Universal Mother. Chanda and Munda are our ego and ignorance. Trishula are our three states waking, dreaming and deep sleep.
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Gajalakshmi Alankara: Sri Gajalakshmi sitting on the lotus and being saluted by the elephants on both sides, with a smiling face, gracefully gives wealth, food, happiness and prosperity to her devotees. From the differThe Universal Mother manifests as Gajalakshmi. Gaja means elephant. Elephants on both sides of the Universal Mother represent the power She is the bestower of power to the seeker. Power can be material power or inner spiritual strength.
ence of being and the state of being, the absolute Brahman manifests itself of its own free will.
Lotus is symbol for enlightenment. Shri Gajalakshmi sits on lotus – representing enlightened state. Lotus is born in mud, grows in water and flowers with sunlight. Similarly, the enlightened person not identifying with the body – mind -intellect lives free from the impressions. Even though he lives in the society, he is not affected by the same. Smile on the Universal Mothers face is the Knowledge of wisdom; she blesses us with the six forms spiritual wealth - Shama (control of the mind), Dama (control of the senses), Titiksha (forbearance), Samadhan (freedom from doubts), Shraddha (faith) Uparati (Turning the mind resolutely away from desire);food is the spiritual teachings; happiness is the deep silence - Para Shanti; prosperity is the Knowledge of wisdom - Atma Jnana.
Dhyanajyothi - Centering Our thoughts are scattered over our past and future. We are never in present. Our body is present, but mind is absent in present moment. To bring ourselves into present moment, we need to be within our body. How to do: Feel the boundaries of your body. Your skin is your boundary. Bring your focus of mind well within the boundary of your skin. Align your sight with your physical eyes. See what is in front of you. Whatever be your physical height, feel that you are that much height only. The top of your head is one end of your boundary, and toes are your other end. Be within the body. Center your focus within the body. If mind runs away thinking about something else, bring it within the body. This I am calling as centering technique. Body is always in present moment. Mind is always running away to past and future. By centering your focus to be within the body, we are bringing the mind to be in present moment.
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Jambavantha's Mountain of Wisdom
When the Brahman is motionless, I am that motionless state of its being.
During the Ramayana war, Indrajit enters the battlefield and starts destroying the enemies of Ravana. His valor is unmatched on that day. His arrows found target. None of the 'Vanara shreshtas' (Best among monkeys army) were spared. Finally Indrajit fires 'Brahma-Astra' the ultimate weapon. SriRama says to Lakshmana, "We have to leave our pride and honour the power of this Astra. We have to act like we are dead, so that Indrajit thinks that he is victorious and goes back". As SriRam, Lakhsman are fainted and most of the monkey army is destroyed, Indrajit goes back to his father Ravan victorious. Vibhishana pacifies the remaining army saying "SriRama and Lakshmana are not dead, they have only fainted, let us not mourn". On hearing this, Hanuman, who is feigning fainting because he wants to honour Brahma-Astra even though he cannot be harmed by any weapons, spoke. Hanuman : "Let us console the alive ones". Both Vibhishana and Hanuman starts looking for vanaras that are alive. On that day 67,00,00,000 monkeys were killed or incapacitated. King of monkeys Sugriva, Crown prince of monkeys Angada, Neela, Sharabha, Gandhamadana, Gavaksha, Sushena, Vegadarsi, Ahuka, Mynda, Nala, Jyotimukha, Dvidha, Panasa are the prominent among the vanaras that are on deathbed. Hanuman, Vibhishana searched for Jambavantha the wise. Jambavantha is a bear, He is son of Brahma, nobody knows his age. Veera Jambavantha is lying on the battleground injured by hundreds of arrows. Vibhishana approaches and asks, "Arya, is your life in danger, are you mortally wounded?". Jambavantha recognises vibhishana with difficulty, and with great difficulty replies, "I hardly am able to see you nor recognise you due to the injuries, but able to do recognise you by your voice". Jambavantha says: Anjana supraja yena matariswa cha nairrutha, Hanuman vanara shreshta praanaan dharayate kwachit. ( Is Hanuman, the best among monkeys, safe ? ) Vibhishana is surprised at this question. He says "You have not asked about King Sugriva, Crown prince Angada, Srirama, and Lakshamana. Why are you asking about Vayusutha Hanuman" ? Jambavantha says : Tasmin Jivati Veere tu hatamapyahatam balam, Hanumatyujgitha praane Jivam to api vayam hata ha! (If Hanuman is alive, we are alive even if we are dead. If Hanuman leaves his life, we are dead even if we are alive. ) Dharate marutistata, maarutapratimo yadi, Vaishwanarasamo veerye Jivitaasa tato bhavet! (As long as Hanuman is having life, the desire for life is alive in living beings. ) On hearing this Hanuman approaches Jambavantha and introduces himself with his pravara and does pranam. Jambavantha informs him about the four herbs that can save the monkey army and SriRama, Lakshamana and the location of herbs as 'Oshadhi parvatha(mountain) in himalayas'. Jambavantha extolls virtues of Hanuman as the only capable person to cover that distance in such a short distance and bring back the herbs. Hanuman on hearing this, becomes a mountain himself and flies across ocean to reach Himalayas and brings back the entire mountain where herbs are. Sri Sadgurubhyoh namah ! - Atmajyothi Prasad
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Brahma Satya Jagat Mithya
Brahman is the essence of consciousness and bliss, divine, without defect, decay or death. It is in the state of unmanifested existence.
In meditation, initially there is awareness of world, then awareness of self. Sometimes, mind goes into its own world like dream. At that time, the gross body + world / jagat is absent. When I become aware of myself in this dream like state, I come back to waking awareness. But I still remember what I saw in that dream state. What is common is my experiencing that the gross body+ gross world is present in waking state, and my experiencing that the dream body + dream world is present in dream like state. This understanding is what I am applying to the statement 'Brahma satyam jagan mithya'. What is there at one place, and one time, and absent in another place, time is called Mithya (transient). The gross world (jagat) is present in only waking state. Dream jagat is present only in dream state. The gross world is absent to the individual in deep sleep state. Hence Jagat is transient and Mithya and like a dream. What is present at all times and places is called Satyam (Truth). The 'I' is present in all the three states, places, and at all times witnessing all three states. So, the 'I' or Self which is the witness of the three states, and witness at all times and all places is the True thing, and is Brahman. Jivo brahmaiva , na aparaha : The individual Jiva experiences the 'I-ness' at all times and places and states. This 'Iness' in Jiva is Brahman. - Atmajyothi Prasad
Anahata In one of the sutras in Vijnana bhairava tantra, it is said to meditate on the 'repetition/mantra of heart'. I have explained it as follows, 'In heart chakra, the constant repetition of I-am ness, the 'aham' mantra goes on continuously. meditate on that'. This is the mantra I could feel at anahata. - Atmajyothi Prasad
Atmajyothi Prasad has published a free e-book Jnanajyothi, which is his spiritual diary for last 4 years. You can download it for free at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/362836 . This completes the Atmajyothi trilogy,
Books Published
Book-1 on Asana : Yogajyothi -- https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/176841 Book-2 on Meditation : Dhyanajyothi -- https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/360908 Book-3 on Wisdom : Jnanajyothi -- https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/362836
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Zen Koans A Drop of Water
Kala denotes the six divine qualities belonging to the
A Zen master named Gisan asked a young student to bring him a pail of water to cool his bath. The student brought the water and, after cooling the bath, threw on to the ground the little that was left over. "You dunce!" the master scolded him. "Why didn't you give the rest of the water to the plants? What right have you to waste even a drop of water in this temple?" The young student attained Zen in that instant. He changed his name to Tekisui, which means a drop of water.
supreme God. With those arranged in pairs, I evolve by means of the tattvas.
Tosui's Vinegar Tosui was the Zen master who left the formalism of temples to live under a bridge with beggars. When he was getting very old, a friend helped him earn his living without begging. He showed Tosui how to collect rice and manufacture vinegar from it, and Tosui did this until he passed away. While Tosui was making vinegar, one of the beggars gave him a picture of the Buddha. Tosui hung it on the wall of his hut and put a sign beside it. The sign read: "Mr. Amida Buddha: This little room is quite narrow. I can let you remain as a transient. But don't think I am asking you to help me to be reborn in your paradise."
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Prabhuji’s articles in Bodhi Vruksha
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Prabhuji’s talk on Navaratri On the auspicious occasion of Navaratri, let us contemplate on it spiritual significance. Navaratri means nine nights. It also means new nights. The 10th day is called dassera or 'dasha hara'.
Consciousness is a mantra's main characteristic. Infused with the six divine attributes, a mantra can be classified as one of four types.
Let us look at this festival from a different angle. Look at the galaxies, the universe, and its vastness. We cannot think of the size of the Universe, the number of stars, planets, galaxies as everything in the Universe is infinite in nature. Our solar system is the part of the Milky Way and the Milky Way itself is vast. And such millions of milky ways are there in the galaxy. And earth is there, which is the part of the Solar System. If you look at the whole scale of the universe, we are a very small part of this whole existence. Not even a speck of the dust in the Universe. According to scientists, before Universe came to this shape, it was nothing but a gas. It was in the form of gas and gas was compressed into a small molecular size and then the big bang happened because of which the Universe exploded and from that, everything got created. Now is this creation an accident or is there a conscious force behind this? So, this is the question which people ask or the wise people contemplate upon. The force of Consciousness behind this creation, they called as Shakti, the energy. This Shakti was given different names and this Shakti is called as Mother. The Consciousness behind this, they called as ‘shaaktha'. The power of Consciousness is called 'Shakti' and the Consciousness itself is called 'shaktha'. This is also called as Shiva and Shakti, the Consciousness and energy. The Consciousness and energy together is responsible for this creation. So the entire Universe is nothing but dance of the Consciousness in the form of energy. There is a scientist who wrote the book called Tao of Physics. His name is Fritjof Capra. He was sitting on seashore watching the waves rise and fall. Suddenly he realized that the rise and fall of the waves is nothing but the dance of energy. And then he realized this is what is meant by the Nataraja symbol through which we worship Lord Shiva as the dancer. Everything in the Universe is the dance of this energy. The dance of energy happens in the form of the movement of planets, starts and the galaxies. The dance of the energy happens in the movement of the breath, the movement of the wind, the movement of the Sun and the moon, the movement of the heartbeat in you, the thought which comes in and out of you, your hands and everything is part of the Universal dance of Shiva and Shakti. You are the part of the huge dance that goes on in the Universe from moment to moment. The electrons swing around the nucleus and this is the dance of energy. Every moment there is a creation happening and a destruction happening, this is the dance of energy. The whole Universe is nothing but dancing, this energy which is rising and falling. So this is what we call as Shakti, the energy and the Consciousness behind that is called Shiva. The Shiva and Shakti are together responsible for this creation and this is represented by Nataraja. Nataraja is Shiva, the dancer. Where is Parvathi, the Shakthi there? His dance is the Shakti. The dancer and the dance is the Shakti. If the Consciousness is silent and there is no dance, then there is no way that the creation can be seen. You cannot see the creation. Nothing is there. No experience is possible. When the Consciousness starts dancing with that energy, then only the panorama of the Consciousness can be seen. The dancer represents the dancer. So where are we searching for Shiva and Shakti? They are right in front of you. Every thought process what you have is a dance of Shakti.
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ya devi sarva bhuteshu nidra rupena samsthitha...
Through me the universe becomes visible in the way that a mountain is reflected in a mirror. My essential nature is intelligence and bliss
Your sleep is the dance of the Consciousness. Your waking state, dream state is a dance of the Consciousness. Your hunger is the dance of the Consciousness. So, the divinity is a part of this Universe. In and out we can experience the divine. Without knowing this, we keep on searching for God somewhere. Every moment you are experiencing the divinity in the form of this dance, energy movement. But we forget that energy movement. We start feeling isolated from the Universe and we feel the separation from the Universe. The celebration of this dance of energy is called Navaratri. The celebration of Consciousness is called Shivaratri. When you respect and celebrate Consciousness it is called Shivaratri and when you respect and celebrate energy it is called Navaratri. So Navaratri is the creation. The Navaratri represents the Mother. The Father is called Shiva and the Mother is called Shakti. Shivaratri and Navaratri together represent the totality. This is what the festival is about. And why is it called as Navaratri? Nava means new, it is rejuvenating. Every year we have two Navaratris, Vasantha Navaratri and Sharan Navaratri. So this is the time, there is a fresh Universal Energy which flows into the creation. A fresh wave of cosmic energy impacts the earth. This is the time when we can receive the maximum amount of spiritual energy and prepare ourselves for spiritual rejuvenation. So, Navaratri is the time for Self Realization. It is nine because nine represents the child that stays in the Mother’s womb for nine months. It takes nine months for the child to be born. This is represented through Navaratri. So these nine days is the opportunity for us to be spiritually reborn, to take a spiritual rebirth. The night in spiritual terms represents the human beings living in darkness. We see the material nature and ascribe truth to that, while we live in ignorance of the Self. We are sleeping to our Self and are woken up to the non-Self that is the matter. We identify ourselves with the body and mind forgetting our true nature. So that’s why what is the day time for an unenlightened one is the darkness, night time for the Enlightened one and what is night time for the enlightened one is the day time for the unenlightened one. This is what Bhagavad Gita says, ya nisha sarva bhutanaam... So what is night? It is the time when we cannot see. We see the world and think that it is the reality, but for an enlightened one, this world is not real, hence it is darkness for him. And what an enlightened being sees as light which is Self, Atma, divine in nature is darkness for an unenlightened being as he is not able to see it. So, Navaratri means, nine nights of staying awake. So you have nine nights of waking up, nine symbolizes being in the womb of the Mother and night symbolizes waking up to the Self, Consciousness, energy and 10th day is called dassera, 'Dash Hara'. That is the time of Enlightenment. Vijaya Dasami, means Enlightenment or Jivan Mukthi or Liberation. So the festival of dassera symbolizes the spiritual struggle, the spiritual aspirations which will lead you from the darkness to the victory. This is told in form of various stories and various scientific discoveries also. So, you look at the galaxies, planets, stars, atoms and molecules, your breathing etc., everything is happening in a very precise way. If your breath or your heartbeat stops for a few seconds,
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One who he is liberated from the five courses of creation, relies on me, and perceives truth by favor of the supreme soul.
you are dead. Who is governing all these activities? Everything is governed at the universal level and that is the Intelligent Energy, the energy of the Consciousness that governs all this and we are worshipping that Shakti in the form of Mother. Look at child in the Mother’s womb; he gets one cell from the Father and one cell from the Mother. Those two cells become four and multiply to eight and sixteen etc. and finally it becomes a ball of meat. Some part of that ball of meat becomes eyes and some part becomes the ears, some part becomes the nose etc. Who gives this shape to the child? That is Shakti, energy, very intelligent energy of the Universe. It exactly knows what has to be done and when that has to be done. This Shakti is represented ass Mother. In your life, the Mother knows exactly when and what needs to be given to you. What inputs are required for your growth, how the intelligence, brain has to develop, what are the things you have to learn in the life, what are the things that you have to experience in your life, all these experiences are coming to you from the Mother, the universal energy, the intelligent energy. Respecting that intelligent energy is called Navaratri. That cosmic energy is responsible for our life, creation of the Universe. But for this cosmic energy, there is no life possible on the earth. If you look at the earth, it was a ball of gas where no life was possible. That ball of gas solidified into a mass of earth and in that earth, water was there, fish was born, the plants were born and gradually the human beings were born. From water, fish, amphibians, animals, plants to human beings. Now see, what is happening in this whole process. There is some evolution that is taking place. In reality there is some movement from unconsciousness to Consciousness. The earth is unconsciousness, the plants is slightly Consciousness, the animals are slightly more Consciousness, human beings are more Consciousness. So gradually there is movement from unconsciousness to Consciousness. This is what is meant by 'Asatoma Sadgamaya' there is gradual movement from unconsciousness to Consciousness, darkness to light, from death to deathlessness. There is a journey that is taking place. The earth itself which is unconsciousness gave birth to something which is Conscious, the plants and then more Conscious, the animals and more aware, the Human beings. So what is happening? From unconsciousness all those are coming. Is this possible? It is possible because there is Conscious force behind this. That Conscious force is the Shakti. It creates out of the unconsciousness and that is why we have all these dolls displayed for this festival of dolls which represents that dolls are made out of mud and the Consciousness Energy, the Prana Shakti breathes life into these dolls called human beings. In respect of that Shakthi we celebrate Navaratri. The movement is from unconsciousness to Consciousness which is happening from Universal level. If you look at the whole Universe, major part of it is unconsciousness. The larger part of the earth is non living. The plants and other living beings are a small part of that. Life itself is a small part of this non living whole. So gradually there is a transformation from the unconsciousness to Consciousness. And what is the purpose of this? Gradually the Universe which is unconsciousness is becoming aware of itself. And that awareness is happening through you, me and other living beings. It is said that the God sleeps in stone, starts waking up in plants and dreaming in animals and starts experiencing himself in human beings. So gradually there is a movement from the unconsciousness to Consciousness and the peak of that Consciousness is what you call as Human beings. And through human beings only, God is discovering himself because there is full awakening which
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Consider the unmanifested, eternal as resembling the faint sound produced by the strings of a musical instrument.
happens in the human beings. But the question is, are you awakened fully or still sleeping? And the waking up festival is called Navaratri. What is that sleeping you are sleeping about? All of us are living our life unconsciousness of our divine nature. God is in you, the God is experiencing the world through your mind, body and sense organs. We are not aware of that Self, God in us. That is unconsciousness. Look at the evolution at the plants and animals level, it is an unconsciousness evolution. It takes millions and millions of years to the evolution to take place. That is what Darwin said. Evolution is a slow process and mechanical process. Nature takes care of that and who is the nature? The Mother. At the human being level, the first time in nature, the evolution takes place consciously. From human being level you can evolve further. You can become more self aware. But you are not self aware. You have a self identify, but you are not self awareness. The movement from self identify to self awareness to self transcendence is called Enlightenment. What Self identify do you have? When I ask you who you are you will say, 'I am a girl, I am a boy, I am husband, I am a wife or I am an Engineer'. Your identity is associated with your body, your profession or your nationality. But they are all temporary identities. Do you have any true identify other than these? There is a true identity and that is Pure Consciousness, Pure Awareness. That is called God, Shiva which is in you. So, the gradual movement from unconsciousness to Self Consciousness, Self Awareness and to Self transcendence is called the spiritual evolution. So, at physical level you have gone through lot of evolution. You have taken many bodies. And at the physical level you have come to the peak of Evolution as a human being. But at Consciousness evolution is yet to happen fully. From self identity to Self Awareness to Self Transcendence. And this process is called evolution or spiritual evolution or Liberation. So up to animal level, there is a physical evolution possible and at the human being level there is a spiritual evolution possible. So that evolution process is called, spirituality, Mukthi, Liberation or evolution. Navaratri is the celebration of that evolution. Let us look at the some of the stories behind Navaratri. What are the stories behind Navaratri? There are many puranic stories which come in Devi Purana, Devi Mahatme in Puranas. In one story there was a demon called Mahishasura, who was troubling all the living beings on the earth, land and sea. Then the Shakti, Devi took the form of Mahishasura Mardhini and killed him. The Mahisha is actually a 'buffalo head', a demon with buffalo head. Now if you look at the story, it looks like a very strange story. A demon with buffalo head is killed by Devi. Now, if you only understand that the buffalo head represents the ignorance. We come across many buffalo headed people. What does buffalo head mean? Whatever you say, nothing goes inside that buffalo head. It is said that when somebody comes and hits a buffalo, the buffalo thinks that, ‘Oh!! Somebody is hitting some other person somewhere else'. The next time when somebody hits the buffalo, it thinks that, "Oh!! Somebody is hitting somewhere near by" and third time when it is hit, then it thinks, "OK, somebody is hitting on my back" and when it is hit for the fourth time, it finally thinks that, "Oh!! Somebody is hitting me" and then starts running. So, it takes lot of time for the buffalo to understand. This is called buffalo head. You go through lot of troubles in life and most of the time we say that we are in trouble because of some other person. We start ascribing every trouble to outside. We have kicks in life from morning to night and kicks can come in form of husband, wife, boss or in-laws. And we think like the buffalo, "somewhere somebody is hitting, it is not me". Then it takes quite some time to realize that something inside me has to be corrected.
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Outside is not relevant, something needs to be improved and by that time, you have got your fourth hit. That is called buffalo head. And most of the people in your life, you just look at them, they always say, “I am suffering because of that person."
In order to liberate souls, my own energy activates merely a ten millionth of a hundredthousandbillionth fraction of myself.
If you can find one person who says, "I am suffering because of my own ignorance", then that man is great. At least he knows the problem. So this is called buffalo headed monster. Don’t think that there is some buffalo headed monster sitting somewhere. Buffalo headed monster represents the ignorance of the human being. This is at the universal level. Most of the people have buffalo head. Universe is gradually movement from unconsciousness to Consciousness. Animal instincts will be preserved at the first level of humanity. Nature has to gradually come out of that and that destruction of ignorance is called 'Mahishasura Mardhini'. It is happening at the universal level, not at the individual level. Gradually human beings have to evolve. So, what happens at the Universal level applies at the individual level also. The same thing happens in your life also. You also have to gradually come out of the ignorance. So, for that you need to pray to the Mother, Shakti. That’s why Navaratri has three days of prayer for Durga, next three days for Lakshmi and the last three days for Saraswati. Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati represent the powers of Consciousness. The Consciousness has different powers at I level and at Universe level. At Universe level, gradually the evolution is happening from the unconsciousness to Consciousness to the living beings and please don’t think that human beings is the end of the evolution. At the human being level spiritual evolution takes place and more and more enlightened human beings will be born. So, gradually from ....happens. This is told in puranas in terms of sathya yuga, thretha, dwapara and kali yuga. Kali yuga represents the dark age of human beings where people are ignorant of their own Self nature. Dwapara means, 50% of the people get evolved. Thretha means 3/4th people get evolved. Sathya yuga means entire humanity is more self aware. So this is the process of the evolution which can happen at the human being level. So, Shakti is represents that evolution. The first three days prayer is for Durga Shakti which is actually the power of Consciousness for action and destruction. So, first you have to destroy the negative qualities in our life. What are the negative qualities? Anger, passion, jealousy, hatred etc. has to be destroyed; the prayer for Durga Shakti represents the power of Consciousness to destroy. Now, when the negative qualities are gone, we have to develop the positive, divine qualities in us for which we pray Lakshmi. We also need the material power and the spiritual power. Material power comes in the form of Dhana Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi, Santhana Lakshmi etc; the physical wealth. More important is the Spiritual wealth which is Shama, dama, titeeksha, uparati, shraddha, samadhana. These are the peaceful qualities of the mind which will help us to evolve. The prayer for these qualities is called Lakshmi Puja. And finally, the three days of puja for Saraswathi. Saraswati represents Vidya. Vidya is two types, Para and Apara Vidya. Para vidya represents the Self knowledge and Apara Vidya represents knowledge that is required for living in the world like medical, engineering, cooking, driving etc. So the prayer is for Saraswathi to gives us both Para and Apara vidya. If this happens, then on the tenth day we will enter into dassera, "Dash Hara" which means 'ten are defeated'. On that day an effigy of Ravana is burnt. Ravana symbolizes demon and the effigy of Ravana is burnt indicating the destruction of ten headed monster. What is that ten headed monster? It is nothing but our Ego which operates through the ten organs, five sense organs and five
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organs of action. We want to grab everything in the world and that causes the disturbance. The Ego keeps saying, "I want more and more". The destruction of Ego is called dassera. It’s also called Vijaya Dasami which means the ultimate victory, Enlightenment. In short Vijaya Dasami, this nine days of Navaratri and the tenth day of Vijaya Dasami represents the Enlightenment process that we go through. Overcome your negative qualities through prayer, develop positive qualities through prayer and develop true wisdom and get enlightened. So, the whole dassera is about Enlightenment. This is told in the form of some stories also. There are stories of devi.
The absolute Brahman, undifferentiated between knowledge and agent, appearing in the form of ever shining light, is identical with the All.
There were two demons called Shumbha and Nishumbha who were troubling all the people. They had a boon from Brahmaji that only a female can kill them and they were very sure that no female can kill them. So Devi took the form of Kathyayini and went for a war. Kathyayini means ‘Karthyayini’, the power of Consciousness responsible for action. So she went for a war and in that war, first came two demons called Chanda and Munda whom she killed and that is why she is called Chamundeshwari. We have the Chamundeshwari temple in Mysore. Now what are Chanda and Munda? Munda means the head without body and Chanda means the body without a head. Now what are the qualities of the body without a head and a head without a body? There are people who keep on doing without thinking. They just go on doing and they are also demonic in nature. They keep on creating mess. They are called Chanda. They don’t have head, but they have body. They are people who are Munda. They have only head, no body. They keep on thinking, criticizing, they don’t do any action at all; they keep on saying "This is not happening, that is not proper, they cannot do that, etc". So these are two kinds of people, Chanda and Munda. So to which category do you belong? Both are asuras, demons. Chanda is someone who does action without thinking. There are some people and whether it is action at office, home or anywhere, they never question 'why'? If they have to do puja in the morning for 15 minutes, they do that puja exactly for 15minutes. They think, 'If I do not do this puja, what will happen I do not know'. If something is told to do they do it without any questions asked. They do not think, they just blindly do that. They are called as Chanda. Munda is the person who has only head, no body. There are some people we come across in life who just keep on criticizing and finding faults in others. They have only head, but no action. One day Mata Amritanandamayi was asked by some foreigner. What is the difference that you see between Indians and foreigners? She said, in foreign countries, they have everything in life; they have material wealth in abundance. They do and accept anything without questioning. They don’t follow anything blindly. They have so much sophistication that if they do not like their ear, they can replace that with a new ear or replace their nose with a new nose. This is how Amma said. So, they have everything in life that Science and technology has provided them. What science can give is an air conditioned home, but not an air conditioned mind. Mind cannot be made peaceful. Mind will be still disturbed, so they want to find an answer. So they come to satsang and question. If they get convinced with the answer, they do it thoroughly. They will do it very thoroughly, they will not miss anything. This is the state of foreigners. They question, analyze, understand and if they are convinced they follow it thoroughly. On the other hand, Indians, they do it but they don’t question. If Father says, 'Go round the temple 9 times', the son will go round the temple exactly 9 times, neither more than 9 times no less than 9 times. He will not ask why he should do that. So this is unconsciousness way of doing.
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Sometime back, we were trying to teach Lalitha Sahasranama at our place. Some of our neighbors came for a couple of days and then they stopped coming. Somebody told them that if you do a mistake while chanting Lalitha Sahasranama, then Lalitha devi will get angry with you and curse you. What all types of ignorance we have. Then somebody came and told that ladies should not chant Vishnu Sahasranama. So, we will not question why and we just accept somebody's ignorance as it is. So this is the state of Chanda and Munda, doing without thinking and thinking but not doing. So these are the two categories of ignorance in the world. So Devi destroys these two types of ignorance and hence she is called Chamundeshwari. Only when we pray to this power of Consciousness energy which will give us the right thinking and right action, we can be ready for evolution.
I am the essence of light and bliss, endowed with perfect equilibrium.
After Chanda and Munda were killed, two more demons called Shumbha and Nishumbha came. They got attracted by Kathyayini. They asked her to marry them. She told them that she would marry them if they defeat her in the fight. They thought a lady can no way defeat them and they started fighting. She killed both the demons. Shumbha and Nishumbha in Sanskrit means, pride, extreme pride (madha). So, Kathyayini destroyed this pride. In the meantime another demon called Raktabeejasura came. He had a boon from Brahmaji that if one drop of his blood falls on the earth, a million Raktabeejasuras will be born out of that single drop of blood. So, then the lion of Kalika Ma comes and sucks the entire blood and not a single drop of blood falls on the earth and the demon, Raktabeejasura is killed. What does Raktabeejasura mean? Rakta means blood and beeja means that which is deep inside the blood. So what is deep inside our blood? The desires, constantly they sprout. One desire has the ability to create one million desires. So this desire is represented by the Raktabeejasura and she kills the Raktabeejasura also. Symbolically this represents the destruction of the negative qualities in us and also it represents the process of the evolution in Universe. It is not just at the individual level, it is at the Universal level also. At the universal level, there is movement of human beings from the unconsciousness to Consciousness and more and more evolved human beings are born. This is represented by the Shakti. There are three different types of Shakthi which come from Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. They are called Brahmi, Vaishnavi and Koumari. From these three Shakthis, different Shakthis manifest and they are called nava durga. They are nine different durgas and each day one name is given for the durga shakthi. First day she is called 'Shaila putri', second day she is called 'Brahmacharini', third day, 'Chadraghanta', fourth day, 'Koushmanda', fifth day she is called, 'Skanda Mata', sixth day is called, 'Kathyayini', seventh day, 'Kalaratri', eight day is called, 'Maha Gowri' and ninth day is called, 'Siddhi Pradayini'. So these are the nine Shakthis that manifest. In a way, these Shakthis represent the powers of Consciousness. And these different powers of Consciousness are represented through Shakthis. Shailaputri, she represents the rebirth of the Energy in various forms. Brahmacharini represents the power of Consciousness to contemplate and meditate on the Higher Consciousness. Brahmacharini means contemplation on the Truth. The third one is called Chandraghanta. Chandra means moon. One who is wearing the moon as her abharana. The moon represents the mind. The mind which is disturbing becomes the abharana. Gradually the Consciousness is able to use the mind as the abharana rather than a disturbing aspect.
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Considering that knowledge is one of my aspects, it follows that all the primary sounds are projections of me.
Koushmanda means, in the darkness of the night there is a birth of the egg of the Universe. The whole Universe is born in the form of an egg. She represents the birth of the Universe. Actually this represents the Big Bang. Skanda Mata represents Skanda. Skanda is Subramanya, she is the Mother of Subramanya. Subramanya, if you know, is the Senadhipati, the Chieftain of army of divine beings. The divine beings represent the divine qualities. Skanda represents the six chakras in the human body. That is why he is called Subramanya. Muladhara, Swadishtana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddhaa, Ajna to Sahasrara. These are the six chakras. When these chakras are awakened the divine qualities manifest in you and these divine qualities are called devatas and Skanda Mata is the representation of the Master of that. That is why Skanda has that weapon called 'vel' which represents the spinal cord. Then Kathyayini represents the action. Kathyayini is power of the action in the Universe. Everything in the Universe is moving. The earth, planets, stars, mind etc. are moving all the time. Constantly there are thoughts moving in the mind. The power behind this movement is called Kathyayini. Then we have Kalaratri. Kalaratri represents the power of time. Time is not seeing, time cannot be seen. Only the effect of time can be felt. Time is responsible for our birth, growth, death and evolution. The power of that is called kalaratri. Maha Gowri represents the auspiciousness, the ability of the human beings to evolve. Finally 'Siddhi pradayini' represents the higher powers of the mind. Whatever various powers of the mind you have are nothing, in reality there are many more powers of the mind which are called Siddhis. So these are called Nava Durgas represent nine powers of the Consciousness which will help you to evolve. The puja is three days of durga, three days of Lakshmi and three days of Saraswati and each day is dedicated to one power of Consciousness which is called Nava Durga. Ayudha puja is where traditionally all the weapons are worshipped. Especially, Kshatriyas, the kings, they used to worship their weapons like swords, etc because these weapons help them to survive. So, on that particular day, you make sure that all your vehicles are given rest and worshipped. What is the greatest weapon that human being has? It is the tongue. If you hit some person, that person will forget that. But when you call him Donkey or Monkey, he will not forget it for the next seven life times. So the sharpest weapon is the tongue. Mahabharata war happened because Draupadi called Dhuryodhana, "Andhe ka putr andha" which means that a blind person's son is also blind. Those three words have sown the seed for the Mahabharata war and lakhs of people got killed. the greatest weapon that a human being has is tongue. But there is a greater weapon than the tongue, what is that? It is intellect, buddhi. So, the buddhi is the greatest weapon. All the nuclear bombs, atom bombs were made by this intellect. So, intellect is the sharpest weapon that a human being is having. So the real Ayudha puja is praying to the Goddess Durga, to purify the intellect, that is why you have Durga Ashtami and you become for Navami and then finally you get Mukthi. That intellect is responsible for your liberation. Without a purified intellect, liberation cannot happen. What is this Garbha dance is about? During the Navaratri festival, there is Garbha dance which is part of the celebrations. So Garbha means womb, dance of the womb. What is this dance of the womb? One thing about this Garbha dance is. On the other hand, it represents Krishna playing with Gopis which is called Rasaleela. Now we have to understand what is Rasaleela. All the
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The great srsti, Mahananda, adorned with clusters of saktis, resplendent with rays of Agni and the moon, manifests herself as existence.
Gopis prayed to Gowri as it is said that if prayed to Gowri devi, girls would get a boy of their choice. So they prayed to Gowri that they want to marry a boy like Krishna which is almost an impossible condition. A boy like Krishna is not possible as Krishna is a unique person. So, on one full moon day, Krishna started playing flute when he was 8 or 9 years old and all the plants, animals, everybody got attracted. Gopikas came and they had a dance with Krishna and that is called Rasaleela. Gopikas represent, Gopi ka, Gopi means secret. Everybody has a secret desire for union with the Lord. Deep inside our heart there is a desire to experience that oneness with the Consciousness, the Universe and we have a desire to experience the dance of the Lord. That is called Gopika. Everybody is a Gopika in a secret way. So those gopikas danced around Krishna who is the paramatma, the Supreme Lord. Actually the Rasaleela represent the divine union, the point of Enlightenment where the Jivatma experiences the oneness with Paramatma, oneness with the Parabrahma and that joy is called Rasaleela. In a sense Garbha dance represents Rasaleela, experience of oneness with the lord. Then why is it called Garbha dance? Garbha means womb. Deep inside the womb, the child grows gradually. Initially, it is two cells, it becomes four and then grows to eight cells and then it takes a shape. Similarly, deep inside, there is a desire to experience the God and like a child, slowly the growth happens. And from that growth one day a divine child is born where we will experience the divinity. That is called Garbha dance. The temple is called Garbha Gudi, the sanctorum of the temple is called Garbhagudi. Garbha means womb, deep inside all of our Grabha there is divine. So that divine has to become a child and it has to be born. So, celebration of that dance is called Garbha dance. Why is Garbha dance during Navaratri? Navaratri is the time they worship Gowri. Gowri gives them a boon that they can marry a boy of their desire. So, when Meera bai was thrown out of the palace, she went to brindavan thinking that she will spend rest of her life singing praise of Lord Krishna. There, some saints were living who were called Gosayis. These saints do not see a woman. When Meera Bai wanted to meet a Saint there, he sent her a message, “I do not meet women’. So, then Meera bai sent a reply to that, ‘There is only Purusha, Krishna Paramatma, Consciousness. Everybody else are ‘sthree’ (lady), all jivatmas are sthrees. Sthree means sathva, raja and Tamo guna, three gunas predominant are called sthrees. In our colloquial language, sthree has become Woman and Purusha has become Man. In reality, Purusha means Consciousness and Sthree means the three gunas, Prakriti. All living beings are made up of sathva, rajo and tamo gunas. So, all living beings are sthrees and there is a desire for experiencing the union with the Purusha, Consciousness and this desire is manifested in the form of Rasaleela. So, out of that union of jivatma with paramatma where Jivatma is sthree and paramathma is Purusha, bliss is formed and that bliss is Ananda, Enlightenment, liberation. As a whole Navaratri is the celebration of Enlightenment. And Vijaya Dasami is the day you celebrate your liberation.
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Yogasana For details please contact Yogacharya Prasad
STEP – 1 : Introduction of Asana • Name: Anjaneyasana • Meaning: Anjaneya posture • Justification: Final posture looks like anjaneya (monkey god) • Type: Standing • Category: Culturative • Stithi: Tadasana • Vishranti: Shithila tadasana • Counts: 4 • Complimentary: Self, Veerabhadrasana I & II
STEP – 2 : Demonstration • Silent Demonstration: Final posture as shown in figure • Demonstration with counts and explanation and breathing: • Come to Stithi (Tadasana) • Ekam: Inhale and come to ashwa-sanchalanasana, and stretch left leg back • Dve: Exhale and raise both hands above your head and make namaskara • Hold the posture for 1 minute with normal breathing • Trini: Inhale and come to ashwa-sanchalanasana • Chatvari: Exhale and come to tadasana • Come to sithila tadasana and relax.
STEP – 3 : Benefits and Limitations Specific Benefits: • Good for sciatica Specific Limitations: • People with heart ailments should avoid posture
STEP – 4 : SUBTLE points • .Stretch left leg as far back as possible • Don’t bend forward or backward • Hold the posture for at least 1 minute • Perform the asana on the other side or veerabhadrasana as complementary.
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Participate There are various forums for you to participate and contribute. Readers Reviews: If you have valuable feedback for Divya Jyothi please share them with us. You can email them to xsubbu@gmail.com and gayatri.kadiyala@gmail.com Spiritual Insights: You can contribute short articles on your spiritual experience, your love for Sadguru (prose/poems), poetry, etc. Articles: These can include articles on various spiritual topics like Upanishads, Vedanta, Yoga, Trivia, Quiz, Puzzles, Yajna Activities, or your own original ones. Please encourage children to contribute. For contributing in Kannada, please visit google.co.in/transliterate to transliterate your article from English to Kannada font. Copy paste the Kannada font in the body of Gmail and mail the same. Next month Nov
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2013 we are Spiritual Masters: Articles of teachings on various spiritual masters. All contributions can be mailed to xsubbu@gmail.com and gayatri.kadiyala@gmail.com
celebrating Diwali. Please send your contributions based on the same
Transcribe: Well be studying the 10 important Upanishads over the next year. Prabhuji’s teachings will be translated to various languages. Atmajyothis have volunteered. If interested, please get in touch with Prabhuji Weekly satsangs: At Prabhuji s place over the weekends and at NR Colony (open to all) on Thursdays. Satsangs for festivals are organized at a convenient date/time. Come Online: • Atmajyothi Satsang is online at www.atmajyothi-satsang.org. • Atmajyothi Satsang is also on Facebook and Prabhuji can be reached at atmajyothi.satsang@gmail.com • Listen to Prabhuji's live and recorded talks on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/atmajyothisatsang • Atmajyothi Vishwa Gurukulams classes on Gita and Upanishads for children are broadcast on www.ustream.tv/channel/atmajyothiLADS
Divya Jyothi