Date: 19 October 2004 |
Occasion:
Dasara |
Place: Prasanthi
Nilayam |
Obey the Divine Command with total Faith Everyone has to face the consequences
of one’s own Karma. Who has made the bats to hang from the branches of a
tree with their heads downwards? It is their fate. Likewise, nobody can
escape from the consequences of Karma. Students! The world is full of mystery and wonder. It is nothing but a manifestation of the five elements. It undergoes changes with the passage of time. Likewise, the physical body which is also made up of five elements is subject to changes. Only the Indweller is permanent. Embodiments of Love! Embodiments of Love! God responds to the prayers of devotees and comes to their rescue only when they have purity of heart. One with a pure heart can even alter the Sankalpa of God. The story of Markandeya bears ample testimony to this. Markandeya had no desires. He made sacred use of the time granted to him. It is the primary duty of devotees to cultivate noble thoughts and perform sacred actions. Markandeya remained a Chiranjeevi (immortal), served his parents and gave them immense happiness. In the normal course, God’s Will cannot be altered. But, sometimes God does change His Sankalpa in answer to the prayers of a devotee who is sincere and pure at heart. The devotee has the power to change the Will of God. Devotion does not mean mere vocal expression of prayers; one should have purity of heart. Adi Sankara was born in Kerala during the 7th century A.D. and propagated the essence of all scriptures to mankind. But he left his body at an early age of 32 years. Ramanujacharya was born in 11th century A.D. and propagated the efficacy of the Divine Name. That was the time when devotion to God was on the decline. It was because of Ramanujacharya’s teachings that people developed devotion and a sense of surrender to God. Madhwacharya was born during 13th century A.D. and propagated the principle of Dvaitha (Dualism). Even He taught that the Jiva (individual soul) and Deva (universal soul) are not different from each other in essence. However, the underlying principle in all the three systems of philosophy as propagated by Adi Sankara, Ramanujacharya and Madhwacharya is one and the same. The same principle of Atma is present in all beings. It is referred to as Easwaratwa (divinity). The divine incarnations such as Rama and Krishna can be recognised by their Divine forms. Every incarnation has a particular form. But Easwaratwa has no form. It represents the principle of truth that is present in all beings. It is responsible for Srushti, Sthiti and Laya (creation, sustenance and dissolution). Easwaratwa, which has no specific form is symbolised in the form of a Linga. It is usually placed on a horizontal base which is known as Panavatta. Do you know how it looks like? (At this, Bhagawan with a wave of His hand materialised a Linga with Panavatta.) Lord Easwara exhorted Markandeya and his parents to sanctify their time in the contemplation of God. He materialised a Linga like this and gave it to Markandeya’s parents. They sanctified their lives by worshipping the Linga. Linga represents the Atmic principle which is present in all. It is not possible for anyone to understand or estimate the divine power. The principle of Atma is changeless. It can assume any form in accordance with the feelings of devotees. Linga is not something which man has made for worship. It is the direct manifestation of Divinity (Sakshat-akara). This truth was very well understood by Markandeya and his father Mrukanda and hence they worshipped divinity in the form of a Linga. Every living being comprises three aspects – Sthula, Sukshma and Karana (gross, subtle and causal). The physical form represents the gross aspect. The same principle of divinity is present in all the three levels. Without thread, there can be no cloth. Without silver, there can be no plate. Without clay, pot cannot be made. Likewise, without Brahma (Divinity), there can be no world. Without the creator, there can be no creation. The creator can be compared to thread and the creation to cloth. The creator is the embodiment of gross, subtle and causal aspects. When you contemplate on God, you should transcend the mind. By merely having threads, one cannot make cloth. They have to be interwoven. Likewise, self-effort and divine grace, both are essential in order to achieve the desired result. Sukshma Sarira (subtle body) is the source from which our words and deeds originate. Our students are chanting the Vedas everyday. Each Mantra is attributed to a particular form of divinity. It is necessary that one knows all the Mantras. If one wants to purify his thoughts and understand his true Self, he should take Vedas as the basis. Unable to understand this truth, many students are behaving like thieves when it comes to chanting the Vedic Mantras. One who does something wrong and feigns ignorance is a thief. Likewise, one who has the ability to chant the Vedas but does not do so full-throated and wholeheartedly can also be called a thief. All students can chant the Vedas, but some of them are not joining others in chanting. They are not making proper use of whatever they have learnt. They are keeping to themselves all that they have learnt. I am observing the students as they chant the Vedas. Having learnt the Mantras, they are expected to chant them. But, some of them are keeping silent. In a way, they are resorting to vidya choratwam and daiva droham (theft of knowledge and betrayal of God). In this manner, the educated are becoming traitors and betrayers. Only those who chant wholeheartedly whatever they have learnt are eligible for Sakshatkara (God-realisation). When the students chant the Mantras, ladies sitting on the other side also join them. They have every right to chant the Vedas. None can deny them their right. They feel inspired to chant the Vedas when they see our students chant. There are many small children sitting here. Who has taught them the Vedas? They hear attentively while the senior students chant the Mantras and learn them by heart. However, there are some educated persons who sit by the side of Veda chanting boys and yet remain tight-lipped. I am observing them. What is the use of sitting with Veda group if they do not make efforts to learn and chant them? They are bigger thieves. They listen to Vedic chants but do not participate in them. One should listen and also chant the Mantras in order to experience divinity. The Vedas are the very form of God. There are many Mantras to propitiate the Pancha Bhutas (five elements). The five elements are our very life-breath. They sustain our life. The world itself is a manifestation of the five elements. But people forget to express their gratitude to the five elements. What a sin it is! We fill our minds with unnecessary information and consequently fail to give due respect to the five elements. Everyone should necessarily learn the Vedas, contemplate on them and chant them wholeheartedly. There is no point in merely learning the Vedas if you do not chant them. There are some who chant the Mantras when they are here but forget them when they go outside. You may go anywhere but you should repeat the Mantras at least in your mind. You should never become a vidya drohi (one who does not do justice to the knowledge acquired). A vidya drohi will become Daiva drohi also and will ultimately miss the chance to become recipient of God’s grace. Students may commit mistakes without their knowledge. But, once they realise their mistake they should not repeat it. Whatever Mantras you hear today, you should be able to chant them tomorrow. When all people chant the Mantras in unison and in perfect harmony, Brahman will manifest right in front of you. Our ancient sages and seers declared: Vedahametham Purusham Mahantham Adityavarnam Thamasa Parasthath (I have visualised that Supreme Being who shines with the effulgence of a billion suns and who is beyond Thamas - the darkness of ignorance). The sound of the Vedas is highly sacred. It is extolled as Sabda Brahmamayi, Characharamayi, Jyotirmayi,Vangmayi, Nityanandamayi, Paratparamayi, MayamayiandSreemayi (embodiment of sound, mobility and immobility, light, speech, eternal bliss, perfection, delusion and wealth). It is compulsory for everyone to learn the Vedas. If it is not possible, at least one should chant the Name of God. Whatever Vedic Mantras you learn, you should be able to chant them properly. Otherwise, you don’t need to learn them at all! I have seen many boys, who learn the Vedas here, but forget them when they go to Bangalore. They chant one or two Mantras to satisfy the elders who visit that place. It is not for publicity, but it is for your own benefit of experiencing bliss that you should chant the Vedas. The three aspects, namely, Karma, Upasana and Jnana (work, worship and wisdom) may be compared to chanting, practising and experiencing bliss. You should transcend Vijnanamaya Kosha (wisdom sheath) and enter Anandamaya Kosha (bliss sheath). Karma leads to Upasana which in turn leads to Jnana (wisdom). Once you attain Jnana, you will experience peace and bliss. Everything depends on Karma. You should not chant the Mantras in a mechanical way just because others are chanting. You should assimilate and digest them. Why do you eat food? Is it to preserve it in the stomach? No. The food partaken should be digested and the essence should be supplied to all parts of the body. In the same manner, you should understand and assimilate the Vedic knowledge and derive strength from it. It should be expressed in your thoughts, words and deeds. You should take part in the propagation of the Vedas and share your joy with others. People say God is all-pervasive. He is present everywhere in the form of five elements. Each element represents a form of divinity. All the five elements together constitute the form of the Atma. When you realise this truth, you will experience divine bliss. Embodiments of Love!
Students! |
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