Sanatana Dharma is is the original name of what is now popularly called Hinduism or Hindu Dharma. The terms Hindu and Hinduism are said to be a more recent development, while the more accurate term is Sanatana Dharma. It is a code of ethics, a way of living through which one may achieve moksha (enlightenment, liberation).
मंगलवार, 21 जुलाई 2020
यज्ञ सनातन धर्म की आत्मा है
गुरुवार, 9 जुलाई 2020
Saraswati The Goddess Of Knowledge
In Her popular images and pictures, Goddess Saraswati is generally depicted with four arms (some pictures may show only two arms), wearing a white sari and seated on a white lotus. She holds a book and a rosary in Her rear two hands, while the front two hands are engaged in the playing of a lute (veena). Her right leg is shown slightly pushing against Her left leg. She uses a swan as Her vehicle. There is a peacock by Her side gazing at Her. This symbolism illustrates the following spiritual ideas:
- The lotus is a symbol of the Supreme Reality, and a white lotus also denotes supreme knowledge. By sitting on a lotus, Saraswati signifies that She is Herself rooted in the Supreme Reality, and symbolizes supreme knowledge. The white color symbolizes purity and knowledge. The white sari that the Goddess is wearing denotes that She is the embodiment of pure knowledge.
- The four amms denote Her omnipresence and omnipotence. The two front amms indicate Her activity in the physical world and the two back arms signify Her presence in the spiritual world. The four hands represent the four elements of the inner personality. The mind (manas) is represented by the front right hand, the intellect (buddhi) by the front left hand, the conditioned consciousness (chitta) by the rear left hand, and the ego (ahankara) by the rear right hand.
- The left side of the body symbolizes the qualities of the heart and the right side symbolizes activities of the mind and intellect. A book in the rear left hand signifies that knowledge acquired must be used with love and kindness to promote prosperity of mankind.
- The rosary signifies concentration, meditation, and contemplation, leading to samadhi, or union with God. A rosary in the rear right hand representing ego conveys that true knowledge acquired with love and devotion melts the ego and results in liberation (moksha) of the seeker from the bondage to the physical world.
- The Goddess is shown playing a musical instrument that is held in Her front hands, which denote mind and intellect. This symbol conveys that the seeker must tune his mind and 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.
- Two swans are depicted on the left side of the Goddess. A swan is said to have a sensitive beak that enables it to distinguish pure milk from a mixture of milk and water. A swan, therefore, symbolizes the power of discrimination, or the ability to discriminate between right and wrong or good and bad. Saraswati uses the swan as Her carrier. This indicates that one must acquire and apply knowledge with discrimination for the good of mankind. Knowledge that is dominated by ego can destroy the world.
- A peacock is sitting next to Saraswati and is anxiously waiting to serve as Her vehicle. A peacock depicts unpredictable behavior as its moods can be influenced by the changes in the weather. Saraswati is using a swan as a vehicle and not the peacock. This signifies that one should overcome fear, indecision, and fickleness in order to acquire true knowledge.
बुधवार, 8 जुलाई 2020
Lord HariHara ~ Shiva and Vishnu are the same
"sivasya hridayam vishnuh,vishnOscha hridayam shivah "
"yathA shivamayO vishnurEvam vishnumaya shivah" .
- Skandopanishad
"Shiva is a form of Vishnu and Vishnu a form of Shiva. Shiva dwells in the heart of Vishnu while Vishnu in the heart of shiva."
Harihara is the name of a combined deity form of both Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara) from the Hindu tradition. Also known as Shankaranarayana ("Shankara" is Shiva, and "Narayana" is Vishnu), Harihara is thus worshipped by both Vaishnavites and Shaivities as a form of the Supreme God, as well as being a figure of worship for other Hindu traditions in general. Harihara is also sometimes used as a philosophical term to denote the unity of Vishnu and Shiva as different aspects of the same Supreme God.
ये अपि अन्य देवता भक्ताः यजन्ते श्रध्दयान्विताः
ते अपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम
- Bhagavad Gita (Chp 9, 23)
Krishna tells Arjuna that even those who are the devotees (bhaktaas) of other devataas (anya devataa) and who worship them with great devotion they too are worshipping Him – even if it is considered to be avidhipoorvakam (i.e. following a different “vidhi”, or pooja rituals). Krishna is saying, “Pray to Me directly. But, if the devotee finds attachment to other deities, that is OK. They too worship Me.”
Vishnu-maaya
Naarada, coming under Vishnu maaya, gives shaapam to Vishnu, Naarada says “Svaami! Please forgive Me. I, coming under influence of Your maaya, got ahankaar and did Your ninda. Please tell Me what can save Me from this ghora-paapam”.
Vishnu says:“O Priya Naarada! You go and do paaraayana of Shankara Shatanaamams. Then You will get Shaanti. Shiva is whom I respect the most. Even by mistake dont forget this. One who doesnt have Shiva-anugraham cannot be My Bhakta. Believe this … Then My maaya wont affect you.”
The devas had looked upon the earth, and were horrified by the terrible state it was in- everywhere there was greed, war and unhappiness. Vice and sin ran rampant among people. Confused as to how things could have become like this, they approached Vishnu to seek answers. Vishnu said to them as they assembled, "Let us go to Shankar, for He is wise!" Vishnu led the demigods up the icy slopes of Mount Kailash, but saw no one there. Amidst the rocks and snow, there was no sign of Shiva or Parvati, or even Nandi. The baffled gods searched for a sign of Shiva until Vishnu came to them and said, "My beloved, your selfishness has made you blind, for Hara is here! You must purify yourselves- bathe in milk, sing the Satarudriya hymn, and take only hot milk for 3 days, and your eyes will be opened." They followed his instructions, but after 3 days they still could see no sign of Shiva. They cried out, "O Jagannath, Lord of the World, where can we find Shankar?" At that, Vishnu pointed to his chest. "He is in me, as I am in him. Can't you see that?" As he spoke, he revealed his lotus heart, and as the petals opened, the sacred Lingam could be seen in the middle. The gods fervently worshipped the lingam, bathing it in milk, covering it with vermillion and sandalpaste, offering flowers and chanting the 1008 names of Shiva. But through this, they were still disturbed- How could Hari and Hara be one and the same? Vishnu had light, Sattvic qualities, while Shiva had dark, tamasic qualities. They were so different! But knowing their thoughts, Vishnu took on the form of Shiva. The gods could no longer tell the difference between the trident-bearing, three eyed god, or the conch bearing lord. And so, realizing finally that Vishnu and Shiva were one and the same, they bowed in devotion and worshipped Sri Hari Hara.