Swami Parmarthnanda On Sivaratri

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:52:00 +0000

Our scriptures clearly point out that the primary goal of human life is spiritual fulfillment which is known as by different names: ‘moksha’, ‘Iswara prapthi’, etc. The other goals that we pursue, i.e. material goals like procuring food for ourselves and our family are only subsidiary or secondary. Even animals strive to accomplish this. They procure food and even train their young ones to do so. Therefore procuring food, finding shelter, raising a family and earning more money is not the goal of human existence. No doubt we can pursue these goals but keeping in mind that they are only secondary. Spiritual accomplishment is the top priority. But since we do not know this, we have to be told by the scriptures. Not only do the scriptures have to tell us, they have to repeat it because even if we are aware of the spiritual goal, we do not have the time and keep postponing the spiritual pursuit. In a well known verse in Bhaja Govindam, Sankara says the child is lost in play, the youth is consumed by passion, the old man is immersed in his sorrows, alas, there is none who yearns to realise the spiritual truth. When we are young, we think it is too early to start spirituality. By the time we are old, our mind is full of worries and our faculties are very weak. Throughout our life, we are preoccupied with something or the other that we forget the spiritual goal. It is for this reason that scriptures prescribe so many festivals and ‘vratams’, to constantly remind us that spirituality is our primary goal. Festivals are of two types: those that are primarily for enjoyment such as Deepavali where we buy new clothes and ornaments, visit friends, etc. and those that do not engender enjoyment (vratams) but remind us of the spiritual goal. Sivarathri is not for enjoyment but withdrawing and asking the question ‘What am I doing?’. Under the varnashrama system, as one progresses from grihasta to vanaprasta to sanyasa, the material pursuit should become lesser and lesser and the spiritual pursuit should become more and more. The time that we spend qualitatively and quantitatively must gradually change more for spirituality and less for material ends. Ultimately in the sanyasa ashrama, one hundred percent of the time is devoted for spirituality. So we must periodically ask the question ‘Is there a change in how I spend my time?’ Vratams emphasize two types of practices: ‘upavasa’ and ’sath katha shravanam’. Upavasa means fasting. We give up not only food but all types of enjoyment. Upavasa is also a prayaschitam. It purifies not only the body but also the mind. Sath katha shravanam means listening to the scriptures. We are expected to follow these two practices on every ‘ekadasi’. If our health does not permit us, instead of practising ’shuddha upavaasa’ (total fasting), we can confine ourselves to consuming a simple meal. Even if this is difficult, we can fast once a year, on ‘Vaikunta Ekadasi’ or ‘Sivarathri’. Listening to the scriptures will remind us of the spiritual goal. Sankara says ‘You may have a lot of wealth, a kingdom, wife and children, a palatial house, many vehicles, friends. What is the use of all these? They are all perishable. Even if they are not, you are. Why are you spending your time on something that is ephemeral? Take only the minimum (material possessions) and focus on the higher. Worship Lord Siva for the sake of moksha and take the help of a sathguru. Then real happiness is possible without relying on material comforts’. Sankara emphasizes ‘Don’t postpone. Everyday you are growing older and older and you are assuming you are going to live a hundred years. Start today’. Sivarathri is a very important function that reminds us of the spiritual goal. On this occasion we think of Siva and chant ‘Rudram’ 11 or 121 times. Chanting Rudram is very auspicious. It will remove all our ‘papam’. Having removed all papam, we start the study of the scriptures, a very important part of ’sadhana’. And for this we must allot some time regularly, about half an hour or an hour every day. Today the study of scriptures is made easy by the availability of a wide range of books and cassettes. Also, many TV channels telecast ‘upanyasams’. If we find scriptures like the ‘Upanishads’ a little intimidating, we can take up a simpler text such as ‘Bhagavatam’, ‘Ramayanam’ or ‘Mahabharatam’. The study of scriptures will give us knowledge. On this auspicious occasion of Sivarathri, let us examine the meaning of the ‘dhyana slokas’ for ‘Rudram’ that are expressed in a few verses. All dhyana slokas contain certain peculiarities. The Lord is described in three different forms and this indirectly reveals Vedic teaching. First, God is described as a person. In the initial stages of the spiritual pursuit, a person can appreciate God only as a person because an abstract God is difficult to comprehend. Siva, Parvathi, Ganesha, Vishnu, Lakshmi, Saraswathi are examples of God with a particular form. This is called ‘ekaroopa Iswara’. Secondly, the Lord is not with one form but is all forms. This includes not only God-forms (Siva, Vishnu, etc.) but all other forms including humans, animals, plants and even inert objects. This is called ‘vishwaroopa Iswara’ or ‘anekaroopa Iswara’ and indirectly suggests that we should expand our mind to see the Lord in all forms. It is not uncommon to come across a staunch Saivite who will not go to Vishnu temples or a staunch Vaisnavite who will refuse to accept ‘vibhudi’. Not only must we strive to see the Lord in all Hindu God-forms but also in Islam God-form, Christian God-form, etc. Thirdly God is formless. God is the absolute, infinite reality and is called ‘aroopa Iswara’. The Lord is like pure crystal known for clarity and purity. The dhyana slokas describe Lord Siva as having three eyes. Two are regular eyes and the third is the ‘gnana chakshu’. Siva has five heads that represent shristi, sthiti, laya, nigraha and anugraha, the five-fold functions of the Lord. ‘Gangadevi’ flows out of His head that is adorned with a variety of ornaments. The digit of the moon and a snake also grace His head. Siva is the blue-necked one because He has taken poison. His dress is a tiger skin. He gives shelter to one and all. He holds a ‘kamandalam’ and a ‘mala’ in His hand for doing ‘japa’ and ’shoolam’ (spear). He has ‘jata’ (matted locks) and water within. Siva is described both as a ‘bhogaswami’ meaning the Lord of enjoyment (when He puts on all ornaments) and ‘yogaswami’ meaning the Lord of renunciation (when He renounces everything and is committed only to meditation). Siva plays both roles – ‘grihasta’ (when He is with Uma) and ’sanyasi’. We can worship Siva in either form. These two represent ‘pravrithi marga’ and ‘nivrithi marga’ respectively. Siva is soaked in ‘amritam’. This represents immortality. He sits on a throne and is surrounded by ‘digdevathas’. Siva is worshipped by both ‘devas’ and ‘asuras’ because He gives all boons. This is a description of Siva in the ‘ekaroopa’ form. In the ‘vishwaroopa’ form, Lord Siva is not a person sitting in ‘Kailasa’. He is in Kailasa also, He is in ‘bhoolaka’ also. The dhyana slokas describe formless Siva as ‘aksharam’ (imperishable), ‘nityam’ (eternal), ’suddham’ (absolute), ‘avyayam’ (changeless). All these words indicate Siva is ‘nirguna Brahma swaroopa’. Siva is free from all kinds of ‘gunas’ or properties (From the standpoint of Vedanta, guna is a dosha). So on Sivarathri, according to our temperament, we can worship Siva as a person, as ‘vishwaroopa’ or as ‘nirguna’ and we must continue this practice regularly.

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Swami Parmarthnanda On Sivaratri

The Helping Hand

adam — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 05:28:00 +0000

This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! (After the story, there are some very interesting facts!): I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called, ‘Smile..’ The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally. Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald’s one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did… I did not move an inch… an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.. As I turned around I smelled a horrible ‘dirty body’ smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was ’smiling’ His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God’s Light as he searched for acceptance…… He said, ‘Good day’ as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, ‘Coffee is all Miss’ because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm). Then I really felt it – the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman’s cold hand.. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, ‘Thank you.’ I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, ‘I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope.’ I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son… When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, ‘That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope…’ We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. We are not church goers, but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God’s sweet love. I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand.. I turned in ‘my project’ and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, ‘Can I share this?’ I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed. In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald’s, my son,the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE. Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS – NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.

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The Helping Hand

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Swami Parmarthnanda On Sivaratri

The Helping Hand