moorthi

before death, to attain salvation -

says the Sruthis.

Caste System has certainly outlived it's (historic) purpose.

Any prosperous society would have to contend with it's own internal contradictions, which at times can become so huge that all it needs is a tiny spark from outside to blow it up.

This was the case with all prosperous societies in the past - they all had to succumb to a handful(compared to their number) of barbarians coming from outside.

Were it not for the caste system(with all it's other deficiencies, as can be explained even by a child), Hindu culture would have by now been fully eradicated by the systematic massacre,slavery,conversion,oppression and ruthless policies of the Muslim rulers for the last 1000 years.

However India still remain predominanty Hindu due to two reasons:

1) The numberous saintly men like Chaitanya,Kabir,Ramanuja etc

2) The caste system, due to which whenever something bad is perpetrated upon members of a caste, the whole caste takes to arms to 'defend' it's pride.

Oftentimes, either of the following would accrue

1) Where the Sultan's armies are more powerful, the whole caste could get obliterated, after dying down to the last man

2) On the other hand, the Sultan's armies are kept in check, and much weakened due to incessant attacks from people belonging to a particular caste.

Such was the story of the struggles and counter-struggles in Indian history all through the millenia.

Start with reading the lectures of

Swami vivekananda.

1) Lectures from Colombo to almora

2) Jnana Yoga and Raja Yoga

3) Bhakti Yoga and Karma Yoga

O Parvati, who makes all desires possible

The most auspicious of the auspicious

My refuge, O Gauri, O Triyambike

I salute to You

I salute to you

I salute to you.

Garlands are used as a mark of appreciation of each other.

It is an aspect of our culture that whenever some great, wonderful things occur, wise men or sages would appear and shower flowers and garlands as a mark of their appreciation of the event. So is the case of the garland which the culture considers as having divine approval.

In my childhood I have read the story of the Shadpuras (6 Cities) created by the Asura Nikumbha (?)

into which not even an insect can enter without the knowledge of Nikumbha (can't remember whether

that is indeed the name).Krishna's sons Pradyumna and Gada got in thru maya (that Pradyumna learnt

from his wife Mayawati) and marries the daughters of the asura princes. Finally the asuras get killed

and Shad puras burnt.

I can't find this story in the Bhagavatha or Vishnu purana. I don't have access to Brahma Vaivartha

so didn't check it. Can anyone tell me in which purana does this story find a reference?

maya is good looking because you happen to be

under the control of maya!

not theorising in circles - telling a fact /images/graemlins/smile.gif

maya is good looking because you happen to be

under the control of maya!

not theorising in circles - telling a fact /images/graemlins/smile.gif

bhagavadgita kinchid adheetha

gangajala lava kanika piita

bhagavadgita kinchid adheetha

gangajala lava kanika piita

I would term it 'firmness' in times of adversity.

Think of the millions of Hindus who held on to their

religion in the face of adversities across centuries

of oppression - oppression of their religion, promotion

of other religions - bias against the Hindus with an aim

to make them convert - there I can see firmness and

sincerity.

Omkaram Bindusamyuktam

Nityam Dhyayanti Yoginah,

Kamadam Mokshadam Chaiva

Omkaraya Namo Namah.

Omkaram Bindusamyuktam

Nityam Dhyayanti Yoginah,

Kamadam Mokshadam Chaiva

Omkaraya Namo Namah.

There are some online translated texts on the BG.

Notable among them is the one by Ramanand.

That would be a good starting point. Ultimately

you should be in a position to devise your own

interpretation, based on your life experiences.

I follow Parthasarathi, the inspirer who prompts the inner man with strength and courage to face adversities and emerge triumphant in the end.

I follow Gopijanavallabha, the embodiment of eternal love,

love for the sake of love alone.

I follow Pundareekaksha, whose dzzling beauty brings the whole world into trance, and makes me worship him with folded hands, seeking knowledge.

I follow Yashodanandana, the childish One, who enthralls

everyone with his divine play.

I follow Janardana, who protects virtue by taking divine avatars everytime vice overwhelms virtue.