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Kali_Upasaka

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Everything posted by Kali_Upasaka

  1. These Indian Vaishnavas consider themselves to be Hindus. I have not met even a single Sri Vaishnava or Madhva during a couple of decades of stay in South India who believes that he is not a Hindu. The Sri Vaishnavas even attend the Veda Patashalas run by smarthas. Sri Vaishnava priests also participate in the yagnas conducted by Smarthas and Saivite Brahmins. Again in Bengal I have not met any Gowdiya Vaishnavite who thinks he is not a Hindu. I meet them every day. The problem is specific to ISCKON and its followers.
  2. What do you know about Vedas? Post me any verse from the four Vedas where Krishna is mentioned as Supreme God. Srimadh Bagavadham is a Purana and not Veda. You may believe it is Veda. But it is not accepted generally. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas This claim is not made even by other Vaishnavas. Ganapthy Atharvaseersham from the Atharva Veda describes Ganapthy as the Supreme God. http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Ganapathi_Atharva_Seersha
  3. How ridiculous can you get. V.S. Apte's dictionary has been a standard for Sanskrit scholars for more than 100 years. It was first published in 1890. Any way I count this as today's Sadhana.
  4. This is the image of the relevant page from V.S. Apte's Sanskrit-English dictionary. [ATTACH]2147[/ATTACH]
  5. Just because you say so. You know neither Sanskrit nor the Vedas. You do not even seem to know about the origin of Hindi language. Just by keeping on repeating it many times does not make it true. साधना is the word mentioned in Apte's Sanskrit dictionary. Buy one and verify. BTW the word Sher means Lion. Sherewali Maa is mounted on a Lion. Sherewali is the Hindi translation of Simha Vahini. But in a deficient and undeveloped language like Hindi you do not have different words for Lion and Tiger.
  6. You can not learn Sanskrit from the net. You do not teach a Veda reciting Brahmin who speaks in Sanskrit about Sanskrit Pronunciation. Tomorrow you will claim that Sanskrit came from Hindi. You can believe whatever you want to believe.
  7. Please read about word ending in Sanskrit and how they are written in English.
  8. I see one. You do not. ā With a macron. ā In fact every word in the page has it.
  9. How did you arrive at that conclusion. Sadhana is mentioned. a with a diacritical mark. A with a dash over it. This means आ
  10. http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw1201-sAdh.jpg Monier Williams dictionary which explains the etymology and usage of the term which originated in Rig Veda.
  11. The wikipedia article called sadhana a Hindi term. But the reference was to Sanskrit Dictionary by V.S. Apte. No one seems to have noticed it so far. It has since been corrected. As I posted in another thread there are many Hindi zealots in India for whom anything written in Devanagari script is Hindi.
  12. The eclectic sect of Smartas who worship Krishna is forgotten. The Smarta religion is based on a non-sectarian approach. Swami Vivekananda's statement should be viewed in the historical context of Vaishnavas Vs Smartas in Bengal. The Smartas are the overwhelming majority of the Hindus in India. The hatred for Hinduism has to be understood in this context. Again what has been assumed by many members is that all Smartas are Advaitins. Far from true. I can even give the name of a pure Vaishnavite Swamiji who is at present the head of a Smarta math in Bengal affiliated to Sankara math. But it is not only Smartas but also the Sri Vaishnavas and Madhvas who believe in Sriman Narayana and Vishnu, who have come under attack. This shows that some members are not even aware of their Guru Parampara. For a follower of Chaitanya Maha Prabhu to attack Madhavacharya is pure Guru Nindhana, the ultimate sin.
  13. Hinduism can be compared to Ice Cream. Like Ice Cream there are ever so many flavors. There are flavors of Ice Cream being created every day. Likewise Hinduism flavors are being created every day. McDaniel (2007) distinguishes six more generic "types" of Hinduism, in an attempt to accommodate a variety of views on a rather complex object: * Folk Hinduism, as based on local traditions and cults of local deities at a communal level and spanning thorough to pre-historic times or at least prior to written Vedas. * Vedic Hinduism as still being practiced by traditionalist brahmins, for example shrautins. * Vedantic Hinduism, for example Advaita (Smartism), as based on philosophical approach of the Upanishads. * Yogic Hinduism, especially based on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. * "Dharmic" Hinduism or "daily morality", based on the notion of Karma, and societal norms such as Hindu marriage customs etc. * Bhakti or devotionalism, especially as in Vaishnavism. But if you reaserch long enough you can make the above categories to twenty or more. You could walk into an Ice cream parlor and order an Ice cream which is your own mix of the different basic flavors. Similarly all Hindus have their own mix of the above categories. Take my example. I was born a Vaidic Brahmin. The Hinduism I practice is a mix of 1. Vaidic rituals and recitation of Vaidic hymns. 2. Tantric and Mantric rituals and practices. 3. Yogic Practices and 4. Bhakthi. 5. the God/Goddesses I worship ( more than six in number) consist of a. Vaidic deities. b. Tantric deities. c. Pouranic deities c. Folk deities who are neither Vaidic, Tantric or Pouranic. Since I follow the different samsakaras, I can very well say that my Hinduism is a combination of all the six categories and more. This is a sampradhaya which follows certain other traditions which are not even mentioned by McDaniel. The Hinduism practiced by most of the Hindus is like that. It is terribly confusing to a person who wants to know about Hinduism. But there are Hindu movements which are monotheistic and strictly follow certain scriptures. Hare Krishna Movement is the most prominent one. It is easier for a non-Hindu to understand and adapt. Then there is some talk about way of life. Way of Life includes culture like dress, food and language. The Punjabis of Punjab and the Bengalis in Bengal dress differently, speak a different language and eat totally different food ( wheat Vs Rice). Then in Punjab Arya Samaj is the most popular Hinduism whereas in Bengal it is Vaishnavism and Sakthism. So where is the question of a way of life. Whose way of life? Hindus in general are happy with their religion. The basic reason is that you have no central authority or a set of rules to follow. You need not go to a temple at all, perform any ritual or pray to God and still be a Hindu. You are a Hindu if you are born a Hindu. The other religions do not offer this kind of freedom. But where there is freedom, absolute freedom, there is Chaos. That is what we have in Hinduism. CHAOS. But we are Happy.
  14. God runs after His devotees, and grants them grace if they adopt the path of saranagathi - Tirumalisai Alwar
  15. An excellent list of sources of Vedic documents. http://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_veda/doc_veda.html
  16. Coming back to the original topic, detachment from family is not the first priority. The most important factor in any man's life is MONEY. Let us not talk about Saints for whom there is no difference between money and mud. I am basically talking about a person who has graduated from College and is taking up a career. One who is religiously inclined. Now how do we value Money? Is it the means or the end? You need money to have a comfortable life. For meeting the needs of our family. And a Nest Egg for use after retirement. Money is needed even for a Sannyasi. One of the Swamijis of yore who was very practical, used to advise people that they should save up money in the Bank to meet their basic needs when they take up Sannyasa. Some people called these people Fixed deposit Sannyasis. But this makes sense in these modern times. A Sannyasi should not be dependent on anyone. There are some who value money for itself. Accumulation of money becomes an end. Huge bank balances. There are some who would like to leave a fortune for their children. This attitude of accumulation of wealth for its own sake is the biggest handicap in spiritual progress. We have to develop the attitude of looking at money as a means. It is possible that you may have more, much more money than the person who is bent on accumulating it. It does not matter. Wealth by itself is not a handicap to spiritual progress.
  17. Many Hindi speakers can not distinguish between Sanskrit and Hindi. Anything written in Devanagari script is Hindi for them.
  18. There are Mantras for attracting people. ( Customers) Akarshna mantras. Dhana Akarshana mantra for getting wealth. There are Mantras and Yantras for improving the business. Please do not expect to get these on the net. Mantrarnava and Mantra Mahodati deal with all kind of Mantras. But I have not seen an English translation.
  19. It is without Phalastrudhi. It is never recited without Phalasrudhi. This being one of the most powerfull stotras should be recited according to the rules of the sampradhaya. The Phalastrudhi is not part of the original text. There are a number of books in regional languages which gives the way the recital should be done. BTW this is not a Vedic verse.
  20. Bumping up the thread ahead of the commercial pitch.
  21. All human beings are not the same. The mental make up of an individual depend on his purva janma Vasanas. So it is possible that he is born with a sense of detachment. The life of saints proves this point. I will narrate my experience in this. I wanted to join the armed forces when I was young. I could have easily joined the National Defence Academy and become an officer in the services. My people were not opposed to it. But they consulted an astrologer. He said that this boy is less attached to people and things and a military career was not for him. That ended my ambition. Then later on once one of my cousins who is a good friend remarked about my being like a water on the lotus leaf. She had studied some religious books. I was an ignoramus. The only religion I knew then was praying to GOD. Later on I underwent a psychological examination when I joined a MNC. The psychologist thought I was an orphan. He warned me about not having normal emotions and asked me to stay with my parents or bring them over to stay with me. By this time I had studied enough of psychology in college to know that my attachment to people/things etc. is much less than normal. I have to make an effort to show emotions. You will find many people like me in the world. They do have a problem in relationship with other people. There are positive aspects of such a mental make up. I was for long a trouble shooter in my company because of my ability to keep my cool in the face of even the worst crisis. It also gives you an advantage in Lateral Thinking. Mr. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice does display some of the characteristics of Detachment. http://www.shmoop.com/character/literature/jane-austen/pride-and-prejudice/mr-bennet.html Do we not see fathers like that? In fact in the traditional Hindu families showing of all emotions was strictly prohibited. Especially the Men. The father was always a distant figure who was approached by the children through the mother. The father was expected a take a non-emotional value based judgment in all matters. We have all been practicing some kind of detachment. But when I put a name to it, we are reluctant to accept. Not because of what it means, but because of the connotation of Sannyasa attached to it.
  22. Why are we so much attached to Attachment? There is a lot of difference between renunciation and detachment. I would not refer to Wester's definition for the meaning of Hindu spiritual terms. Most of the articles and sppeches in the last centuries have been authored by Sannyasis for whom renunciation is detachment. And also the distinction between a Karma Yogi and Sannyasi is not emphasized. The examples of "water on a lotus leaf" and "the mud fish" are from the scriptures. Bhagavad Gita emphasizes Karma Yoga. Nishkamya Karma. This article on Buddhism does convey the meaning to an extent. http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/approaching_buddhism/introduction/basic_question_detachment_nonviolence_compassion.html We read the story of the great Bhakthas to learn from their stories. What is common to all of them is total devotion to GOD. All of them were Grahasthas with families. Their relationship with their families varied. But they were all detached. They did not let their love for their family take them away from their total devotion. This is called mental conditioning. Sadhana. Why take so many births? There are sampradhayas who believe that you extend your life (kayakalpa) and also change your body (Para kaya Pravesa) so that you live till you attain your goal.
  23. Have you had enough posts about Rudrakshas in all the threads? 30 or 40 posts or more than that. Sant, there is a Rudraksha Purana. Not available on the net. There are enough people making a fortune out of Rudrakshas on the net. Google ( 3,68,000 hits on the last count) and you will get all the information. Going through all the web sites should keep you busy for the next 20 years.
  24. Is it only a choice between being a Grahastha and Sannyasi? I know individuals who are spiritually inclined and have not married. They do not think they have attained sufficient maturity to become a Sannyasi. I do not think you can become a Sannyasi just for the asking. There are pre-requisites for that. It is much more difficult because you have to be given a Sannyasa Diksha by a guru. And they do not hand it out to all and sundry. You can continue to be a Brahmachari and choose not to be a Sannyasi. The Ashrama classification is more social than spiritual. Sannyasa Diksha does not in any way assure you of salvation. Nor does a marriage deny you that. It depends on the individual.
  25. Yes. I do agree that Nishkamya Karma and Sharanagati are almost the same. But then there are many who do not like the Bhakthi aspect and consider themselves jnanis. Of course these discussions are not for them. But both Nishkamya Karma and Sharanagathi are more complicated than they look. The basis is that you accept God's will and accept every thing is for the Good. But in practical life, a setback in one's career, a sickness to loved one or other adverse circumstances are difficult to accept. To accept these we need Detachment. I have read a number of commentaries on Gita. The Pejawar Swamiji ( head of the Pejawar math, Udipi, Karnataka) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishvesha_Tirtha started it all long time back when he gave us a small Bhagavad Gita and asked us to write it down in a notebook. These notebooks with Gita written in it were used as a foundation for a mandap that was being constructed in the Udipi Krishna temple. I am not qualified to comment on the Bhashyas of any Acharyas. If I understand something incorrectly, it is solely my fault.
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