Raghavan

The Description of Gayatri Mantra Om The word that is God Om Bhuh God who is eternal Om Bhuvaha God who is the creator Om Svah God who is independent Om Mahah God who is worshipful Om Janah God who has no beginning Om Tapah God who is the light of wisdom Om Satyam God who is the truth Om Tat That Eternal God Savitur The creative principle of light manifesting through the sun Varenyam That Su preme God propitiated by the highest Gods Bhargo The light that bestows wisdom, bliss and everlasting life Devasya The light of that effulgent God Dhimahi We meditate Dhiyo Intellect Yo Who Nah Our Pracodayat May lead towards illumination Om Apo Om -(one who protects us from) the waters (of karma) Jyotih --(One who is) the Light (of all the Lights) Raso --(One who is) quintessence (in everything) Amrtam ---(One who blesses us with) immortality Brahma --That Almighty God Bhur Bhuva Svar ---(Who is pervading in earth), atmosphere and heaven Om -----(May he bless us with enlightenment)

‘The three of the twice born (namely, Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vysyas) owe a duty to the Rishis, the Celestials and the Ancestors. The duty to the Rishis can be discharged only by deep study. The duty to the celestials can be discharged by oblations and offertories alone. And the duty to the ancestors can be discharged only by begetting children and bringing them up properly. It may be noted that contrary to the popular belief these days that only a Brahmin is called a dvija or twice-born, it was customary to call the Kshatriyas and Vysyas also as twice-born. While the first birth is of course from the natural mother, a person is said to be born again when he is initiated into brahmacharya or a vow of celibacy until he completes his education. Yajnopavita samskara is the ceremony that initiates him into his duties that start with learning. Sadguru Sant Keshavadas says that the sacred thread is to be changed as a rule, once in four months (‘Gayatri, The Highest Meditation’ by Sadguru Sant Keshavadas). Even if this is not done, it has perforce to be changed on a specific time every year. The changing of the sacred thread is observed once in a year on the full moon day of the Tamil month of Avani on the star Avittam. This ceremony coincides with the Raksha Bandhan celebrated enthusiastically all over the country when women tie a string on the wrist of men and accept them as their brothers. The day therefore is associated with two different ‘string’ ceremonies.

The significance of the sacred thread The sacred thread consists of three strands, joined by a knot known as Brahmagranthi or the knot of Brahma. The three strands symbolise the Hindu trinity - Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. There are various interpretations of the three strands to represent many of the other triads like Mahasarasvati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali. Or the three qualities known as sattva, rajas and tamas; past, present and the future; the three states - wakefulness, dream and deep sleep. Some even say that it represents the three dimensions known as heaven (swarga), earth (martyaloka) and nether regions (patala). But the most important meaning of the three strands is ida, pingala and susumna nadi, through which the kundalini energy manifests as prana and consciousness, says Sadguru Sant Keshavadas. Yajno-pavita means ‘thread of sacrifice.’ That is so called because it symbolises the sacrifice of ego, says Sadguru Sant Keshavadas. The Manusmrti specifies the following ages for the initiation ceremony to take place. In the eighth year after conception, one should perform the initiation (Upanayana ceremonies of sacred thread) of a Brahmana, in the eleventh year after conception (that) of a Kshatriya, but in the twelfth year that of a Vaisya. II.36 The sacred thread is a passport to obtain education. It is a prerequisite for education and also for marriage. For without it no man can dream of getting a bride for him. It was considered important because a person with Yajnopavita must have undergone all the oaths associated with wearing it and should have led a celibate life and should have completed a major portion of his education. Brahmachari or the bachelor (also, a learner) wears a single sacred thread. The householder or the married person wears two. A person who is married and has lost one or both of his parents wears three. There are different methods of wearing the Sacred Thread at different occasions. While performing an auspicious ceremony one should be Upaviti, that is, the Sacred Thread should hang from his left shoulder. At the performance of some inauspicious ceremony one should be Prachnaviti, that is, the Sacred Thread should hang from the right shoulder; and at times he is called Niviti when the Sacred Thread is worn round the neck like a garland. The investiture of Upanayana demands the chanting of Gayatri mantra. The description of the Gayatri Mantra is given in a different page.

I am giving the introduction to the vedic way of this thread ceremony that we brahmins still follow in India. IN olden days, it was not only for brahmins but also for Kshatriyaas and vaisyas, but now in present days, they eat everything and dont follow many things and this ceremony is now being followed only by brahmins especially more in south India and very few brahmins in Northern India. The following are from chennai online site. Come Aavani and the Hindu Brahmin community of India will be busy with preparations for the important festival, Aavani Avittam. Popularly known thus, the festival is called "Upaakarmam" in Sanskrit. According to Hindu tradition, a boy has to be introduced to the rites of religion by means of the poonool (thread) ceremony or "Upanayanam" when he turns 7. His first Veda classes would start on the auspicious day of Sravana Pournami and continue till the first pournami of Thai Maasam. The lad cannot learn fresh Vedas till the next Sravana Pournami and has to practice all that he has been taught so far. This is known as vedarambam or vedosthsarjanam. According to Hindu scriptures, as this could be done only during certain junctures, the upakarma has to be performed every year. Thus, every year on Aavani Avittam, (shravana month in sanskrit) the poonool or sacred thread is changed anew, along with the chanting of mantras. This ceremony can be performed not just by Brahmins but also by the Kshatriya and Vaisya communities. Aavani Avittam isn't just a ceremony to change the sacred thread (poonool) alone. The rituals of Kaamokaarsheeth Japam, Gaandarishi Tharpanam and Gayathri Japam are very important as well. To perform the Kaamokaarsheeth Japam, one has to chant the mantra "Kaamokaarsheen, Manyu rakaar sheeth", 1,008 times. By chanting this, one begs forgiveness from the Lord by saying "I have succumbed to lust and anger and have slipped from my duties". The three vedas of Rig, Yajur and Sama and their subsects have many acharyas who follow these Vedas. They are known as Gaandarishis. The ritual that is done to pay obeisance to them is only Gaandarishi tharpanam. The gayathri mantra is chanted 108 times to wash away the sins committed by a person, if any mistakes have been committed during his veda induction. Living in this fast paced world, many have forgotten the reasons behind these rituals and Aavani Avittam has become just a duty to be carried out. Many of our people seem to have forgotten the significance behind these ceremonies. According to the Vedas, the upanayanam is applicable to Kshatriyas and Vaisyas also and not just Brahmins. The word "upanayanam" means "take closer". By teaching a lad the gayathri mantra and putting on him the sacred thread of yagnyopaveedham, one is actually taking him close to Brahman. From that day on, he is deemed fit to learn the vedas and practice vedic rites. The poonool thread yagnyopaveetham means "brahma soothram". The ritual of upanayanam, actually begins with the gayathri mantra. These two are inseparable. The 3 stages as chanted in the Gayathri "thatsa vithurvarenyam, bargo devasya dhee mahi diyo yonah prachodayath", denote the three strands of thread of the poonool. Similarly, the gayathri starts with the pranava mantra "Om" and continues as "bhoor bhuva suvaha". This is called "Vyahruthi". To denote these, the poonool has three knots, brahma granthi, vishnu granti and rudra granti. Brahmacharis (bachelors) are made to wear the poonool thread with three strands. After marriage, the number of strands are increased. According to the Gayathri, the nine strands of the poonool signify Knowledge about the Aathma Procurement of skills Achieving individual greatness Purity A divine mind Honesty Wisdom Humility Service I will find the mantras and post it here. Raghavan

Spirulina is the lowest form of algae like Nostoc and they have blue-green color. Its rich in vitamins and since they photosynthesise, they are classified under plant kingdom. So dont worry you are not eating anything nonvegetarian. Spirulina is 100% vegetarian that is also 100% healthy in its nutrient. But Its taste is awful when taken as powder, that I have tried. So if you are taking as capsules, you are better off in one gulp. The following link gives general info about Spirulina http://www.naturalways.com/spirul1.htm

I can definetely discuss on this topic since I have a doctoral degree in genetics and currently working on cloning, sequencing etc etc etc area of active biological research. I have read all these theories of how life began from a bacterium and how mitochondria (power houses of the cell that aids in respiration) were originally parasites and became symbionts and this is how eucaryotes (multicellular forms) developed etc etc..All these I read to pass my examinations faithfully as said in the book. Whether it all happend or not, if you ask me, as a scientist my answer is still, I am not sure, because these are our speculations still. Its not just me, there are many scientists in the world like me who is not sure of these things, but yet these things we keep discussing in conferences. I was about to talk this topic in this and its surprising someone already started. Today morning, I was just thinking of these theories, while I noticed that two of the rotten potatoes that I forgot in my kitchen cupboard unnoticed developed rotten worms in it. I was actually thinking, how these worms originate which is totally against any theories, because worms are classified under nematodes (invertebrates) while the bacteria that degrades the potato are prokaryotes (unicellular organisms in which the genome is naked and not protected in a proper nucleus). Actually with science, we only speculate many things and try to find out the relative coincidence and connection between each other and build an evolution tree. while certain things appear to be right or atleast make a right sense, certain things are still unexplainable with science. HOnestly this science can never explain That Supreme Parabrahman Shri Hari....Many good number of scientists are religious and also very sentimental. SOme accept it, while many dont accept out of their ego or not to face any shame which is again because of their self ego.

The discussion on something and nothing about the existence and non existence of Brahman can go on and on and on and on for ever as long as one keep speculating in trying to find out something out of our knowledge we have. The reason why three successive acharyaas came was primarily to re-establish the vedic culture that was lost after the onset of Kali yuga especially buddism. Sankara's philosophy was difficult to understand and largely misunderstood, So Ramanuja came and said Brahman and jeevathma are different, which still was better, but again created separation. Finally Madwa came shortly and said we are only servants of Lord, because when we try to keep ourseleves as humble servants rather than speculating we can better reach Lord. None of the three were wrong, but Madwa's philosophy was the first step in understanding the Lord to realise Sankara's philosophy since we common souls are not sankara or ramanuja or madwa to understand the Brahman as those three Great Saints by themselves are Jeeva Thathva of Lord. Thats why He came three times one after other and finally felt, the last one would be better for the jeevathmaa's to follow. As long as we keep speculating about this, these arguments will only grow, but take us far away from devotion. IN my strong opinion, I leave all these theories, but just accept what Krishna says in Gita and accept as How He has said and just try for perfection. This works really better than anything about something and nothing. He cannot be seen or touched, but must be felt. To feel Him, we need to have total belief like the faith Draupathi had on Govinda, then we really see Him. While none of Her husbands thought of Krishna during the gambling, she was the one who called Him without speculating her mind and at once He also came and helped Her. A poor village mom told her little son who has to cross a bushy forest to go to his school, to keep saying Govinda, Govinda and said that He is walking with Him in invisible form and protect him, and when ever he faces any trouble or fear on the way, if he calls Govinda, He will immediately answer. That little kid just beleived what his mom said and one day it was getting darker as it was going to rain and there were gushy winds. The child got afraid and he suddenly called Govinda Govinda in louder voice and asked "are you there walking with me"..the child immediately heard "Yes I am protecting you, dont fear". The child suddenly felt happier and he did not fear and when he came home he told his mom that Govinda answered him when he was afraid and called Him. The mom althought she was the one who told him, could not beleive it on one side, as she was speculating for a moment how that was possible, but then beleived when she saw the happiness on her child's little face. We should note two things here. The child had total faith in his mom's words and with the faith he could feel Lord Govinda, but as adult although the mom beleived strongly in Lord Govinda, yet for a moment her mind speculated and she changed her mind and beleived by looking at the child. We move away from Lord as we grow up. While we are given six senses to realise good and bad and to realise Lord as the ultimate goal of life, we dont do it since we tend to think on God Himself questioning His nature. When we give up this, we truely see Him irrespective of our age. BY the way, the above story was my personal experience but with a little change. Instead of gushy winds and rain, I was chased by a scary looking child kidnapper old guy (probably a beggar) and who grabbed my arms for whatever reason he might have had. I had to walk one kilometer to my school and one day when I had to come back home alone as my sister left earlier, this happend in my third grade and I cried running away from that fellow Govinda, Govinda. From nowhere a person came in a cycle and asked me why I was crying and running. I showed him that beggar and that man gave me lift and left me at the gate of my house. When I told my mom that I saw God, she never beleived me, but felt it could be possible.

I can understand how you are speculating with God based on your scientific understandings. I am a scientist by profession and although I am doing medical science, I always connected everything with Lord. I did have some doubts on how is it possible to have rebirth which we dont know. But again fortunately I never lost my total faith on Lord anytime. Then I read Baghwat Gita several times and realised that God cannnot be understood by our mental speculation. This is what I explain as follows to whoever, when someone questions my faith. We as humans have six senses with which we do many things that the animals and birds cannot do with their 5 or lesser senses. They only remain as low servants to us, howmuch ever they are ferocious or intelligent among their crowd. There are many dogs, dolphins, guellillas, monkeys, elephants, cats etc that are well trained to amazing extent. But at the same time, it is never possible for any of these animals say eg a dog can never understand how we humans build our house or build a car or track hurricanes, howmuch ever the dog lives with the master for 24 hours also, neither a dolphin can ever understand how we humans live on land if it tries to speculate its mind. Because their senses are limited in their capacity. IN the same way our six senses are still limited in the capacity to fully realise God with our available senses and start speculating how this is possible, how that is possible etc etc., with our knowledge on science we know. The science what we are doing is just the minutest portion of that Supreme Parabrahman Himself who is manifested in everything. Yet this science is not sufficient to see Him with our visual eyes or understand HIM with our speculative mind. This is like a dog trying to understand its master's intelligence. Fortunately being born as humans with six senses, we can realise God with our total faith and devotional service accepting what Baghwan speaks in Gita. We have to accept what Baghwan says, because He is the controller and He is the master for all of us and so there is no point in speculating our mind as How the soul transcends from one body to another or how a stone is having the power to control or how miracles happen when a sincere devotee cry for help like how Draupathi was saved by Sree Krishna's Mercy when She totally surrendered to Him calling Him when she was insulted. It is quite possible and I have experienced Lord's miracles personally when I totally started beleiving His words, putting an end to my speculation based on science. Lord is far away from our science, and thats why we are His eternal servants to serve Him to reach Him, like our dogs and cats or birds in our house or circuses obey us and follow the master who is having more sense than the animal. This is not blind faith, but accepting the truth as truth, because that Supreme Lord is Truth and whatever He speaks is truth that has to be taken as He has spoken and not speculating with our little brain's science. Raghavan

Yes I do agree that we tend to get attracted to the worldly material beauties. But you know, when we keep ourselves conscious in our effort to keep thinking of Shri Hari/Krishna all the time, He really comes to us and bless us in the way we wish to be with HIM even in the material existence.

I was the one who posted the very first reply but forgot to log on. Regarding your question on if hindu priests will give threads to westerners, Of course why not. I am in US and I see here in the Hindu temple that good number of westerners who practice hinduism come to the temple and participate in the monthly festivals like Pradosham, Satyanarayana Pooja etc. As long as one is clean and really honest in his Bakthi, the priest will not have any problem in giving the sacred thread. If they refuse, its not because they dont want to give you, but because they are afraid that westerners might misuse or in other words, not know the vedic way. So if you explain to them that you have faith in Sanathana dharma and you follow that, I dont think any priest will refuse you. Some Hindu priests are little apprehensive because in India we faced good amount of shame from others for following the vedic rules and thats why they hesitate. So if you tell them that you are a follower of Shri Hari, He should not refuse. As per vedic rules, a brahmachari should wear single one (three threads tied with one knot), married men should wear two sacred threads (totally six threads tied by two different knots) and men whose parents have passed away or who have dont Kanniga dhanam should wear 3 threads. there is a proper way and mantra to be chanted before wearing it and the thread should be changed only in the morning after taking bath and performing achamanam followed by pranayama. YOu can ask the priest himself to give you the copy of the manthra that is for about a page only in short. These sacred threads are normally woven only during the Sukla paksha (ie) after new moon. Its primarily because of the many vedic rules that need to be strictly followed, it might appear for westerners that the brahmins are making fuss. Its not fuss, but we have to follow properly. If you also notice the mantras, everything is dedicated to Lord Sri Hari. One becomes brahmin by his nature, character and morals and more importantly in realising the Parabrahamn. I noticed that good number of ISKON followers follow our brahminical vedic traditions and I feel that they should observe this ceremony once in a year during Shravana month and regularly change the sacred threads like we brahmins do in India. It must also be noted here that these threads do not apply to people who got iniated for Sanyasi life. A sanyasi is suppose to have renounced totally and hence he is beyond any of these. So whoever is not initiated for Sanyasi, may wear this as per their status in grahastha life. I hope the information helps. Raghavan

What does the picture basically tells us. YOu have taken pains to do something, but I am not able to make out with my ordinary brain. These modern arts can be anything, but hard to understand other than the creator. May yu please explain it Thanks

Radhi is non-different from Krishna Himself. Krishna is radhi and radhi is Krishna. As Radhi she represents how a devotee should be, to whom Krishna Himself is attracted when the devotion is pure. Radhi is Lord's energy Himself who expands Himself as radhi when He wants to have pasttime.

Shri Durga has again 1000 names and each represent Her forms (ie) Lord's energy again. Of these thousand forms, as quoted in Lalitha Sahasranama, each one has different purpose and power. The highest is non-different from Shriman Narayana Himself that we pray as Mahalaxmi or Shri Radhe. It is this form that the Gopikaa's, Rukmini Devi were offering prayers to reach Shri Krishna. Shri Rama was also offering the 100 Neelkamal (BLue lotus) to this form which He did primarily did to make people understand that Shri Durgae is non-different from Him. When He was searching for 100 neelkamal to offer Her in His worship, He could get only 99 of them and for the 100th one He tried using His own eye since they resembled lotus flower. When Rama poked His eye for this, Shri Durga appeared in front of Him with Her eyes bleeding and asked Rama why He was hurting Her, since She was not different from Him. While there are many lower forms of Durga too in different names, that are prayed by different classes of people and some forms are prayed even in tantric world and those are representations of Durga, but not the full strength actual Shri Durga Shakti married to Shiva. I am not sure, how many of you are aware of Mookaambika, which represents all the three powers namely Mahalaxmi, Mahashakthi and Mahasaraswathi. She is also worshipped as Lalithambika or Kathyayani.

I really dont know how chanting in public will make you fall for fame, because I keep chanting all the time even while at work in lab and I keep the tone in such a way that its not a nuisance to someone, but just a melody. everyone around me knows that I am singing God's name, but it never bothered me about what they think about me or neither it increased any thought of becoming famous in my mind. How is it going to make someone famous for us to fall is actually my question, when chanting of Harinama comes from within without any care for the environment you are in. Not only here in US, I was like this while at India too and never bothered me. Dont be conscious, whether people are looking at you or hearing you or anything. when you are not conscious of your chanting, nothing affects you, because this chanting comes from within out of deep devotion.

Yes..The same thing what you mentioned, I said as, The soul does not belong to east or west. Its the Bakhti that counts. But I am sorry to mention that there are good number of western devotees who look down at others because they are not americans. Do you call that as advancement in spirituality. They still have the feeling of superiority ffor nothing. Is itn't that shame among ISKON. Sorry to mention but its a fact, from my personal experience. Well..there are really good people also who are humble.

Whoever asked you this, I am not surprised, as I was also asked by few comrades, after I came to US. The answer what I gave was, religion and spirituality are intertwined and it is the one that distinguishes the humans with six senses from the animals. One can remain with high morals, vegetarianism habits, no alcohol or smoking, with great helping tendencies, but when their soul does not search for the original source which is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no spirituality in that person, since for all the good deeds they do, they would still come back again and again. But invariably such souls are somehow made to realise God at some time point. Spirituality is not just self discipline, but realising GodHead along with self disciplined life as long as one remains in the material body. Depending on the language they speak and the culture each one of us follow, we have different names for God. So spirituality and religion cannot be separated. It is like trying to separate oxygen and hydrogen from water and still calling it as water when they are in gaseous forms. We have enough oxygen and hydrogen in gaseous stage in our atmosphere, but only in the presence of a catalyst they form water even in experimental conditions. Once water is formed, even if it evoporates, they still remain as water molecule and get converted to clouds and come as rain again once again. This water forms everything. If religion and spirituality are like oxygen and hydrogen, then the catalyst is the Faith that couples the two and make the soul realise Godhead or make the soul to search for God head. Raghavan

I agree with what "thiest" has mentioned. But sanathana dharma is ageless and since ancient times India was culturally the best in Her moral values. Concerning the practice, What are called now as western countries were not or could not have been the origin of Sanathana Dharma civilization(later labelled as Hinduism by muslims and westerners), which is very obvious from the rivers described in vedas, that are present only in greater India that includes the present day pakistan, afghanistan, nepal, tibet. The holy river mentioned in the vedas is the Ganges, and not mississipi or missouri or Nile or rivers or europe or china. There are large number of westerners who studied vedas, sanskrit, Gita, upanishads, but none got these strange doubts that Hinduism could not have been started in India, because they all understood that Indian culture is great since its still existing. What you rate as "Such culture would have orignated only in west" implies that you are racist and does not want to accept an economically backward country can have moral and cultural values, without realising the fact that India was once a very rich country and everybody around the world wanted to go to India for their advancment of knowledge and also for business. As theist mentioned earlier, SP tried to awaken the soul, since the soul does not belong to west or east. As long as one has discriminative thoughts and self ego, that we are great and nothing more than us is great, as how your sentences are implying or whoever told you like that, the soul can never be awakend inspite of repeated chantings also. Raghavan

>>>THERE IS NO MATTER AS SUCH! All matter originates and exists only because by virtue of a force which brings the particles of an atom to vibration and hold this most minute solar system of the atom together ... We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. >>>>>> This force is the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He describes Himself in Gita. I am the source of all both in inanimate and animate objects. Wise men with real intellect like Dr. Einstein understands, but fools who are atheistic minded deny this force.

The article in the link above explains also why there are lesser historical temples in northern India, while even today in South India especially tamilnadu one can see lots of ancient temples that date back to several centuries, made of stones and boulders. The reason was mughals could not totally extend their armies and power until the end where Emperors of Chola, Chera Dynasty were ruling. These dynasty rulers some of them during their time even constructed Indian type of temples in places like Cambodia, sumatra, Java.

>>>>Because I really don't think the lofty vedic thoughts would've come from third-world people. It must've come from a higher source, and Europe definitely fits the bill. It seems more likely."""""" The word third world countries were given primarily based on economic development and not based on culture. For all that matter, India was a very very rich country even financially-economically and thats why Mohamedans invaded India. Somnath temple was looted 17 times for its wealth in the form of Gold ornaments. The following link gives a detailed picture of pre-modern India destruction by the mughals, persian. IN those times, Afghanistan, pakistan were all India and the Mughals destroyed the temples there and converted them to muslims forcefully. http://www.flonnet.com/fl1725/17250620.htm India may be branded as a third world now, on economical aspects, (which is ofcourse developing very faster now) but one should not forget that the present day India after independence is less than 60 years old. Columbus wanted to go to India primarily for his business due to her immense wealth, but he landed in US. This economical classification by itself is a cycle. India once a richest country is now third world, but the wheel of economy always rotates in time and the richer countries of today's world may become poor when the wheel goes down on the opposite side. India may be third world in economy, but not in her rich cultural heritage, religious values and moral values when compared to any other countries of the western world which even any westerners would agree. Do you know why Hinduism is not destroyed in spite of many many invasions by Mughal muslims, persians, Christians from British, German, France, Portugese, Spain etc etc, because hinduism originally called as Sanathana Dharma is not at all a religion and it is actually the way of life. This way of life is more disciplied, simple, straight forward when really understood, and it never condems any other paths. Thats why, the wheel is going up once again and its spreading to the west in the form of Krishna Consciousness.

I have not read so far what you have provided. So I am not sure if that was written to ridicule Shri Krishna by some fools. But there are genuine researchers trying to date the Mahabaratha war. I guess the planetary readings you provided has nothing to do with that. So this must have been written by some fool

Its true that we humans cannot calculate the astrochart of Sree Krishna since He is beginingless and endless. I too did laugh at those charts initially before I read the background and the research in detail. Its actually for the dating of Mahabaratha war, and then I realised that people are trying to calculate the astro chart of Shri Krishna not to portray HIM In human form but to find an exact date of Mahabaratha and the time HE would have given BagawatGita. In some part of Mahabaratha Vyasa has described the planetary positions and relative degree of different constellations distributed in space in relation to earth at that time. So based on this with the scientifically proven planetary movement data people are trying to date the great Mahabaratha war and the epic Gita. Its actually to explain people more scientifically the facts and not to portray that SHREE Krishna is just another human like all of us.

I can tell you how I think of Lord all the time being in the material life. See if it works for you. Before that, a few words...I am doing my postdoctoral studies after my Phd and so you can imagine how much of time I need to spend for my work, that being away from family also have to take care of my domestic work too. To be devoted to Lord, is not difficult, When you are disciplined you will become automatically devoted. In India by default we have pictures of God everywhere in the house and in every room and I am sort of used to it. Here in US, I have taken print outs of Shri Krishna's picture and pasted onto all the walls right from near my bed so that I see HIm first when I wake up and in the all walls in hall, and kitchen. I keep on chanting HIS name Krishna Krishna all the time in mind through out the day. But it does not affect me when I read or write. YOu must be wondering whether if it affects the concentration. NO..He is there in one part of the mind occupiying the whole mind actually, while when I do my regular studies, my mind still concentrates on that. YOur occupation is your duty and it is nothing but Shree Krishna again and so if you get concentrated on ur study for a moment forgetting to chant Krishna's name, dont worry, you are still chanting Krishna's name through your devotion to the study, since He is the knowledge in you and He is your concentration. This is how I do. As soon as I get up, I put on the Venkatesa Suprabatham much before I brush my teeth and then I go, while thats going on, I do the regular work, sometimes If I have to study something, I reduce the volume of it and still can study, nothing really disturbs. I do chant Vishnu sahasranamam regularly, if not everyday. But I make a point to light the lamp twice a day, and keep a glass of water and offer some flower (any flower is fine, evn flower that blooms in the grass is fine). if the potted plant does not flower on the day, then I take a leaf and offer, or whatever fruits I buy, that I offer to HIM as neyvedyam if I dont have time to cook in the morning. If nothing is there, just a bowl or glass of water is enough that I keep in front of the pictures of lord (puja place) where I light the lamp. I chant few slokas if I have time, or else I just say the Krishnaaya vaasudeya sloka which has everything in two lines. when I drive, or cook at home or even while taking bath, somehow my mind will be always chanting Krishna Krishna all the time either consciously or subconsiciously. Actually it prevents me from getting worked up in any situation, it keeps me alert even at red signals in traffic while driving, (He comes to you as alertness)..Beleive me I dont get angry suddenly due to constant chanting. I make a point to read atleast few slokas from BagawatGita everyday as far as possible either in the begining of the day of end of the day before going to sleep so that any hardship you developed on the day that might sit in ur mind to bother you, will be erased. Nothing actually bothers me and I dont feel alone also even with nobody around me. Whenever possible I go to the temple atleast two or three times a week as its 25 miles here in US from my apt. In india, I used to go to temple everyday. During exams when doing my PG degree, or whenever difficulty or lack of time due to running to work or college, just chanting Krishna's name Hare Krishna or Ohm Namo Baghavathae Vaasudevaya all the time is more than chanting any number of mantras to me. In my opinion, as per Gita, as long as we are committed to our work as the duty, and by chanting HIS name in mind while doing the work, even if we could not do the regular way of worship of chanting all the mantras, its still fine. Initially all this may appear to distract your concentration if you are going to practice, but in course of time you will be chanting Krishna Krishna all the time even when you sleep and this I am telling you from my experience. For me, fortunately I did nto put any efforts anytime, but from my very young age, I keep chanting krishna krishna and it has become part of my life all the time. Any music I listen, including film music, or when I sing myself, there is be only one word in it in the whole song which is Krishna but the tune will be of film music. It may appear funny, but this is how I am. Well..I am not sanyasi, but look like any other person, just disciplined and blessed to Chant HIS name all the time. When I talk to my friends, invariably it will be a Krishna talk atleast for one minute of the conversation in the middle. While working in a corporate office in India doing part time job to fund my Phd Thesis work, my manager asked me If I would drink with him if I am going to be fired otherwise if I dont party with those guys. I said, I would rather resign my job and leave than associating with such people giving up my faith and principles. I would like to be hired for my quality of work and not because I would party with those people. I am not a finiky, but its quite possible to be very friendly with everyone and make every one like you being a pleasant person and this being pleasant is actually nothing but Shree Krihna again since He is in the thoughts all the time.... YOu have to meet me and move with me to beleive and practice what I say. But it is certainly possible to be totally devoted to Lord all the time being detached from our material contamination. The only people who are worried about me are my parents, since they could not beleive that their son could be happy with God as I told them that I would marry only if the girl is not material minded and pray to Lord with HIM in her mind and be detached. Is there any girl around like this...I dont care.... One who is devoted to Shri Krishna totally actually will not break his head about marriage or driving a lexus, or fame out of his work or downfall or insult and yes it is true. Probably this public posting is not right to discuss about self occupying the space, bbut I just wrote to give an idea to you, as how I am practicing KC by still living in material life as scientist...For any more questions, please write to smanisas@hsc.usf.edu as this site is not our personal discussions site. Sorry to administrator. Thanks Raghavan

Sravan..thats a nice name...Name of a devotee of Lord and one who carried his invalid parents to all the punya Kshethra..... There is nothing to feel impressed about me..When anyone fixes their mind on Shri Krishna totally, and totally means totally, everything in the world will look secondary to you and no fame or insult will affect you. Its true from my personal experience. It is really not difficult also to like HIM with intense desire for HIM. Just keep reading Bagawathgita especially the chapters 9 to 11 to understand HIM and then from chapter 12 to 14 will inspire your interest towards HIM and from chapters 15 to 18 will make you go to HIM without your knowledge... But dont read just once. Keep reading and reading and reading, you will see HIM really being with you, after which you dont need to put on any effort to self control or to remember HIM. YOu would feel HIM all the time with you in whatever you do, whatever you talk and there is no lonliness in the world after that. I am not writing all this, but I promise on that SHree Krishna Himself that I am experiencing and I wish everyone experiences it. Its sad to see many people put the blame on the surroundings and society for their habitual factors and finally regret for their deeds. I think its something to do with us and within us and when we are honest to ourselves first in all means, then anyone can see and feel Shree Krishna and this is the secret. All this may look like sanyasi life, or very difficult to follow, but beleive me it is not difficult, just fix your total thoughts on Sree Krishna and things will automatically happen. Its is just the self discipline.

I dont find any difficulties in being spiritually oriented while at the same time studying in Unviersity. All that is needed is self control. I am brought up in India and since there itself I never indulged myself in any activiites what other students (some and not all) used to do by smoking, drinking, etc.. but those things never attracted me. After coming to US also, being unmarried, although I was invited for casual sex good number of times, strip clubs by other friends, social parties, and all that I blatantly refused. First some american guys branded me as gay, that I never cared, but gave them back asking them, do you call jesus christ a gay, because he was spiritual. SO they shut their mouth. The girls who are studying with me really respect me a lot, because I treat them as friends and not look at them as object of sex. When my boss, or the administrative secretary or other fellow americans invite me for dinner or when we have birthday party here, I make my own indian vegetarian food and I make a point to tell them that If I have to attend a party, I will not take any alcoholic drinks and I will not eat any nonvegetarian food, and so they cook separately for me and not mixing the spoons also. When once you make things clear to the people around you, they do respect you for what you are and none ever forced me here to be frank. I fixed my mind with determination that I am here to study and train myself for what I came here and not to drink or dance around. This does not mean that I never mix with people or go anywhere around to beautiful places. I have lots of friends and I am like any other individual but with restrictions on my personal habits and that makes others to respect me and not ridicule. Whoever ridiculed initially, when they realised that did not affect me, changed their opinion after moving with me for a while. So when a person from other country is able to be like this, whats your problem. INitially you may face some ridiculing from some people if not all, but certainly for sure, I am telling you wouching on God, you will win over if you remain determined and finally everyone will respect you. Self control is something to do with us and not with the society. Dont worry about what others will think about you or talk about you. I regularly go to temple here, which is about 25 miles from my home, and keep doing my prayers, chanting, lighting the lamp twice a day and doing the offering of food before I eat. NO problem...(well..I am born and brought up in orthodox brahmin family so it may appear that all this could have been easier for me), but still self control is something to do with us and not with the surroundings. ONe of my atheistic friends here now started chanting Krishnaa's name after moving with me for three years. ( I dont preach anyone, anything, but just keep myself clean as described as possible and keep myself devoted to Lord, chanting His name all the time in my mind even while typing this posting) Raghavan