Ganeshprasad

Pranam I can not put claim, to any more accurate translation, but I can only express my own understanding of it. First dharma is not equated to religion, to understand the verse I go back to beginning of the Gita. Arjun is overcome by grief, not sure of his dharma and afraid of sin of killing his kith and kin. So it is befitting Lord Krishna assures him, in the end, of his very reason to ask Lord Krishna in the begining. My heart is overcome by the weakness of pity, and my mind is confused about Dharma (duty). I request You to tell me, decisively, what is better for me. I am Your disciple. Teach me who has taken refuge in You. (2.07) (Dharma may be defined as the eternal law governing, upholding, and supporting the creation and the world order. It also means duty, righteousness, ideal conduct, moral principles, and truth. Adharma is an antonym to Dharma. Expert guidance should be sought during the moment of crisis.) Setting aside all noble deeds (dharma), just surrender completely to the will of me (God ) (with firm faith and loving contemplation). I shall liberate you from all sins (or bonds of Karma). Do not grieve. (18.66) What need was there for Lord Krishna to go in to details about various dharma principals and different mode of worship if his intention was to tell him to abandon all the religion, all he needed to do was saw his universal form and then tell him to surrender on to him, job done. Thus the knowledge that is more secret than the secret has been explained to you by Me. After fully reflecting on this, do as you wish. (18.63) This is the Hindu mind set, no compulsion no fear, those who accuse Hindus as Hodge podge has no concept of Dharma only thing they know is mine is better then yours attitude with their half backed knowledge or no knowledge of Vedas. Demigod has no place in Hindu Dharma, there is no such entity as half god. Lord Krishna does not condemn worship of deva nor does he call them half god anywhere. Worship of material gain is not just confined to anya devas. The knowers of the three Vedas and the drinkers of the juice of Soma (or devotion), whose sins are cleansed, worship Me by Yajna for gaining heaven. As a result of their good Karma they go to heaven and enjoy celestial sense pleasures. (/9.20) Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam to each their own, follow Dharma, seek the truth who is to say mine is better then yours. respect Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam Differences are healthy, a true Hindu is never bother by them, this is one of the reason why i stick with this label, there is no sectarian connotation attached. A Hindu is more concerned to walk the walk then merely Theorize what absolute is or is not. I salute anyone who is on this path, I keep saying Yama and Niyam are very necessary to progress and just As Krishna Says na hi kalyāṇa-kṛt kaścid durgatiḿ tāta gacchati a transcendentalist engaged in auspicious activities does not meet with destruction either in this world or in the spiritual world; one who does good, My friend, is never overcome by evil. I can understand jiva wanting to take position of the great devas and perhaps they do and that is what Purans tell us.But Vedas speaks of 33 priciple devas I believe, how that one became all that. "They call him Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni, and he is heavenly nobly-winged Garutman. To what is One, sages give many a title they call it Agni, Yama, Matarisvan." RV (Book 1, Hymn 164.46) I shell not dwell on this much, as we do not really have any problem respecting each others position and that’s what matters a lot in a civilised society. Dharma is in essence a personal matter of correct “selection” or “perception” of Truth. Over time, however, the various selections made by some inspired members of different cultural groups have become “set in stone” for those groups, and subsequently their particular cultural version of “religion” or dharma has been presented more dogmatically. Furthering ones own institute and position has become a goal, instead of self realisation. sanAtana dharma is founded in the wisdom of the dharma cakram Whereas the devoted followers of an individual guru, following just one spoke of the eternal wheel, in ignorance (or denial) of any other true spokesman, take their dharma as a veritable sword cleaving a straight path to the source of all illumination. Knowing the whole field of dharma (cf. kurukshetram) the wise guru understands that many different paths are valid for different individual circumstances, but that (when all true paths are considered) there is ultimately no difference at all. And Hindu understanding has always been tempered by this overriding thought of ultimate unity. Gita mentions several paths to reach him. Arjun asks, How may I know You, O Lord, by constant contemplation? In what form (of manifestation) are You to be thought of by me, O Lord? (10.17) and even after seeing him in his universal form he asks who are you? and yet we have here people placing him in their little box! Sometimes naïve devotees get carried away by their obsession with apparent differences and the absolute truth of their own path. Blinded by proud supremacy, adharma invariably results. Each spoke in the wheel of dharma has its own guided path, and while the language remains the same the sign posts on another path remain familiar instructions, but if the language is translated then the similarities soon become invisible to anyone unfamiliar with both tongues. by Sarbhanga Jai Shree Krishna

Well what is expected off children at play in school play ground. That we must, only problem, is not to recognize that he has thousand of names and forms. They say he is infinite but then they want to capture him in their little box. of course we should have time for other deities, if we have affection for them. Srva dharma pari tajya--- we hear this very often yet after the war Lord Krishna advise Pandava to worship Lord Shiva, to atone for the sin of killing in the war, now we hardly hear of this do we. It is very obvious what is implied. In Vedas they are all Devas there is no such thing as half God. In the Bhagavadgita (or in any Hindu scripture), Lord Krishna NEVER uses the term “demigod” ~ the word only appears in misguided (and misleading) translations. As an adjective, deva means “heavenly, divine, or highly excellent”. As a noun, deva means God or Deity (cf. Latin DEVS ) ~ and deva is a common name for Lord Indra. As a plural noun, devA refers to the Gods ~ especially the 33 prime Deities ~ and deva can refer generally to any image of Divinity or Deity. Sanskrit DEVA is exactly cognate with Latin DEUS, which plainly indicates GOD. The prefix DEMI- means HALF, so that DEMI-GOD means HALF-GOD or PARTLY GOD. Why use such a belittling term for ANY Deity? Gods are Gods! Indra is the King of Gods, Agni is the God of Fire, Sarasvati is the Goddess of Knowledge ~ there is NO half-measure about it. And there is only ONE Mahadeva, who is certainly not a “partial” deity! Agni is Fire ~ the perfect conception of Fire ~ and wherever the nature of Fire is present, there is Agnideva ~ the Fire God ~ the Lord of Fire ~ Fire in its essence ~ the very Self of Fire. Terms such as “controller”, “administrator”, or “demigod”, are all rather pathetic titles for such a Deity. And Lord Indra can not adequately be described as the “controller of rain”. There is one Sun, but there are many Days ~ and all are Adityas. One God with many aspects ~ all equally divine ~ By Sarabhanga. Yes we must become like swan and the pick the best from what ever source. Vivek, yama and niyam are important, loose that and the ego takes over. Well you are not the only one, a lot of Hindus have been duped, on the strength of wonderful worship and beautiful chanting (a Hindu way of life since time in memorial)little do they know of all the going on and fall in moral standard and general disregard for the Hindu sentiment. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam Now where did i say that? Where else Manduka Upanishad say this He is not knowable by perception, turned inward or outward, nor by both combined. He is neither that which is known, nor that which is not known, nor is he the sum of all that might be known. He can not be seen, grasped, bargained with. He is undefineable, unthinkable, indescribable. The only proof of his existence is union with him. He is the peaceful, the good, the one without a second. This is the fourth condition of the self- the most worthy of all. (Mandukya Upanishad) God is but one, what realisation they have is theirs to realish, who am I to judge, I can only reflect on their behaviour, I take what is good in them rest I ignore. Yes and when will I behold that beauty, but then I am not qualified. But Arjun was blessed with Divya Dhrishti and guess what he saw amongst other things vayur yamo 'gnir varunah sasankah prajapatis tvam prapitamahas ca namo namas te 'stu sahasra-krtvah punas ca bhuyo 'pi namo namas te You are Vaayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, Shashaanka, and Brahmaa as well as the father of Brahmaa. Salutations to You a thousand times, and again and again salutations to You. (11.39)BG So where is the problem. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam Well if you read my first sentence you would not pose me this question. Yes I do know that sun light is refracted but can you tell me what colour is sun light? And that one colour is projected as various that is the point. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam God can not be captured in our finite mind, he is, one without a second. He is infinite with un numerable forms and quality, to capture in our own box is a folly. Rainbow is beautiful but to insist my choice of colour above everyone else is --- well think what you like. But I stick to rainbow that is Hindu it is colourful. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam LoveroftheBhagavata ji Like you, I also abhor such practice (makes a field day for Hindu bashers) which does not represent the core of Hindu Dharma. Dharma enjoy us to do Tyag and Tapsya based on truthfulness, purity of mind Ahimsa to name a few virtues. Bhakti marg, Karma marg, Jnana yogi, dhyan yogi, Shakta to name few that are valid Vedic tradition that has been followed since time in memorial to say mine is the only way is not a Vedic tradition. Lord Krishna in Gita says of various ways people approach him. There are some who can not see this coming from outside the tradition and just denigrate Hindus at every opportunity. Jai Shree Krishna

Deva’s worship. SB 8.7.20: The devas observed Lord Siva sitting on the summit of kailasa Hill with his wife, Bhavani, for the auspicious development of the three worlds. He was being worshiped by great saintly persons desiring liberation. The devas offered him their obeisance’s and prayers with great respect. SB 4.6/45 O most auspicious lord, you have ordained the heavenly planets, the spiritual Vaikuntha planets and the impersonal Brahman sphere as the respective destinations of the performers of auspicious activities. Similarly, for others, who are miscreants, you have destined different kinds of hells which are horrible and ghastly. Yet sometimes it is found that their destinations are just the opposite. It is very difficult to ascertain the cause of this. Rig Veda 7.59.12 Maha Mrituyonjaya Mantra We Worship Tryambaka, Who spreads Fragrance and Increases nourishment, May He release me, like the cucumber from its stem, from Mortal life, and give me Immorality. Lord Shiva is very merciful he accepts all. He definitely is not a half God, as if any such entity actually exist. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam This is precisely why I am a hindu and why despite all the odds and insult heaped on it, it survives Hinduism does not define any one path to reach the supreme, because it recognizes that just as river finds its own path to the sea so does an individual soul by it own free will chooses to reach its desired goal. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam My sentiment exactly, as rightly pointed out when one operates from preconceive ideas then any thing that don’t fit in has to be interpreted, to the extent that Devadhi Dev Mahadev is reduced to mere Jiva What can be more clear then when Lord Krishna says amongst Rudra I am Shiva, when Puranas speak of their oneness, what was Sri Vyasdev thinking when he wrote Puranas eulogising Lord Shiva, oh no these are Tamsic! Wait amala Bhagvat puran also says so, but we will ignore that. "They call him Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni, and he is heavenly nobly-winged Garutman. To what is One, sages give many a title they call him Agni, Yama, Matarisvan." RV (Book 1, Hymn 164.46) You are Vaayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, Shashaanka, and Brahmaa as well as the father of Brahmaa. Salutations to You a thousand times, and again and again salutations to You. (11.39)BG Svet. Up. Can make perfect sense in light of them being the same entity, but no we shell claim all names belong to Vishnu therefore Rudra Hara mention here is Vishnu they claim, but ask them if they would chant those names which some boldly claim to be of Vishnu, oh no that is naam aparadh. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam Very interesting I am not surprised at all why Arjun had reservation fighting, for he was faced with fighting his Guru and above all Grand father BhismaPita whom he loved so dearly. We have a saying in Hindi Jo kisise nai harte woe upnose harjate hey, meaning one who is never defeated by others is easily defeated by his own. Faced with such a scenario the decision is tough, perhaps my judgement is clouded because BhismaPita is my favourite personality. But on grounds of Dharma he has no choice other then to fight besides they had already exhausted all other avenues of peace but still I understand Arjun’s grief. Having said that, his adversary was Duryodhan and when BhismaPita chose to side with Kovrav because of his own reasons that’s no fault of Arjun and as such I would advise Arjun to fight with a heavy heart. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam Matrudevo bhava Pitrudevo bhava, since he is born of mother Parvati so guess she should be her guru, other then that I don’t know Sri Maha Ganesha Pancharatnam Composer: Sri Adi Sankara Baghvad Pada (8th century) Ragamalika Tala: Adi in thisranadai (8 beats in units of 3) Ganesha is the God of wisdom. He is worshipped before the beginning of any endeavor. He gives the necessary skill (buddhi) to do the task and bestows success (siddhi) to the effort. Upon intent meditation, the form of Ganesha symbolically reveals many noble truths. The trunk of an elephant, which can carry heavy logs of wood as well as pick up a thin blade of grass, represents the subtle discrimination we need to distinguish between the real and the illusory. The little mouse he rides on represents our own ego, which should be a small but efficient vehicle to take us around in the world, but should be inconspicuous and subservient to wisdom. Ganesha’s form is revered as the very personification of the symbol “Om” the representation of the universal spirit. 1. Mudakaraatha Modakam Sada Vimukti Saadhakam Kalaadharaavatamsakam Vilasiloka Rakshakam Anaaya Kaika Naayakam Vinasitebha Daityakam Nataasubhasu Naashakam Namaami Tham Vinaayakam. Ganesha, the pleasant faced one holding the sweet ‘modakam’ in his hand, He wears the crescent moon on his head. He liberates us from misery, protects and provides direction to those who are lost without a leader. He removes the obstacles for those who pray to him. My salutations are to Him! 2. Natetaraati Bheekaram Navoditaarka Bhaasvaram Namat Suraari Nirjanam Nataadhi Kaapa Duddharam Suresvaram Nidheesvaram Gajesvaram Ganeshvaram Mahesvaram Samaasraye Paraatparam Nirantaram. Ganesha, with the orange glow of the rising sun, is the commander of Lord Shiva’s army. He removes the suffering of his devotees. I seek refuge in Him! 3. Samasta Loka Samkaram Nirasta Daitya Kunjaram Daredarodaram Varam Vare Bhavaktra Maksharam Krupaakaram Kshamaakaram Mudaakaram Yasaskaram Manaskaram Namaskrutaam Namaskaromi Bhaasvaram. Ganesha brings peace to the entire world. He is large, infinite, superior and immutable. He is merciful and forgiving. He brings happiness, success and purity of mind. My salutations are to Ganesha, the luminous. 4. Akimchanaarti Marjanam Chirantanokti Bhaajanam Puraari Poorva Nandanam Suraari Garva Charvanam Prapancha Naasha Bheeshanam Dhananjayaadi Bhushanam Kapola Daana Vaaranam Bhajaey Puraana Vaaranam. Ganesha, the merciful, who removes the suffering of those who have no other refuge, destroys the demonic forces and negative tendencies in us. He dissolves the delusions of this illusory world. I pray to Him the one venerated in the ancient Vedas! 5. Nitaantikaanta Dantakaanti Mantakaanta Kaatmajam Achintya Rupa Mantaheena Mantaraaya Krintanam Hrudantarey Nirantaram Vasantameva Yoginam Tameka Danta Meva Tam Vichintayaami Santatam. Ganesha, the one with the broken tusk, the son of Lord Shiva, he is Achintya Rupa (his form is beyond the grasp of the intellect), he is infinite, he is the Remover of Obstacles, he lives in the hearts of yogis forever and ever. I reflect solely upon Ganesha, forever and ever. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam The washing of the feet and honouring the charnAmrit is an age old tradition and it not just confined to honour once guru but even the guest are offered this if I am not mistaken. Father of daughter would also wash the feet of the son in law at the time of marriage. Lord Krishna washed Sudama’s feet when he came to Dwarka. But I heard some one say that they washed their gurus socks and honour the water. I don’t know about this. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam Lol I suppose the chlorine in the water would disguise even the nastier taste, and not just the body dirt. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam MORNING PRAYER Samudra vasane Devi, Parvata stana-mandle Vishnu patni namas tubhyam, pada sparsha kshamasvame . O! Mother Earth, who has ocean as her clothes, mountains And forests as her body, who is the wife of Lord Krishna (Vishnu) I bow to you. Please, forgive me as my feet are going to touch you. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam Philosophical differences are obvious to anyone, although Yama and Niyam in executing Vedic Dharma are all the same, which are very important. But accentuating differences only serves to reinforce age old perceptions of ‘us’ and ‘them’, stirring up misunderstanding, hatred, and fear, for if my religion is by definition all good, then their religion must be all bad. The Supreme Lord said: Fearlessness, purity of heart, perseverance in the yoga of knowledge, charity, sense restraint, sacrifice, study of the scriptures, austerity, honesty; (16.01) Nonviolence, truthfulness, absence of anger, renunciation, equanimity, abstaining from malicious talk, compassion for all creatures, freedom from greed, gentleness, modesty, absence of fickleness; (16.02) Splendor, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, absence of malice, and absence of pride; these are the qualities of those endowed with divine virtues, O Arjuna. (16.03) These virtues are not monopoly of any particular sect but a prerequisite of any one who wants to progress on spiritual ladder. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam You are simply making two and two and coming up with five, You be happy in your knowledge of asuras I am not going to waste my time on you, good bye. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam Please where does Shree Krishna say Asura-s follow advaita? You have brought your own defination of advaita and frankly it is way off line. This verse does not describe Advaita as you are trying to imply. I don’t have to spell out what Asuras are but I can safely say a follower of Advaita philosophy adhere to Yama and niyam as prescribed by Vedas. Shree Krishna clearly says Some worship Me by knowledge sacrifice. Others worship the infinite as the one in all (or non-dual), as the master of all (or dual), and in various other ways. (9.15) Upanishad if you care to read are full off Advaita statements and they are in no way Asuric. This clearly is an outrageous statement, regarding followers of advaita philosophy, does nothing but bring disrepute to what ever you are purporting to follow. It behoves vaishnav to be tolerant and compensate but it is sad to note the lack off. To put a wedge between followers of Vedas, simply because one has a different understanding, is wrong and an insult to what Krishna is saying in Gita (9.15) Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam all p. 304 BOOK THE FORTIETH. ENVELOPED by the Lord must be This All—each thing that moves on earth. With that renounced enjoy thyself. Covet no wealth of any man. 2 One, only doing Karma here, should wish to live a hundred years. No way is there for thee but this. So Karma cleaveth not to man. 3 Aye, to the Asuras belong those worlds enwrapt in blinding gloom. To them, when life on earth is done, depart the men who kill the Self. p. 305 4 Motionless, one, swifter than Mind—the Devas failed to o’ertake it speeding on before them. It, standing still, outstrips the others running. Herein Both Mâtarisvan stablish Action. 5 It moveth; it is motionless. It is far distant; it is near. It is within This All; and it surrounds This All externally. 6 The man who in his Self beholds all creatures and all things that be, And in all beings sees his Self, thence doubts no longer, ponders not. 7 When, in the man who clearly knows, Self hath become all things that are, p. 306 What wilderment, what grief is there in him who sees the One alone? 8 He hath attained unto the Bright, Bodiless, Woundless, Sinewless, the Pure which evil hath not pierced. Far-sighted, wise, encompassing, he self-existent hath prescribed aims, as propriety demands, unto the everlasting Years. 9 Deep into shade of blinding gloom fall Asambhûti's worshippers. They sink to darkness deeper yet who on Sambhûti are intent. 10 One fruit, they say, from Sambhava, another from Asambhava. Thus from the sages have we heard who have declared this lore to us. 11 The man who knows Sambhûti and Vinâsa simultaneously, He, by Vinâsa passing death, gains by Sambhûti endless life. p. 307 12 To blinding darkness go the men who make a cult of Nescience. The devotees of Science enter darkness that is darker still. 13 Different is the fruit, they say, of Science and of Nescience. Thus from the sages have we heard who have declared this lore to us. 14 The man who knoweth well these two, Science and Nescience, combined, O’ercoming death by Nescience by Science gaineth endless life. 15 My breath reach everlasting Air! In ashes let my body end. OM! Mind, remember thou; remember thou my sphere; remember thou my deeds. p. 308 16 By goodly path lead us to riches, Agni, thou God who knowest all our works and wisdom. Remove the sin that makes us stray and wander: most ample adoration will we bring thee. 17 The Real's face is hidden by a vessel formed of golden light. The Spirit yonder in the Sun, the Spirit dwelling there am I. OM! Heaven! Brahma! Now I am no expert in anything let alone Sanskrit and since the yajur veda above has no original Sanskrit there is no way we can verify if the translation does justice to what it intends to convey, but still let us consider what we have. There is a great wisdom here, if one is honest, can understand it has nothing to do with murti puja rejection or otherwise. Verse no 5 says it all. Like Prahlad, when asked if he was in the pillar he says father he is every where. If god can appear from pillar what is so difficult for him to appear in his murti form? Verse 11 answers number 9. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam all Hindu is a way of life. Who ever tread the path of Dharma as laid by the Rishi's is a Hindu. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam Thats why i said for you to go learn Sanskrit or approach a pundit who can teach you the real meaning of the words. you are bringing your own vallue of the words. Prifix a in front of Sambhuti means the opposite. If you read one verse in isolation with twisted knowledge of Sanskrit, there is no chance for you to understand the meaning, that is if you are really interested. Since you did not resapond to rest of my post, i can take it you agree. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam As I said your understanding of God is very shallow. No human father will test his child in the way you describe what to speak of God who is so merciful. When you think you are so right, no matter what I say or any one else for that matter, will not make any difference. I have no such duty to correct a crusader whose motives are anything but sincere. You have not quoted yajur Veda but a translation which can be faulty. You will have to go learn Sanskrit under a pundit who can impart true meaning of the entire Veda, just one or two sloka out context can not clear your misconception. So if you are serious go learn for your self under proper guidance. I give you a clue Sambhûti means manifest and Asambhûti' means unmanifest Knowing simultaneously the two one becomes immortal. As I say you want to know rocket science but you have not given up your dummy yet. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam Yes but they are fair game for you, so that you have to convert them enslave them or even kill them and there is no sin in that. So where is your heart all you guys do is hurt others who do not share your views. Such a god in my book is a sadist, who makes us imperfect and take delight in seeing us suffer. Such is your shallow understanding of God, you guys have a lot to evolve to come to a simple understanding even a street cleaner hindu will tell you that he suffers because of his own Karma, he understands he is not this body which is for ever changing diseased and getting old. Above is your misconception and therefore Vedic knowledge which in material terms is a rocket science and you have not even reached kindergarten, how would you understand Vedas ? Well show it in your action. Jai Shree Krishna

Pranam Kulapavana Prabhu ji is perfect in his assumption of this crusader, his intentions are anything but respect for Hindus and in particular the murti puja. It would be too much for a musalman to accept and respect others mode of practice. To them we are kaafir so a fair game. I ask him kindly to respect all and sundry, sure let us build bridges and tolerance. But as we say one can not clap with one hand. Let him make his intension clear. Jai Shree Krishna