Bhagawan's Discourse on 30th March 2004 at SAI KULWANTH HALL Prasanthi Nilayam on the occassion of Sri Rama Navami

[Guest guest]

MANIFESTATION OF THE VEDAS IN HUMAN FORM

(Text of the Divine Discourse delivered by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 30th

March at Sai Kulwanth Hall)

Sweeter than sugar, tastier than curd, sweeter indeed than honey is the Name of

Rama. Constant repetition of this sweet Name gives one the taste of divine

nectar itself. Therefore, contemplate on the Name of Rama incessantly.

(Telugu Poem)

The Vedas are the quintessence of profound, immeasurable and infinite wisdom. In

Treta Yuga, the four Vedas assumed physical form and incarnated as Rama,

Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna. While Rig Veda assumed the form of Rama,

Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharvana Veda manifested in the forms of Lakshmana,

Bharata and Satrughna, respectively.Divine Power of MantrasRama symbolized Rig

Veda. He was Mantraswarupa (embodiment of Mantras). Lakshmana was Mantradrasta

(one who contemplated on the Mantras) and he put the teachings of Rama into

practice. He followed Rama faithfully. He considered Rama Nama as the Taraka

(liberating) Mantra. He, in fact, considered Rama everything - mother, father,

Guru and God. Bharata was the embodiment of Sama Veda and chanted Rama Nama

incessantly with Bhava, Raga and Tala (feeling, melody and rhythm). While

Bharata was engaged in Nirguna worship (worship of formless God), Lakshmana

rejoiced in Saguna worship (worship of God with form). Atharvana Veda

manifested itself as Satrughna who followed his three elder brothers and

conquered not only the secular world but achieved victory over the kingdom of

senses also. The Vedas thus incarnated in Treta Yuga to impart most precious

message to mankind. The two great sages Vasishtha and Viswamitra declared to

the world that the four Vedas had taken birth in human form as Rama, Lakshmana,

Bharata and Satrughna. As a consequence of great merit earned by Dasaratha, the

four Vedas incarnated as his sons. If anyone asked Sage Viswamitra any

questions about the Vedas, he replied, “All the four Vedas have incarnated as

the four sons of Dasaratha to set an ideal to the world.” Hence the Vedas are

not formless; they have a form.The Mantras contained in the Vedas are of

immense significance. When Sage Viswamitra realized that the Rakshasas

(demons) wanted to stop the chanting of Vedic Mantras and destroy righteousness

and truth on earth, he sought the help of Rama and Lakshmana who symbolized the

divine forces that descended on earth to destroy the demonic forces and

establish peace in the world. With the power of Mantras taught to them by Sage

Viswamitra, Rama and Lakshmana annihilated the Rakshasas. This incident

signifies the fact that with the power of Vedic Mantras man can destroy his

demonic qualities. By engaging themselves in the chanting of the Mantras, the

people of Treta Yuga annihilated their demonic qualities. Symbolising the

divine powers of the Vedas, Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna destroyed

demonic forces and fostered divine forces in the world. The four brothers thus

established the supremacy of the Vedas as manifestation of the aspect of God

with form. Each Mantra has a form. It has also its own inner significance. When

chanting is done with contemplation on form, it leads one to the path of

self-realisation. The Vedic seers declared: Vedahametam Purusham Mahantam Aditya

Varnam Tamasah Parastat. (I have seen the Divine Being who shines with the

splendour of a billion suns beyond the realm of darkness). The seers and sages

transcended the darkness of ignorance and visualized the effulgence of the

Divine. They chanted the Mantras, contemplated on the form of the Divine,

performed Yajnas and attained peace and bliss. They made use of Mantra, Tantra

and Yantra in the performance of Yajnas which ensured peace and prosperity of

the people in Treta Yuga. With the help of the Mantras, they quelled the

Rakshasas and established the reign of gods.Namasmarana for Man’s LiberationBut

the people of Kali Yuga have forgotten these Mantras with the result that Kali

Yuga has verily become Kalaha Yuga (the Age of discord and conflict). Even

brothers quarrel with each other. They live and eat together in the same

family, yet

there is hatred and conflict between them. Different means for man’s liberation

have been prescribed for each of the four Yugas. While meditation is prescribed

as the primary means of liberation in Krita Yuga, performance of Yajnas and

chanting of Mantras forms the means of liberation in the Treta Yuga. Similarly,

Archana (worship of God) is the chief means of liberation in Dwapar Yuga. But it

is Namasmarana that is the main means of man’s liberation in Kali Yuga. As the

people of Kali Yuga do not have the strength and capability to carry out

rigorous Sadhana, they have been advised to do Namasmarana.Harernama Harernama

Harernamaiva Kevalam; Kalau Nastyeva Nastyeva Nastyeva Gatiranyatha.(In Kali

Yuga, there is no other means more effective than the chanting of Divine Name

for man’s liberation).The Ramayana is not an ordinary story. It contains the

direct message of the Vedas. Rama symbolizes the wisdom of the Vedas. Rama

married Sita who represents

Brahma Jnana (knowledge of Brahman). When Sita is taken away by demonic forces,

Rama and Lakshmana search for her desperately. The Ramayana contains thousands

of Slokas. As it was not possible to remember all the Slokas of the Ramayana,

the sages recommended the chanting of the Name of Rama. When the disciples of

Vasishtha asked him what Divine Name to chant, the sage said, “It is enough if

you chant the name ‘Rama’. The Name of Rama will make you free from Raga

(attachment) and Roga (disease)”. As I often tell the students, the name Rama

has two syllables, ‘Ra’ and ‘ma’. These two powerful syllables are derived from

the names of Vishnu and Siva. The syllable ‘Ra’ comes from the Ashtakshari

(eight syllabled) Mantra ‘Om Namo Narayanaya’. It is the life-breath of the

Ashtakshari Mantra. Similarly, ‘ma’ is the very soul of the Panchakshari (five

lettered) Mantra ‘Om Namah Sivaya’. The Astakshari Mantra ‘Om Namo Narayanaya’

and the Panchakshari Mantra ‘Om Namah Sivaya’ become

meaningless when ‘ra’ and ‘ma’ are respectively removed from the words of these

Mantras. Without ‘ra’ the Ashtakshari Mantra becomes ‘Om Namo Nayanaya’ which

is meaningless. In the same way, the Panchakshari Mantra without ‘ma’ becomes

‘Om Nah Sivaya’ which is inauspicious.The Name Rama is the life-breath of both

the Vaisanavites and Saivites (worshippers of Vishnu and Siva).In Treta Yuga

when the sages and seers were engaged in the chanting of the Divine Name of

Rama, Ravana, Kumbhakarna and other demons tried to put hurdles in their way.

They thought that if they abducted Sita, who symbolized Brahma Jnana, Rama

would lose His power. The Name would lose its potency without Jnana just like

sugarcane loses its sweetness without Rasa. Hanuman resolved to bring this Rasa

back to Rama and rejoiced in drinking Ramarasa (ambrosia of Rama’s Name). The

people of Treta and Dwapar Yugas considered the Name Rama to be the essence of

all sweetness and enjoyed its nectarine taste.

Instead of tasting the delicious spiritual sweetness of the Name of Rama, people

today devour worldly sweets, and expose themselves to the risk of becoming

diabetic patients. Worldly sweets cause diseases whereas the delicious sweet of

Rama Nama rids one of all diseases. In ancient India, even the cowherds and

shepherds chanted the Divine Name while tending their cattle and sheep. There

were not many diseases in ancient times. Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna

propogated the glorious power of Vedic Mantras to free the world from diseases

and suffering.

Never Neglect the Teachings of the VedasMandodari, the queen of Ravana, strived

hard to save her husband Ravana. She gave wise counsel to him but Ravana paid

no heed to her. When husband takes to evil ways, a virtuous wife acts as his

wise minister to put him on the right path. Mandodari was one such wife. Bharya

(wife) is not the one who provides worldly pleasures to her husband; she is the

one who does good to him by leading him to the path of wisdom and

righteousness. Mandodari was a true Sati (wife) who tried to mend the ways of

her Pati (husband). Sita also tendered wise counsel to Rama and advised Him not

to destroy all the demons. She suggested that only those who committed the evil

deeds should be punished. Justice does not lie in destroying the entire clan.

Women are great because they show the right path to man. They are, in fact, the

light of wisdom in the world. They,

therefore, deserve protection and reverence. Sita symbolizes Jnana Tattwa

(principle of wisdom). Sita told Rama that goodness was universal, irrespective

of caste, creed and community. It is because of women like Sita that men have

made progress in life.There are numerous species in this world. Every one of

them has a definite purpose to fulfill in God’s creation. Some of them may

appear more beautiful than others. One cannot say whether a cow is more

beautiful or a bull. But virtues are more important than physical beauty.

Observing the good and bad in the world, the students should develop

discrimination to choose the former. They should strive hard to cultivate

virtues. Right from early age, they should inculcate good qualities and develop

good character. Wherever you go, character is of utmost importance. When the

students develop good character, the entire country will become good and great.

It is virtues that lend greatness to any person. Rama shines in the Ramayana

because of His sterling virtues. Virtues are more important than bookish learning.

In spite of his education and intelligence man does not give up his

mean-mindedness and evil qualities. He has no knowledge of the Self. Modern

education leads to argumentation, not to total wisdom.

(Telugu Poem)

Students - Boys and Girls! You should try to attain total wisdom. You should

make right use of eyes, ears and tongue which God has gifted to you. Whoever is

able to control these three will achieve greatness. One should therefore

cultivate right vision, right hearing and right speech. Always speak sweetly

and softly. One who cultivates these three virtues will verily become divine.

This is the primary objective and fundamental basis of all your education.

Those bereft of these virtues are virtually demons. This is the essence and the

message of the Ramayana. The four Vedas and other scriptures exhort man to

follow these principles. Dear students! Never neglect the teachings of the

Vedas. They are for the emancipation and redemption of mankind. Put them into

practice in your life.(Bhagavan concluded His Divine Discourse with the Bhajan

“Rama Rama Rama Sita…”)

Source: http://www.sssct.org/Discourses/2004/ramanavami.htm

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