AGAMA, VASTU & SCIENCE OF TEMPLE CONSTRUCTIONS

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Message from Bharath-Heritage, on 06. 05.2004

 

Agamas and Science and Art of Temple Construction - Part 1

 

Introduction

 

Ancient cultures for centuries all across the continents built huge

structures for places of worship, observatories, burial places. The

size and layout was so complex and perfect to indicate that the basis

of such constructions must be sound scientific principles of most

advanced branches of engineering sciences. The need of such huge

places also must have been dictated by more pressing and practical

concerns in public policy, agriculture and public health than just to

show the pomp of a king. Other than in India and across east Asian

Buddhist countries spanning from China to Japan, most of these

structures all over the world were now available in ruins or

completely destroyed. This harmful but successful destruction was

perpetuated from 4th century onwards by various plethora of groups

religious zealots, hate groups, nomadic tribes, Arabs, Christians,

etc as a tool to propagate their religion and intimidate existing

cultures and traditions. In the modern day, when such atrocious acts

cannot be perpetuated the same groups are using multinational

corporations, rebellious groups, Islamic Fundamentalists, Right wing

hate groups and missionaries to destroy these structures in the name

of land reforms, modernization of agriculture, industrialization and

if nothing works by engineering and creating terrorist and separatist

groups. Recently, a spate of these structures are being discovered in

middle east, South America, North America, Europe, India and

Australia on land and under sea. These newly discovered sites

remarkably resemble in design, content and construction, with

existing Oriental (Asian, Indian) structures. In the absence of any

knowledge about these structures in India or in Asia or deliberately

omitting them from even mentioning as existing, or by deliberately

not encouraging the authoritative texts in this field of architecture

dealing with such constructions from being translated in to western

languages, the western academia is throwing lot of new theories of

speculative nature. Their bias towards Judo- Christian origin and

development of civilization is so missionary that they even want to

destroy these texts by encouraging third world governments to not to

support the small press that helps to publish the texts that deal

with the scientific principles of such constructions. The knowledge

for most part of the time handed over in through the oral tradition

of learning Shruthi, has to be printed and preserved before the

knowledgeable persons in these fields completely vanish. Even in

places from India to Japan where these mind boggling super structures

are preserved intact along with the texts and commentaries, thousands

of practitioners in the designing and engineering fields of the above

field of science exist, the bias of the same academicians both

western and western trained native scholars, is creating a plethora

of speculative theories to discredit the genuine scholars in the

above disciplines and condemn them. Due largely to lack of support

from mainstream academicians, limitations of language and the

governmental negligence towards those who can interpret the texts,

explain the science and art of the process of the construction are

fast vanishing. This book is an attempt to lift the so called modern

scientific disciplines archeo-astronomy and archeology from such bias

and academic dishonesty to valid non biased academic sciences and to

give boost to all those silent scholars to continue their work. This

book is an attempt to translate the vast array of texts that exist in

the above scientific fields so that the researchers will be able to

make an informed decision.

 

From the time the Vedas codified the engineering sciences dealing

with construction-be it at individual level (house, farm yard, etc)

or at macro level (village, town, city planning, forts, irrigation,

roads, canals etc) are grouped under generic field of knowledge

called Sthapathya Veda (Science of Forms) or Shilpa Veda (Science of

Creation). Sthapthya Veda is the Upa Veda (supplementary branch) for

Atharva Veda. Within Sthapathya Veda the planning, designing,

construction of individual houses, farms, and villages, towns,

cities, roads, canals, parks, irrigation, public works etc are

codified under Vasthu Sasthra (Science of Structural Formations). The

planning, engineering, designing, of community places of worship,

temples, sacrificial altars are codified under Agama Sasthra (Science

of Temple Construction ).

 

The Source of Agamas

 

Agamas draw their theory and practice from many sources. The

following is the brief description of the various sources of Agamas.

 

The Vedas

 

The contents of the ancient texts referred to as Vedas can be

summarized with the single Sanskrit word dharma (that which evolves

into omniscience). Vedas are vast and comprehensive body of

knowledge, properly known in its entirety as Shruti, though generally

referred to as simply Vedas, they encompass literally tens of

thousands of texts of many classifications, including those properly

called Vedas, as well as collections called Brahmanaas, Aranyakaas,

Upanishads, Prathisakhyas, Shroutha Suthraas, Gruhya Suthras,

Samhithas, Puranas, Upavedas, Vedaangaas, Darshanas, etc. The actual

dates of composition and compilation of the Vedas (Shruti) is made in

to a dispute by biased western linguists and Missionary Fathers who

do not want to accept anything older than 7,000 years as that is the

date of creation according to New Testament, or King James version of

bible. No other scientists belonging to any other behavioral sciences

or history or archeology never ever made any attempt so far to date

these texts in any scientific way conceivable. According to Indian

Vedic scholars, Vedic Knowledge exists for ever as it deals with

forces or force of creation, evolution and dissolution of Universe(s)

which the Vedas call with a feminine noun Sakthi or neuter noun

Brahman. It is only Rishis, sages or seers in their evolved states of

consciousness realizes the knowledge and transmits the same (the

Process of Becoming a Rishi and the methodology of acquiring true

knowledge) to the interested individuals with out any cost or tuition

fees by way of Oral Tradition of Teaching called Shruthi.

Historically the first compilation of the Vedas in written book form

was completed by Rishi Veda Vyasa at the beginning of kali era for

the coming generations. It is believed that in the kali era the human

mind will not be capable of remembering such vast annals of

information and knowledge. So it is simple fact that if we determine

the beginning of the present kali era then we know the first

compilation date of the Vedas in textual form. But unfortunately none

of the linguists or academicians are any where close to even accept

the historical account of ancient Indian texts. By discarding the

ancient Indian texts as mythology plethora of unscientific standards

were created since Mr. Max Muller a catholic priest, funded by

British first proposed the solar and lunar myth stories as the origin

of Vedas. Also, though deliberately and totally side lining one of

the most important hisorical treatise of KALHANA, the official

hiostorian of Kashmir Kings who details dynasties of kings after the

war of Kurukshetra which is officially the starting date of Kali era,

and by claiming that the text written by Kalhana is nothing but his

imagination, another important historical source is burried and paved

way for erroneous theories. The first official dating of the origin

of Vedas was given to be around 1500 B.C. The reason for this

conclusion is that there was a mention of gold in Vedas and thus they

must have been written after the discovery of gold, and as of then

(during the time of Mr. Maxmuller) it is established that Egyptians

used gold 2500 B.C., logically Vedas must have been written in 1500

B.C. According to modern archeological and astro-archeological

evidence scientists accepted the first compilation of the Vedas must

have been accomplished between 450,000 B.C. to 420,000 B.C. (dating

confirmed by modern techniques such as carbon dating, thermo

luminescence dating, sattelite imagery) but still concurs with the

1500 B.C. dating by philologists and linguists with no hard core

scientific evidence from archeology, anthropology and archeo

astronomy because of Judeo Christian bias. In order to over come to

the scientific findings, they came up with a technique called

Calibrated Carbon Dating. This simply means if there is proof from

advanced sciences that and existing structure dates back to thousands

of years, and we cannot explain the phenomenon, then the scientists

can reduce the actual date to suit the accepted social and behavioral

theories. For example if a temple in South America dates back to say

30000 B.C. then as it is anomaly and we have to accept that there is

civilization in Americas long before Moses and Abraham, which does

not fit accepted academic thought, we can conveniently say despite

scientific evidence to the contrary, that the temple is only 3000

years old to suit the existing theories of migrations of people

across Americas. The process is calibrated carbon dating comes handy

in these situations. This method started just two years before.

 

The Vedas form the basis of what to the West is now known as Hinduism

and Buddhism, but in the East is called simply " followers of Dharma " .

As discussed earlier these Vedas, or Shruti, are said to have been

compiled under the general direction of the sage Maharishi Veda

Vyasa. Working with four of his principal disciples, who in turn

oversaw the work of thousands of other sages, they collected and

compiled existing works from a wide variety of sources after

ascertaining which were authentic records of true knowledge. All of

those sages involved in the collecting and compiling of these works,

as well as the authors whose works were selected to be included in

the Vedas (Shruthi), are believed to have been rishis or enlightened

beings.

 

After the whole of this Vedic literature had been collected and

compiled, these works were then fully and exhaustively indexed and

cross-referenced, so that the result is a closed system of knowledge.

There is, therefore, no dispute as to which existing works form an

authentic part of these collections--if it is not listed in the

indexes, it cannot claim to be a part of Shruti (Vedic) literature.

It is for these reasons that those who call themselves " followers of

Dharma " tend to consider the actual Vedic or Shruti literature as the

final written authority in ascertaining truth. The authors of this

work, despite many years of intensive study of thousands of Vedic

texts, have found no contradictions within these works.

 

Each of the Veda has an Upa Veda or Supplementary Veda. The following

table summarizes the Vedas and their Upa Vedas

 

S.No

 

Veda

Upa Veda

Rough English Equivalent

 

1.

Rig Veda

Ayur Veda

Codex of Life

 

2.

Yajur Veda

Dhanur Veda

Codex of War

 

3.

Sama Veda

Gandharva Veda

Codex of Vibration

 

4.

Atharva Veda

Sthapathya Veda

Codex of Forms

 

 

Each Veda or Upa Veda is a Codex of hundreds or some time even

thousands of individual texts which incorporate various styles of

presentation of a particular subject matter under consideration.

 

Darshanas

 

The subject matter of the Vedas (Shruti) is classified into twelve

broad general branches called Darshanas. For each branch there exists

one apex text with and appendix Darshana or Sutra. Each Darshana

serves to summarize and codify the whole of the knowledge on its

given subject, the details of which are distributed among the vast

array of Vedic literature. Encyclopedic in scope, they (darshanas)

touch upon all aspects of a given subject, leaving the specific

details to other Vedic branches. The following table summarizes the

12 darshanas. The first six of these darshanas provide theoretical

basis for the latter six. The latter six are in a way interpretations

of the first six darshanas in a given context that dictate either

social or individual behaviour.

 

S.No

 

Darshana

Rough English Equivalent

 

1.

Vaisheshika

Entire Physical Sciences

 

2.

Samkhya

Applied Sciences

 

3.

Nyaya

Emperical Sciences

 

4.

Yoga

Behavioral Evolution Spiritual

 

5.

Mimansa-Purva

Behavioral Evolution-Social, Individual

 

6.

Mimansa-Uttara

Theoretical and Empirical Sciences dealing with Absolute

 

7.

Charvaka

Materialistic Interpretation

 

8.

Jaina

Ascetic Interpretation

 

9.

Vaibhashika

Environmental/Social interpretation

 

10.

Soutantrika

Tantric Interpretation-Individual Level

 

11.

Yogacara

Agamic and Yogic Interpretation-Social Level

 

12.

Boudha

Balanced Interpretation of 7 & 8

 

 

All Darshanas belonging to Upa Vedas are either unavailable, burnt,

lost, are given away to many universities across USA, Germany, Canada

by Indian immigrants whose ancestors preserved them from centuries of

oppression or still preserved either in Napal or in Tibet in

monastries where they were taken when Nalanda and Taxila Universities

were burned by the aliens. The apex text Shilpa Sutras supposed to be

written by Maharishi Viswakarma or Sthapathya Sutras is not

available.

 

Though Agama philosophy is referred to within each of these Vedas,

the general principles of all elements of Agamas are found primarily

within the Atharva Veda and in its branches or declensions, and

codified in Shilpa sutras. Expanding upon the general outline

contained in Atharva Veda are the Shilpa Sutras by Rishi Viswakarma.

In addition to the apex Sutra Literature, there are Vedic sources

which can be divided in to six tiers: 1)Upanishads, 2)Samhithas, 3)

Tantras 4) Agamas and 5)Pradipikaas, Karikas, Matas 6) Vyakhyanas

(Special renderings or commentaries).

 

1. Upanishads

 

The second tier of Vedic texts which deal with Shipa Sastra (Agamas

and Vasthu), the Sthapathya Upanishads, supposed to be one hundred

and twenty in number, and they serve to expand upon the basic

principles of and practices of Agamas presented in the Vedas proper.

It is here that the most precise presentation of the techniques and

practice of design, construction techniques, layouts are found,

making the Shilpa Upanishads among the more important source material

for the present text.

 

2. Samhitas

 

After the Upanishads are the Samhithas, which provide for still

further elaboration. Samhitha means " a compiled scientific text " ,

indicating that the author has assembled information from existing

Vedic sources (Shruti) and presented it in a very structured and

precise format. There are hundreds of Samitha texts that deal with

all elements and aspects of Agamas. Here all the concepts outlined

within the Sthapathya Upanishads and Vedas proper are presented in

great detail.

 

All minute details pertaining to carving of idols, worship

methodologies, the performance of proper yagnas, proper celebrations

on particular festive days, the precise size, shapes of idols etc are

found in greater detail. Thus the Samhithas represent the most

significant source material on the different Agama schools. Most

important among these samhithas are Mrigendra Samhita, Viswamitra

Samhita, Padma Samhita etc.

 

3. Tantras

 

The third level of Vedic sources on Agamas are Tantras. These form

the most important basis of Agamas. They deal with very minute

details of training the worshippers, initiation in to the process of

worship, daily worship methodologies for different deities, daily

celebrations, festivals etc. Tantraraja Tantra, Kularnava Tantra,

Malini Vijaya Tantra, Lakshmi Tantra, Satwata Tantra Vamakeswara

Tantra are few to mention. These texts specifically state for for

which Agama they belong to as they deal with worship details for a

particular diety. Some of the Tantras even explain the methods of

individual house hold worship

 

4. Agamas

 

Agamas are the fourth level of the sources. These texts end with the

suffix Agama signifying that they specifically deal with theory of

Agama only and not with the theory of Vasthu. The other mentioned

above sources are applicable to Vasthu and Agama. These are very

specific and prescice in their nature, scope and presentation. Some

Agama texts were even written to explain one particular temple's

construction. Some times they deal with one aspect of a particular

god like Lalitha aspect of Sakthi. Some of the important texts are

Roravottara Agama, Vatula Sudha Agama, Karana Agama, Kamika Agama,

Vaikhanasa Agama etc.

 

5. (Pra) Dipikas, Karikas and Matas

 

The Fifth level of Vedic sources, the Pradipikas, (additional

Explanations) are renderings by great yogis of the information found

in greater detail within the Samhithas Upanishads. There are many

Pradipikas on Agamas. Of all Prapancha Sara by Sri Sankaracharya is a

very important text in Sakthi Agamas. Shiva Kamini dipika is an

important text among Shiva Agamas.

 

Karika means a specific scientific explanation for a specific subject

matter under consideration. These are written by the practicing Agama

Teachers, Shilpis at different times as a research presentations to

reinforce the scientific principles behind a particular Agama theory.

Sri Tatva Chintamani, Pratyabhigna Karika are such Texts

 

Matha means opinion. It is the rendering or approach towards a

particular Agama Principle, theory by practicing Shilpi, at a

particular geographical location or after a particular astronomical

event or after a particular lapse of time (usually more than 432,000

year cycles). These rendering are made only to make the agama theory

workable after a major astronomical or geological event in the

process of evolution. This is like a corolory to the main theory or

an exception under certain given circumstances. Maya Mata (practiced

in Americas, north and south, in native Indian cultures and by

Mayans, Azetics, Tolemics etc), Viswakarma Mata (as practiced in

Africa, Europe) are such two important texts.

 

6. Vyakhyanas

 

At sixth level are the Vyakhyaanaas. These sources are different

arrangements of the existing Agamic knowledge made by various

yogis/shilpis for the use of students at a specific time. All of

these sources made it very clear that their rearrangements were made

only for the convenience of aspiring students, and were in no way

intended to expand upon, enlarge, refute or replace any of the

teachings or systems of thought of the preceding Vedic sources. Thus

these arrangements and names are not be mistaken as

separate " branches " or schools of Agamic philosophy.

 

Definition of Agama

 

agnavasthu samanthaasya gamyatha ithyaagamoo mathaha

 

tanuthe trayathe nithyam tantra mithi viduhu budhaha

 

 

 

Sabda kalpa Druma

 

The ever expanding and contracting forms of manifestation/creation

(movable and non movable) and the relation between them is explained,

so it is called Agama. The knowledge of Agama tries to synchronize

and protect the delicate balance of creation, so it is also termed as

Tantra.

 

tanothi vipulanaarthaan tantra mantra samavithaan

traanam cha kuruthe yasmaathanthramithyabhidhhiyathe

 

Kamika Agama. Tantra Tara Patala.

 

As the detailed explanations is provided for protecting the existing

creation it is called Tantra.

 

As we have seen Agama's primary purpose is to protect existing

creation. Provide scientific explanations for the acts done under the

Agama Texts. What is creation ? The theory of creation in the Vedas

has three different aspects and are discussed in three different

stages.

 

Different Stages of Theory of Creation

 

I. Stage 1: Consciousness/Energy level (like quarks and beyond) --

sat chit ananda Truth Existence Consciousness.

 

S.No

 

Name

Rough Translation

Rough English Equivalent

Example

 

1.

Sudha

Pure concious and energy States

Multi dimensional form

Brahman

 

2.

Asudha

Pure Material States

Three Dimensional form

durga

 

3.

Misra

States of Dual Existence-both matter and energy

Two Dimensional form

sri chakra

 

 

II. Stage 2: Systems and Subsystems (like nebuelas, exploding stars,

black holes, milky way and Solar Family) -- avarana or koshas:

(Subtle Manifestation)

 

1. Sakthi Kosa : Energy subsystem like exploding stars nebuellas

2. Maya Kosha : Intermediaries of energy and matter (Quarks, Barons,

Yaxions, atoms, electrons, etc.)

3. Prasuthi Kosha: Material systems like solar family milky way galazy

4. Prakrithi Kosha: Material Subsystems like 9 planets within solar

family etc

5. Jiva Kosha: The conscious princple that interacts with the above

systems and subsystems

 

III. Stage 3: Gross Manifestation ---nama rupa

 

1. Varna :(Vibrations): Para , Vaikhari, Pasyanthi, Madhyama called

Sristi -process of evolution

2. Nivrithi :(Systems): Pratishtha, Vidya, Santi, Santiatita. Prati

sristhi -process of dissolution

3. Pada :(Grades of Matter): Jagrathi, Swapna, Sushupthi, Tuiya. -

Transformation stages in the process of evolution and dissolution

4. Tathva:(Types of matter): Dravya, Guna, Karma, Samanya, Samavaya,

Elemental matter and its properties

5. Mantra :(energy coefficients, Languages): 14 Matrikaas called

Maheswara Sutraas,energy expression modes like languages, noise,

sounds of various nature, frequencies, audiable, subtle, and the

dynamics of sound light transformations (Sono Luminiscence) etc.

6. Bhuvana : 14 Differing planes of consciousness associated with the

above 5 categories.

 

Agama Branches

 

The ancient sages understood that the entire cosmos is nothing but

overlaying and intermixing forces/energies mediated by massive

heavenly bodies appearing and disappearing at regular intervals

creating a chain of perpetual evolutionary life forms called samsara.

These evolutionary systems influence each other far and near either

in positive or negative direction and affect various forms of

manifested species differently. For the evolution to continue, it is

primary to keep the species insulated from negative influences and

provide positive energy influences to the maximum extent. That is the

purpose of Agamas. This above mentioned concept of the creation and

protection of the delicate balance between species and gross matter

is elaborated through various branches of Agamas. All these branches

start with the name of a deity. It is understood that each deity

represent a specific energy state with certain parameters, and

associated with certain aspects of gross manifestation. So by

mentioning the deity name as prefix, particular Agama suggests that

its scope of subject matter is limited to the energy state symbolized

by the deity and the manifested material states that are directly or

indirectly related to that energy state. The following 11 are the

main branches of Agamas. Each branch contains thousands of texts

associated with it.

 

1. Saktha 2. Vaishnava 3. Shaiva 4. Ganapathya 5. Svyambhuva (Brahma)

6. Chandra 7. Saura 8. Pasupatha 9. Kalamukha 10. Cina 11. Jina.

 

The first three and 7 are available now either in full and in part.

Rest are either presumed lost or in safe custody either Nepal or

China or Tibet .

 

Agama Padas (categories)

 

Each branch of Agama will have many texts and commentaries associated

with it. Within each branch or within a particular text under

consideration the information will be presented in the following

broad categories.

 

1.Gnana Padam (Scientific Explanations) 2. Yoga Padam (Unifying

methodology of the agama Process and Symbolism) 3. Kriya Padam

(Procedural Methodology) 4. Charya Padam. (Brhavioural Methodology)

 

1. Gnana (Jnana) Padam (Knowledge and Information and explanations)

 

What ever is discussed in the above three padas are technically and

scientifically explained in this part. All needed information like

why this is done and why this is not done are explained with from

three perspectives or modes of interpretations.

1. Adhibhoutika: Purely scientific perspective

2. Adhi Daivika: Socio Environmental Perspective

3. Adhi Atmika: Spritual Perspective

 

2. Yoga Padam (Unfying Methodology of the Process and symbolism)

 

How the energy manifests in differing states, how to tap it, how to

hold it, how to avoid the unwanted energies and use them for the

evolution of the mankind, how to transfer the energy held in a place

for the people living in that place, by building temples, houses,

ashramas.

 

3. Kriya Padam (Procedural Detail)

 

How to hold the energies in three dimensional structures, like

temples, ashramaas, houses. It also details as how to construct the

above said structures

 

4. Charya Padam (Behaviour Methodology)

 

How the deities are carved, worshiped in temples, houses which have

the compatible three dimensional shapes for the state of the energy

in a particular place. The special, and particular and individual and

place specific worships are to be performed given the energy content

of a place. This also specifies the process of the linkage between

the dual interpretation methodology followed by Agamas called

Antaryagam and Bahiryagam of Charya Padam.

 

Dual interpretation technique of Agama Padas

 

Each and every aspect mentioned in the above four broad categories

have two different interpretations associated with them. 1.

Bahiryagam. External interpretation, which is basically why this

thing is done now and how this is to be done. 2. Antaryagam. Internal

interpretation, which gives a spiritual connotation to the process

performed under a particular agama category and is aimed at serious

spritual seeker. This internal interpretation suggests to the

spritual seeker that the entire external practices can in fact be

taken as steps in one's spritual progress of self realization.

 

Six Goals of Agamas

 

All the 11 branches of Agamas aim at 6 fundamental goals to achieve.

They are as follows

 

1. Utchatana - Vertical integration of natural energies

(elecromagnetic, gravitional etc) maintaining the balance of nature

2. Stambhana - Create and increase energy with holding capabilities

of a particular place

3. Marana - Destroy the negetive energy influences over a particular

area

4. Bhedana - Split diferent energies within a given area to maintain

balance of nature

5. Santhi - Maitaining the balance of nature with social progress

6. Pushti - Nourishing the nature and species so that evolution

progresses.

 

Grouping of Agama Goals

 

All the 11 branches of Agamas will be dedicated to do one or other

goals mentioned above. The above 6 goals are devided in to 3 main

groups. And they are called by the three deity names. These names are

used to indicate the extent and scope of each group of goals. The

following table summarizes the grouping and gives reason for picking

up a particular deity name for the branch.

 

S.No

 

Group Name

Goals Pursued

Reason

 

1.

Saktheya Agamas

UCHATANA, STHAMBHANA

Devine Mother the source of all

 

2.

Shaiva agamas

MARANA, BHEDHANA

Responsible for dissolution

 

3.

Vaishnava agamas

SANTHI, PUSHTHI

Responsible for preservation of dharma

 

 

The same system of grouping is used to classify Agama texts. As all

the six goals are so important for the maintaining the balance of

nature and for the evolution of human beings Acharya Pingala who

wrote Pingala Mata states that

 

" aagatham panchavakthraathu gatham cha giriraajaananee

matham cha vaasudevasya cha tasmaadaagamamuchyathe "

 

That which comes from Shiva is A and when it merges with Sakthi is GA

and the same is when approved by Vishnu it is MA thus it is called

Agama. In other words, after all negative energy forces withholding

the evolution are destroyed (A), and all positive energies and

influences are put in place (GA) then the evolution goes unhindered

(MA).

 

AGAMA TEXTS

 

1. Sakth(ey)a Agamaas Saktheya Agamas are grouped under two types.

Dakshina and Vaama (wrongly used as right and left as the literary

meaning of the words dakshina is right and vama is left). These are

also called Samaya and Koula. Actually Dakshina means that which has

duality in it. So in this system, Dualism is important aspect in the

beginning. Vama means that which measures by prana life force. Its

approach is advaitik non dualistic in nature. So samaya or Dakshina

predominantly use Puranic methodology of rituals and Vama or Kula use

Tantric methodology of rituals. The total number of Agama groups

under the above two types are seventy seven (77).

 

The total number of Saktheya agamas are classified under 3

categories. Five (5) groups are called Sudha or Samaya Agamaas

(Dakshina Agamas dualistic in nature), sixty four 64 are called as

Kula Agamaas (Vama Agamas, monoistic in nature), and the remaining

eight (8) are called as Misra Agamaas ( both samaya and vama agamas,

dualistic and monoistic in nature).

 

Theoretical Basis

 

The Dakshina or Samaya Agamaas declare that Tantra is Vidya and they

are part of the Vedas. So through the deities any seeker can realize

the essence of Vidya (realization) as explained in the Vedas and

merge with the supreme brahman.

 

The Vama and Kula declare that the whole of the Vedas itself is

Tantra and this Vidya is nothing but the Para Sakthi and she is not

different from the spritual seeker.

 

The Misra takes the approach of both and preaches that in the

beginning the need of deity is there but in the end seeker becomes

the deity. Ultimately, all the three preaches the unison with the

Brahman (Supreme Conciousness) perceived as Sakthi.

 

The most Important Saktha Agamaas are

 

1. Tantra Raja Tantra

2. Vamakeswara Tantra

3. Rudrayaamala Tantra

4. Kulanrnava Tantra

5. Bala Patala Tantra

 

The following are the commentaries on these Agama texts by great

saints.

 

S.No

 

Name

Author

 

1.

Prapancha Sara

Acharya Sankara

 

2.

Sarada Tilaka Tantra

Lakshmana Desika

 

3.

Varivasya Rahasya

Bhaskara Raya

 

4.

Agama Vagisa Tantra Sara

Krishnananda

 

5.

Sri Tatva Chintamani

Poornaananda Paramahansa Parivraajaka

 

6.

Commentary on Soundarya Lahari

Lakshmi Dhara

 

 

2. Shiva (Shaiva) Agamaas :

 

All these agamaas hold shiva as supreme deity along with Para Sakthi.

The purpose of this mode of worship is to use various energy forms

for destruction of negative influences. The Shaiva Agamaas are

classified in to eleven (11) schools of thought depending on the need

and mode of usage of Energy. These are called as Sidhanthaas or

established scientific theories.

 

1.Shiva 2. Pasuphatha 3. Karunika 4. Kapalika 5. Kalamukha 6. Vama 7.

Langala 8. Soma 9. Bhairava 10. Nakula 11. Pratyabhijna.

 

Nakula and Langala are grouped under Nakuli Sapa Supata. The Shiva

Sidhantha contains 4 sub groups. They are 1. Samanya Shiva 2. Poorna

Shiva 3. Misra Shiva 4. Sudha Shiva

 

Among the above eleven (11) only three sidhantas are available. The

rest are presumed lost or in safe custody in either China , Tibet or

Nepal . The available three sidhantas are 1. Shiva 2. Pasupatha 3.

Pratyabhijna.

 

Theoretical Basis

 

All the available Sidhantas propose worship of Shiva with 5 facets 1.

Sadyojatha 2. Vamadeva 3. Tatpurusha 4.Aghora 5. Isana. They preach

the process of self realization (shiva realization) through Vidya,

Kriya and Yoga. The objective is removing the pasu (beast) from pasa

(bondage of material worls) by pati (protector that is shiva). During

this process the following 5 principles are studied.

 

1. pati protector

2. jiva individual jiva

3. yoga process of yoga

4. niyama scriptural rules

5. dhukanta. Process of practice

 

The above self realization or Shiva realization can be achieved by

the following approaches called Upayas. There are three types of

Upayas behavioural methodologies.

 

1. Anavopaya

 

2. Sakthopaya

 

3. Sambhavopaya.

 

These Upayas guide in the path of Karma (action) which leads to Gnana

(knowledge and self realization) and finally lead to Vidya Supreme

realization. There are 120 Agamaas in these three sidhantas

available.

 

Shiva Sidhanta Agamas

 

Of the one hundred and twenty existing agamas, 28 agamaas belong to

Shaiva Sidhantha School , and are classified under 4 heads.

 

1. Kamika Agamaas 2. Karana Agamaas 3. Suprabhedha Agamaas 4. Vathula

and Veera Agamaas. The last one are very important in this tradition.

 

Pasupatha and Pratyabijna Sidhanta Agamas

 

Under the Pasupatha and Pratyabhigna Sidhantha (These systems are

Advaithic (monoistic), Dvaithic (Dualistic) and Dwaithaadwaithic

(Qualified monodualistic). There are 92 agamaas under these sidhantas

and are classified in to 64 schools of thought.

 

Trika school of thought is the most complex among them and it

consists three (3) parts. They are 1. Pratyabhigna Sasthra 2. Agama

Sasthra 3. Spanda Sasthra. This Trika is the basis of the Shivite

Worship in Kashmir . This is the most exhaustive System of the Shaiva

Agamaas which is highly scientific and technical. A part of this is

followed in South India by various Shiva Acharyaas.

 

The following are the important treatise on the Shaiva Agamaas

 

S.No.

 

Name

Author

 

1.

Siva Gnana Prabhodha Sutra

Mekanda Deva

 

2.

Sivagnana Bhasya

Sivagra Yogi

 

3.

Brahma mimansa

Srikantha Sivacharya

 

4.

Shivakamanidipika

Appaya Dikshitha

 

5.

Srikara Bhasya

Srikara Panditharadhya

 

6.

Advaitha in Shaiva Agamas

Trayambaka

 

7.

Shiva Drishthi

Somananda

 

8.

Pratyabhigna Suthra

Utpala Deva

 

9.

Pratyabhigna Karika

Utpala Deva

 

10.

Tantra Loka

Abhinava Guptha

 

11.

Malinivijaya Varthika

Abhinava Guptha

 

12.

Pratrimsika Vrithi

Abhinava Guptha

 

13.

Paramartha Sara

Abhinava Guptha

 

 

3. Vishnu (Vaishnava) Agamas

 

Vaishnava Agamaas are three types, 1. Vaikhanasa and 2. Pancha

Rathra. 3. Sri Sasthra. The Pancharathra accepts the mode of Vedic

and Tantric worship. The Vaikhanasa accepts Vedic worship. The

Vaikhanasa system is called Ekayana. The Sri Sasthra which is the

scientific basis for the both agamas is not available now. To fill

the gap the Pancha Ratra system is vitalized with revived parts of

Sri Sastra.. Actually Ekayana or Vaikhanasa is one of the Declencions

(sakhas) of the Yajur Veda compiled under the direction of Sage

Vaikhanasa, and this declension is not available and the Agama for

this declencion is existing in the form of Vaikhanasa Agama.

 

Theoretical Basis

 

The Vaishnava Agamas uphold Lord Vishnu as the supreme brahman along

with Sri or Maha Maya. Though these agamas are sudha dwaitik (pure

dualistic) in the initial stages they propose the Advaithic

(monoistic) philosophy in their final stages. As these agamas are for

the welfare of the society they propose eloborate festival and ritual

practices which are absent in the other two systems of Agamas.

 

The Vaikhanasa mode of worship stresses that the worship of Vishnu is

to be done with out expectation of results or benifits. The

vaikhanasa proposes the process of Karma Sanyasa (non atachment

twards acton ) and Phala Sanyasa (non attachment towards result).

Both Agama types stresses the importance of Gnana (knowledge), Karma

(action), and Bhakthi (devotion). The sudha dwaitha (pure dualism)

system of realization is adopted in the Vaishnava agamas in the

initial stages.

 

Though all modes of worship 1. Japa (recitation) 2. Dhyana

(meditation) 3. Homa (ritual worship through yagna) 4. Archana

(worship with lord's names) are stressed, the Archana mode of worship

is the most important for the Vaikhanasa Agamas. Vikhanasa is the

sage who revived these texts and taught them to 4 of his disciples

 

1. Atri 2. Bhrigu 3. Kasyapa 4. Marichi

 

All these students contributed to the Vaishnava Agama thought, but

unfortunately only a portion of their works is saved. The rest is

either lost or presumed to be in safe places in either Tibet , China

or Nepal . .

 

Maharshi Atri wrote 4 texts, 1. Purva Tantra 2. Atreya Tantra 3.

Vishnu Tantra 4. Uttara Tantra.

 

Maharshi Bhrigu rote 13 texts containing 88, 000 Slokas. They are 1.

Khila Tantra 2. Pura Tantra 3. Vasanadhikara 4. Chithradhikara 5.

Manadhikara 6. Kriyadhikara 7. Archanadhikara 8. Yagnadhikara 9.

Varnadhikara 10. Prathigruhyadhikara 11. Nirukthadhikara 12.

Prakirnadhikara and 13. Khiladhikara.

 

Of these thirteen, 6 & 8 are available in print. 3 & 7 & 11 are

available in manuscripts, 2 & 4 & 5 & 9 are available in fragments,

and the rest are not available.

 

The texts written by Sage Kashyapa and Sage Marichi are not

available.

 

Source: Indian Heritage Research Foundation, Ontario .

 

LET US NOT FAIL OR WAVER IN OUR DIVINE SERVICE OF OUR MOTHER LAND.

 

Jai Bharat

 

SCIENCE OF TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION AND AGAMAS - Part-II

 

Critical study into huge structures that preserved and propelled

human life, evolution and earth environment

 

A methodical study to understand the facts unraveled by renowned

scientists form multi discipline scientific branches for past 120

years all across the continents

 

Site Selection Criteria and Material specifications used in Temple

construction

 

Introduction

 

" India likes gods. And Englishmen like posing as gods " . The English

language was part of the pose and power. Indians accepted it, too. -

E. M. Forster in `A Passage to India '.

 

In this section, we discuss the scientific basis of the

temple construction - site selection and basic construction material -

as expounded in agamas. Unfortunately, for the disappointment of

many Indians, these scientific principles are not written in English,

a language of imposter gods and 16th century pirates, like John Drake

who with the help of British monarchy plundered Portuguese, Spanish

galleons to strengthen rising English naval power, which

subsequently plundered India and China during 17th to 20th centuries.

These scientific principles of agamas were written in the original

language of gods - Sanskrit. First, we summarize the similarity of

patterns found in various temples across the continents - namely

South America, Africa, Central Asia and Middle East . Then, we go

through the explanations provided by various scientists for these

patterns with the help of techniques developed over a period of 130

years of intense scientific development. While doing so, I tried to

mention the Sanskrit equivalents in the brackets in italics. As I

mentioned earlier, it is not the objective of this article to write a

treatise on Agamas which is impossible and beyond the scope of this

article. It is only to provide an explanation to few of the concepts

and terms used in Agamas. However, I do present the preliminary

discussion summary on why the temples need to be built as explained

in agamas in English, taking extreme care in translating the words to

mean what they are intended in Sanskrit. In the same way, after the

scientific facts are presented, I try to explain few more agama

principles relevant to the discussion.

 

But I urge the readers to exercise caution that English

is not a sophisticated nor a well developed language (it became a

language only form the time of Shakespeare's era) as Sanskrit

(cultured and refined thousands of years before) or Girvana (language

of gods and no one knows for sure when it evolved), thus may not

fully express the meaning of the terms written in Sanskrit. I request

the readers to learn Sanskrit itself to study and appreciate the

originals. But, I assure that I try to exercise utmost caution in the

explanations so that they are close to the original meanings.

 

Theory of Agamas

 

What is Agama?

 

agnavasthu samanthaasya gamyatha ithyaagamoo mathaha

 

tanuthe trayathe nithyam tantra mithi viduhu budhaha

 

Sabda kalpa Druma

 

The ever expanding and contracting forms of manifestation/creation

(movable and non movable) and the relation between them is explained,

so it is called Agama. The knowledge of Agama tries to synchronize

and protect the delicate balance of creation, so it is also termed as

Tantra by learned ones.

 

Agama is called tantra. But what is tantra?

 

tanothi vipulanaarthaan tantra mantra samavithaan

 

traanam cha kuruthe yasmaathanthramithyabhidhhiyathe

 

Kamika Agama. Tantra Tara Patala.

 

As detailed explanations and meanings are provided for protecting the

existing creation and its dynamics, it is called tantra.

 

As we have seen, Agama's primary purpose is to protect

existing creation and to provide scientific explanations for the acts

done in the process of such protection under the Agama Texts.

 

Now the question is what is creation? The theories of creation in

the Vedas explain three different aspects and are discussed in three

different stages. As for as our discussion is concerned we limit the

explanation of first two stages of creation.

 

Different Stages of Theory of Creation

 

I. Stage 1: sat chit ananda Truth Existence

Consciousness

 

Manifesting as Energy level (like quarks and

beyond)

 

 

 

Name

 

Rough Translation

Example

 

Sudha

Pure conscious and energy States

sakthi (various energy radiations)

 

Asudha

Pure Material States

energy intermediate states (particles)

 

Misra

States of Dual Existence

devatas (matter & energy intermediate states)

 

 

 

 

II. Stage 2: avaranas or koshas / prakriti-purusha /

kshetra-kshetrajna

 

Systems and Subsystems (like nebulae, exploding

stars, black holes, Milky Way and Solar Family)

 

 

 

Name

 

Explanation

 

Sakthi Kosa

Energy subsystem like exploding stars, nebulae

 

Maya Kosha

Intermediaries of energy and matter (Quarks, Barons, Yaxions, atoms,

electrons, etc.)

 

Prasuthi Kosha

Material systems like solar families, galaxies

 

Prakrithi Kosha

Material subsystems like 9 planets within solar family-three

dimensional manifestations

 

Jiva Kosha

The conscious principle-spirit or soul or atman- that interacts with

the above systems and subsystems

 

 

 

 

III. Stage 3: Nama rupa Gross Manifestation

 

 

 

Name

 

Explanation

 

Varna

Resonating vibratory states of existence-evolution

 

Nivrithi

( Systems): process of dissolution

 

Pada

( Grades of Matter): transformation stages in the process of

evolution and dissolution

 

Tathva

(Types of matter): Dravya, Guna, Karma, Samanya, Samavaya,

Elemental matter and its properties

 

Mantra

(Energy coefficients, Languages): 14 Matrikaas called Maheswara

Sutraas, energy _expression modes like languages, noise, sounds of

various nature, frequencies, audible, subtle, and the dynamics of

sound light transformations (Sono Luminescence) etc

 

Bhuvana

14 Differing planes of consciousness associated with the above 5

categories

 

 

 

 

Agama Branches

 

The ancient sages understood that the entire cosmos is

nothing but overlaying and intermixing forces/energies mediated by

massive heavenly bodies appearing and disappearing at regular

intervals creating a chain of perpetual evolutionary life forms

called samsara. These evolutionary systems influence each other far

and near either in positive or negative direction and affect various

forms of manifested species differently. For the evolution to

continue, it is primary to keep the species insulated from negative

influences and provide positive energy influences to the maximum

extant. That is the purpose of Agamas. This above mentioned concept

of the creation and protection of the delicate balance between

various energy, vibrations, species and gross matter is elaborated

through various branches of Agamas. All these branches start with the

name of a deity. Traditionally it is understood that each deity

represents a specific energy state with certain parameters, and

associated with certain aspects of gross manifestation. So by

mentioning the deity name as prefix, particular Agama suggests that

its scope of subject matter is limited to the energy state symbolized

by the deity and the manifested material states that are directly or

indirectly related to that energy state. The following 11 are the

main branches of Agamas. Each branch contains thousands of texts

associated with it. The listing is not according to their importance

but we should start at some point to begin with.

 

1. Saktha 2. Vaishnava 3. Shaiva 4. Ganapathya 5. Svyambhuva (Brahma)

6. Chandra

 

7. Saura 8. Pasupatha 9. Kalamukha 10. Cina 11. Jina.

 

The first three and 7 are available now either in full or in part.

Rest are either presumed lost or in `safe custody' of USA , Nepal ,

Germany , France , China or Tibet .

 

Agama Padas (categories)

 

Each branch of Agama will have many texts and commentaries associated

with it. Within each branch or within a particular text under

consideration the information will be presented in the following

broad categories.

 

1. Gnana Padam (Scientific & Spiritual Explanations) 2. Yoga Padam

(Unifying methodology of the agama Process and Symbolism) 3. Kriya

Padam (Procedural Methodology) 4. Charya Padam. (Behavioral

Methodology)

 

1. Gnana (Jnana) Padam (Knowledge and Information and

explanations)

 

What ever is discussed in the above three padas are

technically and scientifically explained in this part. All needed

information like why anything is done or not done is explained from

three distinct perspectives or modes of interpretations.

 

1. Adhi bhoutika: Purely scientific perspective (what we

are attempting in this series)

 

2. Adhi Daivika: Socio - Environmental Perspective

(nobody wants now)

 

3. Adhi Atmika (Adhyatmika) : Spiritual Perspective (nobody

cares any more now)

 

2. Yoga Padam (Unifying Methodology of the Process and

symbolism)

 

How the energy manifests in differing states, how to tap it, how to

hold it, how to avoid the unwanted energies and use them for the

evolution of the mankind, how to transfer the energy held in a place

for the people living in that place, by building temples, houses,

ashramas.

 

3. Kriya Padam (Procedural Detail)

 

How to hold the energies in three dimensional structures, like

temples, ashramas, and houses. It also details as how to construct

the above said structures

 

4. Charya Padam (Behavior Methodology)

 

How the deities are carved, worshiped in temples, houses which have

the compatible three dimensional shapes for the state of the energy

in a particular place. The details of special, particular, individual

and place specific worships to be performed in accordance with the

given energy content of a place. This also specifies the process of

linkage between the dual interpretation methodologies followed by

Agamas called Antaryagam and Bahiryagam of Charya Padam.

 

Dual interpretation technique of Agama Padas

 

Each and every aspect mentioned in the above four broad categories

have two different interpretations associated with them.

 

1. Bahiryagam. External interpretation, which is basically why this

thing is done now and how this is to be done.

 

2. Antaryagam. Internal interpretation, which gives a spiritual

connotation to the process performed under a particular agama

category and is aimed at serious spiritual seeker. This internal

interpretation suggests to the spiritual seeker that the entire

external practices can in fact be taken as steps in one's spiritual

progress of self realization.

 

Agamas deal with the second and third stages of creation

and try to protect the delicate balance between these states so that

human evolution will progress.

 

 

 

The Beginning

 

As discussed in the earlier section, the first interest

in the science of temple construction aroused when scientists started

studying the Irish round towers or northern England Stonehenge. The

odd shape of these boulders and the peculiar circular arrangement of

these structures aroused some interest as the same designs were found

on Egyptian pyramids and Mayan temples. Since 1830, with the

development of Archeo Astronomy, systematic comparative study of

hundreds of structures discovered was thoroughly made. The following

patterns emerged by the comparative study :

 

& #61623; All these temple layouts were, almost all, aligned with

either north south or east west axis.

 

& #61623; The temple towers (gopuras) rising at times as high as 275

feet in to the skies point exclusively towards zodiac signs as

depicted in astrological tables.

 

& #61623; All these temple towers were covered with gold plates

(unlike in India or far east where alien Islamic nomadic groups

perpetuated destruction of temples for gold and precious metals, in

other continents it was the Christian missionaries who destroyed

these temples for gold, precious metals during 1100-1900).

 

& #61623; The stones used in the construction all across the

continents were of a specific variety of granite which we still use

in India .

 

& #61623; Foundations dug to at least 9 feet (purusha pramana) or

more.

 

& #61623; Beneath main sanctum sanctorum invariably precious metals

worth millions of dollars were aligned in grid like fashion over

copper (tamra), gold (suvarna), and silver (rajata) plates embedded

with `artistic designs' (yantras).

 

& #61623; As a matter of rule, these huge temples are constructed over

hill tops (giri tale), sea shores (sagara teere), in the middle of

jungles (vana madhye) and on the banks of great rivers (nadee

thate).

 

& #61623; Also, as a matter of rule, these huge temples have a food

offering place (Bali vedika-erroneously called by western

archeologists as human sacrificial altars) and fire ceremony place

(yagna vedika- western archeologists do not know what to call them.

So they term them as Sun sacrificial altars).

 

& #61623; All the temple towers besides granite were built with a

particular form of clay (mrunmayam or mrittika).

 

Let us see why they followed the same procedures all over

the world. The conclusion that all these temples, cultures across

continents shared the exact out look of socio environmental-economic

life (adhi daivika) with Indians or spiritual religious values with

Indians (adhi atmika) is a fore gone conclusion by academicians. To

the much dislike of west, it is also an indisputable conclusion that

all the above cultures emerged from the cradle of Indian

civilization, and it is not the issue we are trying to understand

here. The only issue which we have to pursue is what the geographical

borders of India were when this convergence took place and when such

emergence of cultures took place.

 

The issue we want to discuss is more mundane, earthly and pure

scientific inquiry (adhi bhoutika) as to why these builders (shilpis)

used a specific granite, specific metals and specific clay for the

construction of houses and huge temples. At times the granite stones

were transported over more than 5000 miles to build the temples.

 

The clay which comes out of rivers, with specific traces

of zinc, silver, gold and nickel, which is used in making drinking

water pots and is used by Indians in summer. The clay with which we

make idols of gods decorative pieces every year. The clay which was

used even in making cooking pots for thousands of years which only in

the last 30 years was being replaced by cancer causing fridges, and

aluminum vessels. The clay that was used to build houses and temples

which lasted 10 times more number of years than the current cement

structures whose life is a maximum of 150 years.

 

The clay-the art and science of it- is being replaced with tremendous

rapidity from constructing temples, public places and houses with

cement. (In Orissa during the tremendous cyclone hit few years

before, the clay-built, most advanced, aero dynamic, tall towering

temples (some built even 1000 years before or even their flag staffs)

withstood the raging cyclonic wind force of 300 kilometers. While all

bridges and other modern engineering structures collapsed.

 

But why Clay?

 

Life in Universe and Evolution on Earth-A perspective

 

Till 1977 all biology, evolutionary biology text books in

west (in India even today) taught that only in oceans algae-first

forms of life- developed 500 million years ago and the land was dry

and devoid of life. Darwin `scientifically calculated' (?????) that

from 500 million years old algae (single celled organisms) the modern

primate (with billions of multi cell organisms) evolved in 499

million after years after, just 1 Million years ago. Thus Darwin

further concluded `scientifically' that from primate man homo sapiens

evolved around 100,000 years ago, civilization evolved 7000 years ago

with Abraham (??????) and thus the rest of the western `scientists'

and Indian `researchers' concluded that Mahabharata war happened

around 3500 years ago and Vedas were written 1500 years ago, WHICH IS

A LIE.

 

Facts as they roll in

 

Institute of Molecular and Cellular Evolution-University of Miami-

1977

 

Harvard University Elso E Barghoorn discovered in rock sedimentations

of South Africa (at a site in Swaziland called Fig Tree) green algae

and fungi dating back to 3.1 to 3.8 billion years ago. In order to

evolve, algae have to find a way to bind oxygen to rocks other wise

oxygen kills these algae. Thus scientists concluded that maritime

life has to be preceded by life on Earth. So,life evolved on earth

first not in sea as Darwin `scientifically' concluded.

 

University of Illinois experiments- Professor. Clifford Mathews

(Multi Repeated Experiments)

 

In order to evolve life on earth, two basic molecules are necessary

 

1. Proteins which perform metabolic functions of living cells

 

2. Nucleic acids which issue instructions for cells for processing

and some how both of these packed within a cell,

 

To become protein, amino acids should under go complex cell division

to form long and complex chains and this dividing is done according

to instructions stored in

 

DNA deoxyribonucleic acid as transmitted by

 

RNA ribonucleic acid

 

The DNA has a double helix structure connected by rungs (discovered

in 1953 by James D Watson and Francis H. Crick) like complex organic

compounds marked on genetic charts by the first letters (initials) of

the nucleotides compounds A-G-C-T. These can combine in limitless

combinations and are bound to the double helix structure by sugars

alternating with phosphates. RNA, as complex as DNA built of four

nucleotides whose initials are A-G-C-U may in itself contain

thousands of combinations.

 

Now how much time earth would have taken to develop these compounds

without which the life would not have evolved.

 

1977-Fossil remains of single cell organisms in South Africa were

dated back to 3.1 to 3.4 billion years.

 

1980-William J. Schopf, University of California at LA found in

Western Australia fossil remains of multi cell organisms looked under

microscope like chains and dated them 3.5 billion years old. These

compounds possessed both amino acids and complex nucleic acids-

ingredients of Earth life 3.5 billion years before. Thus these

represent the advanced stage of life not early stage of evolution of

life on earth. But earth's age is dated to be a maximum of 4 billion

years old. So scientists concluded that " self replicating bacteria

first started in the evolution of life (on earth or where ever) and

preceded sea algae.

 

All life on earth from single cell to complex humans all have same

genetic material and have only 20 or so amino acids. Even single

cell bacteria E. coli (Escherichia Coli) which reproduces not

sexually but by dividing has 4000 different genes.

 

1984-Ocean bed studies (first in Pacific and then in other ) that

bacteria still makes life forms possible that do not depend on

photosynthesis but by metabolizing Sulphur compounds in ocean

depths. Such bacteria are called archaeo-bacteria.

 

1984-Professor. Carl R. Woese dated these archaeo bacteria to 3.5-4.0

billion years.

 

1984-This 3.5 to 4.0 billion year age was corroborated by bacteria

findings in Austrian lake by Hans Fricke of Max Planck Institute,

Karl Stetter of University of Regensburg both of Germany.

 

1985-Sediments found off Green Land proved that the photo synthesis

was prevalent on earth as early as 3.8 billion years ago.

 

1989-Norman H. Sleep of University of Stanford (Nature Nov 9, 1989)

concluded that whatever life we see on earth and its base organisms

evolved within a window of 200 million years - before 3.8-4.0 billion

years ago.

 

But the question of how life emerged was not answered by

them. They explained the process of life taking its shape on earth.

Scientists knew that for life to evolve from gaseous to amino acids

tremendous compressed energy was needed and a medium that can

transform this energy was needed.

 

The question before the scientists was, was the energy

available on earth during its formation enough to trigger the amino

acid reactions? Because during the formation of earth, Ammonia and

Methane are the simplest stable compounds of Nitrogen & Hydrogen and

of Carbon & Hydrogen. These are present in almost all planets and

stars in abundant quality and quantity. But no life evolved on many

stars.

 

Could the initial earth atmosphere triggered-compounds

and the amino acids combine in to chains sustainable conducive for

life? The experiments proved that to have such complex mechanisms

much more compressed energy was needed than available at the

beginning of earth. (Many scientists now believe today that life

might have evolved in some inter galactic regions and might probably

transported to the earth due to reasons still under investigation.

Still they believe that the `thus transported life' to the earth, in

order to survive, needs a medium where the adaptation can take place

and high compressed energy)

 

This tremendous energy required to trigger such reactions

came, according to scientists, from the self rotation of the earth

which produces centripetal energy and the thermonuclear reactions

that take place within the core of the earth as well as from the

cosmic radiation caused by cosmic dust resulting from the eternal

explosion of stars, nebulae, galaxies, etc.

 

Earth rotates around itself at a speed of close to 1000

kilometers per hour. This translates to 1,000,000 meter per 60

minutes. Per minute 16,666 meters which produces a revolution energy

equivalent to 10 rose to the power 13 kwh/year (this is reflected as

wind, tidal energy of the nature harnessed through massive hydro

electric dams). Total energy released from geo-thermal nuclear

(energy released from the core of earth) reactions is close to 10

raised to the power 14 kwh/year. Total energy reaches from the Sun is

close to 10 raised to 18 kwh/year. How this energy of earth

revolution released ? First it converts in to wind, tidal, cyclonic

energy. The geo thermal energy is radiated and released through

mountain tops (volcanic and non volcanic) (giri tale), sea shores

(sagara tate), and where rivers flow (nadee tale.)

 

At the current rate of energy consumption and increase

(petrol, diesel, electricity, mechanical, thermal, nuclear) the

energy requirements for mankind are close to 10 raised to the power

12 kwh/year, less than the rotational energy of earth.

 

The energy that we use for human consumption (usage) is

worth trillions of dollars. Over this energy distribution huge MNCs

were built, wars fought, humankind slaughtered. Human beings were

able only to drill, get oil, use it directly as fuel or cut trees and

use the wood directly as fuel or break atom and use that energy

directly or dig coal up and use the energy directly. During this

process a massive pollution was created and to a point of threatening

the survival of mankind itself with so many diseases for which there

is no cure.

 

Science started recognizing impact of above modes of

pollution only recently which turned many communities/nations towards

alternate sources of energy - a quest to harness wind, tidal, geo-

thermal, solar and cosmic dust energies. Though progress is

deliberately slow in this regard due to pressure from the oil

companies, still advances are made. But before breakthroughs in the

alternate energy sources the scientists realized that radiation

energy –starting from infra red to gamma rays(that are emitted during

every process of life-from single cell organisms to complex nebulae)

going to be major health risk that can wipe out mankind from the face

of earth. Every living and non living system can be explained as a

powerful electro magnetic field emitting various wave length and

frequencies of rays affecting and getting affected in the process.

 

For example, eyes convert all data in to electric signals

and brain understands only electric signals and responds via

electrical signals either directly or via interference patterns

(electrical energy converted in to a series of complementing circles

and triangles. Sound through ears is converted in to electrical

signals and brain understands and responds via electrical signals.

Skin transmits all data via electrical signals and brain understands

and responds via electrical signals. Human body acts like a huge bio-

electrical dynamo of interlaying electrical signals. Where ever an

electrical signal passes, electromagnetic fields are created and thus

these fields affect others. In most cases these affect in harmful

ways for mankind.

 

High tension electrical wires and associated electro-

magnetic fields are found to cause cancer in all living organisms

that live directly under them. Cell phones, even VDTs (video display

terminals-televisions, computer terminals, video games) used

continuously affect brain's magnetic fields and cause brain damage.

Medical X rays cause cancer, worst in pregnant women abortions, birth

defects and induce infertility. In the same way geo-thermal, cosmic

dust, the interplanetary gravitational pull and satellites also

affect all living things. There is no way we can escape these

radiations as we live and sustain among them. Now there is a body of

science called Radiation Oncology that studies various radiations and

their impact on human beings.

 

How much minimum radiation can affect human beings?

 

A vast body of medical literature exists today in United

States , Europe, and Japan documenting the severe effects of computer

television video terminal radiation even in occasional users.

Fatigue, eye strains, migraines are common with medium range usage

(more than two hours) of computers, television, VDTs. Women are most

affected who stay prolonged time before VDT (video display

terminals). Miscarriages, premature births, birth defects infant

deaths are becoming common parlance. Recent research now

concentrating on Computer based radiation concluding that human body

is far sensitive to very minute disturbances in radiation levels.

VDTs generate a range of radiation- X-rays, ultraviolet, infrared,

low frequency (LF), very low frequency (VLF), and extra low frequency

(ELF). I cannot justify presenting the research on this subject but

interested people can go through the excellent research by Paul

Brodeur's three part series presented in June 1989, New Yorker

magazine or his book " Currents of Death " . Based on the growing

research San Francisco recognized the harm caused by computers and

passed laws for minimum radiation levels for VDTs and computer

display terminals during 1990.

 

So pollution is two types. First, natural energy

pollution-elemental byproduct- (if that is a good term) (devata

atripti-dissatisfaction of devatas-or energy imbalances (devata is a

manifested energy state) which exists within the nature because of

the elemental manifestation (maha bhutas) and associated electro

magnetic fields of radiation and vibrations. In their manifested

states these elements look and behave as if they were opposites and

mutually destructive. So these mutually exclusive and collectively

destructive radiations need to be balanced (santhi) and detoxified

(sudhi) in order to allow evolution to progress, humankind to

survive.

 

Second, man made pollution-evolutionary by product

created by performing nishidha karma – actions done with half

knowledge or actions that should never be done- is created by human

beings in the process of surviving and evolution by creating wastes

with out properly understanding the theory of balance in nature.

Food, food waste drinks (if properly not disposed create deadly

bacteria that turn in to poison (visha) can kill everything- mad cow

disease, SARS, contaminated meat, irradiated meat, rotten vegetables,

synthetic alcohol, narcotics). Also the very needs of humans, fire

(by burning coal, wood creates air pollution) large gatherings (more

humans put in one place more the carbon-dioxide will be released and

oxygen levels will fall causing uneasiness and later diseases)

transport needs (animal transport releases ammonia and aids to air

pollution when animals fart (problem with large cattle ranches as

they contribute to green house gases), mechanical transport causes

severe air pollution (by burning fossil fuels like petrol, diesel

etc). This will turn poisonous (patina-poison out of fossils) for

human health and welfare which need to be balanced (santhi) and

detoxified (sudhi) in order to allow evolution to progress, humankind

to survive.

 

The major problem with the man made pollutants was and is

that they seep in to the food chains and water tables by poisoning

them, seep and erode the soil fertility and thus destroys the food

production with out which living things cannot survive, destroys the

medicinal power of rivers thus turning them in to poisonous dumps.

For this problem the only solution is going back to traditional

agricultural methods used for thousands of years in India , Africa

and South America .

 

Is there a solution from the effects of radiation? Till

now, no? With the advances and sophistication reached during last

hundred years coupled with most advanced scientific desciplines

mentioned below, scientists are trying to answer some of the above

problems-the fundamental grasp of the extent of the dynamics involved

scientific desciplines needed- which they are now able to begin to

understand.

 

The radiation & toxic balance (santhi) or detoxification (sudhi) can

be achieved according to scientist by

 

1. destroying the unwanted numerous radiation or toxins (maarana)-

dealt in Radiation Oncology, Astronomy, Radio Astronomy, Physics,

Radiation Physics, Particle Physics, genetics, biotechnology and

hundreds of associated fields of study

 

2. blocking various radiations from reaching earth or various

pollutants & poisons from reaching human systems or food chains

(sthambana) dealt in Biology, Marine Biology, Chemistry, and host of

environmental sciences, hydrology, Chelation Chemistry.

 

3. disintegrate various radiations and toxins in to harm-less

substances (bhedana)-dealt in particle physics, Acoustic Physics,

Cosmic Dust Physics, etc

 

4. integrate all dangerous radiations and toxins with new

radiations or elements to render them harm less (uchatana)

Metallurgical sciences, Organic & Inorganic Physical Chemistries

 

5. transforming various harmful radiations or toxins (changing

chemical physical properties of substances) in to nourishment for the

human beings (pushti) –dealt in all the above.

 

 

 

Agamas - Utility of temples Objectives of Building temples-Six Goals

of Agamas

 

All the 11 branches of Agamas mentioned above strive to

achieve 6 fundamental goals. They are as follows:

 

AGAMA GOAL

 

Explanation

 

Uchatana

Integrate all dangerous radiations and toxins with new radiations or

elements to render them harm less

 

Sthambana

Blocking various radiations from reaching earth or various

pollutants & poisons from reaching human systems or food chains

 

Maarana

Destroying the unwanted numerous radiation or toxins

 

Bhedana

Disintegrate various radiations and toxins in to harm less substances

 

Pushti

Transforming various harmful radiations or toxins (changing

chemical physical properties of substances) in to nourishment for the

human beings

 

Santhi

The radiation & toxic balance

 

 

 

 

Grouping of Agama Goals

 

All the 11 branches of Agamas will be dedicated to do one or other

goals mentioned above. The above 6 goals are divided in to 3 main

groups. And they are called by the names of devatas (manifested

energy states) deity names. These names are used to indicate the

extant and scope of each group of goals. The following table

summarizes the grouping and gives reason for picking up a particular

deity name for the branch.

 

AGAMA GOAL GROUP

 

GOALS PURSUED

 

Sakthi Agamas

UCHATANA, STHAMBHANA

 

Shaiva agamas

MARANA, BHEDHANA

 

Vaishnava agamas

SANTHI, PUSHTHI

 

 

 

 

Temples built on agamic principles aim at simultaneously

tackling both pollutions- the radiation pollution and man made

pollution-at same time to maintain the delicate balance of energy,

vibration, species and manifested states. To tackle the radiation

pollution, they prescribed:

 

& #61558; to build temples with clay and brick raising towers (gopurams)

to more than 100 feet height,

 

& #61558; to engrave the tops of the towers or if possible the entire

towers with copper and gold,

 

& #61558; to dig 9 feet beneath the main sanctum sanctorum (purusha

pramana)

 

& #61558; to align millions of dollars worth of diamonds and other

precious metals (crystals) in grid form, carve stones with a special

kind of granite. In order to tackle man made pollution,

 

& #61558; to nourish the fertility of the soil within a radius of 5-10

kilometers radius, they prescribed to perform yagnas, hundreds of

daily, seasonal and special rituals, associated regularly within

these temples.

 

Temple as huge multitude Radiation Centers

 

As we have seen in the above section, from the beginning

the temples all over the world were on the tops of mountains (Sri

Sailam, Tirupati, Mangalagiri), near seashores (Rameswaram,

Gokarnam), on River banks (Kashi, Nasik, Pandaripur) and amidst

forests (Ahobilam). All temples with out exception were built where

supreme concentration of cosmic dust falling and/or where the geo-

thermal energy emissions are highest. These can be plotted as infra

red emission centers via satellite mapping which most of the western

governments did (with an exception of India where these temples along

with agama texts exist. How much energy is emitted from these

temples need to be studied by professional scientists. Now the

question, is how this massive energy accumulating or emitting can be

harnessed for the benefit of human kind. The first answer for this

question is provided by crystals-diamonds and other precious stones

aligned in a grid fashion placed under the Sanctum Sanctorum at 9

feet depth.

 

Modern science long time back (during 1980s) proved that

if precious stones are arranged in a grid like fashion then they

pool, amplify and resonate energies in given area. So if a particular

kind of geo-thermal radiation is emitted at a particular temple area

say Tirupati, then the crystal-precious metal- arrangement beneath

the deity will absorb the radiation amplify it and then resonate it

through the deity. The alignment varies with the area and energy

radiation under consideration. Usually they are aligned along with

the `graphic image of energy in Cartesian two dimensional plane'

(yantra) that is buried under the deity. Every graphic image of

energy (yantra) is different for different areas where temples are

built and this creates the differences in the three dimensional

representations (devata murti) which are deities that we see in

temples. By visiting a particular temple dedicated to a particular

god we are entering an arena of altered energy state where various

vibrations and radiations will wash us. Can we see them? No as they

are radiation. When we take x-ray picture or talk over cell phone

electro magnetic radiation is generated which we cannot see.

 

The deity in any temple (which is again a big science it

self from selection of stones to final sanctifying) was cut

geometrically in such shape that it radiates the energy resonated by

the precious metals buried beneath. To achieve this efficiency only

certain type of black granite stones that are conducive to this form

of radiation are selected, geometrically cut in to idols, energy

insulated and kept in temples. The discussion on the selection of

stones for carving idols is beyond the scope of this article. Like x-

rays which need to be connected to a power outlet so too temples are

grounded in huge geo-thermal emission areas or cosmic dust bombarded

areas. Even millions of wanted / unwanted believers / non believers

visit them still their energy radiation capacity does not decrease.

One way agamas follow to retain the energy efficiency of the temple

area is the continuous recitation of various mantras which also

create a sound resonation which will be picked up not only by clay

crystals but by gem stones.

 

Let us examine the similarities in intercontinental temples one by

one.

 

But why clay?

 

1. Clay

 

Scientists found that one such important medium of transformation of

life on earth was and is clay. Clay provides the basis of life,

because of its peculiar properties.

 

1. Professor. Armin Weiss – University of Munich-1990

 

Clay has two abilities 1. Capacity to store energy 2. ability to

transfer energy

 

Clay can reproduce it self. The energy clay can absorb interestingly

comes from 1. Earth's electro magnetism, 2. back ground radioactive

decay 3. cosmic rays bombardment of earth

 

Graham Cains-University of Glasgow reported that clay act as a

catalyst in transforming inorganic matter in to organic matter.

 

2. Ames Research Center-Mountain View CA-Professor James A. Lawless

1970-1985

 

Amino Acids (building blocks of proteins) and nucleotides (building

blocks of genes) began forming chains if they are deposited on CLAY

having traces of Zinc or Nickel and allowed to dry. But these traces

of Nickel held on only to the known twenty types of Amino Acids

common to all living things on earth.

 

Lelia Coyne-Head of Research Team, Even common clay will trap and

transmit all the above three energies. This is achieved through the

structural irregularities in the clay crystals like the crystals of

gem stones. In these irregular structures the energy is stored.

 

Noam Lahab-Hebrew University, Israel-In order to store energy and

affect amino acids present in all life forms of earth the clay has to

under go alternate cycles of wetting and drying. This means the dry

lands with regular rain cycles, sea shores where there is moisture

(sagara tate) or flowing rivers or brooks (nadi teere) with moisture

clouds, or mountain tops where air at nights comes with moisture

(giri tale), or center of forests where the moisture is generated due

to trees and their perspiration (vana madhye).

 

2. Height of the towers (gopuras) a Note

 

The energy bombarded from cosmic radiation or cosmic dust

is more than the energy reaching from the Sun. But during the day

this is dispersed due to the Sun's own electrical and magnetic

repulsions. They reach peak during nights and are more powerful than

the radiation of Sun. The incidence of Cosmic dust is very high over

mountain tops (giri tale), open expanse of oceans (sagara tate), and

where rivers are flowing (nadi tale). This is the reason why most of

the cosmic dust observatories, radio telescopes, astronomical

telescopes, planetariums are all located over the hill tops as over

the hill tops the uninterrupted cosmic dust bombardment can be

observed. This cosmic dust will be dispersed in low lying areas due

to electric bulbs which themselves create electro magnetic fields

that disperse the cosmic dust. Between the two tropics, tropic of

cancer and Capricorn the duration of day and night is almost equal

thus when we observe in the nights the sky also looks more or less

same. This means for a scientist observing the cosmic dust it appears

that they are coming form the same region of the sky. If we, for

division of convenience, super impose the 360 degree rotating zodiac

over the night sky, then it appears that cosmic dust is falling form

the same zodiac sign.

 

More recently, radio astronomers studying the temple

structures pointed out the similarities between the structures of the

temple towers (naga vesara and dravida styles) and the sophisticated

horn shaped antennas used in radio astronomy that are used to amplify

and magnify the weak radiations bombarding the earth from certain

directions of cosmos which are in the band width of 14.5 meters or

more wave length. But how does this clay built towers can amplify

weak radiations coming from certain zodiac regions of cosmos? The

answer was again provided by soil scientists who confirmed that CLAY

acts as both para magnetic and dia magnetic in alternating cycles

which give clay the ability to absorb, amplify and disperse the

radiations in to the temple premises and in to the outer perimeter of

five kilometer radius towards the soil, houses, people and crops

surrounding it. In many temple towns they observed (in South America,

Ireland, Scandinavia and Africa for sure and in India either they did

not reveal or do not want to reveal their observations) the

agricultural scientists observed that the highly para and dia

magnetic plants and crops from all directions incline towards the

temple towers as if ready to get drenched in the nourishments of

cosmic radiation beamed in by the towers. The convex shaped tower

tops (kalasas) plated with electro magnetic conducting gold

(suvarna), copper (tamra) and silver (rajata) act as catalysts to

this process. Precisely for this reason the temples over the tops of

mountains are elevated to massive heights and deliberately pointed

towards a particular zodiac sign to amplify the radiations coming

from that area of cosmos. Also for this reason there is a rule in

agamas that state that one should not construct the dwellings within

the perimeter of the shadow of any Shiva Temple due to the high grade

amplification and radiation associated with the temple premises.

 

To observe and study these cosmic energy phenomenon

scientists develop telescopes fitted with series of convex lenses and

developed dome structures to station the telescopes. They also

developed power full horn resembling antenna structures like temple

towers to collect maximum cosmic dust and amplify the same for

analytical purposes.

 

Second reason for elevation of temple towers is Man made

Pollutants (from petrol, diesel chemical wastes, factories, burning

wood coal etc.) They come out of combustion and will rise high in to

atmosphere (hot air goes up and displaces cold air) usually for more

than 50 feet and depending on the wind speed and direction will

travel in usually east west or north south direction. Where ever wind

speed decreases these pollutants will settle down to the ground and

affect all life systems there which are called acid rains. One

solution provided by modern scientific methods to one such combustion

problem with factories is to design factory chimneys to a height of

more than `100 feet'. But, these pollutants do not affect the area

where the factory is located but will affect the neighboring villages

as these pollutants are discharged in higher atmosphere where they

travel with the wind to far off areas and affect the life there.

 

As far as petrol / diesel is concerned they emit deadly

CO (carbon monoxide). There is no way to prevent this deadly gas that

created hundreds of pneumatic illness like asthma, isnofelia,

associated lung diseases and ultimately cancer. It also comes with

black color that burns eyes, deposits over clothes, trees buildings

and discolors them. One solution for discoloring that was found was

to use `gold and silver' within the car's exhaust system in a part

called catalytic converter. This part costs around $ 300 dollars (Rs.

15,000) and is good for 3 years. The only thing it does is, it

absorbs the blackness of CO thus the pollutants come as white smoke

that does not affect your clothes, trees or buildings and gives

erroneously delusory effect that there is no pollution. This is what

many Indians when they come to any western country see. They think

that there is no pollution in the west. As in India the induction of

catalytic converters started just recently. Within no time. in India

too, we can have the same erroneously delusory effect of less

pollution. The gold content that they put in catalytic converter can

only absorb the blackness causing agents from CO and transform them

in to gold or silver halides of whiteness, all the while keeping the

pollution intact with its deadly effects.

 

Temples built with clay with convex surfaces will trap

the pollutants that travel over 100 feet height in atmospheres and

diffuses them and neutralizes them as they are washed with high

energies collected within temple premises, or by regular performance

of yagnas within the temple premises. During yagnas we burn medicinal

herbs which decompose and rise (hot air rises) more than 50 feet to

meet the pollutants and dissolve them in to non toxic elements

(sudhi.)

 

3. Purusha Pramana-9 feet deep- a Note

 

The geo- thermal fusion energy is very strongly

felt/experienced below 6-9 feet beneath the earth surface crust

(purusha pramana in agamas mean 9 feet). The outer layer of the earth

will disperse and dissipate geo-thermal energy in to outer atmosphere

due to the interacting with the gravitational energy, sun's energy

bombarding the earth, or cosmic dust.

 

4. Yagnas – A Note

 

Yagnas or fire ceremonies are a must within the temples.

Though thousands of ingredients are used in conducting yagnas the

primary ingredient is the go panchakam (five ingredients that come

from cow milk, curd, ghee, urine and dung). The below mentioned point

is about one such ingredient of go panchakam –cow dung.

 

After Chernobyl accidental radiation leak, Russians want

to inoculate all citizens within a radius of 200 kilometers. Then

they found that nomadic steppe Indians living very close to the

incident area were not affected by Radiation of Chernobyl, where as

people, plants, fish and milk as far as England were affected by the

radiation. The scientists have learned that groups of sub-continent

Indians living in the border lands of Soviet Union, who used dried

Cow Dung to seal their huts, were unaffected by Chernobyl Radiation

Leak and following Radio Active Contamination.

 

The Russian academy of sciences Director called German,

Yugoslav scientists to investigate the matter. Joint experiments

were conducted and Joint Research project was under taken by German,

Yugoslav and Russian physicists, chemists, radiation experts and

other scientists headed by Biochemist Prof. Mato Modric. In Communist

Yugoslavia, this group of scientists in the city of Rovinj ,

conducted experiments on what happens when the ceremony of Yagna or

fire ceremony was performed. Under laboratory conditions when

scientists burned required ingredients in copper pyramid-a miniature

size of Yagna Vedi- their instruments failed to pick up radioactivity

in the immediate area an anomaly since Chernobyl incident[1].

 

According to the participated Physicists, " We believe we

can establish the fact of an electromagnetic radiation during the

(Yagna) ceremony. But we are in an area what conventional science

considers rational, in to an area of informational transfer through

inter molecular and inter atomic process mediated by ultraviolet

photons. It is logical to conclude that some kind of energetic

mechanism is activated which can be translated in to physical meaning

linked to concrete information systems, connected to resonance[2] " .

 

5. CO pollution and simple recitation mantra or any name of any

deity

 

The resonance energy according to scientists is coming

from the mantras recited during the yagna ceremony. The scientists

accepted that lot of hard research is needed in this field which they

are beginning to understand more. One such Research on mantras come

from Dr. Phillip Callahan, a Physicist and Entomologist, World War II

pilot and Professor at University of Gainesville, Florida, USA. At

his Geo-Disc lab in Wichita , Kansas , USA , with the help of latest

infra red spectrometer, Dr. Callahan validating the wisdom of Vedas,

the overlap of Physics and Philosophy, conducted experiments intoning

the basic Vedic mantra `OM ', several times into tonoscope connected

to infrared spectroscope.

 

Then he took a print out of and showed the effect of the

mantra in the form of group of spikes on the print out. When we

recite any mantra or OM in the present context, the sound effect of

mantra, energize the molecules of throat. These energized molecules

emit infra red radiation. The scientific instrument, Infrared

Spectrometer picks up the frequency at which emitted molecules are

radiating and identifies the signal frequencies of the molecules. If

you know the frequency of an atom or a compound you can identify its

presence and amplitude. In case of recitation of OM, the molecule

radiating out of body is Carbon Monoxide, a poisonous toxin emitted

by burning fossil fuels like diesel, petrol and can kill human

beings, plants and animals alike. This gas is also known to cause

cancer. So just by reciting OM several times, we can detoxify

ourselves form one of the cancerous primary toxin[3]. This experiment

is done about OM only since past 10 years- and Indians have to

believe this as it is told by Englishman's cousin American and it

must be true. We do not know about other powerful mantras and their

effect. In India , we don't care. West is doing all research to

patent the effects of mantras in near future.

 

6. Soil Nourished with this radiation

 

While doing the research on ancient agricultural

practices Dr. Phillip Callahan found that the ancients some how

figured out an eternal source of energizing soil. His research

revealed that the energy recovered from cosmos and from earth by the

huge temple towers & temples was, among other things, redistributed

to the soil surrounding in 5 kilometer radius. The energy dia

magnetic in nature is transferred to the soil thus to the roots and

then to the plants. All plants fully grown will incline towards the

main temple towers from all directions. In ancient days in India all

villages are temple towns. Temple is the center of the town and

surrounding which the village used to grow. This layout is still

visible in many villages even today.

 

7. A note on why temples do not protect them

 

There is lot of discussion on the issue why powerful gods

of powerful temples could not protect themselves when they were

destroyed by aliens and this was a question even posed by many to the

author. If temples are very powerful then why did not they protect

themselves? We have mentioned above that temples are built as

centers of collection of various energies and the deity carved is

based on the geometric principles of dissipation and radiation of

energy. In this sense, the deity is nothing but the three dimensional

representation of the radiation energy which was collected at the

temple point. The two dimensional energy is represented in the

geometric grid that was carved over the yantra. It is the

fundamental law of agamas triple absolutism or abedha rule which

states that there is no difference between the mantra (energy

quantum) yantra (two dimensional representation) and devata (three

dimensional form) all are same but at different planes.

 

In this sense, temples, apart from spiritual center of

individual transformation and symbolic representation of the

evolution itself, is in physical mundane sense a huge radiation

center of energy, like any Super Specialty Hospital with a huge

radiation wing. The deity (devata) within temple in spiritual sense

(adhi atmika artha) represent the supreme consciousness manifested

within universe (viswantargata Brahman within brahmanda) bound by

concept of time (kaala) as represented by mutual conversion of

energy and matter as represented in e=mc2 (purusha and prakriti) and

manifested in well defined states or form like solids, liquids,

gaseous and plasma (rupa.) But this is representation only not the

physical transfer of Brahman to the geographical location of the

temple.

 

In this sense temple is not a military garrison. As any

hospital can be destroyed and the radiation machinery worth billions

of dollars vandalized by uneducated, unintelligent anti-science and

retrograde fanatic cultures, so too the nomadic Islamic tribes

invading India cared only about the gold and silver and destroyed the

temples. In the same way the greedy Christians in Americas cared only

for gold and silver beneath the temples. Once this source of energy

radiation, which is a negative energy balance in nature, which is the

temple, was removed from social life of Indians hundreds of thousands

of Indians were to die of diseases transmitted by the Europeans with

out even fighting. These temples that were looted all across the

world in a real sense were universal treasures. They represent the

highest intelligence of the human progress, as intelligence is

delicate and pious and to be protected so too intelligent inventions

need to be protected by powerful administrations and even by people.

In this sense it is the failure of the Indian kings that made the

temples fall rather than the " no power of deities " .

 

In one of several dialogues, my mentor gave me an

analogy. He stated that if a renowned painter paints the picture of

a full moon on a map and if some child goes and tears it down to

pieces, in this context as the painted image of moon could not defend

it self, it does not negate the existence of either moon, or Sun who

is responsible for moon to shine, or the capability of the renowned

painter to paint. Temples too are same. That is why it is stated in

sastras that building and protecting temples is part of environmental

debt (deva runa) that every one who took birth has to repay.

 

Conclusion

 

How much power a particular temple radiate? Experiments need be done.

There is a rough indicator. One rough indicator is the popularity of

the temple in attracting devotees. Medical Astrology which deals with

the radiation and vibration energy imbalances within a particular

individual and suggests a corresponding exact math of energy needed

to correct imbalances prescribes living in certain temple vicinities

to get cure for certain health problems. For example Sri Kalahasti

temple dedicated to the Vayu Linga of Shiva, said to be the place

where the people suffering with leprosy should go and reside for

certain duration. In the same way people suffering with one

particular form of infertility called naga dosha should visit

Rameswaram temple for specified duration.

 

Tip of ice berg.

 

What was depicted in the above pages is the tip of the ice berg. To

answer and understand a simple question as to why temples are built

with clay we needed hundreds of branches of scientific disciplines

and evolution of science over a 200 year period. To provide

explanations for agama texts presenting the summary in Sanskrit of

all those hundreds of scientific disciplines probably require many

years. Sanskrit is the language of sages who wrote these texts. For

generations, temple builders (shilpis), temple worshippers (archakas)

temple goers (bhaktas) never questioned the procedures. We lost much

of this information during alien invasions that plundered temples

just for the gem stones in the ground and gold engravings over the

temple towers. In the modern times since 50 years, remaining agama

texts are not systematically studied and worst not followed. The

greatest crime is that we are shifting the temple construction method

from clay to cement. This will destroy those who know the art of

temple construction with clay. Once they are dead we can no longer

get back the knowledge lost. In the same way, even today in many

villages the houses are also built with clay (at times even two three

story buildings also) which keeps warmth in winter and coolness in

summer (acts as natural air conditioner). By going to cement (which

can with stand only for 150 years) in the name of modernization and

making MNCs rich, we are doing great dfis-service and injustice to

the great knowledge of construction practices (the clay houses last

for more than thousands of years as we have seen in the case of

temples) that saved us-preceding generations and will save future

generations from radiation, disease and illness and destruction.

 

Whether unwillingly or by design or collusion, the

process of building the dams over the river is altering two things.

First, the electrical flow of the course of the river and thus the

associated electro magnetic fields associated with the soil in all

temples which are there on the banks of the rivers from the point of

dam are all altered. The temples will become slowly powerless as the

main source of energy radiation is cut off. Second, creating the huge

dams will create the tension and stress by large bodies of water in

dam area and this constant pressure will in next 5 to 10 years

relieve it self at another place in the form of earthquakes. Many

interesting studies are done in this regard all over the world. In

the most advanced European countries they follow a system of French

canals for irrigation. For electricity they use nuclear than hydro

electric energy. They never destroyed their river flows. Indians

raced to build the dams and reduced the source of energy radiation to

main temples like SriSailam (SriSailam Dam) Tirupati (Kalyani dam)

etc altering the main features of existence like soil fertility

itself.

 

Also see, recently under extreme linguist regionalism-

knowingly or unknowingly- the then chief minister Mr. Karunanidhi

wanted / ordered to recite mantras only in tamil rather than in

original Girvana in all main temples in Tamil Nadu. This process is

aimed either knowingly or unknowingly to weaken the power of the

temple areas and deities as the continuous recitation of mantra

creates a resonance effect that charges the gem stones, clears the

atmosphere from toxins that were pumped by unscrupulous industrial

wastes. The resonance energy is picked up by clay built temples to

nourish the soil. Since 1964 in all western governments from

Switzerland to Germany even NASA spent billions of dollars to study

the effects of mantras (ultrasonic, subsonic and sonic frequencies)

on atmosphere, weather, earth crusts, growth of plants babies,

stratosphere, ionosphere and individuals.

 

India was protected from so much of disease and

destruction due to the existence of these temples, and the nourishing

food grown with the aid of radiated energies provided by these

temples built thousands of years before even today prevent the deadly

diseases like AIDS, SARS from affecting us. Unless these temples are

destroyed completely, we will not be susceptible to the disease

making the MNCs rich.

 

So, as usual, the process of temple destruction is

started starting first from snatching temple lands. Then, most of the

temple revenues diverted to run the general administrations of state

governments and close to 65% of the general revenue come from temple

income. Harassing priests, reducing services in temples, ridiculing

temple goers, diverting funds for personal use are becoming routine.

Dumping temple management boards with totally callous, unscrupulous,

corrupt public servants belonging to various political parties who

neither knew about temple management nor about the science behind

them with a sole aim of destroying the sanctity of temples. And many

more.

 

Arise, awake and stop till the goal of following dharma subservient

to truth is not achieved.

 

LET US NOT FAIL OR WAVER IN OUR DIVINE SERVICE OF OUR MOTHER LAND.

 

Jai Bharat

 

 

 

 

 

Source : Indian Heritage Research Foundation, Ontario .

 

 

 

 

 

To increase chaitanya of Temple

 

The Panchamahayajnams (rituals) are called a) Brahma yajnam b) Deva

yajnam c) Bhootha yajnam d) Pithruyajnam e) Manushya yajnam

• Brahmayajnam means Vedapadham. In all big temples a

person/persons used to be employed to recite Vedas in the very early

morning. In Yajnasala veda recital is at Sadass. In temple it is at

Mandapam.

• Devayajnam is the pooja inside the Sanctum Sanctorum. The

recitals resemble that of Yajna.(See item 8)

• Pitruyajnam is the kriya done inside Thidappilly during

Thuval.(Thidappally is the place where cooking is done for Nivedyam,

to be offered to God)

• Thuval is Bhoothayajnam.(worship of all the upadevas located

around the sanctum sanctorum)

• Ootu or feeding is Manushya yajnam.(feeding the poor and

pilgrims)

Five important items which increase the Chaitanya (spiritual power)

of a temple;-

1. The " thapa sakti of Thanthris and poojaris " –

The celibate

and pure life of these people are of utmost importance for the

temple. Recently some of them have become so egoistic, that they try

to even go against age-old practices, misinterpreting the tantric

laws. At Angadipuram temple one Thanthri forgot that he was a Brahmin

and in order to spite the Trustee of the temple, snatched away the

bow and arrow from the Trustee's nephew and shot the Jackfruit

(representing the wild boar) during the Arat during the Pooram.

2. Murajapam: There should be at least one Brahmin appointed to

recite Vedas daily in the early mornings at the temples. He has to

sit in the early morning before sunrise on the Mandapam and recite

the Vedas. All the three Vedas are to be completed at least once in

the month.. A few temples like Guruvayur continue this practice even

now. Most of the Devaswam board temples do not have this arrangement.

3. Daily poojas and other rituals.(as given above under

panchamahayajnam)

4. Utsavam: Utsavas are of three types. The most elaborate is

Ankurathi. There is Prasasada sudhi in an evening, Bimbasudhi next

morning, then Ankuraropanam (sowing the seed) before the actual

utsava starts. Sowing is done after the seeds are soaked in milk and

kept in earthen pots and watered daily after mixing the water with

haldi powder. There should be a room at the northeastern corner of

the temple called sprout room. Its door should face the west. .Poojas

is to be performed before the seeds are kept for sprouting. (Recent

experiments have proved that sprouting is faster if soaked in milk,

and haldi powder is an insecticide.)

5) Annadanam: (Feeding the poor devotees and the pilgrims who come to

pray at the temple) This is to be done daily for all poor people

around, and pilgrims who visit the temple. Nobody can concentrate on

God with an empty stomach except great saints. Feeding the poor

pleases god.

The temples were the centre of all activities in Bharat including the

Government.(One reason why the invaders wanted to destroy the temples

first). The Rituals in the temple were for the health of the mind and

body. Bharathiya sanskruti did not permit us to have an organised

(political) religion and we never tried to expand within or beyond

our borders. Later when we came under attack from foreign organised

religions, many of our brothers lost the freedom to preserve our

mental and physical health, Freedom to think what is right and what

is wrong and also to carry out healthy rituals. This has resulted in

new organisations springing up throughout India to protect the

freedom of thinking in Bharat.

The name Hindu is given to us by foreigners . The name Bharat means

Agni or fire. We did worship Agni (Agnijwala ) because we knew that

it reflects the power of the " Sun " , the giver of all energy.

Kalasam:- This is carried out whenever renovation is to be done to

the pedestal of the Bimbam (Deity) or any part of the sanctum

sanctorum at the temple. The chaitanya of the Deity is transferred to

earthenware vessels by elaborate rituals and only then are repairs

etc done to the Deity (Bimbam) and the sanctum sanctorum. Afterwards

the Chaitanya is again retransferred to the deity before regular

poojas are conducted.

 

 

 

PLEASE ALSO READ AMAZING SCIENCE PART I & II FROM BHARATH HERITAGE

GROUP IN .COM

 

 

 

PLEASE ALSO READ AMAZING SCIENCE PART I & II FROM BHARATH-HERITAGE

GROUP FROM .COM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Message from Bharat-Heritage on 27.6.2004

 

Amazing Science (Part 3)

 

The following topics are researched and the text written by

Sadhu Brahmaviharidas

AARSH - Akshardham Centre for Applied Research in Social Harmony

 

University (The world's first university)

Takshashila (Taxila)

 

Around 2700 years ago, as early as 700 BCE there existed a giant

University at Takshashila, located in the northwest region of India .

 

Not only Indians but also students from as far as Babylonia ,

Greece , Syria , Arabia and China came to study.

 

68 different streams of knowledge were on the syllabus.

 

Experienced masters taught a wide range of subjects.

 

Vedas, Language, Grammar, Philosophy, Medicine, Surgery, Archery,

Politics, Warfare, Astronomy, Accounts, commerce, Futurology,

Documentation, Occult, Music, Dance, The art of discovering hidden

treasures, etc.

 

The minimum entrance age was 16 and there were 10,500 students.

 

The panel of Masters included renowned names like Kautilya, Panini,

Jivak and Vishnu Sharma.

__________________________

Taxila University

 

Takshashila, (later corrupted as Taxila), one of the topmost centers

of education at that time in India became Chanakya's breeding ground

of acquiring knowledge in the practical and theoretical aspect. The

teachers were highly knowledgeable who used to teach sons of kings.

It is said that a certain teacher had 101 students and all of them

were princes! The university at Taxila was well versed in teaching

the subjects using the best of practical knowledge acquired by the

teachers. The age of entering the university was sixteen. The

branches of studies most sought after in around India ranged from

law, medicine, warfare and other indigenous forms of learning. The

four Vedas, archery, hunting, elephant-lore and 18 arts were taught

at the University of Taxila . So prominent was the place where

Chanakya received his education that it goes to show the making of

the genius. The very requirements of admission filtered out the

outlawed and people with lesser credentials.

 

At a time when the Dark Ages were looming large, the existence of a

university of Taxila 's grandeur really makes India stand apart way

ahead of the European countries who struggled with ignorance and

total information blackout. For the Indian subcontinent Taxila stood

as a light house of higher knowledge and pride of India . In the

present day world, Taxila is situated in Pakistan at a place called

Rawalpindi . The university accommodated more than 10,000 students at

a time. The university offered courses spanning a period of more than

eight years. The students were admitted after graduating from their

own countries. Aspiring students opted for elective subjects going

for in depth studies in specialized branches of learning. After

graduating from the university, the students are recognized as the

best scholars in the subcontinent. It became a cultural heritage as

time passed. Taxila was the junction where people of different

origins mingled with each other and exchanged knowledge of their

countries.

 

The university was famous as " Taxila " university, named after the

city where it was situated. The king and rich people of the region

used to donate lavishly for the development of the university. In the

religious scriptures also, Taxila is mentioned as the place where the

king of snakes, Vasuki selected Taxila for the dissemination of

knowledge on earth.

 

Here it would be essential to mention briefly the range of subjects

taught in the university of Taxila . (1) Science, (2) Philosophy, (3)

Ayurveda, (4) Grammar of various languages, (5) Mathematics, (6)

Economics, (7) Astrology, (8) Geography, (9) Astronomy, (10) Surgical

science, (11) Agricultural sciences, (12) Archery and Ancient and

Modern Sciences.

 

The university also used to conduct researches on various subjects.

 

Mathematics

 

Zero –The Most Powerful Tool

 

India invented the Zero, without which there would be no binary

system. No computers! Counting would be clumsy and cumbersome! The

earliest recorded date, an inscription of Zero on Sankheda Copper

Plate was found in Gujarat , India (585-586 CE). In Brahma-Phuta-

Siddhanta of Brahmagupta (7th century CE), the Zero is lucidly

explained and was rendered into Arabic books around 770 CE. From

these it was carried to Europe in the 8th century. However, the

concept of Zero is referred to as Shunya in the early Sanskrit texts

of the 4th century BCE and clearly explained in Pingala's Sutra of

the 2nd century.

 

Geometry

 

Invention of Geometry

 

The word Geometry seems to have emerged from the Indian

word `Gyaamiti' which means measuring the Earth. And the word

Trigonometry is similar to `Trikonamiti' meaning measuring triangular

forms. Euclid is credited with the invention of Geometry in 300 BCE

while the concept of Geometry in India emerged in 1000 BCE, from the

practice of making fire altars in square and rectangular shapes. The

treatise of Surya Siddhanta (4th century CE) describes amazing

details of Trigonometry, which were introduced to Europe 1200 years

later in the 16th century by Briggs.

 

The Value of Pi in India

 

The ratio of the circumference and the diameter of a circle are known

as Pi, which gives its value as 3,1428571. The old Sanskrit text

Baudhayana Shulba Sutra of the 6th century BCE mentions this ratio as

approximately equal to 3. Aryabhatta in 499, CE worked the value of

Pi to the fourth decimal place as 3.1416. Centuries later, in 825 CE

Arab mathematician Mohammed Ibna Musa says that " This value has been

given by the Hindus (Indians) " .

 

Pythagorean Theorem or Baudhayana Theorem?

 

The so-called Pythagoras Theorem – the square of the hypotenuse of a

right-angled triangle equals the sum of the square of the two sides –

was worked out earlier in India by Baudhayana in Baudhayana Sulba

Sutra. He describes: " The area produced by the diagonal of a

rectangle is equal to the sum of the area produced by it on two

sides. "

 

[Note: Greek writers attributed the theorem of Euclid to Pythagoras]

 

Mathematics

The Decimal

 

100BCE the Decimal system flourished in India

 

" It was India that gave us the ingenious method of expressing all

numbers by means of ten symbols (Decimal System)….a profound and

important idea which escaped the genius of Archimedes and Apollonius,

two of the greatest men produced by antiquity. "

 

-La Place

 

Raising 10 to the Power of 53

 

The highest prefix used for raising 10 to a power in today's maths

is `D' for 10 to a power of 30 (from Greek Deca). While, as early as

100 BCE Indian Mathematicians had exact names for figures upto 10 to

the power of 53.

 

ekam =1

dashakam =10

shatam =100 (10 to the power of 10)

sahasram =1000 (10 power of 3)

dashasahasram =10000 (10 power of 4)

lakshaha =100000 (10 power of 5)

dashalakshaha =1000000 (10 power of 6)

kotihi =10000000 (10 power of 7)

ayutam =1000000000 (10 power of 9) (1 BILLION)

niyutam = (10 power of 11)

kankaram = (10 power of 13)

vivaram = (10 power of 15)

paraardhaha = (10 power of 17)

nivahaaha = (10 power of 19)

utsangaha = (10 power of 21)

bahulam = (10 power of 23)

naagbaalaha = (10 power of 25)

titilambam = (10 power of 27)

vyavasthaana

 

pragnaptihi = (10 power of 29)

hetuheelam = (10 power of 31)

karahuhu = (10 power of 33)

hetvindreeyam = (10 power of 35)

samaapta lambhaha = (10 power of 37)

gananaagatihi) = (10 power of 39)

niravadyam = (10 power of 41)

mudraabaalam = (10 power of 43)

sarvabaalam = (10 power of 45)

vishamagnagatihi = (10 power of 47)

sarvagnaha = (10 power of 49)

vibhutangamaa = (10 power of 51)

tallaakshanam = (10 power of 53)

 

(In Anuyogdwaar Sutra written in 100 BCE one

numeral is raised as high as 10 to the power of 140).

 

Astronomy

 

Indian astronomers have been

mapping the skies for 3500 years.

 

1000 Years Before Copernicus

 

Copernicus published his theory of the revolution of the Earth in

1543. A thousand years before him, Aryabhatta in 5th century (400-500

CE) stated that the Earth revolves around the sun, " just as a person

travelling in a boat feels that the trees on the bank are moving,

people on earth feel that the sun is moving " . In his treatise

Aryabhatteeam, he clearly states that our earth is round, it rotates

on its axis, orbits the sun and is suspended in space and explains

that lunar and solar eclipses occur by the interplay of the sun, the

moon and the earth.

 

The Law of Gravity - 1200 Years before Newton

 

The Law of Gravity was known to the ancient Indian astronomer

Bhaskaracharya. In his Surya Siddhanta, he notes:

 

" Objects fall on earth due to a force of attraction by the earth.

Therefore, the earth, the planets, constellations, the moon and the

sun are held in orbit due to this attraction " .

 

It was not until the late 17th century in 1687, 1200 years later,

that Sir Isaac Newton rediscovered the Law of Gravity.

 

Measurement of Time

 

In Surya Siddhanta, Bhaskaracharya calculates the time taken for the

earth to orbit the sun to 9 decimal places.

 

Bhaskaracharya = 365.258756484 days.

 

Modern accepted measurement = 365.2596 days.

 

Between Bhaskaracharya's ancient measurement 1500 years ago and the

modern measurement the difference is only 0.00085 days, only 0.0002%.

 

34000TH of a Second to 4.32 Billion Years

 

India has given the idea of the smallest and the largest measure of

time.

 

Krati Krati = 34,000th of a second

 

1 Truti = 300th of a second

2 Truti = 1 Luv

 

2 Luv = 1 Kshana

30 Kshana = 1 Vipal

 

60 Vipal = 1 Pal

60 Pal = 1 Ghadi (24 minutes)

 

2.5 Gadhi = 1 Hora (1 hour)

24 Hora = 1 Divas (1 day)

 

7 Divas = 1 saptaah (1 week)

4 Saptaah = 1 Maas (1 month)

 

2 Maas = 1 Rutu (1 season)

6 Rutu = 1 Varsh (1 year)

 

100 Varsh = 1 Shataabda (1 century)

10 Shataabda = 1 sahasraabda

 

432 Sahasraabda = 1 Yug (Kaliyug)

2 Yug = 1 Dwaaparyug

 

3 Yug = 1 Tretaayug

4 Yug = 1 Krutayug

 

10 Yug = 1 Mahaayug (4,320,000 years)

1000 Mahaayug = 1 Kalpa

1 Kalpa = 4.32 billion years (one day of Brahman) + 4.32 billion

years (one night of Brahman)

 

100 years = one life time of Brahman = 3.11 trillion years

 

Plastic Surgery in India 2600 Years Old

 

Shushruta, known as the father of surgery, practiced his skill as

early as 600 BCE. He used cheek skin to perform plastic surgery to

restore or reshape the nose, ears and lips with incredible results.

Modern plastic surgery acknowledges his contributions by calling this

method of rhinoplasty as the Indian method.

 

125 Types of Surgical Instruments

 

" The Hindus (Indians) were so advanced in surgery that their

instruments could cut a hair longitudinally " .

 

MRS Plunket

 

Shushruta worked with 125 kinds of surgical instruments, which

included scalpels, lancets, needles, catheters, rectal speculums,

mostly conceived from jaws of animals and birds to obtain the

necessary grips. He also defined various methods of stitching: the

use of horse's hair, fine thread, fibers of bark, goat's guts and

ant's heads.

 

300 Different Operations

 

Shushruta describes the details of more than 300 operations and 42

surgical processes. In his compendium Shushruta Samhita he minutely

classifies surgery into 8 types:

 

Aharyam = extracting solid bodies

 

Bhedyam = excision

 

Chhedyam = incision

 

Aeshyam = probing

 

Lekhyam = scarification

 

Vedhyam = puncturing

 

Visraavyam = evacuating fluids

 

Sivyam = suturing

 

The ancient Indians were also the first to perform amputation,

caesarean surgery and cranial surgery. For rhinoplasty, Shushruta

first measured the damaged nose, skillfully sliced off skin from the

cheek and sutured the nose. He then placed medicated cotton pads to

heal the operation.

 

India's Contributions Acknowledged

 

Contributions

 

" It is true that even across the Himalayan barrier India has sent to

the west, such gifts as grammar and logic, philosophy and fables,

hypnotism and chess, and above all numerals and the decimal system. "

 

Will Durant (American Historian, 1885-1981)

 

Language

 

" The Sanskrit language, whatever be its antiquity, is of wonderful

structure, more perfect than the Greek, more copious than the Latin

and more exquisitely refined than either " .

 

Sir William Jones (British Orientalist, 1746-1794)

 

Philosophy

 

~If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully

developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the

greatest problems of life, and has found solutions, I should point

out to India " .

 

Max Muller (German Scholar, 1823-1900

 

Religion

 

" There can no longer be any real doubt that both Islam and

Christianity owe the foundations of both their mystical and their

scientific achievements to Indian initiatives " .

 

- Philip Rawson (British Orientalist)

 

Atomic Physics

 

" After the conversations about Indian philosophy, some of the ideas

of Quantum Physics that had seemed so crazy suddenly made much more

sense " .

 

W. Heisenberg (German Physicist, 1901-1976)

 

Surgery

 

" The surgery of the ancient Indian physicians was bold and skilful. A

special branch of surgery was devoted to rhinoplasty or operations

for improving deformed ears, noses and forming new ones, which

European surgeons have now borrowed " .

 

Sir W.Hunter (British Surgeon, 1718-1783)

 

Literature

 

" In the great books of India , an Empire spoke to us, nothing small

or unworthy, but large, serene, consistent, the voice of an old

intelligence which in another age and climate had pondered and thus

disposed of the questions that exercises us " .

 

- R.W.Emerson (American Essayist, 1803-1882)

 

 

 

LET US NOT FAIL OR WAVER IN OUR DIVINE SERVICE OF OUR

 

MOTHER LAND.

 

Jai Bharat

 

 

 

Amazing Science (Part 4)

 

Grammar

Phonetics, Phonology, and Morphology

 

Panini's grammar has been evaluated from various points of view.

After all these different evaluations, I think that the grammar

merits asserting ... that it is one of the greatest monuments of

human intelligence.

Panini

Article by: J J O'Connor and E F Robertson

School of Mathematics and Statistics

University of St Andrews, Scotland

 

Born: about 520 BC in Shalatula (near Attock),

now Pakistan Died: about 460 BC in India

 

Panini was born in Shalatula, a town near to Attock on the Indus

River in present day Pakistan . The dates given for Panini are pure

guesses. Experts give dates in the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th century BC

and there is also no agreement among historians about the extent of

the work which he undertook. What is in little doubt is that, given

the period in which he worked, he is one of the most innovative

people in the whole development of knowledge. We will say a little

more below about how historians have gone about trying to pinpoint

the date when Panini lived.

 

Panini was a Sanskrit grammarian who gave a comprehensive and

scientific theory of phonetics, phonology, and morphology. Sanskrit

was the classical literary language of the Indian Hindus and Panini

is considered the founder of the language and literature. It is

interesting to note that the word " Sanskrit " means " complete "

or " perfect " and it was thought of as the divine language, or

language of the gods.

 

A treatise called Astadhyayi (or Astaka ) is Panini's major work. It

consists of eight chapters, each subdivided into quarter chapters. In

this work Panini distinguishes between the language of sacred texts

and the usual language of communication. Panini gives formal

production rules and definitions to describe Sanskrit grammar.

Starting with about 1700 basic elements like nouns, verbs, vowels,

consonants he put them into classes. The construction of sentences,

compound nouns etc. is explained as ordered rules operating on

underlying structures in a manner similar to modern theory. In many

ways Panini's constructions are similar to the way that a

mathematical function is defined today. Joseph writes in [2]:-

 

Sanskrit's potential for scientific use was greatly enhanced as a

result of the thorough systemisation of its grammar by Panini. On

the basis of just under 4000 sutras [rules expressed as aphorisms],

he built virtually the whole structure of the Sanskrit language,

whose general 'shape' hardly changed for the next two thousand

years. ... An indirect consequence of Panini's efforts to increase

the linguistic facility of Sanskrit soon became apparent in the

character of scientific and mathematical literature.

 

Joseph goes on to make a convincing argument for the algebraic nature

of Indian mathematics arising as a consequence of the structure of

the Sanskrit language. In particular he suggests that algebraic

reasoning, the Indian way of representing numbers by words, and

ultimately the development of modern number systems in India , are

linked through the structure of language.

 

Panini should be thought of as the forerunner of the modern formal

language theory used to specify computer languages. The Backus Normal

Form was discovered independently by John BACKUS in 1959, but

Panini's notation is equivalent in its power to that of BACKUS and

has many similar properties. It is remarkable to think that concepts

which are fundamental to today's theoretical computer science should

have their origin with an Indian genius around 2500 years ago.

 

At the beginning of this article we mentioned that certain concepts

had been attributed to Panini by certain historians which others

dispute. One such theory was put forward by B Indraji in 1876. He

claimed that the Brahmi numerals developed out of using letters or

syllables as numerals. Then he put the finishing touches to the

theory by suggesting that Panini in the eighth century BC (earlier

than most historians place Panini) was the first to come up with the

idea of using letters of the alphabet to represent numbers.

 

There are a number of pieces of evidence to support Indraji's theory

that the Brahmi numerals developed from letters or syllables. However

it is not totally convincing since, to quote one example, the symbols

for 1, 2 and 3 clearly don't come from letters but from one, two and

three lines respectively. Even if one accepts the link between the

numerals and the letters, making Panini the originator of this idea

would seem to have no more behind it than knowing that Panini was one

of the most innovative geniuses that world has known so it is not

unreasonable to believe that he might have made this step too.

 

There are other works which are closely associated with the

Astadhyayi which some historians attribute to Panini, others

attribute to authors before Panini, and others attribute to authors

after Panini. This is an area where there are many theories but few,

if any, hard facts.

 

We also promised to return to a discussion of Panini's dates. There

has been no lack of work on this topic so the fact that there are

theories which span several hundreds of years is not the result of

lack of effort, rather an indication of the difficulty of the topic.

The usual way to date such texts would be to examine which authors

are referred to and which authors refer to the work. One can use this

technique and see who Panini mentions.

 

There are ten scholars mentioned by Panini and we must assume from

the context that these ten have all contributed to the study of

Sanskrit grammar. This in itself, of course, indicates that Panini

was not a solitary genius but, like Newton , had " stood on the

shoulders of giants " . Now Panini must have lived later than these ten

but this is absolutely no help in providing dates since we have

absolutely no knowledge of when any of these ten lived.

 

What other internal evidence is there to use? Well of course Panini

uses many phrases to illustrate his grammar and these have been

examined meticulously to see if anything is contained there to

indicate a date. To give an example of what we mean: if we were to

pick up a text which contained as an example " I take the train to

work every day " we would know that it had to have been written after

railways became common. Let us illustrate with two actual examples

from the Astadhyayi which have been the subject of much study. The

first is an attempt to see whether there is evidence of Greek

influence. Would it be possible to find evidence which would mean

that the text had to have been written after the conquests of

Alexander the Great? There is a little evidence of Greek influence,

but there was Greek influence on this north east part of the Indian

subcontinent before the time of Alexander. Nothing conclusive has

been identified.

 

Another angle is to examine a reference Panini makes to nuns. Now

some argue that these must be Buddhist nuns and therefore the work

must have been written after Buddha. A nice argument but there is a

counter argument which says that there were Jaina nuns before the

time of Buddha and Panini's reference could equally well be to them.

Again the evidence is inconclusive.

 

There are references by others to Panini. However it would appear

that the Panini to whom most refer is a poet and although some argue

that these are the same person, most historians agree that the

linguist and the poet are two different people. Again this is

inconclusive evidence.

 

Let us end with an evaluation of Panini's contribution by Cardona in

[1]:-

 

Panini's grammar has been evaluated from various points of view.

After all these different evaluations, I think that the grammar

merits asserting ... that it is one of the greatest monuments of

human intelligence.

 

Article by: J J O'Connor and E F Robertson

 

School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews ,

Scotland

 

" Panini, famous grammarian of the Sanskrit language, lived in India

some time between the 7th and the 4th centuries B.C. Following in the

steps of the Brahmi alphabet makers, he became the most renowned of

the grammarians. His work on Sanskrit, with its 4,168 rules, is

outstanding for its highly systematic methods of analyzing and

describing language.

 

The birth of linguistic science in Western Europe in the 19th century

was due largely to the European discovery of Panini's Sanskrit

grammar, making linguistics a science.

 

The modern science of linguistics is the basis for producing

alphabets for languages yet unwritten today. "

 

JAARS Alphabet Museum

Box 248

Waxhaw, NC 28173

 

Panini's grammar (6th century BCE or earlier) provides 4,000 rules

that describe the Sanskrit of his day completely. This grammar is

acknowledged to be one of the greatest intellectual achievements of

all time. The great variety of language mirrors, in many ways, the

complexity of nature and, therefore, success in describing a language

is as impressive as a complete theory of physics. It is remarkable

that Panini set out to describe the entire grammar in terms of a

finite number of rules. Scholars have shown that the grammar of

Panini represents a universal grammatical and computing system. From

this perspective it anticipates the logical framework of modern

computers. One may speak of a Panini machine as a model for the most

powerful computing system.

 

Source: Staal, F. 1988. Universals. Chicago : University of Chicago

Press.

 

Panini was a Sanskrit grammarian who gave a comprehensive and

scientific theory of phonetics, phonology, and morphology. Sanskrit

was the classical literary language of the Indian Hindus.

 

In a treatise called Astadhyayi Panini distinguishes between the

language of sacred texts and the usual language of communication.

Panini gives formal production rules and definitions to describe

Sanskrit grammar. The construction of sentences, compound nouns etc.

is explained as ordered rules operating on underlying structures in a

manner similar to modern theory.

 

Panini should be thought of as the forerunner of the modern formal

language theory used to specify computer languages. The Backus Normal

Form was discovered independently by John Backus in 1959, but

Panini's notation is equivalent in its power to that of Backus and

has many similar properties.

 

 

 

LET US NOT FAIL OR WAVER IN OUR DIVINE SERVICE OF OUR

 

MOTHER LAND.

 

Jai Bharat

 

 

 

 

Vastu Shastra

&

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gopurum of Temple built according to Vastu Shastra By Swami B. G.

Narasingha

With the passing of the ages empires are created and destroyed, new

cultures appear and then again fade, like changing seasons into the

shadows of eternity. Vanishing into oblivion, all that remains of

those that were once great and powerful in this world are but a

handful of relics. Time, the destroyer of all things, vanquishes even

the most invincible empires leaving behind their remnants to be

marveled at by future civilizations. And marvel we do at the wonders

of the past, especially the architectural wonders. Be it the pyramids

of Egypt, the cathedrals of Rome, the Parthenon of Athens, the

Forbidden City in Beijing, or Stonehenge, our mind is at once awed by

the beauty and grandeur of ancient architecture.

Vastu Sastra continued

 

Vastu Shastra & Sacred Vedic Architecture cont.

Until recent years modern society has viewed much of the world's

ancient architecture and art as " simply decorative " or, in a general

sense, as a tribute to God; not that it might have any " practical "

function in helping us to understand tha nature of the world we live

in. However, recent studies in the field of sacred architecture

(Vastu Shastra) by men like Keith Critchlow of the Royal College of

Art in London have uncovered hidden dimensions revealing a far-

reaching connection between architecture and the nature of existence.

Critchlow, perhaps the best-known advocate of the theory of sacred

architecture, believes that basic architectural principles on the

physical level are integral with structure on the metaphysical level.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yali, Protector of the Temple .

 

Most sacred architects maintain that the ultimate reality exists

beyond the mundane plane of temporary forms. As such, that higher

reality, infinite in nature, can make itself known to the finite

living entities, in the world here below. It does so through revealed

forms which, while seemingly limited and temporary, provide a bridge

between the finite and the infinite.Some regard the ideal forms of

sacred Vastu architecture as metaphors while others prefer to see

them as fixed, eternal truths. In any case it is a fact that sacred

architectural forms (as presented in the Vastu Shastra) have the

ability to uplift the human consciousness from the mundane reality to

the supernatural.William Irwin Thompson of the Lindisfarne Mountain

Retreat in Colorado says about his chapel, " Anyone entering our

chapel-no matter what their religion-would feel the sacred calling of

the place and wish to sit in silence. " Architect Michael Baron

reports that people sometimes cry the first time they enter the

Lindisfarne Chapel. He explains, " They find it touches something very

familiar inside them. Others don't say a word; they sense the

sacredness of the place. They may not be sure what's going on, but

they are affected by it. "

Throughout the world it's hard to find a place where sacred

architecture is as developed a science as is that found in India .

India 's ancient temples and palaces are certainly among the finest

ever built. From the Taj Mahal, the seventh wonder of the world, to

the Pagodas of Tamil Nadu, from the Himalayan hill shrines to the

great temple at Jagannatha Puri , India is a veritable treasure-house

of sacred architecture. In fact there are more existing examples of

sacred architecture in India than in all other countries of the world

combined.The knowledge of sacred architecture in India has existed in

the oral tradition since before the Vedic Age, some five thousand

years ago. From the oral tradition it was later recorded in the

Sanskrit mantras and compiled under the title Vastu Shastra.

According to Indian authorities the Vastu Shastra is possibly the

oldest known architectural treatise in the world today.The word

shastra means literature or more accurately " enlightened literature. "

The word vastu, meaning the manifest, comes from the word vustu,

meaning the unmanifest. The philosophical purport of the words vustu

and vastu form the basic concepts of India's sacred architecture and

are among the first lessons taught to the students of Vastu Shastra.

That which is manifest in this world, vastu, it is said, is

originally existing on the plane of the transcendental or unmanifest,

vustu.To instruct the beginning students of the Vastu Shastra about

the meanings of vustu and vastu, the unmanifest and the manifest

realities, the example is used of the moon and its reflection in

water. " The moon is present in the sky, but when rising above a lake

it becomes visible or manifest in the water. In the same way the

origin of all things exists first in the eternal reality and then

becomes manifest here below in the world of gross sensual objects. "

This simple analogy demonstrates the nature of vustu, that which

exists eternally, and vastu, that which is temporarily manifest.The

students of the Vastu Shastra thus perceive existence in terms of two

dimensions: first the infinite spiritual realm and second the finite

accommodating space for insentient material objects. This concept of

a superior plane of existence, where the original form of things

exist eternally, is the basis of India 's sacred

architecture.

Maya danava, founder of sacred architecture

While researching sacred architecture we talked with Ganapati

Sthapati, the Senior Architect at the Government College of

Architecture and Sculpture in Mahabalipuram, South India . Sthapati

informed us that the science of the Vastu Shastra is traceable to at

least the year 3000 B.C., if not before. The earliest known master of

the Vastu Shastra was Maya Danava, recognized as the founder of the

tradition of India 's sacred architecture. Sthapati, who holds the

esteemed title Brahma Sri, awarded to him by the government of India

for his achievements in the field of architecture, further assured us

that the science of Vastu Shastra is a living tradition in India and

is in no danger of becoming extinct.We visited several classrooms at

the college where students are taught the variety of skills and

techniques necessary in the science of sacred architecture. Beginning

with concept and design, the students are taught each and every

aspect of sacred architecture: geometry, drafting, stone sculpture,

bronze casting, wood carving, painting, etc. All the textbooks and

reference materials are written in Sanskrit, which every student is

required to learn.Those students who excel in all phases of sacred

architecture will graduate with a degree in architectue and receive

the title Sthapati. Those students specializing in a particular

department of sacred architecture like sculpture or painting become

certified as Master Artisans. After earning a degree graduating

students will have the opportunity to apply their designing skills in

building temples and other facilities requiring knowledge of the

Vastu Shastra.Of all types of structures in the field of sacred

architecture, the building of a temple requires the utmost degree of

knowledge and training. Those building a house, a school or even an

office building take into consideration the basic knowledge of sacred

architecture for successful execution; but the temple, being the very

abode of divinity, requires the greatest skills and is the most

painstaking in its execution. In the development of a temple project

all phases of construction from beginning to end are thought out and

executed according to the direction of the Vastu Shastra.

Ganapati Stapati, the Senior Architect at the

Vastu Government College of Architecture

 

First of all it is necessary to select a suitable place where the

temple should be built. The suitable choices are mentioned in the

Vastu Sastra: " The best location to build a temple is at a tirtha

(holy place). " " A tirtha, " says Ganapati Sthapati, " is a ford or

crossing place from this world to the above-a point of marriage

between transcendence and the mundane. A tirtha provides a crossing

place for the upward journey of the soul and a place for the downward

crossing-for the crossing of higher entities who sometimes descend to

this world for the good of mankind. " If construction of the temple at

a tirtha is not possible then another appropriate location should be

found. The vastu shastra then says, " The temple of Godhead should be

situated in a beautiful place where rivers flow, on the banks of a

lake or by the seashore; on hill tops, mountain slopes, or in a

hidden valley. The site of the temple may be selected in a forest, a

grove, or in a beautiful garden. Temples should also be built in

villages, towns and cities or on an island, surrounded by water. " Next

a construction plan is required and here begins the highly technical

aspect of sacred architecture-to bring about the descent or

manifestation of the unmanifest and unseen. Ganapati Sthapati

explained this process to us in great detail. " The architect or

Sthapati begins by drafting a square. The square is literally the

fundamental form of sacred architecture in India . It is considered

the essential and perfect form. It presupposes the circle and results

from it. Expanding energy shapes the circle from the center; it is

established in the shape of the square. The circle and curve belong

to life in its growth and movement. The square is the mark of order,

the finality to the expanding life, life's form and the perfection

beyond life and death. From the square all requisite forms can be

derived: the triangle, hexagon, octagon, circle etc. The architect

calls this square the vastu-purusha-mandala—vastu the manifest,

purusha the Cosmic Being, and mandala, in this case, the

polygon. " When completed the vastu-purusha-mandala will represent the

manifest form of the Cosmic Being; upon which the temple is built and

in whom the temple rests. The temple is situated in Him, comes from

Him, and is a manifestation of Him. The vastu-purusha-mandala is a

mystical diagram. It is both the body of the Cosmic Being and a

bodily device by which those who have the requisite knowledge attain

the best results in temple building. " The conception of the " Cosmic

Being " as a person has held a prominent place in Indian theistic

thought since time immemorial. We were shown an interesting quotation

in the ancient Sanskrit literature that illustrates the personal

features of the Cosmic Being. " The planetary systems in space from

the highest down to the lowest represent the head, neck, chest,

thighs, legs and feet, respectively, of the Great Universal Being.

His arms are the divine entities headed by Indra, the ten directional

sides are His ears, and physical sound is His sense of hearing. His

mouth is blazing fire. The sphere of outer space constitutes His eye

sockets and the eyeball is the sun as the power of seeing. The rivers

are His veins, the trees are the hair of His body and the omnipotent

air is His breath. The passing ages are His movements. " [1] The

perception of the Cosmic Being is considered to be the preliminary

stage of self-realization and thereby a qualified form of

pantheism.which gradually leads one to understand the personal

feature of the transcendent Godhead.The concept of spirituality in

the system of sacred architecture in India is something that goes

beyond the mere static relations between inert objects and space as

found in other architectural traditions. The relationship of objects

with one another and space in India 's sacred architecture extends to

include higher entities said to be in charge of various aspects of

universal affairs, all of whom carry out their work in accordance

with the will of God.In order to establish the vastu-purusha-mandala

on the construction site, it is first drafted on planning sheets and

later drawn upon the earth at the actual building site. The knowledge

of its meaning and execution is the first discipline which the

architect must master and it requires in-depth understanding of

astrology. The drawing of the mandala upon the earth at the

commencement of construction is a sacred rite in itself. The rites

and execution of the vastu-purusha-mandala, for which a priest will

also be summoned later on, are not accessory nor are they a mere

accompaniment to the temple. They sustain the temple in their own

sphere of effectiveness to the same extent that the actual foundation

supports its weight.

Based on astrological calculations the border of the vastu-purusha-

mandala is subdivided into thirty-two smaller squares called

nakshatras. These nakshatras correspond to the constellations or

lunar mansions through which the moon passes in its monthly course.

The number thirty-two geometrically results from a repeated division

of the border of the single square. It denotes four times the eight

positions in space: north, east, south, west, and their intermediate

points. The closed polygon of thirty-two squares is now symbolical of

the recurrent cycles of time as calculated by the movements of the

moon. Each of the nakshatras is ruled over by a divine entity, called

a deva, which extends its influence to the mandala. Outside the

mandala lie the four directions, symbolic of the meeting of heaven

and earth and which also represent the ecliptic of the sun-east to

west and its rotation to the northern and southern hemispheres..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The center of the mandala is called the station of Brahma, the

first of beings and the engineer of universal order. Surrounding

Brahma are the places of twelve other entities known as the sons of

Aditi, who assist in the affairs of universal management. The

remaining empty squares represent the akasha or pure space. The vastu-

purusha-mandala is now complete, forming a sort of map or diagram of

astrological influences that constitute the order of the universe and

the destinies of human lives. When placed on the building site the

vastu-purusha-mandala determines the time for beginning construction.

Only by the combination of the vastu-purusha-mandala and astrological

calculations can this factor be ascertained.The temple itself should

always face east as that is considered the most auspicious direction-

the place of origin of the sun. From the east appears the rising sun,

the destroyer of darkness. The sun is the giver of life. It brings

joy and happiness and is the watchful eye of the " Cosmic Being. " The

vastu shastra states that a building with improper proportions and

wrong orientation will create an environment which is conducive to

disturbances like disease, death and destruction, and may be

inhabited by subtle entities with envious and deceitful natures.As we

learned more and more about the science of sacred architecture, it

became apparent that the construction of a domestic building or of a

temple is something like the birth of a human being-who according to

the time and place of his birth will come under certain astrological

influences throughout life. The time of construction, the place and

position of a structure are all important factors for the future of

the building. Therefore, according to the vastu shastra, all

structures should be erected according to auspicious astrological

calculations to assure successful execution, longevity, and lasting

prosperity.From the diagram of the vastu-purusha-mandala the

architect next proceeds to develop the vertical and horizontal

dimensions of the temple. Here too a wide range of factors must be

taken into consideration. To guide the sacred architect of today a

long and rich tradition of already existing temples and sacred

buildings in India serves as a great inspiration to his work. The

architect's creative intelligence will be an all-important ingredient

in the final design, while the mandala and the vastu shastra will

continue to be the tools of his execution.The size of the structure

will determine the various kinds of building materials to be used at

different stages of the construction. Building materials like stone,

marble, brick, plaster, wood, etc., are selected for the main body of

the temple, whereas elements like gold and silver will be used for

final ornamentation. Only organic materials are used in sacred

architecture. Manmade materials like simulated marble, plastic and

asbestos are not acceptable building materials. The reason being that

inorganic materials are not considered adequate conductors of cosmic

energies.The plotting graphs of the temple are divided into two main

sections-the ground plan and the vertical alignment. The square, the

rectangle, the octagon and the pentagon are fundamental patterns in

the horizontal or ground plan. In the vertical alignment the pyramid,

the circle and the curve are most prominent. The subdivisions of the

ground plan include the brahmasthana (the main shrine and smaller

chapels) and the mandapam (balconies, assembly halls and

auditoriums). The vertical plan consists of drawings for the gopuram

(entrance ways), the vimana (the structure above the main shrine or

chapel) and the prakara (the walls).The brahmasthana is said to be

the principal location in a temple since it is here that the seat of

Godhead will eventually be placed. At the base of the foundation of

the brahmasthana, located at the station of Brahma on the vastu-

purusha-mandala, a ritual is performed called garbhadhana, the ritual

which invites the soul of the temple to enter within the buildings

confines. In this ritual a brahmin, priest, places a golden box in

the earth during the ground-breaking ceremonies. The interior of the

box is divided into smaller units exactly resembling the vastu-

purusha-mandala. All the units of the gold box are first partially

filled with dirt. In the thirty-two units representing the nakshatras

(lunar mansions), the units of Brahma and the twelve sons of Aditi,

the priest places an appropriate mantra in written form to invoke the

presence of the corresponding divinity.The Sanskrit mantras chanted

by the priest are in no way less important than the mandala itself.

The mandala having set up an archetypal diagram of universal order,

the mantra infuses the mandala with spiritual powers. The mantras

chanted by the priest are distinct from ordinary mundane sounds.

Mantras, composed of " atomic " monosyllabic sounds derived from the

Sanskrit alphabet, are said to be non-different from the very

substance which they invoke. The mantras are the subtle form of the

mandala and are inseparable from it. As the architect must have

undergone extensive training in the field of sacred architecture and

astrology to construct the mandala, similarly the brahmin who chants

the mantras must also have requisite knowledge of the science of

sacred sound vibrations.In the unit of Brahma a golden serpent with

many raised hoods is placed. The serpent form is then surrounded with

nine precious jewels or navaratna. Ananta represents the energy which

supports the very existence of the universe. The universe rests in

space and that space is the energy of Godhead appearing as Ananta.

The nine jewels- diamonds, emeralds, rubies, pearls, yellow sapphire,

blue sapphire, red coral, cats-eye and jade-invoke the astrological

influence of the nine planets.A gold lid with the seven continents of

the earth engraved on it is placed on top of the box. When this is

done the priest then performs the ritual sacrifice or sanctification

ceremony called agni-hotra, the fire sacrifice. During the agni-hotra

the priest offers clarified butter, the symbol of religious

principles, into the fire, which represents the mouth of the Cosmic

Being. Along with the offering of clarified butter five types of

grains-rice, wheat, barley, rye and dhal, all produced of the earth-

are also offered in the fire. This too is performed with the chanting

of mantras.

Jagannatha Puri TempleOnce the garbhadhana and agni-hotra ceremonies

are complete the actual construction of the temple takes place

according to the previous preparations. When the foundation is

finished the vertical structure is raised and the body of the Cosmic

Being becomes visible to the naked eye. The external features of the

temple are brought to life through finely sculpted figures and

paintings. The art and sculpture frequently portray the forms of

divine entities and the different stages of consciousness in the

gradual evolution of life throughout the universe. This is no less

exacting a science than that of the architect or of the brahmin

priest. Muthai Sthapati, an instructor at the Goverment College

Architecture, pointed out that it is often the work of the master

artisan, through painting and sculpture, that most enables one to

perceive the actual sacredness of the temple.The prakaras or walls

that fortify the temple may vary in size and number according to the

dimensions of the temple. Larger temples, like the one in Sri Rangam,

are sometimes surrounded by up to seven concentric walls which

represent the seven layers of matter-earth, water, fire, air, either,

mind and intelligence-that cover the original consciousness of the

living entities in the material world. The gopurams, or gateways

through the prakaras, are symbolic of being liberated from the

bondage of matter as one enters the temple and proceeds toward the

central shrine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solid gold vimana above the Deity

at Shri Rangam Temple

 

The vimana or tower, also called the shikara, is raised to its final

height above the sanctum as the last stones are put into place.

Resembling a great mountain, the vimana is crowned with a golden

spire called kailash, the heavenly abode. At the sides of the vimana

are fixed the fierce faces of Yali, the protector of the temple. The

temple is now ready for the ceremony known as pratistasthana, the

installation of the deity. The scared altar in the brahmasthana,

central shrine, is located directly above the gold box, placed in the

earth during the garbhadhana ceremony. Here on the sacred altar

representing the heart of the Cosmic Being, the deity of Godhead

called the archa-vigraha, the manifest form of total divinity is

installed. The mandala, the mantra, and above all the sincerity and

faith of the participants combine together to invoke the appearance

of Godhead. The universe is the manifestation of the divine form of

Godhead in the world of mundane existence. The body of the temple is

the representation of that cosmic form, whereas the archa-vigraha is

the manifestation of the transcendental form of Godhead descending

from beyond the mundane. The ceremony for installing the deity is

performed with great pomp and upon its completion the temple is

complete..There are altogether forty-five basic varieties of temples

mentioned in the vastu shastra. These too have their many variations

and thus the styles of sacred temple architecture in India are as

unlimited and diverse as the very nature of the infinite being they

represent.

From the drawing table to the finished product of a gorgeous temple,

sacred architecture in India is a science and a work of art. Moreover

it is an attempt to raise the human consciousness to the stage of

self-realization where one ultimately sees Godhead everywhere, in all

things, and at all times.

 

References:

1. Keith Critchlow, Order in Space, Thimes and Hudson (1969).

2. Kramrisch, Stella, The Hindu Temple, Motilas Banarsidas, N. Delhi

(1976)

Reprinted from Clarion Call Magazine by permission.

 

 

 

--- On Sun, 8/3/08, Ravishankar Gopal <ravishankar_g wrote:

 

Ravishankar Gopal <ravishankar_g

[Vedic Wisdom] What is called Agama, Temples and similar

Questions

" asthika samaj " <asthikasamaj, " parama

acharya " <paramaacharya >,

iyer123 , " Bangalore iyers "

<bangaloreiyers >, " 4Brahmins "

<4brahmins >, " Telugubhakti "

, " telugupeople "

<telugupeople >, " iyengar "

<iyengarsunited >, " malaysianhindu "

<malaysianhinduism >, " caribbeans Hindus "

<caribbeanhindus >, " hinduism "

<hinduism >, " hinduscanada "

<hindus, " hindusociety "

<hindu_society_korea >, " Hinduyouths "

<hinduyouths >, " janoi "

<janoi >, " vedic wisdom "

, " vedicliterature "

<vedicliteraturethesupremescience >, " ozhindus "

<ozhindu >, " Htsyouth "

<htsyouth >, " Brahmin association " <BRAHMIN-

ASSOCIATION-owner, " brahminsgroup "

<brahminsgroup >, " FHRS_USA "

<FHRS_USA >, " jaimaamaharani "

<jaimaamaharani, " jaimaatha "

<jaimaathawewali >, " usbrahmins "

<usbrahmins >, " delhindu " <delhindu >

Sunday, August 3, 2008, 5:25 AM

 

Radhe Krishna To All,

 

What is called as 'Agama?'

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

The makings of deities of Gods, consecrating it, performing puja,

were all brought under the norms of the Shastras. This is called

as 'Agama' Shastra.

____________ _________ _________ _________ _

 

How many 'Agamas' are there?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

There are twenty-eight 'Saiva' Agamas and two 'Vaishnava'

Agamas. 'Vaishnava' Agamas consists of two groups viz. 'Vaikanasam'

and 'Pancharatram' . The former is based on the Vedas but the later

was formed separately without any Vedic leaning. 'Sakta' Agamas are

based on Devi puja. These belong to States of Bengal and Orissa. They

are also called 'Vamaccharam' .

____________ _________ _________ _________ _

 

Is 'Vastu' Shastra a part of 'Agama' Shastra?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

Yes. 'Vastu'Shastra is a part of 'Agama' Shastra. The principles

of 'Vastu' find a place in 'Shilpa'(sculpt idols) Shastra,

too. 'Vasi' and 'Tatu' put together form what is called as 'Vastu'.

 

*This provides the guidelines for the construction of a building.

____________ _________ _________ _________ _

 

Streets run around the Temples. Does this, too, fall under the

guidelines of 'Vastu' Shastra?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

In every Town it is the practice to build a Temple either in its

center or in its Southern corner. And the houses are placed (built)

depending on the location of the temple. This is also as per 'Vastu'

tradition.

____________ _________ _________ _________ _

 

What does 'Garbadanam' mean?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

A vessel made of either silver, gold or bronze is placed below the

Sanctom Sanctorum of the Temple where the 'Moola Murti' (Main Deity)

is to be consecrated. This practice of burying the vessel below the

earth is called 'Garbadanam' . Water from the holy rivers, soil from

holy places, 'navaratnam' (nine kinds of gems), 'navadaniyam' (nine

kinds of grains), etc. are dropped into this hole. The weapons of the

particular God to be consecrated in this Temple are also placed in

it. For e.g. if the main deity is Lord Vishnu then His five weapons

namely 'Gada', 'Katgam', 'Sarngam', 'Shankam', 'Chakram', will be

placed here.

____________ _________ _________ _________ _

 

How does the idol in a Temple acquire the 'sanithyam' (the power)?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

Vedam consists of six parts. A Temple also has six prominent parts -

Adishtanam, Pikti, Prastaram, Peevam, Sigaram, Stupi. These six parts

are complementary to each other. They should not change in any way.

If changed the deity loses its 'sanithyam'. While in the initial

stage of making the idols, viz. waxing, shaping the clay, making the

mould, they should be done amidst loud chanting of mantras. That is,

the work should be carried out while listening to the mantras. Only

then the 'bimbamurti' (the form of the idol) will become

a 'mantramurti' (a form with power). Power gets into it only through

Bhakti and Mantras. That idol which has been installed without mantra

consecration will be lifeless.

____________ _________ _________ _________ _

 

What is the proof ('pramana') that the Presence ('sanidhya) of

Bhagavan is found only in the Sanctum Sanctorum ('garbagraha' ) of a

temple?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

" In several other parts of a big temple we find other forms ('roopa')

of the Deity (Murti) found in the Sanctum sanctorum. These deities

are found to be in similar style ('amaippu'). In some temples these

are found to be more beautiful and at times bigger than the Main

Deity. But, people do not feel devotion and faith (bhakti-shraddha)

on seeing these deities. This is because these deities do not possess

the 'sanidhya'

------------ --------- --------- --------- ----

In which part of a Town should the Temple of Lord MahaVishnu be

constructed?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

MahaVishnu Temple should be constructed on the western side of the

Town's Centerpoint. To its North-western corner, Lord Shiva's Temple

should be constructed.

 

Nearby should be the Temple of the 'Sapta Madar' (seven Goddesses).

This is the reason that Goddess Durga also bears the name

of 'Vadavayil Selvi' (Lady of the Northern door). It is also the

practice to build Lord Subrahmanya' s Temple close to MahaVishnu

Temple. It became the practice to place 'ugra murthys' (deities/gods

of fiery temperament) on the outskirts. But, it has also been the

tradition to consecrate these deities along with 'Thayar' (Goddess)

so as to calm them down.

____________ _________ _________ _________ _

 

What is the significance of 'Nivedanam' and 'Deepa Aradhana' in our

Puja?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

Raja Yoga has eight steps or 'angas' towards the final goal. The

rituals and rites have their own procedures. Likewise, 'Niyama Puja'

(Pujas as prescribed by the Shastras) have 16 'angas' or parts

like 'Aavahanam', 'Aachamanam' etc. Of these, 'Nivedhanam' and 'Deepa

Aradhana' are key aspects. So we perform at least these two as a part

of our daily pujas.

 

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --

 

In Temples, why is 'teertha prasad' given three times?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

'Teertha prasad' is given three times to protect one from untimely

(unnatural) death, to destroy all the sins and for cure from all

diseases.

____________ _________ _________ _________ _

 

While there are innumerable ancient Temples in dilapidated state new

Temples keep sprouting up! Even the simple, daily pujas are not being

performed properly. Why?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

May be people think that Temple construction/ renovation

bestows 'punya' (merits)! This sad state of affair would not exist if

one remembers that performance of proper and regular puja and proper

maintenance of the Temple is also necessary following its

construction/ renovation.

____________ _________ _________ _________ _

 

Some people build temples but do not bother to maintain it and

arrange for the daily conduct of puja. Why does this happen?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

This is because people think that one can earn merits ('punya') just

by building temples and that temples are built only to earn merits.

 

------------ --------- --------- ---------

 

Can women do Sashtanga Namaskar?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

According to the scriptures, only men are permitted to perform

Sashtanga Namaskar.

 

------------ --------- --------- -----

 

There is a Perumal temple in my native village that is locked up most

of the time and the `Archaka' would not hand over the keys or

responsibilities to anyone. I requested them to take measures to have

it renovated, however no one is willing to take responsibility. Every

other small temple by the roadside becomes famous in no time, but

this ancient temple is in a sad state. When will this be renovated?

It is my ambition to have it renovated.

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

One can become rich by honest earnings or through unlawful means.

However the second path is not permanent.

 

In the same way, a temple becomes famous by its `sannidhyam'

(presence of divinity of the Lord). It could become popular through

publicity etc., but that is not permanent.

 

In order to bring about Sannidhyam in the temple, organize Akhanda

Maha Mantra Kirtan for 7/24 in the temple precincts with not less

than 3 bhaktas chanting at any point in time.

 

When this is performed. The Lord will show a way out and a solution

towards renovation will definitely be born.

 

 

Regards

 

Please Chant

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

 

and be happy

[Shyamal Parikh 0]

I am searching for online article/pdfs, books on temple construction mainly focusing on how garbhagriha(where idol is situated) are constructed and their scientific meaning. Please help. Thanking you in advance.