Human or Animal, what makes the difference?

[Guest guest]

Namaste.

Many great Saints have expressed their feelings and wisdom about

the questionable importance of the so called bodily form of life:

 

naratvaM devatvaM naga vana mRgatvaM mazakatA..

pazutvaM kITatvaM bhavatu vihagatvAdi janananam..

sadA tvat pAdAbja smaraNa paramAnanda laharI...

vihArAsaktaM cheddhRdaya miha kiM tena vapuSA?

 

- Sri Adi Shanakara's Shiva Ananda Lahari

 

Be it in an ordinary human form,

Be it in the form of celestial gods,

Be it in the form of ignorant animal,

That wanders the forests and hills,

Be it in the form of tiny mosquito,

Be it in the form of a domestic animal,

Be it in the form of abominable worm,

Be it in the form of flying bird,

Or be it in any form whatsoever,

If always the desiring mind is engaged

In Meditation of Thine lotus like feet,

Which are the waves of Supreme bliss,

Then what does it matter,

Whatever body we have?

 

Jaya Sri Radhe!

 

 

 

> Awaken! Arise! Be human, humane and of right conduct. You are the epitome of

creation. Behave like one.

>

>

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/04/human-or-animal-what-makes-the-difference\

-shashi-joshi/

[Guest guest]

Namaste all.

 

According to the verse quoted by the foremost Spiritual Teacher, Adi Shankara,

possessing animal body is not an impediment to love God, though many Scriptures

have praised the human birth for facilitating spiritual evolution.

 

If we look at our Hindu gods and goddesses, they all are associated with

different animals serving them as their chosen vehicles. Lord Brahma and his

consort have swan, Lord Vishnu has eagle (Garuda), snake bed and his consort

Lakshmi has owl, Lord Shiva has the bull (Nandi), garland of snake and Devi has

lion,

Lord Ganesh has the mouse, Lord Kartikeya has peacock and so on.

 

Lord Krishna's pictures are most of the time seen with cows, deers, doves and

peacocks. Lord Hanuman is often shown with the face of monkey. The celestial

singer Tumbura has horse face. So even these so called 'animals' have attained

the proximity of the divine beings. Then why should we look down upon the animal

births?

 

We are familiar with great devotees (Bhagavatam) like the elephant king

Gajendra, the vulture Jatayu and crow king, Kaka bhushundi of Ramayan.

Lord Krishna Himself said to Uddhava that not only human beings but so many

lower species like snakes, animals, birds and trees were redeemed by His Divine

Grace through

their loving devotion.

 

...kevalena hi bhAvena gopyo gAvo nagA mRgAH.. Bhagavatam 11.12.7,8

 

So I do not believe that liberation or God-realization is limited exclusively to

human beings.

 

Jaya Sri Radhe!

 

 

> Be it in an ordinary human form,

> Be it in the form of celestial gods,

> Be it in the form of ignorant animal,

> That wanders the forests and hills,

> Be it in the form of tiny mosquito,

> Be it in the form of a domestic animal,

> Be it in the form of abominable worm,

> Be it in the form of flying bird,

> Or be it in any form whatsoever,

> If always the desiring mind is engaged

> In Meditation of Thine lotus like feet,

> Which are the waves of Supreme bliss,

> Then what does it matter,

> Whatever body we have?

 

> -Sri Adi Shankara

[Guest guest]

I really liked this response. Thank you!

It reminded me of a visit to Dakshineshwar temple in Kolkata famous for its

resident saint , Sri Ramakrishna.We had gone there early in the morning in order

to avoid the crowds. There were some devotees there who were local people. A

mangy looking dog was lying just outside the sanctum sanctorum.The devotees

treated it with the respect and were even talking to it as though it was a

sentient human being.This touched my heart.Who are we to decide who is superior

or inferior ?

 Many saints did not distinguish between animals and humans.The

Saisatcharita(Shirdisai's biography) and Ramana Maharshi's biography has many

instances depicting their love and compassion for animals at par with humans.

Regards

Rwitoja

 

 

--- On Sat, 17/4/10, pyari_h <no_reply > wrote:

 

 

pyari_h <no_reply >

Re: Human or Animal, what makes the difference?

 

Saturday, 17 April, 2010, 23:32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Namaste all.

 

According to the verse quoted by the foremost Spiritual Teacher, Adi Shankara,

possessing animal body is not an impediment to love God, though many Scriptures

have praised the human birth for facilitating spiritual evolution.

 

If we look at our Hindu gods and goddesses, they all are associated with

different animals serving them as their chosen vehicles. Lord Brahma and his

consort have swan, Lord Vishnu has eagle (Garuda), snake bed and his consort

Lakshmi has owl, Lord Shiva has the bull (Nandi), garland of snake and Devi has

lion,

Lord Ganesh has the mouse, Lord Kartikeya has peacock and so on.

 

Lord Krishna's pictures are most of the time seen with cows, deers, doves and

peacocks. Lord Hanuman is often shown with the face of monkey. The celestial

singer Tumbura has horse face. So even these so called 'animals' have attained

the proximity of the divine beings. Then why should we look down upon the animal

births?

 

We are familiar with great devotees (Bhagavatam) like the elephant king

Gajendra, the vulture Jatayu and crow king, Kaka bhushundi of Ramayan.

Lord Krishna Himself said to Uddhava that not only human beings but so many

lower species like snakes, animals, birds and trees were redeemed by His Divine

Grace through

their loving devotion.

 

...kevalena hi bhAvena gopyo gAvo nagA mRgAH.. Bhagavatam 11.12.7,8

 

So I do not believe that liberation or God-realization is limited exclusively to

human beings.

 

Jaya Sri Radhe!

 

> Be it in an ordinary human form,

> Be it in the form of celestial gods,

> Be it in the form of ignorant animal,

> That wanders the forests and hills,

> Be it in the form of tiny mosquito,

> Be it in the form of a domestic animal,

> Be it in the form of abominable worm,

> Be it in the form of flying bird,

> Or be it in any form whatsoever,

> If always the desiring mind is engaged

> In Meditation of Thine lotus like feet,

> Which are the waves of Supreme bliss,

> Then what does it matter,

> Whatever body we have?

 

> -Sri Adi Shankara

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Namaste . Thanks for sharing your visit and thoughts.

This also reminds me an episode in Gauranga Mahaprabhu's life. Lord's close

devotee, Shivananda Sena of Bengal had a pet dog and he brought his dog to

Jagannatha Puri along with him for the darshan as he could not leave his pet.

But the dog wandered away at Puri and Sena ji was upset very much for his lost

pet and spent many hours searching for it in vain before meeting his Lord,

Chaitanya.

 

To his sweet surprise, he found his dog at Mahaprabhu's quarters watching Him

eating His lunch prasad. Lord knew well the cause of Senaji's delay in arrival

for His darshan and his attachment for the pet. The dog must be a greater

devotee than Senaji as it arrived for Lord's darshan even before its master!

We all know dogs are pretty loyal servants to their masters. But this dog

wandered away from its master only to arrive at the feet of the Lord sooner!

 

Lord Chaitanya threw some prasad from His plate to the pet dog and the dog ate

the blessed food immediately. It was written in C.C. that Lord had ordered the

dog to chant the names of Lord Hari and it did!! Nobody could find the dog next

day and they all believed that the pet dog of Sena ji was liberated by His

Divine Grace!

 

In Bhagavad-gita, Lord Said, a true wise man looks upon all souls equally

....pandita sama darshanah...may it be in the body of learned Brahmin, low caste

laborer, elephant or dog.

 

Jaya Sri Radhe!

 

> It reminded me of a visit to Dakshineshwar temple in Kolkata famous for its

resident saint , Sri Ramakrishna.

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Pyariji for sharing this beautiful story.It is indeed amazing that

the dog left his master in order to reach Sri Chaitanya first. The same

consciousness exists in diffferent forms everywhere. I once read about Pavhari

baba, a saint  Swami Vivekananda met during his parivrajak days.He was so

impressed by him that he wanted to become his disciple but Pavhari baba declined

to accept him. A dog once snatched away a roti from Pavhari baba and he ran

after it saying 'Ruko Prabhu, thoda ghee laga doon' (wait, Lord, let me put some

ghee on it) A poisonous snake once came near him and he laughed saying " Pritam

ka bulava aaya hai " (A call has come from the Beloved)

Regards

Rwitoja

--- On Sun, 18/4/10, pyari_h <no_reply > wrote:

 

 

pyari_h <no_reply >

Re: Human or Animal, what makes the difference?

 

Sunday, 18 April, 2010, 23:59

 

 

 

 

 

 

Namaste . Thanks for sharing your visit and thoughts.

[Guest guest]

Namaste. Beautiful recollection, Mukherjee ji. Yes, it is amazing, Saints have

always realized the Universal Soul in whatever form It appeared to them.

....baUnAM janmanAm ante jnAnavAn mAM prapadyate..vAsudevaH sarvamiti sa mahAtmA

sudurlabhaH - Gita. 7.19 ....

At the end of many, many births (animal or celestial as well as human), the man

of wisdom takes refuge in Me, REALIZING that Vaasudeva (Lord Krishna) is ALL

that IS.

Rare indeed is that great soul.

We are familiar of Jada Bharata of Bhavavatam, who had to spend one lifetime as

the poor deer. Even during that period of animal life, the great soul retained

his spiritual wisdom and practiced fully in his next birth as Jada Bharata to

achieve perfection.

 

In South India, Sri Kalahasti temple has its own interesting historical and

devotional legends. At this sacred place, Lord Shiva was worshipped by the

spider (Sri), the snake (Kaala) and the elephant (Hasti) simultaneously and

received salvation, hence this place was named after these great devotees of

animal kingdom.

 

Jaya Sri Radhe!

[Guest guest]

Namaste.

Here is my translation of a good Telugu devotional song by popular vocalist P.

Susheela, and the lyricist - Arudra.

In this composition, the seeker laments about the ill disposition of his human

life bereft of Divine love and praises lower forms of life which have attained

Divine Grace even by their insignificant devotional actions.

 

...raayi nainaa kaaka pothini - Rama paadamu sokagaa...

...boya nainaa kaaka pothini - punya kaavyamu vraayagaa..

 

...padava nainaa kaaka pothini - swami kaaryam teerchagaa...

...paaduka ainaa kaaka pothini - bhakti raajyamu nelagaa..

 

..................... and so on ...........

 

Alas, I despise my ill fate, since I could not be at least a stone to be touched

by the lotus feet of Lord Ramachandra Who was well known to redeem the sins of

Ahalya devi. She was cursed by her husband sage Gautama to assume the form of

stone awaiting many years for the Lord's arrival.

 

I could not take birth as a cruel illiterate hunter who turned out to be the

great poet Valmiki by sage Narada's instructions and grace. He wrote the

beautiful Sanskrit Ramayan, the most auspicious Divine exploits of Lord

Ramachandra.

 

I could not even be a simple ordinary inanimate object like the boat to be

useful in serving the Lord when He had to cross the River Ganges on His way to

the jungles.

Alas, look at my further ill luck, I was not even given the lowest form of being

His foot-wear, which received the great honor to be placed on the royal throne

ruling the world famous peaceful empire - 'Rama-Rajyam'!

 

If I were given the birth as a forest bird like the vulture Jataayu I could have

given my life to save Mother Sita devi from abduction by demon Ravana and thus

securing the kind favor of Lord Rama! If I were born as the tiny squirrel on the

sea shore, I could have done my share of 'seva' - service in building the great

bridge on the ocean and received a pat on my back thus proudly displaying the

marks of Lord Ramas finger prints forever!

 

If I were to become the abominable wicked crow to pierce the chest of Mother

Sita devi, I could have played the important role in spreading wide the fame and

mightiness of Lord Rama Who created the invincible Brahma-astra just from a

blade of grass to destroy that culprit (Jayanta)!

 

These above mentioned voiceless earthly creatures of lower forms of life have

reaped their fortune securing Divine Grace! But, alas, I have assumed this

desirable human form only to foster haughtiness, avarice and cruelty!!

 

This song can be enjoyed listening to at this link:

 

http://www.raaga.com/play/?id=200581

 

Jaya Sri Radhe!

[Guest guest]

Namaste. I am reminded of a few verses from 'Vrindavan Mahima Amrita'-

In that Divine Abode, not only every living being (moving and non-moving)

is full of Divine love, but also even their Lordships, Radha-Krishna, assume

non-human forms while drowning Themselves in the Nectar of Divine Bliss.

 

Sometimes as two bumblebees among the Yamuna's golden lotuses,

sometimes as two swans in the Yamuna's forest of lotuses,

and sometimes as a golden vine climbing a divine tamala tree,

They enjoy pastimes of meeting.

 

kadAcid gAyantau madhura madhura zArizukavat

kadAcit kUjanatau madakala kuhukaNTha yugavat

kadAcin nRtyantau sapadi zikhinI matta zikhivat

kadAcit pazyantau sacakita kuraGgI hariNavat

 

Sometimes They sweetly sing as two parrots.

Sometimes They coo as two cuckoos with soft

and passionate " kuhus " in their throats.

Sometimes They dance together as

a maddened peacock and peahen.

Sometimes They just gaze at each other

as a timid stag and doe.

 

Parrots and cuckoos singing on its blossoming trees and vines,

maddened peacocks gracefully dancing on its splendid ground,

and its rivers and hills beautiful with splendid jewels,

eternal Vrindavana forest is overcome with the nectar of Lord Hari.

 

- Vrindavana Mahima-amrita

Sri Prabodhananda Saraswati

 

Jaya Sri Radhe!

[Guest guest]

Namaste. Like to share an additional philosophical comment by our Face book

friend-

Upendra Arya:-

 

Certainly our Puranas and other lores and legends are alive with wonderful

references to what we call `the lower forms of life', but what one finds most

fascinating is what philosophical depths these animals represent. I just came

across the philosophical explanation of the Swan of Saraswati Devi. The Swan in

Sanskrit is known as `Hamsa'. This Hamsa is actually a delightful corruption of

the Upanishadic verity `Aham Sah' or `I am That' i.e. this human soul is that

Supersoul. When chanting `Aham Sah' repeatedly the words appear as `Hamsa' and

Sri Sarasvati being no less than the Goddess of Knowledge, it is no surprise

that, from the above rendition, that the Swan is indeed a fit vehicle for Her.

 

Similarly in the Gita Dhyanam Krsna's cows are termed as the Upanishads with the

Gita Itself being their milk and Arjuna the blessed drinker. The term `Go'

refers to two meanings – one, a cow and second, the Earth. Hence the term

Gopala, Govinda, Gopati, etc, all have larger meanings… the universe is

literally a feeding pasture, all the Jivatmans are the cows while He Himself is

the Cowherd!

 

The two white elephants that one sees flanking the sides of Sri Mahalaxmi

represent intellect and industry, both necessities for earning wealth. The five

hoods of Sesanag stand for the five great elements (Pancatattva) through which

Visnu, the Purusha, presents Himself to the human mind.

 

In one of her above articles, Sri Jayalaxmi Alankar referred to Radha and Krsna

as being spoken of as two parrots in the Vrndavana Mahimastotram. These two

parrots are the queen and king parrots in the forest of our universe, Their tale

is most gloriously told by the supreme devotee, also a parrot, Sri Suka Maharsi,

`Suka' literally meaning a parrot !!!

--------

 

Jaya Sri Radhe!