Vedas and Adi Sankara - Part 1 By Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji.

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Dear Members,

 

Source: www.madhuramurali.org

 

�Bhagav�n says, �Whenever people are harassed by the

wicked and whenever Dharma is challenged I take avat�r

for the destruction of the asuras (�dushta nigraha�)

and protection of the good (�sishta parip�lana�).� The

term �asura vada� refers generally to the destruction

of wicked humans and �sishta parip�lana� refers to the

protection of those who lead dharmic life; however, in

reality �dushta nigraha� means destruction of wicked

thoughts and �sishta parip�lana� means protecting

sattvic thoughts. Similarly, when adharma takes hold

(atheism spreads, people are deeply worldly) Bhagav�n

takes avat�r.

 

Srimad Bh�gvatam says Bhagav�n takes Avat�r to destroy

the wicked as in the case of Kamsa, Narakasura to

lessen the burden of the Earth (�bhoomi b�ram�). But

Bhagav�n�s true incarnation (�pratyaksha avat�ra�) is

to protect sattvic thoughts, which is the way to

uphold Dharma. �Dushta chintana� means wicked

thoughts. And this refers to all thoughts that are

against spritiual (�Bhagavat�) matters. The Avat�r of

Bhagav�n is, therefore, towards upholding dharma,

quelling of such wicked thoughts and appreciate and

encourage spiritual thoughts (�sattvic chintana�) and

shield the Sadhus.

 

Bhagav�n, while declaring that Kali Yuga will be a

treacherous Yuga has said that nobody will follow the

�Varnashrama� dharma. Will the �Varna� exist in Kali

Yuga? But for the �varna� of green, red, etc. (�Varna�

carries the dual meaning of colour as well) no other

�varna� will exist! How will this Varnashrama dharma

be in Kali Yuga?

 

The one who has to serve will occupy the throne and

rule the kingdom (�Rajya parip�lana�). What will the

state of the Brahmins be? None of them will take to

the study of the Vedas, discourse on the epics

(�Itih�sa/Pur�n�s�); if, however, they do take to

these it will be only with the aim of earning their

livelihood. Bh�gavata �p�r�yana� (rendering of Srimad

Bh�gavatam) will also be only towards earning food and

clothing. The Vysy�s, too, will no more be interested

in their dharma of trade or the protection of cows.

Those who have to carry on �preda samsk�ra� will not

adhere to their dharma. Thus, no one will adhere to

his dharma but carry on his living as per his whims

and fancies. These are all the Kali �dosha� (fault).

 

Neelakanta Dikshitar, a great worshipper of Goddess

Meenakshi, has written a Text named �Kali vidambanam�.

It is quite witty. He writes, �Do not worry about

earning your livelihood. In Kali Yuga it is easy to

earn your livelihood as a magician! So take up this

profession! Do not worry if you lack knowledge of a

mantra. Once the board is put up someone will approach

you for a solution to his problems. Advise him that

certain puja has to be performed and the cost of the

puja. He would surely empty his pocket to you. Do not

worry over the outcome. It may accidentally be solved!

You can then claim, �It is because of the Puja

performed by me that your problems have been solved.�

Well! What happens if it does not? Advise him that

another puja has to be performed!� The Dikshitar adds

that in this Kali Yuga those who are ignorant of the

name of the 27 stars will earn their livelihood as an

astrologer. This will be the state of Kali.

 

In this Kali Yuga Bhagav�n�s avat�r will come about

only much later. It has been said, �Kalki

Jagatpathih!� It is now almost 4500 years since the

birth of Kali. Bhagav�n left for Vaikunta at the start

of this Kali Yuga. Innumerable Mahatmas have been

coming down to the earth since the departure of

Bhagav�n, upto this day. This cannot be refuted. We

refer to all the Mahatmas as �Avatara Purush�s�

(Incarnation of God). This is as a result of our

respect and devotion to them. Most of the Mahatmas,

whose darshan we have been blessed with, are only

�Yoga brasht�s� (one whose earlier life time had ended

even before the completion of his yoga sadhanas).

 

�Yoga brasht�� does not mean that they are not

Mahatmas. They are no doubt �Jivan Mukt�s�. They have

undoubtedly reached the highest state. In their past

births they would have performed deep spiritual

practices but their life would have ended even before

the completion of their sadhana. For this reason they

have been born again, picked up their sadhana from

where it was left off, completed it and attained the

highest state in this �janma�. Innumerable such Mah�ns

are to be found.

 

Now, if we take up �Avat�ra Purusha� what is the sign

(�lakshana�) of such an Avat�r�? In their case no

spiritual practice is essential in this world. If they

are found to practice any kind of sadhana it is only

meant for the world. No sadhana is required to be done

by them for their own sake. If such a necessity

existed for them then they cannot be called an

�Avat�ra Purusha�. Even in their childhood they are

attracted by Bhagav�n and are immersed in Bhagavat

experience. From their life history one cannot find

that they had led a worldly life initially and later

turned to spiritual life. Even their childhood

activities will be totally different (�loka

vilakshana�) from normal worldly behaviour. All their

activities since the time of their birth till their

last day on this earth will be only the work of an

Incarnation. Moreover, the work performed by them will

be of such high magnitude that it cannot be carried

out by anyone else. Such work of theirs will be above

the reach of a mere human. It will be far above human

standard (�am�nushya�). The work executed by them will

come to stay in the world for centuries. The whole

society will benefit from their work. A big

transformation will take place after their time. Adi

Sankara is a classic example of this. It is only such

a one who is an �Avat�ra Purusha� and not the one who

was born, lived and carried on some work that

benefited say, a thousand or a lakh of people and quit

the world; and that none today remembers him. Though

Adi Sankara lived some 2500 to 3000 years back, the

world still speaks of Him. If the world still reads

His Texts, accepts the philosophy established by Him

and still holds Him in reverence, it is not due to His

individual capability. Was there any media in those

days to spread His teachings or messages? In those

days there were not even books such as found today to

propagate His doctrines. Then the reason for all His

work and philosophy being alive till date is

Bhagavan�s Will. His birth and work have been due to

the Lord�s Will.

 

!!! Will Continue !!!

 

Regards