Sri Sadhguro Pahimam Parama Dayalu Rakshamam

[Guest guest]

Dear Members

" Hindu Dharma " is a book published by Bharatiya Vidya

Bhavan which contains English translation of two volumes of the Tamil

Book " Deivatthin Kural " ; which is a collection of invaluable and

engrossing speeches of Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi

MahaSwamiji.

 

http://kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part5/chap39.htm

 

Duty of Brahmins

 

If

any purpose has been served by listening to me all the while, it

is up to you [brahmins] to take whatever steps you think fit to

promote Vedic learning. Every day you must perform "

Brahmayajna " which is one of the five great sacrifices(

mahayajnas). The term " Brahma " in "

Brahmayajna " means the Vedas. The power of the mantras must

be preserved in us as an eternal reality. It must burn bright

like a lamp that is never extinguished. For this reason it is

that we perform Brahmayajna. We must offer oblations to the

presiding rsi or seer of our Vedic recension. Failing that, the

least we can do is perform the Gayatri- japa every day. Gayatri

is the essence of the Vedas, their substance. To qualify to chant

it, you must be initiated into it by a Guru. The Gayatri you thus

learn must be mentally repeated at least a thousand times every

day. Again, the least you can do - and you must do it- is to

chant the mantra atleast ten times morning, noon and dusk. The

sun god is the presiding deity of Gayatri. Sunday, the day of the

sun, is a universal holiday. On this day you must get up at 4 in

the morning and, after your ablutions, recite the Gayatri a

thousand times. This will ensure your well-being as well as of all mankind.

 

All

Brahmins must learn to chant the Purusasukta, the Srisukta, Sri Rudram, etc. I

am

speaking particularly to office going Brahmins here. Since they

will find it difficult to devote themselves fully to Vedic

learning they must try to acquire at least a minimum of

scriptural knowledge. But it should be creditable if they

accomplish something- in the present case learning the Vedas- in

the face of difficulties. If you start learning the scripture now

you will be able to complete your study in a few years. But you

need faith and devotion. The Vedas are a vidya that has come down

to us through the millennia. If you study them with determination

you are bound to succeed. Haven' t you seen 50- and 60- year- old

people engaged in research in the hope of gaining a Ph. D. or

some other degree? If you have the will you will have the way to

accomplish anything however difficult. There are examples of

individuals who at 40 had been totally in the dark about the

Vedas but who later learned to chant them with ardour. As a

matter of fact there are such men among the office- bearers of

our Veda Raksana Nidhi Trust. So what is needed is faith as well

as resoluteness.

 

Leave

aside the question of Brahmins who are in jobs and are middle-

aged or older. Whether or not they themselves can chant the Vedas

or want to learn to chant them, they must see to it that their

sons at least receive instruction in the scriptures. Perhaps the

children cannot be sent for a full-time course in the Vedas, but

the parents could at least ensure that, after they perform the

upanayana of their sons at the age of eight years, the boys are

taught the Vedas for one hour every evening for a period of eight

years. A Vedic tutor may be engaged on a cooperative basis for

all children of a locality or village. This should be of help to

the children of poor Brahmins.

 

Above

all, efforts must be made to ensure that the existing Vedic

schools that are in bad shape are not forced to close down. These

institutions must be reinvigorated and more and more students

encouraged to join them. To accomplish this task both teachers

and taught must be adequately helped with money.

 

Let

me repeat that Brahmins ought not to be afforded more than the

minimum cash or creature comforts. But we see today that there

are many lucrative jobs to tempt them. So there is the danger of

their not being fully involved in their svadharma (own duty) of

learning and teaching the Vedas if they are not kept above their

want. We must provide them with certain facilities so that we are

not faced with the unfortunate situation in which such Brahmins

become more and more scarce. There are new comforts, new avenues

of pleasure, not known in the past. It is unrealistic to expect a

few Brahmins alone to deny themselves all these and adhere to

their svadharma. If we adopt such an attitude the Vedic dharma

will suffer. So when some Brahmins are engaged exclusively in

their dharma it is obligatory on our part to help them with money

and material. Though they must not be afforded any luxuries, we

must provide them with enough comforts so that they are not

enticed into other jobs. We have drawn up a number of schemes

bearing this in mind.

JAYA JAYA SANKARA HARA HARA SANKARA

 

Thwameva Maathaa Cha Pithaa Thwameva Thwameva Bhandhuscha Sakhaa Thwameva

Thwameva Vidhyaa Dhravinam Thwameva Thwameva Sarvam Mama Dheva Dheva.