Algorithm to Worship God! ;-)

I never usually visit the temple. Because I tend to look at other things rather than concentrate on the worship of God. Even when I have the darshan of God, I tend to notice only what he is wearing and how the priest is chanting mantras rather than feel him in my heart. God, it is so hard to concentrate in my prayers with all this crowd. I prefer to pray alone.

Its all so mechanical. Doing pranams, buying the archana token, doing pradakshinams(getting irritated with people moving slowly in the process). Thats why the word 'Algorithm' in the title.  Visiting the temple is a standard algorithm. Where is the question of Bhakthi in this process?

INPUT:      I, Enough Money, Full of worries, Temple.

OUTPUT:  I, little or no money, Peaceful mindset.

CAUTION:  Do not wear new chappals

                    Do not go during special occasions like Vaikunta Ekadasi or New Year unless you

                    want straight mokshaa.

                   Do not buy prasad from sellers especially if you have a weak constitution

PROCEDURE:

Step 1:  The hardest part. Make up mind to go to temple.

Step 2:  Clean up, dress neatly and modestly. Preferably Indian wear. Else you will spoil the other

            person's concentration.

 

Step 3:  Preferably don't take another person for company. Its always lovely to visit the temple alone.

Step 4:  Travel and reach temple.

Step 5:  Leave chappal/shoes outside at your own risk.

Step 6:  Buy materials for archana like tulsi, bananas, coconut etc. Very clever business people will do     the needful. Just pay the buck.

Step 7:  Silently enter the temple. Do not step on the nilapadi. You will attract unnecessary attention.

Step 8:  If there is a wash area and if its clean, wash feet and do not slip.

Step 9: Do pranams to Lord Ganesha, the beginning and end of all. Do > 4 pradakshinas if you          want something from him. If you do 108 then you really facing a serious situation. May God bless you.

Step 10: There are lot of people ready and waiting to irritate like gossiping maami's, bulldozer women who literally push to get a better darshan, over enthusiastic freaks chanting or singing loudly creating a raucous. Ignore them. Look at the idol and only the idol.

Step 11: Communicate with the priest to get work done. It is better to take a small book and read the      strotra silently rather than relying too much on the priest.

Step 12: Put the money on the thattu/plate, wait patiently for the deepardhanai. Apply kumkum, vibhuthi   on forehead, carry some on a packet and time to leave.

Step 13: Before leaving do namaskara at the main entrance, sit for a while in a shady place and then out    you go.

A temple is not a bad place to visit. It is very important to choose an appropriate time. Since it is a public place it tends to be very messy but one must learn to tolerate it. Nevertheless it does give you some amount of happiness, a collective consciousness-that all turn to the One and a strange peace of mind.

Some of my favorite temples are Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple, Adyar, Karpaga Vinayagar temple Adyar, Maruntheeswarar temple-Thiruvanmiyur, Paarthasarathy temple-Triplicane, Irresistable Kapaleeshwarar temple-Mylapore, Nanganallur Anjaneyar temple, Madhava Perumal and Kesava Perumal temple near Mylapore, Breathtaking Prithyangara Devi temple, Chollinganallur, Massive Madurai Meenakshi temple, Kamakshi temple Kanchipuram, Powerful Chamundeswari temple, near Mysore. 

If you have any other names of must visit temples, add them on the comments below.

Most beautiful things ever heard

Introduction

In the next few posts, I would like to briefly relate the many beautiful things I have heard so far, which made me feel so happy, which cleansed my heart and motivated me in times of failure and depression. I want to document them and I found my blog the best place to do so. I hope you too as a reader get benefited by this and may it act as a medicine to all your sorrows. The source of this information is from lectures by Sri Krishna Premi Maharaj, Smt. Vishaka Hari, Amar Chitra Katha(IBH Publications) and my wonderful father who has instilled in me an interest in spirituality.

PART 1 Glimpses of God

1.  Lord Rama…

 King Dasharatha’s court was always filled with sages and yogis. It was no surprise. The king was always generous and hospitable to all guests, serving them the best of delicacies entertaining them with the best of dancers brought in from Indra’s court. (Indra, the Lord of the Devas was a good friend of Dasharatha. He used to ask his help to beat the Asuras). But for the sages and yogis, it seemed so immaterial and they did not crowd the king’s court for all this. They were neither interested in the affairs of the court nor the pomp and celebrations. They were only immersed in Rama nama japa. Their eyes closed, lips were always dry with the utterance of the sacred karna mantram ‘Om Jai SriRam!’

No splendour, no richness present in abundance in Dasharatha’s court would ever distract them, except for one thing. The king being extremely fond of his son Rama would often call him to sit by his side or on his lap. He would call out “Rama! Rama! my dear child please come here.” When Rama walks into the court, eyes like lotus and beautiful thick curly hair, the whole proceedings would come to a halt just to catch a glimpse of the young boy Rama along with his brother Lakshmana. The sages and yogis too would stop their utterance with their eyes fixed in admiration on Rama, their purpose of meditation now standing right in front of them.

*****

Sage Vishwamitra took Rama and Lakshmana to the forest to kill the Rakshasas who were spoiling his yagna and tormenting all the sages in the forest. Being an extremely tough, knowledgeable and disciplined sage himself, he knew that Rama was the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He could not resist being attracted to the Lord and he felt a little sorry, that he had dragged a boy who was just “Oona Shodasha Varsham”(Rama had just completed 16 years at that time). He lay three beds of dharbha grass on the floor and asked Rama and Lakshmana to lie down and rest.

Lord Rama being extremely obedient lay down on the grass. But Sage Vishwamitra could not sleep that night. He kept on fanning the Lord and could not stop admiring His thick eyelashes, His curly hair, His face which resembled the full moon and exclaimed that only the Lord himself would see both the comforts of the palace and this terrible forest floor with equanimity. The next morning the sage woke Rama up by singing this beautiful verse

Kowsalya supraja Rama poorva sandhya pravarthathe!

Uthishta narasardoola karthavyam daivamahnikam

Sage Vishwamitra has taught the whole world how to wake up in the morning to the sound of these auspicious words or Suprabhatham.  His bhakthi and affection towards the child Rama was so intense that he wanted to make sure that Rama didn’t miss his mother Kausalya. He had taken moral responsibility for the boys and looked after them with the best possible care and concern.

*****

How well did Rama and Lakshmana guard the yagna performed by the sage? Should this be asked as a question? There is a beautiful comparison for this. Just like how well our eyelids guard our eyes from the dust. The upper eyelid is compared to Lord Rama and the lower eyelid- Lakshmana, the light that enters - the fire of the yagna and the dust - the Rakshas. The upper eyelid has thick eyelashes just like the curly hair of Lord Rama. It comes down and bats the lower eyelid often. Just like how Rama kept circling and often gave an encouraging pat- “Lakshmana, take care!” while Lakshmana kept a keen watch standing in the same place. This is quite true and it encourages us to repeat his name Rama as often as we would blink our eyes.

*****

Lord Vishnu had played his part so well as the human being Rama that even the goddess Parvati became doubtful of whether Rama was truly Lord Vishnu incarnate. Once the goddess asked her husband Lord Shiva on what he was meditating with so much concentration. Lord Shiva replied, “On who else, but the golden name of the Lord Rama of course!” The Goddess laughed, “Him! See how he roams the forest crying out for his lost wife Sita!”

The goddess wanted to keep a test. Sita was just kidnapped by Ravan and Rama screams out in pain and intense grief. He roams about just like any ordinary man and starts to ask the birds, the trees and the clouds whether they have seen Sita in deepest desperation. Just then Goddess Parvathi taking the form of Sita walks towards Lord Rama and says “My lord! I am here.” Lord Rama stops and looks at the goddess, does pranams to her and enquires about Lord Parameswara! The Goddess was taken aback and felt ashamed of having doubted her own brother Lord Vishnu.    

So whats really needed in life? (contd from previous)

Its surely been such a long time since I last posted. It seemed almost as if this blog had enough of posts and has shut down permanently. 'Magar Picture abhi bakhi hai dosth!!' ;). This is actually going to be a continuation of quite a serious article written previously "Is knowledge alone sufficient in life?"

Who all in this world know very well and clearly what they want in life and from life. Very few people actually know what they want in life. We all simply say we want to be happy, live a very comfortable lifestyle, not have problems and want to get everything we wish for.  Nobody actually knows  what is going to happen in future, life's twist and turns. For e.g. Superstar Rajinikanth would never have imagined that he would be worshipped by so many people one day and that he would become such a popular hero. We never know whom luck favours. So no one must be underestimated.

Elders say hard work, perseverance,  determination and persistance can help achieve what we want in life. Again all this must be done at the right time, in the right bent of mind. One must not work hard to destroy the other person's work! Again right kind of action applying all the knowledge learn' t so far to seek more and find more.

The question is 'What is necessary to solve all life's problems?'  That extra special something. Man cannot determine the fruits of all his labour, he can aim, he can have ambitions and aspirations but ultimately what he gets is never under his control. There is something above man which controls, from which all living creatures derive their energy from. Man must open himself to this superior force. It is this superior force which will solve all man's problems which when invoked will help man attain the ultimate perfection and goal in life.

So what is really needed in life is to develop BHAKTHI or devotion. It is very much necessary in today's problematic and hectic lifestyle. Doing something with all faith and devotion leads to the right kind of action which will again lead to attainment of true knowledge. So the base is Bhakthi. Many great spiritual leaders have spoken in detail about this. Bhakthi is like a key to open yourself to the superior force. Bhakthi is strengthened by faith in yourself and faith in this superior force. We must consciously be devout. Devotion does not confine to performing pujas, being ritualistic etc but extends to all actions that one performs. Many people especially in the Western countries be quite devout in their work without actually knowing that they have opened to the superior force. That is why for easy access we give a form to the force and we simply and lovingly call the force as God. 

Performing any action consciously for the sake of God is the right kind of action and leads to perfection and knowledge. If I mumble in my sleep that I need water, will anyone pay attention? I must be fully awake and alert and say that I need water then only will someone hear me and fulfill my request. Similar is the case with God. We must be constantly aware of his presence and dedicate everything we do to him. That is the only solution to all our pressing problems and that alone gives us true bliss.

Parents-Love them with all Thy might!

I am quite in the sentimental mood right now. I just now watched a movie called Bhoothnath aired on Sahara One. Actually I was reluctant to watch it for a long time thinking it was too childish for my taste. But I was wrong. I don't wish to write a review of the movie now for that is not my purpose. Whatever I try to do, say, experience, I try to make some inner meaning out of it. My friends would make fun of me. They often feel I take everything too seriously. Well, not everything, at least not what they think!

'Rasa' and 'Bhava' are two of my favourite words in Samskritam. Rasa means sentiment and Bhava means feeling. These two words define who we are and how we are seen by others. I liked the rasa part of the movie I watched today and the rasas are love, affection, caring and respect towards elderly especially our parents.

It is very good to have high prospects and be ambitious in life, aiming for extreme comfort, prosperity and joy. How many children just leave their parents here in India neglecting them if not totally at least partially and go abroad? We all expect our parents to listen to us always and the ego we derive especially from being financially independent causes us to have so many arguments and fights with them. We must always try to make our parents happy, thats what we are born here for and it should be done not for duty sake alone but with genuine love, care and affection.

Dealing with people especially the elderly is a real challenge, I know! They will have so many preferences, tastes, habits which they will not be willing to give up whatsoever but we should never lose patience for they had never lost theirs to bring us up to the stage we are now.

I am often so rude to my parents. I shout at them, I misunderstand them, get irritated with them. I should change myself. I should have complete faith and trust in them. They always seem to forgive me for all that I have said and the wounds that I have caused them. That makes me feel even more bad and miserable.

I have not seen the Gods I worship sometimes. With my half baked faith I imagine that The Almighty is present and guides me throughout my lifetime. At present, I am beginning to feel more and more that Love is God and God is Love. God is 100% my parents who pulls me up during my times of trouble.

There is a beautiful poem by Rabindranath  Tagore titled 'Upagupta'. It is easy to be with a person when he or she is very prosperous and is very happy. The person who stays, lends a shoulder in times of trouble, who showers unconditional love upon you is the one whom we call as God. It can be anyone in life, but for me God is in the form of my parents and for me to have true faith in God is to have faith in my parents.

There is no point in going to a religious place and worshiping in a ritualistic manner a thousand Gods if you neglect, disrespect and disregard your loved ones. Hope I keep this etched strongly in me and follow this thumb rule throughout life.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba is still with us.

I have dedicated this post for Puttaparthi Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Baba has left his body and attained samadhi on the 24th April 2011. Though I am not as much an ardent devotee of him but still... just thinking of him fills me with immense peace, tranquility and joy. I used to watch his program every Thursday at 6:00 p.m in Raj TV.

I have always wondered in the midst of so much of science and technology and such cynicism this person has managed to attract billions of people from around the globe. I have heard so many stories of him. Some of which are:

He has setup so many universities and he is providing free education to all. He has even solved the water problem for an entire village, something which politicians only promise and never fulfill. He has setup hospitals which provide free medical treatment to all the deserving people.

He has performed so many miracles like generating lingam from his throat, materializing vibhuti, gold jewellery and even silk sarees. He had done all this not to show off his powers but to make people to follow the path of God and to shed all ignorance. He has said, 'I am God! You are God! Only I am aware of it and you are not aware of it.'

One of my relatives is an ardent Baba devotee. Once while praying in front of his photo, vibhuti started pouring from it. Many such miracles have taken place throughout the world and the most important fact is that Sai Baba has managed to unify people of all kinds together and under one roof. He has made Christians true Christians, Muslims, true Muslims and Hindus, better Hindus.

Initially many people were attracted to him because of his miracles and later more people joined because of his message. The very presence of Sai Baba enthuses, enlightens, energizes, perfects all. Dedicating one's whole life to him and following his simple message is the order of the day.

Though Baba has left his body there is no reason to cry for he has been liberated from the constraints of the human body and he is more powerful now. Before leaving he has said that he will be reborn again as Prem Sai in a place called Mandya in the year 2012. Let us all await and pray till that happens. I sign off hoping for a better future and all to follow Baba's path.