GITA Satsang - Chapter 2.47

Chapter 2.47

This is one of the most popular slokas of the Bagavadgita. Often quoted and re-iterated by almost all modern day gurus, it sometimes gives a feel for many that this one sloka gives the entire essence of the GITA. It surely brings out the essence of karma Yoga, describes the duty of an individual in a nut shell. But we must be clear with one aspect of the GITA. Many modern day gurus treat Gita as a book for personality development, for success in one’s career, for having more money and success in life. But my friends, GITA is not meant for material success, it is for atma Gyan, for getting delivered from repeated cycle of birth and death. It is to experience the bramhan and to be one with HIM, in HIM. So, let us not read of understand GITA from the point of getting money, fame, name. All this will be restricted to this birth alone. And we are not sure what will we be in our next birth. So, having known what is needed at this hour, let us invest in a long term FD of life, all our punyams and reap heavy interest in the form of enlightenment. This is the best investment we can make and NOW.

So, let us read the sloka and translation:

                                      karmany evadhikaras te 

                                     ma phalesu kadacana  |

                                     ma karma-phala-hetur bhur 

                                     ma te sango 'stv akarmani ||

You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.

What Krishna tells is that all of us have a “prescribed” duty to do and we must do them for the welfare of the society. The duty we do, must be done for the sake of doing and not in return for any favour. The favours will automatically follow.

A common doubt that is bound to arise in our minds is that how can we act without a goal in mind? How can one do duty without being result oriented? Where is the motivation, when there is no reward? Very true. We have to plan our actions, set our thought process to achieve the same. The end result must always be in our thought. And having known the end result, we have to work for it. We must not waste our time and energy in dwelling in the future – be it the joy of success or the fear of failure. We must neither crib about our past nor rejoice in the happiness it gave us. We have to live in the present. When we live in the present, we are thoughtless and this state is absolute bliss. Every moment of living in the present will give us more happiness. This feeling slowly becomes a habit. Our mind power will not be wasted in unnecessary thoughts and imaginations. The mind becomes more concentrated and powerful. Success is bound to follow in abundance.

Some say that the result of this act is already pre-determined. Why then act? This is a wrong attitude. In many places, I have seen a small post card which tells the essence of GITA. – Whatever must happen, will happen. Yes, this is true and this is also in accordance to our karma. W must not misunderstand that since the result of our effort is already known, we need not act. What we experience is a result of our karma but what we will experience in future, is in our hands. 

For example, assume I fail in an exam. The failure is due to my past karma. I may have failed due to lack of competitiveness, lack of preparation, medical reasons or some karma that I did in previous birth. But having failed, how I react to this failure, is in my hands. This further will accrue more Karma. I can react in many ways. I can take it as a challenge for my next trial, I can degrade myself, I can commit suicide etc etc. So, we must act and this act must be in a way that we get good karma. 

Then why GOD? Why is he present? When everything is in our hands, why is he there? First, GOD is a witness to all our actions. HE is the accountant of our karma and the judge to give us the fruit. He is impartial. However, if we completely surrender to HIM: “sharanagati” as we call it, then we don’t have to do any karma. HE WILL TAKE CARE. But, we have to take the first step and ABSOLUTELY surrender. This state will take us another 1000 births. Till then, let us keep doing Nishkaama karma.

So, all of us have to do our “prescribed” duty. It is important for us to understand as to what is this “prescribed”duty. Vedas and shastras have given mankind the best way to live life to its fullest and attain eternal bliss. But we seem to be shunning it and getting our lives more messy.

The division of people based on varnas is a wonderful way to divide work. This was done for the welfare of the society. The division was as thus: Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Sudras. There is no high or low in any of the castes. Let us not indulge in low thinking and politicize the whole thing. 

Brahmins are regarded as the teachers. They have to do veda adyayanam, sandyavandanam and pray for the welfare of the world. Kshatriyas are the protectors of the world. Their duty is to have a health body and protect the citizens and country from external and internal conflicts. The third division are the vaishyas. They are agriculturists. They have to take care of mother earth in a way that she gives food to eat and water to drink. They are responsible for our health. And finally are the sudras. They are the dhobis, the carpenters, the tailors and all the other groups without whom the other three cannot live. Their duty is to help the other three classes perform their duty. By no means is one high or one low. If each one does their work in an orderly way, why would there be any conflict of high and low? 

We were all very happy and satisfied with our lives. A contented life, a respectable living was what we wanted and had. The British who ruled us divided us based on our caste. They identified the brilliance of the Brahmins and gave them respectable positions in society. Till then, the brahmana who was living his life for the society, started living for himself. That day was the beginning of the doom. When he started to do this, he broke his varna dharma. He started following the west in his practices. He left doing sandyavandanam, veda studies and other achaaras. Since he was regarded as a role model to all other varnas, the people of other varnas also followed him. They started to question that if the brahmana himself who is supposed to know bramha gyan has drifted apart, why not we. So, all people started to look upon towards the same kind of profession that gave them only money and luxury. Because of this, competition, greed, jealousy and hatred started to grow and spread.

Imagine, a marriage ceremony. We assign work to every member and each one carries it to the best of his ability. The marriage also is a suceess. But suppose, each member sees himself doing a small work or a work that doesn't befit his status, would it bring in peace? If the person who has to do flower decoration says that he will cook and not do his work, will the food be tasty. If the purohit who has to chant the mantras says that he would play the nadaswaram, will it sound melodious? Not at all. If each one of us does the duty that has been deputed to us, then the family is a happy one. This is the state we are in today. We are always comparing ourselves with someone who is more wealth and position. Due to this, there is a constant war within ourselves due to which anger and hatred grows.But, if the varna dharma is followed, then the society will be a happier one.

Further to the british, our selfish and greedy politicians divide people based on the caste. In purusha suktam which is a part of the vedas, it is said :

Brahmanasya Mukham aseed  |  Bahu rajanya krutha ||

Ooru tadasys yad vaisya  | Padbhyo sudro aajayatha ||

The brahmana came from the face of the Lord, The kshatriya from the shoulders, the vaishyas from the thighs and the sudras from the feet. So, each one of us have risen from an integral aprt of the Lord's body. All of us are pure and divine. Even the muslm kings could not divide us based on caste. The british succeeded. All the poison has been sown by the them which our politicians today are carrying forward.

Today, brahmanas do not want to do any kind of vedic studies. We are all lost in the material life of money and materialistic success. All the farmers are selling their lands for money and are migrating to the city for want of property and luxury. The kshatiryas do not want to be on the border of the country to protect us. They too want to enjoy city life. The sudras have started thinking that they are looked down upon and have changed their mindset. There is no one to help us lead a health and peaceful life.Who is truly happy today?  No one. Everywhere we see unhappiness, dis-satisfaction, greed, jealousy, selfishness and hatred. 

If we have to bring back the true satisfaction, we must follow our varna dharma atleast to some extent. Brahmins must atleast do sandyavandanam and learn a bit of Vedas so that it will be carried to our further generations.  A little of learning will surely pull them into that ocean. They will feel the divinity in them. They will be definitely encouraged to do more. All this must be done with the feeling of involvement. In the same way, kshatriyas must allow atleast one member of their family to national cause. Vaishyas must see that their varna dharma is protected and so also sudras. It is only then that we can have happiness and our country will be a central hub if spiritual and economic  progress.

I would encourage all of you to read “Voice of GOD”. This is a collection of talks given by the Kanchi Seer, the Living God, the walking GURU, Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal or maha perva as we lovingly call him. There are 7 volumes of the same. He talks at length about the various aspects of Hindusim. We will be spell bound at the vastness and depth of his knowledge. I am not the one suited to talk about him as I am an “atom of a drop” in the ocean of people who know him and have spoken about him. The above thoughts are assimilated largely based on his lectures in Volume 1 of “Voice of GOD”.

                                       

Long Live Sanathana Dharma

Sarve Janaah Sukhino Bhavantu

RAM RAM

                                                               

Stories less told

The greatness of Mahalakshmi Thayar

When Hanuman went to Lanka in search of Sita, he found Sita seated under a tree in the Ashoka Vana. Hanuman had not seen Sita before, but how did he recognize her. Sita’s very piety and grace was sufficient enough for Hanuman to spot her. Being frail, weak, sad and harping on Rama all the time, he could identify her as the sole one befitting Rama's grace and majesty. In order to make sure that this was Sita indeed, he recited the Ramayana till the point he was discharged to find Sita. Sita on hearing the story broke down and looked frantically in the direction of the voice. She was still uncertain about Hanuman and feared that it was Ravana in disguise of a monkey. It was only when Hanuman showed Sita the finger ring of Rama, she was convinced. In return, she gave him her choodamani as an identity. She also narrated the following incident to hanuman. This was a story which happened between her and Rama and there was no one else who were aware of this incident. Hence, she was sure that when Hanuman narrated the same to Rama, he would be rest assured that it was indeed Sita whose darshan Hanuman had.

This was the time when Rama, Sita and lakshmana were spending time in the Dandakaranya forest as part of keikeyi's directive to Rama. . Lakshmana was off into the woods while Rama and Sita were alone. Rama wanted to rest and he lied down on Sita’s lap. Jayanthan, who was the son of Indra, set his eyes on Sita and wanted to attain her. He took the form of a crow and started disturbing her. Sita tried as much as possible to avert him. She did not wake up Rama lest his sleep would get affected. Alas!! The crow pecked her chest and she started bleeding. When few drops of blood fell on Rama, he woke up to find the crow disturbing his beloved. 

HE took up a blade of grass, chanted a mantra and aimed the Bramhaastra at the crow. The crow trembled and ran for his life. He sought the help of Lord Shiva and Lord Bramha. Both of them refused to support in this evil act. He had no option but to do sharanagati. The crow flew back to Rama, fell at his feet and pleaded mercy. Rama was tough and wanted to punish the crow suitably but Sita intervened and saw that it was the play of a child’s ignorance. She requested Rama to pardon the crow. Since an arrow shot from his bow could not be taken aback, Rama directed the arrow to the crow’s eye.

Rama fought against Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Tataka, Vali, Subahu, Mareecha and many other demons and killed all of them. But he spared kakasura only because Sita was beside him. She is the embodiment of mercy. She is the divine mother with whom even Rama’s anger is under control. It was only because of her benevolence that Jayathan got spared. She is Loka matha, the mother of the universe.

We have to pray to Mahalakshmi even before we pay our obeisance to Lord Vishnu. For those who chant the Vishnu Sahasranama, chanting of Lakshmi Ashtotharam along with it is a must. We must not forget that Lord Vishnu is present in his full mercy only when Thayar is with him. Of course, she is always there with him on his vakshastalam or chest. It then becomes even more important to sing her praise when we pay our tributes to HIM. When the Lord is extolled along with his consort, it is like a fruit with all its sweetness.

Ram Ram

The Beginning

The Beginning

Before we dive into the ocean of GITA to drink its nectar, let us see the circumstances under what was the GITA taught.

The war between the kauravas and pandavas was imminent – All for a piece of land. Arjuna was blessed to have Shri Krishna as his charioteer. On the battle field, when both the sides were just about to start the war, when the air resounded with deafening sounds of the conchs,  of kettle drums and bugles, Arjuna requested Krishna to move to the center of the battle field so that he could, for one last time, have a look at both sides from an equidistant.  Krishna obeyed Arjuna’s commands and moved to the center of the battle field.

That Arjuna who was the embodiment of confidence and valour felt his bow slipping out of his hands. He perspired at the sight, his body started shivering, A sudden sea of emotions overcame him. He suddenly realized that he was to fight with his own grandparents, his own guru, his own brothers. This feeling of Arjuna is not unusual. Many a times we feel confident before exams or even before any major event of our lives. But as the time for execution nears, there is a kind of fear that grips us and we tend to become wavy of our own abilities. Arjuna was no different. Though his best friend and cousin, Lord Krishna was always with him, he failed to take advantage of an absolute surrender towards the Lord. Ego did not spare Arjuna too.

The first chapter is called “Arjuna Vishada Yoga” where Arjuna cribs and laments for the state of affairs. He became disillusioned at the fact that he will be killing his own brethren. He sulked at the thought that there will be widows on both sides due to this bloodshed. And all this was for a piece of land. All this enlightenment dawned upon him at the verge of the breakout of the war. He refused to fight, became adamant that he would take to sanyas and lead a life of recluse.

It was then that Krishna taking up the position of an acharya or Guru, gave a long sermon in the form of the divine song – the bagavad-gita. He starts his discourse only in the second chapter after patiently hearing to Arjuna’s complaints. He then speaks at length about the duties of a kshatriya, the varna dharma of Arjuna. He elaborates about the Karma which each one of us is ordained to do. He extols Bhakti as the sole destination for man to attain his holy feet. He explains the nature of the soul and shows the way to redeem this soul from repeated births and deaths. What to talk of the effort that he has taken to bring back Arjuna from a cowardly person to the a brave warrior !!!. This is the ocean of mercy . If Krishna wanted, he could have changed Arjuna by just his sankalpa, by his mere thought. But then the world would have missed a precious GEM like the GITA. It is for the welfare of the world that GITA was given. We are all Arjunas not knowing what to do in the battle of life. Our senses are our enemies. We have to fight them and this is possible when we use knowledge of GITA as our weapon.

The sage Vyasa who is Lord Vishnu incarnate has divided the GITA is 18 chapters comprising of 700 slokas. He has divided it into broadly three parts as Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. People can follow whichever path they want depending on what is suitable to them. All roads lead to the same destination i.e. moksha.

We are all more than 700 days old. It would surely be unfair our part not to know even a single sloka of this divine song. Our Vedas and shastras are a rich treasure to keep us happy. We need to accept and respect them. The Gita explains the highest essence of the Vedas. It cleanses our heart, removes our sins, enhances the satvic mind and leads us to salvation. When GOD himself came down to lift us from this samsara sagara, we have to acknowledge and at least climb one step towards HIM. So, a shloka a day definitely will keep all evils away.

RAM RAM

  

A shloka a day keeps all evils away

BAGAVAD-GITA - The Divine Song

I would like to thank Sujatha for inspiring me to write on this. I have been quoting a sloka from the GITA in my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LahariCulturalLearning . Sujatha asked me elaborate on them and I thought that it is a good idea to start discussions and spread GITA to as many as possible. The view points that you will read in the blog are all derived from various sources of great Acharyas, from books read and from upanyasams heard. So, I am only doing the transport job. No explanation is mine as my intellect is too small to even think of commenting on the GITA. So, here starts the drop service.

The Bhagavad-Gita is one of the most important and powerful literatures of Hindu mythology and philosophy. No other work has got so many commentaries by the great Acharyas. Practically, every guru has dealt with its tatva in an elaborate way. Be it Adi Shankara, or Ramanujaacharya or Madhvaacharya- it has been their most favoured topic for discussion and explanation. In recent times, we have had teachers like Shri. Chinmayananda, Shri. Dayananda  Saraswati or Shri.Prabhupada with their commentaries. While some elaborate the GITA from the point of view of an advaitin, some of them give explanation based on vishishtadvaita. Whatever philosophy one understands and follows, it is important to grasp and execute the instructions given in the GITA to attain moksha. Let us remember that the human life we have, is just not to earn money, produce off springs and be successful in materialistic life alone. Neither should we use prayer for only mundane goals. Our goals must be divine and in high esteem. The ultimate aim is to get ourselves free from the bondage of continuous birth and death.

Some people say it is too philosophical and beyond the comprehension of our intellect. This is not so. The Gita is divided into three parts – karma yoga, Jnana Yoga and Bhakti yoga. One can reach the lord through any one of the ways. Though the vedantic aspect may be difficult to comprehend, if one is always in the mode of reading , contemplating and has a deep interest to know this aspect, then the Lord himself opens the door in the form of a guru. There are many other characteristics in the GITA which we can easily tailor it to our day-today lives. For example, we learn about how to perform our duty unconditionally, how to maintain our poise when we have ups and downs in life, how to control the mind, how to develop true devotion to the lord and many other aspects.

So, let us not think that the GITA is only for retired people. This is the general feeling that one can start reading the GITA when they retire and have ample time. Sorry, we are all completely mistaken. When we cannot set the right priority when we are young, how can we set the priority when old. Our mind and attitude would have been tuned to such materialistic pleasures, that forget understanding the Gita, reading itself will be a burden. Moreover, the GITA is apt to read and implement when we are young. It teaches us daily lessons that will enable us to be more balanced and develop a mind that is more empathetic and introspective.

So, let us start reading a sloka everyday and understand its purport.  As much as possible, I will give the purport of the Gita on a weekly basis. One can find the weekly quote in the FB page of LAHARI: https://www.facebook.com/LahariCulturalLearning. The explanation will be in the blog. Please feel free to discuss and comment so that all of us can grow spiritually together. Satsang is the order of the day.

RAM RAM

Pathi Pavani, Papa Vimochani - Gange

Ganga – Our divine and Pure mother

The sacred river Ganga which flows from Haridwar, is a lifeline to all of us and is of course, a sacred river to Hindus. She is considered to be a papa nashini, the remover of all sins. 

But today, she is in a state of pity and misuse. People who reside near the Ganga worship her like a goddess yet perform all unhealthy and unhygienic acts on her leaving her as a river to ridicule. The industries that mushroom along her coast dump all their waste into her, yet she patiently bears the pain and works her way as a true karma yogin. It would be good to know where and how this “pathita pavani” came down to earth. She has a divine birth, originating from Satyaloka where Bramha resides. 

This happened when Lord Vishnu took the form of Vamana murthi to subdue Mahabali in the Vamana Avatara. Bali was a powerful Asura yet very generous and with a large heart. When he perform a yagna to please the gods and become all powerful, the Devas approached Lord Vishnu for help. Vishnu then took the form of a small Brahmin boy and went to attend the yagna. Bali was giving away gifts to the poor Brahmins and when it was Vamana’s turn to ask, he asked for three steps of land. Bali was taken aback by this strange request from a small boy. Out of his ignorance, he agreed to give away what was asked for, despite the warnings from his guru Shukracharya.

When the boon was granted, Vamana grew tremendously and began to measure the earth as his first foot. He measured the entire akasha mandalam (the sky) as his second piece of foot. His foot stretched to such a great extent that it reached Bramha loka. Bramha saw the toe of the Lord, identified it and did "paada puja" to the lord. He poured water from his kamandalam (water pot). This water from Bramha's kamadalam is the Ganga. She is the creation from brahma’s kamandalam. One can imagine her purity and her place in heaven. 

She then divided herself as four tributaries and flowed through various regions in the heaven. It was Bhageeratha, a king of the Iksvaku clan (the clan of Lord Rama) who brought Ganga to the earth. He had the responsibility of redeeming his ancestors from a sage’s curse. He therefore did penance for a 1000 years and got Ganga to the earth. But the force with which she fell was immense and the earth could not withstand her force. This time, it was Lord shiva to the resuce. He caught her and locked her in his matted hair. 

Bhageeratha did penance for yet another 1000 years and requested Lord Shiva to release her. Shiva let her go as a very small stream. This small stream flows with such ferocious force on the earth. She falls as the river Alakananda in Bharath. One must see the force with she comes down the Himalayas. We have to thank Lord shiva for having let her as a “small stream”. 

She is known by various names depending on the course she flowed and interesting incidents that she came across. She is called Janhavi, Bhishma  janani, Sureshwari, Bhaageerathi, Alakananda etc. Shri. Adi Shankara has paid a rich tribute to this goddess through a beautiful composition called “Ganga Storam”. One can learn and chant this everyday for the well being of all in this world.

She is the giver of life to us. Isn’t it our responsibility to take care of her and show our gratitude to her? She provides livelihood to all people in this country and we corrupt her in so many ways. While we take so much care to keep our house clean, our body hygienic, and neighborhood healthy, why then do we ignore the river which gives us life? It won’t take long for her to show her anger on us but she is patience personified and is taking in all that we do. Before she vents her anger on us, let us rectify ourselves and give her back to her what she has given us. Else it sure is a self dug grave.

I have pasted the Ganga stotram down for those who want to learn. It is set to a beautiful tune. One can google for the tune and learn it. 

GANGA STOTRAM

jaya jaya gaìge jaya hara gaìge jaya jaya gaìge jaya hara gaìge | 

1. devi sureshvari bhagavati gaìge tribhuvana-taariëi tarala-taraìge | 

shaìkara-mauli-vihaariëi vimale mama mati-raastaam tava pada-kamale || 

2. baagee-rathi sukha-daayini maata-stava jala mahimaa nigame khyaataha | 

naaham jaane tava mahimaanam paahi kripaa-mayi maama-gyaanam || 

3. hari-pada paadya ta-raìgiëi gaìge hima-vidhu muktaa dhavala taraìge | 

dooree kuru mama duñhkriti bhaaram kuru kripayaa bhava-saagara paaram || 

4. tava jala-mamalam yena nipeetam parama-padam khalu tena griheetam | 

maatar gaìge tvayi yo bhaktah kila tam drañhöum na yamah shaktaha || 

5. patitod-dhaariëi jaahnavi gaìge khaëòita-girivara-maëòita bhaìge | 

bheeñhma janani he munivara kanye patitani-vaariëi tribhuvana dhanye || 

6. kalpa-la-taamiva phaladaam loke praëamati yastvaam na patati shoke | 

paaraa-vaara vihaariëi gaìge vimukha yuvati krita taralaa-paaìge || 

7. tava chen-maatah strotah snaatah punarapi jaöhare so’pi na jaataha | 

narakani-vaariëi jaahnavi gaìge kaluñha-vinaashini mahimot-tuìge || 

8. puna-rasa-daìge puëya-taraìge jaya jaya jaahnavi karuëaa-paaìge | 

indra-mukuöa-maëi-raajita charaëe sukhade shubhade bhritya sharaëye || 

9. rogam shokam taapam paapam hara me bhagavati kumati kalaapam | 

tribhuvana saare vasudhaa hare tvamasi gatir-mama khalu samsaare || 

10. alak-aanande param-aanande kuru karuëaa-mayi kaatara vandye | 

tava taöa nikaöe yasya nivaasah khalu vaikuëöhe tasya nivaasaha || 

11. vara-miha neere kamaöho meenah kim vaa teere sharaöah ksheeëaha | 

athavaa shvapacho malino deena-stava na hi doore nripati-kuleenaha || 

12. bho bhuvaneshvari puëye dhanye devi dravamayi munivara kanye | 

jaya jaya gaìge jaya hara gaìge jaya jaya gaìge jaya hara gaìge || 

jaya jaya gaìge jaya hara gaìge jaya jaya gaìge jaya hara gaìge | 

Translation: 

Victory to Ganga; Victory to Shiva! 

1. Goddess Ganga, you are the divine river from heaven, you are the saviour of all the three 

worlds, you are pure and restless, you adorn Lord Shiva’s head. Mother, may my mind always 

rest at your lotus feet. 

2. Mother Bhagirathi, you give happiness to everyone. The significance of your holy waters is 

sung in the Vedas. I am ignorant and not capable of comprehending your importance. Devi, you 

are full of mercy, please protect me. 

3. Devi, your waters are as sacred as the “Charanamriti” of Sri Hari. Your waves are white like 

snow, moon and pearls. Please wash away all my sins and help me cross this ocean of samsara. 

4. Mother, those who partake of your pure waters definitely attain the highest state. Mother Ganga, 

even Yama, the Lord of death, cannot harm your devotees. 

5. Jahnavi, your waters flowing through the Himalayas make you even more beautiful. You are 

Bhishma’s mother, and sage Jahnu’s daughter. You are the saviour of people who have fallen 

from their path, and so you are revered in all three worlds. 

6. Mother, you fulfill all the desires of those devoted to you. Those who bow down to you do not 

have to grieve. Ganga, you are eager to merge with the ocean, just like a young woman anxious 

to meet her beloved. 

7. Mother, those who bathe in your waters do not have to take birth again. Jahnavi, you are held in 

the highest esteem. You destroy your devotees’ sins and save them from hell. 

8. Jahnavi, you are full of compassion. You purify your devotees with your holy waters. Your feet 

are adorned with the gems of Indra’s crown. Those who seek refuge in you are blessed with 

happiness. 

9. Bhagavati, take away my diseases, sorrows, difficulties, sins and wrong attitudes. You are the 

essence of the three worlds and you are like a necklace around the Earth. Devi, you alone are 

my refuge in this Samsara. 

10. Ganga, those who seek happiness worship you. You are the source of happiness for Alkapuri 

and the source of eternal bliss. Those who reside on your banks are as privileged as those living 

in Vaikunth. 

11. Devi, it is better to live in your waters as a turtle or fish, or to live on your banks as the poor, 

rather than to live away from you, even as a wealthy king. 

12. Goddess of the Univers, you purify us. Daughter of Muni Jahnu, one who recites this Ganga 

Stotram every day, definitely will achieve success. 

RAM RAM

Bindi - Today's GENX evading Aabharan

Do you like a Flat ,Plain Forehead

Bindi - A beautiful colored decoration to your forehead. Kept in between the eyebrows, this adds beauty, grace and is a must for every girl who is born as a HINDU. Why do we wear bindhis? 

The center point of the eyebrows is called the spiritual eye. It is called as the "aagnya chakra" or the seat of concealed wisdom. The latent energy we have in us constantly flows out of us when we do not wear a bindi. A pottu or a bindi conceals this and preserves this energy. It adds to the beauty and charm of a girl.

For the past few years , maybe , a decade, the trend is that most of the women - be it middle aged ladies or children fail to sport this colourful and beautiful decoration on their forehead. IS it that they find it old fashioned and superstitious. The lack of bindi on the forehead definitely gives an unlucky look. What is it that influences them so wrongly?

What to talk about children when mothers themselves don't bother to wear one. What makes moms not to wear a bindi? While their mothers or mothers-in-law have one, why has the habit been left off?. Where was the beginning and how did this practice of a blank forehead begin? Is it fashion? Is this forward thinking?"Definitely Not"... It is a neglect of our culture, a sheer indifference to what our elders say and an I-know-it-all attitude.

I wonder where did all this start?. We see foreigners loving to wear a bindi and respect our culture. Why do we underestimate our culture? When Christians and Muslims can be so adherent to their practices, why is it that we Hindus are so casual about our culture and practices. 

Hinduism is such a liberal religion. It gives you freedom to pray at whatever time you want, whichever God you want, whatever posture you wish.Unlike other religions, though rules are laid down, there is always a free will. Probably the biggest mistake our elders laid down to us - free will.

Is NOT wearing a bindi in any way showing that we are mentally progressing? Does this in anyway indicate that we have a scientific bent of mind? Is there one reason to prove that this is not needed? Or does it in any way increase the beauty and grace of a female? Why do we ape the west so blindly? What is that one authentic reasoning that we do not respect our culture. Are we so egoistic to accept its greatness? Do we regard our elders as just a bunch of idiots who had all the free time that they laid these rules?

Let us not deceive ourselves in the name of women liberation. This, in no way proves, that we are getting true freedom. True freedom must come from within. We don't get liberated by just changing the way we look.

We find ourselves more weaker in health or mental state than the elderly women at home. They have had more will power, more inward strength and physical fitness. This surely is one of the reasons. Finding it silly? All failure can't give you direct answers. Neither will GOD come in front of us and tell us why we suffer. That is the reason we have the vedas and shastras to guide us. When we neglect them, it takes a toll on our well being. We have to truly introspect and find answers.

If any person who doesn't wear a bindi can reason out why they do so, it would be truly good. And if we can find a sensible answer for not wearing a pottu, then we can surely question our dharma shastras and get answers.

Rules are laid for our own welfare. They are to be practiced for longevity, good health, prosperity and success in all that we do. We need to understand this. Rules practiced will definitely give positive results. There is no harm in taking a bindi and keeping in your forehead. If it is not in our practice  we have to get it to into practice. When we spend hours and days to achieve some result, we have to take small effort in keeping reminders for this too. It is NOT insignificant. We are sending wrong signals to our children  We are setting a bad example for generations to come. The results will not be visible immediately but will show in succeeding off-springs.

So, before it is too late and we find answers of why things go wrong with us, let us appreciate and respect out elders and their suggestions. Wear bindi and look beautiful not only from outside but from the inside too

RAM RAM