Impostors

Paundraka Vasudev!

There had always been impostors! Even during dwapara Yuga! So why lament about False godmen and their tall claims to being God almighty!

This chapter relates how Lord Krsna went to Kasi (present-day Benares) and killed Paundraka and Kasiraja, and how the Lord's Sudarsana disc defeated a demon, incinerated the city of Kasi and killed Sudaksina.

While Lord Baladeva was visiting Vraja, King Paundraka of Karusa, encouraged by fools, announced that he was the real Vasudeva. Thus he challenged Lord Krsna with the following message: "Since I alone am the true Personality of Godhead, You should give up Your false claim to this position, as well as my divine symbols, and take shelter of me. If You do not, then prepare for battle."

When Ugrasena and the members of his royal assembly heard Paundraka's foolish boast, they all laughed heartily. Sri Krsna then told Paundraka's messenger to convey a message to his master: "O fool, I will force you to give up the so-called Sudarsana disc and the other divine symbols of Mine you have dared to assume. And when you lie down on the battlefield, you will become the shelter of dogs."

Lord Krsna then went to Kasi. Paundraka, seeing the Lord preparing for battle, quickly came out of the city to confront Him with his army. His friend Kasiraja followed him, leading the rear guard. Just as the fire of universal devastation destroys every living being in all directions, so Lord Krsna annihilated the armies of Paundraka and Kasiraja. Then, after chastising Paundraka, the Lord beheaded both him and Kasiraja with His Sudarsana disc. Thereafter, He returned to Dvaraka. Because Paundraka had constantly meditated on the Supreme Lord, even dressing like Him, he gained liberation.

When Krsna beheaded Kasiraja, the King's head flew into his city, and when his queens, sons and other relatives saw it, they all began to lament. At that time a son of Kasiraja's named Sudaksina, wanting to avenge his father' s death, began worshiping Lord Siva with the intention of destroying his father's killer. Gratified by Sudaksina's worship, Lord Siva offered him a choice of benedictions, and Sudaksina asked for a means to kill the one who had slain his father. Lord Siva advised him to worship the Daksinagni fire with black magic rituals. This Sudaksina did, with the result that a fearsome demon with a body of flames appeared from the pit of the sacrificial fire. The demon rose up carrying a fiery trident and at once set off for Dvaraka.

The residents of Lord Krsna's capital became terrified as the demon approached the city, but Lord Krsna assured them of protection and dispatched His Sudarsana cakra to oppose the magic creation of Lord Siva. The Sudarsana overpowered the demon, who then returned to Varanasi and burned Sudaksina to ashes, together with his priests. The Sudarsana disc, following the demon, entered Varanasi and burned the entire city to the ground. Then the Lord's disc returned to His side in Dvaraka

Now as Asthikas what we need to be careful about is, Paundraka by his constant remembrance of the Lord though in a devious way attained Moksha. But his followers are doomed to oblivion as their full focus is on an impostor. So think a hundred times before chosing your faith.

Krishnamachari Santhanam

Arjuna Vishada Yoga

"Fix thy thought on Me; be devoted to Me; worship Me; do homage to Me; thou shalt reach Me. The Truth do I declare to thee; for thou art dear to Me. This is my teaching, My grace." "This is the path to come to Me. Give up all Dharmas; surrender to Me; do not grieve; I shall liberate you from the consequences of all your acts."
Ah! Note the meaning and significance of these two stanzas. Is not this act of surrender enough to save you and to liberate you from the round of coming to - staying in - and leaving from this world?
#Arjunavishadayoga #srikrishna #saibagwathgithavahini

Makar Sankranthi

Sankranti is celebrated since last 6000 years, as archeological findings in Latin America prove that the Mayans celabrated something similar to Sankranthi with Pongal, Pala kayalu, as some kind of spring festival.

Sankranti is the Sanskrit word, which refers to the transmigration of the Sun from one Rāshi(zodiac in Indian astrology) to the other. Hence there are 12 such sankrantis in all. However, the Sankranti festival usually refers to Makara Sankaranti, or the transition of the Sun from Dhanu rashi (Sagittarius) to Makara rashi (Capricorn).

For this purpose, the Zodiac signs are considered sidereally, and not tropically, as in western astrology, thus not accounting for the Earth's precession. The festival therefore takes place around 21 days after the tropical winter solstice (between December 20 and 23rd) that marks the starting of Uttarayana, which means northward journey of Sun.

Considering the Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the gradual increase of the duration of the day. Scientifically, the shortest day of the year is around December 21–22 after which the days begin to get longer, hence actual Winter Solstice begins on December 21 or December 22 when the tropical sun enters Makara rashi. Hence actual Uttarayana is December 21. This was the actual date of Makar Sakranti too. But because of the Earth's tilt of 23.45 degrees and sliding of Equinoxes, Ayanamasha occurs. This has caused Makara Sankranti to slide further over the ages. A thousand years ago, Makar Sankranti was on December 31 and is now on January 14. Five thousand years later, it shall be by the end of February, while in 9000 years it shall come in June.(Wikipedia)

While the traditional Indian Calendar is based on lunar positions, Sankranti is a solar event. So while dates of all Hindu festivals keep changing as per the Gregorian calendar, the date of Makar Sankranti remains constant over a long term, 14 January. Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the Hindu Calendar month of Magha.

Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. According to the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn or from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, in the month of Poush in mid-January, it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. The movement of the earth from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac known as Makar in Hindi, this occasion is named as Makar Sankranti in the Indian context. It is one of the few Hindu Indian festivals which are celebrated on a fixed date i.e. 14th January every year.

Makar Sankranti, apart from a harvest festival is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is said as the 'holy phase of transition'. It marks the end of an inauspicious phase which according to the Hindu calendar begins around mid-December. It is believed that any auspicious and sacred ritual can be sanctified in any Hindu family, this day onwards. Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. In other words, Sankranti marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or spring season.

All over the country, Makar Sankranti is observed with great fanfare. However, it is celebrated with distinct names and rituals in different parts of the country. In the states of northern and western India, the festival is celebrated as the Sankranti day with special zeal and fervor. The importance of this day has been signified in the ancient epics like Mahabharata also. So, apart from socio-geographical importance, this day also holds a historical and religious significance. As, it is the festival of Sun God and he is regarded as the symbol divinity and wisdom, the festival also holds an eternal meaning to it.

Freewill!

Freewill involves a selection Process driven by Ego. By Ego I mean nothing derogatory, I mean as a bundle of Likes and Dislikes. Divine will permeates everything including Freewill. Herein lies the catch 22. Then do we have Freewill at all? Hmmm, I thought I would test it out.

Micro is always a true representative of Macro. That way our likes, dislikes in social Media like FB clearly indicate our preferences and dance of Ego. Even if the like or post is a pretence, that too indicates our ego tilt ,right?

I did a simple test. Let me abstain from Liking or commenting on FB, for an extended period of time.
The results were simply amazing!

1. In the thousands of Friends? hardly a few truly interact and get to know you. Rest are passing time, the same applies to me.

2.When I do not post , it does not matter to the world. Nothing at the end of the day is original. IT exists in some form or the other in the Universe, and we are just replicating it. Only the Creator does the original creation. Even if we replicate splendidly it is a poor representation at the most.

3. Even desisting from commenting or Liking takes a tremendous amount of control, then what to say about real life? If I can apply the same in real world, I would truly be a Yogi. How often we opine on others, many times without a basis and how often we carry our own box and try to fit everything in it having no concern for the shape and size of the object we are trying to control by fitting it in our box of likes and dislikes.

4. All Politicians are Chameleons and changing color only varies in intensity from one to other. Better not to waste time on them. So one elimination of subject from FB.

5. Religion has always been a divisive factor, so why do a religious post? Does not serve any purpose! Another Subject gone!!

6. Spirituality is universal and has many hues and no hue at the same time. Trying to define it in a post is a wasteful expenditure of time!! Another subject gone!

7. Bingo! The most non political posts on FB! Cats and Dogs!! I do not have any, so there goes another subject!

8. There are people who daily post pictures of their Breakfast and Dinner! I loathe it, so can not pull myself to do it. There goes another subject!

9. Some post daily pictures of them having a good time in a Bar or a casino! I do not wine and dine and so not eligible to post it either.

10. Ha! How about this? Many post their picture (mostly Selfiies of course) with their favourite deity  or in a particular shrine, or with their current favourite Guru! I shiver! Can not give such pose. I suck at that!!

11. How about posing a meditative picture on the banks of Ganges in Gangothri or some such sacred place? Well it is tempting but can not drag myself away from work to be there. Maybe i can try photoshop.

12. Kids!! Yes that is it! But i have no small kids and the grown up ones I have do not like intrusion in their privacy!

13. Maybe I should learn to sulk and be caustic, like a few of my friends. I comment something positive about their posts and they always learn to distort it! I can go for a crash course on that and then maybe I can post!

14. Sickness, half my friends post on their illness, breakage of bones or insomnia and that is not funny at all and that too on periodic update!

A few friends out there who are original and creative. I still love reading their posts. Some are artists and their creations are so pleasing. Many healers who heal broken hearts. Some are gems to keep but it is those who drop out of FB! Maybe this is the shape of things to come and we will be left with only those narcicists who keep posting their selfies!

So my Friends i will post when I have a flash of inspiration, until then Adieu!

Krishnamachari Santhanam

Self

Just as even people possessing eyes cannot see the things etc. , clearly in the night, but they can see their steps well when a light is brought, so also in those having devotion towards Me, the Self becomes Self-effulgent.

Sri RamaGita.

Pre Islamic Arabia- Stark similarities with Vedic Indian Practices

If you look at modern History it would seem that before the advent of Islam, Arabia had no culture or History which is not true. The ancient practices as well as current practices have great similarity to Vedic Indian culture. The concept of kinship, Tribal bonding, Reverence to elders and parents, Hospitality are some of them.

After visiting the old Sharjah museum in Bank street,and seeing old photographs of the Kaaba, I always used to tell my friends that The stone they rever in the Kaaba resembles the Shiva Linga . This is the very stone they worship and respect as it marks the stone which accompanied Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when he descended after a visit to heaven. To this date the day is celebrated as Miraj.

But, Those were days when mobile phones were not prevalent and I could not take any photographs of the old Kaaba before nineteen fifties. As luck would have it I chanced upon it recently in my friends blog , with a picture of the Kaaba during 1950's and a shiv ling being circambulated by Hajis. Immediately i sat down to blog this. Hope you enjoy.

One can see the Shiva Linga with Avudaiyar clearly.

In pre-Islamic Heritage of the present Islamic Middle east, Vikramaditya’s Kingdom extended to Arabia, His inscriptions are found in Kaaba, Arabia was called Aravasthan, meaning land of Horses, which find reference in Tamil literature as well, the practice of awarding poets being a Tamil Kings practice is found in Ancient Arabia.

Ganesha Idol was found in Kuwait, Mecca is a Shiva Temple, 786, considered holy by the Muslims is Flipped OM, Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) Uncle composed a Hymn in Praise of Lord Shiva, Sapthapathi was practiced in pre-Islamic Arabia and Navagrahas were worshiped.

Islamic History also states that there were seven padhumas (figurines) around the present day Kaaba and Prophet had a vision once when he was sitting despondent that he could not succeed in propagating Islam to his people in Mecca. The vision detailed him to go and behead the figurines around Kaaba and only then he could succeed in propagating Islam. My guess is that the seven figurines could be that of saptha kannigais.

The above is the image of the black stone which is now on the outer peripherals of Kaaba, It has been encased in a silver casing which the Hajis touch and kiss and derive great bliss. I will reproduce below another aerial view of the image and please note that it does resemble Shivalinga.

The stone was venerated at the Kaaba in pre-Islamic pagan times. According to Islamic tradition, it was set intact into the Kaaba's wall by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the year 605 A.D., five years before his first revelation. Since then it has been broken into a number of fragments and is now cemented into a silver frame in the side of the Kaaba. Its physical appearance is that of a fragmented dark rock, polished smooth by the hands of pilgrims. Islamic tradition holds that it fell from the heaven as a guide for Adam and Eve to build an altar, although it has often been described as a meteorite, a hypothesis, which is now uncertain.

Muhammad is credited with setting the Black Stone in the current place in the wall of the Kaaba. A story found in Ibn Ishaq's Sirah Rasul Allah tells how the clans of Mecca renovated the Kaaba following a major fire which had partly destroyed the structure. The Black Stone had been temporarily removed to facilitate the rebuilding work. The clans could not agree on which one of them should have the honour of setting the Black Stone back in its place.

They decided to wait for the next man to come through the gate and ask him to make the decision. That individual happened to be the 35-year-old Muhammad, five years before his prophethood. He asked the elders of the clans to bring him a cloth and put the Black Stone in its centre. Each of the clan leaders held the corners of the cloth and carried the Black Stone to the right spot. Then, Muhammad himself set the stone in place, satisfying the honour of all of the clans (Wiki)

The Black Stone plays an important role in the central ritual of the hajj, when pilgrims must walk seven times around the Kaaba in a counterclockwise direction. They attempt to kiss the Black Stone seven times, once for each circumambulation of the Kaaba, emulating the actions of Muhammad. In modern times, large crowds make it practically impossible for everyone to kiss the stone, so it is currently acceptable to point in the direction of the Stone on each of their seven circuits around the structure. It is interesting to note that this circumambulation is similar to the hIndu Practice in Temples, only that it is done anti clock wise.

Enjoy here the Kaaba as seen in 1950. The Kaaba had 360 images worshipped during Pre Islamic times.

“The word Kabaa may originate from Tamil and the word Kabaalishwaran. Tamil is considered one of the oldest languages of the world.Dravidian’s worshiped Lord Shiva as their Primal Deity – from the Indus valley civilization. Shiva Temple’s in South India are called as Kabaalishwaran temple’s. Kabaali, therefore – refer to Lord Shiva.

There are many other words in Islam that appear to be connected to Hinduism. For example, in Sanskrit Allah, Akka and Amba are synonyms. They signify a goddess or mother. The Islamic practice of Bakari Eed (Eid) derives from the Go-(M)edh and Ashva-(M)edh Yagnas or sacrifices of Vedic times. Eed in Sanskrit means worship. The Islamic word Eed for festive days, signifying days of worship, is therefore a pure Sanskrit word.  [Note: The word Bakari is an Indian language word for a goat. (Muslims sacrifice goats during Eid).

Since Eed means worship and Griha means ‘house’, the Islamic word Idgah signifies a ‘House of worship’ which is the exact Sanskrit connotation of the term. Similarly the word ‘Namaz’ derives from two Sanskrit roots ‘Nama’ and ‘Yajna’ (NAMa yAJna) meaning bowing and worshipping.

Recital of the Namaz (Nama-smaranam in Hindi) five times a day owes its origin to the Vedic injunction of Panchmahayagna (five daily worship- Panch-Maha-Yagna) which is part of the daily Vedic ritual prescribed for all individuals.

Laylat Al Qadr is considered the holiest night of the year for Muslims, and is traditionally celebrated on the 27th day of Ramadan. It is known as the "Night of Power," and commemorates the night that the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Any Prayers said that day is said to be equivalent to prayers said for 1000 months and angels are said to be passing by that night to carry your prayers and answer them. This belief is very similar to Maha Sivarathri and Vaikunta Ekadesi.

Onre Kulam Oruvane DEivam.  There is One God and One Humanity.

Vasudeva Kudumbakam- The entire universe is one family.

Let us find unity in Diversity.

Om.

Krishnamachari Santhanam

Nidhivan- Tales stranger than Fiction

Nidhivan is a sacred temple of Bankey bihari which is situated at Vrindavan. The major part of the temple is surrounded with huge bushy forests. The temple derives its name from Nidhi meaning Treasure and van meaning forest.

An amazing part of the forest is that all trees and hollow here and have their branches twisted downwards. Also the land at the temple is really dry - still the trees remain green all throughout the year.

It is said that these trees are in fact ‘Gopis’. After nightfall, they perform maharasleela with Shree Krishna and Radha Rani. Those with wholesome devotion feel something amazing and attractive in this place. From all over the world, devotees come here to worship the unique form of god.

There is also an abundance of monkeys and chirping birds in Nidhivan. All the priests and devotees chants mantras in this place and makes the surrounding pure and religious.

There is also a small well inside the area. It is believed that one while performing raas-leela; radha became thirsty and Krishna built a well with his flute and quenched her thirst.

After the evening aarti, all the windows in front of Nidhivan gets closed till the morning.

It is believed that after nightfall, Shri Krishna himself comes here and performs ‘Maha-raasleela’. Many locals have claimed to have heard the sound of "ghungroos" at night. It is said that all the trees around the are light up at night to welcome the Gods. Night stay at Bankey Bihari temple is restricted after sunset. Those who have stayed back have either been found dead or have lost their minds.

After the evening puja; some beautifying items like a saree, some laddus, bangles, paan leaves, kalash jal etc are kept and the temple is locked. In the morning, as the temple gate opens everything is found scattered, sweets are tasted and the paan leaves are chewed. It is believed that after raas leela; Shree Krishna and radha rani comes there for rest. It is said that it is the love and devotion of the people of Vrindavan that forces Krishna to come there every night.

There is another story of the rock found in the garden. Once, a young Krishna and his friends were playing hide and seek in forest and the Lord hid behind the mountain.

It is said that by hearing the sweet flute of Shree Krishna, the large mountain got melted into a rock piece. In the present date, the foot prints of Bal Krishna and his calf can be seen on the mountain.

Krishnamachari Santhanam