PARAM DHAANAM – Best Offering

 श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी – 16^th June 2019

Serene Sunday Reflections

 

PARAM DHAANAM – Best Offering

KEY WORDS :: Dhaanam (offering), Annadaanam, Vidyadaanam

 

Annadana or the gift of food is one kind of service (paropakara). We talk of service to the poor, social service and so on. Today all this is done with much fanfare and publicity. In the past the needy were served naturally, without making any fuss and is everyday routine. Before the mother closes her kitchen, suppose to go to the entry gate and ask loudly “is there any around who require supper?”.

Many slokas indicate the importance of the annadanam. It says annadhaanam is greater than donating many horses, elephants, gold ornaments, vessals, land, kanyadhanam etc.

gajathuragasahasram gokulam kotidhaanam
kanakarajitha paathram medhinee saagarantham
ubhayakula visudham kotikanyaapradhaanam
nahi nahi bahudhaanam annadhaanassamaanam

The importance of feeding a knowledgable person indicates the importance given to education - learning and teaching. Donation to one Brahmin is equal that to a crore sudras – feeding one crore Brahmins is equal to constructing a Vishnu temple – making a siva temple is equal to making a crore Vishnu temple – feeding a knowledgable person is equal to making one crore pradakshina siva temple.

sudrakoti sahasraanaam, ekam viprathu bhojayel
viprakoti sahasraanaam, ekam Vishnu prathishtitham
vishnu koti sahasraanaam ekaarudra prathishtitham
rudrakoti sahasraanaam ekojnaanihi bhojyathaam

This inner meaning can be read in many ways, in this context it says all Brahmins are supposed be knowledgable but not. The real knowledgable person if not Brahmin too is seen as higher. Thus the learing and teaching is the best service to the people and to god.

Feeding is a good philantharpoy activity. But educating is much higher. The food will get digested soon. The education will remain in the whole life.

अन्नदानं महादानं विद्यादानमतः परम् ।
अन्नेन क्षणिका तृप्तिः यावज्जीवञ्च विद्यया ॥

This probably was the source for the saying 'Give a man a fish, you feed him once. Teach him to fish and you feed him for life'.

 

With education we purify our intelligence, with meditation we purify our mind, with sloka or poetry we purify our speech, by exerting ourselves in the service of others one must purify the physic or body; that is why the DasaMahaVidya is prescribing Dasami / Navarathri (10 days / 9 nights). Out of this tenth Day (Dasami) is for Saraswati with Education and Learning, everyone in the home sit together to demonstrate their learning.

 

-----  Next Week 23^rd June 2019 RITUALS –-----

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RITUALS

 श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी – 23^rd June 2019

Serene Sunday Reflections

RITUALS

KEYWORDS :: Rituals, Ishta Poortha, Offering, Dhaynam, Yoga, Pooja, Kriya, Temple

 

Rituals when we say, it is Pooja that comes to everyone’s mind. Pooja is the Offering for /to God. Last week we reflected upon Best offering to man kind as Vidya-dhaanam (Education). Rituals are also called service, service is in fact the dhaanam. Thus rituals are the thanks giving service offers to God, by which one gets into the Dharana level among the Ashtanga Yoga (Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Prathyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi). Thus can get to the Dhyana and then may attain Samadhi (Meditation). I may differ from the well known Yoga (Yoga asana – Physical Exercises) and the Meditation (as is popular these days that one can do in group and one teaches to other).

We reflected earlier on ISHTA POORTHA as SANATHANA DHARMA. ISHTA Karma are all rituals as service to God. Agnihothram is most important (Ritualistic thanks giving to SUN, the prime GOD). Here a part of his (SUN) blessings – a bit of rice and ghee – is offered to him back saying it is all due to him (SOORYAYA SWAHA, SOORYAYA IDAM NAMAMA). Taking care of Guests and Learning Vedic lessons etc. are all considered as rituals (ISHTA KARMA).

agnihothram thapa sathyam vedaanaam chaanupaalanam
aadithyam vaisyadhevam cha ishta ithyabhitheeyathe

All VAIDIKA ACHARA (offering to fire) with SWAHA (let sun eat this) offering HAVIS (material) is a major ritual at home and temple too. But mostly in Temples; PAURANIKA ARADHANA on VIGRAHA (Deity) is what is followed. Vaidika is more veda manthra  oriented and self and the universe as part of the ritual. While  Temple / Pauranika / Kshethra Aradhana (ritual) is more of a public and utility oriented.

In any ritual – that is offering to GOD as service / thanks giving – ultimately is with DHARANA and to attain dharana (Concentration) so that one can reach to DHYANA.  This is possible only when you are doing with the dharana (feeling / presumption) that; it is all done due to him, by him, to him. Next two slokas explains this

कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा बुद्ध्यात्मना वा प्रकृतेः स्वभावात् ।
kayena vacha manasendriayirva bhudhyathmana va prakruthe swabhavath

करोमि यद्यत्सकलं परस्मै गुरुवरायेति समर्पयामि ॥

karomi yadhyathsakalam parasmai gururvarayethi samarpayami

Meaning :: All these rituals I am into with my Body, Speech, Mind or Sense Organs, using my Intellect, Feelings of Heart or (unconsciously) through the natural tendencies of my Mind, I do all for others (i.e. without the sense of attachment to the results), and I Surrender them to YOU Supreme Guru (MOSTLY for the GOD/GODESSES that you are keeping in SANKALPA).

While and when all the rituals are done as POOJA with manthra and the activity of offering (KRIYA) with full BHAKTHI (devotion) there could be errors in the rituals; here it says it is all DUE TO HIM (THE GOD Thyself). 

मन्त्रहीनं क्रियाहीनं भक्तिहीनं जनार्दन  यत्पूजितं मया देव परिपूर्णं तदस्तु मे

manthraheenam kriyaheenam bhaktiheenam janardhana yath-poojitham maya deva paripoornam thadasthu me

This sloka thus unambiguously says Rituals are one that is done FOR HIM, BY HIM, DUE TO HIM and thus one who does raises to the level of GOD. Does this not mean that one must to do it almost SRADHA (concentration) and BHAVA (understanding the inner meaning).

Unfortunate that these days Ritual became a synonym for anything that one does casually without attention. Most of the Rituals done in the temples too are without this sradha (concentration). Thus next week we plan to reflect on the Temple Ritual in Brief.

----- Next Week 30^th June 2019 – TEMPLE RITUALS –-----

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RITUALS

 श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी – 23^rd June 2019

Serene Sunday Reflections

RITUALS

KEYWORDS :: Rituals, Ishta Poortha, Offering, Dhaynam, Yoga, Pooja, Kriya, Temple

 

Rituals when we say, it is Pooja that comes to everyone’s mind. Pooja is the Offering for /to God. Last week we reflected upon Best offering to man kind as Vidya-dhaanam (Education). Rituals are also called service, service is in fact the dhaanam. Thus rituals are the thanks giving service offers to God, by which one gets into the Dharana level among the Ashtanga Yoga (Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Prathyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi). Thus can get to the Dhyana and then may attain Samadhi (Meditation). I may differ from the well known Yoga (Yoga asana – Physical Exercises) and the Meditation (as is popular these days that one can do in group and one teaches to other).

We reflected earlier on ISHTA POORTHA as SANATHANA DHARMA. ISHTA Karma are all rituals as service to God. Agnihothram is most important (Ritualistic thanks giving to SUN, the prime GOD). Here a part of his (SUN) blessings – a bit of rice and ghee – is offered to him back saying it is all due to him (SOORYAYA SWAHA, SOORYAYA IDAM NAMAMA). Taking care of Guests and Learning Vedic lessons etc. are all considered as rituals (ISHTA KARMA).

agnihothram thapa sathyam vedaanaam chaanupaalanam
aadithyam vaisyadhevam cha ishta ithyabhitheeyathe

All VAIDIKA ACHARA (offering to fire) with SWAHA (let sun eat this) offering HAVIS (material) is a major ritual at home and temple too. But mostly in Temples; PAURANIKA ARADHANA on VIGRAHA (Deity) is what is followed. Vaidika is more veda manthra  oriented and self and the universe as part of the ritual. While  Temple / Pauranika / Kshethra Aradhana (ritual) is more of a public and utility oriented.

In any ritual – that is offering to GOD as service / thanks giving – ultimately is with DHARANA and to attain dharana (Concentration) so that one can reach to DHYANA.  This is possible only when you are doing with the dharana (feeling / presumption) that; it is all done due to him, by him, to him. Next two slokas explains this

कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा बुद्ध्यात्मना वा प्रकृतेः स्वभावात् ।
kayena vacha manasendriayirva bhudhyathmana va prakruthe swabhavath

करोमि यद्यत्सकलं परस्मै गुरुवरायेति समर्पयामि ॥

karomi yadhyathsakalam parasmai gururvarayethi samarpayami

Meaning :: All these rituals I am into with my Body, Speech, Mind or Sense Organs, using my Intellect, Feelings of Heart or (unconsciously) through the natural tendencies of my Mind, I do all for others (i.e. without the sense of attachment to the results), and I Surrender them to YOU Supreme Guru (MOSTLY for the GOD/GODESSES that you are keeping in SANKALPA).

While and when all the rituals are done as POOJA with manthra and the activity of offering (KRIYA) with full BHAKTHI (devotion) there could be errors in the rituals; here it says it is all DUE TO HIM (THE GOD Thyself). 

मन्त्रहीनं क्रियाहीनं भक्तिहीनं जनार्दन  यत्पूजितं मया देव परिपूर्णं तदस्तु मे

manthraheenam kriyaheenam bhaktiheenam janardhana yath-poojitham maya deva paripoornam thadasthu me

This sloka thus unambiguously says Rituals are one that is done FOR HIM, BY HIM, DUE TO HIM and thus one who does raises to the level of GOD. Does this not mean that one must to do it almost SRADHA (concentration) and BHAVA (understanding the inner meaning).

Unfortunate that these days Ritual became a synonym for anything that one does casually without attention. Most of the Rituals done in the temples too are without this sradha (concentration). Thus next week we plan to reflect on the Temple Ritual in Brief.

----- Next Week 30^th June 2019 – TEMPLE RITUALS –-----

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TEMPLE RITUALS

 श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी – 30^th June 2019

Serene Sunday Reflections

TEMPLE RITUALS

KEYWORDS :: Temple Rituals, Offering,

 

Last week we reflected on the rituals as Dharana done in full SRADDHA (concentration) and BHAVA (understanding the inner meaning). We didn’t draw references or comparisons were made with India and other countries in rituals. This is because the Yaga – Yajna – Vaidika Karma leading to the individual rituals for and by God to God is only an Indian Tradition.  When it comes to Temple rituals in India only is still in tact where as like ancient Egypt sort of places with all its richness in heritage times were lost and forgotten.

 

Hindu Temples in India and Outside India are still kept and continued rituals which are older than the oldest that exist in this world. These God’s place -  luxurious and rich palaces, rustic abandoned warehouses, simple halls with just a picture of God or granite stone in a jungle or roadside -  Hindu temples are springing up all over the world, numbering in the hundreds of thousands.

Dress modestly, respect the priest and other visitors,  refrain from gossip and worldly talk enjoy a spiritual time. The Hindu worship service - rituals called puja, literally adoration with manthras (verses / hymns) and hand gestures (mudras) ringing bell is the main activity in most temples, follows same procedures. They are mostly based on Vedas modified to fit in the temple procedure making the ways and means texted under Agama Sasthra.

1.   the pujari purifies himself,

2.   Sanctifies the place of worship,

3.   Spiritualize the precious substances to offer the Deity like - water, uncooked rice, holy ash, sandalwood paste and Kumkum and the lamp to be lighted

4.   Light the lamp

5.   beseeches the Deity to come and dwell in the lamp / diety / image,

6.   a ritual bath, called abhishekam, in which water, sesame oil, turmeric water, saffron, milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, lime juice, vibhuti, sandalwood paste, panchamritam (mixture of five fruits), coconut water and rosewater are poured over the Deity

7.   Deity is dressed in new clothes and beautifully decorated with flowers, etc.

8.   offers incense, oil lamps and food

9.   He offers flowers while chanting 108 names of the God

10.       At the high point of the puja, a large lamp is waved before the Deity and bells are rung loudly as God sends His power through the holy image of Himself that is absorbed by the water, food, flower, ashes (vibhoothi)

11.       When the lamp is lowered, everyone prostrates to the Divine.

12.       The lamp is then carried out to bless the worshipers, who often leave a donation on the tray (or later in the temple offering box).

13.       Finally, depending on the tradition, sacraments such as sacred ash, blessed water, sandalwood paste, kumkum, fruit, sweets and flowers are passed out to bless all present. These include a portion of the offerings--flowers, cooked food and more--brought by devotees.

14.       Devotees may then sit in meditation, basking in the blessings invoked by the puja.

15.       Make the God to sleep, devotees may sing devotional songs during this time.

What we described here as ritual is called ANUSHTANA and may be different varied versions of this must be in practice at different places with variations acceptable to the locals. That being followed is called ACHARA. Having reflected on temple rituals, we shall see the Temples and it’s Power in the coming week.

----- Next Week 7^th July 2019 – TEMPLES AND IT’S POWER –-----

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TEMPLES AND ITS POWER

 श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी – 7^th July 2019

Serene Sunday Reflections

TEMPLES AND ITS POWER

KEYWORDS :: Temple, Construction, Installation, Daily Care, Devotees, Power

 

Last week we reflected on the Temple Rituals, as a continuation, here the reflection is on the Power of Temples since the Rituals are for maintaining the power in Temples. According to Hinduism, temple is not just a prayer hall, it is the Source of Energy. God’s presence is felt in the temples. Pooja Rituals are for producing the energy in the temples.

 

Installation – The chief priest (thanthri - is the custodian of the God/Goddess) will be associated with the temple since the time of installation. All the power of the temple depends on various aspects like aitheehiya (story behind the installation), power of the rituals, the people involved in installation and materials used etc. To demonstrate the power of temples, we take the examples of famous temples installed by Rama, Parasurama, Kuleepani Maharshi et. al. As said in the below sloka – a person’s archana (proper offerings) turns a Shila (stone) into Shankara (God) and any wrong doings will turn Shankara into a Shila.

archakasya prabhavena shilo bhavathi sankaraha

anarchakasya aprabhavena shankaro bhavati shila

Temples may have only thousands of years story, but rituals and achara – anushtana (explained in earlier Sunday Reflections) have hundreds of thousands of years of heritage but might have undergone changes over time depending on local situations. Yagna / Yaga was the first concept from where Temples came into existence.

Most of the temples today are not powerful since time of its inception but became famous and got the power by and from the people visiting the temple. The power of the temples depend on the activities and number of devotees visiting the temple. 

The bimba (deity) in the temple is made of any of these items - Mud, Wood, Stone, Granite, Mix of Metals (Panchaloha) etc. Construction process starts at the Garbha Gruha (Sanctum Sanctorum) as it is believed to be the Naval place of the God during his lying down position, wherein front and back entry gates will be the head and leg of the God respectively.

Architecture of the temple is defined based on the main deity and the area around. The location and the structure of the temple including the entry is decided by the local story and is in-line with the Agama Sasthra specifications. Yantra, Mantra and Thantra are the pillars of powers. Yantras are the geometric figures that are used to conserve energy. Mantras are the hymns with power in it. Thantras are the ritualistic actions by the priest.

All the processes in any temple starts with Mantra (chantings of the priest) and the power in temples depend on the mantra power. Next week we shall reflect on the Power in these Mantras / Hymns.

----- Next Week 14^th July 2019 – AGAMA SASTHRA –-----

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AGAMA SASTHRA

 श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी – 14^th July 2019

Serene Sunday Reflections

AGAMA  SASTHRA

KEYWORDS :: Temple, Construction, Agama Sasthra, Energy Presrve, Distribution

 

Last week we reflected on the Power of Temples and mentioned about Agama Sasthra, science of temple design. Now let us discuss a bit on Agama Sasthra.

Sasthra in Indian tradition means that are useful for human being (lokaanam upakaraya). The system of temple and the social gathering with religios practices are around for many years as people found it useful and thus temple has much relevance in making life of people in bliss.

Sthapathya Veda has two parts – Vasthu and Agama Sastras. Temple constructed as per Agama and houses are around temple with their design as per Vasthu. Thus the relation between Homes of People and Temple are based on Vasthu and Agama Sasthra.

Agama means tradition or "that which has come down" from generation; it also means the energy that came down from God to us. Agama Sasthra is a combination of cosmology, epistemology, philosophy, texts on meditation and practices, yoga, mantras, temple construction, deity worship and ways to attain satisfaction of all desires etc. Thus for any temple to build, first step is to get one who makes the design understanding the local needs and he is called Sthapathy. Brahmarishi Mamuni Mayan is one of the Guru (Master architect) who developed this science in Heritage India and texted (MAYAMATHAM).

Agama is basically the Science and Technology of construction of house of the God, temple. Basically it is divided in styles for Shaivism (Shiva), Vaishnavism (Vishnu), Shaktism (Devi), Ganapathya (Ganesha) and Soura (Sun God). It also varies from place to place geographically. Basic Principle is that Yanthra, Manthra, Thanthra and all rituals are to generate energy in the temple and Agama is the design of the temple where it needs to be densified, preserved and distributed to the visitors.

Depending on the God, size of the idols, direction, sanctum, number of visitors expected on worships, special religious functions planned around, how many sub-deities are also part of the temple etc.; the layout and construction is planned. All the cosmic powers and pancha bhootha (5 basic elements – earth, water, air, fire, space) are unified to energies the temple. The word Kshethra meaning temple is also seen as the body of the God.

The devotees are served with all that satisfies their indriyas (Sensory organs). It is done casual but intentionally as the temple design supports. That is where the Agama Sasthra pays the best role in the power of the temple. Thus it is important that the temple is located in place where it is most best with the support of the electromagnetic energy around on each every part of earth.

So much densified inside with all the rituals as the doors are open the energy from the sanctum sanctrum gets injected into the devotee. The science of temple, installation, energy creation, and reaching upto devotee is described under “Thanthra Samuchayam”.

Having discussed about the Agama Sasthra, Specific architure that can conserve and distribute energy, now we shall reflected next week on the Energy Created in Temple.

----- Next Week 21^st July 2019 – Energy Created in Temple –-----

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