Ramanisblog

Month: January 2019

  • Rama With One Wife Krishna With More What is Morality

    Recently I was asked, at a Dinner,why while Lord Rama is venerated because of his loyalty to his wife,his vow and devotion to his wife,Eka Patni vrata,we also venerate Lord Vishnu who has two wives,Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi.

    Is this not a contradiction?

    What ,then, is Morality?

    Which is morally correct?

    Concepts of Hinduism are complex and it needs a thorough understanding of the Vedas ,the six systems of Indian philosophy, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana Mahabharata,Eighteen Puranas and Indian regional language texts.

    Indian philosophy is the foundation is the rock on which Hindu practices are built upon.

    Reality,Brahman, according to Vedas,the scriptures of the Hindus, is a Principle devoid of Qualities or Attributes.

    We Attribute qualities so that we can comprehend and Realize It.

    We,our minds,are limited by Space and Time.

    We can not conceive of anything without reference to these two.

    On the modern scientific side, especially Astrophysics ,one can not really comprehend Stellar Distances,which are calculated in Light years and AU,Astronomical Units.

    We have only a vague idea that it is huge.

    For more on Time,please read my articles on Time,by Googling Time+ramanan50.

    However in the path to Realisation of Brahman,Reality,A Principle,Hinduism, knowing the limitations of Human mind ,has devised a method.

    That of Worship of Gods.

    In a way human mind can understand it.

    That is by bestowing the Reality with Perfect Human Attributes.

    This is the beginning Stage of Self Realization.

    This is called Saguna Aradhana,Worship of Reality with Attributes.

    The Mind,to be divested of its innumerable thought waves,has to be deceived.

    When mind believes,it can make things Happen.

    So eventhough Reality is a Principle,it also can appear as personal God as one believes and meditates upon.

    That is why we have God experiences.

    Hindu,Vedic texts provide minimum three meanings.

    Literal,Symbolic representing Abstract Truth,and esoteric Tantra,Mantra.

    Some texts provide more than three meanings.

    The Concept of the Three Primary Deities,Brahma,Vishnu and Rudra are to be understood.

    Universe is Motion and it is the Ultimate cause Science can unmask.

    There are three types of Energy .

    That is Energy at Rest.

    Potential.

    When it is in Motion,it is Kinetic.

    One more is Energy at Rest,while allowing for some Movement,Kinetics.

    It is Potentio Kinetic.

    Brahma,Potentio Kinetic,

    Vishnu, Kinetic and

    Rudra a combination of both.

    Rudra is an aspect of Siva,while Vishnu is an aspect of Narayana.

    Brahma is the cause.

    Vishnu is the Sustainer.

    The term Vishnu is from the root Jishnu,that which Supports.

    ‘Vishnum Jishnum Mahavishnum Prabhavishnum Maheswaram’ -Vishnu Sahasranama.

    For supporting Life, Consciousness,one needs sustanence.

    This , during Life,in the Form of Health,Wealth…sixteen things.

    Beyond Life, support is provided by Vishnu as Govinda.

    The term Govinda is used for ceremonies conducted after Death.

    As a concept of Vishnu,He sustains the Universe.

    Earth supports.

    This is not enough to sustain and nurture Life.

    Earth is allegorically called as Bhudevi.

    Other things needed for Life is represented by Sri,also called Sri Devi.

    To explain the concept of Vishnu with necessary support systems, Vishnu is represented as having been married to Bhu Devi and Sri Devi.

    Sri,an explanation.

    Sri has a core meaning of “diffusing light or radiance or eminence”, related to the root śrā“to cook, boil”, but as a feminine abstract noun, it has received a general meaning of “grace, splendour, beauty; wealth, affluence, prosperity”.(Wiki)

    Sree varchasvam ayushyam aarogyam maavithaath

    Sobamanam maheeyanthe

    Dhaanyam Dhanam pasum bahuputra laabham

    Satha samvathsarm dheeragamaayuhu’

    However at the Ultimate level,there is no Sin,Nothing Sacred.

    ‘Na punyam, Na Paapam…..

    Sivoham’ Nirvana Shadgam by Sri Sankara charts.

    PS.This is a philosophical explanation.

    However, I have found, during my research into Hindu texts and events,these events may be Real.

    I do not know.

  • Growth of Child In Womb Stage by Stage Description Shrimad Bhagavadham Hindu Text

    Ancient Indian texts contain advanced scientific concepts.

    Botany, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics,Space research,Time , Surgery, Zoology, Gravitation,Magnetism,Light,Sound, Cloning, Stem-cell research, Advanced concepts including Quantum, Advanced weapons systems, Nuclear bombs….

    Also on Genetics and Gynaecology.

    I have written on each of these.

    I have written on the development of the Infant in the Womb.

    Here below I am providing Slokas from the Bhagavadham,that list the stage by stage development of the Egg in the Womb.

    ‘SB 3.31.1 — The Personality of Godhead said: Under the supervision of the Supreme Lord and according to the result of his work, the living entity, the soul, is made to enter into the womb of a woman through the particle of male semen to assume a particular type of body.
    SB 3.31.2 — On the first night, the sperm and ovum mix, and on the fifth night the mixture ferments into a bubble. On the tenth night it develops into a form like a plum, and after that, it gradually turns into a lump of flesh or an egg, as the case may be.
    SB 3.31.3 — In the course of a month, a head is formed, and at the end of two months the hands, feet and other limbs take shape. By the end of three months, the nails, fingers, toes, body hair, bones and skin appear, as do the organ of generation and the other apertures in the body, namely the eyes, nostrils, ears, mouth and anus.
    SB 3.31.4 — Within four months from the date of conception, the seven essential ingredients of the body, namely chyle, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow and semen, come into existence. At the end of five months, hunger and thirst make themselves felt, and at the end of six months, the fetus, enclosed by the amnion, begins to move on the right side of the abdomen.
    SB 3.31.5 — Deriving its nutrition from the food and drink taken by the mother, the fetus grows and remains in that abominable residence of stools and urine, which is the breeding place of all kinds of worms.
    SB 3.31.6 — Bitten again and again all over the body by the hungry worms in the abdomen itself, the child suffers terrible agony because of his tenderness. He thus becomes unconscious moment after moment because of the terrible condition.
    SB 3.31.7 — Owing to the mother’s eating bitter, pungent foodstuffs, or food which is too salty or too sour, the body of the child incessantly suffers pains which are almost intolerable.
    SB 3.31.8 — Placed within the amnion and covered outside by the intestines, the child remains lying on one side of the abdomen, his head turned towards his belly and his back and neck arched like a bow.

    http://www.vedabase.com/en/sb/3/31

  • How Ardhanareeswara Formed Brahmas Fifth Head Satarupa Manu

    How Ardhanareeswara Formed Brahmas Fifth Head Satarupa Manu

    The origin of First Man is intriguing.

    This happens when one tries to find the first cause of anything,be it science,arts, history, events.

    This is because of the limitations of our Mind, which is constrained by the concept of Time and Space.

    One can not visualize anything without reference to Time and Space.

    And we expect everything must be expressed to us, understandable to us and everything must follow a logical sequence.

    We must remember that we are limited,nature is not obligated to us to reveal its working to us and logic is not well equipped to cover all our experiences and above all Life is not logical.

    Now to the first human being.

    Of all the information available to us, Hinduism’s explanation of this concept seems to be correct.

    The Concept of Abrahamic religions on this subject leads one to confusion .

    I will be writing on this .

    In Hinduism,the confusion is resolved by the assertion that Time is Infinite and everything that is born will die.

    In fact Creation is not the term used.

    The term is Srishti, Manifestation.

    The effect is contained in the Cause.

    There is another view that cause and effect are different.

    But the former is more acceptable.

    In fact advanced Advaita affirms that everything is only a manifested ,illusory Reality.

    And Reality is a principle without name and form,Nirguna.

    The world of names and forms ,Noumenon,is for the empirical world.

    However to accommodate the limited human beings to realise,Reality, Hinduism has devised worship of Personal God,Iswara

    This is Saguna Aradhana.

    To describe the evolution of human beings, Hinduism adopts many time scales,like Manvantara,,Kalpa,Chatur Yuga and Yuga.

    At the top is Manvantara.

    Read about Manvantara Time Scale.

    Time-space is Eternal and they can not be comprehended by us who are limited by Space and Time.

    In the flux of Time ,a point is taken. For reference and origin of things and beings are explained.

    These concepts would be clear when one studies Indian philosophy.

    Indian philosophy,is not, as many would think is not merely about numerous Gods, Goddesses and temples but more about a scientific approach to the nature of Things as they are and as they appear to be.

    You may read articles in this site under Indian philosophy.

    Now to the origin of first human being.

    It is Manu.

    ‘to the first man (progenitor of humanity).The Sanskrit term for ‘human’, मानव (IAST: mānava) means ‘of Manu’ or ‘children of Manu’. In later texts, Manu is the title or name of fourteen mystical Kshatriya rulers of earth, or alternatively as the head of mythical dynasties that begin with each cyclic kalpa (aeon) when the universe is born anew’

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manu_(Hinduism)

    There are fourteen Manvantara and each has one Manu.

    Startups is his wife.

    Ardhanareeswara.

    ‘When Brahma created Shatarupa, he was immediately infatuated and pursued her wherever she went. Shatarupā moved in various directions to avoid his gaze but wherever she went, Brahmā developed another head until he had four, one for each direction of the compass. Desperate, Shatarupa leaped over him to stay out of his gaze even for a moment. A fifth head, however, appeared above the others. Thus, Brahmā developed five heads. At this moment Shiva appeared, determined that since Shatarupā was Brahma’s daughter (being created by him), it was wrong and merged into devi Parvati and formed the Ardhanarishvara, translated as “half-man and half-woman god.” Shiva told Brahma that males and females are both the same as their souls are exactly the same, and the soul doesn’t have a gender only material. The outer body is different only because of different body parts.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatarupa

  • Parvati Awaits You Bhubaneswar City Of Thousand Temples

    The History of India and it’s Culture is astounding and at times mind boggling.

    Be it’s antiquity,its rich literature and customs, Culture.

    Great Temples of India Burma and Ceylon .book page.Screenshot
    Great Temples of India Burma and Ceylon . Screenshot.

    And Temples.

    I have been writing this blog for the past nine years on Hinduism, Indian philosophy , it’s traditions, literature, diversity,advanced scientific concepts in ancient times, it’s presence throughout the world and architecture.

    And I have traveled widely in India, especially Temples.

    But I was awestruck by a book written by a foreigner in the eighteenth century on the Great temples of India.

    I have provided the Link to the book towards the close of the article.

    I am humbled at my ignorance of my own Culture and Religion.

    I have been under the impression that temples abound in South India when compared to North India.

    And Kancheepuram,Tamil Nadu is called the City of temples.

    And Kumbakonam.

    But the city that had over one thousand temples is,

    Bhubaneswar/Cuttack.

    Most of the temples have been demolished by the Mughals.

    What remains is only a miniscule.

    To point,I have been able to find a list of about 54 Temples in Bhubaneswar now.

    What happened to the others?

    Will someone from Odisha enlighten me with a List of Temples?

    I plan to write on each of them.

    One must remember that Kalinga was a region dating back to 25,000 years.

    I have written on this.

    Some points o found in the Book I mentioned are quite new to me.

    1.Bhubaneswar has more Shiva temples.

    2.There is a temple for Yama and for Parasirameshwar.

    3. The Bisveswara temple used twenty two ceremonies a day to the Deity.

    4. In this temple, Shiva is informed at night before closing the Garbhagruha,

    ‘Parvati Awaits you’

    I recall about temple accounts being read to Madurai Meenakshi Every night.

    Information about temples requested.

    We do not seem to know even the existing temples.

    Less said about the demolished temples, the better.

    Those who have information,photos of temples that were destroyed, I will be grateful.

    It is our duty to keep our. Younger generation informed about our glorious heritage.

    Check out the Book.

    Great temples of India Ceylon Burmah

  • Adhik Maas Additional Month Hindu Calendar Purushottam Maas Details

    There are five calendars in Vogue in India.

    They are,

    In general there are five calendars being followed in India.

    Vikrama,in North,

    Shalivahana in Deccan,

    Tamil in Tamil Nadu,

    Malayalam calendar in Kerala and

    Bengali calendar in Eastern India.

    There are more regional versions of Calendars.

    These vary.

    However the two principles are,

    1.Follow the movement of the Sun.

    This is called Saura Manasa (Solar)

    2. Follow the movement of the Moon.

    Chandra Manasa.

    Those who follow the Lunar calendar,Chaandra Manasa have one month extra once in three years.

    This extra month is called the Adhik Maas, additional month to align it with the Solar calendar,Saura Manasa.

    This month is called Purushottam Mass and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

    The reason is that Surya is considered to be the Visible Reality,Prathyaksha Brahma.

    And he is An Adhitya.

    He is one of the twelve Adhityas.

    Vishnu is an Adhitya in His manifestation.

    He is also the Protector.

    Hence the Adhik Maas is dedicated to Him.

    ‘Extra Month, or Adhika Māsa falls every 32.5 months on an average. It is also known as Puruśottama Māsa, it is said that the name was given by Lord Vishnu as his name to this month. The solar year is made up of 365 days and about 6 hours, and the lunar year is made up of 354 days. Thus there is a gap of 11 days, 1 hour, 31 minutes and 12 seconds between the lunar and the solar years. As this gap accumulates each year, it approximates in three years to one month. No adhik mas falls during Margsheersh to Magh. A case of Adhik Karttik is extremely rare, but in the 250-year span (1901-2150 AD) it would occur once, in 1963 AD.…

    The Moon takes about 27.3 days to make one complete orbit around the earth. The earth orbits around the sun once every 365.2422 days (= earth’s orbital speed of 29.79 km per second). The earth and the moon in 27.3 days have moved as a system about 1/12 of the way around the sun. This means that from one full moon to the next full moon, the moon must travel 2.2 extra days before it appears again as a full moon, due to the curve of the earth’s orbit around the sun. Ultimately this creates a variance of 10.87 days a year between a lunar year and a solar year. To compensate for this difference, the additional month is added after every 32.5 months on average.

    Just as there are lunar years with the extra month making 13 total months, there are lunar years with a reduced number of months, with only eleven months in the particular lunar year. The lunar year with eleven months is very rare. It occurs once in 140 years or once in 190 years…

    Religious significance.

    A month-long mela (fair) is celebrated in Machhegaun village in Nepal during Adhika Māsa. It is general belief that one can wash away all his sins by taking a bath in the pond at Machhenarayan temple.

    Since this is a special month which does not come every year, there are no specific festivals like Dasara or Diwali in this month. Rather this month is treated as special and holy month and many people perform the adhik maas vrata. People perform extra mala japas, pradakshinas, pilgrimages, scriptural reading and parayans.

    During Purushottam Maas, people perform various types of religious rituals such as keeping fast, recitation of religious scriptures, mantras, prayers, performing various types of puja and havan. Vratas (fasts) of various durations (full day, half day, weekly, fortnight, full month) are often undertaken. The vratasmay be of complete fasting with liquids only or without liquids, fasting with fruits only or keeping fast with vegetarian food, as the individual can tolerate. It is said that the persons performing good deeds (satkarma) in this month conquer their senses (indriyas) and they totally come out of punar janam (the cycle of rebirth).’

    Reference and citation.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adhik_Maas