Ramanisblog

Tag: Karma

  • No Pitru Paksha for Sri Vaishnavas?

    A close friend of mine, a Sri Vaishnava told me that he does not perform the Mahalaya Paksha Tharpana.

    He informed me that , as an Iyengar belonging to Thengalai Sampradya, he does not do it as it is prohibited by Ramanucharya.

    He told me that the other sect of Iyengars in Tamil Nadu, Vadagalai Iyengars perform the Pitru Paksha Tharpana.

    Radha Krishna.

    As I am unable to find any authentic source on this, I am posting my views.

    Those who know the subject well may quote with source.

    In Hinduism there are two paths in terms of Lifestyle.

    One is called Pravritti Marga and another Nivrutti Marga.

    Pravrutti Marga is the leading of our daily lives , as normally do, by going after the sense objects.

    Nivrutti Marga is renunciation of the sense objects.

    Hinduism teaches how to live,taking into account the limitations and the frailties of Human Life including the desire to go after sensory objects for pleasure.

    So Hinduism has devised the four stages of Life.

    Brahmacharya, the young Celibate.

    Gruhastha when one gets married begets children and goes about Life.

    Vanaprastha,when one, after the son becomes capable managing the Family leaving the Family, either with or without wife to seek Reality either in the Forest or staying at Home in a detached way.

    My friend quoted Visishtadvaita to support his view that one need not perform the Karmas,excepting Sandhyavanadan and Amavasya Tharpana as Sri Vaishnavism gives priority to surrender to Lord Vishnu and once one surrenders himself to God, one need not, should not perform Karma , including Pitru Paksha Tharpana.

    He quoted the Sloka form the Bhagavad Gita, this is also called the Karna Mantra,,

    Sarva Dharma Parijyasya Maameka Charanam Vraja,

    Aham Thva Sarva Paapepyp0Mokshayisyami Maa sucha. Chapter 18

    Leave all actions, and surrender only to Me.

    I shall absolve you of all your sins and grant you Moksha’

    I think my friend does not seem to have understood Krishna and this sloka is often misunderstood.

    What Krishna says is that He shall grant Moksha and one need not perform any action(Karma)  if one surrenders to Krishna.

    The surrender , Krishna means a surrender  is not a lip service but one of total Surrender,mind ,words and deeds.

    By merely saying one has surrendered to Krishna does not mean total surrender.

    Draupadi who wass a cousin of Krishna and an ardent devotee had to throw her arms up and pray Lord Krishna when Dhuchashana was stripping her.

    Krishna did not pay heed to her earlier entreaties to save her when she held her hands to her saree: only when, she ,devoid of Ego , called out, leaving her hands off the saree, did Krishna rescue her modesty.

    Such a devotion is very difficult to come by.

    It needs years of practice ,Abhyasa and determination(vairagya)

    This, I think we do not, posses at least I do not.

    So the statement , presumably said by Ramanucharya, that one need not perform Karmas if one surrenders to Vishnu, is meant for evolved souls;such loved souls like Ramadasas,Ramakrishna Paramahamsa may and can follow this as they had lost Dehatma Buddhi, the attachment to Body.

    We can not compare ourselves to these souls.

    Again, while talking about Renunciation, Krishna says  in the Bhagavad Gita, those who call the,selves Sanyasis , while their Minds are after sense objects, may appear so outwardly. are only Aashaadaboothis(hypocrites)

    The determination to relinquish the fruits of action even at the mental level while performing the action is called renunciation.

    With such a mindset one can even be in family Life, like Janaka, father of Sita.

    Therefore the non-performance of Pitru Pksha , quoting some Acharya is contrary to Vedas and as such is incorrect as Pitru Yagnya is one of the most important and mandatory Yagnya for every one.

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  • Jainism a Part of Hinduism?

    I had, in a Post, while talking about the Systems of Indian philosophy, remarked that Jainism is taken as  a part of Indian Philosophical Systems  as a

     

    compliment.

     

    A reader sent in his comment ,

     

    For your information
    Jainism is not part of Hinduismor not evolved from it ..Jainism is much older than Hinduism … If you need info about Jainism Mail me but don’t spread wrong info among people…
    So do correct your post….’

     

    <img style=
    ” class /> Jainism Essentials

     

    The Post,

     

    India is not merely the Home of the Hindus.

    Hinduism has given birth to two great Religions,Jainism and Buddhism.

    Though these two Religions were initially founded against the Vedic School of Thought, it is a fact that they are included as a part of Hindu tradition.

    In fact they are regarded as the nastika sect of Hinduism, meaning one which does not accept the Vedas as the authority.

    Most of the essentials of Jainism and Buddhism are from Hinduism.

    A separate post follows on this.

    It is our responsibility to preserve these monuments and promote them as a part of our heritage.

    Jains and Buddhists have contributed a lot to Indian Culture and Literature.

    I am providing a list of Jain Temples and historical sites.

    The list is not complete.”

    I have not stated that Jainism is a part of Hinduism.

    However there striking common factors between these two Religions.

    1.Both believe in Rebirth or Transmigration of Souls.

    While Hinduism believes in the existence of God to act as a sort of Catalyst for the Karmas to bear Fruit.

    Jainism declares that Karmas by themselves yield results and Jainism does not believe in the Existence of God.

    2.Both Religions in Mind/Spirit and Matter,

    Hinduism has One or Dual Realities, depending on whether you are an Advaitin or a Dualist and there shades in between.

    Matter in Hinduism is an aspect of the Reality, Brahman and is manifested as the world as a Phenomenon..

    Jainism classifies things as Jiva,Soul and Ajiva, Non soul , matter.

    Hinduism believes that the Reality is perceived in different times and in different sizes depending on the Perceiver.

    Jainism states that the Jiva, Soul can not perceive the Matter per se and is limited  and can not perceive things at the Absolute level.

    Shaking off this Limitations  and knowing Knowledge in its Absolute  Form  is Kevala Jnana.

    That Karma, to function  does not Ishvara or Personal God is not new to Hinduism.

    Mimamsa advocates this.

    Adi Shankaracharya demolished this argument.

    I shall discuss more points in another post where i shall detail at length the Greatness of Jainism

     

     

    Jainism Historical Sites Temples List

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  • Death Rites Sons Duties Hinduism Pretha Karma

    Son is considered to prevent parents from entering a horrible type of Hell, ‘Puth’: hence son is called as ‘Puthra’ in Sanskrit.

    What do the Puranas say about the duties of the son?

    For every child, devotion to parents is the primary Duty.

    So much so ,the Upanishad says, Mathru Devo Bhava,Pitru Devo Bhava’,Devote yourself to Mother ,Father.

    This, during the parents’ lifetime.

    After Death?

    Last and ensuing rites after death is to be performed by the son, and by the father for the son.

    These Karmas are to be performed with the Sacred Thread worn on the Left shoulder(Pracheena Veedhi)

    The Last rites are to be performed only by the eldest son That is the rites performed immediately after death.

    But after the Thirteenth day all the Rites, including Srardha is to be performed by all the sons.

    There is a view that if the elder son performs the Srardha, other sons need not perform.

    If all the brothers stay in one house and perform the Srardha the eldest can do and the others can be by his side.

    If they stay separately then every one has to perform separately.

    Other than the sons of the wife married in the Vedic way, sons of the deceased may perform the last rites, if

    The son was born to a Man who married without paying the parent’s of the girl ,

    of a Concubine.

    On death, all the relatives must bathe the dead body ,dress it up with only Dhoti,or Saree apply Vibhuthi,Thiruman or Kumkum and adorn with Garland.

    No ornaments, even if it is Rudraksha has to be removed and the body’s head should face the South.

    All the relatives must take part in this.

    Daughter of the deceased must bathe the body and wash the place where the body was kept initially and keep the washed body there.

    As soon as one is dead, a smoking fire is to be kept outside the House.

    None should eat till the body is set afire.

    After the Pretha(Body)Karmas are done with and the body burnt in the Ghat, people should enter the house after washing their feet and take bath with their clothes.

    Should sleep on the floor till the twelfth day.

    Till the thirteenth day food can be taken only once in the morning and Pinda, a Rice ball, is to be placed for the dead.

    The Karmas are to be performed at Home.

    A small hole, Kuzhis, is to be made , just outside the house,within the compound, and covered.

    The Kuzhi Tharpana is to be performed by the Paternal side relatives till the tenth day.

    Should take bath outside the village or town, offer Tharpana and donate Dhoti,Angavastra or Saree and Blouse bit on the First,Third, Seventh and ninth day of the death.

    Asthi Sanjayan, the dissolving of ashes is to be done on the Fourth day.

    (The Current practice is performing this Karma on the second day, Vishnu Purana says it should be done on the Fourth day)

    After twelfth day one can sleep on he bed.

    But till the thirteenth day no intimate relations with husband or wife is allowed.

    During this period, all the three varnas, Brahmana,Kshatriya and Vaisya should not recite Vedas, Engage in Dhaana or Dharma nor should one accept any thing from the others..

    For more on this read my posts on Srardha and Srardha Samayal

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    Based on Vishnu Puran.There are some differnces between Garuda Purana and Vishnu PuranEnhanced by Zemanta

  • Death Chant Of Hinduism Karna Mantra

    This post is meant for people who believe in God , not for those who believe in Love, though not have seen it,yet deny God.

    We in our normal lives, imagine we have no time to think of God,( yet we do have time for TV and Politics); it is much more difficult to think of God when we lie dying when your senses are leaving you and you are in pain.

    Bhagavad Gita Sloka.
    Bhagavad Gita Sloka.

    Hindu Sastras declare that one becomes what one thinks of at the time of Death.

    So the Sastras enjoin one to name their children in the name of God.

    By calling out to them,though you do not mean it,you call out God and He remembers, for Fire will singe you whether you are aware of it or not.

    What name is to call out as Death stalks.

    The One who guides you at and after Death is Lord Vishnu, the protector.

    He is the Ultimate Ruler of Death in His Name Govinda.

    Govinda is the name which is very dear to Lord Krishna, an Avatar of Vishnu.

    The name is to be called out.

    When and if you can not call this Name. those around you are required to recite the Vishnu Sahasranama or Om NamaSivaya.

    Yet there is an important ceremony to be performed by the eldest son at the time of Death of his parents.

    He is to keep the head of the parent at the time of dying on his left thigh and chant this mantra.

    sarva-dharman parityajya
    mam ekam saranam vraja
    aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
    moksayisyami ma sucah

    SYNONYMS

    sarva-dharman–all varieties of Dharma; parityajya–abandoning;mam–unto Me; ekam–only; saranam–surrender; vraja–go; aham–I;tvam–you; sarva–all; papebhyah–from sinful reactions; moksayisyami–deliver; ma–not; sucah–worry.

    Abandon all varieties of Religion, Dharma and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction and grant you Salvation. Do not fear.

    Here Lord Krishna uses the rarely used form of address to speak to Arjuna.

    That is ‘Ma Sucha’

    This is a term of endearment by a Father to his son.

    Krishna does not use this term anywhere to address Arjuna , in the Mahabharata, not did he use this term to anybody in the Puranas, including His children.

    What are the different Dharmas?

    At one point Krishna declares in the Bhagavad Gita that it is very difficult to understand the term Dharma or its implications , under different circumstances.

    Dharma may be loosely translated as  Righteousness; it is much more than this, please read The Gita.

    The Different types of Dharma.

    Varna Dharma. Duties prescribed  for your natural disposition.

    Asrama Dharma, Duties applicable to your station in life, as a Bachelor, Married Man, semi retired from family and totally renounced.

    Duties are also prescribed for special circumstances.

    And there are exceptions too!

    When Krishna says leave all Karmas, He means that one should mentally  renounce the fruits of actions, better still even the performance of Action

    This is the Karna Mantra.

    Of all the senses, at the time of Natural death, the ears give out first.

    So at the early signs of death’s approach, this mantra is to recited.

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  • Balanced View Lifestyle World Death

    We come across extremes in Life,

    Life Quotes.
    Life Quotes

    Pleasure, Pain,

    Good,Bad,

    Hot, Cold,

    Love ,Hatred,

    Home, World,

    Family Life, Renunciation,

    How does one follow the Precepts?

    An advice can not be followed unless it is  experienced or we experience something similar.

    Another approach is to understand by observing simple things in Life.

    Rain flows as a River rolling down everything in its wake, not respecting anything.

    It is predetermined, even that it is not, nor are we sure about,

    As the things do not know why they are tumbled when being tumbled, nor the River that impels them, one rolls down Life.

    As such, one need not be overawed by Great-men, much less condescending towards the weak and less gifted.

    ‘

    பெரியோரை வியத்தலும் இலமே;

    சிறியோரை இகழ்தல் அதனினும் இலமே.”
    We are solely responsible for our Life, be it Good Times  or Bad Times.
    This accountability is the backbone of Hinduism and the Theory of Karma.
    Of Course, we have limited Freedom, in that though we are free to choose a course of action, we can not determine the choices life offers or what impels us to choose a particular option.
    None can insult you, demean you or elevate without your consent.
    ‘Atman is Your best friend and is Your worst enemy” Bhagavad Gita.
    You are the Master of Your destiny.
    ‘தீதும், நன்றும், பிறர் தர வாரா;’
    So are problems and solutions.
    Hinduism is such a Religion that can say God is the Repository of Grief as well.
    ‘Dukkabukh,’ Repository of Grief-Vishnusahasranama.
    Then why do we pray?
    Because he gives you the strength, provides you with the tolls to tide over.
    Dukka Sadanah’ Provides you with the avenues to combat the problems-Visnu Sahasranamam.
    Therefore problems and solutions are with us.
    “நோதலும், தணிதலும், அவற்றோர் அன்ன;”
    This being happy or Sad is meaningless.
    For even Death is not New!
    “சாதலும் புதுவது அன்றே! வாழ்தல்”
    So the whole world is Mine . All are my Friends.
    ‘யாதும் ஊரே,யாவரும் கேளிர்;’
    ‘Mara Ca Parvat Devi Pitha Devo Maheswarah,
    Bhandavvah Siva Bhaktaasca,
    Swadeso Bhuvath Thrayam’
    Goddess Parvat is My Mother, Lord Siva is My Father,
    Worshipers of Siva are my relatives,
    Therefore the Whole World is Mine-Adi Sankaracharya.

    யாதும் ஊரே ; யாவரும் கேளிர் ;


    தீதும் நன்றும் பிறர்தர வாரா ;

    நோதலும் தணிதலும் அவற்றோ ரன்ன ;

    சாதலும் புதுவது அன்றே ; வாழ்தல்

    இனிதுஎன மகிழ்ந்தன்றும் இலமே; முனிவின்,

    இன்னா தென்றலும் இலமே; ‘மின்னொடு

    வானம் தண்துளி தலைஇ, ஆனாது

    கல்பொருது இரங்கும் மல்லற் பேர்யாற்று

    நீர்வழிப் படூஉம் புணைபோல, ஆருயிர்

    முறைவழிப் படூஉம்’ என்பது திறவோர்

    காட்சியின் தெளிந்தனம் ஆகலின், மாட்சியின்

    பெரியோரை வியத்தலும் இலமே;

    சிறியோரை இகழ்தல் அதனினும் இலமே.
    (பாடல்: 192
    திணை: பொதுவியல் துறை -பொருண்மொழிக் காஞ்சி
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