Ganapati Muni

      Sri Ramana Maharshi is the well-known sage of Thiruvannamalai.  Ganapati Muni  was a scholar, devotee, and sishya of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. It was this Ganapati Muni who gave the name-Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. Ganapati Muni came to Thiruvannamalai and saw a yogi sitting in absolute silence on the Arunachala hill for quite a long time. He recognised  the Yogi as a great Rishi and named him Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. ''s the saying goes: an enlightened person only can recogniise another enlightened one."
     "An intense effort is called Tapas. A tapas performed for the fulfilment of a desire is not tapas.
Until we reach the ultimate knowledge of the Self we have to continue tapas and Ganapati Muni did just that."
    " In September 1903, during Navaratri festival, Ganapati Muni and his brother arrived at Arunachala. It was already dusk when they reached. It is the custom of southerners to visit the temple of that place as soon as they arrive even without washing themselves. Such a visit is called Dhuli Darshanam. They stayed at the temple till 8P.M. the town became silent. They begged at one or two Brahmin houses for food, but could not get any as it was Ekadasi day, when nobody would cook food. Ganapati and Sivarama were very much tired and hungry. They thought it better to settle down on the pial of a house and try to sleep. Accordingly they selected the pial of a house and settled themselves to sleep. Suddenly, a Brahmin with a shining face came running and said that he was performing Ekadasi and it cannot be fulfilled if he could not feed at least two Brahmins with good food immediately. He begged them to accept food at his house. It was 10P.M. and it looked ridiculous to talk of Dwadasi or Ekadasi at that time of the night. But as both the brothers were hungry, they accepted the invitation, had the feast and came back to the same pial and slept soundly till the morning.The Brahmin had given them betel in the end and they left the tops of the leaves on the pial while eating the nuts and leaves."
     "Early in the morning, Ganapati wokeup and wanted to wake up the brahmin host of the previous night and thank him before moving out. But when he looked at the house, to his surprise it was not a house, but temple of Vinayaka. Ganapati noticed the betel leaf remnants on the pial and so understood that as the brahmin or his wife were not to be seen anywhere and it was the outside of a temple it could be nothing other than a vision."
     "Ganapati awakened Sivarama and said, 'See, brother, how wonderful is God's grace! We did not even enquire the name of the brahmin who fed us last night. See there yonder the idol of Heramba. He is looking at us with a smiling face!"
     Mahatmyam nanu vaktum kassaktaha purushaste|
     Hastindranana bagyam sarvesham tava haste||
     'O'Lord Ganesha!Who can describe thy greatness! The prosperity of everybody rests in Thy hand.'
     "Ganapati and Sivarama saluted Ganesha. Ganesha looked as though he was blessing them."
     The event related above is taken from the biography of the great soul VAsishta Ganapati Muni who was an image of practical tapas which was practised only by Rishis in the past. It is for the benefit of the blog-viewers that I choose to present this event.

My best wishes for one and all. 

TRANSCENDENCE-Angel and Satan-3

     The de-adiction  campaigns conducted by BAPS children in India. Kalam records in 'Transcendence' thus 'the most noteworthy of all children's initiatives are the dedication Campaigns. I personally invited, to the Rshtrapaty Bhavan on 5th July 2007, the sadhus and child leaders who had helped to plan, manage and conduct this incredibly effective programme, and felicitated them. The statistics of this programme were staggering, and it's impact longlasting. In just 20 days , 23,000 BAPS children and 5,000 leaders contacted over 2.1 million addicts, of whom 630,000 pledged to give up their addictions to smoking, tobacco, alcohal, drugs, gambling and other vices. This amounted to saving for over 344 crore rupees, along with a priceless saving of human misery! The de-addiction campaign reinstilled my belief in the future of our nation through empowerment.
     Kalam asked the children, "How does one become great like Pramukh Swamiji?".The children looked at each other puzzled. I smiled and asked them to repeat after me,' If I have a beautiful mind, I will have beautiful thoughts; If I have beautiful thoughts, I will have a beautiful life; If I have a beautiful life, Iwill become a great soul like Pramukh Swamiji.' I should say all of us are to repeat what the children repeated. We all are children only so long as we do not know how to work out a beautiful life for us, along the lines taught by Kalam.
     Kalam further questioned the children,'Convincing people to leave their addictions is difficult. If somebody refusedd to leave his addiction, how did you deal with him?' The children were ready with their methodology, to deal. They explained to Kalam, 'President sir, we tried to convince them by showing them the specially printed photographic booklet and logically explaining the scientific basis of the harmful consequences of their habits.'
     Kalam says, 'I was delighted with the children's presentation and conviction., and further questioned, Why do people go back to their addictions? Even if you have freed them, why do they go back?' It was too difficult a question for those children. But they tried to reply and finally resigned, asking me to tell them. Now Kalam resorts to the story satan and angel or good and evil. Such stories are there in any religion to teach that if one always does good deeds he is helped by angels (divine helpers) and if one always does bad deeds he is ruled by satan who is rooted in evil.
     Kalam elaborates further'Remember there are two people sitting on everyone's shoulders. On the right sits the angel and on the left sits Satan.When Satan wins people go back to addictions, and when angel wins people are freed from addictions. Knowledge makes angel free and powerful. Ignorance makes Satan free and powerful.
   

"Transcendence": A few takeaways Part-2

     Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam met Pramukh Swamiji on 30th June 2001.'Resplendant in saffron robes, the gentle, fair complexioned Swamiji was radiating Divinity.' India had 1st vision, attainment of independence; that was achieved in 1947. The 2nd vision was Republic for India and that came to exist in 1950. 'The developing country India is to be transformed into a developed country within the next 30 years. How to bring such a transformation is the question in the minds of many great lovers of India'. This question was throbing in the mind of Kalam too. He presented it to Pramukh Swamiji.
     Now we will underastand about the great soul Pramukh Swamiji. Bochasanwasi Sri Akshar Purushotham Swaminarayan Sanstha(BAPS), social work in great dimension strengtghened by
many spiritually oriented, work force are serving in Africa, Europe, America, and the far east.Glory of India is taken to all these places in the form of Swaminarayan temples, strong fellowship of devotees and well wishers that encompasses millions worldwide. Now Kalam who met Pramukh Swamiji, the humble spiritual giant who is is leading them all, "finds a seed that could build a glorious crystal of a peaceful prosperous world, where all civilizations coexist harmoniously and accommodate each other. Let this now expand into public dealings-transparent governance and ethical business-based on truth".
     Kalam tells Swamiji, "we have identified five important areas to transform India; education and health care, agriculture,information and communication, infrastructure and technology. Swamiji, our problem is that we may present this to the government, But how do we create people with values to realise such a vision? What we need is a cadre of value-based citizens. For this you are an expert. We need your advice."
     Pramukh Swamiji replied,'Along with your five areas to transform India, add a sixth one-faith in God and developing people through spirituality. This is very important.' Kalam says "I was taken aback by the clarity, precision and force of his words." All of us who read this context must reflect about the anxiety and depth of Kalam's vision and what was the wonderful guidance offered by Swamiji. Only then we can absorb the guidance and turn into  value based citizens and have Kalam's vision and become part of the working force to realise that vision.
     Swamiji further elaborated, what he already said, "We need to first generate a moral and spiritual atmosphere. The present system is suffocating.The climate of crime and corruption is toxic to good thoughts and noble works. This must change. We need to raise people to live by the laws of the scriptures and bear faith in God. For this we need to rekindle faith in our scriptures and God. Without this there will be no transformation; nothing will be solved, and you shall not be able to achieve your dream." Further Swamiji stresses, "together with this worldly knowledge, knowledge given by God-spirituality-is equally necessary."
     "God's blessings are already upon you. I shall pray that your ideas are successfully realised. It was the wish of our Guru Yogiji Maharaj to produce spiritually enlightened, skilful and hard-working youths. Go and channel your efforts to ignite the minds of youths all over the world. Lead India!"
      The principle which all should try to understand, is that " the creative mind principle holds the secret of the power wielded by people who surround themselves with other brains. When a group of individual brains are coordinated and function in harmony, the increased energy created through that alliance becomes available to every individual brain in the group. Mutually supportive alliances, through which partners recognise their dependence on each other for the support and achievement of shared and private goals, makes the world go round."
     'Pramukh Swamiji collected best brains around him, and created harmony between them. By allying himself with great minds, whose vibrations of thought he absorbed into his own mind and by unifying the great minds around him, the sum and substance of the intelligence,experience, knowledge  and spiritual force of these enlightened people has been multiplied." Thus Kalam sums up the science behind the spiritual work-force behind the gigantic spiritual army of the 'BAPS'
     We have another great lesson from Pramukh Swamiji. Swamiji was answering around 700.000 letters from his devotees. They were all about family problems by devotees who await  guidance. He was patiently offering guidance for each devotee. Someone who was watching swamiji , answering letters enquired, "Swamiji, what can be done to prevent these problems and lessen these letters?" Swamiji gave an insightful answer,'If every family meets together, eats together and prays together daily, such problems  would not arise.' These words blossomed into one of the most successful BAPS initiatives: the ghar sabha. In this daily family gathering, the members pray, read scriptures, discuss values and amicably settle any differences.
  

Science and religion -Transcendence-6

     The  'big bang' occurred, causing expansion of energy and converting it to matter. Modern  calculations place this moment at approximately 13.82 billion years ago. God is a unique force; God caused the big bang and created the universe for some purpose. God is not a religious idea but is a Supreme force beyond all that exist. We are nothing but a part of dynamic universe beyond our comprehension, and there is a God even beyond the universe. These are the words of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam our 11th  president and Missile man. These are the first few lines of the chapter 'God is Source of the universe.'
     In this chapter, Kalam further gives details of formation of the solar system and other details. Later kalam says, 'Studying the universe is an awe-inspiring experience as profound as studying God.
For in studying the universe, we are contemplating God's work. And studying God is a balancing act.
A theologian is to suspend his sense of the sacred to understand deep truths. At the same time he should also spend time on his knees-perhaps both mentally and literally-revelling in the presence of God as he studies God's attributes. It is fascinating to look at the examples of fine tuning in the universe. We can see in every detail of the universe, the evidence for the existence of God. Logical analysis of the physical constants requires a good deal of spiritual breath holding.
     Then at one point Kalam identifies the the two fields, one the field of a rigorous scientist and the field of a person who believes in God. Here Kalam clarifies well. He says, 'There is no conflict in being a rigorous scientist and a person who believes in God who takes a personal interest in each one of us. Science's domain is in nature. God's domain is in the spiritual world, a realm inexplorable with the tools and language of science. It must be examined with the heart, mind and the soul-and the mind must find a way to embrace both.
     Last but not least we come to a most inportant point.when one recognises the desire to have a
reloationship with God,one also has to come face to face with one's own massive imperfections.
If you can see God in some way as a mirror to yourself, you realise just how far you fall short of
anything that you could be really proud of. And this can initially be a terribly distressing experience for anybody.
     God had a plan to create creatures with whom He could have fellowship: in whom he could inspire the moral law. in whose souls He could be infused, and whom He would give free will to make decisions about their own behaviour-a gift which is oftentimes misused. God is unique in giving His people ways for fellowship, to witness and to remember, what a mighty and merciful God He is.
     In the book-'Iswar kaun hai? Kahan hai? Kaisa Hai'. (Who is God? Where is He? How is He?) , the author  Sri Ram Pandit sharma, a great soul, advises us to take God as a partner in all our acivities, so that all our actions are successful. Another great soul propogates that one can talk with God like how one talks and discusses with one's friend.
     Were there not great souls like Meera, Kabir, Thulasi das, Thamiz saints 63 Nayanmars, 12 Azvars who spent their whole life contemplating and glorifying God. They realised God as a constant living force in their lives.    

TRANSCENDENCE-....4

     Kalam visited AndhraMahila Sabha. This was founded by Durgabai Deshmuk. She is hailed as the 'Mother of Social Service in India.' The culture and language of the people living in the then Hyderabad state were suppressed by Nizam at this time. To achieve her ideals to focus on education, health care empowerment and old age care she established this sabha. Kalam  writes, I used this opportunity to emphasize the divinity of womanhood. He said,'On the planet Earth, womanhood is indeed The Almighty's gift.Almighty was designing and evolving the image of his creation. He saw-man.The Almighty decided to give it life.As soon as man received life two things happened.First he opened his eyes and smiled. God was happy. The second he opened his mouth and said"Almighty, thank you." God was very happy. He was so delighted to see his creation and felt that his creation did the two right things. This innate gratitude in man must be expressed for the manifold gifts women bring to our world-in giving life, in working for their families and in binding the very fabric of society. This is more relevant now than perhaps at any other time in history, given the challenges faced by women in contemporary India.
     Incidentally having touched the service to aged women, we will try to understand the multiple channels of services which received focused attention of that unique, talented Durgabai Deshmukh.
She was a woman of simple living and high thinking. She was a freedom fighter,lawyer, social worker and a politician.She was a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and the planning commission of India. She married C.D.Deshmukh, the first Indian governer of The Reserve Bank of India. He was also the Finance minister in India's Central Cabinet in the years1950-56.
     The organisation provides training and education to women and children; it reaches out, giving free treatment to the needy; it dedicates itself to the rehabilitation and integration of disabled children. "The worldly journey of the founder ended in 1981, and she had left Andhra Mahila Sabha
with a rich legacy of the eternal values cherished by every one."  

TRANSCENDENCE-5

     I was amazed that Kalam was so great but yet so simple. He has genuine faith in Almighty. This faith is sown by his father who was an imam at their native village in Rameswaram. Then comes his teachers at Schwarts High school in Ramanathapuram. The words on the plaque read "Let not thy winged days be spent in vain. When once gone no gold can bye them back again." These words are offered as guidance for the students, not to waste their precious student-ship days and miss the glory of studying well, and attain the bliss of knowledge. Kalam says, I was taught by my teachers that the Divine presence creates only perfection, if we call it consistantly and earnestly into our lives; we gradually relinquish struggle,and strive for harmony and perfection. All energies that we create will   then gradually transform into pure light. This is the giving up of our 'lower will' in the surrender to a 'higher will': the will of God; the will of Divine Presence. Only then can this Presence truly create for us perfect lives.
     Pramukh Swamiji told Kalam, Our culture teaches us to learn both para vidya(spiritual) and  apara vidya(worldly knowledge. The worldly knowledge will become founded on dharma and spiritiuality. The goal behind God's creation of the universe is that every person, every soul attains bliss.Worldly knowledge is to be founded on the spiritual knowledge, to enable and empower each one of us to serve the purpose of God's mission in God's creation.
     Kalam asked a very good question to Pramukh Swamiji 'India was a rich country. Ecconomically it was rich, culturally it was rich. My mind always asks a question: for 3,000 years India has been invaded again and again, but India has never invaded other countries. Why is this?'
     Swamiji replied, It is the virtue of God. A divine quality- not to take what belongs to others, and
not to forcibly usurp. Not to hurt or harass others. We must win over the heart of others, not their bodies and never their possessions.' We all have to reflect on the thoughts and words expressed by
swamiji and Kalam. We are sure to understand the greatness of our country and the 1000s 0f great souls who had guided our nation to be good by inculcating faith in our scripture and faith in God.
From the days of yore, people of Barath were ever rich with true spirituality. Meghasthanese and Fahian bear everlalsting proof. Pramukh Swamiji then showed the plan of Akshardham temple, which was to be built on the eastern bank of the river Yamuna. Kalam saw the grandeur of the plan, and he was amazed. Then Swamiji said 'People should see this monument and realise that India is not weak, but is extremely powerful and cultured country. Temples are literally houses of God. They are holy places of worship where individuals make sacred promises with God.'
     Then when A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was taking leave, Swamiji held Kalam's hand and said 'It is good that you have come here today. It has given us much joy. The rishis of the past have also given us science.You too are a rishi. You have achieved such a high post, yet your life is simple.' I am recording all these events and words for the benefit of the readers of the blogs. Rich fruits are lying under a fruit tree. A passer bye will pick up joyfully as many fruits as possible. With that same spirit we must pickup and record in our heart those fruit like words and read them again and again so that that, that sweetness shines in the life of each one of us.    
   

On learning another tongue....

   

     I saw in a Malayalam daily, articles about Ramayanam, in the festive season of Adi-month . I had been trying to learn  Malayalam, by writing down the 108-namavalis of Ganesa, Subramanya, Shiva, Vishnu and Devi. 

     That did help. But that was not sufficient. Now I tried to read and write Malayalam by reading the articles on Ramayanam and copying down the text of the articles everyday. Initially it was a little bit difficult. But later it became easy to read the sentences. I felt better and at ease because I knew the story. Another contributing factor was that Malayalam has a strong base in Sanskrit, a language which I studied with interest in school. I copied down the words correctly. This helped me gain better perfection in writing down. First my interest was to learn to write the aksharams of malayAlam correctly.While copying the first 10 articles I struggled a lot. Later only I started following the meaning. Fortunately I got enough guidance from friends to follow the meaning of each word and sentence. Then writing itself was enjoyable following the meaning.

    

Three different writers presented these articles, choosing specific events. insights of the chosen events and different interpretations were available.   

     When I enjoyed the thrill and depth of the  of the cream of the epic's thought force, in malayalam, 

I was really enjoying the epic. I was enjoying the beauty  of the language which was giving the required literary depth of the epic efficiently. Other than the oft chosen topics and events there were out of the ordinary, but important topics were presented with special care. One such topic was Barathan and Mandavi. They are the third son Baratha of Dasaratha and Mandavi, the brother's daughter of Janaka and given in marriage to Baratha, 

      One B.Sandhya, I.P. S. presents thus. The life of Baratha after Dasaratha's death was totally different after he returned from his grandfather's kingdom, when Rama was gone on 14 years 'vanavasam' and immediately Dasaratha giving up his mortal body. Baratha chose not to take the throne but only to bring back Rama and coronate Rama as the king. The grand efforts he took, were laudable. Vasishta the Guru with his group of sages, the 3 queens cum mothers,the people of Ayodya, were all taken along to bring back Rama. Baratha's  love and gigantic sincere efforts only brought him the responsibility of the kingdom to be administered; the pair of Rama paduka were Baratha's friend and solace, until Rama returned after 14 years.

     He lead a simple forest life with Jata-mudi and bark garment. He helped the paduka-pair to rule the   kingdom. He enjoyed reporting accounts and administration to Rama's revered paduka-pair. All this he did achieve only by the moral support and contributive  shining subtle helping hand of Mandavi. Unless some one points out this current of Baratha's life, it passes off unreflected in the flood of the main stream of Ramayana. We are telling the truth, when we point out that Barata felt Rama's divine presence in the Paduka-pair, vibrant on the throne.

     Ravana the scholar, devotee of shiva, had in his hands sangeetham; he had invented a violin known as 'Ravanahastham'. Many years of austerities, and boons lie at his credit. He hadcomposed on Lord shiva a sthothram WHICH ADORES SHIVA'S DANCE; it is known as 'Shiva thandava sthothram'. His Lanka city flourished with all that he desired to possess. When Rama came to Lankapuri and first saw Ravana, for one minute, Sri Rama forgot himself. The strength of all the victories of Ravana was his queen- Mandodhari's pathivrathyam, her love and dedication to her husband Ravana. She is one among the five pathivrathas, adored in the early morning by great souls, for auspicious beginning of the day.

  

"Transcendence": A few takeaways Part-1

     1. This book"Transcendence" , is designed with a great vision for our India; it is the love for our country of a great soul and a unique visionary, who dedicated his whole life sincerely with all his soul's might, offering his intellectual wealth, for the upliftment of the people of India. This great soul, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the 'peoples'president', is adorned with more than a dozen achievements in his field of science, space-adventures. Why he is a unique great soul among the great son's of the soil is that he offers ALL THE CREDITS OF HIS SUCCESSES TO THAT ONE SUPREME BEING WHO CREATED THE WHOLE universe AND ALL IT'S CONTENTS. He never claims his acchievement as his succcess. Instead he immediately credits it to that One Supreme Being; why?
 We have to take guidance from the words of of that great soul, "Each individual creature on this beautiful planet is created by God to fulfill a particular role. Whatever I have achieved in life is through His help, and an expression of His will. He showered His grace on me through some outstanding teachers and colleagues, and when I pay my tributes to these persons, I am merely praising His glory. All these rockets and missiles are His work through a small person called Kalam,
in order to tell the several million masses of India, to never feel small or helpless. We are all born with a divine fire in us. Our efforts should be to give wings to this fire and fill the world with the glow of its goodness.' These words occur as the last few lines of revered Kalam in his introduction to his book, 'Wings of Fire', (An Autobiography)
     One is to take a humble journey through this book'Transcendence'; The different subjects that are interestingly taken up and woven in the design, of the broad major and deeper thought forces form a treat. Dr.Abdul Kalam had fully utilised  all his mental faculties with love for the global humanity, to develop and build their future, rooting them fully on faith in God and faith in scriptures.
     The very meaning of transcendence that which one cannot understand  through normal ways of acquiring knowledge , by understanding with intellect or by experience.Anything transcendent can be understood only by intuition. Now we can hope that we have understood what the word transcendent, means.
     In the introduction to his book 'Transcendence' Dr. Abdul kalam says, "Starting with my father, Jainulabdeen, I have been blessed with some great teachers, who appeared at different stages of my life.....My father lived a simple life as it unfolded before him but never lost sight of the underlying divinity. Throughout my life, I have  tried to emulate my father in this regard. My experiences of eight decades have validated the teaching I received from him. I do believe that all human beings carry divinity inside themselves, and that this can lift us out of confusion, misery, melancholy, and failure, and indeed guide us when it is contacted."
     In all his writings, Dr.Kalam who lived more than 8 decades, with full reinforcement and partnership with God, invites the reader to develop the the same faith and love for God and to be free from all anxieties and confusions in our lives. Many great scientists, who were nation builders had shared their experiences in building up faith in God along their untiring efforts to uplift our nation in
in the global race of scientific and technological advancements.
     He shares his experiences with the great souls, their faith, their anxieties, experiences and benefits of team work; all these contributed in his life as a scientist,  and a team leader in projects. As and when  his life was being chiseled by Almighty, he was carrying in his inner self the problems, sufferings of Indian masses. How our nation was strugling to face the problems and lead the nation in the path of development was also in his consciousness.
     We can learn many important, beneficial lessons, disciplines, thought patterns from the simple, but lovingly friendly sharings by Dr.Kalam. Reflections of ancient and modern thinkers, expressions of truth by many great scientists, are gems lying strewn along the planned unique efforts to lead the nation to the goal-point, presented in the book.
     I am interested in sharing a few of the reflections, expressions of truth, and interesting quotations that aptly throw light on the relevant points. Kalam was giving an account of proffessor Sathish dhawan, who was his project director."His academic  Accomplishments were awesome" says Kalam. I am listing-B. A. (maths), B. Sc.(phys.), M.A.(Maths.); augmented with B.E.(Mech.), M.SC(AEROSPACE ENGINEERING) AND DOUBLE PHDS IN MATHEMATICS AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING. When I asked him the secret of his brilliance, he told me:'Academic brilliance is no different than the brilliance of a mirror. Once dust is removed, mirror shines and reflection is clear. We can remove impurities by pure and ethical lives and serving humanity, God will shine through us.'"
     If only one cares to understand these words of Professor Dhawan, any one who chooses to live a pure ethical life, reinforced with service to humanity is blessed with outstanding knowledge in many fields; not only  many fields but any field. When God is ready to bless one with knowledge one wants to specialise in, we are stuck up at the very first step itself asking, "Where is God?, I have no proof of His existence." The matter ended there and we have thrown overboard our age old ancient faith in God.Our ancient lore had gone a step ahead and engraved, "ThEna vinA thruNamapi nachalathi". But for His input, even a bit of the blade of grass can cannot move ."
     KalAm had an important question ever shining at the back of all his activities.He himself had firm faith and a handful with him too had. But that alone is not sufficient to move a mass of our Indian    
population as a whole, forward in all the required phases of development. This is a gigantic task.  We require faith in God as a necessary principle in the very foundation to achieve our goal. Since Kalam
felt the immenance of the national faith in God to succeed in the sincere efforts of many great souls,
his effort was to have the combined strength of spirituality and social service as the universal phase changer to establish peace, felicity, health, education, and allround creativity.
     In the year 1962 Vikram Sarabai was searching for a site for a space Research station in the equatorial region. Thumba in Kerala seemed ideal.It was nearest to the 'Equatorial Electrojet' (EEJ).
How this is important, we will try to understandHere a narrow ribbon of an aircurrent, flowing eastward during the daytime in the equatorial reagion of the eaqrth's ionosphere.This would fecilitate ionospheric research in the atmosphere. But this area Pallithura had many villages and thousands of fishing communities. It was also the location of an ancient saint Mary Magdalene church and the bishop's house. This land was to be requisitioned for scientific purposes. Vikram Sarabai who was heading the mission decided to present his case to the bishop of Thiruvananthapuram. Vikram Sarabhai the scientist met the Bishop On saturday; the bishop invited the scientist to attend the service at the church, the next day, (SUNDAY).  I am giving you the minimum but imortant development, afterwards.All the residents around attended the service. The bishop introduced the scientist to the residents, and gave his message thus, "Dear children, science seeks the truth that enriches human life. The higher level of religion is spirituality. Spiritual preachers like me seek the help of the Almighty to bring peace to human minds. In short, what Vikram is doing and what I am doing are the same-both science and spirituality seek the Almighty's blessings for human prosperity in mind and body. Our abodes and church will be newly built and given to us. Children, can we give them God's abode, my abode and your abodes for a scientific mission?" There was pind-drop silence, followed by a hearty 'Amen' from the congregation, which made the church resonate. The bishop took the noble decision to dedicate the church for  the establishment of the Indian Space Research Organisation (I. S. R.O ) in recognition of our national scientific goals.
     The acquisition of land for establishment of the scientific institution ISRO was smoothly achieved.
Many more Satellite launching, for different social and scientific purposes were achieved. Today these satallites provide instant communication, weather forecasting, and the ability to locate water resources for the country. 'Today  neither Vikram Sarabhai nor the bishop Reverend Father Peter Bernard Peraira is with us, but the evidence of their nobility and unity of minds remains, and will continue for generations.' So writes Kalam in his book 'Transcendence'. We all know neither A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is with us now.
     Later thinking about this event, Kalam evaluates it against the need of India and the parallel timely response from 'The convergence of the enlightened spiritual and scientific leaders in thus giving reverence to the meaning of human life.' It is a hall mark in the history of a nation as well in the struggle by great souls to lead the country to the forefront of the global  advancement in science, technology and space research.  

BanturiitikOluviyavaiya...R-HamsanAdam-ThA-desAdi.

     This ThyAgarAja kruthi is avery simple but wonderful kruthi; what a devotee can pray to Sri RAma, to grant for him! SwAmigal wants to serve RAmA; SwAmigal requests RamA to favour  him with the opportunity to serve him in the capacity of a true servant.
     P.Bantu riiti kOluviyavaiya RAma!.................................................................(ban)
         "RAma!, pray, vouchsafe to me that I may serve you as a true servant."
  A.P.Tunta vintivAni modalaina madA-
          dula gotti nEla gula jeyu nija ......................................................................(ban)
          "A person who has completely subjugated lust, arrogance, haughtiness and other evil qualities" alone is the worthy candidate, to fit in as a true servant. In other words, SwAmigal submits, he has, subjugated the 6 evil qualities, headed by pride.
  Ch. ROmAncha manu ghana kanchukamu
         RAmabaktudanu mudhra billayu
         RAmanAmamunu varakhadga mivi
         RAjillu naiya tyAgarAjuni kE.......................................................................(ban)
         To such a servant the following are the insignia:-                                                                  
Horripulated hair is his armour; the appellation, RAmabakta, is the metal badge of his livery; RAmanamam is his sword.  

The literature on Bakti is oceanic in depth.

     We have with us plenty of devotional treatises, in the form of purANas, epics, bhAgavatam.
The ShaNmatas were established by Adishankara, shaivam, vaishNavam, gANApatyam, Kaumaram, ShAktam, and Souram, (worship of the Sun god).
     All these have their own vast voluminous treatises, worthy of being taken up and studied for our prosperity, happiness and spiritual evolution. We should always remember that the fountain head of any branch of worship in our country is only one, that being the 4 Vedas which are ever eternal. Vedas the very breath of the Supreme Being, the only One without a second. We must have faith in our great seers, have to understand their teachings which are the primary musts to reap the authentic benefit of such faith. That is the only way for our progress and well-being. For the benefit of all of us
I must not fail to explain that by benefit and progress, over and above meals, residence, good education, decent income, an awareness of our binding with other living beings, society,health of all nature around us. While taking care of ourselves, our family, our attention should be expanded to take care of all that contribute to our health and well being.
     Minimum of adoration forms, we all are familiar with ,is the adorations inthe form of sthothrams and the same forming the 108 names' string called nAmAvaLis.The names of the deities in the form in sthothras are formated as  nAmAvaLi for archana, by adding dative case and linked with namaha.
In other words the names that appear in the sthothra are themselves formated for archana.This sthothram PART CAN BE DAILY REPEATED AS PRAYER in  the morning in 10 to 15 minutes.
Once we learn the sthothra by heart, daily that can be offered as prayer and puja. This learning by heart and offering prayer with dedication willl be a very good start for children to develop faith and discipline. I have seen children very easily picking up interest and faith with additional benefit of discipline.
     I would like to quote from the life of revered Swami ChinmayAnanda who conducted 500 Gnana yagnas in India before the end of his life. Swamiji had conducted few hundreds more abroad. Study groups formed Balavihar classes for children. Stories from RamayaNa and MahAbarata were told and simple bajans sung. I remember many lectures I had attended in Swamiji's gnAna ygna. When I was studying in 5th standard in "Sharada vidyAlaya branch-Secondry grade training school", Swamiji came to our class and seated himself upright on the table and and gave a lecture and asked questions. It was in the year 1945.
     For the benefit of the parents I am quoting the words of revered swamiji;- "Children are lamps to be lit, not vessels to be filled. This is where real nation building work begins......The youth are not  
useless. They are only used less." Realising the importance of value based education in early life, Swamiji encouraged the growth of Chinmaya VidyAlayas.(Schools).    
     There were "Sixty three NAyanmars-devotees of Shiva and twelve Azvars, devotees of Lord Vishnu. All these saints have out poured their single minded devotion, with love for their deities. They all composed devotional poems, charged with pure unalloyed devotion. Their love for humanity at large, knows no bound.All These adorations are held on the divine altar, like the epics and purANas. Our land can claim even today devotees of these devotees; these devotees are called dAsa-dasas and they offer all those phylosophical compositions as prayer in their daily worship.The above cited devotees lived a simple life and they spent their life totally in God thought only. Their compositions run in 1,000-s.Unless we go through those compositions,  we cannot understand the science of bakti, love for God.Studying the life of saints, their devotional compositions is capable of guiding us in that path tread by them. We are to choose to enlighten our thought, word, deed and life itself under their universal love. We are sure to be blessed by those saints, and there after we are to experience happiness and progress. We have to align our children's thought, word, deed and life along the same line. We must educate ourselves to decide with confidence, that, that guidance if imparted will be the best perennial wealth, we can leave for their secure future and well being.   *

Endaro mahAnubAvulu- 'Sri' Ragam. 'Adi' ThAlam.

     This kirthanam is the 5th of the Pancha rathna kirthanas by Sri ThyAgaraja SwAmigaL of ThiruvayAru kshetram. Pancha means 5, rathnam means gem and kirthanam is a special tecnical term, specific in the field of carnAtaKA SANGEETHAM. A group of 5 kirthanas-(kirthanangal) composed by Sri ThyAgaraja Swamigal in telugu language.Anything selected as best in any group of beings or compositions is equated to rathnam-gem  in literature. Seetha Devi our treasure, in the Epic RMAYANA  is known as "Sthree Rathnam"-Gem among glorious women. The same way, the pancharathna kirthanas-5 gems of kirthanas are classic by their literary, musical, devotional, rhythmic, spiritual glories and depth in the respective fields.These kirthanas with the kirthanam "Sri GaNapathini   
sevimparE...", are sung  in the annual worship of (ThyAgarAja ArAdana-in the month of January)
the saint singer. Actually the Aradana is offered to the saint singer, with his heart's Deity, the Epic hero Sri Rama.The Two, the Deity Sri Rama and His devotee Sri ThyAgaraja swamigaql are inseparable.* Many great musicians, Vasaantha kumari-MLV, M.S Subbalakshmi ,Ariyaakudi Ramanuja Iyangar, Chembai Vaidyanatha BAgavathar,and many Devotee -musicians have enjoyed
singing devotional Kruthis/kirthanams among large passionate listners, well flourishing all over the world. Invariably all musicians will not miss singing one of these pancharathnam kruthis which alone will give sense of 'poorNathvam' for the musician as well as the audience.These kruthis, all purely devotional,, elevate  the devotee- singer and the sincere dedicated audience alike, to an inner plane beyond the intellect and the five senses. One should experience that, all by themselves. One need not know the meaning even, not necessary that one knows the language, but must have devotion in heart and a heart to listen to classical sangeetham. A famous duo in carnatic music of current time slot, who had learnt sangeetham right from their very young age, are dedicated to the the art of sangeetham, very beatifully answered in one question session;" that sangeetham to reach common mass, need not be diluted and that it is capable of touching the soul of a dedicated listner."
     This keerthanam is great by its sAhityam, the lyric.  The depth of the spirit of devotion, with which it is drenched by the composer, the saint singer, ThyAgaraja Swamigal, is unique, beyond measure. Over and above that, the platform to which the listner is elevated in his inner self, is to be experienced, once one chooses to dwell in  the thought force in the saint-singer's devotion.The benefit that accrues is eternal, with added fortune of expanding further horizons.
      By the grace of SrirAmA and the grace of His leading Devotee, Sri Thyagaraja SwamigaL, we will try to understand the thought force which endears this Krithy for listners one and all eqally.
      Sri.V.Raghavan,a scholar-devotee has poured his mature knowledge-based experience, in his introductory thesis in the book, 'The spiritual heritage of ThyAgarAjA'. This book is the *blossom put forth, by the dedicated, monumental efforts of a group of scholar devotees. I have quoted the meaning given in this book, for the benefit of the readers of this blog.

P.-Pallavi, A.P.-Anupallavi, Ch-Charanam, numerical order as in the original text.*
      P.Endaro mahAnubAvu-landariki vandanamu...........................................(En)
     "Great souls are many, in other words innumerable.My salutations to them all."
A.P.Chandra vadanuni yanda chandamunu hrudayAra-
        vindamuna jUchi BrahmAnandamanubavinchu vA.................................(ren)
    " Many great souls, see in the lotus of their hearts, the Lord of moon-face, exquisite beauty and proportion,and enjoy bliss. ('My salutations to them all' follows  A.P., and each charaNam. There are 10 charaNams.)*
 ch1.SAmagAnalola manasijalAvaNya
        danyamoordanyu..........................................                                            (len)
    "Many are those who are foremost among the blessed ones, who have had the realisation of the Lord of supreme beauty, who delights in SAman music". 
(SAma is the 3rd of the 4 vedas:-1.Rik.2.Yajus,3.SAma.4.Atharva. Sama veda alone is to be sung, based on 3 swaras out of the 7 swaras, while the other 3 vedas are to be chanted as taught by the guru during Gurukula-vAsam(studentship).
     Coming back to the stream of charaNam 1, SamagAna lola is a favourite epithet by which Sri ThyAgaraja SwAmigal refers to SriramamA,in many Kruthies. Srirama enjoys sangeethan and he enjoys musical chant of Samaveda-hymns. Here Thyagaraja selects foremost among the blessed souls, who had realised the Lord of supreme beauty; in addition swAmigal had thoroughly understood his heart's deity to the core; he has in his finger tips crores of details, through his study of Vedas, PurANAs, epics, and devotee predecessors. His single pointed devotion had accumulated wealth of guNas of SriRama, which array themselves to be called upon.Incidentally for a fortunate soul who is vigilant, the reward is like the fruit tree, showering it's fruits on a fortunate passer by. As a devotee of ThyAgarAja, when one starts studying swamigal's kruthis, one is educated,  enlightened, and as well gains, the grace of RamA, and gets elevated.*

  Ch.2.MAnasa vanachara vara sanchAramu salipi
           mUrthybAguga bodaganE vA.......................................                                 (ren)                      
   Many are those who have the blessedness of an unerring Darshana of the glorious swarUpam of the Lord, after seeking and finding Him in the deep forest of their mind.                                                        In this charanam SwAmigaL explains that many Devotees who had knowledge and dedicated practise in meditation had after long periods of strugle, were able to succeed in 100% concentration   of the mind and had Darshan of the Lord Sri RAmA. Our mind is compared to the monkey in the forest that wanders. When this jumping mind (from thought to thought) is brought to rest, with bakthi and dedication, one can have Darshan of Lord Rama.Those souls who have realised RamA, through meditation, for years longing for Darsan are blessed souls.That way SwAmigal takes pleasure in offering his salutations to those foremost among the blessed souls. Here I cannot miss to draw the reader's attention to the word 'mAnasa vanachara vara'. Vanachara, means that which wanders in the jungle, a monkey. But the monkey refered to here is 'mAnasa vanachara', the super active mind that wanders in deep forest of our thoughts, which cannot be controlled easily.
Then comes the word, vara- meaning the mind that moves among thoughts with the speed of the wind. The movement of the mind at the wind's speed, among thoughts is all the more difficult and our philosophy and psychology have wonderfully studied the mind and our rushis are the best guides for the whole world. When the mind of the devotee dedicatedlythinks only of SriRAma, reducing everything else to Zero-value, Darshan of of Sri RAma dazles brilliantly, and the devotee can never bear to miss it.That, Sri ThyAgarAja SwAmigal experienced. Badrachalam Sri RAmadas had that experience.*
  Ch.3.SaraguNa pAdamulaku swAntamanu
           sarojamunu samarpaNamu jEyuvA...............................................                   (ren)                       Many devotees unreservedly rush to offer the lotus of their mind(Chiththam) at the feet of the Lord.   The source from which all beings are born is the Supreme Being, Sri RAmA and the eterNal abode which is the abode-'veedu'(in thamiz) for every humanbeing and other beings is that Supreme Being only. Some human beings fall in line with devotion even by birth, and some take to the path of devotion some time later in life. If one is not a devotee of RAmA(Krishna, or Ganesa, Lord Subramanya, or Shiva or Devi or even Sun God) right now, he or she is a future Devotee of some or other deity. That is the ' Truth accepted from ancient time to this day'. Whether we accept it or not 'THAT IS THE ETERNAL TRUTH'.
  In the 3rd charaNam, SwAmigaL offers his prostrations to Devotees who are along the path of bakti right from the birth(because of prayers to Lord Sri RamA to grace bakthi to them, in the previous birth/births) Nama deva the saint-who worshipped the deity, worshipped by his father, when the latter went to Kasi kshetram. The mother prepared offering and sent the son to the temple to worship and to offer 'Neivedyam' to the deity. The son offered puja and offering to the deity, as his father used to do. The boy was disturbed when the offering was not eaten by the deity. The boy with deep sincerity,begged the deity to accept and eat the same.When there was no response, the boy, put forth the condition that he will hit his head against the peetam of the deity and kept up his word;since the deity did not eat the offering, the boy hit his head on the peetam. Almighty is called KaruNa Sagar, ocean of mercy. Will He (the Deity) wait to see the boy bleed. He immediately took the boy in His C, He fed the boy and He Himself ate.I am relating the story here, only to the extent relevant  to the charaNam3.'Those devotees who rush to offer the lotus of their mind(chitham)at the feet of the Lord". The concept of 'MAnasa puja' creating a golden alter in the mind for the Lord, one's heart's deity and offering worship is worthier than the outer alter which we keep in our Puja room.Purifying one's mind of anger, jealousy, etc., and drenching it with Love for god, this mind is the best fragrant flower that one can offer at the feet of one's heart's deity.*
  Ch.4.PathithapAvanudanE parAthparuni gurinchi
           paramArthamagu nijamA-
           rgamuthonu bAduchunu sallApamutho
           swaralayAdi rAgamula deliyuvA-.............................................                            (ren)                   "Many are those who sing sincerely in choice language the praise of the Supreme Lord, the redeemer of the fallen, adhering to the true path and with knowledge of Swara, Laya and RAga."
In this 4th charaNam, swAmigaL, educates us about those who praise their heart's deity by singing the Lord's glory in choice language. When a devotee chooses to offer his services to the Lord by singing, to earn the desired grace, he should have the highest knowledge about the sangeethaam,in it's core aspects, Swara, RAga, and laya. Lord SriRAmA is a fertile 'rasika' of deeply rich sangeetham. A dedicated devotee who thirsts to offer best service, to his heart's deity, is to revel in singing the innumerable glories by GuNa and exploits, by grace and instant protection to His forlorn devotees.
Utter sincerity, strengthened with single minded devotion had always been the fountain head of grace, to flood and engulf a helpless suffering being, human or different kind of subhuman beings. A true devotee never thinks of different stratas among all living beings in creation.                                     Each charaNam, of the helps us to understand,how devotees of different class had practised devotion as defined by seers, sages, saints, and saint singers. Even when a child is 7 years old the seed of devotion is to be sown in child's mind, to gain it's deep roots; parents rooted in devotion successfully nourish the development of devotion, in the child. The child is to be educated in the stories, of many great devotees like Prahlada, Druva, Meera,Thamiz saint GnAna Sambandar. Thousands and thousands of pure devotees had loved different deities and had darshan of their heart's deities. Great sages, and the guruparampara have advised parents to nourish devotion in the minds of their children, which empowers the child to have it's own care -taker- strength.*
   Ch.5.HariguNa maNimaya sarmulu gaLamuna
            shobillu bakthakotulilalo
            thelivitho jelimitho garuNagalgi
            JAGAMELLANU SUDHA DRUSHTI CHE BROCHUVA-................      (ren)        
     In this charaNam, SwAmigal wonderfully leads us to the world of devotees who, practising pure devotion, have gained all the laudable unique characteristics of  Lord Hari who had taken the avatharam as RamA, for the annihilation of RAvaNa and the rakshasa clan.
     we will follow the meaning of this charaNam. SwAmigaL explains thus." These devotees have a necklace, with beads of the characteristics of  Lord Hari around their neck. GaLa means neck, and saram  strand of beads.The necklace is made of the gem-like qualities of Lord Hari.This necklace is shining in their necks.As part of service to the Lord these devotees have overflowing love and solicitude for humanity; with divine wisdom and divine love they protect the whole world. Their gaze on humanity with 'Sudha dhrushti', gaze drenched in amrutham, which like Lord Hari protecting the world , protects the whole world. Swamigal offers his salutations to those devotees, referring to them as 'mahAnubAvAs-great souls'. Sudha means nectar,amrutham and dhrushti is vision or in tamil 'pArvai'. Their glance filled with universal love embraces the whole world with unerring protection.*
    Ch.6.Hoyalumeera nadalu galgu sarasuni
             sadA kanula jUchuchunu pulaka sharirulai_
              _yAnanda payOdhi nimagnulai
             madambunanu yashamu galavA- ...........................                             (ren)    
       Many are the glorious ones who feel immersed in transcendental bliss, enthralled by the direct vision of the Lord and His majestic gait.
   Here SwamigaL talks about another kind of devotees who through their deep devotion, and gaining
wonderful darshan of their heart's deity RAmA, enjoy trascendental bliss(otherwise known as BrahmAnandam-eternal bliss). Once they have dharshan of the Lord they live in that bliss for ever.
What these devotees experience is beyond the ken of our knowledge. What they experienced? Lord RAmA in His kingly gait-'gAmbiiryam' and that stays floating in their inner being. Devotion is a      
deep love for one's heart's deity. It is the net of bond woven between the deity and the very soul of the devotee over many thousand births. There are about 13 characteristics well defined by our great seers after research about the jeevAthma and paramAthmA and the ancient bondage between the two.How long, the devotee feels like seeing his deity's form? There is no end to the time limit. The devotee keeps on enjoing the vision. 'sarasuni sadA kanula jUchuchunu', 'always gazing at the Lord's form
that appeared before his inner vision'. The next characteristic of bakti referred to here is 'pulakashariirulai', with horripulation  all over the body, 'hairs standing on their ends' is a reaction in the body of the devotee, at the very thought of his  deity. NArada the divine sage who moves about on some or other divine mission, has composed a tratise on 'Bakthi' called 'NArada bhakthi suthram'.
In about 68 suthraas The characteristics of bakthi which educates us deeply about bakthi, the blessings that it awards for a devotee. NAradA is adored by Sri ThyAgarAja SwAmigal.  
    These great devotees are saluted in the 6th charaNam, by our Swamigal. Adoring NArada as guru,
SwAmigaL has composed 7 kruthis, which are real gems. SwAmigaL w(as blessed by Narada a divine treatise on sangeetham, called 'SwarArNavam', ocean of the swaras. *This was delivered by some unknown sage, and this fact is expressed by SwAmigaL in many kruthis. The naturally melodious frequencies, 'SWARAS', form the basis,foundation of all the 'RAGAS'. The theory of the divine art, 'Sangeetham' is itself a treat to study. *
    Ch.7.ParamabAgavatha-mounivara-shashi-
             vibAkara-sanaka-sanandana-
              Digiisha-sura-kimpurusha-kanakakasipu-
              sutha-nArada-thumburu-
              pavanasUnu-bAlachandradara-shuka-
              Sarojabava-bUsuravarulu
              parama pAvanulu ghanulu shAshvathulu
              kamalabava sukamu sadAnubavulugAka.......................................   (En)                                        " Many are the great souls, supreme devotees and sages, who are absolutely pure and who are blessed with enjoyment of the bliss of realisation of the Lord, like Chandra,surya, Sqanaka, Sanandana, DikpAlakAs, Devas, Kimpurushas, PrahlAda, NArada, Tumburu, AnjanEya,
Lord Shiva,Shuka, Brahma, and foremost BrahmaNAs. SwAmigaL offers his salutations to all these great souls who adore Lord SrirAmA." They are all functionaries in the very creation of the whole world; they all are designated in their posts in maintenance of the whole creation. They all have to adore the Supreme Being, and to efficiently execute their responsibilities.*                                            Note- FIFTEEN DEVOTEES ARE LISTED ABOVE. DETAILS ABOUT THEM will be furnished at the end of this kruthi. ^                                                                                                            
     Ch.8.Nii menu nAma vaibavambulanu
              nii parAkrama dhai-
              ryamula shAnta mAnasamu niivulanu
             vachana sathyamunu, Raguvara! niiyada
             sadbaktiyu janinchakanu durmatamulanu
             kalla jEsinatti nii madi
             neringi santhasambunanu guNa bajanA-
             nanda kirtanamu jEyu vA-...............................................................(ren)
   "Many are the great  BakthAs,(devotees) who delight in adoring the greatness of your personal beauty and nama(name) and (guNAs, such as)prowess,courage, mental composure, generocity and rectitude, and who knowing your disposition towards false faiths which do not promote true devotion to you, discard them."                                                                                                                                  In this charaNam, SwamigaL enjoys detailing about different deeper devotees. When I say deeper devotees,the depth of the of the very bond of devotion is the one that is highlighted. One cannot and should not think one devotee to be superior  and the other inferior. In this kirthanam SwAmigal offers his salutaion to all the sincere devotees of Sri RamA. When a great sage or a saint or a saint singer, talks bakthi/baktha, they talk  only of highest form of pure devotion and a very dedicated baktha  who finds greatest bliss in revelling in God-thought.All those devotees join in singing god's name, leelas etc. When they adore their hearts' deity their divine ecstacy becomes exponential. Their divine joy rests in constant thought of The Supreme Being, WHO INCARNATED AS SRI RAMA.
  I feel that an important note is absolutely relevent in this context; I feel it is my duty too, to the interested viewer who will welcome additional information.
1. In BagavadgeethA, declares Lord Sri Krishna to ArjunA," Be my sincere devotee zeroing ALL
  VOLATILE ASSETS. That kind of devotee is always in me and I am in him."*
   Ch.9.BAgavatha-RAmAyaNa-GitAdi
            shruti-shAstra-purANapu
            marmamulanu ShivAdishaNmatamula
            goodamulan muppadimukko-
            ti-surAntarangamula bAvambula
            nerigi bAva-rAga-layAdi saukyamu_
             chE chirAyuvula galigi niravadi sukAtmulai
            ThyAgarAjAptulaina vA-......................................................               (ren)
       "Many are those who have understood the significance of the hidden truths of the BAgavata,         RAmAyaNa,Gita, VEda, Shastras, PurANas, the six faiths of ShivA and other Gods and the thirtythree crores of DevatAs, and who acquire longevity through the joy of the music (sangeeta vidyA), endowed with bhAva, rAga, laya and other elements and who attain everlasting happiness,
('BrahmAnandam') thereby becoming ThyAgarAjA's devoted friends.            
       SwAmigal here, with love guides us along the rows of our religious texts; he prescribes the lessons for us. we have to find ways and means to study and understand many of these texts going into their hidden truths. There are many saint-cum-scholars who are ready to enlighten, the spiritual aspirants, with Love. If our thirst is sincere, dedicated, then the path is invitingly widely opened.One is sure to experience this benefit. Each one of us is sure to enter this path by God's grace. You will feel it as and when you sincerely start putting in your efforts. Many of the stories that we have got, have their own hidden message about Truth, love for all living beings, Gurubakthi,giving up the adamant gates of jealousy, greed, selfishness, anger, enimity 6 of them which should vacate their place and leave us to find our spiritual path, and work our progress. All the 800 kirthanas/kruthis wonderfully lead us to success.All the saint singers, saints, the rushis, sages, and many great souls       are waiting with love to help us until we reach the goal of bliss/salvation.*
   CharaNam10.PrEma muppirigonu vELa
                         nAmamu dalachvAru
                         RAmabakthudaina thyAga-
                         rAjanuthuni nijadAsulaina vA-...................................................(ren)
     "Many are those, who with overflowing devotion, meditate upon the holy name of Sri RAma and become the true servants of the Lord praised by ThyAgarAja."*

 Note under charanam7.                     Under 'Great souls, Srwamigal lists creamy layer of the sages, the moon, the Sun, Sananda, Sanandana, the eight protectors of the eight directions_eight devas, kimpurushas, Prahlada _.    

(son of Hiranya kasipu,) Narada,  Thumbhuru_(a gandarva), Anjaneya, (the son of wind

-God 'Pavana'), Lord Shiva denoted by Balachandradhara or    'PiRai aniyum Ishan', Sukha Brahmam, (son of Vyasa), Brahma or Saroja bhava -the Lotus _born,last the best of the Bhrahmins. The choice in permutation and combination of the. names of puranic characters usually stun the reader. Srwamigal 's command over Telugu language with it's weave of Sanskrit is a real treat. Swamigal's vast vocabulary under the fertile language Telugu and his unique love for Rama and the thirst for Lord Rama's grace simply opened up the ocean of Rama's grace to f lood as the honey pravaham of Swamigal's devotional kruthis. 

  The devotional kruthis of saint singers are capable of awarding the highest benefits only when we lead the sprit of devotion in the thought force of the kruthis  engulfs our single pointed concentration. One can experiegnce disengagemegnt of our soul from it's routine entanglements and experience 'a time off ' of pure bliss.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                                           
                           
     

The life and contribution of the galaxy of the many great realised souls.

     Very happy to be able to share what I know and to add to what I know. First thanks for this opportunity.
     My greetings to the sharers and to those who may help to add. My first dedicated thought goes to the saint singers in  karnatic Music. The great Trinity and those greater souls whom they adored. Next my dedicated thoughts go to those great saintly souls of very long line whose spiritual powers protect the human race beyond the narrow minded seperatism of any tone, material or intellectual, racial or geographical, or what not. That class of noble souls uplifted humanity in all climes and in all times. But for them we will not be what we are now. Our effort to remember them will rejuvenate our own generation at present. This will also form the foundation for the future generation to develop the attitude and effort to draw the benefits from that perennial source of the galaxy of the great, realised souls, saints and saint singers
     As I understand the view of the present generation who may not view in the same way as I do , I assure you that you can safely go through my point of view and you will not reap any adverse effects by just going through this (my) point of view.
     The words, the thoughts of many great souls were being quoted by many generations in the past, and will be quoted by many generations to come in the future. Let us think now, how and why the words of those great souls meaningfully live ? What is the power behind their words, How much is that power? One student of a great Teacher did try ( I avoided saying Guru and disciple, since I know some may develop an alergy if I use those words! No harm meant.) to conduct experiment to measure the strength of his teacher. He travelled by bus, away from the Guru, sorry the teacher. He presents the result that within 5 kms radius he could visualize the form of the teacher very easily; that beyond 5kms, he could visualize the teacher's form with difficulty. This is not a fantasy but reality. One should develop a confidence, first not to avoid if something is presented, as good and beneficial.Like what confidence one seems to have in one's own parents. At any point, any great soul
when he or she presents his or her experience,  for others to share, voluntarily at their level of maturity, guidance absorbed. One must understand that they are not sharing their experience with any profit motive or driven by ego.  It is purely in the spirit of our thamiz saying "NAn petra pERu           ivvayyagam peRuga". Telling it in English " My fortune gave me this realisation/experience and I want every one in this world must enjoy acquiring the same fortune." It is in that noble spirit, I am trying to post these blogs hoping these may offer some guidance or some information to some few souls who happen to be pleased to go through these efforts, presentations.
     I do welcome any mistakes pointed out and as well any other expression of views. But being the successors, of a very great treasures of spiritual knowledge and divine arts, it is our primary duty to understand our fortune and live up to the expectations of the vedic and upanishadic injunctions. Vasishta and the lore of great sages, guided generations of righteous kings, who governed the land and people awarding peace and prosperity.Then followed the saints and saint singers. In our linguistic regions people were comfortably following Bakthi margam. In the last 500 years there were invasions, but still peoples' faith in bakthi always guided them and never failed to protect
the mass. It all amounts to reinforce bakthi and our own goodness as the insulating armour of protection  for  individuals, society, nation as well the whole world. The spirit of our sages' prayer "sarvesham swasthir bavathu..."-May the whole world flourish with prosperity and peace" should be our flag of faith.
     Starting right from Narada, VyAsa, Vsishta, viswamitrA, the lore of sages who form  the active
participants in the Vedas, PurANas, Ithihasas, Upanishads, were all great researchers in the field of the higher science of Spirituality, and who bequeathed the treasures revealed,with universal love for the welfare of the human race. No living being can claim that the truth revealed belongs to himself, his nation, etc. Every bit of matter, all truths revealed belong to the whole world.
     'VivEkananda, was the disciple of the saint Ramakrishna.The latter, was actually crying and praying to CalkattA KALI-his heart's deity, thirsting for his disciple Vivekaananda. Such was the bond between the guru and his discipLe. Vivekananda spread the message of SriRamakrishna. The guru and the disciple held mother India and her children, the people of India, very next to their heart.
VivEkAnanda passed away 16 years after the death of his master. At this context, I find these lines:-
'But the flame of that pyre is still alight today. From his ashes like the phoenix of old, has sprung anew the conscience of India-the magic bird-faith in her unity and in the Great Message brooded over from Vedic times by the dreaming spirit of his ancient race-the message for which it must render account to the rest of mankind.'
     India was spiritually well advanced from the time of the Vedas and was eagerly ready to disseminate it's treasure of messages to the eager aspirant who thirsts for godrealisation or salvation.
The only criterion required was sincerity in spiritualenquiry, giving up desire, anger, ego,and having universal love(love for the entire creation,); last but not least, love for the Supreme Being. It is the will of the Supreme Being that India should disseminate the revelations to the great souls, those great messages to the entire humanity; no reservation whatsoever under any silly flag of colour, creed, race, nationality and religion. The entire humanity are children of that One Supreme Being, the creator.Our ancient sages deserved those great messages by working out their purity of mind, Love for God and love for fellow beings.
     We have to learn to understand , first of all what is good, to be sought after. There lies the greatest
secret. Our great sages, Seers have thought about the whole of the humanity, and have drawn the list of aspirations, one must seek. The scale of selection is that the good one seeks must have eternal value.
On the line of that scale, they have given ways and means, targets/goals and disciplines in the physical, mental, emotional planes to be dedicatedly followed. IF WITH FULL FAITH, one implicitly obeys their injunctions, they are led to unique success.

ஒரு சிஷ்யன் இறைவனை உணர ஓர் ஆழ்ந்த அனுபவம்.

     'ஒரு யோகியின் சுயசரிதை'-யில் ஸ்ரீ பரமஹம்ச யோகானந்தர், தான் ஒரு பள்ளிமாணவனாக இருந்த 

பொழுதே கிடைக்கப்பெற்ற ஓர் ஆன்மீக படிப்பினையை விளக்கமாக பகிர்ந்துகொள்கிறார் .அவருடைய பெற்றோர், இறையருளில் திளைத்து முதிர்ந்த ஒரு குருவின் அருளாசியால் பிற்ந்த நான்காவது  மகன் 

இந்த யோகி அவர்கள். 

இவருடைய பெற்றோர் வைத்த பெயர் முகுந்தன் என்பதாகும்.

எட்டு குழந்தைகளை தாய் அன்பின் அரவணைப்போடு இதிஹாஸ, புராண கதைகளினமுதத்தையும் இணைத்தே வர்ஷித்து வளர்த்து வந்தாள்.முகுந்தன் உயர்நிலை-பள்ளி படிப்பை, தந்தையின் விருப்பப்படி இடையுரின்றி முடித்திருந்தான். முகுந்தனுடைய பதினோராவது வயதிலேயே, பக்தையாக வாழ்ந்துவந்த தாய், பரகதி அடைந்துவிட்டாள். இறக்குமுன்பாக அவர், ஒரு அருளாளர் வாயிலாக தான் அறிந்திருந்த ரஹசியத்தை, அவருடைய அருட்கட்டளைப்படி, மூத்தமகன் அனந்தன் மூலமாக,மகன் முகுந்தனிடம் ஒப்படைத்திருந்தாள்.           

உயர்நிலை பள்ளிப்படிப்பை முடித்திருந்த முகுந்தன் பள்ளிமாணவன் மட்டு

மல்ல.முகுந்தனுடைய தாய் அறிவித்திருந்த விஷயங்களின், ஆன்மீக ஆழங்கள், முகுந்தனுடைய அன்மாவில்

 ஆழமாக பதிந்துள்ளவையே.முகுந்தனுடைய அன்னையை சந்தித்த அந்த அருளாளர் ஒரு தேய்வீக 'தாயத்தையும்' உடன் அளித்திருந்தார்.அந்த தாயத்தையும் முகுந்தனிடம், மூத்தமகன் முலம்

ஒப்படைக்கவேண்டிய தருணத்தையும் குறிப்பிட்டிருந்தார், அந்த அருளாளர். முகுந்தனின் அன்னை, அந்த அருளாளரின் கட்டளைகளை செவ்வனே நிறைவேற்றியிருந்தாள்

. ஆன்மிக தளத்தில், முகுந்தன் பக்குவமாக முன்னேற, முந்தைய பிறவிகளில் அவருடன் தொடர்புள்ள பலப்பல மகான்களின் அருட்செயல்கள் ஒரு வலை போல் பின்னிக்கொண்டு முகுந்தனை சூழ்ந்து நிற்பதை நம்மால் உணரமுடிகிறது.
      ஸ்ரீ பரமஹம்ச யோகானந்தர்,தன் பன்னிரெண்டாவது வயதில் முகுந்தன் என்ற உயர்நிலை-பள்ளி மாணவனாக அண்ணன் அனந்தன் ஒப்படைத்த அந்த சிறு பெட்டியைப்-பெற்றுக்கொள்ளும்பொழுது,                      

முகுந்தன் எந்த மனநிலையில் ஏற்றான் என்று அறிவது அவசியமாகிறது. "யோகானந்தராக" அந்த மனநிலையை தெளிவுபடுத்துகிறார். பெட்டியை ஏற்றவுடன், அந்த தாயத்து என் வசத்தில் வந்தவுடன், என் ஆன்மீக விழிப்பின்
ஜ்வலிக்கும் ஒளிப்பிழம்பு, என்னை ஆட்கொண்டதை உணர்ந்தேன்; என் ஆன்மாவின் ஆழ்தளத்தில் உரைந்திருந்த பல நினைவுகள் தூண்டப்பட்டு விழித்தெழுந்தன. அஸாதாரணமான அந்ததாயத்து, வட்டவடிவில் அமைந்திருந்தது. மேலும் அது காலத்தைக்கடந்து நிற்கும் பழமையுடன் தொடர்புடயதாக காணப்பட்டது.வடமொழி(ஸம்ஸ்க்ருத) எழுத்துக்கள் நிரம்பியதாகவும் இருந்தது. என்னுடய கடந்த காலங்களில், பல பிறவிகளில் என்னை ஸூக்ஷ்மமாக வழி நடத்திய குருமார்களால் அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளாது என்று அறிந்துகொண்டேன். மேலும், இந்த தாயத்துடன் தொடர்புடயதாக ஒரு முக்யத்வம் அமைந்திருந்தது. இது "ஸூக்ஷ்ம-லோகத்தில்" படைக்கப்பட்டது; இயற்கையாகவே குறைந்த கால-அளவில் மறைந்துவிடக்கூடியது. இது சம்பந்தப்பட்ட "ரஹஸியங்கள்", வெளியிடப்படமுடியாத காரணங்களால்,"ரஹஸியங்களாகவே" பாதுகாக்கப்படுகின்றன; பாதுகாக்கப்படவேண்டும். இறைவனுடய தெய்வீகப்பேரரசின் தெய்வீகப்பெரும் கட்டளைகள் மதிக்கப்பட்டு, போற்றப்படவேண்டியவை என்பது மட்டுமல்ல; அவை மீறுதல் என்ற நினைப்புக்கும், கேள்விக்கணைகளுக்கும், வாதப்ரதிவாதங்களுக்கும் அப்பாற்பட்டவை; அப்பாற்பட்டவையே என்று கூறுவதையும் இன்றியமையாததாகவே உணருகின்றேன். அந்த தாயத்து, முகுந்தனுடய அன்னையின் செய்தியின்படி, "அன்னை, ஒரு முன்பின் அறிந்திராத 
மஹானுடய அருட்செய்தியின்படி, மறுநாள் தியானத்தில் ஈடுபட்டிருந்த நிலயில்   
அன்னயின் கையில் அந்த தாயத்து அருளப்பட்ட பொருளாகவே வந்துசேர்ந்தது."