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.