2. Defining "GOD" from Advaita perspective (Category:-Philosophical)

GOD is the one who is the Karta (Subject), Karma (Object), and Kriya (Task). He/She is the one who can do all the following three tasks alone viz. Srushti, Sthiti, and Laya. The same statement when i have to put in simple English, i would say the one who does the following things alone is a GOD!!

• Generation
• Organization
• Destruction

Believe me, the aforementioned 3 tasks can't be done in an 'Out of Sync' way! For that, a proper synchronization needs to be maintained.

Technically speaking, if you plot a Design Structure Matrix (DSM), and analyse the dependencies, the output would be a Deadlock! As per DSM rules, to resolve a deadlock area, only a single resource should work on those tasks otherwise it can't be resolved. Well, if you don't know what DSM is, it's a methodology (and tool) designed by 'MIT' which takes your work items as input and suggests the best possible execution flow. For more details on DSM visit the website. Let me come back to spiritual explanation rather than being algorithmic here.

The 3 tasks Srushti, Sthiti, Laya are mutually dependent on each other and hence there always exists a deadlock among them. So, as the common belief goes among the Hindu people that there are 3 deities viz. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva to take care of these tasks is a Misconception!!

Hinduism mentions about 3 primary deities viz. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva but essentially they are one and the same!! These 3 names are the 3 attributes of the GOD!

If a river splits into 3 channels and flows in 3 different regions and is called by 3 different names, what difference does it make to us? Essentially all 3 channels are the same 'Water' and originated at the same source! Same theory applies to the Hindu trinity as well. In order to execute the tasks of the universe the same Supreme being attributes himself 3 different names but is non-dual from each other. That is what Advaita also tells about the God.

Brahma primarily creates, but he also sustains by giving boons to the deserving and maintains harmony. So isn't he the sustainer? isn't he doing similar job of Vishnu? Now when he gives unusual boons to Demons, he also creates a trap door in some way or the other to put an end to the demon. Also, when demi-gods seeks his guidance for killing the demon, he reveals them the secret and indirectly helps the destruction of the demon. So is he not doing destruction indirectly? is he not doing the job of Shiva?

Vishnu's prime task is protection, sustenance. But had he not created Madhu and Kaitaba and has he not been protecting the world by killing the sinners/demons? So, is he also not doing the 3 tasks alone?

Shiva's so called primary task is destruction. But it would be an off topic here if i explain the difference between Rudra and Shiva. It's Rudra who destroys, Shiva does everything. So let me say Rudra in this context. So, Rudra's task is to dissolve. As Shiva had he not created Bhairava, Ganesha, Skanda kind of great gods? Has Shiva not been sustaining the universe by taking care of the devotees and protecting them? So is he not doing the 3 tasks alone?

So, now tell me what's the difference between the three deities? They are essentially one and the same as like as 3 different streams of water still remains water only!

So, let me come to a conclusion here that it's only one God who is called by the 3 different names!!

P.S:- People who follow Dwaita perspective (Dualism) they may have a different opinion, and may consider one form as superior to another. Even in that case, the 3 gods converge at a common God, for Vaishnavites he is Vishnu, for Shaivites he is Shiva, for Shaktas, it is mother goddess Shakti (Energy). Also there exists theories given in KMG Mahabharata kind of authentic texts supporting Shiva which tells that it's one god only (Shiva) who exists as/is called Vishnu in Vaikuntha, and Brahma in Satyaloka. A detailed topic is presented on another blog of mine here. In any case, it's only one God with different names/forms..!!!

3. What's the Abode of the Lord? (Category:- Philosophical)

We usually hear people saying,

Lord Shiva is Smashaan Vaasi (cremation ground) etc....etc...

Now a question arises, how can a person who resides in identifiable no. of places be a God/Supreme lord?

On the other hand, lord Shiva's 108 names (Astottara Sata namavali) calls him by a name "Om JagadVyapine Namah". Which hails him saying that he is the one who is All Pervading and Omnipresent, and is indeed spread across the universe and beyond!!

Contradictions in the scriptures of Hinduism. isn't it??
If you nodded your head as "yes", then you are mistaken! Let me explain how.

Let's analyse the matter a bit further. Let's first understand the definition of "Smashaan/Cremation ground".
Cremation ground is a place where dead bodies are burnt/burried. In simple words where bodies become one with the soil.
We have distinct creamation grounds for humans where we burn/bury the deceased people. That means all other places are pious/sacred/pure and not smashaana? Certainly Not!!

Where do we bury/burn dead bodies of birds,rats, ants, insects, bees, snakes, lizards and so on? We never do. they become one with the soil whichever place they fall dead on earth.
On similar lines, where do we bury/burn fishes, octopus, sharks, whales, and frogs etc kind of beings? Again there is no particular cremation ground for them. They all get burried wherever they fall dead (ocean).

So, now do you agree with the point that entire earth is a cremation ground (smashaana)? Doesn't that imply that Lord Shiva exists in every iota of Earth?

Now coming to Space. Our macrocosm is not inert. it contains many living particles. (Virus is a living particle which doesn't need atomosphere for its existence). Also, we have been witnessing UFO(s) and hence we believe that aliens DO exist outside the earth. Also we believe that any one who is born has a death for sure. So be it living particles/microbes/aliens everything dies even outside the earth. So even the cosmos is not an exception from becoming a Grave yard/Smashaana/Cremation ground. Isn't this correct?

Then doesn't the above analysis get us to a conclusion that entire universe is a smashaana and the one lord Shiva who resides in Smashaana actually pervades the entire universe?

So abode of God is not a single place. God is spread accross the cosmos, permeates through the minutest to mega objects and lives in every iota of space. God is everywhere!

P.S:-In order to explain the concept, i have used example of lord Shiva. Vishnu devotees, please note that Vishnu itself means "All Pervading"!!

Credits:-This explanation is written by me with the inspiration from the discource of Sri Chaganti Koteswara Rao on Bhakti TV in Maheswara vaibhavam programme. Idea belongs to him, words and explanation belongs to me.

4. Meaning of True Form and Avatara (Category:- Philosophical)

What is an 'Avatar'? If somebody asks this question, we end up giving synonyms like 'Manifestation, Incarnation' etc.
Sometimes we think "Why the God needs to take an Avatar and protect us? Can't the same thing be accomplished in his true form?". Let's analyse this a bit further as follows:

We all know and agree to the fact that GOD permeates everything, is all pervading, is omnipresent and entire universe is inside him. So, now answer the following questions.

• If i want to put a garland of beautiful lotus flowers around the neck of the God, will it be possible for me? certainly not. Since God is so vast that i can't measure his neck
• If i want to touch/hug God, will it be possible for me? Again the answer would be 'No' since he stands immeasurable and is not in a physical form
• if i want to perceive God with my earthly eyes (Charma Chakshu), will it be possible to bear his infinite aura (Teja)? No!

In such cases how can a common man (let's not talk about Yogis and Kundalini etc. here) show his/her devotion to the God then? Definitely God has to take some form and occupy limited space within the limits of human perception in order to let a common man know him, dwell in him, and reach him finally.

So, God has to take a form which is called 'Avatara' and come near us, become one of us, speak to us, feel our sentiments and all such humane qualities he needs to exhibit only for ourselves!

Meaning of Avatara:-

Let's try to understand the meaning of the word 'Avatar' first.

if you are a musician or a singer you would be acquainted with the Sthais (levels). There are 3 levels/octaves viz. Mandara, Madhyama, and Tara/Taraka. When someone sings in 3rd octave (Highest sthayi) we say, "He/She is singing in Tara Sthayi"!

So, Tara sthayi is something beyond. God in his true form remains in the Tara sthayi, means he is Durgama, not perceivable, not attainable, not discernible with normal/common human qualities.

Avatara=Ava+Tara, means opposite of Tara, which is attainable, perceivable, touchable, etc.

So, in order to come closer to us, God takes incarnations (Avatara) and protects us, loves us, plays with us, indulges in all worldly activities as like as we human beings do. (Otherwise it's not impossible for the lord to do the same in the true form).

It's all about the devotees, in order to protect them, to love them to become easily accessible to them he takes so many forms.

God is all pervading, and can come out from anywhere, the best example being "Narshimha Avatara". Lord Sri Hari didn't come when Prahalada was being punished. he didn't come when Hiranyakashyap's attrocities were at its peak. Lord Hari came out of the Pillar when Hiranyakashyap asked Prahalada the following questions:

Hiranyakashyap: "Where does your Hari live?

Prahalada: He is everywhere

Hiranyakashyap: he is everywhere? Is your Hari in this stone Pillar?

Prahalada: Yes, he is everywhere!

Then Hiranyakashyap breaks that pillar with his Gada (mace), and Lord Hari in the form of Narsimha (half man half Lion) comes out just to keep the word of the Devotee (Prahalada) and to keep his faith of "Hari is everywhere" undeterred.

God is Bhakta Vatsal, he always loves us (the children) and that's why comes in various Avataras and lives among us, plays with us, loves us, lives like us and what's not?

Credits: This explanation is written by me with the inspiration from the discourse of Sri Chaganti Koteswara rao on Bhakti TV in 'Venkateswara Vaibhavam' Episode. Idea belongs to him which i have tried to pen in my words.

5. Mysterious Dasavatara (Category:-Philosophical)

We all know that lord Sri Maha Vishnu incarnates and protects us whenever Dharma starts fading away. The great Geetacharya says the same as the following verse:-

Yada yada hi Dharmasya, Glanirbhavati bharata

Abyutthanama Adharmasya tadatmanam Srujamyaham

paritranaya Sadhunam Vinashaya Cha Dushkrutam

Dharma Sansthapanarthaya Sambhavami yuge yuge

Lord Vishnu has incarnated many times in many forms however, only 10 major incarnations have become famous and are called by the name 'Dasavataram'

The Dasavatara are as viz. Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narsimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Sri Rama, Sri krishna, Buddha and Kalki (who is yet to come).

If we analyse the incarnations we can observe that there is a striking similarity among the Avataras of Vishnu and the stages of Human life.

1. Matsya, Kurma, Varaha :-They resemble embryonic stages of human when he is inside the mother's womb. If we read Biological books and study the human life process chapter, we would see that an embryo passes through various stages of development and resembles the above mentioned creatures till it fully develops into an infant.
2. Narsimha :- This resembles the 'infant stage' where a baby knows only to cry aloud as like as a roaring lion and also to gobbles up milk from the mother's breast as like as the lord Narsimha drank the blood of Hiranyakashyap
3. Vamana :- This stage resembles closely with childhood
4. Parashurama :- This stage resembles closely with an IDeal student life. A life of a human where he remains in Brahmacharya Ashrama and leads a pious life of a student
5. Sri Rama :- This Avatara points us to the Adulthood, a stage of an Ideal Gruhast Ashrama where a man follows ideals of married life and remains faithful/devoted to only one Wife.
6. Sri Krishna :- This also resembles Adulthood and a life of a person in Gruhastha Ashrama, but it resembles that man who takes interest in romance and remains attached to many wives or ladies
7. Buddha :- This incarnation resembles Vanaprastha / Sanyasi Ashramas where a man devotes his time in learning and preecing and tries to reach god through meditation
8. Kalki :- This avatara represents the end of the human life cycle

This is the beauty of lord Vishnu's Avataras!!

6. Symbolic Importance of Grass Blade in Sundarakanda (Category:- Philosophical)

Background:-

In Sundarakanda of Ramayana we find that mother Goddess Sita used to keep a Grass Blade in between her and Ravana whenever the latter used to visit her in Ashoka Vatika. Why should mother Sita keep a grass blade in between her and Ravana? What's the significance of it? What did mother Sita want to convey? Everyone of us has read Ramayana but did we ever given a thought on the philosophy behind that? Did the above questions ever strike our mind? Probably Not!! Mother Sita was a great teacher (Guru). She had preached a moral with mute actions and through a small blade of grass. Let's understand the symbolic and philosophical meaning behind that single blade of grass!!

1. When there is moisture beneath the grass surface, grass remains green and firm to the ground. Neither sun nor heat, nor spark of fire harms it. Even a heavy storm can uproot a banyan tree but can't uproot a grass blade in any way. On the other hand, when there is no moisture beneath the grass surface, it becomes dry and easily gets burnt with the heat of scorching sun or small spark of fire and also gets carried away by normal breeze and loses its identity and slowly fades away from this world. Here moisture represents moral values, good conduct, heritage, culture, respect, devotion, fidelity, deportment and all such satva gunas. Moisture-less barren field represents a jad buddhi, arrogance, lust, greed, inclination towards nishiddha karmas etc all negative qualities which are marked as bad by vedas, upanishads etc. jaganmata lakshmi (Sita) might also want to teach a lesson to Ravan that with all his good qualities what he had (greatest musician, greatest astrologer, greatest Shiv Bhakt, greatest Singer, great tapasvi, great ruler etc.) he could have become a GREAT Saint and would have fetched Salvation had he utilized all his inborn good qualities in the right way. But since he had done the biggest sin of eyeing on a para stree, all his good qualities have left him and he has become a barren land where his soul stands like a brown grass (hay), and is definitely subject to getting uprooted/burnt/losing identity and vanishing into the darkness of the time.

I personally feel that Ravana had lot many greatest qualities but failed to become a Great man!! He was a great scholar but what's the use of knowledge if someone doesn't have that chivalry to respect para stree and also naaree in general (He had ravished Rambha also...So lust was in his habit perhaps).

Had he won over his senses, he had a great potential to become a saint. He could have won the motherly love of goddess Lakshmi (Sita) by showing his respect for women and behaving like a child of her.

7. Tribute to Gomata (Category:- Poetry)

I have moved my poetry to a separate blog altogether in order to give them a distinct place to flourish. This particular post has been moved to the following location.

http://www.stotramaalika.blogspot.com/2010/02/goumata-vilaapam.html

Thanks for visiting!

8. Sita-Rama principle for a Happy Married Life (Category:- Best Practices)

We all would have read/listened to Ramayana sometime in our life. Ramayana tells us that Sri Rama followed and taught us the principle of "Eka Patnivrata Drahma" (One woman man principle). Same was reciprocated by Mother Sita in return to Rama (One Man Woman).

Now, why did Sita Rama follow such a simple life? Why couldn't they enjoy their life lavishly as like as today's youngsters? Rama was a Prince, he could have wedded many woman and could have spent a lascivious life as like as many other Kings did in our society. Similarly, mother Sita could have accepted Ravana's proposal and could have become the Queen of the palace Lanka which had no match in the three worlds in terms of its beauty. Why did she prefer to suffer than to betray Rama?

Answer to all these queries is only one thing, "There is ultimate satisfaction/happiness/peace only in eka patni/pati dharma". (Of course Brahmacharya/celibacy is superior to everything else, but i would not like to touch that topic here. Would write a separate post some day on that).

Let's take some examples, study them and then draw a conclusion.

• King Yayati:-He was a great king but failed in his life because of lack of fidelity for his queens and 'want for more'. He even exchanged youth of his son with his old age and enjoyed pleasures with Rati's daughter for years. But at last he learnt a lesson that there is no permanant peace/happiness in lusting after many women. There is no end point. He repented and gave his youthfulness back to his son. Most of his life got wasted behind finding peace in extra marital relationships which he couldn't attain. He learnt that devotion/dedication towards one soul-mate gives peace
• Chandra (Moon god):-It's a well known story that Chandra had 27 wives (daughters of Daksha), but out of them he used to neglect everyone and was attached to Rohini only. Practically speaking, one can not share same amount of love with everyone in such relationships. Love remains as a shared pool and whosoever gets the major part remains a bit satisfied while deprives others from their share. This made his marital life disturbed and ultimately had to suffer the curse of Daksha
• Vrihaspati:- He being the Dev guru (Teacher of Demi Gods), himself committed a sin of lusting for his elder brother's wife Mamata and involved in conjugal relationship with her and begot a child from her (his name was Sage Bharadwaja). What repercussions did it have? It made his wife Tara lose faith in him and she also involved herself in extra marital physical relationship with Chandra and begot a son named Budha from him. Could they invest trust in each other anymore? No! The fabric of their married life got damaged beyond repair!!
  
• Tiger Woods:-His life is a hell. I needn't explain anything. Whosoever is abreast with the current affairs would definitely have a clue about his various affairs and his failure in a peaceful marital life
• Bill Clinton:-Again here i wouldn't want to waste my efforts repeating his story. he is also not successful in attaining peace in marital life

Also we can find many youngsters falling and failing in multiple affairs. Nowadays there is seldom any case where you may find that people are peaceful in their marital life. Some of the common thoughts of today's era are:-

• Generic thought:- Who knows what my husband does behind my back?
• Overtime duty:-Today my wife returned late from office. is there something cooking up?
• Charming Colleague:-My Hubby's team mate is so charming. I need to keep an eye on my hubby
• If wife is a homemaker:- i don't know what she does when I'm not at home

People are losing Trust on their spouses and with their own hands making their blissful married life into a bed of thorns experiencing hellish things everyday due to false suspicion. This is in turn leading to many break-ups, separations, quarrels, mental disturbances etc. kind of diseases for which there is no medicine available with medical science.

This is something which has to be solved only with one pill called 'Eka patni/Pati Vrata Dharma'. Eka patni Vrata Dharma doesn't mean staying married with one and eying on some other. This would lead to same disturbance which an extra marital affair would cause. Eka patni Vrata dharma is to remain, Physically, mentally, by heart and soul, dedicated to only one. If someone gets himself uplifted to that pedestal where he can consider all other womenfolk as his Mother/Sister, then there would be no mental disturbance or physical attraction towards other women leading him to stay peaceful in his life. Same applies to women also.

That's what Lord Rama and Sita have taught us. They preached us the two basic elements for any successful relationship to sustain and stand erect for posterity.

Their life teaches us to learn that every relationship is built upon two pillars. First one is "Trust", and second one is "Fidelity (faithfulness)". These are the two common elements we use to build our relationships. In most of the cases it so happens that people remain successful in maintaining them for ever in business relationships with the customer but fail to maintain the same in their personal life.

In this modern aristocratic era people give their prime attention to their professional life whereas their private life gets the least focus. That's the reason we see lot many successful stories of 'Man to Businessman' and on the same lines we see a day by day increase in the graph of stories of separation, divorces, extra marital relationships etc. Where are those successful men failing? Answer is only at two places, viz. Trust and Fidelity!

Fidelity/Faithfulness is the prerequisite to Trust!!

So, what causes Trust to break married people's life in our society? It's clear that lack of fidelity is the answer. Now what could be the reason behind lack of faithfulness? Answer would come as 'Greed, and Dissatisfaction'. Now let's dig into this a bit more further. What's the cause of Dissatisfaction? It's basically a mentality 'All better looking things should become mine!'.

That's the culprit behind all the disturbances!

The day every human being (man and woman both) follows the path shown by Lord Rama and Mother Sita, they would start feeling an upliftment in their personal lives towards a state of serenity and ultimate bliss!

It's not Betterment which counts....It's the Commitment which pays in the long run..!!

13. Saakaar Vs. Nirakaar Bhakti-Which is Correct? (Category:Hinduism)

Recently in a Forum a person raised question on the correctness of Saakaar and Nirakaar forms of God. He asked which kind of Bhakti is correct. Not only i faced this question there, but it has been a common and constantly nagging question available in multitudes all over the internet.

Before writing my explanation let me take the chance to define the aforementioned terms so that those who are new to these words can at least have a ground before reading the explanation further.

Devotion/Bhakti is primarily of two categories, viz. Saakaar form of Bhakti and Nirakaar form of Bhakti.

1. Saakaar Bhakti:- This is a phenomenon where a devotee sees/realizes the Supreme being (God) in the form of an idol, picture, or religious symbols (like Shiva Lingam). In this type of Devotion he holds a figure as his beloved deity
2. Nirakaar Bhakti:- This is a phenomenon where a devotee is gifted with such a discerning eye that he realizes the Supreme everywhere in physical, or mental plane. These people consider God as formless
   

Now let's get onto the next part, i.e., explanation.

Here is the explanation what i posted in that forum to explain the subtle difference between those two forms of Bhakti :

'Saakaar' and 'Nirakaar' - Both paths are correct!

Reason:- It's true that God is beyond the discrimination of Forms or Gender. But unless a person is installed in Bhakti of Saakaar form he can never become firm in Nirakaar form. Imagination is highly important to converge our focus/concentration.

For instance, If i say some random meaningless word, "kambalotaparbahuta" and tell you that he is the Supreme god and we can attain Moksha only by praying to that deity. One may not be able to focus on it since one can't imagine a figure to focus (Imagination is a prerequisite for focus).

Now. If i add a little more spice to it and say "He has a human form but has four hands 2 wings of eagle, holds a Machine Gun (which is his divine weapon/Astra), rides on a dinosour (his Superior Vehicle) and protects the whole world with his grace, and he is very merciful"

Then, with this imagination if i draw that figure, and give it to someone and say worship him daily. Believe me, automatically one will be able to focus and concentrate on that figure for quite some days till one feels that he/she is perfect in his/her Bhakti.

Next, if one is asked to try to meditate upon the same figure in ones inner self (Bhroomadhya Chakra) one will be able to concentrate on ones bhroomadhya chakra properly. And then by and by one would become a master in Nirakaar bhakti.

The sum and substance is, barring extraordinary Saints or 'Kaaran-Janma' humans, normal humans can't focus their bhakti on Nirakaar form so easily (because sense/mind/mann is chanchal/unstable).

Hence Saakaar form of worship is a stepping stone/prerequisite to Nirakar form of Bhakti.