Pranam 1 इन्द्रं मित्रं वरुणमग्निमाहुरथो दिव्यः स सुपर्णो गरुत्मान | एकं सद विप्रा बहुधा वदन्त्यग्निं यमं मातरिश्वानमाहुः ||R V 1.164.46 indraṃ mitraṃ varuṇamaghnimāhuratho divyaḥ sa suparṇo gharutmān | ekaṃ sad viprā bahudhā vadantyaghniṃ yamaṃ mātariśvānamāhuḥ || They call Him Indra/King of heavens, Mitra/the sun-god, Varuna/the regent of the ocean, Agni/the fire god, and He is the beautiful winged heavenly Garuda. The Truth is one but the wise describe It variously. They call Him Agni/god of fire, Yama/god of death, Maatarishvaan/wind-god.” 2 There is a story. A bhagavathar was singing. People were asking for repeat performances. Bhagavathar was happy so he sang the same song. Again there was a call to repeat. Again he sang. It went on with so many repeats, the bhagavathar, was so happy and addressed the crowd when I have so many other songs to sing why asking for the repetition; the audience replied that let the bhagavathar first learn this song better, before going to the next one; so only appreciation was rendered in the form of repetitions, which was misunderstood by the bhagavathar. Anyone can understand the appreciation and its nuance. KR IRS 231021
On Sat, 23 Oct 2021 at 18:40, Markendeya Yeddanapudi < [email protected]> wrote: > Gopalakrishna Sir, > I am forwarding this Gem,one of the regular everyday,to everyone in my > circle.I feel so humbled when I read your daily great posts. > YM > > On Sat, Oct 23, 2021 at 7:58 AM 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> >> >> *QUES ANSW DIVINE 27* >> >> >> *Dear friends, * >> >> *These are information posted by members compiled as QA by me in >> 1998’s-2000’s and stored in my computer. At this date I have no information >> of the members posted. * >> >> *Being compilation there may be errors* >> * Posted by R Gopala krishnan,78 ,on 23-10-2021* >> >> *Q1 What is the one common ideal with all religions?* >> >> *A1 All religions have one common ideal, worship of the Lord, and all of >> them proclaim that there is but one God. * >> >> *This one God accepts your devotion irrespective of the manner of your >> worship, whether it is according to this or that religion. * >> >> *So there is no need to abandon the religion of your birth and embrace >> another. * >> >> *The temple, the church, the mosque, the vihara may be different from one >> another. The idol or the symbol in them may not also be the same and the >> rites performed in them may be different. * >> >> *But the Paramatman who wants to grace the worshipper, whatever be his >> faith, is the same.* >> >> *Q2 Do Hinduisam advocate conversion?* >> >> *A2 All religions that practise conversion employ a certain ritual. For >> instance, there is baptism in Christianity. * >> >> *Hinduism has more ritual than any other religion, yet its canonical >> texts do not contain any rite for conversion. * >> >> *No better proof is needed for the fact that we have at no time either >> encouraged conversion or practised it. * >> >> *Q3 How do the rise and fall of any religion occur?* >> >> *A3 When we listen to the story of the Buddha, when we see again and >> again his images that seem to exude the milk of human kindness, compassion >> and tranquility spring in our own hearts and we feel respectful towards >> him. * >> >> *People must have been attracted to him thus during his time. * >> >> *However, in later times, there was a moral decline in the Buddhist >> monastic establishments will be seen from MattaVilasam >> <http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part1/referp1.htm#FALL> written by >> Mahendra Pallava. * >> >> *This work shows how Buddhism came to be on the decline and demonstrates >> that the rise or fall of a religion is dependent on the quality and >> character of its spokesmen.* >> >> *Q4 Do conversion among people take place by accepting the principles of >> that religion?* >> >> *A4 Sorry the answer is a big NO. Christianity extended its influence >> during times of famine. It is also said that Islam was propagated with the >> sword, that masses of people were forced to join it by force of arms. * >> >> *Here again there is proof of the fact that that the common people do not >> adopt a religion for the sake of any principle or out of any interest in >> its philosophical system. There is one matter to consider. The padres >> [Christian missionaries] converted mainly people living in the ceris [that >> is people on the outskirts of a village or town]. Their usual procedure was >> to tell these poor folk that they were kept suppressed in the religion of >> their birth and offer them inducements in the form of free education and >> medical treatment and the promise of a better status.* >> >> *During the time of the Buddha many adherents of the Vedic religion >> embraced his system. In later centuries many Hindus became converts to >> Christianity or Islam. * >> >> *Jainas have become Vaisnavas with the name of "Pustimargins". * >> >> *During the time of Sri Ramanuja a number of people went over to the >> Visistadvaita (qualified non-dualism) fold. * >> >> *Similarly, Sri Madhva's school of Dvaita or dualism also gained many >> adherents.* >> >> *When Adi Sankara held sway, non-Vedic religions like Buddhism and >> Jainism suffered a decline * >> >> *The fact is that the vast majority of the followers of any faith know >> precious little about the beliefs or doctrines on which it is founded.* >> >> *I believe that the growth or expansion of a religion is in no way >> related to its doctrines. * >> >> *The common people do not worry about questions of philosophy . On the >> other hand, a religion will decline and decay if its spokesmen, however >> eloquent they are in expounding its concepts, are found to be guilty of >> lapses in character and conduct* >> >> *Q5 Do Hinduism was a Universal Religion?* >> >> *A5 In the dim past what we call Hinduism today was prevalent all over >> the world. * >> >> >> *Archaeological studies reveal the existence of relics of our Vedic >> religion in many countries. For instance, excavations have brought up the >> text of a treaty between Rameses II and the Hittites dating back to the >> 14th century B. C. * >> >> >> *In this, the Vedic gods Mitra and Varuna are mentioned as witnesses to >> the pact. There is a connection between the name of Ramesses and that of >> our Rama. * >> >> *In Mexico a festival is celebrated at the same time as our Navaratri; it >> is called "Rama-Sita". * >> >> *Wherever the earth is dug up images of Ganapati are discovered here >> <http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part2/referp2.htm#DISCOVERED%20HERE>* >> >> * In Peru, during the time of the holy equinox [vernal? ] worship was >> conducted in the sun temple* >> >> *There is book containing photographs of the aborigines of Australia >> dancing in the nude (The Native Tribes of Central Australia, by Spencer >> Killan, pages 128 & 129). A close look at the pictures, captioned "Siva >> Dance", shows that the dancers have a third eye >> <http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part2/referp2.htm#FOREHEAD> drawn on >> the forehead. * >> >> *Now something occurs to me in this context, something that you may find >> amusing. You know that the Sagaras >> <http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part2/referp2.htm#SAGARAS>went on >> digging the earth down to the nether world in search of their sacrificial >> horse.* >> >> * An ocean came into being in this way and it was called sagara after the >> king Sagara. The Sagaras, at last found the horse near the hermitage of >> Kapila Maharsi.* >> >> *Another idea occurs to me about Sagara and sahara. Geologists believe >> that ages ago the Sahara desert was an ocean. It seems to me that Sahara is >> derived from sagara. * >> >> *Indians went to these lands, destroyed the old native civilizations >> there and imposed Hindu culture in their place. Alternatively, they claim, >> Indians thrust their culture into the native ways of life in such a way >> that it became totally absorbed in them. * >> >> *The fact, however, is that evidence is to be found in many countries of >> their Vedic connection dating back to 4, 000 years or more. That is, with >> the down of civilisation itself, aspects of the Vedic dharama existed in >> these lands. It was only subsequently that the inhabitants of these regions >> came to have a religion of their own. * >> >> *Greece had an ancient religion and had big temples where various deities >> were worshipped. * >> >> *The Hellenic religion had Vedic elements in it. The same was the case >> with the Semitic religions of the pre- Christian era in the region >> associated with Jesus. The aborigines of Mexico had a religion of their >> own. They shared the Vedic view of the divine in the forces of nature and >> worshipped them as deities. There was a good deal of ritual in all such >> religions. * >> >> *Now none of these religions, including that of Greece, survives. The >> Greek civilization had once attained to the heights of glory. Now >> Christianity flourishes in Greece. Buddhism has spread in Central Asia and >> in East Asia up to Japan. * >> >> *According to anthropologists, religions in their original form exist >> only in areas like the forests of Africa. But even these ancient faiths >> contain Vedic elements. * >> >> *You must be familiar with the story of Adam and Eve which belongs to the >> Hebrew tradition. It occurs in the Genesis of the Old Testament and speaks >> of the tree of knowledge and God's commandment that its fruit shall not be >> eaten.* >> >> * Adam at first did not eat it but Eve did. After that Adam too ate the >> forbidden fruit. Here an Upanisadic concept has taken the form of a >> biblical story. But because of the change in the time and place the >> original idea has become distorted-or even obliterated. * >> >> *It is well known that the Budhha attained enlightenment under the bodhi >> tree* >> >> *. But the pipal (pippala) was known as the bodhi tree even before his >> time.* >> >> *Q6 Everybody knows about Puri jagannatha temple. What is the speciality >> of dressing Gods in the temple?* >> >> *A6 Sri Jagannath Krishna, His brother Sri Balabhadra Deva and His sister >> Sri Subhadra are worshipped in Puri in the famous Vishnu temple. * >> >> *Depending on the Vedic Date (Tithi), the deities adorn different Vesha. * >> >> >> *The word 'Vesha' means form and can be loosely translated as outfit or >> costume. * >> >> *The dais on which the three deities are seated is called the Ratnavedi >> Simhasana. Ratna refers to the gems and precious stones as well as 108 >> conches of various auspicious markings which are embedded on the dais.* >> >> * The three deities are dressed in different outfits for different >> occasions starting with the Mangala Arati (the first prayer offered in the >> Brahma Muhurta or early hours at about 4.00 AM). The last prayer is the >> Ratri Pahuda.* >> >> *Reg the Ganapati Vesha or Hati Vesha -On the full moon day of the month >> of Jyestha, after the bathing ceremony is over, the Deities are dressed in >> elephant costumes. Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra are made to look like >> Ganapati (Ganesh, the son of Shiva and Parvati). * >> >> >> *Reg the vamana vesha- On the 12th day of the bright fortnight Bhadra, >> Lord Jagannath is dressed like the dwarf brahmin Vamana, who defeated the >> demon Bali. Vamana Deva is one of the das avatars, the ten incarnations of >> Lord Vishnu. * >> >> *Reg the Ghodalagi Vesha -During the period from the 6th day of the >> bright fortnight of Margasira to the 5th day of the bright fortnight of >> Magha (Basanta Panchami) the Deities wear winter clothes. * >> >> *Q7 What is the importance of kanchi?* >> >> *A7 Kanchi is one of the seven Mokshapuris -sacred cities by living in >> which or by death therein man gets emancipation from birth and death. * >> >> *Five important sacred places of Siva worship in South India are >> collectively called "Panchabhuta- Kshetras". Of these five, Kanchi is the >> Prithvi-kshetra. * >> >> *Q8 Do Kanchi kamakoti petam has established any university?* >> >> *A8 yes. Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham has established a Deemed University >> - Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Viswa Mahavidyalaya at Kancheepuram with >> an International Library. Various disciplines are taught at colleges >> affiliated to the University. * >> >> *Q9 Which are the most important temples in kancheepuram?* >> >> *A9 Kancheepuram is a city of temples: Some of the most important temples >> in Kancheepuram are for Sri Kamakshi Ambal, Sri Ekambaranatha, Sri >> Varadaraja, Sri Kailasanathar, Sri Vaikunta Perumal, Ulakalantha Perumal, >> etc* >> >> ****Sri Adi Sankara, after his various tours through most parts of India, >> settled down at Kanchi to spend His evening years. * >> >> *He caused to remodel the city and reconstruct the three principal >> temples -Sri Kamakshi, Sri Ekamranatha and Sri Varadaraja. At Kanchi he >> established a Math for himself and founded a line of successors after him >> on the Peetha.* >> >> *My note- *** There are different versions on settemnt of Aadi Sankara* >> >> *Q10 Is there any version that Sankaracharya was a partial incarnation?* >> >> *A10 Yes. In the Bhagavad Geeta, Lord Krishna has told Arjuna that, >> whenever there arises danger to Dharma, He (Krishna) will incarnate in this >> world to eradicate adharma and re-establish Dharma. * >> >> *In consonance with His words, the Lord has made partial incarnations >> during the course of the present Kali Age. * >> >> *And such an incarnation is the partial incarnation of Siva as Sankara >> Bhagavatpada, which happened some twenty-five centuries ago, on the prayer >> of celestials to Lord Siva to redeem Bharata-desa from the clutches of >> non-Vedic and heretic sects. * >> >> *Months after Sivaguru and Aryambal had returned to Kaladi, a male child >> was born to Aryambal, on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the >> Vaisaka month of the cyclic year Nandana (509 B.C.).* >> >> *Q11 Everybody knows about kanakadhara sthothram recited by >> sankaracharya. What is the story about it?* >> >> *A11 Having had his upanayanam at the age of five, Sankara was sent to a >> local patasala for studying the Veda. One forenoon, during his rounds for >> collecting biksha (alms), * >> >> *Sankara happened to stop in front of a poor man's house and uttered the >> usual word of request for biksha -"Bhavati bikkshamdehi". * >> >> *The lady of the house came out and saw the lustrous little brahmachari. >> She went in and searched for something for offering to the boy. But there >> was nothing in the house to offer. * >> >> *She picked up a dry amla fruit and dropped it in Sankara's bowl. The boy >> looked at the woman and noticed the lines of poverty and sorrow writ large >> on her face. * >> >> *He began singing the praise of Sri Mahalakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, >> in fine Sanskrit verses. And lo! Mahalakshmi stood above the house. Sankara >> requested the Goddess to provide the means for the livelihood of the >> inmates of that house. * >> >> *The Devi caused a shower of gold amalakas on that house. The eighteen >> verses of Sankara's prayer to Lakshmi go by the name "Kanakadhara Stotram".* >> >> *Q12 Everybody knows the story of Sankaracharya caught by the crocodile >> in the river and affirming Sanyasa from the day got released by the >> crocodile. Question- Being sanyasin why did he performed the last rites of >> his mother?* >> >> *A 12 Aryamba his mother asked Sankara to come home. Sankara told her >> that from that day, the wide world was his home and whoever offered him >> alms was his mother. Aryamba asked him as to who would perform her funeral >> rites if she died in his absence. Sankara consoled his sobbing mother >> saying that he would be by her side whenever she chose to think of him and >> that he would perform the due rites on her death. * >> >> *Q13 What is the story of sage Vyasa blessing Sankaracharya?* >> >> *A13 Taking leave of his preceptor, Sankara left the Narmada bank and in >> course of time reached Kasi, also known as Varanasi, situated on the bank >> of the sacred Ganga, as desired by his preceptor. Sankara's stay at Kasi >> was for about four years.* >> >> *One day, when Sankara was seated at the Manikarnika Ghat in Varanaasi, >> Sage Vyasa came here, disguised as an old Brahmin. * >> >> *He saw a young ascetic sitting amidst numerous disciples and looking >> like Siva with his attendants Vyasa asked the disciples who the boy ascetic >> was. They replied "Oh! Old man! This is Sankara* >> >> *Then Vyasa got near the group of disciples and sat before Sankara. * >> >> *A long and heated debate ensued between the two on the purport of some >> of Vyasa's Brahmasutras. At a particular stage, Sankara learnt from a hint >> of his disciple, Padmapada, that the old man was Sage Vyasa in disguise and >> bowed before him. * >> >> *Immensely satisfied with Sankara's exposition of the Brahmasturas, Vyasa >> blessed Sankara and departed along with Brahma who had gone over there to >> grant an extension of life to Sankara.* >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Thatha_Patty" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/382115201.303333.1634956107565%40mail.yahoo.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/382115201.303333.1634956107565%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > > > -- > *Mar* > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "iyer123" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/CACDCHCKeA%3DXPvReYBT9-M6K56SK6Qs42FZp9xtdqcdBC6sL9UQ%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/CACDCHCKeA%3DXPvReYBT9-M6K56SK6Qs42FZp9xtdqcdBC6sL9UQ%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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