QUES ANSW DIVINE 55
Dear friends,
These are information posted by members compiled as QA by me in1998’s-2004’s
and stored in my computer. At this date I have no information ofthe members
posted.
BEING COMPILATION THERE MAY BE ERRORS.
Sincerely,
R. Gopalakrishnan, 78, Former AGM Telecom Trivandrum dated 23-11-2021
Q1 Everybody knows that we wait for crow to take the pinda duringANNUAL
ceremony. Why we wait so?
A1 A departed soul can easily get back to us not necessarily in a human form,
A crow is the next mostaccessible form towards a human family..The pindam that
we keep {ideallyeveryday} is not for the crow but for the “potential” pithru.It
could be any ofyour forefathers including your fatherwho can bless,save and
can curse.I am a rationalist and a scientist.Yet factsare facts.You can
question superstitions but not science.]
Q2What is the live and die story?
A2 While on tour, a sage accompanied by hisdisciple, saw a prince sporting with
women in a tank. "Let him live long" , blessedthe sage.
Next they witnessed the son of a Rishi performingrigid austerities. "Lethim
die," was the sage's benediction.
The disciple was all the while wondering whetherhe had made a mistake in
choosing a wrong Guru.
Next the teacher said, "let him live and die," when hesaw a man performing the
worship of an idol underneath a tree.
Tothe baffled disciple, the Guru explained that the prince had committed sins
and so will have to go through manybirths for his act. In the case of the
second, the young man was near God andtherefore would reach His feet after
death. The third was doing both, good andbad acts, as worship would fetch him
rewards but he was wrong in choosing apublic place.
Q3Everybody has heard about Vishnu’s vehicle Garuda. What is its difference
fromeagle/kite?
A3 Garuda with the head and wings of eagle andsometimes with the rest of his
body like that of a man is called theking of birds and he is also the carrier
of god Vishnu.
Q4Every body has heard about Omens. Why garuda darsanam is said to be good
omen.How he has became Vishnu’s vehicle?
A4Vinita, the wife of Kashyap,the progenitor of gods and men, laid an egg and
became the mother of thisbird-god. Garuda is alsoknown by another name of
Vinayak, which name he shares with god Ganesh.Thus this god-bird is thought to
be the remover or destroyer of obstacles.
Garuda with his great strengthsurmounted many dangers. At last one day Garuda
seized the moon and concealedit under his wings. This worried all the gods in
heaven and under theleadership of lndra the gods attacked Garuda.
He overcame all gods but couldnot conquer Vishnu.
However, when Garuda relented god Vishnu made the bird immortal andpermitted
him the honor of being Vishnu's carrier.
Q5Everybody knows temples like Rameswaraam, Kalahasthi etc have very big nandi
inthe front. Question- Where we have a temple for Nandi?
A5There are some temples in Indiawhich are exclusively built for Nandi like the
famous Nandiswara temple(Bull temple) in Bangalore,Karnataka Nandi is well
versed in all scriptural knowledge.
Q6Every body know about Dakshinamoorthy in Siva temples. Who is Chandikeswara?
A6 Chandesvara is a ferocious god, holdingweapons of war and ready to do
battle for a divine cause. His images aregenerally found in a corner in all the
Siva temples.
Q7 Every Brahmin knowabout the annual ceremony and Tharpanam done to Pithrus
once in a month .Question- Why the periodicity fixed so?What is the importance
of the exactdate?
A7 One year for us is equal to one day for the Devas, why you may ask.
Theyreside in the North, literally the North pole where it is bright for 6
monthsand dark for the next 6. It is called day time if it is bright and night
timeif it is dark.
We get up, supposedly, justbefore Sunrise, and similarly do the Devas When we
do sradham once in a yearthey get the full feed once in a day!
Til tarpanam is just getting a refreshment of coffee as we take. Theimportance
of fixed date for Sradah- if we give later they will be more hungry and if we
give earlier theywill be very less hungry
Q8 Every body know aboutSadgurus and Gurus. What is the specially with Sadguru?
Why a Guru is required?
A8 ASadguru is endowed with countless Siddhis (psychic powers). He possesses
all divine Aisvarya(powers), all the wealth of the Lord.
Sadgurus generallydo not exhibit any miracle or Siddhi.Sometimes,however, they
may do so in order to convince the aspirants of the existence ofsuperphysical
things, give them encourage-ment, and instill faith in theirhearts.
Man can learn only fromman, and hence God teaches through a human body To light
a candle,you need a burning candle. Even an illumined soul alonecan enlighten
another soul.
If you are not able to find out even this second-class type of Guru,you can
follow the teachings contained in the books written by realised saintslike Sri
Sankara, Dattatreya, and others.
You can keep a photo of such a realised Guru, if available, and worshipthe same
with faith and devotion.
Thescriptures are like a forest. There are ambiguous passages. There
arepassages which are apparently contradictory. There are passages which
haveesoteric meanings, diverse significance, and hidden explanations. Thereare
cross-references. Youare in need of a Guru or Preceptor who will explain to you
the right meaning,who will remove doubts and ambig-uities, who will place
before you the essenceof the teachings.
Q9 Everybody knows aboutSadgurus and Gurus Can you give examples of famous
Gurus and Sishyas likeSishya Brighu- His Guru Varuna etc?
A9 Svetaketu learnt the nature of Truth from Uddalaka, Maitreyi
fromYajnavalkya, Bhrigu from Varuna, Narada from Sanatkumara, Nachiketas from
Yama,Indra from Prajapati; and several others humbly went to wise ones,observed
strict Brahmacharya, practised rigorous discipline, and learntBrahma-vidya (the
science of God) from them.
Lord Krishna sat at the feet of His Guru Sandeepani. Lord Rama had
GuruVasishtha who gave Him Upadesha (spiritual advice). Lord Jesus sought John
tobe baptised by him on the banks of the river Jordan.
Even Devas (celestial beings)have Brihaspati as their Guru. Eventhe greatest
among the divine beings sat at the feet of Guru Dakshinamurti.
Tukaram received his Mantra, Rama Krishna Hari, in hisdream. He repeated this
Mantra and had Darshan (vision) of Lord Krishna.
Vilvamangal was very muchattracted to Chintamani, the dancing woman. The
latter became his Guru. Tulasidas received instructionsfrom an invisible being
to see Hanuman and, through Hanuman, to getDarshan of Sri Rama.
Q10 Every body know aboutSadgurus and Gurus What about Siksha guru and Diksha
Guru?
A10 The Guru whoteaches him the knowledge of worldly arts is the Siksha Guru.
The Guru who shows him the path of Realisation is theDiksha Guru.
Siksha Gurus can be many-as many as the things he wishes to learn. TheDiksha
Guru can be only one-the one who leads him to Moksha.
Q11 Every body know aboutSadgurus and Gurus Question- whether we can change
Gurus?
A11 NO NO NO. Do not dig here and there shallow pits for gettingwater. The pits
will dry up soon. Dig a very deep pit in one place. Centralise all your efforts
here. You will getgood water that can supply you throughout the year. Drink
deep from oneman. Sit at his feet for some years. There is no use of wandering
from one manto another man, out of curiosity, losing faith in a short time. Do
not have theever-changing mind of a prostitute. Follow the spiritual
instructions of oneman only. If you go to several people and follow the
instructions of manypersons, you will be bewildered. You will be in a dilemma.
From a doctor, you get aprescription. From two doctors, you get consultation.
From three doctors, youget your own cremation!!!
Q12 Everybody knows about Sankarcharya andRamakrishna Paramahamsa. Question-
Nametheir Guru and important deciple.
A12 Govindacharya imparted knowledge to his disciple
Sankaracharya;Sankaracharya to his disciple Suresvaracharya.
Similarly Totapuri imparted knowledge to Sri Ramakrishna, andRamakrishna to
Swami Vivekananda.
Q13 Everybody knows inearlier years cow dung was much used in house
construction? Even now it iswidely used for funeral fire. Why it was so?
A13 Cow dung ash mixed with mud strengthens mud houses, and housescoated with
cow dung are insulated from extremes of heat and cold and protectedfrom
diseases like cholera and plague, insects and reptiles, wild elephants andeven,
so they say, nuclear radiation.
Q14 Everybody knows abourBramarshi Valmiki got his name so since he has
emergeged from ChithalPuttu(Valmikam) after Srirama meditation. What was his
orginal name? Was hereally a hunter by birth? Was he a married man?
A14 Rishi Valmiki (who composedRamayana) was a Dacoit by professionValmiki
was not the name that his parents chose for the poet. His real name
wasRatnakara. The word ‘Valmika’ in Sanskrit means an ant-hill. Since hecame
out of an ant-hill, he got the name of Valmiki .
Now, that is a wonderful and delightful story. Valmiki by birth wasactually a
son born to a great sage Prachetasa.
One fine day while Ratnakara was playing around his fathers hermitagenear the
Ganges he lost himself in the forest & his parents assumed that Ratnakara
hadbecome prey to some beasts but then a hunter and his wife foundRatnakara
crying and hence adopted this young baby as their son
There after Vamiki forgot his parents took the profession of the hunter& he
became an avataraof YAMA to the beasts and animals of the forest
His foster father searched for a bride and celebrated his marriage with a
beautifulgirl from a hunters family. In a few years she gave birth to some
children.Thus Ratnakara’s family grew in size. It became very difficult for him
to provide food andclothing to his large family. So he took to robbery.
He began to attack people goingfrom one village to another, frighten them and
took away all that they had. Ifthey opposed him, he killed them.
It happened that the great sage Narada was passing that way. Narada had
hisfavorite musical instrument, a Veena, in his hands. As he played on the
Veena,he was singing a song in praise of God. When he was thus lost in joy,
suddenlyRatnakara rushed at him. He lifted the stout staff in his hands and
shouted,“Look here! Hand over all you have or else I’ll break your head.”
He was not frightened by the loud shouts of Ratnakara. He smilingly,“My dear
man, all that I have only this old Veena and the rags I we; If youwant them,
you can certainly take them. Why should you breakmy head for these?”
Ratnakara was astonished atthese words. He looked up at Narada’s face. He was
surprised to see a facetender and innocent like that of a child. He had never
seen such a lovely face.As he gazed,his cruel mind melted into tenderness.
Ratnakara was deeply moved.Noticing the change, the sage Narada paused in his
song and said, “Brother, stealing isa sin. Killing animals is also sinful. Why
do you do such evil?”
Hunting and stealing are all I know. What else can I do?” The sagesmiled and
said, “My friend, will anymember of your family partake of your sin also ? Go
and ask them, and bring backtheir reply.”
Ratnakara thought that was all right. He tied Narada to a tree and wenthome. He
asked his Father, I rob people to get food and clothing for you all.It seems
that is a sin. Do you not share in that sin?”
His father was angry and said, “You sinner, you should not do such bad things.
AmI to share your sins? No, never. You have to suffer for what you do.”
, “Surely, mother, you will share my sin, won’t you?” But she alsoscolded him
and sent him away. He then went to his wife and said, “Do you knowhow I earn to
provide you and your children with food and clothing? It is byrobbery. But I
steal for your sake. Therefore you are also partners in my sin.Isn’t that so?”
‘What are you saying? What have we to do with your sin? You are myhusband, and
my children are your children. It is your duty to look after us and give us
foodand clothing.”
He realized that healone was responsible for all his sins no one else would
share his sin. As soon as it was clear to him, he ran toNarada“Oh, sire now
what of me? How can I atone for all the sins I havecommitted? You are my only
savior.” So he taught Ratnakara the sacred name ofRama - ‘Rama Nam’. He made
him sit beneath a tree and asked him to go onrepeating the sacred name of Rama.
Hesaid, I shall come here again, Till then you should not get up and go
away.”Then the sage departed.
He had neither food nor sleep for days and days. And in this way quitea few
years passed. An ant hill grew all around and above him. He could noteven be
seen by anybody. Narada chanted the name of Rama in his ears Naradahelped him
to get up. He also gently touched him all over.
Ratnakara felt new life flowing through him. He touched the sage’sfeet; You are
now asage of the highest order, a Brahmarshi. As you are now reborn from a
Valmika(the ant-hill), will here after be famous as Valmiki.”
The sage, Valmiki, now formed his ashrama or hermitage near the riverGanga
Q15Do Everyone has a reservoir of power which remains untapped ?
A15 Yes. Everyonehas a reservoir of power which remains untapped. he is like a
beggar who has been spending his life inside a shanty,all the time not being
aware of the rich treasure that lies underneath the veryplace where he has been
sitting Man should remember Lord Krishna's comparisonof the bodies to garments
which can be changed whereas the soul remainsimperishable.
"There is no difference between man and manin the midst of the Divine, but all
the distinctions as high and low are due to His will; Judge whorefuses to
penalise a murderer on the plea of kindness will indeed be doing adisservice to
society.
He may however take into consideration hisrepentance and reduce thequantum of
sentence for the crime. Likewise, God being always fair mayalter the nature of
punishment to the extent possible.
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