In Indian Vedic literature, love is described in a variety of ways,
including:
- Stages of love
Ancient Indian sages described five stages of love, which they believed
coexisted in a mature heart:
- Kama: Sensory craving or sexual desire
- Shringara: Rapturous intimacy or romance
- Maitri: Generous compassion or motherly love
- Bhakti: Impersonal devotion to a higher ideal
- Atma-Prema: Unconditional self-love
- Relationships
Vedic Rishis and Rishikas believed that relationships are natural and
cannot be escaped. They categorized relationships as sattvic, rajasic, and
tamasic, based on their nature:
- Sattvic: Relationships built with respect and admiration
- Rajasic: Relationships obtained by default or endured for survival
- Tamasic: Relationships made for sensual desires
- Symbols of love
The parrot is a symbol of love and passion because it is the chariot of the
love god, Kamadeva. It is also associated with Lord Krishna and Radha.
- Love as a sacrament
In Hinduism, love is a sacrament that preaches giving up selfishness and
not expecting anything in return.
- Love as a unifying factor
In Hinduism, love is seen as a unifying factor that permeates the universe
and unites all beings.
-----------------------------------
Love is an innate strong feeling between opposite sex in
creation. How it is fairly treated among different people of different
culture is the question before us. Chastity and loyalty embedded in married
life is considered as true love in north Indian literatures in which such
noble qualities were restricted only to women folk ,but not to men
.Dasaratha had many wives. But in ancient Tamil literature a king is
allowed to marry one woman alone.
A Tamil poem says ~ Immai maari marumai aaginum Neeyagiyar en
kanavanai yaanaagiyar Nin nenju naerbavale, which means -Not only in this
birth even in next birth you should be my husband and I should be your
beloved wife. Divorce is nowhere found.
True love according to Sanatan Dharma (the original and
authentic form of modern-day Hinduism) has the following characteristics:
It is unconditional.
It is immeasurable/unquantifiable.
It is strong and all-consuming.
It makes the lover gentle, fearless and strong beyond any limitations.
It can only be for Ishvara or Brahman (God).
Love for material objects however strong cannot be true love. It does not
give us satisfaction or make us strong and fearless. We are in constant
fear of losing the object in question, because everything in the universe
is illusionary and therefore transient and subject to destruction (in the
sense that it will lose its individuality someday and merge back into its
source that is Ishvara or Brahman).
A love for such things no matter how strong can never be true
love, only attachment and obsession. For three reasons:
These objects are all transient and temporary. They are with you for one
moment and can not be with you in the other.
The ‘I’ or ego draws upon these things for maintaining its separation from
Ishvara or Brahman. That is the extent of the strength of maya (the
illusion that is this universe). The moment we lose these things due to
their transient nature, we are consumed with grief for a short period
before we move on to the next person or object or goal. That is the nature
of the ego, as it cannot exist in the void created by the loss of the
object it identifies itself with.
Attachment to temporary objects of the world makes us selfish, jealous,
fearful and suspicious of others around us. We are afraid of losing them
any time. Attachment for such things makes us narrow-minded, apathetic to
the suffering of others as long as we are able to live in peace, and more
than often degrade character.
The quality to love and yearn for its source (Brahman) is the very nature
of the soul. Bhakti-marga of Sanatan Dharma describes Love to be the very
foundation and nature of this universe. And ironically, all this attachment
and obsession is a lower and basal form of true love only.
True love can only be for something that is true and eternal. If
everything in this universe is false and transient, then how can the love
directed towards it be true? It cannot be so. Therefore, the only object
deserving of our love is Ishvara or Brahman, that is the true calling of
the soul. To shed this grip that maya has on us and unite with our true
source is the only purpose of human existence, for what is the use of
having a higher intellect if we wish to lead a life worse than animals?
Let us take examples of what true love has made people capable of
doing:
Hanuman was an ardent devotee of Shri Ram (an incarnation of
Brahman). He was able to defeat mountain sized monsters, leap across entire
oceans and stay fearless and calm even in the face of death and loss. His
nature was very kind, gentle and truthful.
Mirabai who was an ardent devotee of Shri Krishna (another
incarnation of the Brahman) was subjected to so many assassination attempts
both by her own family and others for loving her Ishvara. But she emerged
unscathed and madder in love each time. She had an unshakable faith in Shri
Krishna and lived every breath to take His name and surrender herself to
Him. She had a very gentle disposition, a marvellous character and the
courage to do what is right even if she was rejected by the ignorant
society of her time.
Prahlaad was an ardent devotee of Shri Narayan (Brahman). Despite
being the son of a demon Hiranyakashyapu and having a demonic heritage, he
was extremely pure of heart, mind and soul. He was gentle, calm and
fearless. He was not shaken in his love even when his own father tried to
kill him so many times.
Radha, Rukmini, Satyabhama, Sita, Sudama, Arjuna, Uddhava,
Draupadi, Sugreev, Vibhishana, Prahalada, Dhruva, Narada, Jatayu, Garuda
and many more. There are so many examples of those who have gone beyond
norm and what is considered possible for the sake of their aaradhya or
beloved. That is what true love looks like.
If you love what is the Infinite, the Existence-Consciousness-Bliss
(Satchitananda), then you will be so. He is everywhere, so you will have
compassion for everyone and everything. And He is also beyond all of this,
so you will not be attached to anything. Everything belongs to Him, but He
is not of anything. We do not love others for them, but because the Ishvara
is manifest in them as He is in us.
In ancient India love was seen as an important part of life not
only in myth and fiction, but also in scientific (astronomical, juridico-
political, medical) and religious texts. Astronomy (jyotiśāstra) studied
and indicated the auspicious times for the nuptials, and determined whether
the prospective spouses were reciprocally compatible by interpreting their
birth charts as well as the auspicious or inauspicious marks present on
their bodies. The most ancient treatise on the science of government, the
Arthaśāstra, expounded patrimonial and family law, and prescribed also what
interest a king should put into the high courtesans’ establishments, and
the proportion of the monthly taxes he should then exact from them. Medical
science (Āyurveda, “The science about the [length of the] span of life”),
when dealing with the means and regimens to increase and preserve health,
explained also at what time in the year and how frequently people should
engage in physical activities, including love-making. Like the ancient
Atharvaveda, it offered several medical prescriptions to increase or
recover virility. The authors of the first āyurvedic medical texts thought
that vigorous sexual activity was one of the practices to be taught and
promoted as conducive to a healthy life. Physicians were concerned
primarily with the maintenance and/or restoration of health, and considered
an intense and ideally satisfactory love life as extremely good for people
living in society. According to the medical view, in fact, people had first
to be healthy, and only then they could eventually opt to follow a
religious calling. These works, starting with the Cārakasaμhitā, did not
only sing the praise of the purely physical side of this subject. Their
psychological insight, in fact, made the medical authors write that the
best stimulant or aphrodisiac for a man was an exciting young woman, who
would be happy to encourage his advances and respond to his desire in an
equally enamoured way. A few verses below, one discovers that such a woman
would be in fact the best wife one could wish for, and that her qualities
would go well beyond a mere sexual entente with her man:
She who, with her excellent qualities, captures all the sense
organs of her husband, [so that], when he is without her, he sees the whole
world as empty of women, a depressing thing. (Cārakasaμhitā 2.11b–12a)
she without whom [her] man feels his body as heavy, as if it were deprived
of its sense organs; she looking at whom he is no longer overcome by
suffering, anguish, dejection nor fear. (Cārakasaμhitā 2.12b–13a)
she who, when approached by him, gives him back his self confidence; she at
whose sight he is maddened by joy; she who, though he sees her often,
evokes in him an extreme agitation and excitement, as if he were seeing her
for the first time... (Cārakasaμhitā 2.13b–14a)23
These verses, though proceeding from physical desire, describe much more
than the mere sexual act, and offer a very favourable picture of women as
life companions, like in the marvellous defence of the wife as the best
friend of man in the speech of spurned Śakuntalā at the court of king
Dußyanta in Mahābhārata (1.74).
At the same time, women were considered to be more passionate than men,
starting in the Vedic hymns and continuing in the medieval devotional poems
revolving around the figures of Śiva or K®ßña.24 In these devotional poems,
as in the profane ones of Kāvya, it could seem that the only ‘real’ love
could be the love freely offered of an adulterous woman, or of a young
woman who, refusing the unknown bridegroom proposed by her family, ran
instead towards a gāndharva marriage with the man of her choice. In the
epics, like in kathā (“stories”), there are also different possibilities,
in that many episodes and stories revolve around very happy marriages.
These include that of Sāvitrī in Mahābhārata, as well as that of Rāma and
Sītā in Rāmāyaña (that was happy at least until political considerations
interrupted abruptly the harmony of their mutual love), or the one of the
learned young Brahmin Vararuci and of his extremely intelligent and
resourceful wife Upakośā in Kathāsaritsāgara (Baldissera, “The Alluring
Ladylove”).
The word Bandhu in Vedic Sanskrit stands for Relatives as well as
Friends. The word Bandhanam, which comes from the root word Bandha, means
Bondage.
Sama Veda declares:
अयं बन्धुरयंनेति गणना लघुचेतसाम् |
उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् ॥ vasudeva kudumbakam
‘This person is mine, and this one is not’ is a false perception of
ignorant and selfish individuals. For those who have realized and live in
the abundance of knowledge and wisdom, the entire world is their family.
Relationships are natural. According to Vedic Rishis and Rishikas, we all
are related to one another. Irrespective of whether or not we know each
other, the fact that we all dwell in this one home called Vasundhara or
Earth makes us relatives. Therefore, we cannot escape relationships. We
have to accept people for what they are and try to live in a way that is
least hurtful to others.
Relationships are bondage, indeed. But not all bondages are bad. Those
relationships which can give us peace, and help us pursue our paths with
limited distractions are always welcome.
Relationships are not always by blood or even species. We cannot choose our
blood relatives; our “immediate” family. We are never born into the family
of our choice. But friendships we make with fellow humans, as well as other
beings from other species, are of our selection. That bonding is of
Compassion.
Relationships we build with people out of respect and admiration with a
desire to learn and benefit from their wisdom is what Rishis call Sattvic.
Relationships we get by default, as well as the relationship we endure for
the sake of our survival, is Rajasic. The relationships we make for our
meeting our sensual desires, no matter how long or short, is branded as
Tamasic. Relationships we build with people out of respect and admiration
with a desire to learn and benefit from their wisdom is what Rishis call
Sattvic. Relationships we get by default, as well as the relationship we
endure for the sake of our survival, is Rajasic. The relationships we make
for our meeting our sensual desires, no matter how long or short, is
branded as Tamasic.
Rajasic and Tamasic relationships yield momentary pleasure and perpetual
pain. People living such relationships tend to endure such pains owing to
some irrational logic termed as Mohamaya or delusion through infatuation.
A painful relationship is often endured owing to fears. Fear is a driving
force behind Rajasic and Tamasic relationships. The idea such as “What will
happen if I am to lose this person? Who is going to pay for my sustenance?
Where will I go? Who will feed me?” mostly come from, and lead, to absolute
fear are the foundations of Rajasic and Tamasic relationships.
Fear, the most dominant of human emotions, is the key for people to
manipulate and get manipulated. And if it is a fear, which is holding your
relationship, then you can rest assured that you are alleviating all
possibilities of happiness.
Fear stems from ignorance. It is about losing. But what did you get along
with you, when you got into this world, to lose? And who is that person who
will never fail? Why suffer pain, which is only because of that fear? Why
not liberate yourself and venture out into the world full of possibilities?
Fear is of the ignorant mind. And until the day fear dominates your life –
you are bound to suffer irrespective of your status, achievements or
wealth. And there is no medicine or exercise for anxiety except knowledge
and wisdom.
“Mind is the cause of Liberation as well as Bondage…” says Krishna in
Bhagavad Geetha.
There is always a difference between Knowing, Understanding, and Realizing.
We all know that Life is transient that we came with nothing, and, that,
when we die, we take nothing. Once we understand this truth, we realize
that everything is bound to end someday. So, there is no point in worrying
about the end; however, it will always help if you stay prepared. That
preparation best happens when you realize that everything is bound to pass.
So, if a relationship is hurting you badly and bringing out the worst in
you, it is only wise to let it go.
Krishna of Vyasa’s Mahabharata teaches that it is possible to sustain bliss
even while pursuing Tamasic and Rajasic relationships provided you are
living without expectations. He says it clearly that if you expect; you
will suffer.
By living in the moment, your Happiness isn’t some false promise of the
future. It is an instant reality. You appreciate all that you have and work
for your wants, by working without stress or stain. You accept people for
what they are; you deal with them appropriately, without any baggage of
emotions. You reward or punish people as your conscience deems appropriate.
You live without regrets and remorse. You live in bliss.
K RAJARAM IRS 221124
On Fri, 22 Nov 2024 at 08:25, venkat giri <[email protected]> wrote:
> *Respected sir/s,*
>
> *SUBJECT:** LOVE*
>
> *LOVE **is an intense, deep affection for **another person. Love also
> means to feel this intense affection for someone. Love can also refer to a
> strong like for something or to like something a lot**.* *Love is one of
> the most **BEAUTIFUL **feelings **that we experience as humans. It is a
> variety of different feelings, states and emotions that range from
> interpersonal affection to pleasure.*
>
> *1. **A **STONG * *feeling* *that one has; **when one likes
> somebody/something very much.*
>
> *அன்பு**; **பாசம்**; **காதல்.** A **MOTHER’s **LOVE **for her **CHILDREN*
>
> *2. **a strong feeling of interest in or enjoyment of something.*
>
> *ஒன்றின் மீதான அழுத்தமான பற்றார்வம் அல்லது இன்ப ஈடுபாடு**; **நாட்டம்.*
>
> *A love of adventure/nature/sport*
>
> *3. **To like or enjoy something very much.*
>
> *ஒன்றின் மீது அழுத்தமான விருப்பம் கொள் அல்லது ஒன்றில் மனமார்ந்த இன்பம்
> காண்**; **நுகர்ந்து மகிழ்.*
>
> *I love the summer! RAIN !WINTER!*
>
> *Love is an incredibly subjective thing**, and within love itself there
> are a **whole bunch of different kinds of love. **There’s non-romantic
> platonic love between friends, love between family members, plus intense
> unconditional love**. But, most often, when people talk about love **they
> mean romantic love with a partner.*
>
> · *Love is a language that can be difficult to master*
>
> · *Love is a feeling that can be felt but not seen, like the *
> *WIND**.*
>
> · *Love is the discovery of **ourselves **in others, and the **DELIGHT
> **in the recognition**. *
>
> · *Love is a **MIRACLE**: Where there is great love, there are
> always miracles. *
>
> · *Love is a choice: Love is a choice to love more, even when it's
> difficult. *
>
> · *Love is a part of you: What we love deeply becomes a part of
> us. *
>
> · *Love is a journey: **True love stories never have endings. *
>
> *Regards*
>
> *V.Sridharan*
>
> *Trichy*
>
>
> On Friday 22 November, 2024 at 04:42:46 am IST, Jambunathan Iyer <
> [email protected]> wrote:
>
>
> *Love is indeed the most beautiful feeling in this world, but that’s not
> it. Love is also about compromise, endless arguments, sacrifice and letting
> go. We are taught ever since we are kids that being in love is perfect, but
> well, it’s not and that’s how it should be. It’s a rollercoaster of
> emotions, both happy and sad.*
>
> N Jambunathan Rengarajapuram-Kodambakkam-Chennai-Mob:9176159004
>
> *" What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you
> become by achieving your goals. If you want to live a happy life, tie it to
> a goal, not to people or things "*
>
>
--
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 visit
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZorQq_M-YTPKm93jz6WocxBwesDzyk1eSLs8J4PZe16r-A%40mail.gmail.com.
