Harivarasanam

Some Scrap




Staying between familier faces
But still feeling like a stranger

Standing facing all the truths
But still hiding all the truths

Standing between all the joys in the world
Still feeling some sorrows down in my heart


The name is life
Still acting my role......

Vande Mataram

Sept 7, We are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Song, VandeMataram. The one which greatly inspired our heros who fought for our independance.

Sept 7, we are celebrating it. There is nothing religious in this song, but full of praise to our Motherland. So its the duty of every citizen, every country lover to celebrete the day.

Its a great song comparing Jana Gana Mana, as the latter was in the praise of King George V and his queen. We can clearly understand that when we look the meaning of that lines, that it was not a praise of our motherland but some other person.

I am taking this opportunity, to be a part of the celebration as i could.

Mera Bharath Mahan...

Here is the song............

"Vande maataraM
sujalaaM suphalaaM malayaja shiitalaaM
SasyashyaamalaaM maataram ||


Shubhrajyotsnaa pulakitayaaminiiM
pullakusumita drumadala shobhiniiM
suhaasiniiM sumadhura bhaashhiNiiM
sukhadaaM varadaaM maataraM ||


Koti koti kantha kalakalaninaada karaale
koti koti bhujai.rdhR^itakharakaravaale
abalaa keno maa eto bale
bahubaladhaariNiiM namaami taariNiiM
ripudalavaariNiiM maataraM ||


Tumi vidyaa tumi dharma
tumi hR^idi tumi marma
tvaM hi praaNaaH shariire

Baahute tumi maa shakti
hR^idaye tumi maa bhakti
tomaara i pratimaa gaDi
mandire mandire ||

TvaM hi durgaa dashapraharaNadhaariNii
kamalaa kamaladala vihaariNii
vaaNii vidyaadaayinii namaami tvaaM

Namaami kamalaaM amalaaM atulaaM
SujalaaM suphalaaM maataraM ||


ShyaamalaaM saralaaM susmitaaM bhuushhitaaM
DharaNiiM bharaNiiM maataraM |"

Translation by Shree Aurobindo

Mother, I bow to thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.

Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.

Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Though who savest, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foeman drove
Back from plain and Sea
And shook herself free.

Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Though art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nervs the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.

Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-toned,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleems,
Dark of hue O candid-fair

In thy soul, with jewelled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Lovilest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I bow to thee,
Mother great and free!

Surya Namaskaram

This technique found by the rishis of ArshBharatham, to refresh one's mind to tone one's body. Its a mix of various yoga techniques. It was found very effective by the westerners now a days and they are practising it daily.

The place where it originate gets less importance, but now a days MNC' s use them, for their employees........

I wish more people need to know about it and that why I took the pain to publish it........

Surya Namaskar

Surya Namaskar is a combination of few Yogasana postures. This is a well balanced set of movements that will stretch all the muscles in the body and keep the body and mind healthy. There are 13 mantras which are different names of Sun God. We should chant a mantra before each Surya Namaskar.

Om Mitraaya Namah
Om Ravaye Namah
Om Suryaaya Namah
Om Bhaanave Namah
Om Khagaaya Namah
Om Puushne Namah
Om Hiranyagarbhaaya Namah
Om Mareechaye Namah
Om Aadityaaya Namah
Om Savitre Namah
Om Arkaaya Namah
Om Bhaaskaraaya Namah
Om Shree Savitru Suurya Naaraayanaaya Namah


Surya Namaskar Sthiti (Starting Posture):

Following is a brief description of 10 steps in Surya Namaskar.

From Aarama, come to Soorya Namaskar-Sthiti (starting posture) in 3 counts: Ek-Do-Teen. These are the actions to be performed in three counts.

Ek: Join the heels, hands on the side, fingers facing down and palm open.

Do: Join the toes.

Teen: Join your hands to form Namaste position. Palms should be pressing against each other and the thumb joint should be at sternum (Solar Plexes).

In this posture, breathing is normal and slow. Face should be normal and relaxed.





Ek: As you breathe in... Slowly raise your hands with biceps touching the ears and hands in namaste posture. Slowly bend backwards from your waist. Do not bend the knees. Look towards your palm.









Do: While breathing out... Slowly bend forward from the waist. Try to touch your palm to the floor on either side of your legs. Do not bend the knees. Nose should touch the knees. People with back problems should not bend too much. Bend only as much it is comfortable.









Teen: As you breathe in... [Note: The description is for odd numbered namaskars (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) For even numbered ones (2nd, 4th,..) interchange left and right leg]. Take your left foot back. Left knee should touch the floor. Two palms should be completely on the ground and the right foot should be in between the two hands. Fingers should be pointing to the front. Lean forward on the right knee, so that calf and thigh muscles press against each other chest rests on the thigh. Look up and make a concave on your back.





Chaar: While breathing out... Take right foot back and join with left foot. Arms should be straight. Most of the weight will be on the arms. The body should be in one plane like a slide. Look 5 feet in front of you on the floor.



Paanch: Bend your arms and touch your feet, knees, chest and forehead to the ground. Do not touch abdomen or nose (you don't want to breathe in the dust!)




Che: As you breathe in... Come forward and bend back as much as you can. Abdomen should come between your hands. Look back from the top. Two legs should be joined.



Saat: While breathing out... Form a mountain like posture. Push your chin towards the chest. Heels should touch the floor.





Aat: As you breathe in..[Note: The description is for odd numbered namaskars (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.)




For even numbered ones (2nd, 4th,..) replace left leg with right leg] bring your left foot forward all the way between the hands. Exactly like teen.





Nau: While breathing out...Bring the right foot forward and stand up as in Do.







Das: Back to Surya Namaskar Sthiti.









At the end of all the Soorya Namaskars, give the command "Aarama" Ek-Do-Teen.

Ek: Drop the hands on your sides. Palm facing down.

Do: Spread the toes and form V-Shape with the feet.

Teen: Aarama position

This is only a half of one round Surya Namaskar - Ref: step No.3 (Teen) if u put ur left leg forward the same leg should be brought back in step no 8 (Aat) and in the next half the round, the opposite leg should be used. Eg. If left leg is used in the first half of the round, the right leg should be used in the next half of the round...

Only after that one round of Suryanamaskaram is over.

Begginers can do 3 - 5 of such rounds and experts upto 12 rounds.....

This is just a basic knowledge ot this, the correct way is to study under a Yoga Guru

GAYATHRI MANTHRA

Om ! Bhoor Bhuva Suvah: Thath Savithur Vare'nyam |
Bhargo Dhevasya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yo Nah: Prachodhayath ||

AUM, O' triple wonder of creation, continuance, and dispersion
Splendor of the three inter-linked worlds here, and around, and beyond!


O' adorable immaculate One, May You, that Supreme Divine being,
Stimulate our intelligence for our self-awakening,
So that we may realize the Supreme Truth . . .. ||

The accepted meaning of Gayatri Mantra is as follows:

OM: - Pranava - The word that is God
BHUR: - God who is eternal
BHUVAHA: - God who is the creator
SVAHA: - God who is Independent
OM TAT: - That eternal God
SAVITHUR: - That creative principle of light
VARENYAM: - That Supreme God
BHARGO: - That light that bestows wisdom, bliss and everlasting life
DHEVASYA: - The light of that  God
DHEEMAHI: - we mediate
DHIYO: - May our intellect
YO NAHA: - Be directed by that lord
PRACHODAYAT: - Towards Illumination

OM, thou my supreme lord, my innermost Self, may thou open my mind and
make it receptive to comprehend the deep meaning of thy word OM and
enable me to purify my mind so as to unlock the door to wisdom! May my
consciousness be free to experience that pure and immaculate awareness,
and be able to abide in that absolute Self. May all my propensities be
erased to make me ready for the holy immersion into the supreme
taintless immutable Self.

Sethu Samudram

In Ramayanam, there is a mentioning about a bridge, which was built between Rameshwaram (India) and Srilankan coast under the supervision of Rama.

The pics from NASA reveals that . it is still existing there…….

The Indian Archeologists rediscovered Dwaraka, which was lost in the sea after the time of Krishna…

These are great findings and no agency, no newspapers, media, government are not interested in knowing more about it. They even don’t want to publicise it.

Instead of protecting it, A new project is under operation “ sethu samudram canal project”, to shorten the distance of sea route. This project would clearly damaged that historical structure.The Bridge of Rama, which is knon as Adam's bridge now.

The structure which was built by Sree Rama is going to destroyed, and that too happens in a country where 80% of population is Hindus……Really Pathetic.

Can you ever imagine in a any other nation, any thing like this happening to the majority class????????????

In India, Is really Hindus are getting equal status???? I don’t think so..

What the sad part is that, most of the hindus, even didn’t know about these facts……For those who know these, will make their mouth shut, in fear of defacing their Secular façade, if they speak about Bharatiya Heritage…

And those people who speak against it are very less, so that their voice couldn’t make an impact on the society.

And whenever someone talks about it, these so called “secular” people will cry and started establishing that, he is a fundamentalist, a fanatist……

And many many thanks for Hon. President of India, Mr. APJ Abdul Kalam, for understanding the feeling of ours and asked to reconsider the project in a way not by destroying the bridge

Can you point out in any country where the majority religion standing helplessly to protect their existence, their monuments……….But It Happends only in India.

Hinduism, is a way of life, the mother of all cultures, all religions…..All old cultures got extinct, while the Bharateeya culture, which is there for centuries, is still prevailing only due to its greatness.

I am proud to be a part of that rich culture, and I would do what ever I can to protect it.

My religion is not the one which says “Only those people which believes in their God, who sacrifies his life for the sins of others, will go to heaven, and rest all others will straightly go to HELL

My religion is neither that one which says, “ there is no other god, but only their one, and those who believes in him should have the right to live and the rest all the people should perish.

But, my religion is the one which says “ LOKA SAMASTA SUKHINO BHAVANTHU” – All the living beings in the world should be fine. My religion is the one which accept the whole world, as one family – VASUDAIVA KUDUMBAKAM……

Yatho Dharma sthatho jaya

I am writing this with all due respect to the good people in other religions, if any of my comment hurt any one's feelings, its my duty to extent my apology to them.

Hindu Scrips

The Soul:
" It is never born, nor does it die: after coming to be, it does not cease to be; it is without birth, eternal, imperishable and timeless; it is not destroyed with the destruction of the body."
- Lord Krishna from the Bhagavad Gita.

"The universe is the outpouring of the majesty of God, the auspicious one, radiant love. Every face you see belongs to Him. He is present in everyone without exception." - Yajur Veda.

God:
"He is the One, the One alone. In Him all deities become one."
- declares the Artha Veda.

Incarnation:
"Whenever there is decline of righteousness and predominance of unrighteousness, I embody Myself. For the protection of the good and for the destruction of evil-doers and for the re-establishment of dharma (righteousness) I am born from age to age."
- Lord Krishna from the Bhagvad-Gita.

Liberation:
O Lord, liberate our souls
From the shadows of birth and death,
Not from our aspirations
of existence i.e. immortality.
— Yajurveda, 3.60

One reality:
" Tat twam asi" meaning "That thou art."
- from the Upanishads.

"After a cycle of universal dissolution, the Supreme Being decides to recreate the cosmos so that we souls can experience worlds of shape and solidity. Very subtle atoms begin to combine, eventually generating a cosmic wind that blows heavier and heavier atoms together. Souls depending on their karma earned in previous world systems, spontaneously draw to themselves atoms that coalesce into an appropriate body." - The Prashasta Pada.

Sin:
"Even if thou art the worst of sinners, thou shalt cross the ocean of sin by the bark of wisdom."
- Lord Krishna from Bhagvad Gita.

Creation:
"None knoweth whence creation has arisen, and whether He has or has not produced it. He who surveys it in the highest heavens, he only knows, or perhaps he knows not."
- from the Hymn of Creation, Rig Veda.

Sun

"You shine, all living things emerge. You disappear, they go to rest. Recognizing our innocence, O golden-haired Sun, arise; let each day be better than the last." Rig Veda (X, 37, 9)

Humanity

"To you, I declare this holy mystery,
there is nothing nobler than humanity"

Guhyam brahma tad idam vo bravini
Na manusat sresthataram hi kincit.

- Mahabharat XII, 300-20)

Life:
"Life is a bridge, enjoy while crossing but don't build a castle on it."
- Upanishads.

"Do good deeds with a sense of urgency, Before death's approaching rattle strangles the tongue.

What wondrous greatness this world possesses that yesterday a man was, and today he is not."
— From the Tirukural, 335-36

Happiness:
"In the finite there is no happiness. The Infinite alone is happiness."
- Upanishads

"That Light which is
residing in the Sun and
which illumines the whole world, and that which is in the moon and in the
fire - know that
Light to be Mine.
- Lord Krishna in Gita 12

River Sindhu

"Sindhu in might surpasses all the streams that flow.... His roar is lifted up to heaven above the earth; he puts forth endless vigour with a flash of light .... Even as cows with milk rush to their calves, so other rivers roar into the Sindhu. As a warrior- king leads other warriors, so does Sindhu lead other rivers.... Rich in good steeds is Sindhu, rich in gold, nobly fashioned, rich in ample wealth.''
- Rig Veda

River Ganges:
" The Ganges fell from Heaven and her fall was softened by the long locks of Lord Shiva."

Seeking God:
Who sees me in all things, and all things in me, he is never far from me, and I am never far from him."
Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita

The City of Benares:
Are there not many holy places on this earth?
Yet which of them would equal in the balance one speck of Kashi's dust?
Are there not many rivers running to the sea?
Yet whcih of them is like the River of Heaven in Kashi?
Are there not many fields of liberation on earth?
Yet not one equals the smallest part of the city never forsaken by Shiva
The Ganges, Shiva, and Kashi: Where this Trinity is watchful, no wonder here is found the grace tha leads one on to perfect blisss.
- Kashi Khanda

DA-DA-DA: datta, dayadhvam, damyata
Be Self Controlled!
Give!
Be Compassionate!
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (Chapter 5)

Faith and Belief

A man of faith, absorbed in faith, his senses controlled, attains knowledge, and, knowledge attained, quickly finds supreme peace. But the ignorant man, who is without faith, goes doubting to destruction. For the doubting self there is neither this world, nor the next, nor joy.
- Bhagavad Gita 4.39-40

"If men thought of God as much as they think of the world, who would not attain liberation (moksha)."
- Maitri Upanishad 6.24

Yugas:

One who lies down is Kali
One who awakes is Dvãpara
One who stands up becomes Tretã
And one who moves on realises the Satya Yuga.
Therefore move on!
- Aitareya Brãhmana

divine:

By divine, we mean the following --
Absolute (Eternal) Existence
Absolute Knowledge
Absolute Bliss
Absolute Freedom

Message from the Gita:

Whenever there is a decline in
Dharma,
And a rise in Adharma,
I incarnate Myself,
For the protection of the good,
For the destruction of the wicked.
For the establishment of Dharma,
I come into Being from age to age.
- Bhagavad Gita IV, 8

Karma:

It is karma that brings joy or sorrow
Willing or unwilling, we live by our karma.
Observe the potter shaping his pots:
Some break on the wheel,
Some crack after removal from the wheel,
Some spoil when wet, some when dry,
Some burst while being fired
Some after removal from the kiln,
Some shatter in use...
So some of us die in the womb
Some immediately after birth,
Some a fortnight later, some a month,
Some in youth, some in middle age, some in old.
Their karma determines it all.
This is the way of the world is -
So what is the point of grieving?
Swimmers dive,
then emerge from the water;
So creatures sink into
and emerge from the stream of life.

-The Mahabharata of Vyasa (The Eleventh book: The Women)

Gayatri Mantra:

OM BHOOR BHUVAHA SWAHA TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAAT

"O God, Thou art the giver of life, the remover of pain and sorrow, the bestower of happiness; O Creator of the Universe, may we receive thy supreme, sin-destroying light; may Thou guide our intellect in the right direction." Gayatri Mantra is an adoration of the effulgence of the Sun

Moksha:

"Those who meditate on Me and Worship Me without any attachment to anything else, As Lord Krishna said in the Gita: " those I soon lift from the ocean of death".

Creation:

"Creation is only the projection into form of that which already exists... The atoms of the universe may be counted, but not so my manifestations; for eternally I create innumerable worlds." Srimad Bhagavatam, III.2, XI.10

" There is no existence for the unreal and the real can never be non-existent. The Seers of Truth know the nature and final ends of both. Know That to be indestructible by which all this is pervaded. No one is ever able to destroy that Immutable. These bodies are perishable; but the dwellers in these bodies are eternal, indestructible and impenetrable. Therefore fight, O descendant of Bharata.

He who considers this Self as a slayer or he who thinks that this Self is slain, neither of these knows the Truth. For It does not slay, nor is It slain. This Self is not born, nor does It die, nor after once having seen, does It go into non-being. This Self is unborn, eternal, changeless, ancient. It is never destroyed even when the body is destroyed. - From the Bhagavad Gita II.16-20

As milk is spontaneously changed into curd and water into ice, so Brahma modifies Itself in diverse ways, without the aid of instruments or external means of any kind whatever. Thus the spider spins its web out of its own substance, subtle beings take diverse forms, and the lotus grows from marsh to marsh without organs of locomotion. - From the Brahma Sutra II.1

The yon is fullness, this.
From fullness, fullness doth proceed.
Withdrawing fullness's fullness off,
E'en fullness then itself remains. - Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

God's definition:

" God sleeps in the rocks, proclaims the Hindu scriptures, "dreams in the plants, stirs toward wakefulness in the animals, and in mankind is awake to his own ego individuality."

Lord Ganesha

"Vakrathunda Mahakaya Suryakodi Samaprabha Nirvignam Kurumae deva, Sarvakaryeshu Sarvada"

Oh! Lord (Ganesha), of huge form and curved elephant trunk, whose brilliance is equal to billions of suns, always remove all obstacles from my endeavors.

Respect for Mother Earth:

"O Goddess Earth, the consort of Visnu,
you whose garments are the oceans and
whose ornaments are the hills and mountain ranges;
please forgive me as I walk on you this day."

****
" One who has attained mastery over his mind is indeed a greater conquerer
than one who has vanquished a thousand enemies."
- Gautama Buddha

Nourishing Steps:

May God come and reside in our hearts;
May our body be the temple of God.
May He feed freely upon the harvest of our actions as the cows graze in the pasture.
May we reap the harvest of our life and dedicate all at His feet,
May we ever remain His true servants.
- Rig Veda 1.91.13

Four Yugas:

" One who lies down is Kali
One who awakes is Dvãpara
One who stands up becomes Tretã
And one who moves on realises the Satya Yuga.
Therefore move on!"
- Aitareya Brãhmana

Shanti Mantrams:

Swasti prajabya paripalayantam nyayena margena mahim mahisha goh brahmananasya subham bhavatu loka samasta sukhino bhavantu. sarve jana sukhino bhavantu.. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti."

" O God - Give the ruler of the Land Good Ideas and make him follow the path of truth. Let the pious animal - cow and pious human - brahmin (Cow is not selfish and a true brahmin is not selfish) live happily.. let all the living organisms in all lokas have a peaceful life. "

Brahma

If the red slayer thinks he slays,
Or if the slain thinks he is slain,
They know not well the subtle ways
I keep, and pass, and turn again.

Far or forgot to me is near
Shadow and sunlight are the same
The vanished gods to me appear;
And one to me are shame and fame.

They reckon ill who leave me out;
When me they fly I am the wings;
I am the doubter and the doubt,
And I the hymn the Brahman sings.

Lord Krishna describes himself:

I am the conscience in the heart of all creatures
I am their beginning, their being, their end;
I am the mind of the senses,
I am the radiant sun among lights;
I am the song in sacred lore;
I am the king of deities;
I am the priest of great seers;
Of words, I am the eternal OM,
the prayer of sacrifices
I am the measure of what endures
I am the chief of divine sages,
leader of celestial musicians.
I am the recluse philosopher among saints.
I am the thunderbolt among weapons
among cattle, the Kamadhenu
I am the procreative god of love
I am the endless cosmic serpent,
the lord of all sea creatures;
I am the chief of the ancestral fathers.
I am gracious Siva among howling storms.
Of restraints, I am death,
Of measures, I am time.
I am the purifying wind.
I am the cleansing Ganga
Of sciences, I am the science of the self;
I am the dispute of orators.
I am victory and resolve,
the lucidity of lucid men.
I am the brilliance of fiery heroes.
I am the morality of ambitious men;
I am the silence of the mystery
I am the seed of all creatures
I am the death destroyer of all.

-- Shrimad Bhagavad Gita

Sacred River:

O Mother Ganga, may your water,
abundant blessing of this world,
treasure of Lord Shiva, playful Lord of all the earth,
essence of the scripture and
embodied goodness of the gods,
May your water, sublime wine of immortality,
Soothe our troubled souls.

Prayer

"Let my every word be a prayer to Thee,
Every movement of my hands a ritual gesture to Thee,
Every step I take a circumambulation of Thy image,
Every morsel I eat a rite of sacrifice to Thee,
Every time I lay down a prostration at Thy feet;
Every act of personal pleasure and all else that I do,
Let it all be a form of worshiping Thee."

- Verse 27 of Shri Aadi Shankara's Saundaryalahari

DO HINDUS HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS??????????





Muslims in uttarpradesh, openly said they disrespect vande mataram, and said its against their muslim law to bow the head other than their God.

They said they will not respect Bharath Mata.........Is this not an issue to be discussed..hey polititians where are you all..... ( oh sorry they are all ur vote banks no?)

is this a securalism the people in india expecting, or the forerunners who made the Constitution of India expected.

All reliegion has their own laws here and they can supersede constituion....

If it is a secular country, A common civil code should be introduced....All people having same law and same right....

If Muslims said they need seperate law -( shariyat law) , let them take it...But also they must need to accept the same punishments as said in that law....The SAUDI like punishments should be given to them against any crime made by them.
Just like handcut for a theft, capital punishment for murder,,, Eye for an Eye....as some one from india got punished in Saudi( eventhough he was let free aftrewards, to keep the relationship between both the countries good).

another thing is the reservations.......If even after this 60 years after the independance, and after 60 yrs given reservations, if the these people didnt succeed, then no way they will succeed ever after..

The sad part of that, the reservations are getting in the wrong hands, Reservations for the muslims and converted christians are given, where most of them are economically forward ones.....If there is a vacancy of 500 , after all reservations and quotas the rest vacancies will be 25-30 for general people...

OK agreed , reservations need to be given but to deserved ones, those who are economically backward and "deserved ones".

I know some people, who joined the college only for getting that "stipend". they will not come to classes except to accept the stipends........Here what happends is " He is not getting the education and there by no improvement for that group, and also it will also close the door for that deserved student, who didnt get admission coz of these quotas...

what i meant to tell is that its high time to bring common civl code and Assistance to the ecomonically backward people for their education and only for education....

Muslims and christians who are not minorities in the states like kerala still enjoys the benefit, while hindus who are minority in the states like J & K, Nagaland etc are still left unnoticed..

Hindus are no vote banks, so the polititians will not support them.......

I have a question DO HINDUS HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS??????????

INDIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM

India's national anthem, Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka, was written by Rabindranath Tagore in the honour of King George V and the Queen of England when they visited India in 1919. To honour their visit Pundit Motilal Nehru had the five stanzas included, which are in praise of the King and Queen.

In the original Bengali verses only those provinces that were under British rule, i.e. Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat,Maratha .. etc. were mentioned. None of the princely states were recognized which are integral parts of India now - Kashmir,Rajasthan, Andhra, Mysore or Kerala. Neither the Indian Ocean nor the Arabian Sea were included, since they were directly under Portuguese rule at that time. The Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka implies that King George V is the lord of the masses and Bharata Bhagya Vidhata is "the bestower of good fortune". Following is a translation of the five stanzas which glorify the King: 1st stanza (Indian) People wake up remembering your good name and ask for your blessings and they sing your glories. 2nd stanza Around your throne people of all religions come and give their love and anxiously wait to hear your kind words. 3rd stanza Praise to the King for being the charioteer, for leading the ancient travelers beyond misery. 4th stanza Drowned in the deep ignorance and suffering, poverty stricken, unconscious country waiting for the wink of your eye and your mother's (theQueen's) true protection. 5th stanza In your compassionate plans, the sleeping Bharat (India) will wake up. We bow down to your feet O' Queen, and glory to Rajeshwara (the King). This whole poem does not indicate any love for the Motherland but depicts a bleak picture of a servile people praying to their king. Why should a democratic country sing praises of "Bharat Bhagya Vidhata"? This is against the basic principles of democracy. Who is "Bharat Bhagya Vidhata"? Is it God? The poem does not indicate that.

Nehru chose the present national anthem as opposed to Vande Mataram because he thought that it would be easier for the band to play. It was an absurd reason but today for that matter bands have advanced and they can very well play any music. So they can as well play Vande Mataram, which is a far better composition in praise of our dear Motherland -India.

Some sections of the Muslim community are opposed to Vande Mataram as it is a prayer to Motherland and they consider it anti-Islamic. Because of the misconception of some factions of the Muslim community, our secularist leaders have never attempted to give Vande Mataram its true position - that of the National Anthem - for the fear of losing their most trusted vote bank.

HINDU RITUALS AND ROUTINES - WHY DO WE FOLLOW THOSE?

Contents

1. Why do we light a lamp?
2. Why do we have a prayer room?
3. Why do we do Namaste?
4. Why do we prostrate before parents and elders?
5. Why do we wear marks (tilak, pottu and the like) on the forehead?
6. Why do we not touch papers, books and people with the feet?
7. To touch another with the feet is considered an act of misdemeanor. Why is this so?
8. Why do we apply the holy ash?
9. Why do offer food to the Lord before eating it?
10. Why do we fast?
11. Why do we do pradakshina (circumambulate)?
12. Why is pradakshina done only in a clockwise manner?
13. Why do we regard trees and plants as sacred?
14. Why do we ring the bell in a temple?
15. Why do we worship the kalasha?
16. Why do we consider the lotus as special?
17. Why do we worship tulasi?
18. Why do we blow the conch?
19. Why do we say shaanti thrice?
20. Why do we offer a coconut?
21. Why do we chant Om?
22. Why do we do aarati?






1. Why do we light a lamp?

In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit daily before the altar of the Lord. In
some houses it is lit at dawn, in some, twice a day – at dawn and dusk – and in a few it is
maintained continuously (Akhanda Deepa). All auspicious functions commence with the
lighting of the lamp, which is often maintained right through the occasion.
Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness, ignorance. The Lord is the
"Knowledge Principle" (Chaitanya) who is the source, the enlivener and the illuminator
of all knowledge. Hence light is worshiped as the Lord himself.
Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Also knowledge is
a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievement can be accomplished. Hence we
light the lamp to bow down to knowledge as the greatest of all forms of wealth.
Why not light a bulb or tube light? That too would remove darkness. But the
traditional oil lamp has a further spiritual significance. The oil or ghee in the lamp
symbolizes our vaasanas or negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by
spiritual knowledge, the vaasanas get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes.
The flame of a lamp always burns upwards. Similarly we should acquire such knowledge
as to take us towards higher ideals.
Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray:
Deepajyothi parabrahma
Deepa sarva tamopahaha
Deepena saadhyate saram
Sandhyaa deepo namostute
I prostrate to the dawn/dusk lamp; whose light is the Knowledge Principle (the
Supreme Lord), which removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be
achieved in life.


2. Why do we have a prayer room?

Most Indian homes have a prayer room or altar. A lamp is lit and the Lord
worshipped each day. Other spiritual practices like japa (repetition of the Lord’s name),
meditation, paaraayana (reading of the scriptures), prayers, and devotional singing etc is
also done here. Special worship is done on auspicious occasions like birthdays,
anniversaries, festivals and the like. Each member of the family - young or old -
communes with and worships the Divine here.
The Lord is the entire creation. He is therefore the true owner of the house we live
in too. The prayer room is the Master room of the house. We are the earthly occupants of
His property. This notion rids us of false pride and possessiveness.
The ideal attitude to take is to regard the Lord as the true owner of our homes and
us as caretakers of His home. But if that is rather difficult, we could at least think of Him
as a very welcome guest. Just as we would house an important guest in the best comfort,
so too we felicitate the Lord’s presence in our homes by having a prayer room or altar,
which is, at all times, kept clean and well-decorated.
Also the Lord is all pervading. To remind us that He resides in our homes with us,
we have prayer rooms. Without the grace of the Lord, no task can be successfully or
easily accomplished. We invoke His grace by communing with Him in the prayer room
each day and on special occasions.
Each room in a house is dedicated to a specific function like the bedroom for
resting, the drawing room to receive guests, the kitchen for cooking etc. The furniture,
decor and the atmosphere of each room are made conducive to the purpose it serves. So
too for the purpose of meditation, worship and prayer, we should have a conducive
atmosphere - hence the need for a prayer room.
Sacred thoughts and sound vibrations pervade the place and influence the minds
of those who spend time there. Spiritual thoughts and vibrations accumulated through
regular meditation, worship and chanting done there pervade the prayer room. Even when
we are tired or agitated, by just sitting in the prayer room for a while, we feel calm,
rejuvenated and spiritually uplifted.


3. Why do we do Namaste?

Indians greet each other with namaste. The two palms are placed together in front
of the chest and the head bows whilst saying the word namaste. This greeting is for all -
people younger than us, of our own age, those older than friends, even strangers and us.
There are five forms of formal traditional greeting enjoined in the shaastras of
which namaskaram is one. This is understood as prostration but it actually refers to
paying homage as we do today when we greet each other with a namaste.
Namaste could be just a casual or formal greeting, a cultural convention or an act
of worship. However there is much more to it than meets the eye. In Sanskrit namah + te
= namaste. It means - I bow to you - my greetings, salutations or prostration to you.
Namaha can also be literally interpreted as "na ma" (not mine). It has a spiritual
significance of negating or reducing one’s ego in the presence of another.
The real meeting between people is the meeting of their minds. When we greet
another, we do so with namaste, which means, "may our minds meet," indicated by the
folded palms placed before the chest. The bowing down of the head is a gracious form of
extending friendship in love and humility.
The spiritual meaning is even deeper. The life force, the divinity, the Self or the
Lord in me is the same in all. Recognizing this oneness with the meeting of the palms, we
salute with head bowed the Divinity in the person we meet. That is why sometimes, we
close our eyes as we do namaste to a revered person or the Lord – as if to look within.
The gesture is often accompanied by words like "Ram Ram", "Jai Shri Krishna", "Namo
Narayana", "Jai Siya Ram", "Om Shanti" etc - indicating the recognition of this divinity.
When we know this significance, our greeting does not remain just a superficial
gesture or word but paves the way for a deeper communion with another in an
atmosphere of love and respect.


4. Why do we prostrate before parents and elders?

Indians prostrate before their parents, elders, teachers and noble souls by touching
their feet. The elder in turn blesses us by placing his or her hand on or over our heads.
Prostration is done daily, when we meet elders and particularly on important occasions
like the beginning of a new task, birthdays, festivals etc. In certain traditional circles,
prostration is accompanied by abhivaadana, which serves to introduce one-self,
announce one’s family and social stature.
Man stands on his feet. Touching the feet in prostration is a sign of respect for the
age, maturity, nobility and divinity that our elders personify. It symbolizes our
recognition of their selfless love for us and the sacrifices they have done for our welfare.
It is a way of humbly acknowledging the greatness of another. This tradition reflects the
strong family ties, which has been one of India’s enduring strengths.
The good wishes (Sankalpa) and blessings (aashirvaada) of elders are highly
valued in India. We prostrate to seek them. Good thoughts create positive vibrations.
Good wishes springing from a heart full of love, divinity and nobility have a tremendous
strength. When we prostrate with humility and respect, we invoke the good wishes and
blessings of elders, which flow in the form of positive energy to envelop us. This is why
the posture assumed whether it is in the standing or prone position, enables the entire
body to receive the energy thus received.
The different forms of showing respect are :
Pratuthana - rising to welcome a person.
Namaskaara - paying homage in the form of namaste
Upasangrahan - touching the feet of elders or teachers.
Shaashtaanga - prostrating fully with the feet, knees, stomach, chest, forehead and arms
touching the ground in front of the elder.
Pratyabivaadana - returning a greeting.
Rules are prescribed in our scriptures as to who should prostrate to whom.
Wealth, family name, age, moral strength and spiritual knowledge in ascending order of
importance qualified men to receive respect. This is why a king though the ruler of the
land, would prostrate before a spiritual master. Epics like the Ramayana and
Mahabharata have many stories highlighting this aspect.


5. Why do we wear marks (tilak, pottu and the like) on the forehead?

The tilak or pottu invokes a feeling of sanctity in the wearer and others. It is
recognized as a religious mark. Its form and colour vary according to one’s caste,
religious sect or the form of the Lord worshipped.
In earlier times, the four castes (based on varna or colour) - Brahmana, Kshatriya,
Vaishya and Sudra - applied marks differently. The brahmin applied a white chandan
mark signifying purity, as his profession was of a priestly or academic nature. The
kshatriya applied a red kumkum mark signifying valour as he belonged to warrior races.
The vaishya wore a yellow kesar or turmeric mark signifying prosperity as he was a
businessman or trader devoted to creation of wealth. The sudra applied a black bhasma,
kasturi or charcoal mark signifying service as he supported the work of the other three
divisions.
Also Vishnu worshippers apply a chandan tilak of the shape of "U", Shiva
worshippers a tripundra of bhasma, Devi worshippers a red dot of kumkum and so on).
The tilak cover the spot between the eyebrows, which is the seat of memory and
thinking. It is known as the Aajna Chakra in the language of Yoga. The tilak is applied
with the prayer - "May I remember the Lord. May this pious feeling pervade all my
activities. May I be righteous in my deeds." Even when we temporarily forget this
prayerful attitude the mark on another reminds us of our resolve. The tilak is thus a
blessing of the Lord and a protection against wrong tendencies and forces.
The entire body emanates energy in the form of electromagnetic waves - the
forehead and the subtle spot between the eyebrows especially so. That is why worry
generates heat and causes a headache. The tilak and pottu cools the forehead, protects us
and prevents energy loss. Sometimes the entire forehead is covered with chandan or
bhasma. Using plastic reusable "stick bindis" is not very beneficial, even though it serves
the purpose of decoration.


6. Why do we not touch papers, books and people with the feet?

To Indians, knowledge is sacred and divine. So it must be given respect at all
times. Nowadays we separate subjects as sacred and secular. But in ancient India every
subject - academic or spiritual - was considered divine and taught by the guru in the
gurukula.
The custom of not stepping on educational tools is a frequent reminder of the high
position accorded to knowledge in Indian culture. From an early age, this wisdom fosters
in us a deep reverence for books and education. This is also the reason why we worship
books, vehicles and instruments once a year on Saraswathi Pooja or Ayudha Pooja day,
dedicated to the Goddess of Learning. In fact, each day before starting our studies, we
pray:
Saraswati namasthubhyam
Varade kaama roopini
Vidyaarambham karishyaami
Sidhirbhavatu me sadaa
O Goddess Saraswati, the giver of
Boons and fulfiller of wishes,
I prostrate to You before
starting my studies.
May you always fulfill me?


7. To touch another with the feet is considered an act of misdemeanor. Why is this
so?

Man is regarded as the most beautiful, living breathing temple of the Lord!
Therefore touching another with the feet is akin to disrespecting the divinity within him
or her. This calls for an immediate apology, which is offered with reverence and
humility.


8. Why do we apply the holy ash?

The ash of any burnt object is not regarded as holy ash. Bhasma (the holy ash) is
the ash from the homa (sacrificial fire) where special wood along with ghee and other
herbs is offered as worship of the Lord. Or the deity is worshipped by pouring ash as
abhisheka and is then distributed as bhasma.
Bhasma is generally applied on the forehead. Some apply it on certain parts of the
body like the upper arms, chest etc. Some ascetics rub it all over the body. Many
consume a pinch of it each time they receive it.
The word bhasma means, "that by which our sins are destroyed and the Lord is
remembered". Bha implied bhartsanam ("to destroy") and sma implies smaranam ("to
remember"). The application of bhasma therefore signifies destruction of the evil and
remembrance of the divine. Bhasma is called vibhuti (which means "glory") as it gives
glory to one who applies it and raksha (which means a source of protection) as it protects
the wearer from ill health and evil, by purifying him or her.
Homa (offering of oblations into the fire with sacred chants) signifies the offering
or surrender of the ego and egocentric desires into the flame of knowledge or a noble and
selfless cause. The consequent ash signifies the purity of the mind, which results from
such actions.
Also the fire of knowledge burns the oblation and wood signifying ignorance and
inertia respectively. The ash we apply indicates that we should burn false identification
with the body and become free of the limitations of birth and death. This is not to be
misconstrued as a morose reminder of death but as a powerful pointer towards the fact
that time and tide wait for none.
Bhasma is specially associated with Lord Shiva who applies it all over His body.
Shiva devotes apply bhasma as a tripundra. When applied with a red spot at the center,
the mark symbolizes Shiva-Shakti (the unity of energy and matter that creates the entire
seen and unseen universe).
Bhasma has medicinal value and is used in many ayurvedic medicines. It absorbs
excess moisture from the body and prevents colds and headaches. The Upanishads say
that the famous Mrityunjaya mantra should be chanted whilst applying ash on the
forehead.
Tryambakam yajaamahe
Sugandhim pushtivardhanam
Urvaa rukamiva bhandhanaan
Mrytyor muksheeyamaa amrutaat
"We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva who nourishes and spread fragrance in
our lives. May He free us from the shackles of sorrow, change and death – effortlessly,
like the fall of a rip brinjal from its stem."


9. Why do offer food to the Lord before eating it?

Indians make an offering of food to the Lord and later partake of it as prasaada -
a holy gift from the Lord. In our daily ritualistic worship (pooja) too we offer naivedyam
(food) to the Lord.
The Lord is omnipotent and omniscient. Man is a part, while the Lord is the
totality. All that we do is by His strength and knowledge alone. Hence what we receive in
life as a result of our actions is really His alone. We acknowledge this through the act of
offering food to Him. This is exemplified by the Hindi words "tera tujko arpan"– I offer
what is Yours to You. Thereafter it is akin to His gift to us, graced by His divine touch.
Knowing this, our entire attitude to food and the act of eating changes. The food
offered will naturally be pure and the best. We share what we get with others before
consuming it. We do not demand, complain or criticise the quality of the food we get. We
eat it with cheerful acceptance (prasaada buddhi).
Before we partake of our daily meals we first sprinkle water around the plate as
an act of purification. Five morsels of food are placed on the side of the plate
acknowledging the debt owed by us to the Divine forces (devta runa) for their benign
grace and protection, our ancestors (pitru runa) for giving us their lineage and a family
culture, the sages (rishi runa) as our religion and culture have been "realised", aintained
and handed down to us by them, our fellow beings (manushya runa) who constitute
society without the support of which we could not live as we do and other living beings
(bhuta runa) for serving us selflessly.
Thereafter the Lord, the life force, who is also within us as the five life-giving
physiological functions, is offered the food. This is done with the chant
praanaaya swaahaa,
apaanaaya swaahaa,
vyaanaaya swaahaa,
udaanaaya swaahaa,
samaanaaya swaahaa,
brahmane swaahaa
After offering the food thus, it is eaten as prasaada - blessed food.


10. Why do we fast?

Most devout Indians fast regularly or on special occasions like festivals. On such
days they do not eat at all, eat once or make do with fruits or a special diet of simple
food.
Fasting in Sanskrit is called upavaasa. Upa means "near" + vaasa means "to
stay". Upavaasa therefore means staying near (the Lord), meaning the attainment of close
mental proximity with the Lord. Then what has upavaasa to do with food?
A lot of our time and energy is spent in procuring food items, preparing, cooking,
eating and digesting food. Certain food types make our minds dull and agitated. Hence on
certain days man decides to save time and conserve his energy by eating either simple,
light food or totally abstaining from eating so that his mind becomes alert and pure. The
mind, otherwise pre-occupied by the thought of food, now entertains noble thoughts and
stays with the Lord. Since it is a self-imposed form of discipline it is usually adhered to
with joy.
Also every system needs a break and an overhaul to work at its best. Rest and a
change of diet during fasting is very good for the digestive system and the entire body.
The more you indulge the senses, the more they make their demands. Fasting
helps us to cultivate control over our senses, sublimate our desires and guide our minds to
be poised and at peace.
Fasting should not make us weak, irritable or create an urge to indulge later. This
happens when there is no noble goal behind fasting.
The Bhagavad-Gita urges us to eat appropriately - neither too less nor too much -
yukta-aahaara and to eat simple, pure and healthy food (a saatvik diet) even when not
fasting.


11. Why do we do pradakshina (circumambulate)?

We cannot draw a circle without a center point. The Lord is the center, source and
essence of our lives. Recognizing Him as the focal point in our lives, we go about doing
our daily chores. This is the significance of pradakshina.
Also every point on the circumference of a circle is equidistant from the center.
This means that wherever or whoever we may be, we are equally close to the Lord. His
grace flows towards us without partiality.


12. Why is pradakshina done only in a clockwise manner?

The reason is not, as a person said, to avoid a traffic jam! As we do pradakshina,
the Lord is always on our right. In India the right side symbolizes auspiciousness. So as
we circumambulate the sanctum sanctorum we remind ourselves to lead an auspicious
life of righteousness, with the Lord who is the indispensable source of help and strength,
as our guide - the "right hand".
Indian scriptures enjoin - matrudevo bhava, pitrudevo bhava, acharyadevo
bhava. May you consider your parents and teachers as you would the Lord. With this in
mind we also do pradakshina around our parents and divine personages.
After the completion of traditional worship (pooja), we customarily do
pradakshina around ourselves. In this way we recognize and remember the supreme
divinity within us, which alone is idolized in the form of the Lord that we worship
outside.


13. Why do we regard trees and plants as sacred?

The Lord, the life in us, pervades all living beings, be they plants or animals.
Hence, they are all regarded as sacred. Human life on earth depends on plants and trees.
They give us the vital factors that make life possible on earth: food, oxygen, clothing,
shelter, medicines etc.
Hence, in India, we are taught to regard trees and plants as sacred. Indians
scriptures tell us to plant ten trees if, for any reason, we have to cut one. We are advised
to use parts of trees and plants only as much as is needed for food, fuel, shelter etc. we
are also urged to apologies to a plant or tree before cutting it to avoid incurring a specific
sin named soona.
Certain trees and plants like tulasi, peepal etc., which have tremendous beneficial
qualities, are worshipped till today. It is believed that divine beings manifest as trees and
plants, and many people worship them to fulfill their desires or to please the Lord.


14. Why do we ring the bell in a temple?

Is it to wake up the Lord? But the Lord never sleeps. Is it to let the Lord know we
have come? He does not need to be told, as He is all knowing. Is it a form of seeking
permission to enter His precinct? It is a homecoming and therefore entry needs no
permission. The Lord welcomes us at all times. Then why do we ring the bell?
The ringing of the bell produces what is regarded as an auspicious sound. It
produces the sound Om, the universal name of the Lord. There should be auspiciousness
within and without, to gain the vision of the Lord who is all-auspiciousness.
Even while doing the ritualistic aarati, we ring the bell. It is sometimes
accompanied by the auspicious sounds of the conch and other musical instruments. An
added significance of ringing the bell, conch and other instruments is that they help
drowned any inauspicious or irrelevant noises and comments that might disturb or
distract the worshippers in their devotional ardour, concentration and inner peace.
As we start the daily ritualistic worship (pooja) we ring the bell, chanting:
Aagamaarthamtu devaanaam
gamanaarthamtu rakshasaam
Kurve ghantaaravam tatra
devataahvaahna lakshanam
I ring this bell indicating
the invocation of divinity,
So that virtuous and noble forces
enter (my home and heart);
and the demonic and evil forces
from within and without, depart.


15. Why do we worship the kalasha?

First of all what is a kalasha? A brass, mud or copper pot is filled with water.
Mango leaves are placed in the mouth of the pot and a coconut is placed over it. A red or
white thread is tied around its neck or sometimes all around it in a intricate diamondshaped
pattern. The pot may be decorated wit designs. Such a pot is known as a kalasha.
When the pot is filled with water or rice, it is known as purnakumbha
representing the inert body which when filled with the divine life force gains the power to
do all the wonderful things that makes life what it is.
A kalasha is placed with due rituals on all-important occasions like the traditional
house warming (grihapravesa), wedding, daily worship etc. It is placed near the entrance
as a sign of welcome. It is also used in a traditional manner while receiving holy
personages. Why do we worship the kalasha? Before the creation came into being, Lord
Vishnu was reclining on His snake-bed in the milky ocean. From His navel emerged a
lotus from which appeared Lord Brahma, the creator, who thereafter created this world.
The water in the kalasha symbolizes the primordial water from which the entire
creation emerged. It is the giver of life to all and has the potential of creating innumerable
names and forms, the inert objects and the sentient beings and all that is auspicious in the
world from the energy behind the universe. The leaves and coconut represent creation.
The thread represents the love that "binds" all in creation. The kalasha is
therefore considered auspicious and worshipped. The waters from all the holy rivers, the
knowledge of all the Vedas and the blessings of all the deities are invoked in the kalasha
and its water is thereafter used for all the rituals, including the abhisheka.
The consecration (kumbhaabhisheka) of a temple is done in a grand manner with
elaborate rituals including the pouring of one or more kalashas of holy water on the top
of the temple. When the asuras and devas churned the milky ocean, the Lord appeared
bearing the pot of nectar, which blessed one with everlasting life.
Thus the kalasha also symbolizes immortality. Men of wisdom are full and
complete as they identify with the infinite Truth (poornatvam). They brim with joy and
love and respect all that is auspicious. We greet them with a purnakumbha ("full pot")
acknowledging their greatness and as a sign of respectful and reverential welcome, with a
"full heart".


16. Why do we consider the lotus as special?

The lotus is the symbol of truth, auspiciousness and beauty (satyam, shivam,
sundaram). The Lord is also that nature and therefore, His various aspects are compared
to a lotus (i.e. lotus-eyes, lotus feet, lotus hands, the lotus of the heart etc.).
The lotus blooms with the rising sun and close at night. Similarly, our minds open
up and expand with the light of knowledge. The lotus grows even in slushy areas. It
remains beautiful and untainted despite its surroundings, reminding us that we too can
and should strive to remain pure and beautiful within, under all circumstances.
The lotus leaf never gets wet even though it is always in water. It symbolizes the
man of wisdom (gyaani) who remains ever joyous, unaffected by the world of sorrow
and change. This is revealed in a shloka from the Bhagwad-Geeta:
Brahmanyaadhaaya karmaani
Sangam tyaktvaa karoti yaha
Lipyate na sa paapena
Padma patram ivaambhasaa
He who does actions, offering them to Brahman (the Supreme), abandoning
attachment, is not tainted by sin, just as a lotus leaf remains unaffected by the water on it.
From this, we learn that what is natural to the man of wisdom becomes a
discipline to be practiced by all saadhakas or spiritual seekers and devotees. Our bodies
have certain energy centers described in the Yoga Shaastras as chakras.
Each one is associated with lotus that has a certain number of petals. For example,
a lotus with a thousand petals represents the Sahasra chakra at the top of the head, which
opens when the yogi attains Godhood or Realisation. Also, the lotus posture
(padmaasana) is recommended when one sits for meditation. A lotus emerged from the
navel of Lord Vishnu. Lord Brahma originated from it to create the world. Hence, the
lotus symbolizes the link between the creator and the supreme Cause.
It also symbolizes Brahmaloka, the abode of Lord Brahma. The auspicious sign of
the swastika is said to have evolved from the lotus.


17. Why do we worship tulasi?

In Sanskrit, tulanaa naasti athaiva tulasi - that which is incomparable (in its
qualities) is the tulasi.
For Indians it is one of the most sacred plants. In fact it is known to be the only
thing used in worship, which, once used, can be washed and reused in pooja - as it is
regarded so self-purifying.
As one story goes, Tulasi was the devoted wife of Shankhachuda, a celestial
being. She believed that Lord Krishna tricked her into sinning. So she cursed Him to
become a stone (shaaligraama). Seeing her devotion and adhered to righteousness, the
Lord blessed her saying that she would become the worshipped plant, tulasi that would
adorn His head.
Also that all offerings would be incomplete without the tulasi leaf - hence the
worship of tulasi.
She also symbolises Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu. Those who
wish to be righteous and have a happy family life worship the tulasi.
Tulasi is married to the Lord with all pomp and show as in any wedding.
This is because according to another legend, the Lord blessed her to be His
consort. Satyabhama once weighed Lord Krishna against all her legendary wealth. The
scales did not balance till a single tulasi leaf was placed along with the wealth on the
scale by Rukmini with devotion.
Thus the tulasi played the vital role of demonstrating to the world that even a
small object offered with devotion means more to the Lord than all the wealth in the
world.
The tulasi leaf has great medicinal value and is used to cure various ailments,
including the common cold.
Yanmule sarvatirhaani
Yannagre sarvadevataa
Yanmadhye sarvavedaascha
Tulasi taam namaamyaham
I bow down to the tulasi, At whose base are all the holy places, At whose top
reside all the deities and In whose middle are all the Vedas.


18. Why do we blow the conch?

When the conch is blown, the primordial sound of Om emanates. Om is an
auspicious sound that was chanted by the Lord before creating the world. It represents the
world and the Truth behind it.
As the story goes, the demon Shankhaasura defeated devas, the Vedas and went to
the bottom of the ocean. The devas appealed to Lord Vishnu for help. He incarnated as
Matsya Avataara - the "fish incarnation" and killed Shankhaasura. The Lord blew the
conch-shaped bone of his ear and head. The Om sound emanated, from which emerged
the Vedas.
All knowledge enshrined in the Vedas is an elaboration of Om. The conch
therefore is known as shankha after Shankaasua. The conch blown by the Lord is called
Paanchajanya. He carries it at all times in one of His four hands.
It represents dharma or righteousness that is one of the four goals (purushaarthas)
of life. The sound of the conch is thus also the victory call of good over evil.
Another well-known purpose of blowing the conch and the instruments, known
traditionally to produce auspicious sounds is to drown or mask negative comments or
noises that may disturb or upset the atmosphere or the minds of worshippers.
Ancient India lived in her villages. Each village was presided over by a primary
temple and several small ones. During the aarati performed after all-important poojas
and on sacred occasions, the conch used to be blown. Since villages were generally small,
the sound of the conch would be heard all over the village. People who could not make it
to the temple were reminded to stop whatever they were doing, at least for a few seconds,
and mentally bow to the Lord. The conch sound served to briefly elevate people's minds
to a prayerful attitude even in the middle of their busy daily routine.
The conch is placed at the altar in temples and homes next to the Lord as a
symbol of Naada Brahma (Truth), the Vedas, Om, dharma, victory and auspiciousness.
It is often used to offer devotees thirtha (sanctified water) to raise their minds to the
highest Truth. It is worshipped with the following verse.
Twam puraa saagarot pannaha
Vishnunaa vidhrutahakare
Devaischa poojitha sarvahi
Panchjanya namostu te
Salutations to Panchajanya
the conch born of the ocean
Held in the hand of Lord Vishnu
and worshipped by all devaas


19. Why do we say shaanti thrice?

Shaanti, meaning "peace", is a natural state of being. Disturbances are created
either by others or us. For example, peace already exists in a place until someone makes
noise.
Therefore, peace underlies all our agitations. When agitations end, peace is
naturally experienced since it was already there. Where there is peace, there is happiness.
Therefore, every one without exception desires peace in his/her life.
However, peace within or without seems very hard to attain because it is covered
by our own agitations. A rare few manage to remain peaceful within even in the midst of
external agitation and troubles. To invoke peace, we chant prayers. By chanting prayers,
troubles end and peace is experienced internally, irrespective of the external disturbances.
All such prayers end by chanting shaanti thrice.
It is believed that trivaram satyam - that which is said thrice comes true. For
emphasizing a point we repeat a thing thrice. In the court of law also, one who takes the
witness stands says, "I shall speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth".
We chant shaanti thrice to emphasise our intense desire for peace. All obstacles,
problems and sorrows originate from three sources.
Aadhidaivika : The unseen divine forces over which we have little or no control
like earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions etc.
Aadhibhautika: The known factors around us like accidents, human contacts,
pollution, crime etc.
Aadhyaatmika : We sincerely pray to the Lord that at least while we undertake
special tasks or even in our daily lives, there are no problems or that, problems are
minimised from the three sources written about above.
May peace alone prevail. Hence shaanti is chanted thrice.
It is chanted aloud the first time, addressing the unseen forces. It is chanted softer
the second time, directed to our immediate surroundings and those around, and softest the
last time as it is addressed to oneself.


20. Why do we offer a coconut?

In India one of the most common offerings in a temple is a coconut. It is also
offered on occasions like weddings, festivals, the use of a new vehicle, bridge, house etc.
It is offered in the sacrificial fire whilst performing homa. The coconut is broken and
placed before the Lord. It is later distributed as prasaada.
The fibre covering of the dried coconut is removed except for a tuft on the top.
The marks on the coconut make it look like the head of a human being. The coconut is
broken, symbolising the breaking of the ego. The juice within, representing the inner
tendencies (vaasanas) is offered along with the white kernel - the mind, to the Lord.
A mind thus purified by the touch of the Lord is used as prasaada ( a holy gift).
In the traditional abhishekha ritual done in all temples and many homes, several materials
are poured over the deity like milk, curd, honey, tender coconut water, sandal paste, holy
ash etc. Each material has a specific significance of bestowing certain benefits on
worshippers. Tender coconut water is used in abhisheka rituals since it is believed to
bestow spiritual growth on the seeker.
The coconut also symbolises selfless service. Every part of the tree -the trunk,
leaves, fruit, coir etc. Is used in innumerable ways like thatches, mats, tasty dishes, oil,
soap etc. It takes in even salty water from the earth and converts it into sweet nutritive
water that is especially beneficial to sick people. It is used in the preparation of many
ayurvedic medicines and in other alternative medicinal systems.
The marks on the coconut are even thought to represent the three-eyed Lord Shiva
and therefore it is considered to be a means to fulfill our desires.


21. Why do we chant Om?

Om is one of the most chanted sound symbols in India. It has a profound effect on
the body and mind of the one who chants and also on the surroundings. Most mantras and
vedic prayers start with Om.
All auspicious actions begin with Om. It is even used as a greeting - Om, Hari Om
etc. It is repeated as a mantra or meditated upon. Its form is worshipped, contemplated
upon or used as an auspicious sign.
Om is the universal name of the Lord. It is made up of the letters A (phonetically
as in "around"), U (phonetically as in "put") and M (phonetically as in "mum"). The
sound emerging from the vocal chords starts from the base of the throat as "A". With the
coming together of the lips, "U" is formed and when the lips are closed, all sounds end in
"M".
The three letters symbolize the three states (waking, dream and deep sleep), the
three deities (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva), the three Vedas (Rig, Yajur and Sama) the
three worlds (Bhuh, Bhuvah, Suvah) etc. The Lord is all these and beyond.
The formless, attributeless Lord (Brahman) is represented by the silence between
two Om Chants. Om is also called pranava that means, "that (symbol or sound) by which
the Lord is praised". The entire essence of the Vedas is enshrined in the word Om. It is
said that the Lord started creating the world after chanting Om and atha. Hence its sound
is considered to create an auspicious beginning for any task that we undertake. The Om
chant should have the resounding sound of a bell (aaooommm).
Om is written in different ways in different places. The most common form
symbolizes Lord Ganesha’s. The upper curve is the head; the lower large one, the
stomach; the side one, the trunk; and the semi-circular mark with the dot, the sweetmeat
ball (modaka) in Lord Ganesha's hand. Thus Om symbolizes everything - the means and
the goal of life, the world and the Truth behind it, the material and the Sacred, all form
and the Formless.


22. Why do we do aarati?

Towards the end of every ritualistic worship (pooja or bhajan) of the Lord or to
welcome an honored guest or saint, we perform the aarati. This is always accompanied by
the ringing of the bell and sometimes by singing, playing of musical instruments and
clapping.
It is one of the sixteen steps (shodasha upachaara) of the pooja ritual. It is
referred to as the lighted lamp in the right hand, which we wave in a clockwise circling
movement to light the entire form of the Lord.
Each part is revealed individually and also the entire form of the Lord. As the
light is waved we either do mental or loud chanting of prayers or simply behold the
beautiful form of the Lord, illumined by the lamp. At the end of the aarati we place our
hands over the flame and then gently touch our eyes and the top of the head.
We have seen and participated in this ritual from our childhood. Let us find out
why we do the aarati?
Having worshipped the Lord of love - performing abhisheka, decorating the
image and offering fruits and delicacies, we see the beauty of the Lord in all His glory.
Our minds are focused on each limb of the Lord as the lamp lights it up. It is akin to
silent open-eyed meditation on His beauty. The singing, clapping, ringing of the bell etc.
denote the joy and auspiciousness, which accompanies the vision of the Lord.
Aarati is often performed with camphor. This holds a telling spiritual significance.
Camphor when lit, burns itself out completely without leaving a trace of it. It represents
our inherent tendencies (vaasanas). When lit by the fire of knowledge which illumines
the Lord (Truth), our vaasanas thereafter burn themselves out completely, not leaving a
trace of ego which creates in us a sense of individuality that keeps us separate from the
Lord.
Also while camphor burns to reveal the glory of Lord, it emits a pleasant perfume
even while it sacrifices itself. In our spiritual progress, even as we serve the guru and
society, we should willingly sacrifice ourselves and all we have, to spread the "perfume"
of love to all. We often wait a long while to see the illumined Lord but when the aarati is
actually performed, our eyes close automatically as if to look within. This is to signify
that each of us is a temple of the Lord.
Just as the priest reveals the form of the Lord clearly with the aarati flame, so too
the guru reveals to us the divinity within each of us with the help of the "flame" of
knowledge (or the light of spiritual knowledge). At the end of the aarati, we place our
hands over the flame and then touch our eyes and the top of the head. It means - may the
light that illuminated the Lord light up my vision; may my vision be divine and my
thoughts noble and beautiful.
The philosophical meaning of aarati extends further. The sun, moon, stars,
lightning and fire are the natural sources of light. The Lord is the source of this
wonderous phenomenon of the universe. It is due to Him alone that all else exist and
shine. As we light up the Lord with the flame of the aarati, we turn our attention to the
very source of all light, which symbolizes knowledge and life.
Also the sun is the presiding deity of the intellect, the moon, that of the mind, and
fire, that of speech. The Lord is the supreme consciousness that illuminates all of them.
Without Him, the intellect cannot think, nor can the mind feel nor the tongue speaks. The
Lord is beyond the mind, intellect and speech. How can this finite equipment illuminate
the Lord? Therefore, as we perform the aarati we chant;
Na tatra suryo bhaati na chandra taarakam
Nemaa vidyuto bhaanti kutoyamagnib
Tameva bhaantam anubhaati sarvam
Tasya bhasa sarvam idam vibhaati
He is there where the sun does not shine,
Nor the moon, stars and lightning.
then what to talk of this small flame (in my hand),
Everything (in the universe) shines only after the Lord,
And by His light alone are we all illumined.