Importance and meaning of Saligram (सलिग्राम)

One can have a glimpse of a black stone called Saligramam (सलिग्राम) being worshipped in side  Vaishnavite's (वैष्नव) Pooja room. It's usually black in color with the symbol of sudarshana chakra सुदर्शन चक्र) . The chakras can be seen both outside and inside. The Saligram stone is not just an another stone found in the nature. It is found only at Gandaki River  (गन्दकि नदी)  situated high in the Himalayas in Nepal. It is believed that the chakra symbols are formed by river worms called Vajra Keeta. It is believed that these worms drill the stones, get inside and use the stones a dwelling place. 




There is a katha behind the origin of Saligramam. Once upon a time, Lord Siva was in a war with an asura called Jallundhara. The war seemed to be between two equals and not just another war of a God with a demon. It was in fact a test of chastity (सतित्व) of their consorts. (It is a Hindu belief that chastity of the wife protects her husband even from death as Savitri brought back the life of her husband from the lord of death - Yumraj) Lord Siva knew that unless the chastity of Vrinda, Jallundhara's wife is spoiled, he cannot be killed as he will be protected by the power of her chastity. But it was against the nature of Gods to indulge in a heinous act like spoiling a woman's chastity. 

But there was no such taboo for the demon Jallundhara. He thought that by spoiling the chastity of Goddess Parvati he could defeat Lord Siva. But Goddess Parvati could see through Jallundhara's trick and ended his appearance.  She signaled Lord Krishna (Avatara of Lord Vishnu) that it was now just to spoil the chastity of Jallundhara's wife and it will not be a sin. Lord Krishna approached Vrinda in the guise of Jallundhana. She could not understand that it is not her husband and lost her chastity. 

Later when she came to know about this, she cursed Lord Vishnu to turn into grass, stone, tree and plant. It is believed that Kusha-grass, Saligram-stone, Pipal-tree and Tulsi-plant are incarnations of Lord Vishnu and worshipped henceforth. 

Padma purana (पद्म पुराण) states that resident of a salagram is Lord Kesava himself and along with him reside all the devatas, asuaras, yakshas and the Universe. Hence, giving a salagrama, is the best form of charity. It also states that Lord Siva himself stays in the salagrama shila and thus worshipping it is important for both Vaishnav Sampradaya and Shiv Sampradaya. Even if a salagram is cracked, split, or broken it will have no harmful effect if it is worshiped with attention and love. It is said in Gautamiya Tantra  that merely by touching a shalagram one becomes freed from the sins of millions of births. In Skand puraan (स्कन्द पुराण), it is said that that any person who has seen salagram stone, paid obeisances to it, bathed and worship it, has achieved the results of performing ten million sacrifices and giving ten million cows in charity. According to Garud Puraan (गरुड़ पुराण), The Lord resides in many places in which he may be worshipped, but of all the places Salagram is the best.

Can we also name GOD, the Ultimate Power..... !!!!!

When we name the most negligible of things, we cause its existence to be deformed. We give a name, the boundary is formed and the existence changes for the lesser. The actual fact is, that we shall never be able to name the Ultimate Power (God). The reason is simply this, that: nowhere do our eyes perceive Him; nowhere do our hands touch Him; nor do the ears ever hear Him – nowhere is a meeting possible with Him. And yet those who have known say, ”Our eyes see Him alone, everywhere. Our ears hear His voice alone; whatever we touch, it is He we touch and whomever we meet, it is Him!” But these are people who know. 

Those who do not, see Him nowhere. Then how will they name Him? And how can those also, who know, who see and hear Him everywhere name Him? For only that can be named which is at one place. One person we call a Christian for he is found in the Church and not in Mandir (temple). But if this man is encountered again in a temple, then again in a Gurdwara and again in a Masjid; if he is found with a sandal-wood mark on his forehead performing Kirtan one day and found offering prayers in the Gurudwara the next day, it will be difficult to call him a Sikh. Then it becomes very difficult for you for wherever you go, you find the same man. It is now impossible to name him a Sikh. Those who know not, cannot name Him for they know not whom to name. And those who know, also cannot name Him, for they know all names are His. Everywhere, it is He and He and He!

Words and names, are all the creation of the mind. It is the mind that conceives and forms and Mind is ignorance. The mind knows nothing. But it creates even that which it does not know. Then we get a feeling of satisfaction that now we know. If I were to tell you that you know nothing about God, you will be terribly disturbed. But if I were to say, ”Why, you know everything about God?

The mantra ’Ram-Ram’ you repeat, that alone is His Name.” Then you will feel relieved. If I were to say, ”He has no name and remember, the name you have been repeating, has nothing to do with him,” then the mind falls into a turmoil, in a vacuum, in an emptiness! It finds no support to stand, to hold on. And the mind will quickly try and find a support. Once this is found, there is no need to seek further. The mind provides substitutes for Truth and makes full arrangements. It says, ”This is Truth. It will serve your purpose.” Those who stop at the mind, stop on the paths that are made by man.

Durga Shaptsati Sanskrit PDF

Durga SaptShati Sanskrit PDF

adwait.... अद्वैत

एक समय की बात है, एक युवक हरिद्वार गया, वो एक आश्रम मे रुका, वहां के सन्यासी से वो पूछता था कि ईश्वर कैसे मिलेंगे, वो सन्यासी बहुत कम बोलते थे। उनके शब्द भी एक ही तरह के होते थे। युवक कुछ दिन रुका और एक रात उसने सोच लिया कि यहां कुछ नही मिलने वाला, कल सुबह मैं किसी दूसरे आश्रम मे चला जाउंगा, पर उस रात ऐसी घटना घटी कि वो युवक ताउम्र वहीं का हो गया।


उस रात एक और सन्यासी उस आश्रम मे आये, उन्होने करीब 2 घन्टे प्रवचन दिये, सारे लोग मन्त्रमुग्ध हो कर सुनते रहे। वो युवक भी उस सन्यासी से काफ़ी प्रभावित हुआ कयोंकि उन्होने पुरान, उपनिशद इत्यादि का सुक्ष्म विश्लेशण किया था। प्रवचन के बाद उन सन्यासी ने आश्रम के सन्यासी से पूंछा कि कैसे रहे प्रवचन। तो वो बुज़ुर्ग सन्यासी बोले "कि मैं 2 घन्टे तुम्हे देखता रहा, तुम तो कुछ बोले हि नही।" वो सन्यासी बड़ा हैरान हुआ, उसने कहा कि आप कैसी बात करते हैं, आपने सुना नही। सन्यासी बोले "मैने कुछ गीता सुनी, कुछ उपनिशद सुने, पर वो तो लिखी लिखाई बातें हैं, ये तो तुमने रट लिया और उगल दिया।  


पोथी पढ पढ जग मुआ, पन्डित भया ना कोए, ढाई आखर प्रेम का पढे सो पन्डित होए।


हमें जन्म लेते ही समझा दिया जाता है कि तुम हिन्ंदू, तुम सिख, तुम जैन। बचपन से पुराण, उपनिशद, गुरुग्रंथ इत्यादि बताये जाते हैं, और हम वही हो जाते हैं। पर किसी के द्वारा होने और खुद खोजने मे बहुत बढ़ा अंतर है। बुध, महावीर, कृष्ण, नानक आदि ने खुद पाया, किसी रटी रटाई बात को लकीर समझ कर उसका अनुकरण नही किया। गुरु नानक जी ने एक ओमकार सतनाम को समझा ना कि पोथियां रटीं। बुध ने बोधि व्रक्ष के नीचे बैठ कर आत्म चिंतन किया और पाया। 


कोई पंडित कभी प्रभू के द्वार पर नही पहुंचा, और जब वह खुद नही पहुंचा तो दूसरों को उस तक पहुंचाने का रास्ता कैसे दिखा सकता है। ये तो वही बात हुई कि खुद चौराहे पर खढा है और रास्ता गूगल अर्थ से खोज रहा है, और आने जाने वालों को विश्वास के साथ वहां का रास्ता बता रहा है.......



शेष बाद में........ 

अंतर्दृष्टि वास्तविक जीवन की शुरुआत है। अंतर्दृष्टि शुरू कैसे हो ?

ऐसे प्रारंभ करें। सड़क पर चलें, गवाह बनें। देखो शरीर चल रहा है..... और तुम अंतरतम के कोर से, बस देख रहे हो, साक्षी बनो, अचानक तुम पाओगे कि आजादी की भावना है। अचानक आप देखेंगे कि शरीर चल रहा है, आप नहीं चल रहे हैं।

कभी शरीर स्वस्थ है, कभी शरीर बीमार है। बस देखो, देखो और अचानक आपमें एक पूरी तरह से अलग गुणवत्ता की भावना होगी। आप शरीर नहीं हैं। बीमार शरीर है, ज़ाहिर है, लेकिन आप बीमार महसूस नहीं कर रहे हैं। शरीर स्वस्थ है, इसके लिये आपको कुछ नहीं करना है। आप केवल साक्षी, एक गवाह, दूर पहाड़ियों पर एक साक्षी की तरह।

ध्यान करने के लिए आपने खुद को शरीर से अलग रखना है। शाश्वत, जब आपका अपने शरीर का अवलोकन अधिक तीव्र हो जाये,  तब अपने मन के भीतर देखना शुरू करें। लेकिन शरीर का वो ध्यान जिसमें आप और आपका शरीर अलग है का मेजरमैंट करते रहिये, क्योंकि यह सकल (gross) है, और अधिक आसानी से देखा जा सकता है, इसके लिये ज्यादा जागरूकता की जरूरत नहीं होगी। एक बार जब आप अभ्यस्त हो जाते हैं, तो मन को देख शुरू करते हैं।

जो आप से अलग हो जाता है देखा जा सकता है। जो भी आप देख सकते हैं, आप यह नहीं कर रहे हैं। आप साक्षी चेतना हैं, आप गवाह (witness) हैं। , शरीर के भी और मन के भी, जब आप एक गवाह बन गये है। अचानक आप देखेंगे वहाँ कोई शरीर नहीं है और नकोई मन के साथ ।।। एक शुद्ध चेतना, बस सरल सरासर शुद्धता, मासूमियत, एक मिरर।

इस मासूमियत में, आपको पहली बार पता चलता है कि तुम कौन हो। इस शुद्धता में, पहली बार तुम अपने आस्तित्व को देखते हो, इसके पहले, तुम बस सो रहे थे, सपना देख रहे थे, अब आप कर रहे हैं वो जो जागर्त है। यही ध्यान की कड़ी जुड़नी शुरु होती है। इस क्रिया को धीरे धीरे बढायें।

What is Man...... "पुरुष"

In Sanskrit, for ‘man’ we have the word ‘purusha’. That word is tremendously beautiful. It is difficult to translate it because it has three meanings. It can be pronounced with three different emphases.

The word is purusha. It can be pronounced as pur u sha. Then it means ‘the dawn in the city… he who is filled with light’.

It can be pronounced as puru sha. Then it means ‘filled with wisdom and eternal happiness… a citizen of heaven’.

It can be pronounced as pu rusha. Then it means ‘whose passions are purified and who has become deathless’.

There are many possibilities within you, layer upon layer. The first layer is of the body. If you get identified with the body, you are getting identified with the temporal, the momentary. Then there is bound to be fear of death.

The body is a flux, like a river – continuously changing, moving. It has nothing of the eternal in it. Each moment the body is changing. In fact, the body is dying every moment. It is not that after seventy years suddenly one day you die. The body dies every day. Death continues for seventy years; it is a process.

Death is not an event; it is a long process. By and by, by and by, the body comes to a point where it cannot hold itself. It disintegrates. If you are identified with the body, of course the fear will be constantly there that death is approaching. You can live, but you can live only in fear. And what type of life is possible when one’s foundations are constantly shaking? and one is sitting on a volcano and death is possible any moment? And only one thing is certain – that death is coming – and everything else is uncertain. How can one live? How can one celebrate? How can one dance and sing and be? Impossible. The death won’t allow it. The death is too much and too close.

Then there is a second layer within you: that of the mind – which is even more temporal and more fleeting than the body. Mind is also continuously disintegrating. Mind is the inner part of the body and the body is the outer part of the mind. These are not two things. Mind and body is not a right expression. The right expression is mind-body. You are psychosomatic. Not that the body exists and the mind exists. The body is the gross mind, and the mind is the subtle body… aspects of the same coin – one outer, the second inner.

So there are people who are identified with the body. These are the materialists. They cannot live. Desperately they try, of course, but they cannot live. A materialist only pretends that he is living; he cannot live. His life cannot be very deep; it can only be superficial, shallow – because he is trying to live through the body which is continuously dying.He is living in a house which is on fire. He is trying to rest in a house which is on fire. How can you rest? How can you love?

The materialist can have only body, cannot love. Because body is temporal; love is something of the eternal. He can make hit-and-run contacts with people but he cannot relate. He is constantly running, because he is identified with the body. The body is never at rest; it is a continuous movement.

शून्य का सन्धर्भ

जो जीवन हमारे चारों तरफ मौजूद है, चाहे उसे कोई परमात्मा कहे और जो जीवन हमारे भीतर मौजूद है, चाहे कोई उसे आत्मा कहे। हम उस जीवन को जानने से वंचित रह जाते हैं क्योंकि हम चुप होने मे समर्थ नही हैं। जानने के लिए चाहिए साइलेंट माइंड, यानी मौन, जानने के लिए चाहिए एक ऐसा मन जो बिलकुल चुप हो सके । लेकन हम बोलते हैं, बोलते हैं, बोलते हि रहते हैं । जागते हैं तब भी और सोते हैं तब भी। ,किसी से बात करते ह तब भी और नही बात करते हैं तब भी हमारे भीतर बोलना चल रहा है।

कभी दो लोगों को बात करते देखा है, दो लोग आपस में कभी बात नही करते, वो तो अपनी अपनि बातें करते हैं। अपनी बात मनवाने की कोशिश करते हैं। ऐक बोलता है तो दूसरा बात बीच मे काट कर अपनी ही कहना शुरु कर देता है।

हम कभी भी शून्य की अवस्था मे नही होते, सोते जागते खाते पीते अपने स्थान पर बैठे हुए कभी मुम्बई कभी चेन्नई कभी गोवा मे होते हैं। अब जब हम कहीं हैं ही नही तो वहां से लौटना कैसे।

कुछ समय पहले  प्रशांत जी से बात हुई, उनका कहना था कि मैं माला नही जपता, जो मेरे साथ है, जो मेरा अपना है उसके सामिप्य के लिये रटना क्यों

Buddha says: When action comes out of nothing it creates no karma

The word karma means action, a particular action. Not all actions create karma, remember. Buddha lived after his enlightenment for forty-two years. He was not sitting all the time under the bodhi tree doing nothing. He did a thousand and one things, but karma was not created. He acted! — but it was no longer reaction, it was response.

If you respond out of nothingness it leaves no residue, it leaves no traces on you, karma is not created. You remain free. You go on acting and you remain free. It is as if a bird flies into the sky, leaves no traces, no footprints. The man who lives in the sky of nothingness leaves no footprints, leaves no karma, no residue. His act is total. And when the act is total, it is finished, it is complete. And a complete act does not hang around you like a cloud; only
incomplete acts hang around you.

Somebody insulted you — you wanted to hit him but you didn’t. You saved your sainthood, you smiled and blessed the man and went home. Now it is going to be difficult: now the whole night you will dream that you are hitting the man. You may even kill him in your dreams. For years it will hang around you; it is incomplete. Anything incomplete is dangerous.

When you are phony everything becomes incomplete. You love a woman but not enough to make it complete. Even while making love you are not entirely there; maybe you are still rehearsing. Maybe you have been reading sex manuals which are available. Maybe you have been reading Vatsyayana’s Kama Sutra, or Masters and Johnson or the Kinsey Report, and you have been learning how to make love. And you are ready, knowledgeable! Now this woman is just an opportunity to practice your knowledge. So you are practicing your knowledge, but it is going to be incomplete because you are not in it. And then it is unsatisfying, then you feel frustrated — and the cause is your knowledge.

Love is not something to be practiced. Life need not be practiced; life has to be lived, in utter innocence. Life is not a drama — you need not prepare, you need not go into a rehearsal for it. Let it come as it comes, and be spontaneous.

But how can you be spontaneous if the ego is there? Ego is a great actor, ego is a great politician; ego goes on manipulating you. The ego says, “If you really want to act in a polished way preparation is needed. If you really want to act in a cultured way you have to rehearse it.” The ego is a performer, and because of this performer you go on missing the joy, the celebration, the blessing of life.

THE CONSCIOUSNESS IS THE ATMAN (आत्मा ), THE SOUL...

Although conscious we all are, yet we never come to know the soul. If consciousness is indeed the  soul, then we should all have the knowledge of it. We all possess consciousness, but what is really  the meaning of, ”consciousness is the soul?”


The first meaning is: in this world, only consciousness is yours. The word at man means: that which  is your own. Regardless of how much the rest may appear to you as your own, it is alien. All of  that which you otherwise claim as yours – friends, loved ones, family, wealth, fame, high position, a great empire – it is all a deception. Because one day death will snatch it all away from you. So  death is the criterion for determining who is your own and who is the stranger. That which death can  separate you from, know that it didn't belong to you, and that which it can’t, was indeed your own. 


So atman ( आत्मा ) means: one’s own. But the moment we think in therms of  ”mine”, the other comes in.  ”Mine” in itself means,” Some one else who belongs to me.” It never occurs to you that except your  own self, there is no one who can be yours. And the longer you will remain swayed by the idea that  the other belongs to you, the greater will be the loss of time on your part, you will have wasted that  much life. That much time you gave in for dreaming.You could have awakened in the meantime –  you could have attained moksha. But all that time you only collected garbage.


you are all by yourself; that means, there is nothing by way of either  relationship or possession that you can claim as yours. No one and nothing except yourself belongs to you really. This is indeed a very revolutionary sutra. It goes against the very nature of society. Because the society exists on the very premise that others are mine – the caste people are mine, the  countrymen are mine. A whole array of possessive attitudes in on display: my country, my caste, my  religion, my family. The society survives on the concept of ”mine”. Religion is essentially antithetical to society – it is a freedom from society, it is a freedom from the "other". According to religion, there is no one you can claim as "mine"except your own self. If seen  superficially this statement looks selfish. Because, if I alone am for my self then one immediately  surmises this as a selfish attitude. But there is nothing selfish in it. The truth is, this feeling alone  will cause the attitude of altruism and universal goodness to arise in your life. Because one who has  not yet become aware of the fact that essentially only his being is his own, cannot follow altruism. 

Why Science doesn't believe in Soul

If you were to tell a scientist, ”The flower is beautiful,” he will immediately sit down and start pulling  a part the flower, dissecting it, analyzing it. He has no idea that in the very tearing of it in to pieces,  the beauty of the flower disappears. The flower looked beautiful in its wholeness, but when divided  in to parts, it lost its beauty. Of course, in doing the analysis the scientist can find out the chemical  elements contained in the flower; he may show the substance, the minerals the flower is made of.  He may place them in different bottles and label them accordingly. But he won’t be able to say,  ”Here is a bottle which contains the beauty once present in the flower,” because the beauty will have  disappeared already. By making an assault on the flower, you will only come upon its body, not the soul.

This is the reason why science doesn't believe in the soul – how can it? Even after making so much  effort, not even a glimpse of the soul becomes available to science – it never can... not because  there is no soul, but because the scientist has chosen a wrong method. The method he uses is not  the way to discover the soul. The very means applied to its discovery is the means good for finding  the trivial. That which is of great value cannot be attained through aggression. 

ध्यान कैसे करें

मन की शांति के लिए उन चीजों को मन से बाहर निकालना होगा जो दु:ख बन गई हैं। यह आसान नहीं है। उन चीजों को बाहर निकालें कैसे? दु:ख का कारण बनने वाली चीजों को बाहर निकालने की विधा ही ध्यान है। 


आज के समय मे हमारा ध्यान केवल पैसा और पैसा हि रह गया है, हमें सब के बारे मे सोचने का समय तो है पर अपने बारे मे कभी नही। हम जो भी करते हैं सुप्त अवस्था मे करते हैं, जैसे गाड़ी चला रहे हों। सब यन्त्रवत हो रहा है, ऐसे में मन को उस अवस्था मे लाना ज़हां सब शून्य हो जाये और आपको असीम आनंद की अनुभूति हो - वह ध्यान है 


ध्यान कोई साधारण प्रक्रिया नहीं है किंतु यह इतनी साधारण भी है कि आम आदमी भी इसे सहज संकल्प के साथ अपने जीवन में उतार सकता है। सुख के लिए मन में शांति चाहिए। इसके लिए मन को एकाग्र करने की जरूरत होती है। मन की एकाग्रता से आने वाली शांति को पाने का मार्ग ही ध्यान है। यही ध्यान अष्टांग योग के अंतिम चरण में समाधि की अवस्था पा लेता है। 


पहले अपने दु:ख के कारणों की सूची बना लें। फिर मन को एकाग्र कर उन्हें बाहर निकालने का प्रयत्न करें। इसके लिए जरूरी है कि यह प्रक्रिया निश्चित समय पर और नियमित हो। कुश या ऊन के आसन पर शुद्ध वातावरण में बैठकर अभ्यास करना चाहिए। प्रात:काल का समय इसके लिए सर्वोत्तम  है। 


आसन पर बैठकर पहले कुछ देर प्राणायाम करें। इससे श्वास स्थिर होगी। फिर अपने इष्टदेव का ध्यान करें। इस दौरान मन स्थिर नहीं होगा। इधर-उधर की तमाम बातें मन में आएंगी किंतु प्रयास करें कि मन अपने इष्टदेव पर स्थिर हो। दूसरी बातें आएं तो उन्हें मन से बाहर निकालें। धीरे-धीरे अभ्यास करें। पहले कुछ क्षण मन एकाग्र होगा फिर कुछ अवधि बढ़ेगी। 


जिस दिन मन एक मिनट तक एकाग्र हो गया, समझ लो ध्यान का रास्ता खुल गया। आज के युग में दस मिनट का ध्यान लगा लेने वाला योगी कहलाने योग्य है। यदि पाप वासनाएं और कामनाएं सदा के लिए चली जाएं तो समझो आप परमयोगी हैं। ध्यान साधना है - साधना ध्यान  है। यह जीवनभर शिविरों में अभ्यास के बाद भी नहीं आ सकता और एक योग्य गुरु के मार्गदर्शन से क्षणभर में आ सकता है। ध्यान का जीवन में घटना हमारी इच्छाशक्ति पर निर्भर है। इसके लिए ऐसे योग्य गुरु का मार्गदर्शन जरूरी है, जो ध्यान का आनंद ले रहे हों। शिविरों और ऐसे ही दिखावटी आयोजनों में ध्यान का नाटक हो सकता है। ध्यान लगाया नहीं जा सकता। ध्यान लगाने वाले बार-बार समय देखते हैं। अपने मार्गदर्शक से समय सीमा पूछते हैं। सच तो यह है, जब जीवन में ध्यान घटता है तो समय की सीमा रह ही नहीं जाती। बीता समय क्षण मात्र लगता है। ध्यान असीम आनंद है।

WHY TO VISIT TEMPLES ?..... (Scientific Reason)

There are thousands of temples all over India in different size, shape and locations but not all of them are considered to be built the Vedic way. Generally, a temple should be located at a place where earth's magnetic wave path passes through densely. It can be in the outskirts of a town/village or city, or in middle of the dwelling place, or on a hilltop. The essence of visiting a temple is discussed here.

Now, these temples are located strategically at a place where the positive energy is abundantly available from the magnetic and electric wave distributions of north/south pole thrust. The main idol is placed in the core center of the temple, known as "*Garbhagriha*" or *Moolasthanam*. In fact, the temple structure is built after the idol has been placed. This *Moolasthanam* is where earth’s magnetic waves are found to be maximum. We know that there are some copper plates, inscribed with Vedic scripts, buried beneath the Main Idol. What are they really? No, they are not God’s / priests’ flash cards when they forget the *shlokas*. The copper plate absorbs earth’s magnetic waves and radiates it to the surroundings. Thus a person regularly visiting a temple and walking clockwise around the Main Idol receives the beamed magnetic waves and his body absorbs it. This is a very slow process and a regular visit will let him absorb more of this positive energy. Scientifically, it is the positive energy that we all require to have a healthy life.

Further, the Sanctum is closed on three sides. This increases the effect of all energies. The lamp that is lit radiates heat energy and also provides light inside the sanctum to the priests or *poojaris* performing the pooja. The ringing of the bells and the chanting of prayers takes a worshipper into trance, thus not letting his mind waver. When done in groups, this helps people forget personal problems for a while and relieve their stress. The fragrance from the flowers, the burning of camphor give out the chemical energy further aiding in a different good aura. The effect of all these energies is supplemented by the positive energy from the idol, the copper plates and utensils in the *Moolasthan*am / *Garbagraham*. *Theertham*, the “holy” water used during the pooja to wash the idol is not
plain water cleaning the dust off an idol. It is a concoction of Cardamom,*Karpura* (Benzoin), zaffron / saffron, *Tulsi* (Holy Basil), Clove, etc...Washing the idol is to charge the water with the magnetic radiations thus increasing its medicinal values. Three spoons of this holy water is distributed to devotees. Again, this water is mainly a source of magneto-therapy. Besides, the clove essence protects one from tooth decay, the saffron & *Tulsi* leafs protects one from common cold and cough, cardamom and *Pachha Karpuram* (benzoin), act as mouth fresheners. It is proved that *Theertham* is a very good blood purifier, as it is highly energized. Hence it is given as *prasadam* to the devotees. This way, one can claim to remain healthy by regularly visiting the Temples. This is why our elders used to suggest us to offer prayers at the temple so that you will be cured of many ailments. They were not always superstitious. Yes, in a few cases they did go overboard when due to ignorance they hoped many serious diseases could be cured at temples by deities. When people go to a temple for the *Deepaaraadhana*, and when the doors open up, the positive energy gushes out onto the persons who are there. The water that is sprinkled onto the assemblages passes on the energy to all. This also explains why men are not allowed to wear shirts at a few temples and women are requested to wear more ornaments during temple visits. It is through these jewels (metal) that positive energy is absorbed by the women. Also, it is a practice to leave newly purchased jewels at an idol’s feet and then wear them with the idol’s blessings. This act is now justified after reading this article. This act of “seeking divine blessings” before using any new article, like books or pens or automobiles may have stemmed from this through mere observation.

Energy lost in a day’s work is regained through a temple visit and one is refreshed slightly. The positive energy that is spread out in the entire temple and especially around where the main idol is placed, are simply absorbed by one's body and mind. Did you know, every Vaishnava(Vishnu devotees), “must” visit a Vishnu temple twice every day in their location. Our practices are NOT some hard and fast rules framed by 1 man and his followers or God’s words in somebody’s dreams. All the rituals, all the practices are, in reality, well researched, studied and scientifically backed thesis which form the ways of nature to lead a good healthy life.

The scientific and research part of the practices are well camouflaged as “elder’s instructions” or “granny’s teaching’s” which should be obeyed as a mark of respect so as to once again, avoid stress to the mediocre brains.

Shiva Sutra

JAGRATSWAPUASUSHUPTBHEDE TURYABHOG SAMVITA
GYANAM JAGRAT
SWAPNOVIKALPAHA
AVIVEKO MAYASOWSHUPTAM.
TRITIYA BHOKTA VIRESHAHA.

Concise:
KNOWING WAKEFULNESS, DREAMING AND DEEP SLEEP-EACH SEPARATELY – THE FOURTH STATE IS ATTAINED.
CONSTANCY OF KNOWLEDGE IS THE WAKING STATE.
CHOOSING IS THE DREAMING STATE.
UNCONSCIOUSNESS AND LACK OF SELF-AWARENESS CREATE THE ILLUSION OF DEEP SLEEP.
HE WHO IS AWARE OF ALL THREE IS THE SUPREME HERO.
KNOWING WAKEFULNESS, DREAMING AND DEEP SLEEP – EACH SEPARATELY – -TURIYA,
THE FOURTH STATE, IS ATTAINED.

Turiya, the fourth state, means supreme knowledge. The fourth state means that there is no
darkness of any sort within. All the inner landscape is illuminated; no area of darkness remains.
Nothing of ourselves, neither within nor without, is unknown to us. The light of wakefulness makes
every thing visible.

As we are now, we are either awake or dreaming or in deep sleep. We have no idea of the fourth
state. When we are awake we see the outside world, but we ourselves are in darkness. Objects
become visible, but we have no knowledge of our inner self. The world lights up but not the soul.
This is the state of semi-wakefulness, half-wakefulness.
What we call waking up in the morning, is just this half-wakeful state. This is not really worthwhile
because it is the useless which is visible; the useful remains hidden. We see the rubbish, but the
diamonds remain in obscurity. We cannot see our own selves though the whole world is made visible
to us.

The second state is the state of dreaming. In dreaming we lose not only ourselves, but also the
outside world. All we see are images floating in the mind, reflections of the external world. We see
these reflections as we would see the moon or the stars mirrored in a lake. On waking we see things
distinctly; in dreams we see them as reflections.

The third state that we are acquainted with is deep sleep. In this state, first the external world, the
world of objects is lost to us; then the reflections fade, dreams disappear and we are left in total
darkness. This is known as deep sleep. In this state we have no knowledge either of the outer world
or of the inner world.

In the waking state we have knowledge of the external world. In the dream state, which is between
wakefulness and deep sleep, we have knowledge only of the reflections formed in the wakeful state,
but no knowledge of the objects without.

The fourth state is turiya. This state is the goal we are striving to reach. All meditations, all yoga, are
endeavors to reach the fourth state. The fourth state means knowledge of both, what is within and
what is without - complete wakefulness; there is no darkness within or without. This is what is known
as buddhahood. Mahavir called this enlightened state, jinatva. The light spreads everywhere, inside
and out; and in this light we know objects and also know our self. These sutras show how the fourth
state is attained.

The first sutra says:
KNOWING WAKEFULNESS, DREAMING AND DEEP SLEEP – EACH SEPARATELY – TURIYA, THE FOURTH STATE IS ATTAINED.

Importance of Namaskar

There are several ways in which people pay obeisance (namaskār or salutation) to the Divine. Various types gestures or postures accompany prayers or obeisance. Some people hold their hands up as if in asking, while others bring their fists together, while yet others may pray with hands folded, as seen above. For the simple reason that it is the most scientific way to attract the divine consciousness (Chaitanya) from God towards oneself.

Origin and the meaning of the word 'Namaskar'

The word 'Namaskār' is derived from the root 'Namaha,' which means paying obeisance or salutation. In the Hindu Science of Justice (Nyaayashaastra), 'namaha' is a physical action, expressing that 'you are superior to me in all qualities and in every way.' The main objective of doing Namaskār to someone is to derive spiritual as well as worldly benefits.

Worldly benefits

By doing Namaskār to a Deity or a Saint, unknowingly their virtues and capabilities are impressed upon our mind. Consequently, we start emulating them, thus changing ourselves for the better.

Spiritual benefits

- Increase in humility and the reduction of ego

While doing Namaskār, if one thinks, 'You are superior to me; I am subordinate; I do not know anything; You are Omniscient,' it helps to reduce ego and increasing humility.

- Enhancement in surrender and gratitude

While doing Namaskār, when thoughts like 'I do not know anything; You alone get everything done; Grant me a place at Your Holy Feet' come to mind, this helps in increasing ones surrender and gratitude.

- Gaining the sattva component and making faster spiritual progress

Among the various postures used for paying obeisance, we receive the highest amount of sattva component from the posture (mudrā) of Namaskār, recommended by The Hindu Dharma.
By doing Namaskār to Deities or Saints we receive the subtle frequencies They emit, for example, the frequencies of sattva or Bliss.
By doing Namaskār to Deities or Saints we also receive Their blessings in a subtle form. This helps in expediting our spiritual progress.

The Life of Swami Vivekananda

Click to read about the life of Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda

The Law of Karma

The law of karma, in the first place, is not a law. That word gives it an aroma as if it is something scientific, like the law of gravitation. It is merely a hope, not a law at all. It has been hoped for centuries that if you do good you will attain to good results. It is a human hope in existence which is absolutely neutral.

If you look at nature, there are laws -- the whole of science is nothing but discovery of those laws -- but science has not come even close to detecting anything like the law of karma. Yes, it is certain that any action is going to bring certain reactions, but the law of karma is hoping for much more. If you simply say any action is bound to produce some reactions, it is possible to have scientific support for it. But man is hoping for much more. He is asking that a good action inevitably brings a good consequence with it, and the same with a bad action.


Now, there are many things implied in this. First, What is good? Each society defines good according to itself. What is good to a Jew is not good to a Jaina; what is good to a Christian is not good to a Confucian. Not only that, what is good in one culture is bad in another culture. A law has to be universal. For example, if you heat water to one hundred degrees centigrade, it will evaporate -- in Tibet, in Russia, in America, even in Oregon. In Oregon it will be a little puzzled, but all the same at one hundred degrees water will evaporate. Certainly the law of karma is neither a scientific law nor part of any legal system.

Then what kind of law is it? It is a hope. A man wandering in immense darkness, groping his way, clings to anything that gives a little hope, a little light -- because what you observe in life itself is something totally different from the law of karma. A man who is a well-known criminal may succeed and become the president, the prime minister; or vice versa: he was not a criminal before, but when he becomes the president or prime minister of a country he becomes a criminal... So in life this strange situation happens: bad people reach good positions, become respectable or honored, not only in their time but throughout history. It is full of their names. In history, Gautam Buddha, Mahavira, Kanad, Gautam, Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, Lieh Tzu -- people like these you will not find even in the footnotes. And Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Tamerlane, Nadirshah, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler -- they make up the major portion of history. In fact, we have to write the whole of history again because all these people have to be completely erased. Even the memory of them should not be carried on, because even their memory may have evil effects on people.

A better humanity will not give these names even a place in the footnotes; there is no need. They were nightmares; it is better they are completely forgotten so they don't follow you like shadows. And we have to discover people who have lived on this earth and made it in every way beautiful; shared their joy, their dance, their music, shared their ecstasies -- but lived anonymously. People have completely forgotten even their names. To me, certainly each action has its result, but not somewhere far away in a future life. The action and the result are continuous, they are part of one process. Do you think sowing the seed and reaping the crop are separate? It is one process. What begins in sowing the seed, grows, and one day the one seed has become thousands of seeds. That's what you call your crop. It is the same seed which has exploded into thousands of seeds. No death is intervening, no afterlife is needed; it is a continuum.

So the one thing to be remembered is: in my vision of life, yes, every action is bound to have some consequences, but they will not be somewhere else, you will have them here and now. Most probably you will get them almost simultaneously. When you are kind to someone, don't you feel a certain joy? A certain peace? A certain meaningfulness? Don't you feel that you are contented with what you have done? There is a kind of deep satisfaction. Have you ever felt that contentment when you are angry, when you are boiling with anger, when you hurt somebody, when you are mad with rage? Have you ever felt a peace, a silence descending in you? No, it is impossible. You will certainly feel something, but it will be a sadness that you again acted like a fool, that again you have done the same stupid thing that you decided again and again not to do. You will feel a tremendous unworthiness in yourself. You will feel that you are not a man but a machine, because you don't respond, you react. A man may have done something, and you reacted. That man had the key in his hands, and you just danced according to his desire; he had power over you. When somebody abuses you and you start fighting, what does it mean? It means that you don't have any capacity not to react.

अंधविश्वास के बदलते फैशन: ओशो

हर युग के अपने अंधविश्वास होते हैं। अंधविश्वास का भी फैशन होता है। ध्यान रहे, अंधविश्वास का फैशन होता है। हर युग में अंधविश्वास नए तरह के होते हैं। पुराने अंधविश्वास से आदमी छूटता है और नए पकड़ लेता है। लेकिन अंधविश्वास से कभी नहीं छूट पाता। बदलाहट कर लेता है, लेकिन हमें खयाल में नहीं आता।

समझ लें कि अगर एक जमाने में अंधविश्वास था कि सिर पर टीका लगाने वाला आदमी धार्मिक है। हालाँकि सिर पर टीका लगाने से धार्मिक होने का क्या संबंध? लेकिन यह खयाल था, तो आदमी टीका लगाता था और समझता था कि धार्मिक है। और जो नहीं लगाता था, उसे समझता था था कि वह अधार्मिक है। यह पुराना अंधविश्वास है, यह चला गया। अब नए तरह के अंधविश्वास है। उनमें कोई फर्क नहीं है। अगर एक आदमी टाई बाँधता है, तो समझते हैं कि प्रतिष्ठित आदमी है। और नहीं बाँधता है तो समझते हैं अप्रतिष्ठित है।

ठीक वही का वही मामला है, इसमें कोई फर्क नहीं है। क्या फर्क है? टाई तिलक से बेहतर तो नहीं है, बदतर हो भी सकती है। तिलक का कोई अर्थ भी हो सकता था, टाई का बिलकुल ही अर्थ नहीं है। इस मुल्क (भारत) में तो बिलकुल ही नहीं है, किसी मुल्क में हो भी सकता है। किसी ठंडे मुल्क में टाई का कोई अर्थ हो सकता है कि सब गले को बाँध लो।

निश्चित ही उस मुल्क में जो आदमी अपने गले को नहीं बाँध पाता है, वह गरीब आदमी है। निश्चित ही जो आदमी इतनी सुरक्षा नहीं जुटा पाता कि अपने गले को बाँधकर सर्दी जाने से रोक ले, वह आदमी गरीब है। जो सुविधा-संपन्न है, वह अपने गले को बाँधकर सर्दी से बच जाता है। लेकिन गर्म मुल्क में आदमी टाई बाँधे बैठा हुआ है, तब जरा खतरनाक मालूम पड़ता है कि यह आदमी या तो पागल है- सुविधा-संपन्न है या पागल है?

सुविधा संपन्न होने का मतलब तो यह नहीं है कि गर्मी सहो, गले में बाँध लो, फाँसी लगा लो। वैसे टाई का मतलब फाँसी ही होता है, टाई का मतलब होता है गाँठ। ठंडे मुल्क में तो कुछ मतलब भी हो सकता है, गर्म मुल्क में बिल्कुल फाँसी है।

लेकिन प्रतिष्ठा का खयाल वाला आदमी फाँसी लगाए हुए खड़ा है। नेता है, फाँसी लगाए हुए खड़ा है। और उससे पूछो तो वह कहेगा, ये सब टीका-तिलक लगाने वाले सब अंधविश्वासी हैं। उससे पूछो, यह टाई तुम कैसे बाँधे हुए हो? यह अंधविश्वास नहीं है? यह तुमने कौन-सी वैज्ञानिक व्यवस्था से यह टाई बाँध ली है?

लेकिन टाई इस युग का अंधविश्वास है, इसलिए चलेगा। टीका पुराने युग का अंधविश्वास है, इसलिए नहीं चलेगा। जैसा मैंने कहा कि ठंडे मुल्क में अर्थ भी हो सकता है टाई का, और कुछ लोगों को टीका लगाने का भी अर्थ हो सकता है। इसको बिना खोजे अगर हमने एकदम से अंधविश्वास कह दिया, तो खतरनाक है, गलत बात है।

अब आपने कभी सोचा भी नहीं होगा कि टीका लगाने का क्या मतलब है। अधिक लोग तो अंधविश्वास की तरह ही लगाते रहे हैं। लेकिन जिन्होंने पहली दफे लगाया होगा, उसमें कुछ साइंस ही थी। कुछ विज्ञान ही था। असल में जहाँ टीका लगाया जाता है, वहाँ आज्ञा चक्र है। और जो लोग भी थोड़ा ध्यान करते हैं, वह स्थल गर्म हो जाता है। और उस पर अगर चंदन लगा दिया जाए, तो वह ठंडा हो जाता है। और चंदन उस पर लगाता बहुत वैज्ञानिक प्रक्रिया है।

लेकिन वह बात गई, उसके विज्ञान से कोई मतलब नहीं है। कोई भी चंदन लगाए हुए चला आ रहा है। जिसे आज्ञा-चक्र का न कोई पता है, न जिसने कभी ध्यान किया है। वह टाई बाँधे हुए है गर्म मुल्क में। टाई वैज्ञानिक हो सकती है ठंडे मुल्क में। आज्ञा चक्र पर काम करने वाले आदमी को चंदन का टीका भी वैज्ञानिक हो सकता है, क्योंकि चंदन उसे ठंडक देता है। और जब कोई ध्यान की प्रक्रिया करता है। उसको ठंडा करना जरूरी है, अन्यथा मस्तिष्क को नुकसान पहुँचेगा।

लेकिन अब अगर हम पक्का कर लें कि नहीं, टीका मिटा डालना है। तो जो व्यर्थ लगाए हुए हैं उनका तो मिटाएँगे ही हम, लेकिन बेचारा अपने किसी काम से लगाए हुए है, उसका भी पोंछ डालेंगे। और नहीं पोंछेगा, तो कहेंगे अंधविश्वासी है।

साभार : मैं मृत्यु सिखाता हूँ
सौजन्य : ओशो इंटरनेशनल फाउंडेशन

Interesting facts about India.

History

India is the world's largest, oldest, continuous civilization

Although modern images of India often show poverty and lack of development, India was the richest country on earth until the time of British invasion in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus was attracted by India's wealth.

India never invaded any country in her last 10000 years of history.

India is the world's largest democracy.

The four religions born in India, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are followed by 25% of the world's population

Chess (Shataranja or AshtaPada) was invented in India.

Varanasi, also known as Benares, was called "the ancient city" when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C.E, and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.

The art of Navigation was born in the river Sindh 6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. The word navy is also derived from Sanskrit 'Nou'.

Medicine

Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted complicated surgeries like cesareans, cataract, artificial limbs, fractures, urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain surgery. Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India. Over 125 surgical equipment were used. Deep knowledge of anatomy, physiology, etiology, embryology, digestion, metabolism, genetics and immunity is also found in many texts.

Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans. Charaka, the father of medicine consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago. Today Ayurveda is fast regaining its rightful place in our civilization.

Math

The value of "pi" was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century long before the European mathematician.

India invented the Number System. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.

Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. Time taken by earth to orbit the sun: (5th century) 365.258756484 days.

Academic

The World's first university was established in Takshashila in 700 BCE. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BCE was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.

Grammar constitutes one of India's greatest contributions to Western philology. Panini, the Sanskrit grammarian, who lived between 750 and 500 BCE, was the first to compose formal grammar through his Astadhyai.

Lord Shiva High Resolution pictures

Karmanye Vadhikaraste

In Devnagari: कर्मण्ये वाधिकारस्ते म फलेषु कदाचना कर्मफलेह्तुर भुरमा ते संगोस्त्वकर्मानी॥ च २, ४७

In English transliteration: Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachna Karmaphalehtur bhurma te sangostvakarmani. Ch. 2, 47

In English translation: You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action।

Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.

OM

OM – The cosmic sound Aum, or its condensed form OM, is the origin of all other sounds and is itself a mantra. It is called a pranava or sacred syllable and symbolises Brahman or the spiritual reality. The mantra Aum gives birth to rays of light, bringing illuminations to the mind. Aum is a one letter mantra, has no word meaning but its significance is definite; it is the smallest and most effective mantra. It is made of 3.5 strokes. These strokes are linked to the 3 and a half coils of kunalini (the coiled power that lies within us). Aum is so powerful that it is called king of mantras; some mantras give earthly happiness, some give emancipation, some give spiritual happiness, paramarthic shakti – this mantra of aum links both earthly life and spiritual life.

Swami Vivekananda's Teachings

Selected Teachings of Swami Vivekananda:

 My ideal, indeed, can be put into a few words, and that is: to preach unto mankind their divinity, and how to make it manifest in every movement of life.

 Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man.

 We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand on one's own feet.

 So long as the millions live in hunger and ignorance, I hold every man a traitor who, having been educated at their expense, pays not the least heed to them.

 Whatever you think, that you will be. If you think yourselves weak, weak you will be; if you think yourselves strong, strong you will be.

 If you have faith in all the three hundred and thirty millions of your mythological gods, … and still have no faith in yourselves, there is no salvation for you. Have faith in yourselves, and stand up on that faith and be strong; that is what we need.

 Strength, strength it is that we want so much in this life, for what we call sin and sorrow have all one cause, and that is our weakness. With weakness comes ignorance, and with ignorance comes misery.

 The older I grow, the more everything seems to me to lie in manliness. This is my new Gospel.

 Purity, patience, and perseverance are the three essentials to success, and above all, love.

 Religion is realization; not talk, not doctrine, nor theories, however beautiful they may be. It is being and becoming, not hearing or acknowledging; it is the whole soul becoming changed into what it believes.

 Religion is the manifestation of the Divinity already in man.

 Teach yourselves, teach everyone his real nature, call uon the sleeping soul and see how it awakes. Power will come, glory will come, goodness will come, purity will come, and everything that is excellent will come when this sleeping soul is roused to self-conscious activity.

 They alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.

 This is the gist of all worship – to be pure and to do good to others.

 It is love and love alone that I preach, and I base my teaching on the great Vedantic truth of the sameness and omnipresence of the Soul of the Universe.

LORD SHIVA'S APPEARANCE

Shri Ram 108 naam...

.. shrii raama ashhTottaranaamaavali (108 names of Shri Ram) ..

OM shriiraamaaya namaH .
OM raamabhadraaya namaH .
OM raamachandraaya namaH .
OM shaashvataaya namaH .
OM raajiivalochanaaya namaH .
OM shriimate namaH .
OM raajendraaya namaH .
OM raghupu.ngavaaya namaH .
OM jaanakiivallabhaaya namaH .

OM jaitraaya namaH .
OM jitaamitraaya namaH .
OM janaardanaaya namaH .
OM vishvaamitrapriyaaya namaH .
OM daantaaya namaH .
OM sharaNatraaNa tatparaaya namaH .
OM vaalipramathanaaya namaH .
OM vaagmine namaH .
OM satyavaache namaH .
OM satyavikramaaya namaH .
OM satyavrataaya namaH .
OM vratadharaaya namaH .

OM sadaahanumadaashritaaya namaH .
OM kausaleyaaya namaH .
OM kharadhva.nsine namaH .
OM viraadhavadhapaNDitaaya namaH .
OM vibhiishhaNa paritraatre namaH .
OM harakodaNDa kha.nDanaaya namaH .
OM saptataala prabhettre namaH .
OM dashagriiva shiroharaaya namaH .
OM jaamadgnya mahaadarpadalanaaya namaH .
OM taaTakaantakaaya namaH .
OM vedaantasaaraaya namaH .

OM vedaatmane namaH .
OM bhavarogasya bheshhajaaya namaH .
OM duushhaNa trishiro hantre namaH .
OM trimuurtaye namaH .
OM triguNaatmakaaya namaH .
OM trivikramaaya namaH .
OM trilokaatmane namaH .
OM puNyachaaritrakiirtanaaya namaH .
OM trilokaraxakaaya namaH .
OM dhanvine namaH .
OM danDakaaraNya puNyakR^ite namaH .

OM ahalyaa shaapa shamanaaya namaH .
OM pitR^i bhaktaaya namaH .
OM varapradaaya namaH .
OM jitendriyaaya namaH .
OM jitakrodhaaya namaH .
OM jitaamitraaya namaH .
OM jagadgurave namaH .
OM R^ixa vaanara sa.nghaatine namaH .
OM chitrakuuTa samaashrayaaya namaH .
OM jayanta traaNa varadaaya namaH .
OM sumitraaputra sevitaaya namaH .
OM sarvadevaadi devaaya namaH .

OM mR^itavaanar jiivitaaya namaH .
OM maayaamaariichahantre namaH .
OM mahaadevaaya namaH .
OM mahaabhujaaya namaH .
OM sarvadevastutaaya namaH .
OM saumyaaya namaH .
OM brahmaNyaaya namaH .
OM munisaMstutaaya namaH .
OM mahaa yogine namaH .
OM mahodaraaya namaH .
OM sugriivepsita raajyadaaya namaH .
OM sarvapuNyaadhika phalaaya namaH .

OM smR^ita sarvaagha naashanaaya namaH .
OM aadipurushhaaya namaH .
OM paramapurushhaaya namaH .
OM mahaapurushhaaya namaH .
OM puNyodayaaya namaH .
OM dayaasaaraaya namaH .
OM puraaNapurushhottamaaya namaH .
OM smitavaktraaya namaH .
OM mitabhaashhiNe namaH .
OM puurvabhaashhiNe namaH .
OM raaghavaaya namaH .
OM anantaguNa gaMbhiiraaya namaH .
OM dhiiroddaattaguNottamaaya namaH .

OM maayaamaanushha charitraaya namaH .
OM mahaadevaadipuujitaaya namaH .
OM setukR^ite namaH .
OM jitavaaraashaye namaH .
OM sarvatiirthamayaaya namaH .
OM haraye namaH .
OM shyaamaa.ngaaya namaH .
OM sundaraaya namaH .
OM shuuraaya namaH .

OM piitavaasase namaH .
OM dhanurdharaaya namaH .
OM sarvayaGYaadhipaaya namaH .
OM yajvane namaH .
OM jaraamaraNavarjitaaya namaH .
OM vibhiishhaNa pratishhThaatre namaH .
OM sarvaavaguNavarjitaaya namaH .
OM paramaatmane namaH .
OM parasmai brahmaNe namaH .

OM sachchidaananda vigrihaaya namaH .
OM parasmai jyotishhe namaH .
OM parasmai dhaamne namaH .
OM paraakaashaaya namaH .
OM paraatparaaya namaH .
OM pareshaaya namaH .
OM paaragaaya namaH .
OM paaraaya namaH .
OM sarvadevaatmakaaya parasmai namaH .
.. iti raamaashhTottarashata naamaavaliH ..

beautiful lines....

आज मैने सूर्य से बस जरा-सा यों कहा-
आपके साम्राज्य मे इतना अँधेरा क्यों रहा?
तमतमाकर वह दहाडा--मै अकेला क्या करूँ?
तुम निकम्मों के लिये मै ही भला कब तक मरूँ?
आकाश की आराधना के चक्करों मे मत पडो
संग्राम यह घनघोर है, कुछ मै लड़ूँ, कुछ तुम लड़ो !!

The Gayatri Mantra

The vedic form of the famous Gayatri mantra:

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्यः धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्

Aum bhur-bhuvah-swah tat savitur varenyam
bhargo devasya dheemahi dhiyo yo nah Prachodayat.

Summary of the Mantra:

May we meditate on the Glory of the Lord, the Remover of pains and sorrows, the Bestower of happiness, Who has created the universe, and Who is the embodiment of knowledge and light. May the Lord, enlighten our intellect in the right direction by destroying all our sins and ignorance.

Meaning of each letter in mantra:

---------------------------------
OM = Almighty God
BHOOR = Embodiment of vital or spiritual energy
BHUVAHA = Destroyer of suffering
SWAHA = Embodiment of happiness
TAT = That (indicating God)
SAVITUR = Bright, luminous, like and sun
VARENIYAM = Supreme, best
BARGO = Destroyer of sins
DEVASYA = Divine
DHEEMAHI = May receive
DHIYO = Intellect
YO = Who
NAHA = Our
PRACHODAYAT = May inspire

AUM	GRANTHI�POWER	MEANING
TAT	TAPINI	SUCCESS
SA	SUCCESS	BRAVERY (PARAKRAM)
VI	VISHWA	MAINTENANCE� (PALAN)
TUR	TUSHTI	WELFARE (KALYAN)
VA	VARDA	MARYADA
RE	YOG	SELF RESTRAINT��(SANYAM)
NI	REVATI	SFUTA
YAM	LOVE (PREM)	TAP
BHAR	SOOKSHMA	MEDHA
GO	MONEY	FOR SIGHT
DE	GYANA	YOGMAYA
VA	BRILLIANCE (TEJ)	JAGRITI (AWAKENING)
SYA	BHARGA	YOGINI
DHEE	DEFENCE (RAKSHA)	CREATION (PRODUCTION)
MA	GOMATI	DHARINI
HI	INTELLECT (BUDDHI)	SARASTA��(SWEETNESS)
DHI	DEVIKA	PRABHAVA
YO	SUPPRESSION (DAMAN)	IDEAL
YO	VARAHI	OOSHMA
NAHA	DEVOTION (NISTHA)	COURAGE
PRA	SINHANI	DRASHYA
CHO	DHARNA�(POWER OF RETENTION)	WISDOM (VIVEK)
DA	DHYAN	NIRANJAN
YAT	PRAN	SEWA (SERVICE)

गायत्री मंत्र का वर्णं

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्यः धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् 

गायत्री मंत्र संक्षेप में

गायत्री मंत्र (वेद ग्रंथ की माता) को हिन्दू धर्म में सबसे उत्तम मंत्र माना जाता है. यह मंत्र हमें ज्ञान प्रदान करता है. इस मंत्र का मतलब है - हे प्रभु, क्रिपा करके हमारी बुद्धि को उजाला प्रदान कीजिये और हमें धर्म का सही रास्ता दिखाईये. यह मंत्र सूर्य देवता (सवितुर) के लिये प्रार्थना रूप से भी माना जाता है.

हे प्रभु! आप हमारे जीवन के दाता हैं
आप हमारे दुख़ और दर्द का निवारण करने वाले हैं
आप हमें सुख़ और शांति प्रदान करने वाले हैं
हे संसार के विधाता
हमें शक्ति दो कि हम आपकी उज्जवल शक्ति प्राप्त कर सकें
क्रिपा करके हमारी बुद्धि को सही रास्ता दिखायें
मंत्र के प्रत्येक शब्द की व्याख्या
गायत्री मंत्र के पहले नौं शब्द प्रभु के गुणों की व्याख्या करते हैं
ॐ = प्रणव भूर = मनुष्य को प्राण प्रदाण करने वाला
भुवः = दुख़ों का नाश करने वाला
 स्वः = सुख़ प्रदाण करने वाला
 तत = वह, 
सवितुर = सूर्य की भांति उज्जवल
 वरेण्यं = सबसे उत्तम
 भर्गो = कर्मों का उद्धार करने वाला
 देवस्य = प्रभु
 धीमहि = आत्म चिंतन के योग्य (ध्यान)
 धियो = बुद्धि, 
यो = जो,
 नः = हमारी, 
प्रचोदयात् = हमें शक्ति दें (प्रार्थना)

Easy Steps For Meditation At Work

If a harassed office worker keeps on piling on work without taking the time for a break, he will find himself burnt out. Five to ten minutes of meditation a day can actually help an office worker create a space of peace and quiet even if he doesn’t leave his desk.

An Ancient Practice In A Modern World

Meditation has been around for centuries. Most major religions around the world, including Christianity, include meditation as part of their practice. Meditation has often been equated with praying. However, even non-believers can actually practice meditation.

The staying power of meditation through the ages just shows how much it has stayed relevant to human beings even in this digital era. In fact, now more than ever, meditation is a balm to our information laden and time starved lifestyles.

Seven Easy Steps To Meditate In The Workplace

It doesn’t matter if the office worker has a room or is situated in a cubicle. It’s possible for anyone to enjoy the state of meditation even with their eyes open.

1. The office worker just needs to set his alarm for at least ten minutes during the day. This should be scheduled in his calendar to make it a daily habit.
2. He should clear his mind of any concerns or thoughts. Thoughts must be treated as external barriers that need to be acknowledged and then set aside.
3. He should be aware that he is producing deep breaths that come from the diaphragm.
4. He can choose an object to focus on. It might be the corner of a room or a picture frame. He can also choose a peaceful looking screensaver or web page on his computer. It doesn’t matter what he is looking at as long as he is just focused on one point.
5. He needs to keep his gaze steady without thinking of anything in particular.
6. Once he has established that his mind is clear, he should then focus on one thought. For some, this can be called a mantra. It doesn’t have to be said out loud. It is a powerful thought that the office worker would like to bring into being such as: “I am a fully empowered individual” or “I will be peaceful and focused today.”
7. After focusing on the thought, the office worker can visualize the thought becoming part of his actions for the day. This can lead to the end of his meditation exercise.

How To Make Meditation A Habit

It’s definitely not easy to make meditation a habit. Many people actually fall back into old habits and don't follow through on resolutions. One way for an office worker to ensure that this is part of his daily routine is to actually schedule it in his calendar as if he is going to a ten-minute meeting. This exercise needs to be treated as if it is an ongoing part of an office worker’s operations. Instead of taking a cigarette break or a snack break, he can, instead, focus on his inner well-being and take time to calm his busy mind.