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Vedanta Mission, Delhi (2026)

31/07/2023

Good morning 🌄🌅
Have a nice day 🌾🌿💐

29/07/2023

Good morning 🌄🌅
Have a nice day 🌾🌿💐

28/07/2023

Among the five main deities ( Shiva , Shakti, Ganapati, Surya, Narayan) if Lord Shiva is taken then how many are actually taken ?

Amongst them Lord Shiva himself is there, Devi Shakti is present as his ardhangini ( wife ) , Lord Ganesha is residing as his son . Surya Deva ( sun ) is his eye. If only Lord Shiva is taken, directly four main deities of five are already taken . Now only Lord Visnu is left , he is Atma Swarup ( own form) of Lord Shiva ( SHIVAYA VISHNU ROOPAYA SHIVA ROOPAAYA VISHNAVE ) .

So , if you worship Lord Shiva alone, you already worshiped Pancha Devas too. Isn't it?

So, Hiranyagarbhaa - Aditya the very Sun ( Surya Deva) is one eye of Lord Shiva, Parachiti Swarupa Devi Shakti is his own ultimate super power source ( hladini, sambit Shakti ) residing with him as his wife . Lord Ganesha is his own dearest son, Narayan is his own form ( Atma Swarup) .

So all the Gods and Goddesses reside in Lord Shiva. If Shiva is worshipped all are worshipped.

- Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Govardhan Math , Puri

( Translated from his holiness Jagadguru Shankaracharya's lecture)

🔱🚩Har Har Mahadev🚩🔱

03/03/2021

1 . nalinee- dalagata jalam- ati- taralam
2 . tadvat- jeevitam- atishaya- chapalam;
3 . viddhi vyaadhy- abhimaana grastam
4 . lokam shoka- hatam cha samastam.

-

The water-drop playing on a lotus petal has an extremely uncertain existence;
so also is life ever unstable.
Understand it to be consumed by disease and conceit; and
this entire world is riddled only with pangs.

-

We have been born with an expiry date – when it will come we do not know. Even if
we escape the temptations of wealth or the pleasures of the senses (as described in the
previous two stanzas), this birth itself is so uncertain in duration. No one can escape from
the clutches of Time or Death. Death stalks at every moment.

2 . This verse focuses our attention on the uncertainty of life, so that we learn to make
the best possible use of our time. Life is fickle. We really have very little time in one birth.
Before we know it the “water-drop” of our life-span will have evaporated. This brings us to
the excellent simile used to symbolize one’s life-span…
The droplet arises from water and return to water. In the same way we arise from
Brahman and return to Brahman. This is the Vedantic meaning of the same simile.
1 If one sees a droplet of water on a lotus leaf, the first thought is the sheer beauty
of the sight. It is one of nature’s thrilling sights. A closer look reveals another side attached
to this beauty – its shaky, uncertain existence. It faces many dangers to its existence:
i) A slight wind can simply blow it off the leaf.
ii) A slight wave in the water can shake off the droplet back into the water.
iii) Even if it survives that, as soon as the sun rises a bit higher, even without any
wind the droplet cannot avoid drying up out of existence.
The poet in Shankaracharyaji always finds the perfect simile – how much closer can
he get to a comparison with our life span!
Pratipaksha Bhavana is brought into play here also. If we realize the extreme
uncertainty of life, it will impel us to take up our spiritual life more seriously, and with a
sense of urgency. If this verse does that, the poet’s selection of the beautiful simile would
not be in vain.
The Pangs of Pain and Disease:

3-4 :- Even such a brittle life, short as it is, is riddled with the dangers of disease and
conceit (arising from greed) waiting to consume us.
One may argue that there is no problem of a short life as long as one enjoys it well,
in good health and in happiness. But that is a Utopian dream. Life brings with it all the tests
and trials. It does not spare anyone the pangs of pain and disease.
The pangs are not only physical pains. There are even more unbearable pains lying in
wait for the non-discriminating in the world…

23/02/2021

1 . naari-stana bhara naabhee-desham
2 . drishtvaa maa’gaa moha- avesham;
3 . etan maamsa vasaadi vikaaram
4 . manasi vichintaya vaaram vaaram.

-

Seeing the weighty bosoms of young
maidens, and their navel –
do not fall a prey to maddening delusion.
These are but modifications of flesh and fat.
Reflect well in your mind again and again.

-

Going beyond the natural passions is not a weakness suffered by animals. Only man
falls a prey to that – and pays the price for his indulgence.
For a spiritual aspirant these words will not sound offensive but rather helpful in
regulating his life’s energies. The spirit of the verse is least offensive, indeed, most helpful,
considering the urgency of spiritual awakening.

1 . One is compelled to ask: What, after all, is attracting in the physical body? The
physical centres of attraction are mentioned in the verse. But are they attractive in
themselves? Pada 3 answers that question, and Pada 4 tells where the problem lies.

2 . Maa (A)gaa: “Do not fall a prey”. This sums up the advice being given on this
subject. It is not directed to man or to woman; nor is it against man or against woman. Lust is present in man and woman. The truth is that it arises from the power of delusion which is
rooted in ignorance. The advice given is to eschew an ignoble view of the human body, seeing it only as an object of enjoyment. This view is demeaning to one’s character, and inexcusably unworthy of the dignity of man. It is the very antithesis of all striving for nobility and a greater meaning to life. The words “fall a prey” allude to the negative effect of lust.

4 . Manasi Vichintaya: “Reflect well”. The hint is very strong that the unseen mind is
the culprit that promotes lust in a person. Lust has never found a safer refuge and supporter than the human mind; that makes lust a purely mental phenomenon, inflamed by thoughts
and musings of desire. Any remedy to cure one of it has to deal with the mind, not the body.Thus, “think well thus in your mind”.
There have been sincere aspirants who have abandoned themselves to life in a
desert, with barely enough food to eat, and were yet victims of pangs of passion. This
proves that lust is a desire, and the home of desire is the mind.
The ‘virus’ of lust proliferates in the mind. The ‘anti-virus’ has two aspects: i) firmly
establishing the intellect in a higher ideal; and ii) cultivating the correct attitude towards the
human body. The first takes care of the inner virus of desire; the second takes care of the external actions that seek to fulfil that desire. Sadhana that incorporates both these aspects will certainly succeed in cleaning out the virus of lust.
In conclusion, this verse teaches us that to consider someone else just as an object of pleasure and degrade ourselves in carnal pursuit is just like being an animal. We are asked to raise ourselves to higher things. “Move forward!” is the poet’s call to us.

An Anecdote from Acharyaji’s Life:

Acharyaji gave us an amusing anecdote from his own life. A long time ago he had to send a sample of urine urgently to his secretary from out of town. There was no time to look
for the right packaging. He found a perfume bottle that would do for the sample. Using the perfume bottle packaging itself, he sent it off with a friend. The friend took it.
On the way his curiosity grew as he looked at the address on the package – “To Miss
So-and-so.” The packaging made him suspicious. He could not contain his inquisitive mind.
“What! Has he got some secret ideas in his mind?” He had to open and see for himself. He
opened up the box. Finding the neatly wrapped perfume bottle for the young secretary, he
became very curious. Curiosity made him open the lid to smell the perfume!

22/02/2021

1. moodha jaheehi dhana-agama
trishnaam
2 . kuru sadbuddhim manasi
vitrishnaam;
3 . yal-labhase nija karma-upaattam
4 . vittam tena vinodaya chittam.

-

O Fool! Give up the thirst to possess wealth.
Create in your mind, devoid of passions,
thoughts of the Reality.
From your actions, whatever you get as
wealth , entertain your mind (be content).

1 . Moodha: “O Fool!” There is an urgency to wake up. When the house is on fire,
there is no time to wait for formalities to wake people up and save their lives. It could have
even been “O Idiot!” without being rude in a case like this. This is how much Sri
Shankaracharya is concerned for the spiritual wellbeing of mankind.
If livelihood is meant for living, then what is living meant for? What are we going to
do with so much wealth? Let us not make the means into an end. Everything has its proper
time and limits. Is the wealth going to come with us when we go?
Acharyaji quoted the story of Alexander the Great who had instructed that at the
time of his funeral, his hands should be positioned to hang out of the coffin with the palms
open, to indicate that after all his conquests he is not taking anything with him!
There is a wise old belief that if we die with excess wealth, we will be reborn as
snakes to come and look after that wealth. Hence the advice is to give away surplus wealth.
Replacing Evil Thoughts With Good Ones:

2 . What happens when we give away our excess wealth? The passions in our mind
are cooled down. In a mind free from passions, we are able to entertain thoughts of the
Reality. This method by which we substitute a harmful thought with one that is more
beneficial, is called Pratipaksha Bhavana. This Bhavana includes developing a disgust for
that which is harmful.
Note that the pursuits themselves are not being criticized, only their effect of making
us forget God is criticized. Knowledge and wealth are both needed, but not at the expense of losing our spiritual identity. When they are in excess of our need, they tend to make us
forget God. By giving this excess away in charity, we can be safe from this danger.
When sensual pleasure is criticized, it is not man or woman or marriage that is the
target, but its invariable effect of making us completely forget our spiritual purpose.

Remaining Contented:

3-4 : What is occupying our mind? What should be occupying it? Is a Sattwic pursuit
such as the quest for knowledge going to be of more use than the Rajasic one of earning
more wealth? Knowledge also has its dangers. It may make one swollen-headed. One can
become great in a particular field. Then there will be welcome receptions everywhere, one
will be a speaker at every function, etc. Will this be help to realize one’s spiritual goal?
Vinodaya Chittam – “give joy to the mind”. When we use our excess wealth for the
welfare of others, it helps to build a noble mind; such a mind is always pleasant and joyful.

The total message in this verse is therefore to be understood clearly:

Anything that takes us away from the spiritual goal is to be
considered as a wasted effort.

21/02/2021

1. bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam
2. govindam bhaja mudhamate;
3. sampraapte sannihite kaale
4. na hi na hi rakshati dukrin karane

Translation -
Seek Govind, seek Govind,
seek Govind, O Fool!
When the appointed time comes (death),
grammar rules surely will not save you.

Explanation -

1 This line conveys the remedy for all our ills, whether physical, mental or spiritual.
The line is a refrain sung at the end of each verse. It therefore underlines the central
message of the entire poem. Bhaja “Worship!” says the poet. Worship whom? – Govinda,
the Lord, of course.
2 But the message may not have gone through to some still. So he repeats the
instruction, this time switching the words around so that the emphasis is on God. We could
easily worship mammon even while thinking we are worshipping God. Propaganda, show of
wealth, emphasis on external modes of worship – all these lead us astray even in the name
of God. So we are asked to make certain that He whom we worship is, indeed, God.
Moodhamate: If we are not turning towards God, then we are fools, says the poet. It
is not time to be too polite. This is a wake up call to sleeping mankind. We are so immersed
in forgetfulness of God that only a harsh means can turn our minds Godward.
In the language of Shankaracharya, Moodha has a Vedantic connotation. It does not
mean “foolish” as we usually understand the word. It is referring to one who is spiritually
ignorant. Even the most intelligent scientist, if he is a rank materialist, he would fall under
the category of Moodhamata. The majority of mankind will be highly qualified for this
category! Neglect of the spiritual aspect in life is being highlighted.
3 Kaale, meaning “at the appointed time”, also has an implied meaning. It stands for
“death” or Lord Yama, the God of Death. At the time of our birth we have already made an
appointment with Death. Death was our twin, born with us, but only always lagging behind
a little. When it overtakes us, it is time to go!

A reminder of death is appropriate to the awakening call of the poet. Only death has
the power to knock some sense into our deluded minds. It has a sobering effect on us to
curb our unbridled romp with indulgence.
4 Dukrin: “grammar rules”. The word comes from the ‘Kru’ Dhatu and is the root for
Karma or action. It is obviously symbolic – known as an Upa-Lakshana in Samskrit. It has to
be taken to represent all secular forms of knowledge – i.e. Apara Vidya.
The difference between secular and spiritual knowledge will be taken up in greater
detail when we study the Upanishads, but here it is enough to know that ‘Apara’ Vidya is
knowledge that will assist us only in getting on in the world. The higher ‘Para’ Vidya deals
with knowledge of Brahman or the Self, and is of a totally different nature and purpose from
the former.
Not only that, but there is a suggestion that taking recourse solely to actions (from
the root ‘Krn’, “to do”) will not help us spiritually; knowledge is what is needed. There is no
escape from knowledge on the path to liberation. We may start with “doing”, but we have
to end in our quest by “being”.

19/02/2021

"Authority in India dreads the Sannyasin, lest he conceals beneath his yellow garb another Shivaji". - Swami Vivekananda

Ours heartiest tribute to Shivaji Maharaj on this very day of Shivaji Jayanti . 🙏

Vedanta Mission

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