Who is best?

A simple human tendency is to compare and find “who is best?”. This comparison is always quantitative. Which is never beneficial to anyone. But I happen to come across a question many a times by now, it was “who is best amongst the one who carve for lust and the one who carve for materialist pleasure?”

According to me neither of them are best but I agree with Krishna’s words, “i am in physical relationship”. Yes, he is in physical relationship because it binds two bodies sync two hearts and unites energies within body atleast for few seconds or minutes. If the intention is divine, Krishna accepts it, it becomes offering to him.(more on this on another topic)

If I take base of his such words then the one who carve for lust is better than the one who carve for materialist pleasure (land, jewelery, money) because attachment towards land or money or jewelery makes one possessive, this person doesn’t know how to share with others.

I remember in school one of our teacher was a freedom fighter who use to tell us what is in money/land it will never give you happiness. You can buy bread with money but not satisfaction that you get after eating or hunger to eat it. She use to tell us love is not in body but in your feelings. If you offer someone coming to your house whom you dont know much water and food then it is your love.

I observed one thing when someone whom you know a bit or know a lot visits your place when you offer water, food and comfort your intention is to give happiness to that visitor. And when you want to make happy other you in a way show your love or affection.

 

Holi festival of colors

Wishing you all happy holi.

We celebrate each season and each month with some or the other festival. Holi is celebrated across nation with various color to welcome spring. Vaishnav call Holi as “Phool Dol”, “Phagostav”, “Dol Yatra”. Holi is known as “phagostav” as it is celebrated in the month of “phagun” (as per Hindu Calendar). As the name signifies it is the celebration of spring, new season of flowers and new crops. Trees shed their old leafs and wear new leafs. Mother nature teaches us a lesson, “throw your old, stale, pale beliefs to give space to new thoughts and ideas. Throw your past and welcome your present but don’t forget to strongly hold your roots your base, your culture, your tradition and the basic thought you are an human”. Without your roots, culture or tradition you will never stand tall.

There are number of mythological stories attached to Holi. Holi is closely associated with Krishna and Prahlad, devotee of Krishna. Holi is called as “Phool Dol” or “Dol Yatra” as on this day Krishna killed devil named Putna, he was at tender age at that time, it was mark of spring and people were now free from the fear of devil. They enjoyed this day by putting “tilak” (a mark made with red color on forehead) with “gulal” (a red color powder). To express their gratitude towards krishna, they prepared a swing decorated with flowers and all “gopis” enjoyed swinging krishna in that swing and gave krishna bath of “kesu” flowers (orange color huge flower, which will bloom only on the beginning of spring).

Farmers express their gratitude towards nature by offering newly harvested grains in fire. Fire (Aagni) is one of the element which is being worshiped. It is believed that first morsel of new harvested grain should be offered to fire.

Many farmers predict upcoming year with the fire of holi or on the condition of brains buried under the fire of holi.

Yes, traditionally people use to bury an earthen pot filled with coconut and 7 different type of grain under the ground then light holi with wood logs, cow dung cakes and grass. They keep the pot whole night under ground and the next morning when woods would have turned to ashes, they will remove the pot from the ground, check the condition of grains and coconut. Based on the condition upcoming year will be predicted. This coconut and grains will be shared between people residing in the surrounding. Believe me it is very yummy in taste and have a unique smell of wet soil, moist which is being absorbed from earth.

 

But today we have made this festival a game of colors. People play with harmful colors and spoil their health. Many hardly know that at the beginning of spring one needs to take extra care of skin and health. Wish we can again adopt natural colors for playing holi.

Satyam Shivam Sundram

Yesterday, 2nd March 2011, it was MahaShivratri, usually celebrated on 13th night/14th day in Krishna Paksha of the month of Maagha or phalguna.
It is believed that shiva married parvati on this date. Another belief is that he became “Neelkantham” swallowing the deadly poison came from
the churning of “Kshir sagar”

We often relate Shiva with Satya “Truth”, truth which comes out of all darkness and prevailed before creation of universe will prevail after destruction of universe.
As a child I would like to write Shiva as synonym of truth. To my senses, whenever you speak truth you offer prayer to Shiva. Shiv and shakti are related, which means truth is the source of energy.
You earn energy through your deeds backed by truth. Isn’t it beautiful?
True beauty is in truth which is Shiva though he wears Snakes as ornaments, applies ashes on body and is accompanied by ghosts. He is not “beautifully” dressed as Vishu or other God. But still it is said “Shivam Sundaram”. My little brain visualizes this as, he is beautiful as he explains the meaning of truth rather he symbolizes truth.

Our little brain considers truth is speaking truth or telling things which occurred in real and are matching with real evidence, evidence which we can visualize, touch, smell and feel. Our truth is backed by only 5 substances of nature but not the 6th substance.

Yes, 6 substance of nature, you might be aware of all the 5 substances but not of 6th. Actually you are aware but you don’t use it often as those 5 substances. The 6th substance is renunciation or vairagya.  It is said that our bodies are made of 5 substances namely earth, air, water, fire and sky. They are found in each activity we perform, a discussion on this at some other time. But all our act is influenced by “maya”. Whatever we do, we do we bind ourselves with that act “karma”.

But Shiva, creator of all, creator of universe, objects and destructor of universe is a symbol of renunciation. Though he is married he is not “sansari” he is “vairagi”, the reason all his acts are just for the betterment of universe, objects and his creations.

He keeps trident “trishul” symbol of power of knowledge, control over desire, control or back act with knowledge and controlled desire. Snakes which he wears as ornaments are symbol of ego which he has conquered and now they are worn as ornaments. Rudraksha is symbol of purity and concentration when taken in right hand. His mind, body and act are pure like Rudraksha. He has conquered fear so he is wearing tiger skin. It is said there is life ahead of fear. Fear is the biggest enemy of ours. Ganges flowing from his head symbolizes knowledge transformed from generation to generation. Moon on his forehead symbolizes his control over time. Third eye on forehead is the eye of knowledge which when opened turns evils into ashes. He has married to Shakti, power which governs the universe, power which backs the universe.

In all he wants to convey us, act should be backed with knowledge, such act will bring power in itself in you. And perform all your acts without fear with concentration, purity will come in itself. Burn evils and obstacles in your act with your knowledge. Such act will be beautiful and no other alternative will be there in the world for such act.

OM Namah Shivay!!