From our Puranic lore A motivational story for disabled persons.
Hindu mythology portrays the Sun as a divine being who traverses the sky daily in a chariot drawn by seven horses (VIBGYOR), with Aruna as the charioteer. Aruna is the son of Vinata, daughter of Rishi Kashyapa. He was born prematurely, without legs. Even though disabled, he rose to an exalted position as the charioteer of the Sun-god, Surya. Since ancient times, he continues to spread Sun's light and energy daily around the world, sustaining us with vital nourishment without which life would be impossible. He is ever punctual and appears with his master, Lord Sun, brilliantly painting the sky red (Aruna also means red). Riding majestically across the sky, he guides the seven horses in their steady march around the Globe. No wonder that the ancients gratefully named sun-rise after him as Arunodaya, the appearance of Aruna!
Lovingly, his master Surya the Sun-God, identified himself closely with his devoted charioteer and wanted himself also to be known as Aruna! Therefore, Aruna is also one of the names of Sun.
Aruna is an excellent role-model for loyalty, service and puntuality. He never misses a day in attendance, he is always on time and brings his master to the world to perform the divine service of nurturing the world.
May we all emulate him and serve others similarly.
Righteous indignation is so easy, so pleasant, when you can sit back and fling it overseas. I had that edifying experience on the D.C. Metro Wednesday morning, reading in the Times about the Muslim women in France who are going to cosmetic surgeons for hymen replacement surgery so that they can bleed as seeming virgins on their wedding nights. . . Read full article http://warner.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/pure-tyranny/index.html?8ty&emc=ty
Reader Comments: _________________________________________________________________ "When something is so widespread from culture to culture, you have to ask why this is so. Unfortunately I’m thinking that in this case, unless we work very hard against it, biology is destiny. When women are sexually active they often become pregnant. Pregnancy and motherhood require much self sacrifice. Perhaps the value of virginity began as a concern for the futures of our daughters–a hope that they are not required to sacrifice too much too soon. . ." - Posted by Elizabeth Fuller _________________________________________________________________________________ Just for clarification-
In Islam, someone (woman or man) can be:
(1) an actual virgin (someone who hasn’t engaged in sexual intercourse) (2) an effective vrigin (someone not known to have engaged in sexual intercourse) (3) a non-virgin (someone previously married such that they would have consummated their marriage, or someone openly known to have engaged in premarital sex).
Both (1) and (2) are considered “virgins” when it comes to the rulings of the Shariah, and can state that they are “virgins” without this being considered a lie or deceit. The reference for this is a *19th century* shariah manual: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radd_al-Muhtar_ala_al-Dur_al-Mukhtar , Additionally, it considered highly inappropriate in Islam to question someone, or to answer questions, about past indiscretions. Unfortunately many Muslims follow non-Islamic cultural traditions which contradict religion. But this is not the fault of Islam. — Posted by Ilyas L. =================================================================================
We generally ascribe our failures to Fate; the sanskrit aphorism: यत् भावं तत् भवति yadbhaavam tat bhavati (as one conceives, so things happen) contradicts this assumption, reminds us that we are responsible for the consequences of our actions, and advises us to remember that -
Life is a do-it-yourself job: We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up with less than what is best.for us in the long-term. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we ourselves have built. If we had realized earlier, we would have done it differently.
Think of yourself as the carpenter Who builds your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.
The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project" Who could say it more clearly? Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.
The Ramayana story illustrates this very well. Dasaratha acted to make Rama his successor, ignoring ghis promise to Kaikeyi that her son will succeed him as King. He suffered the consequences of his action - his own death, exile of Rama for fourteen years, abduction of Sita and battle with Ravana. None can escape the operation of this rule: "Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today".(See the Post: "On Kaikeyi" 22 June 2008) ___________________________________________________________ If you find travelling the correct spiritual path difficult, help is always available: from the Wisdom of the past contained in the scriptures or the experienced, wise and competent teachers who are willing to advise and guide. Life's path is like the razor's edge, dark and difficult to tread - as explained in Kathopanishad: kshurasya dhaaraa nishitaa duratyayaa durgam pathastat kavayo vadanti and therefore: praapya varaan nibodhata get the know-how from competent sages. ____________________________________________________________
There is an another, easier path to liberation from the sufferings of failures: the ego's surrender to Krishna and resting in his hands as his flute. He himself has advised: मामेकं शरणम व्रज maamekam sharaNam vraja . This theme is lucidly brought out in the song "kuzhaloothi":
குழலூதி மனம் எல்லாம் கொள்ளை கொண்ட பின்னும் குறை ஏதும் எனக்கேதடி? ........... kuzhaloothi manamellam koLLai konda pinnum kuRaiyethum enakkEthadi .............. Link to the music: FluteVocal Audio_Flute
Audio_Vocal
I am safely resting in His hands It is He who blew the first breath of life into me and it is He who will determine the last breath of my life. I should rest my self in His hands as His flute and let Him play the sweet song of my life.
Tired of this stressful life and senseless pursuits? Come; let us surrender to our dear Lord Krishna! Let us place our ego as the flute in His hands. Our every action will then becomes a note in the music that He will gladly play through us. Then, where will there be place in our mind for regrets about failures, or for unfulfilled wants and wishes that ceaselessly haunt us?
We can blissfully chant thenceforth in harmony with His divine music: குறை ஏதும் எனக்கேதடி I am wanting in nothing; I am full; I am full; I am full. OM! Poornamadah Poornamidam!
குழலூதி மனமெல்லாம் composer: ஊத்துக்காடு வேங்கடசுப்பையர் ராகம்:காம்போதி தாளம்: ஆதி
குழலூதி மனமெல்லாம் கொள்ளைகொண்ட பின்னும் குறை ஏதும் எனக்கேதடி சகியே (குழலூதி) (மிக மிக) அழகான மயிலாடவும் காற்றில் அசைந்தாடும் கொடிபோலவும் அகமகிழ்ந்திலவும் நிலவொளி தனிலே தனைமறந்து புள்ளினம் கூவ அசைந்தாடி மிக இசைந்தோடி வரும் நலம் கான ஒரு மனம் நாட தகுமிகு என ஒரு பதம் பாட தகிட திமி என நடமாட கன்று பசுவினமும் நின்று புடைசூழ என்றும் மலருமுக இறைவன் கனிவோடு (குழலூதி) (கண்ணன்) மகர குண்டலமாடவும் அதற்கேற்ப மகுடம் ஒளிவீசவும் மிகவும் எழிலாகவும் (தென்றல்) காற்றில் மிளிரும் துகிலாடவும் (அகமகிழ்ந்திளவும்) (குழலூதி) ============================================= The sound of Krishna's flute is the divine call to ecstasy; it is His call advising us: "Give up attachments and follow Me." Happy are those who can harken to this call and commence living in eternal Bliss: yasya brahmani ramate cittam nandati nandati nandatyeva He whose awareness rests constantly in Brahman-Conciousness, his mind is ever in the supreme Blissful state.
He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it. -Confucius, philosopher and teacher (c. 551-478 BCE) ======================================================================
The word "North Pole star" is merely the designation for the star whose apparent position is close to the north-celestial pole; this position is currently occupied by the star Polaris.
But even Polaris considered to be 'steady', is near the celestial pole for only a small fraction of the 25,700-year precession cycle; it will remain a good approximation for about 1,000 years, by which time the pole will have moved to be closer to Alrai (Gamma Cephei). In about 5,500 years, the pole will have again moved near the position of the star Alderamin (Alpha Cephei), and in 12,000 years, Vega(Alpha Lyrae) will become our north star; but it will be about six degrees from the true north celestial pole.
The very long time interval (25700) is the reason we tend to ascribe the changeless, fixed state to the pole star.
The pole star is known in sanskrit as dhruva nakshatra . The dictionary meaning of the word is: "fixed, firm, immovable, unchangeable, constant, lasting, permanent, eternal". The puranic story of Prince Dhruva is available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhruva
Like a wobbling top, the orientation of the Earth's north-south axis is slowly but continuously changing, tracing out a conical shape in a cycle of approximately 25,765 years. This movement, known as precession, is caused by the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Moon, and to a lesser extent other bodies, on the equatorial bulge of the spinning Earth.
Ayanamsa The difference between the starting point of the Tropical and Sidereal Zodiacs, due to the precession of the equinoxes. There are several in use in India today, but the official government-sanctioned Lahiri ayanamsa (22°27'37.7") is the most widely used. The other popular ayanamsas are Krishnamurti (22°21'50") and Raman (21°00'52") though it should be mentioned that there are at least 3 different versions of Lahiri, plus other lesser used models.
An Article in NY Times (extract reproduced below) explains how our brain sees the world and states the reasons for our limited perception. Our life-experience is a movie created by the brain, from a selection of current sensory inputs, stored memory and feelings/emotions experienced and recorded in the past. We see and experience only this limited part that is depicted in the movie. Each of us writes a different and unique script for this movie, experiencing life differently and uniquely through the tinted glasses of what our scriptural texts have named as Vasanas. Hindu philosophy attributes the cause of this limitation to Maya -- an obstacle to our experiencing the Whole (Reality). We are however, assured that through knowledge, awareness and detachment we can train the mind to overcome the limitation and have a vision of Reality. Ramana Maharishi, in his Upadesa Saram, has stated: Ahaminasa-bhajyahamahamtaya, sphurati hrt-svayam parama-purna-sat. Meaning: When the ego is destroyed (falls thro' self-enquiry), the self which is the Supreme-Whole-Existence shines forth of its own (independently).
What is implied is not the destruction of the Ego-power - a source of energy necessary for great actions. But the realisation that the ego is not the Self and needs control/guidance by the Self greatly improves its effectiveness and creates effective Leaders in any sphere - family, society, nation. It is like atomic energy which can serve us or kill an entire city's population. The scientific study mentioned in the article suggests that we "see" only partially depending on our choice/inclination but live under the false belief that we have "seen" all; in that sense, we live under a "grand illusion". The subject-matter has wide implications and is a very challenging one for discussion in a group. Ayya-MKK
Extract from the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/science/01angi.html?8br How does the brain see the world? What is the difference between seeing a scene casually and automatically versus a focused seeing? In both cases the same sensory information, the same photonic stream from the external world, is falling on the retinal tissue of your eyes, but the information is processed very differently from one eyeful to the next. What is that difference? At what stage in the complex circuitry of sight do attentiveness and awareness arise, and what happens to other objects in the visual field once a particular object has been designated worthy of a further despairing stare? Visual attentiveness is born of limited resources. The basic problem is that far more information lands on your eyes than you can possibly analyze and still end up with a reasonable sized brain; hence the brain has evolved mechanisms for combating data overload, allowing large rivers of data to pass along optical and cortical corridors almost entirely unassimilated, and peeling off selected data for a close, careful view. In deciding what to focus on, the brain essentially shines a spotlight from place to place, a rapid, sweeping search that takes in maybe 30 or 40 objects per second, the survey accompanied by a multitude of body movements of which we are barely aware: the darting of the eyes, the constant tiny twists of the torso and neck. The mechanisms that succeed in seizing our sightline fall into two basic classes: bottom up and top down. Bottom-up attentiveness originates with the stimulus, with something in our visual field that is the optical equivalent of a shout: a wildly waving hand, a bright red object against a green field. Bottom-up stimuli seem to head straight for the brainstem and are almost impossible to ignore. Top-down attentiveness, by comparison, is a volitional act, the decision by the viewer that an item, even in the absence of flapping parts or strobe lights, is nonetheless a sight to behold. Volitional attentiveness is much trickier to study than is a simple response to a stimulus. Recent studies with both macaques and humans indicate that attentiveness crackles through the brain along vast, multifocal, transcortical loops, leaping to life in regions at the back of the brain, in the primary visual cortex that engages with the world, proceeding forward into frontal lobes where higher cognitive analysis occurs, and then doubling back to the primary visual centers. En route, the initial signal is amplified, italicized and annotated, and so persuasively that the boosted signal seems to emanate from the object itself. The enhancer effect explains why, if you've ever looked at a crowd photo and had somebody point out the face of, say, a young Franklin Roosevelt or George Clooney in the throng, the celebrity's image will leap out at you thereafter as though lighted from behind. Whether lured into attentiveness by a bottom-up or top-down mechanism, scientific studies strongly suggest that the visual system can focus on only one or very few objects at a time, and that anything lying outside a given moment's cone of interest gets short shrift. The brain, it seems, is a master at filling the gaps and making do, of compiling a cohesive portrait of reality based on a flickering view. Our spotlight of attention is grabbing objects at such a fast rate that introspectively it feels like we are recognizing many things at once, but the reality is that we are only accurately representing the state of one or a few objects at any given moment. The rest of our visual experience may be aptly called 'a grand illusion'. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/science/01angi.html?8br
In his book "Myths to Live By",
Joseph Campbell narrates this story about Kirtimukha from Hindu mythology (Siva
Puranam), that is highly symbolic of the self-destructive nature of the
unbridled ego-self in us.
"Let me recount now a really
marvellous Hindu legend to this point, from the infinitely rich mythology of
the god Shiva and his glorious world-goddess Parvati. The occasion was of a
time when there came before this great divinity an audacious demon who had just
overthrown the ruling gods of the world and now came to confront the highest of
all with a non-negotiable demand, namely, that the god should hand over his
goddess to the demon. Well, what Shiva did in reply was simply to open that
mystic third eye in the middle of his forehead, and puff! a lightning bolt hit
the earth, and there was suddenly there a second demon, even larger than the
first. He was a great lean thing with a lion-like head, hair waving to the
quarters of the world, and his nature was sheer hunger. He had been brought
into being to eat up the first, and was clearly fit to do so. The first
thought: "So what do I do now?" and with a very fortunate decision
threw himself upon Shiva's mercy.
Now it is a well-known theological rule that when you throw yourself on a god's
mercy the god cannot refuse to protect you; and so Shiva had now to guard and
protect the first demon from the second. Which left the second, however,
without meat to quell his hunger and in anguish he asked Shiva, "Whom,
then, do I eat?" to which the god replied, "Well, let's see: why not
eat yourself?"
And with that, no sooner said than begun. Commencing with his feet, teeth
chopping away, that grim phenomenon came right on up the line, through his own
belly, on up through his chest and neck, until all that remained was a face.
And the god, thereupon, was enchanted. For here at last was a perfect image of
the monstrous thing that is life, which lives on itself. And to that sun-like
mask, which was now all that was left of that lion-like vision of hunger, Shiva
said, exulting, "I shall call you Face of Glory, 'Kirttimukha', and you
shall shine above the doors to all my temples. No one who refuses to honour and
worship you will come ever to knowledge of me."
The obvious lesson of all of which is that the first step to the knowledge of
the highest divine symbol of the wonder and mystery of life is in the
recognition of the monstrous nature of life and its glory in that character:
the realization that this is just how it is and that it cannot and will not be
changed. Those who think—and their name is legion—that they know how the
universe could have been better than it is, how it would have been had they
created it, without pain, without sorrow, without time, without life, are unfit
for illumination. Or those who think—as do many— "Let me first correct
society, then get around to myself" are barred from even the outer gate
of the mansion of God's peace.
All societies are evil, sorrowful, inequitable; and so they will always be. So
if you really want to help this world, what you will have to teach is how to
live in it. And that, no one can do who has not himself learned how to live in
it in the joyful sorrow and sorrowful joy of the knowledge of life as it is.
That is the meaning of the monstrous Kirtimukha, 'Face of Glory', over the
entrances to the sanctuaries of the god of yoga, whose bride is the goddess of
life. No one can know this god and goddess who will not bow to that mask in
reverence and pass humbly through."
My thoughts on Kirtimukha:
Kirtimukha is represented as a face
personifying ferocity with protruding eye-balls, stout horns, wide opened mouth
suggesting a roar and canine teeth protruding out of it.. The terrifying face
of Kirtimukha stares at us through his fierce protruding eyes everywhere in our
temples -- on the ramparts, the Gopurams and even from the center of the arch
(prabhai) over the idol that we worship inside the Sanctum Sanctorium (garbha
gruha).
The face is perhaps symbolic of our
thoughtless pursuit of worldly possessions and pleasures, even at the risk of
damaging and destroying ourselves and has been placed prominently in places of
worship to remind us: "Until you recognise the existence of this
avaricious nature in you and conquer over it, your spiritual quest can not even
begin."
The Rig Veda proclaims at the very commencement: 'ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti' There is only one Being; sages describe it in different ways. Swami Krishnananda observes: "All the variety[...] is a glorious facet or expression of the Supreme Being who is designated in the very commencement of the Rig Veda as'Ekam Sat'-the One Being, without associating the Being with any cult, creed and religious faith. [...] Ekam Sat-The One Being, One Reality, One Substance, One Existence -that the sages recognise and designate as the manifold. In various ways, they sing of the glories of this One Mighty Being." http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/fest/fest_05.html "The belief that there is only one truth and that oneself is in possession of it seems to me, is the deepest root of all evil that is in the world." - Max Born "Say not, I have found the truth; but rather, I have found a truth." -- Kahlil Gibran
