A wild thought (originally spiritual, can be applied in the context of Copenhagen)

Weight of earth = 6E+24 kg
Weight of entire human population ( assuming an average weight of 50 kg - infants through adults - and a world population of 6 billions ) = 3E+11 kg
Ratio ( weight of world human population : weight of earth ) = 1 : 2E+13

Weight of a centimetre long human hair = 1E-4 grams
The above ratio is like the weight of one hair against the weight of 400000 persons.

Are human affairs really capable of making an impact ?

The reply may be comparison with nuclear bomb which can destroy many times its weight.

" Neti Neti "

Tithi devatas

There is deity associated with each tithi. It will be a good practice to propitiate the tithi devata while performing rituals.

Pratipada - Krupeetayoni (Agni)
2 - Brahma
3 - Sankara
4 - Ganapati
5 - Dantashooka
6 - Kartikeya
7 - Martanda (Surya)
8 - Mahesvara (Siva)
9 - Durga
10 - Dandadhara (Yama)
11 - Visvedevah
12 - Madhava
13 - Pushpeshu (Kama)
14 - Parvateenadha (Siva)
15 - Chandra

Tip to astrologers

Naaprushtah kasyachit brooyannaanyayena cha prucchatah
Paramarthaphalajnanan yato naiveha sidhyati

Only humble requests deserve answers. No prediction or advice should be offered unasked for, nor to one who is skeptical or wants to test the astrologer. If the astrologer tries to answer him, he will not be able to get at the truth.

Tip to those visiting astrologer

Pratah puman vihitadevagurupranamah
Panou vahankusumaratnaphalakshatamscha
Satkrutya daivavidamadaramadadhanah
Pruchhet sakrut shubhamanh shubhadingmukhah

The one desirous of asking the question should approach the daivajna (astrologer) after his morning prayers to guru and god carrying flowers, fruits,akshata,dakshina etc and after presenting them should ask the relevant question once in a humble manner with clear mind and facing an auspicious direction.

Are you wearing a harmful gemstone?

For each lagna there are adverse gemstones as given below.

Mesha - Emerald, Diamond
Rishabha - Pearl, Coral, Yellow Sapphire
Mithuna - Ruby, Pearl, Coral, Yellow sapphire
Kataka - Emerald, Diamond, Blue Sapphire
Simha - Diamond, Blue Sapphire
Kanya - Ruby, Coral, Yellow Sapphire
Tula - Ruby, Emerald, Yellow Sapphire
Vrischika - Diamond, Emerald
Dhanus - Diamond, Pearl, Blue Sapphire
Makara - Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Sapphire
Kumbha - Ruby, Coral, Pearl
Meena - Emerald, Diamond, Blue Sapphire.

Ekadasi

The names of the 24 Ekadasis.

1. Kamada ekadasi - Suklapaksha ekadasi of chaitra masa

2. Papamochini ekadas- - Krishnapaksha ekadasi of Chaitramasa. Worship of Vishnu will release one from sins.

3. Mohini ekadasi - Suklapaksha ekadasi of vaisakha masa.

4. Varoothini ekadasi - Krishnapaksha ekadasi vaisakha masa. Observance of vrata brings in prosperity. Dana should be performed to brahmins.

5. Nirjala ekadasi - Suklapaksha ekadasi of jyeshta masa. If vrata is observed without even drinking water it leads to long life and salvation.

6. Apara ekadasi - Krishnapaksha ekadasi of jyeshta masa. Observing this vrata releases one from brahmahatya dosha.

7. Shayanaikadasi - Suklapakha ekadasi of ashada masa. Gives attainment of all desires.

8. Yogini ekadasi - Krishnapaksha ekadasi of ashada masa. The poor should be fed on this day.

9. Putrada ekadasi - Suklapaksha ekadasi of Sravana masa. Feeding brahmins and danam on this day provides progeny.

10. Kamika ekadasi - Krishnapaksha ekadasi of sravana masa. Relief from brahmahatya papa.

11. Parivartanaikadasi - Suklapaksha ekadasi of bhadrapada masa. Vrata confers blessings of Vishnu and Lakshmi.

12. Ajapada ekadasi - Krishnapaksha ekadasi of bhadrapada masa. Result is release from sins.

13. Pasankusa ekadasi - Suklapaksha ekadasi of asvina masa. Vrata releases one from sins.

14. Indira ekadasi - Krishnapaksha ekadasi of asvina masa. Vrata gives mukti to pitrus.

15. Utthana ekadasi - Suklapaksha ekadasi of kartika masa. Tulasipuja is also performed on this day. Vrata generates punya.

16. Prabodhinee ekadasi - Krishnapaksha ekadasi of kartika masa.

17. Mokshada ekadasi - also called vaikunda ekadasi.Suklapaksha ekadasi of margasirsha masa. Enter and exit Vishnu temple through different doors. Leads to moksha.

18. Utpathi ekadasi - Krishnapaksha ekadasi of margasirsha masa. Observance of vrata confers one with blessings of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva.

19. Punyada ekadasi - Suklapaksha ekadasi of pousha masa. Good for obtaining punya and progeny.

20. Saphala ekadasi - Krishnapaksha ekadasi of pousha masa. For attainment of all desires.

21. Jaya ekadasi - Suklapaksha ekadasi of magha masa. For prosperity and welfare of the family.

22. Shattila ekadasi - Krishnapaksha ekadasi of magha masa. Abhisheka to Vishnu is performed with panchamruta mixed with til. Result is attainment of Vaikunda.

23. Amalakee ekadasi - Suklapaksha ekadasi of phalguna masa. Vrata destroys enemies.

24. Vijaya ekadasi - Krishnapaksha ekadasi of phalguna masa.

Vinayaka chaturthi

While Siva was away destroying Tripura, Parvati spent time in fear inside a cave. Devi was apprehensive about the outcome of the fight. Finally, she came out and started roaming through the dense jungle calling out for her husband and father. She cried out to Siva "Why don't you understand my state ? I can't live without you." A fisherman who saw this went and reported the matter to Himavan, Parvati's father. Himavan set out to find his daughter.

Himavan found Parvati and tried to console her. " Devi, you are omnipotent and omnipresent. The fact is that you have not been separated from Siva. Still, I will reunite you with him. " Parvati accompanied Himavan home. She was still worried about not finding Siva. Himavan instructed Parvati to worship Ganesa to get back her consort. "Devas like Indra, Rishis like Narada and the Trimurtis became competent to achieve their tasks after worshiping Vighneswara. Brahma obtained his power to create, Vishnu obtained his power to sustain and Siva obtained his power to dissolve as a result of the worship of Ganesa. It is only with the blessing of Ganesa that Sesha is able to bear the load of earth.The lord who is beyond the grasp of the mind and beyond words should be worshiped as gajamukha. Follow the upasanakrama of Ganesa as I am about to tell you and you will achieve your desire." said Himavan.

Parvati expressed her gratitude to her father and learned from him the method of worshipping Ganesa in the form of a parthiva (made of clay) murthi.

Veda on verbal abuse

Atharva veda, kanda 7, suktam 43

Shivasta eka .......
The meaning of the suktam is - Some are praises and some abuses, the wise one does not discriminate and accepts both equally. Only one quarter of the speech is passed on and three quarters remain with the speaker.

Speech has four components - para, pashyanti, madhyama and vaikhari. Para originates from muladhara and develops through pashyanti and madhyama stages into vaikahari, the spoken and heard speech. When a person abuses, only one quarter that is the vaikhari is passed on to the victim. Three quarters remain within the abuser himself. The abuser is harmed three times more than the victim. Feel sorry for the abuser.

Naming the newborn

There are two systems of naming the newborn as per Indian tradition. One is based on the charanakshar where choice is limited to a single syllable. In the other system, all alphabets favorable to the Janmarasi have been identified as given below. The name can start with any of the following alphabets. First, ascertain the janmarasi ( rasi in which moon is posited at the time of birth ) from the horoscope. Then based on the janmarasi, identify the first alphabet of the names from the information below.

Mesha , Mithuna, Simha, Tula, Dhanus, Kumbha rasis - अ , आ, इ, ई, श, ॠ, स, ओ, औ, ळ, क, ख, ग, घ, ङ,ट, ठ, ड, ढ, ण, प, फ, ब, भ, म

Rishabha, Kataka, Kanya, Vrischika, Makara, Meena rasis - उ, ऊ, ऋ, ष, ए, ऐ, ह, अं, अः, क्ष, च, छ, ज, झ, ञ, त, थ, द, ध, न, य, र, ल, व

Significance of Upakarma

Upakarma is performed every year by brahmins. Similar to the summer vacation in mainstream studies, a Vedic student is also entitled to his share of holidays and vacations. The students are supposed to stop learning new mantras on the purnima of the month of pousha (falling mostly in the middle of January ) and restart on the purnima in the month of sravana. In between they can revise the earlier lessons of Vedas and sastras.

The recommencement of new lessons is marked by upakarma on sravanapurnima. Nowadays, this practice of taking a break has been discontinued even in Vedic schools. Any new lesson learned during the off period is likely to generate desire and anger in the student. Hence kamokarsheet japa is performed as a penance.

The performer performs all his nityakarmas like sandhyavandanam, Samidhadhanam/ oupasanam upto brahmayajnam. Then he performs the upakarma maha sankalpa to assert that he is restarting the studies.

At the end of the sanklapa he takes bath and changes the holy thread. The holy thread is normally changed at the commencement of any auspicious occasion or at the end of inauspicious periods or as and and when it is found broken or dirty.

Then the chief rishis of Yajurveda called kandarshis (kanda means chapter) are propitiated by offering them tarpana and a homa is performed to offer them ahutis of ghee.

Then the student sits in front of his guru and restarts learning of the Veda by chanting the initial portions of the four Vedas, sastras, sutras etc.

Then the homa is completed.

On the next day Gayatri mantra is chanted 1008 times to compensate for any inadvertent omission of Gayatri japa during the past one year.

Photo of Sri Dhanvantari

Drawn by Sri.K.K.Raman, Mumbai

Sri Dhanvantari is the presiding deity of Ayurveda

Fight between Yama and the rest of devas

Krishna Yajurveda Kanda 2, prasna 1, anuvaka 4

devashcha vai yamaschsminlolespardhanta sa yamo devanamindriyam veeryamyuvata tadyamasya yamatvam te deva amanyanta yamo idamabhoodyadvayagum sma iti te prajapatimupadhavntsa etou prajapatiratmana ukshavashou niramimeeta te deva vaishnavaruneem vashaamaalabhantaindramukshanam tam varunaenaiva grahayitva vishnuna yajnena pranudantaindrenaivaasyendriyamavrunjata

The devas and Yama fought over this world; Yama is the power and strength of the devas. That is why he is called Yama. The gods realized that 'Yama has captured their position.They approached Prajapati. Pajapati created from his body the bull and the barren cow. Devas sacrificed the barren cow to Vishnu and Varuna, and the bull to Indra. This caused Yama to be seized by Varuna and Vishnu. Thus he was driven away.

God's own ways

God takes care of everything. He provides to everyone. However, he has his own ingenious ways of doing it. He would create an ego in you ( don't confuse with pride, ego is self awareness, the "I" in you )and make you think that you are responsible for your own upkeep and you are the one responsible to run the family / society etc.etc.

This will make you to work earn and acquire the means to this end. God delegates. He doesn't distribute food packets to everyone. Ego is the mechanism with which he keeps the world running. Ego is the engine that drives the world. But for ego, there wouldn't be breadwinners, protectors, creators, leaders, followers, performers or saviors. Don't try to fight or destroy ego. It is useless. It will exist in some form or the other till the time the body lasts. The hunger and thirst are ego in physical form. The raw ego can not be done away with.

Just understand its ways. It could be a mad world. That's the way God wants to run it ( run himself ? ) as of now for his own reasons. Understand and accept everything.

Importance of sraadha during pitrupaksha or mahalayapaksha

Atrismruti says -

surye kanyagate kuryaacchraadham yo na gruhashramee

dhanam putrankulam tasya pitrunisvasapeedaya

kanyagate savitari pitaro yanti satsutaan

shunya pretapri sarvaa yavadvrushchikadarsanam

tato vrishchikasampraptou nirashaah pitaro gataaha

punah svabhavanam yanti shaapam datvaa sudaarunam

putram va bhrataram vapi douhitram poutrakam tatha

The pitrupaksha is the period from the krishna pratipada to amavasya when sun is transiting kanya rasi. At the commencement of this period the pitrus leave pitruloka and reach their descendants. The pitruloka becomes empty then. They remain on earth till sun enters vrsichika rasi. They come with great expectation. If they are not propitiated by the performance of sraadha in the pitrupaksha, they get greatly disappointed and their sigh of grief will destroy the wealth, children and kula of the descendants. They return after issuing terrible curse upon the non performing relatives such as sons, brothers and grandchildren.

What is the ideal time to perform sraadha

Vasishtasmruti says -
divasasyashtame bhage mandeebhavati bhaskraha
sa kaalah kutapo nama pitrunaam dattamakshayam

The day duration from sunrise to sunset should be divided into 15 equal portions. The 8th portion called the kutapa kala is ideal for offering to pitrus.

Nakshatras for karnavedha (piercing the ear)

Asvini, Mrigasirsha, Punarvasu, Hasta, Chitra, Anuradha, Shravana, Dhanishta and Revati

Daana materials for the nine planets

The following danas are performed for propitiating the nine planets.

Surya - Surya pratima in copper or gold, brown cow with calf, wheat, copper, gold, ruby, red sandal, saffron clothes

Chandra - White rice, pearl, white silk clothe, vessel with milk, vessel with ghee, Chandra pratima in silver, camphor, sugarcane

Angaraka - Red bull, Tur dal, red clothes, gold, copper, pratima in gold or copper

Budha - Moong dal, gold, emerald, green silk clothes, sugar, ghee, artifacts made of ivory (illegal ?), pratima

Guru - Chana, Yellow silk clothes, yellow sapphire, turmeric, jute, lemon, gold, salt, sugar, pratima made of gold

Sukra - Sukra pratima in silver, rajamasha, white silver clothes, diamond, white cow with calf, perfumes

Sani - Sani pratima in iron, til, black cow with calf, blue sapphire, black clothes, black grains, annadaanam to the poor

Rahu - Iron, Black gram, Gomedaka, Horse, Blue clothes, Til, Gingelly oil in iron vessel

Ketu - Horsegram, goat, weapons, vaidoorya, red or black silk clothes, Ketu pratima in gold, silver or pancha loha

Samits of the nine planets

Samits are the sticks with which ahutis are given during the yajnas. It is one of the homadrvyas.

The respective samits for the navagrahas are



Surya - arka - Calotropis gigantea

Chandra - palasa - Butea monosperma

Angaraka - khadira - Acacia catechu

Budha - apamarga - Achyranthes aspera

Guru - asvatha - Ficus religiosa

Sukra - oudumbara - Ficus racemosa

Sani - samee - Polygonatum verticillatum

Rahu - Durva - Cynodone dactylone

Ketu - kusa - Desmostachya bipinnata

Propitiation of planets causing affliction

Sage Parasara says all good and bad experiences of living beings are under the control of the nine planets. Therefore one desirous of peace, prosperity, knowledge, longevity, health, power and the like should perform yajnas to propitiate these planets.

The general procedure involves chanting of the respective mantras of the planets for a particular number of times and ahutis amounting to one tenth of the number of chantings done. The ritual also involves daanam and brahmanabhojanam.

The number of chanting and the mantras are :

Planet	Mantra	Number of chanting
Surya	Aa krishnena / Aa satyena	7000
Chandra	Imam deva asapatnam / Apyaayasavasametu te	11000
Kuja	Agnirmoordhaa divah	10000
Budha	Udbudhyasva	19000
Brihaspati	Brihaspate adiyadaryo	19000
Sukra	Annat parisruto / prava sukraya	16000
Sani	Sanno deveerabhishtaya	23000
Rahu	Kayanaschitra	18000
Ketu	Ketum krinnanva ketave	17000

Pleasure & Pain

Are you able to ward off that pain and suffering? If you ever get the feeling that you have successfully manged to avoid it, it was never meant for you. Similarly the pleasures also can not be avoided. They will simply happen if they are meant for you. There is no fear of losing them.

Perception

An ant can not perceive the human being as a collective mass of various organs comprising the human body nor can it perceive its height, weight etc.It may be seeing only a small part of the skin and thinking it to be a road, wall or terrain. Likewise there could exist much larger beings as compared to humans that we can not perceive as a whole. When looking at the sky, you could be possibly staring at the pupil of that blue eyed being.

Two types of relatives

Sapindas - relatives up to 7 generations (paternal)

Samanodakas - relatives beyond 7 generations ( some fix it between 8 and 14 generations, 14th included )

How did the devas reach heaven

Apastamba Dharma Sutra - Prasna 2, Patala 7

Saha devamanushya asmin loke pura babhoovuh. Atha devah karmabhirdivam jagmuraheeyanta manushyah. Tesham ye tatha karmnyarabhante saha devairbrahmana chamushminloke bhavanti.

Formerly men and gods lived together in this world. Then the gods in reward of their sacrifices went to heaven, but men were left behind. Those men who perform sacrifices in the same manner as the gods did, dwell (after death) with the gods and Brahman in heaven.

Going by the above, it can be said that Gods are men who reached heaven by virtue of their meritorious deeds such as yajnas. This must be the logic behind accepting the puranic heroes as Gods subsequent to their reaching heaven. While they were human beings, they performed human tasks like fighting wars and protecting mankind and became Gods at the end of their earthly life.

Voluntary simplicity

It is a lifestyle of returning to simplicity. E.F.Schaumacher says - " Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." Those who practise voluntary simplicity consciously try to reduce their need for money and therefore their need to sell their own time for money. Tracey Smith says - The more money you spend, the more time you have to be out there earning it and the less time you have to spend with ones you love. (source - wikipedia)

Bacteria and realization

Two digestive bacteria were fighting each other over a food particle. Who has the right over it ? Just as we humans do, they went through verbal altercations, physical fight and a protracted legal battle. Suddenly, someone came and told them - they are only serving the purpose of the man in whose stomach they reside. He is only making use of them to get the energy released from the food particle. The fight ended there.

On rebirth

Matter and energy can neither be created or destroyed. They can only change forms. Rather, matter is dense energy. When a body exists ( it is not one body from birth to death, cells die and new cells are formed round the clock ) something has caused all these atoms and molecules to come together and stay together for a period of time. At death, the body disintegrates into the fundamental elements again. Will the underlying cause, which made the body to come together make it to happen again in the same combination ? meaning a rebirth.

Jeevatma & Paramatma

There is Paramatma which is a full vessel and jJevatma an empty vessel at the beginning. Not one Jeevatma, a number of them becoming Paramatma. Paramatma is filled with every kind of experience and states physical, mental, spiritual and all other dimensions. It is a homogeneous state. Not hot not cold, not bitter not sweet, not happy not sad. Every empty vessel needs to be filled with all of these in order to become full and homogeneous. It is either at the rate of 10 units per day or all in one stroke.Total justice. There are no privileged ones. If you find Mr.X to be happy today, either he has had his share of sadness already or it is waiting for him in the present birth or future ones. Birth not in the sense that religion explains it. Every moment is a rebirth.Not bound by our definition of it. You can neither escape the pleasure nor the pain. You can not stop yourself from becoming Paramatma. It is a process that is unstoppable. There is no going up or coming down the ladder. There are no hierarchies. Only the illusion of sequence and timing . Everybody is at various states of experiencing and filling themselves up. Nobody misses the riches nor the rags. Everybody becomes the murderer and the murdered at some point of time. Everybody becomes the king and the beggar at some point of time.

Participants in yajna

1. Yajamana - Sponsor of the yajna

2. Brahma - Director or Supervisor, he should know all the four Vedas

3. Udgata - Samavedi, he sings the Vedic hymns

4. Hota - Rigvedi, He chants the mantras while oblations are offered

5. Adhvaryu - Yajurvedi, he offers the oblations to the holy fire and takes care of the rituals

6. Brahmanacchamsee & Aagneedhra - Assistants to Brahma

7. Prastota ,Pratiharta & Subrahmanya - Assistants to Udgata

8. Maitravaruna , Acchavaka & Gravastuta - Assistants to Hota

9. Pratiprasta, Neshta and Unneta - Assistants to Adhvaryu

10. Brahmacharis and snatakas

The abode of Lord Ganesa

Just as Vaikuntha for Vishnu and Kailasa for Siva, Ganesha also has his own divine abode called Svanandabhuvanam or Nijalokaha. Ardent devotees of Ganesha reach his abode and they are not born again. This world is 5000 yojanas in area and Ganesa sits on Kamadayini peetha there. It is a bright world filled with gold and gem stones. It is surrounded by ikshusagara or ocean of sugarcane. Ganesha lives with his consorts Siddhi and Buddhi there. There are dwelling places filled with divine artifacts, beautiful gardens, temples, lotus ponds etc. Those who reach there are no longer affected by hunger, thirst, misery, sorrows. They remain youthful ever in that blissful world.

Remedies for those with Rahu in Lagna

Daanam of Wheat, Palm jaggery and copper ( vessel etc.)

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Panchamahayajnas as per the vedas and smrutis

Panchamahayajnas as prescribed in the vedas
Agnihotram, Darsapurnamasou, Chaturmasya, Pasuyajna and Somayaga

Panchamahayajnas as per smrutis
Brahmayajna, Devayajna, Pitruyajna, Manushyayajna and Bhutayajna

When to perform satabhisheka ?

Satabhisheka santhi can be performed on completion of 8 months after 80 years of age.

Vastu Shanti

The story about the origin of Vastu purusha appears in Matsypuranam. During a fight between Lord Shiva and a demon called Andhakasura, another huge demon was born from the perspiration of Lord Shiva. He was Vastu purusha. This happened in the Threthayuga on a Krishnapaksha Triteeya in combination with Krittika nakshatra, Vyateepata nityayoga and Vishti karana. This demon was very huge in size and cruel looking. As soon as he was born, he started feeling hungry. His hunger was insatiable. He started performing severe austerities to propitiate Lord Siva, and when Lord appeared before him, asked for a boon that he should be allowed to consume all the three worlds. The boon was granted. Vastu purusha started out by eating the earth first. The Devas and all other beings found his atrocities unbearable. They approached Brahma. Brahma advised them engage him in a battle at the end of which he fell flat on the earth. Still he was hitting and pounding around causing great destruction. Then all the 53 Devas climbed on top of him sitting on his various organs thus pinning him down. The demon could not move and he prayed to Brahma for relief. Brahma granted him a boon that whenever or wherever a new property is created, a house, palace, temple, fort etc. is built the Vastu purusha can again become active and if propitiated with worship, he will refrain from causing disturbances. Anybody neglecting Vastu purusha and proceeding with construction will suffer the consequences in the form of accident, death, diseases and various obstacles.

Hence at the commencement and completion of any such activity, Vastu purusha is worshiped after invoking the 53 Devas onto his body. This is called Vastu shanthi. which should  be performed before entering a new house.

Maya

Check out the link below.
http://www.optillusions.com/dp/1-72.htm

It is an optical illusion. You get a feel that the wheels are spinning whereas actually they are not. The illusion of time is also created here as they seem to rotate at a particular speed. Speed always involves the dimension of time.

This is maya. What appears to us may not be the truth. These optical illusions are created taking advantage of the limitations of our optical systems. Maya is also result of limitations in our sensory system including time. Maya is not a concept. It is right there in front of you to experience in this optical illusion.

The yugas and second law of thermodynamics

Second law of thermodynamics - Everything in the universe evolves from an odered state to a disordered state.

As the yugas progress from Satya to kaliyuga there is deterioration of order and absolute disorder and pralaya at the end of kaliyuga.

Albert einstein and astrology

"...for us physicists believe the separation between past, present, and future is only an illusion, although a convincing one. " - Albert Einstein

No wonder we are able to predict events. They already exist. Science also says so.

Compare with Gita's views - Chapter 11, slokas 33 and 34

" I am the world-destroying time, grown in stature and now engaged in annihilating creatures. Even without you, all the warriors who are arrayed in the confronting armies will cease to exist."

" Therefore you rise up and gain fame, and defeating the enemies enjoy a prosperous kingdom. These have been killed already verily by me. You are only an instrument."