Friday, March 29, 2013

Do not make promises to Gods !!!!

In the vedic religion, there is a sequence to be followed when making an offering to gods and seeking their blessings for some tangible result.

1.विग्रहः  - presence of gods ( by invocation or being present in a temple etc.)
2. हविः स्वीकारः  - acceptance by the gods of the offering made.
3. तद्भोजनम्  - its consumption by them
4. तृप्तिः - satisfaction
5. प्रसादः - blessings.

First give, then only ask. People unaware of these rules go around making promises like

If  I get this job, I will .................. to my kuladevata
If I can buy a house before..... I will visit Tirupati and offer ..........
If I pass this exam, I will ......................
If my daughter gets married in a good family, I will ...............

Gods don't get lured by these promises. On the contrary, the one who makes such promises will be doomed if they are not fulfilled. The rules are very stringent.

1. If the delivery of the promise is delayed by 24 hrs double the promise has to be fulfilled.
2. If  the delay is three nights, then six times.
3. If the delay is 10 nights, it is sixteen times.
4.If the delay is one month, then it should be hundred times.
5.If the delay is a year, then one thousand times.
5. Beyond a year, he goes to hell.

See how it woks. Say the promise was to offer a Sari to kuladevi on getting a job. The clock starts ticking the moment the appointment order is received. If the promise is not fulfilled on the same day and done after one month, 100 saris will have to be offered and so on.

Some people are confused. Giving something to gods and asking fir something, is it not like bribing ? What do the gods need from humans?. They have everything !

This is ignorance. The vedic system is one of mutual dependence and mutual nourishment of divinity and humanity. The creator God's role is limited to creation. Thereafter it is a different system that is in place.

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Do not offer money to sanyasis !!

वानप्रस्थस्य पक्वान्नं ताम्बूलं ब्रह्मचारिणः
संन्यासिनः सुवर्णं च दाता अपि नरकं व्रजेत्

By donating cooked food to someone observing vanaprastha ashrama, or tamboolam to a brahmachari or money (suvarnam)  to a sanyasi, the donor will go to hell.

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Can a representative perform religious rituals ?

आत्मा पुत्रः पुरोधाश्च भ्राता पत्नी पिता सखा
इज्यायां धर्मकार्ये च जायन्ते प्रतिरूपकाः
एभिः कृतं महादेवि स्वयमेव कृतं भवेत्
                                     - स्मृतिमुक्ताफलम्
The son, priest, brother, wife, father or a friend can represent and perform religious rituals. Whatever is done by them is as good as done by self.

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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The rules to be observed by a pregnat woman

From Dharmashastra.

1. Avoid bumpy rides, mountaineering, climbing heights, strenuous movements, quick movements, boat ride, carrying heavy objects and sitting postures where there is pressure on the belly.

2.Avoid grief, agitation, worries, over work, sleep during day and keeping awake at night

3. After pumsavanam avoid, coition, pungent and strong drugs and spices

4. After the fifth month she should not take part in religious rituals.

5. She should not eat during twilight.

6. She should not go near ant hills /ash heap /bones/ skulls, bathe in deep water, stay in empty rooms, draw on the ground with nails, ash or charcoal.

7. She should avoid yawning and stretching of the body.

8.Her hair should always be tied, she should be always clean.

9. She should not quarrel, laugh much or utter inauspicious words.

10. She should not remain with her feet wet.

11.She should serve the elders, give alms , be concerned about the well being of her husband

12. She should always be peaceful and cheerful.

Rules to be observed by the husband.

1. He should fulfill the wife's all reasonable desires and demands.

2. Avoid long distance travels, bathing in the sea and hair cut after the third month.

3. Should not carry a corpse.

4.After the seventh month avoid pilgrimages.

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Friday, March 22, 2013

Who established fidelity in marriage ?

Mahabharatha Adi Parva .122

Pandu lost his procreate power due to the curse of a deer. He tries to convince Kunti to raise a progeny from someone else.

"I shall now tell you about the ancient practices established by the great Rishis, who were authorities on every aspect of morality. Women formerly were not confined to the houses and dependent on husbands and other relatives. They used to go about freely, enjoying themselves as they wanted.. They did not not have to be faithful to their husbands and it was not considered to be a sin then.. This practice is followed even today by birds and beasts and jealousy is seldom found among them. This has been the practice of antiquity approved by the great Rishis and the present practice came into existence lately.

There was a great Rishi by the name Uddalaka and his son Shvetaketu was also a great ascetic. The present virtuous practice of fidelity between husband and wife was established Shvetaketu out of anger. One day, he witnessed his mother being held by hand by another brahmin and being taken away  saying "Let's go". This brought great anger within Shvetaketu. Uddalaka tried to convince his son saying that there is nothing wrong as this is the practice sanctioned by antiquity and women are free to do what they want. Shvetaketu disapproved and laid down the law of absolute and exclusive fidelity between husband wife. Women transgressing the limits of marriage and men violating a woman who observes the vow of purity would be sinful to the extent of bhrunahatya ( causing abortion )."

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Sunday, March 17, 2013

Steps in construction of a temple

1. Examining the land for its suitability for construction of temple.
2. Offering bali to the various deities and demons present in the land and taking over the land from them.
3.Ploughing of the land, sowing grains and legumes and allowing cows to graze when ready.
4.Ascertaining the directions and demarcating the plot based on vastu.
5.Making plans based on the principles of vastu.
6.Vastu bali
7.Keeping the garbhanyasa kalasha and laying the first bricks.
8.Constructing the foundation
9.Constructing the sanctum and the other parts of the temple.
10. Completing the construction and installation of the idol (including the sikhara/vimana)

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Monday, March 11, 2013

How to place coconut on top of a kalasha

अधोमुखं शत्रुविवर्धनाय ऊर्ध्वस्य वक्त्रं बहुरोग वृद्ग्यै |
प्राचीमुखं वित्तविनाशनाय तस्माच्छुभं  संमुखनारिकेलम् ||

The face of the coconut is where its three eyes are. If it is facing down, enemies are strengthened. If it faces up, it increases many diseases. If it faces east ie:- away from the worshiper, it causes loss of wealth. The face of the coconut should face the worshiper.

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