Myth busted or "science" busted ?

Times of India published this article yesterday

U-turn-Butter-cheese-eggs-not-bad-for-heart

The article reads -

"Malhotra is an interventional cardiology specialist and registrar at Croydon University Hospital in London says scientific evidence shows that advice to reduce saturated fat intake “has paradoxically increased our cardiovascular risks.”

He says the government’s obsession with levels of total cholesterol “has led to the over-medication of millions of people with statins and has diverted our attention from the more egregious risk factor of atherogenic dyslipidaemia” (an unfavourable ratio of blood fats).

Saturated fat has been demonized since the 1970s when a landmark study concluded that there was a correlation between incidence of coronary heart disease and total cholesterol which was then correlated with the percentage of calories provided by saturated fat, Malhotra said.   World heart foundation website says "Fat
"Research makes it clear that abnormal blood lipid (fat) levels have a strong correlation with the risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack and coronary death. In turn, abnormal blood lipids are related to what you eat.  A diet high in saturated fats (e.g. cheese) and trans fats (often used in cakes, cookies and fast food) leads to high levels of cholesterol.

Saturated fats are found in animal products.  Trans fats are oils that have been hydrogenated to turn them into semi-hard fats.  Hydrogenated fat is found in processed food like shop-bought cakes, biscuits, stock cubes and a range of other products you buy every day. Saturated and trans fats raise cholesterol levels in the blood, which in turn can lead to atherosclerosis.

Unsaturated fats, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated are beneficial for heart health.  They are present in fish, nuts, seeds and vegetables."

Comment - Then we were sold dieticians, cholesterol tests, fat free oils, oats, cholesterol reducing fibers. We threw out ghee and natural oils from our diet. A lot of us ended up with dried up joints and intestines. Now it is time to start selling us packaged fats. Very scientific !!

Six angas of the Veda

छन्दः पादौ तु वेदस्य हस्तौ कल्पोऽथ पठ्यते ।
ज्योतिषामयनं चक्षुर्निरुक्तं श्रोत्रमुच्यते ॥
शिक्षा घ्राणं तु वेदस्य मुखं व्याकरणं स्मृतम् ।
तस्मात् साङ्गमधीत्यैव ब्रह्मलोके महीयते ॥

chhandas - legs - the branch dealing with meters in which mantras are composed.

kalpam - hands - deals with procedure of yajnas

jyotisham- eyes - helpful in identifying timings based on astronomical factors

niruktam - ears - deals with terminology and meanings

shiksha - nose - science of correct pronunciation

vyakaranam - mouth - grammar

Hence, one who learns the vedas with the angas alone attains brahmaloka

Ganapathy bhadra mandalam used in the worship of Lord Ganesha

Purpose of pindapradanam during death rites

At death, the physical body's funeral is performed. For further journey of the atma another body called aativahika sharira is created by the performer of the death rites. This is done by providing pindas to the atma from day 1 to day 9. Some provide all the pindas together on the 9th day. This is not appropriate. How the pindas provided on each day is utilized is given below.

Day 1 - creation of head
Day 2 - creation of eyes, ears and nose
Day 3 - creation of neck, shoulder and hands
Day 4 - creation of back, sides, stomach, hips and private parts
Day 5 - creation of thighs, knees and crus
Day 6 - creation of ankles, feet, fingers and marmas (vulnerable nerve centres), skin
Day 7 - creation of bones, skull and marrow, blood vessels
Day 8 -  creation of nails and hair
Day 9 - creation of strength and energy

Day 10 -  to take care of its hunger

With the body so acquired, the atma proceeds to the next world.

Combat strategy in the veda

Krishna Yajurveda 6.2.3 talks about the battle between devas and asuras. Tripura ( not the state Tripura) was the dwelling place of the asuras. It was made up of three layers, the lowermost of iron, the middle of silver and the uppermost gold. Devas found it difficult to conquer them.

They laid siege by surrounding it and cut of all supplies and help to the asuras. After depleting the asuras of all their strength in this manner, they were attacked and destroyed.

Veda says, those who know of this and even the laymen would strategize  in such a way that they don't attack the strong enemy directly. First lay siege, weaken and then attack.

Yajna performed without faith and not following proper procedure

Yajnas are performed to receive their auspicious results. They should be performed with faith and carried out strictly as per procedure laid down in the brahmanas and sutras.

Krishna Yajurveda 2.6.10 narrates ....

Svagakarta in a yajna is the person who makes sure that each deity receives his share of offering without mix up. Once, while devas were performing yajna, ( even devas perform yajnas, that's how they become devas and remain devas ) they could not find a svagakarta. They approached Shamyu, son of Brihaspati and asked him to take up this role. Shamyu asked for a boon in return - if anyone performs yajna without faith or not following the proper procedure as laid down in the scriptures, let the auspicious results of such yajnas come to me. It was granted.

There is no point in performing yajna without faith and in violation of the ordained procedure as the result goes to somebody else.

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Penance for offending Gods

Atharva veda 6.114.1 - यद्देवा देवहेडनं

Coming under the influence of senses, we have committed sin that has angered gods.May lord Surya release us from this sin by virtue of the truth of mantra.

A variant of this mantra is also there in Rigveda (10.37.12) wherein the ill effects of the sin is transferred to enemies.

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Stick to your Gods !

People these days have this tendency to take up new spiritual practices such as mantra sadhana. One's own roots such as sandhyavandanam, gayatri, kuladevata and puja at home are neglected. Not even lighting a lamp in front of gods at home, they run from temple to to temple and attend satsangs seeking blessings.

Veda says ( T.S.2.5.4)

यो वै स्वां देवतामतियजते प्र स्वायै देवतायै च्यवते न परां  प्राप्नोति पापीयान्भवति

One who goes beyond his own deity loses his own deity and does not obtain another one. He becomes a sinner.

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Importance of using right quantity of materials in homa/havan

Krishna Yajurveda 2.5.4 says

यस्मै वा अल्पेना$$हरन्ति ना$$त्मना तृप्यति नान्यस्मै ददाति यस्मै महता तृप्यत्यात्मना  ददात्यन्यस्मै

To whom something is offered in small quantity is himself not satisfied, he will not give to others.

To whom something is offered in plentiful is satisfied, and he will  give to others.

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What is yajna ?

येन सदनुष्ठानेन इन्द्रप्रभृतयो देवाः सुप्रसन्ना: सुवृष्टिं कुर्युस्तद्  यज्ञपदाभिधेयम्  |
By performing which devas such as Indra are pleased and cause good rains is called yajna.
येन सदनुष्ठानेन स्वर्गादिप्राप्तिः सुलभा स्यात् तद् यज्ञपदाभिधेयम् |
By performing which attainment of heaven etc. are easily accomplished is called yajna.
येन सदनुष्ठानेन संपूर्णं विश्वं कल्याणं भजेत् तद् यज्ञपदाभिधेयम् |
Performance of which is auspicious to the entire universe is called yajna.
येन सदनुष्ठानेन आध्यात्मिक - आधिभौतिक - आधिदैविक तापत्रयोन्मूलनं सुकरं स्यात्  तद् यज्ञपदाभिधेयम् |
By the performance of which, the troubles of threefold nature, aadhyaatmika, aadhibhautika and aadhidaivika are easily removed, is called yajna.
मन्त्रैर्देवतामुद्दिश्य द्रव्यस्य दानं यागः
Offering to devatas accompanied by mantras is called yaga.

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Do not perform shubha karma in noisy environment !!!

पेषणादिकयन्त्रेषु शब्दो यावत्प्रवर्तते
तावत्कर्म न कर्तव्यं तथा सन्ध्याद्वये$पिवा

When noise from machines etc. are heard, shubha karmas should not be performed, also during twilight.

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Y chromosome and gothra

http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=1094

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When to offer ahuti during havan !

मन्त्रेणोङ्गारपूतेन स्वाहान्तेन विचक्षणः
स्वाहावसाने जुहुयात् ध्यायन् मन्त्रदेवताम्

With the mantra sanctified by ॐ  and ending with स्वाहा , the ahuti should be offered at the end of स्वाहा  meditating on the deity of the mantra.

There is a more precise direction.

सकारे सूतकं विद्याद्धकारे मृत्युमादिशेत्
आहुतिस्तत्र दातव्यः यत्र आकार दृश्यते

स्वाहा is made up of    स् + व्  + आ  + ह्  + आ
स् is impure on account of sutaka
ह्  is attached to death.
Hence the ahuti should be offered when the आ succeeding ह् is seen - ie:- at the very end of स्वाहा

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Importance of anujna ( permission ) from brahmins at the start of any ritual.

The performer of the ritual such as shanti, at the beginning briefly mentions the task that is ahead to the brahmins in the assembly and requests for their blessings for eligibility of the ritual. This is called anujna.

..............कर्तुं योग्यता सिद्धिं अनुगृहाण  this is the request.

brahmins say योग्यता सिद्धिरस्तु  - may you be eligible.

Dharma shastra says

ब्राह्मणानां विना वाक्यैः क्रियाः स्युर्निर्निष्फलाः स्मृताः
कर्तव्या ब्राह्मणानुज्ञा कर्मणां परिपूर्तये
Any task performed without obtaining the permission of the brahmins will be fruitless. The act of anujna should be performed for successful completion of the task,

How these blessings should be obtained ?

महादनुग्रहश्च द्रव्यदानेन कारयितव्यः
The blessings should be obtained by offering daanam.

दाने सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्  ( तैत्तिरीय आरण्यकम् )


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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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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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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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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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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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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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Names of Saptadhanyas

Saptadhanyas or seven grains are used in daanam. They are -

यवगोधूमधान्यानि तिलाः कंगुस्तथैव  च ।
श्यामाकं चीनकं चैव सप्ताधान्यमुदाहृतम् ।।

यवः - barley
गोधूमः - wheat
धान्यम्  - paddy
तिलः - sesame

कंगु: - Hindi: Barri; Tamil: Panivaragu; Telugu: Varigulu; Kannada: Baragu)

श्यामाकः - Bengali : Shyama Hindi : Sanwa Kannada : Oodalu Oriya : Khira Punjabi : Swank Tamil : Kuthiraivolly  Telugu : Udalu, Kodisama

चीनाकः  - Bengali : Sama Gujarati : Gajro; Kuri Hindi : Kutki, Shavan Kannada : Same, Save Marathi : Sava, Halvi, vari Oriya : Suan Punjabi : Swank Tamil : Samai Telugu : Samalu

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What to do with pratimas received in daanam.

A brahmin receives in daanam a pratima of God (say, Vishnu) or that of Cow. Doubt arises as to what he should do with it. Take home and worship ?

दानकालेषु देवत्वं प्रतिमानां प्रकीर्तितम् |
धेनूनामपि धेनुत्वं श्रुत्युक्तं दानयोगतः ||
दातुर्वै दानकाले तु धेनवः परिकीर्तिताः |
विप्रस्य व्ययकाले तु द्रव्यं तदिति निश्चय इति || ब्रह्मवैवर्ते

The divinity exists in these pratimas only at the time of daanam. He is free to sell it just like ordinary material.

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Don't sleep with your feet towards east or south !

East is the direction of the devas and south that of pitrus. Hence it is forbidden to sleep with your feet in these directions.

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