Sanskrit as a Deva-bhasha

I think, Sanskrit language is never meant to be a spoken language among humans. Because Sanskrit is deva-bhasha, and it comprises or words that have hidden powers (bija mantras). The application of these words in common mundane usage will greatly reduce their effectiveness, in the same way that the daily wanton application of medicines by a healthy person, can affect his health in the direction way. Perhaps this is why, in ancient India, the usage of Sanskrit language was given a certain sanctity, as compared to Prakrit. Like, if one is eating food, one must keep silence, or if conversation is unavoidable, one must converse only in Sanskrit. Such rules are meant to help maintain the sanctity of these mantras/words in the human mind, for a longer duration of time.

Sometime back, in the net I found a word - Wiki-suktiyaan (hindi). In my local language, the word Sukti has a powerful meaning, it is meant to denote something held in reverence. While I guess, with the inordinate application of this word in Hindi, the spiritual impact of this Sanskrit word is now greatly reduced.

Mahatma Gandhi on Ramanamam

A wonderful book by Mahatma Gandhi on the Supreme power of Rama namam is given in the below link.

https://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/ramanama.pdf

In this book, is also provided a sloka from Charaka and Vagbhata, extolling the curative powers of Vishnu Sahasranamam.

My first book

My first book will be published soon! Even in my dreams, I had never thought I will be an author....Who? Me? No chance!

But it's going to happen in a few weeks' time, anyhow.

Though it's a small book - I did include in it three of the most touching ideas that I encountered in my studies!

1) The concept of व्युत्थान in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
एतद्ध स्म वै तत्पूर्वे विद्वाꣳसः प्रजां न कामयन्ते
किं प्रजया करिष्यामो येषां नोऽयमात्माऽयं लोक इति ।
ते ह स्म पुत्रैषणायाश्च वित्तैषणायाश्च लोकैषणायाश्च व्युत्थायाथ भिक्षाचर्यं चरन्ति
या ह्येव पुत्रैषणा सा वित्तैषणा या वित्तैषणा सा लोकैषणोभे ह्येते एषणे एव भवतः।

2) The example of the prince who lived as a hunter, as told by Sankaracharya, in his Briharanyaka Upanishad Bhashyam.

 
3) The 'Gaatha' of king Janaka, the ruler of Mithila. "Mithilaayaam pradiptaayaam na me dahyati kinchana".

Reciting the holy VSN while cooking food!

Ever since I shifted houses and started cooking for myself, I have started the practice of reciting the holy Vishnu Sahasranamam, while cooking my food. My fare is very simple. A few Dosas, some Sambar and thoran consisting of kadala or payar or some such protein-rich diet. Since preparing the Sambar kuzhambu takes roughly 20 minutes, this time can be very well synced up with the oral recital of VSN, which again takes 20 minutes for me (minus the intro and phalasruti) or 30 min (if I include the intro, phalasruti, and the Apaduddharaka stotram also). 

I have been following this practice for the past 6 months. The benefits of this practice, as I experienced them, are as follows:

1) With this, I ensure that I recite the VSN at least once everyday, that too in the morning itself, as I won't anyway be able to skip my cooking, on any day.
2) Recital of the pure, divine names of the lord while cooking, benefits me by giving it a much better taste, than otherwise.
3) Just as I am able to recite VSN in a flow, the cooking too gets done "in a zone", without any boredom!
4) In a general sense, many times have I experienced protection from accidents, by reciting the lord's names. So this practice is a kind of protection while cooking food too.

More on the great Vishnu Sahasranamam

Says the Jeeyar Swamigal in Bangalore, “I have been reciting Vishnu Sahasranama since I was 7. Now I am 73. I am hale and hearty. The man who recites or hears the 1000 names of Lord Vishnu will never meet with any evil. If a Brahmin does this, he succeeds in mastering the Vedanta. Such a man attains great fame, enduring prosperity and never meets with fear at any time. Disease never afflicts him.’’

In the Sikh Adi Grandh it is stated: Contemplate solely the Name of God, fruitless are all other rituals. The true essence, eternal, is the Lord's name.

Vishnu Sahasranama of the Sikh religion!!

There is a Vishnu sahasranama in the famous Sikh scripture Sundar Gutka, written by Guru Arjun Singh, one of the main Sikh Gurus.

http://www.astrojyoti.com/vs1.htm

http://www.astrojyoti.com/sikhsahasranama.htm

Repetition of Itihasa tradition

A couple of interesting insights which I came across in my readings, that I had shared in internet discussion groups in the past.

1) A scene from the Adhyatma Ramayana (in malayalam) is oft quoted in support of the Quixotian “repetition of Itihasa“ (I dont know how you‘d call it otherwise). When Rama͵ about to depart to the forest͵ initially refuses to take Sita with him͵ she offers various arguments in favour of her going along with her husband. One such argument is “Have you ever heard of a Ramayana in which Rama leaves for the forest͵ without Sita?“ Sita makes a strong argument that͵to conform to the “expectations of Ramayana formed by tradition“͵ Rama must take her with him.

I was reading the Anusasana Parvan in the Mahabharata, and found an interesting line reminding me of the above. In response to a query from Yudhishtira on exertion vs destiny͵ Bhishma retells an “ancient conversation“ between Rsi Vasishta and Brahma. In this conversation, Brahma gives several examples in support of his contention and at the end states “The Pandavas too regained their kingdom from the powerful sons of Dhritarashtra͵ not through the intercession of fate͵ but through their own valour“. 

I think͵ this line can be interpreted in two ways:
a) Vyasa Rshi͵ the final redactor of the text͵ thought in his wisdom to mention this additional point in support of the argument͵ for our benefit.
b) The story of the Pandavas and Kauravas had been occurring many times in history͵ with Brahma quoting an ancient past occurrence of this event.

2) The wholesale destruction found in the Mausala parvan is usually attributed to battle scarred Satyaki & Kritavarman carrying forward their grudges against each other which erupts in a drunken orgy on the 36th year. But in Santi Parvan Bhishma relates about the bitter quarrel between Ahuka & Akrura and how the great strategist Sri Krishna himself feeling helpless in resolving the matter and seeking advice from Narada (“those cruel speeches burn my heart every day“ and “my heart is ground by my kinsmen through their cruel speeches“) and (“I am like the mother of two brothers quarrelling against each other; afflicted by both“). In the Gita He had declared “Mayi sarvamidam proktam sootre maniganaa iva“ - which might have a deeper meaning - Sri Krishna as the thread on whom depended the unity amongst disparate yadava clans.

Interpreting the exalted GM

An interpretation of the exalted Gayatri mantram, is as follows.

This divine, supremely blissful,(hence Varenyam) light (Bhargah) of that Savita (devasya) is shining all around us. However, we are unable to perceive it through our sense organs. We seek to realise that divine light.

Let that Savita himself direct our minds towards realising that glory. Unable to attain that goal through any worldly means, we seek the help of that Savita itself, to reveal his glory. Remember the exhortation of the Katha Upanishad - yamavaisha vrunute tena labhyah. Also see a sloka with similar meaning at the end of the Isaavasya Upanishad.

An interpretation of the exalted Gayatri mantram can also be seen in several mantras of the Svetasvatara Upanishad.

This short prayer is a treasurehouse of spiritual powers. Even with the regular chant of this mantra alone, a person can be assured of a peaceful, divine life. That's why it is insisted that children should be initiated to Gayatri mantram at a very young age, so that as they grow up, they will be so used to doing the nitya karma the same way they brush their teeth, take bath etc. Feel the spirit of the Gayatri mantra while you chant. It is feeling that gives spirituality. It can truly work wonders.