It is advised to do Pranaayama 10 times before one starts chanting Gayatri mantra. During Pranaayama one is also advised to mentally chant the Gayatri Shiras.
The question is, what about those who are not taught the proper means of doing Pranaayama? It is certainly not advisable to experiment with breath control without the assistance of a Yoga instructor. It can lead to bad effects.
The alternative is to do some other thing that will have an effect approaching the effect given by Pranaayama. For those Brahmins who are not aware of the proper way of doing Pranaayama, it is advised to merely chant the Gayatri Shiras 10 times. As one of the key aims of Pranaayama is to relax and calm the mind, I have been chanting the Upanishadic Shaanti mantras instead, immediately after chanting the Gayatri Shiras 10 times. They seem have some positive effect on my concentration in the subsequent Gayatri japam.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Satyameva Jayate
The principle of the Gayatri mantra is Satyameva Jayate - also beautifully expressed as a spiritual aspiration in the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, as "Asato Maa Sadgamaya, Tamaso Maa Jyotirgamaya, Mrtyormaa Amrutham Gamaya". The Self of the Gayatri mantra, expressed as TAT, is the only eternal truth, as everything else is transient which will vanish like an mirage. That Self energizes us all, and we want to completely align our thoughts and activities to that TRUTH of the Self, since truth alone wins. He who thus always aligns himself to that Truth and Dharma set out by the Self, need fear nothing. He is ever secure. He will get the brilliance and splendour of the Self. Through an awareness of our inner self potential, we also attempt to manifest it by associating and conforming to that Self. Like in the Dvaa Suparnaa verse of the Upanishads.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Shani Dasha
Shani is the God of perseverance and hardwork.
Thru the hardships he gives, Shani also reveals to us our inner source of fortitude and strength to bear any difficulties.
The below quote is most applicable to someone who has undergone a lot of hardships under Shani Dasha but still keeps hope and faith in himself.
"In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer" - Albert Camus
Chanting Hanuman Stutis like Hanuman Chaleesa is an effective remedy to counter the effects of Shani Deva. One can also chant the Dasharatha Kritha Shani Stotram.
Thru the hardships he gives, Shani also reveals to us our inner source of fortitude and strength to bear any difficulties.
The below quote is most applicable to someone who has undergone a lot of hardships under Shani Dasha but still keeps hope and faith in himself.
"In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer" - Albert Camus
Chanting Hanuman Stutis like Hanuman Chaleesa is an effective remedy to counter the effects of Shani Deva. One can also chant the Dasharatha Kritha Shani Stotram.
Who is a Brahmana
In the Katha Upanishad, one of the earlier upanishads...when the boy Nachiketas visits the abode of Yamaraaja, he is referred to as below.
"A Brahmin visiting your house is like Vaishwaanara Agni. Give him Udakam to propitiate him, else he will burn everything that is worthwhile to you".
Now the question is - where is it mentioned that Nachiketas was a Brahmin? His father conducted a Yaaga but that's not the preserve of only Brahmins of that age. Somewhere I read Swami Vivekananda actually referring to Nachiketas as the son of a King.
The one thing that distinguishes Nachiketas was his Sraddha, ie Aasthikya Bodha. It is this Sraddha that drives Nachiketas to seek the meaning of Death. This Sraddha makes him ignore all the material pleasures offered by Yama Raaja and make him ultimately eligible for Brahma Jnaana.
I feel that having Sraddha, the Aasthikya Bodha is what makes one a Brahmin.
"A Brahmin visiting your house is like Vaishwaanara Agni. Give him Udakam to propitiate him, else he will burn everything that is worthwhile to you".
Now the question is - where is it mentioned that Nachiketas was a Brahmin? His father conducted a Yaaga but that's not the preserve of only Brahmins of that age. Somewhere I read Swami Vivekananda actually referring to Nachiketas as the son of a King.
The one thing that distinguishes Nachiketas was his Sraddha, ie Aasthikya Bodha. It is this Sraddha that drives Nachiketas to seek the meaning of Death. This Sraddha makes him ignore all the material pleasures offered by Yama Raaja and make him ultimately eligible for Brahma Jnaana.
I feel that having Sraddha, the Aasthikya Bodha is what makes one a Brahmin.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Soulful living
"You can never get what you want, but you can love all you have, and you can have everything."
These are momentous words from an article I read sometime in 2004-2005, which, along with certain other articles like 'Shadow comforts' were extremely soothing and strengthening to me - which gave me renewed joy in life.
For the entire article
http://www.soulfulliving.com/manifestinghappiness.htm
These are momentous words from an article I read sometime in 2004-2005, which, along with certain other articles like 'Shadow comforts' were extremely soothing and strengthening to me - which gave me renewed joy in life.
For the entire article
http://www.soulfulliving.com/manifestinghappiness.htm
They have helped me in 2001
These are contents of a mail I wrote to myself on 9/11/01. That is, just a few months after one of the most crisis ridden periods of my life. I had already noted earlier, how VSN helped me then. Hope the wonder works this time too!
1) Aapadam - is a good booster of spirits. I recite it first, to reaffirm the allpowerful nature of the Soul. One who believes in It will be no more affected by accidents, even the mere thought of Its infinite, eternal, allpowerful nature would deliver a person from all rogas whatsoever(mental and physical). The prayer is a good method to start the aatma-sadhana.
2) the VSN has a multitude of underlying concepts..as one continues with the prayer daily, one will get to know the deeper meanings residing in the stotra. Many of the underlying concepts have been expanded in later hinduism, so there's a certain amount of historical content in it as well. As one recites in the beginning, this stotra is seen by rishi Vyasa, of the guru parampara of Vasishta, Sakthih and Parashara. The stotra begins by advising us to see God in the Guru - meditate on Vyasa as the swaroopa of Vishnu(brahman itself, and on Vishnu as the swaroopa of Vyasa himself. In this glorious note, the meditation of 'yasya smarana matrena janmasamsarabandhanaat vimuchyate' is to be commenced. And how is It to be understood?
It is the 'samastabhuutanam aadibhuutaya bhuubhrteh, who is present before us as anekaruuparuupaya'. It is equally present in all beings, and the originator and controller of all.
So the stotra is the means to see the infinite self present in all our hearts, as eternal and unquenchable, which has manifested in such forms as are mentioned in the thousand names mentioned later. To borrow a few lines from Swami Vivekananda, the self is everything, ready to do everything, the self can do everything and the self does everything. Thus let us pray to the Infinite Self present in all of us.
3) Now we come to the holy Gayatri mantra. we recite it, with our spirits uplifted with faith in the Self, faith affirmed by the japam of aapadam and VSN. In the Gayatri, we pray to the eternal self to uplift our minds - to realise more of his infinite glory in this material world.
1) Aapadam - is a good booster of spirits. I recite it first, to reaffirm the allpowerful nature of the Soul. One who believes in It will be no more affected by accidents, even the mere thought of Its infinite, eternal, allpowerful nature would deliver a person from all rogas whatsoever(mental and physical). The prayer is a good method to start the aatma-sadhana.
2) the VSN has a multitude of underlying concepts..as one continues with the prayer daily, one will get to know the deeper meanings residing in the stotra. Many of the underlying concepts have been expanded in later hinduism, so there's a certain amount of historical content in it as well. As one recites in the beginning, this stotra is seen by rishi Vyasa, of the guru parampara of Vasishta, Sakthih and Parashara. The stotra begins by advising us to see God in the Guru - meditate on Vyasa as the swaroopa of Vishnu(brahman itself, and on Vishnu as the swaroopa of Vyasa himself. In this glorious note, the meditation of 'yasya smarana matrena janmasamsarabandhanaat vimuchyate' is to be commenced. And how is It to be understood?
It is the 'samastabhuutanam aadibhuutaya bhuubhrteh, who is present before us as anekaruuparuupaya'. It is equally present in all beings, and the originator and controller of all.
So the stotra is the means to see the infinite self present in all our hearts, as eternal and unquenchable, which has manifested in such forms as are mentioned in the thousand names mentioned later. To borrow a few lines from Swami Vivekananda, the self is everything, ready to do everything, the self can do everything and the self does everything. Thus let us pray to the Infinite Self present in all of us.
3) Now we come to the holy Gayatri mantra. we recite it, with our spirits uplifted with faith in the Self, faith affirmed by the japam of aapadam and VSN. In the Gayatri, we pray to the eternal self to uplift our minds - to realise more of his infinite glory in this material world.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Some Powerful, Universal Planetary remedies (Chanting)
Here are some simple, universal, harmless, time tested, effective remedies for daily practice. In my experience, as in the case of many many others, regular practice of these chants (for about 30-35 min per day) could have a tremendous effect on all aspects covering one's life.
1) Vishnu Sahasranama - In addition to the peace and tranquility created by the chanting, it also acts as an effective remedy to ward off all malefic effects of grahas in our life. Conversely, it serves to increase all benefic powers of these grahas. Chanting of this stotra takes about 20 min. If you have been taught Shiva Sahasranama, you can also chant that (with/instead of) Vishnu Sahasranama.
2) Hanuman Chalisa - Authored by the great Rama Bhakt Sri Tulsidas, a person chanting these verses while pondering over their meaning, will get great strength, courage and fortitude. It is a wonderful remedy for all ills arising out of adversely placed KUJA and SHANI. If you chant Rama Nama before and after the chanting, you will get the blessings of Rama Bhakt Sri Hanuman even faster. Chanting could take less than 5 min.
3) Aditya Hridayam - This master stotra is a great remedy to all health problems, and effectively corrects all issues related to badly placed Sun in the horoscope. It increases one's self confidence, positivity, facilitates career advancement and openness to all. Chanting could take less than 5 min.
4) Sankata Hara Ganesha Stotram - This great stotra from Narada Purana is a great remedy for all kinds of worries. Ganesha is Graha-pati so praying to him will immediately result in reduction and ultimate removal of all negative effects associated with the navagrahas, and especially Rahu and Ketu. It is advisable to chant this stotram first of all. Chanting could take less than 5 min.
5) Mahalakshmi Ashtakam/Uma Maheswara Stotram - Either of these could be chanted for reducing Shukra-related or Chandra-related issues in one's horoscope. Again, chanting would take less than 5 min.
It is recommended to chant Santhi mantras at the end of chanting any mantras/stotras dedicated to fiery Gods/Planets. Fiery planets are Sun, Mars, Jupiter. Instead of Santhi mantras, if one so prefers, one can also chant OM SHAAANTISHAAAANTISHAANTIH OR OM SHAANTHI OM 3 times.
One can also make the two mantras below a daily practice
1) The holy Gayatri mantra - This will enhance Dharma (Sun) and all Dharma-related aspects like purity, self confidence, leadership etc.
2) The holy Mahamrityumjaya mantra - This, if practised regularly in the early morning in empty stomach, will slowly but surely erase all serious ailments of the body and mind and enhances one's natural lustre. Chant the mantra in multiples of 11.
An excellent practice.
You can keep milk in a silver glass and keep it in your right hand while chanting this mantra 33 times holding the glass close to the mouth and once the chanting is finished, drink the milk immediately. Within one week of doing this every morning in an open stomach, you will surely see great results.
1) Vishnu Sahasranama - In addition to the peace and tranquility created by the chanting, it also acts as an effective remedy to ward off all malefic effects of grahas in our life. Conversely, it serves to increase all benefic powers of these grahas. Chanting of this stotra takes about 20 min. If you have been taught Shiva Sahasranama, you can also chant that (with/instead of) Vishnu Sahasranama.
2) Hanuman Chalisa - Authored by the great Rama Bhakt Sri Tulsidas, a person chanting these verses while pondering over their meaning, will get great strength, courage and fortitude. It is a wonderful remedy for all ills arising out of adversely placed KUJA and SHANI. If you chant Rama Nama before and after the chanting, you will get the blessings of Rama Bhakt Sri Hanuman even faster. Chanting could take less than 5 min.
3) Aditya Hridayam - This master stotra is a great remedy to all health problems, and effectively corrects all issues related to badly placed Sun in the horoscope. It increases one's self confidence, positivity, facilitates career advancement and openness to all. Chanting could take less than 5 min.
4) Sankata Hara Ganesha Stotram - This great stotra from Narada Purana is a great remedy for all kinds of worries. Ganesha is Graha-pati so praying to him will immediately result in reduction and ultimate removal of all negative effects associated with the navagrahas, and especially Rahu and Ketu. It is advisable to chant this stotram first of all. Chanting could take less than 5 min.
5) Mahalakshmi Ashtakam/Uma Maheswara Stotram - Either of these could be chanted for reducing Shukra-related or Chandra-related issues in one's horoscope. Again, chanting would take less than 5 min.
It is recommended to chant Santhi mantras at the end of chanting any mantras/stotras dedicated to fiery Gods/Planets. Fiery planets are Sun, Mars, Jupiter. Instead of Santhi mantras, if one so prefers, one can also chant OM SHAAANTISHAAAANTISHAANTIH OR OM SHAANTHI OM 3 times.
One can also make the two mantras below a daily practice
1) The holy Gayatri mantra - This will enhance Dharma (Sun) and all Dharma-related aspects like purity, self confidence, leadership etc.
2) The holy Mahamrityumjaya mantra - This, if practised regularly in the early morning in empty stomach, will slowly but surely erase all serious ailments of the body and mind and enhances one's natural lustre. Chant the mantra in multiples of 11.
An excellent practice.
You can keep milk in a silver glass and keep it in your right hand while chanting this mantra 33 times holding the glass close to the mouth and once the chanting is finished, drink the milk immediately. Within one week of doing this every morning in an open stomach, you will surely see great results.
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