Inspiring Recipes

Embodiments of Love! 

The level of Bhakti or the depth of Love for the beloved gets reflected in day today life; it is for us to find out.

Take this experience of Rajagopal; from 17 th June, I started telling a few “Thirupugaz Slogams of Shri. Arunagirinathar”

This morning I was reviewing “ Agaramumaaghi Athipanumaaghi, Adhigamumaaghi Aghamaaghi” one of the master pieces of Arunagiri Swamigal; while chanting I was surprised to note that I have not chanted any Thirupugaz praising Lord Ganesha, the prime and supreme Elephant God.

Oh God; my prayers have just reached the loving God Ganesha; I locked the house and started my journey to office, a daily routine; on the way I use to chant Sri Suktam, Durga Suktam and Medha Suktam; after completing that routine( which I do before crossing the Temple of Jagwanti, Indore, a village Goddess whom I love dear) I wanted to chant Ganesha Pancharatnam of Shri Adi Sankara; it starts with “ Muthakaraaththa modhakam Sadavimukti Saadakam”; to my surprise and shock I was chanting “ Kaiththalam Niraikani appomodaval pori” , a thirupugaz song on Ganesha! so love for Love sake takes care of every thing.

I dedicate this episode to my loving Wife Santha; this day being her birthday (which I forgot as usual and got the firing) I pray Lord Ganesha to shower His grace on His this child and be with her forever!

Ganapati Bappa Morya

Narada Bhakti Sutram 17

Original sutram-17

कथादिष्विति गर्गः

Transliteration

kathadishv iti gargah

Simple Meaning:  

A great attachment to listening to the stories of His glories etc is Bhakti according to Maharishi Garga.

Story of the Elephant God from “The Parables Of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa”

" In a forest there lived a holy man who had many disciples. One day he taught them to see God in all beings and, knowing this, to bow low before them all. A disciple went to the forest to gather wood for the sacrificial fire. Suddenly he heard an outcry: 'Get out of the way! A mad elephant is coming!'

All but the disciple of the holy man took to their heels. He reasoned that the elephant was also God in another form. Then why should he run away from it? He stood still, bowed before the animal, and began to sing its praises. The mahout of the elephant was shouting: 'Run away! Run away!' But the disciple didn't move.

The animal seized him with its trunk, cast him to one side, and went on its way. Hurt and bruised, the disciple lay unconscious on the ground. Hearing what had happened, his teacher and his brother disciples came to him and carried him to the hermitage.

With the help of some medicine he soon regained consciousness. Someone asked him, 'you knew the elephant was coming – why didn't you leave the place?' 'But', he said, 'our teacher has told us that God Himself has taken all these forms, of animals as well as men. Therefore, thinking it was only the elephant God that was coming, I didn't run away.'

At this the teacher said: 'Yes, my child, it is true that the elephant God was coming; but the mahout God forbade you to stay there. Since all are manifestations of God, why didn't you trust the mahout’s words? You should have heeded the words of the mahout God.'

"It is said in the scriptures that water is a form of God. But some water is fit to be used for worship, some water for washing the face, and some only for washing plates or dirty linen. This last sort cannot be used for drinking or for a holy purpose.

In like manner, God undoubtedly dwells in the hearts of all – holy and unholy, righteous and unrighteous; but a man should not have dealings with the unholy, the wicked, the impure. He must not be intimate with them. With some of them he may exchange words, but with others he shouldn't go even that far. He should keep aloof from such people."

Note: If Lord Ganesh and Muruga have to follow this dictum, then what will happen to Rajagopal, i dirty fellow to the core?

If you find an answer please let me know !

धन्यवाद:

See you in the next episode

With lots of love

श्वस्ति , मङ्गलं भूयात्

राजगोपालः

rajagopal

19.06.2012

Alive Or Dead

Embodiments of Love! 

Before 10 days I had a typical experience.

 I have my regular mobile cell phone and a company walkie-talkie; I normally set Alarm in both the phones, starting from 5 am, programmed to give the buzz every 5 minutes till I am woken up at last.

That particular day I was conscious that the alarm was waking me up with its typical Samsung theme music; as usual I lied down for 2-3 more sounds to do their routine; after the second alarm sound, I heard a sound “ Krishna”.

Remember I am alone in Indore in the 1 st floor; I was surprised to notice that sound; half asleep I was quick to understand that I had not recorded any “ Krishna “ sound as a wake-up word; I got up and started starring at the mobile; it was 5.15 am; throughout the day I could not conclude if I was alive or dead; I mean I was not sure if my routine was happening on Earth or I was operating in another world after leaving my gross body ( sthula sareeram); ( Hope James Bond does not get angry when he realizes that there is another person telling “ World is Not Enough to operate)

Even now I am not that sure if I am still alive or my Suksma sarira (the subtle body) is writing this)

Just confirm if this my writing is real or false please!

Do I still exist?

or

Am i already Nothing?

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Narada Bhakti Sutram 16

पूजादिष्वनुराजा इति पाराशर्यः

pujadishva  anuraga iti parasaryah

पूजादिषु—in the worship of the Lord

अनुराग: --deep Love with attachment

इति—thus

पाराशर्यः—Son of Parasa ( Veda Vyasa is mentioned here)

Simple Meaning:  Shri Veda Vyasadeva, the son of Parasara Muni, says that bhakti is fond attachment for worshiping the Lord in various ways.

it is difficult to define “ the attachment” indicated here; to quote Shri Ramakrishna, "Once a salt doll went to measure the depth of the ocean.It wanted to tell others how deep the water was. But this it could never do, for no sooner did it get into the water than it melted. Now who was there to report the ocean's depth?"

it is like what Devaki enjoyed; it is what Hanuman expresses as Chiranjeevi; it is what Narada has for Vishnu; it is what Rajagopal tries for his Lord Siva!

you also try that Love!

धन्यवाद:

See you in the next episode

With lots of love

श्वस्ति , मङ्गलं भूयात्

राजगोपालः

rajagopal

17.06.2012

No Laughing Matter

Embodiments of Love! 

While studying Narada Bhakti sutram 15, I was watching Mahabharat episode 77 and 78; at one stage the ferocious attack by Bhisma pitamahar on day 9 of Kurukshetra, kills many soldiers of Pandava army; Krishna gets irritated and calls for his Divine Disc to kill Bhisma; Bhisma immediately drops his bow and welcomes Vasudeva Krishnan to kill himself; I see a clear demarcation of valour and bhakti

in the same way, in the barrack Drishtathyumna insults Bhisma stating Bhisma’s presence and his boon of death at his will is the major impediment towards Pandavas’ success; Arjuna warns Drishtathyumna not to insult the great grandfather of Bharat; Drishtathyumna retaliates asking if he should touch Bhisma’s feet; for this Krishna replies, “ There cannot be a better worship than falling at  Bhisma’s feet and getting his blessings”

Mahabharat is such a wonderful epic; whenever I lose my manliness, internally I turn to the epic to resurrect the fallen caliber!

Narada Bhakti Sutram 15

तल्लक्षणनि वाच्यते नानामतभेदात्

tal-lakshanani vacyante nana-mata-bhedat

tat -- of it (devotional service);

lakshanani -- the characteristics;

vacyante -- are enunciated;

nana -- various;

mata -- of theories;

bhedat -- according to the differences.

Now the characteristics of devotional service will be described according to various authoritative opinions.

What I understand is that Devotion/bhakti/Love, you call the intimate bond by any name; words are no match to  reality; it is something like a poor, breast feeding mother, sharing the only half a glass of milk available to her for the whole day, with her elder daughter. No scale can measure that love and describe in words!

धन्यवाद:

See you in the next episode

With lots of love

श्वस्ति , मङ्गलं भूयात्

राजगोपालः

rajagopal

05.06.2012

My Name is Nobody

Embodiments of Love! 

Vaikasi Visakam is being celebrated everywhere; may Lord Muruga bless you All!

In my posting “ Embrace the Sun” I mentioned that my uncle         ( husband of my mother’s elder sister) expired on 2 nd May 2012;

after 2 days I called my periamma ( my Mother’s elder sister); even before I expressed my condolence for the death of her husband, she blessed me on the phone and enquired where I was staying; I explained about Indore; I shared that I would visit south and definitely see her in Thirupalanam, a remote village in Tamilnadu

on 30 th May I got a call from the number reserved as “ periamma’s number”; I was surprised as I have not spoken to her on the cell phone except the condolence call; my cousin brother’s wife ( manni) called and said “ periamma” has expired in the evening; I was shocked; just after the 27 th day ceremony of her departed husband she has passed away; such a love she had for her husband.

Okay, I was wondering what should be my stand now.

Sankara is my knowledge bank.

in vivekachudamani, he explains at the end, the student having completed his education takes leave.

इति श्रुत्वा गुरोर्वाक्यं प्रश्रयेण क्रृतानतिः

स तेन समनुज्ञातो ययौनिमुक्तबन्धनः---577

Hearing the words of the Teacher, the disciple prostrated to him with reverence, and obtaining his permission, went his way, freed from bondage.

Normally we develop love and bondage with any long time associates; what will be the Teacher’s position after the student departs?

Sankara was such a genius, he does not leave anything to chances; he explains in the next slokam:

गुरुरेव सदानन्दसिन्दौ निर्मग्नमानसः

पावयन्व सुदां सर्वां विचचारनिरन्तरः  578

And the Teacher, his mind immersed in the ocean of eternal Bliss, forever wandered about, verily blessing the whole world.

the education is on Discrimination to understand what is permanent; if the teacher claims no remorse on the departure of the student that would mean the student was an unfit fellow; on the other hand if the Teacher cries, that would mean that the Teacher has no knowledge on the subject taught by him.

So sankara says “The teacher wandered about, his mind immersed in the ocean of bliss”.

I could see a parallel in my periamma’s cool attitude on her husband’s death and her death after 27 days of her husband’s death

I was not convinced; if this could happen after 27 days why it should not happen the same day of my periappa’s death?

Is it karma?

There are 3 karmas:

1)Sanchita Karma—accumulated karma, part of which has been paid back through other births in different places and also through the stay in heaven/hell

2) Prarabhdha karma—the karma that is to be reaped only on earth and must live-through (even the saints and Gnanis cannot escape this)

3) Agami karma and kriyamaNa karma—which we will have based on the current activities

So my periamma had to live for another 27 days because of Prarabhdha karma

I do not know about my account balance of Prarabdha karma; hence I am focusing on Agami karma…ha ha ha

धन्यवाद:

See you in the next episode

With lots of love

श्वस्ति , मङ्गलं भूयात्

राजगोपालः

rajagopal

03.06.2012