Tag: Hindu dharma

Posted in History-Culture, Indian Art Culture Music

This is why I stopped shopping at Farida Gupta

Posted on by veeskitchen

FG is my favourite brand and I have an account with her. But she got on my nerves repeatedly referring to Diwali as ‘festival season.’ I stopped shopping at her totally. I still look at hers sometimes but I know I will never again shop with her UNLESS SHE REFERS TO DIWALI AS DIWALI. And apologize for even unwittingly committing a mistake. You don’t send me season’s greetings for Diwali. You greet me PROPERLY ‘Happy Deepavali.’ You refer to sale as proper DIWALI SALE. You refer to Oct-Nov as Diwali season or (Navratri) Puja season or Dusshera season. Or simple, fold up your business, QUIT INDIA and start a boutique in downtown Dubai. GOOD RIDDANCE. We need to get rid of this kind of so-called benign tumours first. This is what shall later develop as malignant cancer. No, none of these manipulators are secular.

There are even more sinister attempts to secularize Diwali in some quarters by NON REFERRING THE FESTIVAL BY NAME AND REFERRINNG TO IT AS ” FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS’ OR EVEN ‘JASHN E RIWAZ’ . The nerve. We need to address this kind of cultural onslaught on warfooting basis.

Today in news is the London Khan trying to similarly remove Christmas from the celebrations. You tube has videos.

Now Diwali aka Deepavali is declared as an intangible world heritage by UNESCO. Its celebrated from time immemorial, from the day Ram and Sita returned to Ayodhya from Sri Lanka, literally in another plane of time. Fireworks were in full display welcoming them as Valmiki Ramayana mentions. Organic though.

https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/deepavali-02312

This move also serves to authenticate the history antecedents and cultural roots of Hindus dating back by some 10,000 years (even if we need no certificate from any authority whatsoever).

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/historic-moment-as-diwali-makes-it-to-unesco-list-deepavali-joins-yoga-durga-puja-among-intangible-cultural-heritage-full-list/articleshow/125883637.cms

DIWALI/DEEPAVALI IS PROBABLY THE WORLD’S OLDEST/MOST ANCIENT FESTIVAL THAT IS IN CONTINUUM UNTIL THIS DATE. JAI SHRIRAAM. May Ram Rajya return to India to eternity.

Posted in Food For Soul

And then one fine day…

Posted on by veeskitchen

They ask me not to share my vibes, but I choose to. My intention is to make someone draw what is beneficial from this source, that’s all. Its not boasting. Plus I want a record of my vibes. I keep forgetting a lot.

For instance, I remembered after decades, the nightmare I had had as a six year old. In that, a huge demon comes and take away my mother. I never shared it with her then but it was in my mind for a few years. I don’t know why it popped up now after over 40+ years in my memory. It was forgotten in the intervening period. That nightmare did come true in my school years and my mother indeed was taken away forever.

Anyway, I am into meditation for a few years now.

Last week was special. As I was chanting Ganapathi’s nama, I found that I was involuntarily pulled into something within my closed eyes. Not bodily. My attention got pulled. I knew it was not a dream, I was not hallucinating, I was not imagining. Something was unfolding – in my mind’s eye perhaps. That much was clear even in those 30 to 45 sec it lasted. I saw a large eye and the eye dilated and drew me inside deeper. There in darkness strangely I saw a tv playing but not even the tv edges were visible. Cartoon characters were playing in the show. At that moment I forced myself to open my eyes and I lost it all.

But after talking to some spiritually elevated souls, I reckon now something indeed remarkable has happened that day. Over that, I don’t want to share anything in this space. Whether I shall get a repeat or whether I shall progress further – I have absolutely no idea about. Can aver this much: meditation is a powerful tool that can transport you to other realms. For a moment I had gotten a clue as to what wonders await you if you train your mind.

The purpose of my post is only to encourage those who chance upon this space, to take to meditation if you have not already.

Posted in Food For Soul

‘India leads the world in the metaphysical?’

Posted on by veeskitchen

To understand the Hindu soul and India better, I recommend the book, ‘The autobiography of a Yogi’ by Shri Paramahamsa Yogananda – that I am still reading! A must for Americans, Europeans and Chinese. Unmissable. Its not of learning about India. Its to know WHO YOU ARE ACTUALLY!

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Read this comment in one of the You tube videos posted on India-China scholarly meet or whatever. I didn’t watch the video. Browsed the comments section. Thought of catching up later, but forgot. Now cannot trace it back.

Interesting to note that. We think they are our adversaries. But they clearly have understood India and what it means to be this ancient Hindu dharmic land. Probably it is because, we both are world’s oldest civilizations.

Frankly that is why I never compare India with America or China. America is the greatest country on earth – yet in last 300 years, not a single saint-philosopher has emerged from the States, who reportedly attained enlightenment. Same is true of entire middle east. Also China. India never ceases to produce Mahaan after Mahaan – string of enlightened beings who break the glass ceilings and traverse the cosmos, returning to their physical bodies by the end of the day. What is the point in going to the Mars and Jupiter when you cannot train your mind to achieve what Indian Yogis have been doing for centuries. Who says deities don’t exist. Even in this 21st century we have thousands in India who can manifest their Ishta Devta, deities, who can appear before their eyes. Having said that, it is for us to manifest God in whichever form we please. Of course formless as well. That kind of mental discipline and advanced spiritual training is attainable only through intense meditation or Japa that is the hallmark of Sanatana Dharm (Hinduism) and Buddhism, offshoot of Hindu Dharma. No hallucination, no dope, no mind tricks, no exaggeration, no lies. You attain your high ONLY through mental discipline when the Maya or the Illusion shall fade and you become God and God is you (Advaita). You look inward. You see yourself as god in the inner altar of your heart. That is when you break the birth cycle and attain liberation or Nirvana. You become god, you realize the god in you, you become a beam, a ray of the Light. For some people, this profound wisdom of Hindu Dharma may sound blasphemous. (Heard an online guru explain the difference between Hinduism and Buddhism – where we diverge: Hindus become part of the light. Buddhists dissolve without atma. Without a trace. Become nothingness on enlightenment, never to be reborn ever again. Up until the point of rebirth, Buddhism converges with the mother religion Sanatana (hinduism).

Hindus believe in reincarnations. You are living one of your 1000+ births right now that’s all. To get to this point, you must have been in 84000 wombs of lesser life – from the millipedes and centipedes to the avian, bovines and canines besides other wild life and even mosses and fungi. Whether you progress or regress with each birth depends on what you do with your freewill that is out of scope for even the deities when it comes to direction or control. Every birth is a correction until you evolve into the highest being. So where do massacres, brutality, rape, injustice leave one. This is why Hindu Dharma does not sanction any of these including religious conversion against one’s will. To evolve into the highest state of being, you have to LOVE and NOT KILL. Where violence is promoted, GOD CEASES TO DWELL. As simple as that. This is no rocket science.

Ritualistic worship (with idols) is symbolistic in Hindu Dharma, nothing more. Its like having national flag to salute at but the nation is not just the flag flying at the end of the pole. Idol worship is just that. The west dubbed what they could not understand as ‘paganistic.’ For one thing, they cannot believe that Hindu philosophy is so advanced and that no other single religion is scientific enough or comes a close second to ours (except perhaps Buddhism that inherited the core Hindu beliefs). By the way, even the cross and the statue of the virgin are paganistic, aren’t they.

The more materialist you become immersing yourself in the fathomless pit of Maya, the more distance you put between God and yourself. I have seen that when shopping is on my mind, even my Japa (meditation) suffers. Focus shifts. The vibes/experiences that would be rare occurances, stop forthwith. I have to tune myself mentally and focus with intention to gain my foothold back into the world of Mantras and Japas of the Divine. With just a foot inside (?) I reckon therefore what it takes to make even a little progress once you find your path. You have to be relentlessly non materialistic, developing a sense of detachment and selflessness at the same time. You become more neutral. You are still human so you may be prone to slight weaknesses of emotion and skewed sense of judgment. Its okay. With time, you iron out these wrinkles.

My homestate Tamil Nadu alone has produced so many enlightened beings even in last 100 years. Over centuries, there have been thousands literally and thanks to Sangam Tamil Literature, we have concrete evidences for how advanced Tamil Hindu society was even 1000-2000 years ago. Throughout India, the statistics is staggering. And many Yogis don’t even announce their existences. Some come to light that’s all. America is the land of the bhogis – the most materialistic people. India is the land of Yogis. Our prime minister himself is a yogi. And before him we had Atal ji who was also a bachelor. Our ex president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, even if muslim by birth, was ascetic by nature. Hindu by culture. India is blessed to have had this kind of leadership in last two decades. Even Hindu gods aver that, in order to DEFEAT ADHARMA, one can resort to adharmic means. Sama, beda, dhana, dhanda – the principle explained by Chanakya in the Arthashastra.

For me, achievement is this. Advancement is this. Of course , like any normal human being, I enjoy the materialistic comforts. In fact I cannot live without aircon and certain creature comforts. Yet, I know the purpose of my life is NOT this. I acknowledge, this is one of my thousand births. It is for us to discharge our duties entirely without omission in this birth of ours, following dharmic ways and means. And for some reason, I believe too that I could be in the last few cycles of my births . If it does not happen in this lifetime for me, I shall definitely attain Mukthi (liberation) in a few more,. That is my strongest belief.

Americans and Chinese want to build the tallest skyscrapers and nuke powered submarines and fly out to Jupiter and Uranus. Average Hindu aspires for his/her present birth to be the last and be free of the birth cycle, attaining Moksha (enlightenment) forever. NOT ANOTHER GARBHA VAASAL FOR ME PLEASE. Not another mother’s womb please Oh, Universal Mother.

We all strive for different motives. Part of the reason for poverty in India is this strong Hindu faith. May the Chinese and Americans witness the Ganga Aarthi at Varanasi and funeral pyres burning through 24 hours. May they step into our most ancient temples and attend our grand temple festivals from Puri to Kedharnath, from Tirupathi to Shringeri, from Guruvayur to Dakshineshwar. You will know what it is to be a Hindu, an Indian and why we just don’t bother what America is doing or China is doing or even middle east is doing.

Still we have a stomach to feed. Family to take care of. Materialism matters but materialism need not have to become excessive greed. Once the family is settled, it is time to focus on your next voyage – next birth, that’s all.

I find everything else empty sorry. Everything seems so fake – from branded accessories to the designer clothes to even jewelry and sedans. Only one thing keeps popping up in my mind: of the urge to become enlightened – even if I don’t have substance for it in this janam. Knowing, by how many leagues you fall short HURTS.

This is why the Hindu tribe has to keep up. For the sake of the world. For the sake of humanity. May we uphold the dharam and may we aspire over anything and everything – for only one thing, that is the upliftment/liberation of the soul.

From India, young men and women go to America seeking economic prosperity. From the same America, there are even Hollywood actors and others who come to India seeking spiritual gurus and their guidance for attaining enlightenment.

For even this profound truth to sink in your mind, you got to be on a different plane of reality that has got least to do with materialistic aspects of life. There is more to the soul than pandering to one’s whims and fancies. Pleasures vs Happiness or Pure Bliss. Temporary vs Permanent. Mirage vs Reality.

Once you are 50, you know you have covered over half of your journey already. What lies ahead is less, compared to the distance you covered in the first half of the century. Its time therefore to prepare your mind for the next jaunt – your reincarnation, rebirth. From the summit, you could plunge into the abyss. From the landlord and the commanding businessman, you could be reborn a pauper with his begging bowl out. Rebirths are humbling experiences for those who fail to learn their lessons in their current births. Compassion is for OUR OWN SAKE. Be gentle with others. Everyone is on their soul journey, with a specific assignment. The poorest and the most miserable are on their toughest assignments working through their karma, learning their life lessons. The high and the mighty are going to learn theirs in their rebirths.

Whatever you are today, whatever you have today, you must have craved for in a previous birth or many births. So never misuse the gift. You choose your looks, your geographical area of birth, your faith, your parents everything for specific lessons. Let us make the best use of our own choices in life. Doesn’t matter if you are a Hindu on non Hindu. Irrespective of whoever you are, rebirth awaits all of us. Cycle after cycle after cycle is what is to follow – unless otherwise we train our mind with intention and determination (yes shradhdha and saboori) to attain liberation from this vicious cycle of birth.

BE GOOD, DO GOOD. NOBODY IS GOING TO BE HERE FOREVER.

Posted in Environment

Say NO to Kamakhya temple corridor.

Posted on by veeskitchen

I am with Shri Rajarshi Nandy totally on this. Missed a golden opportunity to go to Kamakhya with my guru last year. Its in my bucket list. For Shakthi marg followers, Kamakhya is basic. Our spiritual guru conducted homams/yagnas/havan there last year with shishyas. The group also worshiped the Dasa Mahavidhyas who are extremely important for those who have taken diksha or vow for Shakthi Upasana. So the Kamakhya temple corridor case is very much relevant for us as we can understand what it is about. Only someone who is spiritually elevated and someone like Shri Nandy who is doing Bhairav Sadhana and is also a presence at the powerful Kamakshya temple can know about the significance of leaving the shrine undisturbed.

One of the Shakthi peeths, Sati’s yoni fell in this part of Assam. Mother Goddess bleeds therefore a few days (in red) every month even now in Kamakhya. This is rivulet or stream that branches off from the mountains into the temple’s garbagraha (sanctum sanctorum). We don’t know how this is possible as was facilitated by our ancestors. Or by Mother Herself. But until today this is a reality.

Shakthi peeths are most powerful. They determine the destiny of a nation as Shri Nandy ji says in another video. Disturb Kamakhya who is looking after North East, be ready to lose North East. As Nandi ji says, the Mother Goddess will leave Her abode in that case. Without the deity, the pitah will cease to matter.

Some of us are just at the base of the pyramid when it comes to Shakthi Upasana. We have a whole lot of mountain to climb in front of us. Yet Mother’s presence is something we feel deep in our soul. We experience strongest of vibes. So one can imagine the level of spiritual elevation of those like Shri Nandy ji. I am not an expert in anything. I listen to many online. Many online gurus too for me who have been shaping up my thinking for years now. Shri Nandy ji is by far the best and most sincere and is reachable at grass roots level. Very accessible and also so genuine, real. Bhairava energy flowing out of him is unmistakable.

May our PM Shri Narendra Modi ji get some time to look into this matter personally once the Indo-Pak conflict emergency is over. The temple’s eco system needs to be preserved.

Varanasi corridor is an entirely different matter that has got no connection with Kamakhya environment. There it was necessary given that entire Kashi boasts of some 84 ghats. The cleaning up and restoration work was absolutely necessary.

Today I heard another shocking news: that an aerodrome is planned for Sabarimala – at the top of the western ghats. What madness is this. That is totally an elephant country where even tigers roam freely. A heaven for the wildlife of India. Such a biodiversity as in western ghats, you cannot find in more than a handful of places in the world. Bird species count alone exceeds over 200. Western ghats is the LUNGS of India somewhat along with the Himalayas. Already enough damage has been done. Even Lord Aiyappa shall walk out of Sabarimala permanently if this airport materializes. The communist state government of Kerala don’t have it in them to factor in these valid points. You don’t have to kill a 1000 elephants and precious-precarious ecology to make room for temple devotees. What kind of religiosity is this. I can never understand this destructive streak when it comes to nature in our countrymen. I am even against the Char Dham corridor through Himalayas. Anything against nature can never please Shiva or Shakthi. Already Jaggi Vasudev, in the name of Shiva, encroached a vital elephant corridor robbing our pachyderm families of their rightful home of tens of thousands of years. He speaks of enlightenment through crash courses (such as Inner Engineering for this precise reason: If he could only see that Shiva is that elephant… ) How much more must we destroy nature in the name of our deities you bloody fools. Did they ever ask you to do that?! That kind of spirituality I simply cannot figure out. I directly appeal to my PM: Modi ji please STOP plans for any aerodrome for Sabarimala. Don’t send away our deities permanently out of India. They will never return if we turn against nature.

Anyone who by chance comes across my blog, I request to contribute generously to the court case for fighting the proposed Kamakhya commercial infrastructure corridor to promote tourism. This kind of development we just DON’T need around our shrines.

I am waiting for a link that can enable one to make a monthly/regular contribution for Kamakhya corridor case.

Donate

I think this one is for one time contribution.

A request to Nandy ji too. Please also ascertain whether any aerodrome is proposed for Sabarimala in Kerala and if so, please address this issue as well. You can take up the discussion in your you tube channel. Thank you.

Posted in Political

Will Bhutan merge with India.

Posted on by veeskitchen

This Himalayan kingdom is not carbon neutral but is actually carbon negative. Welcome to Bhutan.

Bhutan is India friendly because we have shared culture. While India is the cradle of both Hindu civilization, the only unbroken culture of over 10000 years, and also Buddhism, Bhutan is a Buddhist country. Bhutan relies on India for defence especially in the light of Tibet occupied by the Chinese. Why should Dalai Lama flee to India when there were so many developed first world nations where he must have been welcome with red carpet. Its not always about material wealth, the west must understand this. The common ancestry of the Indian subcontinent keeps these nations united like a single umbilical cord connecting these communities. Bound by blood and trust, can America understand this?

We in India respect Bhutan’s independence. India will always be there for this landlocked nation on earth, that is a paradise of peace. This is how humanity must live. NOBODY WANTS YOUR FAST CARS AND YACHTS AND HOLIDAYS AND BLOODY CONSUMERISM! Bhutanese practise dharma and their entire lives may be steeped in Dharma. Dharmic way of life means living life the right way with principles in pursuit of one’s spiritual goals. We don’t want to force Bhutan’s merger with India. But if they want it on their own accord, India may respect their wishes. Same holds true for Nepal, another Himalayan kingdom, basically Hindu. Nepal fell under the false charms of the Chinese and became communist. But Nepal could be around the bend now after that lapse. Nepal used to be the only Hindu country in the entire world as even India is a secular nation, not YET constitutionally Hindu.

Christian missionary mafia from the US enter Nepal under the garb of tourism and convert the rural Nepalese and those who are poor, weak and vulnerable. Nepal is only now waking up to this ugly truth. Bhutan, Nepal, India are nations where NATIVES live and rule, not occupier-settlers.

Bhutan does not recognize most world nations especially the invaders and occupiers. This is not because they are opposed to anyone. It is because they are not only believers in Dharma but also practitioners of Dharma in true spirit. Bhutan recognizes the old world order and mostly don’t recognize the new nations that came into existence in recent world history. To hell with the material pursuits of the west. Bhutan wants none of that! Its not surprising that Bhutan does not even recognize the US, UK, France, China, Russia etc. Bhutanese are happiest and most peaceful buddhists on earth. They don’t NEED the west. In short, CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM are NOT recognized by Bhutan, something India must be following! Bhutan is spot on on recognizing wherefrom the problems of the world stem from: the greed of the Abrahamics with their acquisitions and conquests of others’ possessions and wealth. World is in such a chaos because of the Abrahamics. The courage to underscore the real neck in the pain for the world! Bhutan merits a standing ovation for that alone!

India holds responsibility over Bhutan. Bhutan permits only limited tourists per year and that applies to Indians too. Even if in future the merger of Bhutan can happen with India, we in India would want their visa rationing to apply to India as well. No Indian citizen must be permitted to move to Bhutan while Bhutanese can receive free education at all levels in India. Bhutanese can freely work in India. Bhutanese can be allowed to invest in real estate, industry and business in India. However we in India don’t seek reciprocal rights in Bhutan. Bhutan is our responsibility. Yet, seeing Bhutan as an independent nation will make us happiest.

Long live dear Bhutan! Love and respects from India! Eschewing the Abrahamic west and most of Middle east and their material wealth lacking humanity is your formula for peace! Stay happy and blessed always.

I was watching You Tube videos where I found funnily comments bashing India and Indians for our backwardness comparing us to China and the US. The truth is WE DON’T WANT TO BE LIKE CHINA OR THE US. India is not a developing nation but a redeveloping economy after we were run over by muslim and christian thieving occupiers and marauders for 1500 years straight. We stood the onslaught and here we are. We Hindus spend hours every day in our spiritual pursuits that you cannot even dream of the chinese or the americans. We are aware how differently we are made compared to them. When we have no complaints, why should the west bother?

Bhutan or India or Nepal are not 300 years old like America. Not here without a reason for minimum 10000 years as the only continuous unbroken civilization of the world – when the Egyptian, Sumerian, Mayan, Greek everything perished. World did not come into existence with Christ or the prophet. Only the ambitious, the materialistic youth from India want to emigrate to greener pastures, not everyone. And this migrating young people percentage is very slim – in decimals.

Imagine Bhutan being there from time immemorial but REFUSING TO LEAVE CARBON FOOTPRINT ON EARTH. This is what is civilized culture not mindless consumerism and highways and skyscrapers and luxury sedans. Good for Bhutan that America put them in the travel ban list! I couldn’t stop laughing! Bhutan does not even recognize the legality of the USA and here they are instituting a ban on Bhutan! Funny. But seriously it is hometruth if you let that sink in dear America. Living the right way is DHARMA whether you see it or not. Please let not even the shadow of the west fall on this beautiful peaceful paradise called Bhutan. Let them be. God bless Bhutan!

Posted in Food For Soul

Sorry, Forgiven, Thank You & Love You.

Posted on by veeskitchen

A Pranic healer friend told me how to deal with toxic people who want to continuously bring you down or humiliate you or hurt your dignity without provocation. What is the reason for their behaviour. As a follower of the Shaktha school of philosophy I already knew the answer. They owed me one. I was getting paid by the same coin – Karma. But I also know that its quick and easy to disown that Karma. You get attached to things when you invite that sort of bad energy into your life by accepting someone’s bad behaviour by acknowledging it. What if you ignore their violation of your boundaries. You are not responsible for the way they function. You can always refuse to receive their negativity. You don’t have to react. Register but don’t respond. Stop letting their darkness cloud your brilliant light. Well, that is what I shall be trying to do in future. My Shaktha school reasoning dawned on me for the mental trauma : the Karma quotient. I understood right from the start why things happened the way they did.But now I have better clarity.

So having reckoned that I am being paid back for my past Karma, to those who I have harmed/offended in my past janam, I SAY SORRY NOW. I owed them an apology since long.

To them who are now paying me back with interest due for my past Karma with their own misdemeanour, I WANT TO SAY I FORGIVE YOU, FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO ME IS NOT YOUR BIDDING. ITS YOUR KARMA THAT IS CALLING THE SHOTS.

Those who for no reason hurt me, I THANK YOU FOR THE INVALUABLE LESSONS YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME WHICH ARE PART OF MY LIFE EXAM SYLLABUS IN THIS JANAM. Thanks to you I have checked that box. You have helped me complete a chapter of my janam’s assignment.

And to those who have been mean to me, I STILL WANT TO SAY I SHALL LOVE YOU INSPITE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO ME.

This is because I don’t want their negative energy any more in my life. I want to release them completely from my disappointment, anger, rage and avenging fury. I take back my curses and clear the slate for you. So by releasing them, I am doing myself a favour: my own Karmic cleansing. The ball is now in their court. Whether they accumulate fresh Karma or negativity is entirely upto them. But I won’t be letting their darkness dim my light anymore.

What a profound way to deal with toxicity. Everyday is a day to grow into better human. This is how we evolve into latest and updated version of ourselves. I am not my yesterday. I am my today.

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We are all connected by little Karmic dots. Nothing happens without a reason. My journey is different. I don’t want negative energy to eclipse the shining brightness of my soul. I release the EVIL. I release the NEGATIVITY. I release the TOXICITY. I flush out my own toxins. And here I am as good as new.

Posted in Food For Soul

Puri Jagannath saved Trump’s life?

Posted on by veeskitchen

Did Hindu God Puri Jagannath save Trump’s life recently. It emerges now that in the year 1976, when everyone refused ISCKON space, Trump gave the Krishna temple the space near where the assassination attempt took place. Right now ISCKON Rath Yatra is on in all parts of the world celebrating Krishna Consciousness.

  • Puri Jagannath (ISCKON KRISHNA) is one of the most powerful Hindu deities with followers around the world.
  • ISCKON is NOT HIPPIE. It is Dharmic, it promotes veganism and non violence and harmony among humanity.
  • Abrahamics try to reduce Hindu Dharma to idol worship wholly aware that its only the first basic step in the pyramid of Dharma that you have to climb. The rest of the way is steep. Manifestation of deities in idols makes it easy for layman to develop strong faith and focus. Deities are not stone blocks or metal chunks. Just like we don’t think of our national flag as our entire nation. Idols are merely symbolic. They are manifest with immense powers from rigorous vedic chantings and prayers on ‘Prana Pradishta.’ In ancient India, Hindu sadhus used to pledge their prana (life) on the deities installed giving the idols their meditative powers of a lifetime. An idol to Hindus is a living/breathing entity. You have feed the entity, you have to robe the Gods and Goddesses. You have to entertain them. Its no joke. There are those who see Ma Kali walking within the Kali temple, Calcutta even today. Many Hindu deities have revealed themselves to true and intense bhakths. There are spiritually evolved Hindus who see the deities the way they envision. When you say God has no form, you lose your chance to have a look at god. God has no form indeed but you can manifest god the way Hindus do as different deities. Every Hindu deity is manifest with differently endowed power. The aura of the temple idol magnifies manifold with increasing footfalls in the temple and mass prayers and daily mantra chantings. This is why, visiting temples is as important as praying at home. Christianity has suddenly woken up to rebirth concept and is about to patent it as theirs as usual stealing it from Hindu Dharma. In Hinduism, the heaven is only the higher consciousness you achieve after probably millions or zillions of births and rebirths. Nirvana is freedom from this Karmic birth cycle. You simply merge with the light – with the collective consciousness. This concept is best explained in Avatar, picture. Even the word Avatar (reincarnation) is Hindu. This is my small attempt at explaining idol worship which is only the tip of the iceberg.
  • Just like the white people reduced ISCKON to Hippies, they are trying to reduce Yoga to beer Yoga, goat Yoga etc. Now their latest toy is Meditation. EVerything is now stamped as christian meditation, christian yoga. By next century, all the Hindu concepts including rebirth and yoga and meditation will be incorporated as christian fundamentals. Yoga is one of the tools that can help you in self-realization as it can hone your concentration, alignment, meditative powers etc. YOga is the essential physical and mental discipline if you want to evolve to higher state of consciousness WITHOUT HACCULINATION AIDED BY SUBSTANCE.
  • Our Hindu ancestors never patented calculus or plastic surgery invented before the birth of Christ. The Hanuman chalisa clearly mentions the distance between the sun and earth. All these and many more discoveries and inventions are now deemed American or European.

In what way Sanathana (Hindu) Dharma is different from and FAR AHEAD OF ABRAHAMIC FICTION? Only Hindu Dharma figured it out and which is why we are the only unbroken civilization for over 10000 years in the world. Awareness is kicking in now among Abrahamics. They know they lost it even before the race began. And their missionary mafias spend billions trying to convert my Hindu nation to christian!

God does not discriminate between us like a mother will never discriminate between her children. Good or bad, the mother feeds the kids alike when they are hungry. You don;t have to be good really to earn the mercy of God. A staple benevolence will always be upon you. REst will be taken care of your Karma. God has no role to play in your Karma. Even if its Her game, She leaves a few pages blank for you to fill up. What you inscribe their will decide your destiny and the ensuing Karmic cycle.

Posted in Food For Soul

The Hindu Key

Posted on by veeskitchen

Watched a you tube video where a tantrik spoke of realising Shiva. Not surprised as a practising Hindu. I have blogged about the ant and the boot story many times. The ant at the foot of a man cannot picture the boot of the man or the foot of the man or the man himself or the world behind him with the size of its brain cells. If it tries to exceed the limitations of its birth/janma faculties, the brains of the ant shall burst. In order to proceed further, the ant has to grow larger brains. In short, the ant has to evolve to next state of its existence for better perception of things. But if the ant does as a lowly creature break the ceilings of perception and happens to realize the boot of the man, the foot, the man and the world beyond, then the ant in its lifetime attains Nirvana. The ant merges with the supreme Jyothi or the super or collective conscience. Indian/Hindu saints have done that for centuries: from Ramakrishna Paramahamsa to Swami Vivekananda to Vallalar. Hindu Thamizh history is full of inspiring life stories of englightened men and women: the Nayanmar and Azhwars and others. However ignorance is a bliss. If you don’t have to concern yourself like one curious ant wanting to know what is beyond your realm in your present lifestate, then it is fine. Your world begins and ends with the boot mountain and universe in front of the ant-you! Otherwise this knowledge of the nether is attainable only upon giving up your physical body – upon your passing to the other world. Why is there now a frenzy to know more about Hinduism or Buddhism. Precisely this. Dharma keyed it in where the Abrahamics failed grandly. This is what led Annie Besant and others to India – to establish the key. We still have Besant Nagar as part of Chennai. Yes, the Hindu gods are realisable with powerful chants and some relentless upasanas (meditation practices or mind exercises) as the tantrik claims. Yoga is the tool that enhances your sensory perceptions and gives you the physical and mental fitness to handle the energy of deities you worship. Its much more to do with controlling your senses that can hone your power of perception. I have watched videos in you tube of practising Christians from around the world take to Hindu ways and seek deities. As a Hindu I believe that we live in a civilization that was lost and found. The helicopter markings in Kailasa temple for landing, the flying chariot of Ravana, the missiles mentioned in Ramayana and Mahabharatha, the Ram Sethu built by Lord Ram and ‘vanara sena’ discovered under the sea between Sri Lanka and India – all these are just a few pointers unearthed that suggest at an advanced civilization that once flourished in a different plane of time that was lost to an impending apocalypse. What we have today are remnants – pieces that we picked up and try to stitch together as Dharma. While so, it was disturbing to learn of research into transcendental meditation that paves way for a higher conscience like the (hypothetic) ant, breaking the glass ceiling and realizing the galaxy beyond its original imagination. Not everything is for marketing. The greatest accomplishment of Hindu Dharma is proof that the Abrahamics have wasted thousands of years chasing the wrong rabbit! Who says deities are formless. May be that’s why you cannot see or picture your imagined/cultivated desert god! Our deities are bodied and can be realizable the way they may be pictured. The temple rituals and pujas are merely the base of the pyramid called Sanathana Dharma. It is for beginners. You don’t get stuck up at this level if you want to see the higher dimensions. Hinduism with idol worship is easily relatable to simple folks – the peasants. The idols are mere focal point of our attention. If the mullah wants to make more out of that, then it means his entire nationhood is limited to the the tattered piece of his national flag. In short, an idol is to Hinduism what a national flat is for a nation. Representative. A symbol, no more. Just as we decorate the flag and celebrate it, we celebrate idols. Some religious forms came out in denial of existing, established ways of life. That is the basis of their survival. Anyway, most of the Hindu substance was guarded as ‘rahasya’ for centuries. Now with everything being googled, there is no more such a thing as ‘rahasya mantra’ that can be administered only to worthy few. However, the tantrik held out hope. Even if the evangelists want to seek Hindu deities with diligence covertly adapting Hindu practices, the number that can make it to the gateway for enlightenment for every age stays limited and thoroughly rationed! That’s some good news. Why a Hindu. This is why. A Hindu is a rare breed. As the world wakes up to the undeniable truth, Hindu spirituality gains momentum. Many ardent practising Hindus owe our growing faith to the ‘vibes.’ Hinduism is not sold door to door like Christianity is, like Stayfree and Harpic. Neither did Hindu Dharma spread by the sword the way Islam did and does. Seekers embrace Hindu Dharma finally on questioning themselves. Self realization is possible only with a tool such as Hindu Dharma. And as the tantrik says, an authentic guru with a good lineage can lead you up there. The global stars are not in India without a reason. It takes years for someone to get to this point. Being born a Hindu, you learn it growing up. You have the advantage of playing in the homeground so there is no excuse if it don’t use it well enough. If you are born in India a Hindu, you have to make most of it or you will be squandering a birthtime opportunity. Millions in India do remain ignorant still, pre-occupied with ritualistic worship and limiting themselves to their busy ant-life gathering and saving for a rainy day. Materialism has ruined things for Hindus. Our spiritual training has to give us the mental discipline and improve our capacity for ‘out of box’ thinking. Like the physical body can be trained to be fit, the mind can be trained to go beyond its limited faculties. Only sages and saints train themselves systematically to ‘realize the truth’ in their own lifetimes. How many of us have we laughed at the meditating Sadhus with the anthills growing around them (most as seen in old Tamil flicks). How many times have we poked fun of those who take ‘sanyas’ – the celibacy vows to become hermits. So if you are a non believer or an Abrahamic, do not force yourself. You are the ant that cannot imagine more than that level. You belong in the physical, tangible world. You need logic and reasoning and scientific proofs without which you can never see beyond the boot – to the hovering man or the world behind him. So the first obstacle in the thought process you have to do away with when it comes to finetuning your conscience is: dispensing with the sense of logic and be open enough to receive ‘vibes’ that may be illogical. Under other circumstances, only substances can give you the same result with hallucination or hypnosis. I am talking about the level of conscience that is realizable without substance use or abuse when you transcend realms. Not even those ants like me who know of the ceiling but who can do nothing about it can make a difference. Sadly for those like me, the inability looms like a tragedy as we realize we shall have to be reborn a thousand times to nurture a superior mind and break the birth cycle. By superior mind I do not refer to the scientific or engineering or money making business mind. By superior mind, I am referring to the ant brain that can break ceilings in its own lifetime and can transcend in to the other world. So as of now we are resigned to this state of existence nevertheless we try! Not adding fresh Karma to the load we already carry has a role to play in our punar janams (rebirths). Sometimes I wonder why are we Hindus so complicated. Why can’t we have simple food like the pizza or bread. Why should even our cuisine be so complex with so much of grinding and powdering and deepfrying and shallow roasting and masalas (spices) and lentils and a stunning range of veggies and food grains. But isn’t ours the best palate in the world. Exiting a world cup soccer match in Qatar via a mall, I looked around for restaurant table. The Indian Tandoor had a hundred plus waiting crowd comprising of multiple nationalities (that would have taken them hours before being served) whereas every other restaurant such as European, Chinese, Turkish, Arab etc., had table to spare. Why are our clothes so indigenous. That six yard unstitched piece of cloth that goes for a sari. That four yard unstitched white piece of cotton clothing that goes for dhoti for men. Would they ever dissappear from the face of the world? Why do we have our traditional native classical/folky music to dance to art and literary forms. What about our grand granite temple complexes? Why cannot we be so easily anglicized the way the Filipinos or even the Chinese are. In a similar way is fashioned the Hindu spirituality. It has labyrinths you have to traverse before you could get to the core. If you have to be discouraged by the skin and the pulp, you will never get to see the seed. The more materialistic you are, the farther you move away from the quiet world of inner awakening. As I said, some of us got the message but we have no way of going in there. We cannot figure out but we try to give our best. To those who haven’t a clue, its going to take that much longer to realize what is what.

Decoding Dharma – 3: Why Dharma.
Posted in Food For Soul

Shani Shingnapur

Posted on by veeskitchen

Shani Shingnapur near Nashik, Maharashtra was very much in news for the controversy surrounding women being debarred from performing the Abhishek ritual to Lord Shani (Saturn). The Shani murthy (idol) here is swayambu (erupted out of earth on its own). Tripti Desai led the march from the forefront to win rights for women to conduct/perform rituals for Lord Shani with their own hands on par with men. I had an opportunity to visit the shrine in the month of April. Saturn phase is on for me right now. To spell it out in Thamizh, ‘ezharai nattu sani’ going on for me. Its tenure is for 7.5 years. This is second time in my lifeline that saturn rules the house in my horoscope. This is on for over an year now. Shani period is supposed to be physically and mentally and even financial exhausting to most. A very testy period in one’s life where we may be facing health woes. We may get ourselves entangled in unnecessary troubles. So I exercised the privilege of anointing Lord Shani with sesame oil with my own hands and perform the abhishegam to Him during my visit to His temple. My two friends still disapproved of my move. There were about a hundred devotees. While most men performed the abhishegam, there was a general reluctance among the women to come forward for the ritual. Only a handful of us dared. The men (husbands) restrained their wives and daughters and stood in queue to partake in the ritual. But nobody frowned when some of us women stepped forward for the ritual. The fee for the ritual is 500 bucks. The oil price was 80 or 90 bucks. The ticket issuing clerk had a disapproving smirk pasted on his face as he handed out the token to me. I hoped to please Lord Shani asking Him to soften His blows or at least give me the physical mental strength to bear shocks and upsets if it comes to that. To anyone who questions change of age old customs, I would like to remind that once upon a time, women were not even allowed to attend schools, not divorce, not remarry. Women did not get a share of family estate/inheritance. There was even the heinous practice of Sati in India. Its not you and I who decide what should happen when. As a total believer, I trust that it was perhaps Lord Shani Himself who decided that the time was ripe for women to perform rituals for Him with their own hands. அவனன்றி ஓர் அணுவும் அசையாது. Whether it is Shani or Lord Aiyappa, the move or decision to grant women entry is decided by the deity not by humans. As an unshakable believer in and follower of Hindu Dharma, this is where I differ from my friends’ view point. My Kerala friends cannot agree with the reforms naturally. By change in norms, I do not state that any disrespect has to be shown to the deity. In Sabarimala, the court case was interestingly filed by a Kerala muslim for entry of women into the hill shrine while no muslim woman can ever share the mosque space with the men. Not a single petition is filed in Indian courts to win the muslim women their equal rights. The women who first broke barriers in Sabarimala were also non Hindus – with a muslim/christian woman throwing a used/soiled sanitary napkin on Lord Aiyappa when with police escort she became the first fertile woman to set her foot in the holy shrine of Lord Aiyappa. Can you imagine a non muslim desecrating an islamic place of worship and getting alive with it. This is my Hindu India. This is the level of our tolerance. We Hindus give police protection to muslim/christians to go in and desecrate our places of worship in the name of democracy and secularism. It broke every Hindu heart when the kind of desecration the woman subjected our supreme deity to, came to light. We left the offenders to their Karma. While I am for equality of sexes and women’s rights, this is a clear case of mischief no doubt. Its good that a film like Kerala Story happened. An eye opener. After the Sabarimala sacrilege, the very next year the entire Kerala state was flooded and crores and crores of property were lost. Washed out. When Lord Aiyappa is ready to receive women devotees in His abode, trust Him to move the earths and the skies not just the courts to make it happen. Lord Aiyappa is viewed as Naishtika Brahmachari by Hindus.

abhishek for Lord Shani at Shani Shingnapur shrine with my own hands…

Let me make it clear that, there was nothing rebellious about my Shani access or worship. I am a practing Hindu and I considered it a blessing to get nearer to Shani Bhagwan. I was full of reverence and faith.

Posted in Food For Soul

லௌகீகத்தில் தர்மம்

Posted on by veeskitchen

சில நாட்களாக என் மனத்திரையின் பின்னால் ஓடி கொண்டிருக்கும் ஒரு விவாதம் இது. துறவரம் தான் கொள்ள வேண்டுமா என்ன. எம்ப்போன்றோருக்கு இல்லறமே நல்லறம் தான். குடும்பத்தில் இருந்து அறத்தை மேற்கொள்வது எப்படி. லௌகீக வாழ்க்கை பின்பற்றி மட்டுமே ஒருவர் சத்கதி அடைய இயலுமா. இது சாத்தியமா. இது போன்ற கேள்விகள் என் ஆழ் மனதில் வந்து வந்து போயின. முடியும் என்று சொல்கின்றனர் நான் சந்தித்த ஆன்மீக சான்றோர். குடும்பமே யாவற்றிற்கும் அடிப்படை. குடும்பத்தை நேர்த்தியாக கொண்டு சென்றாலே நமக்கு மோக்ஷம் தான். குடும்பத்திற்காக அயராது சுயநலம் இன்றி உழைப்பது, ஒழுக்கத்தை பேணுவது, வயதில் மூத்தோரை மதித்தல், பராமரித்தல், அனைவரிடமும் அன்பு காட்டுதல், நம்மிடம் பணி புரிவோர் – வீட்டு வேலை செய்யும் பெண், வண்டி ஓட்டுனர், தோட்டக்காரர், சமையல் காரர் – போன்றோரை சக மனிதராக பாவித்து மரியாதையாக நடத்துதல், பிள்ளைகளை நன்கு பேணுதல், நல்ல குடிமகன்களாக நாம் பெற்ற பிள்ளைகளை உருவாக்குதல், பூஜை புனஸ்காரங்களை இல்லறத்தில் சிறக்க செய்தல், கோவில்களுக்கு நன்கொடை, வீட்டில் விருந்தாளிகளை நன்கு ஓம்புதல், நட்பு பாராட்டல், நேரம் கடமை தவறாமை, நம்மால் முடிந்த உதவிகளை அடுத்தவர்க்கு செய்தல், யார் குடியையும் கெடுக்காது இருத்தல்,ஒழுக்கம் தவறாமை, பக்தி மேன்மை, நலிந்தோர்க்கு உணவு உடை மற்ற தேவையான உதவி புரிதல், பண உதவியை காட்டிலும் உடல் உழைப்பால் மற்றவர் பயன் உறும் வகையில் உதவுதல், மற்றவர்க்கு நற்போதனை செய்தல், அடுத்தோற்கு நல் வழி காட்டுதல், உண்மையை உரைத்தல், பொய் இன்மை, மனசாட்சிக்கு கட்டுப்பட்டு நடத்தல், ஏமாற்று வேலை செய்யாதிருத்தல், பொறாமை வயிற்றெரிச்சல் கொள்ளாதிருத்தல், நம்பிக்கை துரோகம் புரியாதது இருத்தல், நம்பிக்கை, மரியாதை காப்பது, பேணுவது, பேராசை அற்று இருத்தல், மனசாட்சியை விலை பேசாதிருப்பது, போலி கௌரவம் கொள்ளாதிருத்தல், யார் வாழ்வையும் கெடுக்காதிருத்தல், வயதுக்கேற்ற மன முதிர்ச்சி, இனிமையான இயல்பு, நேரான நேர்மையான வாழ்க்கை, ஒளிவு மறைவு இல்லாமை, பார பட்சம் பார்க்காமை, அணைத்து உயிர் இனங்களை நேசித்தல், விலங்கு பறவை மரம் செடி கொடி போன்ற தாவர இனங்கள், நடப்பன பரப்பன ஊர்வன முதலிய எல்லா ஜீவன்களையும் ரசித்தல் அன்பு செய்தல், இயன்றால் பராமரித்தல், கற்பு, மானம் காப்பது, இன்னும் இப்படி பல நெறிகள் உள்ளன.நல்லவரிடம் சொல்லவே வேண்டாம். நன்னடத்தை சொல்லி வருவது இல்லை. ரத்தத்தில் வருவது. தாய்ப்பாலுடன் சேர்த்து ஊட்டி வளர்ப்பது. இப்படி ஒரு நேர்த்தியான குடும்ப வாழ்க்கை உங்களது என்றால், கோவிலில் கூட நீங்கள் தெய்வத்தை தேட வேண்டாம். கடவுள் வாழும் இல்லம் உங்கள் இல்லமாகும். உண்மையான பாசிட்டிவிட்டியே இது தானே ஒழிய தவறான போக்கோ தரம் கெட்ட வாழ்க்கை முறையோ அன்று. நம் நடத்தையே நம் குடும்ப மேம்பாட்டிற்கு அடித்தளம். ஒரு குடும்பத்தின் ஆணி வேறானா தாயே சரியில்லை என்றால் அந்த குடும்பமே பாழ் தான். பூர்வ ஜன்ம புண்ணியத்தால் தான் ஓடுவது ஓடிக்கொண்டு இருக்கும். நல்லோர் கூட்டு இதற்கு தான் அவசியம்.நல்லது கெட்டது எது என்று பகுத்து உணர நல்லவர் நட்பே முக்கியம். வீட்டில் பெரியவர் இருந்தால் பார் வைக்க முடியுமா. தர்மம் என்பது இடத்துக்கேற்ப நிர்ணயமாகும். லௌகீக தர்மம் நல்ல மேன்மையான நன்னெறி வாழ்க்கை வாழ்வதே. ஒழுக்கமே இங்கு அடிப்படை. கெட்டாலும் மேன்மக்கள் மேன்மக்களே, சங்கு சுட்டாலும் வெண்மை தரும் என்று இதற்க்கு தான் உரைத்தார். தலையே போனாலும் நெறி தவறாமை முக்கியம். இன்றளவும் இப்பேற்பட்ட நட்பை பெற நான் பாக்கியம் தான் செய்துள்ளேன். தவறை தவறு என்று சுட்டி காட்டி திருத்த உண்மைக்கு பின்வாங்காத நட்பும் சுற்றமும் அவசியம். நம் குழந்தைகளுக்கு நாம் விட்டு செல்வது இந்த செல்வத்தை தான் முதலில். நான் வேண்டுவது எல்லாம், என் குடும்பத்திற்கு ஒழுக்கம், நாணயம், கடின உழைப்பு, நேர்மை, கட்டுப்பாடு இவைதான். ஓரளவு வாழ்க்கைக்கு தேவையான பணம் போதும். அதிகம் இருந்தால் அதுவே ஆல கால விஷம். உழைக்காத பணம் இன்னும் வீண். லௌகீக வாழ்க்கையில் தர்மம் பின்பற்றாத எவருமே கடவுளை கும்பிட்டு பலனில்லை. ஒரு ஓட்டையான பாத்திரத்தில் தண்ணீர் நிரப்பி கொண்டே இருங்கள். நீர் நிறையுமா என்ன. அது போல தான் லௌகீக வாழ்க்கையில் அதர்மத்தை பேணுபவர் நிலையும். அதர்மம் நம்மை என்றும் ஜெயிக்க விடாது. நம் பாட்டிகளுக்கு மறு பிறவியே கிடையாது. கோவிலுக்கு சென்று வழிபட கூட அவருக்கு நேரம் இருந்தது இல்லை. பிள்ளைகளை வளர்த்து, பின் பேர குழந்தைகளை வளர்த்து கொடுத்து, சதா சர்வ நேரமும் அடுக்களையில் உழைத்து ஒய்ந்து தேய்ந்து, வீட்டுக்கு வருவோரை உபசரித்து அன்புடன் வயிறு புடைக்க உணவிட்டு விடைகொடுத்து அனுப்புவது, இதை தவிர எதை கண்டனர். இந்த லௌகீகமே ஒரு தெய்வீகம் தான். ஆலமரமாய் அதனால் தான் நம் குடும்பங்கள் இன்றும் விஸ்தாரமாய் கிளை பரப்பி ஊன்றி நிற்கின்றன. அதன் குளிர் நிழலில் தான் நாம் இன்று இளைப்பாறி கொண்டு இருக்கிறோம். அந்த ஞான பழங்கள் தான் இன்று உண்மையா நமக்கு சோறு போடுவது. இது தான் நாமும் நம் பிள்ளைகளுக்கு முதலில் ஆற்ற வேண்டிய கடமை. இல்லறம் நல்லறம். லௌகீக வாழ்க்கையில் தர்மம் கடைபிடிப்பது, அம்பாளுக்கு மிக பிடித்த ஒன்று. நம் கடமையை நாம் செய்யும் போதும், நாம் அற வழியில் நடக்கும் போதும், அம்பாள் நம் பக்கத்திலேயே துணை நிற்பாள். நம்மிடம் வேள்வி அவள் எதிர்பார்ப்பதில்லை. கோவிலுக்கு கூப்பிடுவதில்லை. நன்றாக உன் கையால் சமை. விருந்தோம்பு. ஒழுக்கம் பேண். நெறி தவறாது நட. இந்து பெண்களுக்கு கற்பு தெய்வீகம் தான். நல் வழி லௌகீகத்தில் அம்பாளுக்கு அவ்வளவு நாட்டம். எனக்கு தெரிந்த ஆன்மீக மக்கள் சொல்ல கேட்டு உரைப்பது இது. லௌகீக தர்மமே இந்த கலி யுகத்தில் உகந்தது, நடைமுறை வாழ்க்கைக்கு ஒத்து வருவது. லௌகீக தர்மம் பேணி நம் வாழ்வை செம்மை செய்வோம்.