Wednesday 4 June 2014

From Team Venugaanam



We are happy to bring you the 35th edition of Venugaanam this June.  
 SWAMI’s discourse highlights His four fold mission. Following this, we have the SKM updates for the month of May in which we offer our grateful homage to Balu Sir, one of the founders of the school and a noble philanthropist.
In Atmajyothi, we further continue sharing the knowledge on devotion as indicated in Naradha Bhakti Sutras. Here we discuss the various aspects of the devotion.

Prakash expresses his thought about opinion leaders and the positive and negative side of their impacts

Do read the final and concluding episode of “The Night” , by T.R Mist.
Bhargav’s article entitled “Special Gift of Service” is a must read for all of us. You’ll surely relate to every word in it from your own personal life.
The final article is about Swami Vivekananda’s article on Swami Vilvamangala. It’s always delighting and exciting to read about a Master, speaking about another Master.

We are happy to have your feedback on how to make ‘Venugaanam’ a better communication tool. Please mail us at contactus@saikrushnamandir.org . Do feel free to share with us your articles, thoughts and ideas.
We pray to Swami to bless all the children and inmates so that they may all come up to His expectations. May Swami turn our lives into a celebration of His message of love, sharing and caring.
                                                                                                                                With All our Prema,
                                                                                                                                Team Venugaanam

Divine Discourse: Open your Eyes



UPPULUURI Ganapathi Shaasthry has a title that very few scholars have. He is calledAamnaayaartha Vaachaspathi ---the Master Expounder of the Meaning of the Vedhas. I had
permitted him to speak for as long as he liked; indeed, I had encouraged him to make a long speech for just after this he is opening the Vedhashaasthra Paathashaala---an institution that is dear to his heart when established anywhere, but dearer to him because it is established here, in the Prashaanthi Nilayam. In fact, he sees in it an important step in My Plan of Vedhic revival.
But he was so over-powered by Aanandha that he could not proceed with his speech even for a few minutes. As he said, he spoke even those few words just to express his debt to the Vedhas. It is not only his debt but the debt of all humanity. The Vedhas have shaped India and India shaped, is shaping, and will shape, the rest of the world.
The Vedhas are without beginning or end; they are eternal messages caught by developed consciousnesses in the silence of meditation. Loyalty to the Vedhas has faded often in the past also and so the present 'decline' which Ganapathi Shaasthry deplored is just a passing phase.
Dhuurvaasa was a reputed Vedhic scholar; he had the music of the Saama Vedha on his tongue and the cinders of anger in his eye; a strange combination, indeed. Seeing this absurdity, Saraswathi, the Goddess of Learning and Liberation, laughed in derision. The sage was stung to
the quick; he threw a curse on Her and she was born on earth as the daughter of Aathreya. There was a brother too, a feeble minded chap incapable, in spite of the efforts of the skilled teachers, of even pronouncing the Vedha aright. He was beaten with a rod, but that only made him weep helplessly. Saraswathi was moved with great pity. She intervened and saved him from physical torture. She taught him the four Vedhas and the six Shaasthras and he became a great Master.
Vedhas are in need of revival again
Meanwhile, the Vedha had faded from human memory and, as a result, famine stalked the land. Rishis were reduced to skeletons. They yearned for the Vedha, for that was the sustenance on which they lived. Saaraswatha, the brother of Saraswathi, prayed to Chandhra (the Moon). She made the each sprout forth edible plants (Saakha), on which the Rishis decided to live.
Saaraswatha taught them the sixty different sections of the Vedhas but so thick was the fog that had descended on the Vedhas that the sages who learnt the Vedhas from him were confounded by cynical critics. Naaradha had to assure them that what they had learnt was the genuine Vedha itself, but even he could not remove the main of doubt. They jointly approached Brahma. He said, "You were all able to get this Vision of Me as a result of your Vedhic study; you can have yourself become Brahma when you practise what you have studied." That was how Saaraswatha Maharshi revived the Vedhas once in the past.

Reasons for the present sorrow and suffering
Now again the Vedhas are in need of revival, of promotion. Someone has to prevent the axe from reaching its mots, the goats eating the sprouts. Do not be too conceited, feeling that the Avathaarhas come for you particularly. I have come for the sake of Dharma. And, how is the avathaar to guard Dharma? Well, Vedhokhilo Dharma Moolam---"The Vedhas are the root of Dharma."
When the Vedhas remain unharmed, that is to say, when the Vedhic scholars are unharmed, the Vedha will remain ever-green in the heart of man. That is the real Dharma-sthaapana.
You may ask, "Well. The Lord has incarnated. Then why should the world be torn by strife and stricken with sorrow?" Why, even when Lord Krishna was here, there was war and wickedness, strife and sorrow. The husk will have to be pulled out, the pure saved always from the impure.
The present suffering is mainly due to the lapses in discipline among the professed followers of the Vedhic path, their disregard for the morality laid down in the Shaasthras and their absence of faith in the ancient scriptures. What use can a blind man make of a lamp, however bright it may be?
You may ask why Pandiths and Vedhic scholars are passing through hard times now? They are mostly hungry, ill-clad and homeless; that being the reason why no one comes forward to join Vedhic schools? Paatasaalaas are becoming defunct. But I want to tell you that the Pandiths and Shaasthris have come to this pass because they have themselves lost faith in the Vedhas. They are like the proverbial cat which is loyal to two homes and is denied food and comfort in either. The Pandiths have one eye on secular matters and secular studies and another on the spiritual. Let them be fixed in that faith, faith in the Vedhas. Then the Vedha will keep them happy. Because if
the Vedha cannot make a man happy, what else can? Like the hotel-keeper who goes to a druggist for a pill when he gets a headache, while that same druggist goes to the same hotel for a cup of coffee when he gets a headache, the West comes to the East for mental peace and the East
is enamoured of the West for what it considers necessary for mental peace!

Story of unshakable faith of a devotee
Let me tell you an incident which happened while in the previous body at Shirdhi. There was a lady from Pahalgaon, a simple illiterate devotee. She stored water in her kitchen in three clean, brightly polished brass pots from three separate wells and she had named the pots---Ganga,
Yamuna and Saraswathi. She always referred to them by those names. Whenever any thirsty wayfarer called at her door, she mixed water from all three and offered it to the person as Thriveni Theertha (water from three rivers). Neighbours used to laugh at her faith, but her belief that the three wells were connected underground with the three rivers that joined at Prayag, was unshakable.
Her husband started on a pilgrimage to Kaashi. His mother, while blessing him on his departure, put on his finger her own gold ring and directed him to take good care of it, for it would be a talisman for him. When he was taking the ceremonial bath at the Manikarnika Ghat, the ring slipped into the waters and could not be retrieved. When he returned and related this story, he said, "Ganga waned it; she took it," just to console his mother. When the wife heard this, she said, "No, no! Mother Ganga will not hanker after the property of a poor old lady. She will
accept only what is offered out of love. She will give us back the ring, I am sure. I shall ask Ganga; she is in our kitchen." So saying, she went in and with folded hands, she prayed before the particular pot named by her as Ganga. Putting her hand in she searched the bottom and sure
enough, she got the ring back! She had come to Dwaarakamaayi with her husband and motherin- law. It is faith that matters; the form and the name on which it is fixed do not matter. For all names are His; all forms are His.



The four-fold Mission of Sai
Faith can grow only on the soil of Dharma, with the fertile sub-soil of Vedha. That is why the Paatasaala (Vedhic School) is started here today. I announced this in October and it is being started in November. With Me, the resolution and the realisation coincide in time; there is no
time-lag. You may say that only twenty boys have joined now. When a huge country is administered by a cabinet of twelve, this band of students is enough for the work I have in view.
My task is to open your eyes to the Glory of the Vedhas and to convince you that the Vedhic injunctions, when put into practice, will yield the results promised. My task is to make you aware of your errors and the loss you are incurring; not only you who are here just now, but all the
people of India and even the world.
This Paathashaala will grow into a University, establishing branches wherever there are other types of Universities now. It will afford cool green shade for all. My prema towards the Vedha is equalled only by My prema towards Humanity. My Mission, remember, is just fourfold: Vedha
poshana, Vidwath poshana, (fostering the Vedhas and Vedhic Scholars), Dharma rakshana and Bhaktha rakshana (Protection of virtue and devotees). Spreading My Grace and My Power along these four directions, I establish Myself in the Centre.
These boys will grow into strong straight Pillars of the Sanaathana Dharma---the Ancient Wisdom, the Eternal Path; they will be the leaders and guides of this land in the days to come.
Parents who have sent them to this Paathashaala have every reason to be happy, for these boys will be Gems spreading Vedhic splendour everywhere, disseminating Shaasthraic learning everywhere. I shall care for them as the apple of My eye, more than any mother. They will
always have My Blessings.
-       Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

SKM Updates: Recalling Balu Sir



On the auspicious occasion and holy day of Buddha Poornima, one of our trustees, Mr B N Balasubramani merged in Swami's lotus feet at 00:45 hours in the morning.
He was ailing with a poor heart condition and lymphoma for the past few months.
Balu Sir (as he was more affectionately known ) was one of the co-founders of the Sharavathi Kannada Higher Primary School currently run by Sai Krushna Charitable Trust.
He also was one of the prime movers and generous donors of land for Sai Krushna Mandir : phase 1 and 2.
A humble, generous, soft spoken and unassuming personality, Mr Balu endeared himself to one and all with his selfless and helping nature.
More than 5000 students have been beneficiaries of free education through the Sharavathi Kannada Higher Primary School set up by him in 1991.
He trained many youth in his Chickpet ( Bangalore) laminates shop and these people have now gone on to become financially independent individuals and responsible citizens.
Though a bachelor in terms of status, Balu sir was a part of innumerable families due to his loving and helping attitude.
The presence of over 200 people and almost all the villagers for his burial on the Sai Krushna Mandir phase 2 land, was only a reaffirmation of the intense love and respect people have for this silent and great soul.
Befittingly, Balu Sir has merged in Swami on the same full moon day made more sacred by Lord Buddha's advent and enlightenment.
The members of Sai Krushna Mandir will miss this trustee whose actions symbolized simplicity, love and humility in charity.
His life will continue to inspire the activities of Sai Krushna Charitable Trust even as we take forward his legacy of service with greater zeal.

As a mark of respect and love for Balu Sir, the Sai Krushna Charitable Trust will conduct a Narayan Seva seeking Bhagavan Baba's blessings. This will be held on June 14th, once all the children return to school after their vacation.
The Narayan Seva will involve food distribution for all the school students and villagers of Hosadoddi.
We pray to Swami to bless this very noble soul and to continue to guide us in all our activities.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and best wishes for Balu Sir.
We share below a few memories as shared by many of our readers on Balu Sir.
We look forward to all your active involvement and participation in this God given opportunity. We also welcome you to come and visit the site and participate in the activities of Sai Krushna Mandir. We pray that Swami’s grace will crown our genuine intentions and He will continue to guide and bless the children and residents to live in a happy home and grow to his ideals. 


Recalling a Noble, Generous, Unassuming Devotee of the Lord:





 

Atmajyothi: by Lakshminarayan Aithal





6. METHOD  OF  PERFORMING  ACTIONS
भवतु निश्चयदार्ढ्यादूर्ध्वं शास्त्ररक्षणम् ।। 12 ।।


12. After  the  determination  (regarding  devotion )  has  become  firm  (one)  should  protect  the  scripture.
    37. The  doubts  that  are  already  clarified  by  us  don’t  have  any  place  and  that  is  cleared  in  the  forth-coming  three  aphorisms.
    As  the  result  of  establishing  only  in  God,  the  devotee,  himself,  has  attained  the  Form  of  God.  The  secondary  devotees (गौणभक्ताः)  imagine  that  they  are  different  from  God;  He  should  fulfill  their  desires  and  remove  their  difficulties;  and,  they  perform  worldly  and  Vedic  activities  to  please  God.  But,  the  Supreme  Devotee  is  not  like  that;  the  Lord  Himself  praise  him – ज्ञानी त्वात्मैव मे मतम् आस्तितः हि युक्तात्मा मामेवानुत्तमां गतिम् ।। गी. 7-18.
    The  Supreme  Devotee  has  the  determination : ‘I  am वासुदेव , the  Lord  Himself,  I  am  not  least  different  from  Him’.  The  Devotee  has  brought  this  determination  firmly  into  his  experience.
बहूनां जन्मनामन्ते ज्ञानवान् मां प्रपद्यते वासुदेवः सर्वमिति महात्मा सुदुर्लभः ।। गी. 7-19
    As  the  one  develops  refinement (संस्कार )  of  the  devotion  in  God  from  many  births,  at  last  he  determines  that  everything  is  वासुदेव  the  Lord  Himself  and  nothing  exists  apart  from  Him.  Such  a  magnanimous  person  doesn’t  have  any  object  of  life (पुरुषार्थ)  to  be  achieved  by  performing  actions  declared  in  the  scriptures.
बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम् जोषयेत् सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान् युक्तः समाचरन् ।। गी. 3-26.
    The  ignorant  who  are  theists  as  well  associated  with  action – naturally  have  the  intelligence  that  they  must  conduct  action;  though  the  wise  has  no  action  that  to  be  performed,  still,  the  wise  people  conduct  their  religious  duties  methodically  as  instructed  in  the  scriptures;  thus,  they  encourage  the  ignorant   also  to  perform  their  religious  duties.  If  the  Supreme  Devotees  perform  actions,  there  is  no  overrule  of  the  Law;  they  give  up  all  worldly  and  Vedic  activities.
 अन्यथा पातित्यशङ्कया ।। 13 ।।
    13. For,  if  not,  there  would  be a  doubt  that  he  has  fallen  down.
PURPOSE  OF  DEVOTEES  BRINGING  PEOPLE  TO  THE  RIGHT  WAY
    38. The  Devotees  don’t  have  any  personal  benefit  if  they  bring  people  to  the  right  way;  and,  they  don’t  have  a  desire  of  fame  that  the  world  would  praise  them.  Still,  as  they  see  everywhere  only  God  who  is  of  the  Form  of  Bliss;  they  naturally  seek  welfare  of  all;  and,  they  aspire  that  everyone  should  see  God  as  they  do.  When  the  Lord  had  various  incarnations  He  performed  good  activities  wishing  that  people  would  follow  the  right  way.  Similarly,  the  Devotees  also  wish  the  welfare  of  people.  There  is  a  benefit  to  the  one  if  he  brings  to  his  mind  what  the  Lord  श्रीकृष्ण  has  told  in  this  regard :-
मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन नानवाप्तवमाप्तव्यं वर्त एव कर्मणि ।।
यदि ह्यहं वर्तेय जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ।।
उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम् सङ्करस्य स्यामुपहन्यामिमाः प्रजाः ।।
सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत कुर्याद् विद्वांस्तथा सक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसङ्ग्रहम् ।।
गी. 3-22 तः 25
    ‘O  पार्थ, I  don’t  have  any  work  that  ought  to  be  done  even  in  three  worlds;  for,  even  in – the  world  of  man (मनुष्यलोक),  that  of  manes (पितृलोक)  and  that  of  gods (heaven) -  all  the  three  worlds,  I  don’t  have  to  obtain  anything. Thus,  though  I  have  obtained  all  desires (आप्तकाम),  I  am  incessantly  working.  Without  indolence,  if  I  don’t  engage  in  actions,  by  that  alone,  people  following  that  path  of   Mine  may  be  ruined;  though  I  have  incarnated  to  bless  them,  contrary  to  that  I  would  have  spoiled  them !  Therefore,  the  wise  people  who  wish  the  welfare  of  the  world  should  perform  good  actions  without  contact (संग),  whereas,  the  ignorant   people   work  with  attachment.’ 
    In  this  regard,  the  Devotees  follow  God  alone.  By  performing  action,  they  gain  nothing;  still,  if  they  don’t  perform  any  action,  theists  may  consider  that  they  have  fallen;  they  would  not  come  to  the  Devotees  and  they  would  not  try  to  know  the  Principle  of  essential  expedients  in  the  Spiritual  Path;  the  ignorant  see  the  Devotees  not  doing  work,  they  think  that  there  would  be  no  benefit  in  doing  work;  they  would  give  up  the  work  and  they  would  be  ruined.  In  order  to  avoid  this,  the  Devotees  should  perform  actions  methodically  without  association  and  they  must  encourage  people  to  follow  the  Path  of  Faith.
शान्ता महान्तो निवसन्ति सन्तो वसन्तवल्लोकहितं चरन्तः
तीर्णाः स्वयं भीमभवार्णवं जना-नहेतुनान्यपि तारयन्तः ।। वि. चू. 57.
    Good people(सज्जनाः)  who  are  eminent  personages (महापुरुषाः)  naturally,  similar  to  the  spring  season,  perform  welfare  activities  for  the  sake  of  people.  They,  themselves,  cross  the  terrible  ocean  of  worldly  life;  and,  without  seeking  anything  in  return,  they  help  others  to  cross  it.
THE  DEVOTEES  DON’T  FALL  DOWN  BY  THE  DECLINE  OF  ACTION
    39. Some  have  interpreted  this  aphorism  as  follows : There  is  a  fear  of  fall  to  the  one,  transgressing  the  command  of  the  scripture,  if  he  gives  up  the  prescribed  action.  The  interpretation  is  not  suitable  one.  For,  the  Devotees  have  reached  the  Abode  of  God  where  there  is  no  rise  and  fall.  They  don’t  have  the  fear  of  ruining  by  indulging  in  wicked  acts;  and,  they  don’t  have  the  desire  of  obtaining  a  good  refuge (उत्तमागतिः )  by  performing  good  actions.  They  don’t  have  even  a  craving  of  uplifting  others  and  of  obtaining  some  benefit.  Their  nature  is  explained  in  the  12th  chapter  of  भगवद्गीत. श्री सुरेश्वराचार्य  writes   in  his  work  named  नैष्कर्म्यसिद्धिः
उत्पन्नात्मप्रबोधस्य ह्यद्वेष्टृत्वादयो गुणाः अयत्नतो भवन्त्यस्य तु साधनरूपिणः ।। नै. सि. 4-61.
    The  Devotees  who  have  the  Self  Knowledge  without  any  effort  obtain  the  qualities  like  non-hating (अद्वेष),  etc ;  and,  in  order  to  have  them,  they  need  not  conduct  any  practice.
    Those  who  are  exclusively  devoted  to  the  performance  of  religious  rites (कर्मठाः )  desire  to  enjoy  heaven,  etc. -   
ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं विशालं क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति
एवं त्रयीधर्ममनुप्रपन्ना गतागतं कामकामा लभन्ते ।। गी. 9-21.
    They,  obtaining  the  heaven,  etc.  the  fruit  of  action (कर्मफल),  return  to  the  earth  after  declining  of  religious  merit (पुण्य ).  Therefore,  the  people  who  have  desires (कामिनः)  have  the  fear  of  fall.  But,  the  Devotion  is  of  the  form  of  restraint  of  desires;  therefore,  the  Devotees  don’t  have  even  the  doubt  of  falling  down. It  is  quite  improbable  to  say  that  they  have  either  the  fear  of  sinfulness (प्रत्यवाय)  by  the  defect  of  transgressing  the  command  of  the  scripture,  or  the  fear  of  falling  in  to  the  hell  due  to  the  conduct  of  misdeeds.  For,  it  is  already  told  that  the  Devotees  obtain  only  the  Form  of  God  which  is  free  from  doer-ship  and  enjoyer-ship.  They  have  the  vision of  the  Abode : तद्विष्णोः परमं पदं सदा पश्यन्ति सूरयः ।। (. मं. 1-5-22-20).  According  to  this श्रुति,  they  always  see  only  the  Abode  of विष्णु  everywhere;  therefore,  from  where  they  have  to  fall ?  They  don’t  have  egoism,  hence,  they  never  obtain  any  fruit  from  an  action.
    In  the  scripture,  it  is  praised  that  the  wise  people  don’t  have  an  impediment  to  find  the  blessing (सद्गति)  even  from  the  prohibited  action.  As  an  example  in  the कौषीतकी उपनिषत् , इन्द्र     tells  to  प्रतर्दन   -
यो मां विजानीयान्नास्य केन कर्मणा लोको मीयते
मातृवधेन पितृवधेन स्तेयेन भ्रूणहत्यया .....।। कौ. 3-1.
    “The  one  who  knowing  Me  worships,  obtains  his  desired  world;  and  his  misdeeds  like – assassination  of  either  mother  or  father,  stealing,  procuring  abortion,  etc – don’t  become  a  hindrance  for  the  attainment  of  the  fruit.”  In  the  भगवद्गीता  this  is  told –
यस्य नाहङ्कृतो भावो बुद्धिर्यस्य लिप्यते हत्वापि इमाल्लोकान्न हन्ति निबध्यते ।। गी. 18-17.
    “The  one  who  obtaining  the  refinement  of  the  inner-organ (mind)  becomes  free  from  egoism  that  he  is  the  doer  through  his  own  experience  and  the  preaching  of  the  scripture  and  the  teacher;  and,  he  doesn’t  have  least  doubt  that  he  has  conducted  the  misdeed;  even  if  he  massacres  all  living  beings,  he  has  not  killed  them;  and,  he  is  not  bound  as  the  result  of  that  deed.”  The  Lord  Himself  has  told  this statement.  This  episode  is  only  to  extol  the  glory  of  the  Knowledge  of  Reality  that  the  Devotee  has;  and,  it  is  not  intended  there  that  the  Devotee  really  does  such  barbarous  deeds. The  real  Devotee  doesn’t  even  perform  scriptural  actions  for  his  sake;  this  being  the  case,  where  is  the  question  of  conducting  misdeeds ?
    Therefore,  the  Devotee  certainly  follows  the  rules : proper  and  improper  actions  of  the  scriptures.  Therefore,  though  the  Devotee  doesn’t  need  any  fruit,  his  observing  of  rules  guides  ignorant  people  and  that  causes  the  benefit  of  the  world.  This  itself  is  the  meaning  of  these  12th  and  13th  aphorisms.  The  doubt  of  falling (पातित्यशङ्का)  means  as  follows : The  people  of  the  world  may  doubt  a  Devotee  that  he  has  fallen  because  he  has  given  up  the  actions  and  they  would  miss  the  benefit  of  his  preaching;  and,  an  axiom  says : By  any  reason  the  real  falling  does  not  come  near  the  Devotee.