tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post7716816966451012553..comments2024-03-20T13:24:11.422+05:30Comments on Arunachala and Ramana Maharshi: Umapati SivamDavid Godmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10354181925332694222noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-35837481624456451512010-04-27T07:56:25.506+05:302010-04-27T07:56:25.506+05:30Black Swan Events were described by Nassim Nichola...Black Swan Events were described by Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his 2007 book, The Black Swan. Taleb regards almost all major scientific discoveries, historical events, and artistic accomplishments as "black swans" — undirected and unpredicted. He gives the rise of the Internet, the personal computer, World War I, and the September 11, 2001 attacks as examples of Black Swan Events.<br /><br />The term black swan was a Latin expression — its oldest reference is in the poet Juvenal expression that "a good person is as rare as a black swan" ("rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cygno", 6.165). [1] It was a common expression in 16th century London as a statement that describes impossibility, deriving from the old world presumption that 'all swans must be white', because all historical records of swans reported that they had white feathers [2]. In that context, a black swan was something that was impossible, or near impossible and could not exist. After the discovery of black swans in Western Australia [3] in 1697, by a Dutch expedition led by explorer Willem de Vlamingh on the Swan River, the term metamorphosed to connote that a perceived impossibility may later be found to exist. Taleb notes that, writing in the 19th century, John Stuart Mill used the black swan logical fallacy as a new term to identify falsification, but only drawing on a London expression.<br /><br />Writing in the New York Times, Taleb asserted:<br /><br />What we call here a Black Swan (and capitalize it) is an event with the following three attributes. First, it is an outlier, as it lies outside the realm of regular expectations, because nothing in the past can convincingly point to its possibility. Second, it carries an extreme impact. Third, in spite of its outlier status, human nature makes us concoct explanations .<br />It does sound very like Nisargadatta.<br />hjAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-89000614357911855942010-04-27T05:31:24.053+05:302010-04-27T05:31:24.053+05:30For me any tendencies to do an inappropriate thing...For me any tendencies to do an inappropriate thing is taken care of <br />for me. So I don't feel that "I"<br />need to be vigilant. It just happens.<br /><br />I am considering my opinion on so-called 'crazy wisdom' teachers. <br />Could they be Liberated?<br />Certainly they and their students might appear `liberated from<br />social <br />etiquette'. However, if<br />abuse is a small or large part of their teaching method, then it <br />stands in contrast with my<br />experience of compassion which manifests itself as gentleness when I <br />share my perspective in<br />public.<br /><br />Love Light and noodles,<br /><br />DaveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-50375698787663241582010-04-26T16:46:00.621+05:302010-04-26T16:46:00.621+05:30salutations to all:
david & others: thank you ...salutations to all:<br />david & others: thank you for the clarification on the 'umApati sivam' post... from the point of all the great vedantins, it's indeed the most eligible who shall be vouchsafed the gift of realisation, and i obviously agree to that... and this does hold true in almost all cases but there were & there are always exceptions, such as this story as told by bhagavan.<br /><br />1. such exceptions, whenever they have happened, are always a demonstration of the inexplicable power of a sadguru's grace... of course, the general teaching shall always be: he who is the most ripe shall be liberated, and that ought to be the guiding principle for all seekers... otherwise, everyone will vainly want to be that 'exception', and the exception will no longer remain an exception!<br /><br />2. from the seeker's point of view, since we are totally enveloped by the 'mind', 'i' etc., it is somehow ingrained in us that we can't feel satisfied unless a cause & effect relationship is given, because thats precisely what we keep seeing and also keep hearing & telling ourselves ('work hard, and the results will follow' kind of thing)... thus, we apply the same tenet to seeking the self too! what to do? we are all indoctrinated by our own minds... hasn't bhagavan told numerous times to several seekers that there is nothing to realise because the self alone always is? infact, the substantial part of gaudapAda kArika is to rid oneself of 'causality' ('no efforts can ever lead to realisation' kind of paradoxes)...<br /><br />take bhagavan himself: it's easy to see that whenever anyone asked bhagavan 'how come you realised without any effort'?, bhagavan's reply always was affixed with a "perhaps" :-) why? because thats what would have pacified the questioner... isn't it? it indeed needs some maturity to be unconcerned with cosmic justice!<br /><br />let me re-iterate: from the point of the seeker, self-effort is all that he/she has; from the sadguru's stand, nothing in the universe limits him/her from liberating anyone anywhere anytime.s.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-58512869825386289882010-04-26T13:20:18.158+05:302010-04-26T13:20:18.158+05:30S.
You are right that Bhagavan makes no mention o...S.<br /><br />You are right that Bhagavan makes no mention of the maturity of the thorn bush. Perhaps I should have made it clear in the post that Bhagavan's abbreviated version of the story differed from other sources on this crucial point.<br /><br />I don't know where Bhagavan obtained his information on this story. I could not find some of the things he said (the thorn bush manifesting in the temple, for example) in any of the traditional sources. I did not succeed in finding all the known versions of Umapati Sivam's life before I wrote the post, so it is possible that Bhagavan's rendering is in one of the texts I couldn't find. All the sources I did find said that the thorn bush was a mature devotee.<br /><br />It is also possible that Suri Nagamma did not record the story properly. She did not know Tamil well enough to follow a lot of what Bhagavan said. Quite often, devotees would tell her later in Telugu. Nor was she very familiar with the texts that contain the stories of ancient Tamil saints.<br /><br />There is another possibility. Perhaps, that day, there was a devotee in the hall who needed to hear that the Guru could enlighten anyone he chose to. <br /><br />The original Umapati Sivam story doesn't make this point, nor is it a part of Bhagavan's teachings. Bhagavan stated on many occasions that the disciple must be mature before he can realise the Self through the Guru's grace. Here are some quotes by Bhagavan on this point which I have taken from the chapter on 'Grace, Effort and Maturity' in Padamalai:<br /><br />Question: Is divine grace necessary for attaining realisation, or can an individual’s honest efforts by themselves lead to the state from which there is no return to life and death?<br /><br />Bhagavan: Divine grace is essential for realisation. It leads one to God-realisation. But such grace is vouchsafed only to him who is a true devotee or a yogin, who has striven hard and ceaselessly on the path towards freedom. (Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi, talk no. 29) <br /><br />Without maturity [desirelessness] in the mind, the abiding experience of sahaja samadhi will not ripen.<br /><br />Unless one has an extremely pure sattvic mind, it will be impossible to have darshan in the Heart of the reality that is jnana.<br /><br />It is due to maturity of mind [chitta-paripaka] that what is very difficult for the many is extremely easy for the very few. (Padamalai, p. 258, vv. 27-29)<br /><br />I [Balaram Reddy] said, ‘There is a teacher and his disciples. The teacher gives the same instruction to all the disciples sitting before him. How is it that some disciples hear the teachings, put them into practice and make quick progress, while others hear and apply the teachings and make little or no progress?’<br /><br />The Maharshi replied, ‘Some must have followed that line of teaching in their previous lives, while others may just have begun. Also, some are born more advanced and fit than others.’ (My Reminiscences, p. 3) <br /><br />Bhagavan: The aspirant may be kritopasaka [one whose worship has culminated in a direct experience of a personal God] or akritopasaka [one whose worship has not]. The former is fit to realise the Self, even with the slightest stimulus: only some little doubt stands in his way; it is easily removed if he hears the truth once from the Master. Immediately he gains the samadhi state. It is presumed that he had already completed sravana, reflection, etc. in previous births; they are no more necessary for him. C(Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi, talk no. 249)<br /><br />Question: Is it possible for all people to hold on to that path of self-enquiry?<br /><br />Bhagavan: It is true that it is only possible for mature minds, not for immature minds. For the latter, repetition of a prayer or holy name under one’s breath [japa], worship of images, breath-control [pranayama] visualising a pillar of light [jyotishtoma] and similar yogic and spiritual and religious practices have been prescribed. By those practices, people become mature and will then realise the Self through the path of self-enquiry. (Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, 12th September, 1947)David Godmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10354181925332694222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-43818653658175500092010-04-25T09:44:34.832+05:302010-04-25T09:44:34.832+05:30s/Friends,
The Bhakta accepts everything.He does n...s/Friends,<br />The Bhakta accepts everything.He does not make fine distinctions.As Sri Ramakrishna used to say that the cow that eats everything gives milk in torrents as compared to the one that is selective.<br />Whether it is the liberating power of the Guru,the prasada from the worship,or anything else associated with God-What Sri Ramakrishna used to chant as a mantra-Bhagavatha,Bhakta Bhagavan-All are held in equally high esteem.<br />Particularly when it comes to the devotees of Lord Siva-Lord Siva is ashutosha-one who is easily pleased with the feeblest attempts of devotees.Many of the stories associated with Lord Siva exemplify the accessibility of the Lord-so much so that even leaves plucked and thrown by a hunter when he was atop a tree awaiting his prey,was accepted as Holy worship by Lord Siva.<br />The gist of the whole thing is to encourage sadhana with Faith and Devotion.Even the feeblest of the attempts never go waste and in the meekest of the beginnings is the key to Full Realization.<br />Yes,the spirit of the story is to extol the Grace of the Guru and this necessarily would also mean that Guru is God himself,and as The Abhisheka Tirtham has already been feeding the Thorn Bush;that 'nayana Diksha' was the culmination of The Grace operating all along.<br />In Sri Bhagavan's mother's case as well,it is not as if That Sri Bhagavan performed a 'Miracle' by liberating his Mother.Sri Bhagavan's Mother spent time in Sri Bhagavan's presence(besides having given birth to Sri Bhagavan-This is proof enough of her high degree of purity)and the final act of Grace(that has been operating all along)was an act of culmination.<br />Why could not sri Bhagavan do the same thing for palani Swami?He did try the same thing on him.<br />-----------------------------------<br />Namaskar.Ravihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14875076137584328729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-53746852700241904002010-04-25T00:57:50.623+05:302010-04-25T00:57:50.623+05:30salutations to all:
this is regarding the 'abh...salutations to all:<br />this is regarding the 'abhisheka tirtham' and the 'thorn bush'... while the 'tirumanjana venba' of guhai namasivAya are indeed beautiful, yet i surmise the abhisheka tirtham misses the crux of the story as narrated by bhagavan... ok, let's re-visit letter 196 dtd july 21, 1948 (suri nAgamma's 'letters from ramanasramam'): (pasting the extract):<br />[“Enemies of Sivacharya noticed the sacrificial offerings and other things he was having for his initiation and complained to the Government that Sivacharya had burnt Pethan to death for some mistake the Pethan might have committed. When the king came there with his retinue to enquire into the complaint, Sivacharya showed the verse of Lord Nataraja and said that he gave initiation to Pethan and that Pethan vanished thereafter in the form of a divine light (Jyoti). <b>The king was surprised and asked Sivacharya if he could likewise give initiation and moksha to the thorn bush nearby. ‘Yes. What doubt is there?’ said Sivacharya. “Accordingly he gave nayana diksha to that thorn bush and that too immediately disappeared in Pure Light (Jyoti)."]</b><br /><br />assuming nAgamma's letter to be a true description of what bhagavan said, and since we all understand bhagavan's love for narrating these stories, very often with dramatisation, why is that bhagavan made no reference whatsoever to the said abhiskeka tirtham? bhagavan told this story of umApati sivAcharyAr upon being asked this question: <br />["One of the devotees who yesterday heard of the verse written by Bhagavan about the deliverance of Lakshmi approached him this morning and said, “Swami, we ourselves see that animals and birds are getting deliverance (moksha) in your presence, but is it not true that only human beings can get moksha?”]. i believe that bhagavan didn't make any mention of the abhisheka tirtham because it was irrelevant to the spirit of the story... <br /><br />the spirit of the story is the greatness of a guru, not the eligibility of the seeker... of course, there may be several stories that specify the necessary qualifications of a mumukshu or a seeker of truth but this is not one of them! bhagavan seems to have spoken about this incident to say that there is no limitation whatsoever for a sadguru to liberate anyone, whoever it may be - what better example than a thorn-bush (no one loves a thorn-bush, not even fellow brother plants of the flora kingdom)... thus, when the king, most likely in a spirit of scorn as well as for a clear confirmation, asks the sage to do the same to the lowly thorn-bush what he had done to sAmban (who obviously was percieved as 'low' in the then prevailing system), the sage obliges and thereby reveals the extraordinary power of grace... <br /><br />yes, from the point of a seeker, he/she has to attempt vichara, observe restraint, consistently strive for truth above all else etc. etc., because this is what makes him eligible, from his point of view, to become a worthy recipient of a sadguru's grace... but from the point of the self or the sadguru (such as our beloved bhagavan), he can bestow freedom on anyone & anything, may it be his mother who, going by bhagavan's description of the final moments would have most certainly gone for the next cycle of births & deaths but for bhagavan's intervention, or a cow, or who knows even stone slabs near him!! i do not know the 'why' of it but what i do know is that it's none of my business to question a guru on whom he 'chooses' to liberate when... hope you folks agree... please go through the said 'letter 196' carefully and infer for yourself.s.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-37688869655502388122010-04-24T16:22:54.994+05:302010-04-24T16:22:54.994+05:30Subramanian
Thanks for the appreciative review.
...Subramanian<br /><br />Thanks for the appreciative review.<br /><br />In 1980, when I ran the Ramanasramam library, I went to Motilal Banarsidass in Old Delhi to buy books. Since I was clearly there to buy a lot of books,I was allowed in their warehouse, which is behind the main store. I found books that had been sitting there since the 1930s, waiting to be sold, They were priced in annas and pice, and that was the price the shop was still selling them at more than forty years later. I got some great bargains that day!David Godmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10354181925332694222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-85646983138326832752010-04-24T14:26:59.464+05:302010-04-24T14:26:59.464+05:30Siva Jnana Bodha, Sutra 10
says that unless one se...Siva Jnana Bodha, Sutra 10<br />says that unless one serves<br />the mature Sivan-adiyars, Siva<br />devotees who had attained Jnana,(Gurus)one can never get liberation. It is not directly conferred by Siva.<br />But in cases of Manikkavachagar and a few others, Siva Himself came as<br />guru in the guise of brahmin. Jnana Sambandha's<br />case is different. He is an<br />avatara of Skanda, and so he<br />did not need a guru.Subramanian. Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07503810836611357841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-60494084683297790842010-04-24T14:23:02.870+05:302010-04-24T14:23:02.870+05:30Every being that has got a
mind, even unicellular ...Every being that has got a<br />mind, even unicellular amoeba<br />has got a mind, can attain liberation, if its mind is<br />quelled in the Heart.Subramanian. Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07503810836611357841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-74647966505181531962010-04-24T14:19:38.509+05:302010-04-24T14:19:38.509+05:30Dear David,
Due to continuous power disruption, I...Dear David,<br /><br />Due to continuous power disruption, I could read <br />Umapati Sivam/s story only<br />this morning. It is an excellent article giving all<br />details about Umapati Sivam.<br /><br />Incidentally, a few points:<br /><br />The 14 mei kanda noolgal -<br />sastra scriptures of Saiva<br />Siddhantam have been done by<br />6 scholars. There is also one Tiruviyalur Uyyavandha<br />Deva Nayanar who wrote Tirundiyar and one Tirukadvur Uyyavandha Nayanar, who wrote Tiru KaLitrupadiyar. Of course<br />AruL Nandi Sivam,Umapathi Sivam and Meikanda Deva Nayanar are also there. In fact, Meikandar should be called the foremost, for his<br />Siva Jnana Bodham. Then, the<br />6th is Tiruvadikai Manavachakam<br />Kadanthar who wrote Unmai<br />ViLakkam. I do not know<br />whether Marai Jnana Sambandhar is in a different<br />name in this list.<br /><br />Kotravankudi Umapathi Sivam,<br />met AruL Nandi (his name was<br />different at that time) after a lot of chasing, in<br />one Ammapettai near Chidambaram, and even today<br />there are a lot of weavers there. <br /><br />Umpathi Sivam's Kunchtangristavam, the Hymn<br />on the raised/curved feet of<br />Siva, with anklet sounds is<br />the source of Siva Light and<br />Mother's Sound. Siva OLi<br />and Parai (Mother) Nadham.<br /><br />In one of my visits to<br />Chidambaram, I asked about this book from a Dikshitar.<br />He brought one old copy, 1950 edition of the book from his house, and this was priced at Re.1.00! He refused to take more than <br />Re.1.00 from me!<br /><br />Many parts of Chidambara<br />Maahatmyam have been covered in English by David Smith (?) in his book the Dance of<br />Siva. This book also tells<br />about Daruka forest story, though the original is from<br />Skandam.<br /><br />Among the 12 Saiva Canons,<br />I found it difficult to understand Book 11 and Book<br />8 (part) Tirukovaiyar. There are no book on meanings and purport. It is<br />the Book 11, which first mentions about Manikkavachagar, Tiruvadavoorar.Subramanian. Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07503810836611357841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-44449880894338085752010-04-21T20:58:16.763+05:302010-04-21T20:58:16.763+05:30As someone previously said, yes, our good fortune!...As someone previously said, yes, our good fortune! <br /><br />Thanks for the yet another awe inspiring psot, David! And thanks for those verses on the power of Abhishekha theertha!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-68517602395843124322010-04-20T21:13:17.408+05:302010-04-20T21:13:17.408+05:30I apologize for posting my rant here rather than t...I apologize for posting my rant here rather than the Open thread. I do want to thank you for this post. 'it is an accepted tenet of Saiva Siddhanta that in the matter of liberation from bondage, in most cases the Guru’s power exceeds that of Siva Himself.' I guess Papaji emphasized this too (with the Moses story), indicating that the Guru is very powerful and able to change or erase karma as he or she pleases. That's great news for anyone who has had the opportunity to come under the grace of a Sadguru.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-84341708013311229082010-04-20T18:42:45.408+05:302010-04-20T18:42:45.408+05:30Message to the last three anonymous posters:
The ...Message to the last three anonymous posters:<br /><br />The comments section under a post is supposed to be for comments on that post alone. If you want to discuss anything else, post on the 'Open Thread'.David Godmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10354181925332694222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-46984964694043346432010-04-20T16:55:52.157+05:302010-04-20T16:55:52.157+05:30'Escapism! Trying to find happiness outside. I...'Escapism! Trying to find happiness outside. It's all ephemeral.' I don't even know what 'inside' or 'outside' is any more. I would only know what 'inside' is if my attempts at Self-enquiry were even the least successful.<br />'i must continue the practice even if it takes 10,000 lives' What is the guarantee of even knowing such practices exist in the next life? None. <br />David, your response (if you do want to respond) to my arrogant rant?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-16863391613445377022010-04-20T14:47:42.158+05:302010-04-20T14:47:42.158+05:30Dear David,
Thanks for your recent Posts. They ar...Dear David,<br /><br />Thanks for your recent Posts. They are really excellent and moving, always inspiring us to make continuous effort to realize our SELF.<br /><br />Going through this excellent Post on Umapati Sivam, it is clear that a great amount of Research effort must have gone into this subject.<br /><br />It is astonishing that though you were born outside this country, you are not only an expert in Bhagavan Ramana's literature but also seem to have great knowledge in other areas such as Tamil Saiva Siddhanta etc.<br /><br />We are really fortunate and grateful to know about the timeless spiritual tradition and culture of this ancient land through your inspirational writings which are always directing us towards our SELF.<br /><br />Thanks. Sankar Ganesh.Sankar Ganesh Chandrakumarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-27344197692805751302010-04-20T13:53:36.063+05:302010-04-20T13:53:36.063+05:30Isolation! Do you live on the Orkney Islands? Only...Isolation! Do you live on the Orkney Islands? Only kidding!<br />Isolation is part of individuality.<br />Thats the reason you have so many who say lets 'party' or 'lets go and watch some sport' etc<br />Escapism! Trying to find happiness outside. It's all ephemeral.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-53562472672317644402010-04-20T07:09:29.278+05:302010-04-20T07:09:29.278+05:30"I wonder if anyone here feels this isolation..."I wonder if anyone here feels this isolation too."<br /><br />of course, it's feelings such as isolation that drive the search.<br /><br />for me personally, it's the pervasive "unsatisfactoriness" of this life, a core tenet of Buddhism, driving my practice<br /><br />so what choice am i left with! i dont see another any more<br /><br />i must continue the practice even if it takes 10,000 livesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-9868078340199984242010-04-20T06:25:17.765+05:302010-04-20T06:25:17.765+05:30Ramana Maharishi on Tapas, listen from 50 seconds<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNXM4Sq-GIA&feature=related" rel="nofollow">Ramana Maharishi on Tapas</a>, listen from 50 secondsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-79968061832656060822010-04-20T00:41:04.702+05:302010-04-20T00:41:04.702+05:30'This perspective harks back to the early days...'This perspective harks back to the early days of Saivism when the muvar were expressing their passionate devotion to Siva through songs and through a personal one-on-one relationship with God.'. I think many of us long to have a personal relationship with God. I don't know what is required for this to happen, although I guess it only happens in very rare circumstances, to exceptionally great bhaktas (like Samban). I say this because no matter how many times I make an effort (japa of 'I' etc) or even try to remain effortless in an attempt to seek the grace of God, he remains unmoved. I wake up every day to deal with a crazy world and a troublesome mind. I wonder if anyone here feels this isolation too. Some people (like Umapati Sivam) may say that a personal relationship with God or liberation can only 'bestowed on a mature devotee'. Fine, but why not specify in detail what is required to mature? I like the audacity of Papaji who walked into Sivananda's ashram and said that he'd like to purchase liberation like purchasing items in a market - 'Tell me the price and I'll pay it'. I don't think like there's a definite, discrete, scientific approach to the whole subject of liberation. Somehow Bhagavan's response to a similar request for a scientific approach is hardly satisfactory - 'To eschew unreality and seek the reality is scientific.'. I would like to seek the reality given something I can do within the currently restricted parameters of my mind (For example, japa with utmost devotion for 2 hours a day is something that most of us can do). Everything is shrouded in mystery. How can anyone 'remain still' while being constantly bombarded by the five senses? I've tried Self-enquiry many times and even that seems to me to fall under the category of 'bestowed only on a mature devotee'! Bhagavan in 'Who am I' says - 'Even if one incessantly thinks 'I, I', it will lead to that place.' I've tried my best to follow this but have never reached 'that place'. I don't think I ever will because I don't think I'll ever be 'mature'.<br /><br />End of Arrogant RantAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-7702296020519453022010-04-19T13:43:21.112+05:302010-04-19T13:43:21.112+05:30Dear David and others,
‘As a result of tapas perf...Dear David and others,<br /><br />‘As a result of tapas performed in the past, only a little of the anava impurity was left over, and this was as thin as the wing of a fly.’<br /><br />In the context of sadhana for liberation, when it said that someone performed a Great Tapas, what does this Tapas mean? How is it performed? In the last verse of Upadesa Saram, Bhagavan gives a definition of Tapas. But, I guess, different Acharayas might be having a different meaning when they say that someone performed Tapas. <br /><br />Regards MuraliMuralihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04720150736535781474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-62067887420875227432010-04-19T07:47:24.319+05:302010-04-19T07:47:24.319+05:30David,
Thanks very much for the verses on Guhai Na...David,<br />Thanks very much for the verses on Guhai Namasivaya.<br />I am reminded of Thayumanavar's Wreath on paraparam:<br />'AnbE manjana neer,NinaivE sugandam<br />poosai koLLa vArAi paraparamE'<br /><br />Love alone is Water for your bath,<br />Thoughts are the Holy incense;<br />Do come to accept this Pooja.<br /><br />Namaskar.Ravihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14875076137584328729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-5955446718922666702010-04-19T06:54:28.345+05:302010-04-19T06:54:28.345+05:30Ravi
Since you esteem the abhisheka tirtha so hig...Ravi<br /><br />Since you esteem the abhisheka tirtha so highly, here are some verses from Guhai Namasivaya, praising the tirumanjanam that has flowed from Unnamulai in Tiruvannamalai.<br /><br />For non-Tamils, I should say that tirumanjanam is the water that has flowed off a temple image after it has been worshipped. Unnamulai is the name of the consort of Siva in Tiruvannamalai. It means 'she whose breast have never been suckled'.<br /><br /><br />9 Thirumanjana Venba<br /><br /><br />419<br /><br />The tirumanjanam [holy water] of Annamalaiyar of Arunai<br />will dispel unceasing birth,<br />will make one become the divine form,<br />will bring forth hard-to-attain wealth,<br />and will bestow uncloying ambrosia.<br /><br />420<br /><br />The beneficial medicine, the manjanam<br />in which the Lady on the left of Father Sonagiri bathes,<br />will dispel the many diseases.<br />It is ambrosia for the appetite<br />and collyrium for multiple ailments.<br />Its effectiveness will be demonstrated<br />as many diseases wither away.<br /><br />421<br /><br />The tirumanjanam of the First Lady of this vast world,<br />the One whose breasts remain ever young,<br />the Mother of the town of Arunai,<br />will dispel deceitful birth, will produce prosperity,<br />and will remove all the sorrows of one’s heart.<br /><br />422<br /><br />The waters in which Mother Unnamulai has bathed<br />will bestow [a good] state both here and in the hereafter.<br />With a pure mind, take it in the cupped palm of your hand.<br />While you consume it, regard it as precious.<br />Get redeemed.<br /><br />423<br /><br />The water bathed in by Uma, Unnamulai,<br />is the medicine that dispels grey hair<br />and the wrinkling of the skin.<br />With absolute faith pool it in the hollow of your hand.<br />Your body will become strong and immortal.<br />While you consume it, regard it as precious.<br />Get redeemed.<br /><br />424<br /><br />The tirumanjanam bathed in by Unnamulai,<br />the Lady who lives in Arunai,<br />which is sought by tapasvins,<br />will bring forth the grace of Siva,<br />cause the flowering of wealth,<br />and will root out all the useless anxieties.<br /><br />425<br /><br />The tirumanjanam of the Mother<br />who resides as the left-side of the forehead-eyed God of Arunagiri,<br />and who looks after all the worlds,<br />will dispel the many anxieties,<br />will enable one to attain liberation,<br />and will bestow forever all the beneficial boons.<br /><br />426<br /><br />The tirumanjanam of the Mother at southern Arunai<br />will bestow the life of a king.<br />It will abolish the karmas that have come.<br />It will free devotees from being reborn and save them.<br />Through grace it will save me from dying again.<br />It will bestow eternal life.<br /><br />427<br /><br />Mother Unnamulai shows her compassion not just to me<br />but to all devotees, and saves us.<br />As soon as it [tirumanjanam] is seen, sin will depart.<br />As soon as it is taken in the hollow of one’s palm<br />and consumed, supreme bliss will result.<br /><br />428<br /><br />Mind, be not afraid! <br />We have trusted as medicine for our disease of birth<br />the manjanam of Unnamulai,<br />She who fearlessly stabbed that Mahisasura<br />and put an end to his powerful existence.David Godmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10354181925332694222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-53028790837903833592010-04-19T05:34:35.047+05:302010-04-19T05:34:35.047+05:30Maybe there is a relationship between the sophisti...Maybe there is a relationship between the sophistication of consciousness in an organism and the ease of Realizing the Self as that organism? So it is harder as a plant, it is less but still hard as an insect. It is more difficult then a plant as a single celled organism, and incredibly difficult as a bacterium, I would think. Mammals, birds, and humans have it easiest perhaps. And humans, the easiest, as mentioned in the Shankara text, as humans understand the scriptures.Losing M. Mindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08593870441560584967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-84726265877225544762010-04-19T05:30:09.674+05:302010-04-19T05:30:09.674+05:30If plants can become enlightened, that bodes well ...If plants can become enlightened, that bodes well for invertebrates, but what about single celled life?Losing M. Mindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08593870441560584967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961358105214008284.post-51097216086733337002010-04-18T23:13:21.177+05:302010-04-18T23:13:21.177+05:30David,
Wonderful story of Umapathi Sivachariyar.Th...David,<br />Wonderful story of Umapathi Sivachariyar.This is the heart of it-"He looked around to see if anyone present was in a sufficiently advanced state, but none of them had the qualifications he was looking for. However, as he was scanning the area for a suitable candidate, he noticed a thorn bush that had grown by consuming the abhisheka tirtha, the water that had drained from the lingam that Umapati Sivam had been worshipping every day. Seeing its mature state, he bestowed nayana disksha on it in the same way that he had with Samban. The result was the same. The bush turned to light, merged in the chidakasa, and physically disappeared."<br />Such is the power of The Abhisheka Tirtha.Lord siva is a lover of Abhishekam-to be bathed by the devotee's Love.How he joyously accepted the Abhishekam water of Kannappa Nayanar,who carried water in his mouth!<br />Namaskar.Ravihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14875076137584328729noreply@blogger.com