My Wanderings 85. Mahagayatri and the Mantra

                   Gayatri Mantra is highly revered mantra from Rig veda dedicated to the vedic solar  deity savitr. It's recitation is traditionally  preceded by OM and then  bhur bhuvah   suah ,tath savito varaniyam bargo devas, dee mahe  devo yoona prachoo daya . It is    known as a great mystical utterance. The mantra is an important part of the Upnayana ceremony for the young males in Hinduism. 

  It means ,
We meditate on the glory of the creator ,
Who has created the universe ,
Who is worthy of worship,
Who is embodiment of knowledge and light,
Who is remover of all sin and ignorance ,
May he enlighten our intellect.

                      It is believed that by chanting Gayatri mantra ,we achieve success and happiness in our life . With regular chanting of Gayatri mantra one can firmly establish and stabilise the mind. The mantra is a declaration of appreciation , to both the nurturing sun and divine.

               Actually Gaytri is the personification of  Gayatri mantra .She is also known as Savitri and Vedmata (Mother of Vedas). Gayatri is often associated with savitr, a solar deity in the Vedas. According to many texts like skanda Purana , Gayatri is another name of Saraswati or her form and is the consort of Lord Bramha .However saivite texts identify Mahagaytri as the consort of Vishwakarma Shiva , in his highest form of Sadashiva with five heads and ten hands .

                     Shaivism sees gayatri as the consort of eternal blissful absolute Parashiva , who manifests in the form of sun , Shivasurya. He is omnipotent , omnipresent Sadashiva , whose name is Bharga . Sadashiva's consort is none other than the mantra form of Gayatri ,who possesses the power of her husband Bharga, within her. The popular form of Gayatri with five heads and ten arms was initially found in Shavite iconographies of Manmohini in North India beginning from 10th century CE. Shavite view on Gayatri seems a later development from the combination of vedic practice of Gayatri reverence and it's Shavite inclusion as a manifestation of Shakti . This could be the root for the terrific aspect of Gayatri explained in the later puranas as the killer of demon Vetra identifying her with Adi parashakti.

I will  hereby like to reproduce the copy of the wonderful  painting of Mahagaytri , painted and presented to me by Sh. Lokesh Narayan Dhar , a very good artist ,who has been successful in personifying this great mantra to  a large extent.

My Wanderings - 84 The Conclusions

                The   fair mix of successes and failures are very essential for a  balanced life. A person who achieves only successes in life becomes arrogant or  egoistic  and a person who has only  seen failures becomes a  depressed person.   Some Urdu Poet has  aptly said it ..

" Garzishe Ayaam tera shukriya, mai ne har pahloo se zindgee dekh lee

( Thanks to the vagaries  of fate that I have seen life  from all aspects).

                                     As life is a mix of good and bad experiences , the ups and downs in life should be taken as challenges. If life moves smooth and there are no challenges in life, life becomes dull and a person is deprived of the joy of overcoming the difficulties in life. Life is short and we have to live it judiciously.Our aim should be to derive maximum joy from life , as great philosophers have said that...Happy truely is the Great...

               Different persons derive happiness  from different sources .  some people derive happiness by amassing  huge wealth and property , some from meditation and penance and  some get it from indulging in vices like drinking and gambling.  But the question arises can a  person achieve everlasting happiness by doing such things. History bears testimony  to the fact that no rich man  remained  happy throughout his life.Vices likes Drinking etc may give a momentary happiness but it is not everlasting. The meditation etc.may give happiness to a large extent, but it is not also everlasting. In order to achieve this goal a person has to decide before investing, where he can get returns in the form of  everlasting happiness.   

                     Therefore, in my opinion, in order to acheive  everlasting happiness, we should  bring some  creativeness in our life. We should do something , which we love to do consciously, ethically, Spiritually or intllectually , devoid of pecuniary interests and craving for fame.
It can also be a small step towards the great philosophy of  Nishkam Karma as envisaged by Lord Krishna in Bhagwat Gita.

My Wanderings - 83. The Conflicts

                                   Some  people believe that ninety percent of conflicts in this world are due to ego problems and only ten percent have some monetary or  other considerations behind them.  Normally conflicts  between induduals start with arguements. Mostly both parties are correct from their own point of view but one person can not perceive others point of view.Actually conflict is illusion of perceptions.The people have quite contradictory perceptions on the same subject and  sometimes ego   also plays its own part. One person is  fully aware that  he is wrong but his ego does not allow him to admit this and arguements continue.It is an old saying that you should try to win the will of man rather than arguement. While we strive to win the arguement, we are loosing a friend.Therefore it needs guts to admit it  when you are wrong and when you are right you should never boast of it.  If we are proved right we are in habit of saying that we had already said it so that is not also good habit. One of my friends , whether he agreed with you or not,was in habit of starting his conversation as..
You are absolutely correct sir, and then would explain his point of view.
As we are discussing arguements and conflicts,in a lighter vien , I remember a tale of two friends who were having some dispute and were at loggerheads with each other.one of the friends got seriously ill and was virtually on deathbed at some hospital.  He called his friend and told him that  as he has to  die  soon ,  they  should forget about the dispute and become friends once again .The other friend became very emotional and readily agreed to his proposal. Then other  stood  up to take leave from his friend on bed, the later yelled at him..This agreement is valid only if I die, but If get well ,by the grace of God, then we will have again to settle the scores with each other.

My Wanderings - 82. The Convictions

Conviction of a person is mostly influenced by his  experience. If you have a good experience of  friendship or a relationship you adore all  friendships or relationships , but if you have a bad experience of the  same you despise them all. Therefore quite  contradictory beliefs develop on the same subject.   Earlier  I cherished the belief that competance of a person depends on the opportunities he gets but with experience I learned that competent is the person who creates opportunities for himself.
But so far opportunities are created by honest and sincere means it is appreciable. But unfortunately  these days opportunities are created by  sycophancy   and nepotism.   By learning this art small favours like  promotions choice transfers and material gains can be achieved. But it should be borne in mind whether the persons from whom such gratifications are sought are worth it. To elucidate  my point of view I narrate a short story. Once a poor man saved the life of  King Akbar in  jungle . Akbar was  happy and told the poor man to come to him whenever he requires any help. One day poor man needed some help and met Akbar.At that time Akbar was busy with Namaz.when Akbar finished poor man asked Akbar what he was doing.Akbar told him that I was preying to Almighty for prosperity and good health.The poor man got astonished and told Akbar I have heard that you are the great person and you can oblige anyone. Here I see you begging yourself  someone else. If I have come to you for your favours , why should not I go to him directly. with these words he left Emperor Akbar's palace  and never returned back.
Convictions  also change when  a person grows up in life  . It is said that young man knows  everything, a middle aged suspects everything and an old man believes everything . It may appear satirical to many but it is not far from reality . Moreover, no person learns from others experience .The experience gained during learning process  forms the basis of one's conviction.

My Wanderings - 81 The Concepts

                                  To day I opened the window of my  bed  room and a fresh breeze of air entered the room which virtually refreshed my soul and rejuvenated my body  .  I was overwhelmed with joy. I felt enriched with the  treasures  of  nature. The artificial breeze of  Aircondition never  gave me such a joy. This reminded me of a story of  a great philosopher of Greece. His name was  Diogenes .  Once he was sitting on roadside in shabby clothes enjoying the winter Sun, when King of Greece Alexander the great   passed by the same road. Knowing the philosopher very well, he stopped near him and said to him,
"Sir, what I can do for you",  with the intention of helping him. On hearing his words the philosopher replied, yes you can do one thing for me I.e. you can move ahead so that sun rays will directly fall on me which you are obstructing this time. Some times we take far granted the treasures  of nature and the faculties provided to us by nature to enjoy them. 

                Rhonda Byrne in his book  The Secret says that all  the wealth of nature including  good health, material gains and good relations are waiting at our doors, but we do not open our doors because of our negative attitude.
Our  psychology has a great impact on our  physiology.  A person's mind plays great role in keeping his body healthy . If  a person thinks that he is healthy , hardly any disease  can attack  him but if he always thinks that his health is deteriorating and he is suffering   from  such and such illness , he is bound to get that disease.   Moreover ,Placebo  effect plays its own role.  It is a beneficial effect produced by the placebo drug or treatment, which can not be attributed to the properties of that drug itself, but  to the belief in that drug or treatment.  Sometimes a patient gets  cured by just prescribing to him  some  ordinary tablets  because patient remains  under impression that he is taking some high dose of quality  medicines  for his  particular disease. 
                                 A man is wealthy because he knows the secret of attracting money by positive thoughts. One should  forget that only bad persons are rich. We   feel concerned  about the expenses which we are incurring on daily basis and think only about the bills , the payment of which we are supposed to make at the end of month. We never think about the cheques and credits which we are likely to receive in our accounts to take care of our bills. If we think about our cheques
we may  surely receive them.  Otherwise we are bidding farewell to them. That is the only difference in the thinking of wealthy man and poor man.
                               A person has good relations because he makes a room for them. Once a person's marriage was not maturing . The problem was that he was occupying the whole bed  and never made  room in his wardrobe for the clothes of any other person . When he was advised to change his attitude, he got married to a beautiful match. If a person  wants  to make  good friends or relations , he has to  initiate himself and welcome others . Otherwise no person will come towards him  even if  he is a celebrity .

My Wanderings - 80. Kashmiri Shaivism, a path to Self Realisation. Part - 7. Epilogue

                            It is by the grace of  Shiva that   we had a sneak peek in  the philosophy, so great and profound,   known as Kashmiri Shaivism. Actually this philosophy has been propounded  by Shiva himself  in the form of Shiva Sutras  for the benefit of mankind in general. Vasgupta found these Shiv Sutras inscribed on rock  near Harwan as per the directions of lord Shiva in a dream . Many scholars including Abinavgupta have  documented and interpreted them in a very lucid form for the benefit of masses.  In our times Swami Laxman joo , jai Dev Singh  and many other scholars  have interpreted Shiv Sutra for the benefit of aspirants of Shaivism.
As we  already know that in the the pursuit of self realisation , a person can not sweep all the impurities and throw off all the bondages by self efforts only. He  requires  descent  of Shiva's grace or ANUGRAHA  , which in technical terms  of Shaivism is called ' Shaktipaat.'  This divine grace comes mysteriously depending entirely on Shiva's will and automatically destroys all the impurities . As it comes freely there can be no compulsion in the  flow of grace from Shiva.
Here I will try  to reproduce a  folktale which I have heard in my childhood.
Once a Priest was travelling in a small ship for his onward journey to attend a religious  conference . In the way, the Ship on which he was travelling ,  developed a technical snag and the captain of Ship had to stop the ship near a  small island  to repair it.  Priest descended the ship like all other travellers  and walked on the island while ship was being repaired . After walking a little  further  on the Island , he  discovered  three semi naked hermits sitting under a shade of tree murmuring something and looking  towards sky.  He came close to them to hear their murmur . They were saying  repeatedly ,
" You are one and we are three . You are in us and we  are in you."
The priest took pity on their desperate  condition. He pondered over their plight   and came to conclusion that they are wasting  their life like this  . Perhaps God has send  him here  for  the liberation of their soul.   He taught  them commandments and  prayers of Christianity , which they most  readily tried to learn . With much difficulty they could learn few and priest left them with an advise to  pray to God as per his  advise.  They all agreed . After some time ship was repaired and priest boarded the ship again .  While ship left the island and covered a distance of few miles, Priest saw three hermits walking over the water were trying to  reach towards ship. When they reached near the ship they implored  to priest with all humility,
"Sir we  forgot the prayers  that you taught us. Can you  repeat the same once again to  us."
Priest was surprised and told them that they need not to remember those prayers now . They must continue  their way of praying to almighty . On hearing this, the three hermits returned to their island joyfully.
Now  Lord Shiva  can only  say whether the grace of Shiva had descended on the three hermits  or they were on the final stages of their spiritual pursuit , accomplished  by them through their self efforts. As per  Kashmiri Shaivism more you achieve the heights of spiritual pursuit, less you have to make self efforts .

One of my unknown readers from some obscure city  named Guatemala  had commented on my blog on Kashmiri Shaivism part - 5 , Who is Shiva and Why his grace is needed  . I replied to  him that Shiva is God who exists in all living or non living things and his grace is required to recognise ourselves , which is the goal   of our life . But   It is  not actually so simple a question as it appears prima facei . We all ,except few ,are sailing in the same boat . We do not know actually who  Shiva is and why is his grace required . We shed torrents of tears for obtaining materialistic objects but who cares for Shiva . We can not just absolve ourselves by just defining Shiva and his grace . We have to realise the essence of thought by practice and pursuit . Only knowledge is not enough but action is also  equally important .
Finally while concluding this chapter of Kashmiri Shaivism , I would like to refer to  the  self composed astuti of Abhinavgupta , which  forms the gist of Kashmiri Shaivism. Abhinavgupta entered the Bhairva cave  in Kashmir , singing this astuti along with   his twelve hundred desciples for maha samadhi .
Om vyapt charachar bhav vishesham
Rkkaul.blogot.com

My Wanderings - 79. Kashmiri Shaivism , a path to self realisation. Part - 6. ABHINAVAGUPTA

Abhinavaguta was a great  thinker and a  scholar of Kashmiri Shaivism. He was born in Kashmir in the middle of 10th century. His mother's name was Vimalakala and his father was Narasimhagupta . Actually his ancestor Atrigupta , an ardent devotee of Shiva and  a scholar  , belonged to kanauj and was invited by  King Lalitaditya  and settled  him in Kashmir as he got influenced by his scholarship and merit.
Abhinavaguta never married and devoted his entire life towards his spiritual and intellectual pursuits .  
Abhinavaguta was very passionate about learning and he studied under twenty teachers, who were regarded best during  those times.  His father from whom he learned grammar was his  first teacher.  He learned every possible discipline he could,  including different shaivistic philosophies , drama , aesthetics , literature, logic and language. He also learned Budhism and Jainism . His quest for knowledge was finally  fulfilled , when he travelled outside Kashmir and learned Kaula tradition from Shamboo natha of jalandhara.
After obtaining mastery over each and every branch of  knowledge available , Abhinavaguta emerged as a thinker and teacher of highest order.
Abhinavaguta started writing to share the  knowledge he gained from  his various teachers and his personal  experiences in spiritual pursuits. He was a great writer .He contributed much to Kashmiri Shaivism by his works and experiences. He wrote as many as forty four long and short works, out of which twenty three have been published.  This include his monumental works like 1. The Tantraloka , which is a virtual encyclopedia of Tantric Shaivism 2. The Paratrimshka  Vivarna . These  works are regarded as the most sophisticated and comperhensive expression of his philosophy . His another important work is 'Parmarthsara ' which outlines the essential aspects of Trika philosophy and is meant for those people  who do not have capacity to understand the more profound texts.
Apart from being the greatest interpreter of the non dual Shiva tradition of Kashmir, Abhinavgupta  is also known as the most authoritative scholar of Indian aesthetic thought and theory of art creation .
Abhinavgupta was unanimously recognised by all Shaiva sects of the time sidhanta, vama, Yamla, Bhairva  Kula ,Trika and Ekavira , as their spiritual head at a great conclave of spiritualists held at Srinagar.
Abhinavgupta has significantly contributed to all schools of Shaiva thought . He also integrated these schools , bringing them under one scheme .
It is believed that this greatest Shaiva icon entered in to the Bhairva ( Modern Biru ) cave in Kashmir  with about twelve hundred  of his desciples towards the close of his life singing his self composed Bhairav astuti .
Om vyaft charachar bhav vishesham
Chinmayam ekam anantam anadyam
Bhairav nath , anaath sharaniyam
Tanmay chitya hridya vande
After this he disappears and no body could see him  coming out of the cave.