My Wanderings 102 A Perception with deception towards none

 It was really disgusting to read in Newspaper  about the new Congress Governments decision in Karnatka to hold all the  developmental funds this year and set off these towards election promises made by them  in their election manifesto I.e providing  free electricity , free transport to ladies , grahlaxmi scheme and other freebies. These pre-election promises helped  them to win the elections and now they are obliged to fulfill their promises at the cost of public exchequare. These freebies will be responsible for  hampering further development in Karnatka. 

Now there appears sufficient proofs that largest minority community in India has become very intolerant towards the religious sentiments of majority community from last few years. Whenever any religious procession is taken out by majority community, it is being stoned by the goons of minority community and thereby starting communal roits , which leads to the destruction of public property worth crores. It appears that the goons of minority community are already prepared under  planned conspiracy to harm the religious processions of majority community. They appear to have already stored huge quantity of stones, petrol bombs, pistols to attack the prospective religious processions of majority community. It appears to be a real paradox that majority community in India is being intimidated by minority community with out any fault of the former. 

Moreover, it was heartening to know about the stripping and parading of three woman in Manipur and then consequently gang  raping one of them for no fault of theirs. It was  only to take revenge because of the scuffle between two communities.  Then same type of news came from our other states like west Bengal, Rajasthan  and chattisgarh. These are really heinous crimes committed in the so called civilised socities. But I remember in early nineteen nineties more heinous crimes with the ladies of our community I.e. Kashmiri pandits ,  in kashmir were committed by jihadis . One of our lady was stripped, gangraped and divided in to two pieces by keeping the body under the blade of  a band saw machine. The perpetrators of crime are still at large and news of the crime was not given any publicity . It was only in the film titled 'Kashmir Files'  which was made after thirty years of the perpetuation of those  crimes , such scenes were filmed. But so called seculars and pseudo intellectuals of India called that  a propaganda film. Even our  supreme court did not took any cogzinance of these crimes and considered them  as time barred.  

Now on the entertainment side it was pleasant to witness two films I.e. Shiv Shastri Balboa  on Amazon and ' Oppenheimer 'in theatre. Both the films are inspiring and informative in their respective order. 

In Shiv Shastri Balboa  , a retired banker, who is inspired by Rocky balboa series films  , goes to America to spent his old age with his only  son living there but feels desatisfied  with the routine life like looking after the pet of his son and dropping his grand children at school . He wants to do something adventurous to add music   to his life, which  he has lost after the death of his wife long ago . He gets the chance to help an indian housekeeper ,who lives in the neighbourhood, and is  exploited by the family where she works . He succeeds in sending her back to india after undergoing many upheavals and fulfilling his dream to visit Philadelphia,  where is   the memorial of his inspiration Rocky Balboa . The theme of film is that greatest risk in life is created by ignoring the small things and more important in life is how early   a person can revive from failure . Anupam Kher , a versatile actor has done his role magnificently.  His acting can be compared  with  Robert D Nuro of Hollywood films. 

The film  ' oppenheimer' is the story of a scientist who made  America a  Nuclear  power and gave to  it its first Atomic bomb.  . It is the tale  of triumph , trubelence and humiliation of a person,  who was a head of Manhatten project . He is also called father of Atomic bomb . 

After successfully testing atom bomb and its use by America in two cities of Japan I.e Nagasaki and Hiroshma , openhammier gets frustrated by the destruction created there at.

He did not seem to  take much  intrest in the  advancement of the same which appeared to be the priority of  Amarican Govt. 

Then J Robert Openheimer is prosecuted rigorously for his past connections with communist party, though he remained very loyal to America through out his life. 

Like most of other scientists from west he was also influenced by Shrimath Bhagwad Gita which is a matter of pride for India. 

The movie 'Oppenheimer 'is a breathtaking masterpiece that skillfully combines the elements of action ,audio , acting, direction and scene designing into an unforgettable cinematic experience directed by visionary director Christopher Nolan.

My Wanderings 101 Short story No.57 The Koramandal express .

The aftermath of anguish that creeps in the mind of a  person while thinking of the koramandal express train accident is very painful, depressing and disgusting for any person who may be having no connection with it , but a person who is somewhat connected  with this tragedy is beyond any vacabuloury to express the intensity of trauma which they faced.

Knowing that Savitri was affected with a heart trouble , great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible, the news of her  husbands death. It was her sister Durga who told her in broken sentences , veiled hints that revealed in half concealing way   the death of her husband, the Satyavaan . Her husbands friend Swami was also there . It was he who  heard on TV when the news of the accident of the train , which Satvaan boarded was broadcasted . He  also got the list of deceased in the rail accident , in which the name of Satyavan was very prominent , from newspaper office. He had also cross checked the name from other Govt. sources  in this connection and hastened to convey this message to the wife of his friend.

First she could not understand the significance of the news which was revealed to her in pieces.  It all started with a wild shriek and  she wept  bitterly in the arms of her sister . Then she left the room altogether and closed herself in another room. She sank there in a sofa and placed her head between her arms and thought about her husband Satyavaan . How she would be able to see the dead frozen and blue face of her husband  Satyavaan , who always looked towards her with great love and affection. Every part of her body was trembling and she was breathing deeply. She could perceive every moment of her association with Satyavaan for the last thirty years. How she fell in love with Satyavan and how she  married him  . She had enjoyed her life to the fullest with Satyavaan, but only regret in her life was that she could not bear her own  children. Now she was thinking how she will spent the rest of her life without Satyavaan. The mere thought of it passed a cold shrill through out his whole spine and she prayed to God for her instant death or bestow new lease of  life to Satyavaan, which was beyond comprehension. Satyavaan was the only person in this world on whom she depended most. She could not conceive life without Satyavaan. 

When savitri did not open the door of room in which she  concealed herself , Durga,  her sister and other relatives got worried and knocked at  the door of room to enquire about her health .  For a long time savitri did not respond but later on she replied to her sister that she was ok and wanted to remain in soltitude for some time more.  Later on Durga put her arms around her sister  and brought her crawling in the main living room. 

After two days of this accident , when Savitri reconciled a bit with her fate , it was decided to send Swami and some distant relative to the accident site to bring the dead body of Satyavaan. The day Swami and party left for bringing home the dead body for performing last rites , there was a big knock on the door. When door was opened , there was a real  surprise for all the mourners present in the house. 

Lo and behold ! It was Satyavaan on the door, hale and hearty , all in  flesh and blood. He told all the persons present in his house  that he could not board the train on the  fateful day as he reached the station few minutes late inspite of his much  struggle  to catch the ill fated train on time. In the mean time , he lost his mobile and could not make any contact with his wife or relatives to tell them about his welfare. In absence of any contact , he tried hard to reach his home at the earliest  through various modes of  transport.

Savitri was listening the conversation of   Satyavaan with a constant gaze  towards him  and without blinking her eyes . It was only after listening the whole story Savitri's head dropped on her shoulders with a moaning sound . The attention of every person present in the room got attracted towards her and a Doctor was called , who declared her dead due to heart failure because of the overjoy, as  she was already suffering from heart ailment . She betrayed the death when  in trauma but this  instant overjoy of finding her husband alive could not be resisted by her  and she left this world for good in the arms of her husband. 

My Wanderings 100 Short Story No.56 Genius versus Moroon

My Wanderings 100

Short Story No. 56

Genius Versus Moroon 

                 While working as Incharge of International Banking Division jammu Branch ,  I had varied  experiences  of encounter with various types of  customers. They included NRI customers living in different foreign countries, people requiring foreign cash or remittance facilities or foreign exchange for visiting foreign lands as tourists or sending their wards for higher education etc, people doing import export business or foreign trade which included issuing letter of credit or letter of comfort and arranging buyers credit or sellers credit for them, sometimes in foreign currency only. 

              The importers and exporters were  high fi customers as they were usually proprietor of big companies and arranged to get their Bank work done through their employees. There were some small importers also who would usually visit the Bank personally. One of the small  importers who attracted my attention was Mr. Mohan Raina .He was a person of small frame , wearing specs and clad in ordinary attire, with an air of shrewdness.   He was importing some chinese goods and paid his Bill's through our bank. His business was very small as compared to other importers . He had opened a  firm  in his name , the address of which was shown by him as  his rented residential accommodation at Jammu. He was sometimes accompanied by his elder son Ashoo , who would always remain silent in presence of his father. 

               Once, Mr. Raina  told me that he has  two sons. Both were the students of   prestigious Burn Hall School  at Srinagar . The elder son Ashoo could not show much aptitude in studies and left the same  only after passing his 12th exam  , but his younger son is very brilliant and he did his engineering with merit and now he is posted in US. 

             Later on I came to know, through his acquaintances , that Mr Mohan Raina was a big business man while  at Srinagar . He was a proud possessor of a luxurious car , when personal cars were not  much available in Srinagar city. But only one habit that ruined his business was that he was seen daily visiting  the bars , in evenings , alongwith his friends.

              Then after turmoil in Kashmir  , he had to shift to jammu alongwith his family , which totally collapsed his business. 

After shifting to Jammu , he tried much to restart his business but of no avail.  He had to encounter failures only for a long time. Then he started the present business on smaller scale from his residence only, which picked up a little and became a source of  his sustenance at Jammu. But misfortunes did not leave him  alone here .  He was concerned about the future of his elder son Ashoo, who had left his studies altogether. While he was thinking of adjusting his elder son Ashoo  somewhere , whom he considered as a moroon , his wife died all of a sudden in road accident at jammu. The death of his wife gave him a big blow in his life from which he never thought of recovering again . In the mean time his younger son got engineering seat at pune for which he gathered enough  courage to look after his education,  as he was very proud of him and he considered him very brilliant. 

Then he thought of adjusting Ashoo, his elder son with his own business , and started teaching him the tricks of trade. 

                 At  the time I met this gentleman Mohan Raina , he had already married both his  sons . His younger son was already settled in USA along with his well educated and working wife. He had also married his elder son Ashoo , with an  illiterate girl from Batote area, who looked after their house hold chores  at jammu very nicely . Their business was also picking up in a better way. 

                             After few years , health of Mohan Raina started deteriorating day by day . Now Ashoo was looking after the business independently  and he used to visit the bank with out his father.  Ashoo had become very bold and had learned the trade nicely. We also came to know that he and his wife were looking after the health of their father with concern. 

Whenever,  he visited the bank he would entertain me and my colleagues with his jokes and simplicity. Once , one of my colleagues told us in his presence that Ashoo is very much  scared of his wife , in a lighter vein . But Ashoo could  not conceive the humour in these words . He became very serious and while putting his right hand on his head he  said with all audacity , oh  no !, Never at all ," I am never  afraid  of my wife . I swear by myself and my only daughter." Then I told him he should not get so much agitated over a small thing  . Every body Is afraid  of their  wives . But he never agreed with me and never accepted the blame on him . All the staff and myself helped him unusually and sometimes gave him a peace of mind , when he was in difficulty  , because we liked him  all  for  his simplicity and honesty. 

             One day Ashoo told me that his father is very sick ,but his younger brother does not seem to be interested in their affairs . He had rarely visited them since he left for USA. Now he has  stopped communicating with them also. I told Ashoo , to help his father in this time of  sickness and distress and don't let him feel the absence of his younger son.  Ashoo assured me that his wife and he himself is serving his father with all dedication.  I believed Ashoo because I knew that he was not so intelligent to coin lies. 

                        After some time , we came to know that Sh. Mohan Raina left this mortal world for good,  quit peacefully and his head resting on  the lap of his maroon son,  Ashoo.

  On the 10th day after his death , his brilliant younger son  also reached jammu with out his wife to pay last homage to his father. 

                 Ashoo told me, later  on,  that after 12th day , when all the relatives had left their home, his younger brother started enquiring about the business of their  father and told Ashoo,  outrightly that he should make him sleeping partner in the business and divide the profit equally. This outrageous statement of his brother had really frightened Ashoo  , as the later was hardly able to meet his both ends with a little profit he made out of business. Moreover, Ashoo had to pay monthly rent for his residential cum official accommodation. 

After some time, it transpired that younger brother of Ashoo,  had to eat a humble pie after intervention of their close relatives, who gave him a bit of mind and due to the paucity of time as he was in hurry to leave for America , he could not pursue the case . 

Then on somebody's advice ,  Ashoo also opened a new firm in his own  name and started bringing chinese goods consignment on new firm, as he was scared of his younger brother,  that he may come anytime from America to rob him of his livelihood. 

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My Wanderings 99 Short Story No.55 A Unique Visitor

My father after retirement, at the age of fifty five only, as Incharge of Khrew Alopathic Dispensary opened a medical shop near his residence at Purshyar locality in Srinagar city. He started practicing medicine and providing medical services at his shop to all locals at  very low charges due to his spiritual insight and background. Sometimes he would provide free medical assistance and  services to poor and needy . Therefore, most of the locals became his permanent customers. It was not a commercial  but mere a sustenance venture and a pastime hub of  my father. Moreover,  being a thorough gentleman and honest to the core, his customers and all the shopkeepers around respected him very much. It was not only customers but most of his acquaintances , who were of allied nature would visit his shop on daily basis for religious discussions. It also became a meeting place for most of his retired childhood  friends. Pt. Janki Nath Kaul ' Kamal ' , a renowned religious scholar , Pt.Niranjan Nath Karihaloo , director of Sericuture dept. , Pt. Kanth Ram, head master of Mission School and many more  scholars and like minded people. They  started visiting his shop almost on daily basis  . My father after attending his patients would also indulge with them in religious and literary discourses and discussions . Pt. Janki Nath Kaul ' Kamal ' has given reference of my father and crux of their discussions   in many of his religious books, which he authored later on. Whenever there were no patients and friends at his shop, he would mostly be seen  involved in reading religious  scriptures. 

Actually religious journey of my father started at very young age, when he was a bachelor and newly posted at Badgam village . He used to visit a river  near by for a bath and sandhya vandana early in the morning , when it was quite dark. One day a  great saint Sh. Nand Lal ji Mahraj, who later on became his Guru  , found him on  the stairs of river and after observing his spiritual bent of mind asked him , if  he was intrested in reading religious  scriptures, then he should visit my ashram in the evenings . My father readily accepted his offer and started visiting his ashram which was adjacent to local temple of Budgam. After sometime,  his Guru asked him to stay with him permanently in the ashram as   many other disciples of Guru Mahraj  were  living there. Then my father started living  in ashram under the  full discipline and curriculum of Ashram for many more years until his transfer. But Guru shisha legacy remained alive until the death of his Guru Mahraj. 

I had seen my father daily reciting the verses of Shrimadbagwadgita. It was not only receiting but he had become the embodiment of its virtues and personification of its ideals. He was not a millionaire but ordinary middle class person  He did philonothropy in his own way and within his means . In other way he attributed his actions and services towards the almighty . He did actions for  sustenance of himself and his family only and beyond that  he would help the needy and provided  his services free of cost to the  poor. He never involved himself in the bondage of his actions and remained absorbed  in Nishkam karma. 

Most of the patients always remained obliged to my father because of his spiritual  attitude and healing touch in his hands while treating them. 

One day a stranger visited his shop. He appeared very well to do person because of his attire and personality . He asked my father that he needed his  consultation for some ailment from which he was suffering . My father also injected him from an injection vile which he had brought with himself . When stranger wanted to pay my father for his services,  latter outrightly refused to accept the  payment. But stranger was very much particular to make his payment. Later on the stranger told my father that he has made it a point in his  life not to withhold anybody's payment or debt, because he has  learnt the lesson regarding this  from his personal experience. Then he started to narrate his experience to my father. 

On day it happened that I was visiting some village on a Tongha,  a horse driven cart. I was seated on the back seat and driver was driving the cart on a country road . The cool spring  air was full of fragrance due to the surrounding trees with blossoms . The sweet scent of blossoms  intoxicated my nerves and I had a wink of sleep. While sleeping I saw a dream that the horse , who was pulling my cart came close to me and talked to me  like any other gentleman . He told me that I owe this cart driver Rupees two  in my last janma and now I have become his slave in this janma . I want to leave this janma now as I feel very much tired of it.  if you  can  help me and repay him Rupees two with out his knowlege , I will remain obliged to you. 

Later on I recovered from my dream and picked up Rs two note from my pocket and threw it slowly on the front side of cart with out the knowledge of cart driver . In the mean time , cart driver observed the note. He asked me whether it was my note . But I shaked my head in refusal. He took the note from the deck of cart and put it into his pocket. 

Within a short span of time. I could observe the legs of Horse wavering and he instaneously fell dead  on the road. 

Now my father could not discuss any  more on this subject and accepted his payment reluctantly. 

My father could not make millions but he lived his life most satisfactorily and in peaceful manner. He was not much  ambitious person but his needs were taken care of by the Almighty quite comfortably. 

 His  legacy of goodwill, high moral character and spiritual insight is worth trillions and a matter of pride for his descendants and acquaintances.  

My Wanderings 98 Short Story No. 54 A Sanyasini from South

My Wanderings 98

Short Story No 54

A Sanyasini from South 

              It was the middle of   year Nineteen

eighty nine,  when atmosphere of Kashmir was very congenial and peaceful. Most of the Kashmiri pandits were living there in much harmony and they could  never  think of leaving Kashmir for good. Some  small skirmishes with majority community  were taken for granted and no body could ever dream of leaving his home and hearth that  easily  and so  stoically.  

             I was living in my ancestral home along with my family in heart of Srinagar city I.e Purshyar habbakadal . Our ancestral home was situated on the banks of river Jehlum overlooking the Habbakadal bridge . My brother , who was a chemical engineer by profession  had already left for Jammu few years back  alongwith his family to   pursue his newly acquired job at RRL Jammu . My parrents i.e. my mother and father used to stay in winters at jammu alongwith with my brother  and in summers they would stay with me at  our ancestral home in Srinagar. 

               My brother working at RRL jammu had a scope for perusing his studies further and he started completing his PhD degree in chemical engineering at IIT New Delhi under the guidance of a professor of the same Institute. Therefore , he had to spent most of his time at IIT Delhi. 

           Once while  studying at Delhi IIT in the scorching heat of july he scanned the vast expanse of sky to find something but the sky was crystal clear and there was not a speck  of cloud in it to give any clue of coming monsoon . Therefore, he thought  of visiting his family  and  office at Jammu.  It was also  his birthday next day. 

                    When he reached his home at jammu he came to know  that  his  family had already shifted to  Srinagar  for few days to celebrate his birthday with the extended family .  There was a gap of communication those days because there were no mobiles and even telephones were few and far between the localities. At jammu also he could not find any respite from the scorching heat and soltitude . Therefore , he suddenly decided to  visit his ancestral home at Srinagar on the same very day as it was his birthday that day and  in order to give surprise to his family .

           He looked at his watch . It was sharp 9 A. M. Most of the buses from jammu to Sringar used to leave early in the morning . He in order to avail a chance immediately rushed to Bus stand as his clothes were already  packed . After reaching Bus Stand he found most of Srinagar bound buses had left the Bus Stand. There was only one bus waiting to leave. He immediately contacted the Conductor of bus, who informed him that  there was only one seat vacant in the bus as the person who booked that seat has not arrived yet. If he did not turn up within five minutes you can occupy his seat.  After elapse of five minutes , conductor pointed towards my brother and the latter boarded  the bus immediately with his small baggage and bus left the stand. My brother took the seat next to a middle aged sanyasini wearing light saffron coloured dress and a pinch of vermilion pasted on her forehead , because that was the only vacant seat in the bus.

                 After travelling in the bus for an hour or so  both remained silent .Then my brother thought of breaking the ice and ventured to ask her  about her whereabouts and  purpose of her visit to kashmir. She replied him in a very polished manner that she is from Tamil Nadu and  convent  educated.  She became  sanyasini at the age of twenty eight despite  of much dissuation   from her  family  . Her Guru who is from Shankaracharya order  and  he has advised her to visit Shankaracharya temple of  Kashmir . 

" where  does your Guru stay?"asked my brother, nonchalantly .  " He is already dead since last 20 years", she replied . " But how does he communicate with you" , asked my brother again . " oh! it is a visionary contact . You can understand that he comes into my dreams and advises me occasionally," she retorted back. She further told to my brother that she even expressed   her  inability, to her Guru , to  travel   such long distances all alone . But he assured her   that he will arrange for her travel and she   will not feel any difficulty during her sojourn.  My brother did not took her words much seriously and smiled  at her  in affirmative nod. Later on it transpired that her Guru was a sidpurash and he  used to visit her after his Nirvana also.

           Then they talked on various subjects through out their travel  which lasted for about  nine  hours. In the mean time my brother arranged for her breakfast , lunch and snacks etc. from  roadside hotels and dhabas. She used to take  these food articles only when offered to her in her own bowl.  After reaching Srinagar city my brother took her to ShrRamkrishna Ashram in Auto Rickshaw and arranged for her lodging and boarding there through good  resources of Professor Chaman Lal Sapru , who was an active member of the Ashram and friend of our father.

         After few days my brother visited the Ashram again and brought her with him to visit our  home. On that day I saw her first time . She had a very good meeting with my father , who was a very religious man and honest to the core. She enthusiastically looked in   his religious books and took interest in his spiritual pursuits . She also noted down from his books  some important shalokas. I still remember one Krishna bhajan which she copied in her note book from his book.  It was "Adram Madhuram, Naynam  Maduram , mudhardipati akhilam maduram. " 

                         After some time my brother returned to Jammu again to pursue his job and research work. But the sanyasini remained in  Kashmir for a month or so  and visited  Shankarcharya Temple and most of the sacred places located in  Kashmir with the cooperation of Ashram people and other devotees who had become familiar to  her. In her leisure time she also  visited our home  sometimes to have spiritual discourses with our father.  

                Finally when she decided to leave kashmir,  I alongwith my wife visited her at Ashram . We had a long discussion with her in the lawns of Ashram . She discussed with us  various topics which I don't remember now. But only one  thing which  I still  remember  is that she told us  , her Gurudev had said to  her that it will be her first and last visit to kashmir , because situation in Kashmir will deteoriate soon and most of its aborigines  will leave  Kashmir for good. 

I had a good laugh over her utterances and she looked towards me with a grin . I had never thought in my dreams at  that time that  her words will prove right within a very short span of time. 

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My Wanderings - 97 Shrimad Bhagwathgita as I understood it to rediscover my father Late Dr.Sham Lal Kaul, who was an ardent follower and personification of its ideals Part - 7

My Wanderings - 97                                            Shrimad Bhagwathgita as I understood it to rediscover my Late  father Dr.Sham Lal Kaul, who was an ardent follower and personification of its ideals         Part - 7

Arjuna - Krishna what is the state of those people , who disregard the commands of the Shastras but do yagas with faith? In which of the three Gunas they are classified. 

Krishna- The faith of all people is of three kinds, depending upon their individual nature.  Although the three Gunas ,sattva, Rajas and Tamas belong to the body and senses but they generate  in the soul, the subtle impressions of previous births (purva janam vasna ) which leads to taste for certain things (Ruchi) . If a person has taste for a thing , he develops faith in it i.e in attaining that thing. So faith also is of three kinds , marked by sattva, rajas and tamas. If a person has sattvik mind, he develops faith in doing satvik type of things and if he has  rajas mind ,  he gets  faith in doing rajas type of works and so on. In other words, the Vasna from previous births creates ruchi for an object and thus the particular guna , sattva, rajas or tamas becomes predominant. Every person is full of faith for particular classes or types of things , depending upon his guna. 

             Persons , who have sattva guna and sattvika faith , worship the Devas,  by doing yagas etc. with out any desire for fruits and knowing that the lord is the inner soul of these Devas. They get extreme happiness , with out any pain or misery. 

Those who have a rajas guna , worship yakhshas and rakhshasas. People who are having the tamoguna worship dead bodies and bhutas, who serve Rudra etc.

The faith arising from rajoguna  results only in slight happiness, mixed with pain. The faith arising from tamoguna results only in very slight happiness but severe and excessive pain.

      Those people who perform terrible and difficult tapas , but not ordained by the shastras , perform with very great effort yagas etc. Which are not prescribed by shastras , are only interested in showing off to others,  that they are righteous people and only they can perform such a difficult yagas to achieve the desired results. They work against my commands . They do not get any happiness and fall into impure hell.

             Even the food   which is dear to all beings, is of three kinds, being connected with the three Gunas. Similarly , the yajna , tapas and giving of gifts are also of three kinds as per the Gunas. 

              The yajna, which is performed by people with out desire for fruits, with the firm conviction that it should be done ,as worship of the Lord, as prescribed in shastras with appropriate mantras and materials. Such a yajna is of satvik type. That yajna which is performed with a desire for fruits, performed for earning name and fame from others, such yajna is of rajas type. 

The yajna which is done , without the permission of Brahmins , who are learned , with out  using  proper materials ,without  chanting proper mantras and with out proper faith . Such yajna is called tamsa type.

            The acts of yajnas, tapas prescribed in vedas always begun after chanting 'OM' . The Vedas are also begun after chanting OM.

Vedas and vedic rituals , like yajna, tapas etc. are all connected with Om.The people who read the vedas are also connected with Om as they study the vedas after chanting OM.

People fit to recite Vedas , who desire only Moksha and not any other fruit do the various acts of reciting vedas, doing yajnas or tapas after uttering the word ' Tath '.

Such vedic rituals are helpful in attaining me, the lord. So these acts are denoted by word Tath , which is the name of lord. ( Tath is one of the thousand names  in vishnu sahastrinaam).

The word ' SAT ' is used in the Vedas , and also in the world , to denote existence and auspiciousness . In this world also, if some auspicious or praiseworthy work is done by a person, people call it as a 'sat karma ' i.e good work. The word' Sat ' is used for Vedic Karmas, by those whose object is  not Moksha but other fruits like swarga , wealth and prosperity.

             Then Arjuna  requests Shrikrishna to tell him about the difference between Tyaga and Sanyasa as both have been declared in veda as means to Moksha . Are they same or different.

Krishna - Some scholars say that Sanyasa means giving up the performance of all 'Kamya' karmas, which are not compulsory and which are done to achieve worldly desires. Not doing the Kamya karma is not sin. Some other wise people say that tyaga means giving up the fruits of all works, whether they are compulsory like nitya and naimitika karma or optional like Kamya karmas. However, both the words Sanyasa and the Tyaga have the same meaning.  

Yajna , giving of gifts and tapas etc.which have been prescribed in the vedas , should never be given up by a person , who desires Moksha , but should be done daily till death . They are connected with the caste and ashrama , brahamchari grahasti etc. The performance of such yajnas etc. destroys the previous karmas of a person who desires Moksha. 

          Actually Tyaga means giving up the sense of doership , attachment and fruits in regard to karmas and not giving up the Karmas themselves. It is not for any living person , who has to maintain the body, to give up work completely. He has to eat, for which he has to do work and earn. So work can not be given up. 

          Arjuna learn from me the five causes , which are responsible for producing all actions , as taught in the Vedas. The five causes are 1.Body 2.Doer, i.e Soul 3. Five senses of action i.e Karama indriyas  and the mind 4.five fold prana moving about in the body and  5. Supreme Brahmin. Of the five causes mentioned above , the fifth cause i.e Supreme Brahman , who is the internal ruler of all ,is the principal cause , in carrying out the work.

           The karma or work which is done  in accordance with one's caste and ashrama , as prescribed in the shastras,  with out desire of fruits like swarga , without thinking that he is the doer and that the work belongs to him, without desire for fame and praise from others , not because of aversion to criticism by others , if the work is not done, with out pomp and show , with the firm belief that karma has to be done as a duty, such a karma is called sattvika. 

That work which is done with a desire for fruits , wrongly thinking he is the doer, thinking with pride that the work, which requires a great deal of exertion,  is being done by him only , such karma is called rajas. 

That karma which is started by delusion,  thinking that he is the doer, not knowing that the Lord actually gets the thing done through   him , without considering the pain which follows from the work done , loss of wealth in doing the work,  injury caused to other beings and without knowing his own capacity to do the work . Such work is called tamsa.

               According to vedic teachings Lord Narayana is the supreme Brahman, having innumerable auspicious qualities like knowledge , strength valour and so on, all of which are excellent and unbounded. He alone is to be known from all Vedas and Vedanta . He alone is the cause of the universe . All works mentioned in the Vedas constitute His worship . He alone grants all the worldly fruits and mokhsha I.e dharma, artha, Kama and mokhsha . 

The supreme Lord , the Narayana , who rules over all, dwells in the region of heart of all beings. He mounts all beings on the machine, which is in the form of body and indriyas  (these are modification of Prakriti ) and revolves them round and round .How?

All beings have three Gunas,  sattva, rajas and tamas, in different proportions , based on their past karmas. The Lord makes them act   according to their Gunas,  by means of Prakriti and thus revolves them round and round in world.. Since the prakriti can not be conquered by your own efforts seek refuge in me alone , with all your heart and soul.

                      There are three stages in the development of devotion or worship of God. The first stage is called Parabhakti , which means excellent and excessive devotion to the Lord, after obtaining from Shastras , the true knowledge about the Lord and his greatness. Such a devotion leads to an intense desire to have a direct vision of the Lord. Then by God's grace,

 the devotee gets a direct vision of the Lord . This is the second stage called the Para- gyana . After this stage , it is impossible for the devotee , to bear further separation from the Lord. This is the third stage of devotion called paramabhakti which is brought about by the supreme devotion to the lord. After this, by the Lord's grace, he attains the Lord.

Om tat sat bramho .

Lastly , while giving tribute to my Late father Dr. Sham Lal Kaul , who lived a purposeful life according to the ideals and practice of Shrimad Bhagwath Gita , Vedas and other related shastras   and with extreme devotion to the Lord . His life was a fair mix of Karma yoga, gyan yoga and Bhakhti yoga. He was  an epitome of Tyaga . He had given up sense of doership of works, possession of property and attachment towards fruits of karma ,  without leaving  karmas themselves. Having a sattvik personality , his tyaga was also sattvik. He remained a Parambhakhta of Lord till  the last breath of his life. Shrikrishna says in Shrimadbhagwadgita that he  who remembers me at the last moment of his life, attains me only. 

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My Wanderings - 96 Shrimad Bhagwathgita as I understand it to rediscover my Late Father Dr. Sham Lal Kaul, who was an ardent follower and personification of its ideals Part- 6

My Wanderings - 96       

                                           ShrimadBhagwathgita as I understand it to rediscover my Late Father Dr. Sham Lal Kaul, who was an ardent follower and personification of its ideals    

                                  Part- 6

            Krishna says, The vedas describe this world as a Peepal tree. The tree is indestructible with its roots upwards and branches downwards. The roots of the tree are upwards,  because the source of creation for all beings is Bramha , who is residing above. The branches of  world tree are downwards , because it ends with those living on  the earth , like human beings animals and trees etc. This tree of world can not be destroyed easily because it is in the nature of a continuous stream of creation , the cycle of repeated births and deaths , till the soul attains liberation.

                     The world tree grows i.e people grow with the help of rituals , as prescribed in the Vedas for achieving desired fruits . So vedas are called leaves of the tree, since tree grows with the help of leaves. He who knows this world tree , knows the Vedas.  The Vedas describe the method of cutting off this tree of world. Knowledge about the nature of tree is useful to know  the method of cutting the tree. 

               The branches of the tree spread below , first  in the shape of Devas and then  humans, animals, birds and trees and so on as per their  past karmas . These branches are nourished and grow because of the activities of three Gunas Sattava, Rajas and Tamas. The sense objects like scenes and  music are like the tender leaves of the tree, pleasing to look at. 

              The above form of the world tree is not understood properly by ordinary human beings in world , devoid of proper knowledge. Similarly , ordinary persons do not understand that non attachment to pleasurable things results in the end of world tree. It is not also understood that attachment to the three Gunas and the pleasure objects causes the origin and beginning of this world tree.    Ignorance , mistaking body for the soul forms support for this world tree. Because of such ignorance people do all actions by which they are repeatedly born and thus nourishing this world tree. 

                         For destroying ignorance , delusion and attachment one should take refuge in Me , the lord who is the beginning of all things. This soul is an eternal part of myself but it remains in this world because of past karmas for which soul takes on  the bodies of Devas, men and other beings.

                  Thus I am well established in the hearts of all beings . I exercise complete control over everything,  by my will. The memory of all beings, comes from me only, since I am the inner soul of all. Similarly , knowledge of all beings arises from Me. Knowledge is understanding something truly. I am also responsible for the loss of knowledge and loss of memory in beings. I alone am to be known from all the vedas . I am the ruler and inner soul of Agni, moon, air, sun, Indra and other Devas . 

                    The following qualities will be found in godly persons ,who are born to carry the commands of lord.

1. Fearless ness 

2. Purity of mind when Sattva guna is present free from Rajas and Tamas.

3.Firmly established in the knowledge of Soul , as different from Prakrati and body. 

4. Giving honestly earned wealth , as gift to deserving people. 

5. Controlling the mind from wandering towards sense objects. 

6. Performing actions without desire for fruits. 

7. Studying the Vedas 

8. Straightforwardness i.e oneness of thought , word and deed in dealing with others. Not like praising some body outwardly and hating him inwardly . 

9. Ahamsa i.e not injuring others . 

10. Freedom from anger, i.e not hurting others. 

11. Giving up possession of things.

12.controlling senses from attachment to the sense  objects. 

13. Compassion towards all other beings .

14. Sense of shame in doing wrong things.

15. Not having pride about one's birth, learning or wealth. 

16. Not desiring enjoyments of pleasure objects.

17.Fitness for company of good people , being of gentle manners. 

18. Great mental power , not being overcome by wicked people.

19. Forgiving others , even while undergoing suffering caused by them. 

20. Not preventing others from doing their normal work. 

                                 Actually there are two types of people, who perform good and bad deeds, the godly people and the devilish people.

                  Desire , anger and greed are the three bad qualities which lead a person to devilish nature . They ruin the soul i.e make a person unfit to realise his soul. Therefore,  one must give up these three bad qualities to avoid getting into devilish nature which can be  like hell. 

One who has escaped from these three i.e desire, anger and greed , which are the ways to darkness and produce perverse knowledge about myself, such a person works for the good of his soul. Having gained knowledge about myself , he makes efforts to worship me and reaches finally the Supreme goal,  which is Myself. 

So Arjuna, you should understand the truth , explained in the shastras , as mentioned above. You should not have any doubt or confusion about this. You should do here only such things , which are prescribed in the Shastras. 

              My late Father Dr. Sham Lal Kaul was also bestowed ,in  abundance,   with the  qualities of   godly people , as discussed above by Shrikrishna. I beleive that he might  have achieved such qualities due to  the constant attachment with knowlege and practice of Shrimad Bhagwathgita for decades together. 

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To be concluded