May 14: The power of prayers
14 May 2010 2 Comments
in Telecon Satsangs Tags: kunju swamigal, prayers, ramana maharshi
Sri Narayananji from Boston delivered the satsang lecture.
The Vedas are the generally basis of our Sanatana Dharma unlike other faiths where a religious text is more sacred. The Vedas are infinite since the Lord is infinite. So what does the Vedas show us? Vedas show us two things. It first shows us the path of Dharma. Dharma in sanskrit translates to nature. Dharma can hence be para-phrased as the basic inborn quality [nature] for a particular thing. The dharma of a flower is to be colorful and the dharma for a tiger is to pounce on its prey. The dharma of an elephant is its ego and it thrives with that ego. Dharma is the very nature of a particular being or an entity.
Sanatana Dharma speaks about dharma in particular it speaks about human dharma [manushya dharma]. As we all know there are different stages of life for a human being and hence the Vedas talk about the nature of the different stages of this human being. It expounds the nature for a Brahmachari, Grihastha, Vanaprastha etc. The underlying human nature has some qualities. That nature is called as Bhagavata Dharma.
Vedas go to show the nature of a human being and we see that in each of these phases, the human being is seeking happiness. Vedas also talk about the supreme happiness. It talks about the nature of that human being, and in the due course when following the very nature, the end goal is to attain the Lord. The Vedas talk about the dharma and describe the infinite Lord. When describing the Lord, the Vedas themselves surrender unto the Lord as the Lord can never be fully described. We can take the whole of this earth as a sheet of paper and all the oceans as the ink to describe the Lord and even then the Lord’s glories cannot be fully described.
The brahmam is formless and cannot be comprehended. It is the source of everything but cannot give us anything. This is akin to a person having million dollar money in the bank but he will not be able to fully see the million dollar money in his hand. The brahmam needs to be stimulated in order to shower his grace. Lord Krishna is known as “Poornam brahma sanatanam”. He is considered as the ultimate Brahmam. But we worship Lord Krishna along with Radha Devi. She is an epitome of Prema bhakti. She can exhilarate Lord Krishna to shower his grace. Radhe Devi is called as “Brahma prerana kaarini”
Srimad Bhagavatam talks about the Brahmam very beautifully. The brahmam wanted to do an creation and hence took the colossal form. –
“Jagruhae Pourusham roopam bhagavan mahadibih”
“sambutham shodashakalam aadhou lokasisrukshaya” [1.3.1]
This colossal form has different incarnations. He was able to do the creation only after incarnating in this world. The brahmam is akin to raw gold. When raw gold is transformed into different ornaments people can use the ornaments.
In Srimad Bhagavatam, the process of creation is very well explained in the first sloka of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the first sloka (…dhaamna svena sadaa nirasta kuhakam) it says that that the Lord is self-effulgent, all powerful, omnipotent and omnipresent.
So how does the creation happen? The first sloka in Srimad Bhagavatam, says that creation happens in three steps, [Thejo Vaari Mriadam]. Tejo, vari and mridham represent the three qualities [gunas]. Tejo is fire which is Rajo guna, Vari is water representing sattva guna and Mridam is earth and symbolizes Tamasa guna. Rajo is red [since fire is red], Sattva is white and mritham is black. If it really represents the three qualities Sattva, Rajas and Thamas, then the order must have been Vaari, Tejo, Mritham, and not as it is in the sloka.
So, Tejo, Vari and Mritham do not mean the order of the qualities but only refer to the order of the creation. Tejo is fire from which came water [vaari] which in turn leads to the creation of the earth [mritham].
So in the first sloka of Srimad Bhagavatam it is lucidly shown that the Brahmam took various incarnations for sustenance. For sustenance the Lord adopted three philosophies. They are verily the time [kaalam], Vidhi and Prarabda. He delegated sustenance to the above mentioned artifacts.
What is Prarabda? It is defined as one’s karma which is a result of one’s actions in his past birth. In order words Prarabda is that big bag that we carry wherever we go. It is the bunch of latent impressions that one has been accumulated in his previous births. We generally have a perception that vidhi is fortune or fate. However, the actual meaning of Vidhi is Rule. The Lord handed over the artifact vidhi to Lord Brahma. Brahma is also known as vidhi. So how do we define Vidhi? It is a set of guidelines governing each and everything in this universe. The third precept is time [kaalam].
It is said that the Lord does not go by his free will but only goes by these three doctrines. Anything event that happens in one’s life is based on these three guidelines [kaalam, vidhi and prarabdha].
Gajendra was an elephant, who in his previous birth was a king by name Indradyumna and was caught in the clutches of a crocodile, who was a Gandharva, Huhu in his previous birth. Gajendra and the crocodile were cursed in their previous birth by great sages and hence were born as elephant and as a crocodile in their next birth.
The curse that Gajendra and the crocodile were carrying from their last birth is called as Prarabdha. It is verily the prarabdha that made them born as an elephant and a crocodile. The alligator caught the elephant in its deep clutches. That is defined as Vidhi and that was the rule ordained by the sages in the previous births. Kalam in this case is the duration for how long the elephant was caught in the clutches of the crocodile before the Lord finally came and relieved the elephant.
In Mahabharatha, we have learnt about the Draupadi vastra-apaharana. Draupadi was ill-treated by Duschasana. The fact that she was ill-treated was due to her karma in her previous birth and also because she ridiculed at Duryodhana in her present birth for pillaging her. The rule [viddhi] was that she was destined to be ill-treated by Dhussahana and kaala is exactly the time when she was derided.
Another example to substantiate is that of Lord Prahlada and Hiranyakashipu. We all know that Hiranyakashipu performed lot of penance and other spiritual austerities. It is verily the prarabdha that he will meet his end in the very lap of the Lord. The boon that he bought from Lord Brahma was vidhi [rule]. Kalam is the duration for which one will accrue the good merits due to one’s penance.
“Yatha deveshu vedaeshu gooshu vipreshu sadhushu
Dharma mayi cha vidweshaha sa vaa aashu vinasyathi” [7.4.28]
The Lord says that Whenever Hiranyakashipu commits a sin [apachara to the Vedas, cow, the brahmanas or to me], his end is going to be very near. Whenever an event [death] is destined to happen a some predetermined time, and if one performs acts that are not part of dharma, then the duration for which one is destined to enjoy the good merits due to penance is lowered.
In all the three examples elucidated above, the greatness of prayers is clearly explained. Even though there is going to be a rule based on which an even will happen, that event can happen very gracefully if one has the blessings of the Lord. That very blessing will be bestowed on one only through prayers.
Draupadi was abused by Duschasana and it had happened in an inappropriate moment, but since she earnestly prayed to the Lord, she was bestowed with infinite amount of clothing. In the case of Gajendra, when all his relatives deserted him, he prayed to Lord and because of his prayers he was liberated.
The Lord goes by rules laid down [prarabdha, viddhi and kaala], but he always has exceptions. He will favor those who chant his Divine Names and performs earnest prayers.
When one performs prayer which is establishing a contact with the Lord, he offers himself to the Lord, and the Lord then does a complete transformation both inside and outside. The first sign of showering his grace on us is by leading us to a satsang. By being part of a satsang one will understand that whatever happens in one’s life is to only a means to subdue the mind. A tumultuous mind can reach a tranquil state only with the help of a great Mahan. Sage Vyasa’s mind which was in a wavering state was able to achieve a placid state when he met Sage Narada.
Another classic example is that of Ajamila Charithra which shows the prowess of the chanting of Divine Names of the Lord.
King Yama says, Ajamila did not have Lord Narayana in his mind in his death bed and he attained Mukti and so he ordered his assistants to stay out of places where people chant the Divine Names of the Lord. This episode also elucidates the glory of satsang [Kshana sangena sadhushu ]. When he saw the assistants of Lord Vishnu and Lord Yama talking about the glory of satsang, a new life dawned in him and that gave him viveka [discrimination] .
Ramana Maharishi was a great mahan and he had an ardent devotee by name Kunju Swamigal who was also a great mahan. He was from Kerala. When a great avatara purusha incarnates it is said that many great people also incarnate along with the avatara purusha. When Ramanar descended in this earth, Kunju Swamigal also took birth. He got the upadesha from his guru and was following the path of Atma vichara. Kunju Swamigal became Ramana’s disciple only a few days ago and hence did not want to be a burden to his guru and decided to go to his ashram to practice Atma vichara. He left his guru’s abode and reached his hometown. Upon reaching his hermitage, he started to practice Atma Vichara. On the first day, he was able to do it without any issue. On the second day he fumbled but he somehow completed it. Every day he saw some issues when practicing it and on the tenth day, he was not even able to do an iota of it. He was pondering over and over about this. He was able to successfully do it in the presence of his Guru Ramana because of his guru’s grace and divinity. The whole ambiance is filled with divinity and saanidhya. There is always an object associated with love. Whereas in the spiritual plane, great mahan’s love is just pure and pristine and love for the sake of love. One is bestowed with all auspicious qualities in the presence of a great mahan.
Srimad Bhagavatam says -“Darshanaad eva sadhavah”. By merely having the darshan of a great mahan will make one’s heart light and be filled with peace.
A devotee’s son of Ramana was once suffering from serious illness. He had sent a message to his guru. No sooner the message reached Ramana’s ears than the boy started to recover and was completely cured. A prayer conveyed to a mahatma will bear fruits because of his sheer divinity. Prayers are that powerful.
The satsang ended with prayers and Nama Sankirtan.
The little one’s diagnosis
04 Sep 2009 1 Comment
in Nama Anubhava Tags: prayers
On September 4th tele-satsang, Gayathriji from Boston shared her Nama Anubhava.
In the last week’s satsang, I participated and requested for a prayer for a friend of mine. She had just given birth to a baby boy. The baby boy was being diagnosed with a deadly skin disease right from birth – that which happens to one in a million kids and the little one is on painkillers all the time and that the little one had to survive with it through the rest of his life. I had requested prayers to our satsang that the detailed diagnosis should yield a negative result.
And indeed our Nama prayers are answered. The results turned negative and the disease was finally diagnosed as a common one, and curable.
Thanks to the Mahamantra and all the bhagavatas who chanted it with prayers that helped bring in divine grace of Krishna to the little one and hence, happiness in the face of the parents.
Prayers show their powers again
31 Mar 2009 1 Comment
in Nama Anubhava Tags: mahamantra, power, prayers
Ahead of the satsang on the 13th of March, one of our satsang members from California called in to request for the prayer for their three year old son who was suffering from high fever. The fever hadn’t subsided for 2 days in a row. So they were tensed.
The satsang members on the call sincerely chanted praying for the little one’s health.
The grace of the Guru and the power of the Mahamantra was yet again glorified, when on the subsequent week’s satsang, the satsang friend called in to thank everyone and let all know that very soon after the prayers, the fever subsided and the little one was doing well now!
Hail the Mahamantra! Glory to the Sadguru!
Aug 29: Friday Satsangs – Prayer sessions indeed
29 Aug 2008 Leave a Comment
in Telecon Satsangs Tags: mahamantra, nama, prayers
The satsang on the 29th of August was a great one, in many respects. It was held during the Brahmotsav celebrations in India, while everyone was enjoying the bliss of the Utsav through the videos on the Nama Dwaar website.
The satsang started with Mahamantra Prayers, led by Shivam and Dayaji from Houston. During introduction, we heard new members join from states like Pennsylvania. Then Sriram from Houston gave a 12-minute satsang on the importance of a Guru.
We see that for every mundane skill and art, one needs to go to a teacher. A lawyer goes to an apprentice. If this is the case for worldly skills (‘vidhya’), then why nurture any doubt about requiring a Guru for the supreme knowledge of the Self?
What is the necessity of the Guru? A person might have had grave sorrows in life. His mind might have been shaken by the various miseries that he has been facing. When a person with a tumultuous mind comes to the sanctum of a Guru, he gets peace of mind. This is one of the greatest benefits that one acquires in the Guru’s presence. Then the Guru slowly cultures him and makes him fit for the Supreme Knowledge.
The glory of the Guru is explained in the Bhagavatam, by Lord Krishna Himself. We all know that Sudama was verily a synonym of abject poverty. He lived his life in penury. On the other hand, Lord Krishna was the richest of the rich, the goddess of wealth Mahalakshmi herself, caressing His feet. The story goes that Krishna and Sudama were thickest of friends.
After a long gap, Sudama comes to Dwaraka to meet his beloved friend Krishna. Krishna washes the feet of Sudama and the two friends embrace each other. Krishna is extremely happy to meet his good old friend. He says, ‘Oh! Sudama! The very fact that you have not come to me for so long requesting for anything, says that you are a happy and contented man! Although I possess so much wealth, I am contented. A manifestation of destitution that you are, you are contented too, my friend. Do you know the reason behind this?’‘Do you remember the times when we both studied at the feet of our Master Sandeepani, and one day, our Guru heartily blessed us ? It is that blessings of the Guru that is keeping us happy, dear friend!’
‘Guror Anugrahenaiva pumaan purna prashaantaye’It is only the Guru that can give the contentment in life!
The beautiful words of Sriram set the context for discussion. Paul Brunton felt that transcendental peace of mind when in the sanctum of Ramana Maharshi at Tiruvannamalai, whom he met after being directed by Kanchi Mahaswamiji. The moment he saw his Master, the long list of questions that he had prepared to be posed to Ramana Maharshi were all answered in silence, and he just exclaimed, ‘No more questions!’
A couple of weeks ago, during one of the satsangs, at the behest of one of the satsang members, we performed prayers for a little child, who was hospitalized. The father of the child was on the satsang today to narrate his Nama Anubhava:
‘Our son, Krishna was not feeling well for some time. We have been going to the hospital almost everyday that week; however the doctors could not diagnose the problem. It was a Friday evening and our friend called me and asked if we could perform prayers in the evening telecom satsang. I happily agreed. We were in the hospital when the prayers were on, that Friday evening. All the Bhagavatas on the call sincerely prayed with Mahamantra for my son. In less than a few minutes of the prayers, to our great surprise, the doctors got the diagnosis! They discovered the problem to be a unique syndrome and started medication for the same. Since then my son has been doing very well. I thank all the Bhagavatas for their prayers.’
It was moving to listen to him speaking about the anubhava with great excitement. Indeed, this was no time-pass on a Friday evening. It is a prayer meeting every Friday, and prayers do get answered with Mahamantra! Can the power of Nama be explained any better?
Aravind from Orlando described how powerful the Rama Nama was, by describing the incident in Sri Bodendra Swamiji’s charitram where the Rama Nama purified a fallen woman.
Then it was time for some quick news sharing. Chicago Janmashtami function went on very well! Announcements were made about the Houston Janmashtami fair. Sankarji informed the members about the Radha Kalyanam that was to be performed in Bay area that Sunday.
It was decided that the next week’s Nama will be led by Ms. Suja Sankar and satsang talk by Sri Ramani.
Karthik from Cincinnati led the closing prayers with Mahamantra Kirtan.
