Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara –

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Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara – This is one of the absolute classics!! This incident has been vividly described by Shri Thiruvannamalai Gowrishankar Mama.

Maha Periva Charanam,

“I once went to a place called Vaasangere in Karnataka to have His darshan. He was camping in the mines area which belonged to Sandur Maharaja. Swamigal was a sitting on a tarpaulin along with the other devotees. Annathurai Iyengar of Veda Raksha Nidhi Trust was also there with a few students from his Veda Patashala. It was around 10.30 in the night.

The Sandur Maharaja, Maharani and their son were also there. His son was a Reader in the Department of Mathematics at Yale University in the US. He had a PhD degree in Maths. His parents were standing there respectfully before Him but he appeared to be quite casual. Swamigal conversed with the Maharaja and Maharani in Kannada for a while.

After a while He turned towards their son and asked, “Where do you live? What are you doing?”

“I am a Reader in Maths Dept at Yale University”, he replied.

“What have you studied, you have done your PhD in which branch of Maths”, He asked.

Their son did not answer for a minute, hesitating to reply as he was unsure if Swamigal could make sense of what he had studied. His father goaded him to reply.

“Quantum Theory.”, he said, matter-of-factly.

Swamigal drew a +ve sign on the mud and circled it; He also drew a -ve sign and circled it. Pointing to the two signs Swamigal asked him,

“Did you use the positive or the negative approach in your Quantum Theory PhD thesis study?”

Their son who was a bit indifferent until then, was startled to hear this from Him. He was trembling for words and suddenly became more respectful and replied, “Positive Approach.”

“Why did you not take the Negative Approach, will you do you it later”, He asked.

“It is difficult to use the Negative Approach”, he said.

Swamigal looked at Annathurai Iyengar and said, “He is saying it is difficult; can you ask the Veda students to recite this particular verse from Rig Veda?”, and prompts them with first two words.

The students recited that particular verse for 5 minutes. After this He turned to their son and said, “you must have obtained your PhD in your 24th or 25th year correct?”

“In my 25th year”, said he.

“Rig Veda, the verse which you heard now, talks both about the Positive and the Negative approaches”, He said.

The son was astonished and requested the students to recite the verse again.

“Are you now thinking that you need not have spent lakhs and lakhs of rupees for your 25 years of education and if only you had studied the Vedas you would have learnt this Truth in just 7 years?!”, replied Lord Parameshwara.”

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Narrated by Shri Thiruvannamalai Gowrishankar Mama!

Yale University is one of the top universities in the world, but obviously not a match for the Vedas! :)))

This is the beauty of Maha Periyava!!
Courtsey. Mahesh krishnamurthy

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Experiences with Maha Periyava: Boundless grace and compassion

One is apt to think that "boundless compassion" exists only in rhetoric till one has a darsan of Paramacharyal. In His marvellous presence one instinctively recognised boundless compassion, purity, grace and the quality of equal vision. Countless must be the instances of His Grace curing diseases, warding off calamities, giving peace of mind and above all, guiding an aspirant on the razor-edge path of ascent along the Sushumna. Instance of the last kind might not be normally made public, as they pertain to the innermost lives of the persons. I happened to know of at least one such case, as it was of my father. From among my experiences, I give the following few.

When, more than four decades back, I passed the competitive examinations and got appointed to a top service, Paramacharyal specifically advised me that I decline that offer, which I did. At that time almost all who knew me were against my going by His advice and some even said that He was not qualified to give such advice! Events, far later, showed how gracious and farsighted He had been and what great kindness. He had shown in giving that advice!

Once, He, in His own inimitable manner, knocked good sense into me, and gave a lesson in dealing with one's Guru Maharaj. It is as follows.

He was camping at the place of my posting and I came to know that the timepiece He was using was not working well. So, I went to the shop and selected a good piece, which had a black dial and against which radium coated white numerals and hands stood out well. (Please bear this description in mind.) It was a bit costly. A relation of mine who was with me. At that time, and who was rather close to the SriMatham, advised me to go in for a cheaper variety. His reasoning was that devotees were giving timepieces to the SriMatham fairly frequently, and one cannot say whether Periaval will use a particular piece at a given time; and hence a costly place may not be with Periaval all the time. I was taken in by this argument, and got a cheaper piece, which had a white dial. I had completely overlooked the point that a Sishya must offer only the best to his Guru, particularly when it was available. When I took the piece to the SriMatham, Perival had gone inside, and so I gave it to Pudu Periaval, and informed the Manager, When I went in the evening for darshan, the Manager called me aside, and gave back the timepiece, saying, "Periaval saw the timepiece and wanted to know who had given it. He was told that Nagarajan had given it. He desired that the article be returned to you with the remark that He preferred to have one with black dial, against which white numbers were prominent. Many, who were present at that time, offered to get such a piece. But Periaval said that Nagarajan only should get it." When I heard this, I broke down and cursed myself for having listened to specious advice, and having been stingy towards Guru Maharaj. Needless to say that I rushed to that shop, was relieved to find that item on the shelf, and bought it. The above incident shows the all-pervasive awareness and infinite compassion of Periaval. I felt really happy and blessed, when some months later I saw Him using that same timepiece.

In 1962 Periaval was camping in Elayathagudi. On the day we went for darsan, He had walked a long distance and was seated in a temple. Pudu Periaval was in the SriMatham Camp, after seeing whom we went by cart to the place where Periaval was. I sought His blessing for the upanayanam of my son, to be performed soon. He said that we could go after taking "akshata", and were wondering why we in particular were asked to wait. After some time a devotee came in a car, and Periyaval sent the car to the camp to get the "akshata", gave it to us and permitted us to go. The reason for His action was revealed to us very soon. On the return journey my son (whose upanayanam had been arranged), suddenly became sick and started vomiting. No medical help was available In the bus or outside. We could only pray to Periaval and clutch the "akshata" so kindly given by Him. The boy became normal in a short time, and there was absolutely no problem thereafter. Then only we realised that Periaval, with His infinite grace and compassion and all-pervading knowledge, had given the "rakshaa" to mitigate the evil which might have befallen us otherwise.

I could write on and on. It all comes to the same thing, "BOUNDLESS GRACE AND COMPASSION".

Who can fathom Paramacharyal's infinite greatness?

Author: T.B. Nagarajan

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Chaaturmaasya Vichaara - LAKSHA PRADAKSHINA

One of the austerities prescribed for Chaturmaasya Vratha is Laksha Pradakshina. It involves walking around an icon or idol in a temple one lakh times.

Apparently it looks difficult even for a normal healthy person to complete the same during four months period.

What is important is that, one should understand the significance of Pradakshina and Lakh is only indicative that it should be in abundant numbers according to one’s capacity (yathashakti) and physical condition.

Pradakshina means circumambulation (Parikrama) around the intended idol/icon in a temple which is a form of worship that is in vogue in Hindu religion and culture (Bharateeya Samskruti) since time immemorial.

Generally we come across devout Hindus taking Pradakshina around;

Thulasi plant;
Aswatta Vruksha;
Sacred Cow (Go Pradakshina);
Sacred fire;
Temple deity like;
Lord Hanuman;
Sri Raaghavendra Swamy Brundavana,
Navagraha etc.

Apart from normal Pradakshina, we come across special types of Pradakshina like...

Giri Pradakshina
Anga Pradakshina
Praakaara Pradakshina
Aatma Pradakshina etc.

Actually, Pradakshina is a sort of penance to beseech the God’s grace to get rid of bad karmas that one may be facing in life.

The guiding principle behind this is that, if God’s worship is performed with sincere devotion and total surrender it helps in reducing the impact of bad karmas and not by the amount of offerings to the God.

Recognizing God as the focal point in our lives we go about doing our day to day tasks. God is the centre point/source or essence of our lives and everything revolves around Him.

When we undertake Pradakshina every point on the circumference is equi-distance from the centre ie, the God and we are equally close to the God and His grace flows impartially towards us.

Pra means prominent/famous/the best and dakshina indicates the direction ie... to the right.

Pradakshina means prominently moving to the right side that is auspicious and eventual.

When we perform Pradakshina we circumambulate in clockwise direction and God always remains to our right side that symbolizes auspiciousness. This is just to remind ourselves to lead an auspicious and righteous life.

With regular chanting of divine Veda manthras in the temple it is believed that there will be accumulation and roaming of positive vibrations/energy around the idol/temple.

While making Pradakshina the mind will get purified, the devotee absorbs the positive energy and gets the divine aura that surrounds the Deity.

Pradakshina is a form of Prayaschitta (expiation). It should be performed with utmost humility and devotion in a meditative mood with focus on the concerned deity and not just as a routine.

Pradakshina is performed as a mark of respect, obeisance and total surrender to the deity.

It should be performed slowly and not in a hurry with our thoughts and actions dwelled on the God with folded hands.

According to its merits Pradakshina will tone down the sins; cause destruction of Karma; bestows upon what is desired; leading to the path of salvation.

Yaanikaani cha paapaani janmaanthara kruthaani cha
Thaani thaani vinasyanthi pradakshina padae padae

Meaning: let lapses and blemishes made in this current as well as the previous births and resultant afflictions perish with every pradakshina