Deivathin Kural Series - 59

Om Namah Sivaya.
Deivathin Kural # 59 of 05 Sept 2006.

1.These e-mails are translations of talks given by the erstwhile Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over more than sixty years, published by Vanady Padippagam, T.Nagar, Chennai, India, in ten volumes, in the Tamil language. The english version is likely to be available very soon. These e-mails are simply an effort on the part of the sender, to share some of his bliss, as it is said, 'Yam perra peru peruga ivvaiyagam'. When he adds any personal observations he uses the phrase, 'KTSV adds'.
2. To-days chapter is from his lecture, titled, 'Sevaie Melana Bhagyam', ie., 'Service is the Highest Opportunity', in pages 315 to 318, in Volume 1 of Deivathin Kural. Unless specifically mentioned, he or man includes, she or woman.
3. For a human being, there are many opportunities to enjoy oneself. The highest amongst them is, to serve others. ( In Sanskrit and Tamil, the 'opportunities to do good', are known as 'Bhagyam'. You may get many opportunities to harm or hurt others. These are not called 'Bhagyam'.)
Without knowing it to be service, we all serve our families. I am saying that, we must also serve, families not directly related to us, serve our village, city, town, State, Nation and the entire Human kind. We should not think on the following lines:- "We have many problems, as related to job, house-holds, family, earnings and so on. Why should we bother about Social service? Who has the time and energy, for such activities?" Actually involvement in social service, will enable you to forget your own worries ! There is a proverb saying, 'If you look after other's kids, Your kids will grow on their own !' But you cannot start social service, thinking that by doing so, you may be able forget your own worries, or ensure your own children's growth, in the bargain ! You simply start the process of solving other's problems. Let alone the gains of the other party, the cobwebs in your own mind get cleared. The clarity of mind and heart, removes self created internal pressures, and you will be motivated to proceed further on the path.
4. In addition to human beings, we must do our bit, for other life forms too. In earlier times, people used to, create ponds purely for the sake of cattle, and install odd shaped verical stones, on the route by which the cattle would go to the river or pond and return; to enable them to scratch their bodies, by rubbing against the stone. Everyday, each person should give the cows, a handful of grass or some edible leaves. 'Agaththi keerai' leaves, were much preferred by the cattle. This act of giving grass to cows, is much recommended in the Dharma Sastras, as 'Go Grasam'. 'Go' in Sanskrit, means cattle, especially the Cow. 'Grasam' is a mouthful. May be the English word 'grass', has evolved out of this.
5. Yagas, Yagnas, Tharpanam and such, should be done with the clear understanding, that they are also some sort of service, meant for people of this world and other worlds too. These are social service done with Mantras. Social service should be done preferably involving like minded individuals. When people join hands for a common cause, much can be achieved. Such organizations should be guarded by truthfulness and discipline. To do social service, you need involvement, keenness and courage, without bothering about, praise or ridicule.
6. On the pretext of entertainment, we do spend a lot of time, in exhibitions, fairs and fetes. This time should be spent in social service. You are likely to ask me, amidst an intensely care-worn life, if it is wrong to spend some time in merry-making and fun. I am saying that service in 'Paropagaram', itself is much 'fun'. It is merry-making, play and bliss.
7. Krishna Paramatma, though seemingly involved in pleasure and play, actually did social service only. It is surprising to note, as to how He playfully served and saved so many people on so many occassions. When He lifted and held the Mahendra Mountain like an umbrella, He actually saved many shepherds from the ravages of a thunder storm. He is supposed to have danced on the 'hood of Kalinga snake', as a small boy. What he did was to reclaim an important water sources form poisonous snake infestation. He did many play-acts. All of them are of immence social service. We observe that he was the greatest fun loving sportsman, as well as the greatest social server. Not only physical and material service, but he contributed the maximum in the fields of concepts, ideas, thoughts and beyond thoughts. He gave gems of thoughts on devotion, to Uddhava. To Arjuna, he gave the highest treatise on wisdom and 'gnana', known the world over as, 'Baghawat Gita'. There was an integration of, service, wisdom and sport, in him. He could do all this smilingly, laughingly, un-agitatedly; because he was the most involved while remaining totally unattached. So he could do all that effortlessly. Amongst us too, to do social service effectively; we need to have a smile in the face, calmness and courage in the attitude, and peace in the heart.
8. Amongst the many 'Avataras', of God, He did the maximum service in Krishna Avatara. In Rama Avatara, Anjaneya Swami was meant for service oriented activities and playful pranks. Bringing them to our minds, let us also involve ourselves in 'paropagaram', without itching for publicity, name and fame. We must consider each day, not spent in service of humanity, as wasted. Actually when you serve other living beings, you are serving God. In Hindi, it is said, 'Jan ki sewa janardan ki sewa hai'. Thirumoolar in Thirumandiram, says the same thing, "Nadamadak koil nambarku onru eeyin, padam adak koil baghwarkku adu aame". 'Nadam aadum koil' is the mobile temple, ie., human beings. So it means, that when You do some good turn to another human being, it is as good as doing it to God !
Sambhomahadeva.