Deivathin Kural Serial - 156

Om Namah Sivaya.

Deivathin Kural # 156 of 20 Feb 2007.

1. These e-mails, are chapter wise translations of the lectures given by, Sri Chandra Sekharendra Swamigal, of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Every day, after the daily Puja, He used to talk, on various aspects concerning Hinduism. These are published, in Tamil, by Vanady Padippagam, T.Nagar, Chennai, as Deivathin Kural, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each. To-day's talk is titled, 'Saraswathi', in pages 709 to 716, of Deivathin Kural, Volume 1.

2. Saraswathi pooja occurs in the Sarad Rithu.(As per Indian calander, the year is divided in to six 'rithus'. The six rithus are, Vasanth{spring}, Greeshma{summer}, Varsha, Sarad{autumn}, Hemanth{winter} and Sisir. From the name of the Rithu, the Nine-nights festival occuring in that period, is known as 'Sarada Navarathri', and the Goddess is also referred as 'Sarada'. Of course, in Mantra Sastra, for the name 'Sarada', other meanings are also given.

3. There are many brahmins in Kashmir, known by the collective name of 'Pandit'. Though the meaning of the word Pandit is learned and knowledgeable, it has come to be associated with the brahmin community of Kashmir. Motilal Nehru and Jawaharlal Nehru, thus belonged to the Pandits. The reason for there being many learned brahmins of reknown in Kashmir, is that, in that part of the country, 'Saraswathi Aaradhana' or devotion to Saraswathi, the Goddess of Learning, was much prevalent. There was a 'Sarada Peetam' in Kashmir, as a place of Honour to the learneds. Any great scholor of the past from all over India, used to consider it a recognition of his or her erudition, to be accepted at the 'Sarada Peetam'.

4. In Tamil Nadu too, the Kancheepuram area in Thondai Mandalam, was also known by the name of 'Kashmira mandalam'. In North there is Krishna's Mathura, and in South, there is Meenakshi's Madurai. There is 'Gokarnam' in Uttar Pradesh in the North, as well as in South West Canara district. In the middle countries, there is Pataliputram and in South, it is Thiru padiripuliyur. As there is Kasi in the North, there is Thenkasi in Thirunelveli. Like that, Kanchipuram area is Southern Kashmir. Mookar claims that this area of Kanchipuram has Saraswathi's special anugraham. Before recieving Kamakshi's grace, Mookar was dumb. In the Kamakshi's temple here, there is a special sannidanam of Saraswathi Amman, where ther is a statue of Her with eight hands, which is supremely graceful. In Kanchipuram, Sankaracharya ascended the 'Sarvagna' peetam, by diplaying His excellence in all Arts, Sciences and Crafts. He established the Kamakoti Peetam here and named it as 'Sarada Peetam'. These are the special connections between Saraswathi Devi and Kanchipuram area.

5. From olden times, Kanchipuram was a place of higher learning. There were many colleges here, as in Nalanda and Dhakshaseela, in North. Actually these places called 'Katikasthanam', were more like universities. Near Thiruvallam a stone carving was found, in which it was written, 'katikai ezhaayiravar', thereby to mean that the students were seven thousand in number. In the Shimoga district, in a place known as Shikarpur, in the Pranveswara Swami temple, a stone carving was found.
It says that, Mayuravarman, with his guru Veera Sarma, studied in Kanchi Katikai. Near Arakkonam, in Velur, was found a Sanskrit stone tablet. It contained the information that, the Raja Simha Pallava built the, now world famous, 'Kailasanatha Temple', in Kanchipuram. Before this information, it is also recorded that, he reestablished the old 'Katikai' there. Appar Swamigal also says, in Thevaram, "...kalviyil karai illada kanchi...", to mean, 'in education Kanchi had no limits or no blemishes'.

6. In 'Mooka Panchasathi', there is one slokam that assumes Kamkshi to be Saraswathi. It starts with the word, 'vimala patee', that she is wearing a spotless white saree. The whole of Kashmir is covered by the white snow that the country side seems covered by Saraswathi. This is what happens in the Sarad Rithu to the whole country too, when the 'Sarath Chandra' the full moon is replendent. This is the period between mid Oct to mid Dec, when the entire earth's surface is covered by a white transparency of the moon at night. Even in day time, the Sun is rather mild and the clouds are whiffs of white, floating hither and thither. The true knowledge blessed by Saraswathi, will be white, pure and pleasant. Other type of education will give greater aspiration, thirst and greed. True knowledge will give satisfaction, peace and contentment.

7. When I think of this period of two months, of Sarad Rithu and its effect on people's minds; I am reminded of a related effect of the atmosphere on minds. Effect of the outer on inner and vice versa. When the mornings are pleasant, our minds too get some inspiration. If the weather is heavy, cloudy and drizzling, it has an adverse effect on our minds. Early in the morning and the time nearing the sun-set are therefore, wonderful, appropriate time for meditation. 'Sandhya' thus, (that is mornings and evenings,) is the time of day in touch with the night; outer in touch with the inner; when they can coalesce into unity. When are individuals in peace with the environment; minds in touch with the super-mind; consciousness in contact with super-consciousness; in a whole year? Such a period is the Sarad Rithu, between mid Oct to mid Dec.

8. There is moderate heat and cold. Rains have stopped everywhere. During this period, the avarege temperature all over the country, is between 75 and 95 degree celcius. As Gnana brings in a sense of balance of oneness in all the variations and variety, the weather brings in a parity in the whole nation. This is the time of Navarathri festival in the South, known as Dussehra in the North. This is also the time of Saraswathi Pooja! She is the Goddess of Knowledge, Awareness and Gnana. All the people should be aware of this essential aspect.

9. Japamala and palm-leaf are indicators of awareness and knowledge. You will see these two things in the hands of, the two embodiments of supreme Gnana, Saraswathi and Dakshinamurthy. Palm-leaf is indicative of 'Vidya'. Vidya is not to be mis-construed as simply Education. If we relate to the education our children recieve at the schools, we have to draw a line between, 'Vidya' and Education. In the earlier times, all education was finally aimed at obtaining the knowledge to take us closer to the divine principle. Thiruvalluvar asks this very important question as to, "What is the use of such education, which does not inculcate devotion to God?"
"karrathanal aaya payan enkol, vaal arivan
narral thozha ar enin?"

10. Education should enable one to get rid of all pride to be replaced by adoring love of God. All education of all sorts of Arts, Sciences and Crafts; were aimed at this supreme noble Lakshya. Pride is 'Ahankaram', which can arise out of, wealth, position, power and possessions. But the worst of pride is the feeling that, 'I am well read!'. That is why, our grand old ancestors, coined the phrase, "Vidya Vinaya Sampanne". Higher the knowledge, greater the humbleness and humility.

11. Now-a-days all education seems to be only for making more money. Earn more by hook or crook. Learn all arts and sciences and applied knowledge, with the purpose of outsmarting others. Make more, sell more. Pay less tax, avoid tax. 'Find a need and fill it', was the catch phrase of marketing. Now it seems to be, 'if there is no need for your product, create one'. World is banking on creating a sense of 'deprivation and want', in people's minds. If this is the effect of modern education, I who am supposed to be the propogator of Gnana, may be forced to say, "Agnanam moksha sadanam", as in other words, 'ignorance is bliss!'. It is better to be without being literate, we may as well be like the unread Tribals and Adivaasis, it seems, with a blind belief in God as the only assett.

12. But, the point I am making is, for you to understand that, all education in this country was based on learning, so that the knowledge so acquired may be applied in a morally appropriate manner, that is 'Dharma', thereby earn 'Artha', so as to satisfy your needs and desires, that is 'Kama', so as to transcend the desires, that is, 'Moksha". All this was so beautifully evolved, for the society's and individual's needs to be met, for the eventual task of overcoming ego and 'ahankara'. Even now by new and newer 'Vidya' and technology, one can do much for the common man's benefit, and the country's and world's welfare. Even through science one can attain to prescience! Even through 'atomic energy', we can arrive at "Adwaita'. Instead of running endlesly after self gratification, we can suitably adopt, the noble principles of our ancestors. Not all their methods and knowledge and principles are to be thrown overboard! There is much to learn from them still and convey it to the world, through personal example. This is the most important case for not adopting western way of life and attitudes wholesale!

13. For any disease to be cured, with the medicines, 'Pathyam', that is restriction on diet is very important, without which the medicine becomes poison. For the medicine of 'Vidya', to be effective, the pathyam required is unpretentious modesty and humility, with which, it becomes the "
'Amirtam' that gives Gnana. That is why, Dakshinamurthy and Sarawathi, are the Vidya deities. You know that Saraswathi is addressed as, 'sakala kala vani and sarva vidya swarupini'. Vedas say that Dakshinamurthy, is the Lord of all Vidya. He is in a state of total inertia, when all speech, action and awareness, are at a stand still. It is that Dakshinamurthy, who is considered as the 'Medha', who grants boons for 'brilliance of the brains(buddhip prakasam), 'mastery of speech'(vakku vanmai), power of knowledge(vidvath shakthi).

14. Both Dakshinamurthy and Saraswathi, in addition to Rudraksha Mala and Palm-leaf, have the crescent moon in their hair. It is called, 'chandra kalai'. Kalai or the crescent is indicative of growth. For knowledge, there is no end. It is always growing. The more you know, the more you become aware of your limitations. Avvay Patti in one of her immortal songs says, "Karrathu kai man alavu. Kalladadu ulagalvu. Urra kalai madanthai odugiral". It means that, 'Saraswathi Devi says that, what she has learnt is a handful of sand and what she is yet to learn is as big as the world!' That should give us an idea as to how humble we should be. Even to-day, the really learned experts in any discipline would say, 'what I know is only the tip of the iceberg. There is much more to know.'

15. Like Dakshinamurthy, Saraswathi also has the third eye, in the center of the eye-brows, in the forehead. This is indicative of the fact that, unless desire is burnt off, there is no place for Gnana. Both these Gods are depicted as having piled their hair as a crown of the shape of pyramid. This is also a sign of Gnani. Both are white as white only can be. This is the colour which is not of any colour, but has all the colours contained in it. Whiteness when it is more clearer, it becomes crystal clear! Both Saraswathi and Dakshinamurthy, have the Spatika Malai(Garland of Crystal beads). Cleanliness, purity, peace and clarity, automatically accrue to us, when we think of them!

Sambhomahadeva.