Deivathin Kural # 24 (of Vol 2 ) of 03 Sep 2007.

Om Namah Sivaya.Deivathin Kural # 24 (of Vol 2 ) of 03 Sep 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, 'Hindu Madatin Adara Noolgal, Nam Ariyamai' i.e., 'Hindu Religion's Basic Scriptures and Our Ignorance', in pages 193 to 210, of Deivathin Kural, Volume 2. Evidntly it will be covered by two e-mails. (Unless otherwise specified, 'He' herein includes 'She'.)2. There are many books in this world, each on some subject or the other. Each religionist have some book as the most respected and revered. Though they are only books, they cherish and adore those books. They say that those books have all the necessary guide lines for successful living. Those books are revered and prayed to, Some people like the Sikhs have erected special temples for keeping the book and refer to it with respect as 'Guru Granth Sahib'. Every religion has one such most important book for the ennobling of the individual. Though these books may have the name of the founder of that religion, they all claim that the book is a 'Revelation' or 'Revealed Text' and not written by somebody. They all claim that it is God's orders revealed through their Religious Head. We have a word for it as, 'apourusheyam'. What is wrtten by human beings is 'pourusheyam' . When God uses man only as a tool for bringing out his edicts or directions, it is 'apourusheyam' .3. OK. What are the basic scriptures for Vaidika Madam? If You ask other religionists, you will get a prompt reply, without a doubt. For Christians it is Bible; for Muslims it is Quran; for Buddhists it is Thripitakam; for Parsis it is Zendavesta; and so on. If you ask us.....mmm.. ..., we have four or five varieties of Vaishnavas, Saivas, Saiva Siddhantins, Adwaitins, Smarthas, Madhvas, Sakthas, Kaumaras, Ganapathyas, Sauras and many who do not know as to which Sampradaya they belong to! Above all this we are all confused as to what is our basic book of belief! What is the reason for this?4. There is an important reason for this. In other religions, in which a person is born, the basic education about their religion is given within the first few years of schooling. First that and then only they make them worldly wise. So they gain knowledge about their religion at an early age. In our religion, there is no education about religion. So, what is the effect of such state of affairs? If they want to increase their numbers, they take people from our religion and convert them to their own. Reason is that, from childhood, they learn about their religion and get an attachment. Other religionists do not convert. Convertion is always from Hindu to other religions! We do not get even the basics in young age and read about it by accident and not intent; at a age when we are too old. We decry our own religion and scriptures and help in their destruction.5. Our education is based on what the Britishers created with vested interest, when they were in power in this country. Subsequently, it has been in the interest of politicians to let the status quo ante continue. In speech, dress and behaviour, we have been trying to copy the west. The trend of copying the west is even more emphasised after this country's independence. Indian civilization, culture, national heritage, swadeshiyam are all concepts for discussion / lectures. We have all become pseudo orientals, who are die-hard westerners, who know less than ousiders about our Indian religions, traditions and beliefs! Unless the children are taught the basics of our religion, from the primary level, they can never know about what has been the 'spinal cord' of our culture, from times immemorial. This has not been possible in the secular political setup we have opted for. So the education syllabus has continued to be based on what the Britishers had set. So all that we teach our children is that our Sastras are 'superstitions' . So, we are not able answer when questioned as to what are the common grounds or tenets of our religion, because we do not know the basics! The net result is that we are only aware of what we are criticised for and do not know how to answer. We are ashamed of ourselves in the bargain.6. Though there may be internal criticism and ridicule by such vested interests and people unaware as to why this culture has withstood the test of time; those in other countries, who know better, are highly appreciative of the refinement of thoughts our forefathers were capable of. Even to-day the great thinkers of the world have high regards for our saints, sages and seers and their contribution in 'Atma Vidya'. Economics, politics, medicine, art and culture, in this country; was always inviolably connected to individual ennoblement and advancement towards self-realization. This fact is identified and understood by the foreigners who are translating and taking away these Vedas, Ayur Veda, Dhanur Veda, Patanjali's Yoga sutras, Narad's Bakthi sutras and so on. Incidentally there is no copy-right for Vedas and no one is talking about intellectual plagiarism. You only have to read some of the so called best sellers in management subjects, to understand my point.7. We should be doing advanced studies in our Vedas and Sastras where our strength lies. However much we may try in modern Science and Technology, we have the handicap of not having 'state of the art' capabilities in Reasearch and Analysis. Yes, despite that, we have had some Nobel Prizes in Literature and Science, like Rabindranath Tagore and C.V.Raman, in the past. Yes, Indians are making their presence felt even in modern Science and Technology to-day while working in other countries. But, it is in the fields of the abstract sciences of philosophy that we have always excelled, over the world, over centuries. It is true that it is in this Bharathvarsh, more superlative Mahatmas have been born, lived and thrived; than all the countries of the world put together. They have all stood for the 'spiritualism over materialism' view point. It is very sad, that we are not even aware of such rich heritage. We do not even know the names of the books, which are proof of that heritage. Then we have the temerity to question, "So what, if we do not know the names of those books? What is the use of knowing them?" 8. We the inheritors of that tradition and culture, which the whole world admires and envies; are not even aware of our own heritage. Is this not very sad? Can we run after money saying, "how does it matter what happens to our heritage?" Many such Indians settled abroad come to me and ask me about, Vedas, Upanishads, Gita, Yoga, Puranas and Temples. They ask about many subtle aspects of our religion and philosophy. They say that, they become aware of their own ignorance in these matters, when approached by enquiring minds amongst their friends and acquaintances, in those countries! They feel sad and embarassed that, they do not even know, what others know about our country and heritage! They tell me, 'why do'nt You give us some books to read, about our religion and subtle principles of our philosophy?'9. The point to ponder is that, though we are fond of copying the west in all their finer points, we have no excuse for not having the minimum knowledge about our own culture and civilization, which is the oldest, living and on-going one. Being copy-cats, we are aping them in our attitude towards materialism too! This is deplorable. Rest of the world does look down on us, for our losing faith in our own high ideals of yore! If we had remained unmodernized, unread and uninformed; it would have been better. They could have thought of us, as being not up to it. But there is no end to our reading, writing and talking; science, technology, politics, cinema, fiction and so on. To not only lack behind but ignore, in what should have been our strength; that is 'Aadyatmic Knowledge', is pathetic to say the least! So, the truely knowlegeable intelligensia of the rest of the world, do look down on the present day Indians!10. There are many books on our religion and culture. But, we do not have time for them. We do read a lot. But all from outside only. We read Milton and Wordsworth. But we do not know as to who was Bhavaboothy or Ottakoothar, let alone what they have written. How many of us have read Gita or for that matter Gitanjali of Tagore? We know about Luis Dynasty and the Tsars; not about Surya Vamsa and Chandra Vamsa. Why go to that extant, we do not know the names of the Rishis of our own Gothra. What the whole world looks at with incredulity, we do not know the basic scriptures of that religion and philosophy! Even when someone comes forward to talk about it, we have no time and inclination to hear! I feel utterly sad about this sorry state of affairs!11. We have reached this state because, we have only one question in our minds; as to, 'will I get money, if I learn about our culture and religion?' In fact our earning, living and doing whatever we are doing, is so as to get contented wholesomely. It is an idiotic question, to expect a return for our very existance. Is living itself a business proposition of give and take? Religion is useful for all our actions in life. Whatever we are doing in life is to attain that satisfaction, peace and contentment, which religion provides through control of our actions and thought processes, at both the collective and individual levels. To think as to whether we will get money and comforts through religion, is to undermine ones self and religion. If we have attachement and love for the religion and its preachings, such question about crass benefits would not even arise. Then whatever we are earning in terms of money, power and position, would be used in furthering social and individual upliftment through religion. 12. Sastra says, "....brahmanena nishkarano dharma: shadanga veda adhyeyo gneyascha... ." (Vyakarana maha bhashyam prathama baspa sahnikam.) That is, a Brahman should learn the vedas and sastras, without asking 'the reason why'. In young age, instead of looking for returns, if we are taught some thing, we will have the inclination to learn. When the child is learning for the sake of general knowledge, along with subjects such as History, Geography or Maths, religious scriptures should also be taught. At later stages, a student is trained for a profession, to become a Doctor or Lawyer or Teacher. At this level, the question can arise, as to whether such education would be useful for his livelyhood. Then, he should be doing advanced studies in Vedas, Scriptures and so on, for two reasons. One, if he is to become a Practising Religious Teacher or two, if he is doing so out of his choice. As student take to, sports, music and fine-arts, not exactly looking for its usefulness towards livelihood; they may take to excellence in religious subjects too. The mistake clearly lies in not correctly organising the syllabus content of Basic Education. In trying to achieve a secularistic pattern of society, we have practically moved from, 'not religious or sacred', to irreligious, to anti-religious, especially in the case of the Hindu Religion!13. It is really deplorable that we have to even give a thought to such an idea as to, whether religious education would be economically viable to the student's future livelyhood! "Do not ask whether 'Veda Adhyayanam' would feed me or not; on the other hand, think that our very birth, feeding ourselves and living is for the purpose of 'Veda Adhyayanam'" , say the Sastras. Having taken birth in such a religion which says so, we are cutting the roots, before the child can know anything about its own religion. Contrary to all that our religion stands for, we are making him or her worldly wise and religiously foolish. The parents do not know better either.14. Thousands are spent in dress, toys, cosmetics, entertainment and show. Even in a purely religious function like 'Upanayanam' too, much attention is given to the peripherals than the crucial aspects of mantras and their meanings. We are lacking in the important aspect of belief in the religion ourselves. If need be these things should be taught by arranging for private tuition. Why should a religious teacher for such tuition, be not paid well for this purpose? Such teaching from childhood will obviate the situation that we are clueless about our own scriptures and their purport.15. Since such teaching is not there, our people have varied views on these matters. One is an 'asthic', some are non-believers. Some do 'Karma Anushtana' without knowing the meaning of why he does so. Some have only devotion to Gods. Some believe in one Deity and hate other Deities. Doubts exist in abundance. Then there are fights and fueds on religious matters, rituals, ceremonies and procedures. If religious education is instilled in early childhood, such mis-interpretations can be avoided. 16. What is our religious book? To decide this itself seems difficult. If we have one book for reference and if we follow it, things could be much better. That is why other religions have one basic book, which they rever. Which is such a book in our religion? How are we to know about our religion? Libraries overflow with lacs of books on our Hindu religion. Those books too contain a lot of seemingly contradictory material! When you look at all this, it is mind-boggling, to say the least. Still there are some basic books.17. There have been and are many who have attained to the highest 'Anubhava', through practicing our religion. There have been many, who have experienced total 'brhma nishta', unminful of worldly cares. We hear about Nayanmars (in Periya Puranam a Tamil classic), who have sung all the Thevaram Songs. We get to know about Azhvars who have sung the 4000 songs of Nalayira Divya Prabandam. We hear about Sadasiva Brhmendra, Pattinaththar, Thayumanavar, Poondi Swamy, Ramana Maharishi, Seshadri Swamy, Visiri Swamigal and so on and so on; who through this very religion, were 'Atma Gnanis'. To the envy of all other religions and all other countries, we have had a plethora of such greats, spread evenly throughout the length and breadth of this country. Such a religion cannot be lacking in 'Pramana Granthas'! But first let us address another connected question, 'Why Religion at all?'(To be continued.)Sambhomahadeva.