Deivathin Kural # 97 of (Vol 2) of 19 Mar 2008.

Om Namah Sivaya.

Deivathin Kural # 97 of (Vol 2) of 19 Mar 2008.

(Note 1. We are to remind the readers that herein, 'he' as a word stands for 'she' as well. When Tamil or Sanskrit words are transliterated in English, the single vowel will indicate a short utterance and a double vowel will indicate a longer pronounciation. Words in Sanskrit script not being available, the transliteration spellings and thereby the pronounciation, especially of names may be at variance from what it should be! I offer my sincere apologies for the likely errors, as the one doing the translation. ---KTSV Sarma. Note 2. It may please be noted that the talk is dated some time in the late 1930's to early 60's. I am at Page 756 of Vol 2 of Deivathin Kural.)

DHARMA SASTRAM (SMRUTHI)

Practical Method of Reaching the Ideals of Puranas

1. The leading characters depicted in the Puranas are like Role Models, ideal to be emulated. When we read their stories, we are motivated to lead our life like them. Though we want to follow those ideals, doing so in actual life seems rather difficult.

2. Human nature is to keep on doing some thing or the other. Even for a fraction of a second, we find it next to impossible to stop this mind of ours! Nature wills us to keep doing some activity or the other. So what is essential is to obtain clarity of mind first. Clarity of mind leads to clarity of thoughts. That causes clarity of attitude, speech and actions. This is the only logical process of refinement and ennoblement. It is the mind, (that is our own mind), that has to be tackled first and foremost. Once having become clean hearted and attained to exemplary behaviour because of excellent, humble and accepting attitude towards life; then go on to actionlessness, beyond shades and colouration of types and qualities; become pure awareness, '...gunaateeta:, gnani, brhmavit....'.

3. The beauty of the ways of this Hindu Religion is that, you do not have to convert from any religion. You can continue to believe in your own religion, your own God and still follow some or all the instructions of 'Yama(Discipline), Niyama(Regular practice and order), Asana(Yogic exercise postures), Pranayama(Breathing exercises), Pratyahara(Abstinence), Dharana(Concentration), Dhyana(Meditation) and Samadhi(Transcendence)'. Because these are not parochial but universal principlesand concepts. Those who belong to Hinduism already, can set aside their diffidence and launch themselves, by taking the first few steps as a toddler does! Take just the first few steps. You will advance far ahead, before you notice the fact, because it has it's own inexorable logic!

4. Follow the simple Do's and Dont's. Get your mind cleansed. Get rid of the effect of the past sins. We have done wrong things and do carry the load of such past actions and 'vasanas' meaning unfulfilled desires big and small, wants, ambitions, hates and so on. We have to get our past sins washed off and not do fresh new ones. We have to raise our minds from going astray. Religion is there for this purpose and for this purpose only. So, what are we supposed to do as per the dictates of our religion? This we do not know! Generally most of us know a little about Ramayanam, Bhagavatham and some Puranam, in the present condition we find ourselves in. In these literatures, some times here and there, we get to know that these historical / mythological characters have done, some karmas. For example, as Rama and Lakshmana accompany the Sage Viswamitra, from Ayodya to forested areas where his Ashram is located, help in conduct of his Ygnayas and then walk along the Sarayu river, cross the Ganges river and go on to Mithila; there are a number of occassions when, there is mention of their doing 'nitya karma anushtana'. But nowhere is it given, in the Purana-Itihasas, as to how it is to be done. So we do not know! Purana / Itihasas are mainly interested in telling us some stories, through which to inculcate, Bakti, Shraddha and encourage us to behave. But, we cannot be expected to be spending all our time in Bakti and Bhajans! We have to do our things, get educated, learn a trade and earn a livelyhood and do all that in an acceptable manner. How to do that? This we learn from 'Dharma Sastras'. Amongst the 14 Vidyas, what comes after Puranas is Dharma Sastram.

5. The Purana Purushas are ideal role models for us. To reach that level of attitude, behaviour and performance, we have to start at, 'Nitya Karma Anushtana'. The details of what we are required to do practically, are given in Dharma Sastram. What is given in Vedas, in bits and pieces have been collected, collated, sorted and given in an orderly manner in the Dharma Sastras. Virtually every action of ours should be done in a systemetic, orderly manner including, family matters, personal affairs like bathing, eating, sleeping, dressing and so on. Veda Dharma directs and controls every action of ours quite scientifically. How to lie down in the bed is given, for it to be suitable for the heart, mind and body. How should a house be constructed, facing which direction, is given in Vastu Sastra. In a house facing a particular direction, where should the kitchen be in relation to the living area and place for sleeping, is also given. Basic point of difference between the Hindu way of looking at life and rest of the Religions of the world is that, we have spiritualised all the aspects of our life, from birth to death and beyond. We have not seperated it as 'Secular portion of life' and 'Religious portion'. For us the whole life is 'Religious'. The idea is that all our 'Karma' that is, 'Actions' have to be so organised that, avoiding inherent contradictions, they (ie., our actions), should pave the way for individual salvation and general social welfare of not only our region or place or country and people, clan, caste and kinsmen but, the humanity as a whole!

(To be continued, after 25th of March.)

Sambhomahadeva.