DEIVATHIN KURAL # 49 (Vol # 3) Dated 28 Jan 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 49 (Vol # 3) Dated 28 Jan 2009
(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the middle of page 212 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man' includes 'woman' too, mostly.)
(Note:- These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham.blogspot.com constantly updated.)
Preta Samskaaram : Importance of the Body.
335. You could possibly have a doubt as to, how this body can be very important. You may say, "OK. We will agree about what you said earlier, that doing monthly Tarpanam and yearly Sraardham for the departed soul and such actions can all be considered as part of 'Paropakaaram', as a way of helping another person. But once life is gone, how does it matter as to how we dispose off the physical body? What is the need for all the Samskaaram for the body?"
336. "As it is we are finding it difficult to take care of living beings. After the death, what is the need for 'Seva' for the cadaver? OK! Just because it is the custom and tradition, as and when death occurs in ones own houses, out of fear and social embarrassment, we have to do the Preta Samskaaram for ones dear and near ones death. As though that is not enough, when some orphaned, unclaimed, unknown individual dies and when the municipality people are going to somehow dispose of the body, what is the use of interposing ourselves that we will still do the Preta Samskaaram? As it is the dead body causes fear in our minds. That too a totally unknown some-body literally! What is the Paropakaaram needed here for just a dead body?" That could be your question. Let me answer you!
337. If you carefully look into the Saastraa-s, one can notice that even after the departure of the Jeeva (or Life) from the body, in it's various body parts, there is still some divine presence. Sun in the eyes, Fire in the mouth, Indra in the hands and so on do not vanish at once! They are to be returned to their origins through Preta Samskaaram. This can be more clearly understood by carefully studying the Apara Mantra-s.
338. It is said that the Jivaatma is made up of 16 'Kala-s' or ingredients. 15 of them together go to make the Life. The sixteenth one is the body itself. That one is also required to be disposed off as an offering to God, for which the 'Antyeshti' samskaaram is required. In Saastraa-s this 'Antyeshti' is considered as a final 'Yagna', as the word meaning indicates:- 'anta + ishti = Antyeshti', to mean, 'end + yagna'! This is also one of the Yaaga-s where there is an element of our wish to be fulfilled. That is why, it is an 'ishti'! From the time the woman accepts the pregnancy, till the departure of life from the body; there are 'samskaaraa-s', i.e., cleansing actions. The very word 'samskrit' as a name for the language Sanskrit, means, 'well done!' Sanskrit is a classic well made language, unlike the English the most unscientific and unsystematic language. That English and further aberrations of it, such as what is used for SMS Text in Cell Phones, are the most widely used in to day's world, can only be considered as indicative of further aberrations to come in the 'Kali Yuga'!
339. All the 40 Samskaaraa-s from the time a life is borne in the womb, till it is finally assigned to flames, all of them are for maturing the Jeeva to such fineness as making it capable of being accepted back in its source! For a person who has made his very life an offering to God, the last and the least that the others can do for him (which includes her), is the final Yaaga, this Antyeshti or Preta Samskaaram. He did all other Yagna-s by using this body. That body itself is the final 'Aahuti'. So say the Preta Samskaara mantra-s! As all other items offered in Homa are all cleansed in ghee, so is this physical body cleaned and cleansed in ghee and offered in Homa. Offered to the God Almighty. What is interred in the earth is also similarly an offering to God!
340. There is something more. It is true that, our ancestors have iterated that this body is dirty. Full of dirty excretions, from the nine holes in the body. Manikka Vaachagar says, ‘...malanga p pulanaindum vanjanayai seyya...’, meaning that all the five senses are all the time duping us! But, from another perspective, this human body is worthy of much praise, awe and admiration! This body is a super-duper machine, instrument, tool, calculator, computer, artist, innovator, creator and so on, all rolled into one! Each part of the body is a far advanced, sophisticated, marvel yet to be matched by modern science! The eye is capable of seeing far and near and differentiate between shades of colours. With two such equipments, it is capable of seeing the depth, by a process of compare, contrast, assess and mutually superimpose! Ear is capable of hearing a wide range of sounds. By using two of them, it can make a fair guess of the origin of sound in three dimensions!
341. Though these two sets of equipment are controlled only by the same mind / brain, the ear cannot see, and eyes cannot hear, though located in each others vicinity! Then there is a mouth near by. It knows the taste. It can speak. By manipulating the vocal chords, it can produce wonderful music and play on a variety of musical instruments! Then the power, dexterity and softness of the hands, I can never tire of admiring. Whether holding hands or plucking the strings of the Veena, playing an instrument or flying a plane or wielding the chisel to shape a stone, or coaxing a piece of clay on the potter’s wheel, nothing can match their ability! There is a beauty in the way the hands have been formed, with its bones and nerves and muscles! Then the legs suitable for walking, stepping, climbing, running and kicking the ball! Look at the concave portion between the foreleg and the heel, to let small creepers and insects under foot to get away, when being stepped upon! The engineering of the knee with its bone and muscle structure is a marvel, enabling us to sit on our haunches! Look at the blood circulatory system, breathing system, nervous system, digestive system, immunology system and so on, with their various parts and their inter actions and responses! The subtlety and intelligence that has gone in to making these, cannot be by accident and or chance; however many million times it may happen. Accidents and aberrations can be by chance.
342. Then the brain controlling all this! How beautifully all these have been created! Flesh, muscles, nerves, blood, bones, skin, each with a purpose! There is living marrow inside the bones, with its own manufacturing process. Then the crores of cells in the human body is a separate world of wonders. Not only is there so much difference and separateness, the way they all function together, mutually co-operating, co-ordinating, nourishing with mutual feed-backs; is all wonder of wonders!
343. So, may be one in a million may come to the correct conclusion of Gnana, that this mind is a lie and the body is Maya. All the others have to take this body to be real, a wonderful gift from God! Then he has to live life within the discipline of moral uprightness and Dharma, while endeavoring to move to Gnana! Come to think of it, why should we decry this body as something demeaning? After all it is only an instrument of the mind! If the mind gives the correct orders, the body and its parts will only obey truthfully. Hands will do Paropakaaram or Pooja. Legs will go to the temples. Eyes will feast on Gods vision. Mouth will chant the mantra-s or speak sweet words to everybody else! So. it is utterly wrong to detest the body! It is to be considered as God’s precious gift. It is the body that enables us to do the Dharma Karyas. There is a statement as, “...sariram aadhyam khalu dharma saadanam...”.
344. “Deho devaalaya : prokto jeevo sanaatana :”, is a statement which means that, ‘this human body is a temple of God and the Jeeva who resides there is forever’! Appar also says, “...kaayame koyilaaga...”, with the same meaning. Thiru Moolar similarly says, “ I used to think of this body as a handicap. But once I identified that God Himself resides here, I started taking good care of it.”
(To be continued.) Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 48 (Vol # 3) Dated 25 Jan 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 48 (Vol # 3) Dated 25 Jan 2009
(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the last para on page 209 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man' includes 'woman' too, mostly.)
(Note:- These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham.blogspot.com constantly updated.)
325. Just as recently as 20 to 30 years back, there was no need for 'Old Age Home' and 'Widows Home' in our country. Why was it so? It was so because, there was no need! They used to be taken care of by relatives. Almost in all households, there used to be at least one old distant relative, other than a grand father/mother and may be a great-great grand father or mother! But these days, people may give parties and feasts for show; or give donation to be given a prominent spot in the newspapers. But taking care of old people has almost gone out of fashion!
326. Now with the decline of joint family system, even the relationships such as elder and younger brother, has no closeness, respect, compassion and intimacy! Till there was the joint family system, in each family, there were Father, Mother, paternal and maternal uncles and aunties, a variety of cousins, their wives, children, some grand children and some great grand children and some orphaned distant relatives and so on. The family contained anywhere between 25 to 40 members. In that sort of a set up, a few oldsters were not considered as a burden at all. They were of some use in baby sitting, mending household things, taking care of the cattle and of help in cooking or telling stories of the past, which contained gems of moral principles! People made themselves useful to the family in some way or the other.
327. Problems galore started and mushroomed when each newly married couple started cutting off from the joint family system. What had been the tradition for thousands of years, have become defunct in two to three generations. With the influx of these western ideas, many of the time tested family methods and systems have gone out of practice. This has killed the family norms and Dharma, that it is ones duty to take care of old relatives. On occasions such as births, deaths and accidents, we should personally present ourselves for any assistance at our own expenditure. Or at least send the money to that hapless soul, that we would have spent in visiting him.
328. In marriages, we should cut down on all the wasteful expenses on show and pomp. These days all the thrift is shown only in giving of Dakshina to the priest. Money flows like water as though the flood gates have been opened, for music, dance, orchestra, band, lighting, dress, food, stage decoration, fire works display, emceeing, hiring the function hall and so on, with ostentatious display of pompousness!
329. Other than contributing liberally for the expenses related to the Vedic activities and the Dakshina for the Vedic scholars attending the function, we should develop the mind set to so at all times. Because of the absence of such mentality, we have reached a stage when such persons qualified enough to conduct your functions, have become extremely rare! There is no other 'Paropakaaram' that can be even thought of, than nurturing, supporting and helping the growth and maintenance of the community entrusted with studying, teaching and propagation of the Vedic Mantra-s! Before Vinoba Bhave thought of Bhudhaan movement, all the old Kings of this land donated land entitlements to the Vedic scholars all over the country.
330. We should help and assist even the very poor to conduct their important functions related birth and death; as per the Saastra-s. Without show and pomp, purely as per saastra-s, the expenditure would not be too heavy! My list of things 'to be done' for 'Paropakaaram', is continuing to grow. In that you can now add, that there should be some place established in each locality, where poor people can get a 'community hall' for conducting marriages and such functions at affordable cost and some other place earmarked for conducting the 'Apara Karya-s' for the departed kinsmen.
331. I have spoken in detail about periodic Tarpanam (done every month on New Moon and other occasions such as solstice and eclipse) and Divasam (done once a year on the same 'tithi', [i.e., the day after New/Full Moon;] of the same fortnight of the month in which the individual died). I said that these activities are also part of 'Paropakaaram' only! I said that these things will reach the intended destination in the form most suited for their present incarnation, in what ever life form!
332. When a person dies, he or she does not reach the 'pitru lokam' at once, nor is there immediate re-birth. It takes a year to attain to attain to the position of 'pitru'. [KTSV muses:- May be their near and dear ones do not let them pass on the one hand and neither do their attachment let them vanish from the present scene so quickly either, I suppose.] There are some parallels in these beliefs between various religions about what happens to the individual soul, after death! We say that the Jeeva crosses the Vaitarani river and reaches the Yama's abode. Greek mythology says that the soul crosses the river of Styx and reach Hades. In the abode of Yama, we say that there is a guard dog who does not let anyone get out. Exactly similarly they talk of a three headed dog known as Cerberus, which guards the exit routes out of Hades!
333. For this period of one year that the Jeevan takes to reach the Yama's abode, we conduct certain functions every month, for the benefit of the soul's satisfaction. In this journey, there is even talk of giving packed food for use enroute. Christians call this Viaticum, I believe. For persons who do not have children of their own, we give 'pindam' at places like Gaya, Badrinath and Gokarn. Christians celebrate the 'All Souls Day' once a year for the departed souls. Praying for the ancestors is a custom prevalent in many of the Eastern countries, such as China, Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia; as well as in Egypt, Mayan civilization in South America as also amongst Red Indian tribes of America. When there are such wide spread beliefs and convictions amongst people all over the world, it must be based on truth!
334. For the conduct of 'Pitru Karyam' and such activities of other communities and religions too, it is the responsibility of the society, to make suitable arrangements. The first one in this is the 'preta samskaaram', i.e., the procedure for the correct disposal of the dead body, to bury or cremate respectively This is a very important Karma.
(To be continued.)
Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 47 (Vol # 3) Dated 23 Jan 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 47 (Vol # 3) Dated 23 Jan 2009
(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the last para on page 204 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man' includes 'woman' too, mostly.)
(Note:- These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham.blogspot.com constantly updated.)
314. In summer we should donate water, fans and umbrella and in winter, woolen shawls or blankets be given, say the Saastra-s. Setting aside all that, to get rid of this command act of Dowry, seems the greatest of Daanam-s! Other Daanam-s are effective only for a short period in relieving the misery and agony of the one receiving. Whereas this Dowry, wrecks the giver forever in to indebtedness and permanent misery. So, in my opinion, not taking Dowry is the greatest Daanam! Further it causes delay in the marriage and forces women to be employed outside the family, contrary to all the tenets meant for women in the Saastra-s! This is sheer injustice!
315. For this only, I spoke in detail about how the 'Kanya Dhana Trust' came into being. (Here 'Dhana' means wealth.) The money accruing out of the fund will be given to the parents or guardians of the girl from the poor background, so that the marriage could be carried out at the earliest possible date, while fulfilling the conditions laid in the Act of Law. The suitable bride groom should be identified sufficiently in advance, before the girl reaches the eligible age as per the law.
316. If the process of identification of a suitable match is kept pending till the girl reaches the permissible age as per the Law, then it may take a year or two more. Then we may be tempted to send the girl for some more study. Then graduation leads to post graduation and so on! Then as the time passes, the problem of identification of a suitable match becomes more and more difficult, as he has to be equally qualified, if not more! By then she would have become employed and then become an officer, further complicating the whole process! By then the nubile maiden would have become an ungainly matron. So instead, if the search for a suitable match commences some two years before she becomes eligible as per Law, such allied problems for an alliance could be obviated!
317. With the increase in the age of the girl, the problem of finding a suitable alliance complicates in geometric progression! That leads to situations about which I am pained to talk here in front of you all, as the head of the Kamakoti Peetam, with the exalted title of a 'Jagat Guru Sankaracharya'! They are said to have 'slipped and fallen' in to delinquency of having failed in their duty to themselves, having lost their virginity out of wedlock! I would not blame them but ourselves, for having driven them to that level of moral turpitude! It is a smudge on the name of our society, religion and the country!
318. It is to obviate this avoidable fate to our young women, that I have created the Kanya Dhana Trust and asked you all to contribute towards it. Initially it may seem to be on the higher side. But, as the saying goes, 'a stitch in time saves nine'! Expenditure on 'Kanya Dhana Trust' will save us from expenses for many 'Seva Sadanams', that will be necessary to take care of women who were unlucky enough to go astray! We should consider this issue more deliberately.
319. Yes, we should take care of the women who have deviated from the straight and narrow path. Yes, God Himself is much revered as the friend of the fallen. But this is not to mean that, they should be patted in the back and given all comfort and luxuries, as some modern day writers do, using words of psychology and humanism as though to encourage those who have gone astray! This will be tantamount to giving incentive to aberrations. Instead, we should give more attention to prevention before onset of the disease, that is, the 'Kanya Dhana Trust', to prevent such aberrations!
320. In this and other areas too, it is the people from middle class, who suffer most. The rich are not so much affected by pretentious display of lucre. They would proudly claim to be conducting their marriage very simply and their simplicity will be enough to instigate your awe! The poor may just do his level best and may be helped by some rich man. It is the middle income group who are neither here nor there. They can not do it simply and bear the likely raised eye brows and turned down noses; nor can they afford to stretch themselves sufficiently! If only he can learn not to claim a false prestige, which he can ill afford; he can get over this blind end!
Simple Living.
321. It is a good thought that others should live the way we live. It is not enough to wish so. If we live a flamboyant life of extravagance, we cannot expect others also to live like that! If it happens also that every one lives a life of unbridled luxury, as they do in US of A, is it for the good? As the outer worldly luxuries multiply, the inner world of every individual becomes more affected by unhappiness and dissatisfaction! This is like the fire that grows voracious with every additional feeding! This desire in human beings will never be satiated with the increase of facilities and luxuriousness. It is this dissatisfaction leading to criminal tendencies, that we see in United States of America and the advanced countries of the West. There itself, there are more and more people who are realizing that, they can have peace of mind and heart only when their dependence on modern luxuries is cut down! There are more and more of people of the West, who are turning over to practice of Dhyana, Yoga and Bhajan-s!
322. Contrary to Man's inner growth, whatever we may do to help in terms of the outer worldly benefits, is really not a help. but only giving him permanent crutches. The more simpler life that we lead is better for our real inner advancement. To make them get used to a simpler life is real help. This cannot be done, if our life is one of pretentious exhibition! No one will listen to us, if we are like that as our hypocrisy will be seen through! So, before we wish that others should live like us, we should be clear in our own minds as to how we are going to lead our lives. We should decide beforehand that we should live the simplest to enable others to copy us.
323. Everyone should get his 'stomach-full' of food. He should get clothes to cover himself. He should have a cottage to live. These are the basic essentials for all. These should be met with. Above this, is needless needs and endless desires! Whether we wish to get involved in social service or not, so as not to make others envious, we should adopt the simplest of the life styles.
Friends, Relatives and Neighbors.
324. Whether you are rich or poor, in every family there are some happy events and some unhappy occasions, such as birth / marriages and sickness / death respectively. For these things, we should not let anyone become indebted. If we do so, then it is great insult to our very being! These things were done quite naturally, in earlier times, without even giving it a name like 'Paropakaaram' or 'Social service'! Before we do any help to a third party, at least within friends and relatives, we should be doing this automatically. In earlier times there was no need to even talk about it! It is our duty to contribute whatever we can on such occasions!
(To be continued.)
Sambhomahadeva

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 46 (Vol # 3) Dated 21 Jan 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 46 (Vol # 3) Dated 21 Jan 2009
(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the middle of page number 200 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original, The readers are reminded that herein 'man' includes 'woman' too, mostly.)
(Note:- These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham.blogspot.com constantly updated.)
303. Correction. 1.) Last para in the previous e-mail should have been numbered 302 and not 202. Correction. 2.) In Deivathin Kural # 39 (Vol # 3) Dated 06 Jan 2009, in para 239, line 7, for word 'foreigner' read, 'brochure or literature'.
304. Co-operation Between Husband and Wife. Like 'Srama Daanam' everyone should also do some 'Sampaththy Daanam', that is money. However less your income may be, at least some fraction should go for donation! In this much can be done by the Lady of the house! Jewels, clothes, expenses on cinema and eating outside, desire for dowry and related gifts, are the reasons why, money is not available for genuine Daanam and Dharmam. Men squander their money in horse racing, gambling, imbibing liquor, cigarette and such allied expenses! I know that. But it is women who can reign-in their husbands and also motivate their men towards sacrifice! As Mothers, such a mentality to give and sacrifice is in their very nature. In sparing something for the not-so-well-to-do people of the world, both husband and wife should thus co-operate, by cutting down on all other expenses.
305. When I say that even the relatively poor should save for ‘Paropakaaram’, it evidently means that those already endowed with plenty of income are expected to do so anyhow! A point to grasp here. Being poor or rich is a relative term only. I have seen very rich people with a miserly attitude and also seen very poor people with a big heart. Like Mahatma Gandhi has said, “There is enough in this world for every one’s need; but, there is not enough to cater for even one man’s greed!” So it is necessary to develop the heart and attitude to be of help to others.
306. There is a misleading catch-phrase quoted by many, “...thanakku minji dharmam...”. What it ordinarily means is that, ‘first cater for yourself before making any donation!’ I give a slightly modified interpretation. If you first cater for yourself, you may end up becoming more greedy! A man with 5 Lacs may feel that he needs at the least another 50 Lacs! Another with a million may be in dire need of a few hundred millions! Where do you draw the line for ‘...thanakku minji...?’, meaning having catered for yourself! So I give you what is ‘...thanakku minji...’, that is, ‘what is essential to keep body and soul together!’ Otherwise no one will ever have any money for daanam! If you keep on endlessly increasing your expenses on non-essential luxuries of life, yes, you will never have money for giving others! Only when you are stingy with yourself, you can spare anything for giving others! That is how we should interpret that statement '...thanakku minji...', that keeping the minimum for your self, spare what you can for Dharmam.
307. To do dharmam is an inviolable order of the Veda-s. It says very clearly, "...dharmam chara...". Avvai Patti also enjoins on us as the first direction given in 'Aathi Choodi', her book on morals which is taught to all the children in Tamil Nadu, before they even know how to write. She says, "aram seya virumbu". This advices the young children to 'Wish to do what is right'. So, the direction is to save to be able to spare for 'Aram' (and not 'Aaraam' which is luxurious slouching and lounging)! It automatically means also that, we are not to run a huge debit account.
308. Now-a-days, individuals, firms, huge corporation and governments too believe in what is known as, 'deficit financing'! In the same way, if we make unnecessary things our essentials, we all have to become indebted. Not to take a loan itself is a great help you can give yourself and the society. The most important reason for this is that, when you take a loan and spend, you cannot do Daanam and Dharmam! In addition to our not being able to do Daanam and Dharmam, we are instigating others to become jealous of us and to similarly take loan and feed the senses with more and more gratification! To become sinfully wastefully extravagant is one and cause others to emulate you is another greater sin!
309. From the first sloka of 'Isavasyopanishad', (which says, "isavasyam idaghum sarvam yat kincha jagatyaam jagat, tena tyaktena bhunjeeta! maa gruta: kasyasya vith dhanam?", meaning, 'the whole world is covered by God, every inch of it, so, give up covetousness, since after all, whose wealth is all this?'), till as late as Mahatma Gandhi, we have always insisted on 'simple living and high thinking!' If such an attitude becomes our way of life, there is no need for Communism and Class Struggle in this country, what so ever!
310. By simple living, if he saves enough for Daana and Dharma, that itself is a great help. In addition, by not being a cause for others to become jealous, crassly catering to the senses, by hook or crook; is another great help! There is a saying in Tamil, which goes like this:- "varave siruthu, selave peruginal adhu thirudu!". This means that, 'if your income is less and your expenditure is more, that is (tantamount to) theft!' Isn't the money you take on loan somebody else's? Till you return it, he has to worry as though his wealth has been stolen! That is why it has been called a theft. The King of Lanka, Ravana at the end of the day was completely bereft of any arms. All his soldiers had been killed or injured. He was told by Rama to retire for the night and come back the next day. Ravana did not feel happy for being permitted to go, without being killed. He felt extremely belittled as though he had been extended a loan (of a day's life)! That was then. Now, it is the man who extends the loan, who has to worry about getting his money back! Not to give or take a loan is a better option, when neither of the parties are the sufferers. (Look at how wide scale fore-closures of house loans led to closure of many of the financial institutions in US of A!)
311. Dowry, the Social Evil! For your information, 'Dowry' has no sanction in the Saastra-s! If we are spend-thrifts and are extravagant, not only are we going astray, we are committing another sin in tempting others to go astray! We are doing the Devil's job in the bargain! It is a great insult to our society that in the past century extravagant marriages and the evil system of giving and or extracting huge sums as Dowry, has been going on, damning many families in to indebtedness!
312. I am endlessly repeating this in as many forums as possible that in marriages, the importance should only be given to the Vedic rituals and ceremonies and not to extravagance and show. I am saying that expenditure on all other things should be kept to the minimum. No one seems to be listening to me at all! The parents of the grooms and even the boys themselves have been shamelessly salivating for this dowry! Since the Girls family has to shell out huge sums or be indebted for years or decades, people started getting the girls employed so as to be able to save money for their own dowry. What started innocuously like this has now become universally accepted as a way of life and fashion! This is totally against Sthree Dharma.
313. All that one saves in a life time is not enough to cater for the expenses in a marriage and the Dowry. So to take a loan has become a must. One evil leading to a multiplication of evils. To give dowry and look for it are heinous evils. To make women go for employment is another evil. Then for the Father of the girl to become indebted for life is another evil. This leads further to the horrendous evil of infanticide just before or after birth of the girl child.
(These e-mails under the heading ‘Paropakaaram’, which is going on since Deivathin Kural # 17 (Vol # 3), of 18 Nov 2008, is to be continued, possibly another 15 more before we go to the next chapter.)
Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 45 ( Vol #3) Dated 18 Jan 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 45 ( Vol #3) Dated 18 Jan 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published in Tamil by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each, as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the last para on page number 195 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein the word 'man' includes 'woman' too, mostly.)
(Note:- These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham.blogspot.com constantly updated.)
291. Ref. Para 284 of the previous e-mail # 44 (Vol # 3) Dated 16 Jan 2009. Venkaram is a chemical known as Borax and Padikaram is Alum. Now we continue with the series of e-mails, with the heading 'Paropakaaram'.
Physical Exertion and Progeny.
292. Advancement of technology and applied science, has made man's life more and more sedentary and luxurious. One of the immediate effect is wide-spread obesity literally spreading wide! The other effect is the ever decreasing percentage of male population as compared to increasing ratio of female population. This further leads to two very serious ills of the society. One is infanticide just before or after birth of the female fetus / child. The second is the heinous practice of taking 'Dowry', by the boy's parents from the Girl's parents! Taking or giving of Dowry, is just not approved by the Saastraa-s.
293. In times gone by, whether it was the Nitya Karma Anushtana by the Brahmin or the day to day work of the other castes, the work was arduous enough to keep them in trim! That gave them virility and strength. The food was also more nutritious with less salt, sugar, oil and spices. Then it was that, first the brahmin and then other castes copying him, started opting more and more for the white collared, sedentary jobs, of sitting in the office under the fan and working without a sweat, became popular!
294. I am not elaborating on the other imbalances created by such a state of affairs. The most important deleterious effect is that study of Veda-s and spreading of that Vedic education and culture suffered. The clear delineation of the duties of the castes suffered, leading to competitiveness, jealousy, hate and disrespect instead of acceptance and mutual co-operation! It was the lure of the Governmental jobs, money, name, fame and power; which was responsible for the brahmin to leave the village life. Once he could do that, there was no stopping the others from a similar exodus from the villages to the towns.
295. Thus the whole society was affected by an overall lessening of physical labour and lack of fitness. It is the manliness which suffered. More chemicals may increase agricultural productivity but, not the nutritional quality. Then arrived the ‘Coffee’ avidly appropriated by the brahmin wholesale, to play a permanent role of a ‘villain’ for generations to come! Brain work had increased as against brawn power. For the increased brain work, and pushing of pens, the requirement was a calm, unperturbed concentration of mental capability. But cinema, newspapers, magazines and so on, (Periyaval did not mention TV and Soap-opera serials), cause nervous break-downs, that people need reading glasses in teen-age and by the time one is 40 years old, people are suffering from Blood-Pressure and related ailments! Sedentary jobs have caused lack of virility and imbalance in the male / female ratios!
296. Manliness is achieved and maintained by physical hard work only. Physical fitness is essential for mental fitness, alertness, discipline and moral uprightness! Now-a-days people read the morning news paper while drinking coffee and roundly criticize all and sundry, for all the ills of the society, some real and some imagined! There ends all the manliness. There is no one ready to sacrifice his life for the cause, if need be! There is no one ready to get down to practical work to correct the apparent ills of the society! Talk and talk, whether some one hears you or not. When it comes to action, “ Sorry! Not my job!”, is the reaction! On the one hand there are more women taking man’s job and becoming more manly; while men are losing their manliness in their being and mental outlook!
297. Exposure to good ideas and good behaviour from childhood, builds up the character in individuals. Good education, devotion to God and respect towards elders keeps us on the right path. For others it is physical hard labour that guards them from going astray. If we are sitting in a chair and writing something, the mind often is found to be wandering far away! Whereas, when you are involved in physical hard work, you will find that, there is an automatic reigning in of the mind's tendency to run hither and thither.
298. So, at least in the initial stages, physical hard labour is a better tool in reigning in the mind than even sitting down for meditation. That is why Acharyal and other elders have laid down for us, the step by step ladder of progress as follows. First Karma Anushtana, to prevent us from going astray. That is preventing us from the negative. Then exposure to higher concepts and ideals. Then devotion to elders and God. Then total understanding of Gnana. In other words, the path of Karma --->Cleansing of minds--->Bakti / Devotion--->Gnana.
299. Sadhana. This word means the effort. The effort has to be physical and mental, towards Self Realization. If a man is very active physically throughout his life, without any exposure to the concept of God, devotion and such; then he has only lived an animal life! He has wasted a great opportunity of having been born as a human being! Otherwise you could have been born as any of the million other life forms, from ephemerals to long living Tortoise or Whales; small microscopic to giant sizes; two legged to four legged to centipedes; static plant lives to moving birds and or creepers; and so on. To be born as a human being means that you have evolved already very far!
300. Yes, I do agree that in the initial stages, to get ’Chitta Suddhi’, hard physical labour is the prescription. You see the difference between a blue-collar worker and the white-collar pen-pusher. The former has a good sleep whereas the latter’s mind is ever oscillating. To that extent physical fitness is directly the reason for good attitude and behaviour. Having started like that, one has to keep in touch with the finer and nobler aspects of what our religion provides.
301. As time goes on, instead of just keeping in touch with religious ideas, one has to wholly grasp and catch hold of the feet of God literally. Till then we should continue the physical work of Karma Anushtana of Sandya Vandanam, Pooja, Bhajan, Chanting of Sloka-s, circumambulation of the temple premises, visit to various temples and holy places and participation in related activities of social service! Even when you have evolved to the high exalted levels of ‘Atma Gnana’, bodily effort or ‘Sadhana’ has to carry on! What they call, ‘Jeevan Mukta’, as of now is not even within our grasp of understanding. Till that stage is reached, when we do not have a mind of our own, when we do not mind anything any more; when we have no separate plan of our own; when we have no more axes to grind; (that is till we become a beloved of God as described in sloka-s 13 to 20 of Chapter 12 of Bhagawat Gita), till then; as elders say, we should catch hold of God with one hand and do the Karma with the other hand!
202. Initially physical labour is heavy, with less of divine thoughts. Then after some time, physical work and ‘atmarta chintana’ become equal in terms of importance. This then graduates into less of physical work and more of the 'Ashtanga Yoga of Iyama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi'! By the time you reach there, you are beyond the confines of Time and Space. Please try and comprehend this one sentence. When you are beyond time and space, past, present and future merge into now and here and there, inside and outside, left and right, up and down, forward and rear, all is one! In that stage of supreme Gnan, there are and have been and will be, Saints who were totally lost to the world, as well as working amidst us like you and me!
(To be continued.)
Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 44 ( Vol #3) Dated 16 Jan 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 44 ( Vol #3) Dated 16 Jan 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published in Tamil by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each, as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the last para on page number 191 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein the word 'man' includes 'woman' too, mostly.)
(Note:- These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham.blogspot.com constantly updated.)
Works Suitable for Women
(In this Periyaval is talking about the sort of work women could undertake. In the past few decades since the time of his talking about this, women have taken up many professions which were exclusively the prerogative of men only, like Policing and serving in the Army Navy and Air Force. So what Periyaval says may sound slightly out of place. But, still what he says are relevant even to-day.)
283. When they have spare time in the after-noon, women could read and teach many of the religious texts available. There are an ocean of literature containing many 'Sloka-s of Prayers' and 'Bhajan-s' in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi and Sanskrit; which could be learnt by heart. They could learn the texts and learn singing them by joining the chorus. For nearby Matam or Temple, you could make packets of good quality Kumkumam, and give it to them free of cost, for distribution to devotees after offering the same for the Deities blessings!
284. [How to make Kumkumam - As given by Periyaval himself on some other occasion. :- Take 300 gms of good turmeric. Cut it into small pieces. Take 16 Ounces of filtered lemon juice. Add 30 grams each of well powdered Venkaram and Padikkaram. Soak the turmeric in the lemon juice. Keep it in an open mouthed utensil, preferably glass. Once the soaked turmeric completely dries up, it is beaten to a powder in the mortar with a pestle. Then you do what is known as 'Vastrayanam', i.e., filtered with fine cotton cloth, gathering the finest powder. This is stored in a glass jar. In this is added two spoonfuls of pure cow's ghee. The finished product is repeatedly mixed to ensure even spreading of the ghee uniformly, without any lumps being formed! If you have any doubt about the purity of the ghee, you may not add any!]
285. For the Deepam in the temple, we could get cow's milk and collect the butter over a period, melt it into ghee and provide that to the temple. 'Akshadai', which is rice grains slightly colored with turmeric and Kumkumam, in the temple is used in lieu of many items during the rituals. The very word 'Akshadai' is supposed to mean, unbroken. So for the purpose of being used as 'Akshadai', ladies could carefully sort and select good grains of rice in robust unbroken condition. Then only the 'Akshadai' can be used as, 'Mantra Akshadai'.
286. For homam and for the Deepam in the Temple, the ghee should be of really good quality and purity. Similarly 'Akshadai' and Kumkumam, should all be of good clean ingredients. Instead of trusting commercial materials, ladies could help as their contribution in sharing the subtle work load. Instead of any other social service, ladies could be of much preferred help in these matters.
287. If the ladies collectively decide to take a vow, not to use costly things such as Diamonds and Silk, that will itself be a great Paropakaaram. It will save millions of life forms from being killed and save the husband's from becoming a pauper! Just think for a moment as to how many silk worms have to die, to produce the threads for even one silk sari! It will be a few lacs! I am sure, that we can always find alternate employment for the silk weaving people. Just looking at people wearing the silk others are moved to jealousy and or desire to emulate them. This leads to the fact that husbands strive hard and try to get the funds for such avoidable expenditure, by hook or crook! Women should refrain from being a corrupting influence on their men.
288. It is enough for women to do the household duties, for which they may have to bend and straighten up. I opine that they should not be doing office duties. What is my opinion is what is mentioned in the our Dharma Saastra-s. I will stop this matter here and now. What I was about to mention was that, if a woman does all the work at home with responsibility and care, keeps the house clean, does the cooking, takes proper care of the children and the husband; she will have to time for any other job! A Nation is made of so many households. A country is a collection of so many houses! So, if womenfolk keep their houses and families, well cared for, their work load to keep the house and family itself is a service for the nation. It keeps the people of the nation in good acceptable behaviour and discipline. This is the best national service and Paropakaaram! It is only when women of the house do not function properly, others have to come-in in-lieu!
289. There is a word 'Penmai' in Tamil, which can be translated as 'womanliness or womanhood'. It immediately conveys an idea of beauty combined with certain amount of softness, delicateness and subtlety. Their jobs should not be manly! At least for the sake of this word 'Penmai', which we are still using, the works given to her should be suitable to the qualities that define that word. That is, the type of work not requiring heavy physical labour but require a delicate touch! To fill up the floors of the temple with a number of intricate patterns of 'Kolam', to clean and mop up the place where some important get together is to take place, to get the utensils clean, help in cooking the special eats for offering to God as 'Prasadam', to visit hospitals and offer prayers to God through 'Bhajhans' and distribute prasadams to the patients, to visit orphanages and distribute presents to the inmates; are the sort of jobs more suitable for women folk!
290. To involve the entire society, on occasions I have encouraged involving the ladies in such hard jobs as digging for a pond. But generally when it comes to contributing physical hard work, men should spare the women folk!
(To be continued.)
Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 43 ( Vol #3) Dated 14 Jan 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 43 ( Vol #3) Dated 14 Jan 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published in Tamil by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each, as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the last para on page number 187 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein the word 'man' includes 'woman' too, mostly.)
(Note:- These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham.blogspot.com constantly updated.)
275. You, pensioners who are in the last leg of your life think about what I have to say. Our forefathers after due deliberation, careful analysis and deep introspection spanning many thousands of years, had arrived at some clear methods in attitudinal, behavioral and personal cleanliness in our thoughts, actions and food. Are these to be watered down and washed off by our younger generation, without even knowing what those, 'Aachara and Aahara' suddhi-s were? The Kings of yore were protectors of our way of life with all its Aachara restrictions of do's and don'ts. Now, in the name of secularism, and forward looking reformism; to destroy our deep rooted culture has become a source of entertainment! So to protect our age old value systems, we have to take necessary actions ourselves. So, you as elders of the society, who have held positions of responsibility, led and managed human beings; will have to now come forward and make your presence felt in safe guarding our traditional cultural value systems!
Saastra-s as Part of Education in Schools and Colleges.
276. When we say that we will teach Veda Saastra-s free, there is poor response for that. Not only that. When some elders have come forward to teach Thirukkural, Tevaaram and Divya Prabandam or the teachings of Siddhas, (which has been going on for centuries, covering Yoga, physical exercises, medicines, esoteric ideas, concepts and philosophies; and is presently on the decline), the response from students and parents has been very poor. There is a general belief that, if the students give attention to such subjects, their studies in schools which have a direct bearing on their future employment, will be adversely affected!

277. So, it occurs to me that in private schools and colleges, (without leaving the syllabus uncovered,) we should make an effort to fit in teaching of Veda Saastra-s to those entitled to learn it and teach rest of allied Saastra-s and Purana-s, arts and crafts, to others who are willing to learn those. Daily we could cover these subjects, may be for an hour or so. Thereby we will be saving them from total ruin. May be some of the students may find it more interesting or fruitful to make a profession out of it.
278. It is not that only pensioners have to do this. With total dedication, if these subjects can be taught without any hindrance to the obtaining of Degrees and diplomas, people will come forward to subscribe their children to such institutions. This will be the greatest legacy that we will be leaving behind for the future generations and this will be the best Paropakaaram we can ever think of!
279. To teach Veda-s to those willing and entitled to learn it and enable them to lead a life with a minimum of comforts, without having to strive for a livelihood; is tantamount to watering the very base roots of this Vedic civilization. Though there are various duties meant for various strata of castes, to give Veda Vidya Daanam is a specific dharma for Brahmins. Similarly it is a specific dharma for Vysyas to cater for the protection of cattle including the cows, known as 'Go samrakshanai'. Pensioner Brahmins and Vysyas please take special note of this point.
280. While on the subject of Vidya Daanam, it occurs to me that we have to do something really useful to ensure study of Veda-s and the language of Sanskrit. Vidya Daanam and Kanya Daanam are two important events of much significance. Individuals who have sons and daughters should take these two policies with Life Insurance Corporation. We are forming two trusts in the Matam named, 'Kanya Daana Trust' and 'Veda Rakshana Trust'. The two trusts will have trustees appointed by the Matam. The policies should be so worded / formed that, 50% of the proceeds should go to the individual Girl or Boy and the other half go to the Trust, respectively. This will offset the sins of not putting your son through Veda Adhyayanam and or not getting your daughter married before puberty! It will earn you double punyam in case you have not sinned, i.e., you have put your son through Veda Adhyayanam and your daughter is married before attaining to puberty! Anyhow the funds so created will go towards Veda Adhyayanam and Kanya Daanam of boys / girls of not so well to do families.
281. Those who have retired, do not have to rust and decay. They can be like the ever green plants of Kalpaka Vruksham, giving shade and fruits to the society. They can and should be so useful. A retired engineer could feed and teach two or three children, all the ins and outs of his profession, that private contractors may employ them just on the basis of, such a certificate. If the retired Engineer's reputation is such, there may be no need to feel bad about a forward community boy not getting a seat in the engineering college. In Music for example, no body is looking for a degree or a diploma. Your reputation and acceptance is based on who your Guru is.
282. The point I am making is that, children of the Brahmins and other so called forward communities do not have to feel dejected just because they do not have access to those reserved seats, in technical institutions run or aided by government. Already there are many such private institutions having a high reputation and clout in the employment market. Experienced retired pensioners of knowledge and repute; should pool in their resources and create such training institutions!
(To be continued.)
Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 42 ( Vol #) Dated 12 Jan 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 42 ( Vol #) Dated 12 Jan 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published in Tamil by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each, as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the second para on page number 182 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein the word 'man' includes 'woman' too, mostly.)
(Note:- These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham.blogspot.com constantly updated.)
264. Though what I am saying is applicable to all, I am particularly addressing the well to do Brahmins who have retired from their jobs. In other castes there is enough arrangements to take care of orphaned and destitute youngsters. It is within the brahmin community that such a spirit is lacking. Now-a-days, at every level, from admission to schools and colleges to employment in Government Services; reservations for every caste, creed and communities, has come into force. In the bargain the worst off are the brahmin boys, who are also poor! It is imperative that the well to do amongst the Brahmin community, have to come forward and take proper care of the poor amongst them! (This equally applies to some of the so-called forward communities too!)
265. There was a time when I felt happy that the brahmin boys were being denied college admissions and selections in jobs, by the governments. You may not believe it! You know why I felt happy? It is this very brahmin community which leaving their appointed role of study of scriptures, the simple village life of learning (Adhyayanam) and teaching (Adhyaapakam) uncaring for money and materials; got itself deeply mired in English education followed by employment in government jobs and money mindedness! Though the brahmin may not leave this quest on his own, I was happy that at least when others and government are chasing him out of such jobs, I felt that the brahmin will be forced out of compulsion to return to Veda Adhyayanam and Adhyaapakam! Soon I was disappointed in this expectation too!
266. What actually happened was further worse. Instead of retuning to his age old profession, the brahmin started competing with all and sundry for all sorts of jobs, such as Police, Military, business, farming, cinema, drama and so on. He started eating meat and drinking liquor! That is why I am now recommending that he may take up Adhyayanam and Adhyapakam and do his Nitya karma Anushtana etc., at least after retirement! That is why, I am now appealing to the retired pensioners, who are also Brahmins!
267. In the name of encouraging the backward classes and communities, having first created sufficient hurdles in the progress of the brahmin community, slowly the restrictions have been expanded to include other forward communities also such as Chettiyar-s, Pillyar-s and Mudaliyar-s, in Tamil Nadu. Similarly other so-called forward communities in other States are adversely affected, for admission in colleges and employment. So there is a dire need to build up these so-called forward communities, which are now really becoming lowered or depressed-communities! So, there is need to rethink as to how not to create more suppression in the name of building-up some!
268. Though when it comes to Paropakaaram, we should not be talking of upper and lower castes and communities; since in the name of bringing up some so-called backward communities, others are being denied their rights; I have to talk of how those communities will have to take care of their own! I have no objection about bringing up the really depressed set of people. But, I am only talking about how these forward communities will have to take care of their lot, under these changed circumstances.
269. That is, when the governments are letting them down or ignoring their genuine rights and are not being taken care of by their own communities either, it is those brahmin boys and girls; and the younger generations of other forward communities; who will now have to be taken care of by their older lot who have now retired and are aspiring to do social service. These pensioners could join hands and start some tutorial colleges and teach all sorts of subjects there, as their offering to the society at large.
270. They can save on many expenditure and overheads. They could charge the students the barest minimum. Information about all the open universities could be pooled in and made available to the students. The subjects could be, Math's, Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, Botany, Music, Engineering, Accountancy, Computer Science and so on; as varied as the experience of the voluntary pensioners joining the movement. Even subjects such as applied sciences and handling of instruments and equipments could be included. You can be teacher and nurturer too; thereby gaining double Punyam. The tricks of the trade that sustained you all these years and given you pension too; could now be passed on as Upakaaram to the younger generation. Thereby you will be solving a big social problem! These tutorial colleges could devote some time for religious education and practices too.
271. This religious education could cover many areas which are being completely ignored in the existing set up of education! There is no place for Devotion to God and Religion; in the secular approach of the governments in our country. The students are now prey to many influences of agnostics, atheists and irreligiousness. Simultaneously, we are motivated by rights, class struggle, non-cooperation and all sorts of strikes. We are motivated more by avarice and competition. The finer aspects of the culture of India which has been going on for thousands of years, are just vanishing due to this! Then the other religions which believe in conversions are just waiting on the sidelines to gobble up our youngsters, by lure of lucre!
272. What I am emphasizing is that there is dire need to regenerate our religious beliefs and practices. May be these could be 'optional' in the tutorial colleges by pensioners that I am suggesting. Another important aspect is that, in these tutorial colleges, we should cater for running a canteen wherein the food will be strictly vegetarian, with the menu and ingredients strictly as approved by the saastraa-s. A student has to strictly control his food inputs, if he or she is to guard themselves from going astray! This is a very essential control over mind, body, behaviour and attitude.
273. To eat anything and everything, everywhere there are hotels, cafes, restaurants, dhabhas, and so many other outlets! We have never known what is a hotel a few decades back. Food was never sold! It is a sin to sell food as per the saastraa-s. Any visitor or tourist was given food free of cost. In such Chatram-s, on the days when we were required to keep a fast, the rules were strictly followed, except for old and sick people.
274. More than any other set of people, it is essential that young people who are students, to exercise strict control over food to guard themselves from the mental and physical aberrations of youth. (To be continued.) Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 41 ( Vol #) Dated 10 Jan 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 41 ( Vol #) Dated 10 Jan 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published in Tamil by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each, as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the last para on page number 176 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein the word 'man' includes 'woman' too, mostly.)
(Note:- These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham.blogspot.com constantly updated.)
253. Adi Sankara in Bhaja Govindam says, “yallabhase nijha karmopattam vittam tena vinodaya chittam”, meaning, ‘whatever you earn from your work, with that money in addition to feeding yourself, ennoble yourself also!’ This is an ideal to be followed in which the very work you do for livelihood, can be used to raise oneself from gross material levels to spiritual subtlety. The trouble is that, in these modern days of Kali Yuga, every aspect of social life has been smothered by deep rooted corruption! Every single item has been stained by the stigma of corruption. All money is tainted.
254. That is why Adi Sankara in all his kindness advised, "there is nothing wrong in making an earning. But make it useful for your spiritual improvement too!" He may not have thought of the likely element of corruption coming in. So, as he said, there is nothing wrong in making a living, but at the same time, do at least some of it, freely available to the deserving poor. Other than first earning something and then giving a donation, make some of you service itself freely available. That is the way to offset the corrupting influence of Kali Yuga!
255. Are you a registered medical practitioner? OK. Your very work is Paropakaaram only. But in this, the self ennobling aspects of, 'Atma Suddhi and Chitta Suddhi' will be missing. Sometimes you may have to give false certificates for sick leave cases or even false fitness certificate for life insurance! Instead of 'Atma Suddhi', it must have gathered more dirt. Only through sacrifice of your service, can this dirt be cleansed. Daily take care of at least one patient free of charges. At least teach one person the ins and outs of your medical practice, for free.
256. Are you a Lawyer? OK. At least once a month, identify a case in which the client is honestly truthful and does not have the money power to fight his case in the courts. You represent that client free of charges and put in all your legal acumen. Similarly try and settle at least one case out of court every quarter, because the ills that the very profession of law nurtures, can only be off-set by, settling cases out of court, to benefit both the opposing parties of claimants. Over a period, you will gain a reputation for honesty and integrity, through which you can do much for the society!
257. Are you a man of Music? Often you can help in the drive for funds for socially important causes. Amongst the students who learn music from you, there may be a budding talent who is not financially well off. While charging others, you may coach him free of charges! As a writer, you could write some reports about religious activities in a temple. As a publisher of books, you could make some text books free to some deserving poor students. May be for some religious activities, you could print the hand bills free of cost! We could always find some noble cause, whatever your profession.
258. If you say, "I am only a poor typist myself. What can I do?" I would say, "Super fine! You could teach some poor students typing, at no cost, say about an hour a day and they would be beholden to you for ever!" This could be an ongoing activity. Their good wishes will protect you in this life and the next one too!
259. Thus all of us could be of help to the other members of the society in some useful way, through our profession. If you cannot help in cash or kind or teaching or coaching; the least one can do is, to do as Thiru Moolar said, "...yavarkkum innurai...", to speak lovingly to all. At least, one can listen. This is the biggest complaint of the modern day that, no one listens to you about your problems! In the West, this gap is filled by the Psycho Analysts. So, at the very least, be a source of solace with kind words for all!
260. "What can we do? We are old retired people, who have given up practicing our profession." If you say that, I will say, "Welcome, welcome. I have been waiting for you. You can do much!" You do not have to think of yourself as good for nothing! If you make up your minds, I think that you can do much wonders. You are the 'Kalpaka Vruksham', who can make this country a heavenly abode! If you work with trust in God and stead-fast conviction that instead of working for personal profit, you are going to work for the society, you can and will do wonders. Though me who is saying this is an old man, your such action will energize the whole Nation!
261. While others still employed can only spare a few hours once a week, you are lucky to be able to do 'full-time' social service! When you were employed, you had too many conflicting responsibilities. Now, you should try and reduce your family involvements and responsibilities. Now, try instead to be more responsible towards the poorer sections of the society and earning more 'Punyam' instead of monetary income! Generally by the time a man retires, his responsibilities towards children's education and daughter's marriage etc., would all be over. After that, if you keep on needlessly taking up the responsibility for the grand-son's education and grand-daughters bringing-up, marriage and so on, there will be no end to it!
262. If retired people also keep on worrying about family responsibilities, others also have to keep on crying about it. At least after some age, should we not try to de-link our involvement and be practicing detachment? Even if Sanyasam is not possible, at least Vanaprastam should be undertaken, in terms of handing over the family responsibilities to the next generation. After retirement, instead of thinking of re-employment or starting a factory or setting up a new business and be a competitor for the younger generation, one should be progressively cutting down the involvement in the worldly affairs. I said before, that there can be no Paropakaaram without Swaya Upakaaram! So, now is the opportunity for learning about all the Veda, Saastra, Itihasa-s, Purana-s for which we did not have time earlier. Now is the time for doing all the Karma Anushtaanaa-s which we did not do earlier. Even after doing all that, there will still be time for social work! Using the time available for self-study i.e., Adhyayana, listening in to Pravachanam and Sat-Sanga; other than learning ourselves; to tell it to others is the biggest Paropakaaram that you can do!
263. In addition, teach some poor children as to how to pass these entrance examination in to what ever was your selected area of expertise. If you have the wherewithal, other than Vidya Daanam also do Anna Daanam, to at least one or two children. It is not enough to accumulate property for one's own children only. Feed some children. If every family thus takes care of some poor people, in the entire society, there will be less thieving. The scarcity amongst poor is aggravated by the miserliness of the well to do, leading to cheating and thievery! ( To be continued.) Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 40 ( Vol #) Dated 08 Jan 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 40 ( Vol #) Dated 08 Jan 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published in Tamil by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each, as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the page number 172 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein the word 'man' includes 'woman' too, mostly.)
(Note:- These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham.blogspot.com constantly updated.)
242. Our Hindu dharmam says that we should handle our money as trustees for common purposes. From Manu to Thiruvalluvar to Mahatma Gandhi, have all said the same thing. If such attitude prevails in every man, that will obviate the need for communism, socialism, revolution and such exotic movements foreign to our ethos! Such an attitude will ensure happiness and prosperity to all. That is why I said that, the rich should develop their mentality like that and help on their own. From our side we should encourage them to be so and not pressurize them if they are different!
243. I used say one more thing in a lighter vein. Those who are in the process of collecting funds for such 'Kainkaryam', normally make out a list of possible donors with some guess estimate as to what can be expected from them. Then they go for collection in that order. They face mostly with disappointments only. A person whom we expect to give quite liberally would prove to be having enormous problems. Or he may not have the mind to help and decline. Or, he may be cribbing and part with very little money. It is our enthusiasm which will be negatively affected. We end up criticizing that rich man!
244. Instead I suggest that, we should make a different list. Tabulate the names of people whom we do not expect to contribute. First go and meet such people. If they so no, we are not going to be disappointed, as it was what we expected. Some of them may surprise us with their largesse. That may encourage us immensely! Having gone for collection thus, people have confirmed to me that, this procedure satisfied them psychologically much. In the art of begging there are many such tricks!
245. What I meant to say was that, rich or poor, everybody must contribute what they can when taking up such socially useful programs. The rich should not avoid physical labour after giving money and the poor after doing physical labour, should not refrain from contributing some money. Because, rich man giving some money and the poor man doing physical labour, cannot be called sacrifice. The rich should share the work load and the poor man should give his minimum bit of money. That is sacrifice! Those doing social service, should contribute both physical labour and cash, if they wish to grow. Only the sick and old are exempted from 'srama daanam'.
246. There was a poor brahmin known to me, who had a very small piece of land, in which there were two coconut trees. He used to do the needed physical labour in his land. That did not stop him from doing his Karma Anushtana-s. Agni hotram, Sandya Vandanam, Nitya pooja, Brhma Yagnam and so on; every day he never failed in his duties as per the saastraa-s. Then with a spade and such other equipments, he will be there in his small field. Simply by the dint of his labour, he had slowly built up his property to a full fledged farm. But, he never refrained from physical labour even after becoming rich! Even at the ripe old age of 85, he continued to work in his farm. He knew that it was his labour and hard work which was the reason for his material success and physical well being.
247. More than the pleasure of working in ones own field, doing physical work while involved in social service gives a unique satisfaction. The pleasure here is in doing. Whether it is digging for a pond or a garden, one should work hard enough to sweat it out and contribute whatever our might in terms of actual cash! Some little bit of what you can spare, should be given. May be some pencil or pens for poor students in school or may be some porridge to appease the hunger of a few beggars! Sacrifice has to be not something we can easily spare but, some thing hard earned!
248. Whatever the office or factory, anyhow there is at the least one holiday in a week. On some occasions there is even two days holiday! These holidays should be thought of as God given for service and we should all be involved in such work. Once you have a mind for such work, there is enough areas demanding our immediate attention.
249. For many of the Paropakaaram activities, we need funds and physical labour. Also some knowledge related to religious functions. Those who know religious matters and also as to how to sing the Bhajan-s should teach and guide others, without pontificating. Now-a-days, in every nook and corner, every street and colony, there are Bhajanai Goshti / Sat Sangh-s. It is these already existing organizations which should take up socially needed projects too. Once some ten hard working, sincere men of integrity and reliability come together in each locality, that is enough. They can achieve wonders.
250. Those who join such social service activities, benefit from the very act of doing so. In this, caste and status has no role to play. This is such an endevour wherein, rich and poor, learned and unread and all types of people join hands on equal footing. So, here the job at hand takes precedence and all other considerations, the back seat.
251. The fight and conflict starts and intensifies, only when you try to remove the differences in caste. Even a well intended statement of truth that, ‘the Aryan-Dravidian divide is a convenient figment of imagination of the Britishers so as to sustain themselves in power’, meets with so-called historical and ethnological, (once again convenient to some for the same purpose of sustaining themselves in power!), objections. So, our aim of unity and integrity, is best done through socially essential projects of relevance.
252. Other than doing such social service activities collectively, a fraction of the very work that we do for sustaining ourselves in this world, that is earning our daily bread, should be devoted for Dharmam, is my sincere wish! A part of the work we do for livelihood, should be done free for the deserving. This should be done by professionals such as Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers etc., too, offering their expertise to deserving cases free of charge! (KTSV adds:- There is a doctor Jaganmohan, in Mandaveli, Chennai, who offers his services very cheap. Any sick person going to his clinic for consultancy had to pay just Rs. 2/-, as far back as 20 years back, irrespective of caste or creed or earning or disease! If I am not wrong, it may be just Rs. 5/- now! You just entered the clinic and put that little money in a box. None ever checked! I know of some Lawyers, who take up both civil and criminal cases, for free, if they felt that the intrinsic nature of the case deserved their help!) (To be continued.) Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 39 ( Vol #) Dated 06 Jan 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 39 ( Vol #) Dated 06 Jan 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published in Tamil by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each, as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the last para on page number 166 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers reminded that herein the word 'man' includes 'woman' too, mostly.)
(Note:- These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham.blogspot.com constantly updated.)
233. Once every week all the people should assemble in the nearby temple, pray together as children of the same Para Sakti, circumambulate the temple chanting God's names, before proceeding to the place meant for the Seva. That may be cleaning up the temple premises or digging a pond or creating a flower garden in the temple environs or laying of a road. After the day's work is done, return to the temple as though to tell the God, " Oh God! By your grace this day we could do some thing to undo our past sins, thereby justifying our embodiment", before dispersing. May be some one could give a small talk about Nayanmar-s or Azhwar-s, to the accompaniment of bajans. That will make an impression in our minds as to how devoted one could be. The whole day thus should be spent in an ambient atmosphere of hard work, devotion and noble thoughts!
234. Expenditure; Need for Care and Control. For any expenses in such ventures, instead of totally relying on some wealthy people only, everyone must contribute. The rich should also strive physically; poor should also give some little bit! That is real sacrifice. We should not be too dependent only on the rich. I will tell you the reasons why.
235. When you think about it, the rich man's problems are more. Whether he likes it or not, for name and status he has to incur a lot of expenditure. To show that he is a big man, he has to be a member of many clubs and subscribe for them. He has to institute endowment funds in some schools and colleges, from which the interest will provide funds for some periodic prizes for the students. Then he has to incur some direct and some indirect expenses for getting some awards and or titles. Then he has to incur expenses on maintenance of Car, Bungalow, etc. His Farm or Factory or Office has to function profitably, for which he has to bear some overt and covert liabilities. All such expenditures almost become part of his duty. Then he has to pay official and unofficial taxes, including Value Added Tax, Income Tax and so on; including for the gifts that he gives. He has to give donations to not only the political party that he believes in, but also to the party in power so as not to antagonize them!
236. Then he has to open the flood gates as though, when ever he has to celebrate a birth-day or anniversary within his family. So finally when you go to him for some donation like this, he cannot help giving the barest minimum for obvious reasons of thrift! Because expenses concerned with name, fame and business interest, become essential unavoidables! There is no meaning in criticizing him for this. In his shoes, we will also do like that only! He may be feeling guilty already. Why should we go and ask for donations in such a situation, emphasizing his guilty consciousness? That is how I look at it.
237. There are many socially important projects. If you look at who all could be the patrons in a given area, there will be some 10 or 12 rich people. Every time those who try to collect funds invariably land up in their presence, with pamphlets, brochures and receipt books. What can they do? Either they will feel bad that they are not able to help more substantially or reluctantly give something. Then I think as to whether, “What they end-up giving is black or white money? Should we enable him to convert his heavy load of sins into ‘Punya’, that is, merit points?”
238. So, social service activities should not be too dependent on such people’s contributions only. If they hear about it on their own and donate something voluntarily, we can certainly make use of it. But we should not pester them, I feel. One more thing. By contributing a major share, they may start having a major say in the execution of the project. This should not be permitted to happen. Touch of money has a corrupting influence. So, those who are setting out to do social service should be doubly careful with money matters.
239. Even when we get very active financial support, we should not become over-enthusiastic and do ambitious planning to amass wealth. This drive to collect more and more will swallow the love and compassion required in such service and the devotion to God. Be warned that here the means will obfuscate and eclipse the ends. Instead of attention to the enactment of the service, our minds will be running after collection of funds, activating the media, publishing of foreigner with plenty of advertisements. We should be constantly wary of the fact that we can never know as to how we can be corrupted, handling such money! When too much inflow of money is there people will wonder as to how well that money is being utilized. As I said before, collection from reluctant contributors and then being beholden to them, will corrupt the very service we are envisaging! So, however good the project may be, thrift and optimization of money use, should be the guiding principle. Remember one of the economics dictum says, ‘expenditure has a tendency to catch up with the income and overtake it!’ So, it is more cost effective to control the expenses rather than enhance the collection.
240. For social service, the main strength is not money power but integrity of the masses. The occasion should not become a publicity stunt for the well to do. When we dug up a pond in Thiruppoondurai Ayyanar Koil, some money was collected, workers were paid and they published the details of collection, with the names of donors, in the next issue of the Kamakoti magazine! Then we made amends by publishing in the next issue in big capital letters that, “Such events should be done with people’s power and not money power. We published as we did in the last issue of the Kamakoti magazine, so as to emphasize the contrary point in this issue. We express our apologies and regrets for having done what we did then!” That is how we got out of the ‘ZUG ZU WANG’!
241. Recently, there was this pauper gentleman Sivan. He had such a reputation that he used to be known as ‘Anna Daana Sivan’! In many religious festivals of great temples, he has come forward to take care of feeding the masses. All the rich land owners, businessmen and wholesale merchants will dance to his wishes most obediently. His wishes were their orders. Bags and bags will just arrive just where required in time. Lakhs and lakhs of people would be fed to their heart’s and stomach’s content! He himself would only take a few handfuls of some left overs of the previous day. Seshadri Swami of Thiruvannamalai is another of such a reputation for expansiveness of the heart!
(To be continued.)
Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 38 (of Vol 3) Dated 04 Jan 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 38 (of Vol 3) Dated 04 Jan 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyavaal of Kanchi Kamakoti peetam, over a period of some sixty years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published in Tamil by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each, as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the first para on page number 162, of Vol 3, of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein the word 'man' includes 'woman' too. )
(Note:- These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham.blogspot.com constantly up-dated.
224. In the district of Tanjavur alone, we formed 2000 Sanga-s, identified suitable Mudradikari-s and his assistant as Upa-Mudradikari and listed the names of volunteers. We formed a committee each for the Taluq, Circle and Village. Each Circle or Koshtam had four village. In Cities we detailed a Mudradikari per street. Mostly in Tanjavur, in each village, the Kamakoti Matam had a piece of land in its name, as allotted by the Kings of yore. All the income from such lands were assigned to the Mudradikari. More than 5,000 volunteers worked with great fervor and involvement. Morning till evening and at times on moonlit nights for longer hours, people worked very keenly.
225. It was always a spectacle to see thousands of people working , digging a pond or dredging an existing one, all of them chanting God's names! When people of four villages worked in one village, next year in the same period, they would work in the next village, completing the cycle in the fourth year. Thus the co-operation and camaraderie continued at least for four years. In that district, since there was a period of four months in which the whether was dry with no rain; this work known as 'Khadam' was a much needed one. Not only in the village proper, but also in the 'Cheri' or the place where relatively poorer sections of people were residing. On some occasions, the digging was also done in the non agricultural, grazing grounds for the sake of the cattle. It was very good to do it for the animals which are incapable of spoken expression!
226. As per the Saastraa-s, each person having a dip in the pond is required to first dredge four handfuls of earth from the bottom! If such simple directions are followed, I suppose many of the problems related to water shortage would reduce. In Koneri Rajapuram, there was a Brahmin family, who were ready to pay half the cost for digging of a pond in any place, as long as one condition was met. The condition was that, out of the four sides of the pond, one side was to be left with a natural slope, devoid of stone steps, so as to enable ease of access to the cattle! I wish that as representatives of our Matam, Farmers and Harijans should dig such small ponds for the cattle around their villages.
227. We did this in all districts of Tanjavur other than Pattukkottai. In that district, every house was almost a forest with water level being rather low. If there is Land Owner's house, from the Pannaiyar to the last worker, all their residences will be located within a fenced area, with plentiful water supply. So there was no need for digging for water as a 'ThiruppaNi'. So the used to collectively lay roads. Generally in the Mudradikari-s plan, reading of Purana-s on ever fortnight on Ekaadasi night and digging of ponds in each Koshttagam every year, were successfully carried out for quite some time!
228. There were many positive returns out of such ventures. The society benefited in terms of availability of water or roads. The very hard work gave physical fitness and 'Chitta Suddhi', to all the participants. More than all this, in doing such activities collectively, there was tangible proof of greater understanding and co-operation between people from different walks of life, status and castes. Instead of individual Paropakaaram, this collective effort was quite effective and an antidote for the Dravida Kazhaga and Communist party politics! Social Service with no smell of politics was the best, it was found.
229. Just because of the need for involving as many people as possible, does not mean that we should call it an Association, detail a Chairman, Secretary, Governing Body and so on! That will give raise to status, position and hence competition. The biggest return out of Paropakaaram should be the sublimation of individual 'Ahankaara'. So, we should not let any talk of post, position or office, come in between.
230. Weekly Prayers. For long I have been repeatedly telling everybody that, in every small village or township, there should be a 'weekly prayer meet'. The idea is to get all the people together for prayers in a nearby temple. People of other religions are already doing this. Christians do that every Sunday. Muslims have namaz five times a day and every friday they invariably attend the prayer in the mosque. It is due to that, they are getting everything, starting from a new independent nation. As far as we Hindu-s are concerned, we are gradually losing day-by-day all the respect and prestige that we had in the minds of the whole world! I am convinced that our people too should shed all the quirks of their character and dissolve their selves and minds in the divine being of God, if this nation is ever to reawaken and regain even a fraction of its past glory! It is with this purpose that in many places such 'weekly prayer meeting sangh' have been organized. It is for them to take up suitable joint social actions too as and when necessary.
231. In Mayavaram the Thiruppavai - Thiruvempavai group has been taking up many such activities. Their main purpose is to popularize these two devotional sets of songs amongst the public, especially the children. For this, they are distributing the printed books free, conducting coaching classes. hold competitions and give prizes. Further, they are taking up the following activities namely, a) Issue prayer songs to prisoners in jails and conduct Bhajan-s in the jails; b) Distribute prasadams and prayer books to patients in the hospitals; c) Assist and help any voluntary organizations conducting sat-sangs; d) Carry out the final obsequies for orphans; e) in places where God's statues are installed but lying uncared for, to give it a roof with some space around and make arrangements to light a lamp at least, if thrice a day pooja is not possible; f) Take care of gardens of the Temples; g) Take care of grazing grounds for cattle; h) Install granite pillars at places to enable cattle to rub their bodies; j) Once a week assemble at a nearby temple, do pradakshinam, followed by a period of silence, dhyanam, smaranam, naama sangeertanam, pravachanam etcetera.
232. Please do not come to me with a complaint, "Swami, how can we spare one day a week for combined prayers and another day a week for social service? We get only one holiday in a week?" You cannot be doing social service work for the whole day, nor can you spend all your time in prayer like activities! Combine both in that one day and still you can have some time to spare!
(To be continued.)
Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 37 (of Vol 3) Dated 02 Jan 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 37 (of Vol 3) Dated 02 Jan 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyavaal of Kanchi Kamakoti peetam, over a period of some sixty years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published in Tamil by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each, as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the last para on page number 157, of Vol 3, of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein the word 'man' includes 'woman' too. )
(Note:- These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham.blogspot.com constantly up-dated.
Plan Mudradikari
213. If someone does follow the Sanaatana Dharma with understanding and strictly adheres to all the rules, do's and don'ts; his actions of aachaaram, anushtaanam, viratam and earnings are all meant for others. None of them are for his own self. This high philosophy, instead of being only an idea in books and peoples minds, shining as a living dharma for many thousands of years; somehow became defunct and extinct, in recent years. This noble ideal, had to be revived. With that intention, from 1940, in the villages of Tanjavur we identified a few persons and gave them the title of Mudradikari. They were to collect people and involve them in commonly needed social service activities. They took up poorta dharmam jobs of, digging wells and ponds, protection and maintenance of temple premises, including, removal of over growth of grass and weeds.
214. Whosoever is born as a Hindu, should give at least a handful of grass to the cow. Those who have a garden, should grow 'Agathi Keerai'(a verdant plant whose leaves are very much liked by the cattle and also nutritious) and 'Arugam Pul'(a type of grass, a favorite of cows and elephants), for feeding the cows. Many people used to do that. This dharma was known as, "go grasam". 'Go' in Sanskrit means the cow and 'grasam' is the grass. May be that, the English word 'grass' evolved out of the 'grasam'! When all lands are becoming human living areas and covered by roads and houses, if we have some space in our own houses, we should try and grow this 'Agathi Keerai and Arugam Pul' and feed the cows.
215. For these things, we have to do some sacrifice or incur expenditure. Instead, if we just collect the pared discards of vegetable peelings from a number of houses, we will be doing the service of removing discarded waste from others houses, while simultaneously feeding the cows to their hearts content! By repeatedly talking about this, I could motivate many people to start this. It is still continuing in most of those places.
216. To mechanically put some money in the slit of the Hundi box meant to collect donations, is not a great sacrifice. That too in these times of inflation, every one can and should contribute like that also. But, better than putting it in the mouth of the Hundi box, when you directly feed a live animal, the pleasure and satisfaction we get is certainly many fold and unique. In doing Seva, that is service, this is the most important aspect! Instead of the money and labour talk; two living beings should interact. Two sets of eyes should meet and enjoy the sharing!
217. People who are participating together in an act of service, do interact. When the receiving beings also enter this live communication, and the mutual love and compassion is shared as an expression of our mutual love of God; then the experience is raised from the mundane to the highest! So, the essential of service is to make it as an offering to God.
218. It is one thing to take care of the cow, when it is giving us milk. But after it has come to the end of its productivity, to take care of the animal till it is alive, is our inalienable duty! It is equivalent to our duty towards our own Mother. In all God's creation, cow is the greatest contributor for human welfare. No body can match its sacrifice. She is to be treated as Mother for all of us. (KTSV adds:- These days, we can and should include the buffaloes too in the same category worthy of our veneration.)
219. You will be surprised to know that even in a Muslim country like Afghanistan, they had banned cow slaughter, many years back! In our country, the Britishers who are fond of beef eating, found it convenient to benefit by making this a matter of Hindu - Muslim confrontation. Whatever the Government, whatever the Act of Law, it is our sacred duty to ensure that, cows are not taken to the slaughter houses! In this we should learn a lesson from Gujratis and Marvari-s. May be because theirs are the places where Sri Krishna Bhagawan had lived, they are rather keen on protection of Cows.
220. Just a few decades back, we used to have a 'pasu Matam' in each village and take care of these animals. In later years we seem to have lost interest in this important Dharma! In North India, we still have, 'pinjarbol-s' and 'gho saalaa-s'. It is alright to make acts of the law to prevent slaughter of the cows for beef. But unless we make proper arrangements for their care, feeding and protection, we will be failing in our duties. On the one hand, this is 'Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' and also 'Lakshmi Pooja'. (KTSV adds:- While in US of A, I noticed that there were farms for uncared for animals such as, pets, horses, cows and stray dogs! Not everyone in this world are driven only by the love of lucre!)
221. Service of digging a pond, which I spoke about earlier, I tried to emphasize in my talks in many villages and requested the assemblage to put it into action immediately. There was good response. The actual act of digging a pond, with everybody in the village physically participating, was a wonderful sight! My direction was that, instead of working for money, it should be a voluntary 'Seva'. For poor people, we had planned to give free food. It was very heartening to note that even very poor had come with their lunch packs! When they worked with spontaneous vim and vigor, it just confirmed the fact that, “our poor people have not lost all their innate fineness of culture and humaneness! It is only our mistake as leaders, that we have not made proper use of their goodness of character and attitude!”
222. As it happens in a ‘Rathotsavam’ of pulling the huge decorated chariot of the Temple, during festivals, I saw big land owner Mirasdar-s, highly placed office bearers of the government, Vedic scholars of ‘touch-me-not-stand-apart’ purity; Srouthi’s wife and Grass-cutting maiden; joining hands and actively participating in the physical labour; it thrilled me. Let the later achievement by this effort be set aside, the very fact of their’s thus working together, was in itself an achievement! That our whole society is together like this is good enough!
223. Once near Mayavaram, on a moon lit night, all the people were thus working with one aim of digging a pond. I was in attendance. They were digging for bringing out the cool waters. The moon light was showering its own cool beams on us. Through the act of service, all the people’s hearts were pouring out a coolly pleasant shower of love! I had to go for some other work. Later I came to know that their enthusiasm was lessened because of my going away! I plead guilty!
(To be continued.) Sambhomahadeva.