DEIVATHIN KURAL # 102 (Vol # 3) Dated 28 June 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 102 (Vol # 3) Dated 28 June 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 second Para on page 464 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too, mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham. blogspot. com constantly updated.)

62. More than advocates of any disciplines of science such as physics, chemistry, medicine or psychology, our ancient ancestors were aware of extremely subtle ideas, principles and concepts. This they could do without the assistance of laboratories, instruments and modern scientific gadgets! This they could do because of being capable of using the human mind as a fine tuned instrument! A capability that they got as God's blessing, due to their ascetism, discipline and penance. Many areas not yet known to science were made clear to their understanding either by a direct visitation of God or by way of instinct and intuition. The source of such knowledge has always been the inner self, which they could access at will, as an eternal repository of ideas, concepts and truth.

63. In what they revealed to the world, there are things which make the modern scientist flabbergasted at their depth and range of knowledge and insight. There are also things not yet within the grasp of the modern day world! Some within our comprehension and many beyond our understanding and so seemingly blind beliefs. Human advancement in science and applied science are certainly extremely complex and highly sophisticated. But the fact remains that those ancients were capable of far greater subtlety and intricacy! The ease with which those ancients were capable of such sophistry, should make us humble that it is stupid enough on our part to think of their concepts and ideas as blind beliefs!

64. I was talking about the cows. We could decorate it by applying turmeric and kumkum on its face. You could tie multi colored buntings to its horns, flower garlands around its neck and some tinkling bells. All that would give us some artistic satisfaction. But, when it comes to doing 'Archana' that is paying our obeisance to it by showering it with flower petals and grains of 'Atchadai', it should be done not on its face but, at the back side. There is no question of our liking or not liking, understanding or not understanding. The self same Rishi-s who created / initiated all these aachaaraa-s, some of which are now becoming clear to our understanding, are the ones who said, "Do not do Pooja to the face of the cow, but to its back side where resides the Goddess Lakshmi."

65. We have to do that pooja to the rear of the cow with faith. Then She, the Goddess will become apparent and evident. Whether we are satisfied psychologically or in any other method, we have to learn to be sub-servient to the Saastraa-s. More than any other satisfaction, saastraa-s are meant for inner satisfaction of the soul! All other satisfactions will fly off in a few moments and land us squarely in the lap of dis-satisfaction. If the inner self is to be satisfied, full and contented, we have to be prepared to sacrifice all other satisfactions!

66. Say we are going to the temple. On the way there is a hospital in which our sister is admitted and we have the news that she has delivered a baby only the previous night. It is but natural for us to be keen to see the mother and baby. She will also be looking forward to our visit. But it is wrong to visit her and then go to the temple, with the 'prasava theettu'. She is supposed to be unclean for 11 days after delivery. By visiting her we are also subject to that lack of cleanliness known as 'theettu'. We should not be visiting the temple, immediately after visiting the hospital unless we are able to have a bath and change of dress.

67. In this example there is an alternative available. You could always visit the hospital after having been to the temple, with Kumkum, Vibhuti and other Prasadam-s from the temple to be handed over to our sister! The point I am making is that, as we unquestioningly obey the Doctor's orders in the hospital, we should obey the Saastraa-s without diluting the purport of the injunctions.

68. It is futile to ask questions such as, "Are they following such 'Theettu' in other countries, when a child is born? Do they keep the woman folk on a sort of a quarantine when they have their periods? Is any body else following our Aachaara-s and Samskaaraa-s?" The only answer I can give for such questions is that, all learneds and intellectuals from all the countries other than Bharath, uniformly agree that, in matters of spirituality and self awareness, this country stands foremost. If you want a clear understanding of the eternal reality of existence and meaning and purpose of life irrespective of space and time, (that is, then, now or ever; here-this country, there-that country or anywhere); the only condition to be met with is that, you abide with the Aachaaraa-s as per the Saastraa-s!

69. Moreover, in the whole world, it is Bharath Desh that is meant to be the Karma Bhoomi, by God's Will! When we construct a house we have different rooms for different activities such as a drawing /dining /pooja or prayers / bathing and sleeping. In a factory we have a shop floor, store room, canteen and so on. Exactly similarly, this country of Bharath Varsh is meant for Vedic Saastraa-s, Aacharaa-s and religious and spiritual refinement! All that seems difficult and hard are meant for our eternal benefit only!

(To be continued.)

Sambhomahadeva.