DEIVATHIN KURAL # 71 (Vol #4) Dated 13 Sep 2010.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 71 (Vol #4) Dated 13 Sep 2010.

(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 the last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. Today we are proceeding from the last para on page number 383 of Vol 4 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that here in 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://Advaitham.blogspot.com updated constantly)
{Note: In these talks, PeriyavaaL is talking about Educational Institutions of yore, which were bigger than a single Guru Kulam, of the size of a School or College or even University, with a number of teachers, curriculums and syllabuses. These were called variously as Gatika or Gatikai or Katika or even Kadigai. As per English grammer rules, a pronoun can be spelt differently based on the pronunciation. In these translations, I am sticking to Gatika and Gatikai.}
578. Make Research and Analysis Closer to Life. Even now there is some amount of research that goes in to our ancient Saastraas! But that happens more academically with no relevance to day to day life and its problems. People write some thesis, conduct seminars or symposium, read some papers in the presence of a few selected scholars and publish some books sold at exorbitant prices, so that the process of further research and analysis and publishing of books can continue endlessly! Such books are so costly that they become suitable only for being kept in the libraries, collecting dust anchoring spider webs! At the time of release of the books, ministers and judges will speak highly about our ancient culture, to be emblazoned in the next day’s news paper, to be forgotten quickly by the very people who have spoken and written about it! In the present set up, though it is true that we should be appreciating these efforts, I cannot but raise the issue as to what is the practical use of such efforts? My point is that we should make these Saastraas living, bringing them closer to life, by creating the tradition of Guru – Sishya tradition.
579. If our Saastraas are to be really protected and saved, it is not just enough to make books of it and store them in libraries! Even if we were to do so, enabling further research and scholarly studies, it cannot be of any use. Just simple and pure material knowledge can actually be harmful as it can be a waste or abused and misused. These things of Aachaaraas done with mantraas, that have been evolved by years of the process of thinking, verbalizing, refining and chanting, have to be taught to a student who has humility, control of the senses, disciplined good conduct, good attitude and devotion to God. Then only that individual benefits and in turn the world is benefitted.
580. The best method for this is Guru Kula system of education. Following such a system when the student receives instructions with model behaviour as demonstrated in the life of the Guru; all aberrations will vanish. Even secular education (that has nothing to do with Hindu Religious practices), would be much better if the students stay with say a retired lecturer or professor, serving him physically but, living as part of the teacher’s household, with the facility to write the exam privately; would prove my point of the effectiveness and high value of the Guru Kula system in your minds! Think that your son has failed a year in exam and try this alternate method of Guru Kula and see for yourself. Whatever you would have spent in the school give it to the teacher. Try this at least for two months during the annual academic holidays. I am often reiterating this with the hope that there will be sunrise one day! After the system of Guru Kula, the next best is the system of Residential Schools where the students live within the same complex of buildings with a number of teachers and learn our Saastraas in the traditional vein. To encourage you all to adopt one of these two methods, I spoke for so long in so much detail about Guru Kulam and Gatika Sthanams. (That is, whatever he has been saying for the past 580 paragraphs are all about how there have been Guru Kulam as well as many bigger educational institutions in India, much before Nalanda and Dakshashila!)
581. May God’s Blessings Be There! However much I may talk, for even a little of it to reach your minds and heart, AmbaaL’s Anugraha is needed. Our AachaaryaaL Sri Adi Sankara Bhagawat PaadaaL says in his Bhashyam for Kenopanishad, that wherever you notice the spark of light in all arts, crafts, learning and expressions; know it to be that of AmbaaL who is ever one with the Omniscience of God! It is She who has to enter our hearts and minds to cause us to learn and protect the ancient arts of India. It is Her Grace that should cause us to work so that the brilliance of this country is not lost in the darkness of ignorance! AachaaryaaL says that Vidya is the real light of all lights. It is not only Uma Maheswari that is shining with the light of Vidya but, anybody whosoever learns any of these Vidyas, shines instantly with the brilliance of knowledge!
582. In the Upanishad when the name “Haimavati” is mentioned, it can be understood in two ways. One interpretation is as follows. Himam is ice or snow. So Himawan is the Himalayas range of mountains asking of hills. His daughter is Haimavati. Like Siva’s becomes Saivam, Hima’s becomes Haimam. Similarly Ekam becomes Aikyam and Kekaiya’s becomes Kaikeyi. Hemam means gold. So Haimavati could also mean Golden, which is ever shining. So here the Upanishad itself is saying that the AmbaL is as brilliant as the gold! AachaaryaaL uses both the meaning as applicable to Himavan’s daughter Haimavati shining with golden brilliance. Then he says that, “viroopo api vidyaawaan bahu shobate” to mean that, ‘even an otherwise ugly person, if that person is learned, shines brilliantly!’ This can be practically noticed in the faces of some people who are well read and scholarly. I pray to Haimavati to spread the light of erudition in all the faces of the Indian people!
Sambhomahadeva.