"அகந்தை பாவம் செய்வதில் முடிகிறது"

[Thanks to 'The Hindu' for this message]

One day after Lord Rama's return from 14 years of exile and His coronation as the King of Ayodhya, Kaikeyi comes to see Rama.

She says she is sorry for all the sorrow she caused him. Seeking His forgiveness, she wants some sound advice from Him.

Rama says there is a place to which she should go to get spiritual advice. She agrees.

Rama then summons Lakshmana and tells him to take Kaikeyi to a certain place. He tells Lakshmana that he is to wait for Kaikeyi as long as she wants to be there and then bring her back.

Lakshmana takes Kaikeyi to the place which has flocks of bleating goats. Kaikeyi stays watching the goats, and after some time she says she has learnt the lesson Rama sent her to acquire.

So what was the lesson she learnt? The bleating of the goats supplied her with the advice she had wanted, said M.V. Anantapadmanabhachariar in a discourse.

The sound that the goats made seemed to say: “I” and “Mine.”

The goats seemed to be telling her that because of their ego, self-love, and sense of possession, they were now born as goats.

“Be warned,” they seemed to say. “If you have a big ego, you too will meet with the same fate in your next birth.”

To be born as a human being is a boon for we can sing the Lord's praises and study the scriptures and serve Him. Yet, instead of doing any of these, we are busy acquiring material possessions and picking quarrels.

Instead of having a heart full of love for the Lord, we have hearts full of envy at another's success. We are busy making comparisons, losing our mental peace in the process. We also fall into the trap of paying attention to mischief-makers as Kaikeyi did.

Kaikeyi had once been as fond of Rama as she had been of Bharata. Her first reaction when she heard the news of Rama's coronation was to give a gift to Mantara who brought her the news.

But she made the mistake of listening to Mantara's advice. So she ceased seeing Rama also as her son and began to make plans for Bharata.
=======================================================

"bharatheeyan-santhosham"

"அருளின் உயர்ந்த வடிவம் மவுனம்'

சிலர் எடுத்த எடுப்பிலேயே ஞானியாக விளங்க விரும்புகிறார்களே தவிர, அதற்கான பயிற்சிகளைக் கடைபிடிப்பதில்லை. பயிற்சிகளை மேற்கொள்வதில் முயற்சி முக்கியமாகும்.

அருளின் மிக உயர்ந்த வடிவம் மவுனமாகும். அதுவே உயர்ந்த உபதேசமாகும்.

இதயத்தில் அகந்தை உருகி மறைதலே சரணாகதி என்பதாகும். கடவுள் வெளிப்புறச் செயல்களால் ஏமாந்து விடுவதில்லை. அவரது நோக்கமெல்லாம், அகந்தை இன்னும் எந்த அளவுக்கு இருக்கிறது, அதை எப்படி போக்குவது என்பதுதான்.

மயக்கம், அதிகமான மகிழ்ச்சி அல்லது அதிகமான துக்கம், அச்சம் போன்றவற்றால் எண்ணங்கள் வலுக்கட்டாயமாக நிறுத்தப் பெறும்போது மனம் தன் மூலமாகிய இதயத்திற்குச் செல்கிறது.

மனம் அலையும்போது சக்தி சிதறிப்போய் பலவீனம் அடைந்துவிடுகிறது. மனம் அலையாமல் ஒரே எண்ணத்துடன் இருக்கும்போது, சக்தி சேமிக்கப்படுகிறது. இதன் காரணமாக மனம் வலிமை பெறுகிறது.

அகந்தை இருக்கும் வரைதான் தியானம் தேவை. அகந்தையின் மூலகாரணத்தைத் தேடும்போது அதன்மீது வெறுப்பு தோன்றி மறைகிறது. எஞ்சி நிற்பது ஆத்மா மட்டுமேயாகும்.

மனத்தை உள்நோக்கிச் செலுத்துவதில் வெற்றி பெறுவதென்பது பயிற்சியாலும் வைராக்கியத்தாலும் கிட்டுவதாகும். அது படிப்படியாக வெற்றி தரும்.

நம் மனம் யாரிடம் வசமாகிறதோ அவரே நமக்கு சரியான குரு ஆவார். அவரிடம் சாந்தி, பொறுமை, மன்னிக்கும் பாங்கு போன்ற நற்குணங்களும் அமைந்திருக்க வேண்டும்.

உடல் ஜடம்; ஆத்மா ஞான மயம். இவ்விரண்டின் சேர்க்கையானது புத்தியால் ஊகித்து அறியப்படுவதாகும்.

ரமணர் ஆன்மிக சிந்தனைகள்

-----------------------------
Comments are welcome.

'bharatheeyan'

"ஊக்கம் அளிக்கும் வார்த்தைகள்"

In difficult times, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The Bible offers comforting words that have sustained believers through centuries. In these verses you'll find words of hope and encouragement about God and his promises. Click through this gallery of Bible verses to help you keep going.

Renew Strength

but those who lay hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

-Isaiah 40:31

Be Not Dismayed

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

-Isaiah 41:10

He Will Sustain You

Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.

-Psalm 55:22

My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
from violent men you save me.

-2 Samuel 22:3

Valleys Will be Raised Up

Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.

-Isaiah 40:4

Faith

We live by faith, not by sight.

-2 Corinthians 5:7

Darkness Turns to Light

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them.

-Isaiah 42:16

The Lord Delivers Them

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;

-Psalm 34:17-19

Go Out in Joy

You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.

-Isaiah 55:12

He Heals

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

-Psalm 147:3

The Divine Plan

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

-Jeremiah 29:11
--------------------------
Compiled by : 'Bharatheeyan'

"குறை ஒன்றும் இல்லை "

[I took this excerpt from the book Kurai Ondrum Illai by the great pravachanakartha
Sri Mukkur Sri Lakshmi Narasimhachariar....all credit for the message goes to him.]

Whatever said in 'Vedas', Bhagawan Sri Narayanan himself translated it into action in the period of His avatar in order to give complete meanings of the Vedas. To emphasize the point that the Vedas are great, matchless, universal and for this purpose, He himself acted depicting all those mantras.

Whatever had been told in Vedas formed part again in Bhagawat Charitras. Therefore, the 'Vishnu Sahasranamam' describing the innumerable names of Bhagawan Vishnu are, all by and large, mantras only; our great maharishis codified and condensed those mantras turning them into 'nama roopam' to be uttered easily by all literate or otherwise. They have shown this most easyway.
The Vedas describe 'Paramatma' as 'Pure Atma' or 'Pavithraathma' and on whom all good qualities dwell.


Those who surrender to him and seek his help, all get those good attributes and the 'pavithra' quality also.

Bhagawan turns all those who catches his feet, He turns them into "Boothathmaa" & so the Vedas describes him also as "boothatmaa'. Thus it is told : "Boothathmaa paramaathmaa cha mukthanaam paramaakathi: avvyaya purusha saakshee kshethrajnO akshara Eva cha"

We do archanaas as "BoothaathmanE namaha" which means he is devoid of any thOsham. All his qualities/attributes are real, natural.

There is a word 'Auopaasigam' which means some qualities comes in the middle and leaves
all on a sudden. Bhagawan is not like that and he possesses all great good qualities [kalyana gunaas] naturally and He is all-inclusive Samudram.

Those good qualities are generally divided into six....'Gnana, Bala, Aiswarya, Veerya, Sakthi, Theja.....and called as 'Bagam' We call Him as Bagawan & he is endowed with those qualities naturally and that is why specially we love to call him as "Paramathmaa".

The next nama in 'Sahasranama' is "Paramathmaa".

The first great quality told is "Gnanam". Because He is endowed with 'Gnanam' , that Emberumaan even remaining at hisVaikunta abode makes everyone of us to learn/understand as clearly as possible. There is nothing that which He does not know.
It is impossible for us to attain such a state. We are all so to say.....'AGnaanis', 'Persons lacking knowledge' 'Persons with poor knowledge' or 'Illiterates'.
The Upanishads adore Him as Sarvakjnan, sarvavithu - that is one who understood everything. Nothing left.

In the Arjuna's chariot, Bhagawan sitting as sarathy in front riding the horses. At some point Arjuna decides not to proceed with the war. He is vexed. He wants to leave away from the spot. Bhagawan sees that pitiable state of mind of
Arjuna and tells him...."Hey Arjuna, you can't do like this; you have come to fight with courage and now you appear to be a coward. If you remain like this you will lose your image and also you won't get victory.. You will lose your name as 'Vijayan' which means any matter you took you will do it and return successfully.

Arjuna replies...."Who wants to retain this name Vijayan; let it go. If other names remain that is alright. I do not want this name Vijayan.

Bhagawan : 'If you leave this name, you will not get victory.'

Arjuna : 'I do not want vijayamum too'.

Bhagawan : "If you do not want vijayam, how you will get 'raajyam'?"

Arjuna : " I do not want raajyam too "

Bhagawan : "Dear friend, if you do not want raajyam, how will you get santhosham [happiness]?"

Arjuna : "I do not want santhosham too."

Bhagawan : " Only if you say, will it be enough? Will not other Pandavaas tell also like that?"

Arjuna : "Among ourselves there won't come difference of opinion; if one person says, other will adhere... Arjuna wrongly conveyes such a message. Arjuna added...."We will be even prepared to live taking alms rather t han war."

[Bhagawan does not want to leave even at this stage]

Bhagawan : "Arjuna, tell me in your interior heart are you sure you do not want 'raajya' ? Are you not interested in 'Bhoga'? Are not interested in 'Ananda'?...please touch your heart and answer me.

[Arjuna answers to this.]

Arjuna : "Hey Krishna.....do you want to ask me questions to such an extent? Do you not understand or guess what is going on in my mind?"

[Arjuna who was arguing, evading to such a great length of time unyielding....what did he say finally? He finally put a question to Bhagawan..."Don't you know what is going on in my mind?"]

That means what?
It means.....outside Bhagawan's Gnana (Bhagawan is Sarvakjnan)....any matter beyond the ambit of His Gnana...how Arjuna can comprehend. It is impossible.

"GOVINDA".....in this world itself....'GO' means indhriayaas; remaining foremost among all 'indhriyaas' Bhagawan sits in our mind and looking at all of us. He knows everything.
He is such a person without any 'GnanasankOsam'.
{Excerpts from the Book "Kurai Ondrum Illai" written by Shri Mukkur Sri Lakshmi Narasimhachariar.}


Whether He dwells in Vaikunta or during His avatara periods or whenever He takes different avatars,
His Gnana is great, marvelous, difficult to comprehend. Such a great good quality of 'Gnana', Emberumaan possesses.

'Balam' is the next quality he possesses. What is 'Balam'? The quality to bear all things, weighty things, mind-hurting things,mind-weakening things.

Paramathma....Sriyappathiyaana Sriman Narayanan born before Brahma was born. He was the moolaadharaa says 'Upanishad'.

Azhwaar says...."Brahma was created by Narayanaa".

Emberumaan is the base or root for sanskrit. Such Emberumaan holds all prithivi. HE has got the balam or capacity to bear entire prithvi. Prithivi does not mean our 'Earth' only....anDariksham, samastha lokaas, anDa saracharaas. All these He bears says Acharyaas in their vyaakyaana.

"So, in such an event, {except for the sake of Emberumaan who bears} this hawis is offered to whom? questions Vedaas. It is to be automatically deduced.....all these hawis are offered/submitted only for Him as he is the Mooladaaraa."

This has been told in Vishnu Puranam in the "Abaara baara Sthothram"; those who recite it daily are supposed to attain good gnanaas. What that Stothra says?

"Bhagawan Vishnu is higher/superior among all. In tamil it is told 'Membattavan'.

HE along is paramaartha roopi. HE alone is paramaarththan. Other than Him, none can become or attain that paramaarththam stage.

HE is outside all; HE is inside as well as outside. HE is the root cause for everything ({for samastham}, HE has all the glories,praises & honour and from HIM only all are born. HE the greatest leader for us all.

In Narasimha avatara, he showed he lives everywhere....even in stone. In Vamana avatar he walked all around universe. Everything belongs to him. He shined, shined and shined and shining, still shining,ever-shining.

Such a kind of 'Paramaatma' blesses us 'atma balam' means strength for the athma. HE blesses all strength to us, condescends, comes down, hugs us, cajoles us, coax us, encourages us. HE becomes the source for one and all to enjoy and provide
such a great opportunity for us.
We do not know how to adore him, how to glorify him, honour him. How to perform the pooja & all other connected procedures/paraphernalias, we do not know. Our akgnanaas prevents us for a clearer understanding of Him.
However, what Bhagawan does? He gives us 'Balam' and makes us to enjoy His adoring qualities, avatara mahimaas. We will definitely not able to go near Him if He is not helping us properly.
=====================================================================================

[I made this translation from Tamil to English to the best of my ability and pl. bear me if any mistake has crept in.]

"bharatheeyan-santhosham"

"Kurai Ondrum Illai"...

I have pleasure in reproducing some excerpts from Shri Mukkur Lakshminarasimhachariar's book "Kurai Ondrum Illai" with his blessings.

பக்தி விஷயங்க்ள் - "Kurai Ondrum Illai"...




Mukkur Sri Lakshmi Narasimachariyar, a devotee of Mattapalli Maalolan, was a great exponent in Vedas, Upanishads, Sastras, Puranas etc. Esp. his exposition of “Vishnu Sahasranamam” is marvelous and unique; his lectures held at Asthika Samajam at Chennai drew lot of crowds, people from all waks of life....young and old. His discourses have been compiled and published in 'Kalki', a tamil weekly, for 47 weeks under the heading “Kurai Ondrum Illai”. I do my best to translate & compile a few selected excerpts from that tamil book for the benefit of our friends (Lord forgive me if any mistake is found) :


Mukkur Swamiji commences his discourse :

The River Yamuna accumulated Punyas whereas the River Godavari earned a bad name. Do you know the reason? Sri AandaaL, the great devotee of Lord Krishna praised Yamuna by reducing the flow of water, level of water to give way to Vasudevar who carried Sri Krishna over his head in a basket on his way to Gokulam; thereby Yamuna attained the fame and glory. Whereas River Godavari did not help to the expected level. In the period of Sri Rama Avatar, Ravan takes away Sri Sita forcibly, she weeps & weeps and while crossing Godavari River, she says : “Hey Godavari....I am a woman and you too, but you are keeping silent when such an injustice is taking place to me and you are simply watching what is going on. However, my husband Sri Rama will come in search of me and at least please tell him that I have been forcibly taken by Ravan without fail.” But Godavari has not told anything to Sri Rama came when he came to the river bank in search of Sri Sita, owing to fear of Ravan.
The blemish happened to Godavari in 'Threthaa Yugam', disappeared only in 'Kali Yugam'. How? That has disappeared when Sri Aandaal was born in Sri Villiputtur and 'Periaazhwar' named her as “Godaa”.

Swamiji adds :

There is a reason for telling the above story. People should understand what is called 'Nama Samyam' ....'Agreement of Names'....That is the reason, our elders christened Lord's names to newborn - Rama, Krishna, Govinda, Mahesha, Muruga etc. - falling in line with this 'Nama Samyam' and when we call children with those names, it is believed lot of good things will happen to all members of the family.

'Garuda Puranam' says : 'PathEyam Pundareekaksha Nama Sangeerthanaamrutham'. This means that it is a very,very huge bundle which tells Lord's good qualities. [Kalyana Gunaas]

We need not worry when it is said 'bundle'. In those good old days, people who wish to go to far off places called Yathra walked only taking a bundle containing food packets and they use it on the journey sitting by the side of tanks under shady trees. So too, for everything to go smoothly in our life-journey, that 'Pundareekaksha Nama Sangeerthanaamrutham' bundle is essential to wipe out all our difficulties, tiresomeness & countless irksome feelings.

See what Periazhwar says -

'Ninainthirunthe chiramam

TheernthEn Nemi NediyavanE”, which means,

We should do Nama Sangeerthanam keeping Lord in our minds. Sangeerthanam means uttering Lord's names always and without break.

==================================================================================
"bharatheeyan"