Are Ramyana and Mahabharata real ?

This is a very crucial question and I had queries about Ramayan and Mahabharat for long. To understand the importance of these epics it is necessary to establish the time range of these epics.

1)    Among Ramayan and Mahabharat, it is clear that Mahabharat is post dated as compared to Ramayan, since lot of characters from Ramayan occur in Mahabharat but not vice versa. Ramayan has reference to Gautam Buddha, please check the 2^nd Kanda

यथा हि चोर: स‌ तथा हि बुद्धस्तथागतं नास्तिकमत्र विद्धि।

तस्माद्धि य: श‌ङ्क्यतमः प्रजानाम् न नास्तिकेनाभिमुखो बुध: स्यात्।।2.109.34।।

Just as a thief, so is the Buddha (a wise men). Know that the Tathagatas are atheists. They are men most distrusted among the people. A learned man should avoid atheists.

These references can be ignored as anachronistic but they can’t be just wished away. Also, Buddhist scriptures criticized Vedic heritage in equally harsh terms, since they were contradictory philosophical systems they critically evaluated each other. So, it is important to date Gautam Buddha which can clarify the doubt about historicity of our epics.

https://www.valmiki.iitk.ac.in/sloka?field_kanda_tid=2&language=dv&field_sarga_value=109

2)      Ramayan and Mahabharat are replete with stories, which seem scientifically far-fetched. Birth of Rama and his brothers, Pandavas and Kauravas, weapons of Rama, Lakshamana or Arjun and Bhima, Hanuman flying over long distances, marriage to Naga or Rakshasa princess or prince and many others. There must be a motive to compose such beautiful scriptures, which had a lasting impact on our culture.

3)      Valmiki is derived from the word “Valmik” which means ant-hill, it means he went into such a deep meditation that ants made ant-hills around him. If Valmiki went into such deep meditative state why will he write a simple historical text.

Ø  The names are very indicative Dashrath (dash+rath) literally ten chariots, human body is said to be composed of ten Indriyaas (5 karmendriya + 5 gnyanendriya) and human body is described as a chariot in Kathopnishad:

“आत्मानं रथिनं विद्धि शरीरं रथमेव तु। बुद्धिं तु सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रगहमेव च॥“

Ø  His wives have an equally intriguing names, Kaushalya i.e to perform actions with expertise. Bhagwad Gita says “ योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् “

Ø  Kaikaya has the word Kaya i.e body, Kaikaya means to transcend beyond the physical body, hence she is the favorite queen of Dashrath

Ø  Once you transcend the physical frame the whole world is your friend i.e Sumitra.

Ø  Sita means the experiences which we get through Sadhana, hence she is found in a farm i.e while King Janaka is doing farming

Ø  Ravana is the ego, hence he is shown a Brahmin with 10 heads i.e he knows six darshanas and four Vedas by heart

4)    Mahabharat’s key is in Ganesh katha i.e to write such a long epic Vyasa needed a scripter and he asked Bhagwan Ganesha, however he had a precondition i.e he won’t stop while writing and Vyasa would have to recite shlokas in flow. But Vyasa had a similar precondition i.e Ganesh could not proceed to write next shloka till he understands the previous shloka. If Mahabharat is historical text and is understood even by children why will Ganesh (giver of supreme intelligence) take time to understand it.

In Adi Parva 77^th shloka:

लेखको भारतस्यास्य भव त्वं गणनायक |

मयैव प्रोच्यमानस्य मनसा कल्पितस्यच || (Adi Parva 1:77)

He asks Ganesh (Gannayak) to be the writer of Mahabharata, which is the knowledge he has gained in a highly meditative state (प्रोच्यमानस्य). See the names of important characters

Ø  Karna, means ear, which is the knowledge gained from hearing lectures and is not knowledge of Brahman

Ø  Sahdev means godly qualities which is necessary for a Sadhak to progress spiritually

Ø  Nakul means mongoose i.e killer of snakes which is depiction of Kundalini (see the logo of Ramkrishna mission), a sadhak who has awakened Kundalini

Ø  Arjun, means a sadhak who progresses rapidly on spiritual path, hence he is an archer who is world renowned. Mundaka Upanishad defines the archery as follows:

प्रणवो धनु: शरो ह्यात्मा ब्रह्म तल्लक्ष्यमुच्यते ।

Pranav i.e AUM is the bow, Atma is the arrow and the target is BRAHMAN

Ø  All the Kauravas are named starting with (दु) which means bad, only sister of Kauravas is named (दुशीला) which means bad character, why will parents name their daughter as one with bad character

This implies that Ramayan and Mahabharat are epics, which depict the development of a sadhak or spiritual seeker on the path of enlightenment, qualities he should posses, powers he can gain by advancing on the path, difficulties he will face and how to overcome them.

(Copied from Yogiraj Manohar Harkare’s Ramayan Rahasya and  Geeta: Vyas Ashay). 

The video is attached for further details and is in 4 parts but definitely worth listening for someone genuinely interested in Ramayan.

https://youtu.be/5ApNTg_XxMU

Narakchaturdashi

A few days ago I saw a post from my friend mocking Mahabharata and saying that what was the purpose of writing such a epic. Ved Vyasa, author of Mahabharata has a pivotal place in Hinduism, it is said that Vyasa has touched all knowledge in the world.

Today is an important day in Hindu year i.e Diwali or Narakchaturdashi in morning and Laxmi pujan in evening. Narakchaturdashi has its roots in Mahabharata. Narakasur was an Asura or Rakshasa, who kidnapped 16100 virgin princess in his palace. He raped them and imprisoned them in his fortess. After hearing about him and his ill treatment of women, Krishna along with his wife Satyabhama attacked him in the middle of night. A fierce battle ensued in which Narakasura was killed and all the women were liberated. Krishna was drenched in his blood and after returning home in morning, he took bath and cleansed himself. Naraksura also asked for a boon that his death should be celebrated with lights and hence festival of Diwali.

Accepting this story as a history raises several questions that why the attack was only done by Krishna and his wife, against such a powerful demon, in middle of night, why did the kings whose princess were kidnapped did not help, if there was a huge army defending the fortess how did Krishna single handedly defeated them.

But Krishna is derived from the word “Karshan” i.e to harness or attract, Krishna is the jivatma who harnesses the energies of universe or Sadhak who wants to progress on spiritual path.

Narakasura is the depiction of body, which does not move forward on the spiritual path, and hence his ~16100 Yog Nadis are unused and stuck in a prison. Such a body cannot be utilized by Krishna for enlightenment and hence he is killed and the Yog Nadis are freed for moving to higher planes. These Yog Nadis are utilized by Krishna hence it is referred as marriage. Sadhana is best done in midnight hence Krishna along with his wife attacks him at midnight.

This can be called an attempt to attach meanings to mythical stories but Ved Vyasa himself gives a hint in Ganesh katha. If Mahabharat is just history, why does Bhagwan Ganesh (God of intelligence) himself cannot understand the shlokas but takes time, which helps Vyasa to construct future shlokas.

लेखको भारतस्यास्य भव त्वं गणनायक |

मयैव प्रोच्यमानस्य मनसा कल्पितस्यच || (Adi Parva 1:77)

He asks Ganesh (Gannayak) to be the writer of Mahabharata, which he has imagined in a highly meditative state (प्रोच्यमानस्य).

Such is the significance of Mahabharat and Ramyan, not only for Hindus but for the whole world.

(Copied from Bhagwadgeeta: Vyas Ashay by Yogiraj Manohar Harkare)

Ramayan Rahasya !!!!

There is a recent interview with Nityanand Mishra by renowned Rajeev Malhotra about translations of Ramayana and how Geeta Press translations are more authentic than Dr Goldman of Harvard. Please search the video on youtube and it is a must watch.

But this post is about something else, if we consider Ramayan as a historical text, it leaves a lot of questions and leads to conflicts. It is being used by Communists, Missionaries, Jihadis like Imam Bukhari to drive a wedge between the Bharatiya society.

 The name Valmiki was given to the sage because he went into such a deep Dhyaan that ants had built an ant-hill (Valmik)around him and hence the name. A sage who went into such a deep state why will he just write history or something about future.

 The names are very indicative Dashrath (dash+rath) literally ten chariots, human body is said to be composed of ten indriyaas (5 karmendriya + 5 gnyanendriya) and human body is described as a chariot in Kathopnishad:

“आत्मानं रथिनं विद्धि शरीरं रथमेव तु। बुद्धिं तु सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रगहमेव च॥“

 His wives have an equally intriguing names, Kaushalya i.e to perform actions with expertise. Bhagwad Gita says “ योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् “

 Kaikaya has the word Kaya i.e body, Kaikaya means to transcend beyond the physical body, hence she is the favorite queen of Dashrath

 Once you transcend the physical frame the whole world is your friend i.e Sumitra.

(Copied from Yogiraj Manohar Harkare’s Ramayan Rahasya). 

The video is attached for further details and is in 4 parts but definitely worth listening for someone genuinely interested in Ramayan.

https://youtu.be/5ApNTg_XxMU

Guru Tegbahadur

It was today 343 years ago i.e in 1675 Guru Tegbahadur laid down his life for the cause of Dharma. The problem started from Kashmir, when Pandits were being forced by Mughal officers to accept Islam on orders of Aurangzeb. The Pandits approached Guru for their predicament, who is said to have replied that “Tell Aurangzeb that if Guru Tegbahadur converts to Islam, they will also follow suit”.

He was promptly arrested and brought to Delhi with his followers. He was put in a cage and in front of him, his followers were executed to pressurize him to change his stand.

Bhai Mati Dass was sawed alive while facing the Guru and reciting Japuji. Bhai Dayala was put in a cauldron of boiling oil but did not show any sign of grief. Bhai Sati Das was wrapped in cotton and set on fire but remained calm and peaceful.

Finally Guru Tegbahadur was asked for his approval on conversion but he refused so he was beheaded in Chandni Chowk.

Shis Ganj Gurudwara in Chandni Chowk stands at the site of Guru’s martyrdom. His legacy was equally carried forward by his son Guru Gobind Singh.

Wahe Guruji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guruji ki Fateh !!!

“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty “

To enjoy the fruits of freedom a nation has to be always vigilant about its strengths and weakness. This is a compilation of the threats that we face today. Sadly our refusal to learn from the past still threaten us.

Geological Frontiers: Bharat’s frontiers have shrunk over the past one and half millennia. We extended from Afghanistan to Myanmar and Tibet to Lanka as a cultural entity. Afghanistan was a frontier province till 1000 CE, until all the Hindu kingdoms were smashed by Islamic invaders. The first Islamic attack happened in Sindh in 712 CE by Bin Qasim but for almost 300 years, Afghanistan held its fort. In fact the Delhi Sultanate, which is so glorified in our history, took 500 years of struggle to establish itself.  It is extremely shameful that  we are not taught about the heroic resistance that spanned for a duration of 500 years. It was a long struggle but nobody thought about these frontiers as Chanakya did 1000 years before that. If our frontiers collapse our home cannot be safe.

We did not learn anything from the mistakes of the yore and just 70 years ago we became a mute spectator to occupation of Tibet by China. In doing so we brought an adversary at our doorsteps who is now nibbling our borders. Today we are again repeating history when our shrunk frontiers in Kashmir, Assam, Bengal, North East and Kerala are under threat. What we can do as a society ? The least we can do is travel as a tourist to these frontiers, they are not only beautiful but these travels can create an awareness.

Centripetal Tendencies: In one of the interviews, General GD Bakshi made a very interesting point that all large empires or nations  had a downfall due to centripetal tendencies rather than external aggression, recent example being USSR. We have had a long history of such forces right from Ambhi of Takshshila who supported Alexander to Communists who supported Chinese in 1962 war. Today they seem to be coalescing as Breaking India forces and are active in different garbs like Maoism, Jihadis, Evangelism, Dravidianism, barriers of Caste, Language and even Human Rights. 

The clinical precision with which our society is being divided along caste lines for reservation is a recent example of it. Be it Marathas in Maharashtra, Gujjars in Rajasthan, Patels in Gujarat or Jats in Haryana. As an example in point, a guy called Purushottam Khedekar has started a movement called Shiv Dharma, in the name of Shivaji Maharaj. He claims to overthrow Hinduism with this, although Shivaji Maharaj clealy declared his kingdom as Hindavi Swarajya. A lot of Dalit activism also has sadly fallen into this trap of anti-nationalism although under the name of Dr Ambedkar who was a die-hard patriot and never compromised on his nationalistic credentials. As an aware and responsible citizen we should oppose these efforts and expose them wherever possible to avoid people falling in their traps.

Intellectual Warfare: The toughest challenge we are facing is the intellectual invasion which we are facing not only from external parties but media, academia and political class which is completely westernized. It started with invaders destroying our universities, knowledge base and reaching a crescendo during British rule when everything Bhartiya was just a bunch of rubbish. Although we gained independence in 1947, but intellectual freedom still remains distant. Several millennia old civilization is not clear what does it stand for ? If you observe closely it shows in all fields, be it education, arts, literature, economics, research, policy, politics and sports. 

We lack an overarching vision which will invigorate our public life and make us reach our potential and not just GDP growth. That vision has to be based on our Vedic heritage which is the Atma of this nation. Our Rishis have defined it, be it Swami Vivekananda, Rishi Aurobindo, Ramtirth or Swami Dayanand, they always exhorted us to follow our ancient path which was discovery of divinity in every human being and that should be the central theme of all our endeavors. As a believer of this vision, we should understand our culture deeply to realize it in future.

VANDE MATARAM !!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQMzRf1vEWg 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opr6Qn9aVmM

Who is Ganpati ?

While talking to an expat about Ganpati, I had to describe him as a God with elephant head but is it the right description of Ganpati or Ganesh ?? (I am purposely not using the word “Lord” because British use it to describe looters like Lord Clive).

Saint Tukaram in one of his abhang beautifully describes Ganesh as

“ ओमकार स्वरुप गणेशाचे, हे तिन्ही देवांचे जन्मस्थान”.”.

While Saint Dnyaneshwar in his great treatise on Geeta i.e Dnyaneshwari says

देवा तूंचि गणेशु । सकळमति प्रकाशु ॥

म्हणे निवृत्ति दासु । अवधारिजो जी ॥२॥

अकार चरण युगुल । उकार उदर विशाल ॥

मकार महामंडल । मस्तकाकारें ॥३॥

हे तिन्ही एकवटले । तेथें शब्दब्रम्ह कवळलें ॥

ते मियां श्रीगुरुकृपें नमिलें । आदिबीज ॥४॥

Meaning goes as follows: The word Om is composed of three characters i.e अ , उ and म. अ is represented by his feet, उ is represented by his huge stomach while म is represented by his large head. So Ganpati is manifestation of Om. But then the question arises about what is Om ?

Human body is composed of five tatva i.e Prithvi, Aap, Tejas, Vayu and Akash. A Yogi has to transcend all the five elements to achieve Mukti. While moving from Aap to Tejas, a yogi sees Lotus in his meditation and hears sound of Om. Thus Om is the manifestation of Lotus , tail is stem and remaining is flower, hence both are considered sacred in Vedic / Hindu Dharma.

Tejas is also linked to Light i.e knowledge hence Ganpati is God of knowledge and is manifestation of Tejas tatva. A yogi who believes in साकार will get darshan of Ganpati in Tejas tatva, whereas one who does nirakar sadhana will see Omkar. Shiva is manifestation of Aap, which comes before Tejas, hence Ganesh is the son of Shiva.

Now where does elephant comes from ? As an animal, elepant removes all obstacles which comes in it’s path, same way Ganesh removes all ignorance and hence is God of knowledge. We need to undestand our Vedic dharma to counter false propoganda of Zakir Naik/ Wendy Doniger or Missionaries This science is in Vedic dharma which will enlighten the world.

(Borrowed from “Sadhana and Divyanubhuti” by Yogiraj Manohar Harkare)

Who was Adi Shankar ?

A boy was taking bath in the river as per his daily routine. Suddenly a crocodile grabbed his leg and started pulling his prey. Sensing that his end was near he called out for his widowed mother. Seeing the commotion, his mother rushed to the spot. Boy demanded that he be allowed to be initiated into “SANYAS” as it was the end of his life. Seeing no other option, mother granted permission and miraculously crocodile also left the boy alone. The boy in the river was Shankar born in Kaladi, Kerala.

He was a child prodigy, displaying command over Sanskrit at the age of 4. After his upnayan he demanded to be a sanyasi, but his mother refused and he stayed along. But after the above incident he left his hometown and wandered north in search of his GURU. On the banks of Narmada, he met Govindgiri in a cave in deep meditation. Govindgiri is supposed to have said that he was waiting for him. Under his Guru, he developed command over Shastras and also did tapasya to attain self-realisation. Adi Shankaracharya was not a mere philosopher but a man who had experienced “Ultimate Truth” and used his superb intellect to preach among people.

Bharat during those times was in the grip of blind beliefs or superstitions and people had forgotten Dharm. Shankaracharya travelled around the country participating in discussions and defeated many proponents of old way of thought. To ensure a structured way of propagation of Sanatan dharm he established Peeths in four corners i.e Dwarka, Badrinath, Puri and Sringeri. He composed Brahma Sutras, commentary on Geeta and Upanishads, Vivekachudamani and many other texts to simplify and make people understand real Sanatan Dharm.

Realizing that his mission was over, he took Samadhi at the age of 32. Yesterday was Adi Shankaracharya’s jayanti.

PS: Shankaracharya preached a dharm which taught fearlessness, we should inculcate this quality in all out acts especially when our neighbor is getting crazy !!!