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Welcome to
Nov
201540/-
November 2015
Eight Great Qualities
News and Events
........................................................................................44
...............................................................................................................50
Sagely advice from Sri Abhinava Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamigal
The edifying Vidwat Sadas in Sringeri
Story with a Moral
Jai Ho Bharat
.......................................................................................................86
................................88
The story of a boy with an ‘impossible’ dream
The beauty of Chamundi Hills
The Wellness Sense
Holistic Culinary Art –
Yoga Posture
..................................................................................................
.......................66
:
................................................................70
60The Vatas, Pittas and Kaphas
The amazing properties of maize
Maize or Corn
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
Jagadguru Speaks
Gems of Sankara
Is Desire a Blessing or Evil?
Arunachala—the Hill that is God
Sparks of Wisdom
Spiritual Quote
.............................................................................................................06
.............................................................................................................................................08
..................................................................................................................12
.....................................................................14
...........................................18
.............................................................................................................22
..........................................................................................................................24
Helping others will edify our spiritual growth
The art of staying on one thought
The deep Advaitic lesson on Consciousness
The scriptures support legitimate desires.
Siva as a column of flame
The Practice of Meditation
Concentrative
Youth Vox
Lessons on Soft Skills from Sri Krishna
The Restless Manager
Tickles
..................................................................................................................................................26
.....................30
............................................................................................32
........................36
...................................................................................................................................................................40
Choosing the academic stream
Guidance from Madhurashtakam
Enduring remedy to anxiety and vague fear
Strive for clarity while communicating Vedantic thoughts
Role of Guru in Resolving Confusions
November 20154
C O N T E N T S
Art of Positive Feeling.......................................................................................72Condensation of the book by Swami Jyotirmayananda
November 20155
November 2015
Eight Great Qualities
News and Events
........................................................................................44
...............................................................................................................50
Sagely advice from Sri Abhinava Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamigal
The edifying Vidwat Sadas in Sringeri
Story with a Moral
Jai Ho Bharat
.......................................................................................................86
................................88
The story of a boy with an ‘impossible’ dream
The beauty of Chamundi Hills
The Wellness Sense
Holistic Culinary Art –
Yoga Posture
..................................................................................................
.......................66
:
................................................................70
60The Vatas, Pittas and Kaphas
The amazing properties of maize
Maize or Corn
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
Jagadguru Speaks
Gems of Sankara
Is Desire a Blessing or Evil?
Arunachala—the Hill that is God
Sparks of Wisdom
Spiritual Quote
.............................................................................................................06
.............................................................................................................................................08
..................................................................................................................12
.....................................................................14
...........................................18
.............................................................................................................22
..........................................................................................................................24
Helping others will edify our spiritual growth
The art of staying on one thought
The deep Advaitic lesson on Consciousness
The scriptures support legitimate desires.
Siva as a column of flame
The Practice of Meditation
Concentrative
Youth Vox
Lessons on Soft Skills from Sri Krishna
The Restless Manager
Tickles
..................................................................................................................................................26
.....................30
............................................................................................32
........................36
...................................................................................................................................................................40
Choosing the academic stream
Guidance from Madhurashtakam
Enduring remedy to anxiety and vague fear
Strive for clarity while communicating Vedantic thoughts
Role of Guru in Resolving Confusions
November 20154
C O N T E N T S
Art of Positive Feeling.......................................................................................72Condensation of the book by Swami Jyotirmayananda
November 20155
Selfless Help Enhances Spiritual Growth
Man must be inclined to help others. There, too, helping without
any expectation comes first. By extension, helping them in return for a
help rendered earlier is only secondary. Still one must always develop
the tendency to help others.
Some persons take help from others, but do not even remember it,
rather they talk about shortcomings in the help and sometimes entertain
enmity towards the one who rendered the help. It is a heinous sin. Such a
person is known as evil minded. None of us should be like that.
However, some people do not mind whatever difficulties they
undergo in helping others. They boldly persist in doing so… just as the
wick of the lamp gives light even as it burns out. They are indeed noble
persons.
If we understand this well and help others, our mind will become
pure, which will help edify our spiritual growth.
CnH$mana: àda: à˶wnH$ma§ H$amo{V _ܶñW: &
ZrMñVX{n Z Hw$éVo CnH$madðmmX² ^d{V ðmÌw: g: &&
CnH¥${Vgmhm{gH$V¶m j{V_{n JU¶pÝV Zmo Jw{UZ: &
OZ¶pÝV {h àH$mðm§ XrnpðmIm: ñdm“XmhoZ&&
November 2015November 20156 7
Selfless Help Enhances Spiritual Growth
Man must be inclined to help others. There, too, helping without
any expectation comes first. By extension, helping them in return for a
help rendered earlier is only secondary. Still one must always develop
the tendency to help others.
Some persons take help from others, but do not even remember it,
rather they talk about shortcomings in the help and sometimes entertain
enmity towards the one who rendered the help. It is a heinous sin. Such a
person is known as evil minded. None of us should be like that.
However, some people do not mind whatever difficulties they
undergo in helping others. They boldly persist in doing so… just as the
wick of the lamp gives light even as it burns out. They are indeed noble
persons.
If we understand this well and help others, our mind will become
pure, which will help edify our spiritual growth.
CnH$mana: àda: à˶wnH$ma§ H$amo{V _ܶñW: &
ZrMñVX{n Z Hw$éVo CnH$madðmmX² ^d{V ðmÌw: g: &&
CnH¥${Vgmhm{gH$V¶m j{V_{n JU¶pÝV Zmo Jw{UZ: &
OZ¶pÝV {h àH$mðm§ XrnpðmIm: ñdm“XmhoZ&&
November 2015November 20156 7
Adoring Siva in his lustrous form, Parvati went around the Hill and joined the Lord.
runachala delineates the awesome glory of Siva as Jyotirlinga in the form of the AArunachala Hill in south India, about 200 km.
from Chennai. This sacred hill is called Annamalai in Tamil.
The word, Arunachala, has five syllables (A-Ru-Na-Cha-La) like the Panchakshari mantra of Siva, Na-Mah-Si-Va-Ya.
The mantra reminds one of the pancha bhutas which are the five elements that are the basis of all creations. Enlightened sages saw Siva as representing Fire among the five elements, i.e. Earth (Prithvi), Water (Aapah), Fire (Agni), Wind (Vayu) and Space (Akasa).
Aruna-achala literally means red-coloured
mountain. Lord Siva manifested as an unending red-hued brilliant flame.
The Skanda Purana has a legend in which sage Markandeya requested Nandi to name the kshetra of Siva the mere thought (smarana) of which was enough to bestow salvation to the bhakta. Nandi went into deep samadhi and realised that while Mount Kailas and Mount Meru were only the 'abodes' of Siva, Arunachala was the embodiment of Siva himself.
According to another legend, once while Parvati was engaged in severe penance, the demon, Mahishasura, who had received a boon that he could not be killed by any male, was harassing all living beings. Realising that his boon did not include freedom from being killed by a woman, the gods beseeched Devi Parvati to help in getting rid of this great menace. They are said to have offered their special powers and
Column of Flame
November 2015 November 201518 19
Adoring Siva in his lustrous form, Parvati went around the Hill and joined the Lord.
runachala delineates the awesome glory of Siva as Jyotirlinga in the form of the AArunachala Hill in south India, about 200 km.
from Chennai. This sacred hill is called Annamalai in Tamil.
The word, Arunachala, has five syllables (A-Ru-Na-Cha-La) like the Panchakshari mantra of Siva, Na-Mah-Si-Va-Ya.
The mantra reminds one of the pancha bhutas which are the five elements that are the basis of all creations. Enlightened sages saw Siva as representing Fire among the five elements, i.e. Earth (Prithvi), Water (Aapah), Fire (Agni), Wind (Vayu) and Space (Akasa).
Aruna-achala literally means red-coloured
mountain. Lord Siva manifested as an unending red-hued brilliant flame.
The Skanda Purana has a legend in which sage Markandeya requested Nandi to name the kshetra of Siva the mere thought (smarana) of which was enough to bestow salvation to the bhakta. Nandi went into deep samadhi and realised that while Mount Kailas and Mount Meru were only the 'abodes' of Siva, Arunachala was the embodiment of Siva himself.
According to another legend, once while Parvati was engaged in severe penance, the demon, Mahishasura, who had received a boon that he could not be killed by any male, was harassing all living beings. Realising that his boon did not include freedom from being killed by a woman, the gods beseeched Devi Parvati to help in getting rid of this great menace. They are said to have offered their special powers and
Column of Flame
November 2015 November 201518 19
Lalita Ramakrishna
weapons to Devi to aid the mission, and Siva blessed the annihilation of Mahisha.
After an intense fight and
vanquishing the demon, Parvati undertook a month-long penance as prayas-chitta (atonement). At the end of the period, on the full moon day when the star Krittika was in ascendance, Parvati wished to see Siva as effulgent light.
As Siva appeared as a column of Fire, Parvati went around the Arunachala hill adoring the lustrous Lord, and joined him. Legends have it that in response to Parvati's desire, Siva manifests as a flame on top of the Arunachala hill every year on the Purnima day during the solar month of Vrischika (which occurs during November-December).
The event is celebrated in Arunachala when a huge copper lamp is lit with ghee, oil and camphor at the foothills and kept aflame for ten days.
On the tenth day the flame is carried to the top of the hill. Devotees throng the temple chanting the Pancha-akshara mantra, and go into raptures at the spectacle of Siva's Agni
svarupa. The flame is a glorious sight (Deepa darshanam) even from a great distance.
Bare-footed pilgrims go round the hill during the Purnima day (and night), singing bhajans and keertans, with many devotees observing silence, re-creating the Divine Mother’s circumambulation of the hill to join her consort.
The Arunachala Hill is sacred and considered a lingam, the iconic representation of Siva in itself. The Siva Purana mentions that once Brahma and Vishnu were engaged in an argument about who was greater. The dispute grew intense and the devas requested Lord Siva to intervene.
Siva appeared before Brahma and Vishnu in the form of a fiery column of light, called Jyotirlinga, of which they could perceive neither the beginning nor the end. A contest was devised by the two determining that the one who first found either end of the Jyotirlinga would prevail as the greater. While Vishnu mounted his boar (varaha) and tunnelled downward through the nether worlds, Brahma mounting his
No Beginning or End
swan (hamsa), ascended through the upper worlds. Neither of them could fathom the beginning or the end of the column and, in the process, they realised the triviality of their rivalry. Following their prayers, Siva chose to abide in the form of a hill as Tejolinga at Arunachala.
Arunachala was the home of the modern day saint, Sri Ramana Maharishi, who stayed for over 54 years in the hill and its vicinity. The Maharishi revered the hill as the embodiment of Siva, and had often mentioned to visiting devotees that a simple Smarana (thought) of Arunachala is capable of arre
Hidden SecretsScriptures related to
Arunachala claim that the hill existed from time immemorial, with its antiquity beyond comprehension. Foreign geologists have corroborated this after examining samples of rocks from the hill, and declared that the stones were older than those of Himalayas.
sting the wandering mind and preparing for deep introspection. He has said in Arunachala Lord Siva remains ever motionless (achala), and hence Sakti
automatically and effortlessly merges in him through great love. Therefore, Arunachala shines as the foremost and most powerful kshetra.
According to the Maharishi, there are innumerable secrets hidden in the hills. There are several caves in the hill, where Siddhas (realised souls) are said to live in invisible form. The Maharishi has attested to this fact and advised devotees against exploring deep in the hills as curious pilgrims. He has also referred to a huge banyan tree deep within which is the abode of many Siddhas and anyone trying to get close would be turned away by unnatural forces.
The diary notes of Sri Ramana Ashram mention that once a few inmates, including a westerner, had ventured to verify the existence of this mysterious tree (without the knowledge of the master) and had paid a price by losing their way and getting bruised by thorny bushes. This confirms the Master's teaching that Arunachala is the supreme Self that shines as 'I' in the hearts of all living beings H
November 201520 November 201521
Lalita Ramakrishna
weapons to Devi to aid the mission, and Siva blessed the annihilation of Mahisha.
After an intense fight and
vanquishing the demon, Parvati undertook a month-long penance as prayas-chitta (atonement). At the end of the period, on the full moon day when the star Krittika was in ascendance, Parvati wished to see Siva as effulgent light.
As Siva appeared as a column of Fire, Parvati went around the Arunachala hill adoring the lustrous Lord, and joined him. Legends have it that in response to Parvati's desire, Siva manifests as a flame on top of the Arunachala hill every year on the Purnima day during the solar month of Vrischika (which occurs during November-December).
The event is celebrated in Arunachala when a huge copper lamp is lit with ghee, oil and camphor at the foothills and kept aflame for ten days.
On the tenth day the flame is carried to the top of the hill. Devotees throng the temple chanting the Pancha-akshara mantra, and go into raptures at the spectacle of Siva's Agni
svarupa. The flame is a glorious sight (Deepa darshanam) even from a great distance.
Bare-footed pilgrims go round the hill during the Purnima day (and night), singing bhajans and keertans, with many devotees observing silence, re-creating the Divine Mother’s circumambulation of the hill to join her consort.
The Arunachala Hill is sacred and considered a lingam, the iconic representation of Siva in itself. The Siva Purana mentions that once Brahma and Vishnu were engaged in an argument about who was greater. The dispute grew intense and the devas requested Lord Siva to intervene.
Siva appeared before Brahma and Vishnu in the form of a fiery column of light, called Jyotirlinga, of which they could perceive neither the beginning nor the end. A contest was devised by the two determining that the one who first found either end of the Jyotirlinga would prevail as the greater. While Vishnu mounted his boar (varaha) and tunnelled downward through the nether worlds, Brahma mounting his
No Beginning or End
swan (hamsa), ascended through the upper worlds. Neither of them could fathom the beginning or the end of the column and, in the process, they realised the triviality of their rivalry. Following their prayers, Siva chose to abide in the form of a hill as Tejolinga at Arunachala.
Arunachala was the home of the modern day saint, Sri Ramana Maharishi, who stayed for over 54 years in the hill and its vicinity. The Maharishi revered the hill as the embodiment of Siva, and had often mentioned to visiting devotees that a simple Smarana (thought) of Arunachala is capable of arre
Hidden SecretsScriptures related to
Arunachala claim that the hill existed from time immemorial, with its antiquity beyond comprehension. Foreign geologists have corroborated this after examining samples of rocks from the hill, and declared that the stones were older than those of Himalayas.
sting the wandering mind and preparing for deep introspection. He has said in Arunachala Lord Siva remains ever motionless (achala), and hence Sakti
automatically and effortlessly merges in him through great love. Therefore, Arunachala shines as the foremost and most powerful kshetra.
According to the Maharishi, there are innumerable secrets hidden in the hills. There are several caves in the hill, where Siddhas (realised souls) are said to live in invisible form. The Maharishi has attested to this fact and advised devotees against exploring deep in the hills as curious pilgrims. He has also referred to a huge banyan tree deep within which is the abode of many Siddhas and anyone trying to get close would be turned away by unnatural forces.
The diary notes of Sri Ramana Ashram mention that once a few inmates, including a westerner, had ventured to verify the existence of this mysterious tree (without the knowledge of the master) and had paid a price by losing their way and getting bruised by thorny bushes. This confirms the Master's teaching that Arunachala is the supreme Self that shines as 'I' in the hearts of all living beings H
November 201520 November 201521
