DIVINE HARMONY

BY

ARAVINDAKSHA MENON

Dedicated toRev. Fr. George Panackal

who enlightened me in many ways,

one being the inspirationto write this book,my maiden one.

I am not a man of lettersbut he said:

“ Fear not, for, God will guide you

all the way !”

1

Message

Br. Aravindaksha Menon has been a preacher and a witness to our Lord at Divine Retreat centre for the last four years ( since 1993).

Menon reveals a big truth in these precious visions of his, which I feel, had been gleaned from the experiences in his life and his constant association with the Holy Spirit, more than from his scholarly faculties.

When we go through the scriptures of all faith, we can see to our amazement, that the path towards salvation is almost one and the same.

Here, Menon reaches at a more heavenly pasture, a step ahead, discovering that even the Saviour is one and the same.

I pray, let this divine truth yield a rich harvest of celestial bliss in the minds of the readers.

Fr, George Panackal V.C. Director Divine Retreat Centre.

2

Contents

Foreword

The Commencement

Prayer for Eternal Peace

1. Christ and Indian Cultural Heritage

2. Rigveda and the Hebrew Scriptures

3. The Upanishads and Christ

4. Jesus Christ of Bavishyapurana

5. Gitarahasya and Christ

6. Jesus Christ and Swamy Vivekananda

Discovery of the Absolute

And the Attainment

Glossary

3

Foreword

Ekam Sath, VipraBahudhaa Vadandhi !

Truth is absolute. The wise and the scholarly express it in words of many hues. This hymn from the Rigveda unveils a path in one’s search towards the truth. The hermits were searching for the substance lying at the core of these various names. This mantra surfaced spontaneously in my mind when I read “ Divine Harmony ” authored by Sri. Aravindaksha Menon.

I have always observed a fervent urge in Sri. Aravindaksha Menon to seek the truth, in his personality and speech. It is an insatiable quest for the absolute truth and he never pauses and idles at whatever glimpses he found on his way. From the mundane routine of a government servant, his thoughts soared to an ideological plane that promised the material ecstacies. And it was transient. He could see the abysses from that height which he found totally disgusting. So he took asylum in the abodes of atheism and rationalism. Soon, these camps also started suffocating him and his soul set out to comb the Hindu Scriptures for the absolute truth.

He discovered the glowing image of Lord Jesus in the holy waters of the Ganges in which the spiritual exhilarations of the Aryan Saints were flowing in torrents.

4

“ I am the Way, and the Truth and the Life “ – He was carried away by this blissful voice of Jesus which echoed in the terrains of Himalayas. He prostrated at the feet of Lord Jesus when he realized that all his yearnings found its fulfillment in this spiritual fountainhead.

The Holy Spirit anointed him and he was transformed to be a new creation of God.

This divine experience has led Sri. Menon to greener pastures of enlightenment and to further meditation. He arrived at that unflagging conviction that all the spiritual knowledge and awakening he had imbibed from the Vedas and Upanishads are pointing at the Son of God, Lord Jesus, who he knows is the only personification of all these virtues. That insight has set the foundation for this booklet. He is treading on the ethereal plane of the aphorisms by Swamy Vivekananda on his way, as he decides to worship Christ as his only God. Neverthless, he preserves with pride the rich tradition and heritage he has inherited from his orthodox lineage and upbringing.

Sri. Menon has excelled himself, I should applaud, in his synthesis of the Rigveda aphorisms, Upanishad hymns and the elements in Gita with the birth, life and sacrifice of Jesus Crist.

I feel that the intention of Menon in visualizing this book is to impart to the multitude who are in search of spiritualism, the insights that led him to a state of transformation and fulfillment, instead of proclaiming his achievements only at places where it could gain laurels.

Strange enough, Mr. Menon does not claim any authority to these ideals beyond his personal gratification and to an extent the salvation that he gained.

5

This comparatively brief yet adorable book, I am sure, would give spiritual ecstacy to those, who were yearning for the eternal truth all along, who could imbibe the divine message of the saints, who in turn have achieved it by years of meditation.

Fr. Dr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.Divine Retreat Centre.

The Commencement

My imagination is spreading its wings.Man has set out his journey

from the backyards of history where the writers and the written did not leave a lasting impression anywhere, because it was time immemorial.

It was an unending course,from planes to planes,

trekking mountains and hills,seeking the river banks

which later became the cradles of civilization.

The first man was created on the face of this earth

6

Somewhere in the valleys of Mount Sinai,A land now known as Eastern Europe.

When his race multiplied,to thousands and millions,

again , the eternal journey has begun which was just inevitable.

In his journey, his God his Father and the Creator was with him always .

Advising him the do’s and don’ts.

And God traveled with him in a pillar of cloud in day and in a pillar of fire in the night.

At his make- shift camps,He expressed his gratitude

to his God by offering sacrifices.These rituals of sacrifice revealed to him

by God through the prophets were handed over by generations to generations.

In those days man’s language was only phonetic and unscripted. Thus, initially, the scripture was inscribed in his

heart.

Somewhere along the line, at some point of time

humanity parted ways and opted for two diverse directions..One lot went to the banks of Jordan

and the other headed for the banks of river Kubha.

River banks were his cradleswhere his evolution took place.

Then his lot had spread outfrom Jordan to Greece and from Kubha to the banks of Indus

and Ganges.And this is the period he evolved scripts

7

for his language which was until then confined to the word of mouth.

His vocal form of communication, used to praise the Lord in his

gratitude, prayers and rituals, were codified in the form of scriptures and books later.

The human bloc that had gone to the banks of Jordan used Hebrew for their scriptures whereas the

Indus and Ganges lot made it in Sanskrit.

Whatever was written in both the languages on the commandments

of the Omnipotent Father, Omnipresent God was one and the same

in nature and content.

Though there occurred changes in the course of time which could be innumerable,

I feel the marked resemblance that remained in essence among the Chathurvedas (four Vedas) in Sanskrit and the

scriptures in Hebrew is never accidental or even contemplated.

If God is singular, His Commandments and teachings also must be singular and absolute. The only thing is that, when the prophets inscribed them it came to light through various

languages.

Societies umpteen and cultures myriad were nurtured and nourished by these Scriptures; just as the branches of the same tree, sprout and stretch out to different directions,

where the mother tree and the soil from which it absorbs the lifegiving properties are the same.

This realization, this finding, is the realization of God.

Let us return to the warmth of this discovery;

8

this achievement.

Let us bask in that glow of truth, exhilarated and contented.

Aravindaksha Menon.

Prayer For Eternal Peace

Ohm ! Saha naavavathuSaha nowbhunakthu

Saha Veeryam KaravaavahaiThejaswi naavadheethamasthu

Maa vidwishaavahaiOhm ! Saanthi ! Saanthi ! Saanthi !

Let ‘ Brahmam ( God ), that is symbolized as Ohmkara ( word ), sustain and nourish both of us together.

Let us endeavour together to amass spiritual wisdom.Let the wisdom that we derive be radiant and divine.

Let us not cradle animosities amoung us.Let hurdles and hindrances vanish from our path towards

spiritual enlightenment.

9

Let peace, sublime, prevail in all spheres of our life, divine material and spiritual.

( Kathopanishad – Santi Patha. )

1. Christ and Indian Cultural Heritage

In his oft debated and commemorated discourse of 1900 in Los Angeles, America, Swammy Vivekananda said- “ You all, often forget a vital fact that the Man from Nazareth belonged to the Orient. Even after all your efforts to portray Him in his blue eyes and golden hair, the truth remains that he belongs to the Orient. All the trapping and frills that made the Holy Bible picturesque, like landscape, expressions, gatherings, lyrics, symbols, all unequivocally declare that the backdrop is the East.

The bright sky, the heat, the sun, the sandstorm, man and cattle exasperated by thirst, people who throng at the wellside with pots to draw water, farmers, the brisk activities in the farmlands, the fixtures to irrigate the land, its ponds, the grinding stone for corn, all descriptions are the same as you see them in Asia today.”

Remember, these were the words of an Indian who symbolizes Indian culture in its totality who has reached this podium in America from his land behind the seven seas.

10

Do we need a more authoritative confirmation other than this that establishes the relationship Jesus Christ had with the Indian heritage? Again these concordances or semblances which we might feel as superficial are not accidental or contrived . The pearls of similarity are aplenty in the depths of spirituality too. One will be surprised to note the essence of the words of God depicted in the Hoy Bible flowing as an undercurrent throughout the Indian Vedas and Upanishads. Sometimes apparent and sometimes subdued.

The similarities between the Godly vision see in the trilogy of Vedas and the Upanishads, its appendages, which are the cornerstones of Indian culture, blossomed and branched out through twenty centuries, from the banks of river Kubha ( Kabul – Afganistan ) and the Jewish – Christian Godly concept that sprouted on the banks of Jordan, once deeply studied and closely observed, will render us wonderstruck. But later, when sacraments and rituals have transformed, while streamlined religion adapted them through centuries, original principles in there essence were comfortably or conveniently forgotten and discarded. And they were moulded suitable to vested interests and conductive to prevailing religions climates. Sadly, learning Vedas and Upanishads became exclusive right of an elite few. Later it degenerated into a vocation for a small sect of people for their livelihood.

The system of education with strong western leanings and the scientific, technological and the industrial revolutions that shook the western hemisphere, played a protagonist’s role in bringing it down to a pathetic level.

Politicising religion was another mishap that gave a fatal push to human values and virtues on its downhill journey to the pitiable abyss where it is today.

11

Political institutions which capitalized on social injustice and economical inequities held sway over religions and faiths explicitly or otherwise for their survival and growth. The man of today is getting drowned in waves and whirlpools of that violent torrents.

This degeneration spiritually, which was a universal phenomenon, led mankind into a precarious situation. He was flung mercilessly far away from his God.

Quite unawares , without any of his initiative, sadly, he was pushed into that heinous world of sin. His ignorance of the existence of God and the absence of the paraphernalia to attain the divine faith were the vital reason. The man of today, steeped to his eyebrows in that repulsive world of sins lies abandoned in the abyss of destiny’s wrath and punishment. The atmosphere reverberates with the clamor and lamentations of that man for a straw to save himself from that fatal and repulsive depths. This pitiable situation is evident and is visible throughout the population on the face of this earth. And this has contaminated not only his spiritual and social spheres, but also his day- to-day existence.

But, it is a matter of consolation to find that this has corroded the Indian edifice comparatively much less, when the world as a whole being suffocated by this monstrous affliction. That is the dignified and ethereal character of our spiritual and cultural heritage. The Indian scenario was not so sadly depraved even until in the 19th century, when the oppressed labour force exploded clamoring that religion is an intoxicant, for they were fed up by the torments inflicted upon them by the devilish fraternity of the rulers and the religious hierarchy.

The priests who were rejoicing on the high pedestal of Rajgurus, feathered their nests exploiting their proximity with the rulers. But as a matter of principle they never allowed the rulers to stray, even once, from their duty

12

of righteousness that ensured the welfare of their subjects. This is the very reason why the working class sovereignty and its ideologies could not gain currency in India. To quell the mass outcry and for their own survival the priest and their fraternity, propagated and established religious faiths, gilt-edged with vivid and colourful rituals, temple sacraments, diluting the conventional and hardcore religious tenets. These innovative approaches have become accepted as popular law today. The Veda and Upanishad education is totally neglected and is looked down as obsolete. Exploiting the prevalen religious faiths by playing upon its delicate chords, the ruling and opposition political parties ensure survival today. The original goal, the spiritual bliss that can be attained through divine faith, is lying lifeless, deserted on the wayside.

What is the solution? There are no shortcuts. Let us return to reality. Discern the truth, discover it. Let us walk back towards the pristine originality of the Indian heritage, to its untainted glory, to its profuse fountainhead, to the peaks of its heavenly principles and ethereal ideologies and rejoice in that enlightening discovery. When we probe into the Vedas and Upanishads for their infinite meaning, with that inquisitiveness warranted when in search of the truth, we might reach at an exhilarating discovery of a treasurehouse that is resplendent with so much of scholarly material concealed by today’s religious machinery, deliberately or accidentally. And we will be amazed by the concordance that they have with the Jewish - Christian faith which were later stamped as ignoble and alien.

It is this resemblance or affinity, no doubt has prompted Swamy Vivekananda, a saintly incarnation who reached lands beyond the horizon, propelled by the magnanimity of the Hindu heritage, to see Jesus Christ as one who belonged to the Orient.

13

Swamy Vivekananda happily gives Jesus Christ, the altar of God. He said “I am from the Orient. If I adore Jesus Christ, I have only one way – Worship him as my God, no way else.” ( selection from Swamy Vivekananda- Page 411)

Indian Vedic scholars, so many, after Swamy Vivekananda thought in the same vein. But the modern educational system and vocational educational patterns together, discouraged aspirants to enter into pastures of Vedic and Sanskrit education. Here, the original knowledge of eternal truth, even if one desire, becomes a vanishing horizon.

Later, capitalising on this ignorance, religious patriarchs and political opportunists made cleavages is the masses, igniting animosities between them, that still remain, which could flare up anytime, as far as humanity exists on the face of the earth.

Let us withdraw from that meaningless mudslinging as the proverbial frog of the well which thought that its well is the biggest and there is no bigger, if we remember the parable of Swamy Vivekananda.

Solomon, the Wise said, “Fear God, and keep His commandments; for that is the whole duty of every one”. ( Ecclesiastes 12: 13)

Religious awareness is not only learning ones own religious tenets. It is not gloating over in that false pride either. It is achieved by respecting other faiths and discovering their richness.

Above all, it is to know and obey God.

_______________________

14

2. Rigveda and The Hebrew Scripture

Among the four Vedas, Rigveda stands foremost and supreme for its complete authenticity. It is calculated that the nucleus of Rigveda was evolved between 2600 and 1500 B.C. There is no unanimous opinion about its time of origin among scholars. Anyhow, scientific calculations allow almost Eight thousand years of age to this Veda. It is believed that its inscription has started on the banks of river Kubha, now a part of Afganistan. This voluminous study which comprised of ten volumes ( Mandalams) contained thousand and twenty eight aphorisms, ten thousand five hundred and sixty hymns and seventy four thousand words is esteemed to be a mammoth work for which numerous saints have toiled years together. Savya, Nodhas, Parashara, Gothama, Kulsa, Kalsheevath, Paruchepa, Deerghathamas and Agastya take credit for the creation of the first volume. Gulsamada, Vishwamitra, Vamadeva, Athri, Baradwaj, Vasista coined second to seventh chapters respectively. It is seen in records that the eight and ninth volumes were penned by Kanvakula and sixty and odd other hermits. The tenth volume was recited or chanted by a multitude of saints, the record adds.

15

The inscription of Vedas which was started on the banks of Kubha concluded on the banks of Indus.

It was time when language did not have a written form, for letters were not coined then and the hymns which the saints divined by Godly revelation were given to their disciples by word of mouth who by diligence preserved it in their memory. Hence this period was earmarked as the ‘ Period of hearing’ ( Shruthikala).

The disciples who incessantly chanted these hymns which they registerd in their memory well etched, preserved them aglow without a flicker through generations. This period is called the ‘ Period of memory ’ ( Smrithikala). When in 1500 B.C., Sanskrit language evolved its letters for inscription, Saint Badarayana Krishna compiled the hymns and aphorisms of Veda into a book form. Krishna Dwaipayana, who later become world renowned by the name Saint Vedavyasa condenced the Vedas and codified them in volumes. The period that marked the coming of letters and the compilation of Vedas is called the “ Era of Veda” ( Veda kala).

Vedic hymns were the revelations derived by the sages from time to time. Rigveda, which sage Badarayana Krishna composed and later Vedavyasa compiled has ten Volumes. Its last volume is supposed to have been chanted by many sages in unison. Being the last volume, its time of composition is fixed in the 16th century B.C. The ‘ Panchagrandhi ’ ( five books ) of Moses in the Holy Bible also could be its contemporary in composition. Whatever the time of recording of composition, the book of Genesis, the history of creation of the universe, by its style of narration has a marked similarity with the hymns of Rigveda. In the book of Revelation, the last book in the Bible, we can see a lot of resonance, at so many places, similar to the hymns of Rigveda.

16

‘ Prajapathy ’, the male image, the pivotal figure in the tenth volume of Rigveda is the central point of this concordance. The birth and public life of Jesus Christ of the Holy Bible maintain an intimate similarity with this worshipful male.

In the first hymn of the 121st aphorism in the tenth volume of Rigveda, the narration about the birth of this male is given like this:-

“ Hiranyagarbha: samavarthathagre

Bhuuthasya jaatha: pathireka aaseethSadaadhaara Prudhwivivim dyaamuthemam

Kasmai devaaya havisha vidhemam.”

‘Prajapathy’ alias ‘Hiranya garbha’, the first born, was born to Holy Spirit ( Paramatma ) before Genesis. Upon birth, He became one and only God to the universe comprising the Skies, Stars, Earth and the Seas. He rules the endless firmament and the whole of the earth. We please this deity, Prajapathy, who is called ‘ Kan’ affectionately, with offerings in sacrifieces. ( Rigveda X : 121, 1 )

We can see a mention of this Son of the spirit of God in Ithareyopanishad also.

“ Sa eekshatheeme nu lokaLokaa Paalaanusruja ithiSodbhaaya eva purusham

Samudruthya moorcchayaat” After the creation of the Firmament, Earth and Waters, the Holy Spirit of the God thought like this. “I have created all the Worlds. For them I should create a protector ( Saviour). With this intention, the Holy Spirit created a male from His own self. ( Ithareyopanishad 1: 1: 3 )

17

In the Holy Bible, in the three Gospels of Mathew, Luke and John, the words of God keep a crystal clear resemblance with the Vedic excerpts, cited above directly and otherwise.

A good possibility for a doubt at this context cannot be ruled out. How can ‘ Prajapathy’ who was born before genesis be Jesus Christ who lived just two thousand years ago? John enlightens us here in chapter 8 verse 58. “ Jesus said: Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.” 1: 15-17 of Colossians ratifies this “ He is the first born of all creations, the image of the invisible God Almighty. Because every thing visible and invisible in heaven and on earth is created in Him. He is there before everything and everything is founded in Him.”

In the narration of creation in Genesis, God creates “light” immediately after creating the skies and earth. In the Gospel of John, verse 1 to 14 unequivocally establishes that, that light descendes on earth , adopts the human form, lives amidst us, which testifies the Eternal entity of Jesus Christ, who is devoid of Alpha and Omega. Hence Jesus is the image of the timeless God.

“ Thsmaad viraada jaayathaviraajo adhi purusha :

sajaatho athyarichyathapaschaad bhoomimadhopura:”

From that male the universe came into being. From that body of the universe came the Omnipresent male. That male thus became manifest, adopted various forms and created the earth and other planets along with the creatures to live in them. ( Rigveda X : 90 : 5 ) In John 1: 3 says, “ Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him.” Isn’t this similarity in essence between these mutually supporting statements, amazing?

18

Rigveda says again about this male, the creator and sustainer.

“ Purusha evedam sarvamYadhbutham yachabhavyamUthaamruthathwasya eesana

Yadaannenathirohathi”It is definitely this very same male who exists now, who has gone by and who is expected to come. Not only that, it is this same male who controls the state of eternity ( immortality).

It is for the redemption of mankind, he surpasses his immortal sphere and descends to the mortal sphere. He comes to give everyone recompense as per his deeds. ( Rigveda X : 90: 2 ) In the book of Revelation, in the Holy Bible, St. John says, verse 8 chapter 1. “ The Lord God, who is, who was, who is to come”. In John’s Gospel 8th chapter 51st verse Jesus says: “ I am telling you the truth. Whoever obeys my teaching will never die”. Again in the book of revelation, 22: 12 Jesus says “ I will bring my reward with me, to give to each one according to what he has done”. All the assignments entrusted to the idol male is fulfilled in Jesus Christ perfectly. Maintaining resemblance word by word, these statements do not merely coincide in content, but it reveals a singular purpose or meaning. We should remember that this unique oneness or singularity is seen in ‘Purushasookta’ which the venerated Vedavyasa had applauded as the aphorism of aphorism.

In this very same ‘ Purushasookta’ there is a mention of a divine sacrifices for the deliverance and salvation of human race too.

“ Thaam yajnam barhishi proukshanPusham jaathamagratha

Thena deva ayjantha

19

Saadhya rushaschaye”Devas of heaven and the ruling fraternity along with the hermits offered the first born male in sacrifice by consecrating him as the animal of offering by tying him on a wooden sacrificial post. ( Rigveda X: 90: 7 )

We read in all the four Gospels in the Holy Bible-Jesus was cosigned to a wooden Cross by Pilate, the representative of the Roman Empereor, Herodes, the Jew King ( Ruler), two priests named Annas and Caiaphas and their henchmen. The crucifixion of Christ should not be seen as a punishment for a mere revolutionary for treason. And it is not only something to convince the world that it is a sacrifice for the redemption of humanity as a whole; It is the fulfillment of prophecies of the old testaments. If the blood of Christ shed on the Cross is the cleansing factor for the believer of Christianity, here Rigveda comes again.

“ Thamevam Vidwaanamruthaiha bhavathy

Naanya pandha ayanaaya vidyathe”

Those who worship ( Chanting with the lips, believing in the heart) him gets librated in this world itself and there is no other way besides this for salvation. ( Rigveda X: 90: 16)

St. Paul, the Apostle of Christ says in Romans 10: 9 “Because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Here again the erstwhile controversy disillusions the seeker of truth. The Veda proclaims that all the creation in the universe takes place through the offering of this male incarnation, the sacrifice of Prajapathy. Then how can the crucifixion of Jesus Christ which took place only two thousand years ago be the Holy sacrifice of the male incarnation masterminded by the

20

Devas, Rulers and the Saints for the redemption, salvation and sustenance of all creations before Genesis?

According to the old testament, Christ is the promise of the compassionate God ( Yehwe) for the redemption and deliverance of man. ( In Greek language ‘Christ’ and in Hebrew Messiah – means one who is sent, one who is anointed). In the New testament Jesus of Nazareth is the fulfillment of this promise. According to Rigveda, God had visualized the mode of salvation for the man before creating him. And the incarnation of Prajapathy and his subsequent sacrifice are the promise God had given man as this means of salvation . It was also said that He will come to earth as a mortal to experience the worldly affairs. Hence there in nothing wrong to assume that Prajapathy is nobody else but Jesus of Nazareth himself.

It can be seen in all the four gospels in the Holy Bible that Jesus Christ had blessed so many with his healing touch during his public life as a part of the spiritual mission he had embarked upon. These healings were just the demonstrations of the divine powers Jesus Christ possessed. In the Gospel of Mark 16th chapter 18th verse, we can see that Jesus bequeathing this gift of healing to all his disciples and to all those who believe in him, at the time of resurrection. “They will place their hands on sick people, who will get well”. In the first letter written by Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians also we can see that the Holy Spirit has given man the power to heal. It is said that even at the time of the Apostles the divine healing and its prayers prevailed.

In Acts we can see that Paul the apostle giving miraculous healing to a lame man in chapter 3, verses 6 and 7. In the 5th chapter of Acts we can see that crowds of people came in from villages and town in search of the Apostles, bringing along with them those who were ill and they were all healed. In the letter from James, chapter 5 verses 14, give crystal clear guidelines about the prayers for healing. “Are

21

any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick.”

The early church adamantly believed in the healing through prayers and recommended it. I can be seen in the old testament that the prophets give healing to so many by prying in the name of the Lord. In the 5 th chapter of 2 King , it is recorded that prophet Elisha has given healing to King Hesekia. Keeping this much material in our mind let us enter into the 163rd aphorism of 10th volume in Rigveda. There are six hymns in this aphorism. All are hymns for healing. These hymns are formulated with the insistence that it be chanted by the performing priests while embalming the ailing’s body with pure ghee, exactly the same way as the head priests of the church pray with anointing the sick with oil.

“Akshheebya naasika bhyaamKarnaabhyaanchabukadadhi

Yakshmam Sheershaabhyam masthishkamJihwaya vivruhamithe”

O! afflicted,I am eradicating your affliction

from your eyesfrom your nose

from your ears andfrom below your lips and

the malady of your brain andfrom your tongue

I remove your illness.

22

“Greevabhyastha ushneehabhya:Keekasabhyo anukyath

Yakshmandoshanya maamsabhayaamBaahubhyaam vivruhamithe”

O! You ailing, I hereby eliminate

your affliction from the veins that carry breath

from the nerves of your neckfrom your bones

from jointsfrom the chest, shoulders and hands.

“ Aandrebhyasthe gudaabhyoVanishto hridayadadhi

Yaashmaam mathasnaabyaam yaknaplaashibhyo vivruhamithe”

O! You sick and sufferingI herein remove

your illnessfrom the veins of your small intestinefrom the veins that carry oxygen and

enzymes from the large intestine,from the heart

from the mango shaped kidneys on the both sidesfrom your lungs and spleen.

“Oorubhyaanthe astee vadbhyaam,paarshanibhyam prapadaabyam

Yakshmam shronibhyam bhaasadaadBham Saso vivruhamithe”

O! Sick man,I hereby vanquish

the malady from your thighsfrom the knees

from the rear of your legs

23

from the soles of your feetfrom your navel

and from your anus.

“Mehana dhwangkaranallombhya Sthena Khebhya:Yakshma Sarva SathmanaSthamidam vivruhamithe”

O! sick man, here I wipe awayyour ailments

from where water surges from the hair prostrutions

from the nailsand from the body as a whole.

“Angaadangallomnolomno jaatham parvani parvaniYakshmam Sarva Sadaathmana

Sthamidam vivruhamithe”

from all the limbs from hair

from pores from each joint

from the total bodyI take away your afflictions.

This prayer, which is for the healing from every affliction that could infest every part of human body, from head to toe, is as old as the faith in God itself. The life of Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of all the prophecies written in the Gospels of the Holy Bible. The early Christians continued the healing ministry of Jesus. But later, with the advent of science and medicine, man was influenced by rationalistic thinking and reasoning which prompted him to overlook his intellectual and emotional faculties and ultimately lost faith in the powers of divine healing. Man,

24

thus refused to approve even the psychological fact that healing could be achieved by tuning up the will power and tilting the balance of the mind through ardent prayer. But, by the revival of the pattern of prayer with Veda prompted hymns, if applied fervently healing miracles, signs, it is found, came back within man’s reach, and repeated even today.

The controversial subject of abortion has reached even the United Nations recently for discussion and debate. Various Christian Organisations spearheaded by the Pope clamoured that it is a sin equivalent to murder and cannot be allowed whatever reasons and circumstances attributed to it. Why the other spiritual leaderships refuse to see it as a spiritual problem?

In the 10th volume of Rigveda, the 162nd aphorism advocated the safety of pregnancy and strongly protests against abortion through these hymns.

“Brahmanagni samvidanorakshohabadhathamitha:ameevayasthe garbhamdurnoma yonimashaye”

O! Pregnant womanwhichever monster

approaches you with the evil intention to destroy

your pregnancywhovever approaches

your womblet fire destroy him with this hymn.

“Yastho garbha mameevadurnoma Yonimashaye

agnishtam brahmana Sahanishkravya dhamaneenashath”

25

Whichever monster approaches your pregnancy

with ill wills approaches your womb

with evil designslet this hymn totally

destroy that carnivorous with fire.

“ Yasthe hanthi pathayanthamnishadh snu YassareesripamJaatham Yasthejigham Sathi

thamitho nashaya masi”

O! Pregnant woman,whichever devil kills the pregnancy

that lives in your wombwhichever monster kills the foetus

that is taking human shapeby three months

whoever intends to kill the baby that is evolved

in ten monthsI destroy him

in the presence of this sacred fire.

“ Hashtha ooru viharathyandaradam patheeshaye

Yonim Yo anthararelhithamithom nashaya mase”

O! Pregnant womanwhoever attempts at abortion

whatever comes between man and wife(obstructing conception) whoever tries to displace

that seed from your womb(making ineffective)

I destroy him in the presence of the Holy fire.

26

“Yasthwa bhratha pathirbhoothwajaro boothwani pathyathe

prajam yasthe jigham Sathithamitho nashayamasi”

Whoever come to carnal union with you

and thus wishes to kill your baby,be in the form of brother,

husband, loverI destroy him

in the presence of this Holy fire.

“Yasthwa Swapnena thamasamohayithwani padyathe

prajam yasthe jigham Sathithamitho nashayamasi”

Whoever carries youto a dreamy state of a fool

and tries to abort your pregnancytries to kill your baby

I destroy him in the presenceof this Holy fire.

These hymns of prayer that is intended to alter sterility into fertility, to dissuade abortion, to safeguard pregnancy and to protect from miscarriage provides us with points to ponder.

We see these hymns the sacrificer who annihilates those who attempt abortion or those who hinder conception, in the presence of the Holy fire which is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. Why is it that Christianity is the lone crusader against the artificial contraceptives and abortion?

27

Rigveda is not only a spiritual anthology. This great book presents man with a splendid outlook of life through spiritual perspective. All branches of learning have evolved and originated from the Vedas, it is well manifest here.

The visions by revelation derived by the sages have given them intricate knowledge of even human anatomy and its various functions. It will be an exercise in vain to probe for the scientific authenticity in these visions. But the scientific findings by experiments and research arrived later have proved to be analogous and appropriate to these visions and never vice versa and this is a glad endorsement of the authenticity of the Vedas in their content.

____________________________________

3. The Upanishads and Christ

The Vedas are divided into two sectors called KARMAKANDA and JNANAKANDA. And Upanishads are written as annexures of JNANAKANDA. Because knowledge attains its absolute and ultimate form with the attainment of Upanishad- truth, Upanishads are known as Vedantha. Upanishads have no fixed numbers, because they are numerous and varied.

The prominent among them are Ekadashopanishads which are eleven in number.

28

Eashavasyam, Kenam, Katham, Prashnam, Mundakam,Mandukyam,Eithareyam,Thaithareyam,Shwethashwatharm Chadokyam, Brihadaranyakam are the Ekadashopanishads. The largest among these is the Brihadaranyakam. And this hymn in Upanishad is timeless.

“ Ashtho maa sathgamayaThamaso maa jyothirgamaya

Mruthyor maa amruthamgamaya”

“Lead me to the truth from the untruth. Lead me to light from darkness. Lead me from death to immortality.” ( Brihadaranyakam 1: 3, 28)

There is a befitting parallel to this eternal prayer of ancient India, word by word, in the Holy Bible in the words of Jesus Christ.

In 14: 6 John, Jesus says “I am the way, and the truth and the life.” In 8:12 John, Jesus said “ I am the light of the world.” Again in John 8;15. Jesus said “Whoever obeys my teaching will never die.”

Can anybody dismiss this affinity in essence as mere coincidence?The first section of Mundkopanishad says:-

“ Plavaa hetye adrutha yajna roopaAshta dasokthamavaram yeshu karma

Ethachreyo yebhinadimoodaJaraa mruthum the punarevapi yanti.”

The sacrifices of inferior nature, devoid of wisdom, which should be performed by eighteen priests, are insufficient like boats without required strength, weak and harmful to traverse the worldly tides. Those who resort to them are mere mortals. The fools who depend on them embrace decay and death. ( Mundakam 1:2,7)

29

“Avidyayaamanthare varthamaanaSwyam dheera pandithamanyamaanajangkhanyamaana pariyanthi mooda

andhenaiva neeyamaana yadhaandha.”Fools who dwell in sheer ignorance , but proudly claim to be brave and learned (scholarly) usually nosedive into the abyss of disaster because of their ignorance. They are like the blind led by the blind. ( Mundakam 1: 2:8) These hymns are really abusing the priest, who in their ignorance prompt the devotees to offer sacrifices and perform it themselves on their behalf. These priests are called the blind who lead the blind and the devotees who listen to them are mocked as the blinds led by the blind. Jesus repeats these allegations word by word in 23: 23-24 of the Gospel by Mathew in the Holy Bible. Jesus frequently admonishes those priests who claim themselves to be honest and scholarly in the accomplishment of religious rituals.

The Holy Bible defines the faith in God Philosophically. Hebrew 11: 1 avers- “ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the convictions of things not seen.”

Though not accessible to one’s senses and not giving us the material evidence , to be certain that God exists, is the thing called belief.

Kathopanishad says about the Hoy spirit thus:-“ Naiva vaacha na manasaa

Praapthum shakyo na chakshushaAstheethi bruvathonyathraKadham thadupalabhyathe”

The holy spirit of the God cannot be reached with the eyes, mind, or words. Only those who believed that He

30

exists and says so, will be reaching Him. ( Katham 6 :12)

“Nishkalam, nishkriyam saanthamNiravadyam Niranjanam

Amruthasya param sethumDaghendhana mivaanalam

Thamahadevam saranam prapaadye”

I take refuge in that Lord who is innocent, unblemished, inert, sinless and who is the strong bridge between worldly and eternal lives and who is as calm as the embers, flames subsided, after fully consuming the logs of wood. ( Shwethashwatharopanishad 6:19)

More interpretations are not warranted to identify this God as Prajapathy- the male incarnation described in the previous chapter. The virtues of the resurrected Christ befit exactly to this glorious image.

Jesus is above the taint of sins by birth and by deeds in life, who is testified as flawless and innocent, even by the thief crucified on his right and also by Pilate, the ruler; Jesus who became the way and door to the eternal life for one who seeks, Jesus, who rejoiced in peace accomplishing everything ( Completing his mission). How can one say that God whom Sage Swethashwathara has seen in his vision is not Jesus Christ?

Upanishads are those which scrutinise and probe the worldly life and then attempt an in- depth analysis. Quite often, the Holy words of Jesus Christ, we will be amazed, are repetitions, word by word, of the verse of the Upanishads. These concordances have paved way for the historians to presume that Jesus visited India before his life in public.

31

_____________________________________

4. Jesus Christ of Bhavishapurana

Law, logic, philosophy, mythology etc. are created as subsidiaries to Veda. Mythology portrays in dramatic details the good and evil, ecstacies and sorrows, love and hatred in its varying force and forms. “Vishnupurana” written depicting the core meaning of Vedas and the scientific principles, in narrative fiction was the first among mythologies to appear in book form. It was written by sage Parashara. Later his son Vedavyasa wrote eighteen mythologies idolizing his father’s original creation. It may be calculated that these mythologies came to light 5100 years ago if one goes by the period Vedavyasa lived.

32

There is another opinion prevalent now that it could be between 700 and 600 BC. This difference could have surfaced because of the gap between the original time of creation and the actual record of discovery. But it is certain that it was centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ. The word ‘ Bhavisha’ means future. Hence Bhavisha purana ( futuristic mythology) denotes to the things that could happen in the future, visualised by powerful meditation.

What is relevant here, is that everything, every episode and every character portrayed in the holy Bible appears in the form of prediction in this Indian mythology.

In this epic , the 28th verse, 4th chapter, 1st part in the book ‘Prathisargaparvam’ says like this:-

“ Indriyani damithwaYehyaathmadhyaana parayana:thasmad Aadama naamaasoupatnee Havyavathee Smritha”

Adaman and his wife Havyavathy are born with all the virtues, complete control of the senses and the spiritual forbearance of the mind. God creates a captivating paradise and gifts it to Adaman to live happily. Adaman reaches beneath the tree of sin in the garden, eats its forbidden fruit, tempted by Kali disguised as a snake, resulting his carnal desires come alive, which culminates in his involving in sexual intercourse with Havyavathy. The Bible narrates the same episode word by word in the book of Genesis.

As detailed in the Bible later, the lineage of Adaman is very long and luminous. The son of Adaman and Havyavathy is Shwethanama (Seth). His son is Anoohan ( Enoch ). Then the lineage goes like this. Keenashan (Kenan), Mahallalan( Mahallalel), Viradan( Jered), Hanukan( Enoch), Manochillan( Methuselah), Lomakan ( Lamaech), Newhan( Noah). [Biblical terms in brackets]

33

God warns His devotee Newhan in his dream, of the impeding flood and asks him to take refuge in a boat along with his whole family. Newhan embarked on the boat with his family. The floodgates of the sky opened and fell on the earth for forty days and forty nights. The flood came. All the four seas came into confluence. Only Newhan, his kith and kin along with the hermits of Badarya survived. By their fervent prayer the flood subsided and the water was gone.

Note the close resemblance and oneness, even in the names of the lineage from Adam and Eve to Noah in the book of Genesis of the Holy Bible and above. The difference is only that in the Bible it is treated symbolically while narrating history, whereas in Bhavishapurana it is given as prediction of the future. Noah, Ark, Forty days flood and its riddance by exactly one year, are all predicted word by word. Not only that, the lineage beginning with Noah to Abraham will definitely startle us.

The sons of Newhan are Siman (Shem), Haman(Ham), and Yakuthan(Japheth). Sons of Japheth are Jumren(Gomer), Majoojan(Magog), Maadi(Maadai), Yoonan(Jovan), Thoovalan(Tubal), Masakan(Meshech) and Theerasan (Tiras).

The son of Siman ( Shem) is Arkansadan( Arpachshad). His son Simhalan ( Shelah). Then Evrathan(Eber) Phalajan(Peleg), Reu (Reu), Jujan(Servig), Nahooran(Nahor), Taharan(Terah). For Taharan the sons are Aviraman(Abraham), Nahooran(Nahor) and Haranan ( Haran).

Then it was predicted that a master ( Paruarch) will come by the name Moosa (Moses) and his faith will spread all over the world. When the era of Kali has reached three thousand years (This is the 5o95th year of the that era. So it is two thousands years ago) Jesus Christ appears with the name ‘ Esa Maseeha’ in the land of Huna. Here we

34

should remember that Jesus Christ is ‘Easa maseeh’ in Hebrew. At that time it was King ‘Shakapathi’ who ruled that land. In the mountainous terrain of Hunadesha the king’s meeting with a white clad male is described thus –

“ Ko bhavaanithi tham praahaSahovaachamudaanwitha:

Eshaputhram cha maam vidhiKumaaree garbha sambahavam

Atha Eesa Maseeha nama :”

King Shaka asked “ May I know , who you are!”. With apparent joy that male replied “ Know that I am the Son of God. I am born in the Womb of a virgin. ‘Easa Maseeha’ is my well known name.” ( Bhavishapurana – prathisarga parva, IIIrd part- 2nd chapter - 23rd verse.)

Subsequent to this introduction, that male started explaining to the King what ‘ Mlechadharma’ , is. Of late the word ‘Mlecha’ denotes something ‘bad’ . This mean and degrading estimation has arrived only because that the referred ones eat the flesh of the living beings.

It is only at the time of Sree Shankaracharya, Brahmins and Kshatriyas ( communities whose designated status as priests and rulers) have restricted their food habits to vegetarian. Since then the word ‘Mlecha’ has been considered as very mean. Till then the community of Aryans were also of the habit of consuming meat and other non- vegetarian substances. All the characters of Ramayana and Mahabharatha were non- vegetarians. (Vyasabharatha and Valmeeki Rmayana) Ayurveda, a subsidiary of Veda also must have inhibited the Aryans from consuming non vegetarian food. Bhavisha Purana emphasizes that there is no difference in principles between ‘ Aryadharma’ and ‘ Mlechadharma’ exept “Varnashrama dharmapalana.”

35

It mean that Mlechadharma was not considered as mean till the time Vedas and Epics were written.

_____________________________________

5. Gitarahasya and Christ

There is no argument or mincing words in the fact that “ Bhagavath Gita” is the most attractive, highly interpreted and largly taught subject for those who believe in Hindu faith. What we have bequeathed today is the ‘Sreemath Bagavath Gita’, extract from the immortal epic ‘Sree Mahabharatha’ . Gita is depicted ( introduced) as the principles of virtue advised by Sreekrishna to Arjuna, the third of the Pandavas, who was rendered, benumbed and inactive by the sight of his own brothers and venerable masters lined up against them in the eighteen day battle between Kaurawas and Pandavas.

36

The principles of Gita garnered relevance and gained importance, because of its effective force, that it could transform a depressed and lethargic man to an active person, rejuvenated him and its power to guide one who is steeped in disappointment and exasperation. I might be in tiresome to digest and to comprehend it in its intended force, to see this massive volume that spans eighteen chapters, as a code of advise given to a warrior who sits disillusioned on the deck of a chariot in the middle of a great battle, however dramatically it is portrayed.

There is a strong opinion which has gained currency with the passage of tie that Vedavyasa the creator of Mahabharata, who has used his artistry in every word and wizardry in narration, giving no scope for ambiguity, could not have ventured into an adventure like this, and this part could be an interpolation by somebody overenthusiastic, much later.

Scholars of Hndu Vedas like Yohan Mayor also join this league to opine. The affinity of the verses of Vedas, much more than with the other verses of Mahabhaatha adds strength to this suspicion. It can be found that most of the verses of Gita are earmarked as the narration of a scene of Mahabharatha by Lord Krishna with a prefix “ Sree Krishna Uvacha”. That could be the reason why most interpreters explain the ‘Gita Rahasya’ as evolved by Sree Krishna and overliook Vedavyasa. But we can see different versions of statements by many like “ Sanjaya uvacha” , “Yudhistira Uvacha” and “duryodhana uvacha”. More appropriate and rational approach could be to believe, that the verses of Gita as the fruit o the visions Vedavyasa had or sprung from the Vedopanishads itself, without linking it with Lord Krishna of Mahabharatha period. The research in this direction still continues.

Investing ( attributing) divine power in Sree Krishna, the first person singular usages like ‘I’ “ In me” “ To me” along the verses of Gita are interpreted as Sree Krishna

37

himself. Here the depth and dimension of the meaning gets much enhanced when this first person singular usages are presumed as God himself. ‘Adwida Siddantha’ of Sree Shankaracharya becomes meaningful and relevant only when one approaches it in this direction.

The reason for seeing the Krishna of Mahabaratha and the Krishna of Gita as two entities by the interpreters of Bhagavath Gita is that they believed that the verses of Gita are the declaration of God himself.

The venerable Scholars and philosophers like Dr.S.Radhakrishnan (Bhagavath Gita page 28) Swamy Vivekananda (The Complete work of Swamy Vivekananda Vol 1 page 438) Mahatma Gandhi (Gita – My mother. Page 38) Vinoba Bhave (talk on Gita Page 11) have emphatically confirmed that it is very difficult to see Sreekrishna, the hero of history of Mahabharatha as the ethereal and saintly Sreekrishna of Gita.

Thus we traverse along Gita, visualizing Sreekrishna as God himself, if the words of God from the Holy Bible, especially from the New Testaments surface in our mind, it is not at all surprising.

For example note this verse in Gita hereunder:-

“Manmano bhava madhbakthomadyajee maam namakurumame vaishasi yukthaivamathmanam math parayana”

(Bhagavath Gita 9:34) “Fix your mind only in me. Worship me only. Pray to me. Fix your conscience (spirit) in me knowing that I am the ultimate goal.”

38

When we accept this as the command of God, the supremacy (oneness) of the Lord is much evident and crystal clear. In the book of Exodus 20: 2, the first of the great Ten Commandments says so: “I am the Lord your God and worship no other God but me” This oneness leads us to a singular Lord.

Hindus believe in rebirth. They believe that life in this world repeats after death according to the deeds done in our worldly life. But Bhagavath Gita refers to a new life in the same life.

“Asmaakam thu visishtayeThaanni bodha dwijothama”

( Bhagavath Gita 1:7)

Here Duryodhana addresses the Brahmin Guru Drona as “Dwija”. The meanings of ‘Dwija ’ are “twice born” and “born again”. “Dwija” is a synoym for Brahmin.

The definition of Brahmin is: one who gained universal (Eternal) wisdom, one who has known God. Being born from the mother’s womb is the first birth. Knowing God after gaining wisdom is the second birth; he thus becomes a Brahmin.

In the Holy Bible in 3:3 of the Gospel of John, Jesus says; “ I am telling you the truth; no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again”. When we see the Kingdom of God, when wisdom descends upon us the second birth takes place. This is the second birth in the same life.

There are so many Gita messages apparent and subdued in the word of Christ all along.

The 15th verse of 16th chapter ‘Devasura Sampath Vibhagayaga’ of Bhagavath Gita is like this –

39

“Aadyao bhijana vanasmikonyosmi sadrushomaya

Yakshyedasyami modishyeIthyajnan vimohitha”

I am noble, aristocratic; who is there equivalent to me? I will offer sacrifices; I will be generous with gifts, I will enjoy life- These could be the defiant dreams of the ignorant who has lost his wisdom. ( Bhagavath Gita 16: 15)

Jesus explains this ignorance. Through a parable in the 18th chapter of Luke ‘s Gospel, of a wealthy Pharisee and a tax collector who went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee prayed “God, I am not greedy, dishonest or an adulterer like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like the tax collector over there. I thank you that I am not like the tax collector over there. I fast two days a seek and I give you a tenth of all my income”.

But the tax collector beat on his breast and said “God , have pity on me, a sinner “. Jesus said “I tell you, the tax collector, not the Pharisee was in the right with God”.

“sarvadharmam parithyajyamamekan sharanavraja

aham thaw sarva papebhyamokshayishyami maa Shucha”

In the last chapter of Bhagavath Gita, Lord Krishna says again- “ Leave all your deeds (Affairs) and take refuge in me. I shall free you from all your sins.” (Bhagavath Gita 18: 66)

It is not the sacrifice of the total deeds that is inferred here. It is advised in the Gita itself that ones duty or worldly obligations of designed missions, a must. The suggestion ( instruction) here to detach from all duties is

40

only a call to discard the ego (arrogance)- of the affairs of the body, mind and intellect.

Jesus advices in verses starting from 26 in chapter 14 of Luke’s Gospel- “ Whoever comes to me cannot be my disciple unless he loves me more than he loves his father and his mother, his wife and his children, his brothers and his sisters and himself as well.”

Here this advise of Jesus means well that only those severe the ties of all worldly belongings/relationships, the urges of body, mind and intellect and approach him with the cross of all these sacrifices could claim to be his disciples.

Jesus confirms this principle by a simple example in Luke’s gospel 10th chapter verses 39-42. When Martha, who was upset over so many work she had to do, complained about her sister Mary who sat down at the feet of the Lord and listened to his teachings, Jesus said- “Martha, you are worried and troubled over so many things, but just one is needed. Mary has chosen the right thing and it will not be taken away from her.”

Here Jesus teaches mortals how to choose eternal life through the path of wisdom, abandoning the affairs of the body, mind and intellect. This is what Jesus said to the paralysed man- “Courage my son. Your sins are forgiven.” It is not his ailment that will be healed that Jesus said, but he assured him that his sins are forgiven.

The 5th verse of the 8th chapter of Bhagavath Gita says:

“Anthakale cha mamevaSmaran mukthwa KalebaramYa: Prayathi sa madbhavamYathi nasthyathra samshaya:

41

Whoever leaves his mortal body at the time of death meditating about me, he will attain my state. The ultimate point of this Gitarahasya can be seen in 39-43 verses of the 23rd chapter of Luke’s Gospel.

One of the criminals hanging by the side of Jesus at Calvary hurled insults at him.

“Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

The other one, however rebuked him saying “Don’t you fear God? You received the same sentences he did. Our’s however, is only right, because we are getting for what we did; but he has done no wrong.” And he said to Jesus, “Remember me Jesus, when you come as King.” Jesus said to him “ I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.”

In Bhagavath Gita in the 13th chapter called “Kshethra Kshethrajna Vibhagayoga” we can see a well etched reference about the shrine that is the human body and the human spirit that is enshrined in it.

“Idam shareeram kountheyaKshethra mithyabhidheeyathe

Ekadyovethi tham prabu:Kshethrajna ithi thadwitha:

Kshethrajnam chapi mam viddhiSarva kshethreshu Bhaarata:

Kshethra Kshethrajnayor jnanamYathath jnanam matham mama”

This body is known as the temple. And whoever knows this temple is called as the inhabitant of the temple. Whoever can identify temple and its inhabitant separately should know me (spirit) as the inhabitant. This knowledge of the temple and its inhabitant, in my opinion is the precious faculty called wisdom.

42

(Bhagavath Gita 13:1,2)

St. Paul, the Apostle avers in 1Corinthians 3:16 in the Holy Bible. “Surely you know that you are God's temple and that God's spirit lives in you!”

In Bhagavath Gita 9th chapter, 18th verse, Lord Krishna claims-

“Gathirbhartha Prabhu : Sakshinivasa : sharanam suhruth

Prabhava : prlaya : SthanamNidhanam beejamavyayam”

“I am the resort and refuge , the ruler, controlling everything, the witness to every happening, the seat of everything, hope for all, fulfilling every wish, the source, the way, the goal and the nucleus that has no end or death.” Jesus Christ says in John 14:6 “I am the way, and the truth and the life.” Again in Revelation 1: 8 He says, “I am the first and the last.”

The 31st verse of Bhagavath Gita 9th chapter says- “Kshipram bhavthi dharmathma

Shashwachanthim nigachathiKountheya prathi janeehi

Name baktha : pranashyathi”

The one who prays to God in total surrender is being cleansed and blessed within no time. He attains eternal peace. Know that my follower will never go astray.” Jesus Christ reiterates on and off in all the four Gospels, that the one who believes in Him and His father never goes in vain but attains eternal Kingdom. In the 20 th

verse of 10th chapter in Bhagavath Gita the Lord says-

Ahamathma goodakeha

43

Sarva bhoothashaya shitha;Ahamadishcha madhyam chaBhoothanamantha eva cha”

“I am the soul that lives within all creatures. I am the beginning, middle and the end of everything.” In 1:8 and 1:17 of Revelation the Lord says “I am the first and the last. I am for ever and ever.”

In 8:4 Bhagavath Gita also says-“Adhibhootham ksharo bhava:purushashchadhi daivatham

adhiyajno hamevathradehe deha bhrutham vara”

“Everything that is lost or perished is only meant for the world. I am the presiding deity that dwells in the body, heart and intelligence and I am the supreme sacrifice in this body!” John the Baptist tells about Jesus in john’s Gospel 1:29. “There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

In the 11th chapter called Vishwaroopa Darshana Yoga of Bhagavath Gita, Lord Krishna reveals His real image (real form, potential) to Arjuna. Brilliantly bright as the Sun, omnipresent in all the worlds, who does not have a beginning or end, so vibrant and venerable, He amazed Arjuna and inspired him with awe, that guided him into total belief and reinforced him with strong determination.

In Mathew’s Gospel 17th chapter, verses 2 to 4 portray how Jesus revealed himself to Peter and the brothers James and John. “His face was shining like the Sun and his clothes were dazzling white”, which has intensified the belief of St. Peter to the extent to arrive at a decision never to leave that place.

44

The underscoring essence of Gita is the advices to how to live in this world and about the path to the ultimate goal, the eternal life. The preachings and teachings of Jesus Christ also pertain to this eternal life only. The verses cited above in Bible and Bhagavath Gita are same and similar, word by word. It is well evident that all lessons the Holy Bible teaches are one and the same as what Gita teaches, when we reach to the core of the content of both. Hence, we should accept or see Bhagavath Gita as the herald of forerunner of the New Testament of the Holy Bible.

_______________________________________

6. Jesus Christ and Swamy Vivekananda

History has recorded, well clearly, that thousands of Hindus and people of other faiths in India have embraced Christianity in the first century A.D itself. But the real Hindu and the first one who has discovered the real Christ in the real sense and magnanimity, certainly was none other than Swamy Vivekananda. In all preachings and spiritual advices that he bestowed upon his beloved land, India and its people, Jesus Christ and His visions occupy a place of price, with all brilliance of greatness.

Sree Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Vivekanada’s Guru, had a vision of Christ, while in meditation in Dakshineshwar , Bengal. Sree Ramakrishna in that inspiration said- “Brahmam (Spirit) is much beyond the human mind and intellect.” But he again says that it can be attained with clear conscience.

45

Jesus says in Mathew’s Gospel 5:8 – “Happy are the pure in heart; they will see God.”

(In his famous book “Christ the Saviour, Christ the Myth” Prajananda Swamy of Sree Ramakrishna Mission describes about this vision of Sree Ramakrishna Paramahamsa)

Sree Ramakrishna must have been immensely attracted by this word of God from the Bible and that attraction must have elicited the above statement from him. May be, it is since then Jesus Christ and his teachings have occupied of Sree Ramakrishna Mission, a renowned Hindu Spiritual Organisation. Christmas eve and Christmas day are celebrated with pomp and fanfare in all branches of this organization every year. Seminars and debates are held on Christ’s vision on these days.

Swamy Prajananda, vedantist and Saint of Sree Ramakrishna Mission wrote about Christmas – “There needs no argument or controversy about Christ’s birth, that it has taken place exactly on December 25th. Whichever date it is, let us worship its sanctity and pray to this Son of God to guide us to eternal peace and light. (Christ the Saviour, Christ the Myth-Page 30)

Another prominent Vedantist of Sree Ramakrishna Mission, Swamy Abhedananda wrote- “The important things Christ held dear to his heart were love, sacrifice and mental restraint. That is the way God reveals himself.” “Come to me all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. “This assurance of Jesus fills optimism and hope in our hearts. Let us imbibe that voice, that is music to our ears. Let us follow it in right earnest. The real ethics and ethereal principles kept dear to heart by Jesus of Nazareth are worth emulating, that we should adopt them in our lives and enshrine them in our hearts like he did, and be like another Christ walking the face of this earth.”

46

(Why a Hindu accepts Christ and rejects Christianity- Page 9-10)

The undercurrent of this adoration or reverence can be traced with powerful force in all preachings of Vivekananda and also throughout his literary works.

“It seems that almost all the folks in the world know the symbol of a man nailed to the cross, symbol of the Saviour of the World” (Vol I P.73) “Christ was selfless, still he was crucified. It is true. But His selflessness is the driving force to a great achievement, that millions of human lives were blessed with contentment and fulfillment.” (Vol I P-134) We are trying to do the things with proper conviction which so many before us have done out of sheer ignorance. St. Paul reveals this “To an unknown God that which you worship, then, even though you do not know it is what I now proclaim to you.” (Acts 17:23)

This is a lesson the whole world should try to understand. (Vol II P-14)“Happy are the pure in heart; they will see God!” (Mat. 5:8)

Yes, in this life itself; That is what is called salvation. None of the great teachers has taught us that to attain salvation, demonstrative rituals are necessary. (Vol IV P-9)

47

While adoring Christ, I will adore him the way He likes best. I like to express my obeisance to him not by enjoying a feast of his birthday, but by prayer and fasting. (Vol IV P- 330)

When Christ touches, man’s soul transforms thoroughly. He metamorphosed like Christ himself. His whole life turns spiritual. From all the pores of his body spiritual power will emanate. (Vol IV P-331)

While teaching his students in “Thousand island park’s Swamiji opened his lecture, reading from the Holy Bible , Gospel of St. John Chapter 1. “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God”. Then he began to preach . “Hindus call this as vanity. Hindus call it as the evolution of God because it is the power of God. The reflection of the Absolute being, through this universe, through the ages, is called Vanity(Nature). But the most valued incarnation of the Absolute, Jesus Christ, is known and attainable through wisdom. The Father is unknown, unattainable, incomprehensible. But the Son, we know, we can attain. Only through Jesus we can see the absolute, the Father. (Vol VI P- 317)

Jesus –the incarnation of God on Earth. Jesus _ who does not forget his divine strength and power- He can help us .There is no flaw in him. He is absolute. (Vol VI P-318)

Be the Son. Be salvaged (Emancipated). Then, like Jesus, you also can see the Father. (Vol VI P-328)

48

Jesus left behind twelve fishermen. But those few ruined the Roman Empire. ( Vol VI P-422)

“Happy are the pure in heart, they will wee God.” (Math. 5:8)

Even if all the books and Apostles depart, this word of God (verse) alone would sustain mankind. This purity of hert cn invoke the vision of God. This is the subject of universal faith. (Vol VI P-424)

We need the missionaries of Christ, Let their lot come to India in hundreds and thousands bringing the life of Christ. Let it spread and merge with the heart of the masses(Society). Let His advices reach every village, every corner of India. (Vol VI P-439)

We are all enthralled to see Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of the Orient, as a personification of pragmatism. He was never enamoured by the evanescent glitters of the world and its material lures. There is no relevance for the perplexity inducing teachings and grueling lessons , the Westerners practice – It has almost come to the end of the tether. Lessons are not elastic; even it has its stretchable limits. Religion, at any cost should not become a handy point, an ever available topic when paucity of theme arises. Remember, let us concede the truth . Let us admit our flaws, our weaknesses, when we are reluctant to abide by accepted principles. We should not push it down the precipice; nobody should try to bring it forcefully downwards. When we hear the stories the Westerners weave around Christ, we will

49

reach at the point of disillusionment most of the times. I never know what his occupation was. Somebody portrays him as a politician. Another sketches him as a Commander of the army. Yet another goes to the extent of painting him as a patriotic Jew. Do these weird imaginations have any bearing? The best testimonial of a revered Preceptor, no doubt, is his life itself.

“Foxes have dens, birds have nests, but the Son of God has no place to rest.” Jesus says that this is the only way to salvation. He does not suggest any alternative. In all humility, let us confess that we are not prepared to endure those tribulations. ‘Myself’, ‘mine’ are the only things close to our heart and would remain so.

We hanker always after wealth and fortune. Unfortunate are we! Let us confess. We should not tarnish the worshipful mage of his son of God. He never had any worldly strings attached.

Then, do you think he will nurture any wordly ambitions? This God-no mortal-do you think has come to this earth to live among the four legged creatures? How can people fly the kite of their whims and imaginations this way? He does not have any discrimination between genders. He was soul and spirit incarnated. Only, he worked with a human body for the redemption of the world. That was the only relationship he had with that mortal body.

Soul has no gender. Soul, once free of life has no compassion, no relationship with the body. And the goal could be far flung. Does not matter. It will pursue the goal with tenacity. That should be the principle of ours too.

Let us confess that we are just falling short from the goal; simply incapable. He is the spirit and soul, no sentiments, no feelings he had besides. He is a spiritual substance, that is without body, without relationships and without limitations. With that divine powers of vision, he had

50

looked unto everyone alike, without discrimination, be it a man or woman, Jew or otherwise, prince of pauper, saint or sinner and considered al like his own self, in close proximity.

His life was something for others t idolize, on their way towards realizing the purpose of their own life. He commands to discard the humiliating thoughts that lurk in everybody, that he is poverty stricken and non – relevant. He admonishes those who resign themselves to the thought and conviction that they are a s downtrodden as slaves and liable to be tormented. Because , he says, there is something precious deep inside everyone, which cannot be tramped, disturbed, tormented and killed. For, we are all God's children. He advised . “Know that the Eternal Kingdom is enshrined in your heart.” Gain that strength in your heart to believe that “MY Father and myself are one and the same.” That is how Jesus the Nazarite inspired us all. He never goes eloquent about this world and the life therin. He is unconcerned about it. He captures the world in its present state and gives it a push. And his desire is celestial. To help everyone to find his own place in the Eternal Kingdom, to help everyone realize his spiritual goal, to help everyone dispel the all consuming fright of death, to help everyone eradicate from his conscience the woes and plains and to trigger the world to gain momentum to march forward. (Vivekananda Sahithya Sangraham Page 409-411)

The above are a few excerpts of Vivekananda literature. Swamiji could not visualize Jesus as a human being. He always adored him as the incarnation of God. He could only accept his Holy words as the echo of God's messages, never as statements or preahings of a mortal or the voice of an Apostle.

It was found later, in the diary of his secretary and constant companion, Sister Neveditha, that Vivekananda was quite often lost in contemplation about Jesus Christ even in his last days.

51

On the previous day of his Samadhi ( demise while in deep meditation), at the time of his lunch Swamiji said-“ I am fasting today.” He made sister Niveditha sit on the chair meant for him and served her lunch himself. He poured water for her to wash her hands. When she was about t dissuade him in this strange way of behavior, Swamiji asked her “Didn’t Jesus wash the feet of his disciples?”

Beaming with a smile Niveditha said-

“That was his last day”-

Swamiji was radiant with a smile, but said nothing.

The next day he became an invaluable inheritance to history.

_______________________________________

52

“Discovery of the Absolute”

(Testimony of Br. Aravindaksha Menon as being delivered at Divine Retreat Centre on Wednesday of every week)

My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,

My name is Aravindaksha Menon. As the very name suggests, I am hailing from a very orthodox semi Brahmin Hindu family. As my family was of a Bhahmin culture, I was bound to study the Hindu Scriptures, Ramayana, Mahabharatha, Bhagavath Gita from very early childhood. I was brought up in my family in a most religious way studying all these scriptures, chanting hymns and attending the pooja ceremonies in the temple every day. At the age of 18, after completing my normal education, I entered into Central Government service in an office under the ministry of commerce. Since then for a period of over 20 years I led a very happy and cheerful life. Having the effect of this spiritual training in abundance in my mind, I could always love others, I could always think for others, I could always work for others and I could lead a life without any selfish motives. Thus everybody around me, my colleagues, became my friends. Through them I could become the leader of the service organization of the establishment in which I was working. Through this politically motivated organisation I could come into contact with Indian Communist party. Within no time I became a staunch worker of the Communist party. I could become a leader of the Communist party in my locality. Through this political work, being loved and respected by my natives, through this organizational work, being loved and respected by my colleagues and friends, I could lead a very happy and cheerful life for over 20 years.

After this very happy period of twenty years, one day most unexpectedly, I lost my job. Citing ever so many political reasons; my relationship with the Communist

53

party, my work for communist party, an agitation, a big strike that occurred in my office, the leadership given by me to this strike; citing ever so many political reasons, my authorities dismissed me from the service. Always being engaged in these political and organizational work, financially I was not at all sound ever in life. I need not explain what will happen to such a family, which is already financially unsound, when its income itself is unexpectedly stopped. Within a few days, the total life of myself and my family was put into so much of financial hardships.

When financial hardships come to us, we begin to think about God, because my family is of such a great spiritual background. My family owns three temples. Three big temples in the family compound itself. The Gods incarnated in these temples are called Bharadevatas. I went to the temples of these Bharadevatas and began to pray with all my heart. Giving all sort of offerings to these temples, I spent days, weeks and months in the temples in fasting and prayers. But nothing happened to my life; nothing changed my life; nothing lessened the hardships in my life. Normally an naturally when God's blessings are denied to us, we the Hindus use to go to an astrologer and consult him; to find out what is the trouble with our lives. I also went to a very famous astrologer in our state. Four times I went to him. All the four times he found out different reasons for my hardships. Curses of a God, curses of Goddesses, curses of birth stars and so on. All the four times he suggested very expensive avoidances(penances). I did not have any money with me. I borrowed every money that I could get and attended to all these avoidances most promptly. Still nothing happened to my life. Nothing lessened the distress in my life. I lost my faith in God; I became an atheist. I was so convinced, there is no such God. God is only a myth created by man, for the welfare of the priests, astrologers and temples. As you know, there are very eminent atheists in our state. They have got their own association, their own movement. The Rationalists Association of India. I happened to meet some of the leaders

54

of this Association at this time. After hearing my story they told me “You area man of experience, nothing is to be taught to you now. Its your social duty to go around and tell others that there is no God.” Most happily I took up this assignment and for the next three years I went around the state of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andra Pradesh; I went to almost all cities of India and preached ‘there is no God. God is only a myth created by man for the exploitation of man by man.’

Eventhough I was preaching against God for all these three years, this period of three years turned out to be a blessing in disguise as far as I am concerned. Because I could read a lot of books during this period; I could come into contact with so many intellectual giants, big writers, during this period. And one of the friendships cultivated by me on those days, while I was preaching against God, changed my life totally.

One day, in a South Indian City, I was giving a lecture on Atheism. After hearing my preaching a man came to meet me . He was a Hindu Brahmin by birth. Born to a very poor family. With his own efforts he studied and became an Advocate. Then he became a Judge. A Judge of the High Court. Finally he became the Chief Justice, then retired. He was a great scholar in English and Sanskrit. Such a great man, he was. After attending to my talk, he came to me and told me.” My dear son, you have gone wrong twice. Once when your life was put into so much of hardships, thinking that you are turning to God, you did not turn to the real God. But you did turn to idols and temples, it was wrong. “I was rather astonished because these comments came from a Brahmin. He is from such a race which make a livelihood out of their worship of the idols in the temples and he tells me when I went to the temples and worshiped the idols, it was a mistake. “And secondly when you did not get benefited out of your worship of the idols in the temples, you turned to become an atheist; that’s also wrong. You are a

55

born Hindu. And you should be proud of being a Hindu. To be proud of being a Hindu, you have to go through the scriptures of Hinduism.” Very proudly I told him “I not only gone through the scriptures, I have studied them by heart. Ramayana, Maha Bharatha, Bhagavath Gita, I have studied by heart. Nothing is to be done in that respect now.” Then he laughed at me. He called me a fool and told me “ These books, Ramayana, Maha Bharatha and Bhagavath Gita are not the religious scriptures. Those are only story books. Ramayana is the story of Sri Rama, the King of Ayodya, a historical man. Maha Bharata is the story of Sri Krishna, the prince of Mathura, another historical figure. Bhagavath Gita is compiled of eighteen chapters just selected from Maha Bharata. Thee are not religious scriptures. The official religious books of Hinduism are the Vedas. The written four Vedas; the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Adharvaveda. You have to go through these Vedas. Then you will get light, You can find the truth, you can see the real God and the God will give you peace.” He advised me. Out of his advice, I did not get any faith in God. But there may be some point in this advice. To know that point, I went to a library, got a copy of the Rigveda, the first and foremost one of the four Vedas an began to read from the Veda.

After reading through some passages, I got convinced of one thing. One thing he told me was correct. I started getting the light. The very first light I could get from Rigveda, the religious books of Hinduism was that, to whomsoever Gods I went in the days of my hardships, gave offerings and prayed to, are not Gods. There are no such Gods. There are no such Gods. In the religious book of Hinduism, the Rigveda, there is the mention about only one God. He is the creator of this universe; He is the creator of all mankind the world over; He is the heavenly father, the only God. This only God is Omnipresent; He fills this universe. As the Lord Almighty is Omnipresent and a she fills this universe, nobody can see him in a particular or form. As the Lord Almighty is formless and bodiless, nobody can make an idol of God and worship an idol; it’s worthless and it’s

56

useless. A fool who is worshiping an idol gains nothing but pain and he never attains salvation. I was convinced; As there are 73 books for the holy Bible, there are 10 books for the Rigveda. Ten Mandalams. From first ninth mandalams, in several places it is clearly said who is the real God, who is man and why should man worship the God and how should he worship him. In the tenth Mandalam, besides this Lord Almighty, there is the mention about a Man. The first born and only born son of the God. His name is ‘Prajapathy.’ Prajapathy, the son of the God comes to this world at the appropriate time. After coming to this world he travels around advising mankind, what is sin and what is not sin; what is to be done and what is not to be done; what is wrong and what is right. To those human beings, who accept his advices and obey is orders, he offers prosperity and peace in this worldly life and salvation at the time of his venture to redeem mankind from sin, he gets sacrificed at the end of his specified period on earth. In verse 7 chapter 90 of the 10th book of the Rigveda, the sacrifice of Prajapathy the Son of God, is well explained. “At the time of sacrifice, the Son of God will be tightly tied to a wooden sacrificial post using iron nails by hand and legs, he will bleed to death and on the third day he will regain his life in a resurrection.” Praise the Lord!

I was totally confused. Who is this Prajapathy, who is the son of God? As per Hindu Mythology, there are 10 incarnations of God. Ten times God comes to this world.

Matsya, Koorma, VarahaschaNarasimhascha Vamana,

Ramo Ramascha Ramascha,Krishna, Kalki.

These are the ten incarnations. First I thought, this reference about Prajapathy , the son of God, will be about one among those incarnations. But is was not. Because each and every incarnation has got its own attributes. None of these attributes suit those attributes of Prajapathy as given in the

57

Rigveda and as given in Sathapadha Brahmana, a supplement to Yajurveda. Then I went to some scholars in my neighbourhood and asked them, who is this Prajapathy, who is this Son of God? One of them told me “Yes, there is a concept of Prajapathy. Praja means man. Pathy means saviour. There will be a man coming from God being the saviour of mankind; he has not yet come; we are still expecting him.” All this time Jesus was in my mind. But I being a staunch Hindu, I could not even think like that. But again I am not only Hindu, I am a atheist, I am a rationalist. I asked him “Can this reference be about Jesus Christ? That scholar asked me “ what made you think like that? I told him the attributes! All the attributes of Prajapathy, the Son of God, given in the Vedas suit those of Jesus In the Bible, that’s why I had that doubt. Then he told me” No. It can’t be. Because it happened in some Western countries, in Jerusalem or so, not here. Again I told him “ It need not be here. The mention is only Earth, Man and the God, so it can be anywhere.” Now this scholar scolded me “ You fool, don’t make such foolish arguments with me; this is a religious matter, a Godly affair, get out!” With all these confusions in my mind I went to that noble Brahmin who advised me to go through the Vedas and asked him” Who is this Prajapathy, who is this Son of God?” Then he asked me “It’s written in Malayalam, why don’t you understand? I told him “I could understand, but I have my own doubts” My dear brothers and sisters, eventhough a scholar, a born Brhamin, eventhough a scholar, a born Hindu, he told me “My dear son, there is nothing to be doubted, the only one sent by God, came to this world, tried to redeem mankind from sin and got sacrificed at the end is nobody else, but Jesus Christ!” Praise the Lord.

Then he asked me “Now its time you go through the Bible. You’ll get further truth.” I came back to my house. There is no Bible in my house. I borrowed a Bible from the nearby Christian house and I began to read Bible. When I read some passages from the very first book of Genesis itself, stronger wonders than I could find Jesus Christ

58

in the Holy scriptures of Hinduism began to appear before me in the Holy Bible. Almost all the verses I could read from Rigveda, appeared just the same in the Holy Bible. The same verses or verses with the same meanings or verses being answers to the questions, doubts and prayers in the Vedas, Upanishads and even in Bhagavat Gita. All connected verses.

I cannot go in detail about such verses now, but only give a few examples, just for your conviction and faith. The very first book in the Hoy Bible, is the book of Genesis. Genesis is the history of creation. It’s said that the Heavenly father created this universe in six days. The first day, Genesis 1:3 “The God said let there be light and there was light.” In 16:1 God creates the Sun, the Moon and the stars, which were created on the fourth day only. Then which was the light which emanated from God on the first day? Answer to this question we get from verses from 1 this 14 of St. John chapter 1. In the beginning was the word. This word from the God came to this world in the form of light. The word that came to this world as light became flesh and made his dwelling among us and that’s our Lord Jesus Christ. Now verse No 1 chapter 121 of the 10th book of Rigveda says:-

“Hirnyagarbha: samavarthathaagreBhuuthasya jaatha: pathireka aaseeth

Sadaadhaara prudhiwivim dyaamuthemamKaskai devaaya havisha vidhemam.”

In the beginning, God and his supreme spirit lone existed. From the supreme Spirit of the God proceeded Hiranya Garbha, alias Prajapathy, the first born of the God is the form of light. As soon as born, he became the saviour of all the worlds.

Rigveda X:90:2

“Purusha evedam sarvam

59

Yadbhutham YachabhavyamUthaamruthathwasya eesaana

Yaddaannenathirohathi”

This man, the first born of the God is all that was, all that is and all that has to be. And he comes to this world to give recompense to everybody as per his deeds.

Rrevelation 1:8 Says the Lord God “Who is, who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I am coming soon I bring with me the recompense I will to each according to his deeds.”

Rigveda X:90:7“Tham yajnam barhishi proukshan

Purusham jaathamagrathaThena deva ayajantha

Sadhya rushayaschaye”This man, the first born of the God, was tied to a wooden sacrificial post and the Gods and the Kings along with the seers performed the sacrifice.

All the four Gospels say-

Jesus was crucified on a wooden cross by the Rulers (Herod and Pilate) and the seers (Annas and Caiaphas)

Yajurveda XXXI:18, Rigveda X:90:16.

“Thamevam Vidwanamruthaiha bhavathyNanya pandha ayanaya vidyathe”

60

This (sacrifice) is the only way for the redemption and liberation of mankind. Those who meditate and attain this man, believe in heart and chant with lips, get liberated in this world itself and there is no other way for salvation too.

Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is the Lord and believe in heart that God has raised him from the dead you will be saved.” When I could come across all these verses, I got confused once again. I went to that Brhamin Guru again and told him ‘It’s wonderful”. Again he told me “There’s nothing to be wonderstuck. Every ancient scriptures was one and the same. Hindu, Christian and Islam were all catagorised later, all man made. The word of God was one, because God is only one. He asked me “Do you believe that God is only one? I told him “Yes, I do believe God is only one” Again he asked me “If God is only one how can the son of God be several? It is also one.”

I came back to my house. That day became an unforgettable day in my life. 27th June, 1992. All the daytime I was restless. There was a strong fight going on in my mind. The fight between the culture I was born and brought up in and the truth I have found out now from the ancient scriptures on the very same culture. I became totally restless. In the night, on my bed, I thought about Jesus Christ. Of course I knew him before; there was a picture of Jesus Christ in my mind too. Jsesus, the son of Joseph and Mariam, born in Bethlehem, brought up in Nazereth, studied the scriptures of Jew religion till the age twenty nine and a half, who tried to hold a riot against the King and the priest with the help of poor fishermen, caught buy the soldiers of the King, faced trial and killed on the Cross. This was the communist line of thinking about him. But in that night, for the first time in my life, I thought about Jesus in a different way; Jesus, the Son of God, who got sacrificed for the sins of the world. The result was wonderful. There were certain

61

hymns in the Rigveda, the meanings of which I could not understand in spite of repeated readings. But when I could ascribe Jesus as the sacrificial victim and his crucifixion as the sacrifice, the meanings of those verses came so clear to me. Then I cold understand what my Guru told me was correct. Jesus is the only Son of God.

I sat up on my bed. For the first time in my life, I, a staunch Hindu, I prayed to Jesus Christ. I don’t know how to pray. I don’t know the narrations of prayers as given in the Bible. “Oh! Our Father thou art in Heaven!” I don’t know any of such prayers. I just prayed Oh! Jesus, come to me. I am in distress. Come to me , save me .

When I prayed to Jesus, of course I don’t hesitate to confess before you now, I kept my prayers to myself. So secretly and silently I prayed so that no one should hear. Especially my wife, who is lying beside me, sleeping, should not hear. It’s rather shameful for me to pray to Jesus Christ. But One thing is there. I have come to the faith to the Jesus Christ studying the Hindu scriptures. Not inspired by the Bible, not inspired by any Christian priest or friend. So what if my wife knows?; she should know. But I could not think so at that time. Because the reason was not that my wife also belongs to a Hindu family. No, that was not the reason. On the day of our marriage, my wife had made a peculiar request to me. She also belongs to a Hindu family like mine. But all her neighbours were Christians. Very orthodox Roman Catholics. In each and every family there is one priest and two or three nuns. So many of classmates and friends are now studying for priesthood or to become sisters. Cue to her close acquaintance with these families, from early childhood, she believes in Jesus Christ. Every day she prays to Jesus. Every Sunday she goes to the Church and attends the mass. I, being a staunch Hindu, should not object her practices; that was her request to me. I told her “ I am a communist, an atheist. I don’t have such faith. I don’t go either to the church or to the temple. But in my practice, I never object or question the faith of others. So you can have your own faith.

62

I don’t mind.” She continued to be in that faith. She brought up our children also in the very same faith. She always was telling me also to have faith in Lord Jesus. But I didn’t care. When I lost my job and when my family was put in to so much of distress, then again my wife told me “Believe in Jesus Christ, our family will be saved.” I did not pay any attention to her words; instead I went to the Temples and worshiped the idols. When I came back from these idols, most disappointed, then again my wife told me “ Believe in Jesus Christ, or family will be saved.” Again I didn’t care; I went to become an atheist and I began to preach against God. Now on my own, studying the authoritative Hindu scriptures, I myself have come to the faith of Jesus Chris. What my wife was telling me for the last eighteen years has become true, yes, but how can I admit it before her, because I am husband and she is wife. So I kept my prayers to Jesus to myself and secretly prayed to him. After praying for some time I retired to sleep. When I lied down to sleep, my wife who was supposed to be sleeping beside me stood up. She was not sleeping, she was watching me. Silently she stood up and she went to the nearby room. There she had kept a small wooden cross for her prayers. She lit the candles, knelt down on the floor and tears running sown her eyes she began to praise Jesus Christ. I got the meaning of that praise immediately. For the last 18years this poor woman was praying for me and at a the fulfillment of her prayers, why she is praising her Lord now, I need not go to any astrologer to find out. I could not lie down any more. I went to my wife, knelt down beside her, and joining hands, we began to pray to Jesus. That happened to be the first family prayer in my house. Praise the Lord! KHANDOGYA-UPANISHAD.

FIFTH PRAPATHAKA.

FIRST KHANDA.

1. He who knows the oldest and the best becomes himself the oldest and the best. Breath indeed is the oldest and the best.

2. He who knows the richest, becomes himself the richest. Speech indeed is the richest.

63

3. He who knows the firm rest, becomes himself firm in this world and in the next. The eye indeed is the firm rest.

4. He who knows success, his wishes succeed, both his divine and human wishes. The ear indeed is success.

5. He who knows the home, becomes a home of his people. The mind indeed is the home.

6. The five senses quarrelled together , who was the best, saying, I am better, I am better.

7. They went to their father Pragapati and said: 'Sir, who is the best of us?' He replied: 'He by whose departure the body seems worse than worst, he is the best of you.'

8. The tongue (speech) departed, and having been absent for a year, it came round and said: 'How have you been able to live without me?' They replied: 'Like mute people, not speaking, but breathing with the breath, seeing with the eye, hearing with the ear, thinking with the mind. Thus we lived.' Then speech went back.

9. The eye (sight) departed, and having been absent for a year, it came round and said: 'How have you been able to live without me?' They replied: 'Like blind people, not seeing, but breathing with the breath, speaking with the tongue, hearing with the ear, thinking with the mind. Thus we lived.' Then the eye went back.

10. The ear (hearing) departed, and having been absent for a year, it came round and said: 'How have you been able to live without me?' They replied: 'Like deaf people, not hearing, but breathing with the breath, speaking with the tongue, thinking with the mind. Thus we lived.' Then the ear went back.

11. The mind departed, and having been absent for a year, it came round and said: 'How have you been able to live without me?' They replied: 'Like children whose mind is not yet formed, but breathing with the breath, speaking with the tongue, seeing with the eye, hearing with the ear. Thus we lived.' Then the mind went back.

12. The breath, when on the point of departing, tore up the other senses, as a horse, going to start,might tear up the pegs to which he is tethered . They came to him and said: 'Sir, be thou (our lord); thou art the best among us. Do not depart from us!'

13. Then the tongue said to him: 'If I am the richest, thou art the richest.' The eye said to him: 'If I am the firm rest, thou art the firm rest .'

14. The ear said to him: 'If I am success, thou art success.' The mind said to him: 'If I am the home, thou art the home.'

15. And people do not call them, the tongues, the eyes, the ears, the minds, but the breaths (prana, the senses). For breath are all these.

64