Hindu Epics Short Stories
Stories have made children to become much respected people when they grew. The life of Shatrapati Shivaji is a very good example of this. His mother JIjabhai told him the stories of the valorous characters from the Hindu epics. That shaped the young Shivaji. How that valor protected the whole region against the oppression of the Mugal rulers and the generations thanking him for that, is history. The young ones are the ones getting moulded. What shape they would take when they grow up would very much depend on what information they are exposed to in their early stages. It is the responsibility of all parents to ensure that they spare some of their time to ensure their lovely children have access to the right information. Teach them the stories of the Divine Lord Shiva; teach them the story of its adorable devotees. There would be better chances that the child would grow up morally sound and would enjoy the life mentally peaceful and purposeful, than just a life that accumulated wealth without any eventual happiness.
Hindu scriptures have given quite prominence to stories. The Puranas and Itihasas, for example are full of the stories of the divine, devotees and the splendid others like kings. Stories have a great impact on individuals. A well written story keeps the interest of the reader grow in spite of the physical fatigue. This is a medium that is not only intended for the intellectuals like the inner core of philosophies, but can reach out to anybody and everybody. The essence of the stories can really help one navigate through the various situations of life with the light of precedents set by the great devotees and the Glory of God.
What are Veda ?
Veda is a word of Sanskrit language. It means knowledge. These and associated books contain knowledge on philosophy, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, navigation, music, dance, drama...
Since time unknown they had been only in verbal form in
They are compiled in complex meters and filled with various sophisticated plays on the sounds of words. They are compiled in a language (Sanskrit) which is filled with synonyms indicating a long and rich development. Above all it has an entire mysticism of sound, mantra and the Divine Word
They have been in the hearts of Indians since then. Though is not fair to confine them under a tag, but if we have to do that then they are, what is called Hindu philosophy.
Veda are four in numbers. Every Veda has three sections namely Mantra section, Brahman section and Gyana section. The Mantra section is also called Samhita (which means collection) section. Samhita section gets its name from the fact that it is collection of Mantras.
Mantra section contains prayers of cosmic powers as Manifestation of Brahm (GOD). Brahman sections are also referred to as Karm Kaand and Gyan section is referred to as Upanishad. Brahman section deals with the use of the mantras in the performance of non-violent rituals in yagya. Upanishads (Vedanta) deal with the philosophical knowledge and worship of Un-manifest Brahm (GOD).
Who are Vedic gods ?
The Vedic gods to whom Mantra section is devoted are nothing else but the worship of "manifested characteristics" of Nirakaar Brahm and it is the first stage of devotion towards the Brahm.
But this is just the beginning. This devotion should grow and broaden and ultimately end into the devotion towards a Nirakaar Brahm. Who is the one who is in every thing or who is every seeable and un-seeable entity?
The Upanishads discuss the Nirakaar Brahm. The one who is beyond time, death and every thing. Every thing is in Him. Every seeable and un-seeable entity is in Him. Then the Veda say "Na Iti, Na Iti" meaning this is not the end of the description of Brahm. How can we describe completely the one who is beyond our senses? We can only indicate. Upanishads accept the limitation of human body as it is. But with the continuous effort and meditation upon Him one can realize Him without any illusion.
Thus though the Veda start with indirect worship of Brahm they end up with the worship of Brahm in totality.
What are Upanishads ?
Upanishads are conclusions of Veda. They are findings of the seers (spiritual scientist). As the Upanishads contain abstruse and difficult discussions of ultimate philosophical problems, they were taught to the pupils at the end that is why they are at the end of Veda. Veda start with the worship of manifest, as that is obvious and then slowly they transform to knowledge of un-manifest. Mantra Samhita and Upanishads complete the knowledge.
The word Upanishad is derived from upa (near), ni (down) and sad, i.e., that is sitting down near. Groups of pupils sit near the Guru to learn from him/her the secret doctrine.
Shankara derives the word Upanishad as a substantive from the root sad, 'to loosen', 'to reach' or 'to destroy' with the upa and ni as prefixes and kvip as termination. According to this Upanishad means Brahm-Knowledge by which ignorance is destroyed or loosened.
As per my understanding the following is the definition of Upanishad- "Upanishads are the collection of pearls of Darshan (philosophy) that are spread in the
Eesha Upnishad As It Is
The Eesha, also called the Eshavasya Upnishad derives its name from the opening word of the text Eshavasya or Eesha . It belongs to the Vajasaneyi
Its main purpose is to reveal the essential unity of Braham and world, being and becoming. It is interested not so much in the Absolute in itself, Parabraham as in the Absolute in relation to the World, Parameshwara. It reveals that the individual and Braham are not incompatible.
That is absolute (Braham). This is absolute (world). The absolute (world) comes out of absolute (Braham). Taking the absolute (world) from the absolute (Braham), the absolute (Braham) itself remains. Aum, peace, peace, peace
Braham is both transcendent and immanent. The birth or creation of the universe does not in any manner affect the integrity of the Braham (absolute). Please note that the world is also called absolute as this is manifested characteristics of Braham. To understand more please read Bhagavad-Gita.
All this, whatever moves and all that do not move in this moving world, is enveloped by Braham. Therefore find your enjoyment in renunciation (of ego of doer); do not covet what belongs to others.
Braham is in every manifested and un-manifested entity of the world. Or Braham is every manifested and un-manifested entity of the world. The three Guna (Satava, Rajas and Tamas) are responsible for actions. Therefore we should not have ego of a doer.
Always performing actions (karma) without desire to their fruits, here one should wish to live a hundred years. This is the only way that karma will not adhere to you and you will not be attached to Karma.
The three Guna (Satava, Rajas and Tamas) are responsible for actions. Therefore we should not have ego of a doer.
Lingodbhavar
Lingodbhavar: The Lord appearing from the symbol. (The principle behind Linga worship)
Divine, Out of the symbol (Lingam) that arose out of the quarrel of prime-ness (between Brahma and Vishnu), Matted hair crested, Keeping the hand on the hip, with the other hands holding deer and protection sign, in the right holding axe, having the Brahma and Vishnu (who sought) the Transcending feet and crown, as the swan above and boar below, that Lingodbhava I meditate.
Once before the creation started, a quarrel broke between Brahma and Vishnu as to who is great. Brahma claimed he is as he is the creator of the whole world. Vishnu rejected the claim saying the creation would not be useful without his sustenance of the world. The war of words between these two great divines worsened. At that point of time to make them realize the truth there appeared a pillar of fire. It was huge that both of them were astonished to see that. Now as a solution to their debate they wanted to decide who is the greatest by reaching the tip of that pillar. Brahma took the form of a Hamsa (Swan) and went up to reach the top of that pillar, Vishnu took the form of a wild pig and went down to reach the bottom of that pillar and it was agreed that whoever sees the either tip would be the greatest.
That pillar was not any ordinary column of fire; it was the Supreme Itself, the One that is beyond form, color and qualities! Who knows the start and end of that Supreme!! The two who set out on their strength to explore the endings of It went on and on only to become more and more tired and it was hopeless to find the end of It. Vishnu returned realizing that it should be the Parashiva which is beyond the limits that can be measured by knowledge, Which has come out of Its Grace to bless them and make them realize the Truth easily. He accepted his failure. Brahma on the other hand, though realizing it is impossible to see the top of the fire column, returned lying that he saw the tip. The lie stood exposed and hence he is not worshipped. Now both of them realizing the greatness of the Supreme worshipped the Lord Shiva, the gracious one, with lots of devotion and sincerity. The Lord out of the grace to bless all the pashus (souls) with a way they could easily understand and worship the Supreme, Which is unexplainable, unexplorable, appeared as a Lingam which is a vertical pillar resembling the flame. As it resembles the flame, it is neither a form nor a formless, but is just a symbol of the Supreme Jyoti. The Lord later appeared in a form and blessed Vishnu and Brahma. This Lord is called Lingodbhavar.
This form which came out of the formless Supreme out of Its grace to bless the sincere worship of Brahma and Vishnu and which is a from but represents the formlessness of the Supreme is considered very holy by the Shaivites. The Shiva Linga (meaning symbol of Shiva) is the foremost of all the Shaivite worships. As the ash would be closely associated with the fire, Holy Ash is associated with this Fire pillar Lord and sacred for the Shaivites.
ArdhanarIshvarar
Ardha nari Ishvarar : half female God (Bhoga Murti)
In the form of male and female, matted hair with moon, axe, smeared in red (Aruna), wearing snakes and the skin of tiger, embracing the bull and with a bent leg, this the right half, and the left black in color, hand holding a (lily) flower close to the chest, with a silk like lotus foot, wearing gold ornaments, salutations to the Half female God.
Sage Brhingi is one of the ardent devotees of Lord Shiva. He used to worship only Lord Shiva and not Shakti. Goddess Shakti, being the power as the name indicates, pulled out the energy from Brhingi Maharishi's body. Now he was even unable to stand. He pleaded to God. God Shiva provided him with a stick. On its support he stood and still worshipped Lord Shiva alone. Goddess shakti wanted to become an inseparable part of Lord Shiva's form. She observed the Kedhara maha vrata austerity, which is now known as Deepavali. Pleased with her austerity, Lord Shiva granted her the boon of being part of His form. So the Lord now appeared male on the right side and female on the left side and hence became archanarishvara.
Significance of this form
This is one of the very important forms of God, Hindus worship. This is a much-hailed form in scriptures of various languages. Hindus do not say that the God is only male. God is male - female and neuter too! Since God is conceptually beyond sex, though gets referred as He/She many times, it is more appropriate to refer as it, especially at its intrinsic condition, as do many Hindu scriptures.
Philosophically, this form is quite associated with the Grace of God. Shiva and Shakti is one and the same Supreme. The formless God is called Parashiva. On Its own free-will for the benefit of pashus (souls), which are drowned in pasha (bondage), it thinks to create the worlds. Its dynamism of creation thus springs out of it, which is called Shakti. Now Shiva and its power Shakti create everything. This is the form of their togetherness that springs out of Lord Shiva. Because of this the form is associated with the grace of God. Shiva and Shakti though the same may also act independently. They are associated like the person and the action of the person. They are one and the same like the ice and the water - one becomes the other. For this reason scriptures describe that Shakti to Shiva is a wife (they are together), mother (Shakti becomes Shiva - so Shiva comes out of Shakti) and daughter (Shiva become Shakti). Poet Kalidasa hails them as inseparable like the word and its meaning, the letter and pronunciation!!
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