ArdhanarIshvarar अर्धनारीश्वर

ArdhanarIshvarar अर्धनारीश्वर

Ardha nari Ishvarar अर्ध नारी ईश्वर: half female God (Bhoga Murti भोग मूर्ती  ). The above Picture I have taken from Sukhumvit, Bangkok,

In the form of male and female, matted hair with moon, axe, smeared in red (Aruna अरुणा), wearing snakes and the skin of tiger, embracing the bull and with a bent leg, this the right half, and the left black in colour, 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 संत  भृंगी  is one of the ardent devotees of Lord Shiva भगवान् शिव. He used to worship only Lord Shiva and not Shakti शक्ति. Goddess Shakti शक्ति, 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 भगवान् शिव alone. Goddess shakti शक्ति wanted to become an inseparable part of Lord Shiva's भगवान् शिव form. She observed the Kedhara maha vrata केदार महा व्रत austerity, which is now known as Deepavali दीपावली. 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 ardhanarishvara अर्धनारीश्वर.

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 शिव and Shakti शक्ति is one and the same Supreme. The formless God is called Parashiva पराशिव. On Its own free-will for the benefit of pashus पाशु (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 शक्ति. Now Shiva शिव and its power Shakti शक्ति create everything. This is the form of their togetherness that springs out of Lord Shiva भगवान् शिव. Because of this the form is associated with the grace of God. Shiva and Shakti शक्ति 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 शक्ति to Shiva शिव is a wife (they are together), mother (Shakti शक्ति becomes Shiva - so Shiva comes out of Shakti शक्ति) and daughter (Shiva become Shakti शक्ति). Poet Kalidasa कालिदास hails them as inseparable like the word and its meaning, the letter and pronunciation!!

Sukhothai Traimit Golden Buddha Image

The History of the Sukhothai Traimit Golden Buddha Image is – It is the Largest Golden Image in the World. It is a Buddha Image in the mara conquering attitude, the typical artistic style of the days when Sukhothai was the Capital of Thailand. It was made of pure Gold. The image is unrivalled in beauty, measuring 12 feet 5 inches in diameter and has a height of 15 feet 9 inches from the base of the crown and it weights approximately 5.5 tons. With the price value 28.5 million pounds and ages 700 years till now. It is a valuable treasure of Thailand and of Buddhism.

Originally, the Golden Buddha image was completely covered with plaster to conceal it from the enemy then invading Thailand and was installed as the principal Buddha image in the main temple building of Choti-naram Temple of Wat Phrayakral Yannawa District, Bangkokin the third reign of the Chakkri Dynasty in the Ratanakosin era. When Choti-naram Temple was deserted in about 1931. The East Asiatic Company, with official permission, extended its operations into the land area of the deserted temple. The Ecclesiastcal Commission then moved this Golden Buddha Image to the Traimit Witthayaram Temple where it now remains, discovering in 1955 that it was made of pure Gold. Reverend Phra Visutha-thibordee, the late abbot whose image is in the sitting position in front of this temple, joined in the construction of the temple building for the Golden Buddha Image to be enshrined. When the building was completed and while preparations were being made completed and while preparations were being made to move this Golden Buddha Image to the building, the covering plaster was partly broken. Only then did the people realize that it was a Golden Buddha Image. Thus it has been treasured for its historical, artistic and cultural values to this day.

May the sanctity of Sukhothai Traimit Golden Buddha Image Bless you with good luck and fulfil your wishes at all times.

Why I am a HINDU

Why I am a HINDU

A Hindu was flying from JFK New York Airport to SFO San Francisco Airport CA to attend a meeting at Monterey, CA.

An American girl was sitting on the right side, near window seat. It indeed was a long journey - it would take nearly seven hours.

He was surprised to see the young girl reading a Bible unusual of young Americans. After some time she smiled and we had few acquaintances talk. He told her that I am from India

Then suddenly the girl asked: 'What's your faith?' 'What?' He didn't understand the question.

'I mean, what's your religion? Are you a Christian? Or a Muslim?'

'No!' He replied, 'I am neither Christian nor Muslim'.

Apparently she appeared shocked to listen to that. 'Then who are you?' “I am a Hindu”, He said.

She looked at him as if she was seeing a caged animal. She could not understand what He was talking about.

A common man in Europe or US knows about Christianity and Islam, as they are the leading religions of the world today.

But a Hindu, what?

He explained to her - I am born to a Hindu father and Hindu mother. Therefore, I am a Hindu by birth.

'Who is your prophet?' she asked.

'We don't have a prophet,' He replied.

'What's your Holy Book?'

'We don't have a single Holy Book, but we have hundreds and thousands of philosophical and sacred scriptures,' He replied.

'Oh, come on at least tell me who is your God?'

'What do you mean by that?'

'Like we have Jesus and Muslims have Allah - don't you have a God?'

He thought for a moment. Muslims and Christians believe one God (Male God) who created the world and takes an interest in the humans who inhabit it. Her mind is conditioned with that kind of belief.

According to her (or anybody who doesn't know about Hinduism), a religion needs to have one Prophet, one Holy book and one God. The mind is so conditioned and rigidly narrowed down to such a notion that anything else is not acceptable. He understood her perception and concept about faith. You can't compare Hinduism with any of the present leading religions where you have to believe in one concept of God.

He tried to explain to her: 'You can believe in one God and he can be a Hindu. You may believe in multiple deities and still you can be a Hindu. What's more - you may not believe in God at all, still you can be a Hindu. An Atheist can also be a Hindu.'

This sounded very crazy to her. She couldn't imagine a religion so unorganized, still surviving for thousands of years, even after onslaught from foreign forces.

'I don't understand but it seems very interesting. Are you religious?'

What can He tell to this American girl?

He said: 'I do not go to Temple regularly. I do not make any regular rituals. I have learned some of the rituals in my younger days. I still enjoy doing it sometimes'.

'Enjoy? Are you not afraid of God?'

'God is a friend. No- I am not afraid of God. Nobody has made any compulsions on me to perform these rituals regularly.'

She thought for a while and then asked: 'Have you ever thought of converting to any other religion?'

'Why should I? Even if I challenge some of the rituals and faith in Hinduism, nobody can convert me from Hinduism. Because, being a Hindu allows me to think independently and objectively, without conditioning. I remain as a Hindu never by force, but choice.' He told her that Hinduism is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. It is not a religion like Christianity or Islam because it is not founded by any one person or does not have an organized controlling body like the Church or the Order, I added. There is no institution or authority..

'So, you don't believe in God?' she wanted everything in black and white.

'I didn't say that. I do not discard the divine reality. Our scripture, or Sruthis श्रुति or Smrithis स्मृति   - Vedas वेद and Upanishads उपनिषद् or the Gita गीता - say God might be there or he might not be there. But we pray to that supreme abstract authority (Para Brahma पार ब्रह्म ) that is the creator of this universe.'

'Why can't you believe in one personal God?'

'We have a concept - abstract - not a personal god. The concept or notion of a personal God, hiding behind the clouds of secrecy, telling us irrational stories through few men whom he sends as messengers, demanding us to worship him or punish us, does not make sense. I don't think that God is as silly as an autocratic emperor who wants others to respect him or fear him.' He told her that such notions are just fancies of less educated human imagination and fallacies, adding that generally ethnic religious practitioners in Hinduism believe in personal Gods. The entry level Hinduism has over-whelming superstitions too. The philosophical side of Hinduism negates all superstitions.

'Good that you agree God might exist. You told that you pray. What is your prayer then?'

'Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,'

लोका समस्ता सुखिनो भवन्तु !!! ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः !!!

'Funny,' she laughed, 'What does it mean?'

'May all the beings in all the worlds be happy. Let there be Peace, Peace, and Peace everywhere.'

'Hmm ..very interesting. I want to learn more about this religion. It is so democratic, broad-minded and free' she exclaimed.

'The fact is Hinduism is a religion of the individual, for the individual and by the individual with its roots in the Vedas वेद and the Bhagavad-Gita भागवद गीता  . It is all about an individual approaching a personal God in an individual way according to his temperament and inner evolution - it is as simple as that.'

'How does anybody convert to Hinduism?'

'Nobody can convert you to Hinduism, because it is not a religion, but it is a Culture, a way of leaving life, a set of beliefs and practices. Everything is acceptable in Hinduism because there is no single Authority or Organization either to accept you or to reject you or to oppose you on behalf of Hinduism.'

He told her - if you look for meaning in life, don't look for it in religions; don't go from one cult to another or from one Guru गुरु to the next.

For a real seeker, He told her, the Bible itself gives guidelines when it says ' Kingdom of God is within you.' I reminded her of Christ's teaching about the love that we have for each other. That is where you can find the meaning of life.

Loving each and every creation of the God is absolute and real. 'Isavasyam idam sarvam' Isam इसावाश्यम इदम सर्वम ईसाम   (the God) is present (inhabits) here everywhere - nothing exists separate from the God, because God is present everywhere. Respect every living being and non-living things as God. That's what Hinduism teaches you.

Hinduism is referred to as Sanathana Dharma सनातन धर्म, the eternal faith. It is based on the practice of Dharma धर्म, the code of life. The most important aspect of Hinduism is being truthful to oneself. Hinduism has no monopoly on ideas. It is open to all. Hindus believe in one God (not a personal one) expressed in different forms. For them, God is timeless and formless entity.

Ancestors of today's Hindus believe in eternal truths and cosmic laws and these truths are opened to anyone who seeks them. But there is a section of Hindus who are either superstitious or turned fanatic to make this an organized religion like others. The British coin the word 'Hindu' and considered it as a religion.

He said: 'Religions have become an MLM (multi-level- marketing) industry that has been trying to expand the market share by conversion. The biggest business in today's world is Spirituality. Hinduism is no exception'

He said "I am a Hindu primarily because it professes Non-violence - 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' अहिंसा परमो धर्मं   means - Non violence is the highest duty. I am a Hindu because it doesn't condition my mind with any faith system.

A man/woman who changes his/her birth religion to another religion is a fake and does not value his/her morals, culture and values in life.

Hinduism is the original rather a natural yet a logical and satisfying spiritual, personal and a scientific way of leaving a life..

The Minds Response

The Minds Response

In Psychology “motivation” or “Drive” are technical terms meaning behavioral adjustment, which satisfies bodily needs such as hunger or avoidance of pain. Even though home static balance requires drive, all motivational behavior is not directly related to tissue needs for example, sexual or social behaviors. Emotion also plays a major role in homeostasis. Since states of mind are often expressed through bodily organs controlled by the automatic nervous system such as the heart, lungs, and the sweet glands.

Emotion like motivation leads to pervasive and adaptive behavior, such as fleeing (or Attaching) in threatening situation.

That in short, is the neuro-physiological basis of behaviour, which keeps the body in balance while dealing with stress. To answer what is stress, it must be reiterated that everything is. It is the very business of life because every stimulus brings and adaptive changes. However, the concept of stress has expended to include more than body processes. This is perhaps the most acceptable formulation. Some form of relationship between the environmental demands and the person’s ability to meet the demands “What are these demands like? Let us look at the external ones first.

Many would of course, implicates work as the Chief Culprit. However, work is a basic human condition and, for most people “No work” is more stressful. But something else involved with work and not work might produce stressful demands on the individual. For instance, an easy going “younger brother” may be promoted to a post where he needs to adopt a responsible and authoritative role. Not being equipped for this, he fails prey to extreme conflict and stress.

Apart from such definite situations background or environmental pressures may be produced by the general ambience of our past changing society. Jobs those demand constant movement tours and transfers, the facing of new situations, the adoption of different values.

The internal sources of demands are so multitudinous that a whole book on depth psychology could be written on them. Some of these are ambitious and expectations, some are involved with the private and the projected images of the staff or with the personality, inborn as well as acquired and all operate, both consciously and unconsciously. A top ranking executive might hotly deny that he expected to be looked after like a child, but this might be suggested by his behavior at one level while on another, he might be seen to assume the Pucca- Burra Saheb (पक्का बड़ा  साहिब) stance. The resulting misunderstanding conflicts and frustration might produce an unbearably stressful situation even in an apparently harmless environment.

Good Mindedness: - We all need to cultivate a habit and practice for good mindedness. We can define a healthy mind, or an unhealthy mind in many ways. For example:-   

A Healthy Mind                                             An Unhealthy Mind

1.  A healthy mind remember                         An unhealthy mind remember

      Pleasure.                                                   Pain.

2.  A healthy mind rejoices                             An unhealthy mind resent being

     At the opportunity to give.                          Asked to give anything. In any

                                                                        Form, be it love, comfort or Physical service.

3.  A healthy mind in thankful                         An unhealthy mind suffers pangs

     When asked to give.                                  Of conflict when asked to give.

And so on, we can continue the definition for healthy and an unhealthy mind in many different ways.

We almost all have never invested a week, a month or preferably many, many years in their own self. A person who is serious about his life wills always does this the way one spend time making oneself successful in a career. Success in life is not success in a carrier, is not success in examination, but it is success in cultivating the kind of ideal one has for one’s personality.

The qualities we would like to cultivate, the kind of reaction we would like to have to situations, what our actual convictions about life is? If we want any kind of happiness, any kind of success in life, we have to sit, spend our spare minutes thinking about what an ideal personality is like.

Now, in this highly physically oriented society, don’t be with the impression that the kind of personality is depending upon hairdo physical body characteristics or the clothes one wears. A doll can be made to look like anyone; it will still not become a human being, but will remain a doll. Adoring one like a doll does not make a personality, or does keeping one ugly contribute to personality.

We have guidelines from all the ancient masters, saints, great men, and great women of the world as to what an ideal human being is like and how to set that as one’s goal in this life. And this is to be done irrespective at any personal consequences.

Now a day we have confused the word good with the word pleasant. "It feels good” now a day’s means, “It feels pleasant,” But what feels pleasant at this moment is not necessarily good. Good mindedness, however, does mean pleasant mindedness, not just an outwardly pleasant smile. You can plaster that smile. A healthy mind is a pleasant mind a mind in which pleasant thoughts arises; cultivate the habit of thinking those pleasant thoughts.

People say well, how can I think all these thoughts when I am so miserable? I do want to think pleasant thoughts but there has been so much pain in my life you don’t understand?

Vertical and Horizontal Growth

Vertical and Horizontal Growth

Science explores the law of gravitation while religion unfolds the law of grace. One can grow horizontally with the help of scientific knowledge. Horizontal growth involves mare of everything that can provide comfort but not inner satisfaction. Religion invites us to grow vertically, exploring deeply love, devotion and contentment.

Both horizontal and vertical growths are necessary in our lives. Vertical growth in the spiritual dimension is essential for nourishing our soul.

Hinduism conceives of god as Brahma ब्रह्मा the creator, Vishnu विष्णु the sustainers and Shiva शिव the destroyer. All three elements co-exit. To create, knowledge is important. So Lord Brahma’s भगवान् ब्रह्मा spouse is Saraswati सरस्वती. To sustain, wealth is necessary, so Lord Vishnu’s भगवान् विष्णु spouse is Lakshmi लक्ष्मी. To destroy, the ingredient required is strength, so. Lord Shiva’s भगवान् शिव spouse is Shakti शक्ति festival all three are invoked and worshipped in the form of Saraswati सरस्वती, knowledge, Lakshmi लक्ष्मी, wealth and Shakti शक्ति, strength.

Every festival in India is celebrated with a divine purpose so as to receive the grace of the almighty. Navaratri नवरात्रि means nine nights. According to a Hindu belief, the last thought one entertains before one’s death determines the next birth. How does one have a sacred thought before death? It is possible through self-discipline. We sleep every day. Sleep is similar to death except that we wake up. Sleep can thus be termed as mini-death. If we were to discipline our mind by invoking a sacred though prior to sleep every day, it will certainly help us have a sacred thought during the time of death, Mahatma Gandhi महात्मा गांधी said ‘hey ram’  हे राम ! before his death as he was self – disciplined.

Nava also means ‘new’. if we invoke the blessings of Saraswati सरस्वती, Lakshmi लक्ष्मी and Shakti शक्ति before going to sleep every night, we will experience newness every night. Night or ratri रात्रि also means darkness denotes ignorance. For this too, invoking the goddesses can prove fruitful. Through grace, our ratri रात्रि or ignorance will vanish. Grace cannot be understood logically. It is a quantum leap in the field of consciousness. In physics, quantum leap is a great discovery. It involves electrons disappearing from one point and between them there is no time gap. Hence it is called quantum leap. Similarly, in the field of consciousness, when grace descends there will be a quantum leap in us.

During navaratri नवरात्रि, three nights of worship are assigned to each of the three Devis. Nava नव or newness in the form of grace is invoked. The tenth day is Vijayadashami विजय दशमी, denoting victory – victory of higher consciousness through the blessing of the goddesses. The greatest victory is the dispelling of darkness or ignorance.     

Grace of the Devis देवी always exists; it’s just that we should be worthy to receive them. The inner apparatus suitable to receive them is pure mind. Impure mind is like dirty muddy water, which cannot reflect the light of the moon. Moon exists but to reflect in water, the water has to be clean. This is called partibimba nyaya प्रतिबिम्ब न्याय. Our mind has to be pure in order to receive grace.

Navaratri नवरात्रि, therefore, is the celebration of removing ignorance. Our ignorance exists in the form of ego. E-G-O can mean edging god out. Hence we find Shakti शक्ति dancing on Shiva’s chest. It may appear disrespectful but it is symbolic: an egoless lord Shiva allows his wife to dance over him. It means deve’s देवी grace can descend in any form… but one should be available to receive it. 

Lessons of the Square Watermelon :

Lessons of the Square Watermelon :

Japanese grocery stores had a problem. They are much smaller than shops in other countries and therefore don’t have room to waste. Watermelons, big and round, wasted a lot of space. Most people would simply tell the grocery stores that the watermelons grow round and there is nothing that can be done about it.

That is how majority of people would respond. But some Japanese farmers took a different approach. If the supermarkets wanted a square watermelon, they asked themselves, ‘How can we provide one?’ It wasn’t long before they invented the square watermelon

The solution to the problem of round watermelons was not to solve as the farmers did no assume it was impossible – and simply asked how it could be done.

They found out that if you put the watermelon in a square box when they are growing, the watermelon will take on to the shape of the box- and grow into a square fruit.

This made the grocery stores happy and had the added benefit that it was much easier and cost effective to ship the watermelons. Consumers also loved them because they took less space in their refrigerators which are much smaller then those in other countries, meaning that the grower could charge a premium price for them.

What does this have to do with anything in life or at our job? There are a few Lessons that can you can take away from this story which helps you,

Don’t assume; The major problem was that most people had always seen round watermelons so they automatically assumed that square watermelons were impossible before even thinking about the question. Things that you have been doing a certain way your entire life have taken on the aura of the round watermelon and you likely don’t even take the time to consider if there is another way to do it. Breaking yourself from assuming this way can greatly improve your overall life as you are constantly looking for new and better ways to do things.

Question habits : The best way to tackle these assumptions is to question your habits. If you can make an effort to question the way you do things on a consistent basis, you will find that you can continually improve the way that you work. Forming habits when they have been well thought out is usually a positive thing, but most of us have adopted our habits from various people and places without even thinking about them.

Be Creative: When faced with a problem, be creative in looking for a solution. This often requires thinking outside the box. Most people who viewed this question likely thought they were being asked how they could genetically alter watermelons to grow square which would be a much more difficult process to accomplish. By looking at the question from an alternative perspective, however, the solution was quite simple. Being creative and looking at things in different ways in all portions of your live will help you find solutions to many problems where others can’t see them.

Look for a better way: The square watermelon question was simply seeking a better and more convenient way to do something. The stores had flagged a problem they were having and asked if a solution was possible. It’s impossible to finds a better way if you are never asking the question in the first place. Get into the habit of asking yourself, “Is there a better way I could be doing this ?” and you will find there often is.

Impossibilities often aren’t : If you begin with the notion that something is impossible, then it obviously will be for you. If, on the other hand, you decide to see if something is possible or not, you will find out through trail and error. Take away the lessons from the square watermelons and apply them to all areas in Your life (work, finances, relationships etc) and you will find out that by consistently applying them, you will constantly be improving all aspects of your life.

Wonder of Math and Love of God

Wonder of Math and Love of God

The Beauty of Mathematics and the Love of God!

The math part is good, but the end is even better.

Beauty of Mathematics! !!!!!!

1 x 8 + 1= 9

12 x 8 + 2= 98

123 x 8 + 3= 987

1234 x 8 + 4= 9876

12345 x 8 + 5= 98765

123456 x 8 + 6= 987654

1234567 x 8 + 7= 9876543

12345678 x 8 + 8= 98765432

123456789 x 8 + 9= 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11

12 x 9 + 3 = 111

123 x 9 + 4 = 1111

1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111

12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111

123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111

1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111

12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111

123456789 x 9 +10=  1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88

98 x 9 + 6 = 888

987 x 9 + 5 = 8888

9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888

98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888

987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888

9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888

98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

Brilliant, isn't it?

And look at this symmetry:

1 x 1 = 1

11 x 11 = 121

111 x 111 = 12321

1111 x 1111 = 1234321

11111 x 11111 = 123454321

111111 x 111111 = 12345654321

1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321

11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321

111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321

Mind Boggling...

Now, take a look at this.....

101%

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:

What Equals100%?

What does it mean to give MORE than100%?

Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than100%?

We have all been in situations where someone wants you to

GIVE OVER 100%...

How about ACHIEVING 101%?

What equals100%in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help answer these questions:

Let each letter of the Alphabets has a valued equivalents to its sequences of alphabetical order. Let each letter of the Alphabets has a valued.

A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26

Then

H	A	R	D		W	O	R	K
8	1	18	4		23	15	18	11

=

98 %

And

K	N	O	W	L	E	D	G	E
11	14	15	23	12	5	4	7	5

=

96 %

But

A	T	T	I	T	U	D	E
1	20	20	9	20	21	4	5

=

100 %

THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:

L	O	V	E		O	F		G	O	D
12	15	22	5		15	6		7	15	4

=

101 %

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:

While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will

get you there, It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!