Tamasoma Jyothirgamaya

 why is human birth considered rare? Sastras declare that Prarabdha karma decides the kind of Janma.   If prarabdha consists full of punya one can attain super human janma that is Devata janma. If the prarabdha consists of full of papa karma one can get sub human janma like animals, creatures and reptiles.   If the prarabdha is mixed with punya and papa( MIsrama karma ) one can get human birth. However the Devata janma is not considered as the superior one. They are considered as Bhoga janmas . They are for enjoyment. If punya in Prarabdha decreases they again return to earth, to lower states. In heaven there is no progress in one`s spiritual life.     Humans have every possibility to get rid of their papa by practicing sat karma charana and every chance to attain higher altitude of final liberation.   The following characteristics make humans elevate from other living beings.   Of the various 84 lakhs of births human birth is con...

 ` Pumsatvam’ ? Are women debarred from vedic study? `Pumsatvam’ means masculine temperament of an individual irrespective of gender.   Firmness of determination, detachment, intellectual capacity, steadfastness in composure is the qualities of Pumsatvam. Pumsatvam is not a reference to the body but to an intellect. One who has the intellect that is free of the attachments and sentiments which affects and blunts its sharpness and twists the power of reasoning.   In the context of spirituality manhood means moral courage, mental strength, steadfastness pursuit, stubborn will to move along the spiritual path.   If we can find these qualities in any individual irrespective of gender he or she is considered as human being of Pumsatvam.     Women are not debarred from vedic studies. Vedantic scriptures are full of references to women being both students as well as teachers.   Maitreyi was the student of sage Yajnavalkya, her own husband. Ka...

 VIPRATA? What is its role in spiritual pursuit ? VIPRATA literally means Brahminhood .   It is not referred to one particular caste. It is a dominant exposure of satva guna.   The combination of satvic qualities like serenity, control of the external and internal organs, forgiveness, realization, self-restraint, austerity, purity of mind, forgiveness, uprightness, spiritual knowledge strong faith in God, Guru and Scriptures. These qualities are natural to the seeker of Viprata. Those who possess these qualities are Brahmins, irrespective of their caste.     .   The seeker who possessed with the quality of viprata possesses perfect purity.   He is intelligent.   He is free from all doubts.   He performs all actions both Sakama and Nishkama without being attached to them in any way.   He has no aversion or attachment to the one or the other. The viprata or satvic jnana is the highest state, and the ultimate goal of all s...

  Vidvatvam superior to Vaidika-dharma- marga-parata ? In order to obtain Self realization and God realization one has to build up purity of mind ( citha-sudhi) and single pointedness of the intellect ( citha-ecagrata ). This citha- sudhi can be achieved by Nishkama karmacharana. Vedas are sources of righteousness. Veda vihita karmaha, dharmaha. The karmas which are prescribed in Vedas are to be practiced. This is Vaidika-dharma- marga-parata   Spiritual practices such as study of Scriptures, doing Nishkaama karma, offering one`s duties as worship unto The Lord, practicing Japa, puja   and so on develop citta- sudhi and citta-ekagrata . These make the seeker deserve to obtain Bramha-vidya. However Vidvattvam is superior to Vaidika-dharma- marga-parata . Vidvattvam refers to an understanding of the scriptural meaning in all its depth and expanse. Vedanta is deep subtle. One cannot grasp the profound thought of Vedanta by the gross intellect.   One need...

 The nine blessings?  `` Vivekachudamani’’ is the most popular `` Prakarana Grandha’’ , blessed by Sri Jagadguru Sri Adi Sankaracharya.   In the second verse of this sacred composition Acharya delineates a list of nine blessings, blessed by the Almighty. They are as follows. 1. ` Narajanma’ --------- (Human birth). Human birth is the best birth by Divine providence. Among 84 lakhs of living beings Human birth is the best and the rarest one. Based on the previous good actions ( punya karmas), human birth is blessed by the Almighty.    2. ` Pumsatvam’ --------- (Manhood). After getting human birth to have ` Pumsatvam’ is even rarer.   The word Manhood is not representing the masculine nature here.   It is represented as the mental ability and wisdom. The combination of various qualities like wisdom, strong determination, sacrifice ( VAIRAGYA ) nature and steadfastness in Atma is called Pumsatvam . The human being whether male or female...

1.     T he difference between ‘Sastra- grantha’ and ‘ Prakarana- grandha? Sastra- grantha contains a set of texts. There are many Sastra grandhas in different fields lik,e Medicine, Economics, Astrology and Vedanta.   Aurveda,     Ardhasastra, Astrology and Vedanta are examples of Sastra grandhas.    These Grandhas cover a complete range and series of topics related to their subject matter. The term ‘Prakarana- grantha’ means topical texts. Etymologically the word is derived from prakarana + grantha. Prakarana means topic and grantha means text. These prakarana – granthas deal only with select topics. They give comprehensive picture of a few identified topics. They analyse the topics in detailed manner. These texts are very helpful to spiritual students who have no capacity to access the ideas and concepts and who are unable to draw their own findings and conclusions. Moreover they study only few topics. There is a chance of avoiding extraneo...

ANNAMAYA-KOSA: The gross body which is made up of skin, flesh, blood, blood vessals, fat marrow and bones and has karmendriyas is called annamayakosa.   The annamayakosa can be perceived by our senses.   It is made up of five great elements. It is born as result of good actions of the past. It is the counter for experiences. It is subject to the six modifications. Dr A. Tara Lakshmi, Srikalakasti

JAGRAD- AVASTHA The term Jagrad-avastha means wakeful state.   It is a combination of jagrad+avastha ,ie.wakeful+state.   If the three bodies sthula, sukshma and karana dehas ie. the grossbody ,the subtle body and the causal body areactie it is called jagrad-state.   The pure consciousness passes through these three bodies during wake-state. The passes through pancha-jnanendriyas and perceive experiences in jagra-state.   In jagrad-state only mind interacts with external world. In deep sleep mind merges in individual consciousness. Just after waking the individual identifies with gross body and says that he has enjoyed peaceful sleep.   In jagrad –state the gross body stops working because the mind does`nt work.    In dream state the subtle body is active; hence mind creates its own illusory world. Where as in deep sleep state both gross body and subtle body don`t function. But in all these three states the consciousness ‘I ‘EXISTS. That ‘I’ i...

NAVA- DWARA-PURA: In vedantic texts sthula sarira, the gross body is compared to a city of nine gates (nava-dwara-pura). The body is a city and it has nine gates.   These nine gates are two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, one anus and one reproductory aperture, total nine gates.   The individual jiva resides in it. The magnificent mind passes through these gates, contacts with worldly objects and perceive experiences. All these experiences finally results in to two types. They are sukha or duhka , happiness or unhappiness.The jiva that lies in the body illumins the mind and intellect in order to get experiences.   Mind is a connecting link between the jeeva and the outside world. All these transactions take place in wake-state with thehelp of sthula sarira. In dream state the subtle-body creates it`s own creation and experience sukha and duhka.   In deep-sleep state all these gates are closed so that no transactions exist.   After waking again the mind...

Viswa     Visva literally means the individual consciousness which expresses in each and every individual body during wake-state.   It is also called “ VYSWAANARA”. In Jagrad- state the ego identifies with gross body as I AM THE BODY .   This ‘ waker’ or the ‘ waking-state ego’ , which experiences the external world of objects in the Jagrad-avastha because Of its identification with the gross body, is termed VISVA. In other words   VISVA means “ Individual sthula dehaabhimaani “ Dr A. Tara Lakshmi, Srikalakasti

SARIRA Sarira is which disintegrates.   At the time of death, the body disintegrates into the five elements-spaces, air, fire, water, and earth from which it has been created.   Three types of sariras are mentioned in Vedanta.   1.       Sthula sarira 2.       Sukshma sarira 3.       Karana sarira All these are considered anatma. As Sarira is anatma it is impermanent.    All these have starting point and end point.   Siryamanatvat   sariram. It disintegrates at the time of death.   It is created with the combination of panchabhutas and disintegrates after the death. Gross body is made up of panca bhutas. These panca bhutas disintegrate after the death. Jagadguru Sankaracarya has given a great definition of sthula sarira . According to it there are four important aspects of sthula sarira. 1. It is made up of the five great elements. 2. It is bor...

        Sthula: Sthula is the first aspect of anatma . Things and objects which are perceivable by the senses are called Sthula . Sthula can be perceived by our senses as well as by others. The great five elements, i.e. Solid earth, liquid water, gaseous air, fire (various forms of energy), and space are called Pancabhutas.   Sthula is formed with the combination of pancabhutas.   Sthula is being formed by the typical process of Panchikararana . The entire physical universe is considered as sthula.   In connection with humans, sthula means external physical body. This sthula sarira is formed by the process of Panchicarana. The pancatanmatras undergo the process of pancikarana to create the panca maha butas.   The gross body as well as the gross world is fashioned by these panca maha butas. Based on the previou janmas mixexd actions the human body is offered to human beings.   This sthula body is supposed to...