Self Realization

Hare Krshna

Chanting the name of lord Krshna sanctifies the chanter, the hearer and the person who inquires about it.

Whenever the lord decides to take birth on earth, the demigods along with their consorts, take birth in various pious families just to please the lord.

In other words anyone who acts for the sole purpose of pleasing the lord is a demigod.

Those who take noble instructions and abide by them in their day to day life are demigods.

Demigods are learned wise people who carry out their duties diligently.

Among the plenary expansions of the lord, Lord Balarama is the source of all spiritual strength.

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Self Realization

Hare Krshna

Lord Krshna appeared on earth and exhibited his pastimes in Vrindavana only to attract the fortunate and pious souls back to godhead.

The killing of the demons was done by the Vishnu portion of Krshna.

According to the Bhagawad Gita there are three broad categories of God’s worlds:

1.    

This material world that contains of endless universes, planets, suns, moons stars etc.

2.    

The un manifested world that lies beyond this material world and that can not be attained while being encased in this material body.

3.    

The spiritual kingdom that lies beyond the un manifested world and that is the abode of the gods.

  

The society consists of three categories of people:

a.    The liberated souls.

b.    Those who are trying to be liberated

c.    The material people.

The first two category of people take pleasure in reading, hearing, talking and thinking about God.

Srimad Bhagawad Gita is the preliminary study of Srimad Bhagawatham.

Chaitnya Mahaprabhu and incarnation of Lord Krshna emphasized that the sole aim of a Vaishnavaite is to propagate Krshna Katha.

Krshna Katha is of two types:

1.    

Things spoken by Krshna- Bhagwad Gita

2.    

Things spoken about Krshna- Srimad Bhagawatham

Both are equally important for a spiritualist.  

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Self Realization

Hare Krshna

Lord Krshna came to this earth 5000 years back and lived here like a human being for 125 years.

However though he played his part as a human being he maintained his identity as the supreme personality of godhead.

Just like when one waters the roots of a plant it goes to all parts of the plant’s body similarly if one concentrates his love and devotion on Krshna, automatically universal love, unity, and tranquility is realized by him.

The art of supreme devotion for Lord Krshna is called Krshna Consciousness.

In the Srimad Bhagawad Gita Lord Krshna has himself emphasized that whenever there is an attack on Dharma and a deterioration in the material as well as spiritual well being of the people, he appears as an incarnation to save the good people and to punish the wrong doers.

When lord Krshna appears on earth, all the Vishnu expansions join with him.

Lord Krshna’s main expansions are Vasudeva, Sankarasana, Pradhyumna and Anirudha. 

Besides these, all the partial incarnations like Matsya, Kurma Varaha, Narasimha etc join together and appear as a part and parcel of Lord Krshna.

Lord Krshna is the complete whole and the plenary expansions and partial incarnations always live with him.

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Self Realization

Hare Krshna

A person is attractive to others if he has any one or more of the following qualities:

1 He is beautiful

2 He is wealthy

3. He is knowledgeable

4. He is famous

5. He is powerful

6. He is renounced.

The society always finds people who possess these qualities, as attractive.

However if someone has all these qualities than how attractive will that person be.

Lord Krshna is considered the supreme personality of godhead because he possess the following six opulence:

1.    

      

                         He is all beautiful

2.   

                        He is all rich

3.    

                        He is all powerful

4.    

                        He is all knowledgeable

5.    

                        He is all famous

6.    

                        He is all renounced.

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Self Realization

                                                       Brahma

Sage Narada who is also hailed as a partial incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is another mind born son of Lord Brhama.

He is the most travelled sage with a capability of travelling to various lokas both material as well as spiritual.

He is always shown carrying the ancient musical instrument Veena and is hailed as one of the greatest exponents of that instrument.

Considered as both wise as well as mischievous he is credited with some of the most humorous spiritual tales.

Sage Narada eulogizes Lord Vishnu by playing his Veena and singing Bhajans.  

Sage Narada is an elevated soul and a preacher of Bhakthi Yoga.

As the primary source of information for the gods, Sage Narada is hailed as the first journalist on earth.

Sage Narada was a Gandharva in his previous birth. When he sang the praises of the demigods instead of eulogizing Lord Vishnu he was cursed to be born on earth as a Sudra from the womb of a maid servant who cooked food for sages, priests, and noble Brahmins.

These elevated souls blessed the mother and son and permitted the son to partake of food meant for Lord Vishnu.

Sage Narada also received teachings from these noble souls and after the demise of his mother Narada went to a forest and sat on meditation after quenching his thirst from a nearby stream.

After some time Lord Vishnu appeared before him in his original form.

Lord Vishnu told Sage Narada that this was the only time that sage Narada could see him in this form in his life time.

Lord Vishnu asked him to remember the beauty and transcendental grace of Lord Vishnu and compose Bhajans eulogizing him.

When Sage Narada went to his heavenly abode he was deified by Lord Vishnu.

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Self Realization

                                                         Brahma

Sage Vasishtha is  a mind born son of Lord Brahma. He is also one of the Saptarishis. His wife is Arundhati.

Sage Vasishtha had a cow called Kamadhenu whose daughter was Nandini.

Sage Vaishtha is one of the nine Prajapathis. He is the author of the seventh Mandala of Rig Veda.

Sage Vasishtha and Arundhati area couple and even today they are mentioned during Hindu marriage ceremonies.

Lord Buddha has also paid homage to Sage Vasishtha.

Sage Vasistha also has a Gotra in his name. Many Hindu’ s claim to belong to Vasistha Gotra.

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Self Realization

                                                         Brahma

Pulastya was a mind born son of Lord Brahma. He was a Prajapati and one of the Saptarishis.

He was the medium through which the Puranas were communicated to man.

He received the Vishnu Purana from Lord Brahma and he communicated it to 

Sage Parashara who inturn made it known to mankind.

Sage Pulastya had two sons:

Agastya

Vishravas

Vishravas had two wives:

 Kekasi

Ilavida.

Kekasi gave birth to:

Ravana

Kumbhakarna

Vibhishana

Ilavida gave birth to:

Kubera

Kubera was a Yaksha and Ravana was a Rakshsa.

The Rakshas originated from Sage Pulastya.

Kubera is the treasurer of the gods.

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Self Realization

                                                    Brahma

Maharishi Bhrigu another mind born son of Lord Brhama is also one of the Saptarishis and Prajapatis.

Maharishi Bhrigu is the creator of Bhrigu Samhita which is a treatise on Astrology.

Maharishi Bhrigu married King Daksha’s daughter Khyati from whom he had two sons namely Daata and Vidhaata.

Maharishi Bhrigu’ s daughter Bhargavi married Lord Vishnu.

Another son of Bhrigu who was more famous than the father was Usana aka Shukracharya the religious guru of Asuras.

In Srimad Bhagawad Gita Lord Krshna mentions that Sage Bhrigu represents the opulence of God.

Sage Bhrigu is the father of Astrology and author of Bhrigu Samhita which consists of five million horoscopes. Bhrigu’s Astrological works gave birth to the famous Hora Shastra.

Another son of Lord Brahma is Sage Angirasa who is also considered to be a Prajapathi and one of the Saptarishis.

Sage Angirasa and Sage Atharvan jointly created the Atharva Veda.

Sage Angirasa’s wife is Surupa from whom he had three sons:

Utthatya, Samavartana and Brihaspati.

Sage Brihaspathi is the spiritual teacher and priest of the demigods.

Sage Angirasa was Lord Brahma’s third son. Lord Brahma bestowed divine glow on him.

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Self Realization

                                                         Brahma

Brahma created ten mind born sons to help him in procreating and helping Brahma in populating the world.    

Marichi is one of the ten mind born sons of Brahma. He is a Prajapathi as well as one of the Saptarishis or seven Rishis who inhabit the seven stars in the sky.

Marichi married Kala and through them Kashyap was born. Kashyap inherited the right of creation from his father and is hence considered as a Prajapathi himself.

In Srimad Bhagwad Gita lord Krshna declares that among the Marutis he is Marichi.

Atri is another mind born son of Brahma. He is a Prajapathi, one of the Saptarishis  and a scholar. Lord Rama and his brother Lakshman met Atri at his hermitage where Atri’s wife Anusuya conversed with Sita while Atri talked to Lord Rama.

Atri is the creator of the Atreya Gotram or source through which a section of Hindu society is descended.

Atri’s sons are Datta and Durvasa who are partial incarnations of Lord Vishnu and Lord Siva respectively.

Mahirishi Atri is the seer of the fifth Mandala of Rig Veda.

During the Mahabharatha war when Acharya Drona created havoc in the battlefield by his unstoppable carnage a worried Maharishi Atri went to him along with Gautama and other holy men.

There he talked to Acharya Drona and reminded him that he was not only a very good man and a scholar, but also a Brahmin and so it did not suit Achraya Drona to wield arms.

Acharya Drona gave up his negative qualities immediately and sat on a meditative posture with his mind fixed on Lord Vishnu.

Thus Acharya Drona got liberated and went back to Godhead.

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Self Realization

Brahma

In Hindu mythology the supreme soul is described in the form of a trinity which is as follows:

Brahma- Creator

Vishnu- Preserver

Shiva- Destroyer and Progenitor.

When the consciousness was in the form of Mahatatthva it turned into an oval shape and began floating on the milky ocean.

Lord Vishnu lied down inside this Mahatatthva and from his navel sprung a thousand petal lotus which symbolizes universal intelligence.

Lord Brahma sat on this thousand petal lotus and meditated on god.

In the beginning Lord Brahma created the four Kumaras also known as Catursana. 

Brahma created them so that they may in turn procreate and populate the universe created by Brahma. 

However these Kumaras chose celibacy and devotion to lord Vishnu.

Then lord Brahma created his ten mind born sons called the Prajapatis.

He also created a daughter called Satrupa who could change her form hundreds of times.

The names of Brahma’s sons are as follows:

1.  Marichi                          

2.  Atri                      

3.  Angirasa

4.  Pulaha

5.  Pulasthya

6.  Krathu

7.  Vashista

8.  Prachethasa

9.  Bhrigu

10.              Narada

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Self Realization

                                                  Srimad Bhagavatam

One should with a tranquil heart, remember god all the time while performing his duties as a service to god.

When one surrenders his heart and soul to god, he will find true happiness and bliss.

One should live in the company of holy men and emulate them.

With a purified heart one should see the atman in himself and everywhere.

One should open his divine sight and honor all beings as the creation of god.

One who has realized Brahman sees Brahman everywhere.

To look upon all beings as a creation of god, and to shape one’s conduct accordingly is the highest form of worship.

That is the path towards self realization.

When one surrenders himself to god unconditionally, he attains liberation.

Blessed are they who meditate on the indwelling god.

Blessed are they who worship god in the sanctuary of their hearts.

A man is freed from all evil when he meditates on god who resides in his heart.

Hare Krshna Hare Krshna Krshna Krshna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

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Self Realization

                                           Srimad Bhagavatam

The human birth verily reflects the image of god. Hence human beings who love god, worship him and surrender themselves to him unconditionally, ascend in their own being in god, the all blissful universal self.

As the light of knowledge shines more and more steadily in a devotee, he gradually erodes his false ego.

Once the devotee’s focus is fixed on god, the material world and its gunas stop affecting him.

He is thus absolutely free and united with god completely.

He always thinks and talks about god and those who listen to him are benefitted by his words. And that is the ultimate achievement of the devotee.

Like a blazing fire he dispels all ignorance and darkness, burns down all impurities and becomes the supreme refuge of all because he has realized Brahman.

Just like the sun and the moon light up the universe, the saint lights up the heart by kindling divine wisdom.

He is the true friend of man the Atman – god’s very self.

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Self Realization

                                                Srimad Bhagavatam

Objects of sense together with time, space, causation, knowledge, deed, doer, faith, state and form are within the bounds of the gunas.

Whatever is seen, heard or conceived by the mind and intelligence is actually a modification of the three gunas.

As per the law of Karma man bound by the gunas is subjected to repeated births and deaths.

One who breaks the shackles of bondage created by the gunas, and gets attached to god, attains liberation.

The true devotee can overcome Rajas and Tamas by cultivating only Sattwa.

After that the next step for him is to overcome Sattwa with Sattwa.

Once he attains this stage, he is free from all kinds of material bondage and verily attains god.

Such a man is neither disturbed by the forces from without nor by the turmoil within.

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Self Realization

                                              Srimad Bhagavatam

Faith in self is Saatwika.

Faith in work is Rajasika.

Faith in dishonesty is Tamasika.

But faith in service to god is beyond all gunas.

Food which is pure, wholesome and easily acquired is Saatwika.

Food which is good to the palate is Rajasika.

Food which is impure, and injurious to health is Tamasika.

Happiness from contemplation and realization of self is Saatwika.

Happiness from material objects is Rajasika.

Happiness from delusion and inertia is Tamasika.

But the happiness arising out of the knowledge of god is beyond all gunas.

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Self Realization

                                                 Srimad Bhagavatam

Sattwa leads to birth in higher and higher planets up to Brahmaloka.

Tamas leads on a downward spiral up to vegetable life.

And Rajat operates to keep the natives in human births.

At the time of death if the native is in the mode of Sattwa he goes to higher planets.

If he is in Rajat he comes back to human birth.

And if he is in Tamas he goes to the netherworld.

But those who overcome these gunas, attain god.

Sattwika deeds are done for god.

Rajasika deeds are done for personal gains.

Tamasika deeds are cruel and selfish.

Higher intellectual knowledge is Saatwika.

Knowledge of physical sciences is Rajasika.

And the knowledge of the ignorant is Tamasika.

But the complete knowledge of the self and god, is beyond all the gunas.

The doer who is unattached is Saatwika.

One who is attached to his deeds is Rajasika.

And one who is reckless about the consequences is Tamasika.

But one who has surrendered himself to god is beyond the gunas.  

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Self Realization

                                           Srimad Bhagwatham

The effects of Sattwa are a cheerful heart, subdued passions, a calm body and an unattached mind.

Sattwa (goodness) is the gateway towards self realization.

The effects of Rajas (Passion) are a restless heart, uncontrolled passion. frenzied desire for action, and an unquiet mind.

The effects of Tamas (Ignorance) are a listless stultified heart, an ignorant and dull mind, and a dejected and miserable body.

When Sattwa predominates there is intense illumination.

When Rajas predominates there is intense activity.

When Tamas predominates there is absolute dullness.

Sattwa is wakefulness, Rajas is dream and Tamas is sleep.

The transcendental consciousness is predominant in all of them. But because it pertains to the self, it is beyond Maya.

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Self Realization

                                                Srimad Bhagavatam

When one worships god through his work without any selfish motive, the person is in Sattwik mode.

When one worships god through work which also aims at self gratification the person is of Rajasik temperament.

And when one worships god with an aim to injure others the person is of Tamasik temperament.

The three modes of material nature namely Goodness (Saatwik), Passion (Rajasik) and Ignorance (Tamasik) belong to the entity and not to the soul which is beyond material world.

The modes arise from the mind and bind the person to the material world.

When Goodness rules the native he becomes happy, contented, god loving virtuous and knowledgeable.

When Passion rules the native he becomes active, achieves fame and wealth and suffers misery.

When Ignorance rules the native he becomes deluded, and full of grief. He lives in a world of hope. He becomes cruel and goes into spiritual sleep.

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