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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Self Realization

                                          Srimad Bhagavatam

Poise, Self Control, forbearance, discrimination, performing one’s duty, truthfulness, compassion, contentment, generosity, dispassion, faith and reverence, charity, feeling ashamed on ill conduct, and delight in contemplation of the divine self, are the qualities of goodness.

Lust, strife, desire, pride, haughtiness, prayer for selfish ends, desire for self-aggrandizement, desire for sensual things, quarrelling nature, feeding one’s own vanity, love of fame, ridiculing others, display of power, and aggressive enterprise are the characteristics of Rajas.

Anger, greed, lying, cruelty, begging, false piety, sloth, quarreling, grief, infatuation, dejection, misery, sleep, expectation, fear and inertia are the qualities of Tamas.   

The idea of me and mine comes from the mixture of these three gunas.

All intercourse with the objective world through the mind, senses and the prana, comes from the mixture of these three gunas.

When one is devoted to the performance of his duty, to the acquisition of wealth, and to satisfy one’s legitimate desires, he is influenced by a mixture of these three gunas.

He attains faith, achieves material prosperity, devotes himself to family life, performs his duties faithfully and becomes attached to the world.

When one has poise and self control to a predominant degree he is in the mode of Sattwa.

He who is influenced by lust and desire is controlled by Rajas.

He who is given over to anger, greed, fear, inertia, and other evil passions, is governed by Tamas.

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Self Realization

                                           Srimad Bhagavatam

Brahma with the grace of god, the quality of Rajas and the power of his Tapas, created the three worlds namely Bhu, Bhuva and Swa together with their respective rulers.

Swa became the abode of gods, Bhuva the abode of spirits and Bhu the abode of mortals.

The abode above Swa was inhabited by the Siddhas, and the region below Bhu was taken over by the Asuras and the Nagas.

Birth into these planets, were based on Karma according to the three modes of material nature.

Good, pure, virtuous deeds made one inhabit the higher and nobler spheres.

But those who were entirely devoted to god transcended these spheres and went to god directly.

As the sunlight dispels all darkness similarly the knowledge of Atman dispels all ignorance of self.

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Self Realization

                                            Srimad Bhagavatam

In the beginning in the Krita yuga also known as the golden age there was only Brahman. 

The people who lived in that yuga were skilled in knowledge and discrimination knew about this non dual existence of Brahman.

This Brahman, which is beyond mind and speech got bifurcated. One part was Maya the creative power and the other the possessor of this power.

The creative power which is also the cause and the result was known as Prakriti.

The self luminous possessor of this power was known as Purusha.

By the will power of the purusha the three modes of material nature that is goodness (Sattwa), passion (Rajasika) and ignorance (Tamasika) emanated.

These three possessed the power to create and the creation was called Mahttattwa or universal intelligence.

The universal intelligence went through a change process and gave birth to ego.

It is this ego that gave the delusion of manifold existence.

The ego which is actually pure consciousness gets reflected through matter in its threefold modes of material nature that is goodness, passion and ignorance.

This reflection gives birth to mind, senses and the fine particles of matter.

Before the fine particles turned into matter, they were in subtle form and acting together they formed an oval shape which floated on water.

God dwelt on inside this oval shape. From his navel rose a thousand petal lotus which epitomized the universe. 

And Brahma the self born manifested himself in the center of this lotus.

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Self Realization

                                                Srimad Bhagavatam

The human birth is the gateway to liberation.

Mind is the only cause of suffering. It is mind that sets forth the motion of birth and death.

The self which is immersed in its own glory is detached towards the mind.

But man identifies himself with the body and mind and gets bound to the wheels of karma.

He who can control the mind is indeed the god of gods.

There is no cause for pleasure and pain other than ourselves.

It is the deluded mind that gives birth to happiness and misery.

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Self Realization

                                             Srimad Bhagavatam

One must be pure at heart to enter the life of spiritualism.

To achieve this purity one should practice cleanliness, austerities, and compassion, and should perform the appropriate duties of life.

Work becomes purified when it is done for god.

When man loses the sense of right and wrong he lives in vain.

The atman is the indwelling self and reality in man.

The deluded man does not see that this self is separated from the prakriti.

The deluded man goes through endless births and deaths guided by his karma or post deeds.

If his character is dominated by Sattwa in the present birth, he becomes a deva or sage in the next birth.

If it is dominated by Rajas he is born an asura or manushya.

If it is dominated by tamas he is reborn in the lower wombs.

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Self Realization

                                               Srimad Bhagavatam

When a yogi sees evil in all human endeavors, he changes his focus towards god and begins to meditate on god.

For meditation one needs control mind. And the control of mind is the highest form of yoga.

Union with god is the goal of all spiritual journeys.

This goal is attained by meditation, philosophy and discrimination, or worship.

The yoga of worship and meditation burns all karma.

A true devotee can attain everything he wants through unconditional love for god.

Detachment from material world  is the highest form of godly qualities.

A yogi whose heart is attached to god, has nothing else to attain.

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Self Realization

                                               Srimad Bhagavatam

Karma yoga, Gyana yoga, Dhyana yoga and Bhakti yoga are the four paths to attain god.

Those who still have desires, take up Karma yoga.

Gyana yoga is for those who desire nothing.

Those who take delight in god and his word practice Bhakti yoga.

One must work till his heart is tranquil and free from desires.

When one does his work sincerely as a sacrifice to god, he attains liberation.

Such person is freed from the good and evil effects of such work.

Karma yoga frees one’s mind from evil tendencies and purifies the heart.

True wisdom and true love for god arises in a purified heart.

The purpose of this life is to reach the shore of immortality by conquering both life and death.

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Self Realization

                                            Srimad Bhagavatam

Wisdom arises on realization of the unity of the self.

Modesty abhors evil deeds.

Excellence of character arises from disregard of worldly considerations.

Happiness transcends both pleasure and pain.

Knowledge helps differentiate between bondage and freedom.

The right path leads to god.

The wrong path results in the restlessness of mind.

He is rich who is rich in virtues.

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