The word tradition ( Sampradaya) in Sanskrit means that which gives in abundance by all means i.e., good life.
Rshis, who have renounced the worldly life and sought refuge in the higher instincts, have conferred some ways of living, with their experience, to us to enable us to live peacefully and prosperously. Our ancestors, who followed the tradition conferred, lived peacefully and prosperously. It is the earliest and the most oldest, dating back to the time of creation.
As per our calculations, as we recite in samkalpa in worship, we have Kritha or Satya; Tretha, Dwapara and Kali Yuga. Kaliyuga is 432,000 years, in which about 5,000 years have passed. Dwapara is 2 times, Tretha is 3 times and Kritha or Satya is 4 times Kaliyuga - i.e., Dwapara is 864,000 years; Tretha is 1,296,000 years and Kritha or Satya is 1,728,000 years. Kritha, Tretha, Dwapara and about 5,000 years in Kaliyuga have passed. That means, at least nearly 4,000,000 years have passed since creation. The invasions of other religions has diluted our tradition and culture, but not totally eliminated it. We think we know some of it. My recent encounters, with few individuals, have given me a bit of insight in to these aspects. I would like to share my insight in to these aspects with you.
The first individual is my Sri Vidya Guru- Sri Paanyam Kaasinaatha Sastry. He taught Soundarya Lahari for 40 days, giving the deepest aspects of spiritualism in it and was ever ready to clear our doubts by asking again and again. He also shared with us his vast library of spiritual literature -viz., Sir John Woodroff, Bhaskararaaya on Tantra, several other Tantra books, Shri Ramana Maharshi's biography by several ardent and knowledgeable devotees, Asya vaamiya suuktha with commentary by Vasudev Agrawala of Banaras Hindu University (a research paper on aspects of creation as told in Rigveda, containing 52 mantraas) and many other works of spiritual publications of the highest order. In addition to it, i have Vaalmiiki Ramaayana, Vyaasa Bhaagavatha Puraana and Devi Bhaagavatha puraana, Sage Agasthya's commentary on Panchadasi, about 25 upanishads, Brahma suuthras with commentary, Bhagavadgitha with commentary by eminent spiritual authorities, about 30 Suukthaas etc.,a book on spiritual practices with corresponding mantra aspects and their meanings. And Finally, Taitthariya Upanishad, Vaavilla publication, with commentary by Sri Shanakara Bhagavatpada, Saayana( brother of Vidhyaranya ) and Kanaparthi Maarkandeya Sharma) with Naaraayana Prasna upanishad.
In addition to this, i am a post graduate in Nuclear Physics from Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam, and Andhra Pradesh, India. Basically, Nuclear Physics is about fundamental particles of matter and their interactions, with theories on atomic constructions and the nuclear energies/forces , Clasical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Theory of Relativity etc.
I have been trained in 22 various aasanaas, pranayama kriyaas and hatha yoga (a system of purifying the body) by a teacher from Vivekaananda kendra, Kanyakumaari. With my colleagues, i practiced yoga-nidra, which is an awareness building exercise. Then I was trained by shri Madhavabhotla Venkateswarlu guru in Gayatri vidya with mudraas and swara and i practiced it at my convenience. Then i was in trained in Sri Vidya by Sri Paanyam Kaasinaatha Sastry. Sri Ramana Maharshi's disciples have conferred grace of Shri Ramana Maharshi.
Humbly speaking, after going through them, i feel, i could get a glimpse of the spirituality, which enabled me to practice the spiritual exercises together with other Yogic practices. With these exercises called anusthaana and studies called swaadhyaaya, i realized that, the benefits of the spiritual path can be conferred, as claimed by the scriptures and Rshis, resulting in the raise of kundalini energy at Moolaadhaara chakra and purification of consciousness to the extent of leaving the body frame. What is required is faith, practice and patience. The exercises do not get waste. They will culminate in dawn of knowledge in this birth or next few births as told by Shri Krishna Bhagavaan in Bhagavadgitha. I realized that nobody can confer them. Only qualified gurus (?) show the path. One has to achieve through practice on their own.
Yoga means loss of ignorance. Not merger of anything with anything else. There is only SOUL. Nothing else is there. The image of IT, called individual being or jeevaatma, is virtual, in the sense temporal, lacking eternity. It cannot merge with the SOUL, as it is our daily experience. With anusthaana and swaadhyaaya, the limitations and ignorance go. One feels the universality of the SOUL and peace or bliss.
In contrast to this, it is noticed that, several gurus appearing on TV and publications, making tall claims. With due regard to them, for educating people of wide ranging capabilities on spiritual path, i beg to differ with them, for the simple reason, the evolved are simple, silent, saintly, isolated and not-expecting anything from anybody like Shri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and Shirdhi Sai Baba to name a few of the scarce race. They can shower their grace to all.
The second one is Mr. Mannem Murthy, of East Maredpally, Secunderabad, A.P., India. He has developed a universal scanner using the principle of kalians photo technique. With it, below the earth, up to 500 meters, objects can be located and the bio-luminosity around the body can be traced. With the instrument, he discovered very valuable information relating to the use of things in worship and the worship itself.
A point on floor or paper, a triangle and a circle have approximately 1.5, 4.5, 6 meters positive energy in all three dimensions around them. The yantraas, the rangoli etc. use them. Homaas, Yajnaas create 37.5 to 108 meters of positive energy. All items like the bell, conch, turmeric, vermilian( haldi/kumkum), dhoop, camphor lamp, turmeric rice used in worship and the mantraas develop positive energy. Cow products - milk, curds, ghee, urine, dung give about 15 meters energy. That is why; probably milk, curds and ghee are used in worship items. That shows why cow is holier. Lamp with cow ghee is lighted in worship. Cow dung mixed with water is sprinkled in front of the house after cleaning with broom to create positive energy and ward off evil energies. Tying mango leaves to threshold, decorating threshold with turmeric and vermilion ( haldi and kumkum) create positive energy. In universe there are both positive and negative energies. Nullifying negative energies and augmenting positive energies is what the Rshis taught. Trees like Basil ( Tulasi), neem, mango, bel (maaredu), raavi have positive energy ranging from 3.5 to 6.5 meters.. Pradakshinaas ( Circumblations) around them and installed Deities a number of times increases individual positive energy, it was observed by sri Maanem Murthy. The negative energies of individuals, homes, establishments, business houses etc., can be nullified. The negative energies ruin individuals, families, business, obstruct growth and progress. Mr. Murthy, helped many to identify and nullify the negative energies for their peace and prosperity.
The third person is Mr. K.S.N. Murthy, who was a consultant to Hospital services. Dissatisfied by their futility and swindling of patients, left it and turned to Ayurveda. I met him incidentaly. He told me Ayurveda is not swallowing herbs etc., but it is ancient science instructing how to live naturally without disease and when disease comes by chance, to eliminate it totally.
Any system is functionally o.k., if input gives output. But if input only is there and no or scanty output is there, means there is disease. The food plays a very important role in health. Fresh and naturally available vegetables and fruits taken in limited quantity will help being healthy. Otherwise , the food eats away the eater, as is happening now. Our physical system follows nature. 2.5 hours before morning sun's rise, our gastric heat ( Vaiswanara agni), becomes active and comes to fully capacity of digestion. Then only the food should be taken. Similarly, with sun set , the gastric fire goes off and will be nil in 2.5 hours. Food should be taken before that time for proper digestion. How dangerous is mid night biryaani? You can see. Our digestive system includes intestines of nearly 27 feet in length. Most of the food we take contains 5 to 10% of energy. The rest is waste to be excreted. It moves slowly in forward direction by muscle push and when it reaches the end, we get a sensation for excretion. Part of it only will be excreted and most of it remains. If it is not totally excreted, it results in skin problems, gas, burning sensation in stomach foul smell of discharged gas etc. Rosa pushpa lehyam and triphala chuurna taken regularly help proper excretion. Earlier children were given castor oil boiled with ginger and jeera for proper cleaning of intestines. Sleep for few hours before 12 pm, is worth more than 8 hours sleep after midnight. Hence sleep by 10 pm is advisable. Good sleep gives good rest to the body and activity.
Regular oil bath with massage and herbal powders helps nervous system stimulate and ensures proper blood circulation and provides good sleep. The finger tips are the 5 elemental sources-earth, water, fire, air and space. Rubbing body with them re-energizes the corresponding body parts. There is what is known as mudra therapy. Mudraas are used in japa along with anganyaasa and karanyaasa i.e., touching the fingers and rubbing them along with chanting of mantras.
Finally, mind is the greatest source of diseases. Everybody feels that he/she and their near and dear should be better. Some persons and circumstances, create bad feelings. These feelings create negative energies. Hence forget and forgive them to be healthy and happy. Shri Ramana Maharshi advises his devotees to enquire what is mind? It is a collection of thoughts. So, observe your thoughts and find from where they are coming. When thoughts occur, question yourself, who is getting them? Pat comes reply "i". Where from the "i" is coming, try to locate. This exercise results in immersion of false "i" with the real "I" and thoughts subside. You feel better. With the merging of the false "i" - ego- with the real "I", the mind becomes less effective like the moon shining in day times [this happens after the 8th thithi ( asthami)] has no effect in full sun's glare.
In life, many people help us to learn better and become a true individual. They are all gurus and our indebtedness goes to them. Our culture created the knowledge transfer from guru to shishya as parampara by word and memory. It is not any secret. It is there for all interested. Proof is its availability till date. Ours is a race wishing peace and prosperity to all within the four quarters of the world (chathussagara paryantham goobrahmenabhyah subham bhahavathu - meaning the weakest species be safe everywhere, then safety to all is granted). Let it be so forever.
OM SHAANTHIHI, SHAANTHIHI, SHAANTHIHI
