Bhagavadgita Pages, Chapters 1 to 18
BG01 BG02 BG03 BG04 BG05 BG06 BG07 BG08 BG09 BG10 BG11 BG12 BG13 BG14 BG15 BG16 BG17 BG18
V.Krishnaraj
Bhagavadgita Pages, Chapters 1 to 18
BG01 BG02 BG03 BG04 BG05 BG06 BG07 BG08 BG09 BG10 BG11 BG12 BG13 BG14 BG15 BG16 BG17 BG18
www.bhagavadgitausa.com
V.Krishnaraj
11/01/2008
BG CHAPTER 10: MANIFESTATION
10.1: Sri Bhagavan said:
O Mahā-bāho, hear again My supreme words, which I say to you
for your good, for you are dear to Me.
Mahā-bāho: Mighty-armed one
10.2: Neither the bevy of gods, nor the great sages (Rishis) know My
origin. I am also the origin of the gods and great rishis in every way.
10.3: He who knows Me as unborn, beginningless, and the Great
Controller of the worlds, is undeluded among mortals and freed from all sins.
10.4: Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from delusion, patience, truth,
self-restraint, calmness, happiness, sadness, birth, death, fear, fearlessness,
10.5: and ahimsa (nonviolence), equanimity, contentment, austerity,
charity, fame and infamy: these different natures of living beings come
from Me only.
Ahimsa: A + Himsa = No + Injury or non + Injury. Ahimsa (non-injury to living things) is not a strong trait among many peoples. Ritual killing of animals and eating of animal flesh: How is it different from killing an animal for food? Animal sacrifice in the name of deities is a weak excuse.
The View from the West
The West is of the opinion that Ahimsa came about as a protest movement in India against blood sacrifices, capital punishment, wars... The Indo-Aryans wanted to spread their rule, and acquire more territory; this desire collided with the protest movement. The West points to the use of poisoned arrows and harsh and cruel treatment of prisoners, who were bound and killed. The women were taken as slaves and or concubines. The indigenous people were blamed for not honoring treaties and pacts. They were branded as A-Mitra. Mitra = Aryaman = bosom friend. Amitra = not a friend. When the Upanishads were composed (example Chandogya Upanishad) ahimsa was considered inseparable from austerity, charity, truthfulness. Jains and Buddhists along with Emperor Asoka (304 BC --232 BC) put Ahimsa to practice, though the Indo-Aryans were the originators of the moral code. Asoka was the extraordinary Emperor of India, his empire extending to parts of Persia. After many wars, victories, deaths and deprivations came Kalinga campaign into what is now modern Orissa. The destruction and death changed his mind. He became a vegetarian, prohibited game hunting, and built hospitals, universities, canals and irrigation systems.
In Vamana Purana Ahimsa is personified as the wife of Dharma whose children Nara and Narayana acquire spiritual enlightenment. Acaranga Sutra states that a wise man should know and consider the happiness of all things, nothing is inaccessible to death, all beings love themselves, they avoid destruction and hang on to life, and life is dear to all beings.
Bhagavatam (Canto 11, Chapter 5, Verses 11-13) states the following: 11) Man is naturally inclined towards enjoyment of sexual pleasure, flesh and wine. No rules enjoin them to indulge in them. A certain check is provided over these tendencies (by the Sastra) by permitting sexual commerce with one's wedded wife, meat-eating at the end of animal sacrifice, drinking of wine during SautrAmani sacrifice; the intention is to turn man away from them. 12) They do not understand the pure essence of their religion. Only the smelling of wine is sanctioned and animal sacrifice is allowed for the adoration of the deities and it is not permissible to kill them for meat. 13) Those who are ignorant of this Dharma and, though wicked and haughty, account themselves virtuous kill animals without any feeling of remorse or fear of punishment, and are devoured by those very animals in their next birth. Translation from Sanskrit by C.L.Goswami Shastri.
AnustaranI: Rg and Atharva Vedas describe the sacrifice of a cow at the funeral ceremony so as to ensure that the dead had an adequate supply of beef for their after-life journey. Ravana, the abductor of Mother Sita had Anustrani ceremony at his funeral. Anu = after; starana = scattering = sacrifice of a cow at the funeral.
SautrAmana = relating to Indra, the chief of gods; relating to Sura, wine. It a sacrifice in honor of Indra. Suras are gods. Asuras are not gods but demons. Suras and Asuras are half-brothers born of the same father and different mothers. The father is Kasyapa and the mothers are sisters: Diti of Suras and Aditi of Asuras. Alternately Suras are called Dityas, and Asuras Adityas after their respective mothers. Suras drink wine and Asuras are teetotalers. The Suras and Asuras are always at loggerheads. Humans are part Sura and part Asura; in humans, one or the other is dominant at one time, other time or all the time. Vishnu is God of gods, God of men and the Lord of the universe. When men earn merit on earth, they become gods. When their merit runs out, the gods descend to earth and live like humans. The gods' heaven (Indra) is a lower heaven; they who pray to Indra go to Indra's heaven; they who pray to Vishnu and obtain liberation go to Vaikuntam where they live eternally without any trip back to earth. Thus Vaikuntam is a Superior heaven than Indra's heaven. In the heaven, people do not sport bodies, move around by thought, walk without legs, see without eyes and do live in close proximity to the God.
The view from the West.
The Suras and Asuras (gods and demons) inherited speech, true and false. The gods adopted true speech, while the Asuras the false speech, which led to their downfall. The West says that all this is humbug. The real thing according to the West is that the Indo-Aryan anointed himself as Sura and branded the hostile native rulers and tribes as Asuras. The West discounts and pooh-poohs the rest as mere mythology, fit for consumption by the Brahmana-dominated society of gullible underlings, and a nation of dupes and rejection by the all-knowing wise west. Filliozot surmises that the Asuras are lesser gods, charged with expounding the teachings of the gods themselves. The Vedic Asuras of India are the Iranian Ahuras. Consider the Egyptian War god Anhur and the Greek War god Ares. The west's account of Asuras or Adityas being the down-trodden tribes does not receive support from the following: The Mother of Krishna, the main Persona of Bhagavad Gita and the Lord of the Universe was born in the family of Adityas. His mother, Devaki was Aditi.
Wine and dine the gods and by extension the politicians.
Historians say the Indo-Aryan's Sautramani sacrifice and the Greek's Souvetaurilla have commonality. Souvetaurilla is a postmanteau (composite word) formed from Sus (the pig), Ovis (the sheep—Ram) and Taurus (the bull). Joseph Campbell points out that in his opinion the Indo-Aryans and the Greeks are blood-brothers and performed similar kind of rituals. The geneticists say the Europeans, the Persians and Indo-Aryans share a common genetic stock, whose locus was Central Asia from where they fanned out to their respective places. Historians and archeologists refute the claim that Indo-Aryans originated in Central Asia but were indigenous to north-west India. Brown Indo-Aryans are closer to Europeans genetically than the Persians though the Persians are closer to Europeans geographically. Africans migrated to Europe along the coastal areas of Europe. As you may know there were many waves of human migration out of Africa. The migrants, starting from Africa 75 thousand years ago, stopped at Mesopotamia region, from where they departed to Russia, Siberia, Bering land, Alaska and the Americas; all of Europe; China; Japan; Southeast Asia; South Asia. The Africans took a coastal journey along the west and east coasts of India and ended down under in Australia and are the progenitors of the Native Australian. Each pedigree has dominance of similar features; the African has all the basic features of all the pedigrees except the white color, which is an acquired phenomenon. Carbon is the common and basic element among graphite, diamond, soot, charcoal, nanotubes, nanofoam, and buckyballs (Buckminster Fullerines). (Diamond is extremely hard carbon naturally crystallized in the isometric system.) Likewise the African genes are our heritage.
The oral and written tradition of Indo-Aryans (one such African-derived Pedigree) does not suggest any origin outside India, though the African is the First Progenitor of all races. The Indian historians suggest that the Aryans originated in India, fanned out to Persia, and Europe and some made a return trip back to India. The Europeans, far removed from the progenitor African by mutations of genes, wear our genes and speak many derivatives of Sanskrit. That is why they are called Indo-Europeans and their language is Indo-European. They are East Indians first and Europeans later. We are all Africans first and all other races later. The human speech originated in India only, according to Mark Twain. The Human race was making consonantal cockamamie sounds (if you call it human speech) until Sanskrit gave them the life-giving vowels. Brr, grr, hmm, mm, psst, tsk are some of the consonantal English words (onomatopoetic interjections) without vowels. Let us take the word Zebra. It was most likely called zbr; then came along the vowels; zbr acquired the sound of zebra and vowels show their stripes.
As you may know, the Tantrics and Indo-Aryans sacrificed male animals only, as the Greeks did. The Indo-Aryans had many other animals at their disposal for sacrifice. Take the horse for instance. Human sacrifice was not unheard of. Donald A. Mackenzie makes it a point to call the Indo-Aryans Brown Aryans in his book Legends and Myths of India.
Sautra refers to Indra, the chief of gods and also Sura, wine. The sacrifice is offered to Indra, Ashvins, Sarasvati…. It is a purification ceremony for man and god as deemed by the Greeks and Indo-Aryans. Sacrifice of a castrated bull or draught mare guarantees prosperity, progeny, annihilation of the donor's foes, realization of all desires and attainment of heaven. This sacrifice wipes off the sin of excess consumption of Soma by Indra and the priest. Indra stole Soma from Tvastr (think of hijacking of a truck-load of liquor); this resulted in violent dismemberment of his limbs; they were restored to Indra, when Asvins and Sarasvati performed Sautramani sacrifice. This sacrifice has similarities with Abraham’s sacrifice. A prominent Indian saint says that Sautramani sacrifice is offered to appeal to the lower forces of deities so that the sacrifices bring benefits to the sacrificer. What many cannot accept is that an animal has to die to be food, and bring prosperity to man or restoration of body parts to god. Whole Foods Market has started selling meat from well-treated and compassionately slaughtered animals. That is progress in the right direction. For gods, it is the wine, and meat. Yes, Soma, butter, grains and more. Soma gives a double whammy: inebriation and hallucinations. Sautramani is like fundraising dinners where it is a win-win situation for the donors, lobbyists and politicians. Hey you lobbyists, you haven’t invented anything new. (Madya [wine], Mamsa [meat], Matsya [Fish], Mudra [grains] and Mithuna [sexual union]--wine, woman and meat): Tantrics and Indo-Aryans perfected this art of social lubrication many eons ago. There is a new pristine honor code in place, enacted into law. The lobbyists can sponsor and pay for Stand-and-Eat meals for the politicians. No sit-down-and-eat please: It smacks of hanky-panky. I estimate that politicians wolf down more while they eat standing up. There are many Congressional Receptions everyday. One can eat as much as one wants as long as he is standing up, and go down the vomitorium to another reception to bite another snack. Madya and Madhu (Honey [honey-liquor]) in Sanskrit, Methy in Greek and Mead in English mean alcoholic beverage; now you see Sanskrit is the origin of the European words. The Europeans ignore the obvious and look for a language more ancient than Sanskrit and European languages to be the progenitor language (of Sanskrit and the European languages).
Who is this Tvastar? Tvastr: The divine artisan. Tvak is to form or fashion; Tvaṣṭṟ or Tvaṣṭaṟ is the artisan. Egyptian Ptah, Babylonian Mummu, Phoenician Chusor, and Greek Hephaistos are the divine artisans of their respective mythologies. Tvastar can not only fashion and create forms but also transform or morph himself into various forms. He applies his generative energy and skills to the embryo; that is how he transforms a one-cell embryo into a full-grown infant at delivery; naturally he earned the name, Garbhapathi (the Lord of the womb). He fashioned the ladle for the sacrifice, wine cup, thunderbolt (Vajra) for Indra, heaven and earth.... You thought that man and woman alone participate in the formation of the embryo and fetus. Not enough; Not so, according to Brhad Upanishad (VI.4.21). There are deities involved in impregnation, and formation of the embryo. It makes sense; they seem to work like the female hormones that prepare the womb for implantation and a host of other physiological processes involved in the continuation of pregnancy. Vishnu prepares the womb for the implantation of the embryo; Tvastar (read: the genes and DNA) shapes the embryo and fetus; Prajapathi (Lord of creation), DhAtr (arranger or establisher of pregnancy), and Sinivali (Lunar goddess fashions the embryo) and the Asvins (physicians of heavens--protector of the womb) along with Vishnu and Tvastar are the primary cause of impregnation and embryo and fetus formation. The parents are only a contributing cause of pregnancy. A woman makes a facsimile of her husband in her son and so is called Dhātrī. As you see, ancient seers and sages of India thought about the physiology of pregnancy and Fax Machines too. Vishnu's role in human impregnation extends backwards to the creation of the universe and beings. He penetrates Brahmanda (Brahma's egg) and deposits Amsa (a fragment) of Himself and thus the universe and beings come out of the egg. Does it not sound like the penetration of the ovum by the sperm in the process of fertilization? Does it not sound like cloning? Now you may note that pregnancy and its progress to term is under the divine aegis. In India pregnancy, formation of fetus, delivery and human birth, life and sojourn on earth are divine events; that being so, no one has a right to take that divine-sent life; that is part of the basis of Ahimsa or non-injury. These events are celebrated even to this day in India and go under the term Samskara. There are Prenatal Samskaras, Pumsavana (quickening of the fetus), Simantonnayana (hair-parting of wife during pregnancy), Jatakarma (Birth Ceremony), Namakarana ( Name-Giving), Niskramana (First Outing of the child), Anna-Prasana (First feeding of solid food), Chuda-karana (Tonsure), Karnavedha (Piercing of the ears), Vidyarambha (beginning of education), Upanayana (Initiation--think of Baptism), Kesanta (shaving of the first beard), Samavartana (end of studies), Vivaha (marriage), Antyesti (funeral ceremony).
Sinivali = The day when the moon rises is AmAvAsya; the day when first seen , SinivAli; the first day of disappearance is KuhU.
Lord Krishna has in Him the whole spectrum of
human emotions, character, qualities, achievements, and knowledge, known,
unknown and yet to be known. He has in Him the best, the worst, and everything
in-between. There is nothing that He has not fathomed that we know now or will
ever know in our thoughts, speech and deed. But they do not affect him; this
quality is like the heat in the sun; the sun does not feel it, but we do. Such
is His nature, power and Māyā.
Charity
Sattvika charity is giving with faith to those who deserve such gift. Garuda Purana (1.51.1-34) gives us many interesting details on (Dāna) charity. It is of four types: Nitya (daily or obligatory), Naimittika (episodic or occasional), Kāmya (wanting in return a special result), and Vimala (free from filth). In Nityadāna, the recipient is a Brahmin who returns nothing for the charity. In modern days, you may or may not find a Brahmin to receive your gift or charity. Under those circumstances, feeding the poor is a worthy alternative. All good people perform Naimitikadāna and offer gift to a scholar to expunge one's own sins. This kind of gift is of selfish nature and thus its worth and merit are not laudable and yet necessary for the welfare of the recipient. In Kāmyadāna, charity is given with the expectation of something in return, progeny, prosperity, success in all endeavors, and eventually heaven. This is trading with man or god. Political contributions , Legacy Contributions from Alumni ...come under Kamyadana.
Charity given to a person with the knowledge of Brahman in a sattvika mood (of
the donor) is Vimaladāna (no-stain charity). It is auspicious and has no stain,
because the recipient possesses knowledge of the Self (Brahman). A person who
blocks a donor from giving charity to a deserving person is reborn as an animal.
Buddhist concept of Ahimsa is special. Targeted killing of an animal for food is not allowed, but meat and fish may be bought from a commercial outlet where animal was not killed specially for one person. Meat and fish consumption is allowed under those circumstances. Killing of game animals, and elephants are prohibited.
More on Buddhist view of eating meat. Non-Destruction of life. pânâtipâthâ veramanî sikkhâ pada samâdiyâmi (I agree to follow the precept of abstaining from taking of life). This involves not contributing to the death of any living being. This means not only the actual killing but also "causing to kill". However this rule does not require one to be a vegetarian, only that meat consumed should not have been "specially killed" for direct, personal consumption. Meat purchased in the market does not come under the "specially killed" category. Strict vegetarians all over the world do not agree with this view because direct killing of animals for food or obtaining them from slaughter houses makes no difference. They opine hand that kills and mouth that eats are causing death of the animal and are non-different. If it is not for the latter, the former would not exist. This does not mean that all vegetarians are worthy of praise and exaltation. Take Adolph Hitler, the most prolific killer: he was a vegetarian. He actually cried over the death of a bird, and got upset over injury caused from cutting the stems of flowers. We will accept non-vegetarians who are kind and non-violent to fellow human beings and reject killer-vegetarians.
Was Jesus Christ a vegetarian? Probably so, except on two occasions when he might have eaten fish.
In certain parts of India, people consider themselves as vegetarians, euphemistically call fish, Jala Pushpa (water flower) and eat it as if it is a vegetable.
From the Toronto Vegetarian Association:
While it is true that Hitler's doctors put him on a vegetarian diet to cure him of flatulence and a chronic stomach disorder, his biographers such as Albert Speer, Robert Payne, John Toland, et al, have attested to his liking for ham sausages and other cured meats. Even Spencer says that Hitler was a vegetarian from only 1931 on: "It would be true to say that up to 1931, he preferred a vegetarian diet, but on some occasions would deviate from it." He committed suicide in the bunker when he was 56 in 1945; that would have given him 14 years as a vegetarian, but we have the testimony to the contrary of the woman chef who was his personal cook in Hamburg during the late 1930s - Dione Lucas. In her "Gourmet Cooking School Cookbook," she records that his favorite dish - the one that he customarily requested - was stuffed squab (pigeon). "I do not mean to spoil your appetite for stuffed squab, but you might be interested to know that it was a great favorite with Mr. Hitler, who dined in the hotel often."
By possessing a higher intelligence, man not only ascends over animals but has an undeniable responsibility for them. Underlying the animal rights movement is the belief that we must treat fairly those creatures placed in our care by nature. By not fulfilling this obligation, we have sunk very low. Kathryn McCullough, Ithaca, N. Y.
10.6: The seven Great
Rishis;
their ancestors, the four Munis; and besides, the fourteen Manus of my mental
disposition were born of my mind. In this world, all these people are their
descendants.
Rishi is derived from drs meaning “to see.”
The seven rishis or Saptarishis are the Maharishis (the primary progenitors);
Rajarishis are of royal lineage, while Brahmarishis are the priestly rishis.
Narada is Devarishi or divine Rishi. (There are Rishis in every religion.)
These Rishis wrote the Vedas, but they are not the authors. As our body and mind are sensitive to external
objects and stimuli, the rishis are sensitive in matters of religion; that
intuitive consciousness in a rishi is ārsa-jnāna– knowledge of a
rishi. As a dog has supersensitive olfactory sense (take the K-9 unit of NYPD), the rishis have a
supersensitive spiritual sense. The rishis have gone beyond or transcended
limits of reason and senses to comprehend the Truth; their consciousness is
transcendental. These truths are in abstract and not concrete as in science.
Here (as in science) one is trying to measure, define, and characterize the
infinite with the finite faculties. That is impossible. Finding God is not
science. If God were a science test subject, the human intellect and reason
would not be adequate and would not measure up to study It. One has to transcend
the limits of human consciousness and go to the fourth plane: Turiya. (The other
planes of consciousness are wakefulness, dream sleep and deep sleep; still
deeper than Turiya is Turiyatita--end of Turiya. Turiya, according to Ramana
Maharishi is Wakeful Sleep, when one is plugged into the divine grid for flow of
divine knowledge and bliss.) Ramana
Maharishi received Vedic and spiritual knowledge in this manner.
During dreamless deep sleep, our body and mind are at rest except for
physiological functions. This is the state where the individual self embraces
the greater Self. It is bliss because that state knows no evils, no fears, or
no desires. In this pristine deep sleep state, we lose our identity; we are not
fathers, mothers, sons, brothers, daughters, husbands, uncles, aunts, thieves, or murderers. The sorrows
of the phenomenal world drown during deep sleep, which is bliss. Everyone in
deep sleep is in communion with the Greater Self; that is sacrifice to God; and
during sleep, his world is at peace. During this state, the Self is the Seer
and the Self shines. When the individual self communes with the Greater Self in
deep sleep, bliss is the result. He knows not that he is a seer; the seer and
the Seen are One. This is only temporary empirical consciousness without
manifestation. Transcendental consciousness beyond deep sleep is Turiya, which
is not liable to interruptions as in deep sleep. The rishi and the Brahman
are one. In this fourth state namely Turiya (wakefulness, dream sleep, deep
sleep and Turiya are the four states), there is a permanent union with Brahman.
Nonduality or metaphysical unity with the Greater Self is realized. Rishis, Munis, and yogis
experience this state. Ramana Maharishi was one among the Rishis to experience
Turiya.
Raising human consciousness to the transcendent Turiya Consciousness is like raising the humongous ship from sea level to Gatun Lake in Panama. Please click the link to see the actual passage of ships in the canal with gates.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfoTVvhiGzE
Just like the ship is elevated by canals, lakes and locks, one has to elevate oneself from human consciousness to transcendental consciousness (Turiya state) to commune with Brahman.
10.7:
He who knows in truth My manifestation and pervading power of yoga
(Vibhutim and Yogam) is steadfast in yoga. Never is there any doubt.
10.8:
I am the origin of all. From Me everything emanates. Thus knowing, the
wise ones worship Me with conviction.
10.9: With their
mind (Citta) focused on Me and their
lives (prānas) dedicated or surrendered to Me,
enlightening one another by always talking about Me, they enjoy happiness and
delight.
Citta
consists of Mahat or buddhi, ahankāra, and manas. Mahat is the Great principle;
buddhi comes from Mahat; ahankāra, I-ness or individuation comes from buddhi.
Mahat and buddhi are the cosmic and individual aspects of intellect born of
prakriti; and citta, a product of Prakriti, is an unconscious entity. Buddhi or
intellect gets its discerning capacity by its proximity to the self-effulgent
Self. Buddhi is an unthinking prakriti (matter) without reflection from Self. Buddhi is
like the moon; moon appears effulgent in the night and it is only a reflected
glory. Moonlight is sun-dependent: No sun, no moonlight; and no Self, no
intellect or Buddhi.
10.10:
To them who are continuously devoted, and worship Me with eternal love,
I give Buddhi Yogam (Yoga of intelligence), by which they come to Me.
Buddhiyogam
is the kind of intelligence, wisdom, facility, intuition, and understanding a
person needs, in order to see the Brahman in all, all in the Brahman; unity in existence,
and universe in Him; and the Atman beyond avidya and māyā (ignorance
and illusion). Buddhi and yogam act in combination and collaboration: without
yogam, buddhi is inert. Once buddhi is close to the Self, buddhi acquires the
light and the energy to function.
10.11: Out of compassion
(anukampā-artham), I destroy their (Ajnāna and Tamasah) ignorance and
darkness by abiding in their self (Ātmabhāvasthah) with the light of
wisdom (shining lamp of wisdom).
Anukampā-artham:
the purpose of compassion.
Ātma-bhāvasthah:
by abiding in their self.
By waving the
lightning rod of wisdom and compassion and abiding in our self, he removes the
ignorance and darkness in our personality. This Light is Self-knowledge and
Self-realization (Jnāna and Vijnāna). The cloud of ignorance and the
veil of māyā, which interpose between the jivātman and
Paramatman, lift and the self-effulgent Light of Atman (Paramatman) shines on
the jivātman.
10.12:
Arjuna said:
You are the Supreme Brahman, the Supreme abode,
the Supreme purifier, the Eternal, the Divine, the First Primal God, the
Unborn, and all-pervading.
10.13:
All Rishis (sages) say this of you. The deva-rishis like Narada, also
Asita, Devala, Vyasa, and You Yourself are telling me.
Deva Rishis are divine sages or seers. Narada was the foremost among Deva-Rishis or Divine Seers or Sages and was one of the Prajapatis, the progenitors. He was born from Brahma’s throat or forehead, and gained his eminent standing among Saptarishis by observing vrata (pious observance) for twelve years with the blessings of Lords Skanda and Ganesa. One may get wrapped up in literal meaning, wonder, question and cast doubts about a person being born of the throat or forehead. One who is born of the throat is excellent in the art of words; one born of forehead is excellent in mind and knowledge. Just think of modern miracles. The stem cells in the skin can be programmed to become Totipotent Stem cells which with addition of proper genes can be made into heart muscle, pancreas etc. So the heart or the pancreas is born of the skin. With this analogy, one would hesitate to dismiss such births as mere phantasma. Think of cloned cows, whose calves do not have a contribution from a bull.
They, who are familiar with Kundalini Yoga, are
also quick to understand the
euphemism in this statement: Born of the throat (Visuddha Chakra) means
perfect articulation, ideation, wisdom, knowledge... Forehead is Ajna Chakra,
the seat of dawning of spiritual Consciousness. Visuddha Chakra is the zone
which separates the material man from spiritual man. Narada has the knack of
stepping into and out of the lives of mortals and immortals over centuries
across continents and different worlds. Sankaracharya explains this travel in
time and space: Such perfect sages, free from ignorance and delusion, appear
from time to time, to carry out their
mission to completeness. Narada has foreseen the death of Kamsa at the hands of
Lord Krishna. See Supplement to read on Vyasa, the author of Mahabharata, and
Lord Ganesh, the scribe.
There is a debate among the students of Hindu religion and Mythology whether Deva Rishis like Narada and Vyasa really existed and whether the Mahabharata war did really happen. Here is an excerpt from Devi Mahatmya, page 46 by Thomas B. Coburn.
An unknown Hindu is supposed to have made the following observation.
"One of the characteristics of ancient Hindu thought is its indifference to history."139 A host of reasons for this indifference has been suggested--ranging from alleged psychological peculiarities of Indians, absence of national sentiment, lack of scientific attitude of mind, inclination to mythologize, and lack of horizons beyond one's caste, to climactic determinism but they are not of concern to us here. What is important is that whatever insight we gain through various methodological ingenuities not be gained at the expense of the integrity of what it is we are trying to understand, viz., the vision of the Goddess in the DM, or, more precisely, the reality which is reflected in the vision or that text. We have tried in the above discussion to suggest the potential distinctiveness of matters of faith from matters of academic inquiry. That, however, was primarily a process of setting boundaries to the academic task, of suggesting what academic inquiry cannot do vis-a-vis religious matters. It also has a positive, constructive obligation. As Pathak has remarked, "there is a marked difference between the attitude of the modern historian with his exuberance of historical consciousness and of the ancient writer living in an ideal world and steeped in the tradition of the Vedico-agamic culture, based upon the intrinsic authority of the revealed word.”141 If the history that the "modern historian" writes does not adequately convey the attitude of that "ancient writer," then it is, in fact, no history at all. It is merely an intellectual autobiography of the "modern historian." To avoid such conceptual imperialism, and to delineate constructive alternatives is, of course, the central task of hermeneutics. Pathak has suggested that the particular problem with which we are faced is a function, not of India's lack of historical concern, but of her different understanding of history: "To the writers of itihasa [and, we might add, purana] tradition, history was not just a meaningless succession of events [but mundane events] below which lay the fascinating drama of man's fulfillment of the sovereign purpose of human existence. ltihasa [and purana] tried to grasp this inner story...," and, therefore, "what is needed [for the modern historian to accomplish his task] is to grasp the idea of the author which gave meaning to the whole narrative." We have identified several of the "idealizing agents" operative in our, material. Sanskritization is one of them. As another we have suggested a process of "Puranicization," where "the only [salient] characteristic of a Purana is that it should be old. Anything old may be the subject of a Purana, and it covers all the aspects of life."
10.14: I hold all that you told me
as true, O Kesava (Krishna). O Bhagavan (Lord), neither the gods nor the demons
know your manifestation.
10.15:
You alone know Yourself by You, O Supreme person (Purusa-Uttama),
Creator of all beings, Lord of everything, God of all gods, and Lord of the
universe.
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Govinda/Krishna--->Vishnu, the controller of Maya. Krishna is endowed with Aisvarya (opulence) and Madhurya (sweetness). Krishna is the fountainhead of Rasa (Sap, Essence); He is Rasa Himself. Sri Narayana, Brahma and Siva operate at material modes of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. |
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Sri Krishna/Govinda--->Sri Narayana--> Mahavishnu (First Purusha---> Second Purusha---> Third Purusha). These are the linear elements, the latter expanding from the former. Govinda is like the Original Great Flame from which the secondary flame of Sri Narayana, and the other linear elements are derived in a linear manner. |
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Mahavishnu is Govinda's / Narayana's Avatara; but there is no difference between them. CAUSAL VISHNU Karanarnavasayi Vishnu (Karana-arnava = Causal ocean) is a fragment of the fragment of Govinda. He is MAHAVISHNU, the First Purusa. Karanodakasayi MahaVisnu, in the Causal Ocean, is the creator of the 24 tattvas or elements, and is an expansion or emanation of Sankarsana. Go to TATTVAS-36 Karanodakasayi Vishnu uses Maya to create and is the Supersoul of all universes. Causal ocean is where he abides. Zillion unlimited universes are present in the hair pores of His body. When He exhales, universes emerge; with inhalation, myriad universes enter Him. Sesa being the servant of Sri Krishna, becomes His bed; Mahavishnu enjoys Yogamaya. MAya Devi Durga is Karanodakasayi Vishnu's potency.
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Garbhodakasayi Vishnu (Second Purusa) Supersoul of Total living beings is the expansion of Maha-Vishnu, the creator of Brahma living in the Garbho ocean. Four-handed form with a lotus stem sprouting from his navel. Brahma is born in the lotus flower. Garbhodakasayi Visnu, is an expansion of Pradyumna. He is all-pervasive, living in the hearts and atoms of the universe. Garbhodakasayi is commonly known as Brahmaa, the womb of the universe. Supreme Mahavishnu is in charge of countless universes like ours. One Brahma and one Siva are assigned to one universe. They all enter into Mahavishnu upon his inhalation. They are alive for the duration of one breath of Mahavishnu, who is a portion of a portion of Sri Govinda's plenary portion. --Sri Brahma Samhita Verse 48. Verse 14: explanation: In simple terms, Maha-Vishnu makes many copies (facsimilies) of Himself and one copy here known as Vishnu enters one of the zillion universes; Upon his entry He assumes the name of Garbhodakasayi (Womb) Vishnu.
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Ksirodakasayi Visnu, the expansion of Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, is the Supersoul of all individual living entities including demigods. Associated with Maya, He is the maintainer of the universe. He abides in Ksira (milk) ocean. The third purusa, Ksirodakasayi Visnu, is an expansion from Aniruddha. He is of goodness –Savatanu. All incarnations are rooted in Ksirodakasayi Vishnu (Vishnu who lives in Milk ocean)
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Creation, maintenance, and destruction |
| Once Destruction is complete, Vishnu takes Yoganidra (Yogic Sleep with awareness) on Serpent bed. He is then called Sesasaayi Vishnu. Padma Purana says (part 10, C8, V43b-45) When the Lord is in Yoga Nidra (sleep), the entire earth was immersed in gazillion amount of water. |
| Incarnation of Krishna is endowed with aggregate powers of Vishnu and Krishna expansions. Vishnu expansions as listed above. Krishna expansions: Narayana, (the foursome) Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. Partial expansion such as Matsya, plus yuga avatars and Manvantara avatar. |
10.16:
You alone can give me details of your divine manifestations, and by such
manifestations, you pervade all the worlds and abide (in them).
10.17:
How may I know you O Yogin, by always thinking of you? Moreover, in what
aspects, am I to think of you O Bhagavan?
You are on my
mind all the time. You are everything to me. You have so many forms. What form
of yours should I focus on, in my mind?
10.18: O Janardhana (Krishna) tell me again in detail your yogam and
vibhutim (power of yoga and manifestation). There is no satiation or
satisfaction in me to hear your nectar-like words.
O Janardhana, Please give me all the details
of your yogam and manifestations for I will never ever be satiated to hear your
sweet words.
Sri Bhagavan said:
10.19:
O Kurusreshta, My manifestations are divine; I will now tell you only
the most important of the manifestations, because there is no end to My
expansion.
Vistara:
Expansion
He is only
ONE, the Supreme Self but has many manifestations. Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva are
the manifestations of ONE SUPREME SELF. The Supreme Self or Brahman can be
Sabda-Brahman and Param-Brahman, Nirguna Brahman and Saguna Brahman, Formed and
Formless Brahman. Sabda Brahman is Brahman associated with AUM. There are two
kinds of knowledge: Sabda-Brahman and Param-Brahman. Param-Brahman is superior
and Sabda-Brahman is only a means to Param-Brahman. Knowledge of Upanishads and
Vedas, sacrifices, and rituals are essential for growth and development of the
soul or atman to a finite stage; after that stage, they have to end in the same
spirit of detachment from desires at early stages of development. Here you
stand by your own self: No props, no
cheers, and no support are available to the self. You are dead to the world,
figuratively: You give up everything that you owned, be it material or
knowledge. Names and forms do not matter anymore. You ride the OM sound waves
of Sabda-Brahman until you reach the Param-Brahman, when the sound-syllable OM
falls into silence. Sabda-Brahman or Brahman of Sounds consists of all book
knowledge including rituals, sacrifices, and Vedas. (Soundless Brahman is
superior to Sound Brahman.) But the latter is the preliminary step before
attainment of Soundless Brahman. When Soundless Brahman is attained, the names,
forms, books, rituals, sacrifices, prayers, and hymns fall or should be
abandoned. It is like saying that the raft should be abandoned once you reach
the shore. It is like saying that the chaff should be abandoned or thrown away,
when one has the rice.
Then there is
Nirguna Brahman and Saguna Brahman. Sankaracharya has talked on this subject.
He calls Nirguna Brahman as IT or THAT. We do not know WHAT IT is. If you know
WHAT IT is, IT is no more Nirguna Brahman. The idea is that IT has no limits;
and that IT is colorless, odorless, formless, tasteless, nameless, and
stainless; and that IT is free from all impurities and unknowable. Then we have Saguna
Brahman. This is a little easier to understand. He has a mind; His Body is
Life; His Form is Light; and He is Truth. His Soul is Space. When the absent
parts of Nirguna Brahman as said earlier are added, transformation to Saguna
Brahman takes place and He is all colors, all odors, and all tastes. He is the
Universe. Saguna Brahman is Nirguna Brahman with māyā factor
coloring It.
Sankaracharya
dwells on the cause and the effect: The cause is Nirguna Brahman and the effect
is Saguna Brahman. According to Sankara, the cause is real and the effect is a
superimposition and therefore unreal. Samkhya philosophers hold a different
view. A clod of clay is the cause and the pot is the effect. The argument goes
the pot was in the clay, meaning the effect was already in the cause and the
skill of the potter made the difference.
Siddhantists say that Maya is the clay (material cause, upādāna kārana), Sakti is the potter’s wheel (instrumental cause, Sahakāri kārana), and God (the efficient cause, nimitta kārana) is the maker of world and beings.
Vaishnava view:
He is the instrumental or efficient cause (Nimitta Karana); his sakti is the cooperating cause (Sahakāri Karana); His body is the material cause (Upadana Karana). He is also Akārana, meaning that there is no cause other than Him.
upādāna kārana = material or proximate cause; Sahakari kārana = concurrent, expedient, cooperating cause; Nimitta kārana = instrumental or efficient cause. In terms of potter, pot, clay and wheel, His Sakti is the Instrumental cause (Nimitta Karana); Sakti, earth, wheel, and staff are the cooperating causes (Sahakāri Karana); the clay is material cause (Upadana Karana). He is the potter, the clay, the Sakti, the wheel, and the staff. He is One and becomes many.
When clay becomes a pot that is Parinama (transformation). Paramatman is also called Vivarta karana (inducting cause).
10.20:
I am the Atma O Gudakesa (Arjuna) seated in the hearts of all living
beings. I am the beginning, also the middle, and certainly the end of all
beings.
At death,
the individual soul going up the artery from the heart, and leaves the body
from the top of the head, anterior fontanel area or brahma-randhra, which is
the point of first entry for the soul. It is common knowledge the Greater and
the lesser souls live in the spiritual heart, which is on the right chest. (The
individual soul's point of entry and exit are on the crown.) The soul climbs up
the shaft of sun's rays and reaches the sun, when the ascending soul is in the
“know.” The one not in the “know” takes other paths and reenters another body
by the anterior fontanel. Katha UP2.3.16
Osiris is the
Egyptian god of birth and death.
I am the
“Self” seated in the heart of all living creatures. I am the beginning, the
middle and the end of all beings.
10.21:
Of the Adityas, I am Vishnu. Of the lights, I am the radiant sun. Of the Maruts, I am the Marici. Of the stars, I am the moon.
Krishna says, "I am Vishnu." This has so much significance in that it covers eight qualities of Vishnu.
1. Jagath-kArana Vastu: world-cause substance meaning that he is the causal agent of the universe.
2. Sarva Raksakan: All-Savior. He is the savior of all.
3. Sarva-VyApi: All-Pervader. He pervades all, Cit and Acit (beings and mater = animate and inanimate).
4. Sarva-Sesi: All-Master or Lord. Lord, Master, owner of all. He is the Master and we are His slaves.
5. Sarva-anthar-yAmi: SarvAntharyAmi: All-inside-abider. The One who abides inside all of us. This includes
abiding inside inanimate things. Example: Narasimha emerged from a palace Pillar.
That is why Narasimha (Vishnu) is Sarva-antar-yAmi of SarAsaram. He abides in all and all abide in Him. Sarva-antar-yAmi = all -inner-abider; SarAsaram = Saram + Asaram = mobile things + immobile things. Vishnu is the inner abider of all mobile and immobile things.
6. VEda VEthyan: Veda Vethyan: The One who is knowable through Vedas.
7. VEdAnta VEthyan: Vedanta Vethyan: Veda-end-the-Knowable. The end of Veda (Vedanta) is the essence of Vedas. He is knowable by the essence of Vedas.
8. SriyahPathithvam: The One who is close (husband) to Sri or Lakshmi.
Adityas are
the sons of Aditi and the Vedic gods. Aditi is antithetical to Diti, “limited.” Aditi is female and a female principle with no limits and represents the
unmanifest nonexistence. Since Adityas are sons of Aditi, it is reasonable to
assume that they are limitless. One of the Adityas is the Savitr or the Solar
Vishnu. The sun is one of the six doors to Nirguna Brahman, while the other
doors are fire, wind, water, moon, and lightning. There are
twelve Adityas, one
for each solar month; Vishnu is the last, the twelfth and the most important.
Marici is the son of Brahma and one of the secondary prajapatis, the progenitors
or creators. To read about Maruts, go to commentary on verse 23, Chapter
10.
Aditi and Kasyapa desired to attain Yoga Siddhi and hence performed Tapas. Responding to their deep faith, Bhagavan appeared before them. Once they took a look at the heavenly beauty of Bhagavan, they changed their mind and begged him to become their son. Bhagavan blessed them with the anugraha (favor or support) of becoming their son. Thus Vamana was born as Upendra-Vamana, Vamana, the younger brother of Indra. He is also known as Prachnigarbhan, product of pregnancy from entreating (of Bhagavan). Krishna always keeps his parents same (though of different names and places) in his many man-avatars: Kasyappa and Aditi. Aditi was Devaki, the mother of Krishna.
Good gods and evil gods are not unique to Hinduism. Adityas are good gods and Dityas (Daityas-Adityas) are demons or bad gods; both were fathered by Kasyapa, the mothers being Aditi and Diti. They are half-brothers, gods and demons. In Zoroastrianism, there are two primary gods, one good and one evil; One is Light and the other is Darkness; other gods chose to join one or the other group; in Hindu terms, one side of Zoroastrianism consists of gods and the other side demons. Cyrus of Persia believed that the good should triumph over evil and he set to conquer the world. Yahweh, the Jewish God, visited him in his vision and asked him to rebuild the temple and establish worship in Jerusalem. Some and not all Jews went from Babylon to Jersusalem to worship Yahweh in the temple of Solomon, which was earlier put to the torch by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C.
When the Christians came along, they took the one God, the Almighty as the Real One and the evil god of Zoroastrianism antithetical to Yahweh as the devil, the Hindu equivalent of Dityas or Asuras. Hebrew tradition believes that Satan belongs to Yahweh's circle in its periphery, thus agreeing with the Hindu concept that good and evil (god and satan) are two sides of the same coin. Krishna says, "I am all-devouring death" (10.34) and I am the absolute virtue of the virtuous. (10.36). The Vedic Asura of India are the Iranian Ahura.
10.22:
Of the Vedas, I am the Samaveda. Of all the gods, I am the Vasavah. Of
all the Indriyas (senses), I am the mind. I am consciousness in living beings.
Vasava is
Indira.
10.23:
Of the (eleven) Rudras, I am Sankara (Lord Siva). (I am) Vitteso
(Kubera) of the Yaksas and Raksasas. Of the (eight) Vasus, I am Fire. I am Meru
of all mountaintops or peaks.
Scholars from
West regard
Rudra as a Dravidian god of thunder and lightning, and Indra as the Aryan
counterpart. Rudra means “Red and flashing One.” Rudras or Maruts are the sons
of Rudra. When Maruts enter, they raise a ruckus, flash the lightning, roar
like a lion, unleash their thunder, and wear robes of rain. Rudra wields 100
weapons and is Pasupati, the Lord of the cattle. Rudra is later known as Siva,
who was born of Brahma and is in charge of dissolution of the universe. Lord
Siva is part of the Hindu Holy Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva. Siva’s
image appears usually (in the temples) in the form of Linga, which has at least
two meanings:
1. Li, to dissolve; and gam, to go
out
2. Sign
The meaning has significance in that what
leaves the body after death or dissolution and is involved in transmigration of
the soul is Lingasarira or subtle body. Linga also means “Sign.” The sign
stands for transcendental power and generative principle. MERU is a mountain,
considered as the epicenter of the universe and the abode and playground of the
gods. Ganga River gracefully falls on its high point and runs down in four
directions. Brahma's city of gold graces the summit, surrounding which there
are eight satellite cities; Krishna and Vishnu have abodes on Mount Meru. Deep
below the base of the mountain are the seven netherworlds, and the mountain is
supported by and balanced on the seven manifold heads of snake Vāsuki,
whose movement causes tremor of the mountain. At Pralaya or dissolution, his
fiery breath consumes the whole creation and universe. (Mount Meru is the
Himalayas and the tremor felt is from the manifold head of the snake [of a
South Asian subcontinent thrusting] under the Himalayas.)
The eight Vasus are the personifications of natural phenomena: Apa for water, Dhruva for the Pole-star, Soma for moon, Dhava or Dhara for earth, Anila for wind, Anala for fire, Pratyusha for Dawn, and Prabhasa for light.
Kubera or
Kuvera is the half brother of the Raksasa, Ravana, who is the infamous
abductor of Sita, wife of Lord Rama of Ramayana. Kubera is the Vedic Bill
Gates, Rockefeller, the Queen... Read supplement section piece titled “Children Eat Free”
to find out how Lord Ganesa gave him the fright of his life. He is the richest
being on this universe and can divine the exact location of precious gems
without a divining rod. He rolls in gems, gold, and anything that is precious.
Therefore, he is the Lord of riches (Dhanapathi), and is the celestial keeper
of wealth of gods. It is said that his father, Pulastya was a non-Aryan Rishi
and his mother, Idavidā, was the daughter of Rishi Bharadvāja.
According to Mahabharata lore, his mother also was a non-Aryan. His half
brother, Ravana is a ten-headed, twenty-handed, and fiery-eyed bad Raksasa. He
went on a rampage defeating the fiercest of all celestial fighters, Yakshas and
Gandharvas. He had an eye on the celestial chariot owned and operated by his
half brother, Kubera. This chariot is a flying city; no flying object is a
match to Pushpaka Vimanam (Pushpaka + Vimanam = flower + plane). The beauty about
Pushpaka Vimanam is that it does not need any fuel: It runs on thought! We humans have to worry about the price of gas
($3.00 a gallon) to go from here to there (June 2006). Thought was the energy that gods
used to go from one universe to another, no gas tanks, no gears, no
transmission, no breakdown, no exhaust and no pollution. To make matters worse, Ravana stole Kubera's
throne too.
10.24:
Of all the priests, know Me O Partha, to be the most important priest,
Brhaspati. Of the Army Chiefs, I am Skanda. Of all ponds, I am the ocean.
Brhaspati is
Lord of prayer: Brh, prayer; pati,
Lord. He is the priest of the gods, and keeps asuras, demons and raksasas at
bay or destroys them. Skanda, born of the sparks emanating from the third eye
of Lord Siva, is the war god, whose other names especially in South India are
Muruga, Kartikeya, Subramanya, Shanmukha, and who is the son of Siva and
Parvathi, and the younger sibling of Ganesa. Shanmukha's vahana or vehicle is
peacock and the banner is cock; Valli and Deivayani are His divine consorts,
and represent sakti or power. His six heads stand for six attributes: Divine
power, wealth, fame, strength, detachment from passion, and knowledge.
10.25:
Of the great Rishis (sages), I am Bhrgu. Of sounds, I am
Aksaram
(monosyllable, AUM). I am Japa of sacrifices. I am Himalaya of the immovables.
The view from West:
Bhrgu Muni = Burn or roast + observer of silence = Fire-priest who observes silence. The priest who inducts fire in the alter by magic. Bhrgu Muni was the mind-born son of the Creator Brahma. Once the Rishis (Seers) were not sure about the supremacy among Brahma, Siva and Vishnu and whom to worship. Bhrgu Muni was deputed from Rishi headquarters to interview the three gods. It was a mission of subterfuge and subreption. He found Siva doting on Sakti (Parvati) all the time so much so that he cursed Siva to take the form of Lingam, deprived of oblations. He went to Brahma, found him self-absorbed all the time and decided that he was not worthy of worship. Lastly, he went to Vishnu and as was the case, found him in Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep) and kicked him awake. Vishnu instead getting mad with the foot-loose Muni announced that he was honored and blessed by being awakened by a Muni of such repute. Vishnu the confounder and the Mayin of Mayins even offered to massage Bhrgu's kick-foot. Impressed by humility, magnanimity, and even temper of Vishnu, Bhrgu Muni declared that Vishnu alone was worthy of worship. The West regards this incident as the rivalry between Saivas and Vaishnavas (Sects of Siva and Vishnu). Yogic Sleep: A state of Consciousness in a Yogi while in communion with the Divine Energy radiating and pervading the whole universe and beyond. Here Vishnu appears as if He is sleeping on the coiled bed of snake Sesa and yet His diffusing and pervading Energy keeps the Universe in motion and balance. Yoga Nidra is personified as His sister (Durga).
Aksaram: means imperishable, indestructible, Om, a letter, a word, a syllable. Since Aksara is indestructible, it is Brahman and hence the whole world. Here it means Om; Om is Brahman.
AksarA (with a long a) means a personification of speech who upon invocation protects her devotees.
10.26:
Of all trees, I am Asvattah. Of all the divine Rishis, I am
Narada. I am
Chitraratha among Gandharvas. Of all perfected beings, I am
Kapila Muni.
Asvattah is
Ficus religiosa, aka Banyan tree.
Narada
Chitraratha: is the king of Gandharvas (celestial musicians) and Apsarasas (Seductive celestial nymphs living in Svarga [heaven]). Apsarasas dance for the gods while Gandharvas play musical instruments and sing for the gods.
Kapila Muni: Muni is a sage who has taken a vow of silence. The West questions the historical validity of Hindu accounts relating to Kapila because they are full of contradictions. The West says that Buddhist's account, being more credible, connects Kapila with Samkhya philosophy and the City of Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Buddha. Dr. Radhakrishnan and Moore say that Kapila lived during the 7th century B.C. The legend says he was born of Brahma or an incarnation of Vishnu. Another legend says that Kapila reduced the 60K sons of Sagara to ashes for offending him.. River Ganges came down to earth to purify the Sagara sons and send them to heaven. From the waters of Ganges, ocean (Sagara) was formed.
10.27:
Know Me, among horses to be Ucchaisravas born along with the nectar. Of
the elephants, I am Airavata. Of men, I am king.
Nectar or
Amrta refers to the ambrosia that floated on the surface of the cosmic ocean,
when the gods and demons churned it. Amrta or A+ mrta means deprivation of
death. Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, collected Amrta, considered as
the rejuvenator by gods and demons, from the ocean surface. Many other living
and nonliving entities came out of the cosmic causal ocean including Sri (the
consort of Lord Vishnu), the celestial horse, and the celestial elephants.