BHARTRIHARI'S VERSES ON RENUNCIATION

https://ekamnityam-itmilan.blogspot.com/2019/03/bhartriharis-verses-on-renunciation.html

Maa - It is a concept

Whenever we utter the word "Maa", "Mother" or "Amma", our mind visualizes the image  of a woman close to our heart. Yes, in fact, that is the personification of the concept of Mother or Amma or Maa.  The essence of mother  is just not about the woman who just gives birth to us,  but it is in itself a bigger concept or "Tatva".

We conceptualize mother through certain heavenly qualities which are very much specific to the tatva that we call as motherhood.  Mother only can offer  unconditional and unlimited caring,  affections in its purest form. She gives birth to new life on the earth, she nurtures it and  scarifies her own life to protect it.  Not just that, her heart is filled with love and compassion and bounty of blessings. She creates others and live for them. The lap of mother is the place where you will feel absolute vacuum of hatred, passion and ego. This is essentially the TATVA of mother, the creator and the nurturer.  

That is precisely the reason why Indian Culture respects not just the woman, but also it respects the inanimate entities such as river as "Ganga Maiya", Earth as "Dharti Maa", Country as "Bharath Mata", Cow as "Gau mata" and so on.  They almost exhibit the qualities of a mother. They completely live for others, they sacrifice everything they have for others, they  dedicate their lives for  the benefit and welfare for others. They are the real well wishers  for others. They are the source of creation, they are the spirit of sustenance. 

The gender dichotomy does not necessarily define a mother. In many cases, we witness the mother in a male as well. There are abundant examples, where father plays the role of mother. For the unfortunate who have lost their mother get the necessary cares of mother from the father. The role of father changes and his approach and sensibility towards the children also changes, as he becomes a dual role player.

As the age-old Sanskrit shlok goes -  "Ya devi Sarva bhute su matru rupena sansthita ....". The  feeling of Matrutva(maternity)  does exist here, there and everywhere. We all are endowed with these cardinal qualities of love, caring and catering to the needs of others and placing them appropriately at the right position.  Highly likely, we may not have explored or identified that dimensions of our qualities or possibly have ignored that so far,  but if we closely observe that,  we would very much discover a potential mother in us.  Imagine, we roam in a garden  and find a beautiful plant is broken in the heavy storm last night.  What we do ? We tend to make the plant stand erect and if required arrange some support for the plant to stand again. This is spontaneous. Nobody really asks to us do that.  Somebody may not act, but the feelings to see the garden intact will still be there in them as well.That is just a feeling, a powerful feeling. That is the feeling of a mother.

 Setting this room up normally SAA does, however there will be multiple hands helping them. When we come across a hungry person, an orphan or a destitute in our way, we become overwhelmingly compassionate. This is the reflection of the motherly instinct very much contained in us. 

Not just in the human, but these virtues are ubiquitous in all spectrum of the creation.   Even the deadly poisonous snake possess the quality of the mother. They nurture their snake-lets well. When an elephant finds small animals sleeping on it's way; it does not stamp them under its feet, but steps back.

This is the same way a lot of sages live in forest. They care for each other without harming anybody. They fulfill their basic needs and  live harmoniously and symbiotically.  Unless hungry, the ferocious lion does not kill the deer nearby. Also many a times we have heard the stories of  hungry lioness leaving the baby deer/fawn out of motherly sympathy.

This motherly quality is there in anybody but how come only the lady has taken that name Mother. It is because they have the maximum of these qualities. Not only they have these qualities but also they are very conscious about that quality, also they keep exhibit that  quality throughout their life. A family runs around a mother. She may be the person who does not have any financial income, She may be the person who cannot even speak in English, But still she is the core of the Family. She is the force which binds the entire family together. Without her we cannot imagine a family. When we develop an friendly relation with a family if it is with the mother of the family then that is the true and complete relation. 

To run a family some pople should give some time, some people should give more time and some people should give full time. It is our well wishers, friends and relatives who give some time, it is we the other member of the family who gives more time and the Mother who gives full time to run the family. Hence the entire home is always under the consciousness level of the mother. 

It is the mother who has been given the highest respect in Indian culture. Hence our sanskrit sloka says "Janani, janmabhumischa, swargadapi gariyasi", mother and the mother land is greater then even heaven. 

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In Indian Culture the Swarupa of mother is Shakti. It is all the divine Power. In Sanskrit there is a Sloka "Ya devi sarva bhutesu Sakti rupena sansthita". That divine power exists everywhere in the form of Shakti or power. Anything to be active we need power

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🌸 The Tatva of Motherhood: The Power That Binds the World

Whenever we utter the word “Maa”…  

Or whisper “Mother”…  

Or call out “Amma”…  

Our mind doesn’t just hear a name—it paints a portrait.  

A woman, close to our heart.  

A lap where pain dissolves.  

A voice that heals without medicine.  

A presence that feels like prayer.

But let me tell you something profound:  

Motherhood is not just a woman.  

It is a **Tatva**—a principle, a force, a divine essence.

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### 💫 The Essence of a Mother

A mother is not defined by biology alone.  

She is the only being who offers **unconditional care**,  

**Unlimited affection**,  

And **uninterrupted sacrifice**.

She creates life, nurtures it, and protects it—  

Not for applause, but out of pure love.  

Her heart is a reservoir of compassion.  

Her lap—a vacuum of ego, hatred, and pride.

This is the **Tatva of motherhood**:  

To create, to care, to sacrifice, and to sustain.

---

### 🌍 Motherhood in Indian Culture

That is why in Indian culture, we don’t just revere women—  

We revere rivers as **Ganga Maiya**,  

Earth as **Dharti Maa**,  

Country as **Bharat Mata**,  

Cow as **Gau Mata**.

Why?

Because they live for others.  

They give without asking.  

They sacrifice without complaint.  

They are creators. They are sustainers.  

They are mothers.

---

### 🧔‍♂️ Motherhood Beyond Gender

And let us not be mistaken—  

Motherhood is not confined to gender.

There are fathers who become mothers.  

Men who nurture, protect, and love with the same intensity.  

When a child loses their mother,  

It is often the father who steps into both shoes—  

Not just with responsibility, but with tenderness.

As the Sanskrit shloka says:  

> “या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मातृ रूपेण संस्थिता”  

> *Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Matru Rupena Sansthita*  

The divine mother exists in all beings—in all forms.

---

### 🌱 The Mother Within Us

You don’t need a child to be a mother.  

You don’t need a womb—you need a heart.

Imagine walking through a garden,  

And seeing a plant broken by last night’s storm.  

What do you do?

You lift it.  

You support it.  

You help it stand again.

No one asked you.  

No one saw you.  

But you did it.

That is the **Tatva of motherhood**—  

Spontaneous compassion.  

Silent service.  

Unseen love.

---

### 🤝 The Motherly Instinct in All Creation

Even nature reflects this divine instinct.

- A snake, though venomous, nurtures its young.  

- An elephant steps back to avoid crushing a sleeping creature.  

- A lioness, though hungry, spares a baby deer out of sympathy.

Even sages in forests live in harmony—  

Fulfilling needs, not feeding greed.

Motherhood is not a gender.  

It is a **gesture**.  

It is not a role.  

It is a **rhythm**.

---

### 🏠 The Core of Every Family

In every home, the mother is the nucleus.  

She may not earn money.  

She may not speak English.  

But she speaks the language of love.

She gives full time to the family—  

While others give some time, or more time.  

She is the consciousness of the home.  

The glue that binds.  

The soul that breathes life into the walls.

If you want to truly know a family—  

Know its mother.

---

### 🙏 The Highest Reverence

In Indian culture, the mother is placed above heaven.

> “जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी”  

> *Janani Janmabhoomischa Swargadapi Gariyasi*  

Mother and motherland are greater than heaven itself.

Because they don’t just give birth—  

They give **meaning** to life.

---

### 🔥 The Divine Power: Shakti

In her truest form, the mother is **Shakti**—the divine power.

> “या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्ति रूपेण संस्थिता”  

> *Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Shakti Rupena Sansthita*  

She is the energy behind every action.  

The power behind every purpose.  

The force behind every form.

To be active, we need power.  

To be alive, we need Shakti.  

And that Shakti… is Mother.

---

So today, let us not just celebrate the woman who gave us birth—  

Let us awaken the **Tatva of motherhood** within us.  

Let us honor the rivers, the earth, the country, the cow, the father, the stranger—  

All who live for others.

Because the world doesn’t run on money.  

It runs on **Matru Bhava**—the spirit of the mother.

Swami Sivananda Maharaj's - TWENTY IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTIONS

                                        Om Namah Bhagavate Sivanandaya

                   TWENTY IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Get up at 4. a.m. daily. This is Brahmamuhurta which is extremely favorable for meditation on God.

2. Asana: Sit on Padma, Siddha or Sukha Asana for Japa and meditation for half an hour, facing the east or the north. Increase the period gradually to three hours. Do Sirshasana and Sarvangasana for keeping up Brahmacharya and health. Take light physical exercises as walking, etc., regularly. Do twenty Pranayamas.

3. Japa: Repeat any Mantra as pure Om or Om Name Narayanaya, Om Namah Sivaya, Om Namah Bhagavate Vasudevaya, Om Saravanabhavaya Namah, Sita Ram, Sri Ram, Hari Om, or Gayatri, according to your taste or inclination, from 108 to 21,600 times daily.

4. Dietetic Discipline: Take Sattvic food, Suddha Ahara. Give up chillies, tamarind, garlic, onion, sour articles, oil, mustard, asafoetida. Observe moderation in diet (Mitahara). Do not overload the stomach. Give up those things which the mind likes best for a fortnight in a year. Eat simple food. Milk and fruits help concentration. Take food as medicine to keep the life going. Eating for enjoyment is sin. Give up salt and sugar for a month. You must be able to live on rice, Dhal and bread without any chutni. Do not ask for extra salt for Dhal and sugar for tea, coffee or milk.

5. Have a separate meditation room under lock and key.

6. Charity: Do charity regularly, every month, or even daily according to your means, say six paisa per rupee.

7. Svadhyaya: Study systematically the Gita, the Ramayana, the Bhagavata, Vishnu-Sahasranama, Lalita-Sahasranama, Aditya Hridaya, Upanishads or Yoga Vasishtha, the Bible, Zend Avesta, the Koran, the Tripitakas, the Granth Sahib, etc., from half an hour to one hour daily and have Suddha Vichara.

8. Brahmacharya: Preserve the vital force (Veerya) very, very carefully. Veerya is God in motion or manifestation—Vibhuti. Veerya is all power. Veerya is all money. Veerya is the essence of life, thought and intelligence.

9. Prayer Slokas: Get by heart some prayer-Slokas, Stotras and repeat them as soon as you sit in the Asana before starting Japa or meditation. This will elevate the mind quickly.

10. Satsanga: Have Satsanga. Give up bad company, smoking, meat and alcoholic liquors entirely. Do not develop any evil habits.

11. Fast on Ekadasi: Fast on Ekadasi or live on milk and fruits only.

12. Japa Mala: Have Japa Mala (rosary) round your neck or in your pocket or underneath your pillow at night.

13. Mouna: Observe Mouna (vow of silence) for a couple of hours daily.

14. Speak the Truth: Speak the truth at all cost. Speak a little. Speak sweetly.

15. Reduce your wants. If you have four shirts, reduce the number to three or two. Lead a happy, contented life. Avoid unnecessary worry. Have plain living and high thinking.

16. Never hurt anybody: Never hurt anybody (Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah). Control anger by love, Kshama (forgiveness) and Daya (compassion).

17. Do not depend upon servants: Do not depend upon servants. Self-reliance is the highest of all virtues.

18. Self-analysis: Think of the mistakes you have committed during the course of the day, just before retiring to bed (self-analysis). Keep daily diary and self-correction register. Do not brood over past mistakes.

19. Fulfil duties: Remember that death is awaiting you at every moment. Never fail to fulfil your duties. Have pure conduct (Sadachara).

20. Surrender to God: Think of God as soon as you wake up and just before you go to sleep. Surrender yourself completely to God (Saranagati).


--------------------------Om Namah Bhagavate Sivanandaya -------------------------------------------------

Journey from Material nature to divinity

The highest thing in this universe is knowledge, which is true and eternal, which is unchanged and divine. True knowledge keeps the men free from bondage and elevates us from this worldly thought. True knowledge separates the truth from untruth. True knowledge disappear the ignorance. True knowledge removes the sorrow & suffering. True knowledge gives us the sense of sath, chit and Ananda. As in the presences of light, darkness disappears and never exists so is the power of knowledge. The Veda has uttered these truths loudly and clearly.

The universe is made up of 2 aspects Prakruti and Purusha. The material aspect which is made up of Pancha bhuta and tri-guna belong to Prakruti. The whole universe which appears before us, which we can sense using our sense organs(panchendriya), which we can know using our organ of knowldge(gyanendriya) are nothing but Prakriti. It is ever-growing, ever-changing and ever-evoluating.

There is somethings by which the existence of this prakriti is possible. That is always there in the backgrounds. That, which is very subtler then the subtlest; which is free from these material aspects, which the Veda explains as the Neti Neti is nothing but Purusha. It is something no predicate can justify, no word can explain, mind cannot understand and intellect cannot perceive. Because this is altogether a different dimension. This synomyns as Atman if considered individualy; and as a whole Paramatman. That’s the reason of all of our existence.

As per Sankhya darshana this is the highest knowledge. A man can understand this being elevated himself or herself from this material nature. Yoga is the only means by which this can be realized. Once a man understands this in its true senses can liberate himself from this universe, can be a Jivanamukta. Sorrow and sufferings cannot touch him, storm cannot shake him, and material pleasure cannot influence him. He will be still, tranquil and non-disturbed. Bhagvat Gita explains this as "Sthitapragyan".  The same state which Buddha attained, Bhagavan Ramana lived and many saints and sages reached there and many more are in the way.

We all are part and parcel of this Prakriti. As the Prakriti is in a continuous evolution process and so are we. So consciously or unconsciously we are part of this ever-changing evolution process. Already we are in a state of evolution where we can decide our own destiny, we can realize the fruit of our own karma. We are already in the highest form of evolution process, the human being.  Vivekananda has rightly told "This misery that I am suffering is of my own doing, and that very thing proves that it will have to be undone by me alone. That which I created, I can demolish; that which is created by someone else, I shall never be able to destroy. Therefore, stand up, be bold, be strong. Take the whole responsibility on your own shoulders, and know that you are the creators of your own destiny. All the strength and success you want is within ourselves."

Though we are part of this Prakriti still we are the only fortunate being who has got the Buddhi, the intellect which is a very subtle aspect of our mind. It is a tool given to human to discriminate, discriminate between good and bad, discriminate between vidya and avidya, discriminate between divinity and worldly stuff, discriminate between knowledge and Ignorance. As the gross mind is created using gross material hence the nature of mind is also worldly. It gets completely involved with the material aspects of the universe, the prakriti. The mind also runs very fast and changes very often. It identifies the prakriti as true and permanent as Prakriti is ever-changing & visible. Prakriti appears beautiful to our eyes, it satisfy our senses and gives us pleasure. The ego aspect of our mind gets fulfilled through Prakriti. In this process we never exercised our higher mind the intellect. These are the reason for our unfulfilled life, unsatisfied senses and incomplete mind. The whole mankind is roaming around the sense of incompleteness & feeling of vacuumed. The goal is never clear and neither that is achieved.

Understand the reality, read scriptures and try to analyze the dimension beyond material world. Yes we are made up of materials and part and parcel of this prakriti. Because we are part of the evolution process we have to be part of this material world till the evolution is complete. The evolution will continue till we transcend our-self to divinity. It is really a long journey from human being to being divine as travelled by our great sages and saints. Post this journey lies our real goal of completeness, bliss-absolute. The true vehicle for this journey is nothing but only Yoga. As Swami Vivekananada says "Yoga is a means of compressing one's evolution into a single life or a few months or even a few hours of one's bodily existences."

Because of the material natured mind, we thinks in all different directions, Senses moves our mind for it's satisfaction. Physical hormones drive us and navigate our mind. Our Buddhi loose the track between our intellect and instinct. We drive away by our thoughts which are material nature. We are identified by our bodily existences, emotional requirements and material needs. We spend our whole life satisfying our bodily needs, emotional needs and material needs. This looks very logical to our mind and to our society. When our mind thinks about growth or any development it cannot think beyond material growth. Even science is progressing only on material aspect. Hence our mind can only understand the value of material things. We are treating the luxury house and life style as our basic needs, without which we are going down as sad, depressed and tensed. We are emotionally bounded with our near and dear and considering them as our own world, without which we cannot see any meaning to life. Mind keeps rendering about past experiences and future predictions. Mainly it gets worried with negative experiences and future happening. We consider all of these as true and in this process we loose using our Buddhi(The conscious mind).

The mantra of this life is to remember each time who are we. Keep remembering our-self and keep convincing our mind on that aspect. Use your buddhi(the conscious thinking faculty of mind) to know the real goal of life. Keep remembering the goal every time. Once the goal is clear then we can use Yoga to elevate our-self to that goal. Then we will never consider our-self just as an emotional being rather we will consider our surrounding as our companion who can help us achieving our goal. We are just a living being in the process of evolution, all our actions, surrounding, people, material are the ingredient for our upliftment. Absence of any material aspects will not make us sad, neither addition of any material asset will add extra pleasure. Because we can understand that both are equally important to our spiritual upliftment. Yogic life is a systematic process for accelerating the growth of human being in his entirety. With this growth man can live at a higher state of consciousness.

Importance of Prana or Pranayam

This cosmic force manifests in our own system as prana (vital energy, life force). And prana is the precious reserve of the seeker. Any sense activity or sense experience consumes a lot of prana. And the activity that consumes the greatest amount of prana is the sex act. Gurudev has put it very strongly: “It shatters the entire nervous system.” Because it creates great excitement, great agitation, and such an intensity of feeling that as an aftermath it leaves the person exhausted and depleted. The highest of all goals in human life—spiritual attainment—requires the maximum available pranic energy on all levels: mental, intellectual and emotional.

• It is through prana that one has to restrain one’s senses. 
• It is through prana that one has to still the restless activity of the mind. 
• It is through prana that one has to centralise all the scattered rays of the mind and make it one-pointed in concentration. 
• It is through prana that one has to direct the concentrated mind upon the object of meditation. 

Prana is required for spiritual reflection and discrimination. The thinking must be sharp and the intellect penetrating. To understand the inner implications of a guru’s instructions requires a special type of intelligence. You may be a very intellectual person, and you may immediately grasp the language meaning of something the guru is telling you,but if the guru is speaking of an abstruse subject not within the normal range of your ordinary human experience,you require a special subtle type of understanding. And that understanding develops through brahmacharya. So as I said, all these various practices require the use of prana, and celibacy insures that an abundance of pranic reserve is available to the seeker. So viewed from this angle, it is a rational and very positive process.

This is the rationale behind celibacy. If you conserve this vital energy and divert it to the spiritual process of contemplation, philosophical study and reflection, and meditation, it becomes successful, because you have concentrated your force and you are able to direct the concentrated force by focusing it upon your spiritual practices. If it is preserved, concentrated and diverted into a specific channel, it works wonders

Understanding India (Know your country)

Introduction:

Since centuries Bharath is well known and center of attraction in the whole world. This land has been very sacred and precious since thousands of years.  This land has been making people curious since ages and many have come here to know, to explore what is Bharath. Many have left all their own belonging and come to Bharath to satisfy their hunger of knowledge and spiritual curiosity. Some of them came here from a far-away to loot Bharath. There are in fact a lot of things which makes Bharath the treasurer of knowledge, the leader of spirituality and the father of philosophy. To understand Bharath in a nutshell, we need to understand from 3 different perspectives.

1. Prakrithik Bharath
2. Sanskritik Bharath
3. Adhyatmik Bharath

There is a stotra in Sanskrit called Ekatmata stotra which talks all about Bharath to find the Ekatma Vichar in all different parts and parcel of Bharath. A stanza from there goes below

रत्नाकराधौतपदां हिमालयकिरीटिनीम्‌ |   ब्रह्मराजर्षिरत्नाढ्याम् वन्दे भारतमातरम्‌ ॥३॥

Meaning: one who gets washed by the ocean that is the source of gems, the great Himalayan Mountains as crown and one who is rich with the gems of rajarshis and brahmarshis, I salute that mother India

This Sloka has the answer of all these 3 perspective of Bharath.

Prakrithik Bharath:

Geographical Boundary:

The geographical area of Bharath is clearly defined in the above stanza. Its physical boundary is spread across Himalaya as her head region to Indian Ocean as her foot region.

Similar thing is said in Vishnu Purana :-

उत्तरं यत्समुद्रस्य: हिमाद्रेश्चैव दक्षिणम् ।   वर्षं तद् भारतं नाम: भारती यत्र संततिः ।।

The country (varṣam) that lies north of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains is called Bhāratam; there dwell the descendants of Bharata.

Barhaspatya Shastra says:-

हिमालयं समारभ्य: यावत् इंदु सरोवरं।   तं देवनिर्मितं देशं हिंदुस्थानं प्रचक्षते।।

Starting from Himalayas and extending upto the Indian Ocean is the nation built by Gods, Hindusthan. Thus it fits the description of a varsha perfectly as it is a massive piece of earth separated from rest of the world by a mountain range. भारत (Bharat) is named so after Emperor Bharata, the son of Shakuntala and Dushyanta Maharaja and ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavas.

The mountains:

महेंद्रो मलयः सह्यो देवतात्मा हिमालयः | ध्येयो रैवतको विन्ध्यो गिरिश्चारावलिस्तथा ||

Meaning: These mountains of our country should always be remembered - Mahendra, Malaya Giri, Sahyadri , Himalaya, the abode of gods, Raivataka, Vindhyachal and Aravali.

The Rivers:

 गंगा सरस्वती सिंधु ब्रह्मपुत्राश्च गण्डकी| कावेरी यमुना रेवा कृष्णा गोदा महानदी

Meaning:  These important rivers of our motherland: Ganga, Sarasvati, Sindhu, Brahmaputra, Gandaki, Kaveri, Yamuna, Reva, Krishna, Godavari and Mahanadi.

The holy Places:

अयोध्या मथुरा माया काशी कांची अवंतिका |   वैशाली द्वारका ध्येया पुरी तक्शशिला गया ॥

 प्रयागः पाटलीपुत्रं विजयानगरं महत्‌ |           इंद्रप्रस्थं सोमनाथस्तथामृतसरः प्रियम्‌॥

Meaning: Important holy places - Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avantika, Vaishali, Dwaarika, Puri, Takshashila, Gaya.  Prayaga, Pataliputra, Vijayanagara, Indraprastha, Somanath and Amritsar.‌

Many more Prakritik aspacts are there to explore the identity and glory of Bharath. The prakritik spheres have been surrounded with our lives since centuries. We know Bhisma as the son of Ganga, Ram talking to Trees, being with Army of monkey, sages considers the forests and mountain as their house. 

Sanskrita Bharath:

If sanskritik Bharath is not understood then nothing is understood about Bhrath. Bharath will be an empty piece of land without it's samskritika identity. That is the heart beat which keeps beating since ages. Many legends come to this land to accelerate the heart beat and they did it successfully. That keeps continuing eternally. We can consider the People, the culture, scriptures, family system, yoga, ayurveda, festivals, food, art, music, knowledge, education and many more in this samskritika bharath.

People:

This land has done many transformation, this land has made many human to god. Many people could able break their selfish boundary and lived for the entire humanity, they have manifested Dharma in their own-self, they have shown ways to all of us. There are lots and lots of personalities who followed truth and who made this land as one.

• Take the example of Adi Sankaracharya, who traveled the whole India and established Mathas in all 4 sides of India hence connecting people, their culture, their believes.
• Sri Ram travelled from Ayodhya till Rameswaram and then to Srilanka so that the whole of india will be connected with one string,  his philosophy and ideology. Every king used to rule their kingdom considering the Culture of all Aryabrat or Bharathvarsh.
• Chanakya travelled the whole of India to awaken and unite the whole India so that they can fight the foreign invaders together.
• Swami Vivekanda has travelled the whole India to redefine Hinduism and refill the quest of people on spirituality, to enhance the patriotic feelings and to remind them their glorious past.
• Many a times Sri Guruji has travelled the length and breadth of India to establish the thinking of "Vasudhiva Kutumbkam" among all the people of India which has helped India to break many of the Lakshmanrekha which were drawn based on language, caste, creed etc.

All the common people of Bharath are inspired by these great legends and followers of their paths. They created a social structure with our family system which gave birth to a wonderful culture.

The Bharatiya society follow an eternal rule, an unwritten principle and a natural evolution. That is the reason it is still unbroken, undisturbed and never ending. The nature itself is a perfect example of following unwritten rule. Sun & moon do their work, so are trees and rivers. This wonderful combinations of human kind and their culture brought up many wonderful thing for themselves and for the entire universe. Hence the Yoga, ayurveda, festivals, food, art, music, knowledge, education and many more popped up in this land.

Adhyatmika Bharath:

If we try to understand the spirituality prevailing in the world we can derive 3 kinds of it.

1. Symantec  type: Like Islam or Christian or other non-Indian religions: They have one Book, one god and one birth concept.
2. Morality based: Have certain rules so that socially people can live with each other. No concept of God. Just follow the defined, accepted and agreed upon rules.
3. Indian Spirituality: Know "Who you are?" and "What is your purpose of life?" etc. After understanding, this life will take it's own path.

To know Indian spirituality we need to understand 3 things:

1. Shradha
2. Dharma
3. Karma

Shradha:

श्रद्धावान ल्लभते ज्ञानं,  तत्परः सं यतेन्द्रियः।  ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिम, अचिरेण अधिगच्छति।।4.39।।

Meaning:

The man who is full of faith, who is devoted to it, and who has subdued the  senses obtains knowledge; and having obtained the knowledge he attains at once to the supreme peace.

This is a land of seeker who has always been curious to learn to satisfy their intellect.  This is not a land of belivers where everybody has to believe certain things. Even if it is Lard Krishna telling to Arjuna, Arjuna did not accept it easily and had lot of doubts and confusions which Krishna had to clarify one after another, that is our Philosophy. Our philosophy is not just to believe but to explore, experiment and experience.

Dharma:

May be this word Dharma is a Bharath-only word, there is no perfectly matched & translated word in Non-Indian Languages. Many people translate this to Religion which is incorrect. To an extend this has similarities with "Righteousness" but still that cannot fully justify the meaning of Dharma.

धृति: क्षमा दमोऽस्‍तेयं शौचमिन्‍द्रियनिग्रह:।  धीर्विद्या सत्‍यमक्रोधो दशकं धर्मलक्षणम्‌।। (मनुस्‍मृति ६.९२)

अर्थ – धृति (धैर्य ), क्षमा (अपना अपकार करने वाले का भी उपकार करना ), दम (हमेशा संयम से धर्म में लगे रहना ), अस्तेय (चोरी न करना ), शौच ( भीतर और बाहर की पवित्रता ), इन्द्रिय निग्रह (इन्द्रियों को हमेशा धर्माचरण में लगाना ), धी ( सत्कर्मों से बुद्धि को बढ़ाना ), विद्या (यथार्थ ज्ञान लेना ). सत्यम ( हमेशा सत्य का आचरण करना ) और अक्रोध ( क्रोध को छोड़कर हमेशा शांत रहना )।

Prescribing 10 essential rules for the observance of Dharma: Dhriti (Bravery), Kshama (Forgiveness), Dama (Self-Control), Asteya (Non-Stealing), Saucha (Cleanliness), Indriya nigraha (Sense Control), Dhee (Sense of reasoning), Vidya (Knowledge), Satya (Truthfulness) and Akrodha (Never to lose temper)

"पृथिवीनं धर्मं धृतं " meaning-“World is upheld by Dharma.”

"राम विग्रहवान धर्म " - Ram is the personification of Dharma. If we want to follow Dharma, just follow Ram.

From all the above slokas we can make out the definition of Dharma how broad & vast that is! How true & experiential that is!! How recent and dynamic that is!!!

Karma:

Everything in this creation is continuous, circular and ever moving. Take the example of  earth rotating the sun, see different seasons in the atmosphere, observe the day and night. Also there is cause and effects which the whole modern science is based on. Bharathiya Philosophy is one of it's kind which talks about all these. In spiritual perspective as well Human kind takes rebirth based on Karma. What is going to happen in next moment is based on the Karma of current time as well as previous birth. It does not rule out doing Karma in current time, neither it rules out the consequence of the Karma in all previous births. In Bhagvat Gita there is a seperate chapter focusing on Karma Yoga. It talks about liberation or god realization through Niskama Karma.

Conclusion:

Bharath is nothing but a perfect amalgamation of it's Prakrithik, sanskritik as well as adhyatmik aspects. It has been glowing and existing as the center of attraction for the whole world. It has been enlightening the whole world with it's knowledge and wisdom, strengthening the whole world with it's natural resources and skills, purifying the whole world through it's spiritual power and ever-accommodating religions. This is nothing but a divine entity, it is nothing but the living manifestation of mother Shakti. 

Prakrithik aspect explains Bharath from North to South. Sanskrita aspect explains  Bharath from West to east. Adhyatmika aspect covers from top to the bottom. In this way all 6 dimensions of understanding Bharath are covered. 

Bharath mata ki jai!!

Yogasana - Enhance Consciousness

The word Asana literally means a posture. Out of the innumerable Asanas a body can assume, 84 asanas have been identified as Yogasanas, through which one can transform the body and mind into a possibility for ultimate well-being. Yogasanas are not exercises, but rather very subtle processes to manipulate one’s energy in a particular direction.

For different kind of consciousness we experience such as emotional, psychological etc, our body takes a certain posture i.e. if we are angry, our body takes a posture, if we are in depression it takes another. If we are in peace our body takes a posture, when we are in sad our body takes another. So different kind of consciousness put our body to different posture. Based on that converse process the science of Yogasanan is developed. By consciously assuming a posture we can enhance and elevate  our consciousness level. Physical body is the easiest things to work with, hence these are all identified physical postures.

In an untrained state, the human body is a constant manifestation of various levels of compulsiveness. By consciously forming the body into a certain posture, one creates a conducive passage for energy flow that can elevate one’s consciousness. Yogasanas are a way of aligning the inner system and adjusting it to the celestial(cosmic) geometry, thereby becoming in sync with the existence and naturally achieving a chemistry of healthfulness, joyfulness & blissfulness.

What are the most important steps which every Yoga student has to follow while doing Asana? Yes, while practising Yogasanas we need to follow the below 3 stages to move towards Asana Siddhi.

Step 1:   Sthira sukham asanam (स्थिर सुखम आसनं )

Every asana should be steady and comfortable. 'Sthira' means steady or stable or grounded or strong and 'Sukha' means comfortable or easy (or 'easeful') or peaceful. Whenever you practise yoga you're trying to find that balance between these two aspects. Seeking this equilibrium is what it’s all about!

While practising Yogasana make sure that your position is balanced and stable. The entire body weight is balanced and distributed between your legs (or the applicable area), soles are grounded perfectly. You are not falling down to anyside while manintaining the posture. The stability of the posture (Horizontal/vertical/incliend etc) maintained. Also the posture is not blocking or interupting  the breathing pattern. Brething should be uniform, continuous and rythmic while maintaining the posture. The stretch or twists in body is consciously observed.

Step 2: Prayatna Saithilya (प्रयत्नशैथिल्य) 

The key to success in this regard is practice with effort, which becomes progressively easier. If you are lifting your arms up, you are fully aware that you are lifting your arm up, every inch of it. In gymnastics you simply lift it up. Your attention, your awareness is not there. In yoga, the body, breath and the mind are all united. It is slow motion, like dance, leading from one posture to another posture.

Pass your awareness to all parts of body, you figured out that there are some parts which are contracted unnecessarily such as face, neck, back , arm, , thigh etc. relax all these. Only set of muscles required to maintain the posture, should be stretched or contracted. This reduces the energy expenditure and help you to maintain the posture for longer duration. With this process your attention is already shifted to all the internal organs.

Step 3: Ananta samapatti bayam (अनन्त समापत्ति बयम )

Asana teaches us to strengthen areas of weakness, shed light on places unlit and relax areas of contraction. It encourages us to practise acceptance, allowing things to just ‘BE’ and teaches us to cultivate balance in our life - to live with contentment and ease. Having this feelings in mind just contemplate on your innerself, or try to maintain a meditive state. You can take the help of the meditation tricks which you can appply while meditating. This is called Ananta-samāpatti, merging with the infinity which is the real goal of Yoga. You can experience the expanded awareness, also the consciousness can be transformed and elevated. 

When yoga seeker follows these 3 steps while doing yogasana, it will make wonders. Yoga is not just a physical posture for  the seeker but this is the way of reliazation and liberation.

Bharath Mata Ki Jai!! 

Patanjali Yogasutra - Astanga Yoga(8 limbs of Yoga)

ASHTANG YOGA

यम-नियम-आसन-प्राणायाम-प्रत्याहार-धारणा-ध्यान-समाधीयो-ऽष्टाव-अङ्गानि I

yama-niyama-āsana-prāṇāyāma- pratyāhāra-dhāraṇā-dhyāna-samādhayaḥ-aṣṭau-aṅgāni. 

In Sanskrit "Ashta + anga" is Ashtanga. "Ashta" means Eight and "Anga" is limbs so it means Eight Limb path, ashtanga yoga is based on Yoga Philosophy of Patanjali.

Restraint(abstinences), Observance, Yoga postures, Breath Control, Sense Withdrawal, Concentration, Mediation and Ecstasy are the eight limbs of Yoga. - Patanjali's Yoga Sutras II.29

YAMA (5 conducts in life)

अहिंसा-सत्या-अस्तेय ब्रह्मचर्या-अपरिग्रहाः यमाः ॥३०॥

ahiṁsā-satya-asteya brahmacarya-aparigrahāḥ yamāḥ ॥30॥

Ethical discipline is very necessary for success in Yoga. Ethical discipline is the practice of right conduct in life. These correspond roughly to the ten commandments of Lord Jesus or to the noble eight fold path of Lord Buddha. Non-injuring (Ahimsa), truthfulness (Satyam), non-stealing (Asteya), continence/celibate (Brahmacharya - acting with an awareness of higher ideals) and non-covetousness/non-greedness/non-possessiveness (Aparigraha) are the 5 component parts of Yama.

NIYAMA (5 observances)

शौच संतोष तपः स्वाध्याय-ईश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः ॥३२॥

śauca saṁtoṣa tapaḥ svādhyāy-eśvarapraṇidhānāni niyamāḥ ॥32॥

Internal and external purification/cleanliness (shaucha), contentment (santosha), self-discipline/austerity  (tapas), learning from yourself or study of religious and philosophical books (svadhyaya) and self-surrender to the Lord (iishvara-pranidhana) automatically translate into the practice of respect (niyama). Practice of Yama and Niyama will eradicate all the impurities of the mind. In fact, Yama and Niyama form the corner-stones of Yoga philosophy. 

ASANA

स्थिरसुखमासनम् ॥४६॥

sthira-sukham-āsanam ॥46॥

Asana means a steady and comfortable posture. 

An unhealthy person cannot do yoga, so to become healthy, you have to practice various asanas. Also for mind concentration, you need to sit at one place for many hours. So you must have practice of siting for long hours.

PRANAYAM

तस्मिन् सती स्वासप्रस्वासयोः गति विच्छेदः प्राणायामः | 

“Tasminsati shwasaprashwasayorgativicchedaha pranayamaha’’ (II Sutra 49)

tasmin = in that state of asana or posture; sati = being; shwasa = inspiratory breath; prashwasa = expiratory breath; gati = movement; vicchedaha = breaking; pranayamaha = regulating the breath.

“In that state of being in asana or posture, breaking the movement of inspiratory or expiratory breath is regulation of breath.”

Prana means breath and Ayama means control. By Pranayama is meant the control of Prana and the vital forces of the body. Pranayama begins with the regulation of breath and ends in establishing full and perfect control over the life-currents or inner vital forces. In other words, Pranayama is the perfect control of the life-currents through regulation of breath. Breath like electricity is gross Prana. By establishing control over the gross Prana, you can easily gain control over the subtle Prana inside. The process by which such control is established is called Pranayama. Pranayama is the fourth limb of Ashtanga Yoga.

Prana is the oldest for, it starts functioning from the very moment the child is conceived. On the contrary, the organs of the body such as hearing, and so forth, begin to function only when their special abodes viz., the ears, etc., are formed. Prana is called the oldest and the best in the Upanishads because it gained the victory in the fight between mind and the five organs. In the end mind and the five organs unanimously declared: “O Master! O Prana! the supporter of this universe, and the supporter of our very lives, the first-born! Adoration's unto thee! Thou art really great. Do not depart from this body. We shall serve you. We duly acknowledge thy superiority.” Prana functions even while the mind is absent during deep sleep.

Prana is the link between the physical and the astral bodies. When the slender thread-like Prana is cut off, the astral body separates from the physical body. Death is the result. The Prana that was working in the physical body is withdrawn into the astral body. The sum total of the Rajasic portion of the five subtle elements forms the Pranas which are five in number, and separately forms the hands and the other four organs of action. The five organs of action are contained in the Pranamaya Kosha (vital air sheath). Prana digests the food, turns it into chyle and blood and sends it into the brain and mind. The mind is then able to think and do reflection (meditation) on the Self.

PRATYAHARA

“Prati” is a preposition meaning “against” or “away.” “Pratyahara” means literally “control of ahara,” or “gaining mastery over external influences.” It has been compared to a turtle withdrawing into its shell—the turtle's shell is the mind and the turtle's limbs are the senses.

It requires a long practice of few months, you can start practice of 15 minutes a day, to obtain full control over all senses, so lot of patience is required for this. When a person concentrates his mind for 2.4 seconds on a single thought/object, it is said that he achieved Pratyahara.

The best way to achieve Pratyahara is, you become observer of your mind, just observe, one thought has gone & other arrived, other thought has gone & next thought is arrived. Between two thoughts you will find there is a moment where there are no thoughts. By practice you can increase this state of thoughtless mind.

DHARNA

Dharana is the name. Dharaṇa is the sixth stage, step or limb of eight elucidated by Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga or Raja Yoga. Dharaṇa may be translated as "holding", "holding steady", "concentration" or "single focus". When a person is able to concentrate for 24 seconds (Around half Minutes) on a single object or thought. It is said that he has achieved DHARNA, it requires regular practice of few months. You have to try daily mediation for at least one or two hours, if you are following YAMA & NIYAM, then you will find that, it is very easy to do concentration.

DHYANA

When you lie in Savasana ( Savasana, or Corpse Pose is an asana usually done at the end of a yoga practice in which practitioners lie flat on their backs with the heels spread as wide as the yoga mat and the arms at the sides of the body, palms facing upward.) after a good yoga class, you tend to feel relaxed, carefree, and almost weightless. The body is free from tension, the mind is calm, and all of a sudden, there is just more space within you. This is the perfect place to continue into meditation or dhyana. Dhyana is the 7th limb of yoga, building upon asana (physical posture), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (control of the senses, moving the focus to the inside), and dharana (concentration). The word dhyana comes from the Sanskrit word dhyai, which means “to think of.” When a person concentrate his mind for around 240 seconds (6 minutes) on a single object or thought, it is said that he is in state of meditation. Dhyana involves concentration and meditation on a point of focus with the intention of knowing the truth about it. This deeper concentration of the mind is the instrument of self-knowledge where one can separate illusion from reality, and eventually, reach the ultimate goal of yoga: samadhi (bliss, or union with the source). According to the Yoga Sutra, the purpose of meditation is to interrupt the fluctuations of the normal mental activity such as sensory knowledge, memory, and imagination. Out of these, memory is the hardest one to quiet, as it incessantly feeds us glimpses from the past along with an endless stream of thoughts and feelings. Like any other limb in yoga, meditation is a systematic process in itself, which takes practice (and patience) to learn.

SAMADHI !!

Which having obtained, he think there is no greater gain beyond it, wherein, established, he is not shaken even by heavy sorrow.”—Bhagavad-Gita: Ch. VI-22

The fruit of meditation is Samadhi. Samadhi is super conscious state, wherein the Yogi gets super-intuitional or super-sensual knowledge and Super-sensual bliss. He gets the vision of the Lord. He is in a state of communion with the Lord. He is in full enjoyment of the Divine Ecstasy or Divine Thrill. He has seen the Light of lights now. The five afflictions, reference to which was made in Lesson I, have now come to an end. All sorts of imperfections have disappeared. Just as the river has joined the sea, the individual soul has joined the Supreme Soul. All limitations have dropped now. This state cannot be described in words: It has to be felt by actual practice. There are neither wants nor desires here. All doubts and delusions, all sorrows and tribulations, all fears, differences, distinctions and dualities have vanished entirely. This is the ultimate goal of all spiritual practices. This is the goal of life. Samadhi is the eighth step of the Yogic ladder. Intuition, revelation, inspiration and ecstasy are all synonymous terms. The meditator and the meditated, the thinker and the thought, the worshipper and the worshipped, the subject and the object have now become identical. The meditator has merged himself in the Soul or the all-pervading Spirit. All watertight compartments have disappeared. The Yogi feels oneness and unity everywhere. He feels: “I have nothing more to learn. I have nothing more to do. I have nothing more to obtain.”

That which is night of all beings is the time of waking for the illumined Yogi; when other beings are waking, then it is night for him.

Yajnavalkya, the greatest Yogi says: “By Pranayama impurities of the body are destroyed; by Dharana or concentration impurities of the mind. By Pratyahara the impurities of attachment and by Samadhi everything that hides the Soul is removed.”

Samadhi is of two kinds viz., Savikalpa Samadhi and Nirvikalpa Samadhi. 

• Savikalpa is a lower Samadhi. In the Savikalpa Samadhi the Samskaras or latent impressions are not fried in total. There is support for the mind. There is still the triad of subtle type viz., the seer, sight and seen, or the knower, knowledge and knowable. So Savikalpa Samadhi cannot give full satisfaction, full freedom, full bliss and knowledge.
• In Nirvikalpa Samadhi all Samskaras are burnt. There is no support for the mind. The mind has merged into the all-pervading Spirit. There is no triad of seer, sight and seen, and so forth. Nirvikalpa Samadhi gives full satisfaction, full freedom, full bliss and full knowledge.

https://www.ashtangayoga.info/philosophy/source-texts-and-mantra/yoga-sutra/chapter-1/

http://www.swamij.com/yoga-sutras-23034.htm

Hanuman chalisa

दोहा :

श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज, निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि।

बरनऊं रघुबर बिमल जसु, जो दायकु फल चारि।।

बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके, सुमिरौं पवन-कुमार।

बल बुद्धि बिद्या देहु मोहिं, हरहु कलेस बिकार।।

चौपाई :

जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर।

जय कपीस तिहुं लोक उजागर।।

रामदूत अतुलित बल धामा।

अंजनि-पुत्र पवनसुत नामा।।

महाबीर बिक्रम बजरंगी।

कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी।।

कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा।

कानन कुंडल कुंचित केसा।।

हाथ बज्र औ ध्वजा बिराजै।

कांधे मूंज जनेऊ साजै।

संकर सुवन केसरीनंदन।

तेज प्रताप महा जग बन्दन।।

विद्यावान गुनी अति चातुर।

राम काज करिबे को आतुर।।

प्रभु चरित्र सुनिबे को रसिया।

राम लखन सीता मन बसिया।।

सूक्ष्म रूप धरि सियहिं दिखावा।

बिकट रूप धरि लंक जरावा।।

भीम रूप धरि असुर संहारे।

रामचंद्र के काज संवारे।।

लाय सजीवन लखन जियाये।

श्रीरघुबीर हरषि उर लाये।।

रघुपति कीन्ही बहुत बड़ाई।

तुम मम प्रिय भरतहि सम भाई।।

सहस बदन तुम्हरो जस गावैं।

अस कहि श्रीपति कंठ लगावैं।।

सनकादिक ब्रह्मादि मुनीसा।

नारद सारद सहित अहीसा।।

जम कुबेर दिग,पाल जहां ते।

कबि कोबिद कहि, सके कहां ते।।

तुम उपकार सुग्रीवहिं कीन्हा।

राम मिलाय राज पद दीन्हा।।

तुम्हरो मंत्र बिभीषन माना।

लंकेस्वर भए सब जग जाना।।

जुग सहस्र जोजन पर भानू।

लील्यो ताहि मधुर फल जानू।।

प्रभु मुद्रिका मेलि मुख माहीं।

जलधि लांघि गये अचरज नाहीं।।

दुर्गम काज जगत के जेते।

सुगम अनुग्रह तुम्हरे तेते।।

राम दुआरे तुम रखवारे।

होत न आज्ञा बिनु पैसारे।।

सब सुख लहै तुम्हारी सरना।

तुम रक्षक काहू को डर ना।।

आपन तेज सम्हारो आपै।

तीनों लोक हांक तें कांपै।।

भूत पिसाच निकट नहिं आवै।

महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै।।

नासै रोग हरै सब पीरा।

जपत निरंतर हनुमत बीरा।।

संकट तें हनुमान छुड़ावै।

मन क्रम बचन ध्यान जो लावै।।

सब पर राम तपस्वी राजा।

तिन के काज सकल तुम साजा।

और मनोरथ जो कोई लावै।

सोइ अमित जीवन फल पावै।।

चारों जुग परताप तुम्हारा।

है परसिद्ध जगत उजियारा।।

साधु-संत के तुम रखवारे।

असुर निकंदन राम दुलारे।।

अष्ट सिद्धि नौ निधि के दाता।

अस बर दीन जानकी माता।।

राम रसायन तुम्हरे पासा।

सदा रहो रघुपति के दासा।।

तुम्हरे भजन राम को पावै।

जनम-जनम के दुख बिसरावै।।

अन्तकाल रघुबर पुर जाई।

जहां जन्म हरि-भक्त कहाई।।

और देवता चित्त न धरई।

हनुमत सेइ सर्ब सुख करई।।

संकट कटै मिटै सब पीरा।

जो सुमिरै हनुमत बलबीरा।।

जै जै जै हनुमान गोसाईं।

कृपा करहु गुरुदेव की नाईं।।

जो सत बार पाठ कर कोई।

छूटहि बंदि महा सुख होई।।

जो यह पढ़ै हनुमान चालीसा।

होय सिद्धि साखी गौरीसा।।

तुलसीदास सदा हरि चेरा।

कीजै नाथ हृदय मंह डेरा।।

दोहा :

पवन तनय संकट हरन, मंगल मूरति रूप।

राम लखन सीता सहित, हृदय बसहु सुर भूप।।

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=AETFvQonfV8