Kshetram or Bharatheeya Temple

Bharatheeya Temple or Kshetram is an energizing center. A kshtram normally follows mainly 2 types of aradhana krama or methods of worship.

1) Vaideegam. Homam or havan aradhana in which we offer various things to Agni
2) Pauranika aradhana kramam. This is where vigrahas are established inside the sreekovil or the main block of the temple and worshiped upon

Vigraham  can be of 8 types
1) Hard stone
2) Red stone or clay stone
3) Marble
4) Wooden (Daaru shilpam)
5) Metallic (Panchaloham or any other metal)
6) Drawing or Painting
7) A lamp
8) Manoroopam (i.e. an image in your mind)


Kshetram or temple is like a yaga shala. It has a place called Uthara vedi, which will be either a square or circular. This is where the vigraham will be established.


Courtesy
Dr N Gopalakrishnan (Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pVWFnKymBs

Vigraham and Pancha Shudhi

Visheshena Grahayithum yet sakhyam tat Vigraha.

Four type of vishesha energies, Light energy, heat energy, chemical energy and sound energy are taken and given to living beings assembled in a temple.

To go to a temple there are 5 qualities needed for a person. These are called Pancha shudhi..

1) Shareera shudhi (Body should be clean)
2) Manah shudhi (Mind should be clean)
3) Aahara shudhi (Food that eat before and after going to temple should be clean and satwik i.e. Vegetarian food)
4) Vag shudhi (Our speech should be clean)
5) Karma Shudhi (Our deeds should be clean)

The Pancha shudhi should be maintained though out our lives..

Courtesy
Dr N Gopalakrishnan (Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pVWFnKymBs

Nataraja at CERN Geneva

Very few Bharathiyans might be knowing that there was a 2 meter tall statue of Lord Shiva (Nataraja) is placed at the entrance of CERN (The European Organization for Nuclear Research) where the "God Particle" was discovered.

Nataraja symbolizes the cosmic dance of creation, sustaining and destruction in a most artistic and scientific way.

Meaning of Vaikuntam and Swargam

Many of us think that Maha Vishnu resides in a place called "Vaikuntam". The real meaning of "Vaikuntan" is as follows

The state of mind where No sadness, no difficulties etc exists.

i.e. When a person attains Bhramha jgana, he will have complete peace of mind, which is symbolized by this word.


The word "Swargam" means,

"Sugathi ethra bhavathi thatra eva Swargaha"

Meaning: The meaning is almost same as the for Vaikuntam.

"Mind" according to Bharatheeya Rishis

 Mind is classified into four divisions.

 Chittam - The part that helps us the remember things. (Physical Memory)
 Bhuddhi - The part that helps us in discursive thinking, to make decisions (Inteligence.. in general)
 "Nishchayatmika bhuddhi"
 Manaha - The part that helps us to imaging or visualize. This is the part that most of us think what Mind is.
 "Bhavanatmakam Manah"
 Ahhamkaram - The part that make us feel egoistic. This is what make us feel "I", "I am", Mine etc..


Reference: L. Girish Kumar (Mind Management)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRvUXcR92ZU

Bhagavadgitha Quotes by Robert Oppenheimer

Divi surya sahasrasya
Bhaveth yuga paduthitha
Yadi bha sadrusi sa syath
Bhasasthasya mahathmana (11:12)

In Mahabharatha war when Arjuna saw Viswaroopam of Lord Krishna told these words with surprise. This looks like thousands of suns are rising at the same time. Nothing in this Universe is equivalent to this prabha (light). The same words quoted by Oppenheimer when he had performed first nuclear explosion at Trinity nuclear test.
His quotes was “If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one ..”

Courtesy:
Dr. N.Gpoalakrishnanhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw5SZrCwIxw
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Robert_Oppenheimer

An important sloka in Devi Mahathmyam for daily chanting

                                             


jnaninam abhi chetamsi devi bhagavathi hisa
balaathakrishya moha ya mahamaya prayachadi

sarvaa baadha prashamanam
thrai lokasyaakhileshwari
yevam evathvoyakaaryam asmad vairi vinashanam

This sloka is from the 11th chapter of 'Devimahathmyam'.
The meaning of this sloka is : Even the wise men’s minds were attracted by Maha maya (Devi). O Lord (Devi) as you destroyed all those who created obstacles in the same way   remove all obstacles from my surroundings.
This mantra can  use to  control our senses (indrias) , to get favor from nature (prakrithi) and to get rid of all obstacles. This mantra can chant daily 12, 36, 51, 54, 64, 81, 96 or 108 times. The number of chanting is determined by the intensity of your concerns.
One very important thing is that this Mantra has no effect if tried to use for destructive purpose.

Courtesy: Mr. L. Girish Kumar
 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xKCRUybMVk&feature=plcp)

Special Thanks to Mr. Vasanth  Raj A(http://onlineieltshelp.blogspot.com)

"Hindustanam" described in Sanskrit

Himalayam samaarabhya yaavat indu sarovaram
tam devanirmitam desham hindustanam prakarshate


Starting from the himalayas, ending in the Indian ocean, whatever land that is created by the god almighty, that place is known as Hindustanam

‘Muppathi mukkodi’ Gods in Hindu Dharma

In Sanskrit  the meaning of  ‘Muppathi mukkodi’ is 33%.In that kodi  means portion , percentage or corner. So in every human being there is 33% divine character (sathwa guna) , 33% human character  (rajo guna) and 33%  devil character (thamo guna). If the human being put effort to develop divine character , the percentage of other two get decreases and his divinity increases.At the end he becomes an ‘Avathar’ like Lord Krishna , Lord Rama etc.
Courtesy: Dr. N Gopalakrishnan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvMJwgdjpJ0&feature=g-all-u
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfpwWD8l1bc&feature=g-all-u
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-lSBe6aX1o&feature=g-all-u
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C56nzb_VAh4&feature=g-all-u

Chathurvarnyam in Bhagavadgita

Chathurvarnyam mayasrushtam
Gunakarma vibhagasha
Tasya kartharamapi mam
Vidyakartharamavyayam (4 : 13)

According to Panini’s book on Sanskrit verbs (dhathus)  the  varn dhathu (1845th and 1846th dhathus out of total 1944) has explanations given for “Varna” and “Guna”. “Varna” means explaining, enlightening, inspiring and crushing. Guna dhathu has meanings like inviting,advising and multiplying.
In the above sloka, Chathurvarnya has no relation with the cast system. The brahmana is who has brahma jnana and formed from face, Kshathriya means one who overcome the failures and formed from hands, Vyshya means one who enters  and formed from thighs and  shudra means who has tears of happiness and formed from feet. All these are part of the same body.
In our body, the function (or Karma) of Bhrahmana is to think and analyze. This symbolizes the intellect and mind. Khsatriya’s duty is to protect and defend our self. Vaishya does the day today transacations and Shudra’s duty is to do service. All these are in all of us.

In other words, You are a Bhrahmana when you learning "Bhrahma Gjana". You are Kshatriya when you apply it in you life. You are a Vaishya when you teach or give this Knowledge to others. You are Shudra when you sacrifice everything and become one with the very Bhrahmam or God..

Courtesy: 

Swami Sandeep Chaithanya

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQUn6cOH3wM&feature=relmfu

Dr N Gopalakrisnan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6nVkg6GFmU

Symbolic meaning of Lord Shiva’s third eye

It is believed that when Lord Shiva opens his third eye everything in the universe will get destroyed.

Symbolic meaning of opening third eye is understanding the ‘brahmam’ .  

Once we reach that supreme goal , there is no value for the rest.

Courtesy : Swamy Sandeepanada giri

Symbolic meaning of Dhritharashtra

There should be a connection between the self (Athma) ,  Intelligence (Buddhi) , Mind  and senses. The self (Athma) will direct one to goodness.  Intelligence has to understand the instructions of athma and has to be accepted by the mind. The mind gives directions to senses. In Mahabharatha, king Dhritharashtra symbolizes the failure of this connection. He was blind by birth. He was supposed to lead Kouravas to a goodness and righteousness, but did not do that. His wife, Gandhari could have guided her children to the right path, but she also blinded herself. They both symbolizes the same ignorant mind, intellect and senses.

Symbolic meaning of Lord Ganesha

Courtesy :http://www.hinduwisdom.info/Symbolism_in_Hinduism.htm

Life After Death - Katha Upanishad

The Lord Yama has given explanation about life after death to Nachikethas  in Katha Upanishad.

“That one who has no intellect, who has no control over his mind and who is dirty (in his mind and thoughts), he will not reach the destination (of the Supreme). He will continue to wander in this world through further births.”

“(On the other hand), that one who is full of intelligence and who has complete control over his mind and is very clean (in his mind and thoughts), he reaches that place from where nothing is ever born again. (the destination of the Supreme).” 

Courtesy : http://www.vedarahasya.net/katha-3.htm

One of the main slokas in Bhagavad Githa

 Bhagavath githa is part of Mahabharatham written by Veda Vyasa . It consist of 18 chapters  starting from 25 to 42 in  Bhishma parvam of Mahabharatham.

Karmanye vadhikarasthe

Ma bhaleshu kadachana

Ma karmaphalahedur bhu

Ma the sango sthwakarmani (2:47)

The four main principles of karmayoga is described here.

1. Karma yogi’s concentration is only doing karma (duty).

2.  He should not have anxiety for the result.

3. He should not have desire for a special result.

4. He should   interested in  doing  his duty.

Courtesy : The Book ‘Srimad Bhagavath Geetha’  by M.S.Chadrasekhara Varyar 

Explanation of Supreme Goal in Katha Upanishad

Courtesy:http://adrishta.com/?p=38

Definition of Brahmam in Kenopanishad

Echakshusha napasyathi

Enachakshumshipasyathi

Thadeva brahmathvam vidhi

Nedam yadidamupasathe  (Kenopanishad 1.7)

Meaning :

That which does not see by the eye, and by which one sees (the work of ) the eyes, that alone know as Brahmam, not that which people here adore.

Courtesy:

http://www.mathrubhumi.com/online/malayalam/news/story/1405411/2012-01-21/kerala

http://www.realization.org/page/namedoc0/kena/k_1.htm

Atma (Spirit ) – Explanation in Bhagavath Geetha

Atma (Spirit) is eternal, unborn, permanent and primeval. The spirit is not destroyed when body is destroyed. Atma is said to be unexplainable , incomprehensible  and unchanging. It acquires new bodies  after casting away old bodies . Weapons do not cut this atma , fire does not burn it, water does not make it wet and wind does not make it dry.

Courtesy : The Book ‘Srimad Bhagavath Geetha’  by M.S.Chadrasekhara Varyar ,

                    http://www.gita4free.com/english_completegita2.html

Chakras in human body

There are three primary channels in which conscious creative energy circulates in the subtle body.They are  Sushumna (central nadi) , Ida and Pingala. They are arranged like the medical symbol Caduceus, a  straight centre( Sushumna)  flanked by  two channels (ida and pingala) that  crisscross over the centre.The each crossover points are centers called Chakras. Sushumna is the  seat of Kundalini(Jeevathma). Chakras are described in Yoga kundalini Upanishad , related to Krishna Yajur Veda.

There are seven major Chakras. Chakras are visualized as lotus flowers of different number of petals.

1.Muladhara      – Root Chakra              -  placed in Spine Base         – 4 petals

2. Swadisthana   - Sacral Chakra            -  placed in Genitals              -  6 petals

3. Manipuraka    – Solar Plexus chakra – placed in Navel                   – 10 petals

4. Anahata           – Heart Chakra             - Placed in Chest                    - 12 petals

5. Vishudhi          - Throat Chakra            - Placed in Throat pit              - 16 petals

6. Ajna                 - Third eye Chakra         - Placed in Eyebrow centre    - 2 petals

7.Sahasrara           - Crown Chakra             -Seat of Self Realization         - 1000 petals

Sahasrara Chakra is the junction point between individual and devine.

The role of yogic practice to rouse the sleeping Kundalini , allowing it to rise through nadis and chakras  and finally to merge with Absolute in Sahasrara chakra.

References:-

http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/encyclopedia/ayurvedantacakras.htm

http://www.nityananda.us/teaching3.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakra

Vedas – some facts

The root  word of  Veda is  ' vid '  meaning, ‘to know’.  Vedas are endless ocean of knowledge. Krishna dvaipayana  ( Veda Vyasa) knew  all the  1186 sakhas(recensions) of the Vedas revealed to the world by around 200 sages. He divided  them into 4 vedas and subdivided each into sakhas.

1. Rig veda is Absolute knowledge (jnana kandam). This tells about mind, body, family,society,nation and human race.

2. Yajur veda is oriented towards  Performance(Karma kandam). This is classified into Krishna and Shukla Yajur vedas.

3. Sama veda is for arts and music (Sama ganam).This is the base of Karnatic and Hindustani music.

4. Adharva veda gives message connected with common man’s life. This Veda gives information about medicines(Ayurveda) , plants etc.

Unfortunately

Out of 25 sakhas of Rig veda only 4 are available now!

Out of 108 sakhas of  Yajur veda only 20 are available now!

Out of 1001 sakhas of Sama veda only 10 are available now!

Out of 52 sakhas of Adharva veda only 4 or 5 are available now!

Courtesy: Dr. N. Gopalakrishnan, Director  IISH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLEgJqB31HY

Some facts about Ravana , Brahma Deva and Brahmastram

It is said that Ravana has ten heads. The ten heads really is a symbolic representation of his knowledge. Ten heads means Ravana had mastered 4 vedas (Rig veda, Sama veda, Yagur veda and Adharva veda) and 6 vedangas (Shiksha - phonology, Kalpa –rituals, Vyakarana – grammar, Nirukta – etymology, Candas –meter and Jyothisa – astronomy). To learn each of these takes entire human life. But Ravana learned all in his life. So he is called Dashamugha.

It is said that Brahma has four faces. This means the x axis, y axis, z axis and time axis. All these axes are for Srushti(Production).

Brahmastra is the astra or celestial weapon created by Lord Brahma and has the power to destroy entire world at once. The inner meaning is that Brahmastra is brahmanjanam (reaches supreme lord) and once a person attains that knowledge, all the duality disappears and he sees the entire universe as one.

Inner meaning of characters in Bhagavath Geetha

In  Mahabharatham ,  Bhagavath Geetha is the conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna in Kurukshetra battle field.

It has   symbolic meaning.  Lord Krisha is the Self (Athma) , Arjuna is the mind , the chariot is the body,Kauravas are the evil (Demon nature) , Pandavas are truth (Divine  nature) ,the horses are our five senses and the Kurukshetra  is the battle of mind.

Characters(Spiritual) in Ramayana

“Om  Sita Laxmana Bharatha Shathrukhana Hanumath sametha SriRamachandra parabhrahmane  namaha”

In Ramayana Rama represents our soul (self) , Sita represents mind  (maya) , Laxmana represents renunciation (thapas) , Bharatha represents discrimination , Shathrukhana  represents thoughts and Hanuman for intelligence  (budhi). King Dasharatha   is  one who conquered all the ten indriyas and Ravana (Dashamugha) the realm of pure materialism.

Waves and the Ocean

Tat tvam asi

That is what you are

The waves each come to think that they have individual existence, forgetting that their true nature is that of ocean.

These waves are like that of human beings. The Self  or  Atma gradually comes to remember that its true nature is that of the Absolute Reality, Brahmam.

Binary Number System

Binary Number System, along with many number systems were founded by Indian scholars.

Details are given below
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_numeral_system

Rishi:  Pingala
Shastra: Chandaḥśāstra

Swami Vivekananda Speech

A great speech by one of the great spokespersons of humanity and sanatana dharma

Follow these links below in You tube
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Nmvbm4WYM
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvxF4gGRKAY

Read his biography in Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Vivekananda

Bhagavad githa- Sankya Yoga

uddhared atmanatmanam
na atmanam avasadayet
atmaiva hy atmano bandhur
atmaiva ripur atmanah

SYNONYMS

uddharet--one must deliver; atmana--by the mind; atmanam--the conditioned soul; na--never; atmanam--the conditioned soul;avasadayet--put into degradation; atma--mind; eva--certainly; hi--indeed; atmanah--of the conditioned soul; bandhuh--friend; atma--mind;eva--certainly; ripuh--enemy; atmanah--of the conditioned soul.

TRANSLATION

A man must elevate himself by his own mind, not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.


This, like many other slokas, has a meaning in all the three levels of life (physical, mental and spiritual aspects). If we try to meditate on it, we can understand more about it.

Some facts about India (Bharath)

1. India is the world's largest, oldest, continuous civilization.
2. India never invaded any country in her last 10000 years of history.
3. India is the world's largest democracy.
4. Varanasi, also known as Benares, was called "the ancient city" when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C.E, and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.
5. India invented the Number System. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.
6. The World's first university was established in Takshashila in 700BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BC was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
7. Sanskrit is the mother of all the European languages. Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software - a report in Forbes magazine, July 1987.
8. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans. Charaka, the father of medicine consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago. Today Ayurveda is fast regaining its rightful place in our civilization.
9. Although modern images of India often show poverty and lack of development, India was the richest countryon earth until the time of British invasion in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus was attracted by India's wealth.
10. The art of Navigation was bornin the river Sindhu 6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. The word navy is also derived from Sanskrit 'Nou'.
11. Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. Time taken by earth to orbit the sun: (5th century) 365.258756484 days.
12. The value of pi was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century long before the European mathematicians.
13. Algebra, trigonometry and calculus came from India. Quadratic equations were by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10**53(10 to the power of 53) with specific names as early as 5000 BCE during the Vedic period. Even today, the largest used number is Tera 10**12(10 to the power of 12).
14. IEEE has proved what has been a century old suspicion in the world scientific community that the pioneer of wireless communication was Prof. Jagdish Bose and not Marconi.
15. The earliest reservoir and dam for irrigation was built in Saurashtra.
16. According to Saka King Rudradaman I of 150 CE a beautiful lake called Sudarshana was constructed on the hills of Raivataka during Chandragupta Maurya's time.
17. Chess (Shataranja or AshtaPada) was invented in India.
18. Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted complicated surgeries like cesareans, cataract, artificial limbs, fractures, urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain surgery. Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India. Over 125 surgical equipment were used. Deep knowledge of anatomy, physiology, etiology, embryology, digestion, metabolism, genetics and immunity is also found in many texts.
19. When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley (Indus Valley Civilization).
20. The four religions born in India, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are followed by 25% of the world's population.
21. The place value system, the decimal system was developed in India in 100 BC.
22. India is one of the few countries in the World, which gained independence without violence.
23. India has the second largest pool of Scientists and Engineers in the World.
24. India is the largest English speaking nation in the world.
25. India is the only country other than US and Japan, to have built a super computer indigenously.

Famous Quotes on India (by non-Indians)

• Albert Einstein said: We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.
• Mark Twain said: India is, the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only.
• French scholar Romain Rolland said: If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India.
• Hu Shih, former Ambassador of China to USA said: India conquered and dominated China culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to send a single soldier across her border.

Modern day teachers of Sanatan dharma

Dr N Gopalakrishnan


Biography:



Dr. N. Gopalakrishnan is a well known public speaker from Kerala, India. He, along with a few others founded Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage in 1999.


Dr. N.Gopalakrishnan is a scientist and Hon. Director of Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage, having M.Sc. (Pharm. Chem); M.Sc. (Appl. Chem); M.A., (Soc.); Ph.D. (Biochem); D.Litt. (Science in Sanskrit).


He has 28 years of research experience, 50 scientific research papers in national and international scientific journals, 7 patents, 6 awards for scientific research, 9 science popularization awards from India and abroad, two fellowships, 60 books, (MP3) 200CDs, 50 VCDs, more than 6000 lectures and 200 hrs of speeches Television media in India and abroad, to his credit. He has visited US, Canada, UK, middle east countries many times and delivered a series of lectures in Indian and foreign universities. He was a fellow of University of Alberta, Canada.


He delivers lectures to the executives, managers and professors for many companies, universities, training institutes and professional colleges.
He is the founder Director of Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage, Thiruvananthapuram, India (695 018) and devoting full time for establishing the National Heritage Center for learning and teaching the Indian Scientific heritage. He is the only scientist who has been awarded D.Litt for his research and studies in Sanskrit.

Links
http://www.iishglobal.org/ 
http://www.archive.org/details/LecturesOfDr.N.GopalakrishnanIndianInstituteOfScientificHeritage

Spiritual Facts

"Om purnamadah purnamidam purnaat purnamudachyate,

purnasya purnamadaya purnamevaavashishyate"

In  Isa Upanishad

When body goes to nature that gets perfection (fullness)  and  soul gets perfection(fullness) when it reaches God. This fullness (nature) has been projected from that fullness(God). When this fullness merges in that fullness, all that remains is fullness.

Learn Sanskrit

Learning Sanskrit is one of the first steps towards reading and understanding Vedas, Upanisads, Puranas, Sastras, Upa puranas etc..


It is relatively simple..


Below is a "youtube" video link that will get you started..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1kiiX5e9_o&feature=BFa&list=PL561E83D9066C2C35&lf=rellist

Some interesting facts:


One of the NASA scientists has published a paper on using Sanskrit as NLP for Artificial Intelligence in 1985. It gives some insight to how much scientific and structured that Language is. 


You can read more here : 
http://www.vedicsciences.net/articles/sanskrit-nasa.html
http://www.aaai.org/ojs/index.php/aimagazine/article/view/466

UNO says that 90% languages are influenced by Sanskrit. 6th and 7th generation super computers would be Sanskrit based.


Learning of Sanskrit improve brain functioning. It enhances the memory power. James junior school, London has made Sanskrit compulsory. Student of this school are among the toppers year after year. This has been followed by some schools in Ireland and Canada also.

Sanskrit is the only language, which uses all the nerves of Tongue. By it's pronunciation energy points in the body are activated that causes the blood circulation to improve. This, coupled with the enhanced brain functioning and Higher energy 

The Sanathana Dharma (or Hinduism)


One of the greatest cultures in the world. A sneak peek into its spiritual and scientific heritage.


Start of with the following links


http://www.iish.org/ (Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage)


http://hinduism.co.za/ (Very good site with loads of information)


Stay tuned...