Let That Golden Vessel be Broken

Janani Satvika Jnana Thapaswini & Janani Amala Jnana Thapaswini

Hiranmayena Patrena Satyasya Apihitam Mugham - the face of truth is hidden by a golden vessel. Several sages tried to open that golden vessel undertaking great pain and suffering and disappeared behind the veil of time. Although we have known about such souls from Guru, it was when we witnessed the wailing soul of a great Rishi, the magnitude of that pain twirled and seized the chords of heart.

A dry morning in the month of Makaram (Malayalam Era 1161): We were on a pilgrimage to Kanyakumari along with Guru and the children of Santhigiri Vidyabhavan. The long-held desire of these children who were fortunate to receive Gurukula education - the lost tradition of modern India - was getting fulfilled. They were chanting the Guru Gita verses, which they had memorized, with an unknown passion during the trip. The atmosphere reverberated with the mantras glorifying Guru, which were denied and unapproachable to their ancestors. Let these echo shaking all living beings that are unaware of this truth because of the selfish motive of the priestly class and its willful treachery.

We reached the precincts of Sucheendram temple around twelve. In all the traveled paths, the ancestral souls of different characters, traits and tendencies were screaming and running behind us, understanding the presence of Guru. Some of them ran away and hid themselves. Some of them danced with joy. Some of them cried for liberation, while some were annihilated. They were souls wandering for many ages seeking salvation through the dust fallen from the feet of a mahatma. Those who sought refuge attained peace. At our arrival, the population of such spirits surrounding the temple increased than the normal. The deities appeared in front of us even before we could enter the temple. There were great rishis, devas and celestials among them. There were Atri Maharshi and Anasuya in front. The great Rishi ran up to Guru and prostrated offering flowers.

We entered the temple. Normally, Guru does not enter any temple. There is a reason. If it were worship time, the deities there would beseech us to tell Guru not to enter then because it was the worship time. ‘If Guru comes inside, we have to get up. And when we receive worship, we are unable to do so’. Therefore, at this place too, Guru waited outside the temple courtyard. Sitting inside the temple, we meditated on Guru. The kundalni was aroused.

The origin, existence and dissolution aspects of the temple flashed before our mind’s eye. The sacrificial life of Atri Maharshi, his soul effulgence and its status could be known. Then the ethereal figure of Guru became manifest with the radiance of a billion suns. The Maharshi touched the feet of Guru and said with tears: ‘I have one submission before You; the people should know the reality, truth and prominence of this place. Your grace should be there for that. It was the heart-rending cry of a soul of self-sacrifice - the cry of a Mahatma who did penance without even a spare cloth and whose hunger had to be satisfied with a morsel of food by begging, and who, suffering mist, sun, rain and wind, left the frame reaching the heights of spiritual realization.

It is that power of penance, which is maintaining the greatness of that place in reality. That truth is hidden with the golden vessel. The name Sucheendram is so known because Indra was purified in that place. The people do not know the Soul who was capable of sanctifying. In his place, the priestly class is worshipping Indra, Trimurti, Sri Ram, Sita and Hanuman. Pity, the poor people offer garlands of vada to Hanuman, who is installed on the Maharshi’s samadhi. When the holy water from the Maharshi’s feet was sprinkled, the Trimurti gods were turned into infants - that is the story. That story is sculpted on the walls too. Ironically, however, the worship is to the Trimurti.

In the history of which temple has the truth not been concealed? Were the Devi temples not established on the blood of Buddha Bhikshus? Even if it is the samadhi of a mahatma, a devi or deva would be installed there and people will be misled. With the passage of time, the number of devas and devis would increase according to the desire of tantrics. Some irrational myths also would be created. The sacrificial lives of mahatmas who had come until now were covered by myths related to the worldly drama of devas.

Is there no escape for these mahatmas? Generations that had blindly believed in all these. Is there no escape for them too? There is now the modern generation, which does not believe in these myths, denying them with rationality and intelligence. Just by denial, you are not going to get salvation. The ancestral souls of your family are entwined with the deities and gods, and they are after you wielding their swords. You have to seek a Guru for their liberation. Break the golden vessel that hides truth and relish the truth.

The Soul of that Mahatma who is painfully trying to show you the golden vessel - that pain has been submitted at the right place, at the feet of a Jnani, who has known the depth of that pain. It has been submitted at the feet of the medium that Brahman has deputed to lead humanity to Satya Yuga, redeeming it from all deviations. Have Your eyes also moistened from the reflection of that submission! You raised him up with compassion as if he were your own soul and consoled him.  ‘Let twelve years pass away! Then there will be an occasion’.

These words made the Maharshi full of joy. However, the pain of the Maharshi still stirs the mind. Pity the people who do not know this. O’ God! If you had given the ethereal vision to all to observe these things happening in the subtle! I declare loudly to the liberationists, compassionately avoiding the rationalists who ridicule this as mental delusion. What is the way for you to know the actual truth of this kind of experiences? If there are Jnanis, let them experience it. Otherwise, there is only the help of astrology. Let them clarify it with astrolabes. 

(Santhigiri Malayalam Adhyatmika Masika, September, 1986, translated into English by Mukundan P.R.)

The Concept of Evolution in Hinduism

The Concept of Evolution in Hinduism

Swami Navananma Jnana Tapaswi

The riddle behind the origin of universe, its sustenance and transformation has always vexed human intelligence and imagination. Nevertheless, the vigor of man’s search to discover the unknown has never weakened. That there is an Invisible Idea behind Creation is fundamental in spirituality. This fundamental plan or idea is behind the origin of life-energy (soul or jeeva), its manifestation and transformation through a physical medium. Indian spiritual thought is related to this perception regarding the successive evolvement of soul and body.

The soul in its infinitesimal form should evolve to its Absolute nature, which necessitates an evolutionary scheme.  Nature has an inherent character to evolve the jeeva to its Absolute status through a series of evolutionary incarnations. There is the process of molding the physical setting according to the nature and quality of evolution presupposing an inter-relationship between spirit’s evolutionary status and physical attributes. There exists, also a divine intervention that creates or directs this rhythmic evolution.

The uniqueness of Indian spirituality is this idea of a divine Intervention in the form of a spiritual embodiment, i.e. Guru Incarnation in the evolutionary process of soul and body. In the practical plane, this concept existed in India in the form of Guru-Disciple spirituality in the scheme of Sanatana Dharma. Since the evolutionary process is successive, the manifestation of Guru is also successive in terms of humanity’s spiritual progression. This process has been ordained in a manner of karma and dharma according to the age, which is termed as Yuga Dharma.

Yuga Dharma is the dharmic orientation of life in accordance with the evolving cycles of time for the soul and body to evolve from its imperfect state to its Absolute status or from the state of nescience to absolute enlightenment. Indian spirituality considers the relationship between an enlightened Guru - who is the embodiment of absolute realization- and the souls who are struggling to attain freedom from the chains of imperfection as the fundamental dharma for the evolvement and fulfillment of all living beings.

There is a revelatory knowledge, which gives the information about such Guru Incarnations who help the imperfect souls to reach the path of perfection. We were not able to comprehend the history of revelations about such great souls and about the prophesies made by them about the incarnations that are to come in succession. We should realize that beyond the miraculous feats and occult performances, there is this path of spiritual evolvement for the soul and body in accordance with a perennial law in nature. There should be a correction to our ignorance on this subject, as it is not good to wait yet.

There is a spiritual order in the universe, which is uniform and binding to all peoples in the world. The seers had discovered this truth, but the institutions built up in their names have been spiritually incapable to perceive this universal truth, dogma and superstitions blocking their real progress. For the devotees of God, a rational understanding of spirituality is essential for evolving higher.

The Spirit World and Islamic Jihad

Gurucharanam Saranam

The extremely cruel and demonic rape and murder of a girl in Delhi, which hurt the conscience of the entire nation brings to fore the moral malignancy of our society. That the government laws and law enforcing agencies are unhelpful when such satanic forces pounce upon innocent victims is clear from such unending incidents taking place around us.  A lasting solution to such cruelties and depravation is the moral and spiritual invigoration of the society and the evacuation of evil tendencies from human minds.

 

The moral standard of a society is in par with its spiritual evolution, beliefs, customs and rituals and their unseen influences on human psyche. A low spiritual culture would produce moral corruption, discord, violence and murder, whereas, true religion leads us to peace and prosperity. Humans, when they are morally unclean become the channels through which the spirit-world expresses itself in its fiery character. When morally fallen characters come together, they hunger for forbidden acts because evil minds find pleasure only in evil thoughts and acts. Such people become the natural allies of demonic forces with which they are subtly connected through worship and rituals, that of their own or come down through their ancestral tradition.

A blood - thirsty deity may hunger for blood. Jataka tales mention that Angulimala wanted the head of holy Buddha for propitiating such a fierce deity. In the history of Sankaracharya also, there is such an incident. He was about to be sacrificed by the devotee of a terrific spirit. Is there any doubt that people who are devoted to such spirits would become bloodthirsty? 

 The culture of our society is deeply influenced by its mythology and spiritual practices. Many sectarian myths have engendered superstitions, contradictory beliefs, caste discrimination, atrocities on women, corruption etc. From where did men learn the practice of using women to corrupt or destroy the virtuous? An example is available in Indian mythology. Indra used celestial nymphs to destroy virtuous seers and their sacred deeds.

 It must be taking a cue from the gods men too began to use women for corrupt purposes. The sanctity of womanhood was violated and her sacred status, as the mother and goddess on earth from whose womb he takes birth, who is the spiritual lamp in his family, was forgotten. The priests kept women as Deva Dasis, the slaves of gods in temples. It is better to remember that the temple dance forms, which enthuse many people, are the remnants of that tradition.

 

One has to accept that there is the corrupt world of spirits behind the human universe. The heinous crimes and sinful actions of man form pools of karmic pollution behind the worldly screen, which becomes the sporting ground of evil spirits. Hundreds of human lives are slaughtered every day in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Egypt, Israel and other countries. A man guns down dozens of school kids in the United States without any sane reason. Thousands of people die every day in violence, accidents and other calamities all over the world. Does all this happen under the aegis of God or with the collusion of the spirit-world? Every religion has its population of spirits. If there is bloodshed in its background, that blood will want more blood. The bloodshed by Islamic Jihadists is only their ritual to propitiate the bloodthirsty spirits. 

Only by cleansing the spirit pollution, an individual, family or society can hope for lasting peace and prosperity. It is self-evident truth that old theologies and spiritual masters belonging to past centuries cannot cleanse the spirit world and reinvigorate humanity, spiritually and worldly.  People can kill each other in the name of religion, but it can only add to the enormous spiritual pollution in the subtle.

Humanity can get rid of this spiritual pollution only through prayers and sacred deeds performed under the guidance of an all-knowing spiritual Master belonging to this era. The path of Navajyotisri Karunakara Guru gives us hope in this direction.

Advance by Doing Good Work

Advance by Doing Good Work
 Guruvani - The Sacred Words of Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru

  (Translated from the original Malayalam)

The religion I believe is of friendship, fraternity and truth. Neither my aim nor my desire (is) to blindly believe and proceed to the path of self-destruction, remaining divided. There are rays of love in all people; I wish that all people live in happiness. I do my individual work with that aim. I wish to bring you to my path, which has been the outcome of my austerities. I consider it as one of my aims.

Now let me clarify what are my ways. Today, our society is completely polluted. Divided it stands and it is advancing towards the depth of total destruction every moment. Nobody has an idea where to go or in which direction. The scenario of all people confusedly looking at each other is usually seen. What is the solution for this? That is what is to be found out. Numerous people are being ruined facing many sorts of difficulties; they go about without hope suffering from chronic diseases that are incurable; financial instability stares at many people. Thus, I see around me a huge crowd of disturbed human society. They do not have any idea about what to do. Sisters and Brothers! You who consider human birth as a curse, I have only one thing to say: I am ready to give you my strength.

What is the strength in me? I know many among you will ask this question. I will tell you in detail. My strength has been earned from never-ending self-denial. I performed austerities for that for several years. I underwent sacrifices for that. Those sacrifices made me what I am; made me different. You might have the desire to know from where and what it is. That is only natural. Before clarifying that, I wish to take you to our tradition, to the core of Indian spirituality.

When we just peep into the spiritual excellence of India, we see that a small group of great sages had worked for the goodness of humanity. They highlighted our Hindu culture from time to time through their austere life. Swami Vivekananda, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and others were the brightest rays of that tradition. The majority of the people had not been able to follow their path. Let us leave it at that and come to our state, Kerala.

Here, three eminent sages were born. In that, first comes Sankaracharya, running down to our memory. The other two are Sri Narayana Guru and Chattambi Swamikal. Their blessings have always been benedictory to our little Kerala. We are seeing its stirrings. However, as ages pass by, many changes are taking place in the minds of the people. A situation has been created that makes it difficult to pass through the ages, keeping unshakable faith in the teachings. There is no use blaming anybody for it. It happens and it can happen.

Today the necessity of providing guidance to the people at particular time periods is much more. That only can give them peace. There had been such guidance behind the existence of Christianity, Islam and all. Several people define it in numerous ways and patterns and describe it in different aspects. Today people have become unable to hang on to old dictums. The revival of different sects is a consequence of this.

It does not end there. It will exist as an unending process, as long as men are on the face of this earth. There are modifications of different types in every religion. However, it is not that change would occur in their fundamental teachings. Nevertheless, what I point out is that it would be modified according to the times.

In this background, I invite your attention to the problems of Hinduism. Hindu religion exists as a great tree. It has many branches; there are branches in those branches too. Thus, all those exist there infirmly and without a coherent relationship. A lot of things have to be said about the problems of Hinduism. I believe that what has been formed in me today is the result of years of thinking on this. I could see and experience many things.   

 All those are incidents of long suffering that melt the heart. My conscience was hurt thinking about the decadence of our society. Through that pain, through that sorrow, I could develop a unique inspiration. When I was only a small child, I was struck down by its impact. I stepped into many places for a clarification. I understood many things. At the end of it, I began the journey towards my goal. The sacrifices that I underwent to achieve that goal are what made me what I am today.

It was a time when caste divisions were dominating. That period is not imagined, but was being experienced directly. When I saw that, a fire was raging in my mind. There were many occasions when I thought that I would be burnt in that fire like dying ashes. There I found a person. I became his disciple. I could learn many things from that Guru. You should not misunderstand when I say that I could learn only because of my power of endurance. I had to endure a lot; had had to wander about. There I had not at all the thought whether I would succeed or not. There was only one aim; the effort was for that. In the end, I found that.

Didn’t I tell you about the polluted customs of the society?  There I have some more things to say. That is about the Aryans who came here. They were giving commandments. According to those commandments, ‘those poor people’ fought; they were made to believe that they were powerful. These poor people were enthralled by it. The remaining communities were seen as unworthy beings and if they were seen (in front of them) instructions were given to crush them. These people continued to do those ‘valiant actions’. As a result, all the other communities were suffering it. What could be done?

Under this circumstance, it was not possible for those depressed classes to organise themselves. Those people who were living suppressing their pain were cursing. Do you know whom that curse hit? Those who imposed those wicked actions and those who carried them out! With that, our communities began to be degenerated. When several groups in Hinduism fought with one another, all communities were getting ruined. These poor people had not known this. We see that process in the political field also; power is gained after making people clash with each other and destroying them. Like that, it was there in our Hindu community also. As a consequence there is a big group of people here who have slipped down to ruination.

Those people who got the curse upon them, and another group who were termed as backward and thus marginalised! I see these two groups here around me. Both these are getting convinced that what they have done was wrong. Now what they want is progress; an ascension from the lower steps. What is necessary for that?

It is here I assertively say that a path should be cleared for them. If you go by that path only, you can get freedom from this sin of yours. I know any number of families who are plunged in suffering; I am ready to give them my strength. Several people have approached me till now. I have only one advice for all of them: advance with your good work, seek remedy for sins. Seek the advice of Gurus for that.

When I say about the matter of Gurus, I have another thing to remind you. Today, Marvaris, Gujaratis and Sikhs are leading a good life in North India. Several among them are industrialists; they are leading a wealthy life. There are Gurus who guide them, and they move the pawns of life according to the guidance of their Gurus. There is big success in their life because of it. This you know without my telling.

In that way, in the Hindu community also, Gurus are ready to give guidance. However, our people should be prepared to know and respect them. My belief is that we can attain a good future in that case.