MEDI EQUIP SALES CORPN

20/05/2018

Disciplined Life

Having obtained from Mother Earth the food that sustains us, it will be sheer ingratitude if we do not, in return, do some act of charity that will endure after our death. In olden days, people built temples, rest houses or mantapams, or dug tanks or wells. Some people constructed resting stones on which those carrying loads on their heads placed their burden and rested for a while before resuming their journey. Yet others erected rubbing stones on which cattle could rub their itching hide. Public benefactions have now taken the forms of schools, colleges and hospitals. Co-operative banks and stores are institutions where a number of people can work together for the common good. Gujaratis and Marwaris have founded “gosalas” for taking care of dry and decrepit cows. Pasumatams are being maintained in some places in Tamil Nadu for obtaining milk for worship in temples. The usefulness of these cowsheds can be extended by taking in dry cows also.

We regard the cow as the abode of Sri Lakshmi and show to her the reverence due to a mother. Therefore, cow slaughter is regarded as a heinous crime. Some states have passed legislation banning the slaughter of cows. It is significant that Afghanistan, a Muslim country, has passed such legislation. In India, the Hindu-Muslim differences were made an excuse in the past for not bringing forward any such legislation. After the attainment of freedom, the States have been empowered to legislate on the subject. The Madras State has under consideration a Bill to prevent the slaughter of milch cows. The difficulty in making the legislation applicable in respect of all cows seems to be the problem of taking care of decrepit animals. This is a field in which voluntary organizations can function, and if a movement for taking care of dry and decrepit cows was started, it will gain strength. This will also receive the support of other religionists.

Even today there is need for providing wells and tanks and for constructing temples. If every Hindu makes it a point to go to a temple everyday, as he ought to, many more temples will be needed. There are many dilapidated temples which can be renovated. Fortunately, these temples are so strongly built that they have withstood the ravages of time and neglect. The purpose of a temple is to remind us of God. Some may say that belief in God is superstition; but in the very process of denying God, they remember Him. Atheism, in this land, is mostly a political move; even the so-called atheists think of God when they are in difficulties. Not even a single blade of grass can grow without His grace. The food we take should be offered to God first, as a token of our gratitude for his mercy. Such offerings of food are made in temples for the community as a whole. There are even now a few persons in villages who will not touch food until they hear the ringing of the temple bell, which signifies that offerings have been made to God. Real happiness comes from peace of mind which we can secure only through bhakti. Bhakti will remove our ignorance, poverty and worry. One will be inspired with bhakti only if one leads a well-disciplined and regulated life.

While the purpose of education is to make us cultured and disciplined, it is rather paradoxical that there is, among the educated, much more indiscipline and disregard for the way of life that has earned for us, in the past, the reputation of being a highly cultured people, than among the unsophisticated illiterates. During the last few years, indiscipline has developed among students to a degree never before known in the history of this country. While this is to be regretted, we must attend to some basic matters which can change our mental outlook. We must introduce simplicity in dress and each one of us should make it a habit to wash his own clothes. If some pioneers ventured to attend offices in dhoti and upper cloth, the fashion will soon catch on. Pure food contributed to purity of heart.

The majority of our people are vegetarians, and that is responsible for making us a peace-loving, contented and tolerant nation. It is these qualities that have won us respect in the eyes of the world. We must simplify our food habits further. The practice of each person cooking his own simple food that prevails among some people in the North is a wholesome one. This will prove highly useful in life and obviate the necessity for indiscriminate eating. A beginning in this direction can be made by each one cooking his food at least once a week. Butter-milk or kanji can be substituted for coffee and tea. Thereby we will avoid incurring debts and also save something, which can be utilized for charitable purposes.

We must develop devotion to God and a disciplined way of life (ozhukkam - ஒழுக்கம்) and render service to the poor and the needy, thereby contributing to the welfare of this country and the world at large.

"Acharya's Call"- invaluable speeches given by His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Mahaswamiji
(1957-1960)

28/10/2017

Hara Hara Sankara.....Jaya Jaya Sankara

Experiences with Maha Periyava: Why did Maha Periyava put the Akshata (sanctified rice used for blessing) on the Ground?

Ramasamy Iyer has had many real cherishing experiences with Sri Maha Periyava. Let’s look at one of those interesting experiences.

Once Sri Maha Periyava was camping in a village called Venkatadhri Akaram near Villupuram. Many devotees from cities like Chennai, Trichy, Kumbakonam and Salem were flocking the village for having a darshan of Sri Maha Periyava.

Knowing that Sri Periyava was camping in that village, Ramasamy Iyer and his wife started from Salem to have a darshan of Periyava.

After having a satisfying darshan of Sri Maha Periyava, Ramasamy asked for Periyava’s permission to leave for Salem. Periyava also smilingly gave His blessings and permission to leave. Periyava was then sitting in the Mena (the Palanquin that is used for Periyava’s travel) and giving them Akshata as a blessing in their garments which devotees held in front of them. All the devotees who considered the privilege of receiving the Akshata from Sri Maha Periyava’s hands as a great blessing, were holding their Angavastram (garment men use to cover the upper part of the body) and women were holding the tail end of their sarees. They were collecting the Akshata which fell in them as a blessing and safeguarding it.

Ramasamy also joined the long queue of devotees who were waiting for their chance to receive the Akshata. He was thinking of getting Akshata from Periyava before leaving. Ramasamy’s wife was also standing in a corner and was engrossed in Periyava’s darshan.

People standing the queue were moving one by one after receiving the Akshata. It was Ramasamy’s turn now. With complete devotion. Ramasamy held his Angavastram out widely in front of Periyava. But what happened was different. Periyava put His blessing Akshata not on his Angavastram but on the ground, on the sand.

Seeing this Ramasamy was very worried. His wife who was near him was also very worried. Both were wondering if they could take the Akshata which had fallen on the ground, on sand. Periyava, then with a bright face said, “What Ramasamy? Are you thinking that the Akshata fell on the ground? You and your wife pick up the Akshata along with the sand and tie it in your garments tail ends.”

People who were standing around watching this incident were also shocked. Why did Periyava, who was giving everyone the Akshata as a blessing in their Angavastram or their Sarees, only when it came to Ramasamy’s turn put it in the sand i.e., on the ground? They were confused thinking what was the meaning of all this?

Just because Sri Maha Periyava, the Compassionate God was saying, both of them with emotions bent down and took the Akshata which was spread on the sand and tied it to the tail ends of their clothes.

“You can leave Ramasamy – I have already given you permission to leave, right?” said a smiling Periyava bidding farewell to him. For those who came in the queue next to Ramasamy, Periyava started giving the Akshata as usual in their Angavastram and blessing them.

Since Periyava gave permission to return to Salem, Ramasamy and his wife started from Venkadathri Akaram in a vehicle. Though a pleasant breeze was caressing his body, Ramasamy’s mind was brooding on the Akshata which fell on the ground.

When they were returning to Salem, both Ramasamy and his wife were not in a normal state of mind. The thought of Maha Periyava putting the Akshata on the sand was coming back and forth like a flashback in their minds.

“Why did He put the Akshata on the sand and ask us to take it? He didn’t put it in our garments like he did for others. What does this incident indicate?” Though the vehicle was travelling fast towards Salem, Ramasamy’s mind was empty.

Ramasamy was very sad thinking “Why did Maha Periyava, who was giving everyone the Akshata as a blessing in their Angavastram or their Sarees, only when it came to my turn put it on the sand?” Inspite of trying and thinking about this again and again he couldn’t get an answer for this question. Can mere mortals understand the nature of Great Saints?

But as soon as they came to Salem, this thought was out of his mind. The reason being his advocate job. He became busy in his normal day-to-day job.

Two days after they came back from Venkadathri Akaram to Salem, that afternoon, when Ramasamy was at his house for an important work, he received a registered parcel in his name. He saw who the sender was, and it contained his father-in-law’s name and address. Usually his father-in-law sent only an Inland letter and enquired about their well being as a formality. So, wondering what he had sent in the registered letter, Ramasamy called his wife along and opened the letter.

Inside, they found a deed (document) documented in the Registrar Office. Confused for a minute, Ramasamy was overwhelmed when he read the complete contents of the deed. There was a letter handwritten by his father-in-law along with the deed which read “Though you are excelling in your lawyer job, since you do not have any land which belongs to you, it suddenly occurred to me to register a land in your name. The result of that is the deed document attached with this letter. I have registered few acres of harvesting land in your name. With the blessings of God and with the blessings of Sri Maha Periyava whom you pray to, please own these and live prosperously!”

Ramasamy Iyer and his wife were overjoyed. Why wouldn’t they be! A property, that too harvest land, when it came to their hands unexpectedly, wouldn’t their minds jump with joy? Both were ecstatic. The harvest land which came from their father-in-law was yielding good crops. The harvest was also good. So Ramasamy Iyer didn’t have any difficulties in maintaining it. He used to visit the land whenever he had time and was supervising it well.

In all this, Ramasamy Iyer had completely forgotten the incident when Periyava dropped the Akshata on the ground. But how would Sri Maha Periyavaa who did that and gave His blessings forget this?

Once he became the land owner, Ramasamy Iyer thought that he should share this good news with Periyava. So, he wished to go to Kanchipuram and have a darshan of Maha Periyava. That day also came soon.

Ramasamy Iyer took the first batch of raw rice which was harvested in his land and went to Kanchipuram with the sack of pounded rice bags. He took a few rice particles from one of the rice bag and folded it in his angavasthram and stood in front of Maha Periyava as a kid. His wife was also standing near him.

“Welcome Ramasamy… Are you coming from Salem? Or are you coming directly from your rice field?” Once Maha Periyava asked this, Ramasamy Iyer was speechless. He didn’t say anything. Periyava continued “Looks like nowadays you are only having the cooked rice which was harvested in your rice field”?

Once Maha Periyava asked this, Ramasamy Iyer was shaken. He immediately came back to his senses and said “Yes Periyava. Once I went back from Venkadathri Akaram after having a darshan of Periyava, after reaching home, I received the registered deed document from my father-in-law. For me who didn’t have any land in my name, my father-in-law out of his own interest, registered some land in my name and sent it in a registered post. So, I decided to come to meet Periyava to share this news. Also, I got a few rice bags from the first harvest as an offering to the Matham.”

“All this is OK – But the other day when I put the Akshata on the ground and you had to bend over to take it, you were so worried right… But today to bring this rice here you have bent the same way, right? You have bent over in your own land and reaped the paddy, pound it to get the rice, have got a handful of rice folded in your Angavastram and came to see me with it right?” asked Sri Maha Periyava and laughed heartily. Tears rolled out of Ramasamy’s eyes. He was mesmerized realizing the foresightedness of Sri Maha Periyava. After listening to Sri Maha Periyava, Ramasamy’s wife was also speechless.

Ramasamy took out the handful of rice he had in his Angavastram and offered it by placing it on a copper plate which was in front of Sri Maha Periyava. After that he prostrated in front of Periyava. “Yes Periyava… Only because of your grace and mercy only I got such a property today. You showed me an indication that I am going to get a land soon by dropping the Akshata on the ground. My brain couldn’t comprehend it back then. There is no limit to your kindness and grace Periyava!” after saying this Ramasamy covered his face and started sobbing.

After this the Great Saint went deep in His meditation.

To foresightedly indicate to Ramasamy that “You will get soon get the ownership of land” Sri Maha Periyava dropped the Akshata on the ground instead of his Angavastram. Who other that Periyava would have understood the meaning behind His actions?

Compiled by Jagadguru Sri Maha Periyava - Kanchi Paramacharya/Fb