About The Author
Born in 1942 in Sakrand, Sind (then part of the Old Bombay State), he graduated from the NDA, Kharakvasala, Pune, in Jun 1961 and from the IMA at Dehra Dun, in Jun 1962. He was commissioned, as a Class 1 Gazetted Officer in the Indian Artillery Corps, on 10 Jun 1962. He retired in Apr 1991. During his Army Tenure, he served in many operational areas, in the West, North, North East, and Eastern parts of India, fighting against India's external and internal enemies. He took part in the Indo-Pak War of 1965, remaining inside captured Pakistan Territory, opposite Sialkot, for about 9 months, before withdrawal, following the Tashkent Agreement. During his military service, he acquired an M.Tech Degree in Armament Technology from IAT, Girinagar, Pune. He also acquired the post graduate degrees of M.Com, from Madras University and MBA (First Class) from Madurai Kamaraj University. After retirement in 1991, he became a disciple of the Late Prof. M.A. Laksmithathacarya Swami, of Melukote, who was an internationally renowned Sanskrit Scholar, and the Director of Samskriti Foundation Mysore, which was engaged in research work and publishing papers in Sanskrit, at that time. Under his Guru's directions, Col Alvar, worked on several projects pertaining to Vedanta, Yogah, Visistadvaita, Itihasa, Dharma Sastras, and the Puraņa.
Introduction
This Book is not about the nature of death or its morbid aspects. It is about facing the largely feared, but most Inevitable reality of human life. It is all about certain critical aspects of the Aştangah Yogah which every human being can take recourse to, when confronted with the imminence of death, to attain several lofty objectives that the peerless suka Muni suggested to Maharaja Parīkşit, in his celebrated discourse, when that most noble Emperor of India, was facing death within seven days. In that discourse, suka Muni holds forth on how a person facing imminent death should think and act, and what all that person should do in the limited time left. For a person facing death close at hand, the Maharisi has suggested certain actions based on elements of the Astangah Yogah, which are conducive to the attainment of the following objectives: -
1. To eliminate all desires.
2. To shed all fear and terror of death.
3. To loosen and sever all bonds of attachment, so that one may depart with a peaceful and serene mind, free of regrets.
4. To make peace with oneself and with the Universe all around us, before the praņa leaves the mortal frame.
To invoke the blessings of the Brahman and to maximise the chances of moksa. Death is theoretically viable any day after birth. Yet, most of us relegate it to the background and take no steps to get ready for the inevitable, so that when the inevitable is close at hand, we can overcome all our fear and panic and we can depart calmly and gracefully, without regrets or recriminations. There is no need to wait for death to arrive at one's door-steps, as it were. There is no need to get an expert's certification in the matter. It is as inevitable as the Sun rising and setting. But death can occur at any time, with or without, adequate warning. There is no need to delay taking the steps, Šuka Muni has suggested to Mahāraja Parīkşit. Having taken those steps diligently, one can go about the business of normal living, without anxiety and without looking over one's shoulders. The idea is to be well prepared beforehand, to face a great crisis, calmy and competently, when it does arrive.
About The Book
DEATH AT THE DOOR-STEPS: For thousands of years, the Puraņas have been venerated by the people of India as a body of sacred literature from which millions have derived spiritual solace, along with practical guidance on how to face the ups and downs of life with dignity and courage. The Puranas have been an extraordinary fountainhead of lofty teachings, brought to the doorsteps of people across India in a profound yet engaging manner. This fountainhead has never dried up, and its freshness has not diminished to this day. Embedded within the Puranas are fascinating discourses on Yoga philosophy and practice, as well as on the wisdom of Vedanta. One such celebrated discourse was delivered about 3,500 years ago by Śrī Śuka Muni, the ever-youthful and self-realized sage, and the illustrious son of Maharşi Veda Vyāsa. This discourse, which forms a part of the Śrīmad Bhagavata Purăņa, was first delivered to Parīkșit Mahārāja at a sacred spot on the banks of the holy Ganga, in the presence of a galaxy of India's greatest sages. It is replete with profound insights into Yoga and Vedānta. Since then, over the course of several millennia, generations of Indians have been drawn to it, like bees to the honey in flowers. Today, the tenets of Yoga and Vedanta have spread across the globe. They have a proven record of consistently helping people across nations find meaning and purpose in their lives. In this book, we present Suka Muni's masterly discourse on Yoga and Vedanta, accompanied by our commentary. We dedicate this work to all mankind.
Vedas (1227)
Upanishads (513)
Puranas (636)
Ramayana (768)
Mahabharata (381)
Dharmasastras (170)
Goddess (528)
Bhakti (253)
Saints (1634)
Gods (1315)
Shiva (407)
Journal (176)
Fiction (65)
Vedanta (383)
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