A young boy of thirteen is chosen to become the 68th Pitadhipathi of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Pitam, in the illustrious parampara of Acharyas who adorned the Pitam established by Sri Adhi Sankara more than 2500 years ago.
That boy is none other then His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal. To millions of devotees he was simply ‘Periyava’- the revered one or Maha-Periyava. ‘Periyava’ in Tamil means a great person. That term however has acquired a special meaning because it has come to refer to His Holiness. It is a term that at once conveys endearment, reverence and devotion. It would never be mentioned in a casual manner. Mahaswami and Paramacharya are his other well-known appellations.
The Paramacharya was the Pitadhipathi of the Mutt for 87 long years. During this period, Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Pitam acquired new strength as an institution that propogated Sri Adhi Sankara’s teachings. The devotion, fervor and intensity with which the Paramacharya practised what Adhi Sankara had preached, is unparalleled. He lived a Spartan life. Throughout his life, the main focus of his concern and activities was rejuvenating Vedha adhyayana, the Dharma Sasthras and the age old tradition which had suffered decline. ‘Vedha rakshanam’ was his very life breath and he referred to this in most of his public discourses and private conversations. His prodding regular support to Vedha Patasalas through the Vedhic scholars, holding regular sadhas which included discussions on arts and culture- these led to a renewed interest in Vedhic religion, Dharma sasthras and Sanskrit. His long tenure as Pitathipathi was the golden era of the Kanchi Kamakoti Pitam.
Paramacharya was a walking university. Scholars of all sects, not only from all over India but also from countries abroad came to him and deemed it a blessing and a privilege to go back enlightened after meeting him. His regular visitors ranged from the most ordinary village fold to the highest in the land. Presidents and Prime ordinary village folk to the highest in the land. Presidents and Prime Ministers, Kings and Queens, Highnesses and Excellencies came to spend a few moments with him and seek his blessings.
That the Paramacharya was an extraordinary phenomenon can be seen from this incident. When he was in his late eighties he left Kanchipuram and undertook a padha yathra through Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra. Before he returned to Kanchipuram he made all arrangements for the construction of an exquisite Nataraja temple at Satara (Uttara Chidambaram). The uniqueness about this temple is the fact that the states of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh, Karanataka, and Maharashtra came together to build the 5 doorways to the temple. The state of Kerala supplied the entire wood required for the temple. It was only his grace and moral influence that made this possible. The Paramacharya’s catholicity of outlook was extraordinary. He was the Advaitha Acharaya. He was the authentic spokesman of Hindu religion and its Dharma Shastras and of Sanathana Dharma. He even believed that it was Vedhic religion that had prevailed all over the world in ancient times. But, just as he had high regard for the Acharyas of other philosophical doctrines like Ramanuja nnd Madhva and the Nayanmars of Saiva Siddhanta, he had great respect for Jesus and Mohamed Nabi, the prophet. He could be so considerate as to express the view that those who indulged in proselytisation did so out of their conviction that their religion alone could secure redemption.
February 13, 2006 marks the beginning of the 100th years of the Paramacharya’s Sanyasa Swikarana (entering the ascetic order) and Pitaarohana (becoming the head of the Sri Kanchi Kamokottipitam). Sri Kanchi Mahaswami Peetarohana Shatabdi Mahotsava Trust has been specially formed to celebrate this significant milestone in the spiritual history of India.
The main objective of the Trust is to spread the thoughts and the message of the Paramacharya across the world, not just to his devotees, but even to others who might never have had the opportunity to have his dharsan. With this objective in view the Trust has undertaken on priority the translation into English and other major Indian languages of his discourses in Tamil (upansayam). To begin with, we have chosen ‘Deivathin Kural’-Voice of God in Tamil. It is a collection of the Paramacharya’s discourses starting from 1932. These are seven volumes each of about 1000 pages. His talks cover a wide range of topics apart from all aspects of Vedhic dharma and Hindu religion which is the main focus. It is a veritable encyclopedia of Hindu religion and dharma to which people refer for authentic information on these aspects.
‘Deivathin Kural’ is a monumental work by Sri Ra Ganapathy and it occupies a special place among many books written about Paramacharya. Sri Ganapathy painstakingly collated all of Paramacharya’s talks, conversations, casual comments, answers to questions etc covering several aspects of our ancient religion, dharma and culture. Sri Ganapathy not only collected the material but also collated and organized under various subjects everything that the Paramacharya had spoken about a subject over many years at several places.
The purpose of the English translation is two fold. One is to reach Paramacharya’s thoughts and message to a wider audience. The second is to use the English translation as the basic text for translation into other Indian languages. The original in Tamil portrays in large measure the simplicity and clarity of thoughts and expressions and the unique story telling style of the Paramacharya. It has been our attempt to capture it in English. As readers will know this is not an easy task. In one of his talks, while explaining the need to protect the Vedhas in their original form, the Paramacharya himself has, in his characteristic style, referred to the limitations of any translation.
The Paramacharya’s observations are a warning to us and we are deeply conscious of our responsibility. Effort has been made to address the average reader through this work in simple language. Since the English version is to be the base from which translation into other Indian languages will be done, suitable diacritical markings have been used for Sanskrit and Tamil words. Wherever necessary the actual Sanskrit words and Slockas have been given with diacritical markings and the meanings are also given along with the words. This should make it more convenient for the reader than a separate glossary at the end.
It is usual to share one’s good and memorable experiences with others. When two devotees of the Paramacharya meet, it turns out to be an occasion for sharing of experiences. Entire train journeys could be spent talking only about him and his various qualities. He has indeed created a huge family, truly a Vasudaiva Kutumbhakam. It is the hope and wish of Sri Kanchi Mahaswami Peetarohana Shatabdi Mahotsaa Trust that readers will experience the Paramacharya through these pages, which in itself would be an elevating experience.
His talks do more than providing insight into Vedhic Dharma and Hindu religion. There is indeed hope that inspite of the declining moral values all around, dharma will prevail. It should also be clear that mere wishful thinking will not make that happen. All of us have a duty and responsibility towards making it happen. The many schemes which the Paramacharya introduced are simple and effective. If anything, we have to revive many of his practical ideas and implement them.
The blessings of H.H. Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal and H.H. Sri Sanara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, the 69th and 70th Acharyas of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Pitam have provided encouragement to this Trust to embark on a project of this magnitude. It is their Sankalpa that the Paramacharya’s message should reach every Indian wherever he may be. We are overwhelmed by the responsibility they have placed on us.
Millions of the Paramacharya’s devotees sincerely believe that He is alive even today and He is guiding us on the path of dharma. It is his spirit that acts as the beacon in these troubled times. It is through his grace that this work is being published.
Srimukham | I | |
Gurustuthi | V | |
Introduction | IX | |
Acknowledgements | XIV | |
Guidance to Pronounciation | XVII | |
1 | Mangalarambham | 1 |
Vinayaka | 3 | |
Vinayaka, The embodiment of Philosophical truths | 5 | |
2 | Advaitham | 9 |
Advaitham- Are we the Brahman? It not… | 11 | |
Advaitham | 13 | |
This is that alone | 18 | |
Why Worship God? | ||
To attain the peace of non-dual state | 21 | |
Advaitha and atomic science | 29 | |
How to clear the impurity | 31 | |
The little part and the transcendental | 33 | |
Enduring bliss | 35 | |
What lord Krishna said, Poet Kamban echoed | 37 | |
Where is bliss (Ananda)? | 40 | |
The Lord will step forward and welcome | 43 | |
Maya | 45 | |
The internal and the external | 48 | |
The way to ease the Burden of sorrow | 50 | |
Yogi | 52 | |
The antidote to sorrow | 55 | |
Dhvaitham/Buddhism= Adhvaitham | 58 | |
The Acharya’s Commandment | 62 | |
3 | Religion | 65 |
Righteousness- The great protector | 67 | |
The sins and the Punya | 73 | |
The sue of religion/The role of religion | 77 | |
Man and the Animal | 81 | |
Bhakthi is common to all religions | 84 | |
The unity of religions | 87 | |
The qualifications of a religious preacher | 90 | |
4 | Vedhic Religion | 95 |
The religion without a name | 97 | |
Religion that had spread the world over | 100 | |
The unique features of our religion | 107 | |
The classification of Dharma | 117 | |
Varna Dharmam | 120 | |
Unity in deversity | 125 | |
Difference in functions and attitudes | 128 | |
Why should it be here only? | 134 | |
Who is responsible? What is the remedy? | 141 | |
Minimum remedy | 152 | |
Why should Vedha Rakshanam (Preservation of Vedhas) Be a lifetime undertaking? | 156 | |
My Job | 176 | |
Antidote to the disease of civilization | 188 | |
Religion and society | 191 | |
Headache- Is the remedy beheading? | 193 | |
Vedha-s, The Root | 200 | |
The Vedhic way and Tamil | 204 | |
The original form of the Vedhas | 207 | |
Sasthras or conscience? | 210 | |
Sanathana dharmam is the path shown by Sankara | 212 | |
5 | Common Dharmas | 215 |
Samanya Dharmas (Common Dharmas) | 217 | |
Are common to all Ahimsa (Non-Violence) | 220 | |
Truth (Sathyam) | 224 | |
Where have the Thil seeds (Sesamum) And water gone? | 228 | |
Puja (Worship) | 231 | |
Service to others (Paropakaram) | 234 | |
Service is the greatest fortune | 237 | |
For the satisfaction of all beings | 240 | |
A few small tips for purifying the mind | 244 | |
Faults and virtues | 247 | |
Anger | 249 | |
Are we qualified to get angry? | 251 | |
Love and sorrow | 253 | |
Love | 255 | |
6 | Society | 257 |
Which is self-rule? (Swarajya) | 259 | |
Dharma, Love and The government | 261 | |
The way to reduce crime | 263 | |
True education | 266 | |
Defects of the education system | 268 | |
Quality of life | 270 | |
Simple living | 272 | |
‘We should be calculative’ | 275 | |
Shun money and imbibe good qualities | 280 | |
The problem of dowry | 282 | |
Duty of he youth | 285 | |
Wanted, Ahimsa soldiers | 287 | |
The way to remedy miseries of the world | 291 | |
7 | Culture | 293 |
The heart of culture | 295 | |
The goal of music is peace | 298 | |
Experiencing the lord through music | 300 | |
Gandharva Vedha | 302 | |
The value of speech | 304 | |
The Lord is the basis of speech and its substance | 307 | |
The duty of writers | 309 | |
Mahabharatham | 311 | |
Science & spiritual fulfilment | 314 | |
Can we commit a fraud on future generation? | 317 | |
The glory of the culture of Tamil Nadu | 319 | |
Being engaged in external action with Dhyana inside | 323 | |
8 | The Path of Karma | 331 |
The way to develop good character | 333 | |
Samsare Kim Saram? (What is the essence of worldly life?) | 335 | |
The internal and the external | 338 | |
Rituals | 340 | |
Yoga begins with Karma (Performance of prescribed duties) | 343 | |
Karma Yogam | 345 | |
9 | Bhakthi | 347 |
The Lord | 349 | |
What is meant by Lord? (Swami) | 352 | |
The godhead principle as revealed by nature (Iswara Thathwal) | 354 | |
Karma (Performance of duties) and Bhakti (Devotion) | 356 | |
The form and the formless | 359 | |
The lord (Iswara) | 361 | |
Idol worship and Matured Jnana | 364 | |
Worship at temples | 367 | |
Purity of temples | 370 | |
The temple and the divine acts | 373 | |
The temple and the hospital | 375 | |
The five senses and five offerings | 377 | |
The glory of the lords names (Nama) | 379 | |
Namaskaram | 382 | |
Bhakti (Devotion) | 384 | |
What for Bhakthi? | 387 | |
Practising Bhakthi without reason | 390 | |
Bhakthi before the state of ‘Mukthi’ | 393 | |
Give me myself | 396 | |
Characteristics of ‘Bhakthi’ according to Bhagavadhpadha | 398 | |
The favourite deity (Ishta Devata) | 401 | |
The Godhead principle as revealed by nature (Iswara Thathwa) | 407 | |
10 | Devatha Murthis and Avatara Purushas | 405 |
Sambu became Sankara | 407 | |
Human birth is also necessary | 413 | |
The founding gather (Mula Purusha) of our Dharma | 416 | |
The day Krishna was born- Krishna’s birthday (Krishna Jayanthi) | 422 | |
Sri Rama | 425 | |
Sri Rama Navami | 428 | |
Ayyappan | 429 | |
Swami means only ‘Kumaraswami’ | 432 | |
Grace that flashes like lightning | 442 | |
Kumaran | 445 | |
Where the Siva-Sakthi united | 448 | |
The son who excelled the father | 451 | |
The one who keeps alive the Vedhic way | 455 | |
Murugan’s Avataram (Incarnation) in Tamil Nadu | 459 | |
Murugan’s Avataram in the north | 463 | |
Divine personages who disappeared in fire | 475 | |
The previous avatar of Murugan | 478 | |
Saravanabhavan, The most fulfilling of all paths | 486 | |
“Ummachchi” | 491 | |
Pasupathi | 493 | |
Devas | 499 | |
Sivarathri | 505 | |
Non-distinction between siva, Vishnu | 509 | |
Hari and Siva are one | 512 | |
Siva Mayam; Sarvam Vishnu mayam Jagath | 514 | |
“Never forget hara” “Serve thirumal with devotion” | 516 | |
Thirumal (Vishnu) in the morning- Mahadev in the evening | 518 | |
Eminent places which remind us of unity | 520 | |
The two Rajas | 523 | |
Who is Bhagawan? (Bhagavadhpadha’s answer) | 526 | |
The greatness of Vibhuthi & Thiruman as symbols | 529 | |
Words of eminence from two youngsters | 532 | |
Saraswati | 535 | |
Mahalakshmi | 541 | |
Parasakthi herself is Mahalakshmi | 543 | |
Mahalakshmi who showered her grace on great persons (Mahans) | 545 | |
Bhakti is the greatest Lakshmi | 554 | |
Navarathri Nayakis (The presiding deities) | 556 | |
“To me, Ambal is important” | 559 | |
Mother who is God | 563 | |
Meditating on the holy feet of Devi | 565 | |
Nature deceives! Ambal deceives! | 567 | |
Kamakshi | 570 | |
Kamakshis red colour | 573 | |
Kamakshi who is black and red | 575 | |
The blackness of Kamakshi | 577 | |
Kamakshi’s compassion | 582 | |
The glory of Kamakshi | 586 | |
The story of Kamakshi | 594 | |
The eyes of Kamakshi | 605 | |
Ambal’s Swarupam (Form) | 609 | |
The abode of Ambal | 613 | |
Jananambikai | 615 | |
The reward for worshipping Ambal | 620 | |
Bhavanithvam | 625 | |
She will shower the power of speech | 627 | |
The Devi who gives ‘Guru Bhakthi’ and ‘Pathi Bhakthi’ | 631 | |
Why feel arrogant when there is ambal | 635 | |
Ambal as shown to us by Acharya | 639 | |
Afflictions are also her grace | 645 | |
The Sakthi of Siva; Sister of Narayana | 649 | |
Annapurni | 661 | |
Mother (Amma) | 665 | |
11 | Mangalaraththi | 667 |
Hanuman will bless us all | 669 |
Srimukham | I | |
Gurusthuthi | V | |
Introduction | IX | |
Acknowledgements | XIV | |
Guidance to Pronunciation | XVII | |
1) | Mangalarambham | 1 |
Child God | 3 | |
The Old Lady & The Child | 5 | |
Tamil Nadu's Greatness | 9 | |
He Belongs to The Whole W orld | 12 | |
2) | Guru | 17 |
He Who Makes Us Who We Are A Tale of A King and Queen | 19 | |
Guru-Parampara | 25 | |
The Subject of "Dravida " | 31 | |
The Hunter is The King: The Jiva is the Brahman | 35 | |
Devotion to the Guru | 39 | |
Gurukulavasa | 46 | |
Surrender Above All | 64 | |
3) | Adhvaitham | 69 |
Adhvaitham | 71 | |
How Is The W orld An illusion? | 79 | |
How Do 'Different' Things Become Different? | 85 | |
Vedhas and Sankara Arrive At One Conclusion | 88 | |
Sankara's Tradition (Sankara | 100 | |
Adhvaitha or Dhvaitha? All In Paresakthi's Hands | 130 | |
The Third Way | 144 | |
4) | Vedhic Religion | 155 |
The Basic Texts of Hinduism : Our Ignorance of Them | 157 | |
Why Religion ? | 164 | |
The Fourteen Abodes of Knowledge | 166 | |
Past Glory and Present Pathetic Condition | 168 | |
The Root of our Religion | 171 | |
Eternal | 174 | |
Sound and Creation | 182 | |
Western Vedhic Research | 189 | |
Date of the Vedhas : Inquiry not Proper | 191 | |
Methods of Chanting | 196 | |
Word of God | 199 | |
The Vedhas are Infinite | 200 | |
Manthrayoga | 204 | |
The Benefits from Sound and Its Meaning | 207 | |
The Glory of the Vedhas | 209 | |
Yajna or Sacrifice | 212 | |
What is not in Other Religions | 213 | |
The Threefold Purpose of Yajna | 216 | |
The Celestials and Mortals Help Each Other | 218 | |
The Capacity to Work and the Capacity to Protect | 223 | |
Rites for Celestials, Rites for Deified Souls (Pithrus) | 226 | |
The Purpose of Sacrifices | 228 | |
Is Sacrificial Killing Justified? | 229 | |
The One Goal | 234 | |
Animal Sacrifice in the Age of Kali | 235 | |
Those Who Conduct Sacrifices | 237 | |
The Four Vedhas | 239 | |
To Discover The One Truth | 247 | |
Brahmanam and Aranyakam | 248 | |
The Upanishads | 249 | |
The Brahmasuthra | 253 | |
Vedha and Vedhanta : Do they Contradict Each Other? | 255 | |
The Ten Upanishads | 271 | |
What do the Vedhas Teach Us ? | 290 | |
Essence of the Upanishadhic Teaching | 307 | |
Vedhic Dharma and Tamil Nadu | 311 | |
Vedhic Sakhas | 330 | |
Brahmins and Non-Brahmins | 332 | |
Sakhas now Studied | 334 | |
Duty of Brahmins | 342 | |
Steps to Promote Vedhic Learning | 345 | |
Vedha -bhashya | 349 | |
My Duty | 355 | |
Greatness of the Vedhas | 358 | |
5) | Shandanga | 361 |
The Six Limbs of the Vedhas | 363 | |
6) | Siksha | 367 |
Nose of the Vedha Purusha | 369 | |
Yoga and Speech | 371 | |
Root Language - Sanskrit | 373 | |
Pronunciation | 375 | |
Scripts | 377 | |
A Language that has all Phonemes | 386 | |
Languages and Scripts: Indian and Foreign | 388 | |
Akshamala | 389 | |
Importance of Enunciation and Intonation | 390 | |
Versions with Slight Differences | 392 | |
Vedhic Vocalisation and the Greatness of Regional Languages | 402 | |
Impact of Siksha Sasthra | 404 | |
Names of Months | 408 | |
Other Notable Aspects of Siksha | 409 | |
7) | Vyakaranam | 411 |
Mouth of the Vedha Purusha | 412 | |
Grammar and Siva | 422 | |
Works on Grammar | 423 | |
Sanskrit and Tamil Grammar | 425 | |
Sanskrit : The Universal Language | 426 | |
Linguistic Studies and Religion | 429 | |
8) | Chandas | 431 |
Foot of the Vedha Purusha | 433 | |
Pada or Foot | 434 | |
Feet and Syllables | 435 | |
How Poetry was Born | 437 | |
Some Metrical Forms | 440 | |
Uses of Chandas Sasthra | 441 | |
Foot for the Vedhas - Nose for the Manthras | 443 | |
9) | Niruktha | 445 |
Ear of the Vedha Purusha | 447 | |
10) | Jyotisham | 449 |
Eye of the Vedha Purusha | 451 | |
Astronomy and Astrology | 452 | |
Ancient Mathematical Treatises | 456 | |
Planets, Stars | 458 | |
The Grahas and Human Life | 460 | |
Omens, Signs | 461 | |
Modern Discoveries in Ancient Works | 466 | |
Not Blind Belief | 471 | |
Empirical Proof | 473 | |
11) | Kalpa | 475 |
Hand of the Vedha Purusha | 481 | |
12) | Mimamsa Karma Marga | 483 |
Explication of Vedhic Laws | 487 | |
No Concept of God in Mimamsa | 490 | |
Nyaya and Mimamsa: They brought about the Decline of Buddhism | 492 | |
Buddhism and Indian Society | 494 | |
Sankara and Non-Vedhanthic Systems | 495 | |
Sankhya | 499 | |
Mimamsa and Adhi Sankara | 502 | |
Determining the Meaning of Vedhic Texts | 503 | |
Mimamsa Theories Sankara's reply | 512 | |
Vedhantha and Mimamsa | 515 | |
How Mimamsa is Held in Esteem | 516 | |
13) | Nyaya | 517 |
Science of Reasoning | 519 | |
Padarthas | 521 | |
Pramanas | 527 | |
Power of Discrimination is for Knowing God | 529 | |
We Need All Types of Knowledge | 531 | |
Tharka Treatises | 532 | |
Cause of Creation | 534 | |
Some Stories, Some Arguments | 537 | |
14) | Puranas | 543 |
Magnifying Glass of the Vedhas | 545 | |
Puranas and History | 547 | |
Are the Puranas a lie or Are They Metaphorical? | 551 | |
Meaningful even if Imaginary | 559 | |
Vyasa's Priceless Gift to Us | 562 | |
Upa-Puranas and Others | 566 | |
Ithihasas and Puranas | 567 | |
The Epics and their Greatness | 569 | |
Why Differences among the Gods? | 571 | |
The One as Many | 575 | |
Many paths to the One Goal | 579 | |
Who Taught the Puranas? To Whom? | 581 | |
They Speak like a Friend | 582 | |
Puranic Discourses and Films | 584 | |
Sthala Puranas | 587 | |
The Authenticity of Sthala Puranas | 589 | |
Interconnected Stories | 592 | |
Importance of Sthala Puranas | 604 | |
Preserving the Puriiniis | 606 | |
Palm-leaf Manuscripts, libraries | 607 | |
15) | Dharmasasthra (Smurthi) | 611 |
Realising the Ideals of the Puranas | 613 | |
Smruthis and Allied Works | 617 | |
Vaidyaniitha - Dikshithiyam | 619 | |
Freedom and Discipline | 621 | |
Signs, Marks | 624 | |
Smruthis - Not Independent Works | 626 | |
The Source of Smruthis is the Vedhas | 628 | |
Sruthi-Smruthi - Srautha-Smartha | 632 | |
16) | The Forty Samskaras | 635 |
Samskara | 637 | |
Paradise (Swarga) or the Path of Athmajnana ? | 638 | |
Three Types of Worlds | 641 | |
Meaning of Samskara | 643 | |
The Eight Qualities | 645 | |
Cunas in Practical Life | 648 | |
Importance of Agni (Sacred Fire) | 651 | |
Names of Samskaras | 653 | |
Samskaras Performed by Parents | 655 | |
Why All Samskaras Not for All ? | 660 | |
17) | Brahmacharyasrama | 661 |
Upanayana | 663 | |
The Sasthras and Popular Custom | 667 | |
Basic to the Vedhic Tradition | 669 | |
Qualities of a Brahmacharin | 671 | |
Naishtika Brahmacharyii and Family Life | 673 | |
Upanayana: When to Perform It | 678 | |
Role Models to Follow | 680 | |
Why Age Stipulation for Upanayana | 681 | |
Domestic Life and the Carnal Desire | 683 | |
Gayathrt | 684 | |
The Brahmin must keep his Body Pure | 685 | |
Gayathrl and Sandhyavandana | 687 | |
Other Aspects of Sandhyavandana | 691 | |
What about Women? | 694 | |
The High Status of Our Women | 696 | |
18) | Marriage | 699 |
For the Practice of Dharma | 701 | |
Family planning and increase in female population | 704 | |
Upanayana for Girls | 706 | |
The Age of Marriage and the Law | 708 | |
Controversy about Age of Marriage | 710 | |
Eight Forms of Marriage | 713 | |
Concept of Child Marriage | 720 | |
Our Duty Now | 728 | |
Make Marriages Simple | 729 | |
Duty of Women | 730 | |
Duty of the Bridegroom | 733 | |
Arrangements made by the Mutt | 735 | |
The Real Reform | 737 | |
Any Use Talking? | 739 | |
Marriage Expenses and the Sasthras | 743 | |
Three Ways to Economy | 748 | |
Ideals of Marriage | 749 | |
19) | Gruhasthasrama | 751 |
Gruhastha, Gruhini | 753 | |
Aupasana | 756 | |
Aupasana Women's only Vedhic Property | 757 | |
The Greatness of Agni | 759 | |
Samskaras with Agni | 760 | |
Other Samskaras | 771 | |
Goal of Samskaras | 772 | |
A Day in the Life of a Brahmin | 775 | |
20) | Vidhyasthanam | 779 |
Vidhyasthanam: In Conclusions Upavedhas | 781 | |
The Foreign - The Indigenous The Old and The New | 785 | |
Required in the Beginning to be Given up Later | 788 | |
21) | Varnadharma | 793 |
Jathis - Why so many Differences ? | 795 | |
Jathi According to the vedhas and the Gita | 798 | |
Qualities and Vocation by Birth | 801 | |
Vocations eccording to Guna-not in Practice | 804 | |
A Wrong Notion | 807 | |
Strength of Unity | 810 | |
The Eternal Religion | 813 | |
Brahmins are not a Privileged Iathi | 815 | |
Universal Well-being | 818 | |
The Fourth Varna has its own Advantages | 819 | |
Removal of Ego | 821 | |
The Ultimate Purpose of Varna Dharma | 824 | |
22) | Mangalaraththi | 827 |
The Begining and the End are Same | 829 |
Sri Mukham | I | |
Gurustuthi | V | |
Introduction | IX | |
Acknowledgements | XIV | |
Guidance to Pronounciation | XVII | |
1 | Mangalarambham | 1 |
The pillaiyar symbol | 3 | |
Vinayakas connection with writing | 7 | |
Let us go around (Circumambulate) Valampuri Vinayakar | 10 | |
2 | Guru | 10 |
Giri, (Teacher) | 15 | |
Guru, Acharya (Preceptor) | 17 | |
Definition of ‘Guru’ | 20 | |
External relationship of ‘Guru’ with inner glory | 23 | |
Dhikshai | 27 | |
Dhikshais bestowed by Ambal | 31 | |
Several paths for the one final bliss | 35 | |
Non-Distinction between Guru and Acharya | 37 | |
Regard the Acharya as Iswara | 40 | |
Follow the traditions of the clan | 42 | |
Guru bhakthi displayed by great souls Gods as Sishyas | 44 | |
Adhi Sankara’s Acharya Bhakthi | 46 | |
Ramanuja’s Guru Bhakthi | 47 | |
The Sishyas of Sankara | 48 | |
In Ramanuja Sampradhayam | 51 | |
Guru Bhakthi of the Sikhs | 58 | |
3 | The Rules of Conduct for the Society and the Individual | 59 |
Charity (Paropakaram) | ||
Aswamedham to which all are entitled | 61 | |
‘My duty is to keep serving without any expectation’ | 64 | |
Inner purity is essential | 69 | |
Vedhic religion and service to the world | 71 | |
Randhi Devan | 74 | |
The strange mongoose | 82 | |
Charity is the highest Dharma | 87 | |
The significance of Karthikai dipam | 92 | |
For the good of those in hell too | 95 | |
Charity as extolled in Vedha Sasthras | 98 | |
Those who are exceptions | 105 | |
Gift away the thought of charity also | 107 | |
Sacrifice by A dove | 109 | |
When Yama (The Lord of death) Himself was afraid | 111 | |
The great donors (philanthropists) of Tamil Nadu | 112 | |
The essence of Sanathana Dharma | 114 | |
‘Purtha Dharmam’: Public service by collective action | 115 | |
Service to god and service to humanity | 120 | |
The intrinsic worth of service | 122 | |
The scheme of ‘Mudhradhikaris’ | 129 | |
Weekly worship | 135 | |
Spending money-need for extreme caution | 137 | |
Both with money and body | 140 | |
Service not influenced by caste factor is the need | 143 | |
Make the means for a living, The means for ‘Dharma’ | 144 | |
How to help preserve the traditional religious discipline (Achara) | 148 | |
Ancient Sasthras along with school education | 152 | |
To earn respect without a degree | 154 | |
Service by ladies | 155 | |
Ladies and Sramdhan | 157 | |
Hard work and progeny | 158 | |
Manliness through bodily labour | 160 | |
The need for both physical and spiritual accomplishment | 161 | |
Co-operation between husband and wife | 163 | |
Charity begins at home- A new interpretation | 164 | |
The great cruelty of dowry | 166 | |
Simple living | 169 | |
Kindred and relatives | 170 | |
To help the growth of vedhic ways | 172 | |
Duty towards the dead | 173 | |
Cremation/Burial of the dead- The greatness of a Human body | 174 | |
Unclaimed corpses | 179 | |
Hindu society’s blemish | 180 | |
This is Asvamedha | 182 | |
The path shown by Rama and Krishna | 184 | |
The distress of some is a test for many | 185 | |
When life leaves the body | 189 | |
What is practised throughout life will come at the moment of death | 192 | |
Remembering the Lord | 193 | |
The thought at the last moment- Its importance | 195 | |
Remembering God while going to sleep | 197 | |
Shortcut to Moksha | 198 | |
Noble service when life departs | 200 | |
What needs to be done | 203 | |
Why ‘Divasam’ (Annual ceremony) when soul has reached The Lord | 206 | |
Purification of body and mind | 207 | |
A day without service is a day wasted | 208 | |
This is Vedha Dharma | 209 | |
Self help is the best help- Praise and criticism | 216 | |
Public service and duties towards the family | 218 | |
Hindu religion and the individual | 219 | |
How it differs form other religions | 220 | |
The object of temple worship | 221 | |
Reasons for contradiction | 224 | |
Why I do not speak about one’s own mundane affairs | 227 | |
I have been a bit less careful | 228 | |
Fraud, Hypocrisy | 231 | |
The injunctions of the sasthras | 233 | |
The example of the great | 234 | |
Matters pertaining to parents | 236 | |
Matters pertaining to wife and children | 237 | |
Adverse effect on the objective itself | 238 | |
First the home, Then the rest | 239 | |
The highest state cannot be the example | 241 | |
Punishment for failing in duty | 242 | |
The quality of service- Mindedness | 243 | |
Condemnation is itself praise | 245 | |
Thrift and service to others object of thrift is service to others | 260 | |
Debt is harmful for all | 262 | |
Service to others is itself a ‘debt’! | 265 | |
How to save | 267 | |
Established rules of discipline and conduct (Acharam) | 268 | |
The Achara of the clan is the way of redemption | 271 | |
The weight of experience | 274 | |
Decline in discipline due to reforms | 275 | |
What the Gita commands | 276 | |
Reformist leaders | 277 | |
The leaders and the followers | 279 | |
Practical evidence | 282 | |
A single test is enough | 283 | |
Purity of mind and external activities | 284 | |
Modern superstitions | 287 | |
God, religion and Dharma | 290 | |
The duty of a leader; What the Gita says | 291 | |
Three different ideologies | 293 | |
Reform for achieving worldly goals | 294 | |
Reforms with spiritual goals | 297 | |
Heads of the modern religions which have not become a separate sect | 299 | |
The modern vedanthis | 306 | |
Net result | 308 | |
The one who knows and those who do not know | 309 | |
Sugar- Coated pill | 315 | |
The development of those times and the deterioration of these times | 316 | |
A narrow pathway | 319 | |
Mental discipline ruling over nature’s laws The internal division of religious Achara (Madhacharam) | 320 | |
(This is an explanation of the earlier talk) | 324 | |
The great ones who are exceptions | 345 | |
The duty of religious enthusiasts | 348 | |
Matters relating to Acharam the characteristic of Acharam | 350 | |
From the external to the internal | 352 | |
Ordinary Dharmas in Acharam | 354 | |
The relationship between Dharmam and Acharam | 357 | |
Containing everything | 358 | |
Rewards- Seen and Unseen | 359 | |
Relating all activities to Iswara | 362 | |
The subtleties of science In Acharas Sasthras | 364 | |
Not subordinate to science | 367 | |
Acharam is for spiritual satisfaction | 375 | |
The division of Achara; The Verdict of Kural | 378 | |
Acharam and Varnasrama | 382 | |
The ideal state and what is practicable | 383 | |
The drawbacks of not differentiating functions | 391 | |
Absence of Exception- The consequences | 394 | |
Flexibility in Acharam | 397 | |
Complete Acharam to the extent possible | 400 | |
Types of bath | 402 | |
Involvement and faith (Sraddha) | 407 | |
Some rules of Acharam | 409 | |
Karmas laid down by Sasthras and synthetic materials | 413 | |
The evil that befalls due to personal pollution | 415 | |
Matters emotional/ sentimental | 416 | |
Activities to be conducted with the thought of God and with Manthras | 417 | |
The original sasthra and contrary traditions | 418 | |
Without questioning | 422 | |
Gives worldly benefits too | 423 | |
Acharam and office routine | 425 | |
Let us all become orthodox (Vaidhikam) | 427 | |
What needs to be done urgently | 429 | |
Benefits of being bound by discipline | 431 | |
Books on Acharas | 433 | |
The greatness of those days and the fallen state of these days | 434 | |
Sasthras which evolved by the examples of those who practised | 436 | |
Acharam and the food we take | 439 | |
Food and all those connected with it | 444 | |
The three qualities (Guna) | 448 | |
Food and qualities (Guna) | 450 | |
Purity of materials | 455 | |
Distinction in the rules | 458 | |
When the ideal agrees with the practical | 459 | |
‘Saiva’ food | 464 | |
Is there not violence involved in eating vegetables? | 466 | |
The virtues of vegetarian food | 470 | |
Ancient customs and the practices of kali Yuga | 474 | |
To progress step by step | 477 | |
Vegetarian food is of greater need now than before | 478 | |
Prohibition | 480 | |
Smoking: An anti-social act | 482 | |
Coffee and other soft drinks | 483 | |
Milk based products | 486 | |
Chewing pan | 488 | |
The goal of peace should not be spoiled | 489 | |
Quantity is important | 490 | |
Rules to suit the times | 491 | |
Chathurmasyam and rules for food | 492 | |
Avoiding salt | 495 | |
Cooking one’s own food | 496 | |
Swayampakam, A new tune | 497 | |
The divine ‘Rasa’ In ‘Anna Rasam’ | 498 | |
Those taking food with Us | 501 | |
The way to nurture vedhic learning | 504 | |
Bikshai and Swayampakam | 506 | |
The superior customs of the northern parts | 508 | |
Cookery in the scheme of education | 512 | |
True reform of food preparation | 515 | |
How to extend hispitality | 517 | |
Nivedhanam (Worshipful offering to God) | 518 | |
Benefits which are the essence | 519 | |
The importance of food in the enjoyment of senses | 520 | |
Upavasam does it mean eating twice on Ekadasi day? | 522 | |
The need for upavasam | 524 | |
Upavasam as deal with in the Upanishads | 528 | |
Mederation, The right way- Acharya and Krishna | 529 | |
Days of household festivals, Vrathas and the glory of Ekadasi | 533 | |
High Status of Ekadasi | 537 | |
Upavasam and hard work | 539 | |
Very strict observance by Madhvas | 540 | |
Exalted status accorded by people of all divisions | 542 | |
The names of Ekadasi | 543 | |
Let us have the sense of fulfilment | 545 | |
Mounam (silence) to reduce work for the mouth | 547 | |
Silence is the nature of a muni | 549 | |
Days Suitable for Mounam | 550 | |
Keeping Awake | 551 | |
The beginning and the state of ending | 552 | |
Arresting the thoughts | 555 | |
Thought of Iswara | 557 | |
Will help also social good | 560 | |
Silent Prayer | 561 | |
The lesson that I have learnt | 562 | |
Know the limit and act- Extremes are intended to lead to moderation | 563 | |
Being Calculative in all kinds of income and expenditure | 570 | |
Aparigraham | 572 | |
4 | Vaithika Aspects of Religion | 577 |
What for upa Vedham? | 579 | |
The subsidiary (Upa) and the main (Mulam) | 582 | |
Vasthu Sasthra | 583 | |
What for should the body be nurtured? | 585 | |
Spiritual goal even in medical treatment | 587 | |
Mani (Gem)- Manthra- Aushadham (Medicine) | 592 | |
Ayurvedham and Religious observances | 596 | |
Surgery | 600 | |
Other sciences in Ayurvedha | 604 | |
Regulation of deit when taking medicine | 605 | |
Reasons for following the ayurvedha system | 606 | |
Let all be blessed with long life | 608 | |
Dhanurvedham why it was evolved | 610 | |
The code for Punishment | 612 | |
What is Dhanur? | 614 | |
Asthram, Sasthram | 615 | |
The bows of Gods | 618 | |
Three types of weapons | 620 | |
The classification of the army | 622 | |
Fort | 623 | |
Fight by wrestling | 625 | |
Dharma Yuddham | 626 | |
Gandharva Vedham- The utility of something Which is of no Use! | 629 | |
Why the name? | 633 | |
The sixty-four arts | 634 | |
Entertainment and control of senses | 635 | |
Aesthetic sense and experience of self | 637 | |
Capable of making a deep impression | 641 | |
Thevaram and Divyaprabhandham traditions | 643 | |
The Dharma appropriate to jathis | 645 | |
The glory of Nadham (Music) | 648 | |
Sound which is expansive and sound that is limited | 651 | |
The knowledge our ancients had about sound engineering | 654 | |
Reaching through the senses what is beyond sense | 656 | |
Kinds of musical instruments and dances | 659 | |
The divine link | 660 | |
Love and peace through music | 663 | |
Creation and release through Nadha and Natya | 665 | |
The great and divine masters of fine arts | 667 | |
Folk songs and songs related to day to day life | 669 | |
Art that enhances national pride | 671 | |
Ideal should not be forgotten | 672 | |
Artha Sasthram | 673 | |
Artha Sasthram and Dharma Sasthram | 676 | |
The eternal law and temporary changes | 680 | |
The constraints and discipline to which the king was subject | 682 | |
Two important duties of the king | 691 | |
Criminal jurisprudence applicable internally | 692 | |
Is there partiality to the Brahmin? | 695 | |
Nurturing of Dharma is the foundation; Ensuring the observance of varna Dharma | 696 | |
Laws of Punishment in respect of other countries | 705 | |
Noble aspects even in punishment | 708 | |
Six policies to be followed in respect of other countries | 710 | |
The Various organs of a government | 711 | |
This is the substance | 712 | |
5 | Culture | 715 |
Poetic genius- Play of words | 717 | |
A bharatha ‘Guttu’ | 719 | |
Siva-Sakthi as Siva-Vishnu | 726 | |
Fantastic change by removing a single letter | 728 | |
One dot more | 732 | |
Exchange of garlands | 734 | |
The holy feet (Of Kamakshi) and the planets | 735 | |
The mosquito and Kesava | 737 | |
6 | The Principle of Divinity; The Gods | 739 |
Can nature function without Iswara? | 741 | |
Navanitha Krishnan: Vatapathrasayi | 744 | |
The glory of the name of Siva; The glory that Siva Bestows | 752 | |
The place of Siva Nama in the Vedhas | 758 | |
Nama which is for all | 759 | |
A vaishnava’s acclaim | 760 | |
Minakshi | 766 | |
7 | Mangalaraththi | 779 |
A Tower of strength to Sita and Rama | 781 |
Sri Mukham | I | |
Gurusthuthi | V | |
Introduction | IX | |
Acknowledgements | XIV | |
Guidance to Pronunciation | XVII | |
1 | Mangalarambham | 1 |
Child of high Parentage | 3 | |
Grandfather’s Distinction | 3 | |
Uncle’s Distinction | 6 | |
Vishnu and Ambal | 7 | |
Suklambaradharam | 8 | |
The Greatness of the Parents | 10 | |
Murugan and the Eldest | 11 | |
Other Deities paying homage to pillaiyar | 13 | |
The Venerable Child | 13 | |
As the Principal deity | 13 | |
The Son Who was worshipped by his father | 14 | |
To the Rescue of his mother | 16 | |
Helping Muruga | 19 | |
Rama and Vinayaka | 20 | |
Gananatha worshipped by Krishna | 23 | |
The Story of Syamanthaka | 23 | |
Surya and Vinayaka | 23 | |
The Divine Gem Obtained Through Thapas | 24 | |
Krishna’s detachment | 25 | |
Jambavan | 28 | |
Fourth Phase of moon seen by Krishna | 29 | |
The Mater who was the Victim of suspicion | 30 | |
Krishna Cracked it | 32 | |
The Gem and the young Woman | 34 | |
Bliss of Touch During the Fight | 36 | |
The Gem resulting in Marriages | 38 | |
The Enmity Due to the Woman | 40 | |
Again Victory and Blame Again | 42 | |
Akura and the Gem | 45 | |
Reason for the Blame and Accusations | 46 | |
Bhadhrapadham differences in Panchangam | 47 | |
Question and Answer story within Story | 49 | |
Moon’s Pride Shattered | 50 | |
The Curse’s Implication | 52 | |
Relief from the Curse | 53 | |
Bhalachandhran | 55 | |
Sankatahara Chathurthi Pillaiyar bestowed another honor upon moon) | 57 | |
Krishna and Moon | 58 | |
Boon to clear the Blame | 59 | |
Benefit of Lila welfare of the world | 60 | |
One Sloka is Enough | 61 | |
Significance of the Jayanthis (Manifestation) | 64 | |
Conclusion | 65 | |
2 | Guru | 67 |
Gurukulam Ghatikasthanam | 69 | |
Guru, Acharya, Vadhyar | 69 | |
Connection to Vedhas | 70 | |
Upadhyaya and Acharya | 71 | |
Teaching As A Livelihood | 73 | |
Similarity and Dissimilarity Between Guru and Acharya | 73 | |
Special Aspects of Gurukula Not Available at Home | 75 | |
The Greatness of Mother and Father | 77 | |
Guru Younger than oneself | 78 | |
Mother Father Acharya | 80 | |
Adhyapaka | 80 | |
Elevated Status of Upadhyaya | 80 | |
As Worship of Iswara | 82 | |
Receiving is lowly | 83 | |
Specially not found in other countries | 85 | |
Distinguished Acharyas in Secular Education too | 87 | |
Not Intuitionally but through Individuals only | 88 | |
Kulapathi | 89 | |
The rise of the Ancient Teaching system | 89 | |
Language a discipline of sound | 91 | |
Teaching without writing | 91 | |
Kula Sakha, chathra, charana | 93 | |
Guru dakshina | 95 | |
The Arts and Sciences of Old | 95 | |
Dharma and the Brahman | 98 | |
All subjects are Vedhic | 98 | |
Education for all castes | 99 | |
Compulsory education | 99 | |
The Deserving Alone | 100 | |
No Caste Bias | 101 | |
Vidhya and the Fourth caste | 102 | |
The Supreme gift of Knowledge | 103 | |
Length of terms | 104 | |
Why Upakarma for Gruhasthas ? | 108 | |
Holidays | 109 | |
Is it right To Beat a student ? | 110 | |
Qualities of a student | 111 | |
Promoting Health | 112 | |
Individual Teachers mostly | 112 | |
The Individual Teacher and his greatness | 113 | |
Drawbacks of institutional Education | 114 | |
Examples in the Upanishads | 116 | |
Sraddha Paroprasna | 118 | |
Testing Students | 120 | |
Gurupatni or guru’s wife | 120 | |
Taught by Divine Powers but | 122 | |
Independent thinking | 123 | |
Krishna and his Acharya | 129 | |
Learning by Questioning | 131 | |
The Guru is Moulded by the Disciple | 133 | |
The Gurupitas | 134 | |
A Sanyasin who is on his own and a Pita guru | 136 | |
Institutionalism : Sankara’s work for a necessary evil | 138 | |
Big Educational Institutional of old | 139 | |
The new Religion and Big Educational Institutions | 143 | |
Peculiar Circumstances | 143 | |
Different Syllabuses | 147 | |
Two Different Stories | 147 | |
Brahmins during the Buddha’s time | 150 | |
Kshathriyas and Brahmins | 151 | |
National Unity fostered by Vedha Dharma | 153 | |
Adhvaitha and the State | 156 | |
Restraint Even in Conflict | 157 | |
Opposition Based on knowledge | 157 | |
The Big Schools of the New Religions | 160 | |
Gurukulas for Brahmins | 161 | |
Manava Manakkan | 162 | |
System of labor not affected | 163 | |
Buddhism and Jainism never took root on a nationwide basis | 168 | |
Leadership and the common People | 174 | |
The Great Achievements of Adhi Sankara | 175 | |
Comparing past and present | 180 | |
Buddhist Jaina education | 185 | |
Writing | 187 | |
Big Vedhic Universities | 191 | |
The Gurukula Elements in Bug Schools | 194 | |
Kanchi As a Center of Education | 196 | |
My research regarding Ghatikas | 197 | |
Why the name Ghatika | 198 | |
The Antiquity of Ghatikas | 200 | |
Stone Temples | 203 | |
The temple and the Ghatika | 204 | |
In the Eight Century | 205 | |
Format of Sasana | 206 | |
Seven Thousand students | 207 | |
In Andhra and Karnataka | 208 | |
In the Chola land | 209 | |
In Maharastra | 210 | |
Ghatikachalam | 210 | |
Rewarded at last | 211 | |
In Prayaga in the 5th century B.C | 211 | |
Light on name | 212 | |
A little bit of Sanskrit | 216 | |
Appropriateness of the Pot | 216 | |
Vedhic Schools in Tamil Region | 217 | |
Atharva Vedha | 218 | |
Respect for many sasthras | 219 | |
The Vedhas Agamas | 220 | |
Harmony | 220 | |
Temples and Vidhya | 220 | |
Pride and Shame | 222 | |
A Plan for national Vidhya | 223 | |
The Right Method | 224 | |
Village Statistics | 226 | |
The Essential Statistics | 226 | |
Literacy and Crime | 227 | |
Is Education unnecessary ? | 228 | |
The Land of white men and Muslims | 228 | |
In the Communist countries | 230 | |
Vidhya with humility | 231 | |
Gurukulavasa to Curb Aham | 232 | |
Why not possible ? | 233 | |
Responsibility of the public | 233 | |
For the Growth of Vedha Vidhya | 234 | |
Learning and Money | 235 | |
Bhikshacharya | 236 | |
One or two enough | 237 | |
Preserving the Ideal | 237 | |
Their Sacrifice and our sacrifice | 238 | |
Vedha Bhashyam, Vedhanga, Vedhantha | 239 | |
Comparative Philosophy | 242 | |
Similarities and Dissimilarities | 243 | |
The Puranas | 244 | |
Agama Sasthra | 244 | |
Vasthu Sasthra | 245 | |
Silpa Sasthra | 245 | |
Village Arts folk lore | 247 | |
Moulding Teachers foe ancient arts and sciences | 247 | |
Vidhya that transcends the laws of nature | 248 | |
Medical Science | 249 | |
Yoga Sasthra | 249 | |
Only Theory no practice | 250 | |
In Vedhantha Too | 251 | |
What is to be done | 252 | |
Learn and teach | 252 | |
Propaganda | 253 | |
Financial Aid and Social prestige | 255 | |
Be Vidvans each of you | 256 | |
To Curb Aham | 257 | |
Be a Learner not an idler | 258 | |
When most people were Vidvans | 259 | |
Age life style no bar to learning | 260 | |
Not the state but people and Sishyas responsible | 261 | |
Support for half knowledge | 262 | |
A request to Vidvans | 263 | |
Ideal scholars | 264 | |
For the Future | 265 | |
Make it part of life | 265 | |
Gurukulavasa in all fields | 266 | |
May Amba shower her blessings | 267 | |
3 | Public life | 269 |
The Remarkable election system of Uththaramerur | 271 | |
Aspects of Democracy in Vedhas Also | 271 | |
Caste Head | 275 | |
Qualification is Essential | 276 | |
King as the Head of State | 276 | |
Head of Town | 277 | |
Membership in local Sabha by election | 279 | |
Republic and Democracy | 280 | |
Difference of Opinion | 281 | |
Election Method with strange Aspect | 281 | |
Chola Dynasty | 282 | |
Stone inscription Regarding Election | 282 | |
Divisions of the Kingdom | 283 | |
Structure of Grama Sabha | 284 | |
Details about the Stone Inscriptions | 285 | |
Brahmin Velala officials | 286 | |
Qualification of Candidates | 287 | |
Rules Subject to Amendments and rules not Subject to Amendments | 288 | |
Knowledge of Sasthra and Ability to act | 290 | |
The Heart and Soul of qualification purity of wealth and purity of self | 290 | |
Shall not serve contiguous terms | 291 | |
Relative not eligible | 291 | |
Condition on Wealth | 291 | |
Ideal Dharma and Practical possibility | 292 | |
Under Islamic and British Rule | 293 | |
Eligibility based on property | 295 | |
Reduced incentive for Bribery | 296 | |
Bribery | 297 | |
Experience of property Management Essential | 298 | |
Reason for home on own land | 299 | |
Age qualification | 299 | |
Characteristics of Elder | 302 | |
Sathya the foundation for dharma | 303 | |
Elders who are exempt | 306 | |
Office work and duties of public Sabha | 307 | |
Advisory council of elderly intellectuals | 307 | |
To Prevent Authority being permanently entrenched In positions | 308 | |
Educational qualification | 309 | |
Does not refer only to the Brahmins | 310 | |
The Heart and Soul | 312 | |
Potentials Cause for proliferation of corruption | 312 | |
Spiritual purity | 315 | |
To prevent corruption afterwards too | 315 | |
Five year Term | 316 | |
Induction of new blood | 317 | |
Backbone of Dharmic administration | 318 | |
The Royal seat and the Local Sabha | 319 | |
Dismissal and Permanent Bar | 321 | |
Disqualified Relatives | 322 | |
Panchamampthkam (Five Grave sins) | 322 | |
Sasthras and the Law | 323 | |
A few Other Disqualifying Aspects | 325 | |
An Election without contestants or voters | 325 | |
Who is a Candidate? | 326 | |
Selection Election Officers | 326 | |
Election Procedure | 328 | |
Election which has iswara’s Approval | 330 | |
No Room for hiding or Concealment | 331 | |
No Individual Charisma | 332 | |
Not based on majority | 333 | |
Administrative Divisions | 334 | |
Till the Sun and Moon exist | 334 | |
The New story and the old | 335 | |
Worrisome Aspects | 336 | |
Give Responsibility after maturity | 338 | |
Solace from old election methods | 340 | |
Drawback and justification for it | 341 | |
Ramarajya | 344 | |
4 | Adhvaitham | 347 |
To Experience peace after end of war | 349 | |
Who are Devas and Asuras? | 349 | |
Why does Asuric Tendency arise? | 352 | |
Dhvaitha that gives room for fear | 353 | |
Adhvaitham is abhayam | 354 | |
Abhya Moksham Bhayam Samsaram | 356 | |
Naraka bhyam | 356 | |
Mind is the Reason for Bondage | 357 | |
The Bliss of the Mindless Athma | 358 | |
The I even in the mindless state | 359 | |
The True I | 360 | |
Awareness of life independent of mind | 361 | |
Realization of Athma and living through the mind | 362 | |
Mind which is separate form Athma | 365 | |
Self Realization is abhya moksha | 368 | |
Dharma the loosens the bondage of karma | 368 | |
Preyas and Sreyas | 369 | |
Dharma Medicine for the disease of Karma | 371 | |
Dharmika Karma not a Direct means for moksha | 373 | |
Dharma Karma not sufficient for mind’s fulfillment | 373 | |
Love Devotion | 374 | |
Good thoughts as background for sasthra karma | 375 | |
Splintering of mind Reduced by good karma | 376 | |
Action and Meditation | 378 | |
Karma yoga and Detachment | 381 | |
Why does good karma not bear fruit | 385 | |
Possibility of fear Reduced | 386 | |
Swadharma even in the face of death | 388 | |
Direct Result for welfare of the world | 389 | |
Drama of the universe and the Deluge | 391 | |
For Worldly life’s greater good | 393 | |
For Order in worldly life | 394 | |
Why not other’s dharma ? | 398 | |
What is it that pushes one in papa | 400 | |
Kama krodha | 403 | |
All the Evils spring form desire | 406 | |
Happiness itself Cause of Hardship | 409 | |
Bliss and Satisfaction | 410 | |
Desire and Pleasure and Pains | 411 | |
Man destroyed by all five senses | 412 | |
Permanent bliss will not result form desire | 413 | |
Affected by situations | 415 | |
A Desire that overwhelms another desire | 415 | |
Different kinds of desire for one own body | 416 | |
Mind is in between Athma and Sense Organs | 419 | |
Mind’s Pleasure not permanent either | 420 | |
Tired of it but not rid of it | 421 | |
Misery in everything except Adhvaitham | 424 | |
Even by subjecting others to hardship | 425 | |
Desire that harms noble virtues | 427 | |
Uninterrupted bliss not available to mind | 428 | |
To End the Battle destroy desire | 429 | |
Will death destroy desire? | 430 | |
The Punishment of Birth | 432 | |
The Sweetness of Neem fruit | 432 | |
Constant effort is necessary | 433 | |
What desire does and Adhishtana | 434 | |
Arjuna’s difficulty | 436 | |
Remedy suggested by Krishna | 436 | |
Atham the Changeless | 438 | |
Nija Athma and the Mind in Guise | 441 | |
Mind’s Activity only through Athma | 443 | |
Maya | 444 | |
State of being and state of action | 444 | |
Consequences of the hunger of desire | 445 | |
Acquiring and relinquishing | 447 | |
Sleep is not the way | 449 | |
Vairagya and Abhyasa | 450 | |
Blissful of Jnana peace | 451 | |
External pleasure is simply Rays of bliss form Athma | 453 | |
Peaceful bliss which mind Cannot Understand | 455 | |
(Para) Sakthis’s Anandha is also in the Santha Athma | 456 | |
State of sleep | 459 | |
Dream State | 461 | |
How can mind come under athma’s control ? | 463 | |
By Iswara’s grace | 464 | |
Beyond logic | 466 | |
Obvious Evidences | 466 | |
Jivan Mukthas | 469 | |
Anandha Comes only form athma | 469 | |
Possessor not possessed | 470 | |
Desire’s target is Really the Athma | 472 | |
Annihilation of Asure army is victory for attaining Athma | 474 | |
Root Cause of Trouble | 475 | |
Indhriya is also highly regarded | 476 | |
Athma is always the Truth | 484 | |
Step by Step to the state of Athma | 485 | |
Taming the Athma by Athma | 489 | |
Why no mention of the grace of Iswara? | 490 | |
Iswara bridge between dhvaitha and Adhvaitha | 492 | |
Adhvaith Sasthra and Benediction of Iswara | 493 | |
Brahman Athma Iswara | 495 | |
Jiva from Iswara only | 496 | |
Release granted by Iswara Alone | 497 | |
Maya Subdued only by Iswara | 498 | |
Jiva Iswara difference | 499 | |
From Dhvaitha ti Adhvaitha | 500 | |
Intermediate Stages | 501 | |
Variants of Upadesa Corresponding to the stage of Rightful Recipient | 504 | |
Why Sasthra for Iswara’s Action ? | 509 | |
Explicitly expounded truth in Gita | 510 | |
Iswara’s knowledge grant also mentioned by adhi Sankara | 512 | |
Dhvaitha of guru not a snag | 518 | |
Maya Sakthi also grants Jnana | 519 | |
Bondage of Karma due to Iswara attainment of Jnana also due to him | 520 | |
Knowledge of Athma is indeed the destruction of desire | 522 | |
A Subtle indication about iswara | 522 | |
Moksha in this world | 523 | |
Idea that preceded Buddha | 524 | |
After the mind Stops | 526 | |
Realization of Athma is the true knowledge | 527 | |
Drawback of living through the mind | 529 | |
Mind needs to disappear not body | 530 | |
Views pertaining to birth and liberation | 531 | |
Effort towards the release is what is necessary | 534 | |
Samsara Does have an end unanimous opinion | 535 | |
Adhvaitham accept stages of dhvaitham | 536 | |
Truth and bliss only in Adhvaitham | 541 | |
Fear is one of Desire’s many Untoward results | 542 | |
Dhvaithma that denotes many things | 543 | |
Mind will not be alone | 544 | |
Athma is the only Stand alone entity | 546 | |
Example of Electricity | 547 | |
Parmathma jivathmas | 548 | |
Pramathma Cause of Universal Antharyami | 549 | |
Iswara or Saguna Brahmam | 551 | |
Vedhanta Iswara is not Siva | 553 | |
Worship of Iswara | 553 | |
Research for truth from Jiva’s Angle from Universe’s angle | 554 | |
Jiva Athma Iswara Athma | 556 | |
Jivathma pramathma in dhvaitha and visishtadhvaitha | 560 | |
Two Entities that are connected | 563 | |
Why Paramathma Instead of Iswarthma? | 564 | |
A few Principles of Adhvaitha | 564 | |
Jiva cannot become Iswara | 566 | |
Dhvaitha Jiva has connection to Iswara | 570 | |
Iswara Jiva Avidhya Anthahkarana | 571 | |
Dhvaitha Moksha and Prakruthi (Maya) | 574 | |
For Dhvathic Tendency misery is unacoidable | 578 | |
Task of Getting Purified | 579 | |
Like Scrubbing a pot | 580 | |
The Ravai Salla Analogy | 583 | |
To Avoid Mixing up the Bad with the Good | 586 | |
Various Names of love | 588 | |
Bhakthi Definition of love | 588 | |
Adhvaith Mukthi through Bhakthi | 588 | |
Bhakthi love’s necessity | 592 | |
Case of the self realized | 594 | |
Our Path | 599 | |
Connection to other paths non should be condensed | 600 | |
Maturation of Sadhana Comes on its own | 601 | |
The Medicine of Dharma | 602 | |
Wrongful Accusation | 603 | |
Dharma Adharma and the Adhvaithi | 606 | |
Jnani and the Fruit of Actions | 607 | |
Dharma and Love | 616 | |
Love is Necessary for the Mind to Wither Away | 619 | |
Without lofty goals lofty stages do not materialize | 621 | |
Deva Sakthis afflict too | 624 | |
Grace of God According to Desired goal | 625 | |
Words of wisdom from Thirumular and Thirucalluvar | 626 | |
Thoughts fi Adhvaitham right from the beginning | 629 | |
Sufferings that release the bondage | 630 | |
Performing action without feeling the burden | 632 | |
The Three paths right from the beginning | 634 | |
Foundation of Adhvaitham laid by Gita | 638 | |
Start from today! | 639 | |
Go Beyond the Good! | 641 | |
Contemplating Athma is Essential for Everyone | 642 | |
Things to learn after deep thinking | 644 | |
5 | Bhakthi | 649 |
Adhvaitha philosophy and the Current state of Affairs | 651 | |
From Current state to Adhvaitham | 652 | |
Adhi Sankara’s Devotional Hymns | 653 | |
Shatpadhi Sthothra | 653 | |
Padham part of poetry | 654 | |
Life body and consonants | 655 | |
Hymns with Six Slokas | 656 | |
The Mystery of the pun | 658 | |
What do we pray for ? | 659 | |
Bhagawan’s view | 660 | |
Justification for worldly prayers | 663 | |
Unfulfilled prayer and Atheism | 667 | |
Praying for Athma Sreyas | 668 | |
Vishnu fro Jnana Also | 669 | |
To Set Right the mind | 670 | |
Humility the most important virtue | 672 | |
Sankara his Discipline and humility | 674 | |
In Sikhism | 679 | |
Two Kinds of disciplines | 680 | |
Aptness of the desert simile | 685 | |
Sahara sagaram | 688 | |
Why Santhi after Dhanthi? | 689 | |
For the World’s salvation with own salvation | 689 | |
May you take me to the other shore | 692 | |
A sweet Simple Sloka | 694 | |
Sridevi and the Lotus | 695 | |
Scared feet from which Ganga flows | 696 | |
Feet that Rid us of Smasara and Grant Eternal Bliss | 697 | |
Adhvaitha Acharya speaks Bhakthi and Dhvaitham | 699 | |
Amazing Anthadhi | 704 | |
Sloka that has continuity of ideas too | 706 | |
Getting Rid of Smasara by dharsana | 711 | |
Iswara Sabdha for Sri Hari | 712 | |
Avatharas | 713 | |
Twelve names Namam Applied on the forehead | 716 | |
Damodhara | 718 | |
Meaning of the Sacred names | 719 | |
Nirguna and Gunanilaya (Attribute less and the adobe of Attributes) | 721 | |
Adhvaiths who are Krishna Bhakthas | 723 | |
Uniqueness of Govinda and Hara Nama | 727 | |
Govinda who is without any Kurai | 730 | |
Guru Deiva Govinda | 732 | |
One of Three | 733 | |
Divine churn that churns the ocean of Samsara | 734 | |
A few great men as role models | 736 | |
Essence of the Hymn Removal for eh sufferings is Samsara | 739 | |
As it Begin so it ends | 741 | |
Expression is surrender like Phala Sruthi | 743 | |
Saramgathi (surrender and Being in the state of Brahman are one | 745 | |
Six Slokas and six words | 747 | |
The Riddle of bee gets Resolved! | 748 | |
6 | Culture | 755 |
Poets Sense of dignity | 755 | |
Surpassing the kings ! | 757 | |
Mahan poet Difference | 758 | |
Mahans Who had turned away form their kings | 759 | |
Vairgaya and the sense of dignity | 761 | |
Kalisdhasa and king bhoja | 761 | |
Enmity followed by broken friendship | 762 | |
Asked for his own charama sloka | 762 | |
Kaliodhasa’s Refusal and its greatness | 763 | |
Disguise | 766 | |
Traditional tales and research | 767 | |
Kambar and kulotthunga | 769 | |
Intricacies of friendship turning into enmity | 770 | |
Kambar’s flare up an vow | 771 | |
Comparison of Kalidhasa and Kambar | 772 | |
Visit to Chera kingdom and chera’s noble virtues | 774 | |
In Chola’s court Chera appears as Adaipaikkaran | 775 | |
Kambar’s Nobel Culture | 777 | |
Two Kutty’s | 778 | |
King Shahji | 778 | |
Poem Glorifying the king | 779 | |
King and the child mutual admiration | 782 | |
Prathapa simha and Kutty kavi | 784 | |
Buffalo hymn | 785 | |
Poet who saved the nation | 786 | |
The Youth who conquered the Bengali scholar | 787 | |
Sasthri who wouldn’t bow down to Serfoji | 788 | |
Sasthri who excelled in friendship too | 789 | |
Turning down the king of Mysore | 791 | |
Our Relative | 792 | |
Boasting of poets and intellectuals | 792 | |
Beauty in that too! | 792 | |
Seeking Divine justice | 794 | |
Kalidhasa and Ambika | 794 | |
Nilakantar and Mahadhevar | 800 | |
Even Distortion gets extolled | 805 | |
7 | Mangalaraththi | 807 |
Greatness of Maruthi | 809 |
Sri Mukham | (I) | |
Gurusthuthi | (V) | |
Introduction | (IX) | |
Acknowledgements | (XIV) | |
Guidance to Pronounciation | (XVII) | |
1 | Mangalarambham | 1 |
The deity worshipped even by the devas | 3 | |
Success in efforts due to the elephant-faced God | 3 | |
The flower and the mind | 3 | |
Anaikka Anaimugan | 4 | |
Who is Vagisar? | 6 | |
One who removes the obstacles of even the Devas | 8 | |
Thath-Heathu Nyayam | 12 | |
The lotus feet | 14 | |
What is done by those who know ‘nyayam’ and those who do not know it | 16 | |
Even if he does not grant all the fruits | 18 | |
The need for several Gods | 19 | |
The one who has two mothers (Dwaimathurar) | 23 | |
One who has six mothers | 24 | |
The dispute about Ayyappa’s mother | 24 | |
May Vigneswara protect Us | 30 | |
When Pillaiyar playedwith ‘Chandrakala’ (One sixteenth part of the moon) | 32 | |
May he lighten the burden and bless us | 37 | |
2 | Guru | 41 |
Iswara and the Guru | 43 | |
The wealth that Guru gives and other types of wealth | 43 | |
Bhakthi to God and to the Guru | 44 | |
Jnana gained by experience | 45 | |
The intellect and the heart | 48 | |
Sruthi-Yukthi (reason)- Experience | 49 | |
Are there two kinds of Bhakthis? | 51 | |
Iswara only grants the fruits | 52 | |
All obeisance go to the only one | 53 | |
Only one Bhakthi; Only one Krupa | 55 | |
Change in the meaning of the Sloka | 57 | |
If only one is enough, is it Iswara or Guru? | 57 | |
Human nature likes changes | 58 | |
Boundless Bhakthi: Means to the Ideal | 60 | |
Boundless Bhakthi: Practical difficulties | 60 | |
Iswara is Guru and ‘Guru is Iswara himself | 62 | |
How to consider the Guru as Iswara? | 62 | |
The special aspects of worship of Guru | 64 | |
Yadhokthakari | 65 | |
Perumal who did what he was told to do | 65 | |
The ‘Divya Desa’ within Kanchipuram | 67 | |
The Pallavas and Saivism-Vaishnavism | 67 | |
The origin of the Pallavas | 69 | |
The glory of the Thruvekka Perumal | 72 | |
Kanikannam: The heart with grace and the fearless heart | 75 | |
When perumal did what he was asked to do | 77 | |
The Guru who brings Iswara himself | 83 | |
Somasi Mara Nayanar | 84 | |
The great man who could take liberties with the Lord | 85 | |
Actions of great men which are beyond our understanding | 86 | |
The green (climbing brinjal) (called Thuthuvalai in Tamil) Which acted as an emissary | 88 | |
The test that the Lord gave | 92 | |
Even if the Guru has drawbacks….. | 95 | |
The benefits of Guru Bhakthi | 96 | |
Three different attitudes | 104 | |
The Lord’s grace in return for Guru Bhakthi | 105 | |
The Guru and the disciple- Personification of two Dharmas | 107 | |
Iswara’s grace cab be obtained by any attitude | 108 | |
The greatness of knowing through a Guru | 108 | |
Gurumurthi and The Thrimurthis | 110 | |
Not treating the Thrimurthis as the supreme one | 110 | |
God without a festival | 110 | |
God without temple | 111 | |
Reason for absence of Puja | 111 | |
Murthis in Vaishnava Temples | 116 | |
Brahma in Agamas | 116 | |
Brahma’s function is only compassionate | 117 | |
Rudram- Sivan (Sivam, Nataraja)- Maheswaran | 118 | |
In Vaishnavam | 120 | |
Gurave Namah | 121 | |
Worship is not because three functions are performed | 121 | |
Murthis who are functioning as the supreme | 129 | |
Why the exception only for Brahma? | 130 | |
The reason why Thrimurthis came to include Brahma | 137 | |
Why is there no temple for Sarasvathi? | 141 | |
Matter concerning Narada, Savithri and Gayathri | 143 | |
Brahma in Guru Parampara (tradition) | 144 | |
Narayanam Padmabhuvam | 145 | |
No reason for doing Namaskaram | 146 | |
Three functions with a difference | 147 | |
One who is entitled to Namaskaram | 152 | |
As Parabrahmam | 153 | |
One who has reached the Shore and Takes us to the Shore | 154 | |
Characteristics of an acharya according to our Acharya | 154 | |
The Guru is worthy of Namaskaram even if he is Brahmam | 159 | |
Namaskaram is wealth: What the Acharya says | 160 | |
Amba, Matha: Amman, Thayar | 162 | |
Benefits of Namaskaram | 163 | |
A correction: Dhuritha Uddharanam | 164 | |
Seeking the benefit of the other world | 167 | |
To which word should ‘eva’ be joined? | 168 | |
The Guru of the three worlds | 170 | |
Guru Vandana- Nindhana: Amrutham- Poison | 171 | |
Guru’s efforts have in view uddharanam only | 173 | |
3 | The life history of Sri Sankara | 177 |
Pravruthi-Nivruthi | 179 | |
Two different paths for two different types of people | 181 | |
The two fruits of karma Marga | 185 | |
Decline of Karma Yoga with the passage of time | 190 | |
The upadesas of two margas | 192 | |
Bhakthi | 194 | |
The Yagas dealt with in Gita | 196 | |
Advaitha which is the permanent Yoga | 198 | |
The resurgence brought about by Lord Krishna | 199 | |
Krishna and Sankara | 203 | |
Avatharas of earlier times | 204 | |
Kaliyuga: In the early stages and later | 207 | |
The great danger of kali: The deceitful make-up | 208 | |
Founders of New religions | 209 | |
Buddhism- Jainism and Hinduism | 210 | |
Not for condemning other religions; only to oppose condemnation of our own religion | 213 | |
Is Kali ordained only for Adharma? | 218 | |
Sankara Vijayam | 222 | |
Seventy two religions | 223 | |
Acharya’s wonderful achievements | 225 | |
It is Acharya’s religion which is Vedhic and inclusive of everything | 226 | |
About other religions | 227 | |
The principle of Godhead | 235 | |
Buddhism-Jainism and the attitude of the common people | 238 | |
Absolute materialism | 241 | |
Religions which accept Vedhas but not Vedantha | 242 | |
Forms of worships in those times | 243 | |
Vaidhikam means total acceptance of Vedhas | 246 | |
Revolutionary religions | 251 | |
Circumstances which necessitated the Avathar | 252 | |
The principle (Thathva) of Avathar: | 253 | |
Indication of the secret of Avathar | 257 | |
Human nature and divinity in Avathar | 262 | |
Also because of the desire to move with people | 264 | |
There should be no doubt about Avathar | 267 | |
Decline of Dharma as never before | 268 | |
Implementing the assurance given in Gita: The problem and the Solution | 269 | |
Why the Avathar as sanyasi? | 271 | |
In Brahmacharya Asramam also | 276 | |
Avatharam in Brahmin family | 279 | |
Vishnu Avatharam and Siva Avatharam: Similarities and differences between Siva-Vishnu: | 280 | |
Jnana Siva taking the Jnana Avathara | 292 | |
Dakshinamurthi’s Avatharam holding Sakthi within | 295 | |
Acharya who is Saktha, Saiva and Vaishnava: | 296 | |
Preliminaries to Avatharam | 299 | |
The compassion of the one who is actionless | 300 | |
Adhvaitha is the disappearance of the duality of mind | 301 | |
It is not Sunya; It is the perfect Sachithanandam | 302 | |
There is no distinction between Jivathma and Paramathma | 305 | |
Even if Iswara is with Maya, He is Jnani | 308 | |
There is no Unmixed good | 312 | |
Disservice even in service | 313 | |
Avathar to preach the actionless state | 320 | |
The benefits of good Karma in practical life | 321 | |
Activities are meant to take one to actionless state | 322 | |
Practical approach: To engage in activity the goal: To remain in the actionless state | 323 | |
Not being selfish | 327 | |
Not engaging in action is also doing good to the world | 329 | |
Sam-bu became Sam-kara: | 330 | |
Authority in Vedha, Ithihasa and Purana for Iswara’s Avathara | 336 | |
Evidence provided by Acharya himself | 362 | |
The parampara (lineage) of old Acharya’s | 364 | |
From Vasishta ot Vyasa | 368 | |
Sukha Brahmam | 373 | |
Pathanjali Charitha | 381 | |
Siva Natanam in Maha Vishnu’s Heart | 382 | |
Ajapa- Hamsa Natanam | 384 | |
The Avathara of Adhisesha | 386 | |
Serice to the three senses | 388 | |
Wonderful way of teaching one thousand sishyas | 396 | |
Brahma Rakshas: Rakshasa Jathi | 397 | |
Disastrous end | 398 | |
Gaudar; Dravidar | 399 | |
Curse and blessing to the disciple who survived | 399 | |
The later part of Gaudar’s history | 402 | |
Jnani and Bhakthi | 407 | |
Acharya’s praise | 408 | |
The life story of Chandra Sarma | 410 | |
Sanyasis in Guru Parampara | 416 | |
Nirvanam | 417 | |
Sanyasa Nama: The glory of Sankara Nama | 428 | |
Similarity with Rmanuja | 430 | |
The greatness of Govinda | 434 | |
Acharya Parampara is only the line of those who have been given the authority | 443 | |
The prayer and the boon | 444 | |
The Avathara of Devas | 447 | |
The help rendered by Mimamsakas in the condemnation of Buddhism | 448 | |
The three-pronged objection of Buddhism | 449 | |
Establishing the God Principle | 450 | |
Acharya’s Classification | 454 | |
The reason why those who had followed karma marga took Avathara | 457 | |
The avatharas of Indra, Sarasvathi: Acharya’s service without help from government | 458 | |
History of Kerala | 459 | |
The Brahmins of ancient Tamil Nadu: Tamil in Kerela | 462 | |
Kanchi Sri Matam and Kumbakonam: Was kumbakonam the original? | 468 | |
The parents who had earned Punya | 477 | |
The prayer at thrichur: Greatness of the place | 478 | |
Granting of the boon | 480 | |
The greatness of the Jayanthi | 482 | |
Celebrate in a grand manner | 484 | |
Special connection of Kanchi region | 485 | |
Sankara Jayanthi in Kamakshi temple | 486 | |
Dedication of the mind and silent meditation | 488 | |
The greatness of Namakaranam | 490 | |
Katapayadhi Sankya | 491 | |
The day of Siddhi according to Katapayadhi | 492 | |
The auspicious day a avatharam | 495 | |
That which does good: Practical evidence | 496 | |
The proper matching of Vasantha Ruthu and the month of Vaikasi | 497 | |
Srisailam: ‘Arjuna Kshethra | 498 | |
Determining Sri Sankara’s period | 501 | |
Principles of Buddhism in Acharya’s Bashyam | 507 | |
References to A.D. in Acharya’s Sthothras | 508 | |
The ulterior motive of the westerners and their ridicule | 513 | |
Child prodigy | 555 | |
Upanayana at the young age | 556 | |
Understanding the meaning of a Sloka | 563 | |
Spirituality in Worldliness: It rained gold | 566 | |
The seed for the later day Upadesa in the very first Sthothra | 575 | |
The river which changed its course | 581 | |
The world calling: Dharma of the people and the secret of Avathara | 583 | |
Became a sanyasi | 586 | |
Let him narrate his own story | 589 | |
Taking leave of the mother and going in search of Guru | 591 | |
Why doe s he need a Guru? | 594 | |
Books called ‘Sankara Vijayam’ and other books relating to Acharya | 595 | |
Meeting the Guru- Taking sanyasam- writing commentary on Brahmasuthram (suthra Bashyam) | 616 | |
Preaching Vedhic religion during the stay at kasi | 618 | |
Acharya’s literary works | 620 | |
One who founded the three paths (Marga) | 623 | |
The story of Padmapadha- The greatness of the Hunter | 626 | |
Compassion even to a murderer | 629 | |
Debate with Vyasa and extension of life | 630 | |
Even an outcaste (Panchama) is my Guru if he is a Jnani | 633 | |
Equal vision of a jnani and social equality are different | 643 | |
Lord Viswanatha’s sport (Lila) | 648 | |
The story of Kumarila Bhattar- Karma and Jnana | 648 | |
The city of scholars where mandanar lived | 657 | |
Acharya defeating Mandanar- Sarasawani | 659 | |
The greatness of Srungeri | 666 | |
The individuality and greatness of Sureswara | 668 | |
Padmapadha’s Panchapadhikai | 671 | |
Hasthamalakar, the mouna Jnani | 672 | |
Thotakar: Personification of devotion to Guru | 675 | |
Two more gems of sishyas: Sarvajnathmar and Pruthvithavar | 679 | |
Great Dhigvijayam which achieved wonders: Spiritual unity and National unity | 684 | |
Converting ‘Ugra’ (severe) deities into peaceful ones | 687 | |
Removal of differences between deities: Panchayathana murthis | 689 | |
Jagadguru who was Acharya for people at all levels | 692 | |
A resume of religions including Adhvaitha | 693 | |
Sri Sankara Mutts | 701 | |
Mother passes away | 703 | |
Pilgrimage through the entire Bharath | 705 | |
Siva-Sakthi Dharsan: Sivalingas and Sakthi Sthuthi | 708 | |
The greatness of Kanchi (Kanchipuram) | 715 | |
Acharya in Kanchi | 716 | |
4 | Mangalaraththi | 729 |
May Anjana’s son bless us with the spirit of action (Ajadyam) | 731 |
Srimukham | (I) | |
Gurusthuthi | (V) | |
Introduction | (IX) | |
Acknowledgements | (XIV) | |
Guidance to Pronounciation | (XVII) | |
1 | Mangalarambam | 1 |
A life blessed with sixteen is a great life | 3 | |
Remedy for all obstacles | 3 | |
The greatness of sixteen | 6 | |
Shodasa Nama Slokas | 7 | |
Sumukar | 8 | |
How Ganapathi wit Human face became elephant-faced | 9 | |
One who is of the form of joy | 10 | |
One with the good mouth | 10 | |
The greatness of the elephant’s mouth and its philosophy | 11 | |
Ekadanthar: ‘One who will do his utmost to others’ | 12 | |
One who is also a female | 13 | |
Vigneswara Gayathri | 13 | |
Kapilar: Vinayaka of tiruchengattankudi | 14 | |
Vathapi Ganapathi: Some historical details | 15 | |
The elephant- Faced and Agasthya | 18 | |
Gajakarnakar | 20 | |
Lambhodharar | 23 | |
Vikatar | 24 | |
Vikata Vinayakas in some holy places | 26 | |
Vikata Chakra Vinayakar | 28 | |
Vigna Rajar | 28 | |
Noble purpose in creating obstacles too | 29 | |
‘Personal’ Experience | 30 | |
Vinayakar; Double Pillaiyar | 32 | |
The famous name | 35 | |
The qualifying letter ‘Vi’ | 36 | |
Vi-Nayakar in two meanings | 36 | |
The names of Pillaiyar in Amaram | 37 | |
Dhumakethu | 38 | |
Ganadhyakshar | 40 | |
Bhalachandrar | 41 | |
Pillaiyar and the moon | 43 | |
Gajananar | 44 | |
The great qualities of the elephant | 44 | |
Animals which have divine links | 47 | |
One who has within himself all the beings | 48 | |
The outline of the original | 49 | |
The face and the mouth | 50 | |
Vakrathundar | 51 | |
Surpakarnar | 52 | |
Herambar | 53 | |
Elephant which is worshipped by lion | 54 | |
The five-faced one with the lion as the vehicle | 56 | |
Skandha Purvajar | 56 | |
The greatness of being Murugan’s elder brother | 57 | |
The role of the elder in the birth of Muruga | 57 | |
The role of the elder in Murugan’s marriage | 61 | |
The role of the elder in Murugan’s Sanyasam | 62 | |
Murugan who has all the benefits of the Phalasruthi | 63 | |
The greatness of the name of Skanda | 66 | |
Let us start the day by remembering the elder brother | 68 | |
2 | Guru | 69 |
Desikar who gives Upadesam | 71 | |
The way and direction in life | 71 | |
Purvoththaram: East- North | 71 | |
The world ‘Dhich’ both as noun and verb | 72 | |
Desam, Upadesam | 73 | |
The meaning of ‘Upa’ | 75 | |
The word ‘Desikar’ with two meanings | 77 | |
Word that shows cordial relationship | 77 | |
Higher than the mother and the father is the Guru | 78 | |
Acharya Dharmam | 79 | |
The greatness of the mother and the father | 79 | |
The ‘cucumber mukthi’ of the Jnani | 83 | |
The love and sacrifice of the guru | 87 | |
No Jnanam without Guru’s Upadesam | 89 | |
The great merits of the word ‘Desika’ | 92 | |
Paramacharyar | 94 | |
Devi as Desika | 95 | |
3 | Adhvaitham | 99 |
The practice of Adhvaitham | 101 | |
The gist of religious philosophies | 101 | |
Adhvaitham which is so different from others | 102 | |
What appears simple is so difficult | 104 | |
Moksham through iswara’s grace (Anugraham) | 106 | |
Effort has to be continued even if the goal is delayed | 109 | |
Sadhana Chathushtayam | 111 | |
The path laid down by Acharya on the lines of Vedhas | 111 | |
Karma and Bhakthi- Preliminary to Jnana | 114 | |
Sraddha (Faith) is necessary | 115 | |
The qualification for spiritual practice | 118 | |
The highest Sadhana is only for the Sanyasi | 121 | |
Why should what is appropriate to a Sanyasi be prescribed for every one? | 126 | |
Two different paths for two different types of people | 127 | |
The reason why it is being told to all | 131 | |
About Bhakthiyogam | 134 | |
Basic knowledge of Adhvaitha for all | 135 | |
Discrimination of the permanent and the ephemeral | 139 | |
Vairagyam: (Distaste for worldly desires) | 146 | |
Six kinds of wealth | 159 | |
Samam- Dhamam | 160 | |
What is Samam? | 160 | |
Uparathi | 171 | |
Thithikshai | 173 | |
Sraddha | 182 | |
Samadhanam | 194 | |
Who is entitled to formally learn Upanishad? | 202 | |
Strictness in Samadhanam | 204 | |
Paramathma’s six and Jivathma’s six | 205 | |
Mumukkshuthvam | 206 | |
Why is the ultimate state described only as ‘Release’? | 207 | |
Mumukshu: As defined by Acharya | 210 | |
The lower level, Middle level mumukshu | 214 | |
Guru’s prasad | 216 | |
Acharya and ancient texts on Mumukshu | 217 | |
Four kinds of spiritual army | 224 | |
Before the three parts of the third stage | 224 | |
Bhakthi: Its place in Jnana Marga | 225 | |
What is Bhakthi? | 227 | |
What is love? | 227 | |
Anthahkaranam (Inner sense organs) and the heart | 228 | |
Ahankaram and love | 231 | |
What is the object of the love of a spiritual aspirant? (Athma Sadhaka) | 233 | |
Bhakthi of the Nirguna and Saguna forms | 235 | |
A pleasing love which is full of life | 237 | |
For the removal of haughtiness also | 239 | |
Ahankaram in Sadhana: Two stages | 240 | |
Bhakthi and Hrudhayam | 243 | |
The nadis of the Hrudhayam; the life of a Jnani subsiding and the life of others departing | 246 | |
Death during Uththarayanam- The correct meaning | 255 | |
Two differing fruits of Karma Yogam | 256 | |
Nadi going from the ‘Hrudhayam’ To the head- wrongly understood | 257 | |
The Bhakthi of Jnana Marga is greater than that of Bhakthi Marga | 262 | |
Bhakthi itself is Jnana as shown by Krishna | 266 | |
Third stage | 269 | |
Reununciation | 269 | |
Serial names in Vishnu Sahasranamam | 277 | |
Sanyasakruth Samo | 278 | |
Sravana etc. As the injunction of the Vedhas | 279 | |
Sravanam and Susrusha (service to guru) | 280 | |
Can a guru who has had anubhuthi (spiritual experience) be found? | 283 | |
To be after a single target | 283 | |
The characteristics of sravana, Manana and Nidhidhyasana | 285 | |
The state before Siddhi | 286 | |
Mananam which transcends the little intelligence: Nidhidhyasanam which transcends emotions | 287 | |
For the two differing attitudes (Bhavana) to go | 289 | |
The greatness of Mananam-Nidhidhyasanam | 291 | |
Worm becoming a wasp; To make a worm a wasp | 292 | |
What needs to be done immediately | 297 | |
4 | Saundaryalahari | 299 |
The Acharya- A divine incarnation | 301 | |
The saundaryalahari- The crest of devotional poetry | 303 | |
The Jnani and devotion | 304 | |
The divine origin of the ‘Saundarylahari’ | 314 | |
Why the Drama enacted by Nandhikesvara? | 319 | |
Three great devotional Hymns | 325 | |
The saundaryalahari- Its grandeur | 330 | |
A divinely inspired poet- in two senses | 331 | |
Commentaries on the Hymn | 337 | |
Mother worship | 341 | |
Devi in sacred literature | 345 | |
The two ‘Laharis’ and their names | 345 | |
A title with universal appeal | 351 | |
Names of ambal: Not many used in the Hymn | 353 | |
On ‘Anandalahari’ | 357 | |
Appreciating beauty is its own reward | 360 | |
What is beauty? | 364 | |
Ambal: Beauty that is full, Love that is total | 369 | |
The hymn itself a portrait of ambika | 375 | |
‘Anandalahari’ : Adhvitha and Saktha | 376 | |
The Hymn to Sakthi starts with Siva | 385 | |
Imparting life-force to Siva masculine and feminine names | 395 | |
Acharya for both paths | 400 | |
Panchakruthya and Kamesvari and Kamesvara | 405 | |
Siva and Hara | 415 | |
‘Pundarikam’Namam’ | 416 | |
Siva’s Spandhana or Vibration | 419 | |
Hymn composed with an open mind | 425 | |
Adhvaitha maya and sakthi in the Saiva and Saktha dortrines | 430 | |
Jnania through Maya | 440 | |
Sakthi and Lila in Adhvaitha | 443 | |
How we must approach the Hymn | 445 | |
Kundalini Yoga great caution needed | 454 | |
Explaining the Hymn before a public assembly | 462 | |
The Saktha system and science | 465 | |
The first stanza: What it teaches | 473 | |
Cosmic functions with the dust on Ambal’s feet | 476 | |
Can we start with the feet? | 478 | |
The dust on Ambal’s feet it does good here and hereafter | 480 | |
Abhaya and granted by the hand | 486 | |
Deity of the Hymn Hinted at | 489 | |
Can kama ever be a blessing | 492 | |
The power of Ambal’s sidelong glance it made kama a Triumphant Hero | 499 | |
Kama’s conquest of Siva not mentioned | 509 | |
Not Siva and Sakthi but Sivasakthi | 511 | |
Portrait Of Ambal | 513 | |
Ambika’s residence | 524 | |
In the Kundalini Form | 530 | |
Whatever path you follow… | 531 | |
The srichakra and its greatness | 536 | |
Yanthra, Thanthra, Capital city each without a separate name | 541 | |
The incomparable beauty of Ambal | 543 | |
Embodiment of time | 548 | |
Bestowing the gift of eloquence importance of sound in the saktha system | 548 | |
Curing illness | 561 | |
‘Good snake’, ‘Bad snake’ | 568 | |
The importance of red the inner meaning of ‘Attraction’ | 572 | |
The ‘Sahasranamam’ and the ‘Saundaryalahari’ | 581 | |
From ‘Daso’ ham to ‘so ham’ | 585 | |
Three arathis | 595 | |
Why rudra is not mentioned sleep, Death and Thuriya Samadhi | 597 | |
Devotees who are Adhvaithis Never Perish | 602 | |
The glory of Ambal’s Chastity | 606 | |
Ambal’s sport and Isvara and other deities | 607 | |
The sport of protection and punishment | 612 | |
Ambal: The medicine that gives life to Isa | 614 | |
Ambal’s Thatanka | 620 | |
Why Vishnu is left out | 625 | |
The theft committed by Ambal | 627 | |
Dedicating one’s all | 637 | |
Siva-Sakthi: Life-body | 642 | |
The mother who suckles all the Sesha-seshi concept | 646 | |
‘Sesha’; ‘Seshi’= Property; Owner of property | 650 | |
Gist of th two stanzas | 659 | |
Siva and sakthi in the Chakras | 661 | |
Father and mother | 663 | |
Siva and Sakthi in different states | 671 | |
Chandra-Surya-Maulisvari | 685 | |
The black that dispels darkness | 691 | |
‘Saundaryalahari’ | 696 | |
The two half-moons-that changed places | 713 | |
The eyebrows as bow- The eyes as bowstring | 718 | |
The three eyes: The three Gunas | 730 | |
Nethra and Kshethra | 734 | |
Ambal’s eyes and poetry | 739 | |
The eye: Abode of the nine rasas | 745 | |
‘Minalochana’ Hinted at | 752 | |
‘Mother, Bathe me too in your grace’ | 756 | |
The nose-ornament and the finer points of Yoga | 769 | |
The incomparable beauty of ambal’s lips | 772 | |
The smile that ‘Sours’ Moonlight | 774 | |
Thambula Prasada | 779 | |
The praise that shames | 786 | |
Creases in the throat the male white and the female red | 794 | |
Beauty of hands | 803 | |
Milk of Jnana | 804 | |
The Tamil child | 805 | |
The knees of a Pathivratha | 807 | |
The Bhagvatpadha and the Bhagavatipadha | 809 | |
The lotus that blooms in the mind-stone | 814 | |
Surrendering at Ambal’s feet | 616 | |
Even the lotus is no match | 818 | |
Red has its glory | 819 | |
The moon- A vessel for perfumes | 821 | |
The Acharya cautions us… | 822 | |
Ambika’s amazing pathivrathya | 830 | |
Chief queen of the Parabrahmam | 833 | |
The richly rewarding mother worship | 839 | |
The auspicious conclusion | 847 | |
5 | Mangalarathihi | 861 |
The Immortal Anjaneyaswamy | 863 |
Srimukham | (I) | |
Gurusthuthi | (V) | |
Introduction | (IX) | |
Acknowledgements | (XIV) | |
Guidance to Pronounciation | (XVII) | |
1 | Mangalarambam | 1 |
Vinayaka and Tamil | 3 | |
Vigneswara’s great help to Tamil Nadu | 3 | |
Important Vaishnava temples and Vigneswara’s sport | 4 | |
Three deities which face the south: Amity between saivam and Vaishnavam | 7 | |
The truth and appropriateness of Vinayaka’s lila | 8 | |
The exclusive feature of bharat | 10 | |
Worship according to prescribed procedure and devotional worship | 11 | |
Growth of culture only due to Ganesa | 14 | |
One who has the maximum number of temples | 14 | |
Vinayaka and Tamil | 15 | |
The grace that gives good mind and speech from Dharma and Upto Moksha | 15 | |
Sanskrit and Tamil | 16 | |
2 | Guru | 19 |
The relationship between the Guru and the Sishya | 21 | |
‘Ra’ Which destroys sin | 23 | |
‘Wo’ Is the form of Maha Vishnu | 24 | |
Vishnu, Vasudeva- The Terms explained | 25 | |
What the Sishya gains from guru’s qualities | 26 | |
Adhvaitham and the aspect of Anugraham (grace) | 27 | |
Maha Vishnu as the Guru | 29 | |
Father-Guru | 29 | |
Guru too has the qualities of the father | 30 | |
Father-Guru in other religions | 32 | |
Paternal lineage being the lineage of Guru | 34 | |
Names of Rishis in maternal lineage glory of mother as expounded by Acharya | 35 | |
Women and Brahma Vidhya | 36 | |
Scholarship of women: Difference between the olden times and these days | 38 | |
The high status accorded to women by Acharya | 40 | |
Mother too as Guru: Acharya’s approval | 41 | |
Sathyakama Japalar | 43 | |
Guru who is above the mother and father | 44 | |
Development of the brain and the heart | 45 | |
The present fallen state | 47 | |
Secular education | 47 | |
Guru: Acharya | 49 | |
Adhyakshaka: Adhyapak | 50 | |
Characteristics of the Guru will be imbibed by the Sishya also | 50 | |
Greatness of the word ‘Acharya’ | 51 | |
Upadhyaya | 52 | |
Desikar Who shows the way | 53 | |
In Upanishad- Guru who shows the way | 54 | |
Even great men have had several Gurus | 55 | |
Pathivratham and Guruvratham | 57 | |
The Guru who shows the way, as seen in Vedhas | 64 | |
Guru as Kshethrajna | 66 | |
Guru: For the final goal and Intermediate stages | 69 | |
The entire knowledge of the Guru is for Sishya | 70 | |
The duty of Acharya as laid down by our Acharya | 71 | |
Sadhguru and Sadhsishya | 72 | |
The entire ‘Wealth’ of the Guru is for the Sishya | 72 | |
More lessons about Guru-Sishya | 74 | |
Explanation of Sishya | 75 | |
Guru’s Humility | 76 | |
Not just being humble but telling the Whole truth | 78 | |
Guru’s Upadesam cannot be compensated for | 78 | |
Upadesam that comes as a tradition | 79 | |
One who Violates tradition Is ‘Stupid’- Acharya. | 80 | |
Acharya’s Bhakthi to Guru Parampara | 81 | |
One who never says a thing he does not know | 82 | |
Making sure of the Guru’s qualification and doing surrender | 84 | |
The noble culture of the Guru himself becoming a Sishya: | 85 | |
Half-baked knowledge is pride perfect knowledge is humility | 87 | |
Purohithar | 90 | |
Culture undermined in free-India | 91 | |
Vidhya Guru and Diksha Guru | 92 | |
Guru’s great responsibility | 92 | |
Purohitha and Guru | 93 | |
Sishya’s effort and the Guru’s grace | 95 | |
The next line | 97 | |
Guru who raises the sishya to his own level | 98 | |
The qualifications of a Sishya and the compassion of the Guru | 100 | |
The spurious pundits exposed by the Upanishads and Sankara | 101 | |
The authority of Vedhas; Other religions | 104 | |
Sraddha (faith) in Vedhas and the Guru | 106 | |
Surrender (Saranagathi) | 106 | |
Vedhas- Sasthras to be learnt only through a Guru Ambal’s strange plan | 107 | |
Common simple way of worship and prayers through sthothras | 108 | |
The community of people: Even if an exclusive Guru is not there, A common Guru is necessary | 113 | |
Humility and Sraddha | 115 | |
The greatness of Sraddha as shown by Acharya | 116 | |
Saranagathi flows from Sraddha | 117 | |
Two kinds of surrender and Guru-Sishya relationship | 118 | |
3 | The State | 121 |
The State and Religion | 123 | |
Dharma Chakram- Indication of Lord’s grace | 123 | |
True secularism | 123 | |
Responsibilities of the state in elevating the peoples mind | 124 | |
Limitations of the role of the state in matters of religion | 125 | |
Independent body of representatives of all religions | 126 | |
What the government gains by nurturing religion | 127 | |
Government support: Hindu religion and other religions | 128 | |
Institutions of Hindu religion: Lacking in man power and financial support | 129 | |
Religions nurtured by kings and people | 130 | |
What the freedom movement failed to do: How Hindu religion was affected | 130 | |
People of all religions to live as brothers | 132 | |
The strange position of the minorities and the majority in India | 132 | |
Aspects of religion which need state support | 133 | |
People’s support is the asset in matters of religion | 133 | |
Freedom of religion and religious conversion | 134 | |
Propaganda- The right and wrong way | 135 | |
Ban on and punishment for wrong methods | 135 | |
Hindu religion and conversion; Re-conversion to set right original conversion | 140 | |
Use of methods unrelated to religion to meet with severe punishment: | 141 | |
So long as conversion prevails, return to parent religion should be permitted | 145 | |
Religion and spirituality: The high point of India | 145 | |
Decline of religious feeling in India: What the history of a thousand years shows | 146 | |
The cunning ways of foreigners and the ‘Two revolutions’ | 147 | |
The big question mark before us | 148 | |
Atmosphere of disbelief; The result of Gandhism not being adopted | 149 | |
State religion | 150 | |
Changes in educational scheme: Giving importance to teaching of religion | 151 | |
People have to fight for spiritual freedom just as for political freedom | 151 | |
The real reason for the Dharma Chakra having found a place in the national flag | 153 | |
Vedhic saying as the nation’s motto | 154 | |
Is it Dharma chakra or a factory wheel? | 155 | |
Gita’s Dharma Chakram | 155 | |
The path of Dharma Chakra- Sacrifice is it essence | 156 | |
Prayers and blessings for the freedom of the individual and the country | 158 | |
4 | Society | 161 |
For the Youngsters | 163 | |
For the Youngsters- 2: Bathe your mind | 164 | |
Clean mind | 165 | |
Uttering lies and fear | 166 | |
Jealousy | 166 | |
The Lord’s love and rules of Dharma | 169 | |
Pray to become good Children | 169 | |
For the young- 3: One who is mother and father of the world | 170 | |
Mother and father- The first God we know of | 170 | |
For the mind and intellect to become clear | 171 | |
Being of help to others | 172 | |
In order that bad qualities do not affect | 173 | |
Arohara | 173 | |
For adult students | 174 | |
Bhakthi is essential | 174 | |
For the development of good conduct | 175 | |
Politics- Never | 175 | |
Service without hindrance to studies | 177 | |
Cinema, Drugs, Newspapers, Narcotics | 178 | |
Educational institutions of olden times | 179 | |
Discipline is Needed | 180 | |
Self control is itself a great achievement | 181 | |
A new type of students union | 181 | |
Develop the good and curtail the bad | 182 | |
Go Samrakshanam (cow protection) | 183 | |
Gomatha and Bhumatha | 184 | |
Srimatha and Gomatha | 185 | |
Glory- Both in practical terms and spiritually | 186 | |
Cow’s milk: Wholesome food, Improves sathva guna | 186 | |
Where there is universal love | 187 | |
Even the cow’s dung is pure | 188 | |
The example of Bhopal | 189 | |
Panchagavyam | 190 | |
In medical treatment and in musical instruments | 191 | |
Cruelty to the cow is like killing the mother | 191 | |
The cow’s horn is something special | 192 | |
Abhishekam with ghee | 193 | |
Vibhuthi | 193 | |
The dust rising from the cow’s hoof | 194 | |
No Yajna without the cow | 195 | |
Protecting the cow is protecting the world | 196 | |
Gomatha and Lakshmi | 197 | |
Unpardonable crime | 199 | |
The duty of the state and the people | 199 | |
Easy way to feed a cow | 200 | |
Protective shelters | 201 | |
People to come together as a family in the service of the cow | 202 | |
Nurturing the cow is punya, neglecting it is sin | 202 | |
Cow protection in olden times | 203 | |
National wealth | 204 | |
Milk not to be wasted on coffee | 204 | |
Ghee lamp | 205 | |
Law to protect cow slaughter | 206 | |
5 | Culture | 209 |
The Art of Drama- Then and Now | 211 | |
Drama and Emotion | 212 | |
The Hero | 214 | |
Happy end | 214 | |
Navarasas- Peace (Santham) | 216 | |
Arts must help in reaching the state of peace (Santham0 | 218 | |
Today’s fallen state | 220 | |
Adhvaitham and Kanchi Sri Matam figuring in a Swayamvaram | 222 | |
Sacrifice by mothers | 225 | |
Adhvaitham in Swayamvaram | 227 | |
Saraswatjo’s skill | 230 | |
How literature speaks of Dharma | 231 | |
The deity of Kanchi mutt in the story of Nala | 231 | |
The great Chola king one who had on his head the holy feet of the Lord (Sivapadhasekaran) | 233 | |
Nothing can be a bar to knowledge | 236 | |
Kesidhwajar | 238 | |
Adhwaitha Jnanis and the phenomenal world | 238 | |
Kandikyar | 240 | |
The story takes shape | 240 | |
Prayaschitham: Lord’s name and vaidhika karma | 242 | |
Asking the enemy for Prayaschitham | 242 | |
Indian culture | 245 | |
Guru Dakshina | 245 | |
Sworn enemies become Guru-Sishya | 248 | |
The lessons of the story | 250 | |
Where the Gita, The Bible, The Kural speak alike | 250 | |
6 | Matters Divine | 253 |
Athma as Witness (Sakshi) | 255 | |
Sakshi- In practice | 257 | |
Sri Rama and ‘Agni Sakshi’ | 261 | |
When the Gods become witness | 264 | |
Sakshi Ganapathi | 264 | |
Sakshi Gopal | 269 | |
Sakshina Yakeswarar | 275 | |
Sakshina Theswarar | 277 | |
Dipavali- Holi bath in Ganga and Kaveri | 282 | |
Plea to Krishna | 283 | |
Narakasura’s death; Sathyabhama’s role | 284 | |
Bhumadevi’s Prayers | 287 | |
Gita: Dipavali’s younger brother | 290 | |
Why ‘Ganga Snanam’? | 292 | |
A blemish even for the lord (Dhosham) | 293 | |
Prayaschittha prescribed by Iswara | 294 | |
Kaveri-Thula Ghat | 296 | |
Kaveri Snanam on Dipavali day | 297 | |
7 | Sadhasivam | 299 |
Adhi Guru | 301 | |
The eight names (Ashtanama): Mahadeva | 302 | |
Mahalingam- Maheswaran | 303 | |
The five functions | 304 | |
Only Siva has the adjective ‘Sadha’ | 305 | |
Sadhasiva in Rig Vedha | 306 | |
He is what is Good and the bad too | 307 | |
‘Race theory’ Is wrong | 308 | |
One who is always ‘Ugra’ and always ‘Sowmya’ | 308 | |
Rudra too is Siva inside | 310 | |
Sadhasivom- What the Vedha declares | 311 | |
Siva and Sivam | 312 | |
The bliss of ‘Sath’ and ‘Chith’ combining in Subrahmanyam | 315 | |
Sathyam, Sivam, Sundaram | 316 | |
8 | Principles Underlying Namaskaram | 319 |
Namonamah | 321 | |
The Mahaswami’s grievance | 321 | |
Acharya’s rule for a Sanyasi | 321 | |
Acharya and Narayana Nama | 321 | |
All Namaskaras are for Narayana only | 327 | |
True Smaranam | 328 | |
True Sanyasi and Namaskaram | 328 | |
Sanyasi who is Matadipathi and Namaskaram | 330 | |
The power of ‘Asirvadham’ (Blessing) | 331 | |
Narayana is the basis for the power of Asirvadham | 332 | |
Lifting the hand as a sign of ‘Asirvadham’ | 332 | |
His prayers and the faith of the devotees | 333 | |
High status | 334 | |
One who does Namaskaram is fortunate | 337 | |
Namaskaram by Sanyasi: | 337 | |
The principle underlying ‘Dhandam’ | 338 | |
‘Dhandam’ carried by a Sanyasi | 339 | |
Whe humility attains fullness | 340 | |
The living great command more respect | 341 | |
His misfortune | 342 | |
For humility to grow | 343 | |
The internal and external rise and fall of man | 344 | |
Bowing the heat to reduce ego | 345 | |
Why fall flat with face down? | 345 | |
Sashtanga Namaskaram | 346 | |
Panchanga Namaskaram- Greatness of motherhood | 349 | |
Vanakkam | 350 | |
Men also can do Panchanga Namaskaram | 350 | |
Love for the country and Parochialism | 351 | |
Archana in Tamil | 352 | |
Valour and obeisance | 357 | |
Obedience; Susrusha | 360 | |
Prampatham (Pranamam) | 360 | |
Abhivadhanam | 362 | |
Before and after the name of God: | 369 | |
No Abhivadhanam to a Sanyasi | 370 | |
Doing Anjali; Shaking Hands | 371 | |
When hooding hands becomes holy | 374 | |
Holding the hand and ‘Dhandam’ | 376 | |
Culture that distinguishes between men and women | 377 | |
Types of Anjali | 378 | |
Pradhakshinam | 379 | |
The Mahaswami continues | 380 | |
Movement of the planets and our Pradhakshinam | 382 | |
Namaskaram which follows Pradhakshinam | 385 | |
Rules of Sasthras which transcend rationality | 386 | |
The greatness of humility | 387 | |
Those entitled to Namaskaram: Age limit | 387 | |
Single ‘Namah’- Not uttered | 388 | |
What gives even final release | 389 | |
Namaskaram is useful by itself | 393 | |
Manakaram | 393 | |
Economic prosperity- Not an end itself | 393 | |
Exceptions | 395 | |
Namaskaram which removes darkness | 395 | |
9 | Mangalaraththi | 397 |
Hanuman the Jnani and his Jnana Guru | 399 |
A young boy of thirteen is chosen to become the 68th Pitadhipathi of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Pitam, in the illustrious parampara of Acharyas who adorned the Pitam established by Sri Adhi Sankara more than 2500 years ago.
That boy is none other then His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal. To millions of devotees he was simply ‘Periyava’- the revered one or Maha-Periyava. ‘Periyava’ in Tamil means a great person. That term however has acquired a special meaning because it has come to refer to His Holiness. It is a term that at once conveys endearment, reverence and devotion. It would never be mentioned in a casual manner. Mahaswami and Paramacharya are his other well-known appellations.
The Paramacharya was the Pitadhipathi of the Mutt for 87 long years. During this period, Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Pitam acquired new strength as an institution that propogated Sri Adhi Sankara’s teachings. The devotion, fervor and intensity with which the Paramacharya practised what Adhi Sankara had preached, is unparalleled. He lived a Spartan life. Throughout his life, the main focus of his concern and activities was rejuvenating Vedha adhyayana, the Dharma Sasthras and the age old tradition which had suffered decline. ‘Vedha rakshanam’ was his very life breath and he referred to this in most of his public discourses and private conversations. His prodding regular support to Vedha Patasalas through the Vedhic scholars, holding regular sadhas which included discussions on arts and culture- these led to a renewed interest in Vedhic religion, Dharma sasthras and Sanskrit. His long tenure as Pitathipathi was the golden era of the Kanchi Kamakoti Pitam.
Paramacharya was a walking university. Scholars of all sects, not only from all over India but also from countries abroad came to him and deemed it a blessing and a privilege to go back enlightened after meeting him. His regular visitors ranged from the most ordinary village fold to the highest in the land. Presidents and Prime ordinary village folk to the highest in the land. Presidents and Prime Ministers, Kings and Queens, Highnesses and Excellencies came to spend a few moments with him and seek his blessings.
That the Paramacharya was an extraordinary phenomenon can be seen from this incident. When he was in his late eighties he left Kanchipuram and undertook a padha yathra through Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra. Before he returned to Kanchipuram he made all arrangements for the construction of an exquisite Nataraja temple at Satara (Uttara Chidambaram). The uniqueness about this temple is the fact that the states of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh, Karanataka, and Maharashtra came together to build the 5 doorways to the temple. The state of Kerala supplied the entire wood required for the temple. It was only his grace and moral influence that made this possible. The Paramacharya’s catholicity of outlook was extraordinary. He was the Advaitha Acharaya. He was the authentic spokesman of Hindu religion and its Dharma Shastras and of Sanathana Dharma. He even believed that it was Vedhic religion that had prevailed all over the world in ancient times. But, just as he had high regard for the Acharyas of other philosophical doctrines like Ramanuja nnd Madhva and the Nayanmars of Saiva Siddhanta, he had great respect for Jesus and Mohamed Nabi, the prophet. He could be so considerate as to express the view that those who indulged in proselytisation did so out of their conviction that their religion alone could secure redemption.
February 13, 2006 marks the beginning of the 100th years of the Paramacharya’s Sanyasa Swikarana (entering the ascetic order) and Pitaarohana (becoming the head of the Sri Kanchi Kamokottipitam). Sri Kanchi Mahaswami Peetarohana Shatabdi Mahotsava Trust has been specially formed to celebrate this significant milestone in the spiritual history of India.
The main objective of the Trust is to spread the thoughts and the message of the Paramacharya across the world, not just to his devotees, but even to others who might never have had the opportunity to have his dharsan. With this objective in view the Trust has undertaken on priority the translation into English and other major Indian languages of his discourses in Tamil (upansayam). To begin with, we have chosen ‘Deivathin Kural’-Voice of God in Tamil. It is a collection of the Paramacharya’s discourses starting from 1932. These are seven volumes each of about 1000 pages. His talks cover a wide range of topics apart from all aspects of Vedhic dharma and Hindu religion which is the main focus. It is a veritable encyclopedia of Hindu religion and dharma to which people refer for authentic information on these aspects.
‘Deivathin Kural’ is a monumental work by Sri Ra Ganapathy and it occupies a special place among many books written about Paramacharya. Sri Ganapathy painstakingly collated all of Paramacharya’s talks, conversations, casual comments, answers to questions etc covering several aspects of our ancient religion, dharma and culture. Sri Ganapathy not only collected the material but also collated and organized under various subjects everything that the Paramacharya had spoken about a subject over many years at several places.
The purpose of the English translation is two fold. One is to reach Paramacharya’s thoughts and message to a wider audience. The second is to use the English translation as the basic text for translation into other Indian languages. The original in Tamil portrays in large measure the simplicity and clarity of thoughts and expressions and the unique story telling style of the Paramacharya. It has been our attempt to capture it in English. As readers will know this is not an easy task. In one of his talks, while explaining the need to protect the Vedhas in their original form, the Paramacharya himself has, in his characteristic style, referred to the limitations of any translation.
The Paramacharya’s observations are a warning to us and we are deeply conscious of our responsibility. Effort has been made to address the average reader through this work in simple language. Since the English version is to be the base from which translation into other Indian languages will be done, suitable diacritical markings have been used for Sanskrit and Tamil words. Wherever necessary the actual Sanskrit words and Slockas have been given with diacritical markings and the meanings are also given along with the words. This should make it more convenient for the reader than a separate glossary at the end.
It is usual to share one’s good and memorable experiences with others. When two devotees of the Paramacharya meet, it turns out to be an occasion for sharing of experiences. Entire train journeys could be spent talking only about him and his various qualities. He has indeed created a huge family, truly a Vasudaiva Kutumbhakam. It is the hope and wish of Sri Kanchi Mahaswami Peetarohana Shatabdi Mahotsaa Trust that readers will experience the Paramacharya through these pages, which in itself would be an elevating experience.
His talks do more than providing insight into Vedhic Dharma and Hindu religion. There is indeed hope that inspite of the declining moral values all around, dharma will prevail. It should also be clear that mere wishful thinking will not make that happen. All of us have a duty and responsibility towards making it happen. The many schemes which the Paramacharya introduced are simple and effective. If anything, we have to revive many of his practical ideas and implement them.
The blessings of H.H. Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal and H.H. Sri Sanara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, the 69th and 70th Acharyas of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Pitam have provided encouragement to this Trust to embark on a project of this magnitude. It is their Sankalpa that the Paramacharya’s message should reach every Indian wherever he may be. We are overwhelmed by the responsibility they have placed on us.
Millions of the Paramacharya’s devotees sincerely believe that He is alive even today and He is guiding us on the path of dharma. It is his spirit that acts as the beacon in these troubled times. It is through his grace that this work is being published.
Srimukham | I | |
Gurustuthi | V | |
Introduction | IX | |
Acknowledgements | XIV | |
Guidance to Pronounciation | XVII | |
1 | Mangalarambham | 1 |
Vinayaka | 3 | |
Vinayaka, The embodiment of Philosophical truths | 5 | |
2 | Advaitham | 9 |
Advaitham- Are we the Brahman? It not… | 11 | |
Advaitham | 13 | |
This is that alone | 18 | |
Why Worship God? | ||
To attain the peace of non-dual state | 21 | |
Advaitha and atomic science | 29 | |
How to clear the impurity | 31 | |
The little part and the transcendental | 33 | |
Enduring bliss | 35 | |
What lord Krishna said, Poet Kamban echoed | 37 | |
Where is bliss (Ananda)? | 40 | |
The Lord will step forward and welcome | 43 | |
Maya | 45 | |
The internal and the external | 48 | |
The way to ease the Burden of sorrow | 50 | |
Yogi | 52 | |
The antidote to sorrow | 55 | |
Dhvaitham/Buddhism= Adhvaitham | 58 | |
The Acharya’s Commandment | 62 | |
3 | Religion | 65 |
Righteousness- The great protector | 67 | |
The sins and the Punya | 73 | |
The sue of religion/The role of religion | 77 | |
Man and the Animal | 81 | |
Bhakthi is common to all religions | 84 | |
The unity of religions | 87 | |
The qualifications of a religious preacher | 90 | |
4 | Vedhic Religion | 95 |
The religion without a name | 97 | |
Religion that had spread the world over | 100 | |
The unique features of our religion | 107 | |
The classification of Dharma | 117 | |
Varna Dharmam | 120 | |
Unity in deversity | 125 | |
Difference in functions and attitudes | 128 | |
Why should it be here only? | 134 | |
Who is responsible? What is the remedy? | 141 | |
Minimum remedy | 152 | |
Why should Vedha Rakshanam (Preservation of Vedhas) Be a lifetime undertaking? | 156 | |
My Job | 176 | |
Antidote to the disease of civilization | 188 | |
Religion and society | 191 | |
Headache- Is the remedy beheading? | 193 | |
Vedha-s, The Root | 200 | |
The Vedhic way and Tamil | 204 | |
The original form of the Vedhas | 207 | |
Sasthras or conscience? | 210 | |
Sanathana dharmam is the path shown by Sankara | 212 | |
5 | Common Dharmas | 215 |
Samanya Dharmas (Common Dharmas) | 217 | |
Are common to all Ahimsa (Non-Violence) | 220 | |
Truth (Sathyam) | 224 | |
Where have the Thil seeds (Sesamum) And water gone? | 228 | |
Puja (Worship) | 231 | |
Service to others (Paropakaram) | 234 | |
Service is the greatest fortune | 237 | |
For the satisfaction of all beings | 240 | |
A few small tips for purifying the mind | 244 | |
Faults and virtues | 247 | |
Anger | 249 | |
Are we qualified to get angry? | 251 | |
Love and sorrow | 253 | |
Love | 255 | |
6 | Society | 257 |
Which is self-rule? (Swarajya) | 259 | |
Dharma, Love and The government | 261 | |
The way to reduce crime | 263 | |
True education | 266 | |
Defects of the education system | 268 | |
Quality of life | 270 | |
Simple living | 272 | |
‘We should be calculative’ | 275 | |
Shun money and imbibe good qualities | 280 | |
The problem of dowry | 282 | |
Duty of he youth | 285 | |
Wanted, Ahimsa soldiers | 287 | |
The way to remedy miseries of the world | 291 | |
7 | Culture | 293 |
The heart of culture | 295 | |
The goal of music is peace | 298 | |
Experiencing the lord through music | 300 | |
Gandharva Vedha | 302 | |
The value of speech | 304 | |
The Lord is the basis of speech and its substance | 307 | |
The duty of writers | 309 | |
Mahabharatham | 311 | |
Science & spiritual fulfilment | 314 | |
Can we commit a fraud on future generation? | 317 | |
The glory of the culture of Tamil Nadu | 319 | |
Being engaged in external action with Dhyana inside | 323 | |
8 | The Path of Karma | 331 |
The way to develop good character | 333 | |
Samsare Kim Saram? (What is the essence of worldly life?) | 335 | |
The internal and the external | 338 | |
Rituals | 340 | |
Yoga begins with Karma (Performance of prescribed duties) | 343 | |
Karma Yogam | 345 | |
9 | Bhakthi | 347 |
The Lord | 349 | |
What is meant by Lord? (Swami) | 352 | |
The godhead principle as revealed by nature (Iswara Thathwal) | 354 | |
Karma (Performance of duties) and Bhakti (Devotion) | 356 | |
The form and the formless | 359 | |
The lord (Iswara) | 361 | |
Idol worship and Matured Jnana | 364 | |
Worship at temples | 367 | |
Purity of temples | 370 | |
The temple and the divine acts | 373 | |
The temple and the hospital | 375 | |
The five senses and five offerings | 377 | |
The glory of the lords names (Nama) | 379 | |
Namaskaram | 382 | |
Bhakti (Devotion) | 384 | |
What for Bhakthi? | 387 | |
Practising Bhakthi without reason | 390 | |
Bhakthi before the state of ‘Mukthi’ | 393 | |
Give me myself | 396 | |
Characteristics of ‘Bhakthi’ according to Bhagavadhpadha | 398 | |
The favourite deity (Ishta Devata) | 401 | |
The Godhead principle as revealed by nature (Iswara Thathwa) | 407 | |
10 | Devatha Murthis and Avatara Purushas | 405 |
Sambu became Sankara | 407 | |
Human birth is also necessary | 413 | |
The founding gather (Mula Purusha) of our Dharma | 416 | |
The day Krishna was born- Krishna’s birthday (Krishna Jayanthi) | 422 | |
Sri Rama | 425 | |
Sri Rama Navami | 428 | |
Ayyappan | 429 | |
Swami means only ‘Kumaraswami’ | 432 | |
Grace that flashes like lightning | 442 | |
Kumaran | 445 | |
Where the Siva-Sakthi united | 448 | |
The son who excelled the father | 451 | |
The one who keeps alive the Vedhic way | 455 | |
Murugan’s Avataram (Incarnation) in Tamil Nadu | 459 | |
Murugan’s Avataram in the north | 463 | |
Divine personages who disappeared in fire | 475 | |
The previous avatar of Murugan | 478 | |
Saravanabhavan, The most fulfilling of all paths | 486 | |
“Ummachchi” | 491 | |
Pasupathi | 493 | |
Devas | 499 | |
Sivarathri | 505 | |
Non-distinction between siva, Vishnu | 509 | |
Hari and Siva are one | 512 | |
Siva Mayam; Sarvam Vishnu mayam Jagath | 514 | |
“Never forget hara” “Serve thirumal with devotion” | 516 | |
Thirumal (Vishnu) in the morning- Mahadev in the evening | 518 | |
Eminent places which remind us of unity | 520 | |
The two Rajas | 523 | |
Who is Bhagawan? (Bhagavadhpadha’s answer) | 526 | |
The greatness of Vibhuthi & Thiruman as symbols | 529 | |
Words of eminence from two youngsters | 532 | |
Saraswati | 535 | |
Mahalakshmi | 541 | |
Parasakthi herself is Mahalakshmi | 543 | |
Mahalakshmi who showered her grace on great persons (Mahans) | 545 | |
Bhakti is the greatest Lakshmi | 554 | |
Navarathri Nayakis (The presiding deities) | 556 | |
“To me, Ambal is important” | 559 | |
Mother who is God | 563 | |
Meditating on the holy feet of Devi | 565 | |
Nature deceives! Ambal deceives! | 567 | |
Kamakshi | 570 | |
Kamakshis red colour | 573 | |
Kamakshi who is black and red | 575 | |
The blackness of Kamakshi | 577 | |
Kamakshi’s compassion | 582 | |
The glory of Kamakshi | 586 | |
The story of Kamakshi | 594 | |
The eyes of Kamakshi | 605 | |
Ambal’s Swarupam (Form) | 609 | |
The abode of Ambal | 613 | |
Jananambikai | 615 | |
The reward for worshipping Ambal | 620 | |
Bhavanithvam | 625 | |
She will shower the power of speech | 627 | |
The Devi who gives ‘Guru Bhakthi’ and ‘Pathi Bhakthi’ | 631 | |
Why feel arrogant when there is ambal | 635 | |
Ambal as shown to us by Acharya | 639 | |
Afflictions are also her grace | 645 | |
The Sakthi of Siva; Sister of Narayana | 649 | |
Annapurni | 661 | |
Mother (Amma) | 665 | |
11 | Mangalaraththi | 667 |
Hanuman will bless us all | 669 |
Srimukham | I | |
Gurusthuthi | V | |
Introduction | IX | |
Acknowledgements | XIV | |
Guidance to Pronunciation | XVII | |
1) | Mangalarambham | 1 |
Child God | 3 | |
The Old Lady & The Child | 5 | |
Tamil Nadu's Greatness | 9 | |
He Belongs to The Whole W orld | 12 | |
2) | Guru | 17 |
He Who Makes Us Who We Are A Tale of A King and Queen | 19 | |
Guru-Parampara | 25 | |
The Subject of "Dravida " | 31 | |
The Hunter is The King: The Jiva is the Brahman | 35 | |
Devotion to the Guru | 39 | |
Gurukulavasa | 46 | |
Surrender Above All | 64 | |
3) | Adhvaitham | 69 |
Adhvaitham | 71 | |
How Is The W orld An illusion? | 79 | |
How Do 'Different' Things Become Different? | 85 | |
Vedhas and Sankara Arrive At One Conclusion | 88 | |
Sankara's Tradition (Sankara | 100 | |
Adhvaitha or Dhvaitha? All In Paresakthi's Hands | 130 | |
The Third Way | 144 | |
4) | Vedhic Religion | 155 |
The Basic Texts of Hinduism : Our Ignorance of Them | 157 | |
Why Religion ? | 164 | |
The Fourteen Abodes of Knowledge | 166 | |
Past Glory and Present Pathetic Condition | 168 | |
The Root of our Religion | 171 | |
Eternal | 174 | |
Sound and Creation | 182 | |
Western Vedhic Research | 189 | |
Date of the Vedhas : Inquiry not Proper | 191 | |
Methods of Chanting | 196 | |
Word of God | 199 | |
The Vedhas are Infinite | 200 | |
Manthrayoga | 204 | |
The Benefits from Sound and Its Meaning | 207 | |
The Glory of the Vedhas | 209 | |
Yajna or Sacrifice | 212 | |
What is not in Other Religions | 213 | |
The Threefold Purpose of Yajna | 216 | |
The Celestials and Mortals Help Each Other | 218 | |
The Capacity to Work and the Capacity to Protect | 223 | |
Rites for Celestials, Rites for Deified Souls (Pithrus) | 226 | |
The Purpose of Sacrifices | 228 | |
Is Sacrificial Killing Justified? | 229 | |
The One Goal | 234 | |
Animal Sacrifice in the Age of Kali | 235 | |
Those Who Conduct Sacrifices | 237 | |
The Four Vedhas | 239 | |
To Discover The One Truth | 247 | |
Brahmanam and Aranyakam | 248 | |
The Upanishads | 249 | |
The Brahmasuthra | 253 | |
Vedha and Vedhanta : Do they Contradict Each Other? | 255 | |
The Ten Upanishads | 271 | |
What do the Vedhas Teach Us ? | 290 | |
Essence of the Upanishadhic Teaching | 307 | |
Vedhic Dharma and Tamil Nadu | 311 | |
Vedhic Sakhas | 330 | |
Brahmins and Non-Brahmins | 332 | |
Sakhas now Studied | 334 | |
Duty of Brahmins | 342 | |
Steps to Promote Vedhic Learning | 345 | |
Vedha -bhashya | 349 | |
My Duty | 355 | |
Greatness of the Vedhas | 358 | |
5) | Shandanga | 361 |
The Six Limbs of the Vedhas | 363 | |
6) | Siksha | 367 |
Nose of the Vedha Purusha | 369 | |
Yoga and Speech | 371 | |
Root Language - Sanskrit | 373 | |
Pronunciation | 375 | |
Scripts | 377 | |
A Language that has all Phonemes | 386 | |
Languages and Scripts: Indian and Foreign | 388 | |
Akshamala | 389 | |
Importance of Enunciation and Intonation | 390 | |
Versions with Slight Differences | 392 | |
Vedhic Vocalisation and the Greatness of Regional Languages | 402 | |
Impact of Siksha Sasthra | 404 | |
Names of Months | 408 | |
Other Notable Aspects of Siksha | 409 | |
7) | Vyakaranam | 411 |
Mouth of the Vedha Purusha | 412 | |
Grammar and Siva | 422 | |
Works on Grammar | 423 | |
Sanskrit and Tamil Grammar | 425 | |
Sanskrit : The Universal Language | 426 | |
Linguistic Studies and Religion | 429 | |
8) | Chandas | 431 |
Foot of the Vedha Purusha | 433 | |
Pada or Foot | 434 | |
Feet and Syllables | 435 | |
How Poetry was Born | 437 | |
Some Metrical Forms | 440 | |
Uses of Chandas Sasthra | 441 | |
Foot for the Vedhas - Nose for the Manthras | 443 | |
9) | Niruktha | 445 |
Ear of the Vedha Purusha | 447 | |
10) | Jyotisham | 449 |
Eye of the Vedha Purusha | 451 | |
Astronomy and Astrology | 452 | |
Ancient Mathematical Treatises | 456 | |
Planets, Stars | 458 | |
The Grahas and Human Life | 460 | |
Omens, Signs | 461 | |
Modern Discoveries in Ancient Works | 466 | |
Not Blind Belief | 471 | |
Empirical Proof | 473 | |
11) | Kalpa | 475 |
Hand of the Vedha Purusha | 481 | |
12) | Mimamsa Karma Marga | 483 |
Explication of Vedhic Laws | 487 | |
No Concept of God in Mimamsa | 490 | |
Nyaya and Mimamsa: They brought about the Decline of Buddhism | 492 | |
Buddhism and Indian Society | 494 | |
Sankara and Non-Vedhanthic Systems | 495 | |
Sankhya | 499 | |
Mimamsa and Adhi Sankara | 502 | |
Determining the Meaning of Vedhic Texts | 503 | |
Mimamsa Theories Sankara's reply | 512 | |
Vedhantha and Mimamsa | 515 | |
How Mimamsa is Held in Esteem | 516 | |
13) | Nyaya | 517 |
Science of Reasoning | 519 | |
Padarthas | 521 | |
Pramanas | 527 | |
Power of Discrimination is for Knowing God | 529 | |
We Need All Types of Knowledge | 531 | |
Tharka Treatises | 532 | |
Cause of Creation | 534 | |
Some Stories, Some Arguments | 537 | |
14) | Puranas | 543 |
Magnifying Glass of the Vedhas | 545 | |
Puranas and History | 547 | |
Are the Puranas a lie or Are They Metaphorical? | 551 | |
Meaningful even if Imaginary | 559 | |
Vyasa's Priceless Gift to Us | 562 | |
Upa-Puranas and Others | 566 | |
Ithihasas and Puranas | 567 | |
The Epics and their Greatness | 569 | |
Why Differences among the Gods? | 571 | |
The One as Many | 575 | |
Many paths to the One Goal | 579 | |
Who Taught the Puranas? To Whom? | 581 | |
They Speak like a Friend | 582 | |
Puranic Discourses and Films | 584 | |
Sthala Puranas | 587 | |
The Authenticity of Sthala Puranas | 589 | |
Interconnected Stories | 592 | |
Importance of Sthala Puranas | 604 | |
Preserving the Puriiniis | 606 | |
Palm-leaf Manuscripts, libraries | 607 | |
15) | Dharmasasthra (Smurthi) | 611 |
Realising the Ideals of the Puranas | 613 | |
Smruthis and Allied Works | 617 | |
Vaidyaniitha - Dikshithiyam | 619 | |
Freedom and Discipline | 621 | |
Signs, Marks | 624 | |
Smruthis - Not Independent Works | 626 | |
The Source of Smruthis is the Vedhas | 628 | |
Sruthi-Smruthi - Srautha-Smartha | 632 | |
16) | The Forty Samskaras | 635 |
Samskara | 637 | |
Paradise (Swarga) or the Path of Athmajnana ? | 638 | |
Three Types of Worlds | 641 | |
Meaning of Samskara | 643 | |
The Eight Qualities | 645 | |
Cunas in Practical Life | 648 | |
Importance of Agni (Sacred Fire) | 651 | |
Names of Samskaras | 653 | |
Samskaras Performed by Parents | 655 | |
Why All Samskaras Not for All ? | 660 | |
17) | Brahmacharyasrama | 661 |
Upanayana | 663 | |
The Sasthras and Popular Custom | 667 | |
Basic to the Vedhic Tradition | 669 | |
Qualities of a Brahmacharin | 671 | |
Naishtika Brahmacharyii and Family Life | 673 | |
Upanayana: When to Perform It | 678 | |
Role Models to Follow | 680 | |
Why Age Stipulation for Upanayana | 681 | |
Domestic Life and the Carnal Desire | 683 | |
Gayathrt | 684 | |
The Brahmin must keep his Body Pure | 685 | |
Gayathrl and Sandhyavandana | 687 | |
Other Aspects of Sandhyavandana | 691 | |
What about Women? | 694 | |
The High Status of Our Women | 696 | |
18) | Marriage | 699 |
For the Practice of Dharma | 701 | |
Family planning and increase in female population | 704 | |
Upanayana for Girls | 706 | |
The Age of Marriage and the Law | 708 | |
Controversy about Age of Marriage | 710 | |
Eight Forms of Marriage | 713 | |
Concept of Child Marriage | 720 | |
Our Duty Now | 728 | |
Make Marriages Simple | 729 | |
Duty of Women | 730 | |
Duty of the Bridegroom | 733 | |
Arrangements made by the Mutt | 735 | |
The Real Reform | 737 | |
Any Use Talking? | 739 | |
Marriage Expenses and the Sasthras | 743 | |
Three Ways to Economy | 748 | |
Ideals of Marriage | 749 | |
19) | Gruhasthasrama | 751 |
Gruhastha, Gruhini | 753 | |
Aupasana | 756 | |
Aupasana Women's only Vedhic Property | 757 | |
The Greatness of Agni | 759 | |
Samskaras with Agni | 760 | |
Other Samskaras | 771 | |
Goal of Samskaras | 772 | |
A Day in the Life of a Brahmin | 775 | |
20) | Vidhyasthanam | 779 |
Vidhyasthanam: In Conclusions Upavedhas | 781 | |
The Foreign - The Indigenous The Old and The New | 785 | |
Required in the Beginning to be Given up Later | 788 | |
21) | Varnadharma | 793 |
Jathis - Why so many Differences ? | 795 | |
Jathi According to the vedhas and the Gita | 798 | |
Qualities and Vocation by Birth | 801 | |
Vocations eccording to Guna-not in Practice | 804 | |
A Wrong Notion | 807 | |
Strength of Unity | 810 | |
The Eternal Religion | 813 | |
Brahmins are not a Privileged Iathi | 815 | |
Universal Well-being | 818 | |
The Fourth Varna has its own Advantages | 819 | |
Removal of Ego | 821 | |
The Ultimate Purpose of Varna Dharma | 824 | |
22) | Mangalaraththi | 827 |
The Begining and the End are Same | 829 |
Sri Mukham | I | |
Gurustuthi | V | |
Introduction | IX | |
Acknowledgements | XIV | |
Guidance to Pronounciation | XVII | |
1 | Mangalarambham | 1 |
The pillaiyar symbol | 3 | |
Vinayakas connection with writing | 7 | |
Let us go around (Circumambulate) Valampuri Vinayakar | 10 | |
2 | Guru | 10 |
Giri, (Teacher) | 15 | |
Guru, Acharya (Preceptor) | 17 | |
Definition of ‘Guru’ | 20 | |
External relationship of ‘Guru’ with inner glory | 23 | |
Dhikshai | 27 | |
Dhikshais bestowed by Ambal | 31 | |
Several paths for the one final bliss | 35 | |
Non-Distinction between Guru and Acharya | 37 | |
Regard the Acharya as Iswara | 40 | |
Follow the traditions of the clan | 42 | |
Guru bhakthi displayed by great souls Gods as Sishyas | 44 | |
Adhi Sankara’s Acharya Bhakthi | 46 | |
Ramanuja’s Guru Bhakthi | 47 | |
The Sishyas of Sankara | 48 | |
In Ramanuja Sampradhayam | 51 | |
Guru Bhakthi of the Sikhs | 58 | |
3 | The Rules of Conduct for the Society and the Individual | 59 |
Charity (Paropakaram) | ||
Aswamedham to which all are entitled | 61 | |
‘My duty is to keep serving without any expectation’ | 64 | |
Inner purity is essential | 69 | |
Vedhic religion and service to the world | 71 | |
Randhi Devan | 74 | |
The strange mongoose | 82 | |
Charity is the highest Dharma | 87 | |
The significance of Karthikai dipam | 92 | |
For the good of those in hell too | 95 | |
Charity as extolled in Vedha Sasthras | 98 | |
Those who are exceptions | 105 | |
Gift away the thought of charity also | 107 | |
Sacrifice by A dove | 109 | |
When Yama (The Lord of death) Himself was afraid | 111 | |
The great donors (philanthropists) of Tamil Nadu | 112 | |
The essence of Sanathana Dharma | 114 | |
‘Purtha Dharmam’: Public service by collective action | 115 | |
Service to god and service to humanity | 120 | |
The intrinsic worth of service | 122 | |
The scheme of ‘Mudhradhikaris’ | 129 | |
Weekly worship | 135 | |
Spending money-need for extreme caution | 137 | |
Both with money and body | 140 | |
Service not influenced by caste factor is the need | 143 | |
Make the means for a living, The means for ‘Dharma’ | 144 | |
How to help preserve the traditional religious discipline (Achara) | 148 | |
Ancient Sasthras along with school education | 152 | |
To earn respect without a degree | 154 | |
Service by ladies | 155 | |
Ladies and Sramdhan | 157 | |
Hard work and progeny | 158 | |
Manliness through bodily labour | 160 | |
The need for both physical and spiritual accomplishment | 161 | |
Co-operation between husband and wife | 163 | |
Charity begins at home- A new interpretation | 164 | |
The great cruelty of dowry | 166 | |
Simple living | 169 | |
Kindred and relatives | 170 | |
To help the growth of vedhic ways | 172 | |
Duty towards the dead | 173 | |
Cremation/Burial of the dead- The greatness of a Human body | 174 | |
Unclaimed corpses | 179 | |
Hindu society’s blemish | 180 | |
This is Asvamedha | 182 | |
The path shown by Rama and Krishna | 184 | |
The distress of some is a test for many | 185 | |
When life leaves the body | 189 | |
What is practised throughout life will come at the moment of death | 192 | |
Remembering the Lord | 193 | |
The thought at the last moment- Its importance | 195 | |
Remembering God while going to sleep | 197 | |
Shortcut to Moksha | 198 | |
Noble service when life departs | 200 | |
What needs to be done | 203 | |
Why ‘Divasam’ (Annual ceremony) when soul has reached The Lord | 206 | |
Purification of body and mind | 207 | |
A day without service is a day wasted | 208 | |
This is Vedha Dharma | 209 | |
Self help is the best help- Praise and criticism | 216 | |
Public service and duties towards the family | 218 | |
Hindu religion and the individual | 219 | |
How it differs form other religions | 220 | |
The object of temple worship | 221 | |
Reasons for contradiction | 224 | |
Why I do not speak about one’s own mundane affairs | 227 | |
I have been a bit less careful | 228 | |
Fraud, Hypocrisy | 231 | |
The injunctions of the sasthras | 233 | |
The example of the great | 234 | |
Matters pertaining to parents | 236 | |
Matters pertaining to wife and children | 237 | |
Adverse effect on the objective itself | 238 | |
First the home, Then the rest | 239 | |
The highest state cannot be the example | 241 | |
Punishment for failing in duty | 242 | |
The quality of service- Mindedness | 243 | |
Condemnation is itself praise | 245 | |
Thrift and service to others object of thrift is service to others | 260 | |
Debt is harmful for all | 262 | |
Service to others is itself a ‘debt’! | 265 | |
How to save | 267 | |
Established rules of discipline and conduct (Acharam) | 268 | |
The Achara of the clan is the way of redemption | 271 | |
The weight of experience | 274 | |
Decline in discipline due to reforms | 275 | |
What the Gita commands | 276 | |
Reformist leaders | 277 | |
The leaders and the followers | 279 | |
Practical evidence | 282 | |
A single test is enough | 283 | |
Purity of mind and external activities | 284 | |
Modern superstitions | 287 | |
God, religion and Dharma | 290 | |
The duty of a leader; What the Gita says | 291 | |
Three different ideologies | 293 | |
Reform for achieving worldly goals | 294 | |
Reforms with spiritual goals | 297 | |
Heads of the modern religions which have not become a separate sect | 299 | |
The modern vedanthis | 306 | |
Net result | 308 | |
The one who knows and those who do not know | 309 | |
Sugar- Coated pill | 315 | |
The development of those times and the deterioration of these times | 316 | |
A narrow pathway | 319 | |
Mental discipline ruling over nature’s laws The internal division of religious Achara (Madhacharam) | 320 | |
(This is an explanation of the earlier talk) | 324 | |
The great ones who are exceptions | 345 | |
The duty of religious enthusiasts | 348 | |
Matters relating to Acharam the characteristic of Acharam | 350 | |
From the external to the internal | 352 | |
Ordinary Dharmas in Acharam | 354 | |
The relationship between Dharmam and Acharam | 357 | |
Containing everything | 358 | |
Rewards- Seen and Unseen | 359 | |
Relating all activities to Iswara | 362 | |
The subtleties of science In Acharas Sasthras | 364 | |
Not subordinate to science | 367 | |
Acharam is for spiritual satisfaction | 375 | |
The division of Achara; The Verdict of Kural | 378 | |
Acharam and Varnasrama | 382 | |
The ideal state and what is practicable | 383 | |
The drawbacks of not differentiating functions | 391 | |
Absence of Exception- The consequences | 394 | |
Flexibility in Acharam | 397 | |
Complete Acharam to the extent possible | 400 | |
Types of bath | 402 | |
Involvement and faith (Sraddha) | 407 | |
Some rules of Acharam | 409 | |
Karmas laid down by Sasthras and synthetic materials | 413 | |
The evil that befalls due to personal pollution | 415 | |
Matters emotional/ sentimental | 416 | |
Activities to be conducted with the thought of God and with Manthras | 417 | |
The original sasthra and contrary traditions | 418 | |
Without questioning | 422 | |
Gives worldly benefits too | 423 | |
Acharam and office routine | 425 | |
Let us all become orthodox (Vaidhikam) | 427 | |
What needs to be done urgently | 429 | |
Benefits of being bound by discipline | 431 | |
Books on Acharas | 433 | |
The greatness of those days and the fallen state of these days | 434 | |
Sasthras which evolved by the examples of those who practised | 436 | |
Acharam and the food we take | 439 | |
Food and all those connected with it | 444 | |
The three qualities (Guna) | 448 | |
Food and qualities (Guna) | 450 | |
Purity of materials | 455 | |
Distinction in the rules | 458 | |
When the ideal agrees with the practical | 459 | |
‘Saiva’ food | 464 | |
Is there not violence involved in eating vegetables? | 466 | |
The virtues of vegetarian food | 470 | |
Ancient customs and the practices of kali Yuga | 474 | |
To progress step by step | 477 | |
Vegetarian food is of greater need now than before | 478 | |
Prohibition | 480 | |
Smoking: An anti-social act | 482 | |
Coffee and other soft drinks | 483 | |
Milk based products | 486 | |
Chewing pan | 488 | |
The goal of peace should not be spoiled | 489 | |
Quantity is important | 490 | |
Rules to suit the times | 491 | |
Chathurmasyam and rules for food | 492 | |
Avoiding salt | 495 | |
Cooking one’s own food | 496 | |
Swayampakam, A new tune | 497 | |
The divine ‘Rasa’ In ‘Anna Rasam’ | 498 | |
Those taking food with Us | 501 | |
The way to nurture vedhic learning | 504 | |
Bikshai and Swayampakam | 506 | |
The superior customs of the northern parts | 508 | |
Cookery in the scheme of education | 512 | |
True reform of food preparation | 515 | |
How to extend hispitality | 517 | |
Nivedhanam (Worshipful offering to God) | 518 | |
Benefits which are the essence | 519 | |
The importance of food in the enjoyment of senses | 520 | |
Upavasam does it mean eating twice on Ekadasi day? | 522 | |
The need for upavasam | 524 | |
Upavasam as deal with in the Upanishads | 528 | |
Mederation, The right way- Acharya and Krishna | 529 | |
Days of household festivals, Vrathas and the glory of Ekadasi | 533 | |
High Status of Ekadasi | 537 | |
Upavasam and hard work | 539 | |
Very strict observance by Madhvas | 540 | |
Exalted status accorded by people of all divisions | 542 | |
The names of Ekadasi | 543 | |
Let us have the sense of fulfilment | 545 | |
Mounam (silence) to reduce work for the mouth | 547 | |
Silence is the nature of a muni | 549 | |
Days Suitable for Mounam | 550 | |
Keeping Awake | 551 | |
The beginning and the state of ending | 552 | |
Arresting the thoughts | 555 | |
Thought of Iswara | 557 | |
Will help also social good | 560 | |
Silent Prayer | 561 | |
The lesson that I have learnt | 562 | |
Know the limit and act- Extremes are intended to lead to moderation | 563 | |
Being Calculative in all kinds of income and expenditure | 570 | |
Aparigraham | 572 | |
4 | Vaithika Aspects of Religion | 577 |
What for upa Vedham? | 579 | |
The subsidiary (Upa) and the main (Mulam) | 582 | |
Vasthu Sasthra | 583 | |
What for should the body be nurtured? | 585 | |
Spiritual goal even in medical treatment | 587 | |
Mani (Gem)- Manthra- Aushadham (Medicine) | 592 | |
Ayurvedham and Religious observances | 596 | |
Surgery | 600 | |
Other sciences in Ayurvedha | 604 | |
Regulation of deit when taking medicine | 605 | |
Reasons for following the ayurvedha system | 606 | |
Let all be blessed with long life | 608 | |
Dhanurvedham why it was evolved | 610 | |
The code for Punishment | 612 | |
What is Dhanur? | 614 | |
Asthram, Sasthram | 615 | |
The bows of Gods | 618 | |
Three types of weapons | 620 | |
The classification of the army | 622 | |
Fort | 623 | |
Fight by wrestling | 625 | |
Dharma Yuddham | 626 | |
Gandharva Vedham- The utility of something Which is of no Use! | 629 | |
Why the name? | 633 | |
The sixty-four arts | 634 | |
Entertainment and control of senses | 635 | |
Aesthetic sense and experience of self | 637 | |
Capable of making a deep impression | 641 | |
Thevaram and Divyaprabhandham traditions | 643 | |
The Dharma appropriate to jathis | 645 | |
The glory of Nadham (Music) | 648 | |
Sound which is expansive and sound that is limited | 651 | |
The knowledge our ancients had about sound engineering | 654 | |
Reaching through the senses what is beyond sense | 656 | |
Kinds of musical instruments and dances | 659 | |
The divine link | 660 | |
Love and peace through music | 663 | |
Creation and release through Nadha and Natya | 665 | |
The great and divine masters of fine arts | 667 | |
Folk songs and songs related to day to day life | 669 | |
Art that enhances national pride | 671 | |
Ideal should not be forgotten | 672 | |
Artha Sasthram | 673 | |
Artha Sasthram and Dharma Sasthram | 676 | |
The eternal law and temporary changes | 680 | |
The constraints and discipline to which the king was subject | 682 | |
Two important duties of the king | 691 | |
Criminal jurisprudence applicable internally | 692 | |
Is there partiality to the Brahmin? | 695 | |
Nurturing of Dharma is the foundation; Ensuring the observance of varna Dharma | 696 | |
Laws of Punishment in respect of other countries | 705 | |
Noble aspects even in punishment | 708 | |
Six policies to be followed in respect of other countries | 710 | |
The Various organs of a government | 711 | |
This is the substance | 712 | |
5 | Culture | 715 |
Poetic genius- Play of words | 717 | |
A bharatha ‘Guttu’ | 719 | |
Siva-Sakthi as Siva-Vishnu | 726 | |
Fantastic change by removing a single letter | 728 | |
One dot more | 732 | |
Exchange of garlands | 734 | |
The holy feet (Of Kamakshi) and the planets | 735 | |
The mosquito and Kesava | 737 | |
6 | The Principle of Divinity; The Gods | 739 |
Can nature function without Iswara? | 741 | |
Navanitha Krishnan: Vatapathrasayi | 744 | |
The glory of the name of Siva; The glory that Siva Bestows | 752 | |
The place of Siva Nama in the Vedhas | 758 | |
Nama which is for all | 759 | |
A vaishnava’s acclaim | 760 | |
Minakshi | 766 | |
7 | Mangalaraththi | 779 |
A Tower of strength to Sita and Rama | 781 |
Sri Mukham | I | |
Gurusthuthi | V | |
Introduction | IX | |
Acknowledgements | XIV | |
Guidance to Pronunciation | XVII | |
1 | Mangalarambham | 1 |
Child of high Parentage | 3 | |
Grandfather’s Distinction | 3 | |
Uncle’s Distinction | 6 | |
Vishnu and Ambal | 7 | |
Suklambaradharam | 8 | |
The Greatness of the Parents | 10 | |
Murugan and the Eldest | 11 | |
Other Deities paying homage to pillaiyar | 13 | |
The Venerable Child | 13 | |
As the Principal deity | 13 | |
The Son Who was worshipped by his father | 14 | |
To the Rescue of his mother | 16 | |
Helping Muruga | 19 | |
Rama and Vinayaka | 20 | |
Gananatha worshipped by Krishna | 23 | |
The Story of Syamanthaka | 23 | |
Surya and Vinayaka | 23 | |
The Divine Gem Obtained Through Thapas | 24 | |
Krishna’s detachment | 25 | |
Jambavan | 28 | |
Fourth Phase of moon seen by Krishna | 29 | |
The Mater who was the Victim of suspicion | 30 | |
Krishna Cracked it | 32 | |
The Gem and the young Woman | 34 | |
Bliss of Touch During the Fight | 36 | |
The Gem resulting in Marriages | 38 | |
The Enmity Due to the Woman | 40 | |
Again Victory and Blame Again | 42 | |
Akura and the Gem | 45 | |
Reason for the Blame and Accusations | 46 | |
Bhadhrapadham differences in Panchangam | 47 | |
Question and Answer story within Story | 49 | |
Moon’s Pride Shattered | 50 | |
The Curse’s Implication | 52 | |
Relief from the Curse | 53 | |
Bhalachandhran | 55 | |
Sankatahara Chathurthi Pillaiyar bestowed another honor upon moon) | 57 | |
Krishna and Moon | 58 | |
Boon to clear the Blame | 59 | |
Benefit of Lila welfare of the world | 60 | |
One Sloka is Enough | 61 | |
Significance of the Jayanthis (Manifestation) | 64 | |
Conclusion | 65 | |
2 | Guru | 67 |
Gurukulam Ghatikasthanam | 69 | |
Guru, Acharya, Vadhyar | 69 | |
Connection to Vedhas | 70 | |
Upadhyaya and Acharya | 71 | |
Teaching As A Livelihood | 73 | |
Similarity and Dissimilarity Between Guru and Acharya | 73 | |
Special Aspects of Gurukula Not Available at Home | 75 | |
The Greatness of Mother and Father | 77 | |
Guru Younger than oneself | 78 | |
Mother Father Acharya | 80 | |
Adhyapaka | 80 | |
Elevated Status of Upadhyaya | 80 | |
As Worship of Iswara | 82 | |
Receiving is lowly | 83 | |
Specially not found in other countries | 85 | |
Distinguished Acharyas in Secular Education too | 87 | |
Not Intuitionally but through Individuals only | 88 | |
Kulapathi | 89 | |
The rise of the Ancient Teaching system | 89 | |
Language a discipline of sound | 91 | |
Teaching without writing | 91 | |
Kula Sakha, chathra, charana | 93 | |
Guru dakshina | 95 | |
The Arts and Sciences of Old | 95 | |
Dharma and the Brahman | 98 | |
All subjects are Vedhic | 98 | |
Education for all castes | 99 | |
Compulsory education | 99 | |
The Deserving Alone | 100 | |
No Caste Bias | 101 | |
Vidhya and the Fourth caste | 102 | |
The Supreme gift of Knowledge | 103 | |
Length of terms | 104 | |
Why Upakarma for Gruhasthas ? | 108 | |
Holidays | 109 | |
Is it right To Beat a student ? | 110 | |
Qualities of a student | 111 | |
Promoting Health | 112 | |
Individual Teachers mostly | 112 | |
The Individual Teacher and his greatness | 113 | |
Drawbacks of institutional Education | 114 | |
Examples in the Upanishads | 116 | |
Sraddha Paroprasna | 118 | |
Testing Students | 120 | |
Gurupatni or guru’s wife | 120 | |
Taught by Divine Powers but | 122 | |
Independent thinking | 123 | |
Krishna and his Acharya | 129 | |
Learning by Questioning | 131 | |
The Guru is Moulded by the Disciple | 133 | |
The Gurupitas | 134 | |
A Sanyasin who is on his own and a Pita guru | 136 | |
Institutionalism : Sankara’s work for a necessary evil | 138 | |
Big Educational Institutional of old | 139 | |
The new Religion and Big Educational Institutions | 143 | |
Peculiar Circumstances | 143 | |
Different Syllabuses | 147 | |
Two Different Stories | 147 | |
Brahmins during the Buddha’s time | 150 | |
Kshathriyas and Brahmins | 151 | |
National Unity fostered by Vedha Dharma | 153 | |
Adhvaitha and the State | 156 | |
Restraint Even in Conflict | 157 | |
Opposition Based on knowledge | 157 | |
The Big Schools of the New Religions | 160 | |
Gurukulas for Brahmins | 161 | |
Manava Manakkan | 162 | |
System of labor not affected | 163 | |
Buddhism and Jainism never took root on a nationwide basis | 168 | |
Leadership and the common People | 174 | |
The Great Achievements of Adhi Sankara | 175 | |
Comparing past and present | 180 | |
Buddhist Jaina education | 185 | |
Writing | 187 | |
Big Vedhic Universities | 191 | |
The Gurukula Elements in Bug Schools | 194 | |
Kanchi As a Center of Education | 196 | |
My research regarding Ghatikas | 197 | |
Why the name Ghatika | 198 | |
The Antiquity of Ghatikas | 200 | |
Stone Temples | 203 | |
The temple and the Ghatika | 204 | |
In the Eight Century | 205 | |
Format of Sasana | 206 | |
Seven Thousand students | 207 | |
In Andhra and Karnataka | 208 | |
In the Chola land | 209 | |
In Maharastra | 210 | |
Ghatikachalam | 210 | |
Rewarded at last | 211 | |
In Prayaga in the 5th century B.C | 211 | |
Light on name | 212 | |
A little bit of Sanskrit | 216 | |
Appropriateness of the Pot | 216 | |
Vedhic Schools in Tamil Region | 217 | |
Atharva Vedha | 218 | |
Respect for many sasthras | 219 | |
The Vedhas Agamas | 220 | |
Harmony | 220 | |
Temples and Vidhya | 220 | |
Pride and Shame | 222 | |
A Plan for national Vidhya | 223 | |
The Right Method | 224 | |
Village Statistics | 226 | |
The Essential Statistics | 226 | |
Literacy and Crime | 227 | |
Is Education unnecessary ? | 228 | |
The Land of white men and Muslims | 228 | |
In the Communist countries | 230 | |
Vidhya with humility | 231 | |
Gurukulavasa to Curb Aham | 232 | |
Why not possible ? | 233 | |
Responsibility of the public | 233 | |
For the Growth of Vedha Vidhya | 234 | |
Learning and Money | 235 | |
Bhikshacharya | 236 | |
One or two enough | 237 | |
Preserving the Ideal | 237 | |
Their Sacrifice and our sacrifice | 238 | |
Vedha Bhashyam, Vedhanga, Vedhantha | 239 | |
Comparative Philosophy | 242 | |
Similarities and Dissimilarities | 243 | |
The Puranas | 244 | |
Agama Sasthra | 244 | |
Vasthu Sasthra | 245 | |
Silpa Sasthra | 245 | |
Village Arts folk lore | 247 | |
Moulding Teachers foe ancient arts and sciences | 247 | |
Vidhya that transcends the laws of nature | 248 | |
Medical Science | 249 | |
Yoga Sasthra | 249 | |
Only Theory no practice | 250 | |
In Vedhantha Too | 251 | |
What is to be done | 252 | |
Learn and teach | 252 | |
Propaganda | 253 | |
Financial Aid and Social prestige | 255 | |
Be Vidvans each of you | 256 | |
To Curb Aham | 257 | |
Be a Learner not an idler | 258 | |
When most people were Vidvans | 259 | |
Age life style no bar to learning | 260 | |
Not the state but people and Sishyas responsible | 261 | |
Support for half knowledge | 262 | |
A request to Vidvans | 263 | |
Ideal scholars | 264 | |
For the Future | 265 | |
Make it part of life | 265 | |
Gurukulavasa in all fields | 266 | |
May Amba shower her blessings | 267 | |
3 | Public life | 269 |
The Remarkable election system of Uththaramerur | 271 | |
Aspects of Democracy in Vedhas Also | 271 | |
Caste Head | 275 | |
Qualification is Essential | 276 | |
King as the Head of State | 276 | |
Head of Town | 277 | |
Membership in local Sabha by election | 279 | |
Republic and Democracy | 280 | |
Difference of Opinion | 281 | |
Election Method with strange Aspect | 281 | |
Chola Dynasty | 282 | |
Stone inscription Regarding Election | 282 | |
Divisions of the Kingdom | 283 | |
Structure of Grama Sabha | 284 | |
Details about the Stone Inscriptions | 285 | |
Brahmin Velala officials | 286 | |
Qualification of Candidates | 287 | |
Rules Subject to Amendments and rules not Subject to Amendments | 288 | |
Knowledge of Sasthra and Ability to act | 290 | |
The Heart and Soul of qualification purity of wealth and purity of self | 290 | |
Shall not serve contiguous terms | 291 | |
Relative not eligible | 291 | |
Condition on Wealth | 291 | |
Ideal Dharma and Practical possibility | 292 | |
Under Islamic and British Rule | 293 | |
Eligibility based on property | 295 | |
Reduced incentive for Bribery | 296 | |
Bribery | 297 | |
Experience of property Management Essential | 298 | |
Reason for home on own land | 299 | |
Age qualification | 299 | |
Characteristics of Elder | 302 | |
Sathya the foundation for dharma | 303 | |
Elders who are exempt | 306 | |
Office work and duties of public Sabha | 307 | |
Advisory council of elderly intellectuals | 307 | |
To Prevent Authority being permanently entrenched In positions | 308 | |
Educational qualification | 309 | |
Does not refer only to the Brahmins | 310 | |
The Heart and Soul | 312 | |
Potentials Cause for proliferation of corruption | 312 | |
Spiritual purity | 315 | |
To prevent corruption afterwards too | 315 | |
Five year Term | 316 | |
Induction of new blood | 317 | |
Backbone of Dharmic administration | 318 | |
The Royal seat and the Local Sabha | 319 | |
Dismissal and Permanent Bar | 321 | |
Disqualified Relatives | 322 | |
Panchamampthkam (Five Grave sins) | 322 | |
Sasthras and the Law | 323 | |
A few Other Disqualifying Aspects | 325 | |
An Election without contestants or voters | 325 | |
Who is a Candidate? | 326 | |
Selection Election Officers | 326 | |
Election Procedure | 328 | |
Election which has iswara’s Approval | 330 | |
No Room for hiding or Concealment | 331 | |
No Individual Charisma | 332 | |
Not based on majority | 333 | |
Administrative Divisions | 334 | |
Till the Sun and Moon exist | 334 | |
The New story and the old | 335 | |
Worrisome Aspects | 336 | |
Give Responsibility after maturity | 338 | |
Solace from old election methods | 340 | |
Drawback and justification for it | 341 | |
Ramarajya | 344 | |
4 | Adhvaitham | 347 |
To Experience peace after end of war | 349 | |
Who are Devas and Asuras? | 349 | |
Why does Asuric Tendency arise? | 352 | |
Dhvaitha that gives room for fear | 353 | |
Adhvaitham is abhayam | 354 | |
Abhya Moksham Bhayam Samsaram | 356 | |
Naraka bhyam | 356 | |
Mind is the Reason for Bondage | 357 | |
The Bliss of the Mindless Athma | 358 | |
The I even in the mindless state | 359 | |
The True I | 360 | |
Awareness of life independent of mind | 361 | |
Realization of Athma and living through the mind | 362 | |
Mind which is separate form Athma | 365 | |
Self Realization is abhya moksha | 368 | |
Dharma the loosens the bondage of karma | 368 | |
Preyas and Sreyas | 369 | |
Dharma Medicine for the disease of Karma | 371 | |
Dharmika Karma not a Direct means for moksha | 373 | |
Dharma Karma not sufficient for mind’s fulfillment | 373 | |
Love Devotion | 374 | |
Good thoughts as background for sasthra karma | 375 | |
Splintering of mind Reduced by good karma | 376 | |
Action and Meditation | 378 | |
Karma yoga and Detachment | 381 | |
Why does good karma not bear fruit | 385 | |
Possibility of fear Reduced | 386 | |
Swadharma even in the face of death | 388 | |
Direct Result for welfare of the world | 389 | |
Drama of the universe and the Deluge | 391 | |
For Worldly life’s greater good | 393 | |
For Order in worldly life | 394 | |
Why not other’s dharma ? | 398 | |
What is it that pushes one in papa | 400 | |
Kama krodha | 403 | |
All the Evils spring form desire | 406 | |
Happiness itself Cause of Hardship | 409 | |
Bliss and Satisfaction | 410 | |
Desire and Pleasure and Pains | 411 | |
Man destroyed by all five senses | 412 | |
Permanent bliss will not result form desire | 413 | |
Affected by situations | 415 | |
A Desire that overwhelms another desire | 415 | |
Different kinds of desire for one own body | 416 | |
Mind is in between Athma and Sense Organs | 419 | |
Mind’s Pleasure not permanent either | 420 | |
Tired of it but not rid of it | 421 | |
Misery in everything except Adhvaitham | 424 | |
Even by subjecting others to hardship | 425 | |
Desire that harms noble virtues | 427 | |
Uninterrupted bliss not available to mind | 428 | |
To End the Battle destroy desire | 429 | |
Will death destroy desire? | 430 | |
The Punishment of Birth | 432 | |
The Sweetness of Neem fruit | 432 | |
Constant effort is necessary | 433 | |
What desire does and Adhishtana | 434 | |
Arjuna’s difficulty | 436 | |
Remedy suggested by Krishna | 436 | |
Atham the Changeless | 438 | |
Nija Athma and the Mind in Guise | 441 | |
Mind’s Activity only through Athma | 443 | |
Maya | 444 | |
State of being and state of action | 444 | |
Consequences of the hunger of desire | 445 | |
Acquiring and relinquishing | 447 | |
Sleep is not the way | 449 | |
Vairagya and Abhyasa | 450 | |
Blissful of Jnana peace | 451 | |
External pleasure is simply Rays of bliss form Athma | 453 | |
Peaceful bliss which mind Cannot Understand | 455 | |
(Para) Sakthis’s Anandha is also in the Santha Athma | 456 | |
State of sleep | 459 | |
Dream State | 461 | |
How can mind come under athma’s control ? | 463 | |
By Iswara’s grace | 464 | |
Beyond logic | 466 | |
Obvious Evidences | 466 | |
Jivan Mukthas | 469 | |
Anandha Comes only form athma | 469 | |
Possessor not possessed | 470 | |
Desire’s target is Really the Athma | 472 | |
Annihilation of Asure army is victory for attaining Athma | 474 | |
Root Cause of Trouble | 475 | |
Indhriya is also highly regarded | 476 | |
Athma is always the Truth | 484 | |
Step by Step to the state of Athma | 485 | |
Taming the Athma by Athma | 489 | |
Why no mention of the grace of Iswara? | 490 | |
Iswara bridge between dhvaitha and Adhvaitha | 492 | |
Adhvaith Sasthra and Benediction of Iswara | 493 | |
Brahman Athma Iswara | 495 | |
Jiva from Iswara only | 496 | |
Release granted by Iswara Alone | 497 | |
Maya Subdued only by Iswara | 498 | |
Jiva Iswara difference | 499 | |
From Dhvaitha ti Adhvaitha | 500 | |
Intermediate Stages | 501 | |
Variants of Upadesa Corresponding to the stage of Rightful Recipient | 504 | |
Why Sasthra for Iswara’s Action ? | 509 | |
Explicitly expounded truth in Gita | 510 | |
Iswara’s knowledge grant also mentioned by adhi Sankara | 512 | |
Dhvaitha of guru not a snag | 518 | |
Maya Sakthi also grants Jnana | 519 | |
Bondage of Karma due to Iswara attainment of Jnana also due to him | 520 | |
Knowledge of Athma is indeed the destruction of desire | 522 | |
A Subtle indication about iswara | 522 | |
Moksha in this world | 523 | |
Idea that preceded Buddha | 524 | |
After the mind Stops | 526 | |
Realization of Athma is the true knowledge | 527 | |
Drawback of living through the mind | 529 | |
Mind needs to disappear not body | 530 | |
Views pertaining to birth and liberation | 531 | |
Effort towards the release is what is necessary | 534 | |
Samsara Does have an end unanimous opinion | 535 | |
Adhvaitham accept stages of dhvaitham | 536 | |
Truth and bliss only in Adhvaitham | 541 | |
Fear is one of Desire’s many Untoward results | 542 | |
Dhvaithma that denotes many things | 543 | |
Mind will not be alone | 544 | |
Athma is the only Stand alone entity | 546 | |
Example of Electricity | 547 | |
Parmathma jivathmas | 548 | |
Pramathma Cause of Universal Antharyami | 549 | |
Iswara or Saguna Brahmam | 551 | |
Vedhanta Iswara is not Siva | 553 | |
Worship of Iswara | 553 | |
Research for truth from Jiva’s Angle from Universe’s angle | 554 | |
Jiva Athma Iswara Athma | 556 | |
Jivathma pramathma in dhvaitha and visishtadhvaitha | 560 | |
Two Entities that are connected | 563 | |
Why Paramathma Instead of Iswarthma? | 564 | |
A few Principles of Adhvaitha | 564 | |
Jiva cannot become Iswara | 566 | |
Dhvaitha Jiva has connection to Iswara | 570 | |
Iswara Jiva Avidhya Anthahkarana | 571 | |
Dhvaitha Moksha and Prakruthi (Maya) | 574 | |
For Dhvathic Tendency misery is unacoidable | 578 | |
Task of Getting Purified | 579 | |
Like Scrubbing a pot | 580 | |
The Ravai Salla Analogy | 583 | |
To Avoid Mixing up the Bad with the Good | 586 | |
Various Names of love | 588 | |
Bhakthi Definition of love | 588 | |
Adhvaith Mukthi through Bhakthi | 588 | |
Bhakthi love’s necessity | 592 | |
Case of the self realized | 594 | |
Our Path | 599 | |
Connection to other paths non should be condensed | 600 | |
Maturation of Sadhana Comes on its own | 601 | |
The Medicine of Dharma | 602 | |
Wrongful Accusation | 603 | |
Dharma Adharma and the Adhvaithi | 606 | |
Jnani and the Fruit of Actions | 607 | |
Dharma and Love | 616 | |
Love is Necessary for the Mind to Wither Away | 619 | |
Without lofty goals lofty stages do not materialize | 621 | |
Deva Sakthis afflict too | 624 | |
Grace of God According to Desired goal | 625 | |
Words of wisdom from Thirumular and Thirucalluvar | 626 | |
Thoughts fi Adhvaitham right from the beginning | 629 | |
Sufferings that release the bondage | 630 | |
Performing action without feeling the burden | 632 | |
The Three paths right from the beginning | 634 | |
Foundation of Adhvaitham laid by Gita | 638 | |
Start from today! | 639 | |
Go Beyond the Good! | 641 | |
Contemplating Athma is Essential for Everyone | 642 | |
Things to learn after deep thinking | 644 | |
5 | Bhakthi | 649 |
Adhvaitha philosophy and the Current state of Affairs | 651 | |
From Current state to Adhvaitham | 652 | |
Adhi Sankara’s Devotional Hymns | 653 | |
Shatpadhi Sthothra | 653 | |
Padham part of poetry | 654 | |
Life body and consonants | 655 | |
Hymns with Six Slokas | 656 | |
The Mystery of the pun | 658 | |
What do we pray for ? | 659 | |
Bhagawan’s view | 660 | |
Justification for worldly prayers | 663 | |
Unfulfilled prayer and Atheism | 667 | |
Praying for Athma Sreyas | 668 | |
Vishnu fro Jnana Also | 669 | |
To Set Right the mind | 670 | |
Humility the most important virtue | 672 | |
Sankara his Discipline and humility | 674 | |
In Sikhism | 679 | |
Two Kinds of disciplines | 680 | |
Aptness of the desert simile | 685 | |
Sahara sagaram | 688 | |
Why Santhi after Dhanthi? | 689 | |
For the World’s salvation with own salvation | 689 | |
May you take me to the other shore | 692 | |
A sweet Simple Sloka | 694 | |
Sridevi and the Lotus | 695 | |
Scared feet from which Ganga flows | 696 | |
Feet that Rid us of Smasara and Grant Eternal Bliss | 697 | |
Adhvaitha Acharya speaks Bhakthi and Dhvaitham | 699 | |
Amazing Anthadhi | 704 | |
Sloka that has continuity of ideas too | 706 | |
Getting Rid of Smasara by dharsana | 711 | |
Iswara Sabdha for Sri Hari | 712 | |
Avatharas | 713 | |
Twelve names Namam Applied on the forehead | 716 | |
Damodhara | 718 | |
Meaning of the Sacred names | 719 | |
Nirguna and Gunanilaya (Attribute less and the adobe of Attributes) | 721 | |
Adhvaiths who are Krishna Bhakthas | 723 | |
Uniqueness of Govinda and Hara Nama | 727 | |
Govinda who is without any Kurai | 730 | |
Guru Deiva Govinda | 732 | |
One of Three | 733 | |
Divine churn that churns the ocean of Samsara | 734 | |
A few great men as role models | 736 | |
Essence of the Hymn Removal for eh sufferings is Samsara | 739 | |
As it Begin so it ends | 741 | |
Expression is surrender like Phala Sruthi | 743 | |
Saramgathi (surrender and Being in the state of Brahman are one | 745 | |
Six Slokas and six words | 747 | |
The Riddle of bee gets Resolved! | 748 | |
6 | Culture | 755 |
Poets Sense of dignity | 755 | |
Surpassing the kings ! | 757 | |
Mahan poet Difference | 758 | |
Mahans Who had turned away form their kings | 759 | |
Vairgaya and the sense of dignity | 761 | |
Kalisdhasa and king bhoja | 761 | |
Enmity followed by broken friendship | 762 | |
Asked for his own charama sloka | 762 | |
Kaliodhasa’s Refusal and its greatness | 763 | |
Disguise | 766 | |
Traditional tales and research | 767 | |
Kambar and kulotthunga | 769 | |
Intricacies of friendship turning into enmity | 770 | |
Kambar’s flare up an vow | 771 | |
Comparison of Kalidhasa and Kambar | 772 | |
Visit to Chera kingdom and chera’s noble virtues | 774 | |
In Chola’s court Chera appears as Adaipaikkaran | 775 | |
Kambar’s Nobel Culture | 777 | |
Two Kutty’s | 778 | |
King Shahji | 778 | |
Poem Glorifying the king | 779 | |
King and the child mutual admiration | 782 | |
Prathapa simha and Kutty kavi | 784 | |
Buffalo hymn | 785 | |
Poet who saved the nation | 786 | |
The Youth who conquered the Bengali scholar | 787 | |
Sasthri who wouldn’t bow down to Serfoji | 788 | |
Sasthri who excelled in friendship too | 789 | |
Turning down the king of Mysore | 791 | |
Our Relative | 792 | |
Boasting of poets and intellectuals | 792 | |
Beauty in that too! | 792 | |
Seeking Divine justice | 794 | |
Kalidhasa and Ambika | 794 | |
Nilakantar and Mahadhevar | 800 | |
Even Distortion gets extolled | 805 | |
7 | Mangalaraththi | 807 |
Greatness of Maruthi | 809 |
Sri Mukham | (I) | |
Gurusthuthi | (V) | |
Introduction | (IX) | |
Acknowledgements | (XIV) | |
Guidance to Pronounciation | (XVII) | |
1 | Mangalarambham | 1 |
The deity worshipped even by the devas | 3 | |
Success in efforts due to the elephant-faced God | 3 | |
The flower and the mind | 3 | |
Anaikka Anaimugan | 4 | |
Who is Vagisar? | 6 | |
One who removes the obstacles of even the Devas | 8 | |
Thath-Heathu Nyayam | 12 | |
The lotus feet | 14 | |
What is done by those who know ‘nyayam’ and those who do not know it | 16 | |
Even if he does not grant all the fruits | 18 | |
The need for several Gods | 19 | |
The one who has two mothers (Dwaimathurar) | 23 | |
One who has six mothers | 24 | |
The dispute about Ayyappa’s mother | 24 | |
May Vigneswara protect Us | 30 | |
When Pillaiyar playedwith ‘Chandrakala’ (One sixteenth part of the moon) | 32 | |
May he lighten the burden and bless us | 37 | |
2 | Guru | 41 |
Iswara and the Guru | 43 | |
The wealth that Guru gives and other types of wealth | 43 | |
Bhakthi to God and to the Guru | 44 | |
Jnana gained by experience | 45 | |
The intellect and the heart | 48 | |
Sruthi-Yukthi (reason)- Experience | 49 | |
Are there two kinds of Bhakthis? | 51 | |
Iswara only grants the fruits | 52 | |
All obeisance go to the only one | 53 | |
Only one Bhakthi; Only one Krupa | 55 | |
Change in the meaning of the Sloka | 57 | |
If only one is enough, is it Iswara or Guru? | 57 | |
Human nature likes changes | 58 | |
Boundless Bhakthi: Means to the Ideal | 60 | |
Boundless Bhakthi: Practical difficulties | 60 | |
Iswara is Guru and ‘Guru is Iswara himself | 62 | |
How to consider the Guru as Iswara? | 62 | |
The special aspects of worship of Guru | 64 | |
Yadhokthakari | 65 | |
Perumal who did what he was told to do | 65 | |
The ‘Divya Desa’ within Kanchipuram | 67 | |
The Pallavas and Saivism-Vaishnavism | 67 | |
The origin of the Pallavas | 69 | |
The glory of the Thruvekka Perumal | 72 | |
Kanikannam: The heart with grace and the fearless heart | 75 | |
When perumal did what he was asked to do | 77 | |
The Guru who brings Iswara himself | 83 | |
Somasi Mara Nayanar | 84 | |
The great man who could take liberties with the Lord | 85 | |
Actions of great men which are beyond our understanding | 86 | |
The green (climbing brinjal) (called Thuthuvalai in Tamil) Which acted as an emissary | 88 | |
The test that the Lord gave | 92 | |
Even if the Guru has drawbacks….. | 95 | |
The benefits of Guru Bhakthi | 96 | |
Three different attitudes | 104 | |
The Lord’s grace in return for Guru Bhakthi | 105 | |
The Guru and the disciple- Personification of two Dharmas | 107 | |
Iswara’s grace cab be obtained by any attitude | 108 | |
The greatness of knowing through a Guru | 108 | |
Gurumurthi and The Thrimurthis | 110 | |
Not treating the Thrimurthis as the supreme one | 110 | |
God without a festival | 110 | |
God without temple | 111 | |
Reason for absence of Puja | 111 | |
Murthis in Vaishnava Temples | 116 | |
Brahma in Agamas | 116 | |
Brahma’s function is only compassionate | 117 | |
Rudram- Sivan (Sivam, Nataraja)- Maheswaran | 118 | |
In Vaishnavam | 120 | |
Gurave Namah | 121 | |
Worship is not because three functions are performed | 121 | |
Murthis who are functioning as the supreme | 129 | |
Why the exception only for Brahma? | 130 | |
The reason why Thrimurthis came to include Brahma | 137 | |
Why is there no temple for Sarasvathi? | 141 | |
Matter concerning Narada, Savithri and Gayathri | 143 | |
Brahma in Guru Parampara (tradition) | 144 | |
Narayanam Padmabhuvam | 145 | |
No reason for doing Namaskaram | 146 | |
Three functions with a difference | 147 | |
One who is entitled to Namaskaram | 152 | |
As Parabrahmam | 153 | |
One who has reached the Shore and Takes us to the Shore | 154 | |
Characteristics of an acharya according to our Acharya | 154 | |
The Guru is worthy of Namaskaram even if he is Brahmam | 159 | |
Namaskaram is wealth: What the Acharya says | 160 | |
Amba, Matha: Amman, Thayar | 162 | |
Benefits of Namaskaram | 163 | |
A correction: Dhuritha Uddharanam | 164 | |
Seeking the benefit of the other world | 167 | |
To which word should ‘eva’ be joined? | 168 | |
The Guru of the three worlds | 170 | |
Guru Vandana- Nindhana: Amrutham- Poison | 171 | |
Guru’s efforts have in view uddharanam only | 173 | |
3 | The life history of Sri Sankara | 177 |
Pravruthi-Nivruthi | 179 | |
Two different paths for two different types of people | 181 | |
The two fruits of karma Marga | 185 | |
Decline of Karma Yoga with the passage of time | 190 | |
The upadesas of two margas | 192 | |
Bhakthi | 194 | |
The Yagas dealt with in Gita | 196 | |
Advaitha which is the permanent Yoga | 198 | |
The resurgence brought about by Lord Krishna | 199 | |
Krishna and Sankara | 203 | |
Avatharas of earlier times | 204 | |
Kaliyuga: In the early stages and later | 207 | |
The great danger of kali: The deceitful make-up | 208 | |
Founders of New religions | 209 | |
Buddhism- Jainism and Hinduism | 210 | |
Not for condemning other religions; only to oppose condemnation of our own religion | 213 | |
Is Kali ordained only for Adharma? | 218 | |
Sankara Vijayam | 222 | |
Seventy two religions | 223 | |
Acharya’s wonderful achievements | 225 | |
It is Acharya’s religion which is Vedhic and inclusive of everything | 226 | |
About other religions | 227 | |
The principle of Godhead | 235 | |
Buddhism-Jainism and the attitude of the common people | 238 | |
Absolute materialism | 241 | |
Religions which accept Vedhas but not Vedantha | 242 | |
Forms of worships in those times | 243 | |
Vaidhikam means total acceptance of Vedhas | 246 | |
Revolutionary religions | 251 | |
Circumstances which necessitated the Avathar | 252 | |
The principle (Thathva) of Avathar: | 253 | |
Indication of the secret of Avathar | 257 | |
Human nature and divinity in Avathar | 262 | |
Also because of the desire to move with people | 264 | |
There should be no doubt about Avathar | 267 | |
Decline of Dharma as never before | 268 | |
Implementing the assurance given in Gita: The problem and the Solution | 269 | |
Why the Avathar as sanyasi? | 271 | |
In Brahmacharya Asramam also | 276 | |
Avatharam in Brahmin family | 279 | |
Vishnu Avatharam and Siva Avatharam: Similarities and differences between Siva-Vishnu: | 280 | |
Jnana Siva taking the Jnana Avathara | 292 | |
Dakshinamurthi’s Avatharam holding Sakthi within | 295 | |
Acharya who is Saktha, Saiva and Vaishnava: | 296 | |
Preliminaries to Avatharam | 299 | |
The compassion of the one who is actionless | 300 | |
Adhvaitha is the disappearance of the duality of mind | 301 | |
It is not Sunya; It is the perfect Sachithanandam | 302 | |
There is no distinction between Jivathma and Paramathma | 305 | |
Even if Iswara is with Maya, He is Jnani | 308 | |
There is no Unmixed good | 312 | |
Disservice even in service | 313 | |
Avathar to preach the actionless state | 320 | |
The benefits of good Karma in practical life | 321 | |
Activities are meant to take one to actionless state | 322 | |
Practical approach: To engage in activity the goal: To remain in the actionless state | 323 | |
Not being selfish | 327 | |
Not engaging in action is also doing good to the world | 329 | |
Sam-bu became Sam-kara: | 330 | |
Authority in Vedha, Ithihasa and Purana for Iswara’s Avathara | 336 | |
Evidence provided by Acharya himself | 362 | |
The parampara (lineage) of old Acharya’s | 364 | |
From Vasishta ot Vyasa | 368 | |
Sukha Brahmam | 373 | |
Pathanjali Charitha | 381 | |
Siva Natanam in Maha Vishnu’s Heart | 382 | |
Ajapa- Hamsa Natanam | 384 | |
The Avathara of Adhisesha | 386 | |
Serice to the three senses | 388 | |
Wonderful way of teaching one thousand sishyas | 396 | |
Brahma Rakshas: Rakshasa Jathi | 397 | |
Disastrous end | 398 | |
Gaudar; Dravidar | 399 | |
Curse and blessing to the disciple who survived | 399 | |
The later part of Gaudar’s history | 402 | |
Jnani and Bhakthi | 407 | |
Acharya’s praise | 408 | |
The life story of Chandra Sarma | 410 | |
Sanyasis in Guru Parampara | 416 | |
Nirvanam | 417 | |
Sanyasa Nama: The glory of Sankara Nama | 428 | |
Similarity with Rmanuja | 430 | |
The greatness of Govinda | 434 | |
Acharya Parampara is only the line of those who have been given the authority | 443 | |
The prayer and the boon | 444 | |
The Avathara of Devas | 447 | |
The help rendered by Mimamsakas in the condemnation of Buddhism | 448 | |
The three-pronged objection of Buddhism | 449 | |
Establishing the God Principle | 450 | |
Acharya’s Classification | 454 | |
The reason why those who had followed karma marga took Avathara | 457 | |
The avatharas of Indra, Sarasvathi: Acharya’s service without help from government | 458 | |
History of Kerala | 459 | |
The Brahmins of ancient Tamil Nadu: Tamil in Kerela | 462 | |
Kanchi Sri Matam and Kumbakonam: Was kumbakonam the original? | 468 | |
The parents who had earned Punya | 477 | |
The prayer at thrichur: Greatness of the place | 478 | |
Granting of the boon | 480 | |
The greatness of the Jayanthi | 482 | |
Celebrate in a grand manner | 484 | |
Special connection of Kanchi region | 485 | |
Sankara Jayanthi in Kamakshi temple | 486 | |
Dedication of the mind and silent meditation | 488 | |
The greatness of Namakaranam | 490 | |
Katapayadhi Sankya | 491 | |
The day of Siddhi according to Katapayadhi | 492 | |
The auspicious day a avatharam | 495 | |
That which does good: Practical evidence | 496 | |
The proper matching of Vasantha Ruthu and the month of Vaikasi | 497 | |
Srisailam: ‘Arjuna Kshethra | 498 | |
Determining Sri Sankara’s period | 501 | |
Principles of Buddhism in Acharya’s Bashyam | 507 | |
References to A.D. in Acharya’s Sthothras | 508 | |
The ulterior motive of the westerners and their ridicule | 513 | |
Child prodigy | 555 | |
Upanayana at the young age | 556 | |
Understanding the meaning of a Sloka | 563 | |
Spirituality in Worldliness: It rained gold | 566 | |
The seed for the later day Upadesa in the very first Sthothra | 575 | |
The river which changed its course | 581 | |
The world calling: Dharma of the people and the secret of Avathara | 583 | |
Became a sanyasi | 586 | |
Let him narrate his own story | 589 | |
Taking leave of the mother and going in search of Guru | 591 | |
Why doe s he need a Guru? | 594 | |
Books called ‘Sankara Vijayam’ and other books relating to Acharya | 595 | |
Meeting the Guru- Taking sanyasam- writing commentary on Brahmasuthram (suthra Bashyam) | 616 | |
Preaching Vedhic religion during the stay at kasi | 618 | |
Acharya’s literary works | 620 | |
One who founded the three paths (Marga) | 623 | |
The story of Padmapadha- The greatness of the Hunter | 626 | |
Compassion even to a murderer | 629 | |
Debate with Vyasa and extension of life | 630 | |
Even an outcaste (Panchama) is my Guru if he is a Jnani | 633 | |
Equal vision of a jnani and social equality are different | 643 | |
Lord Viswanatha’s sport (Lila) | 648 | |
The story of Kumarila Bhattar- Karma and Jnana | 648 | |
The city of scholars where mandanar lived | 657 | |
Acharya defeating Mandanar- Sarasawani | 659 | |
The greatness of Srungeri | 666 | |
The individuality and greatness of Sureswara | 668 | |
Padmapadha’s Panchapadhikai | 671 | |
Hasthamalakar, the mouna Jnani | 672 | |
Thotakar: Personification of devotion to Guru | 675 | |
Two more gems of sishyas: Sarvajnathmar and Pruthvithavar | 679 | |
Great Dhigvijayam which achieved wonders: Spiritual unity and National unity | 684 | |
Converting ‘Ugra’ (severe) deities into peaceful ones | 687 | |
Removal of differences between deities: Panchayathana murthis | 689 | |
Jagadguru who was Acharya for people at all levels | 692 | |
A resume of religions including Adhvaitha | 693 | |
Sri Sankara Mutts | 701 | |
Mother passes away | 703 | |
Pilgrimage through the entire Bharath | 705 | |
Siva-Sakthi Dharsan: Sivalingas and Sakthi Sthuthi | 708 | |
The greatness of Kanchi (Kanchipuram) | 715 | |
Acharya in Kanchi | 716 | |
4 | Mangalaraththi | 729 |
May Anjana’s son bless us with the spirit of action (Ajadyam) | 731 |
Srimukham | (I) | |
Gurusthuthi | (V) | |
Introduction | (IX) | |
Acknowledgements | (XIV) | |
Guidance to Pronounciation | (XVII) | |
1 | Mangalarambam | 1 |
A life blessed with sixteen is a great life | 3 | |
Remedy for all obstacles | 3 | |
The greatness of sixteen | 6 | |
Shodasa Nama Slokas | 7 | |
Sumukar | 8 | |
How Ganapathi wit Human face became elephant-faced | 9 | |
One who is of the form of joy | 10 | |
One with the good mouth | 10 | |
The greatness of the elephant’s mouth and its philosophy | 11 | |
Ekadanthar: ‘One who will do his utmost to others’ | 12 | |
One who is also a female | 13 | |
Vigneswara Gayathri | 13 | |
Kapilar: Vinayaka of tiruchengattankudi | 14 | |
Vathapi Ganapathi: Some historical details | 15 | |
The elephant- Faced and Agasthya | 18 | |
Gajakarnakar | 20 | |
Lambhodharar | 23 | |
Vikatar | 24 | |
Vikata Vinayakas in some holy places | 26 | |
Vikata Chakra Vinayakar | 28 | |
Vigna Rajar | 28 | |
Noble purpose in creating obstacles too | 29 | |
‘Personal’ Experience | 30 | |
Vinayakar; Double Pillaiyar | 32 | |
The famous name | 35 | |
The qualifying letter ‘Vi’ | 36 | |
Vi-Nayakar in two meanings | 36 | |
The names of Pillaiyar in Amaram | 37 | |
Dhumakethu | 38 | |
Ganadhyakshar | 40 | |
Bhalachandrar | 41 | |
Pillaiyar and the moon | 43 | |
Gajananar | 44 | |
The great qualities of the elephant | 44 | |
Animals which have divine links | 47 | |
One who has within himself all the beings | 48 | |
The outline of the original | 49 | |
The face and the mouth | 50 | |
Vakrathundar | 51 | |
Surpakarnar | 52 | |
Herambar | 53 | |
Elephant which is worshipped by lion | 54 | |
The five-faced one with the lion as the vehicle | 56 | |
Skandha Purvajar | 56 | |
The greatness of being Murugan’s elder brother | 57 | |
The role of the elder in the birth of Muruga | 57 | |
The role of the elder in Murugan’s marriage | 61 | |
The role of the elder in Murugan’s Sanyasam | 62 | |
Murugan who has all the benefits of the Phalasruthi | 63 | |
The greatness of the name of Skanda | 66 | |
Let us start the day by remembering the elder brother | 68 | |
2 | Guru | 69 |
Desikar who gives Upadesam | 71 | |
The way and direction in life | 71 | |
Purvoththaram: East- North | 71 | |
The world ‘Dhich’ both as noun and verb | 72 | |
Desam, Upadesam | 73 | |
The meaning of ‘Upa’ | 75 | |
The word ‘Desikar’ with two meanings | 77 | |
Word that shows cordial relationship | 77 | |
Higher than the mother and the father is the Guru | 78 | |
Acharya Dharmam | 79 | |
The greatness of the mother and the father | 79 | |
The ‘cucumber mukthi’ of the Jnani | 83 | |
The love and sacrifice of the guru | 87 | |
No Jnanam without Guru’s Upadesam | 89 | |
The great merits of the word ‘Desika’ | 92 | |
Paramacharyar | 94 | |
Devi as Desika | 95 | |
3 | Adhvaitham | 99 |
The practice of Adhvaitham | 101 | |
The gist of religious philosophies | 101 | |
Adhvaitham which is so different from others | 102 | |
What appears simple is so difficult | 104 | |
Moksham through iswara’s grace (Anugraham) | 106 | |
Effort has to be continued even if the goal is delayed | 109 | |
Sadhana Chathushtayam | 111 | |
The path laid down by Acharya on the lines of Vedhas | 111 | |
Karma and Bhakthi- Preliminary to Jnana | 114 | |
Sraddha (Faith) is necessary | 115 | |
The qualification for spiritual practice | 118 | |
The highest Sadhana is only for the Sanyasi | 121 | |
Why should what is appropriate to a Sanyasi be prescribed for every one? | 126 | |
Two different paths for two different types of people | 127 | |
The reason why it is being told to all | 131 | |
About Bhakthiyogam | 134 | |
Basic knowledge of Adhvaitha for all | 135 | |
Discrimination of the permanent and the ephemeral | 139 | |
Vairagyam: (Distaste for worldly desires) | 146 | |
Six kinds of wealth | 159 | |
Samam- Dhamam | 160 | |
What is Samam? | 160 | |
Uparathi | 171 | |
Thithikshai | 173 | |
Sraddha | 182 | |
Samadhanam | 194 | |
Who is entitled to formally learn Upanishad? | 202 | |
Strictness in Samadhanam | 204 | |
Paramathma’s six and Jivathma’s six | 205 | |
Mumukkshuthvam | 206 | |
Why is the ultimate state described only as ‘Release’? | 207 | |
Mumukshu: As defined by Acharya | 210 | |
The lower level, Middle level mumukshu | 214 | |
Guru’s prasad | 216 | |
Acharya and ancient texts on Mumukshu | 217 | |
Four kinds of spiritual army | 224 | |
Before the three parts of the third stage | 224 | |
Bhakthi: Its place in Jnana Marga | 225 | |
What is Bhakthi? | 227 | |
What is love? | 227 | |
Anthahkaranam (Inner sense organs) and the heart | 228 | |
Ahankaram and love | 231 | |
What is the object of the love of a spiritual aspirant? (Athma Sadhaka) | 233 | |
Bhakthi of the Nirguna and Saguna forms | 235 | |
A pleasing love which is full of life | 237 | |
For the removal of haughtiness also | 239 | |
Ahankaram in Sadhana: Two stages | 240 | |
Bhakthi and Hrudhayam | 243 | |
The nadis of the Hrudhayam; the life of a Jnani subsiding and the life of others departing | 246 | |
Death during Uththarayanam- The correct meaning | 255 | |
Two differing fruits of Karma Yogam | 256 | |
Nadi going from the ‘Hrudhayam’ To the head- wrongly understood | 257 | |
The Bhakthi of Jnana Marga is greater than that of Bhakthi Marga | 262 | |
Bhakthi itself is Jnana as shown by Krishna | 266 | |
Third stage | 269 | |
Reununciation | 269 | |
Serial names in Vishnu Sahasranamam | 277 | |
Sanyasakruth Samo | 278 | |
Sravana etc. As the injunction of the Vedhas | 279 | |
Sravanam and Susrusha (service to guru) | 280 | |
Can a guru who has had anubhuthi (spiritual experience) be found? | 283 | |
To be after a single target | 283 | |
The characteristics of sravana, Manana and Nidhidhyasana | 285 | |
The state before Siddhi | 286 | |
Mananam which transcends the little intelligence: Nidhidhyasanam which transcends emotions | 287 | |
For the two differing attitudes (Bhavana) to go | 289 | |
The greatness of Mananam-Nidhidhyasanam | 291 | |
Worm becoming a wasp; To make a worm a wasp | 292 | |
What needs to be done immediately | 297 | |
4 | Saundaryalahari | 299 |
The Acharya- A divine incarnation | 301 | |
The saundaryalahari- The crest of devotional poetry | 303 | |
The Jnani and devotion | 304 | |
The divine origin of the ‘Saundarylahari’ | 314 | |
Why the Drama enacted by Nandhikesvara? | 319 | |
Three great devotional Hymns | 325 | |
The saundaryalahari- Its grandeur | 330 | |
A divinely inspired poet- in two senses | 331 | |
Commentaries on the Hymn | 337 | |
Mother worship | 341 | |
Devi in sacred literature | 345 | |
The two ‘Laharis’ and their names | 345 | |
A title with universal appeal | 351 | |
Names of ambal: Not many used in the Hymn | 353 | |
On ‘Anandalahari’ | 357 | |
Appreciating beauty is its own reward | 360 | |
What is beauty? | 364 | |
Ambal: Beauty that is full, Love that is total | 369 | |
The hymn itself a portrait of ambika | 375 | |
‘Anandalahari’ : Adhvitha and Saktha | 376 | |
The Hymn to Sakthi starts with Siva | 385 | |
Imparting life-force to Siva masculine and feminine names | 395 | |
Acharya for both paths | 400 | |
Panchakruthya and Kamesvari and Kamesvara | 405 | |
Siva and Hara | 415 | |
‘Pundarikam’Namam’ | 416 | |
Siva’s Spandhana or Vibration | 419 | |
Hymn composed with an open mind | 425 | |
Adhvaitha maya and sakthi in the Saiva and Saktha dortrines | 430 | |
Jnania through Maya | 440 | |
Sakthi and Lila in Adhvaitha | 443 | |
How we must approach the Hymn | 445 | |
Kundalini Yoga great caution needed | 454 | |
Explaining the Hymn before a public assembly | 462 | |
The Saktha system and science | 465 | |
The first stanza: What it teaches | 473 | |
Cosmic functions with the dust on Ambal’s feet | 476 | |
Can we start with the feet? | 478 | |
The dust on Ambal’s feet it does good here and hereafter | 480 | |
Abhaya and granted by the hand | 486 | |
Deity of the Hymn Hinted at | 489 | |
Can kama ever be a blessing | 492 | |
The power of Ambal’s sidelong glance it made kama a Triumphant Hero | 499 | |
Kama’s conquest of Siva not mentioned | 509 | |
Not Siva and Sakthi but Sivasakthi | 511 | |
Portrait Of Ambal | 513 | |
Ambika’s residence | 524 | |
In the Kundalini Form | 530 | |
Whatever path you follow… | 531 | |
The srichakra and its greatness | 536 | |
Yanthra, Thanthra, Capital city each without a separate name | 541 | |
The incomparable beauty of Ambal | 543 | |
Embodiment of time | 548 | |
Bestowing the gift of eloquence importance of sound in the saktha system | 548 | |
Curing illness | 561 | |
‘Good snake’, ‘Bad snake’ | 568 | |
The importance of red the inner meaning of ‘Attraction’ | 572 | |
The ‘Sahasranamam’ and the ‘Saundaryalahari’ | 581 | |
From ‘Daso’ ham to ‘so ham’ | 585 | |
Three arathis | 595 | |
Why rudra is not mentioned sleep, Death and Thuriya Samadhi | 597 | |
Devotees who are Adhvaithis Never Perish | 602 | |
The glory of Ambal’s Chastity | 606 | |
Ambal’s sport and Isvara and other deities | 607 | |
The sport of protection and punishment | 612 | |
Ambal: The medicine that gives life to Isa | 614 | |
Ambal’s Thatanka | 620 | |
Why Vishnu is left out | 625 | |
The theft committed by Ambal | 627 | |
Dedicating one’s all | 637 | |
Siva-Sakthi: Life-body | 642 | |
The mother who suckles all the Sesha-seshi concept | 646 | |
‘Sesha’; ‘Seshi’= Property; Owner of property | 650 | |
Gist of th two stanzas | 659 | |
Siva and sakthi in the Chakras | 661 | |
Father and mother | 663 | |
Siva and Sakthi in different states | 671 | |
Chandra-Surya-Maulisvari | 685 | |
The black that dispels darkness | 691 | |
‘Saundaryalahari’ | 696 | |
The two half-moons-that changed places | 713 | |
The eyebrows as bow- The eyes as bowstring | 718 | |
The three eyes: The three Gunas | 730 | |
Nethra and Kshethra | 734 | |
Ambal’s eyes and poetry | 739 | |
The eye: Abode of the nine rasas | 745 | |
‘Minalochana’ Hinted at | 752 | |
‘Mother, Bathe me too in your grace’ | 756 | |
The nose-ornament and the finer points of Yoga | 769 | |
The incomparable beauty of ambal’s lips | 772 | |
The smile that ‘Sours’ Moonlight | 774 | |
Thambula Prasada | 779 | |
The praise that shames | 786 | |
Creases in the throat the male white and the female red | 794 | |
Beauty of hands | 803 | |
Milk of Jnana | 804 | |
The Tamil child | 805 | |
The knees of a Pathivratha | 807 | |
The Bhagvatpadha and the Bhagavatipadha | 809 | |
The lotus that blooms in the mind-stone | 814 | |
Surrendering at Ambal’s feet | 616 | |
Even the lotus is no match | 818 | |
Red has its glory | 819 | |
The moon- A vessel for perfumes | 821 | |
The Acharya cautions us… | 822 | |
Ambika’s amazing pathivrathya | 830 | |
Chief queen of the Parabrahmam | 833 | |
The richly rewarding mother worship | 839 | |
The auspicious conclusion | 847 | |
5 | Mangalarathihi | 861 |
The Immortal Anjaneyaswamy | 863 |
Srimukham | (I) | |
Gurusthuthi | (V) | |
Introduction | (IX) | |
Acknowledgements | (XIV) | |
Guidance to Pronounciation | (XVII) | |
1 | Mangalarambam | 1 |
Vinayaka and Tamil | 3 | |
Vigneswara’s great help to Tamil Nadu | 3 | |
Important Vaishnava temples and Vigneswara’s sport | 4 | |
Three deities which face the south: Amity between saivam and Vaishnavam | 7 | |
The truth and appropriateness of Vinayaka’s lila | 8 | |
The exclusive feature of bharat | 10 | |
Worship according to prescribed procedure and devotional worship | 11 | |
Growth of culture only due to Ganesa | 14 | |
One who has the maximum number of temples | 14 | |
Vinayaka and Tamil | 15 | |
The grace that gives good mind and speech from Dharma and Upto Moksha | 15 | |
Sanskrit and Tamil | 16 | |
2 | Guru | 19 |
The relationship between the Guru and the Sishya | 21 | |
‘Ra’ Which destroys sin | 23 | |
‘Wo’ Is the form of Maha Vishnu | 24 | |
Vishnu, Vasudeva- The Terms explained | 25 | |
What the Sishya gains from guru’s qualities | 26 | |
Adhvaitham and the aspect of Anugraham (grace) | 27 | |
Maha Vishnu as the Guru | 29 | |
Father-Guru | 29 | |
Guru too has the qualities of the father | 30 | |
Father-Guru in other religions | 32 | |
Paternal lineage being the lineage of Guru | 34 | |
Names of Rishis in maternal lineage glory of mother as expounded by Acharya | 35 | |
Women and Brahma Vidhya | 36 | |
Scholarship of women: Difference between the olden times and these days | 38 | |
The high status accorded to women by Acharya | 40 | |
Mother too as Guru: Acharya’s approval | 41 | |
Sathyakama Japalar | 43 | |
Guru who is above the mother and father | 44 | |
Development of the brain and the heart | 45 | |
The present fallen state | 47 | |
Secular education | 47 | |
Guru: Acharya | 49 | |
Adhyakshaka: Adhyapak | 50 | |
Characteristics of the Guru will be imbibed by the Sishya also | 50 | |
Greatness of the word ‘Acharya’ | 51 | |
Upadhyaya | 52 | |
Desikar Who shows the way | 53 | |
In Upanishad- Guru who shows the way | 54 | |
Even great men have had several Gurus | 55 | |
Pathivratham and Guruvratham | 57 | |
The Guru who shows the way, as seen in Vedhas | 64 | |
Guru as Kshethrajna | 66 | |
Guru: For the final goal and Intermediate stages | 69 | |
The entire knowledge of the Guru is for Sishya | 70 | |
The duty of Acharya as laid down by our Acharya | 71 | |
Sadhguru and Sadhsishya | 72 | |
The entire ‘Wealth’ of the Guru is for the Sishya | 72 | |
More lessons about Guru-Sishya | 74 | |
Explanation of Sishya | 75 | |
Guru’s Humility | 76 | |
Not just being humble but telling the Whole truth | 78 | |
Guru’s Upadesam cannot be compensated for | 78 | |
Upadesam that comes as a tradition | 79 | |
One who Violates tradition Is ‘Stupid’- Acharya. | 80 | |
Acharya’s Bhakthi to Guru Parampara | 81 | |
One who never says a thing he does not know | 82 | |
Making sure of the Guru’s qualification and doing surrender | 84 | |
The noble culture of the Guru himself becoming a Sishya: | 85 | |
Half-baked knowledge is pride perfect knowledge is humility | 87 | |
Purohithar | 90 | |
Culture undermined in free-India | 91 | |
Vidhya Guru and Diksha Guru | 92 | |
Guru’s great responsibility | 92 | |
Purohitha and Guru | 93 | |
Sishya’s effort and the Guru’s grace | 95 | |
The next line | 97 | |
Guru who raises the sishya to his own level | 98 | |
The qualifications of a Sishya and the compassion of the Guru | 100 | |
The spurious pundits exposed by the Upanishads and Sankara | 101 | |
The authority of Vedhas; Other religions | 104 | |
Sraddha (faith) in Vedhas and the Guru | 106 | |
Surrender (Saranagathi) | 106 | |
Vedhas- Sasthras to be learnt only through a Guru Ambal’s strange plan | 107 | |
Common simple way of worship and prayers through sthothras | 108 | |
The community of people: Even if an exclusive Guru is not there, A common Guru is necessary | 113 | |
Humility and Sraddha | 115 | |
The greatness of Sraddha as shown by Acharya | 116 | |
Saranagathi flows from Sraddha | 117 | |
Two kinds of surrender and Guru-Sishya relationship | 118 | |
3 | The State | 121 |
The State and Religion | 123 | |
Dharma Chakram- Indication of Lord’s grace | 123 | |
True secularism | 123 | |
Responsibilities of the state in elevating the peoples mind | 124 | |
Limitations of the role of the state in matters of religion | 125 | |
Independent body of representatives of all religions | 126 | |
What the government gains by nurturing religion | 127 | |
Government support: Hindu religion and other religions | 128 | |
Institutions of Hindu religion: Lacking in man power and financial support | 129 | |
Religions nurtured by kings and people | 130 | |
What the freedom movement failed to do: How Hindu religion was affected | 130 | |
People of all religions to live as brothers | 132 | |
The strange position of the minorities and the majority in India | 132 | |
Aspects of religion which need state support | 133 | |
People’s support is the asset in matters of religion | 133 | |
Freedom of religion and religious conversion | 134 | |
Propaganda- The right and wrong way | 135 | |
Ban on and punishment for wrong methods | 135 | |
Hindu religion and conversion; Re-conversion to set right original conversion | 140 | |
Use of methods unrelated to religion to meet with severe punishment: | 141 | |
So long as conversion prevails, return to parent religion should be permitted | 145 | |
Religion and spirituality: The high point of India | 145 | |
Decline of religious feeling in India: What the history of a thousand years shows | 146 | |
The cunning ways of foreigners and the ‘Two revolutions’ | 147 | |
The big question mark before us | 148 | |
Atmosphere of disbelief; The result of Gandhism not being adopted | 149 | |
State religion | 150 | |
Changes in educational scheme: Giving importance to teaching of religion | 151 | |
People have to fight for spiritual freedom just as for political freedom | 151 | |
The real reason for the Dharma Chakra having found a place in the national flag | 153 | |
Vedhic saying as the nation’s motto | 154 | |
Is it Dharma chakra or a factory wheel? | 155 | |
Gita’s Dharma Chakram | 155 | |
The path of Dharma Chakra- Sacrifice is it essence | 156 | |
Prayers and blessings for the freedom of the individual and the country | 158 | |
4 | Society | 161 |
For the Youngsters | 163 | |
For the Youngsters- 2: Bathe your mind | 164 | |
Clean mind | 165 | |
Uttering lies and fear | 166 | |
Jealousy | 166 | |
The Lord’s love and rules of Dharma | 169 | |
Pray to become good Children | 169 | |
For the young- 3: One who is mother and father of the world | 170 | |
Mother and father- The first God we know of | 170 | |
For the mind and intellect to become clear | 171 | |
Being of help to others | 172 | |
In order that bad qualities do not affect | 173 | |
Arohara | 173 | |
For adult students | 174 | |
Bhakthi is essential | 174 | |
For the development of good conduct | 175 | |
Politics- Never | 175 | |
Service without hindrance to studies | 177 | |
Cinema, Drugs, Newspapers, Narcotics | 178 | |
Educational institutions of olden times | 179 | |
Discipline is Needed | 180 | |
Self control is itself a great achievement | 181 | |
A new type of students union | 181 | |
Develop the good and curtail the bad | 182 | |
Go Samrakshanam (cow protection) | 183 | |
Gomatha and Bhumatha | 184 | |
Srimatha and Gomatha | 185 | |
Glory- Both in practical terms and spiritually | 186 | |
Cow’s milk: Wholesome food, Improves sathva guna | 186 | |
Where there is universal love | 187 | |
Even the cow’s dung is pure | 188 | |
The example of Bhopal | 189 | |
Panchagavyam | 190 | |
In medical treatment and in musical instruments | 191 | |
Cruelty to the cow is like killing the mother | 191 | |
The cow’s horn is something special | 192 | |
Abhishekam with ghee | 193 | |
Vibhuthi | 193 | |
The dust rising from the cow’s hoof | 194 | |
No Yajna without the cow | 195 | |
Protecting the cow is protecting the world | 196 | |
Gomatha and Lakshmi | 197 | |
Unpardonable crime | 199 | |
The duty of the state and the people | 199 | |
Easy way to feed a cow | 200 | |
Protective shelters | 201 | |
People to come together as a family in the service of the cow | 202 | |
Nurturing the cow is punya, neglecting it is sin | 202 | |
Cow protection in olden times | 203 | |
National wealth | 204 | |
Milk not to be wasted on coffee | 204 | |
Ghee lamp | 205 | |
Law to protect cow slaughter | 206 | |
5 | Culture | 209 |
The Art of Drama- Then and Now | 211 | |
Drama and Emotion | 212 | |
The Hero | 214 | |
Happy end | 214 | |
Navarasas- Peace (Santham) | 216 | |
Arts must help in reaching the state of peace (Santham0 | 218 | |
Today’s fallen state | 220 | |
Adhvaitham and Kanchi Sri Matam figuring in a Swayamvaram | 222 | |
Sacrifice by mothers | 225 | |
Adhvaitham in Swayamvaram | 227 | |
Saraswatjo’s skill | 230 | |
How literature speaks of Dharma | 231 | |
The deity of Kanchi mutt in the story of Nala | 231 | |
The great Chola king one who had on his head the holy feet of the Lord (Sivapadhasekaran) | 233 | |
Nothing can be a bar to knowledge | 236 | |
Kesidhwajar | 238 | |
Adhwaitha Jnanis and the phenomenal world | 238 | |
Kandikyar | 240 | |
The story takes shape | 240 | |
Prayaschitham: Lord’s name and vaidhika karma | 242 | |
Asking the enemy for Prayaschitham | 242 | |
Indian culture | 245 | |
Guru Dakshina | 245 | |
Sworn enemies become Guru-Sishya | 248 | |
The lessons of the story | 250 | |
Where the Gita, The Bible, The Kural speak alike | 250 | |
6 | Matters Divine | 253 |
Athma as Witness (Sakshi) | 255 | |
Sakshi- In practice | 257 | |
Sri Rama and ‘Agni Sakshi’ | 261 | |
When the Gods become witness | 264 | |
Sakshi Ganapathi | 264 | |
Sakshi Gopal | 269 | |
Sakshina Yakeswarar | 275 | |
Sakshina Theswarar | 277 | |
Dipavali- Holi bath in Ganga and Kaveri | 282 | |
Plea to Krishna | 283 | |
Narakasura’s death; Sathyabhama’s role | 284 | |
Bhumadevi’s Prayers | 287 | |
Gita: Dipavali’s younger brother | 290 | |
Why ‘Ganga Snanam’? | 292 | |
A blemish even for the lord (Dhosham) | 293 | |
Prayaschittha prescribed by Iswara | 294 | |
Kaveri-Thula Ghat | 296 | |
Kaveri Snanam on Dipavali day | 297 | |
7 | Sadhasivam | 299 |
Adhi Guru | 301 | |
The eight names (Ashtanama): Mahadeva | 302 | |
Mahalingam- Maheswaran | 303 | |
The five functions | 304 | |
Only Siva has the adjective ‘Sadha’ | 305 | |
Sadhasiva in Rig Vedha | 306 | |
He is what is Good and the bad too | 307 | |
‘Race theory’ Is wrong | 308 | |
One who is always ‘Ugra’ and always ‘Sowmya’ | 308 | |
Rudra too is Siva inside | 310 | |
Sadhasivom- What the Vedha declares | 311 | |
Siva and Sivam | 312 | |
The bliss of ‘Sath’ and ‘Chith’ combining in Subrahmanyam | 315 | |
Sathyam, Sivam, Sundaram | 316 | |
8 | Principles Underlying Namaskaram | 319 |
Namonamah | 321 | |
The Mahaswami’s grievance | 321 | |
Acharya’s rule for a Sanyasi | 321 | |
Acharya and Narayana Nama | 321 | |
All Namaskaras are for Narayana only | 327 | |
True Smaranam | 328 | |
True Sanyasi and Namaskaram | 328 | |
Sanyasi who is Matadipathi and Namaskaram | 330 | |
The power of ‘Asirvadham’ (Blessing) | 331 | |
Narayana is the basis for the power of Asirvadham | 332 | |
Lifting the hand as a sign of ‘Asirvadham’ | 332 | |
His prayers and the faith of the devotees | 333 | |
High status | 334 | |
One who does Namaskaram is fortunate | 337 | |
Namaskaram by Sanyasi: | 337 | |
The principle underlying ‘Dhandam’ | 338 | |
‘Dhandam’ carried by a Sanyasi | 339 | |
Whe humility attains fullness | 340 | |
The living great command more respect | 341 | |
His misfortune | 342 | |
For humility to grow | 343 | |
The internal and external rise and fall of man | 344 | |
Bowing the heat to reduce ego | 345 | |
Why fall flat with face down? | 345 | |
Sashtanga Namaskaram | 346 | |
Panchanga Namaskaram- Greatness of motherhood | 349 | |
Vanakkam | 350 | |
Men also can do Panchanga Namaskaram | 350 | |
Love for the country and Parochialism | 351 | |
Archana in Tamil | 352 | |
Valour and obeisance | 357 | |
Obedience; Susrusha | 360 | |
Prampatham (Pranamam) | 360 | |
Abhivadhanam | 362 | |
Before and after the name of God: | 369 | |
No Abhivadhanam to a Sanyasi | 370 | |
Doing Anjali; Shaking Hands | 371 | |
When hooding hands becomes holy | 374 | |
Holding the hand and ‘Dhandam’ | 376 | |
Culture that distinguishes between men and women | 377 | |
Types of Anjali | 378 | |
Pradhakshinam | 379 | |
The Mahaswami continues | 380 | |
Movement of the planets and our Pradhakshinam | 382 | |
Namaskaram which follows Pradhakshinam | 385 | |
Rules of Sasthras which transcend rationality | 386 | |
The greatness of humility | 387 | |
Those entitled to Namaskaram: Age limit | 387 | |
Single ‘Namah’- Not uttered | 388 | |
What gives even final release | 389 | |
Namaskaram is useful by itself | 393 | |
Manakaram | 393 | |
Economic prosperity- Not an end itself | 393 | |
Exceptions | 395 | |
Namaskaram which removes darkness | 395 | |
9 | Mangalaraththi | 397 |
Hanuman the Jnani and his Jnana Guru | 399 |