GAYATRI MANTRA IS THE DIVINE CULTURE

Every human being can refine his character, thoughts, talents and actions and transform himself into a great personality, become a world leader like George Washington, an intrepid warrior like Napoleon, a sage like Vivekananda and reach still higher realms of self-evolution. God has bestowed divine potentials in everybody, one only needs to realize, recognize and raise these by spiritual enlightenment. Gayatri sadhana can make it possible in this very life. I have researched and experimented myself on the philosophy and science of this mantra and found that all that is stated in the scriptures about its supreme spiritual force and cosmic radiance and divine power of evolution of consciousness is absolutely true. This is why I can tell you so confidently about it. I want you all, the whole world, to benefit by the divine grace of Gayatri. It will accelerate both your worldly progress as well as spiritual ascent. It is important for us. We need neither renounce the worldly life nor should we neglect our spiritual growth and wellbeing. The support of Gayatri Mantra guides our intellect and orients our capabilities for righteous progress on both the fronts.

I have been explaining and guiding you in different kinds of upasana-sadhana of Gayatri Mantra. Regular sessions for practice in this spiritually vibrant ambience of Shantikunj are also run here throughout the year. Everybody is welcome here. Now, let me tell you something about the siddhis (supramental achievements) bestowed by Gayatri. When and what does the Mother Gayatri bestow upon us?

Well, a mother loves every child but she gives only small toys and toffees and things like that to the tiny kids. She does not give precious gift or valuables to them unless they mature and she is convinced that they can take proper care of those things. What if a five-year old Ramesh asks his mother to give him the key of the lockers! Will she give it to him? No, instead, she would hide it carefully so that the kid won't see it. Yes, but once Ramesh is grown up and starts sharing the responsibilities of the household and is wise and capable enough to transact his duties, the mother would one day herself hand over the keys to him and his wife. When Ramesh was a child he would cry for sweet and expensive toys, and break them in no time. As a teenager he was wayward and would like to imitate whatever good or bad his friends were doing. Show-off, mischief making, quarreling were his interests then, but now things are different. He has matured not only in age but also in wisdom. Earlier he would compel his parents to purchase milk-care of 20 Rupees and eat half and throw away the remaining. But now he himself earns. He knows the value of hard earned money. He would even drink tea without milk if there is some scarcity at him, as he understands that the little children and the elderly need it more. He earns respect in the society because of his good nature and dutiful conduct. What if he were a drunkard, a hoodlum, or a lethargic chap who would do nothing except watching cinema and day dreaming? Then? Even his near and dear ones would not have believed him. No one would like to lend money or extend support to him. One earns his status in worldly life in the society as per his qualities and deeds.

Spiritual attainments are more precious than anything else in this universe. They can't be bestowed upon just anyone. Gods bless only the deserving devotees. What you achieve depends upon your purity, sincerity, and devotion in the sadhana. Siddhis will gradually emerge from within as you progress in the sadhana. A guru (spiritual master) helps you march along the path of spirituality only if you deserve it and only if you are dedicated towards this noble cause. He certainly guides you on how to become a deserving disciple and also initiates you in the sadhana and commences the journey on the path of knowledge. But your success will depend upon your own endeavors. He shows the path but it is you who has to step ahead. There is nothing like a magic wand in spiritual practices, as many of you might think. You may wish that the guru, or a great yogi, will put his hand on your head and you will attain some siddhis. But this is all your delusion.

GAYATRI IS A UNIQUE SOLUTION FOR PROBLEMS

It is absolutely easy to be liberated from sins by Gayatri worship. The specialty of Gayatri worship is that when the resonance of the innate powers within its 24 letters occurs within the heart, the sattogun (virtue) within thoughts increased day-by-day and as a result changes occur in the nature and program of the person. One in whose heart virtuous thoughts increase; the same excellence will also be there in his deeds.

A person's nature is not any definite or permanent thing. It keeps on changing according to situations and sentiments. It is not necessary that person who is sinful to-day will remain sinful throughout life. Similarly it cannot also be said that a person who is a gentleman with good conduct to-day, will remain so in future also.

Situations and sentiments can bring about such a change in a person that he will appear completely transformed. Sin is a type of mental condition and habit. It is within man's power to give up sin by strength of mind. The mental strength necessary for the change by giving up sin is created in promising measure by Gayatri-worship and the means for inner transformation become easily available. Liberation from sins is as easy as shaving one's bearded. It is not proper for a sinful person to think that - since he has been on the wrong path up to now and adopted sinful thoughts and performed bad deeds, how is his reform possible? This disappointment is improper because every fallen person can rise up, every sinner can become pure.

Many a times it is seen that man performs wicked deeds because of helplessness, ignorance, bad company, curiosity or force of circumstances. At that time, he does not think that such sin is terrible. Afterwards, with his mental development, the same wickedness appears very horrible. But because those sinful acts were carried out because of wretched mental condition, the related punishment is also small. According to man's conscience, compassion is felt at the time of killing; therefore it is a sin for him. In man's mental situations too there can be small or big vibrations due to various reasons. During such mental conditions sins committed in mental weakness due to ignorance are not considered serious in the eyes of God although traditionally believed to be so.

Sometimes it so happens that with good intentions, a man performs some deeds which - according to traditional code of conduct - are considered very big sins. But when looked at judicially, they are not considered so despicable, but many a time not only forgivable fut the same bad acts become praiseworthy also. When a person kills someone for rubbing his wealth, it becomes a terrible sin. A judge of some court of law passes a death-sentence on some anti-social person for protecting the rule of law and an executioner carries out the sentence - they are performing their duties. If someone risks his life to save someone from terrorists and killed them, then it becomes a virtue. All the three have 'killed' some life, but the killings are with different results, therefore all three are not considered sinful in the same way.

Stealing is a bad act. But according to circumstances, that too does not remain a bad deed. One who is prosperous and yet unjustly robs others is decidedly a thief. Take another example - in a situation of loss of life through severe hunger, if a person tries to protect his life by robbing something from a prosperous man, it is no big sin. In a third situation, by robbing a wicked person of his means - making him powerless and putting such means to good use is an act of virtue.  All the three thieves cannot be treated as sinners at the same level.

Many a time - because of situations, helplessness, necessity for religious protection or little intellectual development - such acts are performed which appear damnable, but the intention behind them is not sinful. Such acts cannot be termed as sins. Among those who can be included in the list of sinners, most people are such that they had to perform undesirable acts because of some of the above reasons, but later on they became normal. They became helpless because of situations, lack of solutions, and habits, and slipped into wickedness. They would have definitely become good individuals if they were in good situations, or received good facilities and obtained proper means for progress and satisfaction.

However sinful a person in the eyes of law and public opinion, but in reality the number of sinners in this world is very small. People who became wicked because of the force of circumstances can be reformed because every soul is pure because the soul is a part of God.

 Please follow its next part "Gayatri - A Unique Solution For Problems-1"

GAYATRI - A UNIQUE SOLUTION FOR PROBLEMS-1

Many people think that they have committed so many sins, such wicked deeds and the list of their known and unknown sins is so big, that they cannot be reformed, so how can they achieve salvation? People who think in this manner should know that as soon as they take a vow to walk on the path of good deeds, the old dirty lice-ridden cloak of vices is automatically cast off. By shedding off sins and desires and sincerely repenting for them, we are liberated from the bad results of our bad deeds. Only those traits of acts of our past births which are destined to be borne as prarabdha (fate) have to be born at some time or other during this vehicle of more sins. The punishment under God's law of fate can be lightened by not resorting to wickedness and repenting for earlier sins and it is also possible to be forgiven.

The mental strength through Gayatri -worship definitely helps to remove innumerable bad tendencies, habits and sinful attitudes of the worshipper. Many people ask, "I have so-and-so bad tendency, I have not paid any attention to avoiding non-vegetarian food, I have committed certain bad deeds. Can I be deserving of Gayatri-worship?" Such people should very well understand that Gayatri is a kind of soap. When soap has been created for removing dirt, then it is useless to think whether dirty clothing deserves the use of soap. The use of Gayatri is like a spiritual soap to remove the bad impressions and influences and dualities and controversies within the mind. Hence a sinful person should not hesitate to use it.

Liberation from evil tendencies is definite and easy with inner transformation. It is neither impossible nor surprising if to-day's sinner becomes a saint to-morrow. Authors of scriptures have told this straight-forward tale with great emphasis on the destruction of sins through Gayatri-worship.

It is understood that one can be freed from the punishment for past deeds by certain means, and then evil people will go on committing sins and then resort to the above means by thinking that now their past sins have been annihilated. They will think of further committing the sinful acts and resorting to the prayers for destroying the sins thus mistakenly thinking that they will get the benefit from their bad deeds and simultaneously get the added benefit of freedom from the sins.

One must remove this misconception from its roots. If man goes on committing more sins, he remains sinful only. There is no question of his sins being washed out through prayers. If simultaneously he commits sins also. When man starts despising sinful acts and saves himself from bad thoughts - like cleansing from urine and faces - then on achieving this state of mind, he will not have the inclination to adopt the path of sin. He will not expect that God will accept a small bribe of prayers and forgive his continuity of sins.

But in God's office, those person cases are considered with a liberal attitude, who has given up bad deeds, and not only given up bad tendencies but repented for past mistakes. For the banishment of crimes, the rule of punishment is put into effect - when children do something wrong, the mother scolds them, when a disciple becomes tardy, the teacher takes up the cane, when the societal rules are disturbed, the local council dispenses punishment, when the law is broken, fines, jail, extolment or death-sentence is their. God has provided for punishment of sins through punishment from deities, bodily ailments and material wants or scarcity. This rule of law is not meant as revenge or 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for - a tooth'; but it is created on the basis of highspiritual science. The reason is that as a result of the unhappiness caused by 'punishment' there is a commotion within man's mind, a certain reaction, which shocks his hidden, thinking and he gives up the faulty path to return to the proper path.

Through punishment from others, we are forced to commit penance for our purification.  If we willingly adopt this method for ourselves, willingly undergo penance for our open and hidden sins, and then it is innumerable times better compared to the penance forced on because of others. There is neither insult, nor revenge nor dejection - instead, because of woeful penance there is spiritual joy, and valor and courage manifest and our prestige increases in the eyes of others. The fire of the soul is required for the eradication of sins. The creation of this fire gives double benefits, one - destruction of harmful tendencies, sins, and two - development, nourishment and increase in divine qualities through the same warmth and brightness, and as a result the seeker becomes an ascetic, mentally strong and luminous.

GAYATRI - A UNIQUE SOLUTION FOR PROBLEMS-2

All the scriptures at every step of life, some ritual, fast (including prayers), charity, bath, code of thinking and conduct etc are considered in detail with this in view so by adopting them, the seeker can get these double benefits.

If we have committed some mistake, sin or wicked act, then the real solution for removing their bad effects is that we make a firm resolve not to do such a thing again. In addition if a little penance is also performed, then that resolve gets a boost and its implementation becomes firmer. Along with this, an attitude of a life of virtue gains momentum creates vitality and creates better and better nature, deeds and qualities through which a life of purity, devotion and goodwill becomes easy. In this manner a penance based on the strength of Gayatri can wash out even the biggest sins.

It is possible to wash out one's sins or not?  When thinking on this question we must very well understand that the soul is clean, pure, unadulterated, knowledgeable and unattached. Transparent glass and transparent vessels are by themselves pure; they do not have any color, but if you put any colored water in it, then the vessel will look as if it has that color. If water with another color is added, the color will once again change. Man is also in a similar situation. By its very nature, the soul is without any fault, but it appears according to the qualities, deeds or attitudes enveloping it.

The soul is always faultless, it is changeless - only the mind, intelligence, chitta (the part of the mind concentration with concentration) and the ego get colored due to various influences, and because of them man appears unnatural, wretched and perverted. If a change is brought in this condition, it is not difficult for to-day's wicked man to become a to-morrow's saint.

A man, who has spent most of his past life on the wrong path or has whiled away most of his life, cannot achieve any purpose by feeling unhappy, disappointed or by repenting. The remaining part of life is no less important. The king Parikshit had only one week of his life left. He utilized this period purposefully with full determination and obtained what he wanted - beneficial salvation.

It is a palpable truth that compared to the people termed 'straight' such as mentally retarded, fools, cowards and people with weak health those who are active, alert, vital, valorous and diligent are able to achieve spiritual progress faster. The reason is that in people with low vitality, the source of energy has very limited capacity. Even if they remain devotees and of pure conduct, even then because of less innate energy, their progress is extremely slow. But those who are energetic, and have within themselves the dynamo of vitality and valor - whenever they act in any direction, will achieve heaps of success. Those who have kept their flag flying high in roguish acts, are definitely powerful, but their energy is misdirected. If this same energy is utilized in good deeds, then they can achieve astonishing success in that direction also.

Spiritual progress is also one type of diligence. Only those people can go along this path whose muscles have strength, which are industrious and have tremendous courage and enthusiasm.

The loving lap of Gayatri is always there, even for those who have strayed from the path, walked along the road of wickedness and have carried out innumerable bad deeds. If they repent for their past deeds, take a vow not to repeat them, and are eager to walk the good path, then they can once again get back their natural spiritual qualities and purity. There is definite progress on this path through Gayatri-worship. Even though all the bad tendencies will not disappear together, but the bad tendencies will gradually diminish in proportion to the power of prayers Gayatri worship invariably results in improvement of good qualities, good thoughts and good deeds.

It is evident that most unhappiness in this world is a result of our sins. Many a time our deed gives immediate results - in the form of assault by people whom we have harmed, or by social disgrace, loss or harm resulting from dissatisfaction and non-co-operation from people or from punishment by the state. Even if someone escapes from these, entire nobody can save himself from God's impartial justice. It can be easily inferred by looking at physically and mentally handicapped, sub-normal, chronically ill persons that these people are suffering divine punishment. When carrying out our duties properly, sometimes a sudden crisis confronts us or success is not there despite efforts, then we are forced to say that this is fate as a result of deeds in our past girths.

We should deal with others in the same manner as we expect others to deal with us. We should consciously strive to save ourselves from achieving our interests at the ca\ost of harming others.

Gayatri is that alarm-bell which tells us not to walk on the path of sin. God is present everywhere, he does not take sides. Not a single sin of yours remains hidden from him, nor can you save yourself form the effects of any sin. Aum bhoor bhoovaha swaha, these words in the first line of the mantra constantly teach us that we should always deal with others with friendliness, warmth, love, generosity, honesty, helpfulness, and pleasance. One whom Mother Gayatri has blessed with this attitude will undoubtedly be released from many social afflictions.

Continue to the next article "Gayatri - A Unique Solution For Problems-3"

GAYATRI - A UNIQUE SOLUTION FOR PROBLEMS-3

People do not cooperate with us to the required extent - our family members' neighbors and near ones - if there is opposition, malice, conflict and quarrel with them. When we expect good will from them, even then it is not available. Instead, because they are our opponents, they go on creating obstacles and will not miss any opponents; they go on creating obstacles and will not miss any opportunity for conspiring to harm us. Injuries like court-cases, theft, dacoit, killings, boycott, insult, complaint, back-biting, slander, fault-finding are rarely accidental - most of the time there is the deep malice of old enmity working behind it. Mostly a dissatisfied or malicious person's hand is behind such activities.

The biggest obstacles in our progress are that those who are capable of helping us withdraw their helping hand. If a few persons give their backing to someone, he can achieve promising progress with a little help from them. An important reason for the success of all the successful people in the world is their assistants. A person may be highly learned, extremely intelligent, clever and powerful, but in the absence of cooperation, he cannot achieve anything important and will become handicapped. Non-co-operation may not be as harmful as malice, but that too can become a mountain-like obstacle for progress. Malice is a virulent disease, non cooperation is a mild disease, both belong to the same caste, the difference is only in degree, but the result of both is undesirable.

With the passing away of the near and dear ones, many people become intensely unhappy and they lament the separation day and night. The reason for this mourning is discarding of the sentiment of nearness and getting trapped in attachment. The feeling of nemeses is a generous and all encompassing element. In this type of feeling, our family members are considered as God's gift and a medium for fulfillment of our service. One who understands in this way will not feel unhappy when the soul of a person (who is a part of God) performs the normal process of changing the body. If God takes away one medium of service, we can always serve someone else. The principal reason for unhappiness is that because of the shock of the death of someone, we lose our composure and think of the dead near one as our property and think that we have suffered a loss in our joy, self-interest, hope etc.

Momentary happiness is very attractive, charming and tempting. A person with a narrow view-point gets tempted in it and suffers very much like birds tempted by grains and trapped in a hunter's net. Gayatri warns us about the pitfalls of this temptation and teaches, "Son, you are not the body, but the soul, salvation by becoming a victim of greed, indulgence of desires and senses, and temptations. Look to your permanent benefits and interests and sacrifice your temptations. Sensual pleasures are momentary but their bad effects remain for a long time. The happiness of being wealthy remains only for a short time, but the wickedness taught by immorally earned wealth, and the thorns sown for the future - their bad results live on for a long time. Such short-sighted persons get trapped into many types of addictions.

One who has faith on Gayatri, becomes a far-seeing person of visionary by obeying the second instruction of the Mother in the second part of the mantra. By understanding that addictions kill the vitality of life or life itself, he immediately becomes resolute to discard them. He becomes an opponent of the habits of intoxicants. If he is addicted to such a substance, he gives it up courageously and cautions others against the same. By controlling his lust and tongue, he uses them sparingly and with sagacity. He adopts the policy of observing strict celibacy for a long time and eating only simple food at regular time only. By resorting to fasts, he controls all the senses. He prepares his busy schedule by being careful that not a single moment should be wasted and every moment fruitfully utilized. He loves labor like his own life and feels happy by doing work personally.

The second portion of Gayatri takes us to that position in which a person enjoys in peace the joy which is his birthright. People are not free for self-study, do not have time for physical exercise, do not get time for worship, cannot tear themselves away from 'work' for public service, do not have time for music which elates the mind, and no time for travel, swimming or meeting saints. The reason is only one, viz, that in comparison to their principal activity, such people consider all the above as extremely petty and do not consider them worth for any attention. Leisure is not available for only that work which is not considered essential or important. The work which we consider essential, we finish it first while ignoring others. When the attraction for money is extremely powerful, one does not get the leisure for making one's happy and lofty.

Good intelligent thinking unravels many tangles in our life and roots out many troubles very easily. Many people, unhappy over lack of money or progeny, when they think over the third part of the Gayatri mantra, their eyes open up and they are able to realize their mistakes. Then they start thinking that lack of these things or their existing in a limited way is not a bad situation. Because of this lack, they are able to get the required time and opportunity for progressing in other directions. They are saved from many worries, burdens and wicked acts. A man with just enough income indeed gains more benefits compared to the  man who plunges into day-and-night activities of earning 'by any means' for possessing a lot of wealth and comforts. When the light of Gayatri increases in our head, then poverty, wretchedness, feeling of inferiority and wants, start reducing.

The message of the fourth portion of Gayatri is that we should intelligently utilize favorable and unfavorable situations; we should expect the best future and be prepared to face the worst. If we think of difficulties as only challenges for increasing our efforts, and do not become afraid, then certainly no unpleasant situation can make us unhappy and will not be an obstacle for our cheer. If we adopt the good thinking of remaining cheerful, then we will be easily freed from the bad tendency of becoming unhappy for petty reasons. Life is for playing with a spirit of sportsmanship. Actors perform various roles on the stage but are personally not influenced by the character which they portray. Life has to be carried on the same spirit.

When God takes someone under his shelter, which He wishes to liberate, He makes the fate of such a person bearable so that such devotees quickly become liberated from the burdens of the acts of the past births - thus liberated, the soul does not have to be drawn into the vicious circle of births and deaths. On the one hand, the burden of past-births deeds is over and on the other hand, his inner purity goes on increasing. Because of these benefits on both sides, he progresses with great speed towards the ultimate goal.

Ordinarily, God makes one undergo many bitter experiences for the development of many good qualities. Because of the death of one's own child, the element of pure love flowers forth in the element of mourning and such a person wishes to shower more love on other children.

GOD'S AUTHORITY IS EVERYWHERE

Meaning: The information about the God's authority is expressed in our Yajurved 40/1 is that — one who does not snate away others wealth by believing that God's authority is everywhere, such a 'dharmaatmaa' (religiously great man) obtains happiness in this world, achieves salvation and reaches God's world.

Message: This whole world is richly resplendent with God, who is present in every particle. Every life on earth including insects is active because of Him. All useful matter including grains and wealth are produced only by his benevolence. But it is our misfortune that man is not able to recognize this reality. Believing that whatever exists in the world, all belongs to Him, he (i.e. man) only has the right on it, he is immersed in only utilizing it, enjoying it. It is true that God has produced all these materials for man, but hs also indicated that all the material be utilized with the sentiment of abnegation. Keep only the minimum for your requirements; give up the remaining for others. Only in this lies the salvation.

Kasya swid dhanam? We forget this fundamental question, viz, "To whom does this wealth belong? The owner of all this luxury, buildings, bungalows, lands, fields, orchards and gardens is only ONE, the ONE who feeds and nurtures the population. All this belongs only to the society, the nation and the GOD and GOD only will be its owner for ever. It has been God's from time-immemorial and only God will be its owner for ever. We have come here in the human species only for some time, and after enjoying material happiness, will go on the further journey according to our deeds. All this did not come with us (when we were born) and will not go with us in future also (i.e. after death). Then why this tendency for greed and temptation? Why are plans made for snatching away others' wealth? Why is there the temptation to stake our claim on all the wealth of the world? There can be only one answer to all these questions - it is that we falsely believe that all this wealth is ours and get treapped in false illusions. We are forgetting the fact that its owner is our supreme Father, the God. In fact we have been granted the right for its limited use only.

It does not mean that man should not make any attempt to earn money. Actually, the Vedas assert that man should earn money by the hardest austerity, labor and diligence. But at the same time man should also remember that all the wealth belongs to God, the Supreme Father and He only has given it to us. Out of that the requirements as suits a Brahman (that is simple necessities) only should be taken and the remaining should be surrendered for societal welfare. Think first of self-denial, think of the welfare of others and only after that think of utilizing for self. But we usually think completely reverse. We go on making plans for utilizing, enjoying everything alone by ourselves. We never get the time to think of others and that only is the reason for all the troubles of this world. The person who understands this fact, for him all the binds of personal and worldly attachments get automatically broken. He starts observing the reflection of his own soul in others with the broad outlook of 'aatmavat sarvabhooteshu' (i.e. all the living beings have the atma soul similar to mine). Such people pay attention first to the happiness and welfare of others.

Human-life can be happy and peaceful only by very properly recognizing the wealth in this form.

GAYATRI PRAYER

Gayatri Prayer

ü  Oh, mother, Gayatri! You are manifested in the  Eternal sound of Om. You are Tripada (hymn comprising of three steps: Tatsaviturvenyam, bhargo devasya dhimahi, dhiyo yonah prachodyat;  vedtriyi (source of three Vedas); revered by three gods - Brahma, Vishni, Mahesh; Creator anf protector of the three worlds (the heavens, earth and nether regions); knower of all the three times (past, present and future); and the ordainer of all the opportunities

ü  You possess all the three gunas (rraits): Satwa, Rajas, and Tamas. You are bestower of the three types of boons: Natural (materialistic), supernatural and spiritual. It is only you who provides salvation. You always see your devotees with compassionate eyes.

ü  You are Goddess of knowledge. You are an embodiment of compassion. In spite of being omnipresent you are holding the entire world in your heart. You are the invincible ultimate authority and more difficult to realize as compared to the realizable Supreme Spirit. You are the pupil of the eye of Lord Shankar, who is the Savior of this world

ü  You are the soul of this world and also a giver of supreme bliss. You are the shelter of the entire world and the ultimate being for its (world's) birth and growth. You are the controller of all the superhuman qualities and powers and also the giver of the same. I humbly salute you.

ü  You are the creator of all the materialistic resources and pleasures. You cannot be described by the grammatical components of Sanskrit. You cannot also be known by (studying) Vedas and Purans or their derivatives. You can only be realized by righteous wisdom attained through dhyan-dharma (meditation), etc,

ü  In spite of being Eternal and knowable by all, you are unattainable (unknowable). You transcend the three Lords Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. You are omnipotent and the energy of the entire world. It is not possible to perceive you by physical senses.

ü  An unfortunate person abandoned by you is deprived of power and prosperity. Even if such a person (in materialistic sense) is higher than Himalayas, he is not respected even by the common people.

ü  Oh, Mother Gayatri! Your divine radiance is present everywhere; in Lords Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Sun and Moon, movable - unmovable, visible-invisible, subtler than subtle and greater than great.

ü  Oh mother! I pray that my intellect should hold your lotus feet in my mind (that is , my mind should always remain engrossed in your divine effulgence). Oh Goddess! I am not desirous of any boon other than this.

ü  Naturally, you are always kind to the needy and humble persons. Therefore, I have come to seek your shelter. Kindly accept my offering of love and affection.

GAYATRI MANTRA IS THE DIVINE CULTURE

Every human being can refine his character, thoughts, talents and actions and transform himself into a great personality, become a world leader like George Washington, an intrepid warrior like Napoleon, a sage like Vivekananda and reach still higher realms of self-evolution. God has bestowed divine potentials in everybody, one only needs to realize, recognize and raise these by spiritual enlightenment. Gayatri sadhana can make it possible in this very life. I have researched and experimented myself on the philosophy and science of this mantra and found that all that is stated in the scriptures about its supreme spiritual force and cosmic radiance and divine power of evolution of consciousness is absolutely true. This is why I can tell you so confidently about it. I want you all, the whole world, to benefit by the divine grace of Gayatri. It will accelerate both your worldly progress as well as spiritual ascent. It is important for us. We need neither renounce the worldly life nor should we neglect our spiritual growth and wellbeing. The support of Gayatri Mantra guides our intellect and orients our capabilities for righteous progress on both the fronts.

I have been explaining and guiding you in different kinds of upasana-sadhana of Gayatri Mantra. Regular sessions for practice in this spiritually vibrant ambience of Shantikunj are also run here throughout the year. Everybody is welcome here. Now, let me tell you something about the siddhis (supramental achievements) bestowed by Gayatri. When and what does the Mother Gayatri bestow upon us?

Well, a mother loves every child but she gives only small toys and toffees and things like that to the tiny kids. She does not give precious gift or valuables to them unless they mature and she is convinced that they can take proper care of those things. What if a five-year old Ramesh asks his mother to give him the key of the lockers! Will she give it to him? No, instead, she would hide it carefully so that the kid won't see it. Yes, but once Ramesh is grown up and starts sharing the responsibilities of the household and is wise and capable enough to transact his duties, the mother would one day herself hand over the keys to him and his wife. When Ramesh was a child he would cry for sweet and expensive toys, and break them in no time. As a teenager he was wayward and would like to imitate whatever good or bad his friends were doing. Show-off, mischief making, quarreling were his interests then, but now things are different. He has matured not only in age but also in wisdom. Earlier he would compel his parents to purchase milk-care of 20 Rupees and eat half and throw away the remaining. But now he himself earns. He knows the value of hard earned money. He would even drink tea without milk if there is some scarcity at him, as he understands that the little children and the elderly need it more. He earns respect in the society because of his good nature and dutiful conduct. What if he were a drunkard, a hoodlum, or a lethargic chap who would do nothing except watching cinema and day dreaming? Then? Even his near and dear ones would not have believed him. No one would like to lend money or extend support to him. One earns his status in worldly life in the society as per his qualities and deeds.

Spiritual attainments are more precious than anything else in this universe. They can't be bestowed upon just anyone. Gods bless only the deserving devotees. What you achieve depends upon your purity, sincerity, and devotion in the sadhana. Siddhis will gradually emerge from within as you progress in the sadhana. A guru (spiritual master) helps you march along the path of spirituality only if you deserve it and only if you are dedicated towards this noble cause. He certainly guides you on how to become a deserving disciple and also initiates you in the sadhana and commences the journey on the path of knowledge. But your success will depend upon your own endeavors. He shows the path but it is you who has to step ahead. There is nothing like a magic wand in spiritual practices, as many of you might think. You may wish that the guru, or a great yogi, will put his hand on your head and you will attain some siddhis. But this is all your delusion.

FULFILLING MARRIED LIFE

Among all the streams of yoga, grahastha Yoga (yoga of married life) is also one. If one gives a serious thought to it, one would realize that raising a family is indeed a very important, and yet relatively simple yoga. Accomplishing this yoga renders enormous joy and illumines the path of worldly fulfillment and spiritual progress. Here we cite some tips for adept practice of this unique yoga.

Fundamental Tenets of Grahastha Yoga

A child learns several primary activities at home. More than half of the skills that are needed in life are also learnt at home. Our sadhana of inner-refinement must also begin at home. The best laboratory to train life to attain greatness, self control and selflessness and to become cultured and service oriented is home itself. It becomes very convenient to do all this at home because in family life there is natural love, sense of duty, mutual dependence and cooperation. Home is a stable place and is secure from the prying eyes of strangers.

A disciple of Grahastha yoga must always contemplate in the following way:

·         My family is my hermitage - the most holy place for my sadhana.

·         The rituals prescribed to me are - devote my energies and best efforts always to develop my home like a beautiful, fragrant, fertile garden.

·         My devotion to God is to fulfill the responsibility entrusted to me by God for watering, and maintaining this garden and help it flourish.

·         I do not consider any member of my family small and unworthy of deserving of my service, and I do not take undue pride in being the owner, master, leader or the breadwinner of my family.

·         My benevolence and selflessness is in devoting my service to the upbringing and personality development of each member of my family.

·         My self-surrender is to serve others with absolutely pure feeling of dutifulness, without expecting anything in return.

·         My penance is to provide happiness and comforts to my family members even at the expense of my personal happiness and comfort.

·         My yagya is to enhance peace and happiness in this world by making each and every member of my family a refined, truthful, honest and responsible individual.

·         My religious vow is to make my conduct and behavior so pure and idealistic that it would silently inspire everyone to follow me and become virtuous.

·         My self-restraint is to raise my family within the rightfully earned means of income.

·         My aradhana (service to society) is to be always filled with love, benevolence and compassion, and to enhance happiness, joy and unity in the family and my neighborhood.

·         My worship is to have complete devotion towards living idols of God in the temple of my home and to adorn them with ornaments of virtues, noble nature and good conduct.

·         My sadhana is true, my feelings towards my sadhana are genuine and sincere, and my soul knows that I am truthful.

·         Like a true unattached karmayogi I draw my happiness and satisfaction from the sincere efforts I put into my sadhana without worrying about their success or failure.

·         I have taken an oath to be truthful and righteous, and I would forever try to uphold it with all sincerity.

FULFILLING HAPPY MARRIED LIFE

When one comes face to face with personal shortcomings during self-introspection, one must not feel dejected. One must strengthen these feelings ……

·         Like a brave soldier I am fighting this battle that would continue throughout lifetime.

·         All the bad samskaras my family members and I have acquired over countless previous births keep presenting obstacles in my path. Sometimes I err, sometimes they. Obstacles keep coming, but I would not let them discourage me.

·         I would fight all the difficulties I am faced with. When I trip and fall, I would not give up. I would get up again, shake off the dust and continue the fight.

·         I am walking the path of truth. I am a blissful soul and it is my duty to fight my and others' ill-tendencies and stop not till the victory is won.

·         I am true to my oath, my intent my sadhana and my ultimate goal

·         I shall continue to search for, identify and weed out all my faults, with the same fervor I started out with

The above mantra must be continuously contemplated upon along with assessment of success attained.

The above three great mantras; the fundamental tenets of Grahastha yoga, the oath of firmness, and the oath to fight the holy war against faults and shortcomings - must always resound at the core of a sadhak's mind keep him inspiring.

The ultimate objective of life is to make the individual soul unite with the Supreme Soul. To act for the good of all while forsaking individual selfish desires is the real spiritual endeavor (sadhana). There could be several different ways to pursue this sadhana in practical lives. Grahastha yoga is one such way. Sincere adoption of above guidelines of this yoga in practice will not only edify one's personal and family life but also contribute towards development of a better society.

Wife of the great philosopher Socrates was very ill-natured. His house was always crowded by his followers and visitors and she detested it. She scorned at guests instead of welcoming them.

One day the gathering was especially large and Socrates was delivering his discourse. His wife felt disturbed by the crowd and got angry. Filled with rage she went up to the balcony and started shouting at his followers angrily shouting them to go away from the house. Socrates signaled his followers not to listen to her and continued with his discourse. This enraged her even more and she started throwing dirty water on the gathering as well as hurling abuses at them.

Socrates did not lose his calm and instead remarked jokingly "Did you all see, till now, clouds were thundering and now it has started raining as well". The people in the gathering broke into laughter.

One of the qualities of great men is their ability to deal with ill-tempered people with gentle humor.

ENHANCING IMMUNITY AND VITALITYENHANCING IMMUNITY AND VITALITY

Immunity and Vitality together are referred as ojas in the ancient text of Ayurbeda and ojas is regarded of paramount importance as crucial expression of life-energy. The importance of immunity and vitality in vigorous health is well recognized in the recent times by the modern medical science as well. This is why the reductionism's approach of Allopathy, which in its nascent stage focused mainly on killing the germs of diseases and later on widened its scope to diagnosis and cure of the malfunctioning organs or components of the body, is now going for deeper analysis at the cellular and biochemical levels.

Vitality is a collective indicator of stamina or vigor and verve of the body and strength, alertness and zeal of the mind. Adequate breathing in of fresh air, consumption of pure drinking water, and balanced intakes of nourishing food intakes, substantial physical exercise and rest are considered most important factors in maintaining the physical stamina. However, for vitality, the calmness of mind and emotional balance and hence righteous attitude and holistic self-management are also important.

Thus directly or indirectly one's intrinsic tendencies and surrounding environment (both atmospheric and social) influence one's vitality. Spiritual attitude and holistic approach to health ad prescribed in Ayurveda appear to be best solutions to augment and maintain vitality. Doing Yagya every day is a practical remedy in this regard. But this preventive measure alone would not work unless one checks out the causes of loss of vitality. The most severe and frequent cause of drainage of vital energy is uncontrolled sexual excitement and erotic thinking. Those desirous of vibrant and vigorous health and mental stability must observe chastity of thoughts and conduct. It is also important for protection of vitality that the resistance against the hazardous effects of air-water pollutions and adulterated or chemically treated or preserved vegetables, fruits, food grains and cooked food is increased. This requires healthy functioning of the immune system. In case of lack of stamina or resistance against infections it is the immune system, which protects its further loss and helps in regaining it.

Advancement of the modern research has made it clear that it is the individual's immune system which plays a key role in body's defense mechanism and the response to drug regimen. The reason why some people are so susceptible to the change of weather, viral infections, etc is because of their weak or deficient immune system. The success of well established techniques of anesthesia, surgery, artificial organ transplant, etc also depends upon how the patient's immune system responds to these. The futuristic therapies based on genetic engineering would not become a reality unless the compatibility with natural immune system is thoroughly tested. The immune system defends the body against all harmful invaders - including viruses, other microorganisms, proteins, and other chemicals. Its 'soldiers' in the form of B-lymphocytes and T-cells are spread all along the body and produce specific antibodies to counter the antigens (foreign molecules).

Nature's intelligence is imbibed in this system so wonderfully that it not only recognizes the difference between the 'self' (i.e. natural elements of one's body) and the 'non-self' but also has memory of the antigens it has been ever attacked in the past. It is more efficient in destroying the invaders if the latter enters the body for the second or more time. It is this learning and decision-making capacity of the immune system which gives rise to 'acquired immunity'. It is because of this capacity that vaccination prevents the occurrence of diseases. Lack of this capacity or deficiency is what we know as the most dreaded, killer disease AIDS (acquire immune deficiency syndrome). It is nothing but what the Ayurvedic scriptures refer as "uparjita oja-ksaya sanlaksana". This loss of ojas means lack of vigor and inability of the defense mechanism of the body to resist the attack of toxic, infectious, harmful molecules, pathogens or bacteria and viruses of any kind.

While in the womb, vital elements in mother's blood nurture the fetus. However, learning of its immune system and hence the acquisition of immunity begins from the moments the infant is born and exposed to the outer atmosphere. In normal state it continues to grow in the youth. Its efficiency reduces in old age but can be maintained at substantial levels if, from the young age one takes balanced healthy food and follows disciplined routine with yoga exercises of asans and pranayams which enhance ojas. However, in case of reduced vitality and deficiency of immunity that is a common scenario these days; therapeutic yagya offers excellent remedy and healing support.

According to modern medical science ojaksaya (low immunity disorder) is not disease, instead, it is a syndrome, a group of several diseases that lessen the vitality and resistance; it is also caused by the infection of a retrovirus. The antigens of this virus first attack the white blood corpuscles (W.B.C.), which are like frontline warriors of immune system. Consequently, varieties of other bacteria, viruses, fungi, other parasites, etc get chance to enter the body without any opposition and give rise to hoards of diseases. The most frequent disease thus occurring are diarrhea, high fever, pneumonia, tuberculosis, C-sarcoma (tumor of blood vessels) etc. The immediate symptoms of low immunity disorder are loss of weight, excessive fatigues, and drowsiness, loss of appetite, skin infection, chronic cough, ulcers or boils in the mouth, acute headache, swelling of lymph nodes, unusual viral fever, etc.

FREE FROM MATERIALS IN LIFE

Meaning: Vedas are the store of knowledge. In the four Vedas all the knowledge and Science of the universe are kept. Stanza of the Rigveda 1/25/21 states that -"Freeing ourselves from the desire for sons, money and reputation, we should move ahead, because with that (desire) our soul becomes tainted and suffers sorrow.

Message: All the creatures of this world always have a desire for happiness and always make efforts for constantly increasing their happiness. The basic belief in materialistic culture is that happiness lies in obtaining various means and facilities for comforts. Without thinking of morality or immorality or what is proper or improper, man wants to pounce and grab anyhow all the material things for himself. Man is making himself spiritually hollow by getting engrossed in indulgence of his senses and even loses the strength to enjoy the comforts because of that reason. There is a certain type of sorrow in too much 'happiness'. There is always pain in grabbing pleasures like this.

The Nepalese spiritual culture goes beyond even happiness and gives importance to satisfaction and bliss. There is a vast difference between happiness and satisfaction or contentment like the difference between day and night or between the earth and the sky. Happiness is material in nature whereas satisfaction or contentment is spiritual in nature. Happiness can be enjoyed through material comforts whereas satisfaction is a personal experience. Man always wishes for achieving self-satisfaction and joy or bliss. Man sometimes enjoys contentment through achievement of happiness and sometimes through giving up happiness. It is not possible to explain the pleasure of spiritual peace and satisfaction which one gets while nursing a sick person day and night and undergoing even hardships in that process. In fact, happiness does not depend on material means; it depends actually on the mental state. That is why we see that most people are unhappy despite having luxurious comforts, whereas the farmer is lacking in proper means or a man doing server labor as a worker is found happy, pleasant and always cheerful.

To-day most men everywhere are involved in such wrong notion and are walking on the wrong path for achieving happiness. When man starts worrying only for personal happiness, then he does not care at all for others. Such a man becomes extremely selfish and makes other unhappy also. The quantity of available means for enjoyment is limited, but the desires are endless. Very few people get the benefit in pursuit of selfish-interests but it leads to the exploitation of most people in the society. People indulging in such conduct are immoral, opportunists and known despicably as exploiters. They rob the world to fulfill their desire for sons, money and reputation.

Outwardly such people appear very happy, but despite having all the means internally, in their heart, they do not experience happiness. Not only their sons but every member of their family starts treading the wrong path and ultimately they are discredited from all sides. The ideal society is one in which every man has the freedom to develop his full talents and capabilities for increasing his happiness and means. But along with that every person should not obstruct another's freedom, but cooperate with him, if, by understanding this aspect, man liberates himself from greed, attachment and selfishness, then there will be no limit to his progress.

Only the power of the soul can inspire man for that. The more a man is replete with the power of the soul or the strength of the soul, the more he will be capable of breaking the bond's of worldly attachment.

DO NOT THINK BAD (NEGATIVE)

Meaning:  As stated in the Atharvaved 6/45/1 that we have to keep our mind always busy. In order that your mind does not wander away in bad thoughts, keep it busy in some work or the other, that is do not allow it to remain idle.

Message: In His message to Arjun, Lord Shri Krishna has said that some people in the world possess divine wealth (daivee sampada), while others have aaswri sampada i.e. demoniac tendencies. The people with divine thoughts and tendencies are free from fear because of their pure hearts and are capable of knowing the philosophy because of dhyaanyog (i.e. paying careful attention). They are always doing 'saatvik' works i.e. good works with morality and honesty. They keep their senses under control and study scriptures regularly. Their speech is pleasant and they do not trouble anyone through their minds, bodies and speech. Pride is not able to sway them and despite carrying out their deeds in the world, they remain unattached and fulfill the aim of human life. There is no need to say anything about people with demoniac nature. Such people are seen everywhere undergoing unbearable sorrow of various types from all sides.

Divine or demoniac wealth is the name for emotions or tendencies only. Demoniac tendencies are produced in such men who constantly think of perishable things of the world by mistakenly thinking them as permanent. \the main reason for divine or demoniac tendencies is our heart. Usually the man is swayed away by the demoniac tendencies of the heart and gets deeply trapped in them without intention.

Today's men look physically healthy, but they do not have anything except restlessness in their minds. The only reason is that bad thoughts are continuously hovering in their minds. Mental pollution is increasing so much that wicked and obscene thoughts arise while in sleep or when awake, while getting up or sitting down, day and night, constantly. There is only one solution for saving ourselves from this sorrowful situation and that is, to keep the mind continuously engaged in clean and pure thoughts. It should never be allowed to be idle. It is said that 'an idle mind is the devil's workshop', therefore we should never keep the mind idle. \by keeping the mind constantly engaged in works which are constructive and for the benefit of people, bad thoughts are not able to enter in ite.

It is extremely necessary to develop the habit to keep the mind busy in this way right from the childhood. \the impression of the thoughts during childhood remains permanent. Therefore, children must always be kept in such atmosphere whereby they constantly receive good thoughts. It is essential that they see only good thins, hear good things and read best books filed with good thoughts which increase knowledge. We should save ourselves and especially our children from the blows which the foreign media are making on our culture and make constant efforts to develop the wealth of divine tendencies.

'Be busy, be happy and be healthy'. However a man is busy in some work or the other, he is immersed in joy. With that his mental and physical health also improves and there is an increase in the strength of his soul also.

DOES CHANTING OF MANTRA BESTOW SIDDHI?

One day a disciple of Poojya Gurudev (pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya) asked, "Gurudev! You have chanted Gayatri Mantra and I know many others who have also chanted the same Gayatri mantra of 24 syllables; but why could they not accomplish siddhi like you?"

Gurudev smiled and said "My son! I have chanted Gayatri Mantra later; first of all I have refined my outer and inner selves. Without this all the spiritual accomplishments are futile. I have washed my mind like a washer-man scrub dirty clothes. How can a person get the desired benefits by simply chanting mantra alone?"

After saying this Gurudev narrated an incident which he himself witnessed. "Two saints were doing Tapa-sadhana in the Himalayas. Both lived without clothes and observed complete silence. There was a small piece of land from which roots, vegetables and fruits could be grown. They lived in the caves and ate fruits and vegetables. Once during summer, both of them started cleaning near their caves. This operation continued for two days. One day one of them occupied a small portion of land (supposed to be) of other saint. On this the second saint got very angry; he frowningly asked the first saint to vacate the land immediately. Although they were observing silence the quarrel escalated and reached the stage of kicking and punching.

The first one plucked out the beard of the second and as a result his chin started bleeding"

Poojya Gurudev said " I wondered what kind of ascetics doing sadhana in Himalayan caves these were? Shame on such a sadhana! Unless a person refines his inner self, nothing worthwhile can be achieved what to talk of mantra siddhi. Even if it is achieved, it will serve no purpose other than destroying oneself like Bhasmasur. Bhagirath also did penance but that was for social welfare. He abandoned everything for the public good, and then only he was able to bring Mother Ganga on earth. Had Bhasmasur also aimed at similar objective, he would have been able to help many people. He could have requested Lord Shiva to bless him with such a boon which empowered him to instantly cure a person upon putting his hand on his head. But he could not do so because he did not refine his inner-self. So long as there are greed, attachment and sensuality, a person cannot rise in sadhana. These demonic tendencies pull the sadhak downwards.

Only after passing the primary class of self refinement, a person can climb the first step of spirituality. I lived only on bread of barley and buttermilk for 24 years. I did not take any salt, sweet or spicy food. I controlled the tongue; then only I could control the self. If taste buds are controlled, all the ten senses and the mind are tamed. And if mental control is achieved, realization of self becomes easy whether the sadhak is Jain, Muslim, Buddha, Christian or Hindu.

Indeed the physical process of Tapa entails conscious control of the natural urge of the body for convenience, pleasure and sensuality and the mind's fickleness, egotism, greediness, etc. Control always generates power. If water is boiled in a pot, it will evaporate and will disappear in the atmosphere. There is nothing strange about it; but when a tight fitting lid is placed over the pot, the pressurized steam may explode the pot. The accidents occurring through gas stoves and pressure cookers are the results of such a restraint. The importance of balanced control of physical senses and the mind is based on this premise. The significance of celibacy is that the vital energy is prevented from wastage through indulgence and is made to rise upwards to sublimate the consciousness.

The process of Tapa commences with simple and short rituals. These rituals may appear ridiculous and one may wonder how such small physical and mental activities could help in achieving the high goal of self-realization. But one has to understand that the rituals of worship give the direction. Once the direction is rightly set and the wheel starts rolling, its far reaching consequences should not appear strange.

The flag and signal play an important role in the running and stopping of a train. When they are green, the train runs and when they are red, it stops. Undoubtedly the flag or the colors of a signal themselves do not have the power to stop or start the train; even then the signal conveyed by them has its own significance. If this process sis disturbed, the trains will either stand still or will be smashed after colliding with each other.

Several trains arrive at and pass through the junction. Their destination and direction are decided by a small lever. The making of the track for different trains at the junction is easily done by a low rank railway employee. This appears to be a very insignificant event, but its consequences are far reaching. If one investigates after few hours of this event, he will find that one train turned towards north and the other towards south of the junction and in due course of time the distance between the two trains became thousands of miles. At the crossroads of life, whichever direction it is turned to, it will continues in its own. An extraordinary difference may be seen in the persons adopting different directions. As a contrast to the people involved in negative activities and enervating indulgences, the progress of virtuous persons can be traced to the inspiration they derive from the lives of great persons. Each one of the rituals of worship is helpful in molding the way of life. A rail track is simple and cheap, but how can a costly and compels engine along with several compartments run without a track? The rituals of worship or methods of sadhana may be compared to the railway track.

We will be discussing the significaned of difeerent rituals one by one in the forthcoming issues.

DILIGENT PEOPLE HAVE NO DESIRE OF MONEY

Meaning: According to the Rigved 6/19/5 - "The ocean has no desires, even then innumerable rivers merge into it. Similarly wealth is always in th eservice of industrious men, i.e. those who work and are diligent, never feel the want of money".

Message: "Seva paramo dharmaha" - To serve others is the most pious and pure act in this world. One principal part of religion is a feeling of togetherness. Because of man's nature of working together and helping one another in innumerable fields such as education, health, culture, science, trade and architecture etc man has reached the zenith of progress. It is our duty to use our talents in the uplift of society, to help the wretched, sorrowful, ill and helpless person, and to donate to social institutions engaged in good activities and working for good purposes.

It is a misconception in people's minds that by giving in donation, they suffer financially. The actual truth is that the money used for other's welfare is returned to us many more times. The religious books enjoin us to "earn with a hundred hands and distribute with a thousand hands". Those helping others do not remain wretched and unhappy. It is an act of sowing seeds in God's farm. Each grain produces thousands of grains. Man should never be lethargic in work and diligence. Earn to the maximum extent with hard work and honesty and after fulfilling your meager needs as befits a Brahman, use the remaining in helping others.

The ocean has immensurable quantity of water, but does not utilize it for own use. With sun's cooperation he gives away water as vapor which in turn comes down as rain to quench the thirst of the world. The ocean has no self-interest, no wish, nor any desire. Still does its water ever decrease? No, innumerable rivers always go on filling it with their waters. For a man connected with diligence and helping others in this way, there is never any dearth of money. When the desire for helping others is aroused in one's mind, then one's life is uplifted, wretchedness gets destroyed; new capacity is stirred up in the body, the capability to bear hardships increases and in every way, the path to progress manifests before the self. When one's talent and capacity is utilized for welfare-work, then God's help and blessings are automatically received. Not only that, cooperation from others too is easily available. The difficulties in the path of self-progress automatically start disappearing and achievement of life's goal becomes easy.

The learned ones and the Brahmans must try to tread this royal road to success.

DILIGENT AND KNOWLEDGEABLE

Meaning: "As explained in the Yajuraved 3/47 that - Give up laziness and be diligent. Give up foolishness and obtain the knowledge of the Vedas. Speak sweetly and help each other. This way the happiness of this world and the other world will be achieved."

Message: There is a never ending treasure of knowledge and wisdom in the Vedas. Our welfare is achieved by 'Vedgyan'. From Vedas we get the knowledge of the very secret philosophies or elements of this world and are also able to see the path of putting to good use that knowledge. It is man's duty to be freed from ignorance and bad tendencies, to uplift those who have strayed from the straight path and spread the knowledge of goodness and morality. Generally it so happens, that man is engaged in the foolish pursuit of fulfilling his selfish interest and desires. He does not pay attention to what is proper and improper and stops to the lowest levels.

 We should always wish to follow the path on which moral people with good qualities proceeded, as embodied in the advice, "Aum devanamapi panthamaganma". We should all deal with each other helpfulness and love. This is divine-like conduct. We should conduct in this way among ourselves. All should achieve this path of uplift through Vedgyan (the knowledge of philosophy of the Vedas). By speaking pleasantly among ourselves, conflict decreases and love increases. One who has understood the importance of speech which is sweet as honey and beneficial as ghee (butter-oil), always succeeds. We should never advise anyone to go on the wrong path, and should work keeping in view the interest of all.

Life is perishable, but that does not mean that we while away time in laziness and worthless talk. Man should take inspiration from the constantly flowing time itself, that he should utilize it properly, consider it invaluable and not to waste it at all. In giving the wealth of time, God has not shown any partiality. He has given this wealth equally to all - poor, wealthy, foolish, and knowledgeable, women, men, children and the aged. Available time can neither be decrease nor increased. But it is a fact that in laziness and foolishness we waste this time and also true that by making good use of the same time, we are able to do so much work in a single lifetime, which may not be possible by hundreds of men.

Inactivity is a characteristic of dullness, a characteristic of death; therefore lazy, foolish and wretched people are inactive and like the living -dead. Knowledgeable people are quiet and balanced and put to good use, every moment of life.

A lazy and cowardly person cannot get joy anywhere. Only a knowledgeable and diligent man gets credit. He gets spiritual bliss, and gets every type of happiness and satisfaction in life.

DESTROY OF WICKED PEOPLE

Yajurved 20/25 has given us the instruction that - While it is necessary to keep alive good deeds, it is also essential to destroy wicked people. Only by a combination of knowledge and action, a wholesome spiritual life is possible. That society where the knowledge of the Brahmans and the brightness of the Kshatriya (the warrior-caste) will be together, that society will always thrive.

Message: In the holy Gita, God has himself said that from time to time he manifests on this earth as an incarnation, for what reason? "paritranaya sadhu nam, vinashayacha dushkrutam", is his goal, i.e. to protect the saints and those who work for the good of the society and to destroy the wicked, the corrupt and the sinful ones. If the matter cannot be solved by persuasion, peaceful approach, or money or punishment or by causing a rift among them, then their destruction becomes a religious duty. 'Nishicharaheen karahun mahi' i.e. let me free this earth from wicked and demoniac persons. That is the basic mantra or axiom to make the world happy. Only such action was able to establish Ramrajya.

It is not necessary that God should manifest on this earth as a person playing the flute (Lord Krishna) or with bows and arrows always, at every place. HE exists in every pore, every cell of our representatives, the princes whom He loves and we continuously receive His grace and innumerable blessings. We ourselves only should utilize our talents and capacity for good deeds and for destroying evils. This is the real 'manavdharma' (duty as a human being). The usefulness of human body lies in the endeavor of acquiring knowledge and putting it into action, otherwise there is no difference between uss and animals.

The difference between man and animal is only that the animal is not bound by any restraint but man is bound by thousands of restraints, rules and responsibilities. It is his duty to fulfill the responsibilities and the tasks allotted to him. Our duty towards our mind is to make it sadguni (i.e. filled with moral qualities). Our duty towards our country, our religion, society and culture is that we pay utmost attention for their uplift. It is our duty to uplift our soul (for deliverance ) by freeing ourselves from  greed, attachment etc and it is our duty to fulfill the task for which God has given us birth in the human species. It is our pious duty to go on increasing our knowledge and talents and be at our best conduct according to such knowledge and talents. This is real endeavor of 'gyanayog and karmayog'. This is the true devotion to God. it confers glory of humanity on the man.

We are forgetting today the injunction that all the four castes should work together for the uplift of the society. With the rule of this knowledge the society becomes bright, powerful and achieves progress and flourishes.