What is the purpose of Human Life?

What is the purpose of human life?

All will say, the purpose of life is to live a better quality of life of happiness. And for that, each individual has to study, build capacity, earn money, develop family and live a quality life till death.

But the spiritual teachers tell us something different. They do agree that the purpose of life is to bring happiness in life. But the means are different.

All the religions on earth say that God/Allah/Parmatma is everywhere, atra tatra sarvatra. Without duality, the universes are full with Parmatma, the eternal power of existence. Waves grow and fall but the Sea remains there unchanged.

Parmatma is a common factor in all of us. The creatures, the five tatvas (ether, air, fire, water, earth), the universes, the galaxies, the starts, the planets, the darkness, the lights, etc, are the manifestation of Parmatma in visible form. Manifestation of Parmatma (the Purusha) and his power (the Prakriti); manifestation of Shiva and Shakti; ardhnarisvara, the composite form of androgyny, the synthesis of masculine and feminine energies of the universe. The union is the root and womb of all creation. It is the Womb, Hiranya Garbha, the nigoda, the Supreme Abode, in which the drama of creation is played.

As human, we also are the presentation of Shiva and Shakti, the Purusha and Prakriti, both. The mixture of jada (matter-non self) and chetan (the self). The Chetan is called Atma and the Jada is called the Body. As living entity we present the union of Atma and Body both. To know thyself, to know the Atma is the main purpose of life.

What happens when we go to sleep? The Atma rests in the cosmos and the body remains. When we wake up, the body rests in Atma and the Atma presents. Life in us is the presentation of Atma, life, light; and death is the presentation of matter, the jada, the body, the darkness. Death is an extended form of sleep in which the Atma won't display in that body again.

In fact, there is no duality in the world. Chetan and Jada are the presentation of the same universal power. Life and death are same, the presentation of the same event differently. Light and darkness are same, the presentation of the same energy differently. Shiva and Shakti are the same.

It is the purpose of life to know, to understand the Atma and the body. How Atma rests in body and how body rests in Atma. And Atma is Sachchidananda (sat, chit, ananda - eternal, live, blissful), neither born nor die, once known, make us free from the bondage and fear of death and misery. Happiness is there, it is just unfurled. Light is there, it is just the window opened.

The main purpose of human life is to know the thyself.

ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Ohm, May all become happy, May all be free from Illness. May all see what is Auspicious, may no one suffer. Ohm Peace, Peace, Peace.


Punamchand
29 January 2017
www.punamchand.com

NB: presentation of dialogues with Dhawalchand

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How Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became the first PM of India

How Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became the first PM of India?

Do you know, before became first democratically elected Prime Minster of India on 15 April 1952 under the Constitution of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had to take oath of office four times?

First, he was administered the oath of office (loyalty to the Crown) as a Vice President of Viceroy's Executive Council of Interim Government of United India to assist transition of India and Pakistan from British rule, from the newly elected Constituent Assembly (under Cabinet Mission Plan of May 1946) by the Viceroy Lord Wavell on 2 September 1946, at 11:00 am at the Viceroy's House (Viceregal Lodge) in Delhi under the Indian Council Act 1861. His portfolio was External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations

Second, he was administered the oath of office and secrecy as Prime Minister of Dominion of India (elected by the Constituent Assembly) by the first Governor General of Lord Mountbatten (appointed by the Constituent Assembly) on August 15, 1947 at Viceregal Lodge, Delhi, under the India Independence Act 1947.

Third, he was administered the oath of office and secrecy as Prime Minister of Republic India (elected by the Provisional Parliament of India - Constituent Assembly was converted into PP) by the President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, in Rastrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on January 26, 1950, under the newly formed Constitution of India.

And fourth he was administered oath of office and secrecy took as the first democratically elected Prime Minister of India (elected by the Loksabha - winning General Elections) by the President Dr. Rajendra Prasad on 15 April 1952.

He took oath of office twice again in 1957 and 1962, winning General Elections. He is called the "Architect of Modern India", lead the nation for 18 years (1946-1964) till his death on 27 May 1964.

He unfurled the tricolour flag with 'Charkha' as President of INC, for "Complete Independence" on the bank of Ravi in Lahore at midnight on 31 December 1930 and hoisted the tricolour Indian National flag with 'Chakra' on 15 August 1947 above Lahori Gate of the Red Fort, Delhi. Lord Mountbatten wrote when a mysterious sudden appearance of the rainbow “... the three colours Saffron, White and Green on the flag of the new Dominion resembled so much the hues of the Rainbow”.

A public pledge taken on 26 January 1930 to celebrate it as India's Independence Day, became our Republic Day since 26 January 1950. A journey from 'Charkha to Chakra' is developing the Nation with unity in diversity.

Jai Hind🇮🇳

Punamchand
28 January 2017

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Pramukh Swami Marg in Ahmedabad

Pramukh Swami Marg in Ahmedabad 

Newly created River drive road at Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad has been formally named after late Shri Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the Spiritual Guru of BAPS in a historic public event organised at river front Ahmedabad on 21 January 2017. It was attended by more than 20,000 devotees and well wishers. It is to note that Pramukh Swami Maharaj blessed Sabarmati river by doing pujan of the waters of the Narmada river on August 28, 2002. He had also blessed the Riverfront Project in 2004 on its commencement.

Towards the beginning of the event, a ritual was performed to immerse the ashes of Pramukh Swami into river Sabarmati. To do pujan of Thakorji, a prayer, Jai Sadguru Swami (composed by Swami Muktanand) was sung. There is a line in the prayer, Purushottam pragatnu je darshan karase, kaal karam thi chhutti, kutumb sahit tarase (with the darshana of the Purushottam manifest, a person attains salvation with his family). Pujya Mahant Swami is the present Sadguru of the BAPS. When this line comes, all the Haribhaktas look at their Sadguru as Purushottam manifest with a desire of freedom fro the misery of life. I was doing aarti besides Mahant Swami and was curious. When all the Haribhaktas find purushottam manifest in their Sadguru Mahant Swami, where does Mahant Swami find his Purushottam manifest. He was doing aarti in front of the small metal idol of Thakorji. But to my utmost surprise when this line (Purushottam pragatnu ..) came, he lifted the aarti plate and his face up and started doing aarti of the people standing in front of him and around him. For him, the humans, the ether, the wind, the nature, the creatures, the universe manifested is the "Purushottam manifest", I believe. 

During the name ceremony of the river from road, Sadhu Brahmaviharidas has explained the meaning of Pramukh Swami Marg. It is not only the name of the road but the message to walk on the path on which Swamiji walked. 

In a concluding remarks of the function, Pujya Mahant Swami explained the qualities of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Pramukh Swami Maharaj was an apostle of peace and an embodiment of peace. Peace exuded from him, wherever he was. Those who come on this path may get the same peace as well, he blessed. Another quality of Pramukh Swami was to keep all united. He knew the solutions, still he will ask five persons so that they can also learn. He had never thought of coming in the front or asked for any importance. He walked carrying all with him together. He preached that our happiness is in the happiness of others. Nobody should be hurt by our act. "We pray that whoever comes here experiences peace and happiness in their life”, he blessed.

There is a practice all over the world to name roads, buildings, bridges after the special people who have inspired, lead the people on right path. However, people remember the name of the roads as geography and forget the historical path. Hope, we inspire and walk the right path.

Punamchand
25 January 2017

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Is Ramayana a myth?

Is Ramayana a myth?

Researchers have found out that all 182 plants (including flowers, trees, fruits) mentioned in the Ramayan have been found to be true. The epic is dated 500-100 BC, but the same flora and fauna exist in the same places as written in the epic, even today.

The first Ramayana was composed by Sage Valmiki. All of us know the story of 'Valia Lutara', how a robber Ratnakar, moved by a word of Sage Narada, recited 'Mara' (kill-death) mantra for several years and the mantra became Rama (life). The question on principle of Karma is still valid because those who enjoy the fruits of our wrong doing are not going to share the responsibility and punishment derived out of the karmas. The doer of the wrong karma will only be punished.

It is interesting to note that Narada declared him Brahmin, though he was born in a lower caste. It is a proof that the castes were interchangeable depending upon the act of individual, those days. Four Varnas are four Karmas, it has nothing to with a birth of an individual. The Sun makes the colour of the skin (varna) as per the act of an individual (how much time he spends and does labour under the Sun). He was contemporary of Lord Rama. Rama was born in Treta, but the epic Ramayana is dated from 500-100 BC.

The story of Ramayana (maryada Purushottam, how to become a perfect human being) was first told to Valmiki by Narada. Do you remember the first sloka of Ramayana?

मां निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमः शाश्वतीः समाः।
यत्क्रौंचमिथुनादेकम् अवधीः काममोहितम्॥'
(You will find no rest for the long years of Eternity for you killed a bird in love and unsuspecting)

Valmiki went to the Tamasa stream of river Ganga, where he saw a crane couple mating. Suddenly, hit by an arrow of a hunter the male bird died. Filled with sorrow, he became angry, and with melted heart he cried out the first sloka.. ma nishad... The story told by Narada was in his mind, he composed the epic. It came out of his imagination. It is said that it was composed before it happened. However, it is mentioned that Rama once met him during the exile and Valmiki gave shelter to Sita in his ashram when Rama banished her. Lava and Kusha, the twins sons of Sita were born in his ashram.

If a writer or composer is writing an epic/book, he has to have the knowledge of the topography and geography of the area. The statement “Unless he was thorough about the topography, geography and ecology of the region, he could not have provided such sharp and precise observation of the time, place and location,” is right. It suggests that Valmiki either travelled all through the areas of event, met people, listen the events and composed the epic or he was knowing the geography and topography of the entire area well before composing the epic, use the story and composed. Was it a story of the King of Ayodhya, Rama, or a spiritual message explained through a story (Panchatantra, Hitopdesh) in imagination can be debated even today. Or it was an epic that has been composed to guide/teach the society a lesson to understand the role of father, Son, brother, king, friend, enemy, etc. Ramayana is a way of Hindu life, living for centuries. Ramatva is Hindutva.

Punamchand
24 January 2017

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The World is a Drama of Three Qualities

The World is a Drama of Three Qualities

There is One God (Purusha) but it has been presented through Trimurti (three forms, three powers) Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver) and Mahesh/Shiva (destroyer) in Hinduism. The universe is nothing but a drama created by the Almighty through the matter arises from the substrate called Prakriti (Nature). From Prakriti three primary qualities (gunas) emerge: Tamas (darkness, inactivity, ignorance), Rajas (activity, attachment) and  Satva (being ness, intelligence, peace). All three gunas are present in all objects and all beings but vary in relative amounts. 

Brahma represents Satva, Vishnu Rajas and Mahesh Tamas. The power of three Devas are named three goddesses, Maha Sarasvati, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Kali; they also represent the three gunas; Satva, Rajas and Tamas respectively. In Puranas: Ramayana, the three brothers Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Vibhishana were representing three gunas; Rajas, Tamas and Satva respectively. In Mahabharata, three brothers Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidur were representing three gunas; Tamas, Rajas and Sarva respectively.

The creatures' bodies carry three biological energies: pitta, vata and cough. Pitta represents Satva, Vata Rajas and Cough the Tamas. The balance of three is the health and imbalances is the disease.

The humans in Hinduism have been divided into three groups as per the dominance of their gunas/qualities. Satva dominated group was called Brahmanas, had been assigned Gyan karma (knowledge sharing); Rajas dominated group was called Kshatriyas, had been assigned Raja karma regulating and protecting the interests of the society; Tamas dominated group was called Shudras, had been assigned the work of service to the society, and mixed of all were called the Vaishyas generating resources and wealth to support all the four groups.

In Vedic time, the grouping was done based on karmas; but in later Vedic era, it was followed by birth; and now post independence, once again moving (very slowly) as per the karmas. Those who are in teaching and spreading knowledge are the Brahmanas, those who are regulating and protecting common goods of the society (regulators, govt, uniform services, etc) are the Kshatriyas, those who are in service to the  society (all services) are the Shudras and those who are generating wealth and resources (farmers, artisans, workers, traders, industrialists, etc) are the Vaishyas.

In fact each individual is the mixture of all. When he is teaching or spreading knowledge in his family/society he is Brahman; when he is regulating and protecting his family/society he is Kshatriya; when he is serving his family/society he is Shudra; and when he is earning income or generate resources for the family/society he is Vaishya. However, each individual carry a basic dominance of one of the three gunas and accordingly his likes and dislikes will be developed and he will perform the act better in the area of his guna dominance.

Democracy has given right and freedom to each individual to select his karmas. Therefore, each individual can select the path of his life and can grow in the karmas of his liking. All three gunas are always present in all humans with ability to consciously alter the levels (increase/decrease) of the gunas in our bodies and minds. A guna can be increased or decreased through the interaction and influence of external objects, lifestyle practices and thoughts. It is therefore, open field for all to become Brahman, Kshtriya, Shudra or Vaishya. Days have gone, where people identify their pride with the birth caste, feel superior and try to humiliate or suppress the lower section of the society. It is open for all by birth to select the path of life, whether the act of Brahmanas, act of Kshatriyas, act of Shudras or act of Vaishyas, or mixture of them all. All should follow the principles of equality, fraternity, liberty and justice. Ornaments may be different in design but all is Gold. Pots may look different in size and shape but all is earth. Similarly, all are equal, the same, created from the same material/energy called the God. 

गुणानेतानतीत्य त्रीन्देही देहसमुद्भवान् |

जन्ममृत्युजरादु:खैर्विमुक्तोऽमृतमश्रुते || (Bhagvad Gita 14.20)

By transcending the three modes of material nature associated with the body, one becomes free from birth, death, old age, distresses and enjoy the nectar (happiness) of life. 

सर्वं ब्रह्ममयं I Sarvam Brahmamayam.

शुभं भवतु कल्याणं ||

Punamchand
21 January 2017

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Rama nama a life mantra

Rama nama a life mantra

When somebody dies, what happens? A person was walking, talking, suddenly goes off. What happened? The light bulb went off. Light has gone out. રામ રમી ગયા. Hindus say, રામ બોલો ભાઈ રામ.

Who was lighting this life? The God, in form of electricity. Do you know, where is the power station? How it generates the electricity which keep our building (the body) lighted 24x7. It is the Electrical System (cardiac conduction system) that prompts the heart's muscle to contract. With each contraction, blood is pumped throughout the body. The process begins in the upper chambers of the heart (atria), which pump blood into the lower chambers (ventricles). Each beat, diastole and systole gives us light of life.

Cardiologists in the world will explain the electricity that runs the heart through SA node, AV node, His-Purkinje system. The Sinoatrial (SA) node, located in the right atrium of heart, is a natural pacemaker, responsible for the heartbeat, generate electrical impulses throughout the heart. The Atrioventricular (AV) node, located on the interatrial septum close to the tricuspid valve, electrically connects the right atrium and right ventricle. The His-Purkinje system, located along the walls of heart's ventricles. With each heartbeat, the electrical signals move from SA node to AV node and then to the bundle of His.
From the bundle of His, the signal fibres divide into left and right bundle branches through the Purkinje fibres. These fibres connect directly to the cells in the walls of your heart's left and right ventricles. If everything in order, we live healthy and happy life. But any disorder in the electrical cycle, beats disturbed, the pumping disturbed and the life disturbed. 

Heart is an involuntary muscle, contracts automatically, even in the absence of any neurological input. Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system control the heart rate, therefore, emotions do disturb the heart health as Heart is the source of all emotions. Negative emotions can suppress the immune system, increase stress levels, cause the heart to beat faster, blood pressure to rise, and even change the heart's electrical stability, all of which can lead to heart disease and stroke. Similarly, an emotional excess of joy can also scatter the spirit. One has to find the balance as per the ageing of the heart. But it is difficult as the weak heart creates more emotional disturbances. 

Since childhood, I hear bhajans, and mostly they tell us, મારા રામ રુદીયાની માંય રે, મારા સદ્ગુરૂ રુદીયાની માંય રે, હું કઠે ઢૂંઢવા ન જાઉં રે (My Rama lives in my heart, my Sadguru lives in my heart, I shouldn't go anywhere to search Him). 

Why Rama is linked with our heart? When Rama (the Soul) goes away, Dashrath (body with 10 properties - 5 gyanendriyas and 5 karmendriyas) died. Hinduism found the answer for the health of the heart in Rama nama as medicine. It is that Ramanama (  ઁ) (half moon and bindi-anuswar of ॐ) gives peacefulness to the heart to run it in rhythm  with rhythmic power supply. Hanuman (immortal), Kabir, Tulsidas, Gandhi, etc were the great Ram Bhaktas. 

Rama was a mantra practiced before Lord Rama was born. It is the music of human heart, once listened, you will fall in love with Him. Rama is the life energy, the light of our house (body). Rama nama maintains balance of heart during emotional disturbances.

If your heart is disturbed, remember Rama is not happy with you. You have to do good to others to make the Rama (life energy) happy. Otherwise, one day, He will leave the body in darkness of the death. Instead people say, રામ બોલો ભાઈ રામ, let us chant Ramnama overselves to make the life happier and healthier. Our body is the "Temple of Rama", in which Rama lives.

Hanuman became immortal with the mantra "Rama". After Ravan Vadh and completion of Vanvasa of 14 years, Lord Rama became king of Ayodhya. In the coronation ceremony, many have been given gifts. Sita gifted a beautiful diamond necklace to Hanuman. Hanuman took the necklace, carefully examined each and every diamond, pulled them apart, and threw them away as he couldn't find Rama in any one of them. When asked if Lord Rama was in Hanuman himself, he tore his chest apart to reveal his heart. The on-lookers, saw the image of both Rama and Sita appearing on his heart. Rama is in his heart. Each individual is the Hanuman has a capacity to kill 10 evils (Ravana) prohibiting the ways of salvation with the Bhakti of Rama.

The wealth carry no worth as there is no Rama. Look at the eyes of the all creatures. You will see the lights of Rama in their eyes. सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्म' (sarvam khalvidam brahma, teaches that 'All this is indeed Brahman'

Rama (the Soul) lives in our heart. Rama the Soul and his Bhakti Sita united together gives the peace and prosperity of life.

Ram Siyaram, Jai Jai Ram Siyaram.

🙏Jai Shree Ram🙏

Punamchand
19 January 2017

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Hindu Scriptures and Archeoastronomy

Hindu Scriptures and Archaeoastronomy

It is interesting to read an article of Shri Subhash Kak on Contribution Of Hindu Scriptures To Archaeoastronomy
http://swarajyamag.com/science/contribution-of-hindu-scriptures-to-archaeoastronomy

He has argued well to place the Brahmans in 2000-1000 BC and concluded that Vedic and Harappan periods were identical (2600-1900 BC), deferring with the chronology proposed by Max Muller regarding Rigveda to 1200-1000 BC, the other Vedic texts to 1000-800 BC and the Brahmanas to 800-600 BC.

However, the sources (archeological-literature), age (bronze- iron), the culture (urban-rural), language (picture language/undesiphered-Sanskrit), animals (elephants, buffalos - horses, cows), weapons (primitive-advanced), worship (nature-Devas), death ritual (burials-cremation), look (short, black- tall, fare), etc, many differences have been recorded between Indus Valley civilisation and Vedic Civilisation.

Indus Valley civilisation, for sure, the civilisation of the original inhabitants of India (on the bank of river Sindhu and adjacent areas) and the Vedic civilisation may have been grown from their bordering places (probably the west) and then spread over the country towards east and south east. There are common hymns in Rigveda and in Avesta. There are similarities of Gods of Romans and Gods of Vedas. There are similarities in astronomy of Greeks and astronomy of Vedic age.

The horned God in Vajrasana surrounded by a tiger, an elephant, a rhinoceros, and a buffalo found on a Harappan seal is the only trace of religion of Indus Valley civilisation, which may be named Pashupatinath Lord Shiva or the Lord of Death, the Yama. It was the merger of Harappan religion and Vedic religion into the new Hinduism of the post Vedic period.

If Indus-Vedic period placed in the same period, then both must have developed on different lands for the same period. If considered the same land and place the Vedic period farther as argued, then Indus Valley civilisation to be dated prior to that.

It is interesting to note that, 75,000 years ago after Toba (Indonesia) Super Volcanic Eruption, following by global volcanic winter, Homosapien population in the world had gone down to 1000-10,000. In 10000 BC, it was approximately 2 million, rose to 45 million in 3000 BC; at that time, how best were the brains, who had just look at the world around; observed the stars, planets, seasons and their cycles and described the secrets of the Nature and God cleverly!!!

Regards,
Punamchand
17 January 2017

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