Kundalini Yoga: Latent Explosive Energy Within

Kundalini Yoga Kundalini simply means, kund (depth ) and alini (awakending/energy). It means the vast resource of energy within all of us lying deep within waiting to be awakened. In this age of science and rational thinking the intuitive knowledge of the universe within and without us is not for all to fathom and understand. The only thing any lay person will know about Kundalini yoga is the fallacious concept that it is to awaken the sexual prowess. In the age of branding and marketing it was promoted as such. Therefore, it got shrouded in mystery, awe and even fear and infamy. This is sad, because kundalini could be panacea for the ills of modern life which has put tremendous pressure on every inidivudal’s resource of every kind of energy, physical, mental and emotional. What is more, like everything in yoga, while giving you health, vigour and energy, it brings about a poise and balance in personality thereby veering you to live a wholesome life of peace, happiness amidst achievement. Seems like utopia , but for such a rewarding possibility the path though fun demands dedication and honesty of purpose. No quick fix, pop-a-pill methods here. There are and have been several examples of great men amidst us whose, one can say, kundalini was awakened. Gandhiji, Einstein are examples of people from everyday life. Gandhiji, who took diksha from Paramhansa Yogananda in Yoga Kriya in Wardha in 1935, was an example of an awakened soul. He commanded great power but shunned personal power, his energy confounded people, his mental prowess are legendary and his charisma spellbinding. These are the things that touch your life when your kundalini is aroused.  There are many ways to awaken the kundalini, the sexual path is just one of them. The many ways are, Hatha yoga, Raja yoga, Bhakti yoga, gyan yoga and the path of tantra. Kundalini means 'the Rising' in the language of modern science and refers to the activation of the vast dormant areas of the brain and thus the awakening of the great human potency. The neurological capacity of the human being is incalculable. According to recent findings each individual possesses around 10 billion brain cells, a single brain cell may be in contact with 25000 others giving rise to an astronomical number of associations. Each second the brain receives approximately 100 billion sensations and sends 5000 signals per second. In contrast to these vast potentialities, we are aware of only one millionth of our own cortical signalling. Vast areas of the brain remain wasted assets. With kundalini the awakening of these areas results in their complete activation allowing us to begin to communicate with and enjoy our own         higher consciousness. Care must be taken while treading this path of a seeker as when the Shakti climbs up the different chakras it is in a wild state and it can encounter the demonic aspects of consciousness. There is a concentration of energy, which needs to break through something which exists like a wall. In this way the Shakti which identifies with the pure nature has to smash through many different barriers in the process of her descent to the earthly plane. For all practises in yoga, the underlying and ultimate goal is self realisation or realising the supreme conscious state.  W hen this  goal is waylaid in the process of experiencing heady powers, then the goal is not only not reached, but the practitioner finally pays dearly. The spiritual arena is full of such examples of lives getting singed with their own prowess. This energy is confined to different chakras. A chakra is best described as a switch which turns on or opens up specific energy points of mind and body. Unlike other body organs they do not have a physical or gross existence. Therefore they cannot be located in a body on dissection. They are subtle pranic energy points. The only way to know their existence is to experience their presence through practise of kriya yoga or kundalini yoga. When a devoted practitioner under the guidance of a competent guru practices the awakening or switching on of these various chakras will experience the enormous change in the energy levels and experience harmony, peace, love and bliss. The word chakra literally means wheel, but in a yogic context the chakras are vortices of pranic energy at specific areas in the body which control the circulation of prana. On a physical level, chakras are associated with the major nerve plexuses and endocrine glands in the body. In most people these psychic centres lie dormant and inactive. Concernration on the chakras while performing yogic practices stimulates the flow of energy through the chakras and helps to activate them. This in turn awakens the dormant areas in the brain and the corresponding faculties in the psychic and mental bodies allowing one to experience higher planes of consciousness. There are seven major chakras located along the sushumna which flows through the centre of the spinal cord. Sushumna originates at the perineum and terminates at the top of the head. The chakras themselves are connected to a network of psychic channels called nadis. The chakras are usually depicted symbolically as lotus flowers each having a particular number of petals and a characteristic colour. The lotus symbolizes the 3 stages an aspirant must pass through in spiritual life; namely ignorance, aspiration and illumination.The petals of the lotus inscribed with the beej mantras represent the different manifestations of psychic energy connected with the chakras and the nadis or psychic channels. Within each chakra is a yantra comprised of the geometrical symbol of its associated element. Along with the yantra is a beej mantra. There is also a presiding deity along with the corresponding vahana which is an animal form. In rational, medical terms, each chakra is associated with the following : Mooladhara and Swadhishtan: Testosterone/ progesterone Manipur: Adrenal glands Anahata: Thymus gland Vishuddhi: Thyroid glands Ajna and sahasrara: Pitutury/pineal gland. The practice involves focussing one’s awareness on each of these chakras with their bij mantras and mentally visualising their symbolic representation. Therefore, Kundalini yoga or kriya yoga is a beautiful solution to the pressures of time and energy put on people today. The common refrain that one does not have the time to     practise yoga is fallacious. On the contrary the release of energy and elimination of stress adds more hours of fruitful work to your day thus making available that one hour for yoga. Finally, for those who want to release explosive energy, experience bliss, elevate their existence from the gross to subtle and know universal love, then kundalini yoga is the path of fun and discovery of a new you within you. Second Kundalini Workshop in Mumbai The fourth Kundalini workshopAdd caption The first Residential Kundalini Camp at Vapi, Gurjarat.

Patanjalis Yama & Niyama

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras:

Patanjali's Yoga Sutra enunciate the Eight steps to Self Realisation. The first two in the Eight steps are Yama and Niyama. The world over these Eight Steps are being taught but only lip service is paid to the  first Two Steps. The other steps namely, Asana, Pranayama, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi is being followed with zeal in the hope of reaching the goal of Samadhi.
It is the genius of Patanjali to put the Yama & Niyama right at the beginning. Doing the rest of the Six Steps without first internalising the first two you will never reach the final goal.
Let us consider one of the Yamas..... Truthfulness. Now, if one is not truthful, the psyche of that person will always be disturbed. That consciousness which we are trying to make still like the depth of an ocean with our Sadhana, our daily Yoga practice, can never be achieved. The ripples of lies one untruth sets off will make the consciousness muddy and always disturbed. One has to just ponder over each of his Yama and Niyams to thus realise their utmost importance in life and more so in spiritual life.
Therefore, in the Second Chapter, Patanjali has devoted 10 Sutras( from Sutra 35 to 45) to bring forth the powerful benefits of adopting these Social & Moral Codes in ones life.
The following is a compilation of explanation of these Ten Sutras by three Spiritual Giants, Rishi Ved Vyas, Swami Vivekanand and Paramhansa Swami Satyananda.

Jai Gurudev!! जै गुरुदेव!! ਜੈ ਗੁਰੂਦੇਵ!! जे गुरुदेव!! જી ગુરુદેવ!! 

The Five Yamas:

अहिंसा सत्य अस्तेयब्रह्मचर्यअपरिग्रह यामः


अहिंसा  Non-violence
सत्य      Truthfulness
अस्तेय     Honesty
ब्रह्मचर्य   Sensual abstinence
अपरिग्रह  Non aquisitiveness
यामः      Self-restraint


The Five Niyamas:


शौचसंतोष स्वध्ययेशवरप्राणिधनानि  नियमअह
सौच              cleanliness
संतोष            contentment
तपः               austerity
स्वध्यय्           self study
इश्वर प्रनिधनि   surrender to God
नियमः             Rules

The following interpretation deal with the Sutras that detail the importance of the Yama & Niyamas and the power that flows from following them.

Sutra 36, Chapter 2:             सत्य प्रतिष्ठायाम क्रियाफलाश्रयात्वं
Maharishi Vyasa: When a Yogin says to a man "Be righteous", the man actually becomes righteous; if he says to him "may you attain heaven", the man actually attains Heaven. In fact the Yogins words becomes infallible.
( Yoga Darshan: Sutras of Patanjali with Bhasya of Vyasa, Translated into English with notes by Ganganatha Jha, Dev Publishers & Distributors . New Delhi, 2011. ( First published 1907)

Swami Vivekananda: By the establishment of truthfulness the Yogi gets the power of attaining for himself & others the fruits of work without the works.

Commentary: When this power of truth will be established with you, then even in dream you will never tell an untruth. you will be true in thought, word & deed.... If a man is diseased and you say to him, "Be thou cured", he will be cured immediately.
(Raja Yoga: Conquering the Internal Nature, by Swami Vivekananda, Published by Swami Bodhasarananda, Thirty-ninth reprint, 2011, first published in NewYork, 1899.)

Swami Satyananda Saraswati's translation: On being firmly established in truthfulness, the actions result in fruits, entirely depending on it.

 Commentary: Only that person can speak truth who knows how to weigh each word: it becomes a condition of his speech. He does not express anything without weighing the words with spiritual power.....so that whatever comes from the mouth of such a person comes true.
(Four Chapters on Freedom: Commentary on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Yoga Publications Trust, Munger, Bihar, India, 2008 ( First edition in 1976).
(Compiled by Kamini)

Preparation to bring a new soul into the world

Yoga for Pregnant Women 
by
Kamini

Pregnancy presents manifold problems for women today especially working women. However, Yoga can help the woman to stay fit physically, mentally and spiritually during and pre-and-post pregnancy.

Bringing a new soul into the world is looked upon differently by different people. For some it is to keep up the progeny of the family, someone to care of in their old age, for some it is just an unthinking natural social-cultural fallout of marriage.
However, the birth of every child holds the seeds of germination of the future of the world. The parents and society are the soil in which the child grows to be stunted, full bloom, loving, peaceful, violent, or whatever nourishment it gets from its environment.
Therefore, given the enormous significance of the coming of a new soul into the world, it is the responsibility of the parents to do everything to see that they are healthy in mind, body and soul before they assume the important role of parenthood. This has become more important today when life styles of men , women have changed by dramatically.

On the positive side is that women are educated and aware. They have greater control over their lives. Also, men are more open to participating in parenthood and fatherhood. Therefore, it is today possible for men & women to take guidance for parenthood.
But on the flip side most women are burdened with the dual responsibility of home and career. They  are in a bad shape physically, mentally and emotional to bear children. Most jobs being sedentary in nature, women suffer from total lack of physical exercise. Their life-style are fraught with unhealthy diet, erratic hours, pressures of travel and work. 

For all these maladies a daily routine of asana, pranayama, shavasana, yognidra will  take care of the problems of the new age mother-to-be. Such a yoga routine will automatically provide the best physical, mental and emotional state for both child and mother. If the father too joins in then it will make for a family healthy in body, mind and spirit.

However, it is advisable to consult your doctor about any exercise routine you undertake during pregnancy.

Pre-pregnancy care:At the physical level special attention must be paid for the mother-to-be on the stomach muscles, spine, back, pelvis, reproductive organs. Before conception the woman must incorporate a routine of at least 45 minutes to an hour of Yoga for 3 to 4 days a week.

Pawanmukta asana series is simple set of asanas but very beneficial for a woman right from pre-to-post conception period. These simple practices exercise all joints, free blockages in blood flow and keep the muscles toned as well as relaxed. These limbering up asanas keep the lady in good shape to take the increasing weight of the body. It also frees the hip joint, shoulder joint  and  neck area, where stress and tension tend to accumulate.

Some simple asanas for the stomach muscles and back are also necessary to keep these two vital areas of the body fit for carryng the extra weight and also to help the mother during labour.

 Pranayama, moola bandha practiced throughout pregnancy will greatly enhance the health, well being of both the mother and the child.

Here are some simple set of practices a pregnant lady may undertake at the various stages of her pregnancy.

In the first four months of pregnancy:

1.     Pawanmuktasana series ( Please refer to article on Body Limbering up Asanas in this blog for details on how to do them )

2.     Vayu nishkasana:

3.     Uthanasana

4.     Marjari asana

5.     Kandharasana

6.     Shavasna

Pranayama Practice:

7.     Nadi shodan

8.     Anulom-Vilom

9.     sheetali

10.  sheetkari

Moolabandha may be practiced after Pranayama.

 ( A combination 3-4 pranayama may be done everyday).

It is recommended that pranayama be done in padmasana, ardha padmasana, sukhasana. These take care of circulation problems in the legs and swelling of legs in later months which happens from long periods of sitting on chairs.

Pranayama has immense value both for the mother and child. In the first three months the developing child has no pranic supply of its own. At the end of the third month, the panchpranas ( prana, apana, udyana, samana and vyana) all start in the child’s body and it is therefore endowed by his own pranic resources.

From fifth month onward:

All the exercises from one to six mentioned for the first four months of pregnancy can be continued. Pranayama must also be continued to keep up the flow of vital prana and energy. Also, as the pregnancy advances, the uterus pushes against the abdomen and finally the diaphragm, causing a sensation of shortness of breath. Hence, Pranayama and especially yogic breathing must be practiced regularly.

With advancing pregnancy one can easily keep up the pawanmukta asana series and Pranayama. All other asanas may be done only under the supervision of a Master.

A healthy body is conducive to a healthy mind. The mental and emotional state of a mother has direct impact on the child in the womb. For the health of the world at large, it is imperative that every parent-to-be undertakes the responsibility to get themselves into a Yoga regime.

For those who are wanting to design a child as an intelligent, spiritual, Rajasic ( like Sports etc) must be lucky to have the guidance of a Spiritual Master who can give an entire programme of mantra, yoga, dhyan, herbs etc. The Scriptures and  Spiritual history of India is full of stories and instances of Spiritual Masters willing a soul as they wish it to be by guiding the couple through it all.
It is up to the parents how much of themselves they are willing to give to the process of bringing a new soul into the world.

Ishwara & Nashwara

Nashwara to Ishwara
by
Kamini

Is there an opposite to Ishwara? Yes! It is Nashwara.
In the Sankhya Philosophy, reality is perceived as Ishwara & Nashwara.
Nashwara is the decaying principle. Whatever is born is bound to grow & finally decay.

 Ishwara is non-decaying, non-changing reality. 

When this reality manifests, it becomes Chetana. Chetna is consciousness and energy in continuous  motion within itself. It is like a vortex, a whirlwind. On the outside, periphery of this whirling motion is awareness of speed, motion, but at the centre is total stillness.
The purpose of human life is to evolve and merge with Ishwara. To transform, transcend from being Nashwara to being the unchanging, eternal reality, Ishwara.So Nashwara is "becoming" and Ishwara is " being".
the various paths of Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Gyan Yoga are paths to move from Nashwara to Ishwara.

Hari Om Tat Sat !  હારી ઓમ તટ સાત ! ஹரி ஓம் தட் சாட்!   हरि ॐ तत् सत !

Management of Menopause through Yoga

Management of Menopause
by
Kamini

History may look at this era and say it was the age when human beings challenged the inevitable. Aging and old age is one such certainty which the world today is doing everything in its power to overcome or at least postpone.  One look at the booming market of products and even medical means such as surgery which is being resorted to cover-up the ravages of age is a pointer to the desperate means being adopted. Such is the pressure on men and women to keep looking young and attractive that it is resulting in psychological disorders.

For women one such milestone signaling the onset of the penultimate stage of their life is menopause. After puberty this is the second time when a woman’s body undergoes dramatic but natural hormonal changes. The unfortunate part of women’s association with this natural happening is fear of onset of old age. Most educated women know that withdrawal of certain hormones from the body like estrogen and progesterone triggers  changes in the bone, skin and circulatory system.

 The sexual drive is another human instinct which the market place in today’s world uses to sell products. Menopause, it is feared triggers changes in the sexual drive. Both fears, aging and decrease in sexual drive, though not completely unfounded, are, however, uncalled for because along with bodily, chemical and physical changes, complementary mental, emotional changes make it easy to slip into this new phase in one’s life. In fact, earlier it was a welcome change for most women when the monthly bore of menstruation and its problems came to an end. Also, it heralded a new phase in men and women’s lives, when they stopped “becoming” and started “being”. In this elevated state of mind, superficial drives of younger age like looks, pressure of achieving and proving oneself are passé. Moreover, it mostly coincides with couples becoming free of parental responsibilities and signals personal growth of a different kind.

 However, if one unnecessarily resists this natural phenomenon and dreads the outcome it will only add to making this transitory phase difficult.

  

Management of menopause through yoga is definitely not an attempt to pamper such “desperate” attempts to foil aging process, but a simple, sure shot way of managing the effects of changes to remain healthy in body and spirit. Besides a whole set of yogic exercises to help out bodies in going over this biological hump, there is also a bit of life style which must be blended in for maximum benefits.

A healthy diet in fresh vegetables, fruits, with lots of greens, and avoiding fats, processed sugar, stale or canned food, alcohol and tobacco along with ample sleep is a must.

To understand the various yogic exercises which beautifully aid and assist  during menopause it is essential to understand and be aware of the changes taking place in a woman’s body.

Hormonal changes is the biggest factor in menopause. The endocrine system is made up of organs and tissues that produce hormones which is secreted into the blood stream to be used by other organs and systems in the body. The hypothalamus located in the brain produces hormones. The pituitary gland also located in the brain reaches its maximum size in middle age and gradually becomes smaller in two parts. The front part stores hormones produced in the hypothalamus and the back part produces hormones that affect the thyroid gland, adrenal cortex, ovaries, and the breasts.

The thyroid gland is located in the neck and produces hormones that help control metabolism. With aging, the thyroid often becomes lumpy (nodular). Metabolism gradually declines.
The para thyroids are four tiny glands located around the thyroid. Parathyroid hormone affects calcium and phosphate levels. This, in turn, affects the strength of the bones. Changes in the level of parathyroid hormones may contribute to osteoporosis.

Now we will see how some yogic exercises directly affect the various hormonal glands mentioned above.

Inverted asanas are the best for healthy functioning of the endocrinal system, especially the thyroid and pituitary . One of the best inverted asanas is the Sarvangasana ( sarva=whole, ang=body, asana).

The foremost and most important effect of any inverted pose is that it increases the blood supply to the brain. The heart under normal conditions  has to throw up blood to higher level than itself against the pull of gravity. An inverted pose cancels out the pull of gravity and helps flood the brain with fresh supply of blood.

This directly affects the master controller of the endocrinal system, the pituitary glands which lie in the brain. This helps in improving the efficiency of the glands leading to harmony and balance in the entire hormonal system.

It’s most stunning effects are also on the thyroid and para thyroid glands which get compressed, exercised. As mentioned earlier the thyroid and para thyroid glands affect the metabolism and production of calcium and phosphate. Therefore, when their efficiency is assisted they help off set damages set in with age.

To maximize the effects of inverted pose on the thyroid glands, the sarvangasana is usually followed by the matsyasana, in which the thyroid glands which were compressed in the sarvangasana are expanded thus massaging and exercising them further.

Similarly Surya namaskar is a highly potent exercise and tackles many problems.

 Asanas should be followed  by Pranayam. If one is inclined to prayer and worship then it is good to incorporate it in one’s routine. For others merely listening to soothing music or any relaxing activity is advised.

Following set of exercises makes a good package for management of menopause:

Begin with Pawanmuktasana series.

TADASANA
TRIAKA TADASANA
KATI CHAKRASANA
TRIAKABHUJANGASANA
PADASANCHALANASANA
VAJRASANA

SUPTAVAJRASANA/MATSYASANA

SHASHANKABHUJANGASANA
MARJARI ASANA
VYAGHARA ASANA
HALASANA/
DHANURASANA
VIPRITKARNIASANA/SARVANGA ASANA
SURYANAMASKARA

PRANYANAYAMA:

      KAPALBHATI/BHASTRIKA +MOOLBANDHA+JALANDHAR
UDDIYANABANDHA
NADISHODHAN
BHRAMARI( TACKLES DEPRESSION)

YOGA NIDRA
MUSIC/KIRTAN/SATSANG

Relevance of Devotion: The Story of Bhakti in Bhagwat Puran

The Shrimad Bhagwat Puran, opens with a story of a mother called, Bhakti and her two sons Gyaan and Vairagya.
When Narad Muni came down on Earth thinking it was the first and foremost place in the cosmos. But, after visiting such pilgrim places like Pushkar, Prayag, Kashi, Godavari (Nashik), Haridwar, Kurkshetra, Shrirang, Setubandh and several other pilgrim places he still did not feel peace and contentment anywhere. He realised it was the bane of Kaliyug, the rein of that period in Time, when Truth, Auserity, Purity ( both inward & outward). compassion, giving, etc are nothing and even those who claim to be pious, religious are engaged in the worst of crimes so what to talk of ordinary beings.
Thus wondering around desolate and disheartened he reached the banks of river Yamuna where Lord Krishna had lived out his early life full of pranks .... There he saw a strange sight. A young, pretty woman was sitting besides two old, sickly, men who lay in an unconscious state. The lady was crying in deep sorrow.
Narad Muni asked her who she was, who the two men were, and why she was crying?
The lady said, I am Bhakti and these two men are Gyan and Vairagya, my sons. Then she related her story and how she being a mother was still so young while her two sons were so weak and old.
She said, she was born in Dravid state, grew up in Karnataka, and then spent time in Maharashtra. But it was Gujarat that I and sons became weak and were subject to the worst of all the effects of Kaliyug in that state. So, I took my sons and came to Vrindavan where I again became young and beautiful but my sons remained like this. Now, I am stricken with grief that I am still young and healthy while my two sons have become old and infirm. Actually, the opposite should have happened. Saddened and affected by this strange fate I have been praying to God to resolve this reversal of life.
She pleaded with Naradji to explain the reason for such a fate and also to get her two sons back to their normal healthy state.
Naradji explaining to her said, Devi this all because of bad influence of Kaliyug. In this Yug, all the bad, evil, dishonest, elements are prominent. But, since you came to Vrindavan you have got back your pure state because you are Bhakti and in Virdavan Bhakti ( Devotion) is valued and is prime. But, there are no takers for your sons so they are still in their present state.
Then Bhakti asked Naradji, " Please tell me why did King Parikshit not destroy this Kaliyug when he had the chance. Why did he let it be knowing how bad it is. And how does Lord Shri Krishna too bear to see all that is happening in Kaliyug?
To this Shri Narad said, " When King Prakshit had it in his power to finish off Kaliyug, even then he did not because he knew that there was one thing about Kaliyug which was invaluable and unique. He knew that what could not be had even through severe austerities ( Tapa), or Yoga, or even Samadhi, could be achieved very easily in Kaliyug merely through Bhakti ( Devotion to God). Knowing this unique great gift of Kaliyug to human beings, Prakshit did not destroy it and let it be.
Then Bhakti said to Naradji, " You are a great soul, and son of Lord Brahma himself. Please find some way of waking up my two sleeping sons and give them back their health and vigour.
At this Naradji went close to the ears of the sons and said loudly in their ears, " Oh Gyan, Oh Vairagya, please get up." Then he recited the Veda, and the Gita several times. But the two sons just barely sat up but were still overpowered by sleep, weakness, drowsiness. Soon they again fell back to sleep.
At his Naradji was foxed. He started thinking what to do? Thus worried and concerned, he started to meditate on The Lord to find an answer to the beguiling situation. After some days he heard a voice from the heavens. It said, you will have to do something which Sant Shiromani Mahanubhav will tell you. After you have done this satkarma ( righteous action), the boys will young and healthy again.
Naradji was in deeper problem. What was the portend was this message from the Heavens. He  went to many pilgrimages, meeting Sadhus, Sants and asking them if they could help unravel the message from the Heavens. But, on one could solve his problem. Then he went to Badrivan and sat down to do Tapas ( Austere spiritual practice).
After sometime, there appeared before him  Sankadi Munishwars whose presence was like the brightness of a thousand suns. 
Bowing before them, Naradji said to them. It is my immense good fortune to be blessed by your presence. Please have pity on me tell me that secret way by which I can help Bhakti to get back her sons in happy, healthy and young state. 
Sankkadi Munishwars said, do not worry. There is a solution. They said the Rishis, Munis have shown the world several paths for spiritual realisation. But they are all very painful and difficult. Also, they take you only till Heaven. They do not unite you with the Lord. 
The only way is to invoke the word of Shrimad Bhagwat Puran. As soon as they hear the words of Bhagwat Puran, both Gyan and Vairagya will become strong and healthy. Just as wolves and jackals slink away on hearing the Lion roar, so also, with the recitation of Shrimad Bhagwat Puran, all ills, suffering, evil of Kaliyug go away. And then Bhakti with full of love, dances and resides with Gyan and Vairagya. 
Naradji thanked the Munishwars profusely and decided to organise a yagya for holding the recital of Shrimad Bhagwat Purana with all the respect, fanfare and in the presence of spiritual people. Even as the week of the recitals was closing in, Gyan and Vairagya regained full consciousness, vigour and health. 

    ओम नमो भागवते वासुदेवाय:  Om Namoh Bhagwate Vaudeva!!  हरी शरणं !!  Hari Sharanam!!
( Condensed by Kamini Bobde from Shrimad Bhawat Mahapuran, published by Gita Press, Gorakhpur, in Sanskrit with translation in Hindi, pages 4 to 20)

The Play of The Gunas

Everything in this world is a play of the three gunas. We are also ruled by the three gunas, sattwa, rajas and tamas.
Our mind, body and every state of being is a play of these three Gunas. While most of us are a mix of the three gunas, one of the three however dominates our personality.

When sattwa guna dominates then the mind is calm and concentrated. Nothing easily deflects the mind. It is a state desired for mediation and advancement in spiritual practice.

When rajas dominates, then the mind is distracted and energy is dissipated. The person is always in dynamic mode. If this state is tempered with jaap and Om chanting then this dynamic energy becomes concentrated and energy is not wasted through a distracted mind.

When tamas guna dominates the person is prone to laziness, apathy and suffers from lack of energy. Such a person must do dynamic Suryanamaskar, Kapalbhati and Bhastrika pranayama, along with other asanas and pranayama practice.

Yoga for the Other India

                                                               By

                                                         Kamini Bobde

 One has been teaching Yoga for the India that is rich and unhealthy. But, as part of Yoga Sadhana Seva Trust’s project to take free Yoga to the poor children & women, it was an experience that was subtle but hard hitting in its revelation.

The Teachers' Training class.

 One month of Yoga for the poor women at the Sneha institute at Santa Cruz, Mumbai, culminated with about 7 women undergoing one month of Intensive Teachers’ Training program in Yoga. The idea was to train women among them so that they could continue taking Yoga on a daily basis at the Institute. Also, to provide them an opportunity to help people in their basti and community through Yoga.  Most of them had bare schooling and  a couple of women though illiterate, grasped the therapeutic aspect quite well, especially a Muslim lady.

The dynamics of energy was so different. We are in our world of the refined elite, polished with conditioned behavior and responses resting on the bedrock of individuality flaunted through our dress, speech and so many other tags of price and position. Then to mingle with this other India, unaware and devoid of wherewithal  to have cultivated attitudes.

One experienced some other dynamics in operation here. What was it??

For one thing, the absence of money- propelled work. Both the giver and receiver are in different mode. The exchange of energy is different.

This is best summed up by Swami Satyananda, in his elucidation on Karma Yoga.

“ It is actually far easier & more motivating to work for others than for yourself. This is the secret of karma Yoga which few understand & are able to appreciate. This is the difference between karma and karma yoga.  You create karma when you act with yourself in mind, with your personal desires and problems as a motivation. When you act, not for yourself, but as a service, an offering to others, the mind is freed and you experience the benefits of karma yoga.”

Otherwise you may spend your whole life working for yourself & increasing your suffering, rather than working for others and ending your suffering along with theirs.

So karma yoga is a necessary part of life, It is as necessary as eating, talking or walking--  for you go on creating karma as long as you are alive.

Sabina, one of those who underwent the Teachers' Training taking Shava Asana for the class.

No crime is unpardonable: Story of Gokarna in Bhagwat Puran

 Shrimad Bhagwat Purana

 Lessons in Sin & Forgiveness

The Story of Gokarna

( Rendering by Kamini)

In the Bhagwat Puran there is a story of two brothers, Gokarna & Dhundhakari in the Fourth chapter of the First Skanda.
In a hamlet on the banks of Tungabhadra river lived a certain Brahmin called Atmadev who was a good soul. However, his wife, Dhundhali, was a tamasic ( ruled by baser instincts). She was lazy, greedy, liar and self-indulgent person. Because of her intrinsic nature all that she touched remained barren. She herself nerver bore a child nor the cows she kept.
When Atmadev was passed his prime life, he was overtaken by an over-powering desire for a child. He did many austerities and rites and rituals to beget a child but nothing worked. Frustrated, he left home one day and went into the jungle. In the afternoon he felt thirsty & went to a lake. Consumed with the grief of not having a child, he had become like a dried up twig, sucked of all desire to live. Despondent he quenched his thirst and sat next to the lake. Just then a Sanyasi came by the lake. He saw the grief stricken Atmadev and asked him the reason for this sorrow. Atmadev told him his intense desire for a child. He asked the Sanyasi to help him or else he would commit suicide by jumping into the lake. The Sanyasi tried to counsel him but Atmadev was inconsolable.
The Sanyasi then said that he had gone into Atmadev's Prarabhdha ( destiny) and found that he would not have a child for the next seven births. Therefore, he should give up this stubborn desire and devote his life to renunciation. He told him that going against what had been written by the Vidhata ( All Mighty) could bring him untold sorrow as had happened to King Chitraketu.
But, Atmadev was resolute.  When would not listen, the Sanyasi then gave him a fruit and told him to give it to his wife to eat. He said she should for a year lead a life of clean habits, honesty, compassion, charity and eat only once a day. Then the son she will beget will be a divine soul.
He went home exuberant. He gave the fruit to his wife with all the instruction to follow that the Sanyasi had told him to tell her.
The wife took the fruit but did not eat it. Given her nature all that the Sanyasi had said was anathema  to her. She related her predicament to her sister who was also of similar vile temperament. She told Dhudhali that she was expecting a baby and that she would give it to her. Till then she should just pretend to be pregnant. She also advised her to give the fruit to her cow. Dhudhali did as her sister advised her.
So Dhundhali took her sister's baby boy, called him Dhundhakari. The cow too gave birth to a boy who had ears like a cow's and was hence named Gokarna ( Cow's ears).
The town was happy with the tidings at Atmadeva's house and there was much celebration and charity to the poor, animals etc.
Both boys grew up to be opposite of eachother like white and black. Gokarna was learned like a Pundit & pure at heart. Dhudhakari was vile & evil. When Gokarna was barely eight years old he left the village for his first thrith yatra (pilgrimage) and in search of truth. Dhundhakari grew to be the terror of the village. He cheated, looted, stole and committed all kinds of evil acts to scare little chidlren, harm animals, hunting, going to prostitutes, etc. In short there was no vice he did not indulge in. He started harassing his parents for money and slowly squandered away all the wealth.
Atmadev was broken-hearted by his sons behaviour and asked Gokarna what to do. Gokarna told him to finally realise that worldly attachment and desire was the cause of all suffering. He told his father to retire to the forests and devote the rest of his life to God. He himself also left for a pilgrimage.
Dhundhakari on his fathers leaving home, started living in the house with five prostitutes. He would beat up his Mother demanding money, etc. Fed-up with his son's torture she finally jumped into the well and took her life.
The prostitutes realised after sometime that Dhundhakari had exhausted all his money, jewellery etc. So they planned to do away with him. When he was sleeping they treid to strangle him to death. When this was unsuccessful, they burnt him alive and buried him in a pit and lived in his house there after.
After his death, Dhundhakari became a frightening evil spirit which kept roaming around with no relief to is body or soul from the continued sufferings.
Gokarna during his Yatras got missives about his brothers doings and his sad death. So wherever he went he would perform Shradh of his brother to liberate his soul.
When he returned to his village one night, he quietly went to his abandoned home and lay down in the verandah & slept. In the middle of the night he was woken by the presence of some dreadful spirit.
When he confronted the spirit, Dhundhakari revealed who he was. Gokarna expressed surprise that he was still wandering around as a spirit when Gokarna had done his shradha in Gaya and other places. Dhundhakari told him that he had led such a bad life that his soul would never find liberation. He related to Gokarna all his devious crimes including driving his own mother to her death. He appealed to Gokarna to find some way to release his soul of the mesh of bad karma and liberate his soul.
" If all the prayers I offered at sacred places like Gaya for your shradha has not liberated your soul, then I don't know what else will." He however told Dhundhakari to go and rest somewhere while he thought out a solution.
Gokarna then got together all the wise, pious and good souls of the village and asked their advice as to what can be done for Dhundhakari's soul. They studied many scriptures and holy books but could find solution. Then it was decided that Gokarna should seek advice of Suryanarayana (Sun God). So Gokarna prayed with all austerity to Suryanarayana. Pleased with him Suryanarayana asked him what was his problem. Gokarna explained to him his predicament about Dhudhakari's soul. Then Suryanarayan told him that a one week Shrimad Bhagwat Katha should be organised and Dhudhakari must only listen to the whole discourse with his heart & soul.
So, Gokarna went about making arrangements for Shrimad Bhagwat discourse. As happens when such a katha is held anywhere it was a grand affair attended by all by Bhulok to Dev lok. Dhudhakari finding no place, hid himself in a pile of 7 bamboos kept in one corner. Being a ghost that is of vayu (air element) tattwa he managed to hid inside the hallow of the bamboo.
One each day as the discourse ended in the evening, the people saw a strange phenomena. One of the pile of bamboos burst open. This went on for the seven days. On the last day, a luminous body dressed in auspicious colours of pitambar (saffron) emerged from the bamboo. It was Dhundhakari who was now cleansed of all his sins & crimes by hearing the Bhagwat with full devotion.
A space craft from the heavens descended and took him away into the skies.
So this the story of hope from which every human can derive succor  inspite of all the sins that he may have committed. Also, it is a story which emphasizes the importance of Bhagwat Puran in Kaliyug.

Om Namah Bhagwate Vasudevaye !!

(Condensed and translated by Kamini Bobde, from the Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran, published by Gtia Press, Gorakhpur, in Sanskrit with Hindi translation, pages 20 to 34)

Importance of Bhakti in Kaliyug

The Shrimad Bhagwat Puran, opens with a story of a mother called, Bhakti and her two sons Gyaan and Vairagya.
 Narad Muni came down on Earth thinking it was the first and foremost place in the cosmos. But, after visiting such pilgrim places like Pushkar, Prayag, Kashi, Godavari (Nashik), Haridwar, Kurkshetra, Shrirang, Setubandh and several other pilgrim places he still did not feel peace and contentment anywhere. He realised it was the bane of Kaliyug, the rein of that period in Time, when Truth, Auserity, Purity ( both inward & outward). compassion, giving, etc are nothing and even those who claim to be pious, religious are engaged in the worst of crimes so what to talk of ordinary beings.
Thus wondering around desolate and disheartened he reached the banks of river Yamuna where Lord Krishna had lived out his early life full of pranks .... There he saw a strange sight. A young, pretty woman was sitting besides two old, sickly, men who lay in an unconscious state. The lady was crying in deep sorrow.
Narad Muni asked her who she was, who the two men were, and why she was crying?
The lady said, I am Bhakti and these two men are Gyan and Vairagya, my sons. Then she related her story and how she being a mother was still so young while her two sons were so weak and old.
She said, she was born in Dravid state, grew up in Karnataka, and then spent time in Maharashtra. But it was Gujarat that I and sons became weak and were subject to the worst of all the effects of Kaliyug in that state. So, I took my sons and came to Vrindavan where I again became young and beautiful but my sons remained like this. Now, I am stricken with grief that I am still young and healthy while my two sons have become old and infirm. Actually, the opposite should have happened. Saddened and affected by this strange fate I have been praying to God to resolve this reversal of life.
She pleaded with Naradji to explain the reason for such a fate and also to get her two sons back to their normal healthy state.
Naradji explaining to her said, Devi this all because of bad influence of Kaliyug. In this Yug, all the bad, evil, dishonest, elements are prominent. But, since you came to Vrindavan you have got back your pure state because you are Bhakti and in Virdavan Bhakti ( Devotion) is valued and is prime. But, there are no takers for your sons so they are still in their present state.
Then Bhakti asked Naradji, " Please tell me why did King Parikshit not destroy this Kaliyug when he had the chance. Why did he let it be knowing how bad it is. And how does Lord Shri Krishna too bear to see all that is happening in Kaliyug?
To this Shri Narad said, " When King Prakshit had it in his power to finish off Kaliyug, even then he did not because he knew that there was one thing about Kaliyug which was invaluable and unique. He knew that what could not be had even through severe austerities ( Tapa), or Yoga, or even Samadhi, could be achieved very easily in Kaliyug merely through Bhakti ( Devotion to God). Knowing this unique great gift of Kaliyug to human beings, Prakshit did not destroy it and let it be.
Then Bhakti said to Naradji, " You are a great soul, and son of Lord Brahma himself. Please find some way of waking up my two sleeping sons and give them back their health and vigour.
At this Naradji went close to the ears of the sons and said loudly in their ears, " Oh Gyan, Oh Vairagya, please get up." Then he recited the Veda, and the Gita several times. But the two sons just barely sat up but were still overpowered by sleep, weakness, drowsiness. Soon they again fell back to sleep.
At his Naradji was foxed. He started thinking what to do? Thus worried and concerned, he started to meditate on The Lord to find an answer to the beguiling situation. After some days he heard a voice from the heavens. It said, you will have to do something which Sant Shiromani Mahanubhav will tell you. After you have done this satkarma ( righteous action), the boys will young and healthy again.
Naradji was in deeper problem. What was the portend was this message from the Heavens. He  went to many pilgrimages, meeting Sadhus, Sants and asking them if they could help unravel the message from the Heavens. But, on one could solve his problem. Then he went to Badrivan and sat down to do Tapas ( Austere spiritual practice).
After sometime, there appeared before him  Sankadi Munishwars whose presence was like the brightness of a thousand suns. 
Bowing before them, Naradji said to them. It is my immense good fortune to be blessed by your presence. Please have pity on me tell me that secret way by which I can help Bhakti to get back her sons in happy, healthy and young state. 
Sankkadi Munishwars said, do not worry. There is a solution. They said the Rishis, Munis have shown the world several paths for spiritual realisation. But they are all very painful and difficult. Also, they take you only till Heaven. They do not unite you with the Lord. 
The only way is to invoke the word of Shrimad Bhagwat Puran. As soon as they hear the words of Bhagwat Puran, both Gyan and Vairagya will become strong and healthy. Just as wolves and jackals slink away on hearing the Lion roar, so also, with the recitation of Shrimad Bhagwat Puran, all ills, suffering, evil of Kaliyug go away. And then Bhakti with full of love, dances and resides with Gyan and Vairagya. 
Naradji thanked the Munishwars profusely and decided to organise a yagya for holding the recital of Shrimad Bhagwat Purana with all the respect, fanfare and in the presence of spiritual people. Even as the week of the recitals was closing in, Gyan and Vairagya regained full consciousness, vigour and health. 

    ओम नमो भागवते वासुदेवाय:  Om Namoh Bhagwate Vaudeva!!  हरी शरणं !!  Hari Sharanam!!
( Condensed by Kamini Bobde from Shrimad Bhawat Mahapuran, published by Gita Press, Gorakhpur, in Sanskrit with translation in Hindi, pages 4 to 20)

Why Ved Vyasa wrote the Bhagwat Puran

Ved Vyasa had finished editing the Vedanth, written the Mahabharatha, the Bhagwat Gita. But, he still had a feeling of restlessness he could not fathom. On one such day, when he was distraught with this vague feeling of having left something undone, he was visited by the Sage, Narada. Gauging that Muni Ved Vyasa was not completely at peace, he asked him if anything was the matter. Ved Vyasa then told him that he had this vague feeling of restlessness which he could not unravel. I think I have done my duty & performed my karmas on earth by editing the Vedas, writing the Mahabharatha and Bhagwat Gita. Then I don't know why I am pursued by this feeling I have left something undone.

Ved Vyasa

Narad Muni then enlightened Ved Vyasa on the reason for it. He said to Vyasa, you have done this great body of work. But, left out a vital part. None of the treatise you have written lay emphasis on Bhakti, love & devotion for God. The severest of austerities ( Tapas), knowledge of Vedanta, Bhagwat Gita can only take you to Heaven ( Swarga) but not make you one with God. The only way to reach not just Heaven but become one with God, is Bhakti, devotion to God. Without this all other means of reaching Him are futile. And this is what has been left out from your body of work.

This answered Ved Vyasa's question. He then meditated and got the divine inspiration to write Shrimad Bhagwat Puran. It is a huge body of work which is the story of the various avatars of Shri Krishna. The Bhagwat Puran explicitly states that Bhakti, devotion to God, is the only and easiest path to the Lord, which the highest, toughest austerities, tapas, study & knowledge of all scriptures, or non-covetousness ( vairagya) cannot take you to. The Bhagwat Puran further states that especially in Kali Yug, the easiest and surest way to become one with the Supreme is Bhakti.

" Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevaye"            "ॐ नमो भ वते वसुदेवये "