Karthavyam (Duty)

గురు బ్రహ్మ గురుర్ విష్ణుః గురుర్ దేవో మహేశ్వరః

గురు స్సాక్షాత్ పరబ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః

శుక్లాం బరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం

ప్రసన్న వదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వ విఘ్నోప శాంతయే

శ్రుతి స్మృతి పురాణానాం ఆలయం కరుణాలయం

నమామి భగవత్ పాదం శంకరం లోక శంకరం

ఓం నమః శివాయ

Once Raavana got killed, Sri Rama had sent Hanuma to get Sita from Ashoka Vanam. Hanuma went to Sita and informed her about the death of Raavana and the victory of Sri Raama over the Raakshasas. There were few female raakshasas around Sita at that point of time too, executing the instructions of Raavana. Hanuma requested Sita to give him permission to take revenge on all those raakshasas who had tortured her all along. But Sita turned down that request and told the following story.

Once a lion started chasing a man in a forest. This man runs fast and climbs a tree. On that tree there lived a bear. The lion sits underneath the tree and waits for the man to come down. The lion speaks to the bear, “Throw that human being down. We both are animals and we will share his flesh.”

The bear responds, “Knowingly or unknowingly this person has come to my abode. He is my guest now. So, I cannot betray him. I shall protect him to the best of my abilities.”

Hearing this, the man feels happy that he is safe. The bear speaks to the man, “I am feeling sleepy. Let me sleep on your lap for some time please.” The man agrees to that and allows the bear to sleep.

The lion now speaks to the man, “You throw that bear down and I will eat that and then will go away (Hunting animals never kill anyone once they fulfill their hunger). You can then go back to your home unhurt.”

Hearing this, the man becomes greedy and pushes the bear down. The bear wakes up from sleep and somehow clings onto one of the branches of the tree and does not fall down.

The lion once again speaks to the bear, “Look at this faithless human being. You protected him and he tried to kill you to save himself. Don’t think twice now, just push him down and we can make merry.”

The bear responds, “Just because the human being did not abide by his karthavyam (duty) does not mean that I got a right to deviate from my duty. I have protected him not by considering his nature but because that’s my duty. I will still not push him.

Sita continued, “This is how one must perform his/her duty (karthavyam). Our duty cannot change based on the responses or reactions. The Raakshasas performed their duty of harassing/torturing me on the order of their king. So, there is nothing wrong with that. The way you have performed your duty on the words of your king, they have done the same. So, they are not liable to be killed on account of that. More importantly, I have given them a word that they would be protected even after the war and so they should not be killed.”

How many times have we heard or said the following statements.

·         I am not going to invite that person/family for this function because he/she did not invite me/us for some function they performed.

·         Last time when I spoke to that person nicely, he/she responded arrogantly. So I will also speak in a rude/arrogant manner with that person.

·         I helped that person when he/she was in need and when I needed help, I was refused. So, this time I am not going to help him/her.

·         I take care of my parents so well, but they keep shouting at me and are biased towards my other brother/sister.

·         I do so many things for my son/daughter but he/she doesn’t listen to the good things that I tell him/her. So there is no point I telling him/her anything.

The above are result of work (duty) done based on expectations.

సర్వే జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు

PS: There could be typos and other mistakes in telugu and english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.

Controlling desires

గురు బ్రహ్మ గురుర్ విష్ణుః గురుర్ దేవో మహేశ్వరః

గురు స్సాక్షాత్ పరబ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః

శుక్లాం బరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం

ప్రసన్న వదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వ విఘ్నోప శాంతయే

శ్రుతి స్మృతి పురాణానాం ఆలయం కరుణాలయం

నమామి భగవత్ పాదం శంకరం లోక శంకరం

ఓం నమః శివాయ

Controlling desires and overcoming our senses is the most toughest thing in the world. Great people like Sri Aadi Sankaraachaarya, Sri Paramaachaarya, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sri Ramana Maharshi are so great primarily because of their ability to control their senses and desires. For normal human beings the body rules the aatma, whereas for these people it’s the other way round. Controlling inner things is more difficult than controlling external things. That’s why we find fewer sanyaasis (genuine) than the celebrities (Rich people, people with power, fame etc)

Great people have shown how we can achieve this control by exercise and practice than just escaping from it by saying, “God has made me like this.” OR “This is what gives me happiness.” Lets look at one such incident here.

The great Paramaachaarya (known as “Walking God”) used to take Bhiksha (food obtained through begging) as per his sansaaysi aashrama dharmam. During his younger days one day he was having his bhiksha and he asked the cook about the Dal that had been served to him. The cook responded saying that its Totakoora Pappu (“Amaranthus with lentils”). Paramaacharya responded, “Its very delicious.”

The cook was delighted to hear the response. The following day he cooked the same dish and Paramaachaarya ate that and said that it was good. For the next couple of days the cook went on to cook the same dish and Paramaachaarya ate that. The following day Paramaachaarya did not show up for his Bhiksha. Everyone was worried. When peetaadhi pathis don’t show up for Bhiksha, anybody and everybody cannot go and ask them casually about that or remind them about that. They hoped that he would show up the following day. But on the contrary, Paramaachaarya did not show up even on the following day. This continued for more than 5-6 days. People got really worried and following the protocol, appropriate sishyas were sent to Paramaachaarya to find out the reason for Paramaachaarya not taking the Bhiksha.

Paramaachaarya responded, “This tongue of mine attempted at controlling me and so I thought I should teach it a lesson. It longed for the dish yielding to the taste of that Totakoora Dal (Amaranthus lentils). Being a peetaadhi pathi, if I yield to my tongue (one of my senses) then how can I preach others? Also, the word would spread around about my liking for this dish and people would start pouring in with that leafy vegetable. Foreseeing this, over the last few days I have been cleaning my tongue with “Aavu peda” (Cow dung). Cow dung is used for cleaning the floor as it disinfects the floor and kills all the virus and bacteria. Once my tongue is cleaned with that, then it would not long for any specific taste.”

We all know what he has went onto become. He is the only person who never boarded a train or a bus or a vehicle in his life. He either walked or was carried in palanquins, when he was not in a physical condition to walk, all through his life.

Though it is not easy, it is certainly not impossible to control our senses (desires arising out of those) to some extent atleast. For that we have to consciously attempt at doing that. It might a long time, but we have to be patient and constantly be on it. If we analyze, ultimately all worries, angst and problems in a human life are because of yielding to these desires arising out of our senses.

సర్వే జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు

PS: There could be typos and other mistakes in telugu and english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.

Sri Raama's attitude towards enemies

గురు బ్రహ్మ గురుర్ విష్ణుః గురుర్ దేవో మహేశ్వరః

గురు స్సాక్షాత్ పరబ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః

శుక్లాం బరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం

ప్రసన్న వదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వ విఘ్నోప శాంతయే

శ్రుతి స్మృతి పురాణానాం ఆలయం కరుణాలయం

నమామి భగవత్ పాదం శంకరం లోక శంకరం

ఓం నమః శివాయ

Let’s look at some events

·         Raavana’s raakshasa’s were instrumental in the torturing of the rishis and munis practicing dharma. Sri Rama cannot pardon anyone who doesn’t abide by dharma and who torture people abiding by dharma.

·         Sri Raama had to fight with 14000 raakshasas (Khara, Dooshanas)at one go.

·         Raavana abducted Sita in the absence of Sri Raama.

·         Sri Raama was clueless as to what had happened to his most beloved wife sita, after killing Maarecha and returning.

·         Raavana killed Jataayuvu, friend of his father, especially when Jataayuvu attempted at saving Sita from Raavana.

·         Sri Raama had to wander around in the forests searching for Sita without knowing whether she was still alive or not and had to fight Raakshasas like Kabandha.

·         Made friendship with Sugreeva and killed Vaali, in the hope that Sugreeva would help him find out the whereabouts of Sita.

·         Had to wait for 4 full months for sugreeva to return the favor and importantly had to warn Sugreeva before Sugreeva started returning the favor.

·         Had to cross the long ocean by constructing the bridge over that to reach Lanka (Raavana’s abode).

·         Once the war started, Raavana’s army was never ending and multiple times Sri Raama wondered how he could ever kill Raavana to get his wife back.

o   Indrajit shot Naagasthram which made all the army of Sri Rama powerless and Sri Raama and Lakshmana movement less. Hanuma was instrumental in saving them.

o   Vibheeshana warned Sri Raama and Lakshmana that if Indrajit finishes his Homam, then no one can beat him and the war would be lost. So Lakshmana and Hanuma had to fight Indrajit for 3-4 full days to kill him with great difficulty.

o   When Raavana shot a Trisool which pierced through Lakshmana’s chest, Sri Raama was aghast and said that he would not want to continue the war any more, not even for sita, if his brother dies. Again with Hanuma’s help Lakshmana regained life.

o   When Raavana wages an extremely fierce war Sri Raama tries his best to get him down and the war between them went on for days. Everyone else stopped fighting and watched them fighting.

o   At one point Sri Raama tries every weapon in the world but Raavana would not get killed. His heads get chopped off and then return to their position.

o   Sri Raama gets Aditya Hrudayam upadesam from Agasthya maharshi and finally uses a Brahmaasthram which kills Raavana.

So, Raavanas dead body is in front of Sri Raama. After multiple months there is finally some respite for him. All his hardships over the last months, including the separation from his wife, are all because of the guy lying in front of him.

Now, take a break for few minutes and put yourself in Sri Raama’s shoes and imagine what would be your thoughts and what would be the first words from your mouth.

Seriously. Take your eyes of this post and give it a thought.

Now, just compare those with what Sri Raama says

With Vibheeshana on his side, Sri Raama says, “Raavana was a very brave person. Fought fiercely and never showed his back in the war, which is what is expected from a great warrior. I don’t have any enmity with Raavana now, as he is no more. I am not going to think what all he has done in the past. You are my friend. Raavana is your elder brother. Your brother is like my brother. The one and only important thing that you need to do now is that you should perform the last rites comprehensively. In case you are not going to take that up, I would be taking care of those myself.”

Sri Raama never talks anything referring as his thoughts. Whatever he speaks/says is as per dharma and according to the saasthras. So, it’s very important for us to know as to where to draw a line.

సర్వే జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు

PS: There could be typos and other mistakes in telugu and english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.

Moola Mantram of Sri Raamayanam

గురు బ్రహ్మ గురుర్ విష్ణుః గురుర్ దేవో మహేశ్వరః

గురు స్సాక్షాత్ పరబ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః

శుక్లాం బరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం

ప్రసన్న వదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వ విఘ్నోప శాంతయే

శ్రుతి స్మృతి పురాణానాం ఆలయం కరుణాలయం

నమామి భగవత్ పాదం శంకరం లోక శంకరం

ఓం నమః శివాయ

During the war between Sri Rama and Raavana, Raavana’s extremely powerful son, Indrajit, enters the war zone. He initiates Abhichaara Homam (Nikhumbila Homam). If he finishes that, then no one can defeat him. Once he starts the Homam, Vibheeshana (he is aware of Indrajit’s power) warns Sri Rama and Lakshmana that Indrajit should be brought to war immediately without finishing that homam. So, Lakshmana and Hanuma start fighting the army, deployed to protect the Homam performed by Indrajit. Lakshmana doesn’t shoot any arrows towards indrajit as he has not accepted the invitation to fight. This is Dharma Yuddham. So, Lakshmana just keeps waiting and hoping that Indrajit gets up in between without finishing the Homam.

Hanuma beats the army black and blue and they run to Indrajit asking him to protect them from Hanuma. So, Indrajit was forced to get up without completing that Homam. Lakshmana and Indrajit fought for 3 days and finally Lakshmana Shoots an asthram (abhimantrinchina baanam) by saying the following slokam

ధర్మాత్మా సత్యసంధస్చ రామో దాశరధిర్యధి

పౌరుషేచ ప్రతిద్వంద శరైనం జహి రావణిమ్

With that Indrajit gets killed. This is called the Moola mantram of Sri Raamayanam. Lets look at the meaning of that.

If only Sri Raama is a Dharmaatma, Satya sandha, Dasaradha’s son, one with Pourusham (bravery), then Indrajit should get killed with this arrow.

There have been certain allegations on Sri Rama on the above aspects.

Dharmam – Sri Rama killing Vaali was not considered to be as per Dharma as he shot the arrow from behind a tree. If this were not to be as per Dharma then Lakshmana’s arrow would not have killed Indrajit. This act of Sri Rama is probably a bit difficult for us to accept, because of his stature but certainly not against Dharma. This has been accepted by vaali himself in his dying moments.

Satyam – When Sri Rama was leaving Ayodhya to the forests in a chariot, Dasaradha runs behind that asking the charioteer to stop the chariot. Sri Rama instructs the charioteer not to stop it and also says, “If my father asks u why u did not heed to his orders, you mention that you did not hear his words in the noise of the chariot wheels.” Though this is a lie but the purpose of this has been to make Dasaradha upkeep his words given to Kaikeyi.

Daasaradhi – Sri Rama is not a son of Daasaradhi, born like another Human being but born because of the sweet concoction given by the Yagna devatha (allegation). But Sri Rama was born just like another human being sitting in the womb of Kousalya and he is a son of Dasaradha. Once again proved by the killing of Indrajit.

Pourusha – When Sri Rama fights 14000 strong raakshasa army of Khara Dooshana in the forests, he single handedly kills all of them in roughly 42 mins. During that fight Khara (could be Dooshana too) rushes Sri Rama by jumping onto him and Sri Rama wants to create some space to shoot an arrow for which he takes 3 steps back, creates space and then shoots down that Raakshasa with that arrow. This act of Sri Rama was termed as a timid one as one is not supposed to take a step back in a war/fight. But Indrajit getting killed clearly shows that Sri Rama’s act was not related to bravery.

So, Lakshmana killed Indrajit with that one asthram dispelling all allegations against Sri Rama. Indrajit is considered more powerful than Raavan himself. Dharmo Rakshathi Rakshitaha

సర్వే జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు

PS: There could be typos and other mistakes in telugu and english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.

Sugreevas attitude and behaviour

గురు బ్రహ్మ గురుర్ విష్ణుః గురుర్ దేవో మహేశ్వరః

గురు స్సాక్షాత్ పరబ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః

శుక్లాం బరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం

ప్రసన్న వదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వ విఘ్నోప శాంతయే

శ్రుతి స్మృతి పురాణానాం ఆలయం కరుణాలయం

నమామి భగవత్ పాదం శంకరం లోక శంకరం

ఓం నమః శివాయ

When Sugreeva and Sri Rama become friends, Sri Rama promises Sugreeva that he would kill Vaali and get his kingdom and wife back. So Sugreeva lands up in front of Vaali’s cave and invites him for a fight, with the confidence that Sri Rama would handle him. He gets beaten black and blue by Vaali and Sugreeva runs back to Rushyamooka Parvatham (mountain) where Vaali cannot enter. When confronted with the question of why he did not kill Vaali, Sri Rama answers that he could not identify Sugreeva as both the brothers were looking alike and he did not want to kill the wrong person. Then he asks Sugreeva to wear a garland made of some nice flowers so that he would be able to identify Sugreeva and kill Vaali and as they say, the rest is history.

Let us look at some of the incidents involving Sugreeva prior to this.

1.    When both Sri Rama and Sugreeva promise to be friends in front of agnihotram (fire), Sugreeva cuts a nice branch from a tree and creates seating positions for him and Sri Rama. Lakshmana would be standing there and Sugreeva doesn’t even offer him a seat. Immediately Hanuma gets another big branch and makes a seating arrangement for Lakshmana and asks him to be seated on that. Is that a big fault? Yes it is. If not, Hanuma would not have immediately made seating arrangements for Lakshmana. Lakshmana is an ardent follower of God (Sri Rama) and so hurting them would hurt God.

2.    When Sri Rama asks where Ravana lives, Sugreeva states that he doesn’t know but says that he would certainly find out once he gets his kingdom and army back. But Sugreeva knows every nook and corner of the entire globe, as he had to run around to escape from Vaali. When Sugreeva had to send the Vaanaras in search of Sita, he sends them in all directions giving them detailed description of the entire path till they reach the dead end including South (that’s where Ravana lived). He must have probably thought that if he provides the whereabouts of Raavana to Sri Rama, then Sri Rama would probably insist on getting Sita back immediately. To be fait to him he must have thought that fighting Raavana without any army is not possible and hence probably did not disclose that information then.

3.    Sugreeva gives a detailed description of Vaali’s strength and states that unless Sri Rama proves to him about his strength, he would not be confident in Sri Rama facing Vaali. As part of his tests, he asks Sri Rama the following.

a.   Huge mountainous skeleton of Dundhubhi (A Raakshasa killed by Vaali) has to be kicked by Sri Rama to a distance of 200 yards atleast. Sri Rama kicks that to more than 1000 yards. Immediately, Sugreeva backs out stating that When Vaali threw this body it was with flesh and blood and so it must have been much heavier than this and so wanted another test.

b.   Vaali could shake on huge tree with his bear arms and so if Sri Rama can bring down that tree with his arrow, then he would be convinced. Sri Rama shoots an arrow and that brings down 7 such trees at one go at lightning speed. That’s when Sugreeva got convinced about Sri Rama’s strength.

Obviously the above are sins, in a way, committed by Sugreeva and so he had to pay for those. He, infact, got away with a very minor punishment of getting beaten black and blue by Vaali the first time around.

Committing sins is one thing and committing sins with the Bhaagavathulu (people loved by God) is a bigger sin and one has to pay for those immediately.  

సర్వే జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు

PS: There could be typos and other mistakes in telugu and english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.

Believing and Complying with what is stated

గురు బ్రహ్మ గురుర్ విష్ణుః గురుర్ దేవో మహేశ్వరః

గురు స్సాక్షాత్ పరబ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః

శుక్లాం బరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం

ప్రసన్న వదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వ విఘ్నోప శాంతయే

శ్రుతి స్మృతి పురాణానాం ఆలయం కరుణాలయం

నమామి భగవత్ పాదం శంకరం లోక శంకరం

ఓం నమః శివాయ

The following is from the third Anuvaaka of Rudram. This is recited whenever we take part in Rudhraabhishekham. There are some spelling mistakes, which have been underlined and most importantly, I could not get the udaarthaas and anudaarthas typed and I shall be pardoned for this mistake.

నమ స్సహమానాయ నివ్యాధిన ఆ వ్యాధినీనాం పతయే నమో

నమః కకుభాయ నిషన్ఘినే స్తేనానాం పతయే నమో

నమో నిషన్ఘిన ఇషుధిమతే తస్కరానాం పతయే నమో

నమో వంచతే పరివంచతే స్తాయూనాం పతయే నమో

నమో నిచేరవే పరిచరాయారాన్యానాం పతయే నమో

నమ స్సృకావిభ్యో జిఘాగుమ్ సాధ్భ్యో ముష్ణతాం పతయే నమో

నమో సిమధ్భ్యో నక్తం చరద్భ్య ప్రక్రున్తానాం పతయే నమో

నమ ఉష్ణీషినే గిరిచరాయ కులున్చానాం పతయే నమో

In a nutshell, the above anuvaaka implies that we should see god in everything and every person including bad people, because God is all pervasive. The above anuvaaka talks about various types of bad people – thieves, dacoits, cheaters, tricksters, robbers, murderers. We are saluting to the God who is present in all these human beings. Abiding by this is probably very difficult than reciting this.

Once Sri Ramana Maharshi was sitting in his hut with couple of his disciples in the late evening time. Two thieves walked into the hut with knives and face masks. Sri Ramana Maharshi immediately got up and welcomed them. The thieves shouted at him saying that they are thieves and that he should be scared of them and sit in the corner, otherwise they would harm him. Unperturbed by that, Sri Ramana Maharshi said, “Why should I be scared of you? You are also God. If you decide to harm me, who am I to stop you?” The thieves asked Sri Ramana Maharshi to turn the other way and Sri Ramana Maharshi did as instructed. The disciples were itching to run out and seek help so that the thieves could be nabbed within no time. But Sri Ramana Maharshi was totally against that and asked them to stay there. One of the thieves hit Sri Ramana Maharshi with a stick on his knees from behind and he fell down on the ground. Having found nothing in that Sanyaasi’s hut, the thieves left the place. But Sri Ramana Maharshi did not have an iota of ill feeling against the thieves and told his disciples that Lord Shiva wanted his body to receive that hit and he is no body to act against that.

Such is the state of great people who believe and feel each and every letter and word and not just recite it.

సర్వే జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు

PS: There could be typos and other mistakes in telugu and english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.