Post by Amritha Varshini on Aug 28, 2013 6:42:46 GMT 5.5
Janmashtami – An occasion to contemplate - Article by Sri V.S. Krishnan (vsk1940@gmail.com)
Janmashtami, the birth day of Lord Krishna, is an occasion for joy and celebration. It is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm in different parts of the country. In Maharashtra, the devotee climbs up a human pyramid and strikes the pot for butter (Dahi Hundi or Uri Adi); the pot symbolizing human body and the butter symbolizing the Self (Atman). In South, they welcome Krishna by decorating gates of their houses with the footprints of Krishna. When all the temples wear a festive look and there are bhajan galore, dance and merriment all over, the devotee is elevated to a new world of bliss and ecstasy.
But Janmashtami is also an occasion for contemplating on Krishna's teachings. It was on this day, Lord Krishna manifested on earth to give us a message, conveyed in the form of Bhagawad Gita. He has revealed the eternal truth to Arjuna, His ardent disciple, who represented the people in general, suffering from certain ignorance and yearning for knowledge. What is written elaborately in Vedas and Upanishad has been given to us in a condensed form as Bhagawad Gita. Gita teaches us the disciplines of Karma Yoga, the path of selfless action, where one performs his duties dispassionately without any motivation and in the spirit of sacrifice.
A true Karma Yogi performs whatever duties expected of him in the field of family, profession and the country, diligently but with desireless-ness and detachment. Though he performs all duties assigned to him, he does not involve himself actively in what he does. Though his body does, he is not the Karta (doer). Whatever he does, he does them without the notion of “I” (Dehatma Buddhi). The Lord also unfolds the path of Jnana by which one attains Self realization. This path, also known as Sankya Yoga, speaks of the perfect man (Uthama Purusha) who does not identify himself with his body, mind or senses. He moves with the body and lives in the world, just like others but unlike others, he mentally relinquishes all actions. He is not the doer. He is the embodiment of Truth Consciousness and Bliss (Sathchithananda).
It is true that an average person placed in the modern world would find it difficult to follow these principles, let alone understand them. How can he compromise himself in the world of materialism today where 'success' in terms of achievements and wealth are considered as the highest priority in life? Bhagawad Gita itself gives us a solution to this predicament. The solution lies in the path of devotion. Instead of debating on matters like 'reality, 'Jnana' 'Self-realisation', 'success' or 'happiness', it is better to follow the simple path of devotion.
In the concluding chapter of Gita, Bhagavan Krishna says: Resign (mentally) yourself from all actions and surrender unto me and I would absolve you of all your sins and support you. (Sarva Dharman parithyajya Maamekam Saranam Vraja, Aham Thva Sarva Papebyo Mokshayipyami Ma Sucha)
Our role should be simply to perform our duties and leave the rest to God. There are many instances where we have witnessed a life boat moving forward smoothly even without planning and management. It is only when we hold on to ourselves the right to manage our affairs and rely on our own power of discretion; we find pitfalls because we quite often do not know what our priorities are. A baby does not know what it needs and when it needs. It is the mother who takes care of the baby’s needs. Similarly, when we surrender unto God, He safeguards our interests just as a mother does.
Generally, one imagines himself to be responsible for his welfare. It is like the clay idol at the basement of a temple tower imagining that it is holding the entire tower (Gopuram) on its head. It is the Omnipotent God who provides the base, the energy and power to the entire universe. He is the underlying reality behind every forms and images. It is the Lord who conducts the universe, creates conditions for human survival, causes the climate change and produces the energy required for all activities. When he knows it all, does he not know what is good for us and would he not provide it for us, without asking? The individual is merely a tool in the total arrangement.
Ultimately the Divine Will alone would prevail. A man travelling in a train does not hold his luggage on his head. He keeps it down. Similarly, a man undertaking the journey of life need not assume all burdens and responsibilities on himself. As all events are pre-determined, the best course is to do one’s own Karma in a spirit of detachment, surrender and leaves the question of welfare and security to God.
From the book ‘Divine Grace through Total Self-Surrender” by D.C. Desai, Sri Ramana Maharshi read out the following passage: “Divine Grace is a manifestation of the cosmic free will in operation. It can alter the course of events in a mysterious manner through its own unknown laws, which are superior to all natural laws and can modify the latter by interaction. It is the most powerful force in the universe. It descends and acts only when it is invoked by total self-surrender. It acts from within because God resides in the heart of all beings. Its whisper can be heard only by one who surrenders totally.”
But Janmashtami is also an occasion for contemplating on Krishna's teachings. It was on this day, Lord Krishna manifested on earth to give us a message, conveyed in the form of Bhagawad Gita. He has revealed the eternal truth to Arjuna, His ardent disciple, who represented the people in general, suffering from certain ignorance and yearning for knowledge. What is written elaborately in Vedas and Upanishad has been given to us in a condensed form as Bhagawad Gita. Gita teaches us the disciplines of Karma Yoga, the path of selfless action, where one performs his duties dispassionately without any motivation and in the spirit of sacrifice.
A true Karma Yogi performs whatever duties expected of him in the field of family, profession and the country, diligently but with desireless-ness and detachment. Though he performs all duties assigned to him, he does not involve himself actively in what he does. Though his body does, he is not the Karta (doer). Whatever he does, he does them without the notion of “I” (Dehatma Buddhi). The Lord also unfolds the path of Jnana by which one attains Self realization. This path, also known as Sankya Yoga, speaks of the perfect man (Uthama Purusha) who does not identify himself with his body, mind or senses. He moves with the body and lives in the world, just like others but unlike others, he mentally relinquishes all actions. He is not the doer. He is the embodiment of Truth Consciousness and Bliss (Sathchithananda).
It is true that an average person placed in the modern world would find it difficult to follow these principles, let alone understand them. How can he compromise himself in the world of materialism today where 'success' in terms of achievements and wealth are considered as the highest priority in life? Bhagawad Gita itself gives us a solution to this predicament. The solution lies in the path of devotion. Instead of debating on matters like 'reality, 'Jnana' 'Self-realisation', 'success' or 'happiness', it is better to follow the simple path of devotion.
In the concluding chapter of Gita, Bhagavan Krishna says: Resign (mentally) yourself from all actions and surrender unto me and I would absolve you of all your sins and support you. (Sarva Dharman parithyajya Maamekam Saranam Vraja, Aham Thva Sarva Papebyo Mokshayipyami Ma Sucha)
Our role should be simply to perform our duties and leave the rest to God. There are many instances where we have witnessed a life boat moving forward smoothly even without planning and management. It is only when we hold on to ourselves the right to manage our affairs and rely on our own power of discretion; we find pitfalls because we quite often do not know what our priorities are. A baby does not know what it needs and when it needs. It is the mother who takes care of the baby’s needs. Similarly, when we surrender unto God, He safeguards our interests just as a mother does.
Generally, one imagines himself to be responsible for his welfare. It is like the clay idol at the basement of a temple tower imagining that it is holding the entire tower (Gopuram) on its head. It is the Omnipotent God who provides the base, the energy and power to the entire universe. He is the underlying reality behind every forms and images. It is the Lord who conducts the universe, creates conditions for human survival, causes the climate change and produces the energy required for all activities. When he knows it all, does he not know what is good for us and would he not provide it for us, without asking? The individual is merely a tool in the total arrangement.
Ultimately the Divine Will alone would prevail. A man travelling in a train does not hold his luggage on his head. He keeps it down. Similarly, a man undertaking the journey of life need not assume all burdens and responsibilities on himself. As all events are pre-determined, the best course is to do one’s own Karma in a spirit of detachment, surrender and leaves the question of welfare and security to God.
From the book ‘Divine Grace through Total Self-Surrender” by D.C. Desai, Sri Ramana Maharshi read out the following passage: “Divine Grace is a manifestation of the cosmic free will in operation. It can alter the course of events in a mysterious manner through its own unknown laws, which are superior to all natural laws and can modify the latter by interaction. It is the most powerful force in the universe. It descends and acts only when it is invoked by total self-surrender. It acts from within because God resides in the heart of all beings. Its whisper can be heard only by one who surrenders totally.”
