Post by Amritha Varshini on Nov 22, 2013 17:19:47 GMT 5.5
Feedback received from Sri V. S. Krishnan (vsk1940@gmail.com)
The Amrithavarshini Pallavi 16 which opened up with a beautiful image of Maha Periyava Vrindavanam at Kancheepuram was a feast for the eyes and soul. We have associated Pillayar with Gjnana, power, compassion and as remover of obstacles. The article on Vinayaka at Thiruchenkaatancudi associating Pillaiyar with colour is delightful indeed.
In his Anugraha Bhashanam, Maha Periyava has underlined the need for Brahmins to uphold their basic principles and Dharma. He said that the least expected of Brahmins is to follow the path of Sanatana Dharma and inculcate the spirit of Dharma to our children at the young age itself. Then only this great tradition built from centuries ago can flourish. True that Brahmins are facing problems at present, mainly in matrimonial and other social fields. This is mainly because there is lack of unity among them. It is time we realize the importance of functioning as one family (Vasudeva Kudumbakam), helping each other and building up a healthy community spirit, based on the unity and love.
Sengalipuram Anantharama Dikshidhar is a renowned Pundit who extolled the glory of Narayaneeyam to all corners of the world. We are blessed with a Sthotra Mala composed by Diskidar on Lord Guruvayoorappa. Reciting these seven verses would indeed elevate the devotees to a new state of devotion and bliss.
I have heard the song ‘Nidhi Chala Sukama Rama Ni Sannidhi Chala Sukama’ rendered by famous musicians in Kalyani. I was only appreciating the music then. Only after reading the article by Sri O.N. Ravi I could know the meaning behind it and how well saint Sri Thyagaraja has composed it. It is a marvelous piece of devotion. Sri Ravi who does discourses in Mumbai and other places has well explained the meaning and I look forward to more such enlightening work from him.
Smt. Shanta Rajan is a gifted writer, singer and devotee. She and Sri Sundarajan have brought out an outstanding work, “Akshara Mana Malayil Thiruppugazh Malargal”. It seems while writing about Muruga, all her talent, devotion, skill and erudition come together in flying colours. I very much enjoyed her article “Arumugha, the Harmoniser”.
I am an avid reader of the website of Achalam. He is an embodiment of devotion. I have read his brilliant expositions on Advaita doctrines. He is a great exponent of Nama Sangeertanam too. It seems Amritavarshini would never be complete without Achalam’s column (Tatwa Bodham).
The commentary on “Atma Bodham by Sri O.V. Srinivasan is really illuminating and thought provoking . We all go to movies, see the pictures on the screen and come back. Sri Srinivasan has explained the example of motion picture, quite often quoted by Sri Ramana Maharshi, to illustrate the reality of the Self. Before the picture starts, we see only the screen but after the projection of the film, we see the moving pictures. We then experience different emotions and feelings in response to the scenes depicted on the screen but forget that it is the screen, the substratum on which the picture is reflected. Just as we are engrossed in the projection on the screen, we are moved by the illusionary images of the world projected by the mind. The reality is not the events which are super imposed on the screen but the screen. What is real is not the mind that involves the audience to the moving objects of the world but the ‘Self’ which remains like the screen, without any involvement.
I found immensely inspiring the excerpts from “A Search in Secret India” by Paul Brunton. Paul Brunton, a British Philosopher and thinker, was ever in quest of knowledge. After a long search he reached Ramanasramam at Tiruvannamalai. Holding a piece of paper where he noted down his questions, he sat cross-legged before Maharshi, waiting for an opportunity to open up. There was silence all over. He felt he was falling in the vast expanse of the ocean of silence. Soon, he realized that there was nothing to ask for. He said: “There is something in this man which holds my attention….I cannot turn my gaze away from him. One by one, the questions I prepared dropped away and I knew that a steady river of quietness was flowing near me and a great peace penetrating the inner reaches of me”. Having found the answer that he was seeking, he went home and told the world about Sri Ramana Maharshi, the sage who has transcended his body and remained as a Jeevan Mukta.
All the other articles in the newsletter are also worth studying and pondering. There were different chapters, each one dealing with different aspects of spirituality like Vedas, Upanishad, Brahma Sutra, Itihasa, Purana, music and simple devotion. Going through Amrita Varshini, I felt like going through a Divine Departmental Store where I can procure not articles of material value but articles of immense spiritual value. I congratulate the author Sri Anand Vasudevan for giving us a brilliant spiritual treat regularly. While wishing him well, I request all our brothern to render whole hearted support to Sri Vasaudevean's noble endeavours.
V.S. KRISHNAN
The Amrithavarshini Pallavi 16 which opened up with a beautiful image of Maha Periyava Vrindavanam at Kancheepuram was a feast for the eyes and soul. We have associated Pillayar with Gjnana, power, compassion and as remover of obstacles. The article on Vinayaka at Thiruchenkaatancudi associating Pillaiyar with colour is delightful indeed.
In his Anugraha Bhashanam, Maha Periyava has underlined the need for Brahmins to uphold their basic principles and Dharma. He said that the least expected of Brahmins is to follow the path of Sanatana Dharma and inculcate the spirit of Dharma to our children at the young age itself. Then only this great tradition built from centuries ago can flourish. True that Brahmins are facing problems at present, mainly in matrimonial and other social fields. This is mainly because there is lack of unity among them. It is time we realize the importance of functioning as one family (Vasudeva Kudumbakam), helping each other and building up a healthy community spirit, based on the unity and love.
Sengalipuram Anantharama Dikshidhar is a renowned Pundit who extolled the glory of Narayaneeyam to all corners of the world. We are blessed with a Sthotra Mala composed by Diskidar on Lord Guruvayoorappa. Reciting these seven verses would indeed elevate the devotees to a new state of devotion and bliss.
I have heard the song ‘Nidhi Chala Sukama Rama Ni Sannidhi Chala Sukama’ rendered by famous musicians in Kalyani. I was only appreciating the music then. Only after reading the article by Sri O.N. Ravi I could know the meaning behind it and how well saint Sri Thyagaraja has composed it. It is a marvelous piece of devotion. Sri Ravi who does discourses in Mumbai and other places has well explained the meaning and I look forward to more such enlightening work from him.
Smt. Shanta Rajan is a gifted writer, singer and devotee. She and Sri Sundarajan have brought out an outstanding work, “Akshara Mana Malayil Thiruppugazh Malargal”. It seems while writing about Muruga, all her talent, devotion, skill and erudition come together in flying colours. I very much enjoyed her article “Arumugha, the Harmoniser”.
I am an avid reader of the website of Achalam. He is an embodiment of devotion. I have read his brilliant expositions on Advaita doctrines. He is a great exponent of Nama Sangeertanam too. It seems Amritavarshini would never be complete without Achalam’s column (Tatwa Bodham).
The commentary on “Atma Bodham by Sri O.V. Srinivasan is really illuminating and thought provoking . We all go to movies, see the pictures on the screen and come back. Sri Srinivasan has explained the example of motion picture, quite often quoted by Sri Ramana Maharshi, to illustrate the reality of the Self. Before the picture starts, we see only the screen but after the projection of the film, we see the moving pictures. We then experience different emotions and feelings in response to the scenes depicted on the screen but forget that it is the screen, the substratum on which the picture is reflected. Just as we are engrossed in the projection on the screen, we are moved by the illusionary images of the world projected by the mind. The reality is not the events which are super imposed on the screen but the screen. What is real is not the mind that involves the audience to the moving objects of the world but the ‘Self’ which remains like the screen, without any involvement.
I found immensely inspiring the excerpts from “A Search in Secret India” by Paul Brunton. Paul Brunton, a British Philosopher and thinker, was ever in quest of knowledge. After a long search he reached Ramanasramam at Tiruvannamalai. Holding a piece of paper where he noted down his questions, he sat cross-legged before Maharshi, waiting for an opportunity to open up. There was silence all over. He felt he was falling in the vast expanse of the ocean of silence. Soon, he realized that there was nothing to ask for. He said: “There is something in this man which holds my attention….I cannot turn my gaze away from him. One by one, the questions I prepared dropped away and I knew that a steady river of quietness was flowing near me and a great peace penetrating the inner reaches of me”. Having found the answer that he was seeking, he went home and told the world about Sri Ramana Maharshi, the sage who has transcended his body and remained as a Jeevan Mukta.
All the other articles in the newsletter are also worth studying and pondering. There were different chapters, each one dealing with different aspects of spirituality like Vedas, Upanishad, Brahma Sutra, Itihasa, Purana, music and simple devotion. Going through Amrita Varshini, I felt like going through a Divine Departmental Store where I can procure not articles of material value but articles of immense spiritual value. I congratulate the author Sri Anand Vasudevan for giving us a brilliant spiritual treat regularly. While wishing him well, I request all our brothern to render whole hearted support to Sri Vasaudevean's noble endeavours.
V.S. KRISHNAN
