The Real Purpose Behind Sabarimala Yatra

Swami Paramarthananda, ardent disciple of Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati has revealed the ultimate purpose behind Sabarimala Yatra, while delivering his Anugraha Bashyam to Ayyappa Bhaktas in a well organised meeting at Chennai on 16th December 2006 conducted by Dharma Rakshana Samithi. He has explained in his inimitable way the 18 disciplines for 18 steps of Sabarimala which lead to Moksha the ultimate goal of human life.

Sublime message of Swamiji for 18 steps

1st step- Non Violence (Ahimsa) : Not to hurt others physically, verbally or mentally

2nd step- Truth (Satyam) : Avoid speaking lies and observe straight forwardness

in all dealings.

3rd step-Non-stealing (Astheyam) : theft means not only stealing others property

but also giving lesser than what is just and needs to be given to others

4th step - celibacy (Brahmacharya): Even a family person (Gruhasta) has to follow Brahmacharyam during the period of Vratam

5th Step - Avoiding gifts (Aparigraha) : Except what is due to us, do not receive anything free (gifts) from others

6th Step- Purity (saucam) : Keep body and mind clean. Have bath twice in a day

for body cleanliness. For mental cleanliness do Puja and prayer twice daily

without fail.

7th Step - Contentment (Santoshaha): Be contended with what you have.Avoid

luxurious things and lead a simple life.

8th Step - Thapas (Austerity) : Do anything (Bhakthi or any work) with full commitment

9th Step - Scriptural Study (Swadhyam): Daily read Scriptures like vedas, Bhagavadgita, Bhagavatam, Ramayanam,Mahabharatam etc. in any language

10th Step- Surrender to God(Iswara Pranidanam): Instead of getting attached to

material things and worldly relationship, consider God as everything and

surrender to Him

11th Step-Sitting for Meditation(Asana): Sit straight with comfort in a clean and calm

place.

12th Step- Regulation of breathing(Pranayama):

Takedeepbreathandrelease12times

13th Step -Withdrawing the senses: Withdraw five senses from (Pratyahara) worldly affairs.

14th Step - Focussing on the Lord : Withdraw mind from all (Daranam) thoughts and concentrate only on God

15th Step - Meditation ( Dhyanam) : Continue to contemplate on God with fixed mind

16th Step - Absorption (samadhi) : Getting absorbed by the thoughts of God without having any other thoughts.

17th Step _ Renouncing Papam (Papa Thyagam)

18th Step - Renouncing Punyam ( Punya Thyagam)

One has to follow the first sixteen disciplines with self effort and perseverance. Then Lord Iyyappa will help him to cross the seventeenth and eighteenth step. Sabarimala yatra culminates in Ghee Abhisekham which reveals devotee becoming one with the Lord. If one practices the above said disciplines of Iyyappa vratam during the prescribed period of 48/60 days, then in due course it would be possible to practice it throughout his life for attaining moksha.

Iyyappa is the Adiguru. He teaches sastra and hence called Dharmasasta. He is also the Lord. That is why He is Guru and Swamy - Gurusamy for all.

Iyyappa shows Chinmudra the symbol of moksha by bringing Thumb finger and pointing finger together. Thumb finger reveals Paramatma, Pointing finger reveals Jeevatma and the circle reveals Jeeva Brahma Ikkiyam. This is explicitly stated by the word 'TATVAMASI'- which is spontaneously visible at the sanctum santrum immediately after crossing the 18 steps of Sabarimala.

Whether there is God?

Whether a person accepts or dismisses God, His existence remains a mystery to him, for he finds himself in a given scheme of things that consists of certain laws. These laws are many and varied but they do form a universe. There is a given world (including all beings), a given scheme of things. How it functions is amazing. All is given, all that is here implies a giver whether you call him God or otherwise.

Whether existence of Rama and Krishna a myth?

If God can create this Jagat, if He can manifest in the form of Jagat, He can assume one or more special forms also. It is not a big deal. That is called avatara. It is not just a belief but an explainable possibility. Rama and Krishna are avataras. Rama was born here, he walked here, he lived here; Krishna was born here, he played here on this Yamuna ghat; this is how Rama and Krishna came down. Thus the avataras are not fictitious.

VEDIC VISION OF GOD

Vedic vision of God is unique and stands apart from other religious concepts of God. Isavasya Upanishad says, "Isavasyam Idam Sarvam -All that is here is God." Our sastra systematically proves it to the hilt through scriptures (Sruti) by adhering to the Logic (Yukti) and experience (Anubhava). Therefore it is not a matter for belief; it is a matter for our understanding and assimilation. This has been very elaborately explained by Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita through several verses some of which are cited hereunder.
This whole creation is pervaded by Me in My unmanifest (invisible) form.

Oh Dhananjeya! There is nothing else whatsoever different from myself. All this is strung on me like pearls on a string.

Oh Partha, know Me to be the eternal Seed of all beings.

I am the source of all: from Me everything evolves;

From the above it is crystal clear that God is every where as the very substratum (essence) of the entire creation (Universe) and He is the eternal seed of not only human beings but also other beings.

For us God is not only the creator but also 'He' is the very creation. This is the basic culture of Bharat which promotes universal brotherhood, respect for all life forms and reverence for Mother Nature. That is why Hindus never invaded any nation or destroyed any cultures of the world.
Bhagavan Krishna said,
Whichever devotee desires to worship faithfully any particular form- I stabilize that very faith of that devotee (in that form).
Becoming imbued with that faith, he performs the worship of that (form of the deity), and, as it well known, he gets there from those desired objects which are dispensed by Me alone.
These words of Bhagavan Krishna reveal that God's Grace is available to all irrespective of one's caste or creed. That is why many Alwars and Nayanmars (though they were not Brahmins) have reached highest spiritual goal and carved a special place for themselves in the temples of Tamilnadu. This is an undisputable universal fact. It is amazing to note that even an uneducated Hindu living in a remote village (without having knowledge about our sastra) says in his colloquial language (mother tongue) that God is every where and His grace is available to all.
God's grace is something that is to be earned. It cannot be imputed to God- the Lord in heaven. God cannot distribute His grace on lucky dip basis. You have to earn God's grace as you tap rubber from a rubber tree. Prayer is earning the grace. You are a looser, born looser, when you cannot place a flower at an altar, because Kayekam Karma (Physical action) alone can earn the best adrishtam. Any religious pursuit becomes meaningful only when you understand 'God' properly.
We do not worship many Gods, we do not worship even one God. We worship the only God in various forms and names. We do not worship any Idol. We worship a vigraha or Murthi which is a chosen form for God who is formless. It is a Linga (Symbol- that by which something is represented or known), which represents the all pervading God who has manifested (appeared) as the entire Jagat. Since God inheres (pervades) the entire Jagat, all forms are essentially God's forms only. With this understanding one can worship God by invoking Him on any form - even in trees, animals and mountains. This Bhavana cannot be understood by the people who are alien to Hindu Culture. People in the remote villages are not separate from us. We have to accept them as they are, validate them and protect them. Their worship of gramadevatas and kuladevatas are our forms of worship only. In this context it is very important to note that using symbols of aggressive religions which are opposed to Vedic Vision creates confusion among uninformed Hindus and projects a false message as though all religions are same.
All the religions world over talk about a belief in God, faith in God. God sitting in heaven created the world and His grace is available only to a selected few persons, is a non verifiable belief. If God in Heaven created the world, who created heaven? If God created heaven where was He before He created heaven? The space itself is a part of this Jagat and it is confirmed by many physists. If that is so, there is no place for God to create heaven. It leads to cosmological split. May be space itself is not separate from God. That would change the entire perspective and confirms the Vedic vision of God. If God showers His grace on a selected few and leaves others in disgrace, He will become a sadist. Therefore such a belief will lead to defect in the creation. One may talk something beyond my reason but cannot go against my reason'. It is amazing to note how millions of people hold on to these non verifiable beliefs. This is the most tragic thing in this world. To me there is no greater tragedy to a human being than this that you can have a belief that is non-verifiable and you still hold on to it, commit your whole life to it.
People who understand the Vedic vision that God is everywhere and His grace is available to all can invoke God and worship him in any given form and name according to one's own choice. This universal concept of God and His grace alone can remove differences among different groups of people and can serve as the unique binding force to unite the entire humanity. This is what we call unity in diversity the bed rock of Hindu culture. This concept cannot be extended to other religious traditions which are diagonally opposed to Vedic vision. Contemporary Hindus have been totally neutralized, to the extent that they are unable to take a definite stand about their religion or culture. Therefore I call upon them to understand Vedic vision of God and to look into the thoughtless theologies of aggressive religions which are opposed to the universal fact that God is everywhere and His grace is available to all. Then only they can have an urge to protect Hinduism the native spiritual culture of Bharat through a well thought-out programme. Yet, they need not condemn others for the concepts they hold. They can accommodate other religious faiths. Accommodation is different from acceptance. It does not mean accepting other religions. It only means giving freedom to others to follow and practice their respective religious faiths. This needs to be understood properly.
Understanding Vedic vision of God is so important especially when people are fraught with competition in the world. There is so much rivalry, jealousy, intolerance, impatience etc. Therefore at least for the humanity's sake Hinduism which is the Vedic vision of God and His grace should survive.

Sabarimala Yatra:
The Holy pilgrimage to Sabarimala reveals the underlying principle of oneness of divinity among people the bedrock of Hindu culture. Gurusamys who conduct sabarimala yatra have been preserving and propagating the said spirit of oneness of divinity among people by treating every Iyyappa Bhakta as equally divine irrespective of ones caste creed or status. Those who wear holy mala and lead a pious life by observing the disciplines of sabarimala yatra (Mandala puja rituals) are considered as equal to God and hence they are being addressed as swamy or Iyyappa. This indicates the unique Vedic vision 'Tatvamasi' which means you are that God.'


Swami Dayananda Saraswati.

Ayyappa Gurusamigal Conference

Ayyappa Gurusamigal Conference Held on 16/12/2006
Dharma Rakshna Samithi an Unique Organisation promoted by Swami Dayananda Saraswati has conducted an August meeting of Ayyappa bhaktas (Ayyappa Guruswamigal Mahanadu) at Meenakshi college, Chennai. Famous Film Director P.Vasu was the Chief Guest of the meeting. Dr.Jayam Kannan a leading Gynecologist has inaugurated the function by lighting Thiruvilakku.
Panthalam Raja hailing from Pandyan dynasty in whose family Lord Ayyappa grew as a child has said that common man could attain Lord only through Bhakthi unlike Sanyasis who attain through Gnanam. He has also stressed the need to protect the sanctit of Sabarimala .
Swami Paramarthananda a close disciple of Swami Dayananda Saraswati and a reputed Acharya of Vedanta well known to Chennaities has given an excellent speech explaining the eighteen Holy steps of Sabarimala through 18 disciplines starting with Ahimsa and ending with renunciation of Papa and Punya. Such discipline is described by the Vedas for the human beings to accomplish four purusharthas. He said if we follow first sixteen disciplines required for dharmic living Veda Anustanam Lord Ayyappa will take care of 17th and 18th steps to attain the Lord the ultimate goal in life.
Sri S.Gurumoorthy eminent Journalist said that a chappal as a mala was put on Rama's photo in 1967 and it was taken in a procession in Tamil Nadu. There was none to question or protest. He explained how black shirt promoted nastigam in Tamil Nadu almost threatening to separate it from main stream of Bharat. But common people through silent revolution by wearing the very same black shirt promoted Ayyappa Bhakthi and established asthigam (belief in God). Ayyappa Bhakthi has united the humanity without any barrier of caste, creed or status. That is why Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati has decided to focus the vision of Dharma Rakshana Samithi on Ayyappa Bhaktas for preserving spirituality. He explained in his inimitable way that the problem is because of separating spirituality from nationalism which are intertwind as for as India is concerned.
A book-let containing the spiritual disciplines to be followed by Iyyappa bhaktas released by Swami Paramarthananda Saraswati and another book-let on Vedic Vision of God by Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati were distributed to the participants.

NEED FOR PRAYER

One performs an action in order to enjoy the desired result. The problem is that the doer cannot completely determine the out-come. Otherwise every action that we do would produce what we want.

Expectation of a result is a projection on the basis of our knowledge of means and ends. But there are so many hidden variables (unknown factors) over which we have no control. Even the means employed by us to achieve a result, need not prove to be the correct means for achieving that end. We may have overlooked something, or our efforts may have to be aborted. Thus human being does not have the power to control even the known variables. What hope do we have of controlling unknown variables? What is unknown is greater than what is known? Only with reference to known variables, can one plan and do. We can take precautions. We can be cautious and very alert. But how are we going to control the unknown variables? We cannot, because we do not know what they are. That is why there are called hidden variables. Therefore in all cultures there is something called prayer (Prarthana) which is meant to take care of the hidden variables. If anybody says he does not require prayer, it means that he is not pragmatic.

One needs to live intelligently. Intelligent living is to seek help when one needs it. I know I have limited knowledge, and limited power. I don't control all the variables, and I can't determine the outcomes (results). Therefore I need to seek help. I seek the help of Isvara (God). This is how human life is lived intelligently.

I perform a prayer to neutralize the Papa gathered in this life or in previous lives that I have brought along with me, or I can also perform this karma (action) to earn grace. It is a nice way of understanding the role of a prayer as karma. It produces punya to control many hidden variables by neutralizing papa. By being prayerful, punya can be enhanced and papa can be neutralized. By being prayerful what could cost you your neck may cost you only your hat as it happened to Arjuna when the nagastra (Serpent missile) was released by Karna.

How To Pray?

Water may be available under ground, but one can have it only by the effort of tapping. The grace of the Lord is always for everyone, but one has to earn it. The sure way of earning it is by prayer in the form of Puja (worship), recitation and also mental Japa.
Prayer is an action (Karma) which has to produce a result like any other action. Ritualistic Prayer produces the most punya because 1) it involves materials and an Altar, entailing physical action 2) Mantras are involved, so the speech (vak) is used and 3) the mind, of course, is necessary for the successful execution of action (karma). Since all the organs (Karanams), mind, speech, hands and legs are involved; a ritual is the most efficacious of the actions (Karmas) in producing punya. Many other religions have lost ritual worship because they do not worship forms. Their prayers are primarily oral, meant for the congregation.
(Compiled from 'Prayer Guide' -Swami Dayananda Saraswati)

PURPOSE OF PRAYER


Without an object of desire, there is no prayer. I can pray either for the sake of achieving something for myself or for the sake of some one else. Yet even when I pray for the sake of another person, the prayer is still my prayer. I want the person to be happy, which really means that I want to be happy. Therefore a prayer for others is also for the sake of my own happiness.

The Two results of prayer:

One result of your prayer is immediate (drstaphala). By praying for something, such as mental clarity, you are recognizing another power, a power higher than yourself. You are also accepting the limitation of your own power and knowledge. This is simple pragmatism. To be objective, a person must know his or her limitations. Even when we know our limitations, often we do not want to accept them.

There is also an unseen result (adrastaphala) of prayer, which is where faith comes in. The doer, the agent of the action of prayer, says, "This is what I want". The action and the expressed desire bring about a result which is invisible and purely subtle in nature. This invisible result will manifest in time and is what we call grace. It is produced by the action and accrues to the doer of the action, the one who prays. Life is nothing but a mixture of Punya and Papa. Therefore, we find both the pleasant and the unpleasant happenings all the time.

The Efficacy of Prayer

Prayer is efficacious. You may say, "I have been praying, but nothing happens." But I would say, "If you did not pray, a lot of other things may have happened".

Prayer definitely produces some result according to the law of karma. All we have to do is pray. Thus prayer is a part of an intelligent person's efforts, an intelligent person being one who takes all the factors into account before doing something. When we take our limitations into account and offer a prayer, the law takes care of the results.

(Compiled from 'The purpose of Prayer'-Swami Dayananda)

Any religious pursuit becomes meaningful only when you understand Ishvara (God) properly. For Concept of Ishvara please refer Page 4 'Discourses on Certain important Topics' by Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati.

YASHASVEE BHUYASAM

MANIKANTAN – State Organiser

Dharma Rakshana Samithi under the presidentship and guidance of H.H. Swami Dayananda Saraswathi has conducted Yashasvee Bhuyasam (A programme to achieve success and excellence) on 1st October 2006 all over Tamil Nadu for the benefit of 10th and 12th standard students in particular and for the entire student community in General. In Chennai a good number of students and parents have participated in the said programme at Vaishnava College, Arumbakkam. Sri Sukumaran Nambiar a trustee of Dharma Rakshana Samithi took Sankalpa for conducting Saraswathi Homam. Immediately after Homam, Sri. Guruji Selvan of Clinical Yoga, Coimbatore has taught simple techniques of yoga on breathing exercises etc. for the physical and mental health of students. Later Dr. K. Subramanyam former Principal of National Defense Academy gave very effective clues to students on development of intellectual skills and explained how to receive teachings with rapt attention, retain and reproduce it effectively in the examinations. A separate session was conducted for parents by Sri Krishna Jagannathan in order to explain the need for ensuring conducive atmosphere in the house for the students to concentrate on their studies.
The final session was presided over by the Chief Guest Sri Jayalal, Deputy Director General, South Zone, AIR. He stressed the need for preserving Indian culture. Swamini Pramananda Saraswati disciple of H.H. Swami Dayananda Saraswati has highlighted the need for self effort and God's grace for the success of any human pursuit. Swamini has unfolded the Vedic vision by explaining that the entire world is the manifestation of God (Ishvara). That is why we are not praying many Gods but praying the only God in different manifestations. Vedas contain two types of knowledge, 1) knowledge about Material world and 2) Spiritual knowledge. Both are required for leading a successful life. Goddess Saraswathi is the embodiment of entire knowledge whether it is Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Spirituality or whatever knowledge it may be. Saraswati is the Adhistana Devata for speech. Without Goddess Saraswathi, the entire creation will be mute and will be dead for ever. Swamini taught Sarada Stotram to the students. The following wonderful Sanskrit Sloka on self effort was explained to the students and made them to get it by heart within minutes.
Udyamaha sahasam dhairyam buddhihi saktihi paraakramaha !
Shadete yatra vartante tatra devaha sahayakrit !!
"Effort, initiative, courage, intelligence, resourcefulness and perseverance - where these six qualities exist, there the Lord will always be helpful."
At the end of the function each participating student was given a C.D. containing teachings on Yoga, intellectual skills and spirituality from the above said eminent personalities. A wonderful book of treasure 'Discourses on certain important topics' containing the vision of H.H.Swami Dayananda Saraswati on important topics such as Concept of God, and God's grace etc. was also given to the participants of the above said Maha Yagna.