HINDU DHARMA
51 Shakti Piths
51 Shakti Piths - where the limbs of the
body of Sati were fallen.
It
is said in purans that Lord Shankar with his wife Sati came to the yagna
organised by his father-in-law Daksh. Daksh, the father of Sati insulted Lord
Shankar, there upon Sati surrendered herself to yagna and embraced to death.
Being mad Lord Shankar held her dead body on his shoulder and stated Tandav-Dance.
That had created havoc in the world and all the creatures and human beings
plunged into loud wailing. The Gods were frightened requested Lord Visnu, so he
had thrown his 'Sudarshan Chakra' which had split the body into different
sections. As per 'Tantra Chudanrani" and " Gyanaranay" the
different parts of her body and ornaments wore by her were fallen at 51 places.
These places were established as ' Shakti Piths'
The
Rishis called Prushni had prepared Arunopanishad in consultation with each other
which was recognized by nigam. As its mention was made in ‘Rudrayamal’ it
was already approved by Agam. It throws light on different unknown secrets of
Goddess Lalita Tripura Sundari and also the prayer is made for fulfillment of
different wishes.
Rishi
says that we may acquire knowledge of the mystery of universe by praying Shri
Chakra Vidya. The God Indra and the God Vishava could have established
themselves on important posts by praying the “Goddess”. The Indra who had
acquired the abundant riches by praying Shri Chakra Vidya alongwith Aditya and
Marut ganas, will porotect our yagna, body and child and also deliver sermons
for Shri Chakra Upasana.
The
Rishis, while praising the Goddess, say that the Goddess Shri Vidya has seated
on Lotus of thousand leaves who showers the nectar on us from head to leg. They
pray that she may sprinkle nectar on their seventy two thousand arteries of the
body and conjuncts body with external visible whole universe and thus show mercy
frequently you, the Goddess is giving all the happiness and removes all types of
unhappiness. The Goddess is seated in divine body.
The
rays come our from your lotus like legs, lightens the whole universe. These rays
transform into the form of year of three hundred sixty days. The sun, moon and
fire are being shined by these rays. These rays come out from your legs. So that
our Knowledge may always be accomplished.
Now
the Rishis say eachother to be active immediately for the performance of worship
of Shri Vidya. They say, Oh Bharat, do raise up and don’t be idle, contact
Agni, Sun and Som Meditation during early morning will enable you to achieve
knowledge (Sadhakas !), Be ready by wearing white cloth, ornaments and garlands
and worship Shri Chakra with peaceful mind.
The
fire , Som and Sun reside in this Shri Yantra having eight charkas and nine
gates. Ayodhya, the city of God is inaccessible for misfortunists. This Shri
Chakra consists of Hiranmay Kosha, the light of which shines the Heaven.
The
glory of Shri Radha, the Para Shakti and beloved of God Shri Krishna is
infinite. The great rishis - Maharshis, Siddhas, Yogis and Paramhansa are even
unable to know her in practical. She will remain as a mystery unless one can
know her inexpressible divine elements. Because among all purusharthas it is a
supreme purusharth and supreme sadhana in the reign of sadhana. She is undivided
form of Shri Krishna. Along with, she is worshipper as well as his deity to be
worshiped. She being a beloved of Shri Krishna is known as "Radhika".
Shri
Krishna worship her, there fore she is Radha. She also equally worships him and
that is why she is Radhika. As she is fully absorbed in Shri Krishna, she is
called Paradevta. She is fully the incarnation of Laxmi, she is an incarnated
element of delight for Shri Krishna, She is called "Ahladini Shakti"
Shri Radha is an incarnation of Maha Laxmi and God Shri Krishna is an
incarnation of Narayan. Shri Radha is a Durga, while Shri Krishna is a Radha.
Radha is a Savitri, Shri Krishna is incarnation of Brahma. What more can be said
? Without them, there remains nothing. The whole universe material and spiritual
is the creation of Shri Radha - Krishna. It is said in Samrahasyapanishad …
That
eternal element (anadi purush) is only one. Since several yugas he manifests
himself into two forms and always remain ready for the devotion of himself.
There fore the veda knower described Radha as a "Rasik ananda roopa".
That
Radha and that Krishna are the ocean of pleasures. They are only one, but they
became two due to their playful game. Shri Krishna himself says in Brahmand
Puran :-
I
am, Shri Krishna is the soul of Radha and Radha's is definitely the soul of mine
Shri Krishna. Shri Radha is the deity of Vrindavan. I, there fore worship her.
The
deity who is Shri Krishna, is also a Radha, and who is Radha, is always a Shri
Krishna. One divinity shines in two forms of Shri Radha - Krishna.
In
fact, though Shri Radha - Madhav always remain one, they worship each other.
Bhagavati
Shri Radha worship Shri Krishna, and Shri Krishna worships Shri Radha. They two
mutually devoteer of each other. Saints say that there is wholeness in them from
all viewpoints.
As
Shri Krishna is Brahma Swaroop and completely beyond the prakruti, Shri Radha is
also Brahma Swaroop and unannointed from the influence of Maya and she is beyond
the prakruti. The eternal deity of the soul of Shri Krishna is Shri Radha.
The
same thing is told in Devi Bhagvat. Shri Radha is the presiding Goddess of Shri
Krishna. Because, Paramatma - supreme Lord is subservient to her. That -
Raseshvari (Goddess of Pleasures) always stays with him. In her absence Shri
Krishna does not exist.
Actually
the incarnation of deity is manifested because of this pleasing and delightful
Shakti. Shri Bhagvan has for his own pleasure or for rejoining new forms,
manifested himself in many incarnation of delight and love and he himself enjoys
by it. Shri Radha is the incarnation of this pleasure and love of supreme God.
And this menifestation is full of love. Shri Radha is loving deity and Shri
Krishna is delightful, where there is pleasure, love exists there. The
incarnation of Shri Krishna is the compact extract of delight and pleasure.
While Shri Radharani is the image of love and delight. Thus there is always
co-existence of Shri Krishna and Shri Radha. Neither Shri Krishna exists without
Radha, nor Radha exists without Shri Krishna. Thus Shri Radha is the life of
Shri Krishna, and Shri Krishna is the life of Shri Radha. Some times Krishna
transforms into Radha and sometimes Radha transforms into Shri Krishna and
sometimes they play their merriful game in their couple form. Though they being
one are always two and they being two are always one.
Shri
Radha is the soul of Shri Krishna. As he always plays with her, the knower of
the mystery, describes the purush (male) Shri Krishna as "Atmaram".
Radha
is the soul of "Atmaram Bhagwan Shri Krishna".
Shri
Krishna is pleased by his own pleasing energies and he always pleases Shri Radha
by his own pleasures. This pleasure is the eternal delightful Raslila of divine
sentiment.
There
are various evidences and sayings about Radha element in scriptures. But they
are all insufficient. Because no one is able to describe this undescribable
eternal element and its majesty. How ever, I have tried to disclose the great
supreme element of Shri Radha, described in Shastras and Puranas about the
united Maha Shakti of Supreme Lord.
(Dr.
Sanatkumarji Sharma)
Many
hymns of ancient vaidic scriptures throw light on he element of Shakti-Power.
With the mercy of Shakti one achieves all which are desired, immediately. The
'Brahma' described in Upnishads is no different than Shakti. They are united. It
means, Brahma is unable to do complete work without Shakti. Therefore it is
essential for all human beings to worship, to offer and to bow down the great
Shakti element. This element of Shakti insists of Navdurga, Ten Mahavidyas etc.
Among Mahavidyas 'Shri Baglamukhi' is fifth.
It
is said in the books of Tantras about the incarnation of Baglamukhi as follows
:-
The
God Shiv tells Parvati, "Oh Devi ! I tell you the story of the birth of
Baglamukhi. There was a terrible and storm cyclone in the period of first Krit
Yug, Which may rain the whole Sansar - Sristi. Shri Vishnu was much worried, as
he was the protector and caretaker of this word. He started meditation near
Haridra - Lake in Saurashtra and pleased Shri Tripura Sundari. Shri Vidya has in
the from of Baglamukhi passified this storm. Thus Shri Baglamukhi came into
existence on (Chaudash) fourteenth, Tuesday in Makar- Kul - Nakshatra at
midnight. This night is called as 'Virratri'. It is said in Kathak Sanhita of
Yajurved that,
She,
the Vaishanavi Mahashkti, Goddess of the universe, holding the great strength,
known as 'Manota', shining all the ten
directions, having charming beauty also protects Vishnu is the "Wife of
Vishnu". Thus she is the prime Goddess of this universe - earth, heaven and
patal. They are in existence due to the 'Stambhan Shakti' of Goddess.
Shri
Baglamukhi is known as 'Brahmastra' also. No one
equivalent to her in removing the sorrous of earthly and non-earthly world.
Therefore sadhak takes her shelter. Shri Bagla is also known as 'Trishakti'.
Worship
of Bagla Devi
As
per Bagla Mahavidya, the devotee has to worship her, as she is not for
enjoyment. She should be worshiped under the direction of Guru. Devotee has to
accept the preaching of hymn from Guru and he has to recite the hymns in temple,
or at he top of mountain, or Shivalaya or near to Guru, as may be possible. This
hymn is of 36 letters.
In
the recitation, yellow colour is more important. Devotee has to wear yellow
clothes and to mutter the yellow rosary. In worshiping Goddess, he should offer
yellow flowers. He should sit in East direction on pure Aasan. He should observe
'Bramhcharya'. He has to recite one lakhs of hymns.
The
devotee, Shri Prajapati worshiped Shri Bagla with Vaidic - manner and succeeded
in creating the Srishti - the universe. Shri Prajapati gave this Mahavidya to
Sanak, etc. Saints. Shri Sanatkumar Showed this Vidya to Shri Narad, and Shri
Narad to Sankhyayan, the Paramhansa. Shri Sankhyayan formed a Bagla - Tantra in
36 folds. The other devotee was Shri Vishnu. Whose description is in 'Svatantra
Tantra'. Third devotee is Shri Parshuramji. He taught this Vidya to Shri Dron.
The
Great saint Shri Chyavan had also made the Vajra of Indra motionless. The river
Reva, Creating obstacles in the penance of Shrimad Govindpad, was stunned by
Shri Shankaracharya with the strength of this Vidya. Shri Nimbrak, He Saint had
shown the 'Sun' on the tree of Neem to one devotee by this Vidya. Thus devotees
should pray Shri Bagla with due system.
THE
ADVAITA PARAMPARA
These
are the advaita guru paramparA verses,
which salute the prominent gurus of advaita, starting from nArAyaNa through
Sankara and his disciples, upto the AcAryas of today. It is typical of advaita
that the first guru is called nArAyaNa (vishNu) in the first verse and sadASiva
(Siva) in the second. The paramparA thus
lists:
nArAyaNa
padmabhuva (brahmA)
vasishTha
Sakti
parASara
vyAsa
Suka
gauDapAda
govinda bhagavatpAda
SankarAcArya
padmapAda, hastAmalaka, toTaka, sureSvara (vArttikakAra),
and others (anyA:).
In
the Indian religious and philosophical traditions, all knowledge is traced back
to the Gods and to the Rishis who saw the vedas. Thus, the advaita guru-paramparA
begins with the daiva-paramparA ,
followed by the Rshi-paramparA, which
includes the vedic seers vasishTha, Sakti, parASara, his son vyAsa, (the famous
redactor of the vedas, he is also traditionally identified with bAdarAyaNa, the
composer of the brahmasUtras), and vyAsa's son Suka. After Suka, we turn to the mAnava-paramparA,
which brings us to historical times and personalities. The traditions regarding
these human gurus are recorded in the Sankaravijaya literature, and typically, they are regarded as
incarnations of various deities. gauDapAda
is the famous author of the mANDUkya kArikas that are attached to the mANDUkya
upanishad. His disciple, govinda, is regarded as an incarnation of AdiSesha, the
cosmic serpent. He was the preceptor of Sankara,
who is regarded as an incarnation of Siva. Sankara's four well-known disciples
were named padmapAda, hastAmalaka,
toTaka and sureSvara
(vArttikakAra). Tradition has it that Sankara appointed these four disciples as
heads of the four maThas that he founded. The others are the gurus who come
later in the tradition.
Sankara
and his disciples, padmapAda and sureSvara, are arguably the most important
philosophers in the advaita vedAnta tradition. After the mANDUkya kArikAs,
Sankara's commentaries to the upanishads,
brahmasUtras and bhagavadgItA are the oldest extant vedAnta treatises. The
importance of Sankara can be seen from the fact that every vedAntin after him
makes his mark either by expanding on his thought or by refuting him.
Sankara
can be dated more or less reliably to the 8th century CE. Upto Suka, the first
few gurus cannot be dated to historical times. The date of gauDapAda, the author
of the mANDUkya kArikAs, is usually inferred from the tradition that he was
Sankara's teacher's teacher, and from references to the mANDUkya kArikAs in
other works. However, not much historical information is known about govinda
bhagavatpAda, Sankara's teacher, except that Sankara salutes him in the
invocatory verses in some of his works
Who is a Hindu?
"Acceptance
of the Vedas with reverence; recognition of the fact that the means or ways to
salvation are diverse; and the realization of the truth that the number of gods
to be worshiped is large, that indeed is the distinguishing feature of the Hindu
religion." B.G. Tilak's definition of what makes one a basic Hindu, as
quoted by India's Supreme Court. On July 2, 1995, the Court referred to it as an
"adequate and satisfactory formula."
Hindu dharma is world’s oldest living dharma
(religious philosophy and way of life).
Hindu dharma is over 8500 years old.
It is tolerant, resilient and peace-loving.
The root of Hindu dharma lie in the Indian subcontinent, in the Indus (Sindhu)
valley which had 300 advanced settlements as early as 5000 BCE.
Hindu dharma is also called Sanatana Dharma or Eternal Dharma.
Hindu dharma has no founder, the word Sanatana implies that it always existed.
Acceptance of different modes of worship.
Lord Swaminarayan
Life Span 49
years (1781 - 1830 CE) From 3rd
April 1781 CE (Chaitra Sud 9,
Samvat 1837 ) to 1st June 1830 CE
( Jeth Sud 10, Samvat 1886 )
Birth Place Chhapaiya, near Ayodhya, North India
The Swaminarayan Sampraday is a Bhakti Sampraday
founded by Lord Swaminarayan
on 31 December 1801 CE. It belongs to the Vaishnav tradition and represents the
purest form of the Hindu religion. It focuses its faith on salvation through
total devotion - bhakti - to the Supreme God developed through dharma, jnan and
vairagya (righteousness, knowledge and detachment).