Food For Thought

' Namaskar and Abhivadanam '

Namaskar and Abhivadanam.

- P.Natarajan.

Prostrating the elders is a sign of respect and inturn they bless for longevity, good health and overall wellness and for progeny.

Sashtanga Namaskar refers to the the 8 limbs of the phisical body touching the ground while the hands lay totally stretched. The body is balanced on 8points of contact with the floor: feet, knees, chest, chin and hands.Dharma Sastra advocate sashtanga namaskara when we meet elderly people. There are some conventions people follow by prostrating the elders more than once, when they meet.

There are times when Namaskarangal are not called upon. While we meet them in temple premises, it is enough we fold both our hands together and bow. No prostration when they are seen in sleeping posture or clad in wet cloth. During the period of vrithi or moaning, no Namaskarangal. Those who fall below our grade or dignity are not to be prostrated. When we prostrate before the deities, no abhivadana to be recited, so also for the stationary yeti, monk communities.

No abhivadanam before women. In case, when we encounter a group of elderly people together, we should not say abhivadanam.

Next comes ' recitation of Abhivadanam which consists of one's 'pravaram, ghotram, sutram, vedasaka, sarma(name). It should be audible to them. In turn the elders bless the doer when the abhivadanam is said to be completed. At the time of reciting, both the palms should touch the ear folds respectively and present them at the feet of the elders.

An illustration of abhivadanam recital follows for a given sect say Kousika Ghotra. The three Rishies associated with Kousika ghotra (pravaram) are:- Viswamitra, Aghamarshana, Kousika. The lines representing the three rishies in abhivadanam are:- ' Abhivadaye Viswamitra, Aghamarshana, Kousika, Thraiyarishaya praranvida (meaning in this order). Next comes the name of the Suktam and the Vedasaka of the doer. Drahyayana Sutra, Sama Saka, ...The last part of abhivadaye is called the ending part :- adhyayi Venkatarama Sarma aham asmi bho(meaning I am so and so.) Sutra refers to an aphormism or collection of texts. they appear as layers of Vedic literature. pravara refers to the three sects of Rishies associated.

Apasthamba Sutra is one of the oldest dharma related Sanskrit text and is extant sutra from Taitraya School of Krishna Yajurveda. Apastamba laid no claim to the title Rishi or any inspired Vedic Works. Sutras lay down the rules to be followed when karmas are performed stipulated in the respective Vedas like Rig, Yajur and Sama which is commonly known as Anushtana. The two Sutras associated to Sama Veda are:- drahyayana sutra and ranayaka Sutra. The complete abhivadanam runs like this for example:- '' Abhivadaye Viswamitra, Aghamarshana, Kousika thrayarsheya, pravaranvida, Kousika Ghotraha, Drahyayana Sutraha, Samasaka Adhyayi, Sri Venkatarama Sarma, aham asmibhoho '' !. The receiver or the elderly person would respond saying:- '''Ayushmanethi ''' ! ( have long life )!.

pn

' Fear Complex '

' Fear Complex ‘

P.Natarajan.

'Fear Complex' does not mean any destination but may mean fear or a sense of fear in reaching out to the end game or destination. It is a syndrome developed over the years. There might be some underlying causes in certain cases and may need medical assistance or counseling.

The whole world is experiencing fear at this time due to COVID-19 and there is widespread dismay what to do or rather what not to do. This article is about fear only and there is no scope to cover the deadly virus.

Fear is an emotion induced by a perceived danger or threat. Fear is powerful and primitive and alerts the presence of danger. Fear is innate or inborn. Fear can be judged as rational or appropriate, An irrational fear is called a phobia. When struck by fear, there are physiological and biological changes happen. Increased heart rate, constriction of peripheral blood vessels, sweating and formation of goosebumps, to mention a few. It is but natural to get afraid to see a snake. It is an innate fear.

Fear can be learned or experienced by watching a traumatic accident. Alfred Hitchcock’s movie ‘PSYCHO’ creates fear in the audience in the opening scene itself.

Fear of heights is called as Acrophobia. Fear of enclosed space is Claustrophobia.

Some fear of water and the fear is called Aquaphobia. In the early 20th Century, Americans feared Polio as a disease that can lead to paralysis. Fear of victimization is a function of perceived risk and seriousness. If a person is caught in a scam, it is natural for him to perceive he may lose his job and punished.

Fear of ghosts, tunnels, failures, public speaking come under most common fears that are temporary in nature. Irrational fear arises from anxiety or physical problems. A mother becomes anxious when the child does not return from school until very late in the evening. The tourists fear whether they might miss some important spots due to the prevailing bad weather. Farmers in extreme cases commit suicide under fear when there is a failure in monsoon.

Some more names in the phobia category:- Emetophobia relates to fear of vomiting. We always come across a few people in a group of tourists who feel uneasy to mention their fear of vomiting en route a long journey. Aerophobia is fear of flying, Arachnophobia is fear of spiders,

The fear of the end of life and its existence is otherwise known as Fear Of Death. An abnormal fear of death is called ' THANATOPHOBIA'. Fear of Death ritualized the lives of our ancestors. God-fearing, as they were, consulted Pundits and astrologers and performed worship accordingly to ward off danger and for longevity. Performing the rituals over a period reduced their fear. There were some byproducts also. The most important one was the preservation of cultural ideas. We can be proud that we carry on the culture, family traits, habits and pass on the same to the next generation. People who have lived a full life do not fear death as they believe they had lived their life to the fullest.

There is another fear that may apparently appear strange is fear of success or fear of one's own achievements. It is known as "JONAH COMPLEX ". It is a fear of one's own greatness. Students, Sportspersons, Politicians undergo jonah complex as some of them have a tendency to fear whether they would not retain their success in the ensuing examinations, competitions ane elections respectively. It may hinder achievement or fear of being left alone - monophobia.

In a lighter vein, we can take F E A R in the following manner:-

F - False Evidence Appearing Real

- False Expectation Appearing Real

- Forget Everything And Run

- Face Everything And Recover

It can also be argued that we can overcome fear and phobias in this manner:-

F - Focus instead of Freaking out

E - Expose instead of Escape

A - Approach instead of Avoid

R - Rehearse Repeatedly

Ignorance is the parent of fear. don't be afraid of tomorrow as yesterday had been seen, and as you love today.

In time, we hate that which we often fear.

Isha Upanishad says " Who sees all beings in his own self and his own self in all beings loses all fears.

pn

'Maha Shivratri'
- (a talk by ' pn during the reiki meet on 19 Feb 2020 )

Friends,

Maha Shivratri falls this year on Friday, February 21, 2020, two days from today and I consider that it will be rewarding to talk about the significance of Maha Shivaratri to the august members assembled here who impart knowledge to the students' population. ,

We have (1) Nitya Shivratri, (2) Paksha Shivaratri, (3) Masa ( every month ) Shivaratri, (4 ) Yoga Shivaratri and finally (5) Maha Shivaratri. Shivarathries normally occur on Krishna paksha Thrayodasi or Chathurdasi and the that happens in the month of Maga or Masi or Kumbha is known as Maha Shivaratri.

Let me now explain what is Shivaratri. Shiva + Ratri = Shivaratri. Shiva is infinite, beauty and peace, Ratri means taking refuge. So Shivaratri means taking refuge in Shiva. Let me now explain what is Shiva thathva. Two things we seek after are (1) Food (2) Rest. Shiva Thathva proclaims to forsake both food and sleep on Maha Shivaratri day. By doing so the three Gunas get balanced and our physical body becomes light and we can readily sit in meditation. By observing these rituals, we get peace, there are timely rains, good harvest, wealth, wisdom, and finally liberation.

There are many episodes connected with Shivaratri and it would be a source of inspiration to narrate them:-
(1) A hunter who was a devotee of Shiva did not find any animal to hunt till late in the evening and he became very hungry. All of a sudden he noticed a deer running into the bilvaranyam. He also swiftly ran in the same direction, in a ready to aim the arrow at the deer, but was stopped by a Sage who advised not to kill the deer, The hunter gave no heeds to the sage who was none but Lord Shiva himself. The sage then told the hunter that he would transform into a tiger to prevent the hunter from the impending action. So saying the sage became a tiger. The hunter ran for shelter and climbed upon the bilva tree. the tiger was waiting down the tree. in order not to fall asleep, the hunter started plucking the bilva leaf and dropped them one by one below. It fell on the tiger who was Lord Shiva only, as already informed. That day was Maha Shivaratri day and the tiger was so inspired by the puja offered by the fasting and sleepless hunter. The tiger so transformed back to Shiva Linga. the next day the hunter was fated to die. The yamadharmaraja was waiting to take the hunter's life. As the hunter was blessed by the Aradhana performed by him without his knowledge on Maha Shivaratri day, Shiva appeared in the scene as Dhakshinamurthy and drove away the Yama and blessed the hunter to obtain moksha.

(2) The next episode was a duel between Vishnu and Brahma to establish who was superior. Shiva appeared before them as a JYOTIRLINGA and challenged them to find the beginning and the end of the Jyothi. Shiva said whoever found it, could be regarded as the superior. Brahma took a form of Hamsa pakshi and searched in the top worlds. Vishnu took a form of Boar or Varaha and searched in the bottom worlds. both failed in their mission. Brahma lied that he found the Pinnacle whereas Vishnu conceded defeat. Shiva got angry at Brahma and severed one of his five heads and declared there would not be any temple for Brahma for formal worship. The jyotirlinga was 'LINGODHBHAVA', MEANING EMERGENCE OF SHIVA and Lingodhbhavar is normally seen in the back of Shiva's Sanctum on the Western side in a shiva's temple.

(3) The third episode was Parvathy Devi and Lord Shiva got married on the day of Mahashivaratri.

(4) the 4th anecdote was about mahapralya when all the living entities clung to Shiva for safety and there existed none in the world except Shiva. Parvathy Devi took pity and pleaded with Shiva to begin creating and restore life to all living. Shiva obliged and brought alive all living beings. as requested by Parvathy Devi, the day was known to be Mahashivaratri.

(5) Markanteya charitham which is well known. Markanteya though fated to die at the age of 16, is living as a Chiranjeevi forever due to his staunch devotion to Shiva. This event happened on Maha Shivaratri day.

(6) Samudra Manthan and the emergence of the venom or Alahala occurred on Maha Shivarathri. The Devas rushed to Shiva to save their life from the severity of the venom or Alahala poison. Shiva quickly arrived at the scene and swallowed the poison. Parvathy came rushing to Shiva and held her hands around Shiva's neck to prevent Shiva from swallowing the poison. This incident is also linked to Maha Shivaratri. Shiva became to be known as 'Neela Kanta' ( Blue Necked ) from that day.

(7) Aananda Thandava or the cosmic dance of Shiva happened on Maha Shivaratri. Shiva does not like any niceties. He is Dhakshina Murthy, eyes and ears closed in his sitting posture, stilling his mind. In his Rudra Thandavam also he is severe and brings alive his connection with the Pancha booths namely the Earth, Water, Wind, Agni, and Akasha or Space. Shiva during his cosmic dance keeps his right foot firm on the Earth, lifts his left leg in a dancing pose above the ground level. His third and fourth hands show the 'dik ' or directions. Ganga water is dripping from his head downwards and the flame of fire in one of his arms. shows an upward direction. The Tandava Dance depicts the ceaseless movements of Prakriti that is governed by pure aesthetics. The creativity during the dance postures shows the constant form of dynamism. To see God, you must become a god. it is beyond the human intellect to understand God, the Almighty, and Omnipotent.

Shiva follows different norms as compared to other Devas. Shivamahima Stotra which addresses Lord Shiva directly brings out the difference as follows:-

"(1) The cremation ground is your field of play

(2) Your companion is ghosts.

(3) Your anointment is ash obtained from the funeral pyre.

(4) You wear a garland of skulls

(5) Your habits appear to be inauspicious to a common man.

(6) But to those who remember Lord Shiva, most he is most auspicious and a paradigm.

(7) Shiva is Vaitheeswaran meaning a Physician. He is also Mahakaleshwar meaning he takes away life, He is also called Pasupathi who takes care of all living creatures including human beings.

Having brought out the significance of Maha Shivaratri, it would only be appropriate to say a few words about Shiva Aaradhana or worship. All know that a single verse " Sri Rama Rama Ramethi Rame Rame Manorame

Sahasranama thath thulam Sri Ramanama varanane " is equivalent to reciting the 1000 names of Vishnu, Similarly

Shiva Purana cites a verse that brings out the efficacy of reciting 1000 names of Shiva. The quote is:-

Shivo Maheswarachaiva Rudro Vishnu Pithamaha:

Samsara Vaidya: Sarvangya: Paramathmethi Mukyatha:

Nama Ashtakamitham Nithyam Shivasya Prathipathakam.

The essence of this verse tells us:-

(1) Shiva is Peace, Infinite and Beauty

(2) Maheswara is the Lord of Universe and the bestower of fortune.

(3 He is Rudra, remover of sorrows

(4) He is Vishnu - all pervasive

(5) Pitamaha: - he is not only the eldest but also the cause of the Universe

(6) Samsaravaidya - He guides the devotees through the world.

(7) Sarvyangya: - Knower of the Truth

(8) Paramathama - Supreme God

Reciting this verse daily invokes the blessings of Lord Shiva.

The Maha Shivaratri puja at the jyotirlinga Temples will be elaborate and inspiring It will be grandeur in Ujjain. I came across a news yesterday connecting the three Jyotir Linga temples by train service. The train name is Mahakal-Kashi Viswanath Express and Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the train at a formal function in Varanasi. The tri-weekly strain will have its first commercial run from February 20, 2020, and the duration of travel will be 20 hours.

let me quote from Sri Rudram:

Namasthe Bhagavan Visweswaraya, Mahadevaya, Thriyambakaya, Thrikagni kalaya, Kalagni Rudraya, Neelkantaya, Mrithyunjayaya, Sarveswaraya, Sadashivaya, Sriman Mahadevaya Namaha:

Thank you all.

' Maha Sivarathri ' - P.Natarajan.