God’s friend the saddest creature
I find Hindu mythology enthralling. Nothing is simplistic or pedestrian. Past, present and future come together, each intertwined with respect and acceptance of all forms of life. Many years ago I wrote the dictionary of Hindu names for Penguin and for that I had to read every sacred book, poem, story possible. What emerged after years of research was not just an etymological dictionary of Hinduism, the only one of its kind, but a changed person.
Shiva is my favourite of the Triad of Brahma and Vishnu. I find the others more cerebral, trickier. Shiva is mine, the destroyer and rebuilder, the virile, the fertile, the angry and yet detached one, the austere ascetic who yet loves his wife so dearly that he carries her body through the three worlds, crying copiously and each one of his tears turns into a Rudraksha tree. Each part of him , each event is marked by animals and plants. What is Shiva without his mountains, snakes, bull, bizarre army of beasts/ganas, his elephant headed and mouse-vehicled son Ganesha, his peacock mounted and rooster bannered son Kartikeya?
He renounces the world and yet loves it. He is gentle and fierce and has no respect for material things since they are destroyed and remade easily. And yet he brings prosperity to his worshippers. He destroys evil and protects good.
No temple is complete without the gentle guardianship of cream coloured Nandi the main gana of Shiva and the bull that he rides. He is the gatekeeper of Shiva and Parvati’s abode and to get to them in the temples you have to pass him first. In fact the word "nandi" in Kannada, Telugu and Tamil is used as a metaphor for a person blocking the way. In Sanskrit, a bull is called "vrisha", which has the connotation of righteousness or Dharma. Nandi stands for truth and justice. It is important to seek the blessings of Nandi before worshipping Shiva.
Nandi is a primary god in himself from the time of the Indus valley civilization with his own temples. In fact he was called Pashupati then , the keeper of herds, a title that passed with the name to Shiva. He became Nandikesvara, half man and half bull, son of the divine progenitor Kashyapa and the divine cow Surabhi and husband of Suryasha, and the lord of happiness. His prayers to Shiva resulted in his immortality and position as chief of Shiva’s ganas. He stopped being a deity and became the companion and vehicle of Shiva. Fond of music and dance, when Shiva dances the tandava, Nandi plays percussion. In all paintings and sculptures Nandi is part of Shiva’s family.
According to some Puranas, he was born out of the right side of Vishnu and given as a son to the sage Salankayana. Some Puranas mention him as the son of the sage Silada who got him by the grace of Shiva. Brahma Vaivarta Purana mentions Krishna himself to have taken the form of a bull as no one else in the Universe can bear Shiva. In the Natha/Siddhar tradition, Nandi is the one of the primal gurus. From the yogic perspective, Nandi is the mind dedicated to Lord Siva, the Absolute. To understand and absorb Light you have to experience Nandi the Guru within.
Mythology has it that when the Devas and the Asuras came together to churn the ocean of milk to obtain the nectar of immortality they used Vasuki, the serpent, as the rope, pulling him from both ends. During this churning Vasuki vomited up a poison Halahalaa, so dangerous that no deva or asura wanted to go near it. Shiva drank the poison which stuck in his throat giving him the name Neelakantha. Nandi saw some of the poison spill out of Shiva’s mouth and immediately drank if off the ground. The devas and asuras watching wondered what would happen to Nandi. Lord Siva calmed their fears saying, "Nandi has surrendered into me so completely that he has all my powers and my protection".
Pongal is the festival of the harvest ,celebrated for 4 days by the Tamils starting on the fourteenth of January every year. It marks the beginning of Uttarayana, the Sun’s movement northward for a six month period. The third day, Mattu Pongal, is meant to offer thanks to cows and buffaloes. It is said that once Shiva ordered Nandi to go to Earth and deliver his message to the people that they should massage themselves with oil every day and eat food once a month. The dozing Nandi misheard the message and told the people to eat everyday and massage once a month. Shiva was furious as, due to the mixup,he anticipated a famine in grain. So he made Nandi remain on earth to help humans plough the fields. ‘Mattu Pongal’ is his thanksgiving.
Nandi plays a role in the Ramayana as well. When Ravana stole the heavenly chariot Pushpaka from his brother Kubera, he celebrated by going round the world and landed on Mount Kailash the abode of Siva. He was either asked to go away by Nandi or to wait as Siva was in meditation. Either way, in an attempt to make conversation, I suppose, he started making fun of Nandi’s face, comparing it to that of a monkey. An infuriated Nandi cursed him, saying that his kingdom would be burnt by a monkey. In one interpretation, Shiva, to give respect to his devotee, took the form of a vanara, Hanuman, who did just that.
In the Rig Veda the bull is the symbol of strength power and virility, more important than the cow. The Vedas exhort the rulers " O King, you should never kill animals like bullocks that are useful for agriculture or like cows that give us milk or do harm to such animals" (Yajur Veda)
As chief of the Ganas, Nandi is also the protector of all for legged animals. Look at him in Shiva’s India. Starving , eating plastic to survive, with acid thrown on him by fruitsellers, he is a rare animal now in the streets. Castrated by grinding his testicles together with two stones, he pulls heavy carts round the clock and is whipped , beaten and poked with pointed nails . In his prime his legs are broken and he is loaded into trucks with 60 others and sold for leather in Tamil Nadu and Kerala or smuggled to Bangladesh for meat. Of all the creatures in India , Nandi , the lord of music, dance, happiness, loyalty and justice, the friend and guardian of Shiva is the saddest creature of all. Can Shiva bring prosperity to a country that does this ?
To join the animal welfare movement contact gandhim@nic.in
www island.lk
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
SINHALA ONLY Army in Jaffna obstructed TAMIL Hindus performing religious rituals to their ancestors in the temple pond as well as dissolving ash.!!!
SLA blocks Hindus performing rituals in Keerimalai
[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 April 2010, 10:14 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) authorities in Jaffna have obstructed Hindus performing religious rituals to their ancestors in the temple pond as well as dissolving the ashes of their cremated relatives in Keerimalai seas around the historically famous Nakuleasvaram temple claiming that Keerimalai has been declared as a tourist spot and no one should pollute the springs and sea therein, sources in Jaffna said. This infringement on religious rights which had been observed by the Hindus for ages has angered the Hindu organizations in the peninsula, the sources added. Keerimalai is one of the major tourist attractions in Jaffna peninsula and SLA has imposed this restriction in order to please the Sinhalese tourists who continue to pour in their thousands after the opening of A9 road, representatives of the organizations said.
Meanwhile, Dougals Devananda, a minister in the outgoing cabinet who was in Keerimalai recently had seen the notice boards which the SLA authorities had erected warning people not to pollute the sea in Keerimalai seas.
His men, on his orders, had pulled out the notice boards and threw them away.
On the next day, however, SLA authorities had constructed permanent cement notice boards with the same prohibition.
Hindu organizations have decided to take the issue with the SLA Commander in Jaffna.
Copyright © 1997-2009 TamilNet URL: http://www.tamilnet.com email: tamilnet@tamilnet.com
[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 April 2010, 10:14 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) authorities in Jaffna have obstructed Hindus performing religious rituals to their ancestors in the temple pond as well as dissolving the ashes of their cremated relatives in Keerimalai seas around the historically famous Nakuleasvaram temple claiming that Keerimalai has been declared as a tourist spot and no one should pollute the springs and sea therein, sources in Jaffna said. This infringement on religious rights which had been observed by the Hindus for ages has angered the Hindu organizations in the peninsula, the sources added. Keerimalai is one of the major tourist attractions in Jaffna peninsula and SLA has imposed this restriction in order to please the Sinhalese tourists who continue to pour in their thousands after the opening of A9 road, representatives of the organizations said.
Meanwhile, Dougals Devananda, a minister in the outgoing cabinet who was in Keerimalai recently had seen the notice boards which the SLA authorities had erected warning people not to pollute the sea in Keerimalai seas.
His men, on his orders, had pulled out the notice boards and threw them away.
On the next day, however, SLA authorities had constructed permanent cement notice boards with the same prohibition.
Hindu organizations have decided to take the issue with the SLA Commander in Jaffna.
Copyright © 1997-2009 TamilNet URL: http://www.tamilnet.com email: tamilnet@tamilnet.com
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
We pray to His Almighty Shiva & Uma to bestow their blessings on our people to be relieved of the sufferings which they are going through..!!!
Let the past be left behind, and the future be bright - ACHC
"Let the past be left behind, and the future be bright; with that belief and in that hope, we welcome the New Year," the All Ceylon Hindu Congress said in its New Year message.
The message continues:
"Everybody’s prayer is that a bright future should dawn with the New Year. The Tamil people should live in peace and with self respect and freedom. The atmosphere for that should be created and that should remain forever.
"All Ceylon Hindu Congress (a Federation of Hindu Religious Associations and Trusts in Sri Lanka) has been rendering whatever assistance it could to our brothers and sisters during the period of turmoil which prevailed in the last three decades. At the same time we were never reluctant to intercede on their behalf.
"When our people were internally displaced and had to face untold hardships during the last few months, we have been helping them in various ways.
"When those internally displaced undergraduate students moved to the North and East we have been helping them to establish themselves with financial assistance. We must mention with gratitude and assistance of London Shri Kanaga Thurkai Amman Temple and the Manitha Neyam Trust which enabled us to perform this noble task.
"All those Hindus who had been assisting us in our humanitarian and social projects in helping our brothers and sisters who were affected in many ways, should continue to extend the same assistance and cooperation to our Congress. While we thank all of them we pray for His Almighty’s blessings on them.
"We pray to His Almighty Sivakami Samedha Nadaraja Peruman to bestow His blessings on our people to be relieved of the suffering which they had been going through and to have a bright future with the dawn of the New Year.
www island.lk
"Let the past be left behind, and the future be bright; with that belief and in that hope, we welcome the New Year," the All Ceylon Hindu Congress said in its New Year message.
The message continues:
"Everybody’s prayer is that a bright future should dawn with the New Year. The Tamil people should live in peace and with self respect and freedom. The atmosphere for that should be created and that should remain forever.
"All Ceylon Hindu Congress (a Federation of Hindu Religious Associations and Trusts in Sri Lanka) has been rendering whatever assistance it could to our brothers and sisters during the period of turmoil which prevailed in the last three decades. At the same time we were never reluctant to intercede on their behalf.
"When our people were internally displaced and had to face untold hardships during the last few months, we have been helping them in various ways.
"When those internally displaced undergraduate students moved to the North and East we have been helping them to establish themselves with financial assistance. We must mention with gratitude and assistance of London Shri Kanaga Thurkai Amman Temple and the Manitha Neyam Trust which enabled us to perform this noble task.
"All those Hindus who had been assisting us in our humanitarian and social projects in helping our brothers and sisters who were affected in many ways, should continue to extend the same assistance and cooperation to our Congress. While we thank all of them we pray for His Almighty’s blessings on them.
"We pray to His Almighty Sivakami Samedha Nadaraja Peruman to bestow His blessings on our people to be relieved of the suffering which they had been going through and to have a bright future with the dawn of the New Year.
www island.lk
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Hinduism .......!!!
Hinduism
More on Saiva Siththantham
Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar
Saiva Siththantham is an ancient branch of Hinduism. This philosophy flowered in Tamil Nadu in India. This is a forceful Bhakthi Movement infused with insights on sidda yoga.
A few saints successfully defended Saivaism against the threats of Jaiuisum during 7th to 9th centuries. Thirugnana Sampanthar, Maanicavasagar (Appar) and Sundaramoorthy went on pilgrimage from temple to temple and elucidated the quintessence of Saivaism through beautiful devotional songs which were sheer poetry.
These songs were known as Theavaaram. Lord Siva's greatness was described soulfully in these hymns.
Among these saints was Appar. His heart-melting verses were called Thiravaasagam.
It is full of visionary experience, divine love and the stress of the need to ascertain the truth.
Appar renounced worldly life, wealth and fame to seck and serve Lord Siva. He was the Prime Minister of the king at that time.
The songs of the saints - Sampanthar, Sundarar and Maanicavasagar - form part of a compendium known as Thirumurai.
This compendium and the Vedas and Saiva Aagamas form what may be called the scriptures of Saiva Siththantham practised in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.
In fact an International Saiva Siththantha Conference was held a few years back in Mathurai in Tamil Nadu. The purpose was to rejuvenate our Saiva traditions and religious practices. At this conference many heads of Saiva Aatheenams, government representatives, academics proficient in Saiva Siththantham, Siva Achchariyas, Trustees and Administractors of Saiva temples from various parts of the world participated.
Saiva Siththantham represents the evolution of human thought which is based on the Divine themes (i.e.) Love is God truth is God. According to Saiva Siththantham there is only one God, but sages call Him by different names.
Saint Appar spoke of God as being concealed like fire in fuel, ghee in milk.
The word Siththantham is first used by Thirumoolar in the Thirumanthiram. Thirumookar spoke of the vedas and the Aagamas as true revelations the Vedas being the word of God. This is the bedrock of Saiva Siththantham upon which the philosophy was developed.
Saiva Siththantham bases its philosophy on three eternal entities Pathi, Pasu, Paasam, Pati is Lord Siva and His existence is proved by revelation rather than intellectual discussions.
The mystics testify to the existence of the ultimate reality as being Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscent with no end.
Pasu, in Saiva Siththantham referred to as Pasu, literally mean the cow. The souls are individuals and are by nature infinite. These Pasus are overcast by Paasam which consists of Aanavam, Kanmam and Maaya. Hence they are called Pasu (s).
Paasam, the third entity is Paasam, which is in reality Maya. Paasam is illusion and is divided into Aanavam, Kanmam and Maayai. Aanavam is egoism, Kanmam is the action good or bad which bears fruits following the law of Karma.
Maaya binds the soul to matter but this bondage is not eternal, it can be freed through the grace of God.
According to Saiva Siththantham there is nothing called Misery in this world suffering which we call Misery is only due to our karma and ignarance. Through sufferings we are purified in our lives.
Indeed, there is one God and many souls. If we surrender ourselves to God, God will take care of us.
Further the way of life taught in Saiva Siththantham is consistent with the mood and requirements of modern world. It helps a man to live a dedicated life while engaged in worldly affairs.
A great deal of dedication and divotion are necessary to enable a man to live in this life.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Understanding Hinduism
Dr. Chinthamani Rath
Hinduism is the religion of the majority of people in India and Nepal. It also exists among significant populations outside of the sub continent and has over 900 million adherents worldwide.
Lord Vishnu
In some ways Hinduism is the oldest living religion in the world, or at least elements within it stretch back many thousands of years. Yet Hinduism resists easy definition partly because of the vast array of practices and beliefs found within it is also closely associated conceptually and historically with the other Indian religions Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
Unlike most other religions, Hinduism has no single founder, no single scripture, and no commonly agreed set of teachings. Throughout its extensive history, there have been many key figures teaching different philosophies and writing numerous holy books. For these reasons, writers often refer to Hinduism as 'a way of life' or 'a family of religions' rather than a single religion.
Defining Hinduism
The term 'Hindu' was derived from the river or river complex of the northwest, the Sindhu, Sindhu is a Sanskrit word used by the inhabitants of the region, the Aryans in the second millennium BCE, Later migrants and invaders, the Persians in the sixth century BCE,the Greeks from the 4th century BCE, and the Muslims from the 8th century CE, used the name of this river in their own languages for the land and its people.
The term 'Hindu' itself probably does not go back before the 15th and 16th centuries when it was used by people to differentiate themselves from followers of other traditions, especially the Muslims (Yavannas), in Kashmir and Bengal. At that time the term may have simply indicated groups united by certain cultural practices such as cremation of the dead and styles of cuisine.
The 'ism' was added to 'Hindu' only in the 19th century in the context of British colonialism and missionary activity.
Lord Shiva
The origins of the term 'Hindu' are thus cultural, political and geographical. Now the term is widely accepted although any definition is subject to much debate. In some ways it is true to say that Hinduism, is a religion of recent origin yet its roots and formation go back thousands of years.
Some claim that one is 'born a Hindu', but there are now many Hindus of non-Indian descent. Others claim that its core feature is belief in an impersonal Supreme, but important strands have long described and worshiped a personal God. Outsiders often criticize Hindus as being polytheistic, but many adherent claim to be monotheists.
Some Hindus define orthodoxy as compliance with the teachings of the Vedic texts (the four Vedas and their supplements). However, still others identify their tradition with 'Sanatana Dharma', the eternal order of conduct that transcends any specific body of sacred literature. Scholars sometimes draw attention to the caste system as a defining feature, but many Hindus view such practices as merely a social phenomenon or an aberration of their original teachings. Nor can we define Hinduism according to belief in concepts such as karma and samsara (reincarnation) because Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists (in a qualified form) accept this teaching too.
Although it is not easy to define Hinduism, we can say that it is rooted in India, most Hindus revere a body of texts as sacred scripture known as the Veda, and most Hindus draw on a common system of values known as dharma.
. Hinduism originated around the Indus Valley near the River Indus in modern day Pakistan.
.About 80% of the Indian population regard themselves as Hindu.
.Most Hindus believe in a Supreme God, whose qualities and forms are represented by the multitude of deities which emanate from him.
.Hindus believe that existence is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, governed by Karma.
.Hindus believe that the soul passes through a cycle of successive lives and its next incarnation is always dependent on how the previous life was lived.
.The main Hindu texts are the Vedas and their supplements (books based on the Vedas). Veda is a Sanskrit word meaning 'knowledge'. These scriptures do not mention the word 'Hindu' but many scriptures discuss dharma, which can be rendered as 'code of conduct', 'law', or 'duty'.
.Hindus celebrate many holy days, but the Festival of Lights, Diwali is the best known.
.The 2001 census recorded 559,000 Hindus in Britain, around 1% of the population. Internet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hinduism: The world's third largest religion
Hinduism is not a religion in the same sense as other religious Hinduism consists of "Thousands of different religious groups that have evolved. Because of the wide variety of Hindu traditions, freedom of belief and practice.
Hinduism has grown to become the world's third largest religion about 13% of the world's population. It is the dominant religious in India, Nepal and among the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
According to the "Yearbook of American and Canadian church thee are about 1.1 million Hindus in the U.S.
The 'American Religious Identification Survey' estimated smaller number: 766,000 Hindus in 2001. Statistics Canada estimates that there are about 157,015 Hindus in Canada. Hinduism is generally regarded as the world's oldest organized religion.
Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic religions. They recognize a single deity and view Gods and Goddesses as manifestations or aspects of that supreme God.
Henotheistic a traditionally been among the world's most religiously tolerant faiths. Internet - www.religioustolerance.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Events:
Commemorative lecture
Lecturer in Sanskrit at the Eastern University Sivashri M. Bala Kailasa Sarma delivered the commemorative lecture in Tamil in honour of the late physician K. Velayuthapillai on Sunday, April 4 at the Ratmalana Hindu College Hall. He spoke on "Saiva Makkalin Punpaudu Mutapil Koil Kiriyaykalum Avattin Ullarthangalum" (Temple Rites and their intrinsic meanings in the cultural tradition of the Saiva people)
The function was chaired by the President of the Akila Ilankai Indu Mamantram (All Ceylon Hindu Congress), Humanist V. Kailasapillai.
Special guests were Rasa Manohari Pulendran former State Minister of Education and T. Sangaralingam former Principal of Colombo Hindu College. The occasion was also the 12th anniversary of the establishment of the Hostel of the Colombo Hindu College at Ratmalana. KSS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hinduism
Hinduism is the religion of the majority of people in India and Nepal.
It also exists among significant populations outside of the sub continent and has over 900 million adherents worldwide.
Unlike most other religions, Hinduism has no single founder, no single scripture, and no commonly agreed set of teachings.
BBC on Hinduism
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thinking Aloud
It is a reality that one realizes the presence of the Almighty not by visible evidence but by self seeking where rationality would'nt help much.
The scientists, philosophers, saints, artistes and great people from any race or religious or caste have experienced this phenomenon with their own research and felt experience.
They have realized some truths by their thavams (tapas), untiredly seeking to communicate with the Almighty (spiritually "seance") and by what or how nature reacts. This may be called Law of Relativity in Nature and Cosmo - Cosmic Ray).
This is evident from several instances in Mythology of the West and the East.
Such benevolents sympathise with the people who don't realize this suffering is partly due to the ignorance (Illusion or Maaya).
To make the uninitiated to gain knowledge on these, religious leaders and institutions strive hard to make devotees understand the real meaning of religion.
But such religious people in these institutions should be sincere and truly devoted in their minds.
Ostentation and grandiloquence do not help to achieve religious consciousness.
K.S. Sivakumaran
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hindu Kovil Events
Bhajan at Hunupitiya
The Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs Department along with the members of Sri Muthukumaran Kovil Trustee celebrated the Kachiappar Sivachariyar Guru Pooja on April 1, 2010 at Hunupitiya, Wattala. Pictures by A. Maduraveeran
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At the Kachiyappar Guru Pooja
The special guest A. Sangaralingam Sarma (Tamilnadu) lights the oil lamp to inaugurate the ceremony. Kovil Chief Prist, Sivashri Somaratna Kurukkal and a section devotees are seen in the picture.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prayers and Pooja
A “Sahasranamam” prayer and special pooja took place at the Arulmigu Sri Gnana Bairava Swamy Devastham, under the patronage of Sivashri Ravi Shankar Kurukkal.
More on Saiva Siththantham
Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar
Saiva Siththantham is an ancient branch of Hinduism. This philosophy flowered in Tamil Nadu in India. This is a forceful Bhakthi Movement infused with insights on sidda yoga.
A few saints successfully defended Saivaism against the threats of Jaiuisum during 7th to 9th centuries. Thirugnana Sampanthar, Maanicavasagar (Appar) and Sundaramoorthy went on pilgrimage from temple to temple and elucidated the quintessence of Saivaism through beautiful devotional songs which were sheer poetry.
These songs were known as Theavaaram. Lord Siva's greatness was described soulfully in these hymns.
Among these saints was Appar. His heart-melting verses were called Thiravaasagam.
It is full of visionary experience, divine love and the stress of the need to ascertain the truth.
Appar renounced worldly life, wealth and fame to seck and serve Lord Siva. He was the Prime Minister of the king at that time.
The songs of the saints - Sampanthar, Sundarar and Maanicavasagar - form part of a compendium known as Thirumurai.
This compendium and the Vedas and Saiva Aagamas form what may be called the scriptures of Saiva Siththantham practised in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.
In fact an International Saiva Siththantha Conference was held a few years back in Mathurai in Tamil Nadu. The purpose was to rejuvenate our Saiva traditions and religious practices. At this conference many heads of Saiva Aatheenams, government representatives, academics proficient in Saiva Siththantham, Siva Achchariyas, Trustees and Administractors of Saiva temples from various parts of the world participated.
Saiva Siththantham represents the evolution of human thought which is based on the Divine themes (i.e.) Love is God truth is God. According to Saiva Siththantham there is only one God, but sages call Him by different names.
Saint Appar spoke of God as being concealed like fire in fuel, ghee in milk.
The word Siththantham is first used by Thirumoolar in the Thirumanthiram. Thirumookar spoke of the vedas and the Aagamas as true revelations the Vedas being the word of God. This is the bedrock of Saiva Siththantham upon which the philosophy was developed.
Saiva Siththantham bases its philosophy on three eternal entities Pathi, Pasu, Paasam, Pati is Lord Siva and His existence is proved by revelation rather than intellectual discussions.
The mystics testify to the existence of the ultimate reality as being Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscent with no end.
Pasu, in Saiva Siththantham referred to as Pasu, literally mean the cow. The souls are individuals and are by nature infinite. These Pasus are overcast by Paasam which consists of Aanavam, Kanmam and Maaya. Hence they are called Pasu (s).
Paasam, the third entity is Paasam, which is in reality Maya. Paasam is illusion and is divided into Aanavam, Kanmam and Maayai. Aanavam is egoism, Kanmam is the action good or bad which bears fruits following the law of Karma.
Maaya binds the soul to matter but this bondage is not eternal, it can be freed through the grace of God.
According to Saiva Siththantham there is nothing called Misery in this world suffering which we call Misery is only due to our karma and ignarance. Through sufferings we are purified in our lives.
Indeed, there is one God and many souls. If we surrender ourselves to God, God will take care of us.
Further the way of life taught in Saiva Siththantham is consistent with the mood and requirements of modern world. It helps a man to live a dedicated life while engaged in worldly affairs.
A great deal of dedication and divotion are necessary to enable a man to live in this life.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Understanding Hinduism
Dr. Chinthamani Rath
Hinduism is the religion of the majority of people in India and Nepal. It also exists among significant populations outside of the sub continent and has over 900 million adherents worldwide.
Lord Vishnu
In some ways Hinduism is the oldest living religion in the world, or at least elements within it stretch back many thousands of years. Yet Hinduism resists easy definition partly because of the vast array of practices and beliefs found within it is also closely associated conceptually and historically with the other Indian religions Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
Unlike most other religions, Hinduism has no single founder, no single scripture, and no commonly agreed set of teachings. Throughout its extensive history, there have been many key figures teaching different philosophies and writing numerous holy books. For these reasons, writers often refer to Hinduism as 'a way of life' or 'a family of religions' rather than a single religion.
Defining Hinduism
The term 'Hindu' was derived from the river or river complex of the northwest, the Sindhu, Sindhu is a Sanskrit word used by the inhabitants of the region, the Aryans in the second millennium BCE, Later migrants and invaders, the Persians in the sixth century BCE,the Greeks from the 4th century BCE, and the Muslims from the 8th century CE, used the name of this river in their own languages for the land and its people.
The term 'Hindu' itself probably does not go back before the 15th and 16th centuries when it was used by people to differentiate themselves from followers of other traditions, especially the Muslims (Yavannas), in Kashmir and Bengal. At that time the term may have simply indicated groups united by certain cultural practices such as cremation of the dead and styles of cuisine.
The 'ism' was added to 'Hindu' only in the 19th century in the context of British colonialism and missionary activity.
Lord Shiva
The origins of the term 'Hindu' are thus cultural, political and geographical. Now the term is widely accepted although any definition is subject to much debate. In some ways it is true to say that Hinduism, is a religion of recent origin yet its roots and formation go back thousands of years.
Some claim that one is 'born a Hindu', but there are now many Hindus of non-Indian descent. Others claim that its core feature is belief in an impersonal Supreme, but important strands have long described and worshiped a personal God. Outsiders often criticize Hindus as being polytheistic, but many adherent claim to be monotheists.
Some Hindus define orthodoxy as compliance with the teachings of the Vedic texts (the four Vedas and their supplements). However, still others identify their tradition with 'Sanatana Dharma', the eternal order of conduct that transcends any specific body of sacred literature. Scholars sometimes draw attention to the caste system as a defining feature, but many Hindus view such practices as merely a social phenomenon or an aberration of their original teachings. Nor can we define Hinduism according to belief in concepts such as karma and samsara (reincarnation) because Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists (in a qualified form) accept this teaching too.
Although it is not easy to define Hinduism, we can say that it is rooted in India, most Hindus revere a body of texts as sacred scripture known as the Veda, and most Hindus draw on a common system of values known as dharma.
. Hinduism originated around the Indus Valley near the River Indus in modern day Pakistan.
.About 80% of the Indian population regard themselves as Hindu.
.Most Hindus believe in a Supreme God, whose qualities and forms are represented by the multitude of deities which emanate from him.
.Hindus believe that existence is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, governed by Karma.
.Hindus believe that the soul passes through a cycle of successive lives and its next incarnation is always dependent on how the previous life was lived.
.The main Hindu texts are the Vedas and their supplements (books based on the Vedas). Veda is a Sanskrit word meaning 'knowledge'. These scriptures do not mention the word 'Hindu' but many scriptures discuss dharma, which can be rendered as 'code of conduct', 'law', or 'duty'.
.Hindus celebrate many holy days, but the Festival of Lights, Diwali is the best known.
.The 2001 census recorded 559,000 Hindus in Britain, around 1% of the population. Internet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hinduism: The world's third largest religion
Hinduism is not a religion in the same sense as other religious Hinduism consists of "Thousands of different religious groups that have evolved. Because of the wide variety of Hindu traditions, freedom of belief and practice.
Hinduism has grown to become the world's third largest religion about 13% of the world's population. It is the dominant religious in India, Nepal and among the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
According to the "Yearbook of American and Canadian church thee are about 1.1 million Hindus in the U.S.
The 'American Religious Identification Survey' estimated smaller number: 766,000 Hindus in 2001. Statistics Canada estimates that there are about 157,015 Hindus in Canada. Hinduism is generally regarded as the world's oldest organized religion.
Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic religions. They recognize a single deity and view Gods and Goddesses as manifestations or aspects of that supreme God.
Henotheistic a traditionally been among the world's most religiously tolerant faiths. Internet - www.religioustolerance.org
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Events:
Commemorative lecture
Lecturer in Sanskrit at the Eastern University Sivashri M. Bala Kailasa Sarma delivered the commemorative lecture in Tamil in honour of the late physician K. Velayuthapillai on Sunday, April 4 at the Ratmalana Hindu College Hall. He spoke on "Saiva Makkalin Punpaudu Mutapil Koil Kiriyaykalum Avattin Ullarthangalum" (Temple Rites and their intrinsic meanings in the cultural tradition of the Saiva people)
The function was chaired by the President of the Akila Ilankai Indu Mamantram (All Ceylon Hindu Congress), Humanist V. Kailasapillai.
Special guests were Rasa Manohari Pulendran former State Minister of Education and T. Sangaralingam former Principal of Colombo Hindu College. The occasion was also the 12th anniversary of the establishment of the Hostel of the Colombo Hindu College at Ratmalana. KSS
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Hinduism
Hinduism is the religion of the majority of people in India and Nepal.
It also exists among significant populations outside of the sub continent and has over 900 million adherents worldwide.
Unlike most other religions, Hinduism has no single founder, no single scripture, and no commonly agreed set of teachings.
BBC on Hinduism
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Thinking Aloud
It is a reality that one realizes the presence of the Almighty not by visible evidence but by self seeking where rationality would'nt help much.
The scientists, philosophers, saints, artistes and great people from any race or religious or caste have experienced this phenomenon with their own research and felt experience.
They have realized some truths by their thavams (tapas), untiredly seeking to communicate with the Almighty (spiritually "seance") and by what or how nature reacts. This may be called Law of Relativity in Nature and Cosmo - Cosmic Ray).
This is evident from several instances in Mythology of the West and the East.
Such benevolents sympathise with the people who don't realize this suffering is partly due to the ignorance (Illusion or Maaya).
To make the uninitiated to gain knowledge on these, religious leaders and institutions strive hard to make devotees understand the real meaning of religion.
But such religious people in these institutions should be sincere and truly devoted in their minds.
Ostentation and grandiloquence do not help to achieve religious consciousness.
K.S. Sivakumaran
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Hindu Kovil Events
Bhajan at Hunupitiya
The Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs Department along with the members of Sri Muthukumaran Kovil Trustee celebrated the Kachiappar Sivachariyar Guru Pooja on April 1, 2010 at Hunupitiya, Wattala. Pictures by A. Maduraveeran
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At the Kachiyappar Guru Pooja
The special guest A. Sangaralingam Sarma (Tamilnadu) lights the oil lamp to inaugurate the ceremony. Kovil Chief Prist, Sivashri Somaratna Kurukkal and a section devotees are seen in the picture.
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Prayers and Pooja
A “Sahasranamam” prayer and special pooja took place at the Arulmigu Sri Gnana Bairava Swamy Devastham, under the patronage of Sivashri Ravi Shankar Kurukkal.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
HINDUISM ....!!!
Cash Grant to ‘Varsity Students
As a part of its social service, All Ceylon Hindu Congress arranged to give cash grants to Jaffna University students who were released from IDP camps. In the picture, the Head of the Nallur Aathenam is seen handing over token payment to an undergraduate in the presence of A. Thevasagayam, Trustee of London Kanaga Durai Amman Kovil, who assisted ACHC in this noble task. Pic: ACHC
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Monday, 5 April 2010
HINDUISM
Linking Kovil with History
Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar
Two weeks ago (March 20, 2010) the “KodiEattam” (The flag hoisting ceremony) of the Hindu temple in Kochchikade, Colombo took place in connection with the “Maha Utchava” of Sri Ponnambala Vaneswarar temple. Recorder of religious festivals, Chelvathamby Maniccavasagar relates the link between the temple and our religious history.
In the Lankan history of Hinduism, 19th century was a significant era. Constructional activities were going on in an unprecedented scale.
A large number of Hindu temples were either restored or newly constructed in some parts of the country where Hindus were settled in substantial numbers. A large number of Hindu Temples were restored in the Jaffna peninsula, Trincomalee and in the District of Batticaloa. The most notable among the newly constructed temple was Sri Ponnambalavaneswarar Temple in Colombo 13.
Commanding influence
In fact, a substantial number of people in Colombo were Hindus. Among them entrepreneurs in the Business profession had a commanding influence. Despite their diverse origins they were drawn together by religious sentiment and a deep attachment to traditional Hindu values.
Those who were articulated and motivated with a deep sense of commitment for the cause of preserving and fostering Hindu culture assumed positions of leadership in mobilizing support for the establishment of Hindu Institutions some of which have become exemplary, and among the Arunasalam Ponnambalam was the most outstanding pioneer.
His father-in-Law, Coomaraswamy Mudaliyar, who belonged to the first generation of Jaffna Tamils settled in Colombo and was the first Tamil Representative in the Legislative Council was responsible for establishing two Hindu Temples in Colombo: the Kathiresan Temple at Gintupitiya and Muttuvinayakar Temple at Chetty Street.
Sri Ponnambala Mudaliyar who had a deep attachment towards Saivism, the religion of his ancestors, found that there was no temple dedicated for the worship of Shiva in Colombo, where worship could be conducted according to Hindu Custom. He initiated measures for mobilising support for the establishment of such a temple and the response from the Merchant Community was most favourable.
The leading merchants of the Chettiyar Community, who were always in the forefront in extending generous support for promoting the cause of Hinduism, were a source of inspiration to him. A large sum of money was collected and from a portion of that amount a plot of land at Sea Street, which was formerly the property of Captain John Foulstone, was bought on 5th July 1856.
Soon, the process of constructing the temple began and architects were brought from South India for that purpose. In 1857, the buildings which were of bricks and in an advanced state of construction, were found to be expensive. An agreement in the form of indenture was made on the October 11, 1857 spelling out the details of the administration.
The signatories to the agreement were Sir Arunasalam Ponnambalam and several other Chettiars. The temple and its properties were to be administered under the provisions of this agreement for a period of 110 years since its adoption.
The parties to this agreement had resolved unanimously that the temple that was under construction should be dedicated for the worship of Lord Shiva and called Ponnambalavaneswaram. It was also decided by the parties concerned that it should be opened for the public worship according to the forms and ceremonies of the Hindu religion.
Furthermore, the Hindu Temples are intended to instruct men in the art of removing the veil of attachment that cover their hearts. Thus the renowned Poet Thiagarajah cried at the temple of Thirupathi” remove the veil, remove the veil within me, the veil of pride and hate.
Indeed, temples are centres of discipline where the aspirant is guided step by step to attain the vision of the Truth. They are schools for the training of the spirit, academies for the promotion of Sastric Studies, they are Institutes of Super Science, they are laboratories for the testing of the values of life and to awaken the Divinity in humanity inducing men to believe that the physical frame in which he lives is itself the House of God.
God is in our hearts like the lantern in the hand. If only we control our senses and our hearts and tread the path of virtue and devotion to the supreme being, we need nothing else. If we are ever in doubt and without faith, like a vessel without captain, we shall be tossed on the turbulent waters of life buffeted by the minds of fate and circumstances unable to stand the stresses and strains, hope deferred and desire unfulfilled. If we seek the God’s Trace, we shall succeed in keeping our senses in check.
Supreme Power
In the Shivan Temple, the Lord Shiva as the Supreme power, performs five fold functions namely creation, maintenance, destruction, purification and release. He is said to be performing these functions while dancing. In fact, these separately considered are activities of the deities - Brahma Vishnu, Rudra, Maheswara and Sadasiva. This cosmic activity is the central motive of the dance.
During the Chariot festival of Sri Ponnambalavaneswarar Temple, the statue of Lord Shiva is decorated and illuminated and taken along the compound of the temple followed by poojas and Bhajans. The chariot is pulled by massive ropes by thousands of devotees wherein the rich and the poor mingle shoulder to shoulder in pulling the body politic of the Divine state.
In Hindu literature, the Chariot represents our body which is yoked to four horses (the sense organs) wherein the individuals sits, dejected and despondent, driven by the intellect which, with the mind fuide the horses.
These horses represent human passions and the reins symbolise the necessity of restraining and guiding the passions.
The journey of the chariot is an emblem of the progress of life and the lesson is that throughout his life one should control the passions.
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A simple note on Cosmic Ray and Ray of Relativity
K.S. Sivakumaran
In Tamil such terms as Sivamayam, Anbumayam, Arivymayam, Inbamayam, Gnanamayam, Sarvamayam, Sarvathathuvam and Sarvaviyabhagam all refer to the Cosmic Ray and Law of relativity in Saivaism, one may go to ponder. We have three vital terms called Pathi, Pasu and Paasam in Tamil.
Pathi relates to something that rules or that is omnipresent. Pathi is also equal to Para Aathma (Soul).
It is both positive and negative. It changes accordingly. Pasu means that is governed. It is a living soul.
It deviates from Sivam and due to desire it has a separate existence.
Paasam is also known as Mummalam - Aanavam, Maayai, Kanmam.
I am at a loss to find the exact word in English for the above words. What all these say is that sin of commission equates the cause for existence.
We hope erudite scholars in Hinduism (Saivaaism) elect to explain to our readers as simple as possible these intricate concepts.
sivaumaran.ks@gmail.com
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Where lies Divinity in Humans?
Thilaka V. Wijeratnam
Where lies Divinity in humans? This is an eternal search of the humans. It would be interesting to know about a few stories that are prevalent on the subject.
Here is one such story - Brahma the creator after creating living beings was entrusted with the task of keeping Divinity in some location where the humans would not look for or find it. He pondered a lot where to keep it safe from the human beings. If a man aspiring to be a superman and empowered like the saints and sages of Bharat, then it might result in chaos.
Some said this and some said that. But Brahma was not satisfied. Some celestial beings suggested hiding it in the bowels of the earth. “No” said Brahma - “man can easily find it.” “At the ocean floor!” suggested another. “He would find the means to go there too,” said Brahma. Another suggested taking it to the highest peak. Brahma had a vision of two men reaching it.
The Quest
“No hopes,” said Brahma. “What about space?” asked an intelligent celestial intellect. He can’t think of coming towards our habitat?”
“Those destined to be scientists would overcome that obstacle too,” said Brahma. The last century proved him right. All the celestial beings gave up and went their way. Brahma sat in deep meditation.
Then it struck him like a flash of lightning. Hide it in the humans themselves. That’s the only place the humans would not look for. So Divinity in fact lies smugly in the deep recesses of humans’ hearts enjoying this game of hide and seek with the humans. Man is there on top of rocks and hills meditating.
He sits under water meditating. He joins a group of organized meditations - but to no avail - He couldn’t find Divinity. He didn’t look within him - Humans are out eternally searching for this prized possession.
Sri Aurobindo
But the chosen few were successful, said Sri Aurobindo, “the basis and fulfilment of a divine life are found in the experience of unity by which man identifies himself with the cosmic and transcendal self and is identified in the self, but with an entire freedom from grief, and illusions, with all its becoming.”
Says the Holy Koran,” He who beareth his home in search of knowledge, walketh in the path of Allah.” Saint Thinimodar has this to say, “I am soaked in worldly thoughts. May I change over to the divine consciousness and thus save myself.”
Rivers have their source in hills so do all beings have Divinity as their source.
How many of us look for Divinity within us?
What are the qualities of Divinity -
* Generosity is a Divine trait.
* Bear with an enemy even when he hurts you.
A couplet in “Thirukural” (no. 151) says it briefly.
Even as the earth bears and supports the very man who digs deep into her, so do the great show forbearance towards those who hurt them.
In Ramayana, Vibusana was Ravana’s brother. He left his brother and surrendered to Rama. Though Sri Rama’s supporters raised objections, Rama said. “Eventhough he is from the enemy rank, who harmed us, yet I would take unto my fold, he that surrenders.”
Of forbearance Thiruvalluvar says,
“Forbearance is characteristic of a Saint.
He does not return evil for evil”
These qualities of Divinity are found in Saints like Sri Ramakrishna Param Hamsar, Sri Ramana Maharishi, Swamy Vivekananda.
Holy Mother Sarada Devi, the Sithars mentioned in earlier articles and also in great souls like Mahatma Gandhi.
Though all men could not be Saints, they can still try to be by adhering to some noble qualities or by emulating such noble births. Next to generosity, kindness, compassion, respect for others’ faith, respect for the individual, a charitable mentality, self-control, selflessness, self-surrender, pure love for all beings, endurance, humility, righteousness are the stepping stones that lead man to discover Divinity tucked away in his heart.
Service to the mankind is known as Warayajna - “Beholding humanity as the manifestations of Divinity and serving it on right lines is verity Nara Yajna”, says Mahabharatha.
Almost all religions speak of this Divinity in Man.
The scholar monk Swamy Vivekananda said,
“Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal.”
The Koran says, “I am in your own souls. Why see ye not? In every breath of yours am I, but ye are blind, without true eye and see me not.”
“The heavens beyond are great and wonderful but greater yet and more wonderful are the heavens within you.” Those are the words of another saintly son of Barath - Sri Arobindo.
Finally let me sum up this topic of divinity, quoting from the greatest disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Parama Hamsar, Swamy Vivekananda or Swamiji for devotees:
“Man is to become divine by realising the divine. Idols or temples or characters or books are only the supporters, the helps of his spiritual childhood, but on and on he must progress.”
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Hinduism Page will appear on Mondays
Contributions from readers on all aspects of Hinduism are welcome.
Such articles should be to the point and help readers to understand the quintenance of Saivaism (Saiva Siddantham) and vedantic philosophy.
Religious institutions can inform us weeks ahead of their prospective functions. Address your articles and pictures to the Features Editor (Hinduism Page), ‘Daily News’ Lake House, Colombo-10 or e-mail: features@dailynews.lk
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Hindu Kovil Events
Chariot Festival in Vavuniya
Large number of devotees participated in the Chariot festival held at the Rambaikulam Karumari Amman Temple in Vavuniya recently. Picture by T. Vivekarasa, Vavuniya Spl Corr.
Flag Hoisting Ceremony Annual “Ther” (Chariot) Festival
Shri Muththumari Amman Shri Muniyandi Swami Aalayam, Glanie Street, Colombo 2 held its thirteenth anniversary flag hoisting ceremony recently. Here the procession the “Thear Bawani” with devotees at the street, is shown above. Picture by Ruaik Farook Several thousands of devotees participated at the Annual “Ther” (Chariot) festival of Sri Ponnambalvaneswaran Kovil at Kochchikade in Colombo 13 last week. Picture shows the colourfully decorated chariot being taken in procession from the Kovil premises around streets. Picture by A. Mathuraiveeran
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