HINDUISUM
Vegetarian diet: A factor in human development
Late Swami Sivananda
Self-evident truths do not need to be emphatically scouted or substantiated by long argumentation.
It is futile to get into hot disputes over this question of vegetarianism or to bring/statistics in support of non – vegetarianism diet.
It is not within the reach of all to understand the finer points in connection with vegetarianism.
The most important reason for which the vegetarian diet is recommended and non-vegetarian diet condemned is because of their respective effects upon the ethical and the spiritual development of the human being.
The considerations is not so much of merely physical and mental or intellectual development of the man.
Man is more than just body and mind. He is essentially an ever-perfect, ever pure and ever free Spirit in his true inner nature.
Human birth is given as an opportunity and a means to attain this sublime knowledge of his inner spiritual nature and to regain his Divinity.
In this process, all grossness and animalistic tendencies have to be totally eliminated from the human personality.
Non-vegetarian diet, which is gross and animal by its very nature, is a great hindrance to this process. Pure Sattvic diet is a great help to the refinement of the human nature. Vegetarian diet is a great factor in this.
Ethical idealism and spiritual aspiration find place and flourish more easily in a pure Sattvic and refined nature. Hence the vital importance of eschewing gross animal diet and adopting a pure vegetarian diet.
This is indispensable in the true interests of the nobler inner culture of the man’s being.
Ignorant people thoughtlessly wax eloquent in their advocacy of animal diet. They do not know about the important fact that man’s nature is influenced by that he takes.
All foods are divided by our ancient men of wisdom into Sattvic, Rajasic or Tamasic.
Animal diet belongs to the Rajasic and mostly to the Tamasic category. Animal diet is not Sattvic.
Sattvic diet is essential in the process of the ethical and spiritual culture of man. Vegetarian diet is mostly Sattvic. The subtle part of the food material goes to make up the mind of man.
Tamasic diet produces Tamasic tendencies in man. Onion and garlic care extremely Tamasic. They are as bad as meat.
Therefore, they are totally forbidden to those who wish for moral and spiritual growth. No doubt animal diet may produce a strong Sandow or a dauntless soldier or a keen brainy scientist. But, in the Hindu view of life, the real value is placed upon the moral and spiritual worth of the man. Moreover, flesh eating involves the exercises of cruelty, which is not an elevating virtue. It is a bestial quality. It degrades man. Cruelty is condemned by all great men.
Thus the cruel slaughter of animals and taking of innocent lives which flesh eating entails makes it abhorrent to all right thinking men and women all over the world.
People who are slaves to flesh easting habit cannot give up animal deit, because they have become confirmed and inveterate meat eaters and hence they try to justify their habit by various arguments and statistics.
Beloved Atman! Be wise. Do not enter into hot disputes. You cannot expect to change the ways of the world by disputation and argumentation. Ultimately, it is only the force of human example that has a strong effect upon the people around you.
Of course, if earnest people with sincere desire to know the right approach you for enlightenment, you may by all means, explain to them the true facts about the matter and urge them to follow the right course.
But self-conceited and dogmatic people only learn through their own hard and bitter experiences in life.
Pray for them and ask the Lord to shower His Grace upon such souls and bless them by bringing them upon the right path.
The above article was published in the ‘Hindu Organ’ newspaper (in Jaffna) on December 23, 1955) when he was alive.
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A Creed of the Saivite Hindu Religion
Siva’s followers all BELIEVE that: Lord Siva is God, whose Absolute Being, Parasiva, transcends time, form and space. The yogi silently exclaims, “It is not this. It is not that.” Yea, such an inscrutable God is God Siva. Aum.
Lord Siva is God, whose immanent nature of love, Parashakti, is the substratum, primal substance or pure consciousness flowing through all form as energy, existence, knowledge and bliss. Aum.
Lord Siva
Lord Siva is God, whose immanent nature is the Primal Soul, Supreme Mahadeva, Parameshvara, author of Vedas and Agamas, the creator, preserver and destroyer of all that exists. Aum.
In the Mahadeva Lord Ganesha, son of Siva-Shakti, to whom they must first supplicate before beginning any worship or task. His rule is compassionate. His law is just. Justice is His mind. Aum.
In the Mahadeva Karttikeya, son of Siva-Shakti, whose vel of grace dissolves the bondages of ignorance. The yogi, locked in lotus, venerates Murugan. Thus restrained, his mind becomes calm. Aum.
That each soul is created by Lord Siva and is identical to Him, and that this identity will be fully realized by all souls when the bondage of anava, karma and maya is removed by His grace. Aum.
In three worlds: the gross plane (Bhuloka), where souls take on physical bodies; the subtle plane (Antarloka), where souls take on astral bodies; and the causal plane (Sivaloka), where souls exist in their self-effulgent form. Aum.
In the law of karma - that one must reap the effects of all actions he has caused - and that each soul continues to reincarnate until all karmas are resolved and moksha, liberation, is attained. Aum.
That the performance of charya, virtuous living, kriya, temple worship, and yoga, leading to Parasiva through grace of the living satguru, is absolutely necessary to bring forth jnana, wisdom. Aum.
There is no intrinsic evil. Evil has no source, unless the source of evil’s seeming be ignorance itself. Saivite Hindus are truly compassionate, knowing that ultimately there is no good or bad. All is Siva’s will. Aum.
That religion is the harmonious working together of the three worlds and that this harmony can be created through temple worship, wherein the beings of all three worlds can communicate. Aum.
In the Panchakshara Mantra, the five sacred syllables “Namasivaya,” as Saivism’s foremost and essential mantra. The secret of Namasivaya is to hear it from the right lips at the right time. Aum.
Affirmation of Faith:
God Siva is Immanent Love and Transcendent Reality.
Anbe Sivamayam, Satyame Parasivam (Affirmation in Tamil).
Excerpted from the Internet
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Snake planets:
Their influence on humans
Thilaka V. Wijeyaratnem
Brahaspathi the Guru of the Devas and Sukirachariyar the guru of the Asuras suggested that the Devas and Asuras should churn the milkey ocean to get Amudam (manna) which will make them immortal.
Planet Jupiter
They used a mountain called Manthamalai to churn the ocean with the snake vasugri as the rope.
The Devas held one end of the rope and the Asuras held on to the other end. While the two parties pulled the snake alternatively, the pain was such that varusi spat out the venom called Aalakala poison.
The frightened Devas ran and surrendered to God Siva. To protect them God Siva consumed the poison – worried that it would harm him, his consort, parvathi, held His neck and the venom got struck there.
Mythology says that blue mark on Siva’s throat indicates where the venom was stopped.
Hence His epithet Neelakandan Neela-blue-Kandam-throat.
The Devas and Asuras continued with the cheering and at last Amudam came out hard Vishnu decreed that Devas should get it.
Two of the Asuras disguised as Devas get the Amudam from Lord Vishnu.
The Devas called Sooriyan (Sun) and Chandran (Moon) pointed them out to Lord Vishnu who got angry with them and decapitated them with his weapon – the disc.
As the two took part of the Amudam, they could not be killed.
Instead Rogu got a human face and snake’s body, and kethu got snake’s face and human body.
They did penance and worshipped Lord Vishnu.
So they were included in the planet world. Their Tapas was such that they were enabled with the power to make a King of a begger, and reduce a King to a beggar.
Ragu is dark in complexion, Lording over South West Corner. He has a very strong influence on humans. Durga Devi the Goddess and Kali are his chosen Goddesses.
Kethu on the other hand is reddish in complexion and overlooks the North West. He seems to like multi coloured garments.
I seemed Kethu worshiped God Siva in a Siva temple in the North West of Sri Lanka. That shrine is known as Thiruketheeswaram in Mannar.
Since Sooriya Deva and Chandha Deva exposed them, Ragu and Kethu take revenge on them by swallowing them and releasing them.
So this is the cause for the solar and lunar eclipse says mythology.
A book called Sitparathinam says this of Ragu. He is pitch black, he prefers, black clothes, his flag is also black.
He has the lion as his vehicle. His divine or celestial guardian is the cow. He likes black gram. The flower of his choise is Banhinia sp (Manthara malar).
The blue green grass cyoanodon sp, is used in pooja to him. Though his face is that of a Deva, his body is covered with scales like that of a snake.
There is a proverb in Tamil “Raagu Pol Koduppavanum illai”. There is none who could give as bounteously as Raagu nor deprive you as Raagu. So praying to Raagu will help to overcome difficulties in life is the belief.
Kethu too does the same. If he is in a favourable position in your horoscope then you are a lucky person. Otherwise misfortunes will follow you wherever you go.
Kethu’s celestial guardian is Brahma. It is in his nature to flare up at the slightest provocation. The eyes are for ever red. His favourite flower is red Alli – a water plant. His vehicle is the eagle. He has many names - Thoomakethu, Loka Kethu, Mahakethu Sarva Kethu are all his names.
Like Raagu he also has a strong influence on humans. The position of Keltin on one’s horoscopes determines his fate.
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Durga Devi: Embodiment of compassion
Chelvatamby Manichavasagar
Durga Devi temple at Tellipalai is a miraculous kovil where a large number of people gather. The annual festival commenced last Thursday (12) and the chariot festival was held yesterday (22).
Durga matha
Durga is another face of Shakthi or Parvathi or Uma. All names refer to Siva’s consort. K’aali Amman is another form.
Durga means valour the deity depicts elimination of ignorance and deliverance from illusion.
At this temple thousands of devotees congregate daily. Although this temple has become prominent in recent years, it has an old history.
It is said that about 400 years ago Kathirkamar a devotee had gone on pilgrimage to India and worshiped at several Hindu holy places like Benares, Mathurai, Rameswaram etc. He arrived at Kankasanturai and walked a few miles. When he felt tired rested by the wayside.
Durga desired that to be her location. So he installed the “Sakthi” “Yantar” which he had carefully brought from Benares, there under an Illupai tree.
Thus commenced worship, which is to become an outstanding Devi Temple. The first “Kumbabishekam” was performed in 1829. Poojas were performed by priests from Kanchipuram and the temple was under the management of one “Kathir Rasarpillai”.
In 1953, the temple trustee board constructed this temple according to Agamic principle.
In fact, when “Selvi Thangammah Appakutty” became the Trustee of this Temple, the poojar were performed daily and meticulously. She was responsible for the construction of “Sithira Ther” and “Raja Gopuram” in 1978. Kumbabhisekam was performed in 1981.
As President and Trustee of this temple she rendered tremendous religious service to Hindu religion in Sri Lanka and abroad. She was conferred with the title of “Chen Chot Chemmani” by the “Madurai Atheenam” in 1965 and “Sivathmil Selvi” at “Karainagar Elathu Sithamparam” temple.
It is very often said that divinity manifests from age to age in the human forms in order to re-establish Dharma (Righteousness) and to guide all humankind on the right path. The manifestations in the form of mother over the age has been recovered in scriptures.
The Mother is the universal embodiment of compassion. The compassion of the Divine Mother Durga Devi gives us the benevolence of life elements such as water, earth, fire, wind and space to enable us to lead an excellent life.
In fact, the “Varana Purana” explains Sakthi in the form of Durga as symbolizing the bounds of passion, love, hatred, greed, vanity, illusion, contempt, joy and jealousy. Furthermore, the creator of the Universe Brahma resides in the Naval of Lord Vishnu. Similarly in the hearts of men reside the creative urge and faith. This is clearly evident from the manner the people of Jaffna pray to “Goddess Durga Devi Amman” at Tellipalai.
During the chariot festival the statue of Goodess Durgai is decorated and illuminated and taken along the streets in chariot followed by poojas, Bhajans, Archanai offered by the devotees.
In the traditions of the Hindu literature the chariot is the replica of the human body. The deity in the sanctum or on the chariot reminds us of the truth that the God is ‘seated in the hearts of each individual. This is the symbolic meaning of the chariot festival.
Undoubted, to a world lost in error and weighed down by forces of darkness, ignorance and arrogance, conflicts and contradiction, trials and tribulations let us all worship. Tellipalai Durga Devi Amman and utter her pure name and contemplate and surrender ourselves at Her Lotus Feet for the progress and success of our lives and also for the everlasting peace, eternal prosperity and racial harmony and happiness.
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The Annual Chariot Festival of the Sri Sivasubramania Swamy Kovil, Jeyanthi Nagar, Ginthupitiya, Colombo 13 was held. The colourfully decorated chariot is in procession from the kovil premises around the streets of Colombo city. Picture A. Maduraveeran
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The Manikkavasagar Guru Pooja organised by the Colombo Vivekananda Sabai took place at their premises, Vivekananda Hill Kotahena Colombo 13. Pupil Selvi Vinthiya delivers a religious lecture. Pic A. Maduraveeran
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The Sai Trustee K. Balanyagam unveils the memorial plaque to open the “Anna Poorna Sai Nilayam” at the Sai Shrine New Chetty Street Kotahena, Colombo 13. The event was organised by the Sri Sathiya Sai Baba C olombo Centre President Sai Centre, S. N. Udayanayahan. J. M. Swaminathan and the member’s participated. Pic A. Maduraveeran
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Sivalayaottam is a traditional custom practiced by Hindus in South-Kerala during MahaSivaratri. Devotees visits 12 Siva temples in the southern tip of India, Kanyakumari. These temples are-
Nepal is the only Hindu kingdom in the world and thus the land of Lord Shiva, Lord of all Lords, for here you can feel his presence everywhere. Even in the sacred texts of the Hindus it has been stated that Mt. Kailash in the Himalayas is the abode of Lord Shiva or Mahadeva as he is also known. Shiva the Destroyer of Evil is among the most praised and worshipped of all the gods in the Hindu religion. Hindus all over the world know him through different names and forms. The country has thousands of idols and monuments, which glorify his name, the most common one being the Shiva Linga or the phallus of Shiva that represents him. For it is the Shiva linga that Hindus regard as the symbol of creation, the beginning of everything.
Pashupatinath temple is located at the eastern part of the Kathmandu valley on the banks of the holy river Bagmati. Pashupatinath, which literally means ‘the Lord of animals’, is one of the many forms of the Lord. He is the guardian deity, protector of our Hindu Kingdom of Nepal, thus Shiva Ratri is one of the major festivals of Nepal. Pilgrims from all over Nepal as Pashupatinath Temple well as India come to Pashupatinath to worship and pray to the deity on his birthday and wash away all the sins committed by them. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple and tourists are only permitted to observe the festival from across the Bagmati river.
