We all are in the highest order of all living organisms but we all have a duty to perform certain activities to make this height position in the living kingdom and all the faculties are gifted by Nature to perform those rituals.Without any exception all living things are made up of Pancha bhutas or elements of Nature but for the plants and animals Nature has provided the necessary activities as they have no faculties to perform as we all can do. That is the reason we are in the height est order of the living kingdom.The Panchabhutas or 5 elements are responsible for all what happens to us including health and ill-health! which our bodies perform accordingly but we need to assist our bodies to perform those activities, otherwise the opposite effects would result. That is the reason, we are only responsible whatever happens to all of us including, physical welfare, mental welfare and even spiritual welfare. It is amazing how the Nature is involved for the whole survival of this universe.
We are nothing but Panchabhutas or 5 elements.A superficial introduction to the five elements:Earth is the lowest element. Shape is square, colouryellow, sense is smell, function is elimination(anus), deity is Ganesha, chakra is muladhara, bija is"Lam."Water is the second element. Shape is crescent, coloursilver, sense is taste, function is reproduction (sexorgan), deity is Vishnu, chakra is svadishtana, bijais "Vam."Fire is the third element. Shape is triangle, colourred, sense is vision, function is transportation(feet), deity is Surya, chakra is manipura, bija is"Ram."Air is the fourth element. Shape is round, colour blueor black, sense is touch, function is manipulation(hands), deity is Shiva, chakra is anahita, bija is"Yam."Akasha (Space) is the highest element. Shape is likea flame, colour purple, sense is hearing, function iscommunication (throat), deity is Devi, chakra isvishuddha, bija is "Ham." Source: Indiadivine
We know these Pancha bhutas are responsible for our health of all our faculties and if we abuse these five elements, the result is ill health which can make our life miserable and not able to enjoy our lives.If we correctly respect and use these five elements in a right way which we are able to do can protect us from ill health and enjoy life. Let us see how we can utilise these elements for our good health (OGH)We already know we are we what we breath, what we drink and eat which we get from Air, Water, Sun, Earth to give Shakti or Energy which is the basis of our own existence.This sort of living is called Prakruti Jeevana Vidhanam (PJV) or in English The Natural way of Living)The most essential element of our Nature is Oxygen which comes from Air without which we cannot live not more than a few seconds. But our great Rishis in the past who were born only in India can live without breathing for long time with some advanced techniques which made them to live hundreds of years and that is the greatness of our Bharat.To have pure oxygen and use our lungs function efficiently and fully we need to breath deep daily for 10 minutes or so that it becomes as habit. Exercise, swift walk and gym activities all help to have proper breathing which is essential for OGH.The next important element is Water which is about more than 70% of body weight and we need to drink plenty of water up to 4 litres a day depending on where we live and age again to get OGH. Water also helps us by way of Water treatments like feet bath, hands bath, steam bath, spinal bath etc.We all need to have natural food which comes from nature without modifying it for the sake of our small tongue which can spoil OGH. WE NEED TO EAT WHAT OUR BIDIES NEED NOT WHAT WE WANT TO BE TASTY!We all need Sun, Earth to produce natural food with the help of water and seeds.The Sky which is emptiness in our systems for OGH and we can get that by fasting regularly at least once a week (Upavasam devised by our ancestors with fore thought)With all these 5 elements, we can have Shakthi, the energy we need to do all our activities both inside and outside our body.We dealt so far about body. But we have a mad monkey the Mind which is responsible for all our troubles and we need to keep it which can give OGH by way of Meditation etc.Above all, we have another unique boon which differentiates us from other living organisms to give our highest social order is Intellect (Budhi) which we need to use to discriminate from bad to good from unreal to Real.Hope I am sure we all understand these facts of life no science in the world can deny them. Life is wonderful in this creation and we need to protect is at any cost.Before I finish this topic one more thing that determines our personality and our thought, word and actions to make all of us different from each other. They are triGunas, Satvic, Rajasic & Thamasic which are again derived from Prakruthi ie Nature. As we all including monozygotic twins are different WE SHOULD NOT COMPARE WITH ANY BODY WHICH ALWAYS CAN LEAD TO PROBLEMS AND MAKES US UNHAPPY!These triGunas are in different proportions in all of us which is the reason why we all are different. These three Gunas dependent again what we breath, what we drink and eat. We need to cut down the rajasic and thamasic qualities and increase satvic quality which helps us to have the good thoughts, speaking good words and acting in a right way.WE NOW KNOW THE BASIC ACTIVITIES OF OUR BREATHING, OUR DRINKING AND OUR EATING AS SUGGESTED.Let us hope and pray we all at least try at this late stage our life and make our life worth living and to teach our children and youth to develop these qualities from younger age to think right, to speak right, to see right, to listen right and read right books from as early as 8 years of age to become a life habit.Please save this message and keep reading from time to time to remind us our responsibilities to have a worth while living not only serve ourselves but to serve others especially to those less fortunate's in our society.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Thursday, April 12, 2007
SRI ADI SANKARA’S JAYANTHI: As regards to Sri Adi Sankara’s Birthday, there is an unending debate and controversy even today! According to Bhagavan Sri Satyasaibaba, it was Panchami, a Sunday in the month of Vaishaki of the year Nandana in the early hours of the morning during ‘Brahmamuhurtha’ Sankara was born in Kaladi village near Cochin in Kerala. In the recent past, according to The Telegraph, Culcutta (Kolkata), and Jan 21st, 2003. It was claimed that the unending dispute about Sri Adi Sankara’s Birth date is settled and recognised as April 3rd, 509 BC.
It was also claimed that all Sankaracharyas across the country unanimously accepted April 3rd 509 BC as Adi Sankara’s exact date of birth and announced that there was no need for debate on the subject.
At a seminar organised by the Ved Shastra Pandit Raksh Sabha, scholar Srikant Jich Kar said the date was arrived at by scientists and historians, coincides with parampara of the mutts across the country. The seers urged the Indian Government to arrange Adi Sankara’s birth centenary celebrations at His birthplace at Kaladi in Kerala 2010.
I am not sure how far is this story is true and needs further clarification.
Whatever the Birth date may be, it is generally believed every year it comes in May. This year it is on May 2nd. PLEASE CHECK THE HINDU CALENDAR EVERY YEAR IN MAY.
ONLY BECAUSE OF HIM, THE HINDUISM OF TODAY IS BASED. HE IS CERTAINLY DESERVES THE TITLE THE FATHER OF HINDUISM.
It was also claimed that all Sankaracharyas across the country unanimously accepted April 3rd 509 BC as Adi Sankara’s exact date of birth and announced that there was no need for debate on the subject.
At a seminar organised by the Ved Shastra Pandit Raksh Sabha, scholar Srikant Jich Kar said the date was arrived at by scientists and historians, coincides with parampara of the mutts across the country. The seers urged the Indian Government to arrange Adi Sankara’s birth centenary celebrations at His birthplace at Kaladi in Kerala 2010.
I am not sure how far is this story is true and needs further clarification.
Whatever the Birth date may be, it is generally believed every year it comes in May. This year it is on May 2nd. PLEASE CHECK THE HINDU CALENDAR EVERY YEAR IN MAY.
ONLY BECAUSE OF HIM, THE HINDUISM OF TODAY IS BASED. HE IS CERTAINLY DESERVES THE TITLE THE FATHER OF HINDUISM.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
SRI RAMA NAVAMI: Sri Rama Navami is dedicated to the memory of Lord Rama, the 7th Avatar of Lord Vishnu. Sri Rama is portrayed as being the ideal man and his wife Sita is the ideal woman. We all know Sri Rama Navami commemorates the divine birth of Sri Rama. This auspicious day is celebrated on Chaitra sukla Navami (9th day of the bright half of the month Chaitra . In the latter years on the same day, Sita Rama Kalyanam (marriage) took place
In the word Rama,’Ra ‘ came from the sacred Mahamantra ‘Aum Namo naRAyana and ‘Ma’ came from the highly sacred Panchakshari mantra of ‘Aum NaMAh Sivaya’ of Mahadeva (Shankara or Shiva). So Rama nama is the Taraka mantra an auspicious and favourite of both Saivites and Vishnanites.’Where ever 4 Hindus live, Rama and Sita will be there’ so said Swami Vivekananda. The reverse is also equally true. Where ever Rama and Sita live, the people there will remain and live as Hindus. In many Northern parts of Bharat, mutual greetings take the form of ‘Jai Ramjee Ki’
The name Ramayana teaches us two lesions; 1.the value of detachment, 2.the need to become aware of the divine in every being. ‘Be in the world but not of it’. When we utter the word Rama, we first open the mouth with the sound ‘Ra’-all our sins go out when our mouth is open. When we utter Ma, by closing our mouth, the entry is barred against the sins that have gone out. We all know the famous sloka,
“ Sree Raama Raama Raamethi
Rame Raame Manorame
Sahasra Naama Thattulyam
Raama Naama Varanane”
If you utter Rama Nama, it is equavalent to chanting Vishnu Sahasranama. Such is the importance of chanting Rama Nama.
Ramayana teaches us, ‘Renunciation leads to the joy and attachment brings about grief.
It is highly believed that reading, watching or at least listening of the sacred Ramayana around Sri Rama Navami is very beneficial. Fortunately for Telugu people, there is an audio version of Ramayana in 9 parts, which is free on the Internet, which took me 5 hours to listen. We can listen for 9 days approaching Rama Navami. It is really high quality narrating with beautiful language and once you start listening, it is very difficult to stop until it is finished. To access this, please go to www.andhravilas.com on the left side click down loads-devotional songs. Then click Srirama to listen Ushasri Ramayanam. Have a go at it and see what you think!
It is also desirable to read or listen, HANUMAN CHALISA and ADITYA HRIDAYAM, the latter not only on this occasion but also on every Sunday before the Sunrise and the former every Tuesday morning and Saturday morning, these two days being the favourite of Sri Hanuman.
The ‘Ramayana’ literally means ‘the march of Rama’ in search of human values. We all owe a lot to the great sage Valmiki (Ratnakar who was a robber transformed into a great sage) who told the story of Rama to the humanity. As we all know Ramayana is written in so many languages in the world but the one who is responsible for its wide popularity goes Rama charita manus by Goswami Tulasidas. In the modern world, the credit goes to late Sri Ramananda Sagar’s Ramayana serial which was shown on the little box in whole (including Uttar Ramayana) for the first time which enabled to appreciate by all sections and by all ages and by all kinds of people, educated or uneducated with English sub titles, that was watched by millions through out the globe. We are very fortunate to witness the modern marvel in front of our eyes sitting in our own homes, with all the family.
Here in England we are very fortunate to witness the Sita-Rama Kalyanam performed by learned Pandits from Andhra Pradesh and even a cook from Andhra who prepares Ramanavami prsadam for the devotees. We look forward for this divine occasion every year. The credit must go to our friends Dr. Hara Gopal, Dr. Chandrasekhar and Dr. Ravi Katamaneni, who were leading members to arrange this divine function for the last number of years, with the dedicated cooperation of their families and of course so many other men and women who dedicate their valuable time behind the scenes. It is more appropriate to remember our beloved friend and good human being late Sri (Dr) Dhanunjaya Rao Kandula who is one of the founder members to initiate the whole thing of celebrating Sri Rama Navami in England. This is one of the occasions even atheists are inclined to attend to share the pleasure of divine birth and Kalyanam of Sita and Sri Rama. We in England are very grateful to the Lord for His divine grace.
We all know this function is shown in Andhra on television live from Bhadrachalam every year. Bhadrachala Rama is special in that, this is the only place one can see Rama with four hands and only here one can see Sita sitting on Sri Rama’s left lap. Such is the significance of Bhadrachala Sri Rama.
MAY LORD RAMA SHOWERS HIS BLESSINGS ON ALL THE HUMANITY
JAI SRI RAM
JAI HANUMAN
In the word Rama,’Ra ‘ came from the sacred Mahamantra ‘Aum Namo naRAyana and ‘Ma’ came from the highly sacred Panchakshari mantra of ‘Aum NaMAh Sivaya’ of Mahadeva (Shankara or Shiva). So Rama nama is the Taraka mantra an auspicious and favourite of both Saivites and Vishnanites.’Where ever 4 Hindus live, Rama and Sita will be there’ so said Swami Vivekananda. The reverse is also equally true. Where ever Rama and Sita live, the people there will remain and live as Hindus. In many Northern parts of Bharat, mutual greetings take the form of ‘Jai Ramjee Ki’
The name Ramayana teaches us two lesions; 1.the value of detachment, 2.the need to become aware of the divine in every being. ‘Be in the world but not of it’. When we utter the word Rama, we first open the mouth with the sound ‘Ra’-all our sins go out when our mouth is open. When we utter Ma, by closing our mouth, the entry is barred against the sins that have gone out. We all know the famous sloka,
“ Sree Raama Raama Raamethi
Rame Raame Manorame
Sahasra Naama Thattulyam
Raama Naama Varanane”
If you utter Rama Nama, it is equavalent to chanting Vishnu Sahasranama. Such is the importance of chanting Rama Nama.
Ramayana teaches us, ‘Renunciation leads to the joy and attachment brings about grief.
It is highly believed that reading, watching or at least listening of the sacred Ramayana around Sri Rama Navami is very beneficial. Fortunately for Telugu people, there is an audio version of Ramayana in 9 parts, which is free on the Internet, which took me 5 hours to listen. We can listen for 9 days approaching Rama Navami. It is really high quality narrating with beautiful language and once you start listening, it is very difficult to stop until it is finished. To access this, please go to www.andhravilas.com on the left side click down loads-devotional songs. Then click Srirama to listen Ushasri Ramayanam. Have a go at it and see what you think!
It is also desirable to read or listen, HANUMAN CHALISA and ADITYA HRIDAYAM, the latter not only on this occasion but also on every Sunday before the Sunrise and the former every Tuesday morning and Saturday morning, these two days being the favourite of Sri Hanuman.
The ‘Ramayana’ literally means ‘the march of Rama’ in search of human values. We all owe a lot to the great sage Valmiki (Ratnakar who was a robber transformed into a great sage) who told the story of Rama to the humanity. As we all know Ramayana is written in so many languages in the world but the one who is responsible for its wide popularity goes Rama charita manus by Goswami Tulasidas. In the modern world, the credit goes to late Sri Ramananda Sagar’s Ramayana serial which was shown on the little box in whole (including Uttar Ramayana) for the first time which enabled to appreciate by all sections and by all ages and by all kinds of people, educated or uneducated with English sub titles, that was watched by millions through out the globe. We are very fortunate to witness the modern marvel in front of our eyes sitting in our own homes, with all the family.
Here in England we are very fortunate to witness the Sita-Rama Kalyanam performed by learned Pandits from Andhra Pradesh and even a cook from Andhra who prepares Ramanavami prsadam for the devotees. We look forward for this divine occasion every year. The credit must go to our friends Dr. Hara Gopal, Dr. Chandrasekhar and Dr. Ravi Katamaneni, who were leading members to arrange this divine function for the last number of years, with the dedicated cooperation of their families and of course so many other men and women who dedicate their valuable time behind the scenes. It is more appropriate to remember our beloved friend and good human being late Sri (Dr) Dhanunjaya Rao Kandula who is one of the founder members to initiate the whole thing of celebrating Sri Rama Navami in England. This is one of the occasions even atheists are inclined to attend to share the pleasure of divine birth and Kalyanam of Sita and Sri Rama. We in England are very grateful to the Lord for His divine grace.
We all know this function is shown in Andhra on television live from Bhadrachalam every year. Bhadrachala Rama is special in that, this is the only place one can see Rama with four hands and only here one can see Sita sitting on Sri Rama’s left lap. Such is the significance of Bhadrachala Sri Rama.
MAY LORD RAMA SHOWERS HIS BLESSINGS ON ALL THE HUMANITY
JAI SRI RAM
JAI HANUMAN
Monday, November 20, 2006
ONCE IN A LIFE TIME PILGRIMAGE
After attending a marriage in Hyderabad on May 10th, we started our pilgrimage to uttaranchal. We reached Delhi on May 12th at about 1.00 a. m because of the delayed Jet airways flight. We had to catch a flight from Delhi at 5.00 a. m on May 13th to go to Jammu to go Vishnvodevi up in the Jammu hills. We reached Jammu in the morning and the taxi was waiting for us to go to Katra from where we have to go to the Vishnodevi temple by walk, or pony or dolly or helicopter. We chose helicopter which took only 4 minutes. From the helipod, the temple is about a couple of kilometres. We need to walk or go by pony ride. We chose pony ride which took about 30 minutes including walking to the sacred shrine. The real thrill one will get is only by walk or pony. We missed that. We had a wonderful darsan and went back to Jammu for over night stay. Few days before we went, there was a threat that they were going to blow the Vishnodevi. Fortunately nothing has happened. Next day on May 14th before we fly back to Delhi, we went to visit Raghunath temple in the heart of city of Jammu. This temple is dedicated to Lord Rama is outstanding and unique in northern India. The other temple we visited was also in the city centre was Ranbireshwar temple. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It has one central Lingam measuring seven and half feet height and twelve other shiva lingas. We can do abhisheka to all the siva lingas! Both the temples are well worth visiting.
The helicopter ride costs Rs. 4000/return for person.
After visiting the two temples, we went to the air port to go to Delhi. We reached Delhi at 3.00 p. m in the afternoon and planned to go and visit Akshardham ( The big Swaminarayana temple opened late last year).
Akshardham (if you remember I did send some beautiful photos couple of months ago) is a unique complex of Indian culture in India’s capital. It was set in a vast 100-acre site. It beautifully showcases Indian art, wisdom, heritage and values of our sanatana Dharma. The focal point of the entire complex is the grand Akshardham Monument, built of pink stone and white marble. IT IS CLOSED ON MONDAYS.
Apart from the different monuments about 20 of them, I liked Bharat Upavan, a cultural garden comprises about 22 acres of beautifully cultivated and aristically designed lawns, trees, plants and shrubs. The garden displays about more than 60 bronze statues of India’s great men, women and children whose lives inspire all to nobler heights.. The view of Aksjardham from here is majestic. One should not miss the Sun chariot and the Moon chariot with its 16 deers. At 7.30 p.m there will be a musical fountains for about 20 minutes which was divine and serene to finish the day. PLEASE DO NOT MISS.
If you want to see the whole area, it would take about 3 hours. Fortunately there were wheel chairs. We got a wheel chair and my good wife’s wheel chair skills she learned when I was ill 7 years ago were very useful at Akshardham.
You can visit www.akshardham.com to know more about this excellent delightful place.
On May 15th, after breakfast we started our journey to Uttaranchal, the newly formed state a few years ago whose capital city is Dehradoon. We selected Tayota quails even though we are just two people, as we were told that it is the most suitable vehichle for those roads up on the hills. Our destination is Rishikesh which is about 250 kms which took about 6 hours. We had been Rishikesh and Haridwar before about two years ago. At that time we were not able to witness the evening Arthi at River Ganga and also we could not visit some parts of Sivananda Ashram. You should not miss to visit Sivanada Ashram. There is samadhi of sivanada, near the excellent library with full of devotional books and magazines. There is a Bhajan hall, very good book shop where you can get books, dvds etc. There are also various articles used by Dr.sivanada were on display. It is a delight to view them. Sivananda was a Medical doctor and his original name was Kuppuswamy. There are a few other thigs like Lakshman jula, Sivananda julas or Ram jula. These are the bridges on the river Ganga. Rishikesh is the gate way to go to chardham, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangothri. We had over night stay in Rishikesh and started to Kedarnath on May 16th, after breakfast.
Our next destination was Rudraprayag about 145 kms which took about 5 hours. From Rishikesh onwards the road is up the hills and rather tricky. You can have beautiful sights on the way and you can witness several sadhus walking all the way to Badrinath and Kedarnath in all weathers! Rudraprayag is the junction of the roads to the shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath. It is situated at the confluence of Mandakini river flowing from Kedarnath and the Alakanda river coming from Badrinath. It is said sage Narada meditated here for several years. Our destination to over night stay is Guptakashi which is about 42 kms from Rudraprayag again lovely vies on the way and the road gets trickier as we go up with water falls. Guptakashi is situated at a height of 1480 meters above sea-level. The pujari of Kedarnath lives in a village near Guptakashi from November to April when the temple is closed for darshan for public.
Our accommodation in Guptakashi was chardham comlex about 2 kms away from Guptakashi on the way to Gaurikund and Kedarnath. It is a lovely site surrounded by snowy hill slopes. There are several huts with theirn own bath and europian toilet facilities. It is so quite, serene with no pollution and you can watch the snowy mountain of Kedarnath. It is a delightful site next morning with Sun rise and there is a priest chanting Mrutyumjaya mantra early in the morning which was a delight. The food is also excellent. The site manager was very helpful and explained the conditions at Kedar and he kindly sent somebody with us to Kedarnath to help me to have a trouble free darsan at Kedarnath which is about 49 kms, 35 kms by road up to Gowrikund and 14 kms by walk, by pony or Palki .
We started on May 16th after breakfast and blessings from the priest to Gowrikund and our journey by car stops there. It is a very busy place with full of cars, coaches, ponys and people with palkies. No space for parking the vehicles, so they have to go to Guptakashi to park the vehicles and come back next day to receive us.
The man that came with us to help me negotiated the palkies for both of us. We need to walk up from where we got down from the car to the place where our journey to Kedarnath starts. We were advised to carry oxygen cylinders in case we get short of breath at an altitude of about 12 thousand feet. You coud get one by paying Rs. 350/ and if you do not use it, they will refund Rs.250 back next day when you come back. We were also warned we could get headache at that altitude, so you need to take some pain killers and you should not forget your usual medication if you are on any. It is advisable to take as little things as possible just for over night stay. We need to take heavy woollens and a rain coat in case it rains on the way. We can get plastic coats for Rs.20/.
Our journey started in palki which is carried by four people two in front and two at the back. If you are a bit obese as we are, the palki is not very comfortable. You have to squeeze your self. We have no alternative. We need to be good with people carrying you for 14 kms high up the hills and a vally of about 12 thousand feet and stones might be falling at any time on the way. It did rain on that day and we had to wear the plastic rain coats. It is very tricky situation. The only thing one can do is chanting Aum namah sivaya hopping that nothing can happen. We went prepared for anything. If something happens on the way to Kedarnath, we prepared for that. But only lucky people get that opportunity. We are not that lucky. It is a delightful journey and difficult to describe in words, the water falls and the sound of the water flowing and people chanting Jai Krdarnath and very good sayings along the way. As you go up, the journey becomes harder but at the same time the hope and anticipation of reaching the shrine can mitigate the hardship. If you go by helicopter , you do not get this thrill and excitement. We felt glad that we went by road. As soon as we reached Kedarnath, it was really very cold. We took our winter coats and sweaters but still felt very cold. The accommodation rooms have no heating but they gave very thick blankets which was not too bad. About 7.00 p. m there is Arthi at the temple..It is about 500 meters from our room to the shrine, The man that came to help me knows people there. So he took us into the shrine to have darshan and we booked for special puja with Abhishekam at 3.00 a.m the next day morning. It was delightful to witness the Arthi in the open cold evening at 12 thousand feet altitude with snowy Himalayan mountains in the background. We went back to the room and had our hot dinner and mangos which we took from Rishikesh and had a reasonable night in spite of the cold and the priest came and woke up at 3.00 a.m to go the shrine. It was not very pleasant I can tell you but with the hope of touching the Jyotirling and to do Abhishekam to the Jyotirling encouraged us to go chanting Aum namah sivaya. Luckily I was given a chair to sit in the shrine near the Jyotirling as it would take an hour and half to get our chance to do puja and Abhishekam. It went very well and felt very happy to be in the shrine in Kedarnath, Just behind the shrine, there is samadhi of Sri Adi Sankara is there. We went there and took a couple photographs and went back to the hotel to get a hot breafast, chapatti and hot curry. In the north, they do not know how to make a good cup of coffee and is better take tea. At 7.00 a. m our palki people came and started the journey back with sun shine. As it is a slop , they take less time to come down than to go up. It took 6 hours to go up and four hours to come down. They do stop several times for tea and breakfast for which they expect us to pay. You have no choice in the matter. Your life is in their hands! While coming down it is easy for them to carry but foe us it is very uncomfortable as they run, you will be jumping up and down with back sore and sore in your bums! While going up, it is rather hard for them and get tired easily. You feel very sad. At the same time there were elderly both men and women, children and some disabled were walking all the way for 14 kms. We were ashamed. They are the real devotees. By the time we were down , our driver and vehicle were ready for us and we returned the oxygen cylinderback and got Rs. 250 back. By the way I had slightly headache up at the Kedarnath and I took a couple of panadal that cured my headache. By 2.00 p. m we were back to Guptakashi for another night’s stay in the chardham camp. That was our Kedarnath trip. By the way the cost for each palky was Rs.3500 return and about two hundred for tea and breakfast and gave another Rs.500 as a thank you for bringing us back safely. The worst part of our trip was over without any accidents and incidents. Thank God for that. IT IS SAID THAT KEDARNATH IS HEART BEAT OF THE MIGHT HIMALAYAS.
JAI KEDARNADH to be contd…
After attending a marriage in Hyderabad on May 10th, we started our pilgrimage to uttaranchal. We reached Delhi on May 12th at about 1.00 a. m because of the delayed Jet airways flight. We had to catch a flight from Delhi at 5.00 a. m on May 13th to go to Jammu to go Vishnvodevi up in the Jammu hills. We reached Jammu in the morning and the taxi was waiting for us to go to Katra from where we have to go to the Vishnodevi temple by walk, or pony or dolly or helicopter. We chose helicopter which took only 4 minutes. From the helipod, the temple is about a couple of kilometres. We need to walk or go by pony ride. We chose pony ride which took about 30 minutes including walking to the sacred shrine. The real thrill one will get is only by walk or pony. We missed that. We had a wonderful darsan and went back to Jammu for over night stay. Few days before we went, there was a threat that they were going to blow the Vishnodevi. Fortunately nothing has happened. Next day on May 14th before we fly back to Delhi, we went to visit Raghunath temple in the heart of city of Jammu. This temple is dedicated to Lord Rama is outstanding and unique in northern India. The other temple we visited was also in the city centre was Ranbireshwar temple. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It has one central Lingam measuring seven and half feet height and twelve other shiva lingas. We can do abhisheka to all the siva lingas! Both the temples are well worth visiting.
The helicopter ride costs Rs. 4000/return for person.
After visiting the two temples, we went to the air port to go to Delhi. We reached Delhi at 3.00 p. m in the afternoon and planned to go and visit Akshardham ( The big Swaminarayana temple opened late last year).
Akshardham (if you remember I did send some beautiful photos couple of months ago) is a unique complex of Indian culture in India’s capital. It was set in a vast 100-acre site. It beautifully showcases Indian art, wisdom, heritage and values of our sanatana Dharma. The focal point of the entire complex is the grand Akshardham Monument, built of pink stone and white marble. IT IS CLOSED ON MONDAYS.
Apart from the different monuments about 20 of them, I liked Bharat Upavan, a cultural garden comprises about 22 acres of beautifully cultivated and aristically designed lawns, trees, plants and shrubs. The garden displays about more than 60 bronze statues of India’s great men, women and children whose lives inspire all to nobler heights.. The view of Aksjardham from here is majestic. One should not miss the Sun chariot and the Moon chariot with its 16 deers. At 7.30 p.m there will be a musical fountains for about 20 minutes which was divine and serene to finish the day. PLEASE DO NOT MISS.
If you want to see the whole area, it would take about 3 hours. Fortunately there were wheel chairs. We got a wheel chair and my good wife’s wheel chair skills she learned when I was ill 7 years ago were very useful at Akshardham.
You can visit www.akshardham.com to know more about this excellent delightful place.
On May 15th, after breakfast we started our journey to Uttaranchal, the newly formed state a few years ago whose capital city is Dehradoon. We selected Tayota quails even though we are just two people, as we were told that it is the most suitable vehichle for those roads up on the hills. Our destination is Rishikesh which is about 250 kms which took about 6 hours. We had been Rishikesh and Haridwar before about two years ago. At that time we were not able to witness the evening Arthi at River Ganga and also we could not visit some parts of Sivananda Ashram. You should not miss to visit Sivanada Ashram. There is samadhi of sivanada, near the excellent library with full of devotional books and magazines. There is a Bhajan hall, very good book shop where you can get books, dvds etc. There are also various articles used by Dr.sivanada were on display. It is a delight to view them. Sivananda was a Medical doctor and his original name was Kuppuswamy. There are a few other thigs like Lakshman jula, Sivananda julas or Ram jula. These are the bridges on the river Ganga. Rishikesh is the gate way to go to chardham, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangothri. We had over night stay in Rishikesh and started to Kedarnath on May 16th, after breakfast.
Our next destination was Rudraprayag about 145 kms which took about 5 hours. From Rishikesh onwards the road is up the hills and rather tricky. You can have beautiful sights on the way and you can witness several sadhus walking all the way to Badrinath and Kedarnath in all weathers! Rudraprayag is the junction of the roads to the shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath. It is situated at the confluence of Mandakini river flowing from Kedarnath and the Alakanda river coming from Badrinath. It is said sage Narada meditated here for several years. Our destination to over night stay is Guptakashi which is about 42 kms from Rudraprayag again lovely vies on the way and the road gets trickier as we go up with water falls. Guptakashi is situated at a height of 1480 meters above sea-level. The pujari of Kedarnath lives in a village near Guptakashi from November to April when the temple is closed for darshan for public.
Our accommodation in Guptakashi was chardham comlex about 2 kms away from Guptakashi on the way to Gaurikund and Kedarnath. It is a lovely site surrounded by snowy hill slopes. There are several huts with theirn own bath and europian toilet facilities. It is so quite, serene with no pollution and you can watch the snowy mountain of Kedarnath. It is a delightful site next morning with Sun rise and there is a priest chanting Mrutyumjaya mantra early in the morning which was a delight. The food is also excellent. The site manager was very helpful and explained the conditions at Kedar and he kindly sent somebody with us to Kedarnath to help me to have a trouble free darsan at Kedarnath which is about 49 kms, 35 kms by road up to Gowrikund and 14 kms by walk, by pony or Palki .
We started on May 16th after breakfast and blessings from the priest to Gowrikund and our journey by car stops there. It is a very busy place with full of cars, coaches, ponys and people with palkies. No space for parking the vehicles, so they have to go to Guptakashi to park the vehicles and come back next day to receive us.
The man that came with us to help me negotiated the palkies for both of us. We need to walk up from where we got down from the car to the place where our journey to Kedarnath starts. We were advised to carry oxygen cylinders in case we get short of breath at an altitude of about 12 thousand feet. You coud get one by paying Rs. 350/ and if you do not use it, they will refund Rs.250 back next day when you come back. We were also warned we could get headache at that altitude, so you need to take some pain killers and you should not forget your usual medication if you are on any. It is advisable to take as little things as possible just for over night stay. We need to take heavy woollens and a rain coat in case it rains on the way. We can get plastic coats for Rs.20/.
Our journey started in palki which is carried by four people two in front and two at the back. If you are a bit obese as we are, the palki is not very comfortable. You have to squeeze your self. We have no alternative. We need to be good with people carrying you for 14 kms high up the hills and a vally of about 12 thousand feet and stones might be falling at any time on the way. It did rain on that day and we had to wear the plastic rain coats. It is very tricky situation. The only thing one can do is chanting Aum namah sivaya hopping that nothing can happen. We went prepared for anything. If something happens on the way to Kedarnath, we prepared for that. But only lucky people get that opportunity. We are not that lucky. It is a delightful journey and difficult to describe in words, the water falls and the sound of the water flowing and people chanting Jai Krdarnath and very good sayings along the way. As you go up, the journey becomes harder but at the same time the hope and anticipation of reaching the shrine can mitigate the hardship. If you go by helicopter , you do not get this thrill and excitement. We felt glad that we went by road. As soon as we reached Kedarnath, it was really very cold. We took our winter coats and sweaters but still felt very cold. The accommodation rooms have no heating but they gave very thick blankets which was not too bad. About 7.00 p. m there is Arthi at the temple..It is about 500 meters from our room to the shrine, The man that came to help me knows people there. So he took us into the shrine to have darshan and we booked for special puja with Abhishekam at 3.00 a.m the next day morning. It was delightful to witness the Arthi in the open cold evening at 12 thousand feet altitude with snowy Himalayan mountains in the background. We went back to the room and had our hot dinner and mangos which we took from Rishikesh and had a reasonable night in spite of the cold and the priest came and woke up at 3.00 a.m to go the shrine. It was not very pleasant I can tell you but with the hope of touching the Jyotirling and to do Abhishekam to the Jyotirling encouraged us to go chanting Aum namah sivaya. Luckily I was given a chair to sit in the shrine near the Jyotirling as it would take an hour and half to get our chance to do puja and Abhishekam. It went very well and felt very happy to be in the shrine in Kedarnath, Just behind the shrine, there is samadhi of Sri Adi Sankara is there. We went there and took a couple photographs and went back to the hotel to get a hot breafast, chapatti and hot curry. In the north, they do not know how to make a good cup of coffee and is better take tea. At 7.00 a. m our palki people came and started the journey back with sun shine. As it is a slop , they take less time to come down than to go up. It took 6 hours to go up and four hours to come down. They do stop several times for tea and breakfast for which they expect us to pay. You have no choice in the matter. Your life is in their hands! While coming down it is easy for them to carry but foe us it is very uncomfortable as they run, you will be jumping up and down with back sore and sore in your bums! While going up, it is rather hard for them and get tired easily. You feel very sad. At the same time there were elderly both men and women, children and some disabled were walking all the way for 14 kms. We were ashamed. They are the real devotees. By the time we were down , our driver and vehicle were ready for us and we returned the oxygen cylinderback and got Rs. 250 back. By the way I had slightly headache up at the Kedarnath and I took a couple of panadal that cured my headache. By 2.00 p. m we were back to Guptakashi for another night’s stay in the chardham camp. That was our Kedarnath trip. By the way the cost for each palky was Rs.3500 return and about two hundred for tea and breakfast and gave another Rs.500 as a thank you for bringing us back safely. The worst part of our trip was over without any accidents and incidents. Thank God for that. IT IS SAID THAT KEDARNATH IS HEART BEAT OF THE MIGHT HIMALAYAS.
JAI KEDARNADH to be contd…
Thursday, November 02, 2006
80 BLISSFUL YEARS Dr.Kurri Pakirareddy
Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai Baba (Swamy) will be 80 years of age on 23rd November 2005, the day the whole world will celebrate His Divine Birthday in a grandest fashion. Many have prophesied the advent of Swamy. Fr example: a)" A well known astrology professor Sri Ganjur Narayana Sastry traced a Shuka Nadi Grantha (a volume of palm leaf manuscripts by sage Shuka) on Sri Satya Sai Baba entitled Saicharitamrita Grantham. It describes accurately and at length Sri Satya Sai Baba’s family tree and many facts about Him. Among other things, the palm leaves say: Born in Akshaya year, in the month of Karthika, on Monday, Krishna chaturdasi, in Ardhra star, visuchika lagnam, this person of divine aspects was previously Shiridivasa (a resident of Shiridi). He is a sankalpa siddha (one who can do things through His will), a person of great powers, but with no love for worldly glory and money" ("living Divinity" Shakunthala Balu, p51) b) Nostradamus book of prophesies entitled ‘Centuries’ has documented that a very great leader would be born in a place surrounded by three seas. Three seas surround South India. The book continues to say that His efforts would bring an end to world war and it would spread spirituality far and wide. He would observe Thursday as His holy day. C) In the 25-volume collection of Prophet Mohammed’s discourses titled ‘The ocean of Light’, Satya Sai’s advent has been prophesied. Volume 13 called ‘Mehdi Moud’ which means ‘The great teacher that was promised’ also referred to as ‘The Master of the world’ has very clear descriptions, which fit Satya Sai accurately. A few of them are listed. 1) His hair will be profuse. 2) His fore head will be large and concave. 3) He will have a mole on His cheek. 4) All the treasures of the world are under His feet. 5) He will live 95 years on earth (Swamy often said that He would leave His physical body in the 96th year). 6) All the teachings of all religions of the world will be in His heart from birth. 7) He will make the world full of peace, the list goes on. This extraordinary description of Satya Sai Baba is an astonishing prophecy, which seems impeccable in its accuracy.
d) Sri Aurobindo of Pondicherry, a great Indian spiritual leader broke his silence to tell his disciples on 24th November 1926 (the day after Swamy was born) "Krishna Consciousness has now descended into the physical" and then went back into silence. Several others also prophesied which are beyond the scope of this tiny article. As prophesied, Swamy was born on 23rd November 1926 at 5 a. m Tuesday (Monday according to Telugu calendar) in Bharadwaja Gothra after 8 years of passing away of Shiridi Sai Baba on 15th October 1918 on Dasara day through ‘pravesa’ not through ‘prasava’ as other Avatars born in a similar way.
As a child, He demonstrated exemplary qualities of compassion, generosity, and wisdom, which clearly distinguished Him from the other children of His village. On 29th October 1940, at the age of 14, He declared to His family and to the people of His village that He would hence forth be known as Sai Baba and that His mission was to bring about the spiritual regeneration of humanity by demonstrating and teaching the highest principles of truth, right conduct, peace and divine love.
\Swamy’s Ashram, built by His devotees close to the village where He was born, was inaugurated on 23rd November 1950. It is called Prasanthi Nilayam (the abode of divine peace). It has been the meeting place of millions of spiritual pilgrims of various faiths from all over the world. Every day Swamy graciously walks among them to guide, comfort, console and uplift them twice daily both in the morning and afternoon. He is doing like this for more than 50 years practicing and preaching the highest ideals of truth, right conduct, peace, love and non violence. He has often stated, "My life is my message".
Swamy places great importance on proper EDUCATION for young pupils. Parents and community leaders are urged to concern themselves with the information as well as the formal experiences to which their children and young adults are exposed. He has established a model education system which includes primary schools, secondary schools and an accredited university in various campuses, offering education from K G to PG including Ph D degrees FREE OF CHARGE to students and admission is open to all, regardless of race, religion or economic condition which is UNHEARD OF ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD. In addition to emphasizing the per suit of academic excellence, Satya Sai Baba’s system of "integral education" is designed to foster self -discipline and pro social conduct. Students are required to take courses on morality and spirituality and devote several hours each week to some form of community service. Swamy says, "that the end of education is character".
Swamy also places greater importance in HEATH CARE and built ultra modern super speciality hospitals both in Puttaparthi and Banglore. Highly specialised operations including open-heart operations and kidney transplant are performed routinely. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO CHARGE TO THE PATIENT for professional or hospital expenses including medication and food, which is UNHEARD OF ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD. Motivated by the desire to serve humanity, doctors, nurses and other workers in the hospital render extraordinary, loving care to all patients. I was fortunate to go and see these hospitals in person which are comparable to any hospital in the west, both in treatments and equipment and more so in neatness and hygiene. It is a delight to enter these temples of treatment, which are unique in design and style. There are so many other services to the needy in villages by water supply, mobile clinics and cleaning the streets of villages and towns. There are too many to mention. As you may be aware, recently Chennai was supplied with water through Sai Ganga.
Swamy’s message: It is very difficult to describe His message in words and it is beyond human comprehension. A few drops of this ocean of Sai Baba’s teachings, an attempt to encapsulate its essence follows: Swamy urges mankind to
-Believe in God for there is only one God for all mankind. He may be called by many names.
-Follow sincerely their respective religions and live their daily lives in consonance with the teachings of good behaviour and morality.
-Respect all religions, for no religion advocates the negative and lower qualities of man.
-Perform selfless service to the poor, the sick and the needy elderly without thought of any reward or fame.
-Cultivate in their lives, the value of truth, divine love, right conduct, peace and non-violence and promote these values among all.
-Be patriotic and respect the law of the country in which they live.
Swami has reiterated that service is indeed the best form of worship. "Selfless service is a more exalted means of spiritual progress than such other things as meditation, bhajan and yoga. This is so because when we under take meditation, Japa or yoga, we do so for our own benefit and not for the good of others. These are aimed at subjugating ones individual desires and receiving happiness for one self. What we should aspire for is the attainment of the good of others without any desire for personal gain". Swamy says "Hands that help are holier than the lips that pray"
The path is clear and well signposted with Swamy’s messages but the impediments on the way are still there for us to overcome the foes, which are egotism, greed, lust, anger, envy and perhaps more. However Swamy has given us tools or weapons to combat these foes, which are sathya, Dharma, Shanthi, Prema and Ahimsa.
The sunlight of grace is all around us but we must open the windows of our heart to get the benefit of the sunlight. This is self-effort.
I know some of the readers of this article might be thinking, what about that we read in India Today and in other Indian and Western media about Swami and also in the Internet? I also know some people get irritated and get angry when they hear the name Satya Sai Baba. I my self read all the journals and in the internet about the bad comments on Swamy. It is a fascinating reading to get temporary kick, which is transient on the expense of somebody. I was not worried the least about those reports.
In this world of limitations, there is always good and bad. There is no 100% good or 100% bad in any thing or in any one. This is the Law of Life. No body can do any thing about it. Actually there is no good or bad in any thing or in any one but our own perception of things and people makes us feel good or bad depending on our own perception at that time. In other words our own qualities are reflected on to others. So we are at fault not any body else. But what one can do if sensible is always to look for good in every thing and in every one even it is 0.001% and NOT to think or talk about bad. Can we try to do this? No, no way! Why not? The reasons for good or bad are many. There is no point to discuss these things, as they would not serve any useful purpose what so ever. It is mere waste of time and energy. We should have guts to see only goodness in every thing and in every one and try to follow it if possible; otherwise we are sure to be doomed. Now let us see what happened to the past Avatars like Rama and Krishna and Jesus.
All during His incarnation did not recognize Sri Rama. His own father was deluded by paternal feelings. Kaikeyi, His stepmother wanted her own son, Bharatha to be king and Rama to be sent to the forest. Had she developed the feeling that Rama was God, she would not have felt that way. Similarly Krishna was also not recognized and was not accepted as God. All His uncles were His worst opponents. Kamsa, Sisupala, Jarasandha were His uncles. The Kauravas were blind and never accepted His divinity. So no Avatar was is recognized by contemporary society. Jesus was left all alone on the cross, deserted by His disciples on the day of crucifixion. All in His time did not accept even Sai Baba of Shiridi. Some thought He was a Moslem Fakir and some others thought He was a mad man. The merchants in Shiridi village refused to give Him oil to light His lamps.
Western media have often a deep suspicion of Indian ‘Gurus’ and vary of anything, which has a ‘Hindu’ flavour. It is true that some of the Gurus teaching in the West might have brought a bad name to Hinduism; but is this a reason to clamp them all together under the same ‘fake’ label? Unfortunately the Indian Journalists share often the same resistance to Gurus as their Western counterparts. And one can also understand their misgivings, given the problems there has been in India with certain Gurus having political connections. But these are the exception to the rule. Why then brand all Gurus as ‘Godman’ a negative and slightly cynical term, as many Indian Journalists do? Is not also strange that Indian Journalists do not display the same aggressiveness towards Christian bishops or priests, whom they never call God men but ‘holy father?’
It was not only Sai Baba in India Today, for example, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of the Art of Living has also been catalogued a ‘Godman’ by The Deccan Herald. Yet, he too is helping to spread both in India and abroad this wonderful spiritual inheritance, promoting as much the revival of Saskrit and Vedic knowledge, as an ecological concern for plastic disposal, or trying to save the centenary trees which are in danger of being chopped on the Bangalore-Kanakapura road, as it is being widened. As you can see, no one, not even a mahapurusha or Avatar can ever escape criticism and blame. So we should not give any importance to this type of garbage.
Let us examine where we are today? Let us examine the background and position of Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai Baba. Right in this very human body, Swamy is an accepted as an incarnation of God by millions of people in all over the world. Name the country; the devotees are at Prasanthi Nilayam. Name the profession; all professions are at Puttaparthi. People of all age groups and professions, educated and uneducated, employed and unemployed, Men and women, Muslims, Christians, all castes, Brahmins, Naidus, Chowdaries, Visyas, Reddies, you name it, all come to the abode of Divine peace year after year to imbibe the spirituality and sanctity of Prasanthi Nilayam. The brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God can be witnessed at any time of the day and night without any doubt. This is an unbelievable fact in the human history only to be believed by witnessing the Divine place even in this Kali Yuga.
Is Swamy teaching a separate religion? Has He started a new religion? What does He stand for? If any one asks what religion you belong to? We should say ‘to the religion of Love’; if any body asks us what is your language? We should say ‘the language of heart’, or if anybody asks what caste? We should say ‘the caste of humanity’. That is what Swamy wants us to practice. Is there anything wrong in that? As children of one God, we should not divide by our own religion of the past, because the essence of all religions is Love, which is nothing but God!
Swamy has given us only one path to reach God, the path of service. He gave us the religion of Love. To convince everybody is very difficult in this world because some of us do not want to agree to anything! Leave them alone to their fate. Let us improve the quality of our life as time is running out at any moment. We are very fortunate to be alive and to be contemporaries of noble souls like Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma) of God’s own country, namely Kerala, Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai Baba (Swamy) from Andhra pradesh, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of Karnataka, Sri Bangaru Adigalar (amma) from Tamil Nadu who is believed to be Avatar of Adi Parashakti. We can witness the divine work by all these and other noble people in India and abroad and we can talk to them, touch them and even have a Divine Hug with a wonderful smile and a message in our ears! How lucky we are? Our grand children and Great grand children will read about these Great souls in history books as we read about the past Great people like Vemana, Aid Sankaracharya, Rama Krishna, Vivekananda, Mahtma Gandhi, too many to list. Friends, let us try to learn to enjoy life with what we have rather than to worry about what we do not have.
Human being has only a short span of life, here on earth. But even in this short life one can, by wisely using the time with care, attain Divine Bliss. Remember Adi Sankara Lived only 32 years, Swami Vivekanada lived 39 years, and Rama Krishna Lived only 50 years and we all know what they achieved in their short life span. Many of us coming soon to the 3rd stage of life and where do we stand when compared to the above?
Let us know why this body is given to us? The body is given to us after so many good deeds we did in our past lives to serve the mankind and to know about ourselves (self realisation) to go where we came from, without death and rebirth, that is to get Moksha or Liberation or Nirvana. This can happen only for human beings. Such is the importance of this life. Let us not waste any more time in enjoying reading bad press of our noble people but concentrate to reach the only goal of this life to merge into the ultimate, with complete surrender to our own God without any trace of ego by thought, word and deed. We are bound to succeed.
GLORY TO SWAMY
GLORY TO GOD
GLORY TO HUMAN RACE.
Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai Baba (Swamy) will be 80 years of age on 23rd November 2005, the day the whole world will celebrate His Divine Birthday in a grandest fashion. Many have prophesied the advent of Swamy. Fr example: a)" A well known astrology professor Sri Ganjur Narayana Sastry traced a Shuka Nadi Grantha (a volume of palm leaf manuscripts by sage Shuka) on Sri Satya Sai Baba entitled Saicharitamrita Grantham. It describes accurately and at length Sri Satya Sai Baba’s family tree and many facts about Him. Among other things, the palm leaves say: Born in Akshaya year, in the month of Karthika, on Monday, Krishna chaturdasi, in Ardhra star, visuchika lagnam, this person of divine aspects was previously Shiridivasa (a resident of Shiridi). He is a sankalpa siddha (one who can do things through His will), a person of great powers, but with no love for worldly glory and money" ("living Divinity" Shakunthala Balu, p51) b) Nostradamus book of prophesies entitled ‘Centuries’ has documented that a very great leader would be born in a place surrounded by three seas. Three seas surround South India. The book continues to say that His efforts would bring an end to world war and it would spread spirituality far and wide. He would observe Thursday as His holy day. C) In the 25-volume collection of Prophet Mohammed’s discourses titled ‘The ocean of Light’, Satya Sai’s advent has been prophesied. Volume 13 called ‘Mehdi Moud’ which means ‘The great teacher that was promised’ also referred to as ‘The Master of the world’ has very clear descriptions, which fit Satya Sai accurately. A few of them are listed. 1) His hair will be profuse. 2) His fore head will be large and concave. 3) He will have a mole on His cheek. 4) All the treasures of the world are under His feet. 5) He will live 95 years on earth (Swamy often said that He would leave His physical body in the 96th year). 6) All the teachings of all religions of the world will be in His heart from birth. 7) He will make the world full of peace, the list goes on. This extraordinary description of Satya Sai Baba is an astonishing prophecy, which seems impeccable in its accuracy.
d) Sri Aurobindo of Pondicherry, a great Indian spiritual leader broke his silence to tell his disciples on 24th November 1926 (the day after Swamy was born) "Krishna Consciousness has now descended into the physical" and then went back into silence. Several others also prophesied which are beyond the scope of this tiny article. As prophesied, Swamy was born on 23rd November 1926 at 5 a. m Tuesday (Monday according to Telugu calendar) in Bharadwaja Gothra after 8 years of passing away of Shiridi Sai Baba on 15th October 1918 on Dasara day through ‘pravesa’ not through ‘prasava’ as other Avatars born in a similar way.
As a child, He demonstrated exemplary qualities of compassion, generosity, and wisdom, which clearly distinguished Him from the other children of His village. On 29th October 1940, at the age of 14, He declared to His family and to the people of His village that He would hence forth be known as Sai Baba and that His mission was to bring about the spiritual regeneration of humanity by demonstrating and teaching the highest principles of truth, right conduct, peace and divine love.
\Swamy’s Ashram, built by His devotees close to the village where He was born, was inaugurated on 23rd November 1950. It is called Prasanthi Nilayam (the abode of divine peace). It has been the meeting place of millions of spiritual pilgrims of various faiths from all over the world. Every day Swamy graciously walks among them to guide, comfort, console and uplift them twice daily both in the morning and afternoon. He is doing like this for more than 50 years practicing and preaching the highest ideals of truth, right conduct, peace, love and non violence. He has often stated, "My life is my message".
Swamy places great importance on proper EDUCATION for young pupils. Parents and community leaders are urged to concern themselves with the information as well as the formal experiences to which their children and young adults are exposed. He has established a model education system which includes primary schools, secondary schools and an accredited university in various campuses, offering education from K G to PG including Ph D degrees FREE OF CHARGE to students and admission is open to all, regardless of race, religion or economic condition which is UNHEARD OF ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD. In addition to emphasizing the per suit of academic excellence, Satya Sai Baba’s system of "integral education" is designed to foster self -discipline and pro social conduct. Students are required to take courses on morality and spirituality and devote several hours each week to some form of community service. Swamy says, "that the end of education is character".
Swamy also places greater importance in HEATH CARE and built ultra modern super speciality hospitals both in Puttaparthi and Banglore. Highly specialised operations including open-heart operations and kidney transplant are performed routinely. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO CHARGE TO THE PATIENT for professional or hospital expenses including medication and food, which is UNHEARD OF ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD. Motivated by the desire to serve humanity, doctors, nurses and other workers in the hospital render extraordinary, loving care to all patients. I was fortunate to go and see these hospitals in person which are comparable to any hospital in the west, both in treatments and equipment and more so in neatness and hygiene. It is a delight to enter these temples of treatment, which are unique in design and style. There are so many other services to the needy in villages by water supply, mobile clinics and cleaning the streets of villages and towns. There are too many to mention. As you may be aware, recently Chennai was supplied with water through Sai Ganga.
Swamy’s message: It is very difficult to describe His message in words and it is beyond human comprehension. A few drops of this ocean of Sai Baba’s teachings, an attempt to encapsulate its essence follows: Swamy urges mankind to
-Believe in God for there is only one God for all mankind. He may be called by many names.
-Follow sincerely their respective religions and live their daily lives in consonance with the teachings of good behaviour and morality.
-Respect all religions, for no religion advocates the negative and lower qualities of man.
-Perform selfless service to the poor, the sick and the needy elderly without thought of any reward or fame.
-Cultivate in their lives, the value of truth, divine love, right conduct, peace and non-violence and promote these values among all.
-Be patriotic and respect the law of the country in which they live.
Swami has reiterated that service is indeed the best form of worship. "Selfless service is a more exalted means of spiritual progress than such other things as meditation, bhajan and yoga. This is so because when we under take meditation, Japa or yoga, we do so for our own benefit and not for the good of others. These are aimed at subjugating ones individual desires and receiving happiness for one self. What we should aspire for is the attainment of the good of others without any desire for personal gain". Swamy says "Hands that help are holier than the lips that pray"
The path is clear and well signposted with Swamy’s messages but the impediments on the way are still there for us to overcome the foes, which are egotism, greed, lust, anger, envy and perhaps more. However Swamy has given us tools or weapons to combat these foes, which are sathya, Dharma, Shanthi, Prema and Ahimsa.
The sunlight of grace is all around us but we must open the windows of our heart to get the benefit of the sunlight. This is self-effort.
I know some of the readers of this article might be thinking, what about that we read in India Today and in other Indian and Western media about Swami and also in the Internet? I also know some people get irritated and get angry when they hear the name Satya Sai Baba. I my self read all the journals and in the internet about the bad comments on Swamy. It is a fascinating reading to get temporary kick, which is transient on the expense of somebody. I was not worried the least about those reports.
In this world of limitations, there is always good and bad. There is no 100% good or 100% bad in any thing or in any one. This is the Law of Life. No body can do any thing about it. Actually there is no good or bad in any thing or in any one but our own perception of things and people makes us feel good or bad depending on our own perception at that time. In other words our own qualities are reflected on to others. So we are at fault not any body else. But what one can do if sensible is always to look for good in every thing and in every one even it is 0.001% and NOT to think or talk about bad. Can we try to do this? No, no way! Why not? The reasons for good or bad are many. There is no point to discuss these things, as they would not serve any useful purpose what so ever. It is mere waste of time and energy. We should have guts to see only goodness in every thing and in every one and try to follow it if possible; otherwise we are sure to be doomed. Now let us see what happened to the past Avatars like Rama and Krishna and Jesus.
All during His incarnation did not recognize Sri Rama. His own father was deluded by paternal feelings. Kaikeyi, His stepmother wanted her own son, Bharatha to be king and Rama to be sent to the forest. Had she developed the feeling that Rama was God, she would not have felt that way. Similarly Krishna was also not recognized and was not accepted as God. All His uncles were His worst opponents. Kamsa, Sisupala, Jarasandha were His uncles. The Kauravas were blind and never accepted His divinity. So no Avatar was is recognized by contemporary society. Jesus was left all alone on the cross, deserted by His disciples on the day of crucifixion. All in His time did not accept even Sai Baba of Shiridi. Some thought He was a Moslem Fakir and some others thought He was a mad man. The merchants in Shiridi village refused to give Him oil to light His lamps.
Western media have often a deep suspicion of Indian ‘Gurus’ and vary of anything, which has a ‘Hindu’ flavour. It is true that some of the Gurus teaching in the West might have brought a bad name to Hinduism; but is this a reason to clamp them all together under the same ‘fake’ label? Unfortunately the Indian Journalists share often the same resistance to Gurus as their Western counterparts. And one can also understand their misgivings, given the problems there has been in India with certain Gurus having political connections. But these are the exception to the rule. Why then brand all Gurus as ‘Godman’ a negative and slightly cynical term, as many Indian Journalists do? Is not also strange that Indian Journalists do not display the same aggressiveness towards Christian bishops or priests, whom they never call God men but ‘holy father?’
It was not only Sai Baba in India Today, for example, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of the Art of Living has also been catalogued a ‘Godman’ by The Deccan Herald. Yet, he too is helping to spread both in India and abroad this wonderful spiritual inheritance, promoting as much the revival of Saskrit and Vedic knowledge, as an ecological concern for plastic disposal, or trying to save the centenary trees which are in danger of being chopped on the Bangalore-Kanakapura road, as it is being widened. As you can see, no one, not even a mahapurusha or Avatar can ever escape criticism and blame. So we should not give any importance to this type of garbage.
Let us examine where we are today? Let us examine the background and position of Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai Baba. Right in this very human body, Swamy is an accepted as an incarnation of God by millions of people in all over the world. Name the country; the devotees are at Prasanthi Nilayam. Name the profession; all professions are at Puttaparthi. People of all age groups and professions, educated and uneducated, employed and unemployed, Men and women, Muslims, Christians, all castes, Brahmins, Naidus, Chowdaries, Visyas, Reddies, you name it, all come to the abode of Divine peace year after year to imbibe the spirituality and sanctity of Prasanthi Nilayam. The brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God can be witnessed at any time of the day and night without any doubt. This is an unbelievable fact in the human history only to be believed by witnessing the Divine place even in this Kali Yuga.
Is Swamy teaching a separate religion? Has He started a new religion? What does He stand for? If any one asks what religion you belong to? We should say ‘to the religion of Love’; if any body asks us what is your language? We should say ‘the language of heart’, or if anybody asks what caste? We should say ‘the caste of humanity’. That is what Swamy wants us to practice. Is there anything wrong in that? As children of one God, we should not divide by our own religion of the past, because the essence of all religions is Love, which is nothing but God!
Swamy has given us only one path to reach God, the path of service. He gave us the religion of Love. To convince everybody is very difficult in this world because some of us do not want to agree to anything! Leave them alone to their fate. Let us improve the quality of our life as time is running out at any moment. We are very fortunate to be alive and to be contemporaries of noble souls like Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma) of God’s own country, namely Kerala, Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai Baba (Swamy) from Andhra pradesh, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of Karnataka, Sri Bangaru Adigalar (amma) from Tamil Nadu who is believed to be Avatar of Adi Parashakti. We can witness the divine work by all these and other noble people in India and abroad and we can talk to them, touch them and even have a Divine Hug with a wonderful smile and a message in our ears! How lucky we are? Our grand children and Great grand children will read about these Great souls in history books as we read about the past Great people like Vemana, Aid Sankaracharya, Rama Krishna, Vivekananda, Mahtma Gandhi, too many to list. Friends, let us try to learn to enjoy life with what we have rather than to worry about what we do not have.
Human being has only a short span of life, here on earth. But even in this short life one can, by wisely using the time with care, attain Divine Bliss. Remember Adi Sankara Lived only 32 years, Swami Vivekanada lived 39 years, and Rama Krishna Lived only 50 years and we all know what they achieved in their short life span. Many of us coming soon to the 3rd stage of life and where do we stand when compared to the above?
Let us know why this body is given to us? The body is given to us after so many good deeds we did in our past lives to serve the mankind and to know about ourselves (self realisation) to go where we came from, without death and rebirth, that is to get Moksha or Liberation or Nirvana. This can happen only for human beings. Such is the importance of this life. Let us not waste any more time in enjoying reading bad press of our noble people but concentrate to reach the only goal of this life to merge into the ultimate, with complete surrender to our own God without any trace of ego by thought, word and deed. We are bound to succeed.
GLORY TO SWAMY
GLORY TO GOD
GLORY TO HUMAN RACE.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY Dr.Kurri Pakirareddy
It was 24th June 2002, my daughter, Madhavi’s birthday. On that day, I just finished reading Mahabharat by C.Rajagopalachari, after watching Mahabharat, the epic; I recorded on tape 12 years before that on B B C television.
While reading the last pages of Ramayana by the same author, a desire arose in my mind that I should write my autobiography before I tend to forget about my childhood memories. So I started the same night before going to bed.
My first memories of myself went back, when I was 5 or 6 years of age. I was born in Mallayapalem village of Guntur taluk and district, about 12 miles from Guntur by road on the bus route from Guntur to Parchur. I vaguely remember that my parents told I that I was born on a Wednesday. The real date of birth, I do not know. It used to be with the village officer whom it happened to be our relative. When he died, it was difficult to trace. This is not uncommon in those days. At least we were fortunate in India we need to have a date of birth in our Secondary School Leaving Certificate ( SSLC). It was also necessary in those days one has to attain certain age before one leaves secondary school. That is why in India many people have an actual date of birth and also an official date of birth like the Queen of England! So my official date of birth is 1st July 1945. I also vaguely remember that I was born actually in 1944. We get what we deserve in this life.
I do remember the places, the fellow boys and girls I used to play at the age of 5 or 6 years of age. For example there used to be a neem tree in front of our house on the main road to the village where I used to spend most of time playing there with other boys and girls. I was very fortunate to have that photograph of the tree with my daughter, son and friends in the village some years ago before it was cut down as it was on the way on the main road. I was saddened not to find the tree recently. I do remember the teacher when I was in primary school in the village. I was also very fortunate to see him unexpectedly in Guntur railway station some years ago and have a photograph with him. Unfortunately I do not know his where about. I am trying various sources to trace him to honour him on my sashti purthi day in Guntur on 26th November 2005. He was a very strict teacher and I still remember the beatings that I had from him.
My parents had very little formal education. My father used to sign his name in Telugu and can read some Telugu books. He used to act in local dramas in the village. He played a role as Krishna in Kurukshetra and Gayopakyanam. My mother did not know to read and write. My parents had education of life, which is more important than formal education to survive in this world. My parents never objected whatever I wanted to do through out my life. I do remember that I used to stay with my grand parents more than with my parents at that age, their house being just opposite to ours in the same street. My grand parents used to look after me very well with love and affection. He used to be one of the gentlemen in the village in those days and people used to come to him for advice on any matters in the village. We were average family neither rich nor poor. All my primary education was in our village and appeared to join in High school directly into 7th class and my elder sister did even better joining in 8th class and she got married soon after that and that was the end of her education.
I joined in the High school in Prathipadu, about 3 miles away from our village on the way to Guntur. We used to walk to school every day up and down in all weathers even without slippers. If I say this to my children, they do not believe me. I was ten years of age at the time of my joining in to High school. There were no proper roads in those days. Some rich pupils used to go on bicycle. After a couple of years, I decided to stay in Prathipadu along with other boys in rented accommodation. We used to cook our food and curries used to come from home every day through local washerwomen. We had a wonderful time away from families and used to feel independent. We rarely went home but our parents used to visit us regularly on their way to Guntur at least once a week. We were very fortunate to have very good teachers in our High school. A noble man from our village donated our High school and it was named after him. We used to be very proud of him and his family. One teacher I used to like very much was our Telugu teacher, Devabhaktuni Rangarao garu. He was an excellent teacher and philosopher but very humble. For me he is equal to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and Swami Vivekananda. He lived for a short time as any other noble people. He left his mortal coil in 1971 and he was 42 at the time. He was my first spiritual guru at that young age. I was very fortunate to locate his wife, Dhanalakshmi a few years ago and got a photograph of my Guru. I am very lucky to be his pupil and devotee. If at all I have any spirituality it is only because of my reverend Guru. I was also very fortunate to have his blessings on our wedding by way of his divine hand writing in 1968. His live image is very clear in my mind. One of my friends who used to live with me at High school passed away in an accident a few years ago. He was very good friend of mine and so many good memories with him are still with me. My High school days passed very quickly and finished in 1959-60.
I joined in pre university course (PUC) in Hindu College Guntur. I lived with one of our friend from our village in their house in Guntur. It was a new experience in the college and also from village to a big town with so many activities, many new friends and many distractions as well. One friend I longed with was in my class, son of a doctor. We became very close both in the class and out side and were not able to separate and even the lecturers used to say ‘please sit apart in the class’ because we were sitting so close all the time in the front bench. We both used to buy many books for the same subject and study very hard but I was not able to get good marks in the final examination to get entrance into Medical College. My friend got very high score in all the subjects and joined in Medicine in Guntur Medical College. We both felt very sad for our separation. Good things in life can not last long I learned then. After deliberation I managed to get admission into a pre Medical course in Benaras Hindu University in Kasi. I decided to go and join in the pre Medical course and my parents readily agreed to send me without any problem. So I joined in the course in 1961. It was really an experience to go Benaras and it took a day and half by train at the age of 17. I had a wonderful time for a year going to the Ganges and to visit Lord Viswanatha temple. In those days in Benaras, we had to go physical education classes very early in the morning in biting cold and fog with only shots on the winter mornings but we used to enjoy every minute of it. Sanskrit was compulsory in those days. It was an eye opener for me and turning point in my life. There were quite a few boys and girls in our class from Andhra. No homesickness and in fact very enjoyable 12 months. At the end of the year, I passed all the subjects including Sanskrit but failed narrowly in English, which was very easy. Even if I have passed all the subjects, we have to do another examination, which is very competitive on all India basis to get entrance into 1st year Medicine. Everybody encouraged me to stay on and repeat the pre Medical course but somehow I did not fancy to repeat the course again and decided to go back to Guntur. When I was back at Guntur, my parents asked me to join in Medicine in a private Medical college by paying capitation fee. With the help of my close friend’s, father who was the professor of Medicine at Guntur Medical College, I took an introductory letter to the then Principal at Medical College, Warangal and met him. He kindly agreed to offer me a seat on paying capitation fee of 7 thousand rupees. I was in a dilemma on my way back to Guntur, and after thinking seriously, I decided not to put my parents to sell the land to pay the capitation fee and I told them that after all that I was not keen to join in Medicine and instead I wanted to join in B.Sc in Hindu College, Guntur. As I always believed we get what we deserve in this life rather than what we want, I was very content to join in B.Sc.
Those 3 years in my B.Sc in Guntur had a lovely time and met so many friends both boys and girls whom I have contact regularly even now. It never bothered me that I was not able to join in Medicine and I completely forgotten about that.
Before I go any further, I should mention one family in Prathipadu during my High school education, where I used to go their house to have food in the evening every day for at least a year if not more. They looked after me very well with affection and love. Even though it was just ordinary food, I still remember the taste of the food and their kindness to me. Unfortunately I lost contact with them, as they were elderly at that time. I still hope to meet some members of the family in my lifetime.
While at college in Guntur, I used to have my daily food from a woman who was running a mess. I still do see her in Guntur when I go for vacation. I was so grateful for her affection and love she showed me in those days.
During my college days, I met a person through one of my family friends whom I became very close. Even though we talked on the phone and by way of letter writing at times, I have not met that person for at least 35 years. I hope and pray that I will meet that person some time in my lifetime. I did rather well in my B.Sc, may be because of my maturity in life. Life is a mixture of dualities, good and bad, Pain and pleasure, day and night etc. There were times in my life in my college days that I had some financial problems. My parents never said anything against me in their lifetime. If I had any problems, it was my bad planning. There were times fortunately not many when I was not affording to eat my daily food but it never cause me any shame or sorrow. I used to think, whatever happens, it was for my own good in the long term. Everything is God’s will. The poverty never bothered me because it was only my making. Even from young age, I was fortunate to have belief in God and used to think that He is responsible for everything that happens to us. Now I know, I was wrong at that age to think like that. In fact we are responsible for our own fate. It is in our hands to make or break our life, which explains the law of Karma. But God’s grace is essential to reduce or even completely remove the effect of our bad karma. We should not blame God for our fate.
After so many years, we were fortunate to meet my close friend of Guntur Hindu College in America in 2003 after I recovered from my brain stem haemorrhage and stroke and stayed in their house for a few days. We revived all our past memories once again and enjoyed very much. We regularly in contact by phone. Here I should mention another important person in my life during my college days in Guntur who was my teacher and friend for the last 40 years. I used to go to their family and knew all of them. We used to go out together in the evenings on our bicycles almost daily and used to discuss our personal problems and used to feel a lot better after our discussions. I had so many good days with him and fortunately see each other every year when I go to India. We were privileged to have him and his wife for a couple of days in our home in Sibsey, England in May 2004. He is very fortunate to serve selfless with devotion to so many people in India. I am very proud of him to be his friend.
I passed my B.Sc in first class and applied for M.Sc in Andhra University, Waltair and also I came to know that I could apply for Medicine with my B.Sc qualification directly into 2nd year M.B.B.S. I got M.Sc admission in Botany and joined in Andhra University. Again it is a big city, big institution and with new friends. I had a wonderful time living in the hostel. I also applied for jobs after my B.Sc and I got an interview for the selection of sub inspector of Police, which my parents were not keen, so I did not go for the interview.
One day in November 1966 while I was at Andhra University, the postman delivered a brown envelop with the Government stamp on it. When I opened the letter, it was an admission to Medical College either in Guntur or Kurnool directly into 2nd year M.B.B.S but we had to write physics examination and also Biochemistry if I go to Guntur. The Sri Venkareswara University gave exemption for Bio Chemistry as we did it in our B.Sc. I was encouraged by family and friends to go to Medicine for which I was not able to get after my P UC. So I decided to go to Kurnool along with at least 10 other candidates from Andhra University, even though I come from Guntur. So again it is proved everything have its own time and some people have to wait a bit longer than others and also we get what we deserve at the end.
I joined in Kurnool Medical College in December 1966. Again it was a new experience, no friends and new challenges. I started to enjoy the course, with the satisfaction of going to become a doctor, which I wanted 5 years ago.
It was in 1968, my parents expressed a desire that I should get married foe unknown reasons. I thought about it seriously and agree to get married. The wedding took place on August 10th in 1968 in Guntur with my present wife Dhana Lakshmi. I never forget that day. I should not have got any better life partner than her. It was really a miracle and the wedding went uneventfully. I had the privilege of living with my wife in the last year of my medical student life. I used to study well than before without any distractions! How many people have got this privilege?
During my medical student life, I met a man who is somewhat like me and became very friendly and we used to discuss our personal problems and helped each other. In those days we developed an obsession to go abroad after finishing the Medical Course. We tried our best to go any where in the world to survive. At last the time has come and my friend got a posting in United Kingdom with the help of one of our common friend. After about 6 months, I also got a posting in U K with the help of my friend. I am always grateful for his help. We both used to feel that we were brothers, but good times do not last long. That is the way life is. I could not find any reason to be like that. I try my best to be the same way we used, that is all one can do. We get sound only when we clap with both hands. We wish and pray for their welfare.
Again in U K, it is a new experience, strange life, strange people, different language and culture. I came to U K towards the end of October 1974 at the age of 30 and my family joined me later. On the whole I would say we had a wonderful time. I never regretted of coming to UK. I found that there are certain things we need to learn from the people of this country. I felt my self as an individual and I can live here the way I want which is somewhat difficult to do back at home. It also helped me to get my full potential of myself. Again met so many people, some are close more than others. We Lived in Belfast most of our life about 22 years and enjoyed every minute of it. We still have so many sweet memories and some close friends. We visit them regularly and spend a week or so with them.
A desire came to my mind in 1996 to retire in England as many of our friends are in England and children might settle here eventually. I had regular contacts with my friends in England and used to come regularly to do locum jobs to keep in contact with people. Fortunately I was offered a job where I used to work on locum basis. I always had a desire to retire in the village where we are living at the moment. So we moved to England towards the end of October 1996 and settled very quickly and enjoying my work. My daughter was in London and Srinivas also got a job in England.
Children were growing very fast and started to live on their own. They felt a need for their life partners. Srinivas promised to his grand parents he will marry to a girl from India. We all went to India for 6 weeks vacation. One of the families we used to be very close while in Belfast went to India for good in 1994. We always were in touch with them and stay with them when you go to India. They helped a lot to all of our family and we are grateful for their help forever. They also helped a lot for the wedding of Srinivas in December 1998. The wedding went smoothly as planned and they are living on their own. Life is always with full of ups and downs. Otherwise life becomes dull and boring.
It was March 5th in 1999, I was at a meeting at Our Trust Head quarters and towards the end of meeting at about just after 12.00 noon, I felt a strange feeling on my left side of the body and I told one of my colleague sitting next to me to call an ambulance and I could not remember what happened after that. Apparently I had brain stem haemorrhage which resulted stroke on my left side. I was admitted in a Neurology unit in Nottingham. My wife told me that on the night I had stroke, the consultant told her that they couldn’t do much and need to be observed for 24 hours and also told her it all depends upon her luck! I am told that I was there for about 10 days and then transferred to Boston where I was working. I vaguely remember being in Nottingham Hospital. I remember a bit clear after coming to Boston and began to recover slowly. I was in Boston hospital almost 3 months. So many people kindly visited me both in Nottingham and Boston and they all were very supportive and kind towards my wife and family. We are really grateful to so many people. While I was in Hospital my wife and family were very attentive and very patient with me. It is not that easy to please a doctor patient! Our daughter Madhavi took off for 3 months unpaid leave to be with me and help her mum. She has done everything for me and being a Nurse herself she has done really a professional job. I never forget her attention and Love towards me when I needed most.
After discharge from Hospital, I felt very depressed for almost about 4 months. Being a psychiatrist my self, I knew what a depression could do. I was negative about everything and even I was not able to smile. Fortunately I began to come round gradually and spent most of my time thinking about God, reading the autobiographies of great people and listening devotional music. Slowly I got my confidence back and able to think more positive towards life. I was advised to retire on health grounds from my job, which I was not happy about but I could not do anything. I thought it was God’s will. I had to retire in May 2000 at the age of 55. I was not able to walk properly and I had to use a wheelchair. I also developed double vision and need to wear an eye patch on one eye. I continued my physiotherapy with very slow recovery.
I came to know about Arya vaidyasala in Kottakal in Kerala and I wanted to try treatment. In 2001 we went for treatment for 28 days. We enjoyed our stay there and able to stand a bit longer to shave and brush in the morning and also the walking seemed a bit better. I continued that treatment every year so far and I think it is very helpful for me. Now I feel that I am improved more than my expectation and I feel very happy if I continue the way I am. I feel I got more than I deserve and very grateful to my wife and family with God’s grace. My wife put up with me when I needed most and for her it is her salvation to serve her husband when in need. I could not ask for any more than what she has given to me. I pray to God to be my wife as long as I am born again in this world.
When we were going to Kerala for treatment in November 2001, both Madhavi and her Boy friend Hari came to our house. It seemed they like each other. I told them that I had a desire that they should get married as soon as possible because of my illness.
It was Christmas morning in 2001, when I was about to go to my massage treatment, the phone rang. It was Madhavi and Hari on the phone after midnight on Christmas Eve in England and told me that they both were engaged on Christmas Eve. I blessed them both. By the time we came back to England in January 2002, they fixed the date of their wedding and venue as well. How lucky we were and I thanked God for his grace. The wedding took place on July 21st in 2002 and everything went smoothly as planned. Hari’s father used to say; they were made for each other. How true it is.
Another family, which I knew from our village for a long time, came very close in my life. I always felt we are all one family. I feel it is bondage from previous lives and I hope and pray we will be together in the same family in future lives. Even though they live in America, we have contact almost every week and see each other as frequently as possible.
I was very fortunate to celebrate my sashti purthi (60th birth day) on 2nd July 2005 in the presence of so many of our friends and well-wishers in the sacred place of Sri Venkateswara Balaji temple near Birmingham, United Kingdom. Our family from America came with our two grand children. We had a wonderful time together for a week in Paris and London.
There are so many friends and relatives in India whom I know for a long time. So I had a desire to celebrate my sashti purthi again in Guntur in the presence of all the people and friends I know in India. So God willing we will celebrate on November 26th in 2005.
Life is beautiful and it is up to us to make it a successes or a failure. It is our entire making. We decide our fate and nobody else or not even God. God is the director and we the actors in the play obey His commands, we do our role in the play to be appreciated by the audience. What all we see, hear, eat and enjoy is god’s creation. Nothing belongs to us in this world. Even if we feel that we own something, it is only temporary. So whatever we have, be money, knowledge or anything, we need to share with other people. Then only we feel real happiness. We cannot have everything for our selves.
We are living in a rented accommodation. The owner of the house may ask us to leave at any time without much notice. We need to prepare to vacate at any moment. We do not know when the final call arrives. We must be prepared all the time to answer the final call.
What I learnt in my life is, there are three things important to achieve anything.1. Human effort: without human effort, nothing happens. 2. Everything has its time. Nothing happens until that time. Some people may have to wait longer than others and this depends upon ones previous life and actions (purva janma sukrutam) 3. God’s grace: Nothing happens without God’s grace. Again it depends upon ones own purva janma sukrutam. All the three are equally important.
We often wonder why the things happen the way they happen? Why some people always get a raw deal in their life and why the so-called bad people enjoy everything in life? There is nothing in this world explain why it happens except the Law of Karma which is one of the cardinal principle of Hinduism. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Nobody can escape from it including God.
According to the Scriptures, the main aim of human life is to attain Moksha i.e. not be born again and merge with the paramathma. I always felt it is selfish because, it is only useful for that individual and nobody else. To be honest, I do not want Moksha yet, I want to born again hopefully as human and that depends upon my previous lives and the present life. I want to be born in a family to learn Sanskrit and able to sing the glories of God and able to serve the needy, disabled and less fortunate people than I am without expecting any reward and not to hurt anybody by thought, word and action. That is my aim of life for the future!
I am grateful to God for inculcating this idea of writing my own autobiography before I tend to forget my past life.
LOKASAMATHA SUKHINO BHAVANTHU
Aum Shanthi, Shanthi, Shanthi Hi
It was 24th June 2002, my daughter, Madhavi’s birthday. On that day, I just finished reading Mahabharat by C.Rajagopalachari, after watching Mahabharat, the epic; I recorded on tape 12 years before that on B B C television.
While reading the last pages of Ramayana by the same author, a desire arose in my mind that I should write my autobiography before I tend to forget about my childhood memories. So I started the same night before going to bed.
My first memories of myself went back, when I was 5 or 6 years of age. I was born in Mallayapalem village of Guntur taluk and district, about 12 miles from Guntur by road on the bus route from Guntur to Parchur. I vaguely remember that my parents told I that I was born on a Wednesday. The real date of birth, I do not know. It used to be with the village officer whom it happened to be our relative. When he died, it was difficult to trace. This is not uncommon in those days. At least we were fortunate in India we need to have a date of birth in our Secondary School Leaving Certificate ( SSLC). It was also necessary in those days one has to attain certain age before one leaves secondary school. That is why in India many people have an actual date of birth and also an official date of birth like the Queen of England! So my official date of birth is 1st July 1945. I also vaguely remember that I was born actually in 1944. We get what we deserve in this life.
I do remember the places, the fellow boys and girls I used to play at the age of 5 or 6 years of age. For example there used to be a neem tree in front of our house on the main road to the village where I used to spend most of time playing there with other boys and girls. I was very fortunate to have that photograph of the tree with my daughter, son and friends in the village some years ago before it was cut down as it was on the way on the main road. I was saddened not to find the tree recently. I do remember the teacher when I was in primary school in the village. I was also very fortunate to see him unexpectedly in Guntur railway station some years ago and have a photograph with him. Unfortunately I do not know his where about. I am trying various sources to trace him to honour him on my sashti purthi day in Guntur on 26th November 2005. He was a very strict teacher and I still remember the beatings that I had from him.
My parents had very little formal education. My father used to sign his name in Telugu and can read some Telugu books. He used to act in local dramas in the village. He played a role as Krishna in Kurukshetra and Gayopakyanam. My mother did not know to read and write. My parents had education of life, which is more important than formal education to survive in this world. My parents never objected whatever I wanted to do through out my life. I do remember that I used to stay with my grand parents more than with my parents at that age, their house being just opposite to ours in the same street. My grand parents used to look after me very well with love and affection. He used to be one of the gentlemen in the village in those days and people used to come to him for advice on any matters in the village. We were average family neither rich nor poor. All my primary education was in our village and appeared to join in High school directly into 7th class and my elder sister did even better joining in 8th class and she got married soon after that and that was the end of her education.
I joined in the High school in Prathipadu, about 3 miles away from our village on the way to Guntur. We used to walk to school every day up and down in all weathers even without slippers. If I say this to my children, they do not believe me. I was ten years of age at the time of my joining in to High school. There were no proper roads in those days. Some rich pupils used to go on bicycle. After a couple of years, I decided to stay in Prathipadu along with other boys in rented accommodation. We used to cook our food and curries used to come from home every day through local washerwomen. We had a wonderful time away from families and used to feel independent. We rarely went home but our parents used to visit us regularly on their way to Guntur at least once a week. We were very fortunate to have very good teachers in our High school. A noble man from our village donated our High school and it was named after him. We used to be very proud of him and his family. One teacher I used to like very much was our Telugu teacher, Devabhaktuni Rangarao garu. He was an excellent teacher and philosopher but very humble. For me he is equal to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and Swami Vivekananda. He lived for a short time as any other noble people. He left his mortal coil in 1971 and he was 42 at the time. He was my first spiritual guru at that young age. I was very fortunate to locate his wife, Dhanalakshmi a few years ago and got a photograph of my Guru. I am very lucky to be his pupil and devotee. If at all I have any spirituality it is only because of my reverend Guru. I was also very fortunate to have his blessings on our wedding by way of his divine hand writing in 1968. His live image is very clear in my mind. One of my friends who used to live with me at High school passed away in an accident a few years ago. He was very good friend of mine and so many good memories with him are still with me. My High school days passed very quickly and finished in 1959-60.
I joined in pre university course (PUC) in Hindu College Guntur. I lived with one of our friend from our village in their house in Guntur. It was a new experience in the college and also from village to a big town with so many activities, many new friends and many distractions as well. One friend I longed with was in my class, son of a doctor. We became very close both in the class and out side and were not able to separate and even the lecturers used to say ‘please sit apart in the class’ because we were sitting so close all the time in the front bench. We both used to buy many books for the same subject and study very hard but I was not able to get good marks in the final examination to get entrance into Medical College. My friend got very high score in all the subjects and joined in Medicine in Guntur Medical College. We both felt very sad for our separation. Good things in life can not last long I learned then. After deliberation I managed to get admission into a pre Medical course in Benaras Hindu University in Kasi. I decided to go and join in the pre Medical course and my parents readily agreed to send me without any problem. So I joined in the course in 1961. It was really an experience to go Benaras and it took a day and half by train at the age of 17. I had a wonderful time for a year going to the Ganges and to visit Lord Viswanatha temple. In those days in Benaras, we had to go physical education classes very early in the morning in biting cold and fog with only shots on the winter mornings but we used to enjoy every minute of it. Sanskrit was compulsory in those days. It was an eye opener for me and turning point in my life. There were quite a few boys and girls in our class from Andhra. No homesickness and in fact very enjoyable 12 months. At the end of the year, I passed all the subjects including Sanskrit but failed narrowly in English, which was very easy. Even if I have passed all the subjects, we have to do another examination, which is very competitive on all India basis to get entrance into 1st year Medicine. Everybody encouraged me to stay on and repeat the pre Medical course but somehow I did not fancy to repeat the course again and decided to go back to Guntur. When I was back at Guntur, my parents asked me to join in Medicine in a private Medical college by paying capitation fee. With the help of my close friend’s, father who was the professor of Medicine at Guntur Medical College, I took an introductory letter to the then Principal at Medical College, Warangal and met him. He kindly agreed to offer me a seat on paying capitation fee of 7 thousand rupees. I was in a dilemma on my way back to Guntur, and after thinking seriously, I decided not to put my parents to sell the land to pay the capitation fee and I told them that after all that I was not keen to join in Medicine and instead I wanted to join in B.Sc in Hindu College, Guntur. As I always believed we get what we deserve in this life rather than what we want, I was very content to join in B.Sc.
Those 3 years in my B.Sc in Guntur had a lovely time and met so many friends both boys and girls whom I have contact regularly even now. It never bothered me that I was not able to join in Medicine and I completely forgotten about that.
Before I go any further, I should mention one family in Prathipadu during my High school education, where I used to go their house to have food in the evening every day for at least a year if not more. They looked after me very well with affection and love. Even though it was just ordinary food, I still remember the taste of the food and their kindness to me. Unfortunately I lost contact with them, as they were elderly at that time. I still hope to meet some members of the family in my lifetime.
While at college in Guntur, I used to have my daily food from a woman who was running a mess. I still do see her in Guntur when I go for vacation. I was so grateful for her affection and love she showed me in those days.
During my college days, I met a person through one of my family friends whom I became very close. Even though we talked on the phone and by way of letter writing at times, I have not met that person for at least 35 years. I hope and pray that I will meet that person some time in my lifetime. I did rather well in my B.Sc, may be because of my maturity in life. Life is a mixture of dualities, good and bad, Pain and pleasure, day and night etc. There were times in my life in my college days that I had some financial problems. My parents never said anything against me in their lifetime. If I had any problems, it was my bad planning. There were times fortunately not many when I was not affording to eat my daily food but it never cause me any shame or sorrow. I used to think, whatever happens, it was for my own good in the long term. Everything is God’s will. The poverty never bothered me because it was only my making. Even from young age, I was fortunate to have belief in God and used to think that He is responsible for everything that happens to us. Now I know, I was wrong at that age to think like that. In fact we are responsible for our own fate. It is in our hands to make or break our life, which explains the law of Karma. But God’s grace is essential to reduce or even completely remove the effect of our bad karma. We should not blame God for our fate.
After so many years, we were fortunate to meet my close friend of Guntur Hindu College in America in 2003 after I recovered from my brain stem haemorrhage and stroke and stayed in their house for a few days. We revived all our past memories once again and enjoyed very much. We regularly in contact by phone. Here I should mention another important person in my life during my college days in Guntur who was my teacher and friend for the last 40 years. I used to go to their family and knew all of them. We used to go out together in the evenings on our bicycles almost daily and used to discuss our personal problems and used to feel a lot better after our discussions. I had so many good days with him and fortunately see each other every year when I go to India. We were privileged to have him and his wife for a couple of days in our home in Sibsey, England in May 2004. He is very fortunate to serve selfless with devotion to so many people in India. I am very proud of him to be his friend.
I passed my B.Sc in first class and applied for M.Sc in Andhra University, Waltair and also I came to know that I could apply for Medicine with my B.Sc qualification directly into 2nd year M.B.B.S. I got M.Sc admission in Botany and joined in Andhra University. Again it is a big city, big institution and with new friends. I had a wonderful time living in the hostel. I also applied for jobs after my B.Sc and I got an interview for the selection of sub inspector of Police, which my parents were not keen, so I did not go for the interview.
One day in November 1966 while I was at Andhra University, the postman delivered a brown envelop with the Government stamp on it. When I opened the letter, it was an admission to Medical College either in Guntur or Kurnool directly into 2nd year M.B.B.S but we had to write physics examination and also Biochemistry if I go to Guntur. The Sri Venkareswara University gave exemption for Bio Chemistry as we did it in our B.Sc. I was encouraged by family and friends to go to Medicine for which I was not able to get after my P UC. So I decided to go to Kurnool along with at least 10 other candidates from Andhra University, even though I come from Guntur. So again it is proved everything have its own time and some people have to wait a bit longer than others and also we get what we deserve at the end.
I joined in Kurnool Medical College in December 1966. Again it was a new experience, no friends and new challenges. I started to enjoy the course, with the satisfaction of going to become a doctor, which I wanted 5 years ago.
It was in 1968, my parents expressed a desire that I should get married foe unknown reasons. I thought about it seriously and agree to get married. The wedding took place on August 10th in 1968 in Guntur with my present wife Dhana Lakshmi. I never forget that day. I should not have got any better life partner than her. It was really a miracle and the wedding went uneventfully. I had the privilege of living with my wife in the last year of my medical student life. I used to study well than before without any distractions! How many people have got this privilege?
During my medical student life, I met a man who is somewhat like me and became very friendly and we used to discuss our personal problems and helped each other. In those days we developed an obsession to go abroad after finishing the Medical Course. We tried our best to go any where in the world to survive. At last the time has come and my friend got a posting in United Kingdom with the help of one of our common friend. After about 6 months, I also got a posting in U K with the help of my friend. I am always grateful for his help. We both used to feel that we were brothers, but good times do not last long. That is the way life is. I could not find any reason to be like that. I try my best to be the same way we used, that is all one can do. We get sound only when we clap with both hands. We wish and pray for their welfare.
Again in U K, it is a new experience, strange life, strange people, different language and culture. I came to U K towards the end of October 1974 at the age of 30 and my family joined me later. On the whole I would say we had a wonderful time. I never regretted of coming to UK. I found that there are certain things we need to learn from the people of this country. I felt my self as an individual and I can live here the way I want which is somewhat difficult to do back at home. It also helped me to get my full potential of myself. Again met so many people, some are close more than others. We Lived in Belfast most of our life about 22 years and enjoyed every minute of it. We still have so many sweet memories and some close friends. We visit them regularly and spend a week or so with them.
A desire came to my mind in 1996 to retire in England as many of our friends are in England and children might settle here eventually. I had regular contacts with my friends in England and used to come regularly to do locum jobs to keep in contact with people. Fortunately I was offered a job where I used to work on locum basis. I always had a desire to retire in the village where we are living at the moment. So we moved to England towards the end of October 1996 and settled very quickly and enjoying my work. My daughter was in London and Srinivas also got a job in England.
Children were growing very fast and started to live on their own. They felt a need for their life partners. Srinivas promised to his grand parents he will marry to a girl from India. We all went to India for 6 weeks vacation. One of the families we used to be very close while in Belfast went to India for good in 1994. We always were in touch with them and stay with them when you go to India. They helped a lot to all of our family and we are grateful for their help forever. They also helped a lot for the wedding of Srinivas in December 1998. The wedding went smoothly as planned and they are living on their own. Life is always with full of ups and downs. Otherwise life becomes dull and boring.
It was March 5th in 1999, I was at a meeting at Our Trust Head quarters and towards the end of meeting at about just after 12.00 noon, I felt a strange feeling on my left side of the body and I told one of my colleague sitting next to me to call an ambulance and I could not remember what happened after that. Apparently I had brain stem haemorrhage which resulted stroke on my left side. I was admitted in a Neurology unit in Nottingham. My wife told me that on the night I had stroke, the consultant told her that they couldn’t do much and need to be observed for 24 hours and also told her it all depends upon her luck! I am told that I was there for about 10 days and then transferred to Boston where I was working. I vaguely remember being in Nottingham Hospital. I remember a bit clear after coming to Boston and began to recover slowly. I was in Boston hospital almost 3 months. So many people kindly visited me both in Nottingham and Boston and they all were very supportive and kind towards my wife and family. We are really grateful to so many people. While I was in Hospital my wife and family were very attentive and very patient with me. It is not that easy to please a doctor patient! Our daughter Madhavi took off for 3 months unpaid leave to be with me and help her mum. She has done everything for me and being a Nurse herself she has done really a professional job. I never forget her attention and Love towards me when I needed most.
After discharge from Hospital, I felt very depressed for almost about 4 months. Being a psychiatrist my self, I knew what a depression could do. I was negative about everything and even I was not able to smile. Fortunately I began to come round gradually and spent most of my time thinking about God, reading the autobiographies of great people and listening devotional music. Slowly I got my confidence back and able to think more positive towards life. I was advised to retire on health grounds from my job, which I was not happy about but I could not do anything. I thought it was God’s will. I had to retire in May 2000 at the age of 55. I was not able to walk properly and I had to use a wheelchair. I also developed double vision and need to wear an eye patch on one eye. I continued my physiotherapy with very slow recovery.
I came to know about Arya vaidyasala in Kottakal in Kerala and I wanted to try treatment. In 2001 we went for treatment for 28 days. We enjoyed our stay there and able to stand a bit longer to shave and brush in the morning and also the walking seemed a bit better. I continued that treatment every year so far and I think it is very helpful for me. Now I feel that I am improved more than my expectation and I feel very happy if I continue the way I am. I feel I got more than I deserve and very grateful to my wife and family with God’s grace. My wife put up with me when I needed most and for her it is her salvation to serve her husband when in need. I could not ask for any more than what she has given to me. I pray to God to be my wife as long as I am born again in this world.
When we were going to Kerala for treatment in November 2001, both Madhavi and her Boy friend Hari came to our house. It seemed they like each other. I told them that I had a desire that they should get married as soon as possible because of my illness.
It was Christmas morning in 2001, when I was about to go to my massage treatment, the phone rang. It was Madhavi and Hari on the phone after midnight on Christmas Eve in England and told me that they both were engaged on Christmas Eve. I blessed them both. By the time we came back to England in January 2002, they fixed the date of their wedding and venue as well. How lucky we were and I thanked God for his grace. The wedding took place on July 21st in 2002 and everything went smoothly as planned. Hari’s father used to say; they were made for each other. How true it is.
Another family, which I knew from our village for a long time, came very close in my life. I always felt we are all one family. I feel it is bondage from previous lives and I hope and pray we will be together in the same family in future lives. Even though they live in America, we have contact almost every week and see each other as frequently as possible.
I was very fortunate to celebrate my sashti purthi (60th birth day) on 2nd July 2005 in the presence of so many of our friends and well-wishers in the sacred place of Sri Venkateswara Balaji temple near Birmingham, United Kingdom. Our family from America came with our two grand children. We had a wonderful time together for a week in Paris and London.
There are so many friends and relatives in India whom I know for a long time. So I had a desire to celebrate my sashti purthi again in Guntur in the presence of all the people and friends I know in India. So God willing we will celebrate on November 26th in 2005.
Life is beautiful and it is up to us to make it a successes or a failure. It is our entire making. We decide our fate and nobody else or not even God. God is the director and we the actors in the play obey His commands, we do our role in the play to be appreciated by the audience. What all we see, hear, eat and enjoy is god’s creation. Nothing belongs to us in this world. Even if we feel that we own something, it is only temporary. So whatever we have, be money, knowledge or anything, we need to share with other people. Then only we feel real happiness. We cannot have everything for our selves.
We are living in a rented accommodation. The owner of the house may ask us to leave at any time without much notice. We need to prepare to vacate at any moment. We do not know when the final call arrives. We must be prepared all the time to answer the final call.
What I learnt in my life is, there are three things important to achieve anything.1. Human effort: without human effort, nothing happens. 2. Everything has its time. Nothing happens until that time. Some people may have to wait longer than others and this depends upon ones previous life and actions (purva janma sukrutam) 3. God’s grace: Nothing happens without God’s grace. Again it depends upon ones own purva janma sukrutam. All the three are equally important.
We often wonder why the things happen the way they happen? Why some people always get a raw deal in their life and why the so-called bad people enjoy everything in life? There is nothing in this world explain why it happens except the Law of Karma which is one of the cardinal principle of Hinduism. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Nobody can escape from it including God.
According to the Scriptures, the main aim of human life is to attain Moksha i.e. not be born again and merge with the paramathma. I always felt it is selfish because, it is only useful for that individual and nobody else. To be honest, I do not want Moksha yet, I want to born again hopefully as human and that depends upon my previous lives and the present life. I want to be born in a family to learn Sanskrit and able to sing the glories of God and able to serve the needy, disabled and less fortunate people than I am without expecting any reward and not to hurt anybody by thought, word and action. That is my aim of life for the future!
I am grateful to God for inculcating this idea of writing my own autobiography before I tend to forget my past life.
LOKASAMATHA SUKHINO BHAVANTHU
Aum Shanthi, Shanthi, Shanthi Hi
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