Art and Science Of Life

Sharirmadhyam Khaludharamsadhyanam - Kalidas.   This body of ours is the medium for handling all our actions and a healthy body is a must for carrying out all the duties. Similarly, it’s said that a healthy body is the house of a healthy mind – This age old saying conveys a lot of sense and as body ages, significance of this saying becomes evidently clearer. Sehat hazaar Niyaamat is one more such saying. The list goes endless and everyone tries to convey that health is very important. A healthy person could handle any adverse situation and fight to survive. Therefore, it’s important to consider various approaches for remaining healthy. These includes yogic exercises, Mitaahar, etc. for bodily health but the key to inner health is “Mrityunjaya Kriya”. This is really a divine act that creates a dynamic balance, like that of a child and provides all round protection. It’s a lost science that is miraculous and worth a dialogue.  Mrityunjaya Kriya is a divin...

He started telling that there was a saint who was very humble and kind to humans…. He never ever would have hurted anybody. He always stood by the truth and had to face lot of adversities. People tried demoralizing him, they went up to pelting stones on him but he was never dithered. He was as he wanted to be an honest humble person, who genuinely was there to support everybody including his enemies. He woke up in Braham-muhurat as he used to always do and went to the riverside for taking bath. He had a full bath and enjoyed his being in that holy river…. He started praying…… and reciting mantras and offered arghya to the God Sun. suddenly he shouted with pain and he could not hold his hands together. He saw a Scorpio in his hands that fell into river water. He immediately picked him up. The Scorpio bit him again….. he could not hold his hands together and Scorpio fell into water. Saint didn’t bother; his face was full of pain….. eyes were full of tears and  still he was gett...

I was in sixth standard and was good at studies. Most of my focus and time was going into creative thinking and working and balance of the time was for studies. In fact, doing or making some thing new was the passion. When a person will be focused on some thing then there will be distracters also that will try to break away from that focus. I used to get highly perturbed and used to complain a lot to my father. My general replies used to be that this thing is not finished as that person had disturbed me in between. My father’s replies used to be that he was trying to test whether you were fully focused or not. Now, take care next time. One day, I decided that nothing doing, its of no point to keep myself getting tested…. let me teach a lesson to those people who disturb me in the mid of my work…… My father could sense that I was up to something wrong and my brain was creatively moving on the wrong track. He sat with me, cracked jokes and intelligently brought me to the situation, ...

Moon keeps on changing the illuminated portions in different phases and this corresponds to a specific Nitya in SriVidya. Nitya is that which always remains. Each Nitya have typical characteristics and is linked to different part in our body. It’s like time moving in our body from one part to another.  A lady has lot of similarity and alignment with Moon phases as her body is more balanced by virtue of having balanced genes in there chromosomes and hence is more in sync with the universe. She is almost like a Nitya. The center of hers moves around beauty and that is referred to as shodsi in Sanskrit. Ladies body is a true mirror of the self and hence is Shodsi – Goddess of SriVidya.  The lunar phase changes results in rotation of lunar phases in different pasts of our body. Which ever part Nitya exists on a particular day; that part shows up characteristics of that Nitya. Another time concept takes our breathing into account and accordingly...

Life force is the basic force that keeps the drive in a person to live. This is that “Eeshna” which when compared with playing a video game, takes a person to different levels of doing and being. These levels comes one after the other like in a game. You clear one level, next level comes with its set of challenges. Life offers another opportunity to straight away move out of the game by switching to the pattern changing levels.  If I just summaries - in simple words its like either stepping down the stairs – one at a time; or jumping directly so that there are no steps involved. We live somewhere – may be body, mind, awareness,….. but where ever we are, we are visible due to this body that brings us to the doing level. In Indian texts it’s mentioned that this body is the greatest gift to us and is not available to even Devtas – Gods. This body is full of miracles, how much ever we understand it, it remains a mystery. Very few might know that this body has its own clock and tha...

Another important aspect of breath is that it pulls us back into the present moment, we are pulled back from futuristic dreams or thoughts and we are also pulled foward from memories. This way we are in presnt time and not in past or future. It could also be reworded as we are in Vartmaan and not in Bhoot or Bhavishya. This way awareness of breath brings us back into our present moment, where we are in Sarvsweekar attitude and hence totally still. Flowing with Kaal we reach two such points that reverses our direction from creation to destruction and then from destruction to creation. These two points are very important in India research. There had been lot of research that has gone on this and hence the entire concept is understood in Pran Vidya, Swar shastra and for every ones understanding Pranayam, which is a part of yoga. Pranayam is evolved around these two still points called kumbhak.   This important facet is generally missed out but our Gurus focussed on these more then...

MAHAKAAL                                              The state where this Kaal ceases to exist or where it gets internalised is Mahakaal.  There is a state where there is no change outside as every thing becomes a part of the self. In this state when Kaal is realised in its full form but internally, it is called Mahakaal.  Mahakaal is a state which is difficult for even Kaal. Mahakaal is realising entire kaal in a Still point. This is a state where all the Kaal is merged or compressed into a point and that to into myself. This implies a state where I am Krishna, I am Ram, I am Christ and I am Mohammad..... so on and so forth. Shri Krishna in Gita has explained this state by mentioning that the best in each category is his form only. The best here is in the sense of getting full potential realised. So, fully realised is his form only, like Kamd...

You are absolutely right. There are two things that you will notice here. First is the point at center is Still and the points on the periphery are dynamic as a result of movement.  Second is that any arm of compass could be center and depending on which arm is center the other arm becomes dynamic. Don't bother about other observations in these examples but just focus on the still and dynamic concept. you will find any end of ours could be still or dynamic. If our mind is dynamic and full of thoughts accept it as it is and look for that still point inside us. This still point then will certainly be that Self. Ok, so you mean to say that the more we are still, the more we are associated with self. The more we are in to self the more bliss flows out and is available for us to experience, she said. Wonderful, you got it. Now, if you notice still and dynamic will exist together. This still is referred to as Shiv. In sanskrit...

This chatter is less if we are not participating in it, if we are not encouraging or discouraging it. Mind takes position in a way to counter our approach so as to sustains itself.   The dynamism of thoughts and emotions is what changes everything around us. Now, as the dynamism slows we come to rest or stillness. so there could be two stages: one, where we are dynamic and second where we are able to find that point which notices this dynamism.  This second point of existance is a state called Stillness, so more still we are, more we are able to enjoy this dynamism.  Hummm....... getting it but make it more simple, she said. Ok, you could recall wheel of a bullock cart. Its mounted on an axle and rotates such that cart moves ahead. Right. There are three things happening here. The point where wheel is mounted or hinged at axle is stationery is Still. Secondly, the points at the rim of the wheel are very dynamic. They are moving with reference to th...

Let me make it simple to relate. Assume you are loaded with your thoughts and your friend is sharing some thing with you. The conversation continues for some time. May be you could relate it with some of your past experience like that. Now, look at this situation as an observer so that we are able to reflect. Ok, so what happens in this discussion. Recall whether you were able to understand what your friends point of view was or you were able to listen to her words without understanding her intent. May be there could have been another situation where you didn't pay much attention and hence could not recall but you are sure that you had discussion. It happens with all of us and the conversation falls in one of these categories, she said but how is it related to stillness? will come to that. just notice that its attention of yours makes the difference. If you were more attentive then you would have understood not only her words but herself fully. Do you agree. yep, ...

We came out of Garbhagriha at Mahakaal after enjoying the Bhasm Aarti in early hours of the day. It was around 7 am in the morning and Sun was visible in the East. Weather was very pleasant with slight cold. We sat on stairs and started enjoying this time.  We all were happy and our faces were glowing with some pleasure that was oozing from within, we didn't knew what could be the reason but that bliss was visible on the faces, in the gait and our enagagement with each other. We decided to remain in silence and be seated their for some time. No body was chit chatting or uttering even a word but eyes had that twinkle. We remianed in these moments of silence for some time. It was very lonely yet blissful. We experienced these moments of total stillness.  It was around 7.30, when Darshan were opened for every one and Bhakts started coming out of Mahakaal temple to the Prangan. We could notice that disturbance and hence got up to have some water. We again went ba...

Wonderful ! so far so good.....continuing the discussion further i said, Ganpati days continues till this energy rises to the Solar plexus or Manipur Chakra. This is commencing of Pitrapaksh - the fifteen days devoted to our ancestors. We should work our a method to get their blessings in this period as they are freely available for supporting us. These days energy moves into the Solar plexus, which has fire element and hence these days comes across as full of fire - hot summers. This situation exist inside us also with lot of humidity coming from sacral plexus or Swadhisthan due to heat of Solar or Manipur.  This heat is converted with blessings of Pitra during Pitrapaksh to convert our state from liquid to air and we are able to rise into Anahat or the heart chakra. The heat continues and this air element of Anahat is further heated to convet into Plasma state in sky. Sky element is present in Throat chakra - Vishudhi, so we reach here.  This way downward and upwar...

We know Shiv as God but what does Ratri means? she asked. In Tantra, its very clear and a Sadhak knows that Day is Shiv and Night or Ratri is Devi. Devi is worshipped with various names, like Ratri, Nisha and others. Then what is this meeting of flow with ratri? she questioned. Its the state where down fall of cosmic energy through spine hits the ground. Some of this energy gets grounded and some part starts rising back. This rising energy is Shakti. This state of transition is referred to as Sandhya in Sanskrit. This is the state where Shiv and Shakti are in complete harmony, a dynamic balance. Its transition time and suggested for stilling the body and observing inside us.  This act is sometimes referred to as Sandhya Puja.  This state is transition from Shiv or Nirgun state to Goddess or Sagun state. Ratri starts taking over after Shivratri.  It starts with rise in the counciousness with Goddess till Janmashtami (Birth celebrations of Shri Krishna...

Shravan month is said to be very dear to Shiv. Rains does Shiv Abhishek, Sahsrabhishek to everything on earth whether one desires it or not. There is a silent flow that gets intensified with the cleaning done by rains. Rains cleans air from poisonous gases and suspended particles, so that we could breath clean air and get our Sushumna activated.                       Once Sushumna is activated we could notice cosmic energy flow very easily. This silent flow of energy that comes from cosmos enters from the head and travels down the sushumna in the spine while producing Panchakshri in different chakras (it is covered in detail in Mahakaal article - To know how Panchakshri is produced with Abhishek in the body, read article on Mahakaal. Hope that few readers might have experienced these flows in body by now). This downward flow of cosmic energy with Panchakshri is related to Shiv and at some point during this flow it hi...

Well, Mother earth gets fertile with rains and hence gets full of greenery. One could easily notice that like Jalabhishek to Shiv Ling, rains also does Abhishek to earth. Its said that "kankar - kankar" is Shankar. This hypothecates that each stone is the form of Shiv. We could see that Shivling is of different shapes and sizes and are of stones. Therefore, each sand particle is also Shiv and rains does Abhishek to each of these during Shravan. I believe you know that Shravan is a month that is one of the period equivalent to a month during rainy period of the year. Yes, I know that, she said. Ok that's good, you will agree that we need to have a keen observing eye. The day we could observe, the world around us will change and then it will be different. We could then observe - how rains does abhishek. We live on earth and exist between clouds and earth making abhishek to happen or pass through us. We could note that this is natural Jalabhishek and doesno...

We visited Rudraprayag some time back. In fact my wife's friend is living there. Rudraprayag is a wonderful place with lots of greenery and with the Sangam of river Mandakini and Alaknanda."Sangam" is a Sanskrit word meaning union. These two are very powerful river streams and they combine to form a further larger stream. Therefore, its called a Prayag - Sangam or Union. Rudra is the fire that assimilates everything in itself. Fire is the one that purifies. Simple example is Gold becomes gold only after its processed by fire. Fire has multiple functions and in Tantra its described in detail. It has 10 characteristics, these are referred to as ten Kalas of fire. Agni Puran describes fire in detail.  Rudraprayag is an important halt in travelling to evolved religious places like Kedarnath and Badrinath. The roads split in two directions. If you travel along Alaknanda, you will reach Badrinath and if you travel along Mandakini, you will reach Kedar...

Now as we are through with the science part and could comprehend some level of understanding of Shiv Ling and Parivar (family). It’s equally important to know how to apply this understanding for the benefit of one and all. Its important to know application of these facts to make our life more beautiful and full of Love. The art of praying Shiv Parivar creates a very pleasing effect. We find a deep peace with in us, therefore, would recommend trying it to experience it. This is a simple process and in Sanskrit its termed as Prokshan, Abhishekam or Tarpanam. These words hints on a life invocation process.  Well! The process goes like this…… Take some water, may be with some pleasant additives. Stand on one side of the Shiv Linga and shower it with continuous stream of water. One could use Panchakshri (explained in article on Mahakaal) for connecting this Abhishek with the cosmic flows in the inner world. The Mantra oscillations resonates in the nature and cosmic...

The overall Body is neutral while the charge flows through spine. The charge exchange across the surface of neurons happens in the spine. These charges are two ionic poles; Shiv and Shakti. This way the continuous churning in chakras by Shiv and Shakti results in secretions from these chakras. These secretions are called Rasa. These Rasa goes out to the vital body parts to sustain life symptoms.  Devi is form of original source of energy and hence termed as Adishakti in sanskrit. This energy that manifests into different forms and hence empowers our body parts to perform their natural functions. The secretions or Rasa from Chakras gives them divine nectar for bringing an order in them. This Rasa is the fuel for those vital body parts to function and retain their order.    We see this order in entire nature and this order is necessary for sustenance of life.  If we see around us we will find that though everything might be unorganized but all of these toge...

Mahashivratri is a pure and divine occasion that reflects changes happening in our internal state. It’s an occasion of celebrations in the holy feet of Guru. Its best worshipped with Tatvamasi Kriya. This time the occasion was such that all of us could go to the temple together for worshipping. We performed the puja and came out to sit under a tree for a while as entire temple was crowded by Shiv Bhakts. We relaxed for a while and came back. My daughter was quite serious so we asked her on the issue. She is young and said, I could not understand the entire Shiv Parivar sitting outside the Shiv Ling. She asked, why were they there ? Are you talking about family of Shiv, I asked. Yeah, she said. Are you trying to understand why the entire family is sitting around Shiv Linga. Yeah, and why are they sitting like that in a particular way? As I have seen that they sit in this way in almost all temples. Ok, Then we will discuss this in the evening when we all will be...