Wisdom Bytes

                             Wisdom Bytes

Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others.


How is that little children are so intelligent and men so stupid ? It must be education that does it.


Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual.
Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.

There is more hunger in the world for love and appreciation than for bread.

To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.

An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come.

What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life tomorrow. Our life is the creation of our mind.

Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.

Knowledge is a process of piling up facts. Wisdom lies in their simplication.

The truest greatness lies in being kind, the truest wisdom in a happy mind.

Harmony in speech and thought

 
                           Harmony in speech and action

It is the harmony in thought, speech and action that makes the words powerful and impact upon others.
Once, a lady brought her son to a saint. Her son was very fond of sugary sweets. She tried to get him rid of that habit. But she was not successful. She requested the saint to help her as her son had great regards for the saint and would listen to words. The saint asked the woman to come to him after a week.
She went to the saint with the boy after a week. The saint advised him about the harmful effects of too much sugary things on the health. The boy listened to his words. The mother was surprised and asked the great man that he could have done this the previous week itself and why he waited for a week?
The saint replied her that he himself was fond of sweets, how his words could be effective ? So , he took a week time to give up that habit and made himself eligible to advise the child.

Keep it to yourself

                             Keep it to yourself

An elderly gentleman was traveling in a train. There was no one else in the compartment. A young man came there and sat in front of him. The young man took out his cigarette and started smoking. He kept on doing this. The elderly man could not withstand the smoke and asked the young man -
" Excuse me ! These cigarettes you are smoking, are they yours ? "
The man stared at the elderly gentleman and said - "  Why, are they your's ? They are the latest brand and very expensive. I have bought them."
The elderly gentleman replied gently - " I understand. The cigarettes are costly. You are smoking them and the fruit of your effort i.e. smoke is coming to me. Why don't you keep that to yourself?"
Hearing the words of the elderly man, the young man felt ashamed and apologized for his deed.
This incident left an indelible imprint upon his mind and he gave up the habit of smoking.

Jwellery

                                 Jewelry

A young boy from a village was very bright in studies. He was ambitious and wanted to serve the country. He went out for higher studies and qualified himself for a very high post there. He came to his village to receive the blessings of his mother , who had been the moral guide to him throughout his life.
He said -" Dear mother ! I have been cherishing a great desire for a long time that I should make some jewelry for you."
Mother replied - " My dear son ! I too was longing for three kinds of jewelry for a long time."
The thrilled son asked - " What are they, mother. "
Mother said - " My dear son! There is no good school in this village, so establish a good school here. Open a dispensary and build an orphanage where orphans can reside and get good food. These are my jewelry.
The son was overwhelmed and got a direction to work towards a goal to fulfill his mother's desire.

Mars - A view from the Puranas

 
                         Mars -A view from the Puranas

    On July 4 , 1997 , the Independence day of the USA, a spacecraft , Mars the pathfinder landed on nearing the planet, Mars. " Sci-fic became Sci-fact", said a scientist with NASA, in USA.
Throughout man's history no planet has inspired more awe than the Mars and the baleful glare of the Red planet in the night sky has both fascinated and frightened the man. To the ancient civilizations, it was the God of war in Greece, Rome and India. The fascination for Mars is seen in various science fictions, radio plays and movies - all involving encounters with the Red planet's denizens of various sizes, shapes and consistencies. The English novelist H . G . Well's book ' The War of the Worlds' , a dramatic account of an invasion of the earth by octopus like Martians, epitomises the mystic spell of Mars over the human beings.
Recent scientific investigations point out great similarities between the earth and Mars so much so that the scientists believe that originally Mars should have been with earth, later on it must have got separated from the earth.
hindu astrology declares Mars as Bhauma or Bhumiputra, the son of the earth.
Nomenclature - Mars is known by various names. Angaraka ( born from the limb of Shiva or born from Fire ), Bhauma ( son of the earth ), Kuja ( Ku- earth ja -born  , born from the earth ) and also Mangala ( beneficial ), Lohita ( red ).
Nature - He is fiery. According to Naradiya purana , Mars is of cruel look, young, bilious , and fickle.
Form- Garuda Purana describes that the huge chariot of Mars is of the color of molten gold and is drawn by eight horses, of the  filaments of a lotus and is born of fire.
World - The world of Mars is called lohita ( red). It is nine rayed and full of water.
Birth -  According to Matsya Purana, all planets have originated from the rays of the Sun. Mars is the product of the Sun's ray called Samvardhana.
From the perspiration of Lord Shiva-
Puranas like Skanda, Shiva state that when Sati ( Shiva' wife ) sacrificed herself at the sacrifice of Daksha. Shiva, greatly grief stricken at the loss of his wife, started doing penance at the Kailasa mountain. Due to excess of heat produced in the body, a drop of perspiration fell down on the earth from the fore-head of Shiva. From it rose up a child, red in body, with four arms, emitting an extraordinary splendour and started weeping. The earth took the child in her lap and gave him milk and fondled him.
Lord Shiva conferred a boon on the earth that the child would be known after her name. The child would be bestower of land. Since the child was nourished by the earth, he is called Bhauma, Bhumiputra and Kuja. He worshipped Lord Shiva at Kashi and attained the status of a planet by the grace of Shiva.
The birth of Angaraka from the perspiration of Shiva is said to have taken place near Avanti ( Ujjain ), on the banks of the Shipra river. He is called Mangalanatha.
Devi Bhagavata mentions Mangala as the son of Bhumi devi ( earth ) who is the wife of Mahavishnu in his incarnation as Varaha ( Boar ).
Mars is generally identified with Kartikeya. Actually Mars was born for the benefit of the world to destroy the demon Taraka.
There is still another account of the origin of Skanda. Shiva emitted sparks of fire from his eyes, which being thrown into the lake Sharavana, became six infants, who were nursed by the wives of the sages, who are seen in the sky as the Pleiades ( Krittikas). When Parvati saw these babies, she was transported with joy and embraced all of them together so forcibly that their six bodies became one, while their six heads and twelve arms remained.
In yet another legend, Parvati gave into Agni' s keeping the foetus of her unborn son Kartikeya. While it was being carried by Agni, it fell into the Ganges. Hence Kumara is sometimes referred to as the son of Agni and Ganga. The infant was brought up by six Krittikas, hence the name Kartikeya
Kumara is known by various names such as Bhauma, Guha ( the mysterious ), Mahasena ( the great
general ), Shaktidhara (spear holder ), Sharabhu ( Thicket born ),Senapati ( commander - in - chief ).
Worship - Tuesday is sacred for Mars. When the bright fourth tithi ( chaturthi ) falls on a Tuesday, that day is very auspicious for the worship of Mars. It is called Angaraka chaturthi.
Shashti tithi ( sixth tithi )
Since Skanda was anointed as commander - in -chief on a Shashti tithi, it is a day sacred for the worship of Mars. It is said that worshipping Mars on that day, one can get wealth and son.
According to Shiva Purana, if a person worships Skanda and offers lamp etc. as gifts on Tuedays with Krttika star,he will become a clairvoyant whose utterances will always turn out to be true.
Angaraka chaturdashi - if there is fourteenth tithi on a Tuesday, worship of Mars yields more results than a hundred solar eclipses.

Pause and ponder

 
                           Pause and ponder

1     The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but in seeing with new eyes.

2    A bookstore is one of the only pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking.

3    People are given two ears and one tongue so that they may listen more than speak.

4   Every blade of grass has its own angel that bends over it and whispers, grow, grow.

5   That is what learning is,
     You suddenly understand something you have understood all your life, but in a new way.

6     Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

7    No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.

8    I will never be an old man. To me, old age is always fifteen years older than I am.

9   Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled.

10   To know what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty. This knowledge, this feeling is at the center of true religiousness.

Moon - a glimpse from the Puranas

Neil Armstrong had described his landing on the moon as ' One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind .' But words fail to describe when we find the innumerable anecdotes scattered in the texts of Puranas which unveil the undisputable scientific truths shrouding this beautiful planet.

As the Sun is the king of the day, so is the Moon queen of the night. Astronomically, the Moon is a mere secondary planet or satellite revolving round the earth once in 27 days at an average distance of 238,000 miles.
The Puranas throw a rich and varied light on this planet, its nature, size, birth and other details.

Nomenclature :- According to Matsya Purana, Chandrama ( Moon) is derived from the root ' chand ' which connotes whiteness, nectar, cold and pleasant.
Nature :- Garuda Purana states that the Moon is calm. Matsya purana describes the shining mandala of Moon in the divine firmament as luminous, white, full of water ( scientists have detected water on the Moon ) and fire. It is beautiful like white pitcher.
Size and form :- Puranas like Matsya, Kurma refer to the size of the Moon as double that of the Sun. The chariot of the Moon has three wheels and is produced from the depth of the waters. It has ten white horses. It is a tradition in Sanskrit texts to depict Moon as a god ,that is why chariot and horses are described.
Birth :-
From the Sun -
Matsya Purana mentions that from the Sun emanate the stars, planets and the Moon and they are preserved by him. It is by the Sushumna ray of the Sun that the Moon waxes again day by day.

From the milky ocean -
General traditional belief is that the Moon is one of the fourteen gems came out from the churning of the milky ocean .
A pauranic account runs that the Moon was partial towards the star Rohini when all the 27 stars, the daughters of Daksha prajapati were his wives. When the other daughters reported this special love to their father, the latter cursed the Moon to get afflicted by consumption ( kshaya roga ). Being thus cursed, he is said to have hid himself in the ocean and was taken out at the churning of the ocean

From the sage Atri -
According to Puranas like Agni, Brahmanda and Markandeya, the Moon is said to have been born from the eye or mind of the sage Atri. There is another account which runs thus. Brahma, the creator caused the Moon to be produced from the eyes of Atri.At that time Lord Shiva and His consort Parvati became highly pleased to see the Moon. All the sages acknowledged Him as the Supreme Lord. Brahma created an illustrious Being and bedecked him with weapons. By the yogic glory of Brahma, that Being became still more lustrous emerged out as the Moon. By its lustre, the herbs in the world profusely thrived and the Moon became more radiant in the night and consequently the Moon came to be the sovereign of the herbs and the night.

Brahma and Skanda Puranas give the account with a slight variation.Atri was practising severe penance and gradually his whole body got full of Soma juice, the latter oozed ou from his eyes, illuminating the quarters profusely. The quarters ( dishas or directions ) however could not bear the lustre and let it fall down. Brahma, for the welfare of the world ,placed it on his chariot. Thus the Moon was born. When he circumambulated the earth, his lustre penetrated the earth and gave birth to various herbs. Brahma made him the king of herbs and night.

Waxing and waning of the Moon.

The Matsya Purana gives an interesting and a detailed note on this aspect. The Moon waxes and wanes according to his position with respect to the Sun.
In the bright fortnight, the Moon gets ahead of the Sun and whatever of him waned during the dark fortnight becomes filled up again, digit by digit, by the solar ray, day after day. Thus he becomes nourished by the one seed ray of the Sun named Sushumna. He becomes full and circular on the Full- Moon night. Similarly in the dark fort night, the Moon wanes daily from the second day till the fourteenth day after the Full moon. The waning is due to the fact that the deities drink up the soft sweet like honey, the excellent nectar of the Moon . Thus, drinking the nectar, the deities at the end of the fortnight go elsewhere on the Amavasya night ( new moon night ) when the pitrus ( manes or departed souls ) come and drink the 15th portion of the nectar of the Moon. The 16th part of the Moon is recognised as the junction of the two ( dark and bright ) fortnights, when the final waxing takes place and fresh waxing begins.

Moon and Amavasya -

According to a myth in the Skanda Purana, the Moon is said to be the recipient of a part of the fire from the fore head of Shiva. The Moon is said to be the 8th form of Shiva on the new moon day( Lord Shiva has eight forms namely the five elements, the Sun, the Moon and the sacrificer or yogi.). On the Amavasya day the Moon is believed to enter the plants, herbs and water and hence is not seen. Eating these plants and drinking this water cows and other animals produce milk. From milk are produced curd and ghee. This ghee from the sacrificial offerings reaches the Moon through the wind.
It is said that on this day the creeper or tree should not be cut, for, these are produce from the Moon.
The waxing period is associated with growth of plants.So seeds sown during this period or on full moon day always fructify as they are enriched with nourishing lunar rays.
The mythical base of Moon's waning is Daksha's curse. Daksha's curse made the Moon afflicted with consumption. When the Moon was afflicted, the growthof medicinal plants stopped. With the result, all beings and things contracted consumption. When people began becoming thinner, the deities asked Chandra for an explanation and he told him all the details. They then sought the help of Daksha, who gave Chandra redemption from the curse for half of every month.

Chandra- the king of stars and medicinal plants

The milking of the earth mentioned in the various Puranas is nothing but symbolic of attainment of gains.
According to one version, the earth swallowed the medicinal herbs used at the sacrifices and holy rituals because kings disrespected her. On this act of the earth, Prthu, a noble and able king got angry and wanted to punish her. But the earth agreed to be milked and all types of herbs, corns were produced. Harivamsha refers to a legend according to which during the reign of emperor Prthu, he changed the Bhumidevi ( earth ) into a cow and milked her. It was Chandra who served as calf then. Pleased at this, Brahma crowned Chandra as the king of stars and medicinal plants.
Tides and the Moon-
Matsya Purana states that when the Moon rises in the east , the sea swells. The level of sea falls when the Moon wanes. The sea rises and falls, according to the phases of the Moon and 150 Angulis ( fingers length ) is the measure of its rise and fall, on the two parva days namely full moon and new moon.

Moon and the sea - mutual attraction - the strength of the Moon is the greatest.

According to Skanda Purana, the Moon which is the product of Atri and Anasuya is full of water. It is said that when the milky ocean was being churned, the Moon looked at it and was highly delighted. The ocean also glanced at the Moon and got pleased. The Moon, hence, got nectar from the ocean into himself , before all gods got it. Seeing this, the gods waved a light ( nirajana) before him. They asked the sage Garga about the strength of the Moon. He said that the strength of the Moon is equal to that of all the gods and of all favourable planets. Hence to the Moon did Jupiter, Mercury, the Sun, Venus, Saturn and others take resort. Hence it is that Chandrabala ( the strength of the Moon ) is said to be excellent for all auspicious occasions. When all the planets resort to the Moon, the auspicious occasion is termed Gomanta ( endowed with rays ) and it gives victory.

Moon and Rabbit-

Moon is called Shashanka meaning with the emblem of rabbit. Skanda Purana refers to the anecdote of the rabbit getting stuck into the orbit of the Moon. It is said that after the churning of the ocean, the gods got nectar. When they were drinking it, thousands of drops fell on the ground and also got mixed with water.There was a rabbit moving in the waters. When all the nectar was drunk by the gods, the Moon god, emaciated, came there and asked for it.As no nectar remained, the gods asked the Moon to drink the water mixed with nectar. The Moon drank it and also the rabbit. The Moon then got fattened and became lustrous. The place where this happened came to be known as the shashapana. This is a sacred place at Prabhasa. A dip here confers the fruits of a sacrifice and the world of Shiva.

Shiva and half-Moon-

The Brahmavaivarta Purana has an interesting account about the Moon getting upon the head of Shiva. It is said that when the Moon suffered from consumption, he went to Shiva for shelter. Shiva placed him on his head. As the wives of the Moon wanted their husband back, Daksha, the father- in -law of the Moon came to Shiva and asked him to give the Moon back, which Shiva refused.Then Krishna assumed the form of an old brahmin and requested Lord Shiva to return Chandra. Shiva did not, as Chandra had come to him for shelter.So Krishna devised a plan, and in consultation with Shiva, he took out a part of Chandra and gave it to Daksha.So the half moon remained undiseased on the head of Shiva.

Lunar eclipse-
Most of the Puranas mention the motif of Rahu ( node ) eating the nectar and reporting of luminaries ( Sun and Moon ) to Vishnu as the cause of the eclipse. When the Rahu catches the Moon ( on a full moon day only ), the eclipse is termed lunar. Taking food and indulging in worldly pleasures are prohibited during this period. Prayers are recommended. It is supposed to be a good time for initiation into mantras.

Moon- Mercury-

The legend of the Moon is marked with an important event namely the abduction of Tara, the wife of his preceptor Jupiter by him. From this union, Budha ( Mercury) was born.Because of this act, he is said to have become a leper or consumptive. Matsya Purana states that because of this sin, the Moon was called a papagraha ( sinful planet ).
Brahmavaivarta Purana refers to this motif and it is stated there that when her husband Jupiter refused to take her back, Tara cursed the Moon to be stained with sin and that one who looked at it would be sinful. the Moon performed severe penance and received a boon from Vishnu that he would be free from his sin for all times, except in the month of Bhadrapada, that too especially on the fourth day of the bright fortnight, if any one saw the Moon purposefully, the sin would go to him. The remedy to get away from the sin of looking at the Moon on this day is stated to be the recitation of specific verses with sipping of water which are given in the text.

There is yet another account in Skanda Purana which states that Brhaspati was responsible for bestowing the position of Indra to Nahusha and Yayati when Indra was still ruling. So Indrani ( Indra's wife ) cursed him, that due to this impropriety of behaviour on his part, some one else shall procreate a son on his wife. This accounts for carrying away of Brhaspati's wife by Soma, the Moon and procreating a son on her.

The allegory can have a scientific base also. It may mean that the terrestrial Moon went out of its orbit and attracted one of the Moons of Jupiter and thus disturbed the solar equilibrium which was brought to harmony again by the birth of Mercury ( Budha ). Moon must have had a bigger mass in those days.
This anecdote may be a hint at the shifting of starry calculation with reference to Jupiter (Brhaspatimana) to that the Moon ( Chandramana).
A hole seen on the Moon portends evil according to Agni Purana.

Generally, it is believed that the Sun and the Moon are the right and left eyes of Lord Shiva. Shiva gave half of his body to Uma, his consort( left portion). So the left eye the Moon is represented by the goddess. Hence the Moon is the karaka for mother in astrological predictions.

Another interesting note seen in the scriptures is that the mind is born from Chandrama.The entire human body is a product of natural elements only. The mental disturbances are closely connected with the phases of the Moon.Regarding the eccentricity of the mind, there is a beautiful saying, ' The lovers, poets and lunatics are of the same kind'.The mind is said to be highly turbulant on full moon day. Taking into account of this, ancient dharmashastras prescribe various devices to control the mind naturally. Each day is specific to a particular deity for worship like Monday for Shiva, Tuesday for Hanuman, Kartikeya, Goddess, Wednesday for Vishnu, Thursday for Dakshinamurthy, Friday for Lakshmi and other Goddesses, Saturday for Venkateshwara, Saturn and Hanuman. Almost on all full moon days some festivals are celebrated so that people concentrate on good things like going to temple, participating in prayers, dance, music etc. The in built social system was so good that personal and social welfare was always there.
With 24x7 work culture of today, the elaborate celebration is not possible.At least the spirit behind this can be absorbed.Devoting fifteen mnts for meditation in the morning and before going to bed will calm the mind. Slowly man can open his inner treasure and achieve a lot in this life. Here , the Mahabharata's saying is very apt.
' Mana eva karanam bandhamokshayoh '
Mind alone is the sole cause for bondage and freedom.

Saturn - A Pauranic view

                              
Saturn is in many ways the most fascinating of all the planets and is certainly the most sensational in appearance. It not only has nine moons, but also is surrounded by three circular rings which form a sort of frill or collar around its middle portion.
Astronomically planets exist. Astrology and religion deify them because of their profound influence on the earthly lives.
This deity seems, under different names to have always held a high place in Indan religion, by virtue of its prominence in the heavens being the biggest and the extent to which its influence is gelt upon the earth by being the slowest in motion leaving an effective impact on the yerrestrial events for a long time.
The observation of the movement of this planet to the fourth house, eighth house with reference to the location of moon in the birth chart and seven and a half period coinciding with the transit of Saturn over the moon corelating to the events on the earth must have excited the keenest curiosity amonst a childlike and inquisitive people and at the same time, the imagination was left to account for the existence of phenomena which in a non-scientific age, are altogether beyond the kuman ken. Here the Puranas serve as resource material on various issues relating to the planets. The nature and features of the planets have been delineated in a beautiful garb of stories for retention and various remedial measures have been suggested for averting the evil influence and courting the benign favour from the heavenly bodies. Thus the Puranas serve a great purpose in bridging the gap between science and practice, which is the need of the hour.
Shanaischarah - The proper name of the planet is Shanaishchara. Shanaih means slowly, chara means moving. So slow moving planet is Saturn.
The various epithets used for Saturn are referred to in Skanda Purana thus:
Sauri - Son of the Sun , Shanaishchara - Slow- moving, Manda - dull or slow, Krishna - dark , Ananta - endless , Antaka - destroyer , Yama- controller, Pishanga - tawny , Chhayasuto - son of Chhaya , Babhru - reddish brown, Sthaira - steady , Pippalayanah - one whose abode is the holy fig tree . These epithet- names are enjoined to be uttered in the morning to keep away the wrath of Shani.

Padma Purana refers to other epithets of Saturn such as Grahanam Graharaja - king of the planets, Sarvamaheshwarah - supreme controller of all , Kalarupi Mahagraha - great planet in the form of time , Jatilah - wearer of matted locks, Vajra roma - possessing hair like vajra ( iron ), Danavanam bhayankarah - terrible to demons.
Son of the Sun - Sanjna, the daughter of Vishwakarma was the wife of the Sun and bore him three children , Manu Vaivasta, Yama and the goddess Yami ( The Yamuna river ). Sanjna , who was unable to bear the dazzling brilliance of Surya ( The Sun god ) ordered her maid Chhaya ( that is her own shadow or image ) to attend on her husband and went to the forest for performing penance. The Sun taking Chhaya to be his wife Sanjna, begot by her three other children namely Savarni Manu, Shanashchara ( Saturn ) and a daughter Tapati ( Tapti river ).
Brahma Purana states that the second son of the Sun , brother of Manu, Shanaishchara attained planethood worshiped by all.
Skanda Purana attributes to Saturn's planethood to his devotion and Lord Shiva's grace.
Most fierce and cruel - Chhaya upon one occasion being offended with Yama , the son of Sanjna on account of her ill - treatment towards her step- children , denounced an imprecation upon him, and there by let it be seen that she was not Sanjna , his mother. The Sun came to know about the actual happening and cursed Saturn, the son of Chhaya to become cruel and fierce, crooked in return of his mother's crookedness. Varaha Purana refers to this anecdote.
This legend perhaps forms the basis for the well-established astrological principle on Saturn- Sun opposition. Skanda Purana states that even great gods and demons fear his look. There is not a single being in the universe who is not oppressed by Saturn.
Saturn's downward look and lameness-
This is referred to in the Ganapathi khanda of Brahmavaivata Purana. Saturn is depicted as a devotee of Krishna. At the behest of Shiva, Vishnu and other sages, Saturn went to bless Ganesha at his birth. Saturn stood with his eyes downward. On being asked, Saturn told the reason. Once Saturn being in meditation did not look at his wife, the daughter of Chitraratha approaching him. So she cursed Saturn that whatever he would look at directly, would be reduced to ashes.Afterwards when she knew that Saturn's action was not intentional but as he was busy in meditation, he was anaware of his surroundings, she repented her act but could not free her husband from the curse. So Saturn said to Parvati that he never looked directly at any one to avoid destruction. But when Parvati insisted that Saturn should look at her son to bless him on that festive occasion, with great hesitation, Saturn looked at the child Ganesha only to see the child's head getting cut off and flying off into Lord Krishna in Goloka and the body lying on the lap of Parvati drenched in blood. When all fainted out of grief, Vishnu reached the banks of the river Pushpabhadra and finding a king elephant with herd cut off the head of the elephant giving boons to the herd and fixed it upon the child 's body and revived it through spiritual powers. Parvati was happy to see the child alive but got angry with Saturn and cursed him that he would be devoid of a limb. The Sun, Yama, sage Kashyapa and others became furious at Parvati's behaviour as it was Parvati who insisted on Saturn's looking at the child and the fault was not of Saturn. Parvati also realized her folly and said that curse once uttered could not be taken back, so Saturn would be a little lame and blessed him with kingship among the planets, long life. to remain a peer among the yogis and with devotion to Vishnu.

Saturn and Ashwaththa
According to Brahma Purana, the worship of sacred fig tree ( Peepal ) in a specified manner is said to mitigate the rigours of the influence of Saturn in a person's horoscope and confer prosperity.
In the heaven, there were two cruel sons of Kaitabha namely Ashwaththa and Pippala. Ashwaththa used to assume the form of Fig or Peepal tree and devour the brahmins who came there to cut the twigs for sacrifice. Pippala , assuming the form of a singer used to devour the students who came to learn the vedas from him. The number of brahmins dwindled. So the sages started doing penance and came to Saturn who was also practising penance. Saturn agreed to kill the demons on the completion of his penance without completing which he said that he was powerless in uprooting the demons. The sages , in turn offered their powers accrued from their penance to Saturn upon which Saturn went to the demon ( in the form of Peepal tree) in the guise of a brahmin. As usual the demon devoured the son of the Sun. Saturn's one direct look at inside of the stomach of the demon was enough to reduce him to ashes. Then Saturn went as a disciple to the other demon and when the demon devoured Saturn, the latter's one direct look at inside the stomach of Pippala burnt him to ashes. Agastya and other sages being pleased gave numerous boons to Saturn. Saturn then himself said,
" Whoever touches Peepal tree on every Saturday regularly , all his undertakings will be successful and will be free from the miseries caused by Saturn."
" Whoever takes bath in Ashwaththa Tirtha, all his wishes will be fulfilled."
" Whoever after getting up in the morning on Saturday touches Ashwaththa tree ( Peepal), all his troubles from the planets will be mitigated."
Legend of Pippalada and Saturn
This is referred to in Skanda Purana. Pippalada , a sage boy and nephew of the famous sage Yagyavalkya, a desolute without parents or any one to look after him, lived in a wretched condition in a jungle. Once sage Narada met the boy and the boy wanted to know the cause of his miseries. Narada told him that the wretched condition was due to the placement of Saturn in Lagna ( first house ) in his horoscope. The boy was very upset and became angry with Saturn. An angry look of Pippalada at Shani dropped him ( Saturn ) down the sky. Narada requested Saturn not to look straight at the boy and put back the planet in the sky and advised the boy not to anger Saturn. Narada said that Saturn when placed in the eighth house in a horoscope tormented even the deities. Saturn in Lagna and in the second house in a horoscope are not good.
The intensity of Saturn's effulgence is referred to here in an event that took place when Saturn was a child. Saturn saw the feet of his father, the Sun, as soon as he was born and the father who came to see the new-born baby, had to cover them with a cloth. But that did not save him. He got both of his feet burnt. Hence in all idols, they are said to be even now covered with leather.
The boy felt sorry for making saturn fall from the sky and asked Narada some remedy. To this, Narada replied that planets, cows, kings and brahmins when worshipped become pleased and when insulted burn the offenders. Narada asked Pippalada to pray to Saturn. Pippalada prayed and Saturn being pleased granted a boon to the boy who requested the planet not to trouble children below sixteen years of age ( baala).
The recitation of stotra by Pippalada on Saturday in the morning, taking oil bath, placing the image of Saturn made of iron downwards in oil and bathing with the same oil, offerings of sesame and oil, gift of black cow, performing homa with the twigs of Shami tree, worship of Saturn with sesame oil and black ( dark blue ) flowers, black cloth and offering incense are mentioned as effective measures in nullifying the distress caused by Saturn as well as conferring properity.
Saturn and Rohini
It is believed that when Saturn attacks the star Rohini, great disaster occurs. This is referred to in Skanda Purana, Padma Purana , Mahabharata etc.
When king Dasharatha was ruling his kingdom with righteousness, everything was flourishing. Once the astrologers told him that the son of the Sun ( Saturn ) , then in the end of Krththika star would break the constellation Rohini which indicated terrible drought. Drought would lead to dearth of food, then men, then the total extinction of all religious rites. Hearing this, Dasharatha became furious and obstructed the path of Saturn which was going towards Rohini and threatened to kill Saturn if he did not give up going to Rohini. Saturn was pleased with the king's concern for human welfare and valour and did not attack Rohini. The planet granted the king a boon upon which Dasharatha requested Saturn that the latter should not trouble any person who takes oil bath on Saturday.
This explanation is in support of the custom of taking oil-bath on Saturdays especially in South India. This is highly scientific.It is well-known that Saturn is karaka for diseases caused by vata ( wind ) like Rheumatism, Paralysis, diseases of joints etc. Regular oil massage keeps away these diseases.
Giving seasame seeds and iron on saturdays for a year is recommended as a remedial measure to keep away the adverse effects of transit of Saturn.
Performance of Shanti-homa with seasame, sacrificial sticks and rice-grains on Saturdays is prescribed as an antidote against the trying period of seven and a half years of Saturn's rule on any individual.
Even hearing or reading the dialogue between the king and Saturn is recommended in SkandaPurana for overcoming the evil effects of Saturn.
The same story is narrated in PadmaPurana and here Dasharatha asked Saturn to free all men, deities, demons, birds and reptiles from his shackles. Here Saturn justified the term ' graha'. It means ' to catch'. The very existence of the planets is to torment the beings and confer prosperity on them when they pray and worship the planets. So the only remedy to free from the clutches is to recite the prayer of Saturn once or twice in a day. Prayer to Saturn by Dasharatha is given in the SkandaPurana.
A very simple prayer is given in Brhat stotraratnakara thus-
Suryaputro deerghadeho vishalakshah Shivapiyah,
Mandacharah prasannatma peedam dahatu me Shainih.

May Saturn who is the son of the Sun, long-bodied, broad eyed, beloved of Shiva ( or devotee of Shiva ), slow-moving,who is joyous by nature burn my pain !
In the words sage Parashara, Saturn bestows logevity as well as prosperity. Astrologically Saturn is the unconditional taker of life also. This sums up the entire truth. Man's life on this life is determined by the fruits of his actions done in his previous birth. Saturn is the dispenser of justice. This planet's exaltation in the zodiac sign 'thula' ( scales or libra ) justifies this fact.
Since Saturn's influence on earthly life is more prominent and profound than any other planet's , most of the sufferings in life are attributed to him. But sufferings alone ennoble man by paving path way to salvation by discipling the individual. Thus Saturn, a planet of spirituality is the real deliverer of man from the miseries of birth and death also.

Significance of Kanyapujan ( young girls ) during Navaratri festival.

 
                   Significance of  Kanyapujan (worship of young girls) during Navaratri festival

According to Indian thought, Shiva and Shakti are one. Their unity is compared to word and meaning. A word is empty without meaning and it is the meaning that imparts life to the word. And the meaning has no existence without the word. Both are inter-dependent and inseparable.
Shiva as the Supreme is responsible for the birth and dissolution of this life and Shakti, the Mother takes care of all things that happen during this life by providing the necessary nourishments like strength, wealth and health, prosperity, freedom from diseases, learning and knowledge, marriage, progeny and happiness.

In any family though dependent ,it is the woman who is the foundation and pillar of it by her adorable qualities of love, compassion , sacrifice  ,selfless service and care.
The scriptures always hold women in high esteem. It is the woman who make a house, a home. The scriptures also declare that women are delicate, and as a daughter , sister, wife and mother, they should be protected by father, brother, husband and son and their relationship is also sacred. It is also said,
' Where woman are respected , the deities remain pleased there.
Where they are not respected, all actions done there will be fruitless.'
Woman personifies Nature also. Nature is the sustainer of every thing in the world. In fact, the worship of the Goddess is nothing but the worship of Nature.Kanyas especially young girls from the age of two to ten are supposed to be in pristine form, unaffected by the worldly taints.So they are worshipped as Goddess during Navaratri.
The Goddess herself has set an exemplary model of illustrious womanhood. As a daughter, she brought immense glory to her family by her ideal conduct and did welfare to the universe by destroying the demons. It is Haimavati Uma who imparted the highest knowledge of the Supreme to Indra in Keno Upanishad. As a baby sister Mahamaya, she escaped from the clutches of Kamsa who tried to kill her thinking her to be the eighth child of Devaki. She flew up in the sky telling Kamsa that his enemy Lord Krishna had already been born and was being brought up elsewhere. As a wife, Parvati attained a husband unique like herself by her sheer devotion and penance so much so she became inseparable from him. Shiva offered her left portion of the body to her. That is why he is famous as Ardhanarishvara. This divine couple is the ideal of conjugal love. Even now young unmarried girls worship Parvati to get a good husband. Not only did she participate in her husband's activities, she also destroyed many demons who could not be killed by the male deities , and restored the peace and happiness to the universe. As a mother also, she is par excellent. Her elder son Ganesha is worshipped at the beginning of all undertakings for over coming the obstacles and safe completion. Her second son Kumara was appionted as the commander- in -chief of deities to destroy Taraka and other demons for the peace and happiness of the universe.
In Kanya pujan ( worship of young girls ) before offering her food, she has to be invited, her feet should be washed ( a method of honoring as is done to the idols of deities ), offer her things of decoration like bindi ( vermillion to be applied on the fore-head ), alta, a red paste to be applied on hands and feet, bangles, flowers and then the worshipper should give her food. And then she is given beautiful gifts. A girl from any caste or class can be invited. If girls from poor families are worshipped, then the significance is more.
 One year old baby girl is not considered as eligible as she cannot eat food properly and enjoy. Similarly girls above ten are considered as adult. There is a tradition of offering food to young girls on the eighth and ninth day during Navaratri. It is also said that one girl is worshipped on the first day, two girls on the second day, thus increasing one by one, nine girls are worshipped on the ninth day. By worshipping them, one gets the grace of the Goddess. The scriptures declare that worshipping of girls from the age of two to ten removes all the sins.
1  - Two year old girl is called Kaumari. It is believed that by worshipping her, grief and poverty are destroyed.
2  - The worship of three year old called Trimurti assures the welfare of the family and wealth of money and grains.
3  - Four year old Kalyani's worship yields happiness and prosperity.
4  - By honoring five year old Rohini, one gets rid of diseases.
5  - Six year old Kalika's worship confers knowledge and kingship on the worshipper.
6  - Seven year old Chandika gives sovereignity to the worshipper.
7 - By worshipping eight year old girl Shambhavi, one gets fame.
8  - Worship of nine year old Durga gives victory over the enemies and fulfillment of impossible tasks.
9  - Ten year old Subhadra 's worship leads to fulfillment of desires and happiness.
This worship is a unique way envisaged by our ancient wise men , followed by generations, to inculcate and perpetuate the values to realize the worth and give respect and care to the girl child.

Faith- the mainstay of governance

                 Faith- the mainstay of governance

A scholar went to Confucius and asked him-" Which three things are needed to run the government efficiently ?"
Confucius replied-" enough food, efficient and enough army and faith of the people in the king."
The scholar further put a question- " If all the three are not available at a time, which can be given up?"
Confucius- " Army."
The scholar expressed his curiosity to know further - "Of the remaining two, if one is to be given up, which can be discarded?"
Confucius replied-" Food. Without food also one can remain for sometime. But if people have no faith in the king or the ruler, both the stability of the country and the ruler will be destroyed."

God is in every smallest particle

 
                              God is in every smallest particle

A king wanted to find God. When he heard that a great saint had come to his country, he went to meet the great soul. The king said to the saint - " Revered One ! Please guide me to the path. I want to see the God."
The saint said, " It is not very difficult to find God. He is everywhere and in everything."
The king asked,  " Could you please show me a thing in which God resides?"
The saint pointing out to a small ant passing there said- " God is in this."
The king exclaimed, " What, God is in this ? "
The king was not satisfied. He wanted to see the God in still a smaller thing. When the saint told him that the God is in the smallest particles of the dust, the king could not believe that.
The king said- "  How could I accept that ?"
Then the the king saint explained - " Oh King, your curiosity is alright, but the approach or way of looking is wrong. If you want to see God in a particular object, you can never find Him. But if you believe that God is everywhere, then you can see Him even in the smallest particle. The king realized the truth in the words of the saint and the knowledge dawned on him.

The real cause

   
                                        The real cause


A wise king was ruling the country in a just manner. But his country could not proper to his expectation. One day he called a meeting of the officers to discuss many matters relating to the state. During the discussions, he asked the officers, " We have levied just tax on the people. It is quite a large amount. Even then the treasury is not full. And we are not able to do constructive projects for the benefit of our people. What can be the real cause for this ? Could any one you please tell ?
All the officers assembled there looked at each other. A wise and sincere officer sought permission from the king to answer this. He took a big block of ice and putting it into the hands of an officer sitting at the back said , 'You kindly pass on this to all officers and then to the king.'
Passing on from one hand to another, the big block of ice, when it reached the hands of the king, it was of the size of a pea. Then the wise officer said to the king, " Your Highness , the tax has also the fate when it reaches the royal treasury."
The king got the answer for his question and understood the real cause that due to corrupt officers in between, a large portion of the tax collected from the people never reaches the royal treasury.

Surrender

 
                                   Surrender

Once, a city was attacked. The attackers surrounded the city. They went in and asked all the womenfolk to surrender their precious things like jewelry and wealth. They also announced that their intention was to take over the wealth and rule over the people there and not to kill the inmates there.
Soon there was a huge collection in the form of small and big bundles. Being overcome by curiosity, the attackers opened some big bundles, men came out of them. The small packages had boys in them.
An old man standing nearby answered-" We do not have much precious jewelry and cash which you want. We don't care about them. Our precious property is our men and boys who always take care and protect us."
The attackers realized that where women were so much dedicated to their men and considered them the most precious, they could never be ruled over by others, outsiders. The foreign attackers bowed down before them and left the city.

Divine Insurance

 
                          Divine Insurance


Insure your life with God. You will have perfect safety and security. All other Insurance companies will fail but this divine Insurance company will never fail.
You need not pay any premium to the Divine Insurance Company. You will have to have faith in God and love Him only. You will have to give your heart only to God. Become as simple as a child. You will get inexhaustible Divine Wealth. Your thoughts will become pure and all your actions will be crowned with success. A stage will come when what you think will become true.

Be like a pearl oyster

                           Be like a pearl oyster

 There is an Indian belief that if it rains when the star Swati is in the ascendant and a drop of rain falls into an oyster, that drop becomes a pearl. The oysters know this, so they come to the surface of the ocean when that star shines, and wait to catch the precious rain drop. When a drop falls into them, quickly the oysters close their shells and dive down to the bottom of the sea, there to patiently develop the drop into a pearl. We should be like that. We have to know our goal and make every happening as an opportunity.Leaving all distractions, shutting our mind to outside influences, we should devote ourselves to developing and achieving the goal within us. This way, nothing will be impossible to achieve in this world.

The purpose of life

     
                              The purpose of life

 Variety is the spice of life. Beauty of the creation is its variety only. In variety, there is no comparison. Each one is unique and indispensable. Society needs different kinds of people like teachers, farmers, doctors, engineers, plumbers and others for its smooth functioning. Like different limbs of the body which have different functions in the body, which is one, society is one organic whole and all members are its different limbs. Each one is born with some talent. It is the duty of the parents, teachers and the person himself to nurture that for a successful life.
A student asked his saint-teacher: What is the purpose of  my life ? Which task do I have to perform ?

The teacher answered while pointing to a bunch of flowers.
' Do you see these flowers ? On some branches you see little buds, on others you see fully bloomed flowers . The fully bloomed flowers have beautiful petals, a nice color and fragrance and a beautiful appearance. Flowers have the unique distinction of bringing joy and happiness to people of all countries and of all ages. They are the best ambassadors of good will. They help the bees to collect honey from them for the benefit of humanity. Not only that , the fully bloomed flowers assist in pollination and further development. In case of fruit trees, the flowers ripen into fruits which supply nutrients to the humans and animals and the seeds help in the propagation of its species.
In the buds you cannot see  yet all the beauty. The purpose of the bud is to bring out whatever beauty it has inside and to become a perfect flower. Gradually it will grow and bring out from within itself all the beauty'.
' Nature teaches you the purpose. The purpose of your life is to bring out the sleeping beauty in you. Your task is to grow into a perfect, ideal human being. In you are dormant all the noble human qualities such as love, kindness, compassion, unselfishness, spirit of service, courage to stick to virtues,

Enjoy the sweetness

       
                               Enjoy the sweetness

Learning has two vital tools. Books and a good teacher to guide. Books give information. Many a times it is like a huge forest in which the human mind often loses itself and finds no way out. So a real teacher with his illustrations and experience clears the doubts and paves the way for true knowledge. Learning has three stages also- listening, understanding and meditating. Then only there will be proper assimilation which will lead to creativity, originality, innovation and further research and further propagation of it.
A teacher was teaching a group of students about God, creation and freedom. He wanted to know the impact of his teachings on the students. So, he took them to a mango orchard. It was a big, beautiful garden with different kinds of mango trees laden with fruits. Wonder-struck at the variety there, some started counting the trees, some looked at the variety of hues of leaves, some compared the color and size of the mangoes and noted down the details carefully in their note book. Then arose a learned discussion on each of these topics, which were absorbing and highly interesting to them. But one among those students did not care for these external things , but saw the delicious mangoes and began to eat the fruits.
Likewise, the universe in its myriad varieties offer many attractions. Even in them is hidden the essence, the presence of 'Godhood'. If a person is careful enough to go beyond the covers and looks behind them. he will find sweetness everywhere. So life is not a forest to be lost in, but a beautiful garden to enjoy the bliss of sweetness everywhere.

What is real beauty ?

   
                          What is real beauty ?

A student asked his teacher about the concept of beauty. The teacher explained to him that the beauty is not an external appearance or quality but an internal quality, usefulness of a thing or man.
" How"?
The teacher gave an illustration. There is a pot full of sweet custard. Nearby kept are a shining golden spoon with holes and cracks and a clean wooden spoon in a good condition. A hungry man comes there to eat that. Which spoon he would take?
The student said, " to a hungry person, a spoon with holes and cracks, however expensive and shining it may be, is not useful. He will pick up only the good wooden spoon. That alone will serve his purpose."
The teacher explained, " It is the usefulness of a thing that determines its real worth and that is its real beauty. Here the wood surpasses the shining gold  from the utility point of view. It is the usefulness of a thing that really attracts. Likewise a cultured man is more beautiful than the outwardly showy man. Beauty is an inherent quality."
The student understood the truth behind the beauty.

In search of God

 


                             In search of God

A student, not convinced by the teachings of his enlightened teacher visited different temples in different places in search of God.
He, being not satisfied in his mission returned to to the teacher. On one night , the teacher and the student were sitting outside. It was full-moon night. There was a bucket full of water near by. The student went on asking questions about God. But the teacher was looking into the water of the bucket only. He did not give any reply. The student was upset and at the same time curious at the strange behavior of his teacher. He could not control himself and asked the teacher what he was finding so absorbing and interesting in that bucket of water ?
The teacher replied, " I am trying to look at the moon reflected in the water and enjoy the moon there."
The student laughed and said, " Sir , if you raise your head a little above , you can find the real moon shining all over the sky and feel and enjoy its coolness also."
The teacher immediately retorted back, " If you can search for God in temple, can't I try to find the moon reflected in water ?"
The student understood the import and realized the ultimate truth that ' God is every where' including his own self' and to search Him in one place shows one's own ignorance and limitation.
The scriptures declare that the creation of universe by God is unique. It is different from that of an ordinary one. In normal life, the potter creates the pot, the painter paints the picture. The pot and the painting are objects and different from their subjects potter and the painter because external materials are used in making the objects. Whereas in the creation of the universe, the material is not from outside the creator. Like a spider spins a web from his own, God also creates this from his own. Not only that, after creating the worldly objects, He entered into them. So nothing in the universe is different from God. Every thing is permeated by Him. One who realizes this truth through the purity of his hear,will develop universal love. Where there is love, there is no fear, no hatred and no loneliness.
When the curtain of illusion falls, there is only one, no one but God.
It is beautifully said thus,
" Oh Dear Lord, how much longer must there be ' I' and a ' You ' between us ?
Take away the ego from me so that there remains nothing of me, but all of you.

Peace of mind

                         
                                  Peace of mind

A man went to a saint and asked him a way to get peace of mind.
The saint replied, " It is very simple. Eat when you are hungry and sleep when you are tired. Go natural.
" This is what all people do."
The saint explained, " No. While eating they are not calm but develop so many desires and while sleeping they keep thinking of all problems only. If they leave all these, the mind will become peaceful on its own."

Failure is also a form of success

                            Failure is also a form of success

If the fruit ripens immediately , it will not be that much delicious when compared to that one which ripens in due course. Everything should take its own time for fruition. This is what nature teaches. Likewise when a work becomes successful after many attempts its reward is durable and it has unique charm of its own. The only thing required on the part of the doer is that he should never get disappointed in the middle and give up the work. Failures should be treated as practice shots.
Someone once asked Edison if he was disappointed after trying 382 ways of making a lightbulb. He answered that he was n't. He was glad that he now knew 382 ways not to try. This is the attitude and spirit one should develop for successful achievement of any thing in life.

Cool yourself with these drops of nectar

 

                             Cool yourself with these drops of nectar




Think ever of rising higher in a noble manner. Let it be your only thought. Even if your object be not attained, the thought itself will have raised you.

Real wealth is one's will to action. Without it all possessions are worthless.

Even if well - versed in the accepted theories of action, one should also understand the current ways of the world and act suitably.

To those who cannot laugh , this big world is all darkness even during the day.

To be born in a good family is a useful qualification. Consistency in thought, word and deed and a quick reaction against anything mean or improper are natural to persons well-born.

Men should be appointed to duties and responsibilities, who have the ability needed for their performance and the resourcefulness to meet the situation arising there in. Everything will go wrong if you nominate one out of mere friendship or admiration.

There is no dish so sweet as that earned by one's own labour, be it but the thinnest gruel.

When there is land to cultivate which will yield in the measure of your labour, it is foolish to bewail your destiny and remain idle and poor.

When wealth is neither enjoyed by oneself nor given to deserving persons, the possessor becomes a disease to society( disesase beccause such men block circulation and wealth thrives only on circulation).

If we eat only after making sure that what has been already eaten has been digested, no medicine will be required to keep the body in good health.

What good did the creatures of the earthdo to the clouds that pour the rain? So indeed should you serve society, seeking no return.

Two kinds of audiences

 

                               Two kinds of audiences


         Any new development or breakthrough in research in any field is never appreciated in the beginning as it is beyond the comprehension of ordinary man and also out of jealousy it is criticized to suppress the credit and fame. It is a time tested fact.
Albert Einstein expresses this fact in a beautiful , in his own characteristic manner.
After the announcement was made that Einstein had finished the mathematical formulation of his Unified Field Theory, he was asked what reaction it had received  from the American Academy of Advanced science.
" I always have two kinds of audiences," he said, " the blind and the deaf.  The blind ones never see, and the deaf ones are my colleagues who don't want to hear."

Violence always leads to one's own destruction

                         Violence always leads to one's own destruction

Shambara, a king of nether regions in ancient India was a powerful demon. He possessed extraordinary magic powers. He won over all the gods and expanded his kingdom. The gods went to Brahma, the creator and asked for a solution for freedom from the tyranny of the demon king. Brahma consoled them saying, " Have patience and faith. The weapon of the demons is violence. They kill the beings to demonstrate their strength and also to increase their power. And this same violence will lead them to their own destruction."
The same thing happened. Shambara had three army-chiefs who were created by his powers of magic- Dama, Vyala and Kashta. They propagated non- vegetarianism in the whole kingdom. One day a butcher, being exasperated by their cruel attitude said to the chiefs, " When you eat only meat, why don't you kill the animals with your own hands? The meat will be fresh and delicious." They all agreed to this. During the process of killing, seeing the sufferings of animals, a fear of death engulfed them. When there arose fear in their mind, they started feeling weak. The gods waited for some time and attacked the demons. The army of demons out of fear of death did not fight bravely and died in the battle.
Violence is the cause for defeat and self-destruction, because the sight of other's suffering depletes the strength and weakens the mind and the body. As is the food, so are the thoughts. The nature of the food partaken shapes the thoughts and mind of the eater. That is why simple plain fresh natural food is recommended in the scriptures for cultivation of good thoughts. Good thoughts generate love which cements the people irrespective of age, gender, color, caste or religion which are only man-made divisions.
All religions teach the ethical rules such as: " Do not kill; do not injure others; Love your neighbour," etc.  The Hindu religion emphasizes- ' There is one All-pervading Atman. It is the inner soul of all beings. It is hidden in all creatures. It the common , pure consciousness. If you injure your neighbour you actually injure yourself.' This is the basic metaphysical truth that underlies all ethical codes.
If you follow these simple sayings when you do any action - ' Do as you be done by. Do unto others, as you wish others do unto you' , you will be saved from all troubles. If you follow these wise maxims, you can never give any pain unto others. It has positive effect also. By following these sayings of wisdom, you can find yourself always at peace and joy. This is the real goal of life. And this is the real achievement in and of life.

Test of intelligence

                                     Test of intelligence

There was a king who was famous for his wisdom. One day, a man named Liza came to the court of the king . He prayed, "  Your majesty ! I have come to you to seek an employment. I am an educated man and will do any job here."
The king said, " We can't employ you without testing you. Come to the court tomorrow. But remember you are not to bring any gift for us. But don't come empty handed without any present."
Hearing this, the courtiers assembled there looked at the king puzzled.
Liza bowed his head and departed saying, " As you wish."
The next day, Liza came with a white pigeon in his hand, bowed before the king and spoke, " Your Highness ! Here is my gift for you,"and extended his hand with the bird towards the king. When the king extended his hand to hold the bird, it flew off.
The king said, " You have passed the first test." Then , the king gave him a small piece of thread and asked him to take it and get a cushion made out of it."
But in the evening, Liza sent a straw to the king through one of the servants with a request, " Please get me a hand loom made out of it by midnight. I will bring the cushion tomorrow."
Thus Liza passed the second test by outwitting the king.
Next day, the king sent to Liza some flower seeds and asked him to bring flowering plants grown out of the seeds the next day.
Liza sent two empty cardboard boxes through the same messenger with a request to the king, " Your Majesty! I am a poor person. Please supply me some Sunshine and rain in these boxes."
The king, ministers and courtiers were very pleased with the intelligence of Liza. They requested the king to give a suitable job to Liza.
But the king thought of putting Liza through one more intelligence test before giving him a good job.

He sent a message to Liza, " The king wants you to come to the court tomorrow. But don't come on foot or horse back. And you shouldn't be wearing any clothes. Neither should you be naked."

The courtiers were taken aback. Many thought that Liza would give up and go away. Some of them thought that the king wanted to deny job to Liza for some reason unknown.
But to the surprise of all, Liza came to the court next day. He came on the back of a turtle. And he had wrapped himself nicely with fisherman' s net.
Liza bowed before the king. The happy king admitted, " Liza ! You are very intelligent indeed.We are all happy with you. Well, I appoint you as my personal advisor  in the rank of a minister from this moment.
All the people hailed wise Liza and lauded the king for his wise decision.

Twofold duty of a physician

                            Twofold duty of a physician

In the nineteenth century the physician, James Simpson, introduced the use of chloroform, and saved succeeding generations from incalculable suffering. The operating table of those days were as terrible as medieval torture chambers. Determined to alleviate these pains Simpson worked ceaselessly in the laboratory. He would invite two or three doctor friends and continue the research in the evenings. The doctors would sit round a table inhaling from their glasses various compounds of liquid that Simpson prepared. Finally one night Simpson remembered a small bottle of chloroform. The three friends began the nightly ritual of inhalation. After a while all of them fell down and started snoring like drunkards. When they all recovered, one lady asked if she might repeat the experiment and she was handed the glass. In a few minutes, crying, " I 'am  an angel! I'am an angel, " she, too lapsed into unconsciousness. Immediately Simpson started using it for midwifery cases and he was happy that he had achieved the twofold duty of a physician, namely - to alleviate human suffering and to preserve human life.

True music

       
                                    True music

           Once Akbar asked Tansen what was the secret of the unique charm of his music and Tansen said, " Your Highness, what is my music when compared to the music of my my master, Swami Haridas !"
Akbar was very curious to meet the Swami after hearing this.
After much persuasion Akbar was taken to the hermitage of Haridas. Tansen had already warned the Emperor not to expect the Swami to sing except of his own accord. They waited till the mood came to him one day and the Swamy sang. It was not a mere song. In fact it was a revelation. Akbar forgot where he was and he was transported into the realms of sheer beauty, charm, peace and bliss.
After some time when he became normal, turning to Tansen he said, "I never knew that there could be such music. I thought yours was the limit of perfection. But by the side of this music, yours appears lifeless and empty.  How is that having learnt at his feet you have not caught the soul of his art ?"
Tansen smiled and replied, " I can never sing like my great master. It is true that I learnt the art from him. I might have mastered the technicalities of the art, but there is this difference- I sing to your bidding but my great master sings to no man's bidding. He sings when the urge comes from inside and that makes all the difference."

A work' s reward is in work itself

   

                       A work's reward is in work itself

 A young boy was curiously observing his grandfather at work. The grand old man was busy planting a mango sapling, oblivious of his grandson and everything else around him. Finally the grandson lost his patience and said, ' Grand dad, I heard that it takes at least 12 years for the mango sapling to grow into a fruit-bearing tree. So, you will have to live up to your hundredth year to enjoy the fruits of your labour. The grand father replied, ' Dear grandson, I have already started enjoying the reward of my work. Even now I can put my knowledge of gardening to use brings fresh vigour in me.. The peace and inner joy that I am experiencing now, doing the work that I love so much, is my pay. Further more that you , my grandson and others would be enjoying the real fruits of labour done by me now makes my life more meaningful. Any work becomes an act of worship, if the objective is three folded, namely education of the worker, service to the world and pleasure to the Divinity.

Jealousy

       
                                     Jealousy



There was a poor farmer in a village. He had a small field in which he grew vegetables and hardly made both ends meet. It was his only source of income.
He was of very jealous nature . So, he was not on good terms with any of his neighbours or relatives.
As he was growing old, he found working in the field also very difficult. He did not have bulls for ploughing the field. There was no well or river near by. So for irrigation, he had to depend on rains only.
One day, when the farmer was returning home tired, he met an old man with a white beard. The old man spoke him, " what is the matter ? You look very tired and sad."
The farmer said, " what to tell you, sir ? I am poor and getting old. I am not able to work in the field. Had I got one bull I could have ploughed, sowed and irrigated my field easily."
The old man asked, " If you get one bull, what exactly will you do?"
"  The first thing i will do is to be happy. My field work will become very easy. But where shall I get the bull from? I have no money to buy that", the farmer sighed.
" I will give a bull now. Here, take this bull home. When you reach home send your neighbour to me as well, " the old man said.
The farmer said, " I am very happy that you are giving me a bull. But, why do you want to meet my neighbour ?"
The old man spoke, " Tell your neighbour that he can come here and take two bulls from me."
The words of the old man angered the farmer and he was mad with the feelings of jealousy. He said dryly, " You don't know that my neighbour has everything. If you want to give him two bulls then I won't like any bull from you ."
The old man pulled the bull towards him and spoke to the farmer, " Do you know what your problem is ? It is not poverty but jealousy. Had you been content with what you had got instead of being jealous with your neighbours and relatives, you would have been a better and happy man." After saying this, the old man disappeared into the jungle.
A bull, the farmer had always been praying for was granted but his jealous mind lost it foolishly.

A mother's invaluable advice

   
                             A mother's invaluable advice

A boy, after finishing studies in school was going to university for higher studies in another city. His mother packed all things for his stay outside. At that time she gave him a small advice. She told him that the atmosphere there would be different from that of home and he would be meeting new people of different nature too. She added if he got angry or upset with the behaviour of any one, he should not react to that person for 24 hours. Instead he should divert his attention and concentrate on something else like going for a walk outside or playing on his violin or listening to his favourite songs. Though the boy found it very difficult to be like that, still he tried to put his mother's words into practice. Little by little he succeeded. His anger towards the trouble maker melted away in those 24 hours. He forgot the negative feelings of bitterness and felt friendly towards him. He also found a unique change within himself. His mind became very calm and could concentrate on studies very well and won many prizes and awards. There was a change in the behaviour of the trouble makers too. Seeing his cool attitude towards them, they themselves started feeling ashamed and sorry for their behaviour and became his friends.
The boy was a boy of mission. He became a big honest business man to earn huge wealth to serve the humanity. In business also, his rivals bowed down before his nobility. Thus following a simple but the invaluable advice of his mother, he found a new meaning in leading a fruitful and fulfilling life.

Ancient wisdom

                         Ancient wisdom



Man always goes in search of new findings. But he gets the results, mostly it is the age old traditional truths which turn out in a new garb. Many a times ancient wisdom remains ever green. One such thing is regarding a short walk after meals.
Modern medical science also recommends a short walk of ten minutes before going to bed to prevent acidity and to aid digestion.
Ayurveda dictates " One should walk at least one hundred steps after taking meals." A slight and gradual walking after meal is always advantageous. The ancient science further gives the rationale for this. It has been stated,
" The body becomes inactive if one remains seated after taking food. Several ailments grip the body if the man goes to bed immediately after taking the meal. Walking increases the span of life while the risk of death increases by running."
The root of all ailments is the infestation of waste products formed in our body in the course of metabolic functions. It is caused due to longer indigestion. If a man starts running after taking meals, it causes pain immediately as the food is not duly arranged in the alimentary canal. Hence walking with gradual steps is recommended to aid proper digestion of the food eaten.

Character- the real wealth

                                    Character- the real wealth

A wealthy business man had a son. Since he had suffered in his childhood due to poverty, he never wanted his son to suffer the same and gave him all the comforts of life. The boy was never interested in studies or any work , got into bad company and roamed aimlessly , squandering money with his companions. The father was upset and went to a saint to seek his guidance. He told the problem to the pious man. The saint asked him how he got such a huge wealth, whether his father left him a lot of property. The businessman replied that he rose to a high position by his effort and integrity. He had suffered a lot in his childhood as his father was a poor man but a honest hard worker. His father taught him just the good qualities of life and importance of honest hard work in achieving things, that is all. Then the saint asked him whether he did the same to his son. The merchant replied that he he never wanted his son to suffer like him , concentrated on amassing wealth for his boy's comforts and secure future and never had time to pay attention to small matters like character building of the child.
The saint pointed out that that was his mistake. Instead of giving him the wealth of character he spent time in accumulating perishable wealth leading the boy astray. It is aptly said,
" When weath is lost, nothing is lost.
When character is lost ,everything is lost."
Also,
" Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a life time."
The businessman realized his grave mistake and requested the saint to help him. The kind saint called the boy to his hut. He asked him to pull out small grass grown in front of his hermitage. The boy pulled it using just two fingers. Then the saint asked him pull out a small tender plant near by. The boy did it with his hand. Then the saint asked him to pull out a full grown tree there. The boy tried and tried. He could never do it. Then the saint gave him a big spade to dig it. The boy tried, little by little only the roots came out. He found it very hard to pull it.
The saint said that he had to keep on doing then one day he would be able uproot it. The presence and the kind words had a salutary effect on the boy. He realized the mistake and determined to free himself from the bad company and follow the advice of his father.

Scientists live in their own beautiful world

                               Scientists live in their own beautiful world


It was in the year 1933 that Albert Einstein fled his country and came to America. The first person he wanted to see was his old friend professor Beno Gutenberg, the German-American seismologist, then at the California Institute of Technology. They walked across the campus in Pasadena, with their hands folded behind their backs, discussing the phenomena of the earth.
Meanwhile, a gust of wind bent down the trees, the earth shook, and buildings trembled. They paid no heed to this, but continued their scientific talk and then entered the college and glanced at the seismograph. Only then did they realize there had been an earthquake, the famous 1933 Long Beach quake.

The power of prayer in practical life

                              The power of prayer in practical life

It is a well recognized and an experienced fact that prayer brings inner tranquility. Prayer often clarifies our vision of what needs to be done.
Abraham Lincoln had a rich prayer life.
One day, a stranger came by with a barrel full of odds and ends and old news papers and he offered to sell the lot to Lincoln for a dollar. Realizing the man was needy, Lincoln with his characteristic kindness, gave him a dollar, although he had no idea how the barrel's contents would be of any use to him. When he later cleared out the barrel, he found among the junk an almost complete edition of Blackstone's commentaries. These books helped Lincoln become a lawyer and eventually enter politics. The reverence and kindness Lincoln felt for others, which are often the fruits of prayer, created an opening for a life- changing event that otherwise might not have happened. It is not that during prayer he got a sudden revelation of his life's work. Humble ingredients- a barrel of junk, a stranger down on his luck, a dollar and Lincoln's innate compassion combined unspectacularly to help shape the destiny of man and the nation.

Friendship

                                       Friendship

There is only one happiness in life, to love and to be loved, because lovingness is our natural state. In love , you make yourself necessary to some one. Love is also much more- a desire and devotion that drives one to do only good and a tenderness that arouses delight and elicit deep affection in the heart.
Friendship is , in fact, an expression of love, a powerful emotional bond. The beauty, endurance and strength of love can be celebrated by honoring friendship. Friendship is a real treasure in which man can cherish love and get cherished by love.

As man by nature is gregarious, friendship is inevitable. Fate makes our relatives and choice makes our friends. Choosing the right friend is vitally important to our outlook on life. The laziest man is he who does not seek to acquire friends, still lazier is the one who loses friends because he makes no effort to keep them.

Parents must teach children to make friends and cherish them and to distinguish rewarding friendships from harmful ones. The effect of friendship has been beautifully illustrated thus -

"  A rain- drop if thrown upon a red hot iron is even deprived of its own existence, where as if it happens to fall upon the leaf of a lotus plant it soon assumes the appearance of a beautiful pearl and the same is again turned into a real pearl if it chances to drop into the mouth of a seashell (oyster) in the auspicious time of swati star. It is therefore to be inferred that the bad, mediocre and the good attributes of a thing are always to be traced to the company it keeps."

It is also said,

" Would you judge a man? Find out who his friends are."

Also,

" If I touch my hand to a board, there is only a blunt sound but if I touch it to the key of the instrument there is a musical sound. And the effect produced upon a person by that which he comes in contact depends upon what there is to be touched."

So children's friendship with good from pre-school through adulthood will stimulate their moral development and lend to their lives a richness, depth, beauty, vitality and variety that cannot be duplicated by any other means.

What is a true friendship?

The profound effect of love upon each other is beautifully delineated between water and milk..

" When water was mixed with milk, the latter gave all its qualities to it. Consequently when water saw the distress of milk it began to burn itself. The sight of its friend's calamity much agitated milk and it went out of the pot to destroy itself on the burning embers. At this stage water came to its help and the milk soon became calm and cool. The friendship of the good is just like it."

This is true friendship. The analogy here is the boiling of milk. When water is mixed with milk before boiling, the water becomes one with the milk and when the milk boils, water added to it also boils. Seeing the water boiling, the friend milk becomes agitated and tries to come out the pot and fall on the fire as if to destroy itself. At this stage, when few drops of water are poured over the milk it cools down and does not come out of the pot.

Distance also never severs true friendship.

As we grow older, we learn to treasure our  best friends, to value their loving concern and counsel.
Friendship can be found almost anywhere even within our families.
Of all the things, a good marriage is a bonded friendship.Wedding marks a treasured moment of commitment and love. It is the foundation of societal well- being and preservation of values. The most wonderful of all things in life is the discovery of another human being with whom one's relationship has a growing depth, beauty and joy as the years increase. This inner progressiveness of love between human beings is the most marvellous thing. It cannot be found by looking at it or by passionately wishing for it. It is a sort of divine accident and the most wonderful of all things in life.
Why do we seek our partners ?
Plato believed that we are all in search of our other half. In the beginning, he wrote, every one had 2 heads, 4 arms and both sexes. But the king of gods, fearing the power of humans cut them in two  into male and female. Since that time, we have searched for our other half until we found the one who completed us.
In India, girls worship goddess Parvati for a good husband for Shiva and Parvati are considered as ideal couple. So love is not a weakness. It is strong. Only the sacrament of marriage can contain it. So the union of husband and wife is sacred . This bond is not limited to this birth only. It is believed that the devoted wife follows her equally devoted husband in all births to come.Such is this unique friendship !

Sweetness leads to silence

                               Sweetness leads to silence

So long as the bee is outside the petals of the flower and has not tasted the sweetness of the nectar within, it hovers round humming. But when it gets into the flower, it drinks the nectar noiselessly. So long as a man disputes about doctrines and dogmas, he has not tasted the nectar of true faith. Once, he tastes that, he becomes silent.

There is joy only in worshipping

                          There is joy only in worshipping

Generally idols are made of stones and people offer flowers on them as a form of worship.
One day, the flowers felt as to why only the stones are worshipped ? It is sheer injustice. They ( flowers) should also be worshipped. So they went to Mother Nature and complained. Mother Nature told them, " There is nothing to worry about. From today onwards, stones will start worshipping you."
Flowers were very happy to hear this. But, the moment the stones of various sizes from small to big were offered on the flowers, the life of the flowers ebbed out and started withering. Then the flowers prayed to Mother Nature-" We do not want the honor of worship. Joy is not in getting worshipped, but in worshipping.
Flowers also realized the truth that all things are indispensable and have their own place and value. No one is superior or inferior. There is a law and order in the working of Nature.

Little knowledge is a dangerous thing

                               Little knowledge is a dangerous thing

Four blind men went out to see an elephant . One touched the leg of the elephant and said, " The elephant is like a pillar." The second one touched the trunk and said, "  The elephant is like a thick club. "  The third touched the belly and said, " The elephant is like a big jar." The fourth touched the ears and said, " The elephant is like a big winnowing basket. " Thus they began to dispute hotly amongst themselves as to the shape of the elephant , each claiming that he alone was right. A passer-by , seeing them thus quarreling, asked, " what is it you are disputing about ?" They told him everything and asked him to arbitrate. The man said , " None of you is right . None of you have seen the elephant. The elephant is not a pillar, its legs are like pillars. It is not a thick club, its trunk is like a club. It is not a big jar, but its belly is like a big jar. It is not like a winnowing basket, its ears are shaped like winnowing basket. The elephant is the combination of all these - legs, trunk, belly , ears and so on. In the same manner, those who quarrel about the nature of God have seen only one aspect of the Deity.
Here the blind man represents the human being who has little knowledge about religion, God or Truth always quarrels with others. He considers others as different. But when one realizes the truth as a whole or as one , he finds harmony everywhere in all religions as all religions are path ways to the ultimate which is one and the same but called by different names for convenience.

Simple living

                                    Simple living

Thoreau preferred a simple house to a furnished house. He was terrified to find that the three pieces of limestone on his desk had to be dusted daily, particularly when the furniture of his mind was undusted. He, therefore, threw them out of the window in disgust. He preferred sitting in the open air because no dust gathers on grass.

The simple food

                     The simple food

There were two friends. One was wise and very simple. He had a small medical shop in a village. He was contented with what he was earning. He was kind and gave medicines free to the needy poor . His motive was never profit, but service to humanity was his goal. His friend was was greedy and went to the city for earning. Being a sycophant of a greedy wealthy business man, he lived in great luxury.

One day this friend came to the village and called on the wise man while eating. Looking at the simple food, the friend said, " My friend, if you can please my master like me, you will be free from this wretched food." The wise man smiled and replied, " My dear friend, if you can be pleased with this simple food, you can be free from the wretched job of pleasing the greedy master."

A rich monument of justice

 

                         A rich monument of justice

A king had a big palace. He himself took interest in beautifying the palace and its surroundings. In front of it, there was a old mill. The king felt that the ugliness of the mill marred the beauty of the surroundings of his building. So he went to the mill owner with the intention of purchasing it. When the mill owner refused selling the mill on the grounds that it was his ancestral property and the only means of his sustenance. The haughty king became very angry and showed his power and authority by ordering his servants to demolish the mill. The mill owner also was not afraid and took the matter to the court. The judge was a very wise person and impartial. He knew that before law all are equal. He listened, analyzed the case and declared the fair judgement that the the king is the culprit. So as a punishment he issued orders to the king to rebuild the mill in the same place and pay 8000 pounds as a compensation for the mental agony and loss of income the mill owner had experienced during that period. The judgement opened the eyes of the king. The king was happy and proud of the impartial judge. He felt sorry for his action. He started loving all his subjects and ruled the country in the best manner possible.
After two generations, when the king's grand son was ruling, the mill owner's grandson ran into difficulties with the running of the mill. He wanted money. So he went to the king to sell that and get the money. But the kind king refused buying it telling that the mill was a rich monument of justice of which his country always stood for and of which his people were proud and still cherished it. Instead he gave the mill owner a gift of 10, 000 pounds to tide over the temporary difficulties and upkeep of the mill.

The root cause of problems

 

                        The root cause of  problems


A lady appointed a new gardener ( novice ) to water her flower garden. After some time she noticed that all her plants were withering. She called the gardener whether he was watering the plants regularly. He replied that he was doing that by pouring water over the flowers and leaves. The lady admonished him telling that flowers and leaves seen are outward appearances of the plant where as the life of a plant is in roots which is hidden and not seen outside. Plants can grow healthy only when roots are watered. The nourishment of plants is seen in the form of leaves and flowers.

Like this gardener, people are carried away by the external appearances . No one tries to understand the cause or the truth which is unseen.
This is the root cause of all problems.

In search of human being

                               In search of human being


There was a philosopher living on the outskirts of a city. He was very wise and was well versed in the affairs of the world. So all the people respected him.
One day they saw him with a lighted lantern in his hand during the day time and going some where. People were astonished. One of them asked him ," Sir! where are you going ? "
He replied " I have lost something. I am going in search of that."
A person out of curiosity asked him, " what has been lost?"
He replied, " Human being. I am going in search of him."
Then all of them said together, " Are we not human beings?"
" No, you are not ."
" Then what are we ?"
The philosopher answered , " Among you some are businessmen, some are teachers, some are engineers, some are doctors. The pity is no one is human being here. A human being is one who loves all equally and considers all as his equal. Just look into you heart and see the truth. People looked at each other and went away quietly.