Rediscovering Ancient Wisdom - Timeless Wisdom

Gems of wisdom

   

                                    Gems of wisdom

 

•    To live without philosophizing is in truth the same as keeping the eyes closed without attempting to open them.
•  No matter how hard the past, you can always begin today.
• Those who cannot inspire will never be readers.
• War cannot be avoided, it can only be postponed.
• The consciousness is a thousand witnesses.
• Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.
• Suffering becomes beautiful when anyone bears great calamities with cheerfulness  not through insensibility but through greatness of mind.
• If you don’t take chances  you can’t do anything in life.
• Do what you love, the money wil follow.
• Love understands love; it needs no talk

Nature as kingdom

 

                                       Nature as kingdom

  An old sage came to see the king. The king said, “ I’m jealous of you, your needs are so small. I have a big kingdom to rule.

The sage replied, “ you are satisfied with little than mine. King was surprised and asked how ? “. The sage replied, “ my kingdom is very vast and unique . The beauty of my kingdom is that it takes care of itself leaving every moment to relax and enjoy my life. What a kingdom I possess, do you think. I’m the owner of all music from the sky. All the rivers and mountains belong to me whereas you have only a kingdom to rule. I have the entire Nature as kingdom.” 

He is the richest who realizes the value of Nature and is content with wealth of Nature.

Rediscovering ancient wisdom- Timeless wisdom

   

                            Preface

  In the words of Bernard Shaw;

“ Now that we have learned to fly in the Air like Birds and dive in the Sea like Fish, one thing remains, to learn to live on Earth like humans.’

Here where the values nourished in ancient wisdom step in.

However things may be scientific, but with passage of time and advancement of technology, they become mystical or not understandable, the terms may conjure up images of something backward in knowledge and actions. Generally anything past is associated with ignorance, superstition. Modern and ancient terms refer to the times when the same human being with his body, mind and brain facing the same challenges. Modern period’s advancement in science is visible and experienced but in ancient times too they had the same advancement in tune with the available materials and situations at that time.

The world of yesterday is not erased and completely replaced by a new world of today. Yesterday is still connected with today. Tradition and past are integrated into us. Prayers, ceremonies, festivals, fairs, family values all handed over to us and preserved even today without our being aware of. Before reading and writing became fundamental, the lessons and remembrance of faiths were passed through the spoken stories, songs, artwork and food. This made the traditions stick even after so many years passed. It’s because we like rituals. They connect us to our past and offer rich and powerful connections to our ancestors and each other. All rituals, everything has a special meaning  conveying to coming together to share food, prayer and community. In rituals chanting,singing and dancing also releases the brain chemicals beta endorphins when we act synchronously in groups. So there is an inexplicable joy people find.It’s such a beautiful moment. Everyone longs for it and cherishes too. Since most of the rituals, ceremonies , festivals often mark seasonal cycles, such as solstices and equinoxes, and align human life with the rhythms of nature, almost all festivals of all cultures overlap.

Can you imagine Christmas festival without Santa Claus , Christmas tree, lights and gifts, cakes, gingerbread, Christmas carols ? For that matter any festival connected with any religion of the world like Hanukkah, Pongal, Dussehra, Deepavali, Navroj, Thanksgiving  Halloween even national festivals like, Independence day, Veteran’s day etc lose significance once stripped of its tradition and background stories. Not only that, the day and month, the mode of celebration, the special foods to be prepared and served - all inheritance from the past only. The main objective behind all these is powerful bonding of community, sharing feeling of unity for beyond one’s expectation.

Ceremonies are conducted all around us, almost everyday. The lighting of Olympic torch, the opening ceremony of football game, singing of National Anthem, graduation ceremony, ceremonies of birth, marriage and death etc. Human beings have marked special moments through the use of ceremonies since the dawn of civilization. Ceremonies serve two purposes, to invite Divinity to be part of our life and at the same time to raise our consciousness up towards the realm of the divine. The ceremony is a bridge that connects us with sacred ideal way to celebrate.

Surname - Anywhere you go in the world today people have surnames inherited from their father or mother. The modern concept of surname is based on some very ancient ideas. According to historical records , Egyptians, Romans, Indians also use more than one name. Romans could also add names to signify certain accomplishments  occupation. This was prevalent in most of the ancient cultures. Some cultures add birth place also to the proper name to give a special identity. The advent of modern record keeping and taxation mandated that people have surnames to keep track of them.

Even after advanced computer technology and signature  it is the thumb print( used by people of olden days as they couldn’t read or write ) that carries the stamp of authenticity even today.

Now people are eager to find out their ancestral roots. Gene editing, mapping, Gene multiplication etc. Genetic engineering plays a prominent role- Why ? It’s nothing but curiosity and an eternal yearning for a sense of belonging to something greater, precious solid roots.

Every fiber of our life is imbued with the coloring of past. Even the brand names like Nike, Titan, Avatar, Mogul point to the sense of attaching to the past glory only. All the botanical and other scientific things whatever they may be called in different languages belong to a particular single family which internationally understood is in Latin only.

Olympic game- An ancient game of Greece is now a global stage that allows one opportunity to perform and show talent skill among the competitors. It is a worldwide celebrated event that takes place every 4 years , but usually in a different city. But the initial Olympic flame ( torch ) starting is from Greece only.

Today Hippocratic oath of Greek origin is taken by physicians. It is an oath of ethics new physicians take. It requires physicians to swear to uphold ethical standards in the highest while treating patients throughout the carrier. Charaka, Indian sage of Charak Samhita also stresses this kind of oath to be taken by the young physicians.

Symbol of Medicine- The Rod of Asclepius. The symbol of Medicine from ancient Greece is a symbol of health and medicine around the world to this day. The Rod of Asclepius is a rod or staff with an entwined serpent. Asclepius was a demigod son of Apollo, who developed such incredible powers of healing that his rod continues to be a famous symbol associated with health.

Symbol for Justice is from Greek and Roman mythology. Lady of Justice statue blindfolded( unbiased ) carrying scales in the left hand relating to fairness in the judicial process and sword in the right hand symbolizing the authority to make decisions. From time memorial justice has been conceptualized as a divinity linked to cosmic order.

The link between romantic love and red roses dates back to Greek mythology. The significance of red rose as a symbol, and its use as a messaging system in courtship and dating has endured for centuries as professing feelings publicly was not acceptable those days. But still they remain so central in modern celebrations such as Red Roses as a gift for Valentine’s day.

Aromatherapy again has its roots in ancient cultures. Incense sticks, Sandal wood , powder and fragrant flowers were used to create an atmosphere for peace and reduce stress.  Indian Ayurvedic texts are a rich source throwing light on how the paste and oils from flowers and leaves were used in treatment of various ailments. That is why scents are being used to treat dementia and depression. Now modern doctors are harnessing our sense of smell to reignite positive memories and reduce anxiety.

Plato, Chanakya and other classics like Ramayana, Paradise lost and others are perpetually modern. It is not surprising to find that writers, inventors and experimenters were/are often most sensitive to the voices of the past. To poets, writers, speakers, the past is not a relic but a marvelous inexhaustible source of inspiration.  To quote Plato:

' You cannot write, read or live fully in the present without knowing the literature of the past.'

Some argue that old is bad and irrelevant for the present and welcome the new as exciting. But in fact it is not so. We cannot say all old( past ) is gold and all new ( present ) is bad. The great poet Kalidasa in his famous play Malavikagnimitram in the context of poetry says: 

“ It is old doesn’t mean all good. And also if new means not all bad. Wisemen by using his discriminative power takes the best from both.”

If Kalidasa’s statement is in Sanskrit, Pope writes :

“ Regard not them if wit be old or new, but blame the false and value still the true.”

Progress and reform consists in conserving one’s nation’s ancient ideals and building upon them and adopting whatever good and noble in others and the modern . And the preservation of one’s culture and past doesn’t work against modern.

Past is rich in everything. In reality, it can be stated that the strength of modernity is derived from the past. In fact insight into the wisdom of past empowers today and tomorrow. Application of Bhagavad-Gita , Chanakyaniti ,stoic principles for effective and successful management and Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations is bible among the present corporate world.

The international Yoga day is celebrated every year on June 21st. Though meditation is traditionally associated with spiritual growth in Patanjali’s Yoga sutras, in recent years the emphasis is on the benefits of meditation and is often used as a relaxation technique and stress management.

The ancient cultures revered mother Earth, honored as the giver and sustainer of all life centuries before Mother’s day became popular.

Folklore is a cultural universal found everywhere in the world. The fact that materials of folklore often show remarkable similarities in different places at different times makes it interesting. Fairy tales, folk stories, mythology still fascinate all irrespective of age and culture. The tapestry of human civilization has been decorated with a vivid design of all these that have become part of our culture since antiquity, providing texture in the form of ethical education and direction through which to investigate timeless human values. Many myths shed light on the deep philosophical meaning behind age-old cultural practices. All heroic tales of all cultures with their action-packed mythological stories have inspired many comic books, stories, novels and movies. Spiderman,The Lord of the Rings, king Fu Panda, Harry Potter,  Star Wars have inspired generation after generation. Mythology is still alive and always will be. Since the earliest times, man has used symbols and myths to express his experiences of a reality that transcends the physical world, and to pass it on to future generations. Common universal element in all these are battle between Good and Evil and victory of Good over Evil. This always fascinates as the yearning to read and see the victory of good over the evil is ingrained in  the human psyche.

Even in modern day blogs on cooking, music, art, crafts there is fusion of modern and tradition that gives rise to extensive variety, novelty ,,sweetness and richness of its own . The field of classical music is still ruled by Beethovan, Mozart, Handel, Brahms, Saint Thyagaraja and others. All the world music are based on the same octaves. Still the ancient, medieval paintings hold sway. And stage or theatre means still it is the plays of Shakespeare setting the standard and glamour in that field.

Following  the Moon-calender in plant gardening is another gift from the past only. Gardening according to to the phase of the Moon is a centuries old practice, practiced by the ancient cultures all over the world. As with Sea, our bodies, a plant’s water content is affected by the pull of the moon. The waxing Moon period ( from New moon to Full moon) stimulates the growth in plants. In Darjling CTC India’s rare Tea picked under a full moon before dawn as according to planters, is the right occasion to produce high quality brew in terms of flavor and fragrance and nutrients. After Sunset, evaporation stops on the surface of the tea leaves. Besides  tea leaves are believed to gather large amount of vital nutrients from the soil during the full moon. Skilled workers pluck leaves under full moon light to harvest the best of flavor and aroma. It is celebration , song  dance  work all rolled into one ritual for the workers of Tea Garden.Now research says that plants convey their feelings , never hesitate to tell you when they’re in trouble. Symptoms include yellow, wilted leaves, colorless,, shriveled, brown, spotted leaves, dry and shriveled broken roots. By giving out smell also they indicate their stress. When the grass is cut, the peculiar smell emerges is their distress call. Our forefathers knew all these by their keen observation and intuition and knew very well that plants have life and feelings. Before plucking leaves or flowers  cutting the plants they would pray to the plants to pardon them for the injury inflicted on them. They worshiped plants and trees as their life givers.

So many books and monuments are there. Archeological and Research studies serve to show the modern man that those original thoughts of his today are not very new at all. Truly said,

“ All my best thoughts were stolen by the ancients.”- R. W. Emerson

   Body Arts for ageless charm like Tattoing, wearing ornaments, facials, painting finger nails, 

Lipstick , applying eyeliner on eyelashes, all are handed down from the past only. They all were backed by some reasons. To illustrate one example, Lipstick as a beauty aid is also of ancient origin. Not only  red tinge added beauty to the lips making a woman attractive. It has a beautiful basis behind it. It was believed that life and all eternity were ruled by the cycle of the Sun, which was thought to move in a circle. people did things clockwise ( east to west) the way Sun moves to honor the Sun.

It was believed that evil spirits could not enter a circle, since the circle represented the Sun and the Sun was all powerful. The mouth was thought of an entrance to the body, and a red circle is drawn around the mouth kept the soul inside and the devil outside.

The custom of ear piercing and the belief that goes with it namely it will correct impaired vision, cures ear troubles hark back to earlier times in most of the cultures. The ear was believed to be the seat of intelligence by the ancients. The earring was an amulet and was worn to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune. Even pirates also wore earrings as they believed that it improved their eyesight.

Ornaments might be of stones or beads, ivory but were worn by women and men at accupressure points of the body. the same is carried on today except with mettalic jewellery, gems, pearls.

The homemakers who have passed on by word of mouth, the various traditions of food preparing, beauty tips,creative arts ,habits, and cultural observances that have kept all communities in the world vibrantly active.

Most of the games like Chess,Ludo, playing cards, Tic-Tac-Toe, Marbles are from different cultures. Anagrams and other word-plays amused the ancient Greeks, Romans and Indians.

Attraction of tourism for exploring history and culture and aesthetic experience of Nature as a respite from daily  routine has its origin in pilgrimage as a religious one in various cultures, compulsory to have the same goal but for bringing people as a step towards to realize divinity in Nature and in themselves. In ancient times, travel was not easy so made it necessary to undertake pilgrimage once a year at least to sacred spots at different places on the earth to make people appreciate Nature, to socialize with other people, understand other cultures, taking time to enjoy themselves as a change from daily routine. So there is

nothing new , nothing but the same combination or some variation of the old in new form. To quote Henry Ford:

" I  invented nothing new. I simply assembled the discoveries of other men behind whom were centuries of work. Had I worked fifty or ten or even five years before, I would  have failed. So it is with everything. Progress happens when all the factors that make for it are ready and then it is inevitable."

what a true statement ! Innovation relies on the combined harvest of old knowledge and new thinking.

It is interesting to note so many facts and beliefs pertaining to so many habits and customs in the history of man’s social evolution, many are retained in some form or other.

Scattering of rice on festive occasions especially marriage in all cultures is followed even today, rice symbolizing the fertility and prosperity. Those days rice was the chief grain.

Flipping coin is ancient way of deciding a point. Even now it is followed in many cases like games.

In ancient times beard was a sign of wisdom. Then the practice of shaving began in ancient times as a defense against enemies grabbing and pulling soldiers by their beards during battle. Now shaving for cleanliness, hygiene and fashion.

Not only in the past even now , standard units of measurement have been inspired by human body parts like from elbow up to finger. Even now dimension of a room is estimated in counting steps. In spite of standardization, measuring cups, balance etc in cooking, the terms like a pinch of salt, a pinch of cinnamon are used. Again a handful of beans etc. The body based units of measurement is in every culture. And this is more convenient and practical and ready to work without depending upon the external instruments. Theories emerge from practical knowledge. With all generations tools cannot replace human thinking. Even in cooking and testing food whether good or bad, the touch by the fingers, color perceived by the eyes, smell by the nose, sound by the ears , taste by the tongue play the role of judges.

Every generation enjoys the use of vast treasures bequeathed to it by antiquity and transmit that hoard augmented by fresh acquisitions, to future generations. The end of science is not to prove a theory but to improve mankind.

See any video, reel, podcast, vodcast, there is a craze to delve into the past. Culture and technology are the strong pillars of a nation. Culture is the fountain of inexhaustible inner strength to the nation and the unbreakable inner emotional bond among the people. The arts and crafts of the past that were once little known to young generations has now begun to mesmerize a growing number of young viewers. Thanks to the social media platform like Instagram, Facebook , intangible cultural heritage shares short videos of their creations on social media platforms. The social media platforms have made the entire globe a village. Efforts like this have prompted young people to learn more about their national culture and of others and in return encourage more innovations and many sites offer to purchase their skills, thus promoting further.

Human being is so curious to know about the past one cannot miss to spot even in daily newspaper a column( a small para ) on the important event or incident on that day long back under the heading ‘ From the Archives, ‘ on this day one hundred seventy years ago………’

There’s a column in every daily newspaper devoted to the significant event happened on the same day centuries back to draw the readers to past to arouse and satisfy their curiosity.

There’s a craze for vintage recipes. While religious devotion remains the same, traditional sweets have been reinvented on modern delicious pattern to delight the modern palate, with kitchen transformed into a lively hub of fresh ideas.

Curiosity, learning and innovation are the basic traits of human beings. In this advanced digital age, people realize the value of knowledge from every corner of the world, appreciate and want to know about the past to improve the present. Early fossils and artifacts remains offer the clues about the culture  life  society of the past. Even now people collect old coins, stamps, books and vintage articles as a hobby. They fetch high monetary value. Auctions are held. Old articles have historical significance  rarity makes them unique and of artistic and cultural value, highly prized by the collectors and institutions demand. A proud possession exhibited in museums and art galleries . Humans by nature are mental time travellers. We don’t just live in the present we reminisce about our past and plan for future..Hearing old music once you heard or dancing ,tasting a dish taking you back to Grandma’s or mama’s, looking at old photos, albums, vintage collectible-such a sort of sweet reminiscence is so universal. Modern Neuroscientists and psychologists assert that such a longing for the past and cherished memories of healthy dosage of nostalgia is good, could be a protective mechanism, a source of comfort and make our lives meaningful.

Yearning for secrets of Blue Zones , is nothing but the age-old tradition of spending a relaxed life as a balance between work and rest and depending on the food products available from Nature , and cherishing every moment of life.

What’s surprising is that people are going back to old times.

There is so much buzz around loads of proteins to your diet !  Research shows that getting enough proteins can help your immune system strong, healthy, and boosts longevity. Daily food in good olden days took care of all these needs in a regulated manner.

“ Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” said Hippocrates long long ago.

Eating habits, principles of nutrition, family meal as a sacred institution are recognized and adopted by modern men.

All ancient texts recommend walking. It is said that monks by eating seven to eight cloves could climb and walk long distances on the hills without feeling tired.The body is born to move, and moving can help keep our blood circulation optimized, the joints lubricated, and our breathing and digestive system well. This is what modern science also dictates.

Turmeric Latte, ginger tea are on the go now. Turmeric, ginger, garlic,clove, cinnamon, black pepper, honey and others with a long history of use in traditional medicine, a staple spices in Asian recipes are currently popular in the health and wellness segment. All herbs , recognized as power house of nutrients occupy a prominent place in all types of recipes.

Now there is upswing in going back to old remedies for common ailments. When it comes to healthy recipes and home remedies, grandma knows best.

Now the ancient wisdom of natural remedies like Henna, Tea leaves, Aloevera for hair growth, peels of orange, banana, rose petals,sandal powder, milk, flours, butter , lemon juice and other similar things for facial and body care are all making a strong come back which have been corner stone of holistic hair, body routine for centuries in all cultures. By embracing the age-old secrets , we not only honor  our roots but realize that the most effective solutions to healthy living lie in the lap of nature all around. 

In the words of Albert Einstein :-

“ I know not with what weapons world war third

will be fought, but sure world war fourth  will be fought with sticks and stones .”

It is interesting to note what the founder-father of Dubai said about his city’s future :-

“ My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I drive a Mercedes, my son a Land Rover, his son will drive a Land Rover, but his son will drive a camel.”

Rediscovering ancient wisdom gives a chance to learn something new. Modern scholars are exploring the materials of durability left behind in legacy of town planning, architecture and sculptures as a possible solution for the present day problems. DNA and artifacts to unravel medical mysteries. Taking a cue from the past, proponents of natural living have been exploring opportunities untapped, unthinkable to a modern mind, luminescent bulbs without electricity  biofuels, solar power, wind energy for home and industrial use as eco-friendly.

Traditional cultures and their lifestyles were responsible for the conservation of rich biodiversity in their environment. So much to learn from them ! Past is like roots and we are shoots from it. We will realize from the study of past civilizations of the countries of the world we are the leaves of one and the same branch, the drops of one ocean, the flowers of one and the same garden.

Rediscovering is delightful to transport one’s self into the spirit of the past to see how a wisemen thought before us and how he achieved marvelous skill seen and admired today and especially in the cultural and spiritual spheres. Now Archaeological evidences, literary sources such as Libraries with books, manuscripts and internet, digital Libraries providing reading material and online catalogues providing access to research papers and articles from all over world  and with the advancement of AI many new avenues can open up in historical research of the past. Learning new  things is always exciting for the brain. In this informative age, the more you know, you can learn and contribute more to humanity. In this kaleidoscopic world, every age has something to contribute  to teach and to enrich our knowledge and wisdom and pass on the treasure to posterity to cherish and develop further as we had the same opportunity to benefit from and enjoy the same.

After so many years into exploring the wonders of ancient wisdom of different cultures, I decided to write a small monograph sharing my views with a bigger audience, to be specific, young generation with the motto behind this would be to bring in young minds closer to the past tradition, understand, and appreciate the best in them.

Here in this monograph I would like to touch upon mainly the wisdom in Hinduism, as depicted in the works of Sanskrit, one of the ancient language though other cultures have been touched upon here and there. Sanskrit, the very mention of it brings forth the images of Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga, Ayurveda, now Panini's grammar as fitting tool for AI. The vast Indian Culture's influence is seen in other countries too.

I try to give a short glimpse of it to show how rich our tradition is. I cannot touch upon all and on everything , as I'm myself still a student exploring for the same. I'm happy to share whatever I know, though a little and would feel grateful if it conveys something of my feelings to you. Hope you enjoy reading the same as I enjoyed putting my thoughts to words.

Thank you,

Lalita Kuppuswamy

Introduction

      

                                            Introduction 

   Sanskrit , a classical language of the Indo- European family, was the language, a perfect structured one known as ‘ Deva Vani’ , language of gods , chosen by ancient seers as the fittest medium to preserve the rich wisdom in its fullest expression. Through this medium, India had unfolded secrets of wisdom and gifted the first and finest contents of it to the mankind in the form of the Vedas. Knowledge flourished here with all its disciplines fulfilling the social, ethical, psychological, scientific, spiritualistic, aesthetic and philosophical needs of the globe. Scientific method was as old as the human thought in this land, Vedic literature was its main spring  Vedic seers were the first generation scientists. They adopted the method of observation, and intuition to produce the reliable phenomenal expansion of various facets of knowledge.

 Sanskrit, though may not be a spoken language today, but its prominent role in preserving Indian languages, literature, and cultural heritage representing ancient Indian traditions even today, its impact on the languages, literatures of India as well as other countries ,its rich culture  is  palpable. Its vast spectrum comprising all compartments of knowledge is so much no one book can encompass the encyclopedic wealth of data available in the vast literature of Sanskrit. Just a few little touches from the wide range of monumental works are presented for interest and appreciation.

This language had always been a language of the elite class as is connected with scriptures and religious practices. To an ordinary man, Sanskrit is nothing more than stories and myths and religious conduct of the past as described in various texts. They are not properly understood as people in general are not conversant with the depth of the language, literature and most of the stories and literary pieces are read through translations. The stories and myths abound in Sanskrit are symbolic and can be appreciated only when given a deep thought.

One of the striking feature of the vast literature of Sanskrit are the strands of religion, spirituality and science all rolled into one. Spirituality is recognizing that there is something that transcends our embodied human existence. Indian culture gives a religious cloak to understand the mysterious doctrines of life. Religion is a way of life prescribed which gives a practical aspect to know about spirituality for common man. There is always a streak of science to the intellectual eye. A spiritual perspective does not mean giving up life and abdicate responsibilities for choices. There the religious activities enter, to give a practical approach to life. At the same time they are not incoherent as appear to modern man. There is always underlying scientific principle running as undercurrent in all of them. Outwardly the mantras- stotras are ritualistic , for practical application of life. Life is spiritual in nature and the fiber is science. Science explores the external world uncovering the laws of Nature while spirituality delves into the inner realms of consciousness  unveiling the mysteries of the self and the universe. A holistic approach to knowledge is necessary embracing both empirical investigation and inner exploration. To quote Albert Einstein, a visionary, a great scientist and philosopher:-

“ Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.”

By co-operation, lame sitting on the shoulders of the blind can guide both to reach the destination namely knowledge.  A lame can walk cannot see, blind can walk but cannot see. With mutual help, they can reach the destination.

Pythagorus never divorced religion from philosophy and science, which even in his day, left him open to accusation of mysticism.

The oldest treasure but ever new is the Vedas. The Vedas in the form of mantras are the accumulated treasure of spiritual laws realized through intuition by great sages in different times and passed on to the disciples through oral tradition. Vedic mantras are sound vibrations, nada. So they are as ancient  as the origin of sound. They are eternal and as a revealed scripture, they are self-evident and self-authoritative. The Vedas reveal that “ One Truth” to us in the form of many deities. It is the foundation for all religions like Buddhism, Jainism. While many civilizations rose and fell, cities were built and crumbled to dust, books were destroyed. It’s one monument endured, unchanged for it was not built of stone but of sound. For more than several millena , the Vedas have been daily recited in India.They’re recited with accent. If mispronounced  they don’t give the intended meaning, with the result some adverse effect is also seen. Modern Neuroscience also admits that the phonetics of Sanskrit has roots in various points of the body and reading, speaking or reciting Sanskrit stimulates these points and raise the energy levels by resistance against illnesses, relaxation to mind and reduction of stress are achieved.

All the vedas are not chants for religious rites. They contain wealth of wisdom. Prayers for the good of all, long and healthy life, cordial relationships at home, society, marriage, agriculture etc etc. In short

Vedas is an encyclopedia of all subjects needed for  the intellectual and all-round development of individual towards a healthy happy life and the mission of life , the cream being philosophy covering Theories of creation, evolution of human being, goal of life. Sages were great scientists. In the Vedas, many astounding revelations have been made about the profound secrets of Nature. The time tested wisdom enshrined in the scriptures is that it is a very rare privilege to be born as a human and he is the supreme creation of the Creator. And in this body only one endowed with discrimination, a human has the chance of attaining Bliss and much sought after emancipation from the cycle of births and deaths in which the soul is fully entangled and enveloped under the heap of previous karmas, the theories of creation, the birth of a human body, the development of foetus in the body, the paths to attain liberation are all set forth in scriptures. There is bedrock of science imbedded in the Vedas. The Vedas have six auxiliary disciplines known as Vedangas ( The Veda conceived as a human being and auxiliary texts as his limbs ) for understanding and interpreting for correct pronunciation and performance of rituals. They are Phonetics, Grammar  Metres, Etymology and Exegesis, Astronomy and Astrology, Rituals and ceremonies. Yaska, the author of text on Etymology points out an interesting truth thus:-

“ Due to the incapacity of memory in later generations, narration became necessary, and a book became the place of memory.”

Brevity is the soul of Vedic mantras. It is in Sutra style. The beauty of Sanskrit language is that maximum could be expressed in minimum words. It was fit for oral tradition as the receivers were also mentally, intellectually sharp. Earlier generations relied on oral tradition and memory to preserve and pass it down. However, as human memory and intellectual capacity declined over time, it became necessary to record knowledge in written form to ensure its preservation and transmission to future generations.

All Vedic invocations are conceived in universal brotherhood and prayers for the welfare of all. Thoughts are never wasted and never erased. When we think of something and of course when we pray, we send it out, as it had wings on the air. It is carried by our vibrations and something stronger that we don’t understand, into eternity. They also realized the fact that one cannot be happy without all others being happy. This is Nature’s law as all are connected together.

Vedic sages were keen observers of Nature to correlate the onset of various seasons. One of such hymns is Manduka Sukta, the hymn on frogs. Here there is description of different colored frogs in water and frogs as harbingers of rainy season is another stroke of Vedic poetry.

There is a touching gambler hymn. It is a monologue of a repentant gambler who laments the ruin brought on him because of addiction to dice as he could not resist to the sounds of the dice thrown and rolling on the board. And when he loses everything and when police comes to arrest him, all his relatives including wife, mother do not recognize and desert him. He realizes the value of family life and advises the readers,” Don’t play with dice, do agriculture.”

In the Bhumi sukta , hymn to Earth, the Vedic sages always regarded our Earth as a living entity, a mother, a Goddess protecting our lands, waters, animate and inanimate elements of the environment. Earth is lovingly called as mother. The Atharvaveda Seer declares , “ This Earth is our Mother and we are all her children.” He prays further to Mother Earth to give him the strength not to hurt Her even when using Her for his living.

“ Oh , Mother Earth! When we plough your body for cultivation  please let the plants grow well! Let us not harm your vitality when we use you for our livelihood!”

What a spirit of respecting and preserving this Earth and its environment as a living and breathing entity !

Another striking hymn is Shiva Samkalpa Suktam of Yajurveda on power of good thoughts. We find a profound truth in this simple yet powerful statement of the ancient Roman poet Horace,

“ Rule your mind or it will rule you.”

Mind is like a wild horse, if trained and guided, it can take you to great heights, but if ignored, it can run amok and lead to chaos. This is the uniform, universal declaration in almost all scriptures of the world. Modern research also point out that our mind always in constant motion. Mind is the vehicle of thoughts. All the objects are connected, they are controlled, and associated together only by thoughts, by the imagination of your mind. Mind assumes the shape of any object it intensely thinks of. The Mahabharata says :- ‘  Mind of the human being is alone the cause of his freedom and bondage.’. Parapsychology and subconsciousness, practice of telepathy, Thought-reading, hypnotism, mesmerism and psychic healing also clearly prove the powerfulness of the mind that a higher mind can influence and subjugate the lower mind. You can move the world by thought force. Thought has great power. It can be transmitted from one man to another. Yogis can read them. 

The stronger the thoughts, the earlier the fructification of the work. The focus, direction and degree that is given  the more effective it is in the work it is sent out to accomplish. The Chandogya- Upanishad points that thoughts as finer force is supplied to us by the food we take. If the food is pure, thought also becomes pure. A person can influence thousands of persons through his pure thoughts. The world itself is but the materialization of the thought form of God according to scriptures. Thought waves travel in no time. Human mind is like a wireless machine. What you give, it comes back to you. That is the Nature’s law.

A saint with peace, harmony and spiritual waves sends out into the world thoughts of harmony and peace. They travel with lightening speed in all directions and enter the minds of persons and produce in them also the thoughts of harmony and peace . Where as a worldly man whose mind is full of jealousy, revenge and hatred sends out discordant thoughts which enter the minds of thousands and stir in them similar thoughts of hatred and discord.

‘ To rule your mind, ‘ means to develop self-awareness and discipline. It involves recognizing your thought patterns, understanding your emotions  and consciously directing your mental focus. This is not about suppressing thoughts or feelings but about understanding them and steering them in positive, productive direction. One effective way is through mindfulness and meditation. When we are mindful, we are better equipped to make choices that align with our values and goals  rather than being driven by fleeting emotions or external pressures. Another aspect of ruling your mind is to cultivate a positive thinking and choosing to focus on solutions and possibilities to face and overcome the challenges  rather dwelling on problems.

Shiva Sankalpa Sukta is a prayer addressed to the mind by the aspirant who prays that his mind may have always auspicious thoughts. To summarize ,The mind is a wanderer in the waking state and returns to the deep sleep, that mind is unique and lives in all beings, it is endowed with intelligence, consciousness, fortitude and immortality and the light within all beings and that without which no action is possible, that mind is immortal, because of which the past, present and future are known, through which rituals are performed, the mind in which Vedic mantras are established like the spokes in the hub of a chariot wheel and by which the minds of all beings are pervaded, may that mind which guides men like a good charioteer who controls the horses ( sense organs ), and which dwells within and is ageless, fast have auspicious thoughts!

The human mind is the cause of peace and happiness when purified and the source of sorrow when impure, and if conquered, it grants accomplishment and perfection ( Siddhi ); but when unconquered, it generates failure. It well behoves human beings to bring and keep the mind under his control. The full theme of the hymn is an ardent prayer:-

‘ Tanme manah Shivasamkalpam astu !

May my mind have auspicious thoughts !

The eight supernatural powers attained  by the control of mind are described in the Yoga sutras of Patanjali.

Concept of long life- Aging is generally associated with a decline in quality of life. Little wonder that the concept of anti- aging has inspired legends and literature for centuries. Even now medical field is trying to explore the same through medicines and gadgets. In fact the craze is for immortality. Any created thing perishes one day. This is Nature’s Law.  One cannot fight against biology in the end.All religions formulate values and ethical codes for leading a happy , peaceful life, pointing out the immortal soul in the form of consciousness exists inside the body. Without understanding, man aspires for physical immortality which is against the law of Nature. The real import, as enshrined in Vedic mantras is that as long as we live, we should have a healthy life with healthy organs, dedicating ourselves to the welfare of the humanity, leading a life worthy to ourselves and to others. To put in the words of the seers:-

“ Om. Oh gods, may we hear with ears what is auspicious;

May we see with our eyes auspicious; 

May we enjoy the term of life allotted by the deities, praising them with our body and limbs steady.

This mantra is a common prayer the well being of all( not one singular being), prosperity, and peace seeking blessings from various deities for a harmonious and prosperous life of all.

Plato considers old age as a natural process. He distinguished old age from disease and then suggests a way of living a healthy life to harmonize movement of soul and body.

All the systems of Indian Philosophy have scientific theories in them namely Logic, Metaphysics and universe with categories, Atomic theory, Consciousness and matter ( Energy and Matter ) and the emergence of the Universe through the interaction of these two, Practical aspects of Spiritual practice and meditation for Self-realization and liberation, performance of Vedic rituals as the source of righteousness, Philosophical teachings of the Upanishads dealing with the nature of Reality, the Self and the ultimate Principle.

Many Sanskrit books in Philosophy and Science are written in the form of poetry as   it is easiest to remember something written in verse form than in prose.

Einstein once said, “ We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific could have been made.” Indians were known for their proficiency in the field of Mathematics. The great Aryabhatta worked out the value of Pi. He was the one, along with few astronomers to find out the distance between Sun and Earth besides the fact that Earth revolves around the Sun. He arrived at these conclusions way back in 500 B.C without the aid of telescopes.

Sanskrit scriptures are not only the repositories of just moral teachings but also of scientific revelations. The battle of Mahabharata became inevitable when after all possible attempts to reconcile failed.  The blind king Drtarashtra expressed his desire to know the happenings in the battle field. Considering the king’s urge, Sanjaya, the king’s trusted counselor and attendent who was provided with the faculty of distant vision by the Sage Vedavyasa could see a ‘ Live Telecast’ of the whole expanse of the battle field and simultaneously report to the king. It was a ( remote ) technology in use even during the days of Bronze Age , Age of Mahabharata. In the Bhagavad Gita also ( part of the Mahabharata), Lord Krishna bestows upon Arjuna the Divine eye to behold His mystic opulence.

Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles may seem like recent technological inventions. But

Vimana Shastra- Aeronautics- it was an advanced science. Bharadwaja’s text on Aeronautics with diagrams is well known. Mind-driven Pushpaka  Vimana, which belonged to Kubera taken away by Ravana is mentioned in Ramayana. In fact Rama with his retinue returned from Lanka to Ayodhya by this only after the war. Not only this many other aerial cars driven by mind’s desire are mentioned. Kardama prepared one at the desire of his wife. Maya asura gave the vehicle flying at desire to Shalva.

Science of entering the body of another person through advanced Yoga ( Parakaya-pravesha )was well known practice. Adi Shankaracharya entered the body of King Amaruka to learn the Art of love to win over his debate with Mandana Mishra and his wife Bharati who was the judge in the debate. Tirumular, a Siddha in South India entered the body of a shepherd. King Vikramaditya was an expert in this art.

In statecraft , the texts of Chanakya, Shukra and others are the authority.

Sanskrit contribution to medical field knows no boundaries. Faith in the physician and medicine is a must for cure. Charaka in his compendium in Ayurveda covers all relating to medical field. Sushruta’s work is a blueprint on surgery. Both of them cover  Heart diseases and treatments.  What a vivid description of Blood circulation in Bhela samhita, Respiratory physiology of Shargadhara Samhita !! In the words of Shargadhara samhita, “ Prana vayu after forcing through the interior of the lotus like heart goes out through the throat to drink the outside air. After taking up the nectar of the outside air, it enters the body again to nourish the whole body and to keep up the digestive fire.”

The Surgery of Sushruta recognizes more than 125 different instruments after the shape of beast and birds and other shapes. The qualifications  of a surgeon are practically the same as are recommended in the present days. A light refreshment is enjoined to be given to the patient before a surgical operation, while abdominal operations, and operations in the mouth are advised to be performed while the patient is fasting. Sushruta enjoins the sickroom to be fumigated with the vapors of white mustard, neem leaves and resinous gums of Shala trees which foreshadows the antiseptic therapy of modern times. The surgeon is justified to handle his knife only when the affected vital organ is not strong enough to effect the cure on its own. All kinds of operations were performed with utmost smile and caution.

The practice of fine arts was a regular feature in the cultural life of ancient India. It was the sign of cultural upbringing of man and woman which earned them a position of respect in society. The proliferation of arts was so elaborate that according to traditional counting, they are numbered as many as sixty-four. 64 Arts in Sanskrit and 64 Aya kalaigal as they are known in Tamil.

Fine arts were/ are the friend, philosopher, guide and the most intimate beloved companion of man since ancient times. Such is the true nature and influence of Art. In between struggles with reality, life rests and sleeps and dreams art. These dreams must have been visiting human feelings, ever since the first primitive man drew his first sketch on the walls of his primitive dwellings, imitated the sounds of birds to the clapping of hands, dancing around the fires. Poets, litterateurs, musicians, dancers, painters, sculptors all over the world have dreamt their dreams, expressed them and made the world richer and sweeter thereby. In ancient India the pursuit of sixty-four arts were part and parcel of their education. Every prince and princess, every son and daughter of aristocrats had to gain proficiency in all or most or least some of the arts failing which he or she would not get an honored place in the society. Common men learnt some arts for livelihood. The list is detailed in various texts in classical literature of Sanskrit. Just for interest to name a few apart from singing, playing on various kinds of musical instruments, dance, acting, there are descriptions of  arts connected with body decoration such as dress, cosmetics, perfumes, ornaments, making garlands and floral ornaments, painting the body, teeth, nails, art of hair styles, dyeing of clothes, art of making bed and decorating, art of cooking, archery, carpentry , art of gardening and botany, the art of physical culture like walking, gymnastics, games, Yoga mudras, asanas, breathing exercises , boxing, wrestling, hunting etc. Amusing arts like puzzles  some of them requiring wit and wisdom, some knowledge of words, some memory and some played for mere fun and joy. There were like composing verses in Sanskrit and regional dialects, reading , reciting poems and passages, the art of communicating ideas by use of fingers and gestures, the art of cryptography and many more. 

These arts encompass a wide range of skills, from practical crafts and performing arts to intellectual pursuits and esoteric knowledge  reflecting the holistic approach to education and personal development and means of livelihood in ancient Indian culture.

Architectural  marvels were/ are everywhere in the ancient world Egypt, Greece , Rome and others.

India represents its advanced architectural and construction techniques. Mayamata, Samarangana Sutradhara are well known treatises on housing, temple architecture and iconography.  These architectural marvels remain a timeless and influential form design concepts and secrets of its durability  even today. Now researches are going on finding the materials used and exploring the same for modern constructions .Geometry and Astronomy played a big role in the construction. The principles of construction and architecture were based on experience of natural phenomena and in harmony with environment, rituals and life style of the region. On a philosophical level, a Hindu temple represents much more. It is a manifestation of the entire cosmos. They  served as centers of worship , community gatherings for participation in  religious rituals, festivals and other social activities. There are pillars in some temples that produce musical notes of varying frequencies when tapped with a finger. It is believed that these pillars were tapped to produce musical sounds to accompany to musical instruments to accompany chants and dance performances in the temple. Apart from the deity premises, there were ( still are ) multiple halls and sculpture galleries depicting scenes from epics and other scriptures  and inscriptions of songs . Thus they are permanent record keepers. The entire songs of . Annamacharya in original can be found on the walls of  Venkateshwara temple at Tirupathi, South India. In the good olden days, temple hall was the perfect center for performing arts. According to Shilpa shastras, the rocks were chosen for musical pillars with acoustic properties. Temple’s tall tops called gopurams had some science behind it. Inside it were/ are  filled with grains and husks( bad conductors of electricity) so as to prevent lightening strikes and save the nearby areas. It was a protective means. Every twelve years the old  grains are removed by replacing with fresh ones. Regarding the materials for the structure, local materials like metals,stone, wood, resins were used . The preparation of various types of glue ( miixing, proportions) for construction of temples, mansions, houses, images, walls and the like are mentioned in detail when cement and modern materials were unknown. Even now these glues known asAshtabandhana are prepared in  temple premises for fixing or refixing images of Gods. Mostly from unripe fruits, flowers, seeds, bark,secretions from trees, resin etc. Various compositions of various glues are also given.. One interesting glue used is Vajrasanghata. A compound of 8 parts of lead, 2 parts of bell-metal and 1 part of iron rust. 

Music has a very rich base in Indian culture. From the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, Nataraja to the earliest one is Natya Shastra of Bharata followed by numerous texts spread all over the centuries.

Bharata’s Natya Shastra of fifth century BCE is an authoritative treatise for the performing arts such as music, acting, dance.. the concepts dealing with the sentiments and theory of enjoyment of different sentiments is the corner stone of the philosophy behind music. 

Music notes are seven, considered originally from the sounds of animals. Creation of the world itself is said to have started with melody . It is called Nada. By the fusion of fire ( metabolic fire in the human body) and Prana ( breath), Nada is produced. From the different swara ( notes ) combination, ragas are produced.  The classical songs resonate with devotion and high philosophical thoughts set in different ragas. The tunes called ragas are even connected to certain time of the day and seasons. in olden days music healing was known. A particular raga had the power to produce rain, another could light a lamp when sung. Indian classic music, existing for over 2000 years, is all about feelings and spirituality.

Music has always been considered to be of divine origin in the culture of Hinduism. 7 swaras or notes correspond to 7 chakras ( meditative centers) in the human body. According to Swara Shastra, 72 basic ragas correspond to 72 subtle nadis and its effect can be seen on the listeners. India’s rich musical heritage has a lot to offer to modern Psychiatry. Ragas are explored to treat any malaise in the body.

Music is a form of art that is easily accessible to anyone anytime anywhere especially in this digital age. Every element in the universe originates from a sound vibration, hence it is no wonder that music can touch anyone. It is connected to the conscious meditation. From very early times philosophers like Plato, Confucius laid emphasis on the need for music training for all. According to Plato, musical training is inseparably linked to character formation, and should not be considered an island unto its own.

Indian musical tradition has its roots in the Vedas. Vedas are chanted with 3 accent pitch level normal (svarita ), high or raised ( Udatta ), and low or not raised ( Udatta).Sama Veda mantras are recited almost as sung  rhythmically with these accents. Hence SamaVeda is said to be the origin of Indian music.

 There are seven notes. Sa, Re/Ri, Ga, Ma,Pa, Dha, Ni in Indian music. And according to tradition, each note is associated with sound produced by a particular animal or a bird. 

       Chakras in the body——  Swaras——————-Source of  the note, Animal or bird 

Muladhara                             Sa                                 The cry of the peacock 

Svadhishtana                         Ri                                The lowing of a bull 

Manipura                              Ga                                 The bloating of a goat

Anahata                              Ma                                  The call of the heron 

Vishuddha                          Pa                                   Call of the cuckoo 

Ajna  ( Agya )                   Dha                                 Neighing of the horse

Sahasrara                           Ni                                    The trumpeting of the elephant 

Thus the sounds of animals and birds played a foundational role in shaping the musical notes that form the basis of Indian classical music, underscoring the deep connection between nature and the evolution of music in Indian tradition. The cries of birds and beasts might have attracted the primitive man and he imitated those sounds to denote alarm, passion, pain and joy like feelings . As the man began to produce through his vocal organs to express his feelings, he might have also found out claps or drum beat could be effectively used to draw attention to or to articulate rhythm and it became a means of enjoyment to himself and to others.

Sangita Makaranda, a treatise on Indian classical music describes the process of  music.  It describes thus:- ‘ The Atman ( Soul) desirous of speaking out of its intention excites the mind; and the mind operates on the vital heat of the body by setting the air in the Brahmagranthi, rises up and produces sound through navel,heart, the neck, the head and the face. The sound is the origin of music.’

Sangita means that music which adheres to rules. Classical music is not just artistic or entertaining, but also it sublimates man’s body, mind and soul thus making him  a liberated soul. Indian scriptures call God as Nada Brahman and music as Nada Yoga.

       The interesting point is the ancient  theory  regarding the origin  of musical notes from animal kingdom is corroborated by the modern findings too. Thus Science validates the truths which spritualists had known long before.

New discovery shows the vocal organs of mammals, including human share a common genetic link. As an example of deep homology, bird song and human voice have been built from same genetic blue print.

Music is a central part of Indian culture and deeply rooted in Indian philosophical and cultural fold. It is linked to religious practices, beliefs performed in temples and places, used in ceremonies and festivals or a form of devotion and meditation. The sound Om encapsulates both the micro and macro and the form and formless. When a particular mantra is recited, it is translated into pure energy, in the form of vibration which corresponds with the energy of Nature at large. Each alphabet lose their physical essence and transcend the space and time boundaries through meditation and expresses the whole, that from which it emerges and goes back to it.  The recitation of stotras create a state of trance.The merging through the interplay of language, music in any language in a certain tone and rhythm, allows for a communication to be built through the cosmos.  Music comes closest to cosmic language. In Beethoven’s words:- “ music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.”

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Sanskrit’s relevance to modern times can be explored in beauty aids also. Hair dyes have been dealt with in detail in Atharvavada, Brhatsamhita. Navanitaka, an older work of second century CE describes as many as eleven hair dyes recipes and refers to 46 ingredients used in their preparation. The Gandhayukti section of Brhatsamhita offers rich material for a chapter on the historicity of ancient Indian cosmetics. For example, a formula for obtaining 84 perfumes of fragrance of Vakula flowers is set forth there. There is an all-purpose perfume called Sarvatobhadra. There is mention of mouth-perfumes made into small tablets for chewing similar to mouth freshners of today. Scented oils ( also in Agnipurana ), tooth-sticks( Charaka, Sushruta samhitas) , dyeing of clothes, Bath powder, Talcumpowder are all enlisted In Brhatsamhita.

It is interesting to find how the ancient cultures found cures for baldness.  Garuda Purana recommends paste of burnt Ivory ash with goat’s milk application to grow hair on bald head in seven days. Early Egyptians created a compound for reversing baldness using fat of crocodiles, goats  snakes, cats, lions and hippopotamus. Saffron, Clove, honey are given to treat dental problems like pain, strengthening weak teeth is delineated in ancient Indian scriptures. Ayurveda gives a holistic approach to cure and maintain healthy and sweet voice by taking ginger powder with honey.

Sanskrit has no less contribution to Horticulture. All aspects connected with crops like preservation of seeds, grafting, manuring, diagnosis of diseases of trees and other related materials are profusely available in texts like Brhatsamhita  ,Krishiparashara ,Abhilashitarta chintamani, Vrkshayurveda, Upavanavinoda etc. To cite one example, how to find out soil-health ?  Sesame treatment for the soil. The Sesame plants in full bloom, when cut into pieces and allowed to mingle with soil, would become an excellent green manure for the soil for further cultivation. It is also held if this sesame crop does not flourish in a field, nothing could be grown there with advantage. Similarly when the fruits of a tree are destroyed prematurely  it should be watered with milk that has been cooled after being boiled with horse gram,green gram, black gram, sesame and barley. Being treated thus, it will have abundant flowers and fruits. It is interesting to note the details on transplantation of plants from one country to another and growing three kinds of fruits on the same tree in different branches.

A look at the Home-science section of Sanskrit literature. Books like Pakadarpana offers varied and exciting recipes such as preparation of different dals ( lentils), vegetable dishes from plantain  brinjal  white pumpkin  lotus stalk etc Even non-vegetarian dishes have been mentioned. Preparation of sweet dishes and setting of curd are its special features.

Since Vedic teachings are esoteric, The Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas were written to aid the common man to understand the Vedic teachings through interesting stories and attain the goal of life namely the realization of the self, the ultimate freedom from the cycle of births and deaths.

Then the vast classical literature in all its genres poetry, prose, poetry mixed with prose, dramas , folk tales, , historical kavyas, including books on Jainism   Buddhism . It also abounds In literary feats where genius poets played with and on the richness of Sanskrit in vocabulary and grammar. To give a few illustrations:- Bhatti kavyam also called Ravanarjuniyam is a epic poetry delineating the story of the king Kartavirya Arjun along with illustrations from the grammar of Panini. RaghavaYadavaPandaviya- Use of a Treble Entendre, relating to three stories at a time the tales of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavata. Nalaharishcandriya- In its natural order  the verse relates the story of Nala and in the reverse order the story of Harishcandra. Ramakrishna viloma kavya - If the first half of each verse is read, it relates the story of Rama, in the reverse order the story of Krishna. Another feat of poetic genius- Kankanabandha Ramayana -  A single verse of 32 letters arranged in a circular form ( in the form of a bangle ) and by reading them from left to right and right to left, starting from any letter, we have 63 verses forming. If rewritten  a regular poem. A commentary interprets the verse so as to dedicate the whole to the story of Ramayana. A single vowel  or a consonant forming a verse and all consonants strung together to form a verse conveying some beautiful meaning.

Sanskrit literature  comprising That of great poets like Kalidasa, Bharavi, Magha, Shrihasha , Banabhatta, and others is not mere literary works with figures of speech, metres  and other things. Each work is a mirror of the society  geography, philosophy  science, religion of those periods. They are encyclopedia enclosed in art form.

The concept of soulmate found  in Greek culture is seen in Indian culture. The depiction of  Shiva Parvati as Ardhananarishvara , one part of body representing male, the other female, both of them one full unit scientifically philosophically representing energy and matter without which creation is not possible, such a theme of eternal love and reunion in successive life time is a recurring motif in classical Sanskrit literature.  In Kalidasa’s epic poem “Raghuvamsham” in the invocatory verse, the poet presents a beautiful and profound allegory that  compares the relationship between Lord Shiva and Parvati to the inseparable bond between a word and its meaning. Just as words and meanings together are essential for communication and comprehension  the deep , intrinsic relationship between the divine couple illustrating their unity, harmony and complementary role is essential  for the existence and functioning of the cosmos. Kalidasa prays to this divine couple to bestow upon him the knowledge of words and meanings enabling him to compose the great poem. Purity of a woman’s heart and her one-pointed devotion to her husband gives her immense miraculous powers and she is assigned the role of goddess to be worshipped. This is set an ideal for conjugal felicity in family. 

Kalidasa mentions Bioluminescent plants in Kumarasambhavam where the herbs illuminated the caves in the Himalaya mountains at night when the lovers used to meet there.

Kalidasa refers to milky way in the sky while traveling from Lanka to Ayodhya in the aerial car. 

He describes the smell of first rain drops of water falling on the earth scorched by the heat of the sun which now scientists call as ‘ Petrichor.’

Humanization of plant kingdom is a part of all poetry, the cream being in Kalidasa’s Abhijnana Shakuntalam where to the heroine Shakuntala, the appearance of a bud in a flower is almost like  joy of birth of a son.

Seasons and their respective flowers is another hall-mark description in Kalidasa’s Ritusamharam.

Meghadutam mentions different kinds of clouds.

Kiratarjuniyam of Bharavi is political commentary in epic form.

Kalhana, a Kashmiri historian , best known for his work ‘ Rajatarangini’ which describes the chronicle of kings of Kashmir. He outlines the qualifications , qualities, and responsibilities a historian should possess, he himself exemplifying the same. They are impartiality, thoroughness , knowledge of Geography and History , accuracy, clarity and eloquence, detachment from power, Ethical integrity, insight and wisdom .

Ancient wisdom presented in almost all the works has proved to be of a higher order in many spheres of practical work.

There are both explored and unexplored texts on Architecture  Astronomy  Astrology  Chemistry  Aeronautics, Philosophy  , Politics, poetics, Epigraphy,Grammar, Music, Lapidary sc  Equestrian lore, Elephant lore, Lexicography, Mathematics  Medicine, Music  Theft and on topics like Mining, Earthquakes, Exploration of water-springs  Comets and others scattered in different Samhitas.

In any comparative study whether language  literature, law or any field of knowledge, Sanskrit can form a rich base. Many findings arrived on the basis of Sanskrit texts can startle the modern scientist. These have only scratched the surface area of rich mine of Sanskrit which has tremendous potential for research.

Further Sanskrit has a characteristic of its own- an ennobling ethical sublime idealism. That knowledge can be a panacea for all types of ailments . The humanistic appeal of qualities like love, compassion, kindness,charity, tolerance the inculcation of which form the creamy layer of Sanskrit literature can add a touch of charm  liveliness and success in any walk of life whether in family, society, business, management or anything. A knowledge of proper study of the Bhagavad Gita and Bhakti literature can impart the Art of living by which man can discover in himself the equipoise to stand up to life’s situations, meeting efficiently the ever changing world of challenges he has to meet. let alone the modern medical research findings on music, yoga, meditation as cure for diseases like Neurosis, High blood pressure, Migraine etc, even with chanting or listening to the chanting of Vedic mantras, soul-stirring beautiful Sanskrit songs sung, Yoga and meditation, the mind can be revived from all fatigue andit can get recharged with all its potentialities. Karma and rebirth theory understood in the right perspective can instill will power and motivation and can make life meaningful.

Apart from the universal appeal of Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita( though a part of Mahabharata only ),puranas,, Panchatantra, Hitopadesha, there are plenty of books in classical literature in  its varied genres dealing with all  spheres of life. Chanakyaniti, Hitopadesha , Bhagavad Gita are all roped in to highlight the principles of management in them as relevant to modern requirement.

The real parameter to judge research is its relevance to social needs. The sublime thoughts of the seers and sages put down in writing thousands of years ago are not archaic remains or fossils from the cavern of past but the facts experienced by the seers themselves. Their statements are marked by a keen desire to promote human welfare with the motto being, ‘ Let the entire world be a single family’

Now is the time for new image. This is the time for fusion of tradition and modern. Cut flowers are beautiful. But their freshness remain for how long ? When we have strong healthy roots of past rich culture   Why not nurture it and get beautiful flowers which will not only make the birth soil fragrant but will make the entire atmosphere ever fragrant ?

Shankara's Hymns

 

                                Shankara's Hymns

    Shankara is a Jagadguru world teacher, the cultural epitome of India. He lived for only thirty-two years around 8th CBE.Even after so many centuries passed, the manifold effects of his impact in the form of commentaries on the source texts of Indian philosophy of monism like Brahma sutras, Upanishads ( last portion of the Vedas dealing with spirituality under the name of Gyanakanda) and others, Prakarana granthas namely books or booklets explaining the terms and terminologies used in the philosophical texts and sweet devotional hymns with their profoundity is still seen in the world of thoght, life and light. For Shankara’s life is the shining example of Indian philosophy and spirituality lived and applied to daily life He is an example of religion and spirituality in action

If we’re to understand this grand multi-dimensional ascetic and appreciate his works, we have to capture an understanding of the climate of thought in which he lived and functioned. At that time, there were various conflicting systems of thought in India in which he lived and functioned. Socially, philosophically as well as religiously  there was no central rallying point from which men could view the entire panorama of Indian thought. The diversified systems of thought were narrow and self-sufficient and had nothing to do with one another. Shankara makes a direct reference to the prevalent sects during his time in his work ‘ Dashasloki comprising only ten stanzas.

It was at such a time that the mastermind of Shankara set to work to produce unity in the field of religion  culture  and philosophy. It’s very clear from a study of Shankara’s works that his purpose was to reduce to unity and harmony, under the hegemony of Advaita vedanta  the multiplicity of conflicting thought systems, without destroying the integrity of the prevalent faiths, with a view to preserve the richness of diversity in the world of faiths. Unity in diversity was his aim and not uniformity. Diversity connotes richness but when it destroys the central unifying chord, becomes chaotic, demolishing all the progress and well-being of a community.

Shankara tries to introduce the mediating element among these, and he found it in the great philosophy of Advaita vedanta which proclaimed  as ultimate Reality  a principle that is personal as well as impersonal  immanent as well as transcendent. As such he fully deserved the title of Shanmata sthapana Acarya( establisher of six systems ).

In his missionary work of propagating the great philosophical truths of Advaita Vedanta he brought all kinds of people into his fold of thought. He appealed to the intellect through great commentaries on the Brahma sutras of sage Badarayana Vyasa, the Bhgavadgita, and the Upanishads heavily laden with irresistible arguments in vigorous Sanskrit prose and Prakarana granthas explaining the vedantic truths in a short form.To appeal to the heart, he poured out sweet devotional songs for common man to under, appreciate and delve into their philosophical flavor. His yearning for the same is beautifully brought out In Saundaryalahari, the cream of his poetry exuding the highest esoteric philosophy. He as a child to mother, as astudent to teacher pleads to the Goddess , the consort of Lord S’iva  to grace him with knowledge of words to compose and sing a poem in Her glory.

The famous dictum in Advaita vedanta is ‘ Sadhakanam hitarthaya Brahmanah rupakalpana.’ The formless Brahman is given forms of gods to aid common man to initiate into the path of spirituality. The great Acarya understood the limitations of common man. He composed devotional hymns on the deities which were commonly worshipped. He was not an exclusive S’aivite or Vaishnavite or S’akta and yet he eulogized S’iva, Vishnu or Durga or anyone in his hymns, he stood out to be the best among S’aivites, Vashnavites and Shaktas, thus setting a model for the respective groups for the correct method of worship. He proved himself to be a master in all fields of knowledge and practices whether Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shakta cult, Tantra, Mantra, Yantra or Yoga. The hymns were poetical outpourings of Shankara and not mere literary versifications. Such devotional pieces have sprung from him while visiting hallowed places of worship and places where God’s presence could be felt very strongly. to clothe his immortal feelings, he chose the immortal divine language Sanskrit.

The variety in literary structure metres  rich imagery, sentiment is seen, but the underlying strand running in all these hymns is vedanta( Monism). We find the unique marriage of highest poetry and esoteric philosophy here.

Many of his hymns are considered to be efficacious in securing secular benefits. They are expressed at the last stanza of each hymn. These hymns (stotras) make a refreshing departure from the arid path of philosophy. As in his philosophical thoughts, so in his hymns, Shankara manages brilliantly to accept the personal deity of popular theism without surrendering his monism. 

In Mohamudgara or Bhajagovindam, Shankara addresses the devotee declaring that   “ Same Vishnu ( god) dwells in you and me. Your anger and impatience is meaningless. Look upon as equal if you wish to attain the state of Vishnu soon. “ And in Kashi panchakam, another stotra of Shankara  he says all places of pilgrimage are within oneself, why to roam about here and there in jungle, deep sea waters, mountains etc. One should realize this deeply to feel the same. These hymns serve as inspiration  motivation to look for the for the bliss and peace inside of one’s being, not to go in search for outside.

Saundaryalahari or the Wave of Bliss is the culminating emblem of Shankara’s integration of Bhakti ( devotion), jnana ( Knowledge) and efficacy of the Mantras and potency of Yantras. It is an earnest appeal in prayer to the mother Goddess. The poetic qualities of the hymns are superb.

The last verse depicts Shankara’s poetic genius and supreme modesty. The Goddess is the supreme creator of everything in the universe. Nothing is his own. Even he is using the words to compose this poem to dedicate this to the Goddess belongs to Her only. His poem is like showing a lamp to the Sun in daylight. It is like offering to the Moon with water produced from the moonstone   like offering with few drops of water to the ocean, the water drops being taken from the ocean itself. He pleads to Goddess to accept his offering of this hymn even though the words are not his own. He is a limited being and Goddess is the queen of the world and everything is created by Her only. He craves for grace of the Goddess for accepting this small dedication of his. Such is the spirit of total surrender.

The next landmark is seen in Dakshinamurthy stotram which is addressed to God ( Lord Shiva) as the preceptor, by whose grace one receives the knowledge of non duality. The beauty of Dakshinamurthy sitting under a Banyan tree with students surrounding is very striking. What is all the more striking is silence is the lecture and the doubts of the disciples are dispelled.

Maunam vyakhyanam cchinnah sarvasamshayah. All are in blissful state of silence. Words have no role at this elevated stage.words cannot express the joy highest knowledge  the state of self-realization. The symbolism is very clear. The Banyan tree is unique and considered immortal because of its unique ability to spread out and develop supporting trunks time, making it almost immortal. Or with its vast spreadings can denote universe with entire creation. It isone of the trees which emits oxygen both day and night creating a pure, healthy atmosphere for body and mind , securing a place of sacredness to be worshipped.

Dakshinamurthy is the most pleasant form of Shiva. He is facing the south direction of death to ignorance which is the cause of cycle of births and deaths. A strange picture to behold The Lord is young because of his being as self-realized and the disciples are white-haired due to their unsatiated thirst for knowledge  their hair whitened and display signs of aging. Shiva is always in deep meditation and possesses immense yogic energy and all the doubts of the disciples were/ are dispelled through this energy. Parabhahmatattvajnanam is maunam. Realization of supreme stage is silence.

Self-realized as Shankara was, did not forget the realized souls. To those who had crossed over the barriers of sense of belonging, Shankara presents a bouquet of meditation verses (Vedanta Sutras) like Nirvana Shatakam, Upadesha Panchakam, Ekasloki, Dashaloki for regular ???, reflection and meditation??? to enter into the bliss inside. 

Shankara takes the process of Shravana, Manana, Nidhidhyasana as the structure of the method for knowledge (self realization) and for final release from the bonds of birth and death. The hymns easily pervade that structure. He has shown through these hymns that the arid path of knowledge is strewn with the beautiful roses of devotion. 

Shankara's magnanimous mind, laden with compassion for the common folk came down many a times to their level, guided them, elevated them in the beliefs and practices so that they would also reach the Supreme understanding of that One Reality. The beauty of the teachings of Sankara through Stotra literature lies in that they are applicable to all human beings irrespective of religion, race, caste and creed for he wrote and taught for humanity as a whole indeed as a real Jagadguru.

Shankara's spontaneous hymns showered by diving grace, clothed in different meters with words and meaning with profundity lending itself to rhythmic tunes are now set to  in different classical ragas( tunes), easily to be grasped by all now moves on the lips of all, uplifting them into the meditative world of bliss. 

Shankara brings the flavor of the philosophy into devotional literature and makes it an enjoyable means to the realization of Self.

A window to wise thoughts

 

                                         A window to wise thoughts

          

•      The things we love tell us what we are.
•      Enjoy little things in life for one day you may look back to realize they are the big things.
•      Be nicer than necessary to everyone you meet. Everyone is fighting some kind of battle.
•      If you cry because the Sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from the stars.
•      Love within, be not shaken by the happenings outside.
•      Believe in your infinite potential. Your limitations are those you set upon yourself.