Sunday, April 24, 2011

Upcoming Events

May 3  - 8 - Medicine Crow Retreat, Grass Valley CA - A World-Class Gathering of Teachers, Healers and Visionaries
For five days, you will learn from the leading experts in the world of botanical medicine as they teach about one of the most urgent and important topics of our time. This dynamic and life-changing event is unlike anything being offered anywhere in the field of natural healing.
Featured Teachers Include: David Frawley, Yogini Shambhavi, John Douillard, David Crow, Marc Halpern and more.
Use this link to receive a special gift from Dr. Frawley: http://www.floracopeia.com/frawley

June 1 - 3 - Journey Into Healing with the Chopra Center - Asheville, North Carolina. Vamadeva and Shambhavi will join Deepak Chopra and his staff for their Ayurvedic training program including special classes on the Wisdom of Herbs and Tonification and Rejuvenation. Vamadeva has taught regularly with the Chopra center over the last fifteen years and helps with their Ayurvedic Practitioner Training as well.


June 22 - 26 - Mantra Yoga and Primal Sound - Yogaville, Virginia. Special program with Vamadeva and Shambhavi based upon Dr. Frawley's most recent best selling book and Shambhavi's Yogini Bhava mantra CD. Will explore deeper practices of bija mantras, pranayama, and meditation rarely taught in the West, with reference to Veda, Tantra, Ayurveda and Vedic astrology. Will be our most extensive teaching program in the United States this year.

August 19 -21 - Toronto Yoga Festival - Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Dr. Frawley and Yogini Shambhavi will give a series of keynote talks and classes on Yoga,  Shakti, Ayurveda, Vedic Astrology and Hinduism as part of an important conference featuring a number of important speakers and teachers from throughout the world and from Canada.

Hinduism, Sanatana Dharma and Yoga

Hinduism, Sanatana Dharma and Yoga
Written by David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva)

Note: People often ask about the relationship between Vedas, Hinduism and related disciplines of Yoga, Ayurveda and Vedic astrology, particularly to what extent one may need to embrace the spiritual and religious background of these teachings in order to really benefit from them.

In the same vein people often ask about the Vedic institute as to why it deals with religion, history and social issues and not simply confines itself to Ayurveda as a health discipline or Vedic astrology as a predictive tool. The following article deals with these issues.

Hinduism, Sanatana Dharma and Yoga
By David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri)

Sanatana (eternal or universal) Dharma is the great tradition behind such multifarious teachings as Yoga, Ayurveda, Jyotish (Vedic Astrology), Samkhya, and Vedanta and much of Tantra as well. These disciplines are rooted in Vedic lineages and transmissions going back to their very origins. They constitute a comprehensive spiritual, sacred or yogic science dealing with all aspects of life, culture, and religion.

In the modern world Sanatana or Vedic Dharma is known as the religion/culture called Hinduism or Hindu Dharma. Hinduism rests upon the Vedas or mantras of the ancient Rishis, which are a diverse set of teachings about universal consciousness and cosmic creation. Vedic mantras reflect the very processes through which all the universes are created, by which they are sustained, and through which they are dissolved, by which individual souls come into the cycle of rebirth and through which they evolve into Self-realization. The Vedas have no one God, savior or scripture but reveal a unitary reality of Being-Consciousness-Bliss (Sacchidananda Brahman) that pervades everything and rests in all creatures as their true Self (Atman or Purusha), which can be approached by numerous paths and practices.

Yoga in general refers to the spiritual practices of asana, pranayama, puja, mantra and meditation which are the main vehicles for realizing Vedic wisdom. Yoga (and its many Sanskrit synonyms) is a common term in all Hindu teachings of the Vedas, Puranas and Tantras. The diverse yogic paths of Jnana (Knowledge), Bhakti (Devotion), Karma (Service) and Kriya (Technique) reflect the multidimensional approach to the Divine found in the Vedic teachings.

Yoga as a specific term refers to the Yoga Darshana, one of the six systems of Vedic (Astika) philosophy, those that reflect and develop out of the insights of the Vedas. The Yoga Darshana was compiled by the Rishi Patanjali, who based his work on older Vedic and yogic teachings in the Mahabharata, Puranas, Upanishads and Vedas. Other ancient yogic traditions go back to such Vedic sages as Vasishta, Shyavashwa, Yajnavalkya, Shwetasvatara, Jagishavya, Asita and Devala Kashyapa, and the great avatar Krishna whose Bhagavad Gita is itself considered to be a Yoga Shastra or authoritative yogic teaching like the Yoga Sutras.

A question often arises: Does one need to be a Hindu to practice such Hindu-based teachings as Yoga and Ayurveda? A complementary question also arises: Is not one already something of a Hindu if one is attracted to them? As the formulation of a universal tradition, everyone must become part of it eventually.

The question behind this is what is a Hindu? As Hindu or Sanatana Dharma is an open, inclusive and pluralistic tradition, following its Dharma is not a simple matter of holding to a particular belief or thinking that one is saved by embracing a particular savior. Hinduism is not a religion in the Western sense of the word as a dogma, but is a vast culture that includes religion, science and art as well. Yet Hinduism does deal with all aspects of religion, with its own monastic orders, temples, and specific disciplines and teachings. Above all, it has its own lineages and transmissions, its teachers, associations and families. These are part of a pursuit of Self-realization for which ordinary religious practices are just the initial step.

Much of this discussion depends upon what is meant by Dharma. Dharma arose as a Vedic term meaning the laws of truth, cosmic law or natural law. Dharma is the nature of things and their appropriate action. It is the Dharma of fire to burn, for example. It is the spiritual Dharma of human beings to seek a higher consciousness. This higher human Dharma requires practices that free us from outer or unconscious limitations, biases and attachments, which is the basis of true Yoga.

Hindu or Sanatana Dharma has several key principles. Perhaps most important on a formal level is acceptance of the Vedas and Upanishads as projecting valid methods of knowing the ultimate truth. Yet Hinduism does not insist upon any one interpretation of the Vedic teachings, which themselves are multifaceted. Individual freedom is allowed in adapting the Vedas as long as the motivation is dharmic.

Perhaps the most important theory of Hinduism is a recognition of the process of karma and rebirth as governing the cosmic movement.

Perhaps the most important practical principle is that the One Reality, what one could call God, can be approached by many paths, which is Hindu pluralism. This takes the form of many different sages, scriptures and names and forms of the Divine (different Gods and Goddesses). Many Hindu paths are also theistic in nature, but not all of them are.

Yet most significant to Hindu or Sanatana Dharma is becoming part of a Hindu-based lineage, transmission or family, entering into its greater community. This is perhaps more significant than the above mentioned principles, which are more guidelines than rigid rules.

Hinduism and Other Religions

Can members of other religions be Hindus? To do so they would have to accept the validity of Vedic knowledge and traditions, the pluralistic nature of spiritual paths, and the process of karma and rebirth. Anyone who does this is very connected to Hindu Dharma already.

Generally Hindus believe that all true religious and spiritual teachings are part of a universal tradition or Sanatana Dharma, which the Vedas are designed to reflect.

Hindu Dharma has a particular affinity with native, organic or nature-based religions like those of the Native Americans, Pre-Christian Europeans, and Native Africans. It seeks to grow organically through life and culture rather than artificially through adaptation of a belief. It is also closely connected to other Dharmic traditions like Buddhism and Jainism, that arose from it, and to related Asian traditions like the Taoist and Shinto. Buddhist and Jain traditions in India have shared many mantras and deities with the Hindus and have contributed much to such Vedic sciences as Ayurveda and Jyotish.

Can a Non-Hindu practice Yoga?

Yoga is a broad system, emphasizing meditation for the purpose of Self-realization, but the tendency in the West is to reduce Yoga to its physical dimension. Certainly anyone can practice the outer or physical aspect of Yoga regardless of one's religious orientation. Even an atheist can do so. However, an atheist is unlikely to be able to practice Bhakti Yoga or the path of Devotion, which depends upon love of God, and is one of the most important yogic paths. One who does not accept karma, rebirth and liberation cannot practice deeper aspects of Yoga that are based upon a recognition of this process. It also depends upon the Yoga that one is following. Yoga paths strongly rooted in Vedic ideas require an appreciation of their background to really apply. Jnana Yoga or the Yoga of Knowledge rests upon a background of Vedanta, for example.

The problem is that certain religions, like Christianity and Islam, are still promoting aggressive missionary efforts against Hindus that commonly include denigrating such Hindu-based traditions as Yoga and Vedanta as well as their great teachers. Those following such religions who are attracted to Hindu-based teachings should recognize this sad fact and make some effort to change it if they can.

Those following other Dharmic religions like Buddhism and Jainism, will find benefit in connecting with Hindu or Sanatana Dharma, through their views and practices may have their variations. A unity of Dharmic traditions, which does not imply attempting to make them all the same, can be of great help to all of them as they are under similar challenges in the modern world.

Above all, if one finds value in Hindu-based teachings one should look into the tradition behind them and find out what it really is. If one finds benefit from this tradition one should also support it against attempts to undermine or misrepresent it.

How Does One Become a Hindu?

A formal ceremony is not always necessary, but it is helpful. There are various groups like Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Arya Samaj or Hinduism Today that do this generally through a simple ceremony called shuddhi or purification. Many Hindu gurus do this informally by giving a person a Hindu or Sanskrit name and taking them into their lineage, teaching or tradition. Unfortunately they don't always make it clear to their disciples that their particular line is part of the greater tradition of Hindu or Sanatana Dharma. Such Westerners may consider that they are followers of a particular guru or lineage but not that they are Hindus, even though they may be following very typical Hindu-based traditions and practices.

Why are Westerners Afraid of Becoming Hindus?

Western religions are generally intolerant and lacking deeper spiritual disciplines like yogic practices, as well as not understanding the law of karma and the process of rebirth. For this reason many people in the West who are seeking a higher truth have revolted against them. In doing so they often think that all religions are biased and so are suspicious of any religion including Hinduism.

In addition they may be influenced by religious and political propaganda that denigrates Hinduism as polytheism, superstition and caste oppression. If this really were Hinduism no sane person would want to join it. On the other hand, if they learn of its basis in Sanatana Dharma or a universal/eternal tradition of conscious wisdom they will be easily attracted to it.

Another problem is that people in the West may be using such Hindu-based teachings as Yoga while pursuing a life of enjoyment, materialism and self-advancement. To see Yoga in religious terms, and as requiring renunciation and asceticism, brings these ways of life into question, which may not be pleasant to consider.

Also some Westerners may want to create their own Yoga paths, mix Yoga with other teachings that may not be in harmony with it, or proclaim themselves as gurus without any traditional sanction. Others may want to physicalize or commercialize Yoga in order to make it more popular or profitable. A more traditional view of Yoga, and one that brings out its living religious basis, brings these efforts into question.

What Advantage is There in Becoming a Hindu?

The main advantage is a conscious connection to its traditions and lineages. It is like being part of a great family as opposed to having to struggle on one's own. It affords a more intimate connection to the teachings. If one wants to practice Hindu-based teachings these will be more effective if one has the support of the greater tradition behind them - a tradition of over five thousand years and numerous Self-realized sages and yogis. It is like entering into a great stream that can carry one along. The tradition has a reality on the subtle planes that has great power and grace.

What About Other Vedic Disciplines Like Ayurveda or Vedic Astrology?

As in the case of Yoga one does not have to formally become a Hindu to benefit from these teachings on an outer level, like using Ayurvedic practices to improve one's health. However, if one wants to connect to the deeper spiritual levels of these teachings one cannot do so without respecting the spiritual traditions behind them and following their principles and practices in one's behavior.

Above all, one must have a dharmic foundation for one's life. In this regard all the dharmic traditions of India, including Buddhism and Jainism, have used Vedic disciplines like Ayurveda and Vedic Astrology and contributed much to them.

But the origins of these teachings occur in the Vedas and their Rishi lineages, connecting to which gives a special power to them. For example, Ayurveda employs the Vedic language of Agni, Soma and Vayu, while Vedic astrology follows Vedic deities for its presentation of the zodiac, planets and Nakshatras. Through studying the Vedas one can gain a greater understanding of the original insights that brought these systems forth and which continues to nourish them.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

12-day 'Athirathram' comes to an end

Twelve days of 'chanting of mantras' and 'performing homam' at the panoramic village of Panjal, near Shoranur, came to an end on Friday night.

At the end of 'Athirathram', an ancient Vedic ritual that is considered to be the ultimate invocation of scriptures, the Yajamanan (Puthillathu Ramanujan Akkithiripad) and Yajamanapathni (Dhanyapathanaadi) of the ritual ceremonially left the Yagashala carrying the fire from the altar to their house, where they would keep it burning.

As thousands of people watched, the Yagashala in the vicinity of Panjal Lakshmi Narayana temple was ceremonially set on fire at 10 p.m. marking the conclusion of the 12-day ritual.

Those present at the venue claimed that a 'garuda' (eagle) was seen flying over the 'Yagasala' early in the day, which experts claimed a good omen.

Heavy rain that fell over the area delayed the final rituals for sometime. By letting members of various castes and communities to witness the Vedic rites, the Athiratram is said to have reflected the spirit of the changing times in Kerala.

Lakhs of people witnessed the Yagam, which was once considered the preserve of the Brahmins. The ritual is aimed at promoting universal brotherhood, peace, solidarity, prosperity, and spiritual enlightenment.

Panjal was the venue for many Athirathrams including the one that was held in 1975, under the leadership of Frits Staal, Indologist and Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and South/Southeast Asian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

Mr. Staal recalled the willingness of Namboodiri scholars in sharing their knowledge. The choice of the venue is in line with the geographic and Vaasthu principles. The Yagashala is uniquely positioned to imbibe the energy of the Sun, which has made Panjal the venue for key Yagas in Kerala in the past.

The presence of many Samavedi gurus also makes Panjal a preferred site. Two families of Sama Veda experts, Nellikattu Mana and Muttathukattil Mana, are based in Panjal.

Athirathram is believed to have originated in the 10th century BC and practised until the 6th century BC.

The preparation for Athiratram takes many months and involves making a large number of mud vessels and wooden items. The eagle-shaped altar (chithi) of the Yagashala has been made of 1,110 specially designed bricks.

The Athirathram 2011 was hosted by the Ottappalam-based Varthathe Trust.

A research wing that was constituted as part of Athiratram has been conducting several experiments to study the affects of the Yaga on dynamics of Nature, biosphere, and troposphere. The key findings of the scientific studies were expected to be released by May 15.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

World changes revelations! It is time to awake

These are difficult times, and this is only the beginning, because from now on a lot of World changes are going to happen.

It is time to know yourself, it is time to awake.

Related with this I would like to share with you an unique book titled: "Hercolubus or Red Planet".

It has unimaginable information about what is going to happen soon in our planet.

The author, V.M. Rabolu gives us a map showing a way, a path for all those who really want to change and whose heart keeps a spiritual yearning.

Without doubt the affirmations contained in this book will draw the attention of humanity as the events described will gradually happen.

What you will find in this book could allow you to transform your inner reality and your future.

You can get a free copy of it in the site: http://www.giantredplanet.com/

This is a very important information for the Vedanta community.

You can be sure that this could be the most important book you will ever read.

Namaste

Thursday, April 7, 2011

The Vedic Way of Knowing God

New Video - The Vedic Way of Knowing God

In this powerful half-hour video, Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya (Dr. Frank Morales, Ph.D.) explains how the finite can know the Infinite, how we can directly experience and know God, according to the teachings of the ancient Vedic tradition. He also discusses his new best-selling book: "The Vedic Way of Knowing God".

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti-wz05ljd8

Please share this message will everyone you know.

Aum Hari Aum

Saturday, April 2, 2011

One Veda Mantra to One Lakh houses...!!!

Kasyapa Veda Research Foundation under the leadership of Veda Acharya M.R.Rajesh, is to distribute one vedamantra to one lakh (one hundred thousand) houses in KeralaSouth India with in sixty days. The printed vedamantra with meaning will be distributed by the members of KVRF. It is the vision of Veda Acharya M.R.Rajesh ji to reach Veda to maximum number of houses with in minimum possible time.  201 member committee has already been formed. 
 
The volunteers of KVRF will visit each of the houses in the selected areas of the northern district of Kerala, with the message of Veda and try to initiate them to the suttudy of Veda and will distribute the One Veda mantra. 

Solicit your blessings.

Moral Ethics and Principles needed to revive the glory of Bharath & End Corruption

Moral Ethics and Principles needed to revive the glory of Bharath & End Corruption; Speech at Dandi March II in Irving TX on March 26, 2011

 

http://savehindutemples.blogspot.com/2011/03/dandi-march-ii-in-irving-tx-on-march-26.html

 

Video Speech by Prakasarao Velagapudi

http://www.desiplaza.us/videos/viewvideo/3956/events-in-dallas/drprakash-raos-speech-at-dandi-march-ii-in-dallas-2011

Dallas Dandi March II Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTQyemX92js

Dallas Dandi March II part 2 Team Speeches

 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sfrohrEPRk>

 

Dear Friends. We are undertaking this Dandi March II here in Dallas area to express our sentiments and outrage of NRIs with regard to various aspects of corruption that is causing chaos in India. Times are not good back in India. Bharat is going through the darkest period of its existence. It looks gloomy. The government is in the hands of politicians with no morals, no virtues, no ethics and no principles. Something is rotten. It smells awful. It is sinking in the black ocean of corruption.

 

         The India we grew up was different. We all remember well that India is a country where honesty was considered the highest virtue, integrity in public and private life was glorified, sanctity of life was esteemed and wisdom in great epics such as the Vedas, Upanishads and  other books was valued. People held their heads high with pride, self respect, dignity, and majesty. In eleventh century, a Muslim writer Al Beruni observed that "Hindus believe that there is no country like theirs, no nation like theirs, no kings like theirs, no religion like theirs, no science like theirs."

 

         About 140 years ago Mark Twain observed India as the  "Land of religions, cradle of human race, birthplace of human speech, grandmother of legacy, great grandmother of tradition. The land that all men desire to see and having seen once even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of the rest of the globe combined."

What a change we have seen over the last few decades since Independence. Bharata Mata can now be described as suffering from so many ailments – corruption, black money, unscrupulous politicians, moral degradation, terrorism, capitol punishment, poverty, hunger, injustice, naxalites, exploitation of farmers, etc.  Precisely because of these ailments a society faces, a British lawyer and jurist Judge Devlin (1905 -1992), observed  that "an established morality is as necessary as good government to the welfare of society. Societies disintegrate from within more frequently than they are broken up by external pressures."

Moral values with regard to what is right and what is right are the basic foundation, steel foundation on which person builds a steady, sturdy, stable, solid, unwavering and unswerving personality.

Without a set moral principles and religious values, a person is like a kite without a string, a ship with no anchor, a tree with no fruits, a scent with no fragrance, a house with no foundation,

We see a dramatic decline in moral values. Moral decline begins when universal, time tested moral spiritual values that have proven so beneficial over time, are being replaced by secular principles which are being proven destructive for the welfare of the people and which proved extremely beneficial for a small group of select people.

         If the moral values are lacking and ethical compass is missing, the people can easily be bribed, induced, compromised, victimized, enticed, lured, allured, used, misused and kicked around by the people in the power.  It is worth remembering the words of  Theodore Roosevelt, "To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society."

Many leaders of the current administration have no respect for the morals, no regard for the history of the Bharath, no reverence for the age old traditions, no appreciation for the richness of Hindu cultural heritage, no inkling for time tested wisdom, no admiration for the freedom fighters,  no respect for fairness in the elections process, no hesitation to put the most corrupt people in high positions, no deference for the separation of religion and state when it comes to Sanatana dharma, no esteem for saints and rishis, and no respect for the liberty of the people.

         Consequently, with decayed moral principles coupled with the so called secular constitution, the current administration is looting the country amassing mindboggling amount of money, hiding the money in Swiss banks, buying people for political gains, making the corrupt practices legal or regularized, exploiting the business people, appeasing the minorities with quota and travel grants, denigrating the Hindu Gods, and silencing the critics.

There is no country on the planet earth that has declared itself as a secular  state without ever defining the word secular. In the name of secular society, the present government is literally robbing, looting, raiding, stealing and fleecing the Hindu institutions in particular and Bharat Mata in general. 

         Many politicians, media barons, intellectual and opportunists are suffering from Secular Syndrome. It is described as paradoxical phenomenon where in secularists say one thing and do something different, in fact opposite.  They keep talking about neutrality over the treatment of all religions without ever defining the term, but at the same time deny the rights of all Hindus, take over their Temples to loot their funds, encroach their Temple lands and relish targeting Hindu saints. Since Independence, the secular values have corrupted the people in politics, people in government and eventually infiltrated the entire nations. The corruption permeated every fabric of social relations and cultural institutions.

Enough is enough. It is time to act. It is time to wake up. It is time to advocate reforms. It is time to demand transparency, accountability and justice. It is our patriotic duty to challenge the rampant corruption that is robbing the minds and the morals.

What do we want the government to do? Enact Jan Lokpal Bill which has strong measures to bring all corrupt people to justice, whether they are corporate leaders, bureaucrats or politicians.

                  Cancel the 2G spectrum allocation, Prosecute the Common wealth Games scammers, Get our money back from Swiss Banks, Punish the Corrupt to the maximum, take preventive measures to protect from future scams; ratify UNCAC The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is a landmark, international anti-corruption treaty adopted by the UN General Assembly in October 2003.   Of the 140 countries which signed the treaty, 126 ratified. India is one of the 14 countries which signed but did not ratify.  Even Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka ratified it.

                  Let all of us stand by the need of the hour with Bharata Mata and bring back her lost glory, grandeur, splendor, magnificence, and majesty. You can make the difference in bringing the needed changes. As Swami Vivekananda exhorted "Stand up, be bold, be strong. Take the whole responsibility on your own shoulders, and know that you are the creator of your own destiny. All the strength and succor you want is within yourself." Thanks

Prakasarao V Velagapudi

Global Hindu Heritage Foundation

Sri Rama Navami Special - Sketches by Rajan at Rajandraws

Namaskaram

Happy Ugadi, Happy Gudi Padwa to All

On the occasion of Sri Rama Navami 12th April 2011, i am sharing some of my sketches on ramayana kandams, along with some sketches on sri ganesha in my website, below link

http://www.rajandraws.com/

For month wise you can visit following month wise archives

If you like these sketches, please do forward to others also.

Upcoming programs

May 3 - 8 - Medicine Crow Retreat, Grass Vallely CA A World-Class Gathering of Teachers, Healers and Visionaries

For five days, you will learn from the leading experts in the world of botanical medicine as they teach about one of the most urgent and important topics of our time. This dynamic and life-changing event is unlike anything being offered anywhere in the field of natural healing. Featured Teachers Include: David Frawley, Yogini Shambhavi, John Douillard, David Crow, Marc Halpern and more.
Use this link to receive a special gift from Dr. Frawley: http://www.floracopeia.com/frawley

June 22 - 26 - Mantra Yoga and Primal Sound, Yogaville, Virginia. Special program with Vamadeva and Shambhavi based upon Dr. Frawley's most recent best selling book and Shambhavi's Yogini Bhava mantra CD. Will explore deeper practices of bija mantras, pranayama, and meditation rarely taught in the West, with reference to Veda, Tantra, Ayurveda and Vedic astrology. Will be our most extensive teaching program in the United States this year.