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__._,_.___
Attachment(s) from Atul C. Shah, MD
6 of 6 File(s)
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Final Judgment [6 Attachments]
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
The lost temples of India
The lost temples of India part 1 of 6 discovery channel documentary
The Mysteries of Asia three-part video series was originally produced for the Learning Channel. During this segment, historians and others examine temples built in India more than 1,000 years ago. They remain quite intriguing, though today's tourists rarely visit them. Records reveal that trained elephants had to drag millions of stone blocks to help erect these structures. The program notes that due to the temples' size, the U.S. Senate, Versailles, the Houses of Parliament, and St. Paul's Basilica in Rome could all fit within a single one of them. Michael Bell narrates as footage and animated maps are used to help viewers learn more about what these ancient structures look like and why they were built. Asia is a continent steeped in ancient cultures, religions, and buildings. In this intriguing program, we are transported to this exotic land and examine the mysteries behind some of the most fascinating structures found there. Southern India has the largest temple complexes ever built. In "Lost Temples of India", we examine these 1,000-year-old temples adorned with intricate and beautiful sculptures. We learn how the kings used large herds of trained elephants to drag the millions of stone blocks into place and how these temples are virtually unknown and unvisited by Western tourists. Truth or fiction, the stories of Mysteries of Asia will amaze and delight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=UzPW6_i1EGQ&list= PL32872F2ECDF45DA9
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=rVHQPWxmdAM
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=BfhesYL_wp0
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=jLRCFoQWuqM
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=-DqBiL2t__U
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=2zKCecWTWJo
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=UzPW6_i1EGQ&list= PL32872F2ECDF45DA9
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=rVHQPWxmdAM
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=BfhesYL_wp0
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=jLRCFoQWuqM
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=-DqBiL2t__U
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=2zKCecWTWJo
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Vibhuti / Thiruneeru
Vibhuti / Thiruneeru
Vibhuti (Sanskrit : vibhuti ; Tamil : Thiruneeru ) is a word that has several meanings in Hinduism. Generally, it is used to denote the sacred ash which is made of burnt dried wood in Vedic rituals. The Hindu devotees make a paste by mixing vibhuhti with water and apply it as three horizontal lines across the forehead and other parts of the body to please Lord Shiva. Vibhuthi smeared across the forehead to the end of both eyebrows is called Tripundra. .
Meaning:
In Sanskrit, Bhoothi means Aishwaryam, meaning wealth, treasure, precious. Vi-bhoothi with an Upasarga (preposition "vi") means very or more valuable. The synonyms of Vibhuhti in Sanskrit as said in the Amara-kosha is "Vibhuthi: bhoothi: Aishwaryam".Vibhuhti can also be called as Bhoothi,Aishwaryam,Basma etc.,.
Sacred ash:
Vedic scriptures say as follows "Lalaata Shoonyam Smashaana Tulyam",which means that "an empty forehead is comparable to a cemetery". So, Hindus pay special attention that their forehead is smeared with vibhooti and it remains all the time over their body in a day. Even the Almighty Lord Shiva who sports vibhuti all the time stands as an example to his followers that however one be considered as great person in this mortal world,he needs to smear his forehead and the body with holy ash prepared from a special kind of wood as he does (Lord Shiva) in the Immortal adobe of Kailasa. So,it is considered by vedic scholars that even great saints,seers,yogis and the like should wear vibhuthi all the time over forehead and other parts of the body in form of three lines to make a Tripundra. Vibhuthi smeared horizontally to make three parallel lines with forefinger,middle finger and ring finger across the forehead & other parts of the body like chest,stomach,arms,elbows,wrists etc is called as Tripundra.It is mandatory for the devotees of Lord Shiva to have Tripundra over their body all the time.A person who smears Vibhuthi purifies himself from sins and also removes the sins of persons who looks at him besmeared with Vibhuthi or theeruneru.
The great saint Thiru Gyaana Sambandar did many wonders with Vibhuthi and he expounds the greatness of Vibhuti in one of his Pathigams called "Thiruneetru Pathigam" as follows,
Mandhira maavadhu neeru| Vaanavar meeladhu neeru ||
Sundhara maavadhu neeru |Thudhikkap paduvadhu neeru ||
Thandhira maavadhu neeru| Chamayaththil ullaadhu neeru ||
Senthuvar vaayumai pangan|Thiruaalavaayaan Thiruneerae ||
Meaning:
Mantra is the ash; Higher than heavenly people is the ash; Beauty is the ash; Praised is the ash; Technique is the ash; In the religion is the ash; The Lord of Thiruaalavaay (Lord Sundareshwarar,Madurai) who share the body with the red lipped Parvathi - His Holy Ash.
Panchakshara mantra and the above Pathigam are generally recited by devotees while smearing Vibhuthi.Winning the Jains in the challenge on fire Thirugnana Sambandhar sang the above marvelous hymn Thiruppaachuram explaining the king and the world the limitless grace and glory of Lord Shiva and won the Jains in the water challenge.Thiru Gyana sambandar won the Jains and re-converted the king and his people back to Shaivism by Vibhuthi reciting the above Pathigam.
Vibhuthi of Vaitheeswaran Koil and Thiruchendur Murugan Temple is famous for curing many incurable diseases.
Vibhuti is the sacred ash used in religious worship in Hinduism.The main ingredient of Vibuthi is a special kind of wood. It is burned in a sacred fire (Homa)to form white ash. Vibhuti is placed on the forehead as it is considered sacred and holy.
Scriptures say that Vibhuthi should not wasted by spilling it in on floor or walls after receiving it as a Prasaad(consecrated substance) from a Shiva Temple.Goddess Bhoomi Devi(the Goddess of Earth) cannot tolerate the weight of certain substances.They are Vibhuthi,Tulsi(basil) leaves,Sacred Deepa(lamp),Sacred Thread etc., due to their sacredness.So,they are kept over a Asanam(throne) to give respect to those articles.They are not kept on the floor directly.
The ash has several symbolic meanings:
It serves as a reminder to the believer to cast away selfish and worldly desires that wrap the self in maya, and calls to mind the story of how Shiva burned Kama (the god of desire) to ashes when Kama attempted to break Shiva's focus on the Divine Truth
Normally worn along with red tilaka. Vibhuti relates to Shiva and Red tilaka to Shakti. Reminds that Shiva and Shakti form the universe and everything is though the union of Shiva and Shakti.
Glorious attributes
Vibhuti may refer to glorious attributes of the divine, and in this context is translated as 'all pervading', 'superhuman power', 'wealth' and so on.
The ash of any burnt object is not regarded as holy ash.Vibhuti (AKA Bhasma,Thiruneeru,the holy ash) is the ash from the Homa (consecrated fire) where wood is used to perform the ritual. Or the deity is worshipped by pouring ash as abhisheka and is then distributed as Prassad to devotees. Bhasma is generally applied on the forehead,neck,chest,arms,stomach elbow,wrists etc.,. Some apply it on other parts of the body, like the knees,toes,scalp etc.,.It is considered very auspicious for the hindus especially shaiva sect of people to smear vibhuthi all over the body.
Sri Adi Shankaracharya praises the greatness of Vibhuthi Of Lord Murugan in his "Sri Subramnaya Bhujanga Stotra" as follows ,
ApasmAra kushta kshayArsha prameha|
JvaronmAdha gulmAdhi rogA mahAntha||
PishAchAshcha sarve bhavatpatra bhoothim|
Vilokya kshanAth tArakAre dravanthe|| (Shloka no.25)
Meaning:
Oh Conqueror of Taraka! Severe epilepsy, leprosy, consumption, lung diseases, venereal diseases, fevers, mental diseases of all types, they run away the moment they see Thy Vibhuti contained in a leaf.
The word bhasma means "that by which our sins are destroyed and the Lord is remembered". "Bha" implies Bhartsana ("to destroy") and "sma" implies smaranam ("to remember"). The application of Bhasma therefore signifies destruction of the evil and remembrance of the divine. Bhasma is called Vibhuti ("glory") as it gives glory to one who applies it and raksha (which means a source of protection) as it protects the wearer from ill health and evil, by purifying him or her. The ash we apply indicates that we should burn false identification with body and become free of the limitations of birth and death. It also reminds us that the body is perishable and shall one day be reduced to ashes. As death can come at any moment, this awareness must increase our drive to make the best use of time. This is not to be misconstrued as a morose reminder of death, but as a powerful pointer towards the fact that time and tide wait for none.
Bhasma is specially associated with Lord Shiva, who applies it all over His body. According to Hindu mythology Vibhuti or Bhasma is said to be favorite to Lord Shiva and that's why He is often called Vibhuti Bhushan (the one having ash as his ornament). Shiva devotees apply bhasma as a tripundra (the form of three lines). When applied with a red spot in the centre, the mark symbolises Shiva-Shakti (the unity of energy and matter that creates the entire seen and unseen universe).
Ash is what remains when all the wood is burnt away and it does not decay. Similarly, the Lord is imperishable Truth that remains when the entire creation of innumerable names and forms is dissolved.
Bhasma is believed to have medicinal value and is used in many ayurvedic medicines. It absorbs excess moisture from the body and prevents colds and headaches. The Upanishads say that the famous Mrutyunjaya mantra should be chanted whilst applying ash on the forehead, thus:
"Om Tryambakam yajaamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanam Urvaarukamiva bandhanat mrutyor muksheeya maamritaat !!"
"We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva who nourishes and spreads fragrance in our lives. May He free us from the shackles of sorrow, change and death effortlessly, like the fall of a ripe cucumber from its stem !!"
In yajna vibhuti is considered very sacred and is used as fuel to burn the offerings like ghee,milk,curd,rice,holy twigs etc.,in Lord Agni who carries the offerings to the respective devata in a yajna.The residue left over which is white in colour is considered as vibhuthi and is given to the devotees as prasaad for daily use to please Lord Shiva.
Common Adulterants used in Manufacturing
Many Vibhuthi Manufacturers these days adulterate their Vibhuthi product with Jersey and Friesian's animals dung ashes, rice bran ashes, rice husk ashes, boiler waste ashes, Thermal Power plant ashes, Bio-gas energy plants, white stone powder, paper cellulose, calcium carbonate, paints, chemicals, etc... These substances make them unfit for spiritual use. Due to lack of knowledge and awareness, the above adulterants are used by the manufacturers to gain a huge profit, as they are cheaply available and are considered as waste by-products by various industries. Many people have developed skin allergies with the use of these adulterated Vibhuthi. Special care needs to be taken by the Shiva devotees that Vibhuthi is without adulterants and is prepared in a traditional way (from wood) to gain the benefits of smearing Vibhuthi.
Vibhuti (Sanskrit : vibhuti ; Tamil : Thiruneeru ) is a word that has several meanings in Hinduism. Generally, it is used to denote the sacred ash which is made of burnt dried wood in Vedic rituals. The Hindu devotees make a paste by mixing vibhuhti with water and apply it as three horizontal lines across the forehead and other parts of the body to please Lord Shiva. Vibhuthi smeared across the forehead to the end of both eyebrows is called Tripundra. .
Meaning:
In Sanskrit, Bhoothi means Aishwaryam, meaning wealth, treasure, precious. Vi-bhoothi with an Upasarga (preposition "vi") means very or more valuable. The synonyms of Vibhuhti in Sanskrit as said in the Amara-kosha is "Vibhuthi: bhoothi: Aishwaryam".Vibhuhti can also be called as Bhoothi,Aishwaryam,Basma etc.,.
Sacred ash:
Vedic scriptures say as follows "Lalaata Shoonyam Smashaana Tulyam",which means that "an empty forehead is comparable to a cemetery". So, Hindus pay special attention that their forehead is smeared with vibhooti and it remains all the time over their body in a day. Even the Almighty Lord Shiva who sports vibhuti all the time stands as an example to his followers that however one be considered as great person in this mortal world,he needs to smear his forehead and the body with holy ash prepared from a special kind of wood as he does (Lord Shiva) in the Immortal adobe of Kailasa. So,it is considered by vedic scholars that even great saints,seers,yogis and the like should wear vibhuthi all the time over forehead and other parts of the body in form of three lines to make a Tripundra. Vibhuthi smeared horizontally to make three parallel lines with forefinger,middle finger and ring finger across the forehead & other parts of the body like chest,stomach,arms,elbows,wrists etc is called as Tripundra.It is mandatory for the devotees of Lord Shiva to have Tripundra over their body all the time.A person who smears Vibhuthi purifies himself from sins and also removes the sins of persons who looks at him besmeared with Vibhuthi or theeruneru.
The great saint Thiru Gyaana Sambandar did many wonders with Vibhuthi and he expounds the greatness of Vibhuti in one of his Pathigams called "Thiruneetru Pathigam" as follows,
Mandhira maavadhu neeru| Vaanavar meeladhu neeru ||
Sundhara maavadhu neeru |Thudhikkap paduvadhu neeru ||
Thandhira maavadhu neeru| Chamayaththil ullaadhu neeru ||
Senthuvar vaayumai pangan|Thiruaalavaayaan Thiruneerae ||
Meaning:
Mantra is the ash; Higher than heavenly people is the ash; Beauty is the ash; Praised is the ash; Technique is the ash; In the religion is the ash; The Lord of Thiruaalavaay (Lord Sundareshwarar,Madurai) who share the body with the red lipped Parvathi - His Holy Ash.
Panchakshara mantra and the above Pathigam are generally recited by devotees while smearing Vibhuthi.Winning the Jains in the challenge on fire Thirugnana Sambandhar sang the above marvelous hymn Thiruppaachuram explaining the king and the world the limitless grace and glory of Lord Shiva and won the Jains in the water challenge.Thiru Gyana sambandar won the Jains and re-converted the king and his people back to Shaivism by Vibhuthi reciting the above Pathigam.
Vibhuthi of Vaitheeswaran Koil and Thiruchendur Murugan Temple is famous for curing many incurable diseases.
Vibhuti is the sacred ash used in religious worship in Hinduism.The main ingredient of Vibuthi is a special kind of wood. It is burned in a sacred fire (Homa)to form white ash. Vibhuti is placed on the forehead as it is considered sacred and holy.
Scriptures say that Vibhuthi should not wasted by spilling it in on floor or walls after receiving it as a Prasaad(consecrated substance) from a Shiva Temple.Goddess Bhoomi Devi(the Goddess of Earth) cannot tolerate the weight of certain substances.They are Vibhuthi,Tulsi(basil) leaves,Sacred Deepa(lamp),Sacred Thread etc., due to their sacredness.So,they are kept over a Asanam(throne) to give respect to those articles.They are not kept on the floor directly.
The ash has several symbolic meanings:
It serves as a reminder to the believer to cast away selfish and worldly desires that wrap the self in maya, and calls to mind the story of how Shiva burned Kama (the god of desire) to ashes when Kama attempted to break Shiva's focus on the Divine Truth
Normally worn along with red tilaka. Vibhuti relates to Shiva and Red tilaka to Shakti. Reminds that Shiva and Shakti form the universe and everything is though the union of Shiva and Shakti.
Glorious attributes
Vibhuti may refer to glorious attributes of the divine, and in this context is translated as 'all pervading', 'superhuman power', 'wealth' and so on.
The ash of any burnt object is not regarded as holy ash.Vibhuti (AKA Bhasma,Thiruneeru,the holy ash) is the ash from the Homa (consecrated fire) where wood is used to perform the ritual. Or the deity is worshipped by pouring ash as abhisheka and is then distributed as Prassad to devotees. Bhasma is generally applied on the forehead,neck,chest,arms,stomach elbow,wrists etc.,. Some apply it on other parts of the body, like the knees,toes,scalp etc.,.It is considered very auspicious for the hindus especially shaiva sect of people to smear vibhuthi all over the body.
Sri Adi Shankaracharya praises the greatness of Vibhuthi Of Lord Murugan in his "Sri Subramnaya Bhujanga Stotra" as follows ,
ApasmAra kushta kshayArsha prameha|
JvaronmAdha gulmAdhi rogA mahAntha||
PishAchAshcha sarve bhavatpatra bhoothim|
Vilokya kshanAth tArakAre dravanthe|| (Shloka no.25)
Meaning:
Oh Conqueror of Taraka! Severe epilepsy, leprosy, consumption, lung diseases, venereal diseases, fevers, mental diseases of all types, they run away the moment they see Thy Vibhuti contained in a leaf.
The word bhasma means "that by which our sins are destroyed and the Lord is remembered". "Bha" implies Bhartsana ("to destroy") and "sma" implies smaranam ("to remember"). The application of Bhasma therefore signifies destruction of the evil and remembrance of the divine. Bhasma is called Vibhuti ("glory") as it gives glory to one who applies it and raksha (which means a source of protection) as it protects the wearer from ill health and evil, by purifying him or her. The ash we apply indicates that we should burn false identification with body and become free of the limitations of birth and death. It also reminds us that the body is perishable and shall one day be reduced to ashes. As death can come at any moment, this awareness must increase our drive to make the best use of time. This is not to be misconstrued as a morose reminder of death, but as a powerful pointer towards the fact that time and tide wait for none.
Bhasma is specially associated with Lord Shiva, who applies it all over His body. According to Hindu mythology Vibhuti or Bhasma is said to be favorite to Lord Shiva and that's why He is often called Vibhuti Bhushan (the one having ash as his ornament). Shiva devotees apply bhasma as a tripundra (the form of three lines). When applied with a red spot in the centre, the mark symbolises Shiva-Shakti (the unity of energy and matter that creates the entire seen and unseen universe).
Ash is what remains when all the wood is burnt away and it does not decay. Similarly, the Lord is imperishable Truth that remains when the entire creation of innumerable names and forms is dissolved.
Bhasma is believed to have medicinal value and is used in many ayurvedic medicines. It absorbs excess moisture from the body and prevents colds and headaches. The Upanishads say that the famous Mrutyunjaya mantra should be chanted whilst applying ash on the forehead, thus:
"Om Tryambakam yajaamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanam Urvaarukamiva bandhanat mrutyor muksheeya maamritaat !!"
"We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva who nourishes and spreads fragrance in our lives. May He free us from the shackles of sorrow, change and death effortlessly, like the fall of a ripe cucumber from its stem !!"
In yajna vibhuti is considered very sacred and is used as fuel to burn the offerings like ghee,milk,curd,rice,holy twigs etc.,in Lord Agni who carries the offerings to the respective devata in a yajna.The residue left over which is white in colour is considered as vibhuthi and is given to the devotees as prasaad for daily use to please Lord Shiva.
Common Adulterants used in Manufacturing
Many Vibhuthi Manufacturers these days adulterate their Vibhuthi product with Jersey and Friesian's animals dung ashes, rice bran ashes, rice husk ashes, boiler waste ashes, Thermal Power plant ashes, Bio-gas energy plants, white stone powder, paper cellulose, calcium carbonate, paints, chemicals, etc... These substances make them unfit for spiritual use. Due to lack of knowledge and awareness, the above adulterants are used by the manufacturers to gain a huge profit, as they are cheaply available and are considered as waste by-products by various industries. Many people have developed skin allergies with the use of these adulterated Vibhuthi. Special care needs to be taken by the Shiva devotees that Vibhuthi is without adulterants and is prepared in a traditional way (from wood) to gain the benefits of smearing Vibhuthi.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
25 Life Lessons from Ramayana
- Power of Bad Association: It was a known fact in Ayodhya that Kaikeyi loved Lord Rama more than his own son Bharath, then how could she become so evil. It is by her bad association with Mantara.
- Attachment to service & not to the position: Lord Ram was willing to become the king as a service to Maharaj Dasarath and He was also willing to go to the forest as a service to His father.
- Mission of Life should be to vanquish the demoniac tendencies in our heart: Lord Ram's purpose to kill the demons was fulfilled by His banishment to the forest.
- Even extreme reversals if taken in the proper spirit will help us fulfill our mission in life: For example, Law of gravity is only in effect in the Earth's sphere and not beyond. So also Laws of material nature act only in material consciousness not in spiritual consciousness.
- Ram or Aaram, A test for every seeker: Citizens of Ayodhya wanted to go with Lord Ram to forest and leave behind all the comforts (Aaram) of the City Ayodhya.
- Alertness in Spiritual Life: Lord Ram leaves Ayodhyavasis when they were asleep. If one is inattentive or lazy, one will loose taste in Bhakti.
- (Sometimes) Saintly persons might cause pain to others not to hurt them but benefit them: Bharat disowns Kaikeyi, or Prahlad disregards Hiranyakashipu, a Doctor may cause pain (operation) to patient to cure him.
- Goal is to please the Lord: For Bharat, he wanted to stay in the forest which was easier than to return and rule the Kingdom but he did it to please Lord Ram.
- Lord is the Proprietor: Bhoktaram Yajna tapasam (Bhagavad Gita 5.29). Bharat was ruling the kingdom on Lord Ram's behalf by keeping the Paduka's on the Throne. We are only caretakers, He is the real proprietor, He can give and take away. The Caretaker acts according to the will of the owner.
- Anybody can make a show of greatness: The reversals test us who we are. When Lakshmana cuts Surpanaka's nose, gone was the charming form, gone was the facade and then the real ugly form manifested. One's greatness is tested by one's ability to tolerate provoking situations.
- Bhakti (Sita) cannot be achieved by Deception: Ravana wanted to kidnap Sitadevi by deception, but he gets Maya-Sita at the end. Greed and lust are never satiated, they lead to arrogance and envy.
- Attachments can creates traps and make us suffer: Marichi takes up a golden dear form to which Sitadevi developed deep attachment to have it and thus trapped Sitadevi. We should see the substance through the eyes of the scripture. Marichi was all about false promises. For example, spider web is most attractive to the fly but actually it's a trap.
- Maya knows our weaknesses: She can make our strength into weaknesses and take us away from the circle of instructions of great souls. Ravana uses Sitadevi's attitude to serve great souls to disobey Lakshmana.
- Always stand by the Right: Jatayu's integrity. Real success is to please the Lord. Jatayu lost his life fighting for Lord Ram but achieved the purpose of Life to please the Lord. It is better to lose & win than to win & lose.
- Patience, Determination & Enthusiasm: Example of Shabari. Long time ago, Guru had asked her to wait for Lord Ram while all other disciples and Guru himself went back to Godhead. She showed her enthusiasm by working hard everyday to clean the place, plucking flowers & fruits for the Lord. She had complete faith in the words of Guru and patiently waited with determination. The Lord reveals only when He wants.
- Honesty, We can't put a facade before the Lord: Hanumanji disguises when he went to meet Lord Ram. Lord knows within who we are, we have to be honest to receive the mercy of the Lord. Lord Ram didn't speak to Hanuman for four months.
- Obstacles on the path of Bhakti: The demons who came to stop Hanuman during his jumping across the ocean. Mainaka (Gold Mountain) - temptation to seek comfort before achieving our real purpose. Simhika (Shadow catching demoness) - While striving for Bhakti, people will chastise, criticize and misunderstand us, we should have the willingness to tolerate. Surasa (Serpent): Being envious of people in higher position and try to stop their progress. This is jealousy of the mind. By devotional service, we have to devour Simhika who represents Envy.
- Arrogance cannot understand wellwishers: The world is a mirror of our own consciousness. Ravana was thinking Mandodari was envious of Sita, but actually he was envious of Lord Ram. Ravana was thinking Vibhisana was disloyal and taking the side of Lord Ram, but he was disloyal to Kubera, his cousin brother. When we think we know, we are not willing to listen to good counsel. Spiritual progress means simplicity and humility. If they are lacking, we won't listen thinking that we know better, that was Ravana.
- Big or Small, we can swim the ocean of Samsara by chanting Lord Ram's holy name: Big or Small, all the stones floated by writing Lord Ram's name.
- Pride or Attachment leads to loss of intelligence: dhyayato visayan pumsah (Bhagavad Gita 2.62). Every stage of this sloka was exhibited by Ravana. Loss of intelligence - Even when all his stalwart warriors including Kumbakarna, Indrajit died but he still didn't give up.
- Hearing about the Lord - Revival of dormant love: Lord Ram being Paramatma in the heart of everyone including Ravana could have killed him just by turning off Ravana's heart. But the Lord and His pleasure potency Sitadevi went through this whole ordeal so that we can hear about the Lord and revive our dormant love.
- Righteousness: Vibhishana comes to take shelter of Lord Ram, all the monkeys were against, except Hanumanji. Vibhishana was willing to be misunderstood or even chastised to surrender to the Lord.
- Counsel and Advise in battle against Illusion: In battle against Illusion, at every stage association of devotees to put us straight without which we will fall. Lord Ram doesn't need but takes the counsel of Vibhishana.
- Grace of a Sadhu needed to kill demons within: Agastya muni had given a divine arrow to Lord Ram. That arrow was used by Lord Ram to kill Ravan by piercing his heart.
- Welcoming the Lord in hearts with lamps: That is Dipavali festival. Lord Ram is welcomed back into Ayodhya with lamps. Dipavali is not just physical fire but lighting the hearts with light of Lord's grace and process of devotional service. When heart is fully illuminated, then we can experience Lord Ram within ourself. When our love awakens, in that love, compassion for all living beings awakens. Then Ramrajya is awakened within the heart and then without (i.e. out in the world).
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