Previous blog was about the importance of Kaarttik Maas and activities during that month. Like Aashwin month this month is also full of festivals, so this blog is about the festivals falling in this month.
(1) Karavaa Chauth - The month starts with Karavaa Chauth celebrated by Suhaagin (married) on Kaarttik Krishn Chauth. This day they keep fast without drinking water for the welfare and long life of their husband and take food after Poojaa and seeing the Moon. This day the Moon rises about 9.00 PM.
(2) Raadhaa Ashtamee or Raadhaa Jayantee - On Kaarttik Krishn Ashtamee Raadhaa's birthday is celebrated.
(3) Ahoee Ashtamee - Ahoee Ashtamee also falls on Kaarttik Krishn Ashtamee, This day women, if woman is not there or cannot keep the fast then men, keep fast for the welfare of their sons. They keep fast without drinking water and eat food in the evening after worshiping Mother Hoee and seeing stars. Whose children die just after their birth, they start eating food after seeing the Moon. It is believed that their children live by keeping this fast. On this day Moon rises very late.
(4) Dhan Teras - Dhan Teras is celebrated on Kaarttik Krish Trayodashee. Hindu celebrate this day by Lakshmee Poojan, buying some kitchen utensil. They buy some gold or silver also to invoke Lakshmee Jee on Divaalee (celebrated on Amaavasyaa).
(5) Dhanvantari Jayantee - This Kaarttik Krishn Trayodashee day is celebrated as the birthday of Dhanvantari Jee also. According to our Puraan he emerged from Saagar Manthan carrying Amrit Kalash and is the Devtaa of medicines. A lamp is lighted outside the main door to ward off untimely and unnatural death in the family.
(6) Narakaa Chaudas or Chhotee Divaalee - Kaarttik Krishn Chaturdashee is celebrated as Narakaa Chaudas. It is believed that the doors of Hell are wide open on this day, so to prevent oneself from landing in Hell people light a lamp for Yam Raaj - the god of Death. Facing the South, take a lamp with four wicks (each facing a direction) and black Til oil (sesame seed oil) and keep it outside the house door or gate and pray to Dharm Raaj to spare the family from untimely death in the family. This day a few clay lamps are also worshiped - one for Vishnu (keep it in your Poojaa place), one for Varun Devtaa (keep it near well or water tap), one for Tulasee (keep it with Tulasee plant), one for Yam Raaj (keep it outside the house door), one for Peepal tree (keep it under Peepal or in the roots of any tree) and a few lamps (maybe 5) for our ancestors and those dead people who expect this light from mortals - from their own people or others.
(7) Hanumaan Jayantee - It is ironical that Hanumaan Jayantee is celebrated in the year by various people at various times. Some people celebrate it on Chaitra Poornimaa. Vaayu Puraan says that he was born on this Chaudas at midnight. Both have supports by scriptures, so one can celebrate it on both days. Since he was born at midnight, the celebration should be on next day morning. People worship Hanumaan on this day (Amaavasyaa) in the morning, read Hanumaan Chaaleesaa and Sundar Kaand this day. You may listen to Sundar Kaand here.
(8) Divaalee - Kaarttik Amaavasyaa is Divaalee - the main festival of Hindu, especially of Vaishya. Worship Ganesh Jee and Lakshmee Jee at night. It is celebrated by eating sweets and distributing sweets to close relatives and friends. It is believed that Lakshmee Jee comes out in the night to distribute wealth and whoever's house She finds clean and beautiful she enters that house and gives wealth. So people clean their houses, whitewash or paint their houses, cook and eat delicious food and after worshiping Her wait for Her to come to their house. They keep awake the whole night by playing cards or some other means of entertainment. New clothes are worn and lots of crackers are cracked.
(9) New Year and Annakoot - Vaishya, traders and businessmen celebrate this day, Kaarttik Shukla Padavaa, as their New Year day. They change their account books and wish each other good for the New Year. This day is celebrated as Annakoot or Govardhan Poojaa also. This is a special festival of western UP. It is believed that Krishn saved Gokul from Indra's wrath - heavy rains for 7 consecutive days, by lifting Govardhan mountain on His left smallest finger. A huge mountain is made by cow dung and Gop, Gwaalaa, cattle are made inside it. Men worship it and as many kinds of foods as possible are cooked and distributed. Temples also distributed Prasaad.
(10) Yam Dwiteeyaa or Bhaiyaa Doyaj - This day, Kaarttik Shukla Doyaj, is celebrated as Bhaiyaa Doyaj. Brothers go to their sister's house and sister puts Teekaa on their forehead and offers them delicious food. Brothers gives them some money or gift. It is believed that Yamee, sister of Yam, got attracted to her brother and asked for his favor, then Yam preached her about the sacred relationship of brother and sister. Tulasee Planting is also done this day. A new Tulasee plant may also be planted and is worshiped the whole Kaarttik month.
(11) Soorya Shashthee Vrat - On Kaarttik Shukla 6th day is celebrated as Soorya Shashthee Vrat. A 3-day fast is observed and it is concluded on the 4th day.
(12) Gopaa Ashtamee - On Kaarttik Shukla Ashtamee cows are worshiped, clothed and fed green grass and other foods. Cow donation is common on this day. Although donation of a real cow is not always necessary, only some donation towards it may also be counted as Gau Daan.
(13) Akshaya Navamee - Kaarttik Shukla Navamee is celebrated as Akshaya Navamee. Akshaya means immortal. Whatever Punya activity is done on this day becomes immortal; it means that one will be enjoying its Punya till he gets salvation. Punya Karm include Jaap (recitation of Hari's name), Daan (donations), Sevaa (serving somebody or temple, Vrat (fasts), Deep Daan in temples or lighting lamps in home temples, Kathaa etc etc.
(14) Dev Uthaan Ekaadashee and Tulasee's Marriage - Kaarttik Shukla Ekaadashee is Dev Uthaan Ekaadashee. Vishnu wakes up this day from His 4 months sleep. This day people keep fast, do Vishnu or His Avataar's (Raam or Krishn) Bhajan, Keertan and read scriptures. There was a Daitya named Mur. Krishn killed him, that is how He got the name Muraari (Mur+Ari). Mur went to hide in rice today that is people do not eat rice on all Ekaadashee. Tulasee is also married this day to Shaalgraam. Her marriage is performed in the same way as people marry their children. All kinds of marriage ceremonies are performed in the same way.
(15) Bheeshm Panchak - Who cannot discipline themselves for the whole Kaarttik month, they can observe them from Kaarttik Shukla Ekaadashee to Kaarttik Poornimaa, 5 days, called Bheeshm Panchak. Keep fast on these days or eat only Saatwik food - no carrot, onions, garlic, mushroom etc. Listen to Raamaayan, Geetaa etc.
(16) Vaikunth Chaudas - It is believed that on this day the doors of Vaikunth, the abode of Vishnu, are wide open. One should worship Vishnu and Shiv this day. Once Vishnu went to Manikarnikaa Ghaat at Kaashee, to worship Shiv. he took 1,000 lotus flowers to worship him. To test Vishnu's devotion, Shiv hid one flower. When Vishnu found that one flower was short, He thought that people call my eye a lotus eye, so let me offer my eye. As soon as He got ready to pluck His eye Shiv appeared before Him and blessed Him. He also said - "From this day, this Chaudas will be known as Vaikunth Chaudas. Whoever will worship first you and then me will go directly to Vaikunth."
(17) Kaarttik Poornimaa - It is a very auspicious day to take bath in Gangaa River. If one cannot have access to Gangaa, he can invoke Gangaa while taking bath in home. It is also auspicious day for Satya Naaraayan Vrat Kathaa.
Thus this month is also full of important festivals.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
Showing posts with label Dharm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dharm. Show all posts
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Kaarttik Month-1
Yesterday, on October 18, 2013, was Sharad Poornimaa. Sharad Poornimaa is the most important Poornimaa of the year among the 12 Poornimaa. This was Aashwin Maas Poornimaa. Almost the whole month was of festival month. First 15 days were dedicated to our Pitri (ancestors), next 9 days were dedicated to 9 forms of Durgaa, the next day was dedicated to Raam's victory over Raavan - Dashaharaa; and this last day of the month, Poornimaa, was the most important Poornimaa of the year - Sharad Poornimaa.
From today starts the holiest month of the year - Kaarttik Maas. It is the most favorite month for both Vishnu and Shiv. Vishnu who slept on Aashaadh Shukla Ekaadashee wakes up on Kaarttik Shukla Ekaadashee - after 4 months of sleep. This is the greatest thing for Vishnu Bhakt. A lot has been said in Puraan in the praise of this month. This month has been said to be the sin destroying month.
Whatever Poojaa you do in this month gives great Punya (merit) to the doer, that is why one must do at least something to earn Punya, if not all, such as - Jaap of Hari's name. Snaan in Brahm Muhoort, Deep Daan (lighting lamp) in the house or a temple, fasts (any kind of fast which is possible for you), any kind of Daan (charity), daily Aamalaa or Peepal or Tulasee tree worship, lighting lamp near Tulasee plant, applying Tilak from Tulasee's soil etc are the most Punya giving actions of this month.
About Snaan, Shiv Jee says to his son Kaarttikeya - "O my dear son, Taking bath in this month before sunrise is equal to taking bath in the holiest of holiest rivers, and sleeping on the ground in this month is equal to donating a piece of land to Braahman."
Padm Puraan gives an interesting story about Deep Daan - Once in a temple of Vishnu, there lived a mouse who used to eat the ghee from the extinguished ghee lamps which had been offered by devotees to Him. One day when she felt hungry to eat ghee, she tried to eat the ghee from a lamp which was not yet extinguished fully. While eating ghee from the lamp, the cotton wick got stuck in her teeth. Since the ghee wick had a flame, the mouse started jumping in front of the Deity and thus died due to fire. But Vishnu accepted the jumping of that mouse with a lit ghee wick in her mouth as His Aaratee and so He liberated her - the highest goal of one's life. If somebody lights a lamp in a Vishnu temple even for a short time in the month of Kaarttik, his millions of sins acquired from million Kalp (one Kalp equals 1000 Chatur-Yug) are destroyed. This is best Punya Karm during the Kaarttik month.
Next Blog about Festivals in Kaarttik Maas
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
From today starts the holiest month of the year - Kaarttik Maas. It is the most favorite month for both Vishnu and Shiv. Vishnu who slept on Aashaadh Shukla Ekaadashee wakes up on Kaarttik Shukla Ekaadashee - after 4 months of sleep. This is the greatest thing for Vishnu Bhakt. A lot has been said in Puraan in the praise of this month. This month has been said to be the sin destroying month.
Whatever Poojaa you do in this month gives great Punya (merit) to the doer, that is why one must do at least something to earn Punya, if not all, such as - Jaap of Hari's name. Snaan in Brahm Muhoort, Deep Daan (lighting lamp) in the house or a temple, fasts (any kind of fast which is possible for you), any kind of Daan (charity), daily Aamalaa or Peepal or Tulasee tree worship, lighting lamp near Tulasee plant, applying Tilak from Tulasee's soil etc are the most Punya giving actions of this month.
About Snaan, Shiv Jee says to his son Kaarttikeya - "O my dear son, Taking bath in this month before sunrise is equal to taking bath in the holiest of holiest rivers, and sleeping on the ground in this month is equal to donating a piece of land to Braahman."
Padm Puraan gives an interesting story about Deep Daan - Once in a temple of Vishnu, there lived a mouse who used to eat the ghee from the extinguished ghee lamps which had been offered by devotees to Him. One day when she felt hungry to eat ghee, she tried to eat the ghee from a lamp which was not yet extinguished fully. While eating ghee from the lamp, the cotton wick got stuck in her teeth. Since the ghee wick had a flame, the mouse started jumping in front of the Deity and thus died due to fire. But Vishnu accepted the jumping of that mouse with a lit ghee wick in her mouth as His Aaratee and so He liberated her - the highest goal of one's life. If somebody lights a lamp in a Vishnu temple even for a short time in the month of Kaarttik, his millions of sins acquired from million Kalp (one Kalp equals 1000 Chatur-Yug) are destroyed. This is best Punya Karm during the Kaarttik month.
Next Blog about Festivals in Kaarttik Maas
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Women and Dharm
At one time I discussed Dharm according to Varn and Aashram. Varn means Braahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shoodra; and Aashram means Brahmcharya, Grihasth, Vaanprasth and Sanyaas. Today I am going to express my views about Dharm according to the gender, with specific reference to feminine gender. A woman, or a female also has several role in the society as a man. And in every role, she has to do different duties - this is called multiple Dharm.
(1) Daughter
When a girl is born, she is only a daughter. She has to do her duties towards her parents and a few elders in the family, if there are any. She obeys them, she learns whatever she is taught by them. As she grows, along with being daughter, she enters in Brahmcharya Aasharm. In today's world, she has equal opportunities with boys. She attends schools, she earns the same qualifications as the boys do. But all these opportunities do not change her gender - she still remains a woman. As there is not much difference between a boy and a girl at this age, a Shlok is famous about the characteristics of a student to be a good student. This Shlok has nothing to do with time and space and is true for today also --
Kaag Cheshtaa, Bako Dhyaanam, Shwaan Nidraa Tathaiv Cha
Alpa Haaree, Griham Tyaagee, Vidyaarthee Panch Lakshanam
Means - A student should have his movements like a crow, should concentrate on his studies like a crane; he should sleep like a dog, eat only a little food and give up his house - these are the five characteristics of a good student
(2) Sister
Till she is in her parents' house, she might have some younger brothers and sisters. Being the elder sister, she has some special duties towards them. A boy can run away from his duties towards his younger brothers and sisters, but it is difficult for an elder sister to run away from her duties.
(3) Wife
After she is educated and gets matured, she gets married and goes to her husband's house. Some 30-40 years ago the girls used to go to their in-law's house, but now the times are changed, they do not live with them, they live with their husbands, and do jobs like their husbands. They are also the earning member of the family and are breadwinners. Although she lives like a boy, still she can't escape being a woman. Being a woman she still has to complete her certain duties - satisfy her husband physically and emotionally, give birth to children, possibly breastfeed the children after they are born. There is a Shlok about a wife's duties also, like the characteristics of a student given above -
Kaaryeshu Daasee, Karaneshu Mantree, Roopeshu Lakshmee Kshamayeshu Dharitree,
Bhojyeshu Maataa, Shayanehu Rambhaa, Shat Dharmyukta Kul Dharm Patnee
Means - A wife should work like a servant in the house, should be a counselor like a minister, should be beautiful like Lakshmee, should be a forgiver like Prithvi, should feed her husband like a mother, and should be like a prostitute in bed, these 6 qualities make a wife good wife.
The problem of this Shlok is this that its correct reference is difficult to find. Three references are given -
(1) In Rukminee Kalyaanam - Krishn says that Rukminee has all these 6 qualities,
(2) In Abhigyaan Shaakuntalam - by poet Kaalidaas , or
(3) Maybe by the poet Bhartrihari.
But whatever it is, it is a good Shlok in which 6 qualities of a wife are told. Although, in my opinion, 100% women will never agree with these qualities, but if they think with the perspective of a man or husband (as what type of wife he needs), all boys will agree with it.
(4) Mother
After being a wife, a woman becomes a mother. When somebody gives birth to a child, both parents have some duties towards him. If they do not perform them properly, they certainly commit a crime. To take care of the child of his physical, emotional and training needs is the primary duty of the parents, but this duty is more of a mother than father. Whatever a mother teaches him, he becomes like the same. Mother is the first Guru or teacher of the child - a very important duty of the mother.
Although there are many other roles also for a woman and all of them cannot be described here, because in this modern time her roles have changed a lot because of her financial earnings and changing social status, but still, the above mentioned roles - a role of a daughter, sister, wife, earner (new economic dimension) and mother, are a must in her life. She cannot escape from them. That is another matter how does she play those roles. Everybody's Dharm is decied by the station in your life and is relatively simple moral coed to adhere to.
Here it will not be irrelevant to cite a Shlok about woman --
Pitaa Rakshati Kaumaaree, Bhartaa Rakshati Yauvane
Putro Rakshati Vriddhakyee, Na Stree Swatantryam Arhati
Means - Father protects a woman in her childhood, husband protects her in her youth, the son protects her in her old age, thus a woman is never independent.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
(1) Daughter
When a girl is born, she is only a daughter. She has to do her duties towards her parents and a few elders in the family, if there are any. She obeys them, she learns whatever she is taught by them. As she grows, along with being daughter, she enters in Brahmcharya Aasharm. In today's world, she has equal opportunities with boys. She attends schools, she earns the same qualifications as the boys do. But all these opportunities do not change her gender - she still remains a woman. As there is not much difference between a boy and a girl at this age, a Shlok is famous about the characteristics of a student to be a good student. This Shlok has nothing to do with time and space and is true for today also --
Kaag Cheshtaa, Bako Dhyaanam, Shwaan Nidraa Tathaiv Cha
Alpa Haaree, Griham Tyaagee, Vidyaarthee Panch Lakshanam
Means - A student should have his movements like a crow, should concentrate on his studies like a crane; he should sleep like a dog, eat only a little food and give up his house - these are the five characteristics of a good student
(2) Sister
Till she is in her parents' house, she might have some younger brothers and sisters. Being the elder sister, she has some special duties towards them. A boy can run away from his duties towards his younger brothers and sisters, but it is difficult for an elder sister to run away from her duties.
(3) Wife
After she is educated and gets matured, she gets married and goes to her husband's house. Some 30-40 years ago the girls used to go to their in-law's house, but now the times are changed, they do not live with them, they live with their husbands, and do jobs like their husbands. They are also the earning member of the family and are breadwinners. Although she lives like a boy, still she can't escape being a woman. Being a woman she still has to complete her certain duties - satisfy her husband physically and emotionally, give birth to children, possibly breastfeed the children after they are born. There is a Shlok about a wife's duties also, like the characteristics of a student given above -
Kaaryeshu Daasee, Karaneshu Mantree, Roopeshu Lakshmee Kshamayeshu Dharitree,
Bhojyeshu Maataa, Shayanehu Rambhaa, Shat Dharmyukta Kul Dharm Patnee
Means - A wife should work like a servant in the house, should be a counselor like a minister, should be beautiful like Lakshmee, should be a forgiver like Prithvi, should feed her husband like a mother, and should be like a prostitute in bed, these 6 qualities make a wife good wife.
The problem of this Shlok is this that its correct reference is difficult to find. Three references are given -
(1) In Rukminee Kalyaanam - Krishn says that Rukminee has all these 6 qualities,
(2) In Abhigyaan Shaakuntalam - by poet Kaalidaas , or
(3) Maybe by the poet Bhartrihari.
But whatever it is, it is a good Shlok in which 6 qualities of a wife are told. Although, in my opinion, 100% women will never agree with these qualities, but if they think with the perspective of a man or husband (as what type of wife he needs), all boys will agree with it.
(4) Mother
After being a wife, a woman becomes a mother. When somebody gives birth to a child, both parents have some duties towards him. If they do not perform them properly, they certainly commit a crime. To take care of the child of his physical, emotional and training needs is the primary duty of the parents, but this duty is more of a mother than father. Whatever a mother teaches him, he becomes like the same. Mother is the first Guru or teacher of the child - a very important duty of the mother.
Although there are many other roles also for a woman and all of them cannot be described here, because in this modern time her roles have changed a lot because of her financial earnings and changing social status, but still, the above mentioned roles - a role of a daughter, sister, wife, earner (new economic dimension) and mother, are a must in her life. She cannot escape from them. That is another matter how does she play those roles. Everybody's Dharm is decied by the station in your life and is relatively simple moral coed to adhere to.
Here it will not be irrelevant to cite a Shlok about woman --
Pitaa Rakshati Kaumaaree, Bhartaa Rakshati Yauvane
Putro Rakshati Vriddhakyee, Na Stree Swatantryam Arhati
Means - Father protects a woman in her childhood, husband protects her in her youth, the son protects her in her old age, thus a woman is never independent.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Dharm in Kali Yug
You must have heard that Dharm stands with his four legs in Sat Yug, with his three legs in Tretaa Yug, with his two legs in Dwaapar Yug and with his one leg only in Kali Yug. Have you ever thoght why does it happen so? This is because Dharm is cursed to be like this. Whose curse it was? Let us read this story.
There was a Muni Pippalaad. He was the son of Rishi Dadheechi. You must have heard the name of Dadheechi also. He is the same Rishi who gave his bones to Indra to make Vajra (thunderbolt) to kill Vritraasur. Pippalaad Muni was the incarnation of Rudra. Dadheechi performed a severe penance and asked Shiv to be born as his son.
When Dadheechi gave his bones to Devtaa, his wife was not there. When she came back to the Aashram and found her husband dead, she got very angry. She cursed Indra and other Devtaa; got pyre ready to become Satee. The then a Divine voice said - "You are carrying Rishi's child so do not think of being Satee." But she wanted to go to her husband, so she tore her stomach and the embryo came out. As it came out it was shining like Sun in Tri-Lok. When she came to know that he was Rudra's incarnation, she offered her prayers to him, left him near a fig tree and went to her husband. Brahmaa Jee named him Pippalaad because he was born under a Peepal tree.
Rishi Pippalaad
Once Pippalaad was taking bath in Pushpbhadraa River, that a he saw a beautiful princess Padmaa, incarnation of Paarvatee. He got attracted to her and asked her hand from her father. First the king did not want to marry his daughter to that old Rishi, but seeing his Tej he married his daughter to him. Padmaa was very beautiful and a very Pativrataa woman.
One day Dharm Dev wanted to test the Paativrat Dharm of Padmaa. So he came to her near the river and tried to distract her pointing out again and again the old age of Rishi. At this Padmaa got annoyed and cursed Dharm to diminish soon. Hearing this curse Dharm Dev appeared in his real form. Seeing Dharm Dev, Padmaa asked for his apology and told him that she cursed him unknowingly, but she could not take her curse back. She then modified it - "In every Yug one part of Dharm will be destroyed, thus in Sat Yug Dharm will be present in all the four forms, in Tretaa Yug Dharm will be present in three forms, in Dwaaapar Hug Dharm will be present with two forms and in Kali Yug it will be present only in one form."
That is why Kali Yug is so short of Dharm. Dharm was satisfied with Padmaa's Paativrat Dharm. he blessed her with 10 sons and made her husband a handsome youth. Both .lived for long time enjoying their life. They had 10 sons and all of them were great sages like their father.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
There was a Muni Pippalaad. He was the son of Rishi Dadheechi. You must have heard the name of Dadheechi also. He is the same Rishi who gave his bones to Indra to make Vajra (thunderbolt) to kill Vritraasur. Pippalaad Muni was the incarnation of Rudra. Dadheechi performed a severe penance and asked Shiv to be born as his son.
When Dadheechi gave his bones to Devtaa, his wife was not there. When she came back to the Aashram and found her husband dead, she got very angry. She cursed Indra and other Devtaa; got pyre ready to become Satee. The then a Divine voice said - "You are carrying Rishi's child so do not think of being Satee." But she wanted to go to her husband, so she tore her stomach and the embryo came out. As it came out it was shining like Sun in Tri-Lok. When she came to know that he was Rudra's incarnation, she offered her prayers to him, left him near a fig tree and went to her husband. Brahmaa Jee named him Pippalaad because he was born under a Peepal tree.
Rishi Pippalaad
Once Pippalaad was taking bath in Pushpbhadraa River, that a he saw a beautiful princess Padmaa, incarnation of Paarvatee. He got attracted to her and asked her hand from her father. First the king did not want to marry his daughter to that old Rishi, but seeing his Tej he married his daughter to him. Padmaa was very beautiful and a very Pativrataa woman.
One day Dharm Dev wanted to test the Paativrat Dharm of Padmaa. So he came to her near the river and tried to distract her pointing out again and again the old age of Rishi. At this Padmaa got annoyed and cursed Dharm to diminish soon. Hearing this curse Dharm Dev appeared in his real form. Seeing Dharm Dev, Padmaa asked for his apology and told him that she cursed him unknowingly, but she could not take her curse back. She then modified it - "In every Yug one part of Dharm will be destroyed, thus in Sat Yug Dharm will be present in all the four forms, in Tretaa Yug Dharm will be present in three forms, in Dwaaapar Hug Dharm will be present with two forms and in Kali Yug it will be present only in one form."
That is why Kali Yug is so short of Dharm. Dharm was satisfied with Padmaa's Paativrat Dharm. he blessed her with 10 sons and made her husband a handsome youth. Both .lived for long time enjoying their life. They had 10 sons and all of them were great sages like their father.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Four Purushaarth
Our Hindu philosophy fixes four type of Purushaarth (efforts) for a human being. They are very logical steps in a human being's life and worth following them. Following them one can reach his goal of life - that is Moksh. These four Purushaarth should be the main objectives of life and be followed - earning money, fulfilling desires of life, to do Dharm to earn Punya (merit) and to follow all these to attain Moksh.
Who think that the Arth or fulfilling of desires or Dharm alone is the most important thing enough to obtain in the life to attain Moksh, is not correct. All the four are necessary for it and that also in that order. Let us see how.
(1) Arth (Money or Wealth)
The first thing is to earn money, for what? to fulfill the desires. If these objectives are kept in this order, Arth, Kaam, Dharn and Moksh, a man should first earn money, not be cheating, not by unfair means, but by fair means and manage it by spending it to fulfill his own desires and; his family's needs and desires. Why? To sustain himself and to fulfill his responsibilities towards his family. Our scriptures say that any money earned by unfair means and saved by not providing for one's own and his family's needs, and is if spent on Dharm actions, does not earn Dharm. That is why all money should be earned by fair mean; and after fulfilling one's own and his family's needs, should be used to earn Punya - by donating or doing some Dharm actions.
Hear "fulfillment of needs" words are to be noticed attentively. Why? Because this is this world's nature that nobody's needs are ever fulfilled, whether he lives for thousands of years. So these needs have to be minimum, just to maintain oneself. Why? Because this human body is very valuable. Why? Because only this body is the means to attain Moksh. This Yoni (human body) is the only Yoni is to do any Karm, all others are Bhog Yoni - means one cannot do any Karm in those Yoni. In other than human Yoni you do not have any opportunity to do anything, they are just to pass time, and that also you do not have the power of mind to know it that how much time you passed n that Yoni. And it is said in the scriptures that one is born in Manushya Yoni after going through 840,000 Yoni; so never waste this life.
(2) Kaam (Desires or Pleasures)
This fairly earned money should be spent first on sustaining himself, so that one can maintain oneself to attain Moksh, and on the fulfillment of his responsibility of his family (Grihasth Aashram). This is necessary, because we have got this human body after passing through 840, 000 Yoni (species). And as said above that to attain Moksh is the ultimate Purushaarth of this human being Yoni, so one must sustain himself by earning money fairly and spending it minimum on himself and on hs family and and rest to use to perform Dharm actions to attain Moksh.
The main objective of fulfilling desires is to fulfilling only those desires which are legitimate, so that one's mind does not astray around after the unfulfilled desires. Because this wandering of mind will not allow them to concentrate on Dharm actions. Therefore before doing any Dharm actions one should satisfy himself with his desires, so that he s not the victim of greed.
(3) Dharm (Punya or Merits)
After earning the money by fair means and fulfilling one's own and his family's desires and needs, a man should aspire for Dharm through the rest of money. All Dharm actions need money to carry out the objectives - Yagya (sacrifices); Daan (alms and donations); building temples, wells, ponds etc etc. Money should not be earned only to satisfy one's pleasures, rather Arth, Kaam and Dharm all are the necessary means to attain Moksh. Only if one can save something from his fairly earned money after spending it on himself and his family, then only he should spend the rest of the money on others for the welfare of himself (to earn Dharm and Punya).Thus whatever little money a man can save, after sustaining himself and his family, he must spend it to earn Dharm.
(4) Moksh
And this earned Dharm, through fairly earned money after spending it on oneself and one's family needs, with satisfied mind, is the means to attain Moksh - the final aim of the human life.
Only those actions which help to practice the Arth, Kaam and Dharm together should be performed. Any of the action which satisfies any one, or even two of them at the expense of the remaining ones, should not be performed.
Who think that the Arth or fulfilling of desires or Dharm alone is the most important thing enough to obtain in the life to attain Moksh, is not correct. All the four are necessary for it and that also in that order. Let us see how.
(1) Arth (Money or Wealth)
The first thing is to earn money, for what? to fulfill the desires. If these objectives are kept in this order, Arth, Kaam, Dharn and Moksh, a man should first earn money, not be cheating, not by unfair means, but by fair means and manage it by spending it to fulfill his own desires and; his family's needs and desires. Why? To sustain himself and to fulfill his responsibilities towards his family. Our scriptures say that any money earned by unfair means and saved by not providing for one's own and his family's needs, and is if spent on Dharm actions, does not earn Dharm. That is why all money should be earned by fair mean; and after fulfilling one's own and his family's needs, should be used to earn Punya - by donating or doing some Dharm actions.
Hear "fulfillment of needs" words are to be noticed attentively. Why? Because this is this world's nature that nobody's needs are ever fulfilled, whether he lives for thousands of years. So these needs have to be minimum, just to maintain oneself. Why? Because this human body is very valuable. Why? Because only this body is the means to attain Moksh. This Yoni (human body) is the only Yoni is to do any Karm, all others are Bhog Yoni - means one cannot do any Karm in those Yoni. In other than human Yoni you do not have any opportunity to do anything, they are just to pass time, and that also you do not have the power of mind to know it that how much time you passed n that Yoni. And it is said in the scriptures that one is born in Manushya Yoni after going through 840,000 Yoni; so never waste this life.
(2) Kaam (Desires or Pleasures)
This fairly earned money should be spent first on sustaining himself, so that one can maintain oneself to attain Moksh, and on the fulfillment of his responsibility of his family (Grihasth Aashram). This is necessary, because we have got this human body after passing through 840, 000 Yoni (species). And as said above that to attain Moksh is the ultimate Purushaarth of this human being Yoni, so one must sustain himself by earning money fairly and spending it minimum on himself and on hs family and and rest to use to perform Dharm actions to attain Moksh.
The main objective of fulfilling desires is to fulfilling only those desires which are legitimate, so that one's mind does not astray around after the unfulfilled desires. Because this wandering of mind will not allow them to concentrate on Dharm actions. Therefore before doing any Dharm actions one should satisfy himself with his desires, so that he s not the victim of greed.
(3) Dharm (Punya or Merits)
After earning the money by fair means and fulfilling one's own and his family's desires and needs, a man should aspire for Dharm through the rest of money. All Dharm actions need money to carry out the objectives - Yagya (sacrifices); Daan (alms and donations); building temples, wells, ponds etc etc. Money should not be earned only to satisfy one's pleasures, rather Arth, Kaam and Dharm all are the necessary means to attain Moksh. Only if one can save something from his fairly earned money after spending it on himself and his family, then only he should spend the rest of the money on others for the welfare of himself (to earn Dharm and Punya).Thus whatever little money a man can save, after sustaining himself and his family, he must spend it to earn Dharm.
(4) Moksh
And this earned Dharm, through fairly earned money after spending it on oneself and one's family needs, with satisfied mind, is the means to attain Moksh - the final aim of the human life.
Only those actions which help to practice the Arth, Kaam and Dharm together should be performed. Any of the action which satisfies any one, or even two of them at the expense of the remaining ones, should not be performed.
Sushma Gupta
Friday, March 9, 2012
Higher Dharm
Everybody knows that one should follow his Dharm or duties. In Hindu Sanskriti this Dharm has been divided for each person according to his Varn and Aashram. There are four Varn and four Aashram. Everybody has his own Varn - Braahman, or Kshatriya, or Vaishya or Shoodra; and his own Aashram - Brahmcharya, or Grihasth, or Vaanprasth or Sanyaas. Till a human being lives, he is under one Varn and one Aashram and thus he should behave according to that. That is our Dharm and this is the normal way of living. But there is another Dharm which is above this normal Dharm and morality. There are a few stories of such higher Dharm and morality in which people did not follow normal Dharm, but rose to follow higher Dharm. Here I give four such stories, read them and try to rise higher than your normal Dharm and morality --
(1) Yudhishthir
Yudhishthir is a Mahaabhaarat (MBH) character. He was the eldest son of King Paandu and is known for following his Dharm, Truth and morality. When the MBH war was going on, Bheeshm had fallen and Guru Drone was the Commander-in-Chief of the Kaurav army; he was slaying many people daily. Four days had passed and there was no hope of defeating Drone. Yudhishthir was losing his army very quickly. He asked Krishn what to do, how to kill Guru Drone. Krishn suggested that there was only one way to kill him. He thinks that his son cannot be killed. Once he told that if he would hear the news of the death of his son in the battlefield, he would put down his weapons. So if somebody spreads this news that "Ashwatthaamaa has died" he would put his weapons down and it will be easier to kill him."
But who should tell this lie and how. Krishn suggested that "there was an elephant named Ashwatthaamaa, he could be killed and then one should spread the news that "Ashwatthaamaa has died". When he will believe this he will put his weapons down." Who will convince him for this, because he is not such a fool that anybody will spread this news and he would believe it. At this Krishn suggested that "if Yudhishthir will say this, he will believe it." Yudhishthir said - "This is a lie, I cannot tell lie and that also to my Guru. It is a great sin." Then Krishn preached him of higher Dharm and morality - that it was better to kill one person by telling a lie, instead of killing thousands of people by sticking to truth.
Then Bheem killed the Ashwatthaamaa elephant and spread the news that "Ashwatthaamaa has died". As Drone heard this news, he could not believe it and he said - "I want to hear from Yudhishthir's mouth, then only I can believe it." Yudhishthir also said - "Ashwatthaamaa is dead." Now there was no doubt and Drone kept his weapons down. Krishn asked Dhrishtdyumn to kill him at that time. He did that and killed him. That is how Yudhishthir saved his thousands of people by telling one lie on Krishn's advice.
(2) Sant Eknath Eswaran
There was a Saint named Eknath who lived in Mahaaraashtra state of India. Once he was traveling with a group of his followers from Vaaraanasee to Raameshwaram, from North to South. They all were carrying the Holy River Gangaa water to offer to Shiv. As they headed on foot to Raameshwaram, they passed through a dense forest. The pathway was narrow and Eknath got separated from his group as they could not keep up with him. When he saw nobody behind him, he decided to stop and wait for them. He sat down under a tree and started waiting for them. It was very hot. In the meantime he spotted a donkey to be dying of thirst. Eknath got very sympathetic to him. He tried to search for some water in the area so that he could give him for drink but could not find any.
He thought and thought, what should he do. The only water he had was the Holy water to be offered to God, and this donkey was dying with thirst. Should he keep this water for God, or give to this dying donkey? He did not take much time to think, he got up, took the Holy water pitcher and pour some water in his throat. The donkey was so thirsty that he drank all the water of the pitcher, to the last drop of it.
At the same time his followers arrived there. They saw him giving that Holy water to a donkey, they asked him angrily - "What did you do Eknath? This was the Holy water. We were carrying it to offer it to God and you gave it to a donkey. Now our trip is wasted. What we will offer to Shiv?" The saint smiled and said - "A true human being cannot bear to see another living being dying of thirst when he has water, whether it is ordinary or Holy. This offering to save the donkey's life is far greater than any kind of offering to any God.
(3) A Sage and a Cow
Once a sage was meditating under a tree in a forest. He was so much lost in his meditation that he did not know what was happening around. Suddenly he heard a shriek and he opened his eyes. Besides seeing the beauty of the forest he saw a frightened deer running towards him. He ran away in opposite direction. In the meantime a hunter appeared on the scene carrying his bow and arrow, ready to shoot, maybe to kill that deer. The hunter came and asked the sage if he had seen any deer going from there. The sage once thought what to say to him - "I have seen him or I have not seen him. If I say I have seen him, this hunter will kill him, and if I say, I have not seen him, although it would be a lie, but it will not affect him much and the deer will be saved. If I say one lie to save a life, it should not be taken as a lie." So he decided to tell the lie, he said - "No, I have not seen him." The hunter went away and the sage took the sigh of relief. He was very much at peace that he saved a life on that day.
(4) Jesus Christ
This last story is of Jesus Christ. Everybody knows this story of Jesus. Once Jesus saw that some people were throwing stones on a woman. Jesus asked the people what had happened. The people told him that she had done adultery, and according to the rules she should be stoned to death. Jesus was asked to judge her and pronounce her punishment. Now he had the choice of taking an easy course and pronouncing her guilty, which she was according to the law of the day in that society, a law Jesus was thoroughly familiar with, and which would allow the men who had brought her to him to stone her to death, OR to save her by giving some logical reason.
In all likelihood Jesus knew that this was a trap set for him – if he forgave her, he would be breaking the law of the Pharisees, and if he condemned her, he would be practicing against his own teaching of forgiveness and love. Yet he decided to take the risk and chose the path of higher morality. As the adulteress presented a similar situation of value conflict, in which a man has to decide to choose between the paths of normal Dharm and morality or higher Dharm and morality. He decided to choose the path of higher Dharm and morality, He said - "He who among you has never committed any sin in your life, let him first cast a stone at her.” and looked around the people standing before him carrying stones in their hands.
It is said that Jesus sealed his own death warrant by this statement – for what he had done was expose the hypocrisy of the man who was trying to trap him to the glare of the day. Here again, like the sage in the earlier story, what Jesus had done was to forsake the conventional morality and rise to the level of higher morality.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
(1) Yudhishthir
Yudhishthir is a Mahaabhaarat (MBH) character. He was the eldest son of King Paandu and is known for following his Dharm, Truth and morality. When the MBH war was going on, Bheeshm had fallen and Guru Drone was the Commander-in-Chief of the Kaurav army; he was slaying many people daily. Four days had passed and there was no hope of defeating Drone. Yudhishthir was losing his army very quickly. He asked Krishn what to do, how to kill Guru Drone. Krishn suggested that there was only one way to kill him. He thinks that his son cannot be killed. Once he told that if he would hear the news of the death of his son in the battlefield, he would put down his weapons. So if somebody spreads this news that "Ashwatthaamaa has died" he would put his weapons down and it will be easier to kill him."
But who should tell this lie and how. Krishn suggested that "there was an elephant named Ashwatthaamaa, he could be killed and then one should spread the news that "Ashwatthaamaa has died". When he will believe this he will put his weapons down." Who will convince him for this, because he is not such a fool that anybody will spread this news and he would believe it. At this Krishn suggested that "if Yudhishthir will say this, he will believe it." Yudhishthir said - "This is a lie, I cannot tell lie and that also to my Guru. It is a great sin." Then Krishn preached him of higher Dharm and morality - that it was better to kill one person by telling a lie, instead of killing thousands of people by sticking to truth.
Then Bheem killed the Ashwatthaamaa elephant and spread the news that "Ashwatthaamaa has died". As Drone heard this news, he could not believe it and he said - "I want to hear from Yudhishthir's mouth, then only I can believe it." Yudhishthir also said - "Ashwatthaamaa is dead." Now there was no doubt and Drone kept his weapons down. Krishn asked Dhrishtdyumn to kill him at that time. He did that and killed him. That is how Yudhishthir saved his thousands of people by telling one lie on Krishn's advice.
(2) Sant Eknath Eswaran
There was a Saint named Eknath who lived in Mahaaraashtra state of India. Once he was traveling with a group of his followers from Vaaraanasee to Raameshwaram, from North to South. They all were carrying the Holy River Gangaa water to offer to Shiv. As they headed on foot to Raameshwaram, they passed through a dense forest. The pathway was narrow and Eknath got separated from his group as they could not keep up with him. When he saw nobody behind him, he decided to stop and wait for them. He sat down under a tree and started waiting for them. It was very hot. In the meantime he spotted a donkey to be dying of thirst. Eknath got very sympathetic to him. He tried to search for some water in the area so that he could give him for drink but could not find any.
He thought and thought, what should he do. The only water he had was the Holy water to be offered to God, and this donkey was dying with thirst. Should he keep this water for God, or give to this dying donkey? He did not take much time to think, he got up, took the Holy water pitcher and pour some water in his throat. The donkey was so thirsty that he drank all the water of the pitcher, to the last drop of it.
At the same time his followers arrived there. They saw him giving that Holy water to a donkey, they asked him angrily - "What did you do Eknath? This was the Holy water. We were carrying it to offer it to God and you gave it to a donkey. Now our trip is wasted. What we will offer to Shiv?" The saint smiled and said - "A true human being cannot bear to see another living being dying of thirst when he has water, whether it is ordinary or Holy. This offering to save the donkey's life is far greater than any kind of offering to any God.
(3) A Sage and a Cow
Once a sage was meditating under a tree in a forest. He was so much lost in his meditation that he did not know what was happening around. Suddenly he heard a shriek and he opened his eyes. Besides seeing the beauty of the forest he saw a frightened deer running towards him. He ran away in opposite direction. In the meantime a hunter appeared on the scene carrying his bow and arrow, ready to shoot, maybe to kill that deer. The hunter came and asked the sage if he had seen any deer going from there. The sage once thought what to say to him - "I have seen him or I have not seen him. If I say I have seen him, this hunter will kill him, and if I say, I have not seen him, although it would be a lie, but it will not affect him much and the deer will be saved. If I say one lie to save a life, it should not be taken as a lie." So he decided to tell the lie, he said - "No, I have not seen him." The hunter went away and the sage took the sigh of relief. He was very much at peace that he saved a life on that day.
(4) Jesus Christ
This last story is of Jesus Christ. Everybody knows this story of Jesus. Once Jesus saw that some people were throwing stones on a woman. Jesus asked the people what had happened. The people told him that she had done adultery, and according to the rules she should be stoned to death. Jesus was asked to judge her and pronounce her punishment. Now he had the choice of taking an easy course and pronouncing her guilty, which she was according to the law of the day in that society, a law Jesus was thoroughly familiar with, and which would allow the men who had brought her to him to stone her to death, OR to save her by giving some logical reason.
In all likelihood Jesus knew that this was a trap set for him – if he forgave her, he would be breaking the law of the Pharisees, and if he condemned her, he would be practicing against his own teaching of forgiveness and love. Yet he decided to take the risk and chose the path of higher morality. As the adulteress presented a similar situation of value conflict, in which a man has to decide to choose between the paths of normal Dharm and morality or higher Dharm and morality. He decided to choose the path of higher Dharm and morality, He said - "He who among you has never committed any sin in your life, let him first cast a stone at her.” and looked around the people standing before him carrying stones in their hands.
It is said that Jesus sealed his own death warrant by this statement – for what he had done was expose the hypocrisy of the man who was trying to trap him to the glare of the day. Here again, like the sage in the earlier story, what Jesus had done was to forsake the conventional morality and rise to the level of higher morality.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
Monday, November 14, 2011
Dharm and Lakshmee Live Together
It is an interesting story--
Once Vishnu and Lakshmee had an argument about "who was greater" between them. Vishnu said that I am greater as wherever I live, the person does not know you; while Lakshmee's logic was that wherever You live, I also live there and then Vishnu is no more important to him. Now how to decide it? So they decided to test this....
Vishnu Comes to the King
There was a king who was living very peacefully in his kingdom and was ruling his kingdom in a very justified way. So first Vishnu went to him assuming the form of a Sanyaasee. The King welcomed Him and said to Him - "Please, welcome. We needed a Sanyaasee to live in our company. It is good that you have come here. Please live with us." Vishnu said - "I need a place to live." King was king, he did not have any shortage of anything, so within no time a place got ready for the Sanyaasee. Vishnu Jee started living there and the King started having Satsang, preachings, discussion on Ved and Mantra etc with Him. The days were passing in great peace and earning knowledge. The King was very happy with this environment. Raajya Lakshmee (the treasury of the kingdom) got converted into happiness and the kingdom became very peaceful.
Lakshmee Comes to the King
After a while Lakshmee came there assuming the form of a female beggar and said to the King - "Bhikshaam Dehi" (give me alms). The King thought, "She is a Mother, maybe She is hungry, so he arranged many kinds of food for Her. The Mother took out five golden pots from Her bag and said to the King - "Please put your food in these pots." The King got very surprised to see that a beggar had five golden pots to eat from. He said - "Brahme Vaachapprahee Lokaam, Hey Maataa, Bhojanam Mam Brahme". She ate Her food and said to the King - "Now you can take these pots, because I do not take food from the same pots twice." Hearing this the King was very much astonished. The King thought, "If she stays here for even a few days I will be very rich." He sent those golden pots inside his palace. Now She daily took food there and every time She gave 5 golden pots to the King. King was very happy.
When Lakshmee noticed that now the King has moved from his Dharm (it means that he moved from Vishnu too), one day She declared that now She wanted to go somewhere else. Hearing this the King became restless and said to Her sadly - "Where do you go, Maataa? Are you not happy here? Don't you get good food here? Do you need something else."
Lakshmee said - "No Its not like that, but I have my principles. Till you have that Sanyaasee in your Vaatikaa (garden), I cannot live here." The King could not think of Her relationship with Sanyaasee, still he said politely - "He is my honorable Guru. He educates me, I am His disciple. I cannot do this to Him." Lakshmee announced Her judgment - "Then I cannot live here." The King said - "Please, think of some way to stay back here." At this Lakshmee said - "Yes, There is way. If you do not go to him, nor you send Him food, He Himself will go away." The King was so much blind with wealth that he accepted Lakshmee's conditions and he did the same as Lakshmee told him. He stopped going to Sanyaasee and sending Him food too. After a while Vishnu left the place. Lakshmee continued to give golden pots to the King for some time.
Lakshmee Wants to Leave the King
After some time Lakshmee asked the King his permission to go away from there, that She wanted to go away. The King got very surprised to hear this, he again asked - "Now what happened, Maa? Why do you want to go away now? As you said I sent that Sanyaasee also from here and now you are also going away leaving me. This will be a curse for me." Lakshmee said - "No, O King, Now I cannot live here. He was my husband Vishnu. Wherever the husband lives, his wife also lives there. You have not given food to my husband, that is not Dharm. My husband is Dharm in person. You have insulted Dharm. Lakshmee is the wife of Dharm, so Lakshmee should be used properly." Saying this Lakshmee left the King's place. Surprisingly enough the golden pots which Lakshmee gave to the King got converted into worldly metal pots, as if they were never made of divine gold.
The King sat at in disappointment at the same place lowering his head, he said to himself - "What a great sin I have committed. I have sent that great Sanyaasee from my place and now my whole kingdom is also destroyed. What do I do now?"
Thus Lakshmee lives in his feet who knows his Self (Lakshmeem Brahm: Vaacho:); and if "Lakshmeem Brahme Vrataa:"; who does not worship Lakshmee (worship means "appropriate use") he loses Lakshmee. And who uses his wealth with Dharm, Lakshmee lives only in his house. And what is the appropriate use of wealth? Performing Yagya for Devtaa, performing good action through it. Whenever a person misuses it, he gets destroyed. When the Dharm is disregarded, then only the person starts misusing Lakshmee. Thus only Dharm is the protector of human being because if the person follows Dharm, he is wealthy, and if he has wealth, he can perform many good actions, and if he performs good actions, he attains meritorious regions after his death.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
Once Vishnu and Lakshmee had an argument about "who was greater" between them. Vishnu said that I am greater as wherever I live, the person does not know you; while Lakshmee's logic was that wherever You live, I also live there and then Vishnu is no more important to him. Now how to decide it? So they decided to test this....
Vishnu Comes to the King
There was a king who was living very peacefully in his kingdom and was ruling his kingdom in a very justified way. So first Vishnu went to him assuming the form of a Sanyaasee. The King welcomed Him and said to Him - "Please, welcome. We needed a Sanyaasee to live in our company. It is good that you have come here. Please live with us." Vishnu said - "I need a place to live." King was king, he did not have any shortage of anything, so within no time a place got ready for the Sanyaasee. Vishnu Jee started living there and the King started having Satsang, preachings, discussion on Ved and Mantra etc with Him. The days were passing in great peace and earning knowledge. The King was very happy with this environment. Raajya Lakshmee (the treasury of the kingdom) got converted into happiness and the kingdom became very peaceful.
Lakshmee Comes to the King
After a while Lakshmee came there assuming the form of a female beggar and said to the King - "Bhikshaam Dehi" (give me alms). The King thought, "She is a Mother, maybe She is hungry, so he arranged many kinds of food for Her. The Mother took out five golden pots from Her bag and said to the King - "Please put your food in these pots." The King got very surprised to see that a beggar had five golden pots to eat from. He said - "Brahme Vaachapprahee Lokaam, Hey Maataa, Bhojanam Mam Brahme". She ate Her food and said to the King - "Now you can take these pots, because I do not take food from the same pots twice." Hearing this the King was very much astonished. The King thought, "If she stays here for even a few days I will be very rich." He sent those golden pots inside his palace. Now She daily took food there and every time She gave 5 golden pots to the King. King was very happy.
When Lakshmee noticed that now the King has moved from his Dharm (it means that he moved from Vishnu too), one day She declared that now She wanted to go somewhere else. Hearing this the King became restless and said to Her sadly - "Where do you go, Maataa? Are you not happy here? Don't you get good food here? Do you need something else."
Lakshmee said - "No Its not like that, but I have my principles. Till you have that Sanyaasee in your Vaatikaa (garden), I cannot live here." The King could not think of Her relationship with Sanyaasee, still he said politely - "He is my honorable Guru. He educates me, I am His disciple. I cannot do this to Him." Lakshmee announced Her judgment - "Then I cannot live here." The King said - "Please, think of some way to stay back here." At this Lakshmee said - "Yes, There is way. If you do not go to him, nor you send Him food, He Himself will go away." The King was so much blind with wealth that he accepted Lakshmee's conditions and he did the same as Lakshmee told him. He stopped going to Sanyaasee and sending Him food too. After a while Vishnu left the place. Lakshmee continued to give golden pots to the King for some time.
Lakshmee Wants to Leave the King
After some time Lakshmee asked the King his permission to go away from there, that She wanted to go away. The King got very surprised to hear this, he again asked - "Now what happened, Maa? Why do you want to go away now? As you said I sent that Sanyaasee also from here and now you are also going away leaving me. This will be a curse for me." Lakshmee said - "No, O King, Now I cannot live here. He was my husband Vishnu. Wherever the husband lives, his wife also lives there. You have not given food to my husband, that is not Dharm. My husband is Dharm in person. You have insulted Dharm. Lakshmee is the wife of Dharm, so Lakshmee should be used properly." Saying this Lakshmee left the King's place. Surprisingly enough the golden pots which Lakshmee gave to the King got converted into worldly metal pots, as if they were never made of divine gold.
The King sat at in disappointment at the same place lowering his head, he said to himself - "What a great sin I have committed. I have sent that great Sanyaasee from my place and now my whole kingdom is also destroyed. What do I do now?"
Thus Lakshmee lives in his feet who knows his Self (Lakshmeem Brahm: Vaacho:); and if "Lakshmeem Brahme Vrataa:"; who does not worship Lakshmee (worship means "appropriate use") he loses Lakshmee. And who uses his wealth with Dharm, Lakshmee lives only in his house. And what is the appropriate use of wealth? Performing Yagya for Devtaa, performing good action through it. Whenever a person misuses it, he gets destroyed. When the Dharm is disregarded, then only the person starts misusing Lakshmee. Thus only Dharm is the protector of human being because if the person follows Dharm, he is wealthy, and if he has wealth, he can perform many good actions, and if he performs good actions, he attains meritorious regions after his death.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
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