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Greatness of India & Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi By Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji
Dear members,
Extracts from the discourse:
'Bha roopey Brahmani ratah iti Bharatah'. ‘Bharata’ (India) refers to BrahmaNishta.
One who is ever ‘in’ Jnana (Wisdom). There has been a continuous lineage of Saints (Jnanis) in this Country. Thus, our Country has been named Bharata. (Bharat / India )
‘Hindu’ is not the right name for the Sanatana dharma that is ‘lived’ here. A name has to be given
only to differentiate it from another of its kind. This religion of ours was the only one that existed throughout the world. Thus, the need to have a name for it did not arise. When other religions and faiths sprouted up, the need to give a name for this religion arose and westerners have christened this ancient religion as Hindu. It is commonly found that a civilization grows beside a river, as agriculture is the basis for existence. Thus, those who entered the Country from
river Sindhu side named the civilization found there as ‘Hindu’. The westerners had referred to the religion in this Country as Sindhu. It later came to be known as Hindu. If a name has to be given to our religion, it has to be ‘Veda mata’ as it is based on the Vedas.
Many westerners (like Maxmueller) as well as Indians (like Gangadara Tilak) conducted research to learn the period of the founding of this religion. But, they could only come to the conclusion that it is indeed impossible to point to the time when this religion came to be. Unlike
other religions/faiths this religion has not been founded by Man. This ‘mata’ (religion) is based on the Vedas that is beyond time. Our Sanatana Dharma is thus beyond time and has not been founded by Man.
China, Egypt are some of the oldest countries and civilizations of the world.
Some of the European countries also have ancient civilization. Sanatana dharma flourished in all such ancient countries. Stone inscriptions bearing proof of this is found in these nations. One may question if Sanatana Dharma existed in a country like the United States . But, one should know that it was ‘discovered’ by Columbus and her history dates back to only a few hundred years.
There has been a continuous lineage of Saints (Jnanis) on this soil of Bharata desa (India). We find that place of birth of Lord or Jnanis is filled with ‘sanidhya’(Divine Presence). People go on pilgrimage to Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama and Mathura, the birthplace Lord
Krishna as there is ‘sanidhya’ (Divine Presence) in these places. Lord Rama and Krishna did return to their place of birth although they had left it in their childhood and at birth, respectively.
People also visit Kaladi (Kerala), the birthplace of Adi Sankara as it is filled with Divine Presence. None knows if Sankara ever returned to his place of birth. He left the place as a young boy and wandered all over the country and left the mortal coil at a very young age. Yet, everyone visits this place as there is Divine Presence here.
Tiruvannamalai (Tamil Nadu - South of India) is ever filled with siddha purushas (people with high divine Powers).
Great Saints like Ramana Maharishi,Seshadri Swamigal, Guru Namasivayam, Guhai Namasivayam, Yogiramsuratkumar had all lived in Tiruvannamalai.
Tiruvannamalai has existed in all yugas. It has always been the home of innumerable Jivan Muktas (Man who has realized).
Places (Kshetras) like Ayodhya, Mathura , Kaladi,were only the birthplaces of Bhagavan. But, Tiruvannamalai has been the home of countless Jnanis (saints), since time immemorial. Can then one speak on the Divine Presence of this place?(Kshetra)
It is here that Goddess Parvati performed tapas and attained Lord Siva who offered her the left portion of His body . Thus, it is a place where a lady’s penance (tapas) bear fruit very easily. Arunachala Mahatmyam(Greatness of Arunachala) speaks on the glory of this Great Mountain . Arunachala is ‘agni kshetra’ (fire - one of the five elements that everything is made up of). It is connected to all the other four Siva Kshetras (Kalahasti (wind), Tiruvanaikaval (water),
Chidambaram (ether) and Kancheepuram (earth) through a tunnel. The greatness(Mahatmyam) speaks of Lord Dakshinamurti seated below a huge banyan tree ('alavruksham’) on Arunachala.
Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi has seen this not in dhyana but just as I see you all here. A leaf (huge in size)came and fell at His feet. He forbade others from going in search of such places on the Mountain as they are ‘deiva rahasyam’ (spiritual secret). Those who disobeyed His advice lost their vision. It is said that the tunnel that connects ‘adi Annamalai’ temple (on the western side of Arunachala) to the Mountain is filled with precious gems of all kinds. Ramana has seen this also. Bhagavan has seen all that the Mahatmyam describes of the Great Mountain .
Arunachala Mahatmyam is endless.
One can find true sadhaks (seekers) doing japa, dhyana, Nama kirtan or Upasaks or people doing miracles, etc. But it is indeed very rare to see a Jivan Mukta (Realized soul). Ramana Maharishi was one such great Jivan Mukta. Ramana Maharishi’s life is unique. We find from His ‘charitra’ (Life History) that unlike others He did not strive hard for years together to attain the state that He was in.
At 16 years of age, when one day, fear of death took hold of Him, He decided to ‘see’ what it was and lay down in a room in His Uncle’s house in Madurai (South of India). The young boy controlled His ‘prana’(breath) and all ‘indriyas’(Senses) and in a fraction of a second ‘Realised’! Learning the name of the place ‘Arunachala’ that had been vibrating within Him since his childhood, He rushed to Tiruvannamalai. He stepped into Tiruvannamalai on 1st Septemeber, 1896. He stayed on here until shirking His mortal coil in 1950.
Ramana says, “People think that I practiced penance in ‘Pathala lingam’, Virupaksha cave, etc. This is not true. I was always in the state that was ‘experienced’ on that day in Madurai (South of India) as a young boy. It has never varied - neither increased nor decreased.”
Bhagavan’s gracious look has been spoken by all those who have visited Him. It is said that only Devas do not close their eyelids. No photograph of Bhagavan with His lids closed can be found. Ramana never left Arunachala since His advent in 1896. Ramana’s upadesa of ‘Who am I’ is
a great boon to the world. Many great Ones have spoken of path of wisdom (Jnana marga) but never has anybody advocated it through such simple practice of seeking the ‘seeker’! Ramana advocated only this path right from day one to the last. There never was any change in
Ramana’s words throughout His life. Out of mere compassion a change was made by Him only in one His statements - ‘The goat that has been caught in the tiger’s jaws and one who has been caught in the ambit of the Guru’s look has no escape. But,one should follow Guru’s words.” In
later years a slight change was made - the line ‘therefore, one should follow Guru’s words’ was removed. This had been done out of mere compassion! It is to be noted that all the Great Ones who lived during this time, visited Ramana Maharishi.
Narayana Guru, a great Saint, who had made a Spiritual Vow not to move out of his place of stay broke it only to have darshan of Ramana.
Kavya Kanta Ganapati Muni born as an ‘amsa’ of ‘Dundi’ Ganapati (Varanasi) had a huge following. He was a born poet. He was a great scholar and a tapasvi who could bring down or stop the rains! He could destroy a whole town. Once when he was harassed during his stay in the city of Nasik he cursed that the whole city should be destroyed. Soon the whole city was destroyed through the dreaded disease of plague. He came to Ramana to know the ‘root’.
Seshadri Swamigal, a born Saint, was the one who, recognizing the greatness of the young ‘Brahmana swami’ who sat inside the ‘patala linga’ with no body consciousness, brought Him out of the underground cave. Ramana had sat here for a long period while various insects fed on His body! He was totally unconscious of this body of His. Maha Periyava has also said that he has visited Ramana. Kunju Swamigal who had received the Maha Mantra in his childhood from none less than Lord Siva came and lived with Ramana. Ramana was sought by all the greats of His time.
When Paul Brunton approached Maha Periyava for Upadesa (Instruction), the latter refused, as He could not give upadesa to foreigners, according to Mutt regulations.
Maha Periyava, however, advised him to visit Tiruvannamalai and have darshan of Ramana Maharishi. Maha Periyava took a promise from him that he would not leave India without
having darshan of Bhagavan. Bhagavan, who never advocated anything other than 'Self-enquiry' (Who am I) not only strongly advised everyone to do circumambulation of Arunachala but also Himself did regular 'Giri pradakshina'. Is there then any need to explain the greatness of the
‘pradakshina’ of Arunachala?
Bhagavan’s words are wonderful - Ramana says that when God bears the entire burden thrown on Him why should we worry ourselves instead of submitting ourselves to Him? He says, ‘This is like carrying the luggage on our head after getting into the train. Why can’t we put it down and feel comfortable?’ ‘If one knew that all that is given to another is verily giving unto himself, would one refrain from giving?’
'Chittam siridasaya samsaram; nirka Mukti iduve' ('Samsara' is the slightest movement of the ‘chitta’ (Mind);when it is 'still' it is verily Liberation)
‘Uditta idathile odungi iruthãl adu kanmamum bhaktiyum undi para adu yogamum jnãnmum undi para’ (remaining ever in the place of origin is verily karma, bhakti, yoga and jnana).
Let all be blessed with the Grace of Bhagavan.
"HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE"
Visit www.namadwaar.org
Extracts from the discourse:
'Bha roopey Brahmani ratah iti Bharatah'. ‘Bharata’ (India) refers to BrahmaNishta.
One who is ever ‘in’ Jnana (Wisdom). There has been a continuous lineage of Saints (Jnanis) in this Country. Thus, our Country has been named Bharata. (Bharat / India )
‘Hindu’ is not the right name for the Sanatana dharma that is ‘lived’ here. A name has to be given
only to differentiate it from another of its kind. This religion of ours was the only one that existed throughout the world. Thus, the need to have a name for it did not arise. When other religions and faiths sprouted up, the need to give a name for this religion arose and westerners have christened this ancient religion as Hindu. It is commonly found that a civilization grows beside a river, as agriculture is the basis for existence. Thus, those who entered the Country from
river Sindhu side named the civilization found there as ‘Hindu’. The westerners had referred to the religion in this Country as Sindhu. It later came to be known as Hindu. If a name has to be given to our religion, it has to be ‘Veda mata’ as it is based on the Vedas.
Many westerners (like Maxmueller) as well as Indians (like Gangadara Tilak) conducted research to learn the period of the founding of this religion. But, they could only come to the conclusion that it is indeed impossible to point to the time when this religion came to be. Unlike
other religions/faiths this religion has not been founded by Man. This ‘mata’ (religion) is based on the Vedas that is beyond time. Our Sanatana Dharma is thus beyond time and has not been founded by Man.
China, Egypt are some of the oldest countries and civilizations of the world.
Some of the European countries also have ancient civilization. Sanatana dharma flourished in all such ancient countries. Stone inscriptions bearing proof of this is found in these nations. One may question if Sanatana Dharma existed in a country like the United States . But, one should know that it was ‘discovered’ by Columbus and her history dates back to only a few hundred years.
There has been a continuous lineage of Saints (Jnanis) on this soil of Bharata desa (India). We find that place of birth of Lord or Jnanis is filled with ‘sanidhya’(Divine Presence). People go on pilgrimage to Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama and Mathura, the birthplace Lord
Krishna as there is ‘sanidhya’ (Divine Presence) in these places. Lord Rama and Krishna did return to their place of birth although they had left it in their childhood and at birth, respectively.
People also visit Kaladi (Kerala), the birthplace of Adi Sankara as it is filled with Divine Presence. None knows if Sankara ever returned to his place of birth. He left the place as a young boy and wandered all over the country and left the mortal coil at a very young age. Yet, everyone visits this place as there is Divine Presence here.
Tiruvannamalai (Tamil Nadu - South of India) is ever filled with siddha purushas (people with high divine Powers).
Great Saints like Ramana Maharishi,Seshadri Swamigal, Guru Namasivayam, Guhai Namasivayam, Yogiramsuratkumar had all lived in Tiruvannamalai.
Tiruvannamalai has existed in all yugas. It has always been the home of innumerable Jivan Muktas (Man who has realized).
Places (Kshetras) like Ayodhya, Mathura , Kaladi,were only the birthplaces of Bhagavan. But, Tiruvannamalai has been the home of countless Jnanis (saints), since time immemorial. Can then one speak on the Divine Presence of this place?(Kshetra)
It is here that Goddess Parvati performed tapas and attained Lord Siva who offered her the left portion of His body . Thus, it is a place where a lady’s penance (tapas) bear fruit very easily. Arunachala Mahatmyam(Greatness of Arunachala) speaks on the glory of this Great Mountain . Arunachala is ‘agni kshetra’ (fire - one of the five elements that everything is made up of). It is connected to all the other four Siva Kshetras (Kalahasti (wind), Tiruvanaikaval (water),
Chidambaram (ether) and Kancheepuram (earth) through a tunnel. The greatness(Mahatmyam) speaks of Lord Dakshinamurti seated below a huge banyan tree ('alavruksham’) on Arunachala.
Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi has seen this not in dhyana but just as I see you all here. A leaf (huge in size)came and fell at His feet. He forbade others from going in search of such places on the Mountain as they are ‘deiva rahasyam’ (spiritual secret). Those who disobeyed His advice lost their vision. It is said that the tunnel that connects ‘adi Annamalai’ temple (on the western side of Arunachala) to the Mountain is filled with precious gems of all kinds. Ramana has seen this also. Bhagavan has seen all that the Mahatmyam describes of the Great Mountain .
Arunachala Mahatmyam is endless.
One can find true sadhaks (seekers) doing japa, dhyana, Nama kirtan or Upasaks or people doing miracles, etc. But it is indeed very rare to see a Jivan Mukta (Realized soul). Ramana Maharishi was one such great Jivan Mukta. Ramana Maharishi’s life is unique. We find from His ‘charitra’ (Life History) that unlike others He did not strive hard for years together to attain the state that He was in.
At 16 years of age, when one day, fear of death took hold of Him, He decided to ‘see’ what it was and lay down in a room in His Uncle’s house in Madurai (South of India). The young boy controlled His ‘prana’(breath) and all ‘indriyas’(Senses) and in a fraction of a second ‘Realised’! Learning the name of the place ‘Arunachala’ that had been vibrating within Him since his childhood, He rushed to Tiruvannamalai. He stepped into Tiruvannamalai on 1st Septemeber, 1896. He stayed on here until shirking His mortal coil in 1950.
Ramana says, “People think that I practiced penance in ‘Pathala lingam’, Virupaksha cave, etc. This is not true. I was always in the state that was ‘experienced’ on that day in Madurai (South of India) as a young boy. It has never varied - neither increased nor decreased.”
Bhagavan’s gracious look has been spoken by all those who have visited Him. It is said that only Devas do not close their eyelids. No photograph of Bhagavan with His lids closed can be found. Ramana never left Arunachala since His advent in 1896. Ramana’s upadesa of ‘Who am I’ is
a great boon to the world. Many great Ones have spoken of path of wisdom (Jnana marga) but never has anybody advocated it through such simple practice of seeking the ‘seeker’! Ramana advocated only this path right from day one to the last. There never was any change in
Ramana’s words throughout His life. Out of mere compassion a change was made by Him only in one His statements - ‘The goat that has been caught in the tiger’s jaws and one who has been caught in the ambit of the Guru’s look has no escape. But,one should follow Guru’s words.” In
later years a slight change was made - the line ‘therefore, one should follow Guru’s words’ was removed. This had been done out of mere compassion! It is to be noted that all the Great Ones who lived during this time, visited Ramana Maharishi.
Narayana Guru, a great Saint, who had made a Spiritual Vow not to move out of his place of stay broke it only to have darshan of Ramana.
Kavya Kanta Ganapati Muni born as an ‘amsa’ of ‘Dundi’ Ganapati (Varanasi) had a huge following. He was a born poet. He was a great scholar and a tapasvi who could bring down or stop the rains! He could destroy a whole town. Once when he was harassed during his stay in the city of Nasik he cursed that the whole city should be destroyed. Soon the whole city was destroyed through the dreaded disease of plague. He came to Ramana to know the ‘root’.
Seshadri Swamigal, a born Saint, was the one who, recognizing the greatness of the young ‘Brahmana swami’ who sat inside the ‘patala linga’ with no body consciousness, brought Him out of the underground cave. Ramana had sat here for a long period while various insects fed on His body! He was totally unconscious of this body of His. Maha Periyava has also said that he has visited Ramana. Kunju Swamigal who had received the Maha Mantra in his childhood from none less than Lord Siva came and lived with Ramana. Ramana was sought by all the greats of His time.
When Paul Brunton approached Maha Periyava for Upadesa (Instruction), the latter refused, as He could not give upadesa to foreigners, according to Mutt regulations.
Maha Periyava, however, advised him to visit Tiruvannamalai and have darshan of Ramana Maharishi. Maha Periyava took a promise from him that he would not leave India without
having darshan of Bhagavan. Bhagavan, who never advocated anything other than 'Self-enquiry' (Who am I) not only strongly advised everyone to do circumambulation of Arunachala but also Himself did regular 'Giri pradakshina'. Is there then any need to explain the greatness of the
‘pradakshina’ of Arunachala?
Bhagavan’s words are wonderful - Ramana says that when God bears the entire burden thrown on Him why should we worry ourselves instead of submitting ourselves to Him? He says, ‘This is like carrying the luggage on our head after getting into the train. Why can’t we put it down and feel comfortable?’ ‘If one knew that all that is given to another is verily giving unto himself, would one refrain from giving?’
'Chittam siridasaya samsaram; nirka Mukti iduve' ('Samsara' is the slightest movement of the ‘chitta’ (Mind);when it is 'still' it is verily Liberation)
‘Uditta idathile odungi iruthãl adu kanmamum bhaktiyum undi para adu yogamum jnãnmum undi para’ (remaining ever in the place of origin is verily karma, bhakti, yoga and jnana).
Let all be blessed with the Grace of Bhagavan.
"HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE"
Visit www.namadwaar.org
"PEACE
NOT WAR
GENEROSITY
NOT GREED
EMPATHY
NOT HATE
CREATIVITY
NOT DESTRUCTION
EVERYBODY
NOT JUST US"
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