Channel: Spiritual Universe
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Article from
www.thehindu.com
Sadana and Sadhya Bhakti
Sadana bhakti is trying to cultivate love and devotion to God through devotional practices of worship, such as sravana, kirtana, archana, Pada sevana, atma nivedana, etc. It should lead to Sadhya bhakti, the highest form, when devotion to the Lord becomes an end in itself. But at times the motive of sadana or austere disciplines gets deflected into self seeking goals as in the case of Hiranyaksha or Ravana.
It is also possible to have the Lord’s darshan through rigorous sadana, but merely seeing God without devotional fervour is not the goal. It is how one sees God that matters. To the devout who seek Him with selflessness He reveals His true nature and rewards them with the highest goal enlightenment, pointed out Sri B. Damodhara Dikshitar in a discourse. Parikshit says he is able to experience the very God in Suka’s narration.
Part 1 of 2
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Article from
www.thehindu.com
Sadana and Sadhya Bhakti
Sadana bhakti is trying to cultivate love and devotion to God through devotional practices of worship, such as sravana, kirtana, archana, Pada sevana, atma nivedana, etc. It should lead to Sadhya bhakti, the highest form, when devotion to the Lord becomes an end in itself. But at times the motive of sadana or austere disciplines gets deflected into self seeking goals as in the case of Hiranyaksha or Ravana.
It is also possible to have the Lord’s darshan through rigorous sadana, but merely seeing God without devotional fervour is not the goal. It is how one sees God that matters. To the devout who seek Him with selflessness He reveals His true nature and rewards them with the highest goal enlightenment, pointed out Sri B. Damodhara Dikshitar in a discourse. Parikshit says he is able to experience the very God in Suka’s narration.
Part 1 of 2
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The way Tara sees Rama is not the same as how He is perceived by Vali or Sugriva. Though grief stricken at Vali’s death, it is a moment of realisation for Tara when in her inner being she experiences the very essence of the Supreme Lord behind the human form of Rama. In her spontaneous address, Rama is the ‘Aprameya,’ one who is immeasurable in point of time, space and substance.
He is the one who is difficult to approach even for yogis. He is a Jitendriya, a master over senses, is the embodiment of the highest virtues ever, enjoys undying fame, and is endowed with the extraordinary forbearance on a par with the earth. When the Lord incarnates and takes a human form, not all are able to recognise His Paratva. Bhishma and Kunti realise that Krishna is the Absolute Lord while some others like Kamsa and Duryodhana disrespect and dishonour Him.
Part 2 of 2
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The way Tara sees Rama is not the same as how He is perceived by Vali or Sugriva. Though grief stricken at Vali’s death, it is a moment of realisation for Tara when in her inner being she experiences the very essence of the Supreme Lord behind the human form of Rama. In her spontaneous address, Rama is the ‘Aprameya,’ one who is immeasurable in point of time, space and substance.
He is the one who is difficult to approach even for yogis. He is a Jitendriya, a master over senses, is the embodiment of the highest virtues ever, enjoys undying fame, and is endowed with the extraordinary forbearance on a par with the earth. When the Lord incarnates and takes a human form, not all are able to recognise His Paratva. Bhishma and Kunti realise that Krishna is the Absolute Lord while some others like Kamsa and Duryodhana disrespect and dishonour Him.
Part 2 of 2
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🌺 Ya Devi Sarva Bhutessu 🌺
LYRICS AND MEANING OF THE CHANT
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Vishnumaayeti Shabditaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Called Vishnumaya,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌺
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Chetanety-Abhidhiiyate |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Reflected as Consciousness,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌸
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Buddhi-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Intelligence,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌺
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Nidra-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Sleep,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌸
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Kssudhaa-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Hunger,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌺
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Chaayaa-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Shadow (of Higher Self),
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌸
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Shakti-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Power,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌺
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Trshnnaa-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Thirst,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌸
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Kshaanti-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Forbearance,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌺
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Jaati-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Genus (Original Cause of Everything),
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌸
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Lajjaa-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Modesty,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌺
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Shaanti-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Peace,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌸
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Shraddhaa-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Faith,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌺
Yaa Devii Sarva-Bhutessu Kaanti-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Loveliness and Beauty,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
Part 1 of 3
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@SpiritualUniverse
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🌺 Ya Devi Sarva Bhutessu 🌺
LYRICS AND MEANING OF THE CHANT
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Vishnumaayeti Shabditaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Called Vishnumaya,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌺
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Chetanety-Abhidhiiyate |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Reflected as Consciousness,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌸
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Buddhi-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Intelligence,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌺
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Nidra-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Sleep,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌸
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Kssudhaa-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Hunger,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌺
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Chaayaa-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Shadow (of Higher Self),
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌸
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Shakti-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Power,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌺
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Trshnnaa-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Thirst,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌸
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Kshaanti-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Forbearance,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌺
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Jaati-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Genus (Original Cause of Everything),
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌸
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Lajjaa-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Modesty,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌺
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Shaanti-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Peace,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌸
Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Shraddhaa-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Faith,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
🌺
Yaa Devii Sarva-Bhutessu Kaanti-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Loveliness and Beauty,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
Part 1 of 3
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🌿🌹 'CELEBRATING
VIJAYADASHMI / DUSSERA' 🌹🌿
Editorial by Rajyogini Dadi Gulzar
The festivals of Navaratri and Dussehra have several characteristics in common.
🔱 Durga slays the buffalo-demon Mahishasura after nine days of pitched battle with his evil forces.
🔱 Rama annihilates the ten-headed Ravana, also after nine days of protracted war with Ravana’s elusive powers.
On the tenth day, both victories are celebrated as Vijayadashami.
It is said that on Brahma’s advice, celestial deities pray to Adi Shakti Durga, the multi-armed manifestation of Shiva, to end Mahishasura’s menace on earth. Also, on Brahma’s advice, Rama first worships Supreme Soul Shiva and then Devi Durga, before setting out to vanquish Ravana. Both adopt similar strategy of winning the war. In both the situations, adharma, negative energies represented by demons, are at the peak. Devi Shakti or positive powers of dharma are invoked to finish the evil.
Nava Durgas:
The depiction of female deities as Nava Durgas — nine female deities — is not to be understood in their mere physical forms only but in terms of spiritual qualities like
🌷purity,
🍃austerity,
🌷calmness,
🍃courage,
🌷creativity,
🍃divinity,
🌷dispassion,
🍃contentment &
🌷benevolence,
which they respectively represent as
Parvati,
Brahmacharini,
Chandraghanta,
Kushmanda,
Skandamata,
Katyayani,
Kaalratri,
Mahagauri and
Sidhidatri devis.
Further, the eight hands of Devi Durga holding eight weapons allegorically allude to eight saatvic powers of
❤️assimilation, ✅
❤️coordination, ✅
❤️detachment, ✅
❤️discrimination, ✅
❤️decisiveness, ✅
❤️endurance, ✅
❤️resourcefulness, ✅ &
❤️troubleshooting ✅
to overcome tamasic and evil proclivities of
🖤inertia, 🚫
🖤lust, 🚫
🖤desires, 🚫
🖤gluttony, 🚫
🖤anger, 🚫
🖤attachment 🚫 &
🖤allurements 🚫
which Mahishasura symbolises.
These epic battles between good and evil are symbolic of internal conflicts that constantly trouble our mind and intellect. Internal feuds make our mind tense and intellect unstable. Our nature and behaviour become noble and virtuous when positive personality traits called good samskaras take precedence over negative or vicious thoughts and tendencies. Negative nature often surfaces in the form of five major vices —
▪️ego, ❌
▪️lust, ❌
▪️anger, ❌
▪️avarice ❌ &
▪️attachment ❌.
🧊 These are found in varying degrees as ten vices, five each in man and woman, symbolised by the ten heads of Ravana who was ruining peace and happiness in every hearth and home. To wipe out these ten vices from every family, like Rama vanquished the ten-headed Ravana, we need to invoke our innate Devi Shakti — divine virtues such as
🌹purity, ✅
🌹peace, ✅
🌹love, ✅
🌹happiness, ✅
🌹harmony ✅ &
🌹inner power ✅
by regularly practising soul-consciousness in intellectual communion with the Supreme Soul Shiva. Gross body-consciousness gives rise to vices, tamasic traits and demonic dispositions which have been symbolically depicted in the mythological characters of Mahishasura and Ravana. These evil forces are our internal enemies, subtle, deceptive, diabolical and delusive in nature. Like Durga and Rama, we need subtle weapons of
🎁spiritual wisdom,
🎁eternal vigilance,
🎁divine meditation,
🎁deity virtues &
🎁saatvic lifestyle
to sublimate these impure, impulsive & devilish tendencies. 🧊
Shiva Shakti :
🔥 Through constant consciousness of the divine light image of soul, its innate positive qualities and spiritual powers, combined with loving remembrance of Supreme Spiritual Light, Shiva who is the eternal source and ocean of cosmic powers and divine virtues, we can become Shiva Shaktis, spiritually empowered companions of Shiva — to carry forward his divine task of cleansing and purging our minds. 🔥
🏹 Vijayadashami, every year, is an occasion that reminds us to make a paradigm shift from body-consciousness to spiritual consciousness, to let pure and noble intentions prevail; to let truth and righteousness triumph. 🏹
━━━━━✧❂✧━━━━━
@SpiritualityBooks
@SpiritualUniverse
━━━━━✧❂✧━━━━━
🌿🌹 'CELEBRATING
VIJAYADASHMI / DUSSERA' 🌹🌿
Editorial by Rajyogini Dadi Gulzar
The festivals of Navaratri and Dussehra have several characteristics in common.
🔱 Durga slays the buffalo-demon Mahishasura after nine days of pitched battle with his evil forces.
🔱 Rama annihilates the ten-headed Ravana, also after nine days of protracted war with Ravana’s elusive powers.
On the tenth day, both victories are celebrated as Vijayadashami.
It is said that on Brahma’s advice, celestial deities pray to Adi Shakti Durga, the multi-armed manifestation of Shiva, to end Mahishasura’s menace on earth. Also, on Brahma’s advice, Rama first worships Supreme Soul Shiva and then Devi Durga, before setting out to vanquish Ravana. Both adopt similar strategy of winning the war. In both the situations, adharma, negative energies represented by demons, are at the peak. Devi Shakti or positive powers of dharma are invoked to finish the evil.
Nava Durgas:
The depiction of female deities as Nava Durgas — nine female deities — is not to be understood in their mere physical forms only but in terms of spiritual qualities like
🌷purity,
🍃austerity,
🌷calmness,
🍃courage,
🌷creativity,
🍃divinity,
🌷dispassion,
🍃contentment &
🌷benevolence,
which they respectively represent as
Parvati,
Brahmacharini,
Chandraghanta,
Kushmanda,
Skandamata,
Katyayani,
Kaalratri,
Mahagauri and
Sidhidatri devis.
Further, the eight hands of Devi Durga holding eight weapons allegorically allude to eight saatvic powers of
❤️assimilation, ✅
❤️coordination, ✅
❤️detachment, ✅
❤️discrimination, ✅
❤️decisiveness, ✅
❤️endurance, ✅
❤️resourcefulness, ✅ &
❤️troubleshooting ✅
to overcome tamasic and evil proclivities of
🖤inertia, 🚫
🖤lust, 🚫
🖤desires, 🚫
🖤gluttony, 🚫
🖤anger, 🚫
🖤attachment 🚫 &
🖤allurements 🚫
which Mahishasura symbolises.
These epic battles between good and evil are symbolic of internal conflicts that constantly trouble our mind and intellect. Internal feuds make our mind tense and intellect unstable. Our nature and behaviour become noble and virtuous when positive personality traits called good samskaras take precedence over negative or vicious thoughts and tendencies. Negative nature often surfaces in the form of five major vices —
▪️ego, ❌
▪️lust, ❌
▪️anger, ❌
▪️avarice ❌ &
▪️attachment ❌.
🧊 These are found in varying degrees as ten vices, five each in man and woman, symbolised by the ten heads of Ravana who was ruining peace and happiness in every hearth and home. To wipe out these ten vices from every family, like Rama vanquished the ten-headed Ravana, we need to invoke our innate Devi Shakti — divine virtues such as
🌹purity, ✅
🌹peace, ✅
🌹love, ✅
🌹happiness, ✅
🌹harmony ✅ &
🌹inner power ✅
by regularly practising soul-consciousness in intellectual communion with the Supreme Soul Shiva. Gross body-consciousness gives rise to vices, tamasic traits and demonic dispositions which have been symbolically depicted in the mythological characters of Mahishasura and Ravana. These evil forces are our internal enemies, subtle, deceptive, diabolical and delusive in nature. Like Durga and Rama, we need subtle weapons of
🎁spiritual wisdom,
🎁eternal vigilance,
🎁divine meditation,
🎁deity virtues &
🎁saatvic lifestyle
to sublimate these impure, impulsive & devilish tendencies. 🧊
Shiva Shakti :
🔥 Through constant consciousness of the divine light image of soul, its innate positive qualities and spiritual powers, combined with loving remembrance of Supreme Spiritual Light, Shiva who is the eternal source and ocean of cosmic powers and divine virtues, we can become Shiva Shaktis, spiritually empowered companions of Shiva — to carry forward his divine task of cleansing and purging our minds. 🔥
🏹 Vijayadashami, every year, is an occasion that reminds us to make a paradigm shift from body-consciousness to spiritual consciousness, to let pure and noble intentions prevail; to let truth and righteousness triumph. 🏹
━━━━━✧❂✧━━━━━
@SpiritualityBooks
@SpiritualUniverse
━━━━━✧❂✧━━━━━
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☘ World Vegan Day
November 1st ☘
World Vegan Day is an annual event celebrated by vegans every 1st of November. It is a day to commemorate and promote a vegan lifestyle. World Vegan Day is celebrated all over the world with conferences, workshops, exhibitions, and even public debates. It is the best day for many people who are thinking about becoming a vegan to learn about the lifestyle and maybe even be the day they decide to become a vegan. It is also a day when the vegan lifestyle can be promoted by people to let their friends know how they feel.
Veganism is a type of vegetarian diet that excludes meat, dairy products, eggs, and all other ingredients derived from animals. Many vegans also do not consume foods that, including refined white sugar and certain wines, are made using animal products. Living life with a fresh diet can be important as it encourages people to feel comfortable about their bodies and what they can get out of it.
💐
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@SpiritualityBooks
@SpiritualUniverse
━━━━━✧❂✧━━━━━
☘ World Vegan Day
November 1st ☘
World Vegan Day is an annual event celebrated by vegans every 1st of November. It is a day to commemorate and promote a vegan lifestyle. World Vegan Day is celebrated all over the world with conferences, workshops, exhibitions, and even public debates. It is the best day for many people who are thinking about becoming a vegan to learn about the lifestyle and maybe even be the day they decide to become a vegan. It is also a day when the vegan lifestyle can be promoted by people to let their friends know how they feel.
Veganism is a type of vegetarian diet that excludes meat, dairy products, eggs, and all other ingredients derived from animals. Many vegans also do not consume foods that, including refined white sugar and certain wines, are made using animal products. Living life with a fresh diet can be important as it encourages people to feel comfortable about their bodies and what they can get out of it.
💐
“Vegetarianism is a link to perfection and peace!!!” 💐━━━━━✧❂✧━━━━━
@SpiritualityBooks
@SpiritualUniverse
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