Monday 27 August 2012

Sri Kotilingakshetra

“Arsha Smaskruthi”

Hinduism is the traditional way of life. It is an umbrella term comprising the plurality of religious phenomena originating and based on the Vedic traditions (Arsha Samskruthi) These traditions are not “just a faith, but in itself are related to the union of reason and intuition manifested over several millennia.

In the discourse of the holy bhagavad gita, lord Krishna pronounced all religions are one and the same. This ideal was very well respected and followed by Hindus throughout the human history. It is therefore described as both the oldest of the world’s religions and the most diverse. Immense quality of Hinduism universal love can’t be summered better than the following sloka.

“Om asatoma sadgamaya,  Tamaso ma jyotirgamaya,  Mrtyor ma amrtam gamaya, Om santi santi santi”. 
“Brihadaranyaka Upanishad” 1.3.28.

Lead us from the unreal to the real ! lead us from darkness to light! Lead us from death to immortality ! Om let there be peace peace peace.

The characteristic of comprehensive tolerance to differences in belief, and Hinduism’s openness, makes it difficult to define as a religion according to traditional western conceptions. According to first vice president of India, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who was also a prominent theologian, Hinduism cannot be defined, but is only to be experienced.

Veda, the most ancient and comprehensive body of knowledge, have their origin in the primordial creator and have been received by humanity through our sagas (Rishi’s). As the Rishi’s are the primary human links in the knowledge chain, the knowledge is Arsha (meaning From the Rishi’s). They have set the traditional way of life and kept it alive till now.

However no former generation has had to experience so much bad new as we face today—

When we rise in the morning and listen to the radio or read the newspaper, we are confronted with the same sad news: violence, crime, wars, and disasters, it is hard to recall a single day without a report of something terrible happing somewhere. This constant awareness of fear and tension should make any sensitive and compassionate person question seriously the progress of our modern world. It is ironic that the more serious problems emanate from the more industrially advanced societies. Science and technology have worked wonders in many fields, but the basic human problems remain. There is unprecedented literacy, yet this universal education does not seem to have fostered goodness, but only mental restlessness and discontent instead. There is no doubt about the increase in our material progress and technology, but somehow this is not yet succeeded in bringing about peace and happiness or in overcoming suffering. – (Dailai Lama)

If we do not check it in time there could be disastrous consequences for the future of humanity.

Only way out is therefore we need to re-dedicate ourselves to Arsha Samskruthi more then never before. Arsha Samskruthi teaches us to show devotion to Brahman.  Mankind’s devotion and prayer in unison will save the world from this dire situation.

Description of inner God (Brahman) :

Neelaatoyaada madhyaasthad
Vidyullekhavaa bhaswaraa
Neevaaraasooka vattanvee peeta
Bhaswatyanoopama

Brilliant like a streak of lighting set in the midst of the blue rain-bearing clouds, slender like the dawn of paddy green, yellow (like gold) in color, in subtlety comparable to the minute atom, (this Tongue of file) grows splendid.


Brahman is beyond the senses, beyond the mind, beyond intelligence, beyond imagination, indeed, the highest idea is that Brahman transcended includes time, causation and space, and thus can never be known in the same material sense as one traditionally “understands’ a given concept or object.

But it even possible to bring all the voice together at once place? Even if we did so, how to pray abstract Brahman, which form? All this sounds impossible!

                                                                        It is possible!!!

Since God (Brahman) is beyond name and form, and since we cannot conceive of an abstract like Him, without the aid of concrete symbols. Now it is not possible for a common man to pray to Brahman which is beyond any characteristic. Human beings need a form to worship. In Sanathana Dharma, each individual has the freedom to define the Supreme Being or Brahman in the most convenient way he/ she is comfortable.

Many are comfortable with the beautiful form of Brahman=that includes the handsome human form of SHIVA, VISHNU, and other Gods. There is nothing wrong in worshipping Shiva and Vishnu in the handsome from because Brahman can be worshipped in any form.

An ancient Greek philosopher had said that if horses were to worship a god it would have the shape of a horse. All attempt whether it is Linga, human form or animal form is an attempt to give form to this indefinable Brahman.

We than strongly defend that my form is the true form and the other is wrong without realizing that everything is Brahman.

A rounded surface (Linga) is perhaps the nearest approach to abstract god, while aiding common man with a concrete shape.

“koti linga (Ten Million *** Linga – Form of Lord Shiva) Temple”.

In an effort to bring solace to troubled hearts and bring in world peace, we attempt to construct a Shiva Khsetram (physical holy location) like never before. A person if lives for 100 years, he can perform 36500 abhisheka. It takes 27397 years to perform Koti abhisheka. This is never achievable by normal human being in his life time. Our goal KOTI LINGA Shetram, which allow devotees to perform abhisheka for Koti Lings in one day.

A pace on the shores of pristine waters,
a place that is home to Ten million Lingams

A place that assumes the shape of a thousand petal lotus
a place echoes with daily chanting on “Om Namah Shivaya”
a place where Arsha Samskruthi reigns once again with magnificent glory.

Together we can make this happen.

“Aathma thwam Girija Mathi sahacharaa,
Prana sarreram gruham,
Pooja theey vishayopa bhoga rachana,
Nidhra Samadhi sthithi,
Sanchara padayo pradakshina vidhi,
Sthothrani sarva giraa, Yadyath karma karomi
Thathad akhilam, shambho thavaradhanam”.

              “Nama Sivaya”

My soul is your temple my lord, My activities are thine attendants, My body is thine home, Mu acts to please my senses are thine worship, My act of sleep is the deep meditation on thee, All my walks with my feet are thine perambulations, Whatever falls from my mouth are thine prayers, Oh lord, everything I say and do are thine forms of worship.

“If there be righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in character. Id there be beauty in character, there will be harmony in the home”.

“If there be harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there be order in the nation, there will be peace in the world”.

“Swami Vivekananda”.


Lord Shiva

According to our Vedic Pandit’s(scholar) we are blessed to know about “Lord Shiva”., blessed to be able to worship him. To begin with, he is the only powerful deity, who does not adorn jewels, clothes, or surround himself with luxuries. He dresses in just a tiger skin, just bare-basic, clothing for survival, no ornaments, gold, gems, or crowns. His first outright message is to disengage the mind from distractions of wealth, temporary beauty image, and luxury that maya traps us into and we so willingly stay chained into, and we waste our time running after. His message is to refrain from getting too materialistic and to understand that simplicity is a sign of power. He is so powerful, at so humble and simple in his persona.

Shiva Lingam

 His half open and tied tresses, show how he does let his hair-down, stay calm, enjoy surroundings, and he wants us to live each day as it comes, enjoying the moment, yet his half tied tress, indicate, we should continue to do our duty, at our pace. His tied hair continuously saves the Earth from the powerful flow of the river Ganga. If he gives up is dharma, the entire earth will submerge. So, it indicates a middle path of doing one’s duty continuously, inside us, the quest to seek the divine should never die. Keep the thirst and quest on, keep doing your duties to others, yet, enjoying the beauty and joys that surround us.

The moon on his head, might indicate that he lives on the highest point, on Earth, Mt, Kailsh, that he lives close to us, and every night the moon transiting the night sky, is worn by the head of the almighty who is also watching over us, every second. He saved the moon from the curse of Daksha and thus gave the moon a place to stay.

The nilakanth, or his blue neck, with the story of his drinking Hala-Hala vrish from the samudra madana, could tell a human, that vanni/speech can be like vrish or poison, and should always be under check. So many karmas turn bad, just due to bad words emitted in the heat-of-a-moment and the snake in his neck is a motivation for us to arouse our kundalini shakti. The three and half coiled snake, we see so many times, is that bhujangini shakti-kundalini shakti, that can activate the sleeping parts of the brain, elevating us from the current level and helping us reach our divine God.

Vanamala or Garland, in his neck. Indicates his love for nature, His love for dance, music, drama and beauty, which show his artistic sides. It also indicates his soft side within.


Rudraksha Mala

His trident or “Trishula” with three spears could be an indicator or symbol of destroying all three gunas, the rajo, tamo, and sattva, Guna. He is motivating us to try and rise above the ebb and flow of the three Gunas. The trishul can also mean he wants us to reach for moksha, by killing the preent, past and future, which are symbolized by the three spears of trishul.
Shiva Trishula


 His third eye, or activated Ajna chakra, sends the message to meditate, and with the opening of this pineal gland chakra, shall all our karmas, moha, lobha, krodha, and kaama, be destroyed.

His damaru ( hand drum) is like a wakeup call, asking us to wake up from this muddle of maya, that it is high time, we humans utilize this yoni, yog, opportunity and get out of this endless cycle of sufferings, to go back home to Ananda state and start working towards the real goal of life.

Damaru

 The bells on his waist, are a reassuring sign, that when we will walk through the dark jungle of tapas, of mediation we will not walk alone, through the sides, by our side, he will walk us through it. His presence will be felt deep in the state of Samadhi, he will make us feel it.

Nandiji – the bull – can indicate the male energy. The cow is the most precious possession for mankind and the Bull is the thus the male other half of this nurturing cow. Milk, butter, ghee and so much more comes from cows, but the Bull is the silent father who does contribute. He also plough the land, then becomes ready for seeds for farming. Again, the seeds are sown, but earth is made ready by the Bull.

Nandi - The Bull

 Finally – the Linga, is matter part of a Deepak jyoti. Mata Shakti can be the ghee/oil that will nourish the jyoti, but unless the cotton lump takes the form of linga, or a conical upright form, the creation of heat and light to nourish, nurture, and guide humans cannot be created. We stare at it, create the essence of the universe every day, in our Pooja, yet we do not grasp the secrets it is showing us. every linga of Shiv ji tells us, how matter and energy have combined, to create light- knowledge, which should help us free ourselves from this Maya and provide heat – which is nurturing and nourishing us.
The Linga


 “OM NAMAH SHIVAAYA”.

This content is taken from 500 years old Vedas and is translated by Rasaranjan Dharanipragada..