Agastya Maharshi uvācha, “One who is overcome by lust, greed, etc. does not respond well to any advice given in his or her best interest. The advice for his or her good does not agree with him or her just like medicine administered to a dying man. O most exemplary of men! There is... Continue Reading →
Siva Gita – Chapter 2 – The Teaching of Dispassion – Slokas 1 – Slokas 43, Uttara Khanda, Padma Purana
Rishyah uvācha, "Why did the great Agastya Maharshi come to meet Prabhu Shri Rama? How did he initiate Raghava into that blemishless Viraja vow? Kindly tell us what Prabhu Shri Rama received by observing that vow?" Sūta Maharshi uvācha, "When Sita, the virtuous daughter of Janaka Rajarshi was abducted by Ravana, Raghava was overcome... Continue Reading →
Siva Gita – Chapter I – Slokas 1 – Slokas 36, Uttara Khanda, Padma Purana
ॐ गणपतिशारदागुरुभ्यो नमः | ॐ नमो: शिवाय | Sūta Maharshi uvācha, "I will elucidate, by the grace of the benevolent and great Lord Shiva, that which removes the pain of cycle of births and bestows the supreme release. The mortal does not get liberation either by the performance of obligatory religious duties, nor... Continue Reading →
Karma Yoga – A critical analysis of Self-enquiry and Self-awareness
Karma Yoga is a term that is often used to describe one who is engaged in duty and action as the means to realize the Self. The questions that need to be asked are - Who is the doer? What is meant by duty? What is meant by action? What is meant by inaction? What... Continue Reading →
Tirthyatra Parva – Narada Devarshi visits Yudhishtira and explains the benefits of pilgrimage quoting the conversation between Bhishma and Pulastya Brahmarshi
Vaishampayana uvācha, "Janamejaya! Dharmaraja Yudhishtira became sad on hearing the words of anxiety expressed by Draupadi and his brothers towards the well-being of Dhananjaya. As he was pondering over this, Mahatma Narada Devarshi arrived in his midst. Mahatma Narada Devarshi was resplendent with the Supreme Radiance like the fire that rises in all its glory when ghee... Continue Reading →
The importance of Payoshni River, Vaidurya Parvat and Narmada River
Dharmaraja Yudhishtira and his brothers, Lomasha Maharshi and the servants left for the sacrosanct Payoshni River that had been worshipped by the ruler of Vidarbha. The divine ambrosia Somarasa of the yagnas was mixed in its waters. They arrived at the bank of the river and drank its water. They decided to stay here singing... Continue Reading →
The birth of Ashtavakra and his entry into the court of Raja Janaka
Lomasha Maharshi uvācha, "O Yudhishtira! We are here in the sacrosanct ashrama of Shvetaketu, son of Uddalaka who is said to be exceedingly proficient in mantra-shastra. See all the trees here are laden with fruits. Shvetaketu has had the darshan of Saraswati Devi in this ashrama in all her glory and said thus to the Divine Mother who... Continue Reading →
Bhagawan Bala Mukunda reveals Himself to Markandeya Maharshi
Bhagawan Bala Mukunda uvācha, "O Venerable One! Even the devathas do not know My form satisfactorily and in reality. I will tell you the manner in which I create this universe because of your love and affection. Brahmarshi! You are a devotee of the ancestors and you have sought refuge in Me and you have... Continue Reading →
Markandeya Maharshi’s darshan of Bhagawan Bala Mukunda at the time of Maha Pralaya
Vaishampayana uvācha, "Janamejaya! Dharmaraja Yudhishtira asked Chiranjeevi Markandeya Maharshi this question - Mahamune! You have seen the Mahāpralaya that occurs after thousands of yugas. I do not see any man who has lived as long as you have in this universe. O Maharshi! You are the best among all the knowers of Brahman! There is no one besides... Continue Reading →
Sanatkumara’s upadesha to Shuka
Brahmaputra Sanatkumara Paramarshi with the intention to guide Shuka Paramarshi arrived at his hermitage. When Shuka Muni saw the radiant eternal Sage, he rose up and offered him his pranaams. Bhagawan Sanatkumara asked, "Mahabhaga! Vyāsaputra! What are you doing?" To which Shuka replied, "Brahmakumara! I am at this moment studying the Vedas. I... Continue Reading →
Shuka’s visit to Mithila and conversation with Janaka Rajarshi
Sanandana Paramarshi narrates an incident to Narada Devarshi about the time when Shuka Paramarshi went to his venerable father, Veda Vyāsa Maharshi and asked him about moksha and dharma. "'Bhagawan! I offer my salutations to you. You are an exponent in the subject of moksha and dharma. Please give me such an upadesha (instruction) where my mind will... Continue Reading →
Sole Doer – Chapter – 26
Guru says, "Child, the real meaning of Swayambhu Linga is the transcendental journey and experience of the infinite, indivisible, unmanifest of the unmanifest and unknown of unknown known as the Supreme Self. This is beyond words and beyond description. To say it is space or void or to say it is wondrous or incomprehensible or to... Continue Reading →
Swayambhu Linga – Chapter- 25
Shishya bows down and asks, "O Great Guru! The astonishing feat of transcending the dense and subtle layers and planes of creation and creation differentials by You rendered all the Rishis and all of creation speechless. I beseech You to guide me further on this." Guru says, "Son, as I have said earlier all... Continue Reading →
Subtler than the subtle – 24
Guru says, "Child, as I have said earlier that all of creation lies within the dynamic and complex structure of an atom, it is therefore necessary to perceive its interwoven complex structure, formation and composition to understand how to experience it and transcend it. As I have said earlier, creation is expansive and universe... Continue Reading →
Trying to understand the entire gamut of creation – Chapter – 23
Guru says, "Child, it is necessary to understand the interwoven structure of the atom as it contains the entire gamut of creation and creation differentials. What is important to know is that every atom in a created being will be in the shape and form of the self-luminous akshara that it has taken up. ... Continue Reading →
Atom – Chapter – 22
Guru says, "Child, the complex gamut of creation and creation differentials of nature in this ever-changing and expanding universe is difficult and almost impossible for a created being to comprehend on his own. The reason is that there are innumerable parameters, permutations and combinations in the structure and composition of the atom of creation. ... Continue Reading →
Transcendence – Chapter – 21
Guru says, "Child, when the very purpose of one's existence is to know, realize, perceive, understand and experience the Supreme Self and to become immersed and absorbed into the Supreme Self, the most appropriate and best method is to abide by the guidance and instructions of the Self or the self-luminous akshara. The purpose of... Continue Reading →
Apramāda – Chapter – 20
Guru says, "Child, Brahmopadesham is the Supreme Knowledge that each and every created being will be taught by the self-luminous akshara that is the Self. Brahmopadesham is the knowledge, understanding, perception, realization and experience of the self-luminous akshara in entirety. That is the doctrine or upadesh of the Supreme Self. When is Brahmopadesham bestowed on a created being?... Continue Reading →
Brahmopadesham – Chapter – 19
Guru continues saying, "Son, it should be known that a created being is in dhyāna always. Since, the origin of all creation is Aksharam, every created being and all differentials of creation and even the myriad forms of the Supreme Self, mantras, Vedas, Vakhyas, rituals, practices, sadhanas, anuṣṭhānas, homas, yagnas, yāgas, dāna, dharma, jnāna, yoga, dhyāna, actions... Continue Reading →
What is dhyāna? – Chapter – 18
Guru says, "Child, is dhyāna only about sitting in the manner and position as prescribed in the scriptures or is there something more about dhyāna to be known? Introspection and contemplation about one's own creation and the form and shape of the self-luminous akshara in whose form he has been created in and the self-luminous... Continue Reading →
Dhyāna – Chapter – 17
Guru says, "Child, for a created being to even begin to show gratitude and practise acceptance for Self-Surrender, first he must contemplate and introspect on the Supreme Self. For a created being to know, realize, understand, perceive and experience the Supreme Self, the "body" or the manifest state of the self-luminous akshara is his greatest friend. ... Continue Reading →
Absorption in the Self – Chapter – 14
Shishya asks, "O Perfect Being! I surrender myself at Your Golden Lotus Feet and beg You to help me. Please tell me how am I to offer thanks to the Supreme Self." Guru replies, "Dear child, as Aksharam is the seed for the self-luminous akshara, and the self-luminous akshara is the seed for all creation... Continue Reading →
Self-Surrender – Chapter – 13
Guru says, "Son, the self-luminous akshara whose inherent nature is Aksharam is one's Guru, one's teacher or acharya, one's best friend or hiteshi, one's companion or sakha, one's Father, one's Mother, one's sibling and one's child. Supreme Self is one but forms are myriad. Why is being grateful and offering thanks imperative for one to become immersed and... Continue Reading →
Gratitude (Kr̥tajñatā) – Chapter – 12
Guru continues saying, "Child, any path or sadhana or anuṣṭhāna undertaken has to be done with devotion and faith - bhakti and shraddha as this will lead the created being to become grateful and thankful to the Supreme Self. The impulse or feeling to be grateful and thankful every second should be spontaneous and natural emanating from within... Continue Reading →
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