Hindu Pujas in Melbourne -Ganesh Chaturthi

     


          

        वक्रतुंड महाकाय कोटि सूर्य समप्रभः

            निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्व कार्येषु सर्वदा

On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi , please accept my BestWishes.May Bhagwan Ganesh remove obstacles to our spiritual progress.

Gan                     Ganesa-The Remover of Obstacles     by Swami Krishnananda

Human life is beset with obstacles. We face oppositions and encounter difficulties in galore, and the whole of our daily activity may, in a sense, be considered as a struggle against all odds which come in different forms as the sorrows of life. The moment we wake up in the morning, we have to face the obstacle called hunger which we try to obviate by cooking and eating food, the obstacle called thirst which we have to get rid of by drinks and the obstacle called disease, exhaustion, fatigue, sleeplessness and the like, which we endeavour to remedy by the introduction of various types of medicines. The very presence of people around us is an obstacle and the human individual suddenly becomes restless, and both consciously and unconsciously puts on an attitude of self-defence, as if one has found oneself suddenly in a terrific warfield. 

 

            The difficulties of life are, to a large extent, the very substance of life itself. The whole of life is a bundle of difficulties. It is a mess of oppositions, which calls for a continuous counteracting force which is what is called human enterprise. If the whole earth were filled with milk and honey, and if there is no fatigue, no old age and death, no hunger and thirst, no opposition and nobody to utter a word, then there would be no activity, no necessity to do anything and no incentive in the direction of any movement. The quantity, the expanse and the magnitude of the opposition which comes before us in life is such that no single individual will be able to face it. This whole world is too much for a single man and considering the incongruous, disproportionate relationship between a single human individual and the vast world outside, there is very little hope of man's achieving anything in this world, successfully. Because, with a spoon you cannot bail out the ocean of waters, though your effort may be laudable. You are, no doubt, very sincerely industrious in emptying the ocean of its waters with a little spoon or a ladle. Notwithstanding the fact that this effort on your part is praiseworthy, that is not going to lead you to any success and the expected result will not follow. The ocean cannot be emptied by any amount of bailing out with a spoon. Such seems to be the type of world into which we are born and people who are acutely conscious of this situation become humble enough to accept that even an inch of success cannot be expected in this world without a miraculous grace of God. So, even the little success that sometimes seems to come to us is a kind of undeserved promotion, as it were, granted to us by the mercy of the Almighty. Our efforts are only a puny child's whining and weeping with a helpless weakness of body and mind. The traditional annual worship of God in this role, as the remover of all obstacles, as Vighna Vinayaka, is known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganesa Chaturthi. It is the day on which we offer special adoration to the Remover of obstacles.

             We are terribly afraid of obstacles. There is no other fear in this world except obstacle. So, always we cry: "Remove the obstacles, clear the path, cleanse the road." On the fourth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Bhadrapada (August-September) every year, the great Lord called the Lord of Hosts, Ganapati, is worshipped throughout India, perhaps in many other parts of the world also. There is no Hindu who does not recognise the pre-eminence of the worship of this mysteriously conceived deity called Ganapati whose name occurs right in the beginning of the Rigveda itself, the earliest of scriptures, where pointedly the name is taken in a Mantra, "Gananam tva ganapatim havamahe..." The fear of God is supposed to be the beginning of religion. A person who has no fear of God has no religion also, because religion is respect for God. The fear of God goes together with the acceptance of the greatness of God and His Power. Wherever there is power, we are afraid of it. An ocean, a lion, an elephant are all powerful things and we dread the very sight of them.

              Tradition conceives this great Remover of obstacles, Ganapati, as the son of Lord Siva with a proboscis of an elephant and a protuberant belly, with weapons of various types and a benign gesture of goodwill, grace and blessing with His right hand. The family of Bhagavan Siva is of a peculiar set up. The Lord of all the worlds, lives as one possessing nothing! This manner of living in Mount Kailasa by the great Master of Yogis, Lord Siva, is perhaps a demonstration of the great definition of the glory of Bhagavan, the Supreme Being as possessed of all-knowledge, all-power and all-renunciation. What is Bhagavan and what are His characteristics? 'Bhagavan' is one who has six characteristics. "Aisvaryasya samagrasya viryasya yasasah sriyah; Jnana-Vairagyayoh chaiva shannam bhaga itirana"--these six characteristics mentioned are all called Bhaga. One who has Bhaga is called Bhagavan. All prosperity, all wealth, all treasure, all glory, all magnificence is Aisvarya. Entire Aisvarya is there. Virya is tremendous energy, force and power. Yasas is fame and renown. Srih is prosperity. Jnana and Vairagya are the pinnacle of wisdom and the pinnacle of renunciation, respectively. Knowledge is supposed to be a benediction from Lord Siva Himself. In the Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana, at the commencement of the second Skandha, Sri Suka delineates the names of various deities who have to be adored for various purposes. "Jnanam Mahesvaradicchet--All knowledge is to be expected from the great Siva." They say that the ocean of Siva is incomprehensible; a part of it was contained in a pot by Brihaspati, and a spoon of it was taken by Panini who is the promulgator of Sanskrit grammar.

              You know the interesting story as to how Panini, the originator of Sanskrit grammar, received knowledge from Lord Siva. He was supposed to be the dullest of the students in a group that was studying from a Guru in Taxila, Taksha Shila. There were other very intelligent boys. Panini was the most stupid, the least intelligent, very much belittled and made fun of by the colleagues in the class. He was deeply hurt that he was being cowed down by other colleagues and that he could not understand anything that the teacher said. Almost in a desperate mood of disgust with everything, he went to the forest and deeply contemplated on Lord Siva. He prayed: "O Lord! Bless me with Knowledge." It is said that Lord Siva appeared before him, danced and revolved His Dakka or Damaru fourteen times, and the following fourteen sounds were made: "1. Aiun, 2. Rlrk, 3. Aowng, 4. Ai ouch, 5. Ha ya va rat, 6. Lan, 7. Na ma nga na nam, 8. Jha bhanj, 9. Gha dha dhash, 10. Ja ba ga da das, 11. Kha pha chha tha tha cha ta tav, 12. Ka pay, 13. Sa sha sar, and 14. Hal. All this constitutes the very essence of Sanskrit grammar. These sounds, meaningless as they may appear to us, became the foundation of Sanskrit grammar and Sanskrit literature.

                 So, God can teach us without books and without the usual medium of instruction, by a thought, a sound, a look, a touch or a benign gesture.

                  Such a Master's son is Sri Ganapati, Sri Ganesa. We have endless stories about our Gods, all partly humorous and partly highly illuminating. The usual belief is that Lord Ganapati is a celibate and He never married, though there is a belief in North India that He has Siddhi and Buddhi, two consorts behind Him. There is a humorous story about His marriage. He was about to be married and the bridegroom's procession was moving in great gusto, from Mount Kailasa evidently, to the bride's palace. We do not know who that contemplated bride was. We know only that there was a procession of the bridegroom. And His pot belly, it seems, burst on the way due to eating too much, and He took a snake, who is sometimes identified with Subrahmanya, tied it around His stomach and ate again. It seems Chandra or moon looked at this scene and laughed, saying: "Look at this man who is going for his marriage! His stomach is burst and he is tying up with, a snake? This took place on the fourth day of the bright half of the lunar month, Bhadrapada (Aug-Sept). Ganapati was irritated very much. He cursed the moon: "You fellow, you talk about me like this. You have insulted me. Well, whoever looks at you on this day will also similarly be insulted." So, people dread to look at the moon on that day. Chauthi Chandra, the moon on the fourth day of the bright half of the lunar month, is considered very inauspicious, resulting in Apavadam or censure and reproach on the one who sees it. Apavada means undeserved blame and scandal. You might have done nothing, yet somebody will go on telling some evil against you. This is the result of looking at the moon on the fourth day, because it has the curse of Ganapati. But they say, in our tradition of curses, that there is also what is called Sapamoksha or a kind of remedy. The moon said: "Please excuse me, why do you curse me like this?" The moon pleaded for some remedy. Then Ganapati in reply said: "OK, alright, I pardon you. Whoever looks at you on the first day after the Newmoon, will be relieved of this curse." I have seen people running to terraces and climbing trees and trying to see the little streak of the moon appearing like a thread on the first day after the Newmoon, to be rid of all the evils that might have grown around them even by an unconscious look on the fourth day, because on that fourth day especially the moon is just before our eyes and very clear. He is located very peculiarly in a position in the sky where you cannot avoid seeing him. So, then, when our eyes fall on the moon on the fourth day, we rub our eyes and say, "Oh..very sorry, some mistake has taken place," and we expect some trouble afterwards. Somebody will say something against us. Anyhow, the remedy is seeing the moon on the first day after the Newmoon.

               The philosophy behind all these traditional worships and Puranic allegories is that the path of spiritual Sadhana is a mystery by itself and it is not a heroic activity of the Sadhaka, as sometimes he may imagine. No heroism will work there. Even the so-called heroic attitude, which we sometimes put on, is an entry of divine force into us. Just as a child's or a little baby's walking is the strength of the mother who is holding it with her hand, whatever intelligence we have, whatever satisfaction we enjoy in this life, whatever strength we possess, whether physical or psychological, whatever security we have, whatever is worthwhile in our existence is a modicum of the reflection of God's power. The worship of Maha-Ganapati, with the Mantra "Om Gam Ganapataye Namah," is a humble submission of the true circumstance of oneself before the might of God's glory. Who can open one's eyes before God! Who can utter one word before Him! Who can boast of one's learning, greatness, etc., before Him! We would be ashamed even to present ourselves before Him. Consider the might of the Creator, the magnitude of His power, the depth of His Wisdom, His Knowledge and His Omniscience, and your present condition! Compare it and contrast it. What Sadhana, what meditation, what Yoga can you do! The moment you begin to take one step in the direction of this holy movement towards God, the world pounces upon you with all its army, because the world is quantitatively larger. We live in a world of quantities. We require quantitative food, quantitative drink, quantitative physical appurtenances, and everything we require and ask for in life is only a quantity rather than a quality. So the quantity of the world being larger than the quantity of our physical personality, we cannot face it. So there is this humble acceptance of submission and a prayer to the great Almighty as manifest in Ganapati.

               There is another story as to why He is worshipped first on all occasions. It appears Parvati, the consort of Lord Siva, went for a bath. She scrubbed her body and out of the dirt of her body she made a small image of a boy, gave life to it by her touch and ordained him not to allow entry to any person when she is taking bath in the river. Accordingly, that boy stood guarding. At that moment, the great Lord Siva Himself came and the boy prevented His entry, because he cannot recognise Lord Siva, whom he has not seen. He has only the order of his Mother that nobody should enter. He immediately objected to the brave entry of Lord Siva into the vicinity where Parvati was taking bath. You can imagine the feeling of Lord Siva. "What is this? The little chap is standing and preventing me from seeing my own consort!" He immediately chopped off Ganapati's head and he fell down dead. When Parvati came up, she was aghast and said: "Oh Lord, You have killed my boy, he is my own child, and I am deeply hurt. What have you done! Oh, my Lord!" She bet her breast and would not speak. She started weeping. The Lord Siva said, "Do not weep, I shall give life to him." But ironically enough, He would not put the same head back. We do not know the reason why He did this. He told, "Bring the head of someone who is sleeping with his head towards the north." And they found nobody except an elephant lying with its head towards the north. Its head was severed and brought. The elephant's head was attached to the trunk of this boy and life was given by the Great Siva. He became alive and was named as Ganapati, which designation was bestowed upon him by Lord Siva Himself, may be to pacify Parvati or to bring about a peaceful atmosphere around. Lord Siva not only gave him life, but also made him the leader of His hosts. Ganapati, is therefore, the leader of the hosts of Lord Siva Himself. There is a large audience before Lord Siva, consisting of varieties of Ganas. Ganas are demigods; they are neither human nor superhuman, but a peculiar type. Sometimes they look like astral beings. These Ganas are ruled by Ganapati under the order of Siva. So Ganapati means the Generalissimo, as it were, of the hosts who always live in Kailasa. Apart from making Ganapati the Leader of hosts, Lord Siva bestowed another blessing on Him, saying: "You shall be the first one to be worshipped on all occasion." So this is the order or the ordinance of Lord Siva. The ordinance stands for ever. It is a permanent ordinance from the Great Master: "No one will be worshipped before you, not even me. After you are worshipped alone, will anybody else be worshipped." We won't worship Lord Siva or Lord Narayana without first worshipping Ganapati. "Om Gam Ganapataye Namah," is a Mantra to propitiate Ganapati.

               Human mind is elated and enthused by hearing stories. Image, painting, music, idols, dance, any kind of picturesque presentation of religion and spirituality or philosophy is generally more appealing than cut and dry logic, as you know very well. So the Puranas and the Epics bring home to us the idea of the necessity to accept the power of God as the only medium by which obstacles can be removed. So, He is called Vighnesvara, the God who is not merely the Ganapati or the ruler of the hosts or Ganas, but also a Remover of all impediments on alt paths.

                            But there is something mysterious about things. Everything is not clear to the minds of men. There are great secrets. And as I began by saying, the spiritual path is itself a great secret. The little Japa that you do, the scriptures that you read, the audience that you hold and whatever you appear to be doing, is only an outer crust of the mystery of life. The mystery is finally in yourself. You yourself do not know who is goading you to think in this manner. That goading principle is the mystery. If you recognise this mystery within you which mystifies even your intelligence and your efforts, you will be humble, simple and small before God, because spiritual Sadhana is an art of becoming smaller and smaller. It is not to become bigger and bigger. A person becomes smaller and smaller as he approaches God, just as a candle flame becomes dimmer and dimmer as it goes nearer and nearer to the sun; and just before the sun, it is not there? You cannot see even its existence. It vanishes. Likewise, when we approach God, we become smaller and smaller, humbler and humbler, littler and littler, until we become nothing. In this nothingness, we will find God Himself filling us. When there is total emptiness created by an abolition of ourselves, in this emptiness or vacuum created, God fills Himself. 'Empty thyself and I shall fill thee'--says Jesus Christ. The Mahaganapati Purana, the Ganapati Atharvasirsha Upanishad, the Ganesa Gita and several anecdotes occurring in the Mahabharata and the other Puranas glorify this aspect of the Supreme Almighty which requires our submission at His feet, and expects us to recognise Him as the sole power that can remove all obstacles on the path of the spiritual seeker towards the attainment of Godhead. This seems to be a part of the meaning hidden behind the holy worship of Bhagavan Ganapati or Sri Ganesa or Mahaganapati.

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The Ganesha Gayatris are prayers to Lord Ganesha that are composed in the 24-syllable meter of the original Gayatri Mantra.

  Agni Puran

 \ लम्बोदराय विद्महे महोदराय धीमहि तन्नो दंती प्रचोदयात्  

Om Lambodaray Vidmahe Mahodaray Dhimahi ,   Tanno Danti Prachodayat

Agni Puran

 \ महोत् कटाय विद्महे वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि तन्नो दंती प्रचोदयात्

Om Mahotkatay Vidmahe Vakratunday Dhimahi ,  Tanno Danti Prachodayat

Maitrayaneeya sanhita

\ तत्कराटाय विद्महे हस्तिमुखायधीमहि तन्नो दंती प्रचोदयात्

       Om Tatkaratay Vidmahe Hastimukhay Dhimahi ,  Tanno Danti Prachodayat

Ganpatyatharvasheersh

 \ एकदंतायविद्महे वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि तन्नो दंती प्रचोदयात्

Om Ekdantay Vidmahe Vakratunday Dhimahi ,  Tanno Danti Prachodayat

 

Taittiriyaranyak Narayanopanishad     

 \ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि तन्नो दंती प्रचोदयात्

Om Tatpurushay Vidmahe Vakratunday Dhimahi ,  Tanno Danti Prachodayat


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                               ॐ गं गणपतये नमः

             QUIZ

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

A  The special day when devotees worship Bhagwan Ganesh

1. Chaturthi
2. Navami
3. Ashtami
4.  Poornima

                                         
           B    Following is NOT one of Bhagwan Ganesh’s names

1.        Kapil

2.        Vinayak

3.        Gajapati

4.        Gajanan

  C Bhagwan Ganesh’s father    

1.        Vishnu ji

2.        Shiv ji

3.        Brahma ji

4.        Parshuram ji

 D One of the sages who dictated a holy scripture to  Shri Ganesh

 

1.        Vyas

2.        Vashishtha

3.        Vishwamitra

4.        Ashtavakra

 E  Name of the above scripture

1.        Shiv Puran

2.        Rig Veda

3.        Vishnu Puran

4.        Mahabharata

    F  In Pujas Ganesh ji is worshipped

1.             Second

2.             First

3.             Last

4.             Third

  G Shri Ganesh’s vehicle

1.        Peacock

2.        Lion

3.        Mouse

4.        Swan    

                         H Ganesh ji’s mouse  symbolically represents

1.        Buddhi (Intellect)

2.        Vairagya (Dispassion)

3.        Krodha (Anger)

4.         Vaasna (Desir

 I Shri Ganesh’s brother:

1.        Shripati

2.        Hanuman

3.        Kartikeya

4.        Sushena

 J Shri  Ganesh is the lord of which Chakra:

1.        Swadishthaan Chakra

2.        Muladhar Chakra

3.        Anahat Chakra

4.        Vishuddhi Chakra

K Ganesha is widely revered as

1.         The Remover of obstacles

2.         The Creator of universe

3.         The Destroyer of universe

4.         The God of music 

         L  Shri Ganesh is extremely fond of

1.        Dahi

2.        Kheer

3.        Poori

4.        Laddu (Modak) 

   M On Deepawali  we  specially worship Shri Ganesh ,

1. Saraswati & Lakshmi
2. Saraswati& Brahma
3. Vishnu& Shiva
4. Brahma & Gayatri

   N According to Shiva Purana who are  Shri Ganesh’s two sons?

1. Treta and Dwapar
2. Rajas and Satva
3. Yoga and  Mriga
4. Kshema  and Labh 

        O  ‘Ashtavinayaka’, the eight ancient temples of  Shri Ganesh are situated in which state of India?

1.         Bihar

2.         Maharashtra

3.         Andhra Pradesh

4.         Tamil Nadu

  P In the contest  between Skanda and Ganesh to find out the wiser of the two,

Skanda circled the universe thrice while Shri Ganesh circled :

1.         The earth

2.         His Parents

3.         The Sun

4.         Lakshmi and Vishnu ji        

                  Q   Lord Ganesh’s wives as per Shiv Puran

1.         Siddhi  & Buddhi

2.         Shuddhi & Buddhi

3.         Buddhi and Vriddhi

4.         Siddhi and Nidhi

                   R   Shri Ganesh’s weapons

1.          Dhanush & Chakra

2.         Gada & Bhala

3.         Trishul and Talwar

4.         Pash & Ankush

                    S  Shri Ganesh’s  mother

1.         Parvati ji

2.         Lakshmi ji

3.         Saraswati ji

4.         Ahilya ji

Answers:  A1, B3, C2, D1, E4, F2, G3, H4, I3, J2, K1, L4 , M1, N4, O2 , P2 ,Q1, R4, S1

Some more information about about Bhagwan Ganesh

http://www.csuchico.edu/~cheinz/syllabi/asst001/spring99/Karmegam/icon.html

   

Hindu Pujas in Melbourne - Krishna Janmashtami

Divya Aatman,

Shri Krishna Janmashtami is on 22nd August 2011.
Let's reflect on waht the Lord said to the whole humanity in form of Shrimad Bhagvad Gita                                                        

       

THE CORNER-STONES of THE GITA-ETHICS - by Swami Sivanada 

Salutations to Lord Sri Krishna, the Sweetest Manifestation of the Supreme Being! Salutations to Srimad Bhagvad Gita, the Word of God! Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.
What You Say Is the Expression of What You Are.
Srimad Bhagvad Gita is the Gospel of Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna is regarded as the Purna-Avatara of God. He was perfect in every respect. God is All-pervading; Sri Krishna’s life-on-earth, too, was all-comprehensive. Study Srimad Bhagavata and the Mahabharata. You will understand what a multi-faceted diamond Sri Krishna was. He was a wonderful child, divine boy, resplendent youth, dearest friend, mighty warrior, wise administrator, sweet comrade, master of diplomacy, protector of the meek, death of the wicked, preserver of Dharma, clever strategist, humble servant, obedient pupil, dutiful son, loving husband and Supreme Guru. These and countless others are but aspects of His Immanence as Krishna. Above all these, He is God Who, in His own transcendental nature, is the Lord of lords, the Father and Mother of all creation, the very Soul of all that exists. He is the Substratum of all existence. He is the Reality, immortal, eternal, infinite and absolute. He is not only immortal but Immortality Itself.
It is, therefore, in the fitness of things that the Scripture that He propounded should partake of all these great virtues that characterised His Divine Manifestation and His transcendental Nature. The Bhagvad Gita is so comprehensive that everyone can draw inspiration and guidance from it, whatever his social status may be, whatever his profession and in whatever stage of spiritual evolution he may be. For, into the Bhagvad Gita the Lord has woven a beautiful and universal pattern of ethics that would appeal and apply to all. 
The grand edifice of the Ethics of the Bhagvad Gita has been built on the Eternal Corner-stones of 
(1) Immortality of the Soul;
(2) Immanence of God; 
(3) Impermanence of the world;
(4) Immediacy of Liberation. 
Because these truths are universal, the Ethics of the Bhagvad Gita also have universal application.
Existing as He does as the very Immortal Principle in all beings, Lord Krishna proclaims with unimpeachable authority, the Immortality of the Soul. Being manifest here in this world as the very life and soul of all beings, He reveals the Immanence of God. Being the witness of the actions of Prakriti and the interplay of the Gunas, and in the perfect knowledge of the nature of this play of the Gunas, He declares that the objects of the world are evanescent, that all that is born must die, that all that is created must perish. Being the One who is conscious of the One Imperishable, Indivisible Truth which is never affected by the illusory play of Prakriti in which the Jiva which is essentially one with that Supreme Being dreams that he is dumb-driven and bound, the Lord asserts that Liberation is possible here and now.
The thundering revelation of the Immortality of the Soul in the Sloka: Ajo Nityas-sasvatoyam Purano Na Hanyate Hanyamane Sarire warns man not to deceive himself by trying to ignore the Law of Karma, the Law of Rebirth and the Law of Retribution. The soul within him does not die with the death of the body; and, so long as it does not liberate itself by attaining Jnana, is bound to reap the harvest of the seeds it has sown in this birth--DhruvamJanma-Mritasya. The Jiva which imagines that it is the doer of an action is bound to it by an invisible thread called attachment. The action is a rubber ball with a long rubber band attached to it which is given to the children to play with; one end of the band is tied to the finger of the child and he throws the ball on the ground; and the ball promptly rebounds to the child’s hand. Similarly, every action performed by you with the idea that you are doing it, with a desire to attain a certain end, is bound to rebound on you sooner or later, in this birth or in another. Death itself is but going from one room to another; and so long as the band of attachment is not broken by the knife of non-attachment (Asanga Sastrena Dridhena Chhitva) and the knot of desire born of ignorance is not loosened; the ball of action is bound to come back. One who realises this will do no evil. It is ignorance of the immortality of the soul and the inevitable working of the law of action and reaction that makes the wicked man to go his evil way. The wise man dismisses the misfortunes that may befall him as the working out of the evil Karmas of a previous birth and is indifferent to them; and he is active in cultivating goodness and in doing good, convinced, in the words of Sri Krishna, "that the doer of good never comes by evil" and that in the life to come, he will not only be free from misery and misfortune, but will get greater opportunities of progressing more rapidly towards the goal, viz., Jnana. The doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul is, therefore, the most important corner-stone in the Gita-ethics.
The next is the revelation of the Immanence of God. God is not a cruel monarch or just a benevolent deity sitting on a golden throne in a far-away city depending for his knowledge of your actions on agents and spies. He is the Indweller of everyone. He is the Witness of your thoughts. People around you watch your actions and hear your words; God watches not only your actions, but the motives that prompt them; He hears not only your words but the whisper of your heart’s intentions. It is therefore that Lord Jesus, too, said: "Thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." The doctrine of the Immanence of God exposes, too, the hypocrite who pretends to worship God in a shrine, ignoring the Lord walking bare-bodied on the road with a begging-bowl in hand, who is writhing in pain, groaning under subjection and groping in the darkness of ignorance--the disguises assumed by Him to test your sincerity and to give you a chance to worship Him truly, and to attain Him here and now. Look up, and see your Lord watching you through the eyes of everyone you meet. Have you got the sincerity to recognise Him? Then you are fit to realise God and your own Immortality. He is here, near you; and in order to bring this fact graphically before you, Sri Krishna describes Himself as the several manifestations set forth in the Vibhuti Yoga of the Bhagvad Gita.
The third--the doctrine of the impermanence of the world--is a stern warning against your setting too much store by the things of this world. The greatest treasure you acquire is but straw! The least that you do to the Lord immanent in all around you is the key to inexhaustible treasure. The things that you acquire are of this world which will pass away; but by the service you render to God immanent here, you are watering the plant of Immortality. Remember; the things that you possess, and the whole world; not only this world which is but a mere speck of dust in this universe, but the universe itself; not only this but countless universes that constitute creation--are but objects of a passing dream of the Supreme Being. Grabbing them is like catching hold of a cobra mistaking it for a rope to tie round the waist as belt. Great is the misery of one who takes the world as reality and runs after the pleasures of the world. Supreme Bliss is the prize that awaits one who, understanding the evanescence of the world, applies himself to Namasmarana, Japa, Kirtan, selfless service, renunciation and meditation, in short, to the life divine.
To such a one liberation is promised here and now. One who, through knowledge of the Immortality of the Soul, the Immanence of God and the impermanence of the world, casts off attachment to the world and the actions of Prakriti, attains Liberation here and now--Ihaiva Tairjitassargo Yesham Samye Sthitam Manah, Nirdosham Hi Samam Brahma Tasmat Brahmani Te Sthitah. Not only that; the true devotee of the Lord attains Him quite easily: Tasyaham Sulabhah Partha Nityayuktasya Yoginah. This doctrine of the Immediacy of Liberation, this doctrine of hope, is the great incentive to the diligent student of the Yoga of the Bhagvad Gita and is, therefore, the fourth important corner-stone of the Ethics of the Bhagvad Gita.
May the blessings of Lord Sri Krishna be upon you all! May you all attain Liberation from bondage here and now!

How to do Shri Krishna Puja on Janmashtami 

The greatest Shri Krishna pooja that a person can do is to read the Bhagavad Gita and contemplate. But many people feel the need to perform a puja when they feel they need to connect with the Supreme Being. A simple puja dedicated to Lord Krishna helps in keeping the mind calm and in concentrating. 

Simple ways to celebrate Janmashtami:

·                     Depending on time available (i.e. in morning or evening), sit with family in the Puja Room (place of worship)

·                     Light a Deepak and Aggarbatti

·                     Worship deities by offering flowers, applying tilak,offering naivedya (halwa or any sweet) and fruit, offering dhoopam/deepam

\  Worship Lord Ganesh: Om Ganeshaya Namah 12 times

\  Worship Devi :

·         Om Durga Devyai Namah   (3 times)

·         Om Maha Lakshmyai Namah  (3 times)

·         Om Maha Saraswatyai Namah ( 3 times)

May also chant Saraswati mantras mentioned on page 3

\  Worship Shri Shankar Bhagwan: Om Namah Shivaye (12 times)

\  Worship  Shri Narayana :

    

  अथ ध्यानम्
शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्यनाभं सुरेशं 
विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं मेघवर्णं शुभाङ्गम्।
लक्ष्मीकान्तं कमलनयनं योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यं 
वन्दे विष्णु भवभयहरं सर्वलोकैकनाथम्।।

भावार्थ : जिनकी आकृति अतिशय शांत है, जो शेषनाग की शैया पर शयन किए हुए हैं, जिनकी नाभि में कमल है, जो ‍देवताओं के भी ईश्वर और संपूर्ण जगत के आधार हैं, जो आकाश के सदृश सर्वत्र व्याप्त हैं, नीलमेघ के समान जिनका वर्ण है, अतिशय सुंदर जिनके संपूर्ण अंग हैं, जो योगियों द्वारा ध्यान करके प्राप्त किए जाते हैं, जो संपूर्ण लोकों के स्वामी हैं, जो जन्म-मरण रूप भय का नाश करने वाले हैं, ऐसे लक्ष्मीपति, कमलनेत्र भगवान श्रीविष्णु को मैं प्रणाम करता हूँ।

I adore Lord Vishnu who is the embodiment of peace, who lies on the Shesha serpent, whose navel is the source of the Lotus of the Universe, whose complexion is swarthy like the clouds, whose body shines with heavenly beauty, who is the beloved of Goddess Lakshmi, whose eyes are like Lotus, who is meditated upon by the yogis, who is the remover of the fear of the world-process, the cycle of birth and death.



यं ब्रह्मा वरुणेन्द्ररुद्रमरुत: स्तुन्वन्ति दिव्यै: स्तवै-
र्वेदै: साङ्गपदक्रमोपनिषदैर्गायन्ति यं सामगा:।
ध्यानावस्थिततद्गतेन मनसा पश्यन्ति यं योगिनो-
यस्यान्तं न विदु: सुरासुरगणा देवाय तस्मै नम:।।

भावार्थ : ब्रह्मा, वरुण, इन्द्र, रुद्र और मरुद्‍गण दिव्य स्तोत्रों द्वारा जिनकी स्तुति करते हैं, सामवेद के गाने वाले अंग, पद, क्रम और उपनिषदों के सहित वेदों द्वारा जिनका गान करते हैं, योगीजन ध्यान में स्थित तद्‍गत हुए मन से जिनका दर्शन करते हैं, देवता और असुर गण (कोई भी) जिनके अन्त को नहीं जानते, उन (परमपुरुष नारायण) देव के लिए मेरा नमस्कार है।


Salutations to that God, Whom Brahma, Varuna, Indra, Rudra and the Maruts praise with divine hymns, of Whom the Sama-chanters sing by the Vedas and their Angas, in the Pada and the Krama methods, and by the Upanishads, Whom the Yogins see with their minds absorbed in Him through meditation, and whose end the hosts of Devas and Asuras know not.

               Chant Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevaye (5 times /11 times/ or 108 times)              
                Contemplate on Geeta Saar and try to incorporate in life

The Bhagvad Gita ("Song of God") is the essence of the Vedas and Upanishads. It is a universal scripture applicable to people of all temperaments, for all times. It is a book with sublime thoughts and practical instructions on Yoga, Devotion, Vedanta and Action. The Bhagvad Gita has influenced many great thinkers over the years.



क्यों व्यर्थ की चिंता करते हो? किससे व्यर्थ डरते हो? कौन तुम्हें मार सक्ता है? आत्मा ना पैदाहोती है, न मरती है।

Why do you worry without cause? Whom do you fear without reason? Who can kill you? The soul is neither born, nor does it die.

जो हुआ, वह अच्छा , जो हो रहा है, वह अच्छा हो रहा है, जो होगा, वह भी अच्छा ही होगा। तुमभूत का पश्चाताप न करो। भविष्य की चिन्ता न करो। वर्तमान चल रहा है।

Whatever happened, happened for the good; whatever is happening, is happening for the good; whatever will happen, will also happen for the good only. You need not have any regrets for the past. You need not worry for the future. The present is happening...

तुम्हारा क्या गया, जो तुम रोते हो? तुम क्या लाए थे, जो तुमने खो दिया? तुमने क्या पैदाकिया था, जो नाश हो गया? न तुम कुछ लेकर आए, जो लिया यहीं से लिया। जो दिया, यहींपर दिया। जो लिया, इसी (भगवान) से लिया। जो दिया, इसी को दिया।

What did you lose that you cry about? What did you bring with you, which you think you have lost? What did you produce, which you think got destroyed? You did not bring anything - whatever you have, you received from here. Whatever you have given, you have given only here. Whatever you took, you took from God. Whatever you gave, you gave to him.

खाली हाथ आए और खाली हाथ चले। जो आज तुम्हारा है, कल और किसी का था, परसोंकिसी और का होगा। तुम इसे अपना समझ कर मग्न हो रहे हो। बस यही प्रसन्नता तुम्हारेदु:खों का कारण है।

You came empty handed, you will leave empty handed. What is yours today, belonged to someone else yesterday, and will belong to someone else the day after tomorrow. You are mistakenly enjoying the thought that this is yours. It is this false happiness that is the cause of your sorrows.

परिवर्तन संसार का नियम है। जिसे तुम मृत्यु समझते हो, वही तो जीवन है। एक क्षण में तुमकरोड़ों के स्वामी बन जाते हो, दूसरे ही क्षण में तुम दरिद्र हो जाते हो। मेरा-तेरा, छोटा-बड़ा,अपना-पराया, मन से मिटा दो, फिर सब तुम्हारा है, तुम सबके हो।

Change is the law of the universe. What you think of as death, is indeed life. In one instance you can be a millionaire, and in the other instance you can be steeped in poverty. Yours and mine, big and small - erase these ideas from your mind. Then everything is yours and you belong to everyone.

न यह शरीर तुम्हारा है, न तुम शरीर के हो। यह अग्नि, जल, वायु, पृथ्वी, आकाश से बना हैऔर इसी में मिल जायेगा। परन्तु आत्मा स्थिर है - फिर तुम क्या हो?

This body is not yours, neither are you of the body. The body is made of fire, water, air, earth and ether, and will disappear into these elements. But the soul is permanent - so who are you?

तुम अपने आपको भगवान के अर्पित करो। यही सबसे उत्तम सहारा है। जो इसके सहारे कोजानता है वह भय, चिन्ता, शोक से सर्वदा मुक्त है।

Dedicate your being to God. He is the one to be ultimately relied upon. Those who know of his support are forever free from fear, worry and sorrow.

जो कुछ भी तू करता है, उसे भगवान के अर्पण करता चल। ऐसा करने से सदा जीवन-मुक्त काआनंद अनुभव करेगा। Whatever you do, do it as a dedication to God. This will bring you the tremendous experience of joy and life-freedom forever.

Conclude the Puja with Eka Shloki Geeta :

                                    

यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः
यत्र श्रीर्विजयो भूतिर्ध्रुवा नीतिर्मतिर्मम॥

Wherever is Krishna, the Lord of Yoga, wherever is Partha, the wielder of the bow, there are prosperity, victory, happiness and firm policy; such is my conviction. (Ch. XVIII-78)

 

With Best Wishes -on behalf of Hindu Samaj Australia Inc

Pandit Akashdeep

Phone: 03 8338 8937

Mobile: 040 2659 605

panditakashdeep@hotmail.com

http://gyanbhakti.com/

...................................................................................................................................

Some quotes from famous personalities across the world on the Bhagvad Gita:

Albert Einstein

"When I read the Bhagvad-Gita and reflect about how God created this universe everything else seems so superfluous."

Aldous Huxley

"The Bhagvad-Gita is the most systematic statement of spiritual evolution of endowing value to mankind. It is one of the most clear and comprehensive summaries of perennial philosophy ever revealed; hence its enduring value is subject not only to India but to all of humanity."

Mahatma Gandhi

"When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and I see not one ray of hope on the horizon, I turn to Bhagvad-gita and find a verse to comfort me; and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. Those who meditate on the Gita will derive fresh joy and new meanings from it every day."

Henry David Thoreau

"In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagvad-gita, in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seem puny and trivial."

Dr. Albert Schweitzer

"The Bhagvad-Gita has a profound influence on the spirit of mankind by its devotion to God which is manifested by actions."

Carl Jung

"The idea that man is like unto an inverted tree seems to have been current in by gone ages. The link with Vedic conceptions is provided by Plato in his Timaeus in which it states 'behold we are not an earthly but a heavenly plant.' This correlation can be discerned by what Krishna expresses in chapter 15 of Bhagvad-Gita."

Herman Hesse

"The marvel of the Bhagvad-Gita is its truly beautiful revelation of life's wisdom which enables philosophy to blossom into religion."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I owed a magnificent day to the Bhagvad-gita. It was the first of books; it was as if an empire spoke to us, nothing small or unworthy, but large, serene, consistent, the voice of an old intelligence which in another age and climate had pondered and thus disposed of the same questions which exercise us."