The Spirit of Spring and Awakening of Kundalini (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 12)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Jan_Feb/v1.AwakeningKundalini)

If you cannot develop sanskaras (virtuous tendencies) in your children, send them here, send them to me.

Why?

What will I do?

Like Rishi Valmiki,
- I can transform your children into Lava-Kush;
- can make their mother a blessed tapswini (performing spiritual austerities) like Devi Sita,
- and endow you with the ideals of Ram-Lakshaman.

This is why Shantikunj and Brahmavarchas Ashrams were founded on the auspicious parva (festival) of Vasant Panchami, as nuclei of our mission of Yug Nirman, for worldwide dissemination of the light of knowledge, theism, and divine Vedic cultural values.

The Spirit of Spring and Awakening of Kundalini (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 11)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Jan_Feb/v1.AwakeningKundalini)

I have only two dreams:
1. inculcation of divinity in humans, and
2. creation of divine life on the earth.

My supramental attainments of Shaktipata and Kundalini are dedicated only for materialization of these objectives and for nothing else.

Blossoming of Brahmvarchas in every dimension, every impulse of life – this is incarnation of divinity in the human self.

And what is the descent of heaven on the earth?

Well, heaven or paradise is not some God's capital (Vaikuntha) in the subtle world.

It can very well be created on this earth, in the very world we are living in.

The ambience and circumstances of a paradise are created wherever good people live in moral discipline, with mutual love and cooperation.

I wanted to build a model colony, village or town:
- where elevated personalities could live simple, happy, dignified lives, devoted to high ideals;
- where people could set a living example of what an altruistic, purposeful, glorious life, engaged in welfare of all, is like.

Gayatrinagar, Shantikunj amply demonstrates the realization of this dream.

The Spirit of Spring and Awakening of Kundalini (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 10)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Jan_Feb/v1.AwakeningKundalini)  

Theism evolves in Brahmavarchas.

Brahmavarchas includes - awakening of the infinite powers hidden or dormant in the inner self by pure ascetic practices (tapa) of:
- self-discipline
- self-refinement and
- self-transformation.

The principles of Brahmavarchas incorporate:
- self-restraint over the sense organs (by observing austerity, fasting, chastity, etc.) at the gross level, and
- control and purification of the thoughts, aspirations and sentiments of the inner self, on the subtler levels.

This is how tapa generates spiritual energy and activates the latent divinity existing in the individual.

I had initiated my Brahmavarchas on the day of Vasant Panchami.

In one word, it is a confluence of theism and tapa.

Theism means adoption of a moral, righteous life; and

tapa means voluntary adoption of hardship, penance, austerity, for achievement of high ideals and altruistic endeavors.

Brahmavarchas Shodh Sansthan of our Mission is a symbol, a place where I want to demonstrate and teach the super-science of Brahmavarchas.

The Spirit of Spring and Awakening of Kundalini (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 09)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Jan_Feb/v1.AwakeningKundalini)  

The religious shrines, the methods of worship and devotion are there to:
- to help condition our minds, our inner selves
- ponder over and experience His cosmic consciousness
- to know and link ourselves with the divine values.

The temples of Gayatri Mata, built by us, are symbols of the eternal teachings of Gayatri Vidya.

Gayatri means shraddha, viveka, karuna and pavitrata (pavitrata means piety of body, mind and heart).

You should keep the holy pictures of Goddess Gayatri, worship it, pray and meditate before Her with heartfelt devotion and faith.

This would gradually induce Her grace and virtues in you.

We all should adopt theism in practice and also spread it around us.

You all may begin with sincere devotional practices before Gayatri Mata's picture in your own house and also inspire your neighbors to do so.

The Spirit of Spring and Awakening of Kundalini (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 08)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Jan_Feb/v1.AwakeningKundalini) 

Believing in God means:
- having faith in His eternal omnipresence
- believing in His absolute Law of Karma

His Law allows us be the architect of our own destiny; His Law is simple - as you sow, so you reap.

Each one of us can be blessed by His infinite grace; but first we have to abide by His laws that are essential for the ideal maintenance of His creation.

This is what theism teaches us.

The Spirit of Spring and Awakening of Kundalini (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 07)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Jan_Feb/v1.AwakeningKundalini)

The day of Vasant Panchami is full of grand opportunities for noble resolutions and initiatives.

This is the day of landmark initiatives for our mission.

Each year, this day sparks a new enthusiasm and a new courage in me, that drive me to elevate and expand my efforts with greater zeal to beautify this world, to work for the welfare of all beings.

The milestones of our mission's achievements towards social awakening and revival of the divine cultural values have all been initiated through resolutions made on this day; new projects have been undertaken on this very day.

Now, today, we have to take another leap along our forward journey.

We should strive single-pointedly to spread the light of true Theism - faith in divinity, the universal ethics.

Disciplines of morality and ethical conduct are integral facets of Theism.

The Spirit of Spring and Awakening of Kundalini (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 06)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Jan_Feb/v1.AwakeningKundalini) 

If you are sensitive to your duties, and have adopted noble moral ideals in your conduct and deeds, your consciousness (being) would work like a sublime magnetic force that would naturally attract spontaneous support from all directions and from everyone, and will also invite divine grace.

This certainly happens in the lives of saints; this is what manifests in the lives of great personalities like Gandhi and Kagaba.

The history of Indian Rishis is an immortal testimony to this fact that - emergence of karuna in the heart eventually leads to sainthood, and divinisation of the ego-bound human self.

The Spirit of Spring and Awakening of Kundalini (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 05)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Jan_Feb/v1.AwakeningKundalini)

Whenever the indwelling divinity is awakened in an individual, it expresses itself:
- as pain
- as sensitivity to share others' agonies
- as unbounded love
- as karuna.

God is not a physical structure or a material creation - It is Brahma – the omnipresent, eternal consciousness force.

Consciousness cannot have a material structure or shape.

It is most naturally expressed and experienced in pure sensitivity.

What is pure sensitivity?

Well, in essence, it is that intrinsic spiritual power which gives rise to viveka (enlightened discernment) and karuna.

The Spirit of Spring and Awakening of Kundalini (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 04)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Jan_Feb/v1.AwakeningKundalini)

Compassion is that which makes one cry with others’ sorrow, which drives one to live for others’ welfare.

Sagacity is that which guides one to live a dignified life of a noble human being, who engages his talents constructively in righteous pursuits.

Look for example, at Kagaba – who is honored as the "Gandhi of Japan".

He dedicated all his life in the service of the downtrodden, the helpless, and the patients of leprosy and other dreaded diseases, who are practically abandoned by their families.

His karuna (compassion and generosity with saintly love) for them inspired his wife also to join in his altruistic mission. Both of them used to be engaged in this noble mission, round the clock, without expectation of even gratitude.

What enabled this superhuman endeavor?

It was the power of karuna, which had sprung up in their hearts.

This is what I call the expression of Kundalini, which produces a zeal, a pain, a thrust, and pulls the individual consciousness out of the smog of all infirmities and selfish attachments.

The Spirit of Spring and Awakening of Kundalini (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 03)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Jan_Feb/v1.AwakeningKundalini) 

What is Kundalini?

It is the sublime source of unlimited vital, spiritual energy that remains dormant in most of us.

Yoga Shastras talk a great deal about the sadhanas of Kundalini Jagaran.

Without going into complications of its hidden science, you must know that most natural expression of ultimate state of Kundalini Jagaran is - awakening of divine attributes in the sadhaka.

I therefore regard Kundalini as sensitivity and compassion; as sagacity and foresight.

The Spirit of Spring and Awakening of Kundalini (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 02)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Jan_Feb/v1.AwakeningKundalini)

When umang emerges from within, it erupts like a spark of fire that rises and expands unhindered. It transforms one's life in a stormy way.

The Appearance of my eternal Guru, on the Vasant Parva in February 1926, was also like a sublime cyclone of this immensity.

He flashed before my consciousness my previous lives, and before leaving, he blessed me with what is known as "Shaktipata" and "Kundalini Jagaran".

Supramental spiritual attainments that require grand ascetic endeavors and sadhana for several lifetimes, were bestowed upon me in a matter of few moments.

Everything within me seemed to have been transformed.

I could now visualize the world far beyond and quite differently from what I used to see before.

Let me tell you about my Kundalini Jagaran (awakening of Kundalini).

The Spirit of Spring and Awakening of Kundalini (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 01)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Jan_Feb/v1.AwakeningKundalini)

(Translation of excerpts from the discourse on Vasanti Panchami day February 1981:
"Vasanti Hooka, Umang Aur Ullas Yadi Aa Jaye Jeevan Me")

Let us begin with the collective chanting of the Gayatri Mantra:

“Om Bhur Buvah Swah, Tatsaviturvareñyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi,
Dhiyo Yonah Pracodayat ||”

Sisters and Brothers,

I was referring to the umang – vibrant enthusiasm and ecstatic emotional thrust – generated in the spring. It emerges from within. It can't be stopped by any attempt. This is what spring brings in Nature.

A day of spring had also bestowed a divine umang upon Prince Siddharth. On the one side were his family, the enchanting joys, luxuries and powers of royal life, and on the other was the Call of Time Spirit, the cries of suffering humanity, agonized by ignorance and eradication of true religious values in the world.

The umang of Vasant (spring) awakened in his mind and guided him - if you want to spend your life blindly chasing happiness in worldly joys and attachments, you would have lived a meaningless life; anybody can do it - in fact everybody is doing only that; you should chose the path of awakened awareness.

This message of spring drove him towards the search for the path of deliverance from suffering, and eventually he succeeded in his search, and became The Buddha – The Awakened One.

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 09)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift)

I cannot describe in words the dreaded physical and mental ailments that I have seen people suffering from. Many come here to get rid of their beastly tendencies, the sinful life they have been living so far.

How to tell you, how contented (glad) I feel by helping them out, by liberating and uplifting their lives, by giving them happiness.

You see! All this is the astonishing power of awakened kundalini.

On the Vasant Panchami day every year I keep thinking that all of you present here should also share in my precious fortune and lead your lives to glorious heights; may your noble deeds and names become immortal on the golden pages of the annals of humanity.

Your life should rise above its present state of suffering and perversion.
You should be able to resolve all your problems yourself and also have the potential to help others in getting rid of their problems.

Then you will not have to come to me and beg - "Guruji! Kindly save me; remove my sufferings; etc."

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 08)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift)  

This is how I could launch the grand missions of Vichar Kranti and Yug Nirman Yojna, to destroy the smog of evils and ignorance prevailing in the minds of people, and lay the foundation of an era of bright future for all.

It looks as if each and every part of my being is filled with immense vigor, valor and courage like that of Rishi Parashuram.

If people see any sign of a social reformer or a great personality in me, it is all an expression of the shaktipata bestowed by my Guru on that Vasant Panchami day in 1926.

The awakening of kundalini is said to bestow siddhis and riddhis (spiritual attainment of supernormal talents and angelic potentials). With the help of these, an accomplished sadhaka or siddha yogi can miraculously help others and also reach higher realms in his own spiritual ascent.

My Guru came, activated my inner consciousness and awakened my kundalini. This resulted in the flow of viveka (spiritually illumined wisdom) and karuna (saintly love and compassion) within me, and eventually filled me with enduring contentment, peace and bliss.

This is what we are blessed with, as we dedicate all that we have, in the performance of our duties, as per the enlightened guidance of viveka and saintly impulse of karuna.

People come here full of varied sufferings and tensions of worldly life; with tears in their eyes, they come to me for help. I experience limitless inner peace and blissful repose in allaying their agonies, resolving their problems, eradicating the adversities of their lives.

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 07)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift)  

I keep recalling these lines of Goswami Tulsidas; they generate an inexplicable joy and power in me.

The power of inner-self, awakened by such shaktipatas, is indeed immense. I have experienced it myself.

It is with this enlightened force that I have stood successfully for the divine ideals and principles, against even the great Mahamandaleshwaras, the Shankaracharyas - the so-called religious leaders of our times.

I have collided against heavy golden shields and broken them (routed all the adversities and avarice that tried hindering my ethical, altruistic path). Be that social reformation, revival of our Rishi Culture in scientific light, upliftment of women, mass awareness against unjust religious traditions - I have marched alone on every front; my inner courage, the light of my awakened soul, have enabled me to surmount all obstacles.

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 06)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift) 

What happened in Meerabai's life is another example of shaktipata. This ardent devotee of Lord Krishna was under tremendous pressure from her in-laws - they were against her going out of the palace or calling satsang inside the palace; even her saintly life-style and engrossment in her devotion of Krishna was unbearable to many of them.

Helpless, Meera wrote to her contemporary saintly poet Goswami Tulasidas, to advise her about what she should do, what should be her duty in those circumstances?

Tulsidas explained to her that such was the law of the world - circumstances don't change according to one's ideals or resolutions. One has to change one's attitude and mental conditioning for the desired results.

In fact, he sent her a couplet of poetry that said:
"Jake Priya Na Rama Vaidehi, Tajiye Tahi Koti Bairi Sama, Yadyapi Param Sanehi."
Meaning: You should leave those who do not love Lord Ram and Sita, even if they happen to be your nearest ones.

These words worked like a shaktipata on Meerabai's mind, and gave her the spiritual guidance and inner-strength to pursue what eventually made her a true saint, an immortal example of supreme devotion.

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 05)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift)

The shaktipata gave me the courage to come out of the house against all odds, and work for the freedom movement, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, at the young age of barely twenty years. I even had to go to jail and face tortures at the hands of the British government; but the inner power enabled me to continue my march on the path of self-realization, along with honest transaction of all the duties,  including familial and social responsibilities, assigned by my Guru.

There never was a looking back; no agony for the sufferings that came on the way.

This is what is called the marvelous power of determination inspired by shaktipata.

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

 (Post 04)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift)

A tiny fish traverses the great depths and lengths of the oceans against the direction of the flow of water.

Similar is the case of awakened consciousness. No resistance, no obstacle, howsoever mighty, can ever hinder or deflect its chosen path.

In ordinary case, one can't even imagine how difficult it is to follow an ideal against the worldly trends of selfish pursuits.

One has to face uncountable obstructions, challenges, dangers and immeasurable resistance from multiple directions:
    - the pressures and attractions of attachment with family, friends;
    - the fears of society, and what not;
    - above all, one's own weaknesses, ingrained habits and intrinsic tendencies make it almost impossible for one to proceed along the path of noble ideals.

One who can do that is indeed spiritually empowered in my view. 

This is the spiritual force that my angelic master had bequeathed to me by his shaktipata.

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

 (Post 03)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift)

You will find many such examples of the umang of Vasant in the history.

Fifty-five years ago (in February 1926), the day of Vasant Panchami had blessed me with enormous bliss and fortune. It brought my divine Guru to me. The angelic light of his aura appeared before me; it induced the divine impulse of self-realization and enlightenment in me. It was on this auspicious day that I had met my eternal guide and was blessed by his shaktipata (spiritual grace) upon me.

Today we are gathered here on this sacred day of Vasant Panchami.

I wish that it could bring the same good fortune for you all, bless you with the same inspiration.

What did my divine mentor do?

What is shaktipata?

Often people have misconceptions about shaktipata; that some electrical current like brilliance is transmitted from the eyes or hands of the spiritual master, which enters the body of the disciple and gives a shock like treatment.

No, this is not shaktipata.

It does not work at the level of the gross body.

It is in fact a sublime process of awakening, empowering and exalting the inner consciousness-force of the deserving disciple by the spiritual will of the Guru. The elevated power of consciousness is reflected in the enlightenment, sublime transmutation of the intrinsic tendencies, thoughts, convictions and inner sentiments; and not as any current of light experienced in the body. The force of evolved consciousness is that which induces immense courage and foresight of adopting and firmly standing for higher values and ideals.

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 02)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift)

Adi Shankaracharya's awakening umang was also born around Vasant Panchami.

His mother had lots of expectations from this bright child - "he would be a big officer, a prosperous, successful man; he will get married and bring a nice daughter-in-law for me, I will enjoy the company of my grand-children".

Sensing Shankars inclination towards ascetic life, she even used to warn him that he will have to suffer the pangs of hell for the sin of not obeying his mother.

The umang awakened in this child gave him the courage to face all hurdles; he was prepared to go to any hell during or beyond this life if it were a must for pursuing the goal of ultimate realization.

One day he entered the deep waters in the village-river and screamed for his mother's help. He told her - "I am about to be drowned and die this very moment; but I am seeing God standing to save me only under one condition - He (God) is asking you to offer my life to Him (for His work), then He would save and protect me forever". Now his mother had no choice; She agreed and said - "Okay! I am ready to make this sacrifice for saving your life".

Shankar jumped out of the swirling waters that very moment and touched her feet on the banks of the river. He said to his mother - "Look! God has saved me, but now I am His".