Lord Shiva and the Philosophy Associated with Him (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 03)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/May_Jun/v1.ShivaPhilosophyDevotion)

The scriptures are full of such descriptions evincing the ultimate, eternal power of Lord Shiva.

But what has happened today?

We also worship and offer our devotion to Lord Shiva, still we remain afflicted by so many difficulties and sufferings.

Why isn't the divine grace of Shiva bestowed upon us?

Why and how we have lost the righteous path and sullied our lives, despite being His devotees?

When will God uplift us?

I myself was once quite puzzled by such questions and doubts in my mind. But soon a story from Shiva Puran clarified all my doubts and conveyed me the answers.

Why our devotion is of no avail?

I had read it while translating the eighteen Puranas from Sanskrit to Hindi. It clarified to me why our devotion to Lord Shiva does not result in the kinds of miraculous boons our ancestors were receiving.

Why don't we see any signs of His generous boons, which were so easily showered in the ancient times on anyone who did tapa for His grace?

It is not that people like you and me are per se debarred from receiving such boons; rather, it is the:
- fault in our approach,
- the half-heartedness of our dedication,
- insincerity of our devotion, and
- the shaky nature of our faith
that hinder accomplishment of our sadhana.

Lord Shiva and the Philosophy Associated with Him (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 02)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/May_Jun/v1.ShivaPhilosophyDevotion)

Their idols, which we worship in the temples by offerings of flowers, kumkum, etc. are only symbols to help us focus our faith and devotion. The rituals of worship are also symbolic.

We have to clearly understand that the key to receiving divine grace lies in shraddha and vishwasa.

 "Yabhyam Bina Na Pashyanti" - without which, no one, not even a siddha, can have a vision of the indwelling Divinity.

I recall here a story from the Puranas that explains the above fact more clearly.

The anecdote (pertains to the pre-historic time before the Era of Lord Ram):

"Once upon a time, when Rishi Parashuram learnt that the world was suffering from anarchy, corruption, injustice, exploitation and immorality in every walk of life, he could not sit like a silent observer. In reflective silence he prayed for guidance and light to be able to find an effective remedy.

He retired to Uttarkashi and engaged himself in rigorous worship of Lord Shiva. Pleased by his tapa, Lord Shiva blessed him with an angelic axe (parshu), and bid him to use it for the eradication and uprooting of all the evils and vices that had spread in the society of that time. Indeed, Parashuram did liberate the earth from all the evil forces and immoral trends; nothing could stand before the infinite might of Shiva's weapon".

Lord Shiva and the Philosophy Associated with Him (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 01)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/May_Jun/v1.ShivaPhilosophyDevotion)

Translation of the original discourse in Hindi: "Bhagvana Shiva Aur Unaka Tatva Darshan"

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

"Om Bhur Bhuvah Swah, Tatsaviturvarenyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayat ||"

Sisters and Brothers,

When Goswami Tulasidas ji began to write the holy and sublime Epic "Ramcharit Manas", he first prayed to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati as:
"Bhavani Shankarau Vande Shraddha Vishwasarupinau |
 Yabhyam Vina Na Pashyanti Siddhah Swantasthmiswaram ||"

The saint poet firmly believed that the great Epic being written by him, through divine inspiration, could not serve the purpose of enlightening the masses, and liberating them from the agonies and sufferings of the world, without the divine grace of Bhavani-Shankar (Parvati and Shiva). Therefore, he ardently invoked the grace of Bhavani-Shankar.

The above shloka (couplet) originated from the depths of his aspiring soul and is the key to the understanding of the basic divine attributes of masculine-feminine divinity, which actually manifests as Shiva-Shakti or Bhavani-Shankar

This evening, we too have prayed to Bhavani-Shankar.

Let us try to grasp the great message conveyed through the above salutation.

 "Bhavani Shankarau Vande" means "We pray to the Goddess Bhavani (Parvati) and God Shankar (Shiva)".

Who are they?

"Shraddha Vishwasa Rupinau" - Parvati is shraddha and Shiva is vishwasa.

Shraddha - absolute intrinsic faith that inspires and inculcates divine virtues and values,

and

Vishwasa - unperturbed confidence and inner belief, together prepare the ground for the manifestation of the divine force of Shiva-Parvati.

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

(Post 11)

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

My Guru had asked for my time and efforts. I dedicated every moment of my life for His work. Well! in return, he bestowed on me so many boons, endowed me with gifts that could not have been attainable by tapa and upasana for several lives.

This is what I am entreating you to do. Please give me a fraction of your time and effort to disseminate the knowledge and ideals of spirituality.

If you expect to gain something, you will also have to give something. Higher attainments demand greater sacrifices.

The Shastric (ancient) Scriptures describe - "Ekada Naimisharanye" - referring to the conversation of Rishis - Shaunak and Soota - that focuses on the sagacious discussions of the saints, the thinkers, the Brahmins of that time, in the lush forest-fields of Naimisharanya. I had also wanted to develop a Naimisharanya for the present Age, where people would live for pure selfless love, enlightenment and high ideals; where they would amicably share each other's joy and sorrows; where they would happily sacrifice their selfish desires and comforts for the welfare of the world.

This is what I expect to happen in Shantikunj and its newer expansion Gayatri Nagar. I inaugurate the Gayatri Nagar with this expectation, and with full confidence in my Guru's assurance that all my aims devoted to attainment of divine goals would be accomplished gloriously.
                                      
        || OM SHANTI ||

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

(Post 10)

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

Your life should be such that I, the Guru himself, will come to you and ask for assistance, your active collaboration in his altruistic world-uplifting efforts.

Sri Ramakrishna Paramhamsa himself used to go to Narendra (Vivekananda), seeking his help in dissemination of devotion and knowledge, in transforming the society.

A tongue cannot work like a mike, and a mike alone is of no use without a tongue (voice), combination of both serves the purpose. The voice (message) of the Guru is spread through the mike (efforts) of the disciples. My Guru is the voice and I am his mike.

I want you also to be able to do the same in turn.

I would like you to be worthy of spreading divine message.

If you could cultivate this ability, there would be no delay in the working of His grace in your lives. God keeps the boons of shaktipata and kundalini ready in His hands to bestow them upon deserving souls. You could also receive them provided you have the desired level of shraddha (inner faith and dedication) and patrata (worthiness).

We have taken up the mission of revival of the Vedic knowledge and Rishi traditions of Yagya along with Gayatri Vidya.

We have now introduced the medium of "Gyan Rathas" to spread this knowledge through mission's publications.

You may devote two valuable hours per day for this noble task.

This would indeed be more virtuous than singing devotional songs or worshiping divine idols for the same time.

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.