The Foundational Emblems of Indian Culture: Shikha and Sutra (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 27)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Nov_Dec/v1.ShikhaSutra_II)

I advise the parijans in Gayatri Pariwar to talk about these positive effects and teachings associated with shikha and sutra whenever they perform a yagya.

You should yourself adopt them in life.

These are the prime emblems of the great Vedic culture.

Having them with us is a sign of our being the inheritors of the great Rishis, the followers of the divine culture.

These remind us of the values and disciplines of human dignity.

Let people come and ask us about the necessity of these symbols of Hindu Religion. I am not against people's discerning quest. In fact, I have always encouraged it.

Unless religious philosophy justifies its relevance in logical ways in the light of prudence, it cannot serve the real purpose.
- It has to shed off the superstitions and unwise customs that have clouded and veiled its true light.
- It has to spread the sagacious light of its eternal power, the divine values hidden in its core.

We all, the believers, the theists need to resolutely work for this reformation and reconstruction on the religious and social fronts.

Let us begin this march with a revolutionary propagation of the culture of shikha and sutra.

|| Om Shanti ||

The Foundational Emblems of Indian Culture: Shikha and Sutra (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 26)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Nov_Dec/v1.ShikhaSutra_II)

1. industriousness
2. humility
3. austerity
4. orderliness
5. cooperation
6. wisdom
7. integrity of character
8. sense of responsibility
9. courage

The remaining four qualities pertain to the mental and emotional spheres of life.


Wisdom incorporates thoroughness and maturity of attitude, and thinking.

Refinement of thoughts and aspirations are essential steps towards sagacious development of mind.



As you all know, integrity of character is a must if you are to gain the respect and cooperation of others, and achieve something worthwhile in life.

Sincerity, honesty and moral purity of the character, authenticity and trustworthiness in every aspect of personal, professional and social life are the yardsticks of the integrity of a person.


Gratitude for all the (direct or indirect) help received from Nature and society, at every step of your life, is what motivates you towards bearing your share of responsibilities.


Happily transact your duties towards the physical, mental and moral progress of your dependents and associates.

Do take care of contributing to and participating in the earnest activities of social welfare as well.


Many a times people think of courage and valor as some qualities required only in the battlefield.

Listen my children! We all need to have these qualities to struggle with and overcome our own vices first.

We should also have courage to oppose immoral practices around us; raise our voice against corruption, injustice and exploitation of the weaker sections of society in our areas of interactions.

If we can't do that individually, at least we must have the courage to join collective and organized efforts against the wrongs in the system.

The Foundational Emblems of Indian Culture: Shikha and Sutra (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 25)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Nov_Dec/v1.ShikhaSutra_II)

1. industriousness
2. humility
3. austerity
4. orderliness
5. cooperation
6. wisdom
7. integrity of character
8. sense of responsibility
9. courage

Orderliness corresponds to ideal management and disciplined organization of time, talents and other mental, physical and materialistic resources; punctuality, and, neatness and tidiness of the body, house and workplace, are primary necessities of orderliness.


Cooperation means wholehearted sharing of joys and pains with family, friends and colleagues.

As some of you might have experienced in family-life or on social fronts, it requires a good amount of patience and tolerance to work harmoniously in any collective setting.

Benevolence and zeal to work for collective welfare of the society are its obvious reflections.

The Foundational Emblems of Indian Culture: Shikha and Sutra (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 24)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Nov_Dec/v1.ShikhaSutra_II)

1. industriousness
2. humility
3. austerity
4. orderliness
5. cooperation
6. wisdom
7. integrity of character
8. sense of responsibility
9. courage

These nine qualities open the door to a bright, happy and successful life.

Inculcation of these qualities induces eminent transformation of personality.

These are also the most desired virtues for social and global welfare and progress.

The first five of these deal with behavior and deeds.

Industriousness means constructive utilization of time and potentials, with diligence and enthusiasm for the work in hand.

Humility implies modesty, etiquette, and balanced and humble behavior, with due respect for the self, as well as for others.

Austerity includes piety of mind and body. It also means adopting the principle of "simple living and high thinking" in daily life.

You must note that foresighted, constructive and altruistic use of the resources becomes possible by observing austerity in personal life.

The Foundational Emblems of Indian Culture: Shikha and Sutra (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 23)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Nov_Dec/v1.ShikhaSutra_II) 

The yagyopaveet (sutra) has nine threads and three knots.

The knots are symbols of the three granthis (extrasensory roots of ultimate realization)
1. the Brahma-granthi
2. the Vishnu-granthi
3. the Shiva-granthi

these also represent the three segments of the Gayatri Mantra that encode the sublime streams of manifestation of the omnipresent eternal sound of "Om".

The nine threads symbolize the nine planets and the nine divine-powers (manifestations of shakti, called the nav-durgas) implied in the nine words (after the shirsha) of the Gayatri Mantra.

The yagyopaveet is like an idol of the deity Gayatri.

You enshrine the idol in the temple of your body by wearing it.

Wearing this sacred sutra on the shoulders, keeping it near the chest, should remind you of the nine duties, nine virtues, nine principles that are taught and inspired through the nine words of the Gayatri Mantra, which are:
1. industriousness
2. humility
3. austerity
4. orderliness
5. cooperation
6. wisdom
7. integrity of character
8. sense of responsibility
9. courage

The Foundational Emblems of Indian Culture: Shikha and Sutra (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 22)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Nov_Dec/v1.ShikhaSutra_II) 

The shikha represents the shirsha (top) of the Gayatri Mantra.

It reminds the devotee of the subtle presence of the pure divine intelligence in the human mind.

Tightening the hair knot right above the suture induces marvelous psychological benefits.

It helps in harmonious blood circulation in the brain in normal conditions and augments alertness.

As described in the yoga-scriptures, it also provides support in increasing mental concentration and meditation.

In terms of its sublime spiritual effects, the shikha works like an antenna in the outer domain of the Sahasrara Chakra (topmost extrasensory centre), to link the individual consciousness with the cosmic consciousness in the elevated state of Gayatri sadhana.

The Foundational Emblems of Indian Culture: Shikha and Sutra (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 21)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Nov_Dec/v1.ShikhaSutra_II)

Now we should also understand and propagate the importance of wearing the sutra and keeping shikha.

Initially when I used to explain some points on its underlying philosophy and science while conducting a yagya, people used to find it very unusual.


They would request me - "Why don't you just complete the rituals; we have come to offer the ahutis in the sacred fire of yagya; what have we to do with all the teachings and scientific effects?"

There was strong opposition from several swamis and pandits to my allowing women, and people from all castes and cults, to chant the Gayatri Mantra and participate in yagya.

But you see our impact now!!

Truth and righteous attempts cannot be checkmated by anyone for long.

Now you see thousands of women priests, ably conducting and guiding Gayatri Yagyas and the Vedic sacraments under the banner of this mission.

People from all walks of society, all creeds, live together, work together, like members of a large family, in this organization.

We have just lit the torch of truth and knowledge; humbly attempted the renaissance of the divine Rishi culture.

You all have to spread its light across the globe.

Do this by spreading the disciplines of shikha and sutra.