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The Divine Land

Who is a True Hindu

Who is a True Hindu Dharma (righteousness) is the way of life that confers lasting joy; the Shasthras are the source of dharma; they lay down the rules of dharma. The Shruthis and Puranas, the Shruthis and Ithihasas are all included in the term Shasthra. Of these, the Shruthis are the most authoritative. The others all follow the Shruthis and keep in step with them. Bharatheeya culture is the expression of such sacred ideals. Throughout the ages, this culture has been providing spiritual teaching and training in a friendly fruitful manner. The Puranas are but simple and sweet expositions of the Shruthi ideals of life; that is why they are called, the comrades of man. Those who study the Vedas and understand the principles direct from them are called Shrothriyas and Nais-thikas. They are the highest grade of seekers. Those who understand them from the popular texts like the Puranas and base their conduct on that knowledge are of the middle grade. They get inspired from some excellent poems and dramas also and they follow the dharma that is sought to be explained through those media. Thus, Hindus have tried to spread the principles of their culture through various means among the masses. Bharatheeya culture teaches not merely the truth about the visible objective world; it lays bare the truth of the subjective invisible world of the spirit also. This is the task of SanathanaDharma or Veda Dharma. This religion has in it the principles of all contemporary religions. Those who doubt this should examine the scriptural sources in an impartial spirit. Due to the wide influence of Western civilisation, absence of exposition and explanation by persons who have accumulated experience, inability to clearly grasp the meaning of the texts, and neglect of the Sanskrit language which is the precious treasure of India, truth about the greatness of Bharatheeya culture is largely unknown today. Hindu Culture is World Culture As a diamond shines in splendour when it is cut into many facets, the foundation principles of Hinduism will shine brightly and illumine the world, when one starts the inquiry, patiently and enthusiastically. How can you know the taste if you do not eat? How can you know the depth, if you refuse to enter the water? Those who spurn Bharatheeya culture without practising it are as foolish as those who dismiss a dish without tasting it. Hindu culture is the pillar and support of the nation; it is the backbone of the spiritually adventurous; it grants both this world and the next to all beings. It is really World Culture, the culture that the world needs. Other cultures assume various forms in various climes. But, the culture of Bharath has asserted eternal values, values for all times and all climes – like dhaya,dharma and dhama (compassion, virtue and self-control). It has not bent before the pressure of patronage or persecution. The impact of Western civilisation has given rise to certain new sects that attempt to re-form and modernise Hindu religion. Hindusim has the strength to correct their egoism and establish concord. Hinduism is the one religion that proclaims the truth that there is nothing separate from God and it proves it too. Because people are not able to understand this fundamental integrating principle, hatred and malice have grown in the followers of other faiths. Religion has its root in the mind There are not wanting Indians who see only the externals of religious observance and start condemning religion itself, as fraught with disaster to the people. These people even argue that religion itself should be abolished from life. Alas, their insane slogans remind us of the efforts of the ant to judge the depth of the sea or that of the cat to drink up the Ocean of Milk. Perhaps they do not realise that their negation of religion is itself growing into a ‘religion’. Had they known this, they would not have ventured into a field of which they know nothing. Others attempt to design a composite religion, without first seeking to manufacture a composite mind. Unless all become of one mind, all cannot welcome a single religion. Religion has its root in the mind. Correct the source; the end will be corrected. Ensure that the basement is strong; then you can build a house of many floors over it. Unless you ensure the strength of the foundation, the house will topple down. To plan the destruction of religion without realising what religion does to man, is itself the height of ignorance and irresponsibility. Of course, injustice, indiscipline and superstition might raise their heads in the name of religion. But, religion never sanctions these. The chief purpose of religion is to make man aware of his relationship with God. Every person has full rights for worshipping God and winning His Grace. But, whatever the road, whichever the path, the Goal is the same. Vedhic religion will not permit you to quarrel with any other religion, or hate it or decry it. It insists on tolerance and respect. If you seek to develop love towards all men and the spiritual outlook that will sustain it, you will have to follow the discipline laid down in the Shasthras, for your stage and state. The sign of the Mahatma What is Truth, what is Love, what is God? Unless these three are clearly understood, man cannot fulfil himself, nor can be realise his true glory. But, people nowadays interpret these, according to their pet fancies without delving into their implications or even without approaching those who know those implications, for instruction. The Shasthras emphasise that it is inner conviction, inner purification that matters. Also that the conviction must be expressed through good deeds. This emphasis is now ignored; only the gesticulations of the outer man remain. So, people believe that the observance of the “Don’t touch” rule is itself sacred, sanctioned bahaviour. This is ‘kitchen religion’, not Vedantha dharshana or the religion expounded in the Vedas. The fault lies in those

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The Divine Land

Ganga – The Celestial River

Ganga – The Celestial River According to Hindu Scriptures, the River Ganges, better known as Ganga, originated in heaven where she was personified as a goddess bearing the name Akasha-Ganga. The Milky Way appearing in space from Earth is said to be the path of the Ganga River throughout the universe. This holy river brings life and fertility to nature; she is deeply revered and worshipped as a source of purification, healing, and liberation. She is also Jnana-ganga, the unbroken flow of knowledge itself. In the Mahabharata and Skanda Purana, her waters have been compared to amrita i.e., nectar of immortality. The following article recounts how Gangaji leaves the higher planes and descends into the world in order to help human beings. It is through Shiva that she is able to do so. We go with her until she finally reaches her destination: Ganga Sagar. This place where the river (man) meets the ocean (God) in West Bengal is a symbol of enlightenment. The annual Gangasagar Mela will be held there from 10th January 2025 to 18th January 2025. It is the second largest Hindu fair (after the Kumbha Mela). The origin and glory of the Ganges and the Lord’s Pastimes at Ganga Sagar are described in the Srimad Bhagavatam and other Gaudiya Vaishnava scriptures. Here they are presented in summary form. According to the Srimad Bhagavatam the universe is a giant golden egg made up of fourteen planes of existence. The seven upper planes are known as Bhu, Bhuva, Sva, Maha, Jana, Tapa, and Satya, and the seven lower planes are known as Tala, Atala, Vitala, Nitala, Talatala, Mahatala, and Sutala. These fourteen planes are often  referred to as ‘the three worlds’: Svarga, Martya, and Patal [heaven, earth, and hell]. The universe, the golden egg made up of these worlds, floats in the Causal Ocean. The Origin of Ganga Devi Once the emperor Bali Maharaj conquered the three worlds. After a long battle, Bali Maharaj ousted Indra and the other demigods from heaven. The demigods’ mother, Aditi, became morose and performed a special sacrifice, the Payo Vrata, to induce the Lord to protect the demigods. Pleased with Aditi, the Lord agreed to descend to the world as her son and re-establish the demigods’ reign. He assumed the form of a young dwarf-brahman, Vamandev, and eventually came to a sacrificial arena where Bali Maharaj was performing an asvamedha sacrifice [horse sacrifice]. There He begged Bali Maharaj for three steps of land. When Bali Maharaj granted this, Vamandev began to expand His form. Gradually He became so large that His form filled the sky and all the directions. Vamandev stepped across the entire earth with His first step and across the heavens with His second step. When Bali Maharaj saw that there was nowhere else for the Lord to step, he surrendered and prayed that the Lord would place His last step on his head. When the Lord stepped across the heavens, the nail of His big left toe poked a hole in the outer boundary of the universe. “Water from the Causal Ocean entered the universe through this hole. It was coloured because it had washed the Lord’s kumkum-adorned lotus feet. Though the touch of this water destroys the sins of the whole world, the water itself remains uncontaminated. Because it emanates directly from the Lord’s feet, it is known as ‘Vishnupadi’.” When the Ganges entered the universe, it flowed into Dhruvaloka, the polestar, and the Saptarshi Mandal, the seven planets that closely orbit Dhruvaloka, which are inhabited by the seven great sages—Kasyapa, Atri, Vasishtha, Visvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, and Bharadvaja. The Ganges remained there for thousands of yugas and was known as the Mandakini [‘she who flows gently’]. Meanwhile, on earth, the descendants of Manu, the progenitor of mankind, spread across the planet. The lineage of Manu’s son Ikshvaku, the lineage in which Ambarish Maharaj appeared, was eventually led by a king named Sagar. Once, on the direction of Aurva Muni, Maharaj Sagar was performing an asvamedha sacrifice for the Lord’s satisfaction. During the sacrifice, Indra stole the necessary horse. On his order, Maharaj Sagar’s sixty thousand sons went out to search for the horse and eventually found it on the bank of the ocean at the ashram of Kapila Muni (the Lord’s Saktyaves-avatar Kapiladev, who is described in Srimad Bhagavatam). Maharaj Sagar’s sons wrongly assumed that Kapila Muni had stolen the horse and came forward to kill him. As they did so, their bodies suddenly burned to ashes from within. The Sanatana Dharma has always encouraged the worship of water bodies and specially rivers. This holy country of Bharat has seven sacred rivers flowing through it. These are Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri. When we do a puja, we always invoke the waters of these rivers to flow into the kalasha vessel which contains water. In Vedic times, the river Saraswati took predominance over the others. Today the Ganga has taken over this exalted position since the waters of the Saraswati have disappeared into the desert. The very first mention of Ganga is found in the Rig Veda. She is the artery of North Bharat so let us follow her journey from the Himalayas to the ocean. She originates from the mighty Himalayan mountains and flows through the north of Bharat. Cutting through the massive icy mountains with enormous force, Ganga reaches Central Bharat and flows in serenity up to the Bay of Bengal. She is described in the Mahabharata as the “best of rivers, born of all the sacred waters.” Her father is Himavan, the mighty king of the Himalayas and her mother is his wife Mena. This makes her the sister of Parvati who was also the daughter of Himavan and Mena.  In the beginning she was a celestial river. In fact her name is associated with the Milky Way. This is why she is referred to as a theertha which is a crossing point between heaven and earth. What is the reason for her to come down to the earth? As usual science and myth are woven together in the inspiring story of her descent. It starts eons ago when Lord Vishnu took

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The Divine Land

The Yogies of Himalayas

The Yogies of Himalayas The Voice of the Himalayas is the call of Bharatavarsha’s spiritual genius. It is a powerful call to awakenfrom the torpor of gross physical consciousness and soar into the empyrean of blissful Atmicconsciousness. It embodies an inspiring and irresistible urge towards the realisation of your essentialradiant spiritual nature. Realising it, your life will blossom forth into a whole-souled dedication to thewelfare of all beings. The fragrance of ceaseless, selfless service will then pervade your dedicated life.This book is a truly inspired outpouring from the pen of Sri Swami Sivanandaji, hailed in all quarters asthe greatest living Sage of this Atomic Age.The Voice of the Himalayas is most powerfully inspiring and sublimely soul-stirring. These solemn andsublime words of Upadesh thrill the reader and reach into the inmost recess of his heart. They appealforcefully and directly to your higher spiritual nature. You will find this a masterpiece of spiritual counsel,guidance and admonition.  These short, terse instructions are vibrant with a vital spiritual quality as theyare verily conceived in the depths of the Seer-writer’s silent inward meditation and put down here forthe lasting benefit of suffering mankind. Moaning in misery resultant of mere materialistic life andgroaning under the tyranny of this gross physical existence, humanity of today will find the light of Hopeand Blessedness in this precious volume.The Voice of the Himalayas gives utterance to the life-giving Wisdom of the ancient Upanishadic sagesand seers. It is one of the greatest contributions to world-welfare and the uplift of all Humanity. Coveringall aspects of spiritual life, Sadhana and Divine Living, the living words of Saint Sivananda effectivelyguide, inspire, enlighten and confer true happiness to the faithful seeker and believer. None can resisttheir Godward urge. They immediately rouse an awakening response in the heart of the sincere and theearnest. A perusal of these aphoristic instructions will unfailingly bring about a definite moral andspiritual awakening and an inner transformation even in the most prosaic and materialistic person.The book is verily a peerless treasure-house of precious, scintillating spiritual gems. We place it at theservice of all Mankind as a devout offering to the God enshrined in Man.May Peace and Blessedness be unto all!

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Devotees Paradise

Stories from Lives of Saints

Stories from Lives of Saints The lives of saints are living scriptures, shining with the fragrance of divine grace, compassion, and unshakable faith. Their stories inspire humanity because they show how ordinary individuals, through extraordinary devotion, rise to the highest spiritual heights. Saints never claim greatness; their greatness blossoms naturally through humility, surrender, and a boundless love for God. Each saint’s journey begins with an inner calling — a subtle whisper of the divine that awakens an insatiable longing for truth. This longing becomes the fire that burns away ego, fear, and worldly attachments, revealing the radiant soul within. Their lives remind us that spirituality is not reserved for a chosen few; it is open to anyone who is willing to walk the path of sincerity, inner discipline, and heartfelt devotion. Across centuries, countless saints have emerged in various corners of the world, each demonstrating that God responds to love in whatever form it is offered. The stories of saints such as Sant Tukaram, Meerabai, Ramana Maharshi, Sri Ramakrishna, and Sai Baba of Shirdi are filled with moments of surrender so deep that miracles unfold effortlessly. Tukaram sang the Divine Name with such purity that even the stones listened; Meerabai’s devotion was so intense that poison turned into nectar; Ramana Maharshi realized the Self at a young age and radiated a silence that transformed all who came near him. These stories are not merely legends; they are reminders that divine grace flows wherever there is a heart burning with sincerity. When a saint prays, it is not a request but a union — a merging of the individual soul with the cosmic source. The lives of saints also highlight their immense compassion for humanity. They never turned away a suffering soul. Whether it was feeding the hungry, healing the sick, or offering a gentle word to a troubled mind, they served without expectation. Their actions were simple, yet their impact was profound, because each act of kindness was infused with the light of pure love. Many saints lived in poverty, but their hearts overflowed with divine wealth. They possessed nothing, yet gave everything. Their lives teach that true richness lies not in what one owns but in what one shares. Ultimately, the stories from the lives of saints remind us that God walks on earth through those who surrender completely. Their journeys prove that the divine is not far away — it reveals itself in a heart full of love, a mind anchored in truth, and a life dedicated to compassion. These sacred stories continue to illuminate the path for seekers, offering hope, strength, and the promise that anyone who seeks God with sincerity will surely find Him. “A saint lives in the world but is untouched by it, like a lotus on water.

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God is Love

The 5 Places of Kali-Yug

The 5 Places Of Kali-Yug Will be – (Tat Twam Asi) by Swami Sivananda The sage Uddalaka gave instructions to his son Svetaketu on the significance of Tat Tvam Asi Mahavakya nine times. This comes in Chhandogya Upanishad VI-7. The identity of Jivatma and Paramatma, the individual soul and the Supreme Soul is realised by meditating on the right significance of this Mahavakya or great sentence of the Upanishads. The relation between sound and its meaning is the Vritti of the sound. This Vritti is of two kinds, viz., Sakti Vritti and Lakshana Vritti. There is a power in the sound to generate the knowledge of the meaning of the sound. The direct connection between a sound and its meaning is its Sakti Vritti. The Parampara relationship between sound and its meaning, through the meaning known through the Sakti Vritti is the Lakshana Vritti of the sound. The meaning that is understood through the Sakti Vritti is the Vachyartha of the sound. The meaning that is understood by the Lakshana Vritti is the Lakshyartha of the sound. There are three kinds of relations, viz.,Samanadhi Karanya: (appositional) or the relation between two words having the same substratum. Visheshana-Visheshya: (the definitive) or the relation between the two words qualifying each other so as to signify a common object and Lakshya Lakshana Bhava: (the connotive) or the relation between two words and an identical thing implied by them (here Brahman). Samanadhi Karanya is the relationship between two words having the same substratum. by way of illustration take the sentence, This is that Devadatta. The word that indicates Devadatta connected with the past and the word this indicates Devadatta connected with the present. Both refer to one and the same person called Devadatta. Likewise, in the sentence Thou art That, the word That indicates consciousness characterised by remoteness, and the word Thou denotes consciousness characterised by nearness. Both refer to one and the same consciousness viz., the Brahman. The second relation is Visheshana-Visheshya Bhava. In the sentence, This is that Devadatta, that meaning a person endowed with the attribute of having been seen before is a conception of the past. They are dissimilar ideas but still they qualify each other so as to indicate a common object. Likewise in the Vedic sentence Thou art That, the meaning of the word Thou is consciousness characterised by nearness. They are dissimilar ideas but they qualify each other so as to indicate a common object. The third relation is Lakshya-Lakshana Bhava. In the sentence This is that Devadatta, this endowed with the attribute of having been seen at a particular place or in a particular dress or a particular time cannot be entirely identical with that endowed with the attribute of being seen at a different place, in a different dress in a different time. To equate them, therefore, we must abandon the inconsistent attributes and see the identity of the individual who has those varying attributes. Similarly in the Vedic sentence, Thou art That, to equate That, the omniscient, unmanifested Atman with Thou, the little-knowing, manifested, Jiva, we must abandon the inconsistent attributes such as omniscience and little knowledge etc., associated with That and Thou respectively and take up the pure consciousness which is common to both. Though the words That and Thou may indicate distinct conceptions, they must be taken to connote the same underlying reality or common consciousness. There are three kinds of Lakshana: Jahallakshan: Here the direct meaning of a sentence is abandoned completely in favour of an indirect meaning. For example, Gangayam Gosha, The village is on the Ganga. The direct meaning of The village is on the Ganga is abandoned in favour of the indirect meaning near the Ganga. There cannot be any village on the Ganga. There can be a village near the Ganga only. This Lakshana is not suitable for explaining Tat Tvam Asi Mahavakya because if the Kutasta Chaitanya, the Lakshyartha of Tvam Pada is abandoned, there is no Svarupa for the aspirant. Ajahallakshan: Here the direct meaning of a sentence is not abandoned but amplified. As for example, The red is running. Here we have to add the word horse, and understand as The red horse is running, because, redness being but a quality cannot run. This Lakshana also is not suitable to explain the identity of Jiva and Brahman in Tat Tvam Asi Mahavakya. Jahadajahallakshan: This is also known by the name Bhaga Tyaga Lakshana. Here a part of the direct meaning of a sentence is abandoned and another part is retained. As for example, This is that Devadatta, the associations regarding time and place are abandoned, but the person called Devadatta is retained. Likewise, in the great saying Thou art That the inconsistent attributes of remoteness and nearness, omni-science and little-knowledge, etc., associated with That and Thou respectively are abandoned and pure consciousness or Brahman, which is common to both is retained. The real meaning of the Vedic sentence is obtained by applying this Lakshana only. Identity of Jiva and Brahman is shown by applying this Lakshana. In the Vedic sentence, That art Thou or Thou art That, the direct significance of the word That is Maya plus the Brahman reflected therein, plus the pure Brahman, the substratum of Maya. The direct significance of the word Thou is Avidya plus the Self reflected therein plus Kutastha, the substratum of Avidya. The connotation or the real indicative meaning of the word That is pure Brahman. The connotation or the real indicative meaning of the word Thou is the Kutastha. The inconsistent attributes of Maya and Avidya have to be eliminated and the Kutastha whose nature is Existence, Knowledge and Bliss has to be identified with the pure Brahman whose nature is also Existence, Knowledge and Bliss. He who realises the identity through direct intuitive perception attains Moksha. He is a Jivanmukta. This is the emphatic unanimous voice of the Upanishads.

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God is Love

Mystics of Bharat

Mystics of Bharat Bharat, the land of ancient wisdom, has always been home to mystics whose lives transcend ordinary human experience. These mystics embody a rare fusion of knowledge, devotion, and direct experience of the divine. The mystics of Bharat viewed life not as a struggle for survival but as a sacred journey toward the discovery of the Self. Their teachings invite humanity to look inward rather than outward. From the earliest Vedic rishis to the contemporary sages, each mystic has added a luminous thread to the vast tapestry of India’s spiritual heritage. These mystics did not merely preach philosophy—they lived it. Their lives became demonstrations of truth, compassion, and inner freedom. One of the defining traits of Indian mystics is their insistence that divinity is not distant but inherently present within every human being. The Nath yogis, including Gorakhnath, explored the hidden capacities of the human body and mind through intense yogic disciplines and inner alchemy. These mystics did not seek miracles, yet miracles happened around them naturally as a result of their elevated consciousness. Sufi saints of Bharat, like Nizamuddin Auliya, contributed to the mystical melting pot of India by emphasizing love, surrender, and unity with the Divine. Sri Aurobindo offered a vision of spiritual evolution, teaching that humanity is destined to rise to higher planes of consciousness.

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God is Love

Vibhuti of Lord

Vibhuti of Lord Who is Bhagavan? Understanding God’s Infinite Vibhutis To comprehend the significance of Shree Krishna’s vibhutis, it is essential to understand the definition of Bhagavan—the Supreme God. According to Parashar Rishi in the Devi Bhagavad Puran, Bhagavan is the one who possesses six infinite qualities:  Aiśvaryasya samagrasya Dharmasya yaśasaḥ sriyaḥ jñāna-vairagyayoś cāpi ṣaṇṇāṃ bhaga itīṅganā (Devi Bhagavad Puran) While these six attributes summarize God’s greatness, Ved Vyas in the Bhagavatam clarifies that God’s vibhutis are truly infinite. Attempting to count or comprehend them all would be as naive as a child trying to measure the sky with his hands. Yet, Shree Krishna reveals a few of these divine qualities to Arjun, not to boast, but to nurture his & our devotion. This knowledge serves as a catalyst, helping Arjun and all devotees deepen their faith and love for God. The Link Between Knowledge, Faith, and Love Swamiji emphasizes that devotion is cultivated through knowledge. Without understanding God’s greatness, it’s impossible to develop genuine faith, and without faith, true love cannot arise. This sequence, Gyan (knowledge) → Shraddha (faith) → Prem (love)—is illustrated through relatable examples that make this spiritual principle easy to grasp. The Ring of Increasing Value Imagine finding a ring on the street, assuming it’s artificial and worth only $50. You casually keep it in your pocket. Later, a goldsmith reveals it’s real gold, worth $500. Instantly, your appreciation for the ring grows. When a jeweller from New York examines the diamond and declares it’s worth $500,000, your love and attachment for the ring skyrocket. Did you have to chant “half a million dollar ring” repeatedly to develop this attachment? No. Simply gaining the correct knowledge about its value naturally intensified your love. Similarly, when we understand Shree Krishna’s infinite greatness, our faith and love for Him naturally expand. No extra rituals are needed—just true knowledge leads to profound devotion. This example shows that love is directly proportional to knowledge. The more you know about the object of your affection, the more your love grows. Just as the knowledge of the ring’s value increased the person’s attachment, knowing Shree Krishna’s infinite qualities naturally enhances our love for Him. The Paras Stone (Philosopher’s Stone) An officer’s servant, Ramu, once fed a hungry sadhu who, in gratitude, gifted him a Paras, a mythical stone that turns iron into gold. Unaware of its value, Ramu offered it to his master as a decorative item. The officer, stressed from work, dismissed it as a worthless stone and angrily threw it against a door latch made of iron. To his astonishment, the latch turned into gold. Testing it further on a key and a spoon, both transformed into gold. Realizing the stone’s miraculous power, the officer’s love and attachment for the Paras grew instantly. Did he need to perform fasting or pilgrimage to develop this love? No. Simply recognizing the stone’s true value transformed his feelings. Likewise, when we gain knowledge of Shree Krishna’s divine powers, our faith becomes unwavering, and our love deepens naturally. This analogy illustrates the sequence of spiritual growth: from gaining knowledge (Gyan) to developing faith (Shraddha) and ultimately experiencing divine love (Prem). The officer did not need any external motivation to cherish the Paras stone—his love grew spontaneously through knowledge. Similarly, understanding Shree Krishna’s vibhutis naturally leads to unwavering devotion. The Power of Faith: Believing in God’s Infinite Presence The Kathopanishad states that the moment we truly believe in God’s presence, we attain God-realization. Everyone knows the definition of God, he is omnipresent, omniscient, and the source of all bliss. Yet, few truly believe it. If we genuinely internalized this knowledge, our faith would become unshakable, leading directly to divine love. Faith is often tested in challenging times. When faced with difficulties, doubts may arise: “Does God really care about me? Why am I suffering if God is all-powerful?” Such doubts arise because our knowledge of God’s infinite compassion and wisdom is incomplete. Just as understanding the true value of the ring or the Paras stone eliminates doubt, knowing Shree Krishna’s divine attributes removes all uncertainty, strengthening our faith even in adversity.  The Phrase “Ram’s Name is True” In North India, when a person dies, their body is carried to the cremation ground with people chanting, “Ram naam satya hai” meaning “Ram’s name is true.” But imagine a scenario where a supposedly dead child miraculously comes back to life during the procession. The father, overjoyed, says, “No need to continue chanting. Let’s go home!” Someone suggests continuing the chant as they return home, but the father refuses, saying, “Don’t say that phrase—it’s only for the dead.” This reveals the limited belief people have in God’s name. They associate it with death rather than eternal truth. Jagadguru Shri Kripaluji Maharaj humorously points out this contradiction in his Doha: “When people go to the cremation ground, they say Ram is true. When they return, they say the world is true. This is not real knowledge—it’s ignorance.” True knowledge means believing in God’s presence at all times, not just during life’s final moments. If we genuinely understood and believed in God’s infinite power, our devotion would become unwavering, leading us to eternal love and bliss. This example illustrates the difference between intellectual knowledge and heartfelt belief. Many people know that God is omnipresent, yet their actions reveal a lack of true faith. By deepening our understanding of Shree Krishna’s vibhutis, we move from superficial knowledge to unshakeable belief, allowing us to experience His divine presence in every moment. Why Faith Falters: The Need for True Knowledge Many well-intentioned devotees struggle because their faith is not deeply rooted in true knowledge. Without understanding Shree Krishna’s divine attributes, their devotion wavers in the face of life’s challenges. This is why Shree Krishna, in BG 10.7, promises to reveal His vibhutis—to help Arjun (and all of us) develop unshakeable faith and love. Faith built on rituals or external practices alone can be fragile. For example, someone may regularly chant God’s name, but if they do not truly understand God’s infinite power, their faith may falter when faced with difficulties. However, when faith is rooted in knowledge, when we truly know that Shree Krishna is

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God is Love

SO-HUM

SO-HUM Soham Meditation The joy we get from singing bhajans and by performing worship is temporary. But by experiencing the essence of “soham” mantra, you will get eternal joy. This soham is also known by the name “Hamsa Gayatri”. “So” means “that”; “ham” means “I am”. “I am that” is the meaning of soham. You should chant soham with every breath. When you breathe, you are inhaling “so” and you are exhaling “ham”. If we repeat soham mantra with every inhalation and exhalation of breath, it will do a lot of good to you. Repeat “soham” with every breath and watch your breath carefully. Brahma is the Creator of the whole Universe,Vishnu is the Sustainer, andSiva is the Destroyer of all sins.This is the Truth I am revealing to you.(Telugu Poem) Embodiments of Love! What is man, immersed in an ocean of sorrow, seeking in this vast and limitless universe? What for is he doing sadhana (spiritual exercises)? Some are seeking fulfilment in worldly things; some others are wasting their valuable time in trying to seek satisfaction of their unfulfilled desires. Yet, others are entering the spiritual path with a desire to have darshan, sparshan, and sambhashan of Divinity. Human beings contemplate on God as Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheswara. But these are not Gods with a human form. They have neither a form nor a place. If one enquires into the nature of their form, it will become clear that they have only some attributes, with no specific upadhi (vesture). It is said “Easwarah sarva bhoothanam (God is the indweller of every living being) “. But with what form? How can one contemplate on God with an invisible form? What is the use of such contemplation? Divinity is the very life breath that can be perceived and heard. How can one recognise and experience the sound of this Divine breath? The Upanishads have given the names of Brahman and Atma invisible divine breath in human beings. But one cannot understand these abstract concepts, with any amount of explanation. What is the meaning of Easwarathwa (Divinity)? It can be understood as the Divine, auspicious breath of soham that emanates from a human being. Soham means “I am that ” (Divinity). The sound of the breath in human being, i.e. soham establishes the nature of Divinity. If one tries to contemplate on the form without recognising the sound, he will not be able to understand the nature of Divinity. Soham is sathwic (pure, serene) in nature. This sathwa guna is Easwarathwa (the Shiva Principle). There is another principle that emanates from this Divine breath, namely, Vishnuthwa (the Vishnu Principle). What is the form of this Vishnu Principle? The feelings in the mind. In other words, mind is the Vishnu Principle. There is yet another form that emerges from the navel of Vishnu, namely, Brahma. Thus, the principles of Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheswara are emanating from the Soham Tathwa in a human being itself. In this trinity, Shiva is the Soham Tathwa, Vishnu is the mind, and Brahma is the vak swarupa (in the form of words). It means, every word that emerges from the human being is Brahma; every resolve (sankalpa) emerging from the mind is Vishnu and every breath coming out of the body is Easwara. Thus, Divinity is permeating the entire human body. The body is living as long as the life breath emanates from the body. Mind is made up of (sankalpa (resolution) and vikalpa (negation or dissolution). This is the Vishnu Principle. The Principle that emerges from the navel of Vishnu is Brahma. What is the root cause for this Brahma Principle? That which attracts the sound (sabda). It is said, Sabda Brahmamayi (sound is Brahman), Characharamayi (that which permeates the whole universe, movable and immovable is Brahman), and Vangmayi (word is Brahman). Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswathi are the embodiments of these three, namely, sound, pervasiveness, and word. In every breath of the human being, there is this soham chanting. Without this soham sound, the breath cannot exist. Similarly, devoid of mind, sankalpa cannot arise. And, without sankalpa, the word cannot emerge. Thus, there is inseparable and inter-dependent relationship between the soham sound, the sankalpa in the mind, and the word. Several efforts are being made by several people to recognise this relationship. However, this principle cannot be understood by sadhana (spiritual exercise). It can be realised only through enquiry. Man today is engaged in the study of several Upanishads. What is the essence of these Upanishads? The essence of Upanishads is the principle of unity in diversity. We are nourishing and nurturing the body. For what purpose? What is the benefit accruing out of this nourishment? In fact, nothing. As long as the body exists, we have to feed it. As long as we take food, we sleep as well. During sleep, we experience happiness. But, once we wake up, are we able to experience the same happiness? No. Therefore, in order to experience everlasting bliss, we have to realise the essence of the Upanishads. Divinity has no names. All names and forms belong to God. There is no place in which He does not exist. Nor is there an object in this world, which does not belong to Him. Embodiments of Love! The essential nature of Divinity is Love. However, few make the effort to recognise this principle of love. There are several systems in the human body like the digestive system, nervous system, etc. But there is one main switch, which controls all the systems in the body. The eyes see several colours. The tongue tastes several delicacies. The ears hear several types of sounds. But, what is the basis for all these experiences? That basis is called the fundamental principle, because of which man is able to experience all these things. That fundamental principle is given the name of Atma. Because of this Atma Tathwa, several sankalpas and bhavas arise in our heart. Hridaya (heart) is the Veda. The sankalpas are the sruthis.

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God is Love

What is IGNORANCE

What is IGNORANCE Devotee: I have been anxious for a long time to ask You some things and to learn the answers from You. Today, I have the chance. This mind (manas) and its principle are unknown categories. Their meanings don’t get fixed and clear without actual experience. But Swami, this delusion of the objective world (samsara) overpowers us, thick and strong, like the darkness of clouds in the rainy season. What is this mighty force that drags us along? This is what has been bothering me. I feel that people like me should understand these things clearly in the very beginning. Will you kindly enlighten me? Swami: Well, my boy. What am I to say? You are suffering from fright, imagining a tree stump seen in the park to be a person. That is, you are mistaking the non-dual (a-dwaitha), the full (purna), which is Brahman as a separate incomplete soul (jiva) and suffering from that error. That delusion is the cause of all your sufferings. Devotee: How, then, did this delusion come about? Swami: You slept, or you dreamed. You slept the sleep of ignorance (a-jnana) and delusion (moha). Therefore, you dreamed this objective world. Awake, and you will have no more dreams. When the dream is gone, the delusion also goes. Devotee: Swami, what is this ignorance? What are its characteristics? How does it operate? Swami: That, which is attached to the body and feels as “I” is the individual soul (jiva). The soul is outwardfaced; it believes all this mutable creation (jagath) and objective world; it is immersed in both. When the soul ignores and forgets its non-dual embodiment (a-dwaitha-swarupa), we call it ignorance (a-jnana). Is that clear? Devotee: But Swami, the spiritual texts, all of them, say that this objective world is caused by illusion (maya). You are now saying it is due to ignorance. What is the distinction between the two? Swami: Ignorance (a-jnana) is known variously as illusion (maya), primordial matter (pradhana), nature (prakriti), unmanifest, ignorance (a-vidya), delusion (thamas), etc. Hence, understand this well: the objective world is the consequence of ignorance. Devotee: How can ignorance produce this objective world; I want to know from you, Guru-God (Guru-deva). Swami: Know that ignoranc has two powers: the veiling power (avarana-sakthi) and the projecting power (vikshepa-sakthi). It veils Reality and projects upon it the unreal. The veiling power acts in two different ways: veiling with untruth and veiling with appearance. When a spiritually wise person (jnani) and ignorant people (a-jnanis) meet, even though the wise one teaches that the Atma is One and non-dual, the ignorant ones deny it, because they can’t grasp the reality so easily. Even when they hear the truth, they don’t have the faith and steadfastness to imbibe it, so they dismiss it with a shrug of indifference. This is the veiling with untruth. Now about veiling with appearance. Even when someone believes by study of the scriptures (sastras) and by the grace of providence that there is non-dual Atma, one can be carried away by cursory and superficial arguments and dismiss it as non-existent. Though one has the consciousness (chit) that is aware of the very thing that one denies, the delusion (moha) makes one declare that it is non-existent. This is the sinister role of veiling with appearance. Devotee: You also spoke of the projecting power. What is meant by that? Swami: Though you are formless and changeless, and though your nature is bliss (ananda), you are deluded into believing, feeling, and acting as if you are the body, which has form, which changes, and which is the seat of pain and grief. You refer to your self as the doer and enjoyer; you speak of I, you, they, this, that, etc., deluded into believing variety and multiplicity where there is only One. This illusion of projecting many on the one is called vikshepa-sakthi, or superimposition. Devotee: What is that? Swami: When you superimpose the object “silver” on mother-of-pearl, when you see not the stump but the human form, you have superimposed on it. Or when instead of the stretch of desert you see a lake, you have superimposed the unreal on the real. This is superimposition. Devotee: Well, Baba. What is the real, and what is the unreal? Please explain that too. Swami: The one and only, non-dual, being-awareness-bliss (satchidananda) absolute Brahman (Parabrahman) is the Real. Just as the name and the form of the snake are superimposed on a rope, this cosmos (jagath) – inclusive of everything from Brahman to a blade of grass, all creatures, all inert objects like the earth – is super-imposed on that Absolute, Supreme Real. The cosmos is the unreal (a-vastu) – that is, the superimposed thing. Devotee: This superimposition of the name-form cosmos on the non-dual Real, how is it caused? Swami: By illusion (maya). Devotee: Illusion means …? Swami: The power of ignorance (a-jnana-sakthi) of the above-said Universal Absolute Brahman (Parabrahman). Devotee: Power of ignorance means …? Swami: I told you, didn’t I? The incapacity to understand the Supreme Being (Brahman) even though you are fundamentally Brahman – that is ignorance (a-jnana). Devotee: Well how does that ignorance produce all this cosmos (jagath)? Swami: The power of ignorance doesn’t allow you to see the rope; instead it imposes the snake upon it; it makes you see the cosmos where there is only Brahman. Devotee: Swami, when there is only the non-dual One (A-dwaitha), how did the creation of all these worlds happen? Swami: You have come back again to where we started! Even if I tell you now, it is very hard to grasp. Still, since you have asked, I shall tell you. Listen. The power of ignorance exists in the latent form in the rope itself. That is to say, it is latent, unmanifested in the Brahman. This is also called ignorance (a-vidya). Its base is Brahman, which is awareness (chit) and bliss (ananda). Of the two powers that illusion (maya) has, veiling (avarana) and projection (vikshepa), the

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Discourse 1
God is Love

THE GAME OF LIFE

Life is a Game – Play it : A Beautiful Message by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba BELIEVING that the body is All, and that there is no entity embodied in it – this is Mistake No.1. Ignoring or forgetting that there can be no wave without the ocean, no body without the Atma (Divine Self), is Mistake No.2. The Atma has no modification or mood. It is the individualised embodiment that undergoes modifications and is caught in moods. Once you know that you are in essence the Atma, you too will be unaffected. Another characteristic of the individual is that he cannot be alone, separate from the rest. Like a drop of oil on water, he spreads; he reaches out and far. ‘I’ seeks other ‘I’s and seeks to become We. Life is a march from I to We. But, it usually strays from I to They. And does not reach the God, We. Intellect alone can direct man in the path of discrimination, between the true path and false, the proper step and the improper. This is the reason why man has been praying since ages, through the Gayathri hymn: “Illumine me, prompt my intelligence, so that I may walk aright.” The reasoning power of man is shaped, not only by the education he receives now, but. more by the impact of past lives and the import of future events. If the power is used for selfaggrandizement it feeds delusion; if it is used in service for others, it will promote the Revelation of Reality. Reason must examine the vagaries of the mind and make patent the Divinity, the resides and shines in every individual. Avathars are ever alert, aware, alight Give away ‘Love’ to all; give up the ego; display heroism in service; with compassion to fellowmen, feel your intimate kinship with them. Visualise the Atma that illumines all; derive unending Bliss therefrom. All who come embodied are Avathars, that is to say, advents of the Divine, manifestations of God. What, then, is the special feature of Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Christ? Why do you celebrate their birthdays with such reverential enthusiasm? The speciality is this: they are aware; you are unaware of the Atma which is the Truth. Awareness confers Grace, Glory, Majesty, Might, Splendour. Awareness confers liberation from bounds, from time, space and causation, from sleep, dream and wakefulness. For you, sleep is fiction, dream is fantasy and wakefulness a many-directional storm. Avathars are ever alert, aware, alight. The wise man is he who keeps his reason sharp and clear, and sees things as they really are. He listens to the advice: Life is a Challenge, Meet it; Life is Love, Share it; Life is a Dream, Realise it; Life a Game, Play it. This is the real Pilgrim’s progress. This is the Lion’s march across the forest, fearless, masterful and victorious. The roar .of the lion makes all the denizens scamper in panic; so too the Halo of Wisdom scatters the dark brood of fear and doubt. Life sweeps along like a wild typhoon; the allotted years do melt like snow before the Sun; but, man wastes the precious chance, and strays into folly and frivolity. The yearning of the human soul, “From untruth lead me into Truth; from darkness lead me into Light; from death, lead me into Immortality,” – this is unrealised. Of what use is it to honour the Avathar and hold the day when the Avathar took human form as sacred? Plant the seeds of love in your hearts The message of the Avathar must be born, must become alive, must grow in you, your heart – that is the birthday, you have to celebrate. Celebrate the Avathar’s Birthday in your own village. You need not travel long distances to where I physically am. Plant the seeds of Love in your hearts, let them grow into trees of service and shower the sweet fruits of Anandha. Share the Anandha with all. That is the proper way to celebrate the Birthday. I have been telling you that My Life is My Message. I am exhorting you in the Upanishadhic way, “Revere the Mother as Divine, Revere the Father as Divine, Revere the Teacher as Divine, Revere the Guest as Divine.” Now I am proceeding to the place where their bodies are entombed to offer, as I have advised you, to express gratitude and respect, to the parents. After that, the Prashanthi Flag will be hoisted on the Mandhir. Hoist it on the shrines of your hearts, shrines where God is installed and realised in actual presence, every moment of your lives. A red-hot iron hammer can be hammered into shape by a cold iron hammer. So too, a person red hot with emotion and passion can be hammered by the hammer that knows no heat of anger or hate. That is the reason Rama was able to defeat Ravana and destroy him. Why?The very word Sathwa means strength, power, vigour, vitality. For virtue is power, goodness is power. Rama and Lakshmana are Sathwik Mahatmas, embodiments of the powers thatrighteousness can endow. – Sri Sathya Sai Baba

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