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When 'Something Good' ends, 'Something Better' begins ...

When 'Something Better' ends 'Something Best' begins ...

When 'Something Best' ends 'Contentment' begins ...

This 'Contentment' is the end of all 'Beginnings'.

-HH V.V.Sridhar Guruji

M A S T E R S D I V I N E W O R D S

Sa

i

Am

ru

th

a

Jy

ot

hi

I n s i d e t h i s i s s u e

O C T O B E R 2 0 2 0 , I s s u e

We should always learn to accept The Will of the Lord.

There are many things which a human mind cannot understand. There must be something more than what you understand of your life.

Lord is 'The Perfect Master' who sculpts the human in you, which is more in the form of a rock.

The Lord is the real Sculptor. He is in the process of sculpting you.

Accept this reality with total faith in God and move beyond the limits of success and failure in life.

You can’t judge His actions, for He is the Supreme and has a right over everything which He created.

-HH V.V. Sridhar Guruji

The Gospel of Sri Ramak 1

Upcoming Events 1

Sridharamrutham 2

Who is Sai baba? 3

Priya Iyer poems 4

Satya Sai story 5

Towards the Divine 6

Gajendra Mokshanam 2 7

Bikshandar, Annapoorni 8

Just for fun 9

Mahalaya paksham celebrations

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U p c o m i n g E v e n t s

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10/01/2020 Pournami

10/05/2020 Sankashtahara Chaturthi

10/08/2020 Shasthi

10/10/2020 Ashtami

10/13/2020 Ekadasi

10/14/2020 praosham

10/16/2020 Amavasya

10/20/2020 Chaturthi

10/22/2020 Shashti

10/24/2020 Ashtami

10/27/2020 Ekadasi

10/28/2020 Pradosham

10/31/2020 Pournami

S p e c i a l E v e n t s

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

N a v a r a t r i : 1 0 / 1 7 - 1 0 / 2 6

D u r g a A s h t a m i : 1 0 / 2 4

N a v a m i : 1 0 / 2 5

V i j a y a D a s a m i : 1 0 / 2 6


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How Can one see GOD?

Once a disciple asked his Master to show him the way to ‘see’ God. The Master took the disciple to a

lake. They both got in, and suddenly the teacher pushed the disciple’s head into the water and held it

under and held it there for a few moments, before releasing it. When the disciple was asked how he

felt with his head under water, he said, “Oh! I though I was going to die. I was panting for breath.”

The wise Master then said to him, “ When you have the same yearning for God, it gets unbearable to

live without a vision of Him, that is when you can be sure that you will be able to see Him soon.”

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Measuring Spiritual Values by Secular Standards

Once a sage was lying by the side of the road, deeply immersed in Samadhi. A thief passing by

assumed that the sage was also a thief who must have fallen to the ground while running away from

the police. Wishing to avoid any trouble for himself, the thief walked away from there. A little later, a

drunkard passed by, mistook the sage for an ordinary drunkard, and left hastily, in order to avoid

further problems for himself.

Lastly, a sage passed by, recognized the man lying on the road to be a great sage in Samadhi, and sat

by his side, gently stroking his feet in reverence.

Our worldly tendencies prevent us from recognizing true holiness and piety.

Source: Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishna.

Sri Ramakrishna Math. Chennai. 2016.

T h e G o s p e l o f S r i R a m a k r i s h n a - M a l l i k a V a d l a m a n i


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S r i d h a r a m r u t h a m

MIND CAN BE BENT BY SRI LALITHA TRIPURA SUNDARI, THE WAY A SUGAR CANE BOWS... THE

BENT SUGAR CANE IS LIKELY TO BE MORE TASTY , SO IS THE MIND.... A MIND WHICH IS BENT IS A

MIND UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE HEART.... SO WHEN ONE PRAYS TO GODDESS LALITHA THE

MIND COMES UNDER THE AMBIT OF HEART/SOUL.... MIND STILL FUNCTIONS BUT IS

SUBDUED....IT IS FREE OF EGO, JEALOUSY AND SELF PITY.... IT DOESN'T INTERFERE IN THE

MATTERS OF HEART.... MIND IS MORE YOGIC BY NATURE.... MIND IS MORE PEACEFUL AND IS AT

REST.... IT HAS NO AGITATION AND IS CALM ALL ROUND.... SRI LALITHA SAHASRANAMA HAS THE

EFFECT OF PACIFYING ANY CONFUSED STATE OF MIND... GODDESS SRI LALITHA CARRIES THE

BENT SUGAR CANE IN HER HAND TO SIGNIFY THIS ASPECT... HENCE

'MANOROOPEKSHU KODANDAYAI NAMAHA'...

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ANTARMUKHA SAMAARADHYA, BAHIRMUKHA SUDURLABHA

NORMALLY PEOPLE MECHANICALLY TRANSLATE IT TO SAY....'SHE CAN BE ONLY PERCEIVED TO THE INNER EYE & SEARCHING HER EXTERNALLY IS FUTILE'....

THIS IS A MEDIOCRE EXPLANATION....

GODDESS LALITHAMBIKA, OF COURSE IS PERCEIVED INTERNALLY BUT TO TRACE HER EXTERNALLY IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE SHE IS HIDDEN IN EVERY ASPECT OF CREATION.... SO 'SUDURLABHA' IS INTERPRETED AS RECOGNISING HER IN EVERY ASPECT OF CREATION IS DIFFICULT.... INTERNALLY OF COURSE IT IS EASY THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF 'UPASANA' BUT TO RECOGNISE HER IN EVERY ASPECT OF CREATION IS ONLY POSSIBLE BY A GYANI....

SO A MAN OF WISDOM HAS A CHANCE TO OBSERVE HER BOTH INTERNALLY & EXTERNALLY BUT A MAN WITH SOME 'UPASANA' IN MIND & HEART CAN OBSERVE HER INTERNALLY BUT NOT EXTERNALLY...

'LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM'....

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I DON'T BELIEVE IN DISCRIMINATIONS OF ANY KIND... ALL ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECITE MANTRAS.... NONE CAN BE EXCLUDED.... EVERY ONE HAS A RIGHT FOR NO ONE IS SUPERIOR OR INFERIOR....WE ARE NOT DIFFERENT BUT UNIQUE... WE CAN BE APPRECIATIVE OF THE EACH OTHER DUE TO THE UNIQUENESS OF CREATION....

LORD IS NOT A COPY CAT.... HE IS ORIGINAL AND DOESN'T CLONE.... HE KNOWS NO DUPLICACY... HE DOESN'T IMITATE... HIS CREATION IS IMMACULATE.... THERE IS NOTHING IMPERFECT IN HIS CREATION... YOU ARE HIS PRODUCT... HOW CAN YOU BE IMPERFECT? JUST ACCEPT YOURSELF FOR WHAT YOU ARE AND MOVE ON.... IF SOME ONE SAYS YOU CANNOT RECITE MANTRAS, LORD IS JUST BALANCING.... IF ONE SAYS ONE CAN RECITE, HE WANTS SOME ONE TO SAY ONE CANNOT RECITE... SO DON'T GET CONFUSED... HE CREATED FORCE... TO COUNTER FORCE HE CREATED INERTIA.... IT'S JUST COSMIC BALANCE....


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W h o i s S a i B a b a ? - B a b u J a m m i

Sai Baba is a Sadguru:

There are so many so-called Gurus, who go about from house to house with cymbals and Vina in their hands and make a show of their spirituality. They blow Mantras into the ears of their disciples and extract money from them. They profess to teach piety and religion to their disciples, but are themselves impious and irreligious. Sai Baba never thought of making the least show of his His worth (piety). He had no Body-consciousness, but He had great love for his disciples. There are two kinds of Gurus (1) ‘Niyat’ (appointed or fixed), and (2) ‘Aniyat’ (unappointed or general). The latter by their advice develop the good qualities in us, purify our hearts and set us on the path of salvation; but contact with the former dispels our sense of dualities (sense of difference), and establishes un in Unity by making us realize “Thou art that”. There are various Gurus imparting to us various kinds of worldly knowledge but he, who fixes us in our Nature (Self) and carries us beyond the ocean of worldly existence, is the Sadguru. Sai Baba was such a Sadguru. His greatness is indescribable. If anybody went to take His darshan, He, without being asked, would give every detail of his past, present and future. He saw Divinity in all being. Friends and foes were alike to Him. Disinterested and balanced, He obliged the evil doers, as well as the pious. He was the same in prosperity and in adversity. No doubt ever touched Him. Though, He acted through the body he was, not in the least, attached to His body or house. Though, He looked embodied, He was really unembodied, i.e., free from gross existence.

Sai Baba’s Methods of teaching:

Though, Sai Baba acted outwardly like an ordinary man, His action showed extraordinary wisdom and skill. Whatever He did, was done for the good of His devotees. He never prescribed any Asan, regulation of breathing or any rites to His Bhaktas, nor did He blow any Mantra into their ears.

He told them to leave off all cleverness, and always remember “Sai” “Sai”. If you did that, He said, all your shackles would be removed, and you would be free.

The function of the mind is to think, it cannot remain without thinking for a minute. If you give it a sense-object, it will think about it. If you give it Guru, it will think about Guru.

Special characteristics of Sai Baba:

There are many saints, who leaving their houses, stay in forests, caves or hermitages and in solitude, in order to get liberation or salvation for themselves. They do not care for other people and are always self-absorbed. Sai Baba is not of such type. He had no home, no wife, no progeny, nor any relations, near or distant. Still He lived in the world (society). He begged His bread from four or five houses, always lived at the foot of the neem tree, carried on worldly dealings and taught all the people how to act and behave living in this world. Rare the sadhus and saints, who, after attaining God-vision, strive for the welfare of the people. Sai Baba was the foremost of these. A true Sadguru.

For prequel refer August edition.

(Based on excerpts from Shri Sai Satcharita – Compiled by Babu Jammi)


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P r i y a I y e r p o e m s

Alt;Ctrl;Del

On the stage of time and energy, I carefully crafted this self effigy.

In the beginning, it was all about contribution. Over time, it became a compulsion

On your way to ER? Don’t worry, I won’t be too far.

Wedding in your family, I’ll be there a few days early.

Sadhana knocked on my karmic door! Awareness a deep drill did bore.

HIS gaze fell on my ‘identity’ caricature. And a new found freedom filled me in rapture.

The hands that served to enhance self worth, The feet that dived into self esteem mirth,

Fell to the ground unannounced, Unbridled emptiness sprightly bounced.

HE pressed alt;Ctrl;del!! And the vain sculpture crumbling fell.

Sadhguru’s Grace compassionately merciless. Demolished the Self, vain and frivolous.

Like time and tide come gain and pain. My karma may build a caricature again. Sadhguru will you ruthlessly destroy?

My persona, so I am Joy!


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S a t y a S a i S t o r y — S h a l i n i G a u r

Rohan went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He cleared the first interview. He was to be examined next by the director of the firm, Mr. Nikhil. Looking at his resume, Mr. Nikhil asked, “Did you obtain any scholarships in school?” His academic achievements were excellent but there was no mention of his father's profession. “Did your father pay the fees?" “No Sir,” replied Rohan, “I lost my father when I was just a year old. I was brought up by my mother.” “What does she do?” Mr. Nikhil asked. Rohan just looked down and sheepishly said, “She washes clothes. That is her job”. Mr. Nikhil just looked at Rohan keenly and finally asked, “Can you show me your hands please?” Rohan's hands were smooth, soft and perfect. “Have you ever helped your mother in her work?” The director asked. Rohan was silent. A few seconds later, he added, “No Sir. My mother always wanted me to study and use any extra time to read more. Besides, she can wash faster than me.” “Ok. Now I have a request. When you return to your home today, ask your mother for her hands, see them carefully, if possible clean them thoroughly, and see me tomorrow.” As Rohan left the room, he kept thinking to himself what could be the motive of the director. Nevertheless, he just did as he was told. When he asked his mother for her hands, she was surprised, and happy too. Her son had never been so warm to her before. Rohan placed them on his palms, and now tears started streaming down his cheeks. Her hands were so jagged and rough. At many places there were bruises. Actually when he touched on some sensitive areas, she shivered in pain. Rohan too convulsed in agony. He spent the next two hours tending to those precious palms. He cleaned them. Applied ointments. Took pictures and sent it to a friend whose father was an ayurvedic doctor who had many magical herbs. Did whatever was within his means to tend to them, to correct them and heal them. How much he longed now to feel the softness of his mother's palms once again. He had achieved so much in the last few years but lost his mother's smooth touch. All his accomplishments seemed so futile. Every second he now wanted to be there, next to her. Help her with every little thing possible. Not allow her to put any extra pressure on those fragile palms. He spent the whole night talking to her. He had no idea when sleep came over him. Next morning, Mr. Nikhil asked him, “Did you do what I had asked?” Trying hard to contain the welling up tears, Rohan said, “Now I know why mother is always adored as God in our culture. Only a mother can sacrifice so much. The least I can do is to recognize how much she has toiled to make me what I am today. "I also know any achievement is the fruit of the hard work of not one or two but many. "Finally, the sweetest experience in the world is the warmth of a loving family."

“Rohan, we are happy to have you in this company. You can join tomorrow.” The satisfactory smile of the director said

it all.

GuruJi'sQuote:

Maatha Poorva Roopam (Taitreya Upanishad)

Mother is from yester-years. Mother is from the very origin of genesis. Mother is from the ancestors.

She has been a mother many many times.

On seeing her affection, you realise that she is from the deep past.

The bond of love has travelled many generations, many thousands of years.

THE POWER OF MOTHER'S PALMS


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T o w a r d s t h e D i v i n e — K a v i n a y a

Towards the Divine

Patanjali Yoga Sutra

Patanjali Yoga Sutra is one of the most ancient texts that describes the path to Self-realization. It is a collection of 196 Sanskrit Sutras or verses, which explains the theory and practice of Yoga. The great sage Patanjali has divided this text into four chapters: Samadhi Pada, Sadhana Pada, Vibhuti Pada, and Kaivalya Pada.

In Samadhi Pada, the Sage describes the goal of Yoga, which is the Self-realization, or Enlighten-ment.

yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ

— Yoga Sutras 1.2

Yoga is the inhibition (nirodhaḥ) of the modifications (vṛtti) of the mind (citta)

It means, the purpose of Yoga is to restrain the mind from changing from its true self.

Sadhana Pada is where he talks about the popular Ashtanga Yoga, the eight elements of Yoga. Sad-hana means practice. One must practice the Ashtanga Yoga as prescribed, in order to progress in his/her spiritual path. The Ashtanga Yoga consists of: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratya-hara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi.

Yama consists of 5 elements, which must be practiced when dealing with the outer world; Niyama comprises 5 elements, which must be practiced for ourselves for self-purity.

The 5 commandments of Yama are:

1. Ahimsa: Nonviolence, non-harming other living beings through actions and speech 2. Satya: Truthfulness, non-falsehood 3. Asteya: Non-stealing 4. Brahmacharya: Chastity, marital fidelity or sexual restraint 5. Aparigraha: Non-greed, non-grasping, non-possessiveness

(To be continued…)

God Bless.


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G a j e n d r a M o k s h a n a m ( P a r t 3 ) — S a i V a r a n a s i

Coming back to the “ story”.... Gajendra slowly started losing his physical strength and will power! He was getting subjected to mental agony. He was over powered by the alligator that gained more and more hold on the elephant and was in a very ad-vantageous position, under the waters, it’s home!! It is then that Gajendra concentrated and focused, merged his intellect into his heart and started thinking deeply and consciously ! The big question ,that we all have to ask ourselves! Who is the protector? Who is the cause of this “ life”? Who dictates all living beings ?! Who and what defines “death” and the cause of it?! What leads to ignorance?! What is the struggle? Why? How long ? If death is inevitable then, what is it that dies? If it is the physical body? Then what is it that makes this body “ alive”?! Then is “ that” what one should aim for , so that there is no “ death”! Is that immortal? Is that what one should search for and seek in life? Who grants that? How do we get it granted? And by who?! This dawned on Gajendra and he became an awakened / realized soul! He understood that this alligator, it’s hold, his dying are all immaterial ! What is most important is to seek refuge in that “ power” that is the root of all existence! That “ power” has no gender, it has no death, it is forever, it shines in all and creates “ living beings”, it is im-partial, it has no beginning nor an end, it is free, it is what we can attribute as Self effulgent, bright, bliss, con-sciousness! This is eternal, permanent, omnipotent and omniscient ! He started addressing that” power” with a very solemn hymn! The hymn is a prayer that has universal appeal! It does not mention any form, religion, time, place or thing! It is to the all pervading, immaculate, indestructible, everlasting luminous spirit! This is what we call “ God”! Since that power has to rescue an ardent seeker , “ IT” takes a form! This is the form that “appeared” in front of Gajendra! A beautiful, smiling ,radiant peaceful, pacifying Lord who stroked the mighty elephant with HIS divine hand and rid him of all bodily deeds and provided liberation by accepting him into HIMSELF. HE used his discus( sudarshanam) and severed the alligator’s neck and relieved the elephant from it’s clutch-es! The elephant was ecstatic on beholding the “ formless” in such a divine form and was eager to present some-thing , may be a lotus, to HIM. But unfortunately the entire lake was destroyed and there was nothing worthy left, to be given as a gift to the merciful God! To be continued… For Part 2 refer September edition. Source: excerpts from the discourses of Brahmasri Saamavedam Shanmukha Sarma garu.


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B i k s h a n d a r & A n n a p o o r n i

The legend says lord Shiva in the form of Bhairava using his nails just removed one head of Brahma, since Brahma was following 'Shatarupa' who was very beautiful.... Incidentally lord Brahma created Shatarupa and lord Shiva thought that Shatarupa is the daughter of Brahma and he is not suppose to go behind her with questionable intentions....... Lord Brahma use to have 5 heads initially...the fifth head on the top was following 'Shatarupa'.... This Brahma Kapalam which was the fifth head which was removed by lord Bhairava , got attached to his hand and refused to drop.... Now lord Bhairava became lord Bhikshandar..He was wandering everywhere to shed the Brahma Kapalam....finally he reached the city of Benares..... he started taking biksha from Annapoorni at Varnasi ... With the food she offered the Brahma Kapalam left the hand of Bhikshandar.... The sin that accumulated due to the removal of one head of Brahma assumed the form of a female dwarf and accompanied lord Bikshandar... It disappeared when lord Bikshandar took the food at the hands of Annapoorni..... Hence…

'ANNAPOORNE SADAPOORNE SANKARA PRANA VALLABHE GYANA VAIRAGYA SIDYARTHE BIKSHAAM DEHI CHA PARVATHI'.... Since lord took 'biksha' from goddess he was called Bikshandar or Bikshapathi.... The 'biksha' what the goddess gave lord blessed him with dispassion (vairagya) and wisdom (gyana).... Even the lord on one occasion was blindfolded with anger and hence he removed one head of Brahma.... So the lord has to become balanced.... Goddess gave him the 'anna' which made him dispassionate and wise... so the lord Bhairava wandering on the streets of Kasi naked after removing the head of Brahma is called lord Bikshandar and the feamle dwarf is the sin which was with the lord till goddess Annapoorni fed him.... From the posts of our Beloved VV.Sridhar Guruji

Picture copyrights @krishnafortoday.com & Keshav


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J u s t f o r F u n – T e j a s w i D a s a r i

Crossword puzzle Solution for September month

MUGGULU/KOLAMS FOR BEGINNERS - Sangitha Sridhar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6_8M92gjgo&t=234s&ab_channel=SaiAmruthaJyothi

Here is a beautiful Lotus Kola demonstration

for the month of Navratri.

Check it out on our Youtube page.


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Crossword Puzzle: Name Amman Temples with the given places

The solution to the puzzle will be posted in the next month’s edition. Keep following…..

SPOT THE FOUR DIFFERENCES BELOW

J u s t f o r F u n – T e j a s w i D a s a r i


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Last month during Mahalaya Paksham, Ekadasa Rudra Abhishegam was done everyday to Vriksha Bhairava and Bhavani, along with Abhishegams to various other deities. On the conclusion day, i.e Mahalaya Ama-

vasya Abhishegam was done to all the Deities including Dhwaja Sthambham.

Get a glimpse of the celebration here:

M a h a l a y a P a k s h a m C e l e b r a t i o n s


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Here are some of the Goushala construction progress pictures

GOUSHALA

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