Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Making Work Pay




Krishna stealing butter“When Lord Krishna was present in this material world to manifest His eternal pastimes of the transcendental realm of Goloka Vrindavana as an attraction for the people in general, He displayed a unique picture of subordination before His foster mother, Yashoda. The Lord, in His naturally childish playful activities, used to spoil the stocked butter of mother Yashoda by breaking the pots and distributing the contents to His friends and playmates, including the celebrated monkeys of Vrindavana, who took advantage of the Lord's munificence.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.8.31 Purport)
Mother Yashoda works so hard during the day to maintain the household. A good mother never gets the proper credit she deserves. Selfless in motive, the mother runs the household, attends to the needs of the children, both large and small. There are the children designated by nature, who need help in doing everything from getting up in the morning to dressing properly for school. Then there is the biggest child in the husband, who needs help in similar areas and also admonishment with respect to errant and forgetful behavior. Yet the leader of the family assumes her duties in stride, not asking for anything in return. She wants everyone else to be happy, and for this so much work needs to be completed every single day. Bearing this in mind, it’s a little strange that the person who created this and many other universes, a person who is all-knowing, would delight in foiling a good mother’s work, in making her tasks a little more difficult to complete. Through the elation that would result, the hidden meaning to the plan of the greatest plan-maker would be revealed.
Mother Yashoda with Krishna“Mom, I’m hungry. Mom, I need something good to eat. Mom, can you make my favorite dish tonight? Mom, I need a ride to such and such place, can you take me?” For such statements to be uttered by children is not out of the ordinary, but if you look at them on the surface, they indicate odd behavior. The human being craves freedom, for the many violent uprisings throughout the course of human history have revealed this fact. Without freedom of action, man feels trapped, made to work against his will and restricted from doing those things that he likes to do. Yet concomitant with freedom is responsibility. If I want to be able to do whatever I want, I should at least know how to do what it is I am desirous of.
With each pursuit that freedom enables comes responsibility. If I want the freedom to be able to play sports, I should take the responsibility to prepare myself for the games. Preparation doesn’t just involve the action on the field of play. One must additionally eat and sleep properly, which requires consideration to both time and quantity of consumption. Ideally, my exercise of freedom should not impose on the ability of others to enjoy life. I may want the freedom to go places and experience new things, but if others are obligated to take me from one place to another and manage my wellbeing, where is the question of theirfreedom?
The head of the household takes all of this into consideration when the dependents want this thing or that. Freedom is wonderful, but the good mother knows that the children shouldn’t have too much of it. Rather, accepting responsibility during childhood bodes well for the individual when they mature into adulthood. Nevertheless, the specific requests made by the children are more times than not granted by the mother. Though they may specifically ask for things, she doesn’t consider her child to be spoiled. Rather, the opportunity to serve is the greatest reward, for that is the way the parent offers love. If the child were completely self-sufficient or if they never asked for anything, how could the parents show their love?
Child KrishnaShri Krishna, the Supreme Lord, knows these ins and outs of human behavior. In the science that describes the interactions the living beings have with God, the exchanges of transcendental emotions are known as rasas. The offering of paternal affection is known as vatsalya-rasa, which was particularly enjoyed by mother Yashoda. The living being gets its yearning for freedom from its identifying aspect: the spirit soul. Lord Krishna
 
 is intimately familiar with the properties of the soul, so for those who are desirous of exercising their freedom in the spiritual arena, He creates a playing field filled with circumstances just suitable for the occasion.
Some five thousand years ago, the ideal playing field on this earth was Vrindavana
 
. It is still the best place to interact with Krishna, but during the Dvapara Yuga the conditions were the most auspicious, as the object of service had personally descended to earth. The idea that the Divine can make appearances before us and not become tainted by the material elements and their inhibiting influence requires some faith to be extended by the sincere listener in the beginning. This shouldn’t be too foreign a practice, as the first day in every new class in college requires the same trust. The professor hands out the syllabus, and even though the required work may appear daunting, based on the credentials of the instructor the student understands that if they follow the coursework and complete the necessary assignments, they will be better off for it.
In a similar manner, accepting the statements found in Vedic texts like the Shrimad Bhagavatam
 
 and Bhagavad-gita
 
 on faith in the beginning can only lead to a better condition in the future. Even if one is of a different religious persuasion or not spiritually inclined at all, just hearing from these works will delight the mind, carrying it to a time and place of supernatural purity. Vrindavana is the home of homes, and its caretaking mother is Vrinda Devi, the goddess of devotion who creates circumstances favorable for the exchange of transcendental mellows.
The manager of the most sacred home in Vrindavana is the person who Shri Krishna especially blessed. How did He arrange for this? If Jesus were to come up to us, would we not feel a tremendous thrill? If the Supreme Lord in our worshipable form of choice were to bestow His glance upon us, revealing His identity and form, should that not be enough to fulfill the mission of life? While seeing God is wonderful, the spirit soul still craves action under conditions of freedom. Better than seeing God is being able to interact with Him. Better than interacting with Him is serving Him with every thought, word and deed.
Krishna stealing butterThis is precisely what mother Yashoda did. Under the pretense of motherly duties completed to maintain a family consisting of the child Shri Krishna and the father Nanda, Yashoda went to work every day. Though these were traditional times, where the women weren’t formally educated or allowed to freely intermingle with other men not their husbands, mothers like Yashoda worked very, very hard. Everything they did was for the benefit of their household. Shri Krishna enjoyed mother Yashoda’s cooking very much, but since He also took delight in enchanting the other residents of Vrindavana, He would sometimes steal from the stocks of butter in the homes of the neighbors.
The mothers would complain to Yashoda, but they secretly loved the fact that the adorable Krishna was attracted to their homes. They would find new places to hide their butter so that Shyamasundara
 
 and His friends would think of more elaborate plots for how to get to the secret stash. Mother Yashoda took Krishna’s activity as impetus to work harder at churning butter in her own home. In addition to cooking and caring for her dependents, Yashoda would sit down peacefully and churn butter in a pot; all the while singing of her beloved son’s most cherished activities. Aside from His playful pastimes, Krishna had thwarted the attacks of several ghoulish creatures who had infiltrated Vrindavana. As a child killing powerful creatures is completely out of the ordinary, Yashoda decided she wanted to remember those incidents all the time. What better way to immortalize a set of activities than to put them into song format that can be sung over and over again?
Since Yashoda worked so hard for His satisfaction, you would think that Krishna would oblige by being a well-behaved son. On the contrary, under the pretense of feigned anger over having been neglected for a moment while feeding, Krishna broke the pot of butter His mother took so much time to fill. To make matters worse, He ate some of the butter and distributed the rest to monkeys, animals who are known for stealing others’ food. It may sound strange to those who have never been in India for too long, but in places like Vrindavana and Chitrakuta, monkeys roam the streets just like ordinary citizens. They cause a disturbance by sneaking up on people and stealing whatever they have in their hands, hoping it is food. The unsuspecting visitors have to pay attention especially to their eyeglasses, as monkeys are fond of taking these.
As monkeys are already prone towards theft, the fact that Krishna was voluntarily handing over Yashoda’s wonderful butter was a brave act of defiance. Yet the mother delighted in this naughty behavior of her son. As He was playing the part of a delightful child, Yashoda made sure to stay true to the role of a caring mother. She chased Krishna with a whipping stick and then bound Him to a mortar as punishment. Rather than child abuse, this was a sparkling display of divine love, for the event is so wonderful that people still sing about it to this day.
Krishna caught by mother YashodaWhen Krishna was caught He faked tears of fear, which rolled down His face, mixing with the anjana, or eye-ointment, so carefully applied by His mother. This scene of Krishna crying after being caught by mother Yashoda was appreciated by Kunti Devi, the mother of the famous Pandava brothers. During adulthood, Krishna was particularly favorable to the Pandavas. After the brothers survived numerous attempts made on their lives and eventually reclaimed the throne of Hastinapura that was rightfully theirs, Kunti Devi offered a set of prayers to Krishna, thanking Him for His kindness and attention. In these wonderful offerings, she remarked on the good fortune of Yashoda, who was able to tie up the Supreme Lord with ropes of affection.
Mother Yashoda worked hard to keep her family happy, and the young Krishna made sure she worked even harder. While carrying out duties it is easy to forget the purpose behind them, the tie that holds all the actions together. Shri Krishna purposefully created situations where His mother could stop working for a few brief moments and give Him personal attention. That same opportunity is created for every living entity desirous of transcendental association, freedom of spiritual movement. Through the excuse of following a routine in bhakti-yoga, the devoted soul can take time out of their busy day to give attention to Krishna. By regularly chanting
 
, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
 
”, the beloved darling of Vrindavana will play regularly on the field of your mind.
In Closing:
Have to take care of my duties you’ll say,
But how to make this work actually pay?
From Shri Krishna’s charming glance you’ll find,
Supreme wisdom, tie that everything binds.
Children, young and old, to ask have the nerve,
Mother responds, never gets credit she deserves.
Yashoda to Krishna’s welfare was dedicated,
Lord acted like her efforts not appreciated.
All done for transcendental love to increase,
In caring for Krishna Yashoda never to cease.

HOW TO SPOT A SRI LANKAN...!!!!

This is so true and so funny. You know that you are definitely a Sri
Lankan if:

          * Everything you eat is flavored with garlic, onion and
            Chilies.

          *You  try  and  re-use  gift  wrappers  ,  gift boxes,
            aluminum foil  and of course disposable cups & plates.

            *You  try to eject food particles from between your teeth
            by  pressing  your  tongue  against  them  and  making a
            peculiar noise like, tshick, tshick!

            * You are standing next to the two largest size suitcases
              at the Airport.

          * You  arrive  one or two hours late to a party, and think
            it's normal.

            * Your toilet has a plastic bowl next to the commode.

            * You  name  your  children  in  rhythms (example, Honey &
            Money, Sita & Gita, thunga & --singhe, Nimal & Vimal)

            * All  your  children  have pet names, which sound nowhere
             close to their real names.

            * You  take  Sri  Lankan  snacks anywhere it says 'No Food
            Allowed'  

            * You  talk  for an hour at the front door when
              leaving someone's house.

            * You  load  up  the  family  car  with  as many people as
                 possible.

            * You  use  plastic  to  cover  anything new in your house
              whether  it's  the  remote  control,  VCR, carpet or new
              couch.

            * Your  parents  tell  you  to  not  care  about what your
              friends  think, but they won't let you do certain things
              because  of  what  the  other  Uncles And Aunties' will
              think.

            * You  teach  you  kids  to say uncle and auntie to anyone
              older related or not.

            * Owning a rice cooker is a top priority.

            * Use  the  dishwasher  to  store dishes - use it only for
              special occasions.

            * Say  'NO'  after  every  sentence. i.e . that's good NO,
              very expensive NO...etc

            * Men use the word 'PUT' frequently i.e PUT a drink, PUT a
              Jump !


            * You live with your parents even if you are 40 years old.
              (And they like it  that way).

            * If she is NOT your daughter, you always take interest in
 
               knowing whose daughter  has run with whose son and feel it's your duty
              to spread the word.

            *  If  you don't live at home, when your parents call, they
              ask if you've eaten, even if it's midnight

            * When  your parents meets a Sri Lankan for the first time
              and  talk for a few  minutes, you soon discover they are
              your relatives..

          * Your  parents don't realize phone connections to foreign
            countries  have  improved  in  the last two decades, and
              still  scream  at  the top of their lungs while talking.

          * You  have  bed  sheets  on your sofas so as to keep them
             away  from  getting  dirty but the sheet on your bed has
              not seen water for months!

            * It  is  embarrassing  if  your wedding has less than 500
            people. (How abt ur wedding... hehe)

            * You  list  your  daughter  as  'fair  and  slim'  in the
              matrimonial    no    matter  What  she  looks  like.

            * You  have a big cabinet in your hall to keep glass wares
                & ceramic  utensils  (you  have  never  used)

            * You  have  really  enjoyed reading this mail because you
              know some, or most of  them apply to you.

A human bias against creativity is hindering science, research claims




Special to 
World Science
 
  
Most us us profess to love creativity. But we recoil when it stares us in the face, according to a new study that seems to seems lodge a quiet indictment against the whole human race.

Jennifer S. Mueller of the University of Pennsylvania and colleagues, who conducted the work, say their study both demonstrates and helps explain the phenomenon. The problem that perhaps most interferes with our recognition and appreciation for real-life creativity, they claim, is that creativity usually comes with a side dish of uncertainty: Will this new idea actually work? What will people think of me if I accept it?
Our love of creativity is what we profess in public-but our dread of it is what we tend to hide from the world, and often even from ourselves, they add.

The study is important, they continue, because society lovingly expends resources to foster creativity in each new generation-then often turns around and squashes the new ideas that result. It's time to figure out ways to put a stop to this, they say.

"Robert Goddard, the father of modern rocket propulsion, endured ridicule and derision from his contemporary scientific peers who stated his ideas were ludicrous and impossible," they noted as an example, in a report on their findings. The paper appears in the Nov. 29 advance online issue of the journal Psychological Science.

Scientists in every generation from Galileo to Daniel Shechtman-2011 Nobel laureate in chemistry-were initially ridiculed for now-famous work. The same can be said of a legion of artists.

"The field of creativity may need to shift its current focus from identifying how to generate more creative ideas to identifying how to help innovative institutions recognize and accept creativity," Mueller and colleagues wrote. "If people hold an implicit bias against creativity, then we cannot assume that organizations, institutions or even scientific endeavors will desire and recognize creative ideas even when they explicitly state they want them."

Mueller and colleagues paid a group of participants to take a series of tests designed to reveal both conscious and unconscious attitudes toward creativity. 

In one test that took the form of a word-association game, they found that participants seemed to display an unconscious negative attitude toward creativity if the experimenters had made an attempt to plant thoughts of uncertainty in their heads. They tried to seed this uncertainty by promising that some participants would later receive an additional payment based on a lottery. In the word game-similar to a type of test previously used to reveal unconscious racial attitudes-researchers sought to measure whether participants took a little longer to associate words related to creativity with positive things than with negatives ones, or vice-versa.

In a second experiment, the researchers found that negative feelings about creativity also disrupted the ability to recognize that quality. In this part, they presented participants with an idea for an invention that had been judged creative by a group of college students. It involved a sneaker with a nanotechnology that supposedly adjusted fabric thickness to cool the foot and reduce blisters.

Mueller and colleagues pointed to one possible route through which scientific institutions are stifling their own ability to recognize creativity.

"When journals extol creative research, universities train scientists to promote creative solutions, R&D companies commend the development of new products, pharmaceutical companies praise creative medical breakthroughs, they may do so in ways that promote uncertainty by requiring gate-keepers to identify the single 'best' and most 'accurate' idea thereby creating an unacknowledged aversion to creativity," they wrote.

"Future research should identify factors which mitigate or reverse the bias against creativity."
 
 
Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek

Monkeys pick up local "accents"




Courtesy of BioMed Central
 
 staff
Apes and monkeys have regional "accents"-and as with people, this behaviour is learnt rather than genetically programmed, a study suggests.

To what extent animal communication is learnt rather than inborn is hotly debated. Monkeys and apes, some of the closest evolutionary relatives to humans, are born with various calls and sounds specific to the species. But overlying this there is some flexibility: for example, you can tell where a gibbon, a type of ape, is from by its accent.


In the new research published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology, scientists studied free-living monkeys of the species Cercopithecus campbelli campbelli, also known as Campbell's monkeys. They observed social interactions, particularly in mutual grooming, and recorded "contact calls" made by females to stay in touch with other monkeys while travelling, foraging or resting.

The investigators used DNA tests from monkey droppings to determine how closely related different individuals were. Their social structure and family groups were well known because they have lived near a research station at Ta├п National Park, Ivory Coast, for over a decade. Groups comprised one male, four or six females, and their offspring.

"Each female has its own distinctive vocalisation but they appear to pick up habits from each other," said Alban Lemasson of the University of Rennes in France, who led the research.

Similarities between "contact calls" depended on the length of time adult females spent grooming each other and who their grooming partner was, rather than genetic relatedness, he observed. He explained that while the general call repertoire depends on genes, "the fine structure within this is influenced by the company they kept."

"This behaviour also fits with the theory that human speech has evolved gradually from ancestral primate vocalisations and social patterns," he added. Primates are the evolutionary lineage of animals comprising humans and their close relatives, such as apes.
 
Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek

Why men overestimate their sexiness: it's evolution, study proposes




Courtesy of the Association for Psychological Science
and 
World Science
 
 staff
Does she or doesn't she...? Sexual cues are ambiguous and confounding. We-especially men-often read them wrong. But a new study hypothesizes that the men who get it wrong might be those that evolution has favored. 

"There are tons of studies showing that men think women are interested when they're not," said psychologist Carin Perilloux of Williams College in Williamstown, Mass, who conducted the research with colleagues at the University of Texas at Austin. "Ours is the first to systematically examine individual differences." 

The findings are to appear in an upcoming issue of the journal Psychological Science.

The research involved 96 male 103 female undergraduates, who were put through a "speed-meeting" exercise-talking for three minutes to each of five potential opposite-sex mates. Before the conversations, the participants rated themselves on their own attractiveness and were assessed for the level of their desire for a short-term sexual encounter. After each "meeting," they rated the partner on a number of categories, including physical attractiveness and sexual interest in the participant.

The results: Men looking for a quick hookup were found to be more likely to overestimate the women's desire for them. Men who thought they were "hot" also thought the women were hot for them-though men who were actually attractive, by the women's ratings, did not make this mistake. The more attractive the woman was to the man, the more likely he was to overestimate her interest. And women tended to underestimate men's desire.

A hopeless mess? Evolutionarily speaking, maybe not, say the psychologists. Over millennia, these errors may in fact have enhanced men's reproductive success.

"There are two ways you can make an error as a man," said Perilloux. "Either you think, 'Oh, wow, that woman's really interested in me'-and it turns out she's not. There's some cost to that," such as embarrassment or a blow to your reputation. The other error: "She's interested, and he totally misses out. He misses out on a mating opportunity. That's a huge cost in terms of reproductive success." The researchers theorize that the kind of guy who went for it, even at the risk of being rebuffed, scored more often-and passed on his overperceiving tendency to his genetic heirs. 

The casual sex seekers "face slightly different adaptive problems," said Perilloux. "They are limited mainly by the number of consenting sex partners-so overestimation is even more important." Only the actually attractive men probably had no need for misperception, she adds.

The research contains some messages for daters of both sexes, said Perilloux: Women should know the risks and "be as communicative and clear as possible." Men: "Know that the more attracted you are, the more likely you are to be wrong about her interest." Again, that may not be as bad as it sounds, she said-"if warning them will prevent heartache later on."
 

Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek

Quality sperm is pricey: study



MONASH UNIVERSITY   
Antagain_-_black_cricket
"This study challenges the traditional view that sex, and sperm production, come cheaply to males."
Image: Antagain/iStockphoto
A new study shows the production of sperm is more biologically taxing than previously thought, and expending energy on it has significant health implications.

In research published in PLoS ONE, Dr Damian Dowling of Monash University's School of Biological Sciences and Professor Leigh Simmons of the University of Western Australia have investigated the trade-off between sperm quality and immunity.

The researchers used the Australian cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus to prove that the production of quality sperm is expensive and males are strategic about investing energy in the biological process.

Dr Dowling said investigations into life history trade-offs - investment in reproduction versus future reproduction and survival prospects - have historically focused on females.

"This study challenges the traditional view that sex, and sperm production, come cheaply to males. It is typically thought that females must invest heavily into reproduction, whereas males can freely produce millions of high-quality, tiny sperm on demand, with few costs," Dr Dowling said.

"Here we show that the costs are in fact large, and these costs dictate how much effort a male will devote into any given sexual encounter."

The crickets were housed either with sexually immature females, sexually mature females incapable of reproduction, or sexually mature females capable of reproduction. Sperm quality was measured twice and immune function once during the experiment.

Dr Dowling said the male crickets were more likely to produce high quality sperm when housed with sexually mature females with whom they could mate, indicating a strategic investment of energy.

The researchers also found that production of quality sperm appeared to have a negative effect on the crickets' immune systems.

"Males that invested heavily in their sperm paid the price of being more likely to succumb to a bacterial infection. And we are not talking about STDs here - we are talking about how increased investment into the quality of the ejaculate corresponds with general reductions in immune function," Dr Dowling said.
Editor's Note: Original news release can be found here.

роОро▓்ро▓ா роиாро│ுроо் роиро▓்ро▓ роиாро│ே...







роЪெрой்ро▒ ро╡ாро░роо் роиாрой் роОрой் роЪроХோродро░ி ро╡ீроЯ்роЯிро▒்роХு роЪெрой்ро▒ிро░ுрои்родேрой். роЕроЩ்роХு роЙрогро╡ро░ுрои்родி роУроп்ро╡ெроЯுрод்род рокிрой் роЕро╡ро░்роХро│் роиீрог்роЯ роиாроЯ்роХро│ாроХ роТро░ு ро╡ீроЯ்роЯுрооройை ро╡ாроЩ்роХ ро╡ேрог்роЯுроо் роОройроХ் роХூро▒ி ро╡рои்родродை роиிройைро╡ுрокроЯுрод்родிройேрой். роОройроХ்роХுрод் родெро░ிрои்род роТро░ுро╡ро░் роиро▓்ро▓ роЗроЯрод்родிро▓் роТро░ு ро╡ீроЯ்роЯுрооройை роЗро░ுрок்рокродாроХро╡ுроо் ро╡ிро▓ைропுроо் роЪро▒்ро▒ு роЪроХாропрооாроХро╡ுро│்ро│родாроХро╡ுроо் роХூро▒ிройாро░். роЕродைрок் рокோроп் роЗрой்ро▒ு рокாро░்род்родுро╡ிроЯ்роЯு ро╡ро░ро▓ாроо் роОрой்ро▒ு роХூро▒ிройேрой். роЙроЯройே роОрой் роЪроХோродро░ி роЗрой்ро▒ு ро╡ேрог்роЯாроо் роЕрог்рогே роОрой்ро▒ாро│். роиாрой் роПрой்? роЗрой்ро▒ு ро╡ிроЯ்роЯாро▓் рооройை роХிроЯைроХ்роХாрооро▓் рокோроХро▓ாроо் ро╡ேроХрооாроХ ро╡ிро▒்ро▒ு ро╡ро░ுро╡родாроХроХ் роХேро│்ро╡ிрок் рокроЯ்роЯேрой். роЗрой்ро▒ு роПрой் ро╡ேрог்роЯாроо் роОрой்роХிро▒ாроп்? роОройроЪ் роЪроХோродро░ிропைроХ் роХேроЯ்роЯேрой். роЕро╡ро░் роЗрой்ро▒ு роЕро╖்роЯрооி, роиாро│ை роиро╡рооி роОрой்ро▒ாро│்.роЖроХைропாро▓் роиாро│ை рооро▒ுроиாро│் рокோроп் рокாро░்роХ்роХро▓ாроо் роОрой்ро▒ு роЪொрой்ройாро░்.

роиாрой் роЕро╖்роЯрооி, роиро╡рооி роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் роОрой்рой? роПрой் роХூроЯாродு роОрой்рокродро▒்роХுроХ் роХாро░рогроо் роОрой்рой? роОрой்ро▒ு роХேроЯ்роЯேрой். роЕродро▒்роХு роОрой் роЪроХோродро░ி роОройроХ்роХு ро╡ிро│роХ்роХроо் родெро░ிропாродு роЕрог்рогே, роЖройாро▓் роОро▓்ро▓ோро░ுроо் роЕро╡ை роиро▓்ро▓ роиாроЯ்роХро│் роЗро▓்ро▓ை роОрой்рокродாро▓் роиாройுроо் роХூро▒ிройேрой் роОрой்ро▒ு роХூро▒ிройாро░். 

роиாрой் роЪிро░ிрод்родுроХ் роХொрог்роЯே роЕро╖்роЯрооி, роиро╡рооிропிро▓் роиீроЩ்роХро│் роЪாрок்рокிроЯுро╡родிро▓்ро▓ைропா? ро░ропிро▓், рокро╕், ро╡ிрооாройроо் роЖроХிропро╡ை роУроЯுро╡родிро▓்ро▓ைропா? рооро░ுрод்родுро╡рооройை, ро╡роЩ்роХிроХро│் рооро▒்ро▒ுроо் роЕро▓ுро╡ро▓роХроЩ்роХро│் роЪெропро▓்рокроЯுро╡родிро▓்ро▓ைропா? роЕро╡роЪро░ роЕро▒ுро╡ை роЪிроХிроЪ்роЪைропைрод் родро╡ிро░்роХ்роХிро▒ோрооா? роОрой்ро▒ு роХேроЯ் роЯேрой். 

роЕродро▒்роХு роОрой் роЪроХோродро░ி рокோроЩ்роХ роЕрог்рогா роиீроЩ்роХ роОрок்рокோродுроо் роЗрок்рокроЯிрод் родாрой் роОроЯроХ்роХு рооுроЯроХ்роХாроХрок் рокேроЪுро╡ீро░்роХро│் роОрой்ро▒ு роХேро▓ி роЪெроп்родாро░். роиாрой் роЗро▓்ро▓ைропроо்рооா роЗродро▒்роХு ро╡ிро│роХ்роХроо் роХூро▒ுроХிро▒ேрой். роиாроо் роУро░ро│ро╡ு рокроЯிрод்родро╡ро░்роХро│் роОродைропுроо் роЕро▒ிро╡ுрок்рокூро░்ро╡рооாроХ роЪிрои்родிрод்родுрод் родெро░ிрои்родு роХொро│்ро│ ро╡ேрог்роЯாрооா? роОрой்ро▒ு роХேроЯ் роЯேрой். рооைрод்родுройро░ுроо், роОрой் роЪроХோродро░ிропுроо் роиீроЩ்роХро│்родாрой் ро╡ிро│роХ்роХுроЩ்роХро│ேрой் роОрой்ро▒ாро░்роХро│்.
 

роиாрой் рокிрой்ро╡ро░ுроо் ро╡ிро│роХ்роХрод்родைроХ் роХூро▒ிройேрой்.
 

роТро░ு рооாродрод்родிро▒்роХு роЕрооாро╡ாроЪை, роТро░ு рокро╡ுро░்рогрооி ро╡ро░ுроо். роЕрои்род роЗро░ு роиிроХро┤்роЪ்роЪிроХро│ுроо் рокூрооி рооро▒்ро▒ுроо் роЪрои்родிро░ройிрой் роЪுро┤ро▒்роЪிропாро▓் роПро▒்рокроЯுро╡родை роиீроЩ்роХро│் роЕро▒ிро╡ீро░்роХро│். роиாроЯ்роХро│ைроЪ் роЪுроЯ்роЯிроХ்роХாроЯ்роЯ роЕрооாро╡ாроЪைропிро▓ிро░ுрои்родு роЕро▓்ро▓родு рокро╡ுро░்рогрооிропிро▓ிро░ுрои்родு роОрод்родройைропாро╡родு роиாро│் роОрой்ро▒ு роХுро▒ிрок்рокிроЯ்роЯுроХ் роХாроЯ்роЯро╡ே рокிро░родрооை рооுродро▓் роЪродுро░்род்родроЪி ро╡ро░ை 14 роиாроЯ்роХро│ுроХ்роХுроо் рокெропро░ிроЯ்роЯிро░ுроХ்роХிро▒ாро░்роХро│். рокெропро░் родрооிро┤ிро▓் ро╡ைрод்родிро░ுрои்родாро▓் ро╡ிро│роЩ்роХுроо். роЪрооро╕்роХிро░ுродроо் роЖродிроХ்роХрод்родிро▓் роЗро░ுрои்родрокோродு родрооிро┤் ро╡ро░ுроЯроЩ்роХро│ிрой் рокெропро░ை роХூроЯ рокொро░ுро│் родெро░ிропாрод ро╡роЯрооொро┤ிропிро▓் роЕро▓்ро▓ро╡ா ро╡ைрод்родு ро╡ிроЯ்роЯாро░்роХро│்? роиாрооுроо் роЕродை рооாро▒்ро▒ рооройрооிрой்ро▒ி ро╡ைрод்родுроХ் роХொрог்роЯு родிрог்роЯாроЯுроХிро▒ோроо். роЕродே рокோро▓் родாрой் роиாроЯ்роХро│ிрой் рокெропро░்роХро│ுроо் рокிрой்ро╡ро░ுрооாро▒ு ро╡роЯрооொро┤ிропிро▓் роЙро│்ро│рой роОрой்ро▒ு ро╡ிро│роХ்роХிройேрой்.

1. рокро╡ுро░்рогрооி, роЕрооாро╡роЪைроХ்роХு роЕроЯுрод்род роиாро│் рокிро░родрооை рокிро░родрооро░் роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் рооுродро▓்ро╡ро░் роОрой்ро▒ு рокொро░ுро│். роЕродுрокோро▓் рокிро░родрооை роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் рооுродро▓் роиாро│்.
 

2. родுро╡ிродை роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் роЗро░рог்роЯாроо் роиாро│் родோ роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் роЗро░рог்роЯு. родுро╡ிроЪ் роЪроХро░ ро╡рог்роЯி роОрой்ро▒ு роЪைроХ்роХிро│ைроХ் роХூро▒ுро╡родு родроЩ்роХро│ுроХ்роХு родெро░ிропுроо்.

3. родிро░ிродிропை роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் рооூрой்ро▒ாроо் роиாро│் родிро░ி роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் рооூрой்ро▒ு роЕро▓்ро▓ро╡ா?
 

4. роЪродுро░்род்родி роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் роиாрой்роХாроо் роиாро│் роЪродுро░роо் роиாрой்роХு рокроХ்роХроЩ்роХро│் роХொрог் роЯродு.

5. рокроЮ்роЪрооி роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் роЕроп்рои்родாроо் роиாро│் рокாроЮ்роЪ் роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் роЕроп்рои்родு роОройрок் рокொро░ுро│்.

6. роЪро╖்роЯி роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் роЖро▒ாроо் роиாро│்.
 

7. роЪрок்родрооி роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் роПро┤ாроо் роиாро│். роЪрок்род ро╕்ро╡ро░роЩ்роХро│் роОрой роПро┤ு ро╕்ро╡ро░роЩ்роХро│ைроХ் роХூро▒ுро╡родிро▓்ро▓ைропா?

8. роЕро╖்роЯрооி роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் роОроЯ்роЯாроо் роиாро│். роЕро╖்роЯро╡роХ்роХிро░роо் роОрой்ро▒ு роОроЯ்роЯு роХோрогро▓்роХро│ைроХ் роХூро▒ுро╡родைропுроо் роЕро╖்роЯ ро▓роЯ்роЪுрооி роОрой்ро▒ெро▓்ро▓ாроо் роХூро▒роХ் роХேроЯ்роЯிро░ுроХ்роХிро▒ோроо்.

9. роиро╡рооி роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் роТрой்рокродாроо் роиாро│் роиро╡ роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் роТрой்рокродு роОрой்ро▒ுроо் роиро╡ роХிро░роХроЩ்роХро│் роОрой்рокродுроо் родроЩ்роХро│ுроХ்роХுрод் родெро░ிропுроо்.
 

10. родроЪрооி роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் рокрод்родாроо் роиாро│் родро╕் роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் рокрод்родு роЕро▓்ро▓ро╡ா? родாро░роо் роОрой்ро▒ роХроЯро╡ுро│ிрой் роЕро╡родாро░роЩ்роХро│ைроХ் роХூро▒роХ் роХேроЯ்роЯிро░ுроХ்роХிро▒ோроо்.

11. роПроХாродроЪி роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் рокродிройொрой் ро▒ாроо் роиாро│் роПроХ் роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் роТрой்ро▒ு родро╕் роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் рокрод்родு роЗро░рог்роЯிрой் роХூроЯ்роЯுрод் родொроХை рокродிройொрой்ро▒ு.
 

12. родுро╡ாродроЪி роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் рокрой்ройிро░рог் роЯாроо் роиாро│் родோ/родுро╡ி роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் роЗро░рог்роЯு родро╕் роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் рокрод்родு роОройро╡ே роЗродрой் роХூроЯ்роЯுрод்родொроХை рокрой்ройிро░рог்роЯு роЖроХுроо்.

13. родிро░ிропோродроЪி роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் рокродிрооூрой் ро▒ாроо் роиாро│் родிро░ி роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் рооூрой்ро▒ு + родро╕் роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் рокрод்родு роЖроХрок் рокродிрооூрой்ро▒ு.
 

14. роЪродுро░்род்родроЪி роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் рокродிройாрой்роХாроо் роиாро│் роЪродுро░் (роЪродுро░роо்) роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் роиாрой்роХு роЕрод்родோроЯு родро╕் роОрой்ро▒ рокрод்родு роЪேро░்род்родாро▓் рокродிройாрой்роХு роОрой роЖроХுроо்.

роЪродுро░்род்родроЪிроХ்роХுроо் роЕроЯுрод்родродு рокро╡ுро░்рогрооி роЕро▓்ро▓родு роЕрооாро╡ாроЪை роЖроХி ро╡ிроЯுроо். роЗрок்рокроЯி роиாроЯ்роХро│ைроХ் роЪுроЯ்роЯிроХ் роХாроЯ்роЯ ро╡ைрод்род рокெропро░்роХро│ிро▓் роОрой்рой ро╡ேро▒ுрокாроЯு роЗро░ுроХ்роХிро▒родு? роЕрооாро╡ாроЪை роЕро▓்ро▓родு рокро╡ுро░்рогрооிроХ்роХுрок் рокிро▒роХு ро╡ро░ுроо் роОроЯ்роЯாроо் роиாро│ுроо் роТрой்рокродாроо் роиாро│ுроо் роХெроЯ்роЯро╡ை роОрой்рокродро▒்роХு роПродேройுроо் роЕро▒ிро╡ிропро▓் рокூро░்ро╡рооாрой ро╡ிро│роХ்роХроо் роЗро░ுрои்родாро▓் роХூро▒ுроЩ்роХро│்.  роОрой் роЪроХோродро░ிропுроо் рооைрод்родுройро░ுроо் ро╡ாропроЯைрод்родுрок் рокோропிройро░். роЗрои்род ро╡ிро│роХ்роХроо் роХрог்роЯு роЕро╡ро░்роХро│் рооிроХрод் родெро│ிро╡ு рокெро▒்ро▒ройро░்.
 

роиாрой் рооேро▓ுроо் роХூро▒ிройேрой். роЕроЯ்роЪроп родிро░ிродிропைропிро▓் родроЩ்роХроо் ро╡ாроЩ்роХ роЕро▒ிропாрод роороХ்роХро│் родроЩ்роХроХ் роХроЯைроХ்роХு роУроЯுро╡родுроо் роЕро▒ிропாрооைропே роОрой்ро▒ேрой். роОрой் роЪроХோродро░ி рооிроХро╡ுроо் роЖро░்ро╡рооாроХ роЗродро▒்роХுроо் ро╡ிро│роХ்роХроо் роХூро▒ுроЩ்роХро│் роЕрог்рогா роОрой்ро▒ு роХேроЯ்роЯுроХ் роХொрог்роЯாро│். роХ்ро╖ропроо் роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் родேроп்ро╡ு (-роХ்ро╖ропро░ோроХроо் = роОро▓ுроо்рокுро░ுроХ்роХு роиோроп் роЕроХ்ро╖ропроо் роОрой்ро▒ாро▓் ро╡ро│ро░்роЪ்роЪி роЕродாро╡родு ро╡ро│ро░்рокிро▒ைропிро▓் роЕрооாро╡ாроЪைропிро▓ிро░ுрои்родு рооூрой்ро▒ாроо் роиாро│் родிро░ிродிропை роОрой்ро▒ு роПро▒்роХெройро╡ே ро╡ிро│роХ்роХிроХ் роХொрог்роЯோроо். роЕродாро╡родு ро╡ро│ро░்рокிро▒ைропிро▓் рооூрой்ро▒ாроо் роиாро│் роЗродிро▓் роОрой்рой роЪிро▒рок்рокு роЗро░ுроХ்роХ рооுроЯிропுроо்?  роЗродு родроЩ்роХ ро╡ிропாрокாро░ிроХро│் роЪேро░்рои்родு роЪெроп்род ро╡ிро▒்рокройை роЙрод்родிропே роЖроХுроо் роОрой்ро▒ு ро╡ிро│роХ்роХроо் роХூро▒ிройேрой்.
 

роороХ்роХро│் роОрок்рокроЯி роЕро▒ிропாрооைропிро▓் рооூро┤்роХிрок் рокோропிро░ுроХ்роХிро▒ாро░்роХро│் роОрой்ро▒ு роЕройைро╡ро░ுроо் рокро░ிродாрокрок்рокроЯ்роЯோроо். рокிро▒роХு роЕрой்ро▒ே рооூро╡ро░ுроо் роЪெрой்ро▒ு ро╡ீроЯ்роЯு рооройைропைрок் рокாро░்ро╡ைропிроЯ்роЯு роЗроЯроо் рокிроЯிрод்родிро░ுрои்родродாро▓் рооுрой் рокрогроо் роЪெро▓ுрод்родி рокрод்родிро░ роироХро▓்роХро│ை ро╡ாроЩ்роХி ро╡рои்родோроо். роЕро╖்роЯрооி, роиро╡рооி рокாро░்род்родுрод் родாроородроо் роЪெроп்родிро░ுрои்родாро▓் роЗрои்род ро╡ாроп்рок்рокு роХிроЯ்роЯுрооா роОрой்ро▒ு роороХிро┤்рои்родோроо். 
“роЪெроп்ропுроо் ро╡ேро▓ைроХро│ிрой் ро╡ெро▒்ро▒ி родрой்ройை роироо்рокி роЗро▓்ро▓ை, роХроЯро╡ுро│ை роироо்рокிрод்родாрой் роЗро░ுроХ்роХிро▒родு“ роОрой்ро▒ு роиிройைрод்родு роЙро░ுро╡ாроХ்роХрок்рокроЯ்роЯ “роиро▓்ро▓ роиேро░роо்,роХெроЯ்роЯ роиேро░роо்“ роОрой்ро▒ рокропроЩ்роХро│் роЙро▓роХெроЩ்роХுроо் рооройிродройை роЖроЯ்роЯிрок்рокроЯைроХ்роХிрой்ро▒рой.(роироо் роиாроЯ்роЯிро▓் роХொроЮ்роЪроо் роЕродிроХроо்)

роЗрои்родிроп роЕро│ро╡ிро▓் роЙро│்ро│ рокроЮ்роЪாроЩ்роХроЩ்роХро│ிрой்рокроЯி роТро░ு рооாродрод்родிро▒்роХு роОро╡்ро╡ро│ро╡ு роХெроЯ்роЯ роиேро░роо் ро╡ро░ுроХிро▒родு роОрой்ро▒ு роХрогроХ்роХிроЯ்роЯுрок்рокாро░்рок்рокோроо்.

ро╡ாро░род்родிро▓் роЪெро╡்ро╡ாроп்,роЪройி роиро▓்ро▓ роХாро░ிропроо் родுро╡роЩ்роХроХ்роХூроЯாродு(10 роиாроЯ்роХро│்).
рооாродрод்родிрой் роЕро╖்роЯрооி,роиро╡рооி роирой்рооைроХ்роХு роЙроХрои்родродு роЕро▓்ро▓(4роиாроЯ்роХро│்).
рокாроЯ்роЯிрооுроХроо் роиாро│ிро▓் роиро▓்ро▓родு роЪெроп்ро╡родு роиро▓்ро▓родிро▓்ро▓ை(2 роиாроЯ்роХро│்).
роТро░ு рооாродрод்родிро▓் ро╡ро░ுроо் ро░ாроХு роХாро▓роо், роОроороХрог்роЯроо்,роХுро│ிроХை роЗро╡ро▒்ро▒ிрой் роХூроЯ்роЯுрод்родொроХை (3 рооுроХ்роХாро▓்) родро╡ிро░ роХௌро░ி рокроЮ்роЪாроЩ்роХрод்родிрой் рокроЯி роирой்рооை роЪெроп்роп родроХாрод роиாроЯ்роХро│் 2 роиாроЯ்роХро│்.

роЖроХ рооொрод்родрод்родிро▓் роТро░ு рооாродрод்родிро▓் 21 рооுроХ்роХாро▓் роиாроЯ்роХро│் роиாроо் роиро▓்ро▓родு роЪெроп்роп рокропрои்родாро▓் роОрок்рокроЯி роЙро░ுрок்рокроЯ...роОрок்рокроЯி рооுрой்ройேро▒...?


роОрой்ро▒ு родрогிропுроо் роироо் роороХ்роХро│ிроЯроо் роиிро░роо்рокிропுро│்ро│ роЕро▒ிропாрооைропிрой் рооோроХроо்? 
роЗрогைропрод்родிро▓ிро░ுрои்родு

Dr.родрооிро┤்

роЕрои்роиிропрооாропிро▒்ро▒ு роЕройைрод்родுрооே..!



ро╡ிро┤ிроХро│் ро╡ிрог்рооீрой்роХро│ை
ро╡ро░ுроЯிройாро▓ுроо்
ро╡ிро░ро▓்роХро│் роОрой்ройро╡ோ - роЙрой்
рокெропро░ோроЯு ро╡ிро│ைропாроЯுроХிрой்ро▒рой!

роЕро░்род்родрооாройродாроп்род் родெро░ிрои்род
роЕрои்род роиேро░роЩ்роХро│் роОро▓்ро▓ாроо் - роЗрой்ро▒ு
роЕрокрод்родрооாроп்род் родெро░ிроХிрой்ро▒рой!
роЕрои்род роиேро░род்родிро▒்роХு роЕрок்рокுро▒роо்
роЕрои்роиிропрооாропிро▒்ро▒ு роЕройைрод்родுрооே..!

роХро▓்ро▓роЯிрокроЯ்роЯு рокெропро░்рои்род
роХாро▓்ро╡ிро░ро▓் роироХрод்родிрой் роХாропрод்родிро▓்
роЕро░ுроХроо்рокுро▓் рооாроЯ்роЯிроХ்роХொрог்роЯродு рокோрой்ро▒
ро╡ро▓ிропாроп் роЙрой் роиிройைро╡ுроХро│்!

роиிройைро╡ுроХро│ிро▓் роОрод்родройைропோ
роЪூро┤்рои்родிро░ுроХ்роХுроо்
роЪுроХроо் родுроХ்роХроо் роОро▓்ро▓ாроо்
роОрок்рокроЯிропொрой்ро▒ு роЪொро▓்ро▓ிроЯ
рооுроЯிрои்родிроЯро╡ிро▓்ро▓ை!

роОро┤ுрод роиிройைрод்родро╡ைропெро▓்ро▓ாроо்
рооройроЪிро▓் роиிро▒ைрои்родுро│்ро│родு!
роОро┤ுрод роОро┤ுрод
роЪுроХрооுроо் родுроХ்роХрооுроо்
роЙрой்ройைроЪ் роЪாро░்рои்родро╡ைропாроХро╡ே
роЪுро┤ро▓்роХிрой்ро▒рой.....

рооро░род்родுрок்рокோроХро╡ைроХ்роХுроо் - роЙрой்
рокோроХ்роХிройிро▓்
рооெро▓்ро▓ிроп роЙрогро░்ро╡ுроХро│ுроо்
рооெро▓்ро▓роЪ்роЪாроХிрой்ро▒рой!

рооро┤ைрод்родрог்рогீро░் роЗро▓்ро▓ாрод
роХро░ுро╡ேро▓рооро░рооாроп்
роЗродропрооுроо்
ро╡ро▒рог்роЯ роиிро▓ைропிро▓்...!!

роОрод்родройை ро╡ெро▒ுрооைроХро│்
роОрой்ройுро│் ро╡рои்родு роЪேро░்рои்родாро▓ுроо் - роЙрой்
рокேро▒ுроХро│ைроХ் роХேроЯ்роЯு
рокெро░ுрооைропроЯைроХிрой்ро▒ேрой்...

роЙройроХ்роХெрой்ро▒ு роЗро░ுроХ்роХுроо்
ро╡ாро░்род்родைроХ்роХро▓ைроХро│்
роОрой்ройிроЯроо் роЪிродைрои்родрокроЯி
роЪிро▓рои்родிропாроп்рок் рокிрой்ройிропுро│்ро│рой!

роиிройைрок்рокродுроо், роироЯрок்рокродுроо்
ро╡ேро▒ாроХ роЗро░ுрои்родாро▓ுроо்
роиிройைро╡ுроХро│் роОро▓்ро▓ாроо்
ро╡ேро░ாроп் роиீрог்роЯுроХிроЯроХ்роХிрой்ро▒рой!

роХройро╡ுроХро│ை роЗро┤рои்родுро╡ிроЯ்роЯ
роХрог்роХро│ுроХ்роХுроо், роЗродропрод்родிро▒்роХுроо்
роХாро▓роЩ்роХро│் роОрок்рокроЯிропிро░ுрои்родாро▓் роОрой்рой??!! 

Monday, January 30, 2012

The Ingredients For Success


Rama and Lakshmana with Vishvamitra“O Prabhu, you fulfill all desires and give the four fruits of existence. Understanding that, I am fearful of what I could possibly give to you.” (Janaki Mangala, 22)
tumha prabhu p┼лrana k─Бma c─Бri phalad─Бyaka |
tehiс╣Г teс╣Г b┼лjhata k─Бju с╕Нarau munid─Бyaka ||
The pious king knew that the exalted guest kindly received at his home came to ask for something. He wasn’t a resident of Ayodhya, so his visit had a purpose. For the king, there wasn’t much to give in comparison to what the sage could bestow. From proper wisdom comes the attainment of life’s ultimate goal, which automatically incorporates the four primary rewards that are delineated by the Vedas. The ancient scriptures of India identify the four primary rewards and go about describing how they can be achieved, and the lessons imparted are not bound by sectarian designations or specific time and circumstance. In the same way, the counsel and association of the saintly class is not restricted to any group. Just hearing about these saints many years later can provide so many benefits.
Why was this guest so exalted? How could he fulfill all desires? The plants in the garden produce fruits that can be consumed. The same goes for the farm in general, which produces the food that sustains life. In one sense, you could consider the plant to be a wish-fulfilling tree which grants our desires in life. Whatever it is we may want, it can’t be achieved unless there is vibrancy in life. The vital force within the body is maintained by food; therefore the plants serve as the sustenance, the source of the boons that life can grant us.
If someone were to give us land and the ability to grow crops, that reward would be greater than anything else offered. Someone may give us money or good fortune that is temporary in its manifestation, but the resulting benefits will be targeted. Getting the source of all enjoyment is more important, because from that source there are endless possibilities for rewards. Another way to think of it is to compare a prepared food dish to the actual raw ingredients. The dish can be enjoyed by those who have a taste for it, while the ingredients can be used to prepare many other dishes. Hence the possession of the ingredients is more valuable.
cookingIn the playing field of the material world, there are endless avenues for activity, with some leading to better conditions and others leading to worse ones. The Vedas declare that the human form of body is the most auspicious because of the potential it brings for achieving the four fruits in life: dharma, artha, kama and moksha. Dharma is religiosity, which immediately signals a departure from the animal species. Following regulative principles is only possible in a civilized society. From abiding by religious principles you get artha, or economic development. Without a profitable end to your ventures, what will you have to show for your work? Economic development affords the opportunity for kama, or sense gratification. And finally, after a life filled with enjoyment of the three rewards, there is the ideal boon of moksha, or salvation. Follow religious principles, profit in your work, enjoy the rewards, and then never repeat the same cycle again.
The brahmanas, or priests, can grant these four rewards through their association. Not to be confused with magic genies who suddenly arrive on the scene and give you what you want, the saints provide instruction so that mankind can follow the proper set of activities that will bring those rewards through work. Dharma, artha, kama and moksha apply to every single human being, regardless of religious persuasion or interest in spiritual life. Indeed, by following the guidelines laid down by the brahmanas, one doesn’t even need to know what the four rewards are or why they are worth attaining.
The spirit soul is the actor and the material bodies the playing field. The material elements as a whole can be considered the field as well, and with proper knowledge one will know how to succeed on that field. As the brahmanas provide this knowledge through their instruction, the value of their association can never be properly estimated. Whatever reward it is you want, whatever fruit you would like to enjoy from the tree of life, the Vedas provide the answer. Though the highest reward is to voluntarily escape from the playing field and find the constitutional engagement of loving service to God, the enjoyments derived from a material existence are not denied the follower of the Vedas.
Lord RamaMaharaja Dasharatha had only desires for divine association. His eldest son was an incarnation of the original person, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore the king was already living in the spiritual world, basking in the sweet vision of Shri Rama day after day. From that love for Godhead sprung natural affection for those who represent the Lord’s interests on earth, the brahmanas. Already taking care of and respecting many priests in his own kingdom, Dasharatha one day had the good fortune of being visited by Vishvamitra Muni.
After properly receiving his guest and getting his blessing, the king prepared for what the muni might ask. In the above referenced verse from the Janaki Mangala, the king offers the highest praise to Vishvamitra. The muni is addressed here as Prabhu, which means “lord”, and is praised for being able to grant any desire, including the four fruits of existence. One who attains dharma, artha, kama and moksha in a single lifetime is considered extremely fortunate, as the rewards don’t cohabitate very well with each other. Too much religiosity dampens the urge for sense gratification, and too much economic success makes following religious principles more difficult. In addition, if I am addicted to sense gratification, how will I get release from the cycle of birth and death? Moksha is specifically hinged on desire, what the consciousness is focused on at the time of death.
The association of the brahmanas thus becomes very important. They can put the proper guidelines into place, where the four rewards can cohabitate without a problem. Almost thinking out loud, Dasharatha here remarks how he feels that he can’t give the muni a proper gift. If someone gives you the four fruits of existence, what could you possibly give them In return? Ah, but Dasharatha did have something that any person would desire: God’s personal association. Vishvamitra had come to ask for this, the king’s most valuable possession.
What would you do in the same situation? Someone comes by your home to borrow the services of your son, who happens to be an expert bow warrior, though still of a young age. This son is your most cherished object; his vision every day makes your life worth living. You had gone many years without having children, and you fretted over whether or not the family line would continue. Only after having completed an important yajna, or sacrifice, did not only one, but four beautiful sons come your way. Now someone who doesn’t live in your community wants to take your eldest son? Why would you agree?
King Dasharatha with his four sonsThe reason for Dasharatha’s eventual acquiescence is revealed in the above referenced statement. As the brahmanas provide the most valuable information in life, their requests cannot be denied. Indeed, it was the brahmana class who had urged Dasharatha to perform the sacrifice that brought Shri Rama to his family. The ways of the Lord are so mysterious and perfect at the same time. Though God is never influenced by external action, He arranges events in such a way so that it looks like a specific behavior leads to His presence. It was a fact that Rama had desired to appear as Dasharatha’s son a while back and that the advice of the brahmanas was given to increase the value of their association, to show how much respect they deserve.
Lord Rama and His younger brother Lakshmana would be the reward for Vishvamitra’s graceful presence. Of course the exchange was not an even one, for the four fruits of existence cannot compare to the presence of Rama and Lakshmana. The two beautiful youths are splendid in their appearance, dedicated in their vow to protect, and most sincere in their efforts. Just being able to say the names of the two brothers is a boon that brings many auspicious merits. Vishvamitra didn’t ask for Rama’s protection as a means of getting even. He was having difficulty living peacefully in the forests, as the night-rangers had harassed many innocent sages. The brahmanas unable to carry out their religious duties, their protector, brahmanya-devaya, Shri Rama, would go to the forests and weed out the toxic influence of the ghoulish enemies of the saintly class.
Lakshmana and RamaBy following the regulations advised by the brahmanas, the four fruits of existence can come to us, but this path is very difficult. On the other hand, through following the recommendation of pure devotion to the Supreme Lord, the four rewards become insignificant. Dasharatha felt like his life was taken away whenever he was separated from Rama, which shows just how cherished God’s association is. As the holy name is the best way to connect with that sweetheart who roamed the forests as a young child protecting Vishvamitra, the most recommended practice for spiritual upliftment is the chanting of the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”. The acharyas of the Vedic tradition have done so much for us that we really have no way of repaying them. Through dedication in bhakti-yoga, or devotional service, we honor their efforts and hopefully please them. The benedictions offered by the saints are meant to culminate in spontaneous devotion to God, so if we take up the processes of bhakti right away, their past tireless efforts will prove to be fruitful for us.
In Closing:
Four fruits of existence brahmanas give,
So that pursuing proper path you can live.
Follow dharma to get economic development,
Satisfy senses and hope rebirth to circumvent.
King meeting Vishvamitra felt hesitant,
For vipra can provide of desires attainment.
What possibly could king give in return,
Nothing of equal value was cause for concern.
King’s eldest son Rama of existence its source,
Chanting His name is life’s proper course.
To part with his son king did finally agree,
From Vishvamitra’s request, sages God to see.