Post Rane- Move series 1: june 08

“Blessings”

In Adhyathma Ramayan, there is this story of Ravan asking Sanathkumara, as to who is the mightiest Devata, whom the devas worship, in order to be victorious in their battles. The latter replies that it is none other than the Avinashi, Aatmayoni, and from whose nabhi kamalam rose Brahma…. Lord Hari.

Further being queried, as to what happens to those who get killed in the battle, Sanakumara answers that while those who get killed by ordinary devatas, reach swargaloka, only to be born again after exhausting all the punyas, but those who get killed by the Lord Himself, reach His abode, never to be born again.

The rishi, perceiving Ravanas line of thinking by his yoga dhrishti, adds that He cannot be easily seen by even by the devoutest, but tells him, that since Hari Himself is likely to take avatar in Ikshvaku Vamsam, as Rama, who will be exiled and will be in the forests, Ravan should be patient till then.

The story goes on to say that Ravan decides immediately, that he will try and make Rama so angry, that, He will have no other choice but to kill him in the battle. His abduction act was thus pre-determined, and was solely aimed at attaining “parampadam”.

Contrast this character with a Bhaktha say that of Bharata; not being able to persuade Rama to come back to Ayodhya, and rule, he decides to be a proxy till Rama returns; (the perfect example of “yadhyat karomi thaddhakilam, Raama, thava aaradhanam”).

Or for that matter, Lakshmana swamy; asked by Rama whether he recognizes Sita’s earrings, he answers that the only part he had ever noticed of Sita was her feet, when he used to do namaskarams to Rama & Sita and hence he was unable to recognize the earrings.

The above illustrations beg the following questions

Is it legitimate to ask as to whom among these is more blessed?
when one uses the word “blessing” which of the aspect is more pronounced; spiritual, or the loukik,
The previous point, brings forth (at least to me) the obvious query; when one examines someone’s horoscope, and attempts to understand it, and is about to forecast, does one see it from the purely spiritual point of view or the Loukik one, and when one blesses another, which aspect of the above is more pronounced.

While answering the first query, one is struck by the immensely frustrating fact, that whoever the “Gods” choose to be with, are ones who seemingly are put to the most gruel of hardships; Krishna is with the Pandavas all the time, and they undergo one rigor after another, Sudama the devout bhaktha, is in perpetual penury, and in the above illustrations, Bharata, and Lakshmana, must have been totally distraught, (with Rama their Lord undergoing all the hardships). But alas, they are not the only ones who are blessed; Besides, Ravana & Kumbakarna, there are any numbers of the so-called wicked asuras who are also equally blessed, and get “liberated”. We mortals are therefore incompetent to judge.

This brings me to the next 2 questions; when one attempts to read a horoscope and predicts a good/bad period, on what basis, is the forecast made, is the query.
During an exchange of mail with Jindas, on the topic of astrology ( I consider him as the most knowledgeable in our family) I had ventured to assert that some of the so-called malefic like say Saturn & Mars, -with some relevant arguments- appear to be quite the opposite namely great benefic. Whilst not disagreeing, he also made an additionally interesting point; that amongst these benefic, one should also include “kethu”, but Mars which gives substantially “ihaloka” benefits can be disregarded.

Surely he was speaking at more of a spiritual level. While, I tend to agree, with him, I am amazed to find that for almost all ihaloka festivities, the day of this same “ihaloka benefic” Mars, is singularly ruled out, whether be it a marriage, a graha pravesa, even while all the time is being referred to as “mangala”!!

There are some more of this Mangala. The day Tuesday, as also chaturthi thithi are not favorably considered for muhurthams; the combination of these two allegedly bad things, -bhouma Chaturthi- is however considered a very auspicious, and when it combines with Krishna paksha (inauspicious paksha) , it is considered still more auspicious, and finally when the star aswini (kethu star) is also associated, it is considered so powerful and auspicious, that it is believed to lead one to attain “siddhi” when one recites Durga atharvaseersham, in such an unique combination.

The hour before sunrise is considered very auspicious; on a Tuesday, the hour belongs to the universally benefic planet Guru- Bhowma Ushath; and the hour just before sunrise on this Jupiter day Thursday? Belongs to Saturn ….. The period during eclipse is generally considered inauspicious, but any Japam, prayer, etc are believed to be much more potent in giving results. And the planets in operation; Rahu& Kethu-the most powerful malefic as per known texts.

Does one need any more proof to realize, that we know very little or to be harsher, we do not know?

“The only thing that interferes with my learning, is my education”, is a quote attributed to Einstein. For one to learn, and continue the learning process, both at the mundane and the more profound spiritual level, one must have “blessings”. And “Gods blessings” will manifest, depending on the levels of evolution of not only the receiver, but also the giver.

Perhaps there is a great import in the belief that one should not seek blessings from all & sundry………

May the God bless us all in our “learning process”