SATHGURU DARSHANAM

VOL - I
A SMALL EFFORT TO PROTECT AND PROPAGATE THE VEDIC DHARMA AND THE DARSHANAM OF OUR SATH-GURUS.

[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011 PREFACE Sri Gurubhyo Namaha From time immemorial Sanatana Dharma has been our way of life; our Dharma. But in quest of wealth and various other material benefits, we have largely deviated from the laid path. As always, deviating from known path leads to confusion. That is what we face today. The society today is wrought with confusion as to whom to follow and what to follow. The only solution to the problem now faced is we have to understand our Dharma; we have to follow it. We have to try to return back to our own path the path laid down by our Great Ancestors. These Great souls, our Poorva Aacharyas the SathGurus have again and again stressed the point of the nobility of Sanatana Dharma and the greatness of Vedas in their various works. They showed us the lost path. Our thoughtlessness even in regards to the efforts of our Poorva Aacharya has cost us many valuable treatises. In losing them, we are again slowly losing the path shown by them. Tragedy of losing all ancient knowledge should not come to pass! To try and protect the values of our religion and the works of Poorva Aacharyas, the magazine team thought, a common platform to share knowledge is inevitable. Thus the SathGuru Darshanam was born. This magazine is an effort to try, understand, protect and propagate the ancient teachings; the path (Darshanam) shown by the SathGurus SathGuru Darshanam. The age old saying very clearly states the results of protecting and enriching ones Dharma will in turn protect you. Thus we appeal to all viewers to help us take this initiative forward and spread the word. With humble pranams,

(The Editor)

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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011

SAMARPANAM Guru illadha vidhyai kuruttu vidhyai

As mentioned in the above quote, any form of art or knowledge gained without a proper and an eminent guru, is totally useless. Guru is the bases of all learning; it is he, who teaches the difference between the right and the wrong. Guru is the reservoir of all knowledge, who invokes the ultimate wisdom in us by discriminating, between the right and the wrong. With this ultimate wisdom, a person can reach the topmost level of consciousness (chith); attain salvation by breaking the cycles of birth and death and there by enjoying eternal bliss. Fortunate and true to the words shasthras we are blessed with the divine guru, BrahmashriS.VaidhyanathaSastrigal, under whose tutelage, we could gain kinchithgyanam, there by following the path of Sanathana Dharmam. It wasunder his guidance we could learn most of the dharma Shaastras, Veda sukthas, Itihaasa puraana and other classics which helped us to sustain ourselves in this mundane world by following the path shown by our purvaachaaryas. Though the word showing our gratitude would not suffice for the knowledge he has given us, we still try to offer this first magazine of SATHGURU DARSHANAM at his lotus feet. We also seek the blessings of numerous Aacharyaas who have taken their goal who preserved and propagated our dharma. Last but not the least we offer our namaskaaras to the divine for giving us this birth and also thank you for extending your support in making this small effort fruitful.

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OUR DHARMA
The religion which we follow is today called as Hinduism. Nowhere in our scriptures, have we found the name alluded to it. If we look deep, as to what we should call it, there is no name given to it. It has been a religion without a name. The need of naming only comes when more than one of the same entity is present. The namelessness of our religion suggests that it was the only religion existing even before other ideologies were formed. This shows the antiquity of our religion. Then who named us Hindus? The answer to the question is the British. They needed a name to call us. We dint have one. So they named us. They named those living in the Indus Valley as Hindus as they lived near Sindu River. By extension all Indians were called so. Thus, also the name Hindustan to our country. So what should we actually call our religion? Sanatana Dharma. Sanatana means very old and ancient. Dharma denotes a way of life. The ancientness has already been established. Our religion has never been a religion; it never preached and never compelled to follow. It has been left to the individual to follow it. It cannot be called a religion when it is not depended on whole society following it. It is a way of life left to the individual to take or not. So the name Sanatana Dharma Ancient Way of Life perfectly fits it. The religion (for want of a better short word I continue calling it so) dint just preach God. More so it never preached. It induces values and it provides a regulated path for anybody who wishes to lead a meaningful life to him and to the society. It just dint stop with just praising the Lord Almighty and describing how He should be worshipped. From when to get up in the morning, how things are to be done, till the close of the day is regulated, so that there is at least an iota of spiritual profit to both the follower and the environment he lives in. It is the only religion that does not designate a specific time for spiritual work namely worshipping God or going to temple. Remembering God every minute and in every work one does is suggested by this great Dharma. Even in detailing about God, the religion has provided with so many forms to choose from, though the Almighty is one and only. This allows the follower to better connect with God, as he can visualize Him in any form that is close to his heart. Even a She(Amba) or may be even an unseen form a mix between an animal and human (Ganesha or Nrisimha) or mix of different animals and birds (Adishesha, Garuda). Though there are many Deities and sects worshipping each deity, all unite under the fact that all of them are based on the scriptures the Vedas. The seeming diversity vanishes at that point. All saint-poets of different sects have acknowledged and praised the Vedas. The Vedas reveal the One Truth to us in the form of many deities. The worship of each of these divine forms is like a ghat on the river called the Vedas. Sekkizhar says the same thing: "Veda neri tazhaittonga."

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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011 This is also the only religion that proclaims that salvation is the birth right of every soul. It further more proclaims that every soul is inherently and already free. The soul has but to understand and acknowledge this freedom to be free. In addition to these noteworthy points about our religion, it is also a scientifically factual religion. Though many scientists find it hard to accept, it remains the truth. To quote an example, the powerfulness of Vedic mantras, is scientifically proved. Every sound has its own specific effect in the physical world. Scientists, in an experiment, played certain notes in certain order again and again near a lake. Light refracted particle by particle above the lake and specific formations could be seen for specific order and notes. This is enough scientific proof that specific Vedic chants have specific Divine forms and they could be revealed to the chanter. Credibility of Vedas are thus established and this just the tip of the iceberg. This noble and ancient Dharma has many more valuables in it. We have to be proud of our Dharma and its codes. We should not shun away from our path just because someone who is nowhere related to our religion, calls it farce, imaginary and recent. We should look into it ourselves to know the glory and the hoary history of our Ancient Way of Life.

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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011

PILLAYAR
It is a distinctive feature of Tamil Nadu that wherever one looks around, there are temples for Pillayar. In fact even without the need for a regular temple with overarching canopies, etc., our Lord Pillayar sits under a pipal tree with just skies above. A Pillayar temple on every street, Pillayars on river sides and under trees and so on He has thus acquired all over Tamil Nadu (unlike others) a unique place not available to other gods and bestows His grace. He is the first son of Parvathi and Parameshwara the Mother and Father of the Universe. Vinayaka is the first son and He is Child-God. Yet, He was the beginning before everything else. Pranavam is the origin of everything. It is from Pranavam that the entire universe and all life appeared. Pillayar is the visual form of that Pranavam. If one looks at His elephant face with the curved trunk, He will look exactly like Pranavam. Ganapathi is like an elephant. Quite contradictory to this, the mouse is so small. Yet He uses this as His vehicle. A God does not gain merit from his vehicle. Instead, the vehicle gains merit from the God. Though Ganapathi is known as Sthula Kaayar, He sits light on the mouse and blesses it. In the same way, Ganapathi sits on His devotees heart light and keeps blessing them. Whichever God one may choose for worship only if Vinayakas benediction is obtained first, prayers will fructify without hindrance. There is a sect which considers Vinayaka Himself as the first and absolute God and worships Him. Such a practice is called Gaanaapathyam. Only if Vigneshwaras blessings are there, any effort will fructify without hindrance. Pillayar is the beautiful Child-God who removes all obstacles and showers His blessings. May we pray to Him, worship Him and live a good life free from troubles. Vighna-Vinayaka Moorhy ki JAI !!!

SATHGURU PAHI

Sri.Shankar
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GURU PARAMPARA

Knowledge is an important need in spiritual life. This Knowledge though can be sought through personal efforts, its a tedious process and not everyone are capable of doing it. Firstly, there should be someone to guide us in the process. There is an interesting anecdote that enunciates the importance of a guide. There was a wealthy lady, who one day went to a relatives function wearing a costly necklace. The next day she couldnt find the necklace anywhere. The whole house was searched and the necklace was nowhere to be found. She thought it was stolen and began doubting every person she met at the function. One old lady who came to visit this rich Lady enquired the cause of her worry. The rich lady explained her misery. The old lady laughing, pointed out that the necklace had all along been in the rich ladys neck. She was wearing it and dint remember to check whether she was wearing it or removed. The old lady here guided her to the knowledge of the whereabouts of the necklace. Imagine what would have happened if old lady had not guided. Confusion and more doubting. A guide is thus paramount. More so in spiritual pursuits, the Guide should know and should have followed the path he is preaching. He should be a person who has reached the goal of spiritual journey. Such a person is called, not just a guide but, a Guru. Knowledge is best imported to the next generation, through a teacher-student set up. This has been followed in our country as a tradition from time immemorial. Though Guru imparts knowledge to many only a few or even only one among the shishyas is selected to take the responsibility of touching to the next generation. The chain of Guru and shishya, thus formed, protects the sanctity of the knowledge, without much addition or changes impart it to the next generation. The Guru Parampara as it is called thus takes care of the continuity in the passage of knowledge and also safeguards the originality.

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ADVAITA GURU PARAMPARA

The Advaita philosophy has also been brought us to by such a Guru Parampara a holy and illustrative parampara. The AdiGuruDakshinamoorthy is the root of all knowledge. Advaita philosophy is also believed to have rooted from Him. Thus He holds the post of the First Guru in the parampara. The Guru Parampara sloka thus states,
(I salute to the Guru Parampara which has originated from Sadashiva; Which has Shankaraacharya in the middle; which ends with my Guru)

The AdiGuru imparts knowledge to his shishyas, not by speech, but by silence. Silence is His teaching and His mode of teaching. Through the silence He imparts the Brahma Vidya.

:! !! (The picturesque scene of AdiGuru (banyan) vrksha, surrounded by old with youthfulness, explains in doubt.) ! :!! :!! teaching sitting in the shade of the Vata students, the Guru, whose form is shining silence and the students remains bereft of

The Guru ParamparaStotram gives

the meditation of the AdiGuru, as follows: ! ! !! !!

The Guru Parampara after the AdiGuru, till Shri BhagavatpadaShankara is denoted in one sloka,

After AdiGuru the next preceptor is Shri Narayana, then Shri Brahma the one born from lotus, then Shri Vasishta, after whom Shri Shakti takes the responsibility. Then his sonShri Parashara, after him Shri Vyasa
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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011 and then Shri Shukha held the post of teaching. After Shri Shukha, his shishya Shri Goudapada took the onus and then Shri Govindapada becomes the guru. After Shri Govindapada, Shri Shankaraacharya took the responsibility of propagating the Sanatana Dharma and Advaita philosophy. The glory of the Aacharyas will be seen in consecutive issues.

Sri. Adith H.S

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ADVAITA GURU PARAMPARA

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SRI VAISHNAVA GURU PARAMPARA

Spiritual Knowledge is something which is far beyond the materialistic knowledge gained through a study of modern science. It is far beyond the reach of one's senses. One can't understand these on his own. Even for materialistic knowledge which are highly evident to our eyes (senses in general), one has to go to school for years. This process of learning from experienced persons goes on and on. Now, what to speak of Spiritual Knowledge, which deals with the relationship existing between the three realities namely, 1. IshwarA (Supreme Lord): SrimanNArAyanA (NArAyanA who is ever united with Sri) 2. ChetanAs (entities with knowledge): jivAtmAs 3. achetanAs (entities without knowledge): Matter, Time, Suddha-SattvA Obviously, one has to approach a person who has this type of knowledge. But so many pose themselves to know this. How to find a bonafideAchAryA? The answer to this is really simple. The Supremely merciful Lord SrimanNArAyanA reveals the spiritual knowledge to His most ardent devotees. They in turn instruct others. This is called a "ParamparA". Thus, NArAyanA Himself becomes the first AchAryA and the knowledge revealed in the paramparA is nothing but what NArAyanA Himself has revealed. This chain of tradition beginning from SrimanNArAyanA is also known as the"SatSampradAyam". The Sri VaishnavaSampradAyam has Lord NArAyanA as the first AchAryA, followed by His belowed consort 'Sri'(MahALakshmi), Sri Vishvaksenar (Commander in chief of Sri Vaikuntam), Saint ShatakopA (NammAzhvAr), Sri NAthamuni, Sri PundarIkAkshA (UyyakkondAr), Sri RAmamishrA (ManakkAlNambi), Sri YAmunAchAryA, Sri GhoshtiPUrnA (PeriaNambi), Sri Bhagavad RAmAnujA, and so on down to our presentAchAryAs. The srIvaishNavaAchAryaguruparampara is our greatest gift. Meditating upon the salutations to our AchAryAsremind us of their greatness, as well as the qualities that they had, and indirectly this reminds us of the kind of qualities that one needs to aspire to have. The following are the salutations to the lineage of teachers right from the Lord srImannArAyaNa himself all the way to srImaNavALamAmunigaL. The Lord Himself considers srImaNavALamAmunigaL to be his AchArya(evidenced by the salutation, that was composed by ranganAthA himself). Hence, the lineage completes a full circle with the Lord at the top of the list, and the circle completed by the relationship between the Lord and srImaNavALamAmunigaL. The lineage is as follows: 1. srImannArAyaNa (Lord ranganAtha) 2. srIranganAyakiththAyAr 3. srIviSvaksEna 4. srInammAzhvAr (srIsaTakOpa) 5. srImannAdha muni 6. srIpuNdarIkAkshar (srIuyyakkoNdAr) 7. srIrAmamiShra (srImaNakkAlnambi) 8. srImanyAmuna muni (srIAlavandhAr) 9. srImahApUrNa (srIperiyanambi)
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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011 10. srIrAmAnuja (emperumAnAr) 11. srIembAr (srIgOvindabhattar) 12. srIparAsarabhattar (11a. srIkUrattAzhvAn) 13. srInanjIyar 14. srInampiLLai 15. srIvadakku-th-thiruveedhippiLLai 16. srIpiLLailOkAchAriAr (15b. srIperiyavAchchAnpiLLai) 17. srIthiruvAymozhippiLLai 18. srImaNavALamAmunigaL 19. back to Lord ranganAtha We could see about every Aazhwaar and Aachaaryan as per the prescribed order in the Guru Parampara Sloka from the next edition. But still, for a start, we need to know about the Aazhwaar who was certified as the asset (soththu) of NamPerumal himself. Swami NAM-AAZHWAAR. To start with, we would understand how and when ThenKurugoorNambiShatakopan gained the name of Nam-Aazhwaar. It was around the mid-16th Century, India was threatened by invasions French, Portuguese, Romans, Turkish. Of these, the most fierce and aggressive were the Turkish infiltrators. After completing vandalising the Northern parts of India, stripping off its wealth, their eyes turned towards the southern states. Especially Tamil Nadu & Karnataka which was well known for its generosity and wealthy atmosphere. Their main aim was to target temples where there were riches in immeasurable quantities and the powers the deities possessed. So, slowly they started attacking each temple on their way looting whatever they could see in front of them, behaving in a cruel way towards women and children, savagely attacking those who opposed them. Another reason for them to invade the temples was, temples were the store house of Sanatana Dharma. Once that was destroyed, the entire Hindu religion would fall and in turn the economy, thereby gaining control of the lands and people. This invasion never left Srirangam too. Srirangam is known to be the reservoir of Sri Vaishnavam. Almost all Aachaaryaas have lived in Srirangam for their entire span of life. Apart from the riches, Srirangam is very well praised by all Aazhwaars for its geographical beauty. Thondai-adi-podiaazhwaar say: vandinammuralumsholai, Mayilinamaadumsholai, kondalmeedhuanavumsholai, kuyilinamkoovumsholai,. So was the geographical beauty of Srirangam. This was, on a particular period attacked by Turkish invaders. Knowing not what to do, the then aachaaryaan of Sri Vaishnavasampradaya Swami PillaiLokhacharyar,
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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011 planned and shifted the moorthys of AzhagiyaManavaalan,SrideviNachiyar and Ubhayanachiyars in a r palanquin to a place called Jyothishkudi, which is roughly located near tirunelveli. tirunelveli.Not withstanding the pains and agony of the mortal body anymore, Swami Ulagaariyan shed the mortals coils at that place by meditating upon the lotus feet of Swami Emperumaanaar, VadakkuThiruveedhiPillai and Swami Nam-Pillai tus Emperumaanaar, amongst the chanting of ThirukurugoorShatagopans 10th Canto Soozhvishumbupaasuram (Here Aazhwar explains the events that happen when a Sri VAishnavan ascends to Peru Veedu Sri Vaikuntam). AzhagiyaManavaalan stayed there for some period. Owing to the alleged traitors to AzhagiyaManavalan, Sri Vaishnavas had to vacate the caves of Jyotishkudi and travel north towards Kerala DivyaDesam. After 7 10 years of drifting, AzhagiyaManavalan at last chose the place ThiruKanaambi as his abode. Mean giyaManavalan while, the fear of invasion surrounded the famous AzhwarThirunagar ThiruKurugoor. So, Sri Vaishnavas removed Shatakopan from his natural abode ThiruPuliaazhwaar and took him north where the invasion north, was less. Both Sheshan and Sheshi met at the place ThiruKinaambi. AzhagiyaManavaalan was only too happy to see his great bakthan near him. Using one of the archakaaas giyaManavaalan 9priests) as his mouth-piece, the Emperumaan said: piece, Nam-Aazhwaaryainamarugiliruthavum (Make OUR* Aazhwaar seat near us). namarugiliruthavum * - here OUR is a singular word which represents AzhagiyaManavaalan.
That was how Sri Shatakopan got the name Nam Nam-Aazhwaar.Later, Nam-Aazhwaar was restored back in Thiru Aazhwaar ThiruKurugoor under his natural abode with the efforts of Swami VilancholaiPillai, ThiruvaaimozhiPillai and other kings of Thiruvaangoor (presently travncore / Trivandram) and also AzhagiyaManavaalan set his foot steps towards Srirangam. But, how did Nam-Aazhwaarmak his way to Kurugoor? How did AzgiyaManavaalan gain the name Nam-Perumaal? Aazhwaarmak Kurugoor? The same would follow in the later editions. Now, a brief history of Nam-aazhwaars, his works and teaching. aazhwaars,

DIVINE BIRTH :
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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011 Aazhwars are blessed with MayarvaraMadhinalam( Divine bliss ), by SrimanNarayana to preach bhakthi in this world , thereby carving a path to attain his lotus feet. Nammazhwar is regarded as the thalaivar of all the 12 Aazhwars. He was born to Kaari Udayanangaiyar. Udayanangaiyar belong to Thiruvanparisaaram( Keraladivyadesam, situated in the border of Tamilnadu Kerala, near Nagarcoil ). The couple pleaded the emperumaan of Thirukurungudi, for the grant of a child to them. Pleasing to their wish Thirukurungudinambi himself born as Nammazhwar. He was born in the 43rd year after the start of Kali Yugam, in the tamil month of Vaikasi, on Vishakanakshatram in a full moon day, in a place called Thirukurugoor( nearTirunelveli ). Thirukurugoor is also regarded as AazhwarThirunagari. He was born with the functionalities of Sri Kausthubam( Chain of SrimanNarayana ) and functionalities Vishwaksenar ( SenaiMudhaliyar ). waiting for Aazhwars birth.

Before his birth, Thiruvanthaazhwan made his birth as a peeple tree in Thirukurugoor and was

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AAZHWARS EARLY DAYS :

Aazhwars birth was as same as all other children, but after birth aazhwars activities were so strange to normal ones . During the 7th month of childs pregnancy, an air called SADAM, surrounds the baby thus vanishing the knowledge of atman. When Aazhwar was born , with anger he just smashed the layer of sadam (air ) , and hence regarded as Sadakopan . After his birth unlike other children, he didnt cry for milk, water and so on. Since his activities were so strange ( Maariiruthal in tamil ), he is also regarded as Maaran. After that his parents bought up aazhwar under the shelter of the peeple tree in Thirukurugoor. He didnt talk, nor did cry, even didnt open his eyes, but life was there. His parents thought him as a divine birth and so they worshiped Polindunindrapiran of Thirukurugoor, for the betterment of their children. SenaiMudhaliyar, himself with the order of SrimanNarayana, performed PanchaSamskaram and delievered him all the vaishnavamanthras. For 16 years Aazhwar was under the peeple tree with his gnyanamudhra in his hand. At that time ,MadhurakaviAazhwar ( born in Thirukoloor, Tirunelveli ), who was in north was admired by a bright lusture in the sky. When he was following the light, it landed down in Thirukurugoor, near the Aazhwar.

MADURAKAVI NAMMAZHWAR :
MadhurakaviAazhwar was so fascinated seeing Nammazhwar in that posture. To check whether Aazhwar was alive or not, Madhurakavi threw a small stone on Aazhwar. After 16 years, Nammazhwars eyes got opened. To test his speaking skill, he asked him a question. sethatthinvayitrilsiriyadupirandaletthaithindruengaekidakum ?? His question was, that where will be the atman belonging to the body lie and what will it experience. Aazhwar replied atthaithindruangaekidakum ! Which means, the atman experiences the papam( sins ) and puniyam related to that body and lies there itself. Madhurakavi was so happy by the answer delivered by Azhwar and from then became a disciple to him.

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AAZHWARS PRABHANDAM WORK:

SrimanNaryana then decided to preach Bhakthi to people on earth through Aazhwar. Bhakthi Along with Garudan and his consort Mahalakshmi, Perumal gave his divyadarshan to Aazhwar under the peeple tree of Thirukurugoor. Unlike other Aazhwars, he didnt travel anywhere to sing songs about SrimanNaryana. SrimanNarayana himself visited Aazhwar in the form of various divyadesams, and got nNarayana mangalasaasanams from Aazhwar. His tamilprabhandams were equaled with the Sanskrit Vedas. By that way came the four prabhandams : Thiruviruttam (100 Rig Vedam ) Thiruvaasiriyam ( 7 YajurVedam ) PeriaThiruvandadi ( 87 AtharvanaVedam ) Thiruvaaimozhi ( 1102 Saamavedam ) His whole life was devoted ( including his songs ) to lord Krishna, and hence he is regarded as *KRISHNA THRISHNA THATVAM* .

SATHGURU PAHI

Sri MadhusudananUppili
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SRI VAISHNAVA GURU PARAMPARA

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Efforts to grasp the limitless:

You may ask me as to why my title is a parody. Some may even think Ive lost my mind for coming with a topic like this. I dont deny the fact that a limitless thing could never be grasped. Grasping as in knowing completely, understanding or at least to know where something ends. But when we sit hours together and speak about understanding God and and his Magnificence, its the same parody - we are trying to grasp the limitless. Though limitless and ungraspable, we cannot deny the fact that we are intrigued by the Entity called God and we desire to know more about it. Attempts at grasping it..... Internet is a vast limitless area, where when we desire to browse something of our wish, the internet provides us with the relevant material. To channelize our wish and to receive whatever material the internet provides us with, we need something called a browser. The browser must be compatible enough to the material (required site) to be viewed and browsed. Even with a browser we need an ISP to connect with the internet. Though Internet is vast and nobody controls it on the whole, there are laid rules called protocols for communication and data retrieval to avoid confusion. Internet being limitless could only be grasped by experience with the internet and by understanding its intricacies. So to understand something like Internet we need: 1) Browser 2) ISP (internet service provider) 3) Protocols Doing a comparative study with the Entity with God, there also we need three similar things: 1) Faith 2) Guru - Teacher 3)Shaastras - set rules

FAITH - the browser: To understand God or to at leastchannelize its immense compassion, we need faith and that too compatible faith. By compatible faith i mean, faith that not waver even when put to difficult situations. Faith channelizes our prayers to God. Without faith there is no prayer. His eternal compassiongrants our prayers through the faith. There is adage which reads "faith wrought more things than the world could ever imagine". What can be done by faithshould not be put to discussion. Only the believer can wield faith and only he can wield it to do things not thought of as possible. Faith is a beautiful and the most powerful tool in this world. How faith possible achieves the goal or how The Compassion is channelized answer to that particular prayer is a stupid question, as the very questioning speaks of lack of faith. but still we may try to answer the question later.
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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011

Guru - Internet Service Provider A guru is an initiator, teacher, guide and trusted adviser who connects us with God. He is the one that first initiates the idea of God in us. He teaches us the magnificence of IT, guides us to be receptacles of The Compassion, and advises in the dos and donts and what not. Consider a treasure hidden in a dark room. Light helps in seeing what obstacles are there between ourselves and the treasure, how to circumvent them. It also shows us where the treasure is and leads us to it. Without Light reaching the treasure is impossible. So is a Guru, without whom the path, obstacle, how to cross the obstacle and the treasure are not known or clearly understood. Shaastras - set rules though God is limitless and can be approached in any way, rules are laid down by people who have tread this path before, make our job simple and more time saving. So rules are to be followed to reach the goal easier and earlier. Such rules are the Shaastras given by great sages detailing Do s and donts in many proceedings and also the modus operandi of duties to be done to reach the goal.

Sri. Adith H.S

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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011

REALISATION
All of us, one day or the other would have stepped upon a rugged path filled with stones, boulders, rocks, desserts, thorns. We very well know the effects of what would happen if we hit ourselves on a boulder or ran a thorn in our foot. Yet, we take risk ourselves to take that treacherous route which would lead to nowhere. Apart from the fact that the journey is too long and has a definite indefinite end, we choose to take this way to reach our destination. Once there were two people who dared to take their journey through this path. The first person imperturbably comes inside this path without carrying any pre-requisites for him like clothes, water, slippers, an umbrella and more of all the universal elixir of life WATER. On the other hand, the second person is a wise one. He had heard about this long path from many long bearded people and read about this from many old papers who have crossed this path unaffected even by a single uncertainty. Hence, before starting, he prepared himself physically and mentally. He collected all the necessary articles from the sanctuary of his revered teacher and set for the journey. And so it began. The two started their journey together, walked the long path. Hours passed, Days passed, Months passed, Years passed they were nowhere near to the end. The first person crossed many hurdles. His skin tarred by the hot scorching sun, clothes soiled from dust & earth, hairs matted due to blowing wind, suffering from thirst, attacked upon by several spatial objects (meteors, birds, etc.). But the second person does not find any problem in the path. Is he a mad??? thinks the first man. Wherever he goes, he takes it in a tranquil manner. He faces many problems, YES. But, he is not affected by them, coz, he is very much prepared. He has an umbrella to protect him from wind, sun and space. He has got water to quench his thirst and spare clothes to keep himself a new prince all time. Now, they reach a paradise where they find all kinds of essentials needed to run their life. Beautiful ladies, wit-full kids, delicious food to appease their stomach, neatly tailored clothes, a magnificent villa to stay in. they stay there and enjoy it for a few days. Suddenly, a fine morning, they seem to be lying under the shade of a boulder. They have again come to the long perfidious path. The first person mourns Oh!! Was it all a dream Whereas the second person says Oh!! That was something. Come, lets continue our path They again continue in the unwinding path at last to see a nine headed monster waiting to eat anyone who crosses it. The first person tried to supress the monster himself, but he got himself supressed and was made a slave by it (monster). But the second person, wise, after all he had heard about this mind curdling monster from those white & matted bearded people, took an invisibility cloak, threw it over him, escaped from the sight of the monster without even being harmed a bit. Finally he reached the Golden Gates where he was destined to reach. Seeing his humble nature, the monster surrendered itself to that 2nd person and declared to be his (2nd persons) slave henceforth. OOOHHHHHH. What a story.!!!!! Just wait. We are not done with it yet. Do you this this a fiction??? Naa

ITS OUR OWN STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011 Shocked? Surprised? Incredible? Yes... It is. The first person is none other than the one who does not have any self-control, or bhagavath Smaranai or Naama japam or the most important of all Guru Bhakti & Bhagavath Sharanagathi.Whereas the second person has all things which a Mumukshu (a Jeevathma who is interested in Moksha / Mukthi / ultimate liberation). He had an umbrella (Bhagavath Bhakti) which protected him from the 3 Indhriyaas wind, sun and space. He had water (Naama Japam) which made him forget his thirst, thus winning over the 4th Indhriyaa. And also he had new spare clothes (Guru Kataksham), which made him shed his soiled clothes and glitter as a newly polished diamond. He entered the paradise, enjoyed life, thereby fulfilling his karma and not getting away from it. He was in that place physically, but detached from it pleasures mentally, just like water drops on a lotus leaf. Whereas the first person was involved deeply in its pleasures both physically and mentally, just like sugar dissolved in water. He was inseparable from it, which lead to his mourning when the paradise disappeared. The last obstacle was the Monster, the mind and its thoughts. First person tries to control & supress it, he believed in his own ability to control it. Virtually he failed becoming a slave for it. The second person was humble, he never believed on the syllable I, as he knew he was Null & Void. Hence he took refuge & surrendered to his Guru and Bhagavan. The joint hands of Guru & Bhagavan acted as an invisibility cloak on him, obviously shielding him from his thoughts (here the Indhriyaas). At last, eventually, he found the destination he ought to, entered the Golden Gates of Mukthi Samraajyam and merged with the Infinite But?? What happened about the first person? Oh No!!! Forgot about him His condition is Start from Scratch. I pray for that soul AAhhhhhhhhhh After all these times Sorry... Let US pray for that soul. Also, let us take it as a lesson to do as the Mumukshu did. It might be difficult but it is NOT impossible. This is the only way we can get saved by our Guru and Bhagavan & get us released from this Bheema Bhava Aarnavam Unconquerable Ocean of Samsaaraa.

Sath Guru Paahi.

Sri. RamKumar.N

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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011

MAHA BHAKTHA VIJAYAM

Let the all-mighty Sathgurun control me from within. MahaBhakthaVijayam is a compilation of greatness of Bhagavaan Shri Pandurnangan residing at the banks of Chandrabhaganadi in Pandarpur and the greatness of his bhakthajans who are called as Bhagavathas. Here through the life history of the beatified personas, Bhagavathas, Lord Pandurangan tries to teach the ignoramus commoners; of what is the goal of life? What are the different ways of achieving it? And among the various ways etched by our ancestors and those quoted in our sacred texts, which is the easiest? As Dharma Putra asked Bheeshma, when the later was in his death bed: Kim ekamdaivathamloka, kimvaapekamparayanam. Kim japannmuchyathaerjanthurjanma samsara bandhanaath. (Who has to be praised? Who is the Almighty and All-Pervading? By chanting whose name, will we be freed from the cycles of births and deaths and reach the supreme abode of Moksha?) And that which can be followed in this world, given the situation (Kaliyug). Again there are different ways of performingBakthi which we find from various life histories of mahaBhakthas including the Nayanmaars of the Shivaist cult and the Aazhwaars of the Vaishnavist cult. In the life histories of the various bhagavathas in BhakthaVijayam we find one thing in common. That is none other than Naama Sankeerthan, this is the clue that is already been hinted by our erudite ancestors. Bhagavan Pandarinaadan also illustrates the same fact to the commoners, and he answers all the questions stated above through the lives of the Mahrastrian Saints. As Bhagavan Sri Krishna paramaathma advices Arjun by Gita Upadesh
SarvadharmanParityajya Mam EkamSaranamVraja | AhamtvaSarvaPapebhyoMokshayishyamiMasuchaha ||

The point that is being made through these verses as understood by me is, bhakthi is the only way to attain the Gods lotus feet and it is all above other saadanaas. One who completely surrenders at his lotus feet is to be atoned of all sins and would be liberated from this mundane world. This sloka is also decoded in this fashion; Interestingly, there are 32 Brahma Vidyas in the Upanishads. The two parts of this sloka has 32 alphabets each, adding up to 64 alphabets overall. Maybe it illustrates how this sloka is doubly effective than all 32 Brahma Vidyas put together. Giving a brief introduction of the history of Pandarpur and Pandurangan. There was a merchant named Pundarigan in the town which was later known to be Pandarpur named after the residing dietyPandurangan. Pandarigans parents became old and he thought that they were a road block to his prosperity. Because of this he decided to drive them out. Fortunately for them, they could join a group of poor devotees who were going to Varanasi by foot. Later Pundarigan himself undertook the pilgrimage to Varanasi but in horse drawn chariots. He crossed on his way, his parents but did not even bother to enquire about them. After some time, while they were resting in the banks of a river, they met Rohit Das a
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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011 cobbler in his hermitage. Rohit das, though extremely poor was taking care of his parents disregarding his own comforts. Pundarigan that night saw three ugly women taking bath in the pond of the hermitage and rising up as divine beings. On enquiry they told him that they werethe rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Godavari who had to bear the load of sins left by people who took bath in them. They got cleansed by coming to the Hermitage of Rohit Das who was looking after his parents. A sea of change descended on Pundarigan. He returned back, begged for forgiveness from his parents and spent all his time in looking after them. One day Maha Vishnu took the form of a cowherd and went to the house of Pundarigan. He was told by Pundarigan that he was busy in looking after his parents. Lord Vishnu, informed him, who he was but Pundarigan said that he was busy even for the Lord. He gave Lord Vishnu a brick to stand till he finished looking after his parents. Lord Vishnu blessed him and decided to stay there. That place is Pandarpur. He is called Vittala (brick) because he stood on the brick. Even today we can see Pandurangan present at the Sree Kovil along with his parivaaras. Having said there are number of mahrashtrian saints, I was a bit confused from where to start. By His grace I choose to start it from none other than the abhang written by ShanmadaSthaapanchaaryar Sri AdiShankaraBhagawatPaadal. This great prayer has been written by AdiSankara the incarnation of Lord Maheswar is extolling the virtues of the Deity of Pandarpur in Maharashtra. This has eight stanzas, so called as Pandurangashtakam, named after Pandurangan. This is often quoted to be the first and the prime abhangams written on Panduranga.

..

I worship that Panduranga, who is the complete Brahman, one who is the source of immense happiness, and who stays in the great seat of yoga, in the banks of Bheema, Along with great seers to fulfil the boon to Pundarigan. And as the DakshinaBhajana Sampradaayaa chants: Kaloukalmashachittaanaam, papa-travyopajeevinaam, Vidhikriyaamviheenaanaam, GathihiGovindaNamaSamkeerthanam. (In this age of Kali, where people fight for every small thing, when people war among themselves, When there is no hope for you to survive in this disastrous world, O Mind!!! take your only refuge in GovindaNamaSamkeerthanam.) GOVINDAM PARAMA AANANDAM
Sri Guru Krupa. N

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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011

TEN COMMANDMENTS OF PARAMACHARYA

1. One of our duties as human beings is to avail ourselves of every opportunity to do good to others. The poor can serve others by their loyal work to the country and the rich by their wealth to help the poor. Those who are influential can use their influence to better the condition of the lowly. That way we can keep alive in our hearts a sense of social service. 2. Man by himself cannot create even a blade of grass. We will be guilty of gross ingratitude if we do not offer first to God what we eat or wear only the best and choicest should be offered to Him. 3. Life without love is a waste. Everyone should cultivate Prema or love towards all human beings, bird and beast. 4. Wealth amassed by a person whose heart is closed to charity, is generally dissipated by the inheritors: but the family of philanthropists will always be blessed with happiness. 5. A person who has done a meritorious deed will lose the resulting merit if he listens to the praise of others or himself boasts of his deeds. 6. It will do no good to grieve over what has happened. If we learn to discriminate between good and evil, that will guard us from falling into the evil again. 7. We should utilize to good purpose, the days of our life-time. We should engage ourselves in acts, which will contribute to the welfare of others rather than to our selfish desires. 8. We should perform duties that have been prescribed for our daily life and also be filled with devotion to God. 9. One attains ones goal by performance of ones duties. 10. Jnana is the only solvent of our troubles and sufferings.

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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011

VEDA SAMRAKSHANAM OUR DUTY

Vedas, our holy scriptures, are called Nigama. They lead us to the Ultimate, thus the name. Their importance is even more stressed when they are called the Breath of God or the Bhagavad aajna. God himself says in Vishnu Puranam, Srutismrutimamaivaajnaayad tad ullanghyavartate ! Ajnaacchedhe mama drohi mat bhaktopinavaishnava: !! --- Vishnu (The rulings of the Vedas or Sastras are my own. One who does not follow them is considered a drohi by me. He can never be a Vaishnava or a bhaktha.) Gitaacharyan further more stresses this point in Bhagavad Gita, Yah Sastravidhimutsrijyavartatekaamakaaratah ! nasasiddhimavaapnotinasukhamnaparaamgatim !! tasmaatsaastrampramaanamtekaryaakaryavyavasthitau! jnaatvaaSaastravidhinoktam karma kartumihArhasi !! -----Bhagavad Gita - 16.23-24 (One who does not follow Saastras gains not Sukham or Siddhi or paramagati. Sastras are the authority to classify the dos and donts. Therefore know the Sastras and then do karma.) The divinity of the Vedas needs no more proof. Scientifically also, the Veda mantras have power, is proved. Every sound had its own specific effect in the physical world. Scientists, in an experiment, played certain notes in certain order again and again near a lake. Light refracted particle by particle above the lake and specific formations could be seen for specific order and notes. This is enough scientific proof that specific Vedic chants have specific Divine forms and they could be revealed to the chanter. This Ultimate knowledge Vedas and along with the knowledge of other arts and sciences were given to the Brahmin class for the protection and proper propagation of them. The Brahmin class formed the brain of the society. The held the responsibility of the Culture and custom protection through imparting knowledge to the society. In Tamil the Vedas are called, Ezhudaakilavi. In Sanskrit they are named the Sruti. Sruti is something that is to be heard. It is to be taught vocally and learnt through listening and by hearting the same, so the name Sruti. It can never be done as a part time job. Vedas where taught in a fashion where one person chants the hymns, word by word and the others repeat them twice, thus creating a Vedic charged atmosphere. Through this tradition, the great ocean of knowledge, Vedas had been protected and propagated vocally till the end of last century. There is no more greater sin than to destroy the efforts of a very ancient tradition or not to do the God given duty. Thus, we see that Veda Samrakshanam forms a part of a Brahmins life. Our lives become fruitful this way. Today we have changed our ways and drifted far from the brahminical way of life that, we are not able to
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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011 perform this commitment demanding duty. Even if we dont find time to study Vedas and impart them to others, we can contribute to the Samrakshanam by at least doing the nityakarma prescribed to us by the Vedas and by socially and monetarily supporting those who do the God given duty amidst all obstacles. Even if not for all above reasons, Vedonithyamadhiyataamtadutitam karma: sadhaanushtyataam Is how the SaadhanaPanchakam of Sri Bhagavatpada starts. In his advice to what to do to attain the divine, he starts with Study the Vedas daily and practice that which is said in it We should do this duty as a tribute to our revered Guru Sri Bhagavatpada, to whom we owe our being Hindus and Sanatanis. Our scriptures dictate that a Guru should be given paramount importance. Thus his words should also be acceded such importance. Loka: SamastaSukhinoBhavantu Sri GurubhyoNama:

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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011

MANGALAM
The greatness of lord hanuman is boundless. We will be able to understand about the greatness of lord hanuman and the blessings he bestows on his devotees from this sloka. We will be able to know about the kind of blessings that lord hanuman bestows on the persons who meditates upon him. He provides the person Buddhihi : knowledge Balam: Power Yashaha:Fame Dhairyam: Courage, strength for initiatives Nirbhayatvam:Fearlessness Arogatha: Illness free health Ajadhyam: Lack of foolishness: High mental agility Vakpatuthvam: Good Oratory skills Bhaveth: Will happen (Will be bestowed upon the individual) Hanumathsmaranath : By Praying to hanuman All these characters for the one who meditates upon him. He is a person who showers all (shreyas) and good characters to his devotee. The reason behind this is that, we can see the contradicting characters and powers present in the same person - Hanuman. The characters that which we think are contradicting to each other are present in him, naturally. For example, a strong and mighty person will not be humble. An intelligent a person will not have an egoless bakthi. Hanuman is not only extraordinary in his might, intelligence, but also in being humble and egoless. In spite of being so mighty he considered everything as Lord Ramas blessings and remained to be his servant without asking for any post or honour. He was highly contended being a slave to his master. People who have bakthi, generally do not understand gyanam(knowledge) or in other words they do not take up the gyanamargam and remain either as blind bakthi or morattubakthi. At times they use to fight claiming that bakthi and gyanam are different. But Hanuman remained to be a great Rama bakthan, though he was a great gyani. The only person who is master in strength, knowledge, humble, service, might is Lord Hanuman. Above all this is his, brahmachari. He has never given room for even a moment time for love / desire . He has not thought or asked anything for him. He lived his life without any desire by just serving his master Lord Ram. We call him as hanumaar,in Karnataka he is called as hanumanthaya, to the north of chithoor in Andhra Pradesh it is called as aanjaneyalu, as maruthi in Maharashtra and towards the north he is called as Mahaveer. Hanuman is unparallel to others, we would gain gyanam, strength, braveness, and desires would be broken into pieces. Let us all do bagawathseva with great humbleness. Lord Hanuman comes to all those places wherever ramanamam is chanted or the songs in praise of Rama is sung.
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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011

Let us all pray to him in order to spread dharma all over the world. Anjaneya Swami ki JAI !! - Sri Venkataraman Ravi

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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011

SATHGURU DARSHANAM TEAM

Not always a person could be correct. Hence, we would like to get your valuable comments, suggestions and criticisms. The names of the team members and their contact details have been attached below. Do send your comments and queries. Or you could forward your comments to sathgurudarshanam@gmail.com.

S.NO:

NAME

E-MAIL ID

EDITORS 1. AdithHariharasubramanium 2. Shankar Subramaniam CO-EDITORS 1. Guru krupa Narayanan 2. Madhusudanan CONTRIBUTORS 1. Venkatraman Ravi 2. Hari ganesh 3. RamKumar Nandakumar VOLUNTEERS / SUPPORTERS 1. Pramod Narayan 2. Bagavatheswaran 3. Ajay Krishnan 4. Gopalakrishnan 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Kishanbhat Vigneshjayabalan Shyam Siddarth VilasiniRamanujan Manoj Mandela Muneswaran S

hsa.khs16@gmail.com shanksu88@gmail.com ngkrips@gmail.com madhuuppili@gmail.com venkatramanravi92@gmail.com hariganeshkrish@gmail.com vseprs@gmail.com murugar60@gmail.com bhagavathy89@gmail.com sastraajay@gmail.com go.krishh@gmail.com kish1991@gmail.com vigneshjayabalan@gmail.com shyam.sidd@gmail.com vilssundar@gmail.com munieeswaran@gmail.com

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[SATHGURU DARSHANAM] December 10, 2011

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