Does ego block learning?

Among all elements of material nature, ego (ahamkara) is probably the most essential for the stability of the universe. As the Bhagavata Purana tells us, Sri Krishna himself encloses the universe with ego (and the other elements of material nature) when he decides to create the universe for his divine play.

Ego blocks learning by giving us a false feeling of being knowledgeable. And as soon as our mind registers, “I know,” we involuntarily but clearly signal Devi Sarasvati, the Goddess of Learning, that we are no longer prepared to receive more data from her. Though ego has the potential to block learning in both worldly and spiritual subject areas, our mechanisms for trusting our mentors and receiving sattvic information from the environment are more strongly hurt when our ego expands. This also implies that people who are prone to thinking that they play bigger roles in society, including bureaucrats, celebrities (okay, not all of them), and self-promoting religious preachers, may find it more difficult to become true students of spirituality.

Because jnana (spiritual knowledge) can help us transcend ego, jnana is considered ego’s only enemy and is sometimes defined as the absence of ego. As we recognize Rama as the Real Doer, the Absolute Reality, or our Sole Refuge, mineness is transcended on its own.

Contemporary Jyotish: Can malefics be beneficial?

Astrological counseling over the centuries has trained our psyche to dread the “malefic” frequencies of Mars, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu and the “bad” houses (dusthanas). But the fact is that if your thinking differs from what was labeled “ideal” in medieval India, when many classics of Jyotish were written, selected “malefic” influences may be especially supportive for you.

1. Natural malefics rule over technological advancement. Today, many students select professions that are signified by these planets.
2. Now that people do not equate living overseas with an exile, separation from the motherland, often related to planetary placements in dusthanas, may be desirable by motivated professionals.
3. If you are not a follower of traditions but enjoy your own research, placement of a planet or two in a dusthana may not be so bad.
4. Some people can earn more and contribute more to society with a screwdriver and a wrench (Saturnine) than by a pen and an accounts ledger (Mercurian). What is more important than fearing “malefics” is to learn how to use their energies for advantageous work.
5. We no longer live in a society where preaching (Jupiterian) is the finest profession and everything involving hard work and technical skills (Saturn/Mars) is despised. (If you prefer doing to preaching, you may already be receiving Saturnine influences.)
6. In about half of all astrological charts, the so called natural “benefics” (Jupiter, Mercury, and Venus) assume the role of malefics to persistently create problems. Astrologers use the term “functional malefic” to reflect this.
7. If Jupiter (the top benefic) is charitable, optimistic, and expansive, Saturn, the most feared malefic, is disciplined, realistic, and impartial. Does this sound unfavorable?

Ganesha: His Eight Names

Diwali, the festival of light, gives us another major opportunity to welcome the grace of Ganesha in our lives. While Ganesha’s remembrance can grant us learning in the areas of our choice, induce spirituality in our hearts, and rid our lives from hypocrisy and dishonesty, he can also purge our material suffering and give us comforts and luxuries.

According to the Brahmavaivarta Purana, the word Ganesha stands for the supreme lord of both spiritual knowledge (jnana) and liberation (mukti). While Ekadanta means “the possessor of a single tusk,” it also refers to “the most powerful,” an unsurprising quality for the kid of Shakti. He is called Heramb, for he nurtures and protects the weak and the three worlds. As Vighnanayak, he removes all obstacles. Ganesha is remembered as Lambodar for his big belly, which confirms that he wholeheartedly accepts all the Laddus that his devotees offer him. Because he has large ears to listen to our prayers, he known as Shurpakarna. His ears represent knowledge and bless his devotees with riches. His elephant-faced appearance, which resembles Omkar, makes him Gajanana. Finally, he is known as Guhagraja for being the elder brother of Kartikaye.

Happy Diwali!

*Ganesha has many more names. This group of eight is based on a stotra from the abovementioned Purana.

Mother Durga: The Ocean of Grace

Is anyone in the universe more forgiving and benevolent than Mother Goddess Durga? Actually, this is a trick question. If you worship a different form of God or belong to a different faith, you may argue that your favorite form or concept of the Divine has more compassion. But once you try to understand who Para Shakti is, your assumption of calling anyone else more merciful may not be reasonable, though your favorite form of God can be equally compassionate. Let me try to explain why.

When the worshippers of Shakti remember her for being compassionate, they use prayers like, “We bow to the Mother who is present as forgiveness in all beings.¹ We bow to the Mother who is kindness in all beings.² We bow to the Mother who is Power in all beings.³” Accordingly, through such mantras, devotees of Shakti do not worship a superhuman being who is extremely compassionate, but they offer their reverence to the sum total of all mercy, power, knowledge, and consciousness in the universe and the source of all divine qualities — personified as their Mother.

Happy Navaratri!

[1]Ya devi sarvabhuteshu kshanti rupen samsthitah. Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah.
[2]Ya devi sarvabhuteshu daya rupen samsthitah. Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah.
[3]Ya devi sarvabhuteshu shakti rupen samsthitah. Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah.

How Barbareek became Khatu Shyamji

Thousands of years ago, Barbareek, the mystical child of Ghatotkacha, was born with curly hair and reached adolescence shortly after birth. In order to gain guidance towards dharma, he turned to Lord Krishna, who named him suhridaya (“beautiful hearted”), instructed him on the duties of a warrior, and told him to worship Shakti to obtain power. Barbareek was successful in his devotion and was blessed by Shakti with more physical strength than anyone else. At some point, he even defeated Bhima in a tussle and had to be stopped by Lord Shiva to protect Bhima from being thrown into the ocean. When Barbareek learned that Bhima was his grandfather, he reached the depth of despair and thought of ending his own life. But a form of Shakti saved him and predicted, “Your body will soon be destroyed by Krishna.”

When the Pandavas (Barbareek’s paternal family) were preparing for the Mahabharata war, Barbareek visited them and showed the divine weapons that he possessed. He said, “I can finish the war in a moment. I’ll just pull the bow once, and my unfailing arrow will annihilate all the opponents and return back to me.” Immediately after Barbareek displayed his invincibility, Krishna did something unexpected; he beheaded Barbareek with his chakra.¹ When the Pandavas asked Krishna about the reason behind this action, the Lord explained that he had simply redeemed Barbareek from a curse given by Brahma in Barbareek’s previous life. Besides, Krishna probably found it necessary to eliminate all rakshasas from earth to protect human beings. Nor could he let dharma be overpowered.²

Though Barbareek’s body lived no more, his devotion for Krishna showed its radiance. Krishna asked Goddess Chandika to dip his devotee’s head in nectar and immortalize it “like Rahu’s head.” Krishna blessed Barbareek, “You will be remembered on earth forever, and your head will be worshipped by human beings in my name.” Today, he is worshipped at a famous temple in Rajasthan as Khatu Shyamji.³

[1] This detail is from the Skanda Purana; another version says that Krishna asked for his head in charity.

[2] It is said that Barbareek had already vowed to support whoever was the “weaker side” in the war, not the righteous side.

[3] Shyam is another name for Krishna.

Lord Ganesha: Our savior from obstacles

In daily life, Ganesha is remembered in marriages, worships, and auspicious functions so that unforeseen happenings can be prevented. Obstacles may range from the late arrival of the event manager to disagreeable “friends” and relatives and from simple health problems to unavoidable circumstances, summarized as “acts of God.” Such hurdles, which are easily perceptible to us, can be categorized as occurring at the physical level of existence.

Obstacles at the mental plane may include emotional stress, recalling of discouraging memories from the past, lack of clarity, and activation of our tamas instincts, which force us to consider the wrong to be righteous. As the bestower of buddhi (intellect), Ganesha can protect us from these limitations as well.

For spiritual seekers who know how to control their mind in meditation and have gained perfection in pranayama, obstacles may take the form of siddhis or other similar deflections from the true goal of spirituality. Obstacles on the spiritual plane are so strong and difficult to decipher that we may never realize their grip on us. But, again, devotion to Ganesha can save us from getting lured towards materialism during yoga and prayer. His devotion is considered sufficient for focus in spirituality and the alignment of all karma with auspiciousness (righteousness).

Happy Ganesha Chaturthi!

Krishna: The Eighth Incarnation of Vishnu

To continually guide humanity towards himself, Lord Vishnu followed his incarnation as Rama with that of Lord Krishna, who was born on the eighth day (waning fortnight) of the lunar month Bhadrapada, which is celebrated all across the Hindu world as Janmashtami. For most followers of Sanatana Dharma, Krishna, the author of the Bhagavada Gita, is the guru of the universe and the sole savior.

Krishna has arguably been the favorite form of God for Hindus on the path of Bhakti. Many devotional saints over the last few centuries have claimed to have seen the Divine in person as Krishna, who happens to be a divine flutist and dancer, the possessor of the Sudarshana Chakra, the chariot driver of Arjuna, and a cow-herder – all at the same time. The impact of his divine plays on the Hindu world can be seen from the fact that the devotional schools of Nimbarka, Vallabha, and Chaitanya, along with numerous other bhakti saints, consider Krishna not only an incarnation but the source of all incarnations — who also manifests as the Hindu trinity.

Astrologically, Krishna is related to the moon, the significator of the mind. Whether we talk about Krishna’s foster parents, Yashoda and Nand, the gopis, the bhakti saints, or modern day devotees and jnana yogis, we can easily see how Krishna has attracted the devotional mind. His incarnation probably represents perfection in devotional spirituality where nothing but his memories fill our mind to get rid of everything else.

Happy Janmashtami!

Yoga: What is Antahkarana?

Antahkarana refers to our inner faculty responsible for all our mental functions. As the Viveka-chudamani tells us, it is characterized by four distinct behaviors. When it expresses its quality of uncertainty, it is called the manas (ignorant/emotional/sense mind). The term highlights the mind’s ability to easily find dilemma, get tempted, and engage in distrust. When the antahkarana makes firm decisions and arrives at a conclusion, it is called buddhi (intellect). When it recalls memories from the past and then ponders over what it likes the most, it is known as the chitta (subconscious mind). And finally, when it maintains its mineness and places itself above everything and everyone else, antahkarana is called ahamkaar (ego).

While ego has been classified as a part of the antahkarana, it is the originator of all other constituents of material nature. According to the model of cosmic creation in the Bhagavata Purana, the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space), manas, and intellect are created from the ego, which, along with these material components, encloses the universe. Moreover, transcending the ego remains the everlasting objective of spirituality. Luckily, it starts disappearing with every chant of the Supreme Soul’s name and is totally lost by the time we reach him.

Can we praise Rama?

In the Ramacharitamansa, Goswami Tulasidasa says that his Lord, Sri Rama, is beyond comparison and “Rama is only comparable to Rama.” This implies that all the metaphors and adjectives that we use in our glorification of the Divine are false or incomplete. “If one compares the Sun to a billion fireflies, it is, in fact, a criticism of the Sun,” for the Sun is nothing like them but much more. But we make this mistake everyday and will continue to do so, for we (this includes all saints and rishis) can never have the right words to describe the Unknowable.

Still, as Tulasidasa continues, it is the Lord’s grace that he accepts the love in our praise and feels contended on listening to our words that do not truly describe him. Because of his grace, he understands our limitations, which are created by the effect of his own maya on us, accepts our prayers and devotional actions, and continually guides us so that we may build a factual foundation in spirituality.

Shiva as Rameshwaram: Guidance for Hanuman

As soon as Lord Rama returned to India after defeating Ravana, a few sages, headed by Rishi Agastya, advised him to establish a Shivalinga that would be remembered by his name. Accordingly, Rama scheduled an auspicious time and asked Lord Hanuman to bring a Shivalinga from the Kailasa Parvat. As expected, Hanuman started off for the Himalayas with great enthusiasm. But Shiva, who probably wanted to initiate a divine play, took his time in appearing before Hanuman. Because a Shivalinga had to be established before the set deadline, Rama placed another Shivalinga, which Goddess Sita had built, at the destined location. He then hit the earth with his bow to create a well and offered its water in the new temple.

When Hanuman returned with a beautiful statue, he saw that Rameshwaram had already been established. With slight despair, Hanuman said, “It appears that my effort has turned futile.” Sensing that Hanuman is feeling ignored, Rama responded, “I know the karma of every being that has been born or will be born. Do not let the slightest gloominess reach your mind, for all sorrows are a hindrance to jnana. Instead, focus on your eternal self-illuminating soul. Once you establish yourself in oneness with the Supreme Soul, you will see that all your actions are my own and all my actions are your own. Please perceive that the Shivalinga which I have established has also been placed by you.” Finally, Rama said, “Now, you should establish the Shivalinga that you have brought from Kailasa. It will be known in the three worlds by your name, and jivas will visit Hanumadisvara before they visit Rameshwaram.”

* This story is from the Skanda Purana. Alternate versions tell us that Rama established Rameshwaram before visiting Lanka.