Guru Parampara

श्री गणेशाय नमः श्रीसरस्वत्यै नमः

श्री पादवल्लभ नरसिंह सरस्वती श्रीगुरु दत्तात्रेयाय नमः

 

 

दत्तात्रेय समारम्भां नृसिंहादिक मध्यमाम्।

सच्चिादनन्द पर्यन्तां वन्दे गुरु परम्पराम्।।

PUROHITA - An Excellent Component of Indian Society

प्रब्रवाम शरदश्शतम्, अजीतास्स्याम शरदश्शतम्।

Preamble

The word PUROHITA is a grand nomenclature, intended to bring harmony to the society. It has another synonym called PURODHAS. An inspection at the etymology, gives us the deep insight propounded by Vedas in myriad texts. I deem it appropriate to delve into this topic, on this joyous occasion.

Choices of Life Hitam - Priyam

            In life, we find two important choices, often contrary to each. Sages have categorised them as HITAM and PRIYAM. Hitam is the better of the two as it seeks to promote absolute welfare of the person in this life as well as next births, and even in the achievement of salvation. However, Hitam may be hard to follow, as common trait of the mortals is to jump for short term gain, rather than concentrating on long term eternal benefit.

Where as Priyam (temporary comfort) is the obvious choice for most of the people, as it gives happiness instantaneously in short term. But, it is bound to lead to a chaotic situation, which could be horrendous.

Let us illustrate an example to explain the difference. A child always likes to spend time in play (PRIYAM) and dislikes the strict rigorous discipline in studies and ethics (HITAM). But, parents and guardians do not allow him to spend all the time in casual Play, as it will jeopardise his career and affect his life later.

Hitam, though seems the harder choice of the two; is not that difficult, as it is appears at the entry level. Let us consider the fact that, once attuned to the rigorous study schedules and moral ethics, the child will start relishing it too. Therefore, all the mortals require a person to advise them to choose the better choice of life, at all times.

Who is a PUROHITA?

            In light of the above explained scenario, the Vedic Tradition devised the system of PUROHITA, which can be correlated as the conscience keeper of the society, at large. Explaining the term further – PURAS means Forward. Hitam is the welfare. If you need to get ahead continuously, you need to adhere to path of Dharma. (Dharma Aacharanam alone could ensure the competitive edge, required to achieve ever lasting stupendous success. (For an example: By luring gullible people to invest in unrealistic high interest yielding deposit scheme, one may mobilise lots of money to dispense with. Failure to honour the commitment could land him in serious trouble, later).

            The synonym PURODHAS further explains the purpose beautifully. It is not only sufficient to achieve one time success, but the more important goal is to maintain it all times to achieve respect and dignity. (DHA – is the root Dhaatu, which is translated as: to hold, maintain or nourish.) For this, the society requires an essential conscience keeper, called PUROHITA. In order to make us realise this importance, VEDA starts with the first hymn:

अग्निमीळे पुरोहितम्। यज्ञस्य देव मृत्विजम्।

As mortals, are bound to die at some time, it is essential to know the eternal PUROHITA who is none other than AGNI. He is the primordial RITWIK (a partner) of our YAGNA and its fruits. As it is difficult to stipulate a blanket rule and implement it by mere oral instruction at macro level; micro level consultation and assistance is necessary for smooth implementation. Hence, the society is categorised with several nuclei such as Gender, Family, Clan, Race, Family and Sect for easier implementation of DHAARMIKA JEEVANA (Righteous living) that is to opt for HITAM in life.

It is very important to realise, that this categorisation in done with a great bonafide intention of ensuring success for all the humans. Further classifying the duties of the society, Vedic tradition stipulated that a BRAAHMANA, as representative of AGNI shall undertake this sacred and honorary duty as PUROHITA, with nil expectation of any dividend. To qualify as a PUROHITA, a person is required to be scholastic in Dharma Saastra (Ethical Code), Karma Kaanda (Rituals) and Jyotishya (Astrology). Last but not least, a PUROHITA needs to set an example by overcoming the personal temptations to jump for unscrupulous interim benefits and should practise Dharma at personal level through out life.

It is mutually convenient to seek/ provide consultation at personal level, to meet individual requirements. Hence, the duties for PUROHITA are envisaged as under:

1.     To assist and support a family (Client) in Personal Rites

2.     To fix the Muhoortam for several rituals

3.     To advise the family, as a guide during entire life cycle from birth to death (in 16 Samskaaras (Rituals to shape and invigorate important stages of life)

4.     To advise at times of adversity such as defeat, ailments and calamities; by diagnosing the symptoms; analysing the causes and suggesting remedies enlisted in Dharma Sastra.

5.     Consultation and Implementation partnership, at micro level

6.     To fix dates for Rituals and course of action for the welfare of the society

7.     To advise rulers and administrators in determining best practices of Dharma and judging righteous actions.

It is a gracious fact, that PUROHITA was a necessary component of society, requiring each family to have a dedicated PUROHITA for life. It even extended from generations to next generations, inventing the term KULA PUROHITA.

We can draw the reference to several instances in our epics, where Great Sages such as Vasishtha, Garga etc have supported rituals in many incarnations such as Rama and Krishna. Brahma, himself conducted many rituals himself and accepted to be PUROHITA at many instances. Dakshina (Money/ Emoluments) offered to PUROHITA, as a courtesy represented their respect towards the scholar.

Current Status

With changing times, the stark reality is that this respected honorary Profession of PUROHITA has started to become derogatory, due to the decline of ethics and morality in society. In changing circumstances, Scholarly persons have declined to be PUROHITA, as it was being associated with connected with unjustified gains. Dwindling income from the profession was another important reason, for knowledgeable persons avoiding this profession.

Due to the paucity of qualified scholars as PUROHITA, the dynamics of demand supply have led to an unhealthy proposition. Thus, the remaining few Purohitas have lesser time for their clients and underserved families are either ignorant of this necessity or could not afford for the services of a Purohita. In this reprehensible process, the profession of Purohita, started to be depicted as inferior at many important forums of the society such as literature, drama and it continues till date, as Purohita is lampooned as buffoon in movies. All these factors are dissuading youngsters to yearn for other jobs.

Conclusion

            To revitalise the institution of PUROHITA, an effort has to be made to enlighten and educate the professionals about its purpose and importance. On the other hand, it is also pertinent to sensitise the society in honouring the Professionals, whom it requires at all times. May God amply bless all of us, in this direction!!

Jaya Guru Datta

Sowa-Rigpa - Buddhist Himalayan Medicinal System

The world's oldest surviving system of medicine called "Sowa-Rigpa" -popular in the country's Himalayan region and said to be taught by Gautam Buddha himself - got official approval from the Indian government on Thursday. The decision to approve it as part of the Indian medicine system was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and later announced by Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni. 

The government's decision came following representations from many quarters for granting recognition and legal status to the system. Sowa-Rigpa, commonly known as 'Amchi is one of the oldest surviving systems of medicine in the world and is practiced in India in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling in West Bengal, Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, a statement issued here said. 

According to the statement, the theory and practices of Sowa-Rigpa are similar to Ayurveda and also include few principles of traditional Chinese medicine. "The fundamental text book of Sowa-Rigpa is believed to have been taught by Buddha himself and is closely linked with Buddhist philosophy," it said. 

To give the system legal sanction, amendments will be carried out in sections 2,3,8,9 and 17 of the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970. "It is expected that the legal recognition of Sowa-Rigpa will lead to the protection and preservation of this ancient system of medicine and will help in its propagation and development," the statement said. 

"This will also open new vistas leading to collaborative research and scientific validation of the Sowa-Rigpa system, besides conservation and protection of the medicinal plants used in the system," it said. Also, its recognition will lead to setting up a mechanism to regulate its education and practice.
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Religious people are 'nicer'?

Why religious people are 'nicer'

It took scientists more than three decades to come to a conclusion which atheists might find hard to believe -- religious people are 'nicer'.

A major study, published in the Science journal, has revealed that people, who believe in God and frequently attend religious services as well as offer prayers, are more helpful, honest and generous.

And, what's more interesting is that the study found that believers acting for the greater good may be doing so to enhance their own reputation among friends and acquaintances, the Daily Mail reported.

Lead scientist Dr Ara Norenzayan of British Columbia University said that the debate over whether religion improves behaviour had too often been driven by opinion and anecdote.

"We wanted to look at the hard scientific evidence," he said.

In fact, their study into the links between religion and 'pro-social' behaviour showed that religious and spiritual thoughts reduced rates of cheating in games and increased trust between strangers.

Experiments showed that good behaviour 'is more likely when religious thoughts are fresh in the mind' - when such behaviour boosts someone's reputation.

In one experiment, volunteers who had been told that a dead student's ghost had been seen in the experiment room cheated less on a test than those who had not. Children who believed that a fictional character called Princess Alice was watching them were less likely to disobey their instructions.

In another experiment, the volunteers were given the choice of volunteering to raise money for a sick child who could not pay his medical bills. Some were told that they would almost certainly be asked to help -- others were told that they were unlikely to be called upon. "Only in the latter situation was a link between religiosity and volunteering evident," the researchers said.

Air Pollution Damages

Air pollution damages more than just your lungs — it can break your heart too.

A new study has revealed that microscopic particles in polluted air can adversely affect the heart’s functioning by obstructing its ability to conduct electrical signals. Researchers at Harvard University have based their findings on an analysis of 48 patients living in Boston, all of whom had coronary artery disease.

They used 24-hour Holter monitors to examine electrocardiograms for the conductivity change called an ST-segment depression, which indicates inadequate blood flow to the heart or inflamed heart muscle. The average 24-hours levels for all pollutants included in the analysis were below accepted or proposed National Air Quality standard thresholds, meaning patients were breathing air considered healthy. “We found that an elevation in fine particles, from non-traffic as well as traffic sources, and black carbon, a marker for traffic, predicted ST-segment depression.

“Effects were greatest within the first month after hospitalisation, and for patients who were hospitalised for a heart attack or had diabetes,” the study’s senior author Diane R Gold said. Previous studies documented that exposure to road traffic can trigger heart attacks and that particulate air pollution can raise the rise for a heart attack.

“When coal sales were banned in Dublin, Ireland, and black smoke concentrations declined by 70 per cent within the next 72 months, cardiovascular deaths fell by ten per cent,” said Gold. The ST-segment changes Gold observed were not associated with symptoms in the patients, all of whom had undergone in-hospital procedures to examine or open up their coronary arteries. Nevertheless, the findings expand the evidence that air pollution can affect heart health, either through inflaming the heart muscle or through reducing blow flow to the heart.

“The study suggests the need for greater vigilance by physicians and heart patients in the weeks after discharge from the hospital,” the researchers said. 

Fundamental Duties of Indian Citizens (As per Constitution)

FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES

51A. It shall be the duty of every citizen of India—


(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;


(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;


(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;


(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;


(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;


(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;


(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;


(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;


(i) *to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;


(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement;


*[(k) who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years.]


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1 Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 11 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).


*Ins. by the Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002, s. 4

Big Bang Experiment!

Melbourne, Oct. 17: Scientists have made a physics discovery, which they claim could help explain how the Big Bang created the universe.  A team led by Queensland University in Australia, has determined how Bose-Einstein condensates   (BECs) form — a breakthrough that is considered to be a step closer to understanding Big Bang, the Nature reported.


A Bose-Einstein condensate is a state of matter formed at ultra-cold temperatures, where atoms behave like waves.  It was first predicted by Prof. Albert Einstein in 1924 and Indian physicist J.C. Bose actually used the theory to explain certain behaviours of light. Though its practical implications are still not fully appreciated, the development of “atom lasers” may advance the production of nanotechnology and it may also have applications for super-powerful “quantum computers”, according to the team.


For years, physicists have speculated about the possibility of vortices being created as a BEC is born.  Now, the scientists have been able to show vortices spontaneously appear between 25 to 50 per cent of the time.  “We know that the vortices are a consequence of critical fluctuations occurring as the gas cools, becoming a superfluid Bose-Einstein condensate. It’s something people have been trying to understand for a long time. the research team leader, Dr Ashton Bradley, said.     
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A step closer to Big Bang - A Scientific Experiment!!

Melbourne: Scientists have made a physics discovery, which they claim could help explain how the Big Bang created the universe. A team led by Queensland University in Australia, has determined how Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) form — a breakthrough that is considered to be a step closer to understanding Big Bang, the Nature reported.

A Bose-Einstein condensate is a state of matter formed at ultra-cold temperatures, where atoms behave like waves. It was first predicted by Prof. Albert Einstein in 1924 and Indian physicist J.C. Bose actually used the theory to explain certain behaviours of light. Though its practical implications are still not fully appreciated, the development of “atom lasers” may advance the production of nanotechnology and it may also have applications for super-powerful “quantum computers”, according to the team.

For years, physicists have speculated about the possibility of vortices being created as a BEC is born. Now, the scientists have been able to show vortices spontaneously appear between 25 to 50 per cent of the time. “We know that the vortices are a consequence of critical fluctuations occurring as the gas cools, becoming a superfluid Bose-Einstein condensate. It’s something people have been trying to understand for a long time. the research team leader, Dr Ashton Bradley, said.

(Aug 08)

How to overcome adversities??

How to overcome adversity?

 We need to overcome the adversary with calmness. (This should not be with a stress, But with Poise. 

Let us try to read Bhagavad Geeta with meaning. An occasional glance at Datta Darshanam stories, to get sufficient inspiration to manage difficult situations is even better.

We will be able to get that, by trying to focus more on Naada (Bhajans/ Divya Nama Sankeertana and Gnaana/ Wisdom).

All of us are hard pressed for time. Let us harness the available resources to better usage. That is the key to happiness.