Chiranjeet: Namaskar, a question always stays in my mind, is can we be purely true to ourselves? Actually whenever I tell a lie in a tough situation I laugh at that moment, I don’t know why? Please guide me!
Swami Ram Swarup: Namskar. Falsehood is illusion and its reason is lack of Vedas’ knowledge. When we listen to eternal knowledge of Vedas, which emanates direct from God, we’ll realise that our human body is totally separate from us; we being souls. All four Vedas and ancient granths written by Rishi-munis have quoted the said fact, to make us educated and to be away from illusion. Now, qualities of human body are- it is made of non-alive five matters of prakriti i.e., Agni (fire), vayu (air), jal(water), akash (space), prithivi (earth). It is destroyed one day and we see that while a person becomes dead, his dead body is brought to final resting place for cremation. Soul at this stage has already left the body and takes next birth, based on his pious deeds and sins. Now, we must know the true form of souls that it is everlasting, eternal, the purest. Because the soul in original is the purest, learned, immortal and does not need any education etc. So, no question of falsehood but when the soul takes human body, it is attracted towards Prakriti’s three gunnas i.e., towards all materialistic worldly articles.
In this condition, soul has forgotten his original form of being learned, the purest etc. That is why, the soul requires education, based on Vedic spiritualism to know himself. Thus, the falsehood is a reason of illusion. When we the souls are pure then we can never tell lies but under the influence of the Prakriti’s gunnas (illusion) we’ve forgotten our original form and act according to the chitta vritti (faculty which receives knowledge from five senses and passes the same intellect is called Chitta and Chitta stores the effect of various karmas to be faced by soul in future at a proper time), which forces us to tell lies etc. When a devotee learns Vedas and follows its preach in action, in his life, then he knows himself and as a result, he never tells lies because at this juncture, he is also afraid of God that God will punish him. So, I would advise you to read some of my Vedic books to gain eternal truth. You are also advised to do the followings:-
GAYATRI MANTRA
Please, start the day by chanting Gayatri mantra in the early morning sitting on suitable asan like Sukhasan, Siddhasan or Padmasan etc. concentrate on the point between two eyebrows which is called “Agyachakra”. The Gayatri mantra should be chanted along with its meaning both times. Also, please try to perform daily hawan even with Gayatri mantra. Then try to study any of my books daily and put up question if any.
After 15 days chant the Gayatri mantra only thrice thereafter do the name jaap of Almighty God-“Om”. The jaap must be done daily by heart and not orally.
The Gayatri mantra is as follows —
OM BHURBHUVAHA SWAHA TATA SAVITUR VARENYAM BHARGODEVASYA
DHIMAHI DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODYAT
Meaning of Gayatri mantra stating each word is as follows. Its meaning is based on Vedas and Sanskrit grammar. Grammatical hints are in short please.
Om has three Hindi words. Aa, Uu AND Ma. Aa is meant for Aakaar from which three names of God are built, Viraat, Agni, and Vishwadi. From Uu = uukar from which Hirannyagarbha, Vayu and Tejas names occur and Ma = makaar from which Ishwar, Aditya and Praajyan aadi, holy names of God occur. Rigveda mantra 1/164/46 says God is one but His names are several. But here OM the holy name of God is only being explained.
VIRAAT = Viraat word is made from dhatu ‘Rajrideeptau’ i.e., manifest. Therefore Viraat means He who manifests the universe. As God manifests the universe, thus Viraat is the name of God. Rigveda mandal 10, sukta 129 states that like potter makes pot from clay, similarly God creates universe from non-alive matter prakriti. Prakriti is unseen matter. From unseen matter, the whole universe is created in the visible form. Science also says that matter is never destroyed but changes its form. Suppose a paper is burnt, paper changes its form into ashes. Then ashes are crushed and thrown in air. At this moment, the paper changed into ashes becomes invisible but was never destroyed. Similarly the whole universe at the time of final destruction is turned into prakriti i.e., into unseen form.
AGNI = From dhatu, “ANCHU GATI POOJANAYOHO” the word “AGNI is made. Its meaning is: He who is a form of wisdom. “SARVAJAYEN” i.e., Omniscient. That is, knows each and every atom of universe and even beyond universe. He who is to be known, to be gained and is worshipful. So Agni is the name of God.
VISHWA = Vishwa word is made from dhatu, “VISHPRAVESHANE”. Its meaning is He in whom the universe is entering or He who is entering the universe. So being omnipresent, Vishwa is the name of God.
HIRANNYAGARBHA = i.e., ” JYOTIRVAYIHIRANYAM”. Its meaning is, who is the base of all sun, etc., luminous lokas or He who is the living place of all luminous lokas.
VAYU = from dhatu, “VA GATIGANDHANYOHO”, vayu word is made. Its meaning is He who holds, gives life and destroys and is the mightiest amongst all. So the name of God is Vayu.
TEJ = from dhatu, “TIJA NISHANE”, the word Tej is made meaning He who is self made and self-enlightened and gives light to sun, moon, stars etc. God does not take light from anywhere but gives light to sun, moon, stars, etc. so the unbroken, unobstructed/unproduced and eternal form of light is Almighty God and not sun, moon etc. So the name of God is Tej.
ISHWAR = from dhatu, “ISH ASHWERIYE”, the word Ishwar is made. Its meaning is whose knowledge is thoughtful and true and He who has unlimited wealth, fortune and glory etc. Therefore the name of God is Ishwar. Here it is not out of place to mention that soul (man/woman) has limited qualities and are dependent whereas God is independent and has unlimited qualities that is why He is God.
ADITYA = from dhatu, “DO AVAKHANDANE”, Aditya word is made. Its meaning is the one who cannot be broken into pieces and thus cannot be destroyed. So God’s name is Aditya.
PRAJAYEN (PRAGYA) = from dhatu, “JYEN AVABODHANE”, Prajayen word is made meaning whose wisdom is totally without any misunderstanding and thus he who knows every matter and behavior of whole universe without misunderstanding. So God’s name is Prajayen. So here also it is not out of place to mention that illusion can never attack on God and God is totally free from illusion.
BHUHU = “BHUHU ITI VAYEE PRANAHA” i.e., He who is the base of lives of universe, is most beloved, even more than Prann i.e., breath. So Bhuhu is the name of God.
BHUVAHA= “BHUVAHA ITI APANAHA” i.e., He who is totally free from any sorrow, and the soul removes his own all sorrows after coming in contact with Him. So the name of God is Bhuvaha.
SWAHA = i.e., “SWAHA ITI VYANAHE” who is omnipresent in the universe and is holding the same. So the name of God is Swaha.
SAVITUHU = He who creates the universe. So the name of God is Savituhu.
DEVSYA= who gives all pleasure/merriment, so the name of God is Dev.
VARENNYAM = He who is the most supreme and acceptable. God is most supreme and acceptable for worship.
BHARGAHA = the purest entity (though God is formless, but finding no suitable English word of Sanskrit word, “SHUDH SWARUPAM” the word entity has been used.)
TAT = i.e., the God i.e., of the purest entity.
DHIMAHI = i.e., we must hold (sort of meditation) because
YAHA = the God
NAHA = our,
DHIYAHA = mind(i.e., in our minds)
PRACHODYAT = by inspiration (fulfil the mind with wisdom)
MEANING
“We meditate the God who is the base of lives’ of universe, totally free from any sorrow, omnipresent, creates the universe, gives all pleasure/merriment, most supreme and acceptable, purest entity; May the God enlighten our minds with wisdom by His inspiration”.
Here it is not out of place to mention that idea of a (one) Ved mantra is based on ideas of several Ved mantras. So in the above Gayatri mantra, there are three things —-
Bhuhu, Bhuvaha, Swaha, Savituhu, Bhargaha, Devsya are some qualities amongst unlimited qualities of God. These are called Stuti i.e., to say about God with His real qualities and not self made etc.
Secondly Dhimahi means meditation i.e., one should always sit in meditation and do hard and pious deeds for which he will have to study Vedas in full, while discharging moral duties towards family and nation.
Third and last is DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODYAT. It is a prayer to God explanation of which is cited above.
How to do havan
Please sit in the morning to perform havan. Havan must be in sunlight then it is more beneficial. Then half a bowl of fresh water with a tablespoon must be with you with small twigs especially of mango tree if possible, havan samagri, ghee, camphor and match box must be there with you. Please sit on sukh asan on four times folded blanket and blanket must be on mat.
Sukh asan i.e., sit on duly folded feet in comfortable position. Then first close your eyes and concentrate between two eyebrows and chant Gayatri mantra three times within heart and not by mouth. Then open your eyes.
Take one spoon of water in right palm. Chant this mantra, OM AMRITO UPASTRANMASI SWAHA and drink the water which you have put in your palm. Then again take the spoon of water in right palm then chant the next mantra, OM AMRITA APIDHANMASI SWAHA, and drink the water. Then again take the water in right palm and chant the mantra, OM SATYAM YASHAH SHRI MAYI SHRI SHRAYTAAM SWAHA, and drink the water. Then wash the right palm while sitting, with the same water kept in bowl.
Then put the twigs into havan kund with one piece of camphor and burn it. During this process chant the Gayatri mantra again and again till such time the fire is lighted sufficiently. Then chant the Gayatri mantra and at the last add the word Swaha and offer ghee with tablespoon, quantity equivalent to 4 to 5 drops. And if you are alone then also offer in fire pinch of havan samagri from your right hand’s finger and thumb avoiding forefinger. So this offering may be of 11 times, 21 times or 51 times as the time suits. It is the simplest way and I have not quoted the complete method of Yajyen. The havan with Ved mantras are always offered as the best worship of God only please. Do havan daily and both times
Books are following
1. Vedas- A Divine Light Part I (in English) Rs. 80/-
2. Vedas- A Divine Light Part IV (in English) Rs. 100/-
3. Vedas- A Divine Light Part V (in English) Rs. 140/-
4. Vedic Satsang Sangrah Part I (in Hindi) Rs. 120/-
Shubham: Swamiji namaskar! I am confused that what constitutes bhakti? Please explain what all things are there in bhakti according to Vedas for Vedas also say bhakti is essential and according to Vedas we don’t do idol worship. So what’s bhakti.. can we include surdas padhs, mirabai bhajans in bhakti while we say that Yogeeraj Krishna was a great personality but not God Himself.
Swami Ram Swarup: Namaskar. According to Vedas, bhakti is “Bhaj sewayaam” i.e., services towards Almighty God, parents, learned acharya of Vedas, daily hawan, listening to Vedas, to follow Vedas preach such as practice of Ashtang Yoga Philosophy. The said bhakti pleases Almighty God, Who nurses and protects us. I would advise you to study some of my books, based on eternal knowledge of Vedas, to know the eternal truth (bhakti) in detail.
Yes, bhakti i.e., services, as mentioned above, are essential because it is for that very purpose that we are provided with human body. Pooja, is a Sanskrit word, the meaning of which is aadar, man-samman i.e., giving respect, honour etc. So, eternal bhakti/pooja of Almighty God is to obey His preach mentioned in Vedas, which is actually a real respect, honour to God. Otherwise, God is Formless, Omnipresent, creates, nurses and destroys the universe. He nurses us to provide us with all the necessities of life like food, air, water, earth, gold, gems etc. In return we cannot offer the said materialistic articles to the Formless God, Who is Almighty and does not need any such material. In Vedas, God states that he who listens to Vedas, does daily hawan with ved mantras, jaap of ‘OM’ and practises Ashtang Yoga under the guidance of learned acharya while discharging all moral duties then God is pleased and showers all the blessings on us for a long, happy life and even to attain salvation.
Yes, every bhajan and views can be added in the bhakti if the bhajans and views tally with Vedas. So, main thing is that to remove the sorrows and bad effect of previous lives’ sins, one will have to listen to Vedas to become learned person. Then only will he be able to define the truth and sins.
Books are following:
1. Vedas- A Divine Light Part I (in English) Rs. 80/-
2. Vedas- A Divine Light Part IV (in English) Rs. 100/-
3. Vedas- A Divine Light Part V (in English) Rs. 140/-
4. Vedic Satsang Sangrah Part I (in Hindi) Rs. 120/-
5. Ishwar Ki Awaz Suno (ACD) Rs. 36/-
6. sarvyapak Ishwar mahima Sun ors. 36/-
K: Please tell me my isht dev. (details given)
Swami Ram Swarup: Isht of every human being has been stated as Formless, Almighty God Who nurses and protects us. To know the said truth, one will have to listen to Vedas, to become learned person. Then only will he be able to define truth and sins.