Ripunjay: Jai Shri Ram! I visited Chennai Book Fair on 14th Jan 2013 and happened to see the book stall established representing Ved mandir. I gazed through few books by Pujyapaad Guru ji. In that I saw he stated that Ram and Krishna were in followers of vedas. I also see that Pujyapaad Guru ji, find that sagun bhakti/pooja is not a right way of devotion – and that since God is formless, we should not worship idols. However, by ancient history we come to know that Lord Raam and Lord Krishna have done Pratishtha and Pooja of Lord Shiva in Rameshwaram and Nageshwar. With this fact, how can we say Raam and Krishna were followers of Vedas. Similarly, I have another doubt – Lord Sankaracharya(primitive one and not modern shankaracharyas) has written a Kshama Prarthana Stotram, which is about Devi Parvati and Lord Shankaracharya prays Devi to pardon for sins and misdeeds.

So, essentially, my doubt is, with all due respect, what is wrong with all these facts and are you suggesting that whatever these great ppl have done is wrong and what are you saying is only correct? I bow my head in your feet and seek enlightenment.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you.

The real life of Sri Ram has been portrayed by Mahrishi Valmikiji in Valmiki Ramayan wherein no such worship of Lord Shiva has been mentioned.

Secondly, the real life of Sri Krishna Maharaj has been mentioned by Vyasmuniji in Mahabharat epic in only ten thousand authentic shlokas wherein it has not been mentioned that Sri Krishna Maharaj worshipped Lord Shiva.

So, infact both dignitaries never did idol worship. Every ancient Rishi-muni like Kapil Muni, Vyasmuni, Agastya Rishi etc., have written their experiences that Vedas are self-proof i.e., whatever has been mentioned in Vedas that all is true. So, to establish truth, our views should tally with Vedas. If our views or any statement of book do not tally with Vedas, learned never accept it as truth, being against Vedas. So, anyone who worships against Vedas, whosoever he is, his worship is not authentic, Vedas being self-proof.

Narayanan: Swamiji, My Pranams. I have studied that Jyothish is a part of Vedhas. All the four Vedhas have talked about Jyothish. Can you please throw some light on this? What is discussed about Jyothish: Planetary movements; Its effects on the physical, mental and intellectual status of individuals on the earth; Predictions on the effects of planetary positions; stars and their effects, etc.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Present palmistry (jyotish) does not exist in Vedas. However, the knowledge of all planets exists in vedas. You see the effect of sun, moon, earth and other planets are there on all living beings.

Basant: Namaste swami ji, agar koi hamare sath bura kare, hamara apman kare, ya hamara koi bada nuksan kare to hamen vedon ke anusar kya karna chahiye? kya hame sabkuch ishwar par chod dena chahiye yah sochkar ki ishwar use dand dega? Chanakya ne likha hai ki dusht ke sath dushtata karne me koi pap nahi hai.
Swami Ram Swarup: Namasteji. Bura karna, apmaan karna ya bada nuksaan karne par aap District Magistrate police kee sahayata le saktein hain. Vedon mein hee Raja or administrator rakhne ka updesh hai. Yeh baat aapne suni hee hai God help those who help themselves. Isliye aap khud mehnat karo Ishwar aapki madad karega.

Priyanka: How to increase height after 20 years?
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you, my daughter.

My daughter, your age is now crossing twenty years. So, at this stage, height normally does not increase. However, if you do practice of running, in the morning, do Taadasan and Pashchimauttan asan daily then with the grace of God, you can increase your body. I would also advise you to do the followings daily.

GAYATRI MANTRA

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 Yajna. The havan with Ved mantras are always offered as the best worship of God only please. Do havan daily and both times.

Procedure of Chanting

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.

In the end of hawan, you pray to God to fulfill your desire. My blessings to you, my daughter.