Preeti: Pranam swami ji. Aaj maine Ved mandir site dekhi bahoot accha laga mere man main kai din se ak sawal tha jiska jwab mujhe aaj mil jayega swami ji mai USA main hu hamne ak naya house liya hai india mai to hum hawan puja kara lete hai yaha ka mujhe pata nahi to jo aap ne hawan karne ki vidhi btai hai wahi karoo ya iske saat aap kuch aur slah bhi denge mera marg darshan kare.

Preeti: Pranam swami ji. Aaj maine Ved mandir site dekhi bahoot accha laga mere man main kai din se ak sawal tha jiska jwab mujhe aaj mil jayega swami ji mai USA main hu hamne ak naya house liya hai india mai to hum hawan puja kara lete hai yaha ka mujhe pata nahi to jo aap ne hawan karne ki vidhi btai hai wahi karoo ya iske saat aap kuch aur slah bhi denge mera marg darshan kare.
Swami Ram Swarup: My dear daughter, my blessings to you for a long, happy life. I appreciate your views about hawan and Vedic culture. Jo vidhi aapko batayee hai usee key anusar nitya hawan karein. Hawan per maine hindi bhasha main ek kitaab likhi hai jiska naam hai Yajya Karma – Sarvashreshtha Ishwar Pooja. Yadi aap usko padohge to aapko hawan ke bare mein bahut kuchh pataa chal jayega. Aapka postal address milne par kitaab bhej deinge.

Gautam Kaundinya: Pranam Swamiji what is materialism? Nowadays almost everybody is engaged in jobs which are said to be materialistic. For example, a scientist has to think constantly about science. This is his job. But how can he go on the spiritual path constantly thinking of materialism? How to mix-up science and spirituality?
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Every article like, sun, moon, gold, silver, bodies of living beings, vegetation, atmosphere etc., of the universe is made of Prakriti. Prakriti is non-alive matter consisting of three qualities i.e., Raj, Tam and satva gunn (qualities). Rajo gunn connotes sensuality etc. Tamo gunn includes laziness etc. satogunn implies pride etc. since, the body of human beings is made of prakriti i.e., Raj, Tam and Satva gunn therefore the three above qualities effect the human beings and every materialistic articles of whole world. Therefore the prakriti and every universal non-alive matter made of prakriti comprises “Materialism”.

You see like Yask Muni, Guru Vasishth several ancient Rishis learnt Vedas and achieved progress in both ways – first science-materialism, second spiritualism. The two above said qualities should be together gained in the life and not just one.

The above quoted several Rishis including Sri Ram, Sri Krishna Maharaj, Sita, Madalsa etc ., discharged their moral duties of family , society and nation while doing worship of God. You see, the Rishis at present too are the philosophers of both science and spiritualism so to get progress simultaneously. In both paths, is not difficult one please, if there is a will/determination.

Later: Having adjustment problems after love marriage, considering divorce.
Swami Ram Swarup: Attraction is generated among equal hearts combined with love. Therefore, Marriage must be arranged attentively, being a matter related to entire life. Actually, most of the boys have now failed to understand the real love of parents in which anger of parents usually occurs which is actually an emotional outburst to set right the boy or girl. But what happens is that boy or girl take the emotional outburst of parents in wrong sense due to lack of knowledge. Now, when a boy/girl get some emotional love from outside i.e., beyond parents’ house they wrongly think it to be true love. Whereas, in reality such love is temporary/short lived love based on physical charms only and completely effected by illusion. After sometime when misunderstanding gets over then automatically false, emotional love also vanishes away and hence the problem arises.

So question does not arise of attraction because the false emotional love has since been over. So, I would advise you to recollect the past and try to avoid the hate against another and rebuild your heart to heart love which can be made permanent one. Then only, family life can be made happy otherwise, it will be deteriorated day by day. Forget the bad feelings and blames, mishappenings etc., whichever has occurred till date. He is the learned one who forgets the past and tries to make the future bright with his present pious deeds.

Status must not come in the matter of love and family life. You have to look after your family life only not her parents’ status etc. It will also be a sin if a person taking shelter of status etc., doesnot love his wife, this is totally against Vedas and shastras. Did Sita leave Sri Ram when he started journey towards jungle or Savitri who was princess but married to Satyavan, a woodcutter, leave him due to his status?

This did not happen because they all were God-fearing, learned of Vedas-shastras. They knew if anyone would against the married life rules, they will have to face the consequences direct from Almighty God. Therefore, I would advise you again to cooperate with your wife, please. Your wife provided you with emotional support before marriage then why would she not provide you now?

As regards divorce, first I would advise you to avoid it, if not then consent of your wife is necessary. But, please avoid divorce which can be turned into a sin if your wife feels tortured.

S S: I am a student and 20 years old. I want to be a great devotee of Lord Siva. I want your guidance about this.
Swami Ram Swarup: As you are a devotee of Lord Shiva, I am devotee of Vedas and accordingly worshipper of formless, omnipresent, Almighty God who creates, nurses and destroys the universe. In Vedas, there is no preach about idol worship, please. So, I am sorry, I can’t help you about the worship of Lord Shiva.