Sagar: What does a Shiv Ling signify?
Swami Ram Swarup: Vedas-shastras, Upnishads say only to worship a formless God who creates, nurses and destroys the universe. The Vedic period/worship started right from the beginning of the earth and remained uptil Mahabharat time i.e., about 5,300 years ago. Thereafter, as also said by Tulsidasji in his Uttrakand-
SHRUTI SAMMAT HARI BHAKTI PATH
SANJUT BIRTI BIBEK,
TEHIN NA CHALHIN NAR MOH BAS
KALPAHIN PANTH ANEK
Meaning:-
Due to attachment and illusion, people do not follow the eternal path of Vedas, which leads to acquisition of ascetism and true knowledge. On the contrary, people have made their own parts as per their suitability and interest. The suitability and interest is actually called “Attachment”.
So, idol worship like shivling etc., started after the Mahabharat war. You may go ahead if you have faith in shivling but as far as Vedas are concerned which are eternal voice of formless, omnipresent, omniscient, Almighty God, we’ve to worship formless God by performing Yajyen, His name jaap and practice of Ashtang Yoga Philosophy while discharging all our moral duties.
Dinesh: Namaste swami ji, I want to know what should I do before going to school so my full concentration is their on studies. What should I take after passing 10 science or commerce? And what will I become in life? I want to study and want to achieve something in life but by my hard trying also it is not possible only. What should I do? How can I get full concentration on studies?
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Your views and your target to achieve something good in your life is highly appreciated. I bless you to achieve your target. But you know, a target is achieved only by those who are brave and hard working, have firm decision and carry out the same. Then, nothing is impossible in this world. You are a good boy, be brave, go ahead and achieve your target. People love to watch TV, movies and other materialistic articles but a student should only love his loving books and studies. When you come after school hours, then in the evening you should repeat (revise) all the subjects which you’ve read in class and you should read the next chapter which is to be taught in the class, next day. Try to awake early in the morning and after going to bath, you should pay attention towards your studies for revision etc., before going to school. You must study to gain the knowledge, therefore you must do deep study with love and experiencing pleasure in studies and not headache.
I also paste few of my articles in this regard:-
STUDENT LOSING CONCENTRATION
Concentration is not made on mind, but mind has to be concentrated on particular point or subject etc. It requires practice of Yam, Niyam, Asan, Pranayaam, Pratyahar, Dharnna and Dhyan then one attains Samadhi. In this path, guidance of a spiritual master who knows Vedas and Ashtang Yoga philosophy is needed. Holy name jaap of God helps a lot. I have written a book on Yoga which can be sent on receipt of your postal address. However, personal guidance as stated is essential. It is a moral duty of a student to concentrate on hard study and to look after his health. Avoid bad society always concentrate on your Brahamcharya. Awake early in the morning and after bath-brush etc., do holy name jaap of God at least for fifteen minutes. Go for morning walk and light exercises daily. Take plenty of water i.e., 15-20 glass in a day. Always respect your parents, elders and teachers. Must be soft spoken, Avoid TV to see bad scenes, films etc. This all will help you to concentrate in you study. Whatever, you study and learn, try to write on rough book a lot without seeing books etc. Please refer to the book- “Brahamcharya-Dukh Nivarak Divya Mani”.
Student not getting success
Manu has quoted ten signs of dharma (eternal religion) which is only made by God in Vedas. It’s first sign is Dhriti i.e., patience, tolerance. So one should always be brave and never be demoralised. Then only he/she will be called religious person. Secondly, a student must try, try, try again. He has mainly two duties to perform- First to attain Brahamcharya and look after his health. Second is he must do hard study. Now, the less or more marks also be the result of our deeds which become obstacle inspite of hard study. So to overcome the situation we must always remember God. If you are in home with your parents then you must daily do havan with Gayatri mantra and chant Gayatri mantra along with its meaning before going to bed. If in hostel then you should chant Gayatri mantra in mind with its meaning daily both times. It will be beneficial to you.
A student must always be away from bad societies. He must also do daily light exercises in the morning, must take plenty of water daily i.e., at least fifteen glasses of pure water a day which will help the student to overcome the said sins and to make full concentration on his studies.
Every student must be brave and not coward. He must be a hard worker. So you must always struggle and do hard work to get success in life. And the word that student has become extremely distressed in life should not be used. Please try, try again to get success.
Shubh Karma
Hard working, devotion, dedication, honesty, services to the parents and elders to follow eternal religion mentioned in Vedas, practice of Ashtang Yoga, discharging moral duties to get progress in education, science simultaneously with spiritualism like, daily havan, to be in contact with the learned Acharya, to get his advice, are some of the pious deeds which make the future bright and obliterate the sorrows, problems, diseases, etc.
One must wake up early in the morning for early morning walk and exercises, must sit on meditation and chant holy name of God, must be away from any addiction and non-vegetarian. Such pious actions lead to long, happy life and bright future.
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 Gaytri 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 AMRTO 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 Gaytri 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.
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 NHA PRACHODYAT
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”.
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.
In the above mantra we pray to God but mere prayer does not solve the purpose until we do hard work according to the prayer.
Pankaj: Guru ji Pranam. What happens to Jivatma after attaining the level of Moksha when jivatma reaches beyond the level of life and death?
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. After attaining moksha, jeevatma remains always with Almighty God who is omnipresent and thus the soul (jeevatma) experiences divine pleasure always which is far away from sorrows etc. Jeevatma has extraordinary power given by God.
Hima Bindu: What does the Sanskrit work Advitiya Mean? I just know that it means “Second to None”, but I want to more about it. Some people say it means Unique and Noble. Please clarify.
Swami Ram Swarup: ‘Advitiya’ word is oftenly used in respect of adorable Almighty God but correct meaning is “second to none” which you’ve quoted, idea being there was (past), there is (present) and there will remain (future) only one formless, omnipresent God who creates, nurses and destroys the universe. Yajurveda mantra 27/36 states that equivalent to the said God neither anyone has taken birth not shall take in future. He is the only lord of the universe. That is why, the God is called Advitiya.
Anonymous: Sir, Charan Sparsh, One question that is some times I use to see in dream that me and my brother is surrounded by some lou without diya deepak (between me and my brother that lou is making 8) What is this?
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Either it is a misunderstanding or result of your worship, if you do. In case of result of worship of offering aahuti with Ved mantras, then it is a circle of protective layer.
