Sagar: Swamiji pranam! Swamiji i was listening to one of the Arya Samaji sanyasi from Gujarat. In his pravahan he mentioned that sukh and dukh both generate raag and dwesh .
So one should not be after these. Is it possible to know more about RAAG AND DWESH? Swamiji please clarify my doubt. Thank you.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you.
As stated in Yog shastra Sutra 2/7, if a person has experienced merriment through senses then attachment for the same is originated in the mind to experience the said merriment again and again. The situation to experience the said merriment again and again is called Raag.
The person who has experienced the merriment keeps the same in mind i.e., remembers the same and then tries his level best to obtain the means which give him the merriment. Therefore the desire to get the means, which is also called greed is Raag which is distress/suffering and the said raag disturbs the daily worship of the aspirant and also does not allow him to remain a happy person. Again, after experiencing sorrows, dwesh is generated in the mind. When such person remembers the said sorrow, then he becomes angry over the means which generated sorrow. It is also a klesh. For example- a person has experienced the sorrows from another person and whenever the person comes before him, he becomes angry and hates him. This is the dwesh. Similarly, the worldly sorrows, as explained above, are not good but problems, sorrows and sufferings etc., which are faced during the process of Vedic worship of God, are to be faced happily and therefore those cannot be ignored. For example- while sitting on asan, pain etc., is suffered in legs, feet etc., summer and winter seasons may cause problems, sufferings etc., for the aspirant while worshipping God which are to be faced happily and the worship should not be discontinued at any cost. It includes that the merriment generated from the materialistic articles of the world and experienced from the senses and organs is raag which is a kind of sorrow but the person who is indulged in illusion is not able to understand the raag and in the end he has to face sorrows. So, sukh generates raag and dukh generates dwesh.
The pleasure generated from the materialistic articles of world which is helpful to follow the Vedic spiritual path does not cause sorrows. For example – to discharge duties towards family, society and nation, to take vegetarian, nutritive food, to make use of the worldly articles, which are helpful to discharge moral duties and to follow spiritual path while keeping the mind detached from the said articles, is preached by the Vedas. That is why, Yajurved mantra 40/1 states that the worldly articles are to be used as advised above but the mind should be duly detached. Therefore we must control raag and dwesh and even other vices – like pride, anger, ego etc., by doing daily Vedic worship.
Ritesh: Swamiji Charan Sparsh. Swamiji, If we want to pray God by certain specific shlok/matra of ved, how should we do that? Can we light lamp (diya) and chant shloks or by some other means. If Agnihotr with every mantra is recommended, then how do we do that if we want to do for 100 or more shloks /mantar. I mean in home I do havan with dry coconut chips, and they burn very fast. Thanks.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you.
Prayer, praise and worship of Formless, Almighty, Omnipresent God can be done only with ved mantras. To do the same, one should perform daily agnihotra with ved mantras. We should first learn this from an experienced acharya. In this connection, I would advise you to read my book “Yajyen karma sarvashreshth Ishwar Pooja” The price of the book is worth Rs. 65/- excluding postal charges. The book can be sent to you on receipt of your postal address, if you desire.
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Besides you are advised to do the followings:-
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.
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.
So, lighting diya (lamp) is not preached in Vedas.
The learned have chosen the ved mantras for performing daily hawan. However, if a devotee wants to offer aahuti of more ved mantras, he can do so at his own accord, keeping in mind the suitability of time. Moreover or 1,2,3 or 4 Vedas anushthan under guidance of Brahma (learned acharya) can also be organized.
You can use dry coconut chips if the same does not generate excess smoke. Otherwise all Rishi- munis have been using the twigs of mango tree, peepal, bargad, beri or sheesham wood.
