Friday, June 23, 2017

Education

Shri Aurobindo emphasized that education should be in accordance with the needs of our real modern life. In other words, education should create dynamic citizen so that they are able to meet the needs of modern complex life. According to him, physical development and holiness are the chief aims of education. As such, he not only emphasized mere physical development, but physical purity also without which no spiritual development is possible. In this sense physical development and purification are the two bases on which the spiritual development is built. The second important aim of education is to train all the senses hearing, speaking, listening, touching, smelling and tasting. According to him these senses can be fully trained when nerve, chitta and manas are pure. Hence, through education purity of senses is to be achieved before any development is possible. The third aim of education is to achieve mental development of the child. This mental development means the enhancement of all mental faculties’ namely-memory, thinking, reasoning, imagination, and discrimination etc. education should develop them fully and harmoniously. Another important aim of education is the development of morality. Shri Aurobindo has emphasized that without moral and emotional development only, mental development becomes harmful to human process. Heart of a child should be so developed as to show extreme love, sympathy and consideration for all living beings. This is real moral development. Thus, the teacher should be a role model to his children that mere imitation can enable them to reach higher and higher stages of development. Development of conscience is another important aim of education that needs to develop by the help of teacher. Conscience has four level chitta, manas, intelligence, and knowledge. Aurobindo emphasized that the main aim of education is to promote spiritual development. According to him every human being has some fragment of divine existence within himself and education can scan it from each individual with its full extent.

Aurobindo enunciates certain sound principles of good teaching, which have to be kept in mind when actually engaged in the process of learning. According to Sri Aurobindo, the first principle of true teaching is “that nothing can be taught.” He explains that the knowledge is already dormant within the child and for this reason. The teacher is not an instructor or task-master; “he is a helper and a guide.” The role of the teacher “is to suggest and not to impose”. He does not actually train the pupil’s mind, he only shows him how to perfect the instruments of knowledge and helps him and encourages him in the process. He does not impart knowledge to him; he shows him how to acquire knowledge for himself. He does not call forth the knowledge that is within; he only shows him where it lies and how it can be habituated to rise to the surface.

Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy of education aims at modifying the school curricula, maximizing the learning modalities, helping the child to achieve his potentiality at his own pace and level and devote his time to discover himself. This kind of schooling is seen as an anti-thesis of an imposed uniformity of prescribed courses and teaching which the traditional schools purport to do and can be linked to what was taught in schools under the colonial rule. The type of schooling visualized by Sri Aurobindo is seen as aiming to bridge the gap between the child’s life at school and that at home.

Children should be provided with a free environment so that they are able to gain more and more knowledge by their own efforts. According to him any retrained and imposed environment stunt the growth and natural development. Aurobindo propagated the concept of self discipline which was the cure of impressionistic discipline.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Sage Vyasa's son tested by King Janaka

Vyasas forefathers had tried to be perfect men and had failed. Vyasa was a great sage and was known for the Vedanta aphorisms he had authored. His son Shuka was born a perfect person he was tutored by Vyasa and had the wisdom of the knowledge of truth. Vyasa sent his son to King Janaka to be taught by him. King Janaka was called Janaka Videha. Videha means with out a body. Although a king he had entirely forgotten that he was a body; he felt that he was a spirit all the time. The King 's knew that Vyasa's son was coming to learn wisdom from him. he thus made certain arrangements beforehand; when the boy presented himself before the gates of the palace the guards took no notice of him, they only gave him a seat he sat there for three days and nights nobody taking any notice of him or speaking to him. he was the son of a very great sage and people honoured and respected him. but nobody bothered the boy at the gate nor enquired about his whereabouts . Then suddenly the ministers of the king and important officials came received him with great honour conducted him into the palace and showered him with all the luxury and comfort for eight days. Shuka did not display any change even to the smallest extent he was the same as when he was made to sit at the gate. He was presented to the king who sat on his thrown. Music was playing dancing and other ammusements were happening all around. The King Janaka gave him a cup of milk filled to the brim and asked him to go round the hall seven times without spilling even a drop of milk.The boy went round with the cup of milk and not a drop was spilled from the cup. that was how controlled the boy was. Janaka was happy to see this and blessed the boy saying what his father had taught him and his own knowledge of truth was all there was to know.

Lessons learnt by the above is a man who has practised control over himself cannot be acted upon by any thing outside.

Thursday, June 15, 2017

moksha in FEW DAYS ASSURED.

Moved by the deep anguish of a sincere devotee the good Lord promised him Moksha in a few days. This is what we learn from two of his compositions Giripai in Sahana raga and Paritapamu in Manohari raga, In accorance with the promise the Lord took the Great saint on Pushya Bahula Panchami in Prabhava .(6th January 1847 when he was 88 years of age, Sometime before he attained the Brahmi bhava oneness with the Lord Tyagaraja had taken to orange robes and became a sannyasi.
Mythologist say that the Lord had pointed out the salvation for him was only in another birth but the resourceful Saint Tyagaraja short circuited this by taking to  Apat sannyasa which was technically equal to a second cycle of life.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Bhaja Govindam

Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam
Govindam bhaja moodhamate;
Sampraapte sannihite kaale
Na hi na hi rakshati Dukrin karane.
Bhaja Govindam......

Moodha jaheehi dhanaagamatrishnam
Kuru sadbuddhim manasi vitrishnaam;
Yallabhase nijakarmopaattam
Vittam tena vinodaya chittam
Bhaja Govindam

Naareestanabharanaabheedesham
Drishtvaa maa gaa mohaavesham;
Etanmaamsavasaadivikaaram
Manasi vichintaya vaaram vaaram
Bhaja Govindam

Nalineedalagatajalamatitaralam
Tadvajjeevitamatishayachapalam;
Viddhi vyaadhyabhimaanarastam
Lokam shokahatam cha samastam
Bhaja Govindam

Yaavadvittopaarjanasaktah
Taavannijaparivaaro raktah;
Pashchaajjeevati jarjaradehe
Vaartaam kopi na prichchhati gehe
Bhaja Govindam

Yaavatpavano nivasati dehe
Taavatprichchhati kushalam gehe;
Gatavati vaayau dehaapaaye
Bhaaryaa bibhyati tasmin kaaye
Bhaja Govindam

Baalastaavat kreedaasaktah
Tarunastaavat taruneesaktah;
vriddhastaavachchintaasaktah
Parame Brahmani kopi na saktah
Bhaja govindam

Kaa te kaantaa kaste putrah
Samsaaroyamateeva vichitrah;
Kasya tvam kah kuta aayaatah
Tattvam chintaya ladiha bhraatah
Bhaja Govindam

Satsangatve nissangatvam
Nissangatve nirmohatvam
Nirmohatve nishchalatattvam
Nishchalatattve jeevanmuktih
Bhaja Govindam

Vayasi gate kah kaamavikaarah
shushke neere kah kaasaarah
Ksheene vitte kah parivaaro
Gnaate tattve kah samsaarah
Bhaja Govindam

Maa kuru dhanajanayauvanagarvam
Harati nimeshaat kaalah sarvam;
Maayaamayamidamakhilam buddhvaa
Brahmapadam tvam pravisha viditvaa.
Bhaja Govindam

Dinayaaminyau saayam praatah
Shishiravasantau punaraayaatah;
Kaalah kreedati gachchhatyaayuh
Tadapi na munchatyaashaavaayuh
Bhaja Govindam

Kaa te kaantaadhanagatachitaa
vaatula kin tava naasti niyantaa;
Trijagati sajjanasamgatirekaa
Bhavati bhavaarnavatarane naukaa
Bhaja Govindam

Jatilo mundee lunchitakeshah
Kaashaaaambarabahukritaveshah;
Pashyannapi cha na pashyati moodho
Hyudaranimittam bahukritaveshah
Bhaja Govindam

Angam galitam palitam mundam
Dashanaviheenam jaatam tundam;
Vriddhoyaati griheetvaa dandam
Tadapi na munchatyaashaapindam
Bhaja Govindam

Agre vahnih prishthe bhaanoo
raarau chubukasamarpitajaanuh;
Karatalabhikshastarutalavaasah
Tadapi na muchayaashaapaashah
Bhaja Govindam

Kurute Gangaasaagaragamanam
Vrataparipaalanamathavaa daanam
Gnaanaviheenah sarvamatena
Bhajati na Muktim janmashatena
Bhaja Govindam

Suramandiratarumoolanivaasah
Shayyaa bhootalamajinam vaasah;
Sarvaparigrahabhogatyaagah
Kasya sukham na karoti viraagah
Bhaja Govindam

Yogarato vaa bhogarato vaa
Sangarato vaa sangaviheenah;
Yasya Brahmani ramate chittam
Nandati nandati nandatyeva
Bhaja Govindam

Bhagavadgeetaa kinchidadheetaa
Gangaajalalavakanikaa peetaa;
Sakridapi yena Muraarisamarchaa
Kriyate tasya yamenana charchaa
Bhaja Govindam

Punarapi jananam punarapimaranam
Punarapi jananeejathare shayanam
Iha samsaare bahudustaare
Kripayaa paare paahi muraare
Bhaja Govindam

Rathyaacharpatavirachitakanthah
Punyaapuyavivarjitapanthah;
Yogee yoganiyojitachitto
Ramate baalonmattavadeva
Bhaja Govindam....

Kastvam koham kuta aayaatah
Kaa me jananee ko me taatah
Iti paribhaavaya sarvamasaaram
Vishvam tyaktvaa svapnavichaaram
Bhaja Govindam

Tvayi mayi chaanyatraiko Vishnuh
Vyartham kupyasi mayyasahishnuh;
Bhava samachiraadyadi Vishnutvam
Bhaja Govindam

Shatrau mitre putre bandhau
Maa kuru yatnam vigrahasandhau
Sarvasmnnapi pashyaatmaanam
Sarvatrotsrija Bhedaagnaanam
Bhaja Govindam

Kaamam krodham lobham moham
Tyaktvaa (aa) tmaanam pashyati So(a)ham
Aatmanaanaviheenaa moodhaah
Te pachyante Narakanigoodhaah
BHaja Govindam.

Geyam Geetaanaamasahasram
Dhyeyam Shreepatiroopamajasram
Neyam sajjanasange chittam
Deyam deenajanaaya cha vittam
Bhaja Govindam....

Sukhatah kriyate raamaabhogah
Pashchaaddhanta shareere rogah
Yadyapi loke maranam sharanam
Tadapi na munchati paapaacharanam
Bhaja Govindam

Arthamanartham bhaavaya nityam
Naasti tatah sukhaleshah satyam;
Putraadapi dhanabhaajaam bheetih
Sarvatraishaa vihit reetih.
Bhaja Govindam

Praanaayaamam pratyaahaaram
Nityaanityavivekavichaaram
Jaapyasametasamaadhividhaanam
Kurvavadhaanam mahadavadhaanam
Bhaja Govindam

Gurucharanaambujanirbharabhaktah
Sasaaraadachiraadbhava muktah
Sendriyamaanasaniyamaadevam
Drakshyasi nijahridayastham Devam
Bhaja Govindam.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Krishnanattam.

APantomime, written by Raja Manaveda, who ruled as Zamorin of Calicut from 1655 - 58  A.D. It is based on Bhagavatha, particularly Dasama and Ekadasa Skanthas.  This unique art exists only in the Guruvayur temple.
Raja Manaveda was a contemporary of Melpathur, Poonthanam and Vilwamangalam II. The belief goes that the poet was, with the help of Vilwamangalam. was able to see Sree Krishna, and enchanted he rushed forward to embrace Him. Saying "Vilwamangalam told me ot this" He vanished and the poet was able to get hold of only a single peacock feather from the Peelithirumudi of the Lord. Using this feather the Zamorin made a Mudi and to enable this Peelithirumudi to be used on stage he composed a dance drama, naturally it was based on the story of Sree Krishna. 
Raja Manaveda a born genius, was not only a deep scholar and poet, but was an erudite master in all extant art forms. The poet followed the ancient dance forms of Koothu Koodiyattam and Theyyam. he depended on Jayadevas Geethagovinda. must have been also influenced by Ashtapadiyattam a dramatised version of Geethagovindam.
The story is divided into eight parts to be presented on stage on consecutive eight nights. namely Avatharam the incarnation of Maha Vishnu as Krishna; Kaliyamardhanam; Rasakreeda; Kamsavadham; Svayamvaram; banayuddham; Vividayudham and Swargarohanam.

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Adambara.

Everything offered to add to the pomp and splendor of the temple and the procession of the Lord is called Adambara. Pictures, paintings, murals etc are offered by devotees with which the temple will be decorated. Devotees will some times give their offering for covering the roof of the Sreekovil with gold. Oil will be offered by devotees with which the deepasthambhams, Vilakkamatom, flambeaus etc will be lighted which will add glory and illumination. Often devotees bring lamps of bronze, silver and gold, umbrellas and other paraphernalia of the procession and other decorations of elephants. In addition to all these elephants cows horses deer peacocks etc are also offered to the lord. musical instruments like drums pipes flutes conches cymbals tamburas are found amoung the offerings. Reading of Puranas, Chakyorkoothu, Padhakams, Thullals and recitals of the Lords leelas and songs and hymns also will be performed a offerings.Artists will often have their first public performance Arangettam before the Lord as a sacred offering. To crown all these there is the Krishnanattam, which can be booked by the devotee paying the fee thereof. Krishnattam is divided into eight parts to be performed on eight consecutive nights and the devotees can have their own choice of the story of the day, so as to fulfill their particular prayer.

Nivedyams: Thrimadhuram, beaten rice, parched rice, simple cooked rice, sweetened ricecakes fried in ghee, rice flour puffs with coconut scrappings and jaggery enclosed in plantain leaf and baked in steam called Ata; Payasam (rice boiled with jaggery). Palpayasam (rice boiled in milk and sugar) Pradhaman (rice boiled with jaggery and extracted coconut milk) and Palata Pradhaman (rice flakes boiled in milk and sugar) are important offerings as Nivedyams.

Material offerings Particular:
For children. Children's  toys and jewels, cradles and perambulators, presents of cloth to boys, reading by oneself or causing to be read by others the avathara chapters of the Bhagavatha or the Narayaneeyam and arranging for the staging of the avtaram story in the Krishnanattam etc. are performed by devotees to please Lord Guruvayurappan so as to bless them with children. they some times take to bhajan also.

For the cure of general depression etc.
1. Thulabharam: This is weighing of the individual concerned against gold, silver, precious stones, fruits, sugar, sugar-candy butter, rosewater, coconut, coconut husks, plantains fruits etc. according to the prayer of the devotee.
2. Figurines in gold and silver.

For special ailments: Figurines of the particular organ affected and jewels worn generally on them are offered for the cure of the ailments.

For success in profession etc; a certain percentage of salary, or earning, profits or daily collections.

For safe travel: Toy vehicles of silver and gold like planes, boats, ships cars buses trains etc.

Natathallal: Making over the child to the Lord. (The parent offers the child to the Lord by placing it before Him. After Natathallal, the child is supposed to be of Lord Guruvayurappan and the parent gets it back, with His blessings showered on it, and deposits an amount in the bhandaram according to his means.
Annaprasanam: This is the first feeding of the child before the Lord.
Vivaha: This is the marriage conducted in the presence of the Lord Guruvayurappan. For this there is a separate Vivahamandapam at the eastern nada of the temple just in front of the gopuram.

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Peeyoosha.

Peeyoosha is Amritha and Amritha is the state of being immortal. Only one who finds himself in Vaikuntha attains immortality.

This is attained at the Sreekovil when one stands before the darshan of the Lord in Divya Kaisora vesham.
The temple pens at 3 a.m. Nirmalya darshan, oil abhisheka, Vakacharthu and Sankhabhisheka and malar Nivedya. followed by Usha Pooja Ethirthu pooja exactly at sunrise. Seeveli, Pantheerati pooja Navakam and Uchapooja around 12.30 when the temple is closed. Temple reopens again at 4:45 with Ucha seeveli, deeparadhana at sunset,followed by Athazhapooja, Seeveli, Thirippuka and Olavayana. the shrine closes at 9;15 p.m.