Professional Documents
Culture Documents
*: 413 4|3
|sH43| 4d|3 ).
The strength of a religion does not lie in the numbers of those who practice it; but in the conduct
of those who practice it. The best "propagandist" for the Hindu religion is the Hindu who lives
up to its tenets. It is on account of such great men that our religion survives even to-day.
Another significant feature of our religion is that it has no name, because at one time no other
religion existed. As it taught the practice of eternal dharma, it was referred to only as Sanaatana
Dharma. When other religions came into existence, they were called by the names of their
founders, to distinguish them from the prevailing Vedic religion. To preserve our religion, it is
wrong to resort to the methods employed by the competing religions. On the other hand, we
should fall back on the uyirnilai (life breath) of our own religion, i.e., on karmaanushtaana as
taught in it. There is no need even to combine in congregational patterns. Ours is purely a
religion of the individual. When an individual perfects himself, his example will be emulated by
others. The true prayer is not for getting relief from suffering, but for keeping out evil thoughts
from the mind and for making good thoughts always dwell there. When misfortunes one after
another overtook the Pandavas, Kunti prayed that they should be vouchsafed strength to
remember God constantly. According to Hinduism, the only way to get rid of sin is to perform
the prescribed karmas by which the accrued sins will be expiated and fresh sins will be warded
off. The discipline of karmaanushtaana will make for health and for purity of body and mind.
The way of religion is not to grieve over suffering, but to pray that evil thought may not get a
foot-hold in the mind in moments of distress. Then the power of endurance will develop and
suffering itself will lose its sting. Such a perspective is the outcome of jnana and jnana has to be
acquired by each individual by his own efforts. That is why our religion is individualistic and not
congregational in nature. Even when untouchability is observed, there is no hatred behind it, like
the racial hatred of Africa. Universal love always prevails and that is the reason why in spite of
strong temptations, a large section of the Hindu community refuses to change the faith. This
should make us bestir ourselves and to see that this climate of love is felt by all. This can be done
by our getting over our spiritual bankruptcy and producing living examples of austerity and
devotion (karmaanushtaana bhakti). The vitality and endurance of our religion depend on our
individual purity. If it declines due to lack of propaganda or due to conversion, there is no need
for alarm. But nothing will hasten the decay of Hinduism so much as the moral weakness and
spiritual bankruptcy of each one of us.
A religion that depends for its propagation on the power of wealth or force must decline when
another religion which has the backing of greater wealth or mightier force comes into existence.
But a religion like ours, whose strength is derived from the purity of the individual adherent, has
no such fears. We require enthusiasm not to save others, but to save (purify) ourselves. If we
purify ourselves through prayer, meditation, and other forms of discipline, enjoined by our
religion, Love, that is God, will dwell in our hearts and direct our deeds. That will give us the
enlightenment to realize the oneness off the Seer and the Seen. Living examples of such realized
souls will help our religion to withstand all vicissitudes and promote universal welfare.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
8 PRESERVATION OF VEDIC LORE
(Speech delivered by His Holiness at a special meeting convened by the Mutt, which was
attended by a large and distinguished gathering, including those connected with Veda and Sastra
patasalas in the moffussil.)
It is more than one year since I came to Madras. Compared to others, who came here after me, I
have become an 'old' resident of Madras. In one sense I am glad to be here. Even before I came
to Madras, the work of renovating the gopuramof the Sri Kapaleeswarar temple was undertaken
and I had the opportunity of having darshan of this gopuram. After my arrival in Madras, the
renovation of the gopurams of the Sri Kesava Perumal Temple and the Sri Madhava Perumal
Temple was undertaken and the work on the former has been completed. Recently the work on
the renovation of the gopuramof Sri Anjaneya Temple, near the Sanskrit College, has started.
Such acts of devotion have considerable significance in the life of the people. The atmosphere
may be filled with thoughts of hatred; but when a few people engage themselves in such noble
deeds, the beneficent effects of their deeds will bring about a climate of peace and harmony.
Madras State is a land of temples and gopurams. It is but right that this State should adopt the
gopuramas its emblem. Our Government has adopted the Upanishadic saying, Satyameva
J ayate as its motto. I am glad that it finally decided to stick to the Upanishadic form and retained
the word, J ayate and did not change it into J ayati. It is not enough to have a motto; it should be
put into practice. I am, however, hopeful that when once a right motto has been chosen, it will
come to be practiced in due course. It is also significant that the wheel of Dharma adorns the
centre of the National Flag. It may be asked whether the Dharma Chakra is not a Buddhistic
emblem. The wheel is a Hindu idea and you will find in the Gita the reference, Evempravartitam
chakram- so functions the wheel. God Narayana holds a chakra, a wheel in His hand. Ancient
Tamil literature speaks of the Aravaazhi (_O_|) or Dharma Chakra. It is possible that the
Buddhists borrowed this idea of the wheel from the Gita. There is no reason to feel that we are
imitating Buddhism.
Huge gopurams came to be constructed for temples, mentioned in the devotional songs of the
Saivite and Vaishnavite Saints, namely, the Naayanmaars and Aazhvaars. When philanthropic
members of the Nagarathar community and the Thengalai Chettiars of Madras thought of
renovating temples, they selected the temples about which these saints had sung. Most of the
temple gopurams came into existence towards the end of the Chola dynasty and the Vijayanagar
dynasty. Most of these were constructed in brick and mortar. Achyutadeva Raya, who succeeded
the famous Krishnadeva Raya, wanted to construct gopurams in granite for 64 temples.
Foundations were laid for them and his direction was that all of them should be completed by the
time he returned from a pilgrimage to Rameswaram. Two of the temples selected were those at
Srirangam and at Tiruvanaikoil, lying within a distance of one mile from each other. Both the
places are in the Srirangam island, and granite for constructing the towers had to be conveyed
across rivers. However, the ambition of Achyutadevaraya could not be fulfilled. The gopuramat
Srirangam rose only to the first tier, and even now it is called the "Raya Gopuram". Huge granite
pillars intended for the gopuramcan be seen standing at Tiruvanaikoil. There are, however,
Vimanas in granite in a number of temples. Vimana is the roof over the sanctum sanctorum of a
temple. One such Vimana is at Gangaikonda Chozhapuram. In recent times a philanthropic
gentleman completed the construction of a stone gopuramfor the Sri Sukhavaneswarar temple in
Salem. Speaking of gopurams, four tall gopurams in the South come to our mind. They are the
gopurams of Sri Virupakshesvarar temple at Hampi, of the temple at Kalahasti, of the Sri
Ekamresvarar temple at Kanchipuram, and of the Sri Sarangapani temple in Kumbakonam.
There is an interesting story connected with the gopuramof the Sri Sarangapani temple. The
work was undertaken by a bachelor by name Lakshminarayana. He made it his mission in life.
When pressed by his relations to marry, so that he may beget a son for performing his obsequies,
he is said to have replied that if his devotion was sincere, God himself would perform the
necessary ceremonies and enable his soul to ascend to heaven. It is said that on the death of
Lakshminarayana, God took the form of a boy and performed his obsequies. This tradition is
being maintained to this day, and every year the sraadha of this devotee forms part of the temple
rituals.
How did the temples come into existence? From what do they derive authority for their sanctity?
What is it that invests the minds of millions of devotees who behold the gopuramwith a sense of
reverential awe and piety? The temples derive their authority from the several South India
Aagamas. The deities installed in them are sanctified through Vedic Hymns. Vedattin
mandirattal ven manalumSivamahi (GO|G u|[0 MOMuMu
|Ou|) - the white sands of the river bed raised to the dignity of Godhead by being
sanctified by Veda mantras. Those who sanctified these deities were persons who strictly
adhered to the prescribed observances, like niyama, aachara, aahara, and dhyaana. They
dedicated and offered the fruits of their rigorous penance to the deity installed in the temple, and
thus sanctified the image of God. They did this, not for their individual benefit, but with the
object that the deity so sanctified may bestow grace on the worshipping public. Thus the Vedas,
the spiritual life that they ordain, and the holy men who exemplified that ideal in their lives,
constitute the very basis of the temple, not merely as a structure in brick and mortar, but as a
religious institution making for the spiritual education of the people. The Archaeological
Department spends time and money to study and explain the architectural and other external
features of temples. But hardly any thought is bestowed on the ultimate basis of the temple
institution, namely, the Vedas.
The Vedas are the roots of all DharmasVedokhilo dharma moolam(d|sOH| HH H HH ). If
the roots of a tree are exposed, the tree withers and dies. The Vedas are the hidden source of
strength for everything. But, what are we doing to preserve this source? In South India, Kerala
ranks first in the matter of Vedic studies. This is because the Upanayanamof a Namboodiri
Brahmin is performed in his seventh year and within the next five or six years, he is made to
master his branch of Veda. During this period the Namboodiri boys lead a life of rigorous
discipline wearing only a loin cloth and sleeping on a deer skin. The present Chief Minister of
Kerala, Sri Sankaran Nanbudiripad, is said to have undergone such a course of study. The next
place in the matter of Vedic studies goes to the Telugu region. The encouragement for Vedic
studies was provided by annual examination and Vidvat Sadas, held at Vijayawada during
Navaraatri. Scholars were honored with cash presentations on this occasion and also given
certificates testifying to their scholarship. These scholars used to return to their homes on foot,
and en route, grihasthas, to whom they showed these certificates, also gave them generous gifts.
At every marriage an amount was earmarked for making presents to Vedic Scholars. Tamil Nadu
ranks third in Vedic studies. Now-a-days not many among us are devoted to Vedaadhyaana. We
are exchanging landed properties for university diplomas.
All the Vedas centre on God. The Lord says in the Gita: Vedaischa sarvairahameva vedyah(
d P 1[H :). This is an echo of a well-known passage in the Kathopanishad. There
is only one God and He is the Paramatma. He is the author of creation, preservation, and
destruction. A tree springs to life from the earth; it is nourished by the earth; and becomes part of
the earth when it dies by decay. Similarly the entire Universe derives its being from God, is
sustained by Him and finally merges into Him. The only unchanging and indestructible Being in
the Universe is God. Other religions also proclaim the existence of only one God. If the God of
another religion answers the attributes mentioned above, He must be accepted as that one and
only God, but known by a different name. It is said that if this view is accepted, the bond of
religions would become loose and the chances of conversion to other religions would increase.
But that is not true. If the adherent of one religion comes to believe that the God proclaimed by
his religion and the God proclaimed by another religion are the same, he will not change his
religion; for, such an action will be tantamount to denying the God of the religion he professes,
who is the same as the God of the religion which he proposes to embrace. He will thus be a
traitor both to his former religion and to his new religion.
The Vedic religion is anterior to all religions which adopt this definition of God. Any person
who thinks of forsaking the Vedas becomes untrue not only to God, but to his own self. If, in any
two religions, God is defined in common as the Creator, Preserver, Destroyer, Forgiver and
Liberator, for one belonging to either religion to give it up for the other is the greatest act of
blasphemy and is, therefore, the grossest sin. The Vedas contain the immutable rules by which
the Universe functions for all times, the past, the present, and the future. They determine the
entire range of human relationship and activity. The Vedic injunctions govern our entire life
from birth to death nishekaadi smasaanaantam(4 4|d HT|73H ). We are now at a stage
when we follow the Vedic injunctions by habit, without understanding their meaning or
significance. If this attitude is allowed to continue, there is the danger of our losing the Vedic
traditions, a loss not only to this country, but to the whole world. It is our duty to produce in
sufficient numbers persons who make the Vedas their life-study and who are able to explain the
Vedic mantras. According to the statistics available, the number of students learning the Vedas
either privately or in patasalas is very small. More could be induced to take to Vedic studies by
introducing a system of awarding cash prizes for every completed panchaadi. To produce
persons understanding the meaning of the Vedas, a series of ten half-yearly tests have been
introduced. The sixth test in the series was held recently and 50 scholars appeared for it. A
sufficient cash present has to be given to keep these scholars going for the next six months, so
that they can continue their studies. This scheme of examinations has been introduced and is in
vogue under the auspices of the Math. With sufficient inducement, more scholars may come
forward to make a life study of Veda Bhashya. The Vedas have to be studied from the mouth of a
teacher. If their purity and efficacy are to be maintained, a dedicated and strictly disciplined life
is necessary. That is the significance of the verse: Sikhaampundramcha sootramcha
samayaachaarameva cha, poorvairaacharitamkuryaat anyathaa patito bhavet (T4|H 4]+
P+ 4 1|13H PH||1H 4 1|13H 4
| 3 H7|| 433| H 3 ).
It is distressing to find that most of the Veda Patasalas have now become defunct due to scarcity
of students. It is the duty of the public to give a fillip to the Vedic studies, and help in their
revival by providing livelihood for the Vedic students and the possibility of future prospects.
They should be given a respectable status in society, and the sense of frustration which they
suffer should be removed from their minds. Astikaas all over India should create organizations
suited to their own regional conditions to arrest the decline in Vedic study and knowledge and
bring about their rejuvenation.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
9 Temple Worship
One of our duties as human beings is to avail ourselves of every opportunity to do good to
others. The poor can serve others by their physical labor and the rich by their wealth. Those of
you who are influential can use your influence to better the condition of others. That way, we can
keep alive in our hearts the sense of social service.
India is a poor country; but it is the poor that joined together in ancient times and built the grand
temples and towers which we find today in every town and village of South India. The economy
of those days was different from what it is now. People's wants were few and the surplus produce
of the land was utilized to hire labor to build these great structures of public utility and spiritual
admiration.
In the present day, social service is viewed in a different manner. Schools and hospitals are built
and banks organized on a community basis with the object of eradicating ignorance, diseases and
poverty. But it is evident that these forms of social service have not been an unmixed blessing.
Education has not eradicated falsehood and corruption. On the other hand, unsophisticated tribal
people, whom modern education has not reached, are found to be more honest than the so-called
educated people. Confidence of obtaining cure in hospitals has made people lead reckless lives.
All the banks that have come into existence have not succeeded in eradicating poverty among the
masses.
In our modern mode of life, we have multiplied our wants. This will lead only to perpetual
discontent. A life of extreme simplicity alone can bring contentment and happiness to the people.
In this country, there are, what may be called, community temples. For instance at Avadayarkoil,
it is the custom to offer large quantities of cooked rice to the presiding deity and this rice is made
available to all at a nominal cost. In many temples the sense of community life is fostered by
devoting special days and occasions for it. Consecrated food is made available through them to
all those in need.
Gratitude for help received is a cardinal virtue. The taxes that you pay to the Corporation of
Madras and to the Government are your expression of gratitude for the services rendered by
those agencies. There are super-human agencies which confer benefits on us. We must express
our gratitude to those agencies in the manner prescribed in the Vedas. This expression of
gratitude is known as yagna. Though schools, hospitals and banks and such other social service
organizations may be necessary in the context of our present times, these institutions cannot
serve their respective purposes in the absence of devotion. The one cure for all human ills is the
power to endure them with faith in Gods grace. Bhakti alone can give that power of endurance.
Temples are the agencies for the cultivation of bhakti. Hence the obligation to build temples in
every place.
What is the significance of making offerings to the idols installed in temples? This is done as an
expression of gratitude to the Power that created all things. Man by himself cannot create even a
blade of grass. We will be guilty of gross ingratitude if we do not offer first to God, what we eat
or wear. Only the best and the choicest should be offered to God. It is not everyone that can do
pooja at home and make these offerings to God. It is here that temples come into the picture.
Offerings are made to God in the temples on behalf of the entire community.
It is not even necessary that every one should worship inside the temples every day. Gopura
darsanamwill itself elevate our minds and make us remember the source from which we derive
all the earthly benefits. At the same time, it is necessary for the community to see that worship at
the temples is conducted properly. We should make it a point to see the temple tower every day
and thereby concentrate a while in the contemplation of God. At least once a week we should go
round the temple, reciting naamaas (Gods names) and doing bhajan. If we do so, we will derive
real and lasting benefit.
October 7, 1957.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
10 Heritage of South India
In the course of my discourses during the past few days, I have been endeavoring to point out
that we are the inheritors of the Vedas, the Puranas, the Dharma Sastra and the numerous
devotional works both in Sanskrit and in Tamil. Our Nayanmars and Alwars have poured out
devotion from the bottom of their hearts and given us works unsurpassed in beauty and in their
wealth of knowledge. We have also in our land innumerable temples, the like of which the world
has not seen. If we take a census of the places of worship in this world, we will find that India
contains more temples than the places of worship in the rest of the world put together. Nearer
home, Dravida Desa contains more temples than the rest of India put together. Similarly, in
respect of devotional, philosophic, ethical and religious works, India has produced more works
than the total output of such works in the rest of the world. In this respect too, Dravida country
leads the rest of India and tradition has it that Vedic religion, philosophy and dharma, and bhakti
are preserved much more on the banks of the Kaveri and the Tambraparni than anywhere else in
India. Great men, in the abundance of their devotion, built temples and also endowed them with
considerable properties. In some temples, the quantity of naivedyam(offerings) is in such
generous proportion that a devotee can get sumptuous food by paying merely an anna. The
Annapurneswari Temple in Cherukunnam (Kerala) will be closed every day only after
ascertaining that no one has gone without food. There is a custom there to tie a bundle of cooked
rice to the branch of a tree near the temple in the night. This practice is to ensure that even a thief
does not go hungry.
It is also noteworthy that there are more devotional books in Tamil than in any other regional
language. But it is a matter for regret that many people in Tamil Nadu know more about Milton
and Shakespeare now than the wonderful compositions of our own great scholars and saints. If
to-day the names of Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru are better known in other parts of the
world, it is due to the fact that they are the products of a rich and pulsating culture that has been
preserved by methods which have won the admiration of the world. Being inheritors of such rich
traditions, it is our duty to take steps to preserve all this wonderful heritage for prosperity.
October 15, 1957.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
11 Blending of J nana and Bhakti
Tiruvasagam is the composition of Saint Manickavasagar. Its unique feature is the blending of
J nana and Bhakti. That is why it is known as Tiruvasagam. Manickavasagars songs are
outpourings from a heart overflowing with devotion. It is through his Tiruvembavai and through
Sri Andals Tiruppavai that children are deriving the spirit of devotion.
Temples dedicated to Siva and Vishnu are to be found dotted all over South India. There are also
such temples in North India; but they are neither as numerous or as big as in South India. These
temples are intended to remind us of the tatva or principle of Parabrahmasvaroopa, the Ultimate
Truth. There are also such temples in countries like Cambodia and Siam, where some of our
ancestors had carried our culture and civilization. The special feature of South Indian temples is
that they are constructed according to certain accepted principles of architecture and the worship
therein is conducted according to aagama sastra. The knowledge of temple architecture and
aagama sastra is slowly disappearing. Steps should be taken to preserve this knowledge. It is
also highly desirable to make officers in the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments
Department to pass a test in these two branches of knowledge to qualify themselves for their
posts. This would be useful to them, particularly executive officers of temples. If this knowledge
becomes widespread, the fountain of bhakti will not get dried up.
Another special feature of South India is that a place is assigned to Siva in most of the Vishnu
temples and vice versa. The shrine of Vishnu in the Siva temple at Kancheepuram is among the
places described as holy to Vaishnavites. There is thus a sincere effort at identification of the two
manifestations of God with Paramatma, the Ultimate Truth. That is why in the sayings of
Avvaiyar, Tirumalukku adimai sey, |@u@ Mu
(serve Vishnu) occurs immediately after Aranai maravel ([MG u_GO0 do not forget
Siva).
In the Tamil language the prefix Tiru is added to the names of two out of the 27 stars. The
stars are Tiruvatirai and Tiruvonam. In Sanskrit these two stars are called merely Aardra and
Sravana. The deity of Tiruvatirai is Siva and hence the conjunction of that star with the full
moon in the month of Maargazhi is important for Siva and is observed as Aardraa Darsanam.
Similarly the deity of Tiruvonamis Vishnu and Onamis an important festival associated with
Vishnu in Kerala.
While Andals Tiruppavai makes ones heart melt in devotion to Vishnu, Saint
Manickavasagars Tiruvembavai fills the hearts of people with Siva Bhakti. Gems of devotion
are strung together to make this garland of Tiruvembavai. The thought of Siva never left the
heart of Manickavasagar, however trying the situation was or however hard his suffering. There
are instances of people undergoing hardships and suffering imprisonment for the country or for a
party; but Manickavasagar bore sufferings and imprisonment for Siva, the God of his heart. He
realized and proclaimed the truth, God is in all and all is in Him. That is also the truth taught
by the story of Sri Sundareswarar assuming the form of a laborer for the sake of an old woman
devotee of Madurai. According to this story, the blow struck by the Pandyan king on this laborer
with a cane was felt by all created beings, including the king himself.
Those who lived in the time of the great saints like Manickavasagar and Andal were really
blessed. These devotees are like perennial springs providing the water of J nana and bhakti to all
seekers. Their service in the form of devotional songs have kept the flame of bhakti burning in
the hearts of succeeding generations. Let their memory remain green in our hearts and let their
blessed words help us to turn our thoughts to God so that we may find peace and, through peace
happiness.
April 7, 1958.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
12 Development of Kshatra Dharma
(The following is the gist of the message given to the members of the R.S.S., at the rally
organised by the Sangh to pay homage to His Holiness, at the Sanskrit College, Mysore.)
Each country or Rashtra has its distinctive culture, which is rooted in its religious traditions.
These are, both in the East and in the West, heads of religious institutions who are the custodians
of the countrys culture and traditions. For example, His Holiness the Pope is the custodian of
Catholic traditions. The Caliphate was the institution which symbolized the Islamic traditions. So
far as South India is concerned, there are four main schools of Hindu religious thought, and there
are also four main Mutts to represent these denominations. I regard this evenings function as a
homage paid not only to myself but to all the heads of Mutts upholding Hindu dharma and
culture.
The Rashtreeya Swayam Sevak Sangh is an organisation owing no allegiance to any political
party, but dedicated to service. They render real service. You should uphold truth and dharma,
on the one hand, and eschew fear, on the other. Fearlessness does not imply violence or himsa.
The tradition of true fearlessness is found embodied in Anjaneya, Samartha Ramadass (regarded
as an incarnation of Anjaneya), and Shivaji. It is a virtue born out of physical prowess, wedded
to ahimsa, which enables one to rush to the succor of the weak and the oppressed, unmindful of
personal consequences. This is signified by the expression Kshatra Dharma (kshataat kila
traayate iti kshatramH3|3 4H |3 3 HH ). The quality of a kshatriya is rescuing the
oppressed.
But unfortunately we have developed the trait of fearing the bully and oppressing the meek. This
is the sign of fear complex. This weakness of the people is found reflected in the Government
also. If this weakness is to go and if we are to hold our heads erect and walk as fearless citizens
of a free country, we must once again develop Kshatra Dharma. This implies the development of
individual strength, disciplined unity and will to resist evil and oppression. We should bear in
mind the maxim paropakaartamidamsareeram 41|44|1| HdH T1|1H . The human body
should be developed to protect and help others. Our strength is not to be utilized to oppress
others to do himsa. Our aim should be the welfare of all Loka kshemam, Hl4H HH .If the
individuals in the society rise to such high moral stature, the Government of the country will also
rise to a similar stature.
You, the members of the R.S.S. must make use of your organizational unity to develop physical
and moral strength and to lead a pure life based on the eternal dharma of the land, as expounded
by Hindu religion. Let each member try to convert at least one other person to his point of view.
In that way, let the message of the Sangh spread throughout the land. Let your dedicated service
lead to the prosperity of the country and to purity in administration.
February 23, 1959.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
13 Cultural Unity of India
In the immediate presence of His Holiness J agadguru Sri Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti
Peetam, the disciples and admirers of Sri Reva Shankar Bacherbhai Trivedi, the reputed Vedic
Scholar of Gujarat, offered him an Abhinandana Grantha (commemoration volume). On that
occasion, His Holiness made the following speech.
Sama Veda occupies a high place among Vedas, as can be seen from the various references to it
occurring in our sacred books. For instance, Bhagavan Krishna says in the Gita I am the Sama
veda among the four Vedas (Vedaanaamsaamavedosmi, d||H P|H d|1H). In Lalitaa
Sahasranaama, Devi is referred to as saamagaanapriya. In the Siva ashtottara, Siva is addressed
as saamapriyah. Thus, this Divine Trinity is associated with the glory of Sama veda. In these
days, when the number of persons engaged in veda adhyayana (study of the Vedas) is getting
fewer and fewer, the number of persons devoted to the study of Sama veda is extremely few. Sri
Trivedi is one of those rare scholars who has made a life-time study of the Sama Veda and
mastered it. He is also proficient in jyothisha sastra (astrology). Honouring Sri Trivedi is
honoring Sama veda, which again means worshipping Sri Krishna, Sri Lalitambika and Sri
Parameswara.
The function at which tributes were paid to Sri Trivedi in seven languages is a notable one in
certain respects. Rich merchants, hailing from far-off Gujarat participated in honoring a Vedic
scholar, who combined scholarship with aachaara and anushtaana (conduct of life and
observances enjoined by Sastra) like our ancient rishis. This should provide a great lesson to the
people in the south. We relegate people who have made veda adhyayana to the background and
to an inferior status in society. We do not show them due honor. But, these merchants have set us
a worthy example. We should feel happy and thankful for it. It is also a happy thing that this
function is held in our midst. Our part of the country is spoken of as Dravida desa, as distinct
from the northern parts. Such a distinction is wrong; for, we are not the only Dravidas in the
country. Our saastraas make mention of the pancha dravidas, and these five Dravida groups are
the Gurjaras, the Karnatakas, the Andhras, the Maharashtras, and the Tamilians. Though Western
philologists say that Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada alone are Dravidian languages, our
saastraas have included other groups also among the pancha dravidas. Gurjara of Gujarat is also
Dravida, and so. in honoring Sri Trivedi, we are also honoring a Dravida scholar.
It is also wrong to classify the people of this land into Aryan and Dravidian. In Sanskrit, Arya
means, worthy of respect, and anaarya means, not worthy of honor or worship. Whoever is
worthy of respect or honor is Arya, and, therefore, Aryans are not people belonging to any
particular part of the country.
Our country, stretching from the southern ocean to the Himalayas, has often been broken up into
numerous States, big and small. Yet there is always the belief that ours is one country. That
belief is rooted in the Vedas, our common heritage. The Vedas are expressed in Sanskrit. The
Sanskrit language is not confined to the shores of India alone. It was once prevalent in distant
Siam, Cambodia, Java, Bali, and other countries. Sanskrit language and literature are studied
with interest in those countries, and also in Western countries, whose languages have Sanskrit
roots. It is sad to contemplate that instead of preserving and promoting this language, which is so
rich and which was once so universal, attempts are made in this country to discourage its study.
Sanskrit has been a unifying force wherever it was prevalent and Sanskrit alone can knit our
country together and keep it as one. It can unify all Asian countries and the world as well.
Apart from our common heritage of the Vedas and the Sanskrit language, there is another
significant fact. The Tolkappiamand the Silappadikaaramare the oldest works in the Tamil
language. Tolkappiamrefers to what are known as Aintinai (@|MM), five Tinais. One
Tinai is connected with Sri Durga, and another with Balarama and Sri Krishna. In
Silappadikaaramthere is a reference to the chorus music of shepherdesses, known as Aachiar
Kuravai narrating the story of Sri Krishna. Thus from the Himalayas in the north to
Kanyakumari in the south, the story of Krishna, his baalya leelas (exploits as a child) and his
jnaanopadesam(advice of enlightenment) are the common themes of folk songs throughout the
country. It is very appropriate that we, in Tamil Nadu, who are accustomed to the recital of Sri
Krishna Leela in our folk songs, should gather to honor a great Vedic scholar who hails from that
part of our country where according to tradition, Sri Krishna lived.
J anuary 26, 1958.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
14 Drama in Ancient India
By reading books and hearing lectures, ideas get impressed in our mind. If the oral exposition is
made to the accompaniment of music, as in katha kaalakshepa (musical discourse), the subject
matter becomes more interesting and has a better appeal. The sravya kaavyaas (classics intended
for study) of mahaa kavis (great poets) are embellished by a good style and enriched with
alankaara, praasa and a vivid description of nature and so our minds love to linger over them
and to drink in the beauty of expression. These great poets have also composed drisya kaavyas
(dramatic works). Visual representation on the stage has a more direct and more vivid appeal
than any amount of descriptive writing or talks.
Among the great poets who have written dramas are Kalidasa and Bhavabuti. Every drama
portrays all the moods of the mind, or emotions, known as the nava rasaas, in a greater or a
lesser degree. But there is one predominant emotion in each drama, which is its overtone. For
example, Mahaaveera Charitamand Veni Samhaaramspecialize in veera rasa (valor). In the
same way, soka (grief), haasya (humor), and other rasaas are portrayed in the main in other
dramas. Of these nine rasaas the last and the highest one is saanta rasa. Writers on Alankaara
Sastra have been divided on the question whether saanta rasa deserves to be included among the
rasaas, since it is a state of equipoise, not affecting the mind in any manner, as any of the other
rasaas do. The other rasaas are transient in their hold on the mind; they cause agitation and
affliction to the mind for the moment. They do not conduce to permanent joy and peace. But
saanta rasa, on the other hand, gives an abiding satisfaction, as a result of which the mind is at
peace with itself and with the world. The effect on the mind endures without diminution or
disappearance. As Sri Thyagaraja has expressed in one of his songs, Saantamuleka saukhyamu
ledu, there can be no bliss if there is no saanti. So, though saanta rasa is not colorful and
activating as the rest, it has been considered as a rasa in its own right.
There are six tastes, shad-rasas, like saltish, sweet, sour, bitter, etc, which stimulate the palate by
their distinctive features. Apart from the fact that they can be enjoyed only in combination in
proper proportion with articles of food, they are not saatvic by nature. They may please the
tongue but they do not give peace to the mind. On the other hand, they irritate the tongue
and agitate the mind. Sweet, which is one of the shad-rasas, and which is associated with an
article like sugar, palls on the tongue when experienced in excess and becomes insipid. But there
is another kind of sweetness which does not satiate. It is known as the madhura rasa andis to be
found in substances with which the other gustatory rasaas cannot associate, namely, fresh butter
and sweet curd, which Sri Krishna enjoyed. Butter and curd are pure white in color without any
admixture, and as Sri Krishnas mouth filled with butter, His heart was filled with joy. The
madhura rasa of butter is saanta rasa.
We speak of black color and white color, but they are not primary colors according to science.
The puranaas speak of the Sun as riding in a chariot drawn by seven horses (saptaasva P3|).
The word asva according to the Niruktam, means kirana (rays). So the meaning of saptaasva is
one who has seven rays. We are aware that there are seven colors in sunlight. The spectrum splits
this light of the sun into its seven component colors. Scientists have determined the quantum of
each of the constituent colors in sunlight. These colors, when combined in the same proportions,
produce whiteness. The flame of the oil lamp is reddish, because the element which makes for
red is in excess in oil, while the flame of the lamp fed by pure ghee does not have this red tinge.
It is pure white light and that is why ghee lamps are lit in the sanctum of our temples nearest to
the Deity. Sunlight, which is also pure white, is in fact, colorless.
If each of the elements like gold, silver, iron, copper, etc, is heated to incandescence, it will emit
a particular color peculiar to it. The spectroscope also reveals the existence of these elements in
the constitution of the sunlight. In addition to these, an element known as Helium is also found in
the sunlight. In Sanskrit Helih is one of the names of the sun. Helium is an element found in the
rays of the sun, but not found on earth.
Like the sunlight, which is colorless, the crystal (sphatika 144) too has no color. In fact,
water has also no color. The test of a good sphatika is that it should become invisible when
immersed in water. Among visible objects, the sphatika is pure and white. Among tasteable
articles, butter is pure and white. Among mental states, saanta is pure and peace-giving. Saanta
rasa is that in which the mind rests in peace and repose.
Among dramas, those that are devoted to saanta rasa are not many. This is especially true of
modern dramatic works, which seek to exploit the instincts of kaama and krodha (lust and anger)
and degrade human nature, instead of elevating it. No modern drama has saanta rasa for its
motif. But there is a classical drama which is devoted to the promotion of saanta rasa. That is
the Prabodha Chandradaya Naataka of Krishna Misra, a dramatist of Rajaputana, who lived
about a thousand years ago. It is an allegorical play devoted to the establishment of the
supremacy of jnana as the means to moksha (salvation). The dramatis personae in it are Viveka,
Vishnu, Bhakti, Sradha, karuna, dharma, vairagya, ajnana, mamamoha, paapa, asatya etc, and
the drama itself delineates the conflict between these contending forces for the Saamrajya of
Prabedha. The forces making for asaanti are vanquished and saanti of jnana comes out
victorious. On the same model, Sri Vedanta Desika has written the Sankalpa Suryodaya, which
is devoted to establishing the supremacy of Bhakti and its consummation in evoking the grace of
God.
The dramas that ought to be acted on the stage are those that are calculated to elevate the mind,
rather than corrupt it, and which leave the spectator at peace with himself and with the world,
and do not agitate his mind and rouse his passions. At the present time we have any number of
dramas and pictures that pander to lower human passions and some are intended to set one set of
people against another, producing as they do, ridicule, resentment and anger. The danger to
society from such corrupting dramas has increased now, because cinematography has enabled us
to multiply the screen version of a drama and to exhibit the same simultaneously at a number of
places and a number of times.
In olden days, acting on the stage was restricted to a certain community known as
Bharataputras. Dramatization was their svadharma and their perquisite. If others who have other
dharmas take to acting, they will not only encroach on the dharma of those who have a right to
act, but will be obliged to give up their own svadharma, with deleterious consequences to
themselves and to society. Even while acting, Bharataputras have to observe certain rules. A
man should not act the role of a woman. Any man and any woman cannot take the roles of
husband and wife; a husband and wife on the stage must also be a husband and wife in real life.
But unfortunately this restriction is not observed now by those who take to the stage and the
screen, and the absence of this restriction and restraint tends to degrade the morals of our people
both in public life and in private life.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
15 Hindu Religious Practices
When we analyze the personal discipline and religious observances (anushtaanam) prescribed in
the Vedic religion, we find that no other religion contains such rigid regulations. At the same
time, apart from the good sense of the people, there is no special sanction for enforcing these
religious practices. This paradoxical situation has led people to regulate their life as they liked.
When there was a strong village community life, there were elders in society who pointed out if
any deviation occurred from the time-honored practices and their personal influence and
authority helped society to keep itself within bounds. Even if people did not do what should be
done, they at least abstained from doing what ought not to be done, for fear of incurring the
displeasure of the elders in society. The disintegration of village life and the migration of people
to cities and towns, and, even to far off places, have resulted in the gradual disappearance of
many wholesome observances. In political life one is bound by party discipline; but in religious
life even that amount of discipline has ceased to exist.
As I explained on another occasion, I am of the view that at one time Vedic religion prevailed all
over the world and people everywhere observed the same practices. With the rise of Christianity
and Islam, religious life came to be understood to consist chiefly in offering prayer to the
Supreme Being on a specified day in the week. So far as Buddhism and J ainism are concerned,
except in the conception of the ultimate goal, there is not much difference between them and the
Hindu religion. But, we, Hindus, are so steeped in religious traditions that we often feel that we
should keep up certain observances, though we are not able to give effect to this feeling always,
either on account of circumstances beyond our control, or on account of the general laxity that
has come to prevail in such matters. In the circumstances, it is worth pondering why our Vedas
and Sastras prescribed so many strict codes of personal conduct and religious ceremonies.
Let us take the institution of marriage. No other religion has insisted on post-puberty marriage as
Hinduism. Even when custom did not insist on post puberty marriage, there is restriction in the
freedom of the movement of unmarried girls, who have attained puberty. There was the practice
of women immolating themselves on the funeral pyre of their husbands. Rajput ladies threw
themselves into the fire when they found that the fortune of war was favoring the foreign
enemies. Sita preserved her life in captivity; but ordered a fire to be lit for immolating herself
when she found that Sri Rama would not accept her as a result of her captivity. Even in the
present times, when Sati has been abolished statutorily, we read in the newspapers stray cases of
Sati occurring in North India. Why should there be all these restrictions and hardships in the
name of religion? The answer is that to the extent we make sacrifices in performing acts which
we sincerely believe to be good, to that extent will our soul or atma get elevated. Even acts done
in ignorance, but with faith, will produce spiritual reward. The moment we begin to question
why a particular religious practice should be observed, the moment we are beginning to lose faith
or bhakti.
In other religions, marriage is a contract by which the contracting parties pledge to be faithful to
each other during the period of the contract. Both parties are free to obtain divorce. A widow is
also free to marry again. Thus, marriage in such societies is an institution to get over social
complications and also to keep sex life within bounds. In Hinduism, on the other hand, marriage
is a sacrament intended for the elevation of the soul. So far as men are concerned, marriage is
intended to restrict and regulate their physical desires. For their spiritual realization, man must
seek and obtain a preceptor (guru). But so far as women are concerned marriage is both a
regulator of physical desires and a means for spiritual elevation. By the sacred ties of marriage, a
woman surrenders herself completely to her husband and in serving him she serves God. In fact,
she regards her husband as God. There are numerous stories to illustrate this principle. As novels
reflect the spirit of the times, these puranic stories reflect the ideals behind the social and
religious practices of our ancients. A woman who has dedicated her body completely to her
husband in the firm faith that he is God, finds no use for it at the death of her husband. That is
the principle behind the practice of sati. Marriage is the upaakarma, initiation into spiritual life,
for a girl. For widows who cannot sacrifice themselves on the funeral pyre of their husbands,
because they have certain duties to discharge, like the care and bringing up of young children,
certain codes, known as Vidhava Dharma, have been prescribed.
We tie up a cow which is prone to graze in other peoples fields. This is done to save the crop of
the neighbors and also to save the cow itself from coming to grief by getting beaten for
trespassing into fields. Similarly we have also to bind ourselves with certain cords voluntarily, so
that we may not go wrong, goaded by passions like kaama (desire) and krodha (anger), and so
that our atma may get elevated higher and higher. A cowherd knows when to untie a cow.
Similarly, Isvara, who is called Pasupati (literally cowherd), knows when to release us from
bondage. When a bale is tightened with iron loops in a press, the rope with which it was tied
before it was placed in the press, becomes loose and slips down. Similarly, if we bind ourselves
tightly with the rope of jnana (true knowledge), we get rid of the shackles of kaama (desire),
krodha (anger), and other passions, which bind us to earthy pleasures and which are the causes of
births and deaths. Yajna, daana, tapas and karma lead to jnana. When we perform with faith the
prescribed karmas and anushtaanas, and dedicate them to God, as taught by the Vedas, we attain
jnana, which clears the way for God-realization. Let us bind ourselves with punya,accruing
through making sacrifices inherentin the adherence to our anushtaanas, so that we may be
released from the lesser bond of sins, and thus be enabled to transcend birth and death by
realizing the Supreme Being.
December 30, 1957
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
16 Linguistic and Religious Concord
It seems to me that greater troubles and greater conflicts are being caused by the language issue
on the one hand, and political ideologies on the other, than by caste and religious differences.
Taking the case of Madras State, the language issue seems to have provoked greater opposition
than issues based on caste. Fortunately the language controversy has so far taken only the form
of protests, as far as this State is concerned. But in the North, the quarrel over languages has
resulted in serious rioting.
In former days the greed of kings to extend their sovereignty led to wars. Now, countries are
ranged in opposing camps on the basis of the form of administration or political ideology. All are
agreed that the administrative setup must be democratic; but the dispute is whether the American
form of democracy, branded by Russia as capitalistic, or the Russian form of democracy,
branded by America as Communist, should prevail. The personal ego of former kings has now
given place to the ideological ego of party bosses. No doubt, some countries like India are
remaining outside both the ideological camps. However this is a political matter, the solution of
which is not my concern.
We require a language or languages to communicate our thoughts to one another. If we take the
case of India, we will find that the language of the region changes roughly for every 500 miles.
Similarly the same language underwent drastic changes in the course of every 500 years. This
can be verified if we survey the incidence of language from Kanyakumari to the Himalayas and
from the remote past to modern times. Languages serve a very useful purpose and no one will
subscribe to the proposition that because languages gave room for controversy, there shall be no
languages at all. Languages have come into existence, not for the purpose of creating linguistic
quarrels, but for serving mankind. Therefore, a rational mind will try to probe into the causes
which give rise to linguistic controversies and tackle those causes with a view to eliminating
them.
The genius of Tamil is its hospitality for other languages. People from the South have gone to the
Telugu and Maharashtra areas long ago and settled there. In the Telugu country they are known
as Dravidas; but they know not a word of Tamil now. Similarly there are Dravids in
Maharashtra, who have adopted Marathi as their mother tongue. But in Tamil Nadu, there are
people from Andhra, Gujarat, Maharashtra and other places. Though they are here for
generations, they continue to talk among themselves in their respective mother tongue. They are
also proficient in Tamil. In fact several non-Tamilians have composed Tamil works. Tamilians
have also the capacity to pick up the language of their surroundings in a short time. Tamil Nadu
can be compared to a refrigerator, capable of preserving all the languages existing in its midst,
whereas in other areas alien languages have disappeared with the passage of time. Therefore,
over this language issue, Tamilians have a great responsibility of maintaining their praiseworthy
tradition of hospitality. We should not approach the language problem with the notion that one
language is superior to another. A spirit of camaraderie and a liberal outlook in adopting the
noble ideas contained in one language by the other languages, will result in the enrichment of all
languages and in the development of mutual respect and regard among the people speaking
different tongues. That is the way to abolish linguistic fanaticism.
If a thing is good basically, but for some cause evil resulted from it, the sane view is to retain the
thing for its good and to eliminate the root cause of the evil result. This principle is applicable in
the case of religion and caste also. If we take caste into consideration, we will find that the
system was devised for the smooth functioning of society and not for the exploitation of one
caste by another. It is a functional division, each doing his allotted duty, and all together
contributing to the general welfare of the community. According to the nature of the function,
the nature of food, the forms of daily anushtaanaas, and the way of life, were adopted.
Aasramaas (stages of life) have also been prescribed for a similar purpose. There is no
justification for one caste regarding itself as superior to another. Restrictions that were imposed
pertain to marriage and personal observances, and not to social life. Such restrictions prevail
everywhere. The origin of the trouble can be ultimately traced to egoism and selfishness, one
caste regarding itself superior to another. Each of us must develop an outlook that will make us
regard the troubles, sorrows, and difficulties of others as our own. If a member of another caste is
in difficulties, our duty is to go to his aid first, before attending to our own needs. If we develop
this broad outlook, which is both correct and sastraic, there will be proper understanding among
the castes and a harmonious and integrated social life. Sarve janah sukhino bhavantu P H|:
PO| H73 ) the happiness of all should be our guiding principle.
As for religious concord, we should first of all stop criticizing and finding fault with other
religious and religious sects. We should examine ourselves first and see if we have lived up to
the requirements of our religion, before we proceed to criticize the other mans religion. Religion
is intended to elevate man spiritually and to bring him nearer and nearer to God. Before we begin
to advise others, we should conquer kaama (desires), krodha (anger), and dvesha (hatred). We
should approach all religions in a spirit of humility and appreciate the good points in all
religions. Such a friendly approach will remove the edge of all controversies and religion will
become a source of strength and inspiration, instead of degenerating into a bone of contention.
Take an illustration. Here is a bundle of faggots. There are a number of individual faggots in it;
but all of them are tied up together with one string. If I remove one faggot from the bundle, the
bond will immediately become loose and the other faggots will slip out automatically. Supposing
the faggots are first tied into four or five smaller bundles, then all these four or five smaller
bundles are tied together with a common bond, then even when one faggot gets loose, the bundle
as a whole will remain unaffected. Similarly members of society are tied together in a number of
cohesive bundles called castes, and all these bundles are tied together with the common bond
called religion. Caste and religion are meant to keep society together in a strong bond of
camaraderie so that all the component members will strive for the general welfare of the
community as a whole, in an atmosphere of mutual respect and co-operation, and not meant to
create hatred and conflicts. We should strive to lead a sinless life, uphold human brotherhood,
and earn the grace of Isvara.
J anuary 20, 1958
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
17 The Roots of Religions
Prince Gautama, who came to be known as the Buddha, was born in Kapilavastu, about 2500
years ago. His life of sacrifice and renunciation profoundly influenced the mind of every one.
Kapilavastu is situated about 300 miles away from the kingdom of ancient Videha, which was
ruled by a succession of kings beginning from J anaka, who were noted for their Brahmanishtha.
The modern Darbhanga derives its name from the word Dhanurbhanga and is identified as the
place where Sri Rama broke Sivas bow and obtained the hand of Sri Sita in marriage. (The
literal meaning of Dhanurbhanga is breaking the bow).
The life story of the Buddha evokes in us peace, compassion and bliss. The innumerable images
of the Buddha found in all parts of the country produce in us the triple effects of saanti (peace),
karuna (compassion), and aananda (bliss). Somehow an impression has been gained that
Buddhism stood for atheism. We were also told by some historians that this religion was driven
out of India. But the numerous Buddhist works in Sanskrit and Pali, and the Asokan edicts have
revealed to us the nobility of the Awakened One (the Buddha) and have filled us with pride that
this great soul was born in India. Edwin Arnold has sung the glory of the Buddha in his
composition, Light of Asia. At one time, this religion had spread in Tamil Nadu also, and, as a
result, we find Buddhist doctrines incorporated in several Tamil works of those days. When our
hearts are filled with great respect for this religion, we may wonder why such a good religion is
said to have been driven out of our country.
When we view events in retrospect, we find that so far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, Jainism was
much more popular than Buddhism. Tamil literature abounds in works dealing with J ainism and
in works by Jain authors. Jainism has also a good hold on people in Gujarat and in certain other
parts of North India. Both Buddhism and Jainism proclaimed Ahimsa as their cardinal principle
Ahimsa paramo dharmah, H[+P| 41H| HH : Buddhists were not so uncompromisingly
committed to ahimsa as Jains, and had no scruples in eating the flesh of animals killed by others.
The good support J ainism had in this country is evidenced by the numerous statues and images
pertaining to that religion in several places.
Saankhya is another great and ancient religion of this land. This religion has produced more
ascetics and jnanis than either Buddhism or J ainism. Yet, we find neither images in honor of
those ascetics and jnanis, nor an abundant literature in the form of songs and stories. However,
we find more reference to Saankhya than to either Buddhism or J ainism in philosophical works.
Saiva and Vaishnava Siddhaantaas are two other forms of the Vedic religion which are current
among us in the South. Vaishnava Siddhanta expressed itself through the teachings of Sri
Madhwa and Sri Ramanuja. The Vaishnavismof Sri Ramanuja and the Saivismof the Saiva
Siddhaanta School, have each a large following in Tamil Nadu. In every Vaishnavite temple, we
see installed the images of Sri Ramanuja, Nammalwar, Manavala Mamunigal, Vedanta Desikar,
and other Alwars. Similarly, in Saivite temples, we have the images of Appar, Sundarar,
Manickavasagar, and other saints. The more important Siva temples have the images of all the
sixty-three Nayanmars.
Temple inscriptions refer to gifts of landed property for conducting recitations of Vaishnava
Prabandhaas and Saiva Tirumurais. Coming to Advaita, we do not find for Sri Adi Sankara even
a thousandth of the number of images that exist for Vaishnavite and Saivite saints. There are no
images at all for Sri Sureswaracharya and Sri Appayya Dikshitar, two great exponents of Advaita
after Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada. A high officer of the Archaeological Department once told me
that if history is reconstructed only with the aid of inscriptions, images and other archaeological
materials, there may not be any reference either to Sri Sankara or to Advaita.
It is to be noted that the founder of each religion criticized the religion that was in vogue in his
time and which he sought to replace by his own religion. Buddhism criticized the Vedic religion;
Jainism criticized Buddhism, and so on. Each of these religions, including Vaishnavism of Sri
Ramanuja and Saivam of Saiva Siddhaanta, has a distinct feature of its own. There are also
points of differences between one religion and another. Even in a matter like idol worship, on
which both Vaishnavism and Saivism agree, the former insists on Moorti Upaasana, or worship
of the form in which God is conceived, while the latter is satisfied with the worship of a symbol,
like the Linga. Christianity and Islam inveigh against idol worship, as also the Arya Samajists.
While Hinduism is based on the Vedas, both Buddhism and Jainism revolted against the Vedas.
Each of these religious teachers, in his time, gathered around him a huge following.
When we survey the position of religions at the present time, we find that nearly half the worlds
population professes Christianity and almost an equal number professes Buddhism. The
population not covered by these two religions follow the other religions. Several religions have
risen and fallen in this world and some of them have practically disappeared. How did they rise
and why did they fall, is an interesting question. Each religion, as it arose, claimed the monopoly
of Truth and proclaimed that it alone was the last world in true religion. Truth is only one; there
cannot be two Truths. Yet, each religious leader was able to attract to himself a very large
following. Is truth to be judged by the number of people claiming allegiance to a particular
religious system? If so, how did it come about that a number of religions claiming monopoly for
Truth, and which in their time commanded a very large following, ceased to be popular?
This gives rise to a number of other questions. Is a religion popular because it is true, or it is true
because it is popular? Did people embrace a religion because it is true, or did a religion disappear
because it was not true? When we ponder over these questions, it becomes apparent that the
endurance of a movement, or the validity of the views on which that movement is based cannot
be judged by the number of its adherents. In our own life time we have seen how Gandhism
appealed to thousands of people who were prepared to fast, court imprisonments, or die at his
direction. There were also people who rejected Gandhijis religious philosophy and were
indifferent when he undertook his fasts. We are also seeing that the votaries of Gandhism are
now gradually dwindling n number.
A consideration of all these factors leads one to the inevitable conclusion that a religion does not
flourish merely on account of the truth it proclaims. The key to the growth of a religion lies in
the cause for its subsequent decay. In a farce (prahasana) known as Mattavilaasa, written by
King Mahendra Varma, who is responsible for the rock-cut temples at Mahabalipuram and other
places, there is a reference to the licentious habits of the Buddhist bhikkus of his day, and to their
swerving from the high code of personal conduct laid down for them. The Buddha himself, when
admitting women to his order of bhikkhus, foresaw the inherent danger of having both men and
women in the order. The decline of Buddhism was, therefore, due to the failure of its adherents,
particularly those who have to set an example for others, to rigorously adhere to the precepts of
that religion. Conversely, a religion will continue to flourish, if it can continuously claim among
its adherents, particularly those who, by their personal example, are charged with the propagation
and preservation of that religion, men of high spiritual attainments, with a large heart and
without any blemish in their character.
While the initial impetus to any religion is given by its high-souled founder, its subsequent
strength and popularity depend on the fervour, devotion, discipline and purity of succeeding
religious heads, and the fidelity and character of its followers. Common people are drawn to a
religion by the personality of the teacher, rather than by a firm conviction of the truth it teaches.
The truth or otherwise of a religion is a matter of academic discussion, confined to the intelligent
few. The reason why some religions, though they had a long history, gradually and inevitably
lost their hold on the people, and eventually disappeared, can be traced to the decline in the
standards of the teachers. In his own life time, Gandhiji had to close down the Sabarmati
Aasram, when he found that its inmates deviated from the strict rectitude he had imposed on
them.
Therefore, if a religion is to be popular and powerful, its followers should observe its tenets
faithfully and well. It is not in numbers or in demonstrations that the vitality of a religion lies.
For that matter, Saankhya and Advaita are the least demonstrative of all religions. That in spite of
the numerous and trying vicissitudes, the Vedic religion, the date of whose origin is
undetermined, survives today, and has such a large following, is due to the fact that in it were
born, from time to time, great souls, unselfish, pure and godly, who had deep devotion and
earnest fervor, and who unswervingly adhered to the ordinances of its practices. And so, if we
desire, as we must, that our religion should continue to influence humanity for all times, we, its
followers, must be good and pious, pure in character, and continuously affirm its tenets in our
thought and action.
J anuary 2, 1958
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
18 Sanyasins and Duty of Society
There are lakhs of Sanyasins of all denominations in our country. They do not earn their
livelihood by engaging themselves in productive work as that is understood ordinarily, but live
on the alms they get from householders. That sanyasins, like ordinary beggars, do not contribute
to the national wealth, but prey upon society, is the view entertained by certain persons in
governmental authority in our country. It has been recently resolved to start an organization
known as the All India Sadhu Sangh, and to utilize the services of its members, that is, the
manpower of sanyasins, in social welfare movements. Some persons belonging to the order of
sanyasins are to be employed as traveling pracharaks (propagandists) for that purpose, paying
them substantial honoraria and allowances.
Taking an overall and impartial view of the situation, one has to agree that there are far too many
sanyasins, and that some of them are parasites on society. This may not be desirable. But on that
account can we subscribe to the proposition that sanyasins as a class are parasite-beggars and
should therefore be liquidated? Can we by statute prevent begging by sanyasins in the face of the
injunction that sanyasins should beg their food?
In the way of life prescribed by the Sastras, every individual has to pass through the four stages
of life known as brahmacharya aasrama, grihastha aasrama, vaanaprastha aasrama and
sanyasa aasrama. Of these four aasramites, brahmacharis and sanyasins alone have both the
right and the obligation to beg. During his student days, under the roof of a teacher, or
gurukulavaasa, a brahmachari should beg for cooked food, both for himself and his guru
(teacher), going to a few houses each day and asking the lady of each house to give him alms by
saying bhavati bikshaamdehi (H3 HH|H d [). The object of this begging for food is two-
fold. One is to conserve the time and energy of the student for the arduous task of learning, and
the other is to instill in him the sense of vinaya (humility), without which no vidya (knowledge)
can be received and can fructify in the mind. Begging is compulsory for all pupils, including the
sons of royalty. The food so collected is handed over to the guru, who distributes it to all his
disciples. There were no tuition fees in those days. At the end of the course of education, the
students were required to give a consolidated remuneration, or guru dakshina. The kings and the
nobility of the land helped poor students to find this remuneration, which the pupils offered with
true bhakti.
The sanyasi is also enjoined by the Sastras to maintain himself on the alms of cooked food
collected by him. His duty is to engage himself constantly in meditation of the Paramatman,
giving up all other mental activities (chitta vritties), which will entice him to worldly pursuits. If
sanyasins are to take up a profession to find the means for their livelihood, or engage themselves
in other productive activities, they could not become brahmanisthtas (persons with their minds
fixed in the Paramatman), which is their only avocation, according to the Sastras. It is
specifically laid down that a sanyasi should go only to seven houses each day, stopping at the
gate of each house only for the duration of the time necessary to milk a cow (godohana kaala)
and be satisfied with whatever he is able to gather in this manner. If he gets nothing, he must
fast. It is to be noted that while a sanyasi can and must be content with a little food
(alpaahaaram) the brahmachari, who has to engage himself in the arduous task of learning,
needs a substantial quantity of food.
Thus, while the brahmachari and the sanyasi have the duty to beg, society has the reciprocal
duty to maintain them by giving them alms of cooked food. Yatischa brahmachaareecha
pakvaanna swaminaavubhau 3 [H|1| 44|7 1|H|H|, is the saying. Society,
far from being harmed by these two classes of people begging for their food, stands to gain in an
immeasurable degree. In the process of begging, a brahmachari acquires vinaya (humility) and
also the saanti (peace) necessary to give his undivided attention to studies, by which he will
become a useful member of society in due course. A true sanyasi is he who gives up his wealth
and position and takes to sanyasa, and not he who becomes a sanyasi to escape from the worries
of family or to find an easy means of livelihood by taking to begging. Biksha (alms) ought to be
given only to the former category of sanyasins and not to the latter. It is not every one who can
become a true sanyasi in the approved manner. The world has need for such spiritual stalwarts
who always spend their time in the contemplation of the Supreme. They show the way to a
higher life. Such sanyasins will not be many, and society will not find it a burden to maintain
them.
All the sanyasins we see around us do not come up to the requirements of true sanyasa. In
Buddhist times, it was obligatory for every one to become a bikshu (sanyasi) for a prescribed
period, as a form of spiritual discipline. A bikshu can, if he so chooses, revert to secular life after
that period. Not a few Buddhists, however, remained bikshus all through their life. The example
of the Buddhist monks was followed by any others in the land as it provided for them, who had
no pretensions to spirituality, an easy means of livelihood, without the obligation to work for a
living.
This historical factor accounts for the numerous paradesis in the South and for the sadhus in the
North. These paradesis and sadhus, not having the requisite qualification for true sanyasa, and
not having been initiated into an approved sampradaaya, or order, by any competent preceptor,
are not able to concentrate their minds on the Supreme, but go about begging, like worldly men,
in quest of food. It is these mendicants who are parasites on society and they must be liquidated.
But in the attempt to pluck out the weeds, we should not pull out the stalks which bear grain. The
true sanyasin, who is an asset to society, should not be condemned as an unproductive dependent
on society. He can be identified by his danda and kamandalu and the manner in which he
conducts himself.
A sangha or association is not contemplated for the order of sanyasins. Forming a sangha is not
sanyasi lakshana. A sanyasi must live in solitude, and, as far as possible, away from worldly life.
Forming an association pulls down the sanyasins to the level of worldly men, and deflects them
from the duties pertaining to their aasrama.
I agree with the proposition that no one should have to eke out his livelihood by begging unless
he is a student or a sanyasi. Two solutions for the problem of able-bodied beggars are: (1) The
provision of opportunities for widespread employment, and (2) the removal of disparities in the
standard of living between the rich and the poor. The former is the duty of the state and the latter
that of the people themselves. Raising the standard of living, which is the slogan of the present
times, only results in luxurious life for a few. Real socialism lies in giving up luxuries, leading a
frugal life, observing simplicity in food and clothing, and observing a standard which will
approximate to that which a common man can afford. Our dress requirement should be only as
much as is needed to observe decency and to provide protection from heat and cold. Food must
be taken only to satisfy hunger and not to please the palate. Eating the minimum one needs is
real aparigraha. National wealth should be utilized in productive scientific advancement, and for
the defense of the country, and not in tempting people to live a life of luxury. The standard
should be lowered to the level of plain living, instead of raising it to a luxurious level. Then there
will be sufficient wealth in the country to go round to everybody.
Excess wealth in the hands of individuals should be diverted to help the indigent persons in the
community, and excess wealth in the hands of a nation should go to better the conditions in
indigent and backward countries, and not to help those, as is being done now, who subscribe to
ones ideology or to those who may be depended on to be ones allies in case of war. If the
people of every country make up their minds to live on what the country produces, there will be
no artificial rise in the standard of living. Countries with a high standard of living, depending on
the markets of other countries to keep up that standard, always stand in perpetual fear of a
depression. Having risen sky high in their standard, they are afraid of a fall. That will be our fate
too, if we imitate other nations in this respect.
A sanyasi sangh is a contradiction in terms. It is the obligation of society to maintain the true
sanyasin. All those who have taken to begging, as a profession, must be provided with
employment. It is improper to condemn those few who have embraced the sanyasa aasrama, in
the standards prescribed for that aasrama, as parasites living at the expense of society. Nor is it
proper to institutionalize the sanyasins into an organization for performing the functions that
appropriately belong to the State.
December 29, 1957
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
19 Religious Reform Movements
Different schools of Hindu philosophy, like Saankhya Yoga, Paasupata and Vaishnava, came
into existence to satisfy the needs of varying temperaments and tastes rucheenaam
vaichitryaat, ||H |3 - in the words of Pushpadanta. There have also been
subsequent religious reform movements. Though the ostensible purpose of those reform
movements was to purify Hinduism, in reality, they were movements to defend Hinduism against
the attacks of alien religionists. They came into existence because the truths of our religion were
not understood by the generality of our people, for lack of presentation in the proper manner. The
Brahmo Samaj, the Arya Samaj and the Theosophical Society began with the object of stemming
the tide of Christian and Muslim conversions. Seeing that Christian missionaries ridiculed our
Karma kaanda practices, the Brahmo Samajists, unable to justify these practices, came to
proclaim that the Karma kaanda is no part of real Hinduism. The Arya Samajists went to the
extent of saying that the Veda portion alone was valid in Hinduism and nothing else, not even the
Upanishads. Both these movements inveighed against idol worship influenced largely by
Christian and Muslim criticisms of it.
It was left to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda to vindicate idol worship;
for, they were devotees of the Divine Mother in her manifestation as Kaali (4|d) and had
attained their realization through the worship of the Mother in that form. They accepted the
authority and the efficacy of the Vedas, the Vedanta, the Smritis and the Puranas in their
entirety. Among modern Hindu religious movements, they are the nearest to classical Hinduism,
in spite of a few deviations from the orthodox practices of our forefathers. The Theosophists
went to the opposite extreme and said that Varna ( ) differences existed even among astral
bodies sookshma sareera. This is not the traditional view. Mahatma Gandhi subscribed fully to
all aspects of Hinduism, except untouchability, which he considered a blot on our religion. When
one or other aspect of Hinduism is taken out of context by alien religionists and made the target
of attack on Hinduism as a whole, reformers, in their anxiety to defend our religion, dubbed
those criticized aspects as weeds that had grown in our religion.
None of these accommodations and dilutions of Hinduism will be necessary if one understood its
principles perfectly. All the difficulties arise on account of the lack of correct comprehension on
our part of our Vedic religion as a whole. But from the days of the Brahmo Samaj and Arya
Samaj, we have made considerable progress in our understanding of our religion. Faith in our
religion has increased and the younger generation is full of good intentions. But they are unable
to discipline themselves along the prescribed forms of conduct. Sraddha (d|) and tapas
(34P ) are the means by which enlightenment will dawn in our minds and help us to lead our
lives in conformity with that enlightenment.
November 21, 1957.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
20 Soldier of Vedic Religion
Saivism or Vaishnavism or any other system of Hindu religious thought has the Vedas as its
basis. The Vedas represent the cumulative wisdom of the ages. In the stream of Veda Neri, Vedic
Dharma, the various systems of religious thoughts are like bathing ghats. The principles
enunciated by the Vedas are elucidated in stories and simple songs which used to be sung in
olden days by every housewife while at work. The children who listened to these stories or heard
the songs used to get saturated in the Vedic spirit unconsciously. Times have changed and those
wholesome traditions have begun to disappear to our detriment.
It is being argued in some quarters as to why we should continue to hug these ancient ways when
science has advanced so much as to enable man to create even artificial satellites and to make
them go round the earth. But such people ignore the fact that all these material advancements are
of no avail, when there is no peace within oneself. What is the use of the entire world to a man, if
in the process of acquiring it, he loses his soul? It is also worth remembering that the country
which has created the Sputnik, is also getting the Mahabharata translated and that this great
Indian epic is being taught in their schools, even though religion is not. It will not be a surprise if
the Russians begin to treasure the Mahabharata with great enthusiasm.
The Vedic religion commands the allegiance of millions of people, in spite of the absence of
propaganda or missionary institutions to propagate it. It is the example of great men who lived
that religion that sustains the faith of the people Good men, who had attained a high level of
jnana, won universal respect, irrespective of the caste in which they were born. Godliness and
love for all are the qualities by which the greatness of a person is judged. So long as such great
men continue to illumine the dark corners of the human heart, the Vedic religion will wield its
influence, not only in this country but outside it also. It is only when we regularly and faithfully
practice the anushtaanaas enjoined upon us, that society can produce outstanding persons, who
will be beacon lights of Vedic religion to guide the multitude along the right lines. If even one in
a thousand rises to great spiritual heights by such anushtaanaas, he will be a gain to society and
a source of strength to our religion.
Our religion has grown and spread though the spiritual influence of such perfected souls. Even in
the recent past, persons like Kabirdas and Masthan Saheb have been influenced by Vedic
thought. Threats from disturbing unsocial elements need not distract us from doing the right.
Troubles may come if it is His will. Do not floods and epidemics take a heavy toll of human lives
occasionally? The oppression of Aurangazeb produced a Sivaji and an Ahalya Bai. God is both
bhayakrit (H4
3H
H H43|H 4H|3
HH|dH H |1d c|HP:
Chayastvishaam-ityavadhaaritampuraa,
Tatah sareereeti vibhavitaakrtim;
Vibhur-vibhakta-avayavampumaaniti,
Kramaadamumnaarada ity-abodhi sah.
In this verse, we see the ability of a great poet to clearly portray a natural phenomenon in its
correct sequence, with a dramatic effect. That is why works of inspired poets like Maagha retain
their popularity and attraction, in spite of the passage of centuries. The next verse describes the
manner in which Narada presented himself.
HHH|9|H3 ~H4|"
H3|77H|q"*O|+T H7|
41 : 9|d 1 413|d| |
H|73+U194|HH|H||
Ajasram-aasphalita vallakee-guna-
Kshatojjvala-angushta-nakhaamsu bhinnayaa;
Purah pravaalai-riva poorita-arddhayaa,
Vibhaantamachhasphatika-akshamaalayaa.
By constantly vibrating the strings of the veena, the tip of the thumb of Narada has become red
on account of the clotting of blood and this is in contrast to the whiteness of his thumb nail. To
give the paining thumb a little rest, he is counting the crystal beads of his akshamaala and
repeating the naama of God. While so rolling the beads, with his thumb and index fingers, the
red patch in the tip of the thumb gets reflected on half of the number of beads of the string in his
hand, and consequently appear as if they are coral beads.
The Sanskrit term for coral is pravaala (9|d). It becomes pavazhamLO_u in Tamil,
pagadalu in Telugu and havala in Kannada. If we analyze some of the words in different
languages, we find that certain letters in one language get changed in another language. For
example, if we take the equivalents of coral in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, we find that zha in
Tamil, becomes da in Telugu and la in Kannada. There seems to be a Vedic basis for the
transformation of zha into da and la. We find that the Brahmins of Maharashtra and Karnataka
are mostly followers of Rig Veda and those of Telugu and Tamil areas are predominantly
followers of Yajur Veda. In Telugu area, Sama Veda is practically not in vogue. In Tamil area,
only 15 per cent profess Sama Veda and only 5 per cent Rig Veda. But there is evidence to infer
that at one time, Sama Veda had larger affiliation in the Tamil area because it is found stated that
it has one thousand saakhaas or branches. This can be inferred from the reference in Thevaram
to Isvara as Aayiramsaakai udaiyaan (M AMLG). But at present, we meet with
only one Gautama branch of Sama Veda in the Tamil country. The Chozhias of the South, who
profess Sama Veda, follow the J aimini or Talavakaaram(0O[u) branch. In Malabar
too, there are some Nambudiris who belong to the Talavakaarambranch of Sama Veda. But
Sama Vedins among the Vadama sect follow only the Gautama saakha. The term Vadama itself
denotes that the members of this sect originally belonged to the North, either the Telugu country
or the region on the banks of the Narmada. This inference is justified by the prayer to the
Narmada, which these Vadamas have included in their Sandhya prayers. That prayer is:
H d| H: H d| H|
T H|13 H d 3H |
Narmadaayai namah praatah narmadaayai
Namo nisi, namostu narmade tubhyam.
To come to the Vedic basis for the difference in the pronunciation referred to above, we find that
wherever zha occurs in the Vedas as recited in the Tamil area, the Telugu people pronounce it as
da and the Kannadigas as la. Da (s) occurring in Yajur Veda becomes zha in Talavakaara Sama
and la in Rig Veda. It may be that following this Vedic tradition, pagada became havala in
Kannada and Pavazha in Tamil. In North India, there is one branch of Sukla Yajur Veda wherein
the sound ya occurring in the Vedas gets transformed into ja. This accounts for Yamuna
becoming J amuna and Yogi becoming J ogi.
From an inscription dating back to B.C. 1400, we find that in the Semitic countries like Palestine,
the Vedic Gods Mitra and Varuna were being worshipped. This indicates that the Vedas must
have had currency in those parts of the world at one time. In those countries also we find this
transformation of Ya into J a, as in North India. Jehova, Joseph and Jesus for Yahova, Yoosuph
and Yesu respectively are examples. From this, we may deduce that a significant sound in the
Veda current in a country also became the significant sound in the spoken language of that
country.
In the sloka I have just now quoted describing the appearance of Narada, the expression
Sphatikakshamaala (144|HH|H) occurs. Akshamaala signifies the series of 51 letters of the
alphabet from a (H) to ksha (H). In a string of prayer beads, also known as akshamaala, there
are 51 beads, the 51st bead being slightly larger than the rest. This bead is known as Meru (H ).
Sometimes in a string of crystal beads, a coral bead is made to form the meru. In the string I am
holding in my hand, the meru is a coral bead. That is how my thoughts went to pravaala (9|d)
and to the other topics I have been speaking about. When counting the beads while repeating
Gods name, one does not cross the meru. When the meru is reached after rolling the 50 beads
of the string, we reverse the string and count the 50 beads again. Thus, we avoid counting or
crossing the meru.
The letters from A to Z in the English language are called the alphabets. It may be noticed that in
all the languages, the initial letter is a (H) or a symbol denoting the sound ah. In Greek, the
first letter is called alpha and in Arabic, it is aliph. The sound Al is common to both and it also
occurs in alphabet. If the view is taken that all languages originated from Sanskrit, the
question that has to be answered is whether the expression Al HH occurs in Sanskrit.
The tradition is that when Sri Nataraja performed His cosmic dance at Chidambaram, 14 sounds
emanated from his rattle or dhakka (d44) (A_@) and these 14 sounds came to be referred
to as 14 Maaheswara Sootras. On the basis of these sootras, Panini compiled his Vyaakarana
(grammar) Sootras, and Patanjali, in his turn, wrote Mahaabhaashyaas or elaborate
commentaries to the Panini Sootras. It is interesting to note in this context that Patanjali provided
treatment for all the three karanaas (41). He wrote the Yoga Sootras to treat the mind;
Vyaakarana Bhaashya to correct faulty speech; and Charaka Samhita to cure bodily ailments.
The 14 Maaheswara Sootras conclude thus : [H 3 H|[ 11 P| (Hal iti Maaheswara
Sootrani) Hal is a symbol to denote the consonants coming in between ha, the first sound in
the Sootra, ([1) ha-ya-va-rat and l, the last sound in the last Sootra,
([H ) Hal. Similarly there is another Sootra in grammar, which is (HH|s7c1) (Alo antyasya).
This is a symbol to denote all the letters of the Sanskrit Alphabet, derived by combining the first
sound A (H) in the first Maaheswara Sootra, H3 (a-i-u-n) and the last sound H L in the
last Sootra, [H . Hence HH (al) came to stand for aksharamor letter of the alphabet in the
Vyaakarana Sastra. My view is that al in alphabet, al in alpha, and al in aliph came from
the Sanskrit HH (al), which means a letter of the alphabet.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
29 The Path of Good Life
Each one of us know to the full extent the mistakes and sins committed by him or her. But
outsiders become aware of only a fraction of these faults and they criticize us for that. We try to
hide our faults before others and to show off only our merits. Sometimes we even shed tears over
our faults. There is no use of merely weeping. On the other hand, we should remind ourselves of
our faults at the end of each day and pray to God to give us strength to resist evil thoughts and
deeds and to help us not to repeat the mistakes we have committed. It is human to err or to slip
from the right path. A man who has swerved from the right path is called patita and the Tamil
expression used in respect of a woman who has erred is cherukki, meaning, one who has slipped.
We must overcome this tendency to slip and rise to the noblest heights of virtue. This can be
achieved only by praying to God in a spirit of repentance. Even if one in a hundred succeeds in
rising to great heights, that one will be an ornament to the entire community and a beacon light
to society.
When adversities overtake us, we blame God and complain that He is blind to our misfortunes.
But if we indulge in a little introspection, we will realize that our faults are so enormous that we
are utterly unworthy of His grace and, if in spite of that, we are able to get food, shelter and
clothing, it is due to the abundant mercy of God. We must consider the difficulties we encounter
as a blessing in disguise. A mother may tie the hands of her child who has the propensity to pick
up and eat mud. This seeming cruelty of the mother is for the good of the child. Similarly,
troubles are verily Gods grace to save us. In the entire picture of life, troubles form but a tiny
spot. In our inability to visualize the past and the future, we complain when we suffer in the
present. A proper perspective will enable us to understand our present plight in its proper setting.
You may have heard of the incident of Saint Manickavachagar making the dumb daughter of the
Buddhist King of Ceylon respond in verses to his philosophic questions, before Sri Nataraja of
Chidambaram. This Saint was able to convince the Buddhist King that the ultimate end was not
nirvana or state of nothingness. Sri Manickavachagar illustrated this with the help of vibhuti or
sacred ash. When any object is consumed by fire, it becomes charred. If that black residue is
burnt again, it becomes white ash. White ash continues to remain white even when burnt again.
This shows that white is the ultimate and black is proximate to it. Science tells us that diamond
and coal are basically one. White and black are not mentioned in the seven primary colours. So,
white and black are not colours. The primary colours get separated from the objects to which
they are attached when subjected to the test of fire and the objects themselves turn black first and
ultimately white. Similarly, in the mental and spiritual plane, the Ultimate Reality is Siva, who is
white, and proximate to Him is Parvati, who is dark. When we test everything in the fire of
jnana, or true knowledge, the residue is white Siva. Ash in the material plane corresponds to
Siva in the spiritual plane. We smear ours bodies with the sacred ash to remind ourselves of Siva
and the fact that the ultimate goal of life is Siva.
Right conduct or seela, which is necessary for the ultimate realization of Siva, has to be acquired
through the process of anushtaana, discipline, etc. All these actions done in a spirit of dedication
to God, enable us to keep our hearts clean and single-pointed (chitha sudhi and ekaagrata). It is
only in such a heart that God presents Himself. We secure a good reflection only in a clean and
steady mirror. Everything must be burnt in the fire of jnana. If we regressively trace the cause of
things, we will find that one eternal substance is the sole and universal cause of all the variety
and multiplicity of this world. It is to symbolize that Ultimate that we put on tiruman, signifying
the earth, that is the source of all animal and vegetable life, or vibhuti, the substratum of all
material objects. The tiruman worn vertically tells us to strive to reach the heights of spirituality.
The vibhuti smeared all over the body reminds us that everything is Siva Mayam. To obtain the
grace of God, karmaanushtaana, seela, upaasana, and jnana are necessary. We must acquire
these means to moksha and foster them in our children. Thus will we obtain the grace of the
Supreme Mother and be happy here and hereafter. Doing our appointed task, filled with love, let
us burn all our troubles and desires in the fire of jnana and be happy in the consciousness of the
abiding grace of the Supreme.
October 10, 1957.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
30 Lead Simple Life
The aim of every man should be to know the Truth and if any one dies before realizing the Truth,
he will not have achieved the purpose of his birth. In the ultimate analysis, Truth is Isvara or
Paramatma. When we realize the Paramatma, the ego in us will vanish. The jeevatma in us will
get merged with the Paramatma, even as all rivers lose their identity in the ocean. This is what
Vedanta teaches us. But the realization of the Truth or Paramatma is not an easy process. A
course of preliminary discipline has to be gone through. Eight steps or ashta angaas, like yama,
niyama, praanaayaama, dhyaana, etc., have been prescribed. Without climbing these eight steps,
one by one, it is not possible to achieve realization, or, Brahma saakshaatkaara.
The first step, yama, consists of five observances pertaining to ethical codes of conduct. In other
countries, ethics is an end in itself. But, in Hindu philosophy, ethics is one of the means to
knowing the Truth. If children are trained to observe high ethical standards, many of the
administrative worries of the government will cease to exist. Unfortunately, the governments
believe that their responsibility is over if they make provision to give children education in the
three Rs and in subjects like history, geography and science. This policy is causing the country
several head-aches. Police protection has become necessary to enable people to exercise even
their fundamental freedom of worship. If money is spent in building up the character of our
people and in instilling devotion in them, the state will be able to economize in the police budget.
In the context of religion, we are concerned with ethics only as one of the necessary steps for
realizing the Truth. Aparigraha is one of the observances enjoined in the first step, yama.
Aparigraha literally means non-taking. But it should be understood, in the present context, as not
taking more than what is absolutely necessary. For maintaining life, we require water, food,
clothing and shelter chhaaya, toyam, vasanamand asanam. If a careful scrutiny of the cloth
budget of a family is made, it will be seen that much more than what is absolutely necessary is
being spent. Our clothes should be durable and simple and should not be above the standard
worn by the generality of the people. We are particular in observing ahimsa, non-violence, in the
matter of our food; but we do not pause to consider how much himsa, violence, has been
committed to produce a silk cloth we desire to wear. In the process of producing silk yarn,
millions of silk-worms are killed. Coffee is another habit which is making a heavy inroad into
the budget of even poor families. If we resolve not to go in for silk sarees and coffee seeds, the
money now required to maintain one family will be sufficient to maintain five families. India is
reported to be a country with the lowest average income. Plans are being conceived and executed
with the object of raising our standard of living. This itself is a wrong approach. Western
countries are able to have high standards of living because of their colonial possessions or trade
monopolies. With more and more countries becoming independent, the scope for one country to
exploit another is getting less. In such a situation, the emphasis should be on plain living. In
saying this, I am not discounting the need for machinery and fast means of transport. But in the
ultimate analysis, it will be better if we do not multiply our wants in respect of food, clothing and
shelter. There is no advantage in creating flats in the name of high standard of living. A small hut
is much more healthy than a cramped flat. Going back to the way of living that existed some 50
years ago will be a national gain and will reduce the problem of administration. Above all, the
obstacles in the path of a mans salvation will also be reduced.
Message of Vegetarianism
The following is the English version of the Sanskrit message given by His Holiness to the
delegates of the World Vegetarian Conference, who had an audience with him, for being carried
by them to their respective countries:
Even as cannibalism is despicable compared to eating animal flesh, so too the latter is
despicable compared to eating leaves and fruits of trees. As men abhor cannibalism, let them
avoid eating other animals for food. Such abstinence cannot come about in a day. It should be
developed by stages. Let people start abstaining from meat on holy days. Let them then extend
that habit to certain days in a month. Let them adopt total abstinence after a certain age. The
practice of this by degrees will strengthen the virtue and develop a sense of kinship, sneha
bhaava, with all creatures. The Father of the world is one only. When there is one God, whose
children we all are man, bird and beast if the flesh of other animals is eaten by man, the
word, brotherhood loses its meaning. If it should retain its meaning, eating meat must be
necessarily avoided.
November 27, 1957
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
31 Our Food Habits
The emphasis, in Basic Education now-a-days, is on self-reliance and this is attempted to be
fostered even from childhood. But the important thing on which each one of us must be self-
reliant is in respect of the preparation of food. In this regard, we, in South India are dependent on
others. It is not uncommon to hear that the justification for a person marrying a second time,
even after he is 50 years of age, is that he wants a wife to cook his food, though there is a
prohibition in the Sastraas of one marrying after that age.
Sanskrit and Veda Patasalas are very few in South India, compared to their number in North
India. In undivided Madras, before Andhra and Kerala separated, there were only 140 such
Patasalas, while in Bengal and Uttara Pradesh, their number exceeded 1,500. In the Punjab and
in Madhya Pradesh too, their number exceeds 1,000. It is strange that in South India, the number
of Patasalas should be so few. It cannot be due to want of sraddha (desire to learn) among the
people here, or to lack of ability to study Sanskrit. The reason has to be sought in the cost of
maintaining the Patasala kitchen, with all its paraphernalia of provisions and utensils, cooks and
managers. The cost and the trouble of running a kitchen stand in the way of starting and
maintaining such Patasalas. In the North, kitchen presents no problem in the running of
Patasalas. For one thing, cooking is not such an elaborate process there, as it is here. For every
Patasala in North India, there will be one provision dealer willing to supply atta (flour), required
both for the students and for the teachers. Each person will draw his share of atta, knead and
flatten it, and bake the rotis (bread); so prepared directly over the fire which is kindled with a
few dry sticks. The rotis are eaten with a little boiled dhal or buttermilk and washed down with a
glass of water. This is a practice which we, in South India, may do well to copy. We must make a
beginning by simplifying our food habits to such an extent that each of us can cook his own
food, without having to spend much time and thought over it. Learning to cook must therefore
form an essential part of Basic Education.
A number of problems will get automatically solved if each person gets into the habit of cooking
his own food. None of us need feel worried about arranging for food wherever we may go. It is
only when many sit down to a meal, which is prepared in common, that the question of inter-
dining with the vexatious problem of high and low castes come in. This will be avoided if each
one makes it a point to cook what he wants to eat. Many persons complain of hotel meals being
unwholesome and unhealthy. With the best will in the world, the food, even in the finest of
hotels, cannot be cent per cent wholesome. If each eats what he himself has cooked, it will be
conducive to his health and will preserve his aachara, which makes for cleanliness, a very
important consideration in food.
Where all sorts of people eat together indiscriminately, there is the danger of all of them
reconciling themselves to eat a common food. This will be a serious threat to vegetarianism. Our
country is the one country in the world where a large majority of the people is vegetarian by
tradition and choice. But modern conditions of life, under which our young men join the army
and other professions, necessitating them to go to distant parts of our own country and also to
foreign places, compel them to eat with anybody, food cooked by somebody. At this rate, there is
the danger that vegetarianism may gradually diminish from the food habits of our people. Let us
not forget that vegetarianism is Indias national pride and a lesson which it has to offer to the rest
of the world. Therefore, let everyone of us learn to cook his own food, which practice will be
good to us from every point of view, so that eating in a common mess with its inherent danger of
acquiring taste for non-vegetarian food may be avoided. The only persons who may not cook are
the Brahmachari and the Sanyasi. A Brahmachari may cook for his teacher; but he ought to
obtain his own food by bhiksha (alms). A Sanyasi is prohibited from kindling a fire and so he too
cannot cook. He should maintain himself by bhiksha obtained from grahastas, house-holders.
More than all these, it should be borne in mind that the best and purest offering to God
(naivedyam) is the food cooked by oneself, i.e., the person performing the worship. In that case,
you can be sure there is no contamination of any kind in the food. Such food alone is worthy of
being offered to God and when the naivedyamso offered is eaten by us, it will make for our
chitta suddhi (purity of heart), and will be productive of spiritual power or sreyas arising from
Isvaraanugraha or grace of God. In this connection, it is worthy of remembering that when
people of Andhra Desa sit for a feast, the food is first offered as naivedyamto God. It is only
after that the people sitting at the feast will perform praanaahuti the observance preliminary to
eating.
December 5, 1957.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
32 Exercise of Control
Control over expenditure, which implies not only a limit in spending, but also avoidance of
wasteful expenditure, is as important to the individual as it is for the state. The Tamil expression,
kanakkaa irukkanum(M @@@u) is a very significant one. Applied to day-to-
day life, it denotes economy in and control over expenditure. There is an old Tamil saying that if
we spill water unnecessarily, we will be afflicted with poverty. If we avoid waste and spend
money only on what are essentials, we will be able to live within our means, and also to put by
something for a rainy day. Thereby our domestic life will be free from anxiety. We will also be
able to spend on items contributing to our spiritual welfare. As a matter of fact, a rich man is
obliged to spend very much on items that go to keep up his prestige, so that he is hardly able to
spend for really deserving causes and for his spiritual welfare. A poor but thrifty man will be
able to manage to spare something for a good cause.
There is a reference to Kanakku in one of the songs of Tirumoolar in his Tirumantiram, (verse
316) and the import of that reference is that, that alone is true learning which enables one to
understand the Supreme in the full and proper measure. The song runs:
M_| [G_| MMOM M
M_| [G_| ML L|
M_| MMuM MLML |_@u
M_| [0Ol __[G[.
Kanakkarindaarkanri kaanavonnadu,
Kanakkarindaarkanri kai koodaakkaatchi;
Kanakkarindunmaiyaik-kandanda nirkum,
Kanakkarindaar kalvi katrarindaare.
The principle of economy is applicable in the case of speech also. Unbridled tongue often leads
to misunderstandings and troubles. If our speech is confined to topics spiritually beneficial to us,
and if we avoid speaking words likely to cause pain to others, much of our troubles can be
avoided. That is the significance of the statement that there should be kanakku (account, meaning
control) even in speaking. The same principle of kanakku will apply to our actions also. We must
perform only such deeds as will conduce to our physical and spiritual well-being. In the same
way, we should train our minds to dwell only on good thoughts. That is the significance of the
teaching in the Gita that saankhyam, P+E,(which is derived from sankhyaa, P+EH ,
numerals) and |", Yoga, which is the means to salvation, are one. Thus the need for kanakku (a
sense of measure) in every aspect of our life is apparent.
February 9, 1958.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
33 Simple Living
In all ancient Tamil works, wherever reference is made to a good king, he is described as one
who does not deviate from Manu neeti (duties of kings as laid down by Manu) and as one who
collected only one-sixth of the produce from his subjects. When agriculturists in olden days
paid kist in kind, and when the quantum of the kist was fixed as one-sixth of the produce actually
harvested, there was plenty and contentment in the land. All kings constructed capacious
granaries in their forts, and grain collected as kist was stored therein. With the advent of the
British rule, revenue settlements were effected, and kist was fixed in terms of cash. The foreign
ruler had a motive in changing the kist from kind to cash; obviously he could not transport grain
to his country. But the introduction of the system of paying kist in cash worked havoc on our
agricultural economy. When prices fell, a cultivator, in spite of a good harvest, was obliged to
borrow to meet kist dues, even after selling out the entire crop. This changeover from kind to
cash has been responsible for many of the ills from which we are suffering.
In ancient days, the bulk of the internal trade was carried on through a system of barter. Grain
was the wealth of the people. Gold or silver figured only in our trade with foreign countries, and
hence, the saying, tiraikadal odiyumdiravviumtedu (|M[ L0 @u |[Olu
G_). Kings and the merchant community alone possessed wealth in the form of gold, silver
and precious stones. The Brahmins lived, like the common man, in a hut, parnasaala, used mud
pots (chatti and paanai, L, LMG) as utensils, and wore the most ordinary kind of cloth.
The women of the community had only black beads around their necks. The names like
venkalapaanai (MO00 LMG), kal-chatti, and vaira olai (MO[ @M0) now in
vogue, remind us of the old customs and ways of life. It is also to be noted that in Navaratna
maala, Kalidasa describes Ambika as wearing earrings made of palm leaves (taaleepalaasa
taatankaam, 3|H|4H|T 3|q4|H ). The Brahmins of old who lived such simple lives were
neither envied nor hated by others. A Brahmin, who strictly adhered to his varnaasrama dharma,
was welcomed everywhere, and society saw to it that the Brahmin families, which had settled
down in any village, found no necessity to move away.
When the Brahmin discarded his traditional ways and succumbed to the glamour of an artificial
life, he not only swerved from aachaara (observances pertaining to his station in life), but also
laid himself open to envy and hatred. He is now wanted nowhere, and instead of being welcomed
as a necessary part of society, he is being despised, if not driven away. A chain of evil
consequences has resulted from his deviation from the path of dharma.
If we examine how society fared in the old system, under which the tax or the kings share was
fixed as one-sixth of the yield, we will find that each producer had with him much more than he
could consume and consequently, he diverted his surplus produce for religious and charitable
purposes. No one went hungry in those days. When famine conditions prevailed, as a result of
drought or other natural calamities, the kings granary was thrown open for feeding the needy.
We also find that the five-sixth of the crop retained by the producer was spent on a well-defined
basis. The Kural provides us with the clue to understand the Vedic injunction in this regard.
According to the Kural, of the grain retained by him, a producer sets apart a fifth for the
tenpulathaar, meaning as offerings to the manes (souls of the ancestors), a fifth for deivam
(religious purposes), a fifth for guests, a fifth for relations, and the remaining fifth for himself
and the members of his family.
The Kural in question is:
MGQ0[ MOu Ol@M0 MGG_0@
@uQ0 G_uL0 M0.
Tenpulathaar, deivam, virundu, okkal, taanenrangu
Aimbulattaar ombal talai.
The region of the South is believed to be the direction in which the souls of the dead, destined to
be born again, travel. From that, the term tenpulathaar, the occupants of the southern region,
came to be used to denote the dead ancestors. The dictum of Tiruvalluvar in the Kural is also in
accordance with the Vedic teachings. According to the Vedas, we are required to worship Isvara
by doing our duties to the devas (gods), and the pitrus (deceased ancestors). That is why in all
our karmaas, designed to propitiate the gods, we say in the sankalpa or the preamble portion of
the mantra, that we are doing such and such a thing for propitiating Naarayana or Paramesvara
(Naaraayana preethyarthamor Paramesvara preethyartham). God is One, but He manifests
Himself in different forms according to the nature of the functions. As the tax to the government
has to go through the tax collector, our offerings to Isvara have also to go through these
functional deities. It is this feature that distinguishes Vedic religion from other religions.
From the identity in the injunctions of the Vedas and the Kural, it is clear that there is nothing
like a separate Tamil culture or a separate Aryan culture. We have only one culture and one
religion and that is Vedic culture and Vedic religion. If this basic principle is understood, many
of the present misunderstandings will disappear.
There is an inscription of Karikala Chola which reads
4||4H3 d||H T|1H|"| P|1|H
3d 3 H14|H1 414|H1 T|PH |
Paatraakalita vedaanaamsaastramaargaanusaarinaam,
Tadetu arikaalasya karikaalasya saasanam.
This inscription means that the order of Karikala, who is the kaala (death) of enemies, is that
those who follow the Vedic path should be protected and those who pursue evil paths should be
punished. Unfortunately, we forget the basic unity of the country and quarrel over words. The
First Book in Tamil, i.e., Kural, and the First Book in Sanskrit, i.e., the Vedas tell the same thing.
The same kalaachaara prevails from Kanyakumari to the Himalayas. In fact, archaeological
findings confirm the view that at one time the Vedas prevailed all over the world, each country
following a particular branch of a particular Veda.
There can be no better communism than the injunctions contained in the Kural regarding the
utilization of ones wealth, than in the form of grain. By the performance of the various karmaas,
both daiva and pitru karmaas, a portion of the grain is distributed among different sections of
society. The feeding of the guests, namely, atithi, H3H, meaning those we invite) and
abhyaagata, (H|"3) meaning those who come to our house accidentally. By feeding the
guests also there is distribution of wealth. A householder is further enjoined to provide for his
indigent relations. It is only what is left over after meeting all these requirements that a person
can utilize for his personal and family use.
If life to-day has become complex and out of gear with the Vedic conception of an integrated
social and political life, it is because we have allowed ourselves to deviate from the Vedic path.
In absolute reliance of the Vedas, let us try to retrace our steps. First of all, let us simplify our
food, clothing and shelter requirements, by sticking to mere essentials and giving up all non-
essentials. This change cannot come all on a sudden, but a beginning in that direction has to be
made. That is the only way for each community rehabilitating itself in the eyes of society. There
is no question of one caste being superior to another. This complex of superiority and inferiority
will disappear only when Brahmins revert to the life of the rishis to whom they trace their origin.
Thereby we will retreat from sinful acts, gain the grace of Isvara, and contribute to lokakshema,
H|4H H- welfare of the world as a whole.
February 12, 1958.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
34 Simple Living Habits
As we desire to be happy and free from wants, we should wish the same for others also. For this
purpose we must focus our thoughts on the Divine Mothers feet at least for a few moments
every day. We are all Her children and we should develop the consciousness that the world is
one family, and we are all members of that human family. Then alone can there be happiness in
this world.
From this feeling of human kinship flows the obligation that each one should render what little
help he can to the less fortunate in society. In this matter-of-fact world, one will have the
inclination to help another only when one is oneself free from all wants and worries. But there
are a few people who have developed the strength of mind to bear their own difficulties, to go to
the succour of those in need. The impact of Western civilization has brought about several
changes in our society. The love for ones neighbor has given place to individualism. We are
trained to look upon the state to provide institutional care to the sick and the aged, the widow and
the orphan. Some families have begun to depend on hotels for their food requirements. We have
also multiplied our wants; and most of us have become indebted. If we are to recapture the
concord and contentment of a past generation, we must change our entire outlook and learn to
depend less and less on the state.
If we examine the food habits of olden days, we will find that irrespective of caste or wealth, all
people were satisfied with millets and other food-grains available in their locality. No indignity
was attached to taking even ragi gruel. Raw rice was used only for special occasions and for
making offerings to God. Now, everyone wants only raw rice. The result is rice shortage with the
possibility of the reintroduction of ration for this commodity. In olden days, with the exception
of kings and merchants, all people lived in huts, and in this respect, and in this respect there was
no difference between a Brahmin and a Harijan. Cloth requirements were also limited. One used
only cloth sufficient to cover nakedness and to obtain protection from cold. Men were satisfied
with a cloth around the waist and a cloth to cover the body. Even well-to-do women went in only
for cotton sarees worn by an ordinary peasant. This ideal was kept up by Gandhiji.
The disappearance of these simple habits, besides loading the family budget, has also widened
the gulf between sections of society, resulting in ill-feeling and bitterness. Because the people
have changed their outlook and also multiplied their wants, the Government is also obliged to
borrow and plan for increasing the standard of living. India has the proud privilege of being the
country in the world with the lowest cost of living. But things are changing. Before it is too late,
we should pause and take stock of the situation. To begin with, we must put a stop to coffee and
other drinks which are heavily draining the family purse. Our women should cease to wear silk
sarees. By imitating the West in our clothing and other habits, we consume more cloth and also
incur additional expenditure by way of tailoring, laundrying, hair-cutting, and toilet. A few
started these wrong habits which have gradually spread among the rest of society. Let a few
make a beginning in the right direction by giving up coffee and other costly habits, and in course
of time others will follow them. In this respect the responsibility of rich people is great. They can
set an example in plain living and utilize what they are able to save thereby to help the needy.
April 3, 1958.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
35 Disciplined Life
Having obtained from Mother Earth the food that sustains us, it will be sheer ingratitude if we do
not, in return, do some act of charity that will endure after our death. In olden days, people built
temples, rest houses or mantapams, or dug tanks or wells. Some people constructed resting
stones on which those carrying loads on their heads placed their burden and rested for a while
before resuming their journey. Yet others erected rubbing stones on which cattle could rub their
itching hide. Public benefactions have now taken the forms of schools, colleges and hospitals.
Co-operative banks and stores are institutions where a number of people can work together for
the common good. Gujaratis and Marwaris have founded gosalas for taking care of dry and
decrepit cows. Pasumatams are being maintained in some places in Tamil Nadu for obtaining
milk for worship in temples. The usefulness of these cowsheds can be extended by taking in dry
cows also.
We regard the cow as the abode of Sri Lakshmi and show to her the reverence due to a mother.
Therefore, cow slaughter is regarded as a heinous crime. Some states have passed legislation
banning the slaughter of cows. It is significant that Afghanistan, a Muslim country, has passed
such legislation. In India, the Hindu-Muslim differences were made an excuse in the past for not
bringing forward any such legislation. After the attainment of freedom, the States have been
empowered to legislate on the subject. The Madras State has under consideration a Bill to
prevent the slaughter of milch cows. The difficulty in making the legislation applicable in respect
of all cows seems to be the problem of taking care of decrepit animals. This is a field in which
voluntary organizations can function, and if a movement for taking care of dry and decrepit cows
was started, it will gain strength. This will also receive the support of other religionists.
Even today there is need for providing wells and tanks and for constructing temples. If every
Hindu makes it a point to go to a temple everyday, as he ought to, many more temples will be
needed. There are many dilapidated temples which can be renovated. Fortunately, these temples
are so strongly built that they have withstood the ravages of time and neglect. The purpose of a
temple is to remind us of God. Some may say that belief in God is superstition; but in the very
process of denying God, they remember Him. Atheism, in this land, is mostly a political move;
even the so-called atheists think of God when they are in difficulties. Not even a single blade of
grass can grow without His grace. The food we take should be offered to God first, as a token of
our gratitude for his mercy. Such offerings of food are made in temples for the community as a
whole. There are even now a few persons in villages who will not touch food until they hear the
ringing of the temple bell, which signifies that offerings have been made to God. Real happiness
comes from peace of mind which we can secure only through bhakti. Bhakti will remove our
ignorance, poverty and worry. One will be inspired with bhakti only if one leads a well-
disciplined and regulated life.
While the purpose of education is to make us cultured and disciplined, it is rather paradoxical
that there is, among the educated, much more indiscipline and disregard for the way of life that
has earned for us, in the past, the reputation of being a highly cultured people, than among the
unsophisticated illiterates. During the last few years, indiscipline has developed among students
to a degree never before known in the history of this country. While this is to be regretted, we
must attend to some basic matters which can change our mental outlook. We must introduce
simplicity in dress and each one of us should make it a habit to wash his own clothes. If some
pioneers ventured to attend offices in dhoti and upper cloth, the fashion will soon catch on. Pure
food contributed to purity of heart. The majority of our people are vegetarians, and that is
responsible for making us a peace-loving, contented and tolerant nation. It is these qualities that
have won us respect in the eyes of the world. We must simplify our food habits further. The
practice of each person cooking his own simple food that prevails among some people in the
North is a wholesome one. This will prove highly useful in life and obviate the necessity for
indiscriminate eating. A beginning in this direction can be made by each one cooking his food at
least once a week. Butter-milk or kanji can be substituted for coffee and tea. Thereby we will
avoid incurring debts and also save something, which can be utilized for charitable purposes.
We must develop devotion to God and a disciplined way of life (ozhukkam- g@u) and
render service to the poor and the needy, thereby contributing to the welfare of this country and
the world at large.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
36 Purity of Food
(The following is a summary of speech in Sanskrit delivered to the students of the Hindu
Theological High School, when His Holiness visited that institution on May 1, 1958).
Purity of mind (Chitta suddhi, c3 T d:) is the basis on which sanatana dharma rests. While
every one of us is very much attached to our Dharma and feels proud of it, very few actively
practice the principles enunciated therein. Several factors contribute to purity of mind. Of this,
purity of food is an important one. The maharshis have declared that purity of food leads
progressively to the cultivation of several virtues. The taking of food is a physical act. What
bearing could it have on purity of mind? This is a doubt that is likely to arise. By means of an
example, not quite edifying, the relationship between the nature of food taken and the quality of
mind may be illustrated. Let us take the example of liquor. Does not its use definitely affect the
mind and bring about its distortion? Thus some articles of food exercise wholesome influence on
the mind, while others evoke unhealthy tendencies. There is no doubt that the quality of food has
a subtle psychic and psychological effect. That is the reason why we have in our land a
comprehensive code of restrictions relating to food.
Right choice of food definitely brings about purity of mind. This in turn leads to the promotion
of bhakti and jnana devotion and wisdom. One practical way of ensuring purity of food is to
prepare it ourselves. We have the shining example of large numbers of people in our holy land,
who prepare their food themselves, offer it to God, and then take it for the sustenance of the
body. Pupils and teachers will do well to take to self-cooking (swayampaaka, 1+4|4:). They
can practice it on Sundays which are holidays. They should cook their food themselves and offer
it to God within. Sri Krishna has stated in the Gita that He is the J ataraagni, the vital fire within,
that consumes or digests the food taken. When the food taken becomes thus an oblation to God,
it becomes incumbent that what is offered to Him should be uncontaminated. It is improper to
offer impure food to God.
If only students and teachers get into the habit of preparing their own food and taking it as a
sacred offering made to God, they would have practiced an essential principle of Sanaatana
Dharma. If the root is nourished properly, the tree will grow, of its own accord, to huge
proportions, bearing flowers and fruits. There is no meaning in watering the leaves and stems
from above. Purity of food is the basis on which the superstructure of a good life has to be built.
In the new basic schools started by Government, pupils are required to cook their own food; but
there each person does the cooking by turns and the food cooked by one is shared by all. Instead
of each pupil getting his turn once a way, it is better that every one prepares his food every day.
This practice will be helpful to us when we go on pilgrimage or travel. As it is, when people are
away from homes, they have very often to take impure food out of necessity. But if they practice
swayampaaka, they can easily avoid that difficulty. They will be happy themselves; their
spiritual tempo will also improve and there will be no disturbance to the daily observance of their
religious duties.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
37 Purpose of Life
God has endowed us with some special powers which insects, birds, and animals do not have.
We are able to think, to speak, to meditate and to probe into the secrets of nature. We are capable
of great achievements, with the aid of the machines we ourselves invent. Generally speaking, the
lower order of creation, like insects, birds and animals, live happily in furrows, nests or caves.
They eat, grow, multiply, and then die. They do not live in constant fear. They are affected by
lust (kaama) and anger (krodha) only occasionally. On the other hand, human beings are subject
to constant fears, some real and some imaginary. We are afflicted by lust, anger and hatred. We
also suffer pain and grief.
In Gods creation, there is a purpose in everything. Flowers that blossom at dusk are white,
which is the only color distinguishable in darkness, and bees are attracted to them both by their
whiteness and their fragrance. The immense powers with which we are endowed are similarly
intended to serve some purpose, because they are unnecessary if we are merely to eat, grow and
die, like the other forms of creation. It is our duty to use our intelligence and find out the purpose
of God in blessing us with those special powers. Such an intellectual enquiry will lead us to think
of the purpose of life. Great saints and thinkers who have conducted such an enquiry have all
come to the identical conclusion that the purpose of the present life should be to strive for
eliminating future births. That is Vedanta.
A ball rebounds from a wall with the force with which it is thrown at it. Similarly every thought
and action has its own reaction, which again leads to further thought and action. This process of
action and reaction will go on endlessly, unless checked in time. Therefore, our concern should
be to end this cycle of action and reaction. Mind is the cause of both bondage and liberation
Mana eva manushyaanamkaaranambandha mokshayoh H 9 H*||H 4|1H
47HH|H|:. We must learn to control our mind, thought, speech and action, conquer kaama
(desire) and krodha (anger) and not succumb to fear and sorrow. This can be done by listening to
and digesting and practicing the advice of good men, eschewing evil thoughts, and meditating
upon goodness and the source of all goodness. He, who is able to achieve this, even when he is
alive, gets liberated from further births and attains bliss. Sri Krishna says in the Gita:
T4|3l[ : P|d H 9|4T1|1H|H|3
4|HH|H|{H "H P 43: PPO| 1: ||
Saknoteehaiva yassodhumpraak sareera-vimokshanaat;
Kaamakrodhodbhavamvegamsa yuktah sasukhee narah.
After death, a man is what he has been just before his death. If he has not controlled lust and
anger in this life, and acquired peace of mind and joy, he cannot have them after death. That is
why Sri Krishna said ihaiva [ (here, in this life itself) and explained the meaning of ihaiva
by saying praak sareer vimokshanaat 9|4 T1|1H|H|3 (before the body is cast off). Such a
moksha before death will alone bring about moksha after death.
It may be asked whether it is not necessary for the average man to go through the avocations of
his life in order to fulfill his worldly obligations and whether he could afford to spend his time
and energy in meditation. One is not asked to give up ones legitimate pursuits necessary for
ones livelihood. But, while being so engaged, one should not lose sight of the essential purpose
of life. One should constantly endeavor to purify ones thoughts and speech and seek the grace of
the Divine Mother, by which alone one can get the strength to control kaama and krodha. A
dancer balancing a pot on her head, while going through the various movements of the hands and
the feet to the accompaniment of music, never for once forgets the pot on the head. Similarly, we
should not lose sight of the purpose of life while engaged in our day-to-day activities. This idea
is brought out in the following verse:
4qO|4qO 4 H 3c41|4
[H|H|4H|H H[|3 |"
Pq"|3 3|d H 73 T+"3|4
H|H1 4
+H 41H H|: | |
Punkhaanupunkha vishayekshana tatparopi
Brahmaavalokana dhiyaamna jahaati yogi;
Sangeeta taala laya nritta vasamgatopi
Maulistha kumbha parirakshana dheeh nateeva.
We should all invoke the grace of the Divine Mother to enable us to fix our aim on the ultimate
goal of life and to make ourselves qualified to achieve the state of Eternal Bliss.
May 23, 1958.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
38 Clean Way of Life
The expressions, Vaazhkai murai and Vazhkaittharam(O_M @M_ O_M
|_u) are recent additions to the Tamil vocabulary, being the translation of the English terms
way of life and standard of living. What we should do, think and say, from the time we get
up from bed in the morning till we go to sleep in the night, are determined in our Saastraas and
goes by the name of Aachaara-anushtaanam. But, as this has a religious bias, secular-minded
people have come to prefer the expression, vaazhkai murai.
It has been laid down that when we get up in the morning, we must do Narayana smaranam
(thinking of Sri Narayana and uttering his holy name). Thereafter follow the duties of the day
(like saucham, snaanamT|etc. for cleansing the system of all impurities internal and external).
There are rules, methods and time for each duty. But these aachaaras (daily practices) vary
according to the region of the country. If we take an overall picture of the whole of India, we
find that each part of the country lays emphasis on a particular aachaara. For example, in
Kerala, almost everyone bathes only in tanks or rivers and people go to temples wearing wet
clothes after bathing. In Bengal, widows of all communities shave their heads. They observe
complete fast on Ekadasi day, without taking even a drop of water. They also cook their own
food and will not touch fish, a common article of food in the Bengal diet. In some parts of the
country, people wear a separate cloth known as madi, when taking food. In Uttar Pradesh one
person will not drink from another persons vessel. Each person will carry his drinking bowl
wherever he goes. These and other observances constitute the aachaaras and anushtaanas of the
country; but, as in the story of the blind men and the elephant, people in each part of the country
firmly believe that only what they observe is aachaara, and that a differing practice is
anaachaara.
The Sastras give directions not only for living a clean and healthy life, but also for earning our
livelihood, without violating dharma. But the tragedy of the present situation is that we have
practically forgotten, and consequently given up, our anushtaanas and aachaaras. Even most of
our purohits know only the mechanical aspect of the anushtaanas. We have begun to imitate the
West in many matters, without realizing that their ways of life are absolutely unnecessary for us.
The reformists condemn aachaaras without caring to understand their significance, purpose and
effect. It is like condemning a language even before learning it. The effect of the present
situation is that we have given up our hygienic, simple and frugal ways of life and adopted
extravagant habits. This has taken us away from our ancient moorings on the one hand, and
landed us in perpetual indebtedness on the other hand. We have forgotten the high medicinal
effect of mud bath (mrittikaa snaanamH
H7cH3H 44q"|13
3l 1H|1H H|TT 9 H7:
cq H
31P| 43|HH|7|3
cccdq" 173 H|H 3 |
Manye srjantyabhinutimkavi-pungavaaste,
Tebhyo ramaaramana maadrisa evadhanyah;
Tvadvarnane dhrtarasaa kavitaadhimaandyaat,
Yattatvadang chirachintana bhaagyameti.
The meaning of this verse is: There may be other poets, O! Lord, who can compose verses in
Thy praise quickly. I am slow. But my good fortune is greater than theirs; for, while I struggle to
put Thy praise in verse, my mind lingers longer on thy resplendent features.
In the very process of doing good, evil automatically vanishes from ones consciousness. That is
the lesson the lives and examples of the great sages of our land teach us. Therefore, the way to
keep ourselves free from evil is not by merely saying evil must go, but by always thinking of
good, speaking about good deeds, and keeping the company of the good.
J anuary 25, 1958
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
41 Preservation of Virtue
If virtues like devotion to God, chastity, honesty, respect for elders and affection and reverence
for parents have still managed to survive in India, it is the result of the influence of the
Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Bhagavatam.
The Ramayana teaches us that we should not swerve from the path of truth, and also presents to
us the picture of an ideal son, a model brother and an ideal wife, besides expounding several
other principles of moral conduct. In the Mahabharata, we come across persons worthy of
emulation, like Yudhishtira, Arjuna, Vidura and Akroora, who are all embodiments of dharma.
The Bhagavatam is a perennial spring of bhakti. While reading it, or listening to its exposition,
ones heart melts with bhakti. There is an unfading freshness about it every time we listen to an
exposition of the Bhagavatam.
About the Bhagavatam, it is said:
"H4~431l" H3H 9HH
T 4HO|dH
3g P+3H
443 H|"3H 1PH|HH
H[
[| 1P4| H H|4|: |
Nigamakalpatarorgalitamphalam,
Sukamukhaat-amritadrava samyutam;
Pibata Bhagavatamrasam-aalayam,
Muhuraho rasikaa bhuvi bhavukaah.
The Vedic tree (nigamakalpataru, "H4~43) has several branches, and they are karmaas,
duties like yajna, anushtaana, etc. Its fruit (phalam,9HH ) is bhakti. The sweetest fruit of a tree
is the one which is bitten by a parrot (suka, T 4) or a squirrel. The juice from the fruit of the
Bhagavatam flows through the lips of Sri Suka, the sage who narrated the Bhagavatam. If we
have a soft heart, it cannot but melt when listening to the Bhagavatam. Tears of joy and bhakti
will flow from our eyes.
Devotion is the only wealth of enduring value that we can acquire in this life. It is, therefore,
necessary that we should not miss any opportunity to listen to the exposition of the Bhagavatam
and the Puraanaas, so that we may develop devotion. The study or exposition of the
Bhagavatam is much more in vogue in North India than in the South. It is regarded by North
Indians as the Book of Books. A publication containing only topics of devotion is being
published from Gorakhpur. The publishers are very particular that its pages should not be marred
by commercial advertisements. Therefore, from cover to cover, this publication contains only
articles dealing with bhakti, mostly drawn from the Bhagavatam. It also contains color pictures
depicting the stories in the Bhagavatam. Though there is no other attraction in this volume, being
solely devoted to the propagation of bhakti, it is sold in thousands.
The Ramayana speaks about the sanctity of Ramanaama. The Bhagavatam, though dealing
entirely with Vishnu bhakti, tells about the sanctity of Siva naama in the Daksha Yagna episode.
Let us continue to be devoted to Rama naama and Siva naama, and let the Ramayana, the
Mahabharata, and the Bhagavatam continue to inspire and guide us in our day-to-day life, as they
have been doing for countless years in the past.
February 10, 1958.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
42 Attainment of Saanti
We can attain saanti, or state of eternal bliss, only when we are able to overcome the cycle of
births and deaths through jnana. When we attain that saanti, we become one with the
Paramaatma, who is limited neither by time, nor by space nor by form. We commence our
journey to this spiritual goal by meditating upon any one manifestation of God. In this context
the form of Isvara with His uplifted leg, third eye, and crescent moon has special significance.
Kaala, the god of death, is the destroyer of our material bodies. The term Kaala denotes time
also and time is also both a destroyer and a healer. Isvara vanquished Kaala with his left leg and
therefore his uplifted leg should serve to teach us that God is neither bound by time nor touched
by death He is eternal without having a beginning or an end. Kaama, or desire, is the cause of
births, and Isvara destroyed Kaama by his third eye. We perceive external objects through our
physical eyes. But we require jnana to turn our vision inwards and realize the presence of God
within. It is through jnana that we can get rid of future births. Isvaras third eye is symbolic of
this jnana. We strive to obtain the soothing bliss of saanti, which should progressively increase
day by day. How better can the conception of saanti be portrayed than by the crescent moon
adorning the head of Siva? What can be more soothing than the cool nectar rays of the moon?
Isvara is also bearing the Ganges on His head, indicating that the welfare of the world is His
concern. If we meditate upon Isvara, understanding the full significance of His uplifted leg and
the third eye and the crescent moon, we shall be able to avert apamrityu (H4H
c premature
death) and other doshas (evils) and find eternal peace and happiness.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
43 The Significance of Maunam
Maunamis the attribute of a Muni. But the ordinary meaning of this word is silence. Our
Dharma Sastras have prescribed the observance of maunam(H|H ) on various occasions. We
are asked to observe maunamwhen taking food. In this context, maunammeans only non-
speaking (silence). Controlling the urge to speak is one among the many steps leading us to our
spiritual goal.
Those in charge of the administration of education in this State are having under consideration
the question of commencing the days work in schools with prayer. As the students are drawn
from different denominations, one difficulty confronting the authorities is to find a prayer
acceptable to all denominations. Besides that in the higher rungs of the administrative hierarchy,
there are some who have no faith in God, and to whom prayer is something which goes against
their conscience. So, it has become difficult to take any decision in the matter. As the
propaganda of certain parties is beginning to poison young minds, the Government is anxious to
do something to retrieve the situation. So, it appears to have hit upon a compromise, and there is
a proposal to assemble all the children and make them observe silent prayer for two or three
minutes before the commencement of the days work.
Maunamis an important method of worshipping God. Maunamin this context does not mean
merely silence. It is also the process of keeping the mind free of all thoughts. It implies that we
should keep all our senses under perfect control, so that during the period of silence, the limbs
may not move even involuntarily. Such a maunamwill enable the divine spark within every one
of us to become active in its progress towards the realization of the Paramaatma. The waves of
thoughts that continuously rise and fall in our minds keep the all-pervading Atma hidden from us.
Once the flow of thoughts is checked, the Atma begins to function. This kind of maunamis also
an attribute of a muni. That is why we have been enjoined not to think for a while every day
tooshneemkinchit achintayan 3*|H 473 .Therefore, the decision of the Government
in favor of observing silent prayer, though a compromise, is really a step in the right direction
and a blessing in disguise.
This practice of maunamneed not be confined to students alone. All of us are students all our
life. If we do not make a conscious effort to practice maunam, to keep all thoughts away, we will
regret later for having lived a purposeless life. From no thought, we can develop the practice of
God thought, thinking of God. We can repeat the name of God and also concentrate our mind
on the Divine Mother, or Lakshmi Narayana, or Uma-Maheswara. A person who has fallen into
bad company has to seek the help of a policeman to free himself from that association. Once he
is assured that his former evil associates will no longer trouble him, he can discontinue the police
protection. Similarly, we seek the grace of one or the other manifestation of the Supreme Being
to purge our hearts of all impurities, so that the Atma within us can easily realize the Formless
and All-pervading God. Good association leads to no association, which in its turn leads to
realization of the Ultimate Truth or the Supreme Bliss. Thereafter the Atma is freed from further
births. That is the import of the following Bhaja Govindamverse:
PcPq"c 1Pq"cH 1Pq"c H|[cH
H|[c HcH Hc H|7H43: |
Sat-sangatve nissangatvam, nissangatve nirmohatvam;
Nirmohatve nischala tattvam, nischala tattve jeevan muktih.
When we associate ourselves with the Sat, the identification of the I with this human frame
will cease, and the I in each of us will get identified ultimately with the Brahmam. The I
feeling will persist only so long as we regard ourselves as something separate from He; it will
get itself obliterated with the dawn of the consciousness of the Oneness of God.
April 28, 1958
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
44 Observance of Silence
The progress and culture of a nation is found reflected in its art. It is, therefore, natural that the
people of this country should be evincing increasing interest in the promotion of the various
forms of art, denoted by the Tamil expression kalai (M0). It is also appropriate that
institutions like the Sangeetha Akademi and the Nataka Akademi should have been started and
that the Government should be giving awards to the best artists and actors.
Though there are several forms of art, we associate the term vidya with magic and allied feats
and kalai with dancing. There are two very difficult feats known as gajakarnamand gokarnam.
Gajakarnamis the capacity of a person to perform, like the elephant, a fanning motion with his
ears. To emphasize the impossibility of any job, we say in Tamil one cannot do it even if one
were to perform gajakarnam. If we touch the back of a cow, it gets a tickling sensation, which
we see moving in concentric circles like the ripples in a calm pond. A person may be able to
imitate the other motions of a cow; but it is difficult to display this tickling sensation, which goes
by the name of gokarnam. There is a story that a certain person was able to reproduce this
sensation also.
There is a place named Gokarnam on the West Coast. There is a famous temple of Siva there,
and the deity is known as Mahabaleswara. The tradition is that even the mighty Ravana was
unable to move the deity installed there. Gokarnam is an island like Dwaraka and Rameswaram.
I am told that the Brahmins of this place lead a poor and simple life, according to the strict
injunctions of the Sastras.
There is one form of art which is superior to all other forms and that is the art of remaining quiet
and silent. If one begins to practice this art, one will find how difficult it is. Hence it is called
Brahma Vidya. If a person claims to have done a most difficult feat, we ask him in Tamil, Is
what you have done a Brahma Vidya? Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada gave to the world Brahma
Vidya in the form of Advaita. It has now been recognized that it is only through experiencing
advaita (advaitaanubhavah, Hq 3|H :) that one can realize the Ultimate Truth. Sri Adi
Sankara had mastered all the arts during the brief span of his life, and, with that experience, he
proclaimed advaita as the highest of all achievements. There is a story that the disciples of Sri
Bhagavatpada wanted him to ascend the Sarvajna peethah P 74|:), an honor reserved for one
who has mastered all knowledge. Each step to that throne represents different branches of
knowledge. The steps have to be ascended after answering questions pertaining to the different
arts and branches of knowledge, asked by experts in each subject. According to the story, a
cobbler enquired whether Sri Bhagavatpada knew how to stitch a chappal. It is said that Sri
Acharya took the cobblers needle and rubbed it against his nose, before starting to stitch. This is
a characteristic action pertaining to the trade, and cobblers do this to grease the needle with the
oily substance found on the sides of the nose, to enable the needle to penetrate the leather easily.
The cobbler in the story was surprised and satisfied at this preliminary action of the Acharya and
conceded that he knew the cobblers trade.
There are several arts or vidyaas including the art of earning money. But all these arts serve a
limited purpose and provide only momentary joy. One may amass wealth without finding real
happiness in life. But the art of silence, and the resultant saanti (peace), ensure perennial joy and
permanent happiness. One who can bring his mind to a state of saanti can find joy even in the
midst of troubles. It is this art of remaining quiet with peace within that all of us should cultivate.
May I suggest to the devotees assembled here to observe silence during the duration of the
pooja? They can recite prayers mentally or concentrate on the form of God according to the
dhyaana slokah (| H|4:) of the mantra into which they have been initiated. The majesty
and resplendent charm of some of the idols in our ancient temples remain unsurpassed. This is
because the sculptors who were initiated into the appropriate hymns by constant meditation,
formed a mental picture of the deity with all the attributes mentioned in the hymn and then
transferred that mental picture into stone. The contemplation of a particular form of God is
intended to make us meditate on the qualities attributed to that form. So, devotees can
contemplate on their ishta devata (deity of their heart) during the pooja time. The best form of
meditation is to avoid thinking of anything. In the mind so kept clear, God will manifest himself
as an image in a clear mirror. That is the meaning of the expression svayamprakasah
(1+94|T :). Then we will be led to the Advaitic realization of Oneness of God. That is the
significance of Saint Thayumanavars injunction, chindai adakkiye summa iruppadu
(|M L|G uu @@LL).
May 22, 1958
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
45 Universal Love
Love and compassion to all beings should fill our hearts always. Where there is love, there is the
expression of divinity, for God is love. Even as a light behind a screen becomes visible in all its
splendor when the screen is removed, so too, there is an effulgence of jnana and prema when
evil desires, hatred and anger are removed from the mind. This truth has been brought out in
songs of saints like Pattinathar and Ramalinga Swamigal. God also appeared as Mother. He was
Thayumanavar (uGO[) embodying and expressing the natural and spontaneous love
of the mother to all children. God has love for all and all things; He is the ocean of love (kripaa
samudramH 4|PH gH ).
Love between equals is called maitri (H )or friendship; love shown to God and to superiors is
bhakti and love to inferiors is kripa. A house cannot be built, nor can it stand, except on a strong
and enduring foundation. The edifice of our life ought to be raised on the foundation of universal
love. We frequently come across the expression Dharma ensures success (dharmamejayam
@uGu @u). This dharma should be basis of our life. Katchaleswara Agraharam and
the adjoining parts of Madras are known as Kandakoshtam, like Kumarakoshtam in Kanchi. And
Sri Ramalinga Swamigal has praised Madras in the words, Dharmamihu sennai ([uu|@
MGMG). Madras is justly renowned for its charity. He taught us the unity of grace and love
the arul (@u) of Siva and anbu (GQ) of the Divine Mother both of which can be
earned only by leading the dharmic way of life (nanneri GMG[). If our heart is filled with
love, we will qualify for the grace of God.
April 2, 1958
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
46 Prema and Ahimsa
Life without love is a waste. Every one of us should cultivate prema or love towards all beings,
man, bird and beast. If we are full of this universal love, we shall feel no sorrow. Children
overflow with prema; but as they grow older, prema decreases. Prema is exemplified in the
mothers love for her child. As the saying goes, an unaffectionate son may be seen in this world;
but never an unloving mother. Like the mothers attitude towards her child, we too should be
prepared to consider the happiness of every creature as of more value than our own happiness.
That which has a beginning must have an end, is an inexorable rule. Prema is no exception to
this rule and so prema is not unmixed with sorrow. When a beloved one dies, the survivor suffers
grief. On that account is it wrong to cultivate love towards others? No. But there is a prema
which does not produce grief in the end. We should seek this prema that is indestructible,
namely, prema to God, who is indestructible. All things on earth and in heaven may die out; but
God is eternal. Everything else springs from Him, lives by Him, and, at death, goes back to Him.
Loving God, if we look upon all things as God, we shall have in effect loved them as intensely as
we love God. To consider things as God, we should remember that they are all Isvara-
svaroopam, possessing the chit and the sakti of God, without which none of them can exist or
function. A non-luminous skylight illumines a dark room when the sunlight falls on it. So too do
all objects of the world obtain their intelligence and power from the Omniscient and
Omnipresent God. If we love everyone and everything around us as God, even if they disappear,
we will not be afflicted by grief, because our love of God will continue to remain.
Ahimsa in thought, word and deed is the outward expression of this universal love. But desirable
and necessary as ahimsa is, it seems to be impracticable at all times and at all places and in
respect of all beings. Even Gandhiji, the apostle of ahimsa, had to permit himsa to a diseased
calf, so that its sufferings may be terminated. He is also reported to have approved the military
action in Kashmir, which was himsa. The followers of Gandhiji had to do himsa to his murderer,
when they carried out the life sentence passed on Godse. J esus Christ asked his followers to
show their left cheek also if anyone smote them on their right. But it is the Christians of the
Western world that brought about the holocaust of two world wars and are even now racing with
one another in piling up armaments for committing himsa on an unprecedented scale. The
Buddha inveighed against himsa of animals in Vedic Yajna, but it is a tragic irony that he died as
a result of eating pork contained in the alms given to him, and that in the countries where
Buddhism is the main religion, people are non-vegetarians, tacitly abetting the killing of animals
for food. All this shows that excellent as ahimsa may be as a theoretical ethical maxim, it cannot
always be put into practice.
It can be pointed out to the credit of Hinduism that orthodox Hindus are vegetarians. Orthodox
widows of Bengal are strict vegetarians, though Bengalis as a class eat fish. These widows do not
drink even a drop of water on Ekadasi day. In the South, many people among non-Brahmins
have adopted saiva (vegetarian) food and on certain sacred days non-vegetarian food is taboo for
the generality of non-Brahmins. The objection to meat is himsa to animals. By the same token,
cutting vegetables too is himsa. By cooking grain, you scorch the garbha (seed) within it and that
too is himsa. It has been laid down that ripe fruits and leaves which fall off plants and trees will
have to be eaten if one does not wish to injure any living being. The Rishis of olden days took
only such food and cows milk after the calf had its fill. If one lives on this kind of food, one will
be free from kaama (lust) and freedom from lust is a more potent means for family planning than
the methods recommended in modern days.
It is obvious that this injunction to eat only fruits and dried leaves cannot be universally
followed. Certain people qualified for it must adopt it, while the others may eat food which
causes the minimum himsa. Thus ahimsa, at whatever level, must be an ideal for the generality
of mankind, but actually practiced by a selected few qualified to practice it. The Buddha, Christ
and Gandhiji recommend ahimsa for everybody, without consideration for differences in aptitude
or capacity. Hinduism, on the other hand, recognized adhikaarabheda and hence recommended
it only for sanyasins, who are free from every family and worldly obligation. The others are
hedged in with so many social obligations that they cannot practice ahimsa as uncompromisingly
as a sanyasin. The Hindu practice of dharma is based on the individuals status and the duties
pertaining to it. That is why Sri Krishna commanded Arjuna to fight when Arjuna was in two
minds on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, while in another context he told Arjuna to adopt ahimsa.
A judges duty is to sentence a criminal to death or to other forms of punishment, which is
himsa. We put one dear to us in chains if he becomes a lunatic and violent. The Buddha, Christ
and Gandhiji failed to take note of this principle of adhikaarabheda and so failed to make people
practice what they taught. By practicing dharma with due regard to adhikaarabheda, all the high
ideals will be preserved, wrongs will not be committed unnecessarily, and even necessary
wrongs will be reduced to the minimum.
October 23, 1957.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
47 Praise and Blame
I see in front of me, in the pandal, a number of placards containing the wise sayings of poets,
saints and sages. There is also one unnecessary notice, at the entrance of the pandal, the first to
meet anyone on arrival. This asks people to remove their shirts before entering. Most people are
aware that they should not come to this place of worship with their shirts on, and they willingly
submit themselves to this restriction and discipline. But there may be others, coming here
straight from their place of work, anxious to watch the pooja at least from a distance. They may
not have had the time or facility to change their attire. The placard I refer to may discourage such
persons from coming here. Such people should also be given an opportunity to participate in the
worship, even if they have to remain a little removed from the actual place of worship. In any
case, there is no need for that placard or notice.
People may be told to observe certain rules; but it should be left to their good sense to observe
them. Matters like removing the shirt, while entering a place of worship, should remain in the
realm of unwritten law, a law observed by convention rather than by compulsion. When a rule
like this is put in writing, all sorts of difficulties may crop up in the matter of enforcement and
interpretation. That is why it has been wisely said sahasramvada, ekammaa likha (P[P d
94 H| HO) say a thousand things, but do not commit even one to writing. I am mentioning
this not so much to find fault with you, as to prevent the commission of the mistake in future.
In making this criticism, I have allowed myself to violate the wholesome principle that one
should not ordinarily speak about the defects of others. There are bound to be defects
everywhere, because perfection is almost impossible in this imperfect world. A truly learned man
has the capacity to see both the good and the bad side of a thing. That is why the term, doshajna
(d|47:)one who is capable of spotting defect, is made synonymous with the term, vidyaan
(q| ) , learned man. The virtues one finds in another should be proclaimed; but the defects
should not be mentioned. By proclaiming the virtues, we encourage the growth of goodness in
this world. It does nobody any good to dwell upon the defects of a person. This is effectively
brought out in the following invocatory verse in Dandis work on Alankaara:
"d|4| 4H| "
[
7d + H| (1:
T1P| H|"3 4
41H 4 U3|
Guna doshau budho grihnan
Indu-kshvelaaviva Isvarah;
Sirasaa slaaghate poorvam
Paramkanthe niyacchati,
(Learned men should treat virtue and fault in the same way as Isvara treated the crescent moon
and poison. The former, He bore on His head, and the latter, He retained within His throat.)
In appreciation of the soothing qualities of the crescent moon, Isvara raised it to His head and
danced. When poison emerged on churning the milky ocean, He realized its dangers, and kept it
confined to His throat. That should also be our attitude towards virtue and defect.
This general attitude to be taken in regard to faults does not imply that we should always be blind
to the fault of others. There are occasions when it is our duty to point out to a person his defects,
in order to correct him. Such corrections should be done by persons whose authority is accepted,
and who know that their advice will be accepted. The effects of pointing out the defects of those
who have no respect for the person tendering the advice will be harmful. They may become
defiant and persist in their wrong ways. Therefore, one has to be careful in such a delicate matter.
If we mention to another the defects of a third person, it will amount to scandalizing.
In praising others also, certain principles have to be observed. A relevant verse runs as follows:
9H| "1: 13c|:
41 H H4|7H|:
4| 73 d|PH
c|
14|: 4d| |
Prathyakshe guravah stutyaah
Parokshe mitra-baandhavaah;
Karyaante daasa bhrityaascha,
Na svaputraah kadaachana.
The guru (God is also signified by this term) should be praised in his presence. Friends and
relatives should be praised in their absence. Servants should be complimented when they have
completed the work assigned to them. But a son (which term includes a sishya, student) should
not be praised at any time, either in his presence or in his absence.
God has created many things known and unknown in the universe. The stars created by Him are
reckoned as being thousands of light years away from the earth. We are incompetent to express
in words the wonders of God. So the praise of God will never become an exaggeration. A guru
(preceptor) also stands in the same position. Praising a friend or a relative in his presence will
become flattery. We may praise his good qualities behind his back. Though he may come to
know of it through others, we should not praise him with the motive that our praise should reach
his ears. That will take away the sincerity from the praise. When a person does a work for money
or reward, we should express appreciation of the work only after the work is completed, in the
same way as we pat a horse at the end of a journey. But a son or a sishya (disciple) should not be
praised either directly or indirectly. But his faults can be pointed out so that he may correct
himself.
J une 17, 1958.
H.H. J AGADGURUS Madras Discourses
(1957-1960)
Part II
48 God-Realization through Music
The divine musical instrument, Veena, is usually associated with Saraswati, the Goddess of
Learning. But in the Navaratnamaala of Kalidasa, the Divine Mother, whom he addresses as
Siva Kaanta, is also depicted as playing on the veena, and as being immersed in the melody
produced by the flight of the musical notes, sa, ri, ga, ma, pa, dha, and ni, as the tips of Her
charming fingers glide over the strings of the veena. In that state of ecstasy, Her heart is tender
(mridula, H
d H) as a delicate flower, and she becomes the embodiment of peace (saanti, T|73).
In this form in which She is conceived, Ambika is known as Syaamala. The bliss that flows as a
result of that internal peace is indescribable. While She is immersed in that bliss, the devotee
who conceives of and concentrates of Her in that attitude of bliss, experiences the mercy
(Karuna, 4) that flows from Her tender heart. The verse that gives expression to this
sentiment is:
P1"H4H3| 3|H
||P7H|734|73[13|73|H
T|73|H H
d H1|73|H
4