Mantra Pushpam - the primeval Vedic mantra

Hinduism is deeply rooted in nature. Mantra Pushpam is a beautiful Veda mantra that ponders on the wonders of nature and the inter relationship between all elements in nature. Click here for the deeper meaning of this mantra. Click here for the meaning of Gayatri Mantra.

Hinduism worships nature in its myriad forms

Yopam puspam veda
Puspavan prajavan pasuvan bhavati
Chandramava Apam puspam
Puspavan, Prajavan pasuman bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanam bhavati.

(He who understands the flowers of water,
He is blessed with flowers, children and cattle.
Moon is the flower of the water,
He who knows it to be so,
He is blessed with flowers, children and cattle.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self.)

Agnirva Apamayatanam
Ayatanavan Bhavati
Yo agnerayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovagner ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati.

(Fire is the source of water,
He who knows the source of Fire,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of fire,
He who knows it to be so,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self.)

Vayurva Apamaya tanam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Yova Yorayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati|
Apovai va yorayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Ya Evam veda
Yopamayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan Bhavati.

(Air is the source of water,
He who knows the source of Air,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of air,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self.)

Asowvai tapanna pamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yo musya tapata Ayatanan Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apova Amusyatapata Ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati

(Scorching sun is the source of water,
He who knows the source of the Scorching Sun,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of scorching sun,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self.)

Chandrama Vama pamayatnam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Yascandra masa Ayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai Candra masa Ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yo pamayatanam veda
Ayatanavan bhavati.

(Moon is the source of water,
He who knows the source of Moon,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of moon,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self.)

Nakshtrani va Apamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yo Nakshtrana mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai Nakshtrana mayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ye evam Veda
Yopamaya tanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati.

(Stars are the source of water,
He who knows the source of the Stars,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of stars,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself.)

Parjanyova apamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yah parjanyasya syayatinam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai parjanya Syayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ye Evam veda
Yopa maya tanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati.

(Clouds are the source of water,
He who knows the source of the Clouds,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of clouds,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self.)

Samvastaro Va Apamayatanam
Ayatavan bhavati
Yassavatsa rasyaya tanam Veda
Ayatavan bhavati.
Apovai samvasara ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam veda
Yopsu Navam pratistitam veda
Pratyeva tistati.

(Rainy season is the source of water,
He who knows the source of Rainy Season,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of rainy season,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows that there is a raft available,
Becomes established in that raft.)

Quotes on "Purpose of Life"

The purpose of life is to “live in agreement with nature"   - Zeno, Greek Philosopher, 4th Century B.C

 The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence  - Rabindranath Tagore 

What is the meaning of life? To be happy and useful.  - Dalai Lama

In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you - Buddha 

 
                                                                            

A busy life, a joyless life

When we wake up every morning with a list of things to do, the wonder, novelty and beauty of the day is lost. All we have waiting for us is a deadened routine. We become blind to everything else other than the to-do list.

Joy is possible only when we are open to all the small possibilities in a day. When we slow down and let every sensation sink deep in. When we can savor all that the moment has to offer.

Socrates said "Beware the barrenness of a busy life."

A busy life is indeed a joyless life! 

Poem: To you, my child

Oh! the exquisite joy, in hearing your gurgling laughter
the peace in me, when I snuggling in with you
the unalloyed joy when you hug me tight
the look on your face overcome with love
the feel of your skin pressed against mine

In you, everyday is beautiful, everyday, I rejoice

Pace of Yoga

A lot of folks complain about the slow pace of Yoga, Tai-Chi and other traditional forms of exercise. They feel that it does not give them the workout they need to burn all the excess calories.

Yoga and Tai-Chi teaches one to slow down from the frenetic pace that we live in. It calms the mind and the body and aligns us to the pace of nature. It is only at this pace that complete relaxation and exercise is possible. The firm, controlled movements of yoga like the taut branches of a tree,  the flowing movements of Tai-Chi like the wind blowing and water flowing in the streams. They all have their source in nature.

If all one wants is to burn calories quickly, it is best to jump on to the treadmill. High speed yoga is not Yoga.

Disconnected religions

How can one be religious, but waste so much food and consume so much materially?
How can one go to church every sunday and still evade paying taxes?
How can one pray five times a day and still forbid your children from playing?
How can you call yourself pious and yet be so greedy, grabbing for your children, grandchildren?
How can you perform daily pooja's and still verbally abuse and emotionally wound?

Today's religions are completely disconnected with the wellness of the earth and the harmony. It allows us to go on in our insensitive, deceitful, destructive ways without an ounce of remorse. Unless religions reconnect with the earth, there is little hope for us as humans. Pantheism I believe is the true religion of all religions.

Birth of a native indian child

By Ohiyesa (Charles Alexander Eastman)

 
The Indians were religious from the first moments of life. From the moment of the mother's recognition that she had conceived to the end of the child's second year of life, which was the ordinary duration of lactation, it was supposed by us that the mother's spiritual influence was supremely important.

Her attitude and secret meditations must be such as to install into receptive soul of the unborn child the love of the Great Mystery and a sense of connectedness will all creation. Silence and isolation are the rule of life for the expectant mother.

She wanders prayerful in the stillness of great woods, or on the bosom of the untrodden prairie, and to her poetic mind the imminent birth of her child prefigures the advent of a hero - a thought conceived in the virgin breast of primeval nature, and dreamed out in a hush that is broken only by the sighing of the pine tree or the thrilling orchestra of a distant waterfall.

And when the day of days in her life dawns - the day in which there is to be a new life, the miracle of whose making has been entrusted to her - she seeks no human aid. She has been trained and prepared in body and mind for this, her holiest duty, ever since she can remember.

Childbirth is best met alone, where no curious embarrass her, where all nature says to her spirit: "It's love ! It's love! The fulfilling of life!" When a sacred voice comes over to her out of the silence, and a pair of eyes open upon her wilderness, she knows with joy that she is borne well her part in the great song of creation.

Presently she returns to the camp, carrying the mysterious, the holy, the dearest bundle ! She feels the endearing warmth of it and hears its soft breathing. It is still a part of herself, since both are nourished by the same mouthful, and no look of a lover could be sweeter than its deep, trusting daze. She continues her spiritual teaching, at first silently - a mere pointing of the index finger to nature - then in whispered songs, bird-like, at the morning and evening. To her and to the child the birds are real people, who live very close to the Great Mystery; the murmuring trees breathe its presence; the falling waters chants its praise.

If the child should chance to be fretful, the mother raises her hand. "Hush! Hush!" she cautions it tenderly, "The spirits may be disturbed!" She bids it be still and listen - listen to the silver voice of the aspen, or the clashing cymbals of the birch; and at night she points to the heavenly blazed trail through nature's galaxy of splendor to nature's God. Silence, love, reverence - this is the trinity of first lessons, and to these she later adds generosity, courage, and chastity.