Sage of Kanchi –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sri Paramacharya !

Paramacharya strongly recommend the regular performance of homage to ancestors and the basic principles to follow before performing the rite.   Humans are born with four types of debts, such as Devarina, Pithrurina, Rishirina and Manushyarina.  Though it is our primary duty to pay off all the debts we are born with, scriptures speaks highly about Pithrurina/homage to ancestors,  debts to ancestors cannot be disregarded because it can bring severe consequences in the family of the debtor, and performance of the rites needs utmost dedication and reverence to obtain the fruit of Karma.  If a family is not enthusiastic in performing the rite to ancestors is equivalent to leaving one’s parents without basic necessities like water, clothing and food, and serving the world with sumptuous meal.  It is traditional not to celebrate any other Kamyakarma/ rites performed for the personal benefit, in the house of a person other than daily rituals to deity, after performing homage to ancestors.   The person who is performing rites should follow strict austerities, even the daily rituals to deity are not allowed to perform on the day of performance of homage to ancestors, usually worship of deities are carried out after the performance of rite to ancestors.  Amavasya is the day of lunar phase of New Moon, highly auspicious to worship ancestors, performing charity, offering meals, and clothing to needy, it  is considered as highly meritorious, it is believed that our ancestors will be suffering from extreme hunger and thirst on this day, therefore performance of annual rite and oblation to ancestors keep them out of hunger and thirst, in return they will get immensely pleased with the worshiper, and bless the family.  New Moon day is the day to worship our ancestors, it is highly auspicious to perform charities and performance of homage to ancestors,  it is the day to remove the hunger and thirst of our ancestors, it is assumed that on this day ancestors of the each family would be waiting  at the front  door with great expectation that the family would serve them with meal and quench their thirst, if the family is not taking these matters seriously, the ancestors would get deeply dejected and return their abode with the extreme  hunger and thirst, and some may curse the family.  People who do not follow any of these rites may undergo curse of ancestors and the family undergoes constant struggle, afflictions, conflicts, illnesses etc.. Even the deity refuses to accept offerings from the worshiper.   Therefore performing rite to ancestors is important as taking greatest care of one’s own family progress, it is customary practice to cook particular type of meal, performance of fire sacrifices and offerings to ancestors, it is an opportunity to present substantial amount as contribution and serve  the performing priest, which could bring abundance of meritorious reward.

Sage of Kanchi –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sri Paramacharya !

Paramacharya insists that a married woman should not leave her forehead empty, other than during the ceremonial rites like homage to ancestors, that too if it is applicable for her; she should have the symbolic mark with vermilion on her forehead and middle of the partition of hair as well.  She has the primary right to lighten the lamp in the house, men can do in her absence.  It is traditional to decorate the room of the deity and the door step with the rice powder mix; it is another form of charity, feeding the tiny creatures like ants and insects.  The preparation of meal should be done after bath with simple prayers, while cooking it is important to memorize the sacred chants or listening to Vedic chants, it would purify the meal and it turn out to be an offering to Lord.  It is compulsory to offer the meal to deity before it is consumed, otherwise we would remain thieves and selfish in all our lives.  Once the offering is over, it should be offered to crows, Lord Shaneeshwara will be highly pleased with this act, and it is believed that ancestors will accept the offerings and bless the family.    The meal consumed after offering to deity would turn out divine, and it will keep us hail and healthy.  A woman need not do recitation of any Vedic chants, other than simple prayers; she has become already a prime beneficiary of half of the piousness of her husband, if she makes sure that her husband is following the daily rituals meticulously, helping him with the preparation for the performance of daily rituals are considered as her primary duties.  According to the principle of Manu, men cannot perform any of the spiritual or ceremonial rites without the assistance of a woman, or any rites performed in her absence are considered as not a righteous deed. Thus Acharya beautifully described the Sthreedharma/prime duties of a woman, it is always good to follow our Acharya’s advice in all possible ways, he plays the role of father and mother as well, and none of the parents will leave their children in troubles, if we sincerely follow their uncomplicated advises with good heart.

Sage of Kanchi –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sri Paramacharya !

Sri Paramacharya highly speaks about the indisputable truth, that women are the beacon for righteousness, our scriptures and Veda highly admire the contributions of a woman in various Dharmic rites, woman is the initiator to all fire sacrifices, she protects the family rituals with her attentiveness, dedication and faith, she is over and over compares with the Mother Universe for her forbearance, mental strength and physical abilities.    Her husband shares equal half of the results of her sinful deeds, in the same manner she would be the beneficiary of half of the pious deeds of her husband.  A woman   in the family holds vital position in carrying out all the Dharmic rites, she should have thorough knowledge of her family traditions, rites and customs, and so that she can pass it on to younger generation and in this way the family traditions can be kept intact.   Families where women are treated with respect and kindness will be the permanent dwelling place of Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi, and Goddess Saraswathi, even the five essential elements  would wait for her command.   Acharya was a walking University, he kept travelling from one place to another by foot and seldom in the palanquin, so that he can educate the people of remote villages like a mother who affectionately feed her bosom milk to her child; he was always concerned about the well-being of his attendants while moving through the toughest routes from villages to villages, those days devotion to preceptor was intense and pure.  Acharya’s compassionate grace was enough to cure the distress and afflictions of the people; wherever he goes  a large crowd would be patiently waiting to get a glimpse of this Godly saint.

Teachings of Lord Buddha –

One of the five precepts of Buddhism is ‘Morality’, all the religion insists to follow the principle of virtue and practice of non-violence, evade from misconduct, robbery, and addiction to intoxicating drinks.   They encourage attributes like generosity, simplicity, forbearance, honesty, serenity, love, care, compassion, kindness, and discipline; which can lead to the path of enlightenment.  Practice of mindful Meditation helps for mental development, it strengthens our mind and removes the mental confusion, it brings the serenity of mind, it improves concentration, creativity, vigor and it also helps to achieve good conduct.  Wisdom or enlightenment is the Supreme state of consciousness; we have to make every effort to achieve that the highest state of mind, the realization of supreme consciousness is possible only if the mind is calm and pure.  The human life is full of sufferings; it is an inevitable part of life, sufferings from physical and mental ailments, deaths, the pain of separation, loss, and failures, major reason for sufferings are attachments, endless desires, possessiveness, yearn for sensual pleasure, desire to accumulate wealth, money, fame, etc..  Suffering causes lack of control over anger, lust, desire, ego, pride, and jealous, surprisingly sufferings are an individual choices.   Hence, sufferings are not mandatory though it is an inevitable part of life, there are ways to put an end to sufferings once for all,  Nirvana is the supreme state where there is no suffering, in this state person will be freed from attachment and desires, there is no fear or anxiety.  Therefore, virtues and disciplined life can only lead to the path of enlightenment, leaving behind all the wickedness, cruelties, conceitedness, and following strict celibacy, simple way of living will help to create all new perception, right thinking, aspiration and desire to free from attachments, ignorance, and hatred.   The practice of meditation helps to achieve control over sense, words, actions, and thoughts; it promotes good thought, it helps to refrain from evil deeds, usage of abusive language, getting involved in improper means of intoxication.  Mindful meditation helps to attain complete awareness of body, mind, and feelings.  The overall well-being can be achieved through meditation, reading scriptures and taking part in religious rites.

Sage of Kanchi –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sri Paramacharya !

Sri Paramacharya conducted various Vidhwath Sabha, religious and spiritual programs in the revered Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peedam, it was always crowded with wise, scholars and intellectuals from various places, it gave an excellent opportunities to the scholars for sharing their knowledge in Veda, Vedanta and sacred scriptures, those activities are still taking place under the benefaction of 7oth pontiff of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peedam Sri Shankara Vijayendhra Saraswathi Swamigal.  Acharya put in simple words about the existence of ocean sized supreme bliss which is the real nature of soul, unfortunately we often forget to realize the true nature of soul while chasing for fame, wealth, and material happiness which are flimsy in nature.  Intellectuals who are well aware of the nature of material happiness will not chase for those things.  Paramacharya explained the need for mediation on regular basis, bathing cleanse the physical impurities, we concentrate on washing away the dirt accumulated on the physical body on regular basis, in the same manner our inner self also get polluted with various sensations which needs to be cleansed on daily basis with meditation upon supreme Lord, it helps to wash away the wicked thoughts before it get out of control.   Happiness is like streak of sun light passing through the woods while the movement of branches takes place and it is momentary; therefore contemplate upon permanent happiness which is the nature of supreme soul.  Acharya beautifully described quintessence of ‘Oneness in All’ with a simple illustration, human are born with sense of intelligence, while seeing one’s own image on the mirror, no one will react to it outrageously, whole Universe is the creation of supreme spirit, it reveals the nature of all-pervading Bhramam which resides as soul in living beings, the knowledge about Oneness in All sow the seed for compassion towards each other, it removes grief and unknown fears, ultimately worshiper would be freed from rebirth.

Sage of Kanchi –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sri Paramacharya –

Sri Paramacharya describes that sufferings and happiness are the grace of supreme spirit, we have limited vision, we are unaware of the infinitesimal reason for both, we should always have faith in Universal Mother, that she won’t do anything to harm us, and therefore it is ideal to accept them as the grace of supreme spirit.  We easily accept  happiness, but sufferings are always tougher to absorb, though it is difficult to admit in the initial period with so much of heartache, frustrations, and confusions, later we will learn to accept them as well.  Acharya was a Mahayogi, a renounced soul/Jeevanmuktha, he was void of passion or sorrow, whose intellect was sharp like a sword, he was in a state of bliss always, he was aware of all that happening around.  Paramacharya relates to passion and time as the reasons for birth and death, passion causes birth and time cause death, every creature born in this Universe has to die, depth of the attachment causes the intensity of the sorrow.  Everything in this Universe has to undergo constant changes and ultimately vanishes.   The supreme spirit which is the essence of creation, preservation, and destruction remains imperishable.   Therefore contemplating upon supreme Lord Shiva who has won over death as well as desire/Kama removes the worldly bondage and liberates the soul from repeated births.  Our devotion towards the supreme soul should be intense that of a chaste wife to her husband, a creeper that embrace the tree, and a river that confluence with the ocean.   A ripened fruit voluntarily detach itself from the tree; in the same manner as we grow older we have to learn to detach ourselves from worldly affairs and impurities of the mind, it can be achieved only with intense practice of meditation and performance of duties.  Acharya taught us the essence of ‘Oneness of All’, generosity, humility, kindness, compassion, and simplicity, nine types of the practice of devotion, Sravanam/listening to the glorious myths and verses of Supreme Lord, Keerthanam/recitation of glorious myths and sing praising the endless attributes of Supreme Lord, Smaranam/contemplating upon the sacred names of Lord/visualizing the glorious form of supreme Lord and contemplating upon him, Padhasevanam/veneration at the lotus feet of preceptor and supreme Lord with intense devotion and faith, Archanam/veneration of supreme Lord and preceptor with flowers and various offerings, Vandhanam/prostration before preceptor and Supreme Lord, Dhasyam/veneration of preceptor and supreme Lord selflessly as a servant, Sakhyam/veneration of Supreme Lord as a constant companion, and  Athmanivedhanam/surrender at the lotus feet of Supreme Lord and preceptor are the nine types of devotion which leads to liberation.

Sage of Kanchi –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sri Paramacharya !

Sri Paramacharya recommended a simple way of living, excessive desire is the major cause for grief and sufferings, our desires, and dreams for accumulating wealth grow endless, it often leads to disappointment and failure, hence Acharya advised people to put up with  the necessities of life and lead a simple life, he strongly recommended joy of giving, the practice of giving away to needy people who are lacking essentials of life which leads to end sufferings of worldly existence and liberation from repeated births.   Impurities of mind like desire, anger, ego, pride, jealous, and lust multiply sins and grief, therefore Acharya advised people to contemplate on the supreme spirit, that would wash away the sins and impurities of the worshiper.  Scriptures and Dharma Shasthras taught us exemplary methods to attain salvation and relief from miseries and sorrows once for all, the person who meticulously follow the ideology of scriptures attain immense bliss, these scriptures written by illustrious Rishis  are not meant to create any anxiety in the worshiper, they describe the pros and cons of all the deeds in detail, they recommend the methods to achieve goodness in life by following Yogic practices, meditation, observance of vows and austerities, the performance of religious practices, and carry out the duties and responsibilities which are the essential means to attain liberation from repeated births.  Our body is an instrument/vehicle/shrine to achieve the above purpose; it is the shrine where the supreme soul resides, therefore strictly adhering to discipline is essential to ward off illness and that is how the science of Medicine/Ayurveda came into existence.  There are three types of meditation to keep our mind cluster free; keeping mind without any distraction and focusing on a specific object is called ‘Savikalpa Samadhi’.  The natural state of realization of ‘self’ followed with inquisitiveness to search for bliss is called ‘Sahaja Samadhi’.   ‘Nirvikalpa Samadhi’ is the highest of the state and final objective of meditation, where the mind completely stops functioning and unites with the supreme consciousness.  These are practiced for self- purification and attain self-realization and God-realization as well.