Today is the full moon day (Pournami). Our religion is the eternal Sanātana Hindu Dharma. It has existed from the very beginning of creation; it is not something that arose only a few years ago. “Dharmo viśvasya jagataḥ pratiṣṭhā”—Dharma is the very foundation that sustains the world.
This Dharma has been expounded in the Vedas, Puranas, Śāstras, and Itihāsas. They teach us how we should eat, how we should conduct ourselves, and how our actions should be. No other religion explains these matters in such comprehensive detail. They also explain intelligence, strength, the power of thought, and the proper way to employ them. Ours is the only Dharma that provides guidance for the mind, the body, and human actions.
Beauty and refinement (saundarya) are very important. The mind wanders restlessly in many directions. To bring it to one-pointedness, the science of music (Saṅgīta Śāstra) has been prescribed. Dharma also teaches that one should practise austerity (tapas), charity (dāna), and self-sacrifice (tyāga).
Worldly life (saṁsāra) is like a vast ocean. Before going to Lanka, Sri Rama built a bridge across the sea. Likewise, we too must build a bridge to cross this ocean of worldly existence. Many people assisted Rama in that service. We, however, do not have such helpers.
There are four kinds of suffering. We do not act merely because others are acting, nor because we are compelled to do so. We act for one reason or another. We offer many kinds of prayers. We speak whatever comes to our minds and do whatever we think of. Anger arises precisely when it should not. Such is the condition of the mind. What should we do about it?
Without earnestness and reflection, we often act in anger. This indeed is the ocean that must be crossed. Therefore:
- By charity, one should overcome the absence of charity.
- By truth, one should overcome falsehood.
- By sincerity and faith, one should overcome negligence and lack of faith.
- By peace and calmness, one should overcome anger.
About two hundred years ago, Tyagaraja sang in praise of God and had His direct vision. Countless people have performed austerities. Persons such as Parvati and Arjuna performed austerities for their own purposes. Prahlada and Dhruva performed them out of devotion to God. Many others undertook austerities for fame, position, and worldly attainments.
According to Adi Shankaracharya, a human being should acquire five things:
- Vidyā (Knowledge) 2. Vitta (Wealth) 3. Bala (Strength)
- Yaśas (Fame) 5. Puṇya (Merit)
Good education is the first necessity. It gives rise to humility and noble qualities. Wealth should come through a worthy profession and must be connected with Dharma. When we pray, “Lakṣmī ca mama dehi saukhyam” (“O Goddess, grant me prosperity and well-being”), the Divine Mother bestows her grace. What is thus obtained should become a means for the growth of Dharma, enabling one to live a righteous life.
Strength, in the form of good health, is necessary for the body. The scriptures declare: “Śarīram ādyam khalu dharma-sādhanam”—the body is the primary instrument for practising Dharma. Only if the body is strong and free from disease can one walk the path of righteousness.
The Bhagavad Gita explains what kind of food should be taken to keep the body healthy and vigorous. When food is pure, the mind also becomes pure. Hence the saying: “Āhāra-śuddhau sattva-śuddhiḥ”—purity of food leads to purity of mind.
Yaśas (fame) means earning a reputation such that many people regard one as a good person.
The fifth is Puṇya (merit). It consists of the accumulated merit from the deeds of our ancestors, the actions performed in previous births, and the righteous deeds performed in this life. All these together bear fruit only through the grace of God.
At Naimisharanya, the eighteen Puranas were narrated. Without these Puranas, we would not know about charity, righteousness, merit, and sin.
Lord Shiva has a name, Paśupatinātha. The famous Pashupatinath Temple is located in Kathmandu. All of us are like cattle (paśu) until true spiritual knowledge is attained. Even today, the priest who performs worship there must be a person born in South India, south of the Vindhya Mountains.
In Nepal there is the ancient city of Virata. In the Mahabharata, after twelve years of forest exile, the Pandavas spent their year of incognito exile in Virata City.
When Yudhishthira went into exile, many righteous people wished to accompany him. He told them, “I do not possess the ability to protect all of you; therefore, please remain here.” They replied that he need not do anything for their sake. Then, following the advice of their family preceptor Dhaumya, Yudhishthira prayed to Sun God and obtained the Akṣaya Pātra, the inexhaustible vessel, with which he fed everyone.
Before the Pandavas arrived in Virata, that kingdom was afflicted by many difficulties. After their arrival, the land became prosperous and flourishing. It was through observing this prosperity that Duryodhana realized that the Pandavas were spending their incognito year in Virata.
In Himachal Pradesh there is a sacred place called Jwalamukhi Temple, where the Divine Mother manifests as an eternal flame. We shall visit sacred places such as Vaishno Devi Temple, the Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar, Kurukshetra, Haridwar, Badrinath Temple, and Kedarnath Temple. We shall also conduct the ceremonial wedding of Tulasi in Vrindavan and then proceed to Kanchipuram for the Ārādhana of the revered Mahaswamigal, who was a walking divinity in this world.
To attain fullness and completeness in the mind, one should worship the Divine Mother. Through such worship, one receives Her complete grace. We bless all of you to obtain the full blessings of the Goddess and lead a happy and prosperous life.
(Anugraha Bhashanam delivered in Telugu at Allagadda, Andhra Pradesh, on 13 December 1997.)