Ravana's previous birth

…contd….

Work as if there is no tomorrow.

Work as if your life depended on it.

Work with joy.

Work with love.

Work for the sake of work.

This is what Rama’s life teaches us. In fact, every character teaches us to fulfill our swadharma. It teaches us to play our role as and where we are stationed in life to the fullest of our abilities. It teaches us to do our ‘swadharma’. It teaches us karma-yoga. It teaches us to find freedom through work. It teaches us to live life to the fullest and yet to walk the path of liberation as we fulfill our duties and responsibilities.

Now coming to Ravana, Hindu mythology just doesn’t give out a story to start a ritual or a festival. In tells as to what happened that was the cause of an event and also the after effect of such event. We know by now that Ravana was a great Shiva Bhaktha but at the same great hater (if such a word can be used!) of Lord Vishnu. Only Vedantic Philosophy – yes, its philosophy and not a religion – gives reason as to why a person has certain feeling towards someone too. Nothing is left to ambiguity. We are not asked to blindly follow a set of rules breaking of which will lead us directly to hell (as in other religions). 

Lord Vishnu had two door-keepers called Jaya, Vijaya who were greatly in love with Lord Vishnu. But his proximity and their post went to their head and over the period they became very arrogant with ego. 

Jaya vijaya stopping Sanatkumaras from entering Vaikuntam

 

Once when Brahma’s manas putra (mind-born children) Sanat Kumaras came to visit Lord Vishnu, Jaya, Vijaya made them wait and did not allow them inside. This angered the devotees of Lord Vishnu and they cursed Jaya, Vijaya to be born on the earth as mortals. Hearing this they both came to their senses and pleaded them to forgive them. Sanat Kumaras mellowed down but said couldn’t take back the curse and asked Lord to do something. 

 

Then Lord Vishnu gave Jaya, Vijaya two options 1. That they be born as devotees of Lord but would have to take seven janmas or 2. Be born as powerful asuras hating Lord and to lead three of such lives but were promised death in his hands during all three janmas (birth). Being madly in love with Lord Vishnu, they thought of only time taken to come back to him and hence in the urgency of desire to serve the Lord again at close proximity decided and accepted second option.

They were born as Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashpa in their first life – both killed by Lord as Varaha and Narasimha Swamy respectively. 

In their second life they were born as Ravana and Kumbhakarna and are killed by Lord as Rama. 

In their third life they die in the hands of Lord Krishna as Kamsa and Shishupala. First janma was in satya yug, next in tretayug and third in dwapara yug (These are time periods – like ice age, stone age etc).

Krishna killing Kamsa - his evil uncle

 Krishna killing Shishupala

 What do we understand from this?

...contd....

Lessons to be learnt from life of Jaya, Vijaya-the doorkeeprs of Shri Vishnu

..contd….

What do we understand from the life of Jaya and Vijaya – the doorkeepers of Shri Vishnu?

·         However great or pious we had been in our previous births, it doesn’t matter, what we are today only counts and only that is real. Past is over, future is uncertain, only thing that IS is present. So live it fully and correctly.

·         However high is our growth yet if we commit a mistake it is not over looked, however small it is. What ever be our station in life, we have to bear the consequences of our actions – good or bad.

Yudhishter in hell for telling half-truth in the way of Kurukshetra

 ·         You punya karma (good deeds) can’t be balanced against our paap karma (bad deeds). Our negatives can’t be negated with our positive qualities. They stand on their own. They can’t be pitied against each other. The conclusion thus drawn doesn’t give the right picture. For example :

“He is so good. He helps you in daily chores”

“But he is no good husband because he never supported me/stood by me in times of need”

This is wrong. You may not accept him as good husband (based on your expectations) but you can’t take away the fact that he does daily chores. But what we do usually is give +10 marks for daily chores and -80 marks for not standing by and then say +10-80= -70. Therefore he is bad husband. No one’s character can be arrived at by such mathematical calculations. His one negative quality can’t be pitied against his other positive quality. He didn’t stand by you is -80. He’ll bear karma worth that (if it is true and again not as per your rating, but as per Dharma. Remember that!). In the same way he’ll reap benefits of +10 for doing chores. He’ll not suffer -70 marks as you think (I hope I am clear now! Please understand it correctly. If you don’t understand, please seek answers by clearly explaining your doubt).

Please don’t think it applies to only man and woman relationship. No, this example if rightly understood is the basis of every relationship. If learnt correctly, you’ll know what it is ‘to see’ WHAT IS as what is! Therefore if someone says from now onwards “she cooks well” don’t say “but she doesn’t keep her house tidy”. No. you can’t negate one quality with other. Others will still do it. Forget about them. They are not my students. You are! They are not working on their attitudes – you are! You are interested in creating a better future for yourself. You want to break free from pain and suffering. They – just let them be!

...contd....

What is Destiny and Free-will?

…contd….

You and I have embarked on this tough yet interesting, challenging, benefitting journey. So let’s just work on ourselves. Forget about them for now!

Coming back to our story, Jaya, Vijaya had to bear consequence of their bad karma (of insolence) but as they were great devotees of God they got to have their choice of type of birth and the number of births and also got to die in His hands. Please understand it correctly. I repeat once again.

“Good karmas will reap good benefits and bad karmas reap their corresponding benefits. They don’t get inter-mixed – ever for anyone.” Is it clear?

·         So, Ravana and others couldn’t help themselves from being bad. See, it was destined so. So, my negative qualities are also my destiny and my behaviour is ok as it’ll beget good results (like getting killed by Lord etc). I don’t need to work on my attitude and character. Right?”

My, my! What an inference! No my dear, it is not so. Being what you are, why you are and where you are is because of your past karma. That is destiny designed by your past deeds. It’s right till here. But how you behave now, what choices you make now and what sadhan you make now will decide where you go tomorrow. Your right to choose now is called as “your free-will”. Depending on that choice your destiny of tomorrow is again written. So, think and act wisely!

Ravan born Brahmin went on to become kshatriya by his deeds and became Asura by his intentions and acts. Whereas Sage Vishwamitra was born a Kshtriya and lived as one for many years and then with his intense tapas went on to become a Brahmin. That is the caste system of Sanatana Dharma which is based on one’s nature, deed and profession and not be birth.

Taking birth in Brahmin family is the result of past deeds and whether you remain so or not is decided by your present deeds. Hope now it’s clear!

·         Jaya and Vijaya were door-keepers of Vaikuntam. What post can be more gratifying than this? Can you even imagine how one’s life would be as door-keeper’s of Vaikuntam? Yet, inspite of raising to that high a post (yes, all these are just posts and can be filled by any one with their punya karma…that includes you and me too. So if you are career oriented then you should aim for such posts – not one in the offices of this world). We can still fall low because of our attitude. Again everything boils down to Attitude. Now do you see how attitude makes or breaks our fate and us in short and long run too! Don’t be bothered to scale the Altitude – that’s easy actually once you set your mind on it – but higher the altitude, you fall is that much more painful and dreadful. So work on “attitude” always. Ego sets in at any stage and then we are in this roller-coaster ride of going up and coming down for eons to come. No doubt we always have churning sensation in our stomach!

...contd....

Bhagavatam – Krishna answers King Dhritarashtra

Contd…..

Bhagavatam – Krishna answers King Dhritarashtra

Though there are meditation techniques available for advanced sadhaks, it is not required to heal oneself of one’s karma.

Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita (4.17) “…. gahana karmano gatih…”, that the way in which action and reaction works is very complex. God knows best which reaction has to be given at what time in what condition.  Therefore, some reaction may come in this lifetime, some in the next and yet some in a distant future lifetime.

Healing never ends till we get back to our original state of ‘Pure consciousness’. Till then, whatever disturbs us, pains us and the fears that we have need to be healed – layer by layer. Even after years of healing, when an issue crops up, I don’t see it as a problem to be solved (though I act on that too as per the need of the hour) but is is about knowing something about myself that needs to be addressed. Every time, I think I have crossed quite a hurdle or obstacle, I find myself again in a situation of facing people which

pushes me away from my equilibrium. Then I sit to know myself more – again! I go within. I meditate to find that area of me which is causing this reality to express itself and I sit to heal that.  Trust me, the more I change, I find the people and the situation around me change (Please don’t blabber something like ‘so our problems are not healed as you haven’t healed yourself?”). Don’t understand Laws wrongly to get away from being responsible to your own karma, self and destiny.

More we change, more we find the need to change. In this path will be noble qualities that need to be learned, picked up and assimilated into our character and personality. At the same time, we need to unlearn our insecurities, fears and weaknesses. It doesn’t happen with a click of hand. It isn’t magic! And hence healing takes time, regularity, perseverance, patience and able all faith to make it happen. And the procedures though may vary from person to person; it still is achievable by one and all – provided one is willing to. And the best part is ‘Universe pushes everyone towards this learning/unlearning process’ whether they are in healing process or not. It’s just that like Dhritarashtra it would take 50 janmas for that karma to come into effect.  And that too remains since unhealed, person most of the time goes through it with remorse, anger and such feelings, thereby planting fresh seeds of karma for future. And the vicious cycle continues.

Contd…..

related posts : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=past+lives

https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=jada+bharath+and+deer


https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=jaya+vijaya

Expressing joy through healing!

 

Expressing joy through healing!

There is a change in the weather here in Hyderabad, India. So, it must be in many parts of this Great Country! Maybe, it is so in many other parts of this wonderful World too!

Just noticing the drop in temperature, seeing the morning mist envelope the beauty of this City – this today was good enough to be smiling through the day and be joyous for no good personal reason!

Climate has changed – for good!

The morning wind is chilly and so is the evening wind! Sunsets earlier than before – wow! What a change!

Climate change is associated with changes in life and life situations. Is it real? I don’t know! Is there a proof? No, not with me! And yet I go by this belief. Does it hurt anyone? Not that I know of! Does it sound logical? Maybe not for many!

But, this statement I go by! Not with expectation, not with hope, not with a past to support it too! Yet, I go by it blindly – always and ever!

So, to express my joy I will send reiki for next 3 days to Mother Earth – who is one of the causative factor for this season change!

For me, joy means to share! What does joy mean to you?

What do you do when in joy?

What does season change represent to you?

What does change mean to you?

*********    

# seasonal change, change is inevitable, everything changes, only change is constant, adjusting to change is life, on life and its predictability, 

also read: https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=jaya+vijaya