Ashta Vinayak Darshan-Siddhivinayak,Siddhatek

Our Ashtavinayak Tour from Mumbai has the final Ganapathi at Siddhatek, a remote village along the banks of river Bhima, in the Karjat Taluka of Ahamednagar District of Maharashtra. This Siddhivinayak is considered a powerful diety. It is believed that it was here in this Siddhatek mountain that Lord Vishnu acquired Siddhi. Lord Vishnu is supposed to have vanquished the asuras Madhu and Kaidabh after propitiating Lord Ganesha here. This is the only Idol of the Ashtavinayaks which has the trunk turned to the right. It is believed that two saints Shri Morya Gosavi and Shri Narayan Maharaj of Kedegaon attained enlightenment here. The temple is north-facing on a small hillock. The main road towards the temple was built by the Peshwas. The inner santorum , 15 feet high and 10 feet wide, was built by Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holker. The idol is 3 feet tall 2.5 feet wide and is north-facing. The Idol's stomach is not wide but the statues of Riddhi and Siddhi are sitting on the thigh. The trunk is turned to the right side. The right-sided-trunk Ganeshas are believed to be very strict with Their devotees. To make one Pradakshina of the temple one has to make round trip of the hillock which takes about 30 mnts. with moderate speeds.

The legend has it that the Peshwa general Haripant Phadake lost his general post and took 21 Parikramas of Siddhivinayak temple. On 21 st day the Peshwa court-man came and took him away to the coutroom with royal honour. Haripant promised the God that he will bring the stones of the castle which he will win from the first war he will fight as the general. The stone pathway is built from the Badami-castle stones which was attacked by Haripant soon after he became the general. This temple is situated off the Pune-Solapur highway about 48 Kms. from the town of Srigonda in Ahamednagar district, on the banks of Bhima river. The nearest railway station is Daund, about 18 Kms. away.From Morgaon Moreshwar to Siddhivinayak at Siddhatek is about 90 Kms. and it's about 33 Kms. off the main Solapur road. Siddhatek used to have access problem before but now a bridge has come up on the river leading to the temple and therefore it is better accessible now. Ganesh Chathurthi is celebrated with great spendor here.

For a riligious Ashtavinayak tour according to Shastra, one has to start from Pune and visit these Ganapathies as per the following order, Shri Mayureshwar, Shri Siddhivinayak, Shri Ballaleshwar, Shri Varadavinayak, Shri Chintamani, Shri Girijatmaj, Shri Vignahar and Shri Mahaganapathi. (Please confirm the order from other sources). But to drive from Mumbai we have found the order in which these 8 posts have been made, more convenient. But to visit these Ganapathies at least once in ones life time is believed to be Mokshadayak and ofcourse Sakala Abheeshta Phala Dayak as well.

"GANAPATHI BAPPA MORYA, MANGALA MURTHI MORYA."

Ashta Vinayak Darshan-Mayureshwar,Morgaon

Moreshwar,Morgaon

Mayureshwar,or Moreshwar temple is along the Kartha river in the Morgaon village. A temple that looks like a tiny fort from a distance, is situated in the Baramati Taluka of Pune district of Maharashtra. This region is also known as Bhusvananda. Shaped like a peacock this region has seen an abundance of peacocks in the past and hence it's named as Mayurgaon or Morgaon. This temple is at about 56 Kms. from Pune and about 70 Kms. from our last Ganapathi at Theur, and at about 30 Kms. from Main Solapur road.

This is the most important Ganapathi of our Ashtavinayak Tour. This temple built on a black stone during the Bahamani reign, has four gates.This temple is situated at the centre of the village and is covered from all sides with four Minarets, and gives the feeling of a Mosque from a distance. This might have been done with the idea of preventing attacks from the Moghul empire. There is a wall of 50 feet tall surrounding the temple. Like in a Shiva temple, there is a Nandi statue at the entrance of the temple. However, the story says that this Nandi statue was beeing carried to some Shivamandir during which the vehicle carrying the statue broke down and the Nandi statue could not be moved from it's present position. The Idol of Lord Ganesha, riding a peacock, in the form of Mayureshwara, is believed to have slain the demon Sindhu at this spot. The Idol with it's trunk turned to the left, has a Cobra poised over it, protecting it. The idol has also got two statues of Siddhi and Buddhi with it. However, this is not the original Idol which is supposed to have been consecreated by Brahma twice,once before and once after the killing of the Demon Sindhu. The original Idol which is smaller in size and made of atoms of sand,iron and diamonds was enclosed in copper sheet by the Pandavas and is kept behind the present Idol.
The legend has it that the demon Sindhurasur caused immence trouble to the people on earth and the Devatas prayed to Lord Ganesha for a way to get rid of him. And Ganapathi came down on a peacock mount and waged a battle againt demon Sindhu and vanquished him. Then the peacock rider Ganapathi assumed the name of Mayureshwar or Moreshwar. As with other Ganapathi temples, the Vinayak Chathurthi is celebrated with great splendor here, and Vijaya Dashami is also celebrated comemmorating Ganesha's victory over Sindhu Demon. According to Shastra and according to the Religious beliefs this Moreshwar Ganapathi has to be visited first during the Ashta Vinayaka tour. Perhaps the chant Ganapathi Bappa Morya originated from the temple of Moreshwar.

Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Mangala Murthi Morya.

Ashta Vinayak Darshan-Chintamani,Theur

Lord Chintamani,Theur.

The Lord Chintamani is the Ganesh who removes all the Chintas or perflexities from the minds of His devotees and one visit to this Bhagawan is the Solace for the devotees in their lifetimes.It is believed that once Brahmaji when felt very restive,tharva,and to still His mind He called upon Ganeshji and the place where He received the quietude is then known as Sthavar region or as Theur in the recent times. And this Theur is the Abode of Chintamani Vinayak which is in the Haveli Taluka of Pune district of Maharashtra. This village Theur is on the banks of river Mulamutha. Ganesh here as Chintamani is the Lord who removes all the perflexities of Devotees minds.This temple is located 22 Kms. from Pune on the Pune-Solapur highway and hence is the nearest Ashtavinayaka from Pune.The village Theur sits at the confuence of three rivers,Mula,Mutha and Bhima.For us after visiting Ranjangaon Mahaganapathi, we have 40 Kms. of country road to Theur or better come back to Pune and then from Loni turn for the Solapur Road and Chintamani at Theur is 5 Kms. from the main road at 25 Kms. from Loni on the Solapur Road.

Ganesha is believed to haver got back the Chintamani Jewel from the greedy Guna for the Sage Kapila at this spot. However after bringing back the Jewel, Sage Kapildeva put back the jewel on Ganesha's neck and thus the Ganesha got the name of Chintamani Vinayaka. This happened under a Kadamba tree and hence Theur was known as Kadambanagar in the olden times.The lake behind the temple is called the Kadambtheertha.The temple entrance is north facing. The main temple was built by Dharaneedhar Maharaj Dev and the outer woodden wall was built by Senior Shreemant Madhavrao Peshwa.The east facing idol's trunk is turned to the left and the eyes are studded with carbuncle and diamonds. Theur's Chintamani was the main idol worshipped by Madhavrao Peshwa and until he suffered tuberculosis and died at the youg age of 27 years. It is believed that he died at the temple and his wife Ramabai committed Sati along with him on 18th November, 1772.

Vinayak Chathurthi is celebrated as the main festival here and devotees line up to see Him on regular basis and get the peace of minds here. Today the world seems to have achieved many material progresses but totally lack peace in the minds of the inhabitants and the Chintamani Bhagawan is the only God to remove the perflexities from their minds.
ON SHANTI, OM SHANTI, OM SHANTI, OM

Ashta Vinayak Darshan-Mahaganapathi, Ranjangaon

Mahaganapathi of Ranjangaon

Ranjangaon is a small village on the Pune Ahamednagar Highway, about 50 Kms. away from Pune.This Ganapathi at Ranjangaon is called the Mahaganapathi, one of the important Ashtavinayak Temples in Maharashtra. The original Idol is believed to have ten heads and 20 hands and it is believed to be in the basement of the present temple, and the Idol was known as "Mahotkat", though the temple authorities deny this. Lord Shiva is believed to have worshipped this idol before fighting the Tripurasura at this place in Ranjangaon. The temple was constructed by Shiva Himself at the exact place where he worshipped the Ganesha and the town He had set up was called Manipur earlier before the present name of Ranjangaon. The Idol faces East and it's sitting cross-legged with a broad forehead, with it's trunk turned to the left. The present temple is constructed such a way that the Sun Rays directly enter the temple and falls on the Idol when the Sun moves southwardly. The temple architecture seems to be of the 9th or 10th century period and it faces the east. Shri Madhavrao Peshwa used to visit this temple regularly and he built the stone sanctum around the Idol and in 1790 Mr. Anyaba Dev was authorized to worship the Idol.

The Legend has it that the Demon Tripurasura built three powerful citadels, the evil Tripuram forts, with aboon of invincibility granted to him by Lord Shiva. But he caused lot of sufferings to the people on earth and the devas on the heavens. All the Devatas made fervent appeals to Shiva to intervene in this matter and help them. But Shiva realised that He could not kill the Demon and so he started worshipping the Ganesha on the advise of Narada Maharshi. And with Ganesh's wishes Lord Shiva sent an arrow towards the Tripurasura and it piercves the three citadels and struck the demon and killed him. Then Shiva built this temple for Ganesha and then He Himself got enshrined in the nearby Bhimashankar as the slayer of the Tripura citadels. Ganesh Chaturthi is the main festival at this temple of Mahaganapathi. He is Mahaganapathi because He helped His father Shiva to destroy the Deman and thus brought peace to the Earth and the Heavens.

GANAPATHI BAPPA MORYA, MANGAL MURTHI MORYA.

Ashta Vinayak Darshan-Girijatmaj, Lenyadri

"UMA SUTHAM SHOKA VINASA KARANAM,
NAMAMI VIGNESWARA PADA PANKAJAM"

After Sati sacrificed her body in the Yagagni at her father's Yaga, she takes birth in the next birth as the daughter of Parvatha Raja and gets the name Parvathi or Girija. Lord Ganesha takes birth as the son of Parvathi and gets the name Gauriputra or Girijatmaj. Lenyadri is the abode of Girijatmaj. From Ozhar, Lenyadri is about 15 Kms. away and it's full of Buddha Caves. Lenyadri is in North of the Pune City on the banks of Kukdi river. One has to climb about 300 steps to reach the temple which is in a Budhist cave .The Ganesh Puran calls this place as Jirnpur or Lekhan Parbat.This is the only temple of the Ashtavinayak which is on a mopuntain.
It is believed that Goddess Parvathi performed penence to beget Ganesha on this mountain.The temple stands among 18 caves of Buddhist origin and it's on the 8th cave.It's called the Ganesha-len also and tyhe temple is carved on a single stone hill and it has a hall without any pillars. The hall is of 53 feet length, 51 feet width and has a height of 7 feet.
The idol faces north with it's trunk turned to the left.The idol is slightly different from other Ashtavinayak Idos as it is not carved very well or not well designed like other idols.This idol can be worshipped by anyone and there is no electric light in the temple,but the sun light always falls in the temple.There is an entree fee of rs.5 for the visit to the temple.The temple is 12 Kms. from Narayangaon which is about 95 Kms, from Pune on the Pune-Nashik Highway.Nearest railway station is Talegaon.From Junnar Lenyadri is about 5 Kms. From here the Shivaneri Castle where Chatrapthi Sivaji Maharaj was born, is about 6 Kms.
Lord Girijatmaj is a Varadana Prabhu who fulfills the wishes of His devotees instantly and for the thousands of His devotees visiting Him regularly He is the Solace.
"Gajanana Gajanana, Parvathi Putra Gajanana"

Ashta Vinayak Darshan-Vigneshwara, Ozhar

Lord Vigneshwara at Ozhar is our third Ganapathy, from Mumbai. Vigneshwar means the Lord of the Obstacles, the Lord got this name by killing the Demon called Vignasura who is the embodiment of all the obstacles in this Universe. So this Ganesa is to be called the Vignahar, who removes the obstacles. His abode is on the banks of Kukdeswar River in Ozhar, Maharashtra. Vigneshwar is the Swayambu Idol at Ozhar.To reach Ozhar from our last Ganapathy at Mahad, one has to take the Bombay-Pune expressway from the Khopoli Exit and take exit for Chakan from the expressway. If travelled 50 Kms. one will reach Narayangaon and from there Ozhar is about 15 Kms. away. From Pune Ozhar is about 100 Kms. away.

The Legend........
A king called Abhinandan wanted to become the King of the Heavens and started a Yagna for the purposes. King of the Heavens , Lord Indra heard about it and wnated to destroy that Yagna to save his throne. He summoned Kalapurush and asked him to destroy the Yagna of King Abhinandan. After doing so Kalapurush acquired the name of Vignasura, the demon of obstacles. Vignasura then went on the rampage and created obstalces to all the Yagnas and other Vedic practices on the Earth. Gods realised that they have to kill this demaon and approached Gajanan for help. Gajanan was in the Ashram of Sage Parashar. He took the birth as the son of Parshwaputra and Deepavatsala and then fought valiantly against Vignasura. The demon had to accept the defeat and he fell on the feet of Gajanana, and asked for pardon. Ganesh said that He would let him go, but he has to make the promise that he would never any place where Ganesh Puja is performed. Vignasura accepted the condition and from that day onwards all the religious activities start with the Ganesha Puja to remove any obstacles. Vignasura again requested the Lord He be known with his name and Ganesha accepted and He became the Vigneshwara. And all the Devatas were happy and installed the idol of Vigneshwara in Ozher and started worshiping Him.

Lord Vigneswara or Vignaharta's abode in Ozhar, is protected by stone walls on all the sides and it is facing the East side, from the temple boundaries one can see the Lenyadri and Fort Shivneri of the Chatrapthi Shivaji Maharaj. At the entrance there are two statues of guards, and then there two meditaions halls and the 20 ft. long Sabhamandap where there is a marble statue of Mushika,the Lord's Vahana. All the walls are covered with colourful paintings. In the Garbagriha sits the Diety facing the East, the eyes are studded with Rubies,a diamond adorns it's forehead, and it's Naval is studded with other precious stones. On both sides of the diety are Bronze statue of Riddhi and Siddhi. Very few people get the Darshan of the Vigneshwara, as He is the most powerful of all the other dieties, in the three worlds. He is the God who blesses the devotees without any delay and removes all their obstacles instantly and hence most worshipped Diety in this Kaliyuga.
GANAPATHY BAPPA MORYA, VIGNAHARTA MORYA.

Ashta Vinayak Darshan-Varada Vinayak,Mahad

Our next visit will be to Mahad where Varada Vinayakji is waiting to give His boons to the Devotees coming to Him. From Pali we have to take the road to Khopoli which is 40 Kms. away from Pali and Mahad is 10 Kms. from there. Mahad is situated in the hilly regions of Konkan , in Khalapur Taluka of Raigad district of Maharashtra. During monsoon times this place is very picturesque and green. From Mumbai the distance to this temple is 84 Kms. one can travel to Karjat railway station and then travel by road to Mahad.
One devotee of Ganesha, named Dhondu Paudkar found this idol in a lake in 1690 AD and the Idol was kept in the nearby Goddess temple for some time. In 1725 the Varada Vinayak Mandir was built by Peshwa Sardar Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar and he gifted this temple to the Village. The old temple was with tiled roof and it was renovated by the trustees recently. There is a Gomukh in the north and Holy water comes out from the Gomukh the Lake is in the West. Temple is 8 ft. long and 8 ft. broad and there is 25 ft. high Dome with Golden Pinnacle. The original idol of Varadavinayak can be seen outside the Sanctum, since it was not in condition the trustees madr a new Idol and consecrated it in the temple. Two stone idols od Siddhi and Riddhi are in the Sanctum. Two Ganesh Idols are there in the corners, one smeared with vermillion and the other in white marble with trunk turned to the right. The main Idol is in the sitting posion facing east and it's trunk turned to the left. All corners of the temple have pair of elephants with sections scrolled in gold. There are festivals in the Hindu Holy months of Badrapath and Magh, on the 5 th day of those months. The most unique attraction of this temple is that there is a lamp lit in 1892 and still burning today. This Varad Vinayak is the most favourite God for millions as He bestows all the boons prayed for.

SRI VARAD VINAYAK MAHARAJJI KI JAI.

Ashta Vinayak Darshan-Ballaleshwar,Pali

Ashta Vinayaks are the Swayambu Ganapathies of Maharashtra, any Hindu should have visited atleast once in his/her life time.They are the Varadana Prabhus of this Kaliyuga, anyone going with a specific prayer to them, is always blessed with. There are plenty of package tours by bus, cars etc. from Pune or from Mumbai which devotees can avail of to visit these eight Ganapathy Temples and the Majestic Ganapathy Idols residing in them. There may be some religious sequences of visiting these Dieties, but when we start from Mumbai the nearest Ganapathy is at Pali,in the Sudhagad Taluka of the Raigad district of Maharashtra.This place is nestled between the fort of Sarasgad and the river Amba. The nearest railway station is Karjat, 30 Kms away. By road,from Mumbai one can take the Bombay-Goa road to Pali,it's about 110 Kms., and may reach in two and half hours drive.

Named after Ballal. the son of Kalyan Sreshti,from whose "Tapasya". lord Ganesh appeared here at Pali,the diety is known as Ballaleshwar. Earlier there was a woodden temple,whose construction was such that the Sun's rays directly fall on the Diety from the two equinoxes of the temple. This temple was later renovated by the Morobadada Phadnis in 1770. The Ganesh Idol is of 3 feet hieght. There is another Ganesh Idol called Dhundi Vinayak at the rear temple of this Balleleshwar. The Peshwas had installed a big bell in the temple which is Portugese make.The temple hall is very beautiful with 8 pillars resembling Cyprus throne tree, and it is big 40 ft. long and 20 ft. broad. The idol of Vinayaka is sitting on a stone throne facing the east, and its trunk is left turned. The shining eyes and the naval are embedded diamonds and in the silver back ground they are very attractive. In back ground Riddhi and Siddhi are waving the Chamaras.

This Ganesha Moorthy is a Swayambu one and it is in the form of a Brahmin. The legend says that Ballal the son of Kalyan and Indumati was worshiping a big stone as Ganesha with all his friends and they all knew no hunger,thurst day or night. Their parents were worried about the children and went to Kalyan and complained about Ballal.Then Kalyna started to beat Ballal and threw all the stones worshipped by the children and tied up Ballal on to a tree and went back home saying let me see how your Ganesha saves you. Ballal started praying the Ganesha and He appeared before him in the form of a Brahmin, and asked him what boon he wants from Him, when Ballal requested the Lord to stay in Pali for ever and to bless all the people coming to see Him. The Ganesha asked Ballal to worship the stone as Him and agreed to stay in Pali for ever. The stone thrown out by the father of Ballal has become the Dhundi Ganapathy and the main stone transformed itself as Ballaleshwar, the only Lord to appear on the request of His Bhakltha, Ballal and known by His Bhaktha's name. Thus Ballaleshwar, a swayambu Vigraha blessing all the devotees as per the wishes of Ballal, is the Bhaktha Paradeenaha.Ballal had requested the Lord to Bless us in the Krityuga itself and He is continuing it even today, in this Kaliyuga. The legend further adds that one should visit the Dhundi Ganapathy first and then take His permission to visit the Ballaleshwar.

The temple opens at 5 am and at 530 am one can see and worship the Lord. At 5 am there is Kakad Aarati and Panchopachara Puja,(with sandalwood,flowers,red lead,dhoop and light deep)done by the temple priest. Before 12 noon there is Shodasa Upachara Puja. After Sunset there is Panchopachara puja again and at night there is Dhoop Aarati and the temple closes at night after the last prayers.There are festivals in the 6th Hindu calendar Month of Badrapada from 1st day to 5th day and also in the month of Magha the 11th month,from 1st to 5th day. There is a story that one can see the Lords finger marks on the offerings on the Maghi Chaturthi day at night and there will be lot of Devotees on that night to see this miracle. But the other Miracle that Ballaleshwar blesses every devotee with his wishes is there for all to see on any day of visit.Jai Sree Ballaleshwarji.
GANAPATHY BAPPA MORYA, MANGALA MOORTHY MORYA.

JEWELS of "GEETHA"....No:10

YOGI RAMSURATKUMARJI, The God Child, Thiruvannamalai.

"Ananyas Chintayanto Mam Ye Janaha: Paryupasathe,
Thesham Nityabhiyukthanam Yogakshemam Vahami Aham."

Lord Krishna here says that .. "I take upon Myself the burden of acquisition,of new things, and preservation,of old things, of those who worship Me with single minded devotion and who are permanently merged, equipoised, in Me." Those who worship Krishna, with one pointed devotion, love to Krishna only, He will take care of their well-being at all the times. We should have the Gopi-bhavam with Krishna and as the Gopies have the single minded love to Krishna , we too should have His Bhakthi with out sharing with any other Devata. Is it possible? Why not, we can see all the Ladies as the Devies or Matas but can have only one as wife, like-wise you can worship all the Devatas as Gods but should have the Gopi-bhavam with only Krishna.

We said earlier that we should offer all our Karmaphalams to Sree Krishna, even if we are accumulating the Punyams with lots of Dhanams and Dharmas, the resultant Phalams should be offered to Krishna. In some cases Krishna takes care to take these karmaphalams from us, to guide us to His Dhamam directly, avoiding a Punarjanmam.
Karna made lots of Dhanams and Dharmams throughout his life and accumulated many Punyams on these counts. When in the battle field Karna was about to give up his life, Krishna appears before him as a Brahmin and asks for Dhanam. Karna was puzzled as he thought, if I was about to go to the Battle-field I could have given a Yatra-Dhanam or if my life was not ending I could have given him a Jeevan Dhanam, but at the moment I dont. have anything to give to him. Then Krishna reminds him that he can give his accumulated punyams, the Karmaphalams, to Him. Then Karna was happy and offered his all Karmaphalams to that Brahmin, and Krishna gave His Divya Darshan at the time of Karna's death. What else Karna could have opted for at the time of his death? So to offer our Karmas as well as Karmaphalams to Lord Krishna is the surest way for the Moksham. But here Krishna talks about another way, "Sharanagathi"... to get liberated........

"Sarva Dharman Parityajya Mamekam Sharanam Vraja,
Aham Twa Sarvapapebhyo Mokshayishyami Ma Sucha."-18/66
[Giving up all the actions , surrender to Me alone. I will liberate you from all sins,bondages. Do not grieve.]

Krishna says you surrender to me, Sharanagathi, giving up all your Dharmas and Karmas. Dharma stands for Punya or the desirable effects of various Karmas and so giving up Dharma means giving up all the Karmas or actions. Since it is not possible to literally give up all the actions as long as the body is alive, renunciation means the knowledge or the discovery of the Self that is Akartha or actionless. The nature of the knowledge itself is pointed out in the second quarter, "Surrender to Me alone." Surrender means the knowledge of Oneness with the Lord; "I am the Lord." The real surrender is that of the sense of individuality by the knowledge that I am indeed the Lord. There is no way of giving up the actions as long as the individual, the doer is retained. And the sense of doership can be given up only by the knowledge, "I am That."

Since an ignorant man always has some end in view, the Lord states the result of the knowledge, "I will release you from all the sins. Do not grieve." Sin refers to anything undesirable and bondage is the most undesirable. Since Punya and Papa both keep one in baondage, both of them are implied by the word Papa here. Except for knowledge, there is no way to exhaust both Punya and Papa. The Lord says, "I will do this. And I need not do anything. My grace does it. The grace is the potential and it is there, for you to tap. I am available for asking, available for owning, you need not do anything to gain Me. The darkness of ignorance is removed by Me effortlessly by the lamp of knowledge and therefore do not grieve. Please do not grieve as to how you will cross this ocean of limitation. By the boat of knowledge you will cross the ocean of Sin or Bondage."

In the "Jewels of "Geetha" No: 1, the introduction was, " You are grieving for what should not be grieved for", because Arjuna was suffering from grief. He surrendered at the feet of the Lord asking for the release from the sorrow. The conclusion of the Sastra or the scripture is the elimination of all the forms of sorrow-sorrow born of limitations. The whole sastra negates from me what I am not and reveals what I am. It is nivrtti sastra or the teaching of disengagement because happiness is only in giving up. In pravrtti or engagemnent, there is a search which denies Anand or Fullness that I am. The Ananda is lost in the clutter of activity but what is really sought even in activity is the disengagement from what one does not want. And the nivrtti is not so much the giving up of the action but giving up of the sense of doership by knowledge of Self. The one who has liberated oneself from the sense of inadequacy alone is in a position of doing something worthwhile. That is why Tyaga or renunciation is presented as the theme of this concluding verse and that is the theme of the teachings of the Bhagawath Geetha.
At end Arjuna declares that ...
"Nashto Moha: Smruthirlabdha Twat prasadan Maya Achchutha,
sthithosmi gata sandehaha: karishye vachanam Tawa."-18/73
"Oh Immutable One, my delusion is destroyed, recollection gained by your grace. I stand with all doubts dispelled. I will act according to your words." Are our doubts too cleared? Whether our delusions and doubts are gone or are they doubled, one thing we all can do is to act according to the Words of Krishna. One Mahatma had said long ago that Geetha is not the scripture for Path,( Parayanam, or reading) but it is the Holy book for Aacharanam,( to act according to what is said in the book). We all have to agree with that Sage. To act according to Krishna's Geetha is to move towards the road to Moksham, or Liberation.

JAI JAI SREE RADHE, JAI JAI SREE RADHE, JAI JAI SREE RADHE.

JEWELS of "GEETHA"....No:9

Sadguru Shree Morari Babuji Maharaj

" Na Thadha Me Priyathama Atmayonir Na Shankaraha:,

Na Cha Sankarshano Na Srirnaivatmana cha Yadha Bhavan"

We said that we have to become devoted to Lord Krishna, because He is the "Bhaktha Paradenaha", He takes care of His Bhakthas all the times. In His own words Lord says that " Uddhava, whom I love the most, you know?" and further says that "it is not Brahma, not even Balarama, and not Lord Siva also. My Lakshmy devi is also not the best I love, and certainly not My own Self, but I love you, my Bhaktha the most." He even says that He does not reside in Vaikunta nor in the hearts of Munies, but where my Bhakthas sing my praises. That means He resides in our hearts, in the Bhaktha's Hearts. What these Bhakthas are doing for Him to be near them always, Krishna says that they attract me with their magnetic power, the Bhakthi, just as the devoted wives attract their devoted husbands.."......Vaseekurvanthi Mam Bhakthya Satstriya: Sat Pathim Yada". So to become a Bhaktha and go to the "Brahmam" one needs to purify his mind with the Nishta of Karmayoga and once he becomes endowed with a tranquil mind, he soon reaches the Lord. So we have to renounce all our actions, but how.....the Bhagawan says.......................................

" Sarva Karmani Manasa Sanyasyasthe Sukham Vasi,
Navadware Pure Dehi Naiva Kurvan Na Karayan."-5/13

[Having renounced all the actions, mentally,by discriminative knowledge the embodied one,the self controlled man, the wise man, with senses under control rests happily in the city of nine gates,neither doing any actions nor causing another one to act.]

This is the state of a Gnani to abide in the knowledge of the Self. As he knows that this Atma of his is an Akartha a non-doer and whatever action done is by this body. This is the Sanyasi in the real sense. The Sanyasi renounces all his actions by this discriminative knowledge,and keeps the senses under control. The renunciation of actions is really the renunciation of Kartrutwa or the sense of doership and so even while appearing to perform all the normal actions such as seeing, hearing,touching etc.,he really does not do anything.He is a sanyasi in spite of apparently performing all the actions because he is not associated with the motions of the sense organs and hence he rests happily in his body effortlessly abiding in himself. The city of Navadwaras, our body containing two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, the mouth, anus, and the urinary, is the resting place for our Atma.Since Atma is an Akartha, it does not act nor causes another to act. It does not take part in the Motions of actions of self or others. Once we understand this fact we can live with peaceful minds without getting affected by the Karmas,actions and the results of Karmas, Karmaphalams of our own self or that of others. Whatever actions we do, they are done by the sensory organs and not by our souls. So why to worry about the actions, good or bad? So our earlier question that "how can the one who knows the Self as indestructible, changeless, without birth and free from modifications kill anyone or cause anyone to kill". That statement is fulfilled in this verse which says that the wise man does not act, nor does he cause anyone to act.

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA, RAMA RAMA HARE HARE,
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA, KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE.

JEWELS of "GEETHA"....No:8

Sadguru Swami Gnananandagiriji Maharaj

"Yada Yada hi Dharmasya glanir Bhawathi, Bharata:,
Abhyuddhanam Adharmasya Thadhaatmanam Srujami Aham"

When we do our Karmas without the Yoga Nishta, we seem to go the Adharmic ways, which erode the Sanadana Dharma of ours. This is the Glani to our age old Dharma and Bhagawan says that He will not allow this to happen. He says that He will take the Avatarams and come down to the Earth to bring back the Dharma to its Glory. This Avataram of Bhagawan is not to destroy the ill-doers, but to educate them and help them purify their minds. This Avataram is in the form of Sadgurus and Maharishis and these Saintly Mahatmas help the people to the pursuit of the knowledge of the Self. Even when they are in their Divya Samadhies, their vibrations bless all of us for ages to come. Sadguru Swami Gnanananda Giriji Maharaj's Divya Samadhi at Gnanananda Thapovanam, near Thirukoilur, Tamil Nadu is such a vibrant Temple, a mere visit to that place could help us in our Antakharana Suddhi. A visit will guide us to a righteous path towards knowing our inner self, towards the life of a Sanyasi, or towards the pursuit of knowing the Atma Tatwam, in this life of ours, "the journey of Purification". This is the other mode of life which is committed to the knowledge. It is said that one must take Sanyasa and then listen to the scriptures from a learned teacher or Sadguru. But Sree Krishna says.........

"Sanyasasthu Mahabaho Dukham Apthum Ayogadaha:,
Yoga Yuktho Muni Brahma Na chirena Adhigachchathi."-5/6

[Renunciation, characterized by wisdom, on the other hand, O Mighty one, is difficult to attain without the preparation of the mind by Karmayoga (equanimity). The contemplative one endowed with a tranquil mind, or a Sage who has attained equanimity, soon attains Sanyasa and goes to the Lord without any delay.]

But Sanyasa is not easy unless the mind has acquired a maturity through the life of Karmayoga. Renunciation is difficult to attain. Getting rid of worldly desires from the mind, has to be practised from being in the Karmayoga. In the Sanyasayoga there is no place for desires of any kind, even the normal Karmas are also one has to leave. So it's very difficult for us. But Sanyasa is not impossible. It is difficult to accomplish for a mind that is not ready. Just as a bud requires time to blossom into a flower or a fruit requires time to ripen, the mind also needs time to mature. Karma is the means to purification of the mind and it is not available to the one who has renounced the actions, the Sanyasies. On the other hand, one who is committed to the life of Karmayoga becomes a Muni or a contemplative one. One acquires a mastery of the mind because the likes and dislikes are neutralised. A mind free from actions is an abiding mind; the mind and the sense organs become conductive to the pursuit of knowledge. This is the stage when one takes Vividisa Sanyasa-the life committed to the pursuit of knowledge through listening to the scriptures from the teacher and reflecting and contemplating upon the teachings. In course of time, or soon, -na chirena- one attains sanyasa in the absolute sense- an abidance in the knowledge of the Self.

To become a Sanyasi is not easy, it is not just changing to the Saffron Robes and going to the Himalayas.One can become a sanyasi with his own casual wears and living in his Grihasthashramam. It has nothing to do with the outside appearances. It is a mental commitment. To get all the worldly thoughts out of ones mind and do the Chintan of the Self, to see the Fullness in oneself, to get out of the Fear, the fear of Death, or to know that Atma Tatwam that one is not this mortal body, but the eternal soul, which is undistructible, undecaying and has no birth or death. And when one knows that this Jeevatma is the part and parcel of that Param Atma, then without much delay one will attain the proximity of the Lord Krishna. When our goal is to reach near to the Lord, this life-journey of purification-should be utilised to the fullest advantage,with the help of the Krishna Premies, the Sadgurus.Our life as a human being is very precious and short and to find out a real Sadguru is even more difficult.As Krishna said in the Bhagawatham......

" Durlabho Manusho Deho Dehinam Kshana bamgurah:,
Thatrapi Durlabham Manye Vaikuntapriya Darshanam".-11/2/29.

To become ourselves the "Krishnapriyas" , we have to take the guidance from the Gurus who are already the Krishnapriyas,and according to Krishna such Vaikuntapriyas are "Sudurlabham". But when we keep chanting the names of Guruvayurappan and doing the Bhajans of Pandurangan , the Lord makes our way easy to find the Sadguru and through him to attain His Parama Dham one day.

OM NAMO NARAYANAYA,OM NAMO NARAYANAYA,
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA,OM NAMO NARAYANAYA,
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA,OM NAMO NARAYANAYA.

JEWELS of "GEETHA"....No:7

HH Swami Chinmayananda Saraswatiji Maharaj

"Bhahoonam Janmanam Anthe Gnanavan Mam Prapadyathe,
Vasudeva Sarvam Ithi Sa Mahatma Sudulabha:".

We said if we offer the karmaphalams to Sree Krishna, we can attain Moksham and thus, reach to Him. But that is the ultimate Gnanam one should get. Here in this verse Lord Krishna says that it will take many Janmas to get that Gnanam and only a very few Mahatmas will know that He is everything in this Universe. Such Superior Gnanam is Sudurlabham. We can have many Devas or Gods in our favourite list, but in every God seeing Lord Krishna is what Krishna says "Vasudeva Sarvam Ithi..". That requires total devotion to Krishna, the Krishna conscienceness at all the times. To see Lord Krishna in every creatures of this world, is possible by some Saints like Ekadeva or Thukkaram of Maharashtra, or such Mahatmas are Sudurlabham, a very rare possibility. But devotion to Krishna should be easier thing for us,
We said neutralising the likes and dislikes with respect to the Karmaphalas is Karmayoga. But with respect to the Karma,action, itself, Lord Krishna says...........

" Yatah pravruttirbhutanam yena Sarvam idam tatam,
SwakarmanaTamAbhyarchyaSiddhimvindathiManavah:"-
-18/46

[The One from whom is the creation of all beings and by whom all the creatiuon is pervaded, worshipping Him by one's own duty; man attains perfection -purification of heart.]

There is also the attitude of YOGA with reference to the Karma or the action. It cannot be Samatwam or sameness, because the actions are varied and every action requires to be considered in its own right. Foe example, if we pour oil in the Fire, the fire lights up while if we pour water, it is put-off. So the attitude of Yoga with respect to Karma or action,is Bhakthi or Devotion to the Lord. "Swakarmana Tam Abhyarchya siddhim vindathi Manavah:". Man attains "Purification of Heart", or perfection, by worshipping Him by his own actions or duties. The Lord is the creator of this Universe and He maintains it too. The World seems to be maintained efficiently and effortlessly, by Him. The Nature is the evidence for this. The water flows from a higher elevation to the lower always, wind blows from the high pressure area to the low pressure regions all the times, the Agni devours anything thrown into it, all the human beings take birth with two hands and same number of fingers,all the birds and beasts also take birth with similar features...we can go on listing the Dharmic Evidences of this Prakruthi. All this happen by His Sankalpam and with the ease, while He seems to be resting in the Milky Ocean. And we are also not merely a winess in this creation; we are the participants too. We are the part of this creation. We are endowed with hands and legs as well as ability to Act. So we must do some thing. What should we do? That is to be determined. The appreciation of the situation will enable us to discover what is proper under that situation. And whatever we do, it must be done with the attitude of Duty, as an offering to the Lord Krishna. The performance of actions is governed by the sense of Duty rather than the by likes and dislikes. The action itself is important and not the achievement because the END desired to be attained is Purification of the Mind. An Action is done because it must be done. If what one has to do coincides with one's like, it becomes a spontaneous action. If what one has to do does not agree with what one likes to do, it becomes a deliberate action. The likes and dislikes get neutralised by our attitude of Duty or Action, which should be Devotion towards the Lord Krishna.The one pursuing action with this attitude in order to acquire a Suddha Anthakarana or a contemplative mind is called a "YOGI".The attitude of Devotion is the "Bhakthi". And the one who does his actions with the attitude of devotion to Lord Krishan, or does anything with Bhakthi is a KARMA YOGI.

OM SHANTI:, OM SHANTI:, OM SHANTI:, OM.

JEWELS of "GEETHA"....No:6

MAHA MANDALESWAR SWAMI AVADESHANANDA GIRIJI MAHARAJ

"Ye Me Madam edam nityam anuthishtanti Manava:,
shraddhavantho anasuyantho muchyanthe thepi karmabhi:".

The Lord Krishna here says that "men, who ever abide in this teaching of mine with faith and without carping, are freed from the bondage of actions." Krishna is not advising us to not do the actions or karmas, He only says that you dont get bound by the karmas, or you have to do your duties without any bondages. Infact our Vedas signify how important our Karmas are, out of the hundred thousand Veda Mantras, eighty thousand belong to the Karma Kandas. That we have to do our Karmas according to the Vedas or in the Dharmic ways is the essence of teachings of Bhagawat Geetha. Doing ones Karma according to the Dharma, without any selfishness, is "Karmayoga." The Lord Krishna explains Karmayoga in this famous verse...............
"Karmani Eva Adhikarasthe Ma Phaleshu Kadachana,
Ma Karma Phala Hethurbhurma te sango' stvakarmani."
[You have freedom in (performing) action and never in the results thereof. May you not become the author of the results of action, nor may you have any attachment for inaction.]
Lord Krishna says that there is result for every action we do, once an action takes place, not even He can stop the result thereof. The science also says that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. If a ball is thrown to the floor it will definitely bounce. No one can avoid that. But what Sree Krishna says in this verse is that we have the choice only for an action to do, or not to do or to do in a different way we like. But the result of the action is not in our options. You have freedom in performing action and never in the results thereof. This is simply a statement of fact that man has the freedom to determine the the action; he can become the author of action but not that of the karmaphalam, the result of action. This understanding brings about a certain attitude towards karmaphala; it is accepted as it is. A result is treated neither as success nor as failure; it is treated as prasada, the grace of God. This attitude eliminates any reaction towards the result and the result cannot create further likes or dislikes. The likes and dislikes are incapaciated to affect the person and he is able to maintain as equanimity or Samatwam. That is Karmayoga with respect to the phala or the result.

Without any reaction of likes or dislikes on the results thereof,one can do the Karmas and can make the mind clean and steady. We can go one step ahead by doing our Karmas with the attitude of "Paropakaram". when we work in a factory helping in the manufacture of some products, we can make the "Samkalpam" that this product we are going to make is going to help many persons and their families. With this attitude we further purify our minds. We are going to get the wages from the employer for the work we do, and in addition the mental satisfaction for our Samkalpam. The work we do is the first action and the wages the karmaphalam, the Samkalpam is the second action we do and we get Punyam for this action. These Punyams and also the Papams for a wrong samkalpam will decide on our entry to Heaven or Hell as the case may be. And our stay in these places are for limited periods according to the strength of our Papa punyams..."Ksheene punye Martya lokam visanthi". And at the end we again have to enter this Sansara Chakram of 84 lakh yonies. And if we offer these karmaphalams,.papa or punya, to Krishna....Narayanayethi samarpayethath..... then we dont have to enter this "chakram" and we get liberated to the Param Dham of Sree Krishna. So what ever we do if we make the Samkalpam of the Karmaphalam to "Sree Krishnarpanam" that makes our mind purified to the maximum possible level. So some pundithas call "Moksham" as the "Kshayam" of our "Mohams", the desires.. which we call the purification of the Minds.
" Kayena Vacha Manasa Indriyair Va,
Bhudyatmanava Prakruthe swabhawath,
Karomi Yadyath sakalam Parasmai,
Narayanayethi Samarpayami".

JEWELS of "GEETHA"....No:5

Sree Mridula Krishna Shastriji Maharaj

"Aham Atma Gudakesa, Sarva Bhoodhasayasthitha:,
Aham Aadischa Madyam Cha, Bhoodhanam Anta Eva Cha."

We said that the Lord or the World cannot be a source of fear for us as there is not even the slightest separation from the Lord and we, Atmas. As Krishna Himself tells in this sloka , Oh Gudakesha, I am the Self seated in the heart of all beings. I am the origin, the middle and the end also of all beings. We should know that we are the one with the Lord and that we are the fearless and Full. Then comes the question of "Sadhana" or the means. What do we require to gain this knowledge of fullness, of oneness with the Lord ? We require a mind that can discover that fullness. Lord says that there is this two-fold commitment in the world.........

Sree Bhagawan Uvacha:
" Loke asmin dvividha nishta, pura prokta maya Anagha,
Gnana yogena sankhyanam karma yogena yoginam"-3/3

[ Sree Bhagawan said......In this world, Oh Sinless one, at the begining of the creation, the two-fold pursuit was enunciated by Me; the pursuit of knowledge for the contemplative ones and the pursuit of action for the active ones,karmayogies.]

It is significant that here the Lord addresses Arjuna as the Anagha,sinless one. We' re to be sinless,if we have committed any sin the two fold Nishta, commitment prescribed by Krishna is not applicable for us. To discover the Fullness of the Self, the mind should be contemplative,simple and contented. A person who commands such a mind can commit himself or herself solely to the pursuit of knowledge. This is called the Gnana Yoga or the life of a Sanyasi. Gnana or the knowledge is the only Sadhana for such a person and nothing else. This person has no interest in Artha (Security) and Kama (Pleasures). The Lord says : "Gnana Yogena Sankhyanam" for the Sankhya or the Sanyasi is the commitment to the pursuit of knowledge. Means the Sanyasis are always on the pursuit of knowing the Self.

But suppose, because the mind is not pure, someone is not ready for a contemplative life. Contemplativeness is a disposition; one cannot command a contemplative mind. The mind cannot be contemplative as long as it is in the hold of likes and dislikes. As long as one has definite or pronounced likes and dislikes the mind will be disturbed when they are not fulfilled-when what one does not want happens or what one wants does not happen. Mind becomes contemplative when likes and dislikes are neutralised. Likes and dislikes can be neutralised by cultivating a proper attitude of the mind; they can neither be suppressed nor can they simply be given up. One has to neutralise them, grow out of them. And this is done by maintaining a certain attitude towards action and its result. And so we have another mode of life where one is no doubt , committed to knowledge as the ultimate end, but presently committed to ones own action as a means of neutralising likes and dislikes or purification of the mind. This purification of ones own mind is called the "Antahkaranasuddhi". This Antahkaranasuddhi is brought about by committing no sin, thinking of and doing only GOOD to others, and getting our minds out of Kama, Krodha, Madha and Matsarya, and keeping our minds always on the Smaranam of Lord Krishna. Always thinking of God gives us no time for the worldly crimes and makes us Sinless. This mode of life is described by Lord Krishna as the life of a Karmayogi- "Karma Yogena Yoginam". And once we lived the Karmayoga, we can move to the Sanyasa Yoga, for the pursuit of the knowledge of the SELF.
RAMA KRISHNA HARI.