Tuesday, April 24, 2012


There is Only One God in All Names and Forms 
 
Shree Hari

24th April, 2012, Tuesday
Vaishakh Shukla Trutiya, Vikram Samvat 2069, Mangalvaar

 
In the Bharatiya (Indian) culture,  the Vedas are regarded as the foremost.  They are eternal, without an end,  and the kind that are ever lasting.   The three parts regarded in these Vedas are actions, worship and knowledge.  These three are comprehensively detailed in the Puranas and the historical texts, and its depictions are beautifully narrated through tales by Ved Vyas who has showered his grace and has made it possible for even the most common man to understand the subject easily.   As such even the Puranas are regarded as without a beginning, but these are restored at times and at intervals.  There are writings in the Puranas indicating their band as very widespread.  They have been given a succinct form for the short-lived beings of Kaliyug.   All the subjects pertaining to worldly and spiritual matters have been described very well in these.  After studying, it is known that the divine traits,  demoniac traits,  visit to holy places,  fasts,  austerities, sacrifices, charities, moderation,  service, following the duties of various stages of life (ashram dharma) and various "varnas", following the duties of a woman,  of rank and file, of the people (subjects, citizens),  of class, of country,  of time,  space, relations,  circumstances etc., essential duties and various subjects have been described in an extra-ordinary manner,  leaving nothing unsaid.   

In many places there appears to be much opposition and disparity,  which common men finds it difficult to understand due to seeing things in an ordinary manner.  Not just that,  but due to their lack of discrimination the talks of the Puranas,  appear to be filled with gabble, favoritism,  untruth, and due to which impiousness comes into being.  When and where there is description of the praises of holy places, fasts,  etc.  there that itself is revealed to be the best of all.   Just as, wherever the greatness of Shri Gangaji is shared there, neither the Sarayu, nor the Pushkar nor the Yamuna, nor the Teerthraj Prayaag is equivalent to it;  and when one begins to describe the Teerthraj it is said that there is no holy place equivalent to it, neither Ganga, nor Yamuna, nor Sarayu, norPushkar.   This alone is the king of all holy places.  It has come in the Kashi Mahatmaya, that for the attainment of liberation, there is no holy place in all the three worlds like Kashi.  None compares to it, neither Sarayu, nor Yamuna, nor Pushkar;  because it is situated in the trident of Lord Shankar.   There are similar stories on the topic of various fasts such as the Kartik Mahaatmai,  Vaishaak Mahaatmai,  Maargshirsh Mahatmai,  and Ekadashi Mahaatmai etc.    In this manner, if one is refuted through another, than all are refuted. 

In many places besides this, it has been said in different ways that the fruits of visiting holy places is quite run of the mill,  greater than fasts is moderation of sense organs and greater than sense moderation is worship and devotion of God and greater than that is love of God. 

Dharmah swanushtih punsaam vishvaksenakathaasu yah |
Notpaadayeh yadi ratim shram eva hi kewalam ||  (Shrimad Bhagwat  1/2/8)  

Even on proper exercise of Dharma,  if there is no awakening of love in men's heart towards the divine plays and stories of the Lord, then it is sheer labor and exertion only.   (to be continued)  
 
 
From "Jivan ka Kartavya" in Hindi  by Swami Ramsukhdasji
Ram Ram
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If in doubt regarding the translation, please read the original Hindi message by Swamiji.
FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISIT Date : 23rd April, 2012 "SAB NAAM ROOPON MEIN EK HI BHAGWAAN"