Hindu Article-Turning point

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Turning point

 

CHENNAI: The root of man's unhappiness is his ego, which makes him

blind to his spiritual nature. Instead of realising that he is the

Self (Atman), which is blissful and eternal, he identifies with his

body-mind-intellect personality and attributes their limitations to

himself and thus does not experience his true blissful nature.

Spiritual evolution thus involves getting rid of the ego so that the

Self will shine in its true splendour.

In his discourse, Swami Vimurtananda said the rituals of the three-

day Pongal festival (Sankranti) had immense spiritual significance.

The first day, Bhogi, is celebrated in honour of Indra, for seeking

all material benefits in proper measure (in the form of rain). The

Bhagavata Purana narrates the episode of Lord Krishna humbling Indra

during His childhood in Gokul. Indra had become conceited that all in

the world had to pay obeisance to him for securing material well

being. So the Lord, who is the ultimate benefactor of all, decided to

teach him a lesson. He instructed the cowherd community to worship

the cows, priests and the Govardhana mountain, which provided the

bounties of nature to them.

Indra was naturally angry and in order to teach them a lesson he

unleashed torrential rain. It rained as though it was the great

deluge at the time of dissolution. To protect His kinsmen Krishna

lifted the mountain effortlessly with the little finger of His left

hand and the entire community took refuge under it till Indra spent

all his fury. Humbled, Indra extolled Krishna, who graced him and

dedicated the festival of Bhogi to him. The following day Pongal

signifies the securing of bliss after the ego is removed (union with

God) and the third day is dedicated to the worship of all living

creatures for fostering harmonious coexistence of man with nature.

Thus all the three orders of existence (celestials, God and living

beings) are worshipped during this festival.

Sankranti also marks the beginning of the Sun's northward journey

heralding the spring season. It is a transition — a turning point

from materiality to spirituality in human life — in which nature

shows the way to spiritual transformation. The Sun is worshipped in

the Vedic tradition with the Gayatri mantra as the visible

manifestation of the Supreme Being. This mantra by itself is capable

of liberating man from bondage.

 

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