Guest guest Posted February 19, 2003 Report Share Posted February 19, 2003 Dear friends in Kuwait, One more anxious week begins for all of us here in Kuwait with no sign that the War on Iraq is any less imminent now than a week ago. We continue to remain tense and fearful. Mr.Bush says "the game is over" and "Time running out" for Mr.Hussein. There were fiery speeches and diplomatic theatrics at the UN Security Council meeting last week which all helped finally only to delay not avoid what seems to be inevitable: War. What now will happen in the weeks ahead, well... only Time or "kAla" can tell.. ***************************** Let us take up for discussion the word "kAla:" which is Sanskrit for Time. One more of the wonderful "nAmA-s" of God that Sri Vishnu-Sahasranamam reveals to us is: "kAla:". It is found in the 44th stanza and it says that Time is Vishnu and Vishnu is Time: "rituh sudarshanah kAla: paramEshti parigrahah ugrah samvatsarah dakshah visrAmah viswadakshinah:" (stanza 44) When I was a young man my elders were never tired of reminding me of the inestimable value and nature of Time. They were never tired of repeating ad-infinitum, sometimes ad-nauseum, age-old proverbs such as: "Time and Tide wait for none", "Time is Money", "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today" and so on and so forth. They were all intent on driving home the truth into me that of all the gifts God gave to Man, the most precious is Time. He has given us each a life-span that is a lifetime of endless opportunities. The best and noblest things that a human being can achieve in this world can all be ours if only we knew how to put Time to wise use. Equally so, we could all too easily also fritter away the opportunity if we allow Time to slip through our hands and pass away forever... Time, symbolized by those awesome fingers of the unceasing clock, keeps ticking away... Time does not wait for anyone. It is no respecter of persons, either high or low, rich or poor. If you are late for an interview you don't get the job. If you don't reach the station on time, the train leaves. If you don't pass the examination at the right age, you don't enter University. If you were not ready to get married at the right time, all the beautiful girls of the neighbourhood were already taken by the time you became eligible... Those great ticking hands of "kAla:", just keep ruthlessly moving on. Time waits for none; it gives no 'second chances', not to anyone, and not for any reason: The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: not all your Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it -- Omar Khayyam Now, if Time is what it really is -- inexorable, severe and merciless -- and if Time is also God's gift, then we are tempted to feel that God must be a very hard-hearted person indeed to have given us a gift that, in the manner of a double-edged knife, turns out cuts both ways. If Time is such a severe gift of life, can the donor be any less severe? *********************************** Before we seek an answer for the above question let us first ask: Why the Sahasranamam hails Vishnu as "kAla". I looked in the religious writer, Sri. Eknath Eswaran's delightful little book, "Thousand Names of Vishnu", but surprisingly found no commentary upon this particular 'nAma' of "kAla". So I returned to the good old commentary of Sri. Parashara Bhattar -- that all-time classic called "bhagavath-guna-darpana" written in the 11th century CE and, sure enough, I found the "nAma" of "kAla:" very neatly explained and amply illumined. We all know Time, "kAla", best by its 3 basic dimensions viz. Past, Present and Future. We know the past and the present through actual experience. The Future, on the other hand, is like God: It is unknown and unknowable. The Future is much like God's avatar: The fact is never in doubt, but the advent is never certain. The avatar of God on earth in either a near or distant future is fact; but the advent of an avatar is uncertain. While no one can say when an avatar will exactly take place, scriptural authority, like the 'sruti' or 'smriti', tells us with certainty that an avatar will take definitely take place sometime in the future. The God of the Future is known as 'kalki', the avatara that is yet to advent upon earth and "samvatsarah" is the name the Sahasranama gives it in the above stanza. Awaiting the arrival of the right moment to descend upon earth to make His appearance as Kalki, our Lord Vishnu is said to be patiently reclining upon the eternal Coil of Time called "anantha" -- symbolized as Vishnu's Serpent-bed ("anantha-sayanArudham"). Bhattar also points us to the significance of the immediately succeeding 'nAmA' i.e. "daksha", which in fact is alias for Kalki, the avatar of the Future. ************************************** We know Time by various units of its measurement also -- such as seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries, millennia. The word "samvatsara" in Sanskrit generally means "year" but in a much larger, Upanishadic sense it refers to all conceivable but indeterminate units of time ("samvatsarO'sAvA'dityO..."). Units of time-measurement used in scientific or digital disciplines, like "nanoseconds" or "light-years", while they are clearly conceivable are indeterminable. "Samvatsara:" or "kAla" both denote Time in its vast, indeterminable form -- the concept of Infinity, for example, Eternity, Agelessness or Continuum. Since God Almighty Vishnu is also similarly conceivable but indeterminable, He is said to be "kAla" or "samvatsarah". Another reason why God, according to the Sahasranamam stanza above, is "kAla": The most common index of Time we know is the calendar Year ("samvatsara:") the period in which planet earth revolves once around the Sun in 365 days. The calendar-year is identified with the sun because changes brought about in Nature in the form of the 4 seasons are through the influence of the sun. This is why God is referred to (in the Sahasranamam stanza above) as "rituh", meaning that Vishnu manifests Himself as the 4 ageless seasonal time-zones of the year. The 4 seasons, if one reflects upon it, are measures of Time too. They are not, however, quantitative measures in the same way as "hours", "days" or "minutes" are. The seasons are rather measures of Time that are "qualitative" in nature. It is the 4 seasons of the year which tell us that Time possesses "quality" as much as "quantity". Through the experience of the 4 seasons we are able to realize that Time is not altogether a vast, cold, completely neutral, immeasureable and impersonal entity. In olden days villagers in India used to refer to their age not in number of years but in terms of the number of summers they had witnessed in life. There was a reason for it. You could hear a villager say, for example, "Raman is twenty summers older than I. He has reaped 20 more harvests and he must hence surely be 20 times wealthier, indeed." Such a statement conveyed a sense of Time far beyond its measureable dimension. It was meant to convey, more profoundly, the experience of Time and its "quality" aspects. Similarly, while the "nAma" of God such as "samvatsara:" or "kAla" give us a measure of the sheer Timelessness of God, the "namA" of "rituh" give us a sense of the quality of the same Timeless Almighty ("kalyAna-guNa-vibhava"). "vasanta-rituh", for example, is Spring, "shisira-rituh" is Winter and God is "rituh" Himself because He possesses some rare and wonderful qualities associated with the seasons. The Lord is pleasanter than the Spring breeze, more bountiful than a summer harvest; He is as mellow as the fall and as invigorating as the tropical winter. ******************************* Although the Time of allotted life-span ("kAla") gifted to each individual by God is indeed severely limited in years i.e. in units of "samvatsarah", there is however plenty of time in it to fill a lifetime with the rich qualities of "rituh". Our whole life can be indeed like the 4 rolling seasons -- pleasant, bountiful, varied and zestful. When we look at the lives of great souls like Vyasa, Sankara, Buddha, Ramanuja, Desika or Ramakrishna Paramahamsa... we realize why our Time in this world ("kAla") is not to be measured in terms of quantity or in terms of "samvatsarah:" alone. It must be weighed, more importantly, on the basis of its quality or "rituh". "Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime; And departing leave behind us Footprints across the sands of Time." (H.W.Longfellow) ********************** Very Important Persons (VIPs), we see around us in life, are extremely conscious of personal Time. Presidents, Kings, Generals and CEOs -- the most powerful persons of the world -- lead such hectic lives they cannot afford to spare much time for ordinary folks like us. VIPs are business-like, very frugal in giving their Time. (Like George Bush last week, they are quick to make grave statements such as "Time is up; game is over", and really mean it too.) Such great ones of the world have really not much Time for anyone who does not fall in line with their own purpose, thinking or work. VIPs cannot wait... They give you no 'second chances'... God in the form of "kAla", the greatest VIP of them all, is on the other hand extremely generous with Time. The Lord is utterly unlike the most 'powerful' VIP of the world. He is ever willing to ladle out any amount of Time Man needs. The Lord is willing to wait endlessly -- not one lifetime but any number of lifetimes -- for Man to redeem himself, perfect himself and finally come around to Him and ascend the Kingdom of God. We might say, "I live a kind of life that really gives me no Time for God or godly matters" but the Lord does not return that sentiment. He does not say, "Sorry friend, if you have no time for me, neither do I. So when Time's up for you, it's game over too!". Our Vishnu is ever willing to give us as many 'second chances', a third and then a fourth even --- as many lifetimes, in fact, as it takes, and as many as our respective 'karma' dictates. It is because God is so lavishly generous with Time -- "kAla" -- that Vishnu in the Sahasranamam is hailed as "paramEshti parigraha:". ********************************** The most telling and poignant example of God's generosity with His "kAla" is in the story of the Ramayana, in the "yuddha-kAnda". In the great battle with Ravana, Rama smashes the 'rakshAsa' king's chariot, armoury, weapons, coat-of-mail, flagstaff and crown. A hush of silence descends on the battlefield. Ravana stands utterly beaten, humiliated and defenseless. Everyone watches and waits with bated breath to see what Rama will do next. Only a single arrow from Rama's bow is needed to finish off Ravana once and for all, and rid the world of Evil, for all times to come. What does Rama do then ? Eyes blazing, the Prince of Ayodhya looks down the shaft of a deadly arrow aimed straight at Ravana's heart. And Rama says: "gacchAnu-jAnAmi raNArdi-tastvam pravishya rAtrImchara-rAja lankAm I aashvAsya niryAhi rathI cha dhanvi tadA balam drakshyasi mE rathasthah:" II (Valmiki Ramayanam VI.59.143) "I can finish you now, Ravana! But I forbear to send down another arrow. You have done well today but not well enough. You need a new chariot, new arms, plenty of rest and refreshment. Go now and return tomorrow with renewed vigour. I will then show you who I am!". It is one of the most poignantly gripping scenes of the 'yuddha-kAnda'! Even in the midst of a raging War the Lord is gracious and compassionate enough to grant Time. He tells the beaten Ravana to go away from battle and return in better shape the following day. It was the 'second chance', the opportunity of "kAla" the Almighty gives Ravana. It is not so much an opportunity for Ravana to go back and return with a new chariot or new weapons. The Time granted was really for Ravana to introspect and reflect upon the folly of his ways. Even in the heat of pitched battle, the Lord made sure to allow the 'rAkshasa' benefit of Time, of "kAla", so that it might work its magic of a probable change-of-heart, of genuine repentance... of a spiritual course-correction and turn around. Not for nothing therefore does the Sahasranamam hail the Lord as "kAla" -- the Gracious Giver of Time. Regards, dAsan, Sudarshan Send Flowers for Valentine's Day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2003 Report Share Posted February 20, 2003 Dear Shri Sudarasan and others, Very comprehensive coverage about " kala" which made me to complete the reading in one go. I am sure all your and others prayers will be answered by Lord Ranganatha. It is only a question of " time". For having said that one has to see the need of the " hour". Be alert, act and have full faith in Him. Past is the best teacher. If at all there is a war the consequences could be more dreadful this time compared to last war. Not only Kuwait , but the entire GCC will be put to severe suffering. The difference is that last occasion the countries were taken unawares , but now all are fully geared to face the challenges from all fronts. Life as normal as ever in Bahrain. Indian embassy for the first time creating a database of all immigrants here, and social service organizations have been given call to help them enter the data in computers and this call has been well responded and work has commenced. Being annual holidays even school children, house wives are taking part in this yeomen cause. Bad times are always painful but it is time that brings illumination. We should consider such times as an opportunity given to all of us by The Almighty to render self less service. This is true spirituality. Even though TIME DEVOURS EVERYTHING , HE IS THE MASTER OF TIME. HE IS ALSO NOT COMPREHENDIBLE Thanks to everyone who is joining in the prayers. V K Vijayaraghavan - M.K.Sudarshan <sampathkumar_2000 <tiruvengadam> Cc: <>; <Oppiliappan> Wednesday, February 19, 2003 3:57 PM "kAla:": The Gracious Giver of TIME > Dear friends in Kuwait, > > One more anxious week begins for all of us here in Kuwait with no > sign that the War on Iraq is any less imminent now than a week ago. > We continue to remain tense and fearful. Mr.Bush says "the game is > over" and "Time running out" for Mr.Hussein. There were fiery > speeches and diplomatic theatrics at the UN Security Council meeting > last week which all helped finally only to delay not avoid what seems > to be inevitable: War. > > What now will happen in the weeks ahead, well... only Time or "kAla" > can tell.. > > ***************************** > > Let us take up for discussion the word "kAla:" which is Sanskrit for > Time. > > One more of the wonderful "nAmA-s" of God that Sri > Vishnu-Sahasranamam reveals to us is: "kAla:". It is found in the > 44th stanza and it says that Time is Vishnu and Vishnu is Time: > > "rituh sudarshanah kAla: paramEshti parigrahah > ugrah samvatsarah dakshah visrAmah viswadakshinah:" > (stanza 44) > > When I was a young man my elders were never tired of reminding me of > the inestimable value and nature of Time. They were never tired of > repeating ad-infinitum, sometimes ad-nauseum, age-old proverbs such > as: "Time and Tide wait for none", "Time is Money", "Never put off > till tomorrow what you can do today" and so on and so forth. They > were all intent on driving home the truth into me that of all the > gifts God gave to Man, the most precious is Time. He has given us > each a life-span that is a lifetime of endless opportunities. The > best and noblest things that a human being can achieve in this world > can all be ours if only we knew how to put Time to wise use. Equally > so, we could all too easily also fritter away the opportunity if we > allow Time to slip through our hands and pass away forever... > > Time, symbolized by those awesome fingers of the unceasing clock, > keeps ticking away... Time does not wait for anyone. It is no > respecter of persons, either high or low, rich or poor. If you are > late for an interview you don't get the job. If you don't reach the > station on time, the train leaves. If you don't pass the examination > at the right age, you don't enter University. If you were not ready > to get married at the right time, all the beautiful girls of the > neighbourhood were already taken by the time you became eligible... > Those great ticking hands of "kAla:", just keep ruthlessly moving on. > Time waits for none; it gives no 'second chances', not to anyone, and > not for any reason: > > The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, > Moves on: not all your Piety nor Wit > Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, > Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it > > -- Omar Khayyam > > Now, if Time is what it really is -- inexorable, severe and merciless > -- and if Time is also God's gift, then we are tempted to feel that > God must be a very hard-hearted person indeed to have given us a gift > that, in the manner of a double-edged knife, turns out cuts both > ways. If Time is such a severe gift of life, can the donor be any > less severe? > > *********************************** > > Before we seek an answer for the above question let us first ask: Why > the Sahasranamam hails Vishnu as "kAla". > > I looked in the religious writer, Sri. Eknath Eswaran's delightful > little book, "Thousand Names of Vishnu", but surprisingly found no > commentary upon this particular 'nAma' of "kAla". So I returned to > the good old commentary of Sri. Parashara Bhattar -- that all-time > classic called "bhagavath-guna-darpana" written in the 11th century > CE and, sure enough, I found the "nAma" of "kAla:" very neatly > explained and amply illumined. > > We all know Time, "kAla", best by its 3 basic dimensions viz. Past, > Present and Future. We know the past and the present through actual > experience. The Future, on the other hand, is like God: It is unknown > and unknowable. The Future is much like God's avatar: The fact is > never in doubt, but the advent is never certain. > > The avatar of God on earth in either a near or distant future is > fact; but the advent of an avatar is uncertain. While no one can say > when an avatar will exactly take place, scriptural authority, like > the 'sruti' or 'smriti', tells us with certainty that an avatar will > take definitely take place sometime in the future. > > The God of the Future is known as 'kalki', the avatara that is yet to > advent upon earth and "samvatsarah" is the name the Sahasranama > gives it in the above stanza. Awaiting the arrival of the right > moment to descend upon earth to make His appearance as Kalki, our > Lord Vishnu is said to be patiently reclining upon the eternal Coil > of Time called "anantha" -- symbolized as Vishnu's Serpent-bed > ("anantha-sayanArudham"). Bhattar also points us to the significance > of the immediately succeeding 'nAmA' i.e. "daksha", which in fact is > alias for Kalki, the avatar of the Future. > > ************************************** > > We know Time by various units of its measurement also -- such as > seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades, > centuries, millennia. The word "samvatsara" in Sanskrit generally > means "year" but in a much larger, Upanishadic sense it refers to all > conceivable but indeterminate units of time > ("samvatsarO'sAvA'dityO..."). Units of time-measurement used in > scientific or digital disciplines, like "nanoseconds" or > "light-years", while they are clearly conceivable are > indeterminable. "Samvatsara:" or "kAla" both denote Time in its vast, > indeterminable form -- the concept of Infinity, for example, > Eternity, Agelessness or Continuum. Since God Almighty Vishnu is also > similarly conceivable but indeterminable, He is said to be "kAla" or > "samvatsarah". > > Another reason why God, according to the Sahasranamam stanza above, > is "kAla": > > The most common index of Time we know is the calendar Year > ("samvatsara:") the period in which planet earth revolves once around > the Sun in 365 days. The calendar-year is identified with the sun > because changes brought about in Nature in the form of the 4 seasons > are through the influence of the sun. This is why God is referred to > (in the Sahasranamam stanza above) as "rituh", meaning that Vishnu > manifests Himself as the 4 ageless seasonal time-zones of the year. > > The 4 seasons, if one reflects upon it, are measures of Time too. > They are not, however, quantitative measures in the same way as > "hours", "days" or "minutes" are. The seasons are rather measures of > Time that are "qualitative" in nature. It is the 4 seasons of the > year which tell us that Time possesses "quality" as much as > "quantity". Through the experience of the 4 seasons we are able to > realize that Time is not altogether a vast, cold, completely neutral, > immeasureable and impersonal entity. > > In olden days villagers in India used to refer to their age not in > number of years but in terms of the number of summers they had > witnessed in life. There was a reason for it. You could hear a > villager say, for example, "Raman is twenty summers older than I. He > has reaped 20 more harvests and he must hence surely be 20 times > wealthier, indeed." Such a statement conveyed a sense of Time far > beyond its measureable dimension. It was meant to convey, more > profoundly, the experience of Time and its "quality" aspects. > > Similarly, while the "nAma" of God such as "samvatsara:" or "kAla" > give us a measure of the sheer Timelessness of God, the "namA" of > "rituh" give us a sense of the quality of the same Timeless Almighty > ("kalyAna-guNa-vibhava"). "vasanta-rituh", for example, is Spring, > "shisira-rituh" is Winter and God is "rituh" Himself because He > possesses some rare and wonderful qualities associated with the > seasons. The Lord is pleasanter than the Spring breeze, more > bountiful than a summer harvest; He is as mellow as the fall and as > invigorating as the tropical winter. > > ******************************* > > Although the Time of allotted life-span ("kAla") gifted to each > individual by God is indeed severely limited in years i.e. in units > of "samvatsarah", there is however plenty of time in it to fill a > lifetime with the rich qualities of "rituh". Our whole life can be > indeed like the 4 rolling seasons -- pleasant, bountiful, varied and > zestful. > > When we look at the lives of great souls like Vyasa, Sankara, Buddha, > Ramanuja, Desika or Ramakrishna Paramahamsa... we realize why our > Time in this world ("kAla") is not to be measured in terms of > quantity or in terms of "samvatsarah:" alone. It must be weighed, > more importantly, on the basis of its quality or "rituh". > > "Lives of great men all remind us > We can make our lives sublime; > And departing leave behind us > Footprints across the sands of Time." > > (H.W.Longfellow) > > ********************** > > Very Important Persons (VIPs), we see around us in life, are > extremely conscious of personal Time. Presidents, Kings, Generals and > CEOs -- the most powerful persons of the world -- lead such hectic > lives they cannot afford to spare much time for ordinary folks like > us. VIPs are business-like, very frugal in giving their Time. (Like > George Bush last week, they are quick to make grave statements such > as "Time is up; game is over", and really mean it too.) Such great > ones of the world have really not much Time for anyone who does not > fall in line with their own purpose, thinking or work. VIPs cannot > wait... They give you no 'second chances'... > > God in the form of "kAla", the greatest VIP of them all, is on the > other hand extremely generous with Time. The Lord is utterly unlike > the most 'powerful' VIP of the world. He is ever willing to ladle out > any amount of Time Man needs. The Lord is willing to wait endlessly > -- not one lifetime but any number of lifetimes -- for Man to redeem > himself, perfect himself and finally come around to Him and ascend > the Kingdom of God. We might say, "I live a kind of life that really > gives me no Time for God or godly matters" but the Lord does not > return that sentiment. He does not say, "Sorry friend, if you have no > time for me, neither do I. So when Time's up for you, it's game over > too!". > > Our Vishnu is ever willing to give us as many 'second chances', a > third and then a fourth even --- as many lifetimes, in fact, as it > takes, and as many as our respective 'karma' dictates. > > It is because God is so lavishly generous with Time -- "kAla" -- that > Vishnu in the Sahasranamam is hailed as "paramEshti parigraha:". > > ********************************** > > The most telling and poignant example of God's generosity with His > "kAla" is in the story of the Ramayana, in the "yuddha-kAnda". > > In the great battle with Ravana, Rama smashes the 'rakshAsa' king's > chariot, armoury, weapons, coat-of-mail, flagstaff and crown. A hush > of silence descends on the battlefield. Ravana stands utterly beaten, > humiliated and defenseless. Everyone watches and waits with bated > breath to see what Rama will do next. Only a single arrow from Rama's > bow is needed to finish off Ravana once and for all, and rid the > world of Evil, for all times to come. > > What does Rama do then ? > > Eyes blazing, the Prince of Ayodhya looks down the shaft of a deadly > arrow aimed straight at Ravana's heart. And Rama says: > > "gacchAnu-jAnAmi raNArdi-tastvam > pravishya rAtrImchara-rAja lankAm I > aashvAsya niryAhi rathI cha dhanvi tadA > balam drakshyasi mE rathasthah:" II > > (Valmiki Ramayanam VI.59.143) > > "I can finish you now, Ravana! But I forbear to send down > another arrow. You have done well today but not well enough. You need > a new chariot, new arms, plenty of rest and refreshment. Go now and > return tomorrow with renewed vigour. I will then show you who I am!". > > It is one of the most poignantly gripping scenes of the > 'yuddha-kAnda'! > > Even in the midst of a raging War the Lord is gracious and > compassionate enough to grant Time. He tells the beaten Ravana to go > away from battle and return in better shape the following day. It was > the 'second chance', the opportunity of "kAla" the Almighty gives > Ravana. It is not so much an opportunity for Ravana to go back and > return with a new chariot or new weapons. The Time granted was really > for Ravana to introspect and reflect upon the folly of his ways. Even > in the heat of pitched battle, the Lord made sure to allow the > 'rAkshasa' benefit of Time, of "kAla", so that it might work its > magic of a probable change-of-heart, of genuine repentance... of a > spiritual course-correction and turn around. > > Not for nothing therefore does the Sahasranamam hail the Lord as > "kAla" > -- the Gracious Giver of Time. > > Regards, > > dAsan, > Sudarshan > > > > > > > Send Flowers for Valentine's Day > > > > > Srirangasri- > > > > Your use of is subject to > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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