RE: Digest Number 35

[Guest guest]

Respected Sri Velukkudi Swamin,

 

I have a very basic doubt rolling in my mind since longtime...

 

Last year I had been to "Pancha Dwaraka" Kshetram Yathrai. As per

Geographical hirearchy people over there beleve Bhagavan Sri Krishana lived

exactly 5100 years ago. They also say Sri Rama lived some 11,000 years ago

(Threta yugam).

 

Now I have some basic doubt's in this regard, they are:

 

1. Kali yuga is considered to be the shortest of all yugas. Now, when the

difference between Threta yuga and Dwapara yuga is hardly 6,000 years

(11,000-5,100)then in that case we have already past through 5,100 years in

this kali yuga ?

 

2. I would like to know what is "Sandhi Kalam" (a time gap between each

yugam)and how does it differs for each yugam.

 

3. I framed some of the above doubts to an elderly scholared person, he said

Dwapara Yuga passed 1,05,000 ago. 5,000 years as per kala dharman and

1,00,000 years of "Sandhi Kalam". And Threta yugam passed more than 3,00,000

years ago.

 

4. AvataraMurthi Sri Parashu Rama lived both, in Threta Yuga(tested sri rama

when he broke Shiva Dhanushu to marry sita devi) and Dwapara yuga (was guru

to Karna). Had he lived in both yugas? I mean more than 6,000 years (My

doubt is not about Sri Parashu Rama can live so long years, but is it 6,000

years or some lakhs of years)

 

I would like to clarify, what is duration period for each yuga. How this

cycle repeats and how many cycles make one maha yuga ?

 

Do SriMann Naryana preach "Bhagavath Gita" in every cycle of yuga for the

benefit of Jivathmas to show them the path to reach him.

 

Please pardon me and correct me if I have framed a wrong question or a Vague

doubt, it is out of my curiosity and keenness to avoid mystification.

 

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan,

 

Kazhiyur Mannar Shantha Kumar

 

 

 

Thu, 20 Sep 2001 22:35:37 +0530

"Velukkudi Krishnan" <velukkudi

Introduction to gIta (target group - children)

 

Dear bhagavatas,

In an attempt to give our treasure gItA to children, first I give below an

introduction. Slowly, with the grace of Ramanuja I plan to write the meaning

of each sloka as per visishtAdvaita philosophy. Kindly make your children

read this. It may be below your standard which is wantedly kept so. Pls

encourage your children to ask questions in this forum. After clearing all

those only we would go to the next sloka. Let them ask till they are clear.

You can also help them in asking their doubts.

Srimad Bhagavad Gita

 

BACKGROUND:

 

One of the most important treasures of India, Srimad Bhagavad Geeta, is a

part of sri Mahabharata. Vedas are the source of true and in depth knowledge

for human race. Vedas are of two parts: Poorva Kaanda and Uttara Kaanda.

Poorva Kaanda deals with the Karma (rituals) and Uttara Kaanda (Upanishads

or vedanta) deals with the knowledge on Brahman. Vedas are eternal. Since

they are very difficult to be understood, the Maharishis helped us by

supplementing it with Smritis, Itihasas and Puranas

 

Birth of Geetha:

 

In Kurukshethra, the battle field, the Kauravas (Duryodhana and Brothers)

and the Pandavas (Yudishtra and brothers) were on both sides to start the

battle. Krishna, the cowherd incarnation of Sriman Narayana, was the

charioteer of Arjuna. Krishna started preaching Geetha to Arjuna to clear

his doubts just before the war. This was in Dwaparayuga, the third of the

four yugas. We are now in Kaliyuga, the fourth yuga. It is now 5100 years

since the beginning of Kali yuga. When Krishna ascended

 

"sarvOpanishadO gAva: dOgdhA gOpAla nandana: !

 

pArthO vatsa: sudhIrbhOkta dugdham gItAmrutam mahat!!"

 

"All the upanishads took the form of a cow, the cowherd knowing the art of

milking was Krishna himself, Arjuna represents the calf, without which a cow

will not give us milk. We - the knowledge mongers are the one to enjoy the

milk, and finally the elixir like milk is - gIta. "GIta is a discussion

between Arjuna and Krishna. This discussion is repeated as a running

commentary by Sanjaya to Drtarashtra. This discussion is an integral part of

Mahabharata which itself is a discussion between janamEjaya and

vaisampAyana.

 

Need of Geetha:

 

Arjuna, just before the war, found all his relatives, gurus and friends on

the opposite side. It is by killing them that he has to regain his lost

kingdom. Arjuna being a satvik, with pious qualities, did not like that. He

thought, to kill them is a sin. So he laid down his bow and arrow, refusing

to fight. He asked Krishna to advise him of what is good to him. Krishna,

the well wisher of this whole universe, took pity on the confused and grief

filled Arjuna. He unveiled Geetha and directed arjuna to do his duty -

fight.

 

Gist of Geetha:

 

Yamunacharya's (Alavandar) famous "gItArtha Sangraham" gives the gist of

gIta in one verse.

 

"svadharma gnAna vairAgya sAdhya bhakthi eka gocara: !

 

nArayana: param brahma gItA sAstrE samIrita: !!"

 

One who performs his prescribed duty, with full knowledge of himself and his

master, without desire in worldly pleasures, reaches the stage to practice

Bhakthi yoga. By Bhakthi yoga one can please Narayana and reach Him. So it

is our objective (to reach and serve our master) and means to achieve it

(Bhakthi yoga) that is explained in gItA. Narayana, the supreme Lord, (whom

we have to reach) His nature and qualities are iterated in gIta.

 

gItA is divided into three hexads (shatkam). The first six chapters deals

with Karma and gnAna yoga which are required for realising the jIvAtma.

After realising the jIvatma, one goes to realise his master paramAtma. Once

he knows the greatness of Paramatma, he wants to reach him. The second six

chapters deals with the unparalleled mastery of Krishna and Bhakthi yoga,

which is to be practiced to reach Lord krishna. The last six again explains

about, atma, paramatma and three yogas.

 

(to continue later)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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