Guest guest Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 hello , and diwali wishes to the respected members of this group ! i am trying to understand the symbolism and meaning associated with being reborn in the same life time . all references to dwijata on the internet lead me to the upanayanam cermony and the rites/ rituals associated with the twice-born varnas . am i getting the terminology mixed up ? in one's spiritual journey , does this have special symbolism ? thanks -raji Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Namaste: The general answer that are provided with respect to the symbolism is similar to the one available in the following Website which provides some excerpts from " Hindu Mythology: Hinduism Mythology and Symbols " by Swami Sivanandaji. http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/HinduMythology/id/23107 Specifically the section - Significance Of The Sacred Thread, explains the symbolism and I have reproduced the first paragraph. The site contains more details for interested readers: " Yajnopavita or the sacred thread is worn by the Brahmins, Kshatriyas and the Vaisyas. Wearing the sacred thread is a very holy and sacred ceremony amongst the Hindus. Brahmin boys between the ages of five and eight are invested with the sacred thread on a very auspicious day. By this ceremony, they become fit for the repetition of Gayatri. A Brahmin becomes a true Brahmin only after this ceremony. It is said: - Janmana Jayate Sudrah Karmana Jayate Dvijah - By birth one is a Sudra; by Karma (i.e., the investiture with the sacred thread) he becomes a Dvija or Brahmin. - Upanayana or thread ceremony is the second birth; hence, the Brahmins are called Dvijas (Dvija means - born twice -). " From the spiritual point of view, this symbolism has deep meaning. The events of birth and death are illusions due to our ignorance of our True Identity. One becomes a Dvija when one recognizes one's ultimate goal of life - God Realization. Without this recognization, we are all Sudras (those living without the recognition of the goal of liberation). Sankaracharya provides the importance of taking human life through his treatise on Vivekachoodamani. Here is verse #3: 3. durlabhaà trayamevaitaddevänugrahahetukam manuñyatvaà mumukñutvaà mahäpuruñasaàçrayaù Manhood, burning desires for liberation, the capacity to surrender completely to a man of wisdom and these things are rare indeed. Wherever they are found, they are due to the Lord's own Grace. In conclusion, from the spiritual point of view, Dvija signifies " the burning desires for liberation. " With my warmest regards, Ram Chandran advaitin , " rajalakshmi13 " <rajalakshmi.iyer wrote: > > i am trying to understand the symbolism and meaning associated with > being reborn in the same life time . all references to dwijata on the > internet lead me to the upanayanam cermony and the rites/ rituals > associated with the twice-born varnas . am i getting the terminology > mixed up ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Dear Ram Chandran, I remember to have read the shloka as follows: "janmanA jAyate shUdrah; samskArAt dvija uchyate; vEdavittu viprah; brahmavid brAhmanah" Here Upanayanam is one of the samskAras out of 16 (shOdasha) standard samskArAs, from birth to death. This samskAra gives second birth. garbhAdAna is the first and AntyEsTi is the last samskAra. However from the stand point of advaita and according to adhyAsa bhAshya of Sri Shankara, all samskArAs are due to AdhyAsa (avidyA) only. I solicit more opinions on this view. Best regards Subrahmanya UH - Ram Chandran advaitin Monday, October 27, 2008 1:21 PM Re: rebirth / born again ? Namaste:The general answer that are provided with respect to the symbolism is similar to the one available in the following Website which provides some excerpts from "Hindu Mythology: Hinduism Mythology and Symbols" by Swami Sivanandaji. http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/HinduMythology/id/23107Specifically the section - Significance Of The Sacred Thread, explains the symbolism and I have reproduced the first paragraph. The site contains more details for interested readers:"Yajnopavita or the sacred thread is worn by the Brahmins, Kshatriyas and the Vaisyas. Wearing the sacred thread is a very holy and sacred ceremony amongst the Hindus. Brahmin boys between the ages of five and eight are invested with the sacred thread on a very auspicious day. By this ceremony, they become fit for the repetition of Gayatri. A Brahmin becomes a true Brahmin only after this ceremony. It is said: - Janmana Jayate Sudrah Karmana Jayate Dvijah - By birth one is a Sudra; by Karma (i.e., the investiture with the sacred thread) he becomes a Dvija or Brahmin. - Upanayana or thread ceremony is the second birth; hence, the Brahmins are called Dvijas (Dvija means - born twice -)."From the spiritual point of view, this symbolism has deep meaning. The events of birth and death are illusions due to our ignorance of our True Identity. One becomes a Dvija when one recognizes one's ultimate goal of life - God Realization. Without this recognization, we are all Sudras (those living without the recognition of the goal of liberation). Sankaracharya provides the importance of taking human life through his treatise on Vivekachoodamani.Here is verse #3:3. durlabhaà trayamevaitaddevänugrahahetukam manuñyatvaà mumukñutvaà mahäpuruñasaàçrayaù Manhood, burning desires for liberation, the capacity to surrender completely to a man of wisdom and these things are rare indeed. Wherever they are found, they are due to the Lord's own Grace. In conclusion, from the spiritual point of view, Dvija signifies "the burning desires for liberation." With my warmest regards,Ram Chandranadvaitin , "rajalakshmi13" <rajalakshmi.iyer wrote:>> i am trying to understand the symbolism and meaning associated with > being reborn in the same life time . all references to dwijata on the > internet lead me to the upanayanam cermony and the rites/ rituals > associated with the twice-born varnas . am i getting the terminology > mixed up ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 advaitin , " subramanya.uh " <subramanya.uh wrote: > However from the stand point of advaita and according to adhyAsa bhAshya of Sri Shankara, all samskArAs are due to AdhyAsa (avidyA) only. > I solicit more opinions on this view. > Best regards > Subrahmanya UH Dear Subrahmanya-ji, Not only samskaras but even the study of the upanishads is possible only when there is identification with the BMI, i.e., adhyasa. So Shri Shankara says in the Adhyasabhashya that even the scriptures relating to liberation (mokshaparANi sAstrANi) are within the realm of avidya. For one who has attaine realization there is no need for even the upanishads. S.N.Sastri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 List Moderators' Note: Members are once again reminded that they should not enclose all the previous posters' messages while sending their reply. Please keep the minimum for quick reference and the rest of messages can be read directly from the archives! Thanks again for your cooperation. ==================== Two birds; one only watches and the other performs actions and eats the bitter and sweet fruit, the results of its actions. Every night, in deep sleep, the second bird merges in the arms of the first bird: " For , like as one whom a beloved woman embraces, has no conciousness of what is without or what is within, so also the Spirit, embraced by the Self of knowledge (Brahman), has no conciousness of what is within or what is without. From the point of view of the first bird, there is no birth no death, no creation, no dissolution; from the point of view of the second bird there is birth, death, rebirth, creation, dissolution... But both birds are within you and you are both birds (sort of)... reality and shadow... Depends on which way you look... your point of view... which bird you identify with at the moment... advaitin , " subramanya.uh " <subramanya.uh wrote: > > Dear Ram Chandran, > I remember to have read the shloka as follows: > > " janmanA jAyate shUdrah; samskArAt dvija uchyate; > vEdavittu viprah; brahmavid brAhmanah " > > Here Upanayanam is one of the samskAras out of 16 (shOdasha) standard samskArAs, from birth to death. This samskAra gives second birth. garbhAdAna is the first and AntyEsTi is the last samskAra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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