Attn. Sreenadh ji- Ravana's Contributions

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Dear Sanjay Sharma ji, There must be more than one book with the same name. The book with the same name "Arka Prakasham" I am speaking is on astrology and is in the form of a conversation between Ravana and Manododary. Love and regards,Sreenadh , Monica Devgun <monicadevgun wrote:>> Dear Sreenadh Ji,> Sorry for interjecting in your discussions but the book title "Arka Prakasham" caught my attention. I have gone through the book. I don't know if there are more than one book with the same title, but the one that I read deals with the ayurvedic formulations where in the distillate (ark) of various formulations have been mentioned for various ailments. I came across various kind of formulations mentioned for vashikaran also in the same, but no mention of any astrology related subject. > Warm Regards,> Dr. Sanjay Sharma> > Sreenadh sreesog wrote:> Dear Bhaskar ji,> //> In the wordly sense Ravana was a rascal King who used his powers to> > capture a wife of another King through foul means,//> May be this is something even I may do (actually I may go even further), if my sister's breast and nose are cut by someone! But why don't we remember that Ravana kept Sita in Asoka vatika and didn't sexually abused her, even though it was possible for him? But Rama! He later abandand Sita in the forest just because due to the fear of public blame, and didnot listen to the words of his own atma! In camparison Sita incident, what Rama and his sena did to Ravana's wife? They unclothed her like the Dussanas of Mahabharata just to prevent Ravana from conducting his Tantric worship! Which side we should take?! And a suiside in Sarayu at the end! With full respect to the ethics lessons Rama gave and the adive on sticking to the tradition, I don't usually find him in tune with my own soul. That is not my path! But in contrast the life loving Krishna and God Siva attracts me much - the mother godesses (Kali, Durga, Sarasvati etc) as well. May be it is all personal choices and> differences and that is why the Hindu religion provides us with thousands of daities! > //> Whatever it may be, he did wrong in the eyes of public, so he is not a> > good Idol.//> For me this is true for both Rama and Ravana - and both of them won't be my Idol; But both of them were so great that I always have some lessons to learn from all such stories and great individuals. I am happy to think that I am born in a land walked by such great individuals, and a place where such a great epics (great literary works) were written. > //> Now considering his good assets in his character , lik knowledge of> > shastras and his control over the NavGrahas through his powers, or his> > knowledge of astrology and allied sciences, we would not mind in> > accepting his good facets, and learning from same. we also respect his> > good virtues of learning he possessed while ignoring his lust for> > another mans wife .//> True - I agree. Well Said! > //> So how do we learn now ? You have mentioned his good areas. But we need> > the scanned books mentioned by Your goodself so that we can proceed to> > studying the same and making use of it.> > > > I had long back been offered the "Ravana Samhita ' for over Rs.2000 and> > above, but my hatred for Ravana did not allow me to buy it. Now getting> > more mature by age, I do not mind reading the same, if it is offered> > again.> > > > So please let us have access to this knowledge whenever you are able to.//> I think the verious versions of Ravana Samhita (Uddisa Mahatantra) is available for lesser praise now. But why do you need Ravana Samhita when it is a book on Tantra and NOT astrology? (Please refer to my words on Ravana Samhita in the first post of this thread). Actually to know about Ravana's contribution to astrology the text we should search for is "Arka Prakasham" (talk between Ravana and Mandodary). Even though this book is available (published), I am yet to see or get a copy of this book. As about Ravana's contributions to other subjects - People interested in Tantra can purchase a copy of Uddisa Mahatantra (Ravana Samhita), people interested in dovotion can read Siva Tandava stotra (available in the files section of this group as well), Jata and pada padha etc are all vedic Siksha vedanga related things, about the music and ayurveda related contributinos some with hands on experience on those subjects should provide us more info (I am yet to see Ravana's book> on Ayurveda as well, even though that too seems to be published and available).> With the reference provided by Souvik ji about Kursija ji's articles it seems that there are poeople in gruop with other versions of Ravana Samhita with them (different from the copy I have), which also contains some astrological content as well. So we can also wait and listen to know - what they have to say about Ravana's contribution to astrology as well.> Love and regards,> Sreenadh> > , "Bhaskar" bhaskar_jyotish@ wrote:> >> > > > Dear Sreenadhji and all,> > > > Let us get one point clear.> > > > In the wordly sense Ravana was a rascal King who used his powers to> > capture a wife of another King through foul means, and without consent> > of the women whom he captured. This is not acceptable by any means. So> > he looses total respect on this count.> > > > ( Now this is another matter that he knew that he was given a boon not> > to be killed by anybody other than a human being, and he was fed up of> > Long Life and wanted to be killed by lord Rama whom he knew was the> > Actual Supreme God in human form, so he decided voluntarily to play foul> > to be killed by Him )> > > > ( Or he knew that Sita was his daughter ( ??) and by capturing her, he> > would be killed by lord Rama and gain Moksha (??) )> > > > ( Or maybe the above observations are totally wrong and he was actually> > a rascal King who got enamoured by Sitas beauty and tried to gain her )> > > > Whatever it may be, he did wrong in the eyes of public, so he is not a> > good Idol.> > > > Now considering his good assets in his character , lik knowledge of> > shastras and his control over the NavGrahas through his powers, or his> > knowledge of astrology and allied sciences, we would not mind in> > accepting his good facets, and learning from same. we also respect his> > good virtues of learning he possessed while ignoring his lust for> > another mans wife .> > > > So how do we learn now ? You have mentioned his good areas. But we need> > the scanned books mentioned by Your goodself so that we can proceed to> > studying the same and making use of it.> > > > I had long back been offered the "Ravana Samhita ' for over Rs.2000 and> > above, but my hatred for Ravana did not allow me to buy it. Now getting> > more mature by age, I do not mind reading the same, if it is offered> > again.> > > > So please let us have access to this knowledge whenever you are able to.> > > > best wishes,> > > > Bhaskar.> > > > > > , ShankaraBharadwaj> > Khandavalli shankarabharadwaj@ wrote:> > >> > > Dear Sreenadh ji,> > >> > > Yes of course! I enjoyed it.> > >> > > A little more:> > > 1. Ravana arranged one of the different versions fo Mahannyasa (the> > other famous one is by Baudhayana).> > >> > > 2. Ravana created the "jata" method of chanting. This is one of the> > different methods like ghana, jata, pada.> > >> > >> > > 3. "Asuric" and "Brahminical" are not two opposing. In fact Ravana> > represents the "brahminical" method more.> > >> > > 4. "Vedic" and "Asuric" aspects are explained quite well in Uttara> > Kanda of Ramayana, where Ravana admonishes Indrajit saying he better> > does Tapas for the grace of Brahma/Rudra than please Indra/etc with> > Yajna. By contrast Indrajit performs the sacrifice that eventually gives> > him the capability to defeat Indra. In the battle it is Indrajit who> > actually defeats Indra while others find it difficult to match him. So> > the whole thing boils down to dharma-karma-yajna vs tapas approach. The> > latter is the "brahminical" method, the former is the grhastha-kshatriya> > version. The "Asuric" is not specifically any of these, they follow> > anything - the fundamental difference is in the understanding of Dharma,> > that is all.> > >> > > Shankar> > >> > >> > >> > > ________________________________> > > Sreenadh sreesog@> > > > > > Sunday, March 15, 2009 10:43:50 PM> > > Ravana's Contributions> > >> > >> > > Dear All,> > > Now a days the text "Uddisa Maha Tantra" is getting sold in the market> > with the name "Ravana Samhita" and that too for a big price. So I> > thought a small write-up about the contributions of Ravana will not be> > out of place. So here it is -> > > ============ ========= ========= ========= =====> > > Ravana's Contributions> > >> > > Ravana the ancient king of Lanka was well known for his knowledge and> > contributions. The Sri Lankans have a high regard for Ravana, and the> > archaeological evidences thought to be supporting the existence of> > Ravana in Sri Lanka is still available. In that ancient past India,> > Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Central Russia, Afghanistan, Singapore, Cambodia,> > Malesia, Indonesia, Bali etc were all part of the single Hindu culture> > with minor differences only. The Tantric and Vedic religions where> > keeping their head high with their contributions. Don't ask me which is> > this ancient past you are speaking about - I don't have a date to> > specify. The only thing I know is that this period was after the advent> > of Sanskrit language and literature, after the advent of Vedas.> > > Even though a Tantric, and a supporter of Asura religion (Iranian Ahur> > Mazda/Asura Medha tradition?), Ravana knew the Vedas and was ardent> > worshiper of God Siva. He was obsessed with the devotion towards Siva> > (lord Mahakala) that in every work of his (i.e Ravana's) we can find the> > stamps of his devotion to Siva. His contribution to both Vedic and> > Tantric religion was excellent and should be remembered even for the> > generations to come. The same should be told about his contribution to> > Music, Ayurveda and Astrology as well. I will try to provide a brief> > info about his available contributions.> > > 1) Pada Padha of Rigveda (Vedic)> > > ------------ --------- --------- --------- -> > > It is believed that it was Ravana who prepared the Pada padha of> > Rigveda. Considering the complexity of Jada padha etc it should be said> > that in the absence of proper Pada Padha the whole of Rigvedic knowledge> > would have been lost. If the Rigvedic text and knowledge is still> > available today, then definitely it is indebted to "Pada padha of> > Rigveda" supposed to have been prepared by Ravana. I wonder whether the> > ardent opposers of Ravana and the Saiva and Asura traditions he stood> > for, know this or not. These are the Vedic supporters, the supporters of> > Rama and Vaishnavite tradition who find pleasure in abusing Ravana and> > the Saiva, Asura traditions. If they were aware of Ravana's contribution> > to the present survival of even the Vedic brahmanical religion, they> > would not have abused him this much!> > > 2) Uddisa Mahatantra (Tantric)> > > ------------ --------- --------- --------- -> > > Similarly valuable is Ravana's contribution to Tantric religion, as> > evident from Uddisa mahatantra which is now being sold with the name> > 'Ravana Samhita'. This is a book that deals with Tantric knowledge and> > Shadkarma sadhana. Don't get cheated by the new name i.e. Ravana Samhita> > given to it by some publishers to increase its sale. This books is NOT> > about astrology and not about Samhita branch of astrology (i.e. medini> > jyotisha alias mundane astrology) at all, but about Tantra. This is a> > well known book in Tantric literature known from ancient past itself. If> > only you are interested in ancient Tantric systems and Shadkarma, then> > only buy this book; otherwise it won't be of much use to you. Anyway,> > Uddisa Maha Tantra is a good book on Tantra and Shadkarma sadhana.> > > 3) Arka Prakasham (Astrology)> > > ------------ --------- --------- --------> > > Ravana's contribution to astrology (or Ravana's tradition of> > astrology) is visible in the ancient text 'Arka Prakasha' written as a> > conversation between Ravana and Mandodari. It is written as a> > question-answer between King Ravana and his revered wife Mandodari. This> > text is available and can give a good idea about the astrological> > development during the period of Ravana. This text mainly deals with> > Horory astrology.> > > 4) Nadi Pareeksha (Ayurveda)> > > ------------ --------- --------- -------> > > There is a well known book in Ayurvdea that deals with Nadi pariksha> > (measurement of heartbeat and breath pattern and thus judging the> > diseases). I am yet to see this book, but it is said that this book is> > available even today.> > > 5) Siva Tandava Stotra (Tantric Devotion)> > > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----> > > Siva Tandava Stotra is very popular. This great rhythmic prayer to> > Siva is available in the files section of this group as well. This> > single most literary contribution is enough to keep Ravana in popular> > memory for long. I love this poem - it is so beautiful and soul> > enriching!> > > 6) Music (Karnatic Music)> > > ------------ --------- --------- --> > > In Karnatic music, Ravana is treated as the originator of some Ragas.> > It is certain that Ravana's knowledge about Music and its technicalities> > was excellent. It is said the 10 heads> > > portrayed to Ravana is symbolic of his versatility in many fields of> > > knowledge and may be especially music (Das kandha = the one with 10> > > types of voices).> > >> > > 7) Valmiki Ramayana about Ravana> > > ------------ --------- --------- --------- ------> > > At the end Valmiki Ramayana quotes about Ravana and the words and> > philosophy of Ravana as quoted in Valmiki Ramayana becomes another> > excellent source of study the excellent contributions to art, culture,> > and knowledge by this great soul who walked this very earth.> > > A systematic study of all the above material collected together and> > > presented well in a systematic manner would be a great contribution> > not> > > only to the authentic contributions of this great soul, but also much> > > useful to astrology. Let us hope that some body will do it in near> > future.> > > ============ ========= ========= ========= =====> > > Hope you enjoyed this simple write-up. > > > Love and regards,> > > Sreenadh> > >> >>