Guest guest Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 Dear Narasimha, I read your inspiring/convincing/enlightening words on homam/s/. I believe that we DO need various religious practices, rituals, to keep our ‘fire’, zest, purity, divine energy flow…vibrant and alive- wellbeing in a true sense. For numerous reasons /primarily honesty, I guess?/, your words resonate with my spirit, uplifting it. I envy you on diligent work /and ability/ that has made you so resourceful, having so much to give and giving it selflessly. Thank you very much sincerely, whether you need to hear that or not. However, there has been one thing on my mind for a long time, that you've never expanded /clarified/ on. I think I can feel your uncertainty and ambivalence on gender issue- female capacity, ability, make-up /?/, pre-determination /?/ … for enlivening subtle body, for performing selfless devotional rituals, for spirituality in a broad sense. Let’s see the last one, on homam Yes, you say that M/F are different on gross body level only. But that sounds like an act of ‘political correctness’ when you say that, with no true awareness behind, I mean. /” it makes no sense to have a total ban on women performing homam.”???/ With the serious warnings: risk of increased sexuality /particularly difficult for woman/, danger of spiritual practices during pregnancy /even killing fetus “if the soul in it is not spiritually elevated”! I would always exclude guess-work in this SO important matter! Do you really think that these are not qualifying enough for ‘a total ban’? I don’t say that female-ban is/would be ‘unfair’. In fact, I don’t see any room here for any /rational/ judgment. This is not about feminism, either. I have honestly accepted the ‘ban’ of F-attending church during their menstrual period. Period. I’d just want to hear an honest opinion on this important issue- too important to be ignored and/or polluted by any political stand ‘in vogue’. Thinking the very best for you, your Family and your Guru, Love, Anna --- On Fri, 8/15/08, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr wrote: Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr Re: Manual for "Sri Mahalakshmi Homam" is available now , sohamsa , vedic astrology , , sivacharya Date: Friday, August 15, 2008, 6:32 PM Namaste, My apologies. There were 4 typos in the document and 2 were in mantras. I have corrected. Thanks to those who gave feedback. The latest document can be downloaded from the link below. Best regards,Narasimha------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpanaSpirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdomFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - Narasimha P.V.R. Rao sivacharya@gro ups.com ; ; vedic astrology ; sohamsa@ .com ; Friday, August 15, 2008 8:05 AM Manual for "Sri Mahalakshmi Homam" is available now Namaste friends, As some of you know, a Mahaganapathi homam manual was made available about 2 years back and several people are performing Mahaganapathi homam on a daily or weekly or monthly basis using it. Recently, we made a Chandi homam manual and Sri Krishna Homam manual available. Our goal is to create manuals for homam of several deities so that people can pick the deity they like and do a regular homam. What we want to create is a community of sincere spiritual seekers who regularly worship *a deity* (any) in fire. Now a manual for Sri Mahalakshmi homam is ready on this auspicious day of Sraavana Sukravara with Sravana nakshatra! Tithi (Chaturdasi) , vaara (Sukravara), yoga (Soubhagya) and karana (Vanija) are all owned by Venus right now and Venus has risen just now. Nakshatra is Sravana belonging to Vishnu. The procedure taught in the manual uses 3 mantras for the main fire ritual - Sri Suktam, Mahalakshmi' s 108 names taught by Lord Shiva to Parvati and Mahalaskhmi' s Ashtakam (8 verses) composed by Lord Indra. One can pick the mantra one is most attracted to and try it. If one is unable to pick, I suggest the 108 name prayer taught by Shiva. It is very powerful and appropriate for this age. This homam should take about 45 minutes (less with a smaller count and more with a higher count) and hence it is possible to use this procedure on a daily or weekly or monthly basis. All the mantras needed are given with detailed explanations. The document is appropriate for total novices also. This manual is a self-sufficient document. Mahalakshmi is normally considered the goddess of money. People think that Her homam only gives money and not spiritual progress. However, the truth is that Mahalakshmi takes different forms such as Dhana Lakshmi (wealth), Dhaanya Lakshmi (food), Santana Lakshmi (children) etc and even Moksha Lakshmi, who gives spiritual progress and liberation. Mahalakshmi is the goddess of well-being and prosperity. Wealth is one kind of well-being and spiritual progress is another kind of well-being. Mahalakshmi covers all kinds of well-being. If appropriate mantras are selected for Mahalakshmi homam, it can be great for spiritual progress without sacrificing material well-being. Please download the manual from http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homam/lakshmi. htm Please feel free to spread the word among interested people. Best regards,Narasimha------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpanaSpirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdomFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 20, 2008 Report Share Posted August 20, 2008 Dear members, This is a great discussion! A similar discussion happened on this web group about women and prayers during periods. One may have to take membership to read that which is very easy. Not sure. Perhaps it can be read by a non-member too. Please search around message no. 15660. gayatri_parivar/message/15660 The founder of this organization, Gayatri Pariwar, Pt Sriram Sharmaji, who was a great seer and rishi himself, that the next century, 21st will be the century of women. For almost 50 years this org is training women to not only do spiritual practices in private but also go out and perform homams and the other 16 sanskars in public just like men do. He initiated this openness movement by allowing it publicly for women to do the gayatri mantra which was earlier not allowed by citing the correct vedic literature in its true spirit. He created special women groups who go out travelling and do that. Women not only direct these ceremonies but also hold talks on Dharma and related spiritual matters etc. He had started this way back by asking consenting parents to send their daughters to his ashrams to be raised as spiritually trained 'Dev Kanyas' Divine daughters. This was done inspite of the societal pressure. He has said consistently that the centuries gone by have reduced the status and power of women and now this one will see their power coming back. Even in the vedic days there were women rishis and bramhacharinis like Gargi etc. who chose to pursue the path celestial and if my limited knowledge is true, also contributed to the vedic literature itself. Even in a normal householder situation women had to be included to make the ceremony complete. Rama had to get a gold statue of Sita in his homam. The concept of ardha narishwar was followed in real life. One can't deny though that a lot of damage had been done by practices like Purdah etc. ( in Indian context in what can be called the Indian dark ages) where women weren't even allowed to interact with men in normal social situations. But we are fortunate to live in better times and better even yet to come. May divine mother bless us Thanks Shiv PS: for more info about the involvement of women in the above cited org. please visit www.awgp.org sohamsa , " Maja Strbac " <majastrbacastro wrote: > > Om Gurave Namah > > Dear Lakshmi Ji, namaste > > > There are some points from your previous email: > > " I'm guessing the main reason is that women are considered to be > impure, etc much of the time,,, They have their monthly cycles " > > If God provided us that sacred role on this planet to deliver a > child, than how come that any of those " physiological stages " are > considered as impure? And why? If our bodies are " engineered " by a > Supreme Lord (this is mutual to almost all world wide religions, I > believe you will understand what I mean), than I would like to know > why did women get that " physiology disqualification " at first place. > I would appreciate to finally read that explanation from someone > learned. > > " and with many women giving birth to one child a year, that means > alot of cleaning of chidrens behinds.!!!!!!!!! " > > Is this a must in Kali Yuga all over globe? Is this a must in Kali > Yuga in India? Delivering one child per year? > > " As far as I remember women are supposed to get their shakti and > powers by being chaste and devoted to their husbands. " > > Is this for Satya Yuga or Kali Yuga? If it is for Kali Yuga, can you > please reveal me a big secret: Where are those powerful single male > Brahmins who can provide us female just to sit at home, relax and be > 100% dedicated to motherhood? Because it is surprising to learn that > in Kali Yuga all that women need is a marriage ceremony to a Brahmin > to get emancipation. That easy? If answer is yes, than great. Poor > all those Kali Yuga housewives who take unbearable behavior from > their " other caste " husbands such as " I am the only side > contributing to family budget. You have no rights to object to any > decision I make. " If they only knew that there is alternative out > there somewhere… > > And this is from email that followed previous: > > " It is mistaken projection to think women had a second rate position > in life. If you have read Mahabharata and Ramayana and other > classics you can see women often had very powerful and respected > positions. > In reality anciety Indian society placed great value to > the " mothers " . > Its only as individual people and society got degraded that a womens > position got twisted " > > I find it as contradiction to all copy/paste from your previous > email. Am I wrong? > > It is just that after reading Narasimha's post on this subject I was > not surprised at all with fact that his writings simply " emit " his > great respect to women and their role. It is traditional in India > among educated and learned man. (I am not quite sure, but I believe > that he descendants from a Brahmin family. What a " pedigree " to > write that email when you add that he is also an educated person…) > But I was a little bit surprised when I read your email. Somehow I > did not expect such email from a non Indian descendant woman. > > Sri Sarada Devi and Sri Ramakrishna example is something I believe > you are informed about much more than I am. Can you please tell me > why both Sri Sarada Devi (his wife) and Swami Vivekananda had a > status of disciples if women are impure by birth (and that " starting > spiritual disqualification by birth " )? Was this decision of Sri > Ramakrishna wrong? > > Warm Regards, > Maja > > Hari Om Tat Sat > > > > > > sohamsa , Lakshmi Kary <lakshmikary@> wrote: > > > > Hare Rama Krishna > > Dear Reema, > > Aside from the practical issues with a womens traditional duties, > > I'm guessing the main reason is that women are considered to be > impure, etc > > much of the time,,, > > They have their monthly cycles, > > also > > Considering that a brahman is supposed to take bath after > passing stool... > > ,and with many women giving birth to one child a year, > > that means alot of cleaning of chidrens behinds.!!!!!!!!! > > ...... > > I dont think most women had the time or energy to get into long > pujas. > > As far as I remember women are supposed to get their shakti and > powers by being chaste and devoted to their husbands. > > However ,there are many other ceremonies and pujas that women > participated in so its not like they are excluded all together. > > In reality the children are with the mother most often in their > first impressionable years. > > It is the mother who can instill religious practices in the > children in small ways, > > by offering ghee lamps, incense, prasad etc, so her value as the > childs first guru can not be underestimated. > > anyway im sure you know all these things. > > Lakshmi > > > > > > > > Reema Patel Sriganesh <reema_sriganesh@> wrote: > > || Hare Rama Krushna || > > > > Namaskaar Narasimha Ji, > > > > Your posts are always so much filled with wisdom and spirituality > that it is a soulful pleasure to read them. Thanks, and please keep > them coming (like that current thread on aghora, etc.). > > > > > In the old days, men did so much spiritual sadhana, so many > rituals and so much tapascharya > > > that women did not need to do anything. Just run the house, get > groceries, cook, serve food and > > > your husband builds enough spiritual bank balance for both of > you. > > > > Thanks for giving a background on why women weren't involved in > spiritual rites and saadhana traditionally. It makes sense... > > > > I don't know if it is the impact of being in this yuga, but your > observation is right on. My mother always says that the woman > (Lakshmi of a family) is responsible for upholding Dharma of a > household more than the man. So, Lakshmi is supposed to not only > sustain the family but also uphold dharma (Vishnu) in this yuga, and > the bhaavna to uphold Dharma is inspired by Aadhyaatmikta > (spirituality). If this is indeed the case, all the tools to > increase spirituality - saadhana, homam, etc. - and hence, dharma, > should be made available to women as well. > > > > With best wishes. > > > > May Sri Vishnu bless us all, > > Reema. > > > > sohamsa , " Narasimha P.V.R. Rao " <pvr@> > wrote: > > > > > > Dear Anna, > > > > > > I am glad you asked this. > > > > > > I was not being politically correct in saying that a total ban > makes no sense. On the contrary, I almost decided to unequivocally > assert that everybody interested in spiritual progress can do homam. > Period. But I wanted to be cautious and not take on traditional > orthodoxy head-on. Instead of dismissing fully, I was trying to put > the fundamental reasons in perspective and say that a total ban > makes no sense and push back the responsibility of decision to > individuals. I am sure I will gain confidence with time and be more > assertive. I just need to become ready to take on some karmas in > corner cases. Then I can make that assertion. > > > > > > In the old days, men did so much spiritual sadhana, so many > rituals and so much tapascharya that women did not need to do > anything. Just run the house, get groceries, cook, serve food and > your husband builds enough spiritual bank balance for both of you. > But things are not the same anymore! Most men today are worldly > people and don't do enough spiritual sadhana for themselves, let > alone for their wives! > > > > > > Given this situation, women cannot rely on husbands for > spiritual progress. I believe that women should be allowed to > perform rituals like homam, tarpanam etc for their own spiritual > evolution. I know some ladies who are performing Mahaganapathi homam > using the manual on my website now and enjoying it. > > > > > > The risks I mentioned are only for rare cases and most people > need not worry. The issue about Kundalini rising, getting stuck in > Swadhishthana and tough testing in that area applies to both men and > women. In any case, fire worship with complete surrender to a deity > is quite likely to help one skip over this. The risk about pregnancy > also affects very rare cases. In general, one need not worry. To be > extra-cautious, one can skip serious sadhanas like homam during > pregnancy. Also, women doing homam should stop during the monthly > periods time. > > > > > > After doing homam a few times, most people will only experience > an indescribable calmness and pleasure coming from the cleansing of > various nadis and chakras and resultant extra flow of praana vaayu > in the sookshma sareera. Things like Kundalini awakening and rise do > not happen in most people. Actually, most people talking about > Kundalini flow actually mistake smoother praana vaayu flow for > Kundalini flow. Most yogis do not ever experience the latter. So > most of what I wrote is inapplicable to most people anyway. Let me > not trivialize it though - little bit of praana flowing better > itself is a great experience and one should try for it. > > > > > > When several women contacted me for further clarifications and > asked whether they could do Mahaganapathi homam, I always encouraged > them. The feedback from all of them was very positive. > > > > > > The assertion that men and women are different only at the > sthoola sareera level and the sooksha sareera and kaarana sareera > have no sex is absolutely correct. By the way, men may be reborn as > women and vice versa. > > > > > > Thanks for the kind words. The " resourcefulness " and time are > not really mine. When a king and his minister decide to distribute > some of king's money to people, the minister will summon a servant > to do the work and the servant will take the money to people and > distribute it. But it does not makes him the owner of anything. He > is merely fortunate to be picked for that good karma. Of course, > even the minister will actually say that he too is a servant only > and will say that king is responsible for this action and the money > is really king's. > > > > > > That analogy is perfect here. Of course, if it is not clear, the > Divine Mother is the king, my guru is the minister, I am the servant > and the manuals, writings and private talks I share are the king's > money being distributed. I am not being humble or politically > correct. This is absolutely the only truth. Anything else would > merely be an ignorant fool's delusion. > > > > > > Regarding the practical usefulness of homam, there is no doubt. > I have seen its transformational power with real people in front of > my own eyes. > > > > > > Best regards, > > > Narasimha > > > -------------------------------- > - > > > Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam > > > Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: > http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana > > > Spirituality: > > > Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net > > > Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org > > > Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org > > > -------------------------------- > - > > > > > > sohamsa , 108ar bona_mente@ wrote: > > > > > > > > Dear Narasimha, > > > > > > > > I read your inspiring/convincing/enlightening words on > homam/s/. I believe that we DO need various religious practices, > rituals, to keep our 'fire', zest, purity, divine energy > flow.vibrant and alive- wellbeing in a true sense. For numerous > reasons /primarily honesty, I guess?/, your words resonate with my > spirit, uplifting it. I envy you on diligent work /and ability/ that > has made you so resourceful, having so much to give and giving it > selflessly. Thank you very much sincerely, whether you need to hear > that or not. > > > > > > > > However, there has been one thing on my mind for a long time, > that you've never expanded /clarified/ on. I think I can feel your > uncertainty and ambivalence on gender issue- female capacity, > ability, make-up /?/, pre-determination /?/ . for enlivening subtle > body, for performing selfless devotional rituals, for spirituality > in a broad sense. > > > > > > > > Let's see the last one, on homam > > > > > > > > Yes, you say that M/F are different on gross body level only. > But that sounds like an act of 'political correctness' when you say > that, with no true awareness behind, I mean. / " it makes no sense to > have a total ban on women performing homam. " ???/ With the serious > warnings: risk of increased sexuality /particularly difficult for > woman/, danger of spiritual practices during pregnancy /even killing > fetus " if the soul in it is not spiritually elevated " ! I would > always exclude guess-work in this SO important matter! Do you really > think that these are not qualifying enough for 'a total ban'? > > > > > > > > I don't say that female-ban is/would be 'unfair'. In fact, I > don't see any room here for any /rational/ judgment. This is not > about feminism, either. I have honestly accepted the 'ban' of F- > attending church during their menstrual period. Period. > > > > I'd just want to hear an honest opinion on this important > issue- too important to be ignored and/or polluted by any political > stand 'in vogue'. > > > > > > > > Thinking the very best for you, your Family and your Guru, > > > > > > > > Love, > > > > > > > > Anna > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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