Guest guest Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 Happy Pongal and Makara Sankranti Dear Bhaagavatas: On behalf of the members of the Board of Advisory Consultants (BAC) and Internal Resource Panel (IRP) of Swami Desika Darsana Satsangam (SDDS) and Sri Ranga Sri (SRS) E Journal and on our own behalf, we wish you all a very happy, prosperous Pongal and Makara Sankranti in this Sarvajit year. "Pongum MangaLam yengum Thanguga!" May the "Pongal TirunaaL" shower on all of us an era of rich harvest, peace, plenty and prosperity in the days ahead. May the real "Thanksgiving day" to the Surya Bhagavaan bless us with mutual understanding and co-operation in spreading Bhagavad Ramanuja - Swami Desika Sampradayam and greater opportunities for our "kainkarya Sri" to the Divya Dhampathis, Acharyas and Bhaagavatas. Let us sink our differences, if any, and work in unison towards this goal. Daasaa: Anbil Ramaswamy and V. Madhava Kannan Moderators Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Dear moderators, Wish you all a very happy Pongal and Makara (for namesake only)Sankranti; also especially the traditional start of uttarayaNa punyakaalam. I take this oppprtunity to present the verses from Bhagavadgita chapter 8, pertaining to the departing yogis in Uttaryana and Dakshinaayana periods: BG VIII-23 Now I will tell you, O’ Best of the descendents of bha-ra-ta, at what times disciplined men (yo-gis), departing(dying) go forth never to return or to return again. BG VIII-24 Realized souls (Knowers of bra-hman/yo-gis) who depart (die) during the six months following winter solstice (u-tta-rA-ya-Nam six months), symbolic of dazzling white daylight, go forth to bra-hman (reach the Absolute) BG VIII-25 A yo-gi who departs (dies) during the six months following summer solstice (da-kSHi-NA-ya-nam six months), symbolic of hazy dark night, attains the lunar light and he is born again. Note 1: This may sound discriminatory, but actually, this plan assures that there will always be some realized souls around to guide others. We have numerous evidences in our tradition for ashikSHita paTus or Ajanma siddhas (in-born realization). Note 2: da-kSHi-NA-ya-nam is night for devas (celestials) which is symbolized by lunar light. BG VIII-26 Indeed, the bright and the dark have ever been the two paths of this world. One leads to a state of no return, whereas the other leads to rebirth. BG VIII-27 pA-rtha! No yo-gi who knows these two paths is ever deluded. Therefore you be ever established in yo-ga, O’ a-rju-na! The corresponding original verses with word for word meaning are as follows: ya-tra kA-le tva-nA-vR-ttim A-vR-ttim chai-va yo-gi-nah | pra-yA-tA yA-nti tam kA-lam va-kSHyA-mi bha-ra-ta-rSHa-bha ||VIII-23|| ya-tra (where, whither) kA-le (in time) tu (but, indeed) a-nA-vR-ttim (non-return, not turning back) A-vR-ttim (return, turning back) cha (and) e-va (indeed, even) yo-gi-nah (disciplined/realized/liberated souls, yo-gis, knowers) | pra-yA-tAh (departing) yA-nti (they go, go to) tam (that, this) kA-lam (time) va-kSHyA-mi (I shall speak, I will tell, I shall declare) bha-ra-ta-rSHa-bha (Bull among the descendents of bha-ra-ta, O Best of the descendents of bha-ra-ta!) ||VIII-23|| Now I will tell you, O Best of the descendents of bha-ra-ta, at what times disciplined men (yo-gis), departing(dying) go forth never to return or to return again (BG VIII-23)|| a-gni-rjyo-ti-ra-hah shu-klah SHa-NmA-sA u-tta-rA-ya-Nam | ta-tra pra-yA-tA ga-chcHa-nti bra-hma bra-hma-vi-do ja-nAh ||VIII-24|| a-gnih (fire, glow, blaze, brilliancy) jyo-tih (light, bright) a-hah (day) shu-klah (white, pure) SHa-NmA-sAh (six months) u-tta-rA-ya-Nam (upper going of the sun, the northern phase of the sun, during the apparent northward path of the sun, northern solstice, six months following the winter solstice) | ta-tra (there) pra-yA-tAh (departing, dying) ga-chcHa-nti (they go, they attain) bra-hma (bra-hman, the Eternal, God, the Absolute) bra-hma-vi-dah (bra-hman knowing, knowers of bra-hman, the realized souls, who know the Eternal, knowers of God, knowers of the Absolute, self-less souls) ja-nAh (people, men) ||VIII-24|| Realized souls (knowers of bra-hman/yo-gis) who depart (die) during the six months following winter solstice (u-tta-rA-ya-Nam six months), symbolic of dazzling white daylight, go forth to bra-hman (reach the Absolute) (BG VIII-24)|| dhU-mo rA-tri-sta-thA-kR-SHNah SHa-NmA-sA da-kSHi-NA-ya-nam | ta-tra chA-ndra-ma-sam jyo-tih yo-gI prA-pya ni-va-rta-te ||VIII-25|| dhU-mah (smoke, fog) rA-trih (night) ta-thA (also, thus, so, and) kR-SHNah (dark, black) SHa-NmA-sAh (six months) da-kSHi-NA-ya-nam (the southern path of the sun, during the apparent southward path of the sun, southern solstice, six months following the summer solstice) | ta-tra (there) chA-ndra-ma-sam (lunar) jyo-tih (light) yo-gI (yo-gin, the yo-gi, disciplined/realized/liberated soul, knower) prA-pya (having attained/reached) ni-va-rta-te (he returns, he turns back, he is born again) ||VIII-25|| A yo-gi who departs (dies) during the six months following summer solstice (da-kSHi-NA-ya-nam six months), symbolic of hazy dark night, attains the lunar light and he is born again. Note 1: This may sound discriminatory, but actually, this plan assures that there will always be some realized souls around to guide others. We have numerous evidences in our tradition for ashikSHita paTus or Ajanma siddhas (in-born realization). Note 2: da-kSHi-NA-ya-nam is night for devas (celestials) which is symbolized by lunar light (BG VIII-25). shu-kla kR-SHNe ga-tI hye-te ja-ga-tah shA-shva-te ma-te | e-ka-yA yA-tya-nA-vR-ttim a-nya-yA-(a)va-rta-te pu-nah ||VIII-26|| shu-kla kR-SHNe (black and white, bright and dark, light and dark) ga-tI [(two) paths] hi (verily, indeed) e-te (these two, these) ja-ga-tah (of the universe, of the world) shA-shva-te (eternal, perpetual) ma-te (are thought to be, accepted, held) | e-ka-yA (by one) yA-ti (he goes, one goes, one attains) a-n;-vO-i†;mè a-nA-vR-ttim (to non-return) a-nya-yA (by the other) a-va-rta-te (he returns, he turns back)) pu-nah (again, once more) ||VIII-26|| Indeed, the bright and the dark have ever been the two paths of this world. One leads to a state of no return, whereas the other leads to rebirth (BG VIII-26). nai-te sR-tI pA-rtha jA-nan yo-gI mu-hya-ti ka-shcha-na | ta-smA-tsa-rve-SHu kA-le-SHu yo-ga-yu-kto bha-vA-rju-na ||VIII-27|| na (not) e-te (these) sR-tI (two paths) pA-rtha [son of pR-tha (refers to a-rju-na)] jA-nan (knowing) yo-gI (yo-gin, the yo-gi, disciplined/realized/liberated soul, knower) mu-hya-ti (he is deluded) ka-shcha-na (anyone, at all, ever, in any way)| ta-smAt (therefore, from this) sa-rve-SHu (at all, in all) kA-le-SHu (times) yo-ga-yu-ktah (steadfast, united to yo-ga, yoked, disciplined) bha-va (be!) a-rju-na (a-rju-na) ||VIII-27|| pA-rtha! No yo-gi who knows these two paths is ever deluded. Therefore you be ever established in yo-ga, O a-rju-na! (BGVIII-27). THUS EVEN a YOGI has a limitation for Mokasham! May never attain, if th eYOGI keeps departing in Dakshinayanam!! May be this is to ensure there will always be realized souls to guide others!!! This may be the reason that many of our pUrvAchAryAs, who certainly were Yogis did not want to take any chances and did prapatti as well as stated that a sthe ONLY WAY (for one way ticket) I suppose. sa-rva-dha-rmAn pa-ri-tya-jya mA-me-kam sha-ra-Nam vra-ja | a-ham tvA sa-rva pA-pe-bhyo mo-kSHa-yi-SHyA-mi mA shu-chah ||xviii-66|| sa-rva-dha-rmAn (all dha-rmas/duties/supports/paths/teachings) pa-ri-tya-jya (abandoning, relinquishing) mAm (Me, to Me, in Me) e-kam (alone, one) sha-ra-Nam (refuge) vra-ja (take) | a-ham (I) tvA (you) sa-rva pA-pe-bhyah (from all evils/wrongs) mo-kSHa-yi-SHyA-mi (I shall release/liberate, I will liberate, I shall cause to be released) mA shu-chah (do not or never grieve) ||xviii-66|| Abandoning all (other) dha-rmas, take refuge in Me alone; I will liberate you from all sins; do not grieve! (BG xviii-66) dAsan K.S. tAtAchAr Ram Anbil <Ramanbil Mon, 14 Jan 2008 3:55 pm Happy Pongal and Makara Sankranti Happy Pongal and Makara Sankranti  Dear Bhaagavatas:  On behalf of the members of the Board of Advisory Consultants (BAC) and Internal Resource Panel (IRP) of Swami Desika Darsana Satsangam (SDDS) and Sri Ranga Sri (SRS) E Journal and on our own behalf, we wish you all a very happy, prosperous Pongal and Makara Sankranti in this Sarvajit year.  " Pongum MangaLam yengum Thanguga! " May the " Pongal TirunaaL " shower on all of us an era of rich harvest, peace, plenty and prosperity in the days ahead.  May the real " Thanksgiving day " to the Surya Bhagavaan bless us with mutual understanding and co-operation in spreading Bhagavad Ramanuja - Swami Desika Sampradayam and greater opportunities for our " kainkarya Sri "  to the Divya Dhampathis, Acharyas and Bhaagavatas.  Let us sink our differences, if any, and work in unison towards this goal.  Daasaa: Anbil Ramaswamy and V. 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