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Prayer through Nature.

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Dear friends and devotees,

 

Bhakti is eternal.

 

PRAYER THROUGH NATURE.

 

I bow to king of trees whose,

Root is the embodiment of Lord Parabrahma,

Middle is the embodiment of Lord Vishnu,

Top is the embodiment of Lord Maheswara.

 

“Oh! Aswatha tree (Pippala tree) you are the king of trees. Your roots

represent Brahma, your trunk siva and your branches Vishnu. Thus you are the

emblem of Trimurthi All those who honor you will obtain remission of their sins

in this world and a home of bliss in the next “so goes the prayer performed

during sandhyvandanam”.

 

Comprehensive History.

 

Tree consciousness in India is as old as her people. Its worship was the only

earliest form of divine ritual which existed even before the erection of temples

and idols.

 

Our ancient culture flourished in the midst of dense forest and river banks.

The saints and seers of yore retired to the sylvan retreats for meditation. They

imparted knowledge to the pupils in the ashrams located amidst dense woods. So

it is natural they developed a genuine love for the forests.

 

There are number of species of trees that people considered sacred and

accordingly worship. Strangely, they are not those that produce the best

fruits-the fig for instance.

 

The tree with its thick foliage makes a splendid shade and a boon for the

wayfarers and traders. In village people assemble under this tree for various

activities which is called as “Rachchabanda” in Telugu folk. It is one of the

most beautiful trees and grows to huge size. Its larger leaves are very soft to

touch. They are bright green in color and are so light and thin that the

slightest breeze sets them motion, producing a pleasant rustle. At dawn,

sparrows chirp from the boughs heralding the day break.

 

As this giant tree produce refreshing coolness it is considered to produce

health-giving properties. It is believed that Lord Vishnu was born under this

tree and therefore is regarded with great respect and veneration. The tree is

not supposed to be cut. The leaves are not to be pulled off unless they are used

for the act of worship. The dry twigs are used as samidhas to produce sacred

fire. Old timers say that the ceremony of the consecration of the fig if done

would assert untold blessings.

 

The leaves are larger and heart shaped, with the tip drawn out into a long

point. They drop of in mid winter. Buddhists call this as BODDHA TREE. IT WAS

UNDER THIS TREE, Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.

 

TRINITY – (thrimurthi) - a short explanation.

 

The three gods-Brahma, Vishnu and Siva together form the Hindu Trinity. Brahma

creates the world, Vishnu sustains it and Siva destroys it.

 

Lord Brahma

 

Lord Brahma is the first member of the orthodox Brahmanical triad. Brahma is

the god of creation and he is traditionally accepted as the creator of the

entire universe. The manifested world of plurality has emerged from the

unmistakable reality.

 

One of the earliest iconographic descriptions of Brahma is that of the

four-faced god seated on a lotus. The Lord has in his four hands a water-pot, a

manuscript, a sacrificial implement and a rosary.

 

The description of Brahma like those of other deities of Hinduism bears a

mystic symbolism. The lotus represents the Reality. Brahma sitting on the lotus

indicates that he is ever-rooted in the infinite Reality. The four faces of

Brahma represent the four Vedas. They also symbolise the functioning of the

inner personality which consists of thoughts. Lord Brahma is not popularly

worshipped in India. This is so, because the idea of creation is repugnant to

seeker of Truth since the creation of thoughts has veiled the infinite Reality.

 

Lord Vishnu.

 

Vishnu is one of the gods of the Trinity. Vishnu represents the power of

sustenance. Vishnu is wedded to Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. In the Vishnu

Purana, sage Vyasa refers to Vishnu as the supreme all-pervading Reality. He is

the Atman which manifests itself through body, mind and intellect as the

individual. Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi, sits at his feet serving him.

 

Vishnu is the one eternal, unmistakable Reality. The manifest world of

plurality has emerged from the unmistakable Reality. Vishnu is known to be blue

in colour. The blue colour of Vishnu indicates his infinite stature. Blue is

associated with the infinite since immeasurable entities like the sky or ocean

appear blue in colour. Yellow is usually attributed to the earth. The deity

stands upon a lotus. The lotus represents Truth. Vishnu has four hands. Vishnu

holds a conch, a discus, a mace and a lotus.

 

Lord Shiva

 

Shiva is one of the gods of the Trinity. He is said to be the god of

destruction'. Shiva is married to the Goddess Parvathi (Uma). Parvathi

represents Prakruti, which means perishable matter. Lord Shiva sits in a

meditative pose against the white background of the snow-capped Himalayas in

Mount Kailash. Lord Shiva not only represents the supreme state of perfection in

man but in his very pose indicates the way to reach it as well. The state of

meditation shown in Shiva's posture is again symbolic. Meditation is the final

gateway to Self-realization.

 

On the auspicious occasion of Mahashivrathri, Shiva performs the ecstatic

dance of realization. Shiva is said to have a third eye known as gnana chakshu.

Gnana chakshu literally means eye of wisdom. Shiva is also known as Gangadhara.

Gangadhara literally means, 'the carrier of Ganga' (river). Shiva is sometimes

shown with his trident (trisula) in his hand. The trisula is a three-pronged

weapon which symbolise's the destruction of the ego with its three-fold desires

of the body, mind and intellect. Nataraja is Lord Shiva in the dance pose.

 

With love and regards,

 

Sastry

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