धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः

धर्मो एवहतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षायती रक्षितः
तस्मा धर्मोना हतव्यो मानो धर्मा हातो पथितः

जब धर्म का नाश करेंगे तो उससे हमको नष्ट होता है यदि धर्म का रक्षा करेंगे थो वो भी रक्षा करेगा इसलिए धर्म का नाश नही करना चाहिए धर्म का नष्ट नही होता तो मन को अविनाश करने वाले होगा
( वाल्मीकि रामायणं )
धर्म का मतलब .....

धारणात धर्म इत्याहु धर्मो धारयति प्रजाः
(महा भारतं)

इस शब्द के अनुसार सब को एकता करने वाला ही धर्म है धर्म के द्वारा ही समाज में सारे लोग मिल्झुल्के रह सकते है

मनु स्मृति के अनुसार - धैर्ये, क्षमा, मन को जीतना, चोरी नही करना, वाक्-मन-क्रिया, शरीर को शुद्द रखना, इन्द्रिय संयमन, बुद्धि, सत्य, विद्या, शांत इन दस लक्षणों को धर्म कहा गया है

यतो धर्मस्ततो विष्णुः
यतो विष्णुः स्ततो जयः

धर्म कहाँ रहेगा वहाँ भगवान् विष्णु रहते है जहाँ भगवान विष्णु रहते है वहाँ धर्म का विजय होता है इस श्लेक से पता चलता है की धर्म को ही विजय मिलता है

संकटनाशन गणेश स्तोत्रम्

प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं गौरीपुत्रं विनायकम्
भक्तावासं स्मरेंनित्यामायुः कामार्थ सिद्दाये १
प्रथमं वक्रतुण्डं च एकदंतं द्वितीयकम
तृतीयं कृष्ण पिङग्क्षम गजवक्त्रं चतुर्थकम २
लम्बोदरं पंचमं च षष्टं विकटमेवा च
सप्तमं विघ्नराजं च धूम्रवर्णं तथाष्टमम ३
नवमं भालचंद्रं च दशमं तु विनायकं
एकादशं गणपतिम द्वादाशं तु गजाननं ४
द्वादाशैतानि नामानि त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेन्नरः
न च विघ्नभयं तस्य सर्वसिद्धि करं प्रभो ५
विद्यार्थी लभते विद्याम धनार्थी लभते धनं
पुत्रार्थी लभते पुत्रां मोक्षर्थी लभते गतिम् ६
जपेद गणपतिस्तोत्रम षङभिर्मासैः फलं लभेत
संवत्सरेण सिद्दिम च लभते नात्र संशयः ७
अष्टभ्यो ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च लिखित्वा यः समर्पयेत
तस्य विद्या भवेत्सर्वा गणेशस्य प्रसादतः ८

इति श्री नारद पुराणे संकटनाशन गणेश स्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम्

Pilgrimage to Varanasi (Avimukta):The never forsaken territory.

Slowly an image began to form in my mind’s eye of what the city of Varanasi, India might appear to look and feel like before I set eyes and foot upon it. The impressions I had of Varanasi were so many that combining them all to fit into a meaningful collage of stories and myths, which were by themselves so old that ancient was not even a close approximation, for finding a fitting description of this ancient of ancient cities existing forever next to the Ganges River reflecting the same timelessness as the stars in heavens directly above this ancient of cities. And as these images all began to form a picture in my mind’s eye they sometimes would come in dreams, sometimes in a moment of reflecting on ancient India and even Shiva and Parvarti would come to mind as the two Hindu gods who had once established their home in this scared of all sacred places on earth. And now in the not too distant future, 108 days to be exact from the beginning of this writing, an asura, sitting quietly in disguise pretending to be a deva, was awaiting amrita to be poured from the golden pot (kumba) that would allow the gods live an immortal life. However, the asura was caught in his disguise by Surya and Chandra when Vishnu disguised as the beautiful Mohini immediately beheaded him with his sudarsan cakra. The amrita, the sacred liquid churned from the milky ocean, giving immortality to all who drank it, reached the asura’s throat only making his head become immortal. He would wait eternally for the chance to devour the golden rays of the sun during a lunar eclipse for his revenge of being denied immortality. His head would be known as Rahu the dragon eater, and the trunk of his body forming the dragon’s tail would be known as Ketu. These two parts of the asura’s body would eventually form the north and south nodes of the moon forming an axis of eternal tension between what is desired and what is remembered.

This then is a brief of introduction of when the dragon head of Rahu appears once again to consume the sun and this time plunge the city of Varanasi into darkness. But Shiva will appear floating high in the heavens and bestow boons on all his devotees doing their oblations in the Ganges River. Shiva will rise in the heavens with his brilliant pillar of light (sthanu) penetrating the three worlds and forever reminding his devotees he will always be with them and never forsake them in times of darkness and despair.

This mythical representation of a full solar eclipse, which takes place as of this writing in 108 days, and if coincidence upon coincidence isn’t enough to remind one of the powers of Shiva, there are 108 names for Shiva so each day before the full solar eclipse one of Shiva’s names will be recited as a gesture to his honored place in Varanasi; his first as of this writing being, Aashutosh, (The one who fulfills wishes instantly). It is my wish to be in Varansi to receive a boon from Shiva. Writing about some place without actually seeing it, hearing the chants or being filled with the smells coming from countless cremation pyres, Ganges River water and more varieties of incense thought possible to answer all the uncertainties that would make Varanasi be forever seared upon the deepest recesses of mind so that no matter how hard one tried Varanasi could never be erased from memory unless the very universe itself were to vanish, never to breath thoughts or suspend starlight in the vastness of eternity, seems like an impossible task.

For all the pundits who have provided their insights for the reasons Varanasi remains the preferred place to release a human soul on this planet there has to be some explanation for this to be so. As a pilgrim who has already climbed the sacred mountain of Lingaparvata in Southern Laos in 2006 to honor Lord Shiva, a trip to Varanasi fulfills a quest to be in the presence of a celestial awakening the likes of which will not happen again in this century. And if starlight and star lore are married forever in a twilight language known only by a few shamans whose dismembered bodies were able to fly away to those distant stars to hear that language of the gods then that language will be heard again when the most auspicious of relationships takes place in the heavens and on earth over the sacred city of Varanasi on July 22, 2009.

So what might this language of the gods being trying to talk about?

References:

The “Asokan” Pillar
Reading: John Irwin, “Asokan Pillars: A Reassessment of the Evidence: Parts I-IV,” Burlington Magazine: Part I, (Nov 1973), pp. 706-20; and Part IV, (Nov 1976), pp. 734-53. Optional: Part 2, (Dec. 1974), pp. 712-27; and Part 3, (Oct 1975), pp. 631-43.

Things Always Remembered By Us

Teachings of Srimad Jagadguru Shankaracharya

SRI SRI SRI SWAYAMPRAKASHA SACHIDANANDA SARASWATHI

आनन्दं परमनान्दम भक्तानंद प्रदायकं सदा प्रसन्नावदनं सच्चिदनन्दमश्रये

1. Passing away of each second,minute and day means your life is getting reduced much over. Therefore keep in mind the "Value of Time".

2. Over the period of many years,all your 'sensory instruments' (indriyas) loose their efficiency. So instead of being proud of 'bahya soundarya', put thees Indriyas for purposeful use, when they are active self.

3. Understand fully that even in the midst of family,friends and others, you are alone only, you arrived alone, live (enjoy or suffer) alone and finally depart alone. Therefore instead of binding yourself to people, family, friends and objects. Contemplate and attach yourself to "Paramatman in your heart and thereby drive away the loneliness".

4. In life, happiness & sorrow, good & bad etc. are like both sides of the same coin and they come in pairs only. If you want happiness, you should accept the non-happiness also. So maintain equanimity and meditate on the truth about life.

5. You are alone responsible for your own happiness and sorrow. Therefore if you desire happy future contemplate in Divinity without selfishness now.

6. When you increase your attachments on material objects, you are inviting more sorrow. Therefore perform all actions without attachments, desires and hatred.

7. If you want peace of mind in life, listen and value your Inner self-consious, than searching outside object. Instead of waiting for others to praise and applaud you, perform all actions to make your 'self/atman' happy.

8. This life itself is a big dream. All family,friends,wealth,power,your body etc. are like waves in the ocean. Think deeply about the purpose of this life. Therefore remove your attachments from materialistic objects and develop attitude of sacrifice and service to others.

9. You can cheat or deceive others,but you can not deceive your inner conscience. Therefore do not perform any act against your own conscience.

10. Eventhough you may be well educated, learned, cultured, intelligent etc. you are never complete or full, unless you realise and experience the "SELF" which is the "GNANA" or "Knowledge". Therefore direct all your daily activities towards this path of "Self Knowledge".

Lord Surya ( The Sun)

As per the Hindu Religion, Surya symbolizes the Sun God. Surya is considered as the only visible
form of God that can be seen every day.When the world came into existence, the first sound that reverbrated was 'AUM'. Lord Surya was born from this 'Omkara naadham'. Sri Markandeya Puranam has explained this factor.The other names for the Lord are Ravi(the fire bird),Pusha(the best purifier),Aaditya(the son of Aditi),Bhaskar(maker of light),Divakar(maker of day),Mitra(friend),Bhanu(light),Arka(ray).

श्री सूर्य गायत्री मंत्र : ॐ भास्कराय विद्महे दिवाकराया धीमहि तन्नोह सूर्यः प्रचोदयात

Lord Surya was the son of Sage Kashyap and was the grandson of Sage Marichi. Vivasvat
(Surya) had three queens - Saranyu (also called Saraniya, Saranya, Sanjna, or Sangya), Ragyi,and Prabha. Saranyu was the mother of Vaivasvata Manu or Sraddhadeva Manu (the seventh,i.e. present Manu) and the twins Yama Dev (the Lord of Death) and his sister Yami (associated with the river Yamuna). She also bore him the twins known as the Ashwins, divine horsemen and physicians to the Devas. Once, Saranyu, being unable to bear the extreme radiance of Surya, created a superficial entity from her shadow called Chhaya and instructed her to act as Surya's wife in her absence. Chhaya mothered two sons - Savarni Manu (the eighth, i.e. next Manu) and
Shani Dev (the planet Saturn), and two daughters - Tapti(goddess of river Tapti) and Vishti. He also has a son, Revanta, or Raivata, by Ragyi.

It should be mentioned here that the chariot of Surya has only one wheel. It is drawn by seven horses in seven colours.Sometimes Surya is depicted with two hands holding a lotus in both; sometimes he has four hands holding a lotus, chakra, a conch, and the fourth hand makes the gesture of protection. God Surya is regarded as an aspect of Shiva and Vishnu by Shaivites and Vaishnavas respectively. Surya is also known as Surya Narayana. Surya, the Sun God is also acknowledged as one of the eight forms of Lord Shiva (Astamurti). Surya is the lord of excellence and wisdom.The Sun is known as the "ATMAKARAKA". This comes from the Sanskrit words
"ATMA" meaning soul, and "KARAKA" meaning indicator. As "indicator of the soul" the Sun is the giver of life. The Sun is the indicator of the father, our ego, honors, status, fame, the heart,the eyes, general vitality, respect and power. He is the God - a living God - whom everyone can see, perceive and pray. Though he is visible, he also has been presented in a variety of forms. He is the life-giver and time-giver. The Vedas adore him as a witness (Sakshi) of all actions.

श्री सुर्यास्ट्कम

आदि देव नमस्तुभ्यम प्रसीद मम भास्करा दिवाकरा नमस्तुभ्यम प्रभाकर नमोस्तुते 1

सप्ताश्वा रधमारुदम प्रचंदम कस्य्पथ्माजम श्वेतपद्माधरम देवं तं सूर्यम प्रणमम्यहम 2

हितं रधामरूदम सर्व लोक पितामहम सर्व पाप हरम देवं तं सूर्यम प्रणमम्यहम 3

त्रैगुणम च महा शूरं ब्रह्म विष्णु महेश्वरम महा पाप हरम देवं तं सूर्यम प्रणमम्यहम 4

ब्रह्मितम तेज पुन्जम च वायुमाकशामव च प्रभुस्त्वं सर्व लोकानां तं सूर्यम प्रणमम्यहम 5

बंढूका पुष्प संकासम हारकुण्डला भूषितं एक चक्र धरम देवं तं सूर्यम प्रणमम्यहम 6

विश्वेशं विश्व कर्तारं महा तेजा प्रदीपनम् महा पाप हरम देवं तं सूर्यम प्रणमम्यहम 7

श्री विष्णुम जगतं नादं ज्ञान विज्ञानं मोक्षदम महा पाप हरम देवं तं सूर्यम प्रणमम्यहम 8

श्री सुर्यास्ट्कम पठेँनित्यम ग्रह पीड़ा प्रनासनम अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं दरिद्रो धनवान भवेत्

12 temples of Lord Surya at Varanasi

(1)Keshavaditya Temple at Adikeshav Temple, Varuna Sangam

(2)Vimaladitya Temple at Jangambadi Mutt, Godowliya

(3)Gangaditya Temple at Lalitha Ghat

(4) Yamaditya Temple at Sankata Ghat

(5) Arunaditya Temple is nearer to Trilochan Mandir, Trilochan Ghat

(6) Vrudhaditya Temple at Meer Ghat

(7) Sambaditya Temple at Suraj Kund

(8) Droupatiaditya Temple is nearer to Sri Vishwanath Temple

(9)Mayukhaditya Temple at Mangala Gowri Temple, Panchaganga Ghat

(10) Lolarkaditya Temple at Bhadani

(11)Uttarakaditya Temple Bakariya Kund, Alayepur

(12) Khakholokhaditya Temple Trilochan Ghat

In the epics, Ramayana and Maha Bharat, we will hear about Surya. The dynasty of Lord Rama,itself called as Surya dynasty.While in the battle with demon king Ravana,sage Agastya taught the famous hymn "Aditya Hrudyam" to Rama.By chanting the hymn,Rama reallocated his power and zeal to demolish Ravana.Many scholars advises to chant Aditya Hrudayam to win over enemies.

History of Varanasi

The land of Varanasi (Kashi) has been the famous pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. According to scriptures, the city was founded by the Lord Shiva,thus making it one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in the country. Many Hindu scriptures, including the Rigveda, Skanda Purana, Ramayana, and the Mahabharata, mention this city.Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth. Abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins of Varanasi are yet unknown. Ganges in Varanasi is believed to have the power to wash away the sins of mortals.Varanasi is generally believed to be about 3,000 years old.

Varanasi is often said to be located between two confluences: one of Ganga and Varuna, and other of Ganga and Assi.Thus this city acquired the name, Varanasi.A tribe called kasha used to live in that place. So, it acquires another name as Kashi.According to another theory,the place might got its name from a grass named Kusa that grew wildly in the region where the city was built.In 10th century,a king named Benar,ruled Kashi dynasty.He built several temples.Sothat it acquired the name Benares(Benar+Aawas).A few mentions that during the regime of British rulers,it got the name of Benares. Ka means the cause, a means the manifestation of consciousness, sa means peace and I is the causal body. Kasi is also the place which causes consciousness to manifest the highest peace of the causal body.The city of Varanasi is located in the middle Ganga valley of North India, in the Eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, along the left crescent-shaped bank of the Ganga river.

In this city, Shiva himself established as the saviour Muktidayak Jyotirlinga, which he can never leave.During Pralaya i.e., final destruction of the world, Shiva saved it by keeping it safe in his trident. So kashi is called Avimukta Kshetra. In Kashi, the Avimukteshwar Linga is there forever. Those who can never hope for salvation, attains Moksha here.It is believed that when anybody dies Kashi,Lord Shiva will teach Taraka mantra (Ram Naam) in their right ear.Thus the Lord himself,helps the person to get rid from the cycle of birth and death.

Trilinga Swami

Trilingaswami was born to Nrusimhadhar and Vidyavati in 1607. He was named as Siva Rama and perhaps also as Trailingadhar, because he was born in Trilinga Desa (It is a region between three great Shrines of Paramashiva. Srisailam, Drakshaaraamam and Kaleswaram).He belongs to a Royal family nearer to Visakhapattanam.His parents are devotees of Lord Shiva.He started practising Sadhanas from his childhood. After his mother's death he left his village and started his spiritual journey. In due course of time,he reached Benares and stayed there permanently.

The yogi was great not only spiritually, but physically. His weight exceeded three hundred pounds : a pound for each year of his life. As he ate very seldom, his mystery increased. A master, however, easily ignores all usual rules of health when he desires to do so for some special reason, often a subtle one known only to himself.Trilinga Swami was a fascinating man who exhibited many supernormal powers including the ability to bi-locate – be in two places at the same time. His psychic powers enabled him to gain mastery over the elements, and he would meditate under the water of the Ganges River sometimes for more than six months at a time."It is well nigh impossible to call Trailingaswami either a saint, a siddha, a yogi, a saadhaka, a baba, a paramahamsa, an avadhoota or an avatar for he is all and not merely one among these many, Swami Kritarthananda called him, ‘The Living Shiva of Varanasi”.

In due course of time he rose to be Trilinga Swami, Ganapatiswami, Ramananda Saraswathi and Mouni Baba, performing various miracles all through.The story goes that when Ramkrishna Paramhansa came to Benaras, he met Swamiji, to whom he mentioned his desire to visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple. But as time was running out, he concluded that it would perhaps not be possible. As he said this and turned around to leave, there stood, instead of Swamiji, Lord Vishwanath himself! After this divine sighting, Ramkrishna became a lifelong disciple of Trilanga Swami.

'As the sun is the doer, kartha, for the earth, for jeevi, the highest and the most important, the master is aatma. Owing to the sun’s rays alone, all living beings are able to carry on their activities. In fact the sun does nothing. In the same way, aatma in the human body, like the sun, shines as the karta. By its shining, by its radiance, the senses go on performing their functions.'This is just a glimpse into his teachings. He has dealt with topics like Aatma bodha, Chitta - Shuddi, Dharma, Upasana,Tanmayatwam etc. in a lucid style.

As the temple priest says, “Trilanga Swami had five disciples during his stay in Kashi who were instructed to not take on any disciples of their own.” This was Trilanga Swami at his reclusive best. The Swami’s preaching was in the form of dictation to his trusted disciple Shri Umacharan Mukhopadhyay. In fact he had announced beforehand the exact date he would attain nirvana. A month earlier, he personally supervised the setting up of his idol. On the due date, he took Samadhi (meditation unto death) directly under it.He attained Samadhi in the year 1887.

Varanasi-Cultural Centre of India

Varanasi is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world.The city has been a cultural and religious centre in India for several thousand years.People often refer to Varanasi as "the city of temples", "the holy city of India", "the religious capital of India", "the city of lights", "the city of learning" and the "culture capital of India". It is also called as "Benaras" or "Kashi".Varanasi's "Old City," the quarter near the banks of Ganga, has crowded narrow winding lanes that are flanked by road-side shops and scores of Hindu temples. American writer Mark Twain wrote: "Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together."

Varanasi is a holy city in Hinduism, being one of the most sacred piligrimage places for Hindus of all denominations. This Old City is rich with culture, and a deservedly popular destination for travelers and tourists. More than One million pilgrims visit the city each year. It has the holy shrine of Lord Kashi Vishwanath (a manifestation of Lord Shiva), and also one of the twelve revered Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.Hindus believe that bathing in Ganga remits sins and that dying in Kashi ensures release of a person's soul from the cycle of its transmigrations. Adi Shankara wrote his commentaries on Hinduism here, leading to the great Hindu revival. Vaishnavism (who worships Lord Vishnu) and Shaivism (who worships Lord Shiva) have always co-existed in this city harmoniously. It is believed that this city consists of 33 crores of Shiva Lingas. At the same time we can find many temples for Lord Vishnu also.

It is also holy place for Bhuddists and Jains.Being one of the four pilgrimage sites said to have been designated by Gautama Buddha himself, (the others being Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya, and Lumbini). In the residential neighborhood of Varanasi lies Sarnath, the site of the deer park where Gautama Buddha is said to have given his first sermon about the basic principles of Buddhism. It is believed to be the birthplace of Parshvanatha, the twenty-third Tirthankar. Islamic culture has also had an influence on Varanasi.We can see many monuments constructed by Muslim invaders here.