Dikpala: The Guardians of the Directions

Guardians of the Galaxy, an American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics, is very familiar to all of us. Where the struggling stories of some warriors of the entire galaxy are told through extraordinary graphics and animation. But perhaps we do not know that some ancient Hindu and Buddhist texts have mentioned the names of such guardians, not just one galaxy but who are protecting the whole universe from ten directions and their stories are no less thrilling than any of today's superheroes, together those ten supreme powers are called dasha dikpala or The Guardians of The Directions.

Guardians of the directions

33 crore deities in Hinduism & the secret of universe

According to ancient Hindu scriptures, the number of Gods is 33 crores. Again, somewhere it is innumerable. Many ask why Hindus worship so many gods or how many gods are actually mentioned in Hinduism. In this article, we shall try to find some appropriate answers to some questions often asked by people. Today, with the advent of the internet, we all know that the Vedas refer not to 33 crore deities, but to 33 types of Deities, where the Koti is a Sanskrit term which means Category. But in today's article, we will know this information in a little more detail and try to clarify some ideas about it.

Image by Drak Code from Pixabay

Nirguna Brahman

Most of the deities mentioned in the ancient vedic texts are the names of cosmic and natural powers that have been addressed as deities to reveal their importance. In order to describe what God can actually be, the ancient sages has described him as Nirguna Brahman. Nirguna brahman means one who has no specific virtue, or who is attributeless, i.e. he is neither calm, nor agile. Neither he has the virtue of forgiveness, nor he determines the punishment for a crime. Two opposing qualities are born from this Nirguna Brahman and in the latter case from which Purusha and Prakriti are manifested And the universe is just a reflection of the combinations and evolutions of Purusha and Prakriti which causes infinite numbers of attributions for this Universe. But I am sure that the total algebraic sums of every attribution would be zero if they had numerical values or magnitudes. 

And this value of zero defines the Nirguna Brahma. In this way the whole world is expanding from nothingness towards infinity. This is what energy conservation law notes that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant. This says that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; far more, it can only be transformed or transferred from one form to another. That is, the same energy can have many forms and qualities. And it changes its form and quality based on time, medium, environment and objects. For an example it is possible to transmit light energy through a vacuum, but sound energy is unable to travel through a vacuum. In the same way, even though God is one and attributeless, he is endowed with eternal forms and qualities. 

Secret of Consciousness, Mind and Body

Consciousness psychology refers to the unique awareness of the individual feelings, experiences, emotions, sensations and circumstances. According to Oxford Dictionary of English ‘consciousness emerges from the operations of the brain’, As per Cambridge Dictionry of English 'the state of understanding and realizing something'. It is said that if a person is able to control his mind, consciousness, intellect and emotions, only he can perceive the presence of God in his inner soul. And to him, achieving any goal can never be a daunting task. But the most difficult problem for the common man is to learn how to controll one's own mind. Before this we need to know what mind is. What is the basic nature of mind and human brain. The basic deference among functioning brain, mind, consciousness, and intellect. It’s very important for human to discover his/her soul controlling the Mind. The divine light will certainly be visible to him/her clearly. That’s what is called the virtual existence of Supreme being (Ishvara/God), else it is impossible to view Ishvara (God) being in earthly gross body. Six thousand of years ago from today, Sri Krishna expressed the secret of mind exercises to Arjuna in a simple and mind blowing way. This article is based on the great conversation between Sri Krishna and Arjuna.

Arjuna:  
You say that one should try to discover one’s divine self! That means, there exists a power that will discover one’s soul! Whom are you referring to? Who will discover the conscience?

Sri Krishna:
Your Mind. 

Arjuna:  
But you said that we all are puppet at the hands of our mind. Then why it will guide us to our conscience?

Sri Krishna:
Right question. The mind will continue to have control over you as long as you don’t take the control of it. Man’s body resembles a Chariot (Ratha), with five horses. Now, assume that the five horses of the chariot are the different organs or the five senses of human body.
Like, eyes, nose, tongue etc. The charioteer (Sharthi), who guides these horses or organs (five senses), is the mind and the master of the chariot is none other than the soul (consciousness). Human mind is attracts towards worldly pleasures (the sources of pain and sorrow). The mind guides the man/woman, in the direction of these false attachments or desires.  This happen till the time the consciousness doesn’t take control of the mind. The mind will continue to attract him/her towards the worldly pleasures, until he takes control of it.

The mind ignore the consciousness and moves in the direction of false and temporary engagements. But if you can take control of your mind, then it will guide you in the right direction and help you discover your divine self. The body is the chariot (ratha) and the mind is the charioteer (sharthi), who is free to moves the body or action in the direction. If you have good charioteer/driver with right intention and intellect, your chariot/car will move towards success and prosperity. One who takes control of one’s mind, will attain salvation (mokhsya). If the mind is your master and you’re it’s slave, it will continue to bind you in the worldly pleasures, but when you take control of your mind, and be it’s dictator, then it is the mind, who help you to attain the Success or salvation.

Arjuna:  
It is very simple, to say, one should control of over the mind and be it’s master, but that’s the most difficult task. Mind is indomitable like the wind, just the way it’s impossible to control the blowing wind, simply it is an impossible task to take control of one’s mind. How can we control our mind, is there any simple method?

Sri Krishna:  
Hmm, nothing is impossible. One needs to attack the mind with Two Aramhastra/weapons in order to conquer it. One weapon is Education (with morality) or abhyasa (practicing) and other is discipline/vairagya. Education means constant learning. With learning new things, Focus your mind on one particular subject, your mind will try to escape, but you must try to conquer it again. You have to repeat this for several times. Just a foal (baby horse) is not stable ever for a moment, it keeps lolling every moment, the mind too is wavering 
(wavering =restlessness ) every moment. The mind too is silicate like a new born horse, controlling one’s mind is as difficult, as taming a horse. The more pressure one applies to tame the horse, the more difficult it becomes, and it repeatedly pushes the rider instead.
But if the rider is determined, he finally succeed in mounting the horse and the horse then begin to obey the rider/master. Similarly, the mind too is conquered, by holding it’s reins firmly, and finally it begins to obey it’s master’s orders! This is called weapon of learning being determined and with morality. Number two, Discipline is essential to curb one’s mind forever, else it may go astray once again. Means you need to be in practicing mood always.
Because, the worldly pleasures may continue to attract him forever, if he loose the reins of the mind. Obsession, love, passion and list will continue to attract him, hence it is necessary for the mind to understand that these are merely worldly false pleasures, and are simply illusionary, when the mind understands the facts, it won’t yield to any vices, n fact, he develops discipline and it is the practice, that is instrumental in developing self control. One should always keep one thing in mind, that everything is illusion (not permanent). One should protect his mind with this only Truth, from any excitements, excitation, fury, craze, greed, anger. This things can destroy one’s control over his mind. In any situation he has to be in steady state condition.  

आत्मानं रथिनं विद्धि शरीरं रथमेव तु ।
बुद्धिं तु सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रग्रहमेव च ।।
(कठोपनिषद्, अध्याय १, वल्ली ३, मंत्र ३)     

Meaning: Know thyself as the traveler and body as the chariot. Perceive intellect as the charioteer and mind as the reigns.

Commentary by Ms. Kaavya Sindhu (sanskritpearls): The best way is to keep the charioteer (intellect) have the reigns (mind) in its control and make sure that the intellect listens to the voyager, the self! Then, there will be no case of run away horses or chariots, the traveler can safely reach his destination, which is, attaining liberation.

St. Patrick's Day - Secret Connection Between Ireland and Vedic India

St. Patrick's Day, celebrated in Ireland, and most of the west. There are very interesting connections between the Irish Celts, the Druids, and of course the Vedas, Sanskrit, and much more.The colors of India's and Ireland's national flags are almost the same, many of the old Gaelic dialect, still spoken in Ireland today comes, or is derived from Sanskrit. 

After the ice age, it is believed people from India emigrated to eastern Europe, leaving traces of their presence, culture, civilization, and language, of course. The people or Indian origin, continued migrating, and expanding thought out Europe, finally reaching the British Isles, influencing Ireland. Another reason why it is believed the Vedic influence was stronger here than in England and Scotland, was the fact that the mighty Roman Empire never were able to conquer the Irish Celts, unlike Scotland, renamed Caledonia by the Romans. Remants of the Vedic culture, still remain, even in some of their music, the Irish-Hindu music, not very popular as traditionla Indian music, but still some still pay these kind of music.

The Irish Druids were the equivalent of the Brahmins, yogis and sages. the name for king, is raja in Sanskrit, for the Druids was regh. Much of both cultures were about the same, the different social classes of both societies, which were hierarchically structured. Like the Vedas, the Druids also had 3 different divisions, the Brahmins, sages,yogis and sages, they were in charge of the spiritual, and the learned scholars, which the kings consulted them, ljust like in Vedic times, the rulers also consulted the Brahmins. Next came the ruling class, after them, the warriors, or defenders and protectors of the land, or kingdom, then came the workers, which included, merchants, hunters, and the farmers and agriculture..

Regarding laws, the Law of Manu, and the Law of Fenechus are similar. The Irish at this time were also vegetarians also believing in the transmigration of the souls, and reincarnation. There are also theories of the origin of the Europeans, first coming out of northern India, migrating to eastern Europe, spreading though out this continent, and reachjing the British Isles. As the migrants settled in the higher latitudes. As the Vedic people settled in northern Europe, their skin and hair color began to change, due to lower levels of UV radiation, less year long sunlight, compared to India, located much closer to the Equator and tropical regions. The people had a need to get more Vitamin D for good health. Genetic mutations happened, in order ot survive in that cold geographical location. To this day some say there are still some links between DNA of Irish and Indians.

Many folk tales of Ireland and India, have a lot in common, some other do not, still there are too many similarities between these cultures to present here. Today it is said, "On St. Patrick's Day everybody is Irish" in a way this is true, Wishing everyone a very Happy St. Patrick's Day, if available watch the world famous parade in New York City. There are more Irish living in other countries, like USA, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil and others. Those Irish have big celebrations on this day, dressing in green, wearing shamrocks, for good luck, as "The Luck of the Irish" saying goes, last but not least, don't forget to wear you button that says "Kiss me I'm Irish" Erin go bragh. This means Ireland forever. Erin means Ireland, this is an English translation of, Eirinn go bach.

Mysterious Meaning of Om Namah Shivaya (ॐ नमः शिवाय), The secret You May Not Know

Panchakshara represents the five divine syllables, perhaps the most powerful, and the sacred sanskrit stotra for everyone.Siva Panchakshara is dedicated to Lord Shiva. As the title says, it consists of 5 letters / syllables. Namah Shivaya is that greatest mantra. In this chant, the five syllables are na-maH – shi – vA – ya.

Om Namah Shivaya(ॐ नमः शिवाय) is one of Shaivism's most famous and significant  Hindu Mantra. Namah Shivaya means "O salutations to the auspicious truth!," or "worship to Lord Shiva," or "absolute consciousness is one." It is called Siva Panchakshara, or Shiva Panchakshara, or simply Panchakshara, which implies "five-syllable" chant. The significance of this stotra is intensively profound. Even the entire Veda and Purana could not complete to elaborate the extraordinary details of the stotra of Mahakal. This is just amazing how 5 ordinary syllables can create such powerful cosmic frequency which is infinite and limitless in virtue, definitely beyond of our intelligence. One can also ask how can we get the blessing of this mantra if the significance of the stotra is beyond of our intelligence?  

Well, it does not make any sense that to consume good things from any natural source we always have to understand its molecular arrangements completely. For an example, although in the past, various Sanskrit slokas have been written in ancient Hindu-Buddhist texts about the nature of the Sun and its light, but in modern times the world has become aware of the radiative & particle nature of Sun light only after the discoveries of Einstein and Werner Heisenberg. Even many countries and private organizations are doing further research on this. The question now is whether before the 18th century, didn’t people take benefit of sunlight? The question became ridiculous, didn't it?

You may now argue that consuming an uncontrolled drug, can cause poisoning in the body rather than curing it. Yes this is true everything should be practiced systematically to get the best result. Our Vedic texts and ancient scriptures provide the meaning, significance, guide line and procedure of chanting any stotra in a very detailed and elaborated way and hail their supremacy.   

Shri Shiva Panchakshara Stotra can be classified as one of the most powerful Stotra. Stotras are a type of popular spiritual literature and, like some other ancient Indian scriptures such as the Vedas, are not compelled by strict guidelines. In Sanskrit Panchakshara simply means "five letters” which refers to the five sacred letters Na, Ma, Si, Vā and Ya. This is a stotra praising Lord Shiva and is connected with Shiva's Mantra Om Namah Shivaya.

In ancient Hindu philosophy this entire universe is made up of five basic elements and those cosmic letters directly represent these basic cosmic elements. In authentic sequence of those five letters the ‘Na’ comes in first which govern and purify the Prithvi tattva or Earth elements (any substance in solid form), The very next letter ‘Ma’ consecrates the Jal or water element (any substance in liquid form), then the sacred letter ‘Si’ comes and it energies to Agni Tattva or fire element (Form of enery),‘Va’ provides kinetic energies to Vayu Tattva or Air factor (gaseous form) and finally ‘Ya’ which govern and cause behind potential energy of ‘Akasha Tattva’ or Sky factor (Space or Sunnya).

This is the secret sense of the Siva Panchakshara mantra. This single stotra represents the entire Universe.This sacred mantra removes self ego and opens the infinite reality before one’s consciousness. Mahadev is often considered as ‘Rudra’ in Veda. The Pasupata sect of Hinduism propounds the doctrine of Pancha Brahman or five different aspect of supreme absolute.These five forms are represented by the five faces of lord Shiva, who is para Brahman himself. The names of these five faces are Ishana, Tatpurasha, Aghora, Vamadeva and Sadyojatha.These five aspects of supreme absolute govern five main roles related to creation. The first one is creation/ manifestation (sristi/srijan), the second one is preservation and succession,the third one is destruction, forth one is veiling grace (tirodhana shakti) and final stage is liberation/salvation(mukti from life circle). Panchakshara mantra flourished from a vedic stotram Shri Rudram chamakam, which comes under the second oldest vedic text,Yajurveda.

This stotra is also considered as surrendering mantra or saranagati mantra. Surrender to the ‘Laws of the universe, karma and dharma”. Listing or chanting this extraordinary stotra, purifies our system, actions, thoughts,with arranging the proper ratio of five elements in our life and body.

Shiva Panchakshara Stotram - In sanskrit, with meaning in English