Sanātana Dharma, a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law", or the "eternal way". "Sanatana Dharma ideal" refers to satya, truth, a prime concept in Hinduism and Buddhism. The word "dharma" was already in use in the Vedic times, where it was conceived as an aspect of Rta

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Acharam (Aacharamu)


Bharatha Khandamu


Refers to the greater India during the ancient times. Also referred as Bharatha varshe bharatha khandamu. Place where karmanushtan, dharmanushtam, yagnayadamulu can be performed.

In the entire world, this is the only country where all these rituals can be performed. This bhoomi (country) is often referred to as Karma Bhoomi, Yoga Bhoomi.

e.g. If we are hungry, our feet or hands don't eat food. It is only from mouth from where food need to be taken in and it will go in to the stomach and energy will be provided to the complete body.

e.g. Consider a house which has bedroom, kitchen, hall and puja room. Before constructing the house it is just empty land and once it is constructed, we will perform specific tasks in specific room. Cooking is only performed in kitchen, we sleep only in bedroom and we pray to god in puja room and this will not change.

Likewise Bharatha Khandamu is often referred to as the puja room for the entire world.

Yagna (Yagnam)


Yagna also called as yagya/yajna is related to fire, a consciousness based vedic performance. Yagnas are performed by vedic pandits to bring prosperity, health, happieness to people or to nations.

During yagnas while chanting the mantras vedic pandits offer havana samagri (special herbal preparations) in the fire.

With the yagya performances achieved by vedic pandits everybody can create harmony in all the aspects of his(her) life. Through yagna only, one can offer havissu (food of gods) to all gods. And the place where this ritual is performed is a place where every god sits, takes his food (havissu). The satisifed gods return the favour by food (ampulus rain which will help cultiuvating food for every one not only huma beings but also animals and other living beings).

Yagna can only be performed by a human being and no one has the right to perform this. Even god can't perform this ritual and if he has to perform then he has to take human form and perform yagna.

Lord Hanumam once told in Ramayana that a person who performa 100 yagnas can become indra (ruler of all gods).

This ritual can only be performed in bharatha kandamu and no other place in the world is eligible to perform this. By performing yagna and satifying the gods, one can get rid of the reincarnation cycle and attain moksha. If this is ignore by those who are eligible for perfoming this karma, then he would be born again for more than a crore times in other forms of life (animal, plants etc). And this has been explained in bhajagovindam.

Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam,
Punarapi janani jatare sayanam,
Iha samsaare khalu dusthare,
Krupayaa pare pahi murare.

Meaning
Again and again one is born,
And again and again one dies,
And again and again one sleeps in the mother’s womb,
Help me to cross this limitless sea of Life,
Which is uncrossable, my Lord

Sanathana Dharma (Dharmamu)


What is is? An eternal law or eternal way that need to be followed to lead life with peace of mind and to understand god and attain moksha after leaving this body.

It tells about Dharamanushtam which is only applicable for human beings. The Dharma keeps on changing every moment (day and night, by place, by surroundings and more) and the only thing that remains constant without any change is the lord (god). So, we as human beings should understand this, follow the changing dharma to get to unchanged dharma (god) by attaining moksha

As I said the dharma is only applicable for human beings and not for any other kind of animals, birds or any other. For all of these, there is only one dharma and that is Pashudharma.

pashudharmo namo preethim

As told by vyasa bhagavanudu (devi bhagavatam)

If they are hungry they eat food, if they are thirsty they drink water, if they feel tired they sleep, if they get angry they fight. They do not follow any other dharma.

Refer to Principles of sanathana dharma for more details

Lakshmi Sthanamulu


Places where goddess Lakshmi resides.

There are five places where goddess resides.

  1. Elephants kumbha stalam 
  2. Lotus flower
  3. Suvasini (married woman) papata (starting and center point of hair on forehead)
  4. Cow prusta bhagam (read part)
  5. Gold

Prayer before reading any scripture


manojavam maruta tulyavegam
jitendriyam buddhimataam varishtham
vaataatmajam vaanara yooth mukhyam
srirama dootam sharnam prapadye

om apadamapa hataram dataram sarva sampadam
lokabhiramam sriramam bhuyo bhuyo namamyaham

This is a prayer offered to Lord Hanumam and Lord Srirama.

Meaning
manojavam - the one who is swift as thought,
maruta tulyavegam - the one who is more powerful than the wind,
jitendriyam - the one who has conquered his senses,
buddhimataam varishtham - the one who is supreme among all intelligent beings,
vaataatmajam - the son of the wind god (vaayu),
vaanara yooth mukhyam - the commander of the army of forest creatures,
srirama dootam - lord srirama's Messenger, the mighty lord hanuma,
sharnam prapadye - please accept me and my prayers at your feet.

apadam - any obstacles in life,
apahartaram - stealing, carrying off, taken away,
dataram - gives, bestows,
sarva - all, everything,
sampadam - wealth, success, accomplish,
lokabhiramam - pleases all the people,
shriramam - lor srirama,
bhuyo bhuyo - again and again;
namamyaham - bow to you.

I bow again and again to Srirama who removes all obstacles and grants all wealth and pleases all. This prayer is offered at the start of reading any scripture as per tradition.