DIVINE REMADIES

We believe that the totally compassionate God has created this universe and every being in it, including the human beings - only to be always happy and not to suffer at all. But on the contrary we are only seeing every human being complaining - being unhappy, sad, sorrowful and worried. We find only ‘Dhukka’ all around excepting for the occasional ‘Suka’. The question arises therefore how and why this has happened. It raises the fundamental question whether the Vedic proclamations are incorrect or there are problems with the human beings which makes the Vedic declarations inoperable.

Various scriptures, Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Ithihasas and Vakyas have gone into the depths of this question again and again and have come out repeatedly with concrete answers, affirming and reaffirming, that the state of bliss is the rule and the state of suffering is man made. Our sages have left treasure of philosophical knowledge as to why and how the life is only bliss; what causes the maladies and how to remedy them.

But since they were of a time in which the language and method of communication were different from what is in vogue today, many of us find it difficult to comprehend them. Also they are couched in a somewhat of a mystic language and so it is decipherable only by the serious and ardent seekers. In the current day modern fast world, not many have time for analyzing and deciphering the underlying meanings. Therefore for the current generation, it sounds ‘Latin and Greek’. In addition to this, nowadays the “human logic” plays a more important role than the “divine wisdom”- in other words the ocean of the divine wisdom has to be seen through the prism of limited human logic.

Therefore it has become our duty to explain to everyone, the scientific nature of the Vedic contents, so that nobody can think that the Vedic wisdom is bereft of any logic and for that, as said before I will try and present it in a simple and straight forward language so that everyone can understand, grasp and appreciate the same. It must be noted here that since Vedas have been written esoterically i.e., simple in words but very deep in meanings, it poses a challenge to demystify it and simplify it.

But this is not a challenge that is being faced only now; even at the Vedic times it has been faced and that is why the sages converted the deep philosophy of the Vedas into parables (Puranas) and rituals (Anushtanas).Their idea was that as long as the people follow the ingrained principles of Vedas, the desired results will follow whether the people are experts in Vedas or not. We see the same logic in our normal life also, while all of us enjoy many electric and electronic gadgets, most of us don't know anything big about the science of electrics or electronics; we only follow the operating manual and enjoy the gadgets.

But now we have an added problem to be addressed. Over a period of time, the Puranas stayed as they were told as captivating stories, but the underlying wisdom was lost.  Similarly the rituals stayed without the understanding of its significance. Therefore after thousands of years now we find that the essence of the philosophy is lost and has been taken over by ritualists and story tellers which has lead to a backlash with the current intelligent and logical minded generation questioning the very wisdom of Vedas.

There is a beautiful story of Ramakrishna on rituals. There was a man who was living with his father, his wife and a son and he had a 'pet cat'. One day his father died; the annual shrarda day came and the function was arranged. At that time in order to avoid confusion and inconvenience that may be caused by the cat running around here and there, he tied the cat with a pole and completed the function. Years rolled. This practice continued year after year. His son was also growing up into a man. After sometime the father died and so also the cat. Now the shrarda for the father had to be done by the son. All the arrangements for the function were made and the purohits were ready. This young man was still waiting for something before he could start. The purohits asked whether the function could be started. The young man asked where is the cat and said that he was waiting for the cat as it had to be tied up with the pole first, before starting the function. The purohits were aghast.

Ramakrishna explains how a ritual his father started for a purpose and for a reason had become a superstitious ritual since the reason and logic was not explained. The same thing has happened to the Vedic rituals as well; in the absence of the knowledge of the attendant logic and reason, they have simply become a mechanical action resulting in being a superstition.

The same is the case with Puranas also. Every Purana has a sound logic and an underlying moral principle to be conveyed. The sages opted for this route as the best way because obviously a well woven story will catch the imagination and get the message reached. In those days the morals along with the story was reaching the public through discourses, dances, dramas and folk arts, which were the main modes of mass entertainment. There was a breed of artists who were specialized and experienced in these art forms. But over a period of time the modes of entertainment changed from devotional to sensory, particularly after India came under the rule of the aliens. As a result these forms of arts and artists waned away; the meaning and the logic of puranas were forgotten and only the stories survived. On the other side in the flow of evolution only the fittest species survive and their quality advances; which mean such species strength and intelligence grow. Accordingly, the fittest specie on earth -as on date- the human’s intelligence has grown manifold.

In other words the students- the current generation people- who have to be educated and trained in the Vedic wisdom- have become more intelligent; while the teachers – the religious leaders-who have to explain the Vedic wisdom -have become less informed. Therefore a strange situation has arisen where the current day religion which is full of rituals and stories- without knowing its attendant logics and scientific explanations- is unable to answer the questions raised by the current generation. This has led to disillusionment and in fact for the disbanding of the very faith itself.  As a consequence, the concept of ‘Vasudeva kudumbambakam’ –the whole world as one family – has been lost sight off and personal aggrandizement, greed, untruth, lust and violence has become the order of the day.

Unfortunately the religions had no logically convincing answers to counter the after effects of this loss of values, since as stated above the ancient wisdom got buried in the books and the persons responsible to provide the answers were,  perhaps, themselves not aware of the deep philosophy and it’s logic. To worsen the matters the religions themselves got into a war as to who is superior.

This in effect meant that the 'spiritual' Vedic wisdom was lost and the 'ritual' religion started ruling the roost resulting in degradation of the values of life, causing conflict and disharmony at all levels.

But thankfully, as said before, this is not the first time in the human history that such a thing has happened; in the past also similar situations have arisen and have been handled successfully. Therefore there is no need for any despair as if it is irredeemable. The ‘Avatars’ have been periodically happening only because of the fall of wisdom and rise of ignorance like this, leading to, the evils gaining an upper hand. After all a Matsyavatar arose only when a demon concealed Vedas deep down in the ocean.

Also a Ravana lived when there was Lord Rama; a Kamsa and a Sisupala lived when there was Lord Krishna.  In fact Rama and Krishna came only because the ignorance became more powerful than true knowledge - with the Ravanas, Kamsas and Sisupalas, personifying Ego, Greed and Lust becoming  very much more powerful than the virtuous people of their times. Lord Buddha also arose in similar circumstances only when the rituals overtook the deep philosophy.

It has always been the ordained duty of the sincere scholars to step into the scene, whenever half knowledge, no knowledge and fake knowledge rules the day, and re-present the Vedic wisdom in a contemporarian  phraseology  so that the great wisdom of our sages is carried forward for eternity.

PANDIT SHRIRAMA SHARMA

One such seeker of truth is Pandit Shrirama Sharma, who has spent over 40 years in quest of this knowledge. He has been devoting his time and energy in deciphering the truth behind ‘existence (sat); knowledge (chit) and bliss (ananda)’. He has also been researching on the three major principles of Godhead- ‘Omnipresence; Omniscience and Omnipotence’. Further he has been deeply inquiring into the ‘purpose of creation; reasons for human maladies and the remedies for such maladies’. In his search for truth:

1.He studied and analyzed the Vedas, Upanishads, Shastras, Sutras;

2.The various religious philosophies such as Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Zen, Taoism, Jainism, Sikhism etc.

3.He also studied and analyzed the various schools of thought  in the various religions like -  Advaitha, Dwaitha, Vishitadwaitha,  Realism, Nihilism, Materialism, Idealism, Theism, Atheism, Monotheism, Sunny, Shia, Sufi , Catholics, Protestants, Spiritism etc., and their significances .,

4.He deeply researched the Vedas in its entirety with all it's angas, upangas, etc.,  

5.He studied in detail the various schools of Vedas- the six Astika schools viz., Nyaya, Vaisesika, Samkya, Mimamsa and Vedanga ; and the four Nastika schools viz., Buddhism, Jainism, Carvaka and Ajivaka.,

6.He went into the depths and heights of Samkya and understood the fusion it has achieved in the sciences of material and spiritual realm with no loose ends. He found it simply amazing that Sage Kapila could fathom the answers for several laws of physics and cosmic sciences which the modern science could not understand even now.

7.He also researched the concepts of world as real and world as a dream.

8.He researched on the various forms of worship-Sarguna (with form) Nirguna (formless)-various cults of worship-Saivism, Vaishnavism,  Sakthism  etc.,

9.He spent time in analyzing the Puranas, Ithihasas in various languages particularly in Sanskrit and Tamil. He delved deep into the Bakthi Literature of Sanskrit and Tamil.

10.He researched the Kriya Yoga sutras of Patanjali; Hatha Yoga sutras of Yangavalkiya;

11.He deeply studied the Brahma Sutras, as commented upon by Sankara and Ramanuja.

12.He researched the constant ecstasy of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and his writings

13.He read the various lectures of Vivekananda and analysed and understood his concept of ‘one world, one religion’ - the ‘vasudeva kudumbakam’.

14.He delved very deep into ‘Panchadasi’ - the Pinnacle of Vedanta and ‘Bagavad Gita’- the ultimate summit of Upanishads.

15.He analyzed and researched ‘Yoga Vashista’-the greatest treatise on god head and ‘Bagavatham’ the greatest purana – coincidentally the former written by Valmiki- author of epic Ramayana and the latter by Vyasa - the author of the other epic Mahabarata.

16.The research of these two greatest scriptures made him to understand, comprehend and appreciate the significance of the ‘theory of karma’ and the ‘theory of reincarnation’.

17.He also researched at great length the principles of Kundalini Yoga and the vast ocean of Maha mantras - it’s significance, it’s meanings, it’s science, it’s origin, and it’s Impact.

18.He studied and researched 'Vidhura Needhi',' Ardha Shastra' and' Manu Smriti' and learned the profound knowledge they contained for an organized society on an all round bliss.

19.Also he analysed the 'Garuda Purana' to understand the metaphysical significance of the after death experiences.

20.He did a very detailed study of 'Devi Mahatmiyam', 'Lalitha Sahasranamam', and 'Devi Bagavatham' and understood the magnificence of 'Omnipotence'

21.Similarly he studied the 'Siva puranam', 'Markandeya puranam', and 'Maha Rudram' and understood the deep significance of 'Omniscience'

22.Also he studied and researched 'Vishnu puranam' ,'Vishnu Sahasranamam', and 'Narayaneeyam' and understood the greatness of  'Omnipresence'

23.He researched at length the 'Purusha Suktham','Durga Suktham','Sri Suktham', 'Narayana Suktham',' Medha Sukham','Baghya Suktham' and understood the energy nodes viz., the 'Desire to act'- ‘Ichcha’; the 'Will to act'- ‘Kriya’; and the 'Knowledge to act’- ‘Jnana' and the 'Power to manifest'- ‘Purusha’ and its implications to practical life.

24.He researched the great works of Aurobindo and realized the divinity of the body, life and mind and also the profoundness of Vedas.

25.He extensively studied and researched the great works of Sivananda and Krishnanada and understood the underlying meanings and the depth of metaphysics.

26.He had a deep devotion to Paramacharya of Kanchi and had the ecstatic experience of seeing him, hearing him, studying his writings and speaking with him. The essence of Devotion, Karma, Sacrifice, Service, Adherence to ones duties, the eternity of Vedas, meaning of Vedas  are some of the areas in which he got great knowledge imparted through that great sage.

27.He also studied in depth the other major branch of human wisdom- Astronomy and Astrology and its various schools. He researched at great length the meaning, significance, role and impact of the cosmic bodies on the human life, body and psyche.

29.He studied the principles of Agamas, the Science of Sculpture and the Science of Astro-geometry. He studied extensively the books on Logics and Psychology.

30.He studied and researched at length the principles and philosophy of Saiva Siddanta.

31.He also analyzed and researched the philosophies of the accomplished yogis - the Siddhas-and their esoteric verses and its metaphysical significances.

32.He researched in depth ‘Kaivalya Navaneetham’ the Bagavad Gita based on the principles of Saiva Siddhantha.

33.He studied Kamba Ramayanam, Panchali sabatham, Tiruppugazh, Thevaram, Tiruarutpa, Thevaram, Thiruvasagam, Thirumandhiram, Peria Puranam, Divya  Prabandam and other great Tamil  bakthi classics.

34.He studied several times Ramayana and Mahabaratha and learned the principles and methods of applied metaphysics and cosmic science.

35.He studied, analyzed and understood the teachings of Ramana, JK, Prabhu Pada and Maharishi Yogi

36.He mastered Thirukkural –the sharpest intellectual work of the world till date.

37.He studied the great and gifted Tamil poet and Philosopher Kannadasan, a contemporary personality, who was an atheist turned firm believer.

38.He also studied at great length the writings of the rationalists, sunyavadis and atheists.

39.He studied Quantum Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Laws of Relativity, Newton’s Laws of Science, Theory of Evolution, The Theories of everything, The String theory, The Biocentrism Theory, Law of Thermo Dynamics, Law of Perpetual Motion, etc.,

40.He studied and analyzed the writings of Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and other western Philosophers; and Freud, Kent and other innumerable western thoughts on Science of nature and Philosophies of Religion.

41.He studied the 18^th and 19^th century western philosophers Max Muller, Woodruff and others who came, lived in India and researched the Vedas and its ancillaries.

42.He studied the various Vedic theories on the mind power and the modern psychological theories on the same subject.

43.He studied the science of ‘telepathy’, ‘mind sensing’, ‘ mind influencing’  both as enshrined in Vedas as well  as in the modern psychology.

44.In this context he studied the concepts of ‘rasa vidya’, ‘kaula marga’, ‘billi sunyam’, ‘eval’ ‘magic’, ’sorcery’ and ‘hypnotism’ also

45.He spent a lot of time in researching the reasons for human ailment.

46.He also studied the various remedies- the divine remedies- as enshrined in the Vedas and its ancillary texts for addressing these ailments.

47.He researched and delved deep to synchronize metaphysics and physics - i.e., the Vedic wisdom and the scientific knowledge- to establish the absolute and undiluted scientific temper of the Rishis, weeding out the unwanted superstitions that have crept in and integrate it with the modern science.

48.Above all he studied the contemporary human beings and realized how ‘God’s grace’ is the true game changer.

The Divine Realization

What he started with a feeling that, perhaps religion is at best a faith, ended up in realizing that, on the contrary, it is an intensely queried and satisfactorily answered wisdom.

1.He realized that god has created this universe as a place of absolute bliss only and for every being to be eternally happy only. The sufferings are manmade and so they are avoidable and rectifiable.

2.Also there is no true conflict between various religions and they can supplement each other very well.

3.Further he realized that in reality there is no major difference between the thoughts and approach of the western philosophers and the eastern philosophers.

4.He was also fully convinced that truly there is no conflict between religion and science; On the contrary they are complimentary.

5.He realized that the great confusion about the degree of authority and relevance of physics and metaphysics is arising only out of lack of understanding of what is a ‘science’.

6.Science is approaching the realities around us with a scientific temperament, particularly on facets which have not been explained logically as of yet, with a question as to why and how.

7.It involves a very close observation of what is happening, postulating a hypothesis, verifying for the recurrence, validating the premise, collecting empirical data and finally accepting it or rejecting it.

8.Both the scientists, of physics and metaphysics, have approached the same way only. The crucial difference being, in physics the theories have been developed for what is seen or seeable, whereas in metaphysics it has been developed for what is conceived or conceivable. 

9.Many things what is in physics today were there in metaphysics long, long ago. For e.g., Vedas have mentioned about the gravitational force of mass bodies thousands of years ago whereas physics had to wait until Newton came.

10.Similarly Vedas said millenniums ago, that the creation, sustenance and disintegration happen through vibration only and now the string theory says the same thing.

11.Vedas said the one year of the humans is one day for the devas in the celestial abode. And now the relativity theory of Einstein has confirmed that things that are travelling at high speed in space lose time. We can go on listing such examples.

12.Just the point to be kept in mind is that not everything in the universe is seeable or hearable or observable by human beings. Humans have a range of frequencies of light and sound that can be seen or heard by them. But that does not mean that the rest are not there. To take a simple example of a cat; what it can see in the night a man can't. Will that mean those things which a cat sees but a man doesn’t are not there?

13.After all, after how many millenniums have we figured out the radio waves, electromagnetic waves etc., which have been very clearly stated by our Vedic sages.

14.We read in Vedas that our galaxy is one amongst many other such galaxies. Similarly Vedas say there are many living beings which we can’t see.

15.Now the science confirms that on one side through powerful telescope they are able to locate many galaxies and on the other side through microscope they are able to see many germs and bacteria.

16.We know that we are neither able to see such galaxies or germs with naked eyes.

17.These are the three realms the Vedas talk about – melogam, bulogam and keelogam –located far above our range; located in our range and located far below our range of ‘cognizance’.

18.That is why despite there being several realms in the universe since the humans are in a particular realm, his cognitive faculties operate in that realm only.

19.It can handle only whatever audio and video frequencies, electromagnetic frequencies, vibratory frequencies for which he has been tuned by the God.

20.When mind and intellect evolves into a super mind, many of the things which we are not able to hear, see and understand today will become seeable, hearable and knowable.

21.Therefore if we understand that the cosmos consists of much more energy centers, which have not been seen by physics but which have been visualized by metaphysics, then things will be clear and easy.

22.And if we use that knowledge to develop an applied metaphysics it will help a lot in making this journey of life a very pleasant experience for everyone.

23.The biggest benefits of physics have been felt only after it became applied physics. Similarly with applied metaphysics we can do many wonders.

24.Hence he understood the need to develop ‘applied metaphysical concepts’

25.He also understood the need to sift the entire Vedic literature and it’s interpretations to remove the chaff of superstitions covering it so that the pure science stands out.

26.Therefore he came to a conclusion that the scientific Vedic principles and practices may have to be re-told in today’s language and it should be converted into 'applied Vedic science'.

27.He was convinced that once this is done, most of the human sufferings can be addressed and alleviated.

Need for Divine Permission

While the answers for many of the questions he could understand from the research and analysis of the Vedas ,Upanishads and the other scriptures he has listed earlier, for some of the questions he got the answers revealed intuitively.

Those intuitive revelations, in certain aspects, were at great variance from the current day accepted philosophies of religion. Therefore he was not clear whether he had the divine sanction for venturing into this exercise of taking his revelations to the masses.

Therefore he simply postulated his thesis of:

Sachidananda-the Existence, Knowledge and Bliss ;

Parabrahmam - the supreme god head viz. the omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent power

Karma - the causes of human maladies (karma)  and

Parihara - the divine solutions for redemption from such maladies;

And placed the same before the Goddess Almighty – Sri Kamakshi, and asked for her divine guidance. 

 The Divine Path to Eternal Bliss and Divine Remedies

In his theory he not only elaborated and established the unquestionable scientific nature of the Vedic wisdom but also applied the scientific principles of Vedas to work out (i) a step-by-step method to achieve the state of eternal bliss and to be constantly there and (ii) a step-by-step method of redemption, in the event of not being able to be in that state of eternal bliss. The former will educate and train a person to be ever blissful and the latter will take care of the remedial aspects should one have swerved the path and got into suffering.

Divine Sanction                                                                                                                                                  

After one year he had the vision of the Supreme God head as “Rishabaruda” –the Hari Rishaba, Uma, Maheswara - approving his thoughts, accepting his prayer and ordaining him to undertake the divine task.

Note: It is my great fortune to disclose that the ‘he’ referred to above is ‘adiyen’ myself and it is just ‘God’s grace’ that the almighty gave me an opportunity to be spiritual in this earthly journey, as you will see in the next chapter.