Sunday, January 28, 2018

Importance of Ramayana Slokas and Things to remember before reading Ramayan

There is no need to introduce Ramayan to Hindus, most of you might have already read Ramayana. But if you have read Ramayan as a story without knowing the importance of slokas and incidents told in Ramayana then you might have to read Ramayan again. The sloka’s in Ramayan are more important than we actually think. Now let us understand why these slokas and incidents are so important.

Ramayan talks about the life of Lord Shri Rama from the day he was born to the day he left back to vaikunta. It also talks about the great kings of ikshvaku dynasty, great rishis, and about the people who played an important role in the life of Lord Shri Rama and Lot more.

Ramayan was written by sage Valmiki. For people who think, how Valmiki know each and every incident in Rama’s life, you can find the answer below

Sage Valmiki lived during Rama’s period. Sage Valmiki has got a boon from Lord Brahma that if he closes his eyes and concentrates, he can know what all is going on or has already happened along with, what a particular person was thinking inside. With the help of this boon sage, Valmiki has written about the life of Lord Sri Rama as it is.

sage valmiki - Importance of Ramayan
sage valmiki

Sage Valmiki has written Ramayana in only 24000 slokas. As per Ramayan Lord Rama has lived for around 11000 years. During the 11000 years of Rama’s life, there might be many incidents that happened and he might have met many people. But if you observe sage Valmiki has written Ramayan in only 24000 slokas. So he might have considered only important incidents and persons.

There are many kings in ikshvaku dynasty and there are also many sages. But if you notice Valmiki has not mentioned all the sages and the kings in Ramayan. sage had mentioned only some and he especially highlighted a few.

So why sage Valmiki might have done this? What is the reason for highlighting some incidents, sages, kings, and people? There might be two main reasons

  1. Those incidents or people might have played an important role in Lord Rama’s life
  2. Sage Valmiki wants to tell something to the future generation by telling about those incidents or people.

The first Reason might be true. But I feel sage Valmiki have given more importance to the second reason. Because in Ramayan sage has talked more about some people than Rama’s mother, Kausalya. If the first reason was the only reason sage might have talked more about Kousalya than anyone else in Ramayan. But he has not done like that.

So sage Valmiki wants to give some knowledge to the coming generation by taking the life of Lord Sri Rama as an example.

Many great people say that each sloka in Ramayan is like a mantra and reciting those slokas will generate power in us. I truly believe in it. Valmiki written slokas in such a way that they will have the mantra shakti.

If we can analyze the slokas of Ramayana they are the source of unlimited knowledge. I feel sage has kept a lot of hidden messages in slokas. If we can analyze and get the hidden message then it will really help us a lot

Sage Valmiki has indirectly taught us the knowledge of Vedas in an easy way. He taught us Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Bhakti yoga in an easy way by taking the examples of people. Not only this Valmiki has mentioned kingdoms, architectures, weapons, Vimaan (aeroplane), and many. I don’t think Valmiki might have talked about them to explain their beauty. Maybe Valmiki wants to give some knowledge to his coming generations. So Ramayan is a big source of knowledge for people who can seek it.

Also read Navavidha Bhakti

Summary

  1. While reading Ramayan read out each Sanskrit sloka. This slokas contain Mantra Shakti. If you can’t read Sanskrit properly there are many sites that provide the slokas in almost all Indian language lipi’s (writing script) with audio.
  2. There is a lot of hidden knowledge in each Sanskrit sloka of Ramayan. So don’t read Ramayan like a story, read it carefully and try to analyze each and every sloka.

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Friday, January 26, 2018

Become healthy and Peaceful with 20+20 Funda. Simple tips for good health and peaceful life

The two main goals of humans are good health and Soul improvement. I think you all can understand what good health is. So let me briefly explain what I mean by soul improvement. Soul improvement means conquering the emotions by which we can have a peaceful life and afterlife, which can lead us to Moksha (liberation). But because of busy Lifestyle or because of more luxuries we are ignoring these two main goals.

Effects of forgetting these two goals are

  1. Suffering from diseases
  2. No satisfaction in life even after having so many luxuries
  3. Feeling depressed most of the time
  4. Decreased life expectancy
  5. No peace in life
  6. Moving away from the main goal of human life Moksha

So in this busy life is there a way to good health and Soul improvement.

Yes.

20 + 20 Funda

By following 20 + 20 Funda you can be healthy and can also start your journey towards soul improvement.

First, let us understand in brief what this 20 + 20 funda is. Basically, 20 + 20 funda means spending 20 minutes before a bath and 20 minutes after a bath. You can do it early in the morning or in the evening with an empty stomach at your convenience.

20 minutes before bath

Now first we will learn what we have to do in the first 20 minutes before the bath. This 20 minutes before bath, we have to concentrate on physical exercise. In these 20 minutes do any physical exercise you like. But make sure you will sweat in these 20 minutes. I suggest you include Surya namaskars in this 20 minutes. Because of this 20 minutes physical exercise there are many benefits

Benefits/Advantages of Physical exercise

  1. Exercise will improve your mood and reduce feelings of depression anxiety and stress
  2. It will produce positive feelings
  3. It will keep your body weight in control
  4. Physical activity helps you build muscles and strong bones
  5. It increases your energy levels
  6. It will reduce the risk of chronic diseases
  7. Moderate exercise can provide antioxidant protection and promote blood flow, which can protect your skin and delay signs of aging
  8. Exercise improves blood flow to the brain and help brain health and memory
  9. Regular physical exercise can help you sleep better and feel more energized

surya namaskar - Healthy and peaceful life
Surya namaskar for good health

20 Minutes after bath

Now let us focus on 20 minutes after a bath. The main goal of any soul is to attain Moksha (liberation). If we are not putting some efforts in that direction then there will be some unknown dissatisfaction in life, as one grows older.

Doing Japa is a basic step by which we can start improving our soul or put our first step towards Moksha.

Also read Navavidha Bhakti

Immediately after bath do Tilaka dharana. Kumkum, vibudi, sindhoor or gandam any one of these can be used for tilaka dharana as per your preference. Then get dressed as per Hindu tradition. If you can’t wear it, wear a comfortable dress. Then choose a peaceful place in your home. Put a mat or any clean clothes on the floor and sit comfortably. Then do below pranayama

Close your right nostril and breathe from your left nostril to your full capacity then immediately exhale through the right nostril by closing the left nostril. After that inhale with the right nostril to your full capacity and then immediately exhale with the left nostril by closing the right nostril. Repeat this four times.

If you have more time you can do more pranayama’s

After Pranayama do Japa.

Japa means chanting a Mantra or the name of your ishta Devata. So you can chant the name of your ista Devatha for 108 times for example om Namo narayanaya, om Namah Shivaya, etc. You can use a Japa mala for counting. Keep your eyes closed while chanting and try to see your Ista Devatha with Mano nethra (inside eye). Try to chant inside- repeating the name inside your heart (no sound outside).

japa mala - Healthy and peaceful life
japa mala

Don’t do chanting in hurry to complete it fast, do it peacefully by seeing the Ista Devatha with manonethra (inside eye). It takes around 15 to 20 minutes to complete the Japa. By doing Japa like this, you will get the blessings of your Ista Devatha and your soul will start getting purified. During Japa, all the divine qualities steadily flow into your mind. Japa transforms the nature of the mind, it fills the mind with sattva (purity) guna.

Benefits/advantages of doing Japa

  1. Doing Japa will train your mind for Chitta Shuddhi (purity of mind)
  2. Will burn all the negative influences
  3. Increase the level of concentration
  4. It will help in cultivating the nobility in thoughts and actions
  5. Doing Japa will calm and strengthen your mind.

So friends spend 40 mins daily out of 1440 mins (24 hours) for good health, a peaceful mind, and to start your journey towards Moksha. Remember this 40 minute is for you and your soul. So keep aside 40 mins daily in your schedule for the betterment of your health and peaceful life.

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