STORY-TELLING : A Seva-yagna for Children! ~ Swami Chinmayananda

[Excerpts from letters and articles by Swami Chinmayananda]

Story telling is an art that should be cultivated by all parents. There is a treasure of joy for the story-teller and a heritage of good that the innocent tiny listener can gain from the story that is told to them. Children can be readily held in attention only by the mesmeric enchantment of the rhythm in the movements​ of the theme of the story. Create an environment of affection, tenderness, concern for other living beings, appreciation for the good and noble and recognition of beauty in things. This is the right time for the higher and nobler values of life to sink in. This can be done through Puranic stories, stories of great Saints and Sages, and mighty heroes of politics and science. They will learn how, in the confrontation of good and evil, the good ultimately always triumphs.

While listening to the story a child is in a different mode as children alone can be. They are thrilled by their love for the fantasia. Their imagination lights up and their wide eyed joys are kindled. Children are at such moments in the very lap of Nature gliding on incredible​ patterns surging in their own hearts!

The very story in the growing child will by itself instill the great truths and higher values of life as time passes on. Learn how to marshal the thoughts into a story-form. Learn to think the story out. Telling a story is different from reading a story. You must allow the theme and story to sink into you. Digest it well….More than the story, learn the “Art of building the Story!” Tell, never teach a story. Children learn more by a story well told than what we teach them through a story!

Introduce them to stories of Rama and Krishna. Stories about the spiritual giants of the world, their experiences and trials, their strength in overcoming temptations, the positive experiences of joy that they gained, may all be passed on to the children with appropriate emotions. The endless stories and analogies can take their minds on an independent trip to see for themselves a greater message of life and a larger value in life. When they ask questions about flowers, clouds, butterflies or frogs, be alert to spice your honest explanations with a hint about the play of God around us. Leave them with these small hints; don’t go into details.

Give the growing children an insight into the beauty of our culture through the enlivening stories of our eternal Puranas. Let them imbibe the spirit of Prahlada, Dhruva, Balaram, Krishna and Muruga. Let them be inspired by the life of Sankara, Buddha, Vivekananda and the child Ramana. Explain to them the general meaning of the Geeta verses. Explain to them Krishna-Gopas, Krishna-Arjuna to exemplify the need for surrender, service and sense of duty. Puranas are a treasure trove enough!!

Story-telling is very effective for children. Become the greatest story-teller for children. It is an art in itself. Very few can do it. It is a God-given blessing. Cultivate it. Develop it. India needs it. World is waiting for it. The national history, geography, philosophy, social customs, plants, birds, mountains, rivers, sacred places, character, ideals — all can be woven into them and held up for our children. (In character depiction) throw a little more colour into the emotions — bring out all emotions vividly. Our children must shed tears, weep in sympathy, love, affection, tenderness, devotion, obedience; sigh in relief; heave in the heroism felt, courtesy shown and goodness manifest. Make them weep — pant — surge — ready-for-action — ready-for-sacrifice. It is in these deep reactions that children get these qualities ever fixed upon their heart. Let them not forget that this was our Bharat, where Rama – Lakshmana – Bharat represent the ideal Hindu, the perfect Aryan, the exemplary Indian Janata. Guha and others represent the perfect people. Paint it thicker….take them all along the path of emotional ups and downs, through ashramas, river-beds, mountains — pause them to watch flowers, trees, tendrils, animals, insects — point out to them moon, sunrise, stars, sky, clouds — never forget even for a moment the innocent, wide-eyed, children of tomorrow gazing at you from all sides. Be in tune with the children and talk to them. Let hundreds of innocent chubby faces be uplifted to you all around!

This is really a glorious sadhana! A splendid Seva-yagna for the children!! Tell, never preach a story!!!

========================================================================

For updates of posts on Telegram join the group : https://t.me/BharateeyaSamskruti

On whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CoAP8prf6DmG3lqu8sg5GS

Follow us on Instagram :  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd0vr9MMps7/

Bharatiya Katha Vaibhava – Vol 4 [ Books for children] : Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.in/Bharatiya-Katha-Vaibhava-4-SHREEDARSHAN/dp/9393029547/

Bharatiya Katha Vaibhava – Vol 3 [ Books for children] : Amazon Link:https://www.amazon.in/Bharatiya-Katha-Vaibhava-Shreedarshan-K/dp/9390640946/

Bharatiya Katha Vaibhava – Vol 2 [ Books for children] : Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.in/Bharatiya-Katha-Vaibhava-2-Shreedarshan/dp/9390640199/

Bharatiya Katha Vaibhava – Vol 1 [ Books for children] : Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.in/Bharatiya-Katha-Vaibhava-1-Shreedarshan/dp/9390011663/

Advertisement

Sri Krishna Jayanti ~ Swami Chinmayananda

[Excerpts from letters, articles and commentaries by Swami Chinmayananda]

KRISHNA is one of the greatest expressions of the DIVINE that manifested among mankind! The more you contemplate on his personality, the more philosophical you become — the more you find symbolised in it the entire Vedantic philosophy. Krishna is not a historical figure; He is the perpetual Truth. History is the chronological order of things that happen in life. He is beyond chronology. He does not belong to the past. He is of the EVER IMMEDIATE MOMENT. History is happening in time. History is played out in Him — He is the Master of Time. In His awareness of His Infinite Divine Nature, the Joyous State of Bliss Absolute — moulded in joy, carved out in bliss, soaked in joy — He stands out as a brilliant entity, inspiring, purifying, beautifying life around Him. He not only lived the higher Divine Life, but brought the higher Life to add brilliance and joy to the everyday worldly life, to the routine and activities of the day-to-day life, political, social, economical, scientific and even in the war front — at all levels. Even if we spend a life time trying to describe His glory, not even one ray of that mighty blindening Light of Wisdom can we really express in words!!

To-day is a wonderful day! The Lord is coming, so people fast. Fasting is Upasana — to live near the Lord. Attunement to the Lord through meditation is fasting. For intellectual work, eating food and indulgence in the world is detrimental — for, Krishna’s birth is ENLIGHTENMENT. Food means satisfaction for the senses. Uplift them to contemplation. The thick darkness has come. Be brave. Light will dawn. There must be no fear. The Sun has dawned in our bosom. Thus we turn inward in meditation. In that silence of the heart, in spite of thunders, we must remain sufficiently long. Then only, in that long-earned tranquility will we experience the BIRTH of KRISHNA, the LIGHT !

Krishna is TRUTH. He was born in the quiet heart-caves of the Rishis. Those Rishis gradually transmitted their knowledge to their disciples. Thus Krishna was removed from the prison to Yashoda’s house — the disciple’s heart. While we are sleeping in fatigue and exhaustion, wearied in production and destruction, we know not, that there is born a baby, called “Knowledge-Krishna” in our bosom. The senses are the gate-keepers who slept off when Krishna was born. There is as though a dark screen between man and the Infinite. The body, mind and intellect cannot gate-crash through this darkness to understand the Infinite and bring it to scientific apprehension. As long as we are engaged in outer activities, the scriptures do not open their secrets to us. When we get fed up with these and go to sleep to forget them — then in that quiet sleep of midnight, in the maturity of understanding — in MEDITATION — this CHILD is born, the LIGHT dawns! THAT DARKNESS IS THIS NIGHT OF KRISHNA’S BIRTH.

Sri Krishna is to be born in your bosom, as you wait for His birth in the ruthless prison-house, shackled with heavy chains of clanking iron. At midnight, when the gathered clouds have wiped away even the tiniest starlight, HE will be born — a blazing mass joy! He shall command. When you get ready to execute His Will, the shackles snap! The bolts open! The doors of the prison slide outward leaving you free to walk out! When the world is weeping in rains, when blind despair is darkening our bosom, in that prison-house of the body, the Divine is born….. the SPIRITUAL URGE IS BORN. This is the day when devotion will be born in our bosom. All our vasanas will be asleep now. Our intellect and mind, Devaki and Vasudeva, shall suddenly discover that their usual shackles of ego and attachments​ fall off! Allow Him to be born peacefully in the prison-house of your bosom. Safely take Him across the Jamuna of desires and passions and protect Him from all the threats from His uncle – our Ego. Let Him grow among the noble feelings of devotion and dedication – the Gopis and Gopas. Let us Hail Him and wait His birth in us.

He is in you; seek and discover. He is not outside, He is behind your mind in the Gokul. He hides behind the veil of our ignorance. He is in the Dark and hence is called Krishna — the Dark. He attracts (Akarshana) and so He is doubly Krishna. Seek within. And when even the joy of meeting Him has no enjoyer in you to thirst for it — there the KRISHNA-ANUBHAVA comes! Be firmly established in Krishna. Coronate Him in your heart. He illumines and helps us. His divine music soothes our burning souls. Let Krishna become a part and parcel of the very being — the Life of life — the Breath of breath. This Krishna Power is in every one of us. It is for us to make It bright. To invoke Him is only to claim Him. “He alone gains Him who chooses Him”. Reach Him through surrender and devotion, or reach Him through understanding, or reach Him through service of the world outside recognising that every form is nothing but our Beloved Lord’s own expression — walking temples — wherever they are, the Lord is there. Thus through Karma Yoga, Bhakti or Jnana, reach Him, awake to that Plane of Consciousness and come to experience KRISHNAMAYAM JAGAT — that KRISHNA ALONE IS ALL THIS !!

On this Krishnashtami Day, I expect everyone of you to sit in vigil waiting for His birth within the iron doors of your self-made penitentiary. Sri Krishna Jayanthi is an occasion when we re-dedicate our life unto Him and re-model our behaviour fashioning our thoughts and actions towards His Beauty and Wisdom. On this auspicious day of His birth among us, the very Ideal of your cultural aspirations, may we pray to Him to teach us how to live life and pour ourselves out in the service of our brothers, and yet live in unbroken inner poise. May you all come to experience the BIRTH of KRISHNA in your hearts. EVERYDAY IS KRISHNA JAYANTHI TO ONE WHO DAILY MEDITATES ! 

“Sri Krishna Govinda Hare Murare! Hey Natha Narayana Vasudeva!”

============================================================

For updates of posts on Telegram join the group : https://t.me/BharateeyaSamskruti

On whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CoAP8prf6DmG3lqu8sg5GS

Follow us on Instagram :  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd0vr9MMps7/

Bharatiya Katha Vaibhava – Vol 4 [ Books for children] : Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.in/Bharatiya-Katha-Vaibhava-4-SHREEDARSHAN/dp/9393029547/

Bharatiya Katha Vaibhava – Vol 3 [ Books for children] : Amazon Link:https://www.amazon.in/Bharatiya-Katha-Vaibhava-Shreedarshan-K/dp/9390640946/

Bharatiya Katha Vaibhava – Vol 2 [ Books for children] : Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.in/Bharatiya-Katha-Vaibhava-2-Shreedarshan/dp/9390640199/

Bharatiya Katha Vaibhava – Vol 1 [ Books for children] : Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.in/Bharatiya-Katha-Vaibhava-1-Shreedarshan/dp/9390011663/

[For bulk order of books and for discounts please contact : naadopaasana18@gmail.com or WhatsApp: 9739003467]

Sri Veda Vyasa ~ Swami Chinmayananda

[Excerpts from articles and commentaries by Swami Chinmayananda]

VYASA is the Pivotal Truth, the Substratum, the very Rock-Foundation of the entire spring of the Indian Culture based on the Vedantic Philosophy. Vyasa is a great poet-philosopher and has become an institution representing the Hindu heritage. He was a great student of the Vedas and a Man of Realisation. Not only was Vyasa’s intellect mighty, but he was completely tolerant, holding in his embrace of love the entire universe of living beings. No scriptural study or Vedic chanting is ever started without prostrations unto this greatest of Seers. If we must attribute Hinduism to any single individual there is none else to whom we can most appropriately attribute its present existence and past glories except to Veda Vyasa.

Vyasa was not merely a man of realisation and perfection, but was also one who had the spirit of adventure to serve his generation throughout his life. He was a revivalist who contributed the maximum to the Hindu Renaissance of that critical era. He was the most daring religious revolutionary that ever appeared on the horizon of Hindu cultural history. Vyasa was one of the sages who had a vast vision of the past and the great imagination to see the future both of which he brought forth in order to tackle the problems of decadence in his immediate present. 

Hinduism came to face a great crisis in its spiritual and cultural history created by a decadent society and its own misinterpretations of its great culture. A restatement of the scriptural truths, in a language and spirit understandable to the people, was the demand of the age and Vyasa came to answer this call. At such a crucial juncture in our spiritual history that we find the advent of the great revolutionary reformer, the poet-philosopher, Vyasa. He retrieved the life-giving gems of wisdom that lay almost unnoticed in the bowels of the then existing social confusions and life’s commotions. He collected the Vedic passages and for the first time edited them into four written volumes which constitute today the four great Vedas of the Hindus: the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda and the Atharvana Veda, and thereafter gave us the dialectics of Vedanta in his Brahma Sutras. Himself a great man of realisation, this ancient seer had both the mastery in the theoretical science of religion in Hinduism and also the practical experience of the Supreme. 

Vyasa was a complete artist. Unhurriedly he works on; nowhere is he hasty. In almost every stanza, he not only exhibits his literary mastery over the use of words, but also employs them with such precision that often his simple-looking words, in their right context, talk volumes to all careful students. The versatile genius of Vyasa never left anything that he touched without raising it to​ the most sublime heights of sheer perfection with his rare capacity of composing incomparable poetry, unique prose-diction, chaste descriptions, artistic literary designs, original innovations both in thought and form. A brilliant philosopher, a consummate man of wisdom, a genius in worldly knowledge — now in the palace, now in the battle field, now in Badrinath, now among the silent snowy peaks — strode the colossus, Sri Vyasa, as an embodiment of what is best in the Hindu tradition and in the Aryan culture. Yet, Vyasa’s philosophical thought is not sectarian or creedal. It is not a philosophy only for Hindus. It is universal in its application and is addressed to all mankind. Such an all round genius has not yet been reported ever to have born, lived or achieved in the History Globe!!

व्यासाय विष्णु रूपाय व्यासरूपाय विष्णवे I
नमो वै ब्रह्मनिधये वासिष्ठाय नमो नमः II

==========================================================================

For updates of posts on Telegram join the group : https://t.me/BharateeyaSamskruti

On whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CoAP8prf6DmG3lqu8sg5GS

Follow us on Instagram :  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd0vr9MMps7/

Bharatiya Katha Vaibhava – Vol 4 [ Books for children] : Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.in/Bharatiya-Katha-Vaibhava-4-SHREEDARSHAN/dp/9393029547/

Bharatiya Katha Vaibhava – Vol 3 [ Books for children] : Amazon Link:https://www.amazon.in/Bharatiya-Katha-Vaibhava-Shreedarshan-K/dp/9390640946/

Bharatiya Katha Vaibhava – Vol 2 [ Books for children] : Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.in/Bharatiya-Katha-Vaibhava-2-Shreedarshan/dp/9390640199/

Bharatiya Katha Vaibhava – Vol 1 [ Books for children] : Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.in/Bharatiya-Katha-Vaibhava-1-Shreedarshan/dp/9390011663/

[For bulk order of books and for discounts please contact : naadopaasana18@gmail.com or WhatsApp: 9739003467]

Sri Rama Paduka Pattabhisheka

Sri Rama along with his consort Seeta and brother Lakshmana went to the forest in exile for 14 years to keep up the promise king Dasaratha, his father had made to his wife, Kaikeyi. Unable to bear the seperation from his son, Dasaratha breathed his last. At the unusual turn of events, Guru Vashishta urgently summoned Bharata who had gone to visit his maternal uncle. Bharata returned to Ayodhya only to find the city of joy absolutely silent. People looked lost and sad. Strange! The situation in the palace was no better. He quickly made his way to his mother, Kaikeyi’s chamber. On enquiring, she narrated everything to him, and finally said, “the throne awaits you, my dear son. Get ready for your pattabhisheka!”

Bharata was stunned. He was overwhelmed with grief and pain. In a fit of anger, he totally disowned his mother. Because of her, he had lost his father. His brother Rama whom he loved, adored and worshipped had been sent to the forest, along with Seeta and Lakshmana. He wept bitterly and cried his heart out at the feet of Rama’s mother, Kausalya. The gracious mother of Rama was sad and grief-stricken at the loss of her husband and seperation from her son; but felt happy to see the devotion and loyalty that Bharata had towards his elder brother, Rama. 

After the final rites of his father, Bharata was called upon by Guru Vashishta to ascend the throne and take up the responsibilities of the kingdom. In the royal assembly, Bharata with tears in his eyes, yet, surely and firmly, told everyone, that Sri Rama alone was the rightful heir to the throne and there was absolutely no question of him becoming the king. He pleaded innocence and said that he had nothing to do with his mother’s devious plans. He requested everyone to accompany him to the forest to convince Rama to return to Ayodhya. He made all the necessary arrangements to crown Rama as the King of Ayodhya in the forest itself and bring him back! Kaikeyi understood the devotion and reverence Bharata had for Rama, and repented sincerely for her wrong doings. 

Bharata and his brother Shatrughna, Sage Vashishta, the queen mothers and the people of Ayodhya proceeded to the forest, and reached Chitrakoota where Rama, Seeta and Lakshmana had settled down. The moment Bharata saw Rama, he ran forward and fell at his brother’s feet, weeping profusely for all the hardships that Rama had to undergo in the forest. He totally blamed himself for it. Unable to reconcile with what had happened, he was just inconsolable. Rama tenderly lifted him up and held him in a tight embrace. That hug was enough to pacify, console and calm down Bharata’s agitated mind. Yet, in his mind was the fear whether Rama would accept his proposal and return to Ayodhya. 

Next day, an assembly was arranged in the forest. Along with the others, King Janaka was also present. All eyes were on Bharata. Every one was anxious to see the outcome of the meeting. Bharata put forth his humble request and tried to convince Rama to return. When Rama did not yield, he respectfully pleaded, later he gently argued and even lovingly debated with Rama! Sri Rama was equally firm on his decision to keep up his words. All those present were overwhelmed at the love and affection that Rama and Bharata had for each other. Guru Vashishta and King Janaka put forth their views on the duties and responsibilities of a King. Kaikeyi stepped forward and unconditionally withdrew the demand she had made. But for Rama, there was no question of going back on his words.

Not losing hopes, Bharata pleaded, “How can I ever sit on the throne that belongs to you, dear brother? You alone are the rightful heir to the kingdom and can handle its huge responsibility, I simply cannot.” He even told Rama that he would substitute for him and stay in the forest for 14 years on his behalf, and that Rama should go back to Ayodhya. The Lord understood Bharata’s feelings. Rama replied, “Alright! I accept the kingdom from you. As the King of Ayodhya, I now declare you as king-in-charge. You will rule and look after the kingdom for 14 years on my behalf. After the completion of the exile term, I promise to come and take back the kingdom from you.” 

Bharata was sweetly adamant! He said, “O! Rajendra, give me your PADUKAS, which shall be worshipped in the kingdom. I shall serve both – your padukas and the people till you return. In your absence, they shall adorn the throne in your place, not me! I shall as a mere sevak of yours, execute and discharge my duties and responsibilities towards the people of the kingdom as best as I can, keeping in mind your honour, dignity and glory (paduke dehi rajendra, rajyaya tava pujithe; tayo sevam karomyeva, yavath agamanam tava ~ Adhyatma Ramayana).”

Rama’s heart melted in the warmth of Bharata’s love and devotion, his steadfastness and loyalty. Overwhelmed with joy, the Lord exclaimed, “Bharata, I am indeed fortunate and blessed to have a brother like you!”. The Lord agreed to Bharata’s loving insistence and readily handed over his Padukas to him, with an assurance that he will be back in Ayodhya exactly after 14 years. Still not satisfied, Bharata added that the very next moment, after 14 years, if he failed to see the divinely charming face of Sri Rama, he would consign himself to flames. Rama assured him that he would be back exactly after 14 years.

Carrying Sri Rama’s Padukas reverentially on his head, and the Lord’s loving assurance in his heart, Bharata returned to Ayodhya along with the others. The people of Ayodhya witnessed a unique and grand PADUKA PATTABHISHEKA! Sri Rama’s Padukas adorned the throne. Ayodhya without Rama was unthinkable for Bharata. He stayed in Nandigram on the outskirts of Ayodhya. He gave up all the royal luxuries and lived a life of tapas, and discharged his duties from there, ably supported by Shatrughna. With Bharata in-charge and for full 14 years, SRI RAMA’S PADUKAS ruled over the kingdom of Ayodhya! As promised, exactly after 14 years, the Lord came back from exile. With a great sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, Bharata handed over the kingdom to its rightful heir. Bharata’s kingdom was verily at Lord Sri Rama’s lotus feet!!

“O Rama, clarify this doubt of mine. Which is greater? Your lotus FEET or your blessed PADUKAS? The rishis who worshipped your FEET gained your abode; but to Bharata who worshipped your PADUKAS you gave Yourself!”~ Thyagaraja Swami

========================================================================

For updates of posts on Telegram join the group : https://t.me/BharateeyaSamskruti

On whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CoAP8prf6DmG3lqu8sg5GS

Follow us on Instagram :  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd0vr9MMps7/

Bharatiya Katha Vaibhava – Vol 4 [ Books for children] : Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.in/Bharatiya-Katha-Vaibhava-4-SHREEDARSHAN/dp/9393029547/

Bharatiya Katha Vaibhava – Vol 3 [ Books for children] : Amazon Link:https://www.amazon.in/Bharatiya-Katha-Vaibhava-Shreedarshan-K/dp/9390640946/

Bharatiya Katha Vaibhava – Vol 2 [ Books for children] : Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.in/Bharatiya-Katha-Vaibhava-2-Shreedarshan/dp/9390640199/

Bharatiya Katha Vaibhava – Vol 1 [ Books for children] : Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.in/Bharatiya-Katha-Vaibhava-1-Shreedarshan/dp/9390011663/

[For bulk order of books and for discounts please contact : naadopaasana18@gmail.com or WhatsApp: 9739003467]