Astral body healing

 Hari Aum.

I am writing this article as a follow-up from my previous post on yogic anatomy. This post is about the astral body (known as the 'sukshma sharira' in Sanskrit, meaning 'subtle body'). Many people carry pain and blockages in the astral/energy body, which can then manifest as physical pain and disease. It is therefore important to understand the energy body and the means to heal this and maintain good energetic health.

The astral body consists of the:

i) prana layer (chakras/energy centres and nadis/ channels that carry prana/chi/life force/energy--known as 'pranamaya kosha' in yogic terminology)

ii) emotional layer (mind/emotions, known as 'manomaya kosha') and 

iii) intellectual layer ('vijnayamaya kosha'). 

(Note- there are five main layers in the human being according to the ancient yogic texts. These are present within 3 'bodies'. For further information, please read the post on yogic anatomy: https://mantrayoga.blogspot.com/2023/09/yogic-anatomy-brief-outline.html

When chakras function well, we feel well in body and mind. When they do not, when they get blocked, we can feel ill. 

The physical body, the astral body and the causal body (storehouse of karma) are the vehicle for the manifestation of the soul in the physical, material realm that we inhabit.

Changes in one layer or body can affect the others (positively or negatively). 

The factors that influence the health of the astral body include physical, mental and spiritual. Let us examine these.

Physical factors:

Impure/non-sattvic food and drink -- alcohol, meat, egg, onion and garlic are main ones. In addition, spicy, oily, heavily processed, stale foods. These create blockages in the prana layer (in the chakras and nadis) and increase rajas and tamas (negative emotions) in the mind/intellect. 

Conversely, sattvic foods such as fresh fruit, vegetables (lightly cooked or sometimes raw), dairy products, grains, pulses are good for the health of the astral body. These increase sattva (positive emotions) in the mind/intellect and prana in the energy body. (In the Chandogya Upanishad, it is written that the subtlest portion of food becomes the mind. We can clearly see the impact of certain foods and drinks on the mind-- e.g. the influence of excess alcohol). 

Note- very few, if any, people have a perfect yogic diet. Common sense is needed. One should follow the dietary principles are far as possible (one should aim for a diet which is at least 85-90% sattvic, the remaining 10-15% may involve some favourite foods/drinks that are less ideal).

Emotional factors:

Anger, fear, resentment, hate, jealousy, insecurity, anxiety, pride, excessive lust, greed and so on are unhealthy for the body, mind and soul.

We all have these negative feelings. They form part of our lower mind. These dark emotions create harmful/stress hormones in the body, block the chakras and nadis and lead us downwards spiritually. We need to learn to manage these in a sensible manner so that we can live a happy and healthy life on the planet as far as possible. 

Equally, we all experience positive feelings. Love, kindness, compassion, empathy, trust, honesty, generosity, forgiveness and so are good for the body, mind and soul. These create good hormones in the body, open the chakras and allow prana to flow freely. These also uplift the soul and promote spiritual progress.

Intellectual factors:

The intellect, when it reflects upon spiritual matters, upon God, becomes attuned with the Divine. It is cleansed by contact with reflection upon the Divine. 

Excessive thinking about material issues and mundane matters, misuse of the powers of the intellect to harm others/act in an unspiritual manner, tarnishes and weakens the intellect over time. It also creates negative karma. 

The power of mantra japa:

Recitation of a mantra or name of God has a powerful cleansing effect on the astral body. It heals the blockages in the chakras, enables better flow of prana through the nadis and uplifts the mind and intellect. It enables us to recognise our spiritual nature as being a part of the Divine.

Twin soul energetic anatomy:

As someone on a twin soul journey, I want to write something about twin soul energetic anatomy. The reason is, I want this to help twin souls heal the pain they experience on this journey. I am writing this for myself, for my twin and for all other twin souls who read this.

The astral bodies of twin souls are interconnected. Each of the seven main chakras in the prana layer are interconnected. There is a constant flow of energy between them-- mostly unseen but very much present nonetheless. Through the connection of the chakras, thoughts and feelings also flow. Thus, the mind-layer/ manomaya/ vijnanamaya koshas are also connected.

As we know, twin soul pain is huge. A lot of this pain is stored in the astral body, specifically in the solar plexus centre/ manipura chakra. 

When this chakra is cleansed, there may sometimes be physical symptoms (related to the stomach, for example, nausea/vomiting). Similarly, various other physical symptoms may occur when other chakras are being purged/cleansed. This cleansing is a key effect that twin souls have upon each other and can help their spiritual development.

Twin flame pain has to end (for me, my twin, and ultimately, all twin souls). I do not believe for a moment that the universe wants us to carry this around for the rest of our lives (and future lifetimes).

I am writing this to help outline what I feel will help us as a group. I am also writing this for my twin.

1. Forgiveness-- all twins have to forgive themselves and their twin soul. Whatever it is that we are angry or resentful about, we need to get over it. It is just not worth a lifetime of pain. 

The pain of the past, is nothing compared to the pain of the present and that awaits us in the future (this and other lifetimes) if we do not act to heal this connection between us. We cannot allow this pain to continue. 

Forgiveness is the healing balm. It heals the heart and solar plexus chakras.

 There is nothing that we cannot forgive. In the grand scheme of life, our mistakes are tiny. They deserve to be forgiven. Unless there was some terrible crime (such as rape and murder) that was committed (which is not the case in most situations), there is nothing that cannot be forgiven.

Whatever pain you feel your twin caused you, multiply that by 10, to get an idea of the pain they have been through because of you. (Many people say they lean on alcohol, have counselling etc to cope with the pain generated by separation). And do not feel too guilty. Because this journey was meant to be painful. However, that does not mean that the pain continues forever. 

Stop causing your twin pain. You are only ultimately hurting yourself. Stop the cycle of feeling hurt/rejected, and then withdrawing/rejecting, which then leads them to do the same (mirroring you the typical twin soul way). This triggers endless cycles of pain and is very foolish.

Just accept that whatever has happened has happened. You need to be ready to befriend your twin. 

Stop holding on to the past. You've grown and your twin has grown. Learn to accept this and the connection.

2. Honesty-- this heals the throat chakra. It is important to find a voice on this journey, to have the courage to speak up. This must happen sooner rather than later. This helps to reduce the twin flame pain.

3. Acknowledging the love-- this is fact of twin soul life. Accepting the existence of this love heals the heart chakra.

4. The sexual energy-- most twin souls know perfectly well that there is nobody else in the world who shares a chakra connection with their twin except themselves. What then is the point of being resentful of any 3D sexual life one's twin soul may have (this can bother many twin souls)?

The fact is that twin souls are virtually in a perpetual state of intercourse on an energetic/chakra level (I'm sorry to put it so bluntly but it is simply a fact of life!). 

Morning, noon and night, it is your twin alone who is connected with you on an astral level. You have an intimate bond with them (that physical/genital contact cannot come even close to replicating) and this is apparently related to the kundalini energy. 

All twins (particularly those who are with karmic partners) need to therefore get over the guilt, jealousy and other negative emotions related to the existence of any 3D bonds (it is normal though to feel triggered by the mention of 3D partners/families but these are a completely different experience to the astral bond).

5. Union-- you are already united with your twin on a 5D level. You've never been separated from them in this sense, you are not separated, and nothing can separate you in the future either. This is simply a fact of life (like the fact that the sun rises daily and that we breathe air to live). 

We each just need to get over the separation feeling and accept the bond for what it is (how much each twin chooses to share with their 3D partner is up to them, and whether or not the 3D bonds last in the long-run is up to the universe. But there can be no reason, 3D bonds or not, to justify a continuation of complete twin soul separation and the associated pain).

This acceptance will help heal the astral body and enable healing of twin soul pain (one of the worst types of pain that exists on the planet).

{On that note, I want my twin to talk with me frankly. It has taken a lot out of me to reach out to you this year (you have no idea). It is not at all fair for you to continue the silent treatment. 

It is not my fault that I left years ago— I genuinely thought you were not interested anyway based on your behaviour and was going through my own, extremely severe, twin-soul turmoil (related to wanting to be a sanyasi/nun while dealing with this connection which I did not even know about). 

If I can forgive you for your actions that I felt caused me severe pain, then you should also be willing to forgive me for any actions of mine that may have caused you pain on this journey. 

Obviously, I am very sorry for the difficult experiences that we have both been through on this journey as I had no idea that we had a connection like this (I always felt there was an unexplained connection but only began to realise the nature of it after the twin soul dreams on sacred days in 2021-23 such as on Shiva ratri, the lunar eclipse, and on Sita navami). 

In my view, you are ultimately tormenting both of us with your silence and I wish you would just stop. I will not say a single triggering thing as far as possible if you agree to have a conversation about this connection. What more assurance do you need honestly?}

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

P.S. For readers: If you have any physical or mental health symptoms, you must consult your own doctor for medical advice. Do not self-diagnose and treat as an energetic health issue alone. However, having a healthy diet, regular exercise and thinking positively (as described above) is very likely to have a beneficial impact upon one's health on all levels.

Hari Aum Tat Sat

Reflections and gratitude

 Hari Aum.

As the year 2025 draws to a close, I was reflecting upon the events that have occurred during this period. And, I have to admit that, on the whole, I am truly very grateful to the universe. So much has happened, on so many levels (both on the outer/3D and inner/5D). Overall, I feel things are much better today than at the start of this year.

This year has, of course, not been without significant challenges (as is usual for many of us). But, once again, I would say that, in every challenge, there has been the protecting hand of the Divine.

One major challenge I have faced in the past year involves my mantra practice which has been absolutely terrible (in terms of both quality and quantity-- poor concentration/devotional feeling and malas reduced from 7 to 5 a day). This has been a source of huge frustration for me but I have not been able to solve this problem--it feels like a sort of spiritual test and I feel I have to accept it (I have requested the universe to help fix it but it continues to be difficult). 

I have no problem concentrating on other topics such as work, dance, and even other spiritual matters- but my mantra japa currently feels very uninspired. I feel anxious and worried about this at times but have been forced to accept that this is a phase that I am currently going through (I have been through something similar before, so am hopeful that it will improve again with time and patience).

In the meantime, I remain very grateful that I am able to still have a daily mantra japa practice. Fortunately, despite my not enjoying the japa one bit these days (unfortunately this currently feels like a really boring but important chore), not a day has passed without at least 15-30 minutes of recitation of my Guru mantra (the ashtakshara of Narayana). (There has been an unbroken thread of daily mantra japa since November 2011 for which I am very thankful to my Guru Sivananda and God).

And during the day, there continues to be ongoing periodic remembrance of God (sometimes joyful, and often times complaining-- but present nonetheless). Also, despite the dissatisfaction with my japa, I have felt inspired to worship God by performing occasional pujas (including of Tulsi-Shaligram) and through my dance practice (Bharatanatyam). 

Coming back to the subject of this year, I feel that many significant milestones have occurred both in outer (3D) and inner (5D) life-- and there has been some vital progress made in harmonising the two. There has been a degree of reconciliation in various situations. For this too, I am very grateful.

On the whole, I am deeply grateful to the Divine for helping me to step up and face the challenges that were given this year. I continue to feel that the mantra japa connects me to the Divine within-- regardless of anything else that is happening in my life.

Once again, as already mentioned in previous posts over the years, it is my experience that the name and mantra of God is the foundation of life, the basis for dharma, artha, kama and moksha (the four goals of life according to the yogis). 

And the main message I therefore have, is it is vital to continue the mantra japa every day even, and especially, when life feels difficult and challenging. Even when the mantra practice feels frustrating and uninspired. Such phases come and go in the life of every spiritual seeker, but we simply have to keep going. It is no joke and not easy but we just have to keep at it and trust in the process-- because it does work.

It is to be expected that spiritual life will have major ups and downs. In terms of acceptance of the will of God, this year has been good. I have had to accept all sorts of things (both in material and spiritual life) and resign myself to the will of the universe (including accepting uninspired japa!).

As I have said before, the mantra is for the many not the few. It is for ordinary people living ordinary lives-- not only for yogis, sannyasis and brahmacharis living in ashrams and mountains. It is very much meant for busy householder yogis, rushing about here and there, performing household chores, looking after children and family and performing work. All this work we do, when dedicated to the Divine, becomes yoga.

In my view, every day should begin with at least 10-15 minutes of mantra japa--regardless of whether or not we are in the mood, regardless of whether the quality feels good or bad. Japa is always powerful and has an effect regardless of what we feel about it. And, if one is not too exhausted, the day should also end in a similar way with at least 5-15 minutes of japa. In addition, during the day, whenever possible, in a spontaneous manner, one should remember God (by privately talking with Him/Her, offering food before eating to the Divine and so on and so forth). 

It is extremely unwise to spend even a day without mantra japa in my view--there are so many challenges that people on our planet face today-- the idea of handling them without Divine protection seems impossible. 

The mantra of God provides protection to both ourselves and our loved ones {in the recent case of my father becoming unwell last week (that I mentioned in my last post), it so happened that a cousin of mine who is a doctor (specialising in the field of medicine in which my father required help) was visiting the family home when this occurred. He ensured that my father was promptly taken to hospital, accompanied him there and saw to it that he received all the care required. If my father had to face this karma of illness, I feel that God ensured that he received all the help he needed to get through it. Anything may happen, but so far, so good).

In this mysterious journey called life, we truly never know what is around the corner, what challenge we will have to face next. Truth is really a lot stranger than fiction (and modern science, while very valuable, cannot at all explain everything that we go through in life, especially in spiritual life).

One thing is certain though-- all will be well in the end as long as we do our best (with all our flaws and imperfections-- which are usually many) to adhere to dharma (righteousness/ethics) while performing regular, daily spiritual practice, particularly recitation of the name/ mantra of God (from any spiritual tradition that appeals to us). 

So, onwards and Godwards we go-- regardless of whether our spiritual and material lives are looking good, bad or downright ugly. :)

On that optimistic note, I wish all of you a very happy New Year. May the year 2026 bring great spiritual and material blessings for all of us. May there be a victory of the forces of dharma/goodness on our planet (and may negative forces be subjugated-- both within and without).

Om Namo Narayanaya. Om Namo Narayanaya. Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

P.S. As in previous years, the four Kindle books I have written on the life of Lord Krishna will be available for free download from the Amazon website over the New Year period (from January 1st, 12 am PST to January 5th 11.59 pm PST). 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Vishnupriya-Devi/author/B07B95YQCV?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

(Note- I will continue writing about the life of Sri Rama on this blog in the New Year)

P.P.S. I will conclude by sharing a short video describing the beautiful 'Divine Light' invocation meditation taught by a disciple of Sivananda Radha (the disciple of my Guru, Sivananda) (I sometimes perform a variation of this while seated and find it very soothing):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaqQlW-3yDg

(Note- Please accept my sincere apologies for not replying to Vedic astrology queries in the past few months. As mentioned on this blog, I have had a lot going on recently hence the delay. I will aim to resume this in the New Year as far as I am able. Thank you very much for your patience and understanding.)

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

Isha Natha and the Natha yogis

 Hari Aum.

Om Ishaya Namah.

I hope all readers had a wonderful Christmas. I was in two minds about whether or not to write this post but my intuition tells me that it is the right thing to do (for reasons that I will explain later).

One of the ancient traditions of yoga is known as Raja Yoga or the 'Kingly yoga'. This type of yoga (which Krishna describes in the Gita) refers to a variety of practices, starting with the practice of the yama and niyama (yogic ethics-- the core foundation of all yogic and spiritual paths). 

Upon this firm foundation of ethics, is laid the practice of other yogic techniques including specific breathing exercises ('pranayama'), physical movements and postures ('asana') designed to control the flow of 'prana' in the subtle, 'sukshma sharira' (energy/astral layer/body). 

This control of prana and purification of the 'nadis' (channels through which prana is said to flow in the subtle body) enables the spiritual energy known as kundalini to rise up the chakras (energy centres) eventually leading to knowledge of one's true spiritual nature. (For a further understanding of yogic anatomy, please see this post from September 2023 https://mantrayoga.blogspot.com/2023/09/yogic-anatomy-brief-outline.html?m=0 )

The practice of raja yoga techniques often involves meditation upon various chakras and rapid awakening of the kundalini. This can lead to the experience of 'siddhis' or 'spiritual powers' (they are eight classical siddhis described in the yogic texts which essentially involve control over the material aspect of the universe).

Coming to the subject of the Natha yogis, they are a very ancient lineage of spiritual practitioners. The original Guru of this tradition is said to be Lord Shiva Himself-- known as Adi Natha ('Adi' means original or first in Sanskrit and 'Natha' means 'master' or 'lord'). There have been various incarnations of Shiva associated with this tradition (including the teacher called Mahavatar Babaji). There are also many famous Gurus of this lineage (including Paramahamsa Yogananda and his Guru, Sri Yukteswar).

Amongst the natha yogis, there is a legend of a great yogi, a great master whom they call by the name 'Isha Natha' (the 'Natha' suffix was given to all spiritual teachers in this tradition). In their ancient scripture (called the Natha Namavali) describing the lives of their spiritual masters, they record the life of this great spiritual teacher.  

In essence, this describes the life of a boy from many centuries ago, who travelled to Asia aged 14, met his spiritual master (known as 'Maranatha' meaning 'conqueror of death'), practiced yogic methods (raja yoga/kriya yoga) and attained enlightenment/Realisation. 

The text then states that he returned home where people did not understand him and that they attempted to kill him. The Natha Namavali goes on to say that, after suffering considerably at their hands, Isha Natha returned to the Himalayas (with the help of his spiritual master) and spent the remainder of his life teaching until his death. There is an ancient tomb in this area (within the place today called Kashmir) which is said to be the place of his burial (the 'Roza bal' shrine). 

There are remarkable similarities between the description of the spiritual master whom the Natha yogis call Isha Natha and the spiritual being known as 'Isa’ in the Islamic tradition, as 'Yeshua' in the Jewish tradition and as 'Jesus' in the Christian tradition. 

There are various documentaries on the subject and all sorts of people over the centuries have travelled to Asia to try and understand if Isha Natha is the same as Isa/Yeshua/ Jesus. (I leave to readers to decide what they make of this idea. I do not wish to offend anyone, however, in my view, it is very likely that it is the same individual known by different names in various traditions).

The reason I feel inspired to write this post, is that two days ago, on Christmas Eve, certain events took place that made me feel a connection with this great teacher known as Isha natha. As I have mentioned in previous posts, my spiritual life feels pretty rubbish these days. I do the daily mantra japa of course but it feels mechanical (and there is nothing I feel I can do about it except be patient until it resets itself again which it hopefully will at some stage). 

In addition, my present sixth purascharana was to have been completed by now but it is dragging on at a very slow pace. I feel tired spiritually and have been unable to fully cure myself of this feeling (music and dance have provided some relief but not enough in my view). 

I therefore felt the need to connect with Isha Natha on a day which is celebrated as his birthday (I felt he would be sympathetic). After my usual mantra japa, I spent some minutes meditating upon him (while repeating the mantra 'Om Ishaya Namah'; 'Isha' means the 'Supreme Being/ God' in Sanskrit) and felt much better afterwards. During this meditation, I offered some prayers for all those dear to me (including family and friends), myself and all beings. 

A short while after this meditation, I discovered that my father (who lives in India) had developed an urgent health issue and had to be rushed to hospital (where he underwent a battery of tests which have so far thankfully come back as being normal; he is still not fully out-of-the-woods but things fortunately look ok at present). 

I firmly feel that it is Isha Natha who has taken care of him and me in the past 48 hours (I had felt the need to meditate on him while, unknown to me, my father had been taken to hospital). I feel there is no difference between him and Sivananda-- I see them both as God-realised beings. And this is the reason why I am writing this post about him. 

In addition (in accordance with the yogic teaching), I feel there is no difference between Guru and God (therefore, in my view, Isha Natha, Sivananda, Krishna/Narayana/Shiva/Durga are all One. When I repeat a mantra for any one of them, I feel I am worshipping all these divine forms.)

My view, like that of Sivananda, is that Isha Natha (Isa/ Yeshua/ Jesus) was a great spiritual master. And we do not have to belong to any particular group or institution (be it the 'natha yoga' tradition or a church or anything else) to connect with him or any other spiritual master. 

In my view, therefore, it is also unnecessary to argue with/ attempt to convert or fight with anyone with regard to spiritual teachers and teachings. As the Gurus advise, we should live and let live, i.e. practice spirituality in a way that feels right to us, while respecting other people's right to do the same.

Sivananda advises meditating upon the Divine as the best way to directly connect with God. Whether we feel spiritually inspired or tired, some meditation everyday will help us connect with the Divine within ourselves and provide us the grace and protection that we and our loved ones need in an increasingly uncertain world.

I wish all of you a happy New Year 2026. I hope and pray this year will bring much spiritual progress and inspiration for us all. As usual, let us also continue to pray for peace within ourselves and on our planet.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

P.S.

The following documentary is related to the above topic. I found it interesting (it also includes a brief interview with Swami Chidananda, disciple of Sivananda):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JJEiXJ2_7Q

Nada yoga and natya yoga

 Hari Aum.

As this year draws to a close, it is good time to reflect upon the past twelve months-- upon the highs and lows, the challenges and achievements, and of course, most importantly, the present state of our spiritual lives.

I will be completely frank and admit that my spiritual life feels a bit dull at the moment. I'm in a stage of doing my mantra japa like taking a medication-- I do it because I know it is good for me, not because I feel particularly enthusiastic. 

I feel tired spiritually. The last few years have been horrible frankly (to an extent anyway, not entirely-- there have been many good things too) and, as a result, I have gone through a phase of being angry and upset with Narayana-- now I am simply exhausted (too tired to even be angry! :) Nonetheless, much as I am annoyed with Him, I have found that I cannot let Him go.

I have obtained a shaligram form of Narayana-- He is said to be represented by this stone. As I regard Him as being somewhat stony in nature these days (what with wars, pandemics, and all sorts of other problems that He heaps upon humanity), I felt it would be apt to worship Him in this form. 

I have the sacred Tulsi plant with me at home-- this plant is a representation of the Divine Mother in the form of a devotee of Narayana (She is also known as 'Vrinda' and 'Vishnupriya'). It is because of this devotee that Narayana is said to have assumed the form of this stone. There is a legend that says She became upset with Him on account of an incident and declared that His heart was of stone, and that therefore, that He should become one- and He is said to have obliged! Anyway,  worship of the sacred shaligram along with Tulsi devi is said to be good for cultivating devotion. I am therefore performing this worship in a very simple way daily (either by offering water with some mantras or doing a mini-puja).

These days, more than japa, it is dance that creates spiritual feelings in me-- specifically, Bharatanatyam dance. As mentioned in previous posts, I have taken this subject up again in the past couple of years (after a break of around thirty years-- learned it as a child). When I dance, I feel close to the Divine in a way that few other activities make me feel these days. 

I invoke the Divine as I enter the dance floor along with the other students (this is an ancient tradition). And in my head, I ask Krishna to be present and dance with me. It is a good feeling. I do not think of Him continuously when dancing as my mind has to be focussed on the music and the steps. But I dedicate my dancing to Him (and I feel He accepts this, even when I'm not having the best day).

On that note, I want to remind readers that it is not for nothing that our Gurus and spiritual tradition declares that music is easiest and most effective way to attain the Divine in this yuga.

Nada yoga means the 'yoga of sound'. This includes singing, playing of instruments and mantra recitation. 

Natya yoga includes the yoga of dance and drama. It involves contemplation of the Divine when performing dance and acting. 

These two forms of yoga are extremely powerful in the view of our Gurus as a means to achieve union with the Divine. This is the reason why the great rishi, Bharata muni, composed the wonderful Natya shastra (the ancient book of music and dance). Over many centuries, this has evolved into eight beautiful and intricate classical dance forms that are practiced in India today-- including Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam, Manipuri, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali and Sattriya.

We also have two highly developed forms of classical music (vocal and instrumental) in India, including Carnatic (developed in South India) and Hindustani (evolved in North India). We have a range of beautiful instruments, including but not limited to the drums (tabla, mridangam), flute (bansuri, venu), veena and sitar (the violin has also been incorporated into Carnatic music in the past century).

One of the best gifts we can give ourselves, for both spiritual and material welfare, is to take up one or more of these beautiful subjects-- dance, vocal and instrumental music.

If people made more music in the world, and danced a bit more too, it is likely that there would be less suffering and less hostility on our planet-- and conversely, there would likely be more peace, more happiness, better health and a greater sense of fulfilment in life. (One is reminded here of the famous quotation by Shakespeare: "The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils"-- this seems to be true!).

Music and dance should not be mere hobbies in my view-- something that is placed at the lowest level on our list of priorities in life (just as our spiritual life should not be). 

No, as our deities themselves indicate, these are the essence of life, the heart of 'rasa' (or 'juice' in life). 

The images of Sri Krishna playing the flute, of Mother Sarasvati playing the veena, and of Lord Shiva dancing remind us of this great truth. Music and dance can truly connect us to the realm of the Divine.

Without music and dance, life degenerates into a dreary existence, filled only with daily chores and work. The mind is not elevated beyond the mundane thoughts related to eating, sleeping and the ordinary activities of daily life. 

With the help of music and dance, the mind experiences 'bhava' (spiritual emotions) and 'rasa' (spiritual experience). These two form the wings of the bird of spirituality, the bird that is able to soar freely into the sky of spirituality, up towards the Divine. (I hope to write another post sometime soon on the subject of bhava and rasa--very important concepts in music and dance, and in spirituality, particularly the path of bhakti yoga-- I am learning about this currently in the context of dance).

In the meantime, my dear friends, I do recommend that (if you are not doing so already) you consider starting a journey of exploration of the beautiful world of bhava and rasa by taking up either music or dance or both. Consider the paths of nada yoga and natya yoga to deepen your bhakti yoga practice in the New Year.

Do not be daunted by the lack of time or even by the seeming challenges of studying these classical arts. Do not worry if you have not visited these subjects for decades (many of us learn as children and then give up when we start working). 

Just like with the practice of mantra japa (or indeed, when we start a patient on any medication in the world of medicine), follow the approach of 'start low and go slow'. Take up just a little bit (perhaps just ten minutes a day) and do it regularly a few times a week. 

It does not matter if there are gaps in practice (there inevitably will be sometimes due to other commitments, illness, travel and so on)-- just keep going would be my advice. Just as we do, with mantra japa. 

It does not matter whether or not you feel that you have the skill or talent for these subjects-- you will not know, until you try. And it is practice that matters more than talent or aptitude. (I have come across many people who say "Oh I cannot dance at all" or "My voice is not good"-- mostly, this is completely untrue. There may be a lack of confidence, a lack of self-belief, but not a lack of ability--even if there is a lack of ability, so what? One loses nothing in trying-- except maybe a little time and resources!). 

Also, today's children seem to spend a large amount of time idling away on screens-- smartphones, computers and televisions. It really is most unhealthy. I would suggest that we encourage our children to spend more time learning a beautiful skill such as music or dance, rather than wasting large amounts of time doing nothing useful on a screen. This will be far better for their mental and physical health in the long run (medical research shows that music and dance are excellent for health, while too much screen time is detrimental).

(In the past year I have introduced my six year old daughter to Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam. I had told her that there is no pressure at all to study these subjects but gave her the opportunity to explore them-- she has now herself become fond of these and wants to continue her studies. I do not feel there should be any element of pressure when it comes to studying these subjects, but if possible, it would be good to give children the opportunity to explore them).

Speaking of pressure, I feel under some pressure currently as my dance teacher is expecting my year group to learn a very dynamic and energetic piece of Bharatanatyam dance known as a Thillana. We are meant to perform one of these on stage in a matter of weeks (only started learning this a few weeks ago!) and the panic is definitely setting in-- we are beginners and Thillanas are quite challenging (however, our teacher seems to like to keep us on our toes, quite literally!). 

So I am currently attempting to memorise and practice the beautiful 'Paras Thillana' for our upcoming performance (this 'raga' or melody, is said to evoke feelings of bhakti (devotion) and 'sringara' (love). (In my mind, I am doing this as a 'tapasya' dedicated to Krishna-- am doing some extra Krishna mantra recitation to obtain His Grace to help me perform this with a decent level of skill! The jumps, spins and speedy moves are not at all easy for me as a relative beginner and I feel Divine grace will undoubtedly be needed to survive this! I am also reluctantly dragging myself to the local gym on a more regular basis in an attempt to build more stamina to be able to survive this year of dance that began in September-- as it is going to be filled with challenging pieces!)

You can see a lovely performance of the Paras Thillana here by the well-known dance Guru Shrimati Leela Samson (we are dancing to this music; our choreography has some similarities to this but our teacher has created his own interpretation of the music which is also quite beautiful). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCun5FTOMdY

This is another very nice rendition of the same Tillana by a talented younger dancer:

https://youtu.be/r5iva5S5w9c?si=5RLxPnFCUskYxXzc

I would like to conclude this post by wishing you a wonderful festive season/Christmas. May your New Year be filled with the joy of music and dance and with the rasa of bhakti in all its beautiful forms.

Om Tulsidevyai Namah.

Om Shyamasundaraya Namah.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

Twin souls: general reflections

 Hari Aum.

I hope all readers are keeping well and that your sadhana is going smoothly. I have been struck down by a seasonal illness and am taking some time out of my usual routine to recuperate. I have been rushing about in recent weeks busy with material and spiritual stuff and so am taking this illness as an opportunity to reflect and write.

Before I go any further, I just want to say that my purascharana practice is ongoing but at a snail's pace. Due to a combination of reasons, I have cut down my japa practice from 7 malas down to 5. I hope to pick this up again in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I have introduced other elements of spiritual practice including Tulsi and Shaligram puja which I will aim to write about in another post sometime.

Today I would like to share some general reflections on the twin soul connection-- which as I have previously mentioned, is a type of spiritual path designed by the universe.

Some general reflections on the twin soul connection:

1. Acceptance:

I feel that, at some stage, twin souls need to just accept that this is something that the universe has decided they need to go through for spiritual growth. 

One needs to stop fighting with oneself, the universe and one's twin regarding the connection.

It is common to resent the connection because it is not easy to deal with. However, one needs to acknowledge that this is very likely to be equally difficult for one's twin soul to handle (btw I'm not a big fan of the term 'twin soul' but there does not seem to be any other way of easily describing this connection aside from this commonly used one).

Therefore there is no sense in resenting the twin soul. Equally there is no point in resenting the universe for creating this connection. The universe does not do anything without a good reason. One has to therefore accept this and work with it.

2. Karma:

Some people call this twin soul connection a karmic sh*t show. It is not a nice description but it seems to be generally true!

There is a lot of karma to be experienced on this journey. It is said that we have pay off all our karmic debts to attain God realisation. The twin soul path is usually loaded with karma to enable us to pay off our karmic debts very speedily and move Godward.

Right from childhood, there are difficult karmas to experience and this often continues into adult life. One needs to accept this and deal with it by growing stronger. When approached the right way, these difficult karmas become a way to gain inner strength. One will either sink or swim, and one has to learn how to swim and survive the difficult karma.

3. Ethics:

This forms the heart and soul of spiritual life. This is essential for twin souls to practice as much as possible. This enables us to experience the protection and grace of God in handling all aspects of life, including the ability to gain whatever it is that God wants us to gain via the twin soul journey.

4. Balancing the 3D and the 5D:

Most twin souls have their own individual lives in the material world. Their paths rarely cross in the physical, gross material world or '3D' world as some like to call it.

On the other hand, in the world of the mind, in the realm of the astral body, or sukshma sharira in yogic language, twin souls are intimately connected. There is a constant flow of energy between their chakras (in fact, they are said to share a chakra system). This leads to an awareness of the other (when they are not distracted by some outer activity)-- it is almost the 'default setting'.

Most twin souls do not know of this connection when they initially encounter each other and live their independent lives in the '3D'. The activation of this '5D' astral connection by the universe at various points in time can feel confusing and frightening. It becomes less alarming once they have done some research into the subject and begin to understand what is happening (it helps to know that others also are going through a similar spiritual journey).

The question then arises-- how is one to balance the 3D life with this 5D reality?

I feel this varies for twin souls but in general, it involves negotiation. If one has a spouse and children, there is a clear duty towards them and one needs to fulfil these duties to the best of one's ability. This is part of our spiritual dharma or duty. Without this, there can be no spiritual progress.

But over time, I feel that one will need to find a way of having some form of contact with one's twin soul (in the 3D, not only the 5D). 

Over time, I feel one will need to explain to one's spouse that this connection exists and it is not a 'normal' one. It has been created by the universe and it is nobody's fault that it exists. In fact, there is likely a spiritual purpose behind it.

It is fairly common for spouses of twin souls to resent this connection but over time, they too will need to come to terms with this; this is their karma. 

(My husband for example, has instructed me to avoid raising this topic with him as far as possible as he struggles to understand what I am going through-- and I respect this. I have, however, informed him that it is simply a fact that this connection exists and it has been created by the universe-- he seems to accept this on some level.)  

And it is also usual for twin souls to not be overly thrilled at the existence of their twin's spouse. :) But the existence of spouses/partners on this path (one's own and also those of one's twin soul) is a part of the karma that everyone (including the twin souls, their spouses and all others connected with them) need to go through. Therefore there is no point being resentful about this either.

Over time, I feel the universe will help twin souls to work out their karmas and the ultimate outcome of all these connections will be in accordance with the will of God (as long as one adheres firmly to ethics and performs regular sadhana to attain the spiritual goal of life).

5. Overcoming the ego (the key challenge of spiritual life):

One needs to try and accept the experiences of life with as much grace as possible. And ultimately, actively engage with the universe in a spirit of service. The twin soul journey shows this to us very clearly.

It is not easy to meditate or do spiritual practices while running away from the twin soul bond under the influence of the ego. 

The more one runs, the more the universe goes out of its way to show one the connection in a variety of ways (ranging from dreams to various signs-- for example, if I've gone into running mode with regard to this connection, the universe soon provides me with a patient with the name of my twin soul at work in my clinic-- this has happened on a few occasions. I used to find this quite weird but now understand that there is a pattern and it is the universe up to its usual ways again!)

And, if I feel hostile or resentful towards this connection (I try not to be this way but may slip up on occasion when my ego gets the better of me), I nearly always end up having a migraine and have therefore learned that it is best not to go down this road!

In a nutshell, the twin soul spiritual path involves shining a very bright torch upon the ego (both one's own and one's twin’s and all others involved) and frankly, setting it alight! 

If one seeks peace and sanity, the ego really has to be reduced as far as possible (complete vanishing of the ego only occurs when one attains Self/God realisation). The more one gives in to the ego, the more pain one invites into one's life. The more one transcends the ego, and accepts whatever the universe is doing, the more peaceful one feels.

And, as working upon one's ego, is regarded as the essence of spiritual life, it is no wonder that the twin soul journey is regarded an intense spiritual path that can rapidly lead one Godward if one approaches it with the right attitude (this is not easy but there is no other way if one wishes to survive it).

On that note, I would like to wave at my twin soul (on the assumption that they are here, which I feel is correct)! Hope you are well. :)

And I would also like to wave at any other twin souls on a similar journey! Hope you are all doing ok. :)

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

Women targeted in war

 Hari Aum.

As spiritual seekers, we have recently been through Navaratri and are about to celebrate Diwali next week. Both of these festivals are deeply connected with the feminine aspect of the Divine (that exists everywhere, including in both women and men).

I was not really planning to write a post about politics at this time but feel compelled to do so today. The reason is that I was reading the news (something I try and limit as it mostly consists of violence) and while doing so, came across a reference to a documentary about women-- this is related to the suffering of women caught up in war.

Before I say anything further about this documentary or about this subject of women in war, I want to state that I regard all forms of war between people as horrific and completely unspiritual. I would also like to state that, in accordance with yogic tradition, I regard all human life as a divine gift. And, every human being is, like all other beings, a manifestation of the Divine.

With regard to the Middle East, I am glad that the war there has ceased for now at least. The loss of life on both sides of the conflict is deeply tragic and horrific. There are no words to describe the horror of these events.

I do, however, want to share a link to the documentary that I saw (please see below). This is about the experiences of the women who were targeted in the attack of October 7 in Israel.

In no way can this appalling tragedy ever justify the horror of the war that followed that involved the shocking and unacceptable loss of lives on both sides including countless innocent children, women, and men. 

I am sharing this only because I feel it highlights the horrific plight of women generally on both sides of any conflict on our planet. I feel that it is important that the voices of women who experience violence in conflict are heard. 

The documentary I am referring to is called  "Screams Before Silence" by Sheryl Sandberg (the well-known American writer and technological executive): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAr9oGSXgak

This documentary reminds me of a similar horrific and painful chapter in the history of India-- in particular, the story of the Rajput women of North India who would immolate themselves out of fear of rape and torture by the invading forces (the Mughals, some of whom had a mentality similar to the terrorist organisations of modern times) -- they felt that death was preferable to capture and exposure to the extraordinarily brutal violence by these marauding forces. 

https://foundation.rajasthan.gov.in/BraveryStories.aspx (The Bollywood movie 'Padmaavat' is based upon this subject; it is not an exact historical account of events but broadly outlines the experience of violence against women in war a few centuries ago and is an interesting watch in my view).

The documentary I referred to above is horrific (trigger warning)-- this violence is a reality that was and is still being lived by countless women all over the globe in all countries to varying degrees. Therefore, appalling though the details of this documentary are, it is only right that the experiences of these women who suffered so much are known by the world. Their truth must be known; they deserve at least this much justice.

What should be our response as spiritual seekers to situations like this? 

Firstly, we should not give in to ideas of hatred or revenge. That would make us no better than the perpetrators of such violence. We cannot allow them to taint our consciousness. 

Secondly, we should continue our spiritual practices for the welfare of ourselves and the world, including world peace-- as our Gurus advise. Let us, come what may, daily recite a mantra of our favourite form of the Divine (regardless of the chaos and violence on this planet).

Thirdly, we should take all practical precautions to protect ourselves and our loved ones, including daughters, mothers, sisters and so on, against people of similar monstrous mindset as these individuals; they exist in varying numbers in every part of the globe, this is the sad reality. This means being generally aware of our surroundings wherever we are and following security advice when we travel.

Fourthly, we should ever remember that this world is inherently a 'dukhalaya' or place of suffering and strive our very best to attain the spiritual goal of realisation of our true immortal nature as one with the Divine (and beyond the reach of these evil forces).

Om Sri Durgayai Namah

Om Sri Ramaya Namah

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

Bala Kanda Part 13: The effects of kusanga

 Hari Aum.

Aum Sri Ramaya Namah.

Let us continue our study of the Ramayana of sage Valmiki. In the previous section, we saw how King Dasharatha sought the advice of his Guru, sages, ministers and public and decided to coronate his eldest son, Rama, as King of Kosala.

Even as Rama and the people of Ayodhya prepared themselves for the upcoming ceremony, other members of the palace gradually became aware of the King's plan.

One of the maids of Queen Kaikeyi, by the name of Manthara, decided to enjoy the view from the top of the palace the evening before the day of the coronation. She made her way there and upon arrival, was astounded by the sight. She saw the streets of Ayodhya being decorated with lotuses and lilies as well as with colourful flags. People were seen walking about in groups, laughing and chatting. Musicians played the most enchanting melodies while the air reverberated with the sound of the recitation of Vedic mantras. 

Some people walked about sprinkling sandalpaste-scented water on the streets of the city while others rode well-decorated horses and elephants as if in preparation for some grand event. She observed the atmosphere of great joy and celebration as well as the decoration of the city and wondered as to the reason.

She then noticed another maid standing nearby. This was a lady who served Queen Kausalya; she had also helped care for Rama when He had been a child. Manthara asked her if she knew the reason for the joyous and festive atmosphere in Ayodhya. What was the occasion for such merriment, she enquired.

The maid of Queen Kausalya had been watching the scene with great joy. With delight, she turned to Manthara and explained the reason for the celebration in Ayodhya-- Rama was to be coronated as King of Kosala the next day! King Dasharatha had made the decision to confer the title of King upon his noble eldest son and the entire city was awaiting the happy occasion.

As Manthara heard these words, her mind was filled with shock and dismay. As she digested this unwelcome news, this turned to great anger. Turning away, she immediately went to her mistress's chambers. She had served Kaikeyi since the Queen had been a little girl and knew her extremely well. 

As she swept into Kaikeyi's quarters, she found the Queen resting upon her bed. "Get up at once, O foolish Queen!" said Manthara, "you are in very grave danger though you know it not!".

Kaikeyi had been resting peacefully and was startled by the sudden arrival of her maid and her sharp words. She sat up and, observing that the maid looked most agitated, enquired as to the reason. "Dear Manthara", said she, "you look most unwell. Is something the matter?"

This question only served to infuriate the elderly lady further! In a highly incensed tone, she addressed the Queen with the following words. "You thought you were the favourite of your husband but have been deceived by him-- for he has decided to crown Prince Rama as King!"

"After sending away your son, Prince Bharata, to his maternal home, your wicked husband has sought to elevate the son of Queen Kausalya. Your rival shall now enjoy the status of being mother of the King while you, O unfortunate woman, languish in the palace having lost all relevance! You must take urgent measures to protect yourself, your son and me, before we are all undone!"

Queen Kaikeyi, however, had stopped listening to Manthara, the moment she had mentioned the coronation of Rama. Filled with joy, she said, "O Manthara, that is the most wonderful news! You have made me so happy by telling me of Rama's coronation! Here, take this beautiful jewel as a gift for bringing me so much joy-- I am truly indebted to you!". She then presented Manthara with a sparkling piece of jewellery as a present.

The maid was angered even further upon hearing these words. Filled with rage, she cast aside the jewel, and addressed the Queen again, even more harshly: "Come to your senses, O foolish Queen Kaikeyi! Do you not see-- the moment Prince Rama becomes King, He will see to it that you and your son, Prince Bharata, lose all status! You will treated as the servants of Him and His mother. It is tragic that you cannot see the great misfortune that stares you in the face! 

Instead of feeling alarm at the grave danger, you celebrate-- what perverseness! Wake up, O foolish woman, before tragedy strikes you, and take action to remedy the situation!"

After hearing Manthara's unkind words, Kaikeyi responded only by praising Rama. She said: "Rama will make an excellent King, O Manthara! He is filled with many virtues, devoted to the truth, and is disciplined and grateful. Furthermore, He is the eldest son. He is the natural heir to the throne."

"Rama is devoted to me; indeed, He serves me more than He does His own mother, Kausalya. Not only this, He loves all His brothers dearly and will surely ensure the welfare of each one of them when He becomes King. I hold my son, Bharata, in high esteem, but Rama even more so!"

"And as for the throne, Bharata, being the second eldest son of the King, will inherit this after Rama completes His rule. It does not matter that he has to wait a while! When this is an occasion for great rejoicing, O Manthara, why does your mind seem to burn with anger and jealousy? You are known for your wisdom-- why then are you not happy at this wonderful event?"

The maid sighed in exasperation, and replied as follows: "O deluded and foolish Queen, it pains me to hear you utter such naive and ignorant words! Do you not know that the throne is inherited only by the eldest son? Once Prince Rama ascends the throne and becomes King, His lineage alone with continue! His future sons will inherit the kingdom. Your son, Prince Bharata, and his descendants will have no claim at all!"

"In fact, as your son is equal in merit to Prince Rama, it is likely that he will be perceived as a threat! Prince Rama will surely send him into exile, or even worse, send him to the realm of Yama, the demi-god of death! He is devoted to His brother, Lakshmana and will not hurt a hair on his head. Not so, is the case for your son, O Queen Kaikeyi. Prince Rama surely sees him as His enemy!"

"It is also well-known at the palace, O beautiful Queen, that the King has long favoured you over Queen Kausalya on account of your exceptionally lovely appearance and charm. It is very likely, therefore, that the mother of Prince Rama harbours resentment towards you. When her son becomes King, you will be cast aside like an unwanted servant! Your daughter-in-law too will grieve at her misfortune! "

"Truly, my heart bleeds for you, your son and your illustrious ancestors, O Queen! Terrible and tragic indeed will be your fate when Prince Rama becomes King!" 

Upon hearing these words, doubts began to arise in the mind of Kaikeyi. For the first time, she suspected her husband. “Is it true that he deceives me?", she wondered. "After all, it is odd that he has decided to crown Rama as King so suddenly, and particularly, in the absence of my son, Bharata. Can it be that he secretly desires to deprive my son of his rights?" 

"When I married him years ago, I believe he promised my father, that if I had a son, he would one day be King. Does he now seek to break that promise? If Rama becomes King, will my son be in danger as Manthara says? Will Bharata and I be cast aside and lose all status in our own home?"

Feeling greatly perturbed and angry at her husband, Queen Kaikeyi turned to her maid and said: "O Manthara! You have convinced me! I am persuaded that what you say is true. I perceive the grave danger that my son and I are in due to the devious actions of my husband. Tell me the solution! What must I do, O wise lady, to protect my son and myself? Speak, and I shall follow your instructions to the letter!"

Upon hearing these words, Manthara was at last satisfied. Finally, she thought, the Queen had come to her senses. Smiling with satisfaction, the old lady spoke the following words:

"Dear Queen, the solution is fortunately exceedingly simple! Recall that, many years ago, you had bravely saved your husband's life in battle. King Dasharatha had gone to the dreadful Dandaka forest to assist the devas in their battle against the asuras and you had chosen to accompany him there. During the battle, the King had been gravely injured and had became unconscious as a result. At that time, you had demonstrated great courage by entering the battlefield and swiftly removing him to a place of safety."

"When the King regained consciousness and discovered your bravery and love for him, risking your own life to save his, he was deeply grateful to you, O Queen! To express his immense gratitude for your noble act, he promised you two wishes. You had told me of this incident after it had occurred. As far as I am aware, you have not yet asked him to fulfil those two wishes, but the time has now come!"

"Seize this opportunity, O wise Queen, to protect your son! For the first wish from the King, ask that your own son, Prince Bharata, be crowned as King of Kosala! And, for the second, ask that Prince Rama be banished to the forests outside the kingdom for a period not less than fourteen years! He must not set foot in Ayodhya until this period is complete."

"This exile of Prince Rama will serve to ensure that your son has adequate time to win the hearts of the people and establish himself as King without danger from any enemies! In this way, O noble Queen, you will be able foil your husband's devious plans and ensure justice for your son and yourself!"

"My advice to you, O Queen, is that you should go forthwith to the the sulking chamber of the palace. (This chamber was known as 'kopa bhavan' in Sanskrit; literally meaning the 'house of anger' where members of the royal household could go when feeling agitated to have some privacy and calm themselves). Cast away your jewels, and untie your long hair to indicate your distress! Wear crumpled clothes, assume a dishevelled appearance and throw yourself onto the ground. Remain there until your husband arrives seeking to know the reason for your grief!"

"When the King comes to you, do not speak a single word to him! Remain silent while shedding tears and refuse to even look him in the eye! He will be devastated upon seeing you in this wretched state." 

"We both know that he cannot bear to cause you the slightest pain and that he will do anything to relieve your suffering. He loves you so dearly, that he will be willing to give up even his life to please you, O charming Queen! Rest assured, therefore, that he will grant you your two wishes! In this way, you will be able to secure the future of your son and yourself!"

Hearing these words, Queen Kaikeyi felt greatly relieved and satisfied. She thanked Manthara profusely, declaring that she was indebted to her for her wisdom and help. She assured her maid that she would richly reward her with much wealth and elevated status once their task had been accomplished and her son had become King.

Manthara was greatly pleased and gratified at the Queen's words. She then warned her that there was no time to lose as preparations to crown Rama as King were already in full swing! Kaikeyi needed to immediately make her way to the sulking chamber and do as instructed! She therefore accompanied her mistress to the chamber and left her with the words, "Ensure, O brave Queen, that you make every effort to protect your son, the noble Prince Bharata, and yourself!"

Queen Kaikeyi, whose mind had been poisoned by the false words of Manthara, vowed to achieve her goal. Casting off her necklace and other pieces of jewellery, and unloosening her long and beautiful hair, she lay down on the ground, the picture of grief and despair. 

Filled with great suspicion and anger at her husband, she awaited his arrival, promising herself that she would give up her life if she had to, but would ensure justice for her son and her illustrious family.

To be continued....

Om Sri Ramaya Namah.

Om Namo Narayana

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

P.S. This episode in the Ramayana is often mentioned by Gurus and spiritual teachers to highlight the effects of 'kusanga' or negative company. They explain that even good-hearted people (such as Queen Kaikeyi) may sometimes turn to evil ways when exposed to the persuasive false arguments of wicked individuals (such as Manthara). Hence the reason, they generally advise, that to progress spiritually, those walking the spiritual path should, while respecting all, steer clear of the company of those who do not care to attempt to practice any ethics (such as the yama and niyama of the yogic path). 

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

Bala Kanda Part 12: Dasharatha's decision

 Hari Aum.

Om Sri Ramaya Namah. Let us continue our study of the Valmiki Ramayana. 

In the previous post, we saw the four sons of Dasharatha embracing life as householders as they served their father and the people of Ayodhya.

Bharata had left to spend time with his grandfather, the King of Kekeya. His brother, Shatrughna (twin brother of Lakshmana), also travelled with him for company (as the two were inseparable, as were Rama and Lakshmana). They enjoyed spending time with Bharata's maternal relations in Kekaya. Despite this, they did miss their father and family in Ayodhya, and they too in turn were missed by their relatives at home. Dasharatha loved his four sons equally but could not help but observe that there was something uniquely special about Rama. 

He observed that Rama had now developed all the qualities required for a future king. He had mastered a wide range of subjects related to the running of a country. He was extremely skilled in knowledge of weapons and warfare but also excelled at diplomacy. He was aware of the principles of good governance and management of wealth. 

He was a natural leader, both kind and compassionate and also wise and courageous. He had a number of virtues including self-control and humility, as well as the ability to conquer lower emotions such as anger and jealousy. He was deeply caring towards His people and their welfare was always His prime concern.

Dasharatha had ruled the kingdom of Kosala for many years (thousands of years in fact, as people in that yuga, called the Treta Yuga, were said to live for much longer periods of time compared with our current Kali Yuga) and felt that it would be appropriate for him to now retire and hand over the reigns of his kingdom to Rama.

This was a significant decision, however, and one that he felt should be made only after consultation with others. He therefore began by discussing this idea with his Guru as well as the sages and ministers, and they all gladly gave their approval. They held Sri Rama in the highest regard and felt that He would make an excellent king. They urged the King to retire as soon as possible and install Rama in his place!

Dasharatha was pleased with their response and then invited a number of citizens of his own kingdom along with the kings of neighbouring friendly countries to his palace to discuss the subject. (In his haste, he invited all relevant rulers except the rulers of Mithila (King Janaka, Rama's father-in-law) and of Kekeya (Bharata's grandfather)--he felt that they were busy with other matters and would hear the happy news later). They too all joyfully agreed that it was an excellent plan to install Sri Rama as King.

Filled with delight that his plan had been received so well, King Dasharatha asked his closest minister, Sumantra, to bring Rama before him. Rama arrived and, bowing at the feet of his father, sought to know how He could serve him. His father embraced him closely and told Him of his decision. 

Rama was to be crowned King as soon as possible-- this was the will of not only His father, but the entire kingdom! Filled with a sense of duty, He bowed and accepted the wish of His father and people. (He did not show any great elation (or distaste) at the idea-- only acceptance of the request as a duty).  After this, He returned to His own palace. 

In the meantime, Rama's friends informed Queen Kausalya of the news that her son was to be crowned King by the will of the people. She was delighted upon hearing this and gave away many gifts in celebration. 

Dasharatha now began to reflect that he had recently had some rather disturbing dreams suggesting that misfortune could befall him and his family. Not only this, the palace astrologers had warned that an inauspicious period was indicated for him based upon the planetary alignments. 

Due to the inauspicious dreams and planetary placements, he was suddenly gripped by a sense of fear and dread that obstacles might arise to prevent his dream of seeing Rama as King from coming true. He therefore hastily summoned his ministers and key members of the public and shared these concerns with them. 

He told them that, from an astrological perspective, the next day, when the moon would be in the nakshatra/ constellation called 'Pushya', was regarded as highly auspicious. Any event commencing on this day would likely be successful. This day, he said, would therefore be ideal for the ceremony to crown Rama as King. 

Everyone present agreed with the King's decision, and Rama was again summoned to His father's presence. (He had been slightly alarmed at being called to see His father again so soon after meeting him and had enquired if all was well-- the minister replied saying that the King wanted to discuss an urgent matter with Him).

King Dasharatha greeted Rama with great affection and explained to Him his plan to crown Him as King the very next day. 

He instructed Rama to prepare for the ceremony (which had a spiritual dimension) by performing some austerities. He was to remain in full control of His mind and senses, observe a fast along with His wife, and sleep on the ground on a mat of darbha (sacred) grass with a slab of stone as a pillow. 

His friends were to guard Him on all sides, said the King, explaining that he feared that some obstacles may prevent the ceremony from taking place. Rama bowed before the King and accepted his orders. He then went to inform His wife, but being unable to find Her at their palace, went to meet His mother. 

Queen Kausalya was meditating upon Narayana at the palace temple when Rama arrived. Hearing the news of Rama's upcoming coronation, Queen Sumitra, Lakshmana and Sita also arrived at the temple. When Kausalya was informed of Dasharatha's plan to crown Rama the very next day, she was overjoyed. She declared that her prayers had been answered and that she was ecstatic that Rama would soon be King. Lakshmana too, ever devoted to Rama, was very happy at the news of His brother’s upcoming coronation.

Rama then received the blessings of Queens Kausalya and Sumitra and warm congratulations from Lakshmana. He affectionately told His brother that he too would rule alongside Him, as he was dear to Him as His own life. 

Rama and Sita then returned to their palace. Soon afterwards, their Guru, sage Vasishtha arrived, at the request of the King. He instructed them regarding the procedure to fast and perform worship in preparation for the coronation. Rama and Sita followed his guidance and performed the spiritual austerities as advised.

As Vasishtha left their palace, he found there was a great atmosphere of excitement and joy in the city. The people of Ayodhya, upon discovering that Rama was to be crowned King the very next day, were preparing for the grand event. 

They set about decorating the entire city with colourful banners and flags, with flowers and garlands and all sorts of beautiful ornaments. A large number of people from the countryside and other parts of the kingdom also arrived at the capital eager to witness the upcoming coronation and to participate in the decoration of the city.

The streets were filled with people in high spirits celebrating the upcoming ceremony. They had waited impatiently for so long to see Rama installed as King and were ecstatic that their wishes were soon to be fulfilled. They praised Dasharatha for his excellent decision to crown Rama as King and expressed their gratitude to the Divine for blessing them with such good fortune. There was much music and dancing in the streets to celebrate the upcoming happy event!

Vasishtha made his way back to Dasharatha's palace and met the King. He informed him that Rama was observing the necessary spiritual austerities as instructed and that all arrangements had been made for His coronation the next day. The King, filled with a great sense of joy, peace and contentment, now retired to his chambers to sleep.

Accompanied by Sita, Rama performed a homam (sacred fire ceremony) to Vishnu as instructed by His Guru. They then slept on a mat of darbha grass on the floor of the temple of Vishnu at the palace. Upon waking at the sacred hour of 'brahma muhurtha' (three hours before sunrise), They performed the morning rituals of worship, including recitation of the Gayatri mantra.

The people of Ayodhya, hearing that Rama had completed all the preparatory rituals of worship, were filled with joy. In anticipation that He would come out into the streets of the city to meet them that evening, once the coronation was completed, they proceeded to decorate every street with lights (for example, ornate lampposts shaped like trees with lights on their boughs). The entire city therefore glittered and shone with beauty ready for the coronation of Rama.

To be continued......

Om Sri SitaRamabhyam Namah.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

Bala Kanda Part 11: Life in Ayodhya

 Hari Aum.

I hope all readers are having a wonderful Navaratri. The tenth day after Navaratri, known as Vijaya Dashami, is also celebrated as Dussehra, a day that is associated with a significant event in the life of Sri Rama. This is the perfect time therefore to continue the study of the Valmiki Ramayana.

So, let us begin. In previous posts on the Ramayana, we have studied the birth, childhood and early youth of Sri Rama. Valmiki has described Him as being the very embodiment of dharma or righteousness. We have seen how He has excelled in serving His father and Gurus, the sages Vasistha and Vishvamitra. In the next section, we see Sri Rama adopt the life of a householder and take on greater responsibilities towards His family and people.

The news of the extraordinary exploits of Prince Rama had spread among the citizens of Kosala. They were astounded to hear that the youthful son of their beloved King, and future heir to the throne, had defeated dreadful asuras in the forest and protected the sages. Not only this, He had then gone on to break the bow of no less than the mighty Lord Shiva Himself and had won the hand of the daughter of King Janaka, Princess Sita, in marriage. And, on the way to Ayodhya, He had faced none other than the fearsome Lord Parashurama, annihilator of kshatriyas, and had defeated Him in battle!

The citizens of Ayodhya were beside themselves with pride and joy at the thought of Sri Rama's valour and noble qualities. They could not believe their good fortune in having Him as their future King. When would He return, they asked each other, impatient to get a glimpse of Him!

Hearing that King Dasharatha was on his way home accompanied by Sri Rama, His brothers and their brides, the people were filled with great joy and excitement. They decorated the entire city to welcome them home. There were flags and banners everywhere, along with flowers, incense and all manner of other colourful adornments. They thronged the streets hoping to get a glimpse of their King, Sri Rama and His wife, Princess Sita (whom they had heard was a very charming young lady!). 

At long last, their wishes were fulfilled. King Dasharatha entered his kingdom accompanied by his sons, their wives, the sages and his army. As they arrived, there was tremendous rejoicing amongst the citizens who regarded the King as their very own. He too, in return, was delighted to be home, and greeted his people with great affection.

They then made their way to the palace where they met with the three queens, Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. The queens were delighted to see their sons and their new brides and welcomed them all home with great love. With the return of Sri Rama to Ayodhya, the entire kingdom appeared to be filled with a bliss that could only be compared with Vaikuntha, the abode of Lord  Vishnu. 

Valmiki describes the love between Sri Rama and Princess Sita as being similar to that between Lord Vishnu and Mother Lakshmi in the celestial realm. He states that their love for each other only grew as they learned more about each other. Thus, while living in Ayodhya and serving their people, they enjoyed a life of great marital bliss.

After the princes had all returned to Ayodhya and settled into a happy householder life with their wives, a message came from the King of Kekaya. He was the father of Queen Kaikeyi and had long desired to spend some time with his beloved grandson, Prince Bharata. He sent Prince Yudhajit, his son and brother of Queen Kaikeyi, to Ayodhya with a request to Dasharatha to permit Bharata to spend some time with him in Kekeya. 

King Dasharatha gladly agreed to this and Bharata travelled to Kekeya accompanied by his brother, Shatrughna. Sri Rama and Lakshmana remained in Ayodhya where they immersed themselves in service of the King and their people. 

This was a period of great peace and bliss in the kingdom of Kosala. The people lived a life of great contentment under the noble and just rule of King Dasharatha, aided by Sri Rama, the incarnation of dharma. The presence of Sita, the embodiment of all auspiciousness (and an avatar of the celestial Lakshmi), brought great prosperity and wealth to the land which flourished in all aspects, both material and spiritual.

Under the loving care of King Dasharatha and Sri Rama, it seemed as though the peace and prosperity of Ayodhya would never end-- it truly resembled the celestial realm of Vaikuntha in every way.

To be continued......

A very happy Vijaya Dashami and Dussehra in advance to all readers. May Sri Sita Rama and Sri Durga Shiva bless us all.

Om Sri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama.

Om Sri Durgayai Namah.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

P.S. I will aim to write the next installment of the Ramayana soon (hopefully in the next couple of weeks, time-permitting).