Hari Aum.
Guruvayur temple is a beautiful and famous Vishnu (Krishna) temple in the town of Guruvayur in Kerala. It is said to be very ancient, possibly at least 5000 years old. The deity of temple, known as Guruvayurappan by the people of Kerala, is a four-armed form of Vishnu holding the conch, discus, mace and lotus in His hands.
It is said that the idol of Vishnu in this temple was originally installed in Dwaraka, Krishna's kingdom, during His avatar on Earth. At the time that He left Earth and returned to His celestial realm, He gave it to the guru of the demi-gods (Brihaspati) and the demi-god of the wind, Vayu, and advised them to install it at its current location. The name of the temple is based on the two divine beings who created it, i.e. Guru and Vayu. The mantra 'Om Namo Narayanaya' is propagated by the temple.
The temple attracts many devotees throughout the year. I have been fortunate enough to visit it a few times with my family. Many Hindus from Kerala keep a picture of Guruvayurappan in their homes, even if they move outside Kerala and live in various places in India and around the world. I was born in Kerala but grew up in Delhi. My parents always had a picture of Guruvayurappan at home. And now that I have my own home, I keep a picture of Him on my altar.
Kerala is facing the wrath of nature today. There are terrible floods all over. I was due to visit Kerala soon to spend time with some of my close family members who live there (by the grace of God they are all safe) but will very likely postpone the trip due to the natural disaster.
I know Kerala well although I have never lived there for any length of time. I used to visit often during my school holidays while I lived in India. It is such a beautiful place with lush greenery and fertile land. It was always an incredible sight to see so many coconut trees clustered together as the plane approached Kerala. Today, much of this beautiful land is under water.
The highest priority now for the people of Kerala is of course to save lives and rebuild cities and villages that have suffered great damage. But reflection is needed as to the underlying cause of such events to prevent them from happening again. The whole world is facing increasing natural disasters. As a species, we have to reflect on why this is happening.
The scientists and the yogis effectively provide the same explanation for the natural calamities we face but in different language. The scientists say this is due to our actions. They say we are all being careless in terms of how we treat nature. We create so much plastic and other waste everyday. Global warming is said to be occurring at an alarming rate.
The yogis say the same thing but use different words- they call it karma (meaning the reaction produced by our action). It we treat nature kindly, she treats us kindly. If we are harsh, she also becomes harsh to make us change our ways.
It pains me to see Kerala, the land where my roots are, experience so much suffering and distress (it is painful to see any part of the world in distress, however, when you know the place well, it is particularly difficult). Aside from making a donation towards the relief efforts and offering prayers, there is not much else I can do.
May Guruvayurappan bless and protect Keralites and give them strength to cope with this calamity. May He help them to walk the path of dharma, of goodness so that they may be blessed. May He remove all adharma from the land so that such misery does not happen again. May this troubled time be over soon.
I would also like to say something about diet. In Britain, which prides itself as a country of dog-lovers, buying or selling dog meat is illegal. Although, some other countries allow the killing of dogs and selling of dog meat (such as China and South Korea), Britain does not allow this. This is not taking away anyone's right to eat what they want- it's just that the majority of Brits love dogs and don't want to see them eaten. I would say that is fine.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-45085514
I am, however, unable to understand why India is unable to take a similar approach towards cow-meat or beef. The majority of people living in India love cows- they are gentle animals that give so much to humanity in the form of milk and dairy products. It is also a fact that, while yogis consider all animals sacred (not just the cow), the cow has a special place.
If the majority of Indians are unhappy at the idea of cows being killed, why do the media in India, and that of other countries (including Britain!) mock India when they want to ban the killing of cows and selling of cow meat (when countries such as the UK have laws on dog meat)! It is a hypocritical attitude that I find completely bizarre.
Kerala unfortunately seems to be particularly passionate about killing cows and eating beef. I can understand this phenomenon amongst non-Hindus, but I cannot help finding it sad that several Hindus too now eat beef in Kerala. This was rare among Hindus of my grandparents generation (most were strict vegetarians including in my family). Things seem to have changed in my parents generation unfortunately (however, I am glad that even those in my family who now eat meat, do at least seem to avoid beef!). As spirituality is reviving in Kerala under the influence of yoga teachers/Gurus, many are turning vegetarian once again.
Nothing good can ever result from the deliberate killing of another living being, be it an animal, human or other. Every living being is a manifestation of God according to the yogis and there will be a negative karmic reaction towards one if one chooses to harm other creatures made by God. We cannot give life to animals, God gave them life. He only has the right to take their life away- it is not our right to take away from other living beings the gift of life given to them by God.
While I am in favour of people having the right to eat what they like, I do also feel that (as in the UK), the sentiments of the majority, especially when it comes to abstaining from violence, must be respected.
Humans do not need to eat dogs or cows to live. There is also increasing medical research that shows red meat, including beef and pork, is linked with a higher incidence of colorectal cancer. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/red-meat-and-the-risk-of-bowel-cancer/
As a yogi, I hope and pray that one day, India will live in the spirit of the great Sanskrit saying: "Ahimsa paramo dharma", i.e. non-violence is the highest virtue.
It would be good to see humans treating each other kindly (no lynchings, mob-violence etc), and also treating animals kindly (not killing and eating them).
May Guruvayurappan make India, the land on which Krishna and Buddha walked, the land of ahimsa or non-violence.
Beautiful song in Malayalam (the language of Kerala) to Guruvayurappan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsMTW4EdZEY
Hari Aum Tat Sat
Guruvayur temple is a beautiful and famous Vishnu (Krishna) temple in the town of Guruvayur in Kerala. It is said to be very ancient, possibly at least 5000 years old. The deity of temple, known as Guruvayurappan by the people of Kerala, is a four-armed form of Vishnu holding the conch, discus, mace and lotus in His hands.
It is said that the idol of Vishnu in this temple was originally installed in Dwaraka, Krishna's kingdom, during His avatar on Earth. At the time that He left Earth and returned to His celestial realm, He gave it to the guru of the demi-gods (Brihaspati) and the demi-god of the wind, Vayu, and advised them to install it at its current location. The name of the temple is based on the two divine beings who created it, i.e. Guru and Vayu. The mantra 'Om Namo Narayanaya' is propagated by the temple.
The temple attracts many devotees throughout the year. I have been fortunate enough to visit it a few times with my family. Many Hindus from Kerala keep a picture of Guruvayurappan in their homes, even if they move outside Kerala and live in various places in India and around the world. I was born in Kerala but grew up in Delhi. My parents always had a picture of Guruvayurappan at home. And now that I have my own home, I keep a picture of Him on my altar.
Kerala is facing the wrath of nature today. There are terrible floods all over. I was due to visit Kerala soon to spend time with some of my close family members who live there (by the grace of God they are all safe) but will very likely postpone the trip due to the natural disaster.
I know Kerala well although I have never lived there for any length of time. I used to visit often during my school holidays while I lived in India. It is such a beautiful place with lush greenery and fertile land. It was always an incredible sight to see so many coconut trees clustered together as the plane approached Kerala. Today, much of this beautiful land is under water.
The highest priority now for the people of Kerala is of course to save lives and rebuild cities and villages that have suffered great damage. But reflection is needed as to the underlying cause of such events to prevent them from happening again. The whole world is facing increasing natural disasters. As a species, we have to reflect on why this is happening.
The scientists and the yogis effectively provide the same explanation for the natural calamities we face but in different language. The scientists say this is due to our actions. They say we are all being careless in terms of how we treat nature. We create so much plastic and other waste everyday. Global warming is said to be occurring at an alarming rate.
The yogis say the same thing but use different words- they call it karma (meaning the reaction produced by our action). It we treat nature kindly, she treats us kindly. If we are harsh, she also becomes harsh to make us change our ways.
It pains me to see Kerala, the land where my roots are, experience so much suffering and distress (it is painful to see any part of the world in distress, however, when you know the place well, it is particularly difficult). Aside from making a donation towards the relief efforts and offering prayers, there is not much else I can do.
May Guruvayurappan bless and protect Keralites and give them strength to cope with this calamity. May He help them to walk the path of dharma, of goodness so that they may be blessed. May He remove all adharma from the land so that such misery does not happen again. May this troubled time be over soon.
I would also like to say something about diet. In Britain, which prides itself as a country of dog-lovers, buying or selling dog meat is illegal. Although, some other countries allow the killing of dogs and selling of dog meat (such as China and South Korea), Britain does not allow this. This is not taking away anyone's right to eat what they want- it's just that the majority of Brits love dogs and don't want to see them eaten. I would say that is fine.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-45085514
I am, however, unable to understand why India is unable to take a similar approach towards cow-meat or beef. The majority of people living in India love cows- they are gentle animals that give so much to humanity in the form of milk and dairy products. It is also a fact that, while yogis consider all animals sacred (not just the cow), the cow has a special place.
If the majority of Indians are unhappy at the idea of cows being killed, why do the media in India, and that of other countries (including Britain!) mock India when they want to ban the killing of cows and selling of cow meat (when countries such as the UK have laws on dog meat)! It is a hypocritical attitude that I find completely bizarre.
Kerala unfortunately seems to be particularly passionate about killing cows and eating beef. I can understand this phenomenon amongst non-Hindus, but I cannot help finding it sad that several Hindus too now eat beef in Kerala. This was rare among Hindus of my grandparents generation (most were strict vegetarians including in my family). Things seem to have changed in my parents generation unfortunately (however, I am glad that even those in my family who now eat meat, do at least seem to avoid beef!). As spirituality is reviving in Kerala under the influence of yoga teachers/Gurus, many are turning vegetarian once again.
Nothing good can ever result from the deliberate killing of another living being, be it an animal, human or other. Every living being is a manifestation of God according to the yogis and there will be a negative karmic reaction towards one if one chooses to harm other creatures made by God. We cannot give life to animals, God gave them life. He only has the right to take their life away- it is not our right to take away from other living beings the gift of life given to them by God.
While I am in favour of people having the right to eat what they like, I do also feel that (as in the UK), the sentiments of the majority, especially when it comes to abstaining from violence, must be respected.
Humans do not need to eat dogs or cows to live. There is also increasing medical research that shows red meat, including beef and pork, is linked with a higher incidence of colorectal cancer. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/red-meat-and-the-risk-of-bowel-cancer/
As a yogi, I hope and pray that one day, India will live in the spirit of the great Sanskrit saying: "Ahimsa paramo dharma", i.e. non-violence is the highest virtue.
It would be good to see humans treating each other kindly (no lynchings, mob-violence etc), and also treating animals kindly (not killing and eating them).
May Guruvayurappan make India, the land on which Krishna and Buddha walked, the land of ahimsa or non-violence.
Beautiful song in Malayalam (the language of Kerala) to Guruvayurappan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsMTW4EdZEY
Hari Aum Tat Sat
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