|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 324 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  175

The practice of devotion, reading scriptures and being in the association with the pious, saintly men and ascetics would bring tremendous transformation in the individual.  It enhances endurance, credibility, kindness, selflessness, humility, simplicity, and more importantly the ability to handle any adverse situations in life with a firm and serene mind, and consider them as the grace of the Supreme Lord, even the worst of the worst situations in the life could not break the person emotionally, they would come up from the troubles at ease.  King Pareekshith/Vishnuratha, who was cursed by the son of Rishi Sameeka, was not dejected about the curse of the Rishi, felt extremely unworthy of himself, for the arrogant act towards an illustrious Rishi.  King Pareekshith crowned his son Janameyjaya as the King and left the Kingdom, he arrived on the riverbank of Ganga, soon the illustrious Rishis and Sages were assembled, all that he was enquired how to elevate his soul form the miseries in life within seven days.  The weak mind always sees the hopelessness and miseries in the opportunities, even the trivial disappointment causes extreme anxiety and fear, the practice of spirituality is the effort to get rid of the weakness of mind and face any challenging situations in life with a calm mind.  A strong-minded person sees opportunity in every failure, with the constant practice of meditation, attains the serenity of mind and the humility to accept any life events.

Vishayan Dhyayathashchiththam Vishayeshu  Vishajjathe | Mam Anusmarashchiththam Mayyeva Pravileeyathe || Yadha  Thvam Aravindhaksha Yadhrisham Va Yadhathmakam | Dhyayen Mumukshurethanmey Dhyanam Thvam Vakthumarhasi ||

Udhdhava speaks “ Oh! Aravindhaksha, you have mentioned Dhyanayoga as the easiest method to attain the elevation of the soul, How did Mumukshu practice Dhyanayoga? how should I practice Dhyana Yoga? Kindly narrate to me.”

Bhagavan speaks “Oh! Udhdhava, listen to me carefully about meditation, take a seat in a comfortable place and sit straight, it will expand the lungs maximum level and helps to intake large quantity of air to strengthen it while sitting straight, the fluids in the backbone helps to preserve the body temperature at a required level.  Oh! Udhdhava, keep your muscles relaxed and sit for a while without any movements, keep your hands rest on your thighs, fix the vision on the upper end of the nose /Nasagra/not downwards.  The mind has the capability to attract the sound or appearance/form, hence the practice of meditation is the process to arrest the unwanted thoughts, and concentrate on the supreme Lord who is formless one, is beyond sound or form. Oh! Udhdhava I shall narrate the practice of inhalation and exhalation/Pranayama to you, breathe in air in a large quantity in your lungs is called Poorakam, holding it for a few seconds/kumbakam, and releasing the air/breathe out/Rechakam.  This process of Pranayama promotes blood circulation, strengthen the lungs, digestive systems, revitalize the blood cells, arrest the thoughts completely which leads to the state of serenity.  Oh! Udhdhava, practice the recitation of Omkara, while Pranayama increases the concentration, and contemplate upon Lord Surya and visualize my most charming appearance of dark cloud complexion, beautiful face, four arms holding Shankha Chakra, Gadha, Padmam,   pleasing smile on the face, beautiful neck, and cheeks, adorned in magnificent Makara Kundalam on the ear, the chest is adorned in various ornaments of precious yellow metal, Vanamala, Kausthubham, Srivathsam and Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi, decorated in Kireeta, Kadaka, Katisuthra, and marvelous anklets, Oh! Udhdhava envision that magnificent form of mine that would please your eyes.”

Vahnimadhye Smareth Roopam Mamaithadhyanamangalam || Samam Prashantham Sumukham Dheerghacharu Chathurbhujam | Sucharu Sundaragreevam Sukapolakam Shuchismitham || SamanaKarnna Vinyastha SpuranMakara Kundalam | Hemambaram Ghanashyamam Srivathsa Sreenikethanam || Shankha Chakra Gadha Padma Vanamala Vibhooshitham | Noopurair Vilasath Padham Kausthubha Prabhayayutham ||Dhyumath Kireeta Kadaka Katisuthrangadhayutham | Sarvangasudharam Hridhyam Prasadha Sumukheshanam ||