||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 95 – The legend of Gajendra Moksham -1

The human intellect has the inexplicable skill to search happiness and comfort in the outer world as well as within oneself, the Srimad Bhagavatham teaches about the search of happiness within oneself and achieves a balanced state of mind that could handle any challenging situation and remain untouched by happiness or sorrow. The human intellect can effortlessly switch over from happiness to sorrow, positive thoughts to negative thoughts and weakness to courage, etc. it can confront the situation with extreme fear and courage as well. 

The legend of Manvanthara talks about “who’s the eminent one?” A person who is sacrificed all the material comforts and undergoes penance in the woods, or person living in all the material comforts without giving importance to it, performing his duties and responsibilities and contemplating upon supreme Lord.

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, Swayambhuva Manu after ruling the Kingdom wisely for several years, withdrawn to woods with Devi Shatharoopa,  in order to contemplate upon supreme Lord.  Swayambhuva Manu speaks “ Oh! Devi, The supreme Lord who illuminates the whole Universe, but the Universe cannot shed light on him, he is all-pervading, witnessing all that happening in the Universe, and even the Vedas are incapable to describe the ultimate truth, Drik and Dhrishya are two different things, He is Drik/who makes us understand what’s seen/it is neither eyes, nor the intellect, but the existence of supreme soul causes to understand what has been seen, Dhrishya is the scene.  The intellect can absorb sounds and visions, the supreme soul is beyond sounds or vision, it can be experienced, not seen or heard.  Oh! Devi, the presence of supreme Lord as a soul in us causes to experience all that happening in and around us.  The Supreme Lord who resides as a soul has no beginning or end, everything in the universe undergoes constant transformations, he is eternal, he is not bound by the changes, he is permanent truth.”

Shuka Bhrama continues “ Oh! Rajan, listen to me carefully, there was Mount Thrikoota which was flourished land with rich natural resources, inhabited by the wild animals.  The mountain was surrounded by beautiful landscapes, lush green land, rivers, ponds and streams, trees and plants in abundance.  It was the shelter place of all the wild animals, birds and reptiles; they took great pleasure in that attractive wood of Mount Thrikoota.  There was a large number of elephants led by a strong and powerful elephant Gajendra, he was Indra of Gajas indeed.  The elephants took great pleasure in the company of Gajendra and enthusiastically moved all over the woods.  The years passed, the forest started to face calamities and destruction of natural resources.  They had to face extreme famine and drought, so the elephants decided to leave the place under the guidance of Gajendra who led them to a lush green land.  As soon as they entered in the new forest, they could sense the fragrance of lotus flowers, chirping of birds, etc.., they saw a beautiful pond crammed with fully bloomed lotus flowers.  All the elephants were overjoyed and took great pleasure in the beautiful pond.  Gajendra took a trunk full of water and sprayed over the elephants accompanied and they have passed hours and hours taking great enthusiasm in the water sport while spraying water upon his children and wives, Gajendra forgot to notice sometimes wedged on his leg.  Soon he realized that it was a crocodile, he withered in pain, moved the leg here and there.  In the meantime his children and wives finished their water sport, quenched their first and got on the land, they did not notice Gajendra who was withering in pain, the water has changed its color, gave out the appearance of a pool of blood.  Gajendra understood, even though he is a powerful animal on the land, the crocodile is small in size has great strength in the water.  Gajendra put all efforts to pull out the leg from the mouth of the crocodile were ended in failure, he looked upon the large number 0f elephants on the land started to move on their way.  Suddenly, the elephants turned back and saw Gajendra in the pond filled in the blood; he has no more strength to get out of the pond.  The family of Gajendra, a group of elephants put an effort to pull him with their trunk, but nothing could get him out of the water, instead, he was drowning to water with great speed.  Ultimately elephants left their hold, finding their efforts are unsuccessful, and they pitifully looked at Gajendra and left the place.  Gajendra realized that no one could help him other than the supreme Lord; the piousness earned in the previous births reminded him to call out supreme Lord for help.  His intellect encouraged him to fight against the trap of crocodile, he understood none could help him other the supreme Lord.  Gajendra contemplated upon supreme Lord and eulogized."

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 94 – The practice of meditation/Bhakti Yoga – 7

Kapila Vasudeva speaks “ Oh! Mother, there are three predominant qualities known as Sathvik, Rajasik, and Thamasik in humans.  The people of Sathvik qualities engage in the constant practice of contemplation upon supreme Lord and attains the serenity of mind, the people of Rajasik nature chases after the sensual pleasures  and people of Thamasik nature is saturated in illusion.  At the time of death, the person who has attained serenity of mind leaves the vital air through eyes or nose, the person with endless desires leave the vital air through the mouth and the people with Thamasik qualities lead a miserable life on Earth, with the feeling of guilt and distress, the air passage will get blocked with mucus of intense grief that makes the air circulation  almost impossible, finally leave the vital air through the anus.” 

Kapila Vasudeva continues “Oh! Mother, the fetus comes out of the womb along with excreta and cries out loudly, eventually forgets all that promised to supreme Lord in the womb.   While living on Earth, the child gets introduced to various ways of living and undergoes great difficulties by chasing sensual pleasures which multiplies anger, pride, ego, jealousy, etc.   Thus the child grows with the wrong perception that the body is the prime instrument for sensual pleasure thereby engages in the consumption of meals and physical relationship, ultimately once again it heaves into the darkness of ignorance which causes cycles of birth.  Oh! Mother, listen to me carefully, you need not get perplexed after listening to the cycles of human birth on Earth, understand the process of cycles of birth and keep yourself brave, the mind and intellect have originated from the supreme Lord and it has to unite with him, it can be achieved with   the association of saintly people, Yoga, meditation, Pranayama, etc..  in this way you can raise your soul from the Maya, leave your body consciousness and unite your soul to the supreme Lord with the constant practice of meditation.  The liberated souls attain liberation from repeated cycles of birth, it finally leaves vital air through the Oordhabhaga/upper part.   If the soul does not practice any of the methods to unite with the supreme Lord keeps taking several births on Earth and undergoes sufferings of worldly existence.  Oh! Mother, therefore take shelter in the lotus feet of Supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings, Oh! Mother, listen to me carefully, practice worship of supreme Lord Vasudeva with intense devotion and faith, gradually you will attain the sense of renunciation and supreme wisdom.  The Supreme Lord who is the cause for the functioning of the human body and the organs remains the same in all; therefore contemplate upon him with extreme faith and devotion.    Oh! Mother, you can share this supreme knowledge with the people who are devoted to the supreme Lord.”  Kapila Vasudeva prepared to leave his mother.  Devi Devahoothi reverentially prostrated before the lotus feet of Supreme Lord who was born as Kapila Vasudeva and said “Oh! Paramaguro, I shall prostrate before the supreme Lord who was assumed the form of Kapila, Oh! Lord, you have elevated my soul to the absolute truth and made my life fruitful.”  Kapila Vasudeva left the place and conducted a journey for the welfare of human beings. 

The virtuous Devi Devahoothi watched her son leaving forever, even though she felt uneasy like the mother of the calf grieve over the separation of its calf, instantly she regained her confidence and engaged in the practice of devotion with pleasing nature.   She   lived all alone in a hermitage in the woods, constantly engaged in the contemplation of supreme Lord; gradually she has attained supreme knowledge and the sense of renunciation and united with the supreme Bhramam, who is the state of bliss.  Devahoothi sincerely followed the teachings of her son and attained a transcendental state, she has abandoned all those memories of life with her husband and son, like she has freshly got out of the nightmare, and eventually, attained Bhrama Nirvana.  Later, the place where Devi Devahoothi attained Bhrama Nirvana has become the sacred place Kapilashrama to undertake extreme penances.  Whoever listens or read  the legend of Kapila Vasudeva and follow his teachings sincerely would attain intense devotion and pleasing nature, finally attain the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 93 –  The practice of meditation/Bhakti Yoga – 6

Kapila Vasudeva speaks “ Oh! Mother, a soul attains body due to its previous Karma and the influence of ‘Time’; interestingly, the soul chooses its destination and begins its journey from the male productive organ, eventually, it is deposited in the womb of a female.  The Shukla/egg deposited in white color remains in the womb for a night, within the five nights it transforms into water bubble, after ten days it turns the size of a pear and turns to the shape of an egg.  In the first month, the egg develops its head so that the supreme soul enters through the Bhramarandhra/tender upper part of the head, to decide what kind of body parts should be given to the soul, surprisingly the egg assumes the body parts bound by its previous Karma.   In the second month, the fetus develops hands and legs, later nails, hair, bone, and skin. In the third month, the fetus develops a productive organ.  In the fourth month the skin, muscles, blood, and bones develop.   In the fifth month, the fetus connects its life with the umbilical cord to its mother.   In the sixth month the fetus turns its position left or right and gradually turns upside down where it has deposited the excreta from the third month and develop consciousness, while living in this position the bacteria starts to grow in the excreta, it keeps attacking the head of the fetus, but the fetus remains helpless, it moves violently and loses its consciousness, sometimes it weeps in extreme pain.  Moreover, the fetus suffers from the extreme heat/spicy, acidity causing meals or cold of the meal consumed by its mother, all of these contribute intense pain all over the body.  Thus the fetus starts its struggle for its existence, it absorbs liquid form of the meal through the umbilical cord which was consumed by its mother.  The fetus prepares to come out of the womb-like a birdie pops its head out of the nest.  At this point of time, the infant gets a clear picture of its previous birth, it eulogizes the supreme Lord “ Oh! Bhagavan, I have attained the form of a human with your grace, kindly relieve me from all the fears and anxieties in this birth, I shall surrender at your lotus feet.  I have obtained this human form by my previous Karma, and the purpose of the birth is to complete the unfinished Karma, if I have to perform the tasks with this body and intellect, I need your eternal presence.   Hence, I shall prostrate before the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in me.  Oh! Purusha who is beyond Prakrithi, this body is made of five essential elements, and the sense organs functions with your presence, I shall repeatedly prostrate before you.  Oh! Lord who is all-pervading, you have given me the consciousness, wisdom, and knowledge, you are well capable to relieve all kinds of miseries and sorrows, I shall prostrate before you. Oh! Bhagavan, I do not want to leave this womb, even though it is full of grimy, because the outer world is unfamiliar and full of the darkness of ignorance, so I would prefer to remain here.  Oh! Bhagavan, I shall promise, I shall strive hard to elevate my soul to the supreme Lord who is dearest companion to the soul, and I do not want to commit any sin again and again, and go through endless miseries and sorrows.  Oh! Lord Vishnu, I shall take refuge at your lotus feet and shall engage in the worship of you.”

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 92 –  The practice of meditation/Bhakti Yoga – 5

Devahoothi speaks “Oh! child, If we could not elevate our soul in an above-said manner, what would be our afterlife?”

Kapila Vasudeva continues “ Oh! Mother, we are all fastened by our Karma and Time.  Therefore, do not humiliate anyone; treat everyone with kindness and humility.  Oh! Mother, living beings are superior to non-living things, and humans are the fortunate ones.  There are four Varnas such as Bhramin who are born from the face of supreme Lord, Kshatriya who are born from the arms of supreme Lord, and Vaishya and Shudra are born from the thighs and legs respectively.  Oh! Mother, I shall narrate the supremacy of the twice-born in a prescribed order,  the Bhramin/twice-born who has profound knowledge of Veda and Vedanta, a  twice – born  who has a thorough knowledge of Veda and its meaning, a twice-born who has the capabilities to remove the misconception of others, and finally twice-born who  performs his own duties and responsibilities to elevate his soul and achieve  serenity of  mind, is considered as the supreme.  Oh! Mother, practice your day with prayers to supreme Lord for good intellect to interact with the people in a pleasing manner, do not hurt anyone with words, action or mind, and pray for the ability to accept all those happenings in your life as the grace of Lord.   Oh! Mother, we are bound by the powerful shackle of Time, like the wind which has the power to overturn the cluster of clouds.  Oh! Mother, an ignorant chase after accumulating wealth with the hope that it would provide them bliss, without the knowledge that ‘Time’ has the skill to overturn their hopes and heave them to extreme distress.  Oh! Mother, an ignorant would consider the body as the instrument to seek pleasure in the possession and finds happiness in people who are  surrounded by them,  they keep greater attachment on their beloved ones, possessions and wealth, and arrives in a wrong perception that there is nothing in the world could provide happiness other than the material well-being, like a dog seeking pleasure in biting bones that causes bleeding its teeth, and swallowing its own blood with  a wrong notion that it has derived from the bone and takes great taste in it. An ignorant one is completely besieged by the illusion/Maya of supreme Lord; thus grown completely attached to the material world and remains distressed,  spends life seeking short-term pleasures without the knowledge that all the living and non-living things are bound by the ‘Time’, it has to expire at a certain point of time, like the wind takes away the fragrance of the flower.  Therefore, we should strive to elevate our soul to the supreme Lord who is beyond ‘Time’.  An ignorant one would keep regretting and mourning over bad fortune, keeping all the attention in the material world, gradually the windpipe would get filled with mucus, that causes blockage in the air passage creates extreme difficulty to inhale and exhale, and ultimately leave the mortal coil.  The ignorant people make their life hell on the Earth would attain the same after death too.  The intellectuals make their life heaven on the Earth would attain the same afterlife too.”

Devahoothi spoke “Oh! Child kindly explains the life after death.”

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 91 – The practice of meditation/Bakthi Yoga – 4

Kapila Vasudeva continued “ Oh! Mother, the intense practice of meditation and contemplation upon supreme Lord will give you supreme bliss, which could lead to the state of lack of body consciousness.  The soul has attained numerous births due to endless desires, and it has been clothed in several forms, but the soul remains untouched, and the body undergoes the aging process from the early stage of life, therefore it is unworthy to think about the body that is subject to undergo a constant transformation or the people or fulfillment of the desire of the body.  Oh! Mother, you can attain the knowledge, that body is different from soul/ Bhramam/Bhagavan who is all-pervading, with the constant meditation upon the Supreme Lord, gradually you will achieve the knowledge of Oneness-in-all.  Oh! Mother, the practice of meditation upon the Supreme Lord with intense devotion and faith, with the knowledge that the body is perishable and the soul which is eternal and it is derived from the supreme Lord, hence it has to merge in Him, even though it is highly complex, with the constant practice of contemplation upon Supreme Lord, you could achieve it.”

Devahoothi asked “ Oh! Child, kindly narrate me the different methods of Bhakti Yoga”

Kapila Vasudeva replied “Oh! Mother, there are different ways to practice meditation, according to the nature of individuals.    The individuals with the three natures such as  Thamasik, Rajasik and Swathik, practices meditation in different ways.  The people with Thamasik nature practices meditation to fulfill their individual desires and win over their enemies, they undertake worship with the sense of Himsa, Dhambam, and Mathsaryam.  The people with Rajasik nature practice meditation to fulfill their selfish motive to attain immense wealth and material well-being. The people with Swathik nature practice to attain serenity of mind by the process of complete surrender to supreme Lord and accept all that happening in their lives be it sorrow or happiness as the ‘Prasadha’/grace of supreme Lord.  A true devotee of Lord will not suspect the capabilities of supreme Lord who is the father of the Universe is well competent to take care of the Universe and its living beings.  Oh! Mother, life on the Earth is based on the previous Karma of the individual/Law of Karma, therefore all the living beings on the Earth are bound by their Karma.  The practice of meditation is the elevation of the soul from the material world to supreme Lord, which is possible only through Upasana/ intense faith and devotion, complete surrender with the recitation of sacred names and contemplating upon supreme Lord who is father, mother, companion, relative, wisdom, richness, etc..  Oh! Mother, I shall narrate the essence of Bhakti Yoga, and how to elevate your soul.  The significant methods of worship are Salokya/contemplating upon supreme Lord who resides as a soul in you,  Sameepyam/nearness with him, Saroopyam/likeness to him, and Sayujya/intimate union with him, without any individual motives.  Oh! Mother, you have to practice yourself to elevate your soul, no one can assist you in this practice.  Oh! Mother, whoever venerates the idol without the knowledge of the Supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings, is an ignorant pouring the ghee on the ashes of the fire sacrifice.  Oh! Mother, whoever hurt, or humiliates others without the knowledge of Lord who resides as a soul in all the living beings, would not attain the serenity of mind.  Oh! Mother, idol worship can be continued until you could not attain the knowledge of the Supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings, without the knowledge of all-pervading nature of Lord you cannot save yourself from the fear of death.  Oh! Mother, I shall narrate the easiest way to contemplate upon supreme Lord, who resides as a soul in living beings, with the practice of simplicity, humbleness, and kindness.  Oh! Mother, the practice of humility in action, words, and thoughts, with the constant remembrance of every action has an opposite reaction,  with a knowledge of all that you do will multiply your Karma, and no one can escape from their past deeds.  In this way, you can elevate your soul.”

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 90 – The practice of meditation/Bhakti Yoga – 3

Kapila Vasudeva describes the glorious Bakthi Yoga to his Mother Devahoothi, the knowledge of Prakrithi and Purusha, which is the essence of Veda.  The Prakrithi is perishable, therefore it is mentioned as Thamas, Asath,  and Mrithyu, the Purusha is eternal, therefore it is stated as Jyothi/radiance, Sath, and Amrith.  Devahoothi asked “Oh! Son, how can I contemplate upon the supreme Lord who is Purusha?”

Kapila Vasudeva replies “ Oh! Mother, I shall teach you how to reroute your mind to the pleasant things with the practice of   Swadharmacharana/Parodharma/Paramadharma, following one’s own duties and responsibilities to attain union with the supreme Lord who resides soul in us.  Oh! Mother, withdraw your mind from Vidharma/unwanted deeds, practice control over senses and withdrawal from worldly bondage, and remove the thoughts anything that causes an obstacle to attaining the supreme bliss.   Oh! Mother,  consider all that happening in your life as the grace of supreme Lord and keep your mind calm and serene in any adverse situation,  and keep yourself in the association of saintly people and serve them that could lead to curtailing your desires and worldly bondage, and  keep yourself away from the worldly matters. Oh! Mother, follow the strict disciplines like vow of silence, take a seat in an upright position, take your seat in a place where you feel comfortable and quiet, practice Pranayama/breathing techniques that could help your mind withdraw from worldly matters, contemplate upon supreme Lord who has the complexion of dark clouds, whose  face has intense luster of pollen of lotus flower and holds Shankha, Chakra, Gadha, and Padmam in four arms, his face has extreme radiance, he has pleasing personality, he is compassionate, he is adorned in magnificent ear ornaments and crown, he is decorated with precious gem Kausthubha, Srivastha  and Vanamala on the chest, he is decorated in Keyoora, Kankana, and various gem-studded finger ring,  attractive waist ornament and anklets, and attired in marvelous yellow silk garment.  Oh! Mother, meditate upon the lotus feet of supreme Lord which caused to descend the holy river Ganga on the Earth, that was carried on the matted hair locks of Lord Shiva.  Oh! Mother, envision the knees, thighs, navel, chest, neck, shoulder, face, eyes, crown, and four arms.  Oh! Mother, meditate upon the smiling face and compassionate eyes of supreme Lord who is the destroyer of three types of miseries/Thapathraya, Oh! Mother, contemplate upon the beautiful red lips resemble Bimba fruits and sparkling line of teeth of the Supreme Lord, feel his presence in your heart, surrender your mind and heart with intense devotion, in this way keep away yourself from all the external thoughts.  Whoever contemplates upon the supreme Lord Vishnu in his most pleasing form with intense devotion, feeling the union with him and shed tears, gradually leave that form and attain the state where there is no object, like the wood fire that produces flames for some time, ultimately stops producing flames and remains blazing charcoal, will attain the state of Nirvana/free from thoughts, eventually with the constant practice of meditation they will leave the body consciousness, they would realize the eternal presence of supreme Lord in their soul, like a drunkard who does not have the conscious of clothes.    Therefore whoever attained the eternal presence of supreme Lord in their soul with the constant practice of meditation and Pranayama would leave body consciousness as well.  Oh! Mother, our body is fastened by the ‘Time’, it is perishable, it is utilized for the performance of Karma, it undergoes constant transformation, and eventually it would merge in the Prakrithi.  Oh! Mother, the elevation of the soul from the worldly matters to the supreme Lord is possible only with the constant meditation gradually it provides the sense of detachment to the worldly matters, relatives, family, children, and wealth, same as the Purusha who resides as the soul has no attachment to the body.”

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 89 – The practice of meditation/Bhakti Yoga – 2

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, we are shackled with the Karma due to our ignorance and we perform various Karma yearning for its fruitful results, chasing after the material comforts, adopting various disciplines which are neither appropriate for Varna nor Ashrama Dharma, we are completely soaked in illusion and the material world.  Our mind is not serene, we undergo constant fear and trepidation even for trivial matters.  Oh! Rajan, it is not easy to contemplate upon the Sookshma/subtle nature of the Supreme Lord, therefore meditate upon the Sthoola form/ appearance of supreme Lord, do not let your mind wander on the outer world, take a seat and make yourself comfortable, and envision the marvelous form of Lord, in this way you can elevate your soul with Pranayama and recitation of sacred names.  Gradually, the impurities of the mind will get washed away, it would bring the serenity of mind, you can attain the supreme state of bliss, acceptance of sorrows and happiness with a firm mind like this you can unite your intellect to the supreme Lord.  Thus you can get freed from anxieties, fear,  and grief.   Oh! Rajan, with the constant practice of contemplation upon supreme Lord, will keep you remain untouched by sorrows and miseries, your mind and intellect will be serene which cannot be hurt by time, or planets, or deities, or people and none of the impurities would be able to harm you.  The liberated souls/Jeevanmuktha with the constant practice of meditation, contemplating upon the supreme Lord, attains the highest state of spirituality, they will remain untouched by any of the happenings in the material world, or time, or deities or planets or emotions.  This highest state of spirituality is known as Vaishnavapadham/Vaikundham/Vigatha: Kunditham Ithi Vaikundam,/ a mind free from trepidations and fears/ which is beyond description, or comparison or perception. The liberated souls who have achieved the state of supreme bliss/transcendental state that is untouched by grief or happiness would attain the supreme abode while leaving their mortal coil.”    

The death is a process to the body,  not for the soul.  The body is constantly undergoing transformation, in other words preparing it for the death from the day of birth, it is under the influence of ‘Time’, it has to depart the world at a certain point in time.  The greater attachment to the body would cause painful death which is indescribable, and the soul remains attached to the body even after death, it causes the soul to accept the body of spirit.  A liberated soul who has attained the sense of complete detachment to the body and the material world would raise the state of supreme bliss, with the constant practice of Bhakthiyoga/meditation/Yoga/contemplation/recitation/Pranayama etc. and finally leave the Prana/vital air through the Bhramarandhra, it is called Bhramanirvana.  The liberated souls, who have completely risen from the trepidations, anxieties, caused by time, place and people, have attained union with the absolute truth will not have rebirth.  An individual, who has attained the greatest knowledge of spirituality would leave Prana either through eyes, nose, or ears, will attain Krama Mukthi.  An individual who is not satisfied with the sensual pleasures and endless desires would leave Prana through the mouth.  An individual who lived all his life in guilt, troubles, grief, and hurt,  would leave Prana in extreme difficulty due to the troubles of Vatha, Kapha and Piththa, and finally, leave the vital air through the anus.