|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 348 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  196

Kriya Yoga

Sthuvairuchavachai: Sthothrai: Pauranai: Prakrithairapi | Sthuthva Praseedha  Bhagavannithi Vandhetha Dandavath || Shiro Math Padhayo: Krithva Bahubhyam Cha Parasparam| Prapannam Pahimam Esha Bheetham Mrithyugraharnnavath ||

Bhagavan speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, it is a vast topic, I shall narrate them briefly.  There are three types of Kriya Yoga such as Vaidhika, Thanthrika and Mishra.  In the Vaidhika method of worship, the veneration of deities performed with following Vedic chants.  In the Thanthrik method of worship, the veneration of deity performed with specific gestures prescribed in Tantrik scriptures.  In the Mishra, the veneration of the deity is performed with Vedic chants as well as Thanthrik gestures. Oh! Udhdhava, The worship of Surya, or Agni, and conducts by a Dhvija, before the performance of the veneration, the worshiper should follow the ritual bath, Sandhyopasana, Sankalpam, and the worship conducts on the deity created in any of these methods, Shaili/stone, Dharumayi/timber, Lauhi/metal, Lepya/mold, Lekhya/written, Saikathi/sand, Manomayi/within one’s heart, and Manimayi /gem installed on the dais/Mandapa.  Oh! Udhdhava, I shall describe how to conduct the Kriya Yoga, 1) purification process/Parimarjanam - there are few arrangements should be made before the worship of the deity, the sanctification of the place of worship, and ritual bath of the worshiper, the practice of Pranayama purifies the soul, recitation of Gayathri would purify the intellect of the worshiper. 2) Avahanam/invoking the deity – The practice of meditating upon the image of deity 3) bathing the idol/Snapanam, smearing rich fragrances/Snanalankaram   4) offering new attires and ornaments,/Vasthram and Upaveetham 5) offering Naivedhyam 6) recitation of chants, sacred names, etc.  7) Offering Dhoopa, Dheepa and Harathi 8) Finally the prostration before the idol with a prayer to elevate the soul from all kinds of troubles and fears of death, while prostrating, the head of the worshiper should be at the feet of the idol with folded hands, Oh! Udhdhava,   I always look for the devotion and love of the worshiper, not at those offerings were made to me.”

Thaptha Jambunadhaprakhyam Shankha chakra Gadhambhujai: | Lasath Chathurbhujam Shantham Padma Kinjilkavasasam || Spurath Kireeta Kataka Katisuthra Varangadham | Srivathsavaksham Bhrajath Kausthubham Vanamalinam ||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 347 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  198

Bhagavan speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, It is rare to attain a human body, whoever understands the worth of it would elevate their soul, eventually attain the supreme state of Paramanandham/supreme bliss, lack of expectation, the serenity of mind and accepts all the happenings in life as the grace of the supreme Lord.  The Jeeva liberates from the illusion, with the constant meditation, even if it gets into the world of material well-being, it won’t take pleasure in it and remains calm. I shall narrate the legend of King Pururavass who met the celestial Apsara Urvashi, and fallen in love with her.  He dedicated all his attention to Urvashi, when she abandoned him, ran after to her without realizing the absence of clothes on his body. He felt ashamed of his act running naked after a woman; he cursed himself for his foolish act falling in love at the beauty of an Apsara. Later, he understood the happiness is not in the outside world, engaged in constant contemplation upon the supreme soul and elevated his soul, ultimately attained eternal happiness.  Oh! Udhdhava, read and listen to the scriptures praising the glorious myths of Supreme Lord, meditate upon him and elevate your soul.”

Kriya Yoga

Kriyayogam Samachakshva Bhavadharadhanam Prabho| Yasmaththvam Ye  Yadharchanthi Saththvatha: Sathvatharshabha: || Yethadhvadhanthi Munayo Muhurni:shreyasam Nrinam | Naradho Bhagavan Vyasa  Acharyoangiras: Sutha: ||

Kriya Yoga is the practice of veneration of idol and image of supreme Lord, is one of the easiest method to attain the union of mind and intellect to the supreme soul, in this way the Jeeva gets rid of Karma and Bandha/deeds and bondage. It is one of the methods of elevation of the soul from the performance of deeds without expecting its fruitful results, with the constant practice of veneration, the Jeeva raise to the supreme state.  There are two kinds of Karma, one is the performance of deeds in the material life with the expectation of its fruitful results, the performance of deeds for appreciation and honor, and another one is the performance of deeds in spiritual life for the elevation of the soul.  Kriya Yoga is the easiest method to remove the interest in worldly matters and bondage and elevates the soul to the supreme Bhramam.

Udhdhava speaks “ Oh! Prabho, How did the worship of the deity is performed through Kriya Yoga?” The illustrious Rishis and Sages speaks it is the easiest method to elevate the soul and it was affirmed by Maharishi Narada, Vyasa, and son of Angiras/Bhrihaspathi.  This method of worship of supreme Lord is permissible to all the Varnas Ashrama, and it is preferably for the people, who are soaked in worldly matters and bondage, used as a stepping stone to elevate their soul. Oh! Kamala Pathraksha, Oh! Vishweshwareshwara, Oh! Compassionate one kindly describes how to get rid of Karma and Bandha?”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 346 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  197

Bhagavan speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, this human body is made up of five essential elements such as Air, earth, ether, water, and fire, finally it has to merge in it.   The Jeeva that attained the union with the supreme Bhramam remains in a state of absence of thoughts is a blissful experience/transcendental state.  The Jeeva is fastened with the interest in the material affairs and people, possessions, wealth, etc.  The spiritual interest and the practice of meditation bring the union of Jeeva with the supreme Purusha, to an inexplicable state of bliss.  The practice of constant contemplation raises the Jeeva from the destructible nature of Prakrithi to an indestructible Purusha and dissolves in it.  Oh! Udhdhava, Sankhya Yoga speaks about the Purusha and Prakrithi elaborately, and it breaks all the apprehensions of the Jeeva, therefore contemplate upon the supreme Purusha who is the protector of the Universe and its living beings, and elevate your soul.”

Bhagavan continues “ Oh! Udhdhava, I shall describe the virtues required to elevate your soul.  The Jeeva requires Shama/sense control, Dhama/intellectual thinking, Thithiksha/acceptance of all the happening in the life as the grace of supreme Lord, Thapa/austerities and vows with words, mind and body, Sathyam/truthfulness, Dhaya/kindness, Smrithi/remembrance of supreme soul, Thushti/pleasantness, Thyaga/self-sacrificing nature, Aspruha/lack of desire, Hri/feeling guilty of the mistakes, good control over anger, get rid of weaknesses followed by self-punishment.  The human mind and intellect are under the influence of Thrigunas, control the Thamasik nature that causes darkness of ignorance, lethargy, laziness, fear and grief, and replace it with Rajoguna that causes anger, pride, jealous, desire, and lust, and further replace it with the Sathvik nature that causes happiness, serenity, peace, and wisdom.  The performance of charities and daily rites, and religious rites of Swadharma, the practice of constant mediation with intense faith and devotion, would remove the Rajasik and Thamasik nature, Oh! Udhdhava, take shelter in the supreme Purusha who is the protector, and elevate your soul from the body conscious which creates intense fear and anxieties, get rid of a cluster of redundant thoughts, with the constant practice of meditation and Pranayama.  Oh! Udhdhava, the human body is the source of Gnana/wisdom and Vignana/practicality, and contemplate upon me, realizing my eternal and all-pervasive nature and attain the state of Jeevanmuktha/union with the supreme Bhramam, where there is no happiness or sorrow.”

Jeevo  Jeevavinirmuktho Gunaishaishchashaya Sambhavai: | Mayaiva Bhramana Poorno Na Bahirnantharashchareth ||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 345 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  196

Bhagavan speaks “Oh! Udhdhava, the twice-born who have lost his wealth, family and possessions, did not get disappointed, wanted to get rid of  grief and immersed in the constant meditation and elevated his soul, eventually attained the supreme state of Bhramam, even though the villagers humiliated him in many possible ways, they could not harm the mental strength of the Bhikshu.  Oh! Udhdhava, therefore listen to me carefully; it is not that people are causing grief; it is your attachment to people and the thoughts causing grief. Oh! Child, remove the cluster of unwanted thoughts from the intellect, with the practice of constant meditation upon me.”

The personality of an individual is formed by the nature of thoughts that was absorbed from the Prakrithi through the senses, the things that have seen, heard and the Shadrasa/tastes of sweets and savory.   The Jeeva takes pleasure in the material living without the knowledge of the presence of supreme soul/Paramathma in it continues to absorb in the worldly matters, people, wealth, possessions, etc. and get fastened themselves in extreme fear, anxieties, grief, and agony.  An intelligent person who has the knowledge of the indestructible nature of  Purusha and the destructible Prakrithi  / Nithya Anithya Vivekam, will not get  attached in the material matters with the constant remembrance of the Purusha/supreme soul,  like a bird that flies high in the sky finally returns to its nest.   The eternal nature of Purusha is known as supreme ‘Bhramam’, the union of Jeeva with the supreme soul Purusha, with the constant practice of meditation and Pranayama provides supreme bliss.

Bhagavan speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, I shall narrate the Sankhya philosophy which was discussed earlier, whoever understands the same would get relieved from the illusion.  Oh! Udhdhava, do not forget the eternal truth that the supreme Purusha is the source of Universe and its living beings, it was understood by the people in the Krita Yuga with the extreme penance, they realized that the mind and intellect is originated from the indescribable Purusha, which is beyond description or perception, it is changeless while the Sthoolashareera/body undergoes constant transformation and ruin, like a mud  pot created from the mud has to return to the state of mud in due course of time.  Oh! Udhdhava, Purusha and Prakrithi are inseparable, even though the Jeeva get attached to the destructible nature of Prakrithi without the knowledge that the Prakrithi cannot exist in the absence of indestructible Purusha.  The Jeeva that is drenched in the destructible nature of Prakrithi/wealth, possession, fame, money, richness, etc. constantly faces extreme fear, sorrow, and insecurity.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 344 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  195

Bhikshu Gita

Nayam Jano Mey Sukhadhukha Hethu Na Devathathma Graha Karma Kala: | Mana: Param Karanam Mamananthi Samsarachakram Parivarthayedhyath || Dhanam  Swadharmo Niyamo Yamashcha Shrutham Cha Karmani Cha Sadhrathvathani | Sarve Manonigraha Lakshanantha:  Paro Hi Yogo Manasa: Samadhi : ||

Dhvija speaks “ Oh! Mahatma, The people are not the reason for happiness and sorrows, the deities or the supreme soul, or change of planets, or Karma or Time is not the reason for unhappiness, it is the mind and intellect wedged in worldly matters, causes grief and hurls the person into the cycles of worldly existence.  The mind and intellect is under constant influence of Sathvik, Rajasik and Thamasik Gunas, the over influence of Sathvik Guna causes compassion, and selflessness, the Rajasik Guna causes anger and jealousy and the Thamasik Guna cause the darkness of ignorance and grief.  The practice of performance of Charity/knowledge, wealth, grains, clothes, land, cows, etc., Swadharma/duties and responsibilities, Niyama, Yama, Shrutham/listening to the glorious legend of supreme Lord, following austerities and vows, to get rid of the cluster of unwanted thoughts and interest in worldly matters, it will lead the mind into a state of supreme bliss, a state where no happiness or sorrow.  The performance of righteous deeds, spiritual and religious rites would remove the weaknesses in mind, it brings pleasantness.  The thoughts are powerful weapons; it should be dealt with constant meditation and contemplation upon the supreme Lord, soon will realize to know about the supreme power in us,  in this way we can win over even the greatest of the enemies.  The ignorant will not realize the immense potential in them and consider others as friends, and enemies, and remain weak-minded always, an ignorant get attached to people, wealth, money, richness, possessions and fame, with a wrong perception and get stuck and lives in the cluster of unwanted thoughts.  Oh! Mahatma, which is making you disappointed, People or attachment to the people? No.  It is not that people cause grief or sorrow, it is the thoughts or attachment that causes grief and misery. Do you think that deity is making you depressed? No. The deity cannot harm the devotees, if so they are not venerable, deities are following the command of supreme Lord, like the sun is the Lord of Day and moon is the Lord of night.  Do you think the body is causing grief? No. The body is not causing grief, the attachment to the body causes grief, due to the lack of knowledge that the body has to undergo aging, illnesses, and death. Therefore, if the mind was attached to the supreme soul, it won’t grieve over the changes in the body.  Hence, the “I’ consciousness causes grief, the supreme consciousness relieves sorrows.  Do you think the planets or changes in the planetary positions or Time causes grief? No. They cannot cause grief to an individual; it is the thought that makes an individual unhappy.” In this way, the Bikshu with his intense faith and devotion upon the lotus feet of Mukunda, elevated his soul, like any other illustrious Rishis and Sages, and attained a state where there is no sorrow or happiness.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 343 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  194

Bhikshu Gita

Noonam Mey  Bhagavamsthushta: Sarvadevamayo Hari: | Yena Neetho Dhashametham Nirvedhashchathmana: Plava: ||

Bhagavan speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, there was a Brahmin with his family lived in the city of Avanthi, he had an abundance of agricultural lands and possession of wealth and cattle, but he was too miser, gradually his wife and children and relatives had an extreme dislike towards him. Once, he traveled out of the village and came back home, found his money, possession of valuables and precious jewels were missing. He could not control his anger and disappointment; he did not believe a single word of his family, suspected them as the culprit, gradually he lost respect in the family and the village, his pride got hurt, had a fight with the family members and left home.  On his way, he regretted his demeanor not helping others in trouble, not contributing wealth for the welfare of the twice-born, or village or family. He felt remorseful for the selfish way of his living and his unruly behavior towards family, relatives, and people of the village.  He wanted to get rid of the guilt, fortunately, he met a preceptor on his way.  He sincerely followed the preceptor, learned the highest of the knowledge of the supreme soul and constantly engaged in meditation.  Thus, he completely got rid of the bunch of grief and guilt, remembering the illustrious King Katvanga who elevated his soul in seconds, he read scriptures and various glorious legends of supreme Lord, and he realized the eternal presence of supreme Lord as soul.  The twice-born, followed extreme austerities and penance, following fasting, the vow of silence, and singing in praise of the Supreme Lord, eventually he transformed himself as a mendicant/Bhikshu.  In this way, he got rid of the attachment to body, wealth, and people finally achieved serenity and peace.  Once, he left the forest with a wooden vessel, stick, and Kamandalu, and conducted begging for alms in the villages.  The people of the village passed sarcastic comments and harassed him.  They considered him insane, troubled him constantly, and abused him verbally and physically, throwing dirt on him, etc. Oh! Udhdhava, the Bikshu stood firm like a mountain, in utter silence, and unwavering like a crane that sleeps standing on its single leg was approached by a virtuous person and enquired about his wellness and how did he remain silent to the atrocities of the villagers? How did he achieve control over senses?  The Bhikshu sang a marvelous song in response to the question. ”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 342 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  193

Bhikshu Gita

Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran teaches ways to get control over the cluster of unwanted thoughts, which has the nature of animal and human behaviors causes miseries and sorrows.  The behavior of animal are structured in a particular manner, they keep chasing for pleasure, do not have independent thinking, they follow exactly the same as their herds, chase for its prey, mate for physical pleasure, and finally, get killed or die of natural death.  The human mind and intellect only have the capability of independent and rational/Maneesha, thinking.  The animal behavior in human take pleasure in unpleasant deeds, words, and thoughts, it gets fasten with the worldly matter and bondage, and feels helpless like an elephant tied to the poll, even though the elephant has immense strength to get it freed from the pole in seconds, it will not attempt to get freed, because of the practice of several years, in this way the human mind which is extremely resourceful gets fastened with the cluster of unwanted thoughts without making an effort to get rid of it.  Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran educate how to get relieved from the cluster of thoughts which causes mental and physical exhaustion, with a marvelous knowledge that thoughts cannot overrule the mind, unless and until it is allowed. Whoever realizes the damages caused by the cluster of unwanted thoughts and takes initiative to get out of those redundant thoughts become their own preceptor. The path of enlightenment is extremely harsh, it needs extreme austerities and penance, such as control over senses, Shareeram/fasting, Vachakam/Vakshudhdhi, and Manasikam/ meditation.

Udhdhava speaks “ Oh! Bhagavan, you have advised keeping lighthearted if anyone tries to humiliate with word, action, or thoughts, Oh! Krishna, it is impossible to practice for an ordinary person like me, kindly narrate how is it possible? Even the intellectuals fail to practice control over them.”

Bhagavan speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, you have raised a brilliant question, I shall describe a legend /Ithihasa to you, listen to me carefully.  There was a Bhikshu/mendicant have to suffer constant humiliation from the people of the village he lived, he recovered from the disgraces and sung marvelously a song.  I shall narrate the story of the Bhikshu who lived in the city of Avanthi.”