by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada
Question: When a devotee is born in a fam ily, does that family benefit from his or her birth?
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta: When a great saint, a pure devotee, appears in a family, then his ancestors and descendants for a hundred generations each are elevated. When a devotee of the middle stature (madhyama bhagavata) appears in a family, then his ancestors and descendants for fourteen generations each are elevated. When a neophyte devotee appears in a family, then his ancestors and descendants for three generations each are elevated.
Question: Why are devotees sometimes born in lowclass families? If devotees are not subject to the results of their actions (karma), then why are they sometimes illiterate or diseaseridden?
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta: Devotees are never subject to the result of their karma. It is by the will of the Lord that they take birth and perform other pastimes. But when it is seen that they are born in lowclass families, are illiterate, or are disease ridden, we should know that there is a great or noble purpose behind it. If people saw that devotees were always born in high class families or were always strong or educated, then they would become discouraged. So the merciful Lord, in order to benefit people of all classes, sends his devotees to different classes of society to give his mercy to other living entities. This is something like catching a wild male elephant by sending a trained female elephant. Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur has said in the Caitanya Bhagavata that a vaisnava delivers everyone just by taking birth. In a land and in a family where a vaisnava descends, many hundreds of miles around that place become purified by his influence. Even if you see some external misery in a vaisnava’s life, you should know that he is in great ecstasy. Those who are blinded by pride in their material possessions do not know any of these things. Intoxicated with pride in their education, money, and family, they do not recognize a vaisnava.
If a devotee appears in a low-class family, then we should not think
that it is a result of his sin that he was subject to the result of his
action. Rather, we should know that he has purified a low-class family.
If a good person becomes successful only in the devotional process, then
we should consider him a great soul.
TV stirs up teenagers' sexual drive:
Study
http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rurl=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1668350,00500008.htm?headline=TV~stirs~up~teenagers'~sexual~drive
Reuters
New York, April 6, 2006
Certain teenagers who watch more television are more likely to become
sexually active than those who spend less time in front of the tube, a
new study shows.
Dr Sarah Ashby of the University of Wisconsin School of Public Health in Madison and her colleagues found that, among a group of 4,808 boys and girls younger than 16, those who said their parents strongly disapproved of sex -- nearly three quarters of the group -- were more likely to start having sex in the following year if they watched two hours or more of TV daily.
The findings, appearing in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, support the hypothesis that "kids who are at overall lower risk of initiating sex may be more influenced by things that they see," Ashby said. For teens who don't sense parental disapproval, she added, "the cat is already out of the bag."
Parental disapproval in itself did indeed cut the risk of kids becoming sexually active -- 12.5 per cent of these teens started having sex, compared to 24.1 per cent of those who didn't feel their parents disapproved of sex.
Among kids who sensed parental disapproval, the more TV they watched, the greater their likelihood of becoming sexually active -- up to a point.
Those who watched two to five hours were more than twice as likely as those who watched less than an hour daily to start having sex. But teens logging five hours of daily TV or more were at no greater risk of starting to have sex than those who watched less than two hours.
It's possible that these children were watching so much television that they had no time for other activities, including sex, the researchers note.
The researchers also found that sexual initiation was more likely among teens who sensed parental disapproval of sex if their parents made no effort to regulate their TV watching.
The findings show, Ashby told Reuters Health, that "it's important that
parents convey very clearly their values about sexual behaviour to their
children." What's more, she added, they should take other steps to reduce
their children's risk of having sex, including keeping an eye on their
TV viewing habits.
http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rurl=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1668350,00500008.htm?headline=TV~stirs~up~teenagers'~sexual~drive
Women in Sri Vaishnavam
By V Sadagopan | Published 13th April 2006 |
http://www.india-forum.com/articles/113/1
The VedAs are our paramANam
The VedAs are "the edifices of eternal knowledge". They has timeless
relevance to the practioners of Sri VisishtAdhvaitham and other darsanams
based on Vedic Doctrines. There is a lot there that is absolutely relevant
to our contemporary life. As such, the VedAs have "everlasting appeal and
"applicability for all times and nations "for men, women and children as
the fundamental units of the family.
VedAs take a humanistic approach to life. An individual relation to
his or her own family is dwelt at length in the VedAs. The relationship
between man and woman, the parents and the children are taken very seriously
by Vedas, since It ties in very closely with the health and well being
of Society and the preservation of DharmA The need to develop Social consciousness
with the family as an elemental unit of society is very important one taught
by the Vedas.
Material civilization generates a lot of wealth, but is found wanting
in social consciousness and a dharmic way Of life stressing one's obligation
to the different members of society. DharmA encompasses "the entire gamut
of life".
Pursuit of a dhArmic way of life elaborated by Sruthis and SaasthrAs
creates a sound infrastructure to build a sound and stable society that
enjoys all the benefits of a higher order of civilization.
The MAN-TO-WOMAN relationship is one of the most important subject
dealt with by the VedAs instructing us on how to build a sound and
stable society, where righteousness prevails. VedAs show a keen interest
in the unity of man and woman and spells out their duties, responsibilities
and rights. GeethAchAryan elaborates them further.
They point out the important role of women in building a fair, stable
and just society. Satapatha BrahmaNA passage states unblushingly that only
woman fulfills the purposes of human life. It extols the divine aspect
of women and declares that women are the embodiment of Sri Devi (SriyA
vA yEthath rUpam yathA patnaya :).
The modern women may not be familiar with the high status given to
women in our religious world and its scriptures. Contrary to the
popular belief that VedAs deny freedom to women, it stresses the underlying
duty and THE RIGHTS of WOMEN, while focusing on the stability of the family
as a unit, which then strengthens the society.
It is in this context, Vedic thought gave ample room for a personal
God to be conceived as divinity in male or female form. Vedic Gods like
Ushas (dawn) are adoringly saluted by the manthrams of Ushas sUktham in
Rg Vedam. There are many Rishi pathnis and wives, who have been equally
revered in PurANAs (AnusUyA, Kausalya, Damayanthi, Saavithri et al).
Vedam describes the wife to be the best friend of the husband AT ALL
TIMES. The Vedic obligations are recognized as SamAna (equally moving),
since married men and women move freely in society in pursuit of their
complimentary duties, VedAs and Manu Smruthi vividly describe the responsibilities
of women in the house as yajamAnis. The importance of women in the economic
aspect of the family is fully emphasized and asks men to give the women
the responsibility of looking after the family budget. Similarly, maintaining
family tradition and strengthening the spiritual affairs of the family
is entrusted with the women.
IN THE EYE OF THE VEDAS, WOMEN AND MEN ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT
I will quote now verbatim from AgnihOthram Sri RaamAnuja TatachAr's
monograph on the Eternal relevance of VedAs Dealing with the role of women
in Hindu Society:
"In the early years of marriage, love has a sexual importance. But
with the advance of years, it mellows into a great attachment and affection.
No one can disturb this mutual love. Marriage is not made for sexual purpose,
BUT FOR A REAL UNITED LIFE. . . .
The VedAs say that the wife is the only friend of her husband. . .
. Their comradeship is strengthened by day-to-day movements. She never
claims superiority over her husband and she is never treated as inferior
by her husband. She is the mistress of the house. . . . She is a real friend
and closely follows her husband in the good and bad of domestic life and
takes keen interest in his welfare. She also advises him at times. Smruthi
following the direction given by the Vedas states clearly that it is the
duty of a wife to correct the mistake of her husband ". SitA piraatti did
just that in a famous pasage in Srimadh RaamAyaNam in Her conversation
with HanumAn inAsOka Vanam.
AgnihOthram TatachAr swamy points out a special Vedic term: Purandhi
and explains its significance.
According to the VedAs, women are more intelligent than men (i. e.)
she is a purandhi. In AsvanEdhA, there is a prayer that women must be "purandhi".
By that term, Women's superior intelligence is indicated. "According to
the VedAs, Woman is a karma yogi. She does duty for duties sake. She sacrifices
her individual pleasure and pain and serves the family.
The early lives of all children depend on the care of the mother. She
brings them up as intelligent and pious ones. The stability of her integrity
is brought out in one MantrA, which points out those women are to be strong
as a rock in the family so that the family can survive. Her integrity not
only keeps the family in a high order, but it overcomes all enemies as
well ". She is the queen of her husband's house.
She maintains the customs and traditions of the house strictly, with
vigilance. The house may be built by bricks and wood, but it is not the
real house. In fact, the wife is only the real house. VedAs never confine
a woman to the house. Many brilliant women have reached out with their
husbands and attained a spiritual status equal to or higher than that of
their husbands, who are revered as Manthra dhrushtAs of the various Veda
Manthrams.
The names of the women Rishis (RishikAs or Lady Seers) are etched in
the annals of the Veda manthrams. None of the Rishis or the Rishi pathnis
are recognized as the composers of the Veda manthrAs, but as samhithAkarthAs,
who assisted in the collection of the Veda manthrams through the power
to "see" them as manthra dhrushtAs. Angirasa, Gautama, VasishtA, ViswAmithrA,
Bhrugu, Athri, Marici, KasyapA, AgasthyA and BharadhvAjaa belong to the
rich set of Rishis in this category.
Every Veda manthram has a Rishi or RishikA, Chandas and DevathA. We
invoke them prior to the recitation of the individual mathrAs of the different
Vedas. Each of these Rishis has a distinguished wife well versed in scholarship,
AchAram and anushtAnam. These rishikAs or Lady Seers took an important
part in SamaadhikaraNam. YajnavalkyA's wife and her tight questioning of
her husband gave birth to a great Upanishad. There are abundant references
to the RishikAs in the Tenth Canto of Rg Vedam besides the other Cantos.
LopamudhrA is one such RishikA as the wife of AgasthyA, known for his
command over Sanskrit and Tamil. The meaning of the word "LopamudhrA "
is one,who is totally absorbed in herself (i-e)., she is one of the BrahmavAdhini
RshikAs. Two manthrAs of the Rg Vedam (Canto I. 179. 1-2) are attributed
to her.
RoamasA the wife of SvanyA, VisvavArA belonging to the Athri family,
AangirasI Sarasvathi of Angirasa family, ApAlA of the Athri family, YamI
Vaivasvathi, SraddhA, Vasukra pathni, GhOshA, SooryA, IndrANi, Urvasi,
Sarama, Joohu, VagAmbhruNi and PoulOmi Sachi are well Known RshikAs, who
are revered and are associated with individual Rg Veda ManthrAs.
There are selected Rg Veda manthrAs linked to the individual RishikAs
to illustrate the importance of Vedic Women, who are models for us even
today. The women in many Indian households along the length and breadth
of Bharatha Varsham have imbibed these rich and resonant values in their
bone and blood and keep their family strong and righteous.
Sri Vaishnavite households have had such exemplary Women, who quietly
served as the living examples of these Vedic Values and cherished them
as their kula dhanams.
Some of them are ANDAL (the mother of ParAsara Bhattar and the wife
of KuratthAzhwAn), Devaki Piratti,the spiritually advanced ( jn~Adhikai)
daughter of ThirukkOshtiyUr nampi.,She was a disciple of AchArya RaamAnujA.
The incident associated with the 18th Thituppaavai is linked to her. At
the time of her father's ascent to Parama padham, her father asked his
daughter as to what she was thinking about. She replied with all sincerity
that she was thinking about her father ataining Sathgathi due to his association
with HER ACHARYA,Sri RaamAnujA. That is the measure of Her AchArya Bhakthi.
The joyous father blessed her with AchArya RaamAnujA's ancient vigraham
obtained by Naathamuni from NammAzhwAr before RaamAnujA's birth. That mUrthy
was worshipped in turn by UyyakkonDAr, MaNaRkkAL nampi, AlawandhAr. The
grateful father asked his daughter to give that vigraham to his Sishyan,
Sri RaamAnujA. This is the quality of relationship between the anuvrutthi
prasannAcchAryar like ThirukkOshtiyUr nampi and the KrupAmAthra PrasannAcchAr
like Sri RaamAnujA.
One of the links here is through the Bhagavathai, Devaki Pirratti.
AthtuZhAi, the daughter of Periya Nampi was another example of these illustrious
Sri VaishNavite women.
The five AchAryAs of Sri RaamAnujA - Periya nampi, ThirukkOshtiyUr
nampi, ThirumAlai AanDaan, Periya Thirumalai nampi, ThirukkOshtiyUr nampi,
Thiruvaranga PerumAn Araiyar --recognized AchArya RaamAnuja, their disciple
as their own UttAraka AchAryan and entrusted their Brothers, sons
and DAUGHTERS as his sishyAs. Devaki PirAtti and ANDAL belong to this group
of exemplary women. Sri VaishNava kulam grew out of such dedicated,modest,
spiritually rigorous women, who were like kalankarai viLakku ( lighthouses).
The WIVES AND DAUGHTERS of the men of the ten branches of KaimkaryaparALs
assigned by AchAryA RaamAnujA for Sri RanganaathA's daily kaimkaryam were
also shining lights in their own rights.
Parutthik Kollai AmmAl, Kongup PirAtti (AchArya RaamAnujA's Sishyai),
Vangipuratthu Aacchi (the disciple of AlawanadAr), Ammangi (ThirukkaNNapuram
Nampi) are other shining examples of illustrious Sri Vaishnava Bhagavathais,
who spread the darsanam of Sri RaamAnujA. Ammangi, another disciple of
AlavandhAr is the one, who instructed AchArya RaamAnuja with the five pointers
of proper code of conduct for a Sri Vaishnava Achaarya as she (?)Learnt
it from her Acharya, Alavandar These five codes of conduct are deep in
meaning and are like aphorisms for us to reflect as well even today. The
most merciful AchArya, Sri RaamAnujA was very receptive to great Bhaagavathais
and their upadEsa vAkhyams as well. His respect for his AchArya pathnis
is legendary.
Our most merciful AchArya Sri RaamAnuja was visiting at one time ThirukkOLur,
the birth place of Madhura Kavi AzhwAr. He met a young girl there, who
came to offer her praNAmams and entered into a conversation with her. He
was so delighted with this girl's divya Prabhandha Jn~Anam that he blessed
her and her family. Our AchAryAs follow that way of life and care equally
for the spiritual well being of our men, WOMEN and the entire family.
Lit from those lamps, our women persevere joyously with the steady
diffusion / dissemination process by personal code of conduct and serve
as the Sheet Anchor for our SampradhAyam. They tend to their other duties
and continue today at India and the distant households in America through
the efforts of the organizers of NaamA Sathsangams at Dallas, Denver, Singapore
and elsewhere. May those efforts grow and flourish !
Rg Veda manthrams that came our way through the intercession of great
RishikAs or the women manthra drushtAs
A)The first and foremost set of manthrAs of Rg Vedam from this perspective
is the manthrams housed in the 10th Canto of Rg Vedam dealing with the
Marriage Ceremony. Sri VilliputthuR ANDAL transformed them into Sundara
Tamil in Her NaacchiyAr Thirumozhi ( VaraNamAyiram Paasurams).
The manthra dhrashtA of Rg Vedam's 10th canto, soktham 85 most appropriately
is a Rishi pathni by the name Saavithri SooryA. This 85th Sooktham has
47 manthrams, number of which are used in the different phases of Hindu
Marriage Ceremony.
I will focus on these important manthrAs first which houses the prayer
and the vision of the RishikA as revealed to her as instructions from the
Veda Purushan.
The first manthram of 10. 85 is a profound one:
satyEnOtthabbhithA Bhumi: SooryENOtthbhithA Dhyau:
R*thEnAdhithyasthishtanthi divi sOmO adhi sritha:
Rg Vedam: X. 85. 1
(Meaning): Our Earth is upheld by truth, heaven is upheld by the Sun;
the solar regions are supported by the eternal laws (r*tham); the elixir
of divine love reigns supreme in heaven.
The 27th manthram distills the thoughts housed in the previous posting
of this two part series:
iha priyam prajayA --- vadhAta:
Rg Vedam : X. 85. 27
(Meaning): In this new family of your husband,May you be happy and
prosperous along with your off springs. Be watchful over your domestic
duties in this house. May you unite your person with your lord, your husband;
thus may you both,growing in age together, manage your household affairs
according to gruhasthAsrama rules.
Rg Vedam: X. 85. 33
SumangalIriyam VadhUrimAm samEtha pasyatha
SoubhAgyamasya dhathvAyathasthAm vi parEtana
(Meaning); blessed indeed is this bride; come one, come all of you;
meet, behold and bless her. Convey to her your felicitations and then RETURN
to your homes.
Rg Vedam: X. 36
GrubhNAmi --dEvA:
(Meaning); I accept your hand for good fortune, that you attain old
age with me as your husband. Our Lord of grace, cosmic orders, creation
and wisdom has given you (purandhi) to me that I may be the yajamaanan
of a household to practice our assigned dharmAs.
Rg Vedam X. 85. 42
May you both reside here together; may you both never be separated;
may you live together all your lives sporting with sons and grandsons;
and thus rejoice in your own home.
Rg Vedam X. 85. 43
May the supreme power grant us progeny, may the ordained unite us together
until old age. May that protector free us from evils, may you the bride
enter your husband's household and be the bringer of prosperity to our
bipeds and quadrupeds.
Rg Veda manthram: X. 85. 44
O Bride! May you never look your husband with an evil eye; never be
hostile to him; be tender to animals (sivA pasubhya :); may you ever be
amiable and cheerful; may you fulfill one of your roles as the mother of
brave children, loving to the divine powers, be the grantor of happiness,
and usher prosperity to our bipeds and quadrupeds (dhvipadhE sam chathushpadhE).
Rg Veda manthram: X. 85. 45
O Generous Lord! Make the bride blessed with children! Make her blessed
with fortune! Give her ten sons; and then her husband becomes the eleventh
one (son) (dasAsyAm puthrAn dEhi pathimEkAdasam krudhi).
Rg Vedam X. 85. 46
Be a sovereign to your father-in-law; be a queen to your mother-in-law;
be a queen to your husband's sister, be a queen to your husband's brothers
(SamrA~Jni svasurE bhava; samrA~jni svasravam bhava; nanAndhAri samra~jni
bhava;samrA~jni adhi dEvrushu)
Rg Vedam X. 85. 47
"May the entire assembly of the invited guests unite the hearts of
both of us; may we be calm and united like the mixed waters. May we be
united like the vital breaths; may both of us be in unison like the Creator
and His creation; may we be one like the preceptor and his disciple; may
we be loving to each other!"
B. Indrasnusha Vasukra-pathni Sooktham
Another illustrious RishikA is Vasukrapathni, who has given us Rg Vedam
X. 28. 1, 6, 8, 10 and 11).
The First manthram is set as the invocation of the Goddess of Dawn
(to her supreme Lord) in a symbolic way:
(Meaning): Now all other divine forces accept you (including the Sun)
have arrived, but you, the Sovereign Lord, my sire-in-law has not arrived;
may Thou accept my oblations of parched grains and the elixir(SomA) and
return home fully satisfied. (Rg Vedam X. 28. 1)
The 1oth and the 11th manthrams are glorious tributes to the power
of Gayathri by this RishikA:
"The gloriously shining Self (sEshi) is thirsty for the divine elixir,
as a thirsty buffalo for water. For this, Yajamaanan, the sEsha soul, invokes
Gayathri metre, which becomes a she-hawk and fastens her claw in the divine
realm, just as a lioness confined in a cage places one foot over the other
(X. 85. 10).
Gayathri without difficulty brings the divine elixir, which is enjoyed
by the Self, and whatever is left over is shared by the sense organs. With
the help of this elixir, the enemies (the aasura svabhAvam) are retaliated
and finally destroyed "(X. 85. 11).
C. RishikA ApAlA: A Human Prayer
The Fourth manthram of Rg Vedam 8. 91 is symbolic and humorous at the
same time. There is a lot of legend going with this. Apala is a maiden
- Rishika desirous of marrying the beautiful prince SomA and the 7th manthram
of this Sooktham is used in Hindu marriages even today during mangala snanaam
for the bride for ceremonial cleansing. Here we will focus on the Fourth
manthram of X. 91.
Rg Vedam VIII. 91. 4: Dream & Prayer of a Wedding-ready Maiden
Kuvicchath kuvith karath-- samgamAmahE
(Meaning): May the Lord of illustrious luster and glory bless us, the
family to be powerful. May He Make us (the family and the future husband))
wealthier repeatedly. May He support us and work for us (in our favor).
may he unite me with my (future) husband, who has been indifferent (as
a courtier), unconcerned and unfriendly with me so far !
D. RishikA VisvavarA, Agni DEvathA, Four Metres
This Lady Seer is a great poet as well. She sets her Six manthrAs of
Rg Vedam Canto 5. 28 in four different metres( Tr*shtup, JagathI, Anushtup
and GayathrI chandas).
The name VisvavarA according to Sayana (Vedic commentator: Saayana
Bhaashyam) relates to one who repels all sins. She belongs also to the
family of Sage Athri. She is conducting a Vedic ceremony, which we would
think today would have been the domain of the male seers. Not so! She is
invoked with the Ladle in hand transporting the Soma rasam. So much goes
for the legend about women subdued/inferior role in YaaagAs. She specifically
prays for the concordance of relations between men and women through their
complimentary roles to perform assigned tasks (the opposite of male chauvinism!).
We will study the first two manthrams of X. 28 here.
Rg Vedam : X. 28. 1(Tr*shtup metre)
SammiddhO agnir dhivi-- havishA gruthAchI
(Meaning): The incomparable glory of the revered Lord, when enkindled
spread its luster throughout the firmamnet, and shines far and wide and
transforms itself into the supreme light of divine intelligence. Eastward
the ladle! Let knowledge that repels all sins and worries proceed to advance!
Let that diffusion of knowledge honor the nature's bounties with reverence
and oblations!
Rg Vedam X. 28. 2: JagathI metre
SamidhyamAnO amruthasya rAjasi-dhatta ithputhra:
(Meaning): O Revered Lord! Whilst your glory is eulogized, you are
recognized as the king of immortals. You take total care of the offered
of the havis (oblation) for his well being. He, whom You favor, acquires
universal wealth; he sets before You, O Lord, the gifts that (Your) guests
may claim.
On this note of moving salutation to the Lord eulogizing His glories
by the RishikA VisvavarA, I conclude this set of two postings on the important
and nourishing role of Women in the Vaithika Mathams like Sri VaishNavam,
where every thing is rooted in the Ubhaya Vedams.
NamO Veda NaarAyaNAya,
V. Sadagopan
http://www.india-forum.com/articles/113/1