Nine days of Transformation

 

Now, we are celebrating nine days of transformation. Transformation of pashu-bhavas into divya-bhavas. These are the gradual development of our personality. Nothing to destroy in our personality even some demonic reflection should be transformed into divine expressions. This is the purpose of all the advanced Tantric rituals. Everything depends on the approaches followed by an seeker. 

There are various methods and practices given in our texts. Some tantric texts focuses on the symbolical way of worship but some direct. For more understanding one must follow master-lineage (Guru Parampara). Otherwise it will be very difficult to find any stage in the elevation of the consciousness. These nine days are very helpful even if you are not following any lineage just follow positive ideas and utter pious mantras as Gayatri as much as you can. You will definitely get your destined path or Guru.

Shraaddha Vijnana: Science behind the ancestral worship

In these days we are seeing Hindu people are busy in some rituals for satisfying their ancestors. They believe that in these days their dead ancestors are waiting for their responses in the form of subtle offerings. For, all these things our ritualistic texts explain a lot but it is not enough for our understanding. All these rituals have their meta-relations to the subtle realms. We need a depth observation for it.

Actually the word Pitra not only stand for our parents but also refers for agni, soma, aushadhi, yama, maasa, manas etc. These are the different kind of meta-emotions for which we have no any gross interpretations. All these are symbolic and related to advanced ritualistic understanding.

Beside it, the word Pitra also used for our living parents and dead ancestors. In these days we offer special  kind of food, water etc.to dead ancestors, for their satisfaction according to Vedic injunctions. They are the subtle conscious channels associated to our bodily conscious channels that's why for making a balance and harmony we try to connect our consciousness to them. In these days heavenly doors are open we can get enormous benefit to them so we offer all that with high feeling of devotion. Many explanations can be given here for the scientific judgement of this act but our mind is very contaminated so we could not receive it properly mere from the scriptures.In beginning, one must go through Pt. Madhusudan Ojha's work Shraddha Vijnana for primary understanding. 

Mahakala Yoga Shastra: Sourcing out Hatha Yoga scheme of ancient practice

Many scholarly works have been done on the origin and development of the Hatha Yogic scheme but few efforts have been done for its systematic review. For some readers and practitioners, Its very hard to believe that the source of Hatha Yoga is from Tantra. It is not because of their understanding but its their ignorance towards the scriptural learning from the original sources. I will try to attract my readers on some observations laid by me.

If you see Jyotsna a commentary on Hatha Pradipika, which clearly remarks the origin of Hatha-Vidya from the Mahakala Yoga Shastra. This, said text is not available but further our inquiry move for more understanding that the founder / propagator of this system was Matsyendranatha and Gorakhanatha. Few people know that, the first Hatha Yoga text Amraughashasanam was written by Matsyendranatha.They were actually from the Natha Cult and Abhinavaguta one of the exponent of Kashmir Saiva tradition pays respect to Matsyendranatha in the beginning of his magnum opus Tantraloka.  Swatmarama also pays respect to great Natha Yogis in the opening verses of the Hatha Pradipika.

In the same way Hatha Tattva Kaumudi of Sunderdev borrowed his material from the tantric texts and acknowledges all the texts in explanation of various yogic exercises.  Beside it many facts are open for the real seekers of true traditional knowledge in many other sources which not only connect Hatha Yoga to the tantric sources but supply enough material for actual understanding of the said scheme. Because, many Yoga teachers, Professors are confused and totally ignored in result they are disseminating wrong knowledge to the modern generation and students.

Scientific Investigation of Sandhya : An ancient Brahmanical ritual

Sandhya constitutes an essential part of daily worship pattern of Vedic living. It is not just an activity but also a very subtle process of refinement of our personality. We can see it at both functionary levels either mechanical or spiritual. Most of the projection seems to be mechanical because of misunderstanding. This misunderstanding was developed by some mechanical practitioners those do not know its conceptual background from where it came into shape. Actually, it was under some reserved hands to perform and disseminate the knowledge of Sandhya to others. We can see that only some Brahmins are following and handing it down into their clan. That is why it remained a part of their essential practices without mentioning the subtle effect and its association with our inner being.

Actually, this process connects us to the Nature. If we are totally ignoring the ritualistic pattern involving water in some pots, fire sacrifice, muttering of the mantra (Gayatri), camphor, sandal wood paste, flowers and many more, it will definetly lead us towards a mechanical act. Otherwise all these things are not only  purifying our surroundings but also preparing us for the more advanced spiritual heights because our every action and matterial we are using are some how representing the essential tattvas of being. We are going towards the more deeper vision of the Pancha-Mahabhutas through this practice.