SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BHAGAVAD GITA AND PARSI’S ZEND AVESTA (Post No.10,667)

Research Article WRITTEN BY LONDON SWAMINATHAN

Post No. 10,667

Date uploaded in London – –    17 FEBRUARY   2022         

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

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Bhagavad Gita in one of Hindu’s most important scriptures. Hindus believe that Vyasa was Krishna’s contemporary, and Vyasa was the one who divided Vedas into four. So Krishna’s Bhagavad Gita is at least 5000 years old. Though the age of Zarathushtra and the Zend Avesta (Parsi religion) are debatable, they are at least 2600 years old. May be older than Buddha and Mahavir.

Scholars like Martin Haugh who have studied both Parsi (Zoroastrian)  and Hindu scriptures thoroughly believe that some of the parts in the Zend Avesta (Vedas of Parsis) may be older than or earlier than Spitama Zarathushtra (Zoroaster in Greek writings) . Zoroastra  is at least 2600 years old.

The basic teachings of Zoroastra are Good Thought, Good Word and Good Deed. This is called Tri Karana Suddhi in Sanskrit in Hinduism.

HUMATA= SU MATHI IN SANSKRIT (H=S)

HUKHTA= SU UKTA IN SANSKRIT

HVRASHTA = SU VARISHTA IN SANSKRIT

VOHU MANO or  BAHMAN = GOOD MIND

“Your good thoughts, good words and good deeds alone will be your intercessors. Nothing more will be wanted. They alone will serve you as a safe pilot to the harbour of Heaven, as a safe guide to the gates of paradise.”
— Zoroaster

  1. mazdayasnō ahmi mazdayasnō zarathushtrish ….. āstuye humatem manō, āstuye hūkhtem vachō, āstuye hvarshtem shyaothnem, āstuye daēnām vanghuhīm māzdayasnīm fraspāyaokhedhrām, nidhāsnaithishem. (Mazdayasnō Ahmi – The Zoroastrian Confession of Faith= Yasna XII. 8,9~)

I am a worshipper of God (Mazda), I am a Zoroastrian worshipper of God … I praise good thoughts (humata), I praise good words (hūkhta), I praise good deeds (hvarshta). I praise the good Mazdayasni religion which allays dissensions and quarrels, and which brings about kinship or brotherhood.

This is in Zend Avesta, Bhagavad Gita, Valmiki Ramayana, Manu Smrti,  Kalidasa’s Raghu Vmasa and Buddha’s Dhammapada, just to mention a few books.

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17th Chapter of Bhagavad Gita explains the three principles in detail:-

DEED

देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् |
ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते || 14||

deva-dwija-guru-prājña- pūjanaṁ śhaucham ārjavam
brahmacharyam ahinsā cha śhārīraṁ tapa uchyate

BG 17.14: When worship of the Supreme Lord, the Brahmins, the spiritual master, the wise, and the elders is done with the observance of cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy, and non-violence then this worship is declared as the austerity of the body.


WORD

अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् |
स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते || 15||

anudvega-karaṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priya-hitaṁ cha yat
svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ chaiva vāṅ-mayaṁ tapa uchyate

17-5 Words that do not cause distress, are truthful, inoffensive, and beneficial, as well as regular recitation of the Vedic scriptures—these are declared as austerity of speech.

satyaṁ brūyāt priyaṁ brūyān na brūyāt satyam apriyam
priyaṁ cha nānṛitaṁ brūyād eṣha dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ
(Manu Smṛiti 4.138)[v4]

“Speak the truth in such a way that it is pleasing to others. Do not speak the truth in a manner injurious to others. Never speak untruth, though it may be pleasant. This is the eternal path of morality and dharma.”

THOUGHT

मन: प्रसाद: सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रह: |
भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते || 16||

manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ
bhāva-sanśhuddhir ity etat tapo mānasam uchyate

BG 17.16: Serenity of thought, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of purpose—all these are declared as austerity of the mind.

THREE FOLD AUSTERITY- Thought, Word, Deed

श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरै: |
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तै: सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते || 17||

śhraddhayā parayā taptaṁ tapas tat tri-vidhaṁ naraiḥ
aphalākāṅkṣhibhir yuktaiḥ sāttvikaṁ parichakṣhate

BG 17.17: When devout persons with ardent faith practice these three-fold austerities without yearning for material rewards, they are designated as austerities in the mode of goodness.

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Kalidasa’s  Raghu Vamsa

Most famous poet of India Kalidasa also mentioned the Trikarana Suddhi in his Raghuvamsa.

कायेन वाचा मनसा शश्वद्यत्संभृतं वासवधैर्यलोपि|
आपाद्यते न व्ययमन्तरायैः कच्चिन्महर्षेस्त्रिविधं तपस्तत्॥ ५-५

5. kaayena= by bodily rigour – in upavaasa aadi vrata-s; vaacaa= by speech – by Veda paThana paaTheNa etc; manasaa api= gaayatrii japa aadiinaam api= by regular meditations, even by; vaasava dhairya lopi= indra’s, courage, denigrator; yat= which [tapaH= ascesis is there, that ]; shashvat sa.mbhR^ita.m= always, accumulated; maharSheH= of that great sage; tri vidha.m= three, kinds – of penances; tat tapaH= that, ascesis; antaraayaiH= by impediments; vyayam na apaadyate= wastage, not, getting; kaccit= I hope! – asks a question mixed with hope, the expected answer being ‘yes’ or ‘no’ according to the form of question and is translated by ‘I hope that etc…’

“The threefold ascesis of that great sage which has long been accumulated by him by the exercise of his body, speech and mind i.e., by way of bodily rigour, speech function in reciting Veda-s, and by mental contemplation on meditations respectively, and which triad of pertinacity disturbs even the firmness of Indra, does not suffer waste by any kind of impediment – I hope… [5-5]

In another place also, Kalidasa mentioned it.

वाङ्मनःकर्मभिः पत्यौ व्यभिचारो यथा न मे।
तथा विश्वंभरे देवि मामन्तर्धातुमर्हसि॥ १५-८१

15-81. vAk manaH karmabhiH= by speech, mind and action; patyau me vyabhicAraH na yathA= reg. husband, to me, infidelity, if it is not there; tathA= in such case – if I were to be clean; hè vishva.nbhare= oh, mother earth; devi= oh, bhUdevi; mAm antardhAtum arhasi= me, to secrete, apt of you.

“If there has been no violation of duty on my part towards my husband either by Speech or Thought or Action, then, oh, Mother Earth, pray, be good enough to secrete me in thy womb… [15-81]

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This is also in the Uttara Kanda of Ramayana(97- 14/15.

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MANU SMRTI

Manu in his Manava Dharma Saastra also says,

MANU 12-9

शरीरजैः कर्मदोषैर्याति स्थावरतां नरः ।
वाचिकैः पक्षिमृगतां मानसैरन्त्यजातिताम् ॥ ९ ॥

śarīrajaiḥ karmadoṣairyāti sthāvaratāṃ naraḥ |
vācikaiḥ pakṣimṛgatāṃ mānasairantyajātitām || 9 ||

Through sinful acts due to the Body, man becomes inanimate; through those of Speech, a bird or a beast; and through those of Mind, he is born in the lowest caste.—(12-9)

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BRAHMINS SAY IT EVERY DAY

Brahmins in Hindu community say these three every day at the end of their thrice a day parayer in the Morning, Midd day and Evening:

Kayena vacha manasa indriyair va Budhyath manava va

Prakrute swabhavath karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai, narayanayeti samarppayami

Rough translation runs like this-

Whatever I do by (with my) body, word, mind or intellect or natural impulses- all these I surrender to the supreme god Narayana (Narayana= one who resides in water)

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In Buddha’s Dhammapada

Dhammapada is the Veda for the Buddhists. All that is in the Dhammapada is considered Buddha’s words.

In the last chapter of Dhammapada , Buddha praises Brahmins sky high; but like Manu Smrti he also defines the Brahminhood. Buddha says

He who hurts not with his THOUGHTS or WORDS or DEEDS who keeps these THREE under control – him I call a BRAHMIN- verse 391

Earlier in another verse Buddha says,

There are men steady and wise whose BODY, WORDS and MIND are self controlled. They are the men of supreme self-control- verse 234

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The principle of Avatars is both in Zend Avesta and Bhagavad Gita (Please read my article KALKI  AVATAR IN PARSI LITERATURE)

SAMBHAVAAMI YUGE YUGE

LORD KRISHNA says IN BHAGAVAD GITA,

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत |
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् || 4-7||

yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛijāmyaham

4.7: Whenever there is a decline in righteousness and an increase in unrighteousness, O Arjun, at that time I manifest Myself on earth.

We can see this in Parsi scripture too. In GATHA USHTAVAITI, were see

I replied to him: Firstly, I am Zarathushtra. I will show myself as a destroyer to the wicked, as well as to be a comforter for the righteous man As long as I can praise and glorify you O Mazda! I shall enlighten and awaken all that aspire to property.(8)

Xxxx subham xxxxx

tags-  Good Word, Good thought, Good Deed, Zoroaster, Parsi, Bhagavad Gita, Manu, Kalidasa, Buddha, 

KALIDASA’S QUOTATIONS IN FEBRUARY 2022 CALENDAR (Post No.10,594)

WRITTEN BY LONDON SWAMINATHAN

Post No. 10,594

Date uploaded in London – –    24 JANUARY   2022         

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

FESTIVALS – FEB.8 RATHA SAPTAMI; 16/17- MASI MAGAM (16 AND 17 FLOAT FESTIVAL IN MANY TEMPLES)

NEW MOON DAY- NO NEWMOON DAY IN FEBRUARY

FULL MOON DAY- 16

EKADASI HINDU FASTING DAYS- 12, 26

AUSPICIOUS DAYS – FEB.6, 11, 14

Kalidasa’s quotations are given topic wise.

February  1 Tuesday

Absorption

By your own self, you come to know your self and by your own self,you create yourself. When you have completed your work, you get absorbed in yourself- Kumarasambhava 2-10

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February  2 Wednesday

Acumen

Every old poem is not good just because it is old nor is every new poem to be blamed because it is new. Sound critics after a proper scrutiny , chose one or the other. The blockhead is guided by others —

Malavikagnimitra, Nandi

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February  3 Thursday

Administration

The anxiety of acquiring dominion gives extreme pain and when it is fairly established the cases of supporting the nation incessantly harass the sovereign just as a large umbrella, the staff of which a man carries in his hand, tires him while it also shades him- Shakuntala, act 5

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February  4 Friday

Administration usually follows shapes of surpassing beauty.

Malavikagnimitra, Nandi

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February  5 Saturday

Age

In regard to people spiritually old,age is not a criterion for respect.

Kumarasambhava, 5-16

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February  6 Sunday

The proverb that a lovely person can never be sinful is never untrue.

Kumarasambhava, 5-36

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February  7 Monday

Aid

Even a person, who can use his eyes, cannot see without a light an object in the darkness–Malavikagnimitra, act 2

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February  8 Tuesday

Alliance

Matrimonial alliances effected by the good hardly go wrong or end badly.

Kumarasambhava, 6, 29

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February  9 Wednesday

Allies

One with allies is able to accomplish an undertaking surrounded with obstacles–Malavikagnimitra, act 1

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February  10 Thursday

Ambition

The great men of this world with extreme difficulty rise to the summit of ambition but from it they also easily and swiftly descend-

Shakuntala, act 4

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February  11 Friday

Amiss

Who does not feel, in the absence of contentment, that something is wrong , a heartache or a twinge of grief-Rtusamhara, canto 2,17

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February  12 Saturday

Appreciation

Regard shown by the great often creates a confidence in one’s own merits- Kumarasambhava, 6, 29

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February  13 Sunday

Arrogance

The good are never rendered arrogant by wealth-Shakuntala, act 5

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February  14 Monday

Ashoka tree

This Ashoka tree is delaying to burst into blossom because it waits to be touched by a lovely woman s foot- Malavikagnimitra, act 2

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February  15 Tuesday

Aspiration

If you aspire to gain heaven , then your attempts are fruitless.

Kumarasambhava., 5,45

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February  16 Wednesday

Assistance

While fire becomes extremely brilliant from the Sun s aid, the moon also acquires splendour when favoured by the night.

Malavikagnimitra, act 1

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February  17 Thursday

Attainment

All are happy in achieving a desired object but with kings, such a state results only in trouble. Attainment of the desired object destroys all keenness because the very aim of protecting what has been secured cause worry- Shakuntala,,a ct 5

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February  18 Friday

Beauty

It is rarely false that a lovely person can never be sinful

Kumarasambhava, 5

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February  19 Saturday

She was created by god as if with a desire to see all loveliness in one place with the collection of all objects of comparison set in their proper places- Kumarasambhava, 1,49

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February  20 Sunday

Though dark moths may settle on the head of a water lily, it is still beautiful. The moon, with its dewy beams, rendered yet brighter by its dark spots-  Shakuntala, act 1

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February  21 Monday

A beautiful figure is charming in whatever state it may be.

Shakuntala, act 6

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February  22 Tuesday

Benefactor

With ripening fruits, trees bend; on account of fresh water, , the clouds hang low; with prosperity the good becomes humble. Such is , in truth , the real nature of benefactors -Shakuntala, act 4-12

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February  23 Wednesday

Butcher

A butcher, who sells meat and whose actions are cruel, may have a tender heart- Shakuntala act 6

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February  24 Thursday

Calm

A good man never allows grief to triumph . Even in a tempest the mountains are calm- Kalidasa, act 6:Shakuntala

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February  25 Friday

Carbuncle s

Carbuncles are naturally soft to touch but, if they are penetrated by the sun , s rays, they burn the hand -Shakuntala, act 2

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February  26 Saturday

Choice

Your longing to own this rustic maiden when you have already bright jewels in your palace is like the fancy of one who has lost his appetite for dates and yearns for the tamarind– Shakuntala, act 11

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February  27 Sunday

Conceit

All men are likely to think favourably of themselves-

Shakuntala, act 11

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February  28 Monday

Control

A good man never permits grief to control him. The mountains even in a storm are not perturbed.

Shakuntala, act 6

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BONUS QUOTATIONS

Dancing

Dancing is the principal amusement of mortals though their tastes vary.

Malavikagnimitra, act 1

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The art of dancing is a matter of practice.

Malavikagnimitra, act 1

XXXX SUBHAM XXXXX

tags- Kalidasa, quotations, February 2022, calendar

மஹாகவி காளிதாஸ்! – 3 (Post No.10,400)

POET KALIDAS IN UJJAIN, MADHYA PRADESH
POET KALIDAS IN SHANGHAI, CHINA
Poet Kalidas in  Akshardham, Delhi 

WRITTEN BY S NAGARAJAN

Post No. 10,400

Date uploaded in London – –   2 DECEMBER  2021         

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge;

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

மஹாகவி காளிதாஸ்! – 3

                                                         காளிதாஸரைப் பற்றி ஏராளமான நூல்கள் வெளி வந்துள்ளன. அவர் எத்தனை சொற்களைப் பயன்படுத்தியுள்ளார்?                                                    

கணினி யுகத்தில் இன்று வரை இந்த ஆய்வு மேற்கொள்ளப்படவில்லை என்பது ஆச்சரியமான விஷயமே! என்றாலும் கூட http://www.tamilandvedas.comஇல் திரு லண்டன் சுவாமிநாதன் எழுதியுள்ள ஒரு ஆய்வுக்கட்டுரை இது பற்றிய சில விவரங்களைத் தருகிறது.    Amazing Statistics on Kalidasa என்ற அந்தக் கட்டுரை காளிதாஸன் சுமார் 2,11,429 சொற்களைப் பயன்படுத்தி இருக்கக் கூடும் என்று தெரிவிக்கிறது. 37 படைப்புகள் அவருடையவை. அவரது 3 நூல்களுக்கு மட்டும் 93 விளக்கவுரைகள் – பாஷ்யங்கள் உள்ளன. 1250 உவமைகளை அவர் கையாண்டுள்ளார். ரகுவம்சத்தில் 29 அரசர்களை அவர் குறிப்பிடுகிறார். இப்படி பல விவரங்களைத் தரும் கட்டுரையை நீங்கள் www.tamilandvedas.com கட்டுரையில் படிக்கலாம்.                            விக்கிரமாதித்தன் அரசவையில் இடம் பெற்றிருந்த மேதைகளில் மஹாகவி காளிதாஸரின் கவித் திறன் பாரதமெங்கும் பரவி இருந்ததை வரலாறு வியப்புடன் பொன்னேட்டில் பொறிக்கிறது! மஹரிஷி அரவிந்தரோ,  “வால்மீகி, வியாஸர், காளிதாஸர் ஆகியோர் புராதன இந்தியாவின் சாரம்என்று வியந்து கூறுகிறார். அறநெறி, அறிவுத்திறன், உலகியல் பொருள் ஆகிய மூன்றிலும் ஆர்யர்கள் எவ்வளவு மேம்பட்டிருந்தனர் என்பதை அவர்கள் தங்கள் நூல்களில் சித்தரிக்கின்றனர் என்று மேலும் கூறும் அவர் மனித ஆன்மாவின் மேம்பாட்டை அவர்களது கவிதைகள் சித்தரிக்கும் பாங்கைப் புகழ்கிறார்.                                                                                                                                                எது எப்படியானாலும் காளிதாஸர் பல் துறை மேதை. சொற்களையும் அதன் ஆழத்தையும் சொல்லும் பாங்கையும் மனித குலத்திற்குச் சொல்ல வேண்டியதையும் அறிந்த விற்பன்னர் அவர். அவரது காவியங்களின் வர்ணனைகள் தென் பாரதத்தையும் வட பாரதத்தையும் அற்புதமாக வர்ணிப்பதால் அவர் நாடு முழுவதும் சுற்றி வந்த பயணி என்பதும் அவர் ருதுக்களை வர்ணிப்பதை வைத்து அவர் இயற்கையை நேசிக்கும் இயற்கை ஆர்வலர் என்பதும் தெரிய வரும். ரகுவம்சம், மேகதூதம், மாளவிகாக்னிமித்ரம், அபிஞான சாகுந்தலம், விக்ரமோர்வசீயம், ருதுசம்ஹாரம் ஆகிய அற்புத கவிதை காவியங்களில் ஜோதிடக் குறிப்புகளையும் தேவ ரகசியங்களையும் காளிதாஸர் ஆங்காங்கே குறிப்பிட்டுக் கொண்டே செல்வது அவர் அருள்சக்தி படைத்த மாமேதை என்பதோடு பல்கலை வித்தகர் என்பதைத் தெளிவாக விளக்குகிறது.

காளிதாஸரின் ரகு வம்சமும் குமார சம்பவமும் இதிஹாஸமாகும்.  மேக தூதம் கண்டகாவியமாகும். அபிக்ஞான சாகுந்தலம், விக்ரமோர்வசீயம், மாளவிகாக்னி மித்ரம் நாடகங்களாகும். சிருங்கார ரஸத்தைச் சுவைபடச் சொல்வதில் அவருக்கு நிகர் அவரே தான்! சப்தாலங்காரம், அர்த்தாலங்காரம் என்ற இரு வகை அலங்காரங்களைக் கையாளுவதிலும் அவர் நிபுணர்!                                      

காளிதாஸரைப் பற்றி நூற்றுக்கும் மேலான சுவையான சம்பவங்கள் உள்ளன.இவரது முழு வாழ்க்கையை அறிவதோடு இவரது நூல்களைப் படிப்பது இந்திய கலாசாரத்தை அறிய விரும்பும் ஒவ்வொருவரின் கடமையாகும்.                                

                                                                                                                        காளிதாஸர் நூற்றுக்கணக்கான நட்சத்திர ரகசியங்களை தன் நூல்களில் ஆங்காங்கே குறிப்பிட்டுக் கொண்டே செல்கிறார். மாதிரிக்கு, ஸோமதாரையை ஸ்வர்க்க பத்ததி என்றும் (ரகுவம்சம் 9-87) அஸ்வினி நட்சத்திரத்தை குதிரை தலை போல இருக்கிறது (தன்வி கோடகமுகாக்ருதௌ த்ரிபே) என்றும் அவர் கூறுவதைக் குறிப்பிடலாம்! நவீன வானவியல் நிபுணர்கள் நட்சத்திர தொகுதிகளைப் பற்றி இன்று என்ன கூறுகிறார்களோ அதையே பல நூற்றாண்டுகளுக்கு முன்னர் விளக்கமாக அவர் குறிப்பிட்டிருப்பது வியக்க வைக்கும் விஷயம்!

உத்தரகாலாம்ருதம் என்ற ஜோதிட நூல் காளிதாஸரால் இயற்றப்பட்டதாகக் காலம் காலமாகக் குறிப்பிடப்பட்டு வருகிறது. ஒரு இலக்கிய மேதையே இதை எழுதி இருக்கக் கூடும் என்பதால் மஹாகவி காளிதாஸரே நிச்சயமாக இதை இயற்றினார் என்று ஒரு சாரார் கூறுவர்.ஆனால் இதை எழுதியவர் இன்னொரு காளிதாஸர் என்றும் (பிற்காலத்தில் புழக்கத்தில் வந்த சரஸ சல்லாபம், உத்யோகம் போன்ற வார்த்தைகளையும் ஆந்திர மற்றும் பாரசீக பாஷைகளைப் பற்றிய அவரது குறிப்புகளினாலும்) அவர் 16 அல்லது 17ம் நூற்றாண்டைச் சேர்ந்தவராக இருக்கலாம் எனவும் ஆராய்ச்சியாளர்கள் கருதுகின்றனர். இந்த நூலின் சுவடிகள் சென்னையில் உள்ள கவர்ன்மெண்ட் ஓரியண்டல் மானஸ்க்ரிப்ட் லைப்ரரி உள்ளிட்ட பல நூலகங்களில் உள்ளன.வேத ஜோதிடத்தை உத்தர காலாம்ருதம் போல வேறு எந்த நூலும் விளக்கவில்லை என்ற புகழ் இந்த நூலுக்கு உண்டு.பல்வேறு அறிஞர்களின் விளக்க உரையுடன் எல்லா கடைகளிலும் இது கிடைக்கிறது.           

                                                                                                                12 பாவங்களின் முக்கியத்துவம். கிரஹங்களின் முக்கியத்துவம், குளிகை, மாந்தியை நிர்ணயிக்கும் விதம், ஒரு மனிதனின் ஆயுளை நிர்ணயிக்கும் முறை,கேந்திர திரிகோணங்களின் முக்கியத்துவம், ராஜயோகம், விபரீத ராஜ யோகம், புதாதித்ய யோகம் உள்ளிட்ட ஏராளமான யோகங்கள் பற்றிய அபூர்வமான விளக்கங்கள், தசா காலமும் அதன் பலன்களும் என்று இப்படி ஜோதிட களஞ்சியமாக அனைத்து விஷயங்களையும் இந்த நூல் விளக்குகிறது.இதை ஒரு ஜோதிட பொக்கிஷம் என்றும் ஜோதிட புதையல் என்றும் ஜோதிடர்களும் ஜோதிட ஆர்வலர்களும் கொண்டாடி வருகின்றனர்.                                                                                                                                                                        காளிதாஸர் இந்தியாவின் சாரம் என்றால் உத்தரகாலாம்ருதம் ஜோதிடத்தின் சாரம் என்று ஒரே வரியில் கூறி விடலாம்!      

                                                                                              காதலின் மென்மையையும் மேன்மையையும் உணர வேண்டுமா? தேவ ரகசியங்களை அறிய வேண்டுமா? மனித மனத்தின் உன்னதமான அகல நீள ஆழங்களை தரிசிக்க வேண்டுமா?பாரதம் போற்றும் ஆன்மீக சிகரத்தில் ஏற வேண்டுமா? ஜோதிடக் கடலை ஒரே மடக்காகக் குடிக்க வேண்டுமா? இவை அனைத்துக்கும் ஒரே வரியில் பதில் உண்டு: காளிதாஸரைப் படியுங்கள்! காளிதாஸரை மட்டும் படியுங்கள், போதும்!!   “PORTABLE INDIA” “எடுத்துச் செல்லப்படக்கூடிய பாரதம்” என்று சுருக்கமாக அறிஞர்களால் அவர் வர்ணிக்கப்படுகிறார்.                                                            காலத்தை வென்ற கவிஞர்களுள் சம்ஸ்கிருத மொழியில் மட்டுமல்ல, உலக மொழிகளிலேயே முதல் இடத்தைப் பிடிப்பவர் காளிதாஸரே என்பதில் ஐயமில்லை. வாழ்க காளிதாஸர் புகழ்! நன்றி, வணக்கம்!

IDIOT WHO BECAME AN EINSTEIN OF LITERATURE
KALIDASA IS EQUAL TO 100 SHAKESPEARES

*** முற்றும்

TAGS — காளிதாஸ், KALIDASA, காளிதாசர் 

KALIDASA-VILASAVATHY, KALAMEGHAM-MOHANANGI- STORY OF TAMIL DEVADASIS – PART 6 (Post No.6108)

Compiled by london swaminathan

swami_48@yahoo.com


Date: 22 FEBRUARY 2019


GMT Time uploaded in London – 11-51 am


Post No. 6108

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources including google, Wikipedia, Facebook friends and newspapers. This is a non- commercial blog. ((posted by swamiindology.blogspot.com AND tamilandvedas.com))

Women are Cuckoos: Kalidasa and Tamil Poets agree! (Post No.3881)

Written by London Swaminathan

 

Date: 5 May 2017

 

Time uploaded in London: 14-12

 

Post No. 3881

 

Pictures are taken from various sources; thanks.

 

contact; swami_48@yahoo.com

 

Women are Cuckoos (Koels) say Kalidasa and other poets. Is it a compliment or a complaint? Both, I would say.

When the poets want to praise them, they say that women’s voice is like the Koel (Cuckoo). When they wanted to attack their cunningness, they say women are as cunning as a cuckoo!

 

There is a popular couplet in Sanskrit:

“The crow is black and the cuckoo is black. What is the difference between the two? It is when spring arrives that the crow is identified and the cuckoo is identified as cuckoo” (by their harsh and sweet voice)

 

kakah krsnah pikah krshnah ko bedhah pikakakayoho

vasanta kale samprapta Kakah kakah pikah pikah

 

Kalidasa in his most famous work, Shakuntalam says, “king Speaks,

Intuitive cunning is seen even in females

of lower creatures; what then of those

endowed with reason and understanding;

the cuckoo, as we know, has her young reared

by other birds before they take to the air”

(Shakuntalam Act 5- 22)

 

The voice of cuckoo is sweet but cuckoo is cunning by nature. In the Raghuvamsa (12-39), Surpanakha speaks in sweet voice as that of a cuckoo. But she is planning cunningly to capture Rama and Lakshmana by her magical wile.

 

in the Shakuntalam drama women are portrayed as tricky as cuckoo. Intuitive cunningness exists even in females other than humans (species of animals and birds). What then in regard to those that possess power of understanding? The female cuckoos indeed, cause their offspring to be reared by other birds, before flying in the sky (AS 5-22 and Malavikagni Mitram 3-41)

 

In hundreds of places, the poets described the voice of women is as sweet as a cuckoo.

 

In one of the verses in Niti Venba, a collection of didactic poems by an anonymous author, the poet says “a person’s nature can’t be known by his appearance but known only by his speech like we know a crow from a cuckoo from its difference in voice.”

 

–Subham–

 

 

 

Shakespeare and Kalidasa-Hindu Thoughts in Shakespearean Plays (Post No.3866)

Compiled by London swaminathan

Date: 30 APRIL 2017

Time uploaded in London:-11-29  am

Post No. 3866

Pictures are taken from various sources; thanks.

contact; swami_48@yahoo.com

 

We know that great men think alike; but some similarities in the plays of Kalidasa and Shakespeare make us believe that Shakespeare has read Kalidasa or heard about his plays. Innocent forest girl Shakuntala is incarnated as Miranda in The Tempest. Kalidasa’s Vidusakas (Jesters/comedians) are seen in several of Shakespeare’s plays. There are similarities in Othello, Hamlet and The Winter’s Tale as well.

 

Plays of Shakespeare were largely founded on Hellenic, Roman and and other foreign models, where as Kalidasa’s plays were based on Ramayana and Mahabharata.

 

Shakespeare puts in the mouth of one of his characters: –

“The self-same sun that shines upon his court

Hides not his visage from our cottage, but

Looks on’s alike”.

 

In describing the moral greatness of the Himalaya, Kalidasa gives expression to the idea as follows:

 

“He protects from the sun in his caves the darkness which through fear of light adheres to them for shelter; the care of the great is impartially bestowed on inferior and important personages alike”.

“Divaakaraad rakshati yo guhaasu

Leenam divaabheetam vaandhakaaram;

Kshudrepi noonam saranam prapanne

Mamatvam uchchais sirasaam sateeva”

Polonius Advice

Shakespeare students are familiar with the advice of Polonius to his son Laertes.

 

“Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportion’d thought his act. Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar. Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel; But do not dull thy palm with entertainment Of each new-hatch’s, unfledged comrade. Beware…: (Hamlet Act I)

 

According to Kalidasa, the following is the advice that Shakuntala received from her foster father Kanva when she was leaving him to go to her royal husband’s home:

“Show due reverence to him and to your superiors; should others share your husband’s love, be an affectionate handmaid to them; should your husband displease you, let not your resentment lead you to disobedience. Be just and impartial to domestics, and seek not your own gratifications. By such behaviours young women become exemplary mistresses, but perverse wives are the bane of a family.”

There may be a difference of opinion, according to present ideas, as to this description of the duty of a wife; but there can scarcely be any difference of opinion as to the sentiments expressed by Kalidasa in the following verses:-

 

“The wicked are controlled, not by favour, but by punishment”.

 

“Of righteous acts good wives are certainly the fundamental cause”.

“Devoted wives never oppose the wishes of their husbands”.

“When there is seniority in virtue, youth is not taken into account”.

Hamlet and Manu Smrti

The king in Hamlet speaks of his inviolability thus:-

“There is such divinity doth hedge a king

That treason can but peep to what it would”

 

Manu explains royal divinity thus

“With eight elements of the gods is a king made; hence, by his lustre he subdues all creatures.”

Kalidasa describes a king of the Raghuvamsa, who went about without attendants thus:

“The race of Manu needed no bodyguard, but relied for safety on its own prestige and prowess.”

 

On Royal attributes, such as King Henry V defined and Cranmer prophesied of the infant Elizabeth, Kalidasa speaks in referring to a king of the Solar Race thus:

 

“Broad-chested, strong shouldered like a bull, long armed like a pine-tree, his physical frae was suited to the task of his royal birth; he was the embodiment of the virtues of the warrior caste”.

All the world is a stage

“I hold the world but as the world, Horatio

A stage where everyman must play a part”.

 

and again in As You like It

“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,”

–As You Like It

I have given similar thoughts found in Tamil and Sanskrit in my post:–

Drama, Puppet Show, Folk Theatre in Tamil and Sanskrit Literature (Post No.3608); Date: 5 FEBRUARY 2017

 

The Winter’s Tale

The scene where the king (Shakuntalam), after dismounting from the is about to enter the grove of Marica’s hermitage and has his first glimpse of his son is a replica of the scene in Act One, where also the king after dismounting from the chariot at the fringes of the grove of Kanva’s hermitage, enters and see the boy’s mother for the first time. The finding of the lost son and heir precedes and leads to the recognition of the mother. An interesting parallel is provided in the last scene of Shakespeare’s ‘The Winter’s Tale’.

 

Othello and Sakuntalam

There is an interesting parallel in Othello. In the drama, proof of heroine’s chastity and love is demanded. Desdemona’s chastity hangs on a handkerchief; Sakuntala’s on a ring. Both heroines are blissfully unaware of the importance of the token. To them love is its own proof and a witness to their chastity.

 

In Ramayana, Sita was asked to prove her chastity by undergoing the ordeal of fire to allay the suspicions of the public: In Shakespeare’s Othello and King Lear where proof of fidelity and of filial love is demanded, we have a parallel.

 

A lot of Shakespeare’s quotable quotes have parallel in Sanskrit verses (I will give them separately).

 

Source Books:

Orient and Occident, Manmath C Mallick,1913

Kalidasa, The Loom of Time, Chandra Rajan, 1989

 

–Subham–

 

Modesty is the Ornament of the Wise! (Post No.3827)

Written by London swaminathan

 

Date: 17 APRIL 2017

 

Time uploaded in London:- 21-26

 

Post No. 3827

 

Pictures are taken from various sources; thanks.

 

contact; swami_48@yahoo.com 

 

 

Two great poets of India Kalidasa and Tiruvalluvar say that Modesty is the ornament of the wise. Valluvar used ten couplets in Tamil to emphasise modesty and Kalidasa mentioned it in Sanskrit  at least  in three places in his work Raghuvamsa.

 

Tiru Valluvar says,

Is not Modesty (sense of shame) an ornament to the wise? If not present, a stately strut is a disease (Kural 1014)

 

Food, Clothing and the like are common to all men; but modesty is the chief feature of the good (1012)

 

In blessed modesty the worthy find a tower of strength. For such a rare jewel, they hold the world well lost. (1016)

Kalidasa in his Kavya Raghuvasa says,

 

तस्य संस्तूयमानस्य चरितार्थैस्तपस्विभिः।
शुशुभे विक्रमोदग्रम् व्रीडयावनतम् शिरः॥ १५-२७

tasya saṁstūyamānasya caritārthaistapasvibhiḥ |
śuśubhe vikramodagram vrīḍayāvanatam śiraḥ|| 15-27

 

He (King Shatrughna) gracefully held his head high by his heroic deed; when the object-accomplished hermits eulogised him he modestly bent it down; even then it looked more graceful. [15-27]

 

 

`स्तूयमानः स जिह्राय स्तुत्यमेव समाचरन्।
तथापि ववृधे तस्य तत्कारिद्वेषिणो यशः॥ १७-७३

stūyamānaḥ sa jihrāya stutyameva samācaran |
tathāpi vavṛdhe tasya tatkāridveṣiṇo yaśaḥ|| 17-73

 

He (King Atithi)  who did what was but praiseworthy became suffused with shame when praised for it; however, the reputation of him as the hater of those who praised him only increased his fame. [17-73]

 

तस्याभवत्सूनुरुदारशीलः शिलः
शिलापट्टविशालवक्षाः।
जितारिपक्षोऽपि शिलीमुखैर्यः
शालीनतामव्रजदीड्यमानः॥ १८-१७

tasyābhavatsūnurudāraśīlaḥ śilaḥ
śilāpaṭṭaviśālavakṣāḥ |
jitāripakṣo’pi śilīmukhairyaḥ
śālīnatāmavrajadīḍyamānaḥ || 18-17

 

King Pariyatra had a son named Shila possessing a generous disposition, and having a broad chest like a slab of stone; although he had vanquished divisions of the enemies’ armies by his arrows still he was abashed when he heard himself praised. [18-17]

Parimel Azakar, the most famous commentator of Tirukkural, quotes a Sanskrit saying about modesty:- Gunadyasya satah pumsah stutau ajjaiva Bhushanam.

A virtuous person becomes abashed when he is praised and it is an ornament for him.

 

Virtuous people feel shy when they are praised; even though their heads bow down, their fame go sky high!

 

Raghuvamsa slokas are from sanskritdocuments.com; thanks.

 

–Subham–

 

Hindu Sages and Hermitages in Kalidasa’s Works (Post No.3779)

Written by London swaminathan

 

Date: 1 April 2017

 

Time uploaded in London:- 16-27

 

Post No. 3779

 

Pictures are taken from various sources; thanks.

 

contact; swami_48@yahoo.com

 

Kalidasa is superb in describing the conditions of the Tapovanams (Ashram/Hermitage) in ancient India. He is very good in describing the appearance of Hindu seers and their penance. One would love to live in such a condition where there was peace everywhere. Even the animals who have natural enmity between themselves behaved very well. He portrays seers who are not Brahmins as well. He shows us some women seers too.

 

From his seven works, we come to know that people from other castes also did penance and they had obtained equal power. We have such examples earlier in our epics in the characters of Viswamitra, Vrtra of Rig Veda, Ravana and others.

 

In the Valmiki Ramayana and Raghuvamsa (of Kalidasa) we have two examples: one who cursed Dasaratha because he shot down his son mistaking him for an elephant. Another one at the end of the book, who was doing penance hanging upside down. All these portrayals explode the myths of Aryan, Dravidian divisions. Everyone could do penance and obtain powers. Women also did penance as we see in Vikrama Urvasiyam and Kumarasambhava.

Here below are some quotations from his books:-

 

Sakuntalam Act I

King:“Suta, urge the horses on and let us purify ourselves with a sight of the holy Hermitage.

Suta: As your Gracious Majesty orders

King: Suta, even without being told, it is palin that we are now at the outskirts of the penance-groves.

Suta: How can you tell, my lord?

King: Do you not see, sir? Right here:

Grains of wilde rice fallen from tree-hollows

where parrots nest, lie scattered under trees;

those stones here look moist, glossy, from the oil

of Ingudi-nuts split and pounded on them;

all around, deer browse in their tranquil haunts,

unafraid of the chariot’s approach; yonder,

droops of water dripping off the edgs of bark-garments

in long line, trace the paths to pools and streams.

and you see futher

Rippling beneath a passing breeze, waters flow

in deep channels to have the roots of trees;

smoke drifts up from oblations to the Sacred Fire

to dim the soft sheen of tender leaf buds;

free from fear, fawns browse lazily in meadows

beyond where Darbha shoots are closely cropped”

 

This brings us a picture of their simple life. No electricity, no tansport, no mobile internet or TV or Radio! A world full of peace and happiness.

Later Shakuntala , the forest beauty, shows all her love and affection towards he plants and animals in the forest.

 

Act II of Sakuntalam has another beautiful description of the forest and the hermits:-

King: “Let bisons plunge into forest-pools and revel splashing,

striking the water repeatedly with their mighty horns;

let the herds of antelopes clustering in groups in the shade,

chew the cud undisturbed;

and let wild boars lining up round puddles

where the marsh-sedge grows fragrant, root peacefully in the mud

and let this my bow with its loose-knotted string

be allowed to enjoy its well-earned repose.

 

Like sun-crystals cool to the touch

vomit fiery sparks from deep wthin

if struck by another luminous power,

so, hermit’s rich in holiness

in whom Tranquillity presides,

have hidden deep a blazing energy

that leaps out to burn when aroused.

xxx

 

From his Raghuvamsa Kavya,

While the glades are darkening litters of wild boars are coming up from ponds, peacocks are turning towards the trees of their habitation, herds of deer are settling on swards – seeing such back-to-home scenes DilIpa too advanced homewards. [2-17]

xxx

Oh proud lady, this is that pleasure-lake named pacnha-apsara of sage shAtakarNi, which is surrounded with woods, and which appears, on account of the great distance, like the orb of the moon vaguely seen from among the clouds. [13-38]

 

 

Here is the unexcelled ascetic by name sage sutIkShNa, a self-controlled in his action practising asceticism in the centre of five-fires, namely four well-fuelled fires around him and the seven-horsed one, namely the Sun, scorching the forehead as the fifth fire in five-fire method of ascesis. [13-41]

 

Here that sage sutIkShna lifting up his right arm aloft, which has a rosary of rudrAkSha-s for a bracelet, which scratches the deer, and which cuts the sharp needle-ends of kusha-grass, favourably greeted my arrival at his place. [13-43]

 

This sage is a constant sun-gazer and there occurred a momentary disturbance in his gaze when an aircraft passed before his sight; then nodding at my salutation, for he bridles his speech, he again fixed his sight on the thousand-rayed sun.  [13-44]

 

This sanctifying penance-grove which is the refuge of every-body belongs to the sage named Sharabhanga who kept sacred fire and who having propitiated it with the sacred sticks for a long time ultimately offered his own body sanctified with hymns into that ritual fire. [13-45]

 

Now, after Sharabhanga had immolated himself, the task of according hospitality to guests devolved upon the trees of hermitage which were, as it were, the well behaved sons of the sage that removed the fatigue of a journey by offering their shade and that afford abundant fruits of any cherish. [13-46]

 

Oh, curvaceous lady, this chitrakUTa mountain with its mouth of a valley sending forth gurgling sounds of rapids, mud-like rainclouds attached to its horn-like apices, thus resembling a proudish bull whose cavern mouth sends forth a continuous bellowing and the tips of whose horns are smeared with mud dug up while indulging in butting against the side of a mountain, rivets my sight. [13-47]

xxx

 

Sages don’t waste their energy by cursing:

Beholding Rama on throne, the sages did not strike at the demon with their yogic-power; for, it is only in the absence of a protector that the curse-armed ones spend their asceticism. [15-3]

xxx

 

Shudra doing penance

 

Now, the descendant of Ikshvaku saw a certain individual practising asceticism, with bloodshot eyes from smoke, dangling upside down from the branch of a tree. [15-49]

 

On coming to conclusion that this individual deserved execution for his unauthorised performance of asceticism that resulted calamitous to other subjects, then the controller Rama took up his weapon. [15-51]

Rama caused his head, on which the beard and moustache have been singed by the sparks of fire and which therefore resembled a frostbitten lotus with smudged filaments, to be lopped off from the tube-like throat. [15-52]

xxx

Earlier Dasaratha was cursed by a Shudra saint that he would also die of longing for his son.

xxx

From Kumarasambhava (Canto V.15/17)

 

Now let us turn to Kumarasambhava Kavya of Kalidasa:

“And the fawns, fondled by being given handfuls of forest grain, trusted her (UMA) so far, that out of curiosity she could measure the length of her own eyes with theirs before her friends.

 

“Sages came there, desirous of seeing her, who used to take a sacred bath, to offer oblations to the fire, to wear a bark as her upper garment, and to recite sacred texts; age is no consideration in the case of those who are old in spiritual attainments.

 

“The sacred grove, too, became holy, where the previous antipathy between warring beasts was abandoned, where the guests were well gratified with the gifts of desired fruit by the trees, and where the sacred fires were kindled in newly built huts of leaves”

 

One more couplet (V-33)

 

 

Uma is asked:

“Are sacrificial wood and Kusa grass easily obtainable for holy rites? is the water suitable for your bathing? And do you practise austerities proportionate to your strength? For your body is the ultimate means of performing religious duties”

 

This shows not all the people are expected to severe penance. It should be proportionate to one’s physical and mental capacity. But women are also allowed to do penance.

 

There are many more remarks about the penance, penance- groves and seers and sages. My above quotations were only examples to show the attitude of commoners and kings towards sage and their dwelling places.

(For Kalidasa’s works, I have used various English translations–swami)

–Subham–

 

 

 

 

Three Stories about Stupid Shepherds! (Post No.3701)

Written by London swaminathan

 

Date: 7 March 2017

 

Time uploaded in London:- 20-41

 

Post No. 3701

 

Pictures are taken from various sources; thanks.

 

contact; swami_48@yahoo.com

 

Shepherds of India were uneducated and ignorant. There are lot of stories about their stupid acts. The most famous shepherd story was about Kalidasa. There was a king who had a very educated intelligent, but arrogant daughter. She refused to marry anyone because all of them were defeated by her in debates. The ministers lost their patience. So they were looking for a fool who can be presented as the greatest scholar and thus insult the arrogant princess.

 

As they were going through the country side they saw a shepherd who was sitting on upper branch of a tree and cutting down the lower part. They got hold of him and trained him in gestures. He learnt the sign language quickly because there were only two signs. They told him that he would get a big reward from the king if used the gestures to answer any question put to him.

The shepherd was taken in a palanquin to present him as the scholar cum prince of a neighbouring country. For every gesture princess showed he used the two gestures he was taught. Since ministers taught him the gestures they had ready  explanations for his gestures. They gave big philosophical explanations for both the gestures. The princess was very much impressed with his scholarship and married him.

 

During the first night, the princess came to the bridegroom’s chamber. But to her surprise he was fast asleep and snoring! She waited for several hours and yet he did not get up. The princess tried to wake him up by sprinkling some scented water. At that time the shepherd (scholar) was dreaming about his sheep. When he felt the sprinkled water, he was shouting to his sheep (in dream). When she threw some flowers on him, he was saying, “ Get away, you foolish sheep”.

 

Now the princess knew for sure that something went wrong. She understood that she was married to an idiot. She drew off her sword and woke him. She told him,”Tell me the truth. Who are you? If you do not speak now, I shall kill you.”

 

He confessed that he was a shepherd and he acted according the ministers’ instructions. Immediately the princess gave him some money and asked him to run away from the palace.

 

The shepherd felt ashamed and went and slept in a Kali (goddess) temple on his way. He started praying to her to give him true knowledge. Goddess also felt very sorry for him. She knew that he was punished for no fault of his. She asked him to open his mouth and wrote a magic spell on his tongue. From that moment he started composing poems. Later he became the most celebrated poet of India – Kalidasa.

 

Second Story

But not all the shepherds were as lucky as Kalidasa. There was a shepherd at the foothills of Western Ghats. He followed the trade of his forefathers. One day he missed a lamb when counting his flock. At once he started off in search of his lamb. He wandered about till mid-day. In the afternoon, he felt exhausted and thirsty. He looked down into a well for water holding one of his lambs on his neck. When he looked down into the well he saw his own reflection and the lamb in dim light deep inside the well. He grew angry and shouted, “Oh, robber; I have got you at last. Bring up my lamb, otherwise I will throw huge rocks into the well”. When he stooped down to pick up stones, his lamb on his neck fell into the well. Later he regretted his foolish action.

 

Shepherd and Robbers!

The third story is about a money lender and a shepherd. There was a money lender in a village who was in the habit of taking money to different villages. On a certain day, he took lot of cash and hired the service of a shepherd to take him through the forest. Shepherds knew those routes very well. Half way through, it became dark and so they had to lie down under a tree. Moneylender was afraid of the robbers and told his shepherd companion to lie down in a place without making any noise. He went to a nearby tree and slept under it. About mid night a gang of robbers passed that way. One of them said: “Look here! take care here is a log of wood lying down on our way; don’t knock against it”.

“You, idiots; Talk sensibly. Am I a log of wood? Will a piece of log in your town have hundred rupees in a piece of cloth around its waist?” – said the shepherd who was lying down. “Oh, here is fellow, catch him!” said the robbers. The shepherd lost his 100 rupees. One of the robbers had some doubt about the currency note. I wonder whether this note is false or true”.

 

The ignorant shepherd grew angry and shouted at the robbers, “What do you mean? If you have any doubt about the currency note, ask my Chettiar friend who deals with money every day. He is lying there.”

 

“Ho, ho, there is another person with money, hiding in the bush. Catch him”, sad the robbers. The money lending Chettiyar was caught and beaten unmercifully. He lost all his money.

 

He returned to his village the following morning, having learnt a bitter lesson by taking an ignorant shepherd as his companion.

 

–Subham–

Number Seven in Kalidasa and Kamba Ramayana! (Post No 3615)

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Written by London swaminathan

 

Date: 7 FEBRUARY 2017

 

Time uploaded in London:- 18-51

 

Post No. 3615

 

 

Pictures are taken from different sources; thanks.

 

 

contact; swami_48@yahoo.com

 

 

I have already explained the significance of Number 7 in my two articles as given in the Vedas, Indus valley Seals and verses of Vaishnavite saints known as Alvars. Please read the details in the following two articles:

1).Mystic No.7 in Music!! posted on 13th April 2014

2).Number Seven: Rig Vedic link to Indus Culture, posted on 21 November 2014

 

Now let us look at some verses of Kalidasa and Kamban. Kamban wrote the Ramayana in Tamil.

 

Kalidasa says in the Tenth sarga (Chapter) of Raghuvamsa Kavya; it is in praise of Lord Vishnu:-

 

सप्तसामोपगीतम् त्वाम् सप्तार्णवजलेशयम्।
सप्तार्चिमुखमाचख्युः सप्तलोकैकसम्श्रयम्॥ १०-२१

saptasāmopagītam tvām saptārṇavajaleśayam।
saptārcimukhamācakhyuḥ saptalokaikasamśrayam || 10-21

 

They have praised Thee who hast been glorified by seven hymns; a recliner on the waters of seven seas; having seven-flames for thy mouth and as a Being the only support of the seven worlds… [10-21]

 

The seven hymns: gAyatra, rathantara, vAmadevya, bR^ihatsAma, vairUpa, vairAja, shakvarI.

 

Seven seas: lavaNa, ikshu, surA, sarpis, dadhi, kshIra, jala – sAgarAH.

 

Seven tongues of fire: karAli, dhUmini, shveta, lohita, nIla-lohita,

suvarNa, padma-rAga – through which offertories are received in Vedic-rituals.

Seven worlds: bhU, bhuvar, suvar, maharloka, jana, tapo, satya – lokAH.

cbb9b-number-7-c

Valmiki’s Description of Seven Trees Test

 

Valmiki briefly describes how Rama pierced the Seven Trees:-

 

“Hearing Sugriva’s gracious speech, Rama, in order to inspire him with confidence, took up his bow and a formidable arrow, and taking him, pierced the Sala trees, filling the firmament with the sound”.

“Loosed by that mighty warrior, the arrow, decorated with gold, passed through the seven Sala trees and entering the mountain, buried itself in the earth. In the twinkling of an eye that shaft with the speed of lightening, having pierced the seven trees with extreme velocity, returned to Rama’s quiver”.

Chapter 12 of Kishkinda Kanda of Valmiki.

(I have already explained in another article that Hindus were the inventors of Boomerang. Krishna’s Sudarsana chakra and Rama’s arrows come back after hitting the target. They were scientifically designed to come back to its original position. They were angled like boomerangs of Australian aborigines.)

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Kamba Ramayana in Tamil

Kamban has some beautiful imagination in Kishkinda Kanda. His imagination runs riot:-

 

“Rama’s arrow pierced the seven trees then went through the seven worlds underneath. Since there was nothing with the suffix number seven under the earth it came back to Rama. If it sees anything with SEVEN, it will definitely pierce them; it would not leave them”

 

“Seven seas, seven ascetics (Sapta Rsis), seven worlds above the earth, seven mountains, seven horses in the Chariot of Lord Sun, Seven Virgins (sapta mata) – all these were shivering and shaking because they all had seven as a suffix in their names!”

 

“But yet they calmed themselves saying that Rama is the embodiment of Righteousness; so he wouldn’t harm us.”

 

—from Kamba Ramayana

 

Hindus believed that Seven is the most sacred number. So they have classified the seas, mountains, upper worlds, lower worlds, ascetics, virgins, clouds and many more things into  groups of seven.

Source: Valmiki Ramayana by Hariprasad Shastri

Raghuvamsa: Sanskritdocuments.org

–subham–