"Sri Vidya Rahasyam" book release function 28-12-2014

My long awaited book 'Sri Vidya Rahasyam' is going to be released at last on 28-12-2014 at Vijayawada.

This book explains,in more than 1200 Telugu poems,the essence of real 'Sri Vidya Upasana' as endorsed by the Upanishads and the Tantras.

This book is going to be a landmark in Telugu Poetry as well as in Telugu Spiritual literature.

I am certain,the present readers as well as the generations to come will be immensely benefited by the spiritual treasures available in this book.

This book will be available in the 'Book festival' organised in P.W.D grounds,Vijayawada from 1-1-2015 to 10-1-2015 in the stall of 'Sri Mahalaxmi Book Corporation'.

Efforts are being made to tie up with online book providers like 'KINIGE' and 'Pustakam.org' to make this book available on line for the sake of those who are staying in distant places in India as well as in other countries.

There will be talks on spiritual sadhana in general and 'Sri Vidya Upasana' in particular - by me and other learned speakers during this eventful day.

The Video of this event will be uploaded in my blogs in due course.

The date,time and venue of the event are as under.

Date and Time:--28-12-2014 Sunday.

Venue:--
Vijayawada Book Festival Society Association Hall
Anjanam Building
Opposite Civil courts
Governorpet
Vijayawada.

I hereby invite all my readers to attend this function and make it a grand success.

Wise Bucket Challenge

Ice Bucket Challenge is meant to spread awareness of ALS(Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) in the world and to aid the research to combat this disease.In this challenge,you pour a bucketful of ice water on yourself and nominate a few others to do the same.Everyone has to donate a certain amount of money to the foundation that does research to eradicate ALS.

Many Americans are doing this,followed by Indians living in USA thereby spreading awareness of this disease in society.So far so good.

Seeing this frenzy,a new trend called 'Rice Bucket Challenge' has started in India.Someone who believes that India is still a poor country with poor people who needs rice to be donated for their survival,started to donate a bucketful of rice to the needy.They call it Rice Bucket Challenge'.

Great idea indeed !!

Now,in India,there is no dearth of either donors or receivers.Both givers and takers abound here.We have any number of rich people here who have the 'white card' which makes them eligible for receiving Government aid meant for poor people.They usually move in Benzs and BMWs but have no qualms in stopping happily near the 'Rice Bucket Challenge' tent to collect a bucket of rice.

I have an ancient doubt which,of late,has gained enough strength. Do poor people really exist in India now?- is the doubt.Let us have a look around the country.

Every poor house has color TV now,if possible the 42 inches HD one with cable network.If any citizen is devoid of such a one,some state Governments are making him self-sufficient by supplying one freely.Every house has more than four mobile phones each having four sim cards.Every new launch of a new mobile has instant takers in India.The Chinese brand MI.3 is the latest example.It is not an exaggeration to say that every Indian home now has enough old mobile sets to open a mobile shop without buying stocks.Every house has four two wheelers and two or more four wheelers.

Where are poor people in India?

Nonetheless,there are villages,even now,which have no facility of clean drinking water.But,there exists a wine shop in each of those villages,invariably.If not,the earlier Governments encouraged them. By evening, you can see all these wine shops vibrant with all kinds of men,sometimes with women,often with college girls who abscond from classes to have a sip of beer over there.

There is one challenge that has been alive in our country as far back I could see conveniently.It is Wine Bucket Challenge.You need none to invite you for this.In fact,we voluntarily rush forward to participate in this grand challenge.This has been so since the time we got independence.

Is Ice Bucket Challenge relevant to India which suffers from acute water shortage in hundrends of villages and towns? No. Is 'Rice Bucket Challenge' really necessary for today's Indians? The answer again, is a big loud 'NO'.

Just because someone is ready to donate out of his idle enthusiasm which is more often than not a vague and unrealistic estimation of the ground reality,someone is ready to accept.Just because there are givers,there are takers.In my view, there is no poor man now in India.

One of my friends from USA landed last year in India on a visit.He said-"Since my last visit a few years back,I find a great change in our country.Now I daresay that we in USA are poorer than most of you people here."

I am not certain,if the world really needs Ice Bucket Challenge or Rice Bucket Challenge or Wine Bucket Challenge.But there is one challenge which every human being badly needs.

It is called 'Wise Bucket Challenge'.

This challenge means-living wisely and encouraging your fellow citizens to live wisely.To live according to the age old precepts of Sanatana Dharma is all about Wise Bucket Challenge.Every citizen of the world,without any exception,needs to accept this challenge.

There is an English Idiom called 'Kicking the bucket'.We know what it means.Everyone who took birth has to die one day.'Wise Bucket Challenge' urges you to empty your bucket by the time you leave this world.

You can empty your bucket only when you live wisely.This is possible only when you live your life in Jnana and do your Karma with Jnana.Only then your Karmic Balance starts reducing.If you live a life that is full of Ajnana then by the time you die,your Karmic balance will increase a thousandfold and you leave this world with a heavy load of accumulated karma.

We came into this world with a big bucket full of past Karma.If we live unwisely,then we tend to accumulate more and more bad Karma everyday.By the time we leave from the world,we are sure to leave with a tank full of bad karma on our heads.In such a condition no one knows what our next birth is going to be.

Conversely,if we want to get out with no luggage on our back,then we have to live everyday of our life wisely,making it a life of Yoga.Only then,we will be able to win this challenge.

You need not nominate anybody for this challenge,for nomination cannot be done in this game.This challenge is something that should come out from within on its own with no provocation from outside.

Ice Bucket Challenge may spread awareness to eradicate ALS disease.Wise Bucket Challenge also does the same.In my books,ALS means Ajnana Lampata Syndrome i.e Ignorance and Craving Syndrome.One who can accept this challenge will be free from ignorance and craving.

He becomes Atmarama or one who is self contented and blissful with no reason at all.

I am not sure about the possible results of Ice Bucket Challenge or Rice Bucket Challenge,but sure about Wise Bucket Challenge.It surely and quickly removes our fundamental disease i.e ignorance.

Let us look into the Bhagavad Gita at 10th chapter :Sloka 11 where the Lord says:

"Teshaam anukampaardhamaham ajnaanajam tamaha
naashayaamyaatma bhaavastho jnaana deepena bhaasvataa"

(Taking pity on them,I reside in their hearts and remove the darkness of ignorance from there,with the effulgence of wisdom)

The Lord Himself encourages us to take up this challenge and assures that he would be our strength in times of distress.

In another verse,He Himself explained the hurdles that torment us without allowing us to accept and win this challenge.Let me look into Gita again at 14th chapter 8th verse.

Tamastu ajnanajam viddhi mohanam sarva dehinaam
pramaada aalasya nidrabhi: tannibadhnaathi bharatha

(O son of India.Know what prevents you from leading a spiritual life.It is these three.Carelessness,delay and sloth-these three spring out from Ignorance and act as hurdles in spiritual path)


Pramada is the careless attitude which abhors spiritual quest.

Alasya is the laziness in sadhana.

Nidra is the sloth that makes us dull and disinterested in sadhana.

These three,the Lord says,spring out from Ignorance and stop you at every step from advancing in spiritual life.

So when you take up Wise Bucket Challenge,your inner WBC count will increase in a healthy manner that armors you with new strength to withstand the vagaries of life.It protects you from falling prey to spiritual ignorance.

The Lord is calling us since times immemorial to accept this challenge.But none seems to listen to Him.

Tasmaath Ajnana sambhootham hritstham jnaanaasinaatmanaha
chitvainam samshayam yogamaatthisto tishta bharatha

The Lord exhorts.

O son of India.Get up.Cut with the sword of spiritual knowledge the doubts that spring up from primordial ignorance and linger in your heart.Take the help of Yoga and fight the war of life with it.

This I call-"Wise Bucket Challenge"

Our age old Dharma is beckoning us.Our ancient seers are calling us to accept this challenge.

But who cares to listen?

Every one is ready to accept either Ice Bucket Challenge or Rice Bucket Challenge.No one is ready for 'Wise Bucket Challenge'.

Is there anybody out there who can take up this challenge?

Aswaththama-The owl's message

Mahabharath is India's history.

The British and the Moslems considered it as a mere story,deftly woven and imaginatively described,but devoid of historical authenticity.They could not digest the fact that their subjects have a very ancient past spanning thousands of years in time.

As our fate would have it,most of us started believing this wrong notion entertained and propagated by our rulers.Thereupon started our cultural downfall.The day we started believing that Alexander's raid of India was the beginning of Indian History,the same day our cultural backbone began to degenerate.This is precisely what our rulers wanted to happen,because,a race that is devoid of self respect and faith in its history could be easily subjugated to slavery and plunder.

Another strong reason for our downfall is the disappearance of Sanskrit,the language of gods,from our memory and curriculum.I will discuss this point at appropriate time.

Through the modern education perpetuated upon us,and through the pitiable lack of scriptural study,we gradually degenerated to a state where we started doubting the historical authenticity of our great scriptural/historical records like Ramayana and Mahabharatha.Added to this,many Indian authors toeing the line of their European masters,started criticizing our ancient scriptures creating doubts in the minds of all of us.

Take my word.

There is no need to disbelieve in our scriptures like Ramayana and Mahabharatha.They are historical documents.

Mahabharath happened.

Ramayana happened.

Sri Rama and Sri Krishna and the other heroes of these two scriptures are not figments of our imagination but historical figures. There should not be any doubt on this point.

Of late,many startling facts have been seeing light of the day during the excavations of the Archaeological Survey of India.Many more hidden truths will come to light,if the ASI continues its search with more vigor and sincerity.

One of the strongest evidences for the historical authenticity of Mahabharath is finding the submerged city of Dwaraka in the Arabian Sea.All the places of Mahabharath times like Kurukshetra, Indraprashtha,Dwaraka,Mathura,Brindavan etc. are very much visible before our eyes.If we cannot believe them even now,it would be the height of idiocy on our part.

The Moslems and the British are gone long back.If we still continue to stick to their false theories on our history,nothing could be more harmful and insulting than this.

Coming to the subject,there are umpteen number of incidents that I like in Mahabharath.One of them is the revenge of Ashwaththama.

Let me explain this incident from an angle slightly different from what is commonly believed.

We have seven Chiranjeevis (the immortals) in our scriptures.

According to a sloka,they are:

Aswaththama,Emperor Bali,Maharshi Vyasa,Hanuman, Vibhishana, Krupacharya and Lord Parashurama.

They have no death till this kalpantha(end of the present time cycle) and are still alive,even today.

Now this is not digestible to many.

'How can a person live for 5000 years or more?Can any one believe in such trash?'-they may ask.

Whether one likes it or not,such things do exist.There are many things in Nature,that are well beyond our wildest imagination.On our part,we never believe in such things easily. Astrology, Yoga, Tantra, Vedanta,Ayurveda,the science of Omens-everything appears as trash to our minds.

There is no wonder,after sometime,if we start disbelieving in our own parents.The simple fact is that without them we cannot exist.Similarly,without our age old Dharma and tradition,we as a society cannot exist.Tradition is the foundation of our society.

Among the seven immortals of our culture,Emperor Bali is the oldest one.Lord Parashurama,Hanuman and Vibhishana belong to the age of Ramayana.The remaining three viz., Aswathhama, Maharshi Vyasa and Kripacharya belong to the age fo Mahabharatha.

Thousands of years passed since their times,but all these people are alive,even today.There are many people in India who were fortunate to see them at different times and in different places.Among them,Aswathhama is seen even today in North India quite frequently.I personally know a sage who saw Lord Parashurama in the western ghats a few years back and talked to him for quite sometime.

We cannot believe in physical immortality because we see people dying everyday.We conclude that everybody dies before reaching the age of 100.But we see some people crossing that limit and living upto the ripe old age of 150.Such people may be rarities but they do exist and their existence proves that death need not necessarily swallow a human being before he reaches his 100th year.

Be that as it may,among the seven immortals,Maharshi Vyasa is the great guru of our tradition.He divided the mass of Vedas into four parts and composed 18 Puranas and 18 sub puranas for the welface of the world.He is still alive and is seen even today by some fortunte few in and around Varanasi.He is the person to be worshipped on the auspicious day of Guru Purnima.People may worship other gurus,but Maharshi Vyasa is not to be forgotten.

Remaining two are Aswathhama and Kripacharya.They are closely related to each other,Kripacharya being the maternal uncle of Aswathhama.Both are Brahmins but adopted the Kshatriya lifestyle,mastering the art of weaponry.They are masters in the usage of ordinary weapons as well as the usage of celestial weapons that are invoked with the help of Mantras.

Kripacharya was the first guru of the Kouravas and the Pandavas.In fact he was instrumental in bringing the celebrated guru Drona to Hastinapur to teach the art of warfare to the Kouravas and the Pandavas.

He was a great sage by birth.He was not born out of a human womb.Like the god Kumara,he too was born without residing in a human womb.He was the son of a great rishi and inherited saintly qualities right from the time of his birth.

Aswathhama is the son of Dronacharya and the grandson of Sage Bharadwaja.Rishi Bharadwaja has a leneage in his name even today.He was not only a master of the art of warfare with mundane as well as celestial weapons but also an expert in making airplanes of those days.In fact,he is the true father of aeronautics.

Aswathhama and Kripacharya attacked the Pandava camp during that night.In that dreadful night,thousands of warriors sleeping over there,except Lord Krishna,the five Pandava brothers and Satyaki, were killed mercilessly by these two.This chapter in Mahabharatha is one of my favorite chapters for many reasons.

1.Aswathhama and Kripa are born Brahmins but adopted the dharma of Kshatriyas and became masters of weaponry.

2.Kripacharya was a follower of Dharma and a great soul.He fought from the side of Duryodhana because of his gratitude to him.It was Duryodhana who supported his family line and granted them everything duly venerating them as his gurus.

Many warriors of those days were well aware of what dharma was.Being bound by the feeling of gratitude,they were forced by their conscience to fight on the side of the Kouravas.It was their Dharma to do so.Kripacharya too followed suit.

3.Aswathhama,being the son of a rishi,was well aware of what Dharma was all about,but could do nothing except supporting Duryodhana as he was bound by the duty of gratefulness to his patron king.

4.Aswathhama was a great warrior and an adept in the usage of weapons.Such was his might that he could fight with 60,000 warriors all alone.Among all the warriors of those days,he was the only one,except Arjuna,who could invoke the deadly celestial weapon called Brahma Shira.

4.Kripacharya and Aswathhama are quite alive even today.This is a fact,though many of us may not be able to digest it.

That night, which had witnessed the mental turmoil of two immortals is worth remembering.A little meditation will show us what had transpired in the middle of the forest, in the dead of that dreadful night.

That night had dared to question Dharma itself.

That night defined Dharma in a very revolutionary new way.

That night stood witness to the carnage perpetuated by a fearless and desperate warrior.

On that night were sown the seeds that are responsible for the timeless curse that has been haunting Aswathhama down the line for thousands of years.

Let me cut across the pages of history and peep directly into the darkness to see face to face,what transpired on that night.

Duryodhana lay in the battle field all alone,with broken legs,awaiting death,which has been avoiding him.The battle of Kurukshetra was over.The Pandava camp was jubilant with song and dance.

Only two persons were awake in that night.

One is Duryodhana who was writhing with pain and awaiting death in the battle field.

The other was Aswathhama sitting under a tree in the forest looking hopelessly into the veil of darkness that surrounded him.

Kripacharya and Kritavarma are in deep slumber beside him,but sleep is avoiding Aswathhama.He was haunted by the murder of his father as well as by the pitiable state in which his friend and King,Duryodhana was in.

He was helpless.Despite having many unimaginable skills he had to witness the cruel murder of his father Dronacharya in the battle field.Now,again,he is witness to the cruel end of King Duryodhana in the battlefield.He was boiling with anger and helplessness.

Then he saw an incident.An owl was moving around on the trees and killing the baby crows by entering into the crow nests stealthily.It was a message for him.He felt the hand of providence in what he saw.He felt that his prayers were answered.His plan took shape.

Crows,unlike Owls, cannot see during nights.So they retire during nights.The Owl's business is quite opposite.Its field of activity is the dead of night as it could see through the dark conveniently.

This sight was a revelation to Aswathhama.He instantly understood his mission.He had to hurry up and finish his task before the break of dawn.Every minute is valuable and no time should be wasted.

He was beside himself with excitement and woke up Kripacharya and Kritavarma.He explained them about the revelation he had and told them what he was planning to do.He was ready to go,all said and done,with or without their help.He was ready to kill the Pandavas before daybreak.

The conversation that ensued between Kripacharya and Aswathhama on that night was invaluable in content and unsurpassing in its depth.It contains the answers to most of the questions that keep haunting us every day.

(to be continued)

Yoni Tantra-2

In December 1998 I was in Osho Ashram Pune for 3 days.One of my intentions in going there was to know about the methods of Tantra they practice over there.But I was grossly disappointed.

In those days,'Tantra groups' used to happen after 11 PM in the Ashram.By that time all the usual programs and sessions used to be over.All the visitors used to depart from the Ashram.Then,the Tantra sessions used to happen with chosen/registered participants.I never participated in them but had the opportunity to talk to some of the 'Tantriks' in close quarters.

I came to understand that it was all westernized tantra.Our real Tantra and the Tantra practiced over there are poles apart.When I understood this,I felt sorry for them for practicing those methods,all the while thinking it to be real tantra.After three days stay,I came back totally disappointed.I could not relish their methods,as I already knew much more than what they could teach.

Disturbing my thoughts,one of the visitors asked me-'Then what is the way out for me?'

I told him.

'You have only two ways before you now.'

One is searching for a Bhairavi for help in your sadhana.

The second is to learn the true internal Yoni Tantra which has got nothing to do with a female counterpart.

Between these two,the former is almost impossible because you wont be able to get a lady with good qualities like fearlessness,good understanding of tantrik concepts,compassion,open mind,unselfish nature,uncaring attitude and who is well qualified for this practice. Such a veritable goddess is impossible to find now-a-days.

So you have no option but to follow the second method.In that case you don't need a physical female counterpart at all.

'Can you teach me that method? -he requested.

'Dont be hasty.Let me tell you what is internal sadhana by a small example related to your practice of blood letting.You have offered your blood to Ma Kali.She likes blood no doubt.But you need not resort to the barbaric practice of cutting your own hand and offering blood to Her.

Ma Kali is present in everybody.She has been drinking our blood constantly,day in and day out.More than 2 million RBCs are produced per second in a human body.They live for a maximum period of 2 months approximately and die.Can you tell me what is eating them away? The force is Ma Kali.

You need not offer blood outwardly.It is happening in your body from the day of your birth.Ma Kali is present in each one of us and drinking our blood constantly.Otherwise we cannot survive.By drinking our blood she is giving us life in return.You understand?Moreover,how much blood you can offer to Her? A spoonful,or a glassful?What about the remaining blood in your body?So this is not the right method.

You have to offer all your blood to Ma,not outwardly but inwardly.There is a method for that.There is a process for that.If you do it,then you will see miracles happening in your life.Ma will not bless you abundantly by any method other than this.

Ma is called 'Rudhira Priya(the one who loves blood).You read my 'Sri Vidya' written in Telugu language.In that series, in a poem I clearly explained this secret.

So,internal sadhana happens like this.

Similarly,you have to internalize the Yoni Tantra also.This is the real and the best method.You dont need a woman to practice this method.You need neither search for a woman nor beg her to assist in your sadhana.Everything happens in your own body.

This is the first time that you are meeting me.Come here a few times more.Talk to me and let us understand each other well.Then I will see.Moreover,I need permission from Ma to initiate you into this mystery.

Without Mother's permission, I cannot initiate you or anybody at all.It is unthinkable.If I do it on my own,then it is my ego that is initiating you.If Ma gives Her order and permission,then it She who is doing the whole thing.Then Her power acts through me and you will progress by leaps and bounds in the path.If I do it on my own,you wont progress so fast.

For the present,read 'Sri Vidya' series again and again and try to understand it well.It will be released in a book form very soon,may be in the next two months.Meanwhile read the blog and discuss your doubts.

'Well.I will do it.' saying this,he wanted me to explain the meanings of two mystic dreams he had in the past.I explained their meanings to him.

'Now you can ask your doubts.' I said to the second person.

'Are Astrology and Palmistry one and the same?' he asked.

'They are one and the same.They are two languages with one meaning.Languages may be different,the message is not.You carry your birth chart in your hand always.An adept in this art can see planets in your hands.' I replied.

'What about face reading?Is it true?-he asked.

'It is true.We call this Samudrik Shastra,the science of signs.Face reading and hand reading are parts of this grand science.Like the hand,the face also reveals your birth chart and its planetary positions.

Your forehead ,nose, ears, eyes, eyebrows, cheeks, lips, teeth. mouth,tongue,hair,shape of head,neck every organ of your body reveals many things about you.You have to understand their language.The moderns call it 'body language'.The way you sit,stand,speak,react- speaks volumes about yourself.All these show your character and mentality.

The modern psychologists understood much about this language but our Yogis know much deeper things,which psychologists can never dream of.They could see the series of births,karma,planets and what not everything by observing these details.It is a very grand science.' I told him.

'I am reciting the 'Tara Stotra' written by you.I could build a house only after I started reciting it.All my pending issues started moving.I could build my house according to Vastu.' the second visitor said.

'The 4th house in your chart decides what type of house you will live in.If it is afflicted,your house cannot be without blemish.Without remedying the defects of your 4th house,you cannot build a good home.Defects are bound to be there in your house,if your 4th house is afflicted.You cannot avoid this.- I told him.

Meanwhile the 3rd person intervened-'I know a little bit of astrology.' he said.

'Who is your guru in astrology?' I asked him.

'None.I just learned basic things like Bhavas etc and analyse charts based on experience.' he said.

"Do you prescribe remedies?-I asked him.

'I prescribe only Pradakshinas to the bad grahas in the chart.Nothing more than that.Is it true that remedies make us suffer?' he asked.

'By all means.If you remedy somebody's karma,you have to suffer for it.It is an inviolable law.That is why Astrologers undertake Japa of Gayatri Mantra 1000 times everyday.' I told him.

'Mine is Leo Lagna and Jupiter is retro in 11th' he said.

'If you have retro Jupiter or Jupiter in fall in your chart,it shows a curse from Guru.By looking at the 5-types of blemishes in a chart,you can understand what type of curse it is.What are these 5 blemishes?Combustion,debilitation,retrogression,enemy house and planetary war are the 5 blemishes.

'Usually,those with Guru's curse in their charts must have cheated their guru or revolted against him or backstabbed him or insulted him or behaved in a manner unbecoming of a sishya or neglected the Upadesha given by him or changed gurus frequently.There are many similar angles in Guru's curse present in one's chart.' I said.

'I have been worshipping SaiBaba of Shirdi from many years.Sometimes when the priest doesnot turn up,I do the Puja in the temple.I frequently visit Kakani Siva Temple and do circumambulation there.Very shortly I am going to complete my 108 th giripradakshina of Arunachala Hill.I stayed at Arunachala for 40 days in a small rented room and did 2 pradakshinas per a day.' he replied.

'All this is due to the blemish of Jupiter in your chart.You are being led to do all this to wipe it out from your life.This shows you have the grace of your Guru.Otherwise more and more bad karma will accumulate in your life during these dasas.Which dasa you are running now?' I asked him.

'Now I am running Jupiter/Moon in my chart.Can you tell me when I would be free from this Guru's curse?' he asked.

I was amused.I noticed in the past,that many people visit me on spiritual matters when the main period of Jupiter was on,more so when the sub period of Moon was running. Reason for this peculiarity is -- conjunction of Jupiter and Moon in my chart in Mina,the last rasi indicating Moksha.This is how subtle connections bind people together with timely events.

'It wont leave you easily.Jupiter dasa would be over for you in 2018.Before that Jupiter/Rahu will run in your life from 2016 onwards and the 2 year period will give you sleepless nights.Only after that, it will leave you.Meanwhile continue to do what you have been doing.

Usually Guru dosham will continue to haunt generations down the line.If you check up your father's chart,you will find proof of what I am hinting at.' I suggested.

'I dont have my father's chart with me but I do have my son's.Yes.In it,Jupiter is with debilitated Sun.' he said.

'Now do you understand?That is the proof!! So this blemish has already been transferred to your son.If we check up charts of three successive generations,we can see linking of genetic traits in all of them through peculiar planetary combinations.Do you see how strange it is? This is,in fact, my specialization in the field of Astrology'- I said.

'I have Rahu in fall in 4th house.Yes.I do have some defects in my house.You are right.Now I understand them from your viewpoint.' he agreed.

'You will have some defect in your house on South-West corner.Similarly it will certainly have North-East defect too.I will hint at a few things in your house.Furniture would never be in its proper place.The surroundings of your house would not be calm and quiet.You can find pieces of paper,dust and hair coming into your house from everywhere.'-I said seriously.

'True.We have a school just in front of my house and there is noise always.There are problems in South West corner as the toilet pit is located there.I have been trying to shift it elsewhere but in vain.' he replied.

'That is precisely the beauty of Astrology.Now listen.You always face heavy loss from your friends.Dont you?' I questioned him.

'True.They use me always but never help me in times of need.' he agreed.

This is the power of Astrology.Even without looking at his chart I could guess so many things just by listening to a few combinations present in it.A full chart reading would be much more effective.

They took leave of me around 1 PM.

The weather was so pleasant since morning as it was drizzling continuously.I felt like meditating as I was all alone at home.

According to Tantric texts,lonely houses,among many others, are the best places for Tantric practice.So I closed all the doors,put off the lights and sat in meditation.

That was how this weekend was spent.

Yoni Tantra

Some of my admirers have been requesting me for quite some time for an appointment.But the time was not ripe.

'Why do you want to meet me?' I asked one of them when he contacted me on phone.

He expressed their keen desire to meet me to discuss some doubts related to spirituality and astrology.

Usually, I dont like people meeting me for astrological advice.It is my general impression that most of such people are neither sincere nor trustworthy.I never feel like wasting my time with people who are running after worldly desires and passions.However,if any sincere spiritual aspirant wants to meet me to solve his problems I usually feel more than happy.My true field of operation is spirituality and and I consider astrology as a part of it.

Most of the people who wanted to meet me in the past could not do so, even after an appointment.Various reasons forced them to stop and modify their plans.This had happened quite many times.

Whoever is really sincere in spiritual path and who has a burning thirst for spiritual fulfillment--only they will be able to meet me and derive lasting benefit out of such meeting.Unless they establish an astral connection with me,they cannot meet me for spiritual things.This I have observed umpteen number of times in my life and they too observed and testified it as a fact.

Why so? It is because,Mother never allows such people to come near me.They will face a hundred and one obstacles in their way.She tests their commitment to the core.Only when they pass Her tests,they would be allowed to meet me.I am not talking about those who want to meet me on mundane matters,but on spiritual matters.The former can do so anytime,because they cannot derive any inner benefit as they are hardly interested in such things.

Around 10 AM three people arrived at my home.During the exchange of pleasantries I silently scanned their 'Auras' to know their mettle but kept cool and waited for them to open up the conversation.

'I have gone through some of your writings and came to like them very much.Especially,your explanation of the methods of worship of Siva and Sakti are nice to read.I wanted to clarify some of my doubts that are haunting my mind from many years.'-one of them said.

'Thanks for liking them.What do you want to know?'  I replied.

'Since my childhood I like Ma Kali very much,I dont know why.I was unconsciously drawn towards Tantra Sadhana too.I have been searching for a true guru who can guide me in the path but in vain.' he said.

I nodded my head.

'I see a vision quite often.I see a high range of hills and a flowing river nearby.There I find myself worshipping a very tall statue of Mother Kali.This vision haunts me many times.

Not knowing how to approach Ma Kali,I used to cut my forearm and pour the blood in a plate before Her.I used to feel happy and She too used to feel happy,at least I thought so.

I approached the Kanchi seer Jayendra saraswathi swami for Sri Vidya initiation but was refused.He said I being a non-brahmin am not entitled to Sri vidya initiation.Even his associates heckled me for my request.They questioned-'Being a non-brahmin,how can you follow its rules and procedures strictly?'

I nodded and observed that Saturn Hora was running at that time

He continued-'I was dumbfounded at their refusal.I cursed myself for being born in a non-brahmin family.I returned home and prayed to Ma with tears in my eyes.A few days after,I had a dream in which I saw a Mantra in the open sky.I got up and noted it down.Since then,I have been doing japa of the same.'

I felt happy to hear this incident.

'Excellent.Ma Herself took pity on you and gave you her mantra.In Tantra this is called Swapna Diksha.Very good' I said heartily.

I bought a Meru Prastar form of Sri Chakra and started worshipping it in my home.But unable to bear the opposition of my family members to such practices,I had to throw it in a river.It is one of the gravest sins I committed' he said very sadly.

'Go ahead' I said.

'Especially, I like Yoni Tantra very much.I dont know the reason,but my mind always gravitates towards it.I have been searching for a person who could teach me its secrets.Meanwhile,I have done some of its practices,strangely,without knowing anything about them.'-Saying so, he explained those practices.

I wondered a little at this person but kept quiet.

'Why is all this happening?Why my mind drags me constantly towards Tantrik path and Yoni Tantra,even though I am totally ignorant about it?' he asked me.

I felt like helping him.So I prayed to my gurus and Ma Kali silently in my mind and concentrated.In a flash I could see his past.The planetary positions in his birth chart flashed before my mind.

'You were a Brahmin in one of your previous births in the border of Bengal and Assam.You were an adept in Kali Sadhana and Yoni Tantra.You were a guru at that time for a group of people.You misused your powers for solving the mundane problems of your followers.In that process their Karma came upon you causing your downfall.Though you are born now in a non-brahmin family,your latent samskaras are haunting you and forcing you to follow this path despite opposition from your family members.' I said.

'Where can I find a Guru who can show me the right path by teaching me the secrets of Yoni Tantra?-he asked.

'How could I know?You have to search for him yourself.Where do you think you can find him?Certainly not in a town or a city but in a remote place.If by chance some such one exists in a town,you cant find him as he likes to be incognito.'

'What is the way out then?' He questioned.

'Searching for a guru is not searching for a shop in the market.Its process is entirely different.If you go by advertisements,you will most probably land in the hands of a charlatan guru.The way is deep yearning from the bottom of your heart.Day and night you have to burn inside for spiritual guidance and pray God to send you a suitable guide.This need has to become your first priority in life.Before this urgent need,everything else in your life must fade away as insignificant.Only then God responds and sends a guru to you.' I said.

A true sadhaka will sacrifice anything and everything for the sake of God and Guru.For such a person,spiritual quest is the real thing in life.

You must be ready to brush aside anything that comes in the way of your quest.Only then your prayer will be answered,but not before.If you sacrifice your sadhana for all things in your life and gives it last priority,then you cannot be called a sincere sadhaka.

'Yes.I could understand this.I was in this kind of state for quite some time in the past.I left my job and remained confined to my home.I disliked working under somebody' He explained.

I was listening to him.

'Could do please clarify if what I am doing is right?The blood letting?Is Vamachara good?Is Yoni Tantra good?-he repeated.

'All the sadhanas are good.In fact there is neither good nor bad in them.All of them are steps of a ladder.How can the steps be good or bad?You should not judge the methods from the worldly point of view.The world is blind to such things.It tries to judge everything,even things beyond its grasp,by its known standards.True spiritual secrets are beyond the grasp of the worldly people.

If you read Bhagavad Gita you will find three different layers of everything explained by God Himself in the form of Sri Krishna.What you are doing is called Tamasik Upasana.It is the lowest variety.Next higher is Rajasik Upasana with pomp and pageantry.Next higher is Satvik Upasana,the silent method.The highest is Suddha Satvik Upasana,where you dont have to do anything at all.

First,you have to choose what is suited to your nature and then climb up from there.That is the right method.By the way,did you read my 'Sri Vidya' series?' I questioned.

'No.But I will' he replied.

'You read 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' too.In that Lord Sri Ramakrishna says-The worship with animal sacrifice is Tamasik in nature.Worship with much pomp is Rajasik.That which is done silently without anyone noticing you is Satvik.A satvik sadhaka meditates inside his mosquito net.No body comes to know what he is doing.

'Nowadays,many are doing many things.They conduct Yagnas and Homas for the welfare of the world.Now,they should remember well that there is someone who created this world and He is not sleeping.He is very much awake and overseeing everything.They need not take care of the world.It is better for them to care of themselves first.'

'They cannot control their wives and children,but want to reform and save the world.How foolish?Most of the time,what they do is nothing but dollar spinning and turning black money white.'

No body knows what a real sadhaka does.It all happens between God and himself.It need not be known to any one else.It is too sacred to be revealed to others.

What you are doing is good but not enough.You have to grow upwards.

'I did such things in the past but not now.Nowadays I am following Ramana Maharshi.We three frequently visit Arunachalam,spend a few days there and do sadhana.Our friend is going to complete his 108 th Giripradakshina(circumambulation of Arunachala Hill) shortly' he said pointing out to one of them.

'I am a devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba and follow Sharath Babuji.' that person spoke.

'It is good.Saibaba of shirdi is a sadguru no doubt whereas Ramana Maharshi is a great Jnani.But never forget that all of them are just babies before Ma Kali who creates innumerable world systems each second,preserves them and ultimately destroys them too.

'You have outgrown Tamasik sadhana into Satvik Jnana marga.But remember also that everything is under the control of Ma.'

I continued.

'Haladhari a cousin of Sri Ramakrishna said that Kali is a tamasik deity and hence should not be worshipped.There upon Sri Ramakrishna wept before Ma and asked Her-'Ma.Is it true that you are a tamasik deity?Haladhari says that none should worship you.Is it true?'

Ma Kali could not bear to see the childlike simplicity and tears in the eyes of Sri Ramakrishna and appeared instantly before him in Her resplendent form lighting up the eight quarters.

She said-'Son.How can Haladhari know my true nature?He is a fool. I am the embodiment of all the three gunas.I created them and permeate them.I am,again,the Supreme Brahman beyond the three gunas.I am everything.Know this to be the ultimate truth.'

So,a tamasik worship is not wrong.It is a step in the ladder.You have to outgrow it.Because the Vamachara practices comprise of some 'nasty' things as considered by the world,the Dakshinacharis condemn it as a vile path.However in my view,true Vamachara is well above Dakshinachara.Why?Because,Lord Siva is easily pleased whereas Sakti is not.She tests you at each and every step of your journey.

People say that Sakti worship is very difficult.The difficulty is not in the method of worship or its conditions.It is in the tests that you would be subjected to in your life.She fries you in the pan of difficulties and sorrows.She tests you to your core.Many times you would feel like giving up.But once you step in,you cannot go out.If you can prove yourself by withstanding all the obstacles,then Mother blesses you.If you have a slightest trace of ego in you,she just throws you on the ground and tramples upon you.Why?She wants you to become pure gold.She wants a Spiritual Diamond out of you.So she tests you to your core.

'Yoni tantra is a highway.It takes you to the goal very quickly.' I said finally.

'Is it so?' he asked.

'Yes.But it is not easy to get a true guru who can teach you Yoni tantra.Even if you are fortunate to meet one,you wont be initiated by him so easily.Unless he finds in you the qualities of a disciple as described above,he wont initiate you into its mysteries.Moreover you need a yogini's help in this sadhana.

Such a lady who has good understanding of true Tantra and willing to cooperate with you in your sadhana is very hard to find.She is called a Bhairavi.Where do you hope to find such a Bhairavi in this modern times?Every where the womenfolk are driven by their desire to enjoy the world.All they want is dress,ornaments,money,bank balance,house,cars and a carefree happy life.Who needs spiritual enlightenment nowadays? In my life of 50 years,I never found a single female who is qualified for tantra sadhana.

I dont know.You may find one in remote hilly areas like Assam,Bengal,Himalayas or Tibet but never in plains like Andhra Pradesh.People are afraid of Tantra.At the very mention of this word, they run away thinking it to be some kind of black magic.

Indeed,there are a few women who are very much interested in Tantra sadhana even in modern times,but they are apprehensive lest the world should consider them as unchaste and wayward.As long as they harbor fear and apprehension,they cannot be fit to practice Tantra.So never expect to find a true yogini who is willing to assist you in this path.It is impossible.' I replied.

(To be continued)

The empty tea cup of Zen

One of my friends loves 'Zen' very much. He has read extensively on 'Zen' and this habit of reading had led him to consider himself a very knowledgeable person in philosophical matters and prompted him to teach others whenever he found an opportunity.

One day he invited me to have tea with him. I went to his home at the appointed hour. After exchanging pleasantries, he placed two empty cups on the teapoy and started pouring tea from a kettle. He kept on pouring tea, though it was overflowing from the cup. I was silently watching him and instantly sensed that he was imitating the famous 'cup of tea' incident of Zen.

I could see he was trying to pose as the famous Zen master Nansen and teach me a lesson in Zen philosophy. But he could not understand that I am not the professor of the story. 

"What is the fun? The cup is overflowing. Why do you keep on pouring the tea?" I asked him.  

"When your cup is full, how can it hold my tea?" he questioned, as expected. He was just enacting the old incident again. I thought  the time is right to let him understand the truth.

So I told him.

'I know the Zen story you are referring to. Tell me. If my cup is really empty, where is the need for your tea?"

My friend was puzzled and had no answer.

The original incident happened in China. But this incident happened in India. This incident reflects the way of those who read books and assume that they realized everything. Such people may dupe the innocent, but their intentions are clearly seen and exposed in the presence of those who know better. Spirituality is never experienced through book learning. You can know the way from books. But it is the steadfast practice of a method for years that brings you the experience.

There are plenty of people who just read Zen or Osho or Ramana or Jiddu or some other spiritual master and assume they have come to know everything. These people have to understand that the great souls practiced sadhana for years and years before they started teaching the world. They never talked to the world during their sadhana. They started talking only after realizing the truth by experience. But those who read the books, never bother to understand this point.They just try to repeat like parrots the sayings of great sages.

There is a great difference between mere book learning and experience. Books never give experience, but experience can result in many books.Genuine spiritual experience can have many shades which are not seen in books. The book learners may understand the grammatical meaning of texts. But grammar seldom gives experience. One needs sadhana to convert a thing understood by the brain into experience. This is the difference between scholars and Sadhakas.

Jillellamudi Amma, a great sage of modern India, used to say ' Books never give experience, experience gives many books". Experiential knowledge always outshines bookish knowledge. Experience is ever new and book knowledge is dead and inert.

In the original Zen story a professor goes to a Zen master to argue with him. The Zen master, indicates to the professor by pouring tea in the full cup, that an overfilled brain cannot grasp a new idea. My friend tried to enact this incident again, thinking that I am not aware of this story. There are many people who after seeing movies are influenced by the movie stars so much so that they try to imitate them in real life and face unpleasant situations thereby. Spiritual book learners are no better than movie goers.We need not imitate others. We have to be ourselves.

Life is ever new. It always brings new situations and new flavors to our door step. That is why we never find any newness in an incident again and again.

It is true that an overfilled cup cannot hold anything more. But when the cup is really empty, what is the need to pour tea into it at all? An empty cup indicates an empty mind devoid of thoughts. When the cup is really empty of thoughts and samskaras, there is nothing more to achieve. There is no need to pour tea into it. The game is over. The empty cup may seem to be empty, in reality it is not so. It is filled by the whole space above it stretching up to infinity.

When you reach a state where you can empty your mind of all thoughts, you dont need any outer supply. Nature herself supplies you with ideas unceasingly. Sri Ramakrishna also used to say the same thing. " In a store of grain, as you pull the heap of grain forward, the grain that is lying in the back automatically comes forward into your reach." It is similar. One never feels the paucity of ideas, if one could connect to the universal storehouse of ideation.

My friend tried to imitate the Zen monk. But in spiritual life, no imitation is needed. One has to act as per one's experience. We have to stand on our own legs. Only then, we can have purity in our behavior. The Zen story of Nansen was original. This is just repetition of the old story. So this is fake. Even in a fake incident, it is possible to bring freshness, if you know the knack of experience.

There are many teachers in this world, who just read books and try to teach others. All the today's corporate gurus freely borrow from ancient literature, but very few quote the original source. Teaching from books is not difficult, it is very easy. Teaching from one's own experience is difficult. One has to struggle and do sadhana for years, to gain experience. First one has to do sadhana, then if necessary one can teach others. This is the correct sequence in spiritual life.

Show of scholarship always falls flat in front of genuine spiritual sadhakas. Humility finds a good friend in spirituality but haughtiness is automatically shown the door. It cannot enter the house of true spiritual wisdom.

Spiritual experiences on Tirumala Hills -2

Next morning, we had the darshan of Lord Venkateswara in early hours. It was over by 7.30 AM or so. We came out and started walking in the drizzle towards the rest house. My children asked me a few questions on the way.

" Yesterday you told us that Sri Ramanuja was the propounder of Vishishtadvaita philosophy. What are the basic tenets of the three philosophies i.e Dvaita, Advaita and Vishishtadvaita. Why should there be so many approaches to Divinity? "

I was amused by their premature curiosity. I replied " I will answer your doubts. Listen carefully."

"Vedanta discusses three things i.e Jiva ( individual soul ), Jagat ( the world ) and Brahman ( the supreme soul). The philosophies propounded by the three great Acharyas, appear to differ from one another, because of the different perspectives taken by the Acharyas in describing the relation between these three entities."

Jiva is the individual soul. There are millions of Jivas. They are like the sparks emerging from a big fire. Jagat is the world we see with our senses. Brahman is the supreme soul, called as God in common parlance.

The individual soul, the world and the God -- these three are distinct from one another, eternally existing, and will continue to be so forever. The soul should worship God through prayer, worship, japa and meditation to obtain His grace. This is the dualistic view propounded by Sri Madhvacharya. Popular Hinduism belongs to this level. In fact, all the world religions along with their practices, belong to this level. So in a way, all the religions are dualistic in nature.

The soul has the spark of God in it. The world too is the spark of God. So, the soul, while residing in the world created by God, should live and evolve in a state of surrender and devotion, and finally become a part of God. This is the view taken by Sri Ramanujacharya, who called his philosophy -- Qualified monism.

The world is an illusion. It never existed and would never exist. The individual soul and the Supreme soul are not separate. The ideas like " this is the world " and " the soul is different from God" are products of illusion. When this illusion is shattered, real knowledge dawns.  This is the Advaita or Monistic view advocated by Sri Sankaracharya.

Among these three ideologies, Dvaita or dualism is easily understood, because it is on par with our level of thinking. God is supreme, he is omnipotent. We are weak and helpless. So we pray and worship God, seeking boons and protection from misery. Dualism understands this idea very well. In fact, all the world religions which advocate prayer, usually fall under this category of Dualism.

A little above this level lies qualified monism. It says -- "You are distinct from God, but not wholly. You are a part of God. Live in this world with a sense of surrender to God and enjoy this world as a gift of God. The world too is a part of God, just like you." This logic appeals very well to many people.

The highest level is Advaita or Non-dualism. Here, there is no difference between individual soul and supreme soul. There is no Jiva and there is no Jagat. There is no world at all. It is very difficult to reach this stage. Even the followers of Advaita  cannot easily attain this level. Nevertheless, it is a truth because it shows a level of experience beyond the senses.

To be frank, all the fights among these three systems are quite unnecessary. Each of these ideologies considered its idea as the ultimate understanding. But really speaking, each one is a step in the ladder. Each one is a landmark in the long path stretching towards the ultimate. Dualism and qualified monism profess that the soul can never be equal to God. It is a blasphemy to think so. But non-dualism thinks differently. It says, until you experience the merger of your soul with God, you have not arrived at the ultimate Truth.

Sri Ramakrishna solved this fight in a simple manner. He said, the three philosophies are three stages in the evolution of individual soul. These are the three steps of a ladder. All the three views are partial truths. At every step one feels it as the ultimate, but in fact, it is a landmark in the long journey. Sri Ramakrishna said there are many higher levels other than these three. In fact, these ideas are not intended for a debate. These are the experiences one should get by doing sadhana. Sadhakas will experience the three states if they do sadhana sincerely. But if one takes to mere argumentation, one reaches nowhere. He will be caught in the net of egoism.

No one can remain in the Advaita state forever. Even after experiencing the non-dualistic state in Samadhi, one has to come down to live in this world, interacting with its fellow beings, either with the help of  qualified non-dualism or with that of dualism. The state of a person who deals with the world and its beings, after having the full knowledge of the three states, is very exalted. Sri Ramakrishna called this -- "Vijnana". The state of a Vijnani is higher than that of a Bhakta or a Jnani.

There is  an example given by Sri Ramakrishna. A house has steps to reach the roof. The steps are dualism and qualified monism. The roof is non-dualism. One has to climb the steps and reach the roof. After reaching the roof, one can remain there for some time, but cannot be there forever. Finally he has to come down into the house. But then he comes down with a perfection. Now he knows that the roof and the steps and the house, all are made up of same material. So now, he deals with the world and its beings with this improved knowledge. There are quite a few very exalted souls who never come down into the house, they always remain on the roof. Sages like Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatkumara, Sanatsujata are such exalted souls. They always remain above this world enjoying the bliss of God.

Everyone in this world has to tread this path one day or the other. Everyone has to pass through these three states.This is Nature's law. No one is an exception to this. That is the reason why everyone has a drive in him to achieve something. Unknowingly, he uses this drive in the outer world. He thinks he had achieved much in this world. But at the end of life, he looks back and realizes that he simply wasted his life. These three entities, the soul, the world and God are the fundamental things, to be understood by experience. Until one solves this riddle, one cannot have ultimate satisfaction in his life. So a man who spends his life in material pursuits and never cares to solve this basic riddle, remains dissatisfied and finally leaves his body in despair. That is why, even after achieving great material success, there remains a kind of inner emptiness.

Science is trying to know the world. Parapsychology is trying to know the soul. Religion is trying to know God. But he is blessed who knows all the three fully and comprehensively. Otherwise, his life is a waste. One may earn millions, but in the final analysis it amounts to nothing. It cannot give any ultimate satisfaction. If one walks on the path and solves this riddle, then truly his life is blessed. Otherwise not.

" If one solves this riddle, will it not be useful to others? A scientific invention is shared by the world and becomes useful to many. Similarly, if someone experiences the highest, will it not be useful to the world?"-- my daughter who has been listening all the while, asked.

I smiled at her naive enthusiasm.

"Not necessarily. In the inner world, your experience is your own.  It cannot be shared with others. One can show you the way, the pitfalls and the care to the taken on the way, but you have to walk. I cannot carry you on my shoulders. An adept can help you thus far. Let me explain the difference between science and spirituality. In science you do an experiment with outer materials. Your state of being has nothing to do with your experiment. Your experiment is totally objective. In contrast, in spiritual sadhana, you are the laboratory, the material and the experiment- all in one. It is a subjective phenomenon. So the result too remains with you. The world cannot fully comprehend your experience as it entirely remains your subjective state."

I paused to see if they are listening. I could see a glow on their faces, a glow that we usually see in the face of a Buddha, a glow that comes with understanding the basic truths of life. During rest of the journey, they were almost silent, pondering over the points of discussion in their minds.