Our Commitment towards the mission ‘Yug Nirman’

Each member of the Pandavas exhibited a wonderful commitment towards his mission:
1. Abhimanyu, Arjun’s son, a 16 years old young boy went on to the extent of bravely jumping into the well-knit trap by the Kauravas, despite knowing that he was ignorant of the art of retreat from the mesh. His unfailing commitment, summed up with his unmatched courage, took the cumulative effort of 7 powerful Kuravas warriors to overpower him.

2. Ghatotkach, Bhima’s son, set a remarkable example of commitment. Even after he was killed, he intentionally fell on the Kuravas’ army to kill their soldiers. The story is like this.
          In the Mahābhārata, Ghatotkacha was summoned by Bhima to fight on the Pandava side in the Kurukshetra battle. Invoking his magical powers, he wrought great havoc in the Kaurava army. In particular after the death of Jayadratha, when the battle continued on past sunset, his powers were at their most effective (at night).  Ghatotkacha, the half-asura son of Bhima, began to destroy the Kaurava forces. It was a characteristic of the asuras that they became extraordinarily powerful at night. Their magical powers were also extremely effective. Duryodhana and Karna bravely stood and fought him. Finally, when it seemed that Ghatotkacha would destroy all the Kaurava forces that very night, Shakuni and Duryodhana called upon Karna to use all means necessary. Karna engaged him in a ferocious duel, with every single warrior from both sides watching in silent awe. As Ghatotkacha began to use his skills of dark magic, Karna had to use the Indra Shakti, which had been gifted to him by Lord Indra in return for his divine armour and earrings. Using this weapon, Karna killed the Asura Ghatotkacha. It is said that when Gatotkacha realized that he was going to be mortally wounded by the weapon,he assumed a gigantic size. When the huge body fell, it crushed one 'Akshauhini' of military which was an ancient battle formation that consisted of 21,870 chariots ; 21,870 elephants; 65,610 cavalry and 109,350 infantry. 
      In other words, he served his organization not for only through his life, but also death!
 Out of the two, Abhimanyu died first—on the thirteenth day of the war. Ghatotkach died next, on the 14th day of the battle. They were considered even better than their fathers in courage and power. While Ghatotkach was better than Bhim in wielding the mace, Abhimanyu was

better than Arjun in archery. In a nutshell, a member of an organization can prove to be its real asset if his personality is adorned with the attribute of continuous self-improvement, focused approach towards his goal, and commitment. Additionally, the personality of the members of an organization should not be afflicted by the A, E, I, O, U syndrome, i.e. attachment, ego, inferiority, obsessiveness, and urge for unjustified power, as it was in the case of the Kuravas Enterprise. The real TQM (Total Quality Management of head, heart and hand vis-à-vis knowledge, inspiration and work) is what is needed for any organization to be a real success!.   

URAD-DAL

Black gram or black lentil is known as urad dal in Hindi. In texts of ayurveda this bean is known as “MASHA”. Black gram is a bean grown mainly in south Asia. The plant of this bean is erect and hairy. It is an annual herb. It has a tap root which branches to form branched roots. The cylindrical pod of this plant contains seeds. The pods are usually six cm long.

Nutritional facts: Black gram is rich in vitamins, minerals and devoid of cholesterol. It is store house of calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese etc. Urad dal contains vitamins and dietary fibers. Due to high potassium content urad dal acts as an aphrodisiac. (High blood pressure occurs due to high sodium level and low potassium level. Black gram contains plenty of potassium. This helps to balance sodium potassium level and reduce hypertension or high blood pressure. There is a strong link between hypertension or high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction. As potassium helps to reduce high blood pressure, it also helps in erectile dysfunction. )

Ayurveda Medicinal properties of Black gram or urad dal:

According to texts of ayurveda this bean is heavy to digest and increases the moistness of body tissues. It is sweet to taste and hot in potency. All these properties help to normalize or calm vitiated vata. Consumption of this bean increases kapha and pitta.

Imbalanced vata dosha causes many diseases and also leads to men health problems like erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, low sperm count and motility etc. Hence Ayurveda acharyas recommend use of “masha” in many health conditions.

Anti inflammatory properties: According to principles of ayurveda vitiation of vata causes inflammation of tissues and initiates the sensation of pain.“Masha” or urad dal normalizes vata and hence has anti inflammatory properties. Usually a hot poultice of black gram is used in inflammation of joints and muscle pain. Massaging with herbal oil processed with this wonderful herb helps to reduce pain and inflammation

Nervous system disorders:  This herb strengthens nervous system. Ayurveda acharyas recommend preparations of this herb in nervous debility, partial paralysis, facial paralysis and other disorders which involve nervous system.

Disorders of digestive system: “Vigna Mungo” or masha helps to increase bulk of stools. The moistness increasing property coupled with bulk increasing quality helps in easy movement of bowel.  Therefore usage of this bean is recommended in conditions like constipation, piles and colic. This herb is a very good liver stimulant.

Bala for Muscle Strength

Ayurveda acharyas have grouped this plant under Balya (body strengthening herbs), Brimhaniya ( body bulk increasing herbs), Prajasthapana ( herbs used to cure infertility), Madhura skanda (herbs with sweet taste) and Vatasamshamana (Herbs which normalize vata dosha).

According to ayurveda principles the plant Bala is light to digest and increases moistness of tissues. It is sweet to taste and acts as body coolant.

Medicinal properties of Bala (Sida Cordifolia):

This plant normalizes Vata and pitta. Hence it is used in diseases which are caused due to vitiation of vata and pitta. Bala has anti inflammatory properties. Its preparations are used as external applications in swelling of wounds and inflammation of eyes. Oils prepared using this herb are very useful in arthritis and other diseases which affect joints. These oils help to reduce pain and inflammation. Bala normalizes vata and sooths excited nerves. For this reason the oil prepared using this herb is used to massage patients who suffer from paralysis, cervical spondylosis, facial paralysis etc.

Sida Cordifolia controls motility of large intestine. It helps to absorb water and nutrients from intestines. Hence its preparations are widely used in Grahani or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

This herb is a very good cardiac tonic and reduces petechial hemorrhage. Ayurveda acharyas recommend use of this plant in these conditions.

Bala is known for its “shukrala” properties. Shukrala means increasing shukra dhatu. Because of this property bala is used in ayurvedic preparations which increase sperm count and sperm motility. It helps to increase quality and quantity of semen. This herb is mainly used in male and female infertility. Texts of ayurveda praise the herb Bala as Vrishya (aphrodisiac). Hence this herb is used in conditions like erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.

The herbal preparations which are used in Female infertility contain this herb as main ingredient as it acts as a very good uterine tonic.

The diuretic properties of this herb help in cystitis and it rejuvenates urinary system.

Bala is a very good rasayana herb. Hence it is widely used in convalescing patients as it supplies essential nutrients.  It helps to build a healthy body and strengthens body immune system.

This herb is used in African folk medicine to treat various conditions like bronchitis, asthma, nasal congestion, stomatitis etc.

With thanks from the website of Dr. Savitha Suri:

http://www.ayurhelp.com/articles/ayurveda-medicinal-properties-bala-sida-cordifolia#.VLJ7sMuUde8

Give Happiness = Get Happiness

To participate in a group activity, 300 children of a school gathered in a hall. The hall had 300 balloons on which the names of the children who entered the hall were encrypted. The balloons were randomly laid on the floor. The instructor entered the hall and said, “Children, this hall has a balloon for each one of you. The task for you is to ‘find out and pick up the balloon that has your name written on it’. The time limit is 15 minutes.

          The activity began………….

          5 minutes…. 10 minutes…… 15 minutes…. and time up!

          Ah! 99% of the children failed to complete the task. All of them stood with disappointment on their faces.

  Instructor: Don’t be disheartened, kids. Let us do the task again, but with a slight modification. ‘Pick up any balloon. Call the name of your friend whose name is there on the balloon. Hand over the balloon to him/her’.

          This time also the time limit is 15 minutes.

The activity began again.

Wow! Within 5 minutes all children were standing with their respective balloons.

The instructor then addressed the children and said, “Dear kids! This activity demonstrates the golden rule of happiness. When you try to seek happiness just for yourself, the chances of getting it are very bleak. But when you give happiness to other, it boomerangs upon you! Therefore, remember the golden rule: “Give happiness = Get happiness”!

Spiritual Transformation Though Saktipat

Description of incidents of transfer of spiritual power by the Guru to the sisya (disciple) through saktipat is found in many yogic texts. Therefore there is a natural curiosity to know the veracity or otherwise of such a phenomenon. Here let us mention two instances of recent past.

   It has been mentioned in the book titled “Vivekanand Sanchayan” that Vivekanand vividly experienced the transference of immense spiritual energy into his being by his Divine Teacher, Paramhansa Sri Ramakrishna. Vivekanand has himself described this experience eloquently and it is this supreme energy, which enabled him to carry the message of his Master around the world. Swami Yoganand has also described in his book “Autobiography of a Yogi” a number of such phenomena. There are many other authentic recorded instances of this nature in occult and mystic literature of Indian and the world. Genuinely interested readers are advised to study such works to understand the process of this occult science.

There is no doubt about the truth of saktipat in the tradition of Guru- sisya. With the help and blessings of a Satguru coupled with his own sincere sadhana even an ordinary looking person can reach the acme of mystic experience. The pages of ancient history are full of such instances, but the present-day self-appointed pseudo-gurus have made saktipat a cheap feat of jugglery and created confusion about this occult phenomenon in rational minds. Therefore, it is essential to unferstand its true nature.

The disciple receives the blessing and boons of the Guru according to his inner faith and worthiness. Every disciple gets in the measure of his sraddha (Faith). This is the philosophy behind saktipat. This is a process, which requires time and effort and which is completed by the dedicated sadhana of a sadhak under the guidance of a genuine Guru. This is not a sudden process, which gives instant miraculous result. Rather, it is a long-time mode of sadhana with the aid of which the disciple develops his own dormant powers and potentialities.

The boon of saktipat is not accessible to everyone. Only those seekers get this precious gift who can tranquilly retain and assimilate the descent of this immense occult power. The glorious lives of Vivekanand and Yoganand, after such a saktipat by their gurus, are eloquent example of the radical spiritual transformation. But such transformations occur generally in the case of chosen souls who come to earth with specially assigned tasks. There is no relevance of questions like what was realized at the time of saktipat or what visions were revealed? What is significant is what was the outcome of this massive transference of spiritual force? It radically transforms the recipient. But the latter has to be pure, strong and worthy enough so receive, assimilate and hold the energy so transferred and selflessly and wisely utilize it for the noble purpose for which it has been gifted to him.

For more detail read AUTHOR'S book “A Guide to Spiritual Transformation” 

                                                        

Jesus & Judas Part-II

After some time, a woman, in the Solicitor General’s service, came outside foe some work. She saw Peter carefully and started shouting at the top of her voice, “For sure, this man was also with Jesus!” Hearing that, Peter’s heart started pounding with full throttle! He felt as if his chest would explode out of fear! His face turned pale white to an extent that if you cut it open, there would be no bleeding! He was sweating badly in that chilly, freezing night! His vocal cord seemed to have been uprooted! Accumulating all his courage, he stammered, “No….no, you must be mistaken! Who are you talking about? Jesus? But, I didn’t even know Him….Honestly speaking, I have no connection with Jesus!!”

Ah! Was the foundation of a disciple’s love, surrender and faith that weak! It was hard to believe that those were the words coming out from Peter’s mouth…..the same Peter, who could spend hours singing the glories of his Guru in front of the whole world! The person who wanted everyone on this earth to love Jesus and chant His name had himself forgotten any least connection with this name…..Peter didn’t know Jesus today!! Peter could not recognize the name of Jesus, whose name was the very identification for him in the world! Had Peter actually forgotten those streets, those gatherings and those spiritual sermons, where he used to accompany the Lord and stand by Him like His right hand! Jesus had taught Peter the art of speaking; in fact, not only speaking, He had taught him the art of announcing the truth to the world, providing the foundation of faith, trust and divine love. But, certainly, he had not taught this art for the day when Peter would announce to the world that he had no links with Him! Verily, if Peter didn’t know Jesus, he knew nothing!! Truly speaking, taunts of the whole world might not have hurt Jesus; but, those reckless words from Peter’s mouth must have shattered His heart into a million pieces!

That woman again inquired from Peter, “Are you not one of the disciples and followers of Jesus?” Panicking with anxiety and terror, Peter again denied any acquaintance with Jesus. Then, another servant said “Definitely you are one of the disciples of Jesus. Your Galilee accent discloses everything. Your language has revealed your identity!!” This was Peter’s third and final chance to support his Master. But unfortunately, he failed! He beseeched that he really didn’t know Jesus. He swore in the name of God that he was not lying! A few hours back, he was so confident that he would never stumble in the services of his Lord. But even before the first ray of the sun could touch the earth, he had denied thrice of any familiarity with the same Lord! It was hard to know who was reliable, the Peter before or the one that could be seen then!

Anyway, Peter forgot his virtues, but nature didn’t budge from its duty! Soon, dawn broke. The voice of the rooster, marking the completion of night, shook Peter’s emotions to the deepest depths. It was as if on behalf of Jesus, that rooster was telling Peter to still wake up! Soon, Jesus was taken out of the Solicitor’s home and He passed right in front of Peter. Frightened Peter looked towards Him. Jesus didn’t need words to communicate anything to His beloved disciple. He spoke through His eyes, “Look Peter, didn’t I tell you that even before morning, you will deny any relationship with me thrice! And so it happened! You have done something that you never wanted to do! Why? Why didn’t you understand that the fruits of discipleship blossom not in the silver vase, but in the blood-red grounds of sacrifices and offerings! But sadly, the love of has forced you to die a death of shame, embarrassment and dishonor every passing minute! Instead of bowing before your Master, you chose to stoop in front of the cruel, wicked world! They will not lift your bowed head; they will rather trample it ruthlessly under their feet like the hood of a snake! If you had chosen to surrender at my feet, I would have crowned you like a king!”

Soldiers were taking Jesus to Pilate’s court for the legal trial in front of Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor. Peter just kept staring and Jesus vanished from his sight. His eyes had forgotten to blink. He had become a statue! But suddenly something happened! Peter screamed! It seemed as if every vein in his body was exploding with the effect of some invisible poison! Peter was behaving like a newly wedded bride, who had become a widow even before the wedding ceremony could be complete! He was then left with nothing in this world! His life became desolate and deserted like a treeless mountain! Waste to an extent that even a cactus refused to breathe in the land of his heart! There was total destruction from head to toe, from earth to the limits of the sky, from a dry village well till a bed of ocean!!

Peter had become hollow from inside just like a bamboo stick! He was fatigued emotionally. At one moment he was crying madly, and at the other moment, he was dumb as dead! But, those tears were not strong enough to wipe out the black stains of denial and falsification, which had tainted his character forever!! Peter embraced the trees around him and confessed, “I am a coward! Unfortunate and useless I am!! You strongly faced the scorching sunlight, the destructive rains and whirlpool winds that came in your way and didn’t get uprooted! But I did! I compromised with my roots, the very foundation of my existence!! What do i do now? Help me……somebody show me the way! Please help!”                                                                                      ……to be continued 

Jesus and Judas……a touching story part-I

O’ Judas! I wanted to carve a godly image out of you that would have been worthy of being worshipped. But, you slipped out of my hands and fell into the infamous streets of treachery and deception!!

Judas agreed to reveal the identity of Jesus to His opponents! Thirty silver coins was the total cost of his discipleship at the holy feet of his revered Master! After making a promise of getting Jesus apprehended at the right time, he went back to Jesus’ camp.

It is hard to believe to what extent greed can blind a person! Jesus didn’t even think once that if Jesus was aware of betrayal by him, He could have easily discarded him from his team. But He didn’t do that! Jesus was still giving Judas another chance to prove his loyalty and escape the harassment if being disloyal. The soft-hearted, generous Guru still wanted to save His disciple from the shame and embarrassment that he had chosen for himself by being treacherous! Eternal love and kindness flowing from Jesus! eyes was constantly repeating, “Judas! Come! I want you to eat this bread from my loving and caring hands, before you become a prey to your own sins!” Probably, Jesus was hopping against hope that Judas would come to realise His love towards him if He fed him with His own hands. But, no dear friends! This was not be! How can a thorny bush ever beat a fruit??....Even if sown in heaven, it will breed only spikes!!

As the night was darkening, Jesus’ sermon was getting more and more serious because He very well knew that it was the last gathering of His life! But, still He participated whole-heartedly in the Jewish Passover feast. After singing songs and having supper with the Jews, He started off with His disciples from Jerusalem towards the Mount of Olives. While ascending the mount, He again cautioned the apostles, “Dear ones! I warn you that you all will stumble tonight!” Hearing that, Peter became emotionally agitated. Devoting the earnings of his lifetime at Jesus’ feet, he said, “Revered Lord, everybody else may stumble, but I will not! Even if I have to sacrifice my life, I will never leave you!” But, Jesus knew that the fruit was still unripe. The fruit however was under the misconception of being ripe, juicy and sweet! It’s always easy to swim in the direction of the flow of the river. But, the real strength of a swimmer is put to test only in the situation of an adverse flow!

While He was still speaking, Judas, accompanied by high priests and highly ranked officers, along with soldiers holding swords and clubs in their hands, showed up! The rivals were not sure about the identity of Jesus and so couldn’t recognize Him in the darkness of the night. Then, Judas told them, “Don’t worry! Whoever I kiss will be the culprit! Seize him!” Alas! How far had Judas gone down the road of sin! He didn’t even think twice before using the word “culprit” fir his Guru! Was it the same Judas, Who could sing Jesus’ praise tirelessly for hours together? Judas, who regarded Jesus as the Lord, was calling Him a culprit today! The foes were still calling Him “Jesus”, but Judas had crossed all limits! Kneeling at the holy feet of the revered master and kissing them is symbolic of true divine love shared by a Guru and his disciple! But Judas’ kiss was utterly poisonous, even more than the bite of the most venomous, snake in the whole world! If the pen accounts for such betrayal on papers, definitely the pen will also become poisonous!!  

Judas was approaching Jesus. The moment of truth had arrived! It was the time for which Jesus had been warning His disciples over and over again! Mother earth cried, “Somebody stop this ruthless Judas! Do something to stop him from kissing my Jesus….O’ Dear Lord! I can take the burden of your entire creation on my shoulders, but Judas’ burden is too much for me to bear! Please, relieve me from Judas’ burden before he kisses Jesus! Honestly speaking, I don’t have any place for Judas’ coffin in my heart!!” Mother earth kept screaming and weeping, but Judas didn’t stop! Briskly and smoothly, he moved towards Jesus! Jesus’ eyes were also totally glued on Judas.

He seemed to be thinking, “Judas! How eager you are to meet me today! It would have been worthy, if you were so eager to meet me, never to get separated! But no! You are here, to separate me from yourself and this world! If you had thought of holding me forever instead of getting me caught at the hands of the opponents, I promise you, you would not have desired anything else in the world…..not even those 30 pieces of silver! O’ Judas! I didn’t make you what you have become today! I don’t understand who has eclipsed my beautiful moon (referring to Judas here); whose negativity and darkness has converted my piece of diamond into black coal! Was there anything I didn’t do for you…that made you beg at the door of the strangers! O’ dear!! I wanted to carve a godly image out of you that would have been worthy of being worshipped; but what have you done?? You slipped out of my hands and fell into the infamous streets of treachery and deception!! You have put a full stop on your spiritual enhancement. Judas! From now on you will always stumble…..on every big and small obstacle of your life!! You have gagged the very essence of discipleship! Didn’t you think that whenever people will talk about my sacrifice, each and every time they will condemn your conspiracy against me! I still assure you that whenever the historians will call you a charlatan and a fraud, my heart will spurt out blood!! They will be writing these words for you on the paper, but I will feel as if they are chopping my heart with a sword!! Every word written to blame you will result in the shedding of tears of blood from my eyes! I wish I could, but I know that I will not be able to stop them from calling you so! Opponents are sure to seize me….I am not worried about myself; but, I am only worried about you!”

“No matter what Judas, but I know that somewhere in your heart you still have a soft corner for me! That is why you chose to kiss me as a means of identification; otherwise you could have caught me by the neck and got me captured! Although nails are bloodless, but they are attached to the body flesh in such a way that if pulled out forcibly, they uproot a part of the body’s soft flesh too. And, this is the proof of nail’s integrated relation with the flesh. That’s why people say that nails cannot be separated from the flesh. Similar is your relation with me; we are not totally distinct and detached from each other. I know Judas, one day you will realise your mistake and then you will to wish to repent….But sadly, you would have lost me by then!! When you would be screaming and shouting for me, I would have gone so far off that you wouldn’t even be able to see me, forget about coming to me! Then, there will be you, your repentance, and those 30 silver pieces! You will take those 30 coins in your hands and beseech at the top of your voice- ‘O’ coins, I gave up my revered Guru for you!! What a loser I am!! Now, I return you to your right place, but please give me my master back….I beg you, have some mercy on an orphan like me and return me my Jesus!!’ But, you know Judas! These coins will not listen to you then because coins can only jingle, they do not beat like a heart! You have already traded a beating heart in return for these jingle coins!!”

Indeed, Jesus’ thoughts had not ended, but the count of Judas’ footsteps towards Him was over! He reached Jesus’ and said- “Greetings Rabbi!” He then kissed Jesus. With this prearranged signal, rivals attacked Jesus as if a hungry wolf had found its prey! Unfortunately, Judas didn’t miss the shot! This had made Judas a good archer, but till eternity, he will stay on the target of criticism of the whole world!! From now on, no Guru would ever want to be served by a disciple like Judas!

The sudden attack led to a rout among the disciples as if a stack of grains had been kicked hard by someone! The disciples who till then had seen favorable conditions were caught in the storm of adversities! They all scattered away for the fear of their own lives! Nobody came near Jesus! Greed of coins ate up Judas and fear of death took Peter away from the master! Peter got frightened on hearing the swords clashing with each other. It seemed as if death was dancing nude in front of him. He started running away from Jesus!

But still, Peter had not become as insensitive and emotionless as Judas. His values had not totally turned to dust like a burning coal in fine. That’s why Peter could not go for off; his attachment with Jesus shook the walls of his heart and mind and arrested the pace of his feet. Not only did he stop, but also turned around to look at his Lord Jesus. He understood that the soldiers were taking Jesus to the Solicitor General’s residence. Peter decided to follow them. As he reached the Solicitor General’s home, Peter stopped at a distance and sat down by the fire, pretending to warm hands with Solicitor’s servants. Peter could have followed Jesus inside the house but that would have been totally suicidal. Neither was Peter courageous enough to have sacrificed his life for his master nor was he so stone-hearted to have left Jesus alone. His situation was comparable to a person who wanted to save his friend from drowning in a river, but could not muster courage to jump into the river due to the fear of losing his own life! Confused, scared and extremely sad, Peter kept sitting outside, just to see what follows.