Malaysia Hindu Sangam`s 50th Golden Anniversary
Transcription
Malaysia Hindu Sangam`s 50th Golden Anniversary
JOTHY Vasudevagi LOVE | DEVOTION | DHARMA | www.jothydhana.org Monthly E-Newsletter | For Hindus Only | FREE Circulation | February 2015 Issue JOTHY Is an independent monthly digital Newsletter for Hindus by Hindus Published In Association With MALAYSIA HINDU SANGAM NEGERI SEMBILAN STATE COUNCIL AIMS To Unite To Serve To Share To Support To Progress… As HINDUS MOTTO “Anbe Shivam” Published by JOTHY DHANA FREE SUBSCRIPTION REGISTER @ www.jothydhana.org Malaysia Hindu Sangam’s 50th Golden Anniversary Malaysia Hindu Sangam reached an important milestone when she turned 50 on the 24th of January 2015. It was celebrated in a grand style at the Summit Hotel Subang Jaya with a mix of events from cultural performance, speeches, award ceremony to stage acts. It was officiated by YB. Dato’ Seri Dr. S. Subramaniam, the Health Minister of Malaysia and Deputy President of the Malaysian Indian Congress. It was a time of reunion with representation from all over Malaysia young and old from Hindu Scholars, Leaders to Humble Servants of God. The Highlight of the event was the grand award ceremony to honour people who had made outstanding contribution towards MHS and its cause. HIGHLIGHTS ON THIS ISSUE: Hindu Teaching on Wealth…5 Annapoorna of Kasi…6 Devi is the Mother of All... 7 Guru’s Grace...9 Abhisegam…11 Science of Yoga & its Origin…13 Ancient Sivalinga in Ireland…17 Hindu Gods and their Favorite Flower…18 5 Faces of Lord Shiva…19 Legend of Lord Ganesa &the Moon…20 Over My Thoughts… “த ொண்டு - Service” மலேசிய இந்து சங்கம் Malaysia Hindu Council Negeri Sembilan State Council JOTHY V. Kandasamy ANS, PJK Deputy President, MHS National Council & Chairman, MHS, N. Sembilan State Council www.jothydhana.org E-PUBLICATION TEAM Patron & Adviser V. Kandasamy ANS, PJK Deputy President Malaysian Hindu Sangam National Council & Chairman Negeri Sembilan Council Tel: 012-384 1995 Email: [email protected] Publisher & Editor Thayalan Nathan Tel: 017-880 9454 Email: [email protected] Web Development & Ad Enquiry Ananda Kumar Tel: 012-249 8280 Email: [email protected] Mailing Address: Malaysian Hindu Sangam Negeri Sembilan State Council 508, 1st Floor, Lorong Haruan 4/5, Oakland Commercial Square, 70300 Seremban, NS Tel/Fax: 06-632 3466 Email: [email protected] “Namasivaya Valga Nathan Thall Valga Imaippoluthum En Nenjil Neeggathan Thal Valga. Arul Perum Jothy, Arul Perum Jothy, Thanipperum Karunai Arul Perum Jothy”. It is my pleasure to announce the Award receipiences from Negeri Sembilan in conjunction with Malaysia Hindu Sangam’s 50th Golden Anniversary: Sangaratna Mr. V. Kandasamy ANS, PJK Sangapooshan Mr. T. Muthuvelu Mr. V. Selvarathnam Mr. S. Masilamani Thondarmaamani Mr. T. Mathavan Mr. P. Muthusamy Mr. C. Chinathamby PPN, ANS, PMC, PJK Vivekanayagi Ms. M. Mohanasuntari Viveka Nayagan Mr. S. Moorthy These Awards are conferred to people who have made long and outstanding contribution towards the Hindu religion, social and community development of Hindus in Malaysia. I cannot singlehandedly say what were the tireless effort of each of these individuals, they are hundreds and all their contributions are priceless. They are also the reasons for continues progress in temples, religious activities and Hindu dharma in our country. Each of them deserves the every right to be honored and in fact we cannot substitute any reward for the amount of service and sacrifice that they have done to God and mankind. In this regard I am also humbled to be conferred the Sangaratna title. I owe my every gratitude to our Lord God Shivaperuman. Thaipusam Special Task Force MHS established a special task force to promote the rightful practice in carrying Kavadi. We mobilized our 14 State and 164 Local Councils to promote this rightful practice in every state, districts and temples. World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) MHS was one of the active participant in the WIHW that was celebrated on a National scale in the first week in Putrajaya. The objective of the harmony week is to better understand each other’s religion, cultures, traditions and believe system. By understanding we will be able to accept and respect each other. MHS participated in a dialogue as a speaker and did contribute tremendous inputs in fostering harmony from our view point. Malaysia Hindu Sangam is recognized at the apex body representing the Hindu community in Malaysia. We play a leading and proactive role in interfaith dialogue. Editorial Note From the Desk of the Editor// JOTHY (3) Dear Fellow Peace Loving Hindus, Vannakam - Nameskaram ! Thaipusam Thayalan Nathan Publisher & Editor JOTHY welcomes contribution from anyone who wishes to share knowledge, experience and information on Hinduism and (or)highlight special events, talks, seminars, cultural shows, community services, social projects etc. Kindly forward all email with attachments in word document and pictures in JPEG format to: [email protected] JOTHY Aims to Promote Hinduism as a Religion, its Culture, Values, Tradition and its Role in Propagating Universal Peace, Unity & Harmony. JOTHY DHANA is a Divine Inspiration with A Mission, A Gift and My Penance to LORD SHIVA ‘Anbe Shivam’ JOTHY DHANA www.jothydhana.org is not only the biggest festival celebrated in Malaysia but also the biggest ceremony participated by more than a million Hindus in Malaysia. A day of penance and thanksgiving, it features devotees paying homage to Lord Subramaniam. What pleased me the most was, it is the 2nd year when Malaysia Hindu Sangam came up with guidelines in carrying Kavadi. This year repeated announcement in the local mass media was made and over 100,000 brochures were printed. Last year we made some progress from stopping devotees in carrying Kavadies that was not part of our religious or tradition. This year we were near perfect, almost 90% of the thousands of Kavadi bearers from major Thaipusam locations from Penang, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur and Johor were all well mannered. Hindus did complied to our original practice of Kavadi carrying by bringing ‘Kanikai’/ offering mainly milk for Lord Subramaniam. Hindus must understand the purpose and the origin of carrying Kavadi. Long spears, walking on knife, cutting the tongue, smoking cigar, drinking liquor, dancing non traditional music etc. are all forbidden. We should not be made a laughing stock among multi racial population and international tourist who are all part of the million over people who turn out at Thaipusam ceremonies. I truly hope all Hindus will be united and will continuously uphold our religious and traditional value system so that we do not deviate from our original teaching and practice. Syabas to all Hindus who participated in this Thaipusam 2015 ! Posted from Rajaretinam Armuggan/fb Page JOTHY (4) PROJECT JOTHY Phase 1: Small Initiative… >> BIG RESULTS To make our effort a success we Need Your Support by Welcoming: Contribution of Articles, Information or images on Hinduism. Organize or highlight on any regular talks, seminars, workshops on Hinduism or on any subject matters of interest and benefit to our community. Organize or highlight any Cultural Shows, Religious Events and Ceremonies. Create a Pool of Talent and Volunteers to network and be ready to immediately respond towards community call and social needs. JOTHY will highlight when matter arise. If you feel that you could contribute your talent or resources towards any of the above, kindly sent me your email or CV& Pix: Thayalan Nathan, Publisher & Editor JOTHY [email protected] +6 017-880 9454 Congratulations Malaysia Hindu Sangam for the 50 Golden Years of Upholding Hindu Dharma ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY In JOTHY Reach out more than 50,000 Hindus & Increasing in our Database Full Page Colour Ads. RM300.00 Half Page Colour Ads (Vertical or Horizontal) RM150.00 Kindly forward all payment by cash/ cheque made in favour of… Account Name: Malaysia Hindu Sangam, NS Hindu Teaching On Wealth JOTHY (5) By GCSE/Religious Studies Philosophy and Ethics Wealth and poverty Introduction The world is split between the wealthier 'Northern Hemisphere' and the relatively poor 'Southern Hemisphere'. More than 75% of humanity lives in the southern or developing world using only 25% of the world's resources. Whereas the northern or the developed world consisting of 25% of the world population uses 75% of the world's wealth or resources. Some developing countries are very poor with a large portion of their population living below the United Nations officially designated 'Poverty Line'. Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not being able to go to school and not knowing how to read. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living one day at a time. Poverty is losing a child to illness brought about by unclean water. Poverty is powerlessness, lack of representation and freedom. To alleviate poverty, it has to be defined, measured, and studied -- and even lived. As poverty has many dimensions, it has to be looked at through a variety of indicators -- levels of income and consumption, social indicators, etc. The debts owed by the poorest countries of the world are the main reasons for their poverty. As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, this often leads to frustration and apathy amongst the poor. This situation breeds hostility and aggressive behaviour resulting in criminal activities. There is also a big rise in the numbers of people in the poorer countries seeking to enter richer countries to better themselves economically. There is an urgent need to develop the deprived parts of the world and one way of helping poorer countries is by cancelling their debts. This will mean that those nations will spend more of their resources in building schools and hospitals. Another major reason why some of the countries of the third world are poor and getting poorer is the level of corruption amongst their rulers. Many countries are being ruled by autocratic regimes where power is gained through coup détente and the country is milked dry by the ruling class. Money that should be spent on the betterment of the country is being siphoned off. Banker: CIMB Bank Berhad Account No.: 05060023753052 Forward Proof of Payment & Artwork in JPEG format to [email protected] Note: JOTHY is a Not for Profit Social Initiative & Causes. All proceeds shall be forwarded towards community projects by Malaysian Hindu Sangam Negeri Sembilan State Council 'As we sow, so shall we reap'. Hindus believe in Samsara as they do not accept that the almighty would be cruel enough to create the great inequalities that exist in the world. He would not create one child beloved of happy parents, another who is handicapped or blind and a third who is unwanted, born to impoverished parents and left hungry. The inequalities of life are understandable only when we realize that they are of Man's own karma or actions and not of God's creation. Each one of us at birth is the result of our past life. Our birth in this life is determined by the good and bad thoughts, words and deeds of a previous birth. This doctrine of samsara or rebirth is also called the theory of reincarnation and is a basic tenet of Hinduism. The argument against the above premise is the sheer injustice and inequality of the world that we are living in today. Whilst millions of people are impoverished, the rich lead a life cocooned from this reality. Although there are measures in place to ensure that the rich make larger contributions towards the welfare of the poor, society is largely geared towards capitalistic sentiments and this disparity shall remain with us however repugnant it may be. In a nut shell do Dharma, when you have even a little, give a little towards Dharma because Dharma makes Dharma and the is the sole purpose of being a Hindu. Get Started with Dharma, support … JOTHY DHANA FUND 1 (Pg 28 & 29) Annapoorna of Kasi JOTHY (6) Annapoorni Amma Contributed by Suparna Sen Gupta Annapoorna Devi is the Goddess of the city of Kashi (now known as Varanasi, U.P., India). Kashi is also known as the City of Light. ''Ka'' means the cause, a means the manifestation of consciousness, ''sa'' means peace and I is the causal body. Kashi is also the place which causes consciousness to manifest the highest peace of the causal body and She is the Supreme Goddess of the City of Kashi. Once Mother Parvati heard of her consort Shiva that the world is an illusion and that food is a part of this illusion called maya.The Divine Mother who is worshiped as the manifestation of all material things, including food, became angry. To demonstrate the importance of her manifestation of all that is material she disappeared from the world. Her disappearance brought time to a standstill and the earth became barren. There was no food to be found anywhere and all the beings suffered from the pangs of hunger then all gods along with Bramha , Vishnu and Shiva prayed to the Great Goddess and asked her to forgive them . Seeing all the suffering, Mother Parvati was filled with compassion and reappeared in Kashi and set up a Kitchen.Hearing about her return, Shiva ran to her and presented his bowl in alms saying, "Now I realise that the material world, like the spirit, cannot be dismissed as an illusion." Parvati smiled and fed Shiva with her own hands. Since then Parvati is worshiped as Annapoorna , the Goddess of Nourishment. Annapoorna has many names. She is variously described as: She who is full, complete and perfect as a Mother She who gives food and nourishment She who is the strength of Shiva She who is the grantor of knowledge She who takes away all fear She who is the Supreme welfare She who manifests truth and efficiency She who is beyond Maya She who is the cause of creation and dissolution She who is Aadi Shakti And She who is Pure Love Iconography: Physically, Annapoorna is described as holding a golden ladle adorned with various kinds of jewels in her right hand and a vessel full of delicious porridge in her left. She is seated on a throne. In some depictions, Lord Shiva is shown standing to her right with a begging bowl, begging her for alms. It is said that she does not eat a morsel unless all her devotees have been fed in her temple. Worship: She is worshipped through the recitation of her thousand names and her one hundred and eight names. The Sri Annapoorna Ashtakam composed by Adi Shankaracharya is chanted by several devout Hindus around the world as a prayer for nourishment, wisdom, and renunciation. Before partaking of any food, we can chant the following prayer: "Annapurne Sadapurne, Shankara Pranavallabhe Jnana Vairagya Siddhyartham, Bhikshaam Dehi Cha Parvati” (Translation): “Oh Annapurna, who is always full, complete, and perfect. Beloved energy of Lord Shiva, for the attainment of perfection in wisdom and renunciation, give me alms, Parvati. My mother is Goddess Parvati, my father is the Supreme Lord Maheshwara (Shiva). My relatives are the devotees of Lord Shiva, and the three worlds are my Motherland." Devi is the Mother of All JOTHY (7) By Sha Sha The pious and the wicked, the rich and the poor, the saint and the sinner—all are Her children. Devi or Sakti is the Mother of Nature. She is Nature Itself. The whole world is Her body. Mountains are Her bones. Rivers are Her veins. Ocean is Her bladder. Sun, moon are Her eyes. Wind is Her breath. Agni is Her mouth. She runs this world show Sakti is symbolically female; but It is, in reality, neither male nor female. It is only a Force which manifests Itself in various forms. The five elements and their combinations are the external manifestations of the Mother. Intelligence, discrimination, psychic power, and will are Her internal manifestations. Humanity is Her visible form. She lies dormant in the Muladhara Chakra in the form of serpentine power or coiled-up energy known as the Kundalini Sakti. She is at the centre of the life of the universe. She is the primal force of life that underlies all existence. She vitalises the body through the Sushumna Nadi and nerves. She nourishes the body with chyle and blood. She vitalises the universe through Her energy. She is the energy in the sun, the fragrance in the flowers, the beauty in the landscape, the Gayatri or the Blessed Mother in the Vedas, colour in the rainbow, intelligence in the mind, potency in the homoeopathic pills, power in Makaradhvaja and gold oxide, will and Vichara Sakti in sages, devotion in Bhaktas, Samyama and Samadhi in Yogins. Vidya, Shanti, lust, anger, greed, egoism, pride are all Her forms. Her manifestations are countless. Siva And Sakti: The Supreme Lord is represented as Siva, and His power is represented as His wife—Sakti PADMA NRITHAYLAYA ARTS JOTHY (8) Presents Indian Classical Dance & Musical Offering 27th February 2015 (Friday) @ 7.30 Pm Dewan Rasah Amman, Jalan Rasah, Seremban, NSDK A Charity Event with the Support of Malaysia Hindu Sangam Negeri Sembilan Arts And Culture Unit Indian Cultural Centre Of Malaysia & Hospis Negeri Sembilan For Invitation : 012-695 9343; 013-394 1420 Guru’s Grace.. JOTHY (9) From Shiva Sakhti/FB Page Once, the Tamil saint Manikkavasagar, who was the chief minister of a Pandiyan king, was sent on a mission to buy horses for the military. On the way, he met Shiva who appeared in human form, as a Guru. Shiva simply looked at Manikkavasagar and the latter got completely transformed. Manikkavasagar forgot all about his identity as chief minister, about his wife and children all these identities vanished into thin air. He used the money that the king had given him to buy horses, to build a temple for Shiva. After the initiation was over, Shiva disappeared. Manikkavasagar recounted that during this meeting he had a trade-off with Shiva: "You give your Self to me and take my 'self'.'' He wondered who had the better trade-off; while Shiva got nothing from him, Manikkavasagar received everything. Hence it is said that a true Guru is the one who can give you liberation just by a glance. The Shiva Sutras mention a path called 'Shambava Upaya', which refers to receiving the results of meditation instantaneously. Here, you experience an immediate expansion in your awareness and acquire divine consciousness. Actually, it is not accomplished through meditation; it is done through the grace of the Guru. You don't do anything; you don't even meditate, once you have a Guru in your life. Through grace, the Guru is able to transfer everything to you. You can read books and gain understanding about the process of enlightenment. However, you will still remain in the theoretical domain. The fundamental thing in enlightenment is the opening of the third eye. The third eye will just not open by theoretical understanding and it is extremely rare to open it through one's own practice. You need to do more than that. When the third eye opens, you can always stay in a higher state of consciousness and are totally focussed on God. Then, you are not pulled by karma, maya and ego, and do not return to the old state of consciousness. Then, you know what is going to happen in the future and what is going to happen to the world. The third eye is also the place for manifesting your thoughts and desires. How can you open the third eye? You can do that through grace. Keep on praying for mercy. When the divine light enters the third eye, you will find that you are awakened. Who is going to do that? It is the Guru. That's why, in Indic spiritual tradition, the Guru is everything. What about the traditions and religions where there is no Guru? There, the Messiah and the Prophet are Gurus. They are called by different names; they are representatives of God on earth. In karma removal too, the Guru can play a great role. When you open your mind and spirit to the Guru, it can help you to remove your ego, the part within you which holds on to karmic thoughts and actions. Why do we focus on the Guru's feet? It is to cultivate humility, to banish the ego. Keep visualising the feet of the guru; surrender to his wisdom and learn to acquire knowledge. By doing so, you can teach yourself to completely overcome suffering and doubt. The guru's feet will help access divine energy and bring you incredible peace. You will be transformed. JOTHY (10) Vel Vel From Shiva Sakhti/FB Page We just celebrated the biggest celebration and Hindu Festival in Malaysia - Thaipusam. Millions are gathered in major temples such as the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Penang’s “Tani Malai Koil”, Ipoh’s “Kalu Malai Koil” and almost all Murugan temples worldwide. During Thaipusam, devotees carry Kavadi shouting out Vel, Vel. The Vel is Lord Murugan’s spear with heart shape weapon. So what is its significant… Muruga's Vel represents infinite wisdom that brings true liberation. It destroys karma that has accumulated over many lifetimes. Vel's shakti allows you to think and act with power, and ends ignorance by dissolving karmic impressions. Worshiping Lord Muruga on Karthigai Deepam helps in overcoming problems created by enemies. Muruga's mantra "SaRaVaNa BaVa," is a combination of 6 syllables and constitutes the highest mantric power. Sage Agastya, who mastered this mantra, revealed the secrets of the 6 syllables: SA - Attracts all people to your door RA - Brings Wealth VA - Kills competition, diseases and debts NA - Dissuades enemies, suppresses problems before they arise BA - Attraction through charming VA - Stops negativity and influence from bad planets Each of the 6 syllables is dedicated to the 6 faces of Lord Muruga. Abhisegam JOTHY (11) From Shiva Sakhiti/FB Page Here in this part, deals about various substances used for Abishegam at various periods for different gods. Each substances used for this worship brings fortune for humans according to their position of planets transition. Now to understand the benefits and substances used for abishegam. If pour gingelly oil to the statue of god/goddess, the person gets material benefits… Cow milk will extend their life span Cow buttermilk (Thairu) brings childbirth to who did not bless with kids. Sugar destroy the enemies Cows dunk ash brings (Vibuthy) lots of joy in material world with women and life of heaven (viboothi in tamil) Pour of water or milk through Valampuri shell avoids the awful things (valampuri sangu in tamil) Sandal and pannier brings the wealth Water from pot (kalasa) brings the fortune what the person requires. Mango fruit brings all good fortune Gold brings all success and profits. Milk, curd, ghee, cows dunk, cows urine with added as five means panjakaviyam removes the sin. Panjamirtham (five fruits) karkandu, sugar,gee, banana,honey brings good wealth and money. Coconut water brings good family life. Sandal brings iswariyam (wealth) Raw rice powder removes the debt Turmeric Powder (Manjal) brings the attraction and rajavasiyam(in tamil) Sugarcane juice brings good health Honey brings the happiest family life Banana makes the good growth of plants especially paddy field. Cooked Rice meals brings luxury life. Lemon juice avoid the enemity Turmeric and kumkum brings good family life Perfumed powder avoids the debts. SPECIAL DAYS TO OFFER ABISHEGAM ON GOD/GODDESS LORD SIVA- MONDAY GANAPATHI AND NAVAGRAHA- SUNDAY MURUGAN AND DURGAI-TUESDAY VISHNU-WEDNESDAY DEKSHINAMOORTHY-THURSDAY GODDESS SAKTHI-FRIDAY KANNAN- KRISHNA-SATURDAY Pix: OmSivanalayam, Kg. Pasir, Rasah, NS JOTHY (12) “COSMIC DANCE" DANCING OF THE SUB ATOMIC PARTICLES OF AN ATOM By Sankar Gopalakrishnan Nair In every atom atomic particles are created....preserved......then destroyed..... some particles liberates from the circle. "According to quantum field theory, the dance of creation and destruction is the basis of the very existence of matter. Modern physics has thus revealed that every subatomic particle not only performs an energy dance, but also is an energy dance; a pulsating process of creation and destruction. For the modern physicists then, Shiva’s dance is the 'dance of subatomic matter', the basis of all existence and of all natural phenomena.” The Cosmic Dance represents the movement of the universe, from the galaxies and planets, to all life, to subatomic particles. According to Hindi mythology, Shiva is the Cosmic Dancer who performs his divine dance to continue the unfolding of all existence, and create harmony in the universe. The Cosmic Dance of Shiva is called “Ananda Tandava”, meaning the Dance of Bliss. It symbolizes the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction, as well as the daily rhythm of night and day. Modern physics has shown that the rhythm of creation and destruction is not only manifest in the turn of the seasons and in the birth and death of all living creatures, but is also the very essence of inorganic matter.“ CREATION.....PRESERVATION.....DESTRUCTION......FREEDOM FROM IGNORANCE........LIBERATION ! Science of Yoga & its Origin JOTHY (13) Source: A Short History of Yoga by Georg Feuerstein Yoga is one of the oldest sciences of the world originated from India, which is very useful for both getting and maintaining the physical, mental and moral health. This yoga was started with the development of civilization. THE BIG QUESTIONS Traditional Yoga seeks to provide plausible answers to such profound questions as, “Who am I?”, “Whence do I come?”, “Whither do I go?,” and “What must I do?” These are the sorts of questions that, sooner or later, we all end up asking ourselves. Or at least, we have our own implicit answers to them, though may not get round to consciously formulating them. Deep down, we all are philosophers, because we all need to make sense of our life. Some of us postpone thinking about these questions, but they don’t ever go away. We quickly learn this when we lose a loved one or face a serious health crisis. So, we might as well ponder these questions while we are in good shape. And don’t think you have to feel morose to do so. Yoga doesn’t champion dark moods, but it is definitely in favor of awareness in all its forms, including self-awareness. If we know the stuff we are made of, we can function a lot better in the world. At the very least, our self-knowledge will give us the opportunity to make conscious and better choices. Despite more than a century of research, we still don’t know much about the earliest beginnings of Yoga. We do know, though, that it originated in India 5,000 or more years ago. Until recently, many Western scholars thought that Yoga originated much later, maybe around 500 B.C., which is the time of Gautama the Buddha, the illustrious founder of Buddhism. But then, in the early 1920s, archeologists surprised the world with the discovery of the socalled Indus civilization—a culture that we now know extended over an area of roughly 300,000 square miles (the size of Texas and Ohio combined). This was in fact the largest civilization in early antiquity. In the ruins of the big cities of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa, excavators found depictions engraved on soapstone seals that strongly resemble yogi-like figures. Many other finds show the amazing continuity between that civilization and later Hindu society and culture. From Page 13/… JOTHY (14) There was nothing primitive about what is now called the Indus-Sarasvati civilization, which is named after two great rivers that once flowed in Northern India; today only the Indus River flows through Pakistan. That civilization’s urbane population enjoyed multistory buildings, a sewage system unparalleled in the ancient world until the Roman empire, a huge public bath whose walls were water-proofed with bitumen, geometrically laid out brick roads, and standardized baked bricks for convenient construction. (We are so used to these technological achievements that we sometimes forget they had to be invented.) The Indus-Sarasvati people were a great maritime nation that exported a large variety of goods to Mesopotamia and other parts of the Middle East and Africa. Although only a few pieces of art have survived, some of them show exquisite craftsmanship. For a long time, scholars thought that this magnificent civilization was abruptly destroyed by invaders from the northwest who called themselves Aryans (ârya meaning “noble” in the Sanskrit language). Some proposed that these warlike nomads invented Yoga, others credited the Indus people with its creation. Yet others took Yoga to be the joint creation of both races. Nowadays researchers increasingly favor a completely different picture of ancient Indian history. They are coming to the conclusion that there never was an Aryan invasion and that the decline of the Indus-Sarasvati cities was due to dramatic changes in climate. These in turn appear to have been caused by a major tectonic catastrophe changing the course of rivers. In particular, it led to the drying up of what was once India’s largest river, the Sarasvati, along whose banks flourished numerous towns and villages (some 2500 sites have been identified thus far). Today the dry river bed runs through the vast Thar Desert. If it were not for satellite photography, we would not have learned about those many settlements buried under the sand. The drying up of the Sarasvati River, which was complete by around 1900 B.C., had far-reaching consequences. Just imagine the waters of the Mississippi running dry instead of flooding constantly. What havoc this would cause! The death of the Sarasvati River forced the population to migrate to more fertile parts of the country, especially east toward the Ganges (Ganga) River and south into Central India and Tamil Nadu. Why is this important for the history of Yoga, you might ask? The Sarasvati River happens to be the most celebrated river in the Rig-Veda, which is the oldest known text in any Indo-European language. It is composed in an archaic (and difficult) form of Sanskrit and was transmitted by word of mouth for numerous generations. Sanskrit is the language in which most Yoga scriptures are written. It is related to languages like Greek, Latin, French, German, Spanish, and not least English. You can see this family relationship on the example of the word yoga itself, which corresponds to zugos, iugum, joug, Joch, yugo, and yoke in these languages. Sanskrit is like an older brother to the other Indo-European languages. Now, if the Sarasvati River dried up around or before 1900 B.C., the Rig-Veda must be earlier than that benchmark date. If that is so, then the composers of this collection of hymns must have been contemporaneous with the people of the Indus civilization, which flourished between circa 3000-1900 B.C. Indeed, astronomical references in the Rig-Veda suggest that at least some of its 1,028 hymns were composed in the third or even fourth millennium B.C. Thus, the Sanskrit-speaking Aryans, who created the Rig-Veda, did not come from outside India to destroy the Indus-Sarasvati civilization. They had been there all along. What, then, was their relationship with the IndusSarasvati people? Here opinions still differ, but there is a growing understanding that the Aryans and the IndusSarasvati people were one and the same. There is nothing in the Rig-Veda to suggest otherwise. In fact, the Rig-Veda and the other archaic Sanskrit texts appear to be the “missing” literature of the Indus civilization. Conversely, the archeological artifacts of the Indus valley and adjoining areas give us the “missing” material base of the early Sanskrit literature—an elegant solution to a problem that has long vexed researchers. YOGA AND THE INDUS-SARASVATI CIVILIZATION JOTHY (15) This means that Yoga is the product of a mature civilization that was unparalleled in the ancient world. Think of it! As a Yoga practitioner you are part of an ancient and honorable stream of tradition, which makes you a descendant of that civilization at least at the level of the heart. Many of the inventions credited to Sumer rightfully belong to what is now known as the Indus Sarasvati civilization, which evolved out of a cultural tradition that has reliably been dated back to the seventh millennium B.C. In turn it gave rise to the great religious and cultural tradition of Hinduism, but indirectly also to Buddhism and Jainism. India’s civilization can claim to be the oldest enduring civilization in the world. Its present-day problems should not blind us to its glorious past and the lessons we can learn from it. Yoga practitioners in particular can benefit from India’s protracted experimentation with life, especially its explorations of the mysteries of the mind. The Indian civilization has produced great philosophical and spiritual geniuses who between them have covered every conceivable answer to the big questions, which are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. VEDIC YOGA Now we are entering somewhat more technical territory, and I will have to use and explain a number of Sanskrit terms. The yogic teachings found in the above-mentioned Rig-Veda and the other three ancient hymnodies are known as Vedic Yoga. The Sanskrit word veda means “knowledge,” while the Sanskrit term rig (from ric) means “praise.” Thus the sacred Rig-Veda is the collection of hymns that are in praise of a higher power. This collection is in fact the fountainhead of Hinduism, which has around one billion adherents today. You could say that the RigVeda is to Hinduism what the Book of Genesis is to Christianity. The other three Vedic hymnodies are the YajurVeda (“Knowledge of Sacrifice”), Sama-Veda (“Knowledge of Chants”), and Atharva-Veda (“Knowledge of Atharvan”). The first collection contains the sacrificial formulas used by the Vedic priests. The second text contains the chants accompanying the sacrifices. The third hymnody is filled with magical incantations for all occasions but also includes a number of very powerful philosophical hymns. It is connected with Atharvan, a famous fire priest who is remembered as having been a master of magical rituals. These hymnodies can be compared to the various books of the Old Testament. It is clear from what has been said thus far that Vedic Yoga—which could also be called Archaic Yoga—was intimately connected with the ritual life of the ancient Indians. It revolved around the idea of sacrifice as a means of joining the material world with the invisible world of the spirit. In order to perform the exacting rituals successfully, the sacrifices had to be able to focus their mind for a prolonged period of time. Such inner focusing for the sake of transcending the limitations of the ordinary mind is the root of Yoga. When successful, the Vedic yoga was graced with a “vision” or experience of the transcendental reality. A great master of Vedic Yoga was called a “seer”—in Sanskrit rishi. The Vedic seers were able to see the very fabric of existence, and their hymns speak of their marvelous intuitions, which can still inspire us today. JOTHY (16) Yoga Originated from Lord Shiva In ancient times, India did not exist as one country, but still it was considered as one entity which they called 'Bharat Varsha'. By race, by language they were not same; by religion, they did not worship the same Gods; politically, they were never one, but still the land south of the Himalayas was referred to as Bharat Varsha. So somewhere, there was some sense of unity because of the common spiritual ethos they carried in them. Spiritual ethos means, no matter what you are doing, whether you are a king or a peasant, whatever is the nature of your activity, there is only one ultimate goal for everybody - liberation. Even today, even the simplest farmer in this country will talk about mukti. This is a result of the phenomenal amount of spiritual work done in this country. One person who is largely responsible for this, who is of paramount significance in shaping the human consciousness is Shiva. In the yogic culture, Shiva is not known as a God, but as the first Guru or the Adi Guru. He is the Adi Yogi or the first Yogi. Out of his realization, he became ecstatic and danced all over the mountains or sat absolutely still. He was constantly into bouts of stillness and bouts of mad dancing. All the gods who saw him, saw something was happening to him that they themselves did not know. Suddenly heaven felt like a bad place, because this guy is having such a good time! They felt, "We are missing out on something." When they finally got him to teach the method, Shiva expounded various types of yogas depending upon the level of preparedness of the person who was sitting in front of him. The first part of Shiva's teaching was to Parvati, his wife. The yoga sutras of Shiva are such that almost in every sutra, he refers to her as the resplendent one, the gracious one, the beautiful one. The second set of yogic teaching was expounded to the Sapta Rishis/Sages, or the first seven sages. When we use the word yoga, you should not think of twisting your body or holding your breath or anything like that we are not talking about a particular exercise or a technique. We are talking about the very science of creation and how to take this piece of creation (you) to its ultimate possibility. We are looking at gaining mastery over the fundamental processes of life; the very process of creation and dissolution. It doesn't matter at what level of evolution a person is right now, for him also, there is a way. For every being on the planet, there is a certain way that is the advantage of yoga. This teaching happened on the banks of Kanti Sarovar, near Kedarnath (Himalayas). This is when the world's first yoga programe happened. Today, yoga is said to be the world's fastest growing wellness regimen because it presents spirituality as technology. Mahashivratri is a festival that was chosen to honour Shiva, the Adi Guru, from whom yoga originated. On this night the planetary positions in the northern hemisphere are such that there is a natural upsurge of energies. If one just stays awake and keeps one's spine erect throughout the night, it naturally pushes a person towards his spiritual peak. JOTHY (17) Ancient Shiva Linga in Ireland In County Meath, Ireland, on the Hill of Tara sits a mysterious stone known as the Lia Fáil (Stone of Destiny). According to The Annals of the Four Masters, an ancient document written by Franciscan Monks between 16321636 AD, this stone was brought to Ireland by the Tuatha Dé Danann, a supernaturally gifted people. Some speculate it was they who brought the power to make bronze to Ireland. They were the main deities of preChristian Gaelic Ireland. The Tuatha Dé Danann, meaning the children of the goddess Danu, are said to have ruled Ireland from 1897 B.C. to 1700 B.C. having arrived from the coast on ships. The Christian monks viewed the stone as a pagan stone idol symbolic of fertility. This stone was so important that it was used for the coronation of all Irish Kings up until 500 AD. The goddess Danu in European tradition was a river goddess. We find her namesake in rivers such as the Danube, Don, Dneiper, & Dniestr rivers. In some Irish texts her father is said to be Dagda (the good god), a father figure in Irish tradition. The Vedic tradition also has a goddess Danu, the daughter of Daksha, wife of Kasyapa Muni, who was a goddess of the rivers. The word Danu in Sanskrit means 'flowing water'. As the daughter of Daksha, her sister Sati would have been married to Lord Shiva. To practitioners of Vedic tradition the Lia Fáil matches very closely to the Shiva Linga. Eventually the Tuatha Dé Danann were defeated in battle. According to legend, they were allowed to stay in Ireland only under the ground as the 'Aes sidhe' - people of the fairy mounds. In recent years the sacred stone has been subject to desecration. In June 2012 a vandal struck the stone 11 times. You can watch a newscast on this act of vandalism. Again, in May 2014 vandals poured red and green paint over its surface. These actions are most unfortunate. We would encourage those in Ireland to protect and visit this ancient stone - a link to Ireland's Vedic past. Hindu Gods And Their Favourite Flowers JOTHY (18) These are some of the favourite flowers of Hindu gods and must be offered to them during their pooja… Ganapati: The lord of the world Ganesha like red colour flowers just like Lakshmi. Red Genda (Marigold) flowers please him greatly. The Genda is special because it is the only flower of the gods that can be divided into its petals. Scientifically too, each petal of the Marigold flower is a flower in itself. Vishnu: Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Universe has a colourful personality. He like wine, enjoys music and loves to becked up. He represents the cultural elements of our society. Lord Vishnu likes white and fragrant colours like mogra, jasmine etc. Apart from aromatic flowers, this Hindu god loves basil leaves. Shiva: Lord Shiva, the Destroyer of the Universe, is the divine ascetic. He lives the life of hermit in the wilderness of Mount Kailash and is clad in animal skin. Shiva loves all wild things and thus, pretty flowers are never offered to Him. He loves wild flowers like Dhatura and the poisonous flower Akondo or Apple of Sodom. Akondo is a white flower with a bluish tinge that matched the bluish hue of Shiva's throat. Kali: Adishakti or the essence of all female power in the Universe is known as Kali in her most destructive form. She is a blood thirsty goddess who represents wearing a garland of Asura heads and blood dripping from her mouth. To match the colour of blood, she worshipped with blood-red hibiscus flowers. Lakshmi: She is iconic for all that is auspicious and pure in your home. Goddess of wealth and prosperity accepts a wide range of flowers. Goddess Lakshmi is shown sitting on a lotus and thus that has to be her favouite flower. But in the absence of roses, any kind of red flowers, like red jasmine, please the goddess greatly. As she is a symbol of fertility and marital bliss, she must never be offered white flowers. White is the colour of widowhood in Hinduism and red is the colour of 'suhagan' (married woman). Vermilion or sindoor that is applied by all married Hindu women is also red. Saraswati: The Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge is always clad in white to symbolise purity of mind but her favourite colour is yellow. While offering prayers to this goddess you must be clad in yellow and also offer yellow coloured flowers like champa (Indian Magnolia) and yellow palash (Flame of the Forest). 5 Faces of Lord Shiva JOTHY (19) By Yogi Baba Prem Yogacharya, Veda Visharada Yogeshwar/Shiva, the lord of yogis, is commonly known throughout the world, but the five faced Shiva and associated teachings remains somewhat a mystery to students of spirituality. While the teachings regarding the five faces are somewhat expansive, there is a great deal one can learn from the five faces as they contain numerous lessons and fulfill an important role within ones spiritual practice. Initially, Shiva’s five faces can be associated with many groupings of five such as the five elements, the five koshas (sheaths that surround the soul) and the first five chakras. 1. Sadyojāta is associated with the western direction and represents Icchā Shaktī--will power. Sadyojāta is associated with Manomaya Kosha—the sheath covering the soul that consists of mind. Additionally, this face is associated with the fire element representing the fire of the mind and the fire of the body. This face is Shiva’s function as the creative force and is associated with Manipura chakra. 2. Vāmadeva is associated with the northern direction. This face of Shiva is associated with the shakti of strength and beauty as well as the goddess Maya. Vāmadeva is associated with the Vijῆānamaya Kosha. This face is the Citta rūpa, the form of the universal consciousness limited to the individual mind. Several traditions believe that mantra to Vāmadeva has considerable healing benefit. This is the preserving energy of Shiva, and is connected with the air element as well as the Ānahata Chakra. 3. Aghora is associated with the southern direction and jῆāna Shaktī--the power of knowledge; as well as the Buddhi rūpa meaning the form of the intellect. This face is associated with the Pranamaya Kosha, and represents the rejuvenating and dissolving qualities of Shiva as well as being connected with the water element and Svadishthana chakra. 4. Tatpurusha is the eastern face. This face represents the parātman or supreme soul behind the physical being. This form is Ānānda Shaktī, the power of bliss. Connected with the Annamaya kosha, tatpurusha in its higher manifestation is bliss; in the lower manifestation it is the concealing power of Shiva. This face is associated with the earth element, muladhara chakra and is considered beneficial for increasing focus. 5. Īshāna is the upper or skyward face. It is the Citta Shaktī or power of the individual consciousness to realize the universal consciousness. This form is associated with Akasha or ether, and the Vishuddha chakra. This is the total energy of Shiva encompassing all attributes of Shiva. This is the face of Shiva that is the revealing power and is associated with the Anandamaya kosha. While one can benefit from chanting mantra to all the faces prior to beginning one’s sadhana, meditation or other spiritual activity, it is important to note that there is an astrological aspect as well. As each of us has a karmic disposition to one face over the other in regard to particular karmas within this lifetime. This would be determined by consulting ones Vedic astrological chart. Once determined, one can meditate or perform mantra to that particular face in an attempt to find relief or balance within the specific. Legend of Lord Ganesha and the Moon JOTHY (20) The Legend of Lord Ganesha and the Moon is a very popular tale and is related with the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. Lord Ganesha is the Remover of Obstacles and is the most renowned Hindu Gods in India and abroad. He is extremely fond sweet balls of rice known as Modaka. Once on an auspicious day, he went to several houses to accept the offerings of the sweet. After a having a big meal of the modakas and laddoos, Lord Ganesha mounted his vahana, the holy mouse (shrew), and started to depart after sunset. Suddenly a snake appeared and the mouse got petrified. The sacred mouse tripped as a result of the snake and Lord Ganesha fell down on his back. The stomach of the deity burst open due to the impact and all the sweets came out of his stomach. However, Lord Ganesha gathered all the modakas and stuffed it back inside his stomach. Moreover he caught the same snake and tied it around his waist to hold it together. Seeing this incident, Chandra, the moon, started laughing and Lord Ganesha became infuriated and agitated and thought to punish Chandra Deva. He broke one of his tusks and threw it at the moon and as a result the moon lost its glow. As Chandra went away the entire world became engulfed in darkness. Ganesha cursed that Chandra would not appear in heaven and would never shine at night again. Moreover the deity announced that no one shall view the moon on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi. If any person dares to look at the moon, then he will earn a bad repute and censure. As the world remained dark, the people became terrified and bemoaned. The elderly people complained and young lovers grieved and lamented. As the sun remained bright even after nightfall, the people on earth could not sleep. Further more, all the gods and deities in heaven also became confuse as it was intolerable for them as well. Thus all the gods went to the abode of Lord Ganesha and prayed to him. The Moon also asked for his forgiveness. Ganesha, the Remover of Obstacles, complied with their request, but declared that Chandra will not be permitted to shine brightly every night, as it did before the incident. The moon would wax and wane and would alternate between a dark fortnight and a bright fortnight. Each of these periods will end and begin with a full moon and the new moon. Therefore, it is still believed by the devotees that it is unlucky to view the moon on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi in the month of Bhaadrapad. JOTHY (21) JOTHY (22) Sri Muktinath Nepal in the Mahabharata Period Muktinath is one of the most-visited tirthas in Nepal, revered by both Hindus and Buddhists, and the glories of Muktinath are sung in the Vishnu Purana. Located in Muktinath Valley, 140 miles from Kathmandu, the temple is situated at the foot of Thorong La mountain pass, over 12,000 feet (3,700 meters) above sea level. Muktikshetra, the "place of salvation", is the abode of Sri Muktinath, along with Lakshmi and Sarasvati Devi, and Garuda. The Muktinath temple is a small, rugged structure, situated in a vastly rugged landscape overlooking the Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri Himalaya ranges. The presiding Deity, Sri Muktinath, is a beautiful gold murti, nearly life-sized. The pagoda-style Muktinath Temple was consecrated in 1815 A.D by Queen Subarna Prabha, the wife of Rana Bahadur Shah. Only Hindus are permitted to enter the temple, which is also known as Mukti-NarayananKshetram. JOTHY (23) OM is without exceptions Unitarian Universalism OM is an intonation, a sound resonating throughout the body into the soul. It signifies God, higher power, and the oneness of all beings in life's cycle. The past, the present and the future are all represented in this one sound. OM is therefore the Foundation of Hinduism. - JOTHY DHANA JOTHY (24) JOTHY (25) Non of Us are as Strong as All of Us, Join Us Today… Become a Member of Malaysian Hindu Sangam www.hindusangam.org.my Malaysia Hindu Sangam HQ No.67, Jalan PJS 1/48 Taman Petaling Utama 7 46150 Petaling Jaya Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Tel:(+603) 7784 4668/7784 4244 Fax: (+603) 7784 7304 Web: www.hindusangam.org.my Email: [email protected] Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur 61, Jalan Wira 8, Taman Maluri, Cheras 55100 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 03-92815055 / Fax: 03-92815057 Email: [email protected] Selangor State Council No 48-2, Petaling Utama Avenue, Jln PJS 1/50, Tmn Petaling Utama, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Email: [email protected] Penang State Council No. 6, Lorong Kampung Gajah 2, Jalan Kampung Gajah, 13400 Butterworth, Penang. Tel: 016-4153829/04-9986532 Email: [email protected] Johor State Council No. 1, Jalan Indah 1, Taman Indah, 85300 Labis, Johor. Tel: 012-7683459 Email: [email protected] Melaka State Council 3269 Pekan Asahan, 77100 Asahan, Melaka Tel: 012-3731807 Negeri Sembilan State Council 1st Floor, 508, Jalan Haruan 5/6 70200 Seremban 2 Negeri Sembilan Tel: 012- 384 1995 Email: [email protected] Pahang State Council N0. 14, Lorong 1B, Taman Bukit Bendera, 28400 Mentakab, Pahang. Tel: 019-9401443 Email: [email protected] Sabah State Council Klinik Kota Belud, Po Box 154, 89158 Kota Belud, Sabah. Tel: 019-8708664 / 088-976835 Terengganu State Council 138-B, Jalan Sultan Zainal Abidin, 20000 Kuala Terengganu. Tel: 019-9835521 Kedah State Council No. 53, Lorong 2/5, Bandar Puteri Jaya, 08000 Sungai Petani, Kedah. Tel: 019-4634526 Kelantan State Council 29, Jalan SYP, Krai Clinics, 18000 Kuala Krai, Kelantan. Tel: 09-9666197/ 019-9839368 Perak State Council No. 211, Taman Heawood, Lorong 9, 31100 Sungai Siput (U), Perak. Tel: 019-5771995 Perlis State Council No. 6, Jalan Mesra 4, Tmn Mesra, Jejawi, 02600 Arau, Perlis. Tel: 019-4111146 JOTHY (26) JOTHY (27) Malaysian Hindu Sangam, Negeri Sembilan State Council Building & Hindu Development Fund Is on a Fund Raising Campaign for its Multi Purpose Hall (18,000sq.f) to House MHS State and 21 Local Council Activities with a membership of 6,200 members in the state. A bungalow lot was acquired in 1999, is now being transformed into a center for meeting MHS objectives and activities. We seek donors, fund raisers, volunteers to realize our foundation. Kindly Contact us if you could lend us your hand. V. Kandasamy | Chairman of MHS. NS State Council | Tel: 012-384 1995 JOTHY (28) JOTHY DHANA FUND 1 Malaysia Hindu Sangam Negeri Sembilan State Council What: It is a fund created for Social Community & Hindu Development Why: Urgent Need to Create Additional Fund for Emergency Relief, Social Development and at the same time to undertake Malaysia Hindu Sangam Projects Who: All Funds will be in favour of Malaysia Hindu Sangam the single most highest authority in Hinduism and Hindu Development in Malaysia. How: By urging All Hindus to Contribute a minimum of RM10.00 per month and by banking into (ATM Machine, e-Payment CIMB Clicks) Malaysian Hindu Sangam bank account. When: With immediate effect, we humbly urge all Hindus to volunteer without fear or favour, with open hearts and having faith in Dharma. Role of JOTHY: JOTHY will urge all its subscribers to contribute towards JOTHY DHANA FUND 1, that is totally dedicated towards the cause of Malaysia Hindu Sangam. JOTHY will also update contributors via JOTHY on Malaysian Hindu Sangam ‘s activities and programs. Role of Malaysia Hindu Sangam JOTHY is a pet Project of Malaysia Hindu Sangam, Negeri Sembilan State Council, hence JOTHY DHANA FUND 1 will be channeled to the State Council account, and the State Council will manage all projects and activities. Kindly view activities via web: wwwhindusangam.org.my 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Main Utilization of Fund Religious Education & Propagations Social & Community Services & Activities Hindu Development & Projects MHS Building & Development Fund Activities of MHS – 5 Key Result Areas Principal Fund Coordinators: V. Kandasamy ANS, PJK, | Tel:: 012-384 1995 | Email: [email protected] Deputy President, Malaysian Hindu Sangam National Council & Chairman Negeri Sembilan State Council Thayalan Nathan | Tel: 017-880 9454 | [email protected] Publisher & Editor, JOTHY & Founder of JOTHY DHANA, Secretary of the Building & Fund Raising Committee, Malaysia Hindu Sangam, Negeri Sembilan State Council JOTHY DHANA FUND 1 Bank Account Account Name: Malaysia Hindu Sangam, Negeri Sembilan State Council Banker: CIMB Bank Berhad Account No.: 05060023753052 JOTHY (29) JOTHY DHANA FUND 1 Malaysia Hindu Sangam Negeri Sembilan State Council HOW TO PARTICIPATE ? Step 1: Think Hinduism, Think Dharma… Realize Your Duties and Obligations as a Hindu Register yourself just once at www.jothydhana.org as an active contributor Step 2: Keep aside just RM10.00 a month or RM120.00 a year and bank-in (ATM)/ debit transfer (CIMB Clicks) into Malaysia Hindu Sangam, NS – CIMB Bank Bhd Account No.: 05060023753052 Step 3: Urge your Friends & Families to do the same. Propagating Dharma is upholding Hinduism. Step 4: Repeat the above each month without fail and Watch Dharma does its Job… Be Proud of it !, Because You are Part of it ! Promoting Temple Worship Voice for Hindus Defender for Hindus and Hinduism Preserving Traditions Promoting Hindu Teaching Community Aid Community Programs Knowledge & Practice in Hinduism Promoting Culture Heritage Education a Must for All Hindus Immediate Relief/ Aid Uniting Hindus Pictorial Activities of Malaysia Hindu Sangam, 50th Golden Anniversary JOTHY (30) Pictorial Activities of Malaysia Hindu Sangam, 50th Golden Anniversary JOTHY (31) Malaysia Hindu Sangam, 50th Golden Anniversary Awardees JOTHY (32)