Sitting through a Nadi reading for the very first time can be nerve wrecking for some, as we are told that our past actions would be revealed by the Siddhas. True enough we soon are face to face with a listing of all the karma that was supposedly to have been done by us in a past life. Life is not fair; it is not right to punish us now for bad deeds we did in the past life; are we doomed to live a dreadful life?; these are some of the questions that arise during/after a Nadi reading.
The late C.Rajagopalachari in his translation of the Kural, a Bhavan's Book University publication, 1999, wrote on Karma, that answers the above questions.
The late C.Rajagopalachari in his translation of the Kural, a Bhavan's Book University publication, 1999, wrote on Karma, that answers the above questions.
Oozh is the Tamil word for the Law of Karma, by which the sum of man's thoughts, desires and actions in one birth becomes his start in the next birth or re-embodiment of his soul. Men reap the just and natural reward of every act and build their nature and tendencies as a result thereof. The law is unfailing in its rigour. The account is not closed by death, but carried forward from one birth to another. Causes not traceable to oneself now must be traced to oneself in past births. That we do not remember the past is irrelevant.
Since the present birth is a result of the past karma, there is a valid reason to reveal the past to us. Knowing why we took birth will help us evaluate life through a different perspective. We accept karma and while we work towards eradicating it, we are now more careful in all our new and fresh dealings, and day to day living. With the renewed understanding that karma is the determining factor in taking birth again and again, and with the knowledge and understanding about karma and the extent of its repercussions, we can now carefully tread the ground, rather than bulldoze through life otherwise and creating a mess of it.
"Vithiyai Mathiyaal Vellalaam", say the elders. Indeed, with the Siddhas aid we can turn the tables on fate and destiny. Yes we then make our own destiny. From thereon forth the Siddhas would guide us to rebuild our life, leading us to a better future. Towards this, the Siddhas have laid out many texts that help elevate man to the next level, imbibing good values and morals, bringing him to be more compassionate and loving. The Siddhas have laid out several ways to arise from one's miseries and strengthen his Atma Balam. Upon reading the Nadi we are asked to visit temples, perform many rituals, provide food and clothings, gift cows; and thank the authors of the Nadi through a simple ceremony Olaikku Dhanam. Performing the Homam or Yagam; building temples and other places of worship and many more acts of performing charities or egai or dhanam are advocated by the Siddhas. The idea here is to get us to start doing prayers or sadhana and performing acts of charity or dharma. Continued prayers would eventually bring the person to a state of bakthi or devotion, mellow his heart and prepare his body, mind and soul to receive Erai; while acts of charity would build compassion or dayavu in him and bring him to a state of extreme lovingness.
C.Rajagopalachari wrote about compassion,
Diverse are the teachings of the religions of the world, but in all will be found that compassion is that which gives man spiritual deliverance. Hold on to it!Besides changing a person both internally and externally; sadhana and dharma will surely lift him from being grounded in karma.
The kings and rulers of past centuries, on the advice of their wise and learned ministers, conducted extensive and massive and equally expensive yagams to garner boons and fulfill their wishes and also appease their karma. Understanding that it would not be possible for people to engage in severe tapas and conduct costly rituals, Divine masters chose to come down to show us ways to lead a devoted life appropriate for each yuga or according to the yuga dharma. Ramalinga Adigal a century back, took up annadhanam as the thiravakol or key to open the gates of heaven, and established the Satya Dharma Salai in Vadalur. While the other parikaram or atonement might be costly to perform or involve considerable cost, Adigal advocated the simplest but yet the greatest form of dhanam that is annadhanam, feeding others or sharing our food. Annadhanam can be done by all. Even the poorest can opt to feed the animals and birds instead.
Performing a virtuous act of aram or dharma and egai or charity is akin to planting a seed. Just as a seed can become a forest, the merits gained in taking up these values are manifold. "Dharmam Talai Kaakum" goes another saying. Aram is the way to bring to a stop the cycle of birth and rebirth. Furthermore the merits of conducting dharma cannot be snatched away by another, unlike property and fortune. Only the merits derived from these good deeds come along with us on the last leg of our worldly journey. These deeds are transferred as good karma and decide our next birth.
These acts of charity should not be done one off or only when directed but has to become part and parcel of our lifestyle. Look for opportunities to perform them daily. By treading live anew, adopting these values in life, that promise good merits, one sets out to rebuild, and modify his life, change his fate and destiny or even better draw up a new destiny. Accumulating these good merits will surely provide for a better future and after life and a better birth the next time around. Hence eventually he learns to becomes master of his own destiny.
These acts of charity should not be done one off or only when directed but has to become part and parcel of our lifestyle. Look for opportunities to perform them daily. By treading live anew, adopting these values in life, that promise good merits, one sets out to rebuild, and modify his life, change his fate and destiny or even better draw up a new destiny. Accumulating these good merits will surely provide for a better future and after life and a better birth the next time around. Hence eventually he learns to becomes master of his own destiny.
Join Aasan TR explain these and many other facts about performing aram in the following podcast. He quotes from Valluvar's Kural and Ramalinga Adigal's life extensively.