The first scenario: A man believing that he is in control of his life, takes the stage and proudly declares how he had planned and executed his well laid blueprint of life bringing it to a magnificent level of success as he had drawn and outlined for himself. He stands on the threshold of success and looking back declares his hard work and effort coupled with a secret potion or mantra that he had coined or discovered had brought him to where he was today. He packages and markets his product assuring that the public too could become successful like him. He tells us his success story. Fine. But how many turn out to be a successful businessman?
The second scenario: A modern day guru or motivator takes the stage and portrays himself as a mentor and shows the rest of the world that success is indeed within oneself and within everyone's reach. He tells us his success story too. Fine. How many turn out to be a good orator?
The third scenario: A guru takes the stage and expounds all the religious scriptures to the masses who have gathered around in the belief that they too could see the light beyond all of life's problems. He gathers them around and shows them a preview of what was to come, asking them to join his establishment for further guidance. He tells us his success story too. Fine. How many turn out to be a revered monk?
The fourth scenario: A man inherits his parents fortunes and continues to life in luxury and splendour, spending others money. Fine. How many receive a windfall?
The fourth scenario: A man inherits his parents fortunes and continues to life in luxury and splendour, spending others money. Fine. How many receive a windfall?
On the other hand we come across other entirely opposite scenarios too.
The fifth scenario: A man loses his lucrative well paid job overnight suddenly. He has sleepless nights, absorbed in figuring how he is going to make ends meet, pay the bills and place food on the table. Why did his life turn around for the worst overnight?
The sixth scenario: Another family goes through endless arguments and fights that never seem to end. Why does not peace prevail in this home?
The sixth scenario: Another family goes through endless arguments and fights that never seem to end. Why does not peace prevail in this home?
The seventh scenario: A family that never saw a silver lining since day one. Why have they been deprived of a blessed and good life?
The eighth scenario: He works two jobs and strives and strives but luck is never on his side. What about him who ends up defeated and having failed although he had slogged and worked hard to achieve his dreams?
These are only some of the many probabilities and possibilities out there that many a common man might face. Now why is there a distinct difference in the lifestyle and level of achievement between people?
Astrology or Jothidam gives us the formula, to read all the possibilities and combinations laid out in life, says Aasan TR. Visiting an astrologer might throw some light. But then when the predictions do not materialize then one sits back and begins to question if the astrological predictions were wrong or for the matter the science itself was a scam. Doubts start to creep in.
When predictions for me by Dr Krishnan did not materialize, I questioned him too. He asked that I see the Nadi Sastra. That was the very first time I heard about this science, its authors the Siddhas and their mystical and mysterious oracle.
True to the Dr's words, these and many other questions were subsequently answered by the Siddhas, the author of this science of prediction known as Nadi and Olai Suvadi. The Siddhas have the ability to fathom the secrets of life and reveal what exactly is taking place and why we are in a particular spot or dilemma. They reveal, show and clarify this mystery through the Nadi Sastra.
B.Kamalakkannan lists these in his "Footsteps of Saint Ramalingam", a Vanathi Pathippakam publication, as:
14 hundred thousand varieties of celestial beings; 9 hundred thousand varieties of human beings; 10 hundred thousand varieties of four legged animals; 10 hundred thousand varieties of birds; 11 hundred thousand varieties of reptiles; 10 hundred thousand varieties of aquatics; and 20 hundred thousand varieties in the vegetable kingdom.
From “ATMA” - “Reincarnation: The Soul’s Secret Journey”, The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, The International Society For Krishna Consciousness, we gather more information on why there is a need for such an immense myriad in diversity of creation and life.
As in "ATMA",
"Vinai" is an outcome of an action or doing. The present life is determined by the past actions. These actions are registered in the Akash were Erai's representatives (with the aid of a fail proof system in place that records, stores and discharges the appropriate results of these actions), discharge their duties without fail. Since young my parents have spoken of one Chitragupta who with his aids keeps tab of all our actions and eventually reports back to his superiors, the Almighty. The Chinese community too have a Kitchen God whom they feed with sweets in the believe that he would report back to his superiors sweet things about his subject once a year. And I was told that God delivers the life one deserves according to this report.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, Swamiji too speaks about these akashic records.
From “ATMA”, further clarification on this concept in reference to lower-than-human life forms is given.
Simply said seeing a person is seeing karma in effect or action. Worldly life is living out a life of karma, a baggage that we have brought along with us, carried with us, laid out and spread before us. We go through the contents of this baggage, sorting out, arranging them to happen in chronological order and fulfilling the vasanas or desires till our last breath. To unload completely this baggage would be a humongous task, especially in one birth. One must have extreme determination or Vairagya and Atma Balam, to skim through this baggage, accomplish what needs to be done as soon as possible and head back for the place he had come from, now without any baggage. We come as a heavily laden luggage but should leave as a feather.
To come to an understanding and acceptance that what I am facing currently, good or bad, is all due to my past doings and karma, is itself a gift of Erai, his grace. To pursue this understanding of karma and find means to eradicate it should be our mission henceforth. We need to ensure that fresh karma is not accumulated further. For that we take the hand of the Siddhas, to help deliver us.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami encourages us to perform dharma and sadhana just like the Siddhas advocate,
The only way to clear the karma is to seek divine intervention. The guru in the form of Siddhas are the ones to seek in this respect. Understand karma and plead to the Siddhas so that they would show a way out from our self made predicaments and problems. Prayers is the way besides performing charity, lighting lamps, worshipping in specific temples and conducting Yagams. Agathiyar showed me the way too to diffuse the karma. He set me on a journey and pilgrimage to temples where I was given the opportunity to perform prayers and do charity. During my pilgrimage to India, traveling to many places, I met many people, and learnt many things.
Towards helping humanity come to terms with their karma and helping them remove their karma, many saints have given us devotional hymns known as Padhigams. These were hymns sung by them in many real life situations where they pleaded to the most merciful Erai to soften, save, overcome and eradicate the sufferings of devotees.
Astrology or Jothidam gives us the formula, to read all the possibilities and combinations laid out in life, says Aasan TR. Visiting an astrologer might throw some light. But then when the predictions do not materialize then one sits back and begins to question if the astrological predictions were wrong or for the matter the science itself was a scam. Doubts start to creep in.
When predictions for me by Dr Krishnan did not materialize, I questioned him too. He asked that I see the Nadi Sastra. That was the very first time I heard about this science, its authors the Siddhas and their mystical and mysterious oracle.
True to the Dr's words, these and many other questions were subsequently answered by the Siddhas, the author of this science of prediction known as Nadi and Olai Suvadi. The Siddhas have the ability to fathom the secrets of life and reveal what exactly is taking place and why we are in a particular spot or dilemma. They reveal, show and clarify this mystery through the Nadi Sastra.
In an earlier post, Aasan TR very clearly explains the Nadi Sastra. He explains the nature and why the Nadi Sastras of the Siddhas came into being. The innumerable Siddhas, coming out of their tapas, intended to lead mankind to a better future. Hence they wrote many scriptures including the Jothida Sastra. Jothidam is considered as the "eyes" of the Vedas.
It is amazing to be told that many decisions are made and determined for each individual while he/she is in the womb itself. This would include his/her lifespan; the career; his/her fortune; skills that would be acquired or come easily; his/her appearance; and final moment of death.
Lord Brahma determines one's fate and destiny with Lord Shiva's grace. Only the Siddhas have the ability to uncover this secret, what has been determined and kept a closely guarded secret of the Devas or Deva Ragasiyam by Brahma within the "four walls" of the womb. The most compassionate Siddhas make a deal with Brahma to reveal the secret just for the sake of mankind so that they would understand the whole process of death and birth and take steps to end this cycle of birth.
We are told that before revealing one's Jataka with precision, there is a need to ascertain the Karma accumulated by the individual. This is the reason all individuals are taken through a reading of their Karma Kandam even before the other chapters are revealed. The past is made known to them on the onset. After ascertaining the karma, he/she is told what has been destined for him by Brahma based on their karma.
It is amazing to be told that many decisions are made and determined for each individual while he/she is in the womb itself. This would include his/her lifespan; the career; his/her fortune; skills that would be acquired or come easily; his/her appearance; and final moment of death.
Lord Brahma determines one's fate and destiny with Lord Shiva's grace. Only the Siddhas have the ability to uncover this secret, what has been determined and kept a closely guarded secret of the Devas or Deva Ragasiyam by Brahma within the "four walls" of the womb. The most compassionate Siddhas make a deal with Brahma to reveal the secret just for the sake of mankind so that they would understand the whole process of death and birth and take steps to end this cycle of birth.
We are told that before revealing one's Jataka with precision, there is a need to ascertain the Karma accumulated by the individual. This is the reason all individuals are taken through a reading of their Karma Kandam even before the other chapters are revealed. The past is made known to them on the onset. After ascertaining the karma, he/she is told what has been destined for him by Brahma based on their karma.
Disclosure and eradication of one's karma is possible with the grace of the Siddhas. Aasan TR mentions the exponents and Gurus of Jothidam as 18 in numbers and list them as: Surya; Brahman; Veda Vyasa; Parasarar; Atri; Romagan; Vasishta; Maruchi; Bowlagar; Yevanar; Saunagar; Manu; Bhrigu; Janagar; Angirasar; Kasipar; Karthipar; and Naranan.
A thorough knowledge of astrology; proper study and analysis and understanding of how the planetary positions would affect the individual; and its impact on a seeker's life, help in determining what is in store for the seeker.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in his KARMA AND REINCARNATION - An Inspired Talk, reveals about karma from the astrological aspect,
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in his KARMA AND REINCARNATION - An Inspired Talk, reveals about karma from the astrological aspect,
"Hindu astrology, or Jyotisha, details a real relation between ourselves and the geography of the solar system and certain star clusters, but it is not a cause-effect relation. Planets and stars don't cause or dictate karma. Their orbital relationships establish proper conditions for karmas to activate and a particular type of personality nature to develop. Jyotisha describes a relation of revealment: it reveals prarabdha karmic patterns for a given birth and how we will generally react to them (kriyamana karma). With astrological knowledge we are aware of our life’s karmic pattern and can thereby anticipate it wisely."
If the prediction denotes some form of mishap or unhappiness, the individual is told to carry out certain atonements or parikarams to appease the planets and overcome these adverse conditions that eventually brings a blessed life to the individual.
Hindu texts mention that there are various species of life forms beginning with the aquatics, and culminating in the human being and the celestials.B.Kamalakkannan lists these in his "Footsteps of Saint Ramalingam", a Vanathi Pathippakam publication, as:
14 hundred thousand varieties of celestial beings; 9 hundred thousand varieties of human beings; 10 hundred thousand varieties of four legged animals; 10 hundred thousand varieties of birds; 11 hundred thousand varieties of reptiles; 10 hundred thousand varieties of aquatics; and 20 hundred thousand varieties in the vegetable kingdom.
From “ATMA” - “Reincarnation: The Soul’s Secret Journey”, The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, The International Society For Krishna Consciousness, we gather more information on why there is a need for such an immense myriad in diversity of creation and life.
“The different categories of material bodies (species) exist because there are millions of categories of material desires. These different life forms are nothing more than machines designed by the material energy to fulfill different material desires.”These life forms are there to fulfil the desires that keep constantly arising, providing an avenue for creation to carry out Erai's Divine Play.
As in "ATMA",
“Our entanglement in the material sphere is the result of an unending chain of actions and reactions developed in this and previous human lives. This is known in Sanskrit as karma, a law of nature analogous to the modern scientific principle of action and reaction”,Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami too relates karma with science.
"In physics - the study of energy and matter - Sir Isaac Newton postulated that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Push against a wall. Its material is molecularly pushing back with a force exactly equal to yours. In metaphysics, karma is the law that states that every mental, emotional and physical act, no matter how insignificant, is projected out into the psychic mind substance and eventually returns to the individual with equal impact."Swamiji writes further,
"For, as we exist now is a sum total of all our past lives. In our present moment, our mind and body state is the cumulative result of the entire spectrum of our past lives."To the question as to who monitors or keeps tab of the accounts and details of karma, there are several interesting and possible answers provided.
"Vinai" is an outcome of an action or doing. The present life is determined by the past actions. These actions are registered in the Akash were Erai's representatives (with the aid of a fail proof system in place that records, stores and discharges the appropriate results of these actions), discharge their duties without fail. Since young my parents have spoken of one Chitragupta who with his aids keeps tab of all our actions and eventually reports back to his superiors, the Almighty. The Chinese community too have a Kitchen God whom they feed with sweets in the believe that he would report back to his superiors sweet things about his subject once a year. And I was told that God delivers the life one deserves according to this report.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, Swamiji too speaks about these akashic records.
"The akashic memory in our higher chakras faithfully records the soul’s impressions during its series of earthly lives, and in the astral/mental worlds in - between earth existences."The storehouse of these records as explained in “ATMA”,
“One personal form of God is the supersoul dwelling within the hearts of all living beings; witnessing every thought and action and awarding the living beings the result of their karma, arranging for them to accept an appropriate physical body lifetime after lifetime.”
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami explains that ancient yogis, in psychically studying the time line of cause/effect, assigned three categories to karma - sanchita, the sum total of past karma yet to be resolved; prarabdha, that portion of sanchita karma being experienced in the present life; and finally Kriyamana, the third type, is karma you are presently creating.
From “ATMA”, further clarification on this concept in reference to lower-than-human life forms is given.
“Only the human species, however is subject to the subtle but exact law, for only in the human form does one have advanced intelligence and freedom of choice. In lower-than-human life forms the soul is covered by much grosser forms of mind and body; therefore the living beings within such bodies are totally under the control of nature. Because beasts, microbes, insects, and plants do nothing more than automatically serve their instincts, they are not held responsible for their activities. They do not incur karmic reactions.”Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in his KARMA AND REINCARNATION, explains further.
"Karma operates not only individually, but also in ever-enlarging circles of group karma where we participate in the sum karma of multiple souls. This includes family, community, nation, race and religion, even planetary group karma."Swamiji reminds us that,
"The people who manifest your karma are also living through past karma and simultaneously creating future karma. Imagine how intricately interconnected all the cycles of karma are for our planet’s life forms."Aasan TR explains the concept of "Ulvinai" in the following podcast. He refers to Valluvar who has written much about Ulvinai in his Kural. Nothing is more powerful than Vinai. Even when ways are sought to overcome one's karma, it would come stand in front and damper or obstruct his efforts. Ignorance and laziness will veil the seeker and prevent him from coming out of his delusion. That is the immense potential of karma and its consequences.
Simply said seeing a person is seeing karma in effect or action. Worldly life is living out a life of karma, a baggage that we have brought along with us, carried with us, laid out and spread before us. We go through the contents of this baggage, sorting out, arranging them to happen in chronological order and fulfilling the vasanas or desires till our last breath. To unload completely this baggage would be a humongous task, especially in one birth. One must have extreme determination or Vairagya and Atma Balam, to skim through this baggage, accomplish what needs to be done as soon as possible and head back for the place he had come from, now without any baggage. We come as a heavily laden luggage but should leave as a feather.
To come to an understanding and acceptance that what I am facing currently, good or bad, is all due to my past doings and karma, is itself a gift of Erai, his grace. To pursue this understanding of karma and find means to eradicate it should be our mission henceforth. We need to ensure that fresh karma is not accumulated further. For that we take the hand of the Siddhas, to help deliver us.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami encourages us to perform dharma and sadhana just like the Siddhas advocate,
"However, it must be understood that your past negative karma can be altered into a smoother, easier state through the loving, heart - chakra nature, through dharma and sadhana."The Siddhas ask us to carry out extensive dharma and sadhana to counter the effects of karma. Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal speaks about Vinai when people tell him their problems. He says that the reason they were going through these tough times was due to their Ulvinai. He also provides the solution. He ask that they pray (Potrungal). He also indicates whom to pray to. He says pray to the Siddhas (Siddhargalai Potrungal) that they should shower their grace and lead them from darkness to light. He provides them with a compilation of Siddha names that was all that was required to gain the grace of the Siddhas.
The only way to clear the karma is to seek divine intervention. The guru in the form of Siddhas are the ones to seek in this respect. Understand karma and plead to the Siddhas so that they would show a way out from our self made predicaments and problems. Prayers is the way besides performing charity, lighting lamps, worshipping in specific temples and conducting Yagams. Agathiyar showed me the way too to diffuse the karma. He set me on a journey and pilgrimage to temples where I was given the opportunity to perform prayers and do charity. During my pilgrimage to India, traveling to many places, I met many people, and learnt many things.
Towards helping humanity come to terms with their karma and helping them remove their karma, many saints have given us devotional hymns known as Padhigams. These were hymns sung by them in many real life situations where they pleaded to the most merciful Erai to soften, save, overcome and eradicate the sufferings of devotees.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami suggest we accept karma as lessons to be learnt, rather than fight it for it could could lead to more severe consequences. He forewarns us.
For those weak at heart and decide to take their own life's Swami sympathizes, since the soul then has a longer journey to cover.
Continuous efforts are required to monitor and appease and settle our dues. One has to understand the long standing of these karma that can stretch beyond the present and immediate past birth and into many births before that. Hence it is a laborious task taking control and dispensing the right remedy for our past karma and those taking place even at this present moment. But with the grace of the Siddhas we shall take hold of it. Yes. With the guru's arul or grace and Erai's Sitham or consent of Erai, we shall sail through this sea of birth.
"In this highest sense, there is no good and bad karma; there is self created experience that presents opportunities for spiritual advancement. If we can't draw lessons from the karma, then we resist and/or resent it, lashing out with mental, emotional or physical force. The original substance of that karmic event is spent and no longer exists, but the current reaction creates a new condition of harsh karma."Pattinathar accepted his fate when he was wrongly accused for theft of the jewelery at the palace and tied to a pole and tortured. Ramana and Yogi Ramsuratkumar accepted abuse from the local village thugs who broke into the ashram and picked up a fight on the streets, respectively. Tavayogi was abused verbally by a thug while waiting for a cab once. They all remained silent and chose not to react.
For those weak at heart and decide to take their own life's Swami sympathizes, since the soul then has a longer journey to cover.
"The Hindu also knows that death must come naturally, in its own course, and that suicide only accelerates the intensity of one’s karma, bringing a series of immediate lesser births and requiring several lives for the soul to return to the exact evolutionary point that existed at the moment of suicide, at which time the still-existing karmic entanglements must again be faced and resolved."
"There is a tendency to cry during times of personal crisis, “Why has God done this to me?” or “What did I do to deserve this?” While God is the creator and sustainer of the cosmic law of karma, He does not dispense individual karma. He does not produce cancer in one person’s body and develop Olympic athletic prowess in another’s. We create our own experiences. It is really an exercising of our soul’s powers of creation. Karma, then, is our best spiritual teacher. We spiritually learn and grow as our actions return to us to be resolved and dissolved."Man's life as it is is too complicated. To fathom that that is not to be known needs a great amount of merit on our part as a seeker and a certain degree of knowledge, intelligence, and wisdom on the part of the Nadi reader and above all the full grace of the Siddhas.
Continuous efforts are required to monitor and appease and settle our dues. One has to understand the long standing of these karma that can stretch beyond the present and immediate past birth and into many births before that. Hence it is a laborious task taking control and dispensing the right remedy for our past karma and those taking place even at this present moment. But with the grace of the Siddhas we shall take hold of it. Yes. With the guru's arul or grace and Erai's Sitham or consent of Erai, we shall sail through this sea of birth.
