Pal Dindayal: I am looking for meaning of some shalokas of Eeshopnishad.
Swami Ram Swarup: Translation of the mantra is as under:
The first mantra of Eeshopnishad is same as is of first mantra of 40th chapter of Yajurveda. So I am explaining Yajurveda mantra 40/1:
(YAT) Whatever (IDAM) here in the universe (SARVAM) all (JAGATYAM JAGAT) non-alive and alive world are there.
Meaning: That is, whatever is being seen in this universe i.e., right from Prakriti to earth consisting of non-alive and alive world [non-alive means earth, moon, sun, air etc., i.e., made of five matters and the alive souls having bodies of living beings]. All that (VASYA) has been pervaded by (ISHA) Almighty God i.e., when the non- alive world and the alive world (living beings) is created by the God then God enters in it and therefore God is called omnipresent.
(TEN) Therefore the matters (TYAKTEN) giving up the matters i.e., detaching the chitta from the matters (BHOONJEETHA) utilize, i.e., one should utilize all the worldly matters by detaching himself from those. So, one should never get indulged in illusion. (KINCHA) and see that (DHANNANM) the assets (KASYASVIT) belong to whom permanently? i.e., do not belong permanently to anyone because one day everyone has to leave for heavenly abode. Therefore, (MA GRIDHA) do not desire for worldly matters but as stated above, use it for religious purpose only.

Idea: God is everywhere, being omnipresent, He is present in both non-alive matters and in living beings. So, He is the lord of all matters, assets and even bodies of living beings. Therefore, we can never exercise claim over any item of the world ever for us. However, God has blessed us with human body with all assets, worldly matters etc., to use them with detachment, for the purpose of attaining salvation. Everybody knows that at last he has to meet with death leaving behind all his family assets etc. So, it is a fact that the family or assets do not belong to us permanently. One day, we have to leave them. So, naturally we must not be greedy to cling to worldly matters forever. So, said is the preach of Yajurveda mantra 40/1 but mere worldly preach will do nothing and will never give us peace.

We have oftenly seen cases of several saints etc., even who study, remember the preach and give long lectures stating that the money, family are not ours, so one
must not be greedy and leave the assets, money etc. They inspire the persons to donate assets, money, even boys/girls to them (those saints). On the other hand, they gather money from devotees in the bags and enjoy luxurious living. So mere bookish knowledge or lecture will do nothing but will be harmful if the people do not do daily yajyen, name jaap of God, hard practice of Ashtang Yoga, contact with learned acharya of Vedas and yoga philosophy. The said devotee will themselves have to check daily if they are following true path or are disturbed persons. They will also have to check whether they are progressing in the matter of detachment and would they be able to become ascetic one day. Otherwise, one should not do drama of spiritualism, either by family person or saint because the mantra says- “Eesha Vasyam Idam” i.e., God resides everywhere, even within us and every time he sees/watches each of our activities and awards punishment for the sins. So the mantra preaches us that one should always be aware of the presence of God and must be afraid to commit sins anywhere.

Siddharth Bajaj: Can I do pranayama between 3a.m to 6a.m ,as it is believe that 3 to 6 a.m is bramamurat (spiritual time)?
Swami Ram Swarup: Brahmamoohurta starts when first redness of the rays of the sun appears in sky and that time is around 4 a.m., in the morning. This Brahmamoohurta is the best time to worship Almighty God i.e., Brahma. One must therefore do worship i.e., study of Vedas, Name jaap of God and practice of yoga philosophy i.e., yam, Niyam, Asan, Prannayam, etc.

Divyam Sahni: What should be taken when there is acidity in the stomach?
Swami Ram Swarup: First of all, one must take medical advise. He should wake up early in the morning for long, morning walk and light exercise daily. He should avoid fatty, fried food, tea. Must take plenty of water daily. Water must be first boiled and then cooled. Also take the medicine as pasted below:
Neem powder ka formula
CHIRETTA-KIRETTA = 1gm
GYOL = 40gm
AZWAIN = 6gm
MEETHI-SOUNF = 6gm
CHHOTI-PEEPAL = 3gm
NEEM-leaves = 25-30 leaves.

Make the powder of all above items and take one kadchi (i.e., kadchi used to prepare dal, vegetables etc.) and boil it in one and half litres of water for five minutes. Then let it be cool and afterwards sieve it. Now take half cup of this medicine and mix it with another half cup of fresh water. Take one cup of this medicine in the morning empty stomach. It must be continued for three months. You can also do kunjal kriya but it will have to be learnt by an expert. You can also do Uttanpada asan, bhujang asan, tiddi asan. Padam asan to overcome the problem. Prannayam will also help you. But all this yoga path will have to be learnt by an expert yogi in presence.

Anonymous: Pranaam Guruji, In order to do a full complete hawan, using your book of Sandhya Mantra. What is the order that should be followed ? For example: a) aachman b) aang sparsh? c) ??? d) ??? Is it correct to use light smacking as a last form of discipline i.e. after all other methods are exhausted, for children? Who has more say, more authority, in the bringing up of children, parents or grandparents?
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Yes, the havan must be started first of all by reciting Gayatri mantra, Then all sandhya mantras must be recited sincerely and with full concentration. Then do aachman, anga sparsh, recite “Om Bhoorbhuvahasvarduau Riv Bhumna………..:”, then recite “Udbudhusvagne Prati Jagrihi…..” and ignite the fire, after doing this, please see the book possessed by you called sandhya mantra wherein the further process has been explained.

Uptil the age of 6 years, the children may listen to the Ved mantras while performing Yajyen but are not entitled to do hawan or to do mischief at the place of hawan. So better if such children are kept away from the place of hawan or they may sit there calmly. However, during the process of hawan, children may not be scolded/smacked etc. otherwise the pious result of doing the hawan may vanish away. I mean to say violence is prohibited during hawan. Parents and grand parents, both are responsible to make the children’s future bright. However main part is played by mother. Vedas state – “MATA NIRMATRI BHAVATI” i.e., a mother makes the future of children bright.

Sagar: Vedas don’t permit idol worship then how can we call idol worshipping people from our religion as Hindus?
Swami Ram Swarup: Idol worship
The God’s worship is in Vedas which emanate direct from God, wherein idol worship is not mentioned. I have previously quoted several examples that idol worship is not required. For-example you know me and I also know you, we both reside in bodies, being souls and souls are also shapeless. So we know each other, but how? Only on the basis of qualities and not on the basis of statue/photos etc. If you or I will try hard then we can also meet together. This is worldly example even.

So on the basis of the qualities of the God, as mentioned in Vedas, God is known and when an aspirant follows/obeys the path of Vedas i.e., worship, Ashtang yoga practice, listening of Vedas, Yajyen etc., under guidance of an acharya, then he attains samadhi i.e., realizes God too. So, as per Vedas, no need of idol worship.

If someone believes that God is everywhere then why does he avoid wine, smoking, theft, etc., etc. inside the temple and does outside? Actually realization is subject of deep study of Vedas and to observe thereon. Sagunn means with eternal qualities mentioned in Ved mantras because the meaning of Sa+Gunn means ‘with qualities’. So God has unlimited qualities like formless, omnipresent, etc., etc. and nirakar means shapeless. One can not break the rules and regulations of God mentioned in Vedas. Vedas are self-proof and cannot be denied.

Originally, the citizens of India were called Aryans. Meaning of Arya is gentleman, pious person, who are hard workers, know Vedas and Ashtang Yoga Philosophy, do daily Yajyen/hawan , we have been awarded Hindu name now which we happily accept but you see originally at the time of beginning of the earth, we were called human beings. But now human beings have been divided, calling Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians etc. It makes no difference. We all human-beings originally were Aryans and if today, we are being called Hindus then it makes no difference. Vedas have told that at the time of birth, we are human beings (man/woman). As is also stated in Yajurveda mantra 40/3 when a man/woman gets attached with bad deeds and does sins then his title becomes Asur/devil and if a man/woman makes contact with learned acharya and starts listening Vedas and doing daily hawan and name jaap and practice of Ashtang yoga daily while discharging moral duties, keeps himself away from sins and bad deeds which are against Vedas then he/she is called Dev/Devta or Devi. So, we all are Hindus living in India.

Anonymous: Swamiji charan sparsh. Some one told me that kabir sahib had told his devotees to not perform havan as in havan so many small insects, ants, etc. die while they alive so is it sin, and another thing if I read japuji saheb is it ok as in that also guru nanak ji had written about formless God, and if I keep chanting Ram Ram Ram inside I feel vibrations in body so is it ok, but one guru gave me one mantra whenever i chant that with meditation I feel very angry disturb inside so another follower of guruji said it is good sign your anger, etc. is coming out than they will remove fully after you keep chanting.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. All the ancient and present Rishis, learned of Vedas, Sri Ram, Sri Krishna maharaj, Vyas muni etc., have told to perform the hawan daily. Even, the Vedas which emanate direct from God at the beginning of the earth, say to perform hawan daily to purify atmosphere as well as mind, intellect etc., then we may decide ourselves whether to do hawan or not. Whether we should obey Almighty God, Vedas, Rishi-munis Sri Ram, Sri Krishna Maharaj or not. Actually, the endless divine qualities and best result of doing Yajyen/hawan is mentioned in Vedas and the holy granth written by Rishis which the normal public mostly do not study and hence the problem please.

Yes, Guru Nanak Sahib has given us the right path of worshipping formless God. Shri Guru Nanak Dev Sahib has also praised the Vedas in Shri Guru Granth Sahib.

As regards name jaap of almighty God, we will have to follow the Vedas please. We will have to see what holy name was being chanted/repeated by the kings/public before the birth of Bhagwan Ram.

Anonymous: Sometimes I feel too much anger and disturb inside what should I do?
Swami Ram Swarup: Anger or disturbances in mind, intellect etc., is a common phenomenon based on the result of bad deeds done by us in the previous lives. The said problem can only be controlled by real worship of God according to Vedas, please. Anger etc., are even seen in several saints as well which must not be there.

Bharat: Namaskaar swamiji. Earlier when I used to meditate I used to feel a lot comfortable. I used to concentrate between the eye brows in padmasan with left palm over the right. As my instructor then told I felt there was energy leaving the left and entering the right. But now I am getting an ache. I feel as I if all the nerves are being squeezed. Could this be because I have stopped in the middle and takes time or is there a need to change my way? Can you please describe in detail about the posture and methodology to meditate?
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. You had been doing Padmasan correctly please and must go ahead. However, all must sit on an asan which must be bad conductor of heat to avoid earthing of energy/heat developed while doing asan, Prannayam, etc.

Jagdip Dave: Can you tell us something about origin of MurtiPooja as Vedas speak about Yajnas, but not MurtiPooja?
Swami Ram Swarup: Statue worship (moorti pooja) has not been mentioned in Vedas because God is formless and omnipresent whose statue (moorti) cannot be even imagined then how can it be made. Yajurveda mantra 32/3 especially states “NA TASYA PRATIMA ASTI” i.e., God being beyond calculation, beyond imagination and formless, He cannot be measured and therefore His statue/idol cannot be made. This universe has been created by God about one arab ninety-six crores eight lakhs and fifty-three thousand years ago. Uptil Mahabharat war i.e., about 5,300 years ago no moorti pooja originated. Learned say that first time when Jain’s guru i.e., Mahavir Swami left for heavenly abode, his statue was made in his pious remembrance. Then Hindus also started idol worship.

Dr. Harish Arya: How one can control his respiration and can fly with the help of yoga?
Swami Ram Swarup: I think the reply to this question has been already given long time ago. No doubt, a yogi can fly but the task is too difficult to describe. I mean to say contact with an experienced Yogi and hard practice of Ashtang Yoga, as mentioned in Vedas, under acharya’s advice is necessary. When the aspirant, as a result of hard practice of ashtang Yoga, attains Dharmamegh Samadhi, then he becomes able to fly. The achievement of the said Samadhi can take one birth’s time, based on regular hard practice and becoming completely ascetic or can take two, three or five or more births, please. So, one must only worship God faithfully and selflessly.

Venu Gopal: When I start my study in morning, afternoon and evening daily then after 15-30 minutes go, I feel sleepy. Please help me find a solution.
Swami Ram Swarup: Such sleep is not appreciated being completely harmful to all. Mainly, the sleep comes due to constipation and gastric trouble. So, you must seek medical advice immediately, please. Secondly, you must never take fatty, fried food. A student must wake up early in the morning for long, morning walk and light exercises regularly, must take plenty of water (12-15 glasses of water, per day). Please, check yourself that you must take continuous sound sleep only in the night for 5-6 hours, then the unnecessary sleeping problem shall be over. If possible, please learn 8-10 Yoga asans and Prannayam from an experienced Yoga teacher, locally.

I D: Guruji pranam. This is the problem related to my brother. He is a great devotee of Lord Hanuman. But nothing good is happening in his life. He was a brilliant student till 10th class in a very reputed school. All his problems started after class 12th. He got admission in an engg college and constantly his studies got disturbed. Now he has got admission in an MBA college through entrance exam but again has been suffering a lot due to others. His studies are constantly getting disturbed and he is facing lot of problems and on the verge of discontinuing the course. He observes fast on Tuesdays and still has faith in LORD HANUMAN. Why GOD is not listening to him when he has so much faith in HANUMANJI? Please suggest something and save him.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Hanumanji was a great warrior, brahamchari, learned of four Vedas and a devotee of Almighty God and Sri Ram as mentioned by Rishi Valmikiji in his Valmiki Ramayan. If we really want to worship Hanumanji then we will have to follow his true path as well. So, a devotee of Hanumanji must worship Almighty, formless, omnipresent God as per Vedas. Then surely the devotee shall get mental and physical energy as was gained by Hanumanji.

If he was a brilliant student till 10th class then question arises why he has not retained his caliber and what is the reason behind? One thing is clear that he is now not doing hard studies. You know, only worship shall do nothing, God helps those who help themselves. A student must always refrain from bad society. He must control his five senses, five perceptions and mind and then concentrate on his study and health only. No laziness or any other bad habit should be harboured. So, your parents must do counseling with him on the point of his weakness and remove the weakness immediately. Your brother has one plus point as well that he has faith in God. So I would advise that on one side, he must concentrate on hard study daily, leaving bad society/ bad thoughts etc., if any along with this, he must chant Gayatri mantra daily both times , sitting on siddhasan and must also do daily hawan with Gayatri mantra. God will surely help him.

Shobha: We liked the name keya for our daughter, but on research found that its the cursed flower not usable for pooja. It is the kewda flower in Hindi. But we did come across some Hindu girls named Keya. Is it appropriate to name my child that. Is the flower used for pooja or not? We understand that the word Ruhi is soul but also the name of a tree. on research we found it is the strawberry guava tree. Is it true? In what language is the tree called ruhi?
Swami Ram Swarup: At the beginning of the creation knowledge of four Vedas emanates from Almighty God for the benefit of the human-beings. The best worship of the God is to perform holy Yajyen with Ved mantras, His holy name jaap and practice of Ashtang Yoga Philosophy etc. In Vedas, there is no mention about worship of God by offering flowers but nowadays the flowers are being offered at one’s own will. So, every flower, according to the present worship, can be offered. In the yajyen also dried vegetation etc., is used. So, if you have given ‘Keya’ name to your loving daughter, then its O.K. please. However, according to Vedas, a proper name ceremony performing holy Yajyen is organized and a name, which is mostly a pious word of divine Vedas, is given to a daughter/son. In Urdu language, meaning of Ruhi is spiritual (Roohani) and the meaning of word “Rooha” is soul.