Kripa: Why don’t we remember incidents of previous births?
Swami Ram Swarup: In the present life, even we do not remember about the events of our childhood. We forget so many events which take place some years back. It is difficult to say that what vegetable, dal or fruit, we took in the dinner just 10-15 days ago. So, what to talk about the remembrance of past life? We can only say that it is all under the administration of Almighty God that we forget about previous lives’ events. This matter has already been placed on the article entitled After Death.
Kripa: Why don’t we remember incidents of previous births?
Swami Ram Swarup: In the present life, even we do not remember about the events of our childhood. We forget so many events which take place some years back. It is difficult to say that what vegetable, dal or fruit, we took in the dinner just 10-15 days ago. So, what to talk about the remembrance of past life? We can only say that it is all under the administration of Almighty God that we forget about previous lives’ events. This matter has already been placed on the article entitled After Death.
Satyendra: What is the beej mantra of mahamritunjya jap mantra? Can I chant this beej mantra of mahamritunjya jap mantra whenever I am free or whenever I am feeling fear, depression etc ? Will this bring me the same result of mahamritunjya jap mantra? Further chanting or listening of mantra is same thing
i.e. will both bring the same good result? Please guide me.
Swami Ram Swarup: Ved mantra is itself a mantra. It does not contain any beaj mantra. All Ved mantras have their respective devtas (subject) and chhand, etc. Secondly, all Ved mantras of four Vedas emanate direct from God.
So devta of Mahamritunjaya jaap is Rudra i.e., almighty God who punishes the sinners. It is better to chant the Gayatri mantra at all suitable times. Gayatri mantra contains – Stuti (praise), Upasana (worship) and prarthana (prayer). Whereas in Mahamritunjaya jaap there is only a prayer to God however, the selection is your own choice. Moreover, it is better that if your do daily havan with Gayatri mantra along with Mahamritunjaya jaap. However, in Vedas there is no Mahamritunjaya jaap. Please see more articles and questions on the website on the same subject.
Anonymous: Swamiji, I heard a story on TV about Saurabhi muni who was doing Tapasya on the banks of a river, in a jungle. He was thousand years old and weak. The symptoms of attachment and sensuality resided in his heart. Once he saw a pair of fishes duly indulged in sensuality. The desire of sensuality evoked in him and the Muni left the jungle and reached to king of Ayodhya. He asked the king to give his daughters to marry with him but all the daughters refused due to his old stage. Then the Rishi by his yoga power made himself most handsome, young boy. Then all fifty daughters of the king agreed to marry him. Muni married to all fifty daughters of the king. Muni spent thousands of years with his wives. He made fifty similar bodies out of his single body and spent married life separately with each wife. He obtained ten children from each wife. He created fifty palaces along with all luxuries in them through his yoga powers. Swamiji whether the story is true?
Swami Ram Swarup: The story seems to be unauthentic please. Yajurveda mantra 3/62 states that a person can get maximum four hundred years of age maintaining hard Brahamcharya, performing Yajyen and doing hard practice of Ashtang yoga. So nobody can exceed thousand years of age. Therefore the story that Saurabhi Rishi was thousand years old and after marriage, he spent several thousand’s years in married life and got ten children each from his fifty wives in old age, is not correct.
Eternal knowledge of Vedas like Rigveda mandal 10 concludes that after final destruction of the earth, when new creation starts then too Almighty God creates non-sexual young creation. (Atharvaveda mantra 7/2/1 Also refers). Why young non-sexual creation? If children would be made, they can’t enhance the generation and so is the case with old men and women who cannot give birth to children. In view of the above, it is clear that no such muni was there who had the age of thousand years and in the old age, he married with fifty young daughters of the king and got children.
Mawaram Supan: I will like to perform a puja. How many days should I fast prior to performing the puja? Do various pujas require different number of fasting days?
Swami Ram Swarup: Fasting is not necessary to perform worship. Vedas tell to worship only one God who is formless, Almighty, omnipresent, cannot be broken into pieces. He creates, nurses and destroys the universe alone, being Almighty. Holy Yajyen with Ved mantras, His name jaap and practice of yoga philosophy are the path to worship Him, please. However, you may put your query, if any, again, please.
Kuldeep: Kya Bhagvan ko dhoondne se desh kee progress hogi?
Swami Ram Swarup: Yes, please. Bhagvan ko dudne se hi kewal desh ki hi nahin, Vishwa ki progress hogi aur sukh-shanti, Bhaichara sthapit hoga agar veh Khoj/puja vedon ke anusaar athwa sache granthon ke anusaar hai. Vedon ke anusaar khoj mein teen vishay honge. Pehla, vigyan arthat science ke vishey mein progress jo Rigveda ka vishey hai. Doosra visheya jo Yajurveda ke visheya hai weh hoga shubh karma jisme deshwasiyon ko aalasya, Gareebon ka khoon choosna, nari apmaan, Ishwar se derker kanun vyavastha ko na todna ityadi bahut se subjects hongey. Bhai chara rakhna aur sab mil kar sath-sath unnati Karen, kheti, Pashu palan vibhag aadi annadi Desh ki tarakki ke vishye honge abhi tak jo kuch kaha, yeh sab bhautik unnati ke vishye mein kaha jisme koi bhi gareeb nahin hoga aur apas mein vair-virodh nahin hoga.
Teesra vishye vedon ke mukhye vishye hai joki Ishwar prapti aur moksha hai. Yeh saamveda ka vishye hain. Isme Yajyen, Ishwar ke naam ka jaap, Yogabhyas aadi pooja aati hai. Atharvaveda mein visheshakar medical science hai parantu charon vedon ne kaha hai ki upar kahe teeno vishyon mein Ek sath tarakki aur usme mehnat karma hi Ishwar ko dhundna. Iske vipreet Ishwar ki koi khoj nahin kahi hai, Isliye sahi mayne mein vedon ke anussar Ishwar ko dhundna hi manavta, Desh sampoorna vishwa ki tarakki hai jo aaj prayaha jhoote sadhu santon ke ved virodhi updeshon se band padi hai kyunki ved mein Bhagwan nein kahin nahin kaha ki sansar, dhan, parivar aur desh ko chod kar kewal bhagwan kohi dhundo. Yeh to bhagwan nein paap karma kaha hai.
Atharvaved mantra 19/41/1 mein saaf kaha ki Rishiyon nein jab-jab tap kiya tab-tab desh ko sudrida banaane ke liye kaam kiye. Aaj ved-virodhi sadhu janata se paise thag kar desh ko khokhla kar rahe hain aur Aish kar rahein hain.
Nanik Ram: According to Vedas there is one soul (atma) in one human body in the inner core of heart which is the basis of life. The separation of which from body causes death, right? Then when a human donates some organ, why does both the donated organ and the human body remains living? According to Vedic philosophy one should remain living not the two because there is one atma in one human body? Take another version of basically same question. Human body is made of trillion of cells, each can live outside body if we provide appropriate laboratory
conditions. Then this either means trillions of atmas in one man or this mean lab conditions are the basis of life? In either case it seems that SINGLE ATMA is not the basis of life? Please explain.
Swami Ram Swarup: Soul has three places to reside in the human body. While awake, it remains in left eye. During dreams, in throat and while taking sound sleep, soul resides in heart, please. These stages have been named- Jagrat, Swapan and Sushupt respectively. Yes, soul’s separation from body means death. Donation of organs is a separate matter means soul is alive matter whereas organs are non-alive. Soul goes out of the body when heart palpitation is stopped. So the organs required to continue heart palpitation even if less, then the soul continues to reside at places quoted above.
Organs separated from the body are non-alive matters, those are not alive. So when the organs are suitably placed in other human body by an experienced doctors connecting them to veins, arteries and tissues perfectly then the source/power is continued and enlightenment of the soul to whole of the body is resettled. For example-There is a midnight and darkness pervades all over the space but a room gets enlightened by ray of light of an electric bulb. A man in darkness is making some noise but is not visible. Now, the man who is living in the room calls him to join him in the room. Then the invisible man becomes visible by the ray of light of electric bulb. Same may be the case of a dead object outside the room which becomes visible when taken into the room. So in a body when other parts gets installed suitably, those parts gets enlightened by the power of the soul.
The matter which is one and should always be alive is only soul, please and not body or a part of the body. Trillions of cells/Tissues do not contain soul. Soul position is as quoted above, please. Like a bulb of a room. In a room there are number of objects but being seen in the night with the help of a single bulb.
Rajeev: Is birth of a child a sin? Does Atharvaved mantra 6/11/3 say that? I heard parents don’t get salvation without children.
Swami Ram Swarup: It is totally wrong and totally against the eternal knowledge of Vedas which emanates direct from God. Yaska muni in Shathpath Brahmin Granth states that soul always remains in masculine gender. When soul comes in the womb of the mother, either in human body or that of animals, birds etc., it takes bodies accordingly, based on his previous lives’ deeds. So based on bodies, soul is distinguished as male, female, eunuch etc. In shastras, it is clarified – “NAIV ISTREE NA PUMAAN AN NAPUNSAKAHA YEN YEN SHAREEREY TEN TEN YUJYATE”. It means the soul is neither woman nor man or eunuch. When soul takes body, it is distinguished accordingly. Secondly, Vedas tell that salvation or gati etc., is based on personal deeds of soul and not based on son, daughters, etc. Hanumanji, Bheeshma Pitamah, Karnna, Bal Brahamcharini Gargi (who was an acharya of king Janak) and several other dignitaries were not married but based on their pious deeds according to Vedas, they got salvation. Similarly, King Janak had only two daughters- mata Sita and Urmila. He had no son but got salvation. Yagyavalkya muni had two wives but no issue till death but got salvation. So please avoid the false statement of so called Pandits, gurus etc., who are against the Vedas. Yajurveda mantra 7/48 clarifies that soul after having human body does deeds good or bad and gets rewards accordingly. So there is no difference between boy and girl.
No, please, wrong interpretation of Atharvaveda mantra 6/11/3 has been read or listened by you. Only a tapasvi, learned of Vedas who has practised ashtang yoga philosophy can correctly interpret the Ved mantras.
Atharvaveda mantra 6/11/3 states that the lady who increases the number of family members when with the mutual consent of self and husband gives birth to a male child if she takes nutritious balanced diet, so the idea of the mantra is the lady who takes the balanced-nutritious diet she often gives birth to a male child. Mantra does not compare the birth of male or female child. It is bad luck of our country that the fair knowledge of Vedas is not being spread and hence dissatisfaction, problems, tensions, corruption, early death, diseases and several other problems are being faced by the public and the so called saints who are against the Vedas are cheating the public.
Mahesh: Can a human being fly and have supernatural power?
Swami Ram Swarup: Yes, it is possible in a yogi who is learned of four Vedas and after doing hard practice of ashtang yoga has attained Asampragyat- Dharam megh Samadhi as per chapter 4 of yog shastra and Yajurveda mantra 7/4.
I think it is not possible nowadays to meet with such yogi. Nowadays mostly the saints who are against the Vedas make fool of the public.
Dharmendra: Please tell me how Ram and his vanar sena constructed Ramsetu bridge? And also how much days they took? And is it true that Ravan has ten heads and he lifted the mountain of Shiva? And from where I will get original Valmiki Ramayan?
Swami Ram Swarup: Sri Ram had two engineers in his army- Nal and Neel. Under the advise of both engineers, the army built the bridge. When 13 years had been passed in exile then in 14th year Sri Ram attacked Lanka during that time, the bridge was made.
No please, it is not true because Ravanna had only one head. Sri Valmikiji states in Valmiki Ramayan that when Hanumanji entered the palace of Ravanna so as to locate Mata Sita then Hanumanji. “DADARSH VIKSHIPTAU RAKSHASENDRIYASA BHUJAVINDRAVAJOPAMAU” i.e., Hanumanji saw two open arms of Ravanna. In the next shloka Valmikiji writes that Hanumanji heard the breathing of Ravanna from one huge mouth. So the description of two arms and one mouth of Ravanna puts an end to all the doubts regarding ten mouths etc., of Ravanna.
No, Valmiki Ramayan does not tell about unnatural happenings that a person may be able to lift a mountain. Please send your postal address to send Valmiki Ramayan by V.P.P.
Dharmendra: Who is the father and mother of Bramha, Vishnu and Mahesh?
Swami Ram Swarup: Here Vedas clarify one thing that there is only one formless, Almighty, omnipresent God who creates, nurses and destroys the universe. Yajurveda mantra 32/1 further states that God was, is and always remain unchangeable one but His names are several. So Brahma i.e., most supreme, Vishnu i.e., omnipresent, Mahesh i.e., the creator are also the names of one God based on His supreme divine qualities. Yajurveda mantra 2/26 further states that God is “SWAYAMBHU” i.e., eternal. Being eternal neither God is made by anybody, nor anything is made from God. So God has no mother and father. As regards Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh being human beings/yogi, their parent’s names are not known please.
Rajendra: 1) It is said that by deep breathing, one reduces the number of breaths per minute which is constant for person thus increasing life span. In case of
Kapalbhati one increases number of breaths. How above logic fits in?
2) Deep refreshing sleep is observed after doung Dynan Mudra but followed by Unknown scary feeling. Could you please advice? One yoga teacher told me that feelings in sub conscious mind are surfacing. Guruji, is it correct? If correct what is the remedial action?
Swami Ram Swarup: (1.) Not deep breathing but by stopping of breathing the life increases, please. Actually, in the absence of maintaining yam and niyam properly, one should not do asan and prannayam, as is stated in Yajurveda mantra, 7/4 and yog shastra sutra 2/29. As regards Kapalbhati, it is kind of tough prannayam and is therefore prohibited in the absence of yam, niyam, and asan. Sequence of yoga philosophy is yam, niyam, asan, prannayam, pratyahar, Dharna, Dhyan, Samadhi and the eternal sequence is not allowed to be broken. So, why a person must do action of kapalbhati pranayam? Everybody is entitled to do prannayam but as per the sequence quoted above.
(2.) If the deep refreshing sleep does not involve laziness afterwards but alertness and pleasure, then it is okay otherwise not good. As regards fear, it is observed and one should ignore the same. No, feelings of sub conscious do not surface in this if so happens then it is not related to worship. Actually worship kills the fear.
Sanjay Kumar: 1. How to use Gyatri Mantra? 2. How to use puja or mala for gyatri mantra?
Swami Ram Swarup: The best use of GAYATRI MANTRA is to chant it along with its meaning in mind and not by tongue. Secondly, havan must be formed daily with Gayatri mantra along with its meaning. Thirdly, Bahyantar and Abhyantar prannayam must be done along with chanting of gayatri mantra in heart accompanied with its meaning. Such prannayams are learnt personally from experienced yoga teacher. I am away and hence can’t teach you. So you may either come here or seek a yoga teacher locally.
K: I was searching in net regarding anna daan. I heard that it is good for departed souls so I got your site. I am very much interested in spiritualism. My father had died sometime back. I am losing interest in things. Is there any world after death? I mean is there life after death as soul? Can meet our loved ones after death am very very much interested in knowing things like this.
Swami Ram Swarup: I am sorry to listen about your father’s demise. May God bless the departed soul.
Vedas are eternal knowledge which emanate direct from God at the beginning of every universe. Being the knowledge direct from God, each statement of Ved mantra is also eternal truth. Thirty-ninth chapter of Yajurveda states about death. The soul when leaves the human body remains under control of a divine air named “Sutratma vayu”. Mantras tell that after wandering unconsciously for thirteen days in the space and planets like Sun, moon, etc., soul comes again on this earth inside the vegetation. Then either the soul enters the male living being’s body according to pious deeds and sins through pores or duly mixed within vegetation is taken by a male person. Then the soul takes rebirth through parents.
This process is an eternal truth. However, if soul is religious and has done hard tapasya then the soul gets salvation. Only soul has to face the result of previous lives’ deeds through living being’s body. Since soul is alive whereas body is non-alive matter. So body does not face the result of deeds. When soul has gone out of body then how the soul will see, hear, taste, smell or touch or will be benefited of any pious deed etc. therefore Vedas do not tell about the present system of shradh
etc.
However, the pious deeds done to remember the departed soul by means of devotion or organising the holy Yajyen with Ved mantras, its result never goes in vain and the family is benefited.
Departed soul never meets again please. Even departed soul, when take rebirth, forgets every event of his previous life.
As regards dreams Atharvaveda states that dreams of departed soul are not good so it is in your interest and welfare that you do not see dreams.
Dharmendra: I want to know that why Krishna told Arjuna to fight against Kaurava? Do you think he was right?
Swami Ram Swarup: Yogi, rishi, muni and dev who were/are philosopher of Vedas and ashtang yoga philosophy never tell lies or do not deliver incorrect speech. As regards Yogeshwar Shri Krishna Maharaj, he was also supreme dignity and was equivalent to God. So how can he guide Arjuna incorrectly?
Duryodhan, Dushshasan, Kanak Shastri and Shkuni were the four bad elements in the Kaurvas side. They used to destroy the country doing insult of women, gambling, using wine, insulting rishis, destroying eternal knowledge of Vedas. Yudhisthir, Shri Krishna, Bheesham Pitamha, Kripacharya and other elder learned warriors tried to tackle the situation and to make Duryodhan to leave the bad habits etc., at their level best but all in vain. Secondly, the main reason to fight the Mahabharata war was therefore to finish the bad elements who were against the eternal culture and who were destroying the nation. So to save the eternal religion and nation, war became necessary. It was therefore very clear that war was to establish/save the religion which was and is a moral duty of a kshatriye. The second reason of war could be to get back the kingdom from Duryodhan because kingdom was taken over by Dhritrashtra (Kaurvas) by wicked means. But Pandvas were still requesting not to fight war but were ready to accept only five villages to live upon.
Vikas: Can you give me the list of forefathers of Bhagwan Ram?
Swami Ram Swarup: The lineage of Shri Ram has been mentioned in Valmikee Ramayanna right from Manu Bhagwan from Satyug. Lineage is like this—
Shri Ram was born in Ikshwaku family. Manu was the first king of this earth. Then Ikshwaku was the son of Manu. Then Kukshi, Vikukshi, Bann, Anrannya, Prathu, Trishanku, Dhundumar, Yuvnashva, Mandhata, Susandhi, Dhruvsandhi, Prasenjit, Bharat, Asit, Sagar, Asmanj, Anshuman, Dileep, Bhagirath, Kakutsth, Raghu, Pravridh, Kalmashpad, Shankhan, Sudershan, Agnivarna, Sheeghrag, Maru, Prashushuruk, Ambreesh, Nahush, Yayati, Nabhag, Aj, Dashrath and then Shri Ram, Lakshman, Bharat, Shatrughan.
Gowtham: Swamiji your answers & articles have opened my eyes to 100s of facts about which I was unaware of. My doubt now is regarding your “origin of Hinduism article”. You have said that entire mankind originated from Tibet & entire mankind were Hindus (studied Vedas) till few thousand years back. In that case why is there no mention or reference to any of western or eastern countries like Europe, Australia, etc. in our religious texts & also why is there no mention or edicts or material about Vedas in any of those foreign countries?
Swami Ram Swarup: Yes, non-sexual creation took place in Trivishtap, which is now called Tibet. But at the time Hindu word was not in existence. They all were Arya and those arya migrated from trivishtap to present pious land of mother India. Manusmriti shloka 1/140 to 142 (2/21 to 23) further clarify about the said land of India. Word “Hindu” come afterwards. India is situated on the back of river Sindhu and I have already told you that how the word “Hindu” was conferred on us. But still it is a truth that the whole public nowadays resides in India whether Hindu, Muslim, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists etc., were called Hindus, as they were/are living in India. So we have forgotten our ancient name Aryan and we have adopted our new name-Hindu. So, entire mankind did not originate at a time in Tibet. They were of non-sexual creation and were 1000’s in number at young stage. Thereafter, by parents the generation started taking birth and generations multiplied. In the said generations, those who adopted Vedas were called Arya being gentle and others were called Anarya i.e., Dacoits etc. When the people started increasing in number then aryas and anaryas started quarrelling with each other. With the result, Aryas left the place and came to the present pious land of mother India. So aryas did not come from outside.
At that time, there was no question of political division of earth into countries etc. Vedas do not tell about proper noun or any history etc. Vedas give knowledge i.e., of science, etc., form of pious deeds and the eternal path of worship of formless, omnipresent, omniscient, unchangeable Almighty God. My blessings to you for a long, happy life, you are always welcome please. I would also advise you to read some of my books written on the basis of four Vedas, if you so desire.
Kripa: With due respect, you say that the Vedas say God is one and formless. There are so many million Hindus who do not follow that. At the same time they encourage idol worship some of them are also learned people in Sanskrit, its grammar and the Vedas. Is it that the copies of the Vedas they learn are not the same copies that you read it from? Does not that mean somewhere something is corrupted God know which one is true! Similarly you have earlier mentioned to me that Hanuman was not a monkey but most of the people narrate the story with him as a monkey. Don’t you think the Hindu scriptures are corrupted to a great extent? What makes you think that what you read is the right version? Just like not everybody’s version is fully corrupted and some verses here and there are true. Don’t you think your version could be wrong in some places? What makes you feel the one you are following right and how is that you preach about something that is corrupted, that exists in different versions and does not exists in its original form as the true religion when its no more?
Swami Ram Swarup: Please refer to the earlier answer on origin of the world. When non-sexual creation came into existence then Almighty God originated the knowledge of Vedas in the heart of four Rishis. The worship of Almighty, formless God being eternal, is being performed right from the beginning of earth till Mahabharata war. Thereafter people indulged in sadness due to the innumerable deaths in the war and stopped studying Vedas and doing Yajyen and Ashtang Yoga practice under guidance of ancient Rishis. They did not contact with Rishis with the result, the later generation became ignorant from eternal knowledge of Vedas which emanates direct from God in the beginning of the Earth. Hence, the people started making their own made worship including the worship mentioned in your question. However, such worship is not mentioned in Vedas. Learning of Vedas is always done under guidance of an acharya who knows Ashtang yoga philosophy too. But nowadays, some shlokas from upnishads or from anywhere else are chanted by some persons who know little knowledge of Sanskrit and they show that they are chanting Ved mantras, which is a sin, being false. Secondly, if such people remember some Ved mantras, that too is not correct until an aspirant studies all Vedas. Some Ved mantras or shlokas of Granths and Chowpayees etc., are selected which corroborate their self-made path and help them to prove their own made path on ideas more strongly.
Actually it is not a matter that what I, you or anybody says about science, eternal spiritualism, maths etc. But eternal fact is that one should prove the statement from Vedas. For example- I say avtar is valid. Then a learned acharya will put the question please quote Ved mantra in support of your statement. So if there is a Ved mantra supporting that statement, then it is true otherwise not. This proof relates to the Yog Shastra Sutra 1/7 wherein it is stated: PRATYAKSHA ANUMAN AGAMAH PRAMANNANI. That is, to come to the truth, Ved mantra’s proof and proof of present Rishi-Muni who knows the meaning of Ved mantra is required. If public could have been educated about such sutras and Vedas then self-made worship would not have been introduced. So according to the said sutra, I give the example of Rishi Valmikiji who was a great learned and knower of Ved mantras and Ashtang yoga philosophy. He wrote Valmiki Ramayan, when Sri Ram, Rishi Valmikiji and Hanumanji were alive.
Valmikiji has written that Hanumanji was not monkey. Now a learned would accept the statement of Valmikiji as per proof of Vedas and shastras and rest may go ahead without any evidence/proof.
Similarly, we have to deal with Vedas and shastras and Rishis to reach at the truth in the case of taking birth too. All Vedas state that soul takes birth from parents under the control of formless, Almighty God as is also mentioned in Rigveda mandal 10, Sukta 129 and 135. So the birth quoted by you is not according to the Vedas, please. I always preach or state based on Vedic eternal philosophy and hard practice of Ashtang Yoga and I give proof of Ved mantras, too. So I am sure about my truth. If in a book or statement, few things are false and other few are true, then keeping in view the Vedas, the entire is condemned. However, it is also mentioned in Vedas that truth is also established by doing shastrath/discussion peacefully in presence of a learned acharya of Vedas. Nowadays, the preach is mostly shouldered and public is made to obey without discussion and Vedas’ proof.
Alok Sadana: It is a common notion in India that all the 4 Vedas are never kept in the homes together. Which of the Vedas is not kept in the houses?
Swami Ram Swarup: The reason for not keeping the four Vedas in the homes together is actually our bad luck. As you know, Vedas are eternal knowledge which emanates direct from God, at the beginning of the earth. God has entrusted us with a duty to study and obey the path of Vedas for long, happy life. Rigveda states there is no alternative of sun. It is only sun which spreads light on earth to obliterate the darkness of right and nurses the human beings. So are the Vedas. In the absence of study of Vedas, no light of knowledge is attained to kill the illusion and to get long, happy life. Please also refer to the previous answer on our scriptures.
Dharmendra: Do you know Swamiji how Krishna took birth? I also want to know that who is Narsinha and Prahlad.
Swami Ram Swarup: Kansa was king of Mathura and maternal uncle of Sri Krishna Maharaj who kept his sister and brother-in-law in jail where Sri Krishna Maharaj took birth. But after taking birth, Sri Krishna was safely taken to Gokul to the respected family of Nand where Nand and his wife Yashoda nursed him.
As regards Narsingha, his description is found in Puranns but all four Vedas do not agree with the same. Puranns say that Prahlad was son of Hirannyakashyap.
Naval Deshbandhu: In your article – “Difference between Buddhi, Mann and Aatma”, you state that — “Because prakriti is non-alive so the whole articles of the world is also non-alive. The bodies of man and woman and others were like statue because it is unsexual creation then the alive soul enters the body according to previous karmas (i.e., in the body of man, woman or animal or birds under the unchanged system of God). We are soul and not body. But my questions simply are: a) Where did the soul come from?
b) What caused God (which is Prakriti after Pralaya) to again come back into action? I think to simply state that God is both action and inaction is not sufficient? I think there is no explanation given (or possible) as to why did God have to create this Universe? Why? What was the need? To experience Himself? No, No. That which is complete, by definition at least, doesn’t have to do something to experience Himself.
c) Why did God create this Universe in which Illusion exists and it is possible to do Sin? Why create this complex mechanisms of separation from God, birth, re-birth, salvation, merger back into God? Why this game? Kindly provide your insights into my questions. Thank you and my salutations to you.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you.
(a) The creation is eternal. When final destruction occurs then souls and prakriti both take shelter within God. When creation occurs and functions of universe starts then soul according to Yajurveda chapter 39, after leaving the body, at the time of
death, wanders in sun, moon, planets etc., and then comes on earth. It mixes within food grains and thereafter takes next birth. This process continues till final destruction of universe.
(b) No question of cause or game etc., please, being eternal process. Moreover God is ever desire-less. God has even not created the universe alone. It is eternal process which takes place automatically. At proper/appropriate time, creation, nursing, destruction and again creation occur. At the time of creation, power from alive God acts in non-alive Prakriti automatically and creation starts and so on. So no question of why, please it being eternal process. God being desire-less and knows personally about each atom of the universe. So question of experiencing does not arise.
(c) Illusion is due to three qualities of prakriti i.e., Raj, Tam and Satva.
Rocky: Namaste Munivar, first of all thanks a lot for your answer. It was really helpful. Now I want to ask the meaning of this verse: Patanjali Yog sutra, chap-1, v-48- “ritambhara tatra pragya”. Please explain.
Swami Ram Swarup: My Blessings to you for a long, happy life. Ritambhra=established truth, Tatra=of that yogi, Pragya=sharp mind/intellect. Sharp mind which generates from vivek i.e., wisdom. Wisdom is generated by listening Vedas and hard practice of Ashtang Yoga. So Ritambhra is the quality of the pragya (mind/intellect) where the mind collects only the truth, truth and truth and not even an iota of illusion. So the yogi attains Ritambhra Pragya after doing hard practice of Ashtang Yoga philosophy. Such Pragya is different from those who have collected only worldly knowledge of the Vedas and collect the knowledge based on guess.
Such Ritambhra Pragya is attained by a yogi by attaining the stage of Nirvichar Samadhi. Such mind always remains full of concentration and remains always away from illusion. At anytime it can be concentrated on a single point where the person will be working and will not be having any disturbance/obstacles etc.
Such person had been doing the practice of Ashtang yoga philosophy especially concentration and meditation makes the best use of time and will be continuing forever too. Yes, without doing practice of Ashtang yoga philosophy and Vedas study under guidance of an acharya, other sharp minds based on worldly books study, may get some progress in worldly affairs/matters like education, science and other fields but would not be able to grasp only truth, truth and truth, it being duly effected with illusion. Illusion effected mind would get tired soon and would require freshness time and again. It may tell that it is not in the mood of doing a particular task continuously whereas Ritambhra pragya remains ever fresh and is confirm.
Kripa: Prohibition of Interest in the Qur’an (3:130) (4:161) (30:39) (2:275) (2:276) (2:278) – Prohibition of Interest in the Veda (Rigveda 3:35:14). Is this true?
Swami Ram Swarup: Yes, taking of interest on money is prohibited in Quran. However, Vedas as well as Manusmriti talks to take reasonable interest as per business requirement to live upon.
Please quote correct number of Rigveda as the mantra number quoted by you i.e., Rigveda mantra 3/35/14 does not exist.
So to take the interest on money is the profession of a businessman (Vaishya) (Manusmriti shloka 1/90). This liberty is not applicable for others i.e., Brahmin, Kshatriya, etc.
CVNL: Guru ji, I am suffering from arthritis. Please instruct me the relevant pranayam and diet restrictions to cure the same.
Swami Ram Swarup: You must take medical advice regularly, please for diet control and requisite medicines. Prannayam is learnt from an experienced yoga teacher or a yogi in person please. Otherwise, it may be harmful. I am away, therefore can’t teach you from here. Either you may come here for a week or please contact an experienced yoga teacher to learn asan and prannayam. However, Vedas tell first to take advice from medical authorities.
Mawaram Supan: When a devotee is doing abhishek to the Shivalingam and then he is offering prasad to the Shivalingam, I was informed that the devotee is not allowed to touch the Shivalingam at any time. If this is correct and the reason why he is not allowed to touch the Shivalingam at all?
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Shivling worship is not mentioned in Vedas please. Vedas tell only to worship a formless, omnipresent, omniscient, Almighty God who creates, nurses and destroys the universe alone. Being Almighty, He has all unlimited powers to do the above said divine action at His own. He does not need any assistance, so does not require to take avtar, etc. Vedas tell that God is Swayambhu. Swayambhu means that God has not been made by anybody or from any matter. Again from God nothing can be made.
