Deepak: Swamiji charan sparsh, with your blessing I do daily yoga havan and dhyaan. I wanted to ask that when I meet different people mostly of them know that God is one unlimited but they says as we are human being so we need statue or any adhar so they do like murti puja, and
even I know few people, who do daily meditation and they go in samadhi stage for half hour or more time than they do regular work in world so is this right way? Or few of them keep chanting mantra in mind all the time so they say like all time they remembering God,, few of them do dhoop in home for remove negativities, so is this correct way? What I want to ask also what will be their future also? There is big community of Christian, Muslims, Jains, etc. even in Hindus also who have not done havan even once in whole life? Thanks Swamiji.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. I appreciate your pious deed of doing daily havan and dhyan which is really a real worship of Almighty God as mentioned in Vedas. In this way, you obey the preach of God mentioned in Vedas and thus you become entitled to get blessings of the God. He protects and gives us happiness in the form of wealth, health and protection etc. Yes, God is one and this fact is mentioned in four Vedas, knowledge of which emanates direct from God in the beginning of the earth. In Vedas, there is no mention about any statue needed to do worship, so learned never go against Vedas. You see, when God is formless, omnipresent, omniscient, immortal and like this He has unlimited divine qualities. Vedas state that divine qualities of Almighty God are unchangeable and unchallengeable. So, how Almighty God can be changed into a statue, idol etc. I also paste my article in this regard-
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.
Rishi Patanjali in his Yog shastra sutra 3/1 clearly states- “DESHBANDHASYA CHITTASYA DHARNA” i.e., to concentrate on any part of our body. Especially, space between two eyebrows, tip of nose or at heart is called Dharnna. I mean to say, every ancient Rishi-muni or present learned have clarified that the devotee should concentrate on the part of body but not outside body. If we concentrate outside body then our thought will always be outwardly and then no chance of concentration, meditation or realization etc., because Yog Shastra Sutra 1/2 already states
“Yogashchitvriti Nirodhaha” i.e., Our thoughts should be completely stopped and this stage is called
Yog. So, if we concentrate outside the body then our thoughts will never be stopped, they being outwardly. So it is not a matter that some people do this or that etc., but matter is that whether we follow eternal Vedas preach or otherwise. Vedic knowledge emanates direct from God when God starts creation. It is constitution of whole world made by God. So, Vedas are not sect. Some people are atheist, some are against Vedas but do some worship. But in Vedic path, both are told atheists. Vedas tell in this connection-
“Nastiko Ved Nindakaha “
That is, those who are against the Vedas and insult it are atheists.
RG: For the past 2 months, my mind is suffering from an apprehension about a traffic accident. Day and night I am living in this fear and I am unable to overcome this view. Please tell me is there any logic in this apprehension and how to overcome this fear since its taking my energy out?
Swami Ram Swarup: The logic is only this that due to lack of courage such apprehensions come into mind and create problems. So, please be brave and do not pay any attention to such fear. Everything will be ok. To gain courage and mental strength, you are advised to do the following
–
Shubh Karma
Hard working, devotion, dedication, honesty, services to the parents and elders to follow eternal religion mentioned in Vedas, practice of Ashtang Yoga, discharging moral duties to get progress in education, science simultaneously with spiritualism like, daily havan, to be in contact with the learned Acharya, to get his advice, are some of the pious deeds which make the future bright and obliterate the sorrows, problems, diseases, etc.
One must wake up early in the morning for early morning walk and exercises, must sit on meditation and chant holy name of God, must be away from any addiction and non-vegetarian. Such pious actions lead to long, happy life and bright future.
GAYATRI MANTRA
Please, start the day by chanting Gayatri mantra in the early morning sitting on suitable asan like Sukhasan, Siddhasan or Padmasan etc. concentrate on the point between two eyebrows which is called “Agyachakra”. The Gayatri mantra should be chanted along with its meaning both times. Also, please try to perform daily hawan even with Gayatri mantra. Then try to study any of my books daily and put up question if any.
After 15 days chant the Gayatri mantra only thrice thereafter do the name jaap of Almighty God-“Om”. The jaap must be done daily by heart and not orally.
The Gayatri mantra is as follows —
OM BHURBHUVAHA SWAHA TATA SAVITUR VARENYAM BHARGODEVASYA
DHIMAHI DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODYAT
Meaning of Gayatri mantra stating each word is as follows. Its meaning is based on Vedas and Sanskrit grammar. Grammatical hints are in short please.
Om has three Hindi words. Aa, Uu AND Ma. Aa is meant for Aakaar from which three names of God are built, Viraat, Agni, and Vishwadi. From Uu = uukar from which Hirannyagarbha, Vayu and Tejas names occur and Ma = makaar from which Ishwar, Aditya and Praajyan aadi, holy names of God occur. Rigveda mantra 1/164/46 says God is one but His names are several. But here OM the holy name of God is only being explained.
VIRAAT = Viraat word is made from dhatu ‘Rajrideeptau’ i.e., manifest. Therefore Viraat means He who manifests the universe. As God manifests the universe, thus Viraat is the name of God. Rigveda mandal 10, sukta 129 states that like potter makes pot from clay, similarly God creates universe from non-alive matter prakriti. Prakriti is unseen matter. From unseen matter, the whole universe is created in the visible form. Science also says that matter is never destroyed but changes its form. Suppose a paper is burnt, paper changes its form into ashes. Then ashes are crushed and thrown in air. At this moment, the paper changed into ashes becomes invisible but was never destroyed. Similarly the whole universe at the time of final destruction is turned into prakriti i.e., into unseen form.
AGNI = From dhatu, “ANCHU GATI POOJANAYOHO” the word “AGNI is made. Its meaning is: He who is a form of wisdom. “SARVAJAYEN” i.e., Omniscient. That is, knows each and every atom of universe and even beyond universe. He who is to be known, to be gained and is worshipful. So Agni is the name of God.
VISHWA = Vishwa word is made from dhatu, “VISHPRAVESHANE”. Its meaning is He in whom the universe is entering or He who is entering the universe. So being omnipresent, Vishwa is the name of God.
HIRANNYAGARBHA = i.e., ” JYOTIRVAYIHIRANYAM”. Its meaning is, who is the base of all sun, etc., luminous lokas or He who is the living place of all luminous lokas.
VAYU = from dhatu, “VA GATIGANDHANYOHO”, vayu word is made. Its meaning is He who holds, gives life and destroys and is the mightiest amongst all. So the name of God is Vayu.
TEJ = from dhatu, “TIJA NISHANE”, the word Tej is made meaning He who is self made and self-enlightened and gives light to sun, moon, stars etc. God does not take light from anywhere but gives light to sun, moon, stars, etc. so the unbroken, unobstructed/unproduced and eternal form of light is Almighty God and not sun, moon etc. So the name of God is Tej.
ISHWAR = from dhatu, “ISH ASHWERIYE”, the word Ishwar is made. Its meaning is whose knowledge is thoughtful and true and He who has unlimited wealth, fortune and glory etc. Therefore the name of God is Ishwar. Here it is not out of place to mention that soul (man/woman) has limited qualities and are dependent whereas God is independent and has unlimited qualities that is why He is God.
ADITYA = from dhatu, “DO AVAKHANDANE”, Aditya word is made. Its meaning is the one who cannot be broken into pieces and thus cannot be destroyed. So God’s name is Aditya.
PRAJAYEN (PRAGYA) = from dhatu, “JYEN AVABODHANE”, Prajayen word is made meaning whose wisdom is totally without any misunderstanding and thus he who knows every matter and behavior of whole universe without misunderstanding. So God’s name is Prajayen. So here also it is not out of place to mention that illusion can never attack on God and God is totally free from illusion.
BHUHU = “BHUHU ITI VAYEE PRANAHA” i.e., He who is the base of lives of universe, is most beloved, even more than Prann i.e., breath. So Bhuhu is the name of God.
BHUVAHA= “BHUVAHA ITI APANAHA” i.e., He who is totally free from any sorrow, and the soul removes his own all sorrows after coming in contact with Him. So the name of God is Bhuvaha.
SWAHA = i.e., “SWAHA ITI VYANAHE” who is omnipresent in the universe and is holding the same. So the name of God is Swaha.
SAVITUHU = He who creates the universe. So the name of God is Savituhu.
DEVSYA= who gives all pleasure/merriment, so the name of God is Dev.
VARENNYAM = He who is the most supreme and acceptable. God is most supreme and acceptable for worship.
BHARGAHA = the purest entity (though God is formless, but finding no suitable English word of Sanskrit word, “SHUDH SWARUPAM” the word entity has been used.)
TAT = i.e., the God i.e., of the purest entity.
DHIMAHI = i.e., we must hold (sort of meditation) because
YAHA = the God
NAHA = our,
DHIYAHA = mind(i.e., in our minds)
PRACHODYAT = by inspiration (fulfil the mind with wisdom)
MEANING
“We meditate the God who is the base of lives’ of universe, totally free from any sorrow, omnipresent, creates the universe, gives all pleasure/merriment, most supreme and acceptable, purest entity; May the God enlighten our minds with wisdom by His inspiration”.
Here it is not out of place to mention that idea of a (one) Ved mantra is based on ideas of several Ved mantras. So in the above Gayatri mantra, there are three things —-
Bhuhu, Bhuvaha, Swaha, Savituhu, Bhargaha, Devsya are some qualities amongst unlimited qualities of God. These are called Stuti i.e., to say about God with His real qualities and not self made etc.
Secondly Dhimahi means meditation i.e., one should always sit in meditation and do hard and pious deeds for which he will have to study Vedas in full, while discharging moral duties towards family and nation.
Third and last is DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODYAT. It is a prayer to God explanation of which is cited above.
How to do havan
Please sit in the morning to perform havan. Havan must be in sunlight then it is more beneficial. Then half a bowl of fresh water with a tablespoon must be with you with small twigs especially of mango tree if possible, havan samagri, ghee, camphor and match box must be there with you. Please sit on sukh asan on four times folded blanket and blanket must be on mat.
Sukh asan i.e., sit on duly folded feet in comfortable position. Then first close your eyes and concentrate between two eyebrows and chant Gayatri mantra three times within heart and not by mouth. Then open your eyes.
Take one spoon of water in right palm. Chant this mantra, OM AMRITO UPASTRANMASI SWAHA and drink the water which you have put in your palm. Then again take the spoon of water in right palm then chant the next mantra, OM AMRITA APIDHANMASI SWAHA, and drink the water. Then again take the water in right palm and chant the mantra, OM SATYAM YASHAH SHRI MAYI SHRI SHRAYTAAM SWAHA, and drink the water. Then wash the right palm while sitting, with the same water kept in bowl.
Then put the twigs into havan kund with one piece of camphor and burn it. During this process chant the Gayatri mantra again and again till such time the fire is lighted sufficiently. Then chant the Gayatri mantra and at the last add the word Swaha and offer ghee with tablespoon, quantity equivalent to 4 to 5 drops. And if you are alone then also offer in fire pinch of havan samagri from your right hand’s finger and thumb avoiding forefinger. So this offering may be of 11 times, 21 times or 51 times as the time suits. It is the simplest way and I have not quoted the complete method of Yajyen. The havan with Ved mantras are always offered as the best worship of God only please. Do havan daily and both times
G P: Pranam Swamiji, I am following the Vedic Sandhya daily in the morning but can’t do the daily hawan as I need to run to work early in the morning. Is it ok if I do Hawan only on weekends? Also As you have mentioned in some of your answers, that the origin of humanity was
from Tibet. I would like to know if there is any reference for this in Vedas.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. In Vedas, there is no reference about the origin of humanity in Tibet but Rishi Manu has told this fact in his book Manusmriti. Rishi Manu was the first monarch of the world, about one arab, ninety six crores of years ago. As regards havan, I would only say that Samveda mantra 14 and other Vedas tell to do the havan daily, both times. Now, it depends on everyone to do hard-work to follow the Vedic preach. However, first of all, one should try to do daily havan, once at least. Still, I appreciate your effort to do the havan at weekends. Please, improve it to please Almighty God.
