Shivanshu: Pranam Swamiji Please tell the proper way to meditate and perfect timing for it. At what time exactly should I need to perform Havan in evening? What are the duties of son as prescribed in Vedas?
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. I paste my articles in this regard:-
Chanting Gayatri Mantra
Gayatri Mantra is in three Vedas please, i.e., in Rigveda, Samveda and Yajurveda. Samveda is sung when chanted, other than while performing Yajyen. So, Gayatri Mantra may also be sung.
Singing can be done anytime because God knows the pious ideas of anyone and He awards the result accordingly. Gayatri mantra can be chanted even without singing since it occurs in Rigveda and Yajurveda also, which are not sung. Secondly, Gayatri Mantra must be chanted by heart for getting more benefit. That is, it should be chanted by way of pranayaam. When we inhale and stop breathing within us then for such time, till we have stopped breathing, the Gayatri Mantra must be chanted. Then we must release the breath slowly, outside, and after releasing the full breath, we must stop the breath outside the body and during such period we must recite in heart the Gayatri Mantra by heart and the action must be repeated.
However, I would suggest that such practice must be first learnt personally from an Acharya. Secondly, when we sit on meditation on any suitable aasan then we must concentrate on Agya charka i.e., between the eyebrows and then we must repeat the Gayatri Mantra with the meaning of each word. This is the best way of meditation. I have written detailed comments on Patanjal Yog Darshan- Part I and II and have also described meditation therein, especially in sutra 3/1. I will advise you to study the book please.
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 Yajna. The havan with Ved mantras are always offered as the best worship of God only please. Do havan daily and both times.
In the end of hawan, please pray to God to fulfill your desires. I hope God will sure listen to you.
Actually, vedic rule is this that the aspirant must take the knowledge from a learned Acharya personally. However, I paste my article in this regard as under-
Though the unchangeable nature of God is to be omnipresent but somehow to understand the actual role and importance of parents to nurse and to influence the children with several types of good teachings, to make their character good, we can for time-being say that “God could not be everywhere, so He created parents”.
That is why, the mother has also been told as first guru of the child.
Though a vedic spiritual master is needed but uptil the age of six-eight years, parents are required to teach children. So, I would like to state vedic views that first of all parents are also required to be learned of vedas. Our ancient religious books like Mahabharat epic etc. written by ancient Rishis clearly state that impartial knowledge of four Vedas emanates from God for the benefit of all human-beings i.e., Vedas are equally applicable to entire mankind because at that time, the present sects do not exist. So, there was no other way for human-beings except to follow vedic path. Time was labouring on and from about five thousand three hundred years ago, after Mahabharat war, due to one or the other reason public started ignoring Vedas, stating that Vedas, Shastras, Upnishads etc., are meant only for Hindus.
Therefore, only Hindus, who have been made to opt for Vedas, Shastras, Upnishads etc. as their religious texts; can be told that according to mythology mentioned in their said religious books, to attain human life is really a difficult task.
Study of Yajurved mantra 39/5 and 6 reveals that based on previous lives good and bad deeds, the Almighty God decides the yoni of the soul and accordingly, the soul first enters the body of male member and thereafter under the natural process between husband and wife the soul enters the womb of a mother.
In this connection, Rigved states that soon after entering of soul into womb, God provides him with breathing system, with the help of which the body of baby in the womb starts to grow. So, first of all, we are grateful to the Almighty God to bless us with body of human-being and thereafter to the parents, especially mother who holds the baby and protects the baby as if he is her own body part. Father does hard-work to earn money to meet with necessity of goods to take care of family. So, such kind of debt of parents towards children can never be returned until the son and daughter serve the parents.
Dear son Yashvendra Singh, has very well stated in his article about the nursing of a baby by parents. No doubt, it is being observed that usually nowadays, children are disobeying, neglecting, disrespecting the parents as written by the writer.
You see, our Shastras state that there remains some reason for destroying the fundamental laws. Hence, we will have to also know the reason that why the present generation is insulting, behaving badly, disobeying their parents who with their hard money, time and by managing facilities nurse them and make them capable to live upon independently.
I would like to state that this case of disrespect etc., shown by children towards parents not only in India but all over the world, is due to the absence of knowledge of Vedas. Vedas preach to give respect and serve mother, father, aged and learned acharya of Vedas. In this connection, Yajurved also preaches beautifully that when a newly born baby takes birth then the mother-father look after him by all means like giving bath, cleaning the urine and stools of the child, giving nutrition like feed of mother, providing them with timely medical facilities etc. So, when the baby becomes young and independent, in return it surely becomes his duty that he provides the parents with all the facilities and also cleans parents’ urine, toilet etc., if needed in case of disease.
Unfortunately, it is sad that mostly such services are not being rendered by the children towards the parents, nowadays. If we compare the said situation to the ancient times, when vedic knowledge was in vogue, then we find that parents, aged persons were happy with the services of their family and there were no Vriddh Ashram (Old-Age Homes).
But, now we find that in all cities there are several Old-Age Homes where usually the son and daughter-in-law, turn out their parents forcibly to live there helplessly.
In view of the above, it is clear that due to the attraction towards materialistic articles of the world, children and even mankind have forgotten the preach of eternal knowledge of Vedas and hence the problem.
The authentic Valmiki Ramayan written by Rishi Valmikiji states that Shravann kumar used to live in dense jungle with his old, blind parents to serve them. Why? Because, he right from the beginning of his childhood, as usual, studied Vedas, did Yajyen and practised Ashtang Yog Philosophy and as a result had control over his senses, perceptions etc. That is why, he, leaving behind all the worldly pleasures, served the parents, following the vedic preach, which has not been made available to the children in schools, colleges etc., at present.
However, according to Valmiki Ramayan, Shravann Kumar did not carry his parents to pilgrimage places, as the eternal law of Vedas preaches that there is only one tirath to attain salvation which is residence and yajyenshala of learned acharya of Vedas and Ashtang Yog Philosophy. (Yajurved mantra 4/11 refers)
Yes, it is rightly stated by the author that the children are usually unnecessarily complaining to their parents to do something more for them, which is not justified.
End of the article is so beautiful and true, containing eternal knowledge of Vedas and inspiring the public to opt for vedic path to make their children’s character, the best. Here, I would like to mention that it is duty of government to spread knowledge of Vedas to all citizens. But it is sad that the government in this most important matter to build the character of students to further make the nation strong, has failed and hence several problems relating to students like addiction etc., have arisen.
