[Advaita-l] RE: Advaita-l Digest, Vol 32, Issue 19

C.P.Rajeev Menon rajeev.menon at apnaloan.com
Mon Dec 19 22:38:15 CST 2005


-----Original Message-----
From: advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
[mailto:advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org]On Behalf Of
advaita-l-request at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 11:30 PM
To: advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
Subject: Advaita-l Digest, Vol 32, Issue 19

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Today's Topics:

   1. Forwarded mail from Guy Werlings: nidrA and sushupti
      (Vidyasankar Sundaresan)
   2. Re: Advaita-l Digest, Vol 32, Issue 18 (S.N. Sastri)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 21:12:59 -0800
From: "Vidyasankar Sundaresan" <svidyasankar at hotmail.com>
Subject: [Advaita-l] Forwarded mail from Guy Werlings: nidrA and
        sushupti
To: advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
Message-ID: <BAY101-F1012B6ED4C1DD859478FE3DB3F0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed


I am forwarding a mail from Sri Guy Werlings, as he seems to be facing some
difficulty sending mail to the list.

Regards,
Vidyasankar
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--

From: "Guy Werlings" <werlings.guy at wanadoo.fr>

Dear friends,
I am very glad to be back with you after several years. Unfortunately I am
still very ignorant and I am always in need of help and clarifications.
Recently I studied very carefully again the ashhTaavakra sam.hitaa to see if
I could find in it any reference to "avasthâtraya vicAra", my favourite
subject of investigation, but I could find only the two Sloka-s mentioned
here below in Itrans encoding scheme:

. ashhTaavakra sam.hitaa ..

na jagarti na nidraati nonmiilati na miilati .
aho paradashaa kvaapi vartate muktachetasaH .. 17\-10..

kva svapnaH kva sushhuptirvaa kva cha jaagaraNaM tathaa .
kva turiyaM bhayaM vaapi svamahimni sthitasya me .. 19\-5..

I noted that two different words were used to describe sleep, i.e. nidrA and
sushupti. As I could not find the difference by myself and as I have the
good fortune of being still in contact with SrI Subhanu Saxena, I took the
liberty of asking him and he kindly replied: nidrA is a general word for
sleep, whereas suSupti has the specific sense of dreamless sleep. I know
that SrI Saxena is exceptionally knowledgeable and that I can completely
rely upon his explanation, but if somebody could elaborate a little more on
the subject I should be very thankful.

namAmi bhagavatpAdaM sha~NkaraM lokasha~Nkaram.h ||

Guy

_________________________________________________________________
Don't just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search!
http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/



------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 21:30:22 +0530
From: "S.N. Sastri" <sn.sastri at gmail.com>
Subject: [Advaita-l] Re: Advaita-l Digest, Vol 32, Issue 18
To: advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
Message-ID:
        <7b890d4a0512190800x3bbb9fb2q8c60ff4e4d17d561 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

The significance of the Rasakrida can be understood only if it is borne in
mind that, according to the Bhagavata, Krishna was the supreme Brahman and
so was the indwelling self of all, and that naturally   includes the
Gopikas. Srimad Bhagavatam itself explains its significance. It says:-
"Multiplying Himself into as many as there were Gopis, the Lord
*feigned *enjoyment
as He sported with them, though He is '*Atmarama', *one who ever revels in
the Self alone and so does not have to seek joy from external objects or
persons" (Bh.X.33.20). Krishna is the supreme Brahman. The Gopikas represent
the jivatmas yearning for union with Brahman. This union is what is known as
liberation. In the same chapter, sloka 38 says: "Actually, the men of Vraja
were not angry with Krishna; bewitched by His power of Maya, they imagined
that their wives were by their side all the time". So it is all a play of
the Lord's Maya and at the same time a superb exposition of the supreme
devotion of the Gopis and the boundless compassion of the Lord towards His
devotees.

Moreover, the great sage Narada says in his Bhakti sutras that the Gopis
knew that Krishna was the supreme Being Himself. They did not look upon Him
as a mere human being or as their paramour. In the Gopikagitam in chapter 31
of Srimad Bhagavatam the Gopikas tell Krishna: "You are not just the son of
a Gopika; you are the indwelling self of all living beings".  On this
subject my article 'The Gitacharya and the Gopijanavallabha' under the main
heading 'Glimpses of Vedanta' in my website
http://www.geocities.com/snsastri  may please be seen.

Many of the other episodes also have symbolic meaning. This has been brought
out in my article entitled 'Episodes in Srimad Bhagavatam' in the above
website.

sn.sastri at gmail.com


On 12/18/05, advaita-l-request at lists.advaita-vedanta.org <
advaita-l-request at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>
> Send Advaita-l mailing list submissions to
>        advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>        http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/advaita-l
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>        advaita-l-request at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
>        advaita-l-owner at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Advaita-l digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. New member introduction: B. M. Kiran  (Jaldhar H. Vyas)
>   2. Rasakrida (sriram)
>   3. New member introduction: S. N. Shastri (Jaldhar H. Vyas)
>   4. Re: Rasakrida (B.M KIRAN)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2005 14:31:19 -0500 (EST)
> From: "Jaldhar H. Vyas" <jaldhar at braincells.com>
> Subject: [Advaita-l] New member introduction: B. M. Kiran
> To: Advaita-L <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
> Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.63.0512171430320.15906 at localhost.localdomain>
> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
>
> Namaste,
>
> I am a Masters Student in Network and Internet Engineering at SJCE Mysore,
> I was  happy to know that there was something going on Advaitha Thattva of
> Sri Sankara on the net,
> I am very much interested in the Advaitha thattva which was because of my
> Guru who has thought me
> Katakopanishad with Shankara Bhasya
> Isavasyaopanishad with Shakara Bhasya
> Presently learning Ithareyaopanishad
>
> Also when i find free time i am very much inclined to read Sankara tattva
> from Viveka Chudamani, Vedanta DinDima in Kannada published by  Sri
> Sachidananda saraswathi of Holenarasipura.
>
> Well I hope the group provides me an opportunity to know a speck of
> Advaita
> tattva, and to interact with the scholarly people.
>
> Thank you
> KIRAN.B.M
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 17:36:56 +0530
> From: sriram <srirudra at vsnl.com>
> Subject: [Advaita-l] Rasakrida
> To: advaita <ADVAITA-L at LISTS.ADVAITA-VEDANTA.ORG>
> Message-ID: <003101c5ff15$c2632240$a76541db at ksriram>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Dear all
> The Srimad Bhagavatha Mahapuranam is fully devoted to Lord Krishna`s
> divine plays as an avathar of Lord MahaVishnu.It is told to Parikshith who
> fully knows he will have to leave the earthly life within seven
days.SukhaBrahmam narrates the divine dispensations of Sri Krishna so that
Parikshith
> though not in death bed but knows that he is certain to die at the end of
> seven days will get peaceful transition.I will say when one believes that
> as a small boy He-Lord krishna-lifted the Govardhana Giri and therefore
> called lovingly as Giridhari by great devotee Meera-and held it aloft till
> the rains lashed by Indra stopped and protected all living beings of
> Brindavan-then why one cannot  accept the Rasa krida of Lord Krishna with
> gopies.He is also credited with the play of concealing the Dresses of the
> gopies -the episode is titled gopi vasthrapaharanam and the gopies were
> forced to come naked to receive their clothes.Whether this does not seem
> to discredit His conduct?I will advise that we should read the Sriman
> Narayaneeyam of Narayana Pattadri and He did raise doubts about Sri
> KRISHNA`S DOING SUCH AND SUCH THINGS AND it is said that Sri Guruvayur
> Krishnan said yes by lowering His head to show assent for all such
> questions.
> Therefore one should have either full faith in our scriptures or leave
> them as such.Before us so many more intelligent people have lived and they
> have given answers for all these usually unbelievable/unacceptable
episodes
> about Avatars.If one reads Soundarya Lahari of Adi Sankara one will be
> astounded with the descriptions of Mother Divine`s body frame.Mind you He
> was a nishtiga brahmachari.
> So if some one is not able to digest our Puranas leave them as such as I
> think their interest is not in understanding the WHOLE purpose but to
> ridicule by slipshod reading and forming poor opinions.Lastly our brains
> are not equipped to fathom the Divine leelas as we have our own
limitations
> and prejudices.Krishnamoorthy.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 07:53:51 -0500 (EST)
> From: "Jaldhar H. Vyas" <jaldhar at braincells.com>
> Subject: [Advaita-l] New member introduction: S. N. Shastri
> To: Advaita-L <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
> Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.63.0512180752420.15906 at localhost.localdomain>
> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
>
> Dear Sirs,
>
> My name is S.N.Sastri. I am now 83 years old. I was an officer in the
> Government of India. After retirement in 1980, I settled down in Chennai ,
> where I am residing now.
>
> I have been a student of Advaita Vedanta for the past twenty years. I have
> been studying Vedanta under two traditional scholars, Dr. Goda
> Venkateswara Sastri and Dr. R. Krishnamurthi Sastri.
>
> I have authored the following books:-
>
> 1.  English translation of Narayaniyam of Melpathur Narayana Bhattatiri,
> with explanatory notes bringing out the Vedantic import of the verses.
>
> 2.  English translation of Hastamalakiyam of Hastamalaka, one of the four
> disciples of Bhagavatpada Sankaracharya, with explanatory notes.
>
> 3.  English translation of Sri Sankara's Satasloki with elaborate notes.
>
>
> 4.  A Vedantic interpretation of some of the episodes in Srimad
> Bhagavatam.
>
> I have recently created my own website-- http://www.geocities.com/snsastri
>
> where I have posted several articles on Vedantic topics.
>
> I came to know about your website by chance only yesterday and I felt that
> I could make some contribution to your discussions.
>
>                      Yours faithfully,
>
>                       S.N.Sastri
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 23:03:25 +0530
> From: "B.M KIRAN" <b.m.kiran.ece at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] Rasakrida
> To: A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta
>        <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
> Message-ID:
>        <462763fe0512180933v421ad6f3h34df61a9dfa31510 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Dear Sir,
>
> I fully agree with your doubts regarding the stories of Sri Krishna
> But the tattva behind it seems to be a matter of vichara ( analysis)
> which as per  my knowledge only  very few have done :
> As per my knowledge it goes like this:
>
> The gopi in sanskrith doesnt  mean gopika stree it  means
> the Samooha (group) of senses which when controlled and put to the lotus
> feet of the lord krishna ,he removes( concealing of clothes) all the bad
> thoughts and behaviours of the senses and make them to be around him with
> pure divinity .
>
> So most of the Puranas and the stories related has hidden tattva which
> very
> few of us atleast try to understand and lets pray the lord to give us this
> power of tattvanusandhana ( analysis) to know the real gist .
>
> Thank u
> KIRAN
>
>
> On 12/12/05, sriram <srirudra at vsnl.com> wrote:
> >
> > Dear all
> > The Srimad Bhagavatha Mahapuranam is fully devoted to Lord Krishna`s
> > divine plays as an avathar of Lord MahaVishnu.It is told to Parikshith
> who
> > fully knows he will have to leave the earthly life within seven
> days.SukhaBrahmam narrates the divine dispensations of Sri Krishna so that
> Parikshith
> > though not in death bed but knows that he is certain to die at the end
> of
> > seven days will get peaceful transition.I will say when one believes
> that
> > as a small boy He-Lord krishna-lifted the Govardhana Giri and therefore
> > called lovingly as Giridhari by great devotee Meera-and held it aloft
> till
> > the rains lashed by Indra stopped and protected all living beings of
> > Brindavan-then why one cannot  accept the Rasa krida of Lord Krishna
> with
> > gopies.He is also credited with the play of concealing the Dresses of
> the
> > gopies -the episode is titled gopi vasthrapaharanam and the gopies were
> > forced to come naked to receive their clothes.Whether this does not seem
> > to discredit His conduct?I will advise that we should read the Sriman
> > Narayaneeyam of Narayana Pattadri and He did raise doubts about Sri
> > KRISHNA`S DOING SUCH AND SUCH THINGS AND it is said that Sri Guruvayur
> > Krishnan said yes by lowering His head to show assent for all such
> > questions.
> > Therefore one should have either full faith in our scriptures or leave
> > them as such.Before us so many more intelligent people have lived and
> they
> > have given answers for all these usually unbelievable/unacceptable
> episodes
> > about Avatars.If one reads Soundarya Lahari of Adi Sankara one will be
> > astounded with the descriptions of Mother Divine`s body frame.Mind you
> He
> > was a nishtiga brahmachari.
> > So if some one is not able to digest our Puranas leave them as such as I
> > think their interest is not in understanding the WHOLE purpose but to
> > ridicule by slipshod reading and forming poor opinions.Lastly our brains
> > are not equipped to fathom the Divine leelas as we have our own
> limitations
> > and
> > prejudices.Krishnamoorthy.______________________________________________
> _
> > Archives: http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/
> >
> > To unsubscribe or change your options:
> > http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/advaita-l
> >
> > For assistance, contact:
> > listmaster at advaita-vedanta.org
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
> End of Advaita-l Digest, Vol 32, Issue 18
> *****************************************
>


------------------------------

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