The Message of the Gita with Excerpts from the Mahabharatha, Part 1

Why Should You Read The Gita & The Maha Bharatha?

Among the many charges leveled against the Gita, the most prominent is that since Krishna advocated to Arjuna that he should be prepared to fight to defend his life and the life of his brothers, family, relatives and supporters from those who had already committed violence and repeatedly attempted murder against them, that therefore somehow, Krishna advocated violence. Ergo, such critics say, the Gita is a violent book, inferior somehow to other books.

A full reading of even just the Gita will amply reveal just how extraordinary Krishna's character is. Krishna is revered in the Gita, indeed in the entire Maha Bharatha and the Bhagavatha as the most complete incarnation of the 'male' half of God (for indeed, while God is declared in the Vedas -and repeatedly in every important holy book of 'Hinduism' - as being beyond gender, by the subtle logic of the Vedas, the One can therefore be equally seen as ungendered or as male/female, depending on whether we are trying to see the manifestation of the One as the One or in the many.) upon Earth since the beginning of this, current Yuga Cycle. 

(The Yuga Cycle begins with the Satya Yuga - the Age of Truth and ends with the Kali Yuga - The Age of Untruth, ultimately transforming into a new Satya Yuga - hence the use of the word 'cycle'. This idea that the Earth is very, very ancient and that time moves in cycles is one of the central ideas of the Ancient Way the original name of the 'religion' that is today called 'Hinduism'. Indeed Hinduism is much more than a religion - more complete than any other modern way of assessing our state of existence that is available to us, even in this day of scientific enlightenment and for this reason alone it is indeed worthy of your time.)

A little knowledge is, however, worse than none- a dilemma our current environmental crisis sadly illustrates. That is not to say science is to be given up - in fact, exactly the opposite is true. We need to delve farther and drink deeper of the nectar of Truth to overcome the foibles of the present. Therefore, I urge all who read these lines to make the effort to read the entire Mahabharatha, indeed and the entire Gita in its original Sanskrit (with suitable word by word translations and good interpretations from authoritative sources such as Hindu pandits and monks) at the very, very least before you make up your mind about what Krishna, and the Ancient Way advocate or do not advocate. Do not leave it to the detractors to make up YOUR mind for you. 

The Gita is a sublime work of the highest order that teaches us to view the Universe and our place in it as a whole. The Gita tells us that God and you and Universe and others - and that includes all other creatures and inanimate objects in it- are not separate entities, but rather that you should view everything as One in order to really make sense of it all.

The Truth is subtle. You will need to work for it. And you get it, it will slip through your grasp like air. For none can know the true nature of the One, since perfection is not in the many, but only in the One and we are often lost in the Maya of the many. The Gita will teach you how to negotiate the intensely interesting questions of how the One manifests as the many and how to go from 'trying to become more knowledgeable' about it to 'being as you are'.  (The manifestation of the One as many happens with a male-female duality. The One has appeared as female as often as male. Indeed, women have written parts of the Vedas, fought equally with the men in the ancient wars, ruled kingdoms and homes since the ancient times.) 

Simply 'Being' is the key, but the Gita shows you that that is not necessarily an inert state as the simplest reading implies. Rather it is a state of intense activity and impels one upon an arc of duty and peace with an empathetic impersonal zeal that frees you and empowers you. Personally, I have found that an understanding of the concept of zero in Mathematics is an important aid to understanding the concept of how One, many and nothing can all be one and the same thing. Indeed, the conceptualization and use of 'zero' is another great gift of the Ancient Way i.e. 'Hinduism' to the modern world - and indeed in my opinion only Hinduism could have come up with the concept of zero, so vital to all Science for without Math, science cannot translate to predictable use. For within Hinduism this idea is so central to raising the consciousness to a higher plane, that it occurs from the very oldest works to the best new works. So I urge all who seek to understand the 'religion' of 'Hinduism' to also brush up on the zero and how and why is becomes necessary in Mathematics. Those looking for a scientific connection to the Gita should also read the thoughts and works of Erwin Schroedinger, the Austrian Quantum Physicist who declared that the Gita inspired him in many of his revolutionary insights into the true behavior of material nature at the most fundamental level.

In the following, I present to you, excerpts of my humble understanding of this great work of Sage Vyasa, the great teacher who put down the Maha Bharatha (inclusive of the Gita) many thousands of years ago, for the benefit of all humanity. I bow to him, as my Guru, as indeed I bow to all who have taught me yet and all who will in the future, as the many forms of Vyasa, the teaching form of Krishna. My sincere thanks also to the Hare Krishna society for the original Sanskrit verses they made available on the internet for all to see and read.

For those of you seeking an American connection to the Gita and the Maha Bharatha, I urge you to read more of and about Henry David Thoreau, the father of the modern environmental movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson, the sage of Boston and the Transcendental movement. Thoreau died expressing how he still believed, even after years, that upon identifying with the Indian--as the ideal, anti-cultural, childlike, naïve, yet self-reliant human, he was accepting the universal progress of humankind. (The reference to Thoreau was taken from a source whose web address I have neglected to preserve. My sincere apologies and thanks)

Thoreau calls the time period of the Gita “another state of being”. As indeed it was. First of all, people lived a lot longer. Yudhisthira lived for more than 140 years. This allowed them to 'process' life in a way few of us are able. Arjuna & Karna were  14 foot high, the Gandiva, the bow wielded by Arjuna was 12 foot long. Indeed the Puranas and the Upanishads and the Ramayana insist that people lived much longer and were much more capable in the very old times. These old books insist that we have powers of the mind in the old days that are scarcely believable today - the able to order matter through the mind. We are now, in a sense, somewhat 'fallen', in physical stature, general health and lifespans. That is not to say we didn't evolve in other ways. Or that we cannot recover the old strengths. Nor does it mean that Evolution is wrong. Indeed, the Ramayana, set in prehistoric India, unknown millenia ago, recounts the earliest 'complete Manushya', the stage of that evolution when humanity began to identify as something distinct from the primates. The story of Hanuman and the alliances Rama makes with the kingdom of Kishkinda are the echoes from those early eras.

Humanity has forgotten more than it remembers. We are indeed fallen, in a sense, rising higher at the same time. Evolution raises our best attributes and sometimes that means the less desirable attributes decay, rot and fall away. That can be a messy process, where sometimes progression appears as regression and vice versa. A wonder, is what we are. And we are destined for many more wonders yet! Of that, I have no doubts.

Dating the Maha Bharata Time Period 

An authoritative article is published in Telugu by the Tirumala Tirupati Devastaanam, authored by Shri Janamaddi Hanumanta Rao, based on the research effort by a team led by Pandit Radhashyaam Shaastri of Sourashtra University. Pandit Shaastri used the astrological information provided by Veda Vyaasa (Position of the stars etc) within the text of the original Sanskrit verses of the Maha Bharatha itself. Often in the text, star positions in various constellations are cited, for various major events narrated. 

According to the Pandit-ji, the Maha Bharata war was estimated to have started on 3067B.C. on the 22nd November. In the Sanskrit original texts, Sage Vyasa describes the astrological positions of the Sun, Moon, Rahu, Saturn, Guru, Mangala and Sukra planets on the first day of the war. By looking at the position based on the Panchangam, (Indian Calendar), and matching it with the position of the stars described by Vyasa and comparing it with the Julian Calendar, one can arrive at the precise dates for the war.

 The fifth century mathematician, Arya Bhatta, calculated the date of the Mahabharata War to be approximately 3100 B.C. from the planetary positions recorded in the Mahabharata. Aryabhatta incidentally was an accomplished Mathematician and Astronomer who also gave a value for Pi as 3.14, the oldest known formulation of this important geometric constants.

Srishti

Transmigration in the Mahabharatha and Siva Purana, Part 5

Siva Purana, Chapter 7: The Journey to the Next World

Sanath Kumara said, “ O Great Sage Vyasa! Human beings come to Yama Loka for having committed four different kinds of crimes. Yama Loka is a frightening world, it is of a very terrible place. All mortals will be brought there, even against their will. There is none who has not been to Yama Loka.

The Do-er will definitely suffer the consequences of what they have Done. That is certain. Among the living, those who do good, practice kindness, and remain of gentle disposition will enter Yama Puri, the capital of Yama Loka, through the auspicious eastern entrances to the city. Those who have committed grave crimes or have raised up and praised/supported those who committed the crimes will enter through the very terrible and difficult way through the city from the south side.

Yama Loka appears near to those who are good and far away to reach for those who commit grave crimes in their lifetime. The road to Yama Loka is paved in stretches with extremely sharp thorns. In places, it will have long stretches of rough broken up granite stones. Along some stretches, the rocks are extremely sharp and cover the entire road, at other times, the road is filled with excessive mud. Along yet other stretches, the road is filled with sharp metallic needle-like formations. Depending on the extent of crimes committed in the past life, the difficulties faced are overcome easily or with excessive, painful and terrible effort.

Then, Sanath Kumara began to describe the many difficulties on the way to Yama Loka: “O Great Sage Vyasa! Those who have never given Dana in their lives will be left to fend for themselves in great difficulties in this terrible journey. Those who have given sumptuous Dana in this life (to the best of their ability) will travel in peace and comfort.”

Struggling in this way, the Jeevi reaches Preta-Puri or Yama-Puri, the capital of Yama-Loka. Upon their arrival, Yama will be informed and he will dispatch Messengers to bring the Jeevi into the presence of Yama. Those who have been and done good will encounter Yama in the form of Dharma Raja (King of Justice). Yama will receive them with warmth. They guest will be pampered with a royal seat in the court, food and pure water. Yama will be affectionate and appreciate them with gifts and sweet words. He will say, “You learn the Vedas and order your activities by their injunctions! You are a great soul (Mahatma)! You performed good deeds and behaved with Sattva – here, enjoy yourself from now on! You will go to Svarga where you can experience all the pleasures of the beautiful/handsome mates as your heart desires. Any material thing you wish will appear to you with just the exercise of your will! Please proceed to the Amala (Not-unclean), pristine Svarga. When towards the end, your Punya (the essence of the Dana) is almost gone, and there is a little in-auspiciousness left, come back here, to experience it and then pass from here, back to the earth for your next incarnation."

While those who perform Dana freely and have much Punya, will perceive Yama as a true-friend, those who have been engaged in cruel Karma will perceive Yama as having a fearsome form, a strange menacing face, all his hair standing on end, copious facial hair, his lips curling and uncurling, eyes fixed upon the Jeevi, eyebrows raised in anger. Yama’s body radiates heat like a heap of hot coals. He has 18 shoulders, with his thirty-six arms holding all manner of weapons and devices. Each pair of arms transfixing the Jeevi, demonstrate the way the weapon or device it to be used in his punishment. To such a Jeevi, Yama appears to move about on a very large male buffalo, dressed in red clothes and red bead necklaces. He appears large, like a mountain, towering above the Jeevi, seated on his Buffalo. His eyes seem to glow with a fire behind them, his voice seems like the thunder of clouds gathered to usher in the rain that comes at the end of days. Yama seems to drink entire oceans, consume entire mountains and fire appears when he opens his mouth.

Seated near Yama will be the Messenger of Death, the Messenger of Time, and the Messenger of the End of the World, observing the proceedings along with other prominent members of Yama’s assembly – the various diseases, taking personal forms there, as well as the Night of Time, all taking appropriately hideous and menacing forms. They have in their hands, strange weapons of strange form and action. Shiva’s Ganas are there too, with their diamond-faces, assembled, fully accoutered for battle with their weapons of choice. Beyond them, gathered in the court of Yama are innumerable Messengers.

Yama speaks loudly and contemptuously of the Jeevi (with a large amount of bad karma) to the court advocating harsh punishment, while Chitragupta who is Vishnu’s representative will speak in favor of the Jeevi and attempt to mitigate the sentence about to be handed over by Yama.

Sanath Kumara continued, “ Rishi Vyasa, thereupon, the gravely criminal will be seized by their legs by the Messengers and upon the order of Yama they will be beaten violently against extremely hot rocks. Each blow feels and sounds like lightning striking down a large tree. The completely broken body of the Jeevi bleeds from all the orifices, and will be stunned into unconsciousness. Using smell-assistance, the Messengers revive the Jeevi and then, to cleanse the Jeevi, throw it past the very bottom of the seven levels of Naraka, into the Ocean of Naraka which is always covered completely in darkness and is a most terrible place.

Naraka is below the seven beautiful lower worlds. Below the seven beautiful worlds, there are the seven ranks of Naraka and below even them is the Ocean of Naraka. Each of the seven ranks of Naraka has 28 Srenis (Levels). The levels are called Terrible, More Terrible, Most Terrible, Imagined-Unimaginable, Fear-Causing, Night-of-Time, Fear & Anxiety, Physical Chastisement, Even More Physical Chastisement, Chastisement by Many, Chastisement by The Leader, Fearsome & Awful, Trikona, Panchakona, Very Long, All Disease, Thousand jewels, Seeking Assistance, Patience & Forbearance, etc.  Each division has 5 leaders.  All these Narakas present the arriving Jeevis with their punishments.

Each Sreni has 28 Vargas (Divisions). Some of the divisions are:

The first is the Raurava Naraka -Even those who were great and good in the world, cry here, in this Naraka for this is the Naraka of crying. Then comes the Cold/Hot Naraka. Then come the Great Intensity, Reviver, Great Tamas, Exhalation, Great Anxiety, greatly twisted, needle face, revenge-meat, inhalation, very long, cloud, jackal, serpent, turtle, lion-headed, elephant-headed, dog-headed, owl-headed, eagle-headed, unscrupulous, Eating from the Inside, Omnivore, Hot Metal Reclining, Very Large, Ground to Dust, etc. Palm Leaf Forest, Statue, Chariot, Infatuation, Bone-Breaking, Thirst, Evanescent, Metal Head, Many Sorrows, Great Difficulties, Poison, Strange Forms, Self-Form, Following Yama, Single-Footed, Three-footed, Severe, Tamas etc.

Beyond these 28 divisions, there are another 112 divisions in each level, and the entirety form the Great Naraka Mandala (complex). Each division has 5 leaders and many Messengers.

Sanath Kumara continued, “ O Rishi Vyasa! In these terrible Naraka worlds, the Jeevi who enters them must suffer immensely. Those who have led others astray (by obscurantism or through the preaching of illusory philosophies that either obscure, deny or denigrate the great machinery of the Parabrahmam) and become experts at that, will go to the Second Tongue Naraka, where they will be subject to many great tribulations with sharp instruments.

Those who failed their duties to their personal Devas (Father, Mother and Guru) will have their mouths filled with alternately worm-filled garbage and many large nails for the duration of their stay in Naraka. Those who destroy or occupy the lands set aside for temples, gardens, wells, tanks, ponds or the land of the Sattvic will be burned in many different kinds of fire and then fried, suffering in this manner almost till Pralaya.

Those who have obtained another’s mate by devious methods will here be forced to take a form similar to that person and be forced to prostitute themselves and suffer chastisement, by embracing a very hot metal replica of the person they lured into the betrayal. Not only that, they will have molten glass and aluminum and hot oil and boiling milk poured into their ears and suffer unimaginable pain.

In this way, in all directions, the Jeevis in Naraka are subjected to horrific suffering until the sum of their crimes on earth is paid. 

Those, however, who have built temples, orphanages and sought to do good to the Sattvic people (or tirelessly encourage Sattvic behavior in the people they met in the course of their life) and supported them with their sacrifice will travel comfortably to the underworld and even stop along the way to Yama Loka in palaces in the sky, to rest, relax and do sport. Those have done their duty to the Devas, their parents, to Agni, the Sattvic, especially the Sattvic who have read of the Vedas (and the Prasthana Thriya), will themselves be taken care of with affection and make this journey in ease and comfort. Those who have given the gift of light (lamps and lanterns) will shine and glow beautifully as they comfortably journey to the Underworld. Those who have given houses to the poor and needy Sattvic, will suffer neither disease nor sorrow. Those who have served their Gurus will receive rest along the way to the Underworld. Those who have given the offering of music at the temples and the social gatherings will travel as happily as if they were travelling to their own home. Those who protect and give cows as gifts to the Sattvic will be provided a path that grants its traveler all that they wish and will, and travel along a path of plenty to the Underworld. That person will receive the plentiful good food and drink that they have given in their previous life to the Sattvics.

One who have plenty of wealth and yet does not give Dana out of greed; One who sends a guest away hungry, even though he/she arrived around lunch time, without sharing the food; One who eats without sharing with the dogs and cows/cattle around them; Such people become denizens of Naraka. Crows are also to be offered their share. When offering food in this manner of the animals, one must consider it a sacrifice to the two dogs said to follow Yama around, named Syama & Sabal. One must offer food to the living creatures every day if possible. Those who perform this daily  in conjunction with the mantras will be able to minimize their time with Yama.

Upasana Kanda: 4-cornered pedestal; gandha(perfume, sandalwood);Dhanvantari(E), Indra (N), Yama (S), Sudakshoma (W).  Pithara (S) , Arya(E); At the door/gate Dhata/Vidhata; Then food is placed outside in the open for animals, such as birds, dogs microbes, hole-dwellers etc.; Then one must wait for a minute for a guest or anyone in the village who might come by in hunger. If someone comes by in hunger they must be given good food to the best of the ability of the householder.

Food is the best sacrifice/offering. It temporarily satisfies a person, attracts the mind, and gives one strength and a strong mind. Nothing rivals the giving of food. Life begins in food. Without it life perishes. Everything is established only in its own food. Nothing in the past or future rivals food. This entire universe (is materialized) exists only within food. One must not ill-treat one’s food. Food given to dogs and those who are starving and begging for it is never wasted. The tired stranger who asks for food must be given food without the attitude that it is extra work. Such a person is truly rich.

Oh Great Sage! The sacrifice of food to the Devas, the Pitharas, the hungry, and the guests who come to one’s home bring great Punya. The gift of food and water to anyone who is hungry and thirsts, even the Unsattvic will receive as much Punya as to the Sattvic. Food is Brahma. Food is Vishnu. Food is Shiva. Food, water, horses, cows, clothes, reclining furniture, umbrellas and sitting furniture are the eight important gifts that make the journey to Yama Loka comfortable.”

Sanath Kumara then continued, “Water is the other best sacrifice/offering. The gift of water provides the giver with all they need. Those who construct water-holding lakes and tanks, those who have wells dug for the public use will receive great Punya that can nullify  many of their injurious actions. Those who make possible the digging of  wells that sustain the Sattvic use will lift their entire families out of many of the miseries of Naraka. One must therefore be constantly engaged in Sat Karma (good activity). Those who dig water-holding tanks and lakes that have water only in the rainy season will receive the same Punya as the ceremonial lighting of Agni every evening. (Agnihotra). Those who build lakes that have water in the rainy and the winter season will receive the same Punya as one giving a Dana of 1000 cows, in this there is no doubt. Those who build lakes that have water them even in the Spring and  early Summer seasons will receive the same Punya as one who performs a great Yagna (Yaga).  Those who build lakes that have water in them even in the height of Summer receive the same Punya as performing Ashwamedha Yagna.”

Sanath Kumara then said, “Oh Vyasa! I have so far described the Punya of building water reservoirs that satisfy other living creatures. Now listen to the Punya that comes from the planting of trees. One who plants trees and nurtures them in deserted open places or in very difficult to reach places will raise his/her entire future family tree. Therefore it is very important to plant new trees. Those who plant trees prolifically will surely receive good children. Even in the other worlds they will receive those worlds with the most bountiful gifts. Those who have water wells and tanks dug, those who plant many trees, those who perform the Yagnas and all who stick to truthfulness will never fall from Svarga.

Truth is Parabrahmam! Truth is the great Tapas. Truth is the ultimate knowledge of the Shastras (the holy works). The truth alone can awaken the sleeping man. The Earth is supported on truth. All is supported only in the truth. Tapas, Yagna, Punya, the Devas, the Rishis, the Pitharas, Jala (water) are all supported by the truth alone. The truth is the goal of all. The truth alone is the Yagna, the Tapas, the Dana, the Mantra, Sarasvati and Brahma. The Om is also a form of the truth. It is only with the support of the truth that the wind blows, the Sun shine and Agni burns. Svarga stands on foundations and walls of truth alone. The Vedas are made accessible to us through truth alone, the Vedas are sustained by the truth alone, and the many that go on pilgrimage to bathe in the sacred rivers are supported by the truth alone. All can be had through the truth. Of this, there can be no doubt. The truth outweighs a thousand Yagnas on a weigh scale any day. The Devas, the Pitharas, human beings, the Nagas, the Rakshasas, all the living creatures of all the worlds are satisfied only in truth. Truth is nothing other than the Parabrahmam. Therefore one must always strive to speak and be true. The seeker who speaks only truth will perform a very difficult and arduous Tapas that will lead the way to Svarga. Satya (truth) is the highest Dharma (the right way).

Without Tapas, there is nothing in this world that is easy and comfortable. All comforts in this world are made possible only through Tapas. It is through the Tapas that Brahma creates the entire Universe without seeming to make any effort at all. It is through Tapas alone that Vishnu preserves that which Brahma creates. It is through Tapas alone that Rudra (Shiva in his destructive form) is able to destroy it. It is through Tapas alone that Adi Shesha is able to support the earth’s weight.