The writer must strongly differ Sir. It is not making devoution burdensome. If everything is easy then the common tendency of man - of all normal humans involved with their social-family-career commitments- is to act casually. Many of us just for the sake of doing a ritual/rite do it without a second thought or DEPTH OF REVERENCE. Sorry but this is the blunt truth. No insult or critism intended. If someone is hurt by this please forgive the writer. While Nama chanting or general prayers etc. may be done in this casual, generalised routine manner, Saligramam is a totally different thing. You are bringing actually including HIM into your family and home. HE is present everywhere etc. is all true, but the Saligramam is different. Yes,you can keep in under the Tulasi and worship etc. but remember that the Tulasi plant is exposed to the open sun. Kept in an open area, watered and at times the mud/dust will overflow. The Tulasi leaves are plucked by the hands and offered. When you pluck the Tulasi you are killing the leaf. Therefore, elsewhere the writer recommended a dedicated Tulasi. Also inside a plant lots of insects, earthworms etc. and the quality of the mud, fertiliser etc. matter. Over the years these naturally tend to impact the quality of the Saligramam's natural smoothness, curvature, texture, image,shape,size. Further, by keeping inside the root, it remains buried, if that is what is intended and understood by the writer. The proverb "Out of sight, out of mind" will be applicable in this case. Hence in many houses you will find that Saligramam is kept alongwith the Gods openly visible so that it serves as a reminder to us constantly. As explained in the third para what the writer clearly meant was CONSCIOUS efforts are to be made to BE CONSTANTLY AWARE of the PRESENCE inside the Saligramam, and this conscious effort to BE AWARE is itself is a prayer. Yes people do these practices in the North and other places, but then there is no compulsion to follow just for the sake of following. It is also possible that they could be doing it erroenously over the years without their knowledge, which is perfectly permitted and which will not have any ill effect. On the flip side, there is nothing wrong in trying to understand, repeat, trying to look with an open mind, different and additional information. Not that the writer is right but lets have an open mind. Finally, the idea of outlining such seemingly elaborate requirements is to make sure that the devoutee finds TIME and ENERGY to indulge in something worthy. If you give the same Time and Energy to say any effort you get supreme pleasure and unlimited happiness. To give a simple example. Take a teenager in his/her first flush of love at College. He totally forgets himself, always gets immersed in his beloved's thoughts,knows every act, every gesture, knows every mannerism about her. Sends her flowers, remembers her birthdays. Gets worried if she is worried about her grandfather. The eyes when they meet take a different glow which cannot be found otherwise. This is not lust but something pure happening. He does not care a hoot about money, wealth, what people say or feel. The sense of dedication is unique and cannot be easily described. Question is : Can one have the same sense of dedication, devoution to our DEAREST LORD?. If one can emulate Andal to the extent of 0.000000001% and be ready to HONOUR HIS HOLINESS then life on this earth will be the sweetest. Yes indeed by conforming to all or some of the so-called 'Burdensome' requirements mentioned below, you can see for yourself a great change which will dawn on the household.You can FEEL HIS PRESENCE. Every endeavour will be a success. Things will start happening on their own and take a good turn. The character of each member will undergo change for the better. There will be less sickness. Wants will be diminished. Satisfaction will increase. Om Tat Sat Tat Tvam asi.
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia |
srirangasri-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To subscribe to the list |