Pilgrimage

Why people undertake the Tirth Yatra or Kshetra Yatra - Pilgrimage

Savita asks:

In the last class, we talked about Pilgrimage (specifically the Kumbh Mela) and the reasons why people undertake the Tirth Yatra or Kshetra Yatra. I gave the children the message that the "Bhavana" of the person undertaking the pilgrimage was the most important. The attitude of "penance", "cleaning the karmic slate" are the main objectives. Also, this is not obligatory. Do you agree with this?

Shri Narayanmurti Answers:

Pilgrimages are meant to help one's mind to focus on divinity. When you go on a holiday, you get into a merry-making mood, when you go to a Court or to a Wrestling ring, you are in a combative mood, when you get into the play-field, you are in a sporting mood. Similarly, when you plan and go on a pilgrimage, your mins gets attuned to a desired wave-length and you are able to perform very well at that level. It is all a question of preparation of the mind. Recall the discipline the Ayyappa devotees impose on themselves for 42 days, when they undertake a pilgrimage to Sabarimalai. They stop drinking, smoking, mating etc. give up ostentation of looks, meat etc,. visit temples in the mornings and evenings, have regular bath both times etc. The end result is their mind and body become less contaminated, which is the first big step to attain Divinity. So, pilgrimages are good for all as self-discipline and a mental exercise.

Pratha-Sandhya Vandam can be performed by anyone, irrespective of sex or class

Savita asks:

A friend asked me if we should teach all the kids (in our India class) the Pratha-Sandhya Vandam. This would include girls, and kids who have not had their poonal, kids who eat meat. etc. My gut feeling tells me that we should not, but I do not have a reason for it. Please let me know your thoughts on this.

Shri Narayanmurti Answers:

Sandhya Vandhanam means 'prayer to the time-junction', i.e. when night and day meet at Sunrise, day and night mmet at Sunset and during Mid-day when the Sun is at the median. We pray to the Sun as God, since he is the Creator, Sustainer and Destroyer of life on our planet.

One of the Mantras chanted is –
NAMAH SAVITRE JAGADAIKA CHAKSHUSHE - JAGAD PRASOOTI STHITHI NAASA HETAVEH
(I PRAY TO THE LONE EYE OF THE UNIVERSE, THAT IS THE CAUSE OF ALL CREATION,SUSTENANCE AND DESTRUCTION IN THE UNIVERSE).
ALMOST ALL THE MANTRAS ARE FOCUSSED ON THE SUN GOD, BEING THE REPRESENTATIVE OF NARAYANA, WHO IS THE PRIMORDIAL TRUTH, the brahman, which is all-inclusive in the Universe.

Valmiki Ramayana specifically refers to Sita performing Sandhya Vandhanam and even Homas in fire. Even to-day Brahmin women who are married should stand alongside and support their husbands in the conduct of all ritualistic functions, both by holding a Darbha grass alongsige the husband's shoulder and by pouring water from the Panchapatra when fees is paid to the Officiating priest. She should also stand alongside the husband at the time of the Aseervadam function. During the last few centuries, women have been taken off ritualistic discipline, more as an act of convenience than of exclusion. She has monthly periods, child-birth and the earlier pregnancy, domestic chores etc. to contend with, that it was thought best to exempt her from the details and introduce the tokenism, described above. There is no logic or reason to exclude women at all, I am very sure of this.

Therefore, the answer to your first Question is that the Sandhya Vandhanam can be learnt and performed by anyone, irrespective of sex or class, or the food intake. Remember the Sri Rama family were non-vegetarians, and the Ramayana specifically refers to their eating meat and fish, and, more romantically, Sri Rama biting off a piece of fish and giving it to Sita.

„ I “ am not different from Brahman

Savita asks:

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna talks about himself as God and as being distinctly different from Arjuna (who would represent a normal human). This is "Dvaita". How can we reconcile this with the message of the upanishads that calls out that "I" am not different from Brahman.

Shri Narayanmurti Answers:

The Gita is the Manual of Advaita, although Vishitaadvaita (Ramanuja disciples) interprets it to the advantage of their school.

ADHVAITAAMRUTA VARSHINEEM BHAGAVATHEEM ASHTAADASAADHYAAYINEEM says the Prarthana sloks.

It rains Advaita torrentially. In, literally, countless places, Sri Krishna specifically refers to Advaita being the foundation of the Universe.

In Chapter 7, sloka 7:
MATHAH PARATHARAM NAANYATH KINCHIDASTHI PARANTHAPA. MAYI SARVAM IDHAM PROTAM SUTRE MANI GANAA IVA.

The meaning: There is nothing in this Universe, other than me. Everything in it is woven unto me just like pearls are joined by means of a thread.-

Also see, slokas 13, 15, 16, 20 onwards.

It was only Arjuna who was talking Dwaita, when he was persisting that he was hesitating to kill others. Krishna asks him whom are you killing and who are the killed. All this is your misconception, He says. The Atman is real, the body is not. And the Atman cannot be killed at all. Nainam Chhindhanti sastraani etc. (Chapter 2, slokas 21 onwards).