What does your soul want you to know?

We get so involved in the nitty-gritty of life that we often forget the most important lessons we came here to learn – the lessons that our inner spirit is trying to teach us during our relatively short stay here on earth. Since the soul is the fountainhead of wisdom of guidance, it is always trying to communicate with us. Each life experience is an invitation to live as closely as possible to our soul’s true essence. This is what your soul wants you know.

You are OK just as you are

The main goal of life is to not really change, grow or transform yourself. It is to be at peace with who you are at any given moment despite what you have done or not done; said or not said. Transformation is a choice we all have, but from the soul’s perspective, it is not the greatest priority.

You are meant to feel deeply

You are meant to REALLY feel. Don’t hold back your tears, and don’t think it is wimpy, soft, or overly sensitive to expressive yourself. It is healthy to feel deeply and to give yourself permission to experience the richness of human emotion. Feel love. Feel sadness. Don’t walk in between as you daydream, really take the time to amerce yourself in the moment. This is what life is all about.

Be mindful

Mindfulness is simply the focus of your attention on the present moment, but it is anything but simple. With chaotic schedules, multi-tasking and an over-worked society, it is often hard to remain in the present and not get lost in the chaos that surrounds us. Mindfulness has roots in Buddhism, but most religions and spirituality practices include some attention towards love, kindness, and appreciation for a perspective on life that is bigger than oneself.

Your soul wants you to know stillness

When we are still, we can truly listen. As we listen we open ourselves to understand and it is within the stillness that we can feel the greatest connection to our soul’s wisdom. That is why meditation, being still in nature and finding a quiet moment for ourselves feel so appealing. They are opportunities to connect with who we truly are Kind, compassionate, gentle and wise. We just have to listen.

Let go of outcome

When we work hard at something, it’s natural to want some kind of “reward.” But when you become attached to outcome, it can take the joy out of the process. Life presents us with infinite variations of this important distinction—between what we can change and what we can’t, between what is within our control and what isn’t.

The present moment is the most precious thing

People don’t realize that now is all there ever is; there is no past or future except as memory or anticipation in your mind. Most humans are never fully present in the now, because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one. But then you miss your whole life, which is never not now. “As soon as you honor the present moment, all unhappiness and struggle dissolve, and life begins to flow with joy and ease.

Perspective is a beautiful thing

Typically, when we’re worried or upset, it’s because we’ve lost perspective. Everything that is happening in our lives seems so big, so important, so do or die, but in the grand picture, this single hiccup often means next to nothing. The fight we’re having, the job we didn’t get, the real or imagined slight, the unexpected need to shift course, the thing we wanted, but didn’t get. Most of it doesn't really matter.

Self worth cannot be verified by others

If you constantly seek outside yourself for approval and validation, you will never be happy. We are all different and we all perceive things in different ways but your reputation is not something you can really control. Your reputation is not really in your hands, so stop trying to please everyone around you and start pleasing your own SELF.

All that you need is already within you

In this moment you have it all, right NOW and right here, there is nothing lacking. Take time to be quiet at least 5 minutes per day and in time you will discover that you do have access to HAPPINESS, PEACE, ABUNDANCE and all that is good at all times.

Everything in life is temporary

Every time it rains, it stops raining. Every time you get hurt, you heal. After darkness there is always light – you are reminded of this every morning, but still you often forget, and instead choose to believe that the night will last forever. It won’t. Nothing lasts forever.

Accept

To complain is always non acceptance of what is. It invariably carries an unconscious negative charge. When you complain, you make yourself into a victim. When you speak out, you are in your power. So change the situation by taking action or by speaking out if necessary or possible; leave the situation or accept it. All else is madness.

Go out of your way to be loving and kind

Almost everything comes full circle. People who love themselves come across as very caring, generous and kind to others too; they express their self-confidence through humility, forgiveness and inclusiveness. So seek to understand others before you attempt to judge.

You need to clean the clutter

As Einstein once said, “Out of clutter, find simplicity; from discord, find harmony; in the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity.” Sometimes we make life more complicated than it is. We attach our happiness to achievement and then look for it in all the wrong ways and in all the wrong places. Of course, you don’t have to live like this. If you feel like you are, it’s time to simplify things. It’s time to clear the air and get back to the basics.

Your troubles are gradually improving you

Someday when you least expect it life will blindside you with necessary chaos. And once the chaos has ended, you won’t remember exactly how it all transpired, how you made it through, or where you found the strength you needed to carry on. You won’t even be sure whether the chaos has completely ended. But there is one thing you can be sure about: When it does finally come to an end, you will be a much stronger person than who you were before it happened, which is precisely why it was necessary.

We’re Part Of A Living, Breathing Cosmos

By: Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

With all the advances made in science and technology, today we have tools that are powerful enough to make or break the planet several times over. That the United Nations declared June 5 as World Environment Day is a reminder to us all to live more mindfully, and wherever required, to take urgent measures to reverse any process that is causing ecological harm, the effects of which could impact all life on the planet. However, human consciousness has become so fragmented that most people have forgotten that what you consider to be your ‘body’ is not just a piece of the planet, but much more.

Interdependence is not just a philosophical theory. It is a reality. Your physical existence is possible only because of your body’s seamless ability to respond to the entire universe. Without this, you wouldn’t be able to exist for a moment. 

I lived on a farm for a few years. There was a man in the locality with a hearing impairment, an object of ridicule for the villagers. I employed him to help me on the farm. He was a nice companion because I wasn’t particularly interested in talking, and he couldn’t talk because he could not hear. So, no problem! 

In those days before tractors, life on the farm was all about bullocks and ploughs. One day, suddenly, at four o’clock in the morning, I saw him preparing the plough and asked him what he was doing. He said, ‘It will rain today. I am preparing to plough.’ I looked up. It was an absolutely clear sky. I said, ‘What? Where is the rain?’ He said, ‘No, sir, it will rain.’ And it did. 

I sat up for days and nights after this. Why couldn’t I feel what this man could feel? I sat, holding my hand in different positions, trying to feel the moisture, the temperature, trying to read the sky. I read all kinds of books on meteorology, but was up against a wall. But gradually, with careful observation of my own body and environment, I discovered the fundamental mistake that most of us make: the fact that we view the ingredients which constitute our body, like earth, water, air and food, as commodities and not as an organic part of the life process. 

If it is to rain today, some change will happen in your body. Most urban-dwellers cannot feel it, but many rural folk all over the world, sense this. This is not astrology or magic, but a surmise based on the minute observation of a completely different level of the human system and its ongoing transaction with the cosmos. Most insects, birds and animals can feel it. A tree for sure knows it. 

Modern physics has established that the universe is a great dance of energy, and every subatomic particle in your body is in constant dialogue with the entire cosmos. The aim of the spiritual process is to make this scientific fact an experiential reality for you. 

Yoga reminds us that the physical body is just an accumulation of food -- or what is called annamayakosha. The food that you eat is just the produce of the earth, which, in turn, is a fragment of the universe. You are a small outcrop of this planet, claiming to be an autonomous entity! But with some inner work, a dimensional shift occurs. Suddenly, the human body becomes what it was always intended to be – an instrument of extraordinary refinement, a barometer, an antenna capable of downloading the entire cosmos. We realise that we inhabit a living cosmos.

Was Human Cloning Known to the Vedic Sages?

What is cloning exactly?

Cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy of a living being by reproduction of cells and tissue. The possibility of human cloning has raised controversies. Many ethical concerns have prompted several nations to pass laws regarding human cloning and its legality. But if I say cloning was known to man even in the Pauranic era, does it sound absurd? Perhaps not! There are lots of indications in various Hindu Puranas and Shastras. Let’s explore.

History of cloning

Although the possibility of cloning humans had been the subject of speculation for much of the twentieth century, scientists and policy makers began to take the prospect seriously in the 1960s. With the cloning of a sheep known as Dolly in 1996 by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), the idea of human cloning became a hot debate topic.

Cloning in ancient Vedic scriptures

In Vedic age, cloning of animals was done by sages to clone the species of powerful horses and productive cows under the order of king/administration. In the next few slides I will narrate some mind-blowing stories on cloning from Vedic age. Note that each story has its own symbolism and necessarily does not reflect real life events.

The Story of Rubhus

Rubhus were three brothers (Rubhu, Vajra and Vibhu) created from the cell of their father. Their father was old but they were cloned young to bring back the youth of aging parents. Additionally, they also created a cloned horse and cow. Cloning of Rubhus is mentioned by seven different sages in seven different verses of Rigveda. All of these sages were from different generations thus depicting that such a technology existed over a long period of human life.

Reference in Rigveda

These seven sages along with the hymns they composed on Rubhas are as follows: Kanva Medhatithi- Rigveda, Book 1, Hymns 20; Angirasa Kutsa - Rigveda, Book 1, Hymns 110 & 111; Deerghatamas - Rigveda, Book 1, Hymns 161; Vishvamitra - Rigveda, Book 3, Hymns 60; Vamadeva - Rigveda, Book 4, Hymns 33; Vasistha Maitravaruni - Rigveda, Book 7, Hymns 48 and Shrunu Arbhava - Rigveda, Book 10, Hymns 176.

Verses on cloning

Now let’s take a look at some of the Verses on cloning along with their translation - Rigveda, Book 1, Hymn 20, verse 3 - तक्षन नासत्याभ्यां परिज्मानं सुखं रथम| तक्षन धेनुं सबर्दुघाम || Translation: They for the two Nasatyas wrought a light car moving every way: They formed a nectar-yielding cow.

Cloning the cow

The next task of Rubhas was to create a high-yielding cow that yields copious milk. Puranas describes this method in details where there is a description on cells taken from back skin of cow to create a cloned cow. Rigveda, Book 1, Hymn 110, verse 8 निश्चर्मण रभवो गामपिंशत सं वत्सेनास्र्जता मातरं पुनः | सौधन्वनासः सवपस्यया नरो जिव्री युवाना पितराक्र्णोतन || Translation: Out of a skin, O Rubhus, once ye formed a cow, and brought the mother close unto her calf again.

A lot of hard work

यत संवत्सम रभवो गाम अरक्षन यत संवत्सम रभवो मा अपिंशन | यत संवत्सम अभरन भासो अस्यास ताभिः शमीभिर अम्र्तत्वम आशुः || Translation: As for a year the Rhubus kept the Milch-cow, throughout a year fashioned and formed her body. And through a year's space still sustained her brightness, through these their labors they were made immortal.

Great minds at work

Elder brother wanted to make only two clones of a single cell but younger brother insisted him to make three clones. Rigveda, Book 4, Hymn 33, verse 5 जयेष्ठ आह चमसा दवा करेति कनीयान तरीन कर्णवामेत्य आह | कनिष्ठ आह चतुरस करेति तवष्ट रभवस तत पनयद वचो वः || Translation: Two beakers let us make- thus said the eldest. Let us make three - this was the younger's sentence.

Time spent

Below verse states that after year of hardship, finally a clone of a cow and horse is born - Rigveda, Book 1, Hymn 111, verse 1 तक्षन रथं सुव्र्तं विदम्नापसस्तक्षन हरी इन्द्रवाहा वर्षण्वसू | तक्षन पित्र्भ्यां रभवो युवद वयस्तक्षन्वत्साय मातरं सचाभुवम|| Translation: Ingenious Rubhus prepared a chariot for Indra, prepared two powerful horses (2nd being cloned from 1st), made their old parents youthful again and gave new mothers to orphaned calves or children.

Cloning reference in mythology: The story of Vena

King Vena was a great but cruel king. He banned all Vedic practices and challenged the sacred rituals of Vedic priests. This created immense fury and anger among the sages. One of the sages killed him using his spiritual powers thus ending the tyranny of Vena. When monarchy of vena ended, anarchy took its place and the kingdom became miserable without a king. Sages decided to create a new king from the dead body of vena.

The clone of Vena

The sages churned the thigh of the dead king wherefrom came a dwarf clone of vena who inherited the evil mind and qualities of vena. “What shall I do?” asked the cloned king. Seeing the newly formed clone deficient of kingly qualities, Sages asked him to Nishada (sit down) thereby giving him the name ‘Nishada’. King Nala and Eklavya of Mahabharata were descendants of Nishada.

Further cloning and the birth of Prithu

Now that all evil was removed from his thigh, Sages then churned the right hand of Vena wherefrom came the healthy illustrious king "Prithu" who inherited all the good leadership qualities of Vena. Prithu went on to become the universal guardian of entire earth and so, the earth was called as ‘Prithvi’ in Sanskrit. Thus as depicted in the above story, there is a concept of creating multiple clones from the same dead body.

Cloning reference in mythology: The Story of Rakhtbija

Rakhtbija was a powerful demon who got the boon of cloning his blood cells from lord Brahma. Making the wrong use of his boon (each of his blood drops spilled on the ground would create a clone of him); he defeated all the demigods and overtook the three worlds (Earth, heaven and hell). His destruction across the three worlds forced all humans and gods to invoke Goddess Shakti (Durga). Goddess Kali, born out of their sacrifices, marched out to war against the demons.

The death of Rakhtbija

Lifting Rakhtbija high in the air, she pierced his body and swallowed each of the blood drops flowing out of his body with her enormous tongue so as to stop him from making any clone. Finally, when the dead body was devoid of blood drops, she threw away the corpse. But Demon Rakhtbija blood contaminated her mind which caused her to perform dance of destruction. Lord Shiva came to the rescue by falling down under the feet of goddess Kali.

Cloning reference in mythology: The story of goddess

While Lord Rama was in the forest, Agni approached him and said “O lord, you are going to kill Ravana and Sita is going to suffer many atrocities. Therefore, you should put Sita in my safe custody and I shall give you an illusion Sita - an exact replica of your real wife. After killing Ravana, send the false sita into the fire to test her purity. That would be the time when I will take my replica back and would return you your wife”.

The phantom Sita

Rama gave his consent and a phantom sita was created by Agni and handed over to Lord Rama. This incident was kept as a secret. After killing Ravana, when Rama moved forward to accept Sita, he was stopped by bystanders who demanded Sita to prove her chastity. Bowing down to public opinion, Sita was requested to enter the fire to prove her purity. When Sita went inside the fire, Agni took back his replica and let the real Sita come out of the fire unscathed.

The Maya Sita concept

It is interesting to note that the reference of ‘Maya Sita’ is available in regional version of Ramayana and not in Valmiki’s version. Pauranic sources like Kurma Puran, Brahmabaibarta Puran, and Regional Ramayana like Adhhyatmik Ramayan, Ramchari Manas, Orriya Balaram Ramayan, Dharma Kanda Ramayan and Kashmiri Ramayan mention about Maya Sita concept.

In the epic Mahabharata

Did Ancient Hindus perfect the science of cloning or were Kauravas products of a technology that modern science has not even developed yet? According to the description in Mahabharata (Adi Parva/Sambhava Parva), the Kauravas were created by splitting the single embryo into 100 parts and growing each part in a separate Kund or container.

The birth of Ganesha

Lord Ganapati was produced from the ‘Mala’ (ey), which means the superficial layers of skin of Parvati. This is possible according to the modern science. However, here a male is cloned from a female. Whether it is possible or not is not conceived by the modern science.

Just a coincidence?

Indian mythology has many examples where certain persons could not only create replica but can transform the ‘subject’ into any other animate. For example, Marich took the shape of Golden Deer to allure Sita. In another context we find when Lord Buddha was meditating, Mara the Devil, in order to detract Buddha’s attention, created many ferocious figures and beautiful females. Thus we get an indication that creation of dangerous creatures and beautiful damsels was within the power of some persons. So many clues can’t be fluke!

An expert’s opinion

Dr. Satkari Mukhopadhayaya, an expert Indologist and Pandit of various ancient scripts, a Linguist having knowledge of 20 classical and regional languages said that ‘there is no scientific proof available whether those ancient people had any knowledge of Cloning or not. But we get some idea that replicas were created which has many references and much of it is related to illusions or Maya. No scripture has ever directly dealt this concept but indications are many.’

Human cloning in ancient times: Is it a myth?

Its matter of interest whether there is any hidden knowledge available in ancient texts which can enthuse the modern Genetic Engineers! Actually Genetic Engineering by the term as we know today is not decipherable in ancient texts. But if one reads through the roots of creation there are some concepts available which can become a subject of ‘scientific quest’ for exploring newer frontiers of human knowledge and research.

Why is the knowledge lost?

In ancient texts we find a lot of mind boggling concepts but no formulas of creation were passed down to us! That is perhaps because ancient sages knew the human tendency of misusing their acquired powers. As today we are talking about creation of human clone in thousands, at the hour when population explosion is knocking at our doors misbalancing the nature in many ways and causing world-wide distress! Maybe…!

Irrefutable proofs that indicate Ramayana actually existed

Ramayana: History or mythology?

The Ramayana is one of two epics, the other being the Mahabharata, which have had a crucial influence in shaping the nature of Indian civilization. The Ramayana existed in the oral tradition perhaps as far back as 1,500 BCE, but the fourth century BCE is generally accepted as the date of its composition in Sanskrit by Sage Valmiki. Many historians claim that Ramayana actually happened and is not a mythological folklore. Here are a few evidences that make a compelling case.

Cobra Hood cave, Sri Lanka

The tradition states that Sita was held in confinement in the Cobra Hood cave. There are many pre-historic drawings on its ceiling. An inscription in the cave that reads, ‘Parumaka naguliya lene’ further establishes a distinct link between Sita and the Cobra Hood cave. The Demons who guarded Sita while she was Ravana’s prisoner called her her Naguliya – one who was born off the ploughshare.

Existence of Hanuman Garhi

Lord Hanuman is one of the most important characters of Ramayana and an ardent devotee of Lord Rama. Hanuman Garhi, now a temple is a place in Ayodhya, where Hanuman was waiting patiently for Lord Rama who was in exile. Hanuman Garhi temple is also famous for its strategic location. It is situated at such a height and at such a site, from where the sunrises and sunsets are artistically visible.

Foot Prints of Lord Hanuman

When Hanuman reached Ashok Vatika, he is said to have come in the form of a giant. There are giant imprints on one side of the lake there which are said to be Hanuman's footprints, formed when he landed.

Ram Sethu

It is estimated that 'Rama's Bridge' is constructed in around 5000 B.C, with the use of wood and stones. This supports the claim of Ramayana being Historical. It is also backed by the construction method used to build the bridge is mentioned in the Valmiki's text.

Sync between time history and ages

Archaeological studies reveal that the first human inhabitation happened in Sri Lanka around 1,750,000 years ago and it’s been proved that the bridge’s age dates back to the same equivalent. To top it, the dates mentioned in the text of Valmiki matches with that of primitive age as well.

Mystery of Floating stones

In Ramayan it is mentioned that the Ram Setu was built by Stones and these stone starts Floating on water by touch of Nala & Neel. Some such stones were scattered at Rameswaram during the Tsunami, these stones still float on water. Many Geologist says RAMA Setu is built by natural process but failed to Provide enough proofs. Apart from Ramayana there are several facts which say Rama Setu is Man-made Structure.

Sanjeevani Mountain, Dunagiri

Lord Hanumana carried the entire mountain that had Sanjeevani Booti when Lakshmana lost his conscious during the Lanka war. This mountain was named as Dunagiri. In most re-tellings of Ramayana, after the medicines were used, Hanuman flies again to replace the mountain in its rightful place. There lies a scar on the side of Dunagiri where Hanumana sliced off a big chunk of mythological real estate, a scar which “bleeds” in the afternoon sun.

Himalayan Herbs in Sri Lanka

Exotic alpine Himalayan species are found suddenly amidst tropical Sri Lankan vegetation, the legacy of Hanuman’s heroic voyage carrying a mountain with life-restoring herbs called Sanjeevani.

Ashok Vatika, Sri Lanka

It was the location where Sita was held captive by Ravana after her abduction, because she refused to stay in Ravana's palace, and preferred to stay under the Ashoka tree, hence the name. Much of the Ashoka Vatika was destroyed by Hanuman, when he first visited Lanka, searching for Sita. Its present location is believed to be the Hakgala Botanical Garden, the area is known as Seetha Eliya.

Existence of Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh

When Sita was abducted by Raavan, they bumped into Jatayu, a demi-god in vulture form, who tried his best to stop Raavan. Lepakshi, in Andhra Pradesh, is said to be the place where Jatayu fell. Ram, accompanied by Hanuman, met the dying Jatayu. Ram helped him attain moksha by uttering the words "Le Pakshi", which is Telugu for "Rise, bird". There's also a large footprint in that area which is said to be that of Hanumana's.

Four-tusked elephants

Sundar Kanda [4.27.12] states that Hanuman, on entering Lanka, sees Four-Tusked elephants guarding the palaces of Ravana. These elephants are tall and imposing and have been trained to protect Lanka from invaders. Well, fossil remains show that there were many steps in the evolution of the 'Modern Elephant' and there did exist four-tusked ancestors of elephants in various shapes and sizes such as Trilophodon, Tetralophodon, Gomphotherium etc around 20 million years ago!

Existence of Konda Kattu Gala, Ishtreepura

This was one of the places to which King Ravana shifted Sita as a precautionary measure which he was forced to take by Lord Hanuman's advent. There are lots of intruding tunnels and caves in this area. This seems to be a part of a great ingenious network of paths, which is interconnected to all the major areas of King Ravana's city.

Ravana’s palace

These tunnels prove beyond doubt the architectural brilliance of King Ravana. These tunnels served as a quick means of transport through the hills and also as a secret passage and networked all the important cities, airports and dairy farms. A .close look at these tunnels indicates that they are man-made and not natural formations. This Buddhist shrine at Kalutara was where once King Ravana's palace and a tunnel existed.

Kalaniya

After King Ravana’s death, Vibeeshana was coroneted as King of Lanka by Lakshmana at Kelaniya. There are murals enshrined outside the Buddhist temple depicting the crowning of Vibeeshana. The Kelani River is mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana and Vibeeshana palace was said to be on the banks of this river.

Proof of Lord Hanuman setting fire to Ravana’s kingdom

The color of the soil of the ancient battlefield is still red today, and is still surrounded by lighter colored earth. One of the airports of Ravana, torched by Hanuman when he came looking for Sita, still has a scorched-earth look. A patch of darker soil surrounded by brown earth.

Divurumpola, Sri Lanka

After Ram rescued Sita from Lanka, he made her go through Agni Pariksha to test her purity. The place where this is said to have happened is Divurumpola in Sri Lanka. There is a tree in that exact spot and even today, local disputes are settled through debates and discussions under that tree.

Ramalingam

Since Rama felt guilty of killing a Brahmin (Brahmahasthi Dosham), he decided to take penance at Munneswaram, 80 km from present Colombo. This is the place where lord Rama prayed to lord Shiva and lord Shiva answered his prayer by asking him to install four lingams. Out of this four, one of the linga was made of sand by sita and other brought by lord hanuman from Kailas Mountain. Lingams at Rameshwaram and Manavari temple was built by lord Rama himself and so, is known as Ramalingam.

When Shiva danced to Ravana's tune

Fury and passion of Shiva

The Shiva Tandava Stotram is literally what the name reveals. It is a hymn that unleashes the fury and passion of Shiva. But a fact that's not very well known is that it was composed by none other than Ravana, the Lanka king, who was an ardent Shiva devotee.

The Stotram

The Shiva Tandava Stotram is a stotra which describes Shiva's power and beauty. It is traditionally attributed to Ravana, the rakshasa (demon) king of Lanka and devotee of Shiva.

Song Of Destruction

The song, an example of Hindu devotional poetry, recreates images of waves of resounding beauty! The ninth and tenth quatrains of this hymn pay ode to Shiva's epithet as The Destroyer, perhaps, even the destroyer of death itself!

A Heartfelt Wish!

When Ravana got tired of rampaging across the earth, he returned to Lord Shiva to request moksha, or release from the bondage of endless rebirth.

Shiva's Mantra

The final quatrain of the poem depicts Ravana asking, "When will I be happy?" Ravana's poignant cry finds an echo in the modern man’s quest for earthly fulfillment and ultimate liberation from bondage.

Shiva’s Boon

Because of the intensity of his prayers and ascetic meditation, Ravana received from Shiva supernatural powers as well as a celestial sword. The sword is known as the chandrahas, or moon sword, considered one of the most powerful weapons in Hindu mythology.

A Complex Character

A compelling and complex personality, Ravana is not merely the king who usurped Sita, the wife of Rama, the Prince of Ayodhya, but also a scholar of immense intelligence and the devoted husband of Mandodari.

Ravana And Mandodari

Ravana married Maya's daughter, Mandodari, an extremely beautiful lady as well as a righteous wife. He had a son by her, named Meghanaada, whose name means “the sound of thunderclouds”.

How Meghanaada Became Indrajit

Meghanaada defeated Indra, the king of the Gods, and earned the title of 'Indrajit'.

How Ravana Became Egoistic

Ravana's great-grandfather was Brahma, the god of Ultimate Knowledge, and thus, Ravana had the advantage of d advanced knowledge of mathematics, science and Ayurveda. He soon became obsessed with his powers.

Display of Prowess

To make a display of his powers, Ravana attempted to move Mount Kailash, the abode of Shiva, Ravana’s ancestor God. Indeed, he managed to lift the mountain, but Shiva immediately placed it back, crushing Ravana's fingers in the process.

The Tandav Stotra

That is when Ravana sings the "Tandav Stotra" in praise of Shiva and in acceptance of his defeat at Shiva’s hands…and that is how Shiva danced to Ravana’s tune!

Why Adi Shankaracharya was a brilliant scholar?

Who does not know him

Living in India, it's hard to not know about Adi Shankara or at least never hear his name. He is famous like a modern-day politician but is worshiped for his scholarly work and devotion to Lord Shiva.

Scholar and a theologian

Adi Shankara was an Indian philosopher and theologian. He is the most renowned exponent of the Advaita Vedanta school of philosophy.

Major works

His works in Sanskrit discuss the unity of the ātman and Nirguna Brahman "brahman without attributes". These assertions are hard to digest for a common man, but these have stood the deepest enquiries of countless spiritual seekers and also the test of time.

A brilliant quote

I was yesterday reading through a document when I came across a beautiful verse. It translated like this: I am without attributes and actions, eternal, without any desire and thought, without any taint, without any change, without any form, every liberated and ever without impurity.

Isn't this beautiful and absolute truth?

I sometimes wonder how can somebody come so close to the absolute truth. It is often hard to put the nature of truth in words but Adi Shankara seems to have done exactly same.

Knowledge of Brahma

Adi Shankara systematized the works of preceding philosophers. His system marks a turn from realism to idealism. His Advaita ("non-dualism") interpretation of the sruti postulates the identity of the Self. Without doubt, he was a God-sent to guide the mankind on the path of non-dualism.

What is real?

According to Adi Shankara, the one unchanging entity (Brahman) alone is real, while changing entities do not have absolute existence. The key source texts for this interpretation, as for all schools of Vedānta, are the Prasthanatrayi–the canonical texts consisting of the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras.

His major works

Adi Shankara is most known for his systematic reviews and commentaries (Bhasyas) on ancient Indian texts. Among his commentaries, Shankara's masterpiece work is Brahmasutrabhasya (literally, commentary on Brahma Sutra).

10 Primary Upanishads

His commentaries on ten early Primary Upanishads are also considered authentic by scholars. These are: The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, the Chandogya Upanishad, the Aitareya Upanishad, the Taittiriya Upanishad, the Kena Upanishad, the Isha Upanishad, the Katha Upanishad, the Mundaka Upanishad, the Prashna Upanishad, and the Mandukya Upanishad.

Commentaries on other texts

Other authentic works of Shankara include commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita (part of his Prasthana Trayi Bhasya). His Vivarana (tertiary notes) on the commentary by Vedavyasa on Yogasutras as well as those on Apastamba Dharma-sũtras (Adhyatama-patala-bhasya) are accepted by scholars as authentic works of Adi Shankara.

Composing poetry

He composed many verses of poetic calibre including the Daksinamurti Stotra, the Bhajagovinda Stotra, the Sivanandalahari, the Carpata-panjarika, the Visnu-satpadi, the Harimide, the Dasa-shloki, and the Krishnastaka.

Oldest surviving commentary on Brahma Sutras

He composed the commentary on the Brahma Sutras, which happens to be the oldest surviving text of this category. However, in that commentary, he mentions older commentaries like those of Dravida, Bhartrprapancha and others which are either lost or yet to be found.

Isn't phenomenonal

It's hard to imagine that somebody did so much of work apart from traveling and educating various disciples. He was the Polymath of Indian thought.

He was criticized too

A lot of people criticized him for leading the masses astray due to his belief in Advait philosophy. However, once you begin to understand the beauty of this philosophy, you can't but admire him.