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3-Swarg Khand

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4-Aashram Dharm-1

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4-Aashram Dharm-1
2-Padm Puraan, 3-Swarg Khand, p 375-387

This section is very short - of about 80 pages, p 332-409. The importance of very few Teerth and the duties of four Aashram are given here.


Importance of Bhagavaan's Name

Rishi asked Soot Jee - "Whatever fruit is obtained by going to all Teerth, how the same can be achieved by doing only one Karm? If there is any such Karm, then please tell us about it." Soot Jee said - "Who is a devotee of Shree Hari by speech, mind and action, only he is blessed. By circumambulating Hari's idol, or by having Darshan of His idol, one can get the fruit of all the Teerth. Who does Jaap of Vishnu's name, he gets the fruit of doing Jaap of all the Mantra. Who smells Vishnu's Prasaad Tulasee, he never sees the terrible face of Yam Raaj. Whosoever he is, learned or fool, Braahman or Chaandaal, if he is the dear devotee of Hari, Hari Himself helps him. People cry taking the name of their sons etc but they never cry taking the name Shree Hari. They are fools. That is why one should worship Krishn by Karm Yog."

Brahmchaaree's Discipline

Rishi asked - "Hey Soot Jee, How this Karm Yog should be implemented so that Vishnu is pleased with that?" Soot Jee said - "I tell you what Vyaas Jee told about it to Rishi. I will describe now Sanaatan Karm Yog. In the 8th year from either pregnancy time or birth time after Upanayan Sanskaar, one should start studying Ved. Assume the guise of a Muni, take food only from Bhikshaa and always wait upon Guru. A Braahman should wear the Yagyopaveet made of three circles. He must always wear Yagyopaveet, and he must always tie his Shikhaa (a small number of hair left uncut at the top of the head while haircut is done). Any Karm done without wearing Yagyopaveet and tying Shikhaa is not considered methodical. Clothes should be either white or of saffron color, but white is better.

Yagyopaveet first should be worn as a garland in the neck, then take out his right hand out (thus the Yagyopaveet will be over left shoulder and below right arm). This is called "Upaveet" and it should be worn like this. A Yagyopaveet worn like garland is called "Niveet". And when it is worn over right shoulder, under left arm, it is called "Praacheenaaveet (Apasavya). One should wear it in this way in Pitar worship (Shraaddh, Tarpan etc). While being in Havan place, near Braahman and elderly people, at the time Sandhyaa worship, one should wear Yagyopaveet as "Upaveet". This is Sanaatan method.

For long life and being healthy one should make a rule to greet elder people calling his own name along with his family name everyday in the morning. The other person should bless him. One should touch his Guru's feet by reversing his hands - left hand touching his left foot and right hand touching his right foot. One should not store water, Bhikshaa, flower and Samidhaa for next day. Whatever things are used in the worship of Devtaa, one should not keep them for next day. When one sees any Braahman, Kshatriya or Vaishya, he should ask for his welfare, if he sees any Shoodra, he should ask about his health.

Guru, father, elder brother, king, mother's brother, father-in-law, mother's father, father's father, a person of higher Varn and father's brother - they all are regarded Guru among men; mother, mother's mother, Guru's wife, father's sister, mother's sister, mother-in-law, father's mother, elder sister and the nanny who feeds him are considered one's Guru among women. One must behave with them as he behaves with Guru. One should not sit with them on one Aasan, should not talk with jealousy, and should never argue. Among all these Guru, five are the most important - mother, father, Guru, elder brother and Swaamee (master). One should always respect them at all cost.

Till mother and father are alive, one should serve them leaving everything else aside. If parents are pleased with their son's services, that son easily achieves the fruit of following all Dharm. There is no return for their sacrifices. One should not follow any other Dharm without their permission. Elder brother is like father. Who disrespects him, he falls in Narak. One must respect his master. Mother has more obligations on her children, that is why her importance is more than anyone. One should not call him, who is doing Yagya, even if he is younger, by name. One should always talk to him with respect. Even if Kshatriya etc are well-read, learned, wise, still are not worthy of Braahman's greetings.

All Varn's people's Guru are Braahman, Braahman's Guru is Agni; a woman has only one Guru, that is her husband and a guest is the Guru of all. Vidyaa, Karm, age, relations and family - these five are the causes of respect, Vidyaa being the highest and then comes Karm etc. Among Brahhman etc Varn, whoever has more qualities among these five, he is more respectable. A Shoodra who has reached tenth stage ( is older than 90 years), is also respectable. One should give way to a Braahman, a woman, a king, a blind, an old man, who is carrying a load, a sick man, and a weak man.

Brahmchaaree should give all Bhikshaa to his Guru brought from households. Then be satisfied from that portion only whatever Guru gives to him. Brahmchaaree should first ask Bhikshaa from his mother, sister or mother's sister. He should not ask Bhikshaa from one house only. When a Brahmchaaree lives on Bhikshaa, it is regarded as keeping fast. He should not disrespect that food. More food harms health, age, and in the attainment of Swarg Lok, that is why one should not eat more. One should eat facing east, never facing north - this is Sanaatan method to take food. If somebody has come from outside, he must wash his feet before taking food. Aachaman should be done three times to please Brahmaa, Vishnu and Shiv. Whatever things are with a person (on his body) at the time of eating, if he doesn't put them down (away from himself), they all become unclean. A cloth may or may not be put down."

Brahmchaaree's Dharm

Vyaas Jee said - "Maharshi, A Brahmchaaree should live in this way. When his Guru calls him for studying, then only he should go for it. When Guru orders to sit, then only he should sit in front of him. While listening or talking to Guru, one should not lie or take food, rather he should attentively listen to him sitting in front of him. His bed and Aasan should always be at lower side of Guru and should be at lower level than Guru's bed and Aasan. He should never copy of the way of his walking, speaking and his actions. Never retaliate with Guru. If Guru is standing, he should not sit in front of him. Whatever things Guru uses, he should not put his foot on them. Although he should not sit with him on one Aasan, but he can sit with him on bullock cart, camel cart, horse cart, mat made of Kush grass, piece of rock, and boat.

He should always keep himself controlled, polite and clean. Sandal, flower garland, taste, adornment of body, oil massage, singing, looking at and touching a woman etc are prohibited for a Brahmchaaree. Ghee, salt and stale food are also prohibited for him. If he sees Guru's Guru, he should greet him first, and then when he has permitted then only he should greet his own Guru. Guru's brother, sister, wife and son all are eligible to receive the same respect as Guru. One should not do personal service to Guru's wife, such as massaging her body, adorning her hair etc. Mother's sister, mother's brother's wife, mother-in-law and father's sister - all are like Guru's wife, that is they should all be respected like her. If a disciple has lived for one year with Guru, and Guru has not taught him anything, then Guru takes away his all sins.

Guru's son, servant, who gives knowledge, a religious man, a holy man, a powerful man, who gives food, who gives water, a saint, and one's own disciple - these ten types of people are worthy to teach. Who is faithful, who has no enmity, who is brilliant, whom has appoint you as a Guru, who is reliable and dear - these six types of people are worthy to make them for methodically study.

A Braahman should read Ved daily, otherwise he falls from his status. Who daily reads Rig Ved, he worships Devtaa with milk Aahuti; he who daily reads Yajur Ved, he worships Devtaa with yogurt Aahuti; he who daily reads Saam Ved, he worships Devtaa with Ghee Aaahuti; and he who daily reads Atharv Ved, he worships Devtaa with honey Aahuti. One should daily do Jaap of Gaayatree Mantra - maximum 1,000 times, or 100 times or at least 10 times. This is called Jap Yagya. Once Bhagavaan weighed Gaayatree Mantra with four Ved, both were equal to each other. A Dwij should first pronounce "Omkaar", then Vyaahriti and then Gaayatree Mantra. There are three Sanaatan Vyaahriti - Bhoo, Bhuvah and Swaha. These have been added to Gaayatree Mantra. They destroy all kinds of ill omens. These three have been regarded as the symbol of Pradhaan, Purush and Kaal; Vishnu, Brahmaa and Mahaadev; and Sat, Raj and Tam Gun respectively. Combining these three is called Gaayatree Mantra. Gaayatree is the mother of Ved. There is no other Mantra to be worthy for Jaap as Gaayatree Mantra.

For 4 and 1/2 months of Dakshinaayan (Aashaadh, Shraavan, Bhaadrapad, Aashwin and half Kaartik), one should read Ved daily; and he should end his reading in Pushya Nakshatra. One should read Ved in Shukla Paksh in the morning, and in Krishn Paksh in the evening. One should not read Ved if there is strong storm, or lightening, or roaring of clouds, or heavy rainfall. If it is like that, he should start reading it next day again at the same time. If these things occur in other seasons than rainy season, then also one should not read them. If a Braahman is invited for Shraaddh food, he should not read Ved for three days.

Whoever Dwij studies Shaastra other than Ved, he is considered a fool. A Dwij should not be satisfied only with reading Ved, rather he should try to understand its meaning.

 

 

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Updated on 05/10/13