|
Notes M-Z
Maareech
Maareech Raakshas was the maternal uncle of
Raavan and disturbed the Yagya of Muni
Vishwaamitra Jee by the order of Raavan. Taadakaa was his mother. When
Vishwaamitra Jee took Shree Raam and Lakshman to protect their Yagya, Shree Raam shot a
blunt arrow at Maareech and he fell down 100 Yojan far in the sea. Maareech remembered
that arrow and understood that Ram was not an ordinary prince.
Maatali
Maatali is Indra's Saarathee (chariot driver).
Indra sent him to help Raam while Raam got ready to fight with Raavan.
Man, Vachan and Karm
It means with all resources. There are three
resources with a man - Man (heart), Vachan (speech) and Karm (action). One should do the
Karm with full heart and sweet words. In Sanskrit it is said - Manasaa, Vaachaa, Karmanaa.
My Bow
Parashuraam Jee's bow was Vishnu's bow, so by
pulling its string, he wanted to test Raam if He was really Vishnu's Avataar.
[Back to 1-Baal/15]
Nine Qualities
These are the nine qualities:
(1) Sham - Calmness (Hindu scriptures put great emphasis on Sham which brings
internal peace. It brings the reward of happiness and gives the person the
ability to face difficulties and unpleasant events in life, to conquer anger and
to think of the meaning of the life.
(2) Dam - Self-control, see also Yam below
(3) Tap - Penance
(4) Shauch - Purification, Cleanliness
(5) Kshamaa - Forgiveness
(6) Saralataa - Simplicity
(7) Gyan - Knowledge
(8) Vigyaan - Elemental knowledge
(9) Aastiktaa - Belief in Bhagavaan
[Back to 1-Baal/15]
Nine Ras
There are several meaning of Ras.
(1) to feel
(2) juice, essence, sap, taste
(3) sentiments in poetry. In Hindi literature there are nine main Ras - nine types of feelings
(some say eleven) :-
(i) Shringaar Ras (sexual love - two types, Sanyog and Viyog, means meeting and separation),
(ii) Veer Ras (heroic)
(iii) Veebhats Ras (disgust)
(iv) Raudra Ras (anger)
(v) Haasya Ras (comic and humor)
(vi) Bhayaanak Ras (fright)
(vii) Karun Ras (pity)
(viii) Adbhut Ras (wonder)
(ix) Shaant Ras (peace)
(x) Vaatsalya (parental love)
(xi) Bhakti Ras (love to God)
[Back to 1-Baal/2]
Niyam
Control, Restraint, Regulation.
[Back to 1-Baal/2]
Paaras Mani
Paaras is a type of stone which turns iron into gold at a touch.
Prayaag
see Sangam
Pushpak Vimaan
Pushpak Vimaan (airplane) was of Kuber
(the treasurer of Bhagvaan). When Raavan conquered Kuber, he brought his Vimaan to
his Lankaa Puree.
Raahu does not eat the Moon
Here the meaning is that when the Moon is in
Retrograde position, there is no
Lunar Eclipse.
[Back to 1-Baal/15]
Rati
Rati is the wife of Kaam Dev. Both are supposed
to be the most beautiful man and woman, so whenever the beauty of any woman is compared, it
is compared with Rati. Kaam Dev
is the Devtaa of Kaam (love).
Saashtaang Pranaam
Sa+asht+ang. Sa means "with", Asht means
"eight", and Ang means "parts". Pranaam means "greeting with respect".
So Saashtaang Pranaam means "Greeting with respect with eight body limbs". The eight body
limbs are - 2 hands, 2 knees, chest, head, and 2 feet. This is done normally lying on stomach position,
and by joining both palms together saying "I greet thee" with pure heart.
San Tree
San (pronounced as "Sun" in English
language) is a kind of tree whose bark is used to make ropes in India. This metaphor
means as this tree gives its skin to tie others.
Sanakaadi Muni
Sanakaadi Muni are four in number and
all of them together are called Sanakaadi Muni. They are Brahmaa's first children.
They look like -year old children although they are the oldest in our Creation.
Their names are - Sanak, Sanandan, Sanat Kumaar, and Sanaatan.
Sangam
Sangam means "meeting", so whereveer
two rivers meet, that place is called Sangam; but this "Sangam" word is commonl
known for Allahabad, UP, where three rivers meet - Gangaa, Yamunaa and Saraswatee (a hidden
river). Since these three rivers meet at that place, it is called Sangam. This is one of the
very important Teerth (holy place) of Hindu people. It is called Trivenee, and Prayaag too.
It is one of the four places where Kumbh
falls. Other three places where kumbh falls are at Kshipraa river in Ujjain (MP), at Gangaa
river at Haridwaar (Uttaraanchal), and at Godaavaree river at Naasik (Mahaaraashtra).
[Back to 1-Baal/1] [
Back to 1-Baal/2]
Sapt Rishi
Sapt means seven, and Rishi means saints. There
are two lists found. The first list names: Atri, Angiras, Kratu, Mareechi, Pulastya, Pulah,
and Vashishth. The second list names: Atri, Bharadwaaj, Gautam, Jamdagni, Kashyap, Vashishth,
and Vishwaamitra. The seven Rishi are represented in the sky by the seven stars of the Great
Bear. They are different in every Manvantar.
[Back to 1-Baal/4]
Shabaree
Shabaree was a Bheel (a very low tribe of
India, they live on prey) woman who was a great Bhakt of Raam. She used to work in
Matang Muni's Aashram. When Matang Muni left for Swarg, he told her to stay back in
Dandak Van and wait for Raam's Darshan. She was getting old waiting for Him. When He
came to her Aashram, searching for Seetaa, she served them with wild berries. The stories
goes that Shabaree tasted every berry before serving them to Raam to ensure that they
were all sweet.
She was an Evil Person
One-eyed, lames, and humpbacks should
be known as cunning and evil-doers. Among them women are more and among the women
also maidservants are more prone to this.
Three Things Related to Moon
There are three things related to Moon -
(1) Chakor bird - Chakor bird gazes at the Moon for long time. (2) Kamalinee - Kamalinee
is a kind of lotus flower. Unlike normal lotus flower that blooms seeing the Sun and closes when
the Sun is set; Kamalinee blooms seeing the Moon. (3)
Two Boons
Once Raajaa Dasharath went to help Devtaa in Dev-Asur Sangraam (war). Kaikeyee was a very
good Saarathee (chariot driver in war), so Raajaa chose her as his Saarathee. In the war
he became wounded and Kaikeyee saved his life in the battlefield. Pleased with this Raajaa
asked her to ask for two Var (boons or wishes). At that time Kaikeyee couldn't think of any
so she told him that she would ask them later. Here Mantharaa is reminding her for the same
two Var.
Vaat, Pitta and Kaph
According to ancient Indian medical system, Aayurved, imbalance
among these three, Vaat, Pitt and Kaph, is the basis of all diseases. Doctors of this
system cure the diseases by balancing these three in the body.
Varmaalaa
Varmaalaa literally means, Var means
groom, Maalaa means garland, i.e. that garland which is put on in groom's neck by the bride
at the time of marriage. This tradition in Hindu society is very old and has been in use
since. It is known as Jayamaalaa also.
Yam
(1) to sustain, to support, to hold
(2) rein, charioteer
(3) self-control - These are 10 types (Brahmcharya, Dayaa, Shaanti, Daan, Satya,
Arjav, Ahinsaa, Asteya, Maadhurya, and Dam
(4) The ruler of the blessed dead. He gives the dead a resting place and prepares an abode
for him. Although Yam rules the dead, he is not feared, rather loved, because of the belief
that upon death a person joins his ancestor in heaven. Yam is also regarded as Dharmraaj or
Devtaa of justice. Yam is mentioned in Rig Ved as one of the sons of Vivaswat, a human being.
Puraan say that he is the son of Soorya (Vivaswaan) and Chhaayaa. Yam and his sister Yamee are
also found in Paarasee scriptures too as Yim and Yimeh. In Hindu society, incest is considered
great sin. In order to illustrate this, a dialog between Yam and Yamee is described in Rig Ved
wherein Yamee wants to seduce her brother, but Yam successfully repulses her by pointing out the
sinfulness of such a course. (Rig Ved 10:10)
[Back to 1-Baal/2]
Yogee
Person in union with God.
[Back to 1-Baal/4]
|
