Religious discourse: The highest

Religious discourse: The highest: There is an Upanishadic story about a quarrel among the five sense organs, manas (mind) and prana (vital airs) as to who was important among them. They approached Brahma for help, said M.K. Srinivasan...



The highest
There is an Upanishadic story about a quarrel among the five sense organs, manas (mind) and prana (vital airs) as to who was important among them. They approached Brahma for help, said M.K. Srinivasan in a discourse. Wanting them to settle the matter among themselves, Brahma tactfully replied: “That whose departure from this world will cause the others to collapse is the best.”
The power of speech decided to quit the body first and returned after a year. He asked the others how they had fared in his absence. They said: “Speech was absent. But sight, thought and hearing were present.” So speech was not the highest. The eyes then left and when they returned they were told: “During this year, there was no sight. But there was hearing, listening, and speaking.” So the eyes too were not the highest.
The ears left for a year and when they returned they were told that while hearing had been lost, the other faculties had been functioning. The mind then quit for a year and when it returned it was told that the person could see, speak and hear, but was like a child with an as yet undeveloped mind. Now it was Prana’s turn to leave. But when prana started leaving, the other organs felt that they too were being dragged out of the body and they cried out “Prana, you are the highest. Do not leave.” Each indriya offered its characteristic trait to Prana, just as petty rulers offer tributes to an emperor. Speech, eyes and ears offered their respective qualities to prana. Mind, which is the abode of experiences, offered its discerning capacity to prana. Other indriyas also followed suit. The idea is that these traits of the indriyas depend upon prana. Thus prana is the highest.
(The Hindu, August 3, 2016)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NAVAGRAHA STOTRAM

NAVAGRAHA STOTRAM* According to astrology, the positions of the nine planets in the twelve constellations of the zodiac and their movements are considered to be quite significant. The nine planets ‘Navagraha’ affect every aspect of human life. They play an important role in the activities, physical and mental health and life of any individual. The unfavorable positioning of any of these planets can be the cause of problems, bad health, and stagnation for many people. However, there is a solution to avoid the ill effects of the position and movement of the ‘Navagraha’ in our lives. Navagraha mantras (or stotram) are simple mantras which work as powerful healing tools to reduce the negative effects of any of the nine planets. These mantras are Hindu holy hymn addressing the nine planets. Benefits Of Navagraha Stotram And The Way to Practice The Navagraha Stotram is written b y Rishi Vyasa and is considered to be the peace mantra for the nine planets. They are powerful m
Read more

THE SUNSET OF THE CENTURY

*SUNSET OF THE CENTURY: Rabindranath Tagore THE LAST SUN OF THE CENTURY SETS AMIDST THE BLOOD-RED COLOURS OF THE WEST AND THE WHIRLWIND OF HATRED. THE NAKED PASSION OF SELF-LOVE OF NATIONS IN ITS DRUNKEN DELIRIUM OF GREED IS DANCING TO THE CLASH OF STEEL AND THE HOWLING VERSES OF VENGEANCE. THE HUNGRY SELF OF THE NATION SHALL BURST IN A VIOLENCE OF FURY FROM ITS OWNSHAMELESS FEEDING FOR IT HAS MADE THE WORLDITS FOOD, AND LICKING IT, CRUNCHING IT AND SWALLOWING IT IN BIG MORSELS, IT SWELLS AND SWELLS TILL IN THE MIDST OF ITS UNHOLY FEAST DESCENDS THE SUDDEN HEAVEN PIERCING ITS HEART OF GROSSNESS…   *Note: “The Sunset of the Century”, translated by the poet, from Naivedya; The English Writings of   Rabindranathtagore, Volume II,Delhi 1996, page 466. Quoted in his article ‘Critiquing nationalism’ by K Satchidanandan (Frontline, November 14, 2014). The article takes you to a much broader spectrum. HAPPY READING(READ MORE STAN
Read more

The King of Ragas: Sankarabharanam

                       The King of Ragas                      --------------------------     Long ago  serpents were put to lot of hardships.They  were afraid of other animals. They had to seek refuge in the hermitage of sage Saraba.The sage was a true devotee of Lord Shiva.He used to pray Shiva with melodious songs. As he sang a particular raga the snakes were much inspired and they began to dance,. Slowly the serpents became friendly with the sage. They brought water in their mouths for the pooja.They secreted  a special fluid in which the flowers got stuck to their bodies.The sage was much astonished by the service of the snakes.As the sarpas became very close to the sage ,they requested him to help having Darsan of Lord Siva. As requested by the sage Shiva appeared in the form of  a  Kapalika and stayed in the ashram.The music and dance of the snakes continued. The snakes rendered service to the kapalika as they considered him  a Shiva bhakta.Shiva was much pleased with t
Read more