Salary Should Be Given On The Basis Of Contribution, Not On Mere Experience

In the Ramayana – Sita was abducted by Ravana, the king of Lanka. Rama created an army of monkeys and bears to launch an attack to Lanka in order to bring  his kidnapped wife Sita back. But, to reach to Lanka, Rama`s army need to cross a sea. There was no bridge or any way for his army to cross that sea.  Then, they planned to construct a bridge over that sea.

The construction of the bridge (Ram Setu) started. Giants monkeys and bears were carrying heavy boulders and putting in the sea. Among them a little squirrel was also carrying small-small pebbles in his tiny mouth and putting in the sea. That little squirrel was looking very committed and confident in his appearance and putting his entire strength and capacity in his effort in carrying the stones and dropping into the sea.

Suddenly, one monkey saw that squirrel and started laughing and mocking his effort. Other monkeys also joined him in mocking. What a small squirrel and his carried pebbles can do against the giant sea. His effort is useless.

Rama was watching everything that  was happening. He went and reprimanded monkeys saying that you are laughing at him because he is small and carrying small pebbles and nothing can be done with these pebbles. But you forgot to see his effort, commitment, determination and selfless service. Neither was he told to do this nor he was obliged to do. Still, he is putting his effort more than anyone here. He is contributing more than anyone here.

Everybody was awestruck by hearing how he is putting more effort than all of us…!!

According to the proportion of his body, he is carrying more stone than you, he is working more than you, he is contributing more than you in the construction of the bridge. You are carrying less weight than him in proportion to your body.

You live more, you consume more to feed your giant body, you harm nature more than him. In that proportion how significant your contribution is.

With this conclusion and stance point whom you think is contributing more and who is contributing less.  Hearing this monkey were ashamed. And acknowledged the contribution of that squirrel.

Rama, for his contribution, effort and dedication, he patted on his back as a token of appreciation. It is said that since then, the squirrel got three white strip on his back.

In our organization also. When we set up a team, we hire resources with less experience or fresher. And after some time, we expect them to give an equivalent output as experienced one. Sometimes they are mocked and admonished if they do not match the expectation of the organization. But we forget to compare their work in the proportion to their experience and salary, facility and perks they get in comparison to the highly experienced people of the organization.

If that is compared, then people with less experience contribution would be more than the most of the highly experienced professionals in the organization.

The reward and retribution should be given on the basis of the proportional contribution in the growth of the organization, not on the basis of the mere number of years spent in the organization.

Why Rishis And Sages Are Depicted In Less Clothes …??

Rishis, Sages or intellectual people of the past are depicted with simple clothes without any crown or jewelry or makeup. Some carry just one piece of clothe on their body. They carry very less luggage with them. They do not believe in possessing the material stuffs. However, even in this material world, they are highly revered.

Why so…???

They are revered, not because of their material wealth, but because of their wealth of wisdom they have. Their knowledge and wisdom is their real crown. The aura in their image is the sign of their enlightenment. Their illuminating face is as radiant as jewelry.

They do not need to carry any luggage, their knowledge and wisdom are their luggage, wherever, they go they carry their knowledge and wisdom. Unnecessary, they don't burden themselves with unnecessary decaying worldly stuffs which exhaust the journey of life.

The wealth of knowledge and wisdom never decay and exhaust. The light of their knowledge and wisdom illuminates the world, even after the death of their physical body. That is why, we say enlightened beings do not die, they remain immortal. Whenever we talk about those people, we do not talk about the construct of their body rather the content of knowledge and wisdom they shed out to the world for its betterment.

Their recognition is not because of their physical appearance, rather because of their content of character and wealth of wisdom.

Less clothes indicate that they are so true and pure that there is nothing to be hid. They are equal from both inside and outside.

Be A Donner, Not A Beggar

Hey, you are looking happier, younger and healthier than the last time we had met one year ago. I could see an astonishing change in your personality, attitude and behavior. What happened…? What did you do…? - Mankesh asked his friend Sarvana.

I remember very well, we were working together, you were always looking stressed and tensed, your mind was always cluttered with so many things and thoughts. You were appearing anxious and upset. Your life was surrounded by negativity only. Always complaining, criticizing and carping.

And now, I do not not see any sign of tension and stress on your face.  That is amazing. I am happy for you, but I am curious to know about it.

Sarvana replied with a genuine smile on his face – I will tell you everything in detail. That is not a big deal to be happy and healthy. Just a simple thing I did and that changed my entire life altogether. First, let us go for a cup of coffee.

They both went for Coffee. Sarvana led him to the coffee shop, and ordered two cups of coffee.

They hold the cup of coffee and went to a nearby park. They sat on a bench. Mankesh was continually observing Sarvana`s behavior. He did not believe his eyes  how a person can change so much in one year. What treasure he got, why is he so happy, did he win some lottery, or got some better job……so many questions were revolving in his mind.

You wanted to know about the change in my personality …right..? – asked Sarvana

Yes … definitely – affirmed Mankesh

With a sip of coffee, Sarvana started –I did not get a  better job or better boss or win lottery or any external treasure. Everything external is the same as it was earlier. I did not do anything in that. We cannot do anything either in external affairs.

Then what you did …?

Yes … When you had met me last time, I was a beggar. That is why, I was not happy. A beggar cannot be happy, no matter what …?

What are you saying …? You were a beggar …!! Come on. I know, you had then also a good job with handsome salary. Do not joke…. Please tell me the reality --- appealed Mankesh.

Yes, you heard that right. I was a beggar at that time and now I am a king. 

But you said that nothing has changed. Now you are saying that you have become a king from a beggar. What is the mystery. Can you please elaborate it…?

I was so poor at that time that I was always asking something to someone. I remember, I did not spend even a single day at that time when I did not ask anything to anyone.  In sooth, I was a beggar of an inferior quality. Without begging I was thinking that I would not survive. I had a scarcity of everything. Now, I am not poor. I need not  beg anything from anyone. I have so many things to give.

What does it mean ? – Inquired Mankesh

Ok .. I will tell you. I know at this moment - you are mapping my abundance and indigence with my money and property I have accumulated. But in reality, my abundance and indigence is not related to my money and property. I do not have much difference in the increment of my financial condition from last year to this year.

I was deprived, I was a beggar, not because I did not have sufficient money for my survivals and rudimentary necessities, I always had more than sheer survival. Despite good job and handsome salary and ample facility and luxury, I was living like a beggar, because, I was always seeking something from someone. That habit had made me a slave of the people and things around me.

I was always expecting that everybody should give respect and value to me irrespective of my attitude and behavior towards them. I was looking for the acknowledgment from others for the verification of my value and respect. It means, my value and respect was at the mercy of others. When I was being ignored from someone, I was feeling low and degraded. My happiness and sadness was not mine, but was controlled by others. These are nothing but the different forms of the begging. 

I was always looking others to come first and appease me. I was begging for my increment and appraisals when I was in Job. I had become sycophantic towards my boss for the same. I was criticizing my company policy and boss behavior in his behind but in front of them, I was demonstrating that no one can be more loyal to the company and the boss more than me. But, in reality, to maintain my value I was criticizing everything and everyone. That habit had inculcated the inferior complexity in me.

When I  was thinking that others have more than me, that was upsetting me. And whenever the thoughts were evolving that I have more than others, that was giving me the feeling of arrogance. In every aspect, I had become a slave of my mind. In true sense, I was impoverished and beggar.

I was just reading and hearing about happiness, but in fact, the happiness was far away from me, despite having everything with me . To get the value and respect in the eyes of others I was showing that I was happy with my life.

I was tired of such kind of artificial life. Then, I contemplated my life and demeanor towards my life to find out the reason of my unhappiness in my life despite having those many things from which millions of people are bereft of.

That worked out and I realized – there is no problem with the world. This world is running the way it is designed. There is no issue with the people of the world either. People behave according to their nature. Everybody`s nature is different. Everything and everybody cannot behave the way we want.  That is absolutely not in our hands.

 But, certainly one thing in our hand that is our own behavior and thought process. We cannot control the people the way they behave and act, but, certainly we can react and behave the way we want. That is in our control.

I had unrealistic expectations from the people and the world. The unnecessary expectations had pushed in the mire of distress.

Life is very uncertain. No one knows which moment would be the last moment. If you expect to get a better life in the future at the cost of the present life, that is not going to happen. That has not happened in the past with anyone and that is not going to happen in the future too. Many people in the past have spoiled their present moment in the expectation for the better future. And they have never got that.  And that is being repeated in the contemporary also. Most of us, spoil our present moment in the expectation for the better life in the future which never happens.

Instead of expecting a better life in the future, why not we try to make our present life better and live it to the fullest. Only one moment, which we can live is the present.

The majority takes birth on this planet and die with many expectations without enjoying their beautiful life.

I decided – I am not going to be the part of the majority who die without seeing the beautiful face of their life. No, I am not going to be like that. I am not going to wait even till tomorrow to enjoy my beautiful life, I will do it from today, from now.

Nature has made me an emperor. The ocean of treasure is inside me. No, I am not going to live like a beggar, rather I am going to be a donner. I am going to an emperor.

Instead of expecting and asking value, respect and sympathy from others like beggars, as a donner, I started  giving value, respect and gratitude to the people around me what they deserve. Instead of complaining, carping and criticizing, I started praising and appreciating.

Good and bad things happen around us. It depends upon us what we perceive. Instead of finding something bad in others and carping, I started appreciating something good that person was possessing.

Instead of criticizing the weather, I started expressing gratitude for the availability of the environment which makes us to survive on this planet. And so many things.  When I developed that habit, I started finding zillions of reason to be happy and grateful than in distress.

When I developed an attitude of becoming a donner, the entire dimension of my life changed. The happiness and richness you observe on my face and existence is the result of changing my beggar mindset. Now, I am living a natural life without caring who thinks what about me.

I live like a king. No fear of losing anything, because nothing belongs to me. No need to beg or become a slave of anything or anyone because I do not have expectations from others. This can be done by anyone, and you are not an exception.

The Reason Of The Contradicting Society

Our Hindu society is based on the concept – Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niraamayaah meaning may all be happy, may all be free from illness. Our motive is to have a happy, peaceful and harmonious society.

This Mantra is a very old mantra. Since the ancient time, people in our society have wished for the well-beings of all people irrespective of their origin.

It shows that – in the ancient time also, people had the same kind of unhappiness and restlessness what we have today.

Our wish for the welfare is not confined to the human beings only, but to the entire universe.

We know very well - without the welfare of the entire humanity and creatures, the peace and happiness cannot dwell in the human kingdom. However, our human kingdom has not reached that stage where everybody in the society can live without fear and suffer.
 

Merely by wishing for the peace and happiness, our society is not going to reach that stage.For that, we need to find out the exact reason for the unhappiness and restless in our society. We need to find out the reason for  our conflicts and contradictions. Without finding and sorting out those first, we cannot create a fearless and suffer free society.

We all human beings are equal before God and the law. There is no discrimination there on the basis of birth, family background, financial background and status or color, height or gender of the person.

Nature does not discriminate in providing her resources to everyone. It is open to everyone. Our scriptures talk about reaching the divinity is in the reach of everyone. No discrimination at all on any basis. The constitution assures that everyone is equal before the law.

The effort has been taken from every aspect through various policies, laws and methods and by many great and influential  people to bring the equality in the society. They knew - without bringing the equality in the society, there cannot be peace, happiness and harmony.

Although, our authentic scriptures and law of the land talk about the equality of all human beings, but our society is still not a discrimination free society.

No efforts and assurances can bring equality, peace and harmony in the society, until and unless the people in the society reach to an equal mental status irrespective of their birth and financial condition. Without reaching to an equal mental status there would not be the respect and value for each other. There would be discrimination on various basis. And a discriminating society can instill fear and insecurity only, no peace and happiness.

Then what is the way which we can bring the mental equality in the human kingdom …??

Education. Education is the only way by which mental equality can be brought in the society. And for that purpose, the Government has included the right to education in our fundamental right Art. 21A, and this is also included in our fundamental duties (Art. 51A).

That is the effort of the Government to bring the education to every child. No doubt, this is good effort and that should be appreciated.

Despite this effort, are all the children in our society getting an equal education…? Are all the children in our society growing with the same mental status…? Will this current structure of the education system of our country be able to develop an equal mental status of our children…?

No.. It is not.

The country is one, the society is one, the law is one, but the education system in our country is different. It is not doing the justification in the development of our children. Different kind of standard and quality of education is being provided to the children of different social and financial status.

Financially challenged people of the society send their children to the government school, because they cannot effort lofty and the unjustifiable fee structure of the private schools.

What do you think – are we not sowing the seed of discrimination at this level …? Are our children not developing different mental status.

In one school, all kinds of manners are taught, in other schools, no much attention are given to children as how to behave and talk to other fellow citizens.

And many other children who remain uneducated may not match the mental status of the children of those people who goes to school.

They all have to dwell in this country, they have to follow the rules and regulations of this country. But, they cannot be comfortable living together, because of different mental status.

Say for example, both are going on the road – one is well mannered, he will follow all the traffic rules, but the other person who has not civic sense, will break all the rules, and in this way, the entire society and hence country will suffer.

Because of the different education system and mental preparation of the children in the society, they feel different than others. The discrimination starts from there. 

One will be highly educated and may be maintaining a high standard of life. Others in the same society may not get that opportunity. In the mentally unequal society, both cannot live in peace and harmony. One group of people would uncomfortable with others.

Everybody, including the government is aware of the lofty fee structure of the private schools and the standard and quality of education in the government schools. And this uneven standard of the education cannot produce a better society. There would be always conflicts and contradictions.

Education can be taken lightly. Education must be the most crucial part of the government`s agenda. Education has only power to create a better society where everyone can live harmoniously -  where the society would be valued not by the total asset of the individuals or post or position but by the content of the character and mental highness.

Education should be the completely government`s responsibility. It should be free and equal for everyone irrespective of their family background and financial condition. The children of the rich and the poor should sit and study together. An  equal facility, opportunity and treatment should be provided to all students, so that, they can grow with the same mental states.

The private schools should be closed completely in this country or government school should be privatized, and that should be running under the government strict supervision.The best mind of the country should be encouraged to join the teaching profession. Only then, we can realize the mantra – “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niraamayaah”      

Lord Shiva From North And Kali From South -- What is The Connection...??

The South is the direction of black and North is the direction is of white. The South is the direction of Kali. The color of Kali is black. Black color and instability are associated with the direction South. The north is the direction of lord Shiva. The color of lord Shiva is white. He is Karpur Gauram (as white as camphor). He looks dark because his body is smeared with ash. White color and stability is associated with the direction North.

Yama, the god of death, comes from the south is black, Kama, the god of desire, is associated with the south is dark (deep green), the ocean appears dark is found in the south direction, the crematorium is situated in the south direction of the village is associated with black (mourning and sadness).

Lord Shiva dwells on the mount Kailash clad with white snow. The Rivers emerge from the mountains in the North clad with snow and flow to the south and merge in the ocean in the south are white in color.

Black color is the color of both mystery and ignorance. The people who are associated with black either we cannot understand them or they cannot understand anything. Lord Krishna is associated with the black color, he is very mysterious, almost impossible to understand him. Kali, Yama, Kama, crematorium (death) and ocean (depth) all are mysterious, nobody has ever understood them.

We as human being are strongly associated with them (black), however, we are not mysterious like them, but ignorant.

Our every birth is an opportunity to nullify our accumulated Karma and get the liberation from the interminable cycle of birth and death. But due to our ignorance (black), we fall into the trap of Kama (desire). To fulfill our desires we involve ourselves in various kinds of activities, which produces Karma. Where there is Karma, Yama needs to appear to reward or retribute us according to our Karma.

According to our Karma, we get our birth. And where there is birth, there would be definitely death (Yama) and crematorium (Kali (ShamshanNivasini) – she dwells there). Nothing stable in the south. There is birth, life and death, violence and turbulence  – and again birth, life and death, violence and turbulence. This continuum goes on.

No peace and stability in the South. Only turbulence, violence and change. Where there is a desire (Kama), there would be turbulence (Ocean – waves of thoughts to fulfill our desires). Where there is turbulence, there would be violence (Kali - who kills people who desire to dominate nature). Where there is violence, there would be death (Yama). Where there is death, there would be a crematorium.

Due to our ignorance (black), Mysterious and bloodthirsty Kali (Black) standing in the crematorium stretching and showing her tongue to mock our ignorance.

White is the color of enlightenment. Kama and Yama, both are very powerful and dark in color. It is very difficult to come out of the clutches of Kama and Yama. Howsoever, both were killed by Lord Shiva (white). Later, both were resurrected, why they were resurrected, that is a different story.  

Kali was violent before coming into the contact of lord Shiva. When she came into the contact of Lord Shiva, she became Gauri (Fair) and travelled to the north, the direction of peace, stability and light.

There is a realm of darkness, because there is no light. When the light appears, the darkness vanishes. The darkness (Kali, Yama and Kama) can be conquered by light (Shiva).

As long as we live in ignorance, there would be a strong influence of Kama and Yama, and Kali standing in the crematorium stretching her tongue will keep mocking us as our all efforts are making a preparation to reach the crematorium only, nowhere else.

Darkness is the ignorance and the light is the knowledge. The darkness of ignorance can be conquered with the light of knowledge only.

When we lit the light of knowledge, the darkness of ignorance dispels, we come out of the clutches of influence of Kama and Yama and travel to the north, the direction of lord Shiva, where bloodthirsty Kali has become benevolent Gauri. There is peace, happiness, harmony and stability only.

Black color is the color of attraction and bondage and white color is the color of peace and liberation. Black color absorbs the other colors in it and white color reflects other colors. That is why, black color is an analogy of attachment and white color is an analogy of detachment and liberation.

South direction is the direction of the body and north is the direction of soul. The body goes to the south in crematorium and pious soul goes to the North where further birth and death ceases.

But the spirit who is too much attached to the body keep hovering in the south and again trap in the continuous cycle of birth and death.

The spirit who understands the impermanence of the body and the world does not attach to the body rather work on their soul and become immortal – Mrutya ma Amrutgamya ( from death (Yama) to immortality  (Shiva)) – from the south to the north – from the direction of  Kama (Desire hence turbulence), Kali (Violence) Yama  (Death), Crematorium (end of body - mortal) and Ocean (instability) to the direction of lord Shiva (Soul, which is immortal, and enlightenment), peace, happiness and stability(mountain).

The Reason Why Lord Shiva Is Called Neelkanth

No, I am not going to repeat the same mythological story you might have read or heard or watched that – Lord Shiva is called Neelkanth, because his neck is of blue color. His throat became blue because - during the churning of the milky ocean for the Amrut, the elixir of immortality, the first thing emerged from the ocean was the Halahal, the deadly poison, which had the potential to destroy the entire world. Nobody but lord Shiva had that capacity to consume that Halahal.

Lord Shiva was invoked. He consumed the Halahal and saved the world. Noteworthy – he did not swallow the Halahal rather hold that in the middle of his throat. The effect of the poison was so intense that his neck turned into Blue, and hence he is called Neelkanth.

That is justifiable from the story, but still … why only lord Shiva was invoked for this cause…?  Why not, other gods or goddesses…? Why lord Shiva did not consume and digest that poison…? Why he held that in the middle of his throat…? Let us try to illustrate it.

The milky ocean is an analogy to our mind. The treasure of happiness (positivity) and poison of distress(Negativity)both are hidden in our mind. To touch that layer of Amrut inside our mind, first we have to clear the poison of negativity from there.

When our mind is churned out, the first thing that comes out is the poison of negativity which has been thrust in our mind through our five senses. The stored poison of negativity is so concentrated that can blot our entire life. That is very frightening. Due to which, most of the people even do not attempt to churn out their mind. But to get the Amrut, without any alternative, we have to churn out our mind and consume and control the poison of negativity.

That is alright, but, what is the connection of the poison of negativity and lord Shiva.

It is because - Lord Shiva is an ascetic and Adiyogi. He has control over his senses, mind and breath. Without control over the senses, mind and breath, it is not possible to confront the poison of negativity either coming from our own mind or thrown towards us from the external world.

Perfect, then why lord Shiva did not consume the poison and digested, but held in the middle of his throat.

He has so strong control over his breath that he did not let that poison reach to his stomach. Please note - The throat where he holds the poison is equi-distance from the head and heart.  Although, the poison was horrifying, he consumed also, but he did not allow to reach to either his head or heart. The poison did not make any harm to him because that could not reach to either his head or heart.

When we contemplate to start new things, set a new goal to achieve something significant in our life , or try to do something unconventional, the first thought comes in our mind - whether we are going to succeed or not, what will happen if we fail, what would be our reputation in the society. Also the people around us try to thrust many negativity towards us in the beginning.

This poison of negativity is so severe that if it is not controlled properly and kept away from spoiling the head and heart the way lord Shiva did, nothing great can be achieved which the world remembers.

Amrut is the elixir of immortality. This made consumer an immortal. But how it is applicable to human being…? No matter what, human is mortal. Right, but this story is not talking about the mortality or immortality of the human body, but human deeds and achievements. 

Many great people who have left this world physically, but their deeds and achievements are immortal. Albert Einstein, Newton, Swami Vivekananda etc. are some of them.

Nobody becomes great in their first attempt. In the inception, they consume and control the plethora of poison in the form of rejection, humiliation, discrimination, prejudices, hatred and so on. And then in the end, they get the Amrut of achievement by which this world remembers them forever.

ThebBlue throat of lord Shiva is the reminder of the presence of the poison in every human being and he shows a method how to control it in order to achieve the higher goal in one`s life and become immortal.

Become Buddha To Understand Buddha

The world is in the cave of darkness, and Buddha sitting on the top of the cave talking about the light where there is no illusion, delusion and assumption, only reality and clarity.

In the shade of darkness – we cannot see the things at it is – in the dearth of clarity, we talk about our illusion, delusion and assumptions only, not the reality.

Buddha knows – without light, the things cannot be seen and perceived as it is. That is why – he does not talk about what he sees rather he tries to make the world understand and perceive the presence of light. When they come to the light, everything will clear to them automatically. No further explanation is required.  But to experience the presence of light, we need to come out of the cave of the darkness.

Here, Buddha talks about the light of knowledge. Only with the torch of knowledge, the darkness of illusion, delusion, assumption and ignorance can be dispelled.

We people the cave dwellers have not perceived the light that Buddha talks about. The humans have been spending their lives in the cave of darkness for centuries. We have not tried to come out of the cave of darkness. We have conceived that the cave is the ultimate fate of the humans.

Now, Buddha is talking about light which appears esoteric to us.We have no idea what light is. That is why - Buddha says comes out of the shrunk  cave of the darkness to the vastness of the light. “Tamso ma Jyotirgamya”. When you come to the light from the darkness there would nothing which can mislead you.

Buddha says – yes, there is light, and everyone has potential to reach there, not only me.

The Buddha speaks in very simple language about the light. He says - Do not believe in my description of the existence of light. Just come out of the cave of darkness and experience the same  by yourselves.

Some believe in the presence of light, some reject that. Some say – no world can exist beyond the boundary of the cave. Much  discussion, debate and arguments take place. Many books and stories are written to simplify the presence of light given by lord Buddha.

Without first hand experience, the more we try to simply it, the more complicated it becomes. Book after book, story after story, philosophy after philosophy and so on, but nothing can help people to experience the presence of the light until and unless the efforts are made to leave the cave of darkness behind and head towards the direction of light indicated by lord Buddha.

The Buddha says very simple thing – do not believe in the description of anyone – just come out of the cave, that`s it! You will see what I mean to.

Buddha never claims – that only I have the capability to come out of cave of darkness and sit on the top of the cave to experience the light and the world as it without any delusion and illusion.

I need not make any story or assumption about anything, because, I see everything in the light the way it is. I never make mistake to understand rope as a snake. There are no conflict and confusion where the light is.

There are many religions in this world. And every religion is dwelling in their own created cave of darkness. The progenitor of every religion is sitting on the top of the cave and talking about the light, but their followers dwelling in the cave of darkness, without experiencing the presence of light, merely on the basis of hearing from their progenitors, they explain the light according to their perception, understanding and assumption.  And every body`s assumption and perception are different. That has created conflict and confusion in the world.

The moment the world would understand their progenitors and come out of the cave of the darkness to the immensity of the light, there would be no any confusion, conflict and commotion among human beings in the name of religion. Because, all the progenitors talk about the same light in their own words.  

By just following the Buddha (or the progenitors of other religions and cult), you will not see what Buddha sees but by becoming Buddha and reaching  to his stance point you will see what Buddha sees.

WORSHIPING LORD SHIVA FOR GETTING THE LUXURY OF INDRA

We work hard for earning money and luxury. We want to feel powerful. We want to have everything what Indra has. Many people in the past did severe penance to win Indrasan, the throne of Indra. There is a constant fight between Devas and Asuras for the Amravati where Indra resides. His abode`s name is Amravati, because Amrut, the elixir of immortality, is found there. This is Indra`s paradise. Everybody wants to have that paradise where every kind of luxury is available what we can imagine, wish or think of.

Kalpvruksha, a tree who fulfills everything what we can imagine, Kaamdhenu cow which can fulfill everything what we can wish, Chintamani stone which can fulfill everything want we can think of. These all are found in the Indra`s abode. No need to slog for anything, just wish and that will appear. It is amazing ! Isn`t it ?

Gandharva, the unraveled musician and Apsaras, the most beautiful and gracious dancers are available there. Sura, the exotic wine is available to drink. Amrut, the elixir of immortality, is available for the resident of Amravati which makes the consumer ever young.

Indra is the king of Devas ruling the sky. He has Vajra in his hand as a powerful weapon by which strike no one can escape. Once he had used his Vajra to stop lord Hanuman from engulfing the sun. The Vajra smacked in the face of Hanuman, and Hanuman fell down unconscious on the earth. Due to the Vajra clout on his face, Hanuman`s mouth swelled and after that he was known as Vajrang Bali.

He has unparalleled palace, a white elephant named Airavata, a seven-headed flying horse named Uchchaihsravas. Goddesses Laxmi in the form of Sachi is the wife of Indra. What a great life he has ! Who do not want to have what Indra has to feel themselves comfortable and powerful !

However, despite all luxury, power and means of entertainment, Indra lives in a constant fear. He is very restless, envious and arrogant. From outside, his life looks very happy and successful, but from inside, he is highly afraid and stressed about losing all these things. It appears that he enjoys his life the most, because he has all means of enjoyment, but it is not so … his mind is so much clogged with a sense of insecurity of losing his power and luxury that he never enjoyed his present moment.

A fearful and restless mind can never achieve the state of peace and bliss. We have to drop our fear and still our mind only then happiness can flow in our existence.

Fear, arrogance, restlessness and jealousy comes by default with Indra`s paradise. Peace and Indra`s paradise cannot exist at the same time. For getting one, we have to renounce another.

Despite all these materialistic things and thoughts, we do not get the stillness and happiness in our existence, then we incline to Lord Shiva to get rid of our fear because he is Bhairav, one who removes fear or instill fear (contextual), and still our mind because he is Adiyogi.

There also we worship lord Shiva to have more and more accumulation and position to feel ourselves more powerful. We desire to be more powerful and prosperous Indra. Our mind has been programmed in such a way that it thinks that by getting more power and accumulating more wealth and luxury we will get rid of fear, and bliss will flow in our existence. But that never happens. That is contradictory. The more we accumulate and attach to it, the more fearful and restless we become by thinking of its security and continuation.

Lord Shiva`s way is different than Indra`s way. Both are opposite in direction. Worshiping lord Shiva for getting the luxury of Indra will never bring tranquility and happiness in our existence. What Indra holds, lord Shiva says to renounce those. Indra is highly driven by desire and ambitions. Kaamdeva, the god of desire, is the resident of Indra`s paradise, and there is no place of desire in Shiva`s abode, he burns Kaamdeva into ashes.

Where there is desire, there would be fear, slavery and restlessness. We have a choice – either kill the desire to be free and fearless like Lord Shiva or nourish desire and live in constant fear like Indra. But both cannot be achieved at that same time.

Pursuing the path of Indra and expecting the blessings of peace and happiness from Lord Shiva, practically, that is not going to happen.

However, one path is still left by which we can achieve both – the kingdom like Indra and blessings of tranquility and bliss from Lord Shiva at the same time. That is the path of King Janak who was a king of a great kingdom, but lived a simple and detached life like a great saint.

There is no problem of having more or less or not, but the problem is the attachment to any of the states. We should have everything, but attach to nothing. We renounce only those things what we are attached to, not what we have or not have. When we are not attached to anything, we will not much worried about losing or getting it. When we are not worried about losing or gaining something, we naturally enjoy the most what is available before us in the present, and consequently, the peace and happiness incessantly flow in our existence – that is the state of pure being.

Why Vibhuti(Sacred Ash) Is Applied Across Forehead…??

Vibhuti (Sacred ash) is associated with lord Shiva. His body is smeared with ashes. There are three horizontal lines of ashes across his forehead.

We can see Naga Sadhus (Naked sages) smear their body with ashes or any other sages or cult who follows Saivism apply Vibhuti across their forehead or on their body to honor lord Shiva. That is considered auspicious. At some holy places, people not only apply the Vibhuti across their forehead or on their body, but also eat that as Prasadam. It is said that – it purifies the soul and elevates the devotees of lord Shiva.

Once Kamadeva tried to instill a desire in Shiva to get married with Parvati. On this, lord Shiva opened his third eye and burnt Kamadeva into ashes.

Once three Asura brothers created three cities made of three metals (Gold, Silver and Iron) in the Sky, the earth and the heaven which created an imbalance and havoc in the universe. No one but lord Shiva was invoked for the help. Lord Shiva burnt three cities along with three Asura brothers into ashes and applied the ashes across his forehead in three horizontal lines.

Why Vibhuti is so important…? Why it is said that after taking Vibhuti as Prasadam or applying across the forehead or on the body, all suffering vanish…?

What`s the spiritual meaning veiled under the veneer of Vibhuti by unveiling which all the worldly sufferings vanish and peace and happiness flow…?

For lord Shiva, no birth and no death. He is changeless and eternal. Ash also contains the same characteristic. Whatever is burnt is converted into ash. And Ash cannot be burnt further. This is the last result of whatever is burnt. This indicates the ultimate wisdom of changeless and eternal.

To reach the proximity of the characteristic of lord Shiva, we have to get rid of our unnecessary desires which is the hindrance in experiencing the divinity within. Desire is the root cause of suffering and miseries of the world. Lord Shiva burnt desire which approach him in the form of Kamadeva.

There would be no fear, suffering and miseries in the world of suffering for those who have incinerated their desires. No power can snatch happiness and calmness from that person.

Unnecessary desires make us slaves. And a slave person cannot live a happy, harmonious and peaceful life. It is said that until and unless our all desires are not fulfilled, there would be interminable birth and death. Where there is birth and death, there would be the sufferings and miseries also. Lord Shiva is beyond birth, death and suffering.

Three Asura brothers and their created three cities are the symbolism of arrogance, negativity and revenge. In whichever society, there would be feeling of arrogance, negativity and revenge, there would always be mayhem and agitation in that society. No one can live in happiness and peace in that environment.

To restore the joy, harmony and tranquility, the castle of arrogance, negativity and revenge along with their creators must be seared into ashes. That is what lord Shiva did. And as a reminder for the devotees, he applied those ashes across his forehead.

It is said that by visiting lord Shiva`s temples and taking the Vibhuti, the stream of our suffering, miseries and anxiety evaporate and shower of bliss and serenity pour in.

It happens because of the comprehension of the profound spiritual meaning hidden in Vibhuti.  If its meaning is not conceived and contemplated, there would not much change in the mental state of the visitors.

Through this medium lord Shiva wants to convey a message to his devotees –Do not worry – one day everybody is going to become ash only. Whether you are rich or poor, handsome or ugly, tall or short, black or white or whoever you are, you are going to become ash only. You are going to leave everything here only due to which you are in worry and depression.

The Vibhuti applied across our forehead keeps reminding us that before time engulf us and make us ash, burn all your unnecessary desires and negativities and make yourself free. Until and unless you become free from the attachment of the materialistic world, neither you will be happy here nor hereafter.

We are here on this planet for a certain period of time. Do not make this life a burden.  Before you become ash, live your life to the fullest. To convey this in-depth philosophy of life, ash is associated with lord Shiva who is symbol of soul which never borns and dies. To which fire cannot burn, weapons cannot pierce.