Sacred Syllable Oum

The syllable Oum must be worshiped. Oum stands for the Brahman. It is for this reason that Oum is there at the beginning of every incantation.

The earth constitutes the essence of the elements, water constitutes the essence of the earth, the herbs are the essence of water, the human body constitutes the essence of the herbs, speech constitutes the essence of the human body, the mantras of the Rig Veda are the essence of speech, the mantras of the Sama Veda are the essence of the mantras of the Rig Veda, and Oum constitutes the essence of the hymns of the Sama Veda.

Oum is the most sacred of all essence, standing for the Brahman. speech is manifest in the mantras of the Rig Veda and the life force is manifest in the mantra of  Sama Veda. The syllable Oum is signifies the union of the two. The syllable Oum is the essence of the hymns. One who worships the syllable Oum thus, obtains all the objects of his desire. One who knows the syllable Oum to be the source of all prosperity, obtains all the objects of his desire.

Five Types of Sama Hymns

Sama means that which is the same everywhere. Since the sun shines everywhere equally, the sun should be worshipped as sama hymns. It is in sun that all the elements find their refuge.  Five types of sama hymns are to be worshipped in the earth, the fire, the sky and the sun. He who worships five types of sama hymns, attains all the worlds. Five types of sama hymns are to be worshipped in the wind that blow from the east, in the clouds, in the rain, in the lighting are to be worshipped in the clouds, in the rain, in the rivers that flow to the east, in the rivers that flow to the west, and in the ocean.

Five types of sama hymns are to be worshipped in the spring, the summer, the monsoon, the early autumn and the late autumn. Five types of sama hymns are to be worshipped in goats, buffaloes, cows, horses and men. Five types of sama hymns are to be worshipped in the powers of smell, speech, sight, hearing and thought.

Five types of sama hymns should be worshipped in the flames, in the sparks, and in the process of the fire going out. He who worships sama hymns thus, attains fame, sons and animals. Five types of sama hymns should be worshipped in the earth, the atmosphere, heaven, the redirections and the ocean. Five of sama hymns should be worshipped in the body-hair, the skin, the flesh, the bones and the marrow. Five types of sama hymns must be worshipped in the fire, the wind, the sun, the stars and the moon. He who worships sama hymns thus, obtains all the objects of his desire. 

Visualise The Brahman

The Brahman does not make himself manifest to the external senses. It is because of this that living beings can visualise the external world, but not the Brahman . those who wish to become learned and immortal control their senses. They can see the Brahman.

The ignorant ones lust after material objects. As a result of this, they become engulfed in ignorance and action. The learned ones can visualise the Brahman in all the objects of the universe. They desire nothing that belongs to this world.

It is thanks to the Brahman that men can savour form, taste, touch, sound and smell. There is nothing in this entire universe that is unknown to the Brahman. It is the Brahman who makes men see objects, be they awake or asleep. Learned ones visualise the great and omnipresent Brahman and overcome all sorrow.

A wise man knows that the fruit off all action vest with the Brahman. The Brahman regulates all forms of life. A learned person who realises this overcomes all fear. 

Navdurga Roop

India is a vast country; with a widespread Hindu Population comprising a multiplicity of language and faiths, we find innumerable local goddesses known as Devi. In rural India, it is not uncommon for every village to have its own Devi, with a place of prayer assigned to her. She is credited (or discredited) for whatever happens in the village. Everyone tries to keep the Devi happy. Even in everyday life, pious Hindus consider young girls to be a form of devi, pious offering them food and gifts at the end of the Navratri prayers.

During the navratri, Thousand of temporary pandals (tent structures) are erected to house the idols of the goddesses and other deities. At the end of the festivities, the idols are immersed in river or the sea.

When Shumbha and Nishumbha heard about the end of Chanda and Munda . He declared a state of emergency and Millions Asura moved the battlefield to attack the goddess from all sides.

On seeing the Vast Asura force, the Goddess picked up her bow, pulled the string and let go, sending a resounding screeching sound that made everything shudder and tremble. Then she range the bell just as the lion roared in unison. Kali roared the loudest of all, shaking the hills and mountains. The gods watched with joy. from each god emerged power that they controlled, which merged with the Goddess .From Brahma emerged Brahmani, atop a swan, holding a kamandal and a garland of beads. Form shiva emerged Maheshwari, ridding a bull, wielding a trident and adorning a crescent on the crown. Shiva also sent his trusted virnhadra. from Kartikeya emerged Kumari, riding the elephant Airavata and wielding the vajra.

Virbhadra bowed before the Goddess, and suggested that the Asuras may now be killed. Then anew form with great strength and speed emerged from the body of the Goddess. She was Called Chandika. 

Atman is a Personality

"The atman is an entity about which very few people know. Even if they are told about the atman, very few individuals can comprehend its nature. Extremely rare are individuals who can teach about the atman or learn about it. rare is the skilled teacher and rarer still the student who know about the atman."

"There are ignorant ones who think they can teach about the atman. They have not been able to comprehend the nature of the atman. The atman appears to them in different forms, the only learned instructor is one who knows no difference between the atman and the universe. He alone is capable of dispelling all doubt. The atman may be proved to be as small as an atom. But, in reality it is smaller still. The atman is actually beyond all debate."  

THE KATHA UPANISHAD

The Katha Upanishad deals with the story of Nachiketa. This story is also to be found in the taittiriya samhita, in a section known as the katha segment. this nomenclature reflects the emergence of the text from a school known as the katha school. The name subsequently passed on the katha Upanishad. There are two chapters (adhyaya) in the katha Upanishad. As the philosophical parts are more developed in the second chapter, it is hypothesised that the second chapter, was a later addition. Each of the chapters is divided into three sections (vallis). There are 119 shlokas in the katha Upanishad and the entire text is in verse.

Four Stages of Life

Righteous deeds have three components. Performing sacrifices, studying and giving alms constitute the first strand. Meditation is the second strand. Studying in the house of one's teacher is the third strand. All such righteous people are destined for the most sacred of world. But he who worships the brahman becomes immortal.

(this is a reference to the four stages of life (ashrama). The first is that of celibate student hood (brahmacharya), when one studies at the house of one's teacher. The second is the householder stage (garhasthya), when one performs sacrifices, studies the Vedas and gives alms. The third is the forest dwelling stage (vanaprashta), when one retires to the forest and meditates. And the fourth and final stage is that of becoming a hermit (sannyasa), when one contemplates the brahman.)