[Advaita-l] Chanting Gayatri overseas

[Venkatesh Murthy]

Namaste
Like Sri Sriram said we should not use our intelligence against Swamiji's
statements. Two great Swamijis have said foreign lands are not suitable for
Brahmin Dharma. You cannot argue saying Pakistan had more Rishis and so on
because the two Swamijis already would know that. Still they said foreign
lands are not for Brahminism.

Some people will say 'Udaracaritanam Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' and so on and
we can live anywhere and practice Brahminism. But they are not
understanding the prohibition is not because of the Land but because of the
people living there. The culture in foreign countries is not according to
Sanatana Dharma. People there have no purity restrictions like avoid
contact with woman in monthly period and Ashaucha duration when somebody in
the family passes away or a baby is born. They are not following any
purification procedures. If you live in that society and contact of those
people you will also become impure. In that impure condition how can you do
Vaidika Karmas? This is the problem.

Bhagavan Naama Smarana has not restrictions of place and time. One story is
Hanuman was flying in the sky and he saw one man passing stools after
constipation. He became relieved and was saying 'Raama Raama'. Hanuman hit
him on his head and scolded him 'Why are you muttering God's name in this
impure condition?' When Hanuman went to see Raama there was a severe
headache in Raama because Hanuman hit His Bhakta's head. Raama scolded
Hanuman 'My name is like Fire. There cannot be anything to make it impure.
It is always Auspicious. No restriction to chant for anyone anywhere and
anytime.' That is why even in cremation ground they say 'Narayana
Narayana'.

On Mon, Oct 2, 2017 at 10:04 PM, Vēdānta Study Group via Advaita-l <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> Karmabhoomi refers to any place where karma is being done (as opposed to
> bhogabhoomi, where one only reaps results of past actions (such as svarga,
> or in svapna avastha, or gatis outside of manushya gati)).
>
> This may extend to any place in the jagat where a free-willed creature is
> able to perform deliberate actions.
>
> Namaste,
> Prashant
>
> On 2 October 2017 at 12:30, Santosh Rao via Advaita-l <
> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>
> > A sticking point in this topic seems to be the debate between whether
> > karmabhoomi refers to India, or to the planet earth in total.
> >
> > The traditional view will maintain that bharata-varsha/karmabhoomi only
> > refers to India, the more modern crowd will say it refers to our planet.
> >
> > I favor the traditional view, but Jaldhar brings up a good point, what
> > constitutes "India?" South India was not always considered
> bharata-varsha,
> > since all of the stories in our shastras took place in North India,
> > Brahmanas only came and settled there at a much later point in time. Am I
> > off-base with this assumption?
> >
> > Namaskara,
> >
> > - Santosh
> >
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Oct 2, 2017 at 12:23 PM, Vēdānta Study Group via Advaita-l <
> > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> >
> > > Namaste, Raghav ji,
> > >
> > > You are right! The inspiration of what I said comes from my Guru, Pujya
> > > Swami Dayananda ji (Arsha Vidya) himself :)
> > >
> > > As long as the dharmi is protected, dharma will remain protected.
> Dharma
> > is
> > > only an abstract expression unless embodied by a dharmi.
> > >
> > > Namaste,
> > > Prashant
> > >
> > >
> > > On 2 October 2017 at 12:15, Raghav Kumar Dwivedula via Advaita-l <
> > > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Namaste 'Vedanta Study Group'
> > > >  It was written by you -
> > > > *However, the single most important factor for dharma is the dharmi,
> > the
> > > > individual who embodies dharma. And should a Dharmi travel overseas,
> > then
> > > > most certainly he takes (vaidika) dharma along with him and inspires
> > > others
> > > > to do so as well. *
> > > > (word in brackets is mine)
> > > > Thats really well put by you.
> > > >
> > > > The above para reminds me of what Swami Dayananda Saraswati ji of
> Arsha
> > > > Vidya would often say, viz., that to protect Dharma is nothing but,
> to
> > > > protect dharmI-s.
> > > >
> > > > When we say 'dharmo raxati raxitaH', there too the implication is
> that
> > we
> > > > are enjoined to protect dharmI-s.
> > > >
> > > > And where there are dharmI-s there is vaidika dharma as well. ( Those
> > who
> > > > began as dharmI-s, in India, don't  cease to be dharmI-s, by the mere
> > act
> > > > of traveling - thats the assumption I am making, which is a matter
> for
> > > > another discussion).
> > > >
> > > > Another point is that if we take arthavAda-s about geographical
> > greatness
> > > > of India, literally, then we have to also come to terms with other
> > ideas
> > > > from Manu Smriti (?). For example, a brAhmaNa loses his brAhmaNatvam
> if
> > > he
> > > > lives in a country ruled by so-called 'mlecchas' for more than some
> 12
> > > > years. (My memory says it's the manu Smriti but need to check).  By
> > that
> > > > yardstick , we have been ruled by non-vaidikas for over 700 years.
> > Surely
> > > > that implies something, if we take an overly literal meaning out of
> > > things.
> > > >
> > > > Another unfortunate fact we have to face is that the punya bhUmi
> where
> > > most
> > > > of the vedic rishis dwelled is now called pakistan. To say that
> gAyatri
> > > > japam will be efficacious in Islamabad and Peshawar but not in
> > > Pittsburgh,
> > > > seems a bit unconvincing.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Om
> > > > Raghav
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On 02-Oct-2017 8:46 PM, "Vēdānta Study Group via Advaita-l" <
> > > > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Harih Om,
> > > >
> > > > Svadharma is very specific to desha (place) and kAla (time). What was
> > > > legitimate practice at some place and time may not be so elsewhere,
> and
> > > the
> > > > same applies for what may be considered illegitimate in other
> contexts.
> > > > That is not to say that everything in shAstra is up for debate or
> > > > interpretation, but *the decision to guide one's sAdhanAs should
> > > ultimately
> > > > be left to one's sampradayavit Guru* (the definition of whom is given
> > in
> > > > the mundaka upanishad).
> > > >
> > > > I am born and brought up in Mumbai, in a very urban setting, with
> > minimal
> > > > exposure to our shAstras, but it was only during my stay in the US
> that
> > > my
> > > > interest in learning more about our vaidika heritage grew to a
> sizable
> > > > extent. Also, dharma (and the results of karma thereof, if that is a
> > > > perspective one wants to take) is not bound to any one geography. As
> > > > someone rightly pointed out, the boundaries of bharatavarsha have
> > > > significantly reduced over the centuries- it once included Pakistan,
> > > where
> > > > we well know how Hindus are treated.
> > > >
> > > > It is indeed true that Bharata will always be the seat of Sanatana
> > > Dharma.
> > > > In spite of repeated onslaught against Hindus, our Dharmika culture
> is
> > > > still much the basis of Indian civilization, and this culture is the
> > very
> > > > manifestation of the vaidika teachings and vice versa. Truly, the
> > > > declaration- ishavasyam idam sarvam- permeates our ethos. Just to
> cite
> > an
> > > > example, we look upon all forms of wealth as Lakshmi, knowledge as
> > > > Saraswati, and if our feet were to touch an object of wealth or
> > knowledge
> > > > we immediately hold it against our reclined heads. This is not
> > something
> > > > that can be learned without observing it as a pervasive phenomenon
> > around
> > > > us, and this is certainly not something we would widely observe
> outside
> > > of
> > > > India.
> > > >
> > > > *However, the single most important factor for dharma is the dharmi,
> > the
> > > > individual who embodies dharma. And should a Dharmi travel overseas,
> > then
> > > > most certainly he takes dharma along with him and inspires others to
> do
> > > so
> > > > as well. *
> > > >
> > > > Namaste
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On 29 September 2017 at 11:03, Gopal via Advaita-l <
> > > > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Namaste,
> > > > >
> > > > > in the same line of info given by sri chandramouli, please visit:
> > > > > http://ananthsvedagroup.org/ from the DC area.  Sri Anantha
> > Krishnan,
> > > an
> > > > > ardent shishya of Sri Sringeri mutt Mahaswamins of 3 generations
> can
> > be
> > > > > contacted from the 'contact' link with any questions. He has been
> > > > > practicing vaideeka dharma and more specifically veda paata, for
> > > around 5
> > > > > decades in this "mlecchaa, non-varna ashrama-installed, decadent,
> > > > adharmic,
> > > > > rap-listening-pizza-eating-unrestrained" country (sarcasm intended
> > > with
> > > > in
> > > > > quotes for humor!).  HOpe you would get some pointers.  Another
> > source
> > > > > would be  Sri Vidyashanker of this list.    In addition, Sri
> Sadaji,
> > an
> > > > > acharya resident of DC area and associated with chinmaya mission
> who
> > > > leads
> > > > > many discussions on this list, could be of a personal source of
> > > > > clarifications..
> > > > >
> > > > > I would also like to quote from an article (
> > > > > https://ruthaavaree.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/musings-
> > > > > on-rig-veda-mantras_final.pdf)
> > > > > that I wrote based on writings from Sri Aurobindo,Sri Kapali Sastry
> > and
> > > > Sri
> > > > > Kashyap a temple souvenir.  In any of the texts quoted here that I
> > have
> > > > > read and also the mula mantra samhita paata, that I have (with my
> > > > miniscule
> > > > > knowledge and intelligence) come across qualifications of a
> > vidhyaarthi
> > > > > based on geography!   Like  Vidhya devi tells the rishi as quoted
> by
> > > > > Yakshaacharya and later by Sayana,  the qualifications for veda
> > mantra
> > > > > artha anubhava are more subtler and psychological  not liked to
> GPS..
> > > > just
> > > > > my humble thought on your query. Forgive me for any imprudence:
> > > > >
> > > > > 1)    .."Brhat Devatā –  compendium of vedic gods by rishi
> Shaunaka -
> > > > > states the qualifications of such a rishi who has the mantra
> drishti
> > :
> > > “a
> > > > > mantra is not perceptible to one who is not a rishi. He who knows
> > Gods
> > > > > knows the riks. They are  to be approached through Yoga (yogena)
> > with -
> > > > > clear understanding (daakshyena), selfcontrol (damena), skill and
> > > general
> > > > > knowledge (baahu shruthyena) and above all with tapasyā ” (Brihat
> > > Devatā
> > > > > 8:129-130 as  translated by Sri Kapali Sastry). Only to such a
> > sādhaka
> > > –
> > > > a
> > > > > rishi - a drishtā, that Mother vāk chooses to reveal the Truth :
> >  uto
> > > > > tvasmai tanvaṃ visasre jāyeva patya uśati suvāsāḥ - (she) reveals
> to
> > > the
> > > > > one she chooses to, just as a loving wife, beautifully dressed,
> > reveals
> > > > her
> > > > > body (only) to her husband (RV 10:71:4b)”.
> > > > >
> > > > > 2)  ....These mahāpurushās should be considered as rishis to whom
> vāk
> > > > chose
> > > > > to reveal Her Truths so that the glory and eternity of mantras can
> be
> > > > > re-invigorated for the Man to call and invoke the devatās for
> worship
> > > > > without any doubt or exaggeration. There is a cue to this earlier
> in
> > > Rig
> > > > > Veda:“ rÉÑaÉå devānāṃ nu vayaṃ jānā pra vocāma vipanyayā /
> > > > > uktheśuśasyamāneśu yaḥ paśyāduttare yuge – Let us proclaim with
> Light
> > > the
> > > > > Hosts of Gods That one may see them when these hymns are chanted in
> > the
> > > > > future ages” declared a rishi in RV 10:72.1. Obviously the devatās
> > are
> > > to
> > > > > be seen  – pashyema, as one trains the inner faculties to sense
> their
> > > > > Presence during worship – whether by the shores of river Saraswathi
> > in
> > > > Rig
> > > > > vedic times or by the river Potomac much later.
> > > > >
> > > > > thanks
> > > > > ..gopal Gopinath
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 9:22 AM, H S Chandramouli via Advaita-l <
> > > > > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Namaste Santosh Ji,
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Under the auspicies of the Sringeri Mutt, several vedic rituals
> > are
> > > > > > > regularly being conducted at their temple in Strautsberg. These
> > > > include
> > > > > > > Homas, Japa yagnas like Gayatri Japa Yagna etc.   These are
> being
> > > > > > conducted
> > > > > > > with the blessings of the Jagadgurus of Sringeri Mutt. There is
> > no
> > > > bar
> > > > > on
> > > > > > > carrying on with the nitya karmas and other karmas abroad.
> Please
> > > go
> > > > > > ahead.
> > > > > > > If you still have any doubts, please check with your Guru ( at
> > the
> > > > > > highest
> > > > > > > level) directly and follow His instructions. Please do not come
> > to
> > > a
> > > > > > > conclusion based on the opinions expressed here. All the best.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Regards
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_
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> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > *Gopal Gopinath, PhDGenetecist*
> > > > >
> > > > > *(Genomics/Bioinformatics),*
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > * CFSAN, US FDA P:240-402-3612 C:240-994-4774*
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-- 
Regards

-Venkatesh