Latest news with #SrimadBhagavatham
The Hindu
01-08-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Remorse and liberation
Srimad Bhagavatham discusses whether the human body belongs to the provider of food, who gives sustenance, or to one's father, who gave life, or to the mother, who nourished and cared for the child. It also ponders whether a maternal grandfather might have ownership in case of adoption, or whether a powerful man might claim ownership where force is used, such as with bonded labour. These examples show the complexity of the ownership question. This discussion highlights the impermanence and uncertainty of human body ownership. Although a man may boast of his body while living, it ultimately becomes a worm after death if buried, or ashes if cremated. Reflecting on this, the text poses a question: why should a man pamper his body for self-interest, especially if he risks perdition for unleashing violence against other living beings? Scriptures indicate that it is a person's bounden duty to restore the body, given by the Supreme Being, to the God of fire at the end. Brahma Sri. SundarKumar, in a discourse, emphasised that people should use the faculties given by God to pray and derive His blessings. He narrated the story of Nalakubara and Manigreeva, sons of Kubera, who committed undesirable acts out of haughtiness and incurred the curse of Sage Narada. This story drives home the message that, whoever it may be, they cannot escape punishment for their misdeeds. Realising their mistakes, Nalakubara and Manigreeva sought pardon, and the sage assured them that Lord Krishna would ultimately liberate them. They lived for 100 celestial years as Arjuna trees. To fulfil the words of the sage, the Lord, as infant Krishna, who was bound to a mortar with a cord by his mother Yasodha, crawled between the trees. They fell and rose on the spot as two celestial figures and got liberated.
The Hindu
21-04-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Listening to Bhagavatham
Sri Damodara Dikshitar said in a discourse that as not even the headless needle will accompany us on our eternal journey, we should develop detachment. Detachment from desires will arise only by constant practice (Abhyasa Vairagya). Peace of mind will not exist when a person fails to perform his duty. Only a systematic and controlled life is called dharma, which alone yields calmness. Remaining tranquil leads to happiness. Pacification is the permanent peace of mind, which is called bliss. Srimad Bhagavatham narrates more about these things and the bliss. Sage Veda Vyasa thought about the easiest way for people to follow — whether poojas, homams, meditation, alms-giving, recitation of the Vedas or listening to Godly deeds and His qualities. The sage chose the last medium, and keeping this in mind, he composed the Bhagavatham so that ordinary people could listen easily and derive God's blessings. Sage Narada told Veda Vyasa that he was an ordinary child in his previous birth, born to a maid rendering service at the ashramas of various rishis. His mother used to take him along with her. Listening to the good stories about God narrated by the rishis, he was destined to be born as a great sage. The sage had a unique feature that everyone lauded him. He tendered advice to Prahlada as well as to the demon Kamsa. He blessed Valmiki with sacred mantras. Also, he extended counselling to Ravana. Sage Narada was blessed to travel anywhere in the universe. In practice, the Bhagavatham is recited for seven days, a system called 'Sapthaham.' Sage Sukha told King Parikshit for seven days. Also, the Sun God instructed Gokarnan, an ardent devotee, to recite Srimad Bhagavatham for seven days to derive the benign blessings of God.
