Mantra Sāstra - Science of Sacred Sounds Hari July 08, 2020

மந்திரமாவதும் மாமருந் தாவதுந்
தந்திர மாவதுந் தானங்க ளாவதுஞ்
சுந்தர மாவதுந் தூய்நெறி யாவதும்
எந்தை பிரான்தன் இணையடி தானே
- திருமூலர்

Nature listens, resonates, transcribes and responds in waves, vibrations and frequencies. English, Sanskrit, Tamil, Arabic, Lhasa or Mandarin are human languages that is meaningless beyond human mind.

Waves vibrations and frequencies - is the language universe understands. Easiest way for us to generate such vibrations is to use the built-in mechanism of emotion. Love, Fear, Joy, Anger, Devotion, Compassion are some of the pure emotions that unanimously generate similar vibrations amongst all the beings. The catch is; only pure emotions, unadulterated vibrations, gets the response back from universe. Emotion can easily be contaminated by the stream of thoughts.  If there is any thought that accompanies the emotion, the frequencies are distorted. So it takes an absolute innocent being to express that pure emotion.

There is also another way of generating waves of specific frequency; through explicit action. Sound and light are well known waves that humans can perceive and generate explicitly. Light in the form of colors and patterns. Sound in the form of tunes and words. Audible range of sound is identified as seven swaras, Sa-Ri-Ga-Ma-Pa-Da-Ni; just like the seven distinct colors of the visible spectrum V-I-B-G-Y-O-R. It takes deeper understanding to handle such abundantly accessible energies expertly.

The purpose of chanting or reciting a mantra is to generate a specific resonance in vibration, attempting to communicate with universe. If we decide to keep the emotion aside and plan to technically communicate with the universe, there are three things essential to establish such a channel.

Tantra: The tact. Basic knowledge of space and time along with the ability to sense the vibrations in a place or an object is necessary to even attempt tapping on the sound energies. A certain level of competence in their own mind control is also necessary. Devotee or a meditator are the only kind of people who can attain the necessary adeptness.

Yantra: The light. Geometric patterns and a ploy of colors that resonate with nature are called Yantras. A yantra is a visual perception of the same sound waves. The most famous yantra is unanimously the sri yantra. It is considered extremely powerful and capable of channeling infinite energies. Every single feminine deity in India is instilled upon a sri yantra. May it be Durga Ma in Calcutta, Chamundeshwari in Mysore or Kamakshi Amman in Kanchipuram - all these deities are placed on a sri yantra carved on a copper plate and consecrated by an attained master. A deeper study of such patterns in archeological artifacts and a natural curiosity in semiotics go a long way in mastering these yantras.

Mantra: The sound. Apparently, these yantras work on sound activation. For a sri yantra, the activation sound is clued as: Ka Ye Ee La Hreem Ha Sa Ka Ha La Hreem Sa Ka La Hreem. Just reciting it as-is is absolutely unwise. It is a riddle. The qualified gets to decipher and apply it, which can potentially activate a sri yantra.

When the Tantra, Yantra and Mantra are well understood and the qualified practitioner employs them to invoke and handle a specific energy; the result is instantaneous.

There are eight and only eight reasons these yantras and mantras (மாந்திரிகம்) are created and they operate on a deity, elements, situation, beings, property, mind, energies, earthly objects, celestial matter, et al.

• to attract (வசியம்)
• to impress (மோகனம்)
• to halt (தம்பனம்)
• to vacate (உச்சாடனம்)
• to separate (வித்வேதனம்)
• to disperse (பேதனம்)
• to possess (ஆகர்ஷணம்)
• to destroy (மாரணம்)

Any mantra, composition of such sacred sounds is created to accomplish one or a combination of these eight wants. Attained Sages, Lamas, Yogis, Zen Masters and any real sacred person knows the working of it. Without a mastery of this science, a person is not qualified to consecrate any stone,  metal statues or any such element with incantations.

Knowing this, any wise person would either go all the way to learn the peaks and valleys of Mantra Sāstra or drop all this quest and use the natural built-in mechanism of emotion to communicate with universe. The key is; to think less and feel more.

---

Frequency Tuning: Crux of Communication Hari November 14, 2019

மனமது செம்மையானால் மந்திரம் செபிக்க வேண்டாம் - அகத்தியர்

(once the mind is tuned to right frequency, spiritual sounds need not be recited - Sage Agasthya)

Communication is an essential aspect of our lives. Things we perceive with our eyes and ears make up to majority of the human information exchange. In other words, light and sound are the most common means of our communication. This is also the most crudest and highest energy dissipating form of communication. Dolphin's echolocation, Owl's sonar, eel and platypus' electroreception, telepathic, intuition and several such advanced and obscure ways of communication in nature have been identified and researched on.

Irrespective of such numerous manifestations, all forms of communication happen as waves. May it be sound, light, electron, magnetic or etherial; the core characteristics is that of a wave and is defined and categorized by amplitude and frequency. The frequency is essential in tuning the entities communicating. Amplitude decides the intensity of the wave.

Light waves between 400THz to 800THz is just a small spectrum of light that is visible to naked eye. All the light waves below 400THz is classified as infrared and the light waves over 800THz are called ultraviolet. The process of creation and destruction happens in infrared  and ultraviolet zones while the nourishment in visible spectrum.

Sound waves of between 20Hz and 20KHz are audible. Sound below 20Hz is infrasonic and over 20KHz are ultrasonic. As in light, All the important processes and communication related to creation, like child forming tissues within the womb happens in Infrasonic sounds and destruction in ultrasonic ranges. Heard of tibetans moving multi-ton boulders with whistles?

Similarly, we can sense only a tiny spectrum of communication happening in and around us. hand to eye communication is through the neurons, people to people communication is with words, drawings & gestures. Remote communication is ever evolving at a drastic phase from pigeons, postal letters, radio waves, Infrared rays to enormous artificial satellites revolving around several planetary objects.

We can observe the impact of moon in our oceans and in our neural network; like the effect of solar energy and photosynthesis. Similarly, every other planet in solar system exerts influence on some aspect on every other celestial object, including earth. Beyond the solar system, the constellations have bigger significance on much more subtler aspects.

Humans and animals need gestures to communicate until a common language is established. From a common language, we can improvise secured communication with different way of cryptography. We have already broken the space and time constraint with the help of tele-communication and ability to record and telecast at-will. We've also tapped on the unseen (infra-red/ultra-violet) and unheard (infra/ultra-sonic) and experiment swift ways to communicate.

In all these cases, its just the mediums that kept evolving, but the principles are exactly same. Tune the transmitter and receiver to a specific frequency, calibrate the amplitude and transmit; receive & acknowledge.

Our endocrine glands, widely known as chakras (translates to "wheels") are much superior communicators. They are constantly vibrating in specific frequencies, exhibiting the light and sound for their corresponding frequency. Kirlian photography has captured several samples and shed light on this chakras. Visualizing specific shapes (yantras) and emulating certain sounds (mantras), the vibrating frequencies of these glands can be calibrated. Harmones are the byproduct or the result of the right tuning.

A long legacy of sages documented these visual patterns and sounds; practiced with total trust and attained mastery over managing a lot more unexplored channels of communication at both atomic and cosmic levels. The commoners were astonished witnessing their abilities and followed their advices and methods without any iota of doubt or disbelief. It is not the case anymore. We, people of current times are not as gullible and have our doubts about such methods.

Hence, we'll have to emulate what those sages did, tapas (தவம்), to experiment, realize and if possible to document in a way that current generation can infer. There are ample scriptures with all the possible information. We are not going to invent anything, but a mere rediscovery. Just translating what those sages said will not be of much use to others. We can use the scriptures as our guide, but what we document should be personal experience and realization.

If we attain the ability to tune our own endocrine glands at will, we would have the complete mastery over our bodily functions, harmone secretion, emotional state, growth, healing, hunger, thrist and sleep cycle. Which are all the traits of a divine sage as per our scriptures.

The key lies in the ability to communicate without any physical medium or leveraging what is referred as dark matter. Its not that its not happening within and around us. How else can one justify telepathy, premonition and intuition? albeit, it hasn't been established as a reliable form yet. It is just the matter of time before the reliable methods are established and people choosing at will like changing channels today.

After all, tele-communication was a fiction till 1800s and telecasting was considered a miracle till 1900s. 

---

Upavāś - Fasting (விரதம்)? Hari March 27, 2019

Upavāś, விரதம் (viradham), fasting are linguistically unrelated terms, yet, they are used interchangeable in daily use.

Abstaining from food is termed as;
Fasting - means abstinence.
sawm (صوم) in Arabic - also literally means "to abstain".
viradham (விரதம், நோன்பு) - determination to follow something for a specific time. It could be anything, not necessarily abstaining from food.

Upavas - 'upa' means 'to be near' and 'vas' means the abode of divinity. To understand this, we need to get a clarity on what this divinity and its abode is.

Abode of the divine 
This is often thought to be a religious place, presence of a divine being, consecrated object, a remote place in hills and forests. Hence, people travel to such places and try to sit there in the name of upavas. Divine also took abode in every being that is still alive.

உள்ளம் பெருங்கோவில் ஊனுடம்பு ஆலயம் - திருமூலர்
(body is a temple, its life energy is the divinity - thirumoolar)

life-force (prana, பிராணன், உயிர்)
In every living being there is a life-force that exerts its influence throughout the body, but resides in specific location in different states of consciousness. When we are awake and alert, the life-force is centered in-between the eyebrows, hence vermilion (குங்குமம்) is used to cover this place in emotionally vulnerable people. This life-force (prana) is the essential divinity present in every living being. Food (water and air) is இறை (Iṟai) and the life-force that ingests it is இறைவன் (Iṟaivan, Divine). As long as it is in the body, we get the due respect as a person. The moment it leaves, the body is treated like an object.

For any physical and mental activity, the essential fuel is this life-force. Depending on the quality of the air, water and food consumed, there is essentially a gain or loss of life-force. When the consumed substance is closest to its natural form, we get the maximum life-force (prana) from it. Raw grains, fruits, vegetables, milk, wild waters, fresh air are rich in prana. There is a loss of prana with every step of processing these foods like husking, grinding, cooking and boiling. When more prana is spent in digesting the food than what is gained from it, it just clipped off few seconds from your lifetime. It might quench the thirst and hunger, may even provide some nutrition but the loss of prana is definite. This is the ultimate reason for aging (மூப்பு) and eventually the body ends ups lifeless, i.e., all prana depleted.

The life-force reducing things we do with the food, water and air are often justifiable for the situation we choose to live in. We boiled the water to get rid of health deteriorating pathogens in it, started cooking grains as our smaller intestine cannot easily digest them in raw form, but now we do it for the taste we've acquired for the cooked food and cook several vegetables and fruits that we could digest very well in raw form. We do condition the air in densely populated situation to cool it down and disinfect it as well. Thought it becomes necessary to detoxicate the substances we consume, loss of life-force is certain.

Being near to this life-force, i.e., focusing, acknowledging and consciously soaking in its influence is called Upavas (உபவாசம்).

What does food and fasting have to do with this life-force observing exercise?
Upavas is to be near the abode of divinity. i.e., to observe and attenuate the mental focus to the center of this life-force (prana, இறைவன்) between the eyebrows. To do this, all the life-force (prana) expenses like bodily movements, thought fluctuations and internal organ functionalities should be cut down. No food and water puts the liver and kidney on vacation straight away. With no food to digest, majority of organs has no functions. The sexual drive and pride starts dwindling drastically. Breath gets more shallow, heart starts pumping lesser blood and brain functions are reduced drastically. While all these sounds like someone is passing out, in reality, it is when the life-force crystalizes in between the eyebrows. The person attempting the upavas is just to keep the mental focus on this crystalizing life-force all the time allocated to practice this upavas. It could be 24 mins  (நாழி), 48 mins (முஹூர்த்தம்), 3 hours (யாமம்) or 48 days (மண்டலம்). Once the crystallization happens, all signs of weakness is wiped out and rich rejuvenation of the body starts automatically.

But i feel thirsty and hungry. What to do then?
With very little practice, one can see that the minor disturbances like thirst and hunger starts evading away. The crystalized life force (பூரணம், pooran) in-between the eyebrows is an excellent care taker of the body. As long as the intestines are free from stool, lungs are free from phlegm and unwavering focus is perfected, the crystalized life-force starts secreting starch rich saliva that drips via the uvula (உள்நாக்கு). It is called (உமிழ்நீர்/அமிழ்தம், elixir). This is not some supernatural phenomena, it happens to any healthy person naturally, when starved. Normally, we don't know to differentiate between this elixir, phlegm and the common saliva which is the byproduct (எச்சம்) of the digested food. Hence, we might spit it or swallow it. It is totally wasted when done so. The starch in this special saliva can only be digested by the enzymes and pores in the mouth. Hence, it needs to be captured with the tongue and rolled, chewed and kept in the mouth for a minute before swallowing. The life-force (prana) gain from ingesting this is 100%, i.e., all the expelled life-force in generating it is gained back in total. Once ingesting this saliva is mastered, the body becomes self-sustaining (காய கர்ப்பம், kaya karpam). The person can go without any intake. This might sound like a fiction in west, but there is at least one person in every state in India who is living without any intake. In places like Himalayas, Western ghats, Varanasi and Tibet there are thousands of people living for decades without food/water. They voluntarily or involuntarily mastered this lossless life-force recycling.

Attaining this self-sustaining (காய கர்ப்பம்) state, at least temporarily is the goal of a upavas. In this state, body unanimously repairs and services all the organs and hence rectifies any health ailment (yes.. Any!).

காரமும் மிகுபுளிச் சாரமும் துவர்ப்பும்

கைப்போடே உப்போடே கசப்போடே கூட்டி

ஊரமுது உண்டு நீ ஒழியாதே அந்தோ

ஊழிதோ றூழியும் உலவாமை நல்கும்

ஆரமுது உண்டு என்னோடு ஆடேடி பந்து

அருட்பெருஞ் சோதிகண் டாடேடி பந்து !

- அருட்ப்ரகாச வள்ளலார்

---

pancha kośas - five sheaths of illusion Hari July 24, 2018

காணப்பா வின்னமய மாகி நின்று
கலந்துநின்ற புராணமய கோச மாச்சே
ஊணப்பா விக்யான மயமு மாகி
உத்தமனே மனோமயமாங் கோச மாச்சு

பூணப்பா ஆனந்த மயமு மாகப்
பொங்கிற்றே யஞ்சுதிறை போதத் துக்குத்
தோணப்பா திறையஞ்சு மாயை மாயை
சொல்லுகிறேன் சூட்சத்தைப் பூட்டிப் பாரே

- சட்டைமுனி (Sattaimuni)

(five layers of illusion in the name of body, breath, mind, wisdom, bliss - keeps one from realizing and manifesting the true nature of self)

Taittiriya Upanishad opened up the concept of Pancha kośas (கவசம்), five sheaths of illusion (maya) surrounding the soul (Atman). These five layers keep us, the humans engaged in multiple manifests of illusion. Due to this most of us never gets to experience the soul-self. Leave the experience apart, most go to an extent of even denying the existence of soul. But even those who deny the soul can understand, experience and hence cannot deny the existence of these sheaths.

Annamaya kosha - Annam means food, hence refers to the physical body that is nourished from intake. As obvious as it is, the physical body is the first layer of our existence. The body as such is utterly useless, which we must have realized by now, watching how soon people want to dispose a corpse.

Pranamaya kosha - Pranan translates to life-sustaining-breath. Breath gives life and hence a value to the body. It is also called as energy layer of the body. It is analogous to electricity, without which the device (body) is futile.

Manomaya kosha - Manam is mind. Collection of memories, senses and thoughts form this third layer of illusion. This is the key layer that limits the human experiences to the three dimensional plane and totally entraps our complete belief system to not venture beyond this. The concept of individual self, ego is the notorious child of this layer of illusion.

Vijnanamaya kosha - Vijnanam (விஞ்ஞானம்) is wisdom. The knowledge of beyond, things that are not in the experience of a common man forms this fourth layer. A person has to completely tame the aforementioned three layers and bring all those three outer layers (body, breath and mind) to a complete stand-still to gain access and experience this fourth layer of wisdom. All the forms of worship, rituals, yoga, meditation, mantra, tantra are all our attempts to gain access to this layer. Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra lists down 112 such ways to access this Vijnanamaya kosha and even goes to an extent to affirm that these are only 112 ways and none other.

Anandamaya kosha - Anandam means bliss. Allegedly this is layer of enlightenment. No one has ever been able to express the experience of this layer in any human perceivable form.

Once a person successfully traverses through these five veils of illusion undeterred and identifies the self with the soul, he or she is one with the divine.

---

Kāma śāstra - Science of Desire Hari March 30, 2018

பயம் பசி பிணி
வாழ்வாதாரத்தை அசைத்து பார்க்கும்
(மூலாக்னி)

இம்மூன்றும் தணிந்த நிலையில்
பொருள் புகழ் காமம் கேட்கும்
(காமாக்னி)

இச்சிற்றின்பங்கள் சலித்த உயிர்
அறம் அறிவு ஆற்றல் தேடும்

(ஞானாக்னி)

Hunger, Health and Survival are the primal needs of a being. This is referred as மூலாக்னி (base fire). Until this fire is quenched, the intentions don't rise any further. 

Once extinguished and only after extinguished, we are driven by a second kind called காமாக்னி (fire of desire), which leads us to seek wealth, fame and sensual gratification. It takes a long time, often many lifetimes to attain a state of complacency with this kind. Sigmund Freud's theories of psychology is built on this.

Then a third kind called ஞானாக்னி (fire of wisdom) starts flickering. This is the drive to learn, hone intelligence, thirst for knowledge and yearning for wisdom.

Instantly, we starting jumping to conclude that these are stages of attainment, the third kind is noble, other kinds are to be suppressed... all such derivations hinder our understanding and evolution. These are not dead stages of attainment, but a flux.

Anything alive can only be a flux, ever changing, shrinking and expanding, stepping forward and backward, up and down. These 3 agnis (fires) are no different. We, the humans, cycle through these 3 agnis several times in a single day. How long one can sustain any of these fires depend on the maturity of the soul. Young souls hover around மூலாக்னி (base fire). Their quenching of base fire doesn't last longer. They might move on to the காமாக்னி (fire of desire) and at times to ஞானாக்னி (fire of wisdom), but will always and quickly come back to the base fire. Mature souls sustain the ஞானாக்னி (fire of wisdom) for a longer time, but they are still in the clutches of base fire and fire of desire, as long as they retain the human form.

In the current times, we are at the luxury of the base fire easily quenched with abundance of food, secure living and a choice of sound health. Hence, most of us have a high flame of desire and flickering fire of wisdom. Hence, our every day-to-day actions are driven towards one of these three;

1.) Sensual Gratification - Pleasing of the most commonly known five senses.

2.) Intellectual Gratification - Attaining more knowledge, ability and adeptness.

3.) Soul Gratification - Genuine attempt to connect and know the soul and the purpose.

Sensual Gratification easily trumps the other two when considering the collective time and effort being spent in. This  Sensual Gratification can again be subdivided into 5 categories based on the number of senses that gets pleased simultaneously. More the senses an act can please, the more desired it is.

1 sense - music, perfume, sugar, pillow, sunset.

2 senses - Television pleases the sense of hearing and sight at the same time. Some flowers are soft to touch and fragrant.

3 senses - Food can please the sense of taste, smell along with the sense of touch. Sometime the sizzling food is thought to be pleasant to ears, but it happens independently, not in conjunction with pleasing other senses.

4 senses - Children - They can please the sense of sight, touch, hearing and smell at the same time. If not familiar, try assessing how these senses are pleased when you meet them after being parted for a while.

5 senses - One known thing to human that can please all these 5 senses simultaneously is a sexual intercourse.

Hence, copulation is the most desired amongst the sensual gratifications. The sad part is, it is not studied as much as it is desired. There are several ancient literature in the art of love-making from renowned sages. The oldest known one is from 3000 years ago (by Shvetaketu, 8 B.C.). Most famous one that survived is Kama Sutra (by Vātsyāyana, allegedly around 7 A.D.). Later more such literature were penned down like Ratirahasya (by Kokkaka, 13 A.D) and Anangaranga (by Kalyanamalla 16 A.D).  

After 16th century, ancient evolved eastern civilizations started falling down and the topic has been given a grey shade and tabooed. It might have been necessary during that time for what-so-ever reason harder for us to comprehend now. As a consequence, the knowledge kept dwindling to a point where majority of us don't even know the proper anatomy of the copulatory organs. It is a good place to start the learning from.

For Men, the external copulatory organs are penis, scrotum and testicles. For Woman, it is clitoris, urethra, vagina and labia. Orgasm is the climax of a copulatory act. It is often followed by ejaculation of biological fluids, சுக்கிலம் (sperm) for men and சுரோணிதம் (vaginal discharge) for woman. Mind is the main organ for both men and woman responsible for generation, flow and ejaculation of these fluids. Contrary to the common belief, orgasm and ejaculation are not the same. There is less than a second difference between these two. With some simple basic practices like Mūla Bandha, this time difference can be extended to 5 to 10 seconds and eventually ejaculation can be contained at will. This is how the tantric practitioners attain several orgasms without ejaculation.

There are several types of orgasms, especially for woman. The three main types are called clitoral orgasm, vaginal orgasm and g-spot orgasm. Clitoris is also called as female-penis as its functioning is pretty similar, except majority of it is hidden inside and only a spec protrudes out. May be due to that the simulation takes much longer for it to be fully erect. Labia plays a major role in erecting the clitoris. It is said that the clitoral orgasm can even be experienced till the last breath. menopause doesn't pause it. Vaginal orgasm is the most commonly known form of orgasm that occurs with vaginal penetration. Every woman in marital bliss can and should experience these two kinds of orgasms in their day to day life.

There is also a third kind of orgasm which is not readily available even if the woman intends. The existence of G-spot has always been an enigma, not only to men, but also to woman. Because, it is not something out there in open all the time. At the height of excitement, depending on the woman's involvement and the level of trust, a soft tissue of olive size slides down from the roof of vagina, it is called the G-spot. With just minimal simulation of this tissue, 20-200ml of a fluid squirts out of urethra. This is the G-spot orgasm, acclaimed as the highest form of orgasm. Due to lack of education on this, women often mix it up with urination tendency and refrain themselves from releasing it. It can be repeated up to 8 times in a single act of intercourse, before the woman dehydrates and curls back. This is not going to happen over-night. Centuries and lifetimes of suppression has made the women incapable of releasing the G-spot. Literally, as in meditation, the mind has to come to a complete halt for it to be released.  Hence, in ancient India, tantric practitioners are revered as saints and they were.

Unlike woman, orgasm for men can be explained much simpler. There is only one kind. With little practice, men can understand the difference between orgasm and ejaculation and practice several orgasms before ejaculation. For woman, the basic knowledge in handling the male copulatory organs involves two things. First, how to erect a penis. It is mostly mind driven and purely playing with five senses, hence touch is just one of the five tools. Secondly, how to pause his ejaculation. There are several ways. Ejaculation cannot happen until these three things happen simultaneously. Increased breath-rate, tightened muscles around the loins and testicles pressed against the body. When at-least one of these is disrupted, ejaculation cannot happen. Hence, at the height of excitement, either the base of the penis can be pressed with a finger around it or by pulling the scrotum downwards will delay the full-ejaculation. There might be partial ejaculations, which denotes the weakness in prostrate muscles. Hence, strengthening prostrate muscles is the right way for prolonged intercourse.

These are just the elementary details. I urge the interested to venture in and learn kāma śāstra from the ancient scriptures, penned down by enlightened sages. 

All these ancient śāstras are bottomless abyss. If you embark on a journey to find the bottom, you'll be absolutely lost and become an annoyance to the people around you. So always keep a checkpoint on when and where to stop the research, act upon the learnings and move on.

---

Ayurveda: Life Knowledge Hari December 19, 2017

மருந்தென வேண்டாவாம் யாக்கைக்கு அருந்தியது 
அற்றது போற்றி உணின். -திருவள்ளுவர்

(No medicine is necessary for them who eat after assuring that already eaten is fully digested)

Matter is made of 5 elements. Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space. Earth under and Space above is persistent. Air, Fire and Water are the transient elements that causes the fluctuations in health. Ayurveda classified it as Vaatha (Air), Pitha (Fire) and Kapha (Water) Doshas (imbalances). Restoring this balance is the main motive of a real ayurvedic treatment. The symptom could be migraine or cancer, only the body can cure itself. Role of a real medicine (औषडि - herbs) is just to eliminate these hurdles (doshas).

Ideal Vatha, Pitha, Kapha ratio in a human body is 1:2:4. This is always a pursuit and all of us will have one of two doshas overpowering other. When this balance is shaken beyond threshold, it is called a dis-ease.

When Vatha (air) increases in a body, it results in involuntary movements, spasms like Parkinsons, epilepsy. When it decreases it results in seizure of movements like ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. In general, all the vayu (air) related problems like gastic problems are due to vatha dosha.

When Pitha (fire) is in excess; weight loss, malnutrition, fever, vomiting, diarrhea all such increased temperature related problems occur.

When Kapha (water) is in excess; weight gains, lethargy, mucous related diseases like sinus, cold, bronchitis, congestion occur commonly.

In general, Vatha prominent people prefer sweet tasting food, light-sleepers - don't prefer mid day naps. Pitha people body temperature are always few degrees warmer, easy to throw-up, mid-day nappers. Kapha people have thicker tongues, cooler body temperature, excess sweating, easy to catch cold. These doshas are not permanent identities. It changes with age, location and change in life-style. It is often seen in combination as vatha-pitta, vatha-kapha, but not pitha and kabha as they are mutually exclusive.

When any source blindly suggests eat this, avoid that, do this, don't be too soon to follow. Analyze at the root level, what change would it bring. A pitha prominent person doesn't need any more cardio routine and you'll see them naturally repel it. Kapha prominent person don't need the hydration routine commonly suggested.

Right Breathing (Air), Activities (Fire) and Intake (Water) can always stabilize the elemental balance in the body. There is no general blanket formula to know what is that right for your body. Every individual is unique and hence their breathing, activities and intake has to be so too. Healthy person can find what suits and not by trial-n-error. For others, investing time and learning more about it is the better alternative before seeking any expert advice.

---

swarodaya śāstra II - math of breathing Hari September 01, 2017

ஏற்றி இறக்கி இருகாலும் பூரிக்குங்
காற்றைப் பிடிக்கும் கணக்கறிவாரில்லை
காற்றைப் பிடிக்குங் கணக்கறிவாளர்க்குக்
கூற்றை உதைக்குங் குறியதுவாமே
(திருமூலர்)

காற்றைப் பிடிக்கும் கணக்கென்ன? 
(குரு மண்டலத்தின் அருளால் என் சிற்றறிவுக்கு எட்டிய பொழிப்புரை)

புவி சூரியனை சுற்ற ஒரு ஆண்டாக
சத்ய யுகத்தில் தொடங்கி
5184 சுழற்சிகள் சுழன்று
த்ரேத  யுகத்தில் 3888 சுழற்சிகள்
த்வாபர  யுகத்தில் 2592 சுழற்சிகள்
கலி  யுகத்தில் 1296 சுழற்சிகள்
மீண்டும் மேல் நோக்கி
கலி  யுகத்தில் 1296 சுழற்சிகள்
த்வாபர  யுகத்தில் 2592 சுழற்சிகள்
த்ரேத  யுகத்தில் 3888 சுழற்சிகள்
சத்ய யுகத்தில் 5184 சுழற்சிகள் சுழன்று
1 கல்பம் 25920 சுழற்சிக்கு பின் பூரணம்.

புவியின் ஆயுள் 100 கல்பங்கள்,
அதுவே 2592000 ஆண்டுகள்.

1 புவி சுழற்சி 360 புவன சுழற்சிகளாக
இப்புவனத்தின் ஆயுள் 933120000 நாட்கள்.

பூலோக வாசிகளின் ஆயுளும் 933120000 மூச்சு சுழற்சிகள்.
நிமிடம் 15 மூச்சு, ஒரு நாளைக்கு 21600 மூச்சு என,
விம்ஷத்தோரி என்னும் 120 ஆண்டுகள் பூரண ஆயுள்.
நிமிடம் 1 மூச்சு மிகினும் ஆயுளில் 71/2 ஆண்டுகள் குறையும்.
நிமிடம் 18 ஆக, 100 ஆண்டுகள் ஆயுள் நிர்ணயம்.

அமர்ந்தாசனத்தில் 12 அங்குல மூச்சு,
சுழுமுனைக்கும் நுரை-ஈரலுக்கும் ஓட,
நடக்கும் போது 18 அங்குல மூச்சு,
சுழுமுனைக்கும் இதயத்திற்கும்,
ஒடும்போது 24 அங்குல மூச்சு,
சுழுமுனைக்கும் நாபிக்கும்,
தூங்கும் போது 32 அங்குல மூச்சு,
சுழுமுனைக்கும் குதத்திற்கும்,
உணர்வு கிளர்ச்சியின் போது,
64 அங்குலம் வரை உடலெங்கும் பரவ,
மனிதனின் ஆயுள் சுவாசத்தின் சாசனம்.

வாசி யோக சித்தி பெற்ற மாணாக்கன்,
முஹூர்த்தமென்னும் 48 நிமிடத்திற்கு 1 முச்சு என,
நாள் 21600 மூச்சுக்கு பதிலாக,
30 மூச்சுகளே சுழற்றி,
மீதம் உள்ள ஆயுளை,
720 மடங்கு பெருக்கி,
பண்ணாயிரம் ஆண்டுகள் ஆயுள் நீட்டித்து
தவம் இயற்றும் வல்லபம் சித்தம்.

சித்தர் மண்டலம் அடைந்த பின்,
அவ்வொரு மூச்சும் அவசியமற்று போக,
ஜீவா சமாதியில் உடலை காத்து,
பிரகாய பிரவேசம் சித்தம்.

Translation:
(Disclaimer: This may not be understood without some background on yugas, yoga, prana. None of this can neither be proved nor disproved. Provided the reader has some bits and pieces of related information, this can help connect the pieces to a certain level)

What the math behind breathing?

A year being one rotation of earth around sun,
starting with satya yuga of 5184 years
treta yuga follows and lasts 3888 years
then dwapara yuga for 2592 years
kali yuga for 1296 years

then reversing the cycle,
One more kali yuga of 1296 years
dwapara yuga of 2592 years,
treta yuga of 3888 years
and satya yuga of 5184 years

All this constitute 1 kalpa, 25920 years.

100 kalpas is the earth lifetime, i.e., 2592000 years.
1 year being 360 earth rotation around its own axis,
earth lifetime is 933120000 rotations, i.e, days.

Human lifespan is also 933120000 rotations, i.e, breaths.
15 breaths a minute, translates to 21600 breaths a day,
denotes a vimshottari (120) years lifetime.
If the breath average increases even by 1 breath,
71/2 years is wiped out of lifespan.
18 breaths a minute is 100 years of living.

In a calm seated pose, breaths flows 12 inchs, between eyebrow-center and lungs
while walking, 18 inches, eyebrow-center to heart
running, 24 inches, eyebrow-center to navel
sleeping, 36 inches, eyebrow-center to perineum
emotional state, 64 inches, throughout the body.
Longer the length higher the frequency, when it is happening autonomously.

An attained yogi's breaths reduces to,
one breath every 48 minutes (முஹூர்த்தம்).
Hence, instead of 21600 breaths,
yogi breaths just 30 breaths.
Consequently, remaining lifetime,
increases 720 times.
This is the literal meaning of pranayama (extension of life force).
Such extension is done to meditate,
burn all the karmic records
in this lifetime and attain the state of perfect being, siddhahood.

Once attained, even that 1 breath becomes unnecessary.
Such beings preserve the body which is infinitely
circulating the breath and leave the shell at will to different realms.

---

swarodaya śāstra - science of breathing Hari July 06, 2017

swarodaya śāstra

We were breathing all our life and are going to do so for the rest. Since it is an autonomous process, we take it for granted. It gives to take some time understanding the underlying science of breathing.

On a physical level, lungs are the pumps that expand inhaling the air from outside, filter and circulate it through the blood and exhale the remaining air out.

A healthy human body temperature is 37*C (98.6*F). Irrespective of the surrounding, the body tries to remain in this temperature. Breath is one of the major tools the body uses to maintain the optimum temperature.

At any given time, this inhalation happens through either left, right or both nostrils. When we are breathing through left, the body is cooling down. Through right, it is heating up. When the body is at optimum temperature and several other variables are ideal and also when breath transitions between left to right and vice versa, breath flows through both the nostrils.

Left breath demands rest, tamo guna (intert, dark, cold, silence, moon nature). This is the ideal time to sleep, rest, do some simple tasks that doesn't demand much physical or mental effort. When someone goes to bed and their breath is already flowing through left nostril, they fall asleep immediately.

Right breath demands activity, rajo guna (passion, light, heat, sound, sun nature). Best suited for physically and mentally demanding tasks. This right breath is the reason, some of our workout sessions are effortlessly intensive and when sluggish, unmotivated in gym, check your breath, it'll be through the left nostril.

Balanced breath through both nostrils is the sattva guna, i.e., transition state, neither dark nor light, neither hot nor cold, both sun and moon influence are at its minimum, if not absolutely nil. During this time, it won't be easy to make a decision, hence it is also considered time of confusion and not ideal to do prominent tasks involving business, relationship and authority. On the other hand, this is the best time to be introspective and meditative, a conscious sleep becomes naturally possible.

Breath is the thread that stitches body and mind. Every emotion changes the amplitude, frequency and the depth it travels in the body.

While amplitude is directly proportional to amount of air inhaled and frequency can be seen as number of breaths per second. The depth of the breath is the not a common knowledge.

The breath of relief is the deepest breath possible as the inhaled air hits the mooladhara (perineum), the base of the spine. When we eat something sweet (இனிப்பு), it triggers this deep breath as well.

A feeling of passion like lust, deep desire thrusts the vital breath to hit the swadishtana (reproductive region). The taste of astringent (துவர்ப்பு) triggers it as well.

When we taste sourness (புளிப்பு) or go through the emotion of love, care and compassion vital breath hits manipura (navel region).

Breath makes a u-turn at the anahata (heart region) during the taste of bitterness (கசப்பு) and the emotion of anger.

Fear and salt (உப்பு) makes the vital breath not to go past the vishuddhi (throat region).

spicy hot (காரம்) and emotion of sadness makes vital breath stay above the trunk. The air circulates around the ajna (center of the eyebrows) region.

To ensure the breath vitalizes all these 6 regions (ஆறு படை வீடு), food with all 6 six tastes (அருண்சுவை) was insisted in older civilizations. These 6 regions contain very prominent endocrine glands (நாளமில்லா சுரபி) and as long as they are taken care, they take good care of the whole body. Hence, a person who goes through and exerts all these emotions spontaneously are very healthy physically and psychologically.

Yoga practitioners, sportsmen, adventurers, children, happy people knowingly or unknowingly keep these 6 regions well ventilated and supplied with abundant blood filled with necessary minerals.

Disturbance in the breath flow pattern has been a reliable indicator of existing and approaching health concerns and impact on living standards. To know this, the base pattern has to be established for the individual. In general, cold days begin (at sunrise) with right nostril dominant and hot days with left. Moon, Mercury Saturn are cool planets while Sun, Mars and Venus are hot. Jupiter is cool in waxing phase and hot in waning phase. In an healthy body, the breathing pattern aligns with the horas ruled by these planets, i.e., during moon hora, left nostril is dominant, mars hora right and so on. When it not so, it is an indicator of either present or approaching illness or anxiety. The length of the disturbance denotes the severity of the impact.

This is a much deeper subject and like all the shastras, if your embark on journey to attain mastery over it, it would be an endless pursuit. In current times, neither people have patience not time in knowing about these horas and observing the breath pattern. Hence, a simple technique. When you wake up, check which nostril is dominant, say left, then rub the face with the left palm on the left side to get more blood flow and take your first step out of bed with left leg. The happenings of the day will fall in your favor.

---

Pradoṣam - Transition from Light to Darkness Hari July 05, 2017

Pradoṣa(m) means Transition from Light to Darkness. You read it right, it is from the transient (light) to eternal (darkness). Light always needs an external source, darkness doesn't center on any source, it is prevalent all over by default. This transition from light to dark is happening all the time at various levels in and around us.

In a day, during sunset it is pradoṣa kalam.

In a week, saturday sunset is pradoṣa time.

In a month, sunset of the 13th waning lunar day (trayodashi) of waning phase (தேய்பிறை) is pradoṣa kaal. This is what is commonly referred as pradoṣa and special rituals are performed during sunset (the daily Pradoṣa time) on this day. When the weekly pradoṣa (saturday) coincides with this (சனி ப்ரதோஷம்), it gains more significance.

In a year, Maha Shivaratri, 13th night from full-moon in the lunar month of Phalguni/Magha/மாசி by the end of winter. Usually occurs in february, it is day before no moon day. Again, when the weekly pradoṣam of saturday coincides with this (சனி மஹாப்ரதோஷம்), it gains more significance.

Within the day, every time the dominant breath shifts from right to left nostril, it is a pradosha time for that individual. During all saturday, monday and thursdays-of-waxing-phase-of-moon (வளர் பிறை), the left nostril will be naturally dominant in a healthy person. Hence, when a monthly pradoṣa happens on monday or saturday, it is given more significance.

Within every breath cycle, begin of the exhalation cycle is the pradoṣa time. With sealed lips, try to generate any sound while exhaling, it unanimously ends up as "om" (ૐ). This sound is considered the most sacred of all universal sounds (நாத ப்ரம்ம).

We've seen the 6 levels of pradoṣam happening here, this is the time scale experientially perceivable to the common human mind. This kind of conjunction keeps happening in many micro and macro levels as well.

So, every exhalation, everytime the dominant breath just shifts to left nostril, everyday sunset, every saturday (if coincides), the 13th night from full-moon day, maha sivaratri day (தேய்பிறை மாசி பிரதோஷம்) are the most significant times to be meditative.

What to do during pradoṣam?

In east, pradoṣam is translated to time-to-burn-sins. So people go to sacred places and do the form of worship they are aware of. In the name of worship, a vast majority follow what some of the enlightened beings used to do. Though they might be doing the same, they are not actually doing the same. It is analogous to a musical genius playing a violin, and an amateur attempting to impersonate the genius. The music produced is not the same. To generate the similar (though and better if not the same) soulful music, the amateur has to rise to the level of genius. Once risen, there is no need to impersonate and any music produced is divine. Same applies to the worship.

For seasoned meditators,there is not much to be said here, they might be spontaneously getting into meditative states during these times.

Practitioners, can choose these times to practice meditation (or) dharana, pranayama bascially everything that leads towards meditation. Depending on the expertise level, state of mind, situation, determination, ability, the practitioner can choose to meditate for a nādī (24 minutes), muhūrta (48 minutes), hōra (~1 hour), 1 yāma (~3 hours).

Art lovers can choose these times to indulge in giving form to their creativity. This is their meditation.

Devotees, I mean adherent ones who are soulfully surrendered to the object-of-devotion can recite their prayers during these hours. Their chances of getting to the higher spiritual state is highly likely during these times.

Tantric practitioners choose this time for their form of worship.

When?

(once a year) People who are very busy with worldly affairs and can only do a bare minimum for spiritual evolution can attempt their form of worship on the maha sivaratri night. the day before no-moon day in the month of february.

(once a month) Others who can afford a little more time can do it during sunset on the pradoṣam of the waning-moon (தேய்பிறை பிரதோஷம்), i.e, the day before no-moon day.

(once a fortnight) sunset of every 13rd night from both no moon and full moon day.

(once a week) every Saturday during sunset

(once a day) everyday during sunset.

(once every few hours) every time breaths shifts from right to left nostril.

(all the time) every exhalation.

---

Pūjā - Purpose of Ceremonies Hari May 03, 2017

Athithi Devo Bavo (guests are equivalent to god).

Living is a continuous process of cell generation and cell decay. When any one of these stop, it is not healthy anymore.

When the cell generation impedes, it is decomposition.
When the cell decay impedes, it is cancer.

When a cell decay, replenishes the cells in other beings, this is called creation.

A musician burns few cells and creates pleasant tones. When a receptive person is pleased with this music, his/her cell lifetime increases 2x to 10x. As mentioned by one of the wise sages, Tirumular, extending the lifetime of a single cell, is equivalent to saving a life. Demise of a single cell with unpleasantness is equivalent to killing a life.

There is also an uncommon phenomenon where both cell generation and decay stops. In east, it is called as Jeeva samadhi (self-preserved being). Yoganandha's body exhibited this phenomenon in Los Angeles (USA), but this is quite common in himalayas and several hills in south india.

The purpose of the Pūjā (ceremonies) is to direct the energies towards creation. Rituals are devised to accomplish this by blocking certain virtues in people, referred as shatripus (6 virtues). This is not just a philosophical innuendo. Physically, the cells in the body decay at faster pace when the breath rate increases. All of these virtues demand increased oxygen and faster blood flow, killing a lot more cells without any physical exhaustion.

Godliness is being devoid of these six menial obstacles (shatripus);
1. Kama  - Desire ( often referred to lust, but also includes desire for wealth and fame)
2. Krodha - Wrath (outbursts of anger, destruction)
3. Lobha - Greed (resulting in hoarding, manipulating resources, over-consumption)
4. Moha - Delusion (resulting in traits like attachment)
5. Mada - Arrogance (resulting in traits like pride)
6. Matsarya - Cunningness (resulting in traits like envy)

This is similar to seven-sins discussed in western countries, except that they branch out the Lobha (Greed) and call Gluttony as yet another sin.

One can get rid of these in themselves with self-realization and effort (sadhana). But there is no direct way to impart it on others. Pleasing the five outward senses is an attempt to trigger the godliness in them.

1.) Fragnance (Dhupa): Incense sticks are lighted to ensure the sense  of smell is pleased. When the pleasant smell from a naturally occurring substance is spread, it makes the person either meditative or compassionate, based on their nature. In general, this bereaves Kama (desire, மண்-பொன்-பெண்-புகழ் ஆசை). In yogic terms, it pleases the moladhara and swadistana chakras.

2.) Food (Naivedya):  The sense of taste is pleased with good food. Sattvic food is served, which predominantly wanes the Lobha (Greed) nature of a person. Manipura chakra is pleased.

3.) Dress Code (Vastra): We adopt a certain dress code naturally, this is to obtain the right sense of touch. Materials that are still close to nature like cotton, wool, silk that are neither over-processed nor synthesized,  diminishes the Moha (Delusion) nature in a person. Anahata chakra is pleased here.

Often a lot of fragrant flowers are used to please the sense of sight, smell and touch.

4.) Portraits and Statues (Vigraha): The portraits and statues of gods are depicted as accomplished and super evolved beings to please our sense of sight and at the same time it destroys the Mada (Arrogance) in us. The songs, stories and enactment on the extraordinary achievements (parakramas) of divine beings are exhibited to constantly keep a check on our arrogance.  This relates to Vishudhu chakra.

5.) Music (Mantra): Incantations, certain musical instruments and vocals are to please sense of hearing and at the same time dissolve the Matsarya (Cunningness) nature in us. Matsarya is the result of the mind, mantras are life-forming sound energies, which are repeated to bore the mind to stillness. Agna Chakra is the immediate benefactor of this.

Krodha (Wrath) needs all these 5 senses to be in pleased state to stay dormant. When any one sense is disturbed, it erupts.

When all these 6 virtues are dissolved, it is called the dissolution of ego. This is not a permanent attainment, but an experience like joy, sorrow, fear and anger. Everyone can get the glimpse of it, get to experience it in momentary lapses. The wiser ones keep extending the duration of the experience every time. When someone is undergoing this experience, they are in par with what is commonly perceived as god.

Call it celebration, get-together, party, wedding, baby shower, house warming, ceremonies, ritual, Pūjā and also going to religious places of worship, all this is done to defer these shatripus in us. If the ritual successfully deter these obstacles, it is the rise of godliness, at least for that time being, and the verse Athithi Devo Bavo is indeed a prophecy fulfilled.

---

Education (கல்வி) Hari March 16, 2017

கல்வி -> அறிவு -> ஒழுக்கம் -> அன்பு -> அருள் (நிபந்தனை அற்ற அன்பு) -> துறவு (பற்று அற்ற நிலை) -> வீடு (இறையடி)

- (வள்ளுவன்)

Education -> Intelligence -> Discipline -> Love -> Compassion -> Spirituality 

கல்வி பயன் (வள்ளுவன் வாக்கு) கல்வி அறிவாக வேண்டும் அறிவு ஒழுக்கமாக வேண்டும் ஒழுக்கம் அன்பாக வேண்டும் அன்பு அருளாக வேண்டும் அருள் துறவாக வேண்டும் துறவு வீடாக வேண்டும் 1.) இங்கு "அருள்" என்றால் "நிபந்தனை அற்ற அன்பு" என்று பொருள் 2.) இங்கு "துறவு" என்றால் "பற்று அற்ற நிலை" என்று பொருள் 3.) இங்கு "வீடு" என்றால் "இறையடி" என்று பொருள்

Purpose of Education (Thiruvalluvar) Education should lead to intelligence, Intelligence to discipline, Discipline to love, Love to compassion, Compassion to spirituality, Spirituality to our ultimate destiny. 1.) "compassion" is "unconditional love towards everyone" 2.) "spirituality" means "impartial attitude towards everything and everyone" 3.) "destination" is same as where we hailed from, i.e., the origin of the soul

In the current times, We often try to derive "happiness", rather sensual gratification from any form of education.

i.e., Expectation: Education -> Ability -> Earning -> Wealth -> Happiness 

It is highly influenced by the circumstances of the individual. When my parents were trying to get me educated, they had this joy oriented attitude towards education. They were neither fortunate nor wealthy enough to chew such words of enlightened beings. According to them, they got me what they thought was right and they were satisfied. Period.

Its up to you and your circumstances to decide why are you educating your children. Whatever it is, be honest with yourself and your children. Preaching the ideals, but living for inferior expectations is hypocrisy and will only lead to more regrets.

---

Jyotiṣa Vijñāna - The Cosmos Hari March 03, 2017

அண்டத்தில் உள்ளது பிண்டத்தில் உள்ளது 
(There is a micro-cosmos in every body)

Its not 6 a.m. because the clock is showing 6 a.m., but the clock is showing 6 a.m. because it is 6 a.m. The cosmos is just like this clock. It is merely an indicator, but not the instigator of the happenings. These celestial objects neither know nor care about our existence. They keep revolving around and transiting the skies as per the law of causation. We, humans, with our innate narcissistic nature, imagine their purpose is to serve us. We merely derive our personalized dosage of attributes like morality, courage, intelligence, allure, wisdom, emotional stability, patience, etc. handed over to us in this life, from the celestial snapshot at the time of our birth, popularly knows as birth chart. These birth charts are like the railway/airline timetables, you need to know some basics before you can start inferring what it is trying to say.

There are two fundamental layers in a birth chart, namely, zodiac signs and placement of planets. These are like the X and Y axis of a birth chart. Understanding these two layers lay the foundation before someone can venture into other advanced layers like Aspects (drishti), Transits (gochara(m)), Constellations (nákṣatras) , Dashas (calendar of planetary influences), Yogas (Conjunction of planets), Argalas (interference), Karakas (reason for a cause) and so on.

About planets, there is much less left to imagination as these are physically existential and perceptible objects in the skies, so we'll start with the planets.

On a full moon day, ocean is roaring and on no moon day, it is absolutely placid. Our bodies constitute more than 72% water, the exact same kind of water found in ocean. Obviously, this water will respond to the full moon in the same way. People with inclined sensitivity can feel it. Hence, the mentally inclined people are often referred as lunatics (lunar - moon), intoxication (soma - moon) is also related to moon. Since moon is very close (1 light-second away from earth surface), the impact is conspicuously felt. Moon's influence is tightly related to our emotional self, how we feel within ourselves.

Next such strong impact is from sun. Sun is the significant source of light in our solar system. All the life forms on earth depend on sun. We cannot see air as it lets light pass through without any resistance. We see an opaque or translucent object, because it blocks light and reflects it. Hence sun drives our personalities, meaning, how we project ourselves and how other see us. Sun drives our confidence and morality. Two key things to adapt and co-exist in a society.

Whole earth wobbles every year by 11 degrees left and right due to gravitational pull of venus and jupiter, which results in summer and winter solstice. When a 10²⁴ kilograms of earth can wobble, we are a spec with no power to resist the influence of venus and jupiter. Venus pulls us towards indulgence while jupiter pulls you towards wisdom. This wobble doesn't need much explanation, as we've all gone through the debate of good or evil within ourselves numerous times. Jyotiṣa personifies Venus as teacher (acharya) of demons (shukracharya - shukran). Jupiter is called the guru of angels (devas).

Similarly, mercury is responsible for our intelligence, street-smartness, quick wit, eloquence, sharpness. Mercury is small, quick and bright and it imparts the same qualities with its influence. In Sanskrit, bōdhi (budhi) means intelligence, mercury is called Budha(n). The famous word, 'Buddha' means an intelligent one, again derived from the same planet name.

Mars is called mangal, meaning, masculine, auspicious, aggressive, brave, red (sevvai), hot and considered to be a commander (while Sun is considered a king). It imparts the same qualities with its influence. When you see a person with abundant courage, people who are very assertive and stand-up for themselves and others often, consider their mars is pretty strongly placed in their birth chart.

Saturn, the largest and slowest and farther planet to have a significant influence on earth induces large impact, slows things down, resists change and pulls us toward conservativeness. This is also the planet responsible for our patience and discipline.

These seven planets Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn serve equally well in the evolution of an individual but the nature and dosage of their characteristics they impart on an individual depends on their current position and their position at the time of person's birth. Other objects like Neptune, Uranus, Pluto and even the moons like Titan of Saturn, called Gulikan (or) Maandi have an influence on everything on earth.

There are two other celestial objects called north lunar node (Rahu) and south lunar node (Ketu). These are not physical planets but two points in the sky, where the moon's orbit (around earth) and earth's orbit (around sun) intersect. These two are pretty much the salt and pepper of the vedic astrology. While the influence of physical planets are pretty well defined, these two objects disrupt the status quo. Rahu is the bringer of sudden surprises, crazy swings, ups and downs, like a rollercoaster ride. Ketu inflicts renunciation, leads one towards eternal search, breaking cycles of repetitive patterns of life. If not for these two, the so called evolution might be super slow that we will complete miss to notice it.

The seven planets along with these two pixels, a total of 9 grahas in the space drives the abilities and life-events of the living beings.

To understand zodiac signs, visualize a 12 spoked stationary wheel as shown in the below diagram. These 12 sectors are the zodiac signs. At the time of birth, the zodiac sign peeking at the east horizon is called the raising sign, ascendant or lagna of the birth chart. That sign becomes the starting point of the birth chart and it is referred as the first house of the birth chart. Since earth revolves around itself every 24 hrs, each rising sign stays the same for two hours. Example, at 2 a.m. the sign on east horizon was Pisces, at 4 a.m. it'll be Aquarius and at 6 a.m. it'll be Capricorn and so on.

In the above diagram, earth (center part) is revolving anti-clockwise, so it would look like Aries (1st house) is raising on the east, while Libra is setting on the west (7th house). So Aries becomes the ascendent for anyone born under this situation. As long as one understand the planets and zodiac signs, they begin to understand the birth charts. Unlike earth the planets revolve slower than 24 hrs. Hence the planets will sit clinging to a zodiac sign for a while. Moon stays in same sign for 2^1/4  days, Sun stays in same sign for a month, Jupiter stays in same sign for a year, saturn stays in same sign for 2^1/2 years.

Then to venture deeper, influence of 27 constellations, called nákṣatras, is like doing the masters in vedic astrology and is for more dedicated learners. The pyramids of egypt is aligned pointing towards the stars of Orionis (Mrigashīra) constellation, because it is believed to be the portal for higher realms. Meaning, when the soul, leaving the body is directed towards stars of Orion, it goes to the higher realms, commonly known in the east as liberation (mukthi) of the soul. Hence, the soul doesn't have to take another earthly form again. These stars, though far away from earth, due to their sheer size, they influence on the solar system is commendable. Hence these nákṣatras were given a sacred place and great importance in vedic astrology.

Millionaires don't care about astrology. Billionaires do! - JP Morgan

As soon as we start understanding these, our immediate curiosity is to jump towards prediction. Its not that easy. When you see someone visually challenged, you can assume, they cannot drive a car. Similarly, when you see someone with weak mars, you can infer they are going to be timid. a weak mercury meaning, not very street-smart. Apart from this, its not easy to infer much. Prediction is more of an art, than just science. Its the ability of the person to ingest multiple reasons from several layers of a birth chart, and put things together. It is not for everyone. I myself am curious about the science behind it, but not much interested in prediction.

This love for prediction and people running behind everyone who claims they can predict is the reason why the whole art and science of Jyotiṣa Vijñāna has been deteriorated. People pay abundant wealth chasing the desire to know what is going to happen to them, without due diligence in validating the authenticity of the person claiming to do so. By doing so, they produced more posturers and ruined it for the future generations. A word of advice, such rich science and knowledge is never for sale. Anyone who is an absolute master of such ancient sciences, will never sell it for meager worldly things. The moment someone claims such worldly things, be aware, he/she is not an absolute master but an incomplete or worse a posturer.

Use this basic knowledge of customized cosmic plan for you to work towards where your desires lead you. At the same time they reveal your unexplored potentials and also the limitations. Accept both humbly and it'll slowly lead to acceptance of diverse people of varied potential equally.

manasaiva pure devaḥ, pūrva-rūpaṁ vipaśyati,
anumīmāṁsate 'pūrvaṁ, manasā bhagavān ajaḥ - Bhṛgu-saṁhitā
(One receives an inferior or superior body at the discretion of the Paramātmā (Supreme Personality of Godhead).

vāstu śāstra - Science of Architecture Hari December 30, 2016

The whole universe is made of five elements and the elements have a way of settling under universal principle whether it is an atom or a galaxy. As depicted in the above diagram, water element naturally gravitates towards NE, fire towards SE, earth to SW and air to NW. Space element is a sheer absence of other four elements and is the most mysteriously obscure amongst the five elements.

When you cut a magnet, it becomes another holistic magnet. Similarly, when a piece of land is separated by natural or man-made boundaries, this piece of land acts as a separate entity with energies realigning within. The whole concepts of vāstu śāstra (Science of Architecture) is based on this fact.

Hence, in the countries with longer established civilization, like India, China and Greece each lot has a prominent brick or rock fence and within the boundaries, special care is taken to ensure the elements are settled, stable and at ease. Even the sacred places, that are build under the principles of Āgama śāstra, shares the same basic principle.

Living Being influenced by the forces of nature 

Apart from the settlement of the elements, these lots or the buildings are constantly polished with beneficial energies and also affected by the malefic energies. The magnetic energies of the north and the solar energies of the east (ultraviolet rays) exert positive, life-supportive influences, while the south (infrared rays) and the west (gamma rays) exert influences that are not life-supporting. Hence in established civilizations, buildings were designed to receive the abundant, life-enhancing energies from the north and east, while shielding their inhabitants from the gamma and infrared rays of the west and south. The positive energies from north and east should flow around the structure without obstruction and collected in the southwest area of the building, where they support the health and well-being of the inhabitants.

Four important corners and their significance:

North East (Water): This corner needs to be open, unobstructed, least heavy in the whole lot. Hence it is beneficial to have a street emerging in this corner, not having tall trees and digging the ground for well, pool, etc. The common side-effects of not adhering to these principles is that, it draws the water element from the bodies of the inhabitants. As as result, they will suffer lack of attention, unable to recall from memory faster, won't be able to accumulate knowledge easily. If you try not drinking water for a day, you'll realize all these symptoms experientially.

Since humans are made of 72% water, this corner is given most significance in vāstu śāstra. Hence, inside a lot, have more vacant space in this corner and inside a building ensure this is the mostly vacant room, like a living room.

South East (Fire): This corner demands heat. It is ideal to have a fire pit, centralized heaters, geysers, stoves, etc. Hence it is also ideal for kitchen, if it is being used often. In the whole lot, this corner needs to be relatively hotter. Or else, it'll start pulling the heat from its occupants. Once your body heat is obstructed, it immediately impacts the digestion and triggers a domino effect on the health of the inhabitants. Simple things like keeping this corner red and lighting an ever-lasting lamp will fulfill the needs of this SE corner.

South West (Earth): SW corner needs to be heaviest and well blocked in the whole lot or the building. The earth dug out of NE to make that lighter, can be dumped here to make SW heavier. The earth element in our bodies gives the stability and resistance to environmental changes. If this corner, by any means is not fulfilled with its demand for earth, it starts pulling the earth element from the occupants. This makes the occupants undergo huge swings from weight, wealth, moods to relationships.

Earth being second most largest ingredient in humans, this is an important corner next to NE. To quench its needs for earth, SW is apt for heavy and obstructing, like tall and thick foliage trees, gym, taller walls, rock dumps, etc. A hill on SW is a natural boon. When you take USA as a lot, SW beaches are the most rockiest with natural hilly landscape.

North West (Air): Air element gravitates towards this corner. Making this a perfect corner for septic and restrooms. When the air demand of NW is not met, the occupants contribute their air and it impacts their psyche. Air is the insulation between the neurons in the brain. When this insulation is impacted, possible short-circuits results in unexpected psychological outcome.

Other Four directions and their significance:

Every individual is equipped with different levels of attributes like courage, righteousness, intelligence, etc. Their astrological birth charts are the indicators of those. Their dwellings will often be in alignment with it. The influence of the dwelling units on such attributes cannot exceed the max and cannot go below the minimum allocated to the individual. vāstu śāstra thrives to provide the max possible so as the inhabitant gets the most out of their life.

North (Air and Water): Good psyche and knowledge results in good Intelligence. Hence this region is responsible for the intelligence of occupants.

East (Water and Fire): Sun raises at east. Solar energy is absolutely essential for any form of life on earth. Where it is available automatically, it is taken for granted. Apart from this, there are other influences sun exerts on humans. To name few, the level of confidence and righteousness are dictated by sun.

South (Fire and Earth): This region dictates the courage and initiative of the occupants. When you see a normally courageous person move into a new home and acts cowardice, you can confidently say that the south end of the home does not comply with vāstu śāstra.

West (Earth and Air): A stable west with earth in south and air in north denotes greater levels of patience and discipline in the occupants.

These is the foundation on which the whole vāstu śāstra is built on and by no means what i've mentioned consolidates the depth of vāstu śāstra. This is a deep science that has been fading away from practice due to several fraudulent individuals trying to profit from the misery of unsuspecting victims. Understanding the basic science behind it and ensuring these general principles are met in you dwelling place, weather it be home or work place or a temple is ample enough to get the most out of this life.

More you learn about it, more you can hone your knowledge, but beware, all these anicient śāstras are bottomless abyss. If you embark on a journey to find the bottom, you'll be absolutely lost and become an annoyance to the people around you. So always keep a checkpoint on when and where to stop the research, implement and move on.

---

Diwali (தீபாவளி) Hari October 21, 2016

What is Diwali (தீபாவளி)?

Diwali celebration is merited towards slaying if Hiranyakashya, return of rama from 14 years of vanavash, return of pandavas from 13 years of exile, But, the most common story we've all heard on the origin of diwali is slaying of Narakasura by Lord Sri Krishna. To be on same page, here is the most common version, please do pay close attention to the details like the description of characters and the numbers. These hidden in plain-sight clues will be interpreted later which everyone can leverage in betterment of day to day living and the yogis can immensely benefit in their spiritual journey.

1.) Narakasura is a son of Bhumadevi (Mother Earth) and Varaha (boar) Avatar of vishnu. 
2.) He is an asura (demon) king and ruled the Kamarupa kingdom and its capital city was pragjyotisha, surrounded by mystical mountains, utterly inaccessible and impregnable by others.
3.) It is also gaurded by 5-headed asura named Mura, 7 sons of narakasura.
4.) He invaded Bhur Bhuva Svaha, the 3 worlds. These 3 worlds are the earth, underworld a.k.a pishacha-loka (world of spirits) and the heaven a.k.a deva-loka (world of devas, demi-gods).
5.) Attacked Indra (king of devas) and captured the 4-tusked white elephant, gifted to Indra by Bhumadevi.
6.) Imprisoned Varuna and stole the crescent shaped ear ring of Aditi, Mother of all devas.
7.) Captivated 16,000 damsels and imprisoned them at Audaka on the top of the mountain Maniparvata in his kingdom. Narakasura's 10 sons gaurded the damsels.

Indra comes to Krishna and pleads to end Narakasura's tyranny. Since, Narakasura was cursed by Bramha that he'll die in the hands of a woman, Krishna ventures to the capital city of Pragjyotisha on his eagle-man, Garuda along with one of his wives Satyabama. Krishna fights and slays Mura (5-headed demon) the 7 sons gaurding the city and leads Satyabama for the final face-off and slaying of Narakasura. Releases the 16000 damsels, returns the Aditi's earring back and restores order, in the universe.

This story has several intrinsic details about how the rituals practiced during diwali impacts each and every individual. To start with, the author of these stories is Veda Vyasa, the same person who wrote the Bagawat Gita (and Mahabharatha). He is a Siddha, a fully attained yogi and adept in the attama-siddhi's bestowed only upon the very worthy of the meditators. Such a person, is not going to weave a story merely for entertainment. With his Aṇimā siddhi, he can observe the nuances of whats happening inside his body and narrates it as a story so the concepts gets imprinted in everyone who gets to hear it and when some of those individuals reach higher levels of consciousness, the same thought to be fictional stories, serve as a map or milestone to gauge their progress. As a matter of fact, Ramayana, Mahabharatha, Bagawat Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Soundarya Lahari, Skanda Shasti Kavasam, Vinayagar Agaval, Patanjali Stotras, Thirumandhiram, Thirukural, Thirupugazl and several such texts penned down by the siddhas is trying to convey the exact same thing at its core, but from different angles to cater to the varied approach and understanding.

Coming back to the story in hand, The devas and Asuras in any of these mythological stories are the personifications of the good and evil characteristics in every living being.

1.) Narakasura, son of earth and a boar, is the evil traits born of our desires for earthly pleasures and innate animal instincts.
2.) He ruled the kamarupa kingdom, which denotes the self-image and personality evolved out of our desires. This place being surrounded by mystical mountains are the layers of justification we assess to preserve this self-image.
3.) The 5-headed demon, Mura is the 5-senses; Sravana (hearing), Chakshusha (seeing), Jiva (taste), Nasika (sense of smell) and sparsha (touch). These 5 sense are turned outwardly protecting and nourishing these worldly desires.
4.) Invaded the 3 worlds, i.e., the material existence, good and evil nature. We start compromising these 3 aspects defining our personality towards attainment of these kamarupa desires.
5.) Indra's 4-tusked white elephant is the muladhara chakra with 4 petals. Muladhara represents our survival and this is the earthed chakra on which all other chakras function. Indra, Ganesha, Bramha and Darini are the four deities of Muladhara. The elephant symbolism can also be seen in representation of lord Ganesha. the functioning of this chakra and related endocrine glands, mainly the adrenaline glands, are hijacked towards these desires.
6.) The silver crescent shaped earring of Mother Aditi represents the nectar of vishuddhi chakra, the purification center of the 72,000 nadi network. When this is blocked, our ability to discriminate between right and wrong is severely paralyzed.
7.) Captivated 16000 damsels, these are the 16,000 Nadis that carry the pranic current towards spiritual evolution, in simple terms, that drives us towards actual manifestation of every individual. So, out of 72,000 nadis, 16,000 are blocked and we end up functioning only with the remaining 56,000 nadis, that are responsible for our day to day activities. When scientists says we are using only 5-10% of our brain, it is closely related to these dormant vital 16,000 nadis. Imprisoned in Maniparvata kingdom gaurded by 10 gaurds denotes the Manipura chakra with 10 petals, denoting the 10 pranas (Prāṇa, Apāna, Uḍāna, Samāna, Vyāna, Naaga, Koorma, Kirukara, Devadhatha, Dhanajaya).

Krishna, the yogi, traveling on garuda, the prana, with his 2nd wife Satyabama, the Ida nadi (breath from left nostril) enters muladhara, defeats 5-headed demon Mura, i.e., with strong determination, recoils from the pull of 5-senses. This phenomenon is also knows as pratyahara in ashta-anga yoga and also hails over 7 sons, retakes the control of sapta dhātu and leads satyabama, directs the cool prana via ida nadi into muladhara chakra and defeats Narakasura, stimulates the dormant kundalini shakthi to rise upwards. This Kundalini energy is the one that activates the ever dormant (since birth) 16,000 nadis. Along with these 16,000 nadis, there are 108 primary nadis, which are life vital and are explained in  detail in varma, and acupuncture. These nadis are collective called as 16108 wives of krishna. There is one other krishna has always been fond of, but not his wife, Radha, Sushumana Nadi. Restore the functioning of vishuddi chakra, the nadi purification center, with recovering the silver crescent moon shaped ear-ring of mother of devas, Aditi.

These details might sound very normal to someone in yogic path and well versed in the related books and artifacts, but strike as absolute bizarre and meaningless to someone who is hearing these words like nadis, chakras for the first time. Irrespective of it, take it with an open-mind and by chance if meditation descends on you, this will serve as a blueprint of what is happening and where it is leading you.

There is also an astrological significance as these days being the time of full debilitation of the sun in the whole year, meaning sun is exerting its least power and no moon day, meaning moon is at its least power at the same time. Hence a small window opens for a yogi, to get off the clutches of sun and moon's pull and evolve to higher realms. It doesn't mean one has to be a avid meditator to reap the benefits. Call it being in the right place at right time, anyone can leverage this window of opportunity to nitro-boost into a better state of anything deserved, be it level of creativity, wealth, social status, long pending goals, spiritual attainment, et al.

Coming to the rituals and meanings behind the fesitval, typically, Diwali is celebrated for 5 days.

Day 1 (in 2016, it is on 28th Oct): Dhanwantari Triodashi - Reevaluating perspective on Health

“shareeram aadyam khalu dharma saadhanam” (body is the best means for practising dharma)

This day is celebrated in adoration of Dhanwantari, Lord of Medicine for the devatas and originator of Ayurveda science. This is day for re-evaluating the perspective on health accumulated by any means. In the modern times, the sources are ample and the crisis is not the lack of information, but the right knowledge is piled over with too much unnecessary diversions. With the current level of our understanding and intelligence, this is the day to contemplate and discriminate between necessary and unnecessary advices on healthy living and take a vow to make necessary adjustments going forward.

Day 2 (29th Oct 2016): Naraka Chaturdashi - Detox physically and mentally

This is the day commonly celebrated as Diwali in southern regions of india.

“tena tyaktena bhunjeetaah” (this life can be enjoyed when detachment comes) – Isha Upanishad

The body has to be prepared for the energy burst that'll happen when 16,000 dormant nadis get activated. Hence on this day, people often get a rigid massage with the rightly prepared oil (Sesame seed oil, soaked with peppercorn and beetle leaves and warmed under sunlight) for 24 to 48 minutes and shower before sunrise. This is to activate the Ida Nadi. When the body is cooled down before the sunrise, the Ida Nadi become hyperactive, which facilities the flow of prana into Mooladhara chakra. Again, avid meditators should be able to experience this effortlessly. Any of the pranayama techniques like sudharsana kriya, shambavi mudra, naadi shodhana, kabalapathi, bastrika, sukha swasam, and so on will be more beneficial on this day.

Day 3 (30th Oct 2016): Aswayuja Amavasya - Renewal of Goals (Lakshya)

This is the day commonly celebrated as Diwali in northern regions of india.

This day is also known as Lakshmi Amavasya and is considered the jamadhin (birthday) of Lakshmi, goddess of wealth. The mind (moon) searches for the purpose of life (sun) and it tries to fix the goal (libra) due to the exact conjunction of sun/moon in libra that happens once a year on this day. This is commonly recommended for starting new business ventures.

Day 4 (31th Oct 2016): Govardhanpuja Pradhamai - Reassure the sense of being protected

"na me bhaktah pranashyati” (My devotees are never destroyed) - Bagawat Gita

Krishana lifted govadhan mountain to protect the people from the deluge of rain. When almighty (god/nature/conciousness/beyond/universe/unknown…call it whatever suits you) becomes the focus, all obstructions, sufferings, troubles come to an end. Meditating on realizing the effect of the surroundings on us and reassuring the sense of being protected by the universe is the theme of the day. Its a simple logic, we are here, as the universe intends to, if it doens't need us, we'll be wiped out in a blink of an eye.

Day 5 (1st Nov 2016): BhaiyaDooj Dwitiyai - Acknowledgement of sibling bond.
This is the time to rejoice the love, friendliness and harmony of co-existence. As per puranas, Yama, the Lord of Death has assured that he would not bother those mortals who spread the message of love to their brothers and sisters. A perfect harmony leads to moksha, the ultimate liberation. This 5th day is also the commencement of Shashti Viratham, another 6 days of fasting and rituals in honor of Lord Muruga (karithikeya, Skanda) which culminates as Soorasamharam (5th Nov 2016), we'll save this story for another day.

Thus this ‘Five-day Festival’ of Diwali traces the spiritual expansion of human growth culminating in the gaining of knowledge of beyond. It offers an opportunity to dive deep into one’s heart and search for all types of demonic qualities residing inside. Thus, the need is felt to clear the darkness from the heart. To dispel away the internal darkness we have to light the lamp of knowledge. When a lamp is lit on Diwali, just pray to your chosen ideal that the darkness of ignorance be removed from your heart.

With this understanding, reciting this Shanti Mantra (incantation of peace) at the start and end of the day, at the least on these 5 days, will bring a great sense of peace in everyone.

From Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1.3.28);

asato mā sadgamaya

tamasomā jyotir gamaya

mrityormāamritam gamaya

Oṁ śhānti śhānti śhāntiḥ

From ignorance, lead me to truth;

From darkness, lead me to light;

From death, lead me to immortality

Om peace, peace, peace

---