Maha Mrtunjaya Matram - word by word meaning (Telugu)

మంత్రము
మంత్రం అనగా, మననాత్ త్రాయతే ఇతి మంత్రం. మననాత్ అంటే విచారణ ద్వారా  
అంటే ఆలోచన  ద్వారా మంత్ర అంతరార్ధము కులంకషముగా తెలుసుకొనడం.
త్రాయతే అంటే రక్షిచ్చడం. ఇది  త్రా అనే ధాతువు నుండి వచ్చింది. ఓం కూడా త్రా ధాతువు నుండే వచ్చింది  అని అంటారు పండితులు.

కాబట్టి మంత్ర అర్ధము తెలుసుకొని దాని పై  విచారణ చే ఒక మంచి అవగాహన వచ్చినప్పుడు ఆ మంత్రము  మనలను  రక్షిస్తుంది.

కాబట్టి మంత్రములు, శ్లోకములు వాటి  అర్ధము తెలుసు కొని వాటి జప-పఠనములు  చేసినపుడు మనకి సంపూర్ణ ఫలితము వస్తుందని పెద్దలు గురువులు అంటారు.

మహా మృత్యుంజయ మంత్రం

ఇది మహా గొప్ప మంత్రము. ఈ మంత్రము ఆరోగ్యానికి, వ్యాధులనుండి బయటపడటానికి, అకాల మరణాన్ని తప్పిచ్చడానికి , చివరికి ఆత్మ సిద్ధికీ మరియు జీవన్ముక్తి-మోక్షాదులకు  కుడా చాలా ఉపయోగపడుతుంది. 

ఓం త్రయంబకం యజామహే
సుగంధిం పుష్టివర్థనం
ఉర్వారుకమివ బంధనాన్
మృత్యోర్ ముక్షీయ మా మృతాత్

త్రయంబకం - త్రయ అంటే మూడు, ఇంగ్లీష్ భాషలో, త్రి, ఇందులోనుండే  వచ్చినది.
అంబకం అంటే కళ్ళు. మూడు కన్నులు కల వాడు, అంటే శివుడు. అందుకే శివుడిని ముక్కంటి అనికూడా అంటాము.   త్రయంబకం  ఇంకొక అర్ధము సూర్యుడు, చంద్రుడు, అగ్ని. ఇవి సృష్టికి మూలకారణం, వీటి మూలము-స్వరూపము శివుడే.

యజామహే - మేము ప్రార్థిస్తాము

సుగంధిం - సుగంధము ఆంటే మంచి పరిమళము. ఒక పువ్వుకి మంచి సువాసన ఎప్పుడు వస్తుంది, మొగ్గగా వున్నప్పుడు కాదు, వాడి పోతున్నప్పుడూ కాదు, ఈ రెండిటికి మధ్యలో,  ఆంటే మంచి యవ్వనంలో వున్నప్పుడు కదా ఆ సుగంధము. కాబట్టి సుగంధము అంటే యవ్వనము, ఆ యవ్వనము, బలము  మరియు తేజములకు చిహ్నములు . అందుకే మనము గుడులలో, శివుడు, దక్షిణామూర్తి, కృష్ణుడు, రాముడు, ఆది శంకరుడు, ఇత్యాది విగ్రహాలను - చిత్రాలను   చూసినప్పడు అవి నిత్య యవ్వనము-చిరునవ్వుతో  ఉంటాయి.

పుష్టివర్ధనం - పుష్టి అంటే ఆరోగ్యం. వర్ధనం అంటే పెంపొందిచ్చడము. పుష్టివర్ధనం అంటే ఆరోగ్యవృద్ధిని  కలిగించేవాడు, మనము ఆరోగ్యముగా ఉండుటకు కారకుడు, ఆ శివుడు.

ఉర్వారుకమ్, ఇవ, బంధనాత్, మృత్యో: , ముక్షీయ - ఉర్వారుకమ్ అంటే పుచ్చ కాయ,  ఉర్వారుకమ్ ఇవ బంధనాత్ మృత్యో: ముక్షీయ  -  అంటే ఎలాగైతే పక్వానికి వచ్చిన పుచ్చకాయ చాలా సులువుగా తొడిమె నుండి విడిపోతుందో  అలాగే మనలను మృత్యువు నుండి అంతే తేలికగా విడదీయుట.

మా అమ్రుతాత్ - ఆ అమృతత్త్వము  నుండి మాత్రము విడదీయకు సుమా!   అని అర్ధము.
ఇక్కడ అమృతత్త్వము ఆంటే జీవన్ముక్తి, జన్మరాహిత్యం ఆంటే మరు జన్మ లేకపోవటం,మోక్షము అని అర్ధము.

తాత్పర్యము
మూడు  నేత్రములు కలవాడిని, ముక్కంటిని, బలము-తేజముల సుగంధము కలవాడిని, మాకు ఆరోగ్యాన్ని, దాని పోషణని మరియు వృద్ధిని ఇచ్చువాడిని,  పక్వానికి వచ్చిన పుచ్చకాయ, తొడిమ నుండి విడదీయబడినంత సులువుగా మృత్యువునుండి మనలను విడదీయువాడిని, మనకు ఆత్మా సిద్ధిని, జీవన్ముక్తిని, మోక్షాన్ని  ప్రసాదించువాడిని మేము ప్రార్ధిస్తున్నాము. 

LUCK

It is a general belief that hard work alone doesn’t payoff and that luck is a factor for success. However, what can ensure success is, preparation with the right attitude, setting an inspired goal and working towards it despite the obstacles. Hence, I agree with Oprah Winfrey’s comment, “Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity”.

Many argue that unless one is lucky, one cannot be successful in one’s life; no matter how hard one works. Here is an interesting story. There was a young journalist who had recently graduated from college. His first assignment was to cover Independence Day celebrations on a historical naval ship docked at a naval base. A few minutes into his coverage of the event, there was an earth quake and the ship started sinking. The people who were aboard the ship including the young journalist were able to get off to a safe ground. A few minutes later, the ship sank into the water. The young journalist felt that he was so unlucky to have missed the Independence Day celebration coverage. He was sad and called his best friend, who was also a young journalist from a different news channel. His friend pointed out to him that he had just missed on a great opportunity to report live on sinking historic ship. The young journalist wasn’t prepared enough to see a great opportunity hidden in a disadvantageous situation. 

Some argue that despite the right preparation and execution one may still not be successful as luck is missing in the equation. This is not true either as the cause of a failure indicates that, one or more essential factors didn’t get fulfilled. For example, when a rocket is being launched, a scientist ensures that all factors and principles are fully met before the launch. However, if the launch still fails then it shall be researched to identify the one petty factor that didn’t meet the needs and thus caused the failure. Once that parameter is corrected, the rocket is sure to launch successfully. In the same way, if one is unsuccessful then one needs to understand all the factors for failure, correct it and retry until successful. 

Hence, from the above facts it is abundantly clear that availing an opportunity at the right time with the right, attitude and preparation is often misconstrued as luck.

June 26th: Who is GURU?

"GUKARO ANDHAKARAHA RUKARO TU TAT NIVARTAKAHA SAHA GURUHU ABHIDHIYATE"

The word GURU is made of two syllables.
  GU and RU

GU means Andhakaraha (Ignorance)
RU means Nivartakaha   (one who eliminates or eradicates)

Hence, GURU is the one who can eliminate ignorance (Andhakaraha) of the ignorant.
Ignorance is nothing but not understanding the true nature of the self, ATMAN. By imparting Vedanta Jnanam a true Guru eradicates ignorance.

What is the true nature of ATMAN?
It is SAT-CHIT-ANANDA.

A GURU who is a JNANI alone can eliminate ignorance for others and has the practical knowledge as opposed to theoretical. A GURU should also be a "TATVA DARSHI". Please reflect on this example:

If I have to lead a person to Nariman Point in Mumbai and I only know the directions (theory) and have never been there, how can I possibly lead others? I should have first gone to Nariman Point, understood different routes and difficulties getting there and based on the experience I should have determined the better ways and means to go there. Isn't it?

Also, a GURU is only meant to imparts wisdom (JNANAM) to the disciple. Hence the GURU himself first has to be a JNANI, isn't? Otherwise, it is like using an "Unlighted Candle" to light up another "Unlighted Candle". The other candle can never light up. Hence.the first candle should already be lit-up to light the others
.
You see the point?

Hari Om

May 27th: The Three Birth Defects

At a major corporation, a person was asked to give a speech about his LIFE experiences during his retirement party. The man then narrated  his childhood, his education, marriage, children, house, property, tragedies in life, so on and so forth.

If you think about it, all the above life experiences can be broadly classified into only two. 
   1. Happiness (Sukham)
   2. Sorrow       (Dukham)

This is not just that old man's story. This is the story of all of us. Isn't it? There are only two things in life, Happiness and Sorrow. All the struggle in our lives is about securing happiness and  divorcing sorrow as much as possible. This is the GIST of LIFE that we lead. Isn't it?

Everyone of us only seek happiness. None of us want sorrow. Why is that so? It is because of 3 birth defects.

1. Mala           (Impurities of mind)
2. Vikshepa    (unstable mind)
3. Ajnana Avarana (Veil of ignorance)

Mala
 There are a total of 6 kinds of impurities of MIND. In Samsrkit these are known as Arishad  Vargaa. Namely:
     Kama       -   Materialistic desires such as wealth, prestige, status, attention and etc.
     Krodha     -   Anger
     Lobha       -   Greed
     Moha        -   Delusional emotional attachment and temptations
     Mada        -   Ego. The, I, I, thought
     Matsarya  -   Envy and Jealousy

When the above 6 are in favor of us it is called, happiness otherwise it is sorrow. Simple as that!!

Vikshepa
It is the instability of mind. Reflect on this anecdote. Rama sat to perform pooja. While he   was doing pooja, he started smelling something wonderful coming from the kitchen. 
Needless to say that his wife was making his favorite food. Now let's see how his 'Mind Talk' goes.

 "Last time she messed up cooking my favorite dish on purpose. I know...because of the fight we had last night. She is never happy with me. I bought her everything she wanted and yet she is unhappy. I think, her brought-up itself is not right. Her home town has terrorists and extremists. She is an extremist by herself. One of the major problem of this world is terrorism and extremism. No one does anything. We really need good political leaders in the world.....".  See where the mind talk begin and headed to?
This is  Vikshepa. 

This unstable mind causes in us, worry, compulsive thinking, giving rise to Sorrow

Ajnana Avarana

As you can see from the above two. The happiness or sorrow are just the states of mind that one creates for oneself. Here the mind is impure and unstable. 
Ajnana Avarana simply means, not realizing that mind is impure and unstable.

Now, how to get rid of these 3  birth defects?
The answer is in our Vedas. All the four of them. Rug, Yajur, Sama & Atharva. 

How? Each Veda is further divided into 3 parts or Khanda. Each part is stipulated to address each birth defect as follows:

    1. Karma Khanda - Karma Khanda includes, Pooja, Vrata, Japa, Tapa, Homa, Dana 
        Dharma. The main purpose of these karma is to cleanse and address the defect, 
        MALA. Here the goal is  "Purity of Mind".

    2. Upasana Khanda - It simply means to persistently worship your favorite Deva 
        (Ishta Daivam). This part of Veda is to address the birth defect, Vikshepa. The main 
        purpose of Upasana is to progressively achieve stillness of mind. This why all 
        great gurus like, Ramana Maharshi, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Shivananda,
        Vivekananda, Adi Shankara did the 'Devatha Upasana'. The rigorous the upasana 
        the calmer and thoughtless the mind. Here the goal is "Stillness of Mind".

    3. Jnana Khanda - This is all about knowing you, that is knowing "Who am I?" 
        Once, one knows the true nature of oneself the Ajnana Avarana automatically
        vanishes. Hence, Karma Khanda and Upasana Khanda automatically leads into 
        knowing one's SELF. The Upanishads talk about this Jnana. Here the goal is 
        "Realization of SELF".

The easiest way to understand this is, there is a precious diamond at the bottom of the bucket. But the water in the bucket is muddy (Mala) and disturbed (Vikshepa) like our Mind. Once, the muddy water is cleansed and the disturbance settles due to stillness, the lustrous diamond at the bottom automatically appears. No thing else need to be done. Here, the bucket is our body, the precious diamond is the ATMAN.

Hari Om

Apr 25th: The Peace of Mind

What is, 'Peace of Mind'? Is it within or without you?

Please reflect on this story. As the backdrop of the story goes...

Once there was a very famous actor who was accused of a murder and was going through a Trial. The prosecutor pursued several counts against him and he is facing  "Death Sentence".
That day was the judgement day...all the media gathered around. Hundreds of thousands of actor's fans were slowly gathering and the situation was getting tensed up.

Assume that I am one of the fans who is first in line to get into the court hall. After a long waiting, I was allowed to go in. When I stepped in, I observed that there was no one else in the hall and it was very very quite and peaceful. In less than 10 mins the hall was full. Needless to say that the hall got very very noisy.To converse, people had to shout at the top of their voices and everything turned chaotic in no time.

The supreme court judge finally walked in...so everyone stood up. In a matter of minutes the hall re-transformed slowly and steadily back to the condition when I first stepped in which is peaceful and calm.  Of course, the judge finally had to say, "order...order".  The story stops here...don't worry about the judgement :-))

This incident relates to the 'STATE OF MY MIND AND THOUGHTS', how?

The Court Hall is my mind. The worried, anxious and distressed people causing chaos in the hall are my thoughts that aroused due to conflict at work or argument at home or worry about something and any compulsive mental behavior. The Judge is MY THOUGHT TOO!. But it is the strongest of all other thoughts and hence the other thoughts listen, respect and follow what the strongest thought says.

Let's do a walk-thru of my mind and thoughts in relation to the court scene. My mind is always at a peaceful state...like I first entered the hall. I then created commotion by giving birth to variety of thoughts...stress, disappointment, anxiety, jealousy, distress, depression and so on.....just like the actor's fans pouring into the hall. I myself transformed my peaceful state to chaotic state. Now, who can bring back my peace, is it the 'judge' in me or someone or something else? Remember, the court hall has always been peaceful. The disturbance evolved and then devolved, but the peace in the hall remained as is with no change...as it has been there always. So, my mind is always at PEACE unless I bombard it with thoughts. When bombardment of thoughts stop, peace is evident.You get the point?

But, we all try to go out and seek peace and solace in discourses, meditation, mantra japas, kriyas and what not...We just need to know that there is a "judge" within us who could easily bring everything back to peace. "Only you can do it...no one else can". Isn't it? Hence my natural state is peace, I unnecessarily create commotion and conflicts. I will have to find the judge (the conscious I) in me who can stop my mind from thinking the thoughts.

How silly it is to ask you, "how can I stop writing this blog". You may say, "just stop writing it...simple as that". Seeking peace elsewhere is just as silly. Just try to stop thinking the thoughts. Have a tiny pause between the thoughts at first. Focus on expanding the duration of those pauses. This practice shall go on until the duration of pause exceeds the duration of thoughts. Once the pause between the thoughts is abundantly apart...the mind has been mastered.

"MANA EVA MANUSHYANAM KARANAM BANDHA MOKSHAYOHO"

--Mind is the cause of bondage....at the same time mind is a great instrument for liberation or moksha.

We're in control of our minds. It's up to us to choose, bondage or liberation.

Hari Om

Apr 5th: The Secret of Work

KARMA YOGA - Part 1

Karma is simply 'the actions'. In other words, the effort and endeavor that we put in, to succeed in our life. As a student, father/mother, brother/sister, peer or manager at work.  When we play one or more of these roles, we always have a purpose and anticipation as to how the result of the action should be or want to be. Isn't it? But, is the result always what one wanted or expected? The answer is a "NO". Because of this big "No" we suffer, get stressed out and cause remorse in our own life. One thinks that despite one's fullest efforts, one-other who is a lot less deserving is successful than one. One then concludes that one-other is luckier and so one gets demoralized and disheartened. This phenomenon replicates across various relationship at both family and professional level. This could tremendously impact both mental and physical well being of an individual.

Hence it is imperative that we all truly understand as to how we correctly go about doing ACTIONS  in our life at different levels...student, father/mother...brother/sister...peer/manager at work and so on. When we act upon on this world with SELFLESSNESS, that is, without doership (Kartaa) or  being a beneficiary (bhoktaa) and as an offering to god (eshwararpanam) then the action becomes KARMA YOGA.

Lord Krishna explains it very beautifully in Bhagvadgita, Chapter 2, Sloka 47.

"KARMANYEVADHIKARASTE MA PHALESHU KADACHANA
 MA KARMAPHALAHETURBHU MA TE SANGOTVAKARMANI"

KARMANI           - In doing Karma (Actions)
EVA                      - Only
TE                          - They ('We have' in the context)
ADHIKARAHA   - Authority or Discretion

MA                            -    Not   |
KADACHANA       -      ever  | Never
PHALESHU             -    in Results or Outcomes

Meaning
"We only have the discretion or authority to choose what type of Karma (Action) that we would like to perform. However, one has absolutely no control or authority over the result(s) that come out in the wake of the action taken".   Let's see how this can be related to us.

Hidden Message
Let's say at work you're competing with your peers for getting recognition, promotion or simply securing a superior task. There is nothing wrong in aspiring. In fact, one should sincerely put in every effort to achieve one's aspiration. However, the result may or may not be in one's favor. The other person may be more successful. One just can't control it. It is the Eshwara who decides the outcome based on one's eligibility to it.

At a lower level of thinking, it appears to one that one is always unlucky, in a bad spot or opportunity deprived. But the other person is quite opposite, that is lucky, in a good situation, full of opportunities and shown bias. The fact of matter is, when it is looked at a higher level..."What has to happen will always happen and what not to happen will not happen". WE HAVE NO CONTROL WHAT-SO-EVER. However, one should make a sincere attempt and effort. For example, if one ends up standing in the middle of the highway and says 'trust the Karma' then one is sure to get killed. Hence the effort for Karma is absolutely essential. In Sanskrit it is called, "PURUSHA PRAYATNAM" (Conscious Effort).

The motto should be, "Do your best and leave the rest to the hands of Eshwara".

Second Line:

MA            -   Not (Shall not)
KARMA   -   Action(s)
BHU          -   Be the
HETU        -   Purpose or Reason (of the)
PHALA     -   Results

AKARMANI    -   In NOT doing KARMA (Actions)
TE                     -  They ('We' in the context)
MA                   -   Not (Shall not have)
SANGAHA      -   Attachments
ASTU               -   So be it

Meaning
"A Karma (Action) should never be done in anticipation of one's own expectation. At the same time, any Akarma (Inaction) should never drag one into the obsession that one is missing out on opportunities when compared to others . Thus not, getting attached to even Akarma (inaction) and the sense of deprivation".

Hidden Message
One should never do any Karma (Action) for it's RESULT. Remember, it's not in our hands but only the Eshwara. Karma should be done for it's own sake based on the role one is playing...student, father/mother, peer/manager. Just do whatever is appropriate for the role that you're playing to facilitate a smooth running. For example, think as to what Karma a father/mother to keep the family in the order and do it accordingly. Likewise, at workplace, relatives, friends and etc.

The catch here is that the intent is for a smooth running of Vyavahara (daily business) and nothing else with no expectations and results. If things don't work out then think again and make changes accordingly until the role you're playing is working and also is harmonious with others. This should be a continuous improvement process until the goal is achieved. But again, in spite of all efforts one may or may not reach the goal as it is not at all in one's hands. Accept it and move on.

Likewise, don't feel peer pressured if you're NOT doing any action either. For example, your peer is very ambitious, moving up in the chain, making consistent career growth and money. But, you're stalled and can't move up. Don't worry about it...just keep trying to the best of your abilities and never worry. Again, please remember, the results of the action whether belonging to YOU or OTHER is invariably decided by Eshwara. So why sweat it (worry). How can one attribute failures to oneself when one has no control over it (results), isn't it? Please think about it.

When all the four aspects (see below) of the above sloka are thoroughly understood and implemented then the KARMA that one performs is magically transformed into KARMA YOGA.

 The tenets of Karma

1. Our choice or authority is only to choose the Karma (action) that we would like to perform
2. We do not have any control or authority what-so-ever on the outcome of our actions
3. We shall never do Karma in anticipation of our own dictated outcome or result
4. Never worry Akarma (inaction or insufficient action) that compares our accomplishments with others

With his approach, a higher center opens up from our self which is above, hatred, jealousy, remorse, anxiety and attachment. The MENTAL BURDEN that we have carried all along has been eased.

Hari Om

Mar 13th: Positive and Negative Emotions

Emotion

In our day-to-day lives we encounter negative and positive emotions. Jealousy, hatred, anger, anxiety, depression, suffering are some of the examples of Negative Emotions. While, compassion, empathy, love, positive attitude, emotional stability (sthithapragynatha) are some of the examples of Positive Emotions.

All negative emotions take a toll on our health, relationships at home & work and deprecates our general well being. On the other hand, positive emotions fosters a congenial environment wherein it mitigates all negative emotions as stated above. 

Not a single one of us want to be unhappy, do we? So, why do people suffer in life? People suffer because of their expectations and beliefs.  There was a women who was suffering in her life. She believed that she could wear a number six shoe on a number eight foot!

With Negative Emotions our interpersonal relationships tend to get tensed up, particularly on the work front. Isn't it? Instead of producing results, we become busy managing our negative emotions with people. We are busy keeping internal accounts and settling scores with each other.

Hence, emotional cleansing is not only good from a spiritual perspective but also on the work front.

How to cleanse Negative Emotions

When the negative emotions occur such as jealousy, hatred, anger, anxiety and etc. do not participate in them. In other words, just observe the thoughts and look within if your emotions are affecting your body physiology, such as eyes wide open, anger in the face, body shiver, acid re-flux. Instead of supporting the cause for the negative emotions, start observing your body reactions. This will automatically begin de-energizing the negative emotion. This can be better understood by the following example:

When you're watching an action packed movie, there are scenes such as burning buildings, chasing, destruction and host of negative things. But, the movie screen on which it happens is not affected. It remains plain and white. The screen is the mind and destructive acts are the negative emotions. Emotions come and go but your mind (the self) remains unaffected.

Is there any other way to purify emotions?
Yes, there is. There is always a subject, whether a person or a thing around which the negative emotions revolve. So, when a negative emotions occur, mentally try to do the opposite of that on the subject (person, incidence or a thing). For example, when you see someone you dislike or feel jealous, try to shower love or appreciation mentally on that person. If you practice this over and over, the negative emotions gets weakened and will soon be replaced by positive emotions. In Sanskrit it is called as, "Partikpaksha Bhavana".

This Sadhana over time will move a person up from a lower self to a higher self.

Hari Om