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14 Feb

సనాతన హిందూ ధర్మము – బహుభార్యత్వము – పునర్వివాహము – ఒక ఆలోచన

రచన: మాధవ తురుమెళ్ల, వ్యవస్థాపకులు, రాజబోధ హిందూ మేధోమధన శిక్షణా సంస్థ

శ్రీరాముని తండ్రి దశరధమహరాజు గారికి ముగ్గురు భార్యలు. శ్రీరాముడు ఏకపత్నీవ్రతుడైనా ఆయన తర్వాతి అవతారంగా వచ్చిన శ్రీకృష్ణులవారికి ఎనిమిదిమంది పట్టమహిషులు. శ్రీమహావిష్ణువుకు శ్రీదేవి భూదేవి ఇద్దరు భార్యలు. శివునికి మొదటి భార్య సతి ఆవిడ తర్వాత పార్వతిని ఆయన పునర్వివాహమాడారు. మరి హిందూదేవుళ్లకే పునర్వివాహమా అని అంటే ఋషులు మహర్షులు గూడా బహుభార్యత్వం అవలంబించారు. శుక్లయజుర్వేద ద్రష్ట మరియు బృహదారణ్యక ఉపనిషత్తు ద్వారా సనాతన ధర్మంలో నిబిడీకృతమైన అజరామరత్వాన్ని ప్రపంచానికి పరిచయం చేసిన యాజ్ఞవల్క్య మహర్షివారికి మైత్రేయి కాత్యాయని అన్ ఇద్దరు భార్యలు. ఇలా చూస్తూపోతే ఈ బహుభార్యత్వాన్ని హిందువులు దాదాపు స్వతంత్య్రం వచ్చే ముందరవరకు పాటించినట్లు కనిపిస్తోంది. దాదాపు 1940 వరకు బహుభార్యత్వం అమలులో ఉన్నది. మరి హిందువులను అనుకోకుండా ఏకపత్నీవ్రతులుగా ’చట్టబద్ధం’గా మార్చాల్సిన అవసరం ఎందుకు వచ్చింది? అని ఒక ప్రశ్న వేసుకోక తప్పదు. ఇది నిస్సందేహంగా కామపూరితమైన కోరికను స్త్రీపురుషుల శృంగారపరమైన కలయికను ’మొట్టమొదటి పాపం’ Original Sin గా పరిగణించే మతస్థులవారు బలవంతంగా హిందువుల నెత్తిన రుద్దిన రాజశాసనంగా అనిపిస్తుంది. ఈ ఆలోచన పునర్వివాహం తప్పా ఒప్పా అని గాదు. హిందువులనెత్తిన Legistlative గా రాజశాసనంగా దీనిని ఎందుకు తెచ్చినట్లు అని ప్రశ్న.

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ఋగ్వేదంలో ’భార్య’ అని ఏకవచనం చాలా తక్కువ ’భార్యలు’ అనేది ఎక్కువగా కనబడుతుంది. బహుభార్యత్వం అనేది ఒకప్పుడు చాలా సాధారణంగా ఉండేది. పైగా ఆ భార్యలమధ్య అసూయగూడా ఉండేది. సపత్నీబధ్నం అని ఋగ్వేదంలో ఒక సూక్తం ఉన్నది [ఋగ్వేదం 10-145] అందులో తన సవతి దగ్గరకి తన భర్త వెళ్లకుండా తన దగ్గరే ఎక్కువ ఉండేటట్లుగా విశ్వేదేవతల ప్రార్థన ఉన్నది. తన భర్త ఇంట్లో ఉండకుండా వేరే ఆడవారి వెంట పడుతుంటే ఈ సూక్తంతో హవనం చేసి భర్తని భార్య కట్టడి (వశీకరణం) చేసే పద్ధతి నేను ఎరుగుదును…

ఇకపోతే హైందవ వివాహంలో ఈ క్రింది మంత్రం చాలా ముఖ్యం:
“అఘోరచక్షురపతిఘ్న్యోధి శివా పశుభ్యః సుమనాః సువర్చాః| వీరసూర్దేవకామా స్యోనా శం నో భవ ద్విపదే శం చతుష్పదే |” ఋగ్వేదము 10-85-44

ఈ పై మంత్రాన్ని ఇప్పటికీ పెళ్లి సమయంలో తెరసెల్లా తీసేటప్పుడు చదువుతారు.

నాకు బోధపడినంతవరకు ఈ మంత్రార్థం:- దుష్టతలేని కనులతో [నీ భర్తని చూస్తూ], భర్తని చంపనిదానివిగా ‘అపతిఘ్ని’ [మెలిగి] , మంచి మనస్సుతో మంచి వర్చస్సుతో [నీ మెట్టినింటికి] శుభాలను తీసుకురామ్మా| అలాగే [నీవు ఈ ఇంట్లో ఉన్నందువల్ల దొరికే] దేవతల ప్రేమను పొంది, హాయిగా ఉంటూ తల్లివిగామారి మహా వీరులకు జన్మనివ్వు, మా పశువులకు (నాలుగుకాళ్లమీద నడుచు చతుష్పదములు) అలాగే మా మనుష్యులకు [రెండుకాళ్లమీద నడిచే ద్విపదులు – బంధుమిత్రాదులు] శుభాన్ని తీసుకురా…

దశరధమహారాజుభార్య కైక ’పతిఘ్ని’ అని ఒక వ్యాఖ్యానంలో చదివాను. ’ఓ కైకా! రాముడు అడివికిపోతే నేను గుండెపగిలి చనిపోతాను’ అంటే ’నాకదంతా అనవసరం రాముడు అడవికి పోవాల్సిందే’ అన్నది. పాపం దశరధమహారాజు నిజంగానే రాముడు వెళ్లిన తర్వాత గుండెపగిలి చనిపోయారు.

అంటే దీనివల్ల మనకి తెలిసేదేంటంటే స్త్రీ తలచుకుంటే సంసారాన్ని నాశనం చేయగలదు తన భర్తని చంపగలదు, [ఆవిడకి ఆ అధికారం ఉన్నది] అలాగే శుభంగా నిలబెట్టనూగలదు. దేవతలు కులస్త్రీ పూజించబడే చోట మాత్రమే దేవతలు ఉంటారు. కాబట్టే ఇంటి ఇల్లాలి విషయంలో జాగ్రత్తగా ఉండమని అందరికీ పెద్దలు ఇచ్చే సలహా….

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మన పురాణాల్లో అనేకమైన కధలు అలా భర్తను అర్థాంతరంగా వదిలి వెళ్లిన భార్యల కధలు.

శ్రీలక్ష్మి అమ్మవారు వైకుంఠం వదిలి వెళ్లిపోలేదా?! శ్రీమహావిష్ణువు పిచ్చివాడిలా మారలేదా?! మనం ప్రతిరోజు కొలుచుకునే మన ఆరాధ్యదైవం ఆ ఏడుకొండలవాని చరిత్రేగదా! అలాగే ’పిలవని పేరంటానికి వెళ్లద్దు సతీ! అని అనునయంగా చెబితే వినకుండా వెళ్లి…. పైగా ఇలా అర్ధాంతరంగా తనువు చాలిస్తే నన్ను ప్రేమించే భర్త ఏమైపోతాడో అనేదిగూడా ఆలోచించకుండా పుట్టింట్లో అవమానం అయిందని సతీదేవి తన శరీరాన్ని తగలబెట్టుకున్నది’ ఆవిడ పోయింతర్వాతా ఆయన బోలాశంకరుడు పిచ్చివాడైపోయాడు పిచ్చిపట్టి చనిపోయిన తన భార్య శరీరాన్ని తీసుకుని భుజంపైన వేసుకుని లోకాలన్నీ తిరిగాడు…

అలాగే ఋగ్వేదంలో ఊర్వశి నిర్దాక్షిణ్యంగా వదిలి వెళ్లిపోతే అతడు ఏడుస్తూ ’ఆడవారితో శాశ్వతస్నేహాన్ని ఆశించగూడదు [అంత తెలివితక్కువపని ఇంకొకటిలేదు] ఆడవారి గుండెలు [బొమికలనిగూడ మిగలకుండా బొందిని కొరికి తినగల] దుమ్ములగొండి గుండెలు’ అని చెప్పలేదా?! [ఋగ్వేదం 10-95-15]

ఆడవారికి ఒకప్పుడు హైందవదేశంలో అంత స్వాతంత్య్రం ఉండేది.
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హైందవ ఆచారాలలో ముఖ్యంగా కర్మకాండలయందు ఆసక్తి ఉన్నవారు తెలుసుకోవాల్సిన విషయం. సప్తర్షులలో వివాహంలో భార్యకు అత్యున్నతమైన స్థానం ఉన్నది. ఆవిడ పక్కన లేకపోతే అతడు ‘విథురుడు‘గా మారతాడు. అందుకే ఎన్ని కష్టాలు సహించైనా సరే ఎంత గయ్యాళి భార్య అయినా సరే ఒకప్పుడు ఓర్పుతో భరించి ఉండేవారు. దక్షసావర్ణికమనువు కాలంలో సప్తర్షులలో ఒకడైన సవనుని భార్య కాళి ఆవిడ ఆయనను రాచిరంపాన పెట్టేది, కట్టెపుల్లలతో కొట్టేది అయినా ఆయన ఆవిడ పెట్టే కష్టాలు అన్నీ భరించేవాడు. అంత గయ్యాళి భార్యను ఎందుకుభరించుతావయ్యా అంటే ’భార్య మరణించినా లేదా భార్య విడాకులు ఇచ్చేసినా మరుక్షణం ఆ వ్యక్తి యజ్ఞయాగాదులను నిత్యార్చనలను నిర్వహించే అర్హత కోల్పోతాడు, కాబట్టి క్రతువులయందు నమ్మకం ఉన్న వారు తమ భార్యలను ఎట్టిపరిస్థితులలోనూ తృప్తిగా ఉంచాలనే చూడాలి’ అన్నాడు. ‘యత్ర నార్యస్తు పూజ్యంతే రమంతే తత్ర దేవతా‘ (ఎక్కడ స్త్రీలు పూజింపబడతారో అక్కడే దేవతలు ఉంటారు) అని మనువు చెప్పినదానికి ఇది ఒక అర్థం.

అంటే ఇంటి ఇల్లాలు సంతోషంగా లేనప్పుడు ఆ ఇంటి యజమాని దేవతార్చన అర్హతను కోల్పోతాడు. దేవతలు ఆ ఇంటి మొహంగూడా చూడరు. ఈ నియమం ఎవరికైనా సరే తప్పదు. అందుకే భార్య ప్రక్కన లేనందువల్ల శ్రీరామచంద్రుడు ‘స్వర్ణసీత‘ని పక్కన పెట్టుకుని యజ్ఞార్హతను పొందాడు. ఒకప్పుడు ‘విధురత్వం‘ (భార్య చనిపోవడం), ‘ఘటశ్రార్ధత్వం‘ (భార్య కోరినందునో లేక తన కోరికవల్లనో విడాకులివ్వడం) అనేవాటిని చాలా ఘోరమైన నరకబాధలుగా వర్ణించారు. వీటినుండి తప్పించుకోవడానికి తిరిగి వెంఠనే యజ్ఞార్హత, దేవతార్చన అర్హత సంపాదిందుకోవడానికి భార్య చనిపోయిన వెంఠనే రెండవపెళ్లికి పూనుకునేవారు. కాబట్టి కొంతమంది కర్మిష్ఠులు పునర్వివాహం చేసుకున్నారంటే వారి చేష్ఠవెనుక కామపూరితమైన వాసనకంటే దేవతార్చనార్హతపట్ల ఆసక్తే ఎక్కువ ఉండచ్చు… కన్యాశుల్కం నాటకంలో చాలా ముసలి వ్యక్తి మళ్లీ పెళ్లికి సిధ్ధపడతాడు అందరూ అతడిని ఈ వయసులో నీకు పెళ్లెందుకు అని తిడతారు కానీ నిజానికి అతడు ఆ పెళ్లి చేసుకోకుంటే యజ్ఞయాగాదులు చెసుకునే అర్హత కోల్పోతాడు అదే అతడి భయం అనుకోవచ్చు…
ఇకపోతే నేను పైదంతా రాసిన ఉద్దేశ్యం ’దేవతార్చన పేరుతో’ పది పెళ్లిల్లు చేసుకోమనిగాదు. మనకి నాలుగు ఆశ్రమాలు. గృహస్థాశ్రమధర్మంలోనే దేవతార్చన జపహోమాదులు అనుష్ఠానాదులు ఉన్నాయి. భార్య విడిచి వెళ్లిపోతే ఆ గృహస్థు పని గోవిందా…. కాబట్టి అతడి ఎదుట రెండే మార్గాలు (1) వేరే పెళ్లి చేసుకోవడం (2) సంసారంలోని అనిత్యతని గుర్తించి అగ్నిక్రియలను త్యజించి తన పిండాన్ని తాను పెట్టుకుని సన్యసించడం.

కానీ అతనికి వెళ్లిపోయిన భార్యవల్ల పిల్లలుండేటట్లయితే అతను సన్యాసానికి అర్హుడుకాదు. అందువల్ల అతని మార్గం గృహస్థమార్గమే!

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నాకు తెలిసినంతవరకు భార్యాభర్తలు విడిపోయిన దృష్టాంతాలు చాలా ఉన్నాయి. విడాకులు అనేది లేకపోతే ఆ పదమే వచ్చి ఉండేది కాదు. హైందవధర్మంలో నచ్చని పరిస్థితుల్లో భార్య భర్తను వదిలి వెళ్లవచ్చు. కానీ భర్తకు మాత్రం భార్యను వదిలివెళ్లే అవకాశం ఇవ్వలేదు. కానీ అతనికి బహుభార్యత్వం అనేకమంది భార్యలు కలిగిఉండే అవకాశం ఇచ్చారు. అందువల్ల నచ్చకపోతే భర్త ఆ భార్యను దూరంగా ఉంచుతాడు కానీ పోషిస్తాడు ఇంకొక పెళ్లి చేసుకుంటాడు. కానీ ఆ భర్త నచ్చకపోతే అతన్ని వదిలి వేరేపెళ్లి చేసుకునే అవకాశం ఆవిడకు ఎప్పుడూ ఉంది.

స్త్రీకి హైందవమతంలో సంపూర్ణస్వాతంత్య్రం ఉంది. సీతమ్మవారే రాముడిని దండవేసి పెళ్లిచేసుకుంది, ఆవిడే ఆయనని వదిలి వెళ్లిపోయింది. కానీ రామచందృడు తన తండ్రి దశరధమహరాజులాగా ముగ్గురుభార్యలు కలిగినవాడుగాదు. ఏకపత్నీవ్రతుడు అందువల్ల ఆయన స్వర్ణసీతను పక్కనపెట్టుకోవాల్సిన అవసరం వచ్చింది. అందుకే పెళ్లి సమయంలో రాయి తొక్కించి మరీ ’పర్వతాఇవ విచాచలీ’ భూమిమీద పర్వతంలాగా నా జీవితంలో ఉండు అని ప్రార్థిస్తాడు. ఆవిడ అశ్మం తొక్కి అలాగే అని ప్రతిజ్ఞ చేస్తుంది. అంటే ఆవిడ ’ఉండకపోవచ్చు’ అనే అర్థం ఉన్నదిగదా?! అలాగే పెళ్లి సమయంలో కన్యాదానం సమయంలో తెర అడ్డం పెడతారు తెర తొలగించిన వెంఠనే ’అఘోరచక్షు’ అనే మంత్రం చదువుతారు. అంటే ’భర్తను చంపనిదిగా’ ఉండే కోరిక కోరడం జరిగింది. అంటే ఆవిడ చంపేచూపుచూసే అవకాశం ఉన్నదనే గదా అర్ధం?! హైందవ ధర్మంలో భార్యభర్త అనేవారు సయోధ్యగా ఉన్నంతవరకే అది వివాహం. వారు విడిపోవడంగూడా అంతే సహజం.

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కొందరు మొగవారు ఒక్క స్త్రీతోటే జీవితాంతం ప్రేమగా నిలవగలుగుతాడు. అదేవిధంగా స్త్రీగూడా ఒక్క మొగవానికే ప్రేమగాలొంగి జీవితాంతం ఉండగలుగుతుంది. కానీ ఈశ్వర సృష్టి అంతా ఇలా ఉండదు…. అనేకమంది ఆడవారితో ప్రేమలో పడిన మగవారిని నేను ఎరుగుదును, అలాగే అనేకమంది మగవారితో ప్రేమలో పడిన ఆడవారినిగూడా ఎరుగుదును. కాబట్టి బహుభార్యత్వాన్ని బహు భర్తృత్వాన్ని సనాతన హిందూ ధర్మం గర్హించదు అని నా నమ్మకం… అది పాపంగూడా గాదు… కానీ రాజశాసనాన్ని చేసి లెజిస్లేటివ్ మార్గంలో హిందువుల స్వేచ్చాజీవనానికి అడ్డుతగిలినట్లు అనిపిస్తోంది.

స్వస్తి….

ప్రేమతో కాంతితో మీ మాధవ తురుమెళ్ల

16 Jan

FEET STUCK IN MUD

by Madhava in English Poem

My feet are stuck in mud my Lord!
I am a lotus… lotus
Since I came to know
of my existence –
It has been a long time I know
that I am alive, that I am alone
And
that I am stuck!
I feel despair!
I have been crying for relief my Lord!

Only my head is barely above the water
enough to breathe
enough to see –
your daily glory as a Sun in the sky!

I can also see –
the butterflies and the dragonflies
I see them flopping their wings
roaming free — flying round and round
around my head… they get into my head…
is it their intention – my Lord?
to make me feel jealous?
I feel sad
I wish they see that I am stuck in mud…

I don’t know why my Lord!
I am born with feet stuck in mud..
I could have died unknown
But for your small blessings My Lord
I found myself somehow
Struggled to get out of water
My head blossomed
with many beautiful petals
Though feet stuck I gathered a lot of nectar!
I have become visible
Because of your blessings… My Lord!

***
Though caught up
In their own lives drama –
passers by
occasionally stop for a minute
admiring my head
calling me a flower beautiful!

But I reason with them
I try to make a silent cry
Yes my head is beautiful
But my feet are stuck in mud
See me in my entirety
My existance
Accept me as a whole..

Poor passers-by
In their lives facile platitudes,
fail to hear my cry –
My sadness –
My yearning to be accepted as a whole…

***

Though my feet are stuck in mud,
Though you made me
not to move any where,
My head is free –
ever waving into the sky
my head is full of useful nectar
Hungry bees are welcome my Lord!

All are approaching me to take
and I have been continuously giving…
But you alone know
that my feet are stuck in mud my Lord!
I wait for the day to be plucked
And offered at your prayer
I can’t move myself my Lord
I need help…
My feet are stuck in mud….

**** x x x ****

—- A poem by Madjava Turumella

03 Jun

In defense of Mahatma Gandhi: Patel, not Gandhi, made Nehru PM

by Madhava in In English Language, As I Think, Comment, English Content, In English Language, In English Language, India Politics

People often accuse Gandhi saying that Ganghiji wrote a chit during the congress committee meeting and asked Patel to withdraw his nomination and Patel obliged without a question.

This accusation towards Mahatma Gandhi is totally false! Yes Gandhiji gave a chit which to Patelji which Patel immediately tore. But it was Patel who asked Nehru to take up the PM position. But no one knows what was actually written in the chit. Neither Gandhi nor Patel ever spoke about what really transpired between them before the election. The rest of is purely speculation by the people who harboured unnecessary hatred towards Gandhiji. I researched Gandhi extensively. At least I couldn’t find that chit in my research where Bapu asked Patel to give up the PM position. I believe it is pure speculation to even think that Gandhi made Patel withdrew.

Let us first investigate what was actually Gandhiji thinking. We get a snapshot of Gandhiji’s thinking from Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s interaction with Gandhiji the night before the elections. Nehru wanted to become PM but Nehru was not sure of Gandhiji’s support. Therefore Nehru sent his friend Maulana to Gandhi seeking support. But Maulana says that Gandhiji ‘was not whollly pleased (sic)’ with Nehru’s name. Please see below page 163. I underlined the point that Gandhiji was thinking of Patel as PM.

Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel were best of friends. In fact, Sardar Patelji entered Indian politics during 1917 based on the advise by Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji had always taken the advise of Patel before he did anything. I have strong reasons to believe that It was Patelji who took the decision to make Nehru the PM of India.

Reasons why Patel wanted Nehru to be the PM of India.

1) Sardar Patel ji was a known Conservative party supporter. In fact, most of the All India Congress Committee Members were right leaning. All of them were Conservatives except Jawaharlal Nehru who is the only confirmed Socialist and a British Labour Party member.

2) None of the Congress committee members liked Nehru and they all elected Patel to be the PM. Nehru was visibly upset.

3) Unfortunately after the second world war Labour Party in UK came to power. Labour party prime minister Clement Atlee sent three Labour Lords to India to negotiate the Indian Independence and bifurcation of India as Pakistan and Bharat.

4) Patel ji and Gandhiji discussed their strategy at length. Their only aim was “Purna Swaraj” they wanted independence at any cost. They were convinced that Labour Party will not hand over the Government in the hands of a Conservative PM of India. In case Patel was the PM candidate then the freedom will get delayed. They had to wait for some more time. They were not ready for that. So Patel ji decided it is best to show Nehru as the PM candidate and run all freedom negotiations through Nehru. That was what had happened. Nehru was nominated. Labour Party in UK was at ease in discussing the terms of freedom with one of their own socialists. i.e. Nehru!

5) Patel ji had another personal reason. He was an ailing person by that time. He was physically not well. He underwent heart problems. He told Mahatma Gandhi that his health is not fit for the PM position. He was concerned that his health may not cooperate and stand for the stress that the position of the first Prime Minister of India demands! He did not want to go down in the history as the first prime minister of India who died with out completing his office. This is exactly happened! Patel ji died on December 15, 1950 just with in three years after India became independent. That means if Patel were the PM he would have died with out finishing his term of office.

So it was Patel who decided that Nehru a Socialist and a Labour Party supporter must be the Independent India PM candidate so that Labour Party in UK will feel at ease in giving away independence. It was an extraordinary sacrifice by Patel.

Nehru knew this that Patel was the rightful heir to the throne of PM. That was why Nehru was always hostile to Patel. Like all socialists who come to power, Nehru purged all Conservatives and Liberals from Indian National Congress after Patelji’s death.

Nehru also knew Gandhiji was favouring Patel as PM candidate. That was the sole reason why Nehru sent Maulana to Gandhi. Gandhi must have expressed concern about how to reign in Nehru after he became PM. So Patel must have told Gandhi that let the election take place. As per Patel’s wish the election happened and Patel was in fact nominated as PM candidate. Nehru came to know he has no support. It was at that time Bapu wrote a chit to Patel. So if I understood the strategy of Patel correctly then in that chit Gandhiji may have written “Dear Patel, I sincerely think we made the point clear through this election that you are our favoured choice of PM. But we know Labour party in UK will not give away independence into your hands. Independence will get delayed. This is not our wish either. But Nehru may by now understand that he has to go by the wish of all leaders. Especially Nehru must know that he has to listen to your advise and go by you as you are our first choice. Therefore I sincerely hope Nehru will listen to your views in future. Now it is entirely up to you how you want to decide. I will be supporting you if you want to be PM”…. It was then Patel tore the chit and asked Nehru to become a PM.

It makes more sense to think Bapu wrote like the above because he always consulted Patel in many ways. They are closer than anyone else could imagine.

However later when Nehru turned hostile. Contrary to earlier belief he stopped listening to Patel. Patel was clearly pained.

Therefore Patel requested a meeting with Gandhiji. Patel complained that under Nehru the interests of Hindus in independent India are getting undermined. Gandhiji agreed. So Gandhiji and Patelji planned a secret retreat. The rumour was that they both did not like the way Nehru undermining the interests of Hindus. Gandhiji wrote a handwritten note to Nehru insisting upon Nehru to become a true Jawahar (jewel) to Hindus. But Nehru did not bother. Nehru was very upset when he came to know of this planned retreat of Gandhi and Patel. Alas fate had other plans, Godse assassinated Gandhiji before any solid plans for a solid sanatani Hindu India “Ramarajya” were taken shape.

In an excruciatingly painful letter just about two months before his death, a terminally ill Sardar wrote to CR Rajagopalachari, referring to the pain he was being made to undergo by Jawaharlal and his insupportable ways:

It is painful to prolong this process of mental torture and we must end it now as I see no hope… I have gone to the farthest extent… but I see that it is all no good and we can only leave it to God. (13.10.1950)
On 9th december just fifty days before Mahatma Gandhiji’s assassination. Mahatma Gandhi wrote two very very important letters. First Bapu reaffirmed his trust in Patelji – NOTE in the following letter “The Sardar’s view seems quite right to me.”

LETTER TO A MAULANA

BIRLA HOUSE, NEW DELHI,

December 9, 1947

MAULANA SAHEB,

I had a talk with Sardar Patel about the Muslims from outside who want to settle in Delhi. He says that he has no objection to nationalist Muslims settling in Hazarat Nizamuddin if they wish, whatever their number. But he is against bringing Muslims from outside, to be rehabilitated in the interior of Delhi in houses now evacuated. For, if the Muslims now evacuating these houses return, where will they be accommodated? Secondly, if Muslims from outside are rehabilitated in these houses the Hindu and Sikh refugees who cannot find accommodation are bound to object and argue that while they have not been rehabilitated outsiders are brought in for settling. The Sardar’s view seems quite right to me. Therefore you may bring the nationalist Muslims and help them settle in Hazarat Nizamuddin.

These outsiders should not be accommodated in the city’s interior. From a copy of the Hindi: Pyarelal Papers. Courtesy: Pyarelal

The special retreat Gandhiji and Patelji planned was rumoured in papers. On the same day December 9th Bapu said about this retreat in the prayer meeting:

SPEECH AT PRAYER MEETING

NEW DELHI,

December 9, 1947

BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

You will have seen in the papers today a report saying that Sardar Patel and I are going to Pilani. Why? For a change of air. It is a mere canard. I do not know what the Sardar has in mind but I certainly know that this is not the time to seek a change of air. The Sardar works all day long and rests at night and that is all the change of air he gets. The same applies to me. It is true that I am not so overworked because I do not have to run a government. But I receive many visitors and I get tired. Therefore I have to give myself rest. The air is quite congenial in Delhi at present and there is no need to go out for a change of air. What can Pilani offer? So far as I am concerned I have taken a pledge to do or die. I have not fulfilled that pledge. I cannot understand why newspapers publish such rumours. I can only conclude that a large part of what the newspapers put out consists of falsehoods.

[From Hindi]

Courtesy: All India Radio. Also Prarthana Pravachan—II, pp. 185-8

Source: COMPLETE WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI -VOLUME 98 PAGE 21

Unfortunately Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Godse before the planned retreat between Patelji and Mahatma Gandhi was announced to the public. I suspect vested interests who did not want Ramarajya to take shape in India had a hand to stop it by assassinating Mahatma. Therefore I personally consider Godse was the greatest traitor of Hindu dharma.

TIMELINES TO REMEMBER
1) December 9, 1947 – Bapu supported rehabilitation of only Nationalist Muslims as per the advise by Patel ji

2) December 9, 1947 – Secret Retreat between Bapu and Patel ji was rumoured and confirmed by Bapu that such a plan is in place but it will not take immediately. It was planned for February 6th 1948.

3) January 12, 1948 – Bapu wrote a hand written note to Nehru asking him to be a true Jawahar to Hindus.

4) January 30, 1948 – Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated.
Excerpt from the book: ” With No Ill-Feeling to Anybody“, Sri MKK Nair, IAS officer served under Patel.

“Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India, was insulted, humiliated and disgraced by the then Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, during a Cabinet meeting. “You are a complete communalist and I’ll never be a party to your suggestions and proposals,” Nehru shouted at Patel during a crucial Cabinet meeting to discuss the liberation of Hyderabad by the Army from the tyranny of the Razakkars, the then Nizam’s private army.

A shocked Sardar Patel collected his papers from the table and slowly walked out of the Cabinet room. That was the last time Patel attended a Cabinet meeting. He also stopped speaking to Nehru since then.”

03 May

కవిత: నిజంగా నన్నింకా భ్రతకమంటావా?

by Madhava in కవితలు

నన్నింకా బ్రతకమంటావా
నిజంగా నన్నింకా భ్రతకమంటావా?

చిక్కని ఈ జనారణ్యంలో –
మమతల నాటకాన్ని అర్ధంచేసుకోలేక
మనుషుల కఠినత్వాన్ని, మూర్ఖత్వాన్ని జీర్ణించుకోలేక
అలాగని నా దారిన నేను పోలేక –
మతితప్పి మనసుపోగొట్టుకుని భ్రమిస్తున్నవాడిని…

ప్రభూ –
నాకు ఒక అస్తిత్వంలేదు….
అబద్ధపు చట్రంలో అస్తవ్యస్త వ్యవస్థలో
ఎందుకో బలవంతంగా
నన్ను నేను ఇరికించుకున్నవాడిని.

గాయపడిన గొంతుగలవాడిని, దీనుడిని
ఇంకా ఏ శృతిని ఆలపించమని
ఈ దీనుడిని ఆజ్ఞాపిస్తున్నావు ప్రభూ?

నా బాధను రాయాలన్నా –
కత్తులూ, నెత్తుర్లూ,
కాన్పులూ, భీభత్సాలు,
భయానకపు బాకుల
వంటి హాహాకార చిత్రాలతో –
అమాయకపు పసిపాపలవంటి
నా అక్షరాలను –
తుఛ్ఛపు ప్రపంచం ఇచ్చే
ప్రాముఖ్యతకోసంగూడా భయపెట్టలేని
సున్నిత మనస్కుడిని….
ఎవరికీ ఉపయోగపడలేని పిరికివాడిని…
నేను ఎందుకూ పనికిరాని మంచివాడిని…

ప్రభూ, అయినాసరే –
ఈ దారి చాలు…
నేను ఆలపించే ప్రార్ధనా గీతాన్ని విని
నీవు అందిస్తున్న సహాయం చాలు…
నీ నీడనుగూడా అందుకోలేని
అర్హతలేని ఈ దౌర్భాగ్యునికి
నిరంతరం నన్నలముకున్న
విషాదమేఘాలను చొచ్చుకుని
నీవున్నావని నిరూపిస్తూ
అప్పుడప్పుడూ నను ఆహ్లాదపరిచే
ఆ ప్రేమ కిరణాలు ప్రసరించే క్షణికాలు చాలు.

శిధిలమైన జీవన చరమాంకంలో
నా కనురెప్పల తెరలు –
శాశ్వతంగా దించివేయబడే క్షణంలోనైనా సరే!
నీ దర్శనభాగ్యాన్ని ప్రసాదిస్తావని,
దీనుడిని నా ఈ మొరను ఆలకిస్తావని..
ఆశపడమంటావా ప్రభూ?!
నిజంగా నన్నింకా భ్రతకమంటావా?

-మాధవ తురుమెళ్ళ

03 Aug

As I think: Mahatma Gandhi – Concept of Ahimsa in Hinduism – Rama Killing of Vali

by Madhava in In English Language, As I Think, Hinduism, In English Language

“May your weapons be strong to drive away the attackers, may your arms be powerful enough to check the foes, let your army be glorious, not the evil-doer.” – Hindu – Rig Veda 1-39:2

“If the members of an assembly are conversant with morality, nothing improper should be permitted by them to happen. Where, in the presence of the virtuous members of an assembly, righteousness is sought to be overpowered by unrighteousness, and truth by the untruth, it is those members themselves that are vanquished and slain. When righteousness, pierced by unrighteousness, seeks the protection of an assembly, if the arrow is not extracted, it is the members themselves that are pierced by that arrow. Indeed, in that case, righteousness slays the members of that assembly, like a river eating away the roots of the trees on its bank.’ – Lord Krishna’s words as a Peace Ambassador [ Mahabharata – Udyogaparva Book 05 Chapter 095]

సారపు ధర్మమున్ విమలసత్యముఁబాపముచేతబొంకుచేఁ

బారముముట్టలేకచెడబాఱినదైనయవస్థదక్షులె

వ్వారలుపేక్షసేసిరదివారలచేటగుఁగానిధర్మని

స్తారకమయ్యుసత్యశుభదాయకమయ్యునుదైవముండెడున్

“Connivance or putting up with status quo is no ahimsa, there is no thought or discrimination in it” – Mahatma Gandhi

“Non-violence is the law of our species as violence is the law of the brute. The spirit lies dormant in the brute, and he knows no law but that of physical might. The dignity of man requires obedience to a higher law – to the strength of the spirit.” – Mahatma Gandhi

The much misunderstood concept of Ahimsa in Hinduism

By Madhava Turumella

email: madhava@madhava.net

Many people equate Mahatma Gandhi’s ahimsa as pacifism. But I think they have misunderstood Mahatma. His version of Ahimsa is not just pacifism but rather based on deep rooted understanding towards Hindu scriptures. In this essay I will try to convey that Mahatma Gandhi approved violence at certain places.

Ahimsa in the broad context means “Nonviolence”… Buddhists, Jains and Hindus all three dharmic religions which originated from India have the concept Ahimsa. All these three religions give great importance to Ahimsa. However Hindu concept of Ahimsa is quite different from Jain or Buddhist concepts of Ahimsa.

For Hindus Ahimsa is conditional. We condone violence based on certain conditions. This is the reason why all Hindu Gods and Goddesses bear weapons. Our Hindu Holybook Bhagwad Gita is taught in the middle of a huge battlefield. Our itihasas both Ramayana and Mahabharata were stories of great battles. It was just violence used to stop great harm from happening to the humanity.

Gandhiji’s concept of ahimsa should not be confused with Ahimsa of Jains! Ahimsa of Jains is pacifism. But Gandhiji’s ahimsa is based on Hindu scriptures Ramayana and Bhagwad Gita..

Mahatma Gandhi considered himself to be a Sanatani Hindu: “I call myself a Sanatani Hindu, because I believe in the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Puranas, and all that goes by the name of Hindu scripture, and therefore in avataras and rebirth; I believe in the varnashrama dharma in a sense, in my opinion strictly Vedic but not in its presently popular crude sense; I believe in the protection of cow … I do not disbelieve in murti puja.” -Mahatma Gandhi 1

So we know from the above statement that Mahatma considered himself as a “Sanatani Hindu”. We also know that Mahatma is very influenced by the story of Lord Rama. He dreamed that independent India to be a Ramarajya.

Gandhi Approved Killing of Rabid Dogs [approval of violence]:

In a true life incidence, during 1926, A mill owner in Ahmedabad, Ambalal Sarabai, a Gandhain was worried about the menace caused by rabid dogs. Stray dogs are roaming aggressively and biting the passer-by causing great misery. Therefore Ambalal wanted to get the dogs killed. But he was also worried on what would Bapu think of the action of killing the dogs. He was worried that perhaps killing may be against Bapu’s principles of ahimsa! So he sent a telegram to Bapu “Dogs gone mad please advise what I must do”. Mahatma Gandhi sent back a reply “Shoot them to kill”.

News Correspondents those days had a field day with this news. It was sensational news the apostle of peace and non-violence Mahatma Gandhi approved killing of stray dogs was quite a sensational story. Also naturally a huge controversy arose. Many Jain followers of Gandhi were upset. Many sent protest letters to Gandhi.

Gandhiji wrote about this in his magazine “Young India”, that one of the Jain followers was extremely upset by this act of killing of rabid dogs.

“He claimed to be a Jain. I have made a fair study of Jainism. But the Jains have no monopoly of ahimsa. It is not the exclusive peculiarity of any religion. Every religion is based on ahimsa, its application is different in different religions.” (2) wrote Bapu.

So the above lines prove that Bapuji did not subscribe to Jain way of Ahimsa. The Ahimsa which Mahatmaji was referring to was completely based on Hindu view of Ahimsa.

Bapuji further wrote “Connivance or putting up with status quo is no ahimsa, there is no thought or discrimination in it. Dogs will be killed whenever they are a menace to society. I regard this as unavoidable in the life of a householder. To wait until they get rabid is not to be merciful to them….. Humanity is a noble attribute of the soul. It is not exhausted with saving a few dogs or a few fish; such saving may even be sinful. If I have a swarm of ants in my house, the man who proceeds to feed them will be guilty of a sin…. The Mahajan may feel itself safe and believe that it has saved their lives by dumping dogs near my field but it will have committed the greater sin of putting my life in danger.” (2)

Further in another article Bapuji clearly stated that he wanted his son to use violence to protect him if necessary. “I do believe that, where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence. Thus when my eldest son asked me what he should have done, had he been present when I was almost fatally assaulted in 1908, whether he should have run away and seen me killed or whether he should have used his physical force which he could and wanted to use, and defended me, I told him that it was his duty to defend me even by using violence….. “(3)

Then what is Bapuji’s real view on Ahimsa? Loosely translated in English as Non-violence?

The above lines are perfectly in synchronization with Mahatma Gandhi’s ideal Lord Sriram.

In Ramayana there is an incidence where Lord Ram had to kill Vali the monkey king. Lord Ram shoots Vali from hiding behind a tree. There was very interesting discussion that took place between Lord Ram and Vali. Basically Lord Ram says that there are two laws, one is civil law and the other is animal law.
tvam raajaa bharata bhava svayam naraaNaam |

vanyaanaam aham api raaja raaNmR^igaaNaam ||

Valmiki Ramayana Ayodhya Kanda II, 1-674-17

Lord Rama said ‘Bharata, you become the king of humans (Civil Law), and I shall be the king of forest-beings…(Animal Law)”

Under Civil law if a human gets cheated by another human the victim can go to court and seek justice. Justice will be served.

But in Animal law such a thing as justice to the victim is not possible! Only a king with what-ever means and using brute-force if necessary can uphold the animal law.

In jungle the Deer gets hunted down by the Tiger. The Deer can only run away as fast as it can. It can’t go to court to complain. Only a warrior who took pity on the Deer can take up an arrow and shoot the hunting Tiger down. But that is injustice because hunting and eating Deer is Tiger’s birth right! Therefore Tigers or wild animals should never be reasoned with. It can be hunted down in anyway using any means possible – therefore the act of killing Vali while hiding behind the tree is perfectly justified. But Vali argues back saying he is not an animal but a monkey king and as such should be treated as a human.

नमेतत्रमनस्तापोनमन्युःहरिपुंगव|

वागुराभिःचपाशैःचकूटैःचविविधैःनराः|| ४-१८-३७

प्रतिच्छन्नाःचदृश्याःचगृह्णन्तिसुबहून्मृगान्|

Lord Rama said “I have neither angst nor ire in this matter of my eliminating you, or, your reviling me, oh, best monkey, but listen to the other point I wish to make clear. People will be capturing several animals, either covertly or overtly, with snares, springes and even with numerous contrivances. [Valmiki Ramayana 4-18-37, 38a]

Wise-men say that Humans are in their nature animals ‘pashubhi naranamam’ but it is the intellect which separates a human from an animal. A human who lost his intellect is equal to animal. By abducting his own brother’s wife – Vali has committed a grave sin, more over Vali dethroned his own brother and occupied his kingdom. These vile acts of Vali can be justified only among animal law because animals can behave whichever way they want. The acts of Vali such as ‘abducting brother’s wife etc’ are acts of animals. Vali essentially became an animal. Therefore Lord Rama argues that Vali deserved to die as per animal law. That is the reason Lord Rama killed Vali the way a king would kill any wild animal – using brute and cunning force if necessary. Thus the act of shooting down Vali by hiding behind a tree was perfectly justified…”

प्रधावितान्वावित्रस्तान्विस्रब्धान्अतिविष्ठितान्|| ४-१८-३८

प्रमत्तान्अप्रमत्तान्वानरामांसअशिनोभृशम्|

विध्यन्तिविमुखाम्चअपिनचदोषोअत्रविद्यते|| ४-१८-३९

“Meat eating people will undeniably kill animals, either they are speedily sprinting or standing steadily, fully dismayed or undismayed, vigilant or unvigilant, and even if they are facing away, in that there is no sacrilege. [Valmiki Ramayana 4-18-38b, 39]

यान्तिराजर्षयःचअत्रमृगयाम्धर्मकोविदाः|

तस्मात्त्वम्निहतोयुद्धेमयाबाणेनवानर|

अयुध्यन्प्रतियुध्यन्वायस्मात्शाखामृगोहिअसि|| ४-१८-४०

“In this world even the kingly sages well-versed in virtue will go on hunting, and hunting is no face to face game, as such, oh, vanara, therefore I felled you in combat with my arrow because you are a tree-branch animal, whether you are not combating with me or combating against me. [Valmiki Ramayana 4-18-40]

I hope the above explanation gives you a glimpse in to what Hindus consider as Ahimsa. It means Hindus may acting to be violent for self-defence purpose “The day anyone behaves like animal he would be swiftly dealt like how Lord Rama dealt with Vali under animal law.”

In my humble opinion, Bapuji knew this Ramayana scripture very well. That is why he approved violence against rabid Dogs, but he believed British are human with values. Bapu believed that British can be reasoned with. Therefore he adapted ahimsa method against them. There are other reasons as well why Bapu used ahimsa as a tool. But this Bapu’s Ahimsa is clearly a Hindu tool, it should not be mistaken for pacifism.

Bapuji believed humans are capable of having this kind of social law. Bapuji wrote: “And then under Swaraj you and I shall have a disciplined intelligent educated police force that would keep order within and fight raiders from without, if by that time I or someone else does not show a better way of dealing with either.” –

For your kind information Ahimsa word used in Gita at the following places. Bapu followed it by its spirit to bring freedom to India.

buddhir jnanam asammohah ksama satyam damah samah sukham duhkham bhavo ’bhavo bhayam cabhayam eva ca ahimsa samata tustis tapo danam yaso ’yasah bhavanti bhava bhutanam matta eva prithag-vidhah Gita 10.4-5

amanitvam adambhitvam ahimsa ksantir arjavam acaryopasanam shaucam sthairyam atma-vinigrahah Gita 13.8

ahimsa satyam akrodhas tyagah shantir apaisunam daya bhutesv aloluptvam mardavam hrir acapalam Gita 16.2

deva-dvija-guru-prajna- pujanam shaucam arjavam brahmacaryam ahimsa ca sariram tapa ucyate Gita 17.4

—————————-

Young India: June 10, 1921
Young India 1926
Selected Writings of MAHATMA GANDHI – Selected and introduced by RONALD DUNCAN – Published by Faber and Faber Limited, 24 Russell Squary, London

27 Jul

As I think: Perhaps humans forgot about their original nature

by Madhava in In English Language, As I Think, In English Language, సుభాషితం

తెలుగుభాషలోని వ్యాసం కోసం ఈ ఇంగ్లీషువ్యాసం క్ర్రింద చూడండి.
As I think: (A mother killed her 3 year old little boy in UK)….– In nature Papa Bear goes out to hunt and bring back food while mummy Bear fiercely protects her cubs guarding the entrance of the cave. We know the living rules of most of the animals – we know how all animals eat, roam, sleep and communicate. But we don’t really know about the natural habits of Human-animal! A Human-animal can swim like a fish, hunt like a Tiger, be cunning like a crow etc etc… But all these are adaptive habits…The sad truth is that Human-animal forgot how he used to live… That is why the world is in so much conflict. It is in so much pain… Human mummy-bear is supposed to be gentle, loving and caring towards her human-cubs… Yet she had beaten her cub to death in rage.. And she lied like a fox, tried to deceive other humans like a Hyena…..It is not just her, unfortunately there are countless human-animals who forgot their natural mode of living they express adaptive modes which create tension. They have no peace in themselves… How can the world be peaceful when it is getting inhabited more and more such Human-animals with adaptive behaviours, zombies and vampires! .It is irresponsibility of vampires to allow that Mom to breed five different cubs from five different mating partners.. It is irresponsibility to let her live on welfare… And sadly no sensible Human is allowed to teach moral and ethical values. Because Zombies and Vampires don’t like any such.. It pains me to see that Human-animal the only species who is hopelessly lost in this universe… –Madhava Turumella

[నా ఆలోచన: ] (ఇంగ్లండులో ఒక తల్లి తన మూడేళ్ల పసిబిడ్డని నిర్దాక్షిణ్యంగా కొట్టి కొట్టి చంపేసింది)… మీరు ప్రకృతిని గమనించండి… తండ్రి ఎలుగుబంటి వేటాడి తిండిసంపాదించి తెచ్చేందుకోసం బయటకు అడవిలోకి వెళ్తుంది. తల్లి ఎలుగుబంటి తన పిల్లలను చాలా తీవ్రమైన ప్రేమానుభూతులతో కాపాడుతూ గుహద్వారాన్ని కాపలాకాస్తుంది… ఎలుగుబంట్లలో తల్లికి తండ్రికి తమ బాధ్యత ఏంటో తెలుసు… వాటిని ఎలా నిర్వర్తించాలో తెలుసు… “నేను ఫెమినిష్టుని, లేదా నాకు స్త్రీహక్కు ఉంది, కాబట్టి నేనెందుకు పిల్లల్నికాపాడాలి… నీవే పిల్లల్ని కాపాడు నేను పోయివేట పట్టుకొస్తాను అంటూ ఎలుగుబంటి తల్లితడ్రులు తమలో తాము దెబ్బలాడుకోవు… తమ గుహలో తాము అశాంతిని కలుగజేసుకోవు… వాటికి ప్రకృతిపరంగా ఎదురయే ఇబ్బందులేతప్ప మానసికంగా ముఖ్యంగా హక్కులు బాధ్యతలవల్ల అశాంతి కలిగే ఆస్కారమేలేదు…. ఆలోచించండి.. నిజానికి మీరు ప్రకృతిని గమనించండి, ప్రతి జంతువూ తమ తమ పరిధుల్లో ప్రవర్తించడం మనకు స్పష్టంగా కనిపిస్తుంది.. వాటి ప్రవర్తనలో మనకు ఆత్మన్యూనత కనబడదు.. పైగా మనకు దాదాపుగా అన్ని జంతువులగురించి అవి ఎలా ప్రవర్తిస్తాయి, ఏం తింటాయి, ఎలా పడుకుంటాయి ఇటువంటి వివరాలన్నీ మనకు తెలుసు.

కానీ సత్యం ఏంటంటే మనకు మానవ-జంతువుయొక్క నిజమైన ప్రవర్తన ఏంటి అనేదే మనకు తెలియదు!!… దురదృష్టం ఏంటంటే మనం మర్చిపోయాము. మానవుడు చేపలాగా ఈదగలడు, పులిలాగా వేటాడగలడు, నక్కలాగా జిత్తులమారిగా ప్రవర్తించగలడు , పాములాగా కాటేయగలడు, దుమ్ములగొండిలాగా క్రూరతప్రవర్తించగలడు…. మానవుడికి ఇవన్నీ తెలుసు…
… అన్నీ చేస్తాడు… కానీ ఇవన్నీ మిగిలిన జంతువులను అనుకరించే ప్రయత్నాలు మాత్రమే! వాటినుండి నేర్చుకున్నాడేగానీ మానవజంతువు తనయొక్క అసలైన ప్రవర్తన ఏంటి అనేది మర్చిపోయాడు. మానవజంతుతల్లి సహజప్రవర్తన ఏంటి? మానవజంతుతండ్రి సహజమైన ప్రవర్తన ఏంటి? మానవజంతువులు సమూహంగా గడ్డిమేస్తూ ఉంటేవా లేక విడివిడిగా బ్రతికేవా? ఒకదాన్ని ఒకటి మీర్కట్ లలాగా ప్రేమించేవా లేక హైనాలలాగా ద్వేషించేవా? చీమలలాగా తేనెటీగలలాగా తమతమ ధర్మాలను పాటించేవా లేక కలహించేవా? మానవజంతువులు తమ నిజమైన మృగచేతస్సులో ఒకప్పుడు ఎలా ప్రవర్తిస్తూ ఉండేవి?! ఈ సమాచారం మనవద్ద లేదు… అదీ దురదృష్టం… ఇలా తన ప్రవర్తన మర్చిపోయినందువల్లే మనిషి ఆత్మన్యూనతకు లోనవుతాడు… తప్పొప్పులగురించి అవసరమైన దానికంటే ఎక్కువగా ఆలోచిస్తాడు… ఇందువల్లే మానవజంతువు అశాంతికి గురవుతున్నాడు… మానవజంతుతల్లి పిల్లలలను కంటుంది, పాలిచ్చి పోషిస్తుంది, ప్రేమిస్తుంది… దానివల్ల మానవజంతుతల్లి పొందేది ఏదీలేదు… అసలు ఆ స్వార్ధపూరితమైన ఆలోచన చేయడంగూడా అనవసరమే! కానీ ఈ మానవజంతుతల్లి అనేకమంది వ్యక్తులతో స్వేఛ్ఛగా రతిచేసి వారిలో ఐదుగురు విడి వ్యక్తులతో ఐదుగురు బిడ్డలను కని వాటిలోని ఒక బిడ్డను నిర్దాక్షిణ్యంగా కొట్టిచంపుతున్నప్పుడు తోటి మానవజంతువులు ఏంచేస్తాయి? చేతులుకాలినతర్వాత ఆకులుపట్టుకుంటున్నాయి… అసలు సమస్య అంతదూరం వెళ్లకుండా చూడాల్సిన తోటి జంతువులు తమ జంతుధర్మాన్ని మర్చిపోతున్నాయి. దర్మప్రబోధములను నీతులను పక్కనబెట్టి మానవహక్కులగురించి వక్రభాష్యాలు చేస్తున్నాయి.. హక్కులనుగూర్చి చెప్పే ముందు బాధ్యత అంటే ’జంతుపరంగా’ ఏంటో మర్చిపోయాయి… . దీన్నే నేను దురదృష్టం అంటున్నాను… బహుశా ఈ సృష్టిలో మానవజంతువులంత దారితప్పి తమను తాము మర్చిపోయిన జంతుసమూహం ఇంకొకటి లేదేమో!…. -మాధవ తురుమెళ్ల

25 Jul

As I think: Quantum superposition vs Hindu (Vedic) superposition

by Madhava in In English Language, As I Think, Hinduism

As I think: I am not a scientist I am least qualified to claim to be one. Nor I have answers to the universe. I don’t have answer to any suffering…. I am not a Guru… I have no greatness… I only have thoughts which I am eager to share with you. So please forgive my occasional ramblings..

In Quantum mechanics there is a concept called Quantum superposition. It means ‘every electron in the universe could be the exact same one’! Anyways coming back to Hinduism… Personally I feel that electron is like Lord Krishna appearing everywhere at the same time with thousands of gopis during raslila.. …”Madhavam Madhavaa namtare gopika, gopikaa gopikaanamtare Madhavam”(Srimad Bhagawatam)….

You could be everywhere here and now…. I think when a probability is expressed as “Consciousness” (Chaitanya) the information necessary to describe the current moment (sat) or our thinking of understanding (chit) is also what embodies the time (kala)… That pure awareness of being here and now results only in ananda… Because there is no reason to feel sad about… There is no limited awareness to the self… As I feel it — it is universally aware… (ajah[unborn]; nityah [eternal]; sasvatah[permanent] Gita 2.20) …. It is all-pervading, all connected. Human frailty is simply in it’s imagination of its own limitation. I am not away from you… Our Hindu Rishis said that It is impossible for me be separate from you…. You and I are one… ADVAITA…. It is “Quantum Superposition”…

By disconnecting from the Vaidika tribal identity and culture, modern day Hindus are creating cognitive dissonance in their lives. As a result of this internal conflict and clash they loose more than ever…. Our dharma is to have Sraddha (faith) that our Vedas can’t be wrong… That which I don’t understan today can be explained tomorrow…. Sorry If I am confusing you… but my language fails me… I can’t express what I feel in any known language to myself… The future is the past…..past is present… present is future… We think our present becomes past… i.e. if I did something at 8pm at 9pm the act that I did at 8pm becomes past… But in Advaita there is no 9pm nor there is any 8pm…

You are ever present with out past, present or future… You are like the centre of a circle — past, present and future are circling around you in the gravity of your consciousness… Sage of Kanchi Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswaty Swamy was able to see future events (Prediction power- siddhi)…. This is possible because there is no such thing called future as we understand from our realms… (Sa paryagat sukram akayam avranam asnaviram suddham apapa viddam.. Kavir manishi paribhu swayambhuh)……. You are time.. You are that awareness.. You are eternal… You are cosmic whole… You are homogeneous mass of conciousness… You are here and now… YOU ARE THAT…. The future becomes past; past comes to present; present is what remains to he whose presence is awakened to that state of consciousness — what I see it as “THE HINDU SUPER POSITION” as I said sorry for confusing you… Love, Madhava Turumella

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otDJOCh4h2Y

Superposition is a principle of quantum theory that describes a challenging concept about the nature and behavior of matter and forces at the sub-atomic level. The principle of superposition claims that while we do not know what the state of any object is, it is actually in all possible states simultaneously, as long as we don’t look to check. It is the measurement itself that causes the object to be limited to a single possibility. http:///whatis.techtarget.com/definition/superposition

19 Jul

As I think – UK Labour Party and socialism

by Madhava in In English Language, As I Think, In English Language, In English Language, India Politics

ROFL! I just saw a paid advertisement by Labour Party about NHS saying that it has delivered 4 million babies. It is amusing because, it sounds as if the human world did not deliver babies before the arrival of NHS. Baby delivery/birthing is a natural phenomenon – no NHS is necessary to pamper humans for baby delivery. What is happening in reality is that in the name of NHS the socialists helped set-up huge pharmaceutical companies profit. i.e. they helped the very imaginative devil they thought they are up against! Who is paying for NHS?! Me the tax payer. I confess, I am not against people who support Socialism. I have a lot of socialist friends. I understand all humans have their flaws. But I am only against the ideology.

I feel that we are missing the bigger picture of our lives as humans, our place on this planet earth our place in the nature… Socialism firmly believes in one life theory. Though they don’t explicitly say such a thing that they believe in one life theory, their ideology allows humans to heavily depend on a welfare state – a big state which can totally fail during the times of human calamity and personal trauma.

Every human should take responsibility for his own life. The law of Karma which is embedded in Buddhist, Jain and Hindu philosophies say that beings take birth again and again. Each life gives us a unique opportunity to learn lessons. Gratitude is one of those lessons. But Socialism because of its clinical execution of welfare – removes the word “gratitude” from the book of the welfare recipient. As I see it – Socialist State becomes a wall between the person who is donating the money (tax) and the person who is receiving it… The tax payer and the welfare dependant never face each other! As a direct result welfare recipients become psychologically unaware of the fact that the tax payer had to work very hard to pay his tax!!

I think in Socialism the word donation does not exist. As a result majority of the welfare dependent citizens never learn how to connect and be grateful. I know cases of welfare dependants who walk through the JobcentrePlus and violently demanded their money. There is cruel world out there. Nature is cruel. But beings are also blessed with a unique ability to be compassionate. But I think socialism makes otherwise healthy humans to become less compassionate and ruthless.

And that is why welfare recipients start demanding support for silly things from the Socialist state. Otherwise it makes no sense why NHS had to pay almost £5000 tax payers money for breast enlargements for a girl! That is encouraging artificial lifestyle. She can get her enlargements done with her own money. But not my money – tax payers money. I think by encouraging artificial lifestyles socialism denies citizens a choice of personal reflection and learning. Given a choice I would not allow NHS to do such silly things with my money. I would not allow government to do silly things with my money at all! But unfortunately this is the real problem with a big-brother-Socialist-welfare state. The state snatches away hard-working citizens money with brute force, and it decides where to spend that money. Unfortunately it spends tax payers money on all sorts of silly things… Socialists twist my arm and make me pay for things which are against my ethical/moral values, which are against my religious beliefs. And that is my problem with Socialism.. I hope one day all humans collectively wake up from this bad socialist dream of utopia and take responsibility for their own personal lives. I hope one day they stop sleep walking towards their destuction. -Madhava Turumella

16 Jul

As I think: UK NHS is not fit for purpose – It is socialism

by Madhava in In English Language, As I Think, In English Language

UK NHS is not fit for purpose! I agree! I may have used NHS only five times during the last ten years. I have been paying private medical insurance for my family. I am not a socialist. I sincerely think that NHS gives false hopes to people! It makes people hopelessly dependent on Big-state welfare! It allows people to have unhealthy expectations. It encourages people to over eat, over drink, over indulge in many things; in the end people ruin their body because of their hedonistic habits. I am fine with people over eating, drinking or indulging in hedonism. It is their life and they have every reason to live the way they want. But honestly – think of it – who is in the end who is paying for others indulgence?! “ME – the honest hard working tax payer”…

What I don’t expect, or I don’t wish to do is to pay through my nose Taxes and encourage others to ruin their life!! I saw many times A&E gets swamped by the binge drinkers! I wonder why I should pay my tax for the binge drinkers?! Let them drink and let them pay for their life style.

Things such as “YOGA”, “sama dama and titiksha”, “taking care of what you eat in moderation” are good. People who maintain healthy lifestyle pay through their nose for the people who overeat and become obese! That is socialism and liberalism.. They are only out there to punish and rob the honest hard working people! They suck the blood of the honest tax payer like vampires to feed their overindulging hopelessly dependant vote bank.

I want only minimum welfare state. I want a state which only helps the really vulnerable people. As long as socialists and liberals keep giving assurances to citizens that they are there to take responsibility for the unhealthy lifestyles, it is not going to work!

Either humanity undergoes huge shift in their mindset and take responsibility for their actions, or become hopeless dependants on socialist state and perish… Choice is ours!

-Madhava Turumella

15 Jul

My opinion: It is OK for Hindus to say yes to “Assisted death”

by Madhava in సుభాషితం

Personally I think Hinduism is not against “Assisted death”! Hindus believe in rebirth/reincarnation. But that is different from Buddhist/Jain Karma Siddhanta which causes in the belief of a certain definite previous birth. Often even Hindu faith followers quote Karma Siddhanta as understood by Buddhists/Jains and say that you have to suffer your karma. There was an inherit assumption that the being (soul) is suffering because of karma performed in previous birth. And if the being abruptly ends his life then he will take birth again to suffer further!

But in my humble opinion, this assumption is not correct. Hindus do not apply Karma siddhanta in this context to justify suffering. Hindus position is that no being deserves unnecessary suffering. Even though we Hindus agree that beings take birth, we don’t agree that there was definitely a previous birth! It may be or may not be! Which means this very birth may be your first birth! If we agree that we have rebirth then logically there should be a beginning birth… i.e. You should have taken your first birth at some point! So that first birth could be this birth itself! That is why our Seers say that you are suffering because of no reason what so ever. Your identification alone makes you suffer – not your “prarabdha karma”… It is “avidya” (not knowing the nature of your true self) which makes you suffer. “Your true self is not your physical body! You are different than your body!” is the teaching of our Hindu Seers.

Also Sri Gaudapadacharya in his doctrine of Ajatavada says that the “Absolute is not subject to birth, change and death. The Absolute is aja, the unborn eternal” — Therefore that which never took birth can not undergo death!We Hindus recognize two levels of suffering:

(1) Suffering at the Physical body level (sthula sarira)
(2) Suffering at the Mental level (Sukshsma and Karana Sarira)The level 1 suffering is what can be considered as “Vehicular suffering”. The physical body is understood as a vehicle for Atman (soul).

Let us Imagine you are travelling in a car and it got all flat tyres, or it’s engine is broken down. What will you do under those circumstances?! You will voluntarily leave your vehicle and travel further in a new vehicle. It is your wilful decision to leave your vehicle. Perhaps your entire vehicle is not broken down but just one tyre got punctured. You will change the tyre and continue your journey further.

atmanam rathinam viddhi sariram ratham eva ca
buddhim tu sarathim viddhi manah pragraham eva ca
indriyani hayan ahur visayams tesu gocaran
atmendriya-mano-yuktam bhoktety ahur manisinah

“The individual is the passenger in the car of the material body, and intelligence is the driver. Mind is the driving instrument, and the senses are the horses. The self is thus the enjoyer or sufferer in the association of the mind and senses. So it is understood by great thinkers.”

Our Physical body is like such a vehicle. It can break down. It breaks down inevitably at some point in future time. Also it may become unworthy for any further travel. We need not give more importance to the physical body than what is given to a vehicle we own. Therefore it is perfectly OK to give up the body when our body becomes uncooperative.

The decision about the body is always in the hands of the owner (Atman). For example, when someone is suffering from terrible appendicitis pain they get operation done to remove it – to get rid of the pain We must apply this learning to the entire human body. ..What if the whole body is paining? What should the Atman (owner of the physical body) do?! There is a reason for pain in the body. Pain is a signal asking the vehicle owner (atman) to do something about it. The Atman (soul) may decide to take pain killers, but in the end he may have to eventually walk out of the body. It is in this context, when the pain becomes unbearable, I think it is OK the individual to decide for himself. It is his life and his pain.

Instead of allowing the vehicle owner to get out of his broken vehicle, what if we lock the doors and forcedly keep him confined in his vehicle? How terrible he would feel?! How helpless he would feel?! Our relatives who may be undergoing terrible suffering from their physical body may be begging us to allow them to get out of their broken vehicle, but we are only inflicting further misery on them by forcedly confining them in their broken vehicle. By doing so perhaps we are attracting further Karma towards ourselves?! i.e. we are committing an error in judgement in karma.In Mahabharata we know the story of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari ending their life at the old age. Those who practise Yoga can voluntarily walk out of their bodies. Swamy Ramatirdha left his body in a water. Swamy Vivekananda died quite young in a YogaAsana. .

So does this mean Hindus permit suicide?! Absolutely NOT!!As I said there are two levels of suffering. The second level of suffering we recognize is entirely subjective and related to Atman. Suffering at the mental level, depressions and mental imaginations, losses etc., our Hindu scriptures are strictly against ending life for mental reasons they called it “Atmahana”

asuryAnAmatE lOkAH aMdhEna tamasAvRutAH

tAMstE prEtyABi gaccaMti EkEcAtmahanO janAH – SuklayajurvEda – Easavasya Upanishad Sloka 3

There are worlds called “asurya” full of darkness. Those who kill themselves for selfish reasons ‘atma hana’ go there. Committing suicide for mental level disturbances is strictly forbidden. Because such suffering is only assumed and purely imaginary. Imagine someone assumes that his Employer is going to remove him from job. He might feel depressed, may try to commit suicide. But what if his assumption is totally wrong? what if his assumption is totally wrong?! Therefore there is always time to get clarification. So Hinduism does not permit people to take hasty decisions in the context mental sufferings. Therefore suicide for mental reasons is a big NO.. Also this is one of the reasons Hindus believe in vijigisha sanyasa. You are permitted to renounce your life, give up your profession, change your name, do your own kriyakarma (funeral rites) and become a monk. Such Sanyasa will give relief from the mental suffering. Arjuna wished for this type of Sanyasa in Bhgawad Gita. “SrEyO bhOktuM bhaikShyaM api iha lOke” – Gita 2.5Therefore I strongly believe if the Jiva (soul / atman) want to leave his vehicle because it has broken down and it is unrepairable then it is perfectly all right to allow him to take a decision to let go of his vehicle. Because in reality he is not dying but he is switching the vehicles! It is their body their pain, if they want to go LET THEM GO in peace and wish them Bon Voyage….The duty of a relative is to respect the wish of his relative – Valmiki Ramayana

There are too many instances of great men giving up their body in many scriptures. for Instance in Ramayana, both Rama and Lakshmana gave up their bodies.

sa gatvaa sarayoo teeram upaspruSya kritaamjalih |
nirguhya sarva strotraaMsi niH SvaasaM na mumEvaca ||
Valimiki Ramayan – Uttarakanda 106.15
[Lakshmana] Having reached the banks of Sarayu, he performed ablutions, restraining all senses, held his breathe [thus dying to this world and ascending to heaven]

But before Lakshmana decided to give up his life he took permission from Lord Srirama. Though Srirama initially did not agree but Brahmashi Vashistha ji and other great sages tell Sriramji to allow Lakshmana to pass away!

Vashitaji said these words to Rama:

“Leave him (Lakshmana). Time (Death) is in deed too powerful, do not give up your promise, for it being given up, righteousness will perish” Valimiki Ramayan – Uttarakanda 106.9

So here we have an example from our Srimad Ramayan where The brother Rama (relative) is allowing his relative to follow his right to choose willing death! So our scriptures can’t be more explicit than this!

Rama was distraught to let go Lakshmana, but yet he respected Lakshmana’s wish to die and let him die!
Love,
Madhava TurumellaP.S: Founder of “Hinduism Today” Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami passed away in the year 2001. He refused treatment.

A spokesperson for the ashram said the Hindu master discovered on October 9 that he had advanced intestinal cancer. Three medical teams of radiologists and oncologists in Hawaii, Washington State and California all concurred that even the most aggressive treatment regimens would not prove effective, and estimated he had just a few months to live. Consequently, Subramuniyaswami declined any treatment beyond palliative measures, and made the decision to follow the Indian yogic practice, called Prayopavesa in Sanskrit scripture, to abstain from nourishment and take water only from that day on. He died on the 32nd day of his self-declared fast, passing on quietly at 11:54 pm on November 12, 2001, surrounded by his 23 monastics.

Please see I am giving below his view:

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