THE STORY OF BRAHMIN SHATANAND IN SATYANARAYAN KATHA.

We already know that this katha was narrated by Vishnu ji to Narad Muni. So once a Brahmin named Shatanand, who lived in Kashi, went out to gather Bhiksha for his son Kaltraadi. Shatanand was an ardent devotee of Vishnu ji.

IMPORTANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF GARUDA PURAN.

On the request of Garud, Bhagwan Vishnu, the rider of Garud, described this Puran based in Taksharya Kalp. It has ninteen thousand shlokas.
This book begins with a question and goes on to describe the Shrishti.

Then it describes the Surya puja vidhi, Diksha, Shradha, Nav vyuh puja, Vishnu sahastra naam kirtan and dhyan, Yog, Mrityunjay puja,Mala mantra, Shivarcha, Gopal puja, Trailikya mohan Shridhar puja, Vishnuarcha, Devpuja, Sandhya, Pancham tattva, Durga and Chakra Archana,

Maheshwar puja, Pavitra ropan puja, Murti dhyan, Vaastu maan, Prasaad, Sarvdev pratishtha, Ashtaang Yog, Daan dharm, Prayaschit, Narak description, Chakravyuh, Jyotish, Samudra shastra, Swar gyan, Tirth, Importance of Gaya, Different Manvantars, Pittra's, Varna dharma,

Dravya shudhhi, Samarpan, Vinayak puja, Grah yagya, Ashram, Shouch, Pret shudhi, Niti Shashtra, Vrat katha, Som and Surya vansh, Hari vansh, Bharat akhyan, Ayurveda, Medicine in Ayurveda, Rog nashak kavach, Garud Kavach, Traipur mantra, Prashna, difficulties in vyakaran,

Chhand shastra, Discipline, Snan Vidhi Tarpan, Bali Vaishvadev, Pavarna Karma, Sapindan, Dharmasar, Repentence of sins, Prati sankraman, Karmafal, Yug dharm, Vishnu bhakti, Method of Namaskaar to Hari, Narsingh strotras, Gyanamrit, Vishnuarchan strotras, Principles of Sankhya,

LIST OF GOOD OMEN(शकुन) & BAD OMEN(अपशकुन)

While setting on a journey seeing a white cloth, clear sky, fruit laden tree,field full of crops, clear water, and black grains is a bad omen. While going to fight a war the following things prove to be a bad Omen- cotton,

cowdung mixed with grass twigs, house, wealth, fire, naked sadhu with oil over his body, marsh, leather,hair, insane person, eunuch, pregnant lady, widow, death, ash, skull, bones and broken vessel. A weird sound of eagle is not a good omen.

If you hear the words " go away" from front , then it is a good omen but hearing it from back is ashubh. The single word 'go' when heard from back is good but when heard from front is bad. "Wait, do not go, it is fruitless to go there, when you hear this,

then be sure that something evil may happen. It is a pointer to your impending death if you see a vulture sitting atop a flag, a elephant or a horse falling, head injury and torn clothes. During such times worship Shri Vishnu.

If you see the same signs second time, it is better to return home.

While travelling, seeing a white flower is a good omen and even a pot filled with water is a good omen. Amongst good omens are meat, fish, distant sound of birds, lighted fire, gold, silver, sword, sheep, cow,

Muslim thought in India can be thought of as having two lineages

1. Islamic puritanism

Lineage : Sirhindi -> Shāh Walīullāh ->Syed Ahmad Barelvi, Deobandi movement, Maulana Azad -> Jamaat e Islami

2. Muslim nationalism

Syed Ahmed Khan ->Jinnah, Iqbal - > Ayub Khan/Musharraf

The former originated largely as a religious movement.

It has its origins in Sirhindi, who voiced the view in 16th cen, that Akbar's policy was "Indianizing" Islam too much

Too much of Din-e-ilahi crap.

Let's keep Islam pure

That lineage continues in the thinking of 18th cen theologian Shah Waliullah , the Delhi based Islamic scholar who lived b/w 1703 and 1762

Waliullah like Sirhindi emphasized segregation/purity
and loyalty to the Ummah (the global Islamic whole)

Not to South Asian muslims per se

Waliullah once said

"Muslims, no matter where they live, they should be completely separated from the natives of that country in their culture, traditions and mannerisms. And wherever they are, they must be immersed in their Arabic splendor and Arabic trends”

This line of thinking continues in two 19th cen movements-

That of Syed Barelvi - who fought valiantly against Sikh rule in Punjab at Balakot

And that of the Deobandis in late 19th cen

#Ramayana #LecturesOnTheRamayana

In today's thread and perhaps some subsequent threads, we will start looking into Rama as a person. The author clearly tries to bring out the human aspect of Rama captured beautifully in some of the verses.

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Please note, the discussion is NEVER challenging the supreme divinity of the person, but tries to capture the nuances or the finer points of the Bhagwan.

Sri Rama had extra-ordinary merit - Unequalled, Unmatched merit. He always remained at his own highest level.

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He seldom fell below it at times, wherein one can spot the conditions that led to the decline. In these conditions, he did & said things that his own higher nature would never approve.

Sri Rama was indeed the guardian and embodiment in himself of Dharma.

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Some incidents bring out the very best in him where he is able to uphold his own moral ideal.

For ex, when Vibhishina sought asylum, he held a council of war with all eminent counsellors. Except Hanuman whose advice was considered weak, rest all including Lakshmana ..

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recommended him to reject Vibhishina, with a few even ordering killing him.

He listened to this charged conversation (a skill where we humans utterly lack today) & said the famous words:
" No man shall seek my protection in vain. No matter who, how undeserving, how wicked..

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