Baba
Proper manner: sastaunga pranam
Namaskar,
The practice of sastaunga pranam is performed by every sincere sadhaka on a daily basis. It is a vital aspect of our bhakti-cum-spiritual practices. And it is a time when we interact with Guru directly. So it is an extremely important mudra. Unfortunately, some are doing this in the wrong manner. Here first we examine Sadguru Baba’s eternal guideline.
Ananda Marga ideology states, “The human body is composed of eight main parts and is thus called aśt́auṋga. Prostration is called saśt́auṋga prańáma. …. Of the five sensory organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin), one, the skin, can be omitted, and of the five motor organs (vocal cord, hands, legs, excretory and genital organ), one, the vocal cord can be omitted. This leaves the eight constituent parts. And the prostration made with these eight body-parts is called saśt́auṋga pranama.” (1)
Unfortunately, some are doing sastaunga pranam in the wrong way. To clarify this and bring all on the right path, we should look at the history.
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Extend arms & place hands on Baba’s feet
When Sadguru Baba started Ananda Marga in the Jamalpur days, He used to allow disciples to touch His feet during sastaunga pranam. Baba would sit on the cot and have His legs hang below so His feet were on the ground. That time margiis used to do sastaunga pranam by extending their arms and placing their hands on Baba’s feet. It was His causeless grace, as touching His feet in sastaunga pranam has great spiritual benefit.
Later on, when the number of margiis increased this tradition of physically touching Guru’s feet became rare. But it continued in its own way. On select occasions, when He granted permission then sadhakas could touch His feet, otherwise not.
As we know, Guru is ever-present so regardless of one’s location, His disciples are blessed to be able to do sastaunga pranam. One visualises and ideates that, “Guru is sitting before me and I am touching His feet with both hands.” And in this blessed stance of surrender, the palms are flat, facing down, and the sadhaka has the ideation of touching His feet with both hands.
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Dogma #1: hands together as in namaskar
Some, who do not understand, started spreading the dogma that while lying in sastaunga pranama one should place the hands together as in namaskar. But that is the wrong approach. Sadhakas should wholly avoid that pitfall. Remember, the palms should be open and facing downward to touch His feet.
Sastaunga pranam means the 8-limbed pranam, and to do this properly the arms must be fully lengthened with the palms facing downward to touch His feet.
Furthermore, as every sadhaka knows, the place of the mind is the ajina cakra. So when touching the forehead to the earth in this mudra the feeling of surrender arises. And when doing sastaunga pranam one should ideate that they are touching Guru’s feet and surrendering their mind fully unto Him.
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Dogma #2: elbows bent with palms together
Another dogma related with sastaunga pranam is that some do not extend the arms fully, rather they keep the elbows bent with the palms together. Actually this is a double dogma. Firstly, because the hands should be separated with the palms downward, as previously noted. And second because in sastaunga pranama the entire body should be straight like one metal rod. No part of the body should be bent. From toes to fingertips the body should be fully lengthened. That denotes one’s simplicity and full surrender to Guru. Thus if anyone is keeping the elbows bent that is wrong. It is a second dogma related with sastaunga pranam. To avoid this double dogma, one should ensure that when doing sastaunga pranam they are situated in such a way that there is ample space to extend their body fully with the palms downward to touch His feet.
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Conclusion
That is how to do this salutation of full prostration whereby one is touching Guru’s feet. In this stance of surrender, Guru always responds always. So one should try to hear His divine blessing of kalyanamastu. With due reverence and a pointed mind, one will hear Guru giving His blessing. Otherwise sastaunga pranam is not complete.
Finally, as we know, Guru is everywhere and always with you, so any sadhaka can do sastaunga pranam anytime, any place.
Namaskar,
in Him,
Samarpan Deva
~ In-depth study ~
Sas't'aunga pranam is only done to Guru, not to anyone else.
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "Sáśt́áunga prańáma: Sáśt́áunga prańáma is a symbol of simplicity. It is to be done only to Márga Guru. It signifies surrender to the ideology." (2)
Here following is the etymological meaning of the term sas't'aunga.
sa + as't'a + unga = sas't'aunga
(with) (eight) (parts) = with eight parts
As Baba tells, "the prostration made with these eight body-parts is called sas't'aunga pranama." (3)
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "Women can do salutation by touching the ground with the forehead instead of full prostration." (4)
Where wrong sastaunga pranam is prevalent
Unfortunately, in our Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha, the above discussed mistake is prevalent in the eastern part of India.
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References
1. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell part 6, Ekendriya – 5
2. Caryacarya, Part 1, Methods of Salutation
3. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell part 6, Ekendriya – 5
4. Caryacarya, Part 1, Methods of Salutation
* * *
The below section is an entirely different topic, unrelated to the above material.
It stands on its own merit as a point of interest and ideological awareness.
* * *
== Section 2: Important Teaching ==
Place of sahasrára cakra
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Every cell has a controlling point. The controlling point of all the controlling points of all the cells is the Guru cakra – the common controlling point. The sahasrára cakra is the psychological name and the Guru cakra is the physical name. The sahasrára cakra has no corporal structure. Its spiritual location is on the outer portion of the cranium (the point is called Brahmarandhra). The Guru cakra is just inside the cranium and is the controlling point of all the controlling points of all the brain cells on the physical, psychic and spiritual planes." (1)
Reference
1. Yoga Psychology, Ideation and Meditation
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Middle East nations: designed for disaster
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Many people consider their temple to be the only sacred place of worship. But the funny thing is that the builders who construct temples are unholy people or untouchables, and are thus barred from entering their premises. Each religion has its own scriptures. Some scriptures are worshipped with such reverence that they are treated as deities. But the paper on which the scripture was written, and the printing and binding of the book were perhaps done by people of other religions. But once the book is complete it is transformed into a holy scripture and those who made it will not have the right to even touch it. In fact, not only the holy scriptures, but all books are considered as a symbol of the goddess of learning. To pay obeisance to the book by repeatedly touching the forehead with it is a part of religious observance. Many people spend huge sums of money to make an idol of clay only to immerse it in a river with pomp and ceremony to conclude the religious festival. But if the people of other religions happen to break even a finger of that idol terrible bloodshed will ensue. Thus, those who advocate the formation of countries on the basis of religious faith will cause irreparable damage by fragmenting human society.”
“Human beings readily accept traditions without seeking the reasons behind them. Since ancient days the semitic people have been observing the practice of circumcision. Moses and Mohammed accepted this system which today has become tradition. The ancient Austrics used to worship the Sun. Their purpose was to please the Sun God and be blessed with heavy rainfall and bumper harvests. In the social system of the Austrics, women had a predominant role. Thus, in the system of worship and other religious ceremonies, the priest had no significant role. Even the Sun God was looked upon as a female deity and the Moon was a male God. The Sun God was addressed as “mother” and the worship done in her honour was called “Chat Puja”. Even today in Magadh Chat Puja is held twice a year during the harvest time. The sentiment of Chat Puja was so deeply rooted in Magadh that their system of worship is in vogue even today even after such tremendous Aryan, Buddhist and Moslem influence. Of course, in the external rituals of worship some changes have taken place, but the system of worship has not yet become extinct. Even the Moslems participate in the Chat Puja. In some areas they themselves organize the ritual and in other places they get the puja performed through the Hindus. This Chat Puja has now become a tradition. There was a time in Bengal when the Moslems used to worship Satyanáráyańa or the Oláicánd.”
“From the above discussion it is apparent that religions engender hatred for others, blind faith, etc. in the minds of their followers. Through such religions it is next to impossible to establish unity in the society. Religious differences should be minimized as much as possible, but it should be remembered that blind faith in a religion cannot be forcibly eliminated. To strike at any type of sentiment will only cause that sentiment to grow stronger. Psychological methods will have to be employed to make people realize the irrational nature of blind religious faith. This requires a rational interpretation of philosophy through enlightened intellect. When the human mind is gripped by the fear psychology it gives indulgence to blind faith rather than logic and reason. If human fear is removed through logic and reason, the very basis for blind faith will be weakened. That is why human beings will have to be taught philosophical doctrines in a rational way. Furthermore, to remove the psycho-sentiment for a particular physical object, either the object itself should be removed or, by changing the very outlook through scientific and humanitarian reasoning, the person concerned should be separated from that sentimental object. For example, those who perform religious ceremonies in worship of the moon will find it difficult to continue their practice once, due to scientific advancement, they actually get the opportunity to walk on the moon. Blind faith must be removed through the application of science and humanistic appeals. People will have to be united under the common banner of one religion.” (1)
Reference
1. A Few Problems Solved - 2, Human Society Is One and Indivisible – 2
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Motherhood issues
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Pregnant women and female animals may work half of what they usually do at other times; but under no circumstances should they be allowed to do strenuous work, as it may lead to premature delivery or stillbirth." (1)
Note 1: Unfortunately both in the east and in the west expectant women are often put in physically challenging and compromising situations. For instance, many expectant women who have career jobs in the US might work full-time right up until their delivery day. They are often compelled to work, either due to financial or professional pressures. In the many countries expectant women are often forced to engage in strenuous work throughout their pregnancy. These types of critical situations are neither healthy, nor sustainable, nor humane; yet they are pervasive around the globe. In comparison, women in economically wealthier families in the east, generally do not work and are less physically active during pregnancy.
Coerced to return to work
Systematic steps need to be taken to ease the workload of all expectant women. Failing that, the well-being of both mother and baby will remain precarious, at best. When the aim should be to provide a very comfortable and safe environment for all expectant women, especially those in the latter stages of pregnancy. Not only that, a maximum amount of job leave should be given to those moms who recently delivered. But unfortunately, often working mothers return to work as quickly as possible.
One can easily imagine that when mothers do not get resting time before giving birth, then how will that same mother provide love and affection to newborn infants if they are in a rush to return to work. This is a very sad state of affairs and related with the future of the people all over the globe, not just in those local areas. Because without proper love, their child's development is severely hampered and their full psychic growth will be impeded. So this is a universal issue that needs everyone's attention.
Baba says, "Pregnant women and female animals may work half of what they usually do at other times; but under no circumstances should they be allowed to do strenuous work, as it may lead to premature delivery or stillbirth." (2)
Situation of mothers in so-called developed countries
Note 2: Those who are forcing or allowing expecting mothers to do engage in physically demanding work or chores during their pregnancy may be developed materially but are not developed on humanitarian grounds - with regards to understanding others' problems. That is why nearly everywhere in the western world, in all offices up to the last stage of pregnancy women are working as they did in when they were in 100% fit and healthy condition. That is why nowadays the most affected on this point are females in western countries. And in result serious damage to the babies happens. One can easily imagine that when mothers do not get resting time before giving birth, then how will that same mother provide love and affection to newborn infants. Because in one week or so they will again join their career jobs. This is a very sad state and demands our attention. Because this is related with the future of the people in those affected areas. And indirectly the whole globe is seriously affected. Because without proper love, their children's development is severely hampered-- their full psychic growth and the growth of their brain is impossible because of this problem. Baba tells this in His book, Namah Shivaya Shantaya.
Very poor mothers in so-called third world countries are also suffering from the same problem of being overworked in the late stage of pregnancy.
In Him,
Lata’
References
1. Shabda Cayanika - 20
2. Shabda Cayanika - 20
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