Baba
Those who think they understand, they may not
Namaskar,
Hindus think that brahamcarya means "celibacy", when in our Ananda Marga it means ensconcing oneself in Godhood. That is the dharmic understanding as given by Baba. This type of example is not unique; there are countless such cases.
As we know, Ananda Marga philosophy has its own vocabulary: Words carry a pointed dharmic meaning given by Baba Himself which is different from the general understanding of the common public and the various religions.
The term avatar
For example, take the term avatar. Here are three different definitions:
1) The dogmatic Hindus believe that an avatar is a divine being that has descended from heaven onto earth in flesh & blood.
2) Next, there is the pseudo-culture / video gaming definition of avatar, wherein an avatar is a created character who represents and is manipulated by a computer user in a computer game.
3) Finally in Ananda Marga, the term avatar refers to every created entity in this universe.
Baba says, "The fundamental stuff of the universe has emerged from Parama Purusa; hence all objects, big and small, are the sambhutis of Parama Purusa... When Parama Purusa is manifested in some physical object, that physical object is called the avatara of Parama Purusa." (1)
Thus the Ananda Marga definition of avatara is dramatically different from that of the dogmatic religions and pseudo-culture venues.
About the term tandava
Now let's investigate another term: Tandava.
The Hindu community thinks that tandava means destruction. In Indian newspapers, if they are describing some village that caught fire wherein the houses burned to ashes, then they say that it was tandava of fire.
So Hindus commonly use it in this way: "Tandava depicts Shiva's violent nature as the destroyer of the universe."
The general Indian society also adheres to this meaning. Therefore when destruction comes in the form of fire, the loss of blood, or an earthquake etc, then people use the term tandava, i.e. the tandava dance of destruction was going on.
But we know that this is not the true meaning of tandava.
In Ananda Marga, tandava is the name of one tantric dance which Lord Shiva invented. All male margiis practice this dance. So we use the term tandava in a very positive way: As one of the great gifts of Lord Shiva.
If in our Ananda Marga magazine or newspaper it is reported that margiis were doing tandava, it does not mean that margiis were killing, destroying or engaging in arson etc. Because for us tandava is something quite beneficial and positive. It is our duty to propagate this ideal to all.
Thus when we use the term tandava we should not use it as dogmatic Hindus do: They think that tandava means obliteration, destruction or disaster. Even in the newspapers, they will say that the fire’s dance of tandava happened if a huge blaze burned down an entire city.
As Ananda Margiis, we are not to be drawn into such dogmatic ideas.
Tandava dance is not about destruction
Here Baba below Baba talks about the meaning of the tandava dance. By His explanation it is quite clear that the tandava dance is not about destruction but rather life itself.
Baba says, "Now the fundamentality, or rather the primordial phase of Oriental dance, is táńd́ava. It is not a very easy job either. The knees must cross the navel. When they cross the navel it is called Brahma táńd́ava. When they cross the anáhata [mid-point of the chest] it is called Viśńu táńd́ava. When they cross this portion [indicates the throat], it is called Rudra táńd́ava. It is very difficult to dance Rudra táńd́ava. It requires long practice.”
“That is why Lord Sadáshiva is known as Nat́arája. And when these boys [indicates them] were dancing, it was just like a picture of Nat́arája in táńd́ava mudrá. It is called táńd́ava; táńd́ava is a mudrá.”
“Why is it called táńd́ava? In Sanskrit tańd́ means “to jump”. Tańd́u means “of jumping habit”. Táńd́ava means “having the use of tańd́u, the use of jumping”. But jumping in the proper style, not in a disorderly manner. You should learn it properly in a disciplined way.”
“And táńd́ava represents life; you know Tantra is a cult of life, it is not a cult of death. For Tantra you should be strong physically, mentally and spiritually. First in the present tense; Lord Shiva says all your expressions, all your manifestations, must be based on the present tense. So this táńd́ava is the starting phase of Tantra.”
“This táńd́ava I said represents life, it represents vitality. There are so many forces that want to destroy you, so many forces forces that are inimical to you by nature. Say a snake – a snake is a born enemy. There are many such born enemies. As Tantra represents life, táńd́ava says that one’s spirit should be based on vitality, based on the principle of survival.” (2)
Human skull represents death
Ananda Marga ideology further teaches us, “This human skull represents death. You are surrounded by death, but you must not be defeated, you must not develop the psychology of fear or defeatism. So the knife is with you to fight against death. Yours is a fight for survival. In the daytime one may also use a snake to represent death – not an ordinary snake, but a venomous snake. In India our boys dance with a snake. But at nighttime neither a skull nor a snake will be visible. Here there is light, they will be visible, but in a burial ground, in a cremation ground, where there is darkness, a snake or skull will not be visible. There you may use fire to represent death.”
“This is the spirit of Tantra. To fight, to fight for survival. [[It is the normal wont of all living beings to fight for survival.]] It is normal life moving towards the supreme state of abnormality.”
“Lord Shiva started this táńd́ava dance." (3)
Namaskar,
In Him,
Naviin
References
1. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 10
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - part 12, Dance, Mudrá and Tantra
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - part 12, Dance, Mudrá and Tantra
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
Fountain of Prabhat Samgiita is flowing eternally
"Ga'nera jharn'a' boye ja'y, bela' abela' na'hi ma'ne..." (Prabhat Samgiita.#4868)
Purport:
Baba, Your divine fountain of Prabhat Samgiita is flowing eternally, completely independent of the normal cycle of time. Your blissful songs flow according to their own schedule, according to their own routine - not caring about day or night, summer or winter. The divine flow and sweet melody of Your Prabhat Samgiita is dancing on the jagged path. They lead one towards that vast Cosmic Ocean - towards the fountain of effulgence, towards Supreme entity...
== Section 3: Prabhat Samgiita ==
बाबा ! तुम्हारे अलावा मेरा कोई नहीं है ।
प्रभात सङ्गीत 2571 अरूपरतन तुमि प्रियो ..... ..
भावार्थ-
हे परमप्रिय परमपुरुष ! तुम, ऐसे रत्न हो जिसका कोई रूप नहीं है । तुम आकाश में मुस्काते और वायु में तैरते हो । हे रूपहीन रत्न ! मेरी एक ही विनती है कि तुम कृपा कर मुझे अपना बना लो।
बाबा ! बिना रुके मैं लगातार तुमसे तुम्हारी दिव्य करुणा का ही निवेदन करता हूँ । तुम्हारे अलावा मेरा कोई नहीं है। सब का भाग्य तुम में ही स्थित है। हे प्रभु ! कृपा कर दया भरी आँखों से मेरी ओर निहार लीजिए ।
हे परमपुरुष बाबा ! इस धरती पर मैंने बार बार आकर जन्म लिया। कितने बार धरती पर आया और गया यह नहीं जानता । यह सब मेरी क्षमता के बाहर है । तुम्हारे मन में ही यह सब जानकारी रहती है क्योंकि तुम ही वह परम पूजनीय सत्ता हो ।
हे अरूपरत्न बाबा ! तुम मुझे सबसे अधिक प्रिय हो ।
टिप्पणी- जब अरूप सत्ता परमपुरुष, महासम्भूति का रूप और आकार लेते हैं तो वह रूपवान इस संसार और अरूप सत्ता परमपुरुष के बीच पुल का काम करते हैं। वही साधकों को परमपद तक पहुँचाने का कार्य करते हैं। सचमुच उनका ध्यान करने पर मोक्ष मिल जाता है ।
References
1. Hindi purport translated by Dr. T.R. Sukul from original English purport by Ananda Marga Universal.
2. Sadguru Baba says (in GD, Delhi, 26 Feb 1984) that when writing a Prabhat Samgiita purport then very simple words should be used so that the common mass may understand. The above Hindu purport has been written according to that guideline.
== Section 4: Links ==
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Baba
This email contains four sections:
1. Posting: Those who think they understand, they may not
2. PS #4868: Fountain of Prabhat Samgiita is flowing eternally
3. PS #2571: बाबा ! तुम्हारे अलावा मेरा कोई नहीं है ।
4. Links
