STRESS ANIMAL SACRIFICE AND NAMASMARAN: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

We watch news of sacrifice (and eating) of goats and other animals; in different religions or different communities.

W may ignore, despise or take pride in them, according to our background or predisposition. But; do we introspect; our opinions? Do we verify the objectivity of our opinions?

If we study these customs carefully and holistically, then we arrive at some insights, which are as follows.

In the process of evolution at some stage, the art, skill and courage involved in hunting (RAJOGUNA) were vital for survival of the individuals and the societies! In the process of protecting from the predators, the animals were killed in as much as they were killed to fulfill the need of food. Hence; the fishing and hunting were practiced not only without any guilt, but in fact with some kind of pride and dignity, because they were essential for the survival and continuation of the society!

When the mankind began to sense the influence of unknown and unseen deities, he began to feel that the avoidance of the wrath and providence of the blessings of these deities; also played a role in the wellbeing of the individuals and the societies. Thus the customs of offering the food (sacrificial animal) to the deity began.

This custom signified the concern for the wellbeing of the society and hence was considered meritorious! In Sanskrit this is called YAJNA. Thus anyone who simply ate without offering (YAJNA) was considered petty.

The other element involved in the YAJNA was to cheer up and invoke, admire, promote and celebrate bravery; so much vital for survival of the society!

The respect and honor for hunting and killing animals; was thus logical; because; cowardice, escapism, irresponsibility etc (TAMOGUNA) implied destruction of the individual and the society. Naturally anyone who did not perform YAJNA was considered selfish, mean, lowly and sinful!

As and when the mankind evolved further, the hunting and sacrificing animals became unnecessary and redundant. The hitherto celebrated bravery of hunting; lost its pivotal position in survival of the individual and the society!

Naturally, the tradition of sacrificing animals in YAJNAS lost its merit. It no more signified any heroic act! It became redundant; and in fact retrogressive. It did not anymore signify bravery (RAJOGUNA); but implied basal, carnal, animalistic and cowardly behavior (TAMOGUNA); in view of; the availability of; the vegetarian food and several factors; which ensured the security of society without hunting.

In present circumstances; irrespective of the region or religion; killing and sacrificing animal; do not involve bravery (RAJOGUNA) but cold blooded, cowardly cruelty; worst than mere cowardice and hence worst than TAMOGUNA; (perverted and brutal and not brave) hangover of the redundant traditions and customs belonging to the primitive stage of the development of the society.

Those who evolve in the course of evolution; rise up from TAMOGUNA and RAJOGUNA to SATVA GUNA and choose not to opt for brutal, cruel and absolutely unnecessary killing of cows, bullocks, sheep, goats and other animals or birds for any purpose; eating, offering or any other luxury!

Through probably the practice of NAMASMARAN, for centuries; it is considered culturally meritorious and benevolent to cherish, promote and adore the SATVAGUNA and the SELF REALIZATION, which are vital for the survival and blossoming of the mankind; and to control the TAMOGUNA and RAJOGUNA (involved in animal killing and sacrifice), which jeopardize the safety and evolutionary blossoming of mankind!

GERMS OF STRESS: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

One of the major stressors; in our society is; advertising spree on print and electronic media; of products detrimental to the individual and universal welfare.

Whether we create and telecast these ill conceived, ill informed, ill intentioned and ill informing advertisements; or are victims of them; in both cases; we unconsciously undergo pathological stress; and ruin ourselves and others.

Unknowingly; we undergo stress; as we create laws, policies, rules and administrative system; which promote manufacture, promotion, and use of harmful products; or we use and support them passively.

The case in point is; the advertisements of disinfectants, washing powders, washing bars, toilet soaps, tooth powders and water filters!

The illusory fear of germs; is conceived and spread by us; through the media systematically, followed by suitable policies, plans and programs; to benefit the manufacture, marketing and sale of germicides; in various forms!

We blatantly claim anywhere from 90 to 99 percent disinfection, when no one knows the number of organisms; before and after the use of a particular disinfectant!

But some of us; because of ignorance, indolence and non-receptivity to wisdom; believe and fall prey to these; and be party to spread the �stress of germs� and �germs of stress�!

Actually the medical science is in total agreement on the fact that the �germ theory�, which proposed that the germ is a singular cause of infective and infectious diseases, is far from being completely true. If it were to be true; then in the mass of germs, which include; viruses, bacteria, ricketssiae, fungi, protozoa and so on; constitutes; approximately 100 times the mass of us; we would have been extinct long back.

Moreover; the germs are not always harmful. There are symbiotic (beneficially dependent on each other), commensals (harmlessly coexisting together) and saprophytes (living on dead tissues), which are harmless and/or useful germs.

Even those germs, which can infect and harm us (referred to as virulent or pathogenic); do so; only when our immune system i.e. body resistance is relatively inefficient and/or their number is excessively increased, in very short time; and hence we cannot resist.

What is true about disinfectants, soap and germicides; is also true for tooth pastes and water filters and/or mineral water bottles.

If we rise above the considerations of monitory profit; and also rise above our foolishness and ignorance; and explore our conscience; then we would be able to live free of �germs of stress� and �stress of germs�! We would live far more healthily and happily, as; our hitherto neglected conscience; the door to swadharma, true self and God, would be open! This is possible through selfless practice of NAMASMARAN.

If we do this, then we would realize that the soaps, disinfectants, and germicides; destroy the natural oil (sebum) and useful organisms in our skin, dry it and make it lusterless and vulnerable to infections and render our sewage and sullage (the silt washed down); detrimental to the fertility of our soil; and the fact that; what we need urgently; is the adequate supply of safe drinking water.

Excellent information about natural alternatives (such as lemon, honey, ritha, gram flour, neem, cow urine) to soap, disinfectants, tooth pastes and water filters; can be found in several excellent books on stress management, yoga, Ayurveda and Naturopathy.

MASSAGE: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

Massage is called MARDANAM in Sanskrit.
SNEHASCHA DHATUN SANSHUSHKAN PUSHNATYASHU PRAYOJITAH
BALAMAGNIBALAM PUSHTIM PRANASCHASYABHIVARDHAYET

The dry DHATUS (weakened body matter) becomes stronger if oiled and massaged. Even the AGNIBALAM (i.e. fire principle in body i.e. the metabolic activity) is rejuvenated and the PRANAS (i.e. peripheral, autonomic and central nervous and neuromuscular activity) is also strengthened.
VYAYAMASVINNAGATRASYA PADBHYAMUDVARTITASYA CHA
VYADHAYO NOPASARPANTI SIMHAM KSHUDRAMRUGA IVA

One whose body has perspired because of exercise and massaged by feet becomes so strong; that just as timid deer do not come even nearby a lion; similarly the diseases do not come even in the vicinity of him/her.

BHARATIYA SANSKIRI KOSHA VOL.7, pages 90-91.

There are different types of massage which improve circulation in almost every nook and corner of our body. In the evenings the head massage is especially useful. We can do it ourselves.

We can use Brahmi oil and get the additional advantage for massage of even eyelids, face etc.

Once in week whole body massage can do wonders to our health.

We can use Narayan oil for additional benefit. It is useful to massage the feet twice or thrice a week. The best time to massage the feet in the evenings. Feet take all the burden of the body. But they are not enough attention. Callosities, corns, scaling, fungal infections, bruises are common on feet. This is especially so in case of those who do a job where standing for long time or walking is required. Ill fitting shoes, allergies to synthetic shoes are also common problems. They keep us nagging. Regular massaging ensures flexibility of the small joints and adequate circulation and micro-circulation in the feet. This is especially useful in diabetics who are more to develop vasculopathy and resultant damage in the feet, in the form of necrosis and gangrene. Massage when given with love and care can be far more soothing and healing than when given by a professional who may be indifferent.

STRESS AND THE POWER OF NAMASMARAN: DR. SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

Stress in one form or another and described in one semantic or another; has been with us for millennia. The scientific, technological, medical, industrial, agricultural, social, economic, political and various other efforts in conquering stress; are definitely noteworthy and praiseworthy.

But the philosophical and spiritual insights and precepts for conquering the stresses in life; such as NAMASMARAN; are trivialized, vulgarized, ignored and ridiculed; or flattered and hyped and misused for self promotion. But in any case; we generally fail to understand, appreciate its role in conquering stress and for individual and universal blossoming; and practice it; selflessly.

Instead we ask:

What do we gain by NAMASMARAN? What are the proofs?
What are the advantages of NAMASMARAN?
What are the benefits of NAMASMARAN?
How are we profited by NAMASMARAN?
How can mere remembrance some divine name blossom the universe?
What is; the cause and effect relationship; between our success and NAMASMARAN?
Aren�t our gains, benefits, successes and all pleasures; by virtue of our efforts; rather than the grace of God?

The answers to all above questions are negative. Frankly speaking; NAMASMARAN does not assure any gain, advantage, benefit, profit, wellness and even satisfaction; and practitioners of NAMA are often seen in difficulties, problems and even agonizing stress! We cannot show that pleasures, prosperity, success; are due to NAMASMARAN or God�s grace.

But why do we ask these questions?

This is because; we have forgotten our own selves, our glorious and majestic identity. We are trivialized and oblivious to our own sublime and invaluable richness. We are trapped, involved, engrossed, and addicted to our own caricature identity full of pettiness.

We have unknowingly lost our power and control and accepted or even chosen to be slaves or beggars, in our own house! This is why we judge every precept and every time on the basis of petty personal gains or losses. We cannot think beyond these.

This is why we keep asking questions oriented around trifles.

Be that as it may, let us see what NAMASMARAN can �do� to us.

NAMASMARAN rectifies although in the course of time; the basic problem of forgetting our own glorious identity.

It reminds us that the �house is ours�. We are owners. So once we recognize that we are the owners; we stop being miserable and beggarly. We stop asking for things, as we are the owners!

NAMASMARAN reminds us that we have powerful wings and we can fly! With this reminder, we begin to fly instead of miserably waiting for someone to lift us!

NAMASMARAN reminds us that we are immortal �electricity� and not the fragile and perishable �bulbs�! Hence our fear and insecurity disappears!

NAMASMARAN reminds us that due to our obliviousness; to our transtemporal immortal identity, we had throttled ourselves in the stress of subjective and physical experiences of past, present and future; and empowers us to free ourselves from our self inflicted anxiety, depression, helplessness; and stress!

NAMASMARAN reminds us that we should resume the forgotten capacity of riding on time; instead of getting dragged in time; and thereby �being victims of stress� and �spreading stress�! We begin to live as kings every moment.

If we realize this, then questions asked earlier; become redundant and/or actually meaningless! There is nothing that we would ask for; and think of; in exchange for; or as a result of NAMASMARAN!

SUPER NERVOUS SYSTEM: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

The hypothesis is; �Intuition, sixth sense, divine guidance, spell of good power, divine love, non sequential thinking, appreciation of poetry, holistic perception etc; which are beyond logic; are attributed to �super nervous system� in the right cerebral hemisphere of right handed people and also spread out; in several silent areas such as those of prefrontal cortex�.

The vast panorama of knowledge; various arts (including martial arts and arsenals), sports, literature, science, technology, religions, ethics, rituals, laws etc are associated with evolution of super autonomic nervous system.

While the instincts (and the associated indiscriminate violence and rabid propaganda); of not merely survival, but racial, religious, ideological, cultural, economic and political supremacy are undoubtedly; the obstacles in individual and global blossoming.

Our basal nature prevents us from being truly nonviolent, happy and in harmony. The basis; for many ways (to overcome the basal nature); such as holistic perspective, policies, plans, programs and their implementation; is self realization. The simplest way for this; is NAMASMARAN.

This may not be believed, but verified; by practicing (and also; preaching, writing, publishing, broadcasting, sponsoring, talking, sharing; in fact; doing whatever we can to promote it; and programs conducive to it)!