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incorperating Yamas and Niyamas into our Sadhana , can we realy call our selves Hindu if we dont ?

ratikala

Istha gosthi
Just a thought that occured to me recently , ....

although we often think of the Yamas and Niyamas as belinging to the Yoga schools as Patanjali taught the Five Yamas and Five Niyamas , ...they are mentioned in Rig Veda , ...

originaly Ten of each , ...Yamas being restraints , ...and Niyamas being observances , ....

the question is can we realy call ourselves Hindu if we dont at least try to follow them ?

The Ten Yamas ; ... Restraints , ...
  1. Ahimsa ; ...nonviolence
  2. Satya ; ......truthfulness
  3. Asteya ; ....non stealing
  4. Brahmacharya ; ...chastity , or restraint
  5. Ksama ; ....forgiveness
  6. Dhrti ; ....... fortitude
  7. Daya ; .......Compassion
  8. Arjava ; ......Sincerity , absence of Hypocracy
  9. Mitahara ; ..moderation in diet
  10. Sauca ; .....physical and mental purity (cleanliness)
The Ten Niyamas ; ...Observances , ...
  1. Tapas ; .....austerity
  2. Santosa ; ..contentment , joyfull acceptance
  3. Astika ; .....faith in God (or divine higer self)
  4. Dana ; ......giving in charity or sharing with others
  5. Isvarapujana ;....worship of the Ishvara ... (the supreme as person or higer self)
  6. Siddhanta Vakya Sravana ; ...Hearing discourses or recitations of the ancient scriptures
  7. Hri ; ........ cultivating modesty and humility , ...developing remorse for one's previous actions
  8. Mati ; .......developing understanding , ....reconcileing or resolving conflicting ideas
  9. Japa ; ...... recitation of mantra
  10. Huta ; .......performance of rituals , (Yajna)
 

Terese

Mangalam Pundarikakshah
Staff member
Premium Member
Well it's not like we don't/avoid performing them; those restraints and observances are what makes a good Hindu :)
 

निताइ dasa

Nitai's servant's servant
Thank you for this topic Ratikalaji. You have given me the perfect excuse to share this passage which I wanted to share from yesterday.

When Sri Rama discusses the Chariot of Dharma in Ramayana to Vibhisana, the following passage is found in the work of Tulsidasji:

ravana rathi biratha raghivira, dekhi vibhisana bhayau adhira

Seeing Ravana with a Chariot and Sri Rama without, Vibhisana became very depressed

adhika priti mana bha samdeha, bamdi carana kaha sahita saneha

Overcome with exccessive Love, his mind filled with doubt, he inquired as the Lotus feet of Sri Rama with great affection:

natha na ratha nahi tana pada trana kehi bihdi jitaba bira balavana

"Oh Lord, You do not have a Chariot nor do you even have any shoes. How will you win against a might warrior such as Ravana?

sunahu sakha kaha kripanidhana jehi jaya hoi so syamdana ana
sauraja dhiraja tehi ratha caka satya sila drRha dhvaja pataka


The One who is the storehouse of Mercy, Sri Rama said:
"Listen my friend, for the Chariot that leads to Victory is quite different. Bravery and fortitude are the wheels of that chariot, while truthfulness and good conduct are its enduring banner and flag"

bala vivekadama parahita ghore, chama krpa samata raju jore
isa bhajanu sarathi sujana birati carma samtosa krpana


"Strength, discrimination, determination and benevolence for others are the four horses. Forgiveness, mercy and equality are the ropes which bind the horses to the chariot. The worship of the Supreme Lord is the unrivaled charioteer, dispassion, the shield and contentment, the sword.

dana parasu budhi sakti pracamda vara vigyana kathina kodamda
amala acala mana trona samana sama jama niyama silimukha nana


Charity is the axe while reason is the fierce lance. Wisdom and realization are the relentless bows. A pure and steady mind is like
a quiver while the Yamas and Niyamas are the arrows.

kavaca abheda vipra guru puja ehi sama bijaya upaya na duja
sakha dharma maya asa ratha jake jitana kaha na katahu ripu take


"The impenetrable armor is the worship of the Guru and Brahmins, other than this, there is no way to victory. O friend one who has such a chariot of Dharma, what to speak of Ravana, such a person can conquer any enemy"


This chariot of Dharma which the Lord is describing is so beautiful and it can very easily destroy the foe of Maya and lead us to the Lotus feet of the Lord.

 
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Terese

Mangalam Pundarikakshah
Staff member
Premium Member
Thank you for this topic Ratikalaji. You have given me the perfect excuse to share this passage which I wanted to share from yesterday.

When Sri Rama discusses the Chariot of Dharma in Ramayana to Vibhisana, the following passage is found in the work of Tulsidasji:

ravana rathi biratha raghivira, dekhi vibhisana bhayau adhira

Seeing Ravana with a Chariot and Sri Rama without, Vibhisana became very depressed

adhika priti mana bha samdeha, bamdi carana kaha sahita saneha

Overcome with exccessive Love, his mind filled with doubt, he inquired as the Lotus feet of Sri Rama with great affection:

natha na ratha nahi tana pada trana kehi bihdi jitaba bira balavana

"Oh Lord, You do not have a Chariot nor do you even have any shoes. How will you win against a might warrior such as Ravana?

sunahu sakha kaha kripanidhana jehi jaya hoi so syamdana ana
sauraja dhiraja tehi ratha caka satya sila drRha dhvaja pataka


The One who is the storehouse of Mercy, Sri Rama said:
"Listen my friend, for the Chariot that leads to Victory is quite different. Bravery and fortitude are the wheels of that chariot, while truthfulness and good conduct are its enduring banner and flag"

bala vivekadama parahita ghore, chama krpa samata raju jore
isa bhajanu sarathi sujana birati carma samtosa krpana


"Strength, discrimination, determination and benevolence for others are the four horses. Forgiveness, mercy and equality are the ropes which bind the horses to the chariot. The worship of the Supreme Lord is the unrivaled charioteer, dispassion, the shield and contentment, the sword.

dana parasu budhi sakti pracamda vara vigyana kathina kodamda
amala acala mana trona samana sama jama niyama silimukha nana


Charity is the axe while reason is the fierce lance. Wisdom and realization are the relentless bows. A pure and steady mind is like
a quiver while the Yamas and Niyamas are the arrows.

kavaca abheda vipra guru puja ehi sama bijaya upaya na duja
sakha dharma maya asa ratha jake jitana kaha na katahu ripu take


"The impenetrable armor is the worship of the Guru and Brahmins, other than this, there is no way to victory. O friend one who has such a chariot of Dharma, what to speak of Ravana, such a person can conquer any enemy"


This chariot of Dharma which the Lord is describing is so beautiful and it can very easily destroy the foe of Maya and lead us to the Lotus feet of the Lord.

vibhishana2.jpg
Do you know why Rama is depicted as green and not blue?
 

निताइ dasa

Nitai's servant's servant
Do you know why Rama is depicted as green and not blue?

When the original Lord Rama from Ayodhya appears every day of Brahma, He appears in the beautiful color of Durva grass which is green. Just like Sri Krsna appears in His original form as Syama (bluish black color), Lord Rama appears with beautiful greenish complexion. He is called durvädala-syäma räma — Lord Ramachandra who has a greenish complexion the color of durvä grass but also to some degree Syama. There is no reason why, the Lord is free to do what He wants.
 

Terese

Mangalam Pundarikakshah
Staff member
Premium Member
When the original Lord Rama from Ayodhya appears every day of Brahma, He appears in the beautiful color of Durva grass which is green. Just like Sri Krsna appears in His original form as Syama (bluish black color), Lord Rama appears with beautiful greenish complexion. He is called durvädala-syäma räma — Lord Ramachandra who has a greenish complexion the color of durvä grass but also to some degree Syama. There is no reason why, the Lord is free to do what He wants.
Then how come 95% of the time Lord Rama is depicted as blue?
 

निताइ dasa

Nitai's servant's servant
Then how come 95% of the time Lord Rama is depicted as blue?

Idk, maybe because they think He is an avatar of Lord Visnu, who is blue, and just extend that idea to Lord Rama. Mind you most Treta Yugas, Lord Rama appears as blue, it is only when He appears in His original form from Ayodhya, does He appear as green and that only occurs once in Brahma's day.
 

Terese

Mangalam Pundarikakshah
Staff member
Premium Member
Idk, maybe because they think He is an avatar of Lord Visnu, who is blue, and just extend that idea to Lord Rama. Mind you most Treta Yugas, Lord Rama appears as blue, it is only when He appears in His original form from Ayodhya, does He appear as green and that only occurs once in Brahma's day.
Where does this information come from?
 

निताइ dasa

Nitai's servant's servant
Where does this information come from?

I remember reading it in SB (or maybe it was in Vishwanatha Cakravarti's commentary, I will try and find it). Tulsidas also mentions it (though his descriptions of Lord Ramachandra also change quite alot ). The description is also found in Bhakti Ratnakara and Navadwipa Bhava Taranga (both Gaudiya Shastras so might not be relevant to a Sri Vaishnav like yourself). It is also the opinion of Rupa Goswami, when he performs the calculations of Lord Rama's birth in Laghu Bhagavatamrta:

kausalyayam dasarathan
nava-durva dala-dyutih
tretayam avirabhavac
caturvimse catur-yuge
bharatena sumitraya
nandanabhyam ca samyutah



"Splendid as a new blade of durva grass (green), and accompanied by Sumitra's two sons and by Bharata, Lord Ramachandra appeared in the Treta-yuga of the 24th catur-yuga as the son of Kausalya and Dasaratha."

Tulsi das ji says:

svåmini abinaya chamabi hamåri, bilagu na månaba jåni gavåri. råjakuara dou sahaja salone, inha te lahi duti marakata sone

"Both these princes are naturally graceful in form; it is from them that emerald and gold have borrowed their green and yellow lustre respectively.".

However, Tulsi das ji also describes Lord Rama as "kekikanthabhanilam"-"Blue like the throat of a peacock". (mind you, the throat of a peacock is sometimes green too).

Like I said before, there are differing descriptions, because Lord Rama in very yuga appears in different colors. Sometimes he appears in Syama varna too, and that is what Valmiki uses to describe His Lotus Face.
 

Terese

Mangalam Pundarikakshah
Staff member
Premium Member
I remember reading it in SB (or maybe it was in Vishwanatha Cakravarti's commentary, I will try and find it). Tulsidas also mentions it (though his descriptions of Lord Ramachandra also change quite alot ). The description is also found in Bhakti Ratnakara and Navadwipa Bhava Taranga (both Gaudiya Shastras so might not be relevant to a Sri Vaishnav like yourself). It is also the opinion of Rupa Goswami, when he performs the calculations of Lord Rama's birth in Laghu Bhagavatamrta:

kausalyayam dasarathan
nava-durva dala-dyutih
tretayam avirabhavac
caturvimse catur-yuge
bharatena sumitraya
nandanabhyam ca samyutah



"Splendid as a new blade of durva grass (green), and accompanied by Sumitra's two sons and by Bharata, Lord Ramachandra appeared in the Treta-yuga of the 24th catur-yuga as the son of Kausalya and Dasaratha."

Tulsi das ji says:

svåmini abinaya chamabi hamåri, bilagu na månaba jåni gavåri. råjakuara dou sahaja salone, inha te lahi duti marakata sone

"Both these princes are naturally graceful in form; it is from them that emerald and gold have borrowed their green and yellow lustre respectively.".

However, Tulsi das ji also describes Lord Rama as "kekikanthabhanilam"-"Blue like the throat of a peacock". (mind you, the throat of a peacock is sometimes green too).

Like I said before, there are differing descriptions, because Lord Rama in very yuga appears in different colors. Sometimes he appears in Syama varna too, and that is what Valmiki uses to describe His Lotus Face.
Syama varna?
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
Do you know why Rama is depicted as green and not blue?
That perhaps is the doing of Vaishnavas - How to make Krishna special if every avatara turn out to be blue. So Only Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna are blue (not really blue but Ghana-shyama, the colour of rain-laden clouds, modern description - perhaps dusky). Nrisimha is red, Varaha is white, Kacchapa is Pink, Matsya is orange, Vamana is violet and Parashurama is black (or whatever).
 

ratikala

Istha gosthi
Namaskaram prabhu ji's

Namaskaram Aupmanyav ji
How to make Krishna special if every avatara turn out to be blue.


Here prehaps you will see that it is no invention of the Vaisnavas but that it is known also amongsrt RamaBhaktas
here in a verse from the Ramaraksha Stotra the lord is called दूर्वादलश्यामं durvadala-shyama , ....I do not know who translated this as '' dark-complexioned like leaf of green grass,'' but it seems a common translation , ...


Ramaraksha Stotra

Prayer for the protection of Lord Rama
रामं दूर्वादलश्यामं पद्‌माक्षं पीतवाससम् ।
स्तुवन्ति नामभिर्दिव्यैर्न ते संसारिणो नर: ॥२५॥
Ram, dark-complexioned like leaf of green grass, who is lotus-eyed and dressed in yellow clothes । Who sing the praise of him are no longer ordinary men trapped in the world ॥25॥



Rama Bhaktas are equaly Vaisnava but choose to worship lord Rama rather than Krsna , ...yet to my knowledge threr is no rivalry between them as to the superiority of one over the other , ....

Prehaps this is because the repetition of Ramaraksha Stotra is said to remove all obsticals such as 'Squabbles' ....



 

Terese

Mangalam Pundarikakshah
Staff member
Premium Member
Namaskaram prabhu ji's

Namaskaram Aupmanyav ji



Here prehaps you will see that it is no invention of the Vaisnavas but that it is known also amongsrt RamaBhaktas
here in a verse from the Ramaraksha Stotra the lord is called दूर्वादलश्यामं durvadala-shyama , ....I do not know who translated this as '' dark-complexioned like leaf of green grass,'' but it seems a common translation , ...

Ramaraksha Stotra

Prayer for the protection of Lord Rama
रामं दूर्वादलश्यामं पद्‌माक्षं पीतवाससम् ।
स्तुवन्ति नामभिर्दिव्यैर्न ते संसारिणो नर: ॥२५॥
Ram, dark-complexioned like leaf of green grass, who is lotus-eyed and dressed in yellow clothes । Who sing the praise of him are no longer ordinary men trapped in the world ॥25॥



Rama Bhaktas are equaly Vaisnava but choose to worship lord Rama rather than Krsna , ...yet to my knowledge threr is no rivalry between them as to the superiority of one over the other , ....

Prehaps this is because the repetition of Ramaraksha Stotra is said to remove all obsticals such as 'Squabbles' ....



Very pleasant bhajan Ratikala!
 

ratikala

Istha gosthi
Namaskaram Nitai Dasa ji

Thank you for this topic Ratikalaji. You have given me the perfect excuse to share this passage which I wanted to share from yesterday.

When Sri Rama discusses the Chariot of Dharma in Ramayana to Vibhisana, the following passage is found in the work of Tulsidasji:



This chariot of Dharma which the Lord is describing is so beautiful and it can very easily destroy the foe of Maya and lead us to the Lotus feet of the Lord.



this Chariot of Dharma most certainly is beautifull , ....._/\_

yet why do we not use it ? ....why do we seem content to argue anmongst ourselves over petty matters ?

of course yes you have already answered this question in one word , ...'Maya' .....

this leads me to ask another question , should we also not become Brave and Warrior like and fight the tendancey to cling to such Illusion , ....
 

ratikala

Istha gosthi
Namaskaram Terese ji

Well it's not like we don't/avoid performing them; those restraints and observances are what makes a good Hindu :)

Jai Jai , ...certainly avoiding negative actions and performing those which are positive makes for a Good Hindu , ...but even a good Hindu can strive to be better , ...

therefore should we not discuss these fine qualities so that we may perfect them ?
and should we not discuss the pitfalls so that we may avoid them ?

for example , ....

Hri ; ........ cultivating modesty and humility , ...developing remorse for one's previous actions , ...

can we not have the Humility to say we have weaknesses or limitations , after all are we not traped in Maya , ..
but let us examine what traps us , ....
let us try to find out why we fight like cats and dogs over oppinion or veiw , rather than rejoicing in that which is Glorious , ....
 

Terese

Mangalam Pundarikakshah
Staff member
Premium Member
Namaskaram Terese ji



Jai Jai , ...certainly avoiding negative actions and performing those which are positive makes for a Good Hindu , ...but even a good Hindu can strive to be better , ...

therefore should we not discuss these fine qualities so that we may perfect them ?
and should we not discuss the pitfalls so that we may avoid them ?

for example , ....

Hri ; ........ cultivating modesty and humility , ...developing remorse for one's previous actions , ...

can we not have the Humility to say we have weaknesses or limitations , after all are we not traped in Maya , ..
but let us examine what traps us , ....
let us try to find out why we fight like cats and dogs over oppinion or veiw , rather than rejoicing in that which is Glorious , ....
They should enjoy the finer things in life, like prema. :)
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
Ramaraksha Stotra
:) Thanks for taking me to Ramaraksha strota. I bring your attention to Verse 2.

ध्यात्वा नीलोत्पलश्यामं रामं राजीवलोचनम् ।
जानकीलक्ष्मणोपेतं जटामुकुटमण्डितम् ॥२॥

Dhyātvā nīlotpalashyāmam Rāmam rājivalochanam l
JānakiLakshmanopetam jatāmukutamanditam ll

Let us meditate on the lotus-eyed Rama who is dark-complexioned like a blue lily ।
Who is accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana, and is well-adorned with crown of matted hairs ॥2॥
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ram_Raksha_Stotra

'Durvadalashyamam' not conclusively proved. Excuse me for being too academic. Bhakti too is not without its fun. Ramabhaktas vs Krishnabhaktas.
"Tulasi mastak tab nave, jab dhanush bān lo hāth." (Tulasi Das will bow his head only when you will take a bow and arrows in your hand)
Hare-Rama Hare-Krishna :D

However, the topic is very wonderful. I would like to have my say but let me think over it. The subject is deep.
 
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Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
The question is can we realy call ourselves Hindu if we dont at least try to follow them ?

The Ten Yamas (Restraints)
  1. Ahimsa ; ...nonviolence
  2. Satya ; ......truthfulness
  3. Asteya ; ....non stealing
  4. Brahmacharya ; ...chastity , or restraint
  5. Ksama ; ....forgiveness
  6. Dhrti ; ....... fortitude
  7. Daya ; .......Compassion
  8. Arjava ; ......Sincerity , absence of Hypocracy
  9. Mitahara ; ..moderation in diet
  10. Sauca ; .....physical and mental purity (cleanliness)
The Ten Niyamas (Observances)
  1. Tapas ; .....austerity
  2. Santosa ; ..contentment , joyfull acceptance
  3. Astika ; .....faith in God (or divine higer self)
  4. Dana ; ......giving in charity or sharing with others
  5. Isvarapujana ;....worship of the Ishvara ... (the supreme as person or higer self)
  6. Siddhanta Vakya Sravana ; ...Hearing discourses or recitations of the ancient scriptures
  7. Hri ; ........ cultivating modesty and humility , ...developing remorse for one's previous actions
  8. Mati ; .......developing understanding , ....reconcileing or resolving conflicting ideas
  9. Japa ; ...... recitation of mantra
  10. Huta ; .......performance of rituals , (Yajna)
Argh, Wikipedia mentioned only five each in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga_Sutras_of_Patanjali#Yamas. You have increased it to ten each, making it more difficult for us. :( However, the premise is uncontestable. We cannot be real Hindus unless we try to follow Yamas and Niyamas.
 

निताइ dasa

Nitai's servant's servant
Aupji's mood reminds me of the mood of Tulsi das towards His worshippable Lord, Sri Rama. It is such a beautiful bhava. If only I had an atom of that mood towards my dear Lord Nitai, then my life would be successful :sob::sob: Does it matter if the Lord's form is green or blue? The Lord's form is so beautiful that it was able to attract the renounced sages of Dandakaranya (who had been meditating for hundreds of years). If we saw that form, we would faint. There is a very important verse in the Bhagavatam, about this:

ātmārāmāś ca munayo
nirgranthā apy urukrame
kurvanty ahaitukīṁ bhaktim
ittham-bhūta-guṇo hariḥ

"All different varieties of ātmārāmas [those who take pleasure in the ātmā, or spirit self], especially those established on the path of self-realization, though freed from all kinds of material bondage, desire to render unalloyed devotional service unto Sri Hari"

Lord Chaitanya gave 100 meanings of this verse. Tulsidas also says the same thing:


sadhaksiddha bimukta udasi, kavi kovida vikrthajna sanyasi,
jogi sur sutapas jnani dhrma nirat pandit vijnani

"
The practitioner, and the perfected, the liberated and the unconcerned, whether they be the greatest poet, the most renounced or a Sannayasi. Even if they are a Yogi, or a demigod or even son of a god, or a jnani. Or if they are perfect in dharma, or a pandit, or even a realized soul"

trarina binu seem nam svami ram namami nami namami”.

"
These persons cannot be delivered without my Lord. To that Rama, I bow again and again!"

Mo sama dina na dina hita, tuma samana raghubira
Asa vicari raghubansa mani, harahu visama bhava bhlra

I am the most fallen, there is no one as fallen as me, and there is also no-one, who is more merciful, then You, my Lord Rama. Considering this O crest jewel of the the clan of Raghu, please take away this disease of material existence

Kamihi nari piyari jimi, lobhihi priya jimi dama
Timi raghunatha nirantara, priya lagahu mohi rama


"As a lustful man loves women and a greedy person loves money, O Raghunath, with the same intensity may I love you."
 
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