Jala Pushpam

Note: I am not promoting non-vegetarianism. These are just 'views' :-)

                     During yagnas, animal sacrifices were widely performed. During Aswamedha Yaga, horse was slaughtered and was regarded as 'holy food'. This holy food used to be cooked and distributed to all who participated in this yaga, including the audience. Similar to this there were many animal sacrifices done to fire god - Agni. But later on, things changed (during Budha era) and people started moving towards non-violence. So, few classes (Brahmins and Vyshyas) have become vegetarians.

Jalapushpam - An Exception:

                      Vegetarian class of Bengal and Odisha eat fish, calling it as ‘Jala Pushpam’.
Fish is considered to be a flower. It is considered to be purified by the water of River Hooghly which is a tributary of the Holy Ganges.

How eating fish by Bengali and Odia Brahmins is justified?

                       Since both fish and lotus flower are born in water, there is no difference between them. Fish is considered to be the purest offering to god. It is believed that, if the fish is put before the god as prasadham, the fish becomes veg. They are called Macha Brahmnals.

                       After marriage, a newly married couple tastes fish first as it is the symbol of purity. Whereas, in other regions, people taste Milk and / or milk products first.


How this started?

                       There have been a number of significant famines in the history of Bengal since 1773.
The then British Bengal included - Parts of Bihar, Odisha, WB and Bangladesh (Whole of East India).
Some of these famines lasted for about 12 years. So, there was a great proportion of population affected by these famines.The crops were not enough to feed everyone during these famines.

                        In such a situation, it has become mandatory for river / sea-side people to rely on fish. Sea / River food was obviously unaffected by famines. By depending on fish, they ensured that the non-coastal population had sufficient food in the form of crops. They considered this to be a service to god.

Why just 'fish' and not other animals?

                         Even when caught on a hook, the fish is never experiences pain because it does not have the necessary brain power. It is just equal to lotus flower. Fish’s reaction to being hooked is an unconscious reaction and is not a  response to pain.Whereas, all other animals have brain and they experience pain.

Chaturmasa - The four months Significance

Chaturmasa

                       Chaturmasa starts from Ashada Shudda Dwadashi (The day after tholi ekadasi) and ends on Kartika Shudda dashami.  Chaturmasa comprises of the following months:

• Ashada Masam
• Shravana Masam
• Bhadrapada Masam and 
• Karthika Masam. 

Religious Significance:

                       It is believed that Lord Vishnu goes on Yoga Nidra for four months.

During these four months, there are many vrathas and fasts that are followed by the followers of Sri Hari. Let us look into them, now:

Vrathas:

Shaka vratha: During Ashada / Shravan masam:
During this month, all Plant based food - All Vegetables, Fruits, plant leaves, stems, branches, Dry Chillies, Green Chillies, Coconuts are avoided.

Dadhi Vratha: During the Shravana / Bhadrapad masam:
During this period, curd should not be used in any form or manner.

Ksheera Vratha: Bhadrapada / Asweeyuja masam:
During this period, milk should not be used in any form. Coconut milk can be used.

Dvidala Vratham: Asweeyuja / Karthika masam:
Any item, that can be broken into two halves should be avoided.
These include - All Dals, green peas, any fruit or vegetable that contains multiple seeds apples, grapes, pomegranate, cucumber etc.

Chandraayana vrata : 
Lunch based on the size of moon. First day of lunar cycle, one would eat just one spoon per item. Second day, it would be two spoons per item. On pournami, it would be 15 spoons. Then, it would come down from 15 to 1. Last day would be, the day of Amavasya.
In this vratham, proper planning is needed. If a person eats more items on first day, he is supposed to eat 15 spoons of all those items (15 spoons x no. of items) on the day of pournami. So, whole month should be properly planned.

Mauna bhojana vratha:
During bhojana, one must not talk to anybody. He must do only do hari nama smarana.

Paraaka Vratha:
Fasting for 12 continuous days. 

Eka Bhukta Vratha:
One time serving. All items should be served in a single plate at a time. One is not supposed to add anything in his plate once everything is served.


Akhanda Vratha: 
One time meals (lunch) per day. Nothing more than that.

Diksaadhana vratha:
Facing different directions during bhojana. 

Significance:

As per Ayurveda, there are three disorders in human body:

• Pittam (Body Internal Heat - Metabolism Related disorders)
• Vaatham (Movement , Breathing related disorders)
• Kapham (Energy related disorders)

 
The chaturmasa period is during the rainy season. During this season, human body faces all these Pittam Vaatham and Kapham doshas (problems).

• In this season, the body metabolism is effected. It is not a healthy period for us when compared to Summer and Winter seasons. So, there is a need to change our eating habits during this period.
• River water gets contaminated due to flood water. So, water consumption should also be regulated.
• Diet should be light and less oily, as digestive power would become weak. Weak digestive system leads to stomach upset.
• Ground worms could come to the surface due to rain and contaminate underground and surface vegetables.
• Green leafy vegetables are avoided in Ashada month: Green vegetables aggravate 'Vaatham' (movement disorders) and hence are avoided. Also, it is during this period, ground worms contaminate the leafy, other vegetables.
• Curd is avoided in Bhadrapad: In Bhadrapad month 'Pittam' (internal heat) accumulates and hence Pitta producing foods are avoided (curd and other fermented foods).
• Milk is avoided in Shravana masam: One should abstain from tea, coffee, sugar as milk stimulate unnecessary excitements and causes indigestion.
• Pulses (split variety) and oils are avoided in Karthika masam: In Kartika masam, Kapha dosha (energy related disorders) accumulates and hence oils, pulses are restricted.

If regular fasts are observed, such unhealthy conditions would be handled effectively. May be, that's the reason why our forefathers are never obese. They followed such a wonderful diet plan and have lead a healthy life.

The Hijraness - Is it a psychological feeling?

Please Note: The views expressed here are my personal views and are not intended to hurt anyone.

About Bahuchara Matha:

                     In 12th Century, somewhere in Gujarat - Rajasthan border, there used to be a girl called 'Bahuchara'. Once, she was traveling in a forest along with her companions. This caravan was attacked by a group of robbers in the forest. They were looting men and molesting women. With no intention to surrender, she killed herself.

                     It is believed that after her death, Bahuchara gave a curse of impotency to these robbers. The curse would be void only when they worshiped Bahuchara Mata by dressing and acting like a woman.  These robbers did the same and mata was pleased by this.

                     Later on, a king in Gujarat prayed Bahuchara Mata for a son. After many years of waiting, a son was born, but he was impotent. One night, Bahuchara mata appeared in the prince's dream and told him that he was born like this as he was the member of robber group in his previous birth. She asked him to wear woman's clothes, behave like a woman. She even said that, if her orders were not obeyed, she would curse him to be born like the same for the next seven incarnations. The prince obeyed her orders.

                      It is believed that, she would, even now, come in the dreams of 'few identified men' and would order them to become a woman.

These identified men are the people of the Hijra Community

What happens in the life of a Hijra?

Stage -1 : 
                    Hizras are born as normal 'baby boys'.

Stage -2 : 
                    When these kids are 5-7 years old, they get attracted towards certain odd things like:

• Intention to play only with girls,
• Willingness to wear women's clothes
• Unnecessary shyness, etc.
• Interest towards lipstick and other women things

Stage - 3:
                     These kids get closer to the people with similar feelings in the village / town. The senior community members of the town would attract such kids and would start influencing them.
When this kid, the boy with 'odd' feelings, who is 12-15 years old now, comes under the influence of such people, he starts to believe that he was the 'robber' in his previous birth and was cursed to be born like this.

Stage - 4:
                    Due to these psychic disorders and the external influences, he would even get a similar dream where the goddess would ask him to come out of the body of a man and become a woman.
Now, he completely believes that he has no normal feelings at all and he is not a normal human being (male).

Now, what happens later on?

• This boy would totally become a girl
• He would run away from his house, change his appearance, name
• He would be getting associated with his community people

Now, the real struggle of life starts for him (her).

• No one gives him any work to do and he has no legal 'gender' status 
• He cannot go back to his original life
• At this point of time, he believes that all these sufferings are only due to the curse and matha has asked him to lead his life like this inorder to get proper birth atleast in his next janma. This feeling leads into the development of another psychic disorder where he starts hating the society
• He leads a meaningless life which has no moral values, which involves human trafficking etc. He lives in an unhealthy environment as no one would give him proper shelter and food.As a result of this, he would die young.

So, what should be done to correct such 'kids'?

                  Generally, our grand parents always used to ensure that boys play only with boys and not with girls. We think that they were wrong in doing like that. But, we must realize that, this 'gap imposition' has nothing to do with gender discrimination. It is actually to ensure that there would be no influence of a girl on a boy especially during the tender age. And, we must accept the fact that our elder ones have seen much more 'such' cases when compared to us. So, such monitoring is very important.

                  My intention is not to say that we must impose a compulsory gap. It must be ensured that proper monitoring of the kids is done. It is always easy to correct the kid by providing him necessary medical counseling and by changing the environment.

Significance of Vaahana (Vehicles)

As per Hindu Mythology, the following are the vehicles of important gods.

1. Ganesha - Mushika (Mouse)
2. Saraswathi / Brahma - Hamsa (Swan)
3. Parvathi - Tiger / Lion 
4. Shiva - Nandi (Bull)
5. Vishnu - Garuda (Eagle)
6. Lakshmi Devi - Owl 

Overview:

                    A vehicle doesn't necessarily mean that it is used only for traveling purpose. It means that the vehicles (animals) are controlled by the gods. Here, each animal signifies a particular type of quality which a human being possesses.

Let us see, what they signify:

• Mouse:

                    A mouse is always nervous and is confused. It goes here and there and will always be in doubt whether to do something or not. So, by worshiping Ganesha, one will get a psychological feeling that one has a moral support and can come out of nervousness.

• Owl:

                    Owl wakes up at night and sleeps during morning. It has no friends. It doesn't like human beings. It is always alone. Also, owl is considered to be inauspicious. So, one must understand that, one who runs behind money should lead a life like an owl. He should be aware of the fact that he would not have friends, he would be doing certain things to multiply his money only in the dark (illegal activities).

• Bull:

                    Bull is always aggressive, doesn't think at all and if not controlled, attacks all those who come on its way. So, the meaning is that, one should be aware of this quality and control it. Whenever we think of Lord Shiva, we should keep this point in mind and try to control the aggressiveness, bullying nature in us.

• Garuda:

                    Garuda pakshi is the fastest bird. It is believed that, this bird travels faster than the sound (Supersonic). The bird, here represents 'thoughts'. So, one has to control his words and his thoughts. Garuda Pakshi is the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. So, Vishnu would control our thoughts.

• Hamsa:

                    Both Saraswathi Devi and Brahma are associated with this Vahana. 'Swan' is an imaginary bird which represents 'Beauty', 'Peace', 'Grace', 'Attitude' and 'Noble Living'. Also, it is believed that it has a capability to separate 'Milk' and 'Water'. 'Milk' means right deeds and 'water' means wrong deeds. So, it means that one has to lead a 'noble' life by thanking Brahma for creating a 'beautiful' world. By differentiating the right path and wrong path, one can get moksha.

• Adi Sesha:

                     Lord Vishnu sleeps on Adi Sesha. Adi Sesha (Serpent) is not a 'Vahana'. But, it is controlled by Lord Vishnu. Here, the comparison is that, the desire in us will be like a snake. It comes out suddenly and will not think what is wrong and what is right. So, whenever we think of Vishnu, it should come into our mind that, this quality is bad one and should always be controlled.

• Tiger / Himalayan Lion:

                     Similarly, Tiger is Cruel, Angry, Violent and has no respect for other animals. These qualities will be controlled by Goddess Kali / Parvathi.

In this way, we have to relate each vehicle to some quality and should control it.

Swachandha Maranam - Is it possible?

                    There were many instances where many 'Gurus' , 'Yogis' , 'Swamijis' and 'Sadhus' predicted their time of death.This process of deciding the time and date of death is known as 'Swachandha Maranam'.

Few Instances:

                    There are many examples in our Indian History where people have predicted their date and time of death. Here are a few known ones:

• Bhishma Pithamaha : The Great Grand father of Kouravas & Pandavas - He lived for more than 150-200 years.
• Various Heads of Mutts (Peeta adhipathi) till the 14th Century
• Babas (Like Sai Baba; Even Satya Sai Baba predicted his day of death but could not achieve it)
• Swamy Vivekananda - Died while meditating, by the rupture of blood vessels in brain. He always thought, he should not live beyond 40 years.

So, can we decide our life span?

Answer to this question is -'YES'. We can decide the date and time of death.
 If we have a strong will, we have chances to live for as many years as we decide.

Prerequisites:

One who has fulfilled the following can decide the time of death:

• Who has entirely left all desires, worldly pleasures
• Who has gone through the life contented with just the bare necessities of life
• Who followed a perfect diet throughout his life - by eating only 'sathwik' aahara
• Who has left all the relations in this world (Sanyasi)
• Who always lead a noble life by balancing Dharma, Artha and Kama

The process:

Once all the above stated conditions are satisfied, one can decide when to leave the body.

After the particular date is decided, the heads / yogis (Swamy) who have already decided to attain Ichcha Mruthyu do the following:

• Observe a 54 days fast (not necessarily a fast, it would be something like a notice period) , 54th day being the date of death.
• During the initial 2-3 weeks of the fast period, the swamy would leave certain things one by one. 
• He would leave the 'master - student relationship' which he has with his followers, he would choose his successor etc.
• Slowly, he would stop eating and would consume only liquid food as a part of systematically weakening process
• During the last 2 weeks, Swamy would stop consuming liquids and would stop drinking water. 
• He would spend his time only in meditation, preaching

The Last Breath:

Last two days are very crucial in this process.

• By this time, he would be just a 'body' which did not consume anything for the last 3-4 weeks and which is 'just' breathing. Here, 'Air' is the only thing which he is taking in and out.
• Once he reaches the last 'ghadiya' he would slowly stop breathing. 

                 At this point of time, arrangements would have already been done by his disciples. His followers would have got some instructions to construct a Samadhi around him. He would be chanting some manthras or doing meditation and when he stops chanting, his disciples would cover his samadhi.

                 Earlier, till 12th Century, Swamijis used to instruct their disciples to break a coconut on their skull (Just one coconut). This ensures kapala moksha. But later on, the Maharajs and Emperors (Mughal) have put ban on this process. So, the process of breaking a coconut on skull was stopped. These days, even the process of going into maha samadhi is forbidden.

What is Kapala Moksha?

                    'Kapala' means Head. 'Moksha' means liberation of soul. Kapala Moksha is believed to happen when the life energy leaves the body through the small crack in the 'Bramha Ranthra' in the crown of the skull.                  

                     Scientifically, the 'Prana' (Soul) of a common man, after the death, leaves through one of the nine holes (Nava Randhra / dwara). But, there is one more gate at the top of the head - the 'brahma randhra', also known as 'dasama dwara' or the tenth gate. Only those people who get kapala moksha escape through the 10th gate.

                      Every human being has this spot in the brain known as  'Brahma Ranthra'. This spot is soft when we are born (Touch the skull of small kids, we can feel it). Till the time we reach the age of 5, it will be very soft. Later, it becomes hard. In Yoga and Meditation, the Sahasrara chakra is the most important one which is located at this spot.

What happens on breaking a coconut on the skull?

                     After adhering to 54 days of systematic fast, with no thoughts, relations etc the swamy's skull would be equivalent to that of a 2 year old kid. It would be very soft. So, at this point of time, where the yogi has already separated himself from his body, when a disciple breaks a coconut on swamy's skull, the Brahma Ranthra bursts open and Prana comes out. This is known as Kapala Moksha.

                    People who have attained this type of Salvation are considered to enjoy Jeevan Mukthi and are equal to God as per shastras. It is the highest method of salvation by which the soul can leave the body.

Exceptions:

                    If a yogi who meets all the per-requisites decides his day of 'moksha', his planning would succeed cent percent until and unless

• There is any natural calamity in due course of his life and he dies due to that
• There is any murder / unnatural way of death
• Death by other animals (eg. Malaria- mosquito)  or any other ailments

                   Since he leads a noble and disciplined life, he is not supposed to face the last two exceptions. But, if it is a natural calamity, no one can stop it.