Vishnu and Shiva

HariHara Form. Image designed by me

Vishnu and Shiva

We know that Vishnu and Shiva both are supreme deities of Hindu religion, and we have seen debates over supremacy of these two deities. Shaivism says Shiva is the supreme god and Vaishnavism says Vishnu is the supreme god. Today, we’ll see what actually Vishnu and Shiva are.

There is a word ‘Para Brahman’, which means the first yogi. And as our scriptures say the yoga was discovered by Shiva. Shiva is considered as Adiyogi, which means the first yogi and ultimately founder too. There are two Para Brahmans according to Hinduism: Vishnu and Shiva. If someone is Para Brahmana, the first yogi, we can say that he couldn’t born or die. And in Trimurti, Vishnu and Shiva both are Para Brahmans.

According to Shiva Purana, Skand Purana and few other scriptures, Shiva is the supreme lord, a supreme soul, who is superior to all. And everyone’s last destination. However, Vishnu Purana, Garuda Purana, Bhagwat Purana, Ramayana and Mahabharata say that Vishnu is supreme deity, and the supreme soul. The universe is a heart of Vishnu. We know that Lord Brahma, the creator of universe, was appeared from the navel of Vishnu and we can see that in pics, right? So, he is not Para Brahman. But Vishnu is.

But who are Vishnu and Shiva?

We can understand that by studying their personalities and life. Vishnu rest on the snake with thousand heads (Sheshanaag) on the ocean of milk, Kshira Sagar. His consort is Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and prosperity. The abode of Vishnu is Vaikunth, a more beautiful place than heaven itself.

On the other side, Shiva lives ascetic life. He lives on Mount Kailash, in Himalayas. His consort was Sati and Parvati. They both are the forms of Shakti. Shakti is the energy which was produced during the creation of the universe. Shakti is energy using which the planets move, and universe works. And a humanoid form of that Shakti Sati. After Sati’s death, Shakti reborn as Parvati. Shakti is consort of the Adiyogi Shiva. As we know that Shiva is the destroyer, Shakti helps him to energize the destruction and they both together makes this happen.

Vishnu is like world holder. His responsibility is to watch over the world. His responsibility contains many things from birth of human to its afterlife. Everything happens in this universe is his responsibility. Lakshmi is Goddess of wealth and prosperity and she helps Vishnu to make a world prosperous and to give things as per need.

Brahma’s consort is Saraswati, Goddess of Knowledge. Brahma’s responsibility is to create the universe and life, and Saraswati helps him by putting knowledge in beings. Thus, it’s a cycle. But the main holder of that cycle is Vishnu, who is said to be the supreme soul. Vishnu makes Brahma to create the world, and when his world must end, he tells Shiva to end it.

Completeness of Vishnu having Brahma and Shvia Lingam near his hand

Now, we know about Brahma’s birth. But what about Vishnu and Shiva. Who is superior? The answer is no one. Vishnu and Shiva are basically the same. Vishnu and Shiva are two different appearance of a same soul. We know that Shiva found the Yoga. But how he found it? He found yoga through meditation, and he meditates Vishnu. He worships Vishnu. And also know that Vishnu meditates Shiva, lying on the Kshira Sagar. Vishnu worships Shiva. There is no superiority between them. They both are two sides of a soul. We can understand this by their lifestyles.

Life of Shiva:

Despite of having an ascetic life, Shiva had to marry Sati and Parvati (Shakti). Then they together had children: Kartikeya (Skand or Murugan), Ganesha, Ashoka Sundari, and other few. Shiva and Shakti together is a symbol of married life. They teach how a couple should live their married life. Shiva’s ascetic life shows that despite of having family, one shouldn’t get so connected in them that they forget their actual goal and responsibility. Thus, Shiva has family. Despite of a vairag, he has a family. And we know that Vishnu himself wanted Shiva to marry Shakti.

Life of Vishnu:

However, we know that Vishnu and Laxmi are a couple. But there is a fact that they has no actual children. Despite of having wealth and prosperity, Vishnu’s actual children are just we. His heart has the whole universe and beings of the universe are his children. Shiva is a perfect householder who has a perfect consort Parvati and children. But Vishnu is householder of each being. He is the lord of the universe. That’s why he is said the Paalanhaar (the one who cherish the universe).

Representation of Vishnu:

Besides, there is another reason why Vishnu is said to be the supreme lord. Shiva has few things like he becomes angry, sad, and happier. When Sati died he became so angry and sad that he was about to destroy the world. However, Vishnu is superior than any feelings. He is said to be Trigunatit (he can’t be bound in feelings). He never gets angry, he never becomes sad or he never becomes happier. He is a neutral. Even the gods have that greed and ego of having powers. But the house holder of Lakshmi herself, who has infinite happiness and prosperity, Vishnu can’t be distracted. Vishnu has most dangerous weapons like the greatest bow Saring, the greatest mace Kaumudaki mace, and the greatest arrows. But he has no ego. His Sudarshana Chakra is the representation of his energy, which sometimes can be used as weapon. His panchjanya conch is the best conch. The sound of that conch is representation of destruction of bad. That’s why Krishna used Panchjanya conch when the Mahabharata war started. He lives on the Kshira Sagar, which is the representation of universe. And the snake with thousand heads (Sheshnaag) is said to be the holder of universe (not only the earth). Sometimes Sudarshana Chakra is mentioned as the universe itself, which is held by Vishnu.

Representation of Lord Vishnu

Representation of Shiva:

Shiva is just another side of Vishnu. Shiva lives a life which Vishnu can’t live due to his responsibilities. And Vishnu lives a life which Shiva can’t live due to his responsibilities. Thus both Vishnu and Shiva are the same. The snake around Shiva’s neck, Vasuki, is the king of snakes. The third eye on Shiva’s forehead represents his knowledge of Yoga. His ultimate Yogic energy. His Trishul is his representation of his personal energy.

Representation of Lord Shiva

Shiva Lingam

The Shvialingam which we worship, represents the meeting of Shiva and Shakti. The Lingam is the energy of god, energy of a man and yoni is energy of woman. And when these two meet in Shiva Shakti form, it represents the beginning. The same process through which a new human can be born. It is a combination of two energies into one form. That’s what we call Shivalingam. That’s the fact, and one shouldn’t be ashamed of speaking that. I know it becomes quite embarrassing to explain this verbally. Besides, it’s the logic of modern nuclear energy. Have you seen nuclear plants? Then you must have seen its shape. It’s like Shivalingam. And the nuclear energy is stored at the top. Similarly, like a man’s energy. Besides, in temples, you’d see a pot over Shiva Lingam which drops water frequently. That’s the logic of coolant. We need coolant to balance the nuclear energy. The life and personality of Lord Shiva helps mankind to live life properly and how we can cherish. And Lord Vishnu’s life helps mankind to live without connecting yourself into it.

HariHara Form:

Shiva and Vishnu had a son together. Shiva is a father of that son and Vishnu is mother. Vishnu formed into Mohini (his female avatar) and she bore a son, who later became famous as Ayyappa. The HariHara Son.

HariHara Form of Vishnu and Shiva

Besides, Vishnu is known as Narayan and each man is created just like him. And they are called Nara. And Vishnu is lord of all mankind, which means the supreme lord. And the Vedas also link the original form of mankind to the Narayan.

Krishnaism:

People who belive Krishna as the supreme god has this thought. They consider Vishnu as the omnipotent cosmic form of supreme lord. There are description of two Krishna. One is intimate supreme deity, and the lord of godhead (In our words, Vishnu’s roopa as head of gods). And other is his avatar, Krishna in Dwapara Yuga, as the complete god. This Krishna is known as Swayam Bhagwan, who has all the cosmic powers in human body. They consider that Vishnu is shapeless. The Vishnu which we see, is his swayam roopa, and Krishna as the head of gods.

But then, the fact remains fact that Vishnu and Shiva are the same. Both are eternal and supreme soul. They are two sides of a supreme soul, which shows the meaning of different types of life. There is an omnipotent supreme soul, and these two are forms of supreme lord.

Krishnaism

My Conclusion:

If they both themselves don’t compare for superiority, who are we to compare? Besides, they both are same. Vishnu is Shiva and Shiva is Vishnu. They both are eternal, and supreme soul. Because they both share the same soul. That’s why Vishnu is heart of Shiva and Shiva is heart of Vishnu. They both worship each other. That’s why I’d worship supreme soul as an omnipotent form, or as a soul of each human. My bhakti is my works, my deeds, and my each breath. I’d explain how I see bhakti in another article. But remember one thing, whatever people say, Vishnu and Shiva are same. 

Five Questions of Swaminarayan

Five Questions of Swaminarayan

Establisher:    

The well-spread community of Hinduism now-a-days has a great establisher who actually asked questions which really make sense and might open your eyes at seeing things. The establisher of Swaminarayan Community, Sahajanand Swami (b. Ghanshyam Pandey) actually found the answers of those five questions. He said that those questions are useful to select appropriate Ashram. But I will make you believe that those questions are much more than that.

Sahajanand Swami started 7 year pilgrimage around the India to know the culture of this ancient country. India still has many unrevealed secrets and things which we don’t understand. This country has its core in ancient civilizations as well as the stuff which we call divine. It has witnessed divinity and maybe the real form of divinity can only be found in those ancient parts of this country. Well, let’s return on the topic. So, Sahajanand Swami started his pilgrimage under the name of Nilkanth Varni. And he wandered the world to seek the enlightenment. And guess what? He learned the secrets.

Krishna and Vishnu (According to Vaishnavism and Swaminarayan):

But let me first inform you few things which might be helpful to understand this particular topic. The Dashavtar (Ten Avatars of Lord Vishnu) are Matsya. Kurma, Varaha, Narsimha, Vamana, Parshurama, Rama, Krishna/ Balarama, Buddha and Kalki. Well, I expect readers would have already known that. My main focus is on the eighth number. Yes, I know if you read the list, you might have confused at Krishna. But that’s true. As I explained in previous many posts why Krishna is said to be complete god, in Vaishnavism and Swaminarayan, Lord Krishna is considered as the god himself (Swayam Bhagwan). They believe that the eighth avatar was Balarama, because Krishna is Vishnu himself. They believe that Balaram incarnated in eighth avatar to destroy demons. And the Krishna appeared as the god himself. He has that actual knowledge and powers. He has peacock feather, Sudarshana, Panchjanya, Saringa bow, Kaumadaki Mace, Garuda, Dwarka (Mirror of Vaikunth), ocean of Dwarka (mirror image of Kshir Sagar) and the knowledge of three tenses. Besides, his appearance is illustrated same as Lord Vishnu.

Lord Vishnu with Sudarshana, Panchajanya Conch, Kaumudaki Mace, and each aspect are similar with Krishna

That’s why these two communities believe that Krishna was the complete god. He was not an Avatar or part of Vishnu, he was Vishnu himself.

Swaminarayan community came from Udhava Sampradaya, which was existed when Sahajanand Swami was given the responsibilities to lead them. Then, later the name of that community was given as Swaminarayan.

What is Swaminarayan word?

Swaminarayan word is clearly made of two words Swami and Narayan. Narayan is Lord Vishnu. But here, Narayana is Lord Krishna, because in this community Krishna is the supreme god. And Swami is referred for Sahajanand Swami, establisher of this community. Together these words indicate the joint of Nara and Narayan, Nara Narayan.

However, before existence of this community, Nara Narayan was used to refer Krishna and Arjun. Krishna and Arjun were known as Nara Narayan. Clearly here, Narayana is Krishna and Nara is Arjun.

So, basically, Swaminarayan Sampraday worships the Nara Narayan form of god, which is Sahajanand Swami, the establisher. The supreme deity is clearly Narayan.

Five Questions:

Sahajanand Swami asked five questions to select appropriate Ashram. The Ashram which could give the answers appropriately, is the best.

1.  What is Jiva?

2. What is Ishvara?

3. What is Maya?

4. What is Brahmana?

5. What is Para Brahmana?

I think these questions are much more than that. If properly answered, these questions could give you proper knowledge of life. I’ll here try to answer all those question according to my view and knowledge.

What is Jiva?

Jiva means the being which has life. But here, what is Jiva means what is Jivatma. Here, Jiva is used for Soul.

Illustration of soul in modern art

As I explained in Gita Articles, Souls are parts of the supreme soul. As mother gives birth to a child in her womb, the nature gives birth to a being in its womb and soul is seed. Then, the three qualities Sattva, Rajas and Tamas bind the soul in body and creates its nature. And according to development of these three qualities, a person’s nature is built and his/her life also belong on his/her nature. So, Jiva is soul of all beings, who have only one destination. The Supreme Soul. According to Swaminarayan, the supreme soul is Narayan, and according to many communities in Hinduism, Vishnu is Narayan and the supreme soul himself.

So, this question is basically a question whose answer is Sankhya Yoga. If you have understood Sankhya Yoga as I explained, you might understand what Jiva is. Due to less time I can’t again explain all that here. But I’ll provide link which would directly take you there.

What is Ishvara?

Ishvara means god. Here, I mean the supreme soul. The supreme soul is the god, the Ishvara. We all are souls and our destination is the supreme soul. We are parts of Ishvara, bound with the three qualities which have hidden our ultimate knowledge. And if we receive the Aatma Gyan (Enlightenment), we could know what Ishvara is. This is also connected with Gita articles, right? So, read there, what is Supreme Soul?

Lord Vishnu as the supreme lord

http://perspectivewithme.blogspot.in/2015/09/gita-how-and-what-i-understood-it-part-1.html (For Sankhya Yoga and Supreme Soul)

What is Maya?

Maya means the things due to which a person forgets his/her ultimate knowledge. The soul knows everything, it’s hidden with those three qualities of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. And these three qualities are known as Maya. The souls are bound with Maya and formed into bodies. And if a person could know how to balance these qualities or how to get rid of these, he/she could be freed from Maya. And if you’re free from Maya, you can recognize the real supreme soul of everyone’s soul. Because as I said in Gita articles, every souls are connected to the supreme soul. And if we are free from Maya, we can see the supreme soul in each soul. We don’t have to find supreme soul in idols or anything.

http://perspectivewithme.blogspot.in/2015/09/gita-how-and-what-i-understood-it-part-3.html (For three qualities which is called Maya)

What is Brahmana?

Brahmana here doesn’t mean Brahmins. It has nothing to do with Brahmins. Brahmana means Yogi. Yogi is a soul who is free from Maya, and a person who knows that his body has its work in this nature and his soul has nothing to do with it. His body has work of Nature’s cycle. And a person who does all works of life, but doesn’t get connected into them, is Yogi. A person who works without expectations, affections, love, hate, or anger; is Yogi. So, Brahmana means Yogi. And there are various types of yogis like Sankhya Yogi, Karma Yogi, Karma Sanyas Yogi, etc. The type of Yogi depends on the way he takes to reach the supreme soul. For more info, see Gita Articles. :P

http://perspectivewithme.blogspot.in/2015/09/gita-how-and-what-i-understood-it-part-2.html (For types of Yogi)

What is Para Brahman?

Some people mistake these term and say that Ishvara and Para Brahman are same thing. That’s partially right. Yes, Ishvara is Para Brahman. But what is Para Brahman? As we know that Brahmana means Yogi, Para Brahman means the first Yogi. Sometimes, it’s referred as Adiyogi. It means a Yogi who first got enlightenment. And clearly, the Para Brahman can’t be born or can’t die. First Yogi has found the Yoga. There are two Para Brahmans according to Hinduism: Vishnu and Shiva.

I know that many of Puranas conflict the fact on supreme soul. Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana, and few other Puranas say that Shiva is the supreme soul and supreme god, who established the Yoga. He didn’t born. He is Para Brahman.

However, Vishnu Purana, Garuda Purana, Bhagwat Purana, Kalki Purana, Bhavisya Purana, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Vedas say that Vishnu is the supreme soul. And most of the Hindus believe the same. It is said that Vishnu and Shiva both are same. Shiva is just another side of Vishnu, whose responsibility is to destroy the demons when Vishnu wants. That’s why we can see Brahma (Creator of the Universe) is appeared from the navel of Lord Vishnu. We can always see a lotus born from navel of Vishnu and on that lotus, Brahma sits. Vishnu told Brahma to create the universe. And Shiva is mirror image of Vishnu himself. Shiva lives ascetic. Vishnu himself watches over the world. That’s why Vishnu is considered as the supreme soul.

Lord Vishnu lying on Kshira Sagar

I assure my readers that I’d post a brief description about Vishnu and Shiva in another post. Because explaining those stuff here might distract readers who are here for those five questions.

But, we can agree on the fact that Vishnu and Shiva are two only Para Brahmans, who started the Yoga. Shiva is said to be founder of Yoga, but we know that he found Yoga through meditation. And Shiva meditates Vishnu, and Vishnu meditates Shiva. That makes sense that they both are same and equal.

Shivay Vishnu Rupay, Shiva Rupay Vishnave,

Shivasya Hridayam Vishnu, Vishnusche Hridayam Shiva,

Yatha Shivamayo Vishnu, evam vishnumayo shiva

This, these five question asked by Sahajanand Swami are the same questions explained in Gita. If you have properly understood Gita, you know what these question means.

However, we know that today religion has nothing to do with this knowledge and they only worry for money. Whether it’s Swaminarayan, Vaishnavism, Shaivism, or the whole Hinduism, we all are fake devotees. Because we worship without understanding what the worship is.

Links of all four parts of Gita are listed below:
http://perspectivewithme.blogspot.in/2015/09/gita-how-and-what-i-understood-it-part-1.html
http://perspectivewithme.blogspot.in/2015/09/gita-how-and-what-i-understood-it-part-2.html
http://perspectivewithme.blogspot.in/2015/09/gita-how-and-what-i-understood-it-part-3.html
http://perspectivewithme.blogspot.in/2015/09/gita-how-and-what-i-understood-it-part-4.html

From Vedic/Puranic Civilization to Indus Valley Civilization

Ruins of Mohenjo Daro

From Vedic/Puranic Civilization to Indus 

Valley Civilization

Aryans of Indus Valley Civilization:

Aryans, The name to which we all could relate. We can be said Aryans. But more precisely, Aryan was a word which was used for civilization that existed as Indo-Iranian people. There are various dates on which these civilization could have been existed. It is said the Indo-Iranian civilization started around 3000 BCE. And the Aryans came passing by the Hindu Kush hills. It’s located in Afghanistan and Pakistan. So, clearly they came through Persia, Mesopotamia, Misr (Egypt) or other regions which were existed even before 3000 BCE.

However, our scriptures and Puranas describe that we had civilization even before 10000 years. If we consider the Ramayana as a true story, Rama existed 10000 years ago, which falls around 7500 BCE. And according to those stories, they describe the facts about locations which are still present in India, and few unknown locations like Kumari Kandam, which might have been sunk in ocean during ice ages. And clearly, if so many realistic features are included in scriptures, we can’t simply deny their fiction. So, if India (Then, Aryavarta) had civilization 10000 years ago, how Indus Valley Civilization which are seemed to be started by Aryans, could have come and found nothing here?

Existence of other civilizations during Puranic/Vedic period:

Map of Vedic/Puranic Civilization

Besides, the Mahabharata mentions other civilizations like Misr, existed during that era. In one of the story, Mahabharata mentions Misr. So, Egyptian Civilization existed even 5000 years ago. So, the existence and construction of pyramids make sense. But how come Aryans (Indo-Iranians) couldn’t find ancient civilization here? We know that Harappa and Mohenjo Daro civilizations were also part of Indus valley civilization and they made the areas of Indus River as their home. E.g., Punjab of Modern Day along with Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Harappa Civilization Map

Ruins of Mehenjo Daro

Era of Sanskrit:

According to facts, Sanskrit existed between the second millennium BCE and 600 BCE, which clearly proves that Indo-Iranians used Sanskrit as their language since they came. (2500 BCE- 600 BCE). Then, the other languages came in existence and adopted by modern civilizations.

However, the Sanskrit used by Indo-Iranians is said the Indo-Iranian version of Sanskrit. And scholars say the Vedic Sanskrit is much older than that. Now this makes sense, because we have actual manuscripts of Vedas and Puranas along with Ramayana and Mahabharata, which are clearly older than that. So, it proves that a civilization existed even before the Indo-Iranian started the Indus Valley Civilization.

Where the ancient technology disappeared?

Shakuna Vimana - One of the ancient technologies

And if we deny that thing and believe that after Bronze Age, when Indus Valley Civilization started, we came in existence, then it denies the existence of any events described in our culture. Besides, our cultures and scriptures describe Vimanas and type of nuclear technologies which existed in ancient India. If Misr existed in that era, they should have these technologies too. And the pyramids might be created using such high technologies. However, Pyramids are said to be built during 2550 BCE, which is parallel time when the Indus valley Civilization also existed. And if our scriptures claim those technologies, what happened to them in just 1000 years and disappeared?  If we see the era of Bronze Age during 3000 BCE, we should not have those high technologies like Vimanas. (Since the Mahabharata was is dated around 3138 BCE) But we had. And that follows the one thing that a civilization existed before the Indus Valley civilization, and technologies existed too. What happened to those technologies and civilization, is a mystery.

Rukma Vimana - One of the ancient technologies

Is there any connection between Puranic/Vedic Civilization and Indus Valley Civilization?

However, people believe than Puranic/Vedic civilizations like the Mahabharata civilization might have any connections with Indus Valley Civilizations. But since we don’t have any particular link to connect with them, we can’t be sure about it. Besides, we know one thing that Aryans actually came from North Pole or any regions near Iran and Mesopotamia. And we know that theory of evacuation of Puranic/Vedic civilization, and if we believe those stories true, it can relate to Aryans too.

If you desire to see my digital paintings which I have made during my free period, I'm publishing those in my new blog called Indian Mythological Arts. I'm going to make a free Art Exhibition of my arts. 

http://indianmythologyarts.blogspot.in/

Visit my blog and you'd find more information about it. 

Syamantaka: The Lost Philosopher’s stone (Part 1)

Syamantaka Stone illustrated by me

Syamantaka

The Lost Philosopher’s stone (Part 1)

I know it’s impossible for many of you knowing about the Syamantaka stone. Syamantaka was a precious stone of the Sun god, who used to wear it around his neck. Syamantaka was the actual reason of his tremendous glory, and whenever the Sungod presented himself in front of any worshipper, he couldn’t see him due to the glow of Syamantaka.

Syamantaka was said to be looked like a ruby or blue sapphire, and was continuously glowing with its full glory. It is said that Syamantaka could pour out 170 pounds gold every day. We know that in Alchemy, many of scientists like Newton experimented on lead to convert it in gold using chemical experiments. It is said that the only stone that could convert any metal into gold was the philosopher’s stone. It was elixir of life, which could help a person to live loner without getting old. Since Syamantaka is considered in Vishnupuran and Bhagwat Purana, we can consider Syamantaka as the Indian version of Philosopher’s stone.

A gift from Sun god:

Satrajit, a Yadav minister, once worshipped the Sun god to acquire his blessings. The sun showed himself, pleased with the hard worship of Satrajit. When the sun god presented himself to Satrajit, he couldn’t see him due to tremendous glow of his body. He requested him to come in such form that he could see him easily. Then the sun god wear off that stone around his neck, and Satrajit saw him in copper body and red eyes. When the sun god asked him to ask for a boon, Satrajit asked for that jewel of his neck. And the sun god finally gave it to him.

Location: Dwarka

Satrajit returned to Dwarka with Syamantaka, and people of Dwarka mistook him as the sun god himself. But then Satrajit showed off a bit more and people came to know that he was none other than Satrajit. When gossip about that jewel reached to Krishna and Balarama, Krishna summoned Satrajit in the royal court of Dwarka. He told him to present the jewel to the Yadav Chief Ugrasena (King of Mathura, Grandfather of Krishna and Balarama, Father of Kansa and Devaki). But Satrajit didn’t follow Krishna’s orders, and he didn’t go Mathura to present that jewel to King Ugrasena.

Satrajit gave that jewel to his younger brother, Prasena. Prasena kept it gracefully and wandered wearing it. One day while wandering in the forest, Prasena was attacked by a lion and killed him. The lion swallowed that jewel and went in the thick forest. Then, the lion was killed by the king of bears, Jambuvan (That king of bear from Ramayana), and he possessed that jewel.

When the gossip of Prasena’s murder spread in Dwarka, people started thinking that Krishna tricked him and murdered for that jewel, and it had started chaos. Krishna had no option, except finding that jewel and prove his innocence. Krishna followed the trail, where Prasena was deceased by the lion, and he found a horse lying in the forest and few body parts of Prasena, that led Krishna to the cave of that lion. But Krishna found that lion also killed, and he saw footprints of giant bear. Krishna followed that footprints and at the end, he saw few children were playing with glowing priceless jewel.

Krishna’s marriage with Jambuvati:

Jambuvan interrupted then and Krishna and Jambuvan engaged in the battle, which lasted for 28 days. Jambuvan was the great warrior and couldn’t be defeated by anyone. He got tired after 28 days and then he realized that the person with whom he was fighting, was none other than Lord Krishna himself (Incarnation of Vishnu as well as Rama). So, he gave up and presented Syamantaka to Krishna. Besides, Jambuvan presented his human daughter Jambuvati to Krishna and Krishna accepted her as his second wife. (Jambuavti then gave birth to Samba who was cursed by Sage Durvasa. See the story of Tsunami 3102 BCE)

Jambuvan returns Syamantaka to Krishna and offers his daughter for marriage

Krishna’s marriage with Satyabhama:

Krishna returned to Dwarka with that priceless jewel of Syamantaka and his new wife. He then summoned Satrajit in his court and gave that jewel back to him. Satrajit accepted that jewel on one condition that Krishna must accept his daughter Satyabhama as his wife. Krishna married to Satyabhama and accepted her as his wife.  However, few courtiers like Kritavarma (Commander of Narayani Army), Akrur (Prime Minister of Dwarka) and Satadhanwa had their eyes on that jewel.

Syamantaka in Dwarka Court. Satrajit offers Satyabhama's hand to Krishna along with Syamantaka

Robbery of Syamantaka:

After few days, the news of Varnavart came that brought Dwarka a sad news. A messenger from Hastinapur came and informed that sister of Vasudeva (krishna’s father), Kunti, and her five sons (Pandavas) died in the fire at the Varnavart palace. Krishna and Balarama both immediately departed to Hastinapur, and Kritvarma, Akrur, and Satadhanwa got their chance of Krishna’s absence.

One night, Satadhanwa went at Satrajit’s home and slayed him while he was asleep. Then he stole the Syamantaka. The next day when, the news of Satrajit’s murder came in Dwarka Palace, his daughter, Queen Satyabhama suddenly rushed at Hastinapur and informed about the murder of her father.

Krishna quickly returned to Dwarka. Hearing this news, Satadhanwa fled away, giving Syamantaka to Akrur. Krishna caught Satadhanwa near Mithila and killed him. After his return to Dwarka, when he came to know that Akrur had Syamantaka in his possession, he summoned him in the royal court.

Akrur pleaded for mercy and Krishna let him keep that stone safe, but only on one condition. Syamantaka must not go out from Dwarka. Akrur accepted the condition and Krishna appointed few guardians for the protection of Syamantaka. And those guardians were known as Gyats.

Syamantaka was kept safe in the unknown location inside Dwarka until the Tsunami came in 3102 BCE. 

After Dwarka submerged in the ocean, Syamantaka is lost forever, However, there are some rumors which seem true about existence of Syamantaka in current situation. However, some believe that Kohinoor is that Syamantaka, but it can't be possible because it doesn't match any of characteristic of Syamantaka.

P.S. : The mythical fictional story of Syamantaka described in The Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi and other sources on Internet, would be published soon. 

The 24th Tirthankara: Story of Lord Mahavir

Ahimsa Sthal, New Delhi

The 24th Tirthankara

Story of Lord Mahavir

Vaishali City, 599 BCE (Present Day: Vaishali, Bihar)

Birth and Early life as a Prince:

A beautiful city named Vaishali City was ruled by Solar Dynasty. More precisely, by the Ikshvaku Rulers. It was the era for a great change, in which a god was about to come on the earth. 

Vaishali City was prosperous and was being well-ruled by the king of that time, King Siddhartha. Few years ago, he married with a daughter of President of Vaishali City, Trishala. One night, Queen Trishala had dreams. They were in a proper series. Scholars say there were totally 14 dreams. (According to Shwetambar), and 16 dreams (According to Digambara). Those dreams meant something. As we know that our forefathers had specific knowledge about the particular dreams and their results. And this was the perfect moment. Queen Trishala saw those dreams at that night. 

The series of dreams are shown below: (Good Omens)

1. Dream of an elephant

2. Dream of a bull

3. Dream of a lion

4. Dream of Laxmi

5. Dream of flowers

6. Dream of a full moon

7. Dream of the sun

8. Dream of a large banner

9. Dream of a silver urn

10. Dream of a lake filled with lotuses

11. Dream of a milky-white sea

12. Dream of a celestial vehicle

13. Dream of a heap of gems

14. Dream of a fire without smoke

15. Dream of a pair of fish (According to Digambara)

16. Dream of a throne (According to Digambara)

After having these dreams, frightened Queen Trishala woke up her husband, King Siddhartha and informed him about these dreams. They both knew that those dreams were signifying something. Queen Trishala was pregnant in those days, and they couldn’t ignore such moments in such precious time. 

Next day, King Siddhartha summoned few scholars and asked their help to enlighten them about the results of those dreams. Scholars said that those dreams indicate good result, and they might result into a brave, courageous, intelligent and virtuous child. Hence, the dreams had the throne and other things that indicated a child with royal and kinglike future. However, dreams have few things which indicated a peaceful nature and very simple lifestyle. Whichever would create the child’s nature, we know that, right?

In few months, on the 13th day of bright day of Chaitra month, Queen Trishala gave birth to a son, a scion of Ikshvaku Dynasty. Many good omens had been noticed before the son was born. He was named Vardhman, a boy who grows and grows, with each prospect like knowledge, brilliance, strength and courage. 

Considering that child’s childhood, it was simple and his nature was quite complicated. Royal Family which belonged to Solar Clan, especially Ikshvaku Dynasty, was hoping and expecting him to become a great king. But that boy’s destiny had something different for him, something better, or the best. The boy seemed very brave, courageous and peaceful since his childhood. 

At his young age, he married to Yashoda, and gave she gave birth to a daughter, named, Priyadarshana. (According to Shwetambara). However, Vardhman’s mind had been wandering elsewhere, away from the luxuries and comforts of palaces, away from the actual life. His mind was continuously asking for one thing, a meaning which could make sense to his heart and which could explain him the real meaning of humanly mortal life. What is the meaning of pain and happiness? He wanted to dig these answers. And he understood that he couldn’t get answers if he stayed in the royal palaces and enjoyed those comforts and luxuries.

Therefore, he made the most painful decision of his life, and he left the comforts of royal palaces, along with all luxuries and even the relations. He went away from Vaishali City, which had expected him to become their king. It is said that Vardhman had a sibling, named Nandivardhana. But not sure, who took the throne after departure of Vardhman. He took Diksha (Celibacy.. Leaving relations and comforts behind and live like a sage). It’s noted that he took Diksha at Vaishali. 

Sandavan, 569 BCE (Present Day: Kundalpur, Madhyapradesh)

Ascetic Life:

After leaving his home and city Vaishali, he moved in a park/forest, called Sandavan, which was near the Kundalpur (Present Day: Kundalpur, Madhya Pradesh). He started meditating in that parks and nearby areas to get the enlightenment of everything. In the beginning, he wore few clothes around his lower body. But then, he felt that there should be no shame in wandering around without clothes. Besides, a celibate must wader without nothing, and clothes can’t be considered as nothing. So, he left clothes too, and started meditating. 

The youngster, whose name was Vardhman before he took Diksha, sat in meditation under a tree, named Ashoka Tree. People, passing by that tree through the forest, felt odd, seeing a young man sitting under a tree, completely naked. They considered it as a shameful act, and Vardhman had to endure too much humiliation in that period. Boys used to throw stones at him, while he was meditating. Few stories about unbearable humiliations are popular in culture, which proves his peaceful mind and a beautiful nature. He endured all humiliations, and then, finally, that moment came. The moment of enlightenment. After twelve and half year. He achieved his enlightenment at the age of 43.

A popular story from his ascetic life

Rijuvaluka, 556 BCE

Spiritual Enlightenment (Keval Gyan)

Enlightenment of Lord Mahavir (Keval Gyan)

On the 10th bright day of Vaishakh, at the place called Rijuvaluka, that ascetic Vardhman achieved his spiritual knowledge, which was his enlightenment (Keval Gyan), and he became a legend. He became the Mahavir. After enduring pain and humiliation of the world for so many years, he got his enlightenment and became a legend. That spiritual knowledge gave him perfect perspective, bliss, knowledge of truth and power. 

His Teachings:

For more 30 years, Lord Mahavir travelled almost all parts of India and shared his knowledge among people. And when people realized his divine knowledge and way of spirituality, they started worshipping him as their mentor, and eventually, a god. 

Even the royal kings became his followers and followed his major teachings which still should be followed by mankind. King Bimbisar of Magadh, King Srenik, etc, famous kings were his followers and they were those few persons who gained knowledge under the one of the holiest person himself. Lord Mahavir was not just a man with flesh and blood, he was a long living message for mankind which established a way to gain the great destination of all souls. (Moksha)

Lord Mahavir’s teachings are concluded in his main five principles, which should be considered as the pillars of peace and bliss. 

1. Ahimsa (Non-violence): Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah. Ahimsa means Non-violence. The greatest Dharma for us. Non-violence can bring bliss in mankind, and it has that ability to melt a stone-hearted person, and change many hearts, and eventually, this particular concept can establish a peaceful nation. 

2. Satya (Truthfulness): Truthfulness of a person always leads him to greatness. A truth-speaking people are always favorited among the one who doesn’t follow this concept. Truthfulness is indication of a person’s pure heart and his honesty. These concept can establish purity in one’s heart. 

3. Asteya (Don’t steal): Stealing something is always seen wrong, and that is wrong. If someone is not giving something properly (with heart), why to accept it? Because it is what seems like stealing.

4. Brahmacharya (Celibacy): Celibacy doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t marry or don’t have intercourses. It means we must not connect ourselves in those bonds so tightly that we can’t break it when the time comes. We must understand our spiritual existence and that, we are just souls. And the relations, we make here, are just our body’s relations.

5. Aparigraha (Detachment): As I explained that we must not attach ourselves so much in people, or in mortal things that we forget about our actual and spiritual existence. We must have that free look over these things and should concentrate on the supreme soul.

I wrote four posts for explaining the most important concepts of Gita, and I personally think, these teachings also teach us the same. When there are so many evidences about effects of these principles in our daily lives, I still wonder why we don’t follow these. Are we afraid of losing or failing? Are we so attached with these mortal stuff that we don’t see what we actually are? Are we so sunk in the luxuries and comfort of these mortal things that we don’t know the pain of poor? Are we so dumb that we are not seeing perspectives of so many people, who tried to change our lifestyles? 

Besides, I agree that sometimes these principles are hard to follow, and sometimes we have to take a different route. E.g., As Gita says that we must follow the path of Ahimsa (Non-violence), because it’s the best way to follow. But when the situations are like that Mahabharata war, you can’t take the way of Ahimsa. Pandavas and Krishna tried many time to explain Duryodhana that what he was doing, was wrong. They tried the way of peace and non-violence. But sometimes, enemies take your thinking of non-violence as your weakness and attack on it, and you can’t let them do that, can you? So, sometimes it becomes necessary to take a different route.

We must not kill animals or even harm them. They have done nothing wrong, or harmful to us, then why to hurt them? So whatever we do with animals, is completely wrong. We can explain people about its consequences, but we can’t force. 

Pawapuri, 527 BCE (Present Day: Pawapuri, Bihar)

Moksha (Departure from earth):

After spending 72 years of his life on the earth, the god departed on the day of Diwali from the earth in 527 BCE. He got Moksha in Pawapuri (Present Day: Pawapuri, Bihar).

I personally think, whether you believe him as god or not, but you can’t deny the better results of his lifelong teachings. I think, he was not just a person with flesh and blood, he was the symbol that gave us the knowledge that we had forgotten in many years. Since the Dark Age (According to Hinduism) has started, it’s been more than 5000 years. And it’s been more than 2500 years, since Lord Mahavir existed. After those 2500 years, a messenger, the god himself comes to share that forgotten knowledge and people accepts his teaching with pleasure. But after another 2500 years, that knowledge seems to have been forgotten by our generation. I know that Lord Mahavir’s teachings have been followed by almost Jain people, but is it sufficient? Who said that his teaching can’t be followed by people of another religion? When a person of Ikshvaku Dynasty (In which our Lord Rama was born) could leave pleasures of his life and shows us the path to follow, why we can’t accept? As a matter of fact, 22 Tirthankara of Jainism were born in Ikshvaku Dynasty. And I still don’t understand why people have been discriminating us. As I said, I believe Lord Mahavir as a symbol of truth and bliss. Even if I’m Hindu, I think his teaching adds that extra flavour in Hinduism. The epics and pillars of Jainism adds more sweetness, which we need badly in recent days. 

Carving of Lord Mahavir in ancient cave

Since it’s been the holiest festival of Jains, Paryushana has been going on, I thought it’s the perfect moment to remind the teachings about the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism to my readers as well as myself. 

P.S.: I knew about the 14 dreams of Queen Trishala, but not the series. I took that series from the Internet, but didn't verify. But it seems right. Other story flow is developed by me. 

Kumari Kandam: The Sunken Continent

Original map of Kumari Kandam

Kumari Kandam

The Sunken Continent

After explaining the Tsunami of 3102 BCE, you readers know how Dwarka was submerged into the ocean. However, it’s not the only city which we lost. Dwarka was a city, big city. But you probably know nothing about the large continent of Kumari Kandam. We’ll dig its history today.

World map with Kumari Kandam

Lost continent of Kumari Kandam is said to be ruled by Tamil Kings once. It was many thousands years ago, because we know that we don’t have that land now. The above described image is said to be the sunken continent of Kumari Kandam. It is lost for many millennia. Kumari Kandam is also known as Lemuria. It is said that Kumari Kandam was larger than the whole India. Because its boundaries were connected with Tamil Nadu, Australia and Africa. Even it was connected with Madagascar. What happened to that continent? Yes, it sank in the ocean. When? Not sure. Tamil and Sanskrit texts describe about this continent of Kumari Kandam. Specifically, Skanda Purana, which has more detail about Lord Murugan (Kartikeya) refers Kumari Kandam as the land of kings and where Brahmins also used to live. 

Map describes how Kumari Kandam was the part of Aryavart

The earliest explicit discussion of a katalkol ("seizure by ocean", possibly Tsunami) of Pandyan land is found in a commentary on Iraiyanar Akapporul. This commentary, attributed to Nakkeerar, is dated to the later centuries of the 1st millennium CE. It mentions that the Pandyan kings, an early Tamil dynasty, established three literary academies (Sangams): the first Sangam flourished for 4,400 years in a city called Tenmaturai, attended by 549 poets (including Agastya) and presided over by gods like Shiva, Kubera and Murugan. The second Sangam lasted for 3,700 years in a city called Kapatapuram, attended by 59 poets (including Agastya, again). The commentary states that both the cities were "seized by the ocean", resulting in loss of all the works created during the first two Sangams. The third Sangam was established in Uttara (North) Madurai, where it is said to have lasted for 1,850 years.

Manimeghalai (dated around 6th century CE) mentions that the ancient Chola port city of Kavirippumpattinam (present-day Puhar) was destroyed by a flood. It states that this flood was sent by the Hindu deity Indra, because the king forgot to celebrate a festival dedicated to him. Perhaps, this flood or we can say Tsunami had swallowed the entire big portion of Kumari Kandam or maybe the portions were swallowed many times in these thousands years, and Kumari Kandam is now lost forever.

Lemuria and connection with Kumari Kandam:

Lemuria was called as Kumari kandam

In 1864, the English zoologist Philip Sclater hypothesized the existence of a submerged land connection between India, Madagascar and continental Africa. He named this submerged land Lemuria, as the concept had its origins in his attempts to explain the presence of lemur-like primates (strepsirrhini) on these three disconnected lands. Before the Lemuria hypothesis was rendered obsolete by the continental drift theory, a number of scholars supported and expanded it.

How did it actually submerge?

Few ancient Tamil Poets and writers write the giant flood (Tsunami) which swallowed the entire land of Kumari Kandam. Yet, modern theories say that when sea level rose during the end of last ice age, the land of Kumari Kandam might be submerged during that period. Few other references describe the same thing that it must have sunk during the end of last ice age.

Flood in Lemuria (Tsunami)

Remaining parts of Kumari Kandam:

1. Adam’s Bridge (Rama’s Bridge):

Adam’s Bridge which is also known as Rama’s bridge, which was made by army of monkeys in the leadership of Lord Rama to reach at Lanka. That bridge was made over the sea. If the myth of Kumari Kandam is true, there shouldn’t be the sea where Lanka once stood. If there was a sea, it must be a bay or a gulf that used to connect with the Ravan’s palace. Ramayana describes Lanka as an island, and if Lanka was an island, there should be no existence of Kumari Kandam.

Adam's Bridge (Rama Setu from Ramayana)

Or what if Kumari Kandam existed before the era of Ramayana? Even if it did exist before the era of Ramayana, the last ice age rose the waters and it destroyed the remaining parts of Rama’s bridge. But texts describe that Kumari Kandam had Pandya rulers and Tamil rulers, it means it did exist at the time of Ramayana, because Pandya and Tamil rulers came many years after Ramayana.

2. Sri Lanka and Madagaskar:

If we believe on the myth of existence of Kumari Kandam, it is clear that Sri Lanka was once a part of Kumari Kandam which was ruled by Tamil rulers. Kumari Kandam used to connect with the Madagascar of Africa. So it means the subcontinent of India was connected with each of these continents with land and by water.

Though, many historians and archaeologists have found few submerged ruins of sunken Kumari Kandam and they seem ancient. It might be possible that we had a land called Kumari Kandam that we lost in Tsunami.

When it’s all going around myths, let’s return to our theory of Tsunami of 3102 BCE. I know that Tamil kings were modern title, but our civilizations may have given names to the ancient kings as Tamil Kings. It may be possible that the Tsunami of 3102 BCE which swallowed the Dwarka city, might have swallowed the entire Kumari Kandam, or few of its parts. And it might be possible that later when sea level rose at the end of last ice age, or many previous ice ages, the land sank into water by time.

We could apply this theory to Dwarka too. As I said that Dwarka was made and remade seven times in these years. So it might be possible that those incarnations also sank due to the rise of sea level at the end of ice ages.

There are many islands exist in Arabian sea and the Indian Ocean, and they might relate to the continent of Kumari Kandam. In south Indian states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Kumari Kandam is a famous word, but what happened and how it disappeared under the sea, no one knows about that. This theory of Tsunami might prove its existence, otherwise it has been taken as a mythical land.

Ruins of Kumari Kandam

However, we can’t deny the facts that archaeologists have found the submerged parts of civilization, and according to texts Kumari Kandam had Indo-Aryan Civilization, and we are descendants of that civilization. Perhaps, the mythical land which we are talking about, existed millions of years ago, and submerged in ocean partwise time by time. Maybe the various Tsunamis and floods along with rise in sea level during ice ages had impacted this land.

Whatever it was, or whatever we find, if we have evidences about it, we can’t deny about it. Besides, Lemuria Civilization was also said to be existed there. The parts we have found, might not belong to Kumari Kandam, but it might relate to Lemuria, and may be Lemuria existed on the ruins of old Kumari Kandam. Whatever the fact is, whatever the truth is, we need to know our culture deeper. Because as far as we have been seeing, it seems we haven’t understood our own culture yet. Just imagine if Kumari Kandam Continent still existed, we would have the largest amount of land. Besides, existence of us and Indo-Aryan Civilization adds some evidences in existence of Kumari Kandam.

References: Data about books, poems and images have been collected from various sources on the Internet.

Note: The story flow is developed by me, and thinking of its submersion partially or fully with Tsunami of 3102 BCE is completely my thinking.