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- Saba Sara Sangraha - Part 9 By Sri Sri 1008 Sri Sathyadhayana Swamiji, Pontiff of Uttaradhi Mutt
- Introduction to characters in Mahabharata - Part 3 By Sri Sri 1008 Sri Suvidyendra Swamiji, Pontiff
- Life and History of Sri Madhwacharya - Part 9 By M Rama Rao, Kumbakonam
Saba Sara Sangraha - Part 9
Sri Sri 1008 Sri Sathyadhyana Swamiji, Pontiff of Uttaradhi Mutt
Q-Subba rao) Swamiji! I've not yet seen Mumbai. My friends who have seen told me about Mumbai. Similary who have seen the heaven/hell? We can trust the words of people who have seen heaven/hell.
A-Swamiji) "prapya punya krutan lokhaan ushitva shasvateeh samaha shacheenaam sreemataam geha yoga brahstobhi jayate". As Sri Krishna who likes everybody (friend) has told like this, we should understand that heaven/hell are exist. Certainly the following different exist: It's possible to go and come back to Mumbai in ten days. But people who had gone to heaven will take another birth as the distance is very far and due to other reasons. Some people get life immediately after the death. They will start explaining about different worlds that they had travelled. Lot of people know this fact. There are hierarchy in this world. Once lives like a king and other like a servant. The reason for this hierarchy is the fortunate that people bring from these different worlds. No other reason. Therefore the vedic statements that says heaven and hell exist are true. There is no change in it. We should understand that.
Q-Subba rao) Swamiji! Certainly not possible. Charvakas are strongly saying that Heaven and hell does not exist. Then how to know that vedic statements are correct.
A-Swamiji) "Dharmaabhavopino thena pratyakshavagato bhavet" - As it states that there is no proof to say that Heaven/Hell does not exist. Therefore there is no definite proof to say that heaven/hell does not exist. You cannot say that heaven/hell does not exist only by perception (using sense organs). If a sense organ knows that a thing exist then the same sense organ only can say when that things do not exist. As stated early, heaven/hell is not visible to eyes. Therefore you cannot say that heaven/hell doesn't exist only by perception, just like saying pot doesn't exist. Even by logic (tarka) it's not possible to say that heaven/hell does not exist. Even through text (created by human being) it's not possible to say that heaven/hell does not exist.
Q-Subba rao) Swamiji! If that is the case why can't my same statement "Heaven/hell does not exist" should not be considered as true?
A-Swamiji) We will show you that your statements are not strong enough and validity of vedic statements by establishing the apourusheyatva (vedas are not man made). Therefore no proof to say that heaven/hell does not exist.
Introduction to characters in Mahabharata - Part 3
Drupadaraja was passing the days without sleep because of the insultation done by Dronacharya. Finally
Drupadaraja got one idea. Immediately he ran towards Yajopayaja and prostrated them. Those two brahmins out of their mantra shakti created two children. Female child got birth from yagnakunda, along with her a male baby also came out. Muni's gathered there saw the strength and shine in that baby which should exist for kshatriya (kings) and gave him a suitable name "Drustatvat dyotanatvat cha"- Drustadhyumna.
Drustadhyumna who was growing in Drupada's palace came to know that the purpose of his birth is to kill Drona. For that he should learn Astra Vidya. From whom? Drustadhyumna concluded that Dronacharya is the only person who is fit to teach Astra Vidya. It was a fashion to youngsters at that time to learn Astra Vidya from Dronacharya. Dronacharya knew that Drustadhyumna had come to learn Astra Vidya only kill to him. Even then he started teaching Astra Vidya to get the fame. Dronacharya taught Astra Vidya to Drustadhyumna to the capacity of leading seven akshouhini army and prepared him as a great warrior.
Drustadhyumna was commander-in-chief for the Pandava's army in the Kurukshetra war which lasted for 18 days. On 15th day while Dharmaraja was acting like doing adharma, Dronacharya dropped all shastras, fallen in the war field, and meditating Vasudeva with the support of a chariot. Using this opportunity Drustadhyumna ran towards Dronacharya holding the sword. Even though warriors of both sides prevented him, Drustadhymna chopped the head of Dronacharya like a hunter chops the head of a sheep. Hearing the news of cruel death of his father Dronacharya, Ashwattama rushed like a lion towards Pandavas camp. He kicked Drustadhyumna who was sleeping and awoke him. Drustadhyumna woke up and thought that he would become ashes in front of Ashwattama who was like fire. Drustadhyumna prostrated and asked "Please dont kill me here, kill me in the war field so that i will obtain veera swarga". Ashwattama replied, "People like you who are cruel to their guru should not obtain good world". Then he killed Drustadhyumna using the string of his bow by crushing his neck. Like this Drustadhyumna got cruel death and obtained his own Agni Loka.
Even though Ekalavya offered his thumb to his guru, he obtained eternal hell only. But Drustadhyumna chopped the head of his guru, had a cruel death, who is unfit to get veeraswarga. Even with such deficiencies, he entered into the Agni Loka. What a contradiction! Couldn't Maharshi Vedavyasa build a proper story! There are people who will raise objections like these. The only answer for all these objections is "Dharmo bhavati adharmopi kruto bhakthaihi tava achyuta. Papam Bhavati Dharmopi yo na tad bhakthaihi kruto hare". Those who have bhakti towards Bhagawan and Mukya prana, there work will become dharmic even though they do adharmic work. Even though by doing dharmic work which is opposite to Bhagawan will not yield good results. Drustadhyumna obtained the grace of Sri Krishna and Bheemasena, even though he killed his guru which didn't stop him from obtaining the Agni Loka. Ekalavya offered gurudakshina forgetting the Bhagawan and the work didn't yield fruits. Therefore Drustadhyumna's life teaches how should we think if we are suppose to do good activities.
By Late M Rama Rao, Kumbakonam
At this juncture, the fame of Sri Madhva reached his ears and the other Advaitins also pressed hm to vanquish Sri Madhva and restore their system to its pristine glory. He knew that vanquishing Sri Madhva was not an easy joke and so he studied his works during nights secretly, since the librarian of Sri Madhva was his brother Sankara. Sankara had taken the library back at the command of Sri Madhva when King Jayasimha and others requested Sri Madhva to pardon Padmatirtha for his theft of the library and take it back. Though Trivikrama understood that Sri Madhva's system was faultless and convincing, he wanted to discuss with him tooth and nail and arrive at the truth. So he prostrated before Sri Madhva and was hearing his discourses.
Sri Madhva spent a few days at Vishnumangala, practising what he preached and setting an example to his followers and disciples. His daily routine from before dawn to dusk is described in detail in canto XIV. By his superhuman actions, he infused jealousy and hatred him, into the minds of the Tamasik souls, curiosity in the Rajasik souls and, knowledge and devotion in the Satvik souls.
Canto XV: When Sri Madhva commenced his lecture on his sutrabhasya in the public temple of Kudale, he found before him, Sri Trivikrama like a foe worthy of his steel, in a dialectical fight. So his eloquence flowed from his lips with fourfold quotations like a fourfold army, rushing from its camp; the sutas being the chariots, the Vedas being the elephants, the arguments being the infantry and the smrits being the cavalry.