11-27-2004, 01:43 PM
Dear Pathamaraja:
I had to explain more, I left half way as I got busy. GOD/Godhead is a separate entity achievable to the highest spiritual being. Such a being is called Athman(Athman Realized), this happens only after considerable effort from the aspirant. Now, you have the created Universe with its diverse manifestations. The created Universe behaves on three principles Creation, Sustenance, & Dissolution. Over seen by Three presiding Gods (Brahma, Vishnu, & Mahaeswara) and their consorts and their manifestation & their agencies. The Universe both created & uncreated is built Top-Down, with a hierarchy. There are three aspects of Nature (Saatva, Rajas, Tammas) , the fourth being (Athman relating to GOD/Godhead) and four cycles of time (Satya, Threta, Dwaapara, & kali yugas)
Now are all beings equal? No. Beings in higher world are Saatvi(Salient), they are spiritual beings their presiding God is Brahma, Now you have other Material Heavens, & Earth (Although Vishnu is called Lord of the Universe) where Vishnu is the God, People in these worlds are Raajasic ( Action oriented from a materialistic perspective), And then you have Taalas (the underworld) where the beings are Taamasic (Demonic) the presiding God is Shiva(auspicious from spiritual perspective)(Rudra and his different manifestation from Taamasic perceptive).
Now in different Yugas, Each of these different Gods are the Lords of the Universe (Vishnu)
1. In Satya Yuga Lord was Naaryana (AKA Saguna-Brahman)
2. During Thretha & Dwaapra Yuga the Lord is Vishnu
3. During Kali-Yuga Shiva is the Lord of the Universe. The nature of Brahma is Saatvic in all aspects. The nature of Vishnu during Thretha & Dwaapra is both Raajasic & at times Taamasic (becoz he is the lord of the Taalas as well also called Yama who oversees all lower planes.). Shiva is Taamasic, his role is to do constructive destruction of created world that has served its purpose. Shiva is also the next creator. Shiva & Vishnu by their inherent nature are also Saguna-Brahman, meaning having originated from Brahman(GOD/Godhead).
Now GOD/Godhead is doing all its work (play lila) through proxies of Brahma, Vishnu,& Shiva.
Now we as created beings from a Hindu perspective have the freedom to choose to worship any/all aspects of Creation, Preservation, & Dissolution(& their presiding deities & their different manifestations). Now not all beings are not equal (they are either Saatvic, Raajasic, OR Taamasic). Now based on an individuals evolution Materially, intellectually, & spiritually one can worship from a diversity of options. Now you see Brahmins worship their deities in Temples, You see Peasants worshipping their local deities Bhoomi Devatha etc). You are free to choose any form/deity of worship based on your inclination. Tribals worship the Forests/Trees, it is apparent as the forests provides them food, Fisherman worship the Seas, so you see based on their livelihood people will worship Nature. In fact worship of Nature is worship of GOD/Godhead. Hinduism has not been discriminatory this way as you are free to worship from your perspective. Now the conflict comes when one is Saatvic/Taamsic. Now Kaali (the dissolver of the Universe) is alter ego of the same Creating energy/ Creative Nature Or Prakrithi/Shakti. Now people who sacrifice animals to Kaali are asking for her blessings in using her energies to destroy as she is the presiding deity of Paataala. Now, as a Business man I worship venkateswara I am hoping I would be blessed with Wealth & material prosperity. Now if I am worshipping Shiva(Rama), Krishna, Vishnu, I am hoping of conducting my life in a decent manner & I hope advancing to a higher plane. Again if I worship Shiva,Rama,Krishna, Vishnu from a spiritual perspective as in Mutts I am appealing to their Saguna-Brahman nature to acquire Moksha or Salvation. If I am worshipping Chandramoulssewara/Moola Rama I am worshipping GOD/Godhead expecting Brahmanhood(advaitha) or at least Moksha. If I want Money I dont go to Kaali, If I want to seek Kaali's blessings through Venkateswara I dont sacrifice an animal in front Venkateswara as each god has his/her own requirements, otherwise you will earn sin.
Its all about What you want, & where you go for it & what you do to get it? And about Gods blessing you totally depends on your internal nature (Saatvic,Raajasic, Taamasic), your Karmas, and your honest effort.
Now you got these organized religions who believe in their God is the only savior and others are all fake, they can believe in all they want they will be flushed out once they earn enough sins to be flushed outside. Why is all bad things happening, becoz it is Kaliyuga this is what happens during Kaliyuga.
Now to discuss the caste issue, Castes in ancient times was based on vocation, and everybody worked towards a singular goal of societal evolution. For example, in constructing the temple. The peasents, laborors, priests have to conduct life in a very austere manner during construction & consecration. Now when people offer oblation to Gods, most of it is as food to Gods which comes from the peasents, the share of good karma goes to the simple peasent as well. In ancient times world did not revolve around money/business most of it was symbiotic and most of things were free. It mostly revolved around religion. In modern times it is truely casteless as no one is behaving as they used to in ancient times, Brahmins are only in name only, all of them are Vysasas only after money. Nothing to worry as this is how it will turn out in Kali yuga. Being born a Brahmin does not mean I am Saatvic, or being born A Sudra does not mean I am Taamasic. But, certain customs do indicate/lead different
natures. For example, a Saatvic person is nonaggressive, non-competitive, eats whole vegeterian food, is truthful, leads a simple life, excersises moderation in life. A raajasic being is a typical being you find any where working for a livelihood. A taamasic person might eat meat, drink alchohol, etc. And not everybody is 100% Saatvic/Raajasic/Taamasic. They come in different shades like different RGB settings. Universe is a very diverse place.
I hope I made things a little clearer.
Vajra
I had to explain more, I left half way as I got busy. GOD/Godhead is a separate entity achievable to the highest spiritual being. Such a being is called Athman(Athman Realized), this happens only after considerable effort from the aspirant. Now, you have the created Universe with its diverse manifestations. The created Universe behaves on three principles Creation, Sustenance, & Dissolution. Over seen by Three presiding Gods (Brahma, Vishnu, & Mahaeswara) and their consorts and their manifestation & their agencies. The Universe both created & uncreated is built Top-Down, with a hierarchy. There are three aspects of Nature (Saatva, Rajas, Tammas) , the fourth being (Athman relating to GOD/Godhead) and four cycles of time (Satya, Threta, Dwaapara, & kali yugas)
Now are all beings equal? No. Beings in higher world are Saatvi(Salient), they are spiritual beings their presiding God is Brahma, Now you have other Material Heavens, & Earth (Although Vishnu is called Lord of the Universe) where Vishnu is the God, People in these worlds are Raajasic ( Action oriented from a materialistic perspective), And then you have Taalas (the underworld) where the beings are Taamasic (Demonic) the presiding God is Shiva(auspicious from spiritual perspective)(Rudra and his different manifestation from Taamasic perceptive).
Now in different Yugas, Each of these different Gods are the Lords of the Universe (Vishnu)
1. In Satya Yuga Lord was Naaryana (AKA Saguna-Brahman)
2. During Thretha & Dwaapra Yuga the Lord is Vishnu
3. During Kali-Yuga Shiva is the Lord of the Universe. The nature of Brahma is Saatvic in all aspects. The nature of Vishnu during Thretha & Dwaapra is both Raajasic & at times Taamasic (becoz he is the lord of the Taalas as well also called Yama who oversees all lower planes.). Shiva is Taamasic, his role is to do constructive destruction of created world that has served its purpose. Shiva is also the next creator. Shiva & Vishnu by their inherent nature are also Saguna-Brahman, meaning having originated from Brahman(GOD/Godhead).
Now GOD/Godhead is doing all its work (play lila) through proxies of Brahma, Vishnu,& Shiva.
Now we as created beings from a Hindu perspective have the freedom to choose to worship any/all aspects of Creation, Preservation, & Dissolution(& their presiding deities & their different manifestations). Now not all beings are not equal (they are either Saatvic, Raajasic, OR Taamasic). Now based on an individuals evolution Materially, intellectually, & spiritually one can worship from a diversity of options. Now you see Brahmins worship their deities in Temples, You see Peasants worshipping their local deities Bhoomi Devatha etc). You are free to choose any form/deity of worship based on your inclination. Tribals worship the Forests/Trees, it is apparent as the forests provides them food, Fisherman worship the Seas, so you see based on their livelihood people will worship Nature. In fact worship of Nature is worship of GOD/Godhead. Hinduism has not been discriminatory this way as you are free to worship from your perspective. Now the conflict comes when one is Saatvic/Taamsic. Now Kaali (the dissolver of the Universe) is alter ego of the same Creating energy/ Creative Nature Or Prakrithi/Shakti. Now people who sacrifice animals to Kaali are asking for her blessings in using her energies to destroy as she is the presiding deity of Paataala. Now, as a Business man I worship venkateswara I am hoping I would be blessed with Wealth & material prosperity. Now if I am worshipping Shiva(Rama), Krishna, Vishnu, I am hoping of conducting my life in a decent manner & I hope advancing to a higher plane. Again if I worship Shiva,Rama,Krishna, Vishnu from a spiritual perspective as in Mutts I am appealing to their Saguna-Brahman nature to acquire Moksha or Salvation. If I am worshipping Chandramoulssewara/Moola Rama I am worshipping GOD/Godhead expecting Brahmanhood(advaitha) or at least Moksha. If I want Money I dont go to Kaali, If I want to seek Kaali's blessings through Venkateswara I dont sacrifice an animal in front Venkateswara as each god has his/her own requirements, otherwise you will earn sin.
Its all about What you want, & where you go for it & what you do to get it? And about Gods blessing you totally depends on your internal nature (Saatvic,Raajasic, Taamasic), your Karmas, and your honest effort.
Now you got these organized religions who believe in their God is the only savior and others are all fake, they can believe in all they want they will be flushed out once they earn enough sins to be flushed outside. Why is all bad things happening, becoz it is Kaliyuga this is what happens during Kaliyuga.
Now to discuss the caste issue, Castes in ancient times was based on vocation, and everybody worked towards a singular goal of societal evolution. For example, in constructing the temple. The peasents, laborors, priests have to conduct life in a very austere manner during construction & consecration. Now when people offer oblation to Gods, most of it is as food to Gods which comes from the peasents, the share of good karma goes to the simple peasent as well. In ancient times world did not revolve around money/business most of it was symbiotic and most of things were free. It mostly revolved around religion. In modern times it is truely casteless as no one is behaving as they used to in ancient times, Brahmins are only in name only, all of them are Vysasas only after money. Nothing to worry as this is how it will turn out in Kali yuga. Being born a Brahmin does not mean I am Saatvic, or being born A Sudra does not mean I am Taamasic. But, certain customs do indicate/lead different
natures. For example, a Saatvic person is nonaggressive, non-competitive, eats whole vegeterian food, is truthful, leads a simple life, excersises moderation in life. A raajasic being is a typical being you find any where working for a livelihood. A taamasic person might eat meat, drink alchohol, etc. And not everybody is 100% Saatvic/Raajasic/Taamasic. They come in different shades like different RGB settings. Universe is a very diverse place.
I hope I made things a little clearer.
Vajra