Holy Bhagwat Geeta is a song divine, the nectar of God churned after the torrid war of Mahabharat fought at Kurukshetra millenniums ago in India. It is gift of God to humanity to find the path leading to self control, mind and body discipline, devotion and self- realization. It is an ocean of wisdom for it is a book containing the highest esoteric principles. It is the essence of all Vedas, the sea of knowledge. Rishi Ved Vyasa has composed this timeless jewel.

Bhagwat Geeta’s language oh! so sweet and lucid yet the thoughts so profound that they exhibit and reveal new facets of Truth every time one attempts to read or listen to it. Therefore it remains ever-fresh, young and ever new! The Geeta scripture should be intently studied. After reading the text, its meaning, ideas, concepts, ideals and precepts should be gathered and held in mind till it percolates and is absorbed fully and ingrained in the psyche.

There was a time when my interest in this exclusive scripture was aroused and I read it many times in the past. Each verse is so full of education that is becomes imperative to be brought into practice in our daily life. Out of so many, for us some verses are favourites whose essence should be remembered throughout as they will serve as a beacon or torch of light in normal as well as difficult days in our lives. The essence and its daily practice is the key.

I have recently started to read this book once again to understand it better. During the last week although I was reading a few verses of Bhagwad Geeta carefully and trying to follow its principles, one fine evening unsuspectingly I was overwhelmed by a spate of gloomy and lonely thoughts. When I was at work, my mind would want to finish that task quickly so that I could go on to next frantically. I was also thinking of some relatives in the family more than usual. Whenever I was alone, a shooting pain would jolt me unbidden and a few drops of tears would fill up my eyes. This happened many times and I continued to hold myself back from further sliding. I was unable to retain my joyful nature and equanimity and slowly my mind nose-dived into a whirl pool of gloomy waters! My heart became heavy with some kind of unknown, unbearable weight and I could tolerate it no more. All this lingered for a few days and when I knew on one late evening that it was time for me to get out of that kind of pitiable frame of mind and salvage myself as soon as possible, I went in my room and sat in a comfortable posture on my bed, cross legged and closed my eyes.

I tried to uplift and alleviate myself by the process of prayerful meditation and tried very hard to know and stop what was troubling me so much. I pacified myself with counter positive thoughts and self-inquiry but to no avail. When my self-help techniques failed me, I opened my drawer and took out my rudraksh mala, my rosary, and began to repeat the mantra ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ with dedication. Chanting of this powerful mantra had its own effect as was visible to me in just a few moments. The uneasiness and anxiety began to dissipate and fritter away and I regained some of my calm and comfort. The heaviness began to recede and my mind got connected to Shri Mahavatar Babaji, the immortal divine being and my Param Guru. He is extremely receptive to his disciples’ bidding, cry or call and is very prompt to respond to their earnest needs. Immediately his imperceptible presence surfaced in my mind as he responded to my silent request to God for mitigating the unbearable suffering that I was undergoing. A quick interlocking of our minds and his magic began to cast a spell on me! I became very light and felt absolutely free from all mental troubles.  And in no time, as unbidden, a curious sense of tranquillity and relief came to replace the pain.

The omniscient Guru instinctively comprehended my problem and the complex issues involved with it completely. He is possessed with so many unusual incomprehensible yogic powers that we can never even imagine leave alone understand them. As he is able to peep into our many previous lives as well many lives of future with great ease, his counsel and advice is always perfect. Obviously, it never misses the point. The Master’s vision is so very far- sighted and extremely subtle and awe inspiring in nature. He pinpointed out to me that since the past 3 to 4 days my subconscious mind was ruffled because it is engaged primarily with the minds of some people who are remembering me. Although they are benefiting from it as they are receiving very healthy and beneficial vibrations while I am being depleted in energy and wellness because of their low levels of consciousness. No wonder I was feeling exhausted and out of focus, I just realized. He asked me to disconnect my mind immediately from them and fix it on Him. After doing what was asked of me, I was resurrected and instantly re-vitalized.

He made me understand a commendable piece of knowledge when He said this to me, “It is good to think of bygone happy times of your life but if you repeatedly remember it thereby creating sadness and melancholy for yourself, why think of it at all? What is the purpose of it

If your mind is not constructive in either planning for future activities or on thoughts of God realization, then you are sure to afflict yourself. A yogi neither thinks too much about his past nor does he worry and anticipate about tomorrow. This is wondering of mind. Put your mind into joyful, constructive activities and re-join your mind on God thoughts. The mind must have enough courage in itself to break the flow of redundant and repetitive thoughts so that it can receive and harvest uninterrupted flow of soul-realization and thoughts of Divine, your true companion and soul-mate!”

I was further counselled by my revered Guru,

“A yogi should always keep his mind intact on God alone, even though he does not retain people in his mind, yet the other people do attune their minds to yours sturdily and compel you to think of them with compulsion. The yogi must be clever enough to know and become conscious regarding this subtle invasion from outside and become vigil for future. Or else losing of liveliness and vigour is inevitable.”

At this juncture, I made up my mind that in future I will restrain and be in charge of my mind and not be a victim of some outside invasions by unknown factors. I then implored and asked Him what should I write in my article as I had no creative ideas or imagination whatsoever nowadays because of mental fatigue. I could no longer push myself forward and required a helping hand. So He told me to read Bhagwad Geeta. I accepted his advice humbly without any drop of doubt or reluctance.

And just then, in a flash I recollected a dream that I saw in the early hours of morning about a year ago, when I and Babaji were walking up the stairs in a white house and my mind would get distracted again and once again and how Babaji would give me a helping hand (Ref- What is the purpose of my life?) Everything started falling in place in my translucent mind after it became sparky again by His Grace. In all humility I knelt down in my heart as a token of gratitude, reverence and thanksgiving. My mind was like a bright sunny morning and there was brightness everywhere. I sat in the same posture for quite long until I don’t know when. After that I read the Geeta and I was able to understand it so much better. I read chapter 6 with full attention and wish to quote just 3 verses out of them. I used to read them with great curiosity and interest in the past also and I still get very inspired by them.

Chapter 6

 Arjunauvach

Yoyam  yogastvaya  proktah  samyen  madhusudan  I

Atsyaaham  n a  pashyami chanchaltwastithim  sthirim  II 33

Arjuna said, Krishna, owing to restlessness of mind, I do not perceive the stability of this Yoga in the form of equanimity which you have just spoken of.

 Chanchalam  hi  manah  Krishna  pramathi  balvaddridham I

Tasyaham  nigraham  manye  vayoriv  sudushkaram  II 34

For Krishna, the mind is very unsteady, turbulent, tenacious and powerful; I consider it as difficult to control as the wind.

 Sri Bhagwanuvach

Asanshaya  mahabhaho  mano durnigraham  chalam  I

Abhyasen  tu  Kaunteya  vairagyen  ch  grihute II 35

Sri Bhagwan said: The mind is restless no doubt, and difficult to curb, Arjuna; but it can be brought under control by repeated practice of meditation for mind control and by the exercise of act of dispassion, O son of Kunti.

The following day when I was resting in the afternoon when the house and the whole surrounding was very still and quiet, very deep peace entered me. My whole house was radiating Divine Peace and for some time I was completely immersed in illuminating thoughts and peaceful vibrations. I was resting in my bed with complete sense of relaxation when a flash of Light struck me in the space between my eyebrows which then gently spread all over my eyes and head and I uttered, “I am Light, I am Joy, I am Ananda”

(To be continued)

Dear readers, in the last few days, many of us might have been immersed in the festive season but I was unable to work on and compose my post with full attention span and ease because of the blaring, boisterous noise of the Ganesh Utsav celebrations, a festival getting bigger and louder by each year in my neighbourhood. However, my namaskar and pranam to the Lord of buddhi, riddhi and siddhi to eliminate and remove all the obstacles and hurdles on our way to spiritual uprising and awakening for all of us.

The relentless  noise and crowd has not deterred me but has made me recognize the fact that we have two types of sadhana- the inner and the outer sadhana. Or antarmukhi sadhana and bahirmukhi sadhana respectively. The outer sadhana consists of rituals, ceremonies and many possible visible actions to appease and please the deities and God. Such a pooja, aradhana  or vandana is fine, it is so much better than doing any detrimental and immoral acts but the doer always has some wish, craving or fancy to fulfil, some type of yearning from the Lord and they in most cases are rewarded. (Refer What is the purpose of my life? )  The outer sadhana is easy to perform but the results and gains are diminutive, short term and perishable with no alteration in the person’s present level of wakefulness and consciousness. Years and years may pass by but the admirer or devotee of God and deities shows no signs of alertness, progress and transformation. On the contrary, the requests and wants multiply with each year.

On the other hand there is inner sadhana in which we cast, shape, train and discipline the wandering nomadic mind to be hushed, silenced and become desire-free. Instead of asking, one thanks and is appreciative and grateful to God for whatever one has. The aspirant by now knows that asking tangible material objects and fulfilling gratifying wishes are in no way an answer to his lingering complex life problems. Even though the inner sadhana is tougher but has very enduring, influential effects and then asking God to make us desire less is a difficult thing to ask conversely and it is no mean task by any standards. It is easier said than done I must agree. Praying to God for contentment and peace is a very wise, sane and a prudent thing to do as the wisdom of the sages goes.

Peace in the mind is sought after and achieved by the aspirant at the preliminary stage. Before he really embarks on the extensive, stretched and challenging spiritual journey, he is like any other regular person, one in the faceless millions. The average, worldly wise man wishes to possess, hoard, amass and consume tangible objects and they could be things, articles, objets d’art or money, wealth, fame, power, success etc.

Man has been given many incarnations to live by Mother Nature in order to develop and advance his soul to the state of higher perceptions, realizations and progressive living. (Read  The process of liberation to know how the soul gradually evolves on the ladder of human evolution) Because he resides in a physical body for too long during this process, he becomes accustomed to living in the physical encasement for a very long duration, his consciousness becomes gross and undivine. And contamination, corruption and other impurities are harboured in his mind during his physical tenement. All the time his mind is engaged in worldly pursuits and it is not joined and tied with divine awareness and untarnished realizations. Hence his mind knows no peace at all and is perpetually active in gain-loss, joy-sorrow, fortune-misfortune, birth-death etc activities .

In fact, all humans are looking for pleasure and delight in some enterprise, adventure and endeavour, not realising that his soul wants peace and not some other acquisitions as the primary requisite for his earthly survival. And if, by probing and introspection, one day when we do come to an understanding that it is not worldly happiness after all but stability and equanimity of mind that should be acquired first.

 Out of stability and equanimity is born peace.

And the sensory world is full of dualities, happiness and sorrow are two sides of the same coin and one has to undergo and experience both the feelings and emotions. Unfortunately, almost all of us do not ever realize it even once in our long life the importance of inculcating peace in our lives consciously like other efforts that we undertake.

But those seekers of peace and self- realization, on their way at a mature stage of advancement, do realize and it dawns on them that I must now not seek and run after impermanent outside happiness and gratifications but must attain permanent peace which comes from within. Hence the mind slowly quietens down and the old desires begin to fade away and die a slow death on its own. The mind seeks happiness and joy in pursuits of inward journey primarily. After which it becomes passive, reflective, and introspective and finds solace in gaining knowledge of self, deeper realizations, devotion, compassion and other such understated activities. And controlling one’s senses and the mind are the seeker’s favourite activities and liking now. The past wandering and restless mind is no longer asking or demanding things of the world as he is satisfied with his fate and is a content soul by now. On the contrary, he carries out actions which bring him relief from its non-stop agitation and restless activities of worldly pre-occupation, attachments and acquisitions. The mind becomes peaceful and is at rest with oneself. Hence we say “peace of mind”.

The ordinary person transforms into a sadhak as he seeks lasting peace. He turns his mind inwards and questions, seeks and finds his answers of self inquiry and dives to find inner peace within himself. At such a stage, the seeker is not yet above the dualities and pairs of opposites of this ever-changing momentary and brief- natured world. The ever-changing quality of the world, the duality of opposites, create agitation and disturbs his mind. The disturbance is also caused by the inevitable sanchit karmas (the previous lives’ accumulated, unmanifested karmas ) They are still manifesting in the ongoing life-stage and negative results of past karmas crop up again and again at set phases, thereby disturbing the equilibrium of his newly found peace. However, with the grace and help of the Spiritual Masters and blessings of heavenly deities, he is able to conquer and prevail over to reap the fruit of the backlog of his past sanchit karmas with considerable ease. As and as the unmanifested karmas begin to bear fruit, he becomes lighter and the mind becomes calmer and composed, because of the lessening of the weight of the load and deeper revelations. When all the sins and misgivings of all the previous lives are burnt to dead ashes, the soul involuntarily  comes to a stable, restful and relaxing state. To substantiate this, now let’s read the shlokas from Bhagwad Geeta

Chapter 7

Icchadweshsabuthen dwandmohen bharat

Sarvabhutani sammoham sarge yanti parantap 27

Oh valiant Arjuna, through delusion in the shape of pairs of opposites (such as pleasure and pain etc), born of desire and hatred, all living creatures in this world are falling a prey to infatuation.

Yesham twantgatam papam jananam punyakarmanam 

Te dwandmohanirmukta bhajante maam  dradhvrta 28

But those men of virtuous deeds, whose sins have come to an end, being freed from delusion in the shape of pairs of opposites (born of attraction and repulsion) worship Me with a firm resolve in every way.

Progressively, at one point, the mind becomes completely captivated and entrenched in God thoughts by the process of sublimation and gets finer and refined in its taste, likes and sensibilities. Nevertheless, at this last crucial stage also, there are a few left over vasanas (refer- How to have lasting peace within our hearts-I) of desires and egotism or self-centredness. As a kind gesture of grace, God permits and facilitates the fulfillment of all the remaining desires so that the soul is completely freed of all its bondage of previous actions. And after the blazing of all the desires, the last remaining remnants and impact of the severest enemy called ‘ego” in us is taken to task. The ego is the last enemy on the battle field to leave the jeeva or embodied soul after a prolonged battle of many, many lives. The delusion that “I am”, “I can”, “I will” , “I”, is very thin and the very fine thin subtle layers of “ego thought particles” sticking and covering one’s soul at last drops off  with considerable passage of time. To give you an example, let’s consider this.

If you have ever pealed a pod of garlic, you must have noticed that after peeling the thicker outer skin there is a very thin inner membrane which sticks to the single garlic piece. It is sticky, transparent and light  yet it doesn’t peel off easily and is of the same colour as the garlic. Similarly, the last remaining  egotism  is so well ingrained and entangled in our consciousness and nature, also called vasana that we are not sensitive towards it and aren’t aware of its presence at all. All the same, it exists and has to be separated to isolate the soul from its pervading blemishes and patchy and itchy impurities. Once this task is achieved, the soul eventually begins to glitter in its own radiance!

After the ego is shed, the duality of you and I, sorrow-happiness, bad-good, pure-impure etc evaporates as the mind is purified and cleaned by the seeker’s meritorious karmas and guru kripa. At this particular stage it is mandatory for the sadhak or spiritual aspirant to perform good meritorious karmas and selfless acts, deliberately and consciously, so that we do not sow and reap any ill effects or ill results at all in future. We must ensure that we perform only positive karmas to have a happy and harmonious life ahead. If we do so, nature is in our favour and there is no more suffering, hurdles, sickness perpetuating and invading us constantly. Even if some people wrong us, cheat us, or act with mean manipulations, we must not react and retaliate-this is the advice of the Gurus to us. After sometime those people suffer in many ways  in terms of physical, mental and emotional illness and deprivation, while our life is good in every sense. Good luck and nature will always side with people who are good at heart and pure in actions.

At such a higher stage of spiritual level of consciousness and vast knowing,  peace flows very gently and reaches us from very high subtle planes in the ether directly in our heart and is sublime and mellifluous to sense, feel and touch. It is very soothing, genteel and endearing in nature and cannot be exchanged with anything of this world, and  it is very, very precious.  It is awe-inspiring.

The quality and duration of peace at the mental level and the heart’s level is different. Peace is enduring and is received directly in the heart centre at this advanced and evolved stage because by this time the heart of the sadhak is completely purified by a long period of practice of saatvik pure karmas, meditation, chanting, japa, charity, love, compassion and service to mankind. There is no malice, grudge, revenge, envy, greed, pride or  materialistic desires remaining in him any longer. In place of all these unwanted things, there is a priceless gift of God presented to us in our heart and that gift is of permanent and lasting nature –It is lasting peace in our heart!.

It’s because the heart centre is purified and energized and it is the seat of the Lord- the giver of bountiful peace. Such a wonderful person is called a yogi, a person whose mind is always connected to and remains one with God. The yogi has peace at all times whether he is asleep or awake, working or resting although there may be a brief  period of ripples of mild perturbation from unexpected quarters, but he soon brings his attention where the Lord resides, i.e. in his heart and God talks to him and soothes his soul for all the abrasions caused by external agencies. The vibration of the aura of such a yogi is of deep calming peace which has a positive impact on other people’s mind and heart. He can convert people with his good conduct, behaviour, speech and selflessness. His speech is full of love and kindness and he is good to  everybody. He never retaliates in spite of someone being harsh, self-centred or hurtful. Instead he prays unselfishly for the wellbeing and happiness for all. The yogi is generous and pious and ever willing to help others in times of distress, any need and agony. And God always blesses such pious and devout souls. Saints, yogis and mahatmas fall in this category.

From the fountain of peace of the blissful yogi flows the  gushing  cool waters of  serenity, tranquility and joy.

Om Shanti, Shanti, Om.   

What is meant by the word process and liberation?

A series of actions taken towards achieving a particular end is known as a process. And by liberation here is meant setting free of the human soul from ignorance, bondage and incessant suffering from repetitive cycles of life and death helplessly. After which is finally lived a Life Divine of pure joy, peace and calmness and happiness.

To begin with, please know that the whole process of human evolution is climbing up the steps of the ladder one by one. The soul climbs each step little by little and unfolds by itself, sometimes falling and sometimes taking double steps on it. In some exceptional cases, by leaps. Literally and figuratively, the ladder is our spinal chord which is the extension of the human brain. Look at the structure and formation of the spinal chord bones carefully. It looks like a ladder. The human soul starts from the base of the spine at the ‘muladhar’ or coccyx centre and slowly, over a few thousands of centuries moves up the upper chakras or energy centres until it reaches the top crown centre, the ‘sahasrar’, the central place at which Divine Illumination takes place. So the climb is from the base to the summit, to the peak of the evolution ladder. Lord Krishna’s peacock feather in the forehead is a symbol of the opened and charged ‘crown centre’ and not just a myth of history. Interesting, isn’t it?

Let me now please make an attempt to explain in very simple terms the complete process of human awakening, ascending and liberation of the soul to freedom of life in Spirit.

The process-Souls at the very base of the ladder

People who are in a deep slumber of ignorance and unawareness are at the base. They generate and earn very bad karmas and  have negative energy collected at the base of the spinal chord in the coccyx centre. The seeds of bad fruits of past performed actions are deposited there slowly. These seeds someday will have consequences as ill- effects at their conducive time and space. And those who have performed humongous unpardonable actions will take a very long time to correct their mistakes. It will take them thousands of lives to rise and evolve from sub human consciousness of existence to higher knowing. At present their consciousness, intelligence and acts are those of animals because they afflict pain and suffering to others, are insensitive and lack human tenderness and understanding. They are unable to differentiate and discriminate between good and bad, moral and immoral tendencies. All their thoughts and actions are carried out without any remorse, guilt and regret and their tendencies of bad karmas drive them to do further bad karmas. Such wretched people are unstoppable and the punishment from the Universal Law is a troubled mind, anxiety, fear, pain of all sorts, sorrow, sickness and deprivation in material, physical and emotional condition. Their end is also very pathetic, ungracious and painful. People of this class are at the very base of the ladder and the pyramid of human evolution. They repeat their mistakes so often that it takes them aeon or excessive years to purify their souls through the medium of pious actions, enlightenment is much, much far away from them. They die and are re-born many, many times in pitiable living conditions because Nature gives them repeated chances to realize their follies and improve and better their lives. So forgive them for they know not!

This goes on for many, many lives when at the turning point of some favourable life, man realizes that he must mend his ways after carping and living through tribulation, affliction and agony of all sorts.Thenceforth,  begins the upward journey of atonement, purification, cleansing as well as redemption. The soul improves his or her life by being good and kind to others and begins to develop faith in God and goes out of his way to create righteous and praiseworthy actions. His mind and heart is cleansed and he is prompted and propelled more towards God and religious activities. He no longer wants to sin and err and he arrives at a stage when he is at the brink of salvaging himself completely from sinning. This all takes a very long time if you translate the transformation in terms of time. Nevertheless, a desire to realize the sacred nature of God is born in him eventually. Then begins the ascend of the Soul.

The ascent of the soul

There comes one particular birth which is very crucial because the soul cries, pleads and begs to God to release him from erring and suffering anymore and it wishes to have a perfect life by perfecting himself by leading a pious and pure life. In that particular life in which he is redeemed and liberated is a very hard and trying one for him because of his huge backlog of karmas or ‘sanchit karmas’.

Sanchit karmas  are the unmanifestated, accumulated karmas of many previous births or incarnations which we carry in a dormant state in every life with us. This backlog has to be cleared now and more and new meritorious actions have to be re-created side by side by the aspirant in spite of already existing innumerable virtuous karmas  in our ‘purse’ of karmas to create a new Divine life. To free oneself from suffering for once and all and attain everlasting bliss, the prior condition is that the soul must have a large reservoir of good deeds and not a single sin in his personal account of karmas!! That is the pre-condition of Mukti or salvation.

Now what are the prominent characteristics of a soul which is being liberated?

Such a ‘about to be liberated’ soul charts out and scripts its own destiny. All its vitality is used up from the very start to resist the bad people with whom he is unable to get along because of contrary views and ideologies. So there is always a conflict and clash of ideas going on. The good soul is criticized for being the odd one out but he gradually distances himself from the bad souls around him without caring about public opinion and intensifies his sadhana and refuses to mingle with evil minds. The sadhana for perfection takes many years to bear fruit as a lot of time is expended in exhausting the past karmas because one has to pay the debts of negative karmas first and also create new positive karmas alongside. So do not worry or get frustrated when on your path of sadhana, you find that you are not making any progress because of a lull or life is very harsh and difficult to bear. Just carry on by walking on the ascending steps enthusiastically. Don’t stop, go on…

This is also reflected in the sadhak’s life as he may have a long, stagnant phase, encounter lack of opportunities, ill luck and sometimes lack of material success also and he is isolated from the society for being the maverick in the madding crowd. For him situations do not change for a long time and he has to wait patiently may be a few years, for times to turn around for a change favourably. Such a courageous person does not like to complain as he has the capacity to endure everything because he knows that the wheel of time though not visible is still moving and one day good times will favour him. He will be victorious in his mighty endeavours is his conviction.

Such a determined and dauntless soul is unstoppable as he rises and soars high to reach the summit, the chosen destination when all the unborn seeds and ripened fruits of the past sins and misgivings are finally burnt to ashes. With God’s Grace and Guru’s blessings as well as with the tapas of his sadhana, one day all the seeds of the misdeeds performed knowingly and unknowingly of many, many previous lives and of the present life also are burnt and exhausted. He now flies up and soars like the phoenix in the open, clear, blue, and vast sky!!

Slowly, the total impact of bad karmas begins to fade away gradually. There are good signs seen as life begins to be  kind to him now. The obstacles and  difficulties begin to dwindle and slowly luck favours him. Happy developments initiate and replace stagnant, irritating and difficult situations. His sadhana also gives rich results and culminates into a peaceful and smooth life. The ego is completely destroyed, his senses are in control, he exercises self-control and his mind is cleansed of all egocentric desires completely. He forgives everybody whom he had blamed for his bad luck and rough times. He also comes to terms with life and is at peace with himself once and for all. He accepts God as the Supreme Power in the Universe, the real maker and doer of all things seen and unseen.

The door to the third eye is flung open for him because of the force of his accumulated and present life very good karmas and guru’s kripa. The Lord is very pleased with his lovable child and showers his mercy on him.

He is liberated of all the mental, physical and emotional pain and suffering finally. Divine uninterrupted Peace which comes after realizing God is his best companion now and he is  afraid of nothing in this world. Boldness and fearlessness are his features and characteristics henceforth.

The dormant spiritual energy, called the Kundalini Shakti (refer-Kundalini Shakti-I) in Yoga is awakened by Guru’s kripa. The lower chakras are purified by cleansing and the upper chakras opened and energized gradually with the help of Naam jaap  and recitation of God’s Holy Name. The inert extremely fine nerves near the third eye are activated by the electric current passed through dormant nerves from the ‘muladhar’ to ‘sahasrar’ in the process of awakening by ‘Shakti Paat’ or transmission of Godly electrical currents by his guru’s mere thought or touch. And subsequently his spinal chord is repeatedly recharged and energized by Divine Light by performing and practicing meditation techniques, pranayam and mantras given by Guru. New cells in the brain are activated by which development and refinement of skills is observed in the life of the sadhak. (Related many posts –Mental prosperity, A Fine Vessel & Rays of Light)

Subtle understanding and Divine perceptions is only possible when these dormant nerves and energy centres are opened and charged as the Light Rays in the form of electric currents travel through these nerve channels called nadis. Meditation is the tool which connects the soul to the Supreme Soul and thereby to Cosmic Consciousness, the transcendental state of Divine  Perceptions and Enlightenment.

The secret, priceless knowledge of God and  Mother Nature  is bestowed on him as  sheer Grace. Such a brave heart is flooded with God’s Light and Illumination and he is freed from all deficiencies, mental entrapment and delusion at last. His spine is bleached and purified by compassionate, chaste and ethical actions performed regularly for a very long period of time. And also actions like- meditation on God, pranayam, praying, peaceful and loving thoughts, compassion, friendship, mutual co-existence and charity. Such a refined soul does not err and falter anymore because by now all his actions are performed merely with the will of God alone. His actions are always offered to God as he surrenders willingly at His Holy Feet. His actions only reap calmness, goodness, love, joy and peace for himself and to others certainly. The Spirit shines forth and the communion with omnipresence is revived as he visits the abode of God within himself many times in a day with the grace of God and the holy Gurus. He is always protected by being under the shade and protection of his Guru’s armoured guardianship and shield.

His mind is calm and and nature serene and he is always attuned to God’s will as he is at higher levels of awareness, subtle perceptions and wider understanding and illumination. He is able to envision what is going to happen in future and can also peep in his and other people’s previous lives at God’s will. Such a person is empowered and brings about concrete changes in his environment and in people but very silently. He can also liberate others if it is the will of God with his unbreakable tuning and link with Divine Gurus. Such a soul is blessed by both- God and the Gurus. The obligation and debt of his body towards God and nature is at last paid up. The rest of his life is dedicated solely for God’s work, humanitarian acts of peaceful purposes. Blessed are such souls who on being liberated do not live and spend the remaining  life in isolation in caves and mountains for bliss and ecstasy but dedicate their lives uplifting other suffering souls in this crazy and chaotic world!!..

The liberated Ones

We cannot stop at this juncture my sweet child, please be a little more patient and try to know a bit more on this subject which is laden with mystery and intriguing secrecy. Please let me  reveal this to you as it is the will of God that I must tell you something also about the still higher evolved souls whom we call ‘Avatars’.

Who are Avatars?  What do they do? What are their characteristics? Where do they reside? 

Divine beings or Avatars are emancipated souls and are at the pinnacle of evolution ladder. Divine Souls are those souls who are already liberated aeon back and do not have a physical body at the moment. They subsist on pure light and mere thought or ideational thought or sankalpa and exist on seraphic planes far, far away  from the earth. They are sometimes sent to the physical/material world for specific purposes from time to time by God or because of  an intense prayer of a devotee or because of the  call of crying souls who wish to be atoned and redeemed and released from the chain of ceaseless births.

Avatars are still present there in the celestial world in the highest spheres as mere Cosmic White Light and very subtle vibration of thought. They travel in the outer space at the speed of light and communicate with their comrades by thoughts only via intuition. Though so far away from the earthly plane, their perceptions are extremely acute and intense and they can hear the feeble whimpering voice of despondent or needy souls. They are capable of travelling from one plane to another with ease, though they prefer the celestial sphere for their meditative, peaceful and blissful state of existence.

They are always totally committed to world peace, uplifting of humanity at large, preservation of the planet and its environment and also preserving the sacred knowledge of God-realization and our sacred scriptures. And stopping the evil forces from annihilating, stopping them from thwarting the peace processes initiated by countries in conflict and zonal wars, punishing the terrorists, mercenaries and the mass killers. (Ref-Peace- the quality of our soul) Apart from liberating the suffering souls individually from their centuries old ignorance and somnambulist existence, they work either alone or in a group quietly and still wish to remain in shrouded secrecy from public gaze. Though they do not reside in their physical encasement, they operate from the outer world and communicate with other souls in the physical world via sixth sense, telepathic communion, intuition and very subtle yet powerful thought power. They also show the way, direct, guide and take them by hand by mysteriously hinting the scientists by planting ideas, suggestions and answers in their minds in the field of Aero and space, science and agricultural researches and developments for humanitarian and world welfare causes. Their silent and unknown work for reforms and evolutionary progress of our planet goes on never endingly.

Such personages are very thoughtful, caring and loving in nature. The Divine souls love to meditate deeply for long hours on God, consider love and peace to be the highest attributes and qualities of man. When we attune our mind with such awakened souls, they give us samadhan or solutions, ideas through perceptions and thought waves. They preach love in this world which is the essence of all religions. They pray for peace for our earth as well for our Universe. They come forward immediately and operate from their plane to meet exigencies like natural disasters and catastrophes on our planet. They all very much rejoice on their celestial plane when a soul is finally liberated on earth. In the astral world such an event is celebrated with joy and much gaiety. When the newly liberated soul reaches the astral world after dropping his physical case on the Earth, he is given a warm and hearty welcome because of vigorous and determined attempts and onslaughts endured by the individual to redeem himself.

Isn’t it incredible to know so much about the other existing subtle worlds in our Universe and the liberated souls living out there and also to learn that we are not struggling alone in our mighty endeavours?? Someone is there to take away some of our heavy baggage from on our shoulders and give us some respite?

So, my dear child, do not wonder why are there so many weird people? And why should I be nice to others while what we receive from them is not good at all. No, dear. Be good to all because we all are the children of one God. When we do good to others, we do good to ourselves.

When we perform unbiased, unselfish and loving acts, we redeem our souls. When we think of God and his blissful nature, we are only trying to emulate Him and thereby changing our destiny by transforming our ordinary consciousness to Divine Consciousness!  

So love God, bring Him very, very close to your heart and always remember that He is there with you forever, watching over you silently and hearing every tiny little whisper of your tender heart and its agony! He has the ear to hear even the feeble whimper of an ant who is climbing on the wall striving hard to reach the top! You just have to call out his Holy Name with all your soul and pure heart and you shall be liberated!!

One has to really wish for oneself, have a very, very deep and earnest desire to liberate itself only then salvation is possible!

Today is 20th of May, 2009 and it is your birthday. A very, very happy and auspicious birthday to you, my beloved child. I pray to God this day that on every birthday you find yourself standing on higher and higher steps of spiritual progress and advancement and joyful awakening. May God bless you, Mandira. May we not only celebrate your birthday, may we CELEBRATE LIFE!!

Once again, let me from deep within my heart and innermost soul thank the source, origin and inspiration of this beautiful collection of reminiscence to the Divine Guru, our Param Guru, His Holiness Shri Mahavatar Babaji, the immortal Soul, the ever youthful and everlasting Spirit residing secretly in the mountains of mighty Himalayas, far away from the eyes of the world and its gaze, seen and visible only to a few. Mandira, you are a gift to me from Him because He saved my life and brought me back from the clutches of untimely death before you were born years ago. In a vision in the hospital bed while I was about to die, He revived me by infusing life-force back into me. Though I did not recognize who this very  Mahatma was. I saw him very vividly with  an ochre cloth around his waist, a wooden pole, danda in hand and very long copper coloured  hair uptil his knees. His face had deep eyes with compassion. I had the opportunity of the fortunate beginning of a long spiritual journey with Him since a few years but had the good luck of his Divine darshan while recuperating then. He foretold me in a very mysterious way in a dreamlike state of subtle vision about your arrival in future. If you really see we both are alive because of His Grace and mercy!! We owe our lives to the Holy Master! How can we ever thank Him enough for everything that He has done for all His ashirwad and Kripa on us? Words can never suffice.

This blog with the theme ‘Celebrate Life’ is offered at His Lotus Feet as a remembrance and devotion to our beloved Mahavatar Babaji. My sincere heartfelt prayer to Him on this special day and hour that his kripa and blessings be always there on me and all of us and the whole world family, now and always.

May God bless us all! May God give us peace, joy, health, mental happiness and spiritual progress too.

Om Namo Bhagwate! Om Namo Bhagwate! Om Namo Bhagwate!!

(Chant this mantra repeatedly silently or aloud for a long time for releasing your soul from all the chains and bondage of the mind and its long, lingering ignorance)

Other posts for reference reading-

(Read posts –Mental prosperity, A Fine Vessel and Rays of Light respectively for more details on this)

(Also read – How to increase the power of your will?  on how important it is to develop our will-power)

 

 

# What is Mukti?        # How to attain Mukti?        # What is the process of Mukti or liberation?      

# Ascension from Muladhar to Sahasrar chakra, coccyx to Crown Chakra   

# Prominent characteristics of a soul which is being liberated

#Sanchit karmas, the accumulated seeds of previous actions    

# Kundalini       #   opening of sixth Chakra      # Shakti paat     

# The Liberated one,  Avatar

# Shri Mahavatar Babaji,  very fair, deep eyes, ochre cloth around waist,  very long, copper coloured hair and a wooden pole, danda in hand

 

Updated on 04.05.2021

In a secluded place in Hrishikesh, quite some years ago, a man named Shivendra used to worship Lord Shiva. He liked to wonder in the forests sometimes and he used to also meditate there. One evening, while walking in deep thoughts, he lost his way in a thick forest.

As it became dark in the evening and the forest was dense, he was unable to find his way back. He became nervous and worried. With an intense prayer in his heart, he began to call Lord Shiva. After about half an hour or so, in that quiet and peaceful environment, he heard some footsteps, after which  he saw a sannyasi, an ascetic in ochre clothes standing next to him smiling gently.  He was carrying a bowl and was holding a staff and wearing wooden sandals. The sannyasi was very fair and tall and  his body emitted golden glow. Furthermore, his face beamed extraordinary peace and serenity and he had a sort of magnetic enchantment inducing towards him.

Presuming him to be a realised mahayogi, he knelt down humbly at his feet. The sannyasi glanced at him with a questioning gesture. Shivendra understood this and spoke, “Maharaj, I have lost my way. Since the past three hours, I am searching my way. Can you please show me the path?”

Hearing this, the sannyasi began to laugh loudly scaring Shivendra profusely.

“My son, which path have you lost? I only know one path and that path leads man to progress. Do you want that path of life?”

Shivendra nodded his head in affirmation. The sannyasi made Shivendra sit beside him on a huge  rock. For three to four hours, he had a fruitful conversation with Shivendra. During that period, his mind and body were at complete rest and he became very attentive. He perceived and understood what was the underlying  existing cause behind this entire universe.  He was given the sacred knowledge of liberation. The ‘beej’ (seed) of the ‘sansara’ (sensory world) is Brahma (Atman) he was told. The sannyasi also explained to Shivendra the difference between a good and an evil man, a friend and a foe and how to discriminate between the two.

They spent a considerable time in mutual company and he was a recipient of a great treasure of knowledge and Shivendra got profound joy and satisfaction in it. With a lot of love, the sannyasi said, “My dear son, whatever I have told you never forget it. Whenever a good man comes to you show him the path of brotherhood and mankind. Give love to all. Instil their lives with peace, faith, happiness and progress and make their lives abundant. The more people you reach out, the better it will be.”

He further added, “Do not discriminate between people on the basis of country, religion, caste or creed. Follow only the religion of brotherhood of mankind.” After saying this he again repeated, “Will you lose your way now?” Lovingly he patted his back and before he asked for his leave, Shivendra asked his name. He replied, “Kandhari.“

So what do we gather from the real life incident of an ascetic who lived at the foothills of Himalayas and had the great fortune of the blessed company of the Mahasiddha, paramyogi Mahavatar Babaji? This incident can also be viewed as an allegory as we  find so many cryptic meanings in this incident when we draw parallels.

What are the shrouded  realizations? Can you stop and think for a moment, please?

Now not only was Shivendra lost, we too are lost in the world’s maze of illusion or Maya. The dark and dense forest here can be compared to Maya. We also have to revoke and retract our steps and find our way back home. If you are a pathfinder, you will need a guide and a path illuminator in the form of a Divine Guru. The Guru asks us to retrace our steps from the materialistic and illusory world to the Divine world and teaches us to be good by serving God through human beings. Mahavatar Babaji hates it if we waste our precious time in frivolous, trifling and wasteful activities. Instead, he advocates us to utilize each and every moment in activities and pursuits which will help us grow in Spirit.

And how can all this be attained?

We can start by first taking a firm resolution and setting our goal to achieve the Divine Abode. Once our aim is laid down and set firm, the next thing the aspirant has to do is to perform suitable actions in synchronization to them. If a student has the ambition to top the class, he brings his whole mind and attention to perform only those actions which will fulfil his ambition. He does not perform contrary actions obviously. So we too should perform only those actions by which we will surely progress and move upwards.

God has given us intellect and discrimination power to sift. With intellect, we must discriminate what is good and what is not good for us. Which actions will help me to push me up on the hill of ascent?  Ask yourself this and think.

What is good for me on long term basis? Perform only those actions.

Sometimes it so happens that we choose to do actions which are beneficial for us on short term basis. But the impact after some years is miserable. For example, acquiring the habit of spending more than your means is a wrong action for sometime we may enjoy being spendthrift, but the impending results will be difficult to bear. Such actions are called “Preyas”, pleasant ones. On the contrary if you decide to save your money wisely you may feel the pinch today. But after a few years, there will be peace of mind and relief. Such actions are called “Shreyas“, beneficial Ones.

The same thing goes for man. He comes in the world, gets entangled in the jungle of sensory world and loses his way. Initially there is enjoyment but the later stage is of untold misery, sickness, suffering and unhappiness. But a wise man comes to the world and finds out first the path to God by disciplining his senses and mind through self-control, discarding ego  and contemplation on God, devotion, service, charity, kindness, good behaviour and many such virtuous acts. Such a person is a Yogi. And once he realizes God, there is no entrapment.  His soul is free and he is a happy man for the rest of the life.

(Mahavatar Babaji, the Himalayan Yogi is an immortal soul. He has many names given by people with love and reverence like Babaji, Mahavatar Babaji, Mahamune Babaji, Kandhari and many more. (I have written posts dedicated to him titled, ‘The Light of the world, Sri Mahavatar Babaji-I’ & II. Read that post to know more about his Divine form and Divine’s work carried out by him even today)

 

(To be continued)

After knowing what happens in the other unseen world and how the two types of energies act on each other in the Universe, the next possible query in your mind now would  be – okay, I know the working of the forces of God behind my physical eyes. But in spite of what is happening around me, I want to have peace of mind. And in this disorganized and unstable world!  So now the question is – What should I do to have it?

At this point, I ask you- Have you ever made conscious efforts to beget peace?  And did you ever experience very deep and sustained peace Mandira? Even if it was for a few minutes? Recall that.

If not, then my advice to you is that you must certainly attempt this rewarding endeavour. You will know its significance once you experience it yourself. You see, we make all sorts of efforts to achieve material goals, but we do not really know and understand how important it is to try and attempt to procure and attain peace in our lives.

When you do get a glimpse of deep peace at an an advanced meditative stage as a mature sadhak later, then hold on to it. It is evasive and slippery, it slips away. Let that deep peace linger and spread in your whole body, complete mind and in all your daily activities profusely and be cautious to retain it after that!

The next question is how?

There are some ways by which you can have lasting peace by adopting and practicing  some actions and habits in your daily life. I have incorporated and followed them for quite some time now and have found impressive results. You too can adopt and  follow them for a good, healthy, enriching and balanced life. In this way, you will enhance your spiritual life also.

• Firstly, disconnect and release your mind from material objects and materialistic thoughts. This tendency makes our mind impatient and restless. In this category also fall people who are not good and add nothing substantial to your well-being. Do not spend your time in discussing worthless people and their doings with others. You will gain nothing out of it. Distance yourself from their unproductive life activities. Only pick up good things from them. Please do not give unnecessary importance, time and energy to material goods and related thoughts, I repeat. 

You can never be fully satisfied without Divine peace!

There is a thin line which divides need from greed!!

• Have regards for superior thoughts. Infuse your mind with thoughts which have gravity, depth and meaning. They should serve the purpose of guiding your line of thoughts and your life in the right direction. From superior thoughts of wisdom, take your mind and anchor it on thoughts on God. In this way the mind becomes pure. Mind is matter and the thoughts lingering with worldly matters has impurities. But the worldly  mind becomes pure with contemplation and absorption of sublime divine thoughts. The mind should be  thrown in the fire of knowledge and wisdom. After burning, the residue is the sediments of impure, fleeting  thoughts of this transitory world and the gold is now clean and it shines! Like wise our mind, over a long, continuous period of isolation from worldly tendencies and inclinations becomes transformed and purified for a higher purpose. So internalize your mind by bringing it back to its source again and again till it rests in God permanently. This needs regular and uninterrupted practice.

 

• When you perform your daily activities, involve your mind completely in it. No job is done well unless we give our heart and soul to it. But once the job is done, disconnect your mind and take a relief. After refreshing your mind, go on to the next task. If you are stormed by bouts of uneasiness and disruption of peace, then immediately bring your mind on your breath. Focus your attention on your breath. Observe your breathe and be a witness to it. As you watch the flow of incoming and outgoing breath, the uneasiness, anxiety or anger and all other negative emotions shall subside and pass away. Calmness and peace shall return to you soon. Make it a habit of calming your mind many times a day by observing your breath and not by other de-stressing methods to improve your moods. 

 

• Continuous practice of the mind for uninterrupted peace, discovering thoughts of God’s nature by regular practice of meditation, penance, maintaining silence, fasting on saatvik food, internalization makes the mind firm and steady. 

 

• Do not carry the weight of the load of your past. Leave your past behind. Let your past  be past.

 

• Discard immediately all those thoughts which arise in the mind that are impure, repetitive,  fruitless and unprofitable.

 

•  Give love to all. That is God’s love which you shall distribute to whom so ever is worthy.

 

• Spread kindness. Kindness in words, thoughts and deeds. Be kind to  animals, animate and inanimate objects too. Speak words to people  which are pleasing to their heart, mind and soul. Your words should have balming effect on them.

 

• Meditate on God. Meditate on Self. Do self inquiry and correct yourself again and again. Meditate deeply for long lasting peace. Deep breathing and meditation clears your mind of fogginess and also clears your future path.

As I wrap up and conclude this topic, I feel like telling you something in brief. A precept which you may need to know at a later stage of advancement and development. Have you heard the word -Soliloquy? Compare these two words ‘soliloquy  and dialogue’. Dialogue is with the mind while soliloquy is with our Spirit, our soul. After soliloquy there is only peace. One is at peace with the world, with people and with own self. This is a state of Nirvana- nir (without) vana (speech), a speechless state of mind, a quiet and silent mind. Complete  freedom from the noise of our own loud incessant, futile thoughts which are self created. The clouds over the sun when dispersed facilitates the sun to shine brightly. Like wise the noisy, cloudy thoughts when calmed down makes our Spirit shine. The shining Sun here is our luminous Spirit, our very own Atman.

God is the all pervading force in the Universe as well as in Nature in its pure, undiluted, sublime form. While Mind is matter and gross in nature. It completely dissolves in God, in the Spirit, in the Light, in sublime Self. The mind at last arrives at a stage where it has no conflict, no rebellion traits, no upheaval, no unrest, no agitation, and no fuss at all. Only Peace prevails. Attain that!!

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti OM.

(Refer post no. 4 Awareness- the art of right living. Why do we need to control and discipline our breath?)

4a.m. Today is 7^thof Mar. It is the mahasamadhi day of Sri Paramhansa Yogananda. I reverentially dedicate this post in his remembrance at his Lotus Feet.

As 7^th March was approaching, I was remembering Sri Paramhansa Yogananda’s life or Guruji, as he was lovingly addressed, and was wondering how did he manage to accomplish so much in such a little time. That too in such a chaotic and unpredictable world? He was born for and worked towards the world wide mission of reviving the long lost, ancient science of Kriya Yoga of God-union. He united the Eastern philosophy with the western culture and ideology by showing similarities and propagated the conviction of oneness of both religions. He stressed the unity and brotherhood of mankind which is the only way to open the door of permanent peace in the world.

It was no mean a task for him as an Indian in the 30’s to land up all alone on the soil of America, a foreign country with no resources in hand. He knew nobody in America and had no trace or any idea as to how he could approach anyone and begin his spiritual work where no-one understood his language or when in those days  one was not even exposed to the western world and its converse culture? Yet, by the time he took mahasamadhi in 1952, he was a well known spiritual figure and one of the  pioneers of spiritual sciences on the world stage. He had initiated 1 lakh devotees into Kriya Yoga Deeksha in U.S. alone apart from so many others in India including Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan and others. He established the SRF and YSS  centres in Washington and California as well as in Ranchi and Dakshineshwar, India. He toured and visited many cities and towns in USA, Mexico, U.K, and also India lecturing on spiritual subjects and topics giving answers to questions, healing their bodies, souls and minds.

He conceived and designed many essential and informative spiritual lessons and life skills in the form of home lessons (Yogoda Satsanga Lessons in Self-realization. They are still in circulation and can be obtained from the YSS centres for aspiring devotees and practitioners of Yoga and Self-realization. He undertook the formidable task of translating and interpreting the Geeta and the Bible from the standpoint of Kriya Yoga. And so much more spiritual contribution was made by him that it is not possible for us to assess his gigantic reserve and enrichment to the existing pool. Now this is not an easy task if you really ask me. Recalling and recounting all this, I thought to myself…

In what way and manner do the great ones lead their lives?

How do they add so much value to a normal human life?

How do they accomplish so much in an average span of human life?

Are their minds very extra ordinary and special? If so, then how?

Can I too, enhance and escalate my present life by choosing and picking and then acting upon some special kind of actions or karmas which will attach added value, purpose and depth to my life also? I am wondering, really wondering??

I also thought of Lord Krishna. How could He compose and create the perennially new, ocean of wisdom ‘Bhagwad Geeta’ then?

I was extremely fascinated  by great figures like Krishna, Arjuna and some other Mahabharat characters. More so when I used to watch the serial Mahabharat on TV. When I watched this engrossing epic, I really became ponderous and was very curious to know-

How could Krishna remain so unperturbed and composed in spite of the ongoing mass killing and ghastly scenes at the battlefield of Kurukshetra? How could he inspire the despondent Arjuna to resume the fight of dharma or righteousness? How was it possible at all for Arjuna to realize God and have a glimpse of the Divine nature of Krishna in such a disrupting and blood shedding times?

How did Krishna still retain peace, which he transferred to Arjuna and resolved his mental turmoil erupting in his mind?

Why did stalwarts and good souls like Bhishma pitamaha, Karna, Dronacharya not leave Duryodhana? He was depending mainly on these three great fighters who were also great people and were noble at heart.

Why could they not forsake the sinful men, the Kauravas? Had they done so, there would have been no war at all.

How can anyone have peace of mind when he is all the time surrounded by egoism, antagonism, unrest, disagreement, discord, jealousy and rivalry?

In short, I mean I need to know,  is it possible for us to maintain peace and still surge ahead with our aspirations and intentions with existing conflict and antagonistic elements around us?

To be continued…….

(Read ‘Autobiography of a Yogi and ‘Whispers from Eternity’ among his best known work & Paramahansa Yogananda-In memoriam. Personal Accounts of the Master’s Final Days)

 

Whatever we wish to achieve in life should be firmly determined first. Only then success is assured. Determination and firmness of purpose comes from the power of Spirit which makes our mind resolute in nature.

We must set high goals in life with a meaningful purpose touching larger issues and serving larger people. Petty goals and petty means demean our souls. It is a loss to our dignity and self respect.

Unpreparedness of mind should be dealt with, first of all. To become mentally prepared we must search our souls to know what our goal in life is at present. To know and determine the exact goal, to ascertain whether we are doing the right thing, or to excel in all our pursuits we must first surrender ourselves at the Lord’s feet. The Lord, the Master of the Universe knows what is really right for us and after that we can pick up our chosen destination and decide on our set goals.

Once the period of confusion, self-doubt and unpreparedness is over, we must be thoroughly determined to achieve our large goals after receiving God’s consent, Grace and kind blessings.

Determination makes us empowered with a quality which later creates a carved out path for ourselves. And that quality is- fearlessness.

There are going to be speed-breakers, unexpected mental barriers and other tiring deterrents. But the faith in oneself and the Power of the Almighty clears the path and the road is well defined and uncluttered by now.

Now my dear, can you recall and think of some known characters from the past who had firmness of purpose and determination resembling fire?? You think on this and in the meantime I will tell you whom I consider worth mentioning here, who really had fiery determination and also enjoys a place in man’s history. And that is Panchali from Mahabharat period.

Panchali knew that the rightful heir of Hastinapur was Yudhishtir and that their kingdom was usurped by Duryodhan and his coterie of evil minded associates. The Kauravas grabbed the kingdom from the Pandavas by cheating them in the game of dice. Panchali was disgraced and insulted in the court-hall by Duryodhana, Karna, Dushshasan and the other wicked people present there at that foreboding time. She felt very lonely and had only Krishna for her timely help on her side. She was anguished and felt helpless at her own plight.

After the humiliation, Panchali avowed that she will avenge every misdeed of theirs. And she did. In the war of Kurukshetra, she asked her beloved husband Arjun and Herculean Bhima to kill Karna and Duryodhana respectively for their unforgiving abuses and demeaning acts towards her and relieve her from her agonizing vows. She called them cowards because for everything that they had won was won by fraud, cheating, plotting, conspiracy and treachery.

Panchali was determined to regain her dignity, self respect and lost glory which she eventually did. All that was possible because of not only her devotion towards Krishna but because of her unshakable resolution and fiery determination to win back her lost pride and honour.

And have you thought of some more extra-ordinary persons who have achieved what they set their eyes on  because they possessed fiery determination?