Saturday, September 11, 2010

Hiranyakashyapu and 9/11 US Attack

I recall that news very well in my life.  I was in office with my team when i received the news of Twin Towers being bombed.  Further reading/news revealed that a Flight has been taken and used as means of attack.

The immediate thing that propped up in my thoughts was the story of Prahlad and Narasimha.  In this story Hiranyakashyapu a daemon king performs severe penance towards Lord Brahma.  When Brahma appears before him, he requests for boon of Immortality.  Brahma denies that and requests him to alter the request.  Hiranyakashyapu draws out a big list of clauses for his death
  • Must not die inside or outside the house
  • Must not die in the hands of a Devas, human or animal
  • Must not die in day or night
  • Must not die by any weapons
  • etc.

Now he definitely had covered all the cases.  Vishnu had other thoughts.  He took the avatar of Narasimha and breaking every single clause laid out finally killed Hiranyakashyapu.

He took form with Lion Head, human body.  Choose of Time of Evening Twilight, and used  his Nails to destroy Hiranyakashyapu.

US is guarded heavily protecting it against most forms of attacks known
  • Guard Seas (US Coast guard)
  • Guard the Skies
  • Strong immigration policies and border checks
  • Missile Tracking Systems ( Anti-missiles )
  • Research of Space and prevention from Alien Attacks
In spite of so-much protection, somebody did find a way out.

You can only increase the probability of success.   But cannot guarantee it.
 
Remembering the incident at the 9th Anniversary.
May their souls rest in peace.


आकाशात पतिथन थोयम यदा गच्छति सागरं
(Like the water from the sky reaches the ocean)

What does the first Sloka Mean?

Any Pooja performed starts with this sloka.

"शुक्लाम्बराधाराम विष्णुम शशि वर्णं चतुर भुजं
प्रसन्ना वदनं ध्ययेथ सर्व विग्नोपाशान्तये ||"
"Shuklambara Dharam Vishnum Shashi Varnam Chatur Bhujam
Prasanna Vadhanam Dyayeth Sarva Vignopa Shantaye"


Meaning (to my knowledge)
In English
शुक्ल (shukla - White) अम्भार (ambhara - cloth) धरम (dharam - wearing)

शशि (shashi - moon) वर्णं (varnam - colour)
चतुर (chatur - Four) भुजं (bhujam - limbs/hands)
प्रसन्ना (prasanna - pleasant/happy) वधनम (Vadhanam - face)
द्यायेथ (dhyayeth - meditate) सर्व (sarva - every) विग्न (vigna - obstacle)
उपशंताये (upashantaye -will go away)
PS: Thanks to Samkritha Bharathi for opening a path to learn Sanskrit (www.samskritabharati.org/sbindia/)

On mediating the one who is attired in white cloth, who is of color of moon, who has four limbs and who has a pleasant face, all the obstacles you face will go away.

As i have been told by my elders at home, this sloka is a prayer to Lord Ganesha.  While uttering this sloka you also have to close your palm and knock your fist against your forehead.  I also have heard and read about some controversy of this sloka referring to Lord Vishnu.  The characteristics described goes well with him too.
Some reference give the meaning "All Prevalent" to word विष्णुम "Vishnum".

With Hinduism having plurality in god and openness for any individual to follow his path, the interpretation of which specific deighty is referred is upto ones interpretation.

I also happen to attend NLP classes done by Only Success (www.onlysuccess.net ).
I recall Praveen talking about state, its true you can't think about bad things and still smile.
Smile is very addictive. How many times have you not responded to a child's smile?  Whatever be your condition, that smile immediately brings you back into a pleasant state.

I strongly believe this sloka is meant to get one into the right state before one proceeds with the rest of the pooja/ceremony.  You recall that pleasant smile of Ganesha or Vishnu or even Child next doors, when uttering this sloka in bright white background to enhance the effect, you are all set to shatter all of your obstacles.

Happy Vinayaka Chaturthi.