Daamyata Datta Dayathvam Janathaa:

All beings are the Children of the Prajaapathi, the Creator. The living beings can be categorized into three groups – the Devas, the Manushyaas and the Asuras. The first group, the Devas are the Celestials who are the denizens of Paradise where they enjoy all sorts of pleasures. The second group, the Manushyaas are the Human Beings who live in this Earth. The third group, the Asuras are the demons who are extremely cruel. All three groups of beings studied at the feet of Prajaapathi. After their studies under him all the three groups of children approached Prajaapathi, one group at a time, and asked him for a final teaching.

When Devas approached Him and said ‘Please teach us Father’, He said to them the single syllable ‘Da’. Then He asked ‘Did you understand?’ They said ‘Yes. We have understood what you said. It is ‘Daamyata – Control Yourselves’’. He said ‘Yes. You have understood it’.

When Manushyaas approached Him and said ‘Please teach us Father’, He said to them the single syllable ‘Da’. Then He asked, ‘Did you understand?’ They said ‘Yes. We have understood what you said. It is ‘Datta – Be charitable’’. He said ‘Yes. You have understood it’.

When Asuras approached Him and said ‘Please teach us Father’, He said to them the single syllable ‘Da’. Then He asked, ‘Did you understand?’ They said ‘Yes. We have understood what you said. It is ‘Dayathvam – Be Merciful’’. He said ‘Yes. You have understood it’.

Then there was loud thunder with the sound ‘Da Da Da’ which reflected in the minds of Devas, Manushyaas and Asuras as ‘Daamyata, Datta, Dayathvam’ respectively.

Will we remember this Sermon whenever the thunder goes ‘Da Da Da’?

This story occurs in the Brihad Aaranyaka Upanishad. I can go ahead and explain how all these three advises are required for the Human Beings. But would want to give an opportunity to the readers to interpret this story and give their opinions. So, please write your interpretation of this story and why Periyavaa has used this phrase in the song he wrote for the UNO - Maithreem Bhajatha

Dream India 2020

Would like to bring to your notice about a grassroots movement that has been started recently in India by software engineers. Please read more details about this movement here.

Also please read some articles about developing our nation, that my friend Natarajan has put in his blog.

Shreyo Bhooyaath Sakala Janaanaam

This title is the last line of the song 'Maithreem Bhajatha'. This song was written by Jagathguru Sankaraachaarya Sri Chandrasekarendra Sarashwathi Swamigal of Kanchi Kaamakoti Peetam who was famously known as 'Periyavaa' and 'Paramaachaaryaa'. I think the occasion was 50th anniversary of United Nations Organization. The Queen of Carnatic Music, Bharath Rathna Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi was invited to sing at UNO on this occasion. Acaaryaa wrote and gave to her this Sanskrit song when she mentioned about the UNO invitation to Acaaryaa. We can appreciate the importance and relevance of this song even after 40 years of writing this song, if we look into the meaning of each line. I think we should listen to this song daily and meditate on the meaning so that we can consciously follow the advise given by Acaaryaa in this song for the World Peace.

Maithreem Bhajatha Akila Hrith Jeththreem - Serve with Friendship and Humility, which will conquer the Hearts of Everyone.
Atmavat Eva Paraan api pashyata - Look upon others similar to yourself.
Yuddham Tyajata - Renounce War
Spardhaam Tyajata - Renounce unnecessary Competition for Power
Tyajata Pareshwa akrama aakramanam - Give up Aggression on others' properties which is wrong
Jananee Prthivee Kaamadughaastey - Mother Earth is wide enough and ready to give us all we desire like a Kaamadenu
JanakO Deva: Sakala Dayaalu: - God, Our Father, is very Compassionate to All
Daamyata - So, Restrain yourself
Datta - So, Donate your wealth to others
Dayathvam - So, Be Kind to others
Janathaa: - Oh People of the World
Sreyo Bhooyaath Sakala Janaanaam - May All People of this World be Happy and Prosperous.
Sreyo Bhooyaath Sakala Janaanaam - May All People of this World be Happy and Prosperous.
Sreyo Bhooyaath Sakala Janaanaam - May All People of this World be Happy and Prosperous.

When this song was rendered at UNO, all the delegates from the World Nations were given the translation of this song. The rendering of this song by MS and the meaning was so melting that most of the delegates were very moved and some of them started weeping at the profundity of this song and the voice.

My friend Siva has added this song to his blog for you. Please click on the link and listen to this song.

Those who can read Tamizh can read the meaning of this song in Tamizh in my Tamizh blog.

What about the other victims

The following article was written sometime after the Indian Ocean Tsunaami. The article is still relevant - may be it will be relavent always. So, reproducing it here.


What about the other victims?

By now every one of us might have donated whatever little we could give to the victims of the Indian Ocean Tsunami. It is very heartening to see the outpouring of our innate quality of lending a helping hand to the people in distress. Many people have done a commendable work by doing their part wherever they happen to be at that point of time. Those who were near the Ground Zero were quick enough to get there to be of some help to the victims of the calamity. Those who were far off did their part in organizing the collection of relief materials and in donating money to the relief organizations. It is very inspiring and elevating to see all these.

But recently I started asking a question myself. We see these flurries of actions of Kindness only during the times of disasters. Where does this innate quality of Kindness hide during the so-called normal periods of time? Why are the people, including myself, oblivious of the suffering of the people around us? There are millions of people living around us who, day in and day out, are struggling to make the ends to meet. Why do we leave them high and dry? Our hearts go out only to the victims of tragedies and not worry about the victims of other Social Evils like Poverty and Social Injustice? Why?

If we just look around little more consciously, we can see that most of them are at the end of their rope and by chipping in little bit of our fortune and time, we could make a great difference in their life. But why don’t we do that? What is stopping us? Why have we become so rigid? Why have we become so selfish to bother only about our kith and kin and ourselves, during the normal times?

It would be very cruel of me if I say that I can be kind only when a catastrophe hits someone who is somehow related to me directly or indirectly. If being kind is my innate quality, then I would keep my eyes and ears open always to see every thing including the suffering of the people who are just existing, as one of my good friend said about these unfortunate people - they are not living but just existing - around us everywhere.

I feel bad that someone else has to tell me about my innate quality of kindness. I feel ashamed that I need to read the inspiring words of people like Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, Mother Theresa or any other social worker to get out my daily quota of kindness. There are plenty of ways I can express my kindness to the people around me, whether they are fortunate like me or not, especially to those who are unfortunate. I want myself to be more conscious and do some random acts of kindness every day. I promise myself that I do not need another disaster to bring out my inherent quality of kindness. I promise myself that I will continue to read the inspiring words of the great people but that does not need to drive me to do some acts of kindness daily. It will be more spontaneous. I pray to God to give me the steadfastness in this endeavor but at the same time feel guilty that I had to call these simple acts of kindness as ‘endeavor’ to get myself committed.

"My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness. - The Dalai Lama"

Maithreem Bhajatha

Most of you might have listened to this song starting with 'Maithreem Bhajatha' sung by MS Subbalakshmi. This phrase means 'Serve everyone with the feeling of Friendliness and Compassion'. We have seen Service done by some people with the sole intention of gaining name and fame. Some others are friendly and compassionate but do not do much service. Some others think donating to religious organizations means Service. Service to Humanity is Service to God. And that Service needs to be done with the feeling of Friendliness and Compassion. Not with pride or ego.

I selected this name for my blog to remind me always about this - that Service to Humanity needs to be done and that also with the feeling of Friendliness and Compassion.

First Posting

Dear Friends,

Planning to write all and everything I want to write, in this blog. Hope I will continue to get your support.

Anbudan,
Kumaran