Mahabratha Epic - Part 1 of 3

Sephiroth

Sorry for the late entry ... I had some things to do and sometimes, I got a bit lazy and have to be kicked to get things done.


Epic Struggle between Father and Son.


Upon hearing the confession from his own son's mouth, King Hirankyasipu ordered his men to capture the young boy and throw him in jail. Pralthan didn't fight or disobey his father and went silently with the men to the cell.

Hirankyasipu had his Queen, Kyadhu to go and try to persuade the boy to bow down and worship his father as a God, but Pralthan refused his mother's request. Sad and didn't know what to do, the Queen returned and informed the King about it. Hirankyasipu become furious and order his Soldiers to go and kill the Prince right away, much to the distress of the Queen.

The Soldiers came and informed the boy of their orders respectfully (he is still the Prince, after all) and Pralthan informed them to carry out the task assigned to them by his father, and then sat down and begin to meditate upon Lord Vishnu.

The demon soldiers tried to use swords to cut the child in half (probably out of pity and sympathy and didn't want the boy to suffer), but to their surprise, the sword cannot cut him. They tried to stab him with spears and spears couldn't pierce his body either. They tried crushing him with a mace but again, nothing happened. Confused on what has happened, the Soldiers returned and informed the King on what has happened. Hirankyasipu become even more furious on hearing this.

Hirankyasipu then  had ordered the Soldiers to take him to a mountain side and throw him over, thinking the fall from such height will kill the boy. The Soldiers informed the boy again and he followed them peacefully to the mountain side. On the edge of the mountain, the demon soldiers took hold of the boy and threw him over. The boy fell down but he continued to meditate upon Lord Vishnu as he falls. Lord Vishnu brought His hand forward and let Pralathan fall onto it, saving him once again.

The demon Soldiers returned back to the Court of Hirankyasipu and informed the King that they have managed to "kill" the boy (because they couldn't see anything below from the great height) and Hirankyasipu become happy that another devotee of Vishnu had perished. So, when Pralthan came waltzing into his court, calling him father, one could imagine the shock Hirankyasipu must have had to see him alive and very well. Off the boy to the jail once again.

In one occasion, it is said that Hirankyasipu even "used" his own wife (Pralathan's mother). Hirankyasipu probably heard that Pralathan always meditated before some sort of punishment about to be rendered to him, and thought Pralathan probably use some sort of "magic" to protect himsef (after all, he could consider his own immortality toward weapons as magic given by Lord Brahma) so why don't Lord Vishnu give Pralathan immortality toward weapons and harm as long as he used it at time of danger.

So, Hirankyasipu ordered his wife to put poison into the boy's food and get him to eat it herself. Despite of protesting against it, Queen Kyadhu have no choice but to trust Lord Vishnu to protect her son, as He did before. Placing him in her laps, she (with sense of guilt) begin to feed the food laced with poison onto Pralathan (who had no opportunity to meditate). And surely enough, Lord Vishnu protected Pralathan nevertheless. Once again, Hirankyasipu failed in his attempted.

[Note : Athisheshan - the many-headed Snake which Lord Vishnu lies on (to watch the Universe in His mind's Eye) holds all the poisons in the Universe. Some said that AthiSheshan absorb the poison in the food since it will not effect It in anyway).

[More murder attempts in the next post].

Sephiroth

[Continue from above. Sorry for delay, I was typing it on Notepad little by little whenever there's time.]


After various attempts which failed, the Demon King, Hirankyasipu is at his wits end on how to deal with his son, Pralathan and his devotion toward Lord Vishnu. His soldiers cannot harm in any way possible, Nature cannot seems to harm him in anyway and conventional methods like poison doesn't work. Pralathan seems to suppressed him (who obtained boon from Lord Brahma he cannot be harmed inside or outside his castle, by man-made, demon-made or Dewa-made weapons or by day or night).

Two important events said to have occurred that pushed King Hirankyasipu. Those are failure of Demon Guru, Sukracharya to change Pralathan and death of his sister - Holika.


Failure of Guru Sukracharya

Seeing his beloved student in state of confusion on what to do, Guru Sukracharya came to King Hirankyasipu's aid. Asking the King to entrust the boy to his care, Guru Sukracharya ensured him that he will change Pralathan's mind and if cannot, Guru Sukracharya will kill the boy himself.

King Hirankyasipu agreed and send the boy together with the guru. At the Ashram, everything went well. Pralathan continued to live there as he did in his pervious asharam and Guru Sukrachayra observed him carefully. Then the debate begins. Guru Sukrachayra tried hard to persuade the boy to let go of this practise.

Pralathan however, countered with two points which Guru Sukracharya were guilty off. Guru Sukrachayra guilt of not teaching the students about how to perform Yajna and Meditation, but he himself constantly does it often in his Asharam. The second thing Guru Sukrachayra guilt of was, despite of knowing King Hirankyasipu is not a god, Guru Sukrachayra doesn't nothing to prevent him from proclaim himself such. After some heated debated, finally Guru Sukrachayra gave up and
retired to his hut.

At night, the Guru asked his two sons to bring the boy to the place where he perform the Yajna so they could summon an Asura to kill the boy. He warn his two sons to becareful because the Asura which they are about summon is a dangerous one. If it doesn't kill the boy, it will turn against the summoners. The two sons went to see Pralathan who agreed to follow silently.

At the place of Yajna, the two sons of Sukrachayra begin to perform yajna and brought out the Asura from the flames and send it to kill Pralathan. As always, Pralathan prayed to Lord Vishnu and all attempts by the Asura to kill the boy failed as nothing seems to work. In anger for not getting it's food, the Asura turned toward its summoners and killed them before dissappearing.

Guru Sukracharya, sensing something was wrong went to the place where the Yajna was performed, and there, instead of find King Hirankyasipu's son dead, he could his own two songs dead and the boy still there, praying to Lord Vishnu. Sukracharya knew what has happened and couldn't come to blame the boy. He took his two sons onto his lap and mourn silently.

Pralathan came around and saw the old man. The boy approach him and explained how the Asura had killed his two sons and asked whether the Guru couldn't just revive the two sons with his Shanjeevi Mantra which he obtained from Lord Shiva. Guru Sukrachayra explain to the boy that the two sons didn't die in combat (Warrior's Death) since the Asura was their own summon (like been killed by your own weapons accidentaly), he couldn't save them by using Shanjeevi Mantra.

Wanting to help the old man, Pralathan asked if Guru Sukracharya willing to admit that King Hirankyasipu is not a God if Pralathan could ask Lord Vishnu to bring back to alive his two sons again. Guru Sukrachayra didn't answer but Pralathan didn't persist either. He closed his eyes and begin to pray to the Lord to give life back to the two slain sons of Sukracharya and moments later, the two sons' bodies healed and they opened their eyes. When asked what had happened, since they know they had died, Guru Sukrachayra remains silent but Pralathan explained to them on what has occurred.

Feeling somewhat angry and upset over what their father had done (especially his role on promoting King Hirankyasipu's delusion of being a God), the two sons decided to retreat to Himalaya and seeks the Lord on their own. They asked for their father's blessing and he had no choice than to give it to them. And with this victory, Pralathan return back to the Castle and face his father once again.


Defeat of Holika

Holika was King Hirankyasipu's younger sister. She had performed tapas toward Agni Dewa (Deity of Fire) and obtain boon that she will not be harmed from fire or fire based weapons. Upon hearing about King Hirankyasipu's predicament over his son and his failed attempt to kill the boy, Holika approach the king and suggested that he could put the boy on her lap, and have them sat down in the middle of a large pile of woods and burning materials. The king could set the pile in flames and burnt them and since she is invurnable to flame, the boy could perish. If he tries to escape, Holika will take hold of him to ensure he won't escape. King Hirankyasipu agreed and made the arrangement.

Pralathan's mother, Queen Kayadhu asked the boy not to go and follow his aunt into the fire but the boy insisted nothing will happen to him, since his aunt will be there with him and she is invurnable to fire (so he probably thought he was too).

On the appointed day, everyone gathered around to look at the big pile of burning materials in front of them. Holika brought the boy and walked to the top of the mount with him, who was unmoved by it. They sat down together; she sat first and he sat on her lap. King Hirankyasipu was present but his queen wasn't. The king ordered his soldiers to light the mount and fire begin to burn.

Moments later, the fire become big and uncontrollable. Pralathan closed his eyes and begin to pray and Holika sat unmoved, thinking nothing going to harm her. But soon, the heat touched her and she noticed something was wrong. The heat hurt her and she begin to burn. She cried in pain and tried to get up but couldn't because Pralathan was sitting in meditative state on her lap.

She cried out to her brother to help but he couldn't help her either (he didn't have boon to protect himself from the elements, just weapons and asthara (magical incantations)). Moments later, the fire died down and Holika reduced to ashes. King Hirankyasipu grief stricken toward the death of his sister and ordered the boy to be thrown into the jail. Later, when Queen Kayadhu approach him and asked why Parathan didn't ask his Lord to revive Holika the way he did with the two sons of Guru Sukracharya, Parathan informed her that when he asked his Lord to do such, he knew that he asked something which is against Laws of Nature and promised not to asked his Lord such again.

King Hirankyasipu, meanwhile summon Agni Dewa and demanded on why his boon lost its powers. Agni Dewa informed him that, when he gave the boon to Holika, it was incantation of defense toward Fire and Fire based weapon, NOT to be used as a weapon itself. While Holika was invurnable to all form of Fire based weapons and incantations, she was not supposed to use it as a weapon. When she, voluntarilly placed the boy on her laps and used her boon, what she did was she tried to use the boon as a weapon to kill the boy. The boon lost its powers and protected the person who she used against.  King Hirankyasipu upset but he could see the fault in it, so he demised Agni Dewa and mourned his sister's death silently.


[Note : in Malayalam Society to this day, there is celebrations called Holi where old, useless items were burnt in a large fire and the society usher a new year (roughly around 3rd or 4th month. This festival usually celebrated in India and some Malayalam society in Malaysia in Kampung areas, probably originated from the story on how Holika was defeated.]

Next - King Hirankyasipu's battle with Lord Narashimha Avatar.

Sephiroth

[Continue from above ...]

Narashimsha Avatar


It was nearly evening time as the Demon King Hirankyasipu who was at end of his wits and patiences, walks back and forth in his Audience chamber, think about the problem he was facing. His mightly army is useless against Pralathan, poison and other conventional methods don't work, sorcery have no effects, even his own Guru had disappointed him. Out of anger and rage, the king ordered his men to go and fetch Pralathan so he could deal with him personally.

Pralathan came and bow humbly toward his father who looked at him with rage. The king asked his son on the manner which he could managed to escape all his attempts to kill the boy and the boy answered that it was due to Lord Vishnu's blessing and protection. Enraged that his arch-enemy could work through his son, King Hirankyasipu's anger doubled.

The king asked the boy where his Lord is, so he could go and find Him, to fight and to prove that once and for all, Hirankyasipu is the most powerful one in the 3 realms. Pralathan answer that the Lord is Everywhere and in Everything. King Hirankyasipu pointed to a jug of water and asked whether Lord Vishnu is in there. Pralathan said, "Yes, He is in there".

Hirankyasipu, out of anger lifted the pot up and smash it onto the ground. It is said that the water formed together into a Aum symbol, showing him His present. Hirankyasipu probably though by pouring the water onto the ground by destroying the vessel, he could prove to the boy that he was above the Lord.

Angry, Hirankyasipu asked again where is Lord Vishnu. Again, Pralathan said He is everywhere and in everything. Hirankyasipu point at a large pillar near his throne and asked whether Lord Vishnu is inside the pillar. Pralathan said "Yes" and using the mace weapon, king Hirankyasipu hit the pillar and split it open.

To their surprise, instead of an empty hallow space within the pillar, a large, strange figure stood there. It has a human body but head of a lion, with long golden mane. Its hands have long, black claws and It gave a tremendous raar which shock everyone and brought fear into their hearts. It was Narashimsha Avatar - the Man-Lion.

Narashimsha Avatar step out of the column and gave another roar, which probably to get everyone back from state of shock. King Hirankyasipu gathered his strenght and courage and flung his mace toward the strange looking creature which he had never came across before. Narashimsha Avatar strick back by deflecting it away and crawled him. The exchange went on for what appeared to be hours as King Hirankyasipu pushed away from his throne room, leading toward the path going outside. Pralathan didn't know what to do so he just looked on in horror on the battle between his father and his Lord.

[In some texts, it is said that some soldiers had came and attack to assist their king against this strange-looking demon-like creature and Narashimsha avatar killed them as well]

Either way, the time was the twilight as the sun had set but light still exist in the horizon. King Hirankyasipu is exhausted and wounded but he still managed to stand. None of his blows seems to do any damaged to Narashimsha Avatar. Finally, at the appointed time, Narashimsha Avatar gave him several blows which stunned him, and then lifted the King up and sat down onto the path leading into the building from outside. Narashimsha Avatar placed Hirankyasipu onto His laps and told him that he was about to be killed by His own hands.

[Note - some text said that Hirankyasipu cried out, stating that Lord Brahma had lied to him, stating he cannot be killed].

Hirankyasipu spoke back in defiance, stating he was invurneable to death because of a boon he received from Lord Brahma. Narashimsha Avatar asked what was the boon. Hirankyasipu replied that he is not to be killed on land or in the sky, by weapons made by Asuras, Dewas or Man, killed during the day or night or inside or outside his castle.

Narashimsha Avatar replied back that he was not going to be killed on land or in the sky but on His laps (where Hirankyasipu laid now); he was not going to be killed during the day or night but in twilight - time where the Sun and Moon appears together and so does light and darkness, he was not going to be killed by any weapons made by Asuras, Dewas or Man but His own finger nails, he was not going to be killed inside or outside the castle but in the path leading in from outside (the doorway) and finally, he was not going to be killed by any Asura, Dewa or Man but by Him in a form of a Man and a Beast mixed together (never seen before).

And with that explaination - Narashimsha Avatar sank His nails into Hirankyasipu's stomach and ripped it open. He pulled the stomach out and gave out a might roar before standing up and the great Demon king, Hirankyasipu laid down death onto the floor. But His anger is still not resolved yet and He begin to stood, angry at everything (which had happened to His devotees  by Hirankyasipu and his demons' hands). No one dared to approach Him.

The Dewas came down and tried to calm Him down, stating the Universe will be unbalanced if He kept enraged in such way, but that didn't help. Lord Shiva and Parvathi, together with Lord Brahma, Saraswati and Mahalakshmi came and tried to calm Him down but didn't help. Finally, Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma adviced Pralathan to approach his Lord and try to calm Him down, since Pralathan happened to be the closest to Lord Vishnu at the present time. Pralathan, despite of the fear of the terrible form, had faith he will not be harmed and approach His Lord. With devotional songs and praises, Pralathan managed to calm down His Lord and finally, made him reverd back to His Calmer Vishnu Form. And with that, the crisis is Over.

Pralathan resigned as King over his father and stopped his mother who wished to join her death husband in his funeral pyre by stating that he still young and she had duties as a mother to attend to him as well as help him rule the country. Lord Vishnu , Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma worshipping continued without any interruptions from each others, as it did in the past and everything is well.


[Note : To this day, any devotees required protection from hostile forces will pray to Narashimsha Avatar for protection.
I will add some of my own notes and website for references later. ]

Nice!
Really interesting bout the scientific stuff. I know a little but not so indepth as this. Good job!
Looking forward to ur next post!

Sephiroth

I wanted to say something smart and intelligent ... nothing came out. So, I guess I leave it as that.

For further reading about Narasimsha Avatar, read in here :

Website :
http://narasimha.nols.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prahlada
http://www45.brinkster.com/luciphor/db/narasimha.html

For those who wondering why Lord Vishnu needs to take upon such terrifying form (a Man-Lion), then you have to wait till I finish off two more Avatar stories (Vamana Avatar and Parasurama Avatar) which will end the 1st Part of this thread.

Sephiroth

We continue with Vamana Avatar. This Avatar is different from others before for two reasons :

1. This is the 1st Avatar of Lord Vishnu for being born as "human"-like being, and,
2. This Avatar doesn't deal with battle or war.


Vamana Avatar


Maha Bali is the grandson of Pralathan, who to the very end of his life, remained a devotee to Lord Vishnu. It is said that Maha Bali is a great and well-versed Prince and therefore, his falls will not occur as long as he doesn't disobey his guru - Guru Sukracharya (who still lives during his reign) directly.

One day, Maha Bali walked up to his grandfather and complains that despite of performing various Yajna and Poojas felt discontent. Pralathan, who is a great devotee of Lord Vishnu told him that the reasons for this discontent is because he never formed any pooja or yajna toward Lord Vishnu. In tone of sarcastic and arrogant, Maha Bali said to ask his grandfather who is this Lord Vishnu.

Pralathan, who loved his Lord felt angry and curse his own grandson that he will soon lost his own Kingdom. With that, despite of effects by his grandson to plead forgiveness, Pralathan and his wife retired to the forest to finish of the remaining of their lives in solitude and service.

Maha Bali continued what he always do ... rule his kingdom and conquer others. It is said that he was kinder and fair Kin than his great grandfather (Hirankyasipu) who ruled like a dictator. Many kingdoms volunterily placed themselves under him and enjoy a great progress and peace. With this, Maha Bali begins to plot of placing Heaven under his control as well.

Some source (I saw this in one of the TV program which recreate the event using some puranas like Vishnu Purana, Skana Purana etc) says that this is not solely for benefit of his own sake only but also due to desire of revenge.

Maha Bali's father was a great king but when challenge Indra in a combat, was killed unfairly by Indra and other Dewas who ganged up on him. Knowing well that Guru Sukracharya had ability to revive warriors who had fallen in battle, Indra used his magic to burn the body to ashes. Maha Bali came to find the ashes and was attacked by Indra and the Dewas who wished to finish off the evil deeds they had committed. Maha Bali was defeated but before Indra could burn his body like what he did to Maha Bali's father, Lord Vishnu Himself had came and stopped them from continuing.

He reminded them that He had promised Pralathan that his descendant will not be harmed as long as they follow Dharmic ways and the Dewas' actions of ganging up on Maha Bali and his father is against Laws of Combat and Kyastria. For this offence, Lord Vishnu punished them by stating that He will remove Himself from them and they will not have His protection. The Dewas pleaded forgiveness but it was too late. Pralatan's son's ashes stood on their own feet is evident enough that the sins are irrevisible and therefore, they are not to be forgiven so easily. Lord Vishnu send Maha Bali's body to Guru Sukrachayra's hermitage and turn His Face away from the Dewas, leaving them in turmoil.

Guru Sukracharya revived Maha Bali and advised him to do severe tapas to gain more more if he was to challenge the Dewas and Maha Bali, in order to seek revenge against what Indra and other dewas did to his father, did what his guru had advised him to do. After years of tapas and penance, Maha Bali gains enough strenght and power to fight Indra and the Dewas. And since Lord Vishnu didn't aid the Dewas (due to their pervious sinful acts), the Dewas had fallen easily and left to wonder the realm, after Maha Bali kicked them out of their realms and rule as his own.

[Enough for now]

[ Last edited by Sephiroth at 28-12-2005 10:20 AM ]

Sephiroth

[Continue from above ... I better do some major research and finish this thread faster. Taking too long.]


It is said that the Dewas, who were kicked out from the Heavens wonder the Realm for what appears to be ages. They cannot return back to Lord Vishnu for help since He is still upset over what they did to Pralathan's son and what they tried to do to Pali before. They cannot go to Lord Shiva for help since Pali have not done anything wrong to other beings which could invite Lord Shiva's wrath. And they cannot go to Lord Brahma since His task is just to write Karma of others and create physical aspects in the Realm.

So, after wondering around, they finally decided to approach one of the Divine Mother of the Earth (Hindu Woman sage, sorry ... I couldn't find the name, which is why I was late in adding more. I will add the name as soon as I find it. Note : Its probably Dewi Anushia but I will check first).

It is said that the Divine Mother (Dewi Anushia?) was a great Lord Vishnu Devotee and also in same status of a Mother to the Dewas. One day, Lord Vishnu came to her and offered a boon. To this, the Divine Mother asked a boon that He should be born to her as a Son, even so she had aged a bit. To this, Lord Vishnu agreed.

So, the Dewas, who lost favour of Lord Vishnu and therefore couldn't ask Him to help does what second best thing to do, beg the Divine Mother for help. Uponing hearing their pleads, the Divine Mother consulted with her husband who agreed she should help them.

She invoked the boon and asked Lord Vishnu to be born to her as a Son and Vamana Avatar is formed. Vamana Avatar was a tiny baby but within moments of His birth, it grew into size of a large child. But even so the feature is that of a Man, the size and shape of the physical aspect of Him was that of a Child, so He is known as Vamana, the Drawf.

The Dewas, Lord of Wealth and King of the East - Kaburan and Lord Shiva came to see Vamana Avatar, who stepped out of the hut. The Dewas probably surprised to see this form since they were expecting something more, dramastic like what He took as Narashimsha Avatar. Nevertheless, Vamana Avatar informed them that the reason He was taken form today was not to engage in warfare but to BEG. Dewas got the shock of their lives.

Upon asking (by Dewas) on why He must beg when He has the power and means to take whatever Pali has, Vamana Avatar informed them that begging is not low as some may think. By begging, a person actually reduce his own ego and pride by lowering his hand to those who gives. Also, He stated that ALL lifeform in this World actually in form or another BEGGED to live - like a child to his mother, Man to Nature and such.

Recluctantly agreed to this, the Dewas presented Him with an umbrella, and He accepted. Kaburan presented Him with a begging bowl and He accepted it as well and finally, Lord Shiva presented Him with a Arm's stool (used to place under the arm during Meditation) and He accepted it as well. After accepting this offerings, He set out toward Maha Pali's castle for a different sort of confrontation.


Meanwhile, at Pali's castle, he is busy performing a great Yajna where he had invited all the Brahmins and people of his realm to participate. After the Yajna is over, Pali begin to distribute gifts to Brahmins who attended. It was late and the gift-distribution was about to finish when Vamana Avatar appeared. Being small and the last to come, He walked behind the line and reach King Pali who looked at Him with surprise (probably due to His size).

Pali asked Him what He wanted as a gift and to surprise of them all, Vamana Avatar informed Pali that He wanted land equals to three steps of His feet. Guru Sukrachayra was the first to recognise that such odd request could only be asked by Lord Vishnu who he thinks always have something up his sleeves. So he approached Pali and advised him not to give what this Brahmin Drawf asked of, stating that the Drawf maybe Lord Vishnu in disguise.

Pali surprised and happy that Lord Vishnu (who he heard from his Grandfather) could actually be visiting him and ignored his teacher's advise (thus fullfilling the last prophecy that he will lost his kingdom when he don't listen to his teacher's advise). Agreeing to give the land the Vamana Avatar seeks, Pali asked Him to measure the steps so he could measure it and give.

Vamana Avatar begin to expand upward and become giantific. He continued to expand till He had covered the whole World with His form and everyone felt to their knees, shivering. As the first step, Lord Vishnu lift up His feet and touched the Heavens, proclaiming that Heaven is His. With another step, He placed it upon the World where everyone was watching and proclaimed that everything that lies on this World was His as well. Now, Pali have a problem - from the 3 Steps asked by Lord Vishnu, Pali could only fullfill 2 of those steps.

When Vamana Avatar asked where He should place His 3rd step, since everything under heaven and on Earth is His, Pali without hestitation stepped forward, knelt down and offered his own head as the place where He could place the last step. Vamana Avatar accepted and placed His foot onto Pali's head. The pressure broke the ground asunder and pushed Pali down to the Underworld. There, Vamana Avatar return back to His Drawf form and blessed the grandson of His beloved devotee, Pralathan.

Vamana Avatar spoke and informed that the Heaven will be restored to the Dewas and the World to those who are rightfully theirs. He also asked him to remain in the Underworld and to rule in His name. Pali agreed to the request. Pali asked whether he will see Him again and Vamana Avatar promised to come back to visit Him during end of Dwapara Yuga as Sri Rama Avatar. With that, Vamana Avatar left Pali and everyone gets what they deserved.


[End of Vamana Avatar. I will add something of my own later.]

Sephiroth

[Note : the following statements are my own deduction on various religions existed. ]


Vamana Avatar and Practitioners of Renouncing the World.


One of the smaller branch of Hindusm are Sannyasi - a group of men who choose to renounce the World and live in state of Celibacy. They will concentrate themselves toward God and Religion and leave behind Family life and such. Buddhism is considered one of this practise as well, especially among Buddhist Monks.

Now, for a long time now, I was wondering about some questions about them. Questions are :

1. Where did this practise came from?
- Some puranas did mentioned methods of Renouncing the World but not in detail so there is no exact purana from which it was based on. Bhavagad Gita itself is addressed to Laymen who wish to indulge in the Worldly Affairs (as practised by most Humans nowadays).

2. What is the starting point of Sannyasi practise?
- Like I said before, some puranas state about the practise but none can be said to be the source of them.

3. Where did the clothing and methods of Sannyasi used came from also?
4. Where did the Spiritual Aspects comes from?
5. And most importantly, what are the proper Spiritual aspect a Sannyasi should follow?

Unknowingly, while I was researching Vamana Avatar, I think I finally found this answer.


Answer to Question 1 : Vamana Purana is source for the Practise of Sannyasi.

- In Vamana Avatar, Lord Vishnu took the form of a Drawf, left His parents (after receiving their blessing) and went into the World. In same manner, Sannyasi and Buddhist Monks are required to (voluntarily) leave the Family them know behind and go to the world.

In some Sannyasi groups, family men who left their families without their consent (like leaving behind young wife and little children) will be asked to return back because such practise will only burden the Seeker of truth and prevent him from reaching the highest level of renounching.

Even Gautama Buddha who left behind His wife and children, did so because His father and Family wouldn't had let Him go. In the end, He came back to them, and teach them about Truth (not because He wanted His family back, but because He wanted to liberate His family as well ... a Responsible Action).


Answer to Question 2 and 3 : Unfortunately, I cannot answer this because Hindusm is a timeless religion which started when the First Man is born on this Planet. So who knows who are the First Sannyasi because, as puranas stated, many Asharams had couples living together and worshipping God. ( :hmm: We could use such Ashrams nowadays in Malaysia. :hmm: )

However, according to the 10 Avatars, Vamana Avatar is considered the FIRST Birth Lord Vishnu had as a Human (all others are different organisms), so in the way, Vamana Avatar Himself can be consider the First Human Sannyasi (and probably the First Buddha as well).

Also, Vamana Avatar fits perfectly as a Human. Humans born the same way Vamana Avatar did, grows up and matures fast (of compared to Asuras and Dewas) in relatively short period of time - 15 years or so (where they become sexually matured). Humans are weak physically - have no natural defense against Nature and its other occupants which is what Vamana Avatar's drawfy form supposed to indicate, also the required for Vamana Avatar to seek blessing and alms from others to survive.

Humans are naturally (born) peaceful and happy (unlike some religion stating that they burdened with Original Sins), which is what the easy-going attitude of Vamana Avatar supposed to present. By renouncing the World, Sannyasi can retain that Child-like attitude and be happy and peaceful till the end of his time.

So, all this shows that Vamana Avatar is the starting point of Sannyasi Practise (and probably Buddhism as well).


Answer to Question 4 : Spiritual Aspects of Sannyasi Practise. For me, this is the deepest and the one which everyone should think about.

Many people and groups in the World today renounce the World by stating that the World is full of suffering and corrupted and they wanted to reach God by obtaining Moksha. Is this a proper way of Sannyasi? By discarding the World and seeking God for his own selfish need to be saved? Is this what Gautama Buddha taught as Buddhism? Is this what Vamana Avatar showed?

Answer - I could say No. :no:

What people and some groups are practising today is different from what the Spiritual Aspects of Renouncing the World supposed to be. It is heavily influenced by Islam and Christianity (no offense attended)  which views the World as a dirty and disgusting place and the goal of Living was to escape from this Prison.

First of all, Renouncing the World means you seeks to deattach yourself from the World emotionally and seeks to find God (in Buddhism - Sense of Enlightnment). You don't renounce the world by stating it is dirty and disgusting and you want to avoid living in it. That is not the method of Renouncing. :no:

When Vamana Avatar took His Drawf form, everyone was surprised and asked why Lord Vishnu took this small form which hardly suits a battle which required to take back what Pali had taken from the Dewas. And what did Lord Vishnu answered - He came not to fight but to BEG. He Himself didn't follow what the Dewas expected of Him to do and made His own actions and Rules. Same way, just because the World is ugly, you don't have to make it even uglier by acting Selfishly. Actions of Seeking God while your fellow Men suffering is Action of a Selfish person. This is NOT what Vamana Avatar showed and this is NOT Sannyasi practise or Buddhism for that matter.

In His "battle" with Pali, what Vamana Avatar asked was very little - but what He gave was a lot. He reestablished Kingdom of Heaven back to the Dewas and made the World His. He send Pali (who become His devotee) to the Underworld where Pali ruled in His name while awaits His return (which He did in Ramayana). In the whole "battle" - no violence is used and everyone had received what they required.

What does this have to do with Sannyasi and Buddhism? In the similar way, this two groups have the strongest "weapon" and many of this groups doesn't know about it.

While I studied Magic and its concept, I have came to conclude that Basic of ALL Magic is FAITH (Keter - highest level in Tree Of Life). It is Faith which brought together and combine all the other elements in. Same way, Faith generates Merits (Punya - Pahala) as result of their actions and beliefs.

Compared to most Humans who struggle through Life and have no Faith, Sannyasi and Buddhist Monks have more Faith than them. WHY? Because they believe so much that they willing to renounce the World to follow what they believe in and if that is not Faith, I don't know what is. It's similar to a Warrior - he must believe in his skills, knowledge and physical abilities in facing the enemy if he was to survive and win. Which is why I considered Buddha's Approach of Renouncing the World as Warrior's Way.

A Sannyasi who lives for sake of the World will pray for the World, and give his Merits (Pahala - Punya) to the World so it will promote Goodness and Prosperity to all. He will become like a Tree which gives shade to others, fruits to eat, air to breath and sweet sight to behold. In the end, Faith in Spiritualism will bring him closer to God and in the end, lead him to Enlightnment.

But Sannyasis nowadays mostly don't do this. They seek Enlightnment and Spiritual Advance but they themselves offers NOTHING to the World. It's like asking for something expensive when you have no money to pay for it. In the end, you ask and ask and ask, but receive nothing and make stupid statements that God don't exist because He never gave you what you seek.

Buddhists also have fallen to trap of Atheism. They follow the same method as above, thinking that renouncing the World which they believe to be an illusion as proper methods of Buddhism; they meditate, discuss Sutras, debate and talk about peace when they do nothing for peace in higher level (of Spiritualism) and wonder forever why they never reached Enlightnment (reminds me of Ariya though. ;) ).

Lastly ... To ALL who wants to progress in Spiritualism :-
Live FOR the World and Its people and you will find yourself closer to God. Be a tree which gives shade to others, Don't be weeds which nice to look at but gives nothing to the World.

Muslims should work for thier community and their own people (instead of asking others to support them).
Christians must take care their own problems before coming to other nations and try to convert others as if they themselves are saved.
Hindus should stop trying to run from the World and start living for the World.
And Buddhist should do the same things (since their goal is similar to Hindus as well).

And may all of us return back to the Light. :pray:

Sephiroth

Onwards to the next Avatar - Parasu rama Avatar.


Parasurama Avatar - Rama with an Axe

Parasurama was born at the same period where Sri Rama (Prince of Ayodhya) had born and lived. Matter a fact, according to some sources, both of them had meet at the end of Parasurama's live time and beginning of Sri Rama's Journey.

Parasurama was born to the Rishi couple - Rishis Jamadagni and Renuka (two of them were from Brahmin caste). However, Rishi Jamadagni's father had married Satyavati - daughter from a Kyastria caste and produced Jamadagni. It was said that while Rishi Jamadagni born with Brahmin's characteristics (his father's characteristics), his son was born with Kyastria's characteristics (Grandmother was a Kyastria women and in those day, even women rode to battle).

Brahmin's characteristics are one of being humble, devoteed to God and willing to accept suffering in order to follow one's belief. Kyastria's characteristics are one of hot-blooded, strong-willed (or strong-headed if you will), willing to fight for what is right and justice. So what we have here is two generations which are opposite of each other.

Parasurama's original name was Bhargava Rama (I think Bhargava means the "Gruesome" if not mistake). One of the shows I had watch showed that Rishi Jamadagni lifted the child up as it was crying (of been born) and noted that the child had fiery cry (loud) thus he was named such.

As the child grows up, he taken liking to weapons training (which was very uncommon for Brahmins) and displayed Kyastria's characteristics. Rishi Jamadagni tried to teach his son control over his anger and at one time, told his son to go and meditate upon Lord Shiva (Lord of Tapas who was known as Master of Control of All Sensors). Accepting his father's request, Bhargava rama went to an isolate spot and begin to meditate to control his anger. [Sigh ... he kind of remind me of my own problem :nyorok: ]

Anyway, after some time of meditating, Lord Shiva (who knows what Destiny had in store for Bhargava Rama) decided to teach him art of warfare instead. Bhargava Rama learnt from Lord Shiva about Warfare and in the end of his lessons, Lord Shiva presented him with an enchanted Axe, blessed Bhargava Rama and left.

Bhargava Rama returns to his father's hermitage and relay what had happened to him and how he had received the enchanted axe. And from that day onwards, he was known as Parasurama (Parasu means Axe) - Rama with an Axe.


[Enough for now.]

Sephiroth

[Just add some from above]

Kaathaveerarjuna (Katha - Veer -Arjuna) is a great king, Kyastria in birth and strong in characteristics. He sought out to control others, by thinking that it is Kyastria's duties to control and administer others. However, since ancient times, Brahmins had been living in solitude, outside the compounds of a nation, living off the land and freely teaching all humans who come to the hermitages for rest and knowledge. Brahmins who lives in this sort of hermitages are considered outside the Laws of a Country (even nations) and therefore, no kings were willing to wage war against them.

Kaathaveerarjuna didn't like the idea of others above his control and didn't like the idea that Brahmins could teach freely others on how to defend themselves against Kyastria. In his eyes, Brahmins were like terrorists today. [No, I'm not supporting certain groups who supports terrorism. :no: ]

Due to this misbehavior, Kaathaveerarjuna begin to abuse Brahmins in his own land, forcing them to submit to him and also forcing them to stop teaching others the Vedas and knowledge. He forced heavy taxes onto them and those who couldn't pay, were forced to either end up in prison or leave his land.

[Note : Ravana in Lanka was doing the same thing (but in worst conditions) in his territories so most likely that Kaarthaveerarjuna were following Ravana's methods.]

One day, as Kaathaveerarjuna was returning with his troops from an expedition, he noticed Rishi Jamadagni's hermitage. He turned toward the hermitage and asked for the rishi for some food and drinks for himself and his tired men. Rishi Jamadagni, despite of knowing who he was, was not in the habit of turning away guests, so he allowed the king and his men to enter the hermitage and take rest.

Rishi Jamadagni then used Kaamadhenu, the Divine (she) Cow whch produce food (magically) and gave the food to the king and his men. Kaarthaveerarjuna surprised how a rishi, living in a forest out of nowhere could produce so much food, asked about it. Rishi Jamadagni replied that it was due to the Divine (she) Cow - Kaamadhenu and the king insisted that the Rishi should present it to him so he could use it to provide for his people. Rishi Jamadagni refused, stating that he needs her for his spiritual practise and to entertain those who come, and the king used force to take it and her calf away from the Rishi. The Rishi, being humble in nature, didn't fight back.

When Parasurama returned back with his brothers and learnt about the event occured in the hermitage, he marched to Mahismati, capital of the King's domain. Along the way, he meet King's men who was despatched to stop him but he managed to defeat them all.

In the capital, he entered the city and fought with the King. Kilingl the king, he took back Kaamadhenu and her calf back to his hermitage. Peace resigned for some time as the princes of King Kaarthaveerarjuna was away and didn't know what had expired at the capital.

[Enough for now. ]

[ Last edited by Sephiroth at 13-1-2006 08:54 AM ]

Sephiroth

[Just adding some events as I have heard/seen in TV programs about Parasurama. ]

Story on how Parasurama got the Warfare Lessons from Lord Shiva

As we all know, Parasurama is like a cannon, ready to fire at moment's notice. His father, naturally worried about his short-temper asked him to go and perform tapas and penance to control his temper. Parasurama, accepted his father's request and head to an isolated spot and begin to meditate.

It is said that during the time he was meditating, a hunter suddenly appeared and said that the man who performing the tapas was wasting his time when there is a lot of useful things he should be doing. Parasurama opened his eyes and looked at the young, brilliant looking Hunter in front of him, laughing at him defiantely. But if Parasurama resort to violence or leave the tapas, then what he was doing all those time will be nullified (common practise that once a tapas had started, it must be finished and it is considred a great sin for anyone to disturb someone who performing tapas).

Parasurama ignored the young Hunter at first, closes his eyes and return back to what he was doing but the Hunter laughed even louder than before. This continued till Parasurama's temper gets best of him and he abandoned the tapas, determined to teach this young Hunter a lesson.

Both wrestled each other (since Parasurama came without weapons) and the young Hunter seems to best him in every moves, yet Parasurama did everything he can in state of anger. Finally, after a long time of wrestling, finally, Parasurama's common sense caught up with him (it probably was travelling less faster than his temper did). Parasurama could guess that this Hunter was no mere Hunter who lives in the forest if he could best one of the Rishi's son who have been trained to use arms since birth.

Humbling himself, Parasurama asked who the Hunter was and the Hunter revealed Himself to be Lord Shiva and Parasurama seeks His blessing. Lord Shiva blessed him and told him that tapas is not suitable for Parasurama since it is against his Kyastria's nature (which is hot-blooded and short-fused). What suitable for a Kyastria was not tapas but proper Combat Training and Military Discipline. Parasurama had been given improper training in arts of Combat since he was living with Brahmin Rishis (who are humble in nature). And since Lord Shiva Himself is an expert in Warfare, Lord Shiva offered to teach Parasurama warfare and combat Training he required to control his sensors and put them to a good use.

And as we all know, upon complition of the Warfare Training, Lord Shiva presented Parasurama with an enchanted Axe and blessed him.


[Note : The above event is considered the world's FIRST Kem Bina Diri.

Youths who have too much energy in them shouldn't be forced into spiritual progress alone. Sure, Spiritualism IS good and recommended but they cannot sit idle with so much energy running amok in them. So, they needs to release it in a proper manner as stated above. That is why countries like Thailand, Singapore (a Christian country), Korea, Japan and now Malaysia, had developed curriculums which involves Sports, Martial Arts, Military and such which requires more Physical training and Discipline to help this sort of youth.

PS : No, you won't become a Hindu if you go to a Camp Bina Semangat/Diri. :no:]


Story on how Parasurama punished his OWN mother by orders from his father.

Parasurama's mother, Renuka (wife of Rishi Jamadagni) is a faithful and loving wife. She wakes up before her husband does, cleans herself first and goes to the river where she will make a fresh earth pot (using the virtue of her own faithfulness toward her husband) and bring water to her husband so they can use it to start the daily practises every day. It is said that the wet earth will not stick to become the pot IF she had no virtue of faithfulness in her.

Anyway, one day, as she was about to make a pot, she saw a reflection of a young knight on the water (some says Gandarvas) and admired the person's beauty for a moment. Surprised and quickly turn aside, she begin to make the pot from wet earth, but shocked to find that the wet earth couldn't stuck to become the pot anymore. All the pots she tried to make broke before she could carry the water and she begin to feel upset and torn in the inside.

Rishi Jamadagni woke up, cleanse himself as he always do and went to perform his daily practise. He noticed his wife was late (which was unusual) and resort to waiting. Half a day passed and he begin to suspect something was amiss. Closing his eyes, he uses his spiritual power to see where his wife was and found out on what was happening at the river bank. He could understand that his wife was in state of sadness and in great suffering because of what she did unvoluntarily.

Summoning his 4 sons (Parasurama is the fouth), he gave instruction that one of them were to go to the river bank, find his mother and cut off her head! Naturally, all of them were shocked at his request.

The first three sons refused to do what his father asked, humbly asking forgiveness (the Brahmin Blood in them don't allow them to do what was required) but Parasurama, a Kyastria by birth accepted his father's request, went to the river bank and found his mother. He told his mother the purpose of him coming and she accepted her punishment. He cut off her head and return back to his father.

Upon arriving back, Parasurama asked his father on the reason why he had his own wife killed by her son and Rishi Jamadagni explain. Asking again whether he was suspecting his wife to be an unfaithful person, Rishi Jamadagni explained that it was NOT because her faithfulness which was the reason she was punished but the pain she was feeling, unable to accept that she may lost the faithfulness toward her husband, as demonstrated by each of the pot break. He stated that everytime the pot broke, a little more pain was added to her and that was unbearable to him to watch. That was the reason why he asked Parasurama to have her killed (to stop her from suffering more).

Upon asking what boon Parasurama could want from his father, Parasurama asked Rishi Jamadagni to restore life back into his mother's body and Rishi Jamadagni did what he was asked of. Thus, the sin his mother had obtained by admiring the young man (or Gandharva) in the water is nullified by her own life and she regain her former self.


[Note : A Kyastrian's life isn't an easy one. He is someone who does what is Righteous and Justice despite of others calling him barbaric and ruthless. ]

Sephiroth

[Continue from above ...]


When the King's princes came back to the Kingdom and was informed by the ministers on what had happened, they become angry at a mere Brahmin who could enter the kingdom and kill their father in battle. They mounted up and headed to Sage Jamadagni's hermitage.

Sage Jamadagni was in deep meditation at the time the Princes had arrived in anger. They demanded to see Sage Jamadagni and Devi Renuka (Parasurama's mother, who was revived by her husband) attended to them. She told them that her husband is in meditation and cannot be disturb and that their sons had left the hermitage to attend some business in the forest.

Raged with anger over what happened to their father, the Princes marched into the hermitage with arms and stood before the humbly seated Sage Jamadagni (who still were in deep meditation). Taking hold of the Sage's head, they chopped it off despite of been protected by Devi Renuka. And with that action, the princes left the hermitage, very sure that they had avenged their father's death.

When Parasurama and his brothers returned from their outing, they had a shocked to see what had happened. Devi Renuka, still wailing for her husband, informed them of what had occurred and Parasurama vowed to avenge his father's death.

The battle begins at the field of Kurushekta (north of present-day Delhi according to one source I have
read years ago). It was said that Devi Renuka beat her breast 21 times and Parasurama vowed that hewill destroy 21 generations of Kyastrias in the battle. In the end of the long, harsh war, Parasurama emerged victories but even he had develop a strong distaste for the violence he had started.

Finaly, decided to leave everything behind, Parasurama begins to travel southward and find an isolated
spot to meditate for the rest of his existence, owing not to interfere with Human affairs to extend that
it could cause so much bloodshed and suffering as he had done again.

It is said that when he was meditating on a mountain top, Samudera Dewa (Lord of the Oceans) came forth and ask him to throw his (blood-soaked) axe onto the ocean and whatever range the axe had covered before it falls down into the water, Samudera Dewa could depart that much land. Parasurama agreed and threw the axe as hard as he could.

The axe landed in the ocean and Samudera Dewa kept his promise and retrain the water to reveal a new land of Kerala, India. Parasurama then took it to himself to teach the Art of War (which he learnt from Lord Shiva) to the people there. That is why in Kerala, India, the avatar of Parasurama (with an Axe) is regarded highly and martial arts is considered to be a sacred art to learn.


[Note : Kerala is birthplace of Kalari Payat Martial Arts. Among it is also the place where Ayurveda and
Yoga is practised the most.

In one of the documentary done by Westerners, it shows that Buddhist monks (who at younger age were practisioners of Kalari Payat, Ayurveda and Yoga) had taken this form to China and developed what you have today as Kung Fu and Shaolin Kung Fu. Later, it is taken to Japan where Samurais (Kyastria-like warriors) took it and implemented in their own code as Bushido - Way of the Warrior.]

Sephiroth

[This all is my personal opinions, just adding it as I continue to do research on Ramayana. ]

Genetics and Parasurama Avatar

For those who studied Genetics, you may know Mendel's Experiments which you have learnt in high school last time.

Gregory Mendel was a Friar in a monastery in Czeckoslovikia at age of 21 in 1843. He was labelled the first person to experiement with Biological concept with flowers.

In his experiement, Mendel experimented with flowers and concluded that parental traits from one generations could be passed to the next generation and onward and concluded that something within humans (and all other lifeforms) have this "storage" of traits. That something was later discovered as DNA.

In Parasuram Avatar, however, the story revolved closely around the same experiement Mendel did with his flowers, but this shows in better light about genetics and DNA.

Sage Jamadagni's father married a Kyastria's daughter. Sage Jamadagni himself was a Brahmin and his mixed marriage with a Kyastria brought a son who had traits of a Brahmin (Sage Jamadagni himself). In this example, the mother's traits (of Kyastria quality) is bypassed by his father's trait and therefore, the traits of a Kyastria in Sage Jamadagni is suppressed.

When he married a Brahmin wife (Renuka), they had three sons before Parasurama was born and he was stated to be the fouth (some say the first, not very sure about this). All other three brothers had Brahmin quality but Parasurama alone had Kyastrian Quality in his blood.

This was according to what Mendel had discovered in what he called Resessive and Dominant Genes. In Sage Jamadagni's case, he had within him the resessive quality of a Kyastria and that quality is then passed to his youngest son who (mentally and physically) takes up to his grandmother who was a Kyastrian.

So, in this context, we can say that Hindusm was the first to discovered Genetics since this story is passed on (orally) over 5,000 years.

Source : http://www.sonic.net/~nbs/projects/anthro201/

Sephiroth

OK ... recap of what we had learnt so far.

Creation according to Hindusm is similar to Big Bang Theory. In the Beginning, there is no Time and Space. The Universe came to be as it is today and slowly, the Planets, stars and other forms comes to creation.

Hindusm didn't explain how Life begins in the World (unlike Christianity and Islam) and simply stated that Life begins at the Oceans as God's Breath came up the Waters and promoted Life. Matter a fact, the Name "Narayana" comes from the meaning of the word - "Nara" - Water, which means One which resides over the Water.

So in the context, we could say that physical seeds of our existence is already existed in the Planet itself and Souls which needed to evolve it to the present state comes from God. This is also why many Hindus believes in Dual Existence - a Male and Female Unification when comes to Life, Death and Rebirth on this World.

First Avatar - Matsya Avatar

Actually, I don't think this is the first Avatar in Creation, rather than first Avatar of a direct Communcition between Man and Divine. Secrets of the Avatars and Vedas were given to the Sages who then passed it down to their own children. And throughout the passage of time, this secrets fade away and become like myth which many Hindus nowadays believing in anything but a myth - Slave Mentality.


I just noticed that I have made a mistake when writing above. I mistaken Kurma Avatar as Mastya (the Fish) as the one which brought forth Amirthan. My apologizes.


Second Avatar - Kurma Avatar

The second Avatar is actually one of the most important one to History of ALL lifeforms on this World - both Man, Animals and Plants as well as micro-organisms.  WHY? Simple ... it provided the explainations on how Quantum Consciousness came to be.

Amirtham which Hindus referred to for years as Elixir of Gods and can only found in Heaven, I believe exists in each and everyone of us and in all lifeforms. In my opinion, Amirtham is nothing else than Mitochondria.

According to Science, two facts had been established during and before a period called Cambrian Explosion :

1. The World was 45 degrees titled - the North Pole was facing the Sun and it was in where the Equator is today.

Sun light from the Sun will bring in charged particles and ions and this ions will be re-rooted to North and South Pole where it will become visible as Northern Lights. In this, ions which is invisible to the naked eyes takes form. Now, imagine what will happen if the North Pole was facing the Sun?

Ion particles will be absorbed directly and the effect of the North lights will be at least 100 times as we see today. This charged particles, absorbed directly into the World will influence what happens to the Lifeforms in the World itself and I believe this is the reasons how Mitochondria came to be.


2. Relationship between Predator and Prey.

Cambrian Explosion had brought clear distinction between Predator and Prey. This brought a certain level of Survival essence for Preys to avoid been killed and Predators develop skills to hunt others. Thus, a new arms race begins and Life Evolved slowly in this face as today.

[Enough for now.]

Sephiroth

Third Avatar - Varaha Avatar

Shows creation of Vedas by Brahma for Mankind. This is before Man existed before.
It also shows how "Evil" came to play in form of two fallen Gandhavas - Jaya and Vijaya.


Fourth Avatar - Narashimsha Avatar

Nothing new I could think of. :hmm:


Fifth Avatar - Vamana Avatar

In my opinion, this symbolizes several things which many overlooked :

1. It symbolizes who Brahmins are - soft-hearted, full of compassion, works for all and without any favours (like what Maha Vishnu did with Maha Bali by giving him a kingdom in Patalam and promise him that He will come and visit him and his people in the future).

2. It also symbolizes the first Buddha which even Gautama Buddha had agreed had existed before him.

The proof comes from Buddhism itself. When one of the students asked Gautama what he will become, Gautama Buddha answered he will become a Brahmin. The student asked whether Gautama Buddha will become like a God, the Buddha answered, he will become a Brahmin.

This is very much different from the Casta System many Hindus follows in India. Therefore, I could say that this System is indeed AGAINST the teaching of Vedas.


Sixth Avatar - Parasurama Avatar

In my opinion, this Avatar is THE most important Avatar in Modern times because it symbolizes Kyastrias - Warriors and their duties for Mankind.

Kyastrias are hot-blooded group, dedicate their lives to Law and Order. This is a good attitude to have, however, having such people in an uncontrolled manner is destructive and therefore, control is needed.

The interaction between Parasurama Avatar and Lord Shiva (as His guru) shows Man how Kyastrias need to control their hot-blooded attitude and focus their intentions properly so their could achieve what they wish.

Many Hindus, especially in India have lost this insight. They angry at other people (from different race, beliefs, chaste and even nations) without properly knowing that, sometimes, the real problem is not others, but themselves.

By being in control means you will think properly the solution by clear mind and calm soul and proceed to implement that solution in a positive manner. Those who have NO control will resort to uncontrolled violence which can direct to civilians. PS : I'm condemning anyone here. :no:

This approach, as followed by Parasurama Avatar (from Maha Vishnu) and taught to by Lord Shiva is, indirectly followed by various countries in the World, including :

1. Japan - emphazied Sports as main subjects which must pass in order to enrol in University. Many Sports activities includes Martial Arts. Yours thoughly, is a Martial Artist from age of seven.

Japan is birthplace of Bushido - ONLY principles which can be directly linked to Kyastrias of India. Also birthplace of some of remarkable Swordmanship and combat system in the World. :love:

2. Korea (North and South) - birthplace of Tae Kwon Do.

3. Thailand - First known (Buddhist) Country in Asia to implement that ALL youngsters from age 13 to 21 MUST undergo lives as Buddhist Monks or Soldiers for about 6 years or so. Record stated that this practise went as far as 18th century when the famous Thai King - King Mongkut become monk before he become King of Thailand.

Thailand is birth place of Thai Boxing - stated as the most effective hand-to-hand combat system IN THE WORLD. Also the hardest to master.

4. Latest - Malaysia which implement this system for the past two years.

5. Singapore - implement it since 1960s - including weapons training. This was due to Singaporeans' fear of its bigger neighbours during the confrontations with Indonesia (Muslim nation) in 1960s.

It is truly sad that India, birthplace of this remarkable system of educating youngsters had not implement the system in its schools despite of 57 years of Independence.

India today is SECOND when comes to AIDS because Women in India are treated as Sex Objects, especially by youngsters who just reach puberty and do not know what is responsiblity is. Many of Indian products are too inferior for World Exports and many Indians themselves are irresponsible toward their societies.

Sephiroth

Note : This all my own Theories, so it has Nothing to do with Hindusm. However, I believe it will make Hindus (and those who want to read) understand better about the World in General.


Evolution OR God-Design?

IF there ever was a most STUPIDIEST question to Plaque Mankind and the Science Society in general, THIS must be it.

Really ... sometimes I wonder if those people who calls themselves Scientists have common sense replaced by machinery Logic which keeps looking for data without giving out proper information and conclusion. ;)

Instead of asking (and confuse the Heck out of everyone) whether it is Evolution or God-Design which made Humans (and other animals) what we are today, WHY can't they just think whether God was the One who run the Evolution Process? What so hard about that?

But No ... Scientists, mostly Christians rejected notion of God has anything to do with the World kept digging fossils for almost 250 years in foolish attempt to proof that somehow, the World we know and love today (well, I love it anyway) just appeared without any Divine assign. So that is what I'm going to try and proof in this continution of Thread. To show that Intelligent Design WAS Evolution and vice Versa.

Evolution means Continues Changes and to understand the Intelligent Design, One must study the Changes which occurred for the past millions of years. So, let's start with this data I have collected :

Pre-Cambrian Age

650 Myrs

Supercontinent, Rodinia, which formed 1100 million years ago.   The Late Precambrian was  an "Ice House" World, much like the present-day.


Cambrian

514 Myrs

Animals with hard-shells appeared in great numbers for the first time during the Cambrian.  The continents were flooded by shallow seas.  The supercontinent of Gondwana had just formed and was located near the South Pole.


Middle Ordovician

458 Myrs

During the Ordovician ancient oceans separated the barren continents of Laurentia, Baltica, Siberia and Gondwana.  The end of the Ordovician was one of the coldest times in Earth history.  Ice covered much of the southern region of Gondwana.


Middle Silurian

425 Myrs

Laurentia collides with Baltica closing the northen branch of the Iapetus Ocean and forming the "Old Red Sandstone" continent.  Coral reefs expand and land plants begin to colonize the barren continents.


Early Devonian

390 Myrs

By the Devonian the early Paleozoic oceans were closing, forming a "pre-Pangea".  Freshwater fish were able to migrate from the southern hemisphere continents to North America and Europe.  Forests grew for the first time in the equatorial regions of Artic Canada.


Early Carboniferous

356 Myrs

During the Early Carboniferous the Paleozoic oceans between Euramerica and Gondwana began to close, forming the Appalachian and Variscan mountains.   An ice cap grew at the South Pole as four-legged vertebrates evolved in the coal swamps near the Equator.


Late Carboniferous

306 Myrs

By the Late Carboniferous the continents that make up modern North America and Europe had collided with the southern
continents of Gondwana to form  the western half of Pangea.  Ice covered much of the southern hemisphere and vast coal swamps formed along the equator.


Late Permian

255 Myrs

Vast  deserts covered western Pangea during the Permian as reptiles spread across the face of the supercontinent.  99% of all life perished during the extinction event that marked the end of the Paleozoic Era.


Early Triassic

237 Myrs

The supercontinent of Pangea, mostly assembled by the Triassic, allowed land animals to migrate from the South Pole to the North Pole.  Life began to rediversify after the great Permo-Triassic extinction and warm-water faunas spread across Tethys.


Early Jurassic

195 Myrs

By the Early Jurassic, south-central Asia had assembled.  A wide Tethys ocean separated the northern continents from
Gondwana.  Though Pangea was intact, the first rumblings of continental break up could be heard.


Late Jurasssic

152 Myrs

The supercontinent of Pangea began to break apart in the Middle Jurassic.  In the Late Jurassic the Central Atlantic Ocean was a narrow ocean separating Africa from eastern North America.   Eastern Gondwana had begun to separate form Western Gondwana.


Late Cretaceous

94 Myrs

During the Cretaceous the South Atlantic Ocean opened.  India separated from Madagascar and raced northward on a collision course with Eurasia. Notice that North America was connected to Europe, and that Australia was still joined to Antarctica.


K/T Boundary

66 Myrs

The bull's eye marks the location of the Chicxulub impact site.   The impact of a 10 mile wide comet caused global climate
changes that killed the dinosaurs and many other forms of life.  By the Late Cretaceous the oceans had widened, and India approached the southern margin of Asia.


Middle Eocene

50.2 Myrs

50 - 55 million  years ago India began to collide with Asia forming the Tibetan plateau and Himalayas.  Australia, which was attached to Antarctica, began to move rapidly northward.


Middle Miocene

14 Myrs

20 million years ago, Antarctica was coverd by ice and the northern continents were cooling rapidly.  The world has taken on a "modern" look, but notice that Florida and parts of Asia were flooded by the sea.


Last Glaciar Maximum

18,000 years ago

When the Earth is in its "Ice House" climate mode, there is ice at the poles.  The polar ice sheet expands and contacts because of variations in the Earth's orbit (Milankovitch cycles).  The last expansion of the polar ice sheets took place about 18,000 years ago.  


Modern World

We are entering a new phase of continental collision that will ultimately result in the formation of a new Pangea supercontinent in the future.  Global climate is warming because we are leaving an Ice Age and because we are adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.


Pangea Ultima

Future + 250 Myrs from now

The next Pangea, "angea Ultima" will form as a result of the subduction of the ocean floor of the North and South Atlantic beneath eastern North America and South America.  This supercontinent will have a small ocean basin trapped at its center.


Source : http://www.scotese.com/earth.htm

[ Last edited by  Sephiroth at 11-5-2006 11:47 AM ]

Sephiroth

Pre-Cambrian Era - Life begins in the Ocean.

Single Supercontinent - Rodnia (650 myrs).
Condition - Similar to our Environment now.

Cambrian Explosion -  A huge explosion of biological diversity took place in the Cambrian, which has been likened to an evolutionary experiment, a 'trying out' period for animal designs or 'phyla'. the seas were full of life, including trilobites, brachiopods, molluscs and echinoderms. End of Cambrian Era marked by Mass Extinction of Species (1st Extinction).

The Ordovician was a period of relative stability in the Earth's history, which may have been an important factor in the substantial growth of biological diversity which took place. However, as the period drew to a close, 440 million years ago, there was a huge extinction event- with some animal groups losing more than half their species. (2nd Extinction)

The extinction seems to have been the result of a period of glaciation - an ice age. the seas retreated as more and more water was taken up into ice sheets, and the marine habitats (which harboured the vast majority life in the Ordovician) changed drastically, destroying habitats and reducing the number of ecological niches. there seem to have been two peak periods of extinction - one at the beginning of the glaciation, and another at the end of the extinction, between 500 thousand and 1 million years later, when sea levels rose rapidly. Echinoderms, trilobites, nautiloids and many other groups suffered significant losses, although the overall effect was less drastic than that of most other major extinctions.

[Note : Cause suspected :- Reduction of Water in the Ocean, thus producing extinction to marine lifeforms in the begining of Ordovician period. At the end of that period, another extinction occured due to rising of the Sea levels.]

Although it is clear that there was a massive loss of biodiversity towards the end of the Devonian Period, it is not clear over how long a period these extinctions took place, with estimates varying from 500 thousand to 15 million years. Neither is it clear whether it was a single mass extinction or a series of several smaller extinctions one after the other. Indeed it has been written that the late Devonian extinction is one in which not even the major facts are agreed on yet. However, the balance of evidence suggests that the extinctions took place over a period of some 3 million years, about 365 million years ago.

[Note : There were two Extinctions during Devonian Period. :hmm: ]

During the late Devonian extinction as many as 70% of all species vanished. Marine species were more severely affected than those in freshwater - Brachiopods, ammonites and many other invertebrate groups suffered heavily, as did Agnathan and Placoderm fish. On land, where plants were diversifying and amphibians were beginning their evolution, there seem to be have been far fewer losses. (4th Mass Extinction)

the causes of the Devonian extinction(s) are far from clear. the disproportionate losses amongst warm water species suggest that climate change, in this case a global cooling, was an important factor and it has been suggested that this was associated with (or may even have caused) a drop in the oxygen levels of these shallower waters.

Life flourished during the Carboniferous and Permian. Crinoids, ammonites, corals and fish diversified and flourished in the seas, while amphibians and reptiles continued their invasion of the land. But after more than a 100 million years of relative stability, the end of the Permian (245 million years ago) saw the largest extinction event in the Earth's history - far more devastating than the much more famous Cretaceous extinction, when the dinosaurs died out. It has been estimated that as many as 96% of all marine species were lost, while on land more than 3 quarters of all vertebrate families became extinct.

Many causes have been proposed for the Permian extinctions - including fluctuations in sea-level, a change in the salinity of the ocean, and volcanic activity. the most important factor seems, once again, to be climate change. [5th Extinction]

Although it has been viewed as one of the less significant extinctions, some studies suggest that almost a quarter of all families became extinct at in the late Triassic, making it comparable in importance to the late Cretaceous extinction. Other studies suggest that there are at least two periods of extinction towards the end of the Triassic, between 12 and 17 million years apart.

Whether the extinction was a single event or a cluster of smaller events, there is no doubt that sponges, cephalopods, brachiopods, insects and many vertebrate groups lost many of their families as the Triassic drew to a close, some 208 million years ago. Conodonts disappeared completely, as did the Labyrinthodonts. While the losses may not have been as drastic as in other extinction events, they were important for a relatively new group of animals. As the loss of species opened up new opportunities, the dinosaurs were ready to take advantage.

The cause(s) of the Triassic extinction are poorly known, perhaps because it has attracted relatively little study, but climate change seems to be important and, in particular, an increase in rainfall.

The extinction at the boundary of the Cretaceous and the Tertiary periods, 65 million years ago, is the most famous of all mass extinctions. Its fame comes not from its magnitude (the Permian extinction was far larger) but from the victims of the extinction - the dinosaurs. [6th Extinction]

The Cretaceous-Tertiary (or 'K-T') extinction wiped out around 85% of all species. the dinosaurs were not the only victims - pterosaurs(flying reptiles), mosasaurs and other marine reptiles, fish, brachiopods, plankton and many plants either died out completely or suffered heavy losses. Even the ammonites, who had survived 4 previous extinctions, finally disappeared. For some reason though, some groups seem to have been almost entirely unaffected by the K-T extinction - crocodiles, turtles and lizards, mammals and birds all made it through relatively unscathed.

The cause of the K-T extinction event has been the subject of intensive research, with many hundreds of research papers published since 1980, when Luis Alvarez reawakened interest in the subject, almost overnight. He suggested that the death of the dinosaurs, and all the other victims of the K-T extinction, was due to a giant meteorite crashing into the earth, severely disrupting the earth's ecosystem. While other theories suggest volcanic activity, climate change, environmental pollution or even cosmic radiation as causes, the meteorite impact theory remains the most probable - at least for the moment.

Sephiroth

Many Scientists today believes that there is no Intelligent Design to Life on this Planet, stating that Life evolved by its own. Unfortunately for them, the 6 (or 7 if you count the two in Devonian period) Mass Extinctions shows that there WAS (and still is) an Intelligent Design.

Design no. 1 :- Life in Premodial Form
Design no. 2 :- Creation of Mitochondria by 1st Extinction during Cambrian Explosion.
Design no. 3 :- Land mass reappearing over the water mass - new ground for Life.
Design no. 4 :- Massive Extinctions on Water-related lifeforms - especially during Devonian Period - Forces Lifeforms to migrate OUT of Water and onto the Dry land.

Design no. 5 :- Massive Extinctions in Water and some land lifeforms (to level that only the most successful species like the Ancient Sharks, Turtle etc remains).

Design no. 6 :- Massive Extinction on Land animals (65 Million years ago) - Dinosaurs dies out, Mammals and other SMALL-SCALE lifeforms remains and progressed, thus bring Size as a factor in determining Survival.

Design no. 7 :- Ice Age - Man is forced to leave Africa and migrate to other parts of the World, following the animals and forming colonies wherever go to (200,000 years ago).

On-going Design now :- ??? What purpose are we supposed to accomplish today? :hmm:

wow, thats really a lot of stuff, Seph..
You must have really spent lots of time getting them all...
Keep up the good work!

Sephiroth

Problem with me is - I cannot stop thinking about something / anything. So I need to read more, think about them while doing work (multi-tasking) and result of what I think, I just refer to evidence available on the Internet and Voila! What I understood is what stated here - True or False, I don't know. This is my opinion anyway.

Sigh ... that's why my hair is turning white also.