Wednesday, November 16, 2016

ONE DAY WORKSHOP ON VEDIC SELF-MANAGEMENT 14 DECEMBER 2016 AT CHENNAI

Program Objective: To make the participants understand the nuances of Self –Management based on Vedic Scriptures and inspire them to transform themselves through self-exploration. The Program is designed to provide strong theoretical as well as practical exposure to Karma Yoga and conflict resolution in the midst of moral or ethical dilemmas. Vedic Self-Management refers to the art of managing the self as a wholesome entity at the physical, emotional, intellectual and creative levels. At the micro level, the individual human being has to manage oneself properly in terms of his body, mind and intellect throughout his existence. The inherent Vasanas and the individual qualities constituting one’s core personality have to be clearly understood through self-introspection for tapping and harnessing the vast potentials. Vedic Self- Management is built on a holistic understanding of the nuances of Vedic scriptures for achieving internal transformation.
Programme Coverage ; Sessions: Holistic Vedic Management – An Introduction; Nuances of Body, Mind, Intellect and Meditation; Personality Mapping based on Trigunas, Panca Kosas and Cakras;Achieving Managerial Excellence through Karma Yoga; Dilemmas, Crisis Management and Conflict Resolution; Internal Transformation; and Case Study.
Brochure:
http://ieeecs-madras.managedbiz.com/pgms/2016/ws-vsm/ws-vsm-brochure.pdf
Registration Form:
http://ieeecs-madras.managedbiz.com/pgms/2016/ws-vsm/ws-vsm-regn-form.pdf
OR https://goo.gl/Q0W5E8
जयजय श्रीराधे

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

SRI RADHA TATTVAM

श्रीगोविन्दप्रियां राज्ञीं वृन्दावनमनोहरीम्
कृपास्वरूपिणीं दिव्यां राधादेवीं नमाम्यहम् ||

The glory of  Radha’s divine name is so great that Krishna bestows prema bhakti instantly to one who starts saying the first syllable ‘RA’. Krishna goes into ecstatic raptures instantly and his joys fully bloom. When the devotee completes the second syllable ‘DhA’ instantly Krishna gets lovingly intoxicated, gets completely lost in trance and uns after him who chants the nectar-like name of Radha
'रा' शब्दोच्चारणादेव स्फितो भवति माधवः
'धा' शब्दोच्चारतः पश्चाद् धावत्येव सम्भ्रमः
--- ब्रह्मवैवर्त पुराण
Radha manifests especially in the form of hladini Sakti signifying  the exalted pleasure potency  of Krishna. Radha is the personification of transcendental rasa of the supreme
order who matchlessly enchants
Krishna by all means. Radha is the svarupa Sakti of Krishna and is the  greatest teacher of Krishna prema.  The matchless love of Radha is referred to as  ‘prema guru. The  exalted prema of Radha inspires Krishna as a student to perform novel dances.
Radha is  the holistic and complete Sakti and Krishna is the holistic and complete SaktimAn. Based on Vedic scriptural evidence, there is no difference between Radha and Krishna. They are verily the same just like musk and scent and fire and heat. For enjoying the mellows of  loving pastimes, though they have taken two apparently different forms, Radha and Krishna are indeed  one only.

 मङ्गलं कृष्णकामिन्यै मङ्गलं शुभ मङ्गलम् |
 मङ्गलं प्रेमदायिन्यै मङ्गलं शुभ मङ्गलम् ||
 मङ्गलं मनमोहिन्यै मङ्गलं शुभ मङ्गलम् |
 मङ्गलं मधुराधायै मङ्गलं नित्य मङ्गलम् ||

 Sri Radhakrishna Videos:-
Sri Radha Krupa Kataksha Stava Raja Stotram
 Sri Krishna  Krupa Kataksha  Stava Raja Stotram
 Barsane Wali Radhe
 Paramadhan Radhe
जय जय श्रीराधे

Saturday, August 13, 2016

SRI RADHASHTAMI CELEBRATIONS – 9th SEPTEMBER 2016 - FRIDAY

Sri  Radha is none other than Sri Mahalakshmi, who out of great compassion, facilitates the individual Self to get the divine grace of the Supreme Bhagavan Sri Krishna, the glorious Yogesvara. According to the Scriptures, the best way to approach Sri Krishna is through first obtaining the boundless grace of Sri Radha. Even a grave sinner gets redemption through her ceaseless divine grace and becomes purified to serve the lotus feet of Sri Radhakrishna.  Let us not miss this opportunity to offer our humble and sincere prayers to the ever fresh and fragrant queen of Brindavan. On this most auspicious Radhashtami  day, may Sri Radha shower Her blessings on all. 

श्रीगोविन्दप्रियां राज्ञीं वृन्दावन मनोहरीम् !
कृपास्वरूपिणीं दिव्यां राधा देवीं नमाम्यहम् !!
माधुर्यरससंपूर्णां माधवमनमोहिनीम् !
महाभावनिमग्नां तां मधुराधां नमाम्यहम् !!

जय जय श्रीराधे 

Saturday, July 30, 2016

REVIEW OF THE BOOK TITLED “ETHICAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUES IN INDIAN SCRIPTURES’’ AUTHORED BY SHRI. VED PRAKASH BHATIA

Shri. Ved Prakash Bhatia has done a great and commendable service in presenting the ethical and spiritual values as embedded in the Vedas, Manusmriti, Bhagavadgita, Vidura Niti , Chanakya’s Niti Sastra,  Viveka Choodamani , Thirukkural and Isavasya Upanishad. His Book “Ethical and Spiritual Values in Indian Scriptures“is organized into nine chapters. Each Chapter deals with the various dimensions of ethical and  spiritual values as contained  in one of the ancient texts mentioned above. He has  painstakingly unravelled the various aspects pertaining to ethical and spiritual values and has presented them in an interesting manner.
This book is  a treasure house of ancient Indian wisdom. It is all the more relevant in these modern days of degraded value systems. When we read this book we learn the greatness of Indian scriptures. The twenty qualities highlighted in Chapter 13 of  Bhagavad Gita establishes the relevance of human values for modern management.  Vidura Niti explains the concept of wisdom.  Ethical leadership in Thirukkural  assumes significance in the contemporary context. The Karma yoga approach is enshrined in the Isavasya Upanishad.

The modern man faces a lot of ethical and moral dilemmas in his personal as well as professional life. This valued Book comes as a handy tool as how to navigate in these trying circumstances by providing deeper insights into ancient Indian Scriptures. This Book will widen and deepen our understanding on the domain of ethical and spiritual values. These have to be assimilated, digested and put into practice after proper contemplation and reflection. I believe that this attractive Book written in a lucid and vivid manner will serve as a useful guide for the modern executives, professionals, teachers and students in understanding and practising the great Indian Value systems both in their personal and professional lives. I congratulate Shri. Ved Prakash Bhatia for his excellent contribution.
जय जय श्रीराधे



Wednesday, June 1, 2016

WHETHER ETHICS TOWARDS OBJECTS WITH SOUL (CONSCIOUSNESS) IS DIFFERENT FROM ETHICS TOWARDS OBJECTS WITHOUT SOUL?

There are ethical responsibilities towards both objects with soul (Consciousness) and those without souls. 
In the case of objects without soul, one has to operate in moderation. Thus there should be consumption of such resources in moderation without greed and grabbing. The needs of future generations are also to be kept in mind. Thus one has to use the common wealth for common good  with common sense .
In the case of objects with soul (other than human being), one has to use them with proper judgement based on the principle of least damage. Thus for saving  human life and ensuring human sustenance, other living beings may be compromised to the barest minimum but without undue exploitation.
In the case of human beings , the ethical responsibilities are too many.
The underlying factors of ethical responsibilities are only love and compassion  
In general, the degree of ethical responsibility is more in case of objects with soul compared to objects without soul.

जय जय श्रीराधे 

HOW TO TEST WHETHER AN ALIEN BEING HAS FREE WILL ?

When the alien being has the capability to do things on its own when multiple options are available in the context of the environment in which it is operating , the existence of its  free will can be established.
Animals are instinct-based and their behavior is predictable. But they do have a limited free will which they can exercise on their own volition just like a cow tethered to a Peg. Thus predictability and free-will can go together as well.
जय जय श्रीराधे 

WHETHER THERE ARE ANY TESTS TO DETERMINE THE EXISTENCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS?

The existence of consciousness can be determined by the following tests:
a)     External awareness in terms of the surrounding environment
b)    Spontaneous response to external stimuli without any artificially  programmed stimulus or implanted manipulations
c)     Self-propelled motion without any artificially  programmed stimulus or implanted manipulations
d)      Presence of life-breath embedded in the body
e)     Self-awareness in terms of the conscious feeling of “I” and “Mine”
f)       Self-experience of bodily pain or pleasure  

While the existence of  first four can be ascertained by another conscious being, the last two are intrinsic to the particular conscious being  as these are based on one’s own experience which is not explicitly known to others.

Consciousness of a different being  can be established by another  being having consciousness by means of the tests enumerated above. Thus we cannot say that consciousness can neither be observed nor its existence proved or disproved.
जय जय श्रीराधे 

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

WHETHER ROBOTS WITH CONSCIOUSNESS CAN BE CREATED BY HUMAN BEINGS ?

This is based on  my viewpoints which I shared with   Mr. Geoffrey Feldman (an expert in artificial Intelligence) in 2009 when he asked me two very interesting questions as to whether a Robot can possess a “Being” (Soul) and whether humans can create a receptacle (Body) which would hold the Soul?
Based on Vedic Scriptures the jivas (individual Souls)  are eternal. These have been   created by the Supreme (Brahman) at the time of Srushti (cosmic creation). These will exist till pralaya (cosmic dissolution). Finally everything merges into the Supreme. Until such time, the individual souls will change the physical bodies like our changing the dress from time to time. The type of body is determined based on the results of actions done by each Soul (karma phalam). One who is Self -realized or the one who attains liberation (moksha) gets out of this vicious cycle of births and deaths. Through the grace of the Supreme, one gets liberated.
 On the basis of the above understanding, it is difficult to assume that one can create Souls ( Beings) based on laboratory or scientific  studies. Creating jivas ( Souls) is primarily the job of God. However, there are some episodes in puranas that certain great Rishis have created even worlds through the power of tapas (penance) and yoga. If one has such extraordinary mystic powers, he may hope to do something in this regard. Else, it would be a futile effort. But none can match the power of the Supreme.
 The following are the qualities of Atman (Soul) according to Vedic Scriptures:
(1) It is the Witness (Sakshi) of the three states of consciousness consisting of waking, dream and deep sleep.
(2) It is beyond the five sheaths constituting annamaya, pranamaya, manomaya, vijnanamaya,  Anandamaya.
(3) It exists always whether in the past, present or future.
(4) It is the consciousness principle. 
(5) It is ever in the state of bliss.
(6) It is different from the gross body.
(7) It is different from the subtle body.
(8) It is different from the causal body.
(9) Weapons cannot cut it. 
(10) Air cannot dry it.
(11) Water cannot moisten it.
(12) Fire cannot burn it
(13) It is unbreakable.
(14) It is insoluble.
(15) It is ever lasting
(16) It is present everywhere
(17) It is immovable
(18) It is imperishable
(19) It is the non-doer
(20) It is unborn.
(21) It is unchanging and beyond all modifications.
(22) It is beyond time.
(23) It is invisible.
(24) It is immutable.
(25) It is inconceivable.
(26) It accepts new body giving up old useless body just like a person puts on new garment discarding the old one.
(27) It is primeval.  
 If one can create  an object which satisfies the above qualities, he can be said to have created the Atman (Soul).
Vedic Philosophy
Based on the three-fold principles known as tattva traya, the Universe is composed of  three types of beings:
  (a) cit - Consciousness -- Sentient Being --This is the Subject principle. Human Beings , Animals, Plants, Birds which have a life principle . With a body they are born and they undergo six-fold modifications and perish.They suffer pains and enjoy pleasures. They are conditioned beings and have a lot of dependencies. The Atman (Soul) is imperishable. This is known as BMIS concept.(Body-Mind-Intellect-Self)
  (b) acit - Insentient Being - This is the Object principle.Materials which do not have consciousness  like stone, gold, sand, iron and so on. These are perishable. There is no life principle involved.
  (c) Isvara - God - This is the creator and sustainer of the entire Universe.He is ancient and eternal. He is fully independent. He is both the material and efficient cause of creation.
Bhagavad GIta
Bhagavad GIta Chapter XV is known as purushottama yoga adhyaya. Lord Krishna beautifully summarizes the above concept: 
The world is made up of:
  (a) kshara -perishable  objects ( Insentient). This includes the three types of bodies comprising Sthula SarIra                  (gross body), Sukshma SarIra ( subtle body) and Karana SarIra ( Causal body).
  (b) akshara  - jIvAtmA -- Imperishable  ( Sentient)
  (c) uttama purusha - paramAtmA -- Isvara ---Supreme God  who is the Lord sustaining the worlds.
 (Please refer Chapter XV-16, 17)Whether  a Robot can  possess a Being (Soul)?
In the light of the above understanding, a Robot is  acit. It is  Kshara which is perishable. It does not have the consciousness and life principle. There is no Being( Soul0 involved in a Robot  though we may say it has Artificial Intelligence.
The body (SarIra) represents the container of the Soul (Atman) chosen by the latter based on its actions. There are three types of bodies representing gross( Sthula), subtle (Sukshma) and causal (Karana) bodies. The Self is different from these three  but requires these three for worldly action. The Sastras (Scriptures) have defined in greater detail the nature of  Sthula, Sukshma and Karana
SarIras. The Self ( Atman) is defined as sacchidananda svarupa representing Existence-Consciousness –Bliss which is beyond these three types of Bodies. 
 The combination of the Self and the three types of Bodies as above is required for the Soul  (Jiva) to be effective in this world.
Definition of  Sthula SarIra ( Gross Body):
·         Made up of five great elements ( panca mahabhuta) which have undergone the process of grossification ( pancIkarana)
·         Born as a result of good actions of the past ( human body)
·         Instrument  for experiencing Pleasure and Pain
·         Undergoes the six-fold modifications –
o    potential existence
o    birth
o    growing
o    maturing
o    decaying
o    dieing.
 Definition of  Suskhma SarIra (Subtle Body):  
·         Composed  of five great elements ( panca mahabhuta) which have not undergone the process of grossification ( pancIkarana)
·         Born as a result of good actions of the past ( human body)
·         Container for experiencing Pleasure and Pain
·         Constituting 17 items  –
o    5  organs of perception (jnanedriyas – ears, skin, eyes, tongue and nose)
o    5 organs of action (karmendriyas – speech, hands, legs, anus and genitals)
o    5 Pranas ( prana, apana, vyana, udana and samana)
o    mind (manah)
o    intellect (buddhi)
Definition of  Karana SarIra ( Causal Body):
·         Inexplicable
·         Beginningless
·         In the form of ignorance
·         Sole cause for the gross and subtle bodies
·         Ignorant of its own true nature
·         Without thoughts (nirvikalpa)
As discussed, the Soul has to enjoy pleasure and / or undergo sufferings. The Soul requires a Gross Body (Sthula Sarira) for this primary purpose. 

Whether a receptacle can be created to hold the Soul (Being)?
Sukha dukhadi bhoga Ayatanam SarIram –  The Body is the container for experiencing pleasure and pain.  Hence the container should be capable of achieving this when the Self (Atman) comes into contact with this.
 Keeping the above in view, it is impossible for human beings with limited knowledge and powers to come out with a container which can hold the Soul.
The mind is part of the  Sukshma SarIra along with the Intellect. According to the Vedic scriptures, Intellect (vijnanam) is subtler than the mind (manah) . Atman is the most subtlest.
One more dimension to Atman when it is embodied is that it has its own limited free will despite the prarabdha karma. Those karmas which have to be exhausted only by experiencing are known as  prarabdha karma.
Conclusion
Based on our deliberations, the following position emerges from a Vedic perspective as far as Robots are concerned:
·         It appears that the Sthula Sarira of the Robot  is built and visible. But it is not an instrument to experience pleasure or pain.
·         The Sukshma Sarira is yet to be fully  evolved in the Robot  as the mind and intellect are missing. It has some built-in  intelligence but not deeper intellect in terms of self-contemplation and reflection.
·         The karana SarIra is absent in the Robot .
·         It is not a conscious being and there is no  Atman 
·         It is not a container to exhaust prarabdha karma.
·         Robot does not have any free will to operate on its own in a given situation (Example: It cannot decide to stay back in Mars on its own volition if it is programmed to return to earth after completing some operations)
Thus there is a long way to go for the science of Robotics  to create  a conscious entity. 
जय जय श्रीराधे 

Friday, April 8, 2016

NATIONAL SEMINAR AT TIRUPATI - MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY OF SRI RAMANUJACARYA

I presented my Paper titled "Management Philosophy of Sri Ramanujacarya"  on  5th April 2016 in the National Seminar  at  Sri Venkateswara Vedic University, Tirupati sponsored by the Indian Council of Philosophical Research.
जय जय श्रीराधे

CREATIVE TALENTS OF SPECIAL CHILDREN

Arts Culture India Foundation as part of its endeavor to encourage special children presented cash awards to the  special  children of Sri Sakthi Academy , Chennai in a drawing competition showcasing  Indian Monuments and Heritage pictures. We congratulate all the Winners and the participants. The Prizes were distributed during the Annual Day Celebrations of the Institution held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai on 29th March 2016.   Sri Sakthi Academy deserves all appreciation for its continued  dedicated service to the special children.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

HOLI CELEBRATIONS

The grand festival of Holi is connected with many incidents from the Scriptures.
Hiranyakasipu asked his sister Holika to take Prahlada in her  lap and enter a  huge ball of fire.  As Holika  had the boon that she would not be burnt by fire, Hiranyakasipu tried to kill his son Prahlada through her . But by divine intervention it did not work and Prahlada was saved while Holika died. In remembrance of this  Holika dahan (burning of Holika)  is done .
Krishna applied various colours on Radha and other  Gopis and  all of them enjoyed in  exalted ecstasy.
Ogress Putana  was killed by Krishna on this day.
This day  is also in relation to the episode of   Kamadeva being burnt by Siva while the former attempted to  disturb his meditation.
Ogress Dhundhi  gave a lot of trouble to children in the kingdom of Raghu .  The Children  drove her  away  by their pranks on this day.  Even today Children play many pranks and fling abuses during Holika dahan.
Holi represents joyful  play with colours and waters.
Let us remember the delightful plays of Radha and Krishna on this auspicious day.
Happy  Holi.
जय जय श्रीराधे  

Monday, March 14, 2016

BAALKRISHNA TV SERIAL LAUNCH 14 MARCH 2016 6 30 P M (IST) BIG MAGIC TV --- SWASTIK PRODUCTIONS

Greetings.
Baalkrishna TV Serial launch today ( 14  March  2016)  Big Magic TV - Swastik Productions at 6.30 p.m. IST  (Repeat telecast 8.30 p.m.)
.

Wishing you happy viewing.

With Mr.K. Narayanan FCA and Mr. Siddharth Kumar Terwary, Creative Director, Swastik Productions  i



Saturday, January 2, 2016

SRI RADHA AND SRI GODA

SrI RAdhA is MahAlakshmI in the form of NIlA DevI. She is worshipped with intense prema bhakti bhAva by AzhvArs and AndAl (GodA) as Nappinnai. She is also fondly adored as Pinnai . Pinnai MaNAlan is verily RAdhA Vallabha.
Along with chanting of TiruppAvai , chanting of SrI RAdhA KrupA katAksha Stava helps one to gain the bliss of Krishna katAksha and His divine association.
SrIgovindapriyAm rAjnIm vrndAvana manoharIm 
KrpAsvarUpiNIm divyAM rAdhA devIm namAmyaham 
श्रीगोविन्दप्रियां राज्ञीं वृन्दावनमनोहरीम्
कृपास्वरूपिणीं दिव्यां राधादेवीं नमाम्यहम् 
I offer my respectful obeisances to the Goddess Sri Radha Devi, Sri Krishna’s beloved Queen, the source of the beauty of Brindavan, who is auspicious and is of the form of mercy.
SrIrAdhikAkrpApAtrAm vishNucittasutAm sudhAm 
SrIkrshNapremamagnAm tAm godA devIm namAmyaham 
श्रीराधिकाकृपापात्रां  विष्णुचित्तसुतां सुधाम् ।
श्रीकृष्णप्रेममग्नां तां गोदादेवीं नमाम्यहम्   
I offer my respectful obeisances to SrI Goda DevI (AndAl) who is blessed by SrI RAdhA DevI (in the form of NIla DevI), the nectar like daughter of SrI Vishnu citta (PeriyAzhvAr), immersed in Sri Krishna Prema Bhakti.
Songs:
Sri Radha Krupa Kataksha Stava Raja Stotram
Sri Krishna  Krupa Kataksha  Stava Raja Stotram
Barsane Wali Radhe
Paramadhan Radhe
जय जय श्रीराधे