ANCIENT INSIGHTS FOR MODERN LEADERS

As we now confront daunting problems in the business and society, the spotlight is on the leader, whose role is akin to the captain of a ship on a stormy night, navigating the ship to safety in the vast turbulent ocean. There are manifold challenges which engage the attention of a modern leader. The key challenges could be classified into four types, viz., business challenges, environmental challenges, cultural challenges and security challenges. The position of a modern leader under these trying circumstances is truly not enviable. He is forced to look into the present with a future vision and assume onerous responsibilities amidst a host of internal and external constraints. Adaption of Artificial Intelligence has now emerged as a key consideration which impacts all facets of human life besides successful running of business. Confronted by these growing issues and concerns, the modern leader finds it difficult to maintain the subtle balance and do the tight-rope walking. He requires a staff in his hand to do the role balancing and smoothly cross over to the other side without falling. The ancient wisdom comes handy to him in this regard in the troubled times. What is required now is that he needs to have an open mind to receive and apply it in practice in letter and spirit. This Lesson attempts to provide certain insights from ancient wisdom to the modern leaders to successfully tide over the turbulence and march ahead in the path of managerial excellence. This Lesson is based on the managerial wisdom embedded in the Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, Artha Sastra, Chanakya Sutra and Vidura Niti.

To know more details regarding the ancient insights for modern leaders, you are welcome to join the Free Online Self-Study Course on Vedic Management offered by Vedvikas School of Vedic Management through the following link: -
https://vedvikas.thinkific.com

जय जय श्रीराधे

BHAGAVAN SRI VEDAVYASA GURU PURNIMA PRARTHANA

भगवान् श्रीवेदव्यास गुरुपूर्णिमा प्रार्थना
वेदपुराणदातारं विराट्विष्णुस्वरूपिणम्।
वेदान्तसूत्रकर्तारं वेदव्यासमहं भजे॥
जय जय श्रीराधे

WHETHER PITRU TARPANAM IS TO BE PERFORMED AS PART OF UPAKARMA FOR APASTAMBA SUTRA YAJUR VEDIS?

Based on traditional practice of Sishta BrAhmaNAs, for Yajur Veda Apastamba  sUtra, only KANda Rishi TarpaNam is prescribed. There is no Pitru TarpaNam as part of the  upAkarma ritual.

The upAkarma practices vary in the case of other sUtras . Each one should follow his own sUtra.

For RG Veda  and SAma  Veda, Pitru TarpaNam is there as part of upAkarma ritual.
There are variations in the sUtras. Hence  we have to follow what is ordained in our own sUtra  after properly learning the same from a  Guru.

WHETHER PARASARA SMRUTI CAN BE FOLLOWED REGARDING THE PROVISIONS OF SRADDHA TO THE EXCLUSION OF THE VEDA SAKHA SUTRAS?

krute tu mAnavA dharma: tretAyAm gautamA: smrutAh !

dvApare SAnkha likhitAh kalau pArASarAh smrutAh !!

It is said that Manu smruti is applicable in Kruta yuga, Gautama smruti in tretA yuga, Sankha and Likhita smrutis in dvApara yuga and ParASara smruti in kali yuga. But ParASara smruti does not deal with the elaborate provisions regarding performance of SrAddha. A smruti is like a policy document . Only in the grhya sUtras, the detailed procedures are explained. We cannot ignore what is said by the sUtrakAras.

The Sraddha prayoga that we practise today is a digested form based on various relevant smrutis and the sutras. Hence we have to take this as the benchmark and try to follow to the extent possible.

WHETHER PITRU TARPANAM HAS TO BE PERFORMED BY A VIPRA BELONGING TO APASTAMBA SUTRA WHOSE FATHER IS ALIVE?

In Yajur Veda Mantra starting with "somah pitrumAn yamo angirasvAn......" the Pitrus referred to are the nitya Pitrus and not one's own pitru, pitAmaha and prapitAmaha. Also, in the nitya pitru tarpaNam, we use only water.

A person does tarpaNam using gingelly (til) for his own pitru, pitAmaha and prapitAmaha only when his father is not alive. In regard to nitya pitru tarpaNam forming part of brahma Yajna, it is not the case. Hence every vipra, irrespective of the fact whether his father is alive or not, has to perform nitya pitru tarpaNam as part of brahma Yajna if he belongs to Yajur Veda Apastamba SUtra. Thus performance of nitya pitru tarpaNam by such a vipra whose father is alive is in order.

WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR YAJUR VEDA UPAKARMA ?

UpAkarma Procedure for Yajur Vedis is as follows:


1. Vapanam ( hair-cut ) only for BrahmacAri
2. snAnam
3. sandhyavandanam
4. samitAdhAnam only for BrahmacAri
5. AupAsanam for Gruhastha
6. KamokarishIt Mantra Japam ( Not applicable in the first year of upanayanam)
7. MAdhyAnikam
8. Brahma yajnam
9. snAna mahAsankalpam
10.snAnam
11.YajnopavIta dhAraNam
12.Maunji, ajina, danda dhAraNam only for BrahmacAri
13.Kandarishi tarpaNam
14.Upakarma homam
15.nAndI SrAddham ( only in the first year of upanayanam)
16.VedArambham
17.namaskAram

This year on 13th August 2011, Sukra maudya SAnti homam also to be performed.

Notes:
1. As there is no SandhyA vandanam without gAyatrI japam, gAyatrI japam should be chanted in prAtah / MAdhyAnika sandhyA vandanam .
2. No food is to be taken before fully completing the upAkarma as above.
3. vapanam ( hair-cut) only for BrahmacAri

WHAT ARE APASTAMBA AND BODHAYANA SUTRAS?

Apastamba and BodhAyana are the two prominent SUtras of those who are born in the family of KrishNa yajurvedis.

The SUtras are named after the great Rishis Apastamba and BodhAyana

Though both SUtras follow KrishNa Yajurveda texts, the two grihya SUtras are different in prayoga in certain respects.

As the SUtra is determined by birth, one has to follow the SUtra belonging to his family while performing the various Vedic karmas.