Lenten Vrat - Week-1 - Ancient Dharma

Presence of Indic religious signs and symbols, all over the globe, prompts some researchers to opine that,

 ' Some Indic people traveled beyond their shores; some other people traveled to the subcontinent, And there was exchange of thoughts, ideas and culture'.

However I feel that the reality is different.
Culture of consciousness and knowing, initially prevailed all over the globe.
And the signs and symbols belonged very much, to local cultures.
Some of these signs are more ancient than 4000 years.
The Semitic and Hebrew dharmas had elements of Varnashrama dharma, over 2000 years ago.

Even before civilizational elements appeared, these signs and symbols of a culture of knowing, were familiar to peoples. Alongside the ancient dharma, a culture of building grand temples to various Gods, came to be - in Greece.
None of these ancient civilizations, like the Hellenistic, are fully alive today.
But studies say that roots of ancient dharmas can still be seen in tribal dharmas of South African woodlands.
Worship of elements of Nature by Mexican tribes chimes with ritualistic worship of Vedic people.

Will give an example to throw light on this.
But before that there is something we need to pay heed to, . . .

- Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati, Kanchi

Shree Panchami

 
Durga personifies Ananda - bliss

Lakshmi personifies Sat - truth

Saraswati personifies Chit - consciousness

- Dewi Bhagavatam

 

moon of Pushya

In the month of Pushya or Taishya, crops that nourish the body abound.

Crops that aid Pushti or nourishment, and Chitta Shuddi, or refinement of consciousness, are harvested aplenty.

A month to roll white rubbles of winter melons; ladle lehyams of cooshmanda . . .

- Shri  Chandrashekarendra Saraswati, Kanchi

moon of Betelgeuse

The Government of Siam supports the ten day Margasira fest.
A man is decked up as Shiva.
And is welcomed into the festive premises from the north-eastern or Ishaanya corner.

- In east facing south Indian temples, the Nataraja shrine is sited at the Ishaanya sector. -

Seated with raised left and lowered right feet, 'Shiva'  swings up and down.
And takes care, his feet never touches the ground.
Many niymas are followed, before and during this festival.
Both commoners and royalty participate.

- Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati, Kanchi (1959)

Jove on land

Three vedas, the rational Sankhya, Eightfold yoga, worship of Shiva or Vishnu are all various rivulets, that ferry people to the same blue waters, says Pushpadanta in 'Shiva Mahimna Stotra'.

In similar spirit is the saying,
 'Jehovah, Jove on land'.
Jehovah  is a Hebrew, Semitic divinity.
Jove or Jupiter was worshipped by Hellenic people.

Variously addressed as Lord, Ishwara, is the self same entity.

- Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswwathi, Kanchi.

the autumn moon

akeli math jaiyo
Radhe Jamuna ke theer

-Film song, Baiju Bawra, Hindi

O Radha!
Venture not alone
to the Yamuna waterfront!

  

Maatru Pitru

3300 years ago in Egypt,
The Treaty of Rameses II with the Hittites, cites Mitra and Varuna as witnesses.

Right through the vedas, the sun is referred to as 'Mitra'.

Even in distant lands, the word 'Mitra' indicates the Sun.

Sun worship was prevalent in some form, all over the world.

Three weeks after Spring equinox, when Keralites of India celebrate 'Vishu', some Peruvian tribes conduct rituals to worship the sun.

'Inan' refers to the Sun.
The Indian prince Rama, of the solar dynasty is referred to as Ina-Kula-Tilaka.
And the Peruvian tribes are refered to as 'Incas'.

And the Mexican 'Aztecs', resonate with the Sanskrit root 'Aastiks'.

- Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati, Kanchi.