Vedas,yoga and meditation

[Rashmi]

Dear Friends,
Namaste,

God is within all of us. We require a guru to know it. You can take any body as your guru but you require two things to realise brahmam shraddha (faith) and saburi ( patience), Great saint of shirdi has always this to his bhaktas. Along with purity of body we require mental purity observance of truth, ahinsa ( non violence) etc.It is said if you speak truth for 12 years continously you get vaak siddhi, whatever you speak will come true same can be achieved by spiritual sadhana.

In mahabharat which happened in india about 5300 years back there a dialogue between yudhisthir and yaksha(kuber), at that time pandavas were in exile as per the vow. One day while walking they were thirsty and were searching for water. First nakul went and located a well but a yaksha said first reply to my questions if you have satisfied then only you can take water , if you have not answered correctly then you will die, Nakul could not reply , so he died, then sahdev went and received the same fate, similarly bhima and arjun. Finally Dharma raj yudhisthir goes and answers. His dialogue and interpreatation by my Pujya guruji ji is pasted below for your self intospection:

1). Who rises the sun? who moves around the sun? who sets it? and in whom is it established?
Ans. (Brahma) He is Almighty God who rises the sun. devtas moves around it. Its nature sets it and sun is established in eternal truth.

2). How does man become learned of Vedas (shrotreya)? How to attain supreme status? How does one get another companion and how does one become wise?
Ans. Study of Vedas makes a man shrotreya i.e., habitual of listening Vedas, supreme status by austerity (tapsya), by wielding patience one gets another companion and by serving elders, (learned person), one becomes wise.

3). What is devatva in brahmins? What is their religion like that of noble people, what is their human trait? What is conduct of Brahmin like ignoble people?
Ans. Study of Vedas is devatva in Brahmins, austerity (tapsya) is their religion like that of noble people, to meet with death is their human trait/nature and back-biting done by Brahmins is their conduct like ignoble people.

4). What is devatva in kshatriyas? What is their religion like that of noble people, what is their human trait? And what is their conduct like ignoble people?
Ans. Knowing the art and science of archery is devatva in kshatriyas, yajyen is their religion like that of noble people, fear is their human trait and abandoning those who seek their shelter and security is their conduct like ignoble people.

5). What is Yajyeeya sam? What is Yajyeeya Yaju? What adopts Yajyen and whom does the Yajyen not transgress?
Ans. Prann i.e., (breath) is sam yajyen. Mind/intellect is Yajurveda related to Yajyen, only Ved mantras adopt Yajyen and Yajyen does not violate/transgress Ved mantras.

6). What is most important for cultivators? What is most important for those who sow? What is most important for effluent rich and what is most important for those indulged in producing children?
Ans. Rain is most important for cultivation, seed for those who sow, cow-rearing for effluent rich and son is the most important for those who want to produce children.

7). Who despite being honoured and respected among people, experiencing the stimuli of sense organs, perceptions etc., and while breathing is yet not considered alive?
Ans. He who does not nurse:dev, atithi, dependent family members, elders and soul (self) is like a dead despite taking breaths.

. What is heavier than earth? Higher than sky? More speedy/possessing greater motion than air, more in number that straws/blade of grass?
Ans. Mother is heavier than earth, father is higher than sky, mind/intellect is more speedy than air, worries are more in number/ countless than blade of grass.

9). Who does not close eyes despite sleeping? Who does not exhibit motion on being created, who does not possess heart, who increases with velocity?
Ans. Fish does not close eyes while sleeping, egg does not exhibit motion on being given birth to, stone does not possess heart and river increases with velocity.

10). Who is friend of migrant who stays abroad? Friend of family holder/householder, patient and he who is about to meet with death?
Ans. Co-traveller is the friend of migrant, wife is friend of household, doctor is the friend of patient and donated assets are friend of the man who is near to death

11). Who is the atithi/guest of all living beings, what is eternal religion, amrit (ambrosia) and the whole world?
Ans. Fire is atithi of all living beings, immortal true, eternal religion is sanatan religion, i.e., eternal knowledge of Vedas is sanatan religion, cow’s milk is ambrosia and air is entire world.

12). Who wanders alone? Who is born again after being born once? What is the medicine for cold, what is the big land to sow the seed?
Ans. Sun wanders alone, moon takes birth again after being born, fire is the medicine for cold, earth is the big land to sow the seeds.

13). What is the main area of religion, glory/fame, heaven, happiness?
Ans. Efficiency/dexterity is the main place of religion i.e., all the moral duties mentioned in Vedas when are held in action is life, that sort of perfection is called the main place of religion, donation is the main place of glory/fame, truth is the main place of heaven and modesty is the main place of happiness.

14). What is the soul of human-being, who is his friend, support and shelter?
Ans. Son is the soul of human-being, wife (life-partner) his friend, clouds his support/anchor and donation his shelter.

15). What is the Quality of noble people, supreme amongst all wealths, supreme amongst all gains and most supreme happiness?
Ans. Modesty is the quality of noble people, i.e., he is noble man who exercises the moral duties mentioned in Vedas in life, knowledge of shastras is the most supreme wealth, good health is the most important gain and satisfaction in life is the most important happiness.


Slowly i will try to write more about veda and its vast knowledge as and when i progress it is beneficial to humanity, soul and away from biases and prejudices.

OM

[Rashmi]

Dear friends,
namaste,

Vedas say God is formless, Upnishads in detail have talked about its formlessness. Siddha yogis like Shirdi sai baba, Gurunanak ji, Swami Sammarth have too said.
the question is why he is formless. One of the seeker has asked this question to my Guruji . The querry and answer are here for your contemplation:
Seeker : I have a doubt please guide me/ I heard that soul is immortal and shapeless but takes shape in the form of man, women, animal etc. by the means of birth and death. So why God who is also shapeless cannot take shape by means of birth and death for preaching or guiding human beings?

Swami Ramswarup: Yes, soul is the minutest matter and can’t be seen with naked eyes or any instrument therefore, it can be told to be shapeless. As also said in Atharvaveda mantra 10/8/25 soul is immortal. Please, see that Almighty God is also formless and immortal. But He is omnipresent, omniscient and Almighty but the soul does not contain the said qualities.

Atharvaveda mantra 10/8/25 states that soul is alive matter who is even minutest than the tip of hair (Shwetashwtaropnishad chapter 5, shlok 9 also refers).

Next mantra 26 states that soul is “AJARA” i.e., changeless and “AMRITA” i.e., immortal and resides in the body of human being. Mantra further clarifies that body of human being is “MARTAYASYA” i.e., is destructible.

Next mantra 27 states that soul while residing in body of human being looks like woman or man or young boy/girl but soul himself is not man, woman, girl, boy etc. So, soul sometimes looks like father, sometimes looks like mother but in reality soul is neither father nor mother etc. As told above soul resides in body but soul is not body. For example- electric current focus in a wire but current itself is not a wire. Current is separate and wire will always remain separate from current. So is the case of soul and human body. Not only the case of human body but it applies to all living beings. For example- in the body of bird, it looks like a bird and if in the body of elephant, it looks like an elephant. But see the soul is not bird, elephant etc. He is always unchangeable. But he changes body of living-beings based on his previous lives’ deeds. When soul enters the body then body acts and when soul comes out of body then body becomes dead. So body becomes dead and not soul. Soul takes another body when the previous body dies away.

As clarified above, God has unlimited, different qualities, from soul i.e., God is omnipresent, omniscient, almighty, creates, nurses and destroys the universe whereas such qualities can never be attained by soul.

Soul faces the result of his previous lives’ deeds in the body of living being but not the God. There must be a reason behind to take human body by God. But all the four Vedas and the true holy granths state that there is no reason for Almighty God to take birth.

God is Almighty which means, He has unlimited powers and Yajurveda mantra 31/4 states that ‘PADASAYA ABHAVAT PUNAHA’ i.e., only a part of this divine power creates, nurses and controls the whole universe. So, there is no reason left behind for which Almighty God would require to take birth etc. God has no desire so why would He desire to acquire human body to preach the public. It is a fundamental eternal law of God that only at the beginning of each universe, the knowledge of four Vedas emanates direct form God and is originated in the heart of four rishis. Then the knowledge is spread in the human beings.

So God inspire the human beings through Vedas to be learned of Vedas. He has no desire to take birth to educate the people. Suppose, He desires to educate the world then like the four rishis who attain knowledge of Vedas direct from Almighty God, under the eternal, unchangeable law of God, (without God taking birth like man/woman) at present also the knowledge could have been attained by entire universe within no time by the desire of God. However, this can’t happen since God is desireless. In this connection Shwetashwataropnishad shlok 6/8 also states:
“SWABHAVIKI GYAN BAL KRIYA CHA” i.e., divine knowledge, deeds and power to control the universe is automatic. It means only a fraction of His power is sufficient to control the universe as stated above. God hence needs not to think or desire etc.


OM

[Rashmi]

dear friends,

namaste,

Often we have debate in our mind at times when we are undergoing rough patches and sorrows in life, though in your present body you must be a sane and pious person why am I suffering, what is the couse? We think there is no God. In fact we suffer becoz of our karmas Good or bad performed by us in our countless births, though at time man made justice may fail but divine who is always with every soul every moment, his justice never fails.Yajurveda mantra 7/48 states that a person is always free to do any deed i.e., pious deed or sin but result is awarded by Almighty God.

There are three types of deeds (karmas) - sanchit, prarabhadh and kriyamann. Suppose one soul has to take birth (body). It means he has to face total number of deeds of his all previous lives and these deeds are called sanchit karmas but sanchit deeds are huge/unlimited and cannot be faced in one life. So the karmas which can be faced in one life are called prarabhadh (luck-destiny). So God has not made our luck at His own but Almighty God has taken the deeds which we have already done.

Yajurveda mantra 7/48 clarifies that human being is free to do any deed good or bad but God only awards the result. Now the balance deeds from sanchit deeds will be counted in the next life. Now the deeds which we do in our day today present life are called kriyamann.

If we do pious deeds according to Vedas, shastras and holy books and based on pious preaches of Rishi, Muni/learned saints then our all sanchit deeds are burnt and we can get salvation. Human beings are free in the matter of doing deeds good or bad. But result will be awarded by God. So we must worship and do pious deeds under guidance of a learned Guru. One should go always ahead for hard working, pious deeds, worship to make future bright himself. One should always work hard towards a right path.

Worship does not mean that we are free to discharge only our family duties, education, etc., but rather it is a sin. We have to get progress in both way at a time i.e., spiritualism and worldly progress i.e., science, education, duties towards family etc. God creates the universe according to His eternal law framed in Vedas which are always unchangeable and unchallengeable. So we have to follow the law of God always to get long happy life.

What karmas make us brahmin , kshatriyas, shudra and vaisyas? In this connection Yajurveda mantra 31/11 states that this universe (brahamannaha) learned of Vedas who knows and realizes God (mukham aseet) is equivalent to mouth i.e., he who knows Vedas, does hard practice of ashtang yoga philosophy, does daily yajyen and has control on his senses, perception and mind, always speaks truth etc., is called Brahmin i.e., based on the said qualities a person is called as Brahmin and not by birth. Similarly (bahu rajannaya kritaha) he who attains physical and mental power, is brave, protects the nation, he is kshatriye. Mantra again states (uru tadasya) i.e., he is vaishya/mahajan who has got perfection in agriculture, business etc. (padabhyam shudraha ajayat) he who has not gained education properly and can not discharge duties of a kshatriye or vaishy, he services the others and called shudra. So, caste system as blamed by scholars has not been made by Vedas- shastras. It is again the origination of human mind devoid of spirituality and Godliness.

There are three types of sorrows as stated by Kapil muni Adhyatmik, adhi bhautik, adhidevik are three types of sorrows. These have been very stated by Kapil Muni in His Sankhya shastra sutra 1/1. Sutra states:
TRIVIDHIHI DUKHAHA ATYANT NIVRITTI ATYANT PURUSHARATHAHA
Meaning: There are “TRIVIDHIHI DUKHAHA” i.e., there are three types of sorrows- adhidevik, adhibhautik, adhyatmik. An aspirant has to destroy the said sorrows by real worship of God which is the motto of the human beings.

further the great Yogi of Shirdi Shri sai baba has said these words on God
God does exist.I will try to put his teachings in my next post.
OM

[Rashmi]

Dear friends,
namate,

dear friends often the preachers of various religions especially christian and islam says that Jesus is the only God and allah is the only god, the worshippers of other faith are sinners and heathen. After delving deeper and deeper into this aspect i think Jesus was a yogi , a god realised soul, he never claimed he is God, Allah is the formless God which is purely described in vedas. However countless murders are happening on the name of allah and countless ancient cultures have been wiped out on the name of Jesus, which is still happening in india and across the world. Does really God want us to kill one another and hate another. No one else can better explain God then a siddha yogi, a brahma yogi/gyani, as every second he is meditating and immersed in God, he has achieved Him who is supreme.

Lets see what Sai baba the great yogi of shirdi says on this issue:-

1. Take it for a truth God does exist.

2. This world is nothing but his own manifestation.

3. He is the creator, the sustainer and the destroyer of this world.

4.Not an iota of space is devoid of Him.

5.He is the order of paramount.

6. His Divine will be Supreme.

7. But for His will, earth will crumble to pieces, water will dry up, wind will stop, the sun shall not rise , the moon shall not shine, the rains shall stop, the crops shall not grow, men, animals and creatures all will perish, the world will be no more.

8. So with the tongue you have, chant his name , with the ears his glory, with the eyes see his manifestation. Waste no time in trifle. Human body, Gods gift is seldom obtained.

9. Treat others in the way you wish they should treat you.

10. Inflicting pain on others by body, mind and speech is sin. The reverse is merit goodness.

11. Avoid sins if you want happiness and peace of mind.

12. Do not draw comparisons between yourself and others, Each get what he deserves.

13. Rejoice at others happiness.

14. Let your life serve a lesson to others.

15.Help the poor feed the hungary and afford shelter to homeless.God assumes Diverse forms and there is no knowing when and in what form He will appear before you and beg; so do not be harsh on beggars, do not give vent to anger, but remain silent if you are not inclined to give him.

My Guru too says that Sun is rising on time, crops are maturing in time, seasons are being changed as per time,moon is rising in time so this proves that God is there. Because without him nothing will happen.

For a long time i am thinking to start a spiritual thread on great masters, quite few of them i have collected from various sites and i read them from time to time. i request moderator to permit this as this is good for spiritual upliftmen.It purifies the senses. But some how it is not happening. Right now we in house are celebrating Navratri, nine days worsip of Great Yogini Durga, wife of Lord Shiva, and her forms. She represents mother aspect of Almighty God Known as maa adi shakti and with her there are 64 yoginis who are too worsipped. Today is astami and i did mantra pooja with sandhya , havan and offering to Goddess.Tomorrow is the last day.

OM

[DivinePranam]

Originally Posted by Nichole

Mirjana,
I have the Bhagavad Gita According to Ghandhi and it is my favorite copy right now.
Here is another translation of the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra that also includes a very clear pronunciation of each word. Online Sanskrit Pronunciation Guide
Dr. Sarasvati Buhrman, the director at my previous school, said that this mantra was both healing and sanctified our classroom, so we would sometimes put the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra on repeat so it played overnight before we met again for class. It has also part of every homa that I have attended.


Blessings,

Thanks for the helpful website. I too have read the bhagavad Gita according to Gandhi and found it quiet enlightening. There is also a version by Swami Yogananda that takes a really unique look at the Bhagavad and also provides so many useful footnotes to expand on ideas. Check it out if you get a chance.

[Rashmi]

Dear friends namaste,

Often we think of Guru, how should he be/ who is a real Guru. With little insight i have gained a real guru should be the one who himself has realised God by hard practice of Astanga yoga, who teaches to love all the human beings and gods manifestations, He should have the knowledge of both Shabd Brahma (Vedas) and Param Brahma ( Actual realisation of Vedic Knowledge by practice of astanga yoga). He should be like Shirdi Sai Baba, Swami Paramhansa yogananda,Ramanna Rishi, Swami Sammarth of akkalkot, Shri Gajanan Maharaj, Ramkrishna Paramhansa, Shri Guru, Adi Shankara, Shri Guru Nanak Ji etc.
Swami ramswarup ji has given a wonderful description of True saint:-

About Gurus

There is only one God who creates universe, nurses and destroys and again creates. Yajurveda mantra 31/7 and several other Ved mantras say that God has preached His worship in Vedas. But now a day's most of the worships are against Vedas, as also said by Tulsidasji in his Ramayana couplet 99 (b). In the ancient times up to Mahabharat period too there were only Vedas to be adopted and worship in the form of prayer, Yajna and Ashtang yoga etc., was being practised. The ancient Rishis Munis used to give Vedas knowledge only. They lived in Gurukul in a very simple life holding unlimited knowledge of Vedas and yoga philosophy and by their Tapsya they used to give equal blessings to the world.

These Rishis Munis used to sit on one platform with whole hearted happiness. For example in Valmiki Ramayana when Rishi Vishwamitr went to King Dashrath to take Shri Ram to kill the demons to protect his holy Yajna. Then Dashrath immediately refused but Dashrath's Guru Vashisth Muni interrupted, explained and gave order to king Dashrath to give Shri Ram to Rishi Vishwamitr. I am not giving the detailed story here. So what was the reason behind? The reason behind was only this, that Rishi Vishwamitr as well as Guru Vashisth both were philosophers of Vedas, Yajna and Yoga philosophy. So there was no friction within their hearts. A mother and father both, without any friction, love their newly born baby. So when all Rishis loved only one Almighty God, from whom Vedas are originated and again the Rishis loved Vedas, so no question of friction. The Rishis used to bless all people and even kings with the result everybody was happy at that time and everybody was rich with the blessings. Now it is reverse.

The so-called Gurus are rich and most of the people are poor. In Hinduism too there are so many Devtas and thus the different types of worship. Now whatever one Guru says another one criticizes because ways are different and in reality the religion has been made profession by most of the so-called Gurus at present. When target is not true and good then how the above story of donating Shri Ram can be repeated and how all Gurus can sit on one platform. When the target is profession and not services of people through Vedas then it is impossible that so called Gurus can sit on one platform. The so-called Gurus can say at their own that their target is one but on ground it seems not to be a true. All the so-called Gurus have made their own several ashrams to command etc.

God has made universe and blessed us human body to do pious deeds only. He has not made any heaven or hell. All have to face the result of their deeds good or bad here only, even by taking rebirth. God has not only made universe but has also given knowledge of four Vedas.


same views were alsi expressed by Great Saint Shirdi Sai baba, I had already shared with you all about 100 years back in Sai Charitra

Read this and reflect on this .

OM

[Rashmi]

True Saints

In Shatpath Brahmin Granth 3/7/3/10, written by Yask Muni it is said, "VIDWANS HI DEVAHA" i.e., he who is learned of Vedas, he is called Dev. Yajurveda mantra 40/3 says, "ASURYA NAAM TE LOKAHA ANDHEN TAMSA VRITAHA___"means on taking birth a child is called "Manushya" i.e., mankind. If he learns Vedas, does pious deeds and discharges his moral duties well, according to Vedas then he becomes Dev. Otherwise Asur i.e., devil (demon) , one who kills the pure voice of soul and does sins. In Van Parv of Mahabharat Yaksh asked question to Yudhisthar, "KAH NASTIKAH" i.e., who is called atheist? Yudhisthar answers, he who is against and insults Vedas he is atheist (Manusmriti 2/11 also refers). So there are two kinds of men/women according to Yajurveda mantra quoted above. One, "DEV" and second "DEVIL". So our birth is to become Dev.

Rig-Veda mantra 10/181/1 says that in the beginning of the creation, God always originates the knowledge of four Vedas in the heart of four Rishis, then the said four Rishis spread it further and until now the eternal knowledge of Vedas is being received traditionally. The names of those four Rishis are --- Agni, Vaayu, Aditya, Angira, as also mentioned in Rig Veda mantra 10/109/1 and Manusmriti shlok 1/23. This truth is also mentioned in Bhagwad Geeta wherein shlok 3/15 says that Vedas emanate from Almighty God and in shlok 13/4 Shri Krishna says that the knowledge of soul and body is very well mentioned in four Vedas and the Rishis have described the same by many methods. In Atharvaveda mantra 2/35/1& 4 it is preached that Rishis spread the knowledge of holy Yagya (Yajna) to the people to kill their sorrows and Rishis are those, "MANTRADRISHTA ITI RISHIHI" i.e., those who have studied Vedas and Ashtang Yog practice and then realized Almighty God and seen Ved mantras in their heart, they are called Rishis. So the knowledge of the Vedas, as per Rig-Veda mantras quoted above, is given by God Himself to the Rishis and it is eternal truth and cannot be changed that is why in Yog shastra sutra, Rishi Patanjali says, "SA ESH PURVESAHM API GURUHU". So, next to God is Rishi.

God did not give the knowledge to the present saints. In Vedas, the name of the learned are mentioned as Rishis, Muni, Vipra, Dwij, Agni etc., and not saints. To be next to God it is necessary to have full knowledge of Vedas and Ashtang yoga, as per the rules quoted above.

To know that what is true and what is false, proof is required. Yog shastra in sutra 1/7 says about four proofs within which proof of Vedas to determine the truth is compulsory. However, it makes no difference that if a present saint has learnt four Vedas, done ashtang yoga practice mentioned in Vedas and realized Vedas and God, then he is also next to God. If one declares his name Rishi or Brahamchari and does not know Vedas and yoga philosophy, then he is liar and cheating the public because in Shanti Parv of Mahabharat also Bhisham Pitamaha says to Yudhisthar that there are two kinds of Braham (though God is one). First, "Shabad Braham" i.e., knowledge of four Vedas, second "Par Braham" the realization of formless God Who creates, nurses and destroys the universe. So he who does not know Braham even Shabad Braham – Vedas, then how can he write himself as brahamrishi? Naturally he is cheating the public because most of the public does not know about Vedas and the arrogant (the saints who are against Vedas) have spread false knowledge about Vedas, Yajna and yoga philosophy.

That is why, Manusmriti 2/168 says that the saint/Guru/Dwij who does not know Vedas but studies false books, he, in his present life goes downwards i.e., experiences sorrows, sufferings etc, etc., with his followers, i.e., their followers also go down and experience the said difficulties etc., but nowadays it is also spread that God takes examination of a worshipper but such type of examinations have not been mentioned in Vedas. And Ramayana also says about such false saints - VARAN DHARAM NAHIN ASHRAMCHARI, SHRUTI VIRODH RAT SAB NAR NARI. Tulsidasji says that at present men and women here have become against the eternal knowledge of Vedas. Again Tulsidasji says in Uttrakand DWIJ SHRUTI BECHAK BHOOP PRAJSAN, KAU NAHIN MAN NIGAM ANUSASAN, i.e., at present mostly the people do not accept the knowledge of Vedas, present saints Gurus have sold the Vedas i.e., they do not know the ABCD about the Vedas.

Again in Shatpath Brahmin Granth 1/7/5/3 it is said that he who studies complete knowledge of Vedas and holy books, puts the preachings thereof into action/conduct and there after preaches others, he is called a Rishi. It is a well-known fact that ancient Rishis used to live in a lonely place/jungle in Gurukuls/Ashram where the students used to get knowledge traditionally, the same process too was adopted by Shri Krishna, Sudama, Shri Ram and their public. It was the effect of Ved mantras on them and the effect of practising Ashtang yoga philosophy, that they used to lead simple way of life without any luxury etc. Whereas nowadays the current saints (against the Vedas) mostly live in bigger cities where way of earning is obtained. The Rishis used to bless the people according to Ved mantra to be the richest and having all comforts in the family etc., whereas now most of the present saints say that money will do nothing, family will do nothing, house will do nothing, cars and clothes will do nothing and they themselves take lot of money and enjoy luxuries.

The Rishis were free from illness/tension etc., Shwetashwaropnishad 2/12 and 13 says about this fact. So is it not clear that keeping the fact and proof of ved mantra and the said upnishad in mind, those are not rishi-muni etc., who are suffering from multi-farious diseases, tension etc., and too lack the knowledge of four Vedas and Ashtang yoga philosophy mentioned in Vedas.

Study of Mahabharat, holy granth and Valmiki Ramayan reveals that usually the ancient Rishis, who lived in gurukul or in jungle used to go to the kingdom on invitation only. (Valmiki Ramayan Bal Kand sarg 7 also refers). So it is not fair to send disciples door to door to collect money and to arrange maximum gathering/crowd. The Rishis like Vyas Muni etc., used to go mostly on foot and alone to anywhere (Mahabharat says) but now the present saints/Gurus go in a fleet of cars/groups with body guards etc., etc.

The Rishis themselves had simple living without luxury etc., but with their blessings they made people the richest whereas most of the present saints have become the richest with all luxury, gathering money/donation etc., from even poor people and public seems to be poor.

In Brihadarnayk Upnishad there is a debate (shastrarth) between Bal Brahamcharini Gargi and Rishi Yagvalkya. This debate was organized by King Janak. The winner of debate was to be given 500 cows, gold-plated on horns. When Rishi Yagvalkya ordered his disciples to take the cows then King Janak interrupted and requested the Rishi that these cows are meant for him who will win the debate with my supreme Acharya Gargi. King asked the Rishi whether he (Rishi) is Brahamrishi. Yagvalkya Rishi answered, O! King there was shortage of milk in my Gurukul to my students and that is why I wanted to take the cows. But if you want to ask something I am ready. There was a debate and Rishi won and got cows. This story tells that all Rishis used to ask for donation when they needed whereas present saints even having become multimillionaires through donation, ask for more money.

In Upnishad king Janshruti met with Rishi Rakya in lonely place sitting on sand under the shadow of Bullock cart. Whereas present saints meet people sitting on highly decorated and valuable throne. Rishi Jadbharat was sitting alone in a jungle on the earth. When he was asked to carry the palanquin (palki) putting one side on his shoulder, then he immediately became ready without any pride and walked on foot. Mostly now this cannot be repeated.

There are maximum examples of the ancient Rishis who were Tapsvi, lovers of truth, who are adorable.

We have to be very careful while choosing the one and request almighty to guide us. The real guru opens the door of liberation, the quest of meeting a worthy guru by Swami Paramhansa yogananda in "Autobiography of yogi" is really worth reading and how he met his destined guru after a long tryst.

OM
Rashmi