The tAraka nAmA, rAmA

The derivation of words from their root syllables each of which is the root of a verb signifying an action, is, in the Sanskrit language a very instructive excercise. Hindu religious literature is replete with such derivations for almost every word that it uses. Each of the names of God like Rama, Krishna, Siva , Narayana, etc. -- in fact, each one of the names of God in the various lists of thousand names of God (sahasra-naamaa) has been assigned several derivations from their root syllables. 'The one in whose memory yogis revel in the bliss of brahman' -- is the meaning of the word Rama. "'ramante yogino-nante brahmaanande chidaatmani' -- is the declaration in the Padma-purana. 'ramante' (they revel, enjoy) is the action which forms the root verb for 'Rama'. The greatness of the word 'Rama' is not just because what the son of Dasaratha did what he did. Preceptor Vasishta hit upon the name for the child of Dasaratha because he knew that it was already a 'taaraka-mantra' -- that is, the mantra which takes you across the ocean of samsaara.

The Ultimate Purpose of Varna Dharma (HinduDharma: Varna Dharma For Universal Well-Being)

When factories took the place of handicrafts and cottage industries, the small village communities became urbanised. The needs of people multiplied, so too the number of occupations. Today when the old way of life is gone, it seems impossible to revive the system of hereditary vocations. Is it any longer practicable how to insist that only Ksatriyas ought to man the defence services, that only Vaisyas can transact trade and business, that the members of the fourth varna must continue to remain labourers? Is it at all possible to revive the old system? I am not unaware of the state of affairs now prevailing. If so why do I keep extolling varna dharma? There are two reasons.

Whatever be the situation today - and whether or not we can return to the old order - it is not right to claim as people nowadays do that the old order was utterly unjust, that it was created by the vested interests for their own good and convenience. We must be able to convince the critics that the old order was not unjust at all and that there is nothing like varna dharma to help people to attain inner purity. They must also be made to realise that this dharma, apart from helping society to function in a disciplined and harmonious manner, will bring well-being to all and give an impetus to culture.

உம்மாச்சி தாத்தா

பல ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன், ஒரு தீபாவளியன்று, காஞ்சி சங்கரமடத்தில் மஹாஸ்வாமிகள் பக்தர்களுக்கு அருளாசி வழங்கிக் கொண்டிருந்தார். பக்தர்கள், நீண்ட வரிசையில் காத்திருந்தார்கள். அந்த வரிசையில், ஒன்பது வயது மதிக்கத்தக்க சிறுமியும் நின்றாள்.  நீலநிற பட்டுப்பாவாடை, பச்சை நிற சட்டையுடன், நெற்றியில் திலகமிட்டு, தலை நிறைய பூச்சூடி பாலாதிரிபுரசுந்தரி போல், அவள் தோற்றமளித்தாள். அவளது கையில் மூன்று டப்பாக்கள் இருந்தன. வரிசையில் நின்ற பக்தர்களின் பார்வை அந்தச்சிறுமியின் மீது பதிந்திருந்தது. 

எல்லாரும் கண்கொட்டாமல் பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருந்தனர். இப்படிக்கூட திவ்ய அழகுடன் ஒரு பெண் இருப்பாளா! என்பதே அவர்களின் ஆச்சரியப் பார்வைக்கு காரணம்.