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Reita Agarwal Page 1
SUMMARY of L#1 & L#2
We learned in L#1 Why and how humans made effort to know Ishvara, the creator and
the all-prevading. AS we saw in video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNbWgdYa6Ss
a) Man came to this world…”Who am I Why am I….”. This is beginning of human life
with true purpose of life.
b) *Interacted with Nature (environment), Fellow humans and heavens… In L#2 we
will focus on how human interacted with Nature and Fellow humans/heavens and
formed beliefs and rituals to connect Man to Self and Ishvara. Concept of prayer
and symbolism evolved.
c) Formed beliefs and rituals for peace and happiness out of fear or reverence of
Greater power around. Formed Ideal Way of life (knowledge, faith, disciplined way
of life) to reach inner peace & happiness.
d) Learned Essence of self/Life……. Journey of Soul.
Live in the world in a state of loving detachment.
e) Realized “Kingdom of Ishvara is within”…..Many paths ….one destination.
f) Love is the only force that unites…… Many shall become one…..then only we can be
happy and at peace.
Reita Agarwal Page 2
L#2: Ishvara through Nature & Symbolism
VIDEO:BBC. The Story ofGod 1. Life the Universe and Everything – YouTube
Whether we believe it or not, there is birth …. And then death. From observation, man has
realized there is a higher power and since historic time’s man wants to merge with that higher
power for peace and be one with it. It wants to feel that rather than feel the surrounding
environment which is a source of fluctuating senses of pain and pleasure.
Ishvara as Natural Forces/Elements: Which Man feared and then revered:compare with
other history eg Egypt-Mesopotamia
Wind (Vaayu): Temple in Kaalahasti, Andhra Pradesh (air, sound, smell..)
Space (Aakasha): Temple in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu
Fire (Agni): Temple in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu (light and heat)
Water (Varuna/Jambuka): Temple in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu
Earth (Prithvi/Bhoomi): Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu (mud and vegetation)
Ishvara as Gods of personal choice (IshtaDevatas)
Rama Durga Hanuman Brahma surya
Shiva Krishna Ganesh Vishnu
Ishvara as Planetary God- Navagrahas
The Navagrahas are the nine planetary bodies. They are: Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangala
(Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu and Ketu (events
related to eclipses). The seven days of the week in the Hindu calendar are named after the
seven planets as given below. In most Hindu temples, idols of the navagrahas are installed in a
square pattern and worshipped (see figure below). It is interesting that none of the idols face
another idol in this arrangement. Indian astrology is based on the Navagraha positions at any
given time.
Navagraha Chart
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Graha Planet Day
Surya Sun Sunday
Chandra Moon Monday
Mangala Mars Tuesday
Budha Mercury Wednesday
Guru Jupiter Thursday
Shukra Venus Friday
Shani Saturn Saturday
Rahu (related to eclipses) Rahu & ketu are 2 halves of one entity
Ketu (related to eclipses)
ISHVARA IS SEEN IN PEOPLE YOU LOVE AND THINK HIGH OF: SYMBOLISM….evolved.
REMEMBER: These are all just forms of Ishvara, the Universal God. Eg Babylonians, Indus
Valley, Armenians (Zoroastarians), Greeks, Mesopotamia concepts of God based on nature and
power of destruction that human forces could not control. From polytheism to monotheism.
Vedanta and Ishvara: As mentioned in last lecture, Remembering the deity /any physical form/visual
or imaginative form and internally building a relationship with (or through) them is considered
essential to the practice/ to see the all pervading Ishvara. This is initiation and then combined with
humbleness, broadmindedness and disciplined life with love for everyone starts seeing Ishvara..
Advaita(oneness) and Dvaita (dualism): Remembering the deity and internally building a
relationship with (or through) them is considered essential to the practice. Within the Advaita
schools it is believed that the human mind needs a concrete form to understand the divine that
ultimately can never be defined. One can only realize the deity through a form of murti.
In contrast, the Dvaita (dualistic-instrument of Ishvara) associated schools believe the Supreme Being
to possess a divine form, and offer worship to their Ishta-deva as either a representation or direct
expansion of the Supreme Person
ISHVARA IS SEEN IN PEOPLE YOU LOVE AND THINK HIGH OF: SYMBOLISM…..
Reita Agarwal Page 4
Bring a picture or item you felt since toddler that you were very attached to and sometimes feel that
is what gives you comfort or makes you feel that you can talk to when alone. Eg picture of
grandparents or parents or any friend or any item like a special toy. Can you disrespect the picture
and throw it around.. Movie of Vikananda and picture of king.
*EXPERIMENT: Art Masterpiece & Space Suit: BEYOND THE BODY TO THE INNER
PERSON/Spirit/Ishwara
MATERIALS: A picture with an attractive frame. Cover the masterpiece with a sheet of paper to cover
the picture first. Also have a picture of astronomer on earth, and astronomer on moon/space wearing
space suit.
METHOD:
1) Look at the frame of Artwork first with the picture covered, and then see the picture and the frame
together as a master piece.
2) Look at the pictures of astronomer on earth and on moon with space suit. Note we need to wear a
space suit when we go to moon/space for survival and do the actions.
LESSONS LEARNED
1) It is silly if we go to art gallery and concentrate on frames rather than the masterpieces (picture)
within them. Human body is like a frame of the masterpiece artwork. Our masterpiece spirit
within. We should focus on the masterpiece spirit/Iswara within our frame of body. Not just do
things to beautify the body/frame. What are those actions???
2) Just as we need to put on space suit to visit moon/space; similarly our Spirit/IShwara wears a
space suit called body to come to live on earth. We existed before in our bodies, and we will
exist when we leave our bodies: I ENJOY LOOKING BEYOND THE BODY TO THE INNER
PERSON/Spirit/IShwara.
EXPERIMENT: Paper with Punched Holes: Let go of Judgment and be Open-Minded.
MATERIALS: paper with punched holes
METHOD: On the sheet of paper, punch holes in the center to peek through. Look through the hole and
see how much vision is limited by the size of the hole.
LESSON LEARNED:
1) Most of us are looking at the world only through peepholes. Our vision of other people is
peephole vision. Just as you are able to see only fragments of one another through the hole,
similarly you are really seeing or understanding of any other person or situation in fragments.
Reita Agarwal Page 5
Therefore we need to be very careful that we are not judging people or situations. We don’t see
the whole picture. We don’t have sufficient awareness.
2) Only by staying open minded, will we be able to tune to Ishwara’s judgment. Otherwise it is
impossible to hear the Spirit/Ishvara within us. Hence when we are open-minded, prayer (talk)
to Ishwara and Meditation (listen) to Ishwara will guide us through any situation. I LET GO OF
JUDGEMENT AND be open-minded to RELY ON THE WISDOM OF SPIRIT WITHIN.
With Symbolism came prayers…….elaborate methods……..but right attitude is all we need…..
Why do people pray: For Relief from discomfort or just being thankful? But sure to be
humble and acknowledge power. Next will be prayers…..