Jesus in Kashmir: The Lost Tomb

Jesus survived the crucifixion, and lived and died in Kashmir many years later. The Bible cites twelve incidents after the crucifixion when Jesus was speaking with others, making a fire, and eating real food.

In AD 45, 12 years after the crucifixion, written records from the court of King Gonophores at Taxila (now in Pakistan)reveal the presence of the apostle Thomas with someone resembling Jesus. Mother Mary was with them on this journey and died along the way. Her grave is in Murree (Mari) Pakistan,near the grave of Jesus just across the border in Kashmir.

Was Jesus' resurrection actually resuscitation? Could it have been a recovery from a near-death experience? Would this change anything about him or his teachings? Christianity is the largest religion on the planet. Any changes in our perceptions will profoundly impact upon the entire world.

Jesus taught that life does not end after our bodies die.  He made this startling claim: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again.” According to the eyewitnesses closest to him, Jesus then demonstrated his power over death by rising from the dead after being crucified and buried for three days. It is this belief that has given hope to Christians for nearly 2000 years.

Jesus’ followers wrote that he appeared alive to them after his crucifixion and burial. They claim not only to have seen him but also to have eaten with him, touched him, and spent 40 days with him.

The Science of Christmas: the First Noel

Virgin birth, the star over Bethlehem

Upon Christ’s birth, legend has it, a star appeared in the sky over Bethlehem, leading the three magi to the manger where Jesus lay. The question of whether it had a non-miraculous astronomical explanation - was there really an extra bright star that night? - has been debated for some time.

Two possible explanations are: a conjunction of Jupiter and Venus, which would have taken place about 2BC, and would have appeared as a single bright star; and a supernova, which was recorded by Chinese astronomers in 5BC. Since it turns out that King Herod, in whose reign Christ was supposed to have been born, died in the spring of 4BC, we can probably rule out the planetary conjunction theory.So, you heard it here first: the Star of Bethlehem, if it really happened, was, probably, a supernova. Or a divine miracle, obviously.

Jesus's birthday

If the planetary-conjunction hypothesis is correct (we know we're suggesting it's not, but bear with us), we can put an exact date on Jesus's birth - 17 June, 2BC. Which would make Jesus a Gemini. Unfortunately, as we've seen, King Herod, who plays a significant part in the story, was almost certainly dead by then. The more plausible supernova hypothesis places Christ's birth in March or April 5BC, making Jesus either Pisces, Aries or Taurus.

Virgin birth (parthenogenesis)

The thing that needs explaining here is not a virgin giving birth. It’s the fact that it doesn’t happen more often. It’s the whole strange sexual reproduction business that’s confusing: various theories have been put forward to explain it, but none has been fully accepted. The most widely held seems to be that it is an advantage in the evolutionary arms race against parasites.

Direction, Space And Time

There are eight directions, of left-right, east-west, north-south and the intermediate directions, of up and down (zenith & nadir), are added to these. These 10 directions have been quoted in Shatpatha Brahmana.

Space denotes the area occupied by a material object. Following the conquest of space by mankind, the word ‘space’ has acquired a new, specific connotation. In this discussion, however, the word ‘space’ is being used in its older meaning of a continuous are or expanse. When we speak of space in relation to an object, we indicate its location.

The frontiers or limits of an object, we indicate its location. Directions – on one side is the east and on the other west, for example. Time is the period required for the existence, consumption or use of an object. The expression of a particular object existing within  specific boundaries and from one particular time onwards defines the interrelationship of time, space and direction.

When we see an object we become aware of the area it occupies and its form. Then we become aware of its properties, name, function and so on delineates the area of an object. But the sages tell us that this understanding has serious flaws. They assert that our eyes can never see the object we can touch and the object we see can never be touched by us. In other words, the visible universe is altogether different from the touchable universe.

We can see an object only if it remains at a certain distance away from our eyes. If the object were to touch our eyeballs, we would be unable to actually see it. At the other extreme, we know that when an object is taken too far away from our eyes, it becomes invisible to us. So an object can be seen only within the parameters of a given distance. Conversely, an object must be brought within the reach of our limbs for us to be able to touch it. Common sense tells us, therefore, that it should be possible to distinguish between visible and touchable objects.

Every object radiates a cluster of rays of supraphysical energy, or Prana (vital energy), in a kind of ‘case’ around the object. This ‘case’ causes the eyes to see the object. The cluster of vital energy emitted from the centre of heart of an object becomes smaller as we move away from this centre. This expains why an object looks smaller the further we travel away from it. This relative attribute of size merely confirms that the visible ‘case’  of an object is different from the mass of the object we touch.

The Stages of Evolution

According to ancient sages. The evolutionary stages of the physical universe are represented by the Sanskrit terms: Aakasa, Vaayu, Agni, Aapa and Prithvi. They are known as the Pancha-Bhootha-s. The term Pancha-Bhoota-s is usually translated as ‘five-elements’ and the above mentioned five stages as ether, air, fire, water and earth. They are not five separate materials but five causal evolutionary stages through which a boundless subtle energy field transforms itself as the manifested universe. The prescribed order of these pancha-bhootha-s from the subtlest to the grossest itself shows that they mean the evolutionary stages, not separate materials.

Aakaasha (sky), according to Indian philosophy, is not empty space, but the subtlest field of physical energy. (Causal to Aakaasha is Chittaakaasha, the mental space, which originates from Chidaakasha, the Space of Supreme Intelligence.) The almost static Aakaasha transforms itself as active energy and this stage is represented by the term Vaayu (Air). Here, this term does not signify the atmospheric air. An energy that shows the characteristics of consciousness. ‘Vaayu’ can be identified with the concept of Praana, the vital energy basis of the sub-atomic realm, which so far has not come to the awareness of modern atomic physics. The next evolutionary stage is represented by ‘aghni’ which is a stage of atomic forms, and molecular chemical combinations. It is at this stage the visible manifestation of the gross universe begins. The ‘Aapa’ represents the next stage where atoms combine into molecules, which are loosely united and have certain facility of movement as in fluids. The next stage ‘Prithvi’ represents the firm interlocking of molecules giving rise to solid materials. These are the salient evolutionary stages of the universe as conceived by the sages. Divine consciousness is latent in all these stages and expresses itself as organic life at the stage of solidity.

The ancient sage’s point out that this is a reversible scheme. As man has reached a highly evolved state he is capable through an evolutionary effort to untie his consciousness from the knot of the above mentioned stages and expand himself to supreme divine consciouness.

The Ancients know of the Global Flood

Hundreds of tribel legends narrate ancient accounts from Egypt, Babylone, and the Indus confirm the account of Noah’s Flood from the book of Genesis.

Since Noah’s Ark legend in the mountains of Ararat (the mountains rose at the close of the Flood). It is not surprising that Noah’s progeny migrated down the new Tigris River Valley from the mountains to found the earliest post-flood civilizations such as Sumer, Akkad, and Nimrud (Which later became Babylon), Haran, Jericho and the Euphrates Rivers were named after two of the Four pre-Flood Rivers mentioned in the Bible that flowed from the Gardon of Eden).

Ancient Babylonian legends speaks of a pre-flood series of ten kings, the ancient Hindus spoke about a series of Ten Pitris who ruled before the global Flood, and the ancient Egyptians described Ten Shining ones who ruled consecutively before the Deluge. Like the Bible also says, these pre-Flood patriarchs lived much longer than we do, and this was confirmed by the ancient historians Berosus, Nicolaus, Muchus, Hieronymus and Manetho.

The last of these kings in the afore mentioned lists was the hero who led seven others aboard a vessel in which they survived the global flood. In ancient Babylone, the Hero’s name was Zisudra who spear headed the survival on the Ark of seven other humans, the seven Apkaller. In ancient Egypt, the Flood Hero was Toth Deluge along with the seven sages. In ancient India, the Hero was Manu whu survived the global-flood “Pralaya” with the seven rishis. The odds are astronomically long that these supposedly distinct civilizations would have the same legend of a global Flood with eihgt people surviving from the pre-Flood population that was, led by a series of Ten Kings if it were not real history that happens to corroborate the Genesis account.

Many ancient cultures have their myths. The Manu caught a small fish and to his surprise the fish spoke to him and promised to protect him from the coming deluge, if he spared it. Manu put the fish in a small water filled with container and fed it. The fish grew by leaps and bounds and Manu kept transferring it to larger and larger containers. It grew to immerse size and warned him to build a big boat and tie it to to fin of the fish and sail towards the nothern mountain. The great flood came and it was relentless and fish which was Vishnu 1/2s Matsya Avatar saved humanity from extinction.

Reasonable explanations for the cause of the Ice-Age are not forth coming from old-earth-believing scientists because they do not realize that significantly warmer ocean-water (which caused dense cloud-cover from higher ocean-evaporation rates) must have been the cause of the Ice-Age, there is no other viable mechanism that could have resulted in the dense cloud –cover necessitated. When the post-Flood Ocean cooled sufficiently, the Ice-Age ended around 1500. B.C., which is confirmed by submerged megalithic structures of N.W.India, S.India, and S.W.Japan that were engulfed by the Sea when the Ice-Age Ice-Peak melted.

The great deluge occurred around 5000 B.C.E. when the mediterranean broke into Black Sea. This led to migration of the littoral inhabitants in various directions to Ukraine, Anatolia, Syria and Mesopotamia. These people carried with them the indelible memory of the flood and its myth.

AUM – Reverberation of Big-Bang

AUM (Om) is a holy Symbol of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism with a profession of estoric and exoteric meanings. Aum (Om) means the word, the “Pranava,” the eternal. Various accounts are given of its origin; one that it is the term of assent used by the gods, and probably an old contracted form of the Sanskrit word “evam” meaning “thus.” The laws of the Manu say that the word was formed by Brahma himself, who extracted the letters “A” “U” “M” from the Vedas, one from each; and they thus explain its mysterious power and sanctity. According to the “Upanishads”. It represents the divine and the power of God. It is the Sound – Symbol for the ultimate reality.

The origin of “Big-Bang” is from the experiments made by Dr. Robert Wilson and Dr. Arno Penjias on microwave radiation in the universe. During their studies they were continually getting some unknown radiation from the universe. This radiation associated with the body at a temperature of 3 degrees Kelvin and it is presumed that  the radiation must have emanated when Big-Bang took place. Actually their experiment proved the reverberation of the Big-Bang explosion with which the universe began. Synonymous to this, our scriptures state that the sound AUM – the Pranava mantra – was the first energy created at the time of disturbance of the equilibrium. It has been accepted in Hindu Religion that AUM – the first primordial sound energy emerged in the process of creation. Hence, what the scientific experiments revealed as microwave reverberations during the Big-Bang is already explicity explained by our scriptures in the form of ‘AUM’. Scriptures are not just palm leaves. Reading them is an art, as they are nothing but sound impulses or Sabda!

            Every word has to be pronounced in a particular style to get the required frequency.

            Sound is the starting point. From it Space or Aakasa comes, followed by other elements.

            As per our Scriptures “the disturbance of the equilibrium is the starting point” of the creation.

Formation of Galaxy

Our modern scientific theories state that for any particle or matter there is an antiparticle and antimatter. When these two collide, lots of energies are released.

For every matter there is an antimatter like Electron and positron and Particle &Antiparticle. The annihilation takes place when matter and antimatter reacts with a result lot of energy being released. At the timeof creation, matter and antimatter would have been mixed up in a non-uniform fashion or in unequal proportions. So, where there have been an equal number of positive and nagative particles, the annihilation would have happened. During this process, lot of gamma rays and x-rays would have formed creating a dense radiation atmosphere. And this radiation could have delayed the annihilation process also. This is similar to water skitter around on a hot skillet. In this case, the evaporation of water on the droplets underside create a layer of steam called “Leiden Frost Layer” which insulates the residual droplet from the pan.

As our planet and galaxy has absorbed more gamma rays to act as Leiden Frost Layer to make the matter stay put. But we do not know about other galaxies wherein antimatter may be more. In that case any collision can cause annihilation. By this microwave radiation phenomenon, we come to the formation of horizen which protects. In this way the insultating layer above matter agglomerates to form galaxies. All these happened in 1 millisecond!

It is assumed that 500,000 years after Big Bang atoms started forming and then agglomerating into nuclei. We know that certain types of structures are formed during this feezing or drop in temperature and these structures could be quite massive. From this point ot view of galaxy formation. The most important of these structures were the “strings”- long massive two-dimensional object. The theorists have traced the history of these strings from 10-35 seconds, on and have made some interesting discoveries. Using the branch of mathematics known as “Topology” (the study of shapes) that these strings are stable and could be expected to survive for a long period. But this is a new area of physics to be explored. In any case, these studies show that this is theortically possible that defects formed during the drop in temperature could survive for the next 500,000 years and would by that time be just massive enough to provide the 0.01% concentration needed to start a condensation of galaxies. Thus in this version of creation, galaxies form quickly after electrons and nuclei come together. So, here the explanation of various types of strings. In either case the end result is the same – galaxies form quickly once the plasma.

Big Bang Happened In Just 3 Minutes!

Puranas stated earlier that the creation started from Mahat – The Great Atom.

Modern scientific theories developed recently on creation is almost similar to the concept of puranas with very minor difference.

The Big Bang as it known just started from – “NOWHERE AND FROM NOTHING”.

Nobody is sure of its time when this Big Bang occurred. They say it is an explosion from which this universe is created. It also states that the first energy came out in the form of Sound along with the other energies and radiation.

There are also differing views or theories on this Big Bang. Some scientists do not accept this Big Bang on – (a) what happened in that just three minutes, and

                       (b) Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg’s Theorey.

Big Bang happened few million years ago. But how did we come to know about this?

From Microwave Radiation Studies….Sound and Light are measured in wavelengths or frequency.

Higher the wavelength the energy is low. Lower the Wavelength higher is the energy. The radio waves and the visible light rays are on the high frequency side whereas the cosmic rays, microwave radiation. This radiation is of the type that would be associated with the body at a temperature of  3 degrees above absolute zero (3`K) – just the temperature that the expanding radiation gas resulting from the Big Bang should have reached us by this time. In a sense the microwave  experiments done by Dr Robert Wilson and Dr. Arno Penzias are hearing the reverberation of the explosions with which the universe began.

It has been accepted the creation and the expansion we see now, began about 15 billion years ago from a situation in which all the matter was in a highly condensed state. The term “Big-Bang” is applied to this event wherein this condensed state explode into fragments. The only problem with the simple view of things is that it seems to imply that the Big Bang is analogous to the explosion of artillery shell with fragments flying out through the space. Actually, the modern cosmologists have a much more complex view of the process as described below:

The Big Bang is attributed to have happened 15 billion years ago. It is stated that everything happened in just three minutes during the Big Bang. At zero point vacuum to matter happened followed by creation of quarks and bosons. At 10-43 seconds, all the forces unify. Then from 10-43 sec. to 10-10 sec. all strong and weak forces unify, the creation of particles at 0.001 seconds. Then within three minutes the formation of nuclei takes place and it takes 500,000 years to create atoms from plasma. This is in a nutshell what happened during “BIG BANG”.   

Avatar – The Divine incarnation

Certain age – each of the dramatis personae introduced into the stories represents a condition of consciousness and a quality of character. All the actors are personifications of aspects of human nature, of attributes, principles, powers, faculties, limitations, weaknesses and errors of man. When purely human beings are the heroes, the life of a person evolving normally is being described. When the hero is semi-divine, however, the accent is upon the hastened progress of the spiritual Self of man, particularly after it has begun to assume preponderant power. When the central figure is an Avatar or “descent” of an Aspect of Deity, the account of His experiences also describes those passed through during the later phases of human evolution to the stature of perfected manhood.

The Deity or Father when introduced into a narrative generally refers to the highest spiritual Essence in man, the Divine Spark, the Monad (“Alone”. Other terms are the Immortal Germ, the Logos of the Soul.), as also to the Oversoul of the race. Those who are following the pathway of Initiation seek to hasten this realisation, first of their divine, immortal nature and thereafter of their unbroken unity with God, of the oneness of Man-spirit with God-spirit, is the ultimate goal for all mankind. In Hinduism this state is called Moksha or Liberation; In Buddhism, Nirvana or conscious absorption; in Christianity- Salvation, Ascension, Christhood.

In this method of Biblical study the characters – divine, semi-divine, patriarchal and human-are thus regarded as personifications of principles and powers of both Nature as the Macrocosm, and of man as the microcosm. The degradation of the concept of the Divine Emanator of the Universe to the level of a tribal god (Exoteric Hebraism, and a literal reading of certain Books of the Old Testament alone present this view of Jehovab. Kabbalism, the theosophy of the Hebrews, their esoteric wisdom, proclaims the unnamed Deity as the self-existent, impersonal Emanator of Cosmos.) reliance upon an external redemptive power; and the erection of a vast though changing theological edifice founded upon dogmas, some of which are based upon a literal reading of the Scriptures.

The dramatis personae of many scriptural narratives represent human characteristics, the twelve disciples of Jesus are found to personify attributes and potentialities of man. For example, a twelvefold classification of them as microcosmic manifestations of the qualities given by astrologers to the divine Teacher, indicates that the evolution of the disciple has reached an advanced stage. Ultimately all powers of heart, mind and spirit will be fully developed. Only as the twelve Zodiacal qualities in man are “discipled”- or disciplined and refined-is he able to respond to his own inner spiritual will and to comprehend pure wisdom, both of which are personified by the Master. The Christ Presence and Power-whether asleep as in the ship on Galilee, awakening or being “born” as in the mystical Nativity, or fully grown to “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” –must, however, be added to all human attributes in order to present by means of personification a description of the fully “perfected” man.

The interaction between these various aspects of human nature, the effects they produce upon one another, the waxing or waning of one or more of them at different times and in different lives, and the gradual, triumphant emergence and predominance of the royal spiritual Self, the Immortal King within, personified by the Saviour and the hero of every saga-all this is allegorically portrayed by the Initiated authors of the inspired portions of the world.

Each story may be regarded as a graphic description of the experience of the human Soul as it passes through the stages, and their intermediate phases, of its evolutionary juourney to the Promised Land (cosmic consciousness)-the summit of human attainment. Inspired allegories are always distinguishable from mere novels and biographies by several characteristics, such as the intrusion of the supernatural and the inclusion in the story of angelic and divine beings, even of Deity itself. When these are found the existence of a hidden revelation may always be suspected.

“Logos doctrine.- The universe is first conceived in divine Thought, which is the governing power in creation. The creative “Word” expressive of the idea is then “spoken” and the hitherto quiescent seeds of living things germinate and appear from within the ocean of Space, the Great Deep.

Rama Lived in 24^th ChaturYugas & Krishna in 28^th Chatur Yugas.

            1 Chatur Yuga =  43,20,000  Human years                                         

The present Kalpa wherein we live is known as “SVETA VARAHA KALPA” and the previous Kalpa is known as “PADMA KALPA”. It is stated that the present Brahma is 51years old and so he is on the waning period. If he is over 50 years now, then the number of kalpas we have gone through is 18,250 Kalpas. As per vedic scripture during every Kalpa or half a day of Brahma, the Sun and the planets perish. So, the present Sun which we are looking at or which is giving the necessary energy for the survival of all is 18, 251th. Sun. Our scriptures talk about many Suns and many Zodiacs and not just this one Sun and its associated planets.

1 Kalpa constitutes 14 Manvantarams. Now we are in “ Vaivasvatha Manvantaram” –the seventh one in order. So, we have to go seven more Manvantarams to complete “Sveta Varaha Kalpa”. The scriptures have given the name of all the Manvantarams as follows:

1. Swayambu (It seems in the First Swayambu Manu the lord created the basic elements required for creation and they do not perish at the end of Kalpa but they will be inactive) 2. Svarocisha  3. Uttama  4. Tamasa  5. Raivata  6. Chakshusa       7. Vaivasvatha  8. Savarni  9. Daksha Savarni  10. Brahma Savarni  11. Dharma Savarni  12. Rudra Savarni  13. Rouchya Savarni  14. Bhautya Savarni or Indra Savarni. So, it can be seen that 6 Manvantara periods have already are over and we are in the Seventh Manvantara. Even in the Seventh Manvantara we have completed 27 Chatur Yugas and in the fag end of 28^th Chatur Yuga. It may be of interest to know that Rama lived in 24^th Chatur Yuga of the present Manvantarams about 18 million years ago as per the scriptures.                                                                                                                          

God – The Totality of Existence

The term “God” as used in thus not singular but plural in its implication. Although the original directive Intelligence- the Precursor and Source of  Universal Mind – arose in a unitary state from its root in pre-cosmic space, immediately that agency became outward-turned the rule of number obtained. One alone cannot manifest; three are essential to the production of any result. This is as true of cosmic manifestation as of microcosmic or human creation, whether intellectual or physical. No germ is a unit, each at its simplest being a triplicity of potentials, namely the positive, the negative and their productive interaction. So also the germ of a Cosmos which, though a unit in Pralaya, displays a number at the outset of Manvantara (A condition of manifestation). The term God, therefore, as used in these verses is to be understood, as in Kabbalism (The Theosophy of the Hebrews), to refer to the group of intelligent, productive agencies inherent in and emanated from pre-cosmic Space, the Elohim.

The term “God”, therefore, carries a number of implications. It includes physical Nature; the evolutionary impulse imparted to it; the irresistible formative force which bestows the attribute of self-reproduction and the capacity to express it; the creative Intelligence-the Elohim-which direct the manifestations and the operations of that force; the divine thought or ideation of the whole Cosmos from its beginning to its end; and the sound of the creative “Voice” (Logos) by which that ideation is impressed upon pre-cosmic substance. These, together with all seeds, beings, forces and laws, including those of expansion, alternation, cyclic progression and harmonious equipoise, constitute that totality of existence to which alone may be given with any measure of fitness the majestic and awe-inspiring title “God”.

In non-manifestation God is quiescent, in manifestation objectively active. Behind both quiescence and activity exists THAT which is eternal and unchanging, the absolute, Self-Existent ALL. The divine Creator referred to by various names in the world’s cosmogonies is the active expression of that eternal, incomprehensible One alone.

Manu- A generic term applied to Creators, Preservers and Fashioners. Manvantara- means, literally, the period presided over by a Manu. According to their function and Office they are called Race Manus, Round Manus and Chain Manus, and so on up to the Solar Logos Himself. Pralaya- on the other hand, is a period of observation or repose, whether planetary or universal- the opposite of  Manvantara- and is symbolised in Genesis and in all flood legends by their deluges.

Elohim (Heb.)- “Gods”. A sevenfold power of Godhead; the male-female Hierarchies of creative Interligences or Potencies through which the Divine produces the manifested Universe; the unity of the powers, the attributes and the creative activities of the Supreme Being. “Elohim”, therefore, literally means “gods”, personifications of divine divine attributes or the forces at work in Nature. Admittedly the “Elohim” are also conceived as a Unity in the sense that They all work together as One, expressing One Will, One Purpose, One Harmony. Thus their activities are regarded as the manifestation of the Eternal One, the Absolute. “Elohim” might therefore be explained as “the Unity of Gods” or “the Activities of the Eternal One”, namely God omnipresent and revealing Himself outwardly in creative activity.

Time As Mirror Of Eternity

The authors of the Scriptures saw eternal truths mirrored in events in time. For them, illumined as they were, every material happening was alight with spiritual significance. They knew the outer world for what it was – the shadow of a great reality. Their records of history of the Universe and of the Earth-the Scriptures of the world-portray far more than events in time; they reveal eternal truth, ultimate reality, universal occurrences. Sometimes the real was more visible to them than the shadow, whereupon history took second place. At other times the record of physical events predominated.

The spiritual teachers of long ago, by using historical events as well as allegories and symbols, proved themselves able to overcome the limitations of time. They recorded history in such a way as to reveal to readers of both their own and of later times the deeper truths of life. Even thousands of years after their death such teachers are able to give to men of every age both guidance along the pathway of spiritual illumination, and the solutions to their personal problems. Concealment from the profane of truths which they desired to impart to the worthy, and to the worthy alone, is admitted; the motive being to safeguard both the individual and the Race from the dangers of premature discovery and possible misuse of knowledge which could bestow theurgic and thaumaturgic powers. Thus came into existence the legends, the Mythologies and the Scriptures of the world, many of them being pregnant with spiritual and occult ideas.

In our Puranas “Time” which gives us the period wherein Devas and humans came into existence. It is clearly stated that space and time are interrelated. For any event to cause, the space is required and time is absolutely required as to when this has happened. Actually space-time concept is very well known to us as it is not only interrelated but they cannot be separated. They go hand in hand and there is no space without time or vice-versa is true. Time is used to depict succession of events. It is questioned what happened to time after Deluge or Pralaya as there are no succession of events. Static bodies like mountains, metal, etc. the time has no meaning. But for us, to know how long the mountain is there or when the metal is extracted, the time is the only parameter which can say when such events happened. So the time is necessary for “imagination” too and also for static things to know how long they existed. Time is the very essence of life, the whole meaning of its reality. Time exists so also space exists. Without space there is no movement. So, time and space are interrelated. Without the idea of space we cannot represent the succession of events anywhere. Time is a flow-It cannot be measured but can be stated whether it is slower or faster. It is absolute; time never repeats, never ceases – it is flowing…flowning…flowing to eternity, the time is eternal. Time is absolute – it is the very meaning of the past, present, and the future- the trinity in Mahamaya or Universe.

Vedas say, the present is the progeny of the past and the future is out of present. Hence, these three factors are interlinked by time only. Time is divided into (a) Akanda [no parts] and (b) Kanda [divided into parts]. In Bhagavata Purana, it is stated that time was the causative factor to disturb the three gunas at the time of creation. It is known as the main ‘breath of prana’ or the law of absolute. Brahma could not have started the creation without time. It is stated in Vedas that the time exhales at the time of creation and inhales it back at pralaya or Dissolution. So, what is universe without time – only time correlates it with others in terms of Manvantaras or Kalpas or Light Years in modern days. The space is always related to time. If  space is measured as three dimension it exists only when the fourth dimension time is added to it. Both are absolute. They are inter-dependent. The space is the twin aspect of time. In this absolute space, only the concrete space manifests itself in the form of universe, plants, stars, etc. From Avakasa comes “Akas” – it is different from Aakasam. In Aakas only Mahat the great principle divides into various units and occupies space. In the word Brahma “Brh” means “to create” and in the word Vishnu “Vish” is “to pervade”. So, it can be seen that in the above process the time and space are interlinked. The destroyer Shiva takes time and space to annihilate. Hence their three worlds symbolically presented as Brahmalokam, Vaikuntam and Kailasam wherein the three functions are done in time and space with their common logo as Shabdam or Sound and that is why they are collictively called as “Sapthabrahman”.

The Brahma is supposed to live for hundred years wherein there will be creation and dissolution alternating. His hundred years is just equal to one year for Lord Vishnu and one day for Lord Shiva. This is only to indicate the knowledge with which our seers were able to conceive about the relative space-time relationship. Once this Brahma completes his hundred years he is out of job or perishes and a new Brahma takes over so that the creation and dissolution goes on and on uninterrupted. We do not know or there is no mention in our scriptures about number Brahmas existed before our present one. There are views expressed in some of the scripts that the present has created only this galaxies doing creation and dissolution. This is again a point of dispute and discussion.

It is said that our present Brahma is fifty one years old – he has already completed fifty years and running his fifty first year. This again may be based on cosmic energy and radiation spreading for ages. These source of energies are given a name as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. This is only for better understanding as they are nothing but invisible energies, cannot be seen or identified. We accept and there is proof that neutrons and protons exist at a very high temperature of 10 to the power of  32 degree K in a dormant state at the time of creation.

A half a day of Brahma is called “Kalpa” and during the day time he does the job of creation and an equivalent period of Kalpa he sleeps and there is total inactivity in the universe. This Kalpa or half a day is divided into 1000 Chatur Yugas. This is arrived as follows: 4 Yugas make one Chatur Yuga. 71 Chatur Yugas make 1 Manvantaram and 14 Manvantarams make 1 Kalpa or half a day of Brahma. There is a shortfall of 6 Chatur Yugas to it 1000. The scriptures state that the balance 6 Chatur Yugas are equally distributed for the dawn and dusk of a day of Brahma.

A Yuga is a period of events or a succession of events happening in one cycle with fixed number of years. There are 4 Yugas to make 1 Chatur Yuga and they are namely: (1) Kreta, (2) Treta, (3) Dwapara and (4) Kali Yuga. All these four Yugas do not have the same number of years as a cycle. There is a variation not only in the total years of the cycle but also in the characteristics towards life cycle of plants, animals and humans. The scriptures state that twice the period of Kali Yuga is Dvapara and thrice is Treta and four times is Kreta Yuga.

Thus a Chatur Yuga is 1+2+3+4 = 10 times that of Kali Yuga or 43,20,000 human years. Actually the period of each Yuga is as follows:

            Kali Yuga                     -           432,000 years

            Dwapara Yuga             -           864,000 years

            Treta Yuga                   -          12,96,000 years

            Kreta Yuga                   -          17,28,000 years

            1 Chatur Yuga              -          43,20,000 years

The Temple Bell

The Temple Bell that tolls at prescribed times in the temple is a symbol of all auspicious musical divinity.

It is said that Goddess Saraswati resides on its tongue, Brahma on the face, Rudra on its belly, Vasuki on its stem with its entire body signifying the divinity of  time.

Its handle denotes the vital force (Prana Sakti) and is represented by Garuda, Chakra, Hanuman, Nandi or Vrishabha. Made out of pure bell metal, it reverberates Om, the primordial sound.

This glorious spectrum of sound created by the Bell is believed to dispel all demoniac feelings within the worshipper and infuse him with divine bliss.

It is also believed that use of the bell carrying the insignia of  Garuda, who is in eternal service of the Lord, pleases God and mitigates fears about birth and death. “That bell, the sound of which envelops the whole world and destroys the power of the demons, protects us as the Goddess protects her sons,” goes a traditional saying.

Such attributes create an aura of sublimity for the bell and confer a special status on it as an insignia of the gods and an accessory to worship. It is prescribed that the bell should toll at the time of  archana, avahana, dhoopa seva, deepa seva, arghya, naivedya, purnahuti, bali-pradhana and, in fact, at the commencement and the completion of all the upacharas laid down the Agamas. To be precise, no worship can take place without the tolling of the bell, and the bells ought not to toll when no worship is being conducted.

Most of the old temples have large bell at the entrance of the temple and we need to ring it before we enter temple.

A temple bell is another Scientific phenomena;  it is not our ordinary metal. It is made of  various metals including Cadmium, Lead, Copper, Zinc, Nickel, Chromium and Manganese. The proportion at which each one of them mixed is real Science behind a bell. Each of these bells is made to produce such a distinct Sound that it can create unity of out left and right brain. The moment we ring that bell, bell produces sharp but lasting Sound which lasts for minimum of  seven seconds in echo mode good enough to touch our subtle chakras in our body. The moment bell Sound happens our brain is emptied of  all thoughts, invariably we will enter state of Tan’s where we are very receptive. This Trans state is the one with awareness.

Bells have special significance for Budhists everywhere. They are rung not only for their beauty of tone. They are used in chanting and special ceremonies throught the year.

Palani Hill Temple

Bhogar was a South Indian by birth, belonging to the caste of gold smiths. Who became Palani has been mentioned in the Tamil Sangam literature as “Podhini”, which came to be called as Palani “later according to the historians. In “Thirumurukatruppadai” (a Sangam Literature) Palani has been mentioned as the third “Padai Veedu”. This was the southern end of the Kongu Nadu and edicts refer to this place as “Vaiyapuri Nadu”. Which was ruled by King Vaiyapuri Kopperumbaegan. Many Siddhas are said to have lived in this region. The Idol of Palani Andavar is said to have been made of  Navapashanam (a combination of Nine Minerals) , by a Sage called Bhogar. It is also claimed by many that the materials  of abhishegam like milk, sandalpaste, etc., attain medicinal properties on being poured over lord Palani andor or Subramanya Idol and they have cured many diseases, when taken by the patients. It is a speciality of Palani.

Going by Legend, Narada Maharshi, had brought a divine fruit known as the “Gnana pazham” (Fruit of knowledge) and gifted it to Lord Shiva and Parvathi. Lord shiva told his Sons Lord Ganapathy and Lord Murugan that the first one among them to circle the globe would win the fruit. Accepting the challenge Lord Murugan quickly set off on his vehicle – the Peacock. But Ganesha just circled his parents and said that parents are his world. The astute reasoning impressed Shiva and so he gave the “Gnanapazham” to Lord Ganesha, when Lord Murugan returned , he was very disappointed with Lord Shiva’s decision. So he left his parents and came to Thiru Aavinankudi at the adivaram (Foot of Sivagiri hill). Shiva calmed him down by saying that Lord Murugan himself was a fruit of all knowledge Pazham Nee – Pazham means fuit and Nee means you; that you are the fruit of  knowledge and hence the name Palani had evolved. Later on it is said that Lord Murugan settled down in Palani as a hermit just with a lion cloth and stick symbolizing humbleness and simplicity.

Another Legend holds that the Idol, after centuries of worship, fell into neglect and was suffered to be engulfed by the forest. One night, Cheraman Perumal, a king of the cheras, who controlled the area between the second and fifth centuries A.D. When the King was touring the Palani Hills, Lord Murugan came and gave a darshan in his dream and ordered him to rebuilt the hill temple. The Chera King went up the hill and really found, the Idol of Murugan. He with all devotion rebuilt the present temple.

The Idol of the Lord Muruga in Palani, was created by the Sage Bhogar, one of the eighteen great ascetics (Siddhas), out of an amulgam of Nine Poinsons or “Nava Pashanam”. He lived long ago 3000 B.C. A medical prodigy as he was, he could prepare the amulgam of nine medicinal minerals in proper proprtion. It is also claimed by many that materials of abhishegam like milk, sandalpaste, etc., attain medicinal properties on being poured over Lord Murugan’s Idol and they have cured many diseases, when taken by the patients. It is a speciality of Palani.

siddhapurusha under the guidance of kalanginaathar. As per the last wishes of his guru, Bogar proceeded  to China to spread the knowledge of Siddha Sciences and strangely enough his journey is said to have been made with the aid of an aircraft; he demonstrated to the chinese the details of the construction of the aircraft and later built for them a sea-going craft using a steam engine. The details of these and other experiments demonstrated by bogar in china are clearly documented in the Saptakanda.

Rameswaram-The holy island

Rameswaram is an Island situated in the gulf of mannor at the very tip of the Indian peninsula. A very important piligrime centre of the Indians. Rameshwaram is the place from where lord Rama, built a bridge across the sea to rescue his consort Sita, from her abductor, Ravana. This is also the place where Rama worshipped Lord Siva to cleanse away the sin of killing Ravana. Both the Vaishnavites and shaivites visit this piligrimage which is known as the Varanasi of the south.

Rameswaram is significant for the Hindus as a piligrimage to Benaras is incomplete without a piligrimage to Rameswaram. The presiding deity is the Linga of the Sri Ramanathaswamy.Which happens to be one of the Twelve Jyothirlingas of India. It is also considered one among four most sacred piligrim centres of India. They are Rameswaram in the South, Badrinath in the North, Puri in the East and Dwaraka in the West. Among these, Rameswaram is dedicated to Siva, while the other three are dedicated to Vishnu . Rameswaram is an acclaimed Parihara Sthala, where it is believed all sins get absolved. Devotees take holy dips at Sethu Theertha, Agni Theertha and other sacred waters, offer pujas to get progeny, perform Shraadha for their ancestors and do Naga Prathista (installing serpent deity).

The Ramanathaswamy Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the island of Rameswaram. According to Shaiva mythology, Lord Rama is believed to have prayed Lord Shiva here to absolve any sins that he might have commited during his war against the demon king Ravana. The temple along with Viswanathaswamy temple, Varanasi is one of the holiest Hindu shrines that has to be visited in one’s lifetime and is one of the twelve Jyothirlingas the abodes of Shiva.

Devipattinam is a coastal village near Rameswaram. It is believed that Lord Rama prayed to Navagahas (Nine planets) at Devipattinam before embarking on his journey to Lanka. Lord Rama placed nine stones as symbols of the nine planets, at Devipattanam and therefore the place is also known as Navapashanam or Navabashana. It is an important place visited by piligrims on the way to Rameshwaram Dhaam.

The nine stones placed upright by Lord Rama can be still seen in the water close to the beach near a bathing ghat of the Thilakeshwar Temple, also known as Navagraha Temple. The nine stones symbolize the nine planets. Lord Rama performed the ritual so that the nine planets would shed their auspicious light on him in the battle with Ravana to rescue Sita. The Thilakeshwar Temple is dedicated to Shiva and parvathi (Durga). Shiva here is known as Thilakeswarar and the Goddess is known as Soundaryanayaki. The shrine has a beautiful image of an eight-armed Durga with weapons. The deity in the temple is worshipped with tila or gingelly seeds. People come from around the country to perform Tarpan for their ancestors.

Myths say that Sriram was tried to go to Lanka to redeem Sita who was remanded by Ravana: They threw some rock-stones in the south sea and constructed a bridge across that sea. All rock-stones were not drowned; but floated in the sea. Even now you can see that bridge which is called ‘Adam Bridge’ and this was built by Sriram between Rameswaram and Lanka. Sriram arranged to put all these rock-stones in the sea; all were not drowned: But floated Sriram went with his army and redem Sita from Ravana. From that day these rock-stones are floating between Dhanushkodi and Lanka. These floating stones are called ‘Raman Bridge’ One Sriram temple was built at Dhanushkodi as a monument. But storm came here in the year 1964 and Dhanushkodi broke into pieces and drowned into the sea. Rama Temple was also destroyed by the storm. But statues like as Sriram and Lakshman were drowned. These statues had been brought here from there and settled for worship regularly. When north India’s saints visited these places after the storm and saw those rock-stones and took with them to their native places. Only 60 rock-stones were kept in the ‘Thulasi Baba Madam’ is one of the famous Madams located at island city Rameswaram.

Arunachala- Legendary background of the holy hill

A vivid description of the glory of this sacred hill and bliss enjoyed by earnest devotees who worshipped here is given in many Puranas, such as the Siva Mahapurana, Brahmananda Purana, Sri Sivarahasyam, etc. The following story is found in most of the Puranas regarding the origin and sanctity of this Hill and the Lingam at its eastern foot over which stands the grand temple of Sri Arunachaleswara.

Lord Siva has taken the form of this hill for the welfare of the world, to grant liberation. Arunachala is regarded as superior to Meru, Mount Kailash and the Mandara by all Maharishis as it is the Supreme Being itself.

Three important factors constitute the greatness of Arunachala.  Firstly, the dispute between Brahma and Vishnu which resulted in the origin of Arunachala (Tiruvannamalai) and celebration of Karthigai Deepam festival; secondly, Goddess Parvati’s penance here and ultimate union with Lord Siva; and thirdly, the sanctity of  Tiruvannamalai is borne out by its association with great realised souls. In the Skanda Purana it is mentioned that when Lord Subramanya marched from north to south to wage war with Surapadma he visited Tiruvannamalai. Arunachala has been the abode of great siddhas, sages, saints, rishis, devas, vidhyadharas, yakshas, gandharvas and apsaras. It is one of the Saivite shrines sung by men of rare devotion, Saints Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar and Maanikkavaachakar. Saints Arunagirinathar, Guhai Namasivayar, Isanya Gnana Desikar, Deivasikamani Desikar and Seshadri Swamigal and many others who lived here, left their fragrant footprints in the annals of spiritual thought, to be spread across the length and breath of this land. Not very long ago, the brightest luminary of Spiritual Masters and sages of all times lived here. With the advent of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi on September 1, 1896 and his total identification with Arunachala, its renown spread across the globe as the traditional and ever shining symbol of Self-Perfection.

Arunachala is the Mountain without a Beginning and without an End. It is indescribable, beyond the ken of words. The name Arunachala is a Sanskrit word, made up of two words: ‘Aruna and ‘Achala’. An inscription in the temple refers to the Hill as Sonachala (golden or red Mount). ‘Aruna’ means the rising Sun, the Sun God who illuminates the whole world and ‘Achala’ is serene or that which cannot be moved. The hill therefore represents the sources of Enlightenment. The popular Tamil name is ‘Annamalai’ which is also made up two words ‘Anna’ and ‘malai’. The Hill is regarde as Tejo linga (the fire symbol of God) or jyotir linga. Arunachala is also referred as Hill of the Holy Beacon, as a jyoti is lit on its summit every year when th constellation of the holy star Krittika pertaining to fire-god is in conjunction with the moon in the Tamil month of Karthigai to commemorate the unique event of appearance of Siva as a light on top of Arunachala.

It is said that Arunachala was a mass of fire in the Krita Yuga (the earlier age), a mountain of jewels in the Treta Yuga, a hill of gold in the Dwapara Yuga, and in Kali Yuga (the present age), it is copper coloured (reddish) rocky mount. The hill has a high status in the Puranas which mentions it as the oldest rock on the crust of the earth. Owing to its great sanctity, Arunachala is regarded as the heart of the earth. Eminent Scientists have established the Deccan plateau to be the oldest land of the earth. The Arunachala Hill is in the eastern ghats. The hill is of igneous rock (connected with fire) which is one of the four kinds of mountains classified by geology. It is interesting to note what an American geologist states: “Arunachala should have been thrown up by the earth under the stress of some violent volcanic eruption in the dim ages before even the coal bearing strata were formed. This rocky mass of granite may be dated back to the earliest epoch of the history of our planet’s crust, that epoch which long preceded the vast sedimentary formations in which fossils records of plants and animals have been preserved. It existed long before the gigantic saurians of the prehistoric world moved their ungainly forms thruogh the primeval forests that covered our early earth. It was contemporaneous with the formation of the very crust of earth itself. Arunachala was almost as hoary andas ancient as our planetary home itself”.   

Essential Parts of a Typical Temple

There are many ancient texts laying down the formal architectural styles prevalent in the various regions so that the comprehensive text called the Vastu Sastra has its sources in the Sutras, Puranas and Agamas besides Tantric literature and the Brihat Samhita.

The most important part of a temple, its very heart as it were, is the garbhagrha or sanctum-sanctorum. This is usually square with a low roof and with no doors or windows except for the front opening. The image of the deity is stationed in the geometrical centre. The whole place is completely dark, except for the light that comes through the front opening. Over the roof of the whole shrine is a small tower. This tower is quite high in the North Indian temples and of low or medium height in the South Indian temples.

In some temples, a circumambulatory passage is provided just round the garbhagrha, to enable the devotees to go round the deity.

In front the garbhagrha and contiguous to its is the mukhamantapa, sometimes called sukanasi or ardhamantapa, depending upon its proportion relative to that of the garbhagrha.

Then comes antarala, a narrow passage connecting the garbhagrha and the mukhamantapa to the mantapa (pavilion or hall). The mantapa is a big hall and is used for congregational religious acts like singing, dancing, recitation of mythological texts, religious discourses and so on.

The dhvajastambha in front of the mantapa is another common feature. It represents the flagpost of the ‘King of kings. The lanchana (insignia) made of copper or brass fixed like a flag to the top of the post varies according to the deity in the temple. The figure on the lanchana is invariably that of the vahana (carrier vehicle) of the deity. For instance, in Siva temples it contains Nandi. In Devi temples it is the lion that finds its place. In Vishnu temples Garuda gets that honour.

The balipita (pedestal of sacrificial offerings) with a lotus or the footprints of the deity is fixed near the dhvajastambha, but nearer to the deity. Red coloured offerings like rice mixed with vermillion powder, are kept on this at appropriate stages during the performance of rituals. This indicates the feeding of the parivaradevatas (associate deities).

The whole temple is surrounded by a high wall (prakara) with one main and three subsidiary gates, opening in the cardinal directions. A gopuram (high tower, sometimes called as the Cow-gate) adorns these gateways.

Apart from these, the temple precincts include a yagasala (sacrificial shed), pakasala (cooking shed) and kitchen, place for the utsavamurti (processional image carried during the festivals), well or a pushkarini (tank), flower garden, stores and other essential structures connected with the management of the temple as also the rituals.

A dipastambha (lamp post) is another constituent of a temple complex often found in South Indian temples. It is situated either of the balipitha or outside the main gate.