He Saw His Death Coming

Yama @ Dharmaraja, the Lord of Death on his buffalo.

My maternal grandmother, Visalatchy, once told me a story. It is regarding her great grandfather (her mother's maternal grandfather). His name was Vaiyapuri Pillai.

So the late Vaiyapuri Pillai lived up to around 80 years of age. He was healthy. Like most of my maternal relatives, Vaiyapuri Pillai was also from Thanjavur.

On one evening, the late Vaiyapuri Pillai was having a chat with his wife outside their house. She was sweeping while listening to her husband's words.

Suddenly, he told his wife, "Look! I see a man riding a buffalo. He is coming towards our house!"

His wife turned and saw nothing. There was nobody at the entrance.

What happened the next moment shocked her. Vaiyapuri Pillai fell down and died......just like that!

He saw his death coming. The Hindus and Buddhist believe that death comes in the form of Yama on a buffalo. 

I have heard of many similar stories about death and afterlife. It is interesting to know that certain people are able to see their death coming. 

If you have a story, do share it :)

Dr.S.Jayabarathi - A Living Legend

Dr.S.Jayabarathi during his younger days

I am fortunate to say that I am among the few youngsters in this country who have met the genius Dr.S.Jayabarathi. I still keep in touch with him over the phone.

It was back in 2008 when we first interacted. I had a query regarding the Panchakshra NaMaSiVaYa and he called me to explain over the telephone. Our friendship kicked started from there.

Fondly known as DrJaybee, he was born to the late Sinnamuthu Pillai and Alagurethinam Ammal. He comes from a family of geniuses and aristocrats. His father knew India's freedom fighter, Subash Chandra Bose.

He is 73 this year and I am turning 30. Being much younger than him, I have always considered him as one of my elderly uncles. Both our ancestors came from Sivagangai, a district known for its martial past. 

Dr.Jaybee's web articles can be found at the following links:

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/agathiyar/info
http://www.treasurehouseofagathiyar.net/index.html 
https://www.facebook.com/drjaya.barathi
http://jaybeesnotebook.blogspot.com/
http://kadaaramweb.blogspot.com/
http://kadaaramnet.blogspot.com/
http://jaybeetrident.blogspot.com/
http://www.skandaweb.visvacomplex.com/
http://www.visvacomplex.com/
http://www.chandraweb.net/

Although a medical doctor by profession, DrJaybee is also well versed in ancient Tamil literature, the Vedas and Agamas. He is also a Historian. It was DrJaybee who discovered the lost city of Ariviyur back in India. 

He has also done extensive research on ancient Malay civilizations. The good old Dr is also well versed in Music and Arts. There are many things which he knows. This is why he is addressed as The Grandmaster.

It is quite sad to learn that scholars like him are not appreciated in a country like Malaysia. The Hindu and Tamil organisations of this country have not done much to publish his works. 

I hope that things will turn out better. The world needs to know that Malaysia has a genius.

Please read the following article which was published by The Star on Saturday, 30 September 2006.

Forecasts come true for Tamil scholar

LITTLE did Tamil scholar Dr S. Jayabarathi know that the predictions of sages in India would turn out to be true for him.  

The sages told him that he was destined to work with ancient relics and metaphysics. He was then pursuing a medical degree in south India in the 1960s. 

”I met with some sages and scholars (in India) who stressed that my destiny was not simple,” said the former Sungai Petani hospital director. 

INTEREST IN ANCIENT RELICS: Dr Jayabarathi reading his favorite book.  

“I was to collect, analyse, research, document and preserve heritage things to be passed on to the future generation.” 

He has spent the past 45 years doing research on Indian relics, metaphysics, cosmology, ancient Indian medicine and plastic surgery, with special interest in history and Tamil mysticism. 

Affectionately known as Jay-bee, Dr Jayabarathi, 65, has written 9,000 postings on Tamil culture, literature, religion, arts, science and tradition in his website, TreasureHouse of Agathiyar @ yahoo.com. 

He has authored two books – ‘JayBee in the Internet’ and ‘Naadi Jothidam’ (a Tamil book on astrology). 

He is also a linguist, painter, poet and musician. 

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu recently honoured him with ‘The Grand Master of Tamil in Kedah’ award. 

After retiring in 1996, Dr Jayabarathi studied the artifacts found among the ruins of the lost kingdom in Bujang Valley in Merbok near Sungai Petani. 

An authority in Shakthi worship (Shakti means goddess in the Hindu pantheon) and certain aspects of Tamil history, Dr Jayabarathi hails from a long line of scholars, artistes and musicians.  

“My father, K.Sinnamuthu, was a social reformist and authored a Tamil book ‘Kadavulin Unmai Thotram’ (True Revelations of God),” he said.  

“I have about 5,000 books, including some rare ones, in my collection,” he added. 

Keen on archaeology, Dr Jayabarathi discovered an ancient township of a merchant community while at the medical college in South India. This was widely reported in the Indian press. 

His son Suganandha Bharathi, 36, graduated from Indian Institute of Technology from Kanpur, North India, and is now a scientific officer at Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (Aimst) in Sungai Petani, Kedah. 

His daughter Alagurethina Bairavi, 33, is an Information Technology graduate from southern Australia and a former Stamford College lecturer in Kuala Lumpur.  

On whether his children share his passion for research, he said: “Their interests are in their respective fields. But I do not want them to be like me.” 

“I am saying this because the public generally shun people like me whom they consider to very peculiar,” he said. 

He said his wife, J. Chandra, 58, had always inspired him to continue his research. 

On plans to write other books, he said: “I have plans for 22 more on metaphysics, cosmology, ancient Indian medicine and plastic surgery.” 

He said he was in midst of creating a new website ‘Jaybee’s Viswacomplex.com’ which would act as a huge database with interlinking sites containing various topics and articles mainly on Indian studies.  

UPDATE
Dr.S.Jayabarathi passed away in the morning of 2 June 2015 leaving behind a legacy for the Tamil community.

Karpal's Death & Keyboard Warriors

Once again, our Malaysian drama king Zulkifli Nordin is making headlines. The people of the country are currently mourning the death of Karpal Singh. 

A legendary politician, Karpal Singh has gone through many hardship during his political career. All because he believed in justice and upheld the supremacy of our national constitution. 

But we have some in the country who not only lack the basic intelligence a human needs, but also lacks empathy. They choose to attack the deceased Karpal Singh in social media. 

TRANSLATION : In this time of chaos, the PAS government of Kelantan wants to implement Hudud with the help of UMNO. Allah has killed Karpal Singh who was the main opponent of its implementation.

Here is a story which I think people like Zulkifli should learn from....

During the Ramayana war, thousands of enemies were slaughtered. The dead soldiers of Rama and that of his enemy Ravana, were cremated side by side.

Upon seeing this, his loyal brother, Lakshmana, asked Rama 

"How can you cremate the bodies of our enemy soldiers with full honor right beside our own dead soldiers?"

For this Rama responded

"Lakshmana, they were soldiers of Ravana when they were alive. They were our enemies. But upon death they are mere bodies with no affiliation. Isn't it our duty to honor their death?"

Well most probably some will ignore this story because it is a Kafir story told to you by another Kafir like me although elements of this Kafir religion of ours is still used in your daily lives.

Here is another story for you people....

Once, a funeral procession passed by in front of Prophet Muhammad. He stood up in respect for the dead. The deceased was a Jew. As you all know, Muslims and Jews were never in good terms. Yet the Prophet stood up in respect for the humanity of the deceased.

So even when the great Prophet himself is able to be humble, why can't ordinary people do it?

Looks like people like Zulkifli Noordin and like minded ones in our country will never learn. They will never learn from Kafirs like us and they will also never learn from their own people.

The more these politicians comment in such way, the more the Malaysian voters are going to reject them in the next GE. This is like digging a grave for themselves. The leaders of the relevant party should ensure that people like him never stand in election.

The sad mental condition of the keyboard warriors

These keyboard warriors chose to attack Karpal Singh only when the man is dead. They had no guts to do anything when he was alive. It is like school kids scoring brownie points "Ye! Ye! I have hit you now!"

Because they know that they are nothing when compared with the Tiger himself!

Tantra - More Than Just Sex

Sex is the first thing that comes to our mind whenever the word Tantra is mentioned. We have been brainwashed by Western definition to think in this manner. 

Because the Western interpretation of Hinduism is solely based on their own limited perspective. You cannot define Hinduism the same way you define Abrahamic religions.

What is Tantra?

Tantra is actualy a system of thought or a set of doctrines. It can also be interpreted as governance. 

To make it sound simple, any branch of Hindu knowledge is Tantra. There are many types of Tantra. Tantric works are written in Sanskrit. Like the Vedas, Tantras are believed to have been revealed by God to various Sages. 

Although the Hindu knowledge systems were originally known as Tantra, the word Tantra itself was replaced with other words. The Shaktas still call it Tantra but the Saivites call it Agama. 

The Buddhist have their own school of Tantra in the form of Vajrayana. 

The Saivite Tantra/Agama are divided into Siva (10), Rudra (18) and Bhairava (64). Each of the Agamas are further divided into Upa Agama (sub Agama). Many temples built by Tamils follow the Kamika Agama. It is one of the 10 Siva Agamas. 

Click to view the list of Upa Agamas  http://shaivam.org/agaupaga.htm

Each Agamas can be further categorised as Charya, Kriya, Yoga and Jnana. Constructions of temples is based on the rules laid out in Kriya. We cannot simply build temples as we like. There are rules to follow. One has to be well trained in all these. 

This is why in the olden days, the Hindu society had a dedicated sect of people to do it. But nowadays, every Tom Dick and Harry is building temples as he likes. They don't follow the rules. 

The holy scripture of the Tamil speaking Saivites is known as Tirumurai. It is written in Tamil. The Tirumurai is divided into 12 books. 

Tirumurai #10 is known as Tirumantiram. It was written by Sage Tirumular. He divided the chapters into 9 and each of it is known as Tantra (Tantra 1-9). The verses within each chapter is known as Mantra.

The various Tantras have Dakshinacara (right hand path) and Vamacara (left hand path). The left hand practice has something known as Pancha Makara or the Five Makara. 

Matsya (Fish)
Maithuna (Sex)
Mamisa (Meat)
Mudra (Gesture)
Madya (Liqour)

The Westerners who studied Tantra took bits and pieces from the left hand practices. They then wrongly projected Tantra to the world by only highlighting about some aspects of Maithuna. The world then thinks that Tantra is a perverted sexual ritual.

Tantra is an ocean. It is not right to take a drop from the ocean and claim it to be the whole Tantra. There are many schools of Tantra. Tantric text contains hundreds of thousands of verses. 

This entire thing we know about Tantra is just the tip of the iceberg. It will take a lifetime for someone to fully learn Tantra. 

Even our Saivite temple priest who are well trained in Kamika Agama may have not fully studied the remaining 9 of Siva, 18 of Rudra and 64 of Bhairava Tantras. 

Probably it is simply impossible to learn every single Tantra in Hinduism. Therefore, never let yourself to be fooled again by the misinterpretation of Tantra. 

Tantra is not just about sex. It is more than that as Tantra covers many things. Sex is part of life but it is neither the objective nor the definition of Tantra. 

Padmapada - The Narasimha Devotee (Part 2)

For Part 1, click here

http://sharmalanthevar.blogspot.com/2014/03/padmapada-narasimha-devotee-part-1.html

The previous story of Sanandana and the hunter happened during his Purvashrama. Purvashrama is the life period just before a person enters Sanyasa. Sanyasa is the period in life when someone becomes a complete renunciate.

Sanandana enters Sanyasa with the blessings of his guru, the great Adi Sankara.

Once Adi Sankara called his disciples for help from across the river. The disciples, including Sanandana was on the other side of the river. Adi Sankara wants to cross the river but there was no boat at that time.

So the disciples were not able to help him. But the devoted Sanandana walked towards the river with pure devotion and love towards his Guru. Seeing this, the Goddess Ganga sent lotus flowers towards Sanandana. Sanandana stepped on the lotuses to cross the river and bring his Guru to the other side.

In order to commemorate this incident, Adi Sankara renamed Sanandana as Padmapada. In Sanskrit, Padma is lotus and Pada is foot or step. So Padmapada is he who stepped on the lotuses.

Sanandana then becomes Padmapada.

On one fine day, a Kapalika approaches Adi Sankara. Kapalikas are those who worship Shiva in a very fierce form. They conduct human sacrifices and use the Kapala (human skull) in their rituals.

Now you know how the Malay language got the word Kepala for head? 

Out of jealousy for his fame and debating skills, the Kapalika wanted to kill Adi Sankara. So he hatched a plot.

He told Adi Sankara:

"Oh wise Guru! I seek your help and blessings. I am a Kapalika. I was given a boon by Shiva. If I offer the head of a king or a head of a learned man, Shiva will grant me moksha"

Adi Sankara being the very merciful one could not say no. So he accepted it but with a condition:

"How can I say no to you oh great worshipper of the Lord? I agree to give my head but the sacrifice must be conducted in a secluded place without anyone knowing about it"

The Kapalika agreed.

On the agreed time and date, they both met. Adi Sankara entered the state of Samadhi to prepare for his head to be chopped. The Kapalika, dressed with bones and skulls took his sword, with the intention of killing Adi Sankara.

Nobody knew what was happening but at that time, Padmapada, the dutiful disciple of Adi Sankara saw the whole thing through meditation. He became furious, he was overcome by trance of the Narasimha.

He leaped and ran to the spot. Cought the Kapalika, roared like a lion and tore open his chest with his bare hands.

The loud noise shook Adi Sankara awake from his state of Samadhi. He saw a different Padmapada. He saw  Narasimha in him. With his golden skin, glorous white mane, the flesh of Kapalika and blood smeared all over him.

Padmapada's devotion towards his Guru and sincere worship towards Narasimha saved his Guru, the great Adi Sankara from being sacrificed by the Kapalika. The Kapalika, having being killed by none other than the Lord himself, attains moksha.

Adi Sankara will then go on and compose Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba, a hymn dedicated to Lord Narasimha.

I am a Saivite and this article is dedicated to the Vaishnavites who read my blog.

May Lord Narasimha showers his grace on all of us!

Prahlada and Narasimha

Padmapada - The Narasimha Devotee (Part 1)

About 1,200 years ago, there was a Narasimha Upasaka who lived in the Chola kingdom. His name was Sanandana. Upasaka is a word used to describe worshippers or followers of a deity. The word is also used by the Buddhist. Females are known as Upasika.

A Narasimha Upasaka is a person who worships Narasimha as his favourite deity or Ishta Deva. All concentration on Him alone. Narasimha is the 4th Avatar of Vishnu.

For many months, Sanandana was meditating upon Narasimha in a forest. He wished to see his Lord. But it was not easy to live in a forest. Despite all this, Sanandana continued with his meditation in the forest.

On one fine day, a hunter passed by Sanandana. He asked : 

Hunter: "Hey you! What are you doing in the forest?"
Sanandana : "I am meditating so that I get to see Narasimha"
Hunter: "Narasimha? What is that?"

Sanandana then describes the physical attributes of Narasimha. Body of a man, head of a lion. The hunter then mentioned that he has hunted in the forest for many years and never seen such being. He swears to return only after capturing the Narasimha.

Sanandana continues with his daily routine.

After a few days, the hunter returns. He helds a long rope. The other end of the rope is tied to something but it is invisible. The rope moved, there were thunderous roars.

Hunter: "Here. I have captured your Narasimha"
Sanandana: "Where? I cannot see it"
Hunter: "Can't you see it? I tied it with this rope"
Sanandana: "No! I see nothing. I hear roars, I realise there are movements but I cannot see it"

Sanandana then cries.

"Oh Lord! I spent many many months in this forest. Meditating upon you. You chose not to reveal yourself to me. But the hunter who did no penance is able to see you. What is this?"

At that moment, Narasimha responds.

"Blessed devotee of mine. You did meditate upon me but your meditation was not continuous. In between, you did your daily chores. You ate, you drank, you slept, you bathed. But this hunter who seeked me for days, did not sleep, did not bathe, did not eat, did not drink. He only had me in his mind and he was continuously thinking about me for the last few days. This is why he saw me first"

It then clicked! Sanandana realised that it is not the duration of worship that matters, it is the intensity of the worship that matters the most.

He fell on the Lord's feet and asked for his blessings.

At this point of time, you would have realised that the title says Padmapada but I kept using the name Sanandana in this article. You will know why in Part 2.

Click below for Part 2

http://sharmalanthevar.blogspot.com/2014/03/padmapada-narasimha-devotee-part-2.html

The Formless Multiple Forms of God

I wrote this article back in 2009. That is 5 years ago. I didn't know until recently that it is still being circulated in the internet. This article was actually an email which I sent out to my friends. 

My perception on certain aspects of Hinduism may have changed over the time. One being the clear distinction between Muniswaran and Siva, the former being a Spirit and the later as Almighty.

Nevertheless, you may still read this article to understand my thoughts back then and now. A short version of my thoughts for the Hindus was written yesterday. It can be read at this link:

http://sharmalanthevar.blogspot.com/2014/03/hinduism-keep-it-simple.html