[Reader-list] BOYCOTT SECTARIAN AGENDAS

[Kshmendra Kaul]

Dear Murali
 
Thank you for forwarding the link.
 
1. You will notice however that the Pranayamic exercise is recommended (to quote from the webpage) "AFTER enunciating the ... mantras". It is not contained within the Mantra.
 
It would appear that I was correct in my earlier comment that "Breathing Exercise"  (Pranayam)  has nothing to do with chanting of the Gayatri Mantra.
 
Therefore, your recommendation "Gaytri mantra is also a breathing exercise" seems to be ill-concieved.
 
2. I agree with you that we should make "attempts to understand our own heritage, culture, tradition and scriptures" but as others have pointed out the OUR cannot be only Hindu because that is only one of the many religious communities. Understanding of "scriptures" especially has to be a personal choice even as it may be offered as a stream of study in institues of higher learning.
 
To put things in perspective, the issue arose out of what school going children should be taught or made to follow as a ritual. Obviously it cannot be only "Hindu" things. Will we be able to include bits and pices of all those religions followed in India alongwith "Hindu" things? That would be foolish. Apart from everything else, since religious faith is a matter of either tradition or personal choice why should precepts of one religion be forced upon children who do not belong to it? Why should those who are brought up as atheists or agnostics have to be exposed to any religion at all?
 
If there is some viewpoint that India is Hindu because of the majority numbers and if India tries to force that religious identity on all, you can be sure that a recipe for break-up of India is being forwarded.
 
The 'majorityness' of those who see India as Hindu is highly questionable if the elections are a pointer where the BJP (considered to be a Hindutva party) never did better than 25% support. 
 
For anyone who professes love for India, it is important to understand the realities in India.
 
Kshmendra
    

--- On Mon, 8/3/09, Murali V <murali.chalam at gmail.com> wrote:


From: Murali V <murali.chalam at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] BOYCOTT SECTARIAN AGENDAS
To: "Kshmendra Kaul" <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com>
Cc: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Monday, August 3, 2009, 11:01 AM


Dear Kshmenmdra,


This is the procedure
"(iv) Pranayama: Pranayamas are well known breathing exercises for harmonizing the breathing. A simple pranakarÌana pranayama is performed in the pancakarma after enunciating the following mantras. For this, inhale slowly at a steady pace with a feeling that the prana shakti of Gayatri inspissated around is being drawn-in with the breath. Hold the breath for few seconds to absorb this mahaprana that is sparkling like immense glow of the rising sun… Now exhale the breath at the same pace with a firm belief that the impurities and vile assimilation from inside are being expelled forever. Hold the breath out for few seconds with a feeling that the mahaprana is spreading out in the infinity after destroying the vices and sins inside. Repeat this cycle three times. The duration of holding the breath is normally maintained as half that of inhalation/ exhalation in each cycle….
 
The Mantras: 
Oan Bhah, Oan Bhuvah, Oan Swah, Oan Mahah, Oan Janah, Oan Tapah, Oan Satyan | 
Oan Tatsaviturvarenyan Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhiyo Yonah Pracodayat || 
Oan Apo Jyotih Rasoamratan Brahn Bhur Bhuvah Swah Oan ||"


Reference : http://gayatri.awgp.org/SimpleandEffectivedailypracticeofGayatri/


As regards Vuzoo or Namaaz that is also a way of living and is a choice left to the individual. My contention is that we have not made any attempts to understand our own heritage, culture, tradition and scriptures and I would prefer to try understand what we already have and then try attempting others. Our very own Vedas is vast and has enough scientific material, which has been best utilised by the germans.




Regards,
V Murali

On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 6:11 PM, Kshmendra Kaul <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com> wrote:






Dear Murali
 
Thank you for the quoting from the Website. I noticed though that these are not the words of Satya Sai Baba. His words are reproduced in quotes.
 
As far as I am aware, for a Mantra to be a Pranayamic exercise, the recitation of words would have to be matched with specified timings, intensity (and source of breath) linked with Inhalation, Retention and Exhalation (Puraka, Kumbhaka, Rechaka). 
 
As far as I am aware, there is no such regime for the Gayatri Mantra.
 
You did not comment on my suggestion. Let me repeat it:

 
"""""""" While on this topic, why not introduce Vuzoo and Namaaz too into your proposed regime?
 
         Vuzoo is an excellent habit for maintaining basic cleanliness and Namaaz entails a set of postures in which (fascinatingly) you can see a digest of various Yogic Aasanas.""""""
 
Kshmendra
 



--- On Sun, 8/2/09, Murali V <murali.chalam at gmail.com> wrote:



From: Murali V <murali.chalam at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] BOYCOTT SECTARIAN AGENDAS
To: "Kshmendra Kaul" <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com>

Cc: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Sunday, August 2, 2009, 5:20 PM






Dear Kshmedra,
"Touted" I dont need to as I am not marketing it or its concept. I just shared what I have come to understand of it.

"Exercise of chanting Gayatri is essentially Pranayama, hence breathing is regulated, chanellised and perfected." This is a quote from " This a quote from "http://www.saibabaforbeginners.com/gayatri.html"

Thanks and Regards,
V Murali

On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 3:22 PM, Kshmendra Kaul <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com> wrote:






Dear Murali
 
This is the first time I have heard Gayatri Mantra being touted as a 'breathing exercise'. Could you please elaborate on that?
 
If you were to speak about the benefits of Pranayamic exercises (especially Ujjayi Pranayam), that would make some sense. But Gayatri Mantra as a 'breathing exercise'????
 
While on this topic, why not introduce Vuzoo and Namaaz too into your proposed regime?
 
Vuzoo is an excellent habit for maintaining basic cleanliness and Namaaz entails a set of postures in which (fascinatingly) you can see a digest of various Yogic Aasanas.
 
Kshmendra 

--- On Sat, 8/1/09, Murali V <murali.chalam at gmail.com> wrote:


From: Murali V <murali.chalam at gmail.com> 

Subject: Re: [Reader-list] BOYCOTT SECTARIAN AGENDAS
To: "Pheeta Ram" <pheeta.ram at gmail.com>
Cc: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009, 12:00 PM 



Dear Anupam,
Dear Anupam,

The issue of uniformity has still not been addressed. A burkha clad girl in
a school cannot be questioned and if done, the media and the entire
pseudo-seculars go all out to  call it hindu fanaticism.

Atma or the soul, life after death and re-birth are concepts which is their
in most faiths. Moreover the Gaytri mantra is also a breathing exercise as
the stanzas repeated in its correct form has set timings to control breath.

Regards,
V Murali