Karma Yoga + Jnana Yoga - How to lead a balanced life and get Moksha

Once we read or hear most of the books and talks of the holy masters of India, we will feel they convey a message of renouncing and be always in bliss. This is one path for sure. But not the only path for all. The Karma Yoga is very important path for majority of the individuals. Karma Yoga leads to the purification and purification leads to Moksha. It is not essential that Jnana Yoga only will lead to Moksha. The Jnana Yoga will lead to Moksha, but this path is a path of Atma Rathi the bliss all the time. There is no Karma or less karma involved in this yoga. If you observe all the Jnana Yogis they were in meditation and mostly secluded. The Karma Yoga is possible only for non secluded. So these are extreme opposite ways. One novice into the Vedanta will stumble to these 2 paths going 180 degree on opposite side. It is not so easy to take a break between each hour and meditate while working. The Karma Yoga brings vibrancy and a lot of unrest to the mind. The mind will be fluctuating, Intellect will be confused once you do Karma. Thinking of the ultimate and for the ultimate you can do Karma and will become Nishkama Karma. The karma can be selected based on the vasanas of each human. Earlier days if we read epics we could make out that the Karma allocated/selected mainly was based on the birth. That ambiance is not there now. Now is purely based on the vasanas. Select a Karma which we wants to do but not harmful to any. Off course there are no karmas which are not harmful to any creature. But can select a karma with least harm to all creatures. We can see many Karma yogis in history as well as in epics. There are ideal examples of some of the greatest Karma Yogis already have atma jnana. One finest example is that of Sri Hanuman. Hanuman had atma jnana, but he never left karma. He was a Karma Yogi as well. Hanuman was vibrant hero of the epic Ramayana. The name Karma and Hanuman are synonymous. Another example was that of King Janaka, King Ambarisha,... a lot of Karma Yogis were there in world. So now the question is most of these Karma yogis were already have atma jnana, but what about a common layman who wants to walk to the paths of the Karma Yoga, who dont have Atma Jnana. The way out is to do Karma Yoga and gradually Atma Jnana will arise. So It means once we get atma jnana and experience of atman one can retire? That is what all the great hero like Hanuman, Janaka, Ambarisha had displayed us. To have balance of the Karma Yoga and Jnan Yoga together in life. Karma definitely will bring lost of oscillations in mind where as the meditation will bring a lot of tranquility in mind. Divide a days time by 4. One each part can be used for different attainments. 12 hours for Karma including the karma for earning, Karma with family, Karma with world. 6 hours can be spent in Jnana yoga with reading spiritual books, Pooja, Meditation & experiencing the self. Balance 6 hours for the sleep which take the functions of body, mind, intellect to a stand still. Only if you have a peaceful mind and intellect then only will be able to  have proper karma yoga. To have peaceful mind one need to have meditation and Jnana. So in a way both Jnana Yoga and Karma Yoga mutually complement each other. More balance you find between the KARMA YOGA Vs JNANA YOGA better it is to have more balanced life. If already have Jnana, do Karma. If you already are into Karma get Jnana. Keep both balanced. This state is the state of a Jeenvan muktha but involved in Karma Yoga.  

Human Mind and It's Control - An Indian way

MANAV a Sanskrit word mean one having MIND. People fear to use the word MIND, fearing they will be called as "mental". But we are MIND, no way you can escape. You have to give attention to the mind, you cannot escape. If some one talk about mind it is considered as a negative!!! Human MIND was/is a great mystery. Physiologist approached MIND directly, study about it's characters (dividing it into sub conscious/super conscious/..). Psychiatrists approached MIND with chemicals. To be frank no ones MIND is 100% stable, as the nature of MIND is motion. It will be always is motion. It will go to past, present, future. If any one tells I am 100% stable means it is a lie. Mind cannot be stopped. But Indian rishis approached MIND in two ways.

1) Through PRANA, influence the MIND and make it still by pranayama. Thoughts and breath are interconnected.

2) Through MEDITATION on infinity and merging mind to infinity where ego vanishes and stillness is achieved. But both methods can halt the mind as long as we do(practice) it, as soon as we stop, the MIND will again start moving (but at a slower pace than earlier). The ultimate and permanent stillness of mind will be achieved only with Nirvikalpa samadhi. This is called win over mind (Manojayam). Once reached in this stage we need to leave the human body and merge to infinity (Brahman).

As human body cannot tolerate the infinity for ever, (body is made to handle only limited ones). So no escape until we are in human body, we are all mental (Manav).

Rishyamukh Mountain of Kishkindakanda - Valmiki Ramayana of Hanuman

Geographical exploration of 4th Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana.

Route traveled by Sri Rama from North to South in search of Srimati Sita. Kishkinda was monkey kingdom at that time, through which he traveled. 

4th Chapter of Valmiki Ramayana is " Kishkindakanda". Kishkinda is Hampi and surrounding areas of Karnataka. This mountain is Rishyamukha mountain mentioned in Kishkindakand.

River Tungabhadra is flowing near the Rishsymukah parvat in Kishkinda. This mountain had the ashram of Matanga maharshi. Also Kishkinda was kingdom of monkeys. A demon Dundubhi attacked Kishkinda and Vali killed and throw his body and fell to this mountain. Matanga Maharshi cursed Vali not to enter this mountain hence forth.  This area is called Chakra teertha. Visited by Adi shankaracharya, Madhavacharya, Vyasaraya, ..

After Vali expelled Sugreeva from palace, Sugreeva stayed in the Rishimukha mountain along with his ministers. Sugreeva's chief minister was Hanuman. Hanuman gave lots of confidence to Sugreeva staying in this mountain. Reference from Ramayana==> अहम् विनिकृतो भ्रात्रा चरामि एष भयार्दितः |
ऋष्यमूकम् गिरि वरम् हृत भार्यः सुदुःखितः || ४-८-१७ "My brother calumniated me and stole my wife, with his fear and my anguish haunting me I am moving about this best mountain Rishyamuka. [4-8-17] Another sloka: ततः शाप भयात् भीत ऋश्यमूकम् महागिरिम् |
प्रवेष्टुम् न इच्छति हरिः द्रष्टुम् वा अपि नरेश्वर || ४-११-६४ "Then, dreaded by the fear of curse that monkey Vali does not aspire to enter the great mountain Rishyamuka, oh, people's lord, Rama, or he does not even wish to look at it." Thus Sugreeva continued his narration. [4-11-64]

Hanuman in the form of Brahmin, meeting Sri Ram and Lakshmana. In the background is the Rishimukh parvat. This is where Ram and Hanuman meet each other for first time. Hanuman praised Ram and Ram praised Hanuman's immense oration /grammatical / vedic ability & knowledge in Sanskrit. Here is the slokas from Ramayana==> वचो विज्ञाय हनुमान् सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः |
पर्वतात् ऋष्यमूकात् तु पुप्लुवे यत्र राघवौ || ४-३-1 Mindful of the words of noble-souled Sugreeva, Hanuma took his flight from Mt. Rishyamuka to where Raghavaa-s are. [4-3-1]

Rishimukh parvat was a place for deep tapas not only by Matanga Maharshi, but by many maharshis in future. Even now many saints do tapas in this mountain. Deep silence is hallmark of this mountain. 

A mountain with highest vibrations and was visited by Rama, Lakshmana & Hanuman. 

Pre-historic bridge constructed of granite to cross tungabhadra river and reach Rishimukh mountain. Now in damaged condition.

Green paddy fields in Kishkinda. There are 67 chapters in Kishkinda kanda of Valmiki Ramayana. Out of which 30 are focusing on to Kishkinda and rest are search of Seetha by monkeys in all four directions. Rishyamukh is an important platform where major events happen of Kishkinda kanda.

The mountain is on other side of the Hampi ruined city, crossing the Tungabhadra river.

JEEVA SAMADHI TEMPLE BANGALORE - RESEMBLING HUMAN BODY AND CHAKRAS

There is a wonderful Jeeva Samadhi temple in Bangalore, which resembles the human body. Human have five bodies. 1) Annamaya Kosha 2) Pranamaya Kosha 3) Manomaya Kosha 4) Vijnanamaya Kosha 5) Anandmaya Kosha. The body also have seven chakras. Chakras are nerve centers, not visible to normal eye. They are the energy vortex which sucks the energy from the universe. Travelling through these chakras and reach the destination back is liberation. Here is a Jeeva samadhi temple which physically shows how the journey will be through symbols.
        

Photo of Cuddapah Sri Paramahamsa Sachidananda Yogeeshwara Swami Jeeva Samadhi Temple. In short name he is called as Sri. Cuddapah Swami.

While entering the temple we will find Sri Lord Ganesha idol, which resembles Mooladhara Chakra. This chakra is the basic consciousness of human being. Where the sakthi is sleeping. The Chakra meditation starts here also the travel of kundalini start from this chakra. Ganesha is worshiped at the first place in Indian pooja system, as Kundalini starts journey from Mooladhara Chakra. This chakra is located at the end of spinal code.

As we move further inside we can see a pond and saint sitting in middle of the pond. Cuddapah swami had a siddhi of floating on water without any solid base below. This represent swadisthana chakra. Element is water. This chakra is located four fingers below the navel.

 

After the pond, we will see an inverted navel shape object. In temples of India this is named as Bali Peetha. This represents the Manipura Chakra. The fire element. Located at the navel area of human body. 

Now we are entering the temple. The temple of actual spiritual experiences. This arch above and entry door represents the Anahata Chakra. This chakra is at located heart area of body. In fact first 3 chakras represent lower chakras. The actual spiritual journey starts from Anahata Chakra onward. This represents the Air element.   

               

                                                                                

As we proceed further inside the temple we will see Nandhi (Bull), Nandi represents the Vishudhi Chakra of the body. This is the throat area of the body and represent the space element.    

     

After throat area if we go above human body we will find two holes of nostrils. Karthikeya on left and Gajanana on right side of this temple represents the two nostrils. Pranayama is the key for the enlightenment in shivyog. The two idols on both sides also represents the IDA & PINGALA nadi. The path we travel straight towards the sanctum is the Sushumna nadi. Once we do regulated pranayama the kundalini will travel through the sushumna towards the final goal. 

                

Cuddapah swami was initiated directly by Ekambareswara of Kanchipuram (lord Shiva). Shivalingam was directly worshiped by Cuddapah Swamy. The idol of Paramahamsa in abhaya & varada mudra was installed by devotees after his samadhi.

 

Behind Sri Cuddapah Swami idol is Jeeva Samadhi and on top of it placed the Nataraja. Behind Nataraja is an empty space, which is called the Chidambara Rahasyam. This is the Chidakasha. Chidakasha is bigger than the akasha we see. (Akasha means space). 

OM behind Nataraja murthy represents the Ajna Chakra. Ajna chakra is located at the forehead of body. 

The dance of Nataraja is the dance of bliss. We cannot experience what is inside Chidakasha unless we enter that space, so this is a secret and called the chidambara rahasyam. The word originated from CHIT+AMBARAM. Ambaram in Sanskrit means space.

The tomb above the temple represents the Sahasrara chakra, last of seven chakras. This is represented by space above the skull of human body. Once the kundlini reaches here the jeevatma merge with paramatma and the journey is over. This is called mukthi or liberation. So humans always point god towards up and not down. Up is a relative term, it just means above head. 

There are steps which leads to his small room for deep meditation and sadhana in this temple. This is below ground level of temple. This room can hardly occupy a person. Swami used to be in seclusion here for many weeks or months, with little or no food. 

Statue of Sri. Caddapah Swami in his meditation room underground, where he meditated and went to samadhi. 

I got blessings and received vibrations of infinity. It was a wonderful experience to meditate here at this jeeva samadhi. 

He had written many books and I could read one of them in English. The book available in the temple. 

Samadhi is near Magadi Road/railway parallel road in Bangalore. You can reach here as shown in the map.

Conclusion is that with once initiated by a enlightened guru to Pranayama, Meditation on body, Meditation of Chakras - with dedicated practice one can become Brahamam (Shivam).  Human body is a micro cosmos. Inside us have all that we see and experience outside. So human body is a temple where all devatas and jeevathma are residing. 

SHIVOHAM