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Notes
- M-Z Maanas
Born from will. So Maanas Putra means sons born from will.
Maareech's
Vadh
Though Maareech assumed the form of a deer, he had to retain his heart and
brain of his own. This is the yogic way of "Paraa Kaayaa Praveshanam"
'entering other bodies...' and these assumed artificial bodies do not
hold ground in "Nidraa, Surata, Maran and in Dashesu" states of
the body ('in sleep, copulation and death states...) where the mind, if
distracted to these states, cannot concentrate or hold the body that is
assumed by mental powers of Yog. Here no supernal god or deity is involved
to grant such a capacity but one's own practice to achieve it. Whereas in
other case like Raavan, gods have bestowed boons, so he need not practice
such Yog etc, as he is blessed to be above these mortal's practices and thus
can change his form and can rejoice in any state with that body or form.
This is how he abducts Seetaa in the form of a Saadhu.
[3/44]
Madhupark
A traditional drink made of honey, yogurt, butter and milk of the coconut as
a welcome drink
[2/54]
Mandaraachal Parvat
Here Mandarachal
Parvat is mentioned for Seetaa, not the Himaalaya or Meru Parvat, because,
even though they are more massive and lofty. Vishnu used Mandar as a
churn-staff to churn the Milky Ocean not the Himaalaya or Meru Parvat
and the burden of that Mandar was sustained by Vishnu alone by incarnating
as a Kashchap (Tortoise), which is impossible for simpletons like Raavan, as
Raavan failed to lift even Kailash Parvat. Before Lakshmee's emergence from
the churning Milky Ocean, Her elder sister Halaahal 'lethal poison' emerged
and She could only be controlled only by Shiv Jee, and now, if Raavan
contemplates to consume her younger sister of Kaalkoot, Halaahal 'lethal
poison' it is evident what will become of him. This is Nidarshan Alankaar
(figurative speech); Samaan Vaakyaarth Aikyataa 'aesthetics of
correspondence...'
[3/47]
Mandehaa
Mandehaa
people try to to hinder the Sun's path everyday in the morning, at the same
time the Gayatree Mantra chanters will be chanting Gaayatree Mantra and
offer water oblations to Gaayatree. The Mantra and oblations will hit the
Mandehaa out making he Sun's path clear. This happens everyday that in the
morning they fall down in waters and later they dangle again with mountain's
peaks.
[4/40/42]
Mitra
and Varun
Shree Mad Bhaagvat gives a different version of this story, that Vashishth
Jee was not the son of both, but only of Varun; and Mitra had the son
Agastya Jee. Both ejaculated their semen and kept in the same pitcher. So
two Rishi took birth from that pitcher - Agastya Jee and Vashishth Jee.
[7/56]
Mohinee
Mohinee literally means 'that which bewitches...' usually a feminine when it is
a name of a woman or neutral when it means trance-like on somebody.
Here Vishnu assumed a physique of such a voluptuous and bewitching seductress,
marvelously limbed, and mantled in see-thru clothing, and thus maddened
everybody around Her. Then She started to serve Amrita / Ambrosia among Devtaa and
Raakshas by making them sit on either side of her way. Even the age-old
Brihaspati, the Jupiter, sitting in god's row, came under her charm and
started gazing her from top to toe. But when he saw at the feet
of that damsel, they appeared as male person's feet. He further looked at those
two feet and recognized them as Shree Charan (Bhagvaan's feet), 'Reverential
Divine Feet of Vishnu,' with which He covered the three spheres, Brihaspati's
illusion got shattered and he venerated those feet, recognizing this as Vishnu's
Maayaa.
[1/45]
Muhoort
Muhoort is a short period of time, about half an hour, which is normally sought to do
auspicious work, such as marriage, to start for a journey, or other religious
ceremonies. Who believe in Jyotish do seek the auspicious time to perform
certain activities for their success.
[1/71]
My
Arrows
Since Raam is saying that "My arrows are are gotten from Shar Van of
Kaartikeya", it means that His arrows contain both Amrit and Halaahal.
Normally when an archer intends to kill anyone, he dips his arrow's tip into
some poison, but here since Raam's arrows contain both Amrit and Halaahal, they
don't need to be dipped in poison because they already have the most powerful
poison to kill Baali or Raavan. They are like Amrit for friends and like poison
for foes.
[4/8]
Nahush's son Yayaati
In Uttar Kaand,
Sarg 56, it has been mentioned that when Urvashee could not make happy both
Mitra and Varun, then Mitra gave her Shaap that she would have to take birth
on Prithvi and she would be the wife Budh's son Pururavaa. He was the same
Pururavaa who was born from -- when he came to the forest where Shiv Jee was
enjoying Himself with Paarvatee Jee so he was converted into a woman. By
Paarvatee's Var he spent a year as one month as male and one month as
female. When he was in his female form, Chandramaa's son Budh saw him and
got attracted to him and produced a son from him - Pururavaa.
So Urvashee came to live with the same Pururavaa as his wife. There she gave
birth to Aayu. Then Aayu had the son Nahush, and Nahush had the son named
Yayaati.
[7/58]
Nature's Activities
The reaction of the
trees, wind, and river is, as said by Devtaa to Brahmaa Jee in Baal Kaand:
"Soorya, the Sun will not verily parch Raavan. Marut, the Air will not
surge at his sides. On seeing him, the lord of the undulating, drifting
waves, Ocean... will not pulsate either, [and will hide the undulating
waves, for the waves are his wives, and Ravana may abduct them... like
Seetha."] [1-15-10]
[3/46]
Oordhwa-retaa
The Oordhwa-retaa is a yogi's very high practice of
pure Yog called Hath Yog. These Yogee will hold their semen un-ejaculated by
use or misuse, and they make its course head ward through the six-plexuses
of human body. This is stated to make their mental and physical glow,
enriched and a divine aura circulates around such Yogee.
[1/33]
Passed That Night
According to Aashcharya Raamaayan, another traditional version of Raamaayan,
after taking leave from other Muni Raam came out of His hut in the night and
killed many animals and told this to Seetaa for Her surprise and praise in
the morning.
[3/7]
Paativrat
Dharm
To be loyal to one's husband by "Manasaa, Vaachaa, Karmanaa" (heart,
speech and action; or body, mind and soul). This is the Dharm
of a Pativrataa woman. Satee women observe this very strictly. In Hindu Dharm
Paativrat Dharm's power is great. It is believed that it can defeat even
Bhagvaan. (Read the story of Tulasee)
[5/5]
Pativrataa
Woman
Who serves her husband by
"manasaa, Vaachaa, Karmanaa"
(heart. speech and action).
[5/5, 9]
Pind
Daan
Pind Daan is performed
for a dead. It is one of the obligatory last rites.
[2/74]
Pranaam
It is the word for
greeting
in Hindi language. Greeting to an elder,
a respectable or a Devtaa by joining palms
together, by bending a little and pronouncing "Pranaam".
[6/102]
Prasaad
There
are two phrases used in this reference, 'Offering Prasaad', and 'Getting
Prasaad'. In Hindu religion some kind of sweets or dry fruits or food items,
or material are offered to
Devtaa (deity) while visiting Him or Her. It is first offered to the Devtaa
and then sometimes it is taken by the person who offers it, and many times
it is distributed among Bhakt, family members, friends and even
outsiders. It doesn't have to be in great quantity, an amount equal to
chickpea size is enough. It is believed that after offering to Devtaa that item is
blessed and eating or using it will bless the people who take it. Normally Prasaad
must not be left out after a worship (Poojaa), it should be taken in both
hands or in right hand (never in left hand), if the distributor forgets you
to give it, it should be asked for.
[1/16]
Prithvi has been dug in every Kalp..
This is the cosmic routine. Every day of Brahma is one Kalp and in each
Kalp Brahma starts to create the universe afresh. Though it is just like the
bygone era, it is still anew but the presiding souls of each object of universe
change. If one soul presides the Sun or the Moon in this era, in the next era
they attain a step more on the ladder and a soul-in-wait takes up the vacant
space, just as good as an official's promotion. In this cosmic destruction even
Devtaa and Devtaa-like people are also destroyed if they tend to ruin
unnecessarily. This is true even with Indra. Vishnu in His Vaaman incarnation
blessed the Raakshas Emperor Bali with such Indra-hood in some future Kalp, when
Bali's sin are counted down.
[1/40]
Pushpak
Vimaan
Pushpak Vimaan
was built by Vishwakarmaa. It was used to carry Devtaa. Later Brahmaa Jee
gave it to Kuber. When Raavan went for winning the world, he confiscated
it from Kuber after wining him. It used to fly very fast. It was
wish-driven. And it could be made smaller or larger according to the need.
After Raavan's death, it came to
Vibheeshan and Vibheeshan gave it to Raam. Raam sent it back to Kuber.
[5/4, 5/5]
Putreshti
Yagya
Putreshti Yagya is
performed to get sons. Raajaa Dashrath did it to get sons.
[1/15]
Raam's Army
Raam's Shaap
Raam was so sad at Pampaa Sarovar that He cursed - Champaa flowers not
to be touched by honey-bees, Chakravaak birds (Chakvaa) to be separated at
midnight, Kokilaa bird (cuckoo) children to be grown up in other's (crow's)
nest, sandalwood trees to become the shelters for snakes, the breeze to
become the food of snakes, in anguish of the separation of Seetaa. [Skand
Puraan]
[4/1]
Raavan's Army
Raavan's Mind
Here Raavan is repeatedly saying that "You may go away after taking away
Raam and Lakshman far from their cottage. He is thinking that Maareech will be
able to escape after he had taken Raam and Lakshman out of Raam's hermitage
area; and even if he is not able to escape, he doesn't care for him. But
Maareech knows that he will not be able to save himself from Raam's arrows.
[3/42]
Saam,
Daam, Dand and Bhed Policies
Daam
(money), Dand (punishment) or Bhed (divide and rule) policies .
[5/9]
Sanctums
Sanctums are the
fire places where Devtaa are invoked to participate in worship. In fact
they should be 17 in all. Besides here there is no Sanctum for Shiv Jee.
In fact Shiv Jee has no place for worship in the worship by Vaishnav (who
worship Vishnu).
[3/12]
Sandhyaa
Sandhyaa word is originated from
the word Sandhi. Sandhi means joint. There are
two Sandhyaa everyday - dusk and dawn when day and night meet. In Hindu
Dharm these two periods are very sacred. Several actions are prohibited at
this time and some actions are prescribed. There is a short worship which
is mandatory at both Sandhyaa times. Since that worship is done at the
Sandhyaa time, it is called "Sandhyaa". That is What Raam did.
[1/ ]
Sanskaar
There are two
meanings of Sanskaar. (1) There are 16 Sanskaar
(rites) of a human being according to
Hindu Dharm. They are performed throughout his life from birth to death. (2)
The other meaning of Sanskaar is Karm of previous lives and teachings of
parents etc in childhood and own nature of a person combined ascertain a
certain kind of behavior of the person. Those bases of the behavior are called
Sanskaar.
[2/109]
Sanyaasee
There are many dress rules to a 'Hindu Sanyaasee' where
the main items are, as said by Sage Aangiiras: 'sacred thread, three-shafts,
saffron clothing, deerskin, handy water vessel, grass-mat, loin-cloth,
girdle-cloth... by these he will be known as a real 'Hindu Sanyaasee.' Out of all these items, the shafts make a difference. Vaishnavaite
Sanyaasee-s handle three shafts tied into one, and the three are symbolic to
Chit, Achit, Eeshwar 'animate, inanimate, and lord...' and on this Manu says: the word
Dand means
'repressing, suppression, control...' thus a Sanyaasee has to control his
'speech, mind, and body... by that alone he is renowned as Sanyaasee... But
Raavan was only in the form of a Sanyaasee.
[3/46]
Satee
see Pativrataa Woman
[5/9]
Seetaa Put a Blade of Straw..
'Husband-devout' wives do not chat with 'the other' males without making
an improvised screen in between, may it be a half-veil, a door, or any other
item that prevent the vilely ogles of others.
[3/56]
Seetaa's Entrance
Raavan is surprised to Seetaa like woman in that forest, so he says to Her - "your kind
of woman is unspotted by me among humans, so you must be some
goddess, but I have marked all gods and there also I did not find you. This
province belongs to demons. As such, gods, Gandharv, Kinnar and
others cannot enter this place, let alone the gods from Shiv Jee's side.
Because Shiv Jee is the Ultimate for demons. If so, do you belong to
Ekaadash Rudra (eleven Rudra) or, because Air can circulate here, so do you
belong to any of the forty-nine Marut Gan (Wind-gods) or, because this
Prithvi has ancient connections with Asht Vasu (eight Vasu), so do you
belong to any one of them?'
[3/46]
Shabd-Vedhee Vaan
Shabd means sound, Vedhee means which pierces, and Vaan means arrow.
Means that arrow which can pierce on hearing the sound. In this the archer
shoots his arrow at his aim on hearing the sound only. Raajaa Dashrath
could do it. Arjun could do it. Raam also did it.
[1/26]
Shraadh
Shraadh is a religious ceremony performed for dead ancestors to remember them, to show respect towards
them and to send food to them. It is customary to do them annually but they are
done on other occasions also. Bharat did it on the twelfth day of Dashrath's
cremation ceremony. This is the last rite done among the series of rites when a
man dies.
[1/72]
Sin Produced by Desires
According to Manu Smriti, there are ten sins produced by desires - (1)
hunting, (2) sleeping in daytime, (3) abusing others, (4) indulgence in
women, (5,6,7) three artistic impulses - music, dance and drama, (8)
wasteful wandering. [taken from Valmiki
Ramayana 3/9/3 - sorry it gives only eight sins not ten]
[3/9]
Six Mouths
It is said that Kaartikeya has six faces and six mouths as such. When each
of the six Krittikas-stars came forward to give her milk firstly to this boy, so
observing their eagerness to feed him, Kaartikeya made his one face into six and
sucked all the milk of all the six stars and became an adolescent boy in a day.
Later he argued with Shiv Jee that he was superior to Him, because he had
five-faces of Shiva, plus one of his his own, totaling to a six faced deity. In
another way, the boy by birth is dexterous and he sucked the milk of all the six
mothers in an split second with one face, but it appeared to all deities that
the boy had six faces. Thus on establishing his ambidextrous personality, the
gods nominated him as the Chief of Celestial Army.
[1/37]
Six Sandhi Vigrah
There are six ways employed by kings in their kingship: (1) Sandhi (friendship)
- covenant with adverse kings; (2) Vigrah - continuing hostilities; (3) Yaan -
waging war; (4) Aasan - sit out for proper time; (5) Dwaidee Bhaav - creating
factions in enemy group; and (6) Sam-Aashraya - taking refuge under a coequal.
[3/72]
Skin
Here Baali is just telling his body's uselessness. Tiger's skin is used as
carpet, its two canine teeth are used in golden necklace, its other body parts
are said to contain medicinal properties. Elephant's tusks are a great
decorative articles; camel's bones are made into bangles and bracelets; rhino's
horn has religious use as well; Himaalayan yaak's hair is used for royal fanning
instruments; deer skin is used by saints and sages to sit up on; but the skin,
har and bones of a monkey, they are of no use
[4/17]
Soot-Putra
Soot Putra is the person whose father is of low caste and mother is of
higher caste. In this case Sumantra's mother was Braahman and father was
Kshatriya. Such people do only business of being bard or charioteer. In
Mahaabhaarat, Karn was also Soot-Putra.
There is a reference of Soot
Jee in Bhaagvat Puraan also. His name was Ugrashravaa. He was the son of Maharshi Romharshan.
In this case also Romharshan was a Kshatriya and his mother was a Braahman. But
this Soot Jee, Ugrashravaa, uplifted himself by telling religious stories to
people. So although he was known as Soot Jee, still he was not in the business
of being bard or a charioteer.
Such marriages are called VILOM VIVAAH, i.e. wrong marriage. Because this customary in Hindu society that the
girl can be of a lower caste but the boy should always be of higher caste. And
this is true only for the first three castes - Braahman, Kshatriya and Vaishya,
but not for the Shoodra.
[2/14]
Surabhi
Kaamdhenu's
another name is Surabhi. Surabhi is a divine cow living in Dev Lok. She is the mother of all
cows.
[2/74]
Swastyaayan
Swastyayana is a formality performed ceremony by the wives of the combating gallants
before their departure to battlefields, by placing red Tilak (Teekaa, or on forehead,
Aaratee with camphor burning lamp, Akshat (rice), sprinkling the same on head, handing him his
bow or sword, all with respective Vedic hymns. The weaponry of these heroes will
be in the custody of their wives, for they have to worship the weaponry that
brings victory to their husbands. Seetaa also gives Raam and Lakshman their
bows and swords in Aranya Kaand, on their departure to forests from Suteekshn's
hermitage as at 3/8/18.
[4/16]
Swayamvar
Swayam means self and Var means husband. Swayamvar means to choose husband
herself. Before girls had the right to choose their husbands. Father used to
invite many kings or candidates for the marriage and the girl was given Var
Maalaa in her hand. She used to go around the court getting introduction of
every prince or the boy, and to whoever she wanted as her husband, she put her
Var Maalaa in his neck. This process was very common in kings' families.
Sometime a fight also broke among kings if the girl didn't choose a certain
king.
[2/118]
Uddhaar
Its English translation is 'upliftment' which is only close to it. Uddhaar means
to save somebody who is in great pain, or difficulty, or in problem, from that
pain, or solving difficulties or problems. So Ahilyaa Uddhaar means that Ahilyaa
was in great problem and her problem was solved. There are many such stories in
which Bhagvaan has done Uddhaar of many people and animals and even trees.
Killing Raavan was also a kind of Uddhaar.
[1/48]
Vaishwadev
A religious ceremony which is to be performed every morning and evening and
especially before the mid-day meal, followed by offering of food to Devtaa
especially Agni Dev - the god of fire.
[2/56]
Vaitarnee
River
Vaitarnee River flows
in Yam Puree, that is what it is believed in Hindu Religion. It is not of water
or anything else, but it is of blood, bones, pus etc. And everybody has to pass
through that river after death.
[7/21]
Vilaap
Crying
and lamenting with tears along with saying something about the dead person - it is
normally done at the time of death. But here Raam is doing it because He is
afraid that either Raakshas have eaten Seetaa or abducted Her.
[3/62-63]
Virah
Emotions are of ten types - in Hindi they are called Ras. Shringaar
Ras (sexual love) is one of them. This is also divided in two parts -
while hero and heroin meet, and when they get separated. When the emotions
of a separated person (hero or heroine) are described, that is called
Virah. Here Raam is separated from Seetaa, so whatever Raam is thinking
that is described. That is why it is called Virah.
Winkless
Eyes
The winl-less-ness of eyes is the property of celestials, that is why Vaanar saw
Seetaa with their winkless eyes. Although they used to see such things often but
this was special because Seetaa was continuously calling "Raam, Raam"
and was struggling to be free from Raavan's hold.They knew this Raakshas as
Raavan and his alliance with Baali.If they intervened they could have been
killed at the hand of Raavan instead of Baali that is why they did not say
anything to Raam about the way Seetaa was abducted.
[3/54]
Yagyashaalaa
Holy fireplace where Yagya is performed by lighting fire and offering Aahuti for
Devtaa. The Vedic ritual demands three fireplaces, called Tretaagni -
Dakshinaagni (southern fire), Gaarhpatya Agni (domestic fire), and Aavaahniya
Agni (invocaton Fire). These three are lit continuously day and night
symbolizing that fire in human beings has continuity. Whenever a Vedic ritual
takes place,the celestial devinity (Devtaa) will come down to take their share
of offering and dance in the praise of the ritual.
Offering vessels are of particular nature and a long spoon is made of special
wood to offer clarified butter or milk into the alter of fire. The deerskin is
the prescribed Aasan for meditation, the sacred grass (Doorvaa or Doob) is
essential even in domestic rituals, symbolizing that human kind shall prosper
like the interlaced and intermingled grass. There is a Doorvaa Sooktam in
Vedic hymns symbolizing the nature of grass.
[1/] Culled from "Valmiki Ramayana" Aranya Kand
3/1]
Yajmaan
There are four Varn in Hindu
society - Braahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shoodra. Before they had their duties fixed in the society. Braahman's duty was
to study and teaching, performing Yagya for themselves and for other Varn
of the society. So when they were doing Yagya or any other religious
ceremony for other Varn, those other people are called Yajmaan.
[1/59]
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