Quest the Vedic Answer-Chapter 6

Answer: It is beneficial for one to follow the teachings of his Guru than merely to have a glimpse of him. One can experience peace of mind by vision of his Guru and can be inspired by his personality, but it is useless just blind faithfully to have Darshana of the spiritual master.

It is purposeful and beneficial to listen carefully Guru's preaching, to think and to understand his sayings, to obey his guidance, to practice his teachings etc., if his teachings are according to the teachings of the Vedas. The spiritual master is a guide of his disciples to show them the right path of righteousness. Disciples also perform their duties to follow the path shown by their Guru. Guru only guides us; but if we believe that Guru will take us to the other shores of the worldly sea of pain and sorrow, then you are mistaken. One has to practice, meditate and do actions for him self to get the rewards. There are many disciples who believe and say that their Guru will take their burden on his head, hence we are safe in his shadow. That is a wrong thinking. May God give them some intelligence to understand the Karma-Phal.

Just looking at Guru's picture or his photo or worshipping his statue; their deeds will not be done by itself automatically. Pity on these ignorant simpleteous disciples! It is paramount duty of a disciple to obey and respect his master and that is the real worship of his Guru. Do nothing and just look at his Guru is useless and waste of precious time of his priceless life. It is fraud and blind faith, which is non-beneficial, only ruins one's life.

It is wise advice to all to listen their master's voice, his preaching, his advises, his orders and to follow them accordingly in their daily life. Then only one gets rid from pain and sorrow automatically. No masters misguide their disciples. Service of the Master is not performed or completed by money but to obey his teachings.

Quest # 102: Is it necessary to obey everything whatever the Guru says?

Answer: Yes! One should obey his Guru whatever he says, If there is no any controversy in his commands compared to the teachings of the Vedas.

Of course! One should try to obey all the true teachings of his Guru. If there is even a little some doubt, indecision, mistaken notion or objection, one should refer to the Vedas or ask any learned Vedic scholar and remove his doubts. The Vedas are the scriptures of all true knowledge. It is the paramount duty of an inquisitive, sensible, disciplined disciple to have the Quest-Answer session with his Guru, whenever required. And then too if he is not satisfied with his Guru's Answer, he must study the Vedas and get across because the Vedas are self-authoritative (axiomatic i.e. Swatah Pramana or self-proof) and theosophy to be believed and known.

Quest # 103: Is it appropriate to give the rank of God to the Guru?

Answer: Never! A master is a master and God is the Greatest Master of all masters. No one can ever reach the position of God hence becoming like God is out of Quest. No any Guru, Sat-Guru, saint, mystic, spiritual master, great soul, sage etc. can ever acquire the highest level og the Supreme Soul.

"Na Jaato Na Janishyata" (Rigveda 7-32-23)

means "No one can become like God and can ever do so."

"Na Tvaamindraati Richyate" (Rigveda 8-92-22)

Means "O GOD! None is greater than you."

"Nakirevaa Yathaa Twam" (Rigveda 4-30-1)

"Means No one is like you."

·"Nakihi Shwansi Te Nashat"(Rigveda 6-68-8)

means, "No one is equal to you."

"Nakirindra Twaduttaro Na Jyaayaam Asti Vritrahan" (Rigveda 4-30-1)

means "No one is greater than you or be ever do so."

Besides these there are many eloquent humans in the Vedas that show that God

is the greatest of all and is second to none. No soul can ever reach the greatest position or can never be equal to the Supreme Soul.

"Allah Ho Akaber" means "God is the Greatest of all." (Holy Quran)

"God is Great." (Bible)

"Eko Ankar." Means God is One who is the Greatest" (Guru Granth Sahib).

The soul cannot be God and God cannot become like soul, both are separate entities and hence cannot be dissolved into each other, even if God desires so. Refer the attributes of the soul (Answer of Quest #11). "All these animate beings possess the power of desire, of feeling of pleasure and pain and capacity, more or less, of thinking and making efforts instinctively as well as thought-out. This power which make animate to function is called soul or Atma. The relationship between God and soul is that God is the pervading force in the soul, God is worshipped, the soul is the worshipper; God is father, soul is like His son; God awards judicious fruits to soul for his right or wrong doings. Nature and soul are infinite and beginning-less or eternal by alternation of universe and deluge, and of creation or decay in universe in case of nature; and by death of body and re-birth in case of soul."

How is it possible for a soul become like God or become God? It is foolishness even to think like that. Infinitesimal (Guru) cannot be finite (God) because all-pervading finite entity is only One, not many.

Guru himself practices Yoga, meditation and makes efforts to acquire bliss of God. How can these types of beliefs come in the mind of disciples? Guru is human being. Guru has all the attributes of soul, the only specialty in him is that he is greater than ordinary people. He guides them for their betterment because he himself has acquired the bliss of God through meditation. To worship Guru in place of God (or one to be worshipped as God) is the greatest sin. No other sin is greater than this. God is second to none.

"Na Jaato Na Janishyate" (Rigveda 7-32-23) Means "No one is greater than God and / or become like God."

· " [(Pranat Apranat) inhales and breaths, (Nimishat) blinks eyes, (Ejati Patati Tishthati) fears, falls and stabilises, has senses of thought etc., (Atharvaveda 10-8-11); these are the attributes of the soul."

· "Nahi nivasya pratima namasti" (Rigveda 4-18-4) i.e. No one is equal to God.

(Rigveda 6-18-12) The Rigveda Says "God has no enemy and no one is equal to Him."

(Rigveda 6-21-10) The Rigveda says "O eternal God! No one is like you except you."

They’re many Holy Hymns that readers can decide and clear this kind of Quest that a Guru can ever be worshipped in the place of God or as God. He who thinks like that is ignorant --you can understand. May GOD give them courage to accept truth.

Quest # 104: What If the Guru says, "The soul is a part of the Supreme Soul" then?

Answer: One should ask for proof from that Guru who says that the soul is the part (division or piece) of the Supreme Soul. If he cannot prove or give any evidence from the Vedas or from any A’rsha Granthas, then that Guru must be treated as ignorant, selfish, fraud, and crook. Guru is one who leads his disciples to light of truth from the darkness of ignorance. But the Guru, who himself is so ignorant and not even understood himself, how can he explain the deep theories and philosophies of the spiritual world? Such a Guru should take shelter of some true spiritual Guru (Sat-Guru) as his disciple who could explain him the deep subject once again.

O what a pity! These ordinary simpleteous Gurus! You have already made parts of Mother earth, now you trying to break human hearts and their feelings? Even you have not spared God who is infinite and one, but you have divided Him in numerous parts. Poor God! He will be always in parts divided into infinite parts and can never unite to be one, till the dissolution of the universe. Creation and dissolution is infinite and endless, so poor God will be divided into infinite parts. How can human soul imagine that the souls are the parts of God? Does God (who is a part of the supreme Soul, according to these ignorant Gurus) understand God himself (human souls)?

"Those who remain in ignorance (away from right spiritual knowledge), considering themselves as wise and learned, such fools go, stumbling round and round, by the wrong path, like the blind led by the blind." (Kathopanishada Chapter # 2, sutra # 5)

"May God give wisdom to all, especially all those simpletons Gurus (so called the spiritual teachers, or make other people to call them Guru) who understand the soul is a piece or part or division of the super Soul.

The soul which is distinct from God, could not be the author of the Universe; for being possessed of finite energy and knowledge and it has not the power of build up the cosmos. Hence the soul is different from God. (Vedanta Shastra 1.1.17)

God is second to none and all-pervading conscious entity. He cannot be incarnated or be divided into imaginary parts.

"In the world of good deeds, both the individual soul and the Universal Spirit (God), have entered the supreme secret chamber of the heart enjoying (delighted in) their true self.” (Kathopanishada 3.1)

Quest # 105: Should one touch the feet of elderly persons?

Answer: There is no objection to touch feet of elderly person, such as mother, father, teachers, spiritual masters and righteous persons. It is a custom in Indian culture to touch the feet of elderly persons to get their blessings if one has a feeling of respect and love for that particular person. But one should not bow down in front of any person or touch the feet’s unwillingly. No one should also force or compel any one to touch one's feet. Parents want their child to touch feet of their Gurus, but if the child doesn't want to do so, they should not force their child. It is parent's duty to make him understand the purpose of touching feet of elderly or learned persons.

In touching the feet self-egoism is reduced and one gets the blessing of such elderly educated learned person. The great sage Manu says in Manusmriti (2/-. 121) that "He who has a sweet and amiable disposition and serves the wise and old with all his heart, continually gains in knowledge, reputation and strength and enjoys a long life." Whilst he that is otherwise, never advances in knowledge, etc.

"At the beginning and end (of recitation) of the Veda, the teacher’s two feet are always to be clasped; he must recite having closed both hands, for that is called homage to the Vedas. (Manu 2.71)

"The clasping of his teacher's (feet) as to be done by him with the hands crossed, the left (foot) is to be touched by the left (hand), the right by the right. (Manu 2.72)

"One should salute first him from whom one gets secular, Vedic, or also transcendental knowledge" (Manu 2.117)

Even one should touch the feet of Guru's wife. Manu says (2.217) that "Having been from home, he (Disciple), remembering the duty of the good, touch the feet of his Guru's wives, and salute them every day."

["One should not touch feet or even talk to that person who is an atheist, slanderer of the Vedas, who disparages their teachings, as well as the writing of true teachers in conformity of the Vedas. He should be excluded from the society, aye, even expelled out of the country, (if necessary.)" (Manu 2.11)] These people are fraud who themselves sink and even make others sink in the ocean of ignorance. It is a sin to touch their feet or respect these kinds of fraud persons.

Science says that every animate-being (Jiva) is covered with layers of what is called "aura", which transmits some kind of energetic rays. These rays (auras) have different colors, depending upon attributes etc. of that particular Jiva. Because of these auras someone looks attractive or attracts others and likewise some one looks ugly or dispels others from meeting and others also do not like to see even his face.

It is said same categorized auras are attracted and different auras repel each other. Because of these energetic rays (aura) some one whom we do not know, we hate, and at times someone one to whom we do not know we feel like getting closer and talking to them. Sattvik people love to have the company of same attributed one. Rajasik and Tamsik people prefer their own group companies respectively.

"The possession of true ideas of the soul is declared to be an addiction of Sattva. Ignorance betokens Tamas, Passion of love and hatred signify Rajas. These three attributes, i.e., Sattva, Rajas and Tamas of the Prakriti are to be found in all things. Those endowed with Sattva attain to the state of the learned, Godly men. Those, who are possessed of Rajas, become men, while those immersed in Tamas fall into the condition of lower orders."(Manu 12.29)

In Indian culture it is believed to be a virtuous action to touch the feet of elderly persons. Even in great epics like "Ramayana and Mahabharata" super-souls like Maryaada Purushottam Shri Rama Chandra and Yogeshwara Shri Krishna Maharaja used to touch the feet of their elders, teachers, saints Rishis, sages etc. one can study and get more descriptions in many places in these books. They performed "Sandhya and Agnihotra" every day. To respect elders and get their blessings are foundation stones of Indian culture and tradition.

Quest # 106: What is the difference between Ishwar i.e. “GOD” and Bhagwan i.e. “LORD”?

Answer: A very inquisitive and intelligent Quest indeed! The great souls are called Godly persons, or lord, viz. Shri Ramachandra Maharaja, Shri Krishna Maharaja, Lord Buddha, etc., the great sages like Maharishi Dayanand, Vyasa, Patanjali, Kanad, Kapila and Gemini &c. are also called gods or lords, but no one accept them as God. Whoever with pure soul, pure hearted can be called as living gods such as saints, sages, spiritual masters, true Yogis, great kings’ etc.

"Aishvaryasya Samagrayasya Tejasah Yashasah Shriyah,

Jyaana Vairaagyoshchaiva Shashnam Bhaga Iteenginaa”.

Means: -- One who acquires following is called Bhagwan or Lord: --six attributes are: Power, Spiritual illumination, Fame, Service of mankind, Knowledge and Detachment.

He, who is powerful, enlightened, famous, intelligent and who serves and served by others and who has detachment like-attributes is worthy to be called as Lord or Bhagwan.

Lord (Bhagwan) is a degree or title such as Brahman, Muni, Rishi, Maharishi, Brahmarishi, Rajarishi, Devarishi &c. King Janaka (father of Shri Rama of Avadha) was called as "Rajarishi" whereas the great sage Narada was called as "Deva-Rishi". They were great and pure hearted hence were called as gods or Bhagwan. Now one can distinguish a "Bhagwan" from "GOD."

"God is Existent, Conscious, All beatitude, Formless, Al-mighty, Just, Merciful, Unbegotten, Infinite, Unchangeable, Beginning less, Incomparable, the support of All, All-pervading, Omniscient and controller of All from within, Evermature, Imperishable, fearless, eternal, Pure and Creator of the universe. He alone ought to be worshipped."

God is author of the universe. He is Observer of all, mother-father-brother-friend of all, giver of the fruits of all actions. Bestower of all true knowledge (the Vedas) for the worldly and celestial well-being, and guidance of human beings the son of God, and will be bestowed at the time of the beginning of the creation of each universe. God is the original source of all phenomena i.e. "one earlier to whom and beyond whom nothing exists"

God is complete and is second to none.

One who is pure and acquires above-said six attributes could become great soul, Mahatma and can be called godly person or lord, but can never be God or like Him.

Lord Krishna says in the Geeta –

“Bhooni Me Vyateetaani Janmaani Tava Chaarjuna,

Taanyaham Veda sarvaani Na Twam Vetya Parantapa”. (Geeta 4-5)

Means “Many births of mine have passed as well as yours, O Arjuna! I know them all but you know them not, O Pramatapa (scorcher of foes), I know them by virtue of Yoga.” By this quotation it is clear and proved that great lord, as Krishna was a human being who also was in the circle of birth and death. If God is believed to take birth or a part of God that is to be believed incarnated then He (God) become like a human being and has to experience pain and pleasure as we do. But God is Eternal, Undivided, Unperisheable, Unborn, Undecaying, and Unchangeable. He is One and only one who is the Creator, Sustainer and Dissolver of the universe. If granted God is to be infinitesimal unity, then creation of the universe is impossible. No lord or godly person can do God’s works.

God is Formless and infinite and man is embodied and finite. Embodied soul cannot become God, except lord. Lord eats, drinks, sleeps, fears etc. but God never eats, drinks or sleeps or so. God always lives in the past, present and in the future, uninterrupted. He is Omniscient, Omnipresent and Omnipotent. The attributes of God cannot be the attributes of a man and attributes of a soul cannot be the attributes of the Supreme soul. God cannot be divided or become a soul and the soul cannot become God or like God. God and the soul are both separate entities.

God can do the works of a man but He never does. He can do any thing but never does any unusual or miraculous things because He is the lawmaker, hence He cannot change or alter the laws once made by Him. He is all-knowledgeable Omniscient. Man’s works are to be done by man only. No man is fully perfect and can never ever become perfect like God. God gives inspiration and power to man.

It is right to say that there are gods or Bhagwanas in the world but it is wrong to say that the universe is within Bhagwan. The universe is in God and God Himself lives in the universe, because God is All-pervading.

Quest # 107: Is there any comments in the Vedas about sixteen arts (Shoshadis) that were possessed by Yogeshwara Shri Krishna?

Answer: Lord Krishna acquired sixteen arts (attributes). Man should have these sixteen attributes-characters-nature described in the Holy Vedas. Certainly there are descriptions of these sixteen arts in the Vedas; but there exists no description of Lord Krishna: because the Veda is the theology of God. There is no any quotation of any special kings’ name, place, incident in the Vedas. The Vedas are eternal, timeless and for all mankind. Many people, kings &c. come and go in the world. The Vedas are the root of all knowledge and science for all men of the world.

Shri Rama Chandra, Shri Krishna Maharaj were great kings of the great Bharata (India). They were our elders with clean personality and characters. One should follow their teachings but not worship in place of God. God is one. Never takes birth nor die. He is formless, devoid of body – figure –color and always uninterrupted and uniform.

Description of sixteen arts in the Vedas is as under: --

· “Shodashrchebhyah Swaha” (Atharvaveda 19-23-13) Means admire for the Vedas for Sixteen arts are worthy to be acquired --- Pranas (vital forces); Faith; Ether; Age; Light; Water; Earth; Sense; Mind; Food; Energy; Austerity; Mantra (thought); Efforts; World and Name.

He who knows and believes the teachings of the Vedas and acts accordingly acquires sixteen attributes (arts).

Quest # 108: Does God incarnate? Or can He incarnate Himself (take Avatar)?

Answer: Incarnation (Avatar) means to come down from above i.e. Answer: Incarnation (Avatar) means to come down from above i.e. one who comes down form above. God does not incarnate and can never incarnate, because He is all - pervading, Uniform, Undivided, Devoid of body-figure-color. He is formless, Omnipresent, Omniscient, and Omnipotent.

One want to come down but that place should be vacant. For instance if we are on the first floor and want to come down by staircase, the same should be there and vacant, then only we can come down step by step. If we are above we cannot be down, and if we are below then we cannot be above at the same time. One who is finite imbodied with the conscious can come down and go up if there is place vacant.

God is Omnipresent that is all pervading and resides every where. There is no place in the Universe where God does not exit. Incarnation of God i.e. Him to come down from above. How is it possible? He is all pervading means He is immovable hence God’s incarnation is impossible!

The soul is an infinitesimal unity hence it can move from one place to another or come down from up or in any direction. In Emancipation, the emancipated soul can come down or go up anywhere in the universe with its will. Some times there is an extreme will of the imbodied soul (Godly person or Lord i.e. Bhagwan) to serve the common man even after death with grace of God. If it is embodied in the future e.g. the great soul like Lord Krishna who explains his disciple friend Arjuna in the Geeta ---

“Yadaa yadaa Hi Dharmasya Glanirbhavati Bhaarata,

Abhyutthaanamadharmasya Tadaatmaanam Srijyaamyaham”. (Geeta 4/7)

"Whenever there is decay of righteousness, O Bharata (O Arjuna)! And a rise of Un righteousness, then manifest myself, (with the grace of God) for the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked and for the establishment of righteousness, I am born in every age (If God permits me). Or-- O Bharata (O Arjuna) With the grace of God (and if He permits me, it is my extreme wish that) “whenever there is decay of righteousness and a rise of unrighteousness, to be born earth to protect the good, and for the destruction of the wicked and for the establishment of righteousness”.

But common simpleteous ignorant people have misunderstood the meaning of the above said Shloka of the Geeta (the epic of Hindu community).

What is the purpose of God to get manifested in human body? To kill some wicked persons (hundred or thousand or any number demons). Why should God take births and gets Him embodied? How can He incarnate Himself? ---Never Ever!

In modern times a single Hydrogen bomb can eliminate lives of million of people within no time. What are these nuclear devices for? For Scientific development or to kill mankind. Really speaking this is nothing but ignorance of man. God is Omniscient and Omnipotent and All-pervading. He do not has to go anywhere. With the jerk of a second, he can destroy the whole universe. But God does not do that, because He is not ignorant like a man.

"If any one says that God incarnates for giving salvation to His devotees, it can not be accepted, because if a devotee conducts himself virtuously and in accordance with the spiritual way enjoined, then alone he will attain salvation, otherwise not. Further a lot of examples can be cited to testify His infinite supreme power. There are innumerable activities of nature e.g. the vast sun, the phases of the moon, the cool mild breeze, the blossoming flowers of the loveliest nature, and birth of countless beings, with their growth and decay. Are all these not sufficient evidences to declare His Omnipotence? Several evidences may be cited of His all-knowledge from The Vedas, the revealed source of all true knowledge." [Commentary on the Ten principles of the Arya Samaj---by Vijai Behari Lal Mathur (Jaipur)]

"If a phase or part of God is believed to take birth, in such case God will not continue to remain wholly perfect (as all those who are born and die are subject to limitations and imperfections). If we believe in His birth naturally His death will follow. God will then be accepted as subject to the cycle of birth and death like normal being. If a phase or part of God takes birth, the attributes of phase or part logically exist in the whole also. It means before birth and death He did not exist. His attributes of being beginning-less (Anaadi) and infinite (Ananta) eternal and His All-pervading nature will stand confused. God is all pervading in every minutest particle and atom as such in an incarnation where from He will come and whither He will go? If by incarnation God takes a form qualified with limitation (of an animal or of a human being or of any other), His attributes of formlessness, and limitlessness or of infinity is contradicted. It is impossible to believe the argument that infinite God can be confined the womb of a mother or in any form shape or body.

It would be against all logic to believe that God does take a human or other form and remains formless too. It is never possible to hold such diagonally opposite attributes together simultaneously nor it is understandably acceptable to a person with an open mind and reasoning.

All the incarnations were subjected to suffering, pain and happiness in their lives, hence, by accepting such incarnations, God cannot be proved to be free from pain and pleasure. Their lives are full of changes, so God loses the attribute of being changeless (Avikaari). Further all incarnations grew old so God like ordinary man also have to be conceived as decaying. Besides all the incarnations of God met with death, Shri Rama died by disappearing in the river Sarayuu, Lord Krishna died by being shot by an arrow, and other also died in some or the other. Being so how would it be possible to prove that is immortal and imperishable.

It is said that God to further the cause of righteousness, to kill the demons, to punish the wicked, to eradicate the evil and to bless His devotees, incarnates Himself. Out of the four Yugas, the Satayuga is said to the foremost in righteousness, while in the Tretaa, the Dwaapara and the Kaliyuga as righteousness tend to decrease and sins go on increasing gradually. It is but strange to uphold the necessity of 23 out of 24 incarnations in the holy ages of Satayuga, Dwaapara, and Tretaa and only one out of the 24 incarnations in Kaliyuga, the most sinful period who is still awaited.

If the purpose of incarnation is to uphold righteousness, their least number should have been in Satayuga and the largest number in Kaliyuga. But the position is reverse. Is it reasonably conceivable?

The logic that God incarnates to kill demons is to underestimate the Omnipotent God. The Omnipresent God and can create the whole universe and can destroy the same by deluge. He cannot be believed to incarnate and to suffer all agony of coming into the womb of a mother, just to kill Ravana, Kansa and other demons, which were not even a drop, compared to the universe. The Omnipresent God was inside the body of the demons also, He could kill them from within their own bodies, then why incarnation?

Besides, many more evidences can be furnished to uphold that He is formless. But on the contrary no Vedic mantra contains any such matter which may indicate that He has form or takes incarnations. Incarnation of God in the form of fish, tortoise, pig, a lion-headed human being and at last in human form cannot be proved by evidences of The Vedas or of logic. God is formless and it is the only conclusive acceptance."[Commentary on the Ten principles of the Arya Samaj---by Vijai Behari Lal Mathur (Jaipur)]

Yajurveda in the first mantra of chapter 40 says "Isha Vaasysmidam Sarvam Yatkinchat Jagtyaam Jagat". It means, this Universe that we can see, and whatever exists in this, God pervades all this. It is clear to follow that when the Universe itself is infinite, God who is enveloping it, must undoubtedly be infinite. Any religious concept that limits God or its fraction or its phase to any limitation or form, body or volume, surely contradicts the attribute of God being infinite, and therefore is totally against the Vedas and logic and hence is unacceptable.

Quest # 109: God is one and never incarnates! Any proof? But the Geeta and the Ramayana says, "God incarnates Himself" (Geeta 4.7). Can you explain?

Answer: A very Quest indeed! "The logic that God incarnates to kill demons, is to underestimate the Omnipotent God. How can Omnipotent God, who can create the Universe and destroy the Universe by deluge, be believed to incarnate and to suffer the agony of coming into the womb of a mother, just to kill Ravana, Kansa and other demons, who were not a drop compared to the Universe? The Omnipresent God was inside the body of the demons too, He could kill them within their own bodies, then why incarnation?"

"It is also said that God incarnates for the enactment of His sports (Leelaa) and His might. The whole Universe with numberless stars, the Moon, the Sun, the Milky way, the Lfty miraculous acts are so vivid and impressive proof of His might and Lila that in comparison to all this, the acts of incarnation are totally insignificant, that it is not understandable to bring the Almighty, Omnipresent God to the level of animal forms or to human level, full of limitations and not devoid of errors as well. Maa Sita who was forced to face "Agni-Pariksha" (fire ordeal), succeeded there, but even then she was exiled while she was pregnant. Further Chiraharana or taking away garments of ladies bathing on the river bank, killing all the generals of the Kauravas against the rules of war decided at the start of the Mahabharata war, killing of all the innocent Kshatriya because one Kshatriya killed the Father of Shri Parshurama, and Shri Rama and Parshurama both incarnations were face to face in struggle in the court of Janaka, are all such instances, the list of which could be stretched to any length. Yogis and Rishis (Saints and Sages) worship God for their whole life to get rid of the cycle of birth and death, the pains of birth and horrors of death. The sad part of the concept is that the devotees of the same God have believed God Himself to come in the cycle of birth and death, salvation from which is the aim of human life attained by the grace of God Himself. Is this the gratitude of the devotees to God?"

Lord Krishna took trouble to save the humiliation of one Draupadi, today millions of ladies are being humiliated. Further, to save the life of one elephant, Lord Vishnu ran barefooted, today millions of cows are slaughtered daily for meals, with the first ray of sunlight. The righteousness, faith in God and His worship, the Vedas, the functions of religious rituals, human character with behavior, food, drinks, are today at the unimaginable and unprecedented low level, indescribable in words. The Quest is where is the incarnation of God now? All this proves practically the hollowness of the concept of incarnation."[Commentary on the Ten principles of the Arya Samaj---by Vijai Behari Lal Mathur-Jaipur]

“Indram Vo Vishvataspari Havaamahe Janebhyah,

Asmaakamastu Kewalah”. (Rigveda 1-7-10)

In this Veda mantra God has preached to all humanity that "Do not worship any other deities except me alone, because without me there exists no second God."

God is one without a second. In the Samaveda mantra # 1355 it is said, "Dhyanam Nirvishayam Manah" means "there is no any agent of God means God is one.

There are following verses of the Atharva Veda XIII.4, 16 to 18, and 20 and 21 which say: there is neither a second, nor a third, nor a fourth, nor a sixth, nor a tenth God. He pervades the Universe and, therefore, it also bound up with Him---there being a close connection between the pervade and the pervaded. He suffers all. He is one, one and one only. He is Omnipotent Being is the only support of all the devtas, and Vasus &c., i.e. He supports them in their casual form even after the dissolution. The nine negative particles (in these verses) beginning with the ordinal second and ending with the zero (10th.) show that “God is one and one only and the Vedas most emphatically deny the existence of a second Deity. They affirm the existence of one God only and prohibit the worship of a second God. It also indicates that there can be no other God of the same or of a different genus, nor can there be a division in His essence”.

"The Vedas declare God to be "Unborn, Indivisible, Formless" etc., and therefore, not subject to birth and death and the necessity of incarnation. The doctrine of the incarnation of God cannot stand even the test of reasoning, for He, Who pervades the Universe like ether, is Infinite, Invisible, and is not susceptible to pleasure and pain, cannot be contained in a drop of semen or in the uterus or in a bodily tenement." (Light Of truth XI)

"Coming into and going out can only be predicated of a finite being. To say that the Immobile Invisible God, Who pervades every particle of matter, can take on flesh is as absurd as it would be to assert that the son of a barren woman was married and her grandson was seen." (Light Of truth XI)

The Vedas have a number of evidences to prove that God is Unborn and can never incarnate:

· Rigveda 1.67.3: --"The unborn (Aja) God is holding together the whole Universe including the earth, the space, the sky and luminous stars like the sun."

· Rigveda 6.50.14: --"God is Unborn and is so great that the world is like His one footstep. O Great God! Listen to our prayer."

· Rigveda 7.35.3: --"May Unborn God be gracious to us all, may the clouds of sky shower rains for our well being.

This brief logical discussion and a few of the numerous Vedic evidences given above clearly prove that God is unborn wholly and partially as well and can never incarnate.

The Vedas contain numerous verses like those quoted above and the same cannot be quoted here for fear of increasing the bulk of the book. We shall explain them at their proper place.

Quest # 110: God is formless then how to meditate on Him? Should one have an idol or some statue for concentration?

Answer: Kapil Muni, the author of the Sankhya Darshana has defined the term "Meditation" as “the state of mind when remains objectivitated i.e. without any thought (when the mind is away from worldly objects), is called the "Dhyaana or meditation”. If there are thoughts in mind, meditation does not take place. When there is an idol, one is forced to think about its existence, colors, eyes, clothes &c., so the mind will be busy thinking every aspect of the idol and roam in its attributes.

"God being Formless and Omnipresent cannot have an image. If the sight of an idol puts God in one's mind, why cannot this wonderful creation which comprehends the earth, water, fire, air and vegetation and a hundred and one other things? Can one think of God when he looks at the earth and the mountains that are wonderfully constructed. It is altogether wrong to say that sight of an idol makes one think of God. This would mean that when the idol is out of sight, the devotee would not think of God and, consequently when all alone, may succumb to the temptation of committing theft, adultery and the like sins. Believing as he does that there is no one to witness his actions, he would not scruple to commit the most degrading sins. These are some of the evils that result from the worship of idols. Now mark the difference! He, who has no faith in idols and believes that God, is Omnipresent, Omniscient and Just. And God pervades the whole Universe then he cannot even harbor evil thoughts in his mind--leave alone committing sins, because he knows that God witnesses all actions--good or bad--and that he is never away from Him even for a moment. He is fully aware of the fact that if he committed a sin---in word, deed or thought---Just Providence cannot but punish him.

Merely taking of God is of no use, even as the repetition of the word sugar does not give a sweet taste to the mouth, nor does the repetition of the word Neem (Melia azadiracta) imparts a bitter taste to the palate. The sensations of sweetness and bitterness are produced only when sweet and bitter substances are brought in contact with the tongue.” [Light Of Truth--XI)

"Concentration of mind on a material object is impossible, for it can grasp it at once and after mastering all the details wanders over fresh objects. On the other hand, in the case of Immaterial, Infinite God, do what it will; the mind will never be able to comprehend Him. God being Indivisible the mind cannot wander it contemplates His nature, attributes, characteristics and being beatified is perfectly focussed. Had it been possible to concentrate the mind on a material object, all the people of the world would have been able to concentrate their minds, because it remains engrossed in worldly objects such as other minds, one's wife, children and friends and wealth, but no one can concentrate his mind except on an abstract being, because He is Invisible, Hence idol worship is a sin." (Light Of Truth XI).

To meditate on God, one has to keep in his mind, some of the attributes of God and enjoy His bliss, so idol is not necessary for meditation. There is no any picture of hunger, thirst, pain, pleasure, love &c., and no one can shoot their photographs or draw their pictures on paper. These can be experienced by mind and felt by intellect, but cannot be described in words.

God is a conscious entity and subject of a conscious entity that is soul. God is all pervading, hence exists within the soul. God resides in the hearts of human soul hence one has to search His presence within him only. To go within, one is not hurdled by any outside objects.

Quest # 111: God is Formless, then how to visualise Him?

Answer: As said in the earlier Answer that there is no any picture of hunger, thirst, pain, pleasure, love &c., and no one can shoot their photographs or draw their pictures on paper. These can be experienced by mind and felt by intellect, but cannot be described in words. Human intellect knows that God is Formless, Just, Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent, so why to waste time to keep all these dead-inert-stony idols, photos and pictures of imaginary humans, etc. in place of Supreme Reality God. That is main reason that one cannot meditate properly and experiences difficulty whilst concentrating God.

· "Na Tasya Pratima~Asti" (Yajur Veda 32-3) means there is photo or picture of God. God is smallest of the smallest and greatest of the greatest. He is infinite. Until and unless ignorance-like-dirt is not removed from the mirror of mind, His visualization is not possible. God is not a thing to be seen, because He is formless and can be experienced in pure mind. He can be visualized with eyes of knowledge by the soul. Kathopanishada 2.22 says: that "Among all bodies, God is devoid of body (and is formless)".

· "The Supreme Soul (God) is not obtained by eloquent speeches, nor by intellect or brain power (or arguments), nor by much listening (of sermons or Holy Scriptures). But only he whom this Supreme Soul chooses, obtain (knows or realises) Him, and for him He illumines His real form." (Kathopanishada 2.24)

· "The Supreme Secret Soul existing in all things and beings is not illuminated or seen by the physical eyes, but can be seen only by the seers of the subtle by a keen (very strong) and subtle intellect." (Kathopanishada 3.12)

Conscious is experienced by conscious entity, hence God’s bliss is to be experienced and enjoyed only by the soul. What is experienced in meditation, by the soul with communion of God is called "the visualization of God". That experience or God’s bliss cannot be described in words in any language.

Rigveda 8.72.3: "The learned persons have His enlightenment in soul. He cannot be described, as the taste of a fruit cannot be narrated in words."

The gross substances are the subjects of senses, but in these also ether (Akasha) which is so minute that it is not visualised by these senses, because they are the subjects of subjective-mind (Antah-Karan). In essence both God and soul are conscious entities and in nature both are pure, formless, immortal and vitreous. The relation between God and soul is pervading and pervaded.

Rigveda 8.69.11: "GOD is glorious, symbol less, formless, conscious and source of all happiness."

Yajurveda XXXII, 3: "The Formless Supreme Spirit that pervades the Universe can have no material representation, likeness or image"

"It is clear therefore that idol worship is interdicted in the Vedas and the Shastras. Without Divine Knowledge the attainment of God’s Bliss is not possible. Whatever benefits acquire to a man proceed from association with the learned, study of their biographies and perusal of their books (and not from the worship of their statues). If you merely look at the image of a person and know nothing about his qualities, you are not inspired with affectionate reverence for him. It is the knowledge of his good qualities, alone which inspires that feeling. It is evil practices like idol worship that are responsible for the existence of millions of idle, lazy, indolent, and beggarly priests in India, who are mainly answerable for this wide-spread ignorance, fraud and mendacity in the country". (Satyarth Prakash: Chapter 11)

Quest # 112: Why is God Formless and invisible to all?

Answer: GOD is Formless, there are many reasons for this: --

1: Conscious elements do not possess any form or color or place, hence they cannot be seen. God being conscious can only be realised or experienced by the soul who is also conscious.

· "Na Tasya Pratima-Asti "(Yajurveda 32-3),

· "Akaaya"(Yajurveda 40-8),

· "Apaat"(Rigveda: 8-69-11)

2: Being the subtlest element, God cannot not to be seen. (Rigveda 1-187-70)

3: GOD is All-pervading (Sarva-Vyapaka) like ether, hence how can He be seen?

“Aa Yastasthau Bhuvanaanyamartyah” (Rigveda 9-84-2)

4: GOD is the creator of the Universe. His creation work springs out from within (Sarva-Anteryami). To collect atoms, to unite them and to create the Universe is the work of Omniscient, Omnipresent and Omnipotent God, who is Formless hence invisible.

"Eko daadhaara Bhuvanaani Vishwaa" (Rigveda 1-154-4)

5: The attribute of ether is word which is not to be seen likewise God’s natural attribute is "Bliss" that is not to be seen, but can be experienced by the soul. Hence Blissful God is Formless and invisible. (OM ANANDAH)

6: The substance that is either very close or very far cannot be seen, God is within the soul and all pervading, hence cannot be seen with fleshy eyes.

· "Vishnoho Karmaani Pashyata” (Rigveda 1-22-19),

· "Na Tam Vidaatha"(Rigveda 10-82-6).

7: Fleshy eyes can see only gross substances, but God being Conscious entity, cannot be seen with these fleshy eyes. GOD is "Sat-Chitt-Anand Swaroop" i.e. He is Self- existence, conscious and blissful personified.

8: All things that are seen with fleshy eyes are born/created hence perishable (Nir-Vikara). God is Unborn, Eternal hence imperishable, hence invisible.

9: The thing which has form occupy space (place) i.e. it is finite, but God is infinite (Ananta), all pervading, does not occupy space so He is invisible and formless.

· "OM Kham Brahama” (Yajurveda 40-17)

· (Purnat Purnamuchyati-------Parishichyate" (Atharvaveda 10-8-29)

10: GOD is Un-divisible, Unchangeable (Nirvikara) and complete, GOD is totally devoid of or free from all types of hange and deformations, including deformations caused by birth , death and therefore His attributes is unchangeable. Hence He is invisible and immovable.

· “Akaayamavranam” (Yajurveda 40-4). God is immovable, but whole Universe is movable with His inspiration.

· "Tadejati Tannejati" (Yajur Veda 40-15)

· .The Kathopanishada says: "Anaadyanantam Mahatah Parama Dhruvam" that God is immovable. The thing, which is All-pervading is immovable.

11: In the Vedic philosophy God is also known as "Paramam Vyaoma" means He is All-pervading and envelopes even ether i.e. the ether is also within His limit,

· "Akaayamavranam" Yajurveda 40-4), "Twamasya Paare Rajaso Vyomanah" Rigveda 1.52.12. That all mean that God is greater than ether and He is all pervading in all directions. He is End-less hence complete and unchangeable, hence formless and invisible.

12: If fleshy eyes are damaged or there is no proper light outside, nothing is visible. Likewise, If our inner - instrument of vision (the mind) is dirty or if there is no proper light of wisdom (knowledge), God is not visible. God is visible (experienced by the soul) when the dirt of ignorance is removed from the mind, when mind becomes pure and clean.

13: He is Unborn (Anadi) {(Sama Veda 5.2.1) (Sama Veda 1.1.22)} and End-less (Amar) {(Rigveda 4.1.1) (Rigveda 5.14.2)}, hence God is invisible.

Quest # 113: What is it called "Sandhya"?

Answer: Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati has defined ---"Sandhya" means the meditation in which one concentrates on God. It should be done at the time when day and night are met with each other i.e. early in the morning at sun-rise or dawn and in the evening at sun-set or dust.

"PurvaaSandhyamJapamsitishthet Sawitrimaarkadarshanat, Pashchimam Tu Samaaseenah samyagriksha Vimaavanaat”. (Manu 2-101)

Means: --"At the morning twilight let him stand muttering the "Savitri" till he has seen the sun; at the evening, (let him) seated (mutter it), till the constellations clearly appear." (Manu 2.101)

"Standing and muttering (the Gayatri Mantra) at the morning twilight, he removes nocturnal sin; but seated at the evening twilight, he destroys sin done by day." (Manu 2.102)

Sandhya is the personal relationship with God because only He is the one who is the “Nearest and Dearest”.

Quest # 114: What is "Gayatri Mantra"? Which is it?

Answer:

OM BHURBHUVAH SWAH. TATSAVITURVARENYAM

BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI. DHIYO YO NAH PRACHODAYAT.

(Yajurveda 36-3)

Every holy hymn of the Veda is called "mantra", and every mantra of the Veda is filled with the deep meaning for that one has to think. Mantra means "thinkable subject".

"O God! You are the life and support of the whole world, self-existent and dearer than life itself; you are free from all suffering and your contact frees others from all suffering. You pervade this phenomenal universe and all power proceeds from you. Creator of all that exists in the phenomenal world, you are most luminous, pure and adorable. We meditate on you. May you inspire and guide our intellect on the right path."

With repetition of the Gayatri mantra, with its proper meaning, improves the intellect and with refined intellect one can understand and acquire the subjects of knowledge and science i.e. wisdom easily.

Above written mantra of the Veda is called "the Gayatri mantra", in which the devotee is praying God for the sharp discriminative intellect (Sad-Budhi). It is a prayer for wisdom, by which one can acquire knowledge, from which everything is achieved in the life.

Each and every mantra of the Vedas is holy and best. As every limb and organ of the body is precious, but Prana (nervauric force) is the most precious of all, because the body is useless without the nervauric force. In the same way the Gayatri mantra is the Prana (vital force) of the Vedas. The Veda is understood only with pure intellect and without intellect there is no use of the Vedas for the fool. The Gayatri mantra is complete mantra of glorification-prayer-communion of God.

Quest # 115: Kindly explains the importance of the "Gayatri Mantra"?

Answer: As every mantra of the Vedas is holy and best but the "Gayatri mantra" has more attraction because it is mantra of intellect. In this mantra pure and sharp discriminative intellect id demanded from God, because everything is possible only with good intellect, otherwise the fool messes all things. If one's intellect is not in a proper place, everything is lost and vanished hence in the Gayatri mantra, it is prayed for the good intellect so that one lives his life properly.

The Gayatri mantra is in the Rigveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda whereas its benefits are written in the Atharvaveda that is the Veda of knowledge and science.

“Stutaa Mayaa Varadaa Veda Maataa Prachodayantaam Pavamaani Dwijaanaam, Aayuhu Praanam Prajaam Pashum Kirtim Dravinam Brahmavarchasam; Mahiyam Dattwaa Vrajat Brahma Lokam”. (Atharvaveda 19-71-1)

The Gayatri Mantra is also called the Guru Mantra, the Maha Mantra and the Savitri Mantra, because it purifies the intellect, which results in God’s bliss. When a student goes to his teacher for educational purpose, the teacher (Guru) first of all gives his disciple to chant the Gayatri mantra, so that with God’s inspiration his intellect and mind are purified and sharpened.

The Gayatri mantra is also called “Savitri mantra” means it is mantra for purification of inner faculties (Mind-Intellect-Conscious-Ego). Sages, mystics, Yogis call this Gayatri mantra as the remover of all kinds of pain and sorrow.

With repetition of the Gayatri mantra with its meaning, one is freed from the bondage of birth and death. Word meaning of Gayatri is: -- Gaya = energy of vital forces and principle of

Senses and tri means protector. Gayatri means by repetition of this mantra one gets the energy of vital forces (Pranas) and his senses are protected by the Supreme Soul. God is the protector and giver of energy of Pranas and principle senses.

In short it is a prayer to God ---O God (OM)! O Lord of vital forces (Bhu)! O remover of all sins and sorrows (Bhuvah)! O blissful and formless God (Swah)! Shower your bliss upon us. O my father (Savita)! You are the creator and sustainer of the Universe. You are only adorable (Varenyam). O Lord! We adopt your divine power (Bhargah) that (Tat) burns up (vanishes) all sins and bad habits. O Divine Lord (Devasya)! O Master of the Universe! We meditate (Dhimahi) on your Divine power so (Dhiyo Yo) that may it purify our (Nah) intellect and inspire (Pracho Dayat) us to lead proper and prosperous life.

O GOD! O Formless Super Soul! Make our intellect pure and clean---change our impure mind into pure---remove all our impurities (Vikaras) and lead us to truthful path---inspire us to virtuous path---make our intellect filled with true knowledge---illuminate our intellect---O Great Master Who is ours except you? You are everything to us---give us true knowledge---give us intelligence---give us your bliss---give us your visualization.

Scientists say --there are billions of billions cells in our brain (Budhi). Normally we use only a small portion (millionth) that is activated in our life. God has provided much more space in our intellect by which one can acquire the true knowledge for Emancipation. Whatever path is adopted one has to get success in that field, but one should not stop there. He should advance further and further to reach his goal of the life, the purpose of the life. All is possible only when his intellect is OK. If one portion or a tiny portion of brain is disturbed or damaged it is danger and deadly for him, as everything is balanced if the brain is in proper position otherwise everything is ruined in his life. Hence one should pray for healthy intellect in his meditation from that Supreme Benevolent Intelligence God.

In the Gayatri mantra (the Holy hymn) everything is obtained by demanding healthy intellect and requested God "inspire our intellect and lead us towards virtuous path".

There is nothing better than intellect in this world. If a man has intellect ---health, wealth, knowledge, science, pleasure, peace etc. whatever required is obtained and in the end one can acquire God’s bliss, which is the main purpose of man's life.

[O Supreme Lord! You are the source of existence, intelligence and bliss. O creator of the Universe! We cherish your luminous luster. Vouch safe an un-erring guidance to our intellect.]

Quest # 116: Is there any benefit in repetition of the Gayatri Mantra?

Answer: Success of man's life is hidden in the Gayatri mantra. Only repetition of any word is not enough for one's success. What is said in mantra must understand properly. Think on that subject and the same is to be practiced in life. Then and then only the said mantra's effect can be experienced. There is no any use only in repetition. Of course! Mantra will be remembered.

In the Gayatri mantra all the three qualities of meditation (worship of God) exist i.e. Glorification-Prayer-Communion (Stuti-Prarthna-Upasana). God is "Bhuh" i.e. He is more loveable than Pranas (the nervauric forces of life) because He only is the protector of Pranas. "Bhuvah" means He is remover of all kinds of pain and sorrows and makes his devotee free from the bondage of birth and death. And the soul is emancipated. "Swah" is the natural attribute of GOD i.e. He is blissful personified and one who comes in contact with Him, acquires His Bliss and enjoys the same whenever he is in meditation.

{The prime motto of human race is to get bliss of God and get salvation}

As we care for ourselves, same way if we care for others, then we have really understood the term "Bhuh". If no, then we have to check own self. God removes the pain of all creatures; ask ourselves, whether we care for others or no. If the answer is in "Yes" then that it is clear that we have understood the meaning of "Bhuvah". "Swah" means ---as we are happy and satisfied in our own life---try to make others happy too. Hence each word of mantra is for consideration after repetition of the same in own life. If we do that means we are really meditating and practicing mantra, then mantra's effects are experienced in the life.

No mantra is effective by just repeating, writing or reciting. It is useful only when one performs accordingly and then only God’s inspiration and blessings are obtained.

The Vedic mantras are the treasure roots of all true knowledge. When one spends wealth from his treasure then only he gets something, receives something. By acquiring true knowledge one should spend it i.e. work accordingly, then only he gets its fruits. One should not go in words but act accordingly.

OM BHURBHUVAH SWAH. TATSAVITURVARENYAM

BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI; DHIYO YO NAH PRACHODAYAT.

(Yajurveda 36-3)

Gayatri mantra is a prayer for illumination of the understanding: O Lord! O personification of True Existence, Intelligence and Bliss! Everlasting, Holy, All wise, Immortal Thou art Unborn, Without any symbolical distinction and organisation, Omniscient, Sustainer and Ruler of the Universe, Creator of the Eternal, Protector and Preserver of the Universe. O All-pervading Spirit! O Ocean of Mercy! Thou art the Life of the Creation. Thou art an All Blissful, Being the very contemplation of Whom wipes off all our pains and sorrows; Thou art the Sustainer of the Universe, Father of all; may we contemplate Thy holy adorable nature so that Thou mayest guide our understanding. Thou art our God, Who alone art to be adored and worshipped. There is none besides thee, who is equal to thee or above thee. Thou alone art our Father, Ruler, and Judge. Thou alone bestoweth happiness,"

{One must remember the Gayatri Mantra with its correct pronunciation and meaning}

The devotee should understand one thing that prayer does not mean verbal and formal repetition of set formulas. Prayers are not granted merely for asking. It is not the lip service or a few words of apparent courtesy. Prayers ought to come forth from our hearts. That needs an advanced preparedness. Only a man who is dedicated to truth and non-violence would have a right to pray. At least whilst you are praying, you should be true to yourself, and non-violent to all others you are concerned with. God seated as He is in your hearts would like you to be prepared for what you pray. He wants you to pray with a clean heart. It is this cleanliness that is ultimately going to help you after a prayer and not the words you have uttered. God will help you whilst you help yourself.

What differentiates a man from other creatures is the intellect provided to him, and therefore, a supreme importance is attached in the Gayatri mantra to ask for a sharp discriminative intellect. Man is instinctively poor, but with the help of the right type of intellect, he can meet any situation and get over all difficulties. Man is given discretion and hence a moral codes for his behaviors. Right discretion comes out of a pure intellect. Pure intellect rests in a healthy mind. It is through this pure intellect that we discriminate between good and evil.

Shall we not pray to our Lord in the Gayatri mantra to lead us from untruth to truth, from darkness to light and from death to immortality?

Quest # 117: How can one recite any Vedic Mantra with or without “Sandhi” i.e. euphonic combinations?

Answer: One should recite mantra as it is written in its original form. Also it should be correctly spelled because with correct recitation, the mind becomes pure and hence deeds will be pure and correct.

"OM Bhurbhuvah Swah---" One ought to be reciting in correct manner, in correct way. OM is spelled as OM; not as A U M. Combination of two or more words is called "Sandhi" in Hindi, So whatever is written should be recited, as it is writte. With Sandhi or without, it depends upon mantra itself. For example: Some one's name is Ramesh or Jagdish. Ramesh is combination of two words i.e. Rama + Ish and like wise Jagdish is also consists of Jagat + Ish. So whenever one has to call Ramesh or Jagdish, he will call by his name, not Rama--Ish or Jagat--Ish. But whenever one has to understand or teach the meaning of some particular word he can break the word to understand the proper meaning of that word.

Mantras (the Holy hymns) of the Vedas are God’s word, so one should not alter or change its pronunciation, otherwise the meaning of that mantra will change completely and that will be harmful. One more thing to be kept in mind that while reciting the Vedic mantra, if there is cama or full stop, one should recite accordingly so that he should enjoy mantra and experience inner happiness (Ananda). It is the rule that all the Vedic mantras are to be recited in such a way that they should be pronounced properly so that listener should easily listen mantra's words. Only Samaveda’s mantras are recited slowly, as the Samaveda is the knowledge for communion, hence real enjoyment is received by reciting its mantras slowly.

Quest # 118: What does it mean contemplate i.e. to remember God’s name (Naam-Simiran)? And what is the meaning of earning from the name of God (Naam-Ki-Kamai)?

Answer: To remember one's name or to think of one's name, is called remembrance of one's name. No one remembers anyone without any reason. There ought to be some cause. There is no use in remembering anyone if there is no any gain. How and why to take God’s name? What is the use of remembering His name? These are very important, interesting and inquisitive Quests to be understood by all our religious readers. [How to take God’s name, this Quest we will try to explain in next Answer.]

Firstly if one is to remember God i.e. to take His name, he must know God’s some of name by which he remembers Him. Secondly we remember God either when there is some trouble, to blame Him or to get some help or to take His inspiration. Sometime we also remember Him when we are very happy and want to express our gratefulness, because He is the only One who listens all.

"Yasya Naama Mahadyashah" (Yajurveda 32.3) which means "God is great because He does all good things for us. It is a duty of every human being to adopt His attributes-nature and characteristics.

Secondly is a very good Quest that after all what is the personal name of God. God is called by hundred different names (such as "Paramatma, Ishwara, Prabhu, Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, Ganapati, Shiva, Shankara, GOD, Khuda, Allah" etc.,) by virtue of possessing manifold nature, attributes and characteristics. But His personal name is "OM".

[Refer to Question 19]

· “OM Kham Brahama” (Yajurveda 40.17)

· “OM Krato Smara” (Yajurveda 40.15)

In the Veda God has declared His personal name as "OM". [A+U=O. AUM=OM]

Man is the best creature on earth. God has given us everything e.g. vegetables, fruits, medicines, etc., along with earth, water, fire, air, ether, sun, moon etc. etc. He has given us a wonderful and superb thing that is known as "Intellect". All the laws of nature are eternal; hence man has developed himself by acquiring the true knowledge of the Vedas which is also a free gift to him.

The Holy Quran says: "Asharaful Makhlooquat" means "Man is the best in this Universe." So it our duty to remember God to express our gratitude towards Him. You must have observed that if one does a little favour for someone else, he thanks him many a times. God has given everything to us, then why not thank Him? Because of Him we exist. Because of Him we are lucky to see our father, mother, brothers, sisters etc. We should always thank Him by obeying His Commandments. One should perform prayer and worship Him, not because he wants returns from us what He has given us; but in worshipping God also there is our gain. By worshipping Him one acquire the attributes of God. God is blissful so with communion one becomes blissful. Whoever is in contact with Him gets His bliss. God is everywhere but because of his ignorance, man cannot experience His bliss. Surrender to Him and see what happens. Remember one thing that God loves those who love Him. God sees those who see to Him.

God does not become happy or feel sorrow when one does remembers God or does not remember Him. It is we who remain separated from His Bliss and Bless. God is not affected if we remember Him or not.

"Let a man, therefore, try to acquire His virtues (i.e. to be like God in nature and attributes etc.).Thus let him be great by the performance of great works let him be powerful among the powerful, let him augment his power, let him never commit a sinful act. Let him be kind to all. Let him perfect his means of progress. Let him develop technical arts and with their help, make different kinds of things. Let him do unto others as he would be done by. Let him protect all. Let him be learned amongst the learned. Let him diligently punish the wicked and protect the good. In short molding one's nature, attributes and character in accordance with those of God alone constitutes the true method of taking His name." [Light Of Truth XI]

· "Yasya Naama Mahadyashah" (Yajur Veda 32.3)

As regards the method of taking the name of God the Yajurveda says---"Taking the name of the Great God consists in performing great works of righteousness."

Quest # 119: What is the correct method of meditation i.e. to take God’s name?

Answer: The method of taking the name of God in the following manner: One should meditate early in the morning between 4 and 5 A.M. and in the evening between 6 and 7 P.M.; because at these particular time (at sunrise and sunset) the environment remains calm, pure and pleasant. One should take bath and wear loose clothing so that he can sit comfortably. One should sit with a straight position (posture) on the ground, which should be plain, so that it will not disturb him during meditation. Yoga Mudra is the best position. Face must be in that direction from where air comes freely. Close your eyes, do at least three or more "Pranayamas" (breathing exercises to control mind) and chant God’s name (OM) with its meaning with a pleasant and fresh mind. In this way repetition of "OM" slowly and the same time try to feel happiness. God is formless, all-pervading and resides within you in your heart. God is the Lord of all. He is Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient. He is our Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, Teacher etc. He is Just and merciful. God is within us. He listens everything what we repeat in our mind. Try to visualise Him according to His attributes, nature and characteristics and feel His presence outside and inside you. He knows you and your feelings. Always remember God’s Greatness and His attributes &c., in this way one becomes pure and his deeds become good.

"In short molding one's nature, attributes and character in accordance with those of God alone constitutes the true method of taking His name." At the time of death only these righteous deeds i.e. "Dharma" (righteousness) go with the soul and that is only the achievement of human life.

The repetition of God’s name without its meaning with closed eyes does not make any sense or gain. This is only a waste of precious time. Once time gone will not come back, so one should learn the correct method of meditation.

By repetition of God’s personal and the best name "OM" man experiences the bliss of God that cannot be described or expressed in words. One cannot even know how time has passed; where is he sitting; how is he sitting etc. God’s bliss is the real the gain i.e. "Naam-Ki-Kamai."

Quest # 120: Why to meditate God’s name (Naam-Simran) at sunrise and sunset (Sandhi-Kaal)?

Answer: There should be a system or code of conduct to be followed by man to remember God’s name. It is good to have some time fixed for meditation. "Sandhya" is the best time for meditation. Sandhya is the time when day and night meet i.e. early in the morning and late in the evening; more commonly known as sunrise and sunset or dusk and dawn. At this time i.e. during morning before sunrise and before sunset in the evening, the air is richer with oxygen in the atmosphere in good quantity that gives energy to our nervauric forces (Prana Shakti) that helps in meditation.

The time from 3.30 to 5.30 A.M. is called “Brahma Mururata”. In which air contains the maximum quantity of oxygen gas, which is healthier for us to breathe. At this time mind also remains fresh, calm, cool and pure, hence this is the best time for meditation. There is a scientific reason also to this theory. To understand better here we explain the scientific theory as follows: -

We take in oxygen (O2) and give out carbon-di-oxide (CO2) when we breathe. The oxygen helps in metabolism of food and gives us energy for all the vital activities. This whole process is called as respiration. Carbon-di-oxide is formed during metabolism. It is given out accumulation of CO2 in the body leads to fatigue and yawning.

Plants also respire at night. During the day plants perform the process of PHOTOSYNTHESIS i.e. they make their own food from CO2 and water in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll. During this process Oxygen is released.

[Photosynthesis:

6CO2 + 6H2O Sunlight Ô C6H12O6 + 6O2

Carbon-di-oxide + Water Chlorophyll* Food Oxygen

(*Chlorophyll =Pigment which gives green colour to the plants)]

The rate of photosynthesis is maximum in the mornings and evenings—when there is a red glow in the sky (Red Effect Õ Rate of photosynthesis is maximum in red light). During the stomata (process for gas exchange present in the leaves) close to prevent excessive loss of water by the process of transpiration. (Plants lose water in the form of water vapour from the stomata. This process is called transpiration.)

Thus, the air is richer with oxygen during morning and before sunset in the evening. This pure air is healthier for us to breathe, hence meditations at these times are recommended in the Vedic philosophy.

On the contrary, one should always take God’s name, whenever he gets time. We are in work, in office, in travel, in bus, in train, in plane, anywhere when we are free, must remember GOD (His glory). With this practice (to remember God’s name) one is free from entangles of worldly problems and remains balanced in pain and pleasure. Death becomes easy and there will be no fear of death for those who always take God’s name.

Quest # 121: Can one meditate on any other name of God besides "OM"?

Answer: Yoga Shastra says: "Tasya Vachakah Pranava" i.e. 'Pranava' (the sacred syllable OM) is His appellation. Pranava signifies God. God’s personal and the best name known to all is "OM", Who is Formless, Infinite and Omnipresent. God is called by many different names such as Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesha, Shiva, Shankara, Ganesh, God, Allah &c. by virtue of possessing manifold nature, attributes and characteristics. There should be no any objection, if some one takes God’s any name he likes the most. But one should always remember that “God is One” and for meditation there should be one name which can be easily pronounced, is easy to understand, which is according to the Vedic philosophy and other Authoritative literature (A’rsha Granthas written by sages or A'ptas) is "OM". Hence it is advisable to all mankind to meditate Him in the name of "OM".

But if some one gets inner happiness ("Ananda") in taking some other name of God, he if free, there is no any restriction or objection at all.

One should always remember one thing, the most important thing, that God if formless, so there should be no any picture or idol worshipping in the place of God. Whatever is seen are dead-inert matter i.e. insensate objects (Jada in Hindi). If there is a shadow of an idol or picture of his Guru or any other thought in the mind, whilst meditation of the Supreme Being, one must understand that he is not on the right track. God is different from all these pictures &c. He is formless hence there is no picture of God. ("Na Tasya Pratima Asti"---the Veda)

God and the soul both are conscious entities and being conscious entities they do not have any form. Conscious entities do not possesses any color-form-picture &c. [Kathopanishada: chapter 6, aphorism # 8 says "Most subtler still form, and highest above, the formless (Non-manifested) individual soul is the Pervading formless (without sign or feature). Supreme Soul (GOD), knowing whom man is freed from bondage of birth and death and attains salvation.]

To meditate on God, one ought to be dedicated to Him, recite "OM" (with its meaning in the mind) and feel happy. Only the soul can visualize God, as He is conscious. The conscious can (the soul) only experiences conscious (God). God is All-pervading and the soul is pervaded (Covered).

Quest # 122: What is the benefit from God’s Glorification-Prayer-Communion (Stuti-Prarthana-Upasana)?

Answer: Love is created in glorification (Stuti) of God. Prayer (Prarthana) removes ego and one's energy is improved i.e. ability of doing work and interest in the work is increased. Communion with God (Upasana), one develops his self-confidence and fearlessness.

Prayer removes all worries and tensions which obstructs the progress in life. Man is purified and his egoism vanishes in worshipping and his improves his spiritual knowledge. By communion, one is attributed with the attributes of God. His mind, action and characters are affected and he becomes pure. For example, as one sits near a fire gets heat and feels warm, in the same way in communion with God, one becomes blissful and his life is changed. The soul is always eager to obtain the bliss of God. The soul is in search of permanent happiness (God’s Bliss "Ananda") and if he obtains it, --Is there any another wish left? None!

Quest # 123: What is meaning of "Acquisition of Super-consciousness" i.e. to meet God (Ishwar Prapti)?

Answer: There are two meanings of acquisition. One is to meet some one physically, and other is being dissolved into one-another. For illustration: when a person wants to meet some of his friend, he has to go to his friend's place, this is first kind of so called acquisition. And in the second case one is to be dissolved or absorbed in other, as river dissolves (submerged) in the sea, and there after its existence is no more as river.

In acquisition of God, the soul does not dissolves in God, on the contrary his existence remains as the soul itself. Communion of the soul with God is the first kind of acquisition. When the soul communion with (Contacts) God his all pains and sorrows vanish and he experiences His bliss.

GOD and the are two separate conscious entities. Being infinitesimal entity with limited knowledge, the soul is entangled in the materialistic world and becomes unhappy, but when he acquires true knowledge (Tatva Jyana), he renounces worldly inert, insensate objects and is freed from all kinds of pains and sorrows and again communion with God. This acquisition of God is also called the emancipation or salvation of the soul.

God’s relation with the soul and the matter is pervaded-pervader. God is All-pervading but is separate from the soul and the matter i.e. the Prakriti. God, the matter and an infinitesimal number of souls are three separate eternal entities. (Refer Q/A # 5)

A true Yogi (who practices Yoga with true knowledge) only experiences God’s bliss i.e. he meets God (Ishwar Prapti) , and in the state of salvation the emancipated soul enjoys the bliss of God for the period of 31,10,40,00,00,00,000-year i.e. the Pranta-kaal.