Vedic Prachar on 01/18/2009

Sunday's discourse on 01/18/2009@ Vedic Temple (Summary provided by Mr. Vikas Bagga).

3 main points of discussion:

First, continued discussion on attributes of Bhagwad – (The word from Shrimad Bhagawad Gita).
Second, significance of Makar Sakranti
Finally, the meaning of Moorti Pooja.

Continuing the discussion of Meaning Bhag is a person bestowed with Opulence. There are seven attributes to Bhag. The previously discussed was Aishwary or having wealth. The next attribute is Dharma or duty. A person who can incorporate Dharma in his/her life definitely attains the attribute of Bhag and thus become Bhagwaan. Following the tenets of Dharma make you Dharmik. Question is how do you become Dharmik? There are 3 stages to becoming Dharmik.
Thus to serve our Dharma we have to be able to make sound and objective reasoning (Dhriti) which leads to the path of righteousness. A person who can embrace in his stride, Dhairyam – understanding of Happiness and Sadness/Hardships (Sukh/Dukh) will have Dhriti (ability to make decisions through mind and not blinded by emotions, as explained in the concept of Dhristrashtra)

Dr. Hari Prasad also spoke and elaborated on the significance of Dharma. To follow Dharma, we have to be involved in Dharma with all our senses, soul and heart and purpose (Tun, Mun, Dhan i.e. body, heart & physical resources).

Food for thought: What you are today is because of your thoughts yesterday and what you will be tomorrow will be what your thoughts are today. Every action is preceded by thought. So Dr. Hari Prasad, challenges you, to step back and ask yourself, what am I doing, why am I doing, basically question your every action and whether it is in conformance to your Dharma (or as I would put it your Moral Values Compass). Dharma and hence the character Dharmik take time to build slowly. But be warned that like termite that creeps into the wooden foundations of your house and eats away slowly and invisibly at the core, similarly negligence on our part to be in touch with our Moral Compass could eat away our very core (soul). Very scary, but true. Look at the economic mess, financial mess, real estate mess, mortgage mess. Is it one person to blame? Is it one day or one month or one year in the person's life to be blamed? No. It is a collective failure and rotting away of the soul of a lot of people, over a long period of time. So please reconnect, it will take time. First wake up every morning and thank God for your presence, second take a few minutes to pray and reconnect within yourself. Ask your self, what I can do to make this world a better place today and do your part. Finally do not let hypocrisy prevail.

Prescription to make a strong superior Person/Society/Nation
Perform Bhagwan Pooja – Do the Brahma Yajna
Perform Devta Pooja – Do the Dev Yajna
Perform Murti Pooja – Worship your parents and elders. They are the living Morrti's and only are the Moortis to be worshipped.

Now Moorti Pooja sounds very contrary to the core belief of Arya Samaj. As mentioned above, worship Chetan (Living/Moving) moortis that means giving due respect and love to your spouse, parent, grandparent and children at home. What use is rushing and or giving importance to work, if you don't love or have respect to members of the family. So take the time and make it your goal to cultivate and promote in your family Peace, Happiness, Self Respect and Love. A happy family leads to a strong family and a strong family leads to a stronger community and an even stronger nation and finally a more peaceful world.

MakarSakranti simplified
The path of the sun is called Kranti Vritta. This path has 12 parts and the 12th part has 12 Rashis. There is a movement between each rashi, when it leaves one house and enters another. This is when Sakranti occurs and MakarSakranti occurs when the Sun leaves the house of Dhanu and enters the house of Makar. It is also the path the sun is now leaving the South (Dakshin) and entering the North (Uttrayan) path.

Importance of Cultural Learning
Comes with the 4 B's as Dr. Hari Prasad lays out.
Bhesh – Dress appropriately, dress conveys what you stand for. It is also the attire that can earn you the respect. Example- Priest, Police Officer, Doctor, Blue collar worker.
Bhasha - Language. Know your language and it helps you be more intellectual in your own culture and gives you competitive edge in global climate
Bhojan – Food. Recognize and appreciate your own food and don't rush to embrace food not in your cultural realm.
Bhakti – Devotion, sincerity and leading to the aspect of Dharma.

Plea for Performing Sunday Yagyna
The benefits are attainment of: Aayu, Pranam, Prajam, Dhanam – which means long healthy life, meaningful living, wealth and prosperity. We pray so that all our actions we do in daily life help spread our fame, increase our wealth and provide the intended benefit to all.