Birds And Their Significance

 When one continues intense sadhana for Devi, birds start coming closer. I have been doing Devi sadhana for decades and since a few years, we see many birds behaving very friendly and coming very close. When I stand in the portico, birds will walk on the ground very close to me, as if they don’t notice my presence. They take bath daily from the bird bath that I have kept in the balcony and won’t fly away even when I open the door and step out into the balcony. Innumerable bird nests have been made in and around our house and hatched their young.

Invitation to the swallows

Recently when I stepped out after the yoga practice, two swallows were flying round, close to the balcony. I stood there watching them, extended my hand and told them to come and sit on my arm. Of course they didn’t do that. I told, “At least come closer.”

A honey comb?

A couple of days later, we saw what looked like a honey comb on the roof in the same location. Honey bees can be dangerous at such close quarters and we considered getting that removed. On closer inspection, we saw the head of a bird jutting out from the top! 

So, that was a bird’s nest made up of mud. I didn’t know that such a thing existed and googled to find out more.

The nest made by a swallow bird is not a hanging nest and is along a vertical wall or any kind of support. These nests are made by mud and saliva of the swallow bird is also mixed in it. These nests are made by the bird step by step, the upper level after the lower has dried completely. You can see some more pictures here.

There are other species of birds that will primarily make their nests out of mud. These include martins, magpies, thrushes, choughs, and even American flamingos.

The marvel of nature

I was totally wonderstruck to see that nest. How much of labour and how many hours must have gone into its making!

Shift From Mass Consciousness to Universal Consciousness

Herd mentality

We all know of herd mentality of sheep. When a group of sheep has to be guided to a particular direction, one of them needs to be put in that direction. As it starts going, all others will follow. A new research study sheds light on a behaviour that is consistent among many species — that is, making decisions based upon the actions of others. Scientists at the University of Leeds believe they may have found why humans flock like sheep and birds, subconsciously following a minority of individuals. Researchers discovered that it takes a minority of just five percent to influence a crowd’s direction — and that the other 95 percent follow without realizing it.

Mass Consciousness

Mass consciousness, also known as the collective consciousness, is a philosophical and sociological term. It refers to the beliefs, sentiments, and attitudes held by the average members of a group. This concept can be contrasted with the Jungian concept of the collective unconscious, which represents a form of the unconscious (that part of the mind containing memories and impulses of which the individual is not aware) common to mankind as a whole and originating in the inherited structure of the brain.

When a decision is made based on the mass consciousness, the electrochemical changes that happen in the brain percolates into the body and this leads to restlessness. Over a period of time, this can lead to depression and physical illnesses.

Universal Consciousness

Universal consciousness or Universal mind is a metaphysical concept suggesting an underlying essence of all being and becoming in the universe. It includes the being and becoming that occurred in the universe prior to the arising of the concept of Mind. “New Thought” author Charles Haanel said of the universal mind and its relationship to humans: “The Universal Mind has unlimited resources at its command, and when we remember that it is also omnipresent, we cannot escape the conclusion that we must be a manifestation of that consciouness. The nature of the universal consciousness is said to be omnipresent."

By various dedicated practices, we can access the Universal consciousness and allow it to guide us while making decisions, which will then be in tandem with the universal laws. When such decisions are made, the resulting electrochemical changes in the brain that permeates the physical body will be conducive to health and it also leads to peace and calm.

To access the Universal Consciousness and get a glimpse of what it can bless you with, please listen to this meditation: CLICK HERE

 

References:

https://psychcentral.com/news/2017/02/15/herd-mentality-explained#1

https://homework.study.com/explanation/what-is-mass-consciousness.html

 

  

Merits of Chastity

 

A cinema during childhood

During my teenage days we saw the Malayalam movie “Chemmeen” which was about fishermen’s lives. There is a belief that the fisherman’s safe return from the sea is guaranteed by his wife’s chastity or faithfulness to her husband. In the movie, on a stormy night when the husband is out in the sea fishing, the wife sleeps with her lover and in the morning she gets to see the husband’s dead body. It had a deep impact on my psyche. For me, truthfulness and faithfulness are two basic qualities in a good human being.

Over the years I got this question in my mind whether chastity is a quality that only women should have. It is nauseating to see men boasting about having multiple one night stands and some fathers feeling proud that their sons are womanisers. It is a sad aspect that in modern days women are also going the same way.

A blessing indeed

I feel blessed to have a relative who reads our sacred books and scriptures for the last 30 years. Whenever I have any doubts to clear on religion and spirituality, it is to him that I turn to. Recently, out of the blue, he narrated the story of Sudhanva to my husband. When I heard it, I told my husband that it was a message for me that answered the question lingering in my mind for many years.

The Ashvamedha Yagya

After the passing away of grandfather Bhishma, Lord Krishna advised Maharaja Yudhisthira to conduct  Ashvamedha (horse) Yagya (sacrifice). These sacrifices required the subordination of all earthly Kings. Maharaja Yudhisthira released the sacrificial horse and ordered Arjuna to follow it wherever it went and to fight with any belligerent rulers, who did not want to accept the King's sovereignty. The sacrificial horse was freed from the city of Hastinapura and allowed to wander wherever it wished. If the horse entered a kingdom and was taken captive, the warrior following the horse fought with the challengers. Thus Arjuna followed the sacrificial horse as it roamed from one country to another.

Sudhanva’s story

His story begins with capture of this stallion. Sudhanva, son of Hamsadhvaja, stops the horse with only one intention. Being an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna, Sudhanva wanted to see him and attain emancipation (moksha) in front of Krishna. As the war begins, Sudhanva is disappointed that Krishna is not the charioteer for Arjuna. Sudhanva is equally skilled in the war compared to Arjuna and kills the charioteer, thus forcing Lord Krishna to arrive.

After an intense fight between the two, Sudhanva gains a slight upper hand against Arjuna. He vows to kill Arjuna within the next three arrows. When it appears that Arjuna is about to be killed, Krishna comes to his help to counter the arrows. He says to Arjuna, “Sudhanva, apart from being a great warrior, has only one wife and has accumulated immense merit by being completely loyal to her. We both don’t have any such merit. So this is going to be really tough.”

                                                 Lord Krishna's words from Mahabharata

When they were ready with their first arrows, Lord Krishna puts all the merit he had accumulated by lifting the Govardhan mountain and saving the people into the arrow of Arjuna to make it all powerful. Then Sudhanva puts all his merits due to ‘Ekpatnivrat’ into his arrow, and that broke Arjuna’s arrow into two mid air.

For the second arrow, Lord Krishna added the merits he gained during ‘Varaha’ (boar) avatar when he lifted the Earth from the ocean and restored her place in the Universe, after killing the demon Hiranyaksha. Sudhanva put all the merits gained from his ideal character and conduct. This time also his arrow broke Arjuna’s arrow.

For the third and final arrow, Lord Krishna pledged all merits earned during his avatar as Rama on account of his absolute loyalty to Sita. Sudhanva put all merits earned from selfless life and constant remembrance of God. This time Arjuna’s arrow cut Sudhanva’s head, which flew and fell at the feet of Lord Krishna. Thus he attained moksha. Sudhanva’s life revealed that a house holder’s ( Grihasta dharma) life is no less that any sage’s life, when lived in proper way.

Garuda’s  dilemma

Lord Krishna summoned Garuda and asked to take Sudhanva’s head to the Prayag (Triveni sangam). Garuda was confused, “Sudhanva has attained moksha, so why is this necessary?”

Lord Krishna said, “This is not for his benefit. The divine vibrations from his head when merging with the holy waters, will help those who take bath to remove their sins.” Then Garuda takes the head to Prayag.

A place in Lord Shiva’s garland

When Garuda was about to drop the head, Nandi arrived there and said, “Lord Shiva has sent me to get Sudhanva’s head. It is so divine that he wants to put it around his neck.” There was argument between the two, and the moment Sudhanva’s head touched the water (thus imparting vibrations), Nandi lifted it and went to Lord Shiva.

It is interesting that while the great merits of being loyal to one wife is explicitly described in this incidence from Mahabharata, it is never discussed or publicized, and this information is not available on the net too. Another proof that it IS a MAN’s world!!

References:

https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/mahabharata/d/doc118467.html

https://payaniga.com/yakshagana-war-sudhanva-arjuna/

https://www.punjabkesari.in/dharm/news/mahabharat-1545923