Glossary of words Hinduism Spirituality Inner meanings explained (S)

Samvad: Anything spoken in true spirit and right earnestness leads one to a Samvad taking place between two or more learned people.

A correct and right spirited Samvad can lead to a wonderful discussion taking place between two or more persons. Prolonged ... the same Samvad can become an Epic on its own. Bhagavad Gita is but a Samvad between Lord Sri Krishna and Arjuna in the battlefield. Likewise in Greek civilization, the dialogues of Plato are nothing but a series of Samvad's between Plato and few learned people of his time.

Most Upanishads are treatises between a shisya (pupil) and a Spiritual teacher. What we know as Buddhism and Christianity is a series of Samvad's between the Spiritual Gurus and their devoted followers. In Hindu mythology, Samvad plays an important role to explain the inner meanings of sacred texts.

Sanatan Purush: One who is Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient and existing before the beginning and after the collapse of the cosmos. From Times Immemorial, the Creator is identified as a Purusha (personified as a being) that exists before and after the beginning.

Every Cosmos has a beginning and an end but the Creator existed prior to the beginning of the cosmos. One Life-cycle of a Cosmos is known as Yuga. It originates with a big bang and its death (collapse) occurs at the time of Pralaya ... when the ever expanding Cosmos starts shrinking. The Creator could not have a beginning, for if it had a beginning ... it could not be the Creator.

Whenever we try to personify God as a being, we try to call it Sanatana Purusha or Karta, the doer of all. Sanatana Purusha, the Creator is formless. The ego of a Human Being prompts it to assign a body to God the Creator. We must never dispute the domain of God and concentrate more on our earthly destiny and responsibilities. May God be with us.

Shama is the tool with which indian Saints of the past and present have guided the society to its present status! The power to Forgive, the biggest and most effective tool to conquer even the staunchest enemy is but a matter of record. An instrument of love which never fails ... come whatsoever may!!

One be deprived of all amenities of this physical manifested World. But, one who can Forgive is the undisputed king of the World of Atmans Souls with a direct linkage to God the Creator.

Forgiving one absolves you of all sins of this and the Worlds earlier ... All sins committed by one against a particular Atman soul are Forgiven forever ... what a noble finale!! You need not go anywhere! Remaining wherever you are, one can Forgive the other and absolve self of all sins committed in this or earlier lives against all atmans souls.

It requires courage of Kings and emperors to Forgive your sworn enemy ... However logical the reprimand may seem to be! The privilege of the exalted few!!

Do not look forward to the virtues of one Life alone ... The present Life of 70-80 years is but a speck of dust in your cosmic journey. Only by forgiving one and all, you earn virtues which shall take thou to new heights in your a Spiritual endeavors towards the ultimate ... The cherished abode of God the Creator.

Animosity brings with itself vengeance. You have to prevent yourself getting caught in the whirlpool of Ego, which drowns even the staunchest never to rise again! Salvage what you earn in this Life ... Who knows what Life you may inherit next!!

Shama (Forgiveness) is the tool which was practiced by all, without exception! Lord Krishna, Mahavira, Buddha, Christ and Prophet Mohammed ... none could do without it! Every society has its share of scavengers, who may stoop low. Left with no alternative one has to learn to Forgive others. The Ecstasy one feels after forgiving the perpetrators of crime cannot be explained in words ... Ananda which no other Karma can give!!

Shaswat is a term used in Hindu Scriptures to refer to the religious dogmas and creeds being followed by all since Times Immemorial.

What was a stated by Mahavira, Buddha, Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed about 1800 ~2500 years ago remains the cornerstone of the developed society today. None can belie the truth stated by all of them.

Gita, the doctrine preached by Lord Sri Krishna about 3600 years ago forms the basic code of ethics for all Humanity. Yet, after a period of 3500 years it is as unscathed as it was during the time of Lord Sri Krishna. Such doctrines are perennial in nature (i.e. Shaswat). Their values do not diminish with time.

Gita as available today is the same ... Only one has to interpret its meaning in present context!!

Shavasana is that yogic posture practicing which one is able to still his hyper active brain, control thought process by gaining absolute control over one's breathing. In practice very few people breathe correctly. Most inhale air through their mouth instead of nostrils and suck it into stomach. Air is supposed to be inhaled into the chest to keep your body hale and hearty.

Without proper oxygen intake the whole body structure tends to malfunction. You frequently fall ill, leading to Heart Strokes and failures. Exercising helps the body to gain fresh oxygen into the blood stream and expel out impure waste air. Shavasana is the highest form of yogic exercise, which helps one to promote self to highest level of Spiritual evolution.

Did you know ... You can establish contact with the creator by establishing absolute control over Shavasana. Mahavira did it. Gautama Buddha learnt it though later in Life. Jesus Christ came to India to learn it. Prophet Mohammed practiced it while hidden in caves. Without gaining control over breathing process through shavasana ... one cannot Realize God. It is an absolute must.

The importance of learning the correct rhythm of Shavasana is evident in the fact ... while trying to establish contact with the Almighty Creator you may pronounce "OM" innumerable times, the results being always nil.

Every Spiritual syllable or mantra needs to be pronounced after attaining a certain level of Spiritual upliftment. Understanding the literal meaning of a word does no good. We have to delve deeper to learn the Cosmic Truths, the hidden meanings. Once the meaning is clear, chanting a mantra makes it resonate all over the Cosmos resulting in invocation of the deity it is meant for. Chanting of "OM" brings us near to God Almighty.

Chanting of any mantra when done in shavasana pose brings multifold results. The chanting is done not by the body but by atman the soul within. For an Atman to work in unison with the body, it requires stillness of the body. No tension ... Absolute Calm.

Shavasana can be properly learnt from any Yogic Teacher adept in Yoga (Meditation). Most Indian Saints are well versed in spiritual practices and yogic exercises form a part of their daily curriculum.

One can easily locate the right guru (The Spiritual Teacher) for purpose of learning shava asana. Shavasana is best practiced in early morning hours before getting up from the bed or in the night while going to sleep. One can always by practicing shavasana make his body go to deep sleep enabling atman the soul within to play its part. During mid-day rest after meal also one can practice shavasana. Shava asana is a pose to be practiced whenever body is under tension. Shavasana completely releases all tensions within the body giving the body a new vigor. One must daily practice shavasana posture. It not only helps elevate one on Spiritual plane but also improves the quality of Daily Life.

My Experience:

When I was in 8th standard, my Father found me sleeping in my room in a disheveled posture. Though I was having a sound sleep, when I got up he insisted on teaching me a posture in which one can have an absolutely sound sleep. (I used to have severe head-aches, perhaps that was the reason of his wanting to teach me this art.)

He taught me shavasana, a form of Yogic Exercise. In this Asana, one by one all parts of the body are to be presumed drop dead one by one. A stage comes when complete body gets stilled. One can distinctly hear the breathing of the self. Now it is very possible to invoke those mighty powers whom we call deities, Man Gods and The Creator himself.

My Father when he taught me this very special art was not aware of what gems of Yoga he was disseminating to me. It was only later when I looked at my Father... a person of the materialistic World ... I realized that the full potential of this art "Shavasana" had been utilized only by me in the whole family.

Initially when I practiced this art, I fell asleep ... a deep sleep very invigorating and refreshing. As I lay down to sleep, I tried to keep awake and concentrate on opening a dialogue with an imaginary God on matters of which I wanted the solution. Many queries getting solved one by one. I felt ecstatic at times when I got up in the morning. I gained control over my senses and mind to a stage when I could take myself (I as an Atman, The Soul Within in its primitive pure form) out from the body at night ... travel all over the Cosmos. The best part I liked doing was rotating round and round over 400KV electricity cable lines ... one factor, which confirmed that atman the soul within can never be a slave of any Worldly Manifestations. Even electricity was something to be enjoyed. The Mind waves always travel at frequency higher than that of electricity. In the night Working in Zero Gravity, pursuing fighter planes and space objects while in sub-conscious state was becoming exhilarating day by day.

My intuition told me I was not practicing a prohibited form of Yoga. I was practicing Yoga in its highest form. By Yoga is meant invoking pure thoughts through a Body conditioned perfect by Yogic Exercises.

This practice of shavasana unknowingly was awakening my Kundalini. Kundalini is that aspect of a manifested body which when awakened brings about the changes in the physical body.

All the bliss, Ecstasy is felt owing to Kundalini awakening. The awakening of Kundalini results in secretions within the brain leading to opening up of dormant energy sources within the brain.

The higher we proceed on the path of Practicing "Shavasana"... More advanced are our Spiritual gains. Shavasana can be best practiced by one who is truthful in all acts of his Life. Apart from Truthfulness, celibacy is also required to be practiced in right earnestness. Only then can we hope of getting the desired results.

Shetra are described in Hindu sacred Scriptures as Cosmic regions unseen and unknown to mankind. They are presumed to exist somewhere in the Cosmos more nearer to our planet earth. Reference to such regions is made only in Scriptural texts, the most commonly referred to is Videha Shetra. Attaining Moksha Salvation only from Videha Shetra, liberation from all manifestations, freeing oneself from the cycle of birth and death forever in the present Kali Yuga of today is the popular belief in Hindu sacred Scriptures.

The ultimate goal of Life is Emancipation! During the present Iron age, it is considered in hinduism that Emancipation can never be had without going to Videha Shetra. We do not know where Videha Shetra is. What then is the remedy? What austerities one has to practice today to reach this region wherever it exists in the Cosmos!

One who has lifted himself above all attachments and is mentally and bodily free of all bondage - All God Realized Souls know the answer! One who has realized Self and is beyond the mundane existence of Life is even free of moha (deep emotional attachment) towards his own body. This unattached attitude towards the body of the Self constitutes one having reached Videha Shetra ... one who is free of his Deha (body) in all respects. Think it over and you will arrive at the Cosmic truth!

Shraddha is the only quality existing in a being which brings it closer to God the Creator. Absence of shraddha (absolute Faith in God) can Mar one's Life and bring him closer to behaving like an animal. Absolute Faith in God is a must for all Yogis, Sadhus and Saints. Negation of shraddha can lead one to a wrong path. It can give boost to one's ego which unless eliminated by subduing self to God, can never been melted and withered out. There is only one temple ... your body. Only one occupant can live in it. Either their lives an unbreakable trust in God or your ego. Stresses and tensions result when both try to live simultaneously and that too without maintaining equipoise.

Ego propels the physical self, shraddha the eternal self. It is unto you what you desire in Life. The best of scientists and engineers have failed to understand this Cosmic phenomenon for they see all from the eyes of their bloated ego. Result ... they all see one aspect of the issue never arriving at the right conclusion. Einstein was the only exception in the Western World. He wanted to penetrate the veil of ego and farther into the domain of God resulting in his developing the theory of Relativity.

This theory of relativity gives one a feeling that if we travel faster than the speed of light one day, we shall be able to travel backwards in time and reach the point of start much before our starting time. Such a concept can be best arrived in theory but it would never be put to practice for God the Creator never meant it so. Traveling faster than the speed of light bodily would always remain a dream for scientists and engineers. For a true Yogi ... the truth is totally opposite. He knows ... that atman the soul within is always and ever free to roam the whole Brahmaand Cosmos. The speed with which Atman travels is much greater than the speed of light and reaches Infinity depending upon the level of purity achieved in manifested Life.

Can you ever start an engine at 99 degrees centigrade. Unless water boils to hundred degrees centigrade and steam gets generated, the engine can never start whatever maybe the effort. Generate your efforts to hundred degrees and you shall be on the correct path, a path only cherished by experienced and truthful Yogis. It is real simple to tread the path of unTruthfulness, deceit and conceit. Following the path traversed by Man Gods like Mahavira, Buddha, Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed is a mighty task indeed.

Only full shraddha in God can pave the way for you. You may practice any amount of penance but deliverance would be made only when you pray with full Faith (shraddha) in God. So many go to the temple everyday. Only few have their aspirations fulfilled. Why so! To maintain full Faith is difficult as one may lose Faith in God due to many reasons. The sudden death of your beloved son, Father, Mother, daughter, husband or wife may diminish or altogether reduce your Faith in God and you may turn an atheist. Many instances of the kind can be found in the society.

We blame God for we truly do not try to understand his domain and actions. Can we ever blame God for the death of our beloved one. Death is always and ever dependent upon the Karma of an individual being. God always remains unattached and is only an observer of his creation. He never interferes. You reap as you sow. A mango tree shall always bear mangos. Why expect the incomprehensible. pray to god sincerely, have full Faith in him you shall be delivered.

Shreshtha is a word used to signify the relative superiority of one from the masses in general. In the older days, when science was under development and Human Being had not evolved to the extent as of now, the control of the society rested in the hands of one who was considered Shreshtha (superior) amongst all ... one above the ordinary.

Such people were regarded with great awe and had to be defeated in one-to-one combat in the event of a challenger sprouting amongst the public. The combat could be in form of a wordy duel ... the test of educational prowess of one above the another or could be a physical combat involving various forms of sporting events.

"Survival of the fittest" as coined by Charles Darwin confirms the "Shreshtha" aspect of being religiously practiced in the society by one and all.

Siddhi

Siddhi: Gaining Self Realization, the highest stage of Emancipation is the stage of Siddhi after which every person leaves the body at will and attains Moksha Salvation ... To reside forever in the abode of God thereafter. Complete liberation from the manifestations ... How noble the experience would be.

Highly Spiritual persons like Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Ramana Mahirshi after Self Realization used to lie on their cots ... Greeting one and all who came for Darshan or clarifications! Intoxicated by their love for God ... They became one with him. Unaware of the happenings in this ephemeral World ... Blessed to the hilt by the Almighty God ... They lay guiding the masses ... Their last sojourn before they left their mortal frames!!

In Jaina traditions, a Siddha Purusha is one who becomes totally detached from all bondage to the Worldly objects ... who after Emancipation preaches to Humanity the Essence of what he has learnt.

A Siddha Purusha has the powers within him to leave the body after God-realization or preach to the masses the path of Self Realization before leaving the mortal frame!! Whatever is preached by them is textually rich in Spiritual content ... It is only Arihantas who take down the the Eternal messages before passing on to the community through Acharyas!

Siddhi is the culmination of all spiritual practice ... The last stage on the path of Yoga! Glory be to all Siddhas who came and went!!

Shruti: The powerful tool by which you can draw unto yourself the mighty powers of the Universe ... Invoking the mighty messages contained in all Scriptures of the World!! Imagine all the sacred Scriptures of the World (... all down through from the age of Lord Sri Krishna to Mahavira, Buddha, Jesus and Prophet Mohammed ... Every word coined or penned in the last 3500 years) getting destroyed never to be retrieved!! Invoke power of Shruti ... you can re-write Vedas and all other Scriptures of all Religions “As it is”!!!

Isn’t it wonderful! How satisfying for a mortal Human Being to realize this Cosmic Truth ... The Eternal Truth dogging all aspirants on the path to Self Realization. You can inherit the blessings of God and invoke the power of Shruti only after realizing God ... Not before!!

In the present Age ... Swami Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Acharya Ramana Mahirshi are exponents of this. They Realized-God within this Life and attained Moksha Salvation ... never to take rebirth on Mother Earth!! They become pure Atmans Souls residing in the abode of God till eternity i.e. until Pralaya (end of cosmos) occurs.

Is the happiness you gain when following requirements get fulfilled:

- You own a house!
- A secured job or profession!
- Earn sufficient money to lead a happy Life!
- A happy family Life!

When all the requirements of the Materialistic World get fulfilled ... You feel happy. Whenever, this equilibrium gets disturbed, Dukkha (Sadness) takes over! A moment you are happy, the other ... Sad!! Why such a change of attitude! What are the governing factors? Can one remain neutral in both circumstances!

Have you ever noticed the shaping of a tool by a blacksmith? Taking a raw piece of metal, he flings it into the Fire and when the piece is red hot ... Shapes it using a hammer ... Again puts the red hot piece in a bucket of cold water ... Cools it and again puts it into Fire! The whole process of heating and cooling is repeated until the desired shape is achieved!!

A raw Human Being, yet inexperienced ... How does he gain experience? Putting into the Fire (Dukkha) and cold water (Sukkha) ... What does it bring to your Mind ... A glimpse of the Cosmic process! The Eternal process of learning remains the same for all beings ... Be it a Human Being, an animal or even a metal (Ever tried shaping a cold metal?). The moment you become a Tata or a Birla ... You feel, the best has been accomplished and you do not feel the pinch ... Whenever you loose or gain money! Why?

You now start realizing the Truth. J.R.D Tata, a man par excellence considered and practiced ... You are but a Trustee in the Cosmic process as a whole! One must continue trying his best!! Gain, nor the loss is yours ... You are but an instrument in the hands of God ... Doing his bidding all the time ... Why fret and fume? Over what??

Svadhyaya is the process by which a Mystic (a Yogi) self disciplines himself to reach the highest bracket of his Life ... Become a living Mahavira, Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed!

Svadhyaya includes following austere practices, reading good religious books which provide Jnana wisdom, remaining in company of God seeking people and doing all which leads one towards God the Creator of the cosmos.

Every person living in a family or leading the Life of a hermit can do Svadhyaya leading to purification from within. Truthfulness, righteousness and following your Dharma are all but attributes of practicing Svadhyaya.

Swarga: The place of abode of Atmans Souls in transit! all atmans souls until they get a suitable womb to manifest on Mother Earth wait in Swarga Heaven. Atmans in all their pristine beauty and purity when in Swarga Heaven enjoy the fruits of actions performed by them in past manifested lives!!

Every action is the prerogative of a physical being ... A body! No Atman can ever perform an action on its own ... It has to manifest a body!! The Metal (Atman in its pristine form) in an ore (the massive cauldron of Cosmos) is inert unless the ore is cleaned (Karma performed) and the metal liberated from the impurities (the World of ignorance, the clutches of Maya) surrounding it!

Every Atman manifests a body only to cleanse itself ... Nothing more! What more can be the goal of the metal hidden in the ore!! A layman may not easily understand but the rich ... Rich not in wealth but Spiritual understanding ... Understand this Eternal Truth.

The total community of the West is living in a Swarga Heaven of their of their making ... They indulge yet remain happy! Reasons for their happiness ... The radiating glow on their face is something from within. They are at peace with their inner self. When dealing with others they do not intend to cheat ... Disturb the peace of their mind!!

They practice Gita inherently in their daily lives whereas we Indians do not respect Gita and consider it an instrument for hiding our untruths (Giving false testimony after oath on Gita is a rampant practice in Indian courts). We preach ... What we do not follow! We are the born Masters ... Yet poor in behavior!! To radiate the Eternal glow ... Speak Truth and learn to live in the present. Teach and preach only which you follow. Only then shall you reap the benefits of living in the Swarga of your making.

Every individual is a Cosmos unto himself ... Comparable to a particle of dust in the mighty Cosmos. What powers within the control of one, yet you feel humble ... Always lost in the bright illusion of the Nature. Out from the clutches ... You are free to become an Enlightened being, one only next to God!!

Strive and make a Swarga of your own ... Only then can you hope to achieve what God destined for you. Why stoop low and enter the naraka (hell) in the present life. A poor destitute loitering among the waste dumps looking for food to eat? Suffering from incurable diseases and dependent on others, a burden unto himself? Some where in Life past or present you indulged in wrong Karma and incurred the wrath of God ... What more can you hope than going to a hell of your making!

One reaps the fruits of Karma in this or after many manifestations. Still, one can pray and atone for all sins in the present life! Why not earn the Grace of God and even while living in a Swarga of your own making try to proceed on the path of Self Realization!

If ninety percent of the Western Society lives in a Swarga of their making ... Hardly five percent Indians would cross the line! What of the balance ... Living practically in naraka (hell)!!

By: Vijay Kumar "Atma Jnani"

Vijay Kumar... The Man who Realized God in 1993 explains the concept of Shama Shavasana Sidhi Shruthi Sukha Swarg. For more on shama shavasana sidhi shruthi sukha swarg visit - shama shavasana sidhi shruthi sukha swarg. Send Your Query - click here Ref.