281 (Part 1 of ) Reply to the comment of Shri Aseem Mishra, about bhang (a narcotic substance) , Vivekananda

Shri Aseem Mishra commented on 22.9.2013 at this blog Post No.239 dt. 23.9.2012. Aseem Mishra said… Please go and read and most importantly understand if you are not funded to do this...vyadh gita...which tells you as in all of vedanta and vedas that it is the inner motive or mental schemata(which you cant know of him or others)that brings spiritual growth and realisation and not external works...even vivekananda has explianed these things...and we have such ideals that Lord shiv remained absorbed in samadhi even when he was offered a prasad of bhaang(intoxicating substance) ashes from graves(highly ominous substance) and he could transform everything into powerful prasad...to highlight is that negative is not suprem power in the universe but real knowledge...why are you guys obsessed in character assassination of any one who is not christian!! September 22, 2013 at 10:22 PM

Link to my blog post No. 239, for benefit of those readers who are interested to see that particular post, and that particular comment in the Comments portion: http://vivekanandayb.blogspot.com/search/label/239.

MY REPLY (YBRAO-A-DONKEY)

1. It is already nearly 8 years, since Shri Aseem Mishra wrote his Comment. I am not sure whether I have replied to this comment earlier, or not. Believing that I have not replied it earlier, I am trying to reply again.

Ans 1.: I am not funded by anybody, Christian Missionaries, Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia, Pakisthan, Malaysia.

Vyadha Gita-- This book I have not read. Shri Mishraji, If you can provide a link to a free public domain copy of VyadhGita, I shall download it and study it. Then only, I can say something about it.

About inner motive or Schemata of Swami Vivekananda:- Presidents, Prime Ministers, Judges, Police ADGPs, etc. everybody takes Swami Vivekananda as an idol, and ideal role-model. Everybody asks us to live like Swami Vivekananda. Everybody says that Indian Youth should become another Vivekananda. Hence, it has become necessary, to study in depth, what Vivekananda stood for, did. And this has to be done in an unbiased Research like manner, searching for evidences. There is also a need to give 10:1 importance to practices vis-a-vis preachings.

About your observation that Lord Shiva remained in samadhi, even after his being offered bhang (intoxicating substance): Ans: Let us not compare Lord Shiva , with humans like Swami Vivekananda.

As an author-writer, I have some limitations. According to Indian Laws, we cannot write on Indian Gods, except as praying them, singing their Virtues. Hence, I shall not write anything on Lord Shiva.

Though I am an atheist, I have great respect towards Lord Shiva. He represents the personification of VAIRAGYA (Renunciation). His dwelling in GraveYard, wearing animal skins, wearing graveyard-ash, Goddess Ganga River on his hair-locks, 4th day moon on his hair locks, VAsuki great king of Snake in his neck as Garland, everything, whether Lord Shiva physically existed or not (as an atheist I am not supposed to believe in God), takes his Greatness to unbelievable heights, as an Abstract Concept reflecting RENUNCIATION. Apart from his rendering the demy God Cupid (Manmatha) into ashes when he tried to wean him away from his meditation. Shiva's Greatest attribute we can see in his consuming POISON (hAlAhalam) emanating from the Churning of Ocean-of-Milk by Demy Gods and Demons. I can write a thousand pages about this attribute of Lord Shiva. But I shall, owing to space constraint here, give only one Telugu Verse from the Telugu Translation of Vyasa's Maha Bhagavata, by 15th Century Telugu poet Bammera Pothana.

Context from Mahabhagavata, Canto 8

When Poisonous gases/liquids arose from the Ocean of Milk, probably the poison from the Serpant-KIng vAsuki's mouth, when it was used as a Rope for churning the Ocean with Mandhara Mountain as Churning-stick(rod), the poison might have got mixed up with the Ocean's Waters, and the fumes/liquids were suffocating the Churners (Gods and Demons). The Worlds were struggling for their lives. Then Gods prayed Lord Shiva to save them. Lord Shiva converted all the fluids and fumes into a ball, resembling a jambu fruit, and swallowed it. Inside his belly also there were worlds. If the bolus of the poison goes into his stomach, the worlds will perish. Hence he cannot swallow. As a via media solution, he had to retain it in his throat like a ball on the throat.

I am giving only selected Verses.
Lord Shiva was speaking to his Concert pArvati: Left side is, the verse in Telugu Script. Same line in English (Roman) Script follows.

కంటే జగముల దుఃఖము Roman Script: kanTE jagamula duhkhamu
వింటే జల జనిత విషము వేడిమి ప్రభువై vinTE jala janita vishamu vEDimi prabhuvai
యుంటకు నార్తుల యాపద yunTaku Aartula Aapada
గెంటింపగ ఫలము గాదె కీర్తి మృగాక్షీ !! genTimpaga phalamu kAadE, mrigAkshI !
English: Oh! Deer-eyed Lady! Have you not seen the hardships and miseries of the Worlds? Have you not heard about the unbearable-heat of the Poison (something like atomic radiation)?, For a person who is a Lord (king), is it not his accomplishment to ameliorate their sufferings?

Shiva's Concert, Goddess Parvati knows that her husband is the Lord of the Universe. She is not worried that by swallowing poison, her husband will die. She encourages him to swallow the poison.

మ్రింగెడి వాడు విభుండని mringeDi vADu vibhumDani
మ్రింగెడిదియు గరళ మనియు మేలని ప్రజకున్ mringeDidiyu garaLa maniyu, mElani prajakun,
మ్రింగుమనె సర్వ మంగళ mringumane , sarva mangaLa
మంగళ సూత్రంబు నెంత మది నమ్మినదో !! mangaLa sUtramu nenta madi namminadO !
English gist: In spite of knowing pretty well that it was poison, which her husband was swallowing, and knowing that her husband is the Lord of Universe, she has asked Lord Shiva to swallow the poison. Here, the Poet Potana wonders: mangaLa sUtramu means sacred thread worn in their neck by Indian married Women in India, particularly in South India, especially in Andhra Pradesh. Indian women believe when the sacred threads in in their necks are strong, their husbands' lives will be safe and secure. Poet Potana wonders: How great is the faith of Goddess Parvati in the strength of her Sacred-thread. (This sacred thread mangaLa sUtram is different from the sacred thread worn by males who have under gone the upanayanam Ceremony; it is called 'yagnOpavItam'.

తన చుట్టున్‌ సురసంఘముల్‌ జయజయ ధ్వానంబులన్‌ బొబ్బిడన్‌
tana chuttun sura sanghamul jaya jaya dhvAnambulan bobbiDan

ఘన గంభీర రవంబుతో శివుఁడు లోకద్రోహి! హుం! పోకు ర
ghana gambhIra ravambu tO, SivuDu, lOka drOhi! huM ! pOku ra-

మ్మని కెంగేలఁ దెమల్చి కూర్చి కడిగా నంకించి జంబూఫలం
mmani, kengEla temalchi, kUrmi kaDigA nunkinci jambU phalam

బన సర్వంకషమున్‌ మహావిషము నాహారించె హేలాగతిన్‌.
bana sarvamkashamun mahA vishamun Aaharinche hElA gatin.

English Gist: The Gods and demons surrounding him, when they were hailing him with 'jai jai' sounds, in a deep sonorous bass voice Lord Shiva, saying addressing the Poisonous Fumes and Fluids, "Oh Traitor of the Worlds! Hum! (a sound of Anger), Don't Go, Come! ', gathered all the fumes and fluids into his fist, made it into a bolus, treating it as though it is a plum fruit (jambu fruit or in Telugu rEgu panDu), swallowed the entire Poisonous Fumes and Fluids, as though he playing a funny game!

Description of Lord Shiva, immediately after He consumed the Fumes:
అయ్యవిరళ గరళ దహన పాన సమయంబున.
ayyaviraLa garaLa pAna samayambuna - English: at the time of his drinking that enormous-expansive poison:--


కదలం బాఱవు పాఁపపేరు లొడలన్‌, ఘర్మాంబుజాలంబు పు
kadalam bAravu pApa pErul oDalan, gharmAmbujAlambu pu-

ట్టదు, నేత్రంబులు నెఱ్ఱగావు, నిజ జూటార్ధేంద్రుఁడున్‌ గందఁడున్‌,
puTTadu, nEtrambulu neRRa gAvu, nija jUTA rdhEndruDun kandaDun

వదనాంభోజము వాడ దా విషము నాహ్వానించుచో డాయుచోఁ
vadanAmbhOjamu vADadu A vishamu AahvAnincunO, DAyucOn,

బదిలుండై కడిసేయుచోఁ దిగుచుచో భక్షింపుచో మ్రింగుచోన్‌.
padiluDai kaDi sEyucO, diguchOn, bhakshimpucOn, mringucOn !

English Gist: While Lord Shiva was with great Confidence, inviting all the fumes and fluids into his hands, catching them hold of, making a bolus of the poison, taking it into his mouth, consuming it, and swallowing it, how did His body react? The serpants in his neck, they stopped moving [in astonishment]. Sweat stopped perspiring from His body. Eyes do not become red! [normally when somebody consumes something poisonous, eyes may redden. But Lord's eyes were normal.] The half-moon on his hair-locks, does not become pale or reddened. Shiva's face does not fade or wither [for the Radiation and Heat].

ఉదరము లోకంబులకును
udaramu lOkambulakunu

సదనంబగు టెఱిఁగి శివుఁడు చటుల విషాగ్నిన్‌
sadanambagu terigi Sivudu chaTula vishAgnin

గుదురుకొనఁ గంఠబిలమునఁ
kudurukona kanTha bilamuna

బదిలంబుగ నిలిపె సూక్ష్మ ఫలరసము క్రియన్‌.
padilambuga nilipi sUkshma phalamu kriyan.

English Gist: Lord Shiva, knowing that his belly (stomach) is the Home for all the Worlds, immediately affixed (locked in such a way that it does not go down, or come back into mouth), in the Channel of his throat (probably we can call it pharynx.

మెచ్చిన మచ్చిక గలిగిన
meccina maccika kaligina
నిచ్చిన నీవచ్చుఁ గాక యిచ్చ నొరులకుం
iccina Iivaccu gAka iccan orulakum

జిచ్చుఁ గడిఁ గొనఁగ వచ్చునె
ciccu kaDi konaga vaccune
చిచ్చఱ చూపచ్చుపడిన శివునకుఁ దక్కన్‌.
iccalu cUpaccupaDina Sivunaku dakkan.

English Gist: (King Parikshat who is listening to this narration from Sage Suka is asking, or vice versa, as can be seen from the next verse): 'A God, who is very happy with his devotee, may fulfil all his wishes. But, how can he consume poisonous fumes and fluids ? (ybrao-a-donkey: Last line, I could not understand its deep meaning).

హరుఁడు గళమునందు హాలాహలము వెట్టఁ
haruDu gaLamu nandu hAlAhalamu veTTa

గప్పు గలిగి తొడవు కరణి నొప్పె
kappu kaligi toDavu karaNi oppe

సాధురక్షణంబు సజ్జనునకు నెన్న
sAdhu rakshaNambu sajjanunaku enna

భూషణంబు గాదె భూవరేంద్ర!
bhUshaNambu kAde bhUvarEndra !
English gist: When Lord Shiva affixed the bolus of poison in his pharynx , his throat became black (blue-black?) in color, and shone like an ornament. Now, the Poet pOthanAmAtya is supporting his comment with a figure of Speech called arthAntara nyAsamu. For a noble virtuous person (sajjanunaku), is Protecting gentle persons (who sought refuge with him), not an Ornament?

Purport: Ordinary people may think that gold, silver and platinum jewels and ornaments embellish them. But not! It is 'protecting and defending those who take shelter with them', this characteristic becomes a true ornament.

I am unable to trace any solid evidence of Shiva meditating under the influence of narcotics. That seems to be a story created by some monks, to justify their own addiction to narcotics. I shall try to write about this habit of monks, whenever I find time. Let us not touch Lord Shiva with negative views.

Your observation: '.. to highlight is that negative is not suprem power in the universe but real knowledge ..'

Dear Shri Mishraji: The very essence of Indian Philosophical Knowledge, is in its 'negativeness'. This is called 'nEti' 'nEti' = meaning ot these Sanskrit words = 'na iti' 'na iti'. Not this! Not this! Then what ? Here, what they wanted to communicate through this philosophy is, by an Eliminative Process we can ultimately come near what may be Truth. When newer things come out, older things may, after verification of evidence, become 'na iti' Not this, Not this. Science also sometimes accepts there no finality in our Theories. What Newton and Einstein discovered / invented later have become disputable. Everything depends on keenness of observations and evidence. Similarly, two pieces of evidence may give two totally different purports. For example according to Markandeya purANa, King Harischandra was a satya santha (A person who stands for truth). From this story only, we got our 'satyameva jayate'. But according to Vyasa Mahabhagavata, King Harischandra was a lier. Harischandra promised to give his son Rohit to God Varuna, Harischandra later went back. Consequently he had to suffer from an ailment called 'jalOdaram'. Then, he and his son even tried to purchase a human as a sacrificial animal and sacrifice him to Lord Varuna (Rain God). For proof, you can see my blogpost No.http://mahabhagavatayb.blogspot.com/search/label/010. There, you can see the relevant Verses of Mahabhagavata and satisfy yourself. Important: A human may lie for numerous reasons. Sometimes, it may become absolutely unavoidable. But, trying to sacrifice a human or a cow will be definitely more abominable, than uttering lies.
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Answer to your observation: ...why are you guys obsessed in character assassination of any one who is not christian!! ...

Dear Shri Mishraji: Suppose, there is some dust on my shirt pocket , or your shirt pocket. Will you try to brush it off / clean it at the first available opportunity, or will you inquire whether this dust is Christian dust or Hindu dust? Whether this shirt is Christian shirt or Hindu shirt. Will you stop wearing a shirt if you come to know that its cloth is woven by a Muslim Weaver, and stitched by a Christian Tailor?

Is it character assassination to expect perfect behavior from a person who is hailed as Savior of a Nation of 1.3 billion? Anyway, you have blamed me that I have not assassinated the character of Christians. If our room is dirty, we sweep our room. We do not go and clean the room of a neighbor , because he happens to be a Christian or Muslim. Primarily, it is their job to clean their homes. If they seek our help, we can help them to the best of our ability. But, whenever there is a danger of spread of an epidemic, owing to an extreme uncleanliness of the Village/Town, then we may have to clean all houses, without inquiring about the religion of each neighbor.

This post has become too lengthy and difficult to peruse. To continue in Part 2. Probably blog post No. 262.

I hold the right to to review and correct it / delete it , if what I have written is wrong.