||Om Nama: Shivaya||

Chapter – 25 – Vindhyeshwara Samhitha – 13

Jeeva Bhrama Aikhyavishayam Budhdhva Pranavam Abhyaseth | Thrailokhya  Srishtikarththaram  Sthithikartharam Acchyutham || Samharththaram Thatha Rudram Swaprakasham Upasmahe | Gnana Karma Indhriyanam Cha Mano Vriththidhiyasthatha|| Bhoga Mokshapradhe  Dharma Gnane Cha  Prerayeth Sadha | Iththamarthadhiya  Dhyayan Bhrama Prapnothi Nishchayam ||

Rishis speak “ Oh! Sutha, kindly narrate about the righteousness, which could provide an abundance of piousness and victory all over the Earth.  Kindly describe the moral and immoral deeds that provide heaven and hell respectively.”

Sutha pauranika speaks “Oh! Rishi,  a Bhramana/Dhvija, Vipra, twice-born should follow righteousness, disciplines/Sadhachara/daily rites should be an intellectual/scholar, should have a thorough knowledge of Veda and Upanishads, sincerely follow Vedic rites and Vedic way of living.  A Kshatriya is a Rajasevaka/ Rajapalaka who protects the borders of the country and the Kingdom, they should follow a very few disciplines and a little bit of Vedic way of living.  A Vaishya should follow a very little bit of discipline, and engage in farming in agricultural lands and trade/Vanijyam. A shudra should serve the three Varnna of people of Brahmana, Kshatriya and Vaishya.”

Sutha Pauranika continues “  A Shudhra Bhramana engages in labor service, farming in agricultural lands, wicked natured, engages in creating trouble to others, and remains Chandala.  I shall describe a few of the ethical deeds, getting up in the morning facing auspicious direction would bring good health, long life, free from ailments, fortune, remove sins, etc.  While taking bath one should offer salutation to Lord Varuna, recitation of Manthra should be done with waist-deep water, offering water to Lord Surya, Pithrus and deities, Vasthram should be attired in Panchakaccha, with an upper cloth on the waist.   A righteous person should take holy dip in the Theerthas after regular bath, after holy dip, the water from the clothes should be offered to Pithrus while wearing Thripundra/three lines with the holy ashes, one should recite the hymns of Rishi Jabala, intellectuals take Manthrasnana, worship of Lord Surya reciting Gayathri Manthra during the hours of early hours dawn, mid-noon and evening would bring commendable virtues. The intellectual undertake meditation upon the supreme Bhramam with the constant recitation of Pranavamanthra, which unites the Jeevathma to Bhramam.  Lord Bhrama is the creator, Lord Achyutha is the preserver and Lord Rudra is the destroyer, who is self-illuminating.  Intellectuals observe control over Karma and Gnanendhriyas, contemplates on the supreme Bhramam with pure mind and intellect, eventually attain Moksha.  A Bhramin should recite the Omkaramanthra thousands of times a day; the rest of the Varnna should recite the Omkara Manthra according to one’s own capacity.  The ultimate object of recitation of Manthra is to attain the union of Jeevathma with the supreme Bhramam.  A twice-born who does not perform the sun worship regularly should not be included in the Vedic rites.  The recitation of Gayathri Manthra would remove all the sins, and impurities.  The performance of righteous deeds would provide Arththa/wealth, it enhances the happiness of the follower, and eventually, it will lead to attaining the sense of abandonment/Vairagya.  If a person accumulates wealth and takes immense pleasure in the material wellbeing without performing any of the righteous deeds, it would heave him to the endless cycles of rebirths.  The performance of Dharma can be two types, utilizing the wealth earned for the welfare of the Universe, offering ingredients for fire sacrifices, the performance of fire sacrifices, religious and spiritual rites, etc.  Dharma can be performed with the body by visiting sacred shrines, serving the devotees of the Lord and serving the Lord.  The performance of righteous deed without expecting any fruitful results would purify the intellect, eventually, the worshiper would attain supreme wisdom.  During the Krita Yuga, attainment of supreme knowledge and wisdom required extreme penance, during the Kali era it is easy to obtain with the performance of Dharma with Dhravya/ wealth by providing ingredients for the worship of deities, and performing charities.  The following moral deeds would provide piousness and happiness as well, the performance of immoral deed would bring grief and endless miseries.  The performance of charities to Vipra would bring an abundance of meritorious rewards.  The performance of thousands of Chandrayana Vratha would provide Bhramaloka.  A Kshatriya who performs a righteous task by providing a livelihood for a ten thousand Bhramins would attain Indhraloka and Bhramaloka respectively.  The piousness can be earned with the recital of sacred hymns and visiting holy places with the money earned following truthful ways.  A Brahmin should earn living by charities performed by the Kshatriyas, performance of fire sacrifices, religious as well as spiritual rites.  Kshatriya should earn living by protecting the Kingdom and its borders,  Vaishya should earn living from agricultural land, farming, animal husbandry, and trade,  Shudra should earn living by serving the above three Varnas.  Gnansiddhi and Mokshasiddhi are attainable only through the preceptor.  Brahmins should perform various Vedic rituals with the company of noble Vipras, the householder should offer an abundance of charities in the form of wealth, riches, grains, fruits and sumptuous meals to twice-born, in this way the householder earns abundance of piousness and the Bhramin who receives the charities should perform atonement, otherwise, it would bring sins to him.  Bhramin should perform all the daily rites sincerely, the money earned should be divided into three parts; one portion for the performance of Dharmic rites, one portion for the development/welfare of the society and the third portion should be utilized for the welfare of him and his family.  Persons of the three Varnna should utilize their wealth for the welfare of the society; follow humility, simplicity, kindness, and compassion.  The Vaishya should utilize 1/10 of the produce for charity, and some portion for the welfare of the society, a trader should utilize 1/6 of the money earned for the welfare of society, and charity otherwise he would suffer from hellish torture.  Any wealth or richness earned by unwarranted means would destroy the individual.  The Brahmin should utilize ¼ of his income for the charity and righteous deeds, if he earns sudden wealth in the form of charity, should be invested for the welfare of the society.  Bhramin should not accept the charity of money or wealth earned by illegal means, it should be thrown to the ocean otherwise it would bring horrible sins to him.  A wise one should not indulge in hurting others by words, mind or deeds, and the performance of Surya worship and fire sacrifice, Bhramayajja on a regular basis would bring heavenly abode.”