Sri Suktam Lecture 04 on 01 February 2024

Full Transcript (Not Corrected)

We have been studying the Shri Suktam. What is the purpose? SRI LAKSHMI PRASAD SIDDHI ARTHE JAPE HO ME VA VINI HO GAHA Whether I do Japam or worship or Homam, the purpose of this Shri Suktam, chanting or using it in Homa etc. is only one. To obtain the grace. And here two words are used. Sri and Lakshmi. Sri means Paramatma. And Lakshmi means Shakti. Brahman and Shakti are inseparable. So we want to obtain their grace. The grace of both. And that is why Kalidasa starts his Raghuvamsham. VAAGARTHAU IVASAMPRIKTHAU VAAGARTHAPRATIPATTAIYE JAGATAH ITARAU VANDE PARVATHI PARAMESHWARAU Parvathi and Parameshwara. Here Parvathi represents Shakti. And Parameshwara represents Brahman. Lakshmi and Narayana. Saraswathi and Brahma. We do not know what is Brahma. But we know what is Lakshmi, what is Saraswathi. So Parvathi, we know. That is Shakti. Because the whole world is nothing but creation, sustenance and dissolution of the Shakti. SRISHTI STHITI VINASHA NAM SHAKTI BHUTE SANATANE PUNASHRAYE GUNAMAYI NARAYANE NAMOSTU TE We want to get the grace. And what is their nature? The Paramatma. AHAM PRAMAHASMI That is the final knowledge. But even for worldly people, secular people, they also aspire for many things. In fact, no human being aspires for many things. Only three things. Let me never die. Let me never be unconscious. Let me never be unhappy. The three prayers that we get in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. ASATOMA SADGAMAYA TAMASOMA JYOTIRGAMAYA RUTYORMA AMRUTANGAMAYA SAT, CHIT and ANANDA This is the end. Whether we are seeking in the worldly object or through meditation, the goal is let me always be, let me know what I am and let me be happy all by myself, with myself. Because I am Poornamadaha Poornamidham. The purpose can be achieved only by the grace of the Divine. So we started the first Mantra of the first Supta. HIRANYAVARNAM HARINIM SUVARNA RAJYATASRAJAM CHANDRAM HIRANMAYIM LAKSHMIM JATAVEDO MA AVAHA This is a prayer actually to Agni Devata. Because Agni Devata is called Purohitaha. He is the one whom we can see and He is the one through whom every God, every Goddess, they receive our offerings and He is like, as I said, like the postman. So He will bring all those things, whatever their day into, grant to their votaries, their worshippers and however much they want to give. That is all brought again by the Agni. But Agni himself is the highest representation of Bhagawan. Why? He is called Jatavedaha. Everything that is born, He knows everything, both about Himself and this world also. Therefore, you know what I want and you know what I am not. Therefore, you have to forgive me. Like a mother forgives, even doesn't even consider her child's faults and weaknesses and the weaker the child is, the greater is the love of the mother. So this Jataveda is a representation of Brahman. So He will forgive my faults, provided we are very sincere about it and then He will, as if He is conveying because He Himself is Lakshmi, He Himself is Vishnu, He Himself is Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara, etc. But it is, we have to, we ignorant people, just as we appeal, if we want the grace of president or prime minister or a king or the chief minister, prime minister, what do we do? We are not allowed to go directly to them. But we go to a higher officer who can carry our message to him. So the Agni to every human being in this world, He plays the role of the media, the postman. He carries our prayers and interestingly the Christianity, they light up the candles. Buddhism, full of candles. So every religion through rituals only want to please the divine. Nobody can go directly to the God because He is Atheendriya. So in this first prayer is I want you to bring the grace of God and that grace is beautifully described here. Hiranyavarnam. What is our complexion? Whenever we look at any object, we look at the complexion. Hiranyavarnam. Hiranya, as we discussed already, represents, Hiranya means Satvaguna Pratinidhi. Satvaguna is described as Hiranya. I told you also when Shri Ramakrishna came to Varanasi, he saw golden Kashi. Other places of pilgrimage, there was no mention. But do you think that when Shri Ramakrishna went to Vrindavan or many other holy places he had visited, Devaghar for example, did he see something special there? Definitely he had seen that. So that glow, that is of the spiritual splendor. This is called Ojas. This is also called Tejas. So the Divine Mother cannot be like a human being. In fact, She doesn't have the flesh and bones and other things. She is only constituting of the highest idea any human being can think about the Divine Mother. So God, many times we cannot think of Him. But we can think of our own Mother. For every baby, every mother, He brings tremendous happiness. And that which brings happiness is called Gold. Very interesting concept. Suppose, nowadays people are after money. And will it give them happiness? Most people seem to be the richer I am, the happier I am. But many times the money itself becomes a source of trouble. But this Hiranya, the Divine Grace only enlightens. Another way of analysis is what for a person wants the worldly riches. It could be enjoyable objects or the media through which we get or as we discussed earlier Dharma, Artha, Kama. This is what worldly people want. Only a rare few people want Moksha. And there is a relationship between these four. We have to divide these Chaturveda, Purushartha, fourfold desires or desirable things of every human being into two categories. Moksha is the highest goal. What is called ultimate goal. But the others can help us. So all the spiritual sadhana that we do, all the Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga that we do fall under the category of Dharma, Artha and Kama. We will discuss a little bit about it as I mentioned in my last class. So this is the glow. What happens when Bhagawan Agni brings, where does she stay? Where is she going to reside? Is she going to stand in front of me in my puja room or what? Then if we think about it, that means every devotee wants you stay in my heart. My heart is the best seat. That Rajatam is called here Hiranyavarna. So, O Mother, O Agnideva, bring that Divine Mother here called Lakshmi and she is glowing with golden colour, glowing with Satvaguna Sampanna, glowing with compassion, etc. And what is she? Harinim. So this word Harinim is very, very important. There are many meanings. So one of the meanings is is a female deer or a kind of jasmine flower with a golden hue. A beautiful woman is also called in Sanskrit poetry, the eyes of a beautiful woman are compared to the deer's eyes. When you look at the eyes of an animal called a deer, you will see it is extraordinarily lovable. When you look at the eyes of a tiger or a lion or a hyena, then you feel petrified. But when we look, you feel like hugging it. That is why even Sita Devi had fallen victim to it. So with a golden hue, that is called Maya Muruga. Everything in this world is only Maya or a golden image also is called Harinim. But the most important meaning is Hareh Patni, that is the consort, the spouse of Vishnu. What is the function of Vishnu? To protect the world, sustenance, maintenance, law enforcer, law giver. Therefore, he requires both carrot and stick. Carrot means reward for those who are living without giving any trouble, obeying all the rules, regulations. And stick for the people who rebel. In this world, we find both of them. So here, Hareh Patni means the Shakti of Vishnu, Hari. Who is the Hari? Hari means the person, the being who removes every Jnana, every want. Maya means what? I want, I want. Artha and Kama. Rarely people want Dharma. Here, there is something wonderful. Dharma is the root cause of Sukha and Dukha. Why do we want Artha and Kama? We want to be happy. We don't want Dukha. So, how do we get Sukha with the least amount of Dukha? Because it is not possible to have no Dukha at all. There would be, some Dukha will be there. In fact, that is possible. But Dharma can produce for us without the countering effect of the Dukha. And even Dukha enhances, in a spiritual sense, even the Sukha. The hungrier, hunger is Dukha. The hungrier you are, the more you enjoy your food. We all enjoy our food. The more tired, the more rest. The more thirsty, the more we enjoy drinking water, etc. So, here, Bhagwan Vishnu means Vyapakatvat Vishnuhu All-pervading. So, He is the consciousness, pure consciousness, Sarvavyapi, Chaitanya Swaroopa. But that Chaitanyam cannot act. That is why whenever you see the image of Kali with beneath her feet, what is called Mahakala. What is it? Mahakala represents pure Chaitanyam. And for that pure Chaitanyam to manifest, a medium is required. And that medium is called the Divine Mother Kali. Our body, each one of our bodies are also like that. So, Bhagwan is consciousness, Chaitanyam. And this is the Shakti. And Brahman and Shakti are what is called inseparable. Bhagarthau Iva Sampritthau When I speak something, immediately you understand. So, the meaning of what I speak and the sounds I produce, they are what is called inseparable. Then, Mata Pitrau, that is Parvati and Parameshwara, they are also inseparable. I salute them, so that they can grant me the necessary equipment, good, noble thoughts, noble language, noble voice, etc. so that I can express or I can write poetry or prose or art, anything. Without Divine Grace, it is not possible. But, we should never think the Shakti and Shaktiman are separate. They are upwards and reverse Parameshwara and Parameshwari they are inseparable. That is why Kalidasa has done like that. Then, Suvarna Rajata Srajaam Suvarna means gold. Rajata means silver. So, what is that? Ornaments. Srajaam means ornaments. It is said, according to Hindu belief, of course, that gold is a representation of Lakshmi Devi. Gold is a representation of Sattva Guna. So, just as we do not make chappals of Ganesha and then wear, so nobody should wear on the lower parts of the body any golden ornaments. So, Lakshmi Devi is imagined by the Rishis for the sake of meditation. So, she is wearing golden ornaments above on the head, in the neck, bangles and rings and then necklaces, etc. But, when it comes to the lower part of the body, remember, this is only imagination of the artist or the devotee for the sake of contemplation. She cannot put on because it is beneath our this thing. So, Hindus will never wear golden anklets, etc. any part below the stomach is called lower part. But, we can wear silver ornaments. When you see dancers dance in the Bharatanatyam, etc., they always put on all those anklets with beautiful small bells, etc. But, it can be made up of the maximum only with silver, not with gold at all. But, practically speaking also, if they wear and then want to God above to exhibit there, somebody may cut off their legs and then take away those ornaments also. So, normally, golden ornaments are worn above the stomach. But, on our legs, padas, it is only silver or even copper, etc. combination is there. That is the idea. Then, Lakshmi Devi is called Chandram. Beautiful meaning. What is the meaning? Chandra means the moon and the Surya, the sun and the moon. They are sustaining all of us. Surya, Rashmi becomes available to us, to cool us. Not only that, according to Vedanta, Chandra or the moon is the presiding deity of the mind. And, our mind can undergo all sorts of emotions. But, when there is full moon and especially electricity is not there and nature is very beautiful, it gladdens one's heart. It uplifts one's heart. Poets break into beautiful poetry. Singers break into beautiful singing. Painters, they paint the most marvelous scenes. In everybody's heart, mind here, that emotion of happiness comes. Chandra cools also. That is why, even stones, there is what is called Chandrasheela. That is, marble is called Chandrasheela. It is cool. Other type of stones, even granite, is not called Chandrasheela. So, what happens, many of our temples have got this marble floor and a very, very comfortable, pleasant in summer seasons. But, where in North India, where it is colder, that very marble also produces, increases discomfort until the cold season becomes less turbulent. So, seeing the moon itself, that means, when a baby looks at its mother, lovingly gazing at her unblinkingly, then she sees the moon, the joy of the moon in the mom. And, moon also represents tranquility. To enjoy happiness, one has to make the mind pure, tranquil, completely at rest, etc. So, that is why, the moon can help us, can also hinder us. So then, why is Shiva wearing moon on his head? Because, Shiva is ferocious, he is Rudra. So, when we look at him, don't look at the face, look at the shining moon, Sita Kara, and then we will be very happy. And then, Shiva is Rudra. Rudra is always angry, bubbling, boiling, and therefore, continuously, this Ganga, what is called, billions of tons of cold water is poured, and then he becomes really cool for us, so that we can approach him there. So, that is why, he has to be kept cool. Ganga mother, Ganga is helping one way, Kailasa is helping another way, the snakes are helping in another way, and the moon is helping another way, only because, his temperature is brought down to that low level, we are able to sustain him. So, Chandra, Lakshmi Devi is called Chandra, just as moon delights everybody's heart, excepting, what you call, a person who is dead to this world. Not only that, in our scriptures, Chandra is called, all the medicinal plants, in fact, every medicine, every plant, is a medicinal plant, even rice is a medicinal plant, for what? For removing this disease called Kshut. So, all this food can become really pleasing, nourishing, sustaining, strengthening, only because of the moon. Of course, it is the sun, who gives sun is manifesting in the form of producer and in the form of the sustainer, so during day time, Surya, during the night time, Chandra. Like that, Lakshmi Devi is sustaining us. How is she sustaining us? So, that is why, we are praying, we will come in the, particularly, this is a description in the first mantra, of how a devotee should imagine the Divine Shakti, called Lakshmi. So, I especially want you to forget about the Puranic concept of Lakshmi. We are talking about the Divine Mother, Shakti, what Sri Ramakrishna used to call Shakti, who is Srishti, Stithi, Vinasha, Nama, Shakti, Bhute. But, we should not tremble, because she is also Laikarta, Vinasha, the very word Vinasha. So, in the very beginning of that hymn, Sarva Mangala, Mangal Jai is one and the last, third shloka, Sharana Agata, Dina, Artha Parayane. It is her vow, she is going to save, wash everybody and hug her own children. She knows we are all her children. We may not know that she is our mother. So, by her grace, may we recognize her and it is possible only when the grace comes. Therefore, O Agni Deva, bring the grace of God. That is why she is called Harini. Another meaning of Harini is also there. Harini means the dear. And especially, even Sita Devi was mesmerized by Harini. That is, if somebody is mesmerized, forgetting the Divine Mother, only seeing the wealth, the money, etc. and then just like this Maya Amrita. So, Rama himself had to lose Sita Devi. What happened to this Harini? It turned completely into Maya Marichi, a demon. So, that is what happens to people who do not know how to worship Lakshmi, worshipping wealth, using the wealth. That is very, very important. So, this moon is also called, as we have seen earlier, Somadevata. Somarasa is there. So much of happiness will come. And that is one meaning that we have to understand. Then so, this moon is what we call the presiding deity of every type of food material that sustains us. So, herein my aim, her golden complexion, Lakshmi, she is Lakshmi. The word Lakshmi is a beautiful word. Lakshmi is a symbolism for Gnanam, Aishwaryam, Sukha, Dhana, Dhanya, Vijaya. She is the symbol of knowledge and power and wealth, money, grains, Dhanya and victory and one who has got what is called everything complete in the household. That is why she is called Lakshmi. Hey Jataveda, this is an earnest prayer to the Lord of Fire. Tam, Sache Lakshmidevi Ma, means to me. Avaha, please bring her. Only you are capable of bringing that one. And then, as we know, a little bit of tantric, these things, every goddess, every Devata must have a Bija Mantra. For example, Hreem is the Bija Mantra for the Shakti and Aim is the Bija Mantra for the Guru. Gam is the Bija Mantra for Ganesha. So, Kreem is the Bija Mantra for Kali. Kleem is the Bija Mantra for Krishna. Like that, Shreem is the Bija Mantra for Lakshmi. Om, Aim, Hreem, Shreem. So, those who especially chant Lakshmi Sahasranama, the same thing or in other hymn, what is called Lalita Sahasranama. Om, Aim, Hreem, Shreem. That's why we use the word Shreematra Inamaha. Ramakrishna's name was not Shreeramakrishna. Ramakrishna's name is Ramakrishna. That Shree, Shreematswamine Vivekananda Inamaha. Shreesharada Devi. So, that Shree is added because they are the representations of the Divine Mother herself. And by the way, every Avatar is only the manifestation of the Divine Mother. Because anything in this Jagat, anything that is created is only the manifestation, transformation of the Divine Mother only. So, Tam, Ma, Avaha. Ma means to me, that is the person who is doing Japa or prayer or worship or Homa or even chanting. This Shree Suktam being because it belongs to the Rig Veda. And Rig Veda is chantable. That's why traditionally if you download some of these Suktas, there are accents are there. Udatta, Anudatta, Sarita, etc. So, they are very, those who can do. But what about those who do not know? Don't worry. Simply with Bhakti Shraddha. That is why Holy Mother used to say, a child need not go on saying Om Hreem Hreem Hreem Shree Mata, my Mother, please come and give me some food. Simply yell at her. Ma, I am hungry, give me some food. And she understands it. Because the child loves, he cannot live without the Divine Mother. So, this is a prayer to Lord Agni with a request to make Lakshmi manifest, where? In the body and mind of the seeker. So, not only she should come as the external possession. Most often that is what we say. You bring me power, bring me position, or bring me wealth, or bring me name and fame, bring me beauty. So, when we look at some women especially, and they look like Lakshmi Devi herself. And it is believed like Rani Rashmani. So, after she got married, as soon as she stepped into her husband's household, the wealth started to grow exponentially. What a marvelous thing it is. So, it is a prayer, but not external. Because whatever is external will remain only external. All the good qualities, Sadgunas belong to the body and mind. Let me be healthy and let me be pure. Let me develop all the good qualities and for that purpose, O Agni, please come. Now, a very interesting interpretation is given. We are praying to the Agni. That means a Homa is being done. Ahuti, offering, is being placed in the Agni. What happens when you put something in the fire? It is reduced to ashes. And what is ashes? The ultimate essence of everything, that is called ashes. So, when we offer ourselves in the fire of the Sri Lakshmi, then we must be reduced to that. What is that called? Purity. That is my own real nature. So, if I can offer myself into the Agni and become pure, then I become one. Then only I can become one with Sri Lakshmi Herself. So, this is the prayer to Jatavedas, to He who knows everything and He knows. Even if I use wrong words instead of the right words, even if the child, Ramakrishna gives a beautiful example. There are several children to a father and then some can call Baba. But there is a small child who is not yet learned. He simply says Baba. And then the father lovingly takes the baby into his hands. Why? Because he knows, this child cannot utter proper words, but he means me, he loves me. He wants to be taken up in my arms. The same attitude we should have to Lakshmi. But why do we invite Lakshmi? Again, take the same metaphor. What is it? A baby wants to be taken up into the arms of either the mother or the father. Why? Because the closest one can come, the closeness that can be obtained between mother and baby, almost inseparable, physically speaking, is only when a mother or father takes up the baby, hugs the body of the baby to their bodies. But we are here talking about spiritual what is called oneness. So we also should be like the children. And if we become children, what happens? We don't need to call Lakshmi, Hiranmai, and then all those things. Just Ma or simply utter some word. It doesn't matter. But the mother understands. The father understands. So why do we invite? What happens when the baby is taken up? Ramakrishna says, when the baby is taken by the father, the baby can play, can dance in the arms of the father. He knows, my father is holding me. I do not need to do anything. Similarly, when we are inviting our Divine Mother Narayani, that you take me up in your hands and She will do that. Then what is She? She is the Shakti. What is She? She is Hri, She is Bhi, She is Neeti, She is Vijaya, She is Aishwarya, She is everything. And especially, we get it later on here, She is called Kaam. Not C-A-L-M. This is a Sanskrit word. Kaam means Sukham. Kaam, Kaam. That is why, Nakam. Kaam means Svargaloka. Nakam, not Svargaloka. Later on, it has become Naraka. That means where there is no happiness at all. So when a baby becomes extraordinarily happy, because he is safe, he is secure, he gets whatever he wants, he is completely worry-free. He can be himself. And when we are taken up by Mother Lakshmi, like the babies, we do not need to ask, Oh Ma, I require this. Do you know that I am hungry? Do you know that I want to do this? I need that one? You do not need. The Mother knows better than any one of us and she will give at the right time whatever is necessary. So this is called invitation. Oh Agni Devata, let her manifest both inside my body and outside my body, especially as purity, as Sadghunas within my heart. And that is what do I want from the Divine Mother. It is a little bit explained here. And here also, it is the same prayer to Agni Devata. The second mantra goes like this. Oh Agni, please bring Lakshmi to me. By whose grace I can obtain gold, cows, horses, good persons and good servants. Oh Agni, please bring Lakshmi to me who will forever dwell both within me and with me. Again, in this second verse also, Agni alone is addressed instead of invoking Goddess Lakshmi directly. What does it mean? Hey Jata Veda, Oh Agni Devata, Tam, means her, Ma Abaha. You bring her to me. Otherwise, somebody has to bring her. So you bring her. You are Kepula bringing her to me. So what do you mean by her? Lakshmi. Lakshmi. And what type of Lakshmi? That Rishi who comes for a second and then goes away forever? No. Anapagaminim. She who is never ever going to leave me. That means she must dwell completely with me. It is a mantra full of meaning. And then, what am I expecting from Esyam? From whom? From which Devata? Lakshmi Devata. What am I expecting? Hiranyam. Indeyam. May I obtain. Indeyam. May I obtain. Hiranyam. That is gold. Gaum. Cows. Ashwam. Horses. Purusham. People. Who? Me. Aham. Let me obtain all these things. This is the vocalization of what we call a person who doesn't understand what he is really praying for. Fortunately for us, Shayanacharya comes to our aid and he helps us in gaining some insight into that. Let us do what it means. O Agni Devata, please ensure to bring Lakshmi. And what type of Lakshmi? Whose splendor is described in the previous verse. And here, such a description that I have given you. Such kind of Lakshmi Devi you bring. And here further, what is added? Anapaga meaning. You may bring her, but you may take her away. One who is capable of bringing is quite capable of taking her away also. In the gross way, if we are to understand. So, here is a person and then he has grown up. He has become old and he is dead. What happens? According to Hindus, he is consigned to flames, fire. So, he is gone. What is the use? He might have given me. He is one of the richest persons in the world. But, when I go away, I can't take even a single Kauri, they say. What is called in olden times, very holy Paisa was there. That Paisa also, I cannot take. But, you bring. So, Janma Janma Antara. And you bring her. And she will ever with me, forever with me. Let the Divine Mother be forever with me, protecting me. And what is that? I want to be united totally. Shakti, as we said and Shaktimaan. Power and the possessor of the power. That is your Chaitanyam can never be separated. So, when she comes, what happens? She is also bringing the Shaktimaan. Lakshmi comes. Do you think only Lakshmi will come? Don't go on listening to Tirupati Pauranic stories. Lakshmi got very annoyed with Vishnu when Bhrigu kicked his chest. And then, she simply said, I am not going to stay here. I will go to my mother's place. So, it is not like that. Where there is Kali, there will be Kala, Mahakala. Where there is Lakshmi, because she ever stays where? In the chest of the Lord Vishnu in the form of Kaustubha Ratna. He cannot be without Lakshmi and Lakshmi cannot be without him. So, naturally when she comes, he also has to come. Who is Vishnu? Pure Chaitanyam. So, if mother comes by her grace, this is a very crucial point we have to understand. We pray not to play crookedness, trying to obtain something by hook or crook. When the Divine Mother is pleased with us, what does she bring? She can bring Dharma. First of all, definitely she will bring Dharma. Artha Kama in various points. And then, finally Moksha also. That is why I mentioned earlier, one of the manifestations of Lakshmi is called Moksha Lakshmi. So, when Lakshmi comes, she is Dhanalakshmi, Dhanyalakshmi, Gajalakshmi, Vijayalakshmi, Santanalakshmi, Dairyalakshmi, Aishwarya Lakshmi, Mokshalakshmi, Shantilakshmi. All these are. How do we know? Because the scriptures have to be looked for. If one scripture is only describing a little bit, is there any other scripture which is describing the same topic in more elaboration? So, you go to the Devi Mahatmya. So, when Lakshmi comes, it is that Lakshmi Roop Vena. Because there are not two. There is one Santanalakshmi separate quarrelling with Vidyalakshmi because all my children did not get admittance into the preferred school, etc. She is manifesting according to our need. So, a mother when the child is sick, she becomes the nurse. When he wants to play, she becomes the playmate. When the baby is hungry, she becomes the cook and nurse. So, whether it is for her husband or for everybody, a mother is a mother in so many aspects. If ordinary mother can become, can play so many roles, what about the Divine Mother? So, I want that Lakshmi who will never go. Now, what is the implication? If Lakshmi is always with me, who will be with Lakshmi? Not only me, but Vishnu will be there. So, if there is Vishnu and there is me and there is Lakshmi and there is a quarrel between me and Vishnu, who is going to have? It is like a baby saying, let my mother be with me always and father, you have no right. So, we are all together. That means, every Jivatma will be with the Divine Mother, with the Paramatma, so long as the body and mind are there. So, where there is Lakshmi who can never be separated from the devotee, that is where Vishnu will be there and that means the person will absolutely progress in spiritual life. He becomes what is called Samadarshi and that is where there are people who are householders, there are people who are Sanyasins for the householders. Mainly, probably, this is for the householders. So, Yasyam, from whom? Hiranyam, gold. Gold means wealth. It doesn't matter. Nowadays, what you call? All the credits. You don't worry about it. Gaam, Ashwa, cows and horses, but it means animals and Purushanam, and I am a householder. I want all the people. Let my family be very well spread out. Let them prosper. Let me have many children. Let my children have many children. Let our family grow. Especially, remember when this hymn is composed by the Rishis, they were living in an age what is called agricultural civilization. If we do not keep this in mind, we will have a big problem. So, all these descriptions Gaam, Ashwa, Purusha, Hiranya, etc., first of all, it indicates a person is a householder. Why do we say so? That is what I am going to explain to you. Now, in the olden days, whether it be agricultural civilization, that is when the Vedic culture has developed. That is when our Rishis have discovered that man cannot live separated from nature. Bhagavan or Divine Mother is manifesting in the form of nature, entire Jagat. In which form? In every form. Divine Mother is manifesting in the form of mountains, rivers, forests, in the form of everything has a right and proper place. Do tigers and lions and hyenas and wolves have any proper role? I already explained to you, without them nature will not be at balance. In fact, what are we doing every day? We are growing crops, we are living plants and we are eating them. Recently, I saw a very beautiful news, that is how plants communicate with each other. Some Japanese, I think, they have implanted some special chemical and then they started cutting and immediately they were videographing and this chemical is showing that something like an aura going out and conveying that message, I am in danger, some worm or something is eating me up and once they finish me they are going to come to you. Be careful. This was discovered by Sir Jagadeesh Chandra Bose 100 years back. Only now a video proof is there. There is a beautiful video. Why am I mentioning this? Because we think that plants are dumb, they cannot communicate, ants cannot communicate, animals cannot communicate. The more science is developing sophisticated gadgets, the more we are astonished that what our Vedic Rishis through intuition discovered many thousands of years back and this modern science is slowly, slowly confirming it through proof. So what are we talking? Those days we are dependent upon Gods called presiding deities. This is what Bhagavad Gita says So we have to worship and offer what is their due and the Gods will give us everything that we need in the form of rains, proper sunlight, seasons, etc. And what they give, we are only to show our gratitude, we have to show the same thing to them. It is not that we are going to give something of our own. We don't have anything. Whatever they have given, we have to offer it to God himself in the form of these Devatas and they will be pleased. My child is very grateful to me. He loves me, so I will bestow him. And I am a strong believer in this and therefore whatever evil is taking place, the wars, the bloodshed, it is all because we have become adharmic. So you worship God and in the Vedic times the worship has taken most often the form of hymns and prayers and physically the forms of yajnas and yagas. We get so much of mention of it. And to perform those things, we require these animals to cultivate the lands, agricultural lands and then to get things like milk, curds, ghee, etc. We require plenty of animals. So all the cows represent which enhance a person's householder's life for the sake of worship. And what is called elephants and horses included all that are animals of transportation. So for worship everything should be worship. And why do I want so much of money? Because I wanted to worship God. Not only that, marvelous concepts have been developed. It is not that some people sit down and lit a fire and go on offering and just fold their hands and do nothing. They also wanted to do as much of social service as possible. And how is it possible? Produce more food. Not only that, there are two concepts have come of social service. It is called Ishta and Poortha. In fact, that is what Swami Vivekananda wanted to bring back into this 22nd century. What is it? That it is not merely personal worship, but it must be transmuted into social service. That is what he called Jagat Hita. Prayers, personal prayers, pujas, etc. He said Atma Sakshat Kara. That is the first one. Atmano Moksha Artham. But the second part is it should never be separated from Jagat Hita. Because we are the world. The world is we. And for that purpose, animals are required. Wealth is required. And the effort called agricultural effort is necessary. And then the products of the agricultural products, they can be used to offer to the Divine Lord. So all these are implicated in this particular second one. Why do you want? If Agni Devata questions, why do you want Lakshmi? No, it is not for this sake. If Lakshmi is all the time, I can discharge my personal duties, my social duties again and again. So Agni, please bring them. What type of? Whom? Tam. Who is that? Lakshmi. And what type of Lakshmi? Anapagaminim. She will never leave me. How will I make sure that she will not leave me? Because if I love Lakshmi Devi, she will not leave me. If I hate her, she will leave me. What is the meaning of this loving and hating? If I love her, that means I will share everything with whatever. That is part of the every religion teaches. At least one-tenth of your income, one-fourth of your income, whatever is there, that should be utilized for social welfare. In fact, according to Hindu Samskaras, Hindu Dharma Shastra, every person's wealth should be divided into four parts. First part goes to maintenance. Second part, every householder should save. Third part, for social service, for serving God, etc. And the fourth part, it must go to support the government. So, some such beautiful arrangement is there. And if I do, that is, if I worship God's Goddesses, because they have given me and they are giving me through Lakshmi Devi, because they are all manifestations of the Lakshmi Devi, then I become pure. Then I can serve my mother and father. Simply, Matru Devo Bhava, let her die in a lonely place. Pitru Devo Bhava, let him also die in an old age home. Then Acharya Devo Bhava. How much of tragedy has come because people never understood these things. But if I love Lakshmi Devi, it must manifest in the type of transformation in my own life. And that is what is being said here. I want all those things because I want to enjoy. Not that only I want to enjoy, I want to use this also in order to serve the society in the form of Ishta and Popta. Basically, Ishta means all those activities where I can communicate directly with God through prayer, worship, etc. Popta means removing some of the wants like digging tanks, constructing dharma shalas, guest houses, constructing temples or whatever is needed. And that is what government is also supposed to do even today and which sadly most governments are neglecting. What beautiful ideas are implied through these prayers. Otherwise, if you try to understand them, how selfish these Hindus are. I want money, I want people, I want servants, I want everybody only for my own selfish enjoyment. That is a very gross type of misinterpretation in our ancestors in the old age. That is why I can mention so many names. Even Nachiketa's father was very famous as Vajashravasa. He was famous for distributing food and other things to all the people who required it. We will talk about these beautiful ideas in our future classes. May Ramakrishna, Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda bless us all with bhakti. Ramakrishna