Volume I

 

Foreword

 

His Holiness Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamiji was initiated into Sanyasa Ashrama and anointed to the pontificate of the venerated Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, by the then pontiff Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarawathi Swamiji, now popularly known as The Paramacharya, on the 22nd March 1954.

 

Ever since, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamiji, has been working tirelessly for the ideals and values of San at ana Dharma which the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam has always stood for.

 

The greatest quality of our Acharya is His simplicity. He firmly believes that one has to reach out to the masses to serve them effectively. It is this belief that made Him walk over a million kilometers and meet people in every nook and corner of our country not once, not twice but thrice.

 

The Acharya has taken the spirit of Hinduism to the doorsteps of society and has made people realize the importance of service to communities.

 

A Seer of the highest order, He stands tall amongst all spiritual orders for His immense contribution to National Integration. He has been continuously striving to bring about religious harmony and in particular, strengthen the unity between Hindus and Muslims, in the interest of our Nation. It is these efforts that have earned Him the admiration and respect of the leaders of other religions.

 

His deep understanding and astounding knowledge of our heritage and of Sanatana Dharma is now being made available to the public at large by this publication which is a compendium of his thoughts and discourses on the Heritage of Bharatha Varsha and Sanatana Dharma. This publication is brought out, with the Blessings of the Acharya, in our endeavour to preserve and propagate our rich heritage and culture and all that Sanatana Dharma stands for.

 

Our Sincere Pranams to the Acharya.

 

Introduction

 

It is well known that nearly 2,500 years ago, with a view to reform the society, Lord Parameswara himself incarnated as Sri Sankaracharya in Kaladi village (Kerala State).

 

Before he completed his 32nd year, he had gone round this country several times to bring about renaissance of Dharma and Adwaita. After condemning seventy two bad schools of thought. He re-established Sanathana Dharma under six major schools. With a view to perpetuate these and to continue such services, he established several Peethams. He handed over the Pooja of his Yoga Linga and Saligrama which were worshipped by him to his disciple Sarvagna Atma Muni with instructions to continue the poojas and also to continue to do the Dharma and Adwaita Pracharas. For this purpose, he established a Peetham at Kancheepuram and named it as Kamakoti Peetham. From that day till this day there had been 67 Acharyas on this Peetha without break. They were all following the instructions of Adi Sankara as regards Pooja and Dhrama Pracharas. The 68th Acharya to this Peetham is H.H. Shri Shri ChandrasekharendraSaraswathi Swamigal and He took to Sanyas Ashram in his 13th year and ascended the Peetham. He also followed his predecessors as regards Pooja and Dharma Precberes. Ho is now aged 80, stays at Kancheepuram and gives His Blessings to all His Bhakthas from there itself. The Present Matadhipathi (i.e, 69th Matadhipathi) to this Peetham is H.H. Shri Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal. He took to Sanyas Ashram ill his 19th year from H.H. Shri Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal. He got Sasthra Abhyas, Pooja Abhyas etc. also from Him, and was always staying and travelling with Him.

 

H.H. Shri Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal commenced his Vijaya Yatra on Vasantha Panchami Punya Kala (February 1973) with Pooja Dieties etc. On the 7th June, 1973 he performed the Kumbabhishekam of Lord Kartikeya at Uttara Swami Malai Ttomple, Ramakrishnapuram, New Delhi. This booklet contains his Upadesas during his stav at Delhi.

 

His discourses containing several Upadesas were in Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu and Hindi, which were taken down in English shorthand, by Mr. S. Balasubramanian and have been compiled in this book form. It is hoped all 8sthik8s would read this book. follow the Upadesas. conduct their lives on those lines and thus obtain the BlessIngs of TripuraSundari Sametha Chandra Mowleeswara and also the Anugrahas of Shri Shri Acharyas.

 

Contents

 

	PART I
1.	Our Holy Motherland		1
2.	Our Country, its Culture and Civilisation		5
3.	Our Indian Cosmology		11
4.	Some Cosmological Data		20
6.	Is the World Really Bad ?		22
6.	The Trilinga Desa or the Telugu Region		27
7.	Our National Language Sanskrit		31
	PART II
8.	The Basic Tenets of the Hindu Religion		37
9.	The Footpath of the Hindu Religion		44
10.	The Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man		52
11.	The Bhuloka and Its Significance		53
12.	Swadharma or Duty of Each Individual		69
	PART III
13.	Temple Worship		72
14.	The Significance of Kumbhabhishekam		80
15.	The Worship of God in Saguna Form-I		81
16.	Saguna Form of Worship-II		96
17.	The Worship of Lord Vinayaka		103
18.	Worship of Ardhanareeswara		110
19.	The Worship of Parashakti, the Supreme
	Power		116
20.	The Worship of Durga, the Destroyer of
	Fear		129
21.	The Worship of Subrahmanya		131
22.	The Worship of Anjaneya		132
23.	The Worship of Krishna		135
24.	The Wor,hip of Navagrahas		130
		PART IV
25.		Bhakti as a Means of Realisation	137
26.		The Characteristics of Bhakti	140
27.		Namajaps or the Recitation of the Lord's Name	150
		PART V
28.		The Great Epics of India	151
29.		The Ramayana, a Guide to Daily Life	153
30.		The Efficacy of Ramanama	168
31.		The Writing of Ramanama	172
32.		The Reading of the Ramayana	173~
33.		Rameshwara : A Grammatical Digression	174
		PART VI
34.		The Mahabharata	177
35.		The Message of the Gita	178
		PART VII
36.		The PUranas	187
37.		The Smritis and Dharmashastras	191
		PART VIII
38.		The Three States of Man (Waking, Sleep
		and Dream States)	200
39.		The Three Types of Pralayas or Submersions	209
40.		The Three Types of Reality	212
41.		The Need for Doing Shraaddhas or Ceremonies for Ancestors	214
		PART IX
42.		Gayatri Upadesa (Upanayanam)	220
·43.		Tilakadharanam ( Wearing of Marks on the
		Forehead)	226
44.		The Wearing of Vibhuti	232
45.		Namaskaram	233
46.		Pure Food Implies Pure Thought	239
		PART X
47.		Some Thoughts on Marriage (Evil of Dowry)	243
48		Some Thoughts en Marriage (No Barter in
		Brides.	250
		PART XI
		Cow-Protection and Worship, a Means to Wealth	256
		PART XII
		Some Cultural Habits of Ours	263

 

Volume II & III

 

Introduction

 

It is well known that nearly 2500 years ago, with a view to reform the society, Lord Parames'wara himself had' incarnated as Shri Sankaracharya at Kaladi village in the Kerala State.

 

Before he completed his thirty-second year, He had gone round this country, several times. to bring about the renaissance of Dharma and Advaita. After condemning several bad schools of thought, He re-established Sanatana Dharma under six major schools. With a view to perpetuate these and to continue such services, He established several Peetas. He handed over the puja of his Yogalinga and Salagrama which were worshipped by him to his disciple Sarvagna Atma Muni with instructions to continue the pujas and also to continue to do the Dharmas and Advaita pracharas. For this purpose, He established a Peeta at Kancheepuram and named it as Kamakoti Peetam, From that day till this day there have been 68 Acharyas on this Peeta without break. The present Peetadhipati is H.H. Shri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal, who took to Sanyasa Ashram in His 19th year from H.H.Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal and used to stay and travel with Him. The successor pontiff-designate is H.H.Shri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal, who 'has followed in this tradition and who also travels and stays with His Guru.

 

Both the Swamijis commenced their Vijaya Yatra on the 19th January, 1997 with Puja deities etc. On the 9th November, 1991 they performed the Kumbhabhishekam of Sri Devi Kamakshi Mandir in Delhi. They had their sojourn in Delhi from 1st to 10th: November, 1997.

 

This booklet contains the- English version of their Upadesas during Their Stay in Delhi. (compiled from notes of Their discourses in Hindi/Telugu taken down in English shorthand by Mr. S.Balasubramanian) in Vol. II.

 

Subsequently, H.H.Shri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal had a brief sojourn in Delhi during His Vijaya-yatra in November 1999 from the 21st to the'25th November, 1999. He opened the Dhyana-Mendapem and multipurpose hall at Sri Devi Kamakshi Mandir. New Delhi, on the 21st November. 1999.

 

His Holiness Shri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal paid a brief visit to Delhi in connection with the Prana-Pratistha of Ganes'a, Lakshmi and Nageswara at the Adi Kityayani Mandir Complex in Chattarpur, and He had a brief sojourn in Delhi form 6th March to 11th March 2000.

 

The English version of Their discourses during Their stay in Delhi (compiled from notes of Their discourses in Hindi Telugu taken. down in English shorthand by Mr. S. Balasubramanian) has been included as Volume III in this booklet.

 

Oppurtunity has been taken to include also the English version of the discourses made earlier, one at Rishikesh, two at Moradabad and two at Jamshedpur in 1973-1974 in Volume In.

 

An exposition 00 Hindu Dharma in the form of questions and answers by H.H.Shri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal has also been included.

 

It is hoped that all asthikas will read this book, follow the Upadesas, conduct their Jives on those lines and thus obtain the blessings of Tripurasundarisametha Chandramouleeswara and also the anugraha of the Acharyas.

 

Contents

 

	Salutations to the Guru	1
1.	Key to pronunciation	2-3
2.	Introduction	4-5
	PART I
3.	Need to preserve and protect Vedas, our
	rich and ancient heritage	9-15
4.	Need for renaissance of Vaidika dharma	16-19
5.	Spiritual awakening for action and service	20-21
6.	Service to others, part of dharma	22
7.	Moral upliftment and spiritual awakening,
	need of the hour	23-24
	PART II
8.	Guru -Sishya parampara (teacher-disciple
	tradition)	25-29
9.	God as guru and guru 'as God	30-33
10.	Influence of guru in growth of bhakti
	and faith in religion	34-35
H.	Need to approach God through guru and
	methods therefore	36
	PART III
12.	Role of the three gunas in daily life	37-39
13.	Need to mould mind properly	40-51
14.	Practice more important than precept	52-55
IS.	Unified action, key to prosperity	56
	PART IV
16.	Kaumara school of worship	57-59
17.	Music,a means for moksha	60
	PART V
	The Trilingadesa or Telugu Region	61-63
	PART VI
	Hindu Dharma - An exposition in the form of questions and answers by H.H. Shri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.	65-99
	VOL.III
	PART I

1.	Vinayaka. bestower of all things and remover of all obstacles	102-103
2.	Kartikeya and His many facets	104-105
3.	Worship of Guruvayurappan, .an avatar of Vishnu	106-107
4.	Hanuman, servant par excellence cum master	108-111
5.	Worship of God during sandhya	112
6.	Significance of Mahapradosham	113-115
7.	Significance of Annabbisbekam	116-126
	PART II
8.	Role of Jagadguru in spiritual transformation	127-129
9.	Workship of Guru	130-131
10.	Service to parents is service to God	132
11.	Moral and spiritual base for true Bhakti	133-135
12.	March towards self-fulfilment	136
	PART III
13.	Our Vedic heritage	137-147
14.	Sanctity of Vedic Sounds and significance of Atirudram	148-168

15.	Need to encourage centres of
	Vedic learning	169
16.	Reforms in education to give
	strength and power to children	170-174
17.	Education for good citizenship in
	tune with our sanskriti	175-179
18.	Need for harmony between community
	development programmes and sanskriti	180-183
19.	Harmony between Buddhism
	and Hinduism	184-186
20.	Significance of Panchanga or almanac	187-204
	APPENDICES
I	Welcome Address presented to Their
	Holinesses by the Government of	,
	Delhi at the civic reception on
	7 November, 1997	205-206
II	Important events / functions during
	the Delhi Vijaya-yatra	207-208
III	Names of Asterisms	209-210
IV	Names of the yogas during a day	211
V	Names of the Karanas during a day	212
VI	Horas and controlling planets during
	different hours of a day	213-214
VII	Sounds, the organs that take part
	in their production and Panini's
	classification thereof	215-218
VIII	Glossary of some important
	SanskritlHindilTamil words	219-226

 

Volume IV

 

Introduction

 

The Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham is one of the most ancient Mutts founded by .Adi Sankara and presided over by himself as its first head. There has been an unbroken chain of successors to him on this Peetham.

 

The present Peethadhipati H.H.Sri ... Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal is the 69 Acharya who has come in that spiritual tradition, the Golden Jubilee of whose ascension to this Peetham is being celebrated all over the country during the current year. He has travelled all over the country and has been continuously striving to bring about a renaissance of our Vaidik Sanatana Dharma and a greater awareness of our ancient heritage, culture and traditions. Through institutional and other devices, he has been trying to make religion a practical aspect of life, by catering to the felt needs of the people in various spheres.

 

This compilation contains an English version of some of his discourses on various aspects of our heritage, dharma and way of life.

 

It is hoped that all devotees will read the upadesas contained in this publication, follow them in their life, and get the anugraha of Their Holinesses and the grace of Tripurasundarisameta Chandramouleeswara.

 

Contents

 

	PART I
1.	Worship of Swaminatha who is God as well as Guru	6
2.	Devi worship during Navaratri	9
3.	Pearls of wisdom for better life	24
4.	Golden words of wisdom	42
5.	Some valuable thoughts from Rigveda	65
6.	Some valuable thoughts from Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda and Isopanishad	70
7.	Greatness of japa	71
8.	The power of Gayatrimantra	75
9.	Some thoughts on Advaita Vedanta	78
10.	The significance of Karadaiyan Nonbu	82
11.	Greatness of Bharatavarsha	85
12.	Better governance for the people	90
	Appendix A: Extracts from Prapancasdratantra re: Gayatrimantra	97
	PART II
1.	Harmony and unity, sheet anchor of Hindu religion	99
2.	We are all children of one God	107
3.	Tamil Nadu and spirituality	111
4.	Sarvodaya ideal for rural uplift	114
5.	Experience formless God through God with form	115
6.	Daily routine of life	118
7.	Life should be lived according to dharma	119
8.	Worship ofNarayana	123
9.	Prosperity comes throughyagna	125
10.	Education and character	127
11.	Education and culture	130
12.	What does not bend at five cannot be bent at fifty	131
13.	Education and discipline	134
14.	Deepavali, a reminder to end terrorism	137
15.	Adi Sankara, our guru and guide for life	141
16.	What is special about Hindu religion vis-a-vis other religions?	159
17.	Sacred rivers and sacred places of India	169
18.	Be alert in regard to conversion	175
19.	Light of Atman lit by God	179
20.	Unity in diversity	192
21.	Need to impart moral instruction	195
22.	Worship of God unites people	197
23.	Duties of students	204

 

Volume V

 

Introduction

 

H.H. Jagadguru Sri ... Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal, the golden Jubilee of whose ascension to the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham is being celebrated all over the country during the current year has travelled far and wide throughout the country. He has been striving continuously to bring about a renaissance of our ancient heritage and way of life, by continuously promoting efforts through institutional and other devices in various parts of the country to cater to the felt needs of the people in various spheres.

 

This compilation in English seeks to present his exposition on our ancient heritage and dharma/way of life, in the form of questions and answers.

 

It is hoped that all devotees and seekers of knowledge will derive benefit from this and receive the blessings of Their Holinesses as also the grace of Tripurarisundarisameta Chandramouleeswara.

 

Contents

 

1.	Our ancient heritage	1
2.	Hindu dharma/way of life (some clarifications )	31
	Appendix A: 64 Arts/sciences	42
	Appendix B: Numerals in our ancient Heritage	44

 

Volume VI

 

Introduction

 

H.H. Jagadguru Sri ... Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal, the golden Jubilee of whose ascension to the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham has been celebrated recently all over the country has travelled far and wide throughout the country. He has been striving continuously to bring about a renaissance of our ancient heritage and way of life, by continuously promoting efforts through institutional and other devices in various parts of the country to cater to the felt needs of the people in various spheres.

 

This compilation in English seeks to present his exposition on our ancient heritage and dharma/way of life, in the form of questions and answers.

 

It is hoped that all devotees and seekers of knowledge will derive benefit from this and receive the blessings of Their Holinesses as also the grace of Sri Tripurasundarisarneta Candramouleeswara.

 

Contents

 

1.	Salutations to Guru	i
2.	Introduction	ii
3.	Contents	iii
4.	Exposition by H.H. Jagadguru Sankaracharya Sri ... Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal, on our ancient heritage, our Hindu dharma and Hindu way of life, in the form of questions and answers

 

Volume VII

 

Introduction

 

The Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham is one of the most ancient Mutts founded by Adi Sankara and presided over by himself as its first head. There has been an unbroken chain of successors to him on this Peetham.

 

The present Peethadhipati H.H.Sri ... Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal is the 69th Acharya who has come in that spiritual tradition, the Golden Jubilee of whose ascension to this Peetham was celebrated all over the country during the current year. He has travelled all over the country and has been continuously striving to bring about a renaissance of our Vaidik Sanatana Dharma and a greater awareness of our ancient heritage, culture and traditions. Through institutional and other devices, he has been trying to make religion a practical aspect of life, by catering to the felt needs of the people in various spheres.

 

This compilation contains an English version of some of his discourses and articles containing his exposition on various aspects of our heritage, dharma and way of life.

 

It is hoped that all devotees will read the upadesas contained in this publication, follow them in their life, and get the anugraha of Their Holinesses and the grace of Tripurasundarisameta Chandramouleeswara,

 

Contents

 

	Part I
	Our ancient heritage and dharma
1.	Need for renaissance of the Vedas	1
2.	Need to revive Ayurveda for health and prosperity	5
3.	The basis of our Vedic Sanatana Dharma	9
4.	Karma	12
5.	The first religion of humanity	19
6.	Worship of Ayyapppan	20
7.	Worship of Skanda or Subrahmanya	21
8.	Greatness of Ramanama	23
9	Jyotirlinga at Rameswaram	25
10.	Similarities and dissimilarities in incarnations	27
11.	Pipal and tulasi are forms of God	28
12.	Worship of God	30
13.	Adi Sankara Jayanti	48
14.	Greatness of Guru	50
15.	Performance of .rituals/religious rites	55
16.	viveka and Vairagya	57
	Part II
	Festivals and vratas
17.	Karadaiyan Nombu	64
18.	Rishipancamivrata	66
19.	Karttikaideepam	67
20.	Deepavali	70-79
	A day of deliverance	70
	Gangasndnam	72
	Let darkness be driven away and knowledge shine	74
	See the light of knowledge in your own heart	76
	Abandon bad qualities and light the lamp of knowledge	76
	Let us give an abode for Krishna in our hearts	77
	Krishna as viratswaroopa	79
	Sattwaguna paves the way to harmony and peace	80
	Lessons to be learnt from Deepavali	82
	Let us light the deepa of knowledge in our own hearts 84
	Let us do good things 85
	Deepavali and Jan Kalyiin or welfare of people	87
	Let us light the deepa of knowledge in our hearts	89
21.	The festival of Bhogi	90
22.	Makara Sankriinti or Pongal festival	91
23.	Gokulashtami	92
24.	Sivaratri	94
25.	Navaratri	96
26.	Tamil New Year Day	98
27.	Sacred events during the year	101
28.	Avani Avittam	103
29.	Mahalayapaksham	106
30.	What is special in the month of Adi?	108
31.	What is unique in Avani?	109
32.	Saturdays are special in Purattasi	111
33.	Mahamagham	113
34.	vratas observed during the year	115
35.	Chturmasyam-1	117
36.	Chturmasyam-2 119
	PART III
	General topics
37.	Mother	121
38.	Marriage	123
39.	What we should learn from Sita's marriage	126
40.	Advice to women	128
41.	Importance of temples	132
42.	Clay will mix with water but not sand	133
43.	What do the Puranas say about eclipses	136
44.	Let the spirit of unity grow	137
45.	Eradicate the evil of dowry	139
46.	Pure food implies pure thought	141
47.	Goal of education	144
48.	Mother, father and Guru	146
49	Ramagita	150
50	Uddhavagita (Gurugita/Avadhootagita)	205
	Appendix	224
1.	Rigveda Samhita Homam
2.	Atimaasam
3.	Vedas and their rescensions
4.	108 Upanishads