What’s up with the ‘Teelak and Bindee’ on the forehead ?

What’s up with the ‘Teelak and Bindee/dot’ on the forehead ?

      What’s up with the ‘dot’ on the forehead, the worshiping of cows, the worshiping of idols and the polytheism? Is Yoga a Hindu practice, is the word ‘Hindu’ a proper term, and what’s up with the caste system?” Individuals asking these questions are usually not used to a religious tradition that has been maturing for over 7,000 years or one with profound and sophisticated philosophies attached. However, these questions are ones many have about Hinduism and are worth some examination.

            First of all, Hindus are not idol worshipers nor are we idle worshipers. If the statue in the temple breaks do Hindus think that god is dead? Of course not. These statues are made in a specific manner by artists who’ve been creating them for many generations. This artwork is their Yoga and Sadhana. They are to be in a heightened state of awareness via meditation during the production of the icon. Then the temple priests perform elaborate “awakening ceremonies” or time honored rituals, which brings in the awareness and embodiment of the absolute godhead in the form of a particular Deva or deity. By this sacred process, the statues become Murtis or embodiments of the divine. Then individual Hindus offer their love and devotion to the deity in various ways.

           This is not unlike the Catholic transubstantiation ritual which transforms bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. So it is not the statue or image itself which is being worshiped, though this aspect of the Murti holds importance in and of itself. It’s what is in and pervades the statue that is being worshiped. If no one had ever seen a phone, then one day saw someone speaking on the phone, would they not think that the person was speaking directly to the phone itself rather than a person on the other line?

          Secondly, let’s discuss polytheism. Again, to the Western/Christian eye, it appears on the surface that Hindus worship a multitude of deities. Hindus actually believe in one god that is pure consciousness, being and bliss. An unfathomable being that serves not only as creator but creation, preservation and transformation…the three aspects of god-in-action. This is seen as a being with no real persona, ego/individuality, body/sex…no real qualities whatsoever, other than Sat-Chit-Anand or Being, Consciousness and pure Bliss. Below this being are Devas and Devis, or male and female deities which are a part of the one god’s creation and part of the one god’s self; as are you and I.

They are thought to dwell on a different Lokas (planes of existence) than we do, with the power to intervene and exist on a our human plane as well. Westerners have lost in translation the true meaning and personification of these deities. Devas/Devis translates more to ‘angels’ than to ‘gods’ or ‘god’, in the Western/Christian sense. Hindus believe they are sacred, but we Hindus believe pretty much everything in nature and the universe is sacred because it is all a part of god, god-consciousness and his/her/its creation. Furthermore, these various deities signify various elements or powers in the natural world and/or psychological aspects of our own selves.

             They are not beings which order or impose any sort of dogma upon mankind. They do not threaten mankind with hell or promise eternal reward in trade for believing in a certain manner. In the Hindu view, that is for training dogs to do tricks not for awakening the spiritual awareness of the individual aspirant.

Thirdly, let’s talk a bit about “the sacred cow”. Hindus do not worship the cow. Hindus greatly revere the cow. The cow pulls the plow in the fields, gives milk, butter, yogurt and cheese; which in a vegetarian society is/was absolutely necessary. The cow gives it’s hide when it dies and while alive, the cow gives butter which can be made into ghee, which is/was used for oil in lamps. Cow’s dung is/was used as fuel. The smoke from the burning dung keeps away insects and has been shown to kill airborne pathogens. The dung is/was also used as a binding agent to build huts and is itself antibacterial. So anyone can see that Hindus appreciate cows. Without the cow, Bharata (India) would not be. However, they are not worshiped.

Imagine what Hindus think about the typical American carnivore who breeds the cow solely for the consumption of it’s flesh. To say that Hindus worship cows as god is like saying that Christians slaughter cows because they believe the cows are evil demons.

The “dot” on the forehead. For one to understand the true nature of the Teeka, one would have to understand the psychic/Ayurvedic perspective on anatomy. Specifically the system of chakras and auric sheaths. There are actually numerous symbols one might wear on the forehead for special occasions or to signify what sect of Hinduism the individual is from or follows.

It’s main purpose is to remind the individual spiritual aspirant to look upon reality with the “mind’s eye” rather than just the physical eyes; which often only give half truths and dellusions. In other words, the eyes only see that which is in the material, finite, outer world. The Teeka on the forehead reflects the notion of a spiritually infinite inner reality where the self and god are to be found.

On the relationship between Yoga and Hinduism: The following simple quote by David Frawley says it best.

“Yoga is the science of meditation that appears in Hinduism as the very essence of its spiritual practice.”

The fact that Yoga is pursued by many non-Hindus is irrelevant to its validity as a Hindu practice. Hindu texts address the relation between the two quite often. To paraphrase: “The roots of Yoga, its scriptural origins, are Hindu. The stem of Yoga, its practice or sadhana, is Hindu. The flower of Yoga, its mystical union with god is Hindu. Yoga in its full glory and proper definition is fully Hindu.”

“When all the senses are stilled and brought into an inward focus, when the mind is at rest, when the intellect is one-pointed and wavers not…then is known the highest state of consciousness, Divinity and Yoga.

The calm of the five senses and the sixth sense which is mind has been defined as Yoga. He/She who attains it, finds freedom from delusion (Maya)”. ~ Katha Upanishad
On the subject of the Varna/caste system: The Varna system was first discussed in the Rig Veda. It looked on the society of the ancient Indian republic as a person. The head (scholars and holy men), the arms (military and policemen), the body (merchants and businessmen) and the legs (workers and servicemen).
In recent history the “feet” or the “untouchable” has been added because of the severe poverty in India as well as the lingering shadow of colonialism which remains problematic in India and her cultural realm.
It is important to note that the caste system is not a Hindu problem. It is a socio-economic problem. To ridicule Hinduism because of it, is a common tool used by those of opposing religions to deline Hinduism as a whole. There have been over 80k rapes in American every year for over a decade. Yet people do not blame this statistical fact on Christianity. To blame the caste system on Hinduism is just a double standard.

               One can find the four groups of the Varna system in every developed society, ancient or modern. It is not a Hindu construct. When is the last time we’ve seen a Wall Street stock broker or the CEO of a corporation give an ardent hug to a homeless man who hasn’t showered in a month? Indeed, the caste system is alive and well everywhere, not just in India. In India, it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of one’s social status.’

          Finally, on the term “Hindu/Hinduism”: “Hinduism” is a great misnomer. People who practice it call it “Hinduism” for the purpose of understanding and simplicity. Many still refer to it properly as ‘Sanatana Dharma’ or the Eternal/natural Way/truth. The term “Hindu” was first coined by invading Persians who refered to those living within the Indus Valley as such.

        Towards the end of the 18th century, European colonists began to refer to the followers of Sanatana Dharma collectively as Hindus. The term was introduced into the English language in the 19th century to denote the vast religious, philosophical, and cultural traditions of India. So when the world uses a misnomer to myopically describe such a unique and vast tradition, it is any wonder there are so many misconceptions on the topic thriving today?

Hinduism is the mother of all religions. Arguably the cultural realm or hub of the world. It’s aspects can be found in Buddhism, Taoism, Jainism, Sikhism as well as the three Biblical religions. While no religion is without some dogmatic principles or aspects, Hinduism can afford many paths: Theists, non-theists, monotheists, polytheists, pantheists, agnostics and atheist. No other religious tradition can say this. Hinduism is not an organized religion as much as it is a personalized one.

      It is a union of Eastern spiritualities which have evolved over many thousands of years, yet it remains relevant in modern times. It is truely a Sanatana Dharma…an Eternal and Universal way of understanding one’s self, divinity, nature and the cosmos. I am proud to be a Hindu Dharmi!

Author : Sean Bradrick
Sean is an aspiring Aghori living in Omaha, Nebraska, US. He is an Ayurvedic consultant specializing in 'Holistic and integrative psychology'

Journey to Mahakumbha 2013

Khajuraho - The scuptures of life and eternity

After visiting Orchha, we set off for Khajuraho, which is approximately 180 kms from Orchha. It was 5:30 in the evening and and it would certainly take not less than 4 hours to get there. We started and to our good luck now I could manage to use my SIM in other mobile and got the GPS navigation working for us. We did not have food in the afternoon and after reaching Chhatapur we got out of the car and rushed to have some snack. We have had delicious snacks there, a stomachful of snack for just 38 Rs for noth of us.

"Khajuraho"  A name we are acquainted in early years of our(my)teenage,  very well known brand of beer. Apart from this when I started reading some literature on indian history, some time, some where I came across some mentions of Khajuraho.

According to my knowledge, After Buddism and Jainism florished in India and across the world, The royal families of Central India felt that it is a great threat to the "Kshatra dharma" the warrior-ism  people started following the practices preached in these literature, which also made people to believe that physical relationship, having sexual intercourse is a greatest of greatest sins. The royal families, to surpass this threat they started building temples where along with all day to day life of a common man, physical relations, are also taught that is also a thing to be achieved and enjoyed and practiced with intense emotions, which will help people feel the oneness of two bodies, which then further can be extended by spiritual ways to experience the oneness of the entire world.

These temples, the carvings and sculptures depicts the four pillars of Hindu life style.. wiz Dharm, arth,kaam, moksh.

These are the four "Purusharthas" that everybody should strive to achieve. Our culture has never underestimated Kaam neither we have treated it as something which is equal to sin.

A person should live his/her life at four stages, rather these four stages are four different identities of each person. And our culture originally promoted everybody to live and experience life at all the four layers.. these layers are

1. Wyashti

2. Samashti

3. Srishti

4. Parameshti

As we go one step up we increase our boundaries seemlessly from an Individual(Wyashti) to Society(Samashti), from Society,community,country,nation to the Universe,the multiverse(Srishti) and finally from Srishti, the charachar, to the ultimate oneness. The eternal life, the sakshatkar, the moksha, salvation, jannat pana whatever we call it.

The same thing is also depicted in four sentences of the most ancient four books ie Vedas.

These four sentences are called as Mahavakyas.. I have a storuy for this

1.  A disciple asks his master out of curiosity..Who am I?( Ko aham) 

2.  Then the master answers "You are that" ( Tat tvam asi)

3.  The sadhak does lot of sadhana as per the instructions of the master and realises the fact" "I am that "( Aham Bramhasmi)

4. Upon further practice he attains the ultimate and realises "Everything in the universe is nothing but the brahma" (Sarvam Khalu idm Brahma)

And after viewing the great monuments and temples of Khajuraho I realised one thing for sure that, these are not only carvings with passion for pornocarving but our entire cuture, entire Hindu ideology, ways of life have been carved on stones. 

This is just incredible.

Guys I insist all of you, once in life time must visit Khajuraho.

After spending the entire day @ khajuraho, we said bye bye to temples and our next destination was Prayag ie Allahabad. We left approximately @ 5 O'clock in the evening for Allahabad...

Lets see how Kumbha Mela was, in the next post...