courtesy: Sri.Sivan Krishnan
VEDANTH AND SIDDHANTH
We use many words without really knowing their true meanings generally. Two such words in common use are Vedantha and Sidhdhantha.
Vedantha is '' end of the Vedha'' -- literally as it means and so we take it as the last few pages of a Vedantha book....!! It is Upanishads which is Vedantha is another interpretation we learn. Swami Vivekanandha, the greatet known Vedanthi, the country has ever produced, was once asked
''Swamiji, what is Vedantha'' and he replied
"Vedanta is the essential philosophy original to the Hindus, but we claim it is the essential philosophy of all religions. The major ideas of Vedanta are, first, the ultimate existence. We hold that all the things we see around us are ultimately reducible to one substance. Normally, in every philosophical system, there will be three main questions: What is the nature of man? What is the nature of God as the ultimate reality? What is the nature of nature?
"Different religious systems and different philosophical systems have different answers. Vedanta, especially the non-dualistic Vedanta — Advaita, as it is called — says that all three are one. Man in his ultimate nature, nature in its ultimate nature, and God in His ultimate nature are the same. This is the basic position of Vedanta.
Now let us try to understand what is Sidhdhantha:
This term is an established theological term representing an accepted doctrine, or say a formula, tested and accepted universally within Hindu philosophy which denotes a specific line of theological development within a Hindu religious tradition. The traditional schools of Hindu philosophy have had their siddhantas established by their respective founders in the form of Sutras (aphorisms). The Sutras are commented by a major philosopher in the respective traditions to elaborate upon the established doctrine by quoting from the shastras (scriptures) and using logic and pramanas (accepted source of knowledge). For example, in the tradition of Vedanta, the author of the Brahma Sutra was Veda Vyasa and the commentators were Adi Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhva (each of whom eventually set up sub-schools within Vedanta). Also, in the tradition of Purva Mimamsa, the author of the Sutra was Jaimini and the commentator wasShabaraswami.
Enough is enough. Let us go back to our Vitoba story No. 56.
In the previous story we read about King Kasipathi and his practice of inviting Shiva devotees (wearing Shiva Linga around their neck) everyday for puja and anna dhanamt. We also read that he himself would eat only after giving food to the devotees. The previous story was left in suspense isn't it? Now let us read the story.
As a routine, one day about 10000 Shiva devotees were seated in a big hall in the palace. They all had Shiva Linga tied in a thread around their necks. As usual, the King did the puja and prostrated before the devotees, and got ready to serve them food. Before eating food, the devotees would pray to the Shiva Linga tied around their neck.
"Please take all your Shiva Lingas and complete your prayers" said the Guru. The Shiva Lingas went back to the necks of everyone within a moment to the surprise of everyone.
The thought that Shiva is superior and Vishnu is inferior left all of them at once. Their minds were filled with faith and belif that both Hari and Hara are manifestation of the one god. They all prayed and prostrated before the guru and the King led them back to the palace, wher they completed happily the puja and annadhan.
We use many words without really knowing their true meanings generally. Two such words in common use are Vedantha and Sidhdhantha.
Vedantha is '' end of the Vedha'' -- literally as it means and so we take it as the last few pages of a Vedantha book....!! It is Upanishads which is Vedantha is another interpretation we learn. Swami Vivekanandha, the greatet known Vedanthi, the country has ever produced, was once asked
''Swamiji, what is Vedantha'' and he replied
"Vedanta is the essential philosophy original to the Hindus, but we claim it is the essential philosophy of all religions. The major ideas of Vedanta are, first, the ultimate existence. We hold that all the things we see around us are ultimately reducible to one substance. Normally, in every philosophical system, there will be three main questions: What is the nature of man? What is the nature of God as the ultimate reality? What is the nature of nature?
"Different religious systems and different philosophical systems have different answers. Vedanta, especially the non-dualistic Vedanta — Advaita, as it is called — says that all three are one. Man in his ultimate nature, nature in its ultimate nature, and God in His ultimate nature are the same. This is the basic position of Vedanta.
Now let us try to understand what is Sidhdhantha:
This term is an established theological term representing an accepted doctrine, or say a formula, tested and accepted universally within Hindu philosophy which denotes a specific line of theological development within a Hindu religious tradition. The traditional schools of Hindu philosophy have had their siddhantas established by their respective founders in the form of Sutras (aphorisms). The Sutras are commented by a major philosopher in the respective traditions to elaborate upon the established doctrine by quoting from the shastras (scriptures) and using logic and pramanas (accepted source of knowledge). For example, in the tradition of Vedanta, the author of the Brahma Sutra was Veda Vyasa and the commentators were Adi Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhva (each of whom eventually set up sub-schools within Vedanta). Also, in the tradition of Purva Mimamsa, the author of the Sutra was Jaimini and the commentator wasShabaraswami.
Enough is enough. Let us go back to our Vitoba story No. 56.
In the previous story we read about King Kasipathi and his practice of inviting Shiva devotees (wearing Shiva Linga around their neck) everyday for puja and anna dhanamt. We also read that he himself would eat only after giving food to the devotees. The previous story was left in suspense isn't it? Now let us read the story.
As a routine, one day about 10000 Shiva devotees were seated in a big hall in the palace. They all had Shiva Linga tied in a thread around their necks. As usual, the King did the puja and prostrated before the devotees, and got ready to serve them food. Before eating food, the devotees would pray to the Shiva Linga tied around their neck.
What a surprise? The Shiva Linga in the necks of all the devotees had suddenly vanished.
Everyone was shocked. It was unfortunate for them because they cannot eat without praying to the Shiva Linga. All they could see in their necks was the bare thread without the shiva linga. That's all. They all wondered how to complete their prayer and why the shiva lingas tied to the necks of all of them vanished. What was the reason for this mishap?
Some devotees started suspecting that the King might have committed some sin, a mistake or defaulted, and hence, his puja was probably not acceptable to the Lord. But King was having his Shiva Linga tied in the thread around his neck in tact.
Everyone was shocked. It was unfortunate for them because they cannot eat without praying to the Shiva Linga. All they could see in their necks was the bare thread without the shiva linga. That's all. They all wondered how to complete their prayer and why the shiva lingas tied to the necks of all of them vanished. What was the reason for this mishap?
Some devotees started suspecting that the King might have committed some sin, a mistake or defaulted, and hence, his puja was probably not acceptable to the Lord. But King was having his Shiva Linga tied in the thread around his neck in tact.
The King was having his own surmise and suspicion. - perhaps one of devotees must have committed a big unpardonable sin. The King thought for a minute and prayed sincerely to the lord Mahadev and announced " My most respected holy Siva bakthas, To day we are faced with a big problem hitherto unknown to any of us. There is no reason for the Shivalingas of all of you vanishing suddenly. I have a feeling that probably one of you must have insulted a Saint or done something displeasing lord Mahadeva, That is the reason for Lord Shiva leaving all of you here by the missing Shivalinga you had with you. I appeal to you all that if any one of you had committed a, sin knowingly to please come forward and confesses. I say this because then we all can pray to Lord Shiva to forgive him and the rest of us, to complete our pooja and have the annadhanam performed properly."
The devotees were looking at each other and tried to recollect what all they did, but could not find out any thing wrong in what they did so far. Samuchyan was also in the crowd. He also introspected and suddenly realised that he might be responsible for this incident by wantonly hurting the feelings of sadhu Mrithyunjayan and the innocent devotee Bavaraya. In those people were bold and honest to admit their mistakes. He went and fell at the King's feet. He cried "Oh! King! I thought that Shiva is superior to Vishnu and started spreading rumours about Swami Mrithyunjayan and his disiciple Bavaraya who are Vaishnavites. May be that could be reason for this incident. I feel I am the culprit and caused the mishap. It could be my evil deed that is the reason for Lord Shiva to leave all these devotees here including me Please forgive me" cried Samuchyan.
The King suggested "Come! All of us will go to Mrithyunjayan and ask his forgiveness. I shall also come with you. If he forgives us, we shall get back Lord Shiva's blessings again through the Shiva Lingas."
Everyone accepted what Samuchyan feared to be the true cause. They asked the King to take a devision. The kingly rightly decided and asked all of them led by him, to proceed to the ashram of Sadhu Mrithyunjaya. By the time they all reached the sadhu's cottage, he was deeply involved in his Vittal bhajan. They waited for him to complete his prayers. Mrithyunjaya was surprised to see about 10000 people waiting in the hot sun outside all of a sudden. He could not understand the reason for their assembling in front of his hut. King Kasipathi went near the sadhu along with Samuchyan and both of them fell at the feet of Mrithyunjaya and Bavaraya. Samuchyan was in tears and cried aloud lamenting "I am a sinner. I have insulted you both. I have done this knowingly to harm you though you both are innocent. Please forgive me and save me".
"Get up. You are a Shiva devotee. You can never make mistake" said the Guru.
"No Swami! I have committed a big sin" and he said whatever he did in detail. Mrithyunjaya listened to everything and said quietly "I have two dogs here. One's name is Vedhanth and another one is Siddhanth I shall check with them if they have taken them".
The King did not understand anything. Nor could the people waiting outside follow what the sadhu said. How two dogs could have caused the missing of their shivalingas.? Samuchyan was also a Shiva devotee isn't it. He has been saying that Vittal was not equal to Lord Shiva. That was the reason he has been insulting Mrithyunjaya and whom he worshipped the Vittal Himself..
When everyone was standing by quietly wondering what is going to happen next, the Guru called "Vedhanth! Come here".
The devotees were looking at each other and tried to recollect what all they did, but could not find out any thing wrong in what they did so far. Samuchyan was also in the crowd. He also introspected and suddenly realised that he might be responsible for this incident by wantonly hurting the feelings of sadhu Mrithyunjayan and the innocent devotee Bavaraya. In those people were bold and honest to admit their mistakes. He went and fell at the King's feet. He cried "Oh! King! I thought that Shiva is superior to Vishnu and started spreading rumours about Swami Mrithyunjayan and his disiciple Bavaraya who are Vaishnavites. May be that could be reason for this incident. I feel I am the culprit and caused the mishap. It could be my evil deed that is the reason for Lord Shiva to leave all these devotees here including me Please forgive me" cried Samuchyan.
The King suggested "Come! All of us will go to Mrithyunjayan and ask his forgiveness. I shall also come with you. If he forgives us, we shall get back Lord Shiva's blessings again through the Shiva Lingas."
Everyone accepted what Samuchyan feared to be the true cause. They asked the King to take a devision. The kingly rightly decided and asked all of them led by him, to proceed to the ashram of Sadhu Mrithyunjaya. By the time they all reached the sadhu's cottage, he was deeply involved in his Vittal bhajan. They waited for him to complete his prayers. Mrithyunjaya was surprised to see about 10000 people waiting in the hot sun outside all of a sudden. He could not understand the reason for their assembling in front of his hut. King Kasipathi went near the sadhu along with Samuchyan and both of them fell at the feet of Mrithyunjaya and Bavaraya. Samuchyan was in tears and cried aloud lamenting "I am a sinner. I have insulted you both. I have done this knowingly to harm you though you both are innocent. Please forgive me and save me".
"Get up. You are a Shiva devotee. You can never make mistake" said the Guru.
"No Swami! I have committed a big sin" and he said whatever he did in detail. Mrithyunjaya listened to everything and said quietly "I have two dogs here. One's name is Vedhanth and another one is Siddhanth I shall check with them if they have taken them".
The King did not understand anything. Nor could the people waiting outside follow what the sadhu said. How two dogs could have caused the missing of their shivalingas.? Samuchyan was also a Shiva devotee isn't it. He has been saying that Vittal was not equal to Lord Shiva. That was the reason he has been insulting Mrithyunjaya and whom he worshipped the Vittal Himself..
When everyone was standing by quietly wondering what is going to happen next, the Guru called "Vedhanth! Come here".
A big black dog came running from somewhere and stood in front of the guru. He asked it "Why did you take these people's Shiva Lingas. Please return them. Be quick with it. Saying thus, he kept a big metal tray in front of the dog. The dog Vedamth opened its big mouth and spat out 5000 Shiva Lingas one by one. The shiva lingas came out quickly out of its mouth and filled the plate. ''Vedanth, you a re a good boy. go back.'' He told the dog to leave and the black dog left. Everyone was fixed like a stone pillar in astonishment.
Then called "Hey Siddhanth ! You also come here and be out with the remaining 5000 Shiva Lingas". The white dog went near the sadhu, looked at all for a moment and then circumambulated the guru once and sat in front of him. In the big tray, placed before it, Sidhdhant too brought out from its stomach, and spat down balance 5000 Shiva Lingas. Sidhdhant too went back after this miracle witnessed by the bewildered devotees in awe.
Then called "Hey Siddhanth ! You also come here and be out with the remaining 5000 Shiva Lingas". The white dog went near the sadhu, looked at all for a moment and then circumambulated the guru once and sat in front of him. In the big tray, placed before it, Sidhdhant too brought out from its stomach, and spat down balance 5000 Shiva Lingas. Sidhdhant too went back after this miracle witnessed by the bewildered devotees in awe.
"Please take all your Shiva Lingas and complete your prayers" said the Guru. The Shiva Lingas went back to the necks of everyone within a moment to the surprise of everyone.
The thought that Shiva is superior and Vishnu is inferior left all of them at once. Their minds were filled with faith and belif that both Hari and Hara are manifestation of the one god. They all prayed and prostrated before the guru and the King led them back to the palace, wher they completed happily the puja and annadhan.
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