Every human being desires that he should be happy through out his life, and if possible conquer disease, decay and death in his life span. However he is controlled by an unseen and unknown force throughout his life time, in spite of all his skill, intelligence and supremacy over other living beings. He finds life full of sorrows and pains. He is often forced to experience things which he never sought and not to his choice. Ultimately he might resolve to bow down and surrender to the vagaries of the so called “Fate” or “Circumstance” or “Providence.
The only way is to withstand the onslaught of the fate and convert one’s existence into a happy, Peaceful and poised life is to face it with firm will power, proper understanding and balanced equanimity and lead a simple, austere and disciplined life. We should try to discover the means to get over the defects in our present existence and change this earth into an abode of bliss. Man has been struggling hard to discover the way to achieve this ideal goal and this led to development of various religions, various Gods, different systems of philosophies and moral codes. How far these attempts were successful on an objective way is still a dilemma. It is our birth right to investigate into our origin and destiny. Only when we are able to solve the riddle of our existence, shall we have the peace and happiness we seek. Nothing less than the knowledge of oneself and the world shall satisfy the human rational nature.
For achieving this state the individual needs self mastery. The technique of self-mastery expounded in all the great text books of true living advices us not to “Escape” from life but to “Maintain” an intelligent way of living according to our circumstances in life and to use diligently and profitably all the inner and outer situations of our life. If peace and joy be the goal of every living being’s day-to-day struggles, it is quite natural to enquire “What is peace?” By peace we mean an emotionless silent mental state or condition in a person experienced within him. Therefore, an enquiry into peace can be conducted only by a person who has a certain amount of detachment from the outside world and can look within and observe the happenings and circumstances there in during the various mental conditions. To reach this mental state the individual needs the practice of “YOGA”.
What is “BHRIKTHA RAHITHA TARAKA RAJA YOGA?”
Yoga means unification, a synthesis of factors that are otherwise disconnected into a whole which can function as a unit. Now since man remains as a sort of ununited being not only within himself as one divided against himself but also in his relations with the external world, he requires to make himself one and united. He is not yet a soul. There is no central controlling principle evolved in him. He is at best the most intelligent animal. But as distinguished from a lower animal he is self conscious. He knows of himself more than any other animal though he is ruled like the animal by the natural impulses or instincts. He knows of himself from his external surroundings but is not satisfied with what is given to him by nature. He wants more, an excess. To live to eat and eat to live, as an equation without any increase in balance on his side is not a life worth living for him. Hence his attempt to self-mastery and independence. It is with such an aim consciously or unconsciously that man has been trying to build within nature, a kingdom of his own as a moral world order. The various human institutions are the results of such attempts. Yet these are falling to pieces by the efflux of time. He therefore seeks to discover abiding and eternal values, not somewhere outside himself, but constructed within him. He wants to be himself an eternal individual, if possible. He conceives if such an achievement cannot be had here, it must be else where in a heaven after death. On the other hand there are some others who believe that such an eternity can and must be had here only. These do not appreciate the view that man can divide himself to halves as it was a temporal persisting part of him here and an imperishable part elsewhere and hereafter. The great problem for man is how to attain to such an abiding state of unitary being with out dissection. How can we believe that what cannot be “Proved” here, can be proved to exist elsewhere of which we have no means of direct knowledge. On the other hand if direct knowledge of a hereafter can be had then it is the same thing as having proved here, since the here and the hereafter would no longer be discontinuous but one continuity.
The existing systems of yoga show that where we attempt to get into touch with the ‘unseen’ aspects of nature, the so called astral and higher planes, there intervenes a state of unconsciousness on the physical waking plane. Something seems to be wanting in man’s ‘being’ by which continuity of waking consciousness could be maintained. Until such continuity is maintained there can be no certainty of what is supposed as experienced in the higher planes and there is no self protection for the body on the physical plane. Such experience of the higher planes when the waking consciousness is cut off savour of subjectivism and they may be delusive as well. We require therefore a principle which would act as the link between what at present and discontinuous. Man, as he now is must therefore be taken as incomplete ,yet requiring to be completed in the mechanism of his constitution by a new principle when he should be able to accomplish what has so far been unaccomplished. That principle is what would enable him to maintain ever continuous consciousness and to be no more subject to the defects to which we are now heirs by our present state of being. Such a principle must descend from the very Origin of the cosmic impulse of evolution itself. It cannot be generated from below. It is the same as the Brahmic principle of which the Upanishadic teachers dreamed. Only when that, man is only a mortal being, a phenomenon, an unreal thing. It is the Brahman that is Eternal and it is that that must make of man an immortal. To say that our body by which alone we now function, is mortal, is only a truism. It is the mortal that must be transmuted into the immortal by the entry of Brahman into the human form; otherwise Brahmanhood and immortality would be only abstractions, mere ideas, and not facts that are concrete and provable. It is towards concretization, facthood and real existence and not conceptual possibility, that all evolution is working. Just as there is a difference between the idea of an architecture in the mind of the architect and its actual production as a thing, so also is the difference between the abstract idea of an immortal soul and its standing as a fact in the world of concrete reality.
It is to effect such a reality of immortality of man to make of the man-form a soul or self that the New Yoga, called the BRIKTHA YOGA, has been brought down to Earth and established to form a nucleas of new humanity, by the MASTER C.V.V. at Kumbakonam on 29-5-1910. Without this Yoga, it is not possible to achieve that continuous waking consciousness that is the sign of immortality and the consequent of disease, decay and death that we are now subject to.
The secret of evolution is in the body and only through it we can acquire knowledge and being – In the evolution from ‘atom to man’ there is formed a permanent atom which contains within itself not as a physical unit, but as a spiritual ‘Monad’, all the knowledge and memory of the various stages of evolution in the past and its procedure towards its future. It is this atom that builds the procedure towards its body in our mother’s womb and works at its life story in the individual after birth. This ‘atom’ is as it were in an individualised jiva going through the process of evolution towards complete being under the guidance of its parent source. The Monad ‘Monadum’— It is called in yoga literature from an objective point of view as Kundalini, the involved one. The nature of Kundalini under the process of evolution is such that it does not reveal its inner secrets. This characteristic of its being hermetically sealed up is known as Briktham in the New Yoga Line.
MASTER C.V.V. – A Supreme Guru
Master C.V.V. is a Great soul, who took birth in Kumbhakonam in South India on 4th August 1868. Astrological Nadigrandhams in the South like Dhruvanadi (written according to sayana calculations), Kakeyar’s Nadi (in Nirvana) describe Him as Brahmam Itself here on earth come to give birth to a new Divine Humanity out of the present mortal man and as having entered into the world even unknown to the Trimurti and the planets and other hierarchies of evolution, that having established the New Principles of further evolution and left the body. He evolved himself into a Spiritual centre to enlighten the people by his ‘Bhriktha Rahita Taraka Raja Yoga’. His early ordinary life took a Spiritual turn, after his marriage with Smt.Venkamma. He had received the Spiritual enlightenment from the Nature itself. On May 29th of 1910, he observed the comet ‘Hallis’ from the first floor of his house in Kumbhakonam. Exactly at that time, the ‘Latent’ Raja Yoga in him, sprung out, and from then onwards, he had a series of Divine experiences which ultimately transformed him into a ‘Yogi’.
Just like the world illuminates with rising of the Sun, the Master fills the ‘Pranamaya kosha’ of the Solar system with Audio waves by ‘Sankalpa’ only, He established a link between Pranamaya kosha and the Audio wave and has demonstrated that just by pronunciation the Ether wave in the Space get excited and begin to flow continuously to the Speaking Centre. It means that, the Shabda Kosha, Prana kosha and Pragna kosha, which were independent till then, were inter linked with each other by means of channels. The compiled power, from all these three, has been transformed into ‘Anandanubhuti’ and has been channelised to flow into the material world. It means, a ‘Direct Line’ has been established between Anandanubhuti kosha and the Physical state of the human being.
He spread his divine message in the public and a number of people, like Sri Mynampati Narasimham, Sri Veturi Prabhakara Sastri, Sri Basavaiah and Sri Narayana Rao got benefited from his yoga marga. They also acted as secondary centres to spread his message. He devised a very simple, but highly effective path of Yoga. As a key to such a stream, He has coded his name C.V.V. It is not just a mantra. The mantra, which has the spelling of the MASTER, is enough to guide any one from the beginning to the perfection. Not only this, it rectifies the Planetary ill effects and showers a flawless perfect life. ‘Master C.V.V.’ is the ‘Supreme Guru’ for any one who is ‘drowned in the river of worldly worries, and is fastened to the Physical life’. With the enlightenment of the Master, bondages are broken and the Atma gets liberated and enjoys peace. He has given (i) a series of courses on Planetary and Nakshatra regulations, for those who can undertake these challenges of spiritual experience and withstand the divine power and (ii) has offered a simple prayer twice a day at dawn (6 A.M.) and dusk (6 P.M) for the common man. The individual, who follow his path, can stay in the Society, lead his family life but still can develop detachment to the worldly desires and experience the peace or Nirvana.
SIGNIFICANCE OF MAY CALL, DECEMBER CALL AND EQUINOXES
Master has taken birth when the Moon was in Kumbha (Acquariaes) Rasi. Surprisingly his birth place is ‘KUMBHAKONAM’. Added to this the Sun will be in ‘Mithuna’ (Gemini) during the last week of May. The Moon in Kumbha views Mithuna with Trikona (i.e., fifth house aspect) drusti. This is the significance of Kumbhakonam. That is why the Master has showered the first prayer to this World on 29th May. He used to celebrate the 29th – 31st of May as the ‘MAY CALL’ period. This is the ending period of Uttarayanam. To equalize with this he used to conduct the ‘DECEMBER CALL’ during the December month. After December 22, the Sun moves towards North and it is during this period that JESUS CHRIST has blessed the Humanity.
Master C.V.V. used to conduct Special prayers during March 21 and September 23. These are known as ‘EQUINOXES’. March 21, is the day on which the Sun re-enters Mesha Rasi after the completion of the movement through the Rasichakra. Similarly the September 23 is the day on which the Sun completes the first half of the cycle and enters ‘Tula Rasi’which is beginning of the second half cycle. Since the Sun significances ‘Atma’, this movement of the Sun symbolizes the translation of Jeevatma through the ‘SHAT CHAKRAS’ (or the six pivotal nervous junctions. Thus the Tula Rasi, being the ninth house from Kumbham, becomes the second Tricona Rasi for KUMBHAM. Hence the Master has realized the significance of the Prayer on 23rd September. Thus Master C.V.V., who could order the whole Universe through his prayer discipline, has infused Self-Confidence in the Pursuer.
COURSES AND THEIR BENEFITS
The Spiritual awakening in a human starts at (i) Muladhara Chakra, at the seat of the person (or the lower end of the Spinal Cord) and travels vertically up. At the Naval base lies the `SWADHISTANA CHAKRA`. It is the Astral region. `MANIPURAKA CHAKRA` present in the stomach governs the mind. The origin of intelligence, the `ANAHATA CHAKRA` lies in the heart and stabilizes the life. In the throat there is present the `VISHUDHI CHAKRA`. It is the place of `NIRVANA` or the state of stability after the detachment of worldly desires. Between the eyebrows and inside of the head lies the ‘Agna Chakra’ the region of Para Niravana or perfect stable state. In the brain, midway between Agnachakra and Brahma Randhra lies the last and final ‘Sahasrara Chakra’. It is the ‘MahaPara Nirvana region’ or the state of super perfection or divine stability.
Master called his yoga “An experimental Yoga”. Having possessed unlimited life, He noted the debility of the physical bodies, the existence of foreign matters in the body giving troubles to it, the defects caused by irregularities in the respiratory and other systems of the body. Then he visualized how a perfect human form should be. He planned to work to convert the existing bodies to that perfect state.
He has given to his disciples through initiation the germinal spark of the New Life. It has its period of gestation to sprout before it can be in evidence in the external world. The origin has to be conceived as the parent source of Eternal Life which entering into the physical body of the Master has been able to contact the physical bodies of the disciples with the New Life principle, who thus become the mediums of the Origin on Earth. This initiation into the New Line of human evolution is possible only in and through the physical presence of the disciple before the New Master.
There is no Yoga sadhana possible in the so called subtle and abstract existence of the higher planes. The way to the linking with the Origin is only from this physical level upwards, i.e. through birth on Earth in man-form. If it otherwise there would have been no need for the body to have evolved at all, and we should remain unconscious of the physical world altogether. The spark imparted by the Master through initiation is deposited in the innermost of our Kundalini or our permanent atomic form, and makes it different from the uninitiated human Kundalini.
The act of initiation and sadhana of the New Line is in many respects different from those of the old systems of Yoga. The master enters into the disciple becoming his in-most self; for the M here is not anything but the Origin itself. The physical M being only the outer vehicle of the Origin. This is also the reason why the physical M gave up his body when his work of the New Impulse to remodel the human constitution was over.
In this Yoga, Master has propounded a few courses on planetary regulations and Nakshatra regulations to correct the ill effects of those celestial bodies and there by improve the life pattern of the individual. He gave for practice courses to get the Spiritual wisdom and power to attain perfect state. Therefore He called the practice of yoga a “COURSE” wherein we seek the lessons from the teacher. The art of proper pronunciation perfects the individual and packs the divine power in him.
The courses suggested by the MASTER are divided into –
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Preparatory Courses
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Advanced Courses
- Planetary Courses
They have to be followed in the sequence given above. The first set of courses – the preparatory courses– starts with “MERCHERY”end with “T–COURSE”. When these preparatory courses are practiced with perfection the spine gets activated. The spine is the main channel of the central nervous system in the human body. The activated spine when bored (drilled) generates “Sushumna” which allows the Kundalini shakti to travel vertically up to get merged in the brain. Thus the preparatory courses help the changes for activation of the “Astral Body” or the “Sukshma Sharira”.
The individual should think of Him who is responsible for the respiration in him and meditate about Him. The automatic nature should be recognized and he should realize that he is not inhaling or exhaling during respiration. He should imagine himself as “MILLER”. He should feel that he is the center of this Universe and with its global nature he should meditate. Master labeled it as “Miller Form Center” and included it in the prayer. The consciousness which conducts the prayer should be realized.
In his speech on yoga on 20-08-1917 Master C.V.V. has told as follows.
“Think of what and how we have to practice yoga and think of its benefits. You shall understand by yourselves. Promise that you will practice, with all sincerity, this Yoga for a period of 10 years without any break in the middle. Get rid of the evil effects of the planetary influences and rectify these ill effects and evolve as blessed souls. Your progress lies in your hands. You have to prepare your bodies to withstand the physical disturbances.”