* & Donation of Education & Bhavishya Purana B YY Shubhangi Naik wvishya means Future & Purana means Tales of Ancient Times The Bhavishya Purana is a Hindu religious text and one of the eighteen major Puranas It is written in Sanskrit and attributed to Sage Vyasa, the compiler of the Vedas. The title Bhavishya Purana’ signifies a work that contains prophecies regarding the future. Despite being labeled as a Purana, thework relates only afewlegends.Itisone ekithie pewersl Patonce salva line cl vege! dynasties of the “past” are. followed by lists of kings predicted torulein the future. Tes tester itiesiele tceg tna composite of material ranging; from very old to very recent. In AG cclvunclhcipemect classification according to the three gunas’ given in the Padma, Purana, it is classified in the rajas category, which contains Puranas whosecentral deity is Brahma. Reproduced below & in future articles we would. famish excerpts from it, which would be having some astrology content, or be helpful for us to understand karma which in tum helps us to understand astrology better. Educetiowionierearang cl Kaowledie tx considered one of the most auspicious karmas but some individuals in modem India still consider it incorrect and their donation of education comes either with a catch or the infamous ‘serve me mentality’. Effective donation or any karma is one that has no caich, no expectation of fruits, no conditions attached to it. The Universe/God is intelligent and powerful enough to talce care of it 142 lee being misused or vice versa. So we do not requier self styled Generals guarding it against misuse otherwise the higher divinity of knowledge 1s questioned in the context of astrology. The easiest way to understand God (Universal Energy) is to observe nature for years, one would find there is absolute perfection in Gods roin or even in his famine, even in his Tsumamt there is perfection. Below we reproduce what Lord Krishna has talked about education. Ia order to maintain the flavor of the Purana we will be using the word Vidya Dan' which when loosely translated means donation of education. (Bhavishya Purana, Chapter-174) King Yudhisthira said: O Lord! After leaming about different rituals on giving Cows and Land in donation, now wish to learn about importance of Vidya-den Lord Krishna said: O king! Now I describe ie atuslifor Vides dan and the fmits one canearn by thisritual. iveiien auspitious dey and time. On this day, make a square mandal” decorate it with flowers and Swestik (lucky or auspicious cbject/ Pie emtedeso dencie goedluc eM Placethe lock tu the mid of the mandal and worship with Sandalwood paste (gandha), consecrated rice (Akshata) and flowers. Worship the Scribe ewto tiker) sud doncie him the-golden writings embossed on the silver plate. The scribe should bewell mannered and unbiased. Pte eed ie acre should begin laser ances with concentration he should write each words separately, in separate lines, with appropriate Pete ee ovisyar Uusll consonants edn file ea serie herwniting chocld ba reand: beautiful, even, overlined (in Devanagri script the letters are joined by a line above the letters toform the word). * Reference Wikipedia # Qualities a © Mandal a amallliwhetabted sranre jable used to placetdalelor pertorming wonhipol, clicWith this ritual one can write holy devotional bookson Shiva or Vishnuor any otherscience of law (dharma) etc, and then worship the scribe with the clothes, omaments and then by covering the books with two fabrics this book could be given along with some cash toa Brahmin who is a good reader, liked by everyone and is sweet spoken or to any temple, institution or a library run for the henefit ofthe public. Whoevermakesdonation this way getsthe benefit Greater that obtained by pilgrimage. Similarly, the fruits of donating the book, is similar to that of donating 1000 Kapila Cows (Smoky grey color eon is called Repla) Tel cowsatisfies theneeds of a manby givingabundance ® milkand keeping the person healthy. And then whocan narrate the benefits of donating, the pious books likes Ramayan, Mahabharat, Bhagavad Gita, and the Puranas? Whe can be more pious then the peron who wakes up early in the moming to teach Vedas, Dance, Singing and other arts? A teacher who teaches the student with open heart has done the biggest charity. The person who gives food, clothes, alms, bocks to the students; his desires are fulfilled. Such person becomes wise, long-lived and acquires success in Dharma (law), Artha (Finance), Kama (Desires) etc. O King! One should always help ond be ready to help the person who wishes to gain knowledge of shastras (shaastra vidya), knowledge of weapons (oasis vilgn leer! by weniccclan) 40 ods and other knowledge; becanse by helping such a person one acquires worldly pleasures. By Tmparliag stperitel leek one Gets the fruits of porlomaing 1000 Vejpaye Yasue, Whoever organizes the reading of Puranas in Shivo, Vishnu ond Sun temple regularly obtains the same fruits, as one would get on donating, cow,land,gold,cloihes everyday, 143 fe) An uneducated person cannot decide on what is rightor wrong (dharma andadharma),that iswhy one should always be ready to impart their knowledge and education. Lord Brahma and other Lords are well known for imparting their knowledge. Whoever performs Vidya-dan, is worshiped in the abodeot Vishnu andhe is born again on theearthas a King blessed with good-fortune, good-locks, Children G grand childsen; he Sheol thy;loug lived and is Dharmatma (one who follows Dharma at any point ofhislile). The above was a direct translation from Bhavishya Purana. In ancient India, imparting of knowledge wes ‘given the highest status akin to worship of lord Shiva, Vishnu. This is clearly reflected inthis section and also in the books called “Dan Sagar” and “Dan Kalpatam’. It is observed that when it comes to imparting tre working knowledge on astrology, modern India still has to learn from our ancient works. When we allow misuse of knowledge then knowledge retracts into its own shell, of course helped by the so-called fundamentalisis & hardliners. Importance of worshiping the Sun God - From Bhavishya Purana wvishya Purana has given the greatest portance to Sun God, devoting a JOA xge2 space in it os compared to other Puranas.as sun isexalted now, we reproduce below verbatim translation of achapter devoted to henchitso!Sua worship. (Bhavishya Purane, Chapter-103) Lord Brahma said: O Madhusudan! A person, who builds a Sun temple with devotion, achieves the abode of Lord Surya (the Sun god) for seven generations Whoever worships the Sun god in tho Sua temple for as much number of years gains Gs!happiness in the abode of Sun for that many thousandsof years Whoever oaks the Sun gcd vith fading {offering of water), flower, sandalwood paste, food etc. offered to the Sun god with rituals gets similar status as that of the Sun himself in all his deeds, whether good orbad. Whoever worships Lord Surya with devotion daily and by offerings of beautiful and fragrant flowers, Alscopi incense wills mairaue =: adlslwood)| by te names of 'Vijayadhoop’ and ‘Amrutdhoop’, fragrant camphor, lamps, food/{rnits etc. all his desires are fulfilled. The lord of the Yagnas (a Vedic ritual performed to please the Gods by offering libation/cblation in the sacred fire with Mantras), Lord Bhaskar (the Sun igad get nleare iby pabecutualiadune: Ae ‘only few and rich people can afford to perform the Yognas like Ashwamedha Yagna (considered a very high end yagna, this Yegaa with lengthy rituals were performed by the Kings, in this the horse is made to roam and the areas where the horse roams fells under the reign of the performer of the Yoda) cad Reieya Versa (performed by Kings to} establish their emperorship, te integrate artes under their rule, and to distribute’ wealth to many people) pile hacceerntamalenty, of rituals and expentive, Ha person worships the Sun god with devotion and with Durves (short grass with light grcenblades) hebegets richandrarefruits. Whatever offerings are made to the Sun god, like flowers, food, fruits, sandalwood paste, ornaments, red fabrics should be of the quality as are required tooffer tothe Sun god; and worship the Adidev (the first god}, the lord of the Yagnas, with total devotion. Whoever offers bath to lord Surya in the Sun temple with water of sacred rivers, sandalwood paite honeys abral (ice = sueclase cat lartired| butter that originated in the Indian subcontinent) and milk, is blessed with abundance of sweetness nd peace in life. 144 Many kings of different linoage, especially, Videhvansh and Haihaivansh, have attained immortality by worshiping theSungod. Lord Vishan asked: Brehmaul(addressed toLord Brahma), how is Sun god pleased by fasting? How should the person fasting, worship the Sun god? Youpleasetellus.. Lord Brahma Said: When a person, worships Lord Surya with total devotion and by offering dhoop, flowers ete, but without observing the fast, is blessed by the Sun God then what can be said about a person who observes fast and worships the Sun God? IiaeteeretemteraY (ete) clstincace Crema vind pleasures; it is about developing good gualities in oneself. The person who fasts with total devotion to the Giese t, Dee 5 mtalletor pectertas fopos (chanting of mantras) and performs all the duties, such person attains heavenly abode by worshiping theSun god. Whoever worships the Sun god with total devotion and with some wishes or desires in heart, the person eolieveriallonploesing the Vrushadwaj (The flag on the chariot of the Sun ‘God has a bull's picture onit)theSun god. Vishnu asked: O Vibho! (another name for Lord Brahma) How would the Brahmin (scholarly community), Kshatriya (rulers and warriors community), Vaishya (mercantile and artisan community), Shudras (service-providing community), females and others involved in the materialistic world attain happy and comfortable position. Lord Brahma said: Men would attain salvation on worshiping the Sun god, the destroyer of all the darkness,withselflessdevotion. How can a sinful porson, who is weal and doos not Publisher Agosd diet leer tbe went tobe (he!45 fete pray with heart to the Sun god get salvation? By worshiping Lord Divakara, (another nameol Sun God) men have achieved godliness, If a person wishes to obtain salvation from all the Gandharva (celestial males) and others have sufferings, he has to worship Lord Suryo,thelord of achioved oxportise in their rospectiveworks. all planets with flowers, dhoop, agaru (aromatic aloe wood), sandalwood, clothes, omaments and The king named Lek, has obtained the position of Heringrollood/ fruits Tadra (the king of Gods) only by worshiping Lord Seed By yrerloraaliag L nntieed uapans nics Ione wishes tostay away fromthe materialisticlife why no other gods are so worshipable like the Sun and achieve peace,thenonehastoworshiptheSun God. @elthelordofthetine™ Fes leet sere iprecslan liar Sanja ora (coe Ta person is unable to offer flowers for worship worshiping their husbands. Married men should then he can offer the newly sprung leaves of also worship Lord Surya. Vaishya's should also Guspiciousirees peel hirer Spehig Werle, the; dedroyer of darlose, Even Sanyasis (people who have renounced the By worshiping, the Bhaskava, (the Sun god) as per world) should always pray and worship Vibhavasu one’s capacity with flowers, water, leaves of the _ (enother name of theSun god). ‘auspicious trees and with incense/dhoop, one can 6et incomparablesatislaction. This way, Chitrabhanu Lord SuryaNarayan is worshipable by persons belonging to all Varnas Worshiping lord Surya only once but with proper _ (castes) and alll Ashrams. Worshiping the Sun God ritual is equal to performing Ten Ashwamedh — 6ivesutterpeace. Ma qdetedieesrecs uo perloras Tea Ashwamedh Yagnas, is born repeatedly on earth, ut a person who worships lord Surya is freed from see ost evel ony cae thecycleoflifeanddeath. — + —_ This way of worshiping the Sun god with total devotion & rituals, the person gains tremendous success. Lord Brahma continues: By worshiping him, [have attained divinity. You (ie. Lord Vishnu) have also (cere eters by wronbiping the Sun gol Lord Shiva has been freed from the sin of Brahmehatya (killing of a Brahmin) only due to srershii tae Sera 2 eset Geeta fomety tote tare Cur ex mal ofica alhegectas: laptie tg eoer art eat tooe leva loues Vera Chakre, then one can conlicm the remedy of Sun worhip & even when ove i tullering rough aad transit of Jupiter Sun worshipismostuwetal: ° Under the Ashram system, tho av twenty-five years each. The goal of each period was the ideal fulillment offourconsecutivelifestages