DHARMA SASTHRAM-SAMEEKSHA
Q.1. Thirukkural is an
essence of a) Ramayana b) Bhagavdgita c) Vedas d) Thirumandiram A.1 Thirukural is an essence of c) Vedas
Q.2.According to
Thirukkural Neethar Perumai (நித்தாா பெருமை)
Adhikaram, which is the difficult task? a) Practising Sense-control b) Being
patient c) Doing one’s duty properly d) Expressing one’s Bhakthi
A.2 Accordingly to Thirukkural, the most
difficult task is a) Practising sense-control
Q.3. The qualities
that are the attributes and benefits of householder’s life are - a) Love and Wealth b)
Dharma and Fame c) Love and Dharma d) Wealth and Fame
A.3. The qualities that are the attributes and benefits of householder’s
life are c) Love and Dharma
Q.4. “Aran enapaattade
illvazhkkai akuthum piranpazhippadu illaiyin nandru” (அறனென்ப் பட்டதே இல்வாழ்க்கை அஃதும்பிறன்பழிப்ப தில்லாயின் நன்று) (௪௰௯ - 49) in the above, Kural, the word “Akhathum”
refers to a) Sanyasa b) Vanaprastha c) Family Life d) Studenthood
A.4. The Word “Akhuthum” (அஃதும்) in the aforesaid Kural of இல்லறவியியல், Illarvazhkai Adhikaram( இல்வாழ்க்கை
அதிகாரம்) refers to c) Family Life
Q.5. That which gives
happiness in this life and life after is a) Education b) Wealth c) Company of
the wise d) Sweet words
A.5.
That which gives happiness in this life and life after is d) Sweet words. This
is mentioned in Kural no. 91-100 of இனியவை கூறல் அதிகாரம் (Utterance of Pleasant Speech Adhikaram)
Q.6. Explain the
Nature of God, Methods of Worship and the benefits of worshipping God in a
Tabular Column.
A.6.
|
Nature
of God |
Methods
of Worshipping God |
Benefits
of Worshipping God |
|
Primary or Primordial Force,
God is Merciful, Impartial, All pervading & Eternal. God always heeds /
blesses sincere faith & prayers |
Follow principles of Dharma in
life & living; Ethical conduct, Righteousness; Controlling Senses; Love
Everyone equally |
Eternal Bliss; No re-birth,
good physical & Mental Health to ourselves and all life, Happiness to
everyone; |
Q.7. Explain the
connection between the Dharmic life style and rain.
A.7. Bg. 3.14; अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः
।यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो
यज्ञः
कर्मसमुद्भवः ॥ १४ ॥ the
meaning of this verse of Bhagavat Geeta; All living beings subsist on food
grains which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of
Yajna, ie. Sacrifice and Yajna is born of prescribed duties.
The essence is Dharmic
life and rain are interconnected in that the rain or water is an essential part
of the Pancha Bhutas. Without rain no fertility or nourishment is possible for
any sort of life form. The hydrologic
cycle of water evaporation of the earth resources and then pour down as rain
and the Gods responsible, Indra, Varuna, Agni & Soma complement each other
in the rain cycle.
Rain is a nectar of
Immortality or indispensable food and source of all life. It is part of Dharma
to pray “The Rain” through, rituals & invoking, paying our respects daily
and also making vows to protect with proper use and no abuse. Charities and
Penances are also some of the Dharmic Principles connected to Rain.
In dharmic life with
the principles of righteousness, compassion, sustainable development,
environmental protection, we would facilitate all life forms to have abundance
of rain & other water resources to support existence of all life forms,
agriculture / cultivation.
Thus, by way of such
Dharmic life, we as Human Beings get spiritually elevated and gain potential
for eternal bliss, free from re-birth and also enable other co-human beings to
be also in the same fold.
Q.8. a) Explain the
intentions with which dharmic actions
should be performed.
b) Explain
the kinds of impurities in the mind and suggest methods to get rid of them A.8. a)
Righteousness at the core and promoting ethical decision making and life of
virtue need be the intentions behind all actions and also advocating such
intentions among other co-human beings.
These shall benefit one-self and the society.
The focus should be to
avoid harm, falsehood, greed and cultivate truthfulness, compassion, honesty,
integrity & love all in alignment with Dharma and not at the expense of
Virtue.
Self-reflection, learning & striving for wisdom are encouraged with
also personal growth and enlightenment. Wealth or possessions need be acquired
with purpose & giving only its due importance with encouragement to earning
in righteous way and using wisely for good purpose.
A.8 b) Impurities in
the mind stem from negative thoughts & emotions, like, Envy, Anger, Greed,
Unsavoury Speech. To get rid of these, it should be understood first that the
negative thoughts are detrimental to pure mind & one has to avoid the
negative thoughts, tendencies and cultivate positive thoughts, deeds focusing
on controlling the senses, restraining excessive indulgent desires, freeing for
better desires and practicing virtue, striving for higher experiences.
Q.9. a) Explain the Panchamahayajnas, पंचमहायज्ञ b) Discuss the glory of Hospitality
A.9.a) A Grahastha(गृहस्थor गृहिन्) a Family Man is the pillar of social fabric as the Grahastha renders
significant support to the other 3 Ashramas, ie. Brahmacharya(ब्रह्मचर्य), Vanaprastha (वानप्रस्थ) &
Sanyasa (संन्यास)Ashramas.
This aspect is highlighted & emphasized by Thiruvalluvar in Kural
41- illvaazhvaan Enpaan Iyalputaiya Mooarkkum(இல்வாழ்வான் என்பான் இயல்புடைய மூவர்க்கும்
நல்லாற்றின் நின்ற துணை) and discussed in Thirukural 41 to 50 of Chapter 5; Illarveeyal ( இல்லறவியியல் )
So, a society prospers when a Grahastha leads a
dharmic life. A Dharmic life entails performing of the Panchamahayajnas,
enabling strength to individual moral fabric and fostering collective
welfare. The Panchamahayajnas are
conducive to spiritual evolution or growth of a Grahasatha.The पंचमहायज्ञ, gives the awareness that they are the means
to discharge the debt to the Ancestors, Family, Society and the Pancha Bhutas,
who all contribute to the wellbeing & growth of the Grahastha.
The Panchamahayajnas imbibes a sense of selflessness, compassion, mercy,
cosmic love and a feeling of oneness with the Entirety. A happiness of
multitude is experienced in making others happy out of service, help and
charity.
Traditionally Vedic
karmas classified in 5 groups: 1) Nitya Karma – Daily Duties 2) Naimitika Karma
– Duties to be undertaken on special occasions 3) Kamya Karma- Special rituals
performed for fulfilment of specific desires 4) Nishidha Karma – Acts that are
prohibited 5) Prayaschitha Karma-
Acts in expiation of sinful actions of commission or omission.
The Panchamahayajnas are
an ordained Nitya
Karma for a householder नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं(Niyatam kuru karma tvam).Yajna literally means
"sacrifice,worship,offering", to be made by all Gruhasthas, the
householders, every day AND ARE;
1) Brahma
yajna 2)
Deva yajna 3) Pitru yajna 4) Manushya
yajna 5)
Bhutha yajna
Brahma Yajna also
called Rishi Yajna, involves daily study of the scriptures and
regular sharing of the scriptural knowledge with others through teaching,
writing and Satsang. Exchanging with friends / relatives and blog-writing
etc also come under this. By so doing one discharges the debt to Rishis who by
preserving and passing on made this knowledge available to us.
Deva Yajna, involves ritual worship and prayer to Devas including doing
Homam and Nitya karmanushtanam like Sandhyavandanam.
Nurture the
Devas with this sacrifice and may the Devas nurture you. Mutually
nurturing each other you shall attain the highest good. Reference-Bhagavat
Geeta (3-11) देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः। परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ।।;
Meaning-
By your sacrifices, the celestial gods will be
pleased, and by cooperation between humans and the celestial gods, great
prosperity will reign for all.
Pitru yajna, is offering Tarpana, libations regularly and on special
occasions in respect and gratitude to all Pitrus and Pitru
Devathas. The word Pitrus primarily means the
immediate ancestors i.e. father, mother etc. In Sraddha ceremony
three generations like father, grandfather and the great grandfather etc., are
remembered and pindas, cooked rice balls, are offered to
them.
Manushya yajna, is caring for, looking after
and feeding fellow humans, providing food and clothes to the poor and needy and
shelter to the homeless all come under Manushya yajna. Precisely,
social services and anna dhanam in functions and festivals or feeding a guest (Athithi Satkaram)
Bhutha
yajna — Caring for nature and all life. Feeding
animals like cow, insects, ant, birds as crow and caring the plants and trees
etc., in the environment come under Bhutha yajna.
To summerize, the practice of
Panchamahayajnas, nothing but a Dharmic life with Virtue, Universal Love,
Righteousness, balancing of 3 relationships (Parents, Wife & Children) and
caring the 5 Relationships, who are our growth/ success contributors (Family,
Teacher, God, Guests & Relatives) Service to poor and needy, empathy with
all life forms, Care and Protection to all the Flora and Fauna. Finaly earn
well as per one’s svadharma, righteously and distribute among everyone.
A.9.b) விருந்தோம்பல் - அதிகாரம்
- திருக்குறள் (Chapter 9,
Virundhom Paal Kural 81 to 90) discuss this subject of Hospitality. It refers to the act of being friendly and
welcoming to guests and visitors, encompassing both personal acts of generosity,
providing services like accommodation, food, and entertainment, such that the
guests feel comfortable, cared for, appreciated and feel as at their own home
etc.
Atithi Devo Bhava (translated as "A
guest is like God"), is a fundamental principle, viewed as a sacred
duty and an act of worship. It emphasizes treating guests with the same
reverence as deities, reflecting the belief that God's presence is felt universally
in all beings.
Hospitality is a Nectar to immortality.
The happiness that is generated in serving / helping others and being hospitable
is something, that is “Out of the World”. Also, if we don’t want to share our
comforts / facilities etc with our guests etc, then what is the use of them. A
Hospitable person never has sufferings. It is said that, if we happily welcome
guests with hospitality, Goddess Lakshmi is pleased and provide us more.
Hospitality is considered a spiritual ritual and a wealth of Eternal Love.
Feeding guests in priority to our own urgent needs leads the road to our
prosperity. In hospitality one can
discover a good health, no tiredness and active nature for one self.
Q.10. Write the Kurals 23, 76 and explain the meaning.
A.10. Kural 23, அறத்துப்பால் அதிகாரம்/Chapter: நீத்தார் பெருமை
/ The Greatness of Ascetics : இருமை வகைதெரிந்து ஈண்டுஅறம் பூண்டார் பெருமை பிறங்கிற்று உலகு.
Translation - The greatness of those who have known the
nature of both worlds and have eschewed the desire to live a righteous life is
most admirable in the world. OR ANOTHER MEANING, the greatness of those who
have known both the worlds but have chosen to live a righteous life make the
world meaningful.
This means that people who,
understanding both ways of living, the righteous and non-righteous but are
choosing the virtuous way of living renouncing the worldly desires, realizing
its value and admiralty. By doing so they are creating a meaning and setting
example to others in the World and Thus they all need to be admired and
appreciated for their greatness of service and leading the path to the world. Such individuals are recognized and
admired for their wisdom and moral character.
A.10. Kural 76, அறத்துப்பால் அதிகாரம்/Chapter: அன்புடைமை / The Possession of Love ;
அறத்திற்கே அன்புசார் பென்ப அறியார் மறத்திற்கும் அஃதே துணை.
Translation
– The ignorant think that life is needed only for righteous deeds. They know
not that love is an ally for bravery also.
The Kural
creates an awareness of the nature of love and how to harness its power for
both promoting virtue and restraining evil. The message
is Love is a powerful force that can be used not only to promote good
but also to curb wrongdoing. The Kural wards-off the
common belief that love is solely a force for virtue and good.
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