Shri Brahmaji Mandir, Khedbrahma, Gujarat. Amongst the few temple dedicated to the creator Lord Brahma, there is a marvellous Sri Brahmaji Temple located in Khedbrahma, Gujarat, India. It is constructed during 11th century AD by a Chalukya King whose name was Karna.
This temple was supposed to have been renovated before a century ago. This beautiful Brahmaji Temple was built out of white sandstone and cement-covered bricks. The sanctum is 32 feet wide and this temple resembles to that of the temple at Sunak. The main shrine is covered with the images of gods, goddesses and celestial apsaras. We can also find an image of Lord Ganesha in this temple.
It is also believed that few demons have performed penance on Lord Brahma, at the present place of the temple, and got numerous boons from him. Hence those who visit and worship this wonderful Brahmaji temple would get their desires fulfilled through the grace of our divine mother, Lord Brahma. As per legend, once when Brahmji was unable to do his creation work due to some confusion, he prayed to Lord Shiva at the present place of this temple, and due to that, he was relieved from his confused state of mind, had got more powers and began to start doing his excellent creation work.
Hence let us once visit this beautiful Brahmaji temple in order to attain all sorts of prosperity in our life.
The word Brahmin is derived from the name of Lord Brahma, and hence I want to add some details about the condition of our present-day Brahmin sect of Hinduism.
I am not writing this article in order to criticise the Brahmins or the present day brahmins modern style of living! Being a Brahmin of myself, I want to tell something about the fast disappearance of Brahminism in the present day so called sophisticated modern world! Since some of my friends, readers and well-wishers have asked me to write about an article about the condition of some of the present-day Brahmins, I am writing this.
Once again, I want to tell the readers, that I am not trying to hurt the religious sentiments or feelings of the Brahmins, but at the same time, I want to make them to feel that they are the “TRUE BRAHMINS”! Simply wearing the sacred thread and not following the religious practices are of no use, but at the present trend, due to the fast hi-fi life style, some of the Brahmins are finding it difficult to follow the ancient traditions and Vedic Shastras of our Hinduism.
Today, I went to Thiruvisainallur Ayyaval Temple, and there I met one office staff and we were discussing about the present -day living style of the Brahmins. That gentleman made a smile and gave me a detailed speech. “Sir during ancient times, Brahmins were even able to get the divine vision of the deities and saints, since they lived an orthodox life, and lived like Rishis by fully following the principles of “SANATANA DHARMA”.
They used to do Sandhyavandanam thrice in a day, used to perform meditation, Yagnas and also used to provide food to the poor people at their homes. But at the present day, most of these things found to be missing! Yagnas are being done only in the temples, Sandhyavandanam is being done three times in a day, only, by a few Brahmin people, and even some Brahmins are interested in eating non-vegetarian food! And if it goes on like that, then how would the deities or saints appear before them”!
Likewise, even I have come across few Brahmins, who used to even eat ‘BEAF’, without knowing that, sometimes in that food, cow’s meat also would be included! While I was working in one tyre company, some Brahmins used to eat lot of non-vegetarian food, and when I question them, they used to tell me, “Hey Shankar, See, since you are not eating this strong food (Non-Veg food), you look very weak, see how we are! And one Brahmin friend told me, that previously when he worked in one company, by seeing his weak body, the management were dismissed them, by saying’ Hey man, you look very weak, and that’s why, you are not able to cope up with us’! After that, my friend began to start eating N.V. and now he says, that he appears very strong! I didn’t want to make a debate with him, since making a debate with others, would eat our precious time!
Still some people question me, why the avatars of the god, like Rama and Krishna eat non-veg food, while they wore the sacred thread on their body! Some used to ask me, whether in Puranas or in any other ancient Hinduism texts, whether any mention was there about the prohibition of eating of Non-Vegetarian food! But I would never make any reply, since if I give them a single answer, then they would again generate multiple number of questions for that!
As per our ancient Hindu Shastras, Brahmins must try to avoid visiting foreign countries, and the reason for that is simple, since doing the daily religious routine work must be done by the Brahmins only from their own land! Nowadays, some Brahmins used to marry other caste or other religious people, and mostly it would happen due to love! In some of our ancient religious texts, it was mentioned that those who marry a non-brahmin girl, and those who perform the yearly ceremonies for their departed parents, with the help of their consorts, would not give proper results, even if they chant the Mantras and do the ceremonies in a proper manner. But according to me it all depends on the good nature and the good Karmas of the people, and at the same time, I highly welcome inter-caste marriages (Since sometimes, inter-caste marriages would prove to be more fruitful, than that of the marriages made in their own castes/sects), provided if the couples, wilfully follow our religious traditions and ancient practices properly.
I am not advising any one to follow like this or like that, but, I am just quoting some of the things from our Puranas, and I want everyone to be true brahmins, and at the same time, I also want to be a perfect ‘BRAHMIN’, since advising to others is an easiest task, but self-following is a difficult one!
I also want to express some more things to the readers, but, I can’t write everything that falls in my mind, since some times, a fair writing work would appear to be unfair in the eyes of others, and I don’t want to land up with troubles through my writing work, and hence I have restricted my writing work.
And finally, I also want to give a small advice to the newly married couples who belongs to any other religion. Please adopt, give and take policy between both, please make a pleasant smile even if your companion makes a fight with you, please adjust, and be just to your life partner, show your true love by considering him/her as your best friend, realise that he/she is the gift given by the god, don’t compare your life partner with others, since at some point of time, you would realise that, he/she is brighter than others.
Last but not the least, our life is too short, and hence, let us try to make it as ‘SMART’ as we can.
“OM SRI BRAHMA MOORTHIYE SARANAM, SARANAM”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR