Yaksha Prashnam Questions 89 - 92

Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/03/yaksha-prashnam-questions-85-88.html

The Yakshan asked Yudhishtirar to ponder over the following questions carefully before answering. Does one become Brahmin by birth or by the study of Vedas or by contemplating on the meanings of the Vedas or by leading a life as prescribed by the Vedas by controlling their senses i.e. a person with good character?

Just by taking birth in the Brahmin community one does not become a Brahmin but such a birth opens up the opportunity to learn the Vedas. By reciting the Vedas regularly every day, the thirst to know the meaning of the Vedic verses is born in the learner’s mind. The learner then approaches a good Acharyan and studies the meaning of the verses. The learner must then apply the knowledge obtained from the Vedas in real life situation. The learner must lead a life as prescribed by the Vedas. Above all the Brahmin must be of good character a person who has complete control over his senses. If the first three points are lost, the learner could go back to the Vedic school and start the learning process all over again but if character is lost, everything is lost.

We can see the example of a good Brahman in the story of Garuda Bagawan.

 In the story of Lord Garuda, as soon as Lord Garuda incarnated as Vinata’s son he was feeling very hungry. He requested his mother to direct him towards his natural food source. After consulting with his father Sage Kashyapar, Vinata directed Garudan to feed on a tribe of hunters who resorted to immoral activities. She instructed him that at any time if he felt a burning sensation in his throat upon swallowing anyone, he must recognize that person as a Brahmin and must release the Brahmin. According to his mother’s instruction, Garudan started to consume the tribe members. All of a sudden he felt a strong burning sensation in his throat. Recalling his mother’s words, he realized that he had swallowed a Brahmin. He called out to the Brahmin and asked him to come out. The Brahmin replied that he would come out only if Garudan permitted the Brahmin’s wife who belonged to the tribe of huntsmen was also granted freedom. Garudan agreed to the Brahmin’s request and freed the couple.

After Garudan finished eating the entire tribe, he still felt hungry. He approached his father Sage Kashyapar and asked him to point out to more food choices. The sage asked Garudan to eat an elephant and a tortoise who had been fighting with each other at a nearby river bank. They were Brahmins in their previous birth named as Suprathikan and Vibhavasu respectively. They fought with each other trying to get complete control over their property. They cursed each other to turn into an elephant and a tortoise respectively. Even though they became an elephant and a tortoise they followed all the duties prescribed by the Vedas. They would start fighting with each other every day only after completing their daily Brahminical duties. Lord Garudan swooped down on the fighting duo and ate them without any difficulties.

Why was Garudan not able to eat the Brahmin who had married a tribeswoman but could eat the two brothers who practiced the Vedas every day?

The first Brahmin had good character. Even though he married a tribeswoman, he considered her to be his wife for life. He protected her and never abandoned her. He requested Garudan to free her along with him. He also continued practicing the Vedas. He followed all the duties prescribed by the Vedas and hence was a true Brahmin.

The two Brahmin brothers lusted after property and hence their character was tarnished. Even though they practiced the Vedas and performed their Vedic duties regularly, they were not true Brahmins because they lacked good character. Thus Lord Garudan could eat them.

Continued On: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/03/yaksha-prashnam-questions-93-96.html

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Based on, Yaksha Prashnam - A discourse in Tamil by Sri U.Ve. Karunakaran Swamy
(Any errors or inconsistencies in the following series are due to the mistakes I made while taking notes. ) 

Copies of the CDs can be obtained from Sri Karunakaran Swami’s website http://www.nadadoor.org/ . This series is for the benefit of people who do not understand Tamil. Those of you who understand Tamil very well must definitely obtain a copy of Swami’s Upanyasam. You can do so by contacting Nadadoor.org. Swami also renders discourses in English but I am not sure if Yaksha Prashnam discourse is available in English.  The experience of listening to Swami’s upanyasams could never be obtained by reading the following series. I have done my best to take notes with due diligence. I apologize for any errors that I have made while writing this series.