Lecture Presented by Spiritual Leader Pt. Ram Hardowar during Sunday morning Satsang – January 28, 2008.
The Satyanarayan Katha has been handed down to us from parampara (from generations) in order to purify the mind of humanity and provide an opportunity for us to gain Moksha. The Saints and Sages selectively extracted Five (5) chapters from the Skanda Puran, which we today refer to as Shri Satyanarayan Vrat Katha. It is only when man purges himself from adharmic thoughts and actions can he realize that ultimate Truth (Satyam). The best method of purifying ones mind is by performing and listening to the Shri Satyanarayan Katha and observing the prescribed Vrat(control of mind and senses). Please understand that the Skanda along with all the other Purans are divinely revealed by Lord Narayana himself.
We are told that Satyahi Narayan Hay, Narayanhi Satya Hay God is Satyam (Truth) and Truth is God. When we refer to God as Satyam, we can look at it from two standpoints.
1. Relative Truth
From a relative standpoint, as human beings engaged in daily
transactions in this world, there is no sin equal to that of not speaking
the truth or telling lies especially the ones which hurt others. Mahatma
Gandhis success was based on truth and he said that Victory comes
only by speaking the truth, while lies can destroy a whole nation.
Gandhiji says that truth has become so scarce in todays world that
whenever it is heard it is presumed to be false.
Relative truth may vary with time and place. For example 50 years ago the truth was that an atom was the smallest divisible particle of matter, however, today the atom can be divided. Relative truth is therefore, time and space dependent.
2. Absolute Truth
From the Absolute standpoint, we can look at Satyam as that which is
beyond name, form, gender, time and space. That truth where man
knows himself as beyond death, and beyond this body, is the Absolute
Truth.
The Absolute Truth is where man knows himself as Sat, Chit, and Anand (Truth, Consciousness and Bliss). This is the Satyam that we should all be searching for in order to get in touch with the very essence of what we are.
It is Satyam that will bring us emancipation. The one that searches for and follows the principle of truth will free himself from the bondage of this samsara in which we have placed ourselves.
This is the essence of the Satyanarayan Katha.
We reflect on the story of Shatanand Ji, a very poor Brahmin, depicted in the second chapter of the Satyanarayan Katha. Shatanand never deviated from his Dharma, or from his values or faith in God. Despite tremendous hardships, his love for Narayan never dwindled.
There are six (6) basic values which man should advance in his life and Shatanand Ji lived his life with these 6 values.
They are:
- Shama – control of the mind. The mind is an instrument available for our use, we should use it and not allow our self to be used by it.
- Dama one should always have the senses under control
- Uparama- Performance of ones duty without any inhibitions.
- Titiksha to develop the ability to withstand extremes in life.
- Shradha- one should have full faith in words of GURU and Scriptures.
- Samadhan- have a pointed mind in achieving your goals of life.
Shatanand possessed these qualities and lived every day of his life with them as his true wealth. He was truly rewarded, in his next life he was born as Sudama Ji, the best friend of Lord Krishna. We learn how in his time of need, the Lord blessed him abundantly, and he lived a happy life thereon.
As we strive in our daily lives to live in accordance with our Dharma, let us try to reinforce and strengthen these 6 basic qualities (our true wealth) that will help in turn to purity our minds and propel us towards the path of Satyam. This is the real essence of the Satyanarayan Katha.
May the blessings of Satyanarayan Bhagwan be with all.