I’m listening to this audio reading of the book Bhaagavatham read by Brahmasri Chaganti Koteshwara Rao. This is a reading spread for 42 days. It is a very good summary of all the Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagawad Gita. When my brother Siva Charan told me about this, I said “dude this book is for people who have retired in life and are passing time thinking of God”. He said “This is not for old people, It is for all the ages and genders”. I thought why not pass my time while driving along from Bangalore to Chennai. So after listening to the day 1 and day 2, I was attracted to the excellent context, examples, linking it our day to day life given by the Sri Rao.

While listening to this day one I was attracted to this one word called “Brahmam”

So What is Brahmam ?

A vision towards the whole world as one life without any differentiation of Animals, Insects, Humans, Genders etc… But respect it as one life created by GOD.

One story explains how does one compare his capability on attaining Brahmam in life.

Sukha was the son of Veda Vyasa, he was very well known for surpassed his father in spiritual attainment. Once, when following his son, Vyasa encountered a group of celestial nymphs who were bathing. Shuka’s purity was such that the nymphs did not consider him to be a distraction, even though he was naked, but covered themselves when faced with his father.Shuka is sometimes portrayed as wandering about naked, due to his complete lack of self-consciousness.

A completely different version of the later life of Shuka is given in the Devi-Bhagavata Purana, considered a secondary Purana by many, but an important work in the Shakta tradition. In this account, Shuka is convinced by Janaka to follow the ashrama tradition, and returns home to marry and follow the path of yoga. He has five children with his wife Pivari—four sons and a daughter. The story concludes in the same vein as the common tradition, with Shuka achieving moksha.

A place called Shukachari is believed to be the cave of Shuka, where he disappeared in cave stones as per local traditions. Shuka in Sanskrit means parrot and thus the name is derived from the large number of parrots found around the Shukachari hills. Shukachari literally means abode of parrots in the Sanskrit language.

I guess I got a little philosophical there for a wee bit :) but why not it was good to know that there is so much which has happened in this world that we don’t know yet.

Until next time,

K.C.