STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: On the seventh day of Shri Shiv Mahapuran Katha running from March 30 to April 7 in Lower Gadigarh area of Jammu district, the famous Katha Vachak, Kathavyas Pt Dr Ved Prakash Shastri on Friday highlighted the pervasive influence of Maya, particularly in the age of Kaliyuga, as described in Hindu philosophy.
“Maya, often understood as the illusionary nature of the material world, has the power to lead individuals astray, even those who are deeply devoted,” Pt Dr Ved Prakash Shastri said and emphasized that the only way to break free from Maya’s grip is through devotion and meditation.
Pt Dr Ved Prakash Shastri said that as Maya increases its hold, individuals may find themselves drawn towards sinful actions, trapped in attachments that create bondage.
“These attachments, when unchecked, can lead one away from the path of devotion and towards spiritual regression,” he said. Therefore, Pt Dr Ved Prakash Shastri advocated for cultivating devotion even in the midst of attachments, as it leads to salvation and liberation from Maya’s deceptions.
The Shiv Puran, he said, is extolled as a means to destroy attachments and dispel the illusion created by Maya.
“By delving into spiritual scriptures and engaging in religious practices, individuals can gain self-knowledge and emerge from the layers of illusion that obscure their true nature,” he added.
Pt Dr Ved Prakash Shastri also touched upon the insidious nature of ego and selfishness, which can pervade one’s personality and obstruct spiritual growth.
Ego, driven by desires for recognition, wealth, and love, creates a barrier to self-realization and fulfillment, he said.
Overall, Pt Dr Ved Prakash Shastri underscored the significance of devotion, self-awareness, and service in transcending the influence of Maya and ego, leading towards spiritual awakening and liberation.
He said the five thieves also called the five evils are the major weaknesses of the human personality at variance with its spiritual essence, and are known as “thieves” because they steal a person’s inherent common sense.
These five thieves are Kaam (lust), Krodh (wrath), Lobh (greed), Moh (attachment) and Ahankar (ego or excessive pride).
“Ego and selfishness have such a deep impact on our entire personality that we are unable to come out of it throughout our life. Ego is so subtle that we even not realize when we have come under its influence. Ego is a demand, a desire, for respect, position, money, love and naturally these needs often cannot be fulfilled by anyone else,” he said
“Meditation is the only path that leads to the goal of spirituality makes one realize one’s original form and that of God. Awakens the sleeping powers given by nature. In this work, four virtues like knowledge, simplicity, innocence and equanimity are always helpful,” he said.
“At the beginning of any work/sadhana, it is necessary to have knowledge about it, otherwise it is not possible to start and carry out that work. Secondly, if the doer/seeker of the work is not comfortable with himself then he is not able to conduct or execute the work properly,” he said adding that Thirdly, the doer and the act must be completely innocent, because the guilty person uses wrong means and the guilty act leads to the wrong goal. Fourthly, after the work is completed, the best achievement of a human being is to remain equanimous in every situation without worrying about the profit or loss arising from it.
“These four qualities take a human being on the spiritual path and help in achieving religion, wealth, work and salvation. Achieving any goal is not possible without any hindrance. If there are no obstacles in the path then what is the path? These obstacles only make us realize the importance of labour. One’s superiority can be proved only in adverse circumstances. Therefore, God also put four vices like passion, hatred, condemnation and untruth in this human mind,” he said.
That is why in all the religious scriptures it is advised to keep oneself completely free from these four vices. Believe it, if a human being adopts the above four virtues in his life and gives up the above four vices, then the human mind will become pure. Spiritual progress will become easier once the mind becomes pure.
By raising the level of consciousness, attainment of the above mentioned four things – Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha will automatically become easy. That is why only the one whose mind is pure is entitled to get these four elements.
Sant Hari Ram Das, who visited the Katha venue, while addressing the participating devotees, spoken on the sentiment of religious harmony and unity, emphasizing the importance of respecting all faiths.
Sant Ji emphasized that religious teachings inspire altruism and service towards others, fostering a sense of unity and love for the nation.
Meanwhile, Samiti members honoured the prominent persons including, Suresh Shastri, Sahil Mahajan, Gurdev Singh, Rajeev Sharma, Suresh Raina, Raju Sharma, Divya Jain, Narinder Singh and others who devoted their lives for religious works and for the welfare of people.
Meanwhile, amidst reciting of Bhajans, the Jkanki of the Mata Kali killing Asuras Raktabeeja and Mahishasura was presented during Shiv Mahapuran Katha organized under the auspices of Shiv Puran Nivhaan Yag Samiti at Lower Gadigarh.