The great Master Adi Sankaracharya propounded the Advaita School of philosophy and established 4 main monasteries. Later, Sri Ramasubba Dikshithar of Thiruvisanallur, in his interpretation of AdiShankara's teachings concludes that Adi Sankara is a Vishnu bhaktha beyond par. However, the great Mahatma Appaiya Dikshithar gave a different interpretation to Adi Sankara's works and formulated the school of philosophy known as 'Shivadwaitha'.

Sri Ramanujacharya described 'Visihishtadvaita' philosophy which took a different standpoint when compared to Adi Sankara's Advaita. After Sri Ramanujacharya, Vaishnavism was divided into 2 major sects namely, Vadakala sect formed by Sri Vedanta Desika and Thenkala sect, formed by Sri Manavala Maamunigal, both of which differed conceptually. The Vadakala sect further got divided into Ahobila mutt and Aandavan Ashram.

Sri Madhwacharya later established another school of philosophy known as Dvaita which differed from Advaita an... more

When one is in the death bed, he worries about all those sad faces around him. But the person attending on him is worried if he would receive the fee on time after his death.
The in-laws are worried if the person lighting the pyre would get a gold ring.
The sons are worried about the costs of funeral after his death.
The cremator is worried about getting the maximum money out of the entire episode.
The neighbours are worried if the cremation would be delayed.

No one worries about the person who is dying.
So instead of worrying about others, is it not best to worry about our own fate and find a way to avoid re-birth?

In the ‘Bhakta Saamrajya’ (the kingdom of devotion), Sadhus are verily the citizens, Srimad Bhagavatam verily the governing scripture (Shaastra) and Nama Sankirtan, verily the wealth!

Oh Lord!  I wish not for ‘Shakti’ (physical power); instead, bless me with ‘Shaanthi’ (peace).
Oh Lord!  I wish not for your vision; instead, enable my ego’s submission.
Oh Lord! Let me not ask why the world is so; instead, let me ask to myself, why am I so?

Parents wish for progeny. So they beget children.  Does anyone ever ask the child if it wished for such parents?

Human mind is never still.  Like the flowing water it moves steadily and endlessly from one thought to another.

The mouth likes to talk, the tongue craves to taste, the eyes long to see, the legs desire to move.  Every sense organ looks outward to seek pleasure.

How is mind control achieved?  The water can be controlled by arresting its flow.

But this lasts only until the water is forceful enough to gush out.
The mind flows through the sense organs.  By shutting the doors of these sense organs, the mind can be brought under control, but only momentarily.

Is there an easier way?

Let the powerful rays of the sun shine on the water.  Drench your senses in the enchanting form of Krishna, His stories, His glory and His Divine Name.

The mind is effortlessly controlled!

Even if one is wealthy and leads a comfortable life, if he fails to chant the Mahamantra, he is certain to suffer in the life after death!  If a Sanyasi follows the rigorous austerities laid down for him, he suffers in this birth but is happy in the life beyond. By being a householder, leading a righteous life and chanting the Mahamantra, one can enjoy this life as well as in the life beyond!

Is it not a blessing to be a householder?

The Vedas are the Lord’s word on how one should lead life in order to attain the highest state of realization.  The Upanishads describe the state of a Jnani – the highest state of realization.

Some may question if it is truly possible to follow the preaching of the Vedas and attain the highest state at all.

God came down to the world as Rama to show that a man can truly tread on the path shown by the Vedas, without the slightest deviation.  

Through Krishna Avatar, He showed to the world the prowess of a Jnani – who can do wonders effortlessly by performing various ‘lilas’ right from birth throughout the period of the Avatar.

Thus, through His own incarnations, the Lord shows that it is indeed possible to attain the highest state by treading on the path shown by the Vedas.

Sanskrit is a ‘Deva Bhasha’ (Divine Language of God). There are two beautiful words in this language which have almost identical pronunciations but with two different meanings.
CharaNam – चरणम् (Meaning: Foot)
SharaNam – शरणम्  (Meaning: Surrender)

The sea of compassion that He is, God has given identical pronunciations to these pair of words so that He could find an excuse to take unto His Feet and liberate even the one who mispronounces the word ‘CharaNam’ as ‘SharaNam’.

How compassionate is our God!

An able administrator thinks well, plans his course of action and executes it meticulously, irrespective of criticisms of the onlookers, be they positive or negative.  

Many a time, we see people around us chiding God for their misfortunes.  “If God were merciful, such a thing would not happen!”, they say.  

Unmindful of all such criticisms, the Lord executes His plans meticulously, thus teaching me the way to be a successful administrator - yet another precept that the Lord, as a Guru, teaches this disciple.