In Japan, Ganesha, Kubera and the sage Rishyasrunga

- Seminar of Parijat-Dr. Kumarapala Desai

- Many forms of Ganesha are found in India. Similarly, a very different form of Ganesha idol is found in Japan

We have a keen interest in Himagana and Jai Jaikar, but we have no interest in going in and studying that form of glory. We play the chomer danko of Indian culture. The country is also inhabited by 'brave' people who make saffron in its name, but we hardly think seriously about the influence of this Indian culture, that is, the Indian way of life and its ideology in different countries outside India.

In today's world we are aware of the grand preservation of Japanese tradition, amazing industrial progress and the honesty of its citizens, but very little has been studied about the influence of Indian culture on this prominent ancient culture of Japan. The fact is that historians, philosophers and sincere travelers believe that Indian culture is at the root of the glorious culture that Japan has today.

Buddhism, which originated in India, had an indescribable influence on Japan, and translations of Buddhist scriptures spread it to islands thousands of miles away from India. Imagine crossing deep valleys, vast fields, high mountains, flat plains and vast seas to reach these islands in the far east of Asia, but at the same time it smelled of Indian culture and hence Vedic religion (Hinduism) in Japan. ) And the influence of Jainism is seen. Probably due to these rites, the number of students studying Sanskrit, Pali and Indian culture in Japan is very large.

Not only Buddhism but also devotion to Indian gods and sages has become the hallmark of Japan. It so happened that Indian gods were gradually worshiped in the rituals of Buddhism. The first Veda of India 'Rigveda' has 20 suktas of Indra who is the king of gods and this Indra is the Devaraja who rains rain with thunder in addition to happiness, wealth, strength and intellect. We call it 'Shakra' there. Even in Japan, this same Indra, the slayer of the enemies of the Aryans, is worshiped as 'Taishketu' or 'Shakra', the god of gods.

In the Rig Veda and later in Indian culture, Devraj Indra has a lot of influence and then Vishnu. The influence of this Indra reached as far as Japan. An important point in this is the story of a sage found in Indian mythology. In the Ramayana, there is talk of a sage and his ashram is found in the forest festival of Mahabharata (chapters 110-111).

You need to be surprised. This sage was the son of a sage named Vibhandak of the sage Kashyap clan. Once when there was a famine in Anga country, the kings Chitrarath and Lompada called this sage to their kingdom and worshiped him and as a result it rained. The king was pleased and married a virgin named Shanta to a sage and Shanta gave birth to a son. After that the sage returned to the ashram and went to Ayodhya and performed Yajna in the name of his son Kameshti to Maharaj Dasharatha. As a result, sons of Rama Adi were born to King Dasharatha there.

According to the mythology, this sage will now take place in the next Saptarshi. According to the Mahabharata, the Rishyakunda Ashram was near the Kushi (Kaushik) river and twenty-four miles from Champa. There was Rishikund Sarovar with cold and hot springs and to its north Rishi Rishikund and his father used to worship Vibhandak. Even today, twenty-eight miles west of Bhagalpur is the Rishikund, the ancient Rishyakund Ashram.

To show so much information about the sage sage means that the famous Japanese play 'Kabuki' 'Narukami' is based on this and this myth is also included in the scriptures of Buddhism and is very popular in Japan. Moreover, this sage of Indian origin is considered a saint in Japan and hence the statue of this saint is today known as Ikkaku Sennin i.e. Ikasaranga (unicorn).

There are many forms of Ganapati in our country. This enlightened Ganesha is known in Japan as the holy god 'Sho-den'. The head of this god is that of an elephant with a trunk and the rest is that of a human. People go to temples in Japan and ask God for their satisfaction. In that sense, in Japan, Ganesha is worshiped as a god who gives happiness in love.

Many forms of Ganesha are found in India. Similarly, a very different form of Ganesha idol is found in Japan. In which male and female i.e. Vinayak and Vinayaki are seen embracing each other (sex). Snakes have been worshiped in India since ancient times. It is also said that snake worship was prevalent among the Dravidian population in India. In the ancient Indian literature, the word 'nag' is used in the sense of 'mahanag' in the text 'Shatapath Brahman', but then it is clearly interpreted as 'serpent' in 'Brihadaranyaka Upanishad' and 'Aitareya Brahman'.

The mythical 'snake' mentioned in the sutras was worshiped and over time snake-worship took place in Hinduism. Significantly, this type of serpent worship is also seen in many other religions. Some castes and tribes have also adopted the 'snake' as their symbol. While the snake is worshiped in India and China, the sea snake worshiped by sailors in Japan is also known by the Japanese as 'Reujin'. Shakini-Dakini is found in India.

So even in Japan such female demons are worshiped and in them Hariti and Dakini are worshiped. In this, Hariti is worshiped in the name of Kishimojin and Dakini (witch) in its original name. In India, Kubera is mentioned as the treasurer of Navanidhi and as the treasurer of the gods. Kubera, a friend of Mahadev and king of the Yakshas, ​​is considered one of the chief deities in the Indian tradition. In Japan Kubera is known as the god of fortune rather than wealth. He is worshiped as the god of fortune and Kubera is called 'Bishman' by the Japanese. In the feudal era of Japan, the worship of Kubera was considered a victory for the warriors.

It is noteworthy that like Buddhism in Japan, its Shinto religion is influenced by Indian thought. People living in downtown Tokyo worship Shinto's 'Sujen', the water god. Which is known as Varundev in India. It was recognized by those who were initiated into Buddhism in the glorious temples of Buddhism, and accepted by those who believed in Shinto. The details of the Indian influence on such Shinto religion are as interesting and exploratory as we will ever see.

Manzrukho

When the famous businessman Seattle spoke of his struggles and successes, the audience was thrilled. Seattle then pulled a સો 500 note out of his pocket during his speech and asked the audience,

"If I throw this note on the ground, how many people will get up and run to get it?"

All in the audience raised their hands. He then folded the note and climbed on the table and asked, 'Now, how many people will come to take such a folded note!'

Everyone raised their hands. Then, to Sahu's surprise, he took the note in his palm, rubbed it a little, and said,

'How many people would be willing to take such a note?' And everyone showed readiness.

Seattle then told the audience, 'As if the note was pressed, bent or slightly crushed. Even so, owning one is still beyond the reach of the average person. In the same way you should make all the preparations to succeed in life. There are times when people criticize you on the way to success. Also try to suppress you in such a way that you become discouraged. Someone may try to crush you, but a strong and honest person on the inside will always be as valuable as this note. '

Concluding his remarks, the famous businessman said, "He who has strong morale will be able to achieve something in life and this is the secret of my success." The audience was impressed by Seattle's famous businessman.

The revelation of the moment

Why is there chaos, anarchy and frustration in life? The reason is that the person's goal does not go hand in hand with the goal. In fact the goal setter fails without discerning his inner feelings, emotions and desires. That is why Banavali Arjuna had the goal of fishing and behind that goal was the desire to achieve it and the indomitable zeal for it, but it happens that often the desire goes to one side and the goal is at the other end.

There is a desire in the mind to reduce the material thing from life, to reduce the attainment and to lead a happy, peaceful life, but in that the person sees a politician or a rich man and then suddenly decides that I want to be like this! Such a goal is soon shattered. If you want to be a writer and aim to be a doctor, what happens? When the time comes you will have to press your cum to your will. Sometimes if that desire revolts against you, it will have to be silenced. It will also happen that your wish remains unfulfilled and the goal is met with failure.

If there is a desire for social service, one should join a social organization. Not with any political party. If you want to be an artist and your goal is to become a stockbroker, you have to fail. The goal should be achieved by shooting the arrow of desire at the bow and for that one should first know one's inner energy and serve one's desire and then set that kind of goal. Enthusiasm is needed between this desire and the goal. Nothing is achieved by wishing or just paying attention.