Remedies

Remedies mean medicines that cure pain or disease. Whether the cure or the recovery is absolute or complete or partial,etc.depends on the nature of the pain or disease. Diseases cure instantly ,slowly, belatedly, in the long run and kept under control by taking medicines at regular intervals. The disease has to be diagnosed correctly and accurately. The remedy has to be appropriate. Recovery or Cure depends on "Who recommends that remedy?" and "the time and place of the occurrence of the remedy".

So also, Remedies for transforming or neutralizing the evil effects of Destiny of a Human being has to be diagnosed correctly and accurately.. The remedy has to be appropriate. Recovery or Cure depends on "Who recommends that remedy?" and "the time and place of the occurrence of the remedy". Whether the cure or the recovery is absolute or complete or partial,etc.depends on the nature of the evil effects. Evil effects are transformed or neutralized instantly ,slowly, belatedly, in the long run or kept under control by taking appropriate remedies.

Neutralizing the evil effects of Destiny

What is Neutralizing?

When a cup of curd is very sour, we pour some salt to neutralize the sour.Vice-versa, when a dish or eatable item is salty, we pour a little quantity of lime juice to neutralize the salty taste. That is, equalizing.

So also, the evil effects of destiny are neutralized according to the individual nature of such evil effects. Appropriate remedies are applied to neutralize the evil effects.

Obstacles in the transformation of evil effects:

Normally, obstacles occur in the transformation of evil effects of Karmas. The force of the Karma strongly discourages a change in direction and therefore, it will interfere with the person's motivation to implement the remedy. To lessen or neutralize the negative or ill effects of some undesirable Karma, one has to undergo a method without any time limit irrespective of their intensity. The remedies have to be patiently and consistently resorted to in the course of this life. At least, they will act as a well-planted seeds whose crop of desired results can be harvested in the next birth.

There is a story recited by Kribananda swamigal. A rich man in a village had a boy child after several years of marriage.Therefore,he gave away prizes and gifts to poor people There were lot of people gathered in front of his big house. One saint who was going that way, was watching the event silently. The saint noticed a Peculiar figure moving inside the house. After sometime, the figure came out. The saint caught hold of the figure and asked it why it went inside and what did it do? The figure replied that it is a messenger of Lord Brahma and went inside the house to write the Fate of the child. The Saint asked, What is his Fate? The figure declined to disclose his fate. The saint did not give way. The figure had to tell something. It said the child's livelihood is through only one Ox. The saint could not understand the meaning. After several years, the saint had an opportunity to come across the village. He was eager to know the fate of the child. He could not locate the house.Neighbours told that after the death of the rich man, all his lands were sold and now the child, a male person, is living in a paddy field with his wife and children in a pitiable condition. He was ploughing the field with one ox. The saint went to him and advised him to sell the ox. He refused saying this ox alone is earning his livelihood. The saint guaranteed for another ox and convinced him to sell the ox. He sold the ox and happily enjoyed the sale proceeds. The next day, there was a new ox. The saint asked him to sell this also. He sold this ox for a better price. The next day there was another ox found in his field. Now the man sold this ox. In the heaven, Lord Brahma doubted at these incidents and he got suspicious. How could this happen? Lord Brahma saw the Saint who questioned at the time of birth of this man and concluded that it is because of this man, such things happen.Therefore,Lord Brahma advised the saint not to interfere in the affairs of the Gods and to mind his work. The saint now understood the meaning of "livelihood is through only one Ox" and went away. The man continued his living with one ox.

Destiny (Fate) and Free Will:

The entire human life is not mechanically operated by the destiny (Karmas), the past actions. The human life consists of the inter actions of destiny (Fate) and Free Will. The human beings are not always puppets in the hands of the planets. No one is ruled by destiny (Fate) alone. Man can create new actions by applying his will power and he can also contemplate to create so with vision and insight into the future. Therefore, the life of man on Earth exists in the path of Free Will and destiny (Fate).

There are two types of destiny.(1)Changeable destiny and (2)Non-Changeable destiny. Destiny (Karmas) that can be modified or altered or rectified require considerable efforts through the application of creative will. A chronic disease can be rectified through surgery or through some corrective measures and so on.

We notice many times in life that in spite of taking preventive measures to avoid the happening of a particular event, it simply 'happens'. They are destined to be experienced. There are no remedies. The only option available is to patiently endure the effects of the same or one has to be satisfied with what he has to undergo the sufferings in this birth

Whether the Remedies will be fruitful ?

Just because remedies exist and are given, it does not mean that one is relieved or overcome all the evil effects. The remedies will be fruitful depending on the Accuracy of the diagnosis, How appropriate is the remedy, Who recommends that remedy? and the time and place of the occurrence of the remedy. The exercises towards lessening or neutralizing the evil effects of destiny and to promote the benefic effects of destiny are as follows:

Relief from allied celestial disciplines

(1) Sacred Syllabus, hymns, Prayers, which flow from heart.
In repentance for the past actions, one may surrender the feet of God and seek the blessings and divine guidance by regular readings of epics namely Maha Bharatha, Ramayana, Bagawad Gita, etc. Sacred Hymns flowing freely from the heart in praise of God craving for grace provide reliefs from the evil effects of past actions. Heart rending prayers to the God by adopting the methods of Fire walk, Piercing the tongue with sacred metals, Offerings of Kavadis (bringing the offerings to God in a specialized way as per the Sastra.) etc. brings wonders to the doer and his family.

In repentance for the past actions, one may surrender the feet of God and seek the blessings and divine guidance by regular readings of epics namely Maha Bharatha, Ramayana, Bagawad Gita, etc. Sacred Hymns flowing freely from the heart in praise of God craving for grace provide reliefs from the evil effects of past actions. Heart rending prayers to the God by adopting the methods of Fire walk, Piercing the tongue with sacred metals, Offerings of Kavadis (bringing the offerings to God in a specialized way as per the Sastra.) etc. brings wonders to the doer and his family.

(2) The wearing of specific gemstones or other objects

In a heap of metals like gold, brass, iron, plastic, etc., the magnet attracts the iron alone and nonelse. In the same lines, a planet has influence on particular things and particular persons. The rays of planets in the sky reach the earth and fall on all objects uniformly. In order to derive more benefits, one has to identify such a planet and its influences. The Gemstones identify them and attract their influences for more and effective uses.

There are nine Gems. Of these, Diamond, Ruby, Cat's eye, Blue sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, Topaz and Hessonite are extracted from earth and the other two-coral and pearl are obtained from the sea.

The criteria for wearing a particular Gemstone depends on:

1. The accuracy of the diagnosis
2. The suitability of the Gemstone
3. The person who prescribes such a wearing
4. The quality and power of the stone and
5. The auspicious times when the stone is obtained, set and first worn.

Unsuitable stones do not yield any benefits.

(3) Consumption of particular foods

In Vedic sastra, certain food items are chosen as desirable to God. Such items fondly taken by God are offered in Poojas (Prayers) and then consumed. This provides relief from the evil effects of past actions. The auspicious times when the food is taken, the person who prescribes such consumption, the suitability of the food items for the remedy, etc.are to be determined.

(4) Observance of Fasts

Fast means abstaining from consuming any food as a token of any religious duty. Observing Fast in pursuit of a goal for availing divine grace from a particular God varies according to (1) the severity of the issue (2) the nature of the offerings and (3) the rituals followed in the worship of a particular God. Observance of Fasts in furtherance of a relief has tremendous effects in reality.

It is pertinent to note here the Fast, observed for 6 days (called Shasti Vratham) in memory of the destruction of the evils of 'Soora'. Legend says,'Soora' gained a 'No death' boon from the Supreme Authority of the entire Universe Lord Shiva by observing heart rending poojas and after getting this unique boon,'Soora' became a trouble maker and was uncontrollable and therefore,the God Lord Muruga made him two parts-one in the form of a Peacock and the other in the form of a Cock in the end of the war and kept him by his sides in remembrance of the sincere devotion to God as a devotee. According to the legend, the Lord conquered the evils of Soora at the Sea shore of Tiruchendur,a temple town in Tamil Nadu,India.The Fast being observed every year at a period in this temple by lakhs and lakhs of devotees from various parts of the world appears to be powerful and result yielding and deserves worth in a man's life to ward of all evils and to attain the choicest blessings of the God in earth.

(5) Worship of Fire, Planets,Deities

Fire rituals called 'Yagnas' are performed for the worship of Gods and Deities praying relief from the evil effects of past actions. In the Yagnas (Fire rituals), things and certain food items desirable to Gods and Planets are offered chanting mantras in praise of Gods and with fervent appeal to mitigate the hardship and to relieve from evil effects. Morever, worship of a temple where a planetary Lord is the Presiding Deity provides relief. For instance, a worship of the ThiruNageswaram Temple where the serpent God for Planet Rahu occupies as the presiding deity, Tiruchendur sea shore temple which is regarded as the home for Planet Jupiter, etc.lessens or neutralize the evil effects.

(6) Specific acts of Charity

Charity means giving alms or helping others voluntarily,by giving money, things, etc.with devotion and involvement, by providing selfless services and without anticipating anything in return for the same. The idea behind the offerings of Charity is that the recipient or the beneficiary on receipt of certain things or moneys bestows his wholehearted blessings that are powerful enough to drive away the evil effects of the past actions. The specific acts of charity should be selected after studying the Karmas, the past actions and the appropriate type of charity should be performed at the appropriate time determined strictly in adherence to the principles of Vedic sastra. For instance, to ward of the obstructions in the marriage proposals for a boy, the boy has to obtain the blessings of a particular number of Sumangali women (women happily living with their husband) by offering them dresses, flowers, Thali (wedding chain) etc strictly in conformity with the rituals in a particular temple at an auspicious time.

Principles to be followed in providing Charity

1. Things should be given to every individual separately.
2. Things should not be given in common to more than one persons for sharing among themselves.
3. Sharing of the sale proceeds of the gifted items among the beneficiaries are not benefic.
4. Charity should be given on specific and auspicious days suitable for the purpose.
5. The Persons offering Charity to others should follow certain rituals intended for the same.
6. Charities in connection with the ritual rites on the death of a person should be made on the 11th day from the date of death.
7. Any person can provide charity.
8. Any amount of charity can be made, whether small or big,
9. The performance of charity depends upon the ability, economical condition and the boundaries of the philanthropic nature of the person

Importance of providing Charity

1. When a man does charitable acts, he gets elevation in the next life.
2. Immense amount of charities put an end to re-birth.
3. It shield him from all types of evils.
4. it provides him divine power and guidance.
5. It enlivens his ancestors happily in the heaven.

(7) Acts of Philanthropic nature

When a man performs an action on request from some other person, without any consideration in return, it is called a Philanthropical act.(Dharma)A man conducting himself within the boundaries of Principles of Natural Justice and God fearing principles is elevated in life. It shields him from the harmful acts of the evil spirits and ghosts. It enables the man to go in the right direction of his life. He gets the divine guidance and blessings throughout his life.

Relief from allied non-celestial disciplines

(i) Numerology and other related disciplines.

Numerology is the study of the influence of numbers on human beings and terrestrial affairs.Each of the English alphabets from A to Z is awarded an integer between 1 and 9.

A-1,B-2,C-3,D-4,E-5,F-8G-3,H-5,I-1,J-1,K-2,L-3,M-4,N-5,O-7,P-8,Q-1,R-2,S-3,T-4,U-6,Y-6,W-6,X-5,Y-1,z-8 Each number from 1 to 9 is allotted to one of the nine Planets.1-Sun, 2-Moon, 3-Jupiter, 4-Rahu, 5-Mercury, 6-Venus, 7-Kethu, 8-Saturn, 9-Mars.The designated number or the destined number is arrived from the date of birth, name, etc and the corresponding planet or planets are taken for forecasts.

Here, the events in a man's life cannot be scheduled and sequenced in a period of time. The character and tendency of the man can alone be disclosed to some extent. That's all.

(ii) Vasthu Sastra.

This discipline is used in the commercial buildings and residential houses. The Nine Planets are assigned to the eight directions in a living place and the prayer room, kitchen, dining hall, study room, drawing room, bed room, verandha, entrance, water tank, well, lavatory,car parking,etc.are to be in the advantageous and beneficial positions.

Rooms	Good	Better	Bad
(1) Prayer room	North East	South West	South/ West
(2) Kitchen	South East	North west	South West
(3) Bed room	South West	South / West	North East
(4) Cash room	South West	------------	South East North East
(5) Hall	East/North	CentrePortion	South West
(6) Study room	West	North	South East
(7) Dining Hall	East	South	North East
(8) Drawing room	North East	East/ North	South West
(9) Store room	West	North west	North East, South West
(10) Bath room	North west/Southwest	South East	------------
(11) Lavatory	North west	West/South East	South West
(12) Entrance	North East	North/ East	South West
(13) Overhead tank	South West	------------	North East
(14) Sump	North East	------------	South West
(15) Septic tank	CentreNorth/CentreEast	------------	South West
(16) Rack	South West	------------	East-North

There are many theories in practice while giving the forecasts as per Vasthu Sastra.One theory says, the energy flows and their vibrations have to be ascertained and then, the strength of the directions have to be identified. Another theory determines the beneficial position and the adverse position for each planet and for each direction.

A mere a change in the locations of each room in a living place as per Vastu Sastra alone do not fetch good results. The individual Horoscope of the man should endorse such changes or alterations or modifications. This non-celestial discipline may be taken as supportive evidence in the astrological forecast.

(iii) Nadi astrology

No one knows the origin of the Nadi Astrology. Each Nadi collection consists of the Horoscopes of only those individuals who are destined to consult that particular collection. The Nadi collections are handed down from parents to child in certain families of Indian astrologers and they act as their custodians. The methodology of a Nadi reading is a secret. A Nadi reading forecasts the career, marriage, children, health and finance and gives precise predictions, usually involving political, social and scientific attainments. It details specific occurrences in a previous life whose effect can create obstruction in this life and prescribes remedial measures to mitigate or nullify any undesirable results accruing from the previous life

(iv) Tree Sastra

This sastra suggests the plantation of trees for reliefs and remedies for the celestial effects. Every Planet is represented by one tree for its Dasha and a different tree for the Buddhi.

(v) Omen - A Divine Guidance

Omen is a sign of a future event. If God wishes to help a human being in times of danger, he cannot overtly disclose the posing danger but can covertly indicate certain signs to that effect .For example, shooting stars falling aground, raining in the unseasonable times are considered bad omen to the King and the country. When a person commences a journey, he should not encounter a bad omen. Here, the bad omen indicates the hurdles and sorrow involved in the journey. Importance is given to observations of Omen on auspicious occasions. Omen occurs in different forms viz.unnatural events, dreams, Divine Message, etc Whenever God wants to send His messages, He cannot come in person .the best communication method is to disclose the same by means of Omen. Dream is also a form of Omen.

Man should appeal to the Almighty for Grace

When Destiny is indivisible and not reconcilable and When the intensity of the non-changeable Karmas is severe and intolerable, the man appeals to the Creator of this universe, the Almighty, for acquittal or to reduce or to neutralize such negative effects. The Creator of this universe i.e. the Almighty is the absolute and ultimate authority to decide the fate of karma when the appeal is fervent, emotional, sensitive, deserving and repenting, the Almighty sympathetically considers the same.

In Mahabharatha,the Indian Epic, the pandavas and the Kauravas played the bet game wherein, the pandavas lost their country,kingdom,themselves and their wife namely Panchali.In Fact, the Kauravas and the pandavas were cousin brothers and the Kauravas played a foul game.Lord Krishna was a silent spectator to all theses events.People asked Lord Krishna why He did not interfere the foul game and save the Pandavas?Lord Krishna told that the Pandavas never sought His assistance and opinion. And when Duryodana removes the clothes of Panchali,she cried." Lord Krishna, Please help me !".Immediately Lord Krishna went to the rescue of Panchali by lengthening the sari to an infinite length.Therefore, Man should appeal to the Almighty for Grace.

The Divine Grace is the Final Authority

In the contemporary world, in India, when a person is convicted in a trial court and when the conviction is upheld in subsequent higher courts including the Supreme Court, as a last resort, he can file a mercy petition before the President of India. The disposal of this mercy petition is purely a discretion and privilege of the President of India. He applies his judicial mind independently with reference to the facts of the case and either grants mercy by modifying or altering or rectifying the negative effects of the Karmas or by acquitting him from such ill effects or otherwise, He may also decline mercy.

There is one story from a Tamil Epic namely "Seevaga Chinthamani".A Tiger chases a man in a forest. The man while running away falls into a well(which had no parapet wall).While he falls, he caught the hanging roots of a banyan tree, which had intruded into the well. Now the man is also hanging by catching hold of the oscillating roots inside the well. The well had no water but had bushes and there were poisonous snakes ready to bite him, in case he falls down. Outside the well, the Tiger was waiting. When the roots ocillated,the bee-hive which was attaching to the roots, vibrated and the honey bees came out and flied around the man. In the mean time, a rat was digging a hole at the place where the root was protruding from the earth and was likely to cut the roots. In spite of all these dangers, the man was tasting the drops of honey. Can this man escape from the clutches of Fate? Yes, He can, if the Divine Grace is available. He appeals to the Lord Narayana,the saviour of this world.Soon,the Garuda( bird family of Eagle) flied over the well. It happened that when the shadow of this bird Garuda falls on snakes, the snakes immediately die. And when a hunter was running towards this direction chasing a bird, the Tiger thought he is coming towards it and started moving away.Thereafter,the man was able to escape.Here,movement of the bird Garuda and the hunter ought not to have happened at the right time ,except with the Grace of the Almighty.

So also the Divine Grace by its unique privilege, power and discretion can alter or modify or rectify any Destiny (Karma) whether changeable or non-changeable.

Man has to apply his rational mind to the particular facts

Just because man possesses faith in God, he should not be idle. If the God has indicated that he has long life, that does not mean that he can lie down in the middle of the road. He has to take his own precautions, apply his rational mind to the particular facts with judicial view.In this connection, man has to shape his character for placing himself in a matured and cultured manner.

Man has to exercise control over all the senses and carefully monitor the 6th sense

Among all living things in the earth, Human Life is considered as the best and choicest one. With the gift of the 6th sense, namely the 'rational mind' the man is able to distinguish his wife, sister, and mother among others. He is able to differentiate between good and evil, sweet and bitter, danger and safety, etc. The Plants and trees have one sense. They suck the food from the place where they stand. The reptiles move from one place to another in search of food by way of smelling and they have two senses. The living things in water have 3 senses. The birds have 4 senses. The animals have 5 senses. ,Man enjoys the privilege of the 6th sense and this 6th sense differentiates man from animals,birds,insects and other living beings Man enjoys the happiness of five senses namely seeing, smelling, sensitizing(touching), tasting and hearing which ultimately pave the way for the destruction or say, for the death of man.The fish is attracted by the smell of worm in a bait and is caught.(Smelling)Honey bees collect nectar from various flowers and keep them in their hives. In order to extract honey, the hunters put fire in the hives to kill the bees. The death of bees occurred owing to their want of taste of the honey.(Tasting)The hunters in the forest dug the earth and then cover the same with leaves and branches of trees so as to appear that the ground is not dug. This is a ploy employed to catch the elephants. The male elephants follow the female elephants to entice for sex and under the process, it falls into the trap. This is due to sensitizing (touching).The flies and insects mistake the fire and lights for a fruit during rainy season and when they come near, they die. This causes due to "Seeing" Thus, death occurs to living beings through any one of the five senses.Thus,the five senses are more or less are death traps for human beings also.Therefore,man has to exercise control and carefully monitor all the senses.

Character building Exercises.

1. Be flexible and accommodative. Never be too rigid.
2. Shun Anger
3. Do not be hasty in taking vital decisions
4. Respect elders

Code of conduct for Man

1. Man should fervently appeal to the Almighty, the Saviour of this Universe / Family deity / Ishta Devata and humbly seek HIS Grace.
2. Man should repose faith in the God and leave the choice to him for benevolence.
3. Man should pledge his full-fledged devotion in God.
4. Man should obey the Divine Guidance-the Omen
5. Man should adhere to the principles of Dharma (Principles of Natural justice)