In Search of God

GOD IS WITHIN US – AHAM BRAHMASMI

An article named “Your Body is God’s palace” appeared in Times of India in famous column “The speaking Tree” written by Anup Taneja on July 14, 2012.

 According to Swami Siyananda, God created this beautiful Universe and creation of human body is a mysterious moving palace within which god dwells.

Prithavi, Aap, Tej, Vayu and Aakash (Earth, Water, Agni, Air and Ether) are Panchamahabhute in Nature. Our body consists of this panchmahabhute. Apart from this, human being is characterized by three additional elements; Mind (Mana), Intellect (Buddhi) and Ego. Buddhi or intellect is his prime minister; mind is the commander; the 10 indriyas or senses are soldiers; the eyes are the windows of the palace; and the devatas who preside over the indriyas — eyes, nose, ears, for example — are the gatekeepers. 

Is Human body a work of art or excellent example of engineering? Muscles are attached to bones by tendors, joints balance with the help of ligaments are example of mechanical engineering. Pumping system of heart is a unique example of all engineering branches. Chemistry, bio-mechanical engineering, human production system is playing important roles in different organs. Physics, chemistry, physiology and psychology are involved in understanding color vision. Yet, we have not fully understood the color vision. Understanding of Brain is very difficult. Mind exists but we do not know its exact location like heart. Scientists are trying to understand the structure of thought by mapping of neurons. Behavior of human being is based on Mind and Intellect. Is it possible to have control on minds of all human beings?

All these questions are to be answered? We have no final answers.

When heart surgeon or eye surgeon or knee surgeon successfully completes the operation, patient and his relatives thank surgeon because he has done the job of God. At that moment, they feel that he is the God.

As far as human body is concerned, God has used five elements of nature. For example, bone is nothing but earth or clay; blood is water; the radiance of skin and eyes is fire; breath that moves through nose or lung is air which derives support from ether. All these Panchmahabhute are residing in human body. When we die, all these elements are dissolved. The God resides in our body but we do not recognize it. According to Hindu philosophy, if we practice of meditation in order that the Eternal Lord — who provides support to all the pranas, mind, intellect, senses and the body — could be realized.

Similar thoughts are depicted in SARTH RAMRAKSHA. It is poetry on life of Shri Rama, who is Avatar of Vishnu, the protector. “Praise the Lord” is common in all religion. Ramaraksha is one such STROTRA we recite as ritual. I have been doing it from my childhood but without understanding.

In this Strotra, we are praying the Lord Rama and asking him to protect head, eyes, ears, nose, tongue, neck, arms, hands, teeth, heart, and central part of the body, thighs, waist, knees, legs, and feet. In short, we are asking him to protect the whole body. (Stanza 4 -9). Our body is not only gift of God but God resides in it. We have to take care of the same. We neglect it and we suffer. We can take care of our body by doing regular physical exercise. We can also train our mind but what about intellect which is God given gift. Only very few human beings are given such gift such as Newton, Einstein etc. Body, Mind and Intellect gives us personality. Let us look for God within us.