September 2020 Newsletter from Srivatsa Ramaswami--Ancestry

[Srivatsa Ramaswami]

September 2020 Newsletter from Srivatsa Ramaswami--Ancestry

In August I completed a 20 hr eight day on line program on Yoga Yagnyavalkya for Loyola Marymount University. Because the university limited registrations some were kept on the waiting list and now, we will be repeating the program to start from September 17, 2020 Here is the link for registration

https://registration.xenegrade.com/lmucrs/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=6655

I also completed a 20 hr eight day on line program on yoga sutra, hosted by Liz Richards of Anantayoga & Ayurveda Wicklow in Ireland. 

Since I had to cancel a few full programs due to pandemic, in lieu of that ,a few short programs have been arranged on line. I may teach a Yoga Sutra 20 hr on line program for mainly participants from India and a 15 hr 6 day on line program Sri Krishnamacharya's text "Nathamuni's Yoga Rahasya" possibly in November hosted by friends in San Fransisco. I will post the details in my website when the details are confirmed

Ancestry

Someone suggested that I could try Ancestry.com or similar sites to know more about my lineage.  Then I thought that the abhivadana mantra or the self-introduction and offering respects, used traditionally when one meets elders or a religious function would meet this query admirably. One day when I was studying with my Guru there was a reference to a boy Raikva who did not know his father. The mother did not know the name of the father, that was her plight. Still the teacher accepted the boy as his student by the enthusiasm shown by the boy. Then my Guru mentioned that the gotra or lineage I belonged to was Srivatsa and that the sage Srivatsa was a vedic rishi. Then he quoted a mantra from Arunam or suryanamaskara "iti vatsasya vedana" which means that it was the finding of sage Vatsa or Srivatsa. He also mentioned that usually many gotras have three rishis whereas a few like Srivatsa gotra boast of five sages (pancha rsheya). The five rshis are Bhargava, Chyavana, Apnavana, Aurva. Jamadagni.  I felt good

There are five vedic rishis in the Srivatsa gotra or lineage. Bhargava is one of the lineage of Bhrugu. Many yoga students are familiar with the five kosa model on the individual. It is made up of annamaya or physical body sheath, then that of prana or life force, then manomaya or of the senses, vignyana maya or of the intellect and ananda maya or the ego/bliss sheath. Brahman transcends all these five sheaths. Bhrugu as per the instructions of his father, Varuna, realizes his true nature which is the ultimate reality the Brahman itself. Bhrugu also is one of the seven rishis (sapta rishis) venerated.

Sage Chyavana is associated with a very famous health preparation chyavana prasana, an ayurvedic preparation associated with health and maintaining youth. He was the son of Brugu maharshi, He was a great tapasvin and in a state of samadhi he was engulfed by anthill. A lovely princess mistakenly disturbs his penance and then as a matter of prayaschitta she offers to marry him. In course of time they had children and the rishi became old and infirm. At that time the two celestial physicians, the Aswini devatas, wanting a share of the offering to the gods in yagnya requested the sage for their inclusion in the religious rituals. They then had a deal. The sage wanted his youth back in return for the yagnya offering. Then the two aswini devatas and the sage took a dip in the holy lake filled with medical substances. When they emerged from the lake after the dip all of the looked absolutely charming with abundant youth and looking alike. Sukanya could not find who Chyavana was. She would not call him by his name as it was not the in thing in those days. "Do not say the name of the husband, it is disrespectful". So, she called the names of the aswini devatas and they stepped forward and Sukanya could identify her now youthful husband. Chyavana would come with an ayurvedic preparation for youth, longevity and health. It is said to be over 10,000 years old and many ayurveda companies now in India mint money selling this elixir.

Sage Chyavana had two illustrious sons, Apnavana and Aurva both of whom are part of the pancha rishis of the srivatsa gotra. Chyavana also had another illustrious son Dadhichi. Yoga practitioners are familiar with an asana called vajrasana or thunderbolt post or backbone pose. Dadhichi is credited with donating his backbone to Indra to use it as a weapon, Vajrayudha to defeat the asura vrittasura. I have written the story of vajrasana in one of my very early newsletters. However, Dadhichi is not mentioned as a rishi in srivatsa gotra but the less known Apnavana is. 

Some texts say that Aurva was the grandson of vatsa or srivatsa the gotra or lineage rishi. Aurva is said to have been born out of the thighs (Uru) of his mother and not from the uterus. There are many unusual births mentioned in the puranas

Then we have sage Jamadagni in that prvara (lineage). Jamadagni would mean one who is fiercer than fire or one who controls or could control fire. He is credited with some outstanding soma yagnya mantras. Arunam or suryanamaskara mantras of yajurveda indicate his contribution. In para 39, it says 

 Jamadagnim akurvata (Jamadagni was created--was born) 

Jamadagnirapyayate(jamadagni discovered the mantras)

ChandobhiH caturuttaraiH (in meters increasing with four syllables-- gayatri, ushnik anushtup, bruhati, pankti, tushtup, jagati)

raagnassomasya truptasaH-( Worshippers were pleased with these mantras of the Lord of soma or moon which is Siva)

brhamana viryavata ( The worshippers say they are full of energy with these mantras

sivanaf pradiso disaH (There will be auspiciousness/peace in all directions)

There are puranic stories about Jamadagni.  Once, detecting a thought indiscretion of his wife, Renuka, mother of his five children, the furious Jamadagni ordered his first son to behead his mother Renuka and promptly the boy declined. Angered further by his son's insubordination, he cursed his son to become a rock. The other three sons also declined to carry out his order and they also were condemned to be turned into a stone. Finally, when ordered by his father, Parasurama, the last son, carried out his father's order. With that Jamadagni's anger subsided. Pleased with Parasurama's filial piety, he offered him two boons, two wishes. Parasurama firstly asked that his brothers should be revived from their inanimate state and his second wish was that his mother should be revived. Jamadagni granted both the wishes and in addition, removed the memory of this sordid episode from all.  

Well this is a story from the puranas, a gory story of dharma sankata (conflict of dharmas).The first four boys abided by the vedic dictum "matru devo bhava" or consider mother as god. Parasurama abided by the dictum "pitru devo bhava" or consider father as god , that one should obey the just orders of a parent and also an aparadhi or a culprit should be punished. 

There are thousands of people of the Srivatsa gotra all over the world. Many work as doctors, bureaucrats, lawyers, clerks, traders, teachers , moneymakers etc. A few study and stick to the vedas and shastras as did the gotra rishis. 

One or two teach yoga.