Lohana Central England

The �Japa Mala� and number 108 (Hindu Voice, February 2009)

Controlling ones mind, repetition of mantras (sacred words) and meditation requires focus. To help focus our minds, the ancient Hindu Rishis found that external aids can be very useful, the “japa mala” being one such example. A traditional Hindu japa mala always contains 108 beads

So how does the mala help? There are two main advantages of the mala. Firstly the use of the mala means that one does not have to keep an eye on the time. It is ideal for everyone to spend some time each day meditating and chanting a mantra. How long one does this is up to the individual, and through practice, he/she will be able to extend the length of time. Without the mala and the 108 beads, we would have a tendency to look at the time or hourglass. This would be a constant distraction and could spoil the piety of the exercise. Of course many people find that chanting with their eyes closed enables greater concentration, and avoids distractions.

The second advantage with the use of a mala is that we do not have to keep count of mantras. The solution by our rishi’s was to make the 108th bead larger than the others, or by placing a string between the first and last bead. This raises the question as to why there are 108 beads. There are many variations, and one of the most important is that the number 9 is considered divine. Hence 1+0+8 = 9.

Our forefathers also stated that one stands for God, zero symbolises God un-manifest, and eight represents creation through eight natures (namely earth, water, speed, space, air, ego, mind and wisdom). Our shastras also state that there are 12 birth signs and 9 solar planets. Thus 12 x 9 = 108, which represents the sum total of the fate of the world. Our astronomy sages charted 27 constellations with each going through 4 phases in a year. Hence 27 x 4 = 108, this represents the figure for the cosmos.

Other interesting facts about the number 108:

* Distance between earth and sun = 108 times sun-diameter,

* Distance between earth and moon = 108 times moon-diameter, and most remarkably,

* Diameter of the sun = 108 times the earth diameter.

Certain numbers and ratios seem to repeat themselves in the world’s geometry. They form patterns in the cosmos. 108 is one such number. Because the aim of meditation is to achieve oneness with the cosmos, 108 was considered a particularly auspicious number to chant. It should be noted however that the number of times a person chants is of secondary importance compared with the devotion and purity of mind that underlies the practice of chanting.

Repetitive chanting is a powerful spiritual tool. It has been proven scientifically to have a soothing effect on the mind. Any repetitive act gives the mind a relief from our ever changing thought pattern, and this acts as a stabiliser of the mind, helping us to focus on an unchanging reality that underlies this ever changing world. This unchanging reality is God.

There are four kinds of chanting (or japa). The first is Vaikhari which is chanting a mantra loudly and clearly. The second is Upanshu, in which the individual tones down to just a mumble. The third is Pashayati where the chant is done mentally, but the lips may move but no sound is made. The final kind is Para, this is when the chant is repeated mentally without any physical manifestation, but both the body and mind participate. Even the breathing is saturated with the mantra.

After a period the mood and mind become stable and focussed. One is then able to get in contact with the inner self beyond the physical and mental distractions. It is beyond this where the individual can try and get in contact with the aatma (soul), the consciousness, and ultimately the divine.

Children's Christmas 2009 - Another Success Story !!

Nearly 30 children and 90 adults, 33 entries in the pool tournament cards, bowling food and Father Christmas. A wonderful start to our Christmas !!

Shree Lohana Association Birmingham's Rupin Vadera summarises our Christmas Party and Pool Tournament. Find out more by clicking the Read More link below.

Laxmi Narayan Yagna

The New Approach To Hindu Wedding Ceremonies

SLAB's Pradip Chandarana introduces a new insight on the development of our culture and the emerging generations' views on Hindu wedding ceremonies. This article is copyright to Rajubhai Pandya (Hindupriest.org.uk).

Are our Gujarati weddings heading towards a new approach?
Gujarati wedding have now taken a new approach. Young people want their marriages to be performed in complete silence with a proper explanation in English from the priest, during the ceremony.
Young couples who get married according to the Gujarati ceremony with their partners of Hindu origin or of another denomination wish to understand their wedding ceremony. They feel that if they are asked to participate in a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony they deserve a full English explanation. Sometimes even their parents are not able to offer a reasonable explanation on the ceremony.

Do we attend the wedding ceremony for socializing?
Most of our Gujarati marriages are an event where 700 – 1000 people walk about talking and socializing with loud Bollywood music heard while the wedding is taking place. No one is taking any notice about what is happening in the mandap during the ceremony, and to be honest, they don't care. It is like a cattle market type atmosphere. It is no wonder our youngsters don't go to Gujarati weddings as there is little for them to learn about our culture and traditions.

At Gujarati weddings the Maharaj begins by asking everyone to remain silent during the wedding. Within the first 10 minutes of the wedding around 7% of the guests will go to the bar or go outside if it is a sunny day and have a cigarette. They will talk about the advice they would like to give George Bush if he was to ring them on resolving the Middle East issue.

The couple spend around £40 to £85 per person at their wedding, is it worth having these guests on your wedding list, even if they are your friends and family?
Other cultures have their wedding ceremonies carried out in silence and with discipline. If our Gujarati people go to these weddings they will be at their best behavior. When it comes to our Gujarati weddings they will run a mock.

Do we invite people for the wedding ceremony or are we in a race with the last wedding we attended and blowing the valuable funds which could be spent wisely for the better future of our children? Do we parents need to change or bring the change?
Some of our middle aged members of the community are finding this difficult to accept as they think by not sending the invitation to a friend or a relative may bring an end to the relation. They want to meet friends and socialize and have the variety of food.
Are we in a race of exhibiting of showing the highest numbers of invitees by stretching our selves’ financially? Do the parents have the time to meet and greet all the invitees during the ceremony?

Can these unnecessary spending spent in a better way? May be to support our children and their partners to build up their better future? Is it now the right time to think!!!!!!
What do our today’s youngsters want?
Youngsters have now set their minds on a new tradition where the ceremony will be conducted in silence and the priest will explain in English to the couple and the guests exactly what is taking place and why.

Our culture is in the hands of the young people, they will be taking it forward into the
next generation when we are not around. I say let them dictate how they want their wedding to be carried out as it is one of the most important days of their lives.
My support is completely with the young couples, if you want a beautiful wedding that people will remember, get a priest who will explain in Gujarati & English after all it’s important to understand the vows and commitments you are undertaking. We are simply asking our guests for approx 75mins of their time to remain silent and witness the ceremony.

Costly venues are making it difficult to have weddings of thousands of people. So, a small list of 200 friends and family who appreciate the wishes of the young couple by remaining silent during the wedding are invited to the wedding and the rest will have to settle for an invitation to the reception, if they are lucky.

Guests who are finding it difficult to accept and ignore the wishes of the young people will find their names missing from the wedding list. The wedding lists for the guests and relatives are getting shorter

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New SLAB Year !!

Jai Shree Krishna !!

Welcome to the new SLAB year 2008/9. Look forward this year to a range of programmes ranging from religious and devotional, community based, sports to education and careers. Our new committee has been formed. Please visit the COMMITTEE link (top right) to find out who's who. Ideas? Suggestions? Comments? Please contact us using the feedback form on this portal. Do not forget to provide us with your details.

Shree Lohana Association is pleased to announce the reformation of the Mahila Mandal. This group will be undertaking activities through the year with a focus on women. There will be many activities including health seminars and ladies evenings. For more information, please contact Ranjuben Nathwani.

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