Can spirituality co-exist with ambition? If so, how do you balance these?

Answer from Poojya Shri Kamakshi Swamiji:
While ambitions may be important and necessary in life, in spirituality there is no necessity for an ambition. In a life where there are differences, in many situations an ambition may be required. In spirituality all are treated equally and in that “Seva” or Service is considered priceless. Seva provides self-satisfaction in our life. Ambitions are necessary but in spirituality ambitions are not necessary. Ambitions are not required with God. Surrendering to God is also not an ambition but a prayer. Further surrendering ourselves totally is not an ambition but is our duty. Hence spirituality and ambition both represent a totally different state or level. Even goals are not required. Spirituality should be without any expectation and spirituality should be without any attachment to aspire for a certain level. This kind of a spirituality does not require or should not desire for an attachment known as ambition.

Pranams to My Gurunadhars Lotus Feet. Dear Lokamaatha Guruji,

• “Dwaitham says at any time the Paramporul and we the souls who came from her cannot be united and they are different”
• “Vishistadwaitham says with your love and devotion you can reach the lotus feet of Paramaathma. But you and him are different and you cannot become Paramaathma but you can reach his lotus feet with your good deeds and pure love”
• “Our Adwaitham says Aham Brahasmi and when you self-realise yourself you can totally get reunited to our Paramporul from where you came and from that moment you both are same and not different (as proved by Lord Parameshwaran to our Guru Adhi Shankara”

Guruji now comes my confusion, with Your paripoorna kataksham I am able to understand that Goddess is the total universe and all creation comes from Her and all that is happening to us is Her Leela and Maya and She is none other than our soul, “the Atma”. Once we get free from this Maya with Her Anugraham, eventually we will reunite with Her only. So the Atma and Paramporul are the same only.

But kindly clarify the other two noble principles and their preaching’s and also bless me and all that how these three are different?

Answer from Poojya Shri Kamakshi Swamiji:
I am living like an Adwaithi. While I respect the details or references mentioned in Dwaitham and Vishishtadwaitham, I cannot follow those principles in My spiritual journey. Why because it is not required for Me and hence I have not learnt these principles. Adwaitham belongs to my Guru Parampara. Further while the opinions provided by others may be acceptable, it may not be suitable according to Me. I am trying to realise Myself and to realise Myself as “Aham Brahmasmi” and to unite with the Loga Matha Ambal, I follow the teachings of My beloved Guru ‘Maha Periyava’ and He is everything for Me. For Me, His preachings and His Divine Oracle is “Dwaitham, Adwaitham and Vishishtadwaitham”. I have completely surrendered Myself as the Goddess (Ambal) to Maha Periyava and He guides me. For me, Ambal and Maha Periyava are one and the same. Further everything is the creation of Goddess. It is Her Leela and it is due to Her grace and that is the Param Porul ‘Atma’. Atma is the Goddess. If we try to put our efforts to free our self from Maya, that itself would help us unite with the Goddess. The Atma and the Param Porul ‘Goddess’ are one and the same. Further if I have to talk about the other two noble principles and their greatness, you need to be in a state where you consider everything as one. But in the question you have mentioned that there are differences in these principles!

Adwaitham is the path which I preach while I also patronise the other two principles. According to Me all are one, but My personal state/level is that of ‘Adwaitham’. In My spiritual journey/path it acts as a shield for Me. “Aham Brahmasmi” is the theory which I like most.

Love can be part of any relation but one needs to have self-thinking. To have the thought that this relation should always last is like Dwaitham; and to dissolve oneself is like Adwaitham and we need to have Bhakti for that. Creation and destruction are considered as Maya in Adwaitham.

“Adwaitham, Dwaitham and Vishishtadwaitham” – in sum total, one is seen as three principles.

Can we mix Vibhuthi or Kumkum prasadam that we receive from Temples/Mutts and Swamigals with the Vibhuti or Kumkum that we keep in our house for our daily use?

Answer from Poojya Shri Kamakshi Swamiji:
In general it is good to mix the Vibhuti and Kumkum received as a prasadam from other places with the ones which are kept at home. Vibhuti and Kumkum are considered as the Divine prasadam. When it is obtained from places like the temples or mutts it carries a special uniqueness and greatness. When it is received from the sanctorum of God its significance along with the grace of God increases. It is due to this experience that the Vibhuti and Kumkum at home (which is mixed with the Vibhuti and Kumkum received from the temple/mutt) also becomes a prasadam. Just like all the rivers merge with the ocean, similarly the Vibhuti and Kumkum at home which is mixed with the Vibhuti and Kumkum prasadam obtained from temples/mutts also becomes a prasadam and gains divinity.

Question 4:
What is the significance and benefits of performing Ennai kappu for God?

Answer from Poojya Shri Kamakshi Swamiji:
In general there are two reasons for which oil is offered to God. One is to avoid wear and tear of the idol and the second is to avoid any cracks (due to Ashta Bandhana medicinal herb getting dried). As per the Shastras, Thaila Kaapu and Thaila Snanam is mentioned and that is primary and important in Abhishekham.

Through Thaila Snanam, the effects of any impurities (like Doshas) can be removed. Also the obstacles which may have occurred in any mantra, tantra or any action (performed as per prescribed rules) can be addressed and removed. It would also increase the sanctity of the idol. Since Goddess Lakshmi resides there, to ensure that any other opposite forces do not prevail and to invoke the grace of Goddess Lakshmi, “Ennai (oil) Snanam” is done.

By witnessing these rituals, one is blessed with all prosperity and goodness in life and all Doshas would get removed. Although many Abhishekhams are performed, the foremost among them is “Thailam”. Performing Abhishekham with this is as per the Shastra. Our ill effects would go away and all our sins would get wiped off and we would be blessed with goodness in our life.

How long should one not visit a temple when there is a death in a family? Does this rule apply when we visit Swamigals and Sanyasis also?

Answer from Poojya Shri Kamakshi Swamiji:
For every religion in general, the religious books of that respective religion and the guidance provided by their respective Guru’s form the basis or foundation for the people in that religion to follow. Religion helps us to travel in the good path and to live in unity. There are many sects in our Hindu religion including our community. This Brahmin community follows the principles as laid down in Dharma Shastras. We lead our life by following what has been mentioned in the Dharma Shastras. Adhering to the Dharma Shastras is considered as Dharma and there are many who do not follow this. For example in our trust also there are seven principles and there are only few people who follow that. Without being like that, everyone should follow the Dharma Shastra. As per the Dharma Shastras, for your question also there is a clear and satisfactory answer. Whatever is being said now is purely based on My personal opinion.

Dharma Shastra is the foremost. In the event of death, one should not go to a temple for one year. That too one should specifically not visit their Kula Deivam or any temple located in the hill/mountain. Visiting other temples may not be considered wrong. Further Kula Deivam is the family God and climbing a hill/mountain is also a matter of sanctity and purity (Acharam) as mentioned in the Dharma Shastra.

Further it is not wrong to visit Sanyasis and Swamigal’s. Since they are beyond any attachments (i.e. have no attachments) and lead a life as per Sanyasa Dharma, it is not wrong to have their darshan. However when we visit them, they should neither be touched nor should we allow them to touch us. One should strictly follow this to avoid any sin.

Accepting a Sathguru after understanding Him is also considered as Dharma. Hence following our culture as per our Dharma Shastras is considered the best. Even I am seen as a Guru. For those who have accepted me as a Guru, I would like to inform that I was also fortunate to have Sathgurus in my life who had the required qualities or “Lakshanas” and had religiously followed the laid down principles. Further all those things which have been explained above is My personal opinion.

When the summer is at its peak and there is drought due to no rain, many people especially farmers, trees and poor animals suffer.

• Guruji, can you please advise us how can we please Varuna Bhagwan to get good rain?
• Is this all happening because we are not performing our Nithya Karma properly?

Answer from Poojya Shri Kamakshi Swamiji:
Generally if we note that more heat is prevailing then it means that this is part of nature. Further to get rain “Varuna Japam” can be done; one can sing the “Mazhai Padikam” and; in many books we can find many “Padikams” about rain. When procedures or rules in Saivism “Saiva Neethi” prevail everywhere in this world; when Brahmins who chant the Vedas and the people like us follow the “Acharam” (or disciplined way of life) we can get rain.

If each and every one of us follow the Dharma prescribed for us, rain can be obtained. Nithya Karmanushtams should be followed. If we always worship our Mother, Father, Guest/Athithi and Guru we can experience rain. If we correctly perform our Karmanushtanams and worship our Kula Deivam regularly, we would not have to face any difficulty caused by nature and we can attain bliss. Further when we support and adhere to Dharma we can gain the grace of Varuna Bhagawan.

Jai Guru Dev, Ananthakodi Namaskarams to the Lotus Feet of Guruji. Dear Guruji, You always say that anger is our enemy and silence is our strength. We are able to understand this but unable to be apply the same when the situation arises. Please guide us on how to control one’s anger and how to maintain silence in a critical and tension period of stress. Guruji I have personally seen you all times with a Manthagaasa Punnagai and complete serenity and divine love pouring face (You have made us to realize that You are none other than Shri Swarna Kamakshi Ambal). As Your child, I wish and keep sankalpam to You as Kamakshi to bless us all and guide us to always be with loads of love, patience and ever smiling face and soul.

Answer from Poojya Shri Kamakshi Swamiji:
Generally people would avoid/ignore us due to anger and we would also avoid/ignore many people and enmity would grow. Since anger is our enemy we would gain enemies. Hence one should not possess anger. When you be silent, you will gain all kinds of benefits. Hence silence is like a friend for us. Further through our efforts and through our habits, we can overcome anger. When we maintain silence we will attain bliss and can also adhere to good things. To overcome the evil ‘anger’, we need to put additional efforts.

For anger to reduce we should first learn to adjust with one another. We should also reduce our expectations. We should also learn to be obedient. We should try to move away from that place. One glass of water can also be consumed. Chanting of God’s Nama is required. When we get angry and do certain things, at the end of it we would land up in a position where we have to ask for forgiveness. For destroying the enemy of anger we should try to follow some of the things mentioned above. There may be many reasons for getting angry. Through Sathsangh and by doing good deeds one can reduce anger.

Even I get angry sometimes and there may be reasons for that. You have mentioned that I can be seen with “Manthagaasa Punnagai” and the reason for this is the grace of the Goddess. By worshipping the Goddess all of us can gain prosperity. Further the capacity to guide us in the right path lies with the person who is the form of the Goddess which is Shri Maha Periyava. All that has been explained above is My personal opinion and you may accept this and follow the same.