The origins of Dru Yoga cult of Vaishnavism

By John Jones, senior Dru Yoga Tutor

 

This article is written in response to the requests of many Dru Yoga students for more information about the background of Dru Yoga, and its origins in the cult of Vaishnavism of northernIndia.

 

In the sun-drenched fields and orchards a few miles from the River Yamuna and the ancient town ofVrindavanin Uttar Pradesh, there is a small raised wooded area no more than a few square kilometres in size that is the last remaining remnants of theMadhuvanForest.

 

This tiny relic of ancient woodland is one of the most sacred sites to the Vedic cult of Vaishnavism (worshippers of the Hindu deity, Vishnu.)  For it was on this spot that Dhruva, whose life and feats of yoga gave rise to the practice of Dru Yoga, and established his place in Vaishnava history.

 

In spite of the fact thatMadhuvanForestis now surrounded by cultivated land and is tiny in relation to its once extensive size, it is today still teeming with wild birds, butterflies, and insects, and is home to more than a few yogis living in small stone ashrams with thatched roofs and cow-dung floors.

 

The forest also contains a recently refurbishedDruTemplethat commemorates the place that Dhruva practised yoga and celebrates his accomplishing the realisation of the highest goal of yoga.  It is said that Dhruva uniquely accomplished self-realisation while still a child because of an unshakeable determination and innocent faith in the teaching of his mentor, Narada Muni.  In fact, Dhruva’s name means literally “unshakeable” or “immovable” and describes the extraordinary force of will that enabled him to achieve great feats of yoga at a young age.

 

Legend has it that Dhruva was the son of a regional maharaja but left his father’s palace and took to a life of renunciation and yoga practice because he was rejected by his father in favour of his stepbrother.

 

After achieving self-realisation, Dhruva lived as a yogi in Madhuvan forest before taking over his father’s throne and ushering in a golden age of peace and prosperity to that region ofIndia.

 

After his death, the Pole Star was given his name and is still known inIndiaas the Dru Star because like Dhruva it remains constant and stationary whilst the rest of the heavens revolve around it.

 

This region ofIndiacontains many sites sacred to the cult of Vaishnavism and is known as the Vraja Mandala.  Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, was born in nearbyMathuraand grew up spending his early years in the Vraja Mandala.

 

Many of the sacred sites associated withKrishna’s early life remained lost for many centuries but were rediscovered in the sixteenth century by followers of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.  Lord Chaitanya sent six of his closest followers from Bengal to Vrindavan with the express purpose of uncovering the historical sites ofKrishna’s childhood and establishing temples and memorials so that these places should never be lost again.  It was Lord Chaitanya’s followers who preservedMadhuvanForest, and established the first temple to Dhruva.  It is their descendants and the followers of the cult of Vaishavism that still preserve Dhruva’s memory inMadhuvanForesttoday.

 

It may come as no surprise that Dru Yoga, which brings peace and wellbeing to so many people worldwide, has its origins in a land which spirituality and inner peace are paramount.


What To Do When You Have A Computer To Recycle

When you really think of it, recycling is something that can have a tremendous impact depending on the situation.

While recycling is becoming more popular, a lot of people never thought about recycling their computer. A lot of people nowadays have a computer and many have more than one. Similar to trading in cars, lots of people trade in their computers for new ones. If a computer no longer is working, most people merely throw it out with the junk. Frequently, that computer winds up in a landfill someplace, and it isn’t biodegradable, so it will simply sit there, taking up space.

Computer recycling programs started to pop up in 1994 nonetheless even today, most people are not aware of it. You’ll find places that need computers, so donating yours to these sorts of places is a terrific idea. If your computer doesn’t work, you could still donate it to a college. Several colleges have computer repair classes so they can use it there. It is a terrific way for the next generation of computer repair individuals to figure out how to repair computers. The students will have an excellent opportunity to find out about taking a computer system apart and putting it back together.

I do hope what you’ve observed in this blog post concerning recycling, plus also the particular info regarding green living, is of use to you. Now please continue on more to receive further ideas regarding these topics.

If your pc can be functional, you can give them to non-profit groups. Most of these non-profits use these computers to teach folks how to fix them and then donate the computers to folks who are unable to afford one. Even though an older computer still works, a number of people want the latest and greatest technology. The older pc can still be useful for someone else. Even tax deductions are given for the donation of old computer systems. You might be worried about what to do with the information saved on your computer system, but you can contact a shop that fixes computers and find out what they can do. For a small charge, they’re able to take out your data or may do it free of charge if you say that you are donating it.

In several places, you may get in trouble with the law if you get rid of the computer and monitor with the garbage. You have to find a better option, unless you wish to keep it. When you have a local college, you can contact them to see if they have a use for a giveaway computer. Someplace there should be an organization that will take your personal computer, but try to look for a place other than the local dump. Certain landfills will allow old machines to be dumped so find out if you can dump your pc there.

If you want to do away with your old personal computer, think about recycling rather than dumping it. With all the harmful chemicals found in the computer, it is terrible to simply dump it so you need to recycle.