The Dawn of Life - "Braham Muhurat" "ब्रह्ममुहूर्त" - The Hour of 'Shiv'

                          The Hour of ' Shiv' - The Dawn of Life

I count every minute in chaos,

I learn every step to dance,

& When he calls 'aks',

I could not remain sleep for longer,

I arise, fully conscious & brightly awakened.

                                  - Arun Rise Sharma

Since my childhood, I was always been encouraged to wake up early in the morning by my parents. They encouraged, motivated, and rewarded me and for not doing I was even reprimanded. I had never understood so that why I had been made to do so. My mother usually said that those who wake up early are blessed one and nearer to God. Like every one, I loved waking up late and that is why school vacations remained my favourite too. However I still remembered that during summer vacation, I usually went to nearer park for morning playing and sports getting awakened myself without alarm or any other help. It was the time when I along with my friends usually went to Yamuna River for morning bath and fun. As I had become active in National Cadet Corps and dance activities therefore I needed to wake up early for keeping fitness. That had helped me in getting selected in my job and during our training period; I generally woke up at 4 /4.15 AM for ground training.

Lot of good things are said for early risers but however I have felt that many of my friends usually avoid getting up early and love morning sleep. During this time a concept of ‘Night Life’ has been popularized and lauded by young lot. I was hoping that it would enhance the happiness and life satisfaction in better way but unfortunately the depression, sadness, anxieties and stress have been increased multiple folds and thus life has remained dry for most of the people. 

As throughout my lived life, most of time I remained early riser due to my nature of job, circumstances and personal habits however whenever I was getting chance, I tried to wake up late as much possible that was sometimes even at 10.30 AM. The holidays were remained my favourite due to getting up late and remaining in bed for longer hours. For the last one & 1/2 year, the things have changed due to nature of work assigned to me. I have started getting up as early as 3.45 AM/ 4 AM. Initially It was difficult to cope but with the passage of time, despite having opportunities for sleeping longer hours, I have started avoiding getting late and become habitual of getting up early. The necessity which was initially a curse has become a boon for me and I have started realising the benefits of wake up early. I have become less angry, more understanding and started enjoying surroundings. The calmness and quietness in the morning hours is so pleasant and fresh that after sometime I have stopped negotiating for getting up late. This has led me to know about 'Braham Muhurat' ब्रह्ममुहूर्त- The hour of God- to create all positive thoughts for the day to arrive. 'Braham Muhurat' ब्रह्ममुहूर्त occurs during the ‘Vata’ phase of the day, between 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM more precisely between 3:30 AM to 5:30 AM. It is a period  of 1 ½  hours before sunrise - precisely 1 Hour 36 Minutes before Sunrise. (i.e. 96 Minutes = 48 Minutes X 2 Muhūrta = 4 Ghaṭīkā of 24 Minutes each.

As per ‘Astanga Hridyam’-अष्टांगहृदयम् it is  best time for study and gaining knowledge. It is further stated that waking up in "Braham Mahurat”-ब्रह्ममुहूर्त protects health and keeps body free from sickness. 'Manu'-The great sage had said, "Braham Mahurat chaanu chintayate." - One shall awake in "Braham Mahurat”-ब्रह्ममुहूर्त, chant prayers, act as per ‘Dharma’  and experience the ‘Atman- Shiv’.

According to the Vedas-वेद , every day is divided into 8 ‘Prahar’-प्रहर nearly three hours each as there is variation in time measurement for each. If you get into the bed at right hour, it is easy to get up at right time as after a good night's sleep or ‘Samadhi’-समाधि the mind which remains active while awakened and runs from one to another, faster than any possible object, remains to stationary body so when we wake up, the refreshed, calm, at peace mind gets ready for new beginning. The ‘Sativva Guna’- सत्त्व  गुण processes it to grind, crushes and throws away old designs of evils, worries and stress and fills it with hopes, happiness, and positivity and action plan for achieving new dreams. Whatever defeats, deceits, betrayals are there, it does not bitter you and you take them as life lesson. The flow of 'Sushumna Nadi'- सुषुम्ना नाड़ी  makes one to ready for ‘Dhyan’-ध्यान and penance and takes one to inner self. It is considered as the ‘Shubh’-शुभ time for spirituality like ‘Prathna’-प्रार्थना ‘yoga’ recite of ‘Mantra’ and ‘Dhyan’ because the mind can control and keeps itself still. This is the time when Melatonin- mood stabiliser, a secretion from pineal gland, produces in ample quantity and one may feel the whole body as universe or the greater universe as one small body and connecting self as ‘Atman’-आत्मन. It is like having the positive spiritual and physical energies from nature and returning the same in double. It is energy of innocent creative mind interacting with divine power through nurturing of thoughts.  It gets itself to prepare writing a new history for today. I have recently realised that my initial post which have become foundation stone for this blog and has helped me in knowing a better progressive way was written at 4.15 AM- “Life in Pyjamas”. The peace, the thinking and calmness have got me to understand self with better focus vision and thought process.

I therefore convey best wishes to early risers/ sages of "Braham Muhurat”-ब्रह्ममुहूर्त to enjoy the bliss of early morning with calmness of mind while maintaining stillness leading to nurturing of thoughts through interaction with ‘Shiv’ and becoming One ‘Atman’.

                             "Aum Namo Shivay"