Sadhana is just replacement of the bad tendencies of the mind by the divine attributes of the Atma. (CWBSSB, p. 96)
The best Sadhana is that every act throughout the day be done as worship to God. God is like electric power. The heart is like the bulb. The wiring is discipline. The switch is the intelligence; the act of turning the switch on in the morning, at noon or in the evening is meditation. Once the electric switch, the wiring and bulb are in, nothing more need be done. Just turn the switch and there is light. (CWBSSB, p. 171)
There are three groups of sadhanas, which you have to take up - personal, social and universal (Vyakti, Samaja and Vishva). A single flower cannot constitute a garland, nor can a single tree be a forest or a single individual, a society. The individual’s spiritual success, his beneficent nature, and his virtues, when pooled with those of many others, become the wealth of society, the common property of all. Each one has to revere and serve all. The Divine in each is pooled into the concept of the Infinite Divine. (SSS Vol. 10, p. 288)
The land need not be tilled or fenced in, no manuring or irrigation need be done if you are bent on growing only grass. It is only when you are eager to reap the harvest of edible grain that the sadhana of ploughing, watering, manuring and fencing are important. See God installed in everyone, and every living body as a temple where the Omnipr esent God is to be adored and worshipped by your seva. You proclaim that God is resident in all creatures but when you have to put that into action, your faith disappears and you discover excuses. (WDL, p. 112)
If we try to make our minds pure, then we shall be able to discover anything and everything. In our Sadhana the first thing we have to do is to deepen and steady our faith. God is all-pervading, He is everywhere, and so the Atma-tattva that flows out of our minds will be very near to God. Because God comes out of our heart in the form of speech, we must try to make our speech as pure and as clean as possible. God is also in the form of Truth, so whatever we may say through our speech, God will be saying, ‘let it be so!’ (SSB 1972, pp. 163-164)
Sadhana has to be done after attaining a good character; that is very important. In the midst of impurity, wickedness and evil, spiritual effort will be fruitless. It is as the jewel in the head of the cobra, in the centre of poison cruelty. (SSS Vol.3, p. 153)
The Sadhana man is he who is engaged in Sarveswara chinthana (contemplation on the Almighty) as ceaselessly as the waves of the Sagara or sea, who accumulates the Dhana of Equality and Equal Love to all, who is content in the thought that all is the Lord’s and nothing is his. (Prema Vahini, 1975)
Sadhana requires regular habits and moderation in food, sleep and exercise. Fasting weakens the intellect and reduces the strength of discrimination. (SSS Vol.4, p. 24)
Sadhana is essential because the effects of karma have to be removed by karma alone, as a thorn is removed only by another thorn. You cannot remove it with a knife or a hammer, or even a sword. (SSS Vol.4, p. 95)
Love all; revere all, help all to the best of your ability. Endeavour to be as beneficial, as sweet, as soft as possible, then the spot on which you stand becomes as sacred as Kashi; the words that you utter will be as holy as the Scriptures. This sadhana will lead you to Realisation. (SSS Vol.4, p. 144)
What is the way to bring about unity in this diversity of colours? The ancient sages, after deep enquiry have indicated five different paths for achieving this objective. These are:Satyavati,Angavati, Anyavati and Nidanavati and Swarupatmaka Jnanam.
Satyavati is a kind of sadhana. This Sadhana reveals the presence of the Divine in a subtle form everywhere, in everything, in the same manner in which butter is present in milk. The Sadhana provides the proof for the view that God is the universal In-dweller abiding in all beings. No one should think that God dwells in a particular place or in a particular being. The purpose of this Sadhana is to make one realise that God is present in all beings and to act on that conviction.
Next is Angavati Sadhana. There are five elements: space, air, fire, water and earth. The Divine is present in each of these elements in a specific form. In space (Akasha) the Divine is present in the form of sound as ‘Om’. Akasha is the base and the form of Pranava (Om) issues forth from Akasha. Air (Vayu) has the power to sustain life. This power is represented by hydrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere. Oxygen has this Divine life sustaining potency. The Divine is thus present in the air in the form of life-giving breath (Prana). This is a matter of daily experience for everyone. When somebody faints, the people around him are cleared so that he may have more air and breathe more freely. This is recognition of the presence of the life-energy in air.
In fire, the Divine is present as an alarm signaller. Even when a fire is mild, people are careful. Consciously or otherwise, when we have to deal with fire, we develop a sense of cautiousness. In water the Divine is present as Prajna (Integrated Awareness). The scriptures declare: ‘Prajnanam Brahma’ (Integrated Awareness is Brahman). This Prajna arises out of water. When a person becomes unconscious, water is sprinkled on him to restore consciousness. The fifth element is the earth (Prithvi). In the earth Consciousness (Chaitanya) is present. The potencies present in the five elements Prajna-shakti (Integrated Awareness), Jagrata shakti (the awakening or the warning potency),Chetana-shakti (the consciousness), Shabda shakti (the potency of sound) and Jiva shakti (life-sustaining potency) are all different forms of the Divine power. Those who are engaged in the Angavati sadhana regard the five elements as manifestations of the Supreme (Paramatma) and offer worship to them. The third sadhana is Anyavati. In this sadhana, the Divine is worshipped on the basis of certain insignia, in a particular form like that of Vishnu or Shiva. Shiva for instance, is envisaged as a deity with the trident, the damaru, three eyes, and is worshipped in this form. Similarly Rama is pictured as one bearing the Kodanda bow and Krishna as the Lord with the flute, wearing a peacock feather on his head. In this manner each deity is distinguished by certain special insignia for the purpose of worship.
Next is Nidanavati. This is the common type of sadhana practised by most people today. It comprises the nine types of worship practised by devotees: Shravanam, Kirtanam, Vishnu smaranam, Pada sevanam, Vandanam, Archanam, Dasyam, Sneham and Atma nivedanam.
The fifth sadhana is ‘Swarupatmaka Jnanam’. This sadhana aims at achieving the realisation that every individual is an embodiment of the Divine and hence the Divine is present in everyone. The Gita declares: ‘All feet are His, all eyes, heads and mouths are His’. All names, all-human forms are Divine. True education should enable one to realise this inherent Divinity. (SSS Vol.21)
The literal meaning of ‘Sadhana’ is the effort you make to achieve the object you desire or to reach the goal you have in view. Sadhana is thus the primary means to realise your aim or objective. A second meaning of the term Sa-dhana, is, the wealth that is associated with Divinity. Dhana is described in three ways. Aishvarya, Sampada and Dhana. (material wealth). All of them refer to the same thing. If this wealth is lost, it can be got back. Hence while life still remains, one must strive to acquire the divine wealth that is imperishable and everlasting. Your conduct constitutes this divine wealth. It is only by the way we live that we can acquire this divine wealth. (SSS Vol.21)
The removal of these impurities, which have encased themselves so deeply, is the principal objective of all Sadhana or spiritual practice. This is also the goal of all Yoga, namely to cleanse ourselves of all trace of Raga and Dvesha, the twin evils of attachment and hatred, which have harboured themselves within us. (SSS Vol.20)
True sadhana (spiritual practice) consists in the technique of merging the vak (faculty of speech) in the mind, the mind in the intellect, and finally the intellect in the Atma. Forgetting this sacred and royal road available to man, it is sad that he chooses to indulge in sensual pleasures, which ultimately drown him in deep sorrow. (SSB 1990, p. 28)
For accomplishing any objective two things are needed: Krishi (individual effort) and Kripa (Divine Grace). The two are like the negative and positive poles of a magnet. If there is only Divine Grace, but no proper effort on the part of the individual, the object cannot be achieved. Divine Grace is always there. We need not go far to seek it. The efforts made to secure it are called sadhana (spiritual effort). (SSS Vol.16, p. 175)
Ponder over your Sthiti (present condition), Gati (direction of movement). Shakti (capabilities) and Mati (inclination). Then, enter upon the path of Sadhana step by step, so that you approach the goal faster every day, every hour, every minute. (AV, p. 235)
The best sadhana is to behave as you do, when you get a parcel of books by post. To get at the books, you unwrap the parcel and throw off the material used to pack the books. Now take the prayer that is the deepest and the most significant. ‘I want peace’. Unwrap the layer ‘I’ or ego and the layer ‘want’. Then you get peace. So, throw away the packing and hold on to the thing packed and protected. (HM, p. 17)
In my view, neither Sadhana (spiritual endeavour) nor Sadhyam (fulfilment) exists independently and apart from each other. Sadhana and Sadhyam are one and the same. It is a trick of the mind to make Sadhana as the means to Sadhyam (the Goal). True Sadhana consists in giving up the anatman bhava (the idea that one is not the Spirit but the physical body). To turn the vision from the physical to the spiritual constitutes real Sadhana. (SSS Vol.24, pp. 2-3)
Through Sadhana, continuous and consistent, man can control the vagaries of the mind, which by their variety and vanity, cause disappointment and distress. ‘Sadhana can achieve what appears impossible,’ says a Telugu proverb. What is required is the awareness of the vicious game that the mind plays. It presents before the attention one source after the other of temporary pleasure; it does not allow any interval for you to weigh the pros and cons. When hunger for food is appeased, it holds before the eye the attraction of the film, it reminds the ear of the charm of music and it makes the tongue water for the taste of something pleasant. The wish very soon becomes the urge for action; the urge gathers strength and soon becomes uncontrollable. The burden of desires gradually become too heavy and soon man gets dispirited and sad. Train the mind to turn towards intelligence for inspiration and guidance, not towards the senses for adventure and material gain. That will make it an instrument for reducing your vagaries and saving time and energy for more vital matters. Desires, when fulfilled, breed further desires; when unfulfilled, they lead to further instalments of life on earth in order to calm the urge. The only method by which the delusion of desire can be destroyed, is to dedicate all activities to God and engage them in a spirit of worship, leaving the consequences to Him and ceasing us to both, birth and death, or they deliver us from that chain; they result in joy or grief, prosperity or poverty, gain or loss, pleasure or pain. You must realise that your enthusiasm or despair, success or failure, are but the consequences of your actions. (SSE, pp. 122-123)
What is it you are supposed to know on the Guru Purnima ? You must understand that god is in you, with you, around you, above you, below you. In fact, you are god. Recognise this truth in the first instance. Do not entertain excessive desires and become beggars. Do your duty sincerely. That is the true Sadhana. When you in office, do office work only; do not think of your family matters. Likewise, when you are at home, take care of the needs of your wife and children. Do not make your home an office. But today because of too much work in office, people take office-papers to their homes to complete their work. They are thus facing difficulties because they mix up office work, household work, business and spiritual matters. (DD on 24-07-2002 )
Sadhana is the struggle to leap back into life-giving element. For success in this struggle, do not depend upon another; depend upon yourself and on the Grace of God. Remember that Rama and Kama cannot be together; where Rama is, Kama cannot thrive; where Kama is, how can Rama enter? Every person must have a single Dhara (stream), Aradha as a-dhara (basis); that is the easiest means of winning Shyama. (SSS Vol.1, p. 162)
Do it now! That is urgency of the problem of all problems – winning peace and contentment. If you feel hungry now, you cannot have your meals tomorrow. Aspire now, adore now, and achieve now! Start today the Sadhana that has to be done tomorrow. (NNSG Vol.2)
No single moment that is passed by can be turned back. People usually delay doing some things, today’s till tomorrow, and yesterday’s till today. But the tasks of sadhana are not of such a nature, for them, there is no yesterday and no tomorrow. This very moment is the moment! The minute that has elapsed is beyond your grasp; so too, the minute that is approaching is not yours!
How sad it is that this human life, precious as an invaluable diamond that cannot be priced at all, has been cheapened to the standard of a worn-out worthless coin! There is no use repenting, after wasting time without profit, without meditating on God, or practising any sadhana to realise Him. So, if from now on, one equips himself by the contemplation of God off and on, it will stand him in good stead when the end approaches. Start today the sadhana that has to be done tomorrow! Start now the sadhana that has to be done today! One does not know what is in store the next moment. Therefore, there should be no delay in engaging oneself in the sadhana that has to be done. Physical stamina is also necessary for this sadhana, and so, the body has to be tended, though overtending causes damage. To the degree that is essential, it should be looked after with great care. (Prema Vahini, pp. 68-69)
An Aeroplane lands in an airport to pick up passengers who have passport, visa, ticket and reservation, so that they may quickly reach their destination. Similarly an Avatar comes down to the earth to pick up devotees having the passport of intense Sadhana (spiritual discipline), the visa called Bhakti (devotion), the ticket of surrender and the reservation of divine grace, and to take them fast to their destination of freedom from Samsara or transmigration.
At the same time the Avatar does not altogether neglect those who don’t have the above credentials to fly with Him. He will remind those who are still keen on continuing to play the game of life that the world is after all a play-field and they should not continue to play forever, but should hasten to get back home, their permanent residence. Also He would tell them that this world is a bridge connecting Jiva (man) with Deva (God), and that they should make use of the bridge to march along quickly to the other side, and that they should not be foolish as to use the bridge for building houses thereon with the idea of permanently staying here. (NNSG Vol.5, pp. 12-13)
God’s heart is softer than butter. However soft the butter is, it needs warmth to melt. Similarly in order to melt the compassionate heart of the Lord, the devotees should develop the required warmth by way of yearning and Sadhanas. He should have intense longing for His mercy and grace. When the child cries, will the mother tarry, assessing and analyzing the tune of its crying? Similarly, it is enough if you pray to God with all earnestness in a mood of distress and helplessness. That sort of burning desire is the sole Sadhana that will melt and move the Lord. (NNSG Vol.5, p. 66)
Today’s Samskara (engram, trace or tendency) is tomorrow’s Sadhana (practice); today’s Sadhana is tomorrow’s Manasika Parinamam (mental transformation); today’s Manasika Parinamam is tomorrow’s Lakshya Sadhana (goal achievement). (NNSG Vol.5, p. 194)
Without any real work, chatting throughout the day, is this Sadhana, do you think?
Following a regimen of feeding your belly thrice a day, do you think it is Sahana?
Vigorous activity by day and deep sleep by night, do you think this is Sadhana?
Is this for which God has created you?
Do not waste your time in this manner.
From this moment strive to know – recognise – God
This alone is Sadhana.
There is no one in this world in whose heart God does not exist. Therefore, is meditation required to visualise such an all-pervading and omnipotent God? There are many who teach different techniques of meditation today. However, meditation is meant to acquire purity of the spiritual heart, for, without attaining purity of the heart, the seat of awareness, God cannot be realised. Hence, one has to strive to attain purity of the spiritual heart. What kind of Sadhana did Kamsa do in Dwapara Yuga? In fact, he was constantly abusing Lord Krishna. However, Lord Krishna was so compassionate that He gave His darshan to Kamsa. No Sadhana would help in realising God, if one is devoid of purity of the heart.
The different kinds of Sadhana like fasting, meditation, etc., would help to develop one’s faith in the omnipresent God who, in fact, resides as the In-dweller in you. People generally think that God gave darshan to such and such person. But the truth is God never gives Darshan to people who have no purity of the heart. Hence, if you wish to have Darshan of God, you must develop purity of the heart. All kinds of Sadhana are meant only to attain purity. The moment you attain purity of the heart, the omnipresent God will manifest right in front of you. Unfortunately, today in the world there is dearth of Gurus who can firmly lead the seeker on the path of purity. They confine themselves to some mechanical techniques of meditation, in exchange for money.
In fact, one does not need to undertake any complex system of meditation. One can undertake the simple Sadhana of constant contemplation on the omnipresent God. Few teach such simple methods now a days. People listen to and read about intriguing kinds of meditation and start their Sadhana that catches their interest or imagination. Embodiments of Love! If you want to visualise God, you must attain purity of the heart. (DD on 09.10.05, p. 3)
I always say, ‘Sadhana first, Sankalpa later’. That is the correct order. My Sankalpa confers bliss only after the depth of the yearning in the devotee. Sadhana (discipline, spiritual striving and steady practice) is the essential prerequisite. A teacher evaluates the written answers of his students and assigns them marks only after careful scrutiny of what they have written; is not it so? I. too, measure and weigh the sincerity and steadiness of the Sadhana you have imposed on yourselves and then frame My Sankalpa (Will) accordingly. Of course, many are not aware that the misery in which they themselves can be negated by Sadhana. (SSSm Vol.4)
There are three types of Sadhanas. The first type is a sadhana which moneys practise and is called Markata Sadhana. The second is called Vihanga Sadhana and is typical of Sadhana practised by birds. The third is called Pipilika Sadhana practised by the ants. So far as the monkey is concerned; it goes to a tree, plucks a fruit but does not eat it then and there. It then jumps from one branch to another. In this process it loses this fruits and will have no fruit at all to eat. This is the kind of sadhana where want quick success. We want to see God quickly and in this process we go on changing the objective of our sadhana every day and change from place to place like a monkey.
The second kind of sadhana can be compared to the behaviour of a bird. A bird swoops down on a fruit and hits so sharply that the fruit drops on the ground. In the process, the bird loses its objective.
The third type of sadhana is typical of what an ant does and is called Pipilika sadhana. As is well known an ant breaks up all items it wants to eat, into very small bits, carries each bit slowly and steadily and brings them to its own location. It is always successful in acquiring its food. Even in sadhana, you have to be slow and steady, and that will enable you to attain your objective. Just as these ants cut their food into small pieces, bring them back home and eat them at leisure and fearlessly, so also we must not swerve our path, we must keep the object in our mind and we should not let our vision flutter. Thus, for our spiritual progress we should maintain discipline and keep the mind under control. We should do everything in the name of God. (SA Vol.3, p. 46)
Purity of consciousness is the fruition of knowledge. It is only when your consciousness is pure you will attain wisdom. Purity of the mind is of utmost importance. Keep your mind pure, free from all kinds of pollution. Whenever evil thoughts enter your n mind, remind yourself, ‘This is not good; this is not mine; not mine,’ and drive away those evil thoughts. Tell yourself, ‘These are all not my property; my property is good thoughts and good ideas only.’ Constantly remember the truth that love is God. Live in love. If you can cultivate such positive and noble thoughts, everything will turn out to be good for you. There are several people here who are deluded by ephemeral things. No doubt, you are pure at heart. You have only pure thoughts. But, certain amount of pollution sets in now and then. You must ensure that it does not happen. That is Sadhana for you.
What is Sadhana? Is it sitting in meditation and doing Japa (recitation of God’s name)? No. This is not Sadhana. What do you think is the meaning of meditation? You think it is sitting in a lonely place and contemplating on the Lord’s name. Not at all! Contemplate upon the pure thoughts in your mind. Contemplate on the Truth in you. If you really wish to know the secret of Sadhana, it can be explained through very simple methods. For example, make your mind steady and still for as short a period as eleven seconds. You can attain realisation even in such a short period. Realisation cannot be achieved by becoming restless like a clock. Just eleven seconds of stillness of mind would be enough. But you don’t do even that. You can achieve a lot during this period. Hence, do not trouble yourself unnecessarily you are, at present, putting your body to a lot of trouble. You are wasting a lot of money too. Time waste is life waste. Money waste is an evil. Hence, do not. waste money and time. Time is God and God is time. Hence, whenever you find time, think of Swami. I will certainly appear before you. Not only that, I will even talk to you. I am receiving several letters saying that Swami has appeared before them and talked to them. You can also do such Sadhana. Develop such unflinching faith in Swami. You will surely succeed in your Sadhana. Several people ha s come here as devotees. They have, no doubt, deep devotion towards Swami. But, what is devotion? What is the hallmark of a devotee? This has to be analysed first.First and foremost, you have to develop faith.
Where there is faith, there is love.
Where there is love, there is truth.
Where there is truth; there God is.
Truth is God. You need not have to: make any special efforts to know Truth. In fact, eleven seconds are enough to realise truth. You just contemplate your mind for a period of eleven seconds on Truth and you will be able to have God’s darshan. You are unnecessarily taxing your body by sitting for hours together in meditation. At the end, you are suffering from pain in legs and hands and back ache. Do not give scope for such painful joints. You ultimately land in a doctor’s clinic who will diagnose your trouble as rheumatic pains. They are not rheumatic pains at all. They are the result of misguided Sadhana. Stick to the time schedule of eleven seconds and you will have no pain. In addition, you also have timely food. With regard to food, you have to know certain subtle things and observe some restrictions. You should not consume non-vegetarian food like meat and fish. In fact, foreigners are used to non-vegetarian food only. This type of food causes diseases like cancer. Hence, give up such food, totally. Not only that. They also like cheese very much. The more you consume cheese, the weaker you become. You should not also take milk in excess quantity. Too much milk is very bad. It should be in limit. The milk should be diluted with water in equal proportion. Same is the case with curd. It should not be thick. It should be semi-solid. Thus, you have. to control the food you eat daily. Proper food at proper time is very much necessary for contemplating on God. If you thus take proper food’ and observe discipline in your habits, you are sure to have God’s Darshan at that very moment. You need not have to undertake rigorous Sadhana for months and years. You can always be blissful. Bliss is the form of God.
You desire to have bliss. But, from where do you get bliss? From a shop in the market? Or by having a sumptuous meal with a variety of dishes in a hotel? No, not at all! Bliss has to come from within. You are, in fact, the embodiment of bliss. You were blissful at the time of your birth. But, once you started developing attachment with the world, you began crying. Hence, you have to reduce your worldly attachments. You are at present having a lot of attachment with the world. Thereby, you are weakening your body. Ultimately you will end up in sorrow. Worry is a very bad quality. Hurry, worry and curry - these three together make the heart very weak. Hence, keep them at a distance. Whenever you are in difficulties, you just assure yourself that these are passing clouds and will move away and therefore you will not be worried. Whatever comes has to go. They are momentary. Same is the case with the human body. Hence, you have to give importance to the body, only to the extent required. The body has to be maintained within proper limits. Otherwise, it will decay. You have to be very careful. Those who are engaged in Sadhana and wish to have the Darshan, Sparshan and Sambhasana (vision, touch and conversation) with God, must follow My advice in this regard. You are sure to have His Darshan and can even talk to Him. Devotion is not merely performing certain forms of worship or undertaking religious vows or doing Japa. Real devotion presupposes unshakeable love towards God, devoid of delusion. You have to cultivate such steadfast love towards God. Then you will certainly attain Divinity. Since people are at present attached to the world, demonic qualities are growing in them. Both Kama (desire) and Krodha (anger) are the worst enemies of a human being. You must always be happy, smiling and loving. When you are smiling, love will automatically develop in you. There are, of course, some people who will put up a ‘castor oil’ face. You must always be smiling and cheerful. (SSS Vol.40, pp. 144-147)
Sadhana (spiritual effort) requires regular habits and moderation in food, sleep, and exercise. Fasting weakens the intellect and reduces the strength of discrimination. The body, the mind and the spirit, all three must be equally looked after. Unless you have ‘muscles of iron and nerves of steel’, you cannot contain in your head the tremendously transforming idea of Advaita, of your being the Universal itself, the Eternal Reality itself! (SSS Vol.42, p. 206)
The year becomes new, the day becomes body, when you sanctify it by spiritual practices (Sadhana). Sadhana can grow only in a field fertilized by the more overpowering Love for God. (AP, p. 6)
To reach the Goal quickly, without passing through the ordeals of the long journey and stopping at one caravanserai after another, passing from birth to birth, learn sadhana - especially, the easiest and the quickest, Namasmarana. (SSS Vol.2)
My suggestion to you today is this: just as you attend to the needs of the body, feeding it three times a day, in order to keep it in good running condition, so too, spend some time regularly everyday to keep your Inner Consciousness also in good trim. Spend one hour in the morning, another at night and a third in the early hours of dawn, the Brahma muhurta as it is called, for japam and meditation on the Lord. You will find great peace descending on you and great new sources of strength welling up within you as you progress in this sadhana. After some time, the mind will dwell on the Name wherever you are and whatever you are engaged in; and then, peace and joy will be your inseparable companions. (SSS Vol.1)
Each step of the Sadhana has to be understood well
Instead of relying upon mere enthusiasm to show the way, it is better that the spiritual aspirant receives guidance from a preceptor during the early stages. For, one has to observe the disciplines, with the awareness of their meaning. Dhyana, Upasana (worship), Pranava recital--- these are best done under proper guidance; mere text-books may lead the sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) into disappointment. The significance of each step has to be appreciated in order to ensure the co-operation of all the faculties of man in the effort and ensure success. Mere mechanical imitation or automatic repetition is of no value.
Ask any one why green leaves are strung across the main entrance of the house; the reply will be, "It is the custom, since ages; every decent person does it." But, why? Few people know it; no one cares to know.
In the years gone by, every village home was stocked full of paddy bags, and so, the rats too inevitably infested every home. In one such home, they were celebrating every Full Moon Day the rite called Satyanarayana Puja. This required the collection of good quantity of milk and ghee, the previous night itself. The rats attracted cats and the cats often preferred milk and ghee to the rodent food they are accustomed to. So, the milk and ghee were carefully kept in places unreachable to the cats. But, during the celebrations on the sacred day, the milk and ghee had to be kept open and available for use in vessels around the shrine. That was the chance for the depredatory cat; so, the master of the house caught the cat by the neck and put it under a heavy basket, and placed a stone on it, so that it could not play any mischief with the holy offerings.
This was done so consistently every Full Moon Day as a safety measure in one home that the children and grandchildren felt that, puja or no puja, no Full Moon Day should pass without a cat being imprisoned under a weighted basket! They started searching for a cat and bring it home, so that the ritual of the cat and basket could be observed without fail.
The original meaning and purpose was lost during the passage of time and later generations were burdened with a belief that danger lurks if a cat is not dealt with, as their forefathers did! From being an insufferable nuisance, the cat rose to a new status of importance! This is blind imitation. (SSS Vol.7)