Month: May 2020

NIRVANA SHATAKAM (ATMA SHATAKAM) Verse 5

Sanskrit Verse

न मृत्युर्न शङ्का न मे जातिभेदः

पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्मः ।

न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यं

चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥५॥

English Transliteration

Na Mrtyur-Na Shangkaa Na Me Jaati-Bhedah

Pitaa Naiva Me Naiva Maataa Na Janmah |

Na Bandhurna Mitram Gurur-Na-Iva Shissyam

Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo[a-A]ham Shivo[a-A]ham ||5||

Meaning of the Sanskrit Words

मृत्यु (Mrtyu) = Death

न (Na) = Not

शङ्का (Shangkaa): Apprehension, Fear

जाति (Jaati) = Caste or Creed

भेद (Bheda) = Distinction

पिता (Pitaa): Father

माता (Maataa): Mother

जन्मः (Janmah): Birth

बन्धु (Bandhu) = Relation

न (Na) = Not

मित्रं (Mitram): Friend

गुरु (Guru) = Guru or Spiritual Preceptor

न (Na) = Not

इव (Iva) = In the same manner

शिष्यं (Shissyam): Disciple

चित् (Cit) = Consciousness

आनन्द (Aananda) = Bliss

रूप (Ruupa) = Nature

शिव (Shiva) = signifying Consciouness

अहम् (Aham) = I

Meaning of the Verse

5.1: Neither am I bound by Death and its Fear, nor by the rules of Caste and its Distinctions,

5.2: Neither do I have Father and Mother, nor do I have Birth,

5.3: Neither do I have Relations nor Friends, neither Spiritual Teacher nor Disciple,

5.4: I am the Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness; I am Shiva, I am Shiva,

The Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness.

5. I have no apprehension of death; neither do I have any distinction of caste (or creed); I have neither father, nor mother, nor (even) birth; neither friend nor kith and kin; neither teacher (guru) nor disciple; I am of the nature of Pure Consciousness-Bliss-Absolute, I am Shiva, I am (verily) Shiva.

Meaning in Tamil

மரணமும் மரணபயமும் சாதியும் மதமும் எனை வரையறைவதில்லை

தந்தையும் தாயும் எனக்கில்லை இப்புவியில் பிறப்பும் எனக்கில்லை

உற்றாரும் உறவினரும் எனக்கில்லை ஆசானும் சீடனும் எனக்கில்லை

உள்உணர்வின் பேரின்ப வடிவான சிவமே யான் சிவமே யான்

Carnatic Musings

In my “blogging journey” so far, the focus is on Spirituality and Travel. In this journey there is one vital companion of mine, about whom I did not write anything and I just took “him/her” for granted. I always assumed that this companion can’t be separated from me and will always be with me in my soul satisfying pursuit as an integral part of myself. But having gone through the spiritual hymns that defined “I” in my previous blogs, it is quite natural for me to detach this integral companion and look at him/her a bit closely.

The result of this detached look is this Category of my blog. CARNATIC MUSINGS.

In this Category the soul of several compositions in Sanskrit will be looked at and the meaning they provide will be absorbed and presented in Tamil. The Tamil meaning provided is by no means in a musically tunable form. It is just an expression of my limited vocabulary in Tamil. To begin with, the blogs will cover a song each from the Trinity of Carnatic Music. Subsequently, Readers/Viewers requests will be given priority. May I request your indulgence? You can send your request through mail or comment. The request should be about Carnatic Music Compositions.

Once again a word of CAUTION: “I” am not a specialist in Music; neither do “I” know to sing nor “I” know the “Sastra” of any music leave alone Carnatic Music. The only connection that “I” have is that undefinable relationship that a Cobra has when the Snake Charmer plays his tune in front of it with his “Magudi/Pungi” (Wind Instrument).

Note: For those who are brand new to Carnatic Music, I would recommend adequate “googling” like me. The blogs here will not able to be of any assistance. My apologies.

I intend to begin the blogs in this category from June onwards.

NIRVANA SHATAKAM (ATMA SHATAKAM) Verse 4

Verse 4

न पुण्यं न पापं न सौख्यं न दुःखं

न मन्त्रो न तीर्थं न वेदा न यज्ञाः ।

अहं भोजनं नैव भोज्यं न भोक्ता

चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥४॥

English Transliteration

Na Punnyam Na Paapam Na Saukhyam Na Duhkham

Na Mantro Na Tiirtham Na Vedaa Na Yajnyaah |

Aham Bhojanam Naiva Bhojyam Na Bhoktaa

Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo[a-A]ham Shivo[a-A]ham ||4||

Meaning of the Sanskrit Words

पुण्यं (Punnyam): Merits

पापं (Paapam): Sins

सौख्यं (Saukhyam): Worldly Joy

सुख (Sukha) = Worldly Joy

दुःखं (Duhkham): Worldly Sorrow

मन्त्रो (Mantro): Sacred Hymns

तीर्थं (Tiirtham): Sacred Place, Pilgrimage

वेदा (Vedaa): Sacred Scriptures

यज्ञाः (Yajnyaah): Sacrificial Offerings

अहं (Aham): I

भोजनं (Bhojanam): Enjoyment or Experience

भोज्यं (Bhojyam): Object to be Enjoyed or Experienced

भोक्ता (Bhoktaa): Enjoyer or Experiencer

चिदानन्दरूपः (Cid-Aananda-Ruupah): Nature of Blissful Consciousness

चित् (Cit) = Consciousness

आनन्द (Aananda) = Bliss

रूप (Ruupa) = Nature

शिवोऽहम् (Shiva-Aham): I am Shiva, the Blissful Consciousness

शिव (Shiva) = signifying Consciouness

अहम् (Aham) = I

Meaning of the Verse

4.1: Neither am I bound by Merits nor Sins, neither by Worldly Joys nor by Sorrows,

4.2: Neither am I bound by Sacred Hymns nor by Sacred Places, neither by Sacred Scriptures nor by Sacrifies,

4.3: I am Neither Enjoyment (Experience), nor an object to be Enjoyed (Experienced), nor the Enjoyer (Experiencer),

4.4: I am the Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness; I am Shiva, I am Shiva, The Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness.

4. Neither virtue (punyam) nor sin (papam) nor happiness nor sorrow; nor a holy chant nor a holy place of pilgrimage nor Veda nor sacrifice; I am neither enjoyment, nor enjoyable object, nor the enjoyer; I am of the nature of Pure Consciousness-Bliss Absolute, I am Shiva, I am (verily) Shiva.

Meaning in Tamil

பாவ புண்ணியம் இன்ப துன்பம் எனக்கில்லை

பாசுரமும் திருத்தலமும் மறைநூலும் வேள்வியும் எனக்கில்லை

பலன் நுகர்வும், நுகர்வதும், நுகர்வோனும் நானில்லை

உள்உணர்வின் பேரின்ப வடிவான சிவமே யான் சிவமே யான்

Stress Buster Cocktail – HPK

These are strange and testing times. For many across the world, what next is a big question now. Anxiety and stress appears to be the key question that is lingering.

The answer to this question is not simple. For example, the answer by a Professional need not be applicable to the Retired; the Urban may have a completely different perspective to this question as compared to the Rural. It is a fact that the answer needs to be found out by everyone in their own way and at their own pace.

I am confined for nearly 3 months to the glass, metal & wood partitioned tiny space surrounded by “concrete jungle” in Manhattan. I was no exception to the universal phenomenon of “stress” stated above. Thanks to God and Blessings from elders, in life I am very lucky in several ways; one of them being “having access to a wonderful accommodation at a village in the Suffolk County” post retirement. Riding on my luck, I decided to go in for a heady cocktail of “HPK” (Hamptons and Poorvi Kalyani) twice a day for a week to bust the accumulated stress.

Wondering what is this cocktail about!

“Poorvikalyani” is one of my favourite “Raga (the melodic structure) in Carnatic Music. It is a Pleasant and Popular Raga and has six notes on the ascent and seven notes in the descent. The raga has a profound effect  on  reducing anxiety and  abdominal pain.

“Hamptons” is the near equivalent of Heaven for many upscale Newyorkers with beaches, sprawling bungalows and extensive greenery.

Combine these two. Wow! What a relief: what a magic this cocktail has done to rejuvenate me.

See for yourselves in this video

Music Courtesy: The Legendary Carnatic Music Flutist Dr N Ramani

NIRVANA SHATAKAM (ATMA SHATAKAM) Verse 3

Verse 3

न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभमोहौ

मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्यभावः ।

न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः

चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥३॥

English Transliteration

Na Me Dvessa-Raagau Na Me Lobha-Mohau

Mado Naiva Me Naiva Maatsarya-Bhaavah |

Na Dharmo Na Ca-Artho Na Kaamo Na Mokssah

Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo[a-A]ham Shivo[a-A]ham ||3||

Meaning of the Sanskrit Words

मे (Me): Relates to Me

द्वेषरागौ (Dvessa-Raagau): Hatred or Attachment

द्वेष (Dvessa) = Hatred

राग (Raaga) = Passion, Affection

लोभमोहौ (Lobha-Mohau): Greed or Infatuation

लोभ (Lobha) = Greed

मोह (Moha) = Infatuation

मदो (Mado): Pride, Arrogance, Passion

मद (Mada) = Pride, Arrogance, Passion

नैव (Na-Iva): Not Indeed

न (Na) = Not

इव (Iva) = Indeed

मात्सर्यभावः (Maatsarya-Bhaava): Feeling of Jealousy

मात्सर्य (Maatsarya) = Jealousy

भाव (Bhaava) = Feeling

धर्मो (Dharmo): Righteousness

धर्म (Dharma) = Righteousness

चार्थो (Ca-Artha): And Wealth

च (Ca) = And

अर्थ (Artha) = Wealth

कामो (Kaamo): Desire

काम (Kaama) = Desire

मोक्षः (Mokssah): Liberation

चिदानन्दरूपः (Cid-Aananda-Ruupah): Nature of Blissful Consciousness

चित् (Cit) = Consciousness

आनन्द (Aananda) = Bliss

रूप (Ruupa) = Nature

शिवोऽहम् (Shiva-Aham): I am Shiva, the Blissful Consciousness

शिव (Shiva) = signifying Consciouness

अहम् (Aham) = I

Meaning of the Verse

3.1: Neither do I have Hatred, nor Attachment, Neither Greed nor Infatuation,

3.2: Neither do I have Pride, nor Feelings of Envy and Jealousy,

3.3 I am Not within the bounds of Dharma (Righteousness), Artha (Wealth), Kama (Desire) and Moksha (Liberation) (the four Purusarthas of life),

3.4: I am the Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness; I am Shiva, I am Shiva, The Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness.

3. I have neither aversion nor attachment, neither greed nor delusion; I have neither arrogance nor jealousy; I have no duty (to perform) nor any wealth (to acquire); neither desire nor liberation; I am of the nature of Pure Consciousness-Bliss Absolute, I am Shiva, I am (verily) Shiva

Notes: Greed, delusion, pride and jealousy together with lust and anger constitute shad ripu (also called ari shad varga), the six-fold internal enemies of a human being. Dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), kama (desire), and moksha (liberation) are together known as purusharthas, the four objectives of a human being.

Meaning in Tamil

விருப்பு வெருப்பெனக்கில்லை பேரவாவும் காமமும் எனக்கில்லை

இறுமாப்பு ஆணவம் காழ்ப்புணர்வும் யான் கொண்டதில்லை –

நான்வாழ் இலக்காம் நேர்மை செல்வம் இன்பம் முக்திதனின் வரையெனக்கில்லை

உள்உணர்வின் பேரின்ப வடிவான சிவமே யான் சிவமே யான்

NIRVANA SHATAKAM (ATMA SHATAKAM) Verse 2

Verse 2

न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पञ्चवायुः

न वा सप्तधातुः न वा पञ्चकोशः ।

न वाक्पाणिपादं न चोपस्थपायु

चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥२॥

English Transliteration

Na Ca Praanna-Samjnyo Na Vai Pan.ca-Vaayuh

Na Vaa Sapta-Dhaatuh Na Vaa Pan.ca-Koshah |

Na Vaak-Paanni-Paadam Na Copastha-Paayu

Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo[a-A]ham Shivo[a-A]ham ||2||

Meaning of the Sanskrit Words

प्राणसंज्ञो (Praanna-Samjnyo): The Vital Breath

प्राण (Praanna) = The vital Breath

संज्ञो (Samjnyo) = Conscious of

वै (Vai): Or

पञ्चवायुः (Pan.ca-Vaayuh): The Five Vital Air

पञ्च (Pan.ca) = Five

वायु (Vaayu) = Vital Airs

वा (Vaa): Or

सप्तधातुः (Sapta-Dhaatuh): The Seven Ingredients [of the body]

सप्त (Sapta) = Seven

धातु (Dhaatu) = Ingredient

पञ्चकोशः (Pan.ca-Koshah): The Five Sheaths [of the gross and subtle body]

पञ्च (Pan.ca) = Five

कोश (Kosha) = Sheath

वाक्पाणिपादं (Vaak-Paanni-Paadam): Speech, Hand and Foot

वाच् (Vaac) = Speech

पाणि (Paanni) = Hand

पाद (Paada) = Foot

चोपस्थपायु (Copastha-Paayu): The organ of Excretion

चुप् (Cup) = Move

पायु (Paayu) = Organ of Excretion, Anus

चिदानन्दरूपः (Cid-Aananda-Ruupah): Nature of Blissful Consciousness

चित् (Cit) = Consciousness

आनन्द (Aananda) = Bliss

रूप (Ruupa) = Nature

शिवोऽहम् (Shiva-Aham): I am Shiva, the Blissful Consciousness

शिव (Shiva) = signifying Consciouness

अहम् (Aham) = I

Meaning of the Verse

2.1: Neither am I the Vital Breath, nor the Five Vital Airs,

2.2: Neither am I the Seven Ingredients (of the Body), nor the Five Sheaths (of the Body),

2.3: Neither am I the organ of Speech, nor the organs for Holding ( Hand ), Movement ( Feet ) or Excretion,

2.4: I am the Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness; I am Shiva, I am Shiva, The Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness.

2. I am not indicated by prana, nor the five-fold vital airs nor the seven elements (sapta dhatuh) of the body, nor the five sheaths; nor the organs of speech, nor hand, nor leg; and not generative or excretory organs, I am of the nature of Pure Consciousness-Bliss-Absolute, I am Shiva, I am (verily) Shiva. 

Notes: Five vital airs are : Prana (controls respiratory system), Apana (controls excretory system), Vyana (controls circulatory system); Samana (controls digestive system), and Udana (controls ejection of the prana from the physical body). Seven basic elements (sapta dhatuh) consist of: skin, flesh, fat, bone, blood, bone marrow, and semen. Five sheaths (pancha kosha) are believed to veil our understanding of the atman include, in order from gross (outer most) to the subtle (inner most): annamaya kosha (food sheath); pranamaya kosha (vital air sheath);manomaya kosha (mind sheath); vijnanamaya kosha (intellectual sheath); and anandamaya kosha (bliss sheath).

Meaning in Tamil

உள்உயிர்மூச்சும் யானில்லை

உயிர்காக்கும் ஐவகை ஆவியும் யானில்லை

உடல் ஏழு மூலமும் யானில்லை

உயிர்மேவும் ஐவுறையும் யானில்லை

உடலொட்டிய ஐம்பொறியும் யானில்லை

உள்உணர்வின் பேரின்ப வடிவான சிவமே யான் சிவமே யான்

NIRVANA SHATAKAM (ATMA SHATAKAM) Verse 1

Sanskrit Verse

मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कार चित्तानि नाहं

न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे ।

न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः

चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥१॥

English Transliteration:

Mano-Buddhy-Ahangkaara Cittaani Naaham

Na Ca Shrotra-Jihve Na Ca Ghraanna-Netre |

Na Ca Vyoma Bhuumir-Na Tejo Na Vaayuh

Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo[a-A]ham Shivo[a-A]ham ||1||

Meaning of the Sanskrit Words:

मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कार (Mano-Buddhi-Ahangkaara): Mind, Intelligence or Ego

मन (Mana) = Mind மனம்

बुद्धि (Buddhi) = Intelligence அறிவு

अहंकार (Ahamkaara) = Ego அகந்தை

चित्तानि (Cittaani): memory/intent/The Mind stuff

चित्त (Citta) = memory/intent/Mind stuff

नाहं (Naaham): Not I

न (Na) = Not

अहम् (Aham) = I

न (Na): Not

च (Ca): Also

श्रोत्रजिह्वे (Shrotra-Jihve): Organ of Hearing [Ears] or the Organ of Taste [Tongue]

श्रोत्र (Shrotra) = The organ of Hearing செவி

जिह्व (Jihva) = The Tongue, the organ of Taste நா

घ्राणनेत्रे (Ghraanna-Netre): Organ of Smelling [Nose] or the Organ of Seeing [Eyes]

घ्राण (Ghraanna) = The Nose, the organ of Smelling

नेत्र (Netra) = Eyes, the organ of Seeing

व्योम (Vyoma): Sky

भूमिर्न (Bhuumih-Na): Not the Earth

भूमि (Bhuumi) = Earth

न (Na) = Not

तेजो (Tejo): Energy signifying Fire

तेजस् (Tejas) = Energy signifying Fire

वायुः (Vaayuh): Air

चिदानन्दरूपः (Cid-Aananda-Ruupah): Nature of Blissful Consciousness

चित् (Cit) = Consciousness

आनन्द (Aananda) = Bliss

रूप (Ruupa) = Nature

शिवोऽहम् (Shiva-Aham): I am Shiva, the Blissful Consciousness

शिव (Shiva) = signifying Consciouness

अहम् (Aham) = I

Meaning of the Verse

1.1: Neither am I the Mind, nor the Intelligence or Ego,

1.2: Neither am I the organs of Hearing (Ears), nor that of Tasting (Tongue), Smelling (Nose) or Seeing (Eyes),

1.3: Neither am I the Sky, nor the Earth, Neither the Fire nor the Air,

1.4: I am the Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness; I am Shiva, I am Shiva, The Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness.

Notes: Mind (manah), intellect (buddhih), ego (ahamkara), and memory (chittani) together are referred to by the technical term antah karana or internal instrument. Ear, tongue, nose, eyes, and skin together are the five jnana indriyas. Space, earth, fire, air, and water are the five elements (pancha bhutas).

Meaning in Tamil

மனம் யானில்லை மதி யானில்லை

ஆணவம் யானில்லை செவியிரண்டும் யானில்லை

நாவு யானில்லை நுகர்நாசிகள் நானில்லை

விழியிரண்டும் யானில்லை விண்வெளியும் யானில்லை

இப்புவியும் யானில்லை அழலொளியும் யானில்லை

வீசும் காற்றும் யானில்லை உள்ளிரு நீரும் யானில்லை

உள்உணர்வின் பேரின்ப வடிவான சிவமே யான் சிவமே யான்