Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. In India, from time immemorial, people hung green mango, neem leaves over their doors and windows on every occasion with the faith and belief that such an act will bring in auspiciousness, good vibes and keep away ill feelings and hatred. This became a part of their way of living and practiced even today.
“Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles. Most 19th-century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first record of one being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania, although trees had been a tradition in many German homes much earlier……”
With the advent of technology, in modern days we see see plastics, glasses, electrical gadgets taking over the decorating roles.
The fact remains that setting up the tree and decorating it (lighting up as per today’s norm) is a joyous occasion for the family. Here are some pictures of the Christmas Tree at our home.
Here is wishing everyone Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
Atma Shatakam known as Nirvana Shatakam written by Adi Sankaracharya is the core of the Advaita (Non duality) philosophy. My earlier blogs on this, provided the meanjng of the Sanskrit words and the translations in Tamil. Here is a consolidation of the same in a video form.
In the Tamil calendar (Solar based) of Kartigai (around mid November – mid December), the full moon day is divinely important. Two important events – the arrival of Lord Katikeya (Subramanya/Arumugam) and the manifestation of Lord Siva as an endless flame of light (even Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma couldn’t find the start and the end of it in the three worlds). The lighting of the famous Deepam at the famous Hill at Thiruvannamalai happens on this day.
Today being that day, I decided to refine and rededicate two of my earlier blogs through an audio visual in the social media. Here are the links to the two videos.
அம்புலி கங்கை அணிந்த
அடிமுடி காணா இறைவனை,
அன்பர் மனங்கவர் அண்ணாமலையோனை,
அன்றே கண்டு ஆனந்தமதனை
அலை அலையாய்ப் பெற்ற,
ஆதி சங்கரனின் சிவ
ஆனந்த லகரி எனும் அருள் மறையும்,
ஆர்க்கும் அலைகள் ஆழ்கடல் தோன்றி அழிவதொப்ப,
அன்பரின் மாளா துயர் அழியும் அவனை அடைந்தால் என
அலைவாயிலில் ஆதி சங்கரன், அருளிய
சுற்றும் அரவு என பதம் அமைந்த சுபரமணிய புஜங்கம் தனையும்,
“Astronomically I am supposed to be your Fall companion between September 22, 9:30 am to December 21, 5:02 am in Pennsylvania. Guys, why have you allowed him so early? Two is ok – you and me; three is crowd. Isn’t it?” says the Autumn on arrival of the first snow shower.
“Who says that Autumn means only colorful leaves of trees that fall ! We are there too providing substance than shine. Unlike leaves, for us partition from our parents is not easy. We don’t run away from from our parents like the leaves do”. – says these creations of Nature.
Oh Victorious mother, divinely pure mother, the goddess worshipped by Brahma and praised by the king of devas. Oh goddess who does good to devotees and is the essence of the Vedas. Oh goddess decorated by sound, note, method and modulation of music, Oh Goddess who is personification of music originating from notes and filled with nectar like tunes, Oh Gowri protect me, Oh Goddess who makes the mind of Harikesa joyous.
Note about this photo – This photo which is in the Puja Room of our house is nearing its Century. Yes ! it is nearly 100 years old. The work done on the image of Goddess Saraswathi. The silk embroidery with ornamental decorations were done by my mother when she was an young girl. We have made sure that this wonderful gift to me by my parents is carefully preserved.
Salutations to you, O Sarasvati! Giver of boons, Supreme goddess!, one praised by Vishnu, Shiva and Guruguha! Youthful wife of Brahma!
O one whose form is meditated upon by eminent Rishis who are devoid of the three Vasanas, one who is renowned for granting boons to all Devas headed by Indra, one with a lotus face (lit) with a gentle smile, one with lotus-feet of marvelous beauty, remover of the fear of Samsara, storehouse(literally cave) of all Mantras!
Meaning in Tamil
பல்லவி
அருள்மிகுசரஸ்வதியேஅடிபணிந்தேன்எளியேனே
வரம்தரும்வாணியேசெல்விநாதனும்உமாகாந்தனும்
குருகுகனும்போற்றும்கமலாலயனின்இளம்கலைமகளே
சமஷ்டிசரணம்
மூவாசனைதவிர்பெருமுனியோர்வணங்கும்வடிவம்,
முகில்வாகனனுடன்விண்ணோர்க்கும்வரம்பலதரும்,
முகமதனில்மலரும்புன்னகையும்எழில்கமலபாதமும்,
மும்மலம்நிறைபிறவிதரும்அச்சம்அகற்றிடும்,
மூவலகம்போற்றும்மறைஞானக்கருவூலமாம்……அருள்மிகு
Sanskrit Verses
पल्लवि
श्रीसरस्वतिनमोऽस्तुते
वरदेपरदेवते
(मध्यमकालसाहित्यम्)
श्रीपतिगौरीपतिगुरुगुहविनुते
विधियुवते
समष्टिचरणम्
वासनात्रयविवर्जित –
वरमुनिभावितमूर्ते
वासवाद्यखिलनिर्जर –
वरवितरणबहुकीर्तेदर –
(मध्यमकालसाहित्यम्)
हासयुतमुखाम्बुरुहे
अद्भुतचरणाम्बुरुहे
संसारभीत्यापहे
सकलमन्त्राक्षरगुहे
English Transliteration
pallavi
SrI sarasvati namO(a)stu tE
varadE para dEvatE
(madhyama kAla sAhityam)
SrI pati gaurI pati guru guha vinutE
vidhi yuvatE
samashTi caraNam
vAsanA traya vivarjita –
vara muni bhAvita mUrtE
vAsavAdyakhila nirjara –
vara vitaraNa bahu kIrtE dara –
(madhyama kAla sAhityam)
hAsa yuta mukhAmburuhE
adbhuta caraNAmburuhE
saMsAra bhItyApahE
sakala mantrAkshara guhE
Meaning of the Sanskrit Words
पल्लवि
श्री सरस्वति – Sri Saraswathi
नमो-अस्तु ते – salutations, to you
वरदे – boon giver
पर देवते – supreme goddess
श्री पति – lakshmi’s husband Vishnu
गौरी पति – gauri’s husband – siva
गुरु गुह – pen name of the composer
विनुते – prayed
विधि – brahma’s
युवते- youthful woman
समष्टि चरणम्
वासना – त्रय – vasanaas, three – The three Vasanas (innate tendencies) that control us are : Loka Vasana, or the desire to win approval from everyone, Deha Vasana, or identification with the body and indulging its desires and lastly, Shastra Vasana or being satisfied with the mere intellectual understanding of scriptures.
Let Saraswati, who resides in Kamakoti peetha protect me. She who holds the veena in her soft lotus hands, the one adorned by boundless gift of speech. Your feet are worshipped by the king of kings (maybe this refers to a particular king), yours eyes resemble lotus flowers and you have a beautiful face. You fulfill the desires of all the gentle people. a necklace made of jewels is elegantly placed on your chest. you are worshipped by brahma and shiva. the essence of the vedas lies in your feet.
Meaning in Tamil
பல்லவி
அருள்மிகுசரஸ்வதியே, காமகோடிபீடம்உறை
அன்னையேஎனைக்காப்பாய்
அனுபல்லவி
மென்மைமிகு ஆம்பல் கரமதில் வீணையேந்தி அளவிலா
வரம்தரும் இனிய வாக்கெனும் அணிகலணனி… அருள்மிகு
சரணம்
ராஜாதிராஜர்துதிக்கும்பாதம்
தாமரைவிழிஅழகுமிகுவதனம்
மத்யமகாலம்
நல்லோர்விழைநிறைவேற்றும்
நீள்மிடறணி எழில் மணிமாலையும்
நான்முகனும்மலைநாதனும்போற்றும்
நாராயணன்வணங்கும்பொற்பாதமும்
நான்மறைதனின்சாரம்எனஉறையும்……அருள்மிகு
Sanskrit Verses
पल्लवि
मामवतुश्रिसरस्वतिकामकॊटिपीथवासिनि……… मामवतु
अनुपल्लवि
कॊमळकरसरॊजध्र्तवीणासीमातीतवरवाघ्विभूसण…….. मामवतु
चरणम्
राजाधिराजपूजितचरणराजीवनयनरमणीयवदन
मध्यमकाल्म्
सुजनमनॊरथपूरणचतुरनिजगळशॊबितमणिमयहार
अजभववन्दितवासुदॆवचरणार्पितसकलवॆदसार……… मामवतु
English Transliteration
pallavi
mAmavatu shrI sarasvati kAmakOTi pITha vAsini
(mAmavatu)
anupallavi
kOmaLakara sarOja dhrta vINA sImAtIta vara vAGvibhUSaNa
(mAmavatu)
caraNam
rAjAdhi rAja pUjita caraNa rAjIva nayana ramaNIya vadana
Prabhu's Ponder 