Oh Lord of the universe, we would attain then the state of Samadhi,Which is the state, where Brahmam is experienced,And when we slip away from this perfect state , We would again restart for attaining it from beginning. 4.7
O Lord of the Universe! When I have attained that state of experiencing Thee as the Brahman, i.e. Nirvikalpa Samaadhi, if I slip down from that state, I shall again start the meditation process from Dhaarana onwards
Meaning of the Sanskrit Words
तत्-समास्वदन-रूपिणीम् स्थितिं - the state of immediate experience of Brahman
त्वत्-समाधिम् - (thus established in) Samadhi in Thee
अयि विश्वनायक - O Lord of the Universe!
आश्रिता: - having attained (that Samadhi)
पुन:-अत: - again from there
परिच्युतौ - (when ever my mind) slips down from it
आरभेमहि च - then I shall resort (again)
धारणा-आदिकम् - (from) the practice of Dhaarna etc.
O Lord! By thus performing dhyaana on Thee and getting captivated by the sweetness of Thy formful aspect (Saguna), I shall enjoy the concentrated bliss of Thy impersonal aspect (Nirguna), which shines as the Brahman.
Meaning of the Sanskrit Words
ध्यायतां – to those who meditate (on)
सकल-मूर्तिम्-ईदृशीम् – such a formful aspect (the Saguna form)
उन्मिषन्-मधुरता-हृत्-आत्मनाम् – (and so) experiencing sweetness whose minds are captivated
सान्द्र-मोद-रस-रूपम् – (of that) form which is concentrated inward joy and bliss
अन्तरम् – introvert (not based on contacts with external objects)
ब्रह्म रूपम्-अयि ते – O Lord! Thy (Nirguna) aspect as Brahman
2.1: (O Ganapati) You indeed are the visible Tattvam (Conscious Essence underlying everything), 2.2: (O Ganapati) You indeed are the only Creator (Karta) (by Whose Power the Universe is Created), 2.3: (O Ganapati) You indeed are the only Sustainer (Dharta) (by Whose Power the Universe is Sustained), 2.4: (O Ganapati) You indeed are the only Destroyer (Harta) (by Whose Power the Universe is finally Dissolved in its Conscious Essence), 2.5: (O Ganapati) You indeed are All This (The Universe); You verily are the Brahman (giving Consciousness to All), 2.6: (O Ganapati) You are the visible Atman, the Eternal (underlying Reality),
3.1: I declare the Ritam (Divine Law); I declare the Satyam (Absolute Reality) (that there is an Absolute Consciousness underlying everything, which I saw as Ganapati),
4.1: (Now) Protect me (O Ganapati) (Protect the Truth I declared), 4.2: Protect the Speaker (O Ganapati) (Protect the Teacher who declares this Truth), 4.3: Protect the Listener (O Ganapati) (Protect the Student who listens to this Truth), 4.4: Protect the Giver (O Ganapati) (Protect the Giver of knowledge who transmits this Truth), 4.5: Protect the Sustainer (O Ganapati) (Protect the Sustainer who retains this Truth in Memory), 4.6: Protect the Disciple (O Ganapati) (Protect the Disciple who repeats this Truth following the Teacher), 4.7: Protect this Truth from the East (O Ganapati), 4.8: Protect this Truth from the South (O Ganapati), 4.9: Protect this Truth from the West (O Ganapati), 4.10: Protect this Truth from the North (O Ganapati), 4.11: Protect this Truth from the Top (O Ganapati), 4.12: Protect this Truth from the Bottom (O Ganapati), 4.13: (Now) Please Protect me (O Ganapati) (Protect this Truth I declared) from all Sides,
5.1: You are of the nature of Words (Vangmaya), and You are of the nature of Consciousness (Chinmaya) (which is the source of all words) (Therefore, O Ganapati, the Absolute Truth I have spoken have come from You), 5.2: You are of the nature of Bliss (Anandamaya), and You are of the nature of Brahman (Brahmamaya) (which is the source of all Bliss) (Therefore, O Ganapati, the Absolute Truth I have spoken will give Bliss to all who realize it), 5.3: You are Sacchidananda (Sat-Chit-Ananda) (Existence-Consciousness-Bliss), and You are the One without a second (Therefore, O Ganapati, the Absolute Truth I have spoken will liberate all to the Greater Consciousness who realize it), 5.4: You are the visible Brahman (manifested as the Universe) (Therefore, O Ganapati, the Absolute Truth I have spoken will make the realized see this vast World as emanating from Sacchidananda), 5.5: You are of the nature of Gyana (Spiritual Knowledge) (Self-Manifesting within the Core of our Being as Bliss-Consciousness), and You are Vigyana (Giving the Spiritual Vision of the whole World from the standpoint of the Greater Consciousness), (Therefore, O Ganapati, protect the Absolute Truth I have spoken for the welfare of all)
6.1: The Entire Universe has Manifested (Born) from You (Therefore, O Ganapati, help us realize Your essence within the Core of our Hearts), 6.2: The Entire Universe is Sustained by Your Power (Therefore, O Ganapati, help us realize Your essence within the Core of our Hearts), 6.3: The Entire Universe will Dissolve in You (Therefore, O Ganapati, help us realize Your essence within the Core of our Hearts), 6.4: The Entire Universe will thus finally Return to You (Therefore, O Ganapati, help us realize Your essence within the Core of our Hearts), 6.5: You have manifested as Bhumi (Earth), You have manifested as Apas (Water), You have manifested as Anala (Fire), You have manifested as Anila (Wind), and You have manifested as Nabha (Sky or Space), (Therefore, O Ganapati, help us realize Your essence in the manifested World), 6.6: You are the Four Types of Speech (Para, Pashyanti, Madhyama and Vaikhari), (Therefore, O Ganapati, help us realize Your essence as the source of Speech), 6.7: You are beyond the Three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas) (Therefore, O Ganapati, help us realize Your Conscious Essence beyond all the variations of the Mind due to the play of Gunas), 6.8: You are beyond the Three States (Waking, Dreaming and Deep Sleep) (Therefore, O Ganapati, help us realize Your Conscious Essence beyond the three States), 6.9: You are beyond the Three Bodies (Gross Body, Subtle Body and Causal Body) (Therefore, O Ganapati, help us realize Your Conscious Essence beyond the three Bodies), 6.10: You are beyond the Three Times (Past, Present and Future) (Therefore, O Ganapati, help us realize Your Eternal Essence beyond all Times), 6.11: You always abide in the Muladhara (Therefore, O Ganapati, help us in awakening our Kundalini Shakti), 6.12: You are the source of the Three Shaktis (Iccha Shakti, Kriya Shakti and Gyana Shakti) (Will Power, Power of Action and the Power of Knowledge) (Therefore, O Ganapati, help us in awakening these Shaktis to realize Your Conscious Essence), 6.13: The Yogis always meditate on You (to realize Your Conscious Essence, which is the aim of Human Life), 6.14: (O Ganapati) You are Brahma, You are Vishnu, You are ... 6.15: ... Rudra, You are Indra, You are Agni (God of Fire), You are ... 6.16: ... Vayu (God of Wind), You are Surya (The Sun God), You are Chandrama (The Moon God), You are ... 6.17: ... Brahman (Absolute Consciousness), You pervade the Bhur-Bhuvah-Suvar Lokas; You are the Om Itself (Parabrahman).
O Lord! I, Thy devotee, by long practice will be able to visualize in my mind Thy beautiful form with all limbs clear and vivid. So I will devote myself to meditation, without any effort, always surrendering to Thee.
Meaning of the Sanskrit Words
विस्फुट-अवयव-भेद-सुन्दरं - with distinctly clear limbs and very beautiful
त्वत्-वपु:- Thy form
सुचिर-शीलनावशात् - by long practice
अश्रमं मनसि - without any effort in the mind
चिन्तयाम - (I) we shall contemplate
ध्यान-योग-निरता:- intent on meditation
त्वत्-आश्रयाः - (I) we who have taken refuge in Thee
asphuTe vapuShi te prayatnatO dhaarayema dhiShaNaaM muhurmuhuH |
tena bhaktirasamantaraardrataamudvahema bhavadanghrichintakaaH || 4
Meaning in Tamil
துவக்கத்தில் தெளிவிலா யானறிந்த உன் வடிவமதில் துவங்கிடுவேன் என் மனதை நிலை நிறுத்தி தியானம் தொடருவேன் கடின அப் பணிதனை இடைவிடாது அடிபற்றுவேன் உன்னிரு திருப்பாதம் அதன் முடிவில் அடைவேன் பக்திப் பேரின்பமுடன் கனிவான மனது 4.4
Meaning in English
O Lord! I will then start meditating on Thee. Initially with great effort I shall try to fix my mind on Thy form, which will be vague in the beginning. Practicing thus again and again I shall attain bliss of devotion and tenderness of heart
Meaning of the Sanskrit Words
अस्फुटे वपुषि ते - on the hazily perceived form of Thine
प्रयत्नत: - with great effort
धारये - (I) we shall fix
धिषणां - the mind
मुहु: मुहु: - again and again
तेन - by (doing) this
भक्तिरसम्-अन्त: - आर्द्रताम् - melting of the heart through the bliss of devotion
उद्वहेम - shall attain
भवत्-अङ्घ्रिचिन्तका: - (I) (we who) meditate on Thy holy feet
O Lord! by regulating my breath through Pranayama and having purified myself I will continuously chant the Pranava (Om) mantra mentally. Thus, withdrawing my senses from the sense objects, and being purified, I will prepare myself for meditation on Thee.
Meaning of the Sanskrit Words
तारम्-अन्तरम्-अनुचिन्त्य Pranava (Om) in the mind repeating
सन्ततं continuously
प्राण-वायुम्-अभियम्य the breath thus regulating
निर्मला: and being purified
इन्द्रियाणि विषयात्- sense organs from the sense objects
अथ-अपहृत्य then withdrawing
आस्महे (I) we will be
भवत् उपासन-उन्मुखा: for meditating on Thee, prepared
Jagadguru Saccidānanda Śivābhinava Nṛsimha Bhārati Mahāswāmiji, (referred as Nṛsimha Bhārati Mahāswāmiji henceforth) was 33rd Jagadguru in the unbroken chain of Ācāryas of Śrīngeri Śrī Śāradā Peetham, one of the foremost of the Mutt’s established by Śrḹ Śaṇkara Bhagavatpāda.
Jagadguru Śrī Śrī Saccidānanda Śivābhinava Nṛsimha Bhārati Mahāswāmiji, embellished the sacred peetham from 1879 to 1912. He is adorned as Śrī ‘Abhinava Śhankarā’, a spiritual reincarnation of the great saint Śrī Śaṇkara Bhagavatpāda.
Bhakthisudha Tarangini is a brainchaild of Nṛsimha Bhārati Mahāswāmiji comprising various poetic compositions which was published by his earnest disciple Śrī. T.S. Balasubrahmanya Iyer in the year 1913.
Bhakthisudha Tarangini is a voluminous work. Like the great Śrī Śaṇkara Bhagavatpāda, Śrī Nṛsimha Bhārati Mahāswāmiji composed many stotras in praise of various Gods and Goddesses at various Shrines throught India. This book is a collection of 170 stotras of different dieties categorised as follows- Ganesha stotras, Devi stotras, Guru stotras, Vishnu, Shiva and Vedanta stotras.
Here is one on Lord Subramanya. Lord Subramanya is also known as Dandapani. This Sloka is a Pancharathna Mala and has five verses.
I pray continuously Lord Dandapani, who destroys the cruel sins of the devotees; who wears earrings which makes the two cheeks glitter; who punishes the Asuras who are the enemies of the Devas.
I pray continuously Lord Dandapani, who is the son of the killer of Yama; who is the temple of mercy; who sports a matted hair decorated by the crescent moon and who is the representative (svarupa) of Lord Siva.
I pray continuously Lord Dandapani, who has a great luster similar to moon, the lord of stars, who is the enemy of Tharaka , who speedily grants the wealth sought by devotees, and who helps us to cross the deep sea of life cycles (samsara) like a boat .
I pray continuously Lord Dandapani, who destroys all the worries of the true devotees, who helps us to destroy our true enemies viz., anger and passion, and who is the one who helps us to reach his abode quickly.
I pray continuously Lord Dandapani, who is the destroyer of the Cupid and is handsome Himself, who is worshipped with hands folded by Lord Ram and Lakshman and who has tender and elegant looking form.
Self control and purity of Body/Mind (“Yama and Niyama”) are the “sine qua non” for beginning Ashtanga Yoga. This is followed by correct postures (“aasanaas”).
After seeking the Divine Grace, Bhattathri outlines these steps in Sloka 2 of Dasakam 4 of Sriman Narayaneeyam.
சுய கட்டுப்பாடு மற்றும் உடல்/மனத்தின் தூய்மை (“யமா மற்றும் நியமா”) – இவை இரண்டும், அட்டசித்தி (அஷ்டாங்க) யோகத்தின் முதல் படிகள். இதைத் தொடர்ந்து சரியான “ஆசனங்கள்”.
ஸ்ரீமன் நாராயணீயத்தின் தசகம் 4, முதல் ஸ்லோகத்தில் தெய்வீக அருளை வேண்டிய பிறகு, இரண்டாவது ஸ்லோகத்தில், பட்டத்திரி இந்த வழிமுறைகளை கோடிட்டுக் காட்டுகிறார்.
ஈரைது இயமமுடன் தன்னடக்கநிலைபூண்டு அனுதின நியமமுடன் தூயநிலை அடைந்து சுக, கமல ஆசனங்கள் புரிந்து உனை துதித்து உளம் உன்னில் நிறுத்திடுவாம் உலகுய்வோனே! 4.2
Meaning in English
O Lord!I (we all (the devotees) will strictly follow the discipline of Yama (self control) by practice of Brahmcharya etc. and also the discipline of Niyama (rules of right conduct) through routines of daily bath etc. and attain purity of body and mind. I (we) will then practice steady postures (Asanaa) like Sukhaasanaa and Padmaasanaa etc. for meditating on Thee.
Meaning of the Sanskrit Words
ब्रह्मचर्य-ढृढता-आदिभि:-यमै:- through the observances of disciplines of self control like strict continence etc.
आप्लव-आदि-नियमै:-च and daily bath like rules of right conduct
The term Avatāra (अवतार) in Sanskrit means 1) Descent, alighting; descending or going down into; 2) Form, manifestation; 3) Descent of a deity upon earth, incarnation in general.
The Vedas, the Puranas, the Epics and the Bhagavadgita acknowledge the incarnations of Vishnu as an essential and important function of creation to ensure the order and regularity of the worlds and keep the chaos and demonic forces under control.
An incarnation of God is also different in many respects from a manifestation (vibhuti) or an aspect (amsa) of God. Practically, everything is a manifestation of God. A manifestation may or may not be aware of its divine nature. Its purpose may be limited in scope and influence, and it may represent only some qualities or aspects of God such as his knowledge, intelligence, power, wealth, beauty, aura, grace, etc. Secondly, a manifestation of God may happen with or without a form, not necessarily upon earth, whereas an incarnation always happens upon earth and in corporeal form only.
Technically, all living beings are incarnations of God only, since the soul or the Self is an aspect of Brahman and identical to him in all aspects. However, there is a fundamental difference. The incarnations of God are full-fledged. He manifests all his power and knows inherently his divine purpose upon earth. In contrast, the living beings are subject to the impurities of egoism, delusion and attachments.
With the above introduction, let us now study a wonderful Sloka which depicts the qualities of Lord Rama, the seventh Avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Audio Link
Pl. Listen to a wonderful recitation of the Sloka by the young Carnatic Musician Sri. Ashwath Narayanan in Ragamalika as a Virutham (approx 9 mts).
1. SAntaM SaSvatam apramEyaM anaghaM - him, the embodiment of tranquility, the eternal one, the causeless one, sinless one.
2. nirvANa SAntipradaM - him who confers liberation and peace.
3. brahmAviShNu phaNIndra sEvyaM aniSaM - the lord to whom Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva offer service.
4. vEdAnta vEdyaM vibhuM - the one knowable through Vedas, the Cosmic one.
5. rAmAkhyaM jagdISvaraM suraguruM mAyAmanuSyaM hariM - named Rama, the lord of the world, the preceptor of gods, the one incarnated by Hari as a man as an act of Maya.
6. vandEhaM karunAkaraM - I bow down to him, the ocean of mercy.
7. raghuvaraM bhUpAlacUDAmaNiM - the scion of Raghus, and a crest jewel among kings.