I constantly salute the son of Gauri, the devotee of Vaasudeva who uses a snake as a couch. He is the Lord of the group of attendants of Shiva . Lord Indra and the Devas serve him. He wears a snake as a garland and is worshipped by sages. He holds his favorite sweetmeat (of liberation). He has an elephant face. He destroys the unlimited ego garva of Lord Chandra (moon). He grants happiness to those who bows to Him and protects His devotees who pray Him. He removes the obstacles fir our liberation.
I consider myself as extremely fortunate to make an attempt to understand the Dance of the Yuga from a three dimensional (Literary, Music and Dance) perspective. My learning has been immense. There is only one to thank – The Lord Himself. What better way to conclude these set of blogs than with a composition by Lalitha Dasar made universally popular by the legendary Carnatic Musician Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagawathar and later on by Dr KJ Yesudass.
I surrender to the holy lord of the town created by Lord Guru and Lord Pavan (Guruvayur). The Lord is Sri. Krishna, who is dark like the rain bearing cloud and lives in the cattle rearing village (Gokulam). He is worshipped by Narada and Shiva and is the is protector of the three worlds. He is worshipped by Brahma and Indra ,shines greatly holding a flute and gives happiness to the damsels of his village. He cannot be defeated and is very magnanimous. He as pretty as hundred Gods of Love (Manmatha). He is a never ending source of mercy and is like the Chakora bird to the moon like face of Radha. He is the divine brother of Parvathi.
With its eyes flaming and its breath emitting deadly poisonous fumes, generatingintense heat all round, that serpent lord, bit Thee hard, but finding Thee unmoved,wrapped itself tightly around Thee, who hath unlimited power and strength. Quiteamazing, indeed.
Meaning in Tamil
கண்கள்அனல்கக்ககொடுவிடக்காற்றுவெளிமூச்சென
கடும்வெப்பம்சூழகடித்திட்டான்காளிங்கன்!
கடுவிடம் பயனுறுமோ மாயவனிடம், கண்ட மறுகனம்
சிக்கெனப்பற்றி சுற்றிவளைத்தான்சின்னக்கண்ணனை
Sanskrit Sloka 7
अविलोक्यभवन्तमथाकुलिते
तटगामिनिबालकधेनुगणे।
व्रजगेहतलेऽप्यनिमित्तशतं
समुदीक्ष्यगतायमुनांपशुपा: ।।७॥
English Transliteration
avilOkya bhavantamathaakulite
taTagaamini baalakadhenugaNe |
vrajagehatale(a)pyanimittashataM
samudiikshya gataa yamunaaM pashupaaH || 7
Meaning in English
The Gopa boys and the cows were waitng on the banks were getting worried andrestless, when they did not see Thee, and went to the bank of the river Yamunaa. In the houses in Gokula also the Gopas saw hundreds of evil omens and they also rushed towards Yamuna.
Meaning in Tamil
கண்ணனைக்காணாமல்கடுந்துயர்கொண்டு
ஆநிரையும்ஆயர்ரபாலகரும்நதிக்கரைசென்றனர்
ஆயர்பாடியில்இழிசகுனம்பலகண்டு
ஆயரும்விரைந்தனர்யமுனைநதிநோக்கி
Sanskrit Sloka 8
अखिलेषुविभोभवदीयदशा–
मवलोक्यजिहासुषुजीवभरम्।
फणिबन्धनमाशुविमुच्यजवा–
दुदगम्यतहासजुषाभवता॥८॥
English Transliteration
akhileShu vibhO bhavadiiyadashaa
M avalOkya jihaasuShu jiivabharam |
phaNibandhanamaashu vimuchya javaat
udagamyata haasajuShaa bhavataa || 8
Meaning in English
Oh Lord ! Seeing Thy condition, all of them, overcome by grief, decided togive up their life in order to save Thee, when, all of a sudden, Thou, freeing Thyself from the deadly grip ofthe serpent, rose above the waters, smiling casually.
Meaning in Tamil
மாயவனைக்காணாமல்மாளாத்துயர்கொண்டு
மாண்டிடுவோமெனமக்கள்உறுதியிட்டநேரம்தனில்
மின்னலெனஅரவுப்பிடிவிடுத்துகுறுநகைதனைகொண்டு
யமுனைநீர்உள்ளிருந்துஉதயமானான்மேகவண்ணன்
Sanskrit Sloka 9
अधिरुह्यतत: फणिराजफणान्
ननृतेभवतामृदुपादरुचा।
कलशिञ्जितनूपुरमञ्जुमिल–
त्करकङ्कणसङ्कुलसङ्क्वणितम्॥९॥
English Transliteration
adhiruhya tataH phaNiraajaphaNaan
nanR^ite bhavataa mR^idupaadaruchaa |
kalashi~njita nuupura manjumila
t karakankaNa sankula sankvaNitam || 9
Meaning in English
Then Thou mounted on the hoods of the serpent king and danced with Thy delicate beautiful feet. The gentle sound of the anklets mingled beautifully and rhythmically with the tinklings of the bangles on Thy wrists.
Meaning in Tamil
சின்னஞ்சிறுபதங்களின்சிலம்பொலியுடனே
கைவளைகாப்புகள்குலுங்கொலிகலந்து
அழகியமென்மலர்பாதகங்களுடன்
நாகமகுடமேறிநாட்டியம்ஆடினான்நாராயணன்.
Sanskrit Sloka 10
जहृषु: पशुपास्तुतुषुर्मुनयो
ववृषु: कुसुमानिसुरेन्द्रगणा: ।
त्वयिनृत्यतिमारुतगेहपते
परिपाहिसमांत्वमदान्तगदात्॥१०॥
English Transliteration
jahR^iShuH pashupaastutuShurmunayO
vavR^iShuH kusumaani surendragaNaaH |
tvayi nR^ityati maarutagehapate
paripaahi sa maaM tvamadaanta gadaat ||10
Meaning in English
As Thou performed the dance, the Gopas rejoiced, the sages sang hymns, and the gods showered flowers. O Lord of the Guruvaayur temple! Such that Thou are, save me from the severe illness.
On this auspicious day of Bhoomi Puja for the Ram Mandir at the birth place of Lord Sri Ram (05th August 2020), here is my humble offering – a translation of the epic bhajan by Goswami Tulsidas “Sri Ramachandra Kripalu Bhaja mana” in my mother tongue Tamil.
Audio Link
Pl listen to TM Krishna immersing himself in Yamuna Kalyani (Yaman Kalyan) praising Sri Ramachandra
“O Mind ! Pray to compassionate Ramachandra who destroys the great fears of life. With eyes like a new lotus, with a face like a lotus and feet like a crimson lotus.
With boundless splendour like innumerable cupids, he is as beautiful as a new blue cloud . I bow to that groom of Janaka’s daughter, who is like a lustrous white lightning in his yellow garments.
I bow to the Sun-like friend of the wretched, destroyer of the demons dynasties. Son of the Raghu dynasty, root of joy, gladdens the Kosalas, son of Dasharatha.
Beautiful with a crown on his head, earrings, and mark on his forehead and limbs generously decorated. With long hands to his knees, holding a bow and arrow, winner of the battle with khara and dhUshaNa.
Thus says Tulsidas “He who pleases the minds of Shankara and Adisesha, who has contempt for the wicked things like desire, please dwell in the lotus of my heart”
Salutations to Goddess Varalakshmi, the provider of wealth, the one seated on the lotus flower, who is the abode of charm. I will bow to your beautiful feet repeatedly on every step and occasion.
You are the lady love of Sri Vishnu, the father of Manmadha. You as the one with golden splendour is more radiant and glittering than a crore of the Sun. You are easily accessible to your devotees; you protect people who pray to you. Oh, the one adorned with lotus garland, you are the epitome of absoluteness; you reside in the heart of Lord Vishnu.
On the fifth month of the year, the Friday before the full moon, many women led by Charumathi prays you. Devas and Guruguha offer gems studded garland/ornaments to you. You are an expert in saving the devoted downtrodden by showering them with gold. You are skilled in removing illusion from us and you are praised by Goddess Saraswathi. You provide the way for salvation and your hands provide the boon that is desired by the devotees.
श्रावण – fifth month of the year – normally august
पौर्णमी – full moon
पूर्वस्थ – शुक्र-वारे – most excellent, Friday
चारुमती – Charumathi /lovely lady
प्रभृतिभिः – beginning with
पूजिताकारे – prayed,
देव-आदि – devas and others
गुरु गुह – guru guha
समर्पित – offered
मणि-मय हारे – gems studded garland
दीन जन – down trodden
संरक्षण – save/protect
निपुण – expert
कनक धारे – gold, shower
भावना भेद चतुरे – illusion/imaginary, crack (भेदयति), clever/skillful/adept
भारती – Saraswathi (Voice)
सन्नुत वरे – praised, eminent
कैवल्य – salvation
वितरण परे – bestow, intent
काङ्क्षित – desired/wished
फल प्रद करे- fruit of desire, granting, hands
Note: For those of you who are interested to know the background of Varalakshmi vratham (Puja), here is an interesting story from the Puranas:
The Story behind VARALAKSHMI VRATHAM
The story happens in a beautiful town called Kundinagaram located in the Kingdom of Vidarbha (Vidarba Rajyam). In that Kundinagram town, Goddess Adilakshmi, being pleased by her devotion tells Charumathi in a dream and directed her to perform the vrata to enable Her to fulfil her desires. Charumathi wakes up and tells her husband about the dream. Charumathi along with some neighbourhood women takes bath in the wee hours and prepare a mandapam and invites Varalakshmi Devi. She recites the following sloka along with other women with utmost faith and devotion.
Lakshmi Ksheerasamudra rajatanyam sri rangadhameswareem Dasibootha samastha devavanitham lokaika deepamkuram
Sri manmanda kataksha labdhivibhat brahmendra gangadharam Twamtrayamlokyakutumbhineem sasijavandemukunda priyam
Then she wore nine threads Thoranam to right hand and offers naivadyam to Goddess Lakshmi Devi. On the completion of the first circumstance, she heard she found Gajjelu, Andelu and other ornaments. On the second circumstance, they found kankanams made of navaratnams to their hands. On completion of the third circumstance, they found immense wealth. Then Charumathi offers Tambulam to the brahmin priests and distribute the vrata prasadam to the relatives and lead a happy life. Since then, Hindu women perform this vrata with utmost faith and trust till today. With this, Lord Eswara concludes telling the story to Goddess Parvathi.
वायव्य – one of the inner winds – the air passage from heart to centre of the forehead
वचो – speech
विवृत्या – manifest
त्वं – you
पाश – chain
विच्छॆदकरि – विच्छे करि – seek for
प्रसिद्धा – famous/well known
मां पाहि सर्वेश्वरि मोक्षदात्रि ॥ ४॥
Meaning in English
Formed by Self-power of sound of Siva’s aatma, You are declared by sacred texts as the sound of Anahatha**, Which exists in Kurma and Vayavya*** as Shakthi. You are known as one cutting off worldly attachments (or the rope that drags you to death), And so please protect me, oh goddess of all and oh giver of salvation.
Note: From the heart to the middle of the eyebrows is said to be the region of Vayu. It is black in colour and shines with the letter ‘Ya’. Carrying the breath along the region of Vayu, one should contemplate on Isvara, the omniscient. The Yogi does not meet his death through Vayu.) ( Naga, Kurma, Krikara, Devadatta and Dhananjaya are the five sub-Pranas; Kurma performs the function of opening the eyes
OM
**Anahata sabda – just before one enter Samadhi in yoga one can clearly hear Om inside which is not heard outside the physical body after this the person goes into Samadhi.
The Vedas provide a very important role for water. “As per Vedas, water dwells where gods dwell. Rain God and Sun God are his companions. He keeps an eye on the good and evil deeds of men”. Its availability and purity reflects human life. It is the “Pratibimba” (reflections) of life.
Here are a few of my “reflections” during my recent visit to Hamptons.
Prabhu's Ponder 