pachai maamalai pol mene

Monday, December 31, 2018

Rama and Sita.. as the young couple in Ayodhya..



Rama and Sita.. as the young couple in Ayodhya..
---------------------------------------

The concluding part of Balakandam of Valmiki Ramayanam gives a glimpse of the life of Rama and Sita just after their marriage.. and starting their life as a couple in Ayodhya..
In a few slokas, Valmiki is perhaps presenting a study as to how a young couple passionately devoted to one another could live a life of bliss..
A model shown by the divine couple, pretending as just a young prince and princess..

After return to Ayodhya after the skirmish with Parashurama, Rama settled in Ayodhya with Sita . He assisted the his father the Emperor in discharging his royal duties.. Rama always acted according to the orders of the king.. He discharged his duties according to the Dharmic principles, and his actions were always for the benefit of the Emperor and the subjects, and also brought great happines for them

Rama attended with great alacrity and devotion the matters which concerned his mothers.. Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra. ( In fact, once Dasharatha reached Ayodhya with his four sons and daughters in law, Kaikeyis brother and the uncle of Bharatha, the prince of Kekaya was waiting to take Bharatha to his own kingdom.. and Bharatha left for Kekaya with his bother Shatrughna, and Rama was virtually the son for all the three mothers.. especially since Lakshmana cared for no one other than his brother Rama.)
And he served his preceiptors Like Vasishta through proper attention and with due reverence, and timely service.

Emeperor Dasharatha was very happy about the activities of Rama.. The brahmins, the citizens, and all dependents in the kingdom adored Rama

For the King, and the subjects, Rama was just as adorable as Lord Brahma who by his efficiency and affection in his creations was dear to all living beings everywhere.

For many seasons, Rama lived happily with Sita.. He was so dear to Her as if he was residing for ever in Her mind and heart.

Sita was very dear to Rama because of her affection and care for Him.. But she was all the more adorable because she served with devotion her father in law the Emperor. And through her character and the beauty and attractiveness in her form and action, she just stole the heart of Rama more and more as the days passed.

Rama and Sita knew the hearts of each other as if they were fused with one another into one entity.

For Sita, her husband was adorable doubly. They understood and conversed and discussed things in utter unison and in agrrement.. Also each of them could know what transpired in the mind of the other even without and exchange of ideas through words or actions.

The daughter of Janaka, the Maithilee was as graceful and attarctive as Mahalakshmi and other goddesses.. It looked as if she would excel even Lakshmi and other goddesses in her grace and qualities.

With that graceful princess always in his company, Rama spent his days in grace and splendour, as if He was another Vishnu the lord of Gods, in the company of mother Lakshmi

From Balakandam of Srimad Valmikiramayanam.. Chapter 77

पितुराज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य पौरकार्याणि सर्वशः।
चकार रामो धर्मात्मा प्रियाणि च हितानि च॥२९
मातृभ्यो मातृकार्याणि कृत्वा परमयन्त्रितः।
गुरूणां गुरुकार्याणि काले कालेऽन्ववैक्षत॥३०
एवं दशरथः प्रीतो ब्राह्मणा नैगमास्तथा।
रामस्य शीलवृत्तेन सर्वे विषयवासिनः॥३१
तेषामतियशा लोके रामः सत्यपराक्रमः।
स्वयंभूरिव भूतानां बभूव गुणवत्तरः॥३२
रामस्तु सीतयासार्द्धं विजहार बहूनृतून्।
मनस्वी तद्गतस्तस्या नित्यं हृदि समर्प्पितः॥३३
प्रिया तु सीता रामस्य दाराः पितृकृता इति।
गुणद्रूपगुणाच्चापि प्रीतिर्भूयोभ्यवर्द्धत॥३४
हृदयं चैव जानाति प्रीतियोगि परस्परम्॥३५
तस्याश्च भर्ता द्विगुणं हृदये परिवर्त्तते।
अन्तर्ज्जातमपि व्यक्तं आख्याति हृदयं हृदा॥३६
तस्य भूयो विशेषेण मैथिली जनकात्मजा।
देवताभिः समा रूपे सीता श्रीरिव रूपिणी॥३७
तया स राजर्षिसुतोऽभिरामया
समेयिवानुत्तमराजकन्यया।
अतीव रामः शुशुभेऽतिकामया
विभुः श्रिया विष्णुरिवामरेश्वरः॥३८
piturājñāṁ puraskṛtya paurakāryāṇi sarvaśaḥ|
cakāra rāmo dharmātmā priyāṇi ca hitāni ca||29
mātṛbhyo mātṛkāryāṇi kṛtvā paramayantritaḥ|
gurūṇāṁ gurukāryāṇi kāle kāle'nvavaikṣata||30
evaṁ daśarathaḥ prīto brāhmaṇā naigamāstathā|
rāmasya śīlavṛttena sarve viṣayavāsinaḥ||31
teṣāmatiyaśā loke rāmaḥ satyaparākramaḥ|
svayaṁbhūriva bhūtānāṁ babhūva guṇavattaraḥ||32
rāmastu sītayāsārddhaṁ vijahāra bahūnṛtūn|
manasvī tadgatastasyā nityaṁ hṛdi samarppitaḥ||33
priyā tu sītā rāmasya dārāḥ pitṛkṛtā iti|
guṇadrūpaguṇāccāpi prītirbhūyobhyavarddhata||34
hṛdayaṁ caiva jānāti prītiyogi parasparam||35
tasyāśca bhartā dviguṇaṁ hṛdaye parivarttate|
antarjjātamapi vyaktaṁ ākhyāti hṛdayaṁ hṛdā||36
tasya bhūyo viśeṣeṇa maithilī janakātmajā|
devatābhiḥ samā rūpe sītā śririva rūpiṇī||37
tayā sa rājarṣisuto'bhirāmayā
sameyivānuttamarājakanyayā|
atīva rāmaḥ śuśubhe'tikāmayā
vibhuḥ śriyā viṣnurivāmareśvaraḥ||38

Sunday, December 30, 2018

noble is always noble



सेवितव्यो महावृक्षः फलच्छायासमन्वितः।
यदि दैवात् फलं नास्ति छाया केन निवार्यते॥
नारायण्पण्डितस्य हितोपदेशे ३-१०
sevitavyo mahāvṛkṣaḥ phalacchāyāsamanvitaḥ|
yadi daivāt phalaṁ nāsti chāyā kena nivāryate||
nārāyaṇpaṇḍitasya hitopadeśe 3-10


A very apt advice from Narayanapandita in his Hitopadesham
=================
A person should choose to take shelter under a big tree which would bear fruits too..
Even if by some quirk of fate the tree does not yield fruits, still the tree gives us shadow
No one can take away the shadow as long as the tree is there..
====================
Usually we serve people who can provide us stability and continuity of existence and we could grow and prosper under their tutelage..
Often the great personages, when their personal fortunes are not that rosy may not be able to provide a lot of progress for those who depend on them.. But the great people would always ensure that those people do not suffer from lack of personal safety and security.
We see that in Mahabharatham, even when the Pandavas were in exile, they did not fail to offer hospitality and protection to the sages and people around the area they lived..
And Rama in exile protected the sages and the monkeys who were his friends ..
Fate confronted them with temporary challenges.. and brought down their productivity.. but their basic capacity to be of use to all around did not diminish

Likewise, when due to vagaries of season a tree may not yield fruits.. But the shadow is always there.
So those who approach the tree would have the protection of the shadow.. which is a sureshot benefit.. Getting fruits.. if that happens is a blessing, a windall..
But the dependent has a minimum guarantee of safety when he served a great personage..

Shiva Shambo...




Shiva Shambo...
=============
നരനായിങ്ങനെ ജനിച്ചു ഭൂമിയിൽ
നരകവാരിധി നടുവിൽ ഞാൻ
നരകത്തിൽ നിന്നു കരകേറ്റീടേണം
തിരുവൈക്കം വാഴും ശിവശംഭോ!


naranaayingane janichu bhoomiyil narakvaaridhi natuvil njaan
narakathil ninnu karakettreetenam tiruvaikkam vaazhum shivashambo

I am born in this world which has landed me up in a veritable ocean of hell
Or Lord Shiva the Shambu, the Lord of Thiru Vaikkam may your Divine Grace be pleased to lift me up from this Hell.


മരണകാലത്തെ ഭയത്തെ ചിന്തിച്ചാൽ
മതിമറന്നുപോം മനമെല്ലാം
മനതാരിൽ വന്നു വിളയാടീടേണം
തിരുവൈക്കം വാഴും ശിവശംഭോ!
maranakaalathe bhayathe chintichaal matimarannupom manamellaam
manataaril vannu vilayaateetenam thiruvaikkam vaahum shiva shambo

I am numb and my thoughts come to a stop when I just think of the terror I would face when I am about to die
Or Lord Shiva the Shambu,the Lord of Thiru Vaikkam may your Divine Grace be pleased to manifest with your gracious and playful activities in the flower that is my mind



ശിവ!ശിവ! ഒന്നും പറയാവതല്ല
മഹാമായ തന്റെ പ്രകൃതികൾ
മഹാ മായ നീക്കീട്ടരുളേണം നാഥാ!
തിരുവൈക്കം വാഴും ശിവശംഭോ!
Shiva shiva onnum parayaavathalla mahamaaya thande prakrithikal
Mahaa maaya neekkeettarulenam Natha, thiruvaikkam vaazhum shivashambo

Lord Shiva Shiva no words or expressions are adequate to explain the deeds of woe that the effect of delusion or maya would prompt me to perform
Oh Lord Shiva the Shambu, the lord of Thiru Vaikkam, may your Divine Grace be pleased to annihilate that delusion or Maya and bless me



വലിയൊരു കാട്ടിലകപ്പെട്ടേനഹം
വഴിയും കാണാതെ ഉഴലുമ്പോൾ
വഴിയിൽ നേർവഴിയരുളേണം നാഥാ!
തിരുവൈക്കം വാഴും ശിവശംഭോ!

Valiyoru kaattil akappettenaham vazhiyum kaanaathe uzhalumbol 
vazhiyil nervazhi arulenam naathaa thiruvaikkam vaazhum shivashambo

I have landed up in the maze of a thick forest, and I am groping around without any clue to get back to the safety of the right path
Oh Lord Shiva the Shambu, the Lord of Thiru Vaikkam, may your Divine Grace be pleased to bless me with the right path in my lost journey



എളുപ്പമായുള്ള വഴിയെക്കാണുമ്പോൾ
ഇടയ്ക്കിടെയാറു പടിയുണ്ട്
പടിയാറും കടന്നവിടെച്ചെല്ലുമ്പോൾ
ശിവനെക്കാണാകും ശിവശംഭോ!
eluppamaayulla vazhiyekkaanumbol itakiteyaaru patiyundu
patiyaarum katannavite chellumbod shivanekkaanaakum shivashambo

Oh Lord, when you guide me in that easy path, I will see six steps.. and when I pass those six steps, and climb up, I will see the Shiva.. the Sadashiva



The six steps are.. Mooladharam, Swaadhishtaanam, Manipooram, Anahatam, Vishuddhi and Ajnaa... chakras..
When we seek Shiva and the meditation goes up through these six chakras, we will discover the Supreme Shiva.. in the Sahasraara Chakra
That is the ultimate for a seeker

ശിവ ശംഭോ ശംഭോ ശിവ ശംഭോ ശംഭോ!
ശിവ ശംഭോ ശംഭോ ശിവ ശംഭോ!
shiva shambo shambo shiva shambo shambo shivashambo shambo shivashambo

( This simple and elegant prayer to Lord Shiva of Vaikkom is attributed to the great Poet Poonthaanam..
In simple words, the poet is presenting the whole idea of bhakthi and sadhana and mukthi through it..)

തിരുവൈക്കത്തില്‍ വാഴുന്ന ഭഗവാനെ,  അടിയന്‍ നരകക്കടലില്‍ അതായത് ഈ ഭൂമിയില്‍ മനുഷ്യനായി പിറന്നു പോയി.  ഈ നരകത്തില്‍ നിന്ന് എന്നെ കൈപിടിച്ചു കയറ്റാന്‍ കനിവുണ്ടാവണേ

മരണം അടുക്കുമ്പോള്‍  എനിക്ക് എന്തെല്ലാം പീഡനങ്ങള്‍ നേരിടെണ്ടി വരുമെന്നു ഓര്‍ക്കുമ്പോള്‍ പേടി കൊണ്ട് ഞാന്‍ എന്നെത്തന്നെ മറക്കുകയാണ്. എന്റെ മനസ്സാകുന്ന പൂവില്‍ എഴുന്നള്ളി അവിടുന്ന്  ആനന്ദത്തൊടെ വിളയാടണം
തിരുവൈക്കത്തില്‍ വാഴുന്ന ഭഗവാനെ
മായയുടെ വിളയാട്ടം  എന്റെ ജീവിതത്തില്‍ എന്തെല്ലാം ദുരിതങ്ങള്‍ വരുത്തിയിരിക്കുന്നു എന്ന്  വാക്കുകള്‍ കൊണ്ട് വിവരിക്കാന്‍ സാധ്യമല്ല.. ഭഗവാനെ, ശിവ ശിവ
ആ മായയുടെ മൂടുപടം നീക്കി എന്നില്‍ അനുഗ്രഹം ചൊരിയാന്‍ കനിവുണ്ടാവണേ

തിരുവൈക്കത്തില്‍ വാഴുന്ന ഭഗവാനെ
ഈ ജീവിതമെന്ന  വലിയ കാട്ടില്‍ പെട്ടുപോയ ഞാന്‍ മുന്നോട്ട്  പോകാനുള്ള  വഴിയൊന്നും കാണാതെ  നിസ്സഹായനായി അലയുകയാണ്.
എന്റെ ജീവിതത്തില്‍ നേര്‍വഴി  കാണിച്ചുതന്നു എന്നെ നയിക്കേണമേ
തിരുവൈക്കത്തില്‍ വാഴുന്ന ഭഗവാനെ
അവിടുത്തെക്കും മാത്രം അറിയാവുന്ന എളുപ്പമായ ജീവിതപാതയില്‍  നിന്തിരുവടി  എന്നെ നയിക്കുമ്പോള്‍  എനിക്ക് ആറു പടികള്‍ കാണാറാകും, 
ആ ആറു പടികളും  ചവിട്ടിക്കയറുമ്പോള്‍ എനിക്ക്  ശിവനെ.. സദാശിവസ്വരൂപത്തെ
ദര്‍ശിക്കാനാവില്ലേ?
ഈ ആറു പടികള്‍.. മൂലാധാരം, സ്വാധിഷ്ടാനം,മണിപൂരം, അനാഹതം, വിശുദ്ധി, ആജ്ഞാ എന്നീ പേരുള്ള യോഗ ചക്രങ്ങളാണ്
ശിവനെ ധ്യാനിക്കുമ്പോള്‍  മൂലാധാരത്തില്‍ തുടങ്ങി  ആജ്ഞയില്‍  എത്തി അവിടെനിന്നു സഹസ്രാരത്തില്‍ വിരാജിക്കുന്ന പരശിവന്‍.. സദാശിവന്‍ എന്ന പരബ്രഹ്മസ്വരൂപത്തെ നാം  എത്തിപ്പിടിക്കുന്നു.
ശിവ ശംഭോ ശംഭോ ശിവ ശംഭോ ശംഭോ!

ശിവ ശംഭോ ശംഭോ ശിവ ശംഭോ!

musings 42



Some people consider religion and god as exclusive properties of some particular sect..
We can see that every religion, when practices and rituals are observed, often lead to sort of divergence..
And the supporters of the Divine being as defined in a particular religion often become disrespectful to the Divine being defined in another faith or religion..

Hinduism in its sublime form does not permit that..


Ekam sad vipraa bahudaa vadanti..
the same eternally existing being is there and it is called by various scholars by various names ..
This is the essence of our faith.

We cannot hate the Divine one just because those who call him by one name or in a particular way are enimical to another name and another way..
That is the problem of the followers.. and not the defect or shortcoming of the Divine being..

musings 41



when you are with a friend from your boyhood days, you tend to forget your age.. Living in an agraharam where I have been living all through my life with some interruptions by way of stay in distant places at different time-slots due to exigencies of job and having finally settled in my own place, many experiences prove this.

The other day I was sitting in front of my house, and a friend of mine for almost sixty years was just cutting some dried branches of a tree, exerting himself..

After some time, he was getting exhausted, but was trying to carry as if he is still very energetic.

Of course he is still slim and trim, and actually looks rather young for his age..

And I have become fluffy and paunchy..

I was just shouting at him.." Dey, do not exert yourself too much. We are not as young as we were"

My remark was spontaneous..
I was remembering the times when as small boys we were climbing trees,and running on the same street and doing many things that only boys could do..

And when we meet, and we do that almost every day, we could not see any difference in us from what we were six decades ago..

My wife and son, or his wife and children .. all of us are very close .. so close like a family, cannot understand this..

I do not know whether we can analyze such things for logic..

But a friend of boyhood days is a treasure without any substitute, especially when one is old..

shiva or vishnu

A friend asked me whether it is true that while offering prayers, Devi should be preferred to Shiva, Vishnu etc.

My answer was and is…
It is only a matter of preference..
The brahmins, especially of Tamil origin and those who migrated from their Tamil homeland, if they remember their roots, will realize that they are divided essentially as the followers of Vishnu and Shiva..
Of course Vaishnvas Bhattacharyas,etce are purely followers of Vishnu and Gurukkal or Shivacharyas among brahmins follow Shiva.. Smarthas either follow Vishnu or Shiva..

Any religious act is done by them either as Parameshwara preethyartham... or Sreeman Narayana preetyartham..

Even pooja and worship to other Gods, devi, ganesha, surya, subramania etc are performed by us after paying respects to Vishnu or Shiva as the case may be..
This is the tradition of brahmins..

I am giving my view as a brahmin, as applicable to brahmin or the Tamil brahmin..
Now there are experts who say Devi etc are supreme.. some do things in the name of Saibaba etc, some say they do it in the name of Periyavaa and all..
But for a Brahmin, these entities can be gurus, but cannot take the place of Shiva or Vishnu..
However, Anyone is free to do anything, that is democracy..

Of course, if one takes the Kaula path or Shaktha path, get initiated into some mantras of those sects, they may do it in the name of Shakti..
But Vedic or basically smartha brahmin is not expected to prefer that path, to be frank..
What we do individually is different..
You can quote this view to any person and get validated.. Brahmin should do prayer to Savitri(Gayatri) and Sandhya first and then to either Shiva or Vishnu according to their family practices.. and then alone other deities will be relevant..

it is a basic duty

संध्याहीनोऽशुचिर्नित्यमनर्हः सर्वकर्मसु।
यदन्यत् कुरुते कर्म न तस्यफलभाग्भवेत्॥
दक्षस्मृती
saṁdhyāhīno'śucirnityamanarhaḥ sarvakarmasu|
yadanyat kurute karma na tasyaphalabhāgbhavet||
dakṣasmṛtī

One of the major Dharmasastra Texts.. Dakshasmriti categorically states

One who is now worshipping Sandhya daily at the proper time become impure and he is not eligible to do any other Karma
And even if he is performing any Karma without performing the Sandhyavandanam, he will never derive any phalam or benefit from such Karma.

The texts on antyeshti are all unanimous in stating that even if a close relative is dead, and if it is Sandhya, the worship of Sandhya in accordance with the shortened procedure when there is aashaucham should be performed and then only the cremation rites attended to

Even during the ten days of aashaucham period the Karthas for the last rites should performe Sandhya Vandanam.. It is even mentioned by some Dharmasastra authors that the pollution or aasaucham temporarily withdraws itself during sandhya to enable the persons affected to do Sandhya Vandhanam.

And it is a fashion among people who are doing Namasankeertanam or Pooja at Sandhya time that they would be doing all that without caring for Sandhyavandhanam.. Such action would render the pooja or other functions useless.
Doing other ostentatious poojas and celebrations and neglecting Sandhyavandanam on this count is like kicking aged father and mother at home in private and making show of social service at a destitute home.

And doing Sandhya is just a duty.. A routine act that alone can retain the brahminhood..
It is vain and arrogant to claim that we are brahmins if we do not perform Sandhyavandanam and Gayatri Japam as part of it..

No motivational post is necessary for this..
No one motivates you to breathe, drink water or eat.. If you do not do that you will die as a man
If you do not do Sandhyavandanam, the brahmin in you dies in a few days..

musings 40



We should have humility.
We need not show off..

Agreed

But there is another side to it too.
We should have a realistic perception about what we really have and what are our plus points.( minus points too)

When our foundation is realistic we will not be affected by trolls and heckling.

But if we try to show off and our bluff is exposed we will lose the respect of others.

And our self- confidence will receive a fatal blow.
We may lose the battle and/or lose control over even that little something we had.

"Know yourself " is not a mere philosophical paradigm.

It is a solid slogan in the field of managing oneself in this earthly life

neither upwards nor downwards



न मुखेनोद्गिरत्यूर्ध्वं हृदयान्न नयत्यधः।
जरयत्यन्तरे साधुर्दोषं विषमिवेश्वरः॥
सूक्तिमुक्तावली भगदत्त जल्हणकृतम्॥
na mukhenodgiratyūrdhvaṁ hṛdayānna nayatyadhaḥ|
jarayatyantare sādhurdoṣaṁ viṣamiveśvaraḥ||
sūktimuktāvalī bhagadatta jalhaṇakṛtam||

The noble and virtuous people never permit evil things arising within them or directed at them to come up beyond their throats, nor do they permit them to flow down beneath their hearts..
It is just like the action of Shiva in keeping the evil venom Kalakootam in his throat without permitting it either to go up or down.

The idea is that when a really noble person discovers an evil thought arising withing him, he just restricts it withing himself and kills it and would never speak out or take it to his heart.
When he receives bad words, thoughts or is affected by bad deeds of others too, he never abuses others verbally, nor does he takes it to heart.

To save the universe from destruction Shiva had to swallow the poison Kalakootam which arose from the churning of the milky ocean..
In spite of all possible dangers Shiva did not spit out the venom.. He did not gulp the poison beyond the neck too, so that it did not go below the heart and burn out the abdomen which housed the entire universe.. This analogy is brought in to highlight the conduct of good people..
Regards

tit for tat

कृते प्रतिकृतिं कुर्याद्धिंसने प्रतिहिंसनम्।
तत्र दोषो न पतति दुष्टे दुष्टं समाचरेत्॥
समयोचितपद्यमालिका द २४
kṛte pratikṛtiṁ kuryāddhiṁsane pratihiṁsanam|
tatra doṣo na patati duṣṭe duṣtaṁ samācaret||
samayocitapadyamālikā da 24


a great and satisfying quote from Samayochitapadyamalika

If some wrong is done to us, it is right to retaliate.. If someone causes physical pain or distress to us it is not wrong to give back in the same coins.
No sin arises from such retaliation.
Evil and cruelty   have to be met with evil and cruel actions, too often..

It is interesting to note that non violence and tolerance has been recommended as a matter of courtesy and good will..
The platitudes that it is great to be non violent and tolerant at all costs is nice to read and even talk of while lecturing..
But that idea should not be capitalized by the evil and discourteous fellows to attack and destroy the fair and good people..

But in reality people who are peace loving are often trapped by such glib words and they tolerate many things .. in life and in family..

Of course, it is better not to retaliate if we are sure that we are not likely to succeed.. But even there we can wait for the right opportunity and strike back.

We find such brutes in social media too.. Thy troll, they verbally attack gentlemen, they treat the calm people with disdain.. and often get away with it..

Where we have to use teeth for smiling we can do that..
When we have to use the teeth for biting, we should not hesitate and smile..
That is a great lesson

śrīśāstāstutidaśakaṃ

श्रीशास्तास्तुतिदशकं
śrīśāstāstutidaśakaṃ
=============
आशानुरूपफलदं चरणारविन्द-
भाजामपारकरुणार्णवपूर्णचन्द्रम् ।
नाशाय सर्वविपदामपि नौमि नित्य-
मीशानकेशवभवं भुवनैकनाथम् ॥ १
śrīśāstāstutidaśakaṃ
āśānurūpaphaladaṃ caraṇāravinda-
bhājāmapārakaruṇārṇavapūrṇacandram ।
nāśāya sarvavipadāmapi naumi nitya-
mīśānakeśavabhavaṃ bhuvanaikanātham ॥ 1

I am offering my pranams to that son of Shiva the Eashaana and Vishnu the Keshava
Who is capable of giving positive  results to devotees according to their fond desires
Who is the full moon in the ocean of mercy for those who ever depend on his lotus feet
and this worship is being offered for the destruction of all the dangers that could befall me

पिञ्छावली वलयिताकलितप्रसून-
सञ्जातकान्तिभरभासुरकेशभारम् ।
शिञ्जानमञ्जुमणिभूषणरञ्जिताङ्गं
चन्द्रावतंसहरिनन्दनमाश्रयामि ॥ २
piñchāvalī valayitākalitaprasūna-
sañjātakāntibharabhāsurakeśabhāram ।
śiñjānamañjumaṇibhūṣaṇarañjitāṅgaṃ
candrāvataṃsaharinandanamāśrayāmi ॥ 2

I serve with fond and sincere hope the darling son of Shiva who is having the crescent moon as his ornament and Vishnu the Hari,
Whose thick collection of hair is tied with hoards of peacock feathers,, and the locks are shining with the glow  of flowers which are arranged in a round fashion around that peacock feather decoration.. as if forming a hallow around the head,

Whose body is adorned with gems and ornaments which tingle attractively and add beauty and ecstasy to the divine body

आलोलनीलललिताळकहाररम्य-
माकम्रनासमरुणाधरमायताक्षम् ।
आलम्बनं त्रिजगतां प्रमथाधिनाथ-
मानम्रलोकहरिनन्दनमाश्रयामि ॥ ३
ālolanīlalalitāḻakahāraramya-
mākamranāsamaruṇādharamāyatākṣam ।
ālambanaṃ trijagatāṃ pramathādhinātha-
mānamralokaharinandanamāśrayāmi ॥ 3
I serve with utter devotion Sasta, the Ayyappa the son of Hari the Vishnu
Who is looking beautiful with dark blue and soft curly hairs fluttering in the lazy breeze, looking like a garland around his nicely put up hair locks
Who is having a very attractive and delicately curved nose
Who having dark red lips resembling the sun and the Aruna rising in the morning
who is the ultimate rallying point for all the three worlds
Who is the leader and subduer of all the valiant devas and demi gods
And before whom the entire world bows in utter reverence and supplication.
कर्णावलम्बिमणिकुण्डलभासमान-
गण्डस्थलं समुदिताननपुण्डरीकम् ।
अर्णोजनाभहरयोरिव मूर्तिमन्तं
पुण्यातिरेकमिव भूतपतिं नमामि ॥ ४
karṇāvalambimaṇikuṇḍalabhāsamāna-
gaṇḍasthalaṃ samuditānanapuṇḍarīkam ।
arṇojanābhaharayoriva mūrtimantaṃ
puṇyātirekamiva bhūtapatiṃ namāmi ॥ 4
I offer my humble pranams to that Divine being who is as attractive as Lord Narayana who has a lotus growing from his navel
Who is the ultimate result of all the Punyas earned by the devotees
Who is the leader of Bhootas or the retinue of demi gods
Who is shining forth with beautiful eardrops adorning his ears
Who is having a beautiful neck from which raises a beautiful face resembling a full blown lily

उद्दण्डचारुभुजदण्डयुगाग्रसंस्थं
कोदण्डबाणमहितान्तमतान्तवीर्यम् ।
उद्यत्प्रभापटलदीप्रमदभ्रसारं
नित्यं प्रभापतिमहं प्रणतो भवामि ॥ ५

uddaṇḍacārubhujadaṇḍayugāgrasaṃsthaṃ
kodaṇḍabāṇamahitāntamatāntavīryam ।
udyatprabhāpaṭaladīpramadabhrasāraṃ
nityaṃ prabhāpatimahaṃ praṇato bhavāmi ॥ 5
I am ever remaining in daily supplication to that Lord and consort of Praba, the Sastha,
who is ever engaged in the subjugation of the strength of evil and wayward people by effectively applying the strength of bow and arrow held firmly in the tip of the arms through firmly held hands which resemble powerful dandas..or rods..
and who is shining profusely in the intense glow of the halo arising around his mane.
मालेयपङ्कसमलङ्कृतभासमान-
दोरन्तराळतरळामलहारजालम् ।
नीलातिनिर्मलदुकूलधरं मुकुन्द-
कालान्तकप्रतिनिधिं प्रणतोऽस्मि नित्यम् ॥ ६
māleyapaṅkasamalaṅkṛtabhāsamāna-
dorantarāḻataraḻāmalahārajālam ।
nīlātinirmaladukūladharaṃ mukunda-
kālāntakapratinidhiṃ praṇato'smi nityam ॥ 6
Pranams every day to the manifestation of the two deities Mukunda the Vishnu and the slayer of Kala, Kaalaantaka the Shiva Lord Shasta the Ayyappa
Who wears on his bosom the large array garlands of flowers which are fluttering in the wind carrying fragrant flower dust from the Malaya Mountains
Who is attired in a dark blue, spotlessly soft and clean pair of silk clothes.

यत्पादपङ्कजयुगं मुनयोऽप्यजस्रं
भक्त्या भजन्ति भवरोगनिवारणाय ।
पुत्रं पुरान्तकमुरान्तकयोरुदारं
नित्यं नमाम्यहममित्रकुलान्तकं तम् ॥ ७
yatpādapaṅkajayugaṃ munayo'pyajasraṃ
bhaktyā bhajanti bhavaroganivāraṇāya ।
putraṃ purāntakamurāntakayorudāraṃ
nityaṃ namāmyahamamitrakulāntakaṃ tam ॥ 7
I offer my pranams every day to the Dharmasasta who is the very bountiful an generous son of the two supreme gods Puranthaka.. the destroyer of the three cities.. Lord Shankara and Muranthaka, the slayer of the demon Mura..Lord Vishnu
That Sastha who destroys all enemies and evil people
That Ayyappa whose pair of lotus feet are served continuously even by sages and saints with utter devotion for removal of the unhappiness and mental illness caused by the difficult situations in the life of this world

कान्तं कळायकुसुमद्युतिलोभनीय-
कान्तिप्रवाहविलसत्कमनीयरूपम् ।
कान्तातनूजसहितं निखिलामयौघ-
शान्तिप्रदं प्रमथयूथपतिं नमामि ॥ ८
kāntaṃ kaḻāyakusumadyutilobhanīya-
kāntipravāhavilasatkamanīyarūpam ।
kāntātanūjasahitaṃ nikhilāmayaugha-
śāntipradaṃ pramathayūthapatiṃ namāmi ॥ 8
I offer my pranams to Sastha the Ayyappa
Who is the provider of peace and harmony to the universe

Who is the prime leader of the battalion of forces of the gods
Who is resplendent with divine glow within himself
Who is shining in the dark glow of garlands the black lily flowers worn all over his body and his attractive colour of his body matching the colour of the same flowers
Who is present along with his wife Devi Prabha and his son Lord Satyaka
And who is the remover of all illnesses and maladies of the body and mind.
भूतेश भूरिकरुणामृतपूरपूर्ण-
वारान्निधे, वरद, भक्तजनैकबन्धो
पायाद्भवान् प्रणतमेनमपारघोर-
संसारभीतमिह मामखिलामयेभ्यः ॥ ९
bhūteśa bhūrikaruṇāmṛtapūrapūrṇa-
vārānnidhe, varada, bhaktajanaikabandho
pāyādbhavān praṇatamenamapāraghora-
saṃsārabhītamiha māmakhilāmayebhyaḥ ॥ 9
Oh Bhutesha, the lord of all the warriors of Lord Shiva,
Swamy Ayyappa the Shasta
You the ocean filled with waters in the shape of excessive mercy for your devotees
You the bestower of all boons to your dependents
You the sole kinsman and relative for those who are every devoted to you
May your benevolent Self be pleased to protest this me,
who is terrified of the woeful world and its nature which he is not able to overcome by himself
May you be pleased to protect and relieve me from all sorts of illness
हे भूतनाथ भगवन्, भवदीयचारु-
पादाम्बुजे भवतु भक्तिरचञ्चला मे ।
नाथाय सर्वजगतां भजतां भवाब्धि-
पोताय नित्यमखिलाङ्गभुवे नमस्ते ॥ १०
he bhūtanātha bhagavan, bhavadīyacāru-
pādāmbuje bhavatu bhaktiracañcalā me ।
nāthāya sarvajagatāṃ bhajatāṃ bhavābdhi-
potāya nityamakhilāṅgabhuve namaste ॥ 10

Oh Bhuthanatha.. Lord of the Bhtagana.. Shastaa, Oh bhagavan.. May you be pleased to bless me with utter and unswerving devotion on the pair of your Lotus feet which are attractive beyond description.
My pranams to my Master who is the Master of the whole universe, who is the safe and secure raft that would enable all the devotees to sail across the ocean of worldly life…
Pranams every to the one who is the son of the lord of the universe

श्री शास्तास्तुति दशकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
The Sastastuthi dashakam in complete

ശ്രീശാസ്താസ്തുതിദശകം
ആശാനുരൂപഫലദം ചരണാരവിന്ദ-
ഭാജാമപാരകരുണാര്ണവപൂര്ണചന്ദ്രം ।
നാശായ സര്വവിപദാമപി നൌമി നിത്യ-
മീശാനകേശവഭവം ഭുവനൈകനാഥം ॥ ൧
പിഞ്ഛാവലീ വലയിതാകലിതപ്രസൂന-
സഞ്ജാതകാന്തിഭരഭാസുരകേശഭാരം ।
ശിഞ്ജാനമഞ്ജുമണിഭൂഷണരഞ്ജിതാങ്ഗം
ചന്ദ്രാവതംസഹരിനന്ദനമാശ്രയാമി ॥ ൨
ആലോലനീലലലിതാളകഹാരരമ്യ-
മാകമ്രനാസമരുണാധരമായതാക്ഷം ।
ആലമ്ബനം ത്രിജഗതാം പ്രമഥാധിനാഥ-
മാനമ്രലോകഹരിനന്ദനമാശ്രയാമി ॥ ൩
കര്ണാവലമ്ബിമണികുണ്ഡലഭാസമാന-
ഗണ്ഡസ്ഥലം സമുദിതാനനപുണ്ഡരീകം ।
അര്ണോജനാഭഹരയോരിവ മൂര്തിമന്തം
പുണ്യാതിരേകമിവ ഭൂതപതിം നമാമി ॥ ൪
ഉദ്ദണ്ഡചാരുഭുജദണ്ഡയുഗാഗ്രസംസ്ഥം
കോദണ്ഡബാണമഹിതാന്തമതാന്തവീര്യം ।
ഉദ്യത്പ്രഭാപടലദീപ്രമദഭ്രസാരം
നിത്യം പ്രഭാപതിമഹം പ്രണതോ ഭവാമി ॥ ൫
മാലേയപങ്കസമലങ്കൃതഭാസമാന-
ദോരന്തരാളതരളാമലഹാരജാലം ।
നീലാതിനിര്മലദുകൂലധരം മുകുന്ദ-
കാലാന്തകപ്രതിനിധിം പ്രണതോഽസ്മി നിത്യം ॥ ൬
യത്പാദപങ്കജയുഗം മുനയോഽപ്യജസ്രം
ഭക്ത്യാ ഭജന്തി ഭവരോഗനിവാരണായ ।
പുത്രം പുരാന്തകമുരാന്തകയോരുദാരം
നിത്യം നമാമ്യഹമമിത്രകുലാന്തകം തം ॥ ൭
കാന്തം കളായകുസുമദ്യുതിലോഭനീയ-
കാന്തിപ്രവാഹവിലസത്കമനീയരൂപം ।
കാന്താതനൂജസഹിതം നിഖിലാമയൌഘ-
ശാന്തിപ്രദം പ്രമഥയൂഥപതിം നമാമി ॥ ൮
ഭൂതേശ ഭൂരികരുണാമൃതപൂരപൂര്ണ-
വാരാന്നിധേ, വരദ, ഭക്തജനൈകബന്ധോ ।
പായാദ്ഭവാന് പ്രണതമേനമപാരഘോര-
സംസാരഭീതമിഹ മാമഖിലാമയേഭ്യഃ ॥ ൯
ഹേ ഭൂതനാഥ ഭഗവന്, ഭവദീയചാരു-
പാദാംബുജേ ഭവതു ഭക്തിരചഞ്ചലാ മേ ।
നാഥായ സര്‍വജഗതാം ഭജതാം ഭവാബ്ധി-
പോതായ നിത്യമഖിലാങ്ഗഭുവേ നമസ്തേ ॥ ൧൦

ശ്രീ ശാസ്താസ്തുതി ദശകം സമ്പൂര്ണം ॥

sane statecraft



उत्खातान् प्रतिरोपयन् कुसुमितांश्चिन्वन् लघून् वर्धयन्।
अत्युच्चान् नमयन् पृथून् विदलयन् विश्लेषयन् संहतान्।
तीक्ष्णान् काण्टकिनो बहिर्नियमयन् स्वारोपितान पालयन्
मालाकार इव प्रयोगकुशलो राज्ये चिरं तिष्ठति।
चाणक्यराजनीत्याम् १९
utkhātān pratiropayan kusumitāṁścinvan laghūn vardhayan|
atyuccān namayan pṛthūn vidalayan viśleṣayan saṁhatān|
tīkṣṇān kāṇṭakino bahirniyamayan svāropitāna pālayan
mālākāra iva prayogakuśalo rājye ciraṁ tiṣṭhati|
cāṇakyarājanītyām 19
This sloka is quoted by the eminent Sanskrit Scholar Ludwik Sternback in his book on Chanakya Rajaneeti..
This subhashitam finds place in many other anthologies like subhashita ratna bhandagaram etc with minor variation but conveying the same ideas


Here the efficient and adroit ruler of the people is compared with a professional gardener and florist who makes attractive garlands with different types of flowers.

The gardener, when he prunes a plant down to earth, ensures that another plant is put in that place.
The flowers from the plants which are full, are carefully plucked.. and the portions which are to give fresh buds are prepared carefully..
The plants which are thin in flowers and foliage, are nurtured so that they becom optimally large
The plants whose flowers are seen in tall places are forced to bend down for easy plucking
The plants which occur in repeatedly large numbers are pruned and reduced to numbers which are optimal
The plants which have been uprooted, cut or are dried up, are removed immediately
The plants which are tough and thorny are throw out.. or kept out of the garden and the garland too.
The flowering plants and the garland nurtured so far with care are maintained that way

The king, when he is subjugating a group should ensure that he encourages a matching group
If there are some flourishing and prosperous people around, the king should watch their activities, try to draw benefits from them by way of levies and taxation.. and also ensure that excessive affluence does not end up in making the society stale.
If the ruler discovers that some people in the society are growing taller in stature he should watch and ensure that they are controlled at least mildly to conform to the social norms.
The King should ensure that the activities of people are varied.. and that they should be deployed in any profession or avocation only in such numbers are are useful for the State.

The king should ensure that the waste and worn out elements in society, once they are identified, should be thrown away...so that they may not intervene with the normal healthy function of the state

The king should ensure that unbending, recalcitrant and resistive groups are thrown away .. far away without showing any mercy
And
The king should ensure that whatever good has been achieved with great care should be kept safe and secure..

Thus the efficient king and a maker of garlands have so much in common..

fundamentals not to be overlooked



सन्ध्यातिक्रमणं यस्य सप्तरात्रमविच्युतम्।
उन्मत्तदोषयुक्तो वा पुनः संस्कारमर्हति॥ 
शौनक
sandhyātikramaṇaṁ yasya saptarātramavicyutam|
unmattadoṣayukto vā punaḥ saṁskāramarhati|| 
śaunaka


I read in many texts, and on too many occasions, and many scholars and elders also asserted that if a person who is expected to do the worship of Sandhya as per the scriptural dictate , he should perform it as a duty.. and more than deriving benefits from the worship of Sandhya, if there is a failure to perform the ritual at proper time and in the proper manner, there is the sin of Omission.. or pratyaavaayam.. 
Many things in life are like that. 
The parents taking care of their children, the children caring for their parents and so on..
There is no particular punyam arising out of such duties.. 
But if we fail to stick to such duties, there will be danger waiting for us..

Today after a long search, I stumbled upon a pramanam.. or authoritatative instruction in that subject..

The instruction given by sage Saunaka 
The slokam is given at the top

Meaning..
============
If a person overlooks to do worship of Sandhya continuously for a period covering a period encompassing seven nights,
Or if he has been afflicted by inebriation or madness caused in any manner( either through drugs or beverages, or by illness) 
then he would become eligible for normal activities in the spiritual way only if the Samskaras.. the purificatory and introductory rites are perfomed on him once again from the start..
=============
This can mean that such a persons will have to be purified by doing prayaschittams and then undergoing all the Samskaras from Jatakarama onwards..
This is the background that leads to the conclusion that a person who has broken the Sandhya vow for seven days continuously should have his upanayanam once again, if he is to become eligible for the normal duties in a vedic way...

assigned simplicity..




कातर्यं दुर्विनीतत्वं कार्पण्यमविवेकिता।
सर्वे मार्जन्ति कवयः शालीनां मुष्टिकिङ्कराः॥ 
चाटुचाणकः
kātaryaṁ durvinītatvaṁ kārpaṇyamavivekitā |
sarve mārjanti kavayaḥ śālīnāṁ muṣṭikiṅkarāḥ|| 
cāṭucāṇakaḥ


Opportunists who pose as learned poets and scholars are often
just slaves to the fistfuls of grains they would receive as patronage 
They would conceal or ignore the nasty traits of their sponsors
The unhealthy traits like 
procrastination,
lack of courage, 
arrogance, ignorance, 
lack of discretion etc
found in their patrons and 
would give the colour of simplicity and grace to such characters..

Saturday, December 29, 2018

difficult to build, easy to erase



नित्यं कोपात्तपो रक्षेत् श्रियं रक्षेत् च मत्सरात्।
विद्यां मानावमानाभ्यां आत्मानं च प्रमादतः॥
सुभाषितसुधानिधि
nityaṁ kopāttapo rakṣet śriyaṁ rakṣet ca matsarāt|
vidyāṁ mānāvamānābhyāṁ ātmānaṁ ca pramādataḥ||
subhāṣitasudhānidhi


A very apt advice borrowed from Subhashita Sudhanidhi of Sayana

On should protect his penance, and avidly accumulated skills from anger.
One should protect his wealth from unhealthy competition
One should protect his knowledge from either accolades or insults.
One should ever protect himself from forgetfulness, shoddiness, carelessness that could happen inadvertently or even deliberately..

This is the prescription for a balanced life.. and social interaction..
We often dream of it, some even try to practice it with some success.. But the target is mostly elusive.

Our jealously accumulated penance, goodwill and standard of efficiency.. all these can vanish into thin air, if we are hit by a bout of anger..

However affluent we are, if we try to spend money just to show off in comparison to others, we would be losing our possession without any substantial gain in return.. What we spend for gambling too is under this category..

A person accumulates knowledge with great efforts and unrelenting toil.. He is indeed very proud of such knowledge.. And therefore he tends to start thinking that he is indeed someone special, someone better than others who are less educated, and a craving for acceptance by others takes roots in his psyche.. Up to a certain level such sense of self importance and self worth would prod him to acquire more knowledge.. at least to maintain his own status in a dynamic social flow. But if a person gets too much elated, and even gets addicted to praises and gets morbidly depressed when his knowledge and views are not accepted or appreciated, it is the sign of mental strife for him.. That is not worth it..
No one really cares much about others..
Even praises and pulling down are originating from prejudices, and often selfish concerns of the critics..

And to be inattentive, to be lazy, to be shoddy, to be disrespectful, these are invitations for personal downfall..
We have to be diligent.. more diligent.. more and more diligent..

Friday, December 28, 2018

path to poverty and disgrace...



अनृतं चाटुवादश्च धनयोगो महानयम्।
सत्यं वैदुष्यमित्येव योगो दारिद्र्यकारकः॥
चाटुचाणकः
anṛtaṁ cāṭuvādaśca dhanayogo mahānayam|
satyaṁ vaiduṣyamityeva yogo dāridryakārakaḥ||
cāṭucāṇakaḥ


Telling lies and presenting things wrongly by appealingly
and capacity to exaggerate and present things glibly ..
when a person is endowed with such a combination of capabilities ,

it makes him extremely rich and popular..

However, a combination of the tendency for telling the truth and having great knowledge and erudition too.. that would ensure that a fellow remains poor and wretched for ever and ever..

The first combination is the hallmark of Politicians, actors, astrologers...professional accountants.. agents ..
Name any successful person. and he will have such qualities in plenty..

And the poor matter of fact scholar.. he rots in poverty..

अनृतं lie, misrepresentation..capacity to do that
चाटुवादः exaggeration, crafty presentation
च अयं नराय for this man
महान् धनयोगो भवति beomes a great lucky combination for being rich
प्रायः however सत्यं ttruth, truthfulness
वैदुष्यं knowledge, erudition
इति योगो this combination
तस्य दारिद्र्यकारकः एव भवति becomes a combination which makes man very poor and wretched.

Thursday, December 27, 2018

no escape..




बिलाद् बहिर्बिलस्यान्तः स्थितमार्जारसर्पयोः।
मध्ये चाखुरिवाभाति पत्नीद्वययुतो नरः॥
चाटुचाणकः
bilād bahirbilasyāntaḥ sthitamārjārasarpayoḥ|
madhye cākhurivābhāti patnīdvayayuto naraḥ||
cāṭucāṇakaḥ


A fellow with two wives shines forth like 
a rat
whose hole is occupied by a poisonous snake
and 
for whom a cat is awaiting eagerly just at the door of the hole..

and rat the hero is held up at the entrance..

The rat has a hole.. A snake has visited the hole and finding the rat  away is eagerly awaiting for the rats arrival as his meal..
 A cat too is waiting for the rat to be turned into supper immediately on his arrival..
A fellow with two wives is in a condition similar to  that of the  rat.. 
If one wife is like the snake waiting inside, the other is like the cat waiting outside.. 
Anyway his end is so near..

बिलाद् बहिः outside the whole 
बिलस्य अन्तः insided the hole 
स्थित occupied by 
मार्जार सर्पयोः. a cat and a snake respectively
मध्ये स्थितः placed in the midst 
आखुः इव like a rat 
पत्नीद्वययुतः one who has two wives 
नरः आभाति. man poor fellow shine forth (actually suffers in mortal fear)

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

one after the other....



सङ्गात् संजायते कामः कामात् क्रोधोऽपि जायतेone
क्रोधात् भवति संमोहः संमोहात् स्मृतिविभ्रमः
स्मृतिभ्रंशात् बुद्धिनाशः बुद्धिनाशात् प्रणश्यति॥
गीता
saṅgāt saṁjāyate kāmaḥ kāmāt krodho'pi jāyate
krodgāt bhavatu saṁmohaḥ saṁmohāt smṛtivibhramaḥ
smṛtibhraṁśāt buddhināśaḥ buddhināśāt praṇaśyati||
gītā


a quote from Gita..

from attachment by mere contact arises a sense of lustful desire
from desire for possession and intimacy arisess destructive anger
from rage, arises a state of excitement that makes one forget the realities..
and from such excitement one is led to lose of all his sense of propriety
and losing of good sense leads to loss of ones faculty to think and evaluate situations and respond to them rightly
And that state would lead to his own annihillation..

NYASAM FOR CHANTING SRIRUDRAM



NYASAM FOR CHANTING SRIRUDRAM
Before chanting any mantram it is the practice that we make prayers and invoke protection of the divine beings on all our limbs and all around us..

This is especially true when we chant the great mantram of Rudram.. Sri Rudram.. the Satarudriyam.. 
The limbs and positions of the bodies where we invoke the presence of various Deities is prescribed by the Vedas--, in this case by Bodhayana -- as follows.
The process of invoking the deities is called Nyasam.. This process here is called LAGHUNYASAM..

प्रजनने ब्रह्मा तिष्ठतु। पादयोः विष्णुस्तिष्ठतु। हस्तयोः हरस्तिष्ठतु। बाह्वोरिन्द्रस्तिष्टतु। जठरे अग्निस्तिष्ठतु। हृदये शिवस्तिष्ठतु। कण्ठे वसवस्तिष्ठन्तु। वक्त्रे सरस्वती तिष्ठतु। नासिकयोः वायुस्तिष्ठतु। नयनयोः चन्द्रादित्यौ तिष्ठेताम्। कर्णयोः अश्विनौ तिष्ठेताम्। ललाटे रुद्रास्तिष्ठन्तु। मूर्ध्नि आदित्यास्तिष्ठन्तु। शिरसि महादेवस्तिष्ठतु। शिखायां वामदेवस्तिष्ठतु। पृष्ठे पिनाकि तिष्ठतु। पुरतः शूली तिष्ठतु। पार्श्वयोः शिवाशङ्करौ तिष्ठेताम्। सर्वतो वायुस्तिष्ठतु। ततो बहिः सर्वतः अग्निर्ज्वालामालापरिवृतस्तिष्ठतु। सर्वेष्वङ्गेषु सर्वा देवता यथास्थानं तिष्ठन्तु॥ मां रक्षन्तु॥
prajanane brahmā tiṣṭhatu| pādayoḥ viṣṇustiṣṭhatu| hastayoḥ harastiṣṭhatu| bāhvorindrastiṣṭatu| jaṭhare agnistiṣṭhatu| hṛdaye śivastiṣṭhatu| kaṇṭhe vasavastiṣṭhantu| vaktre sarasvatī tiṣṭhatu| nāsikayoḥ vāyustiṣṭhatu| nayanayoḥ candrādityau tiṣṭhetām| karṇayoḥ aśvinau tiṣṭhetām| lalāṭe rudrāstiṣṭhantu| mūrdhni ādityāstiṣṭhantu| śirasi mahādevastiṣṭhatu| śikhāyāṁ vāmadevastiṣṭhatu| pṛṣṭhe pināki tiṣṭhatu| purataḥ śūlī tiṣṭhatu| pārśvayoḥ śivāśaṅkarau tiṣṭhetām| sarvato vāyustiṣṭhatu| tato bahiḥ sarvataḥ agnirjvālāmālāparivṛtastiṣṭhatu| sarveṣvaṅgeṣu sarvā devatā yathāsthānaṁ tiṣṭhantu|| māṁ rakṣantu||

प्रजनने ब्रह्मा तिष्ठतु। पादयोः विष्णुस्तिष्ठतु। May the Lord of Creation Brahma be present in my genital orgains 
हस्तयोः हरस्तिष्ठतु। May Lord Hara.. Shiva manifest himself in the pair of my hands.
बाह्वोरिन्द्रस्तिष्टतु। May Lord Indira Manifest himself in be present in my arms.
जठरे अग्निस्तिष्ठतु। May the lord of fire be present in my stomach
हृदये शिवस्तिष्ठतु। May lord Shiva be present in my hear.
कण्ठे वसवस्तिष्ठन्तु। May the eight Vasus be present in my throat 
वक्त्रे सरस्वती तिष्ठतु। May Sarasvathi be present in my mouth and tongu 
नासिकयोः वायुस्तिष्ठतु। May the lord of Air be present in my nosrils.
नयनयोः चन्द्रादित्यौ तिष्ठेताम्। may the Sun and the Moon be present in each of my two eyes.
कर्णयोः अश्विनौ तिष्ठेताम्। May the Ahvins be present in my two ears
ललाटे रुद्रास्तिष्ठन्तु। May the eleven Rudras manifest themselves on my forehead.
मूर्ध्नि आदित्यास्तिष्ठन्तु। May the twelve Adityas be present at the topmost portion of of my head. 
शिरसि महादेवस्तिष्ठतु। may lord Mahadeva be present on my head
शिखायां वामदेवस्तिष्ठतु। May Lord Vamadeva manifest himself in the portion of of my head where my hair is tied into a tuft
पृष्ठे पिनाकि तिष्ठतु। May Pinaaki the Shiva be present in the lower back portion of my body.
पुरतः शूली तिष्ठतु। May Shuli the Shiva, the wielder of the Trident be present in front of me 
पार्श्वयोः शिवाशङ्करौ तिष्ठेताम्। May the Lordess Shivaa and Lord Shankara be present on my two sides.
सर्वतो वायुस्तिष्ठतु। May the air be be flowing free everywhere.
ततो बहिः सर्वतः अग्निर्ज्वालामालापरिवृतस्तिष्ठतु। And everywhere outside, the fire, wearing the garland of brilliant flames may be present सर्वेष्वङ्गेषु सर्वा देवता यथास्थानं तिष्तन्तु॥ May all the gods (thirty three crores in number.. be present at the appropriate limbs or my body..

May I be in their constant protection while I am performing the chant and the prayer..

know what you chant...



ऋचेऽक्षरे परमे व्योमन् यस्मिन्देवा अधिविश्वे निषेदुः।
यस्तन्न वेद किमृचा य इत्तद्विदुस्त इमे समसते॥ 
ऋग्वेदम् १-१६४-३९
ṛce'kṣare parame vyoman yasmindevā adhiviśve niṣeduḥ|
yastanna veda kimṛcā ya ittadvidusta ime samasate|| 
ṛgvedam 1-164-39


स्थाणुरयं भारहारः किलाभूदधीत्य वेदं न विजानाति योऽर्थं।
योऽर्थज्ञ इत्सकलं भद्रमश्नुते नाकमेति ज्ञानविधूतपाप्मा॥ 
यास्कप्रणीते निरुक्ते १-१८-२०

sthāṇurayaṁ bhārahāraḥ kilābhūdadhītya vedaṁ na vijānāti yo'rthaṁ|
yo'rthajña itsakalaṁ bhadramaśnute nākameti jñānavidhūtapāpmā|| 
yāskapraṇīte nirukte 1-18-20

The Vedas and the commentators on them have always held the view that mere parrot-like recital of the mantras or hymns without having any clue about their meaning and context are of no uses..

Rigvedam Says.. 
========
All the divine beings are residing in the hymns of veda which are eternal, vast in meaning and of great merit .. and if a person recites those hymns without knowing the presence of the divine and the meaning of the hymns is wasting his time.

And the one who knows or is taught about such meaning would derive benefits and would attain the presence of such divine beings..

Sage Yaska in his Niruktham says
=============
A person who memorizes the hymns of the vedas without knowing their meaning is just like a solid granite structure erected on the roadside where wayfarers could place their burdens and take rest..

A person who understands the meaning of the Vedic hymns he has learned attains all comforts and merits. He attains enlightenment.. His sins are washed away. And he attains the world of eternal happiness.

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Merry Christmas



Merry Christmas to everyone.
May the spirit of Jesus..
the spirit of love 
the spirit of compassion 
the spirit of sacrifice 
continue to inspire us for ever

God is eternal
He is beyond all qualification and comparisons.
We the humans possess minds that would understand only things specified by time space name

We identified God with religion

We gave Him names 
Krishna 
Gauri 
Jesus 
Allah 
and a million others.

But by whatever name we call Him the person listening to us is the same.

We celebrate the birth of the birthless
The Jesus in stable 
Krishna in Prison.

Yes, we invent dates just to celebrate the glory of the eternal one.

The dates might be just excuses for revelry 
But the heart and spirit behind it is real

Let us forget everything else and celebrate ..

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Monday, December 24, 2018

falls short of perfection...



गन्धं सुर्वर्णं फलमिक्षुदण्डे नाकारि पुष्पं खलु चन्दनेषु।
विद्वान् धनाढ्यो नृपतिश्चिरायुः धातुः पुरा कोऽपि न बुद्धिदोऽभूत्॥
चाटुश्लोकः॥
gandhaṁ survarṇaṁ phalamikṣudaṇḍe nākāri puṣpaṁ khalu candaneṣu|
vidvān dhanāḍhyo nṛpatiścirāyuḥ dhātuḥ purā ko'pi na buddhido'bhūt||
cāṭuślokaḥ||


Even the most intelligent and resourceful people,
although they happen to be divine, 
often commit blunders, 
and are of inadequate skills..

Here the poet is pondering about such defects and inconsistencies in the creations of Brahmadeva himself..

Brahma created gold, but failed to add fragrance to it along with its brilliant lustre..

Brahma created sugarcane with sweetness stored in great quantities in its stems.. but failed to think of having a fruit for the plant.. How sweet such a fruit must have been?

Brahma created the sandalwood which produces great aroma 
and adds to the beauty of all who adorn themselves with its paste, but sandal tree was never blessed with the luxury of having flowers.. Just think how attractive such a flower would have been?

Brahma created great scholars and teachers who enriched the life of all around them with their deep knowledge.. 
But he never gave prosperity to them.. 
It is their fate always to be poor and in want..

Brahma created kings and princes and endowed them with all the wealth and comforts of their kingdom.. 
But long life is never the part of their fate..

It would be exasperating to think who gave Brahma such half baked ideas for his creation

This is a chatusloka.. in circulation among people.. 
exact authorship seems to be attributed..

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Bother in law...



दुर्मन्त्री राज्यनाशाय ग्रामनाशाय कुञ्जरः।
श्यालको गृहनाशाय सर्वनाशाय दुर्जनः॥
सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चये॥
durmantrī rājyanāśāya grāmanāśāya kuñjaraḥ|
śyālako gṛhanāśāya sarvanāśāya durjanaḥ||
subhāṣitaratnasamuccaye||


A bad cunning or inefficient minister is more than enough to destroy a country.

A rowdy elephant barging in from the nearby forest can bring in complete destruction to lives and properties in a village.

( Alternately it could be that an elephant kept by a village can eat up everything and leave the villagers to suffer in hunger)


A brother in law.. especially the younger brother of the wife, if he stays in your house can ensure complete absence of peace and comfort at your home..


And a person with an evil mind and a matchingly evil attitude can provide guarantee that everything around is finished off.


analysis

दुर्मन्त्री राज्यनाषाय भवति a bad minster destroy the country. कुञ्जरः ग्रामनाशाय भवति an elephant can spread destruction for a villageगृहनाशाय श्यालको भवति a young brother in law stayaing with you can bring in a lot of destruction to your domestic peace सर्वनाशाय दुर्जनः and an evil fellow ensures destruction of everything around

Saturday, December 22, 2018

musings 39



Social media.. all media.. and even life is like a retail market..or shandy
Many vendors assemble there and showcase and trade their merchandise..

The vendor who sells flowers can do that
The vendor who sells vegetables may do that well
The man who sells fish can do that too
The idea applies to any person who is willing to sell and to each merchandise
But it is silly to claim that only one particular trader or his merchandise is good, useful ..
The market conditions alone can make or unmake the trader..

Of course hard selling is permitted as long as the merchandise of the neighbour is not affected adversely.

so hard.. so soft...



अतिकुपिता अपि सुजनाः योगेन मृदूभवन्ति न तु नीचाः।
हेम्नः कठिनस्यापि द्रवणोपायमस्ति न तृणानं॥ ७८
सुभाषितरत्नाकरे॥
atikupitā api sujanāḥ yogena mṛdūbhavanti na tu nīcāḥ|
hemnaḥ kaṭhinasyāpi dravaṇopāyamasti na tṛṇānaṁ|| 78
subhāṣitaratnākare||


A very relevant quote from the great compilation..Subhashita Ratnakaram.. about noble people and men of characte.
=========
Meaning
Even if a persons of character and nobility is provoked to burning anger, in due time and with proper self control, they become soft and reasonable..
That is not the case with silly evil persons..
Gold is found in nature as a tough solid mass.. But surely there are ways to see the same gold in liquid form.. when heated continuously..
But a mass of grass is also dry and often quite tough. . but in contact with fire, it will burn to ashes.. and would never melt..

==========
Good people, even though they may flare up when provoked, would calm down and see reason.. And would act only in manner befitting their status.. In fact pleasure and anger of good people would both result in something good and beneficial..

The process is just like smelting gold.. Solid gold material, when treated with fire. would change shape to liquid form, but it will again solidify after getting rid of the impurity and dirt content..

But some showy people of shady credential would show off and make a lot of noise.. and when provoked would multiply their evil vigour... But what would remain in the end is just a lot of noise, and debris without any good for anyone.
It is like a huge bunch of grass burning.. It will burn with a lot of flames.. but the final result would a handful of ashes..

To be gold or to be dried grass is our own choice..

musings 38



when we read our ancient texts, we tend more to analyse the appearance and personal activities of the character introduced and somehow the purport of their introduction, and the valuable messages portrayed by them are relegated to the rear..
For example Vidura Neeti or Yaksha Prashnam or even Bhagavat Gita contain immortal messages..
We can do well to internalize such messages and attempt to live up to the ideas and principle conveyed..
What the characters did is of lesser consequence..

The characters of Yaksha and Yudhistira are just meant to add some story-line to the narrative and to provide a sort of continuity and readability.. 
Many ancient epics are like that.. 
The human or divine characters are just introduced to push the story-line.. 
The ideas discussed and conveyed give the core .. the substance.. Yudhistira, Vidura, Krishna or Arjuna or Sanatsujathiya are just names.. 
But the great thoughts presented to us by the author of Mahabharatham are of timeless value.
But we analyze the characters.. A Karna.. or Bhima..
an Ini jnaan urangatte or a Randaamoozham..

In an Indian epic no character is ever portrayed as perfect.. But often perfect words are put into their mouths..
We can draw more substance by identifying ourselves with the characters, and just waving aside the characters with an indulgent smile..

Musings 37



Being attached to anything excessively..or beyond reasonable limits can lead to disasters.
True

But having no connections and no attachments is already a suffering.
They say.. if a newborn baby remains not cuddled and caressed for long even it is fed it would die soon.
Food and money will give sustenance to life. 
Study and acquisition of knowledge would sharpen the mind and intellect. 
But only the love we have for others and live others have for us would keep us as wholesome human beings.


The development of body or mind or for that matter anything is just to attract love and approval from others. 
If that is not happening we are just vegetables or are akin to broiler chicken.

Attachment is the sign of love and the outcome of love too.

Agreed, too much of anything ..food.. study.. exercise..can be dangerous. Overdose of attachment too can kill

Musings 36


Life has actually taught us to weep. 
We weep when we are born. We weep when we are sad.
We weep when we are uncontrollably happy too.
Life has taught us the art of weeping because we cannot live without weeping. 
If we do not weep our hearts might explode. 
Perhaps we do not weep when we ourselves die. 
But at that time all around us weep.

gold with fragrance,,,



gold with fragrance,,,
दातृत्वमेव सर्वेभ्यो गुणेभ्यो भासतेतराम्।
ज्ञातृत्वसहितं तच्चेत्सुवर्णस्येव सौरभम्॥
सुभाषितमञ्चरी १०-५९
dātṛtvameva sarvebhyo guṇebhyo bhāsatetarām|
jñatṛtvasahitaṁ taccetsuvarṇasyeva saurabham||
subhāṣitamañcarī 10-59


A quote from Subhashita manjari.
This quote is found in Subhashita Sudhanidhi or Sayana too..

Meaning 
=========
Of all the good qualities in a man, his generosity and willingness to share all he possessed, outshines everything else.
And if such a person is blessed with knowledge too, it is just like gold endowed with fragrance
==========

Willingness to share is indeed a great quality.. 
Our life on earth has has very limited tenure.. 
And all around us too face the same limitation..
The short sojourn on this earth can be enjoyed to its fullness only if there is happiness all around 
And happiness spreads its beautiful wings all around when we are just sharing things which possess, including happiness.

A saint may be able to find happiness in solitude, but most of us can be happy only in the company of friends, family and fellow citizens..

So making others happy is the best way to be happy.. and we can spread happiness by sharing what we have, without reservations..

But that thought arises only to the best of human beings.

And if one has enough knowledge and experience, he can make others happy too by sharing such knowledge

Attitude to be generous is great.. And sharing of knowledge adds great value to such attitude..

Gold is very precious.. 
But is has no fragrance..
But if fragrance too is given to gold.. then it is heavenly..