Vedic Prayer for memory and retention

 

Vedic Prayer for memory and retention

नमो ब्रह्मणे धारणं मे अस्त्वनिराकरणं धारयिता भूयासं कर्णयोः श्रुतं मा च्योढ्वं ममामुष्य ओम्, इति ।।

इति कृष्णयजुर्वेदीयतैत्तिरीयारण्यके दशमप्रपाठके नारायणोपनिषदि सप्तमोऽनुवाकः ॥ ७ ॥

ब्रह्मणे जगत्कारणाय नमोऽस्तु तत्प्रसादान्मदीये चित्ते ग्रन्थतदर्थयोर्धारणमस्तु ।

[अनिराकरणं] निराकरणं विस्मरणं यथा न भवति तथा धारयिता भूयासम् । अमुष्येत्थं प्रार्थयमानस्य मम कर्णयोर्यत्किञ्चिद्वेदशास्त्रादिकं यदा कदाचिदपि श्रुतमासीत्तत्सर्वं हे देवा मा च्योढ्वं मा विनाशयत । ततोऽहामों प्राप्नुयां स्थिरं धारणमिति शेषः । ३

इति श्रीमत्सायणाचार्यविरचिते माधवीये वेदार्थप्रकाशे कृष्ण यजुर्वेदीयतैत्तिरी यारण्यकभाष्ये दशमप्रपाठके नारायणीया परनामधेययुक्तायां याज्ञिक्यामुपनिषदि सप्तमोऽनुवाकः ॥ ७ ॥

namo brahmaṇe dhāraṇaṃ me astvanirākaraṇaṃ dhārayitā bhūyāsaṃ karṇayoḥ śrutaṃ mā cyoḍhvaṃ mamāmuṣya om, iti ।।

iti kṛṣṇayajurvedīyataittirīyāraṇyake daśamaprapāṭhake nārāyaṇopaniṣadi saptamo'nuvākaḥ ॥ 7 ॥

brahmaṇe jagatkāraṇāya namo'stu tatprasādānmadīye citte granthatadarthayordhāraṇamastu ।

[anirākaraṇaṃ] nirākaraṇaṃ vismaraṇaṃ yathā na bhavati tathā dhārayitā bhūyāsam । amuṣyetthaṃ prārthayamānasya mama karṇayoryatki tkiñcidvedaśāstrādikaṃ yadā kadācidapi śrutamāsīttatsarvaṃ he devā mā cyoḍhvaṃ mā vināśayata । tato'hāmoṃ prāpnuyāṃ sthiraṃ dhāraṇamiti śeṣaḥ । 3

iti śrīmatsāyaṇācāryaviracite mādhavīye vedārthaprakāśe kṛṣṇa yajurvedīyataittirī yāraṇyakabhāṣye daśamaprapāṭhake nārāyaṇīyā paranāmadheyayuktāyāṃ yājñikyāmupaniṣadi saptamo'nuvākaḥ ॥ 7 ॥taittareeya aranyakam Mahanarayanopanishad anuvaka 7

നമോ ബ്രഹ്മണേ ധാരണം മേ അസ്ത്വനിരാകരണം ധാരയിതാ ഭൂയാസം കര്‍ണയോഃ ശ്രുതം മാ ച്യോഢ്വം മമാമുഷ്യ ഓം, ഇതി ॥

ഇതി കൃഷ്ണയജുര്‍വേദീയതൈത്തിരീയാരണ്യകേ ദശമപ്രപാഠകേ നാരായണോപനിഷദി സപ്തമോഽനുവാകഃ ॥ ൭ ॥

ബ്രഹ്മണേ ജഗത്കാരണായ നമോഽസ്തു തത്പ്രസാദാന്മദീയേ ചിത്തേ ഗ്രന്ഥതദര്‍ഥയോര്‍ധാരണമസ്തു ।

[അനിരാകരണം] നിരാകരണം വിസ്മരണം യഥാ ന ഭവതി തഥാ ധാരയിതാ ഭൂയാസം । അമുഷ്യേത്ഥം പ്രാര്‍ഥയമാനസ്യ മമ കര്‍ണയോര്യത്കിഞ്ചിദ്വേദശാസ്ത്രാദികം യദാ കദാചിദപി ശ്രുതമാസീത്തത്സര്‍വം ഹേ ദേവാ മാ ച്യോഢ്വം മാ വിനാശയത । തതോഽഹാമോം പ്രാപ്നുയാം സ്ഥിരം ധാരണമിതി ശേഷഃ । ൩

ഇതി ശ്രീമത്സായണാചാര്യവിരചിതേ മാധവീയേ വേദാര്‍ഥപ്രകാശേ കൃഷ്ണ യജുര്വേദീയതൈത്തിരീയാരണ്യകഭാഷ്യേ ദശമപ്രപാഠകേ നാരായണീയാ പരനാമധേയയുക്തായാം യാജ്ഞിക്യാമുപനിഷദി സപ്തമോഽനുവാകഃ ॥ ൭ ॥

My obeisance to that Supreme Being, the creator of the world, and by His grace, whatever I learn from Books and any other sources may be grasped and retained by me to perfection..

May I grasp all that knowledge. Forgetfulness may never encompass me.

May the Heavenly beings never allow me to lose whatever has been heard and learned by me by way of science and scriptural knowledge.

Thus, I may have long aayus. OM..

This is the Vedic prayer meant for retention of whatever we have learned..

This is from Taittireeya aranyakam of Krishna Yajurveda..Mahanarayan Upanishad

You are the source and reservoir of all valuable things.

A vedic prayer to earth..

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अश्वक्रान्ते रथक्रान्ते

 विष्णुक्रान्ते वसुन्धरे।

शिरसा धारयिष्यामि रक्षस्व मां पदे पदे॥१-३७

भूमिर्धेनुर्धरणी लोकधारिणी।

उद्धृतासि वराहेण कृष्णेन शतबाहुना॥१-३८

मृत्तिके हन मे पापं यन्मया दुष्कृतं कृतं।

मृत्तिके ब्रह्मदत्तासि काश्यपेनाभिमन्त्रिता॥

मृत्तिके देहि मे पुष्टिं त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्॥१-३९

मृत्तिके प्रतिष्ठिते सर्वं तन्मे निर्णुद मृत्तिके।

त्वया हतेन पापेन गच्छामि परमां गतिम्॥१-४०

कृष्णयजुर्वेदीये

तैत्तिरीय आरण्यके दशमे अध्याये महानारायणोपनिषत्सु।

aśvakrānte rathakrānte viṣṇukrānte vasundhare|

śirasā dhārayiṣyāmi rakṣasva māṁ pade pade||1-37

bhūmirdhenurdharaṇī lokadhāriṇī|

uddhṛtāsi varāheṇa kṛṣṇena śatabāhunā||1-38

mṛttike hana me pāpaṁ yanmayā duṣkṛtaṁ kṛtaṁ|

mṛttike brahmadattāsi kāśyapenābhimantritā||

mṛttike dehi me puṣṭiṁ tvayi sarvaṁ pratiṣṭhitam||1-39

mṛttike pratiṣṭhite sarvaṁ tanme nirṇuda mṛttike|

tvayā hatena pāpena gacchāmi paramāṁ gatim||1-40

kṛṣṇayajurvedīye

taittirīya āraṇyake daśame adhyāye mahānārāyaṇopaniṣatsu|

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This is the prayer made to earth.. while preparation of Sacrificial grounds, while colleting mud and clay for making various things needed for yajnas..

This is part of Yajurvedam

The prayer has a universal appeal..

After all this earth is the be all and the end all for all of us humanm being..

Remember this on earths day..

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Translation of the prayer.

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O mother earth, you have been travelled for immemmorial ages by horses and chariots.. Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Vamana and Trivikrama covered all of your surfce with one foot.

You are the source and reservoir of all valuable things.

I am wearing on my head a part of you.. a piece of clay .. moher protect me in every step.

Oh earth, Bhumi, you are verily the milch cow who showers all prosperity on us, you are the foundation for everything, you hold all living being on your wide bosom,

once when Hiranyakashipu submerged you into the ocean, Lord Narayana as the Black boar Varaha of hundred arms lifted you and put you back in your place.

The piece of clay or mud representing mother earth, may you destroy all my sins, all the evil deeds perpertrated by me.

Oh earth, you were given to us by the Supreme being, you were fortified by the holy mantra chants by Kasyapa Prajapathi.

Oh earth, please provide me with nourishment..

All that is worth possessing is contained in you.

Oh earth you are firm on surface, but may you be pleased to remove all the sins that have clung to me as firm layers.

And once you have destroyed all my sins, may I live on this earth with all happiness and attain emancipation afterwards too.

Oh, enlightened men, may we anoint an exalted person as our king

यजुर्वेद ९-२३ (9-23) Shukla yajurvedam.

वाज॑स्ये॒मम्प्र॑स॒वः सु॑षु॒वे ग्रे॒ सोम॒ राजा॑न॒मोष॑धीष्व॒प्सु । ताऽअ॒स्मभ्यं॒ मधु॑मतीर्भवन्तु व॒यं रा॒ष्ट्रे जा॑गृयाम पु॒रोहि॑ताः॒ स्वाहा॑ ॥യജുര്‍വ്വേദം ൯-൨൩ (9-23) ശുക്ല യജുര്‍‌വേദംവാജ॑സ്യേ॒മംപ്ര॑സ॒വഃ സു॑ഷു॒വേ ഗ്രേ॒ സോമ॒ രാജാ॑ന॒മോഷ॑ധീഷ്വ॒പ്സു । താഽഅ॒സ്മഭ്യം॒ മധു॑മതീര്‍ഭ വന്തു വ॒യം രാ॒ഷ്ട്രേ ജാ॑ഗൃയാമ പു॒രോഹി॑താഃ॒ സ്വാഹാ॑ ॥

vājasyemaṃprasavaḥ suṣuve gre soma rājānam

oṣadhīṣvapsu । tā'asmabhyaṃ madhumatīrbhavantu vaya rāṣṭe jāgṛyāma purohitāḥ svāhā ॥

Meaning

Oh, enlightened men, may we anoint an exalted person as our king

a person who is well learned and having experts in all sciences and other disciplines

a person who is having robust health,

a person who is having all the qualities of Soma Himself

And may the Doctors of the State who are bound by duty to protect him ensure that there is no disease or ailment for him either in body, mind or spirit

May the Physicians of the State also ensure that the ministers and other authorities and subjects too are in good health

may all be in good health and robust state of physique so that they would be able to resist and vanquish all the evil forces within the state and also be able to beat the enemies who might launch any attack on the state

May there be protection through sweet waters, sweet herbs and may there be sweetness everywhere

For that we, who are the foremost enlightened people of this state would keep awake eternally and ensure the welfare for all..

May the nation enjoy welfare like cool morning breeze

May the nation enjoy welfare like cool morning breeze

शीते वाते पुनन्निवेत्याह। क्षेमो वै राष्ट्रस्य शीतो वातः।क्षेममेवावरुन्धे॥

कृष्णयजुर्वेदीय तैत्तिरीय ब्राह्मणे ३-९-७-२

śīte vāte punannivetyāha| kṣemo vai rāṣṭrasya śīto vātaḥkṣemamevāvarundhe||

kṛṣṇayajurvedīya taittirīya brāhmaṇe 3-9-7-2

This is a fine Imagery.. of an Asheervaatham.. found in taittireeya brahmanam

Partially boiled paddy grains are spread in the threshing ground..

It is the morning.. the yajamana, the cultivator, wakes up in the early morning when cool breeze is wafting around, and is threshing the grain and gaining the food material after removing the husk..

His happiness is two fold.. the cool breeze and the winning of the grains..

The state of welfare for the Nation or yajamana is equal to the happiness of enjoying the cool breeze and winning the grains in abundance..

May such happiness visit the Yajamana and the Nation too..

( This is the meaning of the mantra.. as per Sayana Bhashyam..)

ശീതേ വാതേ പുനന്നിവേത്യാഹ। ക്ഷേമോ വൈ രാഷ്ട്രസ്യ ശീതോ വാതഃ।ക്ഷേമമേവാവരുന്ധേ॥

കൃഷ്ണയജുര്‍വ്വേദീയ തൈത്തിരീയ ബ്രാഹ്മണേ ൩-൯-൭-൨

യജുര്‍വ്വേദത്തിലെ ഒരു ആശീര്‍വ്വാദ മന്ത്രം.

പുഴുങ്ങി ഉണക്കാനിട്ടിരിക്കുന്ന നെല്ല് കര്‍ഷകന്റെ മുറ്റത്ത് ധാരാളം നിരത്തിയിട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു. പ്രഭാതമായി. യജമാനനായ കൃഷിക്കാരന്‍ പ്രഭാതത്തിലെ കുളിര്‍ കാറ്റ് ഏറ്റുകൊണ്ട് ഉറക്കത്തില്‍ നിന്ന് ഉണരുന്നു. അയാള്‍ അറപ്പുരയില് നെല്ല് കുത്തി അരി എടുക്കുവാനുള്ള പ്രവര്‍ത്തനം രാവിലെത്തന്നെ ആരംഭിക്കുകയാണ്

അയാളുടെ ആനന്ദം രണ്ടിരട്ടിയാണ്..

പ്രഭാതത്തിലെ കുളിര്‍കാറ്റിന്റെ തഴുകല്‍.. അതെ സമയം ഭക്ഷ്യ ധാന്യം പത്തായത്തെ നിറയ്ക്കുന്നു എന്ന തിരിച്ചറിവ്..

വര്ഷം മുഴുവന്‍ സമൃദ്ധിയോടെ ജീവിക്കാം എന്ന പ്രതീക്ഷ.

രാഷ്ട്രത്തെ മുഴുവന്‍ കുളിര്‍ കാറ്റ് ആനന്ദിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. പത്തായം നിറയുന്ന ധാന്യം രാഷ്ട്രത്തെയും കര്‍ഷകനേയും ഒരുപോലെ സന്തുഷ്ടനാക്കുന്നു.

ഇവിടെ വേദം എല്ലാവര്ക്കും അത് പോലുള്ള ഇണയറ്റ ആനന്ദം എപ്പോഴും ഉണ്ടായിരിക്കട്ടെ എന്നാണ് ആശീര്‍വാദം നല്‍കുന്നത.

( പരിഭാഷ സായന ഭാഷ്യത്തെ അവലംബിച്ച്)

all pervading Rudra

यो रुद्रो अग्नौ यो अफ्सु य ओषधीषु यो रुद्रो विश्वा भुवनाविवेश तस्मै रुद्राय नमो अस्तु॥

कृष्ण यजुर्वेदे

yo rudro agnau yo aphsu ya oṣadhīṣu yo rudro viśvā bhuvanāviveśa tasmai rudrāya namo astu||

kṛṣṇa yajurvede

Pranams to that Rudra the Shankara

who has entered and resides in fire

who has entered and resides in waters

who has entered and resides in all medicinal herbs

who has entered and resides in the whole universe.

A great tribute to water..

A great tribute to water..

a landmark mantram used in the process of ceremonial purification of water.. Udaka Shanti.. The mantram comes partially from Yajurveda Samhita, Brahmanams and Rigvedam too..

अ॒पः प्रण॑यति। श्र॒द्धा वा आपः॑ ।

श्र॒द्धां ए॒वारभ्य॑ प्र॒णीय॑ प्रच॑रति।

अ॒पः प्रण॑यति । य॒ज्ञो वा आपः॑ ।

य॒ज्ञं ए॒वारभ्य॑ प्र॒णीय॑ प्रच॑रति।

अ॒पः प्रण॑यति । व॒ज्रो वा आपः॑ ।

वज्र॑मे॒व भ्रातृ॑व्येभ्यः प्रहृत्य॑ प्र॒णीय॑ प्रच॑रति ।

अ॒पः प्रण॑यति । आपो॒ वै रक्षो॒घ्नीः ।

रक्ष॑सां अप॑हत्यै ।

अ॒पः प्रण॑यति । आपो॒ वै दे॒वानां᳚ प्रि॒यंधाम॑ ।

दे॒वाना॑मे॒व प्रि॒यंधाम॑ प्र॒णीय॒ प्रच॑रति ।

अ॒पः प्रण॑यति । आपो॒ वै सर्वा॑ दे॒वताः ।

दे॒वता॑ ए॒वा॒रभ्य॑ प्र॒णीय॒ प्रच॑रति ।

आपो॒वैशा॒न्ताः । शा॒न्ताभि॑रे॒वास्य॑ शुचग्ं शमयति ॥

देवो वः सविता उत्पुनातु। अच्छिद्रेण पवित्रेण।वसोः सूर्यस्य रश्मिभिः।

स हि रत्नानि दाशुषे। सुवति सविता भगः। तं भागम् चित्रमीमहे॥

Apah praNayati | shraddhAvA Apah |

shraddhAm evArabhya praNIya pracharati

Apah praNayati | yagyou vai Apah |

yagyam evArabhya praNIya pracharati

Apah praNayati | vajro vai Apah |

vajrameva bhrAtRuvyebhyah prahRutya praNIya pracharati |

Apah praNayati | Apo vai rakShoghnIh |

rakShasAm apahatyai |

Apah praNayati | Apo vai devAnAm priyamdhAma |

devAnAmeva priyamdhAma praNIya pracharati |

Apah praNayati | Apo vai sarvA devatAh |

devatA evArabhya praNIya pracharati |

ApovaishAntAh shAntAbhirevAsya shuchagmshamayati ||

devo vassavitA utpunAtu | acChidreNa pavitreNa | vasoh sUryasya

rashmibhih |

sa hi ratnAni dAshuShai suvAti savitA bhagah | tam bhAgam chitramImahe

||

om

Water is the object of great respect and adoration..

Waters indeed deserved great attention

The waters are treated with great adoration and great devotion..

Water is the object of great respect and adoration

waters are the substance of yajnas or sacrifices

Waters are treated as yajna and held with great adoration and devotion

Water is the object of great respect and adoration

Waters are verily like thunderbolt, shining with resplendence and tough

Waters are treated as the best of resplendent things, the thunderbolts and are propitiated with great adoration and devotion

Water is the object of great respect and adoration |

waters are the annihilators of Rakshasas or demons.

May the waters be adored for the destruction of Rakshasas.

Water is the object of great respect and adoration

Water is the favourite abode of the gods

May waters be adored as the favourite dwelling places of Gods alone

Waters are propitiated with adoration

Waters are verily the embodiment of all gods

The Gods, propitiated in the form of waters remain in the forefront leading us ever.

Calm and soothing are the waters.. May those waters through their soothing nature provided purity to the worshipper..

may that God Savita purify the worshipper.. may he purify through this sacred, seamless and uninterrupted acchidara may He purify us through the uninterrupted flow of effulgence in the form of the rays of the Sun who is the Vasu

May that great provider of boons Bhaga, the source of all fortune, shower all fortunes on the one who makes offerings. We seek from Bhaga, all sorts of enjoyments.

A Vedic Beneditction to the beloved leader

A Vedic Beneditction to the beloved leader

पर्वत इव विचाचलिः। इन्द्र इवेह ध्रुवस्तिष्ठ। इह राष्ट्रमुधारयऽभितिष्ठ प्रतन्यतः। अधरे सन्तु शत्रवः। इन्द्र इव वृत्रहा तिष्ठ

तैत्तिरीय ब्राह्मणे २-४-२-१ -२०

parvata iva vicācaliḥ| indra iveha dhruvastiṣṭha| iha rāṣṭramudhāraya'bhitiṣṭha pratanyataḥ| adhare santu śatravaḥ| indra iva vṛtrahā tiṣṭha

taittireeya brāhmaṇe 2-4-2-1 -20

(Bhashyam by Sayanaachaarya

पर्वतो यथा चलनरहितस्तथा त्वं निश्चलो भव। इन्द्रो यथा द्युलोके ध्रुवस्तिष्ठति तथा त्वमिह राष्ट्रे ध्रुवस्तिष्ठतिस्तथैव स्थित्वा तदेदद्राष्ट्रमु सर्वमपि धारय पोषय। पृतनामस्मद्विरोधिनीं सेनामात्मनः इच्छन्तिति पृतन्यतस्तान्वैरिणोऽभितिष्टाभिक्रम्य निगृह्य स्थिरो भव। ते च शत्रवस्त्वत्तोऽधरे नीचाः सन्तु। इन्द्रवद्वृत्रहा शत्रुघाति तिष्ठ॥

parvato yathā calanarahitasthathā tvaṁ niścalo bhava| indro yathā dyuloke dhruvastiṣṭhati tathā tvamiha rāṣṭre dhruvastiṣṭhatistathaiva sthitvā tadedadrāṣṭramu sarvamapi dhāraya poṣaya| pṛtanāmasmdvirodhnīṁ senāmātmanaḥ icchantiti pṛtanyatastānvairiṇo'bhitiṣṭābhikramya nigṛhya sthiro bhava| te ca śatravastvatto'dhare nīcāḥ santu| indravadvṛtrahā śatrughāti tiṣṭha||)

This is the benediction to the beloved leader of the Nation..

Found in Rigvedam and in Yajurvedam too

This is chanted during the coronation of the King

Be as firm, mobile and solid as a mountain

Just like Indra the leader of Gods standing firm in the holy realms of heaven, like the immovable Pole star Dhruva.. you too remain firm and solid in this country .

Sitting firm you rule the entire nation.

May you have complete victory by defeating and annihilating all the forces of our enemies who ever remain intent on causing damage to us..

may you stand firm, stable and determined after gaining such victory..,

May your enemies be ever forced to remain under you, in subjugation to you.

May you ever be the annihilator of and the victor over your enemies just like Indra who defeated the asura, Vritra and emerged as victorious for ever..

May there be righteousness and may there be victory..

vedic riks or mantras while offering tarpanams to our ancestors...

Regarding the Vedic mantras used while offering Tarpanam or water oblations, I had posted some handwritten scanned pages..
The Vedic mantras below are
The mantram offered while spreading the Darbha for seating the invoked pithrus.
The mantrams of Veda.. which we chant while offering tarpanams to the Father, Paterna Grandfather and the Paternal Great Grandfather.. ( three for each)

The Tarpanams to mother, paternal grandmother and paternal grandmother are offered without these mantras.

The tarpanams to maternal granfather can be offered chanting the mantras used for father, to maternal great grandfather chanting the same mantras as to paternal grandfather, and to maternal great great grandfather chanting the mantras as to the paternal great grandfather.
The tarpanams to the grandmothers in the maternal side are offered without these riks.

1.सकृदाच्छिन्नं बर्हिरूर्णा मृदु स्योन पितृभ्यस्त्वा भराम्यहम्।
अस्मिन्थ्सीदन्तु मे पितरः पितामहाश्चानुचरैः सह॥
sakṛdācchinnaṁ barhirūrṇā mṛdu syona pitṛbhyastvā bharāmyaham|
asminthsīdantu me pitaraḥ pitāmahāścānucaraiḥ saha||

You the Dharbha Grasses, you were collected by me once with great devotion.. You are soft like feathers . I am spreading you on the ground for the sake of my Pitrs. May my father, my grandfather and great grandfather be present here along with those who keep them company, may they take their comfortable seats on you the spread Darbhas.

2 उदीरतां अवर उत्परास उन्मध्यामाः पितरस्सोम्यासः।
असुं य ईयु-रवृका ऋतज्ञास्ते नोऽवन्तु पितरो हवेषु॥
---गोत्रान् वसुरूपान् पितॄन् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि॥
udīratāṁ avara utparāsa unmadhyāmāḥ pitarassomyāsaḥ|
asuṁ ya īyu-ravṛkā ṛtajñāste no'vantu pitaro haveṣu||
---gotrān vasurūpān pitṝn svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi||

May the pitrus of even medium or lesser importance rise to the status of pitrus who have conducted Somayagam during their lifetime. May they abandon any anger towards us . May they take notice of our sincere and righteous offerings , and when we are addressing them, may they protect us.
I offer my tarpanam (water oblation) to my father of -- gothram, who has attained Vasu status. I offer this fondly remembering him and offering my humble pranams to his in the name of Svadhaa.

3.अङ्गिरसो न पितरो न वग्वा अथर्वाणो भृगवः सोम्यासः।
तेषां वय  सुमतौ यज्ञियानामपि भद्रे सौमनसे स्याम॥
---गोत्रान् वसुरूपान् पितॄन् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि॥
aṅgiraso na pitaro na vagvā atharvāṇo bhṛgavaḥ somyāsaḥ|
teṣāṁ vaya  sumatau yajñiyānāmapi bhadre saumanase syāma||
---gotrān vasurūpān pitṝn svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi||

Our pitrus who are named Angirasas, Atharvanas and Bhrigus are blessing us in many ways and are ever finding new ways to shower their benevolence on us.. They have all performed Somayagam. May we go ahead in life with pure and sublime minds following the glorious path in which such pitrus moved during their lifetime.
I offer my tarpanam (water oblation) to my father of -- gothram, who has attained Vasu status. I offer this fondly remembering him and offering my humble pranams to his in the name of Svadhaa.
4.आयान्तु नः पितरः सौम्यासः अग्निष्वाता पथिभिर्देवयानैः।
अस्मिन् यज्ञे स्वधया मदन्यधिब्रुवनु ते अवन्त्यस्मान्॥
---गोत्रान् वसुरूपान् पितॄन् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि॥
āyāntu naḥ pitaraḥ saumyāsaḥ agniṣvātā pathibhirdevayānaiḥ|
asmin yajñe svadhayā madanyadhibruvanu te avantyasmān||
---gotrān vasurūpān pitṝn svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi||

Our Pithrus who are agnishvattas (those who have performed Agnishtoma Sacrifice during their lifetime) may travel to this place in the Devayana path ( such pitrus are in the higher heavens and they come to earth travelling the Devyana or Divin path.) May they be pleased by the offerings made by us, and may they protect us.
I offer my tarpanam (water oblation) to my father of -- gothram, who has attained Vasu status. I offer this fondly remembering him and offering my humble pranams to his in the name of Svadhaa.

5.ऊर्जं वहन्ती अमृतं घृतं पयः कीलालं
परिसृत स्वधास्थ तर्पयत मे पितॄन्॥
---गोत्रान् रुद्ररूपान् पितामहान् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि॥
ūrjaṁ vahantī amṛtaṁ ghṛtaṁ payaḥ kīlālaṁ
parisṛta svadhāstha tarpayata me pitṝn||
---gotrān rudrarūpān pitāmahān svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi||

Oh waters, you contain the essence of the energy in everything. Therefore when I offfer you, the waters, to our pitrus invoking Svadhaa, may you transform yourselves into Amrutham or nectar, ghee, milk and honey or a blood or other drinks, and satisfy our pitrus.
I offer my tarpanam (water oblation) to my paternal grandfather of -- gothram, who has attained Rudra status. I offer this fondly remembering him and offering my humble pranams to his in the name of Svadhaa.

6.पितृभ्यः स्वधाविभ्यः स्वधा नमः।
पितामहेभ्यः स्वधाविभ्यः स्वधा नमः।
प्रपितामहेभ्यः स्वधाविभ्यः स्वधा नमः।
---गोत्रान् रुद्ररूपान् पितामहान् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि॥
pitṛbhyaḥ svadhāvibhyaḥ svadhā namaḥ|
pitāmahebhyaḥ svadhāvibhyaḥ svadhā namaḥ|
prapitāmahebhyaḥ svadhāvibhyaḥ svadhā namaḥ|
---gotrān rudrarūpān pitāmahān svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi||

I offer my pranams to my father who will be pleased when such pranam is offered chanting Swadhaa ( Swadhaa the Female Deity, the consort of the god Aryama the controller of the world of Pitrus..)
I offer my pranams to my paternal grandfather who will be pleased when such pranam is offered chanting Swadhaa
I offer my pranams to my paternla great grand father who will be pleased when such pranam is offered chanting Swadhaa
I offer my tarpanam (water oblation) to my paternal grandfather of -- gothram, who has attained Rudra status. I offer this fondly remembering him and offering my humble pranams to his in the name of Svadhaa.

7.ये चेह पितरो ये न चेहं या  श्च विद्मय  ऊ च न प्रविद्म।
अग्ने तान् वेत्थ यदि ते जातवेद-स्तया प्रत ग्म् स्वधया मदन्ति।
---गोत्रान् रुद्ररूपान् पितामहान् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि॥
ye ceha pitaro ye na cehaṁ yā  śca vidmaya  ū ca na pravidma|
agne tān vettha yadi te jātaveda-stayā prata gm svadhayā madanti|
---gotrān rudrarūpān pitāmahān svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi||

Oh Agni, the Jathaveda, who know everything, you can recognize all the pitrus who are present in this world(here), who are not present in this world(here), whom we the mortals can know and whom we cannot know . May you take the offerings from us and deliver them to all of them after duly identifying them.
I offer my tarpanam (water oblation) to my paternal grandfather of -- gothram, who has attained Rudra status. I offer this fondly remembering him and offering my humble pranams to his in the name of Svadhaa.

8.मधु वाता ऋतायते। मधु क्षरन्ति सिन्धवः माध्वीर्न सन्त्वोषधी।
---- ---गोत्रान् आदित्यरूपान् प्रपीतामहान् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि॥
madhu vātā ṛtāyate| madhu kṣaranti sindhavaḥ mādhvīrna santvoṣadhī|
---- ---gotrān ādityarūpān prapītāmahān svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi||
May the soft breeze be sweet,May the rivers flow sweetly, May the herbs and plants give us sweetness.

I offer my Tarpanam ( water oblations) to my paternal great granfather of... gotra who has attained Aditya Status.. fondly remembering him and offering pranams in the name of Svadhaa.

9.मधु नक्तमुतोषसि। मधुमत् पार्थिवं रजः। मदु ध्यौरस्तु नः पिता॥
---- ---गोत्रान् आदित्यरूपान् प्रपीतामहान् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि॥
madhu naktamutoṣasi| madhumat pārthivaṁ rajaḥ| madu dhyaurastu naḥ pitā||
---- ---gotrān ādityarūpān prapītāmahān svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi||

May the nights and days be sweet.
May the dust rising from the surface of the earth be sweet.
May the sky which is like our father be sweet to us.
I offer my Tarpanam ( water oblations) to my paternal great granfather of... gotra who has attained Aditya Status.. fondly remembering him and offering pranams in the name of Svadhaa.

10. मधुमान्नो वनस्पतिः। मधुमा  अस्तु सूर्यः। माध्वीर्गावो भवनुत् नः॥
---- ---गोत्रान् आदित्यरूपान् प्रपीतामहान् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि॥
madhumānno vanaspatiḥ| madhumā  astu sūryaḥ| mādhvīrgāvo bhavanut naḥ||
---- ---gotrān ādityarūpān prapītāmahān svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi||
May the trees of the forest be sweet.
May the Sun be sweet
May the cows be sweet
I offer my Tarpanam ( water oblations) to my paternal great granfather of... gotra who has attained Aditya Status.. fondly remembering him and offering pranams in the name of Svadhaa.

Prayer to Agni for removal of Sins...

Prayer to Agni for removal of Sins...

-------------------------------------------

अग्नेर्मन्वे प्रथमस्य प्रचेतसः यं पाञ्चजन्यम् बहवस्समिन्धते।

विश्वस्यां दिवि विविशिवांसमीमहे स नो मुन्चत्वग्ंहसः॥

तैत्तिरीयप्रपाठके ॥ अपि च अथर्ववेदे

agnermanve prathamasya pracetasaḥ yaṁ pāñcajanyam bahavassamindhate|

viśvasyāṁ divi viviśivāṁsamīmahe sa no muncatvagṁhasaḥ||

taittirīyaprapāṭaka|| api ca atharvavede

Oh Agni, who is kindled to supreme vigour

( by offerings of twigs and ghee etc.,)

you the great one of Supreme vitality,

you, whom we praise as Paanchajanya,

Oh Agni who is spread all over this universe,

we make this prayer to you. with humble prostrations

.

May you be pleased to annihilate our sins and relieve us of all that is not good..

We see the word Panchajanya in this mantram.. and the holy Conch which we use in pooja comes to our mind.. So we chant this mantram when offering pooja to the Shankham.. relating the word Panchajanya to the Shankham.. as Lord Narayana holds in his hand a conch by name Panchajanya..

Panchajanya is the shell of a demon by that name whom Krishna defeated in the famous Santhanagopalam episode..

In Bagavat Gita first chapter we find Krishna blowing the conch Panchajanyam..

Paanchajanyam Hrisheekesho....

But the real mening of Panchajanya is Agni or the Lord of Fire.

He is called Panchajanya because he manifest in five forms.. In devayajna, pitru yajna, bhutayajna, manushyayajna and brahmayajna..

He is manifest in Panchabhoothas, Panchavarnas and so on..

This is a mantram in daily use..

Found in Krishna Yajurveda Taittireeya school.. and also in Atharvaveda in a slightly altered form..

इषे त्वा ऊर्जेत्वा ishe twaa oorje twaa...

A glorious life....

The dawn is just arriving.. 

The big red Orb of the most respected God of energy and hope, the Sun is just showing up.

Our forefather four to five thousand years ago had just woken up and started his daily routines.. 

He wants to offer respects to fire and kindle the fire for daily use.. 

He looks at the Palasa tree with dry twigs.. While collecting the twigs he is just telling them.. 

" I am collecting you for our material welfare.. to have large heaps of grain, and other things to sustain life.. 

I am collecting you to kindle the fire which would provide us energy.

Lovely cows, and calves, you get separated from one another so that the cows can go into open grounds and eat lush green grass

.. You get united again in our household when the calves drink your mother's milk to your hearts content..

May the great God Savita (the Sun) provide you with all you want because we cannot get own with our great endeavours in life unless you are doing and are providing your nectar for our purposes..

The first stanza of Yajurveda Samhita starts Like this.. 

इषे त्वा ऊर्जेत्वा वायवस्थ उपायवस्थ देवो वः सविता प्रार्पयतु श्रेष्ठतमाय कर्मणे॥

यजुर्वेदसंहिता॥

iṣe tvā ūrjetvā vāyavastha upāyavastha devo vaḥ savitā prārpayatu śreṣṭhatamāya karmaṇe||

yajurvedasaṁhitā||

इषे त्वा ऊर्जेत्वा for our food and for our energy ( it is implied that the prayer is addressed to the Palasa twigs, which the seeker collects for fire oblations)

वायव स्थ उपायव स्थ go to open places (vaayava ) and join back in the closed place ( in the household of the yajamana).. it is implied that the request is addressed to the cows and their calves.. the cows which are stationed in the backyards, have to go for grazing in the open air in the morning to come back in the evening.. the calves get separated from the mothers, to join them in the evening when they can have their hearts fill of mothers mill

श्रेष्ठतमाय कर्मणे for the great work and thorough procedure of various rites, (the products from the cow are a must )

देवो सविता the great Sun.. Savita 

वःप्रर्पयतु may He be pleased to make you capable of providing us with all our requirements..

I am sure everyone would have chanted this starting mantram of Yajurvedam ( both Krishna and Shukla)..

If we read the chant without keeping in mind the background, we would not be able to make head or tail of the mantra..

But great commentators have described the import very elegantly.. ( See commentaries of Sayana, Bhattabhaskara etc)

How simple life was then..

Just go around and collect twigs for fire offerings.. But when you collect the twigs you have to explain your purpose with great reverence to the mother tree.

The twigs when offered ceremonially on fire, bestow on us plentitude in essentials of life and at the same time provide us with energy..

The cows are sent to open pastors for grazing so that they would eat grass and provide us with milk and other products.. 

The calves cannot accompany the cows, because if the mother and the child are together, the latter would drink all the milk.. 

So the calf is restrained.. 

But then the man of Vedic times was not selfish..

He tells the mother and the calf that they can join together in his place where the calf will have sufficient milk to drink..

And the entire activity of that man in under the fond hope that he eternal Sun will brighten the lives of all around.. 

What a blissful prayer!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Palasha.. the twigs are necessary for kindling ceremonial fire.. It is also called Chamata in kerala 

The botanical name of the tree with red flowers is Butea monosperma

the glory of Shatarudriyam

the glory of Shatarudriyam 

( Chapter 5 of Yajurvedam) 

also popularly known as 

Srirudram or Rudraprashnam..

in Praise of Lord Rudra or Shankara the Maheshwara

सुरापः स्वर्णहारी च रुद्रजापी जले स्थितः।

सहस्रशीर्षजापी च मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः॥

surāpaḥ svarṇahārī ca rudrajāpī jale sthitaḥ|

sahasraśīrṣajāpī ca mucyate sarvakilbiṣaiḥ||

Even a person who is a drunkard habitually or a person who has committed the grave sin of stealing Gold, would get relieved of all sins if he chants Srirudram or Sahasra Shirashaa ( purusha sooktham) standing in water.

Consuming hooch and stealing gold are treated as two of the five gravest sins in our dharmasaastraas.. 

കടുത്ത മദ്യപാനിയായാലും, സ്വര്ണ്ണം കവര്ച്ച ചെയ്യുക എന്ന മഹാപാതകം 

ചെയ്തവനായാലും ജലാശയത്തില്‍ നിന്നുകൊണ്ട് ശ്രീ രുദ്രവും പുരുഷസൂക്തവും ജപിച്ചാല്‍ അയാള്‍ എല്ലാ പാപങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്നും മുക്തി നേടുന്നു.

(മദ്യപാനവും, സ്വര്ണ്ണ സ്തേയവും പഞ്ചമഹാപാതകങ്ങളില്‍ ഉള്പ്പെട്ടവയാണ് എന്ന് ധര്മ്മാശാസ്ത്രം പറയുന്നു.)

किं जपेन अमृतत्वमश्नुते ?

शतरुद्रीयेण

एतानि ह वा अमृतस्य नामधेयानि भवन्ति एतैर्हवा अमृतो भवति।

यः शतरुद्रेयमधीते सोऽग्निपूतो भवति॥

kiṁ japena amṛtatvamaśnute 

śatarudrīyeṇa

etāni ha vā amṛtasya nāmadheyāni bhavanti etairhavā amṛto bhavati|

yaḥ śatarudreeyamadhīte so'gnipūto bhavati||

The disciple asks Sage Yaajnavalkya..

"By chanting which mantra can one attain immortality?"

Yajnavalkya replies.. By chanting Shatarudreeyam

The names (of Rudra) found in Shatarudriya or Sri Rudram are verily the Ambrosia or Amritam itself .. Through these names the devotee attains eternity, immortality.. amritattwam.

One who learns Shatarudriyam..Sri Rudram shines as if he is purified by fire 

(Jabalopanishad)

ശിഷ്യന്‍ യാജ്ഞവല്ക്യuനോട് ചോദിച്ചു ഏതു ജപിച്ചാല്‍ അമൃതത്വം നേടാം ?

യാജ്ഞവല്ക്യന്‍ പറഞ്ഞു “ശതരുദ്രീയം ജപിക്കണം.”

ശതരുദ്രീയത്ത്തിലുള്ള ഭഗവാന്റെ നാമങ്ങള്‍ അമൃതസ്യന്ദികളാണ്. 

അവ ഉരുവിടുന്നവന്‍ അമരനായിത്തീരുന്നു.

ശതരുദ്രീയം അധ്യയനം ചെയ്തവന്‍ അഗ്നിയാല്‍ പരിശുദ്ധനായവനെപ്പോലെ ശോഭിക്കുന്നു..

(ജാബാലോപനിഷത്)

सततं रुद्रजाप्योऽसौ परां मुक्तिमवाप्स्यसि॥

satataṁ rudrajāpyo'sau parāṁ muktimavāpsyasi||

One who chants Srirudram regularly would attain the ultimate Moksham or liberation.

തുടര്ച്ചയായി രുദ്രം ജപിക്കുന്നവന്‍ മുക്തനായിത്തീരുന്നു

in praise of renunciation

in praise of renunciation

न कर्मणा न प्रजया धनेन त्यागेनैके अमृतत्वमानशुः।परेण नाकं निहितं गुहायां बिभ्राजते यद्यतयो विशन्ति॥१४॥

na karmaṇā na prajayā dhanena tyāgenaike amṛitatvamānaśuḥ |pareṇa nākaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyāṁ bibhrājate yadyatayo viśanti ||14||

वेदान्तविज्ञानविनिश्चितार्थाः सन्न्यासयोगाद्यतयः शुद्धसत्त्वाः।ते ब्रह्मलोके तु परान्तकाले परमृताःपरिमुच्यन्ति सर्वे॥१५॥

vedāntavijñānaviniścitārthāḥ sannyāsayogādyatayaḥ śuddhasattvāḥ|te brahmaloke tu parāntakāle paramṛtāḥparimucyanti sarve ||15||

दह्रम् विपापं वरवेश्मभूतं यत् पुण्डरीकं पुरमध्यसग्म्स्थम्।तत्रापि दह्रे गगनं विशोकं तस्मिन् यदन्तस्तदुपासितव्यम्॥ १६॥

dahram vipāpaṁ varaveśmabhūtaṁ yat puṇḍarīkaṁ puramadhyasagmstam |tatrāpi dahre gaganaṁ viśokaṁ tasmin yadantastadupāsitavyam || 16||

यो वेदादौ स्वरः प्रोक्तो वेदान्ते च प्रतिष्ठितः।तस्य प्रकृतिलीनस्य यः परः स महेश्वरः॥ १७॥

yo vedādau svaraḥ prokto vedānte ca pratiṣṭhitaḥ |tasya prakṛtilīnasya yaḥ paraḥ sa maheśvaraḥ || 17||


महानारायणोपनिषद् द्वादशोनुवाकः
mahānārāyaṇopaniṣad dvādaśonuvākaḥ


XII-14: Not by work, not by progeny, not by wealth, have they attained Immortality. Great ouls have attained Immortality by renunciation. That which the sannyasin attains is placed far beyond the heaven; yet that shines brilliantly in the (purified) heart of the one who has attained.

XII-15: Having attained the Immortality consisting of identity with the Supreme, all those aspirants who strive for self-control, who have rigorously arrived at the conclusion taught by the Vedanta through direct knowledge, and who have attained purity of mind through the practice of the discipline of yoga and steadfastness in the knowledge of Brahman preceded by renunciation, get themselves released into the region of Brahman at the dissolution of their final body.

XII-16: In the citadel of the body there is the small sinless and pure lotus of the heart which is the residence of the Supreme. Further in the interior of this small area there is the sorrowless Ether. That is to be meditated upon continually.

XII-17: He is the Supreme Lord who transcends the syllable Om which is uttered at the commencement of the recital of the Vedas, which is well established in the Upanishads and which is dissolved in the primal cause during contemplation.

सुब्रह्मण्योँ सुब्रह्मण्योँ सुब्रह्मण्योँ

निघ्रुष्वैरसमायुतैःकालैर्हरित्वमापन्नैः

इन्द्रायाहि सहस्रयुक् अग्निर्विभ्राष्टिवसनः

वायुश्चेकसिकद्रुकः संवत्सरोविषूपर्णैः

नित्यास्तेऽनुचरास्तव

सुब्रह्मण्योँ सुब्रह्मण्योँ सुब्रह्मण्योँ

nighruṣvairasamāyutaiḥ kAlairharitvamāpannaiḥ

indrāyāhi sahasrayuk agnirvibhrāṣṭivasanaḥ

vāyuścekasikadrukaḥ saṁvatsaroviṣūparṇaiḥ

nityāste'nucarāstava

subrahmaṇyo subrahmaṇyo subrahmaṇyom

Indra of thousand eyes, 

may you be present here in all your lustre and with weapons which have no comparison,

along with the deities of time presenting themselves as horses. 

The God of fire with shining clothes of flaming hue 

and the God of Wind, as white as shining chalk, are your eternal companions in your journey.. 

The New Year is also keeping company with you with fresh-green sprouts..

Om Subrahmanya, Om Subramania, Om Subramania

This is from aaruna prasnam in Taittareeya Aranyakam of Krishna Yajurvedam..

Welcoming the Leader of Gods who brings with him the Samvatsara.. or the New year…

MAY THE GODS IN HEAVEN AND THE MEN ON EARTH WELCOME THIS NEW YEAR WITH LOVE AND GLEE

MAY KRISHNA BLESS US ALL IN THE NEW YEAR…

Aghamarshana manthras.

Aghamarshana manthras.

हिरण्यशृङ्गं वरुणम् प्रपद्ये तीर्थं मे देहि याचितः।
यन्मया भुक्तमसाधूनाम् पापेभ्यश्च प्रतिग्रहः॥५५॥
यन्मे मनसा वाचा कर्मणा वा दुष्कृतम् कृतं
तन्न इन्द्रो वरुणो बृहस्पतिः सविता च पुनन्तु पुनः पुनः॥५६॥
नमोऽग्नयेऽप्सुमते नम इन्द्राय नमो वरुणाय नमो वारुण्यै नमोऽद्भ्यः॥५७॥
यदपां क्रूरम् यदमेध्यं यदशान्तं तदपगच्छतां॥५८॥
अत्याशनादतीपानात् यच्च उग्रात् प्रतिग्रहात्।
तन्मे वरुणो राजा पाणिना ह्यवमर्शतु॥५९॥
सोऽहमप्यपापो विरजो निर्मुक्तो मुक्तकिल्बिषः

नाकस्य पृष्टमारुह्य गच्छेत्ब्रह्मसलोकतां॥६०॥
यश्चप्सु वरुणः स पुनात्वघमर्षणः॥६१॥
इमम् मे गङ्गे यमुने सरस्वती शतुद्रि स्तोमग्ँ सचता परुष्णिया
असिक्निया मरुद्दृधे वितस्तयार्जीकीये शृणुह्या सुषोमया॥६२॥
तैत्तरीयारण्यके महानारायणोपनिषत्सु  प्रथमभागः
hiraNyashR^i~NgaM varuNam prapadye tiirthaM me dehi yaachitaH.
yanmayaa bhuktamasaadhuunaam paapebhyashcha pratigrahaH..55..
yanme manasaa vaachaa karmaNaa vaa duSkR^itam kR^itaM
tanna indro varuNo bR^ihaspatiH savitaa ch punantu punaH punaH..56..
namo.agnaye.apsumate nama indraaya namo varuNaaya namo vaaruNyai namo.adbhyaH..57..
yadapaaM kruuram yadamedhyaM yadashaantaM tadapagachchhataaM..58..
atyaashanaadatiipaanaat yachcha ugraat pratigrahaat.
tanme varuNo raajaa paaNinaa hyavamarshatu..59..
so.ahamapyapaapo virajo nirmukto muktakilbiSaH
naakasya pR^iSTamaaruhya gachched brahmasalokataaM..60..
yashchapsu varuNaH sa purtwghamarSanaH..61..
imam me ga~Nge yamune saraswatii shatudri stomag.N sachataa paruSNiyaa>
asikniyaa maruddR^idhe vitastayaarjiikiiye shR^iNuhyaa suSomayaa ..62..
taittariiyaaraNyake mahaanaaraayaNopaniSatsu  prathamabhaagaH

Our ancestors believed that the ultimate relief from sins can be delivered to us only by water.. They praised the various deities presiding over water and its sources and also the great rivers found in India at that time with a request the all their sins should be washed off, 
This is aghamarshana mantram.

"I take refuge in Varuna who is having the golden hue and who adorns a golden diadem.
 O Varuna, having been entreated by me please grant me the tiitham  (saving grace in the shape of holy waters)
 Let the waters purify me of the sin of enjoying the belongings of bad people and acceptance of gifts from sinners.
 May Indra, Varuna, Brihaspati and Savita completely destroy whatever sin my people or I have committed in thought word and action.
 My respectful salutation to the Badvaanala (The fire submerged in water), my salutations to Indra,  my salutations to Varuna, my salutations to Vaaruni, the consort of Varuna, and my salutations to all the deities of waters.
 May,  as a result of my this prayer and the power of this mantra, all that is injurious, impure and troublesome in water be destroyed.
  May the king Varuna efface by his benevolent and strong hand whatever sins I have incurred by unlawful and limitless eating, unlawful drinking and accepting gift from one who is not eligible to grant a gift, or which gift is given to me impelling me to perform an unlawful act.
 Thus being sinless,spotless,unbound from evil and bondage, may I become eligible to ascend the path of heaven and gain equal status with Brahman.
May Varuna the effacer of sins who dwells in all sources of water like ocean, rivers, tanks and wells  purify us.
O Ganga, O Yamuna, O Saraswati, O Sutudri, O Marudhwrudhaa, O Arjikiya, all of you mother rivers, come together to listen to this hymn of mine along with Parushni,  Asikni, Vitasta and Sushoma.."

--

Discussion on Pranava-- omkaram

अकारश्चाप्युकारञ्च मकारञ्च प्रजापतिः

वेदत्र्यान्निरदुहद् भूर्भुवस्वरितीति च

तदित्र्यचोस्यास्सवित्र्याः परमेष्ठी प्रजपतिः

त्रिभ्य एवेतु वेदेभ्यः पादम् पादम्रूदहत् 

akāraścāpyukārañca makārañca prajapatiḥ 

vedatryānniraduhad bhūrbhuvasvaritīti ca 

taditryacosyāssavitryāḥ parameṣṭhī prajapatiḥ 

tribhya evetu vedebhyaḥ pādam pādamrūdahat 

from the three Vedas RK, yajus and Saama, Brahma the prajapati extracted the three letters A, U and Ma. He also extracted the three words BhuuH BhuvaH and SuvaH also from the three Vedas.

And the Savitri Gayatri Manthram.. tatasavithurvarenyam bhargo devasyas dheemahi dhiyo yo nah prachodatyaat is also extracted by the Brahma the paramesti. 

Hence the three things are worshipped togtether, ..the pranavam (OM), the thrivyahriti… bhurbhuva swaH and the savitri(gayatri) .manthra 

The supreme Brahman is not amenable to evaluation or description.

The pranavam which has come as the primordial sound from Brahma also has the same quality. Hence, an attempt to find meaning from the Omkara would take us nowhere.

However we can think in terms of speculating the meaning of the three words A, U and M constituting the pranavam.. even though such exmplanation is very incomplete. 

यो वेदादौ स्वरः प्रोक्तः वेदान्ते च प्रतिष्ठितः 

तस्य प्रक्रितिलीनस्य यः परः स महेश्वरः 

yo vedādau svaraḥ proktaḥ vedānte ca pratiṣṭhitaḥ 

tasya prakritilīnasya yaḥ paraḥ sa maheśvaraḥ

which is the word appearing at the beginning of the Veda, 

the word which is well established in vedantha, ( or found in the end of the Vedas) 

and 

in whose basic nature the presences of Maheshwara the Shiva is manifesting, that word is A  

(cf.. agnimeele purohitam.. start of rgvedam) 

There for the A in pranavam represent Lords Shiva. 

There is another view. 

अमुं कङ्काळ वपुषम् जटिलं जलजासनं 

नमामि नौमि ध्यायामि समं सोमं सभारतिं 

amuṁ kaṅkāla vapuṣam jaṭilaṁ jalajāsanaṁ 

namāmi naumi dhyāyāmi samaṁ somaṁ sabhā 

कालवपुषं समं नमामि 

जटिलं सोमं नौमि 

अमुं कं जलजासनं सभारतिं 

we worship with equal reverence 

kam (brahma who sits on a lotus and the husband of vagadevata)

kaalavapushum.. ( the Vishnu of the hue of dark clouds and the husband of maa lakshmi) 

and

jatila ( the matted haired one Shiva and the consort of uma.. the Parvathi)

with the words for namaskaram are

namaami A,

naumi… U 

and dhaayaami… Mi, 

here the A is given to Vishnu, U is given to Shiva and M is given to Brahma. 

Hence Omkaram is the combination of the three supreme Gods Brahama Vishnu and Shiva. Further discussion on Pranavam will follow. 

intellect is Her bounty

मेधा म इन्द्रो ददातु मेधां देवी सरस्वतीः
मेधां मे अश्विनावुभावाधत्तां पुष्करस्रजौ॥१॥
अप्सरासु च या मेधा गन्धर्वेषु च यन्मनः
देवी मेधा सरस्वती स मां मेधा सुरभिर्जुषताग्ँ स्वाहा॥२॥
महानारयणोपनिषद्॥ ४२॥
आ मां मेधा सुरभिर्विश्वरूपा हिरण्यवर्णा जगती जगम्या।
ऊर्जस्वती पयसा पिन्वमाना स मां मेधा सुप्रतीका जुषताम्॥१॥
महानारयणोपनिषद्॥ ४३॥
medhā ma indro dadātu medhāṁ devī sarasvatīḥ
medhāṁ me aśvināvubhāvādhattāṁ puṣkarasrajau||1||
apsarāsu ca yā medhā gandharveṣu ca yanmanaḥ
devī medhā sarasvatī sa māṁ medhā surabhirjuṣatāg svāhā||2||
mahānārayaṇopaniṣad|| 42||
ā māṁ medhā surabhirviśvarūpā hiraṇyavarṇā jagatī jagamyā|
ūrjasvatī payasā pinvamānā sa māṁ medhā supratīkā juṣatām||1||
mahānārayaṇopaniṣad|| 43||

This is a prayer found in Mahanarayanopanisat, Taittariiyaaranyakam and partilally in a slightly modified form in Rgvedakhila.  This is also chanted as part of Medhaasooktham, prayer to the Universal Mother  for kindling our intellect.

"May the leader of Gods Indra bestow on me the greatest Intellect.  May the Goddess Saraswathi grant us intellect. May the divine twin master physicians Ashwins wearing beautiful garlands, enhance our intellect.
I hail the sacred divinities.May the intellect that is present in the dancers of heaven the Apsaraas,  visit me.  May the intellect that is present as discretion and stability of mind in the divine singers called  gandharvaas, visit me. May the Goddess Saraswathi  who is fragrant and pure, be with me in the form of the sacred scriptures,

May that goddess of muses Saraswathi come me with Her most pleasant demeanour and bless me with success,.  That Goddess of intelligence pervades the entire universe like fragrance. She is the one who is possessing the  letters(sripts) resplendent in golden colours, Her vision covers the entire realm of knowledge.,She is   the  dispenser of all that a man can desire...dharma, artha, kama and moksha and  she is waited upon always by the seekers. She is the origin of all positive energy.  She nourishes me with all elixirs like milk. and makes my life eminently pleasant  for me with  wealth and prosperity. "

All that is great in our lives  ultimately comes to us through  Divine favour alone . The greatest faculty that contributes to our  wholesome existence is  our intellect which is kindled in us by the mother of Muses  Devi Saraswathi, who is also addressed as Devi Medhaa or intellect personified. The faculty of fine arts are manifested in the Apsaras and gandharvas and in the divine manifestation of intelligence in  golden scripts (through which we communicate).  That beloved mother's blessings are sought throught these vedic mantras
We are praising the mother only with the faculty of intellect that is bestowed upon us  by Her through her most benign will.  Without her motherly nourishment neither our individual intellect or the collective intellect of the universe can function. 
Let us pray  the most benign mother to  be with all of us for ever.
--
।श्रीकृष्णो रक्षतु।
|śrīkṛṣṇo rakṣatu|
Have a nice and happy day
with profound respect and warm regards
K V Ananthanarayanan
(kanfusion)
blog   http://kanfusion.blogspot.com/
त्यजन्तु बान्धवाः सर्वे निन्दन्तु गुरवो जनाःI
तदापि परमानन्दो गोविन्दो मम जीवनंII
let all my relatives abandon me, let the great people insult me, still I am in supreme bliss since my life  is GOVINDA alone.
Iकृष्णात् परं किमपि तत्वं अहं न जाने"I
लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु।
lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu|

prayer for knowledge

prayer for knowledge

ॐ यश्च्छन्दसामृषभो विश्वरूपाः।
छन्दोभ्योऽद्यमृतात् संबभूव।
समेन्द्रो मेधया स्पृणोतु।
अमृतस्य देवधारणो भूयासं।
शरीरं मे विचर्षणं।
जिह्वा मे मधुमत्तमा।
कर्णाभ्यां भूरिविश्रुवं।
ब्रह्मणः कोशोऽसि मेधया पिहितः।
श्रुतं मे गोपाय।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः।
तैत्तरीय आरण्यकं  ७-४
om yaścchandasāmṛṣabho viśvarūpāḥ|
chandobhyo'dyamṛtāt saṁbabhūva|
samendro medayā spṛṇotu|
amṛtasya devadhāraṇo bhūyāsaṁ|
śarīraṁ me vicarṣaṇaṁ|
jihvā me madhumattamā|
karṇābhyāṁ bhūriviśruvaṁ|
brahmaṇaḥ kośo'si medhayā pihitaḥ|
śrutaṁ me gopāya|
om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ|
taittarīya āraṇyakaṁ  7-4
"That Pranava ( Omkara) (1) which  is verily called as Indra,(2) which is the most revered among metres (chandas), (3)  which spreads the entire universe in the form of sound (Naada brahman), (4) which is foremost in importance above all  other vedic metres,  may enlighten me with the power of  intellect to fully understand all the vedas and related scriptures. Oh Divinity in the form of pranava, please kindle my faculties for  grasping the vedas which are immortal. Render my body capable of acquiring such splendid knowledge. May my tongue be the source of the sweetest of the sweet words from  the scriptures . May my two ears be blessed with the opportunity  and capability of hearing and understanding the sublime meaning of various scriptures. You are the source of the eternal Brahman. You have spread yourself all over the universe through the supreme intellect. Oh pranava, who is Brahman itself, may you protect me who has learned the scriptures from the mouth of my guru( preceptor) through my ears blessed by you.  Om Peace, peace, peace

This is a prayer to the Pranava, the source of supreme intellect (though addressed  in this mantra as Indra also, we have to consider this prayer as addressed only to the supreme brahman.   There are various metres used  in rendering vedas  but the pranavam is in the metre Gayatri and it is supreme.  It is the supreme sound which  became the cause for everything in the universe. 
The mantra is a prayer by the student that he may be blessed with the physical and intellectual faculties to enable him to learn and understand the sublime vedas  and  in general all great knowledge.  For a student, healthy body, sweetness in words and speech, and  unimpaired capacity to hear and grasp the meaning of what he hears are essential. 
The holy word is here described as the treasure-house  from which the entire universe and its knowledge sprang up.
The tradition that the knowledge should spring from the mouth of the Guru and should be grasped through the attentive  hearing of the disciple is highlighted in this prayer.

This mantra is chanted as the first part of Medhaa Sooktham by the initiates,   and it is considered to be a potent  vedic  prayer which should be chanted by all seekers and also by students who are in pursuit of any knowledge.

--

kaamokaarshiid manyurakaarshiid namo namah

कामोऽकार्षीन्नमो नमः।  कामोऽकार्षीत्काम करोति नाहं करोमि कामः कर्ता नाहं कर्ता कामः कारयिता नाहं कारयिता एष ते काम कामाय स्वाहाः।
मन्युरकार्षीन्नमो नमः। मन्युरकार्षीन्मन्युः करोति नाहम् करोमि मन्युः कर्तानाहं कर्ता मन्युः कारयिता नाहं कारयिता एष ते मन्यो मन्यवे स्वाहाः।
महानरायणोपनिषत्         ६१         ६२
kāmo'kārṣīnnamo namaḥ|  kāmo'kārṣītkāma karoti nāhaṁ karomi kāmaḥ kartā nāhaṁ kartā kāmaḥ kārayitā nāhaṁ kārayitā eṣa te kāma kāmāya svāhāḥ|
manyurakārṣīnnamo namaḥ | manyurakārṣīnmanyuḥ karoti nāham karomi manyuḥ kartā
nāhaṁ kartā manyuḥ kārayitā nāhaṁ kārayitā eṣa te manyo manyave svāhāḥ|
mahānarāyaṇopaniṣat         61         62
  Salutations to the gods. Desire performed the act. Desire did the act. Desire is doing the act, not I. O Desire, fascinating in form, let this oblations be offered to thee, Hail
  Salutations to the gods. Anger performed the act. Desire did the act. Anger is doing the act, not I. O anger, let this oblation be offered to thee.
These mantras as from Taittariya Aranyaka of Krishna Yajurveda.  The latter is found in rgveda also.  Brahmins belonging to the Krishna yajurveda school, chant a shortened form of this manthra every day once during  the oblations to  Sandhya three times a day.  On the upakarma day, this year it falls on today, this manthra  in shortened form is repeated 1008 times as expiation by way of confession that many of our acts are instigated by desire and anger over which we have little control most of the time, and, therefore we are trying to propitiate them so that they will get out of our way.