Aparna, Uma,Parvati

 

पार्वतीमौषधीमेकामपर्णां मृगयामहे।

शूली हालाहलं पीत्वा यया मृत्युञ्जयोऽभवत्॥

pārvatīmauṣadhīmekāmaparṇāṁ mṛgayāmahe|

śūlī hālāhalaṁ pītvā yayā mṛtyuñjayo'bhavat||||

We have been searching the entire mountain range for a medicinal herb which has no leaves.. the herb that would relieve a person suffering from fatal pain in the stomach and save him from death.

Yes, we have found Parvathi, the Aparna. The Lord Shankara who wields a trident had faced instant death after drinking halahala the poison, but was saved from death by that beautiful damsel.

Here Shiva is called Shoolee the one who wields the trident. Shoolee also means the one who is afflicted with fatal pain in the stomach

Parvathi.. means the one who is born to the mountain.. The daughter of Himavan the mountain is also called aptly by that name

Aparna.. means a plant without leaves. Uma the Parvathi was called Aparna because she did penance to woo Lord Shiva .. and during the penance she refused to take even a leaf a day as food..

Mrityunjaya.. The person who was relieved of death.. the patient Lord Shiva who destroyed even the God of death Yama is famously called Mrityunjaya

Uma is indeed Parvathi Aparna.. just like a leafless herb born in the mountain relieving a patient of pain in the stomach, Uma the Aparna prevented sure destruction to Lord Shiva by holding on to his neck tight when he drank the poison Halahalam during the churning of the Milky ocean

So mother Uma is the medicine Aparna who relieves us of sure destruction, no doubt..

 

 

 

accept realities if you are genuinely wise

 

अनागतं यन्न ममेति विद्यादतिक्रान्तं यन्न ममेति विद्यात्।

दिष्टं बलीय इति मन्यमानास्ते पण्डितास्तत्सदां स्थानमाहुः॥

महाभारते शान्तिपर्वे १०४-२२

anāgataṁ yanna mameti vidyādatikrāntaṁ yanna mameti vidyāt|

diṣṭaṁ balīya iti manyamānāste paṇḍitāstatsadāṁ sthānamāhuḥ||

mahābhārate śāntiparve 104-22

If one is realistic enough to accept that what has not happened, what has not been attained is not his

If one is sufficiently matter of fact in his realization that whatever that has happened is not in his control

and

If he realized that the facts and circumstances and serenditpity as it is obtaining in the immediate present is the decisive and powerful motive force in life

Then he is the really learned person

And he would definitely occupy a very respectable place in the array of good and sensible persons.

From Mahabharatham.

The power of penance is impossible to defeat.

यदुष्करं यद्दुरापं यद्दुर्ग यच्च दुस्तरम् । 

तत्सर्वं तपसा प्राप्यं तपो हि दुरतिक्रमम् ॥'

 yaduṣkaraṃ yaddurāpaṃ yaddurga yacca dustaram । 

tatsarvaṃ tapasā prāpyaṃ tapo hi duratikramam ॥'

Parvathi the daughter of Himavan wants to woo the Lord Shankara as her life partner. After the Daksha episode and the self immolation of Sati, the Lord has become introvert and completely averse to worldly life and even the machinations of the Lord of Love Kamadeva could not make any dents into the steely determination towards celibacy on the part of the Supreme Lord.

It is in this backdrop that Parvathi is making her plans to gain a place in the heart of the Lord.

This situation is described in canto 5 of Kumarasambhavam of Kalidasa.

Penance, hard, dedicated, concerted penance alone would ensure for her success in her Mission. Here the quote from Manusmriti 11-238 is given by the commentator.

Whatever task that is impossible to perform, whatever destination that is impossible to reach, whatever place which is difficult to enter and pass through, whatever hurdle that is difficult to overcome, all that can be tackled by deep penance. The power of penance is impossible to defeat.

यद् दुष्करं अस्ति what is extremely difficult to do यद् दुरापं अस्ति what destination is difficult to attain यद् दुर्गं अस्ति which place is difficult to reach or negotiate यद् दुस्तरं अस्ति which hurdle is difficult to overcome तत् सर्वं all that तपसा साध्यं भवति can be tackled by penance तपः दुरतिक्रममं हि the power of penance is impossible to defeat.

sree saraswati stuthi

 .

. श्रीसरस्वती स्तुति..

या कुन्देन्दु- तुषारहार- धवला या शुभ्र- वस्त्रावृता

या वीणावरदण्डमन्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना ॥

या ब्रह्माच्युत- शंकर- प्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा पूजिता

सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥॥ १॥॥

दोर्भिर्युक्ता चतुर्भिः स्फटिकमणिमयीमक्षमालां दधाना

हस्तेनैकेन पद्मं सितमपि च शुकं पुस्तकं चापरेण ॥

भासा कुन्देन्दु- शंखस्फटिकमणिनिभा भासमानाऽसमाना

सा मे वाग्देवतेयं निवसतु वदने सर्वदा सुप्रसन्ना ॥॥ २॥॥

आशासु राशी भवदंगवल्लि

भासैव दासीकृत- दुग्ध सिन्धुम् ॥

मन्दस्मितैर्निन्दित- शारदेन्दुं

वन्देऽरविन्दासन- सुन्दरि त्वाम् ॥॥ ३॥॥

शारदा शारदाम्बोजवदना वदनाम्बुजे ॥

सर्वदा सर्वदास्माकं सन्निधिं सन्निधिं क्रियात् ॥॥ ४॥॥

सरस्वतीं च तां नौमि वागधिष्ठातृ- देवताम् ॥

देवत्वं प्रतिपद्यन्ते यदनुग्रहतो जनाः ॥॥ ५॥॥

पातु नो निकषग्रावा मतिहेम्नः सरस्वती ॥

प्राज्ञेतरपरिच्छेदं वचसैव करोति या ॥॥ ६॥॥

शुद्धां ब्रह्मविचारसारपरमा- माद्यां जगद्व्यापिनीं

वीणापुस्तकधारिणीमभयदां जाड्यान्धकारापहाम् ॥

हस्ते स्पाटिकमालिकां विदधतीं पद्मासने संस्थितां

वन्दे तां परमेश्वरीं भगवतीं बुद्धिप्रदां शारदाम् ॥॥ ७॥॥

वीणाधरे विपुलमंगलदानशीले

भक्तार्तिनाशिनि विरिंचिहरीशवन्द्ये ॥

कीर्तिप्रदेऽखिलमनोरथदे महार्हे

विद्याप्रदायिनि सरस्वति नौमि नित्यम् ॥॥ ८॥॥

श्वेताब्जपूर्ण- विमलासन- संस्थिते हे

श्वेताम्बरावृतमनोहरमंजुगात्रे ॥

उद्यन्मनोज्ञ- सितपंकजमंजुलास्ये

विद्याप्रदायिनि सरस्वति नौमि नित्यम् ॥॥ ९॥॥

मातस्त्वदीय- पदपंकज- भक्तियुक्ता

ये त्वां भजन्ति निखिलानपरान्विहाय ॥

ते निर्जरत्वमिह यान्ति कलेवरेण

भूवह्नि- वायु- गगनाम्बु- विनिर्मितेन ॥॥ १०॥॥

मोहान्धकार- भरिते हृदये मदीये

मातः सदैव कुरु वासमुदारभावे ॥

स्वीयाखिलावयव- निर्मलसुप्रभाभिः

शीघ्रं विनाशय मनोगतमन्धकारम् ॥॥ ११॥॥

ब्रह्मा जगत् सृजति पालयतीन्दिरेशः

शम्भुर्विनाशयति देवि तव प्रभावैः ॥

न स्यात्कृपा यदि तव प्रकटप्रभावे

न स्युः कथंचिदपि ते निजकार्यदक्षाः ॥॥ १२॥॥

लक्ष्मिर्मेधा धरा पुष्टिर्गौरी तृष्टिः प्रभा धृतिः ॥

एताभिः पाहि तनुभिरष्टभिर्मां सरस्वती ॥॥ १३॥॥

सरसवत्यै नमो नित्यं भद्रकाल्यै नमो नमः

वेद- वेदान्त- वेदांग- विद्यास्थानेभ्य एव च ॥॥ १४॥॥

सरस्वति महाभागे विद्ये कमललोचने ॥

विद्यारूपे विशालाक्षि विद्यां देहि नमोस्तु ते ॥॥ १५॥॥

यदक्षर- पदभ्रष्टं मात्राहीनं च यद्भवेत् ॥

तत्सर्वं क्षम्यतां देवि प्रसीद परमेश्वरि ॥॥ १६॥॥

॥॥ इति श्रीसरस्वती स्तोत्रं संपूर्णं॥॥

if a person exhibits deceit or treachery in the use of words, then he is the burgler

 

वाच्यर्था नियता सर्वे वाङ्मूला सुविनिःसृताः।

तान्तु स्तेन्यद्वाचं स सर्वस्तेनकृन्नरः॥

मनुस्मृत्यां २-२५६ २५७

vācyarthā niyatā sarve vāṅmūlā suviniḥsṛtāḥ|

tāntu stenyadvācaṁ sa sarvastenakṛnnaraḥ||

manusmṛtyāṁ 2-256 257

All the transactions and activities of human beings are entirely dependent on words, right usage of words. Words are the vehicles through which ideas and ideals are getting conveyed properly from one human being to another. Therefore if a person uses deceit or treachery in the use of words, then he is the burgler and destroyer of everything.

Through using wrong words, through using words in the wrong way at the wrong time one incurs the sins attributable to a burglar according to Manusmriti.

It is actually not merely a sin, use of wrong words is toxic to the society altogether.

Neither the darkness nor the sun would ever take rest

 

जगतोऽप्यपकृत्युपकृतौ खल सत्पुरुषौ न तृप्तिं आयातः।

ग्रसते हि तमो भुवनं सविता अपि सदा प्रकाशयति॥

ravigupta   

jagato'pyapakṛtyupakṛtau khala satpuruṣau na tṛptiṁ āyātaḥ|

grasate hi tamo bhuvanaṁ savitā api sadā prakāśayati||

Lokasamvyavahaarapravritti of Ravi Gupta

In the matter of creating disadvantages or providing benefits to the world, neither the evil minded fellows nor thegreat people with spontaneous goodwill for one and all get entirely satisfied. ( The evil people never would think that the harm they cause is sufficient and the great souls would never be satisfied with the noble activities they engage themselves in with the aim to spread happiness everywhere). See, the darkness always covers the whole earth, and would never stop doing it. At the same time the Sun would continue to shed bright light over the surface of the earth for every and ever. Neither the darkness nor the sun would ever take rest.

जगतः to this world, अपकृति disadvantages, misdeeds उपकृतौ helping, giving advantges,अपि too खल people of nasty and evil mind सत्पुरुषौ great people तृप्तिं न आयातः never get satisfied

तमः the darkness भुवनं the earth ग्रसते covers हिindeed सविता the sun अपि too सदा always प्रकाशयति gives light, brighens us the earth

ജഗതോഽപ്യപകൃത്യുപകൃതൌ ഖല സത്പുരുഷൌ ന തൃപ്തിം ആയാതഃ|

ഗ്രസതേ ഹി തമോ ഭുവനം സവിതാ അപി സദാ പ്രകാശയതി||

ലോകസംവ്യവഹാരപ്രവൃത്തി - രവി ഗുപ്തന്‍

ലോകത്തിലുള്ള മനുഷ്യര്‍ക്ക് ദോഷം ചെയ്യുന്ന കാര്യത്തിലായാലും ലോകത്തെ നന്മ നിറഞ്ഞ സേവനങ്ങള്‍ കൊണ്ട് നിറയ്ക്കുന്ന കാര്യത്തിലായാലും അതാതു വിഷയങ്ങളില്‍ ഏര്‍പ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്ന ദുഷ്ടന്മാര്‍ക്കോ നന്മ നിറഞ്ഞ സജ്ജനങ്ങല്‍ക്കോ ഒരു വിധത്തിലും തൃപ്തി ഉണ്ടാവാറില്ല. ദുഷ്ടന് എത്ര ദോഷം ചെയ്താലും തൃപ്തി വരില്ല. കൂടുതല്‍ അപകടങ്ങള്‍ എങ്ങിനെ ഉണ്ടാക്കാമെന്ന കാര്യത്തിലായിരിക്കും അയാളുടെ നോട്ടം. സജ്ജനങ്ങലാവട്ടെ എത്ര നല്ല കാര്യങ്ങള്‍ ചെയ്തു കഴിഞ്ഞാലും അതിലൊന്നും തൃപ്തി വരാതെ കൂടുതല്‍ നന്മ ചെയ്യുവാന്‍ എന്നും ജാഗരൂകരായി നില്‍ക്കും.

ഇരുട്ടിനെ ശ്രദ്ധിക്കൂ. അത് എത്ര ഇല്ലാതാക്കാന്‍ ശ്രമിച്ചാലും തരാം കിട്ടിയാല്‍ പിന്നെയും പിന്നെയും കടന്നു വന്നു അന്ധകാരം പരത്തും. അതേ സമയം സൂര്യന്‍ ആവട്ടെ, ഒരിക്കലും തളരാതെ ഭൂമിയില്‍ എല്ലായിടത്തും പ്രകാശം പരത്തിക്കൊണ്ടേയിരിക്കും. ഇരുട്ടിനും തൃപ്തിയോ വിശ്രമമോ ഉണ്ടാവില്ല. സൂര്യനും തൃപ്തിയും വിശ്രമവും ഒരിക്കലും ഉണ്ടാവില്ല.

We have to persist with the process of stabilization of mind too with diligence

 

It would appear that the human mind is a rough uneven and perhaps ungenial terrain.

Diligent and purposeful cleaning and even forced polishing and grinding for protracted periods may render the surface somewhat level and plain for some limited periods.

However, the mind would revert to its odd and even quixotic ways.

We can opt to subject our minds too to such cleaning process at regular intervals and remain sane at least for some short periods.

Nevertheless, the distortion sets in soon, the muck returns and we may have to use the scrubber and soap again.

It is like the police officer chasing the thief.

The police officer succeeds sometimes and the thief too escapes at other times.

The process is without end.

We never stop taking bath or brushing the teeth as long as we are alive and sane.

We have to persist with the process of stabilization of mind too with the same diligence.

where there is a walk, there is a fall

 

I feel utterly miserable, thoroughly dissatisfied and filled with a nagging feel of inadequacy and self-doubt every time I read back what I have written.

The same feeling of remorse overtakes me when I ponder over most of the activities undertaken by me.

Many errors of commission and omission could have been avoided with a wee bit more of alertness.

Excessive sense of self-importance, self-assuredness coupled with laziness and lethargy has played the spoilsport.

A sort of arrogant but baseless feeling that most of the people around are not at all smart or at least are not smart enough, had prodded me, lulled me into sure shot pitfalls.

Yes, every review, every revision, makes me feel ashamed, contemptuous of myself, my own actions.

Anyway, will that feeling of revulsion about my own ineptness stop me from committing further follies?

No, I trudge ahead, with more  follies, falls, fractures, fall again, repeatedly.

Why sould I give suggestions and directions to Him, when I do not really know what I am and what is good for me?

 

Some thoughts disturb me.

Is making a prayer to the Supreme One, or the one we presume as Suprme Controller of every mometnt, every action, and every thought in our existence necessary, relevant, or effective.?

Of course to have belifef or faith in the existence of such a power lies beyond the radar of verification by human intellect..we simply do not have any evidence about such power, either positively or negatively.

Even if we agree to believe the existnce of such a power how can we be sure that the such being is benevolent and means only good for all of us? In addition, if that power is genuinely all powerful and has the will and determination to regulate the universe with laser-sharp precision how can we convince ourselves that such power will deem it fit to relax its ways merely because some weak being cries out. In fact, even minor deviations in the wide canvas of its/His activities covering the past, present ad future can have ripple effects upsetting very huge schemes.

Yes, making prayers to that Being is a very selfish act. We are causing disturbance to Him. In addition, we are asking for many favours without even knowing whether such entreaties are right,proper and beneficial for ourselves and others too.

These questions bother me endlessly.

I am a believer.

Therefore I will not challenge the existence of that great power. However I feel, I should not make any prayers or entreaties because such pleadings would casue ditrurbance and stress to Him. Besides He may not answer my prayer too.

Of course I can choose to chant the Divine name, in whatever manner I know it, I can focus my thoughts on that Being in whatever form I can conceive and simply leave the course of events to His sweet will and pleasure.

Why sould I give suggestions and directions to Him, when I do not really know what I am and what is good for me?