why Krishna cursed Asvatthaama.......

why Krishna cursed Asvatthaama.......

Even the Merciful Lord Krishna was angry beyond limits when Ashvathama sent the Apandava Astram on the Foetus growing inside the womb of Uttara, the widow of Abhimanyu... 

In fact after all the children of pandavas were either killed or murdered as a consequence of the Mahabharatha War, the only hope left for the race of Kurus was this child growing in Uttara's womb..

The cruelty of Asvathama was beyond endurance and pardon..

The Blessed Lord, of course revived and rejuvenated the child which was born dead.. and this Child grew as the great Emperor Parikshit.

Given below the extract from Mahabharatam..

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"I am giving an extract from Mahabharaatham of Vyasa, Saupthika Parva.Aishika parva chapter Sixteen Slokas 8 to 12

The blessed Lord Krishna Said

You, Son of Drona, You may note that the powerful arrow (theApandava Astram) which you have sent will have impact on the foetus growing in the womb of Uttara (the widow of Abhimanyu..the sole progeny for the race of Kurus)...The foetus will be born lifeless but it will be blessed with long life (by My Divine Will)

But you take note that the whole world will deride you as cruel, cowardly perpetrator of unpardonable sins.. In addition, you will have to face the consequences of your most sinful deed. 

From this day onwards, for three thousand years, you will be wandering on this earth aimlessly and falteringly..

You will not have the relief of having conversation with anyone in this world, and no one will talk to you even if you try to talk to him

You will be wandering aimlessly across lands which are never populated by human beings.

The places wherever you wander would have no other living being other than you.

You wretch, you will never be able to mingle with human being in society.

Your body will be filled with wounds which would never heal and you will be oozing stale blood and pus through those wounds (including the would inflicted by Bhimasena when he plucked the birth gem which had grown as a part of your head)

Because of your ghastly wounds and the foul smell spread by those wounds, you would be forced to withdraw from places where other human beings reside.

You sinner, you will be afflicted with all the diseases that anyone can have on earth and would be wandering senselessly hither and thither for ever and ever..

The clipping from the epic is attached

                                                

that Grand Beautiful Lady

that Grand Beautiful Lady,

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

Mother Lalitha Mahatripurasundari is praised with many qualities in Lalithasahasranamam

The best epithets appear to be reserved to the concluding part..

Avyaajakarunaamoorthi.अव्याजकरुणामूर्तिः .

.possessing the form of guileless mercy...She is innocence of motherhood personified.. her Mercy for her children is unconditional and guileless.. it really does not matter whether we lover her or just act before Her, Her concern for us is the same.

Ajnaanadvaantadeepiaka..अज्ञानध्वान्तदीपिका 

She is the bright lamp which drives away the pitch darkness of ignorance... In Her presence, all our ignorance fleets away..

Aaabaalagopaviditaa.. आबालगोपविदिता 

She is understood by Aa.. th supreme lord Sadasiva and at the same time, she is very familiar to a small boy or even a cowherd..

Sarvaanullanghya Shaasanaa.सर्वनुल्लन्ख्य शासना .

Her suzerain powers and commands go unchallenged at all levels beginning from the ordinary earthlings and extends upto the great Sadasiva..

Man and his monkey..

Man and his monkey..

A man and his monkey were walking along a village road, the man carrying a stick in addition.. 

The man saw a round discarded can lying waste at the centre of the road..

He just brandished the stick ,cricketer-style and hit the can, and it flew a long way, although not for a sixer. 

The monkey was watching with interest.. 

They were walking on. 

The man left the monkey and the stick too in the middle of the road and walked to the side to ease himself.. 

There was a potter's house where mud pots were being made, burned in the oven and stacked in a big row one pot upon the other.. 

The monkey remembered his master's earlier flourish with a round can and thought of using the round mud pots too in a similar fashion..

He rightly presumed that the time was ripe for the cricketing contact between the pots and the stick and choosing the pot in the lowest row as his ball, and put the presumption into action..

The result is history..

Broken pots, 

the vanishing monkey, 

the bolting master of the monkey,

the shouting potter 

and finally the stick lying silently on the roadside like a mute witness, 

and of course 

the broken heart of the potter

A good lesson to support swacchatha activists..

No one should leave trash in the middle of the road.. 

And none should retire to the roadside to ease himself..

Especially when he has monkey for his company..

EYES AND VIEWS

EYES AND VIEWS 

************************

Some one said everyone has two eyes, but do not have same views..

Of course, people survive with one eye, no eye at all, with squint eye, long sight, short sight, cataract and so on.. 

But if there is no agreement in views at some stage, no one can actually survive.. 

Agreeing to disagree is only tall talk.

============================

My comment to the eye problem was

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

"but the two eyes are in sync of sorts ..

the slight focal displacement ensures three dimensional vision..

the two eyes are or should be the best friends..

If one eye closes when the other sees or tries to look at something else results can be funny and disastrous too.

similarly views should be either to reinforce if you agree, 

to persuasively alter if you feel there are mistakes, 

and always to build a bridge..

But it is one-up-manship galore we find most of the times..

Views are flaunted to show off, 

to draw attention 

and most of the time 

not to find solutions..

I thing a little action, a little introspection, is better in worth than millions of words..'

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

The birth of Skanda

The birth of Skanda

The birth of Skanda or Murugan or Subrahmanian is described briefly in just a chapter in Ramayanam.. as r ecounted by Vishvamitra to Rama in Balakandam

But the episode finds detailed mention in Skanda puranam and Siva puranam.. 

What must be understood is that the energy of Shiva has been produced (or ejaculated).. and it is the most potent and saturated mass of energy (actually in is the rethas or sperms of Shiva) and Devi Uma Parvathi had not received it in her womb..

Agni was asked to carry it and he was getting burned by the energy of Shiva which he could not bear.. 

Then agni was directed to deposit the same in the Ganga.. 

In fact it is said Ganga started to be dried up, but somehow she carried our her mission assisted by some Dharbha or Kusha grasses in a lake called Sharavana.

Skanda took shape as six children and floated in the waters of the divine river.

The Krithika stars, six in number , took charge of Him and nursed Him

Uma saw the children, embraced them all together, and Skanda the Karthikeya became a single child with Six Heads and twelve hands..

Even agni and Ganga just carried and Skanda is named so because he is a clone, an asexual replica of Shiva.. 

and Uma , Ganga, Krithikas .. are all his foster mothers.. 

Maybe Shiva, the supreme knew his own replica if it is created would be a real challenge to this Universe.

You know even if the deity may calm down later but the visvarooopa darshanam, the first opening of his eyes would produce energy impossible for the universe to bear.

.The universe is in an equilibrium and a sudden spurt, that is the birth of the Supreme, would add infinitely huge energy to it which neither the nature nor the living beings could bear

You see, there may be upakathas where Shiva is said to have children in Uma... Kirata moorthy, Anjaneya etc. But these are not part of any major Lore.

The real fact appears to be that even Shakthi the Uma is not sure of her capacity to receive the infinite energy of Shiva in His sperm.. 

Of course, the cooling in Ganga, nursing in the hands of Krithikas and the final embrace of Uma, mellowed down Skanda.. 

The supreme potency of Shiva is recognized well in tantras.. If a new Shivalinga s consecrated, immediately after the Kalashaabhishekam, a huge mirror is shown to the deity.. so that his sight fall on his own image.. 

Others cannot stand it.. So He has to see His own image first

Further, a Ganesha is consecrated where the direct gaze Shiva would fall. these may be all just beliefs.. But there can be some sense in it..

The Secret of Pranavam, as per some school of thought is just this.

सुब्रह्मण्य स्वरस्यार्थम् त्वम् च अहम् च सदाशिव ॐ

subrahmaṇya svarasyārtham tvam ca aham ca sadāśiva om

In Skaandapuraanaam , we find that Subramanya the Child explains the meaning of Pranavam or Omkaram to His father Shiva, as an Upadesham, in his father’s right ear. 

It is said that the boy was so tiny and Shiva had to carry the child in his arms so that Muruga could reach his fathers ears.. What a teacher! What a studen!

(Skanda was so pure and learned that He could impart knowledge to Shiva Himself.. We have a famous temple built for Skanda with Shankara in the state of Guru and Shisya.. there Skanda is called Swaminaatha.. the master of the Lord of the Universe.. or in Tamil தகப்பன்சாமி in Swamimalai.. Kumbhakonam, Tamilnadu )

What he said is just this.. the meaning of the swaram .. that is the omkaram is just that You (Shiva) and I( subrahmanya) are just one and the same and we are Sadashiva..

SadaaShiva …. The word has innumerable connotations, not capable of discussion..

The significance of sipping holy water and touching limbs during achamanam.

The significance of sipping holy water and touching limbs during achamanam..

त्रिः प्राश्नीयादपो यत्तु प्रीतास्तेनास्य देवताः।

ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्च भवन्तीत्यनुशुश्रुम॥

गङ्गा च यमुना चैव प्रीयेते परिमार्ज्जनात्।

संस्पृष्टयोर् लोचनयोः प्रीयेते शशिभास्करौ।

ना सत्यसंज्ञौ प्रीयेते स्पृष्टोनासापुटद्वयौ।

कर्ण्णयोर्स्पृष्टयोस्तद्वत् प्रीयते चानलानिलौ॥

अंसयोस्पर्शनादेव प्रियते तु प्रजापतिः।

संस्पृष्टे हृदये चास्य प्रीयन्ते सर्व्वदेवताः।

मूर्द्धनि स्पर्शनाद्देवः प्रीतस्तु पुरुषो भवेत्।

य एवं ब्राह्मणो नित्यं उपस्पर्शनमाचरेत्।

ब्रह्मादिस्तंबपर्यन्तं जगत्स परितर्पयेत्॥

अङ्गुष्ठोग्निरिति ख्यातः प्रोक्ता वायुः प्रदेशिनी।

अनामिका तथा सूर्यः कनिष्ठा मघवो स्मृता।

प्रजापतिर् मध्यमा तु ज्ञेयाः शुद्धिमभीप्सता॥

हारीत वचनात् व्यासवचनात् च॥

triḥ prāśnīyādapo yattu prītāstenāsya devatāḥ|

brahmā viṣṇuśca rudraśca bhavantītyanuśuśruma||

gaṅgā ca yamunā caiva prīyete parimārjjanāt|

saṁspṛṣṭayor locanayoḥ prīyete śaśibhāskarau|

nā satyasaṁjñau prīyete spṛṣṭonāsāpuṭadvayau|

karṇṇayorspṛṣṭayostadvat prīyate cānalānilau||

aṁsayosparśanādeva priyate tu prajāpatiḥ|

saṁspṛṣṭe hṛdaye cāsya prīyante sarvvadevatāḥ|

mūrddhani sparśanāddevaḥ prītastu puruṣo bhavet|

ya evaṁ brāhmaṇo nityaṁ upasparśanamācaret|

brahmādistaṁbaparyantaṁ jagatsa paritarpayet||

aṅguṣṭhogniriti khyātaḥ proktā vāyuḥ pradeśinī|

anāmikā tathā sūryaḥ kaniṣṭhā maghavo smṛtā|

prajāpatir madhyamā tu jñeyāḥ śuddhimabhīpsatā||

hārīta vacanāt vyāsavacanāt ca||

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Translation of the above.

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

Bhagavan Vyasa and Sage Harita have stated that:-

When one formally drinks water kept in the right palm held in the shape of the ear of a cow, and repeats thrice, it is believed that the three principal deities Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva would be pleased and satisfied.

When the lips are wiped after the formal threefold sips of water in achamanam , 

the rivers Ganga and Yamuna become happy.

The twin deities Ashwins are pleased when the two nostrils are touched during achamanam

When ears are touched, the gods of fire and wind are happy

When the two shoulders are touched, Lord Brhma the Prajaapati would be pleased.

When the region of the heart is touched, all the gods in heaven become happy.

When we touch the upper part of the head, the Supreme Brahman is pleased.

If a Brahmin would, on every day,perform ablutions by touching his organs as per the rituals above he would be bringing pleasure and peace to the entire world from Brahmaloka onward to a trivial shrub growing on the earth..

Agni or fire is residing in our thumb..

The wind god occupies the Index finger..

The ring finger is presided over by the Sun god.

The little finger is the abode of Indra..

And Brahma the Prajapati is present in the middle finger..

This truth should be understood properly by a person who would like to be pure..or attain purity and cleaniiness..

_____________________________________________________

Chanting of the holy names of the Protector of the world 

Sreeman Narayana 

when we sip and perform the ablutions 

would be effective in

driving away all the evil spirits 

and 

would bless us with health and happiness.

Sreevathsa Gothram

Sreevathsa Gothram

Among brahmins, Gothra or clan is a very distinctive feature.. Each Gothra is presided over by three preceptor of linear hierarchy..

There was a discussion as to what is the most superior Gothram.

Of course, that issue is only academic.

My post in that discussion thread..

There is a saying among many brahmins that Sreevatsa gothram is the greatest..

Bhargava, Chavyana, Aplavana, Ourva, Jamadganya, Pancharsheya, pravaraanvita. ( presided by sages Bhrigu, Chyavana, Alavana, Urva and Jamadagni..in linear parental hierarchy)..

I do not belong to that gothram anyway.. No close relatives either in fathers or mothers lineage too do not belong to that gothram..

I am not talking of the superiority of Srivatsa Gothram out of any personal preference|

Bhagavan Sriman Narayana was born in this gothra as Lord Parasurama..

This is in spite of the fact Vishnu had a tiff with Brigu, and beheaded the wife of Bhrigu.. and History repeated when Parasurama beheaded Renuka his mother..

And you know the Srivatsam actually denotes the black birthmark on the Chest of Sriman Narayana formed when he was kicked on the chest by Bhrigu..

I have heard about the superiority of Srivatsa gothram having pravara of five sages instead of the usual three,, from many scholars..

Maybe it is just an school of thought.. I am not one who would try to argue too much on such issue.. 

It is enough if Brahmins and human beings as a whole are united,,

It would hardly matter as to what gothram they belong..

Show of strength alone works often

Show of strength alone works often

The glorious Hanuman had through his exemplary act of heroism, located Mother Sita under the captivity of Ravana..

Rama, Lakshmana aided by Sugriva the king of monkeys are anxious to reach Lanka, to was a war against Ravana and retrieved the captive queen Sita with honour..

The princes, the monkey king and his huge army, reach the southern trip of the Indian peninsula, and the wide expanse of the sea stare at them.

The learned and straightforward person that Rama is, thinks that the sea would provide some way for the army to reach Lanka..

After all Rama’s ancestors had dug the oceans (Sagaras).

Notwithstanding the fact that He was strong enough to make anything happen, Rama decided to do a penace by way of prayer to the sea requesting it to allow them to cross over to Lanka ..

He lied down on the seashore in a bed of Darbha grass and prayed, observing fast in reverence to the sea.

Even after reasonable time had elapsed, there was hardly any responsefr om the deities who controlled the seas..

This enraged even the normally placid Rama.. His eyes became red with anger..He gave vent to his wrath through words spoken to his illustrious brother Lakshmana.. His ire against people going after showy persons while ignoring noble people assuming their benevolence as a weakness.

The following quote from Valmiki Ramayanam arises on that occasion.

_________________________________________________

आत्मप्रशंसिनं दुष्टं धृष्टं विपरिधावकं।

सर्वत्रोत्सृष्टदण्डं च लोके सत्कुरुते नरं॥ २१-१९॥ अन्यत्र २१।१५-१६

॥श्रीमद्वाल्मीकीये रामायणे युद्धकाण्डे॥

ātmapraśaṁsinaṁ duṣṭaṁ dhṛṣṭaṁ viparidhāvakaṁ|

sarvatrotsṛṣṭadaṇḍaṁ ca loke satkurute naraṁ|| 21-19|| anyatra 21 |15-16

||śrīmadvālmīkīye rāmāyaṇe yuddhakāṇḍe||

Meaning

People usually treat with respect 

and are solicitous with those

Who brag about their own glory and valour

Who are evil minded,

who are vainglorious and arrogant,

Who run around everywhere advertising their own superioriy (which is simply absent) and

who are always eager to resort to punishment and retributions in respect of people who are not favorably disposed to them..

_________________________________________________________

With angry words Rama asked Lakshmana to bring his bow and arrows, and declared that with his arrows he would inundate the sea with all its contents.. At this point the terrified seagod appeared craving mercy and protection ..

Of course later on, it is revealed that even though Rama, in his sweet innocence thought of making a humble request to the sea, the sea was just awaiting His order, and could not think of giving the impression that it was granting a request to the master, who was to take the service by ordering.. 

The sea god appeared to Rama in utter subjugation, and a bridge across the sea was built, the army reached Lanka and vanquished Ravana and retrieved Mother Sita in great honour.. That is history..

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Note.. The numbering of the Couplet is different in two Editions of Valmikiramayanam.. Maybe the number is something else in some other version..

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The birth of Kusha and Lava

The birth of Kusha and Lava 

In the Uttarakandam of Valmikiramayanam, the birth and naming of the twin children of Rama and Sita is described succinctly .

Rama proved his worth as a hero by undergoing the toughest challenges in life …

first losing the golden opportunity of being anointed as the heir apparent as a matter of slip between the cup and the lip ..

then living the life of a recluse in the forest for fourteen years just to fulfill a promise made by his father..

proving his unchallengeable strength in defeating and slaying powerful Ravana was the next mission….

Finally he regained his rightful kingdom and his life with Sita, his brothers and family and his subjects looked promising and happy for ever thereafter..

But misfortune again stuck in the shape of a scandalous allegation by some loose-tongued citizen and Rama had to abandon his pregnant wife Sita in the forest..

Sage Valmiki adopted Sita and made her comfortably settled in his own hermitage, i

n the company of the numerous wives of the sages who were his disciples occupying the ashram..

Kingly duties proceeded as even in Ayodhya..

The youngest brother of Rama Shatrughna was directed on a mission to fight and vanquish Lavanaasura…

And on his way to the battle, as fate would have it, he had to spent a night in the ashram of Valmiki. 

On the very same night Sita delivers the twins,

The following stanzas from Chapter 66 of the Uttara Kandam of Valmiki Ramayanam, describes the moment of birth for the twins… Kusha and Lava..

____________________________________________

यामेव रात्रिं शत्रुघ्नः पर्ण्णशालामुपाविशत्।

तामेव रात्रिं सीताऽपि प्रसूता दारकद्वयम्॥१

ततोऽर्द्धरात्रसमये बालकाः मुनिदारकाः।

वाल्मीकेः प्रियमाचख्युः सीतायाः प्रसवं शुभम्॥२

भगवन् रामपत्नी सा प्रसूता दारकद्वयम्।

ततो रक्षां महातेजः कुरु भूतविनाशिनीम्॥३

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा महर्षिः समुपागमत्।

जगाम तत्र हृष्टात्मा ददर्श च कुमारकौ।

भूतघ्नीं चाकरोत्ताभ्यां रक्षां रक्षोविनशिनीम्॥४

कुशमुष्टिमुपादाय लवं चैव तु स द्विजः।

वाल्मीकिः प्रददौ ताभ्यां रक्षां भूतविनाशिनीम्॥५

यस्तयो पूर्वजो जातो स कुशैर्मन्त्रसत्कृतैः।

निर्म्मार्ज्जनीयस्तु तदा कुश इत्यस्य नाम तत्॥६

यश्चावरो भवेत्ताभ्यां लवेन स समाहितः।

निर्म्मार्जनीय् वृद्धाभिर् लव इत्येव नामतः॥७

एवं कुशलवौ नाम्ना तावुभौ यमजातकौ।

मत्कृताभ्यां च नामभ्यां ख्यातियुक्तौ भविष्यतः॥८

॥श्रीमद्वल्मीकीये रामायणे उत्तरकाण्डे ६६ तमे सर्गे॥

yāmeva rātriṁ śatrughnaḥ parṇṇaśālāmupāviśat|

tāmeva rātriṁ sītā'pi prasūtā dārakadvayam||1

tato'rddharātrasamaye bālakāḥ munidārakāḥ|

vālmīkeḥ priyamācakhyuḥ sītāyāḥ prasavaṁ śubham||2

bhagavan rāmapatnī sā prasūtā dārakadvayam|

tato rakṣāṁ mahātejaḥ kuru bhūtavināśinīm||3

teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śruitvā maharṣiḥ samupāgamat|

jagāma tatra hṛṣṭātmā dadarśa ca kumārakau|

bhūtaghnīṁ cākarottābhyāṁ rakṣāṁ rakṣovinaśinīm||4

kuśamuṣṭimupādāya lavaṁ caiva tu sa dvijaḥ|

vālmīkiḥ pradadau tābhyāṁ rakṣāṁ bhūtavināśinīm||5

yastayo pūrvajo jāto sa kuśairmantrasatkṛtaiḥ |

nirmmārjjanīyastu tadā kuśa ityasya nāma tat||6

yaścāvaro bhavettābhyāṁ lavena sa samāhitaḥ |

nirmmārjanīy vṛddhābhir lava ityeva nāmataḥ||7

evaṁ kuśalavau nāmnā tāvubhau yamajātakau|

matkṛtābhyāṁ ca nāmabhyāṁ khyātiyuktau bhaviṣyataḥ||8

||śrīmadvalmīkīye rāmāyaṇe uttarakāṇḍe 66 tame sarge ||

Free translation....

1 On the very same night that Prince Shatrughna stayed in the precincts of the hermitage of Valmiki (in a cottage made of leaves) Sita gave birth to the twin children.

2..In the middle of the night, children of the occupants of the hermitage announced to the sage,the happy tidings regarding the safe delivery of the twins by Sita

3..The boys of the hermitage said, “ Revered Sage and Master, The wife of Rama, Sita has delivered two children. Oh, Lustrous One, please provide protection by holy chants for the children so that the evil spirits waiting to harm them may be destroyed.

4..On hearing the words of the boys, the sage accompanies them and went to where the twins were born, saw them and was very happy.. And immediately made protective charms capable of annihilating the evil spirits that might attack for the new borns.

5..The twice born Sage Valmiki, took one handful of Darbha grass comprising of the soft upper parts called Kusha, and another handful of Darbha grass comprising of the lower stem parts called Lava and invoked protection for the infants and destruction of evil spirits intent on attacking them..

6..He directed that the first born among the two should be used to be waved in sanctification with the bundle of Kusha Grass to protect him from evil spirit and thereafter the boy would be called by the name Kusha.

7.. He further ordered that the second born should be waved in sanctification to be done by the elderly ladies of the hermitage, with the bundle of Lava grass to ward off the evil spirits, and thereafter that boy will be called by the name Lava

8.. The Sage further blessed “Thus these two infants born as twins will become very famous by the names Kusha and Lava as given by me..”

________________________________________

The boys grew up into heroes, and even challenged Lord Rama and Anjaneyaswamy in fight.. That is sweet history..

Shree Mukundaashtakam

I posted Shree Mukundaashtakam, a beautiful piece of simple poetry in eight stanzas, a few days ago..

It is titillatingly sweet, mellifluous, and I have felt, the prayer carries a devotee of Krishna to hitherto unknown heights of ecstasy.

I did not give the translation then.. In fact I had posted translations of some portions earlier, but I could not locate my old posts..

The prayer, in fact covers the most beautiful moments in the life of Krishna the child, Krishna the naughty boy, Krishna the protector of the cattle of Yadavaas and the darling of the Cows and Cowherds.

Krishna I love you..

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श्री मुकुन्दाष्टकम्

करारविन्देन पदारविन्दम् मुखारविन्दे विनिवेशयन्तम्।

वटस्य पत्रस्य पुटे शयानम् बालम् मुकुन्दम् मनसा स्मरामि॥१॥

संहृत्य लोकान् वटपत्रमध्ये शयानमाध्यन्तविहीनरूपम्।

सर्वेश्वरम् सर्वहितावतारम् बालम् मुकुन्दम् मनसा स्मरामि॥२॥

आलोक्यमातुर्मुखमादरेण स्तन्यम् पिबन्तम् सरसीरुहाक्षम्।

सच्चिन्मयम् देवमनन्तरूपम् बालम् मुकुन्दम् मनसा स्मरामि॥३॥

इन्दीवरश्यामलकोमलाङ्गम् इन्द्रादिदेवार्चितपादपद्मम्।

सन्तानकल्पद्रुममाश्रितानाम् बालम् मुकुन्दम् मनसा स्मरामि॥ ४॥

कळिन्दजान्तःस्थितकाळियस्य फणाग्ररङ्गे नटनप्रियम् तम्।

तद्पुच्छहस्तम् शरदिन्दुवक्त्रम् बालम् मुकुन्दम् मनसा स्मरामि॥५॥

शिक्ये निधायाज्यपयोदधीनि बहिर्ग्गतायाम् व्रजनायिकायाम्।

भुक्त्वा यदेष्टम् कपटेन सुप्तम् बालम् मुकुन्दम् मनसा स्मरामि॥६॥

लम्बाळकम् लम्बितहारयष्टिम् शृङ्गारलीलाङ्कुर दन्तपङ्क्तिम्।

बिम्बाधरम् पूरित वेणुनादम् बालम् मुकुन्दम् मनसा स्मरामि॥७॥

उलूखले बद्धमुदारचौर्यम् उत्तुङ्गयुग्मार्जुन भङ्गलीलम्।

उत्फुल्लपद्मायत चारुनेत्रम् बालम् मुकुन्दम् मनसा स्मरामि॥८॥

ज्ञानप्रदम् पापहरम् पवित्रम् नित्यम् मुकुन्दाष्टकमादरेण।

सकृत् पठेद्यः स लभेत धर्मम् श्रियम् च विद्याम् च यशस्च मुक्तिम्॥

śrī mukundāṣṭakam

karāravindena padāravindam mukhāravinde viniveśayantam|

vaṭasya patrasya puṭe śayānam bālam mukundam manasā smarāmi||1||

saṁhṛtya lokān vaṭapatramadhye śayānamādhyantavihīnarūpam|

sarveśvaram sarvahitāvatāram bālam mukundam manasā smarāmi||2||

ālokyamāturmukhamādareṇa stanyam pibantam sarasīruhākṣam|

saccinmayam devamanantarūpam bālam mukundam manasā smarāmi||3||

indīvaraśyāmalakomalāṅgam indrādidevārcitapādapadmam|

santānakalpadrumamāśritānām bālam mukundam manasā smarāmi|| 4||

kaḻindajāntaḥsthitakāḻiyasya phaṇāgraraṅge naṭanapriyam tam|

tadpucchahastam śaradinduvaktram bālam mukundam manasā smarāmi||5||

śikye nidhāyājyapayodadhīni bahirggatāyām vrajanāyikāyām|

bhuktvā yadeṣṭam kapaṭena suptam bālam mukundam manasā smarāmi||6||

lambāḻakam lambitahārayaṣṭim śṛṅgāralīlāṅkura dantapaṅktim|

bimbādharam pūrita veṇunādam bālam mukundam manasā smarāmi||7||

ulūkhale baddhamudāracauryam uttuṅgayugmārjuna bhaṅgalīlam|

utphullapadmāyata cārunetram bālam mukundam manasā smarāmi||8||

jñānapradam pāpaharam pavitram nityam mukundāṣṭakamādareṇa|

sakṛt paṭhedyaḥ sa labheta dharmam śriyam ca vidyām ca yaśasca muktim||

shrii mukundaaSTakam

karaaravindena padaaravindam mukhaaravinde viniveshayantam.

vaTasya patrasya puTe shayaanam baalam mukundam manasaa smaraami..1..

saMhR^itya lokaan vaTapatramadhye shayaanamaadhyantavihiinaruupam.

sarveshvaram sarvahitaavataaram baalam mukundam manasaa smaraami..2..

aalokyamaaturmukhamaadareNa stanyam pibantam sarasiiruhaakSam.

sacchinmayam devamanantaruupam baalam mukundam manasaa smaraami..3..

indiivarashyaamalakomalaa~Ngam indraadidevaarchitapaadapadmam.

santaanakalpadrumamaashritaanaam baalam mukundam manasaa smaraami.. 4..

kaLindajaantaHsthitakaaLiyasya phaNaagrara~Nge naTanapriyam tam.

tadpucchhahastam sharadinduvaktram baalam mukundam manasaa smaraami..5..

shikye nidhaayaajyapayodadhiini bahirggataayaam vrajanaayikaayaam.

bhuktvaa yadeSTam kapaTena suptam baalam mukundam manasaa smaraami..6..

lambaaLakam lambitahaarayaSTim shR^i~Ngaaraliilaa~Nkura dantapa~Nktim.

bimbaadharam puurita veNunaadam baalam mukundam manasaa smaraami..7..

uluukhale baddhamudaarachauryam uttu~Ngayugmaarjuna bha~Ngaliilam.

utphullapadmaayata chaarunetram baalam mukundam manasaa smaraami..8..

j~naanapradam paapaharam pavitram nityam mukundaaSTakamaadareNa.

sakR^it paThedyaH sa labheta dharmam shriyam cha vidyaam cha yashascha muktim..

1 I meditate upon that wonderful boy Mukunda

who lies as if asleep over the leaf of a peepul tree (floating in the eternal waters of the deluge) 

holding His attractive foot resembling a lotus to his petite red lips resembling another lotus, holding the foot in place with his beautiful hand which too look like yeat another lotus.

2..I meditate upon that wonderful boy Mukunda

who is lying at the centre of a peepul leaf, having drawn unto himself the entire universe ( at the time of deluge) for he is eternal and without any beginning or any end (so that the beings in the universe would survive withing Him during the deluge). 

He is the lord and master of everything.. He has manifested as Krishna the Mukunda just for the well being of everyone..

3..I meditate upon that wonderful boy Mukunda who is lying in the lap of his mother Yashoda, and glancing at her face with extreme respect and love as he is drinking her milk.. He is the one who is manifested in all that is manifest and un-manifest.. He is the foremost among the Gods.. He is manifesting himself in an endless form..

4..I meditate upon that wonderful boy Mukunda who is having the colour of a shining black lotus, who is worshipped by the diving beings with Indra in the lead, who is the wish yielding tree (Kalpadruma) who bestows on his devotees bright and healthy progenies

5..I meditate upon that wonderful boy Mukunda who is happily dancing on the huge stage formed by the hood of the venomous snake Kaliya who has been residing in the recesses of Yamuna or Kalindi the daughter of Kalinda, I meditate upon the boy who holds firmly the tail of that serpant and gives a laugh resembling the lustre of the full moon in the autumn season

6..I meditate upon that wonderful boy Mukunda, who pretends as if he is sleeping, after having eating stealthily to his heart’s content butter, ghee and curds which were kept in the suspended ropes securely by his mother while she went out of the house.. (Matha Yasodha has placed the butter etc. in a high rope suspension believing that the glutton that is Krishna would not be able to reach it and steal it..)

7..I meditate upon that wonderful boy Mukunda, who is sporting long curly hair, who is wearing long garlands of flowers, whose evenly formed shining teeth when he smiles invites all and makes them lose their senses upon him ( in Sringaara Rasa), whose voluptuous attractive lips fill that beautiful flute with unearthly music

8..I meditate upon that wonderful boy Mukunda, who was once tied to a large wooden mortar ( to prevent him from doing his pranks and stealing butter ) and ran dragging the mortar stuck between two huge upright arjuna trees uprooting them ( the two trees were actually two celestials who were turned into trees by a curse and got relieve when this naughty fellow uprooted the trees) and the eyes of this cute child resembles two fully blown lotuses..

A devotee who reads at least once a day,this octet on Mukunda 

which will endow us with all knowledge ( in fact the creation, sustenance and destruction handled as if by fun by Krishna is seen narrated here), which will destroy all our since, which is very pure, will become righteous, prosperous and learned and will attain great fame in life and attain emancipation in the life hereafter..

CELEBRATIONS -- THE MONKEY STYLE

CELEBRATIONS

THE MONKEY STYLE

We join together very often in parties celebrating whatever happy things that has happened in the life of someone among us..

Usually we throw to wind all inhibitions and behave very funny on those occasions..

Of course many of us overdo it too..

Bhagavan Valmiki, in the Sundarakandam of his Ramayanam, gives a vivid picture on how the monkey-friends of Lord Anjaneya celebrated on learning that Hanuman had successfully completed his mission.. Sita Discovered..

Hanuman, after meeting Mother Sita, and inundating Lanka too, flew back to the Indian shores, where the monkeys of his group Led by Prince Angada and Veteran Jambavan were eagerly waiting for Him..

The story of Hanuman's successful visit to Lanka was described to the Prince and others..

The monkeys set out towards Kishkinda where their King Sugriva, and the Princes Rama and Lakshmana were anxiously awaiting for some good news.

On the way the monkeys had to cross the Madhuvana, an exclusive forest with trees and flowers, where honey was being harvested and preserved for the enjoyment of the King Sugreeva alone..

The place was guarded by a monkey commander Dadhimukha assited by a huge retinue of monkey guards..

The monkeys in the team of Hanuman, who were now running around in pleasant excitement on conclusion of their successful mission, requested Angada for permission to have a good drink of Honey from the forest.. (For monkeys, drinking good quantities of honey is the present day equivalent of boozing, as we call it.)

Though fully knowing that the action would enrage King Sugreeva, Angada did not have the mind to refuse the indulgence craved by the monkeys..

So he gave his assent and the monkeys entered the Madhuvana and celebrated..

The manner in which the monkeys went about the party is described by Valmiki in the following stanzas..

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गायन्ति केचिद् प्रणमन्ति केचिन्नृत्यन्ति केचिद् प्रहसन्ति केचित्।

पतन्ति केचिद्विचरन्ति केतिच् प्ळवन्ति केचित् प्रलपन्ति केचित्॥१४

परस्परं केचिदुपाश्रयन्ते परस्परं केचिदुपाक्रमन्ते।

परस्परं केचिदुपब्रुवन्ते परस्परं केचिदुपारमन्ते॥१५

द्रुमाद् द्रुमम् केचिदभिद्रवन्ते क्षितौ नगाग्रान्निपतन्ति केचित्।

महीतलात् केचिदुदीर्णवेगा महाद्रुमाग्राण्यभिसंपतन्ति॥१६

गायन्तमन्यः प्रहसन्नुपैति हसन्तमन्न्य प्ररुदन्नुपैति।

रुदन्तमन्न्यः प्रणुदन्नुपैति नुदन्तमन्यः प्रणदन्नुपैति॥१७

समाकुलं तत् कपिसैन्यमासीन्मधुप्रपानोत्कटसत्वचेष्टं।

न चात्र कश्चिन्न बभूव मत्तो न चात्र कश्चिन्न बभूव तृप्तः॥१८

श्रीमद्वाल्मीकीये रामायणे आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे॥

gāyanti kecid praṇamanti kecinnṛtyanti kecid prahasanti kecit|

patanti kecidvicaranti ketic pḻavanti kecit pralapanti kecit||14

parasparaṁ kecidupāśrayante parasparaṁ kecidupākramante|

parasparaṁ kecidupabruvante parasparaṁ kecidupāramante||15

drumād drumam kecidabhidravante kṣitau nagāgrānnipatanti kecit|

mahītalāt kecidudīrṇavegā mahādrumāgrāṇyabhisaṁpatanti||16

gāyantamanyaḥ prahasannupaiti hasantamannya prarudannupaiti|

rudantamannyaḥ praṇudannupaiti nudantamanyaḥ praṇadannupaiti||17

samākulaṁ tat kapisainyamāsīnmadhuprapānotkaṭasatvaceṣṭaṁ|

na cātra kaścinna babhūva matto na cātra kaścinna babhūva tṛptaḥ||18

śrīmadvālmīkīye rāmāyaṇe ādikāvye sundarakāṇḍe||

After drinking Honey to their hearts content

Some of the monkeys were singing

Some were falling on their faces

Some were Dancing

Some were laughing aloud to themselves

some were jumping and faltering on their feet,

Some were wandering aimlessly

Some were leaping and floating in the air

Some were blabbering and making inarticulate sounds.

Some were just embracing one another

Some were pushing away one another

Some were talking to one another with great camarederie

Some were playing funny games in good company

Some were just jumping from tree to tree

Some were jumping from top branches of the trees to the open ground

Some were jumping up from ground level to the top of the trees in full speed

A monkey laughs aloud and provokes a singing monkey

A sobbing monkey approaches and provokes a laughing monkey

A gesticulating monkey provokes the sobbing one

A blabbering monkey provokes the gesticulating one.

The whole group of the monkies was behaving in a topsy turvy manner.

They were totally inebriated through drinking excessive quantities of honey

There was not a monkey to be seen who had not gone beyond himself through drinking

Nor was there a single monkey who was not fully satisfied with the quantities of the drink he had..

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The sentries of the forest who protested were given thorough thrashing by the monkeys.

As usual, the Conservator of the forest, Dadhimukha, complained to the King about the damange to the forest but the King for once was sensible enough to guess that if the group of monkeys led by Angada, Hanuman and Jambavan were to behave in such a fashion, something exceedingly nice must have happened.. There fore he summoned the leaders of the group of marauders to his presence and the sweet tidings of Discovery of Mother Seetha was announced..

Rest is legend..