Tuesday, December 16, 2014

FREE WILL, DESTINY AND VASANAS

In the scheme of nature, there is a free will for an individual to do something or not to do something or do differently. This is the free space available to us.
Destiny , on the other hand, plays its trick starting with the birth of a child. Why one is born poor and another rich ? Why one is healthy and another has serious birth defects? One loses the mother the moment it is born? One is born dead? The questions are too many.
But what is the force which causes such disparities ? Whether God is to be blamed for this partiality?
The only logical answer could be the Karma Theory which explains that the human being takes birth to exhaust his PrArabdha Karma. This gets extinguished only by experiencing in the world , going through the vicious cycles of pleasures and pains. In the process there is always a little scope to do some action within a limited domain. Just like a Cow which is tied by a long rope has the freedom to move within the space determined based on the length of the rope, human beings have some free will to exercise. Beyond that limited area the tied cow cannot roam about. This represents the force of destiny. The reason why people lose their precious life suddenly due to accidents, dieseases, natural calamities like Tsunami , earthquake and so on cannot be otherwise explained.
Self- effort is absolutely essential for any one without taking shelter under the guise of destiny. Therefore one has to do his Svadharma in a given environment without any expectation. If destiny decides otherwise, one should have the will power to take it in his stride in a positive manner. For this meditation techniques help a lot to make one develop equanimity towards the dualities. One should take caution not to abuse the little free will that is available to him.
Desapite one's best intentions and efforts, the effect of PrArabdha Karma embedded as VAsanAs may suddenly manifest and impact one any time. But that is the secret of life .

WHETHER BHAGAVAD GITA SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED TO NON-SPIRITUAL PURSUITS?

Bhagavad GItA has the main objective of Bhakti Yoga . But there are other valued aspects related to Karma and JnAna as well. Karma Yoga can be applied to both materialistic pursuits and religious/spiritual endeavors. The principles are the same. While one is about society another is  regarding divinity. Instead of not doing any thing (Karma SanyAsa) Karma Yoga is far superior. The philosophical inputs of Gita appeals to the mind, body and intellect representing Bhakti, Karma and JnAna Yogas. We can emulate best practices of great men as well both at the materialistic and religious / spiritual levels:
Yadyat Acarati Sreshthah tadtadevetaro janah !
sa yat pramANam kurute lokas tadanuvartate !!
--- Bh. G . iii- 21

Monday, December 15, 2014

GODA AND RADHA

SrI RAdhA is MahAlakshmI in the form of NIlA DevI. She is worshipped with intense prema bhakti bhAva by AzhvArs and AndAl (GodA) as Nappinnai. She is also fondly adored as Pinnai. Pinnai MaNAlan is verily RAdhA Vallabha.

Along with chanting of TiruppAvai , chanting of SrI RAdhA KrupA katAksha Stava helps one to gain the bliss of Krishna katAksha and His divine association.

SrIgovindapriyAm rAjnIm vrndAvana manoharIm !
KrpAsvarUpiNIm divyAM rAdhA devIm namAmyaham !!

I offer my respectful obeisances to the Goddess Sri Radha Devi, Sri Krishna’s beloved Queen, the source of the beauty of Brindavan, who is auspicious and is of the form of mercy.

SrIrAdhikAkrpApAtrAm vishNucittasutAm sudhAm !
SrIkrshNapremamagnAm tAm godA devIm namAmyaham !!

I offer my respectful obeisances to SrI Goda DevI (AndAl) who is blessed by SrI RAdhA DevI (in the form of NIla DevI), the nectar like daughter of SrI Vishnu citta (PeriyAzhvAr), immersed in Sri Krishna Prema Bhakti.

Songs:


Sri Radha Krupa Kataksha Stava Raja Stotram

Sri Krishna  Krupa Kataksha  Stava Raja Stotram

Barsane Wali Radhe

Paramadhan Radhe



जय जय श्रीराधे 

Saturday, December 13, 2014

SOME DOUBTS ABOUT MAHABHARATA KEY CHARACTERS

If we analyse the sequence of events in Mahabharata many things baffle our understanding. Bhagavan Krishna took avatara to get rid of all evil forces and protect those who are virtuous in order to cleanse the earth. This is the core objective around which every thing else revolves.
 
The birth of Pandavas, Draupadi et al are by divine command. Hence their birth and actions are also like that, unable for us to understand by applying logical reasoning.
 
Manifestations:
Krishna - Narayana
Arjuna - Nara
Draupadi : Sakti
Yudhisthira - Yama
Arjuna - Indra
Bhima - Vayu
Nakula / Sahadeva - Ashvini Devas

Due to a boon of Siva in her previous birth, Draupadi got married to panca pandavas, the holistic combination of divine saktis. That is why she is worshipped as Draupadi Amman. The Prakrti Tattva (Draupadi) is verily embedded in the Panca bhutas (Panca Pandavas).

Yudhisthira repeatedly tells Duryodhana that only between them as Kings, the gambling game should take place. But the latter forces Sakuni upon Yudhisthira through dubious means and cheats him finally. It is not that Yudhisthira does not know his limits or the nuances of dharma . The moot point is that even he is no exception in the larger context of divine dispensation and is reduced to merely a puppet when destiny strikes harder.

As held by various Sages, we have to unconditionally submit to whatever the Supreme does. As a follower of Scriptures one may think that certain deeds of Krishna are not clear from a dharmic perspective. But for a pure devotee whatever Krishna does is only dharma. That is the amazing beauty of devotion. Until we reach that ecstatic stage, such questions are bound to arise.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

SRI DATTATREYA JAYANTI


SrI DattAreya was born to SrI anasUyA devI - atri maharishi. He represents trimUrtis in the form of brahMA, VishNu and sadASiva .

Adau brahmA madhye vishNurante devah sadASivah !
MUrtitraya svarUpAya dattAtreya namostu te !!

Friday, November 21, 2014

WHETHER KALI YUGA IS ALREADY OVER AND WE ARE NOW IN SATYA YUGA SANDHI?

While Mystics know the embedded secrets of cosmic order and time concept in a holistic manner and much better than us, the detailed descriptions of the features and deterioration of Kali Yuga as spelt out in the various PurANAs and other Vedic Scriptures is not yet fully visible. Taking this into consideration coupled with other factors like the duration of Kali yuga, manifestation of Kalki avatAra , views of traditional AcAryas and so on, it is difficult to conclude with certainty that Kali Yuga was already over ( in 1974 or so) and that we are in the Satya Yuga (Kruta yuga) Sandhi kAla. The difference in the time duration concept for Devas (1 day of Devas = 1 year of human beings) makes the subject more complex.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

ACI EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR YOUNG ARTISTES FOR THE YEAR 2014

ACI Excellence  Award For Young Artistes for the year 2014 was presented to Archana Bharadwaj, Aarathi Bharadwaj and Anahita   Ravindran by Arts Culture India Foundation, Chennai on 8th November 2014 in a Felicitation Function at  GRT Grand, Chennai.  These Awards were presented in recognition of their excellence in Vocal Carnatic Music as upcoming Artistes. We heartily congratulate these  talented young Artistes  and wish them all the best.




Friday, October 10, 2014

SRI DAMODARASHTAKAM

 
It is very auspicious to recite SrI DAmodarAshtakam and pray for the blessings of  SrI RAdhAkrishNa during the month of  kArtikai and   especially  on DeepAvali day.

(1)
namAmISvaram sac-cid-Ananda-rUpam
lasat-kuNdalam gokule bhrAjamAnam !
yaSodAbhiyolUkhalAd dhAvamAnam
paramrushtamatyam tatodrutya gopyA !!
(2)
rudantam muhur netra-yugmam mrujantam
karAmbhoja-yugmena sAtanka-netram !
muhuh SvAsa-kampa-trirekhAnka-kantha
sthita graivam damodaram bhakti-baddham !!
(3)
itIdruk sva-leelAbhirAnanda-kuNde
sva-ghosham nimajjantamAkhyApayantam !
tadIyeSitajneshu bhaktair jitatvam
punah prematastam satAvrutti vande !!
(4)
varam deva moksham na mokshAvadhim vA
na cAnyam vruNe‘ham vareSAdapIha !
idam te vapurnAtha gopAla-bAlam
sadA me manasyAvirAstAm kimanyaih !!
(5)
idam te mukhAmbhojamayakta-neelair
vrutam kuntalaih snigdha-raktais ca gopyA !
muhuscumbitam bimba-raktAdharam me
manasyAvirAstAmalam laksha-lAbhaih !!
(6)
namo deva dAmodarAnanta vishNo
prasIda prabho duhkha-jAlAbdhi-magnam !
krupA drushti vrushtyAtidInam batAnu
gruhANeSa mAmajnamedhyakshi-drSyah !!
(7)
kuberAtmajau baddha-mUrtyaiva yadvat
tvayA mocitau bhakti-bhAjau krutau ca !
tathA prema-bhaktim svakAm me prayaccha
na mokshe graho me‘sti damodareha !!
(8)
namaste‘stu dAmne sphurad-dIpti-dhAmne
tvadIyodarAyAtha viSvasya dhAmne !
namo rAdhikAyai tvadIya-priyAyai
namo ‘nanta-leelAya devAya tubhyam !!
जय जय श्रीराधे
 

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

SIX WORSHIPFUL PERSONS

One who does annadānam(feeding of poor) daily, one who is a nitya agnihotri, one who is an expert of Vedānta, one who has lived for more than eighty years, one who undertakes fasting on ekādaśi, one who is a chaste woman who adores and follows her husband – to all these six I offer my profound salutations.
nityānnadātā   taruāgnihotri vedāntavid candrasahasradarśi !
masopav
āsi ca pativratā ca ad jīvaloke mama vandanīyā !!

Saturday, August 16, 2014

RADHASHTAMI Celebrations - 2 September 2014 - Tuesday

SrI  RAdhA is none other than SrI MahAlakshmI, who out of great compassion, facilitates the individual Self to get the divine grace of the Supreme BhagavAn SrI KrshNa, the glorious YogeSvara. According to the Scriptures, the best way to approach SrI KrshNa is through first obtaining the grace of SrI RAdhA. Even a grave sinner gets redemption through Her ceaseless divine grace and becomes purified to serve the lotus feet of SrI RAdhA KrshNa. Let us not miss this opportunity to offer our humble and sincere prayers to the ever fresh and fragrant queen of BrndAvan. On this most auspicious RAdhAshtamI  day, may SrI RAdhA shower Her blessings on all. 

श्रीगोविन्दप्रियां राज्ञीं वृन्दावन मनोहरीम् !कृपास्वरूपिणीं दिव्यां राधा देवीं नमाम्यहम् !!

Thursday, August 7, 2014

VARALAKSHMI VRATAM - SARADU

The following Mantra to be chanted while tieing the  new Saradu (sacred thread  decorated on the deity)  in the right hand after duly completing the  Varalakshmi vrata pUjA  :

nava tantu samAyuktam navagranthi samanvitam !
badhnIyAm dakshiNe haste dorakam harivallabhe !! 

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

GODA AND RADHA

GodA also known as AndAL prays for  the blessings of  RAdhA for getting the grace of  KrshNa of VrndAvana.

SrIrAdhhikA  krpA pAtrAm visNucitta sutAm sudhAm !
SrIKrsNaprema magnAm tAm godA devIm namAmyaham !!

My respectful obesience to  GodA,  the nectar like daughter of   SrI PeriazhvAr,  who is  immersed in the bliss of KrsNa Prema, being blessed by RAdhA.

Monday, July 14, 2014

COW WORSHIP FOR PROSPERITY

Cows are verily  the mothers . They provide  pleasure to all . One who is desirous of prosperity and development should devotionally  do  cow worship (Go PujA) and perform pradkashiNam.
mAtarah sarvabhUtAnAm gAvah sarva sukhapradAh !
vrddhimAkAnkshatA nityam gAvah kAryAh pradakshiNah !!

WHETHER WOMEN CAN DECORATE THEMSELVES DURING UPAVASA DAYS?

Women are free to neatly  decorate themselves with flowers, sandal and new dress  on upavAsa days also.
pushpAlankAra vastrANi tathA dhUpAnulepanam !
upavAse na dushyanti  dantadhAvanamanjanam !!
--- Manu 

Saturday, May 31, 2014

WHAT ARE THE SEVEN TONGUES OF AGNI?

The following are  the seven tongues(jihvA)  of Agni:
(1) suvarNA
(2) KanakA
(3) RaktA
(4) KrshNA
(5) suprabhA
(6) atiraktA
(7) bahurUpA
suvarnA kanakA raktA krshNA caiva tu suprabhA !
atirakatA bahurUpA saptajihvAh prakIrtitAh !!
 

Thursday, May 29, 2014

WHAT ARE THE EIGHT MODES OF VIKRUTI FORM OF VEDIC CHANTING?

There are eight modes of Vikruti form of Vedic chanting as follows:
(1) JatA
(2) MAlA
(3) DaNda
(4) RekhA
(5) Ratha
(6) Dhvaja
(7) SikhA
(8) Ghana

JatA mAlA daNda rekhA ratha dhvaja  SikhA ghanAh !
kramamASritya  nirvrttA vikArA ashta viSrutAh !!

Thursday, April 24, 2014

WHAT IS ARYAVARTA ACCORDING TO DHARMA SASTRAS?

I think over a long period of various Yugas, the earth has taken different shapes with the disappearance of various sacred rivers like sarasvatI and accordingly the initial strict restrictions in the Vedic scriptures regarding the frontiers of AryAvartam have also changed . There are different names used in the dharma SAstras for the dharma DeSa like AryAvarta, BrahmAvarta, BrahmasideSa, Madhya deSa and so on. In my humble view, for the current Kali Yuga, the following yardsticks can be taken for determining the dharma DeSa which is also known as AryA varta.
1. Yasmin deSe mrgah krshNas tasmin dharmAnnibodhata !
 ( YAjnavalkya)
Wherever Deer is there, that place is  suitable for performance of karma.
 
2. svabhAvAt yatra vicaret krshNa SArah sadA mrugah !  
dharma deSah sa vijneyo dvijAnAm karma SAdhanam !!
(samvarta)

Where the Deer lives naturally, that place is good for performance of Yajna. That place is dharma deSa for performance of karma by Dvijas.

 3. CaturvarNya vyavasthAnam yasmin deSe na vidyate !
tam Mlechha deSam jAnIyAt AryAvartAdanantaram !!
( VyAsa)
Where the four-fold VarNA order is not there, that place is Mleccha DeSam   and the superior AryAvartam  is suitable for the purpose of KarmAnushthAna.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

VEDIC BASE OF NATYA SASTRA

Nātya  Śāstra  was created by Supreme Brahman from the  Vedas. The recitative texts  are from Rg Veda, the  musical  songs from Sāma Veda, abhinaya from the Yajur Veda and rasa from Atharva Veda. Thus Nātya  Śāstra  has been brilliantly carved out of the four Vedas embedded with the hidden meanings of the Vedic Scriptures and the Vedāgas and is hailed as the fifth Veda.

sarvaśāstrārtha sampannam  sarvaśilpapravartakam !
tyākhyam pacamam vedam setihāsam karomyaham !!

evam sankalpya bhagavān sarva vedānanusmaran !
nātyavedaśtataścakre  caturvedāga sambhavam !!

jagrāha pāthyamrigvedāt sāmabhyo gītameva ca !
yajurvedādabhinayān rasānātharvaādapi !!

Friday, April 18, 2014

EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF SRI HANUMAN

nānṛgveda vinītasya nāyajurvedadhāriṇaḥ !
nāsāmavedaviduṣaḥ śakyamevam prabhāṣitum !!
Śrī Rāma praises the excellent communication skills of Śrī Hanumān. Śrī Rāma asserts that one who is not well-versed in the three Vedas of Rg Veda, Yajur Veda and Sāma veda could not speak so well. Thus Śrī Rāma delightfully acknowledges and appreciates the excellent communication and oratorical skills as well as the  Vedic scholarship of of Śrī Hanumān.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

WHAT DO THE VEDIC SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT DRINKING ALCOHOL BY A BRAHMANA?

Drinking liquor is condemned in the śāstras as a mahāpātaka . One who associates with such people is also decried as one who has committed the mahāpātaka. A brāhmaṇa who drinks so shall be born as insects, moths, birds and beasts.
brahmahāca surāpaśca steyī ca gurutalpagaḥ !
ete sarva pṛthagjñeyā mahā pātakino narāḥ !!
---- Manu Smṛti ix -235
 
brahmahatyāsurāpānam steyam gurvañganāgamaḥ !
mahānti pātakānyāhuḥ samsargaścāpi taiḥ saha !!
----Manu Smṛti xi-54
krmi kīta patangānām viṣbhujām caiva pakṣiṇām !
himsrāṇām caiva satvānām surāpo brāmaṇo vrajet !!
----Manu Smṛti xii-56

Sunday, March 23, 2014

GREATNESS OF GANGA

Naimiam is most sacred place in Kta Yuga, Puṣkaram in Tretā yuga while Kuruketram is most sacred  in Dvāpara Yuga.

In Kali Yuga, Gangā snānam is most sacred and particularly at Prayāg is considered to be the only medicine for all Sins .

Kte tu naimiam ketram tretāyām puṣkaram param !
dvāpare tu kuruketram kalau gangā  viśiyate !!
gangāmeva nieveta prayāgam tu viśeata !
nānyat kaliyuge ghore bheṣajam npa vidyate !!

- Matsya Purāa

Saturday, March 15, 2014

WHO ARE THE SAPTA RISHIS?

According to Matsya Purāa, the following are the great  Sapta Ris:
 (1) Atri
(2) Vasitha
(3) Kaśyapa
(4) Gautama
(5) Bharadvāja
(6) Viśvāmitra
(7) Jamadagni

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT YOGA MUDRAS ?

The following are the important Yoga Mudrās:
(1) Mahāmudrā
(2) Nabhomudrā
(3) Uddīyānam
(4) Jalandharam
(5) Mūlabandha
(6) Mahābandha
(7) Mahāvedha
(8) Khecarī
(9) Viparītakarī
(10) Yoni
(11) Vajrolī
(12) śakticālanī
(13) Tādāgī
(14) Māṇdukīmudrā
(15) śāmbhavī
(16) Pañcadhāraā
(17) Aśvinī
(18) Pāśinī
(19) Kākī
(20) Mātañgī
(21) Bhujanginī