HAPPY RADHASHTAMI 2012

Happy RAdhAshtamI

23rd September 2012

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.

RAdhA Slokas:

SrIgovindapriyAm rAjnIm VrndAvanamanoharIm !

krupAsvarUpiNIm divyAm RAdhA DevIm namAmyaham!!

I offer my respectful obeisance  to the Goddess SrI RAdhA DevI, SrI KrshNa’s beloved Queen, the source of the beauty of BrndAvan, who is auspicious and is mercy personified.

माधुर्यरससंपूर्णां माधवमनमोहिनीम् !

महाभावनिमग्नां तां मधुराधां नमाम्यहम् !!

MAdhurya rasa sampUrNAm mAdhavamanamohinIm !

MahAbhAvanimagnAm tAm madhuRAdhAm namAmyaham !!

I offer my respectful obeisance to the honey- like SrI RAdhA , who is full of MAdhurya rasa, captivating the mind of SrI KrshNa and immersed in MahA BhAva.

मङ्गलं कृष्णकामिन्यै मङ्गलं शुभ मङ्गलम् !

मङ्गलं प्रेमदायिन्यै मङ्गलं शुभ मङ्गलम् !!

मङ्गलं मनमोहिन्यै मङ्गलं शुभ मङ्गलम् !

मङ्गलं मधुराधायै मङ्गलं नित्य मङ्गलम् !!

MangaLam KrshNakAminyai MangaLam Subha MangaLam !

MangaLam PremadAyinyai MangaLam Subha MangaLam !!

MangaLam Manamohinyai MangaLam Subha MangaLam !

MangaLam MadhuRAdhAyai MangaLam nitya MangaLam !!

Subha MangaLam

KrshNa’s most beloved

Bestower of Prema bhakti

Captivator of the mind

Honeyed RAdhA

Nitya MangaLam

जय जय श्रीराधे

Four Songs on RAdhA KrshNa

Sung by : Bh. Murali and Dr.S.Kannan

Music : Bh. Murali

Sri Radha Krupa Kataksha Stava Raja Stotram

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGFMOC-gua4&feature=channel

Sri Krishna Krupa Kataksha Stava Raja Stotram

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5JGqtIbrH8&feature=channel

Barsane Wali Radhe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh_3wRRbg7c&feature=channel

Paramadhan Radhe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1Y2dInVlLc&feature=channel

जय जय श्रीराधे

WHO ARE THE 12 VISVEDEVAS?

There are 12 ViSvedevas as follows:
(1) SrAddham - PurUrava, Ardrava
(2) MahAlayam - Dhuri, Rocana
(3) NAndI - satya, vasu
(4) YAga - Kratu, Daksha
(5) sapindIkaraNa - KAla, KAma
(6) sanyAsinah - sAdhu, ruru

WHO ARE THE 64 IMPORTANT GOPIS?

The following are the 64 important Gopis:
 Candralatika
 Candrarekha
 Candrika
 Capala
 Carukavara
 Citrarekha
 Damni
 Dhanistha
 Gunacuda
 Harahira
 Harakanthi
 Harini
 Kalahamsi
 Kalakanthi
 Kalapini
 Kamala
 Kamalatika
 Kamanagari
 Kandarpa-sundari
 Kaveri
 Kunjari
 Kurangaksi
 Madanalasa
 Madhavi
 Madhureksana
 Madhurendira
 Madhuspanda
 Mahahira
 Malati
 Mandali
 Manikundala
 Manjukesi
 Manjumedha
 Manohara.
 Modini
 Nagari
 Nagavenika
 Pankajaksi
 Prema-manjari
 Ramani
 Rangavati
 Rasalika
 Rasottunga
 Ratika
 Ratikala
 Ratnaprabha
 Sasikala
 Sauraseni
 Subhadra
 Subhanana
 Sucarita
 Sugandhika
 Sukesi
 Sumadhura
 Sumadhya
 Sumandira
 Sumukhi
 Surabhi
 Susangata
 Tanumadhya
 Tilakini
 Tungabhadra
 Varangada
 Vicitrangi

WHETHER FOR MADHYAHNIKA SANDHYA VANDANAM, ONE CAN USE THE TERM "UPASISHYE" DURING SANKALPA?

Based on traditional practices, we use the sankalpa "MAdhyAnika sandhyAm upAsishye." There is no difference in the sandhyA sankalpam whether prAtah, MAdhyAhnika or SAyam sandhyA. We use the term "upAsishye" all across . The term " MAdhyAhnika sandhyopAsanam," has been used by traditional scholars.

According to atri:-

sandhyA trayam tu kartavyam dvijenAtmavidA sadA iti !

atra sandhyA Sabdena sandhyopAsana rUpa karmopalakshyate !

anyathA devatAyAh kartavyatvA yogAt!!

WHETHER VAPANAM IS MANDATORY FOR BRAHMACARIS ON THE UPAKARMA DAY ?

 Vapanam (Hair-cut) is mandatory for brahmacAris on the day of upAkarma. This is especially applicable to the BrahmacAris of  Yajurveda - Apastamba SUtra.

WHETHER PITRU TARPANAM HAS TO BE PERFORMED BY A VIPRA BELONGING TO APASTAMBA SUTRA WHOSE FATHER IS ALIVE?

In Yajur Veda Mantra starting with "somah pitrumAn yamo angirasvAn......" the Pitrus referred to are the nitya Pitrus and not one's own pitru, pitAmaha and prapitAmaha. Also, in the nitya pitru tarpaNam, we use only water.

A person does tarpaNam using gingelly (til) for his own pitru, pitAmaha and prapitAmaha only when his father is not alive. In regard to nitya pitru tarpaNam forming part of brahma Yajna, it is not the case. Hence every vipra, irrespective of the fact whether his father is alive or not, has to perform nitya pitru tarpaNam as part of brahma Yajna if he belongs to Yajur Veda Apastamba SUtra. Thus performance of nitya pitru tarpaNam by such a vipra whose father is alive is in order.

WHETHER YAJUR UPAKARMA HAS TO BE PERFORMED ONLY ON 2ND AUGUST 2012 ?

There are a lot of intricacies in determining the upakarma. Each sect gives importance to one key aspect and determines the day accordingly. One should not forget that there are reputed traditional scholars still alive in each of these sects.Accordingly,one major sect of vipras in Tamil Nadu including us are observing yajur upAkarma on 1st August 2012. We cannot say that it has to be only performed on 2nd August,2012.

Similar is the case with reference to determination of ekAdaSi, SrI KrshNa jayanti, SrI RAma navami , amavAsyA and so on. All these would have regional / sectoral variants. That is the beauty of sanAtana dharma. Starting from Vedas, smrtis, dharma SAstras, sUtras, there are a lot of variations which are there from time immemorial. No one can ever make them uniform all across.

In the light of the above, in these matters the best way is to follow one's own tradition without adversely commenting upon others' traditions and practices. After all, doing upakarma with SraddhA on any of these acceptable days is better than arguing endlessly as if upakarma is being performed by the vipras for the first time ever in BhArata deSa.