Being Lakshman

So, when demon Marich came in a disguise of a magnificent golden deer and roamed around the hermit, where Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshmana were staying, Sita immediately became magnetized by seeing her beauty. She made a request to Lord Ram that she is so moved by the exquisiteness of that deer that she wants it immediately. Lord Ram, knowing that it may be an illusion, tried to convince Her about its futility and possible consequences but Devi Sita’s was unappeasable. She argued, “I have spent nearly thirteen years of my youthful life in the forest, caves, mountains and away from any form of luxuries without any regret, I never requested anything except your company, this is my only desire that I am extending to You, please accept it.” Lord Ram was touched by Her plea and agreed to chase down and bring that golden deer. He cautioned Lakshman to guard Devi Sita and not to leave the place until He returns.

Credit: Internet

The chase began. The deer was fast and frantic, but it was chased by none other than the Supreme Being. After going deeper in to the forest, by taking appropriate position, Ram shot an arrow and it pierced the heart of the deer. But to the amusement of Lord Ram, the deer suddenly turned in to a Demon and started wailing and calling “Oh! Lakshman Oh! Site!!! Oh Site!!! Oh Lakshman!!!”

Sita and Lakshman who were still in the hermit, heard the excruciating voice in which their name were being called. Sita immediately became anxious, perturbed and thought that Lord must have been fallen in a great danger and hence He is calling for help. She was in tears and asked Lakshman to leave immediately and go for help to his elder brother.

Lakshman was unusually very calm 🙂 and told her to not worry as no one in this three worlds can inflict any pain and danger to Sri Ram. In front of His strength even the demigods would not withstand, what to speak of the species of this planet. But Sita was unmoved by the argument and was constantly thinking that Her husband must be in great danger. She was constantly making request to Lakshman to go for the search of Ram. Lakshman was constantly reminding Her that Lord has told him to not to leave Sita alone, as this can be a trap.

At last Sita became furious and enraged on the arguments of  Lakshman and chastised and labeled atrocious allegations. She rebuked Lakshman “Even after my constant request to go for the help of your elder Brother, who seems to be severe in danger, you are in constant mode of denial. Now I got to know the real purpose why you came with us all along the forest leaving a Royal life. You had an attachment towards me and you must have thought that in forest when Lord Ram will not be there with me, you could enjoy me. Now that time has come. Even you are listening the desperate call of your brother for help, but you are so fallen that you are not willing to leave me!!!You are attracted by my beauty and have lost all your morality ”

I will stop the narration here. Everybody knows the story (at least Indians) what happened after that.

I was just thinking how it would be like “Being Lakshman” in that situation? A devoted brother, who left a royal and luxurious life a prince of a Chakravarti Kingdom, was faced an allegation of moral misconduct and lose character from none other than the lady whom he consider as mother throughout his life. How much pain he would have gone through, when these charges were labeled against him.

I was just thinking that even when we commit mistakes or any offence against other of any kind, and when someone admonishes us we feel so much burdened disheartened. And there in Lakshman, innocent of any crime and an epitome of sacrifice, how he could have tolerated those harsh words.

Ram is real. Ramayan is not out dated. It has several stories and characters which is even more relevant these days, when society is grappling with so many gruesome, atrocious, despicable, heinous, monstrous and abhorrent events. You know what I mean, Don’t you?

If time permits read Ramayan. Listen the Stories of Ramanyan from bonafide source. Discuss it. Deliberate on it.  Things will happen, either good or bad. It’s up to us to be a participant, in either good or bad.

Thank You!

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Clearer..

 

Contemplation..

I like sitting silently in any natural setting, contemplating on myriad thoughts. In cities, now there are hardly any pristine locations where one can sit and listen the chirps of the birds and can float in his/her imagination. But, of course, manmade parks come to rescue me at many occasions. If there is no one to disturb, I can sit there, hours and hours mutely. Perhaps, I should say this is my favourite time pass. Someone has rightly said “I am alive because I think and not that I think because I am alive”.

Yesterday, as we all know, was Dewali or Deepawali. The day, when Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after conquering Ravana and serving exile for fourteen long and tortuous years. I went on to offer my obeisance to one of the temple of Lord Ram.

Ram-Janki-Laxman-Hanuman

I spent nearly an hour or hour an half in temple. Then I decided to return. There is a park nearby that temple. On returning, I was up to my favourite task:-). I sat down and enjoyed the songs of the numerous birds and the frantic movements of the squirrels jumping from one tree to the ground and then to another tree.

I was recalling some of my past Diwali celebrations, and then suddenly a person came and sat beside me, which I usually don’t like when I want to be alone. But, that was a public park and in India, if your are having a seat in any public transportation and even if it is occupied to its maximum capacity, still a new person will come and ask you “please adjust” or “Bhai Thoda adjust kar lo”. So his usurpation was legitimate on that account. 🙂

Soon he opened his bag pack and took out three plastic bags from it. Two of the bags were filled with grains and one with sugar. He started to scatter it in specific locations, as I can see there were some earlier remnants of those grains as if he usually do it. He poured some sugar near by the habitats of ants which was adjacent to the bench where I was sitting. Then he started to disperse the grains in the bottom of the trees and then he was leaving the place.

Did not take his permission while capturing him, but I hope he wouldn’t have minded

The same person whom I have talked

Seeing the generosity of that person towards those animals and birds who can’t speak, cannot demand, cannot assert their share; I asked him “Do you regularly do this generous act?”

His humble answer caught my imagination. He smilingly said “Who am I to do this? What is my capacity? I am in slippers (hawai chappa as he said it)? I am from very humble background. The one, sitting inside that structure (pointing towards temple) does it all, for me and for entire universe.” Before I could have asked any supplementary questions he ran away from the place towards the temple, as if he was in hurry. I remained silent. Even though he went from that place, he left many thoughts in my mind. I am concluding all these in point wise manner:-

1. There is something about Indian Culture. Since ancient times, people thorough myriad instructions and teaching via scriptures, are told to not to take credit anything done out of generosity and dedicate it to the Lord
2. If we start taking credit of the act, then it will result in developing ego and ego is one of the root causes of evil.
3. From the point of views of birds, insects and other species which may have benefitted through the act of that person, in reality they don’t know or will never be able to know about the person who has actually done it. Similarly in our life also, there are many persons which help us but we are not able to recognize their contribution and in turn never able to show our gratitude towards them
4. Even if the person would not have arranged those stuffs, still those little creatures would have survived. Alternatively we can say that, these species are not dependent on anyone’s generosity. They derive everything necessary for their survival from the Mother Nature, yet the persons act as facilitator. This also has been the teaching of the Bhagavad Gita.
5. Sometime we may not know the mean, but whatever is required for us to survive is being arranged by someone, somehow, somewhere.
6. Spirituality makes us humble and humbleness is revered as crown jewel of all qualities.
7. You don’t have to be a millionaire to serve others and to make this place beautiful, what you all need to have a gentle heart.

Squirrels having feast

Sugar poured in Ant’s Colony

Pigeon’s Party

That’s it for the day. I hope you had a memorable and safe Diwali this time and if you are in National Capital, then must have abide by the orders of Honourable Supreme Court,  and for those like me, who are not the resident of that part had Diwali as usual 😀

 

Calmness

India is home of nearly all the religions of the world. Four major religions i.e. Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism find its origin in this land of Bharat. Such diversity in religion tells you about the tolerance of the country. Tolerance in the sense that those who inhabited this part of the world, were able to digest the divergent point of view on God irrespective of having differences.

Even before advent of Christianity and Islam, Buddhism and Jainism had found its place here nearly somewhere around circa 600-500 BC!!!

If you read the tenets of these two religion, you will be surprised to know how elaborately and sophisticatedly the philosophy of life has been dealt and many of them, if not all, is equally applicable in recent times as well.

Word Buddha means “Enlightened One”. Life and teachings of Buddha attracted many in that time and even today. Its impact was so lasting that even though it virtually wiped out from Indian Subcontinent, the place of its origin, yet it continues to thrive in Parts of China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Sri Lanka etc.

Today I am sharing you one anecdote from the life of Buddha, which is very interesting as well as we can apply it in our life as well.

Buddha’s physique was very strong and he used it perfectly. He used to travel nearly 20-30 KM everyday by foot to give his sermons to the different parts of the contemporary India.

Even though he was highly revered among his followers, but since Brahmins of that time had a grip over cultural and devotional aspect, he had to face severe criticisms and backlashes during the propagation of Buddhism.

On one such occasion, while he was preaching, an adversary of him came and started a scathing attack on his philosophy and personally abused him. Followers of Buddha became very perturbed on seeing the attack on their master, but Buddha was, as always, calm amidst tempest. He let that person speak for as much as duration of time until all his evil words to Buddha found some expression.

Then Buddha, who until now was listening peacefully, asked a question from that person.

Buddha -“What if someone is willing to present a gift to the other person, but the other refuses to accept it”.

Person-“It will remain with the same who is presenting the gift”.

Buddha quipped “I am not accepting your abuse!!!”

So in this way he defeated him by his calmness and sheer brilliance of his presence of mind. In our life we also face similar situations especially as we grow up and with that growth comes the false ego. Teaching of Buddha can be a guiding lamp in this regarding.

Thank You!!! Have a Great Weekend!!!

Image Credit: Google Image

Propagate the Good

I recently observed a phenomenon that people like to propagate the ideology which they are professing, practicing and have allegiance to it.

From Capitalism to Socialism, from Autocracy to Democracy, from Secularism to Communalism, from Barbarism/Terrorism to Humanism, from Atheist to Theist and from Lover to Hater, one desire is common in all these groups that they want to increase their number.

Purpose behind mounting the number, in my view, is that they feel safe, secure and superior with like-minded people. We have heard from one of our ancient scripture/ Upanishad that “Satyamev Jayate” means “Truth alone Triumph”, but now this believe is only used for the decorative purposes and have taken a back seat as “Truth” is being adjudicated by the majority’s view.

Anyway, purpose of my writing is that, I believe that whatever good we are doing we should continue but proliferate, disseminate and transmit it to the other people. If we don’t broadcast it, surely negative vibes and action will occupy the vacuum.

If  peace will not be propagated, agitation will fill the void.

#ShubhRatri

 

मधुराष्टकम्/ Madhurashtkam

नमस्ते मित्रों !

गीत या काव्य अभिव्यक्ति की वह विधा है जिसमें लेखक या कवि विषय भाव के सागर में डूब कर अमूल्य मोती बाहर ले आता है! जो चीजें दिखती हैं, उसके बारे में लिखना आसान होता है, परन्तु मैं यह सोचने पर विवश हो जाता हूँ कि कोई व्यक्ति भगवान कि विषय में इतना कैसे डूब जाता है कि वह उत्कृष्ट रचनाओं का सृजन सुगमता से मार्मिकता के साथ करने में सक्षम होता है.
आज मैं आप सब के समक्ष श्रीपाद वल्लभाचार्य द्वारा रचित भगवान श्री कृष्ण को समर्पित एक गीत या भजन को प्रस्तुत कर रहा हूँ. वल्लभाचार्य 15 वीं शताब्ती के भक्ति मार्ग के आचार्य थे और प्रसिद्ध शासक राजा कृष्णदेव राय के समवर्ती थे.
किसी भी गीत का life cycle कितना हों सकता है, इस विषय पर हम यदि सोचे तो अलग अलग उत्तर मिलेगा, पर यह भजन 500 साल से ज़्यादा प्राचीन है और अब भी प्रचलित है, इसकी महत्ता बताने के लिए काफी है
हो सकता है आप में से कईयों ने इसको सुना या पढ़ा हो, पर जो व्यक्ति इससे वंचित रह गए हों, उनके लिए यह आनंद का श्रोत हो सकता है.
इस भजन का नाम “मधुराष्टकम” है. मधुर मतलब मीठा और अष्टकम मतलब इसमें आठ छंद या stanza हैं. इसमें भगवान के विभिन्न पहलुओं का वर्णन किया गया है.

मूलतः यह रचना संस्कृत में है, पर जो व्यक्ति हिंदी समझ सकते हैं उनको अधिकांश शब्दों के अर्थ आसानी से समझ आ जायेंगे, और जिन शब्दों के अर्थ समझ न आये उसके लिए उन्हें थोड़ा परिश्रम करना होगा. Internet पर आसानी से अर्थ मिल जायेंगे, और शायद से Wikipedia पर भी इसका अर्थ है . इस भजन को कई प्रसिद्ध गायकों ने स्वर दिया है परन्तु मुझे Pandit Jasraj और  M.S. Subbulakshmi की आवाज़ में यह रचना काफी अच्छी लगती है. आप भी आंनद ले सकते हैं

मधुराष्टकम्

अधरं मधुरं वदनं मधुरं
नयनं मधुरं हसितं मधुरम् ।
हृदयं मधुरं गमनं मधुरं
मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ॥ १ ॥

वचनं मधुरं चरितं मधुरं
वसनं मधुरं वलितं मधुरम् ।
चलितं मधुरं भ्रमितं मधुरं
मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ॥ २ ॥

वेणु-र्मधुरो रेणु-र्मधुरः
पाणि-र्मधुरः पादौ मधुरौ ।
नृत्यं मधुरं सख्यं मधुरं
मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ॥ ३ ॥

गीतं मधुरं पीतं मधुरं
भुक्तं मधुरं सुप्तं मधुरम् ।
रूपं मधुरं तिलकं मधुरं
मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ॥ ४ ॥

करणं मधुरं तरणं मधुरं
हरणं मधुरं स्मरणं मधुरम् ।
वमितं मधुरं शमितं मधुरं
मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ॥ ५ ॥

गुंजा मधुरा माला मधुरा
यमुना मधुरा वीची मधुरा ।
सलिलं मधुरं कमलं मधुरं
मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ॥ ६ ॥

गोपी मधुरा लीला मधुरा
युक्तं मधुरं मुक्तं मधुरम् ।
दृष्टं मधुरं शिष्टं मधुरं
मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ॥ ७ ॥

गोपा मधुरा गावो मधुरा
यष्टि र्मधुरा सृष्टि र्मधुरा ।
दलितं मधुरं फलितं मधुरं
मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ॥ ८ ॥

 

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Kasturi Tilkam

Recently I came across a very beautiful Bhajan on Lord Krishna on YouTube. It is in Sanskrit and Pandit Jasraj Ji has given his melodious voice to it.  Although, I knew this Bhajan even before listening it on YouTube, but I knew it as in the form a Verse/Slokas.

In this verse the physical appearance of Lord Krishna is glorified. Although to glorify  the absolute qualities of Lord is beyond capacity of Individual, yet devotees have the legacy to describe Him according to ones realization.

Even without having knowledge of Indian classical music, I consider it very rich than compare to the current trends of Indian Bollywood music. Now a days songs, though they are famous among youth, lack poetic sense, doesn’t have meaning and instruments preoccupy the songs rather than the voice of singer.

In my view,there are some reasons behind the less popularity of classical music among youth as they are unaware of the intricacies of various aspects of it . Apart from this many classical songs, which finds its origin in Sanskrit, are difficult to discern. In the absence of the meaning of songs, people find it tough to retain and enjoy the real hidden beauty. And it is obvious that if we are not able to understand, than it is impossible to appreciate.

So for this Bhajan, I did some research and found multiple sources where the translations as well as meaning of the words were given. I am sharing the meaning of the each words as well as the translation of the verse.

I am also sharing a Link of this Bhajan, which is on YouTube. This Bhajan is part of an album Govind Damodar Madhveti. Each and Every song is a bliss.  Plug in your Ear Phone to get the better sound effect and clarity.

कस्तूरीतिलकं ललाटपटले वक्षःस्थले कौस्तुभं

नासाग्रे नवमौक्तिकं करतले वेणुं करे कङ्कणम् ।

सर्वाङ्गे हरिचन्दनं सुललितं कण्ठे च मुक्तावलिं

गोपस्त्री परिवेष्टितो विजयते गोपाल चूडामणिः ॥

Kasturi-Tilakam Lalaatta-Pattale Vakssah-Sthale Kaustubham

Naasa-Agre Nava-Mauktikam Karatale Vennum Kare Kangkannam

Sarva-Angge Haricandanam Sulalitam Kanntthe Cha Muktaavalim

Gopa-Strii Parivessttito Vijayate Gopaala Chuddaamannih

Meaning:
1: Obeisance to Gopala Who is adorned with the Sacred Marks of Kasturi (Musk) on His Forehead and Kaustubha Jewel on His Chest,
2: His Nose is decorated with a new Shining Pearl, the Palms of His Hands are gently holding a Flute, the Hands themselves are beautifully decorated with Bracelets,
3: His Whole Body is Smeared with Sandal Paste, as if Playfully anointed, and His Neck is decorated with a Necklace of Pearls,
4: Surrounded by the Cowherd Woman, Gopala is Shining in their middle in Celebration like a Jewel on the Head.

Meaning of the Words:

कस्तूरीतिलकं (Kastuurii-Tilakam): Marks of Kasturi [Musk] ,

ललाटपटले (Lalaatta-Pattale): On the Surface of Forehead

वक्षःस्थले (Vakssah-Sthale): On the Chest

कौस्तुभं (Kaustubham): Kaustubha Mani obtained during Samudra Manthana

नासाग्रे (Naasa-Agre): On the Nose

नवमौक्तिकं (Nava-mauktikam): New Shining Pearl

करतले (Karatale): On the Palm of the Hand

वेणुं (Vennum): Flute

करे (Kare): On the Hand

कङ्कणम् (Kangkannam): Bracelet

सर्वाङ्गे (Sarva-Angge): Whole Body

हरिचन्दनं (Haricandanam): Yellow Sandal Paste

सुललितं (Sulalitam): Playful, Wanton, Charming

कण्ठे (Kanntthe): On the Neck

च (Ca): And

मुक्तावलिं (Muktaavalim): Pearl of Necklace

गोपस्त्री (Gopa-Strii): Cowherd Woman 1

परिवेष्टितो (Parivessttito): Surrounded by

विजयते (Vijayate): in Victory, Celebration

गोपाल (Gopaala): Gopala, another name of Sri Krishna

चूडामणिः (Cuuddaamannih): The Best or Most Exalted literally meaning the Jewel worn on the Head

Credits: YouTube Link: Dharmaraksha

               Meaning and Translation: Multiple sources, with special mention Greenmesg.org

 

स्मरण

स्मरण

आशंकाओं से घिरे पहर में ,

   दुविधाओं के बीच भंवर में,

     दर्द भरी आहों में,

      या सूनी राहों में

         मरुभूमि के टीलों में

           नेत्र बनी जो झीलों में

             या बंजर मैदानों में

             सूखे खेत खलिहानो में

                स्वजनित विपदाओं में

                 या प्राकृतिक आपदाओं में

जब जब हम खुद को

   हारा हुआ पाते हैं

     नेत्र स्वतः बंद हो जाते हैं

       वंदन को हाथ जुड़ जाता है

         कभी अहम् से था जो मस्तक ऊँचा

          वह  भी झुक जाता है

            दुःख की घड़ी में तो अनायास ही

              ध्यान प्रभु का आता है

                पर सुख के पहर में स्मरण ईश्वर को

                     शायद ही कोई कर पाता है

                                                                                 ~अभय

Qualities of Lord

Namaste to readers and fellow bloggers,

Today I chose to write something different than my usual content. Let me know, if you enjoyed reading.

There is hardly any doubt that whenever anyone in India would be asked to recite some verse from Bhagavad Gita, majority of them would land up in mentioning below two verses

yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham

 paritranaya sadhunam
vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge

I am not sure that how many of them will know the real meaning of these verses. For that matter, even I was oblivious of the meanings till few years back. But somehow got to know  and on this auspicious day of Ramnavami, when Lord Ramchandra manifested himself in this world, I thought of writing about it.

In these two slokas (verses) Lord mentions the reason why he appears in this material creation. The reasons why He came can be concluded from the verse as..

Lord comes,

1. Whenever there is decline in religiousness and irreligion rises
2. To deliver those who are pious and
3. To annihilate the miscreants

So in Hinduism, we are aware that Lord had ten incarnations called as Dashavatar. If we would study a bit it about these incarnations, then we will surely find that every time when he came,  above three criterion were satisfied.

Lord Ramchandra came in Treta Yuga, and whatever happened after that, is an epic and known to all Indians (not only Hindus), at least the overall story. So I am not going to tell you about the story of Ramayan. My purpose of this writing is to remember the qualities that Lord had displayed during his stay on this planet. He was an ideal as He was Lord himself. So we cannot imitate or emulate him, but by knowing his qualities, surely we can try to follow his footstep. So today is Ramnaumi and taking the cue from the Ninth day of the Chaitra Month, I tried to write nine out of innumerable qualities of Lord in short. However I am not competent to describe the glory of him, yet I gave it a try.

Credit: ISKCON

1. A Perfect Son: Nowhere in the world you wouldcome across a story where a son in his youthful stage left all his lavishness and luxuries of kingdom and spent 14 years in exile, faced innumerable hardship as Ram did and that too just for the sake of keeping his father’s word. Even though he knew his stepmother is the culprit for all his adversity, yet no where we come across an incident where he has raised a voice of disrespect against her.

2. A Perfect Brother: When Lord Ram got to know that her stepmother wanted to coronate his son Bharat as Crown prince of Ayodhya, even though Lord had exclusive right over throne. Yet, he readily agreed to the proposal and left for the forest as if he was relinquishing a blade of grass. The same love was from the other side too. All three younger brothers were so attached to Ram that they were even ready to accept death but not the separation from him. Till today the brother’s relationship between Ram and Bharat is revered in India.

3. A Perfect Student: Ram had formal education in ashram of Vashishta and Vishwamitra. Both the teachers taught the intricacies of diplomacy, weaponry, politics etc. Lord Ram excelled in all the discipline and was revered by them as well.

4. A perfect Husband: Lord Ram is known as Maryada Purushottam, a supreme in Virtue. When polygamy was prevalent in that era especially among the Kings and Kshatriya (warrior class), he vowed and later observed that he will have only one wife in his life. When Mother Sita was taken away to Lanka by Ravana, Ram was so tormented and agonized that he saw her in trees, in stones, in rivers etc. As her presence was unknown, he was helpless and asked about her from birds and the animals of Dandakaranya. Later when he got to know that Ravan has kidnapped her, with meager of resources and army of Monkeys and Bears he attacked mighty Ravan(from whom even Indra, king of Demigods, was affraid) and defeated him in war and brought back Maa Sita home

5. A perfect Friend: His friendship was conspicuous when he assisted Sugriva, who was on the weaker side and made him the King of Kiskindha. The story of his friendship with the King of Nishad is well known and highly revered.

6. A perfect Enemy: As we know that he was a perfect friend, at the same time he was a perfect enemy of the devils and miscreants since the childhood. As stated earlier one of the reasons that he came to the earth was to destroy the evil force. So he killed many demons who used to trouble the Sadhus or the Saints . Some of them were so powerful that they had even defeated Demigods. Ram killed many demons during his stay.

7. A perfect warrior: Ram was a perfect Kshatriya and a valiant warrior. On one hand Ravan had well equipped with all the mysterious weaponry, yet Lord defeated him with handful of army which manly comprised of Monkeys and Bears.

8. A Perfect Master: There is a very interesting past time of Lord Ram, when he eat the berry given by Sabari, a lower caste women in her old age, who herself has tasted them before giving to Lord. In Indian context, it is an offence to give something to the master after first consuming or defiling it. But she was so engrossed in the love of lord that she did not wanted to give a sour berry to Him. And Lord was so generous that he accepted and consumed all the berries.

9. A perfect King: In Ramayan we come across an ideal world, where a king used to go in disguise to see the wellbeing of his countrymen. It is said that in his state no person was in distress. His reign was so celebrated that till today politicians cutting across the party lines claims before the election that they will bring Ramrajya, yet they had no intention to follow the footsteps of him.

Although, my words will not do justice to the describe the qualities of Lord, yet I am hoping that you have enjoyed it.

Thank you for reading.