On the floor..

Ananda was the dear most and very prominent disciple of Gautam Buddha. Many scriptures are filled with their conversations. Through their conversations, we got to know some of the basic teachings and doctrines of Buddhism.

The relationship between Guru and his disciples has always been a revered one in India. The place of Guru has always regarded as on top in Indian society. Even Ram and Krishna who is God himself has to go to their respective Gurus, who imparted in them the real Knowledge.

Recently I came across, one such instance where this tradition was on full display and it was awe striking to me.

One Guru (in His late 60s) was traveling in First Class AC compartment along with one of his dearest disciple (in his 40s). Both got their seats in the same compartment. The seat was allocated in such a manner that the upper berth was for the Guru and the Lower Berth was for the disciple.

As the night arrived, Guru told his disciple that even though the berth allocated to him was Upper One, yet since he was feeling body pain hence he wanted to sleep in lower berth and asked His disciple to take the upper seat. The Disciple, who has relinquished all his material possession and a lucrative career of a Doctor only to serve his Spiritual Master, would have hardly disagreed to this insignificant proposal. He massaged the feet of his Spiritual Master till he felt asleep.

Night was passing as if it is in competition with the speed of the train. Sometime in mid night eyes of the Guru opened and he saw his disciple was lying on the floor of the train and was in deep sleep. The upper berth was empty. Since he saw his disciple  in deep sleep ,the Guru didn’t disturbed him but he himself, was unable to sleep whole night.

At 3:30 AM, as usual, the disciple woke up to engage himself in the service of the Supreme and His Spiritual Master.

But as soon he turned towards his master, he saw him already woken up. He felt ashamed. He asked to his master, was he facing any problem in sleeping? Did he needed something? Why didn’t He woke him up?

His master asked to him “why you slept on the floor and not on the reserved upper berth as I told you?”

Disciple initially remained silent but the Guru again asked the same question. The the disciple replied, “how could I take or sleep on a position which is in elevated position than you, I found the floor of the train much comfortable than the upper berth of the First Class of the train. I had a very sound and blissful sleep, which probably couldn’t have on the upper berth”.

Seeing the dedication and surrenderness of his disciple, the Guru became ecstatic and embraced his disciple and told “please forgive me, because of me you have to sleep on the floor.” Disciple also became delighted.

Sleeping on the floor may not be as bad as it seems. It depends on the purpose.

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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 😀

 

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

 

जीत-हार

जीत-हार

हार के कगार पे

बैठे जो मन हार के

आगे कुछ दिखता नहीं

अश्रु धार थमता  नहीं

शत्रु जो सब कुछ लूट गया

स्वजनों का संग भी छूट गया

ह्रदय वेदना से भरी हुई जो

खुद की बोझ भी सहती नहीं वो

याद रहे हरदम

ज़िंदा हो अभी , मरे न तुम

वह कल भी था बीत गया 

यह पल भी बीत जाएगा

एक संघर्ष में हार से

युद्ध हारा नहीं कहलायेगा

सत्य धर्म के मार्ग चलो

हार से तुम किंचित  न डरो

सत्य धर्म जहाँ  होता है

वहीं जनार्दन होते हैं

जहाँ जनार्दन होते है

वहीं विजयश्री पग धोती है

……अभय…..

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