Maruthanallur sathguru Swamigal

Courtesy: Sri.Mannargudi Sitaraman Srinivasan

 

மருதாநல்லூர் சுவாமிகள்

கலியுகத்தில் நாமசங்கீர்த்தனமும், வழிபாடும் மிகச் சுலபமாக இறைவனை அடையும் வழியாகும். ஸ்ரீபோதேந்திர சுவாமிகள், ஸ்ரீதர ஐயர்வாள், மருதாநல்லூர் சுவாமிகள் மூவரும் நாமசங்கீர்த்தனத்தை உலகிற்கு அறிமுகப்
படுத்தி மக்களிடையே விழிப்புணர்வை ஏற்படுத்தியவர்கள் ஆவர். நாமபஜனையில் பாகவதர்களின் கீர்த்தனைகளை வரிசைப்படுத்தி, மிருதங்கம் போன்ற வாத்தியங்களை இசைத்து மனதை ஒருமுகப்படுத்தி புனிதமான இறைவழிபாட்டு முறையை மேம்படுத்தியவர் சத்குரு மருதாநல்லூர் சுவாமிகள்.

சீதாகல்யாணம், ராதாகல்யாணம், ருக்மணி கல்யாணம் போன்ற பஜனை சம்பிரதாயங்களை உருவாக்கி, "மருதாநல்லூர் பாணி' என்று புகழ்பாடும் அளவிற்கு அதை மக்களிடையே பரப்பியவர். 1777 முதல் 1817வரை 40 ஆண்டுகள் வாழ்ந்தார். இளம் பிராயத்தில் "வெங்கட்ராமன்' என்ற பெயர் பெற்ற சுவாமிகள், தெலுங்கு பிராமணர் வம்சத்தில் பிறந்தவர். இவரது தந்தை காவியங்களில் பற்றுடையவர். பக்திமான் என்பதால், சுவாமிகளுக்கு வேதத்துடன் கூட, ராமகாவியத்தை திரும்பத் திரும்ப சொல்லி மனதில் பதிய வைத்தார். இதனால், ராமஜபம் மட்டுமில்லாமல், உள்ளும்புறமும் தன்னை ஸ்ரீராமனாகவே பார்த்துக் கொண்டார். பாகவதர்களின் இருப்பிடமாகிய திருவிசைநல்லூரில் வசித்த இவருக்கு, சிறுவயதிலேயே இவரது தாயார் பல மகான்களின் கதைகளைச் சொன்னார். தன் தந்தை செய்த சிரார்த்தம் முதலான வைதீக காரியங்களில் பிழைப்புக்காக ஈடுபட்டு வந்தார்.
ஒருநாள் பக்கத்து ஊருக்கு சிரார்த்தம் செய்ய சென்ற போது, ராமநாம ஜபம் செய்ய ஆரம்பித்து விட்டார். காலையில் ஆரம்பித்த ஜபம் மாலையில் தான் முடிந்தது. சிரார்த்தம் பற்றிய நினைப்பு வந்தவுடன், ஓடிச்சென்று அந்த வீட்டுக்காரரை பார்த்து மன்னிப்பு கேட்க முயற்சி செய்தபோது, ""நீங்கள் இன்று வெகுநன்றாக சிரார்த்தம் செய்து வைத்தீர்கள்," என்று சொன்னதைக் கேட்டு, பகவத் அருளை நினைத்து திகைத்து நின்று விட்டார்.

இவர் ஜானகி என்ற பெண்மணியை திருமணம் செய்து கொண்டார். தந்தையார் இறந்த பிறகு, குடும்பத்தை நடத்த, பக்கத்து ஊருக்குச் சென்று குழந்தைகளுக்கு வேதம் சொல்லித் தந்தார். இவரிடம் கற்றுக் கொண்ட மாணவர்களுக்கு படிப்பு நன்றாக வந்ததால், இவரது புகழ் எங்கும் பரவியது. கூட்டம் பெருகியது. இது இவரது ஜப வாழ்க்கைக்கு இடையூறாக அமைந்தது. எனவே, தம் சொத்துக்களை உறவினர்களிடம் கொடுத்துவிட்டு ராமஜபம் செய்யும் ஆசையில் அயோத்திக்கு புறப்பட்டு விட்டார். உஞ்சவிருத்தி எடுத்து நாமசங்கீர்த்தனம் செய்து கொண்டே ஆந்திரா வந்து விட்டார். திருப்பதி செல்லும் பக்தர்கள் ஒரு குழுவாக அமர்ந்து ராமபெயரைச் சொல்லி ஆடிப்பாடிக் கொண்டிருப்பதை கண்டார். ""தமிழகத்தில் கடவுள் பெயரைச் சொல்வதற்கே வெட்கப்படுகிறார்களே! ஆனால், இங்குள்ள மக்கள் பக்தியுள்ளவர்களாக இருக்கிறார்களே," என எண்ணியவராய், வடக்கே இருந்த சம்பிரதாயங்களையும், தெற்கே இருந்த கீர்த்தனைகளையும் ஒன்றாக இணைத்து ஒருநாம சங்கீர்த்தன முறையை உருவாக்க எண்ணினார்.

அன்று இரவில் போதேந்திரர் கனவில் தோன்றி, "" உன் பிறப்பின் நோக்கத்தை அறிந்த பிறகும் அயோத்திக்கு ஏன் செல்கிறாய். உன் ஊருக்குச் சென்று நாமசங்கீர்த்தனத்தை பரப்ப ஏற்பாடு செய்," என்றார். உடனே, சுவாமிகள் மருதாநல்லூர் திரும்பி விட்டார்.
***
ஜெயதேவரின் கீதகோவிந்தம், போதேந்திர சுவாமிகள், ஐயர்வாள், பத்ராசலம் ராமதாசர் போன்ற மகான்களின் பாடல்களை ஒன்றிணைத்து ஒரு அழகான நாமசங்கீர்த்தன முறையை உருவாக்கினார். அதை அந்த ஊரில் உள்ள எல்லா பெரியவர்களுக்கும், குழந்தைகளுக்கும் கற்றுத் தந்தார். மருதாநல்லூரில் ஒரு மடத்தை ஸ்தாபித்தார். இதன்பிறகு, சத்குரு மருதாநல்லூர் சுவாமிகள் என்று அழைக்கப்பட்டார்.

போதேந்திர சுவாமிகளின் சமாதியை பார்க்க, இவர் கோவிந்தபுரம் சென்றபோது, சமாதி எங்கிருக்கிறது எனத் தெரியவில்லை. அவரது சமாதியைக் கண்டுபிடிக்கவேண்டும் என்ற தீர்மானத்துடன் 9 நாட்கள் உண்ணாமல், உறங்காமல், அசையாமல் ராமநாம ஜபம் செய்தார். 10வது நாள் உத்வேகம் வந்தவராய், காவிரியாற்று மணலில் பல இடங்களில் காது வைத்து கேட்க, ஓரிடத்தில் சிம்மகர்ஜனையாக "ராம் ராம்' என்ற நாமம் காதில் கேட்டது. அந்த இடமே மகானின் ஜீவசமாதி என்பதை அறிந்த சுவாமிகள் தஞ்சை மன்னர் சரபோஜியின் உதவியுடன் சமாதி அமைக்க ஏற்பாடு செய்தார்.

சுவாமிகள் சரபோஜி மன்னரைத் தேடிச் செல்வதற்கு முன்னதாக ஒருநாள், மன்னரின் கனவில் ஆஞ்சநேயர் தோன்றி, ""உன்னைத் தேடி ராமச்சந்திரமூர்த்தி வந்துள்ளார்," என்று சொன்னார். இதனால் சரபோஜி மன்னர்,
சுவாமிகளின் பாதங்களில் விழுந்து ஆசிபெற்றார்.
மருதாநல்லூர் சுவாமிகள் பல அற்புதங்களை நிகழ்த்தினார். ஒருமுறை அவர் உஞ்சவிருத்தி எடுத்துவரும்போது, பாலகலோசன் என்பவர் அவரை அவமரியாதை செய்தார். இதனால் அவருக்கு வயிற்றுவலி வந்து அவஸ்தை அதிகமானது. அவரது மனைவி சுவாமிகளிடம் மன்னிப்பு கேட்டு தீர்த்தம் பெற்றார். அதை கணவருக்கு அளித்தாள். வயிற்றுவலி நீங்கிய பாலகலோசன் அவரது சீடரானார். அந்த சீடர் எழுதிய, "அதடே பரபிரும்மம்' என்ற பாடல் குருவணக்கமாக பாடப்படுகிறது.

1817-ல், ராமநவமிக்கு முதல்நாள், ஆடுதுறை பெருமாள் கோயிலில் ஜெகத்ரட்சக சுவாமி சந்நிதியில் இறைவனுடன் ஐக்கியமானார்.

 

Guru

courtesy: http://www.prahlad.org/Baba/talks/some_talks_by_baba.htm

What is the Guru?

A short talk by
Prahlad Chandra Brahmachari
May 4, 1975

Translated 1976 by Bill Morgan and Pradeep Mukherjea

See Baba's words about the printing of this booklet
See notes at bottom 
Also: Russian version

Today is an auspicious day for us. It is Sunday, the 20^thof the month of Baishakh, in the Bengali year 1382. We are sitting in the courtyard of Anandamayi, near her feet, and with us are four disciples from America: Premananda, Yogananda, Nityananda, Gyanananda. Today I shall speak a little bit about the meaning of this word "guru," and they will translate this into English.

What is the Guru? Once long ago we had a great king, Janak. Janak Maharshi. He made a vow: "He who can give me the knowledge of Brahma in the wink of an eye, he will be my guru." That knowledge of Brahma, which cannot be had even after doing penance for many lifetimes, to get that knowledge edge in the wink of an eye is impossible!

Sanak and other sages and rishis, sixty thousand great rishis came and sat, motionless, and whoever would give King Janak the knowledge of Brahma in the wink of an eye would be his guru. They all sat motionless and silent.

At that time there was one rishi named Ashtavakra, who was deformed. He came, stooping over, to the guru seat which King Janak had prepared. King Janak asked, "Will you be my guru?"

Ashtavakra Rishi said, "Yes, I will be your guru."

"You will give me the knowledge of Brahma in the wink of an eye?"

"Indeed, I will give you that," said the Rishi.

Then King Janak asked him, "So, you will give me initiation?"

Ashtavakra Rishi answered, "Yes, I will give you initiation. But first you must give me theguru-fee. Because after I have become your guru, I cannot take any fee from you. Our Vedantic religion, our Hindu Sanatan Dharma, is very strict. There is no getting a guru before giving the teacher's fee."

Then Ashtavakra Rishi said, "Maharaj, there are three things you must give me for the guru-fee. The first is the body, the second is the mind, the third is your wealth. You have to give me these things first."

In the presence of those sixty-thousand rishis King Janak promptly and ungrudgingly gave these gifts. First he gave his body, meaning the physical body. Secondly he gave his mind. And thirdly, he gave all his wealth. By wealth we do not mean gold, pearls, or gems. Ourreal wealth is our eyes, our ears, our tongue, our nose. Within this body there are great riches. These riches King Janak gave ungrudgingly.

After taking the gifts, Ashtavakra Rishi, sitting on the guru seat said, "Tell me now, King Janak, just who will take this knowledge of Brahma? Who will receive this knowledge of God"?

Then Janak said, "What? "I!" And again he exclaimed, "I!"

Ashtavakra said, "What does 'I' mean? All that you gave me: your body, your mind, your riches, if this is not 'I' then where else is 'I'?" King Janak became very thoughtful.

Then Ashtavakra Rishi said, "Maharaj, that knowledge of God, which you are getting in the wink of an eye, we chant everyday, like this:

Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Deva Maheshvara, Guru Sakshat, Param Brahma, Tasmai Sri Guruve Namah.

Guru means Brahma, guru means Bhagavan. Bhagavan is formless, and he is also with form, standing right in front of us. He gives the mantra in our ear, or he writes it on our tongue. He removes the darkness of our ignorance. And so, in our guru pranam, it goes on to say:

Mot pranam Sri Guru Pranang,
Mot Deha Shri Guru Mondira,
Purna Mosta Bohir Jeno,
Tasmai Shri Guruve Namah.

Mantra Mulong Guru Bakkyo,
Puja Mulong Guru Padho,
Dhyana Mulong Guru Murti,
Mukhya Mulong Guru Kripa.

If the guru gives his grace, of course we will attain to God! Here the need arises for complete and total faith. In this way we must have faith: a faith in which there are no faults or failings what so ever. No error at all. There is a saying, 'Faith will get you the truth but debate takes for ever.' What is the meaning of guru? He in whom there is no ignorance.

Agyana Timirandhasha, gyananjano sholokoya
Chokkumilitong Jeno, Tasmai Shri Guruve Namah.

Then King Janak had the knowledge of Brahma in the wink of an eye. What was it? Guru God! Guru Bhagavan! You cannot get that knowledge of Brahma without the Guru's Blessing and the Guru's Grace.

In the same way, we cannot see our own face. We need a mirror. We see our face in a mirror. We shave the beard, we can see the face, or we put on the tilak, or we can just get a very good look at the whole face. We can see it very well. This looking-glass or mirror is the guru's blessing. We cannot see our own face by ourselves. We can see the face of another, but we cannot see our own face. With the help of the mirror, we can see. This first story is from the "Guru Gita."

The second story today is: you must take a guru. Why must one take a guru?

When we sit for worship in our eternal Hindu religion, and in all religions, there is this obeisance to the guru, or Guruve Namah. Who? Father. Param Guruve Namah. Who is that? Mother. Parapar Guruve Namah. Who is he? He who gives the mantra in our ear. Paramesti Guruve namah. Who? That is Brahma, Atma. These are four gurus.

One day Narada Rishi went to the assembly of the gods. Thirty-three crores of gods were sitting there. That Narada Rishi, what a devotee of God he was! Always drunk with God's name, he traveled on foot, without beast or cart, throughout the three worlds.

When he went to the assembly of gods, he was given a small seat below everyone else. Narada Rishi sat down before them. All of the Gods were there: Indra, Vayu, Varuna, Yama, Dijopal, the Nine Planets, thirty-three crores of them sitting in splendor offering oblations of wheat into the sacred fire. Narada Rishi, with a touch of sadness stirring in his heart, questioned the Great Father Brahma. "Oh Great Father Brahma, I am your own child! Why do I have such a low seat today?"

Brahma replied, laughing, "Narada, you are God's great devotee! You are always singing God's name, but you have never taken a guru. For that reason your seat is so low."

Then Narada thought to himself, "It's true. I have no guru-mantra. In accordance with Mother's order I practice repeating the name of God, but I have never taken a mantra from a guru." Then Narada Rishi vowed to all the gods: "He whose face I see first at dawn, him shall I graciously accept as my guru. I will take initiation from him and return to this assembly of gods." This was great faith and trust in God! This was the practice of spontaneous devotion.

That night Narada slept soundly.

In the early morning he opened the door and saw an old fisherman with a net on his shoulder and the pole of the net in his hand. As he was walking along on his way to catch fish, he was weaving his net.

Before he had even see the face of the fisherman, Narada ran to him. Bowing at his feet he said, "Old fisherman! You must give me initiation! You are my guru! I have vowed that he whose face I see at daybreak, him shall I graciously accept as my guru."

The old fisherman said, "What this? Oh Thakur! You are a rishi, the greatest of them all, Narada Rishi! The Lord's great devotee! I am only a low-caste fisherman. I catch fish, I throw the net. I will be your guru? Don't make a mistake. Let go of my feet!"

But Narada would not let go of his feet. He said to the fisherman, "Look, please give me initiation."

The fisherman said, "But I don't know even a single mantra! I have never taken initiation myself! What mantra could I give you?"

"That which is in your mind, give me that." The meaning of the word mantra is "mon-tor," "mon-tor" (Your-mind). Whatever word the guru speaks, if there is complete faith in that word, then that word is verily the best mantra.

The fisherman thought to himself and then said, "But I don't know anything else. I just throw the nets at the pond, swinging them around my head, singing, 'Oh, Hari Bol, Oh Hari Bol!' This is what we fishermen sing when we throw the nets to catch fish."

Narada Rishi said calmly, "Okay, give me that very one," and he leaned forward to receive the mantra.

Then the fisherman said, "Oh, Hari Bol! Oh, Hari Bol! Oh, Hari Bol!" He said it three times and then left. Narada bowed to his guru.

When he went back to the assembly of the gods, the gods were able to know that Narada had received a mantra from a guru. They put his seat very high. Then the Great Father Brahma said, "Narada, sit down on this high seat!"

Narada asked him, "Why is my seat so high today?"

"Ah! Today you have taken a guru and received initiation, haven't you? For that reason your seat is so high. And we shall all pay homage to your guru. Please request your guru to come. We should all like to see him who is the guru of Narada Rishi!"

Narada then thought to himself, "This is distressing! A dreadful problem!" Narada knew that he had taken initiation from a mere fisherman. "I promised," he thought, "that he whose face I would see first this morning, him I would take for my guru."

All the thirty-three crores of gods said with one voice, "Please, you must bring your guru. We all wish to see him, and together to bow at his feet."

What could Narada do? A difficult situation! He went running back to the old fisherman. Bowing at his feet he said, "You must go with me to the assembly of the gods! Please, climb on my back! Without beast or cart we shall travel across the three worlds!"

The guru fisherman said, "Narada! What an astonishing thing to say! Hari Baba! You are the great Rishi Narada! You are God's devotee! You are going to carry me piggyback?"

The old fisherman was somewhat lame and didn't want to go, but Narada would not release him. As Narada took him on his shoulders to the assembly of the gods, the ancient fisherman kept hold of his net. And the stick, with which he weaved his net, he held on to that as well. Taking these belongings he went with Narada to the kingdom of heaven.

The gods were waiting. When they saw, they were all astounded. "What is this? Narada Rishi's guru is an old fisherman?" They all rose in amazement. They asked Narada "Is this the guru you said you had accepted?"

Narada then revealed the truth to them. "Yesterday I promised this assembly of gods that he whose face I would see when I rose this morning, him I would graciously accept as my guru. So when I opened the door and saw this fisherman walking along, I said, 'This is no fisherman,' and I accepted him as my guru. So you please bow down at his feet."

Then Narada Rishi lay in a full shastanga pranam before his guru. The guru pranam is shastanga pranam:

holding the two feet of the guru in the hands, the head goes down on top of the feet, lying completely prostrate. In this shastanga position, Narada bowed to his guru.

All the thirty-three crores of gods moved to bow down to Narada Rishi's guru. And when they came to pranam, what did they see? That old fisherman was no fisherman! This was all God's test. All of a sudden instead of the form of the fisherman there appeared Shiva himself! He whom we call Shankar.

Triumbakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvar Ukamiva Bandhanan Mrityro Mukshiya Mamritat
Om Namah Shivaya.

Shiva! Narada Rishi's guru was Shiva! That which was the form of the fisherman, that which was the net, this was all the casting of the net of maya's illusion.

Samsat Jalrupen Min Rupen Manava
Janjalo Jal Rupen Kal Rupen Dhivara.

Shiva is the god of destruction. In the large pond of this world he throws the net of illusion and catches his fish. For that reason the old fisherman had a net on his shoulder. What he was weaving was not the net, it was:

Mahamaya Prabhavena Samsar Sristi Karini
Mahamaya Prabhavena Mahagotta Nipatita.

As the spider makes its own web from its own saliva, and binds it together, in the same way, in this illusion, this maya, we say "I", "I". This is my room, this is my son, this is my grandson, this is my wife, this is my father, this is my house, this is my country. This that is "mine"—Thakur Ramakrishna has said: "When will I be free? When 'I' ceases to be." This word "I" is the weaving of the net of illusion. This second guru-story I have given to my American disciple, Premananda.

The significance of the word "guru" is inexpressible. What the guru is cannot be understood by words or explanations. Therefore in our guru pranam we say:

Akhanda Mandalakaram Vyaptam Yena Chraracharam
Tatpadam Darsitam Yena Tasmai Shri Guruve Namah.

What is the word guru? The word guru means he who in the midst of great darkness shows us light; he who removes the darkness; he who lights the lamp of wisdom in us; he who makes us see within ourselves the light of Parabrahma, Paramatma; he is the guru.

Today we have spoken of the place of the guru, the meaning of the guru. He who gives the mantra in our ear, and becomes our guru, and takes a fee, and by tradition takes his fee every year, this is not the real thing. The real thing is that "guru" means showing one, making one feel that ineffable truth. He who does that is the real guru.

There is a saying, "There are gurus by the thousands, but a real disciple is rare." To Thakur Sri Ramakrishna, when he was calling out to our holy land of India at Dakshineswar, Naren used to come. His original name was "Naren." But how many times Naren would slap Thakur, how much abuse and reproach he used to give. How he would ridicule Thakur. And even so, if Naren would not show up even for a single day, Thakur would fret and worry about him. That Naren, who did so much to proclaim the universal religion in America, his name was Swami Vivekananda. Only one disciple. Thakur made many disciples, but who among them was ripe? Naren. As in our ancient dice game "pasha," if you are "it" (ripe), no one can beat you, so if the disciple is ripe, he has nothing to fear.

Today I have given this spiritual instruction to Premananda. It is in Bengali, but he will translate it into English.

The guru is indescribable. What will you give the guru? When the student first enters into discipleship, from that moment on the gift to the guru is finished. After that, what is more money, gold, silver? Maya!

Then what is the true gift to the guru, do you know? The gift to the guru is this: that truth which the guru has given, to wake up that truth, to exalt it. Repeating the mantra (and in that word mantra is the word "heart" or "mind"), elevating the mind, removing the impurities of the heart, making the heart and mind pure, keeping one's faith in the practice which has been handed down by the guru—in all this is the gift the disciple gives. If one attains to that truth, no need for any other thing on this earth will remain. If you see that truth, there is no more desire to see any other thing. If you hear that truth in your ear, then there is no more desire to hear anything else.

That is ineffable! Parabrahma, or Satchidananda, Ananda mayi Purush. Om Shanti, Om Shanti, Om Shanti.

We are sitting here at our Ramanathpur Ananda Ashram, near the feet of the Blissful Mother. At this ghat are Premananda, Yogananda, Nityananda, Gyanananda, four boys who have come running from America for the purpose of attaining God.

But getting God will not be so easy. Yes, if day by day their eagerness and earnestness grow very great, then of course they will find God, will realize Bhagavan. But here they must have faith. Here I shall tell just one more little story.

Once there was a thief, a robber. He used to work always at his banditry. And he would drink wine. And whatever unholy and indecent acts he felt the urge to do, he would do. But one day, taking the mantra from his guru, he asked his guru, "When will I attain to God?"

"That day that you take a bath in the Ganges," said his guru, "on that day you will get the vision of God, you will have liberation."

The robber would daily go about his stealing. How many unholy murders he would commit, how many robberies! One day he suddenly remembered, "My guru said that if I take a bath in the Ganges, I will gain liberation, I will get the vision of God! This very day I am going for a bath in the Ganges."

He called all his relatives and neighbors and the villagers around to watch and he went for a bath in the Ganges. He dived into the water, and coming up he said, "My guru told me that if I bathe in the Ganges I will get the vision of Bhagavan, I will have liberation." But taking his bath in the Ganges, he did not have liberation, he didn't get the vision of God. But this thief, this murderer, did not lose faith in his guru's word.

He said, "What my guru said, that is certainly the truth. Therefore this river is not the Ganges! So be it.

The Lord and creator of the Ganges is Narayan. So I will go and ask Narayan."

All of his friends and family laughed at him and clapped their hands: "How ridiculous!"

But the thief said, "No! My guru said it. My guru's word can never be a lie! My guru said that if a take a bath in the Ganges, I will get the vision of God, I will have liberation. So look! This is not the Ganges! The creator of the Ganges is Narayan, so I am going off to ask Narayan!" And off he went, traveling without food, going without sleep.

But Narayan could not wait for him. He came on ahead. Standing before that killer, that robber, Narayan inquired, "Baba, where are you going?"

"I am going to Vaikunta. I am going to ask Narayan, 'Is this the Ganges or not?' My guru's word cannot possibly be a lie."

Then Narayan said, "Baba, you don't have to go to Vaikunta. This is the Ganges!"

"Then why am I not liberated?"

"You are liberated, Baba!"

Then what? All of a sudden, in front of the thief, instead of an old man he saw:

Shangkha chakra, gada pane
Dvarika Nilayachito
Govinda Pundarikka
Rakkamang sharanagoto.

"Oh thief, you have kept faith in your guru's word! Look! God with conch, wheel, mace and lotus! These four things in four hands. White color, yellow dress, flower garland around the neck!"Narayan thus gave him darshan, and immediately the thief attained liberation.

Here I have finished. Om Shanti, Om Shanti, Om Shanti. Today, near the feet of the Blissful Mother, sitting near her feet, I have given this little speech for the American disciples.

knr

--
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.

  Every moment, thank God

Toilet sweeper

courtesy: http://www.prahlad.org/Baba/talks/toilet_sweeper.htm

The Toilet Sweeper
a short story by

Sri Prahlad Chandra Brahmachari
April 18, 1975

Om Shanti, Om Shanti.

Jaya Ramakrishna! Jaya Ramakrishna! Jaya Ramakrishna!

All over India, in this land of India, the year 1382 has begun. And Premananda was asking me, "What is the reason for this changing of the year?"

There was once a great king named "Shakradit." He was a very noble-hearted soul. To test him, Bhagavan, taking the disguise of a Brahmin, went weeping to Shakradit and said,

Maharaj! I am about to become childless! My one and only son has been taken by a tiger! The tiger will eat him. I will lose my lineage. I asked the tiger, 'Tiger, what do you want in exchange for my boy?' The tiger said, 'The king of this land is a very pious soul, a great wise man. If you can deliver his heart to me, then I will release your son.' That is why, Maharaj, I have come running to you today."

King Shakradit, after thinking a bit, said, "Brahmin, your lineage will be assured if my heart is given.."

The Queen, the King's children, they all came running to talk him out of it. But in spite of that, King Shakradit, without any hesitation, taking a knife in his hand, pierced his own breast and, laughing, went to give his heart to the Brahmin.

When he had struck his breast with the knife and stream of blood was flowing out, then in the sky there was the voice of God saying, "Blessed King Shakradit, for testing your religion I have come today disguised in the form of a Brahmin. From today on I proclaim this day all over India, 'Shankranti,' the last day of the year."

That is why it was the year 1381, and now it is 1382. The day after Shankranti is the first day of the year, the first of the month of Baishakh. And every Hindu, every type of person, in every kind of temple, on the first of Baishakh, the first day—they have a very beautiful festival.

This is our re-awakening. It is an awakening because it is waking up this ancient memory. The Hindu religion is a very liberal religion. And so today we say "Shankranti," believing that King Shakradit, king of all India, without hesitation, cheerfully gave his own heart to that appearance of the Brahmin.

Ramakrishna has said this: "Serve all creatures, be generous to all." And also Chaitanyadev, in our Hindu religion, has said: "Kindness to all, attachment to the Name of God, service to devotees. Listen, oh disciple, there is no true religion without this."

First one must love all mankind. Everyone becoming like brothers. This that we do, singing "Hare Krishna," or Ramakrishna's name, or Bhagavan's name, or Jesus Christ's name, or the name of any other great man, there is no restriction. Someone is saying "Ram," someone is saying "Hari," someone is saying "Bhagavan," someone is saying "Ramakrishna," someone is saying "Jesus Christ," it is all one, it is all one thing. It is not different. As long as the mind stays in a low state, we see differences.

One day some devotees tested Ramakrishna. "Thakur, what is the greatness of the Name? If you will tell us by your own mouth, we will be very happy to hear it."

Today, in the year 1382, on the fourth day, Friday, sitting with this group of devotees in front of Ma Anandamayi, today I am revealing the words of Sri Sri Ramakrishna, venerable Devata. True stories.

What is there in caste?
What is there in birth?
Whose heart is noble,
He is a great man."

Indeed, everyone is born. Everyone dies. Caste. By being born there is a certain caste. What is there in birth? So many are being born, so many are dying! On this earth so many millions of creatures are coming, going, wandering around, leaving... what is there in that? "He whose heart is noble, he is a great man."

Ramakrishna used to tell this this story:

Once there was a Methor. There is one low-caste called "Methor" for cleaning toilets. There is "Methor" and "Methorani." The Methor cleans the King's toilet, and the Methorani cleans the Queen's toilet.

By chance one day the Methorani got sick. She had a fever. She said to her husband, "Dear, I won't be able to go today. You go and clean the Queen's toilet for me today."

But only the women were supposed to go there. The Methor spoke to the doorkeepers and they let him in.

The Methor was going to clean, or had already done a bit, when the Queen had to go to the bathroom. The Methor hid, standing behind a screen. When the Queen was going, so much fragrance was coming from her body! Sandalwood, musk—so much scent that the whole place became filled with it. Ah ha! What beauty! Truly a Queen, for it was God's gift. Her beauty was dazzling to the eye, like lightning, as if one's eyes were scorched. The Methor had never before seen such a beautiful woman.

Seeing this, the Methor is thinking: "Oh! What is this? I already have a wife, but how beautiful the Queen is! We are low caste, mere toilet sweepers." Then he said out loud:

"He who has not got a wife like this has lost favor with fortune.
He who has not got a wife like this has lost favor with fortune.
He who has not got a wife like this has lost favor with fortune."

It means, he who has no wife like this is a very unlucky fellow. In this way he became completely mad. Out on the roadside, going completely crazy, he only said, "He who has not got a wife like this has lost favor with fortune."

The Methorani was worried. It was evening, then seven at night. He should have been back by noon, but it is seven at night and he hasn't come back yet.

Getting up in here feverish state she went after him to the King's house. The doorkeepers said, "He left here in the morning. His mind seemed a bit disturbed. He was babbling incessantly and crying and dancing around. He went in the direction of the bazaar. Look that way."

Beyond the palace was a bazaar. She went on to the bazaar. Many shopkeepers told here, "Yes, a crazy man was walking around. Look that way, a little further."

The Methorani, going further, saw him sitting by a gutter saying only, "He who has not got a wife like this has lost favor with fortune." Only this. He says nothing else.

The Methorani quickly took some water—even with this fever, serving, nursing her husband—and washed his hands and feet and somehow brought him home. Getting him home, pouring water on his head into the night, and finally bringing him around somewhat to his normal condition, she asked him, "Alright, now how did you get yourself into such a state?"

Then the Methor said, "That thing for which I have become mad, can you give it to me?"

The Methorani said, "Tell me what it is. I will try. For the sake of your peace of mind I am prepared to give my life."

Then the Methor says, "I was going to clean the Queen's toilet. How beautiful she is! What beautiful eyes, form, such dazzling beauty my eyes were scorched. What a fragrance she has! I want a wife like this! He who has not got a wife like this has lost favor with fortune ..." And again he lapsed back into his earlier state.

Then the Methorani says, "What fear? For this you went mad? The Queen is in the palm of my hand.

Tomorrow in the morning I will be able to get her for you. That which you wanted you will get."

The Methor thought to himself: "Men know men's ways, women know women's ways. Women understand each other's inner feelings ..."

"Can you do it?"

"Of course I can. For this you have gone mad? Shame, shame! This is right within my grasp."

Then the Methor calmed down a bit and was peaceful and said, "I will get! Yes, I will get what I want."

How funny! "When she has said I will get her, then, by God, I will get her!"

His madness became better. The Methorani didn't let him go to clean toilets. She said, "You stay at home. I am going to make everything okay. By tomorrow all the arrangements will be done."

The Methorani cleaned the King's toilet. She cleaned the King's toilet. Then, wrapping her cloth around her head she is standing there and crying.

The Queen asked, "Oh Methorani, what's the matter with you? Why are you crying? Did someone hurt you?"

"No, Ma."

"Do you need something?"

"No, Ma."

"Is your husband sick?"

"No, Ma."

"So why are you crying? Your tears are falling on your breast! What is this?"

Then the Methorani said, "Mother, if you will forgive my offense, then I can speak what is in my heart."

"Yes, of course I'll forgive you. Now tell me the truth."

Then the Methorani told the Queen the whole incident about her husband. "Ma, yesterday my husband came to clean the toilet. Smelling your fragrance, seeing your golden loveliness, your moon-like beauty, he has become completely mad, like a dwarf hoping for the moon. A low-caste Methor, who cleans toilets, he has become completely infatuated with you."

"Oh, Methorani, he is in love with me? Surely in some previous birth he must have had some relation with me. It's alright, Methorani, here, take this 100 rupees and go buy a tulsi-wood mala from the bazaar. Also buy a nama-boli, a scarf with God's name on it, and get some tilak mud from the Hari temple. Your husband will go to the bank of the Ganges, sit down, and without ceasing simply say:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna,
Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

"Hare Krishna—he should say this on and on, taking care he doesn't stop at all. After all, I am the Queen. I will tell the King that I want to go and see a holy man. He will give me permission right away. I will say, 'There is a holy man sitting by the Ganges bank. I am going to see him.' Going to see the holy man, I will fulfill his desires."

In accordance with the Queen's command, the Methorani got the holy scarf, the gerua cloth, the tilak-mud from the Hari temple, and a tulsi-wood mala. Taking all these she went to her husband and said, "Husband, get up! Now you have to dress up as a holy man." She put the Hari Nam mala in his hand and told him: "You must repeat endlessly, 'Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare

Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.'"

"If I do this, dress up as a holy man, I will get the Queen?"

"Yes, you must disguise yourself as a holy man."

So, dressed up as a holy man, the Methor went to the Ganges bank. He had a desire for the Queen. He kept his aim completely on the Queen. At first one has a desire, then desirelessness comes. If one doesn't start out with a desire, then dispassion will not come.

The Methor repeated the Name endlessly. Daily the Methorani would bring food for her husband to eat. On the first day he ate. The second day he ate. On the third day he wouldn't eat anymore. Just continuously saying: "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare."

The Name IS Krishna, the form of Satchidananda. Beginningless beginning, Govinda, cause behind all causes. That which is the Name, that IS Krishna. Sing it without ceasing, with faith. Hari Himself is in the Name.

The Methor, that Methor who was so attached to his desire, who was keeping his aim so fixed on the image of the Queen while taking the name of God—within seven days, forgetting the Queen, he saw:

Holding flute in two hands,
Forest dweller, beautiful Shyam,
Stealer of Radha's heart,
Dweller of Brindavan...

Krishna himself appeared to the heart of the Methor! No doubt the Methor is doing the name of God in a selfish way. But he doesn't stop the name. He doesn't sleep anymore! He doesn't eat anymore!

It became known in that land that a certain sanyasi had come to the Ganges bank. He doesn't pay any attention to anything. So many fruits, so much money, whatever is given to him is just lying in a heap. He simply has become absorbed in the Name. Immersed in the Name.

The King also went to see him. The Minister of State went too. The King, by his own impulse, said to the Queen, "Queen, you are my wife. Today by the Ganges bank a sanyasi has come, continuously absorbed in repeating God's name. He doesn't sleep, he doesn't eat. He is all the time absorbed in the Name. Will you go and see him?"

"By your command," the Queen said. "If you command," she says, but the Queen is thinking to herself ... there are some impure thoughts in her mind.

A screened pathway was made from the King's house to the side of the Ganges. The Queen will go to see the holy man. That day she dressed herself up doubly beautiful. She spreads the perfume on her body.

The Methor is continuously doing the Name, tears streaming from his eyes. The Queen went to him calling: "Oh Methor, Oh Methor! I have dressed you up as a holy man for my sake. Now I have come. Now you can enjoy me as you like. Oh Methor! Oh Methor!"

But is the Methor the same Methor anymore? When the Queen saw that he gave no response she shook him: "Methor! Oh Methor! She for whose sake you dressed up as a sadhu and took up Hare Krishna name, I have come! Now enjoy me!"

All of a sudden the Methor turned into black stone! Seeing this, the Queen began to cry. "What is this?

What has happened? What terrible destruction have I wrought?"

Then there was a voice from heaven. "Queen! Oh Queen Mother! Because of your command this lowly toilet sweeper, taking up the Divine Name, has gone beyond this world and attained salvation."

We all crave a little bit of wealth. If I am very poor and I get two rupees, then what do I lack? But if someone who has a thousand rupees gets a hundred, he says, "What's this?" And if someone who has a hundred thousand rupees gets a thousand, to him that is nothing.

"By following your orders, this toilet sweeper, taking up the Name, (Sanskrit verses here ...) Having the vision of God, this toilet sweeper has attained liberation. His body has turned into black stone. On this black stone make an image of Krishna. Establish here his temple and do his worship. You will also attain to liberation."

Then the Queen began to cry. Tears started flowing and she said, (Hindi verses here...). Tulsidas has said this.

Sat Sanga. This ritual of taking a mantra is for making the mind still. Everything is within the mind.

Sri Sri Venerable Prem Kalpataru Ramakrishna, after telling this story to the devotees, went into samadhi. The devotees went to him and saying Hare Krishna Name in his ear, broke his samadhi.

Today I told this story of Ramakrishna's. I think maybe everyone knows it. My devotees, Premananda, Yogananda, Nityananda, this boy Nityananda is very young. He is very anxious to see God. This is not a worldly thing. Is it something you can buy in the market place and give it out? For that reason he has taken a vow of silence and is sitting there. His purpose is to see God. If he has complete faith, of course he will see God.

"You can find Gurus by the thousand,

But a real disciple is rare."

There is only one disciple. Thakur Ramakrishna has said this. If he had not gotten Naren, that Naren who was a part of Siva, whose name was Vivekananda, who enmaddened the whole world, who aroused everyone's fervor ...

Now, today, bowing to Sri Sri Ramakrishna, Venerable Devata, I end my speech here.

Om Shanti, Om Shanti, Om Shanti.

knr

--
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.

  Every moment, thank God

Sage yajnavalkya

courtesy: Sri.narahari

Who is Yajnavalkya?
He is the Son of Sunanda and Devavratha, a Brahman in Chamtkapuram in Kurpanchala Kingdom..
He is the nephew of Vaishampayana (Vaishampayana Mahamuni's sister's son) .
He was born on Karthika Shudda Dashami.
He gave us Shukla Yajurveda
Yagnavalkya's studies :
He got Aksharabhyasa under the pourohithya of Bruhaspatyacharyaru at the age of 5 and got his upanayanam @ the age of 7 years also with the pourohithya of Bruhaspathi.  He went to Bashkala for Gurukula soon after his upanayanam.
Yagnavalkya learnt different Vedas from different Rushees, i.e., rigveda from Bashkala, Samaveda from Jaimini and Atharvanaveda from Aaruni. Then he went to Gurukula of Vaishampayana Maharshi to learn Yajurveda. He learnt his higher studies under Vaishampayana Maharshi, who was his uncle also.   He studied Taittireeya Samhita from Vaishampayanaru.   Vaishampayana taught him Yajurveda as per the instruction of Sri Vedavyasaru, his guru. (Vaishampayana's gurugalu is none other than Bhagavan Vedavyasaru).
Vaisampayana found Yagnavalkya learning and grasping the entire Yajurveda faster and more rapidly than all his other disciples. He felt very happy with his nephew's speedy progress that he completed his entire adhyayana of the Yajurveda in double quick time.
More knowledge by shishya developed Prejudice with the Guru :
Yagnavalkya, because of his proficiency in Yagnas, began to assist Vaisampayanaru in the conduct of yagnas and this made him a master of the practical applications of Yajurveda in the performance of sacrifices. Vaisampayana felt proud of his nephew for his masterly scholarship and profound knowledge of the Vedas and Sastras and his methodical in the carrying out yagnas. But on certain occasion, minor differences in practice and procedure relating to the execution of yagnas arose between the guru-sishya. Whenever Vaisampayana questioned Yagnavalkya about them, Yagnavalkya quoted references  from the Vedic authorities to justify his point of view.
Gradually admiration on the shishya turned out to personal prejudices on Yagnavalkya. This slowly led to a certain amount of serious differences between Vaisampayana and Yagnavalkya on several occasions, which resulted in a good deal of divergence in the procedural practices in the performance of yagnas leading to a conflict of views between the guru and sishya.
Yagnavalkya's marriage :
Yajnavalkya married two wives. One was Katyayani, daughter of Kata Rushi Maitreyi, the daughter of Mitra, a sage in Mithila Nagar.   Maitreyi was very much interested in gaining the knowledge of Vedas, Upanishads and Shastras.  And the other. Of the two, Maitreyi was a Brahmavadini
Children – Chandrakanta, Mahamegha and Vijaya from Katyayani.
His works –  Yagnavalkya Smruthi, Yagnavalkya Shakaa,  Pratijna Sutra, and Yoga.  He is the creater of new Yagna procedure.
Atharvana Veda Siddhi of Yagnavalkya –
Once there lived a king called Supriya from Suryavamsha, whon was ruling Vardhamanapura.   The king was leading luxurious life and was enjoying the pleasure of many ladies.    Once the king fell with Leprosy after having developed intimacy with a dancer.    Inspite of many best medicines, it was not cured and day by day it was developing.  The King sent for Vaishampayanaru to do some homa for the cure of the disease.
Vaishampayanaru arraged daily homa at the palance and it was running for days, weeks together.  Then the king asked Vaishampayanaru to continue the homa at his ashrama itself and send the prasada daily.  Vaishampayanaru used to send the Prasad daily through one of his shishyas.  Even after one year it was not cured.  Vaishampayanaru as he had some reservations did not ask Yagnavalkya to go the Palace.  He knew that Yagnavalkya was an expert in Athervana Veda and would help in curing.  But his prejudices forced him not to ask his assistance.  Finally one day after one year of his Homa, he asked Yagnavalkya to take the Prasad to the King.
Yagnavalkya performed the Homa strictly in his own rigorous and efficient manner, chanting the Atharvana  Veda mantras imparted to him by Veda Vyasa and Aruni Maharishi, with devotion observing the due rites in accordance with the Shastras. Yagnavalkya proceeded forthwith to the palace taking the prasada of mantrakshata and holy water to be offered to the king. He used to put on fine clothes mostly presents given to him in recognition of his knowledge of the Vedas and Sastras, which made him, appear not so religious. On this account many mistook him to be an arrogant young man and looked at him with envy and jealousy.
By this time, the king had lost his hope on the Yagna and avoided Yagnavalkya's entry to the palace and did not take the prasada.  Yagnavalkya told the King that he will ask three times to take the prasada, if he is not accepting the prasad, that he would leave.  The King said that he would not accept any prasada from a vidyarthi who was wearing clothes in violation of common codes of apparel.  The king then challenged Yagnavalkya to prove the efficacy of the prasada on a dry log of wooden pillars in the horse stable.
Yagnavalkya pitied the king and to prove the potency of the prasada and establish that he was far different from the other pupils, observed the japa of the mantra  and reciting the mantra he sprinkled the sacred manthraksha and holy water on the stable pillars and hurried back to the ashram.
Vomition of the learnt vidya by YagnavalkyaAs soon as the manthraksha and theertha sprinkled by Yagnavalkya fell on the dry and moth eaten pillars of the stable, they began to spring back to life, transforming themselves into graceful trees, flagrant flowers and ripe fruits, presenting an inviting and pleasing sight. The king and ladies in the palace were wonder struck in witnessing the miracle and the king repented his foolish and impulsive behaviour in refusing to accept the prasada from Yagnavalkya and regretted for losing a divine opportunity of having his disease cured in a trice.
The King then sent his servants to bring back Yagnavalkya, who refused.  Then Vaishampayana interfered and asked Yagnavalkya to help the King.  Yagnavalkya again refused.  Then Vaishampayanaru got angry and told Yagnavalkya to leave the ashrama immediately.  He also told Yagnavalkya to unlearn every bit of Yajurveda which he had studied from Vaishampayana by vomiting the entire Yajurveda.  Yagnavalkya, by his yogic powers, gave a shape and form to the Yajurveda taught by Vaisampayana, gathered it together and spewed it on to the ground. Huge tongues of flames of smouldering fire leapt from the emitted Vedas and began to blaze the entire place in frightening fury, as the fire of Yajurveda mantras, shining bright and brilliant, would spread and envelop the entire world.
Taittareeya
By that time Sri Vedavyasaru came there from his Theertha Yatra, on the request from Vaishampayanaru to help, Vedavyasa Devaru sprinkled Theertha from his kamandala on some of the sishyas of Vaisampayana, namely, Apasthamba, Bodayana, Oukya, Kandiya, Kada, Dupuka, Sathyashada, Hirenyakesa etc., who happen to be present there and transformed them to the form of tittri birds i.e. ostriches and instructed to lap up the flames of the Yajurveda. It is said that because of this incidence this branch of
Vedic knowledge has come to be known as "Taittreeya."
Yagnavalkya vomited only the Yajur Veda taught by Vaisampayana and that he retained the other Vedas, the Rig, Sama and Atharva Vedas which he had earlier learnt from different gurus.
King Supriya's refusal to take the Prasad led to Shukla Yajurveda and Taittreeyam.   This served as the means for the subsequent revelation and exposition of the Shukla Yajur Veda through Yagnavalkya.  But for the behaviour of king Supriya, Yagnavalkya's refusal to cure the king and the indignation of Rishi Vaishampayana mankind would not have had the benefits of the treasures of Shukla Yajur Veda.
Shukla Yajur Veda was revealed to the sage Sri Yogeeswara directly by Lord Surya.

knr

 

Panduranga Leela by Sri.Cuddalore gopi bhagavathar

These are the heart moving scintillating videos of Sri.Cuddalore gopi bhagavathar

(Details of Sri.Cuddalore Gopi Bhagavathar

http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/profilesmusic/Cudaloore%20Gopi%20Bhagavathar.asp )

No amount of thanks will suffice for this yeoman service done by Srimaan.Cuddalore Gopi Bhagavatar and his troupe.

Enjoy & immerse yourself in the Bhakti rasam.

 

Alangudi videos: 

Part1- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Waer_lFAr7Y

Part2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Waer_lFAr7Y

Part3- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA07BsAz4DE

Part4- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4oeXK-czp8

Part5- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9U9ovPHMJc

Part6- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPAduhsgSSY

Part7- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoVgbx64XK4

Part8- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhWYKDl3TNQ

part9- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJCKAZeRkGY

Part10- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVkmU1r0_8M

Part11- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov9RKO6U1uM

Part12- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JENHONdvUNU

Part13- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzVO_dalESU

Part14- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uph-gf9ORk8

Part15- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnri1namvE4

Part16- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIzSQOqN9mM

Part17- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QVW37RSXbs

 

 Another set of videos:

 

Part1-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxP15c3g4Do

Part2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft3JkMVlwRI

part3- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiOQoyfq0GY

Part4- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcA7X232j50

Part5- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-SBoIO5pyY

Part6- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VDkYe5G3rs

Part7- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbV5cdvmaWY

Part8- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sgr6IZhgxQ

Part9- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4aY9ML2oNA

Part10- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT9hxLvTCQg

 

Bhishma

Courtesy: Sri.Srinivasan

 

The role of Bhishma is so huge and the story goes in Mahabharatha.
Devavrata thus;

"You must certainly become my wife, whoever you may be." Thus said the great King Santanu to the goddess Ganga who stood before him in human form, intoxicating his senses with her superhuman loveliness.

The king earnestly offered for her love his kingdom, his wealth, his all, his very life.

Ganga replied: "O king, I shall become your wife. But on certain conditions that neither you nor anyone else should ever ask me who I am, or whence I come. You must also not stand in the way of whatever I do, good or bad, nor must you ever be wroth with me on any account whatsoever. You must not say anything displeasing to me. If you act otherwise, I shall leave you then and there. Do you agree?"

The infatuated king vowed his assent, and she became his wife and lived with him.

The heart of the king was captivated by her modesty and grace and the steady love she bore him. King Santanu and Ganga lived a life of perfect happiness, oblivious of the passage of time.

She gave birth to many children; each newborn babe she took to the Ganges and cast into the river, and then returned to the king with a smiling face.

Santanu was filled with horror and anguish at such fiendish conduct, but suffered it all in silence, mindful of the promise be had made. Often he wondered who she was, wherefrom she had come and why she acted like a murderous witch. Still bound by his word, and his all-mastering love for her, he uttered no word of blame or remonstrance.

Thus she killed seven children. When the eighth child was born and she was about to throw it into the Ganges, Santanu could not bear it any longer.

He cried: "Stop, stop, why are you bent on this horrid and unnatural murder of your own innocent babes?" With this outburst the king restrained her.

"O great king," she replied, "you have forgotten your promise, for your heart is set on your child, and you do not need me any more. I go. I shall not kill this child, but listen to my story before you judge me. I, who am constrained to play this hateful role by the curse of Vasishtha, am the goddess Ganga, adored of gods and men. Vasishtha cursed the eight Vasus to be born in the world of men, and moved by their supplications said, I was to be their mother. I bore them to you, and well is it for you that it was so. For you will go to higher regions for this service you have done to the eight Vasus. I shall bring up this last child of yours for some time and then return it to you as my gift."

After saying these words the goddess disappeared with the child. It was this child who later became famous as Bhishma. This was how the Vasus came to incur Vasishtha's curse. They went for a holiday with their wives to a mountain tract where stood the hermitage of Vasishtha: One of them saw Vasishtha's cow, Nandini, grazing there.

Its divinely beautiful form attracted him and he pointed it out to the ladies. They were all loud in praise of the graceful animal, and one of them requested her husband to secure it for her.

He replied: "What need have we, the devas, for the milk of cows? This cow belongs to the sage Vasishtha who is the master of the whole place. Man will certainly become immortal by drinking its milk. But this is no gain to us, who are already immortal. Is it worth our while incurring Vasishtha's wrath merely to satisfy a whim?"

But she was not thus to be put off. "I have a dear companion in the mortal world. It is for her sake that I make this request. Before Vasishtha returns we shall have escaped with the cow. You must certainly do this for my sake, for it is my dearest wish." Finally her husband yielded. All the Vasus joined together and took the cow and its calf away with them.

When Vasishtha returned to his ashrama, he missed the cow and the calf, because they were indispensable for his daily rituals.

Very soon he came to know by his yogic insight all that had taken place. Anger seized him and he uttered a curse against the Vasus. The sage, whose sole wealth was his austerity, willed that they should be born into the world of men. When the Vasus came to know of the curse, repentant too late, they threw themselves on the sage's mercy and implored forgiveness.

Vasishtha said: "The curse must needs take its course. Prabhasa, the Vasu who seized the cow, will live long in the world in all glory, but the others will be freed from the curse as soon as born. My words cannot prove ineffective, but I shall soften the curse to this extent."

Afterwards, Vasishtha set his mind again on his austerities, the effect of which had been slightly impaired by his anger. Sages who perform austerities acquire the power to curse, but every exercise of this power reduces their store of merit.

The Vasus felt relieved and approached the goddess Ganga and begged of her: "We pray you to become our mother. For our sake we beseech you to descend to the earth and marry a worthy man. Throw us into the water as soon as we are born and liberate us from the curse." The goddess granted their prayer, came to the earth and became the wife of Santanu.

When the goddess Ganga left Santanu and disappeared with the eighth child, the king gave up all sensual pleasures and ruled the kingdom in a spirit of asceticism. One day he was wandering along the banks of the Ganges when he saw a boy endowed with the beauty and form of Devendra, the king of the gods.

The child was amusing himself by casting a dam of arrows across the Ganges in flood, playing with the mighty river as a child with an indulgent mother. To the king who stood transfixed with amazement at the sight, the goddess Ganga revealed herself and presented the child as his own son.

She said: "O king, this is that eighth child I bore you. I have brought him up till now. His name is Devavrata. He has mastered the art of arms and equals Parasurama in prowess. He has learnt the Vedas and the Vedanta from Vasishtha, and is well versed in the arts and sciences known to Sukra. Take back with you this child who is a great archer and hero as well as a master in statecraft."

Then she blessed the boy, handed him to his father, the king, and disappeared.Thus Devavritha came and he attained the name Bhishma by his ferocious vow.

knr

--
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.

  Every moment, thank God

anger & ekanath

Courtesy: PGR

A story from Big Saint EKANATHAR

Once a person came to the elite persons who were living near by Ekanathar's House.  He was a poor person but wants 200 Rupees(equivalent to a lakh today) and asked for their help. Those people who were thinking that Ekanathar is fake saint and they want to make him anger.  So the cunning people asked that poor man-if he want that 200 rupees he has to make Ekanathar angry.

 

That poor person is in despite need of money went to Ekanathar's Home.He saw Ekanathar is making pooja sitting in a small board.  He got into the house and sat just sat in that small board with Ekanathar.  Ekanathar moved little and gave space to that poor person.  After finishing pooja,the poor man wondering after Ekanathar's silence, thought for other tricks.
 

Ekanathar sat for his meals. While Ekanathar's wife is serving food,the poor man just jumped over her back,thinking that definetly Ekanathar will become anger.  Ekanathar cooly told his wife-your son had climbed your back,I think he is hungry,give him food.  After hearing this,immediately the poor man feel into Ekanathar feet.Feeling guilty,he asked how he was so cool without getting any anger.
Ekanathar replied-if you go to a shop and if you have no money,how will you spend.  The poor man replied-I cant spend as I have no money. Ekanathar told-Likewise I have no anger in me,so I can't use any anger to anyone.

Important Note:  Ekanathar got service (from waking him till pressing his legs while sleeping in night)from a small boy for 11 years.  That small boy is none other than Dwaraka's Lord-Sri Krishna

 

Abstracted from Sri Muralidara Swamigal's speech

 

knr

--
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.

  Every moment, thank God

Prahlada charitram

http://prramamurthy1931.blogspot.com/2011/06/prahlada-charitam-from-narayaneeyam.html

 

Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri (1559-1632) was the celebrated author of Narayaneeyam, a devotional composition in Sanskrit verse which is a masterly summary of the main episodes in Srimad Bhagavatam. He was a scholar in the Sanskrit Language and its grammar on which he wrote his masterpiece Prakriya-sarvaswam which sets forth an axiomatic system elaborating on the classical system of Panini the grammarian.  

Narayana Bhattathiri was born in a Namboodiri family of Kerala. He was a disciple of Achyuta Pisharati from whom he studied Sanskrit grammar.  As a student he also studied the Rig Veda and Tarka Sastra (the science of logical reasoning and argument).

Bhattathiri was struck with paralysis when he was still young.  The disease was painful and Ezhuthachan the author of Adhyatma Ramayana advised Bhattathiri  "meen thottu koottuka" which in Malayalam meant 'take fish as food' or 'start counting from fish'.  It was obvious that the erudite Ezhuthachan would not have advised Bhattathiri, a Nambooiri brahmin, to eat fish since Namboodiri brahmins are staunch vegetarians.  Bhattathiri figured out that the meaning of 'start counting from fish' was that he (Bhattathiri)  should start recounting the incarnations of the Lord starting from the matsyavatara(incarnation as fish to redeem the Vedas from the asura named Hayagreeva) and go on upto the incarnation of Lord Krishna.

Bhattathiri took the advise and wrote his Magnum Opus based on Srimad Bhagavatam which chronicles the many incarnations of Mahavishnu and expounds the highest philosophy of the Hindus embodied in the Upanishads. He dedicated his work to Lord Krishna, fondly called by devotees as Guruvayoorappan, at the temple at Guruvayoor in Kerala.  The work consists of 100 dasakas each containing 10 verses. However, a few dasakas contain more than ten verses so that the total number of slokas is not 1000 but 1034. 

Legend has it that Bhattathiri composed one dasaka a day in the presence of the Lord and recited it before Him for His approval and the Lord did nod his head in agreement. The composition is directly addressed to the Lord telling him His own exploits and leelas.   The refrain in the last sloka of every dasaka is a prayer to the Lord of Guruvayoor to remove his (Bhattathiri's) ailments and sufferings. The Lord did cure Bhattathiri of his affliction by the time he completed Narayaneeyam and also revealed to him His captivating form which Bhattathiri has captured ecstatically in the 100^th dasakam

Given below is a reproduction of Dasakas 24 and 25 from Narayaneeyam which summarise the story of Prahlada narrated in detail in chapters 2-10 of the 7^th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. A simple transalation in English is given for the benefit of those who cannot follow the original. 

              

                      प्रह्लादचरितम्

         दशकम् २४ 

हिरण्याक्षे पोत्रिप्रवरवपुषा देव ! भवता

हते शोकक्रोधग्लपितधृतिरेतस्य सहजः।

हिरण्यप्रारंभः कशिपुरमरारातिसदसि

प्रतिज्ञामातेने तव किल वधार्थं मुररिपो ॥१॥

O Lord ! Slayer of Mura!  when Hiranyaksha was killed by you in your incarnation as the great boar, his brother Hiranyakashipu, overcome by grief and anger,  vowed in the assembly of asuras  that he would kill you.

विधातारं घोरं स खलु तपसित्वा न चिरतः

पुरः साक्षात्कुर्वन्सुरनरमृगाद्यैरनिधनम्  ।

वरं लब्ध्वा दृप्तो जगदिह भवन्नायकमिदं

परिक्षुन्दन्निन्द्रादहरत दिवं  त्वामगणयन् ॥२॥

By his severe austerities (tapas), before long,  he made Brahma appear before him and,  having obtained from him the boon of not meeting his death at the hands of devas, humans or animals,

became arrogant and, disregarding you, destroyed the worlds ruled over by you and snatched the kingdom of heaven from Indra.    

  

निहन्तुं त्वां भूयस्तव पदमवाप्तस्य च रिपो-

र्बहिर्दृष्टेरन्तर्दधित हृदये सूक्ष्मवपुषा  ।

नदन्नुच्चैस्तत्राप्यखिलभुवनान्ते च मृगयन्

भिया यातं मत्वा स खलु जितकाशी निववृते ॥३॥

When he came to your abode to kill you, you disappeared from his outward-looking eyes and lodged yourself in his heart in microscopic form. The asura  searched You in your abode and all over the worlds and, not finding you,  thought You had run away in fear and returned home priding himself on his (supposed) victory over you.

ततोऽस्य प्रह्लादः समजनि सुतो गर्भवसतौ

मुनेर्वीणापाणेरधिगतभवद्भक्तिमहिमा ।

स वै जात्या दैत्यः शिशुरपि समेत्य त्वयि रतिम्

गतस्त्वद्भक्तानां वरद! परमोदाहारणतां ॥४॥

O Giver of boons ! After a few years, Hiranyakashipu begot a son Prahlada who, while still in the womb of his mother, had understood from Narada Muni, who always carries a Veena in his hands, the greatness of devotion to you.  Though born in the asura clan, child Prahlada, who had developed deep love for you,  set a great example to your devotees.

सुरारीणां हास्यं तव चरणदास्यं निजसुते

स दृष्ट्वा दुष्टात्मा गुरुभिरशिशिक्षच्चिरममुम् ।

गुरुप्रोक्तं चासाविदमिदमभद्राय दृढमि-

त्यपाकुर्वन् सर्वं तव चरणभक्त्यैव ववृधे ॥५॥

Seeing in his son devotion to Your lotus-feet and knowing that such devotion is mocked by the asuras, the wicked Hiranyakashipu tried to discipline him through his teachers.  But Prahlada firmly rejected whatever was taught by his teachers (relating to dharma, artha or Kama) saying these were not good or auspicious and grew up with loving devotion to you in his heart.   

अधीतेषु श्रेष्ठं किमिति परिपृष्टेऽथ तनये

भवद्भक्तिं वर्यामभिगदति पर्याकुलधृतिः ।

गुरुभ्यो रोषित्वा सहजमतिरस्येत्यभिविदन्

वधोपायानस्मिन् व्यतनुत भवत्पादशरणे ॥६॥

Asked by his father what was the best thing he had learned Prahlada replied that Bhakti, loving devotion to You,  was the best thing he had learned.  Hearing this Hiranyakashipu was completely upset and he got angry with the teachers. Then he understand that it (Bhakti) was the natural instinct of Prahlada (and not the fault of his teachers). He then resorted to methods of killing Prahlada who had taken refuge at your feet.    

स शूलैराविद्धः सुबहुमथितो दिग्गजगणै-

र्महासर्पैर्द्दष्टोऽप्यनशनगराहारविदुतः ।

गिरीन्द्रावक्षिप्तोऽप्यहह! परमात्मन्नयि! विभो!

त्वयि न्यस्तात्मत्वात् किमपि न पीडामभजत॥७॥

O Lord ! O Paramatman ! Prahlada,  whose mind always rested in you in complete surrender, did not experience any pain though pierced by tridents several times, trampled over by the elephants from the eight quarters, bitten by deadly poisonous serpents, made to starve, fed poisoned food and thrown from the top of mountains   

ततः शङ्काविष्टः स पुनरतिदुष्टोऽस्य जनको

गुरूक्त्या तद्गेहे किल वरुणपाशैस्तमरुणत् ।

गुरोश्चासान्निद्ध्ये स पुनरनुगान् दैत्यतनयान्

भवद्भक्तेस्तत्त्वं परममपि विज्ञानमशिषत् ॥८॥

Hiranyakashipu was frustrated (at the failure of his attempts to kill

his son Prahlada) and, at the instance of the teachers,  Prahlada was incarcerated in the house of the guru, bound by varuna pasha.  In the absence of the guru  Prahlada taught the asura children the greatness of bhakti  and imparted to them the highest knowledge about the atman.

पिता शृण्वन् बालप्रकरमखिलं त्वत्स्तुतिपरं

रुषांधः प्राहैनं कुलहतक 'कस्ते बलमिति' ।

बलं मे वैकुण्ठस्तव च जगतां चापि स बलम्

स एव त्रैलोक्यं  सकल'मिति धीरोऽयमगदीत् ॥९॥

O Lord! Hearing that all the asura boys had taken to praising you, Hiranyakashipu was blind with anger.  He asked Prahlada

" You the disgrace of the asura clan ! who is the power behind you?" The courageous Prahlada said " The power behind me is Lord Vishnu, he is the power behind you and all those in this world.  He is all the three worlds". 

'अरे क्वासौ क्वासौ सकलजगदात्मा हरि'रिति

प्रभिन्ते स्म स्तंभं चलितकरवालो दितिसुतः ।

अतः पश्चाद्विष्णो न वदितुमीशोऽस्मि सहसा

कृपात्मन्! विश्वात्मन्! पवनपुरवासिन् मृडय माम् ॥१०॥

"Where is this Hari who is the soul of all these worlds?" saying thus Hiranyakashipu broke open one of the pillars in the hall  with a blow of his sword.  O Lord Vishnu ! What happened afterwards  I am unable to narrate immediately.  O Embodiment of compassion! Indwelling spirit of all the worlds! Lord of Guruvayoor! protect me (your devotee)  

             

                 नरसिंहावतारम् 

                   दशकम् २५

स्तंभे घट्टयतो हिरण्यकशिपोः कर्णौ समाचूर्णय-

न्नाघूर्णज्जगदण्डकुण्डकुहरो घोरस्तवाभूद्रवः  ।

श्रुत्वा यं किल दैत्यराजहृदये पूर्वं कदाप्यश्रुतम्

कंपः कश्चन संपपात चलितोप्यंभोजभूर्विष्टरात् ॥१॥

As soon as Hiranyakashipu struck the pillar you let out a terrible roar which pulverized his ears and reverberated through the whole of the cosmos shaking it thoroughly.  Hearing the sound, never heard before, there was a trembling in the heart of the asura king and even Brahma was displaced from his seat.   

दैत्ये दिक्षु विसृष्टचक्षुषि महासंरंभिणि स्तंभतः

संभूतं न मृगात्मकं न मनुजाकारं वपुस्ते विभो!

किं किं भीषणमेतदद्भुतमिति व्युद्भ्रान्तचित्तेऽसुरे

विस्फूर्जद्धवलोग्ररोमविकसद्वर्ष्मा समाजृंभथाः  ॥२॥

While the asura, beside himself with anger, was looking around him in all directions, you suddenly emerged from the pillar with a terrible body, neither of beast nor of man,  seeing which the asura,  with utter commotion in his mind,  speculated what this wondrous and terrifying form was.  At this moment Your body,  covered with white, sharp and pointed hairs standing on end, started growing in size.   

तप्तस्वर्णसवर्णघूर्णदतिरूक्षाक्षं सटाकेसर-

प्रोत्कंपप्रनिकुंबितांबरमहो जीयात्तवेदं वपुः ।

व्यात्तव्याप्तमहादरीसखमुखं खड्गोग्रवल्गन्महा-

जिह्वानिर्गमदृश्यमानसुमहादंष्ट्रायुगोड्डामरम् ॥३॥

O Lord ! victory to this wonderful body of yours with rolling and fearful eyes of the colour of molten gold, your mane covering the whole of the sky, your open mouth resembling a big cave and the two frightening very large canine teeth which become visible when you thrust out your big tongue  resembling the blade of a sharp sword.    

उत्सर्पद्वलिभंगभीषणहनु ह्रस्वस्थवीयस्तर-

ग्रीवं पीवरदोश्शतोद्गतनखक्रूरांशुदूरोल्बणम् ।

व्योमोल्लंघि घनाघनोपमघनप्रध्वाननिर्धावित-

स्पर्द्धालुप्रकरं नमामि भवतस्तन्नारसिंहं वपुः॥४॥

I prostrate before the form of Narasimha you assumed, with frightening lower chin with its folds which stand erect, short and extremely stout neck,  fearful with powerful scorching rays emanating from the nails of your many stout hands, touching the sky and making the hordes of enemies run away in fear by your roar competing with the thunder of clouds ready for downpour.  
 

नूनं विष्णुरयं निहन्म्यमुमिति भ्राम्यद्गदाभीषणं

दैत्येन्द्रं समुपाद्रवन्तमधृथा दोर्भ्यां पृथुभ्याममुम् ।

वीरो निर्गलितोऽथ खड्गफलकौ गृह्णन् विचित्रश्रमान्

व्यावृण्वन् पुनरापपात भुवनग्रासोद्यतं त्वामहो ! ॥५॥

The king of asuras, certain in his mind that this must be Vishnu who must be killed, approached you with great speed swinging his mace. You caught of hold him with your two stout hands but he wriggled out of your grip and, taking up a sword and armour,  and displaying different skills in fighting, approached You who stood there as if you would devour all of this world

भ्राम्यन्तं दितिजाधमं पुनरपि प्रोद्गृह्य दोर्भ्यां जवात्

द्वारेऽथोरुयुगे निपात्य नखरान् व्युत्खाय वक्षोभुवि ।

निर्भिन्दन्नधिगर्भनिर्भरगलद्रक्तांबुबद्धोत्सवं

पायं पायमुदीरयो बहुजगत्संहारिसिंहारवान् ॥६॥

You again caught hold of the meanest of Asuras, who was circling around you, with both of your hands. You then knocked him down at the door and, laying him on your thighs, dug your nails into his chest and, ripping it open, drank the  copious blood gushing out in a festive mood and let out great many roars of a lion,sending the worlds into a turmoil.      

त्यक्त्वा तं हतमाशु रक्तलहरीसिक्तोन्नमद्वर्ष्मणि

प्रत्युत्पत्य समस्तदैत्यपटलीं चाखाद्यमाने त्वयि ।

भ्राम्यद्भूमि विकंपितांबुधिकुलं  व्यालोलशैलोत्करं

प्रोत्सर्पत्खचरं चराचरमहो दुःस्थामवस्थां दधौ ॥ ७॥

O Lord ! When you left Hiranyhakashipu dead and,  with your body smeared with blood and stretched to its full height, you sprang up and started eating the horde of asuras, both the moving and non-moving life became highly unstable with the earth spinning furiously, the seas becoming tumultuous, mountains quaking and the celestial bodies (stars and planets) moving erratically.      

तावन्मांसवसाकरालवपुषं घोरान्त्रमालाधरं

त्वां मध्येसभमिद्धरोषमुषितं दुर्वारगुर्वारवम् ।

अभ्येतुं न शशाक कोऽपि भुवने दूरे स्थिता भीरवः

सर्वे शर्वविरिञ्चवासवमुखाः प्रत्येकमस्तोषत ॥८॥

By then,  with your body frightening with the flesh and blood of (those killed), wearing a fearful garland of intestines and seated in the centre of the hall with burning anger and deafening lion's roar, no one dared to come anywhere near you and timidly stayed away.  Devas led by Siva, Brahma and Indra sang your praises separately.

भूयोप्यक्षतरोषधाम्नि भवति ब्रह्माज्ञया बालके

प्रह्लादे पदयोर्नमत्यपभये कारुण्यभाराकुलः ।

शान्तस्त्वं करमस्य मूर्ध्नि समधाः स्तोत्रैरथोद्गायत-

स्तस्याकामधियोऽपि तेनिथ वरं लोकाय चानुग्रहम् ॥९॥

Even then, there was no abatement in your anger. At the instance of Brahma, Prahlada bowed at your feet without fear and you, pressed down by the weight of compassion for your devotee, regained your calmness, put your hand on the head of Prahlada who was profusely singing hymns in your praise and granted him boons though Prahlada himself did not have any desires.  You also blessed all the worlds by killing the asura hordes

एवं नाटितरौद्रचेष्टित ! विभो ! श्रीतापनीयाभिध-

श्रुत्यंतस्फुटगीतसर्वमहिमन्नत्यंतशुद्धाकृते!

तत्तादृङ्निखिलोत्तरं पुनरहो! कस्त्वां परो लंघयेत् ?

प्रह्लादप्रिय! हे मरुत्पुरपते सर्वामयात् पाहि माम् ॥१०॥

O Lord ! You of the purest form, whose greatness is extolled in shri Nrisimhatapani Upanishad, did enact this drama of terrible anger (It is not your real nature).  Who can violate or transgress you who are above everything else? O Lord of Guruvayur for whom Prahlada is very dear! save me from all my afflictions.

knr

--
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.

  Every moment, thank God