Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Unmani उन्मनी Kabir

Here is a bhajan of Kabir sung by Shubha Mudgal, putting the full text for those interested. I was searching for its lyrics and parallely transcribing it ... then I realized this has been also incorporated in Gurbaani. Cool!.

I wont translate this, in the best interest of keeping somethings as they should be. There are some typos in the text ...I corrected some hastily, doesnt matter much though.



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If the embedded widget doesnt work, click here to listen.



and here is the text

English

avadhu mera man matavaara .
unmani chadha gagan ras piivai, tribhuvan bhaya ujiyara

gudakar gyan dhyan kar mahuva, bhav bhathi kari bhara,
sushaman nadi sahaj samani, pivai pivanahara ... avadhoo

doi pur jori chinagari bhathi, chuva maharas bhari,
kam krodh doee kiya banita, chhuti gaee sansari ... avadhoo

suni mandal main mandala bajai, tahan mera man nachai,
guruprasadi amritafal paya, sahaj sushamana kachhai ... avadhoo

poora mila tabai sukh upajyo, tan kee tapan bujhani,
kahe Kabir bhavabandhan chhoote, jyoti hi jyoti samani ... avadhoo

Hindi

अवधू मेरा मन मतवारा ।
उन्मनी चढा गगन रस पीवै, त्रिभुवन भया उजियारा ... अवधू

गुडकर ज्ञान ध्यान कर महुवा, भव भाठी करी भारा,
सुषमन नाडी सहज समानी, पीवै पीवनहारा ... अवधू

दोइ पुर जोरि चिनगारी भाठी, चुवा महारस भारी,
काम क्रोध दोई किया बनीता, छुटी गई संसारी ... अवधू

सुनि मंडल मैं मंदला बाजै, तहाँ मेरा मन नाचै,
गुरुप्रसादी अमृतफल पाया, सहज सुषमना काछै ... अवधू

पूरा मिला तबै सुख उपज्यो, तन की तपन बुझानी,
कहे कबीर भवबंधन छूटे, ज्योति ही ज्योति समानी ... अवधू




I have copied the etxt from here.

The door

He took a deep breath before knocking the door. He was aware how important this was. This could be the last moment of his usual life. Nothing perhaps will remain the same after the knock, he thought.A master stroke of destiny. A vanishing point! A conclusion. The search had led him to this and now he must. So he paused and he knocked.


Knock Knock Knock.
No response.
Knock Knock Knock.
No response.


He wondered, why? Is this not the right door? Has the search-the path-the journey led him to the wrong door? How could this be! So? what course to take? Go back ? Knock more ?

He was clear that he cant go back, he has come too far, and really, there is NO path that goes back. Then ? Then what, he thought?

His inner voice told, 'search a new path, try again'. And his inner voice spoke again, 'I am too fatigued to try again'. If the search-the path-the journey, had taught him anything it was, "there is nothing to be learnt from inner voice--- Inner voice is rubbish". But he knew, not through his inner voice (which he knew is useless), but somehow he knew, He knew that this was it. Call it intuition, call it instinct, call it revelation, he knew this was it, THE DOOR. But why then No answer ? Should he knock differently? He pondered and pondered and pondered. Should he wait more and then knock ? May be!

Total confusion, infinite fatigue and wringing anxiety took over him. He saw how diminutive in significance is human will, human understanding, human judgment. He needed help. Something. Something to pull him out of this rut. He began questioning all the life decisions which led him to this. Pale-jaded-torn, he held on to the knob of the door and he collapsed.

To be continued...

Saturday, December 26, 2009

sarvana bhava: ranjani gayatri

Very very well sung. Invigorating, fast and enthralling. Infact between 2.00 to 3.00 the gamaks/control etc. are remarkable. It reminded me of MSS rendering Raghuvamsha Sudha. Even the audience, acknowledged approvingly.. CLAPS CLAPS!

Also a very good Abhang by R-G. Naryanan Sakha Mazha, kari china nivarana (Naryan my friend, resolved my worries)







Shiv Sutra

I am not an expert of vyakaran but when I hear things like this, I get inspired to learn panini's ashtadhayayi or at least revisit laghu siddhanta kaumudi.

Legend has it that these sounds came out of Shiva's damaru which then led to formation of sanskrit varnamala(alphabet)as we know it today.The way these letters are organized, is in itself a phenomenal way of indexing. Most modern linguist acknowledge panini's genius in creating this phenomenal meta structure. Here are complete shiva sutras, that I have copied from the wiki page on SS.
---
१. अ इ उ ण् |
२. ऋ ऌ क् |
३. ए ओ ङ् |
४. ऐ औ च् |
५. ह य व र ट् |
६. ल ण् |
७. ञ म ङ ण न म् |
८. झ भ ञ् |
९. घ ढ ध ष् |
१०. ज ब ग ड द श् |
११. ख फ छ ठ थ च ट त व् |
१२. क प य् |
१३. श ष स र् |
१४. ह ल् |
--
You can read more about Shiv Sutras on the web. Here Pt. Channulal mishra is reciting them, see from 0.30 to 0.60 in the video.



Kaun Samjhega ?

क्या हुआ है मुझे ?
कौन समझेगा इसे?
किससे कहूँ ?
पर चुप भी कैसे रहूँ ?

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Gurbani: Shabad

Kaun jaane gun tere ?
Simple soothing comforting gurbaani.


Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Hath Yoga Pradeepika

I had read this text as a child, that too in Hindi. I clearly remember the greenish cover of the book and my experiments with it, as soon as it had arrived by VPP. Anyway, my fascination those days was more with the first and second chapter of this book as it offered to me things which were both illogical and promising(you know what kind of promises these books offer!). I discussed them with my father, who had seemingly difficulty in trying to rationalize the irrational, esp when you are talking to your own child, who is enthusiastic about self-mutilation. :)

Anyway, here are some verses from the book. Book is by Svatamarama and find the full text here.

I have changed the translation at some places. Translation is actually very poor, though it manages to convey the essence. Sanskrit used however, is simple enough to comprehend if you can follow sanskrit. I might talk about Samkhya and connection of senses with reality some other day.




हेतु-दवयं तु छित्तस्य वासना छ समीरणः |
तयोर्विनष्ह्ट एकस्मिन्तौ दवावपि विनश्यतः || २२ ||
There are two causes of the activities of the mind: (1) Vâsanâ (desires) and (2) the respiration (the Prâṇa). Of these, the destruction of the one is the destruction of both. 22.

मनो यत्र विलीयेत पवनस्तत्र लीयते |
पवनो लीयते यत्र मनस्तत्र विलीयते || २३ ||
where mind ceases, breath creases, where breath ceases, mind does.

लयो लय इति पराहुः कीदॄशं लय-लक्ष्हणम |
अपुनर-वासनोत्थानाल्लयो विष्हय-विस्मॄतिः || ३४ ||
Laya laya, it is said, what are the signs of laya?
Laya is forgetting of the objects of senses when the Vâsanâs (desires) do not rise into existence again.

वेद-शास्त्र-पुराणानि सामान्य-गणिका इव |
एकैव शाम्भवी मुद्रा गुप्ता कुल-वधूरिव || ३५ ||
Vedas and the Śâstras are like ordinary prostitute. Śâmhhavî Mudrâ, alone, is hidden, daughter of house.


बाह्य-छिन्ता न कर्तव्या तथैवान्तर-छिन्तनम |
सर्व-छिन्तां परित्यज्य न किंछिदपि छिन्तयेत || ५७ ||
He should be neither of his inside nor of outside world; and, leaving all thoughts, he should think of nothing.

सङ्कल्प-मात्र-कलनैव जगत्समग्रं
सङ्कल्प-मात्र-कलनैव मनो-विलासः |
सङ्कल्प-मात्र-मतिमुत्सॄज निर्विकल्पम
आश्रित्य निश्छयमवाप्नुहि राम शान्तिम || ५८ ||
The whole of this world and all the schemes of the mind are but the creations of thought. Discarding these thoughts and taking leave of all conjectures, O Râma! obtain peace. 57.

कर्पूरमनले यद्वत्सैन्धवं सलिले यथा |
तथा सन्धीयमानं छ मनस्तत्त्वे विलीयते || ५९ ||
As camphor disappears in fire, and rock salt in water, so the mind united with the âtmâ loses its identity.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Thillana: Prince Rama Varma

The energy in this thillana is amazing. Prince rama varma is , genius.(BMK composed it)
Watch it till the end.



Nada Vindu Kaladi

Very well sung, simple light and 'easy on the ears' classical. :. Need to write something abt Arunagirinathar swami, Its a pity that I dont follow tamil!







And here is MS Amman singing the same. I dont need to use adjectives here, do I ?



Friday, December 18, 2009

Malladi Brothers: Bhaja Bhagavantham

Very sweet! The "maun vyakhya samudit darpam" line in this rendition reminded me of Dakshinamurti strotam. Especially a verse from Dakshinamurti strotam, where Dakshinamurti Shiva is expounding Vedanta to Rishis.


"Chitram vata tarur moole
Vridhha shishya gurur yuvaa
Grusutu maunam vyakhyaanam
Shishyastu chinna samshaya"


The scene: under the vata treee, a young guru and aged disciples are sitting.
Guru is elucidating through silence, dispelling doubts of disciples.



Thursday, December 17, 2009

Monday, December 14, 2009

Kaivalya Navaneeta: The Cream of Emancipation

Written by Tandavaraya Swami, this is a famous work in Tamil. Thanks Nari for transcribing it :).

Here are some snippets. Some lines have been emboldened by me.




--> The perfect enjoyer is he who partakes of anything that comes his way without discriminating, whether it be tasty or not, clean or unclean, healthy or unhealthy like a blazing fire consuming all that lies in its way.

--> Brahman is not an object of the senses nor of inference, and there is no second to it. It is beyond direct perception, inference or analogy. Also know that being free from attributes it cannot be expressed by words.

--> Q: When I dissociate myself from the five senses and look beyond there remains only a blank. I see nothing more than that.Am I to take this blank as the supreme experience of the self?

A: In the anecdote of the tenth man of deluded intellect, after counting only nine men and not recognizing himself as the tenth, was stupefied. Can such stupor be the tenth man! Good son! you are the seer of all.. The blank and the five sheaths!

--> Q: There cannot be any kind of experience in the absence of mind. if the mind persists how can they said to be liberated ?

A: The annihilation of mind is of two types namely of the mind patterns and of the mind itself..the former applies to liberated sages while the life the later to disemobdied sages. elimination of rajas and tamas leaving satva alone is the dissolution of the patterns of the mind. when the satva vanishes with the subtle body the mind itself is also said to have vanished too... In such a state the sage will partake of what comes unsolicited.... not thinking past or future, getting over their doership witnessing the mental modes and the three states, they can remain liberated.

If you always remain aware that 'I' am perfect Consciousness, what does it matter how much you think, or what you do? All this is unreal like dream visions after waking. I am all-Bliss!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

janaki vallabh shastri - poem

Read this poem by janaki vallabh shastri titled Mauj.



मौज

सब अपनी-अपनी कहते हैं!

     कोई न किसी की सुनता है,
     नाहक कोई सिर धुनता है,
     दिल बहलाने को चल फिर कर,



फिर सब अपने में रहते हैं!

     सबके सिर पर है भार प्रचुर
     सब का हारा बेचारा उर,
     सब ऊपर ही ऊपर हँसते,

भीतर दुर्भर दुख सहते हैं!

     ध्रुव लक्ष्य किसी को है न मिला,
     सबके पथ में है शिला, शिला,
     ले जाती जिधर बहा धारा,

सब उसी ओर चुप बहते हैं।
सब अपनी-अपनी कहते हैं!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Janani Janani Jagam Nee Jagam Nee

Was searching youtube for some grave/serious kind of music, somewhat Shree Raga like and found this. Almost shocked me too, to see that he opens with Saundarya Lahiri's verses. Bhayyia had asked me to translate the same for stutimandal, few days ago... but everyone knows I live in perpetual postponement.

Cant think of anything now except ..reading and commenting on Saundarya Lahiri!
My deep thanks to all those people who are involved in creating such things and also to youtube up-loaders.

Anyway Saundaryalhiri reading is warranted now !




Thursday, December 10, 2009

Brilliant

Kahe Maan Karo: Jasraj
----

Friday, December 04, 2009

Aaj sakhi anand ni heli

This is a beautiful gujrati bhajan. I dont know the composer etc. Will translate it perhaps.Undermentioned are the lyrics and youtube link. Lyrics have been copied from here.

---LYRICS---
Aaj Sakhi Anand-Ni Helli, Hari Mukh Joine Hu Thaai Chhu Gheli……
Maare Munina Dhyaan-Ma Naave, Tere Shaamarriyoji Mujne Bolaave…..1
Je Sukhne Bhav Brahma Re Irchhe, Te Re Shaamarriyoji Mujne Re Prichhe…..2
Na Gai Ganga Godaavari Kaashi, Gher Bethhaa Malyaa Akshaarvasi…..3
Tap Re Tirth-Ma Hun Kayi Navjanuh, Saheje Saheje Huto Sukhddaa Re Maanu…..4
Jeraam Kahe Swami Saheje Re Maalya, Vaat-Ni Vaate-Vaalo Adharrak Dhariyaa…..5
-------------








if the embedded link doesnt work try here

Monday, November 30, 2009

LS or VS

Strange surprises in life happen.

Today after a lot of time I decided to have some Indian food. The love of sambhar and related stuff suddenly made me take a metro ride. Now in the metro, for no particular reason, I started humming Vishnu Sahasranaam, nothing devotional about it ,just usual humming. I have always had this tussle with bhayyia, on Vishnu and Lalita sahasranaams, bhayyia always maintaining LS is beautiful and me always rooting for VS. I suddenly thought of bhayyia & LS , but kept on with VS.

And lo and behold, the moment I entered the restaurant, they started playing LS! Now which restaurant in this part of world, would want playing LS! Quite a strange thing to start your meal with, "shri mata shri maha..." and end it with, "mooladharaik nilaya brahmagranthi vibhedini".

Ha Ha.

Should translate LS with my comments. Someday perhaps :-)

Friday, November 27, 2009

QnA-6

Q: How does this happen ? Suddenly or gradually ?
A: It does not happen.

Q: Now Now dont disappoint me!
A: Truth is Truth. There is no room here for disappointment or encouragement.

Q: Tell me Tell me
A: See. The idea that it is a journey where you incrementally add experiences which take you to a destination is false. The idea that there is a destination is also false.

Q: This is another word play. What about my *belief*
A: You can believe anything you want.

Q: No! No! No! No! This is an experience, continuous, its not just another belief, please !
A: Ok. YOU CAN BELIEVE ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Q: Hmm.. So ?
A: So, what do u want ?

Q: I am not so clear now. What should I want, you tell me ? I dont want anything now.
A: Live then just live, it will be clear.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Avadhuta Gita

Some snippets from this great text.

----

9. The mind indeed is of the from of space. The mind indeed is omnifaced. The mind is the past. The mind is all. But in reality there is no mind.

23. If it is of the nature of the not-Self, how can there be samadhi (superconscious realization)? If it is of the nature of the Self, how can there be samadhi? If it is both "is" and "is not", how can there be samadhi? If all is one and of the nature of freedom, how can there be samadhi?

26. As the self is filled by the Self, so is all filled continously by you. There is no meditator or meditation. Why does your mind meditate shamelessly?

27. I do not know the Supreme; how shall I speak of Him? I do not know the Supreme; how shall I worship Him? If I am the supreme One, who is the highest Truth, who is homogeneous Being and like unto space, how then shall I speak of Him and worship Him?

58. There is no need of knowledge, reasoning, time, space, instruction from a teacher, or attainment of samadhi. I am naturally the perfect Consciousness, the Real, like the sky, spontaneous and steady.
-----

Monday, November 23, 2009

Sita Kalyana Vaibhogame

Prince Rama varma, of whom I am a big fan, sang an excerpt of this while explaining Shankarabharanam raga. This got me hooked on to this Thyagaraja kritti. Sometimes when you hear these compositions, you feel, that there is no other composer worth listening to(other than thyagayya). I saw all the uploaded versions of this on youtube and liked all :).

Somehow it sounds best when sung in chorus. I am putting two versions here... two chorus versions.

-----
TN bala's version
-----



----
Prince Rama and his students
----




there are also good renditions by BMK and Maharajpuram Santhanam on youtube.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Two bhajans

I have a deep relationship with these two bhajans. Few years ago in college these would play, over and over again and give me the kind of inner-ecstasy for which finding words is impossible. The technical part of the composition aside, I think they have been sung from some deep inner space for which 'sacred' is the only term that comes to my mind.

These are not meant for casual listening. You can enjoy them when u listen to them in a relaxed state. Singers are Ashwini Bhide and Kishori Amonkar both renowned artists.








Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Kabir yet again

kabir again

मन मस्त हुआ तब क्यों बोलै।
हीरा पायो गाँठ गँठियायो, बार-बार वाको क्यों खोलै।
हलकी थी तब चढी तराजू, पूरी भई तब क्यों तोलै।
सुरत कलाली भई मतवाली, मधवा पी गई बिन तोले।
हंसा पायो मानसरोवर, ताल तलैया क्यों डोलै।
तेरा साहब है घर माँहीं बाहर नैना क्यों खोलै।
कहै 'कबीर सुनो भई साधो, साहब मिल गए तिल ओलै॥

--------------------

कबिरा प्याला प्रेम का, अंतर लिया लगाय।
रोम रोम में रमि रहा, और अमल क्या खाय॥

गगन गरजि बरसे अमी, बादल गहिर गँभीर।
चहुँ दिसि दमकै दामिनी, भीजै दास कबीर॥

सिर राखे सिर जात है, सिर काटे सिर होय।
जैसे बाती दीप की, कटि उजियारा होय॥

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Ustad Tari Khan

Apparently, Ustad tari khan is a tabla player from Pakistan. Might be singing 'shaukia', much like Rais khan, Sultan Khan etc.(I have to put that gazal by Rais Khan someday on this blog). I dont know many artists across the border anyway. I was searching for 'famed' hansadhwani rendition by Ustad Amir khan and landed on this thanks to utube recommendation engine.

The opening is just heavenly, the first 40 seconds are very very sweet but suddenly, it becomes a usual song though still bearable. But the opening is magical!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Baro Krishaiyya

Priya sisters have sung this well, but I am somehow looking for more soul stirring rendition.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Kapi raagam: Saketharaman

Very famous composition by Pappan Sivam. I would say very delicately sung. I think Kapi is one of my fav ragas these days :). Saketharaman is v.good.





If the mebdded link doesnt work try here

Dushyant Kumar Poem

One of my fav. poets in Hindi is Dushyant kumar. I recall those days 6-7 years ago, when hindi sites were far and few and more so Hindi poetry sites. I used to ransack the web for poems by Dushyant Kumar. Now of course, there is plenty of stuff all over the web in most Indian languages.

Here is a beautiful short poem by Dushyant Kumar.



धर्म - दुष्यंत कुमार

तेज़ी से एक दर्द
मन में जागा
मैंने पी लिया,

छोटी सी एक ख़ुशी
अधरों में आई
मैंने उसको फैला दिया,

मुझको सन्तोष हुआ
और लगा –
हर छोटे को
बड़ा करना धर्म है ।

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Muktika Upanishad

In a little hurry now. Will post on this upanishad in detail some other day. To summarize in a few words, it would suffice to say, that this upanishad tells you, how "Rama teaches". We have seen Rama the student in Yoga Vashishta. To know how Rama the teacher is, read Muktika upanishad.

The discourse is given to Haumana, upon his enquiry, soon after Rama has woken up from his Samadhi. I am only copying some bits and pieces.




Hanuman: O Rama, you are the supreme being, of the nature of Sat, Chid and Ananda. I desire to know your nature truly for liberation. Please tell me how I can be released from bondage without strain ?

Rama: Well asked. I shall tell you. I am well established in Vedanta.

.... .....

Hanuman asked Ramachandra: What is this Jivanmukti, Videha-mukti ? What is the authority, means of success and purpose ?

Rama said: For a person there is bondage from doer-ship, enjoyer-ship, pleasure, pain etc., -- their prevention is liberation in the body. Videha-mukti (liberation without the body) is from the destruction of Prarabdha (operative) karma, like the space in a pot released from the conditioning (enclosing) pot.

........

The destruction of impressions, cultivation of knowledge and destruction of the mind, when practised together for long will yield fruit. If not practised together, there will be no success even after hundreds of years, like mantras which are scattered. When these three are practised long, the knots of the heart surely are broken , like lotus fibre and the stalk
.....

The wise know that the mind is bound by the impressions, it is liberated when released well from them. So, O Hanuman, practice the destruction of mental impression, quickly. When impressions die out, the mind becomes put out like a lamp. Whoever gives up impressions and concentrates on Me without strain, he becomes Bliss.
.....

The restful state is like the roasted seed, giving up the (sprout of) rebirth. Can the inner light be sought with chewing the cud of many Shastras, uselessly ? One who remains alone giving up perception as well as non-perception is himself the Brahman – A person cannot know Brahman by merely learning the four Vedas and Shastras, as the ladle cannot taste the food.
.....

Bondage is by impressions, Moksha is their destruction – you give them up as well as the desire for Moksha.




I have copied this from here.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Sriram Parasuram

An engineer/manager took to music and managed to create fine music with his wife. Kanha re nanda nandan is very well sung, its a famous bandish in Kedar. I think Sriram is more talented and should sing independently.





this another good one I cant seem to figure out raga though.

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Pt. Ramesh Narayan

It is not often that, when you hail you hail from Kerela, grow up in a family of carnatic musicians, you end up singing haweli style mewati gharana. Whats even more rare is the mastery Pt. Ramesh Naryanji has. The moment he opened with that sloka, I could see touches of Jasraj(I would say Jasraj being bettered).

I think Pt. Jasraj will be known in future as much as by his singing as by the great disciples he has given us, Sanjeev Abhayankar and Pt. Ramesh Narayan. I will upload more of his stuff as and when I like it.

To enjoy this you require attention and video has 3 parts, I am uploading just the first one, find the rest :)

ghunghat ke pat khol - Kabir

घूँघट के पट खोल रे तोहे पिया मिलेंगे
घट-घट में तोरे साईं बसत ह
कठू बचन मत बोल रे, तोहे पिया मिलेंगे
घूँघट के पट खोल रे

धन-जोबन का गर्ब न कीजे, झूठा इनका मोल रे
तोहे पिया मिलेंगे

जा के जतन से रंग-महल मे, पिया पायो अनमोल रे
घूँघट के पट खोल रे

सूने मन्दिर दिया जला के
आसन से मत डोल रे
तोहे पिया मिलेंगे

Thursday, November 05, 2009

vasudhaiv kutumbakam



I wasnt aware thats its a complete subhashit. Very beautiful.


I have copied this from this Blog

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

A conversation on life

I was interacting with my friend Parth, a man of many talents. The conversation after the nicities drifted to modern civilization and its ills. How unsustainable this human civilization is and how we are mindlessly ruining this planet. My nihilist tendencies got the better of me. I told him, all this is the fear of death, and is in turn the fear of life itself. Life exists and survives on threat. The whole pysco response is threat based. All this talk of planet being under threat, is nothing but the personal fear of individual extinction projected on the world. After all if there is LIFE beyond the personal life, it will continue to take newer forms. May be there will be no humans, but cockroaches will create the next heaven here. So the very fear of extinction i.e. the fear of crumbling of human structure is the very life force itself. In reality life grows and survives on death. The more you live the more you die. I said.

To which Parth quipped, "cancer is nothing but a failure to die". Some great thought there.

So! Life is self destructive, cancer(growth) is self destructive. After all form has to dissolve in emptiness some day.Did all zen stories not say that? Reminds me of Richard Bach and his punch line in the famous novel Illusions: The mark of your ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly

Sloka

In my childhood one of my fav slokas was,

bhogo na bhukta vayamev bhukta
trishna na jeerna vayamev jeerna


I did not enjoy, I got enjoyed(by age/time)
My thirst(for life) dint die, but I did.

In my childhood, I used it sometimes to admonish elders.Even though I realized what it meant and used this verse to my advantage, little did I realize that some years hence I would connect with this verse like I do today. Coming to terms with desires/expectations/anxiety/restlessness, I always bear this in mind, 'vaymev jeerna'. In the the end there is an end. To me this end is not something I deprecate. On the other hand I feel deeply peaceful that in the end there is an end :).

Much like kabir said,
जा मरने से सब डरें, मेरो मन आनंद
कब मराहिहूँ कब पायिहूँ, पूरण परमानन्द

me not sure abt the last line though :)

----
btw, the verse is from Bhrithari's vairagya shatak. A great book to read much like his other two works, neeti shatak and shringaar shatak. I also recall a nice story from his life but some other time :-)

Saturday, October 31, 2009

chadariya jheeni re jhini - translation and notes

Few months ago I was trying to look for some appropriate translation of this famous compositon of Kabir,not able to find it, I translated and added notes about what I think Kabir meant. Its quite interesting that the Nirguni Kabir (or so he is thought to be) was direct disciple of Ramananda who was initiated in the great tradition of Ramanujacharya. Ramananda's other famous disciples were Ravidas,Dhanna Bhagat etc.

So unlike Shankara who landed directly and spent his life above the vindhyas, Ramanuja did make an indirect impact and sort of ushered North India into Bhakti tradition. More on ramanuja some other time.



Kabir here talks about body, or human experience and how to utilize it. He talks about how he lived in the body, how other notable predecessors lived and how does an average man live.



चदरिया झीनी रे झीनी, रे राम नाम रस भीनी
body is like finely woven cloth and is permeated by the raam naam (ra+ma rechek purak (breath))

अष्ट कमल का चरखा बनाया, पांच तत्त्व की पूनी
Eight-petaled lotus was used as a spinning wheel, and the 5 elements as yarn

नौ दस मॉस बुनन को लागे, मूरख मैली कीनी
took 9-10 months to knit it, Oh fool you soiled it!

जब मोरी चादर बन घर आई, रंग रेज को दिनी
When I got my sheet, I gave it to person who dyes sheet(guru).

ऐसा रंग रंगा रंगरे ने, लालो लाल कर दिनी
It was dyed such, totally red in color

ध्रुव प्रह्लाद सुदामा ने ओढी, शुकदेव ने निर्मल किन्ही
Dhruv prahlad and sudama wore it, Shukdev made it pure.

दास कबीर ने ऐसी ओढी, ज्यों की त्यों धर दिनी
dar kabeer wore it such, he left it as it is(as he got it)

---

Notes:

Body is a sheet. You can experience cloth but you arent cloth. Compare with Gita. वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि । तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही ॥२- २२॥ kabir urges us to realize body is permeated by ra and ma (in and out going breath) anaapshanti, which is permeating . breath is the link which makes body experience possible.(raam naam), hence re raam naam ras bhini chadariya

Eight lotuses, eight latent tendencies of body(survival,threat,accumulation,attention,domination ,suppression,discontentment,) correlate with eight energy centres within body(7+1(bindu).

Notice how 5 elements manifest as body and in that we create these tendencies compare with samkhya of kapila.
This sheath takes involves 9-10 lunar cycles around earth, time as celestial movement. celestial connection with sheath.
You soiled it, you lost awareness :)


Kabir now talks about his own body (mori chadar what happened with his sheet). When kabir took body, he let his guru work on it. His guru dyed it( permanent transformation of body based experiences :-) ) and made it red. (red is the color of root).

Kabir now talks about how other noted ppl who wore it, dhruv, prahlad sudama(all bhaktas), and shukdev(son of vyasa) and purified it (lived with awareness).
How did Kabir wear it? Kabir, dint let it get soiled. He maintained the new born's awareness all his life.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Thursday, October 29, 2009

runu jhunu runu jhunu re bhramara - full text

here are the full lyrics of Sant Dnyneshwar's text which someone on RMIM pointed out to me.

रुणुझुणु रुणुझुणु रे भ्रमरा ।
सांडीं तूं अवगुणु रे भ्रमरा ॥१॥

चरणकमळदळू रे भ्रमरा ।
भोगीं तूं निश्चळु रे भ्रमरा ॥२॥

सुमनसुगंधु रे भ्रमरा ।
परिमळु विद्गदु रे भ्रमरा ॥३॥

सौभाग्यसुंदरू रे भ्रमरा ।
बाप रखुमादेविवरू रे भ्रमरा ॥४॥

Taken from this website: http://www.aathavanitli-gani.com/Song%20Html/708.htm

Monday, October 26, 2009

runu jhunu runu jhunu re bhramara

Just when I was about to sleep, found this gem, as if reminding me, that I forgot to pay my promised due to Dnyaneshwar(gyaneshwar).

I will try my best to put the lyrics and translation tomorrow.

I miss pune suddenly and 24/7 company of panduranga and his devotees.

-----

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA


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If the embedded thing doesnt work try here


@Nari: Do you remember 'Amrutanubhav' ?

Saturday, October 24, 2009

OS Arun

OS Arun is new to my ears. He has a different style (much like KG) and when he sings a composition he renders it in his own style. Here is a sankirtan style chant from him "Naryan Hare".



Another beautiful Abhang by Sant Namdev sung by him.

I think I need to do a few posts on Maharashtra and its great tradition from gyaneshwar,namdev,tukaram to recent ones like swami akkalkot and shankar maharaj. Some other day perhaps.



---
Watch it till the end when the tempo paces up since these are sankirtan style renditions.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Radha Sameta Krishna : Sudha Raghunathan



--
very pleasing composition, was a regular item on my playlist during hey-days.

if the embedded video doesnt work try this.

Gita Chapter 1

बहुत पुराना है ये प्रेम
पर नया भी, और नया रहेगा

कविता ने सदा संगीत को चाहा
कभी कभी उसे वो मिला भी
जब जब वो मिले , ऐसे मिले
की खो बैठे अपना स्वरुप
और सृजन हुआ गीत का

पर ये बात यहाँ ख़तम नहीं हुई

गीत भी चाहता था कुछ,
एक उच्च अभिव्यक्ति
की उसे भी गाये, कोई योगेश्वर
और वो गीता कहलाया जाए

परन्तु शायद योगेश्वर कम गाते हैं
इसीलिए, शायद अर्जुन विषाद
अर्जुन विषाद ही रह जाता है
सांख्य या मोक्ष संन्यास तक
पहुँच नहीं पाता है

tears

कुछ ऐसे भी होते हैं, आंसू
जो आते तो हैं,
पर आते नहीं|

क्या जरूरी है,ये ?
की हर आंसू, आंसू बने ?
और आँख तक सफ़र करे ?

सूखी आँखों में भी,कभी कभी
हज़ार आंसू होते हैं!

Monday, October 19, 2009

jalan



ऊष्मा हो तुम
मेरे-भीतर
जो जल रही है
जला रही है
जगमगा रही है
मगर पथ नहीं दिखा रही है

Friday, October 16, 2009

Yadva nee baa - Bhimsen Joshi



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If the embedded link doesnt work, try this

Thursday, October 15, 2009

teri talaash

तेरी तलाश में इतनी दूर आ गया मैं
की मजिल बहुत पीछे छूट गयी

Monday, October 12, 2009

Mind

When you have a septic, nagging, self-concious mind the only course left, perhaps is its death.

random incomplete poem

कुछ चल भी दिए
कुछ जाना भी था

कुछ पा भी गए
कुछ पाना भी था

कुछ हो भी गए
कुछ होना भी था

---
Suddenly wrote some thing which came, I dunno if it will complete itself

Child

Whenever I see a beautiful child dancing or bubbling with joy, I say to myself this is saundarya lahiri. Waves of joyous beauty springing forth from a child's body. I try to understand what exactly is happening in there? I can never know. How can I know ? I am limited by my thinking.

I wonder, if its the same life expressing through his body and mine, I cannot be termed alive in the same sense as he is. By comparative standards yours truly is dead. or may be we can say, life is the very enemy of itself, the more u live the more u die. If you have lived more you are more dead. Perhaps this is the reason every one appreciates a child, the tender aliveness is nothing but the subtle truth I-am-available-to-life.

Friday, October 09, 2009

we

we met
but
we couldn't meet.

Saturday, October 03, 2009

kya paaya

क्या पाया ,
पाकर विद्या
देख कर पृथ्वी
जान कर अज्ञात को
क्या पाया ?

क्या पाया
ध्यान की गहरी अवस्था में
चेतना के उच्च शिखरों पर
अनुभूतियों में, अध्यात्मिक
क्या पाया ?

पाया क्या
सुखद-अनुभव इच्छा में
दुखद-अनुभव अनिच्छा में
अनुभव परित्याग में भी
क्या पाया ?

हुआ क्या, करके अनुभव ?
सब अनुभव, अनुभव ही रह गए

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Hanuman Strotam




---
Should translate for stutimandal soon.

if the embedded vid. doesnt wory try the link

Monday, September 28, 2009

Deva Bandha Namma




----
Purandardasa, Bhimsen Joshi

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

kabir bhajan - Naiharwa



**************lyrics************

नैहरवा
हम का न भावे
साईं की नगरी परम अति सुन्दर,
जहाँ कोई जावे न आवे
चाँद सूरज जहाँ, पवन न पानी,
को सुन्देश पहुँचावे?
दर्द यह साईं को सुनावे
आगे चलो पंथ नहीं सूझे,
पीछे दोष लगावे
कही बिधि ससुरे जाऊ मोरी सजनी,
विरह जोर जरावे
विषय रस नाच नचावे
बिन सतगुरु अपनों नहीं कोई,
जो यह राह बतावे
कहत कबीरा सुनो भाई साधो,
सुपने न पीतम आवे
तपन यह तन की बुझावे


some typos there , since i used a translation engine will correct them sometime.
web has also some other versions by kailash kher and vikram hazra

I will translate laters if i find some time.

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Oriya poem

"Your hut stands outside the city
Oh, untouchable maid
The bald Brahmin passes sneaking close by
Oh, my maid, I would make you my companion
Kanha is a kapali, a yogi
He is naked and has no disgust
There is a lotus with sixty-four petals
Upon that the maid will climb with this poor self and dance."

---
found it somewhere on web, poet is kanhupa .. Mystical in nature will comment on this perhaps.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

हाथ




हाथ लिखना चाहते थे
पर क्या लिखते ?
गद्य ? पद्य ?

हाथ जुड़ भी सकते थे, दोनो
पर क्या बनते ?
अभिवादन? याचना ?

हाथ थाम भी सकते थे कोई और हाथ
पर क्या देते ?
स्नेह ? सांत्वना ?

बनाने में हाथ, जिसका था हाथ
कदापि कहना चाहता था
मैं हाथ नही आऊँगा
हाथों को खोल दो

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

UG Speaks - 3

It went on and on in its own way -- peculiar things -- but never did I say to myself "Well, (Laughs) I am getting there, I am nearer to that." There is no nearness to that, there is no far awayness from that, there is no closeness to that. Nobody is nearer to that because he is different, he is prepared. There's no readiness for that; it just hits you like a ton of bricks.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Vishnu -- Lord of the past 2 (too)

Vishnu -- Lord of the past too

Enjoying a holiday, it struck me while taking bath that Vishnu is also lord of the past.

Vishnu in Vishnu Sahasranaam's(sahasranamam) opening verse is described as:

विश्वं विष्णुर्वषट्कारो भूतभव्यभवत्प्रभुः।
भूतकृद्भूतभृद्भावो भूतात्मा भूतभावनः॥१॥

We can become argumentative sanskrit pandits of Kashi and decipher Bhoota, as not 'past' but 'beings'. But then one more post will be required to connect the sublime invariance in the two seemingly contradictory interpretations of the word 'Bhoota'.

In any case Sahastranaam(sahasranamam) gives more expansive characteristic to Vishnu calling him, namely , bhoot bhavya bhavat(past,future,present). This is expected from the expansive Vishnuite tendencies which seek inclusion through constructs. The ever pervasive 'Vishnu' engulfs everything and appears everywhere hahahaha.

Let me put this semantics to rest, may be another post on Vishnu sometime!

However for those who are inclined to chew on this further there is some hint in the post script.
----

PS: सर्वः शर्वः शिवः स्थाणुर्भूतादिर्निधिरव्ययः।
संभवो भावनो भर्ता प्रभवः प्रभुरीश्वरः॥४॥
स्वयंभूः शम्भुरादित्यः पुष्कराक्षो महास्वनः।
...
भूतावासो वासुदेवः सर्वासुनिलयोऽनलः
...
महाह्रदो महागर्तो महाभूतो महानिधिः॥८६॥

Bhootnaatha - Lord of the past




Boothnatha: LORD of the PAST

This blog has in the past argued, that memory(past) is only fundamental tense that makes up human experience. You cannot perceive without knowledge, which is nothing but a memory (or no knowledge which is in turn knowledge about no-knowledge)

The latent hardwired tendencies(memories) control the emotive response towards incidents/people/actions and also imagination.

All this buried baggage of knowledge, which is nothing but 'past', resurfaces again and again and we go through the same mental responses again and again. When you recognize how past has clutched you, how you go through in your mind same memories again and again compulsively. Memories about how you went through incidents. Memories about how you wanted them to happen and memories about how you would like to experience life which is yet to happen. Once this recognition happens it gives you the freedom to make the present free from past.

You become bhootnaatha by becoming Lord of the Past. When the repetitive tendencies of mind are controlled. When the same incidents which evoked panic/despair/irritation/restlessness earlier do not create them anymore, know that you are Bhootnatha. When memories of life that was, do not have an emotional pull left. When the imagined life which is yet to happen is no longer dwelled upon iteratively, know that you are Bhootnatha. You are liberated from the karmic chakra of thinking obsessively and going through the same "mental imagery route" over and over again.

Then bhootnatha sits in Shamsana(dead/inactive memories) without fear. The fear and burden of memories is no more. The decay of the lifeless past only adds to Bhootnaatha's splendor. It adorns him.

Then when you longer experience your mind the way you experienced in the past, in your action you open your self to the spontaneous, unplanned dimension of life. Time doesnt unsettle you and the fearless Bhootnatha now opens up to be Kala Bhairava, one that time cannot frighten.

----

A related post on Kali is here

Friday, July 10, 2009

Ramana Speaks -- 4

D.: It is difficult to follow. I understand the theory. But what is the practice?

M.: The other methods are meant for those who cannot take to the investigation of the Self. Even to repeat Aham Brahmasmi or think of it, a doer is necessary. Who is it? It is ‘I’. Be that ‘I’. It is the direct method. The other methods also will ultimately lead everyone to this method of the investigation of the Self.

-from Talk 266


from achalayoga blog

Monday, July 06, 2009

Guru strotam - Guru poornima

ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं




---
Will add more words here on the strotam , perhaps :-)

अनुभव

जीवन के सारे अनुभव
मैं त्यागता गया
पर जाना की ये भी एक अनुभव था

प्राप्ती की आशा, निराशा

Sunday, July 05, 2009

अंत

चाहता था अंत
अंत आया तो, पर
अपने साथ उपरांत लाया
अंत के उपरांत फिर एक प्रारंभ

अंततः शांति कब ?

Saturday, June 20, 2009

kya

क्या फिर किया जाए?
जब जिया ना जाए

Monday, June 15, 2009

bandhan

विचारों के अतिरिक्त बंधन क्या ?
और बंधन के अतिरिक्त विचार क्या ?

भाषा के अलावा विचार क्या ?
और विचार के अलावा भाषा क्या ?

mahatvkaanksha

महत्वकांक्षा तो कभी थी ही नही
अब आकांक्षा की भी आकांक्षा नही रही
आकांक्षा का महत्त्व ही क्या , आखिर ?
महत्त्व का महत्त्व क्या ?

प्रश्न चिन्ह ने अंततः
जीवन की गति को विराम दिया

Monday, June 08, 2009

Upadesha Saram rendition

A nice version of Upadesha Saram though incomplete. Rendition is by Shastri and Sharma ji, they are also better known for Rudram and Chakaram recitation.


अहमयं कृतो भवति चिन्वतः |
अयि पतात्यहं निजविचारनम ||

I

Sometimes I feel, that I am there
and then I realize that, I am, is still there

Saturday, June 06, 2009

500 miles

If you miss the train I'm on,
You will know that I am gone

Friday, May 15, 2009

Past

What is past? Is there is any past? All the discourse on the much abused term “present moment” aside, the truth is you touch life only through past. Imagine seeing a cup, how you do know it’s a cup ? You know it because you knew it. Even if the object is new you know it in relation to what you already know. So the new knowledge is constructed on old knowledge. If the old knowledge memories let us hypothesize cannot be accessed, the new knowledge cannot be created. So all that is past is nothing but a set of memories, which are accessed in the field of perception that what we call Now. So we know our now through the past. Through the conditioning that happened in the past.

Normally, it is not possible to perceive without bringing in your memories your conditioning i.e. your past. The question is, is it possible to be free of past. Is that perception possible, to look at a cup and never know it’s a cup? Perception which is freed from the slavery of knowledge, perception which is unburdened from the shackles of recognition, is such a perception possible?

Saturday, April 04, 2009

Yoga Vashishta Maharamayana

The true book which gives us a picture of Rama's mind and his attitude towards life is Yoga Vashishta. I often wonder why Rama's battle with Ravana(Ramayana) became more famous than Rama's battle with his own spiritual insufficiency(yoga vashishta).

Perhaps this is the nature of mind, it always believes that changing the outer world will give itself satisfaction in the inner world.

The first chapter is "Vairagya Parakaran". It elucidates how dispassion has flowered in Rama. King Dashratha, understandably upset at this self-abnegation by a young prince of 15 years, consults seer Valmiki , who pronounces...

Valmiki: This madness of the Raghu prince
is not from bad luck, nor from lust:
it is his Waking to the dawn
of his Discerning Dispassion


Bring Rama here at once, and we
at once will lead him out of this
delusion, as the winds disperse
a cloud upon a mountain-top.

He will become the Great Suchness,
knowing this Samsara Universe,
with neither happy days nor sad:
pebbles and diamonds the same



In fact the authority with which Rama speaks, he sounds like a Rishi in his own right. He talks about nature of mind, the inability of finding peace through sense fulfillments, his own dispassion towards enjoyment of all kinds.

He says he doesnt want to live, nor does he want to die and wonders what will he do with his kingdom and pleasure objects when the desire to enjoy them is absent in him. He continues to shed enough light on states of Jivan Muktaa's and it seems, these tendencies of Jivan Muktaa's serve as an aspirational drive for Rama.

In one of his final statements, he almost breaks down saying, he has given up everything but still hasnt attained realization. Then suddenly pleads Vashishta to lead him to THAT.

Rama: In the mentations of the Mind, out of the Suchness, the Three Worlds are born. Somewhere, there's no distress without a remedy. Sir, tell
me where is that wonderful place?

Otherwise, Brahmana, if you, knowing and realizing some
precept, decline to teach me what you know, and tell me nothing, then,
since I cannot know it alone, that unsurpassed, that restful peace,
I must now give up this my "I", the Ahamkara EgoSense

I will no longer eat, I will not drink water, I will not put
on new clothes, and I will not attend to my religious duties:
no more sacred bathing, no more food-offerings, none of those things.
No more activity for me, lucky or tenfold-unlucky!



I will try to continue on YV from now on.
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1. verses have been taken from Yoga vashishta google group.
2. Thanks Nari as always :)

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Ramana Speaks -- 3

M: is for Maharishi, taken from Talks with RM complete
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Mrs Jennings: Sri Bhagavan says that the state of Realisation is
freedom from the tyranny of thoughts. Have not the thoughts got
a place in the scheme of things - maybe on a lower plane?
M.: The thoughts arise from the ‘I-thought’ which in its turn arises
from the Self. Therefore the Self manifests as ‘I’ and other thoughts.
What does it matter if there are thoughts or no thoughts?
D.: Are good thoughts helpful for Realisation? Are they not authentic
via media, a lower rung of the ladder, to Realisation?
M.: Yes - this way. They keep off bad thoughts. They must themselves
disappear before the state of Realisation.
D.: But are not creative thoughts an aspect of Realisation and therefore
helpful?
M.: Helpful only in the way said before. They must all disappear in
the Self. Thoughts, good or bad, take you farther and not nearer,
because the Self is more intimate than thoughts. You are Self,
whereas the thoughts are alien to the Self.
D.: So the Self finally absorbs its own creation which had helped its
Realisation. Whereas civilisation wrongly worships and so separates
and ‘short-circuits’ its own creations which had helped its advance.
M.: Are you not distinct from thoughts? Do you not exist without
them? But can the thoughts exist without you?