Gyaneshwari/Dnyaeshwari

It has been said umpteen times by me that if we were to find someone who matched Shankara in terms of intellect, impact and clarity of expression it would be Gyaneshwar( Dnyaneshwar) . Yes Abhinavgupta and Ramanuja were great too and perhaps in lot of ways greater but I think you got what I am got trying to put accross.

We have in the past delved into Gyaneshwar's greatness here and especially his lesser known work i.e. Amritanubhav. I remember reading it verse by verse to Nari, who was totally blown by it!(yaad aaya Nari?)
 I hope one day, I delve more deeply into Dnyaneswari and read it cover to cover.

There are also some peculiar similarities which both of them(Shankara and Gyanoba), share i.e. early flowering, early demise, castigation by the orthodox brahmins, great transcendental as well as devotional works and of-course a GREAT fan-club, which survives down to the present day. Here is a small excerpt from Dnyaneshwari.

Shri Vidyabhusana - 2

Another beautiful Bhajan by Vidyabhushanaji

Shri Vidyabhusana

After a long time, I have heard something like this! Incredible. Shri Vidyabhushana is just amazing!

And of-course also sample this, http://youtu.be/kFx-bYE9rgQ

A question: Why is sundarkand called sundarkand ?

Vrindavani sarang

Was trying to find a composition in vrindavani sarang and found this gem. Surdas bhajan in Brindavani sarang sung by Purshottam Jalota(f/o Anup jalota).  Lyrics are in the comment section of this Youtube video. It recounts the oft potrayed episode,Uddhav with Gopikas.

One line struck me "nahi chaiyat yeh jap tap hamko, har dam tum dam sadho" Vipasana by Gopis..right? :D And now compare this with kabir, "ram nam  ki khoonti daali, nabh mein dala pantha, chadhte uthte dam ki khabar le, phir nahi aana banta". 

Luigi Boccherini

Fandango G 448

Vishnu sahasranaam

Despite all the great and truly praise worthy renditions of Vishnu Shasranaam, I dont know why , I particularly like this rendition of Sahasranaam. I often burst into chanting sahasranaam in metro bus or in get-togethers.....basically wherever I am enjoying my own company. I am not able to fathom why :D

Suddenly two days ago I found it online and Yay here it is now for your listening pleasure. I will very soon also put my preferred version of Lalitha sahasranaam. Btw this one starts directly no nayasa, no bhishma uvaach etc. Three parts and VS starts at 2.50 Part-1 and ends 1.20 Part-3.

Death feast

He is caught
between life and death

She is ruining him
each passing moment
and he knows.

He knows
that her presence
bears testimony to his
diminishing existence.

Yet he wants her to live
and orchestrate his end
Because for him
the only way to live now
is for her to live.

Come as you are

My friend Nari asked to me post something that redeems the purpose of this blog. Here it is.

I dont have a gun

Nayyara Noor - raat yun dil mein teri khoyi hui yaad

Aaj baazaar mein pabajola chalo.
poet: faiz ahmad faiz
singer: Nayyara Noor

QnA-9

Q: I think or the mind thinks ?
A: If you think you think you do, If you do not think you think, you do not.
Q: How come?
A: Both your I and your mind are mind made. 

LM chart refer

Chola maati ke

The search for immortality is a recurrent theme in Jnaana kaand of Vedas, the Upanishads. Similarly I sometimes that feel 'mortality' and all that ensues from it is the recurrent theme of medieval Indian saint poetry of the Bhakti age (I know this is only approximately true).  Perhaps mrityorma amrutam gamaya subtly means that mortality has be to understood in its depth before one enters in the realm of immortality.

Here is a folk song from the state of Chhatisgarh. Its from the movie, Peepli live.
You can find the lyrics and its meaning on the web. Even though lyrics have nothing new still when the poet says "ye dunia maya ke re bande jivanmukti kar le" somehow it sounds much better than the Champion's rant 'satsangatve nisangatvam...nishchaltattve jivan mukti"

Music is pleasant and soothing.

QnA-8

Q: What is bhakti ?
A: Having that and being reminded by that continuously that you are “having that ” causes an emotional upheaval in your system. Know that upheaval to be Bhakti.

Satya

सत्य की अभिलाषा से उसने जाना ,

सत्य की असली परिभाषा 

निराशा 

घोर, घोर, निराशा 

Shabad- sansar samunde taar govinde

शायद चाहता था वो किसी जमाने में तरना,
नहीं चाहता पर अब वो जीना
नहीं चाहता मरना

Gorakh Kalyan

Took some time find to this version on youtube, since the others are less tranquilizing. Bhimsen Joshi.

Roop Pahata Lochan

Considering the fact this Abhang has been sung by Asha Bhonslae and then by Pt. Bhimsen joshi, it has already been stamped with signatures of two of India's leading voices. That said, I think Ranjani Gayathri have done good justice to this Abhang. The treatment is very classical and yet it retains the sounds and rhythms of bahjan setting. Full marks and very well done. R-G have praised a lot on this blog already. I hope this shall continue :) 

Roop pahata lochani sukh jahale wo sajani
to ha vitthal barwa to ha madhav barwa
bahuta sukrutachi jodi mahanoni vittal awdhai
sarv sukhacha aagar baap rakhumadeviwar

Love story

Strange is this love story.
he has fallen in love,
and he is crest-fallen.
And in his utter submissive surrender,
he is dying,
he is lying,
stomped.

Tragedy or travesty of hope
what would you call his pursuit?

Strange is this love story.

Baand preeti phool

Subah Subah, bhayyia pointed me to this song in Jaijaiwanti. Touching and very sweet. I guess its a very young lata singing there. Music is by Sudhir Phadke. SJ has uploaded Sudhir kaka's version too. Which is also excellent! Esp. where he says "door jaana naa" it lends itself to a very emotive high point. Normally I try to follow lyrics, but here the music simply stole the show and I just couldnt! Youtube also has a similar rendition of jaijaiwanti by Pt. jasarj. I am putting up here only lata and phadke's. You can search for Jasraj's one.

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Vedana

देख रहा है वो भीतर
वेदना में टूटते हुए
पल पल तुमको फूटते हुए