Srinath Shrothrium's Blog, page 5

Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 -The Soft, Brilliant & Independent Lord has proficiency & prowess to create uniqueness and bring about auspiciousness

Srimad Bhagavatam cleanses kalimala or the pollutant of Kali, destroys sins, shows the indweller, the Lord, in oneself by bringing Vairagya towards the materialistic world, and gives pure devotion, crystal clear, and clean knowledge. 

|| Hari Om || Hare Srinivasaकल्यण अद्भुत गात्राय कामितार्थ प्रदयिने ।श्रीमद् वेन्कटनाथाय श्रीनिवासय ते नम: ॥Your benevolence for granting wishes is incredibly vast and unsurpassed. Divine Lord Venkateshwara! Destroyer of Sins! An abode of Mahalakshmi! Srinivasa! My salutations to you.भवाय नस्त्वं भव विश्वभावन त्वमेव माताथ सुहृत्पतिः पिता ।त्वं सद्गुरुर्नः परमं च दैवतं यस्यानुवृत्त्या कृतिनो बभूविम ॥ ७॥Vishwabhavana! From you, the whole universe has arisen. Suhrtpati! You are the mother, the father, you are the friend, as well as our teacher. Sadguru! It is you, who makes us walk on the right path. You are our lord, as well as being worshipped. We are safe and successful by taking refuge in your lotus feet which are auspicious. Lord! You are the only cause of our success.व्यासाय भव नाशाय श्रीशाय गुण राशऐ ।हृद्याय शुद्ध विद्याय मध्वायछ नमो नमः ॥Charming & the beloved Vyasa, the destroyer of emotional & behavioral disorders, the Lord of Goddess of abundance having heaps of attributes, bestower of clean knowledge, my repeated salutations to you and Acharya Madhwa.यः स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥This Srimad Bhagavatam gives the experience of the Lord and has the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta. It sheds spiritual light on the transcendental philosophy required to surpass the intense cycle of death and birth which is wrapped in ignorance. However, it is very secretive in nature. Hence, I pray to you Sri Shukacharya for your continued blessings.दयादाक्षिण्यवैराग्यवाक्पाटवमुखाङिकतः ।शापानुृग्रहशक्तोऽन्यो राघवेन्द्रन्नविध्यते ॥ The face symbolizing Compassion; Modesty; Dispassion towards sensual pleasure; Eloquence; Power to remove curses is none else than you, Guru Raghavendra. 
My salutations to you.

ज्ञानं विरक्तिरैश्वर्यं शौर्यं तेजो धृति स्मृतिः ।

स्वातन्त्र्यं कौशलं कान्ति सौभगमार्दवमेव च ॥ २७॥

Lord has an attribute of स्वातन्त्र्यं or He is Independence. Neither has he had a dependency on Goddess Mahalakshmi, or the Prakriti that she influences nor is he dependent on Jiva starting from God Brahma to a blade of Grass. The whole happenings that we see around are as per Vedas, but Lord is not dependent on Vedas. In fact, all four Vedas are being recited by Lord at the same time. Hence, he has his name as Veda without the influence of time.

The Lord is Svadheena or only relying on himself with Ananta Gunapurna or immeasurable stainless attributes causing the creation. Worshipping the Lord this way, doing Yoga that it is only Lord who is independent, the Lord will bless the below two

1.    Paradheena or dependency is the cause of sorrow. Particularly to those who cannot take care of themselves. By worshipping the Lord as Svatantra or Independent, Lord would bless with loneliness or isolation with wicked and bestow enough strength to manage oneself. 

2.    As Sva gives the meaning as Lord and tantra is an instrument, the awareness that one is under control of the Lord who is independent dawns.

कौशलं  Kaushalam or prowess in creating unique, distinctive, and exclusive features. In the entire creation of the Lord, everything is distinctive. There are different types of plants and trees. In a family of trees, all are of not the same size, shape, trunk, branches, leaves, and so on. Even a single leaf is distinctive having a unique blade, midrib, vein, and apex tip. Even two veins of the leaf are not alike but have uniqueness. So too in a vein, the beginning, the middle, and the end portion have uniqueness and exclusivity. The current estimate is about 780 crore people on this earth and each one has the same eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and so on in the face. Yet each one is unique. This is the prowess or Kaushalya in the Lord. He himself shows-up in a unique way as Lord Rama, or Krishna, Narsimha, or Veda Vyasa, and in so many forms. He blesses each one in a unique way. His blessings to Sudhama are unique and so too to Prahalada, Shabri, Druva, Gajendra, Gopikas, Bheeshma, Kunti, Uttara Devi, and so many. All have been blessed in an exclusive and unique way. Be it in creation, or sustenance, or destruction, or regulation, or bestowing ignorance, or knowledge, our Lord has prowess.

By worshipping the attribute of Prowess in Lord or doing Yoga would be blessed to have Prowess in the field of their interest like sculpting, or drawing, or machining, or artwork or painting or even in a medical operation to the individual capacity.  The challenge for a sculptor, or painter, or writer is to bringing in uniqueness, exclusivity with different styles in their work. Worshipping the attribute of prowess in the Lord would be blessed with different styles and uniqueness not just by those in the creative field, but even the ordinary will become witty or brimming with creativity.

कान्ति  is the divine captivating glow or the brilliance emanating from the form of Lord. The captivating glow in a stone makes it Gem. The inherent glow of any material or living beings makes it special and exclusive. Also, a flower that has bloomed afresh has a glow to hold one's attention.  The Sun, Moon, and the Stars have the brilliance to provide light to the common people. The diamond gains brilliance by holding a larger illuminance of light within itself. The glow or the brilliance emanating from the object and object cannot be separated. Also, the Lord and his divine captivating glow cannot be separated. In fact, the God Sun, God Moon, God Fire, and Stars have gained brilliance by only worshipping the brilliance of Lord and doing Yoga of this attribute of Lord. The indweller Lord in them reflects his captivating glow and what we see as Sun, or Moon, or Stars is the reflection of the divine captivating glow or the brilliance emanating from the form of Lord.

The yogis have been worshipping the divine brilliance of the Lord. The Vishwamitra, friendly to one, and all is the rishi of the Gayatri mantra. He has applauded the divine brilliance of the Lord in the form of Lady Gayatri is an indweller of Prana or life force of God Sun. By worshipping this attribute of divine brilliance of the Lord, doing the Gayatri mantra, we will be attracted to the divine charm of the Lord and captivated. Our desire for him will increase.  

सौभगं or auspiciousness or filled with divine fortune. The cause and the ownership of auspiciousness are Lord. The attributes of the Lord are immeasurable filled with auspiciousness is causing divine favor to each one. He has no wickedness causing sorrow, nor decline filled with flaws causing stains. Therefore, those dear devotees of the Lord keep repeatedly calling him as Stainless having immeasurable attributes.

Also, in all that is aversive to a common man, hating to see or hear, or smell or taste is Lord. He is Niranjana or untouched by any inauspiciousness engrossed in his divine bliss. The दुर्भग or inauspiciousness is hurriedly been taken away by the Kali and his fellow associates.       

This description of the fundamental nature of good and evil is depicted in the distribution of Amruta or divine nectar by the Lord in the form of Mohini. In the Forms & Fame of Lord, we hear

धान्वन्तरं द्वादशमं त्रयोदशममेव च ।

अपाययत्सुरानन्यान् मोहिन्या मोहयन् स्त्रिया ॥

During this churning of Milky Way or Kshirasamudra mathana, the Lord appeared from the Milkey Way in the twelfth time form of Dhanvantari holding a pitcher full of Amruta or Nector. In this form, Lord blesses good health to humanity and knowledge of Ayurveda. Immediately after that, He appeared in the thirteenth form of Mohani. The Lord mesmerized and captivated the demons and served the Nector of Immortality to only Gods.

We always hear that evil is powerful. The demons snatched the picture of divine nectar from Dhanvantri and started running away. In that fight of gods and demons, having the divine nectar would have given immortality to the demons. Hence, the Lord appeared in the form of Mohini to rescue the Gods. Seeing him, the Satvika Gods realized the divine auspiciousness in him. Whereas the glamorous beauty of Lord stupefied the demons.    

This is the metaphysics or the nature of reality, where the evil lures us towards the glamour binding to the cycle of death and birth and bringing दुर्भग or inauspiciousness. While Gods bringing सौभगं or auspiciousness or filled with divine fortune.

By worshipping the Lord as सुभगः or auspicious or filled with divine fortune and doing Yoga with this attribute of him, one will be blessed with popularity among good, receive their liking, and auspiciousness. Therefore, the Sadhus, Sants, Priests, dear devotees of the Lord, and the elders get high reverence in the Sanatana or oldest indoctrination. They have a higher presence of auspiciousness of Lord in them and are worthy to bless.

मार्दवं or Softness.  The Lord is strict and tough. He deals with sinners with a heavy hand. He has created lower regions of Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatal, Rasatala, Mahatala, and Patala to punish. With severe punishments like 28 Deadly Punishments Listed in Garuda Puran. 

Also, he has an attribute of तितिक्षा or forbearance to the Sinners. He is भक्त अपराध सहिष्णु or Lord has forbearance to the offenses or crimes done against him by his dear devotes. Moreover, he is full of Daya or Compassion. He melts down to other’s distress caused by physical, or mental, or emotional difficulties.  The form of our Lord is complete with an immeasurable attribute of Compassion filled with grace, elegance, and is balanced. The kind-hearted Lord is helpful at all times and never has a disassociation with this attribute of compassion. When a devote propitiates to him seeking pardon, the compassionate Lord becomes मार्दवं or turns soft.

By worshipping this way the Lord would not react immediately to sins or offenses against him conducted by both good and evil. Also, worshipping him having the attribute of compassion, and मार्दवं or softness, seeking pardon by taking refuge in his lotus feet for the sins done, the so-called the subconscious mind would not through-up anger arbitrarily. The anger in the individual causing knee jerk reactions would soften. Such are the blessings of the Lord.

Continuing to answering Shaunaka rishi, Sri Suthacaharya started narrating the conversation between God Dharma in the form of Bullock and Goddess Earth as Bhoo Devi. Bhoo Devi sang,

प्रागल्भ्यं प्रश्रयः शीलं सह ओजो बलं भगः ।

गाम्भीर्यं स्थैर्यमास्तिक्यं कीर्तिर्मानोऽनहङ्कृतिः ॥ २८॥

The Lord having कौशलं or prowess in creating unique, distinctive, and exclusive features have प्रागल्भ्यं or proficiency. In all his acts, he shows absolute proficiency without any self-doubt nor confusion.

Even as he told Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna in the middle of battle field-leading him into tattva jnana, he exhibited proficiency. Lord Sri Krishna said,

अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति ।

नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः ॥BG-04-40॥

The ignorant having no faith nor belief in me nor in the scriptures would become the target for evil to instill wickedness. Hence, such beings, would not have a place in this world nor in the other. He would have no comfort anywhere.

By worshipping this attribute of the Lord, doing yoga with this attribute, proficiency starts manifesting in our acts. Even when we have to take the right stand, or stand-up for truth, or establish a premise, or carrying out our day-to-day duty, self-confidence, and proficiency manifest. Even if the whole world stands against, or even if the government uses all its might, the yogi would stand firm exhibiting proficiency.

This way, the Sanathana or the oldest dharma working on individual personality builds the Character of an individual. The Independence, the Prowess to create uniqueness,  Brilliance, Auspiciousness, Softness, Proficiency are all relevant to the modern-day personality. Hence, branding Hinduism as Credulous & Superstitious is far from truth having mala fide intentions.

|| Hari Om ||

|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||

 

Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - Remembering the Splendour of supremacy firmly with complete faith and devotion

Srimad Bhagavatam cleanses kalimala or the pollutant of Kali, destroys sins, shows the indweller, the Lord, in oneself by bringing Vairagya towards the materialistic world, and gives pure devotion, crystal clear, and clean knowledge. 

|| Hari Om || Hare Srinivasaकल्यण अद्भुत गात्राय कामितार्थ प्रदयिने ।श्रीमद् वेन्कटनाथाय श्रीनिवासय ते नम: ॥Your benevolence for granting wishes is incredibly vast and unsurpassed. Divine Lord Venkateshwara! Destroyer of Sins! An abode of Mahalakshmi! Srinivasa! My salutations to you.भवाय नस्त्वं भव विश्वभावन त्वमेव माताथ सुहृत्पतिः पिता ।त्वं सद्गुरुर्नः परमं च दैवतं यस्यानुवृत्त्या कृतिनो बभूविम ॥ ७॥Vishwabhavana! From you, the whole universe has arisen. Suhrtpati! You are the mother, the father, you are the friend, as well as our teacher. Sadguru! It is you, who makes us walk on the right path. You are our lord, as well as being worshipped. We are safe and successful by taking refuge in your lotus feet which are auspicious. Lord! You are the only cause of our success.व्यासाय भव नाशाय श्रीशाय गुण राशऐ ।हृद्याय शुद्ध विद्याय मध्वायछ नमो नमः ॥Charming & the beloved Vyasa, the destroyer of emotional & behavioral disorders, the Lord of Goddess of abundance having heaps of attributes, bestower of clean knowledge, my repeated salutations to you and Acharya Madhwa.यः स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥This Srimad Bhagavatam gives the experience of the Lord and has the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta. It sheds spiritual light on the transcendental philosophy required to surpass the intense cycle of death and birth which is wrapped in ignorance. However, it is very secretive in nature. Hence, I pray to you Sri Shukacharya for your continued blessings.दयादाक्षिण्यवैराग्यवाक्पाटवमुखाङिकतः ।शापानुृग्रहशक्तोऽन्यो राघवेन्द्रन्नविध्यते ॥ The face symbolizing Compassion; Modesty; Dispassion towards sensual pleasure; Eloquence; Power to remove curses is none else than you, Guru Raghavendra. 
My salutations to you.

We saw that immediately after the disappearance of Lord Sri Krishna, Kali had placed his feet on this earth. Bheemasena, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva saw the advent of immorality, wickedness, jealousy, greed, and so on in the common people by the domination of Kali. Realizing that the common man had very little space for them in their mind and consciousness, directed their mind towards the Lotus Feet of the Lord to follow King Yudhishthira and ascended to Heaven.

Subsequently, King Parikshit after taking control of the reins of the kingdom took up Dijvijaya Yatra to establish his victory in all directions. One day he encountered Kali.  Though appearing like a person of the working class serving the society as a farmer or a smith, Kali had dressed in the royal robes fit only for the Kings. King Parikshit saw the Kali kicking the legs of an innocent couple, a cow, and a bullock. Hence, he hurried towards Kali and ordered him with punishment. This is the last fame to control the Kali held by king Parikshit.

Sri Shaunaka rishi asked, Sri Suta Puranika! Why did King Parikshit leave Kali unkilled? Even for a King, kicking the innocent and a holy cow is a heinous crime exhibiting disgrace! Should there be the Glory of Lord, or narration of his sports charm, or even have the story of his beloved devotees who relish the nectar from the Lotus feet of Lord, please continue with this story. Else, what is the point of chit-chatting on worldly issues, or hearing the story of Kali, or his associates? All of these can only take away our lifespan?

Answering Shaunaka rishi, Sri Suthacaharya started narrating the conversation between God Dharma in the form of Bullock and Goddess Earth as Bhoo Devi. Bhoo Devi sang,

ज्ञानं विरक्तिरैश्वर्यं शौर्यं तेजो धृति स्मृतिः ।

स्वातन्त्र्यं कौशलं कान्तिर्धैर्यं मार्दवमेव च ॥ २७॥

We have seen the attributes of Jnana or Knowledge, Vairagya or Dispassion towards worldly matter; ऐश्वर्य or Aishwarya or Lordship; शौर्यं or Shaurya or Bravery of Heroism! The next attribute of Lord sung by Bhoodevi is, the Lord has तेज​ or Tejas or Splendor in his supremacy. This comes from him being अप्रधृष्य or invincible. He is Ajaya. No evil nor vice can win over him.

Worshiping Lord, and doing Yoga with his attributes of ऐश्वर्य or Aishwarya, having absolute Lordship who exercises दम or dama to oppress the evil, and has शौर्यं or Shaurya or Bravery of Heroism, who doesn’t run away from a fight, or a battle, or war, Lord would bless us a spark of similar splendor to our capacity. No external enemy, nor the internal enemies like Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Madha, or Matsarya will be able to influence us let alone win.

The next attribute of Lord sung by Bhoo Devi is धृति or Driti to bear firmly. Bearing an Idea or premise firmly is also Driti. Mother Earth also holds us firmly without falling. So too the God Sesha holds mother earth firmly on his hood. God Sesha has been held by God Vayu firmly. Lord and Goddess bears all of these in their Kurma Roopa or the form of Tortoise firmly.

God Vayu is exemplary as being firm and complete. In his form of Hanuman, has unwavering faith in the greatness of Lord Sri Rama, in this world, he has created, and self-confidence in himself. As Bheema and as Madhva too, the attribute of Driti is firm and complete.

यस्याम्भसि शयानस्य योगनिद्रां वितन्वतः ।

नाभिह्रदाम्बुजादासीद्ब्रह्मा विश्वसृजां पतिः ॥

After the creation of Brahmanda or the Universe including the cosmic ocean, The Lord Purusha entered the universe. Taking a sleeping posture on the primordial water and with Yoga Nidra gulped the darkness appearing as Purusha. From his naval sprang a lotus giving birth to God Brahma the father of Daksha.

यस्यावयवसंस्थानैः कल्पितो लोकविस्तरः ।

तद्वै भगवतो रूपं विशुद्धं सत्त्वमूर्जितम् ॥

From the body and the limbs of Lord Purusha who has the Virat Roopa of omniform, all the 14 lokas or regions were formed. This way the entire universe is a shape and form of Lord Bhagavan who is Virtuous, full of good attributes, Knowledge, Strength, and a foundation for all beings. This pure and satvika form of Lord is very auspicious, supreme, and excellent.

By Worshipping this way, doing yoga with this attribute of the Lord who not only carries physically the entire universe on himself firmly but also the wellbeing of the universe and all the beings or Jivas on it, one will be blessed to support all the dependent. Or in other words, the behavior to support their dependents will manifest.

After धृति or Driti, Bhoo Devi calls Lord as स्मृति or Smriti or being remembered. If we believe that the Lord has to remember something, then naturally it implies that he forgets. Hence, a question arises if to remember is an attribute or an apathy?  However, our Lord is omniscient with all knowledge conscious always. Hence, Smriti in Lord means his seeing towards a Jiva with the intent of blessings. 

We came across Shaunaka Rishi saying Sri Sutacharya,     

क्षुद्रायुषां नृणामङ्ग मर्त्यानामृतमिच्छताम् ।

इहोपहूतो भगवान् मृत्युः शामित्रकर्मणि ॥ ७॥

Revered Puranika! Though there are those desirous and focussed to break the cycle of death and birth through Prasada or the divine gift of the Lord, they come with short lifespans. They succumb to death before even starting any serious practice of Yoga.

Therefore, the priests carrying out the sacrifice regularly have invited the God of death – Yama; Mrityunjaya – God Shiva, who has won the death over Yama and causes death even to the King of Yama i.e. God Indra during pralaya; Mukhya Prana – who causes death to even to Mrityunjaya; and मृत्योऱ मृत्युं – Lord Narasimha, who is the cause of death to the one who causes death to Mrityunjaya, i.e. Mukhya Prana. They have them here in शामित्रकर्म of friendly acts for thousands of years till The Spiritual Gathering of Naimisharanya is completed.    

न कश्चिन्म्रियते तावद्यावदास्त इहान्तकः ।

एतदर्थं हि भगवानाहूतः परमर्षिभिः ।

अहो नृलोके पीयेत हरिलीलामृतं वचः ॥ ८॥

As long as we are engaged in this spiritual gathering of hearing, recollecting, analyzing to understand Srimad Bhagavata and implement its proponents, death would not occur. Even those of us who have a short lifespan can relish the taste of the nectar called Srimad Bhagavata. Therefore, priests have invited Gods, Yama, Shiva, and Mukya Prana here. And also their Lord Narsimha.

मन्दस्य मन्दप्रज्ञस्य वयो मन्दायुषश्च वै ।

निद्रया ह्रियते नक्तं दिवा च व्यर्थकर्मभिः ॥ ९॥

The lifespan of the people of Kali Yuga is very short. It is just 120 years. And those people cannot even complete their span as they carry the sin of अल्पायुस् or short life. Together with being short-lived, they are dull too. Hence, the people of Kali Yuga waste most of their time in sleep, day to day activities of life including worldly affairs, and time to earn materialistic happiness said Sri Shaunaka filled with concern towards us, the people of Kaili Yuga.

The short lifespans of Jiva result in lakhs of deaths and births. In each such lifespan, the Jiva would have accomplished some merits and many sins. Keeping an account of all this and blessing the Jiva at the appropriate time is Smriti or being remembered by Lord! By worshipping this way or doing yoga this attribute of being remembered by the Lord would be blessed with unfailing memory.

Consistent with Sri Shaunika rishi’s request, we come across this conversation between Goddess Bhoo Devi and God Dharma Raja in the form of Cow and bullock respectively. For remembering the Lord and singing his glory, Bhoo Devi has culled the names of the Lord like picking the white flowers of Parijata having an orange stalk to offer to Lord Sri Krishna.

The compassionate Lord Veda Vyasa has sung the Vishu Sahasranama in the rhyme and rhythm of Anustup Chandas. Let’s take a look at the below excerpt from the same:

धनुर्धरो धनुर्वेदो दंडो दमयिता दमः।

अपराजितः सर्वसहो नियंता नियमो यमः॥

Lord! You are the indweller of God Yama providing justice. You are the Supreme Justice, taking responsibility for all of us, you instill self-discipline in us. You are stainless without an iota of intolerance. Lord! You are the supreme archer, the source for science of archery, and have never been defeated. You control & punish the wicked.

ओजस्तेजोद्युतिधर: प्रकाशात्मा प्रतापन:।

ऋद्ध: स्पष्टाक्षरो मन्त्रश्चन्द्रांशुर्भास्करद्युति:॥३०॥

Oh, Lord! Your splendid supremacy in vigor, skills, and abilities is radiant like a high noon sun shining brilliantly providing heat. Like the radiant of the sun shatters the early morning dew and haze, your brilliance shatters the ignorance bestowing clear and clean knowledge including bhakti and Vairagya. You are Shabda Brahaman, residing in each of the mantras breaking the entanglement with Prakriti.    

However, in the Lotus of Heart of Yogis, Oh Lord! Your brilliance surpasses that of thousands of Suns raised together with the pleasantness of thousand’s of the full moon.

In the फलश्रुति or fruit or benefit of reading of Vishnu Sahasranama, Lord Veda Vyasa says,

इमं स्तवमधीयानः श्रद्धाभक्तिसमन्वितः ।

युज्येतात्मसुखक्षान्तिश्रीधृतिस्मृतिकीर्तिभिः ॥

Reciting Lord’s stainless names manifesting innumerable attributes with faith and devotion will bear firmly with comfort, divine serenity, abundant wealth, elephant memory, and fame.

This way, the Sanathana or the oldest dharma explains the behavioral science, instills self-discipline to work on Prarabdha Karma, and improves personality on the way to accomplish Purushartha or objectives of Life.

|| Hari Om ||

|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||

 

Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - The Bravery of Heroic Lord having Knowledge and Dispassion

Srimad Bhagavatam cleanses kalimala or the pollutant of Kali, destroys sins, shows the indweller, the Lord, in oneself by bringing Vairagya towards the materialistic world, and gives pure devotion, crystal clear, and clean knowledge. 

|| Hari Om || Hare Srinivasaकल्यण अद्भुत गात्राय कामितार्थ प्रदयिने ।श्रीमद् वेन्कटनाथाय श्रीनिवासय ते नम: ॥Your benevolence for granting wishes is incredibly vast and unsurpassed. Divine Lord Venkateshwara! Destroyer of Sins! An abode of Mahalakshmi! Srinivasa! My salutations to you.भवाय नस्त्वं भव विश्वभावन त्वमेव माताथ सुहृत्पतिः पिता ।त्वं सद्गुरुर्नः परमं च दैवतं यस्यानुवृत्त्या कृतिनो बभूविम ॥ ७॥Vishwabhavana! From you, the whole universe has arisen. Suhrtpati! You are the mother, the father, you are the friend, as well as our teacher. Sadguru! It is you, who makes us walk on the right path. You are our lord, as well as being worshipped. We are safe and successful by taking refuge in your lotus feet which are auspicious. Lord! You are the only cause of our success.व्यासाय भव नाशाय श्रीशाय गुण राशऐ ।हृद्याय शुद्ध विद्याय मध्वायछ नमो नमः ॥Charming & the beloved Vyasa, the destroyer of emotional & behavioral disorders, the Lord of Goddess of abundance having heaps of attributes, bestower of clean knowledge, my repeated salutations to you and Acharya Madhwa.यः स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥This Srimad Bhagavatam gives the experience of the Lord and has the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta. It sheds spiritual light on the transcendental philosophy required to surpass the intense cycle of death and birth which is wrapped in ignorance. However, it is very secretive in nature. Hence, I pray to you Sri Shukacharya for your continued blessings.दयादाक्षिण्यवैराग्यवाक्पाटवमुखाङिकतः ।शापानुृग्रहशक्तोऽन्यो राघवेन्द्रन्नविध्यते ॥ The face symbolizing Compassion; Modesty; Dispassion towards sensual pleasure; Eloquence; Power to remove curses is none else than you, Guru Raghavendra. 
My salutations to you.

As we complete the first verse of the praises of Lord by Goddess Bhoo Devi in her conversation with God Dharma Raja that goes as,

सत्यं शौचं दया त्याग​: सन्तोष आर्जवम् ।

शमो दमस्तपः साम्यं तितिक्षोपरतिः श्रुतम् ॥ २६॥

These names are so exceptional, wonderful, and have potent to bestow unique and special virtues. However, the three types of jivas do sadhana in their own ways. The uttama or best would propitiate the Lord, accomplish virtues, and move towards Lord experiencing bliss in heaven. The madyama or mediocre intermittently propitiate Lord or be indifferent most of the time engrossed in worldly matters. They would swing between happiness and sorrow. The adhama or worst would express jealousy, intolerance, and unacceptance of the attributes of the Lord expressed by himself or as the indweller of various Jivas. They work hard to accomplish Hell!

Hence, only the virtuous would be blessed with clear and clean knowledge. Therefore, we should pay our obeisance to the revered saint who had meditated on each word of this prayer, contemplated over a protracted period of time, deep dived to pick the pearls of benefit that compassionate Lord would bless when we worship and do Yoga of these divine words of Prayer.

Sri Vijayadwaja Theertaru (1434 to 1448) doing word by word Upasana on the banks of the Arabian Sea in Kanva Theerta, has exhaustively written commentary that goes by the name Padaratnavali or also called Bhaktiratnavali. Fortunate are we to take a look at these commentaries for reasons of his compassion and consent though in glimpses due to our limited ability. My Gratitude to such compassionate Guru Sri Vijayadwaja Theertaru and seek his continued blessings for a better understanding, clearer thoughts, and clean knowledge.

The next verse Bhoo Devi sings is,

ज्ञानं विरक्तिरैश्वर्यं शौर्यं तेजो बलं स्मृतिः ।

स्वातन्त्र्यं कौशलं कान्तिर्धैर्यं मार्दवमेव च ॥ २७॥

ज्ञानं or Jnanam or Knowledge. To explain this attribute of Lord, Sri Vijayadwaja Theertaru has said सर्वज्ञता or omniscience. In Mangalacharna Continued, we had noted for “Artheshu abignaha,” that Lord has the knowledge and the skills required. Like a good Carpenter or a Smith having all the necessary knowledge and skills to convert to good furniture or ornaments, so too the Lord. He has all the knowledge and skills for Creation, Sustenance, and so on. He is सर्वज्ञ or sarvagna or all-knowing. Or in other words, all that exists in this universe is because of the complete knowledge he has, the complete knowledge of himself, and all happenings. 

By repeated contemplation of this attribute of the Lord, worshipping him as having complete knowledge, doing Yoga or synchronization with his attribute, Sri Vijayadwaja Theertaru says he would bestow us with परोक्ष or the invisible, hidden, and mysteriousknowledge of himself. After sufficient practice of worship and Yoga on various premises thus gained through the shastras, Lord would bless with अपरोक्ष  of  Aproksha Jnana or perceptible knowledge of Him. He will present himself evidently and be seen either through the physical eyes outside when open or through the interior eyes of Atma in the Lotus of heart.

Lord would bless us an ability and give a mind for interest to study Shastras or Indoctrinations. He blesses with crystal clear and clean knowledge about him.

विरक्ति or Vairagya having dispassion towards worldly matter or objects or foregoing desire to worldly matter. This happens only when we understand the downside of attachment or defects in attachments towards worldly matter or it’s potent to entangle with knots of death and birth. Also, our desire for higher positions, luxury, fame, etc.  gives a temporary sense of accomplishment. When we understand that only Moksha or release from the bind of death & births is ultimate happiness, we develop dispassion to materialistic desire.    

Lord has a name called भगवान्, or Bhagavan i.e.  Poorna or complete in Ishwarya, Dhairya or Samartya or capacity, Eshas or fame, Shree, Kanti, wealth) Poorna! Also, Jnana & Vishesha Jnana including Vairagya. Not just six, he is Ananta Guna Poorna so we call him Bhagavan. He is full of compassion.

Vairagya or dispassion is an attribute of the Lord. We have noted in the first verse of prayer of this Srimad Bhagavata composed by Lord Veda Vyasa saying त्रिसर्गोऽमृषा or the sustenance, destruction, regulation, and so on including creation, of three Gunas through Prakriti for the construction of this universe has no specific benefit to him. He does so only to express his attribute of creation as sports charm.

He has dispassion towards all else other than himself. He is stainless having no downside for all his actions, supreme, and ultimate in all aspects, He is the creator and does not desire anything more, other than himself. So, by worshipping him this way or doing yoga with this attribute of Lord as stainless, without having downside, nor attached to any matter or subject or object other than himself as he is ultimate or supreme, we would be blessed with Vairagya or dispassion towards all worldly matters.

ऐश्वर्य or Aishwarya is that which is possessed by ईश्वर or the Lord. Hence, Aishwarya means Lordship with governance, while in common parlance, Aishwarya is used to refer to wealth or treasure as its possessor is Ishwara. Our Lord has created the entire universe, he sustains and governs. He recognizes with rewards of happiness, awards positions of comforts, and higher regions of heaven. He also oppresses the vice with suffering and punishes the lower regions of Hell. His Lordship is absolute on a blade of grass to the King of God, Indra, including their superiors - Garuda, Sesha, Rudra, Vayu, Brahma, and even Goddess Mahalakshmi. He has the capacity to govern and ascertain his lordship. Hence, his ऐश्वर्य or Lordship is supreme and gets the title of परमेश्वर or Parameshwara.

By worshipping the Lord with this attribute or doing Yoga or synchronization through bhakti, Lord would bless the individual with the eight Siddhis of अणिमा, महिमा, लघिम, प्राप्ति, प्राकाम्य, ईशित्व, वशित्व, and गरिम.

अणिमा is the ability to reduce the size of the body to even an atom or disappearing;  महिमा is the ability to expand the body to an infinitely large size; गरिम is the ability to become infinitely heavy; लघिम is the ability to become almost weightless, even feather light; प्राप्ति is the ability to be anywhere at will; प्राकाम्य is the ability to obtain anything at will; ईशित्व is the ability to possess lordship over the forces of nature; वशित्व is the power to subjugate others.

In the meantime, for those who are practicing the perfection to please the Lord, or are on the path of accomplishment, Lord would bless leadership including the ability to command respect over a family, or the department of work, or over a team. This would help to direct others and lead them to the path of dharma.

In the फलश्रुति or fruit or benefit of reading of Vishnu Sahasranama, Lord Veda Vyasa says,

यशः प्राप्नोति विपुलं ज्ञाति प्राधान्यमेव च ।

अचलां श्रियमाप्नोति श्रेयः प्राप्नोत्यनुत्तमम् ॥

One would gain enormous fame in the society; Leadership of a team; immeasurable wealth; and endless credibility.

शौर्यं or Shaurya or Bravery of Heroism! Lord exhibits bravery and heroism without running away from a fight, or a battle, or war. We come across various stories in Purana including Hiranyaksha pulling out the earth from its orbit and dropped it in the primordial water. Also, his brother, Hiranyaksha stopping all virtuous on earth to pray to Lord Vishnu. Against, all these wicked and evil forces, Lord fought and won. As Lord Rama, he killed Kumbhakarna and Ravana, as Lord Sri Krishna, he killed several sinners including evil. He has an immeasurable Bravery equaled by none let alone surpassed.   

Hence, answering his grandson King Yudhishthira, Sri Bheeshmacharya says,

विष्णुं जिष्णुं महाविष्णुं प्रभविष्णुं महेश्वरम् ।

अनेकरूपदैत्यांतं नमामि पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥

The all-pervading Lord Vishnu has Bravery, Heroism, Might, Aggression, and be Victorious! My salutations to this Supreme Lord who takes several forms to kill several mighty vices and wicked.

By worshipping the Lord with these this attribute or doing Yoga or synchronization through Bhakti, Lord would bless the individual with bravery and heroism. We will be able to win over our internal enemies who break our resolve and be able to standby our commitment. The resolve could be to do prayers every day, or the vow of fasting, or visit a holy place or even, give up bad habits, or New Year resolution, and so on. We will be able to standby without giving up or running away. Also, Lord would bless us to win over external enemies, the threat of nature, or potential accidents with bravery and emerge heroically.    

As there is no difference between the attributes of the Lord and his name, Lord Veda Vyasa has listed a thousand names or attributes in Vishnusahasranama. However, for a common man to understand the meanings of the name and meditate the attributes could be difficult. Hence, as in Ramayana, so also all along in Srimad Bhagavatam, Lord Veda Vyasa has embedded the attributes as the essence in stories and narrated that in an elaborate way. Like a dear grandmother of a three years old telling stories to imbibe moral in the child, Lord Veda Vyasa has done so in Srimad Bhagavatam. We would come across heroic acts of Lord Sri Krishna, Narasimha, or even his devotees like Druva and Prahalada.

In the Lord and his devotees, there is a continuous manifestation of these attributes like a flow of water from snow-capped mountains. Replenishing! This includes Satyam or Authenticity, Saucham or Cleanliness, Shauryam or Heroism, and so on.  Also, one would receive an immeasurable amount of benefits by repeated hearing and doing anusandhana of these verses of prayers and stories of Ramayana or Srimad Bhagavata. The great power and influence of these processes have also been researched by the modern-day science and we saw the below list in our last blog.

1.     Power of Suggestion involving a psychological process by which the conscious mind could guide the thoughts, feelings, or behavior

2.     Autosuggestion

3.     Hetrosuggestion

4.     Counter reaction for Negative suggestion

5.     Assumption of a Premise  

The Sanathana or the oldest dharma explains how each one of us, our personality, and the behaviors that manifest differently are due to the Prarabdha Karma we carry. An individual is personified as feelings of emotion, wisdom or folly, awareness of the present, and vision of the future from past life experiences as merits and sins. This is being fed to the conscious mind of the present life to unfold our personality and behavior.

Also, propitiating the Indwelling Lord through a spark of bhakti blessed by him would drive towards dharma. Following dharma, the mind gets a little purified. In a little pure mind, bhakti will brighten to repeats with further dharma, jnana, and vairagya. Thus, purification of the mind to redeem the Prarabdha Karma on the path towards the Lord for Moksha. These tenets of Sanathana dharma is yet to be established by the present-day science.

|| Hari Om ||

|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||

 

Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - The Virtue of Forbearance, Internal Happiness, and Having Heard

Srimad Bhagavatam cleanses kalimala or the pollutant of Kali, destroys sins, shows the indweller, the Lord, in oneself by bringing Vairagya towards the materialistic world, and gives pure devotion, crystal clear, and clean knowledge. 

|| Hari Om || Hare Srinivasaकल्यण अद्भुत गात्राय कामितार्थ प्रदयिने ।श्रीमद् वेन्कटनाथाय श्रीनिवासय ते नम: ॥Your benevolence for granting wishes is incredibly vast and unsurpassed. Divine Lord Venkateshwara! Destroyer of Sins! An abode of Mahalakshmi! Srinivasa! My salutations to you.भवाय नस्त्वं भव विश्वभावन त्वमेव माताथ सुहृत्पतिः पिता ।त्वं सद्गुरुर्नः परमं च दैवतं यस्यानुवृत्त्या कृतिनो बभूविम ॥ ७॥Vishwabhavana! From you, the whole universe has arisen. Suhrtpati! You are the mother, the father, you are the friend, as well as our teacher. Sadguru! It is you, who makes us walk on the right path. You are our lord, as well as being worshipped. We are safe and successful by taking refuge in your lotus feet which are auspicious. Lord! You are the only cause of our success.व्यासाय भव नाशाय श्रीशाय गुण राशऐ ।हृद्याय शुद्ध विद्याय मध्वायछ नमो नमः ॥Charming & the beloved Vyasa, the destroyer of emotional & behavioral disorders, the Lord of Goddess of abundance having heaps of attributes, bestower of clean knowledge, my repeated salutations to you and Acharya Madhwa.यः स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥This Srimad Bhagavatam gives the experience of the Lord and has the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta. It sheds spiritual light on the transcendental philosophy required to surpass the intense cycle of death and birth which is wrapped in ignorance. However, it is very secretive in nature. Hence, I pray to you Sri Shukacharya for your continued blessings.दयादाक्षिण्यवैराग्यवाक्पाटवमुखाङिकतः ।शापानुृग्रहशक्तोऽन्यो राघवेन्द्रन्नविध्यते ॥ The face symbolizing Compassion; Modesty; Dispassion towards sensual pleasure; Eloquence; Power to remove curses is none else than you, Guru Raghavendra. 
My salutations to you.

Singing the glory of Lord and his attributes, Goddess Bhoo Devi had said, 

सत्यं शौचं दया त्याग​: सन्तोष आर्जवम् ।

शमो दमस्तपः साम्यं तितिक्षोपरतिः श्रुतम् ॥

We had noted the process of worshipping the Lord by hearing, recollecting, contemplating, and meditating his various attributes including Satyam, Saucham, Daya, and the benefits of doing so! Continuing the same, Goddess Bhoo Devi calls Lord,   

तितिक्षा or forbearance to provocation or offense or even attack. By worshipping Lord having the attribute of तितिक्षा or forbearance, by propitiating him, he would bless us with this attribute of forbearance to happiness & sorrow in the cycle of death & birth. This attribute of forbearance is the advanced stage of practice in Yoga. Hence, accomplished Yogis have been singing this attribute as भक्त अपराध सहिष्णु or Bhakta apradha sahishnu or Lord has forbearance to the offenses or crimes done against him by his dear devotees.

Dharma Purusha! Such Lord who had enormous forbearance has left this earth to his abode of Vaikunta. This loss has become unbearable to me.

In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Sri Krishna says to Arjuna,

यं हि न व्यथयन्त्येते पुरुषं पुरुषर्षभ ।

समदु:खसुखं धीरं सोऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते ॥ BG-2-15॥

Oh Arjun! Those dear devotees who are blessed with forbearance do not get elated during happiness nor miserable during distress. They remain balanced. Such devotees of mine will be eligible for liberation from the bind of death & birth.

The next attribute of Lord Sri Krishna that Goddess Bhoo Devi praises is उपरति or Uparati. Which means he is delighted with himself. Also, known by स्वरुपरति or being delighted because of his own charm and स्वरमण  or engrossed in his immeasurable happiness.

By worshipping him as Uparati or doing yoga with this attribute of being engrossed in bliss for himself; he requires no external aspects to influence his happiness; this entire creation including living beings or non-living things is just a sports charm bringing no benefit, nor loss, nor happiness or sadness to him; Lord will bless us with काम कर्म निवृत्ति or retirement from doing actions with desire or expectation.  One will forego सकाम, the acts desire or expectations.

In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Sri Krishna says to Arjuna

श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते ।

ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम् ॥BG-12-12॥

Better than activities or actions to please me is Knowledge. Better than knowing me through Knowledge is Meditation. Better than Meditating on me is foregoing expectations or the fruits of activities or actions. Nishkama dhyana or foregoing expectations or fruits of meditation leads to Moksha.

Also, in The Subject, Eligibility, and Fruit where we discussed the second verse of prayer of this Srimad Bhagavata, Lord Veda Vyasa saying,

धर्मः प्रोज्झितकैतवोऽत्र परमो निर्मत्सराणां सतां वेद्यं वास्तवमत्र वस्तु शिवदं तापत्रयोन्मूलनम् ।

श्रीमद्भागवते महामुनिकृते किं वा परैरीश्वरः सद्यो हृद्यवरुध्यतेऽत्र कृतिभिः शुश्रूषुभिस्तत्क्षणात् ॥

Srimad Bhagavata contains the complete knowledge of Dharma which holds one from falling down, purifies, and puts on to the path leading to The Lord. This path seeks continued practice of honoring, worshipping, admiring & praising The Lord without any jealousy or expectation nor being deceptive. While being on the path removes all sorts of difficulties, bestows prosperity, makes one sajjana or virtuous and solidifies bhakti or devotion. Hence, Srimad Bhagavata composed by The Lord Veda Vyasa himself is great and guarantees to reveal The Lord who is always present in the heart of all the individuals.

In our day to day happenings, most of the acts we do are with desire or expectations. Also, many acts are of no use to us and are just a waste of precious time.  However, doing yoga or worshipping this attribute of uparati in Lord and his acts are sports charm without any benefits, the compassionate Lord would not only bless us retirement from doing actions with desire but also doing actions having no use or are wasteful. These are nuanced aspects of worship appreciated by accomplished Yogis who have reached closer to the Lord doing अन्तरङ्ग साधन or deep and advanced practices.

श्रुतम् or Shrutam or having heard is the attribute of Lord sung by Bhoo Devi! Lord hears from everything that exists in this Universe and of every hertz. He has an immeasurable number of ears omnipresent without a limitation of time. He is hearing all which we had spoken, what we are speaking, and what we are going to speak in the future.  He is omniscient by hearing every sound of immeasurable quality to even Goddess Lakshmi. Lord has सर्व श्रावणत्व or having the ability to hear everything of all time.

The another dimension of this attribute seen by Bhoo Devi is that Lord Sri Krishna as her husband was bringing delight to her by hearing all her wishes. And also, all scriptures are only presenting Lord and hence he has this attribute of being heard in all Vedas, Vedantas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas.

By worshipping him as Shrutam or doing yoga with this attribute of having heard everything and being heard everywhere, Lord would bless us with the ability to store & recollect all information in Shastras or the divine indoctrination we have heard. He would bless us with elephant memory! And this would linger as thoughts guiding us from straying and holding us on the righteous path

While we have been hearing the attributes of the Lord and trying to understand the benefits of hearing, recollecting, contemplating, and meditating the same, the question would arise as to how and what is the process?

Modern day science describes various processes to Power the Subconscious mind. Following are a few examples:

Power of Suggestion involving the psychological process by which the conscious mind could guide the thoughts, feelings, or behaviorAutosuggestion by self-hypnosis to enhance the effectiveness of self-suggestionHeterosuggestion involving the psychological process by the suggestion of othersCounteraction for Negative suggestionAssumption of a Premise

However, by pursuing these without spirituality connected with Atma and Paramatma, or pursuing materialistic benefits would lead to Hell. We have already seen the reason for the same in 

“The Pursuit to hone Bhakti,” we noted,

यदनुध्यायिनो युक्ताः कर्मग्रन्थिनिबन्धनम् ।

छिन्दन्ति कोविदास्तस्य को न कुर्यात् कथारतिम् ॥

The thread of actions of life getting bunched up and tangled results in tight knots. These knots get tangled over several births with further knots. A thoughtful and introspective person with a sword called Meditation of Lord would shear these knots. Wouldn’t the wise love to hear such stories of the Lord which helps to meditate! Ascertains Sri Suthacharya.

यदनुध्यायिनो That Lord whom we propitiate through hearing, singing, and meditating all three times of the day by tying our minds to him or practicing The Yoga of Mind.

कर्मग्रन्थिनिबन्धनम् – The attraction of the materialistic world is making us do more and more Karma or Actions by tying down to samsara or the cycle of death and birth. We encounter difficulties on a continuous basis and have to put up a fight! A fight against obstructions that we encounter to complete a Job. Or issues of a relationship involving self-entitlement or I am Good and the other is bad or one-upmanship! Parents need to manage the relationship with Children. So too, the children. The relation between colleagues, fellow residents, co-travelers, etc. Maybe regulatory issues like license, Taxes, certificates, etc. Maybe a vehicle or transport breaks down! An accident or untoward! Sometimes, out of the bad mood and so on.

With all materialistic activities, there are Issues.

Why! Because of our karma or actions. All karma or actions are attached to Sins. Let’s take a look at a simple example and a basic requirement of having staple food like rice or wheat. To grow this, land needs to be plowed by the farmer. This not only involves disturbing all the habitation in the field including grass, weed, earthworms, insects, etc. but also hurts the mother earth. Then these crops are chopped alive. This way, the rice or wheat keeps accruing the action of sins. When we prepare and eat the food, the sins get transferred to us.

Hence, many a time it could so occur that even if we are not involved, suddenly a situation arises and we get sucked into it.

In fact,

the actions or Sins have high potential.

We should analyze all such difficulties that we encounter. Most of the time, we overrule with a sense of entitlement and bulldoze ahead with enthusiasm. This keeps us dark without understanding the reasons for difficulties or its potential in the future. As the saying goes, the devil is in detail. A sense of entitlement or enthusiasm keeps us blind from seeing and avoiding such a devil. These actions or Sins get bunched-up, entangled, and get knotted. Maybe it would be blunt, but all of us suffering from one or the other disease is an effect of such Karma entangled, knotted, and thriving in the body.

The root cause for all our sorrows is the deed or act that we have done previously or in our previous life. Every being having Ananta karma or the Actions are tightly wrapped over the soul. This has been in the form of tangle or knots. These knots have in turn knotted. Hence we have moved far away from the characteristic of our Soul or the Truth. This gives us a sense of a distorted “I”. The “I” which we claim better than he or I have trumped them. Hence, we would never be able to unknot. Even understanding itself is difficult to let alone unknot. Many of us go to astrologers seeking remedies. Such remedies lead to more actions or sins rather than unknot the existing. 

Sri Suthacharya is telling that all those कोविदा or learned by यदनुध्यायिनो propitiating the Lord through hearing, singing, and meditation on the attributes and glory of the Lord at all times of the day tie up their minds to him or practice The Yoga of Mind which has the capacity to छिन्दन्ति or sheer these knots and tangle that has wrapped our Soul. 

|| Hari Om ||

|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||

 

Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - The Oppression of Evil to Abstain from worldly desire to be Consistent with Dharma.

Srimad Bhagavatam cleanses kalimala or the pollutant of Kali, destroys sins, shows the indweller, the Lord, in oneself by bringing Vairagya towards the materialistic world, and gives pure devotion, crystal clear, and clean knowledge. 

|| Hari Om || Hare Srinivasaकल्यण अद्भुत गात्राय कामितार्थ प्रदयिने ।श्रीमद् वेन्कटनाथाय श्रीनिवासय ते नम: ॥Your benevolence for granting wishes is incredibly vast and unsurpassed. Divine Lord Venkateshwara! Destroyer of Sins! An abode of Mahalakshmi! Srinivasa! My salutations to you.भवाय नस्त्वं भव विश्वभावन त्वमेव माताथ सुहृत्पतिः पिता ।त्वं सद्गुरुर्नः परमं च दैवतं यस्यानुवृत्त्या कृतिनो बभूविम ॥ ७॥Vishwabhavana! From you, the whole universe has arisen. Suhrtpati! You are the mother, the father, you are the friend, as well as our teacher. Sadguru! It is you, who makes us walk on the right path. You are our lord, as well as being worshipped. We are safe and successful by taking refuge in your lotus feet which are auspicious. Lord! You are the only cause of our success.व्यासाय भव नाशाय श्रीशाय गुण राशऐ ।हृद्याय शुद्ध विद्याय मध्वायछ नमो नमः ॥Charming & the beloved Vyasa, the destroyer of emotional & behavioral disorders, the Lord of Goddess of abundance having heaps of attributes, bestower of clean knowledge, my repeated salutations to you and Acharya Madhwa.यः स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥This Srimad Bhagavatam gives the experience of the Lord and has the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta. It sheds spiritual light on the transcendental philosophy required to surpass the intense cycle of death and birth which is wrapped in ignorance. However, it is very secretive in nature. Hence, I pray to you Sri Shukacharya for your continued blessings.दयादाक्षिण्यवैराग्यवाक्पाटवमुखाङिकतः ।शापानुृग्रहशक्तोऽन्यो राघवेन्द्रन्नविध्यते ॥ The face symbolizing Compassion; Modesty; Dispassion towards sensual pleasure; Eloquence; Power to remove curses is none else than you, Guru Raghavendra. 
My salutations to you.

Following the dharma of all dharmas or the religion of all religions, let’s continue to take a look at the divine path of singing the names of the Lord describing his attributes by Goddess Bhoo Devi. By doing so, the compassionate Lord would bless us too with such attributes to our capacity in our journey of Yoga to be in sync with him.

सत्यं शौचं दया त्याग​: सन्तोष आर्जवम् ।

शमो दमस्तपः साम्यं तितिक्षोपरतिः श्रुतम् ॥ २६॥

दम or dama or Oppress. When we observe our sensory organs, they are absolutely not under our control. Many times they are rebellious, wild, and wants to rave causing our downfall

Lord Sri Krishna says to Arjuna that

प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु ।

तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत् || BG-3-29||

The Indrias or Sensory organs generated from Prakriti are engrossed and stuck with actions. Hence, the knowledgeable ones who know this should not mislead the others. The sensory organs include the Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tongue, Skin, Hands, Legs, Speech, Excretory and Reproductive organs. Also, manas or mind and buddhi or intellect.

इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ ।

तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ ॥ BG 3-34॥

Each of the sensory organs has likes and dislikes. Hence, they are associated with Kama or Desire, Krodha or Anger, Lobha or Greed, Moha or Attachment, Mada or Pride, and Matsarya or Jealousy or Arishadvargas. These likes and dislikes are impediments to one’s progress and hence should not get subjugated to these organs. Or in other words, they are vulnerable to the attack of evil Kali, Viprachitti, Narakasura, Kalanemi, Madhu-Kaitabha, and all their evil associates causing Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, and Matsarya.

The Sensory organs in the Lord are not like that of a Jiva or Atma. It is full of Knowledge and bliss and not different from him. There is no difference among himself, his forms, and various parts of him. Though his parts of the body are indistinguishable, yet as a special presentation, his sensory organs are स्वादीन ​or under only his full control; स्वतन्त्र​ or Independent; स्ववश​ or Self-control; and hence he remains absolute oppressing the evil associates of Kali!

We also understood that,

धर्मः स्वनुष्ठितः पुंसां विष्वक्सेनकथासु यः ।

नोत्पादयेद्यदि रतिं श्रम एव हि केवलम् ॥ ८॥

Any practise, even spiritual! Which does not generate delight for hearing the glory of Lord is just a labour and of no use.

The Lord Vishvaksena has his army in every nook and corner of the creation. He controls, commands, and oppresses those who go against him. So too, in Kshetra or body. The Lord along with Goddess Lakshmi being in the Lotus of Heart, has God Sun in the Eyes, God Moon in the Ears, God Vayu in the Nose, God Varuna in the Tongue, God Agni in the Mouth, God Indra in Hands, God Jayanta in Legs and so on. This way He has his army in the whole body to oppress and control.

By worshipping such Lord, doing yoga with this attribute of dama or oppression of evil, or by contemplating his acts as the indweller of God Yama doing justice by oppressing the evil and punishing them to the lower regions of Hell, or singing the below verse of Vishnu Sahasranama,

विष्णुं जिष्णुं महाविष्णुं प्रभविष्णुं महेश्वरम् ।

अनेकरूपदैत्यांतं नमामि पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥

मरीचिर्दमनो हंसः सुपर्णो भुजगोत्तमः ।

हिरण्यनाभः सुतपाः पद्मनाभः प्रजापति: ॥

Lord will bless us too with this attribute of dama or oppression of evil to our ability to become Jitendra.

सत्यं शौचं दया त्याग​: सन्तोष आर्जवम् ।

शमो दमस्तपः साम्यं तितिक्षोपरतिः श्रुतम् ॥ २६॥

Tapa or Asceticism or Abstinence from worldly desire, vague thoughts, mind chattering, and contemplating or thinking through to accomplish Tattva Jnana or Axiom or the first principles .

In the first verses of prayer of this Srimad Bhagavata or Mangalacharan continued, i.e.

जन्माद्यस्य यतोऽन्वयादितरतश्चार्थेष्वभिज्ञः स्वराट्

तेने ब्रह्महृदा य आदिकवये मुह्यन्ति यत्सूरयः ।

तेजोवारिमृदां यथा विनिमयो यत्र त्रिसर्गोऽमृषा

धाम्ना स्वेन सदा निरस्तकुहकं सत्यं परं धीमहि ॥ १॥,

Elaborating on Tene Brahma hrudyaya adi kavaye we noted that Lord Purushottama, from whose navel sprang Akshara or indestructible Goddess Lakshmi in the form of Lotus and gave birth to first kshara or destructible life, God Brahma. He was initiated into Vedas and with blessings of knowledge required for creation. Hence, God Brahma is Adi Kavi or the first to sing Vedas among kshara Jivis or destructible beings. So it is the Lord who is Sarvagna or all-knowing and only out of his blessings one would get knowledge including God Brahma.

In Bhakti in Lord Tattva, we heard Sri Sutacharya says

वदन्ति तत्तत्त्वविदस्तत्त्वं यज्ज्ञानमद्वयम् ।

ब्रह्मेति परमात्मेति भगवानिति शब्द्यते ॥

सत्तामात्रं तु यत्किञ्चित् सदसच्चाविशेषणम्।

उभाभ्यां भाष्यते साक्षाद् भगवान् केवलः स्मृतः॥

The Lord who is unchanged from past, present and in future has his form as knowledge and bliss. There is no one equivalent to him or surpassing Him. He has the complete knowledge for creation, sustenance, destruction, etc., of the universe. He is also well known as Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan. Hence, the Philosophers call him Tattva.

The Saints who have extreme faith and devotion in the Lord do the Jnana Yagna or Sacrifice of studying Srimad Bhagavatam with dispassion to worldly matters. This consolidates their knowledge of Lord and is able to see him in their Lotus of Heart.

The Lord is Sat-chit-Ananda. He is ज्ञानस्वरूप or his form is knowledge and परिपूर्ण​​ or paripoorna or complete by himself. He is युक्तिज्ञ or having knowledge through reasoning. He has the highest ability of reasoning and knowledge or understanding thereof.

By worshipping him this way, doing yoga with his attribute of Tapa or Asceticism, one would be blessed with the clean and purest knowledge of Shastra or indoctrination required for the purushartha objectives

साम्यं or Consistent with Dharma or the indoctrination set forth by Lord. Being Bhagavat Nishtata with Spiritual discipline.

Being the indweller in each and every living being, he sees everyone the same. He is consistent with his response. He, his form, or his attributes are the same and consistent. Worshipping him as Saamya or doing yoga with this attribute of consistency, Lord will bless us with यथार्थ or accurate knowledge.

तितिक्षा or forbearance to provocation or offense or even attack. The Goddess of the earth is the most tolerant and well known for her forbearance to a serious offense, abuse, and attacks we make on her.  The Lord exceeds this attribute of enormous forbearance expressed by mother earth. He extends a long rope to one and all, he takes the abuse and the attack by his stride at every moment we make against the dharma or the indoctrination he has set forth. Hence, accomplished Yogis have been singing this attribute as भक्त अपराध सहिष्णु or Bhakta apradha sahishnu or forbearance to the offenses or crimes of his dear devotes.

The Dasa Sahitya is the Vedanta written or told in the common people’s colloquial language. It has the most nuanced aspects of Bhakti Yoga to accomplish the Lord. The saints of the Bhakti movement had an astute mind in understanding the common men and brought about reforms by introducing Bhagavata dharma through their literary works including compositions of songs. Gopala Dasaru too was a prominent saint in the Bhakti Movement between 1721 – 1769 has composed several songs in the Kannada language.

Though we had already seen the English translation of “Hayange madali Krishna, hogutidde Ayushya…” i.e “What do I do Krishna? I am expanding my lifespan…” is one of the songs that leaves a deep imprint on the minds of the common man and has the ability to sink into the subconscious of individuals.

Let’s refresh the same in English translation at this juncture

Hyange maadalayya Krishna pogutide aayushya

mangalanga bhavabhanga bidisi ninna dingarigana maado ananga janaka||pa||

What do I do Krishna? I am expending my lifespan

The auspicious one! Shear my emotional attachment with the worldly existence and make me be your servant. Oh, my impalpable father!

yesu janumada sukrutada phalavo taanu janisalagi

bhoosuradehada janumavu enage sambhavisideyagi|

modateertha mata chihnitanagade doshake olagagi

leshasadhanava kanade duhsahavasadindale dina dina kalede||1||

The good merits accumulated over several births has caused me this birth

I am blessed with this Noble birth

Without wearing the divine marks of Gopi-chandana tilika, chakra, Shanka, Gadha, Padma, mudra, I have been sinning

Without even a slightest practice and the company of wicked, I am expending day after day.

shashimukha kanakada aashege beretu vasupati ninnadiya

hasanagi ninna neneyade krupeya galisade kettenayya|

nishehagalu sthiravendu tanuvanu poshisalashisi jeeya

kusuride nelavo sarvakala nin odetanavembuva bageyanu ariyade||2||

The desire for beautiful faced women, and wealth has made me stoop to their feet

Laughing away your gifts of life and not gaining your mercy, I have sinned, my Lord!

Believing the permanency of day and night for ever, I have been nourishing my body, my Lord!

Without realizing the permanency of your Lordship, I plummeted on the floor, my Lord!

Nerenambide paavatigalu ella saridu hodavalla

marali e pariya janumavu baruva bharavaseyantu illa|

Paripari vishayada aasheyu enage kiridu aayitalla

hariye jagadi neenobbanallade porevarinnaru illavalla||3||

All those whom I belived have become helpless,

I have no belief that I could get another chance to have a birth like this

The worldly desire has caused me a narrow path

No one else other than you could help me, Oh my Lord!

Avani olage punyakshetra charisuva havanike enagilla

pavanaatmaka guru madhwa shastrada pravachana kelalilla|

tavakadinda guru hiriyara sevisi avara olisalilla

ravinandana kelidara uttara kode vivarasaraku ondaadaru illa||4||

Oh my Lord! I had no itching desire to take up piligrimage to holy places

Nor I heard the purifying proponents of Acharya Madhva

Nor had I the eagerness to please the Gurus and Scholors

Oh Lord! I don’t have a single reason to give to God Yama, the son of God Sun.

Bhagavatarodagudi upavasa jagara ondudina maadalilla

raagadi shukamuni pelda harikathe samyogavembodilla|

neeguvanta bhava bhayava bhakuti vairagyavembodilla

yogivandya gopalavithala.... gopalavithala; vithala vithala gopalavithala

yogivandya gopalavithala tale bhaagi ninnanne bedikombe||5||

Neither I fasted, nor did I stay awake through the night with your other devoutees

Nor did I sway to the verses of Srimad Bhagavata composed by Shukamuni

Nor I have Jnana, Bhakti, and Vairagya that has the ability to shear the emotional attachment with worldly pleasure

Yogivandya Gopalavithala; Gopalavithala; Vithala Vithala Gopalavithala

Yogivandya Gopalavithala, bowing my head

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfdTc...

Let’s pray to Sri Hari, Vayu, and Gurus for their continued blessings for our understanding of the other attributes of the Lord sung by Goddess Bhoo Devi.

|| Hari Om ||

|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||

 

Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - The Virtues of Sacrifice, Happiness, Congruence, and Equanimity

Srimad Bhagavatam cleanses kalimala or the pollutant of Kali, destroys sins, shows the indweller, the Lord, in oneself by bringing Vairagya towards the materialistic world, and gives pure devotion, crystal clear, and clean knowledge. 

|| Hari Om || Hare Srinivasaकल्यण अद्भुत गात्राय कामितार्थ प्रदयिने ।श्रीमद् वेन्कटनाथाय श्रीनिवासय ते नम: ॥Your benevolence for granting wishes is incredibly vast and unsurpassed. Divine Lord Venkateshwara! Destroyer of Sins! An abode of Mahalakshmi! Srinivasa! My salutations to you.भवाय नस्त्वं भव विश्वभावन त्वमेव माताथ सुहृत्पतिः पिता ।त्वं सद्गुरुर्नः परमं च दैवतं यस्यानुवृत्त्या कृतिनो बभूविम ॥ ७॥Vishwabhavana! From you, the whole universe has arisen. Suhrtpati! You are the mother, the father, you are the friend, as well as our teacher. Sadguru! It is you, who makes us walk on the right path. You are our lord, as well as being worshipped. We are safe and successful by taking refuge in your lotus feet which are auspicious. Lord! You are the only cause of our success.व्यासाय भव नाशाय श्रीशाय गुण राशऐ ।हृद्याय शुद्ध विद्याय मध्वायछ नमो नमः ॥Charming & the beloved Vyasa, the destroyer of emotional & behavioral disorders, the Lord of Goddess of abundance having heaps of attributes, bestower of clean knowledge, my repeated salutations to you and Acharya Madhwa.यः स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥This Srimad Bhagavatam gives the experience of the Lord and has the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta. It sheds spiritual light on the transcendental philosophy required to surpass the intense cycle of death and birth which is wrapped in ignorance. However, it is very secretive in nature. Hence, I pray to you Sri Shukacharya for your continued blessings.दयादाक्षिण्यवैराग्यवाक्पाटवमुखाङिकतः ।शापानुृग्रहशक्तोऽन्यो राघवेन्द्रन्नविध्यते ॥ The face symbolizing Compassion; Modesty; Dispassion towards sensual pleasure; Eloquence; Power to remove curses is none else than you, Guru Raghavendra. 
My salutations to you.

सत्यं शौचं दया त्याग​: सन्तोष आर्जवम् ।

शमो दमस्तपः साम्यं तितिक्षोपरतिः श्रुतम् ॥ २६॥

Tyagah or Sacrifice. The main reason for our sorrow is our wrongful understanding that is contrary to reality. Particularly our claim of ownership or exclusive right over physical, or intellectual property. However, the Lord does not do so. He does not claim any ownership that does not belong to him. He is the greatest Sacrificer. Hence, there is not a speck of sorrow in him. He is always engrossed in stainless bliss.

In The Fame of Lord Krishna (Continued) and understanding the below verse, we noted that भुङ्क्ते भूतेषु तद्गुणान्.

असौ गुणमयैर्भावैर्भूतसूक्ष्मेन्द्रियात्मभिः ।

स्वनिर्मितेषु निर्विष्टो भुङ्क्ते भूतेषु तद्गुणान् ॥

In all, he is there. Having निर्विष्टो entered all of this with full of bliss भूतेषु being in this body भुङ्क्ते eats or accepts तद्गुणान् outcome of those expressions with only good attributes.

In fact, the Lord has accepted everything. Those could be bad, polluted, contaminated, adulterated, tainted, poisonous, or even excretion. So too in the acts of vice with sins leading to hell. In everything that is living Chetana or nonliving Achetana, the Lord is present. He is to the letter, omnipresent.  With the attribute of Sarvagna or All-Knowing including smell and taste. Lord eats. For example, if he doesn't inhale bad smell then he has no knowledge of that. In bad smell, he has entered and controls the bad smell. Hence, he accepts without feeling bad or sorrow. Even in sorrow, he is present with that name, he experiences sorrow but being uninfluenced with it.

Hence, in Vishnu Sahasranama he is called

उदीर्णः सर्वतश्चक्षुरनीशः शाश्वतस्थिरः ।

भूशयो भूषणो भूतिर्वि अशोकः शोकनाशनः ॥ ६७॥

He is just not Ashoka or having no sorrow but also the destroyer of sorrow having full knowledge of it and engrossed in bliss. As a sport, he accepts everything being engrossed in the bliss. The reason being his attribute of sacrifice.

However, we feel bad and sorrow when we smell bad or touch hot, see ugly, and for more. Also, we feel bad and sorrow when someone blames us, or accuses us, or insults us. The reason is our undue sense of possessing the body and hence the ego arising out the same.

For this, Lord Sri Krishna advises Arjuna through verse 14, the second chapter of Bhagavad Gita as,

मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदु: खदा: ।

आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत ॥ BG-2-14॥    

Oh, son of Kunti! The contact between the senses and the sense objects gives rise to the momentary feeling of heat or cold or happiness or sorrow. These are not permanent to stay. They come and go. Hence, Oh, Bharat! One must learn to tolerate it.

Also, Lord Sri Krishna says,

देहिनोऽस्मिन् यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा।

तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति॥BG-2-13||

A baby takes birth, becomes Kumara or child, youth, and takes-up old age. Similarly, the jiva or the soul indwelling in the body passes into another body after death. The accomplished jiva or soul foregoing the undue sense of possession of the body is not worried about such changes to come into the grips of sorrow.

The Upanishads are also telling that in this tree called body there are two birds. One is Atma and the other is Paramatma i.e. Jiva and Para Brahman. Jiva experiences everything through the body. The Para Brahman or the Lord will not experience. He is a great sacrifice! He does not consider the body made of Prakriti as himself or belongs to him. However, the Jiva is unable to distinguish itself from the body and experience sorrow and happiness.

The Lord has no sorrow from immeasurable time in the past and shall not have in the infinite time in the future. The Lord is Omniscience at all times, he does not have an illusionary or false sense of possession on that object or subject that does not belong to him. The all-knowing Lord makes a clear distinction of the following:

·         The distinction between each inanimate matter of Prakriti presents as primordial from immeasurable time in the past.

·         The distinction between the inanimate matter and living soul or jiva. 

·         The distinction between each living soul or jiva present from immeasurable time in the past.

·         The distinction between the inanimate matter and himself is made of happiness and knowledge.

·         Also, the distinction between each living soul and himself, the supreme Lord.

By worshipping the Lord as a distinguisher taking ownership or credit of only his acts and deeds, sacrificing or foregoing the rest; doing Yoga or synchronization with him for this attribute of Tyaga or Sacrifice, Lord would bless us with this attribute to forego. By foregoing the false sense of possession on all inanimate objects or subjects; actions, or knowledge, or the happiness of other jiva or soul, and that of Lord, the sorrows and the repetition of the same in us will start disappearing.  

 

The other attribute of Lord sung by Bhoo Devi is Santosha or Happiness. Being engrossed in the internal happiness present as a unique character innate to Jiva or Atma. Our Lord is Sat-Chit-Ananda. He is of true consciousness of happiness. This happiness is immeasurable, inexhaustible, and independent. He does not desire more, or of others' source, or outside him. Hence, the yogis of past have been singing his attribute as स्वरूपानंद​ तृप्त or Swaroopananda Trupta or satiated by the internal happiness, स्वरमण or Swaramana or self-pleasing, अत्मकम​ or Atmakama or Loving himself, परिपूर्ण​​ or Paripoorna or complete by himself.

By worshipping the Lord as Sat-Chit-Ananda, he is of true consciousness of happiness, doing yoga or synchronization with him for this attribute of happiness, self-pleasing, loving oneself, and complete by himself would be blessed to access one’s inner happiness, enjoy, and be satisfied. The illusion that external objects like expensive dress, car, house, exotic place of travel, celebrity, etc., would bring happiness or subject matter like claiming one’s greatness versus others would disappear. The desire to look for the happiness outside will disappear making one be engrossed in internal happiness.

 

The other attribute of Lord sung by Bhoo Devi is Arjavam or Congruence.  Congruence in a person means what he thinks, so he says and does. There is no inconsistency in his thinking, saying, and bringing the same to action. Whatever is his ideal self, so is his actual experience.

Lord is ऋजु or straight and perfect. He does not come into delusion, nor is a hypocrite being humbug to show-off, nor treacherous having intention to mislead. He has the attribute of Arjavam or Congruence in his thought, speech, and action. By worshipping such attribute of the Lord being ऋजु or perfectly straight having the attribute of आर्जवम् or absolute Congruence, Lord would bless us too with this attribute of Congruence leading to Self-actualization. This is the highest level of psychological development blooming to the full individual potential of Jiva or Atma.

Praising the Lord as having the full attribute of Arjavam or absolute Congruence, Bhoo Devi said, Dharma Purusha! The Lord was ruju, he never thought one, told another and did something else. He was Congruent. Now people think that this land is mine, I have this property registered in my name and so on. But the Lord without such an illusion would walk over me. He would be engrossed in immeasurable and nonexhaustive happiness and was compassionate, giving, and would share his happiness with one and all. But such Lord has disappeared, regretted Bhoo Devi. The goddess of land felt sad.

 

We understood above the reason for the Lord had no sorrow. His immeasurable attribute of Tyagah or Sacrifice. He does not claim any ownership that does not belong to him as the greatest Sacrificer. Hence, there is not a speck of sorrow in him. He is always engrossed in stainless bliss.

The attribute of शम or Shama or Equanimity in Lord explains the reason for his happiness. He is equanimous towards all likes and dislikes. However, we feel happy when our likes are fulfilled and sorrow when dislike happens. We make unproportionate efforts to have those we like. And failure to accomplish will bring us sorrow. Also, having to accept those we dislike brings sorrow. However, this is not so for the Lord. He is परिपूर्ण​​ or Paripoorna or complete by himself. He is स्वरूपानंद​ तृप्त or Swaroopananda Trupta or satiated by the internal happiness, स्वरमण or Swaramana or self-pleasing, अत्मकम​ or Atmakama or Loving himself. Hence, he has immeasurable peace without being muddled with the thoughts of likes and dislikes.

As a practitioner of yoga, we too should forego the likes and the dislikes brought about by sensory organs. The sensory organs of taste feed us with taste and the mind discriminates as good taste, not so good, or bad taste comparing it with its memory; Sight feeds us with good looks, or not so good, or bad; so too the touch, sound, and smell. They long for only the good and try to accomplish by hook or crook. The Lord through shastras or indoctrination including Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavata, has told what he likes and what makes him happy. Our liking or disliking should be the same as that of Lord to propitiate him. 

Let’s take a look at the 12th Chapter, of Bhagavad Gita, wherein Lord Sri Krishna answering Arjuna says, 

अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्र: करुण एव च ।

निर्ममो निरहङ्कार: समदु:खसुख: क्षमी ॥BG-12-13॥

सन्तुष्ट: सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चय: ।

मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्त: स मे प्रिय: ॥BG-12-14॥

My devotees who have no enmity against any living creature; lives friendly with everyone; is compassionate to others difficulty; do not see only his own benefit in everything; has no ego; who has accomplished equanimity in all worldly activities causing happiness and sorrows; one who is forgiving; satisfied; engrossed in their activity of meditation; having full control of the mind; has understood the axiom of philosophy; one who has surrendered his mind and intellect to me, is dear to me.

यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च य: ।

हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो य: स च मे प्रिय: ॥ BG-12-15॥

My devotees who do not cause any unrest in this world; nor distress to anyone; nor is anxious feeling agitated; such devotees not being inflicted with the feelings of superiority, anger, vengeance, scare, and anxious is dear to me.

अनपेक्ष: शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथ: ।

सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्त: स मे प्रिय: ॥ BG-12-16॥

My devotees who have foregone greed; has disciplined his thoughts, intellect, and actions internally as well as externally; is skillful and smart in his duty; doesn’t get bogged down or struck with any particular issue; who doesn’t get overwhelmed;  nor does acts disliked by me; and submits all the acts to me are dear to me.

यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ् क्षति ।

शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्तिमान्य: स मे प्रिय: ॥ BG-12-17॥

My devotees who are not over-enthusiastic or excited about worldly acts, nor take up enmity without reason, nor cribs with complaints; nor mourn for loss; nor are greedy, nor longs for gains are dear to me.

सम: शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयो: ।

शीतोष्णसुखदु:खेषु सम: सङ्गविवर्जित: ॥ BG-12-18॥

तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येन केनचित् ।

अनिकेत: स्थिरमतिर्भक्तिमान्मे प्रियो नर: ॥BG-12-19॥

The one who is equanimous and undisturbed with friend or enemy; when complimented or insulted; feeling hot or cold; who does actions without any expectations; who is thoughtful; always satisfied; not fixed or dependent to one place; always calm and composed with an awareness of me, and having devotion towards me is dear to me.    

ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते ।

श्रद्दधाना मत्परमा भक्तास्तेऽतीव मे प्रिया: ॥BG-12-20॥

The above behaviors are the means of worship to accomplish liberation. Those who believe in me as the Supreme Lord and worship me with full faith through the above means are the dearest to me, says Lord Sri Krishna.

 

Goddess Bhoo Devi answering Dharma Purusha followed the divine path of singing the names of Lord describing his attributes. All the virtuous too should follow this path and please the Lord. By doing so, Lord would bless us with such attributes to our capacity in our journey of Yoga to accomplish him. This is the dharma of all dharmas or the religion of all religions.

Let’s pray to Sri Hari, Vayu, and Gurus for their continued blessings for our understanding of the other attributes of the Lord sung by Goddess Bhoo Devi.

|| Hari Om ||

|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||

 

Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - The Virtues of Cleanliness and Charity

Srimad Bhagavatam cleanses kalimala or the pollutant of Kali, destroys sins, shows the indweller, the Lord, in oneself by bringing Vairagya towards the materialistic world, and gives pure devotion, crystal clear, and clean knowledge. 

|| Hari Om || Hare Srinivasaकल्यण अद्भुत गात्राय कामितार्थ प्रदयिने ।श्रीमद् वेन्कटनाथाय श्रीनिवासय ते नम: ॥Your benevolence for granting wishes is incredibly vast and unsurpassed. Divine Lord Venkateshwara! Destroyer of Sins! An abode of Mahalakshmi! Srinivasa! My salutations to you.भवाय नस्त्वं भव विश्वभावन त्वमेव माताथ सुहृत्पतिः पिता ।त्वं सद्गुरुर्नः परमं च दैवतं यस्यानुवृत्त्या कृतिनो बभूविम ॥ ७॥Vishwabhavana! From you, the whole universe has arisen. Suhrtpati! You are the mother, the father, you are the friend, as well as our teacher. Sadguru! It is you, who makes us walk on the right path. You are our lord, as well as being worshipped. We are safe and successful by taking refuge in your lotus feet which are auspicious. Lord! You are the only cause of our success.व्यासाय भव नाशाय श्रीशाय गुण राशऐ ।हृद्याय शुद्ध विद्याय मध्वायछ नमो नमः ॥Charming & the beloved Vyasa, the destroyer of emotional & behavioral disorders, the Lord of Goddess of abundance having heaps of attributes, bestower of clean knowledge, my repeated salutations to you and Acharya Madhwa.यः स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥This Srimad Bhagavatam gives the experience of the Lord and has the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta. It sheds spiritual light on the transcendental philosophy required to surpass the intense cycle of death and birth which is wrapped in ignorance. However, it is very secretive in nature. Hence, I pray to you Sri Shukacharya for your continued blessings.दयादाक्षिण्यवैराग्यवाक्पाटवमुखाङिकतः ।शापानुृग्रहशक्तोऽन्यो राघवेन्द्रन्नविध्यते ॥ The face symbolizing Compassion; Modesty; Dispassion towards sensual pleasure; Eloquence; Power to remove curses is none else than you, Guru Raghavendra. 
My salutations to you.

किं नु बालेषु शूरेण कलिना धीरभीरुणा ।

अप्रमत्तः प्रमत्तेषु यो वृको नृषु वर्तते ॥

या याः कथा भगवतः कथनीयोरुकर्मणः ।

गुणकर्माश्रयाः पुम्भिः संसेव्यास्ता बुभूषुभिः ॥

  “The Kali is like a cunning wolf. He survives in the ignorance of being smart. Though the wolf attacks the children and the weak, they are scared of the strong and powerful. Similarly, the Kali Purusha is careful in only taking control of those who blunder being stupid and careless.

Hence, those who wish to become strong with valor, fight for moral worth and dignity, seek auspiciousness, and prosperity should fight Kali. For them Srimad Bhagavata gives refuge. The story of Parikshid raja administering the evil Kali in Srimad Bhagavata that I am going to narrate is worthy to sing and is surprisingly beneficial to them. This is soaked to saturation by the auspicious attributes of Lord Sri Krishna, his greatness, and his sports charm.” Had said Sri Sutacharya  

In this story of Parikshid raja administering the evil Kali, we hear the conversation between Goddess Bhoo Devi and God Dharma Raja in the form of Cow and bullock respectively. From the conversations, we noted that Kali attacks dharma and the holy place that supports dharma. God Dharma stands on four legs, Viz. Tapas or asceticism, Saucha or cleanliness, Daya or compassion, and Satya or truthfulness. Of this, Asceticism, Cleanliness, and Compassion had been broken badly by Kali. The only truthfulness was surviving. The three injured legs had made the fourth leg also drag conveying that though the truthfulness survived but was very fragile.

We have also noted that the same God Dharma Raja, in his form of King Yudhishthira, had asked his grandfather Bheeshmacharya,

किमेकं दैवतं लोके किं वाप्येकं परायणम् ।

स्तुवन्तः कं कमर्चन्तः प्राप्नुयुर्मानवाः शुभम् ॥ ८॥

को धर्मः सर्वधर्माणां भवतः परमो मतः ।

किं जपन्मुच्यते जन्तुर्जन्मसंसारबन्धनात् ॥ ९॥

Who is that utmost God to whom all Shastras or Indoctrination are praising? Who is that last resort, in whom one can take refuge? Who is that in whom propitiating by praising and singing glory would cause auspiciousness leading to peace & prosperity?

In your opinion, which is that dharma that is most superior? And doing which Japa, a person can be relieved from the confinement of birth and death?

Repliying to his grandson Sri Bheeshmacharya had said,

जगत्प्रभुं देवदेवमनन्तं पुरुषोत्तमम् ।

स्तुवन् नामसहस्रेण पुरुषः सततोत्थितः ॥ १०॥

तमेव चार्चयन्नित्यं  भक्त्या पुरुषमव्ययम् ।

ध्यायन् स्तुवन् नमस्यंश्च यजमानस्तमेव च ॥ ११॥

अनादिनिधनं विष्णुं सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम् ।

लोकाध्यक्षं स्तुवन्नित्यं सर्वदुःखातिगो भवेत् ॥ १२॥

ब्रह्मण्यं सर्वधर्मज्ञं लोकानां कीर्तिवर्धनम् ।

लोकनाथं महद्भूतं सर्वभूतभवोद्भवम् ॥ १३॥

“The महेश्वर having the entire universe as his wealth is the Supreme Lord, Vishnu. He is the निधनं, the prime cause of all this existence since अनादि or immeasurable time in past, and till अनन्तं or immeasurable time in future. He is देवदेवम्, God of Gods. For सर्वलोक, he is जगत्प्रभुं, He only has the Lordship of the entire Universe. He is eternal without destruction and presents everywhere. Only he is पुरुषोत्तमम्, the best and the utmost without being surpassed by anyone.

A practicing devotee, being cautious without an iota of doubt should propitiate this very Lord by repeatedly singing his thousand names that describe his attributes, worship him with these names wondering his glories, and have thoughts only of him. He is the last and the only refuge that one can take.

Doing so is the supreme dharma of all dharma. All the sins causing sorrow will disappear leading to auspiciousness bringing peace & prosperity.

Also, Sri Bheeshmachary had said to his grandson King Yudhishthira,

यानि नामानि गौणानि विख्यातानि महात्मनः ।

ऋषिभिर्परिगीतानि तानि वक्ष्यामि भूतये॥

The ancient seers have been meditating and worshipping Lord by singing the hymns having the names of the Lord that describes the attributes. I will reveal the far-famed names of the great Lord for the benefit of everyone. Saying so, Sri Bheeshmachary sang the Vishnu Sahasaranam.

This way the divine plan was revealed to the righteous. Taking a human birth for virtuous is to please the Lord by singing his fame, and his names describing his attributes. By doing so, Lord blesses us with such attributes to our capacity in our journey of Yoga to accomplish him. Following this divine path, Goddess Bhoo Devi too sang the names of Lord describing his attributes as,

सत्यं शौचं दया त्याग​: सन्तोष आर्जवम् ।

शमो दमस्तपः साम्यं तितिक्षोपरतिः श्रुतम् ॥ २६॥

In our last blog, we discussed how the Lord is Satyam or Authentic. We realized his authenticity from him being of divine bliss engrossed in stainless happiness, and complete with all attributes. The other attribute of Lord that Bhoo Devi mentions is Saucha or Cleanliness. The reason for uncleanliness is Prakriti. Even the best of the beings become influenced by Prakriti to be unclean.

However, Lord controls by superseding Prakriti and controls without being influenced by Prakriti. He is sat-chit-Ananda.  His form consists of complete Jnana and Ananda. His Forms are Nitya from Anadi and Anantha. Hence, he is the cleanest.

Our outer body can be cleaned by the soap, or shampoo and water. However, the mind cannot be cleaned. The uncleanliness and stains on our mind can be cleaned by forgoing the attachment with the subject or the object causing the same. This happens by worshipping the Lord, doing Yoga or synchronization with him as being:

·         Pure and Clean consciousness,

·         His form is of Pure Knowledge and Happiness,

·         Prakriti having Satvo, Rajo, and Thamo Guns cannot influence him.

When pleased, the Lord would break the concealments of Prakriti on our Soul. He would break the bind of Prakriti with our soul that keeps us attached with worldly pleasures otherwise. Our desire for glamour or movie, or tour & travel to exotic places, dress, attraction, and desire for other’s attention would reduce. The influence of ego boosters like wine, wealth, and women would reduce and one day even disappears. By worshipping the Lord as Saucha or clean, the mind would become crystal clear and be unsullied. 

Such Lord Krishna complete with the attribute of Saucha or Cleanliness used to walk on me, said Goddess Bhoo Devi. Every step of his would bring goosebumps to me and make me pure, clean, and worthy. His disappearance has saddened me now, regretted Goddess Bhoo Devi. 

Lord is full of Daya or Compassion. He melts down to other's distress caused by physical, or mental, or emotional difficulties.  The form of our Lord is complete with an immeasurable attribute of Compassion filled with grace, elegance, and is balanced. The kind-hearted Lord is helpful at all times and never has a disassociation with this attribute of compassion. By worshipping such compassionate Lord, doing Yoga or synchronization with him for this attribute of compassion, Lord would bless us with a kind heart towards the people affected with physical, mental, or emotional difficulties. 

The contempt towards those virtuous who are not as wealthy as me or not as intelligent as myself, or not as qualified as myself, or not in a similar position as myself, or not as spiritual as myself will reduce and disappear one day. Contempt or looking down others arises from ego bringing sin.

Also, the Danam or The charity that Lord does is immeasurable and unsurpassed. This is the act of giving to a devotee of Vishnu. At the beginning of the 17thchapter in Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna asks Lord Sri Krishna, “What do you call those devotees worshipping you with great faith having no understanding of the Shastras or the Indoctrinations? Who cannot differentiate Satvika, Rajasika, or Thamasika Charity?”

Answering this question, Lord Sri Krishna says

दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे ।

देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ॥BG-17-20॥

Doing charity as a duty in the right place, at the right time, to the most eligible without any expectations in return are Satvika Dana or True & Pure charity.

यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः ।

दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥BG-17-21॥

Doing charity with pain and expectations in return is Rajasaka Dana or Unclean & Emotional charity.

अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते ।

असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥BG-17-22॥

Doing charity without reasons at an inappropriate place, time, to those not eligible with ignorance is Tamasika Dana or Foul & Wicked charity.

अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् ।

असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ॥BG-17-28॥

Doing Fire Sacrifice, or Charity, or Austerity, or any committed Actions without trust and faith is called असत् or wrong! It is neither beneficial here during living or after death. says Lord Sri Krishna

Lord has created this a vast universe with all comforts for existence to each being. For those who are good and worship him, he bestows merits letting them into the higher regions of heaven. For those who are mediocre, worshiping him sometimes for needs and ignoring him the rest of the time, he blesses them with both merit and sins. Lord shunts the mediocre between earth, higher regions of heaven, and lower regions of hell. But for the evils who hate him, he blesses only sins to shun them to the lower world of hell.

In other words, the charitable Lord blesses each one based on their desire emanating from the character of their soul. The evil Kamsa challenged death by not accepting Sri Krishna’s Lordship. Though Lord could have ignored him and killed him without presenting himself with a fight. However, the charitable Lord Sri Krishna came down to earth, engaged him in a wrestling fight, and killed him. He sent him to Hell to face immeasurable suffering. He is charitable. He does give.

However, for the mediocre in Yadhu clan, he created hatred among themselves with which they had killed each other. He moved them among three worlds of Heaven, Earth, and Hell to face the cycle of death and birth having happiness and sorrow. But for devout Gopikas, Sudhama, Pandavas, and others who worshipped him accepted his Lordship, Lord poured his mercy of moksha or release from the cycle of death and birth. He sent them to Heaven having immeasurable happiness. He is charitable. He does give. So too should each living individual. The charity can reform an individual, bring about progress, lead to betterment, and consequently closer to Lord.

In “The First Principlesof Bhakti Yoga by Narada Rishi” we heard Narada Rishi saying,

नैष्कर्म्यमप्यच्युतभाववर्जितंन शोभते ज्ञानमलं निरञ्जनम् ।

कुतः पुनः शश्वदभद्रमीश्वरे न चार्पितं कर्म यदप्यकारणम् ॥ १२॥

Though from ज्ञानं or Knowledge is अमलं or stainless निरञ्जनं purity i.e. One could remove all defects and also avoid it with Knowledge. One could be an expert in all indoctrinations of Philosophy including Amarakosha or Thesaurus, Grammer, all Vedas, Vedantas, Mahabarata, Ramayana, and so on. But if he has no devotion or Bhakti towards Lord Achyutha or अच्युतभाववर्जितं, then न शोभते or he is not fit or of any use is what Narada Rishi is saying.

कुतः पुनः or If that is the status of Knowledge, which is on higher-order, then what could be told about actions. All actions should be done to propitiate the Lord and please him with नैष्कर्म्य or abstinence of bragging about the act including seeking merit for the act. That is possible only when done with Bhakti. Hence, whatever action one might have undertaken including the best of charity like establishing Educational Institution or Hospitals or old age Homes or construction of Lakes or Ponds for water, or any best act but न चार्पितं कर्म or if not submitted to the Indweller, the Lord then it is अभद्र or inauspicious.

 Also, it is important to do charity only to those who are eligible. We see many individuals and organizations having wealth being egoistic and self-centered. Under the pretext of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, corporates promote their business, or grab land, or destroy the environment. So too individual politicians or others take-up charity for self-promotion and satisfy their ego. However, such charity done with ulterior motive or to satisfy one's own ego or done to those having no Vishnu Bhakti, or to undeserving would not give any merits. It is a mere waste!

Therefore, by worshipping the Lord as charitable, doing Yoga, or synchronization with him for this attribute of charity. By worshipping him as charitable doing charity to three types of people in three different ways as we saw above. He gives moksha having complete knowledge and happiness to the good. He gives a cycle of happiness & sorrow to the mediocre. And he gives only sorrow to the evil. The Lord would bless us with a kind heart to do charity to only those eligible. He would also bless us with awareness to submit back to him as Sri Krishnarpanamastu and forget the deed without bragging. After having done the charity, he will bless the merit of Jnana, Bhakti, and Vairagya.  

Sri Purandara Dasaru (1484-1564), is believed to be the अंश or part of Narada Rishi. A staunch devotee sensitizing the common man to take-up the divine path of bhakti. Sri Purandara dasaru has composed the below song for a devotee who takes refuge in the Lotus feet of Lord. And teach him how to worship the Lord and seek his Compassion. Let's take look at it with English translation in an Italic font:   

innu daya bArade dAsana mele

pannaga shayana Sri parama purusha,

When are you showing your compassion on your bonded slave?

Oh, Sri Supreme Lord! Lying on Pannaga, the thousand hooded snake.

nAna deshagallali nAna kAlagallai nAna yOnigallali nelidu hutti

nAnu nannadu yemba naraka dolage biddu nEne gathi yendu nambida dAsana mEle

Taking birth after births in different countries, at different times, and in different species, I am just hanging on.

Having fallen in the hell of self-obsession, I have taken refuge in you as your bonded slave.

So, when are you showing your compassion on your bonded slave?

manova kAyadinda mAdida karmagallela dAnavantaka ninage dAna vitte

yEnu mAdidarenu prAna ninnadu swami SrinAtha Puranadara Vittala naa dAsa na mEle

The destroyer of evil! I have given away all my actions done mentally or physically to you as Charity.

Whatever I may do, oh my Lord! My life is itself yours.

For Srinatha Purandara Vittala’s bonded slave, when are you showing your compassion?

For sound bites, may wish to follow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPM3oQV-I94

 Let’s pray to Sri Hari, Vayu, and Gurus for their continued blessings for our understanding of the other attributes of the Lord sung by Goddess Bhoo Devi.

|| Hari Om ||

|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||

 

Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - Worshiping The Authenticity of Lord brings Happiness

Srimad Bhagavatam cleanses kalimala or the pollutant of Kali, destroys sins, shows the indweller, the Lord, in oneself by bringing Vairagya towards the materialistic world, and gives pure devotion, crystal clear, and clean knowledge. 

|| Hari Om || Hare Srinivasaकल्यण अद्भुत गात्राय कामितार्थ प्रदयिने ।श्रीमद् वेन्कटनाथाय श्रीनिवासय ते नम: ॥Your benevolence for granting wishes is incredibly vast and unsurpassed. Divine Lord Venkateshwara! Destroyer of Sins! An abode of Mahalakshmi! Srinivasa! My salutations to you.भवाय नस्त्वं भव विश्वभावन त्वमेव माताथ सुहृत्पतिः पिता ।त्वं सद्गुरुर्नः परमं च दैवतं यस्यानुवृत्त्या कृतिनो बभूविम ॥ ७॥Vishwabhavana! From you, the whole universe has arisen. Suhrtpati! You are the mother, the father, you are the friend, as well as our teacher. Sadguru! It is you, who makes us walk on the right path. You are our lord, as well as being worshipped. We are safe and successful by taking refuge in your lotus feet which are auspicious. Lord! You are the only cause of our success.व्यासाय भव नाशाय श्रीशाय गुण राशऐ ।हृद्याय शुद्ध विद्याय मध्वायछ नमो नमः ॥Charming & the beloved Vyasa, the destroyer of emotional & behavioral disorders, the Lord of Goddess of abundance having heaps of attributes, bestower of clean knowledge, my repeated salutations to you and Acharya Madhwa.यः स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥This Srimad Bhagavatam gives the experience of the Lord and has the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta. It sheds spiritual light on the transcendental philosophy required to surpass the intense cycle of death and birth which is wrapped in ignorance. However, it is very secretive in nature. Hence, I pray to you Sri Shukacharya for your continued blessings.दयादाक्षिण्यवैराग्यवाक्पाटवमुखाङिकतः ।शापानुृग्रहशक्तोऽन्यो राघवेन्द्रन्नविध्यते ॥ The face symbolizing Compassion; Modesty; Dispassion towards sensual pleasure; Eloquence; Power to remove curses is none else than you, Guru Raghavendra. 
My salutations to you.

After the disappearance of Lord Sri Krishna and the ascent of Pandavas to heaven, Kali was aggressively seizing control on all walks of life and on all non-living substances. His first attack was on the three legs of dharma or righteousness. He broke the leg of Austerity. Hence the spiritual practices of the people of Kali Yuga declined to make most of us lazy and indifferent. Subsequently, he attacked the cleanliness and compassion. This made the fourth attribute of truthfulness fragile and delicate in the people of Kali Yuga.

As a prelude to Vishnu Sahasranamam, Sri Bheeshmacharya answering his grandson King Yudhishthira says,

यानि नामानि गौणानि विख्यातानि महात्मनः ।

ऋषिभिर्परिगीतानि तानि वक्ष्यामि भूतये॥

The ancient seers have been meditating and worshipping Lord by singing the hymns having the names of the Lord that describes his attributes. I will reveal the far-famed names of the great Lord for the benefit of everyone. Saying so, Sri Bheeshmachary sang the Vishnu Sahasaranam.

This story of Parikshid raja having the fame of administering the evil Kali in Srimad Bhagavata is surprisingly beneficial and is soaked to saturation with the auspicious attributes of Lord Sri Krishna, his greatness, and his sports charm. By singing his names describing his attributes, Lord blesses us with such attributes to our capacity in our journey of Yoga to accomplish him.  In this section, we are blessed to contemplate the attributes of the Lord narrated by Goddess Bhoo Devi that yields benefits. Those benefits have also been discussed here.

The Goddess of village deity, the mother earth says,

धरण्युवाचभवान्

भवान् हि वेद तत्सर्वं यन्मां धर्मानुपृच्छसि ।

चतुर्भिर्वर्तसे येन पादैर्लोकसुखावहैः ॥ २५॥

God Dharma! You should have been living in abundance with all your four legs hale and hearty. You know all that is happening. You are aware of the reasons for the injury of your three legs that have brought you sadness and made you handicap. And the same reason has brought me sadness too.

However, separation from the Lord has brought about the highest level of sadness. He was exhibiting his attributes that brought happiness to one and all. In him are the immeasurable and vast attributes that never reduce. The best of beings, Bhagavatas, the saints take up rigorous austerity to please the Lord and be blessed with such attributes in themselves too. They propitiate the Lord. They worship him over several births to receive his Prasada or gracious gift. And such compassionate Lord Srinivasa has disappeared from this earth, says Goddess Bhoo Devi.

At this juncture, it is important for us to have the right perspective on the presence of the Lord. We came across how Arjuna was saddened, Dharma raja had slipped into melancholy filled with sadness, and now from our last blog, we are discussing the Goddess of Earth engulfed in sadness after the departure of Lord Sri Krishna from this earth. Though the other forms of Lord Veda Vyasa, Parshuram continued to appear during that early period of Kali Yuga. Also, Lord Sri Krishna is present by himself in the various temples of him. He is present in Srimad Bhagavata, Bhagavad Gita, and so on. Also, the fact that this earth is existing supporting various living beings means that the omnipresent Lord is present and supporting. Though, the Lord is present all over, why does Goddess Bhoo Devi feel separation from the Lord and is crying? This is a question we need to have an answer.The fact is that the Lord is Omnipresent. In the Forms and The Fame of Lord Bhagavan, we read Sri Sutacharya narrating

जगृहे पौरुषं रूपं भगवान् महदादिभिः।

सम्भूतं षोडशकलमादौ लोकसिसृक्षया ॥1॥

In the beginning, the Lord intended to create the universe. Hence, from Prakriti having Satvika, Rajasika, and Thamasika Guna he created Mahat-Tattva. From Mahat-Tattva he created Ahankara Tattva from which he created sixteen elements consisting of five Jnana Indriya, five Karma Indriya, One Manas, and five Tanmatra. He accepted the form of Purusha including these sixteen elements.

यस्याम्भसि शयानस्य योगनिद्रां वितन्वतः ।

नाभिह्रदाम्बुजादासीद्ब्रह्मा विश्वसृजां पतिः ॥2॥

After the creation of Brahamanda or the Universe including the cosmic ocean, The Lord Purusha entered the universe. He took a sleeping posture on the primordial water and with Yoga Nidra gulped the darkness appearing as Purusha. From his naval sprang a lotus giving birth to God Brahma.

यस्यावयवसंस्थानैः कल्पितो लोकविस्तरः ।

तद्वै भगवतो रूपं विशुद्धं सत्त्वमूर्जितम् ॥3॥

From the body and the limbs of Lord Purusha who has the Virat Roopa of omniform, all the fourteen Lokas or regions were formed. This way the entire universe is a shape and form of Lord Bhagavan who is Virtuous, full of good attributes, knowledge, strength, and a foundation for all beings. This pure and Satvika form of Lord is very Auspicious, Supreme, and Excellent.

पश्यन्त्यदो रूपमदभ्रचक्षुषा सहस्रपादोरुभुजाननाद्भुतम् ।

सहस्रमूर्धश्रवणाक्षिनासिकं सहस्रमौल्यम्बरकुण्डलोल्लसत् ॥

The God Brahma sees the entire Universe with the divine vision as the form of Lord Vasudeva. Baffled, he sings the Lord’s fame and glory through Purusha Sukta. This way the one Lord appeared to him surprisingly wonderful with millions of feet, thighs, arms, face, ears, eyes, nose, and dazzling Ornaments as Virat Purusha being in omniform. Also, God Brahma gazing at this Sports Charm of the Lord is brimming with bliss and knowledge.

Wondering on this omnipresent aspect of Lord, we went through the translation of the song in Forms and The Fame of Lord Bhagavan composed by Kanaka Dasaru in which he is wondering if “Is the sweetness inside the sugar or the sugar is in sweetness!; Or is sweetness and sugar in our taste of the tongue!; Or is taste in our thoughts or the thoughts in the taste!; Or is our taste, thoughts with you, Krishna”

While the Lord is present everywhere, in the dress we wear, the food we eat, the water we drink, the idol we worship, the house we stay in, the road we walk, but we do not worship him in all those. However, we worship the idol in which he is or the Saligrama Shila in which he is, or the photograph in which he is, or even the scripture like Vishnu Sahasranama, Bhagavad Gita, or Srimad Bhagavata. We worship in all those he is present in a significant way.

Being with different forms, in different objects, carrying out different acts, Lord blesses each being. Like being in poison, with a name as Poison, he would take away life when consumed; as a stone from Gandaki river, he accepts the Shodashopachara or the sixteen types of offerings by a devotee including Invitation; Seat to sit; Washing of the feet; Drinking water; Purification of the host by repeating the various names of the guest;  Bath with scented water; Clothes & Sacred thread to wear; Sandalwood paste as a perfume; Flowers & Ornaments to wear; Incense to fill the surrounding with aroma; the light of the lamp as decoration; Food as naivedyam; Betel leaf with areca nut to eat after having food; Auspicious arati or showing the beautiful flame of the fire to the Lord to please him, and the farewell being in a Saligrama Shila.

He is in the words we speak and the song we sing. But being in each, he does different acts.  His ubiquity would not invoke devotion in all objects of sight, sound, or the air. While we walk over a stone, we place the Saligrama stone or a stone idol of the Lord over a pedestal and do Aradhana or worship his omnipresence. Also, the Lord in each form blesses differently. And hence, the Bhoo Devi in the form of a cow, the mother earth was feeling saddened due to the separation of Lord Sri Krishna. Remembering this the tears rolled down from her eyes. She had enormous gratitude towards the Lord Sri Krishna. He had appeared exclusively to her, to reduce the weight of sin and the sinners on her. That very Lord Sri Krishna had disappeared and hence she was weeping. So too Arjuna, for him Lord Veda Vyasa was a grandfather and a teacher. However, Lord Sri Krishna was a dear friend and hence his disappearance and loss of friendship brought sadness to him and other Pandavas. While Lord Budha appeared after Lord Sri Krishna, he only led those who misused Vedas, away from Vedas. But, the form of Lord Sri Krishna led the mother earth and the people therein to Kali Yuga. So for us, the people of Kali Yuga, the form of Lord Sri Krishna is more near and the most worshipable. Since that particular form of Lord had disappeared, Goddess Bhoo Devi was engulfed in the sadness of separation.

The Goddess of village deity, the mother earth responding to God Dharma starts singing the attributes of Lord saying,

सत्यं शौचं दया क्षान्तिस्त्यागः सन्तोष आर्जवम् ।

शमो दमस्तपः साम्यं तितिक्षोपरतिः श्रुतम् ॥ २६॥

Satyam or Authentic is the attribute of the Lord. We briefly saw this attribute of Lord in Mangalacharan or the verse of prayer wherein Lord is ascribed as Satyam-Param-Dhimahi. He is authentic because he is of divine bliss engrossed in stainless happiness, and complete with all attributes.

To understand this aspect, let’s take an analogy of the house where we live. When can one cherish the house? Or hold it as dear? Or become adorable? Could it be when it is the most expensive? Or when done with the best minds of an architect having beautiful facades or well layout plans or making it stunning with razor-sharp corners, glass, and stainless steel?

However, we see the most expensive house becoming haunted or people in it keep fighting or are most jealous making them anxious about distrustful, or there could be a suicide or divorce and so on in the house. These are undesirable and the house too gets blamed. Hence, the most adorable house would be the house where the residents are peaceful, happy, and satisfied.

Hence, the Bhoo Devi starts with the attribute of Satyam or Authenticity of the Lord. As he is stainless, complete with attributes, and full of happiness! His happiness is not a pretense nor hypocrisy. It is a stainless, pure, clean, divine, immeasurable, and unsurpassed happiness without any volatility.

That very Lord Sri Krishna who is Satyam or Authentic is engrossed in divine bliss. He would walk over me. When he did so, the divine marks including Lotus, Conch, Mace, Elephant, Goad, Disc, Umbrella, on his feet would imprint on me. He walked on me as a small child, a cowherd boy, as a youth, as middle-aged, as a killer of sinners to reduce weight on me, as a lover of Gopikas, as a husband of 16000 wives, as a father, friend, and more. He would talk only pleasing words with the virtuous. For every step of that very Lord Krishna on me having the attribute of Satyam, I would ooze with happiness, I would have goosebumps all over me said, Bhoo Devi.

This is the happiness each one of us has to experience. This is the first attribute of the Lord that every practitioner of Bhakti Yoga needs to worship. For that, we need to do Yoga or synchronization by worshipping the Lord as having no sorrow and has only stainless, immeasurable, permanent, and perfect happiness. And worship Lord as soft-spoken with pleasing words bringing delight to the virtuous. Doing so the compassionate Lord would bless us with such attributes of divine happiness, eloquence, and pleasant speech to the fullest of our individual capacity.  

The modern-day psychology, it's understanding of the subconscious mind, the metaphysical and new age literature coming out of it is at the nascent stage. This just does not cause more entanglement with the cycle of death and birth but has the potential to increase manifold to push the individual to hell. However, we see how Srimad Bhagavata is imbibing attributes of divine happiness, eloquence, and pleasant speech within the subconscious mind for the betterment of social values in the society leading to the Purushartha or objectives of life.

Let’s pray to Sri Hari, Vayu, and Gurus for their continued blessings for our understanding of the other attributes of the Lord sung by Goddess Bhoo Devi.
|| Hari Om |||| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||

Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - Attack of Kali on Spiritual Practice, Cleanliness, and Compassion

Srimad Bhagavatam cleanses kalimala or the pollutant of Kali, destroys sins, shows the indweller, the Lord, in oneself by bringing Vairagya towards the materialistic world, and gives pure devotion, crystal clear, and clean knowledge. 

|| Hari Om || Hare Srinivasaकल्यण अद्भुत गात्राय कामितार्थ प्रदयिने ।श्रीमद् वेन्कटनाथाय श्रीनिवासय ते नम: ॥Your benevolence for granting wishes is incredibly vast and unsurpassed. Divine Lord Venkateshwara! Destroyer of Sins! An abode of Mahalakshmi! Srinivasa! My salutations to you.भवाय नस्त्वं भव विश्वभावन त्वमेव माताथ सुहृत्पतिः पिता ।त्वं सद्गुरुर्नः परमं च दैवतं यस्यानुवृत्त्या कृतिनो बभूविम ॥ ७॥Vishwabhavana! From you, the whole universe has arisen. Suhrtpati! You are the mother, the father, you are the friend, as well as our teacher. Sadguru! It is you, who makes us walk on the right path. You are our lord, as well as being worshipped. We are safe and successful by taking refuge in your lotus feet which are auspicious. Lord! You are the only cause of our success.व्यासाय भव नाशाय श्रीशाय गुण राशऐ ।हृद्याय शुद्ध विद्याय मध्वायछ नमो नमः ॥Charming & the beloved Vyasa, the destroyer of emotional & behavioral disorders, the Lord of Goddess of abundance having heaps of attributes, bestower of clean knowledge, my repeated salutations to you and Acharya Madhwa.यः स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥This Srimad Bhagavatam gives the experience of the Lord and has the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta. It sheds spiritual light on the transcendental philosophy required to surpass the intense cycle of death and birth which is wrapped in ignorance. However, it is very secretive in nature. Hence, I pray to you Sri Shukacharya for your continued blessings.दयादाक्षिण्यवैराग्यवाक्पाटवमुखाङिकतः ।शापानुृग्रहशक्तोऽन्यो राघवेन्द्रन्नविध्यते ॥ The face symbolizing Compassion; Modesty; Dispassion towards sensual pleasure; Eloquence; Power to remove curses is none else than you, Guru Raghavendra. 
My salutations to you.

सूत उवाच Sri Sutacharya says,

किं नु बालेषु शूरेण कलिना धीरभीरुणा ।

अप्रमत्तः प्रमत्तेषु यो वृको नृषु वर्तते ॥

या याः कथा भगवतः कथनीयोरुकर्मणः ।

गुणकर्माश्रयाः पुम्भिः संसेव्यास्ता बुभूषुभिः ॥

The Kali is like a cunning wolf. He survives in the ignorance of being smart. Though the wolf attacks the children and the weak, are scared of strong and powerful. Similarly, the Kali Purusha is careful in only taking control of those who blunder being stupid and careless.

Hence, those who wish to become strong with valor, fight for moral worth and dignity, seek auspiciousness, and prosperity should fight Kali. For them Srimad Bhagavata gives refuge. The story Parikshid raja administering the evil Kali in Srimad Bhagavata that I am going to narrate is worthy to sing is surprisingly beneficial to them. This is soaked to saturation by the auspicious attributes of Lord Sri Krishna, his greatness, and his sports charm.   

Let’s hear that, says Sri Sutacharya,

यदा परीक्षित्कुरुजाङ्गलेऽशृणोत्कलिं प्रविष्टं निजचक्रवर्तिते ।

निशम्य वार्तामनतिप्रियां ततः शरासनं संयुगशौण्डिराददे ॥ १०॥

Sri Shaunaka! King Parikshit was ruling the entire earth from his capital Hastinapura. During his emperorship, he was informed that Kali had ascended to Earth from the lower world. He often received reports of his misdeeds. While this had brought him sorrow, he reconciled to an opportunity to fight Kali and conquer over him. He took up the arms and decided to fight out, Kali.

स्वलङ्कृतं श्यामतुरङ्गयोजितं रथं मृगेन्द्रध्वजमाश्रितः पुरात् ।

वृतो रथाश्वद्विपपत्तियुक्तया स्वसेनया दिग्विजयाय निर्गतः ॥ ११॥

He boarded the chariot that was well decorated and had a flag carrying the symbol of the Lion. The chariot was pulled by horses that were black, beautiful, and agile. He decided to go to war with Kali accompanied by the army that had divisions of war elephants, chariots, cavalry, and infantry against Kali.

भद्राश्वं केतुमालं च भारतं चोत्तरान् कुरून् ।

किम्पुरुषादीनि वर्षाणि विजित्य जगृहे बलिम् ॥ १२॥

King Parikshid took up Digvijay or assertion of being victorious in all the directions, he passed through various regions including Bhadraashwa, Ketumala, Bharata, Uttara Kuru, and Kimpurushavarsha. He collected the taxes from the Kings there.

तत्र तत्रोपशृण्वानः स्वपूर्वेषां महात्मनाम् ।

प्रगीयमाणं च यशः कृष्णमाहात्म्यसूचकम् ॥ १३॥

During his short stay in each of the kingdom, King Parikshid was told about the fame of his ancestors. As in the fame of his ancestors was the story of the Glory of Lord Sri Krishna, his thoughts were grounded in the Lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna.   

आत्मानं च परित्रातमश्वत्थाम्नोऽस्त्रतेजसः ।

स्नेहं च वृष्णिपार्थानां तेषां भक्तिं च केशवे ॥ १४॥

Also, he heard how he is true to his name Parikshid i.e. being protected by Lord. He was protected from the splendor of Brahmashirshastra during his stay in his mother's womb by Lord Sri Krishna.

These stories narrated by the people he met reminded him of the enormous devotion his ancestors had in the Lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna and the intimacy between Pandavas and the Yadhu clan.

तेभ्यः परमसन्तुष्टः प्रीत्युज्जृम्भितलोचनः ।

महाधनानि वासांसि ददौ हारान् महामनाः ॥ १५॥

King Parikshid felt pleased hearing the stories of his grandparents and Lord Sri Krishna. His eyes would blossom wide like fully bloomed Lotus flower to hear with the utmost attention. Also, his Lotus of heart would blossom flowing the nectar of intimacy towards those narrating. As a token of this love, the extremely generous and kind-hearted Parikshid would present them with exclusive gifts including the precious jewelry he wore.

सारथ्यपारषदसेवनसख्यदौत्यवीरासनानुगमनस्तवनप्रणामान् ।

स्निग्धेषु पाण्डुषु जगत्प्रणतिं च विष्णोः भक्तिं करोति नृपतिश्चरणारविन्दे ॥ १६॥

Lord Bhaktavatsala to whom the devotee is dearer than himself. Sri Krishna had showered his choicest blessings on Pandavas. He became a charioteer to Arjuna, a member of the governing assembly, dear friend, a guide, a messenger, and he would do any work that Pandavas wanted. In fact, when Pandavas went out for excursions, Sri Krishna would hold a sword and guard the camp throughout the night and had made the Pandavas the Emperor. Such stories were told to Parikshid Raja when he traveled from one Kingdom to another. Hearing such stories, King Parikshit’s devolution in the Lotus feet of Lord only increased.

तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य पूर्वेषां वृत्तिमन्वहम् ।

नातिदूरे किलाश्चर्यं यदासीत्तन्निबोध मे ॥ १७॥

Following the traditions set forth by his grandparents, ascertaining his Emperrorship, hearing the fame of his grandparents, the protection he received from Lord during his birth, and the immeasurable compassion showed by the Lord he traveled. One day, a shocking incident happened close to the Parikshid camp. I shall narrate that to you all, said Sri Sutacharya

धर्मः पदैकेन चरन् विच्छायामुपलभ्य गाम् ।

पृच्छति स्माश्रुवदनां विवत्सामिव मातरम् ॥ १८॥

Shaunaka Rishi! God Dharma had taken the form of a bullock and had his three legs broken. He met the village deity who had taken the form of Cow. Seeing the Cow crying like it has lost its calf, the bullock asked thus,

From the metaphysical standpoint, Kali attacks dharma and the holy place that supports dharma. This was the message that the village deity and God Dharma wanted to convey through King Parikshid to all of us. God Dharma stands on four legs, Viz. Tapas or Austerity conferring disciplined spiritual practices, Saucha or cleanliness, Daya or compassion, and Satya or truthfulness. Of this, Asceticism, Cleanliness, and Compassion had been broken badly by Kali. The only truthfulness was surviving. The injured three legs had made the fourth leg also drag conveying that though the truthfulness survived but was very fragile.

God Dharma says,

धर्म उवाच

कच्चिद्भद्रेऽनामयमात्मनस्ते विच्छायासि म्लायतेषन्मुखेन ।

आलक्षये भवतीमन्तराधिं दूरे बन्धुं शोचसि कञ्चनाम्ब ॥ १९॥

The auspicious one! Your face has turned dim. You are carrying a heavy heart. Something is bothering you. Has any of your relative or friend has traveled to far off land? Are you worried about him?

पादैर्न्यूनं शोचसि मैकपादमात्मानं वा वृषलैर्भोक्ष्यमाणम् ।

आहो सुरादीन् हृतयज्ञभागान् प्रजा उत स्विन्मघवत्यवर्षति ॥ २०॥

Or, hope you are not worried about me looking at my handicap! Having three legs broken, are you thinking that how I am managing with only one leg? Or, are you worried that the wicked are ruling over me, the righteous? Or, are you worried about the Gods as they are unable to receive their substance offered in the fire sacrifice? Or, are you worried about the common men as they are struggling to grow their crops due to untimely rains? 

अरक्ष्यमाणाः स्त्रिय उर्वि बालान् शोचस्यथो पुरुषादैरिवार्तान् ।

वाचं देवीं ब्रह्मकुले कुकर्मण्यब्रह्मण्ये राजकुले कुलाग्र्यान् ॥ २१॥

Or, are you bothered about women folk as they who are vulnerable to the strong and the wicked? Or are you worried about the weak children being exploited by powerful? Or, are you worried about Goddess of Knowledge being stuck with the wicked Brahmins? Or, are you worried that the Brahmins are serving the Kings who have lost their faith in religion? Though the religion holds people falling to hell!

किं क्षत्रबन्धून् कलिनोपसृष्टान् राष्ट्राणि वा तैरवरोपितानि ।

इतस्ततो वाशनपानवासः स्नानव्यवायोन्मुखजीवलोकम् ॥२२॥

Devi! Are you worried that Kali has made a firm place in all Kshatriyas? Nowadays, the Kings are there only for the namesake. Instead of carrying out the welfare of their subjects, they are busy filling their personal coffers by exploiting them. Is this what worrying you?

Or there is a decline in moral values, people eat food that is being sold, drink liquor, wear an inappropriate dress, or take a bath at their own wish. They don’t follow the ways prescribed in Shastras or the indoctrinations. Are you worried about them?

यद्वाम्ब ते भूरिभरावतारकृतावतारस्य हरेर्धरित्रि ।

अन्तर्हितस्य स्मरती विसृष्टा कर्माणि निर्वाणविलम्बितानि ॥ २३॥

Or Devi! Have you appeared to recollect & remember the glory of Lord Sri Krishna, praise his fame, and recollect his compassion shown towards you? He appeared on this earth only to reduce the weight of Sin in each village and the whole earth. Are you sad that he has disappeared now? 

इदं ममाचक्ष्व तवाधिमूलं वसुन्धरे येन विकर्शितासि ।

कालेन वा ते बलिनां बलीयसा सुरार्चितं किं हृतमम्ब सौभगम् ॥ २४॥

Goddess! You bear an enormous wealth of metals & minerals, Gems & stones in you. You are superior to many Gods and Goddesses! Why are you engulfed in sadness? As the Kali Yuga has started, the evil Kali is having his influence on everything. Are you saddened that in his time of Kali Yuga he is taking away all your auspiciousness? Please tell me, Devi! I wait for your reply, says God Dharma.

Let’s pray to Sri Hari, Vayu, and Gurus for their continued blessing to hear the complete story of Parikshid raja administering the evil Kali in Srimad Bhagavata that is surprisingly beneficial and is soaked to saturation with the auspicious attributes of Lord Sri Krishna, his greatness, and his sports charm. 

|| Hari Om ||
|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||

Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - Winning Over The Futility of Life

Srimad Bhagavatam cleanses kalimala or the pollutant of Kali, destroys sins, shows the indweller, the Lord, in oneself by bringing Vairagya towards the materialistic world, and gives pure devotion, crystal clear, and clean knowledge. 

|| Hari Om || Hare Srinivasaकल्यण अद्भुत गात्राय कामितार्थ प्रदयिने ।श्रीमद् वेन्कटनाथाय श्रीनिवासय ते नम: ॥Your benevolence for granting wishes is incredibly vast and unsurpassed. Divine Lord Venkateshwara! Destroyer of Sins! An abode of Mahalakshmi! Srinivasa! My salutations to you.भवाय नस्त्वं भव विश्वभावन त्वमेव माताथ सुहृत्पतिः पिता ।त्वं सद्गुरुर्नः परमं च दैवतं यस्यानुवृत्त्या कृतिनो बभूविम ॥ ७॥Vishwabhavana! From you, the whole universe has arisen. Suhrtpati! You are the mother, the father, you are the friend, as well as our teacher. Sadguru! It is you, who makes us walk on the right path. You are our lord, as well as being worshipped. We are safe and successful by taking refuge in your lotus feet which are auspicious. Lord! You are the only cause of our success.व्यासाय भव नाशाय श्रीशाय गुण राशऐ ।हृद्याय शुद्ध विद्याय मध्वायछ नमो नमः ॥Charming & the beloved Vyasa, the destroyer of emotional & behavioral disorders, the Lord of Goddess of abundance having heaps of attributes, bestower of clean knowledge, my repeated salutations to you and Acharya Madhwa.यः स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥This Srimad Bhagavatam gives the experience of the Lord and has the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta. It sheds spiritual light on the transcendental philosophy required to surpass the intense cycle of death and birth which is wrapped in ignorance. However, it is very secretive in nature. Hence, I pray to you Sri Shukacharya for your continued blessings.दयादाक्षिण्यवैराग्यवाक्पाटवमुखाङिकतः ।शापानुृग्रहशक्तोऽन्यो राघवेन्द्रन्नविध्यते ॥ The face symbolizing Compassion; Modesty; Dispassion towards sensual pleasure; Eloquence; Power to remove curses is none else than you, Guru Raghavendra. 
My salutations to you.

सूत उवाच, Sri Sutacharya saya,

ततः परीक्षिद्द्विजवर्यशिक्षया महीं महाभागवतः शशास ह ।

यथा हि सूत्यामभिजातकोविदाःसमादिशन् विप्र महद्गुणस्तथा ॥ १॥

Sri Shaunaka! Subsequent to the Pandavas ascent to Heaven, the best of Bhagavata, Parikshit having enormous devotion in the Lotus feet of Lord ruled the Kingdom considering the advice of the learned scholars. In The Future Predictions ofBaby Parakshid, we had read the astrologers saying,

पार्थ प्रजाविता साक्षादिक्ष्वाकुरिव मानवः ।

ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यसन्धश्च रामो दाशरथिर्यथा ॥ १९॥

Partha! The son of Kunti! Don't worry. This boy will protect subjects like King Ikshvaku, the son of Manu, the foremost of the solar dynasty. He will worship the priests and keep his words, like the son of Dasharatha, Lord Sri Rama. He will be Satyasandha like Lord Sri Rama.

This and other predictions of learned Astrologers did unfold and turned true. 

स उत्तरस्य तनयामुपयेम इरावतीम् ।

जनमेजयादींश्चतुरस्तस्यामुत्पादयत्सुतान् ॥ २॥

He got married to Iraavatee. She was the daughter of his uncle, Uttara Kumara. They had four sons and had named them, Janamejaya, Bhimasena, Ugrasena, and Srutasena. 

आजहाराश्वमेधांस्त्रीन् गङ्गायां भूरिदक्षिणान् ।

शारद्वतं गुरुं कृत्वा देवा यत्राक्षिगोचराः ॥ ३॥

The King Parikshit, under the guidance of Kripacharya, carried out three Ashwamedha Yagnas on the banks of river Ganga. Priests of enormous perfection and impeccability were invited to perform the Yagna. As they performed Yagna, offered the substance as a sacrifice in the fire to each God’s announcing their names as inscribed in the Vedic verses, the specific Gods themselves showed up descending from heaven. They appeared in their physical form in the fire and received the offerings from the devout & pious King Parikshit.

After the sacrifice, the King Parikshit made large donations to these priests and the learned scholars.

निजग्राहौजसा वीरः कलिं दिग्विजये क्वचित् ।

नृपलिङ्गधरं शूद्रं घ्नन्तं गोमिथुनं पदा ॥ ४॥

When King Parikshit was traveling with Dijvijaya or victory in all the directions, the kings he encountered were accepting his emperorship. One day he encountered Kali.  Though appeared like a person of working-class serving the society as a farmer or a smith, Kali had dressed in the royal robes fit only for the Kings.

King Parikshid saw the Kali kicking the legs of an innocent couple, a cow, and a bullock. Hence, he hurried towards Kali and ordered him with punishment. The last fame of controlling the Kali is held only by Parikshit.

Filled with reverence and folded hand, Sri Shaunaka rishi said,

शौनक उवाच

कस्य हेतोर्निजग्राह कलिं दिग्विजये नृपः ।

नृदेवचिह्नधृक् शूद्रः कोऽसौ गां यः पदाहनत् ।

तत्कथ्यतां महाभाग यदि कृष्णकथाश्रयम् ॥ ५॥

अथवास्य पदाम्भोजमकरन्दलिहां सताम् ।

किमन्यैरसदालापैरायुषो यदसद्व्ययः ॥ ६॥

Sri Suta Puranika! Why did King Parikshit leave Kali unkilled? Even for a King, kicking the innocent and a holy cow is a heinous crime exhibiting disgrace!

Should there be The glory of Lord, or narration of his sports charm, or even have the story of his beloved devotees who relish the nectar from the Lotus feet of Lord, please continue with this story. Else, what is the point of chit-chatting on worldly issues, or hearing the story of Kali, or his associates? All of these can only take away our lifespan?   

क्षुद्रायुषां नृणामङ्ग मर्त्यानामृतमिच्छताम् ।

इहोपहूतो भगवान् मृत्युः शामित्रकर्मणि ॥ ७॥

Revered Puranika! Though there are those desirous and focussed to break the cycle of death and birth through Prasada or the gift of Lord, they come with a short lifespan. They succumb to death before even starting any serious practice of Yoga.

Therefore, the priests carrying out sacrifice regularly have invited the God of death – Yama; Mrityunjaya – God Shiva, who has won the death over Yama and causes death even to the King Yama, God Indra during pralaya; Mukya Prana – who causes death to even to Mrityunjaya; and मृत्योऱ मृत्युं – Lord Narasimha, who is the cause of death to the one who causes death to Mrityunjaya. They have them here in शामित्रकर्म of a friendly act for thousands of years till The Spiritual Gathering of Naimisharanya is completed.    

न कश्चिन्म्रियते तावद्यावदास्त इहान्तकः ।

एतदर्थं हि भगवानाहूतः परमर्षिभिः ।

अहो नृलोके पीयेत हरिलीलामृतं वचः ॥ ८॥

As long as we are engaged in this spiritual gathering of hearing, recollecting, analyzing to understand Srimad Bhagavata and implement its proponents, death would not occur. Even those of us who have a short life span can relish the taste of the nectar called Srimad Bhagavata. Therefore, priests have invited Gods, Yama, Shiva, and Mukya Prana here. And also their Lord Narsimha.

मन्दस्य मन्दप्रज्ञस्य वयो मन्दायुषश्च वै ।

निद्रया ह्रियते नक्तं दिवा च व्यर्थकर्मभिः ॥ ९॥

The lifespan of the people of Kali Yuga is very short. It is just 120 years. And those people cannot even complete their span as they carry the sin of अल्पायुस् or short life. Together with being shortlived, they are dull too. Hence, the people of Kali Yuga waste most of their time in sleep, day to day activities of life including worldly affairs, and time to earn materialistic happiness said Sri Shaunaka filled with concern towards us, the people of Kaili Yuga.

The saints of the Bhakti movement had an astute mind in understanding the common men and brought about reforms by introducing Bhagavata dharma through their literary works including compositions of songs. Gopala Dasaru too was a prominent saint in the Bhakti Movement between 1721 – 1769 has composed several songs in the Kannada language.  This “Hyange maadalayya Krishna pogutide aayushya…” i.e “What do I do Krishna? I am expending my lifespan…,” is one such song that leaves a deep imprint on the minds of the common man and has the ability to sink quickly into the subconscious of the individual.

Let’s take a look at the same with English translation

Hyange maadalayya Krishna pogutide aayushya

mangalanga bhavabhanga bidisi ninna dingarigana maado ananga janaka||pa||

What do I do Krishna? I am expending my lifespan

The auspicious one! Shear my emotional attachment with the worldly existence and make me be your servant. Oh, my impalpable father!

yesu janumada sukrutada phalavo taanu janisalagi

bhoosuradehada janumavu enage sambhavisideyagi|

modateertha mata chinhiitanagade doshake olagagi

leshasadhanava kanade duhsahavasadindale dina dina kalede||1||

The good merits accumulated over several births has caused me this birth

I am blessed with this Nobel birth

Without wearing the divine marks of Gopi-Chandana tilaka, chakra, Shanka, Gadha, Padma, mudra, I have been sinning

Without even the slightest practice and the company of wicked, I am expending day after day.

shashimukha kanakada aashege beretu vasupati ninnadiya

hasanagi ninna neneyade krupeya galisade kettenayya|

nishehagalu sthiravendu tanuvanu poshisalashisi jeeya

kusuride nelavo sarvakala nin odetanavembuva bageyanu ariyade||2||

The desire for beautiful faced women, and wealth has made me stoop to their feet

Laughing away your gifts of life and not gaining your mercy, I have sinned, my Lord!

Believing the permanency of day and night forever, I have been nourishing my body, my Lord!

Without realizing the permanency of your Lordship, I plummeted on the floor, my Lord!

Nerenambide paavatigalu ella saridu hodavalla

marali e pariya janumavu baruva bharavaseyantu illa|

Paripari vishayada aasheyu enage kiridu aayitalla

hariye jagadi neenobbanallade porevarinnaru illavalla||3||

All those whom I believe have become helpless,

I have no belief that I could get another chance to have a birth like this

The worldly desire has caused me a narrow path

No one else other than you could help me, Oh my Lord!

Avani olage punyakshetra charisuva havanike enagilla

pavanaatmaka guru madhwa shastrada pravachana kelalilla|

tavakadinda guru hiriyara sevisi avara olisalilla

ravinandana kelidara uttara kode vivarasaraku ondaadaru illa||4||

Oh my Lord! I had no itching desire to take up a pilgrimage to holy places

Nor I heard the purifying proponents of Acharya Madhva

Nor had I the eagerness to please the Gurus and Scholars

Oh, Lord! I don’t have a single reason to give to God Yama, the son of God Sun.

Bhagavatarodagudi upavasa jagara ondudina maadalilla

raagadi shukamuni pelda harikathe samyogavembodilla|

neeguvanta bhava bhayava bhakuti vairagyavembodilla

yogivandya gopalavithala.... gopalavithala; vithala vithala gopalavithala

yogivandya gopalavithala tale bhaagi ninnanne bedikombe||5||

Neither I fasted, nor did I stay awake through the night with your other devotees

Nor did I sway to the verses of melodious Srimad Bhagavata composed by Shukamuni

Nor I have Jnana, Bhakti, and Vairagya that has the ability to shear the emotional attachment with worldly pleasure

The one revered to saints, Gopalavithala; Gopalavithala; Vithala Vithala Gopalavithala

The one revered to saints, Yogivandya Gopalavithala, bowing my head I plead you.

For sound bites of the above song, sung by the famous Ananta Kulkarni, checkout at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5L9A4DJPqw.

|| Hari Om ||
|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||