Friday, July 8, 2011

45 - Common Mantras - Part 1

Common Mantras - Part 1

There have been several requests for common mantras to be used before, during and after prayers. Every household, every mandir, every Ramayan Mandali chooses to use their own compilation. While I am no expert, here is the first instalment of some common mantras and attempted meanings. Hopefully some learned people will correct my inadvertent errors. We hope these will assist you in compiling your own version.

Many thanks to Ashwin Maharaj from Raki Raki.....





Ganesh Vandana
ॐ  श्री  गणेशाये  नमः  Om Shri Ganeshaaye Namah
वक्रतुंड  महाकाय,  सूर्य कोटि  सम  प्रभा
निर्विघ्न  कुरु  में  देवा,  शुभ कार्येशु  सर्वदा

Vakrtund Mahakaay Surya Koti Sam Prabha
Nir-Vighna Kuru Me Deva Shubh Kaaryeshu Sarvada

He tedhi suudh waale, He mota pet waale (mahakaay aka lambodhar),  karodo suryo ke samaan roshni pradaan karne waale, Apne roshni se hamaare mun ka andhkaar aur agyaan mitaayiye. Hum sab mil kar jo is shubh anushthaan ko karne ja rahe hay use nir-vighna kijiye !!


Shiv Vandana
कर्पूर  गौरम  करुना  अवतारं
संसार  सारं  भुजगेन्द्र  हारम
सदा  वसंतम  हृदयारविन्दे 
भावं  भवानी  सहितं  नमामि 

Karpur Gauram Karunaa Avataaram,
Sansaar Saaram Bhujgendra Haaram,
Sadaa Vasantam Hridayaarvinde,
Bhavam Bhavaani Sahitam Namaami

Gaura mata (Parvati) ko poora (complete) karne waale (nahi to ardh-naareshwar), Karuna ke autaar, daya ke bhandaar, Bhole Nath. Sansaar ko paalan poshan karne waale, jeevan ka rahasya ho Aap.
Bhujagendra (king of the snakes) Shesh naag ko gale mein haar (mala) ki tarah latkaane waale.
Aap hamaare kamal (arvind) jaise hriday mein sadaa vaas kijiye.
Bhavaani maiya (Parvati) aur Aap, Bhole Nath, ko hum saath saath namaskaar karte hay
.


Any errors found in these translations are not meant to confuse you, but is an indication of the lack of knowledge on my part. Please correct and use as you choose to.
Muskuraate Raho

44 - Panchvati Part 4

Panchvati Part 4
Guru ji (Agast) ne Gyan (Ram ji) ko Panchvati (bhakt) mein bheja !

It may be a little hard to comprehend 'cos we're looking from the outside. If you analyse from Panchavati's point of view then, Guru ji ke kripa se hamare ander gyan ka prawesh hota hay. That is why very intelligent people, doctors, lawyers, scientists, even school teachers themselves send their children to school to be taught by guru ji's.

Gyan ke aane se vairaagye (detachment) aata hay phir hum shaanti ka ehsaas (feeling) karne lagte hay.

Panchavati mein (hamaare ander) Gyan, Vairaagye aur Shaanti bade sukoon se rahte hay - saare Pancahvati mein anand hi anand hay !
जब ते राम कीन्ह तहँ बासा। सुखी भए मुनि बीती त्रासा।।
गिरि बन नदीं ताल छबि छाए। दिन दिन प्रति अति हौहिं सुहाए।।3/14Ever since Ram ji (with Sita ma & Lakshman) arrived at Panchavati, people became very happy, all their dukh etc where finished. Even the surroundings and environment started to get beautiful, flowery and picturesque.

The portion of the brain that deals with shaanti (Sita Ma) is enchanted by a Swarn Mriga (Golden Deer).   सीता परम रुचिर मृग देखा। अंग अंग सुमनोहर बेषा।।Just like us – somehow we get enchanted by the quest to get rich quickly, faster cars, bigger houses,  sophisticated spouses…..and there starts our “Bure din” – unhappiness, stress, high BP, heart attacks, sickness, family problems, sleeping pills, drugs, etc.

Our mind becomes unstable, irrational and temperament. Yahaan to Mata Sita ne Ram aur Lakshman ko bheja tha – hamaare ander se Gyan aur Vairaagye khud hi chale jaate hay jab humaari buddhi ladkhadaane lagti hay, asthir ho jaati hay, gussa karne lagte hay.

Jab Gyan aur Vairaagye hamaare paas nahi rahte to mun par moh (Ravan) ka aakraman (attack) hota hay. Hum ko lalchaayega, bahkaayega, dhamkaayega aur hum agyaaniyo jaise kaam karne lagte hay.

Jab tak aap ke paas gyan aur vairaagye hay tab tak aap ke jeevan mein shaanti, sukoon, bani rahegi – koi chura nahi sakta !

Dil bahak gaya to phir chain gaya, raaton ki neend gayi…..

Even love causes these symptoms….
Meri neend chura le, mera chain chura le
Dil mein basaake mujhko le jaa, Bas dil mujhko de jaa

Or

Neend Churaake Raaton Men, Tumane Baaton Baaton Mein
Dekho Baat Badal Di Hai
Ham Phir Baat Badal Denge, Aaj Nahi Dil Kal Denge Bhaai, Aisi Bhi Kya Jaldi Hai


Please disregard my ignorance and build on whatever seems of any use to you.

Muskaraate Raho

43 - Panchvati Part 3 - The Guru

Panchvati Part 3 - The Guru
The revered Guru (Agast Ji) shows Ram Ji (Gyan) the way to Panchavati (our body & soul).

An extreme gyani, of vast and immeasurable knowledge and experience is the only way for the bhakt to attain the blissful knowledge. We may think that a Guru or guardian is not necessary to achieve the ultimate bliss - you are entitled to your opinion.

The great learned sage Swami Vivekananda (Narendra) did not believe in Guru worship - until he met Swami Ramakrishna. It took him 5 years to warm to idea that he is the only way to achieve true inner peace. After 5 years of tossing and turning he accepted Sri Ramakrishna as his Guru.

Someone once said  "When the desciple is ready, a Guru will be found"

Rishi Sutikshan brings Ram, Lakshman & Sita Ji to Agast Rishi's Ashram - why ?

Rishi Sutikshan was a desciple of Maha Rishi Agast and joined the ashram at an early age. Upon completion of his studies, Sutikshan wanted to give Agast Ji something in return for his studies (Guru Dakshina). The great Guru Agast Ji knew that he has been in the ashram all his life and does not have anything to give. So he asked "Kya Dega Re ?" Sutikshan replied "Jo maange ga woh doonga !"  "Acha, to phir Sita-Ram ke Darshan karaade re !"

As Sutikshan Ji prepares to leave the ashram, Guru ji says "Kaha ja raha hay re?"
"Prabhu ko dhoondhne"
"Tum ko Prabhu mil jaayenge?"
"Nahi milna hota to aap ke mukh se nikalta kyu?" Sutikshan had so much trust in his Guru Ji's vachan. "Ab may Sita-Ram ko le kar hi lautoonga, nahi to mukh nahi dikhaaoonga "

 Just like Shabri Ji believed in Rishi Matang's prophecy that Ran Ji will come to meet her...
सबरी देखि राम गृहँ आए। मुनि के बचन समुझि जियँ भाए।। 3/34
We will meet Sutikshan Rishi in 4/10
बहुत दिवस गुर दरसन पाएँ। भए मोहि एहिं आश्रम आएँ।।
अब प्रभु संग जाउँ गुर पाहीं। तुम्ह कहँ नाथ निहोरा नाहीं।। 4/12
He requests Shri Ram to accompany him to Rishi Agast's ashram. "I have not seen my Guru, or visited his ashram, for a very long time. I promised him that I will only return with Shri Sita & Ram Ji"

Real Guru's will show you the way to unbound freedom and everlasting inner peace. Choose Carefully !

We will continue to summarise in the next few emails....

Please disregard my ignorance and build on whatever seems of any use to you.

Muskaraate Raho

Sunday, June 26, 2011

42 - Panchavati Part 2

Panchavati Part 2

Rishi Agast shows, Shri Ram, Lakshman & Sita Ma, the directions to pure, beautiful Panchvati. They live there in peace and harmony for a long time. One day Sita Ma sees a sensationally amazing deer with golden fur. Priceless jewels were adorably decorated on the golden skin. She is astounded by the sight and loses her tranquility, becomes disturbed and excited. She sends Ram Ji (out of Panchavati) to get the beautifully adorned skin of the deer. When Ram Ji seems to be in trouble, she sends Lakshman Ji (out of Panchavati) to go and help Him. When dusht Ravan sees Mata Sita is not with Ram & Lakshman, he kidnaps her and flies out of Panchavati.

That is basically the katha we have been told since our childhood.
Our Guru Jan told us a version slightly different. Here is what I could understand from that Parvachan, and would like to share with you.

In our previous emails we have (somewhat) discovered the worldly (real life) equivalents of Shri Ram (Gyan, Anand) Lakshman (Vairagye) and Sita Mata (Shanti, Bhakti, Shakti)
As more characters get introduced we will try and find their relevance in the great epic.
Agast ji here represents the Guru, the Sadhu, the Gyani who is there to show us the path to happiness (should you need it – of course !)
Panchavati is our body made up of the “paanch tatwa”.
है प्रभु परम मनोहर ठाऊँ। पावन पंचबटी तेहि नाऊँ।।

Dusht Ravan represents the evil, the satan, the corrupt, heinous and hideous people, things and thoughts that stop us from achieving prolonged happiness. Ravan here is “Moh” – believing in things that are not actually there.
सूपनखा रावन कै बहिनी। दुष्ट हृदय दारुन जस अहिनी।।
I’m sure there enough information above for you to form a narrative of your own. We will summarise this the next time we meet…..

Please disregard my ignorance and build on whatever seems of any use to you.

Muskaraate Raho

41 - Panchavati

Panchvati

After leaving Chitrakut, Shri Ram, Lakshman & Sita Ma travel deeper in the forest and meet several Rishi Munis. Upon asking, Rishi Agast advises Him to go and live in paawan Panchvati
है प्रभु परम मनोहर ठाऊँ। पावन पंचबटी तेहि नाऊँ।। (He Prabhu Param Manohar Thaau, Paawan Panchvati Tehi Naau)
There is a place of breath-taking beauty called Pachvati, you all could live there together peacefully.
पंचवटीं बसि श्रीरघुनायक। करत चरित सुर मुनि सुखदायक।। (Panchvati basi Shri Raghu Nayak, Karat Charit Sur Muni Sukhdaayak)
Then one day Soopnakha comes
सूपनखा रावन कै बहिनी। दुष्ट हृदय दारुन जस अहिनी।।(Soopnakha Ravan ke bahini, Dusht Hriday Daarun Jas Ahini)
पंचबटी सो गइ एक बारा। देखि बिकल भइ जुगल कुमारा।।(Panchvati so gayi ek baara, Dekhi Vikal bhayi jugal kumaara)
Latchman cuts her nose and ears
दो0-लछिमन अति लाघवँ सो नाक कान बिनु कीन्हि।17 (Latchiman ati laaghav so naak kaan binu keenh)

Raavan comes to revenge his cruel sister Soopnakha. He brings with him mama Maareech in the form of a imitation golden deer.
होहु कपट मृग तुम्ह छलकारी। जेहि बिधि हरि आनौ नृपनारी।।(Hohu kapat mriga tumh chalkaari, Jehi bidhi hari aanow nripanaari)
Sita mata sees it and has this uncontrollable urge to have it.
सीता परम रुचिर मृग देखा। अंग अंग सुमनोहर बेषा।।(Site param ruchir mriga dekha, Ang ang sumanohar besha)
She sends Ram ji to kill the Mriga and get the beautiful skin
सत्यसंध प्रभु बधि करि एही। आनहु चर्म कहति बैदेही।। (Satya sandh Prabhu badi kari ehi, Aanahu charam kahti Beydehi)
Then she sends Latchman to help Ram
जाहु बेगि संकट अति भ्राता। लछिमन बिहसि कहा सुनु माता।।(Jaahu begi sankat ati bhraata, Latchiman bihasi kahaa sunu maata)
When Ram and Latchman are away Ravan finds an opportune time to attack and take Sita Ma away.
सो दससीस स्वान की नाई। इत उत चितइ चला भड़िहाई।। (So Das seesh Swaan (dog) ki naai, Et ut chitai chala Bhadihaai)
दो0-क्रोधवंत तब रावन लीन्हिसि रथ बैठाइ। (Krodhwant tab Ravan, Leenhi si rath baithaai)
चला गगनपथ आतुर भयँ रथ हाँकि न जाइ।।28।। (Chala gagan path aatur bhay, rath haaki na jaai)
.
You all know this katha from Ram Charit Manas, so we won't elaborate on it.

Next week we'll see how our Guru Jan relate this katha to our everyday life.

Till then

Muskuraate Raho

Sunday, June 12, 2011

40 - Sugriva - The one with a beautiful neck

Ram Ram, Namaste, Hare Krishna, Namaskaaram, Sai Ram, Bula, Salaam, Sat Shri Akaal !
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The name SUGRIVA in Ram Charit Manas refers to "The one with a beautiful neck". This much most of you know.

How does the "neck" fit into the picture of the Ramayan has been haunting many scholars for a long while.

The prefix "Su" in hindi means Shubh, Beautiful, good, etc. "Griva" means neck, galaa, kanth...probably in Sanskrit.

In Valmiki Ramayan Sugriva is sometimes replaced by Sukanth. 
Tab sukanth Hanuman bulaye, bole bachan madhur musakaye
Ram kaj aru mor nihora, pathavahun mein tum kahen sab ora ||

Sugriva calls Hanuman Ji and in a happy and joyous mood requests/commands him and other Bandar Bhaaloos to go to every part of the world to look for Mata Sita. (Kishkindha Kand)

Ram Ji represents, among many other things, Gyan (knowledge) or Gyani - which normally resides in the head.
Mata Sita represents, among many other things, Bhakti (dedication) & Shanti (peace) - which normally resides in the Hriday, heart.

A gyani without bhakti is restless. Shri Ram (gyani) is very disturbed and troubled in Dandak Ban -
He Khag Mrig He Madhukar Shreni, Tum Dekhi Sita Mrig Naini ? Asking animals and plants if they had seen the beautiful eyed Sita ! Even confuses Mata Sati !

Shri Ram (gyan - in the head) is looking for Sita Ma (Shanti - in the heart). For gyan from the head to travel to the heart, there is no other way than to go via the neck.

That is why Mata Shabri requests Ram Ji to find and befriend Sugriva, he will help you to meet Sita Ma.
पंपा सरहि जाहु रघुराई। तहँ होइहि सुग्रीव मिताई।

The neck is the only route possible from the head to the heart ! Of course, there is a very beautiful spiritual meaning behind this - most of you know that already, so we won't bore you with it.


This was part of a small discussion we had in our Satsangh group recently....hope you like some parts of it.

Please ignore my ignorance and build on whatever seems of any use to you.

Muskaraate Raho

Sunday, June 5, 2011

39 - Shri Ram Stuti - Vando Charan Kamal Raghu Nandan

श्री रामचंद्र जी की स्तुति

वन्दौ चरण कमल रघुनन्दन ||

जिनकी कृपा सकल सुख सम्पति,
पद पावन भक्तन उर चन्दन || वन्दौ चरण ……

अवधपुरी प्रभु नित्य विराजत,
जनक सुता युत्त दुष्ट निकन्दन || वन्दौ चरण ……

तीन ताप अरु जनम मरन भय,
दूर करत क्षण मे जन रंजन || वन्दौ चरण ……

मिश्र नवत चर्णन मे भगवन,
कृपा करहुं सेवक भव भंजन || वन्दौ चरण ……



Vandao Charan Kamal Raghu Nandan

Jinki Ki Kripa Sakal Sukh Sampati
Pad Paawan Bhaktan Ur Chandan…. Vandao Charan

Awadh Puri Prabhu Nitye Viraajat
Janak Suta Yutt Dusht Nikandan…. Vandao Charan

Teen Taap Aru Janam Maran Bhaye
Door Karat Kshan Mein Jan Ranjan…. Vandao Charan

Mishra Nawat Charnan Mein Bhagwan
Kripa Karahu Sewak Bhao Bhanjan…. Vandao Charan


Attempted Translation


Vandao (Vandana, pranaam) Charan Kamal (Kamal jaise sundar pag) Raghu Nandan (Shri Ram)

Hum Shri Ram Prabhu ki Kamal Jaise sundar, komal charno ki vandana, pranaam karte hay.
Woh kamal jo taalaab ki gandhagi se upar uth kar apne aap ko aisa khilaata hay ki aas paas ki watavaran ko shudh aur nirmal kar deta hay, khushiyaan bikher deta hay. He Prabhu ! Hum ko bhi Kamal ki tarah banaane ki prerana dijiye.

Jinki Ki Kripa (Aap ki Kripa se) Sakal Sukh Sampati (Jiwan ke sabhi sukh sampati) Pad (charan) Paawan (Pavitra) Bhaktan Ur (Hriday) Chandan…. Vandao Charan

Hamaari saari sampati (gaardi, bangla, paisa, pariwaar, dost) aap ke hi kripa aur aasheervaad ka Prasad hay. Aap ke paawan pavitra charno mein mun lagaane se bhakton ka hriday ka dukh-dard mit jaata hay, jaise chandan ke lep se deh ki jalan, khujlahat door ho jaati hay. (That is why you see chandan put on babies heads after mundan, also seen when heads shaved during funeral rites)

Awadh Puri (Hriday) Prabhu Nitye (all the time) Viraajat (present)
Janak Suta (Maa Sita, Bhakti) Yutt (saathi) Dusht (Vikaar) Nikandan (naash) (…. Vandao Charan

Awadh Puri yahan hriday ka prateek (symbol) hay. Mata Sita bhakti ka prateek hay. Jin bhakton ke hriday mein Aap hamesha vaas karte ho (jo tumhe hamesha yaad karte hay) un ke hriday se Kaam, Krodh, Lobh aadi vikaaron ka Aap naash kar dete hay. He Prabhu ! Hum prathana karte hay ki hamare vikaaron ka bhi vinaash kijiye.

Teen Taap (Adhyatmik, Dayvik, Bhowtik) Aru Janam Maran Bhaye
(I could not find any reference or meaning for this line. If anyone could kindly assist please !)
Door Karat Kshan Mein Jan (Sajjan) Ranjan (Dukh)…. Vandao Charan

Bhakto ke, sajjan, gyaniyo ke kasht ko, dukh ko ek kshan mein hi door kar dete ho, mita dete ho. He Prabhu ! Hamare ander ke dukh, daaridra, andhkaar ko bhi naash kijiye

Mishra (misri) Nawat (being offered) Charnan Mein Bhagwan
Kripa Karahu Sewak Bhao (Sansaarik Dukh) Bhanjan (End, Finish)…. Vandao Charan

Misri ke roop mein apne sar ko Aap ke charno mein chardha rahe hay, atma-samarpan (surrender) mein jhuka rahe hay. Hum Aap ke sewak hay, hum par kripa kijiye, daya kijiye, is bhao sagar ke aawa-gawan (life & death cycle) se chutkaara dilaayiye, mukti karaayiye.


Note:

अध्यात्मिक Adhyaatmik – Spiritual, aatma se sambandhit
दैविक  Dayvik – Divinely, Devta sambandhit 
भौतिक Bhowtik – Sansaarik, material. भौतिक सुख सुविधा – Creature comforts, personal comfort


Please ignore my ignorance and build on whatever seems of any use to you.

Muskaraate Raho