Friday, August 6, 2010

9th and 10th Verses of Shri Shiv Tandava Stotram

Verse 9
Praphullancela pankaja prapanch kalimaprabha -
Valambikanlhakandali ruchi prabaddha kandharam |
Smarchhidam purachhidam bhava chhidam makhachidain
Gaja chhidandhakachidam tamant kachidam bhaje ||9||


Lord Shiva, Destroyer of Kamdev &Tripurasura

May I continue to worship the Lord Shiva with shoulders intensely radiant due to the splendour of His neck decked with the darkness of blooming blue lotuses, who is the destroyer of Kamdev and Tripurasura (the demons who inhabit Tripura, the triple fortress of anava, karma and maya).

The one who gets rid of worldly sorrows and ruined the yagya of Prajapati Daksha (the father of Dakshayani or Sati,Shiva's first wife), the Lord who killed demon Andhaka and Gajasura(demon Nila who entered the body of an elephant and attacked Shiva) and the one who vanquishes even death.


Verse 10
Akharvasarvamangla kala kadamabamanjari -
Rasapravah madhuri virjrimbhanam dhuvratam |
Smrantakam Purantakam bhavantakam Makhantakam
Gajanta kandha kantakam tamanta kantakam bhaje ||10||


I Pray to the Amorous Shiva

 I pray to the amorous Kamari (a tile of Shiva, the divine master of all desires) who can be likened to the capricious black bee relishing the madhurya or sweet love of budding virtuous maidens, and is adept in the sixty-four kalas which are indestructible.

The Tripurari
who keeps a watch on worldly sorrows, ruined the yagya or sacrifice of Daksha, the killer of Gajasura, who is even the slayer of Andhakasura (a blind demon who lusted after Parvati, Shiva's wife) and Yamaraja, the lord of death.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

7th and 8th Verses of Shri Shiv Tandava Stotram

Verse 7
Karala bhalapattika dhagaddhagaddhagajjwala -
Dhananjayahutikrita- prachanda panch sayake
Dharadharendranadini kushagra chitra patraka -
Prakalpanaikashilpini trilochane ratirmum ||7||


Lord Shiva, the Husband of Goddess Parvati


May I constantly love the three-eyed Shiva who sacrificed the very powerful Kamdev into the blazing fire raging on the vast surface of His forehead; who is the Lord of Parvati,the daughter of the king of mountains, and has the expertise of drawing accurately detailed pictures.

Verse 8
Naveen meghamandali niruddhadurdharsphur -
Tkuhunisheethini tamah prabandhabaddha kan darah:
Nilipa nirjhari dharastanotu krittasindhurah:
Kalanidhan bandhurah shriyam jagatdhurandharah: ||8||


May Lord Shiva Make us Prosper


May Lord Shiva who bears the burden of this entire world and is endowed with the artistic crescent moon,who is adorned with the hide of an elephant, and is carrying the Ganges, the river of the gods, whose neck is darker than the pitch dark midnight of amavasya due to the newly gathered clouds, make us prosper in every possible way.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

5th and 6th Verses of Shri Shiv Tandava Stotram

5 th Verse
Sahastra lochana prabhritya shesh lekha shekhar -
Prasoondhooli dhorini vidhoosaran ghri peethabhuh: ||
Bhujang raj Malaya Nibadhajat jootakah:
Shriye Chiraya jayatam chakorbandhushekharah: ||5||
 


May Lord Shiva Bring About Our Well-Being


May Lord Siva who has the moon (related to the chakor, a type of partridge supposed to live on moonbeams) posited on His head, whose matted hair is tied by coils of Vasuki, the king of serpants, the back of whose feet are covered by grains of pollen adorning the heads of the thousand-eyed Indra and other gods, bring about our well-being till eternity.

6th Verse

Lalatachatvara jwaladdhanan dhagaddhagaddhaga bha
Nipccta panchasayakam namannilimpanayakam |
Sudhamavookha lekhaya virajman shekharam
Mahakapali sampade shiro jatalmastu nah: ||6||


May Lord Shankar Enrich us With Siddhis


May Lord Shankar who is also worshipped by Indra, the king of the gods,who shattered the arrogance of Kamdev by sparks of fire from His wide blazing forehead, the one who is endowed with rays of immortality and is radiant with the crescent moon, whose matted locks are bedecked with the Ganges and who is the fiery protector of hell, enrich us with siddhis for all times to come.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

3rd and 4th Verses of Shri Shiv Tandava Stotram

Verse 3
Dharadharendra nandini vilas bandhu bandhur -
Sphraddigant santati pramidman manse |
Kripakatakchha dhorani Niruddha - durharapadi
Kwachiddigambare manovinodmetu vastuni ||3||


Lord Shiva is Shashidar


The one who is ecstatic on seeing the flirtatious sidelong glance of Shri Parvati, the daughter of Himalaya, king of the mountains, the one who displays the emotions of a friend and is digambar  or all pervasive, who dispels all the adversities of His devotees by just a compassionate glance. May my mind find happiness in such a Bhootbhavan (an epithet of Shiva, the creator of spirits), Lord Shashidhar (a title of Shiva, wearing the moon)

Verse 4

Jatabhujanga pingalasphuratphanamani prabha -
Kadamba kumkumadrava pralipta digvla dhoomukhe |
Madandhasindhurasphuratva guttariya mdure
Mano Vinodmadbhutam vibhartu bhootabhatari ||4||


Lord Shiva is Bhupati


May my mind attain great delight in Mahesh who is Bhupati or Lord of the earth. The fluid saffron of the yellow-hued glittering manis or pearls from the hoods of snakes dwelling in the matted locks of Lord Shankar, has coloured the feminine face of Shivji's directions and his body looks supremely majestic on wearing the shining garment made of the skin of an intoxicated elephant.

1st and 2nd Verses of Shri Shiv Tandava Stotram

1st Verse
Jatatavee galjjalapravah pavitasthale
Galeavalambya lamhitan bhujanga tunga malikam |
IDamaddamaddamaddamaddamanninadavadda marvayam
Chakar Chand tandavam tanotu nah Shivah Shivam ||1||


May Lord Shankar Give us Moksha

May the one who has purified His throat region by waters of the Bhagwati Bhagirathi (a title of the river Ganges supposed to have been brought down to earth by King Bhagirath) flowing from the forest of his powerful matted locks, and is wearing garlands of cobras, the longest venomous snakes. May Lord Shankar who did the fearsome tandava while playing the damroo give us moksha or release us from the bondage of endless rebirth.

2nd Verse

Jatakatah sambhram-bhramanni-limp nirjhari -
Vilol veechi vallari virajman moordhani |
Dhagaddhagadhagajjawallat pattapavake
Kishore Chandrashekhare ratih pratikshnan mum ||2||

 The Crescent Moons Adorns Shiva's Head


Where the frolicking waves of Bhagwati Janhavee (daughter of Jahnu,a title of river Ganges) are surging on the head of Lord Shankar as they roam in the cauldron of His matted locks and the kindled flames of fire are blazing on His forehead. May my love for such a Lord Shiva whose head is adorned with the crescent moon, be constant every moment.

Shri Shiv Tandava Stotram: Introduction

Shiva Tandava

The Shiva Tandava Stotram was written by Ravana, the greatest devotee of Shiva and a great scholar. Lankesh, the ten-headed king of Lanka and the demons, composed this hymn for singing the glories of Shiva. Its lucidity highlights the intensity of Ravana`s loving devotion for Lord Shiva. Describing his beauty and powerful tandava or the frenzied dance of Shiva at the time of the dissolution of the world, the stotram praises the God for being the ultimate energy.

Shiva the Benefactor & Rudra, the Destroyer

 He is both Rudra the destroyer who is malignant or terrific and Shiva the benefactor who is benign or auspicious.
Ravana, Praying to Lord Shiva

Because of the intensity of his prayers and ascetic meditation, of which this hymn is a standing example, Ravana received from Shiva the boon of indestructibility by all the powers inhabiting heaven and earth except a human being.

Highly Revered Usha Bahenji

Revered Usha Bahenji or Bobo religiously read the Shri Shiv Tandava Stotram during the month of Shravan and advised us to do the same.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Lord Shiva Was Usha Bahenji's Guru

Lord Shiva, the Auspicious One

 Lord Shiva, 'The Auspicious One', works for our well being, is the refuge of loving tenderness, is splendidly generous, bestows religious devotion to Krishna and is Maha Yogeshwar. Shiva, the supreme Vaishnava, is often venerated as the adi guru who resides in the spiritual mentors of this mundane world.Easily pleased, Lord Shankar manifested for Bobo and made the spectral revelation that He was her spiritual preceptor for the pivotal concept of Krishna's madhurya or sweet love.


Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji

The incident dates back  to the time when Bobo had come to Vrindavan. After a bath in the Yamuna she was heading homewards accompanied by Sushila Bahenji, Vijay Bhaiya and others. It was Guru Purnima (the day of full moon in the month of Ashadh).

While walking in the fields opposite the Yugal Ghat, she wondered,"Today is Guru Purnima! Everyone says one can not attain salvation without a spiritual mentor -then my guru."

 Instantly the great Vaishnava, Lord Shankar along with His wife Parvati and son Ganesha were clearly visible in the sky, slightly higher than the temple's platform. 


Lord Shiva with Maa Parvati & Child Ganesha

Mother Parvati was clad in a red sari and adorned in the best of finery. Child Ganesha was also present with his spirited antics. Lord Shankar was resplendent with matted yellow hair which shone like heated gold.The holy Ganges and crescent moon rested on His head and a beautiful blue hue was apparent in His throat.

Garlanded with a serpent, He assured Bobo in a deep-throated voice," I am your guru." 

She reverentially bowed before Him,  at that very spot. With His radiant trishul or trident the Lord repeatedly touched Bobo's forehead and blessed her.

We will be coming out shortly with the English Version of 'Shri Shiva Tandav Stotram' which highly revered Usha Bahenji  chanted during the month of Shravan as a mark of respect to Lord Shiva.

Shri Somnath Lingam


Shravan is considered the holiest month of the year. Every Monday is a special day when the dharanatra hangs over the linga bathing it with holy water. The nandadeepa or lamp burns round the clock in Shiva temples.Devotees adorn the Shivlinga with bel patra as well as flowers and fast till sunset.