Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Shradh: 23rd September to 7th October 2010


Purnima of the Ashwin Month
Shradh is a ceremony held in honour and for the benefit of deceased relatives, observed at fixed periods,and on occasions of rejoicing as well as mourning. The ritual is performed every year on the death anniversary of a person during the dark fortnight called Pitru Paksha in the month of Ashwin of the Hindu Vikram Samvat. A custom unique to Hindu religion, the Mahalaya Shradh Pitru Paksh fortnight begins with Purnima in the Ashwin Month. It is believed that the Shradh performed during this period is highly auspicious as it reaches the deceased relatives instantly, making their souls rest in peace. Shradh can be performed on every Amavasya or the last day of the dark fortnight of a lunar month as well.



The Matsya Purana

The Matsya Purana mentions primarily three types of Shradh -one performed daily, another periodically and yet another with purpose (Kamya).The shradh performed for deceased ancestors is known as Pitru Paksh Shradh in North and East India, Aadi Amavasai in Tamil Nadu, Karikadaka Vavu Bali in Kerala and Amavasi rituals in other regions.Expiating all the sins of our ancestors it helps them attain moksha or salvation.


The Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita talk about the journey of the dead and rituals dedicated to them. Indian scriptures explain the significance of Shradh with the Agni, Garuda, Vayu and Matsya Puranas guiding us in its religious observances.

According to the Matsya Purana, Agni,the Vedic god of fire,


Vasus, the eight deities who are attendants of Indra,


Rudras

and the Rudras ( Rig Vedic storm-gods) act as intermediaries during the Pitru Paksha Shradh, transporting the rituals and food offered to our ancestors who in turn bless those performing the ritual. As per legend this is due to a boon given by Lord Yama, the god of death, in Hindu mythology.


Pitru Paksha Shradh is also offered by people to ancestors whose death dates have been forgotten, relatives who had no children and those who have had gruesome deaths like accidents or murder. The ones who failed to perform barsi or the annual shradh (performed on the death date) also do Shradh during Pitru Paksha.


The Pitras

The fortnight of shradh is the time span when the pitras or ancestors from our current and previous lives are able to approach planet earth and their descendants; the period when the dead feed on energies of the living on earth.


The pitras suffer from hunger, thirst, heat, cold, fatigue and pain as punishment for their earlier evil karmic activities. In search of relief, they are attracted to their descendants who are karmic debtors to them.


Our Ancestors Feed on Us who are Living


Lord Ganesha

By the grace of Lord Ganesha,the pitras approach the earth once a year during shradh to get relief from their sufferings. They feed on the offerings willingly made to them by us or by forcibly taking energies from their ignorant descendants.


  • The ancestors feed once a day according to their time zone, which is equivalent to once every 12 months on earth during shradh.
  • We are mainly indebted to our pitras for giving us a body which helps us advance in our material and spiritual goals.This capacity of progression is absent from the bodily form of the pitras.


Liberation of the Pitras


Karmic Debt

As you can guage, the pitras are serving out their karmic correction sentences. They are waiting to be liberated so that they can get a material body to progress towards freedom from the karma syndrome. This feat is impossible without help from their descendants.


During shradh Lord Ganesha’s energies withdraw from the planetary surface, and enter the central root survival chakra of the earth. His presence there creates healing and regenerating vortex forces that keep the planet stable.


Idols of Lord Ganesha being Immersed

Immersing idols of Lord Ganesha in water at the end of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival is an acknowledgement of this fact. The disappearance of Lord Ganesha's energies from earth when he descends to the core of the planet allows the pitras to approach their descendants.


Pitralok, the Hellish Planet


Yakshas & Yakshinis

The pitras are in different hellish planets where different kinds of living entities exist.They may be posited in different zones of existence as 'yakshas', 'bhoota' and 'preta'. Some are helpful such as the yakshas who guard us against astral attack from the bhuta-pretas and the likes.


The pitras are unable to satisfy their senses of eating, drinking and this is tortuous for them. They are also assigned work which they have to do forcibly.


In some planes of their existence there is no sleep allowed, and they have to constantly slave for lifetimes.


A hellish planet lacks any descent of the Divine light, which multiplies their pain with no sign of redemption.


The Descent of the Dead
The 'pitras' approach their descendants and act in three ways. (Descendants are those human beings on earth who were connected to the pitra in a previous or present lifetime.)

  • The pitras get help from their descendants for the progress of their lives further by feeding on their descendants' good fortune energies.
  • They create impediments in the path of their descendants because they are dissatisfied especially where the descendants have not done any shradh or religious observances to help the ancestors progress in their life.
  • The manes (deified souls of dead ancestors) worshipped by ancient Romans give up their materialistic positive karma they have accumulated (since it does not help them in their present condition) to their descendants in the hope of receiving the offerings of Shradh, which give them relief from suffering.


The Shradh Offerings
The shradh offerings to the ancestors are made by feeding brahmans and by donations to those who are handicapped and poor.Both are recommended for maximum 'tarpan' (relief).


Shradh is not a funeral ceremony but a Pitru-Yajna (food offered to the spirits of deceased ancestors) or worship of departed ancestors somewhat different from a puja or ceremonial worship to a god.


Aditya, the Sun God

The deceased person for whom the ritual of Shradh is being performed, is considered a follower of Vasu (a class of deities, eight in number, chiefly known as attendants of Indra) his parents are followers of Rudra and his grand parents are followers of Aditya. Therefore during Shradh, the names of father, grandfather and great grandfather are representatives of Vasu-Rudra-Aditya respectively. Shradh is performed for three generations of pitras or for all the pitras.


Shradh on Banks of a River

During the Shradh offerings of pindas or round balls of rice, flour coupled with accompaniments of kusha or sacred grass and flowers are made to the father, grand-father and great grand-father. Tarpan or sprinkling of water is performed, along with incantations of mantras and texts from the Sam Veda.The entire ceremony is conducted at any sacred spot such as a riverbank, seashore or some temples in India.


A person who performs Shradh is known as the karta (usually the son of the deceased) and he invites Brahmans on that day and performs a homa, a method of expressing his heartfelt gratitude and thanks to his parents and ancestors. The karta offers food to the pitra by putting cooked rice and vegetable into the fire in very small quantities and also adding just a small piece of cooked vegetable. He serves hospitably and finally does pinda-pradaana. The Brahman priest helps the karta to perform the ritual.


A series of actions are to be performed and the karta repeats the mantras after the priest, doing actions as instructed by the former. In addition, to the main priest, two more brahmans are invited to the house during the ritual. Through mantras, one is nominated as the pitra and the other as the guide; hence the karta is supposed to imagine they are his own father, grandfather and great grandfather and revere them with dedicated devotion.


On completion of the ritual, the karta then gives dakshina to the priests and only after their consent, he and his family have the food. The karta also shows respect to the brahmans, like giving a foot-wash and dress consisting of cotton dhoti. By these offerings during Shradh, the son helps his father to dwell in joy with the pitras. The rites that the son performs for his father are known as Sapindi karana.


The rituals including the pind daan that are performed are said to reach the dead ancestors through the rays of the Sun or Surya. It is said that a year of humans is a day for the dead and therefore the ancestors enjoy the fruits of the annual Shradh throughout the year.


Tarpan

Apart from expectation of pinda and offering of food to priests (Brahmans) from its descendants, the deceased ancestors’ souls also expect offering of water from them. By performing tarpan or offering of water to deceased ancestors’ souls, the pitars are not only appeased and leave us, but they also bestow long life, radiance, superior intellect, wealth, success and foodstuff (ability to digest the food consumed) on the host performing the tarpan, satisfying him in the process.


Repaying the debt to ancestors is as important as making obeisance to God, sages and society. Performing Shradh has been cited as a part of dharma or the path of righteousness. The person who performs the Shradh must realize that he is deeply indebted to his ancestors for birth, body, knowledge, wealth and sanskaras and the custom is a sort of thanksgiving under the guidance of a priest in accordance to the shastras.


Benefits of the Shradh Offerings

  • Offerings to the brahmans in the name of the ancestors reduces their suffering and urges them towards liberation from all material distress.
  • The brahmins (or KQ Healer, Reiki Healer, Karmic healer, priest, rabbi and so on) are capable of invoking Divine energies directly. This is powerful healing and is more easily transferable for the pitras in a higher planetary plane of existence.
  • Donations to the handicapped and poor work quickly to affect those ancestors who are in lower astral planes and hellish planets.


The benefits of making these offerings is to give relief to the ancestor and to stop him from feeding on the good karma energies of the living.In addition the descendant receives blessings and positive karma from the pitra which helps him materially. It can greatly help the individual advance spiritually as materialistic impediments are removed.


      Varying Customs of Shradh:

      During this time span, relatives of the deceased only take vegetables, protein-less food, and sunned rice without salt and others fast on that day. They refrain from starting new ventures. Celebration and shopping sprees are put off and journeys are not undertaken. Some choose not to shave their beard or have a hair cut. People do not wear new clothes or even clip nails.


      The Ritual of Shradh

      Sons of the deceased shave their head on the day prior to Shradh and observe various rituals. On the day of the obsequies, the son treats his family, the priests and even neighbours to a feast prepared according to their means. People also donate clothes and other items to Brahmans and relations. Equally important is feeding the poor. Whenever rituals dedicated to the dead are performed, people distribute food and clothes among the poor.


      Usually performed on a riverbank or on seashore, there are also temples in India where the rituals can be performed. A small portion of the pindas or rice cakes prepared for the ritual is given to crows who are believed to connect the world of the living and the world of the dead.


      Are Shradhs inauspicous:


      The Vedas

      The ancient Vedic scriptures advocate remembrance of ancestors with full concentration to gather maximum benefit from their blessings. Therefore all new activities are put off so that our attention is not diverted. Grand sales in all the leading markets of Delhi and other cities come to an end and business invariably slows down.


      Astrologically speaking this time span can not be inauspicious when the same is considered as the most auspicious time for remembering our ancestors? We need to honour our ancestors responsible for our very existence and seek their blessings to follow the virtuous path advocated by them, accomplishing our goals with the least hindrance.


      The Karmic Theory:

      One has to remember the Karmic Theory and get detached in life particularly after witnessing the death of loved ones and performing shradh. The religious observance illustrates that the body is annamaya deha or made up of food meaning perishable.


      The pindas endorse that physical bodies consisting of food after death merge with physical matter. The soul is immortal and thus one should not grieve for the departed person but gather self knowledge before death arrives. The mantras or incantations do talk about Brahman taking birth as Hiranyagarbha from a golden egg deposited in water and the Brahm-anda or the Universe was created from the residual materials of the golden egg, from where the souls of the departed had come and are now returning.


      Lord Vishnu

      Chanting the Lord's name at the time of death helps greatly in the liberation of the soul. In fact, this practice is called Naam-Mahima or glory of the Lord’s name.The story of Ajamil in the Srimad Bhagavatam elucidates this truth. If a person recites the Lord’s name during his life-time, he will intuitively chant it at the time of death.


      Pitru Paksha Shradh Dates in the year, 2010

      Throughout the Hindu world, departed souls are remembered during Pitru Paksha in the month of Ashwin. On each day of the fortnight, special offerings are made to ancestors whose lunar date of death corresponds to that particular day. On Mahalaya Amavasya, the last day of the dark fortnight of a lunar month, the Amavasya Shradh or oblations can be offered to all those ancestors whose tithi (lunar date) of death is not known.

      23rd September, 2010: Purnima Shradh

      24th September, 2010: Mahalaya Shradh Paksha Begins

      25th September, 2010: Dwitiya Shradh

      26th September, 2010: Tritiya Shradh

      27th September, 2010: Chaturthi Shradh

      28th September, 2010: Panchami Shradh

      29th September, 2010: Shasti Shradh

      30th September, 2010: Saptami Shradh

      1st October, 2010: Ashtami Shradh

      2nd October, 2010: Navami Shradh

      3rd October, 2010: Dasami Shradh

      4th October, 2010: Ekadasi Shradh and Dwadashi Shradh

      5th October, 2010: Trayodashi Shradh

      6th October, 2010: Chaturdashi Shradh

      7th October, 2010: Mahalaya Amavasi, Most important day of Shradh


Shradh and Funeral Rites

Funeral rites and Shraddh are distinctly different from each other. Funeral rites or antyeshthi are considered inauspicious or amangal while Shradh are auspicious or mangal.


To understand this concept it should be clear that when a person dies, his gross body or sthula sharira is burnt. This is antyaishthi or the last sacrifice offered in fire, but the soul cannot quit the earthly body without a vehicle of some kind. The deceased being lodged in a subtle body or linga-sharira, the size of a thumb, hovers around the cremation ground.


He is now a preta, the departed spirit of a dead person, particularly before the funeral rites are performed. No longer equipped with a physical body capable of enjoying or suffering, he is in a miserable plight.


While in this condition he is stated to be an impure being and all relations who participate in his funeral rites are considered impure until the first Shradh is performed. Furthermore, if a person dies away from his relations who alone can perform the funeral rites but are unable to do so, he becomes a ‘pishaca’, a fiend or demon, desirous of taking revenge for its misery by evil acts.


The objective of the funeral rites carried out for twelve days after death, is not merely to give peace by libations of consecrated water to the troubled spirit but to bestow the preta with a transitional body. A body composed of gross particles, capable of enjoying or suffering, though not in the same way as the earthly body. In this manner gati can be attained or the preta progresses onwards with the soul transmigrating into a different body.


The ‘Bhagavad Gita’, an intrinsic part of the Mahabharata, reveals that on the eve of death, the individual soul contracts all its energies centering them in the subtle body. The individual soul lodged in the linga-sharira enjoying its needs from one birth to another, can only be perceived by Yogis by their mystical perception.


According to Hindu religion, life doesn't end with death which is just another link in the ongoing process of life. It is hoped that the next life of the departed soul will be better than the last one. The rituals performed for this purpose are Shradh Karma, and are conducted on the thirteenth day after the death of a person, signifying the end of the mourning period. The house in which the death had occurred is cleaned and purified. Some people even get a fresh coat of paint for the house. The pinda daan made on that day is not only for the deceased but also for three preceding generations of the departed.


Lord Vishnu on the Garuda

After the pinda daan (cake or ball of meal, flour or rice offered to spirits of ancestors by nearest surviving relatives), Lord Vishnu is worshipped. Once the process is over a havan is performed. To appease the soul, bedding, jewelry and food are donated in charity. Thirteen brahmans are invited and fed along with 13 lotas (pots), 13 janeus (holy thread), 13 aasans (mats) and 13 Gitas being donated to them, in the hope that the departed soul is not left wanting for anything.


The day of the cremation is supposed to be observed as the Punya Tithi (anniversary of a death). On this date, a havan is performed and Gita path is done along with Brahmans being fed. After the death and till the first yearly Shradh, all necessary rituals are carried out in the house where the death took place. After barsi or the first yearly Shradh, all children can perform shradhs in their respective houses.

59th & 60th Dohas of Sunderkand

Chaupai:
sabhaya simdhu gahi pada prabhu kere, chamahu nåtha saba avaguna mere||
gagana samira anala jala dharani, inha kai nåtha sahaja jaRa karani||1||
tava prerita måyå°upajåe, srsti hetu saba gramthani gåe||
prabhu åyasu jehi kaha° jasa ahai, so tehi bhå°ti rahe° sukha lahai||2||
prabhu bhala kinha mohi sikha dinhi, marajådå puni tumhari kinhi||
dhola gavå°ra sudra pasu nåri, sakala tåRanå ke adhikåri||3||
prabhu pratåpa mai jåba sukhåi, utarihi kataku na mori baRåi||
prabhu agyå apela sruti gåi, karau° so begi jo tumhahi sohåi||4||


The Deity of the Ocean is Terrified of Lord Rama

Terrified, the deity of the ocean fell at the Lord's feet and said, “Forgive all my drawbacks (faults),Oh Lord! Ether, air, fire, water and earth are sluggish by nature. All the scriptures rave that by your stimulus, Maya or Cosmic Power has produced them for creation. One gets joy by living in the same fashion as has been ordained by the Lord.The Lord did well in teaching me a lesson (punishing me.)


Lord Rama's Army Can Easily Cross Over if the Ocean Dries Up

But decorum (correct behaviour of living beings) has also been fixed by You. A drum, a villager, a Sudra, a beast and a woman, all deserve to be punished. By the Lord's brilliant energy I will dry up and the army shall cross over but it is not commendable on my part. Nevertheless, the Vedas endorse that Your order is irrevocable (can not be transgressed). I shall instantly do what pleases You as of now.

Doha: 59
sunata binita bacana ati kaha krpåla musukåi|
jehi bidhi utarai kapi kataku tåta so kahahu upåi||59||




The Merciful Lord Rama

On hearing the extremely modest words of the Ocean, the merciful Lord Rama smiled and said, “Oh dear, tell me the means by which the army of monkeys can cross over.”

Chaupai:
nåtha nila nala kapi dvau bhåi, larikåi° risi åsisa påi||
tinha ke°parasa kie° giri bhåre, tarihahi jaladhi pratåpa tumhåre||1||
mai puni ura dhari prabhu prabhutåi, karihau°bala anumåna sahåi||
ehi bidhi nåtha payodhi ba°dhåia, jehi yaha sujasu loka tihu° gåia||2||
ehi sara mama uttara tata båsi, hatahu nåtha khala nara agha råsi||
suni krpåla sågara mana pirå, turatahi hari råma ranadhirå||3||
dekhi råma bala paurusa bhåri, harasi payonidhi bhayau sukhåri||
sakala carita kahi prabhuhi sunåvå, carana bamdi påthodhi sidhåvå||4||


Nila & Nala can Bridge the Ocean with Boulders

(The god of the Ocean revealed) “Nila and Nala are two monkey brothers, my Lord.They had got a boon from a sage in their boyhood.Just by their touch even massive mountains will float on the ocean by Your glory.Preserving the Lord's majesty in my heart, I too shall help out to the best of my ability(as much as I can).Oh Lord! Have the ocean bridged in this fashion so that your splendid glory can be sung in all the three lokas. With this arrow kill sinful men who are criminals living on my northern coast."

On hearing of the pain weighing on the Ocean's mind, Lord Rama who was lovingly tender and steady in battle, instantly relieved him of the agony (killed the villains with his arrow.) Delighted to observe Lord Rama's immense power and valour,the deity of the ocean, was happy. He narrated all the characteristics of those wicked people to the Lord.Thereafter paying homage by touching the Lord's feet, the deity of the Ocean left. 

Chhand:
nija bhavana gavaneu simdhu sriraghupatihi yaha mata bhåyau|
yaha carita kali malahara jathåmati dåsa tulasi gåyau||
sukha bhavana samsaya samana davana bisåda raghupati guna ganå|
taji sakala åsa bharosa gåvahi sunahi samtata satha manå||


Tulsidasa Wrote the Ram Charit Manas

The god of the ocean went home.Whereas the Lord of the Raghus approved of this idea (of bridging the ocean.) This biography absolves sins of the Kali Yuga and has been sung by Tulsidasa according to his sensibility.The multiple virtues of Lord Rama are an abode of joy, destroy doubt, and repress sorrow without fail.Oh foolish mind! Discarding all other hopes and faith of this mundane world, you must constantly sing and hear His glories. 

Doha: 60
sakala sumamgala dåyaka raghunåyaka guna gåna|
sådara sunahi te tarahi bhava simdhu binå jalajåna||60||


The Virtuous Lord of the Raghus

Raving about the virtues of Lord Rama bestows great good fortune on us.Those who listen to them with reverence shall easily cross the ocean of this mundane world without needing any other ship (means.)

[PAUSE 24 FOR A THIRTY-DAY RECITATION]

iti srimadråmacaritamånase sakalakalikalusavidhvamsane pancama sopånah samåptah.

Herein ends the fifth descent into the Månasa or holy lake of the acts of Rama that absolves all sins of the Kali Yuga.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

57th & 58th Dohas of Sunderkand

Chaupai:
sunata sabhaya mana mukha musukåi,kahata dasånana sabahi sunåi||
bhumi parå kara gahata akåså,laghu tåpasa kara båga bilåså||1||
kaha suka nåtha satya saba båni,samujhahu chåRi prakrti abhimåni||
sunahu bacana mama parihari krodhå,nåtha råma sana tajahu birodhå||2||
ati komala raghubira subhåu, jadyapi akhila loka kara råu||
milata krpå tumha para prabhu karihi,ura aparådha na ekau dharihi||3||
janakasutå raghunåthahi dije, etanå kahå mora prabhu kije||
jaba tehi kahå dena baidehi,carana prahåra kinha satha tehi||4||
nåi carana siru calå so tahå°, krpåsimdhu raghunåyaka jahå° ||
kari pranåmu nija kathå sunåi,råma krpå° åpani gati påi||5||
risi agasti ki° såpa bhavåni,råchasa bhayau rahå muni gyåni||
bamdi råma pada bårahi bårå,muni nija åsrama kahu° pagu dhårå||6||


Ravana is Scared of Lakshmana's Letter

Ravana was scared at heart, the instant he heard the note but wearing a feigned smile, he spoke loudly so that everyone could hear, “ The younger ascetic (Lakshmana) speaks boastfully (brags) just as a person lying on earth strives to catch hold of the sky with his hands.


Suka Asks Ravana to Return Sita Whom he had Abducted

Suka (the envoy) opined,“ Oh Lord!Discarding arrogance, regard all matters (written in this letter) as true. Abandon anger and listen to my advice.Give up enmity with Lord Rama. The valiant hero of the Raghus has a lovingly tender disposition even though He is the Lord of all lokas (cosmological regions). The Lord will bestow his grace on you the instant He meets you, and not harbour a single offence of yours in his heart. Oh lord, restore the daughter of Janaka to Lord of the Raghus. At least follow this request of mine."


Rishi Agastya

The wicked Ravana kicked Suka when he asked him to return Devi Sita. He also (like Vibhishana) bowed his head at Ravana's feet and headed to the same place where the Lord of the Raghus, an ocean of mercy, was. Making obeisance, he narrated his tale and by the grace of Lord Rama got back his original form (of a sage.)(Lord Shiva clarifies), “Oh Bhavani! He was a knowledgeable seer who had been transformed into a demon due to Rishi Agastya's curse. Adulating Lord Rama's feet over and over again, the sage left for his hermitage.
 
Doha: 57
binaya na månata jaladhi jaRa gae tini dina biti|
bole råma sakopa taba bhaya binu hoi na priti||57||
 

Lord Rama is Furious with the Ocean

At this end three days had lapsed but the unfeeling ocean would not listen to Lord Rama's request. That is when Lord Rama spoke indignantly, “There can be no friendship without fright.”
 
Chaupai:
lachimana båna saråsana ånu,sosau° båridhi bisikha krsånu||
satha sana binaya kutila sana priti,sahaja krpana sana sumdara niti||1||
mamatå rata sana gyåna kahåni,ati lobhi sana birati bakhåni||
krodhihi sama kåmihi hari kathå,usara bija bae°phala jathå||2||
asa kahi raghupati cåpa caRhåvå,yaha mata lachimana ke mana bhåvå||
samdhåneu prabhu bisikha karålå,uthi udadhi ura amtara jvålå||3||
makara uraga jhasa gana akulåne,jarata jamtu jalanidhi jaba jåne||
kanaka thåra bhari mani gana nånå,bipra rupa åyau taji månå||4||
 

Lord Rama Wants to Dry up the Ocean

“Hey Laksmana! Get Me My bow and arrows; so that I can dry up the ocean by an arrow of fire.Entreating a fool, friendship with a rogue,speaking of generosity with a born miser, narrating the tale of wisdom to one entangled in worldly affection, describing renunciation to a man who is very greedy, lecturing on peace of mind to a hot-tempered person and glorifying Lord Hari to a busy person, are as futile as sowing seeds in a barren land.”


The Ocean Appears Before Lord Rama

Saying so, the Lord of the Raghus strung His bow.This approach (of Rama) was very much liked by Lakshmana.The Lord fitted the terrifying arrow (of fire) to His bow which led to a blazing fire in the heart of the ocean.Swarms of alligators, serpents and fishes were distressed.When the deity of the ocean found the living creatures to be burning, he abandoned his pride and assuming the form of a Bråhmin came with a gold platter filled with several precious stones.

Doha: 58
kåtehi pai kadari pharai koti jatana kou si°ca|
binaya na måna khagesa sunu datehi pai nava nica||58||


Kak Bhushundi

(Kak Bhushundi says) “Oh Garuda!Though one may adopt millions of methods for watering a plantain but it will only bear fruit on being chopped off. Similarly, a base person does not agree by entreaties but gives in only when he is rebuked.”

Monday, September 20, 2010

55th & 56th Dohas of Sunderkand

Chaupai
e kapi saba sugriva samånå,inha sama kotinha ganai ko nånå||
råma krpå° atulita bala tinhahi,° trna samåna trailokahi ganahi°||1||
asa mai sunå sravana dasakamdhara,paduma athåraha juthapa bamdara||
nåtha kataka maha° so kapi nåhi,° jo na tumhahi jitai rana måhi°||2||
parama krodha mijahi saba håthå,åyasu pai na dehi raghunåthå||
sosahi simdhu sahita jhasa byålå,purahi na ta bhari kudhara bisålå||3||
mardi garda milavahi dasasiså,aisei bacana kahahi saba kiså||
garjahi tarjahi sahaja asamkå,månahu° grasana cahata hahi lamkå||4||


Mighty Sugriva Fighting Bali

All these monkeys are equivalent to Sugriva in might and there are not just one or two but millions of them; who can possibly count their lot?They are unparalleled in strength by the grace of Lord Rama and consider the three lokas (cosmological regions) equivalent to a blade of grass (worthless.)Oh ten-necked one! I have heard with my ears that eighteen padmas (valiant warriors) are the commanders of the monkey forces, alone.Oh Lord, there is no monkey in that army who can not triumph over you in battle.


Monkeys Want to Fill the Ocean with Boulders

All of them are rubbing their hands in intense fury but the Lord of the Raghus does not give them permission (to march ahead.) “We shall suck dry the ocean swarming with fishes and snakes or else fill it with huge boulders(flatten it.) And crushing Ravana, reduce him to dust.” The hordes of monkeys are uttering such words. All of them are fearless by temperament,and thunder as well as shout aggressively as if they want to devour Lanka.
 
Doha: 55
sahaja sura kapi bhålu saba puni sira para prabhu råma|
råvana kåla koti kahu° jiti sakahi samgråma||55||
 

The Troops of Monkeys & Bears

"All the monkeys and bears are valiant heroes by instinct and above all they have Lord Rama close at hand (to protect them.) Oh Ravana!They can triumph over millions of kaals (a title of Yama, the king of the dead) in battle. "

Chaupai:
råma teja bala budhi bipulåi, sesa sahasa sata sakahi na gåi||
saka sara eka sosi sata sågara, tava bhråtahi pu°cheu naya någara||1||
tåsu bacana suni sågara påhi, mågata pamtha krpå mana måhi°||
sunata bacana bihaså dasasiså, jau° asi mati sahåya krta kiså||2||
sahaja bhiru kara bacana drRhåi, sågara sana thåni macalåi||
muRha mrså kå karasi baRåi, ripu bala buddhi thåha mai påi||3||
saciva sabhita bibhisana jåke°,bijaya bibhuti kahå° jaga tåke°||
suni khala bacana duta risa båRhi, samaya bicåri patrikå kåRhi||4||
råmånuja dinhi yaha påti, nåtha bacåi juRåvahu chåti||
bihasi båma kara linhi råvana, saciva boli satha låga bacåvana||5


Sheshnaag, the Thousand-headed Snake

"Even hundreds of thousands of Sheshas (a thousand-headed snake on which Vishnu sleeps throughout periods of dissolution of the world, symbol of eternity) can not sing of Lord Rama's brilliance (competence), strength and intelligence.With a single arrow He can dry up hundreds of oceans, but having expertise in political wisdom, (for safeguarding ethics), He consulted your brother for a solution.And abiding by what your brother suggested, He is asking the ocean for a passage. His mind is full of loving tenderness (that is why he doesn't dry up the waters.)"


Lord Rama

Ravana laughed boisterously on hearing the envoy's words (and said) “It is because of such intellect that He (Rama) made the monkeys his allies.That is why following the advice of Vibhishana who is a coward by birth, He is adamant in making a demand of the ocean (like a stubborn child).Oh fool!Why do you falsely praise the enemy? Well I have gauged the depth of the enemy's (Rama) might and wisdom. How can He who has a cowardly counsellor like Vibhishana come by triumph and glory in this world.”


Lakshmana, the Younger Brother of Lord Rama

The envoy flared up on hearing the words of wicked Ravana!Considering it to be an opportune moment he took out the letter (from Lakshmana). And said, “Lakshmana, the younger brother of Rama has given me this note.Have it read through, Oh Lord, and calm your heart!”Laughing, Ravana took it with his left hand and calling for the minister, the wretch asked him to read it out.  
 
Doha: 56
båtanha manahi rijhåi satha jani ghålasi kula khisa|
råma birodha na ubarasi sarana bisnu aja isa||56(A)||
ki taji måna anuja iva prabhu pada pamkaja bhrmga|
hohi ki råma sarånala khala kula sahita patamga||56(B)||


Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesh

(It was written in the letter) “Delighting yourself by mere talks, Oh fool, do not completely ruin your race. You will not be spared if you are hostile to Lord Rama, even if you seek the refuge of Vishnu, Brahma and Mahesh. Therefore either become a black bee of Lord Rama's lotus feet, by abandoning arrogance like Vibhishana, your younger brother. Or else,Oh wicked one!Becoming a moth along with your family burn in the fire of Lord Rama's arrows.” (Do whatever you like better of the two.)

Sunday, September 19, 2010

53rd & 54th Dohas of Sunderkand

Chaupai:
turata nåi lachimana pada måthå,cale duta baranata guna gåthå||
kahata råma jasu lamkå° åe,råvana carana sisa tinha nåe||1||
bihasi dasånana pu°chi båtå,kahasi na suka åpani kusalåtå||
puni kahu khabari bibhisana keri,jåhi mrtyu åi ati neri||2||
karata råja lamkå satha tyågi,hoihi java kara kiia abhågi||
puni kahu bhålu kisa katakåi,kathina kåla prerita cali åi||3||
jinha ke jivana kara rakhavårå,bhayau mrdula cita simdhu bicårå||
kahu tapasinha kai båta bahori,jinha ke hrdaya°tråsa ati mori||4||

Soon after bowing their head at Lakshmana's feet,and narrating the tale of Lord Rama's virtues, the spies left.Raving about the glories of Lord Rama, they entered Lanka and bowed their heads at Ravana's feet.


The ten-headed Ravana

The ten-headed Ravana laughed and asked them the report, “Oh Suka!Why don't you tell me about your well-being?And then tell me the news about Vibhishana over whom death is looming.The fool abandoned Lanka which he was ruling.Being ill-fated he will become a weevil (pest) (He will also be killed along with the men-monkeys as a weevil is crushed with grains of barley) now.


The Ocean is Protecting Rama's Army

Thereafter tell me about the state of the army comprising of bears and monkey, that has been driven here by harsh destiny. And it is the poor soft-hearted ocean who has become the protector of their lives.(if the ocean did not stand between them and the demons, the fiends would have killed and devoured them).And then go on to tell me about those ascetics (Rama and Lakshmana) whose hearts are petrified of me. "

Doha:53
ki bhai bhemta ki phiri gae sravana sujasu suni mora|
kahasi na ripu dala teja bala bahuta cakita cita tora||53||


Lord Rama and Lakshmana

"Did you get to meet them or did they retreat just by hearing of my fame? Why don't you reveal the enemy's brilliance and power? Your mind seems very dazed (alarmed.)"
Chaupai:
nåtha krpå kari pu°chehu jaise°,månahu kahå krodha taji taise°||
milå jåi jaba anuja tumhårå,jåtahi råma tilaka tehi sårå||1||
råvana duta hamahi suni kånå,kapinha bå°dhi dinhe dukha nånå||
sravana nåsikå kåtai låge, råma sapatha dinhe° hama tyåge||2||
pu°chihu nåtha råma katakåi,badana koti sata barani na jåi||
nånå barana bhålu kapi dhåri,bikatånana bisåla bhayakåri||3||
jehi pura daheu hateu suta torå,sakala kapinha maha° tehi balu thorå||
amita nåma bhata kathina karålå,amita någa bala bipula bisålå||4||


Lord Rama Accepted Vibhishana

(The envoy replied) “Oh Lord!Just as you have kindly asked me these questions similarly discard anger and listen to me (believe what I say). As soon as your younger brother went and met Lord Rama the Lord applied the sectarian mark of coronation on his forehead.


The Monkeys Beat up the Spies of Ravana

The monkeys bound us on hearing that we were the spies of Ravana and tortured us in many ways.They were about to slash our ears and noses but only when we requested them under oath to Lord Rama, did they somehow spare us.

Oh Lord! You had inquired about the army of Lord Rama, but a million mouths will fail to describe it.The troops comprise of multi-hued bears and monkeys, with terrifying faces and huge bodies which are fearsome ?


Hanuman who Burnt Lanka

The one who burnt the city and killed your son Akshay Kumar, is least powerful of the monkeys. There are innumerable warriors with many names who are tough and frightening. They have the might of countless elephants and are very huge in size."

Doha: 54
dvibida mayamda nila nala amgada gada bikatåsi|
dadhimukha kehari nisatha satha jåmavamta balaråsi||54||


Some of the Warriors in Rama's Army

Dvivida, Mainda, Nila, Nala, Angada, Gada, Vikatåsya, Dadhimukha, Kesari,Nisatha, Satha and Jåmbavån are all repositories of strength.