Vinay Patrika: Chitrakoot Stuti [24]

Raag Kaanhara

Chitrakoot Dhaam

Ab chit cheti-chitrakoothi chalu |

kopit kali, lopit mangal magu, bilsat badhat moh-maya-malu ||1||

bhoomi biloku ram-pad-ankit, ban biloku raghubar-bihaarthalu |

saail-sring bhavbhang-hetu lakhu, dalan kapat-paakhand-dambh-dalu ||2||

janh janame jag-janak jagatpati, bidhi-hari-har parihari prapanch chhalu |

sakrit prabes karat jehi aasram, bigat-bishaad bhaye paarath nalu ||3||

na karu bilamb bichaaru chaarumati, barash paacchile sam agile palu |

mantra so jaai japahi, so japi bhe, ajar amar har achai halaahalu ||4||,

raamnaam-jap-jaag karat nit, majjat paya paavan peevat jalu |

karihaain raam bhaavtau mankau, sukh-saadhan, anyaas mahaaphalu ||5||

kaamdamni kaamtaa, kalpataru so jug-jug jaagat jagteetalu |

tulsi tohi biseshi boojhiye, ek prateeti-preeti ekaai balu ||6||

Lord Ram, Sita & Lakshman Spent Eleven & a Half Years of Their Exile in Chitrakoot

O heart of mine ! Becoming spiritually aware, you must set out for Chitrakoot now. Enraged Kaliyuga (the age of spiritual darkness) has made the virtuous paths of religion and dedicated devotion to God vanish; everyday moha or infatuation, maya or illusion and sins are on the increase. ||1||

Lord Ram & Sita in Chitrakoot

Chitrakoot is the land marked by Lord Ram's feet. Have darshan of the forest site, where He wandered; take a look at those mountain peaks which annihilate factions of deceit, hypocrisy and pride, and are the means of being released from this worldly cycle of birth and death. ||2||

Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesh Born as Dattatreya, Anasuya's Son

The land where, *Brahma, the creator of the world, Vishnu and Shiva discarded deceit and trickery,to took birth as Anasuya's sons.

Yudhishtir & the Pandavas in Exile

The very same ashram of Chitrakoot where the sorrows of Yudhishtir and the Pandavas wandering about from one forest to another after their losses in gambling, and the entire grief of *King Nala was dispelled.||3||

Chant the Mantra of Lord Ram

Do not delay in going there, as of now. Contemplate with your good sense that the years which have gone by, are the past now. The moments which are left in your life span at present, are like the bygone years. Considering each moment to be precious like every single year which has slipped by, knowing that death is ominously close, instantly go to Chitrakoot and chant that Shri Ram Mantra (incantation) because of which

Lord Shiva Drinking the Deadly Poison Kalakuta

Lord Shiva became changeless and immortal, even after drinking the deadly poison of kalakuta (when devas and asuras churned the ocean.)||4||

River Payaswini in Chitrakoot

When you will constantly do the supreme yagya (sacrificial act) of chanting Shri Ram's Name, and bathe in the holy river of Payaswini and continue drinking its waters, Lord Ram will grant your heart's desire. And due to this joyous devotion, He will easily confer the four fruits of dharma or righteousness, artha or wealth, kama or sensual pleasure and moksha or salvation on you.||5||

Mount Kamtanath

Mount Kamtanath in Chitrakoot is the chintamani (a supposed jewel granting its possessor all desires) and kalpavriksha ( one of the fabulous trees of Krishna's paradise that grants all desires) which fulfils our cherished wishes. And it brilliantly gleams on this earth for several ages to come.

Goswami Tulsidas Adulating Lord Ram & Lakshman

Generally speaking, Chitrakoot is a source of joy for everyone, but O Tulsidas! You must rely in particular, having implicit faith in the love and power of Chitrakoot.||6||

*(Sage Narada raved about Anusuya's devotion to her husband before the wives of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva making them jealous of her. They requested their husbands to reduce her pativratyam. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva went to Anusuya as guests when Atri, her husband was not at home and asked her to serve them food without wearing clothes. Anasuya prayed to her husband. Since the guests asked for alms by indirectly called her a mother. She decided to consider them her children and serve them as requested. Because of her greatness by the time she came to serve food the three gods became small children and her breasts began producing milk. She breastfed them and put them to sleep. Soon after Atri came back and hearing the story from Anasusuya praised the three gods sleeping in the cradle. They woke up in their original form and praising Anasuya's pativratyam, gave her a boon. Anasuya requested that these three should be born as her children—the incarnation of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma as Lord Dattareya.)

*(Virasena was a celebrated king of the Nishadhas. His son Nala was well-versed in the knowledge of virtue and wealth. The king was deceitfully defeated by Pushkara, and afflicted with calamity, he dwelt in the woods with his spouse Damayanti)

Vinay Patrika: Chitrakoot Stuti [23]

Raag Basant

Mount Chitrakoot Nestled Peacefully in the Vindhyas

Sab soch-bimochan chitrakoot | kaliharan, karan kalyaan boot ||1||

suchi avni suhaavni aalbaal | kaanan bichitra, baaree bisaal ||2||

mandaakini-maalini sadaa seench | bar baari, bisham nar-naari neech ||3||

saakhaa susring, bhooruh-supaat | nirjhar madhubar, mridu malay baat ||4||

suk, pik, madhukar, munibar bihaaru | saadhan prasoon phal chaari chaaru ||5||

bhav-ghorghaam-har sukhad chhaanh | thapyo thir prabhaav jaankee-naah ||6||

saadhak-supathik badhe bhaag paai | paavat anek abhimat aghaai ||7||

ras ek, rahit-gun-karam-kaal | siya ram lakhan paalak kripaal ||8||

tulsi jo ram pad chahiya prem | seiya giri kari nirupaadhi nem ||9||

The Luxuriant Tree of Chitrakoot

Chitrakoot releases us from all sorts of sorrows. It is the luxuriant tree which brings about our well-being and annihilates Kaliyuga (the age of spiritual darkness)||1||

Dense Forests Enclosing Chitrakoot

The sacred soil of this region is this tree's beautiful trench (dug around the base of a tree to hold water) and the deep forests surrounding Chitrakoot are its massive fence. ||2||

Devotees Bathing in River Mandakini

The maalin or gardener of Mandakini forever irrigates the place with her pristine waters. Even the daily bathing of wicked and vile people in its flow, does not have any adverse effects on the river. ||3||

Cascading Waterfalls of Chitrakoot

The lovely peaks of Chitrakoot are its very branches and the trees are its attractive leaves.The cascading waterfalls of Chitrakoot are its sweet nectar, and the breeze laden with the fragrance of sandalwood is its loving tenderness. ||4||

The Evergreen Tree of Chitrakoot

The great munis or sages who joyously wander around here are the parrots, black cuckoos and capricious black bees who delightfully flit from one tree to the other. The tree's flowers are their varied resources whereas wealth, religion, pleasure and moksha (salvation) are its four beautiful fruits. ||5||

Lord Ram Alleviates the Suffering of Birth & Death

The tree's shade alleviates the scorching sun of this worldly cycle of birth and death, and grants ecstatic bliss. Lord Ram, Jankinath (husband of Janaki or Sita), has eternally pacified its powerful impact. ||6||

Getting this tree by great good fortune, eminent travellers of sadhakas (devotees) attain several kinds of joys they have ardently longed for, and are spiritually satisfied. ||7||

Lord Ram, Sita, & Lakshman are the Guardians of Chitrakoot

This is the eternal rasa or spiritual flavour which is free from sattva, rajas and tamas, the three gunas of the illusory world, which means that those who take this course are released from the bond of maya or delusion, kaal or eventual destiny and karmas or actions (bearing fruit.) Because merciful Sita, Ram and Lakshman are its guardians. ||8||

The Lotus Feet of Lord Ram

O Tulsidas! In case you want to develop love for Lord Ram's feet, you must sincerely attend to the needs of the Mount Chitrakoot as per the customary norms.

Spiritual Calendar, March 2011

All the dates given below are as per the Banke Bihari Panchang of Vrindavan

Lord Shiva's Tandava Nritya

2/3^rd March, 2011:Maha Shivratri, the night of the worship of Shiva is celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha or waning phase of the moon in Phalgun (Hindu Calendar). Along with keeping a fast, cold water and bel patra (leaves of the wood apple tree) are offered to the lingam during the day. The festival is celebrated by traditional offerings such as bathing Shiva in milk, panchamruta (milk,curd,ghee,sugar and honey[the symbols of sustenance]),one after the other in succession; or anointing the lingam with vermilion (kumkum), white consecrated rice and askshata, (symbols of fertility or creation), when Shiva is worshipped as the god of dissolution.

The three principal reasons for Shivratri are:

Sadashiv, the Cosmic Form of Shiva

1] Sadashiv, the cosmic form of Lord Shiva, appeared as 'Lingodbhav Moorti' precisely at midnight on Maha Shivratri. That is why all Shiva devotees keep vigil during the night of Shivratri and do abhishek of the Shivalingam (the form in which Shiva is worshipped). It is the night when Shiva performed the tandava nritya or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction.

Lord Vishnu is Born as Krishna

It is believed that Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Krishna, was born in Gokul in the middle of the night on Janamashtami, 180 days after Shivratri. Amazingly the circle of one year is divided into two by the festivities of Shivratri and Janamashtami.

Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati

2] Lord Shiva was married to Goddess Parvati on Shivratri. Shiva without Parvati is an absolute 'Nirgun Brahman' (formless static God), whereas with Parvati, or purna-shakti, the most complete form of the divine feminine energy, He becomes the 'Sagun Brahman' for his dedicated devotees.

Shiva as Neelkantham

3] On Shivratri, Lord Shiva became 'Neelkantham' or the blue-throated one by swallowing the deadly poison, halahala, that came up when the devas and asuras churned the sea to obtain the nectar of immortality. Even a drop of the poison would have annihilated the entire world but Shiva held it in His neck, which turned blue with its impact.Ever since Shivratri is celebrated as a day of thanksgiving to the Lord for protecting us from destruction.

Sri Hari

2^nd March, 2011: We have the monthly Sri Hari Kirtan from to 7 pm at Hari Vrinda Dham preceded by the Ramayan Path and chanting of Om Namah Shivay.

Sri Banke Bihari, Vrindavan

4^th March, 2011: The Phalgun Amavasya or the new moon day falls on a Friday. Devotees throng to the Sri Banke Bihari Temple on every Amavasya and since this is the holy month of Phalgun, the rush will be much greater. It is the last day of Krishna Paksha or waning phase of the moon in Phalgun as per the Hindi calendar.The Amavasya is also popular as Maha Shivaratri Amavasya as the day prior to Amavasya is celebrated as the festival of Maha Shivaratri.

Shri Radha-Krishna Playing Holi in Vraja

20^th March, 2011: Holi. In fact Holi, the festival of colours is a great celebration for the devotees of Shri Radha-Krishna in Vraja. From Basant Panchami the sprinkling of gulal or red coloured powder starts in Vrindavan and continues up to Holi on 20th March; the celebration continues for a span of 41 days. Romantic dalliances of Shri Radha-Krishna, constantly prevail in the nikunjas of Vrindavan, banks of the Yamuna and at the wells of Braj Bhoomi.This ethereal land rejoices with tinkling anklets of gopis and resounds with the dark God, Krishna, fluting in its blossoming pastures.

Highly revered Susheela Bahenji, a great saint of Vrindavan, has requested all of us to reach on:

Shri Radha Rani or Kishoriji

The Lath Maar Holi in Barsana

14^th March, 2011: The Holi of Sri Radha at Barsana. As we celebrate the love of Radha and Krishna, madhurya or sweet love translates into ananda and comes the realization that everyone is ultimately a nayika searching for Krishna. Sri Radha above all of the other cowherdesses of Vrindavan and above all the other souls of the world ultimately emerges as the supreme object of Krishna's passionate love.

Lord Balram & Dark-Hued Krishna

15^th March, 2011: Lord Krishna-Balram Holi in Nandgaon, is on a Tuesday. Nandgram is the village of dark-hued Krishna's foster father, Shri Nandrai ji. Highly revered by Vaishnavas, the place invokes their devotional service. At the time of gaucharan or grazing cows, in the garb of Natwar, Lord Krishna ventures from Nandgaon to the forest where green pastures, pristine water and dense foliage abound with the passionate singing of birds.

Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji says, “ In joyous abandon, Sri Krishna-Balram along with their sakhas daily go to graze cows, the wealth of their tiny village. Their mother splendidly decks the two brothers, packing chhak for their meal.”

16^th March, 2011: Sri Banke Bihari ji Holi at Vrindavan, is on a Wednesday. In the first shloka of 'Pratah Stava' written by Nimbarkacharya ji:

smarami yug keli-rasabhishiktan

vrindavan suramneeymudar-vriksham.

sauri-pravah-vritmatmagunh-prakashan,

yugmanghri-renu-kanikanchit sarvsatvam.

Acharya Shri exults that Shri Vrindavan is the land where the divine enjoys himself without the restraints of divinity , where Shri Radha-Krishna dally romantically. Herein poetry becomes practised religion as we live out stories from the cosmic world of Krishna.

Sri Radha-Krishna In Vrindavan

He enthuses, ' I meditate upon Vrindavan which is steeped in the play between Radha and Krishna as they move into the mazes and mysteries of love. Vrindavan reigns supreme in the entire mandala or mystical circular region. Each kunja-nikunja (bower), every part of the greatly fortunate Vrinda landscape, banks of the Yamuna, pastures of Krishna's flute-play, market places, lanes and mountain passes are all adorned with Shri Radha-Krishna's winsome dalliances.

Lord Vishnu Manifests as Krishna in Pastoral Vraja

We ought to visit Vrindavan on any day till 20^th March, 2011, which is Holi.The in-dwelling Vishnu, manifests in the most beautiful setting:pastoral Vraja and the wilds of Vrindavana. Its forests, groves, bowers, Shri Yamunaji and Shri Giriraj captivate us, making us long to relish Krishna's divine play which is both real and illusionary, human and divine at the same time.

Bobo ji's Yugal Sarkar or Sri Radha-Krishna

Usha Bahenji's yugal sarkar or Sri Radha-Krishna are coloured with gulal on their pedestal, from Basant Panchami to Holi.

14^th March, 2011: Meen Sankranti as per the solar calendar. Sankranti means the entry of the sun from one zodiac to another. In Meen sankranti the sun enters the Meen Rashi (Pisces.)

Lord Vishnu

30^th March, 2011: Papamochini Ekadasi is on a Wednesday Ekadashi is the Goddes that arose from Lord Vishnu to fight and defeat the demon Mura. When she defeated the demon, Lord Vishnu was pleased and said that anyone who would keep the Ekadashi fast would be expiated from their sins and attain moksha (salvation).

Papamochani Ekadasi is observed on Chaitra Krishna Paksha Ekadashi day in North Indian Calendar.This is the last of the Ekadashi vrats of the Hindu Year.The fast of Papamochani Ekadashi expiates the sins of devotees. Literally paap means sin and mochani stand for the remover. The katha or legend of Paapmochni Ekadasi is mentioned in the Bhavishya Uttara Purana as a conversation between Lord Krishna and Yudhishtira. Charity and fasting are important aspects of the vrata.

Lord Shiva

31^st March, 2011: Lord Shiva's Pradosha Fast. Pradosh means dusk and this fast is kept for propitiating Lord Shiva. With his blessings one's desires are fulfilled and one attains spiritual enlightenment. Generally people observe the Pradosha Vrata on every trayodashi tithi (13th lunar day falling in Krishna and Shukla Pakshas) in the evening. Please offer plain water and bel patra to Lord Shiva. The bel patra or leaf of the wood-apple tree represents the three eyes of lord Shiva and the three gunas.