Friday, April 15, 2011

Vinay Patrika: Shri Ram Vandana [64]

Raag Basant


Shri Ram


bandaau raghupati karunaa-nidhaan | jaate chhootaai bhav-bhed-gyaan ||1||

raghubansh-kumud-sukhprad nises | sevat pad-pankaj aj mahes ||2||

nij bhakt-hriday-paathoj-bhring | laavanya bapush agnit anang ||3||

ati prabal moh-tam-maartandd | agyaan-gahan-paavak prachandd ||4||

abhimaan-sindhu-kumbhaj udaar | surranjan,bhanjan bhoomibhaar ||5||

raagaadi-sarpgan-panngaari | kandarp-naag-mrigpati, muraari ||6||

bhav-jaldhi-pot charnaarbind | jaankee-ravan aanand-kand ||7||

hanumant-prem-baapee-maraal | nishkaam kaamdhuk go dayaal ||8||

traailok-tilak, gungahan raam | kah tulsidaas vishraam-dhaam ||9||


Shri Raghunath ji

I pray to Shri Raghunath ji (Lord of the Raghus), a treasury of compassion, so that I am able to discard the worldly consciousness of discrimination ||1||


Shri Ram's Lotus Feet Are Served by Brahma & Shiva

Shri Ram is the one who makes the water-lily of Raghuvanshis blossom like the moon. Whose lotus feet are served by Brahma and Shiva ||2||


Shri Ram Dwells in the Heart of His Bhaktas

The one who resides in the lotus hearts of his bhaktas like the capricious black bee.


Kamdev, the god of Love

Whose bodily charm is equivalent to countless Kamdevs ||3||


Shri Ram is the Blazing Sun who Dispels Delusion

The one who is the sun in devastating the mighty darkness of delusion (esp as to the supposed reality of the world) and is a form of fire for reducing the dense forest of ignorance to ashes ||4||


Sage Agastya

The one who is the generous *Agastya for soaking up the ocean of arrogance. He grants joy to the gods and alleviates the burden of the earth( by crushing demons) ||5||


Shri Ram is Garuda for Devouring the Snakes of Love & Hatred

The one who is Garuda for devouring the snakes of love and hatred, and a lion for killing the elephant of lust; and the one who killed the demon *Mura ||6||


Shri Ram Dallies with Janki ji

Whose lotus feet are the ship which help us cross over the ocean of this mundane world. Such a Shri Ram who romantically dallies with Janki ji, is the one who showers delight ||7||


Shri Ram Delights in Hanuman ji's Love

The one who constantly enjoys himself like a swan in the tank of Hanuman ji's love, and is extremely merciful like the *Kamadhenu for selfless bhaktas ||8||


Goswami Tulsidas

Tulsidas precisely says that the *shiromani of three lokas and a reservoir of virtues, Shri Ramchandra ji is the only site of peace.



Agastya: One story about Agastya goes that once the Kalakeyas (a clan of Asuras) had taken refuge in the Cosmic Ocean, so that it was difficult for the Devas to vanquish them, due to which they went to Sage Agastya for help. After hearing the Devas, the sage drank the entire ocean water and held it within him, until the demons were destroyed.


Mura: Mura was the Asurasputra of sage Kashyap and Danu. When he saw the demons being vanquished by the deities, he did penance to get a boon from Lord Brahma to be able to kill anybody by the mere touch of his hand.


Becoming arrogant Mura challenged the deities, Yakshas and Kinnars to fight him but scared nobody accepted his challenge. He then entered Indra’s capital and challenged him for a duel. Indra was terrified and abandoned heaven. Now, Mura ruled of heaven and invited other demons to join him.


Once, Mura challenged a king named Raghu who was proficient in rituals for a duel. At that time, Raghu was busy performing his Yagya. He admonished Mura by saying- “What are you fighting with the mortals? If you are really that brave then you should defeat Yamaraj.” The arrogant Mura then went to Yama Loka and challenged Yama. Yama was aware of Brahma’s boon and went to take Lord Vishnu’s help. He advised him to send Mura to Vishnu Loka by all means.


Yama returned to his abode where he found Mura waiting for him and asked him to protect him from Lord Vishnu, his former master who lived in Ksheersagar.


When Mura reached Ksheersagar, Lord Vishnu asked him the reason of his arrival. Mura confidently said that he had come to fight him. Lord Vishnu had worked out an excellent plan to kill Mura and said- “If you have come to fight me then why are you trembling with fear and why is your heart beating so fast? I do not fight cowards.” Furious at Lord Vishnu’s words, Mura put his hand on his own chest to convince Lord Vishnu that his heartbeat was normal. The moment he put his hand on his chest, he fell down and finding the moment opportune, Lord Vishnu killed him with the discus.


Kamadhenu: also known as Surabhi, is a divine bovine-goddess described in Hindu mythology as the mother of all cows. She is a miraculous cow of plenty who provides her owner whatever he desires and is often portrayed as the mother of other cattle as well as the eleven Rudras.


shiromani: a jewl worn on the head, one who is supreme

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Vinay Patrika: Shri Bindhu-Madhav Stuti [62]

Raag Asavari


Shri Bindu-Madhav, an Incarnation of Lord Vishnu


ihaai param phalu, param badhaaee |

nakhsikh ruchir bindumaadhav chhabi nirkhahin nayan aghaaee ||1||

bisad kisor peen sundar bapu, shyaam suruchi adhikaaee |

neelkanj, baarid, tamaal, mani inha tanute duti paaee ||2||

mridul charan shubh chinh, padaj, nakh, ati abhoot upmaaee |

arun neel paathoj prasav janu, manijut dal-samudaaee ||3||

jaatroop mani-jatit-manohar, noopur jan-sukhdaaee |

janu har-ur hari bibidh roop dhari, rahe bar bhavan banaaee ||4||

katitat ratti chaaru kinkini-rav, anupam, barni na jaaee |

hem jalaj kal kalit madhya janu, madhukar mukhar suhaaee ||5||

ur bisaal bhrigucharan chaaru ati, soochat komaltaaee |

kankan chaaru bibidh bhooshan bidhi, rachi nij kar man laaee ||6||

gaj-manimaal beech bhraajat kahi jaati na padak nikaaee |

janu uddugan-mandal baaridpar, navgrah rachee athaaee ||7||

bhujagbhog-bhujdandd kanj dar chakra gadaa bani aaee |

sobhaaseev greev, chibhukaadhar, badan amit chhabi chhaaee ||8||

kulis, kund-kudmal, daamini-duti, dasnan dekhi lajaaee |

naasaa-nayan-kapol, lalit shruti kundal bhroo mohi bhaaee ||9||

kunchit kach sir mukut, bhaal par, tilak kahaaun samujhaaee |

alap tadhit jug rekh indu mahan, rahi taji chanchaltaaee ||10||

nirmal peet dukool anoopam, upma hiya na samaaee |

bahu manijut giri neel sikharpar kanak-basan roochiraaee ||11||

dacch bhaag anuraag-sahit indiraa adhik lalitaaee |

hemlataa janu taru tamaal dig, neel nichol aodhaaee ||12||

sat saardaa sesh shruti milikaai, sobha kahi na siraaee |

tulsidaas matimand dvandrat kahaai kaaun bidhi gaaee ||13||


Lord Bindu-Madhava in Kashi

A great fruition of this body and its glory is just this, that the eyes should be sated in absorbing the radiant beauty of Shri *Bindu-Madhav from head to toe ||1||


Vishnu's Ineffable Beauty is Likened to a Blue Lotus

The ineffable beauty of His pure, adolescent (sixteen years), sturdy and beautiful dark-hued body is absolute. It seems as if the blue lotus, dark cloud, an evergreen tree and sapphire have acquired their beauteous forms from His very body ||2||


The Lotus Feet of Lord Vishnu

There are beautifully auspicious marks (of vajra or thunderbolt and ankush or the iron hook by which elephants are controlled) on his lotus feet. And there is such an unprecedented simile describing his fingers and nails, wherein clusters of bejewelled leaves seem to be sprouting from red and blue lotuses||3||


The Bindu-Madhava Temple at Varanasi

Golden anklets studded with precious stones are enchanting and grant joy to bhaktas, it seems as if Lord Vishnu is residing in Shiva's heart, by assuming several forms and constructing lovely temples ||4||


The Tinkling Zone of Bells Around Vishnu's Waist are Like a Buzzing Black Bee

The tinkling sound of the zone of bells worn around His waist,is incomparable.The bells are indescribable(even so it can be said) that the pleasant buzzing of large black bees can be heard amidst blossoming buds of golden lotuses||5||


Maharshi Bhrigu

The footprint of *Sage Bhrigu imprinted on Your wide chest reveals the loving tenderness of your chest. Bracelets and various other ornaments are so beautiful that it looks as if Lord Brahma has willingly sculpted them with his own hands ||6||


The Pearl Necklace of Vishnu is Like Stars Dotting a Condensed Sky

A necklace of large pearls (as supposed to be found in elephants' heads)studded with rectangular inlays of gems in between, looks so strikingly beautiful that it can not be described. But we can assume that a place for seating the nava grahas or nine planets has been made amidst the constellation of stars on the (blue-hued) cloud.


Blue Clouds Decked With Stars and Planets

(the bhava says that the colour of the Lord's body is like a blue cloud, the orbit of stars is the necklace of large peals, and the colourful gems strung at regular intervals, are the site for the nava grahas)||7||


The Four-Armed Vishnu

A lotus, conch shell, discus and mace are resplendently held by His muscular arms which are very similar to a snake's body; his neck is ineffably graceful and the picture of His face along with the chin and lips, is supremely beautiful ||8||


The Radiant Lord Vishnu

The flash of lightening, budding jasmine flowers and diamonds are put to shame when we look at His teeth. I am very fond of His nose, eyes, cheeks, lovely kundals (large ear-rings) and eyebrows ||9||


Lord Vishnu Wearing the Mukut & Tilak

There are curly locks of hair on His head; and He has worn the mukut (crown) on them. The tilak looks very grand on His forehead. Explaining the scene I may say, it seems as if two truly small streaks of lightening have abandoned their capriciousness, and are residing in the orbit of the moon ||10||


Lord Vishnu Clad in Pitambar

He has draped the pure and perfect pitambar (yellow sash) on his body, whose picture can not be contained in the heart. (Nonetheless it can be imagined) that garments equivalent to gold are beautifully posited on the peak of a blue mountain endowed with several precious stones ||11||


Lord Vishnu With Goddess Lakshmi

Abounding with love,Goddess Lakshmi is resplendent in the southern portion. She looks so grandly beautiful that it seems as if a golden creeper clad in blue finery is sitting near the evergreen tree||12||


The Majestic Beauty of Lord Vishnu

Even if hundreds of Saraswati Goddesses, Sheshnaags and Vedas put together, strive to describe Lord Vishnu's majestic beauty they can not succeed in revealing its depth.


Goswami Tulsidas

Then how can this slow-witted Tulsidas who is caught in the conflict of love and hatred, possibly sing of and narrate the splendid grandeur of this scene.


Bindu Madhav: As directed by Shiva, Lord Vishnu travelled from Mandarachal to Kashi with the mission of making king Devodas leave Kashi. After his task was over Vishnu was enjoying the serene beauty of Pancha Nada Teerth when he came across a lean sage doing penance.In his divine form, Lord Vishnu stood in front of sage Agni Bindu who was ecstatic on seeing him and began singing his glories.He addressed Vishnu as Mukunda, Madhusudan,Madhav, Narayan and said that those who worship Him with tulsi leaves get lots of blessing.


Now rishi Agni Bindu stood with folded hands and Vishnu told him to ask for a boon. The sage had just one wish that Vishnu should always be present in the vicinity of Pancha Nada Teerth.Vishnu granted his wish and further added that Kashi is a holy region and devotees can attain several siddhis by staying here.He affirmed that he would stay in Kashi which was indestructible because of being posited atop the trident of Shiva and even the great deluge could not harm it. Agni Bindu was delighted and sought another boon that Vishnu should reside in the periphery of Pancha Nada Teerth by the name of the sage.Lord Vishnu agreed and stated that henceforth he would be known as Bindu Madhav.The teerth would be famed as Bindu Teerth and those who had committed sins would attain mukti by bathing at this pilgrimage site and worshipping Bindu Madhav in the month of Kartik.Lord Visheshwara himself bathes in this Pancha Nada teerth during the Kartik Month.


Maharshi Bhrigu: Many great sages gathered at the bank of river Saraswati to participate in a Maha yagya organized at that time. Maharishi Bhriguji was also present there. All the great saints and sages could not decide that who is pre-eminent out of the Trinity Lord Vishnu, Brahma and Shiv and to whom should they offer pradhanta or supremacy of that yagya. In order to test Lord Vishnu, Maharishi Bhrigu reached Vaikunth Dham. Entering without Lord Vishnu's permission, he saw the Lord was resting. Maharishi asked him to wake up, but the Lord was in deep sleep. On seeing no reaction from Lord Vishnu, Maharishi hit Lord Vishnu on his chest (that strike by Maharishi Bhrigu left a foot print on Lord's chest and that foot print is known as "Shri Vats".)


Lord Vishnu got up after the strike and realized what had happened. He asked the sage, “Maharishi, are you hurt in your foot? My chest is strong but your foot is not so". Seeing the decorum of Lord Vishnu, Bhrigu was pleased and declared him most superior amongst the Trinity.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Vinay Patrika: Shri Nar-Narayan Stuti [60]

Raag Ramkali


Shri *Nara-Narayana at Badrikashram


dev

naumi naaraayan naran karunnaayaanam, dhyaan-paaraayannam, gyaan-moolam|

akhil sansaar-upkaar-kaarann,sadayhriday, tapnirat, pranntaanukoolam ||1||

shyaam nav taamras-daamdhyuti vapush, chhhavi koti madnaark agnnit prakaasham |

tarunn ramnneeya raajeev-lochan lalit, vadan raakesh, kar-nikar-haasam ||2||

sakal saaundarya-nidhi, vipul gunndhaam, vidhi-ved-budh-shambhu-sevit, amaanam |

arunn padkanj-makrand mandaakinee madhup-munivrind kurvanti paanam ||3||

shakra-prerit ghor madan mad-bhangkrit, krodhgat, bodhrat, brahmachaaree ||4||

punya van shaailsari badrikaashram sadaaseen padmaasanam, ek roopam |

siddh-yogeendra-vrindaarkaanandprad, bhadradaayak daras ati anoopam ||5||

maan manbhang, chitbhang mad, krodh lobhaadi parvatdurg, bhuvan-bhartaa |

dvesh-matsar-raag prabal pratyooh prati, bhoori nirday, kroor karm kartaa ||6||

vikattar vakra kshurdhaar pramdaa, teevra darp kandarp khar khadagdhaaraa |

dheer-gambheer-man-peer-kaarak, tatra ke varaakaa vayam vigatsaaraa ||7||

param durghat patham khal-asangat saath, naath ! nahin haath var virti-yashtee ||8||

daastulsee deen dharm-sambalheen, shramit ati, khed, mati moh naashee |

dehi avlamb na vilamb ambhoj-kar, chakradhar-tejbal sharmraashee ||9||


Shri Nara-Naryana and Rishi Durvasa

I make obeisance to that Shri *Nara-Narayana who are the repository of compassion and the source of knowledge. The one who work for the beneficence of the entire world,are kind-hearted, absorbed in penance and are merciful to bhaktas who have taken their refuge||1||


Shri Nara-Narayana are an Incarnation of Lord Vishnu

The lustre of whose body is equivalent to a garland of freshly budding blue lotuses. Whose beauty is similar to crores of Kamdevs and radiance is like countless suns.The one whose enchanting eyes are like newly blooming lovely lotuses, whose beautiful face is like the moon and gentle smile is like the moonbeams||2||


The Mandakini Flows from Vishnu's Lotus Feet

The one who is a reservoir of all the beauty in this world, the site of several divine virtues and who is not proud even on being served by Brahma, the Vedas, learned scholars and Lord Shiva.The black bees of sages forever relish the pollen of Mandakini (sacred Ganges) which originates from His bright red lotus feet ||3||


Kamadeva, the god of Love

The one who crushes the fearsome passion of *Kamadeva sent by Indra,is devoid of anger, is an embodiment of good sense and practices brahmacharya.


Markandya Muni Glimpses Baby Krishna

The one who effortlessly performed the lila of *pralaya kaal for Markandya Muni, at the end of a kalpa||4||


Temple of Badrikashram or Badrinath

The one who in a single fixed lotus posture, is constantly resplendent in Badrikashram (Badrinath) abounding with pristine forests, mountains and rivers.The one whose supreme darshan grants delight and is conducive to the well-being of siddhas, sages of the highest order and gods||5||


Towering Mountains on Way to Badrinath

O *Vishvambar ! En route to your Badrikashram is a Mount named 'Manbhang'(seeing which people are intimidated) and here in my heart is the manbhang of arrogance;(which breaks the fervour of long standing devotion or sadhana); there we have the Chitbhan Mountain whereas here intoxication does the task of distracting the mind; just as we have tough towering mountains there we have the harsh mounts of lust and greed here. (Exactly like we have grave impediments like carnivorous animals there) we have great obstacles like love and hatred, and envy here, with each one of them being absolutely merciless in doing devious karmas or actions ||6||


Goswami Tulsidas

Here the sharp sidelong glance of an attractive woman is the fearsome sharp blade of a dagger, and the poison of lust is the sharp edge of a sword, which inflicts pain on several persevering and sincere men. In that case, what bleak chance do weak-minded people like me have? ||7||


Lord Vishnu, the Preserver of the World

O Nath ! Primarily this path of your darshan is very tough,and moreover I have fallen into the company of wicked and base people. And I even do not have the stick of renunciation in my hand, for support.This devotee is anxious to have catch a glimpse of You and is grieved because of being trapped in a noose. O Nath! Alleviating the difficulty of your daas protect him, give him shelter ||8||


Lotus Hands of Lord Vishnu

Me, poor Tulsidas, does not even have the (kaleva or light morning meal) of religion which shows the spiritual path, fatigued I am very grieved and delusion has ruined my wisdom, as well.Therefore O Chakradhaaree !(discus-holder) You are the repository of brilliance, power and joy. Without any further delay give me the support of your lotus-hands ||9||



Nara-Narayana: is a Hindu deity pair and the twin-brother incarnation of the preserver-god Vishnu on earth. They work for the preservation of dharma or righteousness. In this concept Nara is the human soul and eternal companion of the divine Narayana. Hindus believe that the pair resides at Badrinath which has their most important temple. Krishna and Arjuna are often referred to as Nara-Narayana in the Mahabharata are considered part incarnation of Naryana and Nara as per the Bhagavata Purana.


Narayana took birth as the saint Swaminarayan due to a curse by Durvasa. After Krishna passed away, Uddhava proceeded to Badarikashram the aboe of Nara-Narayana. He joined the divine saints absorbed in listening to Narayan's discourse when Durvasa arrived from Mount Kailash but no one noticed him.Soon after he cursed the assembly to be born as humans. On being pacified he said that Narayana (represented here as the Supreme Being) would be born as Dharma and Bhakti's son and relieve them from the clutches of evil. Saying so, Durvasa went back to Mount Kailash.


*Kamadeva: Kamadeva is the Hindu deity of human love and at the service of Indra.The Bhagavata Purana tells the story of the birth of Urvashi from the sages Nara-Narayana. Once, sages Nara-Narayana were meditating in the holy shrine of Badrinath situated in the Himalayas. Their penances and austerities alarmed the gods, so Indra, the King of Devas, sent Kamadeva to inspire them with passion and disturb their devotions


Sage Markandeya: Muni Mrikantu, as a boon for his rigorous penance, got a son and named him Markandeya. But Markandeya had only 12 years of life. So he did Shiva Pooja and at the end of twelve years when he was hounded by Yama he went to the Shiva Lingam and surrendered. Shiva saved the boy from the god of death and gave the boon that Markandeya would always be 12 years old.


Markandeya then became an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna who appeared before him as Nara Narayana. When Krishna asked him what he wanted, Markandeya wished to see the Maya Shakthi (his power of illusion) of the Lord. Then came the thundering heavy rains and the whole world was under pralay whereas Markandeya swam alone in this Pralaya Jalam for several years.


Then one day he saw infant Krishna on a banyan leaf sucking His toe and the Muni wanted to touch the Lord. But when he came close, the Muni went into baby Krishna's stomach and saw the whole Universe functioning there. Before he knew it, he was out of Krishna's body and instantly the scene of Balakrishna floating on the leaf disappeared. Markandeya found himself where he was before the illusion of Pralaya. And he knew that Krishna had granted his wish of sighting the Lord's Maya Shakti.


Vishambhar: all-supporting supreme being of the entire world

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Vinay Patrika: Shri Rang Stuti [57]

Raag Ramkali

Lord Ranganatha

dev-

dehi satsang nij-ang shrirang! bhavbhang-kaarann sharann-shokhaaree |

ye tu bhavdanghripallav-samaashrit sadaa, bhaktirat, vigatsanshay, muraaree ||1||

asur, sur, naag, nar, yaksh, gandharv, khag, rajnichar, siddh, ye chaapi anne |

sant-sansarg traaivargpar, parampad, praapya nihpraapyagati tvayi prasanne ||2||

vritra, bali, baann, prahlaad, may, vyaadh, gaj, gridhra, dvijbandhu nijdharmtyaagee |

saadhupad-salil-nirdhoot-kalmash sakal, shvpach-yavnaadi kaaivalya-bhaagee ||3||

shaant, nirpeksh, nirmam, niraamay, agunn, shabdbrhmaaikapar, brahmgyaanee |

daksh, samdrik, svadrik, vigat ati svparamti, paramrativirti tav chakrapaanee ||4||

vishav-upkaarahit vyagrachit sarvadaa, tyatkmadmanyu, krit punyaraasee |

yatra tishthanti, tatraaiv aj sharv hari sahit gacchanti sheeraabidhvaasee ||5||

shok-sandeh, bhay-harsh, tam-tarshgann, sadhu-sadhyukti vicchedkaaree |

yathaa raghunaath-sayak nishaachar-chamoo-nichay-nirdalan-patu-veg-bhaaree ||7||

yatra kutraapi mam janam nijkarmvash bramat jagjoni sankat anekam |

tatra tvdbhakti sajjan-samaagam, sadaa bhavtu me raam vishraammekam ||8||

prabal bhav-janit traaivyaadhi-bhaaishaj bhagti, bhakt bhaaishjyamadvaaitdarsee |

sant-bhagwant antar nirantar naheen, kimpi mati malin kah daastulsee ||9||


Lord Vishnu, the Husband of Rama or Lakshmi

O *Ramapate!


Satsang or Singing Songs of a Devotional Nature

Grant me satsang (association with the virtuous) because it is one of the chief means of attaining you. It annihilates the worldly cycle of birth and death, and gets rid of the sorrrow of those living beings who have sought its refuge. O Murari! (a title of Krishna)Those people who are forever relying on the blossoms of your feet and are constantly absorbed in bhakti or religious devotion, their doubt arising from ignorance is dispelled ||1||


Yakshas

By contact with saints, monsters, deities, snakes, humans, *yakshas, *gandharvas, birds, demons, *siddhas and other living beings (steeped in religious devotion to you), attain your eternal supreme condition (merging of the soul with the Ultimate) which is beyond worldly wealth, sanctions of religion and lust. A state which is not attainable by other resources but is acquired only by your being pleased ||2||


Lord Ram & Lakshman Tending a Wounded Jataya

*Vritrasura, Bali, Banasur, Prahlad, Mai, hunter Valmiki, Gajendra, Jatayu king of the vultures, and brahman *Ajamil fallen from brahmanical karmas, plus wretches and even yavanis (Mohammedans)absolve all their sins by touching the feet of saints and became worthy recipients of salvation.||3||


Chakrapane or Lord Vishnu, the Discus-Holder

(An how are those pious ascetics)calm because all desires have left their minds, impartial due to not wishing for any object or state, free from attachment, not wanting any prestigious rank, beyond the three *gunas, chief amongst those knowing the ShabdBrahma (the revealed World, identified with the Ultimate Being); or mainly those knowing the Vedas experts of Brahma (the Supreme Being regarded as personal and esp in his capacity as creator of the world). Adept at fulfilling the task for which we have got a human body,viewing everyone impartially, knowing the traits of their individual soul, unbiased and those who consider that everything belongs to Shri Ram. And O Chakrapane!(discus-holder, a title of Vishnu) They are detached from worldly bhogas (gratification) and uniquely attached to You who are the supreme spirit||4||


Lord Vishnu Rushes to His Devotees

Their mind or heart is forever longing for the world's beneficence, they have abandoned intoxication and fury, and earned a great wealth of meritorious acts. Wherever such saints live, Lord Shri Hari who resides in the Ksheer Ocean, taking along Brahma and Shiva goes running of his own accord||5||


Samudra Manthan or Churning of the Ocean

(And how is the satsang), the Vedas are the *Ksheer Ocean, thinking joyously about it is *Mandrachal, and the whole multitude of munis are the ones who churn it. On churning it, the nectarine essence of satsang emerged from the ocean. This doctrine has been narrated by Shri Krishna, the husband of Rukmini||6||


The Divine Company of Saints & Mahatamas

The divine connect of saints and mahatmas annihilates masses of sorrow, doubt, fear, joy, ignorance and desire in such a manner as the arrows of Shri Raghunath ji devastate factions of the demoniac army with skill and great speed ||7||


Shri Ram, the Seventh Incarnation of Lord Vishnu

O Lord Ram! Wherever I am born as per my karmas, in whichever birth I may wander about bearing several dire ordeals, I must constantly keep getting your bhakti and the company of saints there itself. O Rama! That is the sole refuge I have||8||


Goswami Tulsidas

Your bhakti is the only medication for alleviating the three kinds of painful suffering (physical, psychological and spiritual). And the bhakta who upholds the philosophy of non-dualism ( who sees only you in the animate and inanimate world)is the vaidh. In reality, there is not the slightest difference between a saint and the Supreme Being. Mentally dejected Tulsidas certainly endorses this fact||9||


Ramapate : a title of Vishnu who is husband of Rama or Laxmi

yakshas: a kind of demigod attending Kuvera and guarding his garden and treasures

gandharvas: heavenly minstrels or musicians from the heavenly realm of Indra

siddhas : those perfected and sanctified by penance

Vritasura: A 'Prajapati' named Tvashta had a pious Son named Vishwarupa. He had three heads and was a great sage.This evoked fear In Lord Indra who killed the sage. Prajapati Tvashta was furious and performed a yagya for avenging the death of his son. From the yagna was born Vritrasura and his sole was to avenge his brother's death by destroying Indra.

Ajamil: Mythology tells the story of the brahmin Ajamil who developed many bad habits. At the time of his death, he called out to his son who bore the name of the god Narayan, and thus Ajamil's soul was rescued from hell.

Three gunas: sattva or goodness, rajas or passion and tamas or darkness)

Ksheer Ocean: according to the Puranas Lord Vishnu rests in Ksheer Sagar or ocean of milk during the chaturmaas or four months of Ashadh, Shravan, Bhadarpada and Ashvin full of festivals and cool rain.

Mount Mandrachal :Indra while riding an elephant, came across sage Durvasa who offered him a special garland. Indra placed it on the elephant's trunk. Irritated by the smell, the elephant threw it to the ground. This enraged the sage as the garland was a dwelling of Sri (fortune). Durvasa Muni cursed Indra and all the devas to be bereft of energy and fortune.

In battles that followed, the devas were defeated and asuras led by king Bali gained control of the universe. Devas sought help from Lord Vishnu who advised them to form an alliance with asuras and jointly churn the ocean for the nectar of immortality. However, Lord Vishnu told Devas that he see to it that they alone obtain the nectar.

Mount Mandaranchal was used as the dasher (churning tool), and Vasuki, the king of serpents, became the churning rope. The gods held the tail of the snake, while the demons (Asuras) held its head, and they pulled on it alternately causing the mountain to rotate, which in turn churned the ocean. However, once the mountain was placed on the ocean, it began to sink. Vishnu in his second incarnation as Kurma, came to their rescue and supported the mountain on his back.)

karmas: actions with its fruits and implications of merit)

non-dualism or monism: a doctrine which maintains that the material world is a manifestation of the ultimate brahman or Supreme Being and as such, is true and not illusory or maya