Friday, November 7, 2025

Vande Mataram



Celebrating 150 years of the famous song of India, composed on 7 November 1875!

An interesting article:
https://swarajyamag.com/culture/150-years-of-vande-matarams-musical-odyssey-the-melody-and-memory-of-a-nation




वन्दे मातरम् 
सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम् सस्यश्यामलां मातरम्

वन्दे मातरम् ।

शुभ्रज्योत्स्नापुलकितयामिनीं
 फुल्लकुसुमितद्रुमदलशोभिनीं
सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीं
 सुखदां वरदां मातरम्  ॥ १ ॥

वन्दे मातरम् ।

कोटि-कोटि-कण्ठ-कल-कल-निनाद-कराले
 कोटि-कोटि-भुजैर्धृत-खरकरवाले,
 अबला केन मा एत बले ।
बहुबलधारिणीं नमामि तारिणीं
 रिपुदलवारिणीं मातरम् ॥ २ ॥

वन्दे मातरम् ।

तुमि विद्या, तुमि धर्म तुमि हृदि,
तुमि मर्म त्वं हि प्राणा: शरीरे बाहुते
 तुमि मा शक्ति, हृदये तुमि मा भक्ति,
 तोमारई प्रतिमा गडि मन्दिरे-मन्दिरे मातरम् ॥ ३ ॥

वन्दे मातरम् ।

त्वं हि दुर्गा दशप्रहरणधारिणी
 कमला कमलदलविहारिणी
 वाणी विद्यादायिनी, नमामि त्वाम्न
मामि कमलां अमलां अतुलां सुजलां सुफलां मातरम् ॥ ४ ॥

वन्दे मातरम् ।

श्यामलां सरलां सुस्मितां भूषितां
 धरणीं भरणीं मातरम् ॥ ५ ॥

वन्दे मातरम् ॥



Wikipedia:

Vande Mataram (1909)
by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, translated by Aurobindo Ghose

Bengali-Sanskrit poem from the novel Anandamath (1882) written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. The first 2 stanzas of the original full version have the official status as the "National Song" of the Republic of India. 
Here is the literal translation of all the stanzas of Vande Mataram by Aurobindo Ghose as appeared in Karmayogin, 20 November, 1909.

I bow to thee, Mother,
richly-watered, richly-fruited,
cool with the winds of the south,
dark with the crops of the harvests,
The Mother!

Her nights rejoicing in the glory of the moonlight,
her lands clothed beautifully with her trees in flowering bloom,
sweet of laughter, sweet of speech,
The Mother, giver of boons, giver of bliss!

Terrible with the clamorous shouts of seventy million throats,
and the sharpness of swords raised in twice seventy million hands,
Who sayeth to thee, Mother, that thou art weak?
Holder of multitudinous strength,
I bow to her who saves,
to her who drives from her the armies of her foes,
The Mother!

Thou art knowledge, thou art conduct,
Thou art heart, thou art soul,
For thou art the life in our body.
In the arm, thou art might, O Mother,
In the heart, O Mother, thou art love and faith,
It is thy image we raise in every temple.

For thou art Durga holding her ten weapons of war,
Kamala at play in the lotuses
And speech, the goddess, giver of all lore,
To thee I bow!
I bow to thee, goddess of wealth
pure and peerless,
richly-watered, richly-fruited,
The Mother!

I bow to thee, Mother,
Dark-hued, candid,
sweetly smiling, jewelled and adorned,
the holder of wealth, the lady of plenty,
The Mother!



Translation in VERSE form by Shri Aurobindo

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

King Yadu's generosity

 


In the epic poem Yādavābhyudaya, describing the history of Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa beginning with his ancestors, the great poet Vedānta Deśika describes King Yadu and his generosity thus:



देहीति वदतां प्रायः प्रसीदन् प्रत्युवाच सः । 

ललितध्वनिभिर्लक्ष्मीलीलाकमलषट्प्दैः ॥

Let me tell you the story:

The wood-cutter was pensive, unable to feed his folk,
Too old as he was to fetch wood from the jungle deep.

"Let me go and ask our King Yadu, generosity incarnate!
If he won't see me and help, to whom else can I supplicate?" 

Dawned the day when Yadu met his people, 
To listen to their woes and wants. 

The guards felt pity for the old wood-cutter, 
Grimy, in tatters, clearly in desperate need. 

Ushered in and presented to King Yadu, radiant on his throne, 
The wood-cutter raised his hands and tearfully fell down prone.

No words were heard. King Yadu simply gestured,
A picture of compassion, eyes full of assurance.

A large platter heaped with gold was brought
And given to the wood-cutter, now stunned into disbelief.

It was a slow walk back to his hut, 
His bent back carried the bag of gold.

His wonderstruck wife asked, "What did you tell King Yadu?
What were the king's words that came with this bag of gold?"

"I spoke not, neither did our godly king.
All I heard was the sweet humming of bees,
Swarming on the lotuses held by Goddess Lakṣmī. 
Grace incarnate, she's the handmaid of our beloved Yadu!"

(कालिदासकृतं श्यामलादण्डकम्ः 
येन वा भाव्यसे सोऽपि लक्ष्मीसहस्रैः परिक्रीडते ।) 


***







Sunday, November 2, 2025

Prayer to Balaji

In the Sri Venkatesha Suprabhata, there is an interesting shloka in the Mangalashanam section :


 





Glory be to our Lord Venkatesha granting the vision of the
Ambrosia of His divine form to His own devotees
Idefatiguably looking upon Him devotedly, 
Endlessly and
Insatiably! 

आकालमश्रान्तमात्मनामनुपश्यताम् 
अतृप्त्यमृतरूपाय
वेङ्कटेशाय 
मङ्गलम् ॥

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

How God created the World!


I am fortunate to be a student of Dr. Sowmya Krishnapur in the Vyoma Labs online course on the Mahā-kāvya of Śrī. Vedanta Deśika, The Yādavābhyudaya. It tells the story of Bhagavān Ṣrī Kṛṣṇa in 24 Sargas comprising 2500+ślokas. 

The way the great poet introduces the hero of the epic poem is this:


क्रीडातूलिकया स्वस्मिन् कृपारूषितया स्वयम् ।
एको विश्वमिदं चित्रं विभुः श्रीमानजीजनत् ॥१ - ०९॥
The supreme Lord, with His limitless powers of creation, sustenance and dissolution, dipped his sporting brush in the infinite colours on His palette of compassion, and painted this creation within His own Being, by Himself with no other medium or aid, by the resplendence of His Consort of Prosperity and Grace. 

As the teacher was explaining this verse, my mind went to the first verse in Bhagavān Ramānuja's Śrī Bhāṣya :
 अखिलभुवनजन्मस्थेमभङ्गादिलीले....That Lord who sports in the creation, sustenance and dissolution of this entire universe...

I recalled also the several times that Bhagavān proclaims in the Śrīmad Bhagavadgīta how He has created this world and its relation to Him :

एतद्योनीनि भूतानि सर्वाणीत्युपधारय । अहं कृत्स्नस्य जगतः प्रभवः प्रलयस्तथा ॥ ७-६॥
मत्तः परतरं नान्यत्किञ्चिदस्ति धनञ्जय । मयि सर्वमिदं प्रोतं सूत्रे मणिगणा इव ॥ ७-७॥

Understand Me to be the creation and dissolution cause of all this creation and all beings born in various wombs. There is nothing beyond Me, as indeed, everything is within Me like many gems strung in a necklace . 

 

मम योनिर्महद् ब्रह्म तस्मिन्गर्भं दधाम्यहम् । सम्भवः सर्वभूतानां ततो भवति भारत ॥ १४-३॥ 
 The primordial Nature is but my womb wherein I place the seed and cause all creation.  

 

 गतिर्भर्ता प्रभुः साक्षी निवासः शरणं सुहृत् । प्रभवः प्रलयः स्थानं निधानं बीजमव्ययम् ॥ ९-१८॥

 For all, I am the Destiny, the Provider, The Lord, the Witness, the Abode, the Refuge, the Friend, the Creation, the Dissolution, the Habitation, and the Treasure as well as the Inexhaustible Seed. 


 I do believe that the spirit of the verses quoted from the saints aligns perfectly with the message of Bhagavān in the Śrīmad Bhagavadgīta. I am immensely lucky to be studying this under an incomparable teacher, Dr. Sowmya Krishnapur.



 








Bernard Shaw and the Nobel Prize

Sunday, October 19, 2025

Ravana in Shiva Purana


Asutosh Rana as Ravana in Hamare Ram theatrical play

Was Ravana the supreme devotee of Shiva? Read Shiva Purana (Motilal Banarasidass)


Corrections:


Thursday, October 16, 2025

सुवर्णमधुपर्पटिका - Soan Papdi


Ever since I discovered Soan Papdi in Indra Cafe, Mysore, as a teenager, I am simply fascinated by this multilayered sweet that melts in your mouth. It is indeed a paradigm for all creation - a multilayered multiverse in which Bhagavan lives and breathes in His eternal Leela or sport! 

This is what Perplexity.AI says:
Soan Papdi is a delicate, flaky Indian sweet made from besan (gram flour), maida (plain flour), ghee, and sugar syrup, flavored with cardamom and garnished with nuts. It is best enjoyed fresh during festivals like Diwali.

I have just christened this heavenly delicacy in Sanskrit:

सुवर्णमधुपर्पटिका

Don't forget to eat Soan Papdi during this Deepaavali! 

🙏🙏🙏

Four Brothers

Sri. Atmaram had four sons. He was indeed so attached to them that they entirely fulled up his consciousness.

The eldest was Chitta. Chitta had a headstart compared to others as he remembered his grand-parents and even his great-grandmother. He was full of the family's old stories and lived with a deep sense of Khaandaan history. You wouldn't guess it when you saw the brothers together, but Chitta always had an influence on the decisions made by the other three.

The second one was a vain fellow. He was born when Sri. Atmaram was already well established in life. He named his second son Aham. Aham struck everyone as full of I-Me-Myself. The brothers had to find a way to live and play together "around" Aham's sense of self-importance.

The third was Buddhi. Buddhi was a clever fellow, able to study well, and played brain games like chess. He would always find a way to tackle any problem they faced, and honestly, the brothers always looked up to him for solutions, whenever they came up against any challenge.

The fourth was irrepressible. He had been named Manas. He was full of fun and was always ready to party. He made friends easily and broke up too in a jiffy. A most outgoing sort of fellow, Manas was the life and soul of any party. But whenever he was upset, or had to be reasoned with, only Buddhi could deal with him.

These four brothers - Chitta, Aham, Buddhi and Manas, were the inner courtyard as it were of Sri. Atmaram's world.
Everyone therefore said, "If you want to convince Sri. Atmaram about anything, go to his four sons. They will convince him." 

Thursday, October 9, 2025

What is the meaning of wealth?






 We often equate wealth to riches in gold, property, stocks and bank balance. But is that the real meaning of wealth!?


Wealth is what determines how you give. Yes, I mean, How you give.


To give, you have to be wealthy. Even if you have only a penny with you!!!!

Monday, October 6, 2025

Śrī Venkateśa Suprabhātam



Here is a Perplexity.AI summary of the article "The Prayer Song Enterprise: The Curious History Of The Suprabhatam" from Outlook India:

The Venkatesa Suprabhatam is described as one of India's most popular prayer songs with an intriguing history.

Its origins trace back to a short morning wake-up verse in the Balakanda of Valmiki’s Ramayana, where sage Vishwamitra wakes Lord Rama.

In the 15th century, poet Prativadi Bhayankar Anna from Andhra Pradesh composed additional stanzas, associating the Suprabhatam with the Tirumala Sri Venkateshwara Temple in Tirupati, where it became part of morning rituals.

For centuries, the song remained a relatively private recitation until it was recorded and broadcast. The earliest known recording was by PV Ananthasayanam Iyengar, intended for teaching MS Subbulakshmi.

The song's transformation into a national phenomenon occurred with MS Subbulakshmi’s iconic 1958 recording broadcast on All India Radio, turning it into one of India's most beloved and best-selling devotional tracks. (a total of around 35 crores recorded views on the several YouTube uploads).

The popularity of the Suprabhatam, alongside other devotional recordings, highlights a powerful enterprise of spiritual music in India, with MS Subbulakshmi recognised as a leading figure in this genre.

Today, the Suprabhatam remains a daily ritual in millions of households, underlining the blend of ancient tradition, temple heritage, radio/recording innovation, and musical brilliance that brought it to the masses.

***

If one wants to learn the chanting, there is an excellent course online by Vyoma Labs.

I attach herewith two very useful links:


MSS Rendition:



|| Oṃ Namō Venkateśāya ||

Friday, October 3, 2025

नमस्ते दा वत्सले मातृभूमे

नमस्ते सदा वत्सले
(I have given the word-splits for easy understanding.)

नमः ते सदा वत्सले मातृ-भूमे                                                   
त्वया हिन्दु-भूमे सुखं वर्धितः अहम्
महा-मङ्गले पुण्य-भूमे
त्वद्+अर्थे पततु एषः कायः
नमः ते नमः ते ***
प्रभो शक्तिमन् हिन्दु-राष्ट्र-अङ्ग-भूताः
इमे सादरम् त्वाम् नमामः वयम्
त्वदीयाय कार्याय बद्धा कटी इयम्
शुभाम् आशिषम् देहि तत्पूर्तये ***
अजय्याम् च विश्वस्य देहि ईश शक्तिम्
सुशीलम् जगत् एन नम्रम् भवेत्
श्रुतम् च एव यत् कण्टक-आकीर्ण-मार्गम्
स्वयम् स्वीकृतम् नः सुगम् कारयेत् ***
समुत्कर्ष-निःश्रेयसस्य एकम् उग्रम्
परम् साधनम् नाम वीर-व्रतम्
तदन्तः स्फुरतु अक्षया ध्येयनिष्ठा
हृदन्तः प्र-जागर्तु तीव्रा अनिशम् ***
विजेत्री च नः संहता कार्यशक्तिः
विधाय अस्य धर्मस्य संरक्षणम्
परम् वैभवम् नेतुम् एतत् स्वराष्ट्रम्
समर्था भवतु आशिषा ते भृशम् ***
भारत् माता की जय् !


Oh, my ever-loving motherland! Obeisance!
You have raised me happily in your Hindu bosom. 
Oh, greatly blessed and sacred motherland! 
This body of mine shall prostrate in your cause. 
Obeisance! Obeisance! **
Oh, powerful Lord! We, belonging to
This Hindu land, offer you our respectful obeisances!
Our waists are girdled, ready in your service,
Give us your blessing to fulfil our duty! **
Oh, Lord! Give us unconquerable strength, 
The nobility that earns the world’s due respect. 
Such learning, too, empowering our progress
In our chosen path, although it's ridden with thorns. **
It's valour alone that is the singular, 
Supreme and certain means to all-round prosperity.
To that end, may an unshakeable dedication
Arise in our hearts, and stay forever awakened,
Intense and unceasing. **
Victorious shall be our collective endeavour
Resolved in protecting our Dharma well!
Confer on us your boundless grace that
We take our nation forward to her supreme glory! **
Glory to Bharat Mata! 




Friday, September 26, 2025

True art - challenging the senses

Mysticism teaches us that this wonderful creation is our Maker's play. I share here two pictures that shows man is creating art much like his Maker.

This is the grave of the legendary Russian dancer Rudolph Nureyev in Paris. There no cloth, but it is an artwork created from tiny mosiac tiles! Yes! The artiste is the Italian, Ezio Frigerio.

And now see this flower bed, depicting an elephant! 
PS: Perplexity Pro tells me this is a digital AI generated image 😢

Sunday, September 21, 2025

Sanskrit and I

Sanskrit and I

Everyone sings praises of you, oh, Sanskrit! 
And I do, too, and love you endlessly.
So where do I stand vis-a-vis you, Saraswati's tongue?

Musing thus, I go to the shore. The vast ocean.
Endless, eternal billowing waves,
Blue, all glitter and shimmer till the yonder horizon.

Some come, walk on the soft and wet sand, collecting shells.
These are those that cherish your sounds in the temple.
Savouring Sanskrit names, sampling the oceanic glow.

Some others hang around the shore,selling snacks and trinkets.
Holding degrees, making a living in Sanskrit. Or
Dipping their feet in lapping waves, Kovidas turning back at nightfall.

There are those who make a fishing expedition, rising early,
Working hard, intent on catching big fish that nurture their lives.
They are the pundits who live off Sanskrit.

Then come those who go in big boats, diving deep, and
Gathering pearls.  These scholars dedicate their lives to Sanskrit.
Some lucky to reap medals and titles.

Some go so far as to build cruise ships. Attracting 
Those willing to invest time and money on long journeys.
To these Sanskrit Vyomas go those like me, old but willing.

Finally a Magellan or a Marco Polo spans the world.
Vyasa, Valmiki, Panini, Patanjali, Kalidasa and such. 
Saraswati's children whose names inspire us always.











Friday, September 5, 2025

श्रीगणेशपञ्चरत्नम् - ६


     Halebid, 12th century CE.

महागणेशपञ्चरत्नमादरेण योऽन्वहं
प्रज्वलत्प्रभातके हृदि स्मरङ्गणेश्वरम् ।
अरोगतामदोषतां सुसाहितीं सुपुत्रतां
समाहितायुरष्टभूतिमभ्युपैति सोऽचिरात् ॥ ६॥    

   
यः whoever 
अन्वहम् everyday
प्र-ज्वलति in the bright light
प्र-भातके of the morning
हृदि in his heart 
स्मरन् remembers
महा-गणेश-पञ्च-रत्नम् This great Ganesha prayer
आदरेण with due reverence
गणेश्वरम् worshipping Lord Ganesha;
सः  he
अभि+उपैति will surely attain
अचिरात् very soon. 
अरोगताम् freedom from disease
अदोषताम् freedom from problems;
सुसाहितीम् talent in poetry, 
सुपुत्रताम् good progeny 
समाहितायुः a long life
अष्टभूतिम् and obtain the eight great treasures/powers. 




॥ ॐ गं गणपतये नमः ॥



Thursday, September 4, 2025

श्रीगणेशपञ्चरत्नम् - ५


नितान्तकान्तदन्तकान्तिमन्तकान्तकात्मजं
अचिन्त्यरूपमन्तहीनमन्तरायकृन्तनम् ।
हृदन्तरे निरन्तरं वसन्तमेव योगिनां
तमेकदन्तमेकमेव चिन्तयामि सन्ततम् ॥ ५ ॥  

चिन्तयामि सन्ततम्  I meditate constantly
तम्  on him
एकम् alone
एव  indeed
एकदन्तम् who is single-tusked

and

नितान्त-कान्त-दन्त-कान्तिम्  who is lustrous in the endless sparkle of his tusk,
अन्तक+अन्तक+आत्मजम्  who is the son of Shiva who ended the power of Yama towards his devotee,
अचिन्त्य-रूपम् who is of unimaginable form,
अन्तहीनम् who is endless,
अन्तरायकृन्तनम् who cuts down impediments;
एव indeed
निरन्तरम् constantly
वसन्तम् dwelling
हृदन्तरे - in the hearts 
योगिनाम् of great ascetics.



॥ ॐ गं गणपतये नमः ॥


Wednesday, September 3, 2025

श्रीगणेशपञ्चरत्नम् - ४


अकिञ्चनार्तिमार्जनं चिरन्तनोक्तिभाजनं
पुरारिपूर्वनन्दनं सुरारिगर्वचर्वणम् ।
प्रपञ्चनाशभीषणं धनञ्जयादिभूषणं
कपोलदानवारणं भजे पुराणवारणम् ॥ ४ ॥      
भजे पुराणवारणम्  I worship that primordial Elephant God who is
अकिञ्चन+आर्ति-मार्जनम् the one who removes the distress of the destitute
चिरन्तन+उक्ति-भाजनम् who epitomises the declarations of the Vedas
पुर+अरि-पूर्व-नन्दनम् who is the first son of Lord Shiva who destroyed the Tripura
सुर+अरि-गर्व-चर्वणम्  who destroys the arrogance of the demons
प्रपञ्च-नाश-भीषणम् who can be the Apocalypse of creation
धनञ्जय+आदि-भूषणम् who adorns the gods like Agni
कपोल-दान-वारणम् who is using his trunk to wipe off the musth dripped by his elephant cheeks.


॥ ॐ गं गणपतये नमः ॥


Tuesday, September 2, 2025

श्रीगणेशपञ्चरत्नम् - ३

1
समस्तलोकशङ्करं निरस्तदैत्यकुञ्जरं
दरेतरोदरं वरं वरेभवक्त्रमक्षरं
कृपाकरं क्षमाकरं मुदाकरं यशस्करं
मनस्करं नमस्कृतां नमस्करोमि भास्वरम् ॥ ३॥

नमस्करोमि  I bow down to Ganesha who is
समस्त-लोक-शङ्करम् conferring good on all the world
निरस्त-दैत्य-कुञ्जरम् who vanquished the Elephant-demon
दर+इतर+उदरम्  with a belly not unsubstantial
वरम् Excellent in godliness
वर+इभ-वक्त्रम् with a beautiful elephant face
अक्षरम्  Never wasting, never perishing
कृपाकरम् Conferring grace
क्षमाकरम् Ever-forgiving
मुदाकरम् Conferring gladness
यशस्करम् Granting fame
नमस्कृतां मनस्करम् Granting wisdom on those devoted to him
भास्वरम् Effulgent!



॥ ॐ गं गणपतये नमः ॥

Monday, September 1, 2025

श्रीगणेशपञ्चरत्नम् - २


नतेतरातिभीकरं नवोदितार्कभास्वरं
 नमत्सुरारिनिर्जरं नताधिकापदुद्धरम् ।
सुरेश्वरं निधीश्वरं गजेश्वरं गणेश्वरं
महेश्वरं तमाश्रये प्रात्परं निरन्तरम् ॥ २ ॥ 
तम्  Him who is
नत+इतर+अति-भीकरम्  Extremely fierce towards those who refuse egoistically to bow down
नव+उदित+अर्क-भास्वरम् Radiant like the just risen sun
नमत्-सुर+अरि-निर्जरम्  Worshipped equally by both demons and gods
नत+अधिक+आपद्-उद्धरम् Lifting his devotees out of excessive adversities
सुर+ईश्वरम् Lord of the gods
 निधि+ईश्वरम् Master of the "nine celestial treasures"
 गज+ईश्वरम् Leader of elephants
गण+ईश्वरम् Chief of the attendants of Lord Shiva
महा+ईश्वरम् Supreme Lord 
परात् परम् The Lord transcending the gods
निरन्तरम् Uninterruptedly
आश्रये I worship and seek shelter in.

॥ ॐ गं गणपतये नमः ॥

Thursday, August 28, 2025

Gaņeśa - The wonderful god!



Swami Harshananda, in his The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, has penned a wonderful article on 
Gaṇapati
(‘lord of the groups [of deities]’)






Gaṇapati or Gaṇeśa, also known as Vināyaka, is perhaps the most popular of the Hindu deities worshipped by all sections of the Hindus. No undertaking, whether sacred or secular, can get started without first honouring and worshipping him. This is understandable and highly desirable, since he is said to be the lord of obstacles (Vighneśvara or Vighnarāja). However, what is not understandable and certainly not very agreeable is his repulsive origin and grotesque form! Even for those who admire Lord Śiva’s skill in the surgical art of head-transplantation, it becomes rather difficult to admire the end-product! Once we successfully manage to delve into the mysteries of this symbolism, our repugnance will give rise to respect and respect to reverence and worship.

The Ṛgvedic deity ‘Gaṇapati-Brahma-ṇaspati’—also called Bṛhaspati and Vācaspati—manifests himself through a vast mass of light. He is golden-red in colour. The battle axe is an important weapon of his. Without his grace, no religious rite can succeed. He is always in the company of a group (gaṇa = a group) of singers and dancers. He vanquishes the enemies of the gods, protects the devoted votaries and shows them the right way of life.

Another class of Ṛgvedic deities, known as the Maruts or Marudgaṇa, described as the children of Rudra, also have similar characteristics. In addition, they can be malevolent towards those who antagonise them and can cause destruction like the wild elephants. They can put obstacles in the path of men if displeased and remove them when pleased. They are independent, not subject to anyone’s sovereignty (Arājana = Vināyaka).

A perusal of these two descriptions will perforce lead us to the obvious conclusion that Gaṇapati is the metamorphosed form of the Bṛhaspati-Marudgaṇa deities.

॥ ॐ गं गणपतये नमः ॥





Wednesday, August 27, 2025

श्रीगणेशपञ्चरत्नम् - १

मुदा करात्तमोदकं सदा विमुक्तिसाधकं
कलाधरावतंसकं विलासिलोकरक्षकम् ।
अनायकैकनायकं विनाशितेभदैत्यकं
नताशुभाशुनाशकं नमामि तं विनायकम् ॥

तं मुदा करात्तमोदकम् Him holding joyously the Modaka in his hand
सदा विमुक्तिसाधकम् always ready to help actualise my liberation 
कलाधरावतंसकम् wearing the crescent moon in his crown
विलासिलोकरक्षकम् sportingly protecting the whole world
अनायकैकनायकम् who has no superior, and who is the exclusive leader of gods
विनाशितेभदैत्यकम् who destroyed the elephant demon
नताशुभाशुनाशकम् dispeller of evil of those surrendered to him
विनायकम् नमामि I bow down to Lord Vinayaka, Ganesha! 

॥ ॐ गं गणपतये नमः ॥

Friday, August 22, 2025

Sri Krishna Karnamritam 2.108







॥ वन्देऽहं रासकेलीरतमतिसुभगं वश्यगोपालकृष्णम् ॥

Hare Krishna! 

कस्तूरीतिलकं ललाटफलके वक्षस्स्थले कौस्थुभं
नासाग्रे नवमौक्तिकं करतले वेणुं करे कङ्कणम् ।
सर्वाङ्गे हरिचन्दनं च कलयन् कण्ठे च मुक्तावलिं
गोपस्त्रीपरिवेष्टितो विजयते गोपालचूडामणिः ॥ २.१०८ ॥  

Meaning: That crest-jewel of cowherds, Śrīkṛṣṇa, sporting the Kastūrītilaka on his forehead, Kaustubha gem on his chest, the pearl ornament at the end of his nose (an ancient adornment), a bamboo flute in his hand, bracelets on his wrists, anointed with red sandal paste all over, a beautiful pearl necklace around his neck, and surrounded by Gopīs, is resplendent!
व्याकरणांशाः
कस्तूरीतिलकं ललाटफलके वक्षस्स्थले कौस्थुभं
नासाग्रे नवमौक्तिकं करतले वेणुं करे कङ्कणम् ।
सर्वाङ्गे हरिचन्दनं च कलयन् कण्ठे च मुक्तावलिं
गोपस्त्रीपरिवेष्टितो विजयते गोपालचूडामणिः ॥ २.१०९ ॥
कस्तूरी-तिलकम्, ललाट-फलके, वक्षः-स्थले, कौस्थुभम्, नास+अग्रे, नव-मौक्तिकम्, कर-तले, वेणुम्, करे, कङ्कणम्, सर्वाङ्गे, हरिचन्दनम्, च, कलयन्, कण्ठे, च, मुक्तावलिम्, गोपस्त्री-परि-वेष्टितः, विजयते, गोपाल-चूडामणिः
सन्धयः
कस्तूरी-तिलकम्, कौस्थुभम्, नव-मौक्तिकम्, वेणुम्, हरिचन्दनम्, मुक्तावलिम् = मोऽनुस्वारः
वक्षः-स्थले = ससजुषो रुः, खरवसानयोर्विसर्जनीयः, वा शरि
गोपस्त्री-परि-वेष्टितः + विजयते = ससजुषो रुः, हशि च, आद्गुणः
गोपाल-चूडामणिः = ससजुषो रुः, खरवसानयोर्विसर्जनीयः
आकाङ्क्षा-अन्वयः
गोपाल-चूडामणिः कस्तूरी-तिलकम् ललाट-फलके वक्षः-स्थले कौस्थुभम् नास+अग्रे नव-मौक्तिकम् कर-तले वेणुम् करे कङ्कणम् सर्वाङ्गे हरिचन्दनम् च कण्ठे च मुक्तावलिम् कलयन् गोपस्त्री-परि-वेष्टितः विजयते
That crest-jewel of cowherds, Śrīkṛṣṇa, sporting the Kastūrītilaka on his forehead, Kaustubha gem on his chest, the pearl ornamemnt at the end of his nose (an ancient adornment), a bamboo flute in his hand, bracelets on his wrists, anointed with red sandal paste all over, a beautiful pearl necklace around his neck, and surrounded by Gopīs is resplendent!
सुबन्तप्रक्रिया
कस्तूरी-तिलकम् = अकारान्त पुं, २.१ अम्, अमि पूर्वः
ललाट-फलके = अकारान्त पुं, ७.१, ङि, आद्गुणः
वक्षः-स्थले= अकारान्त नपुं, ७.१, ङि, आद्गुणः
कौस्थुभम् = अकारान्त पुं, २.१ अम्, अमि पूर्वः
नास+अग्रे= अकारान्त पुं, ७.१, ङि, आद्गुणः
नव-मौक्तिकम् = अकारान्त नपुं, २.१ अम्, अमि पूर्वः
कर-तले= अकारान्त नपुं, ७.१, ङि, आद्गुणः
वेणुम् = उकारान्त पुं, २.१ अम्, अमि पूर्वः
करे= अकारान्त पुं, ७.१, ङि, आद्गुणः
कङ्कणम् = अकारान्त नपुं, २.१ अम्, अतोऽम्, अमि पूर्वः
सर्वाङ्गे= अकारान्त पुं, ७.१, ङि, आद्गुणः
हरिचन्दनम् = अकारान्त नपुं, २.१ अम्, अतोऽम्, अमि पूर्वः
च = अव्ययम्
कण्ठे= अकारान्त पुं, ७.१, ङि, आद्गुणः
मुक्तावलिम्= इकारान्त स्त्री, २.१ अम्, अमि पूर्वः
गोपस्त्री-परि-वेष्टितः = अकारान्त, पुं, १.१, सुँ, ससजुषो रुः, खरवसानयोर्विसर्जनीयः
कलयन् = तकारान्त पुं, १.१, सुँ, उगिदचां सर्वनामस्थानेऽधातोः, हल्ङ्याभ्यो दीर्घात्सुतिस्यपृक्तं हल्, संयोगान्तस्य लोपः
गोपाल-चूडामणिः= इकारान्त, पुं, १.१, सुँ, ससजुषो रुः, खरवसानयोर्विसर्जनीयः
तिङन्तप्रक्रिया
विजयते = वि+ जि जये भ्वादिः, अकर्मकः, अनिट्, परस्मैपदी-> आत्मनेपदी वि उपसर्गयोगे, लट्, १.१
समासाः, तद्धिताः, कृदन्ताः
कलयन् = कल गतौ, सङ्ख्याने च, चुरादिः, शानच् कृदन्तः, प्रथमा विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, कलयत्.
कस्तूरी-तिलकम् = कस्तूर्याः तिलकः, तम्, ६तत्
ललाट-फलके = ललाटस्य फलकः, तस्मिन् ६तत्
वक्षः-स्थले= वक्षसः स्थलं, तस्मिन्, ६तत्
नास+अग्रे= नासस्य अग्रः, तस्मिन् ६तत्
नव-मौक्तिकम् = नवं, मौक्तिकम्, तम्, कर्मधारयः
कर-तले= करस्य तलम्, तस्मिन्, ६तत्
गोपस्त्रीपरिवेष्टितः = गोपानां स्त्रियः ६तत्, ताभिः परिवेष्टितः ३तत्
॥ हरिः ॐ तत् सत् ॥




PS; Attended a beautiful dance programme at BIC called Deva Nartana. The Dashavataram dance was concluded by the four dancers dancing together to this shloka! Hare Krishna!

Thursday, August 21, 2025

My Sanskrit Essay on Mysore

 Guided by my teacher, Dr. Sowmya Krishnapur, I wrote this essay 🙏



मैसूरु नगरी 

भवन्तः मैसूरुनगरीं कच्चित् गतवन्तः ? भारते एका अतिसुन्दरी नगरी सांस्कृतिकनिधिः च द्रष्टव्या चेत् मैसूरुनगरीं गत्वा तस्याः रमणीयतां राजवैभवं च पश्यन्तु । मैसूरुराज-परम्परा विचक्षणराज्यनिर्वहणनिपुणा उदारा कलोपासिका च आसीत् । 


मैसूरुनगर्यां चामुण्डीदेव्याः मन्दिरं पर्वतोपरि अस्ति । सा देवी अस्मान् सदा पालयति । मैसूरुराजभवनानि उद्यानानि मृगालयं च विश्वविख्यातानि । प्रतिवर्षे नवरात्र-उत्सव-काले दसरा नाम पर्वणः कार्यक्रमाः महत्या शोभया आचर्यन्ते । अन्तिमदिने विजयदशम्यां राजहस्तिवाहिनी देवी चामुण्डी राजवीथ्यां संसृत्य शमीवृक्ष-उद्याने जनानां पूजां स्वीकरोति । 


मैसूरुविश्वविद्यानिलयः सर्वलोकमान्यः यतः अनेकाः प्रौढविद्वांसः तत्र अपाठयन् । तत्रस्तः शोधनिलयः बहुशतमानपूर्वस्य मौर्यसाम्राज्यमन्त्रिणः कौटिल्यस्य अर्थशास्त्रग्रन्थम् आविष्कृत्य लोकार्पणं अकरोत् । भारतस्य पुरातन-इतिहासग्रन्थाः वेदशास्त्रग्रन्थाः सर्वे तत्र सम्यक् परिष्कृताः प्रकाशिताः च । 


एशियाद्यन्ते प्रप्रथमविद्युद्दीपव्यवस्था , भारतस्य आकाशवाणी नाम प्रथमरेडियो , कार्मिकाणां कृते अग्रेसरा  उद्योगनीतिव्यवस्था निवृत्तिवेतनव्यवस्था इत्यादि सर्वं मैसूरुनगर्यां एव प्रथमतः अभवन् । तथैव मैसूरुनगरी भारतस्य शिखरप्राया नगरी वर्तते सदा ।


Monday, August 18, 2025

Beauty and Joy






Oh, dear friend from heaven, welcome to our wet and cool rainy morning!
Maybe you like all this because you announced yourself with a fragrance last night.

They say Krishna brought you from heaven for Rukmini. 
He did well, because you looked good in the garland yesterday around his neck on Janmashtami.

There is a rain of all you flowers we call Parijatas overnight every season.
It is a delicate carpet of beauty and fragrance by the morning.

But one might think, "What a waste!"
Not realising it is an act of fulfilment.
Just as Krishna's grace showers us all constantly, so do you, flowers brought by him.

We who know only how to buy, sell, hoard and put a price on things can't understand
What's limitless, unconditional, and a divine expression with no bounds or expectations.

Thank you. 

***



 

सच्चिदानन्दः


In our scriptures, where do we find the word सच्चिदानन्द

It is essential to understand that the word "सच्चिदानन्द" is crucial to understanding what we refer to in English as God or the Almighty. We call it in Sanatana Dharma as Ishwara or Bhagavan. It is BOTH with form and without form, as the essence of the Totality of Consciousness suffusing all that we call creation. 

That is why the VERY FIRST WORD in the Srimad Bhagavatam is 


It is made up of three aspects - 
Sat = The Supreme Reality (nothing else is). 
Chit = The Supreme Knowledge (all other knowledge derives from it). 
Ananda = The Supreme Bliss (all happiness and joy is derived from it).

सच्चिदानन्द is the core of all existence and the individual. 

***
Following is a compilation from Perplexity.AI.

The word "सच्चिदानन्द" (Sat-Chit-Ananda) is a compound of three Sanskrit words—सत् (Sat: existence or truth), चित् (Chit: consciousness), and आनन्द (Ananda: bliss). The expression refers to the ultimate nature or experience of Brahman (the Absolute) in Vedantic philosophy.

### Scriptural References to "सच्चिदानन्द"

- **Upanishads:** The direct compound word "सच्चिदानन्द" appears in the Tejobindu Upanishad (verse 3.11, composed before the 4th century CE), where it describes the realization of Atman as eternal, enlightened, and pure bliss-consciousness-existence. Though the earliest Upanishads like Brihadaranyaka, Chandogya, and Taittiriya refer to the components—existence, consciousness, bliss—as attributes of Brahman, the precise phrase "सच्चिदानन्द" is found in later texts. The Upanishads often discuss Atman and Brahman as being of the nature of existence, knowledge, and bliss[2].

- **Bhagavad Gita:** While the Gita discusses concepts of Sat (existence/truth), Chit (consciousness), and Ananda (bliss), it does not use the exact compound "सच्चिदानन्द" in the original text. However, commentaries and later interpretations do attribute this compound to Krishna and Brahman[4].

- **Puranas and Bhakti texts:** The word appears in devotional and Purana-based literature when describing figures like Krishna. For example: "ईश्वरः परमः कृष्णः सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहः"—a famous phrase from the Brahma Samhita ascribed to Krishna, describing the Supreme Lord as the embodiment of Sat-Chit-Ananda[5].

- **Vedic Literature:** The individual terms (sat, chit, ananda) are found in several Vedic texts, but the precise compound form "सच्चिदानन्द" is a philosophical synthesis appearing more distinctly in later Vedanta, especially in Upanishads like Tejobindu and in Vedantic commentaries and treatises[2][4].

### In summary:
- As a compound, "सच्चिदानन्द" is most explicitly found in the **Tejobindu Upanishad** and is indirectly described in other principal Upanishads. The phrase is central to **Vedanta philosophy**, signifying the unified essence of Brahman as existence, consciousness, and bliss[2].
- In devotional scriptures and later traditional commentaries, it is used to describe Lord Krishna and Brahman, such as "सच्चिदानंदविग्रहः" in the Brahma Samhita[5][1].

Thus, while you will see the exact word "सच्चिदानन्द" in summary form in certain Upanishads and devotional texts, the qualities (existence, consciousness, bliss) pervade the core ancient scriptures[2][4][5].

***



Citations (Click on the coloured links).
[1] सच्चिदानंद रूपाय विश्वोत्पत्यादिहेतवे! तापत्रय विनाशाय श्री कृष्णाय वयं ... 
Also in this blog itself, on the first day of Bhagavatam reading.
[2] Saccidānanda - Wikipedia 
[3] सच्चिदानंद का अर्थ | Swami Shri Raghavacharya Ji Maharaj - YouTube 
[4] ईश्वर का सच्चिदानन्द स्वरुप पर विचार 
[5] ईश्वरः परमः कृष्णः सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहः। अनादिरादिर्गोविन्दः ... 
[6] Prashnottari Satsang in Hindi | Pakefield Shibir 2022 | Pujyashree
[7] सच्चिदानन्द के हिंदी अर्थ - meaning in hindi | हिन्दवी डिक्शनरी 
[8] २६६- ॥ धार्मिक ग्रंथो से सामान्य जानकारियां /General insights ... - भक्तिपथ 
[9] The Foundational Principles of Sachchidananda - The Incarnate Word 
[10] Bhagwat Amrit दशम स्कन्ध (भाग १८३) भगवान्की वाणीकी पहचान ...