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 😢

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.

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 ॥

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 ॥

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 ॥

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 ॥

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 ॥