My Light and My Salvation

From the Bible, Psalm 27of David.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Do Not Throw Pearls Before Swine

"Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (Bible, Matthew 7:6).
Often, a little bit awkward I felt while saying it. It was an uneasy feeling to judge another person calling him unworthy etc. But many events have clearly demonstrated to me that the judgment is inevitable. Moreover, if unsure and hesitant, but I opened at least a small part of what is considered sacred for me to unworthy person, the punishment came immediately. And I'm so grateful for that. It turns out so the criticism is inevitable because we must know people, else we will make great mistakes. All depends on what we judge and why. It is simply recognized by the motives of the people. What the holy thing or the pearls means? They are the things which are sacred and precious for us, and which natural feeling teaches us to be careful not to waste or expose to desecration. Unfortunately, some people are not able to evaluate it according to their nature. There are such people, unhappily, and for no good can come of comradeship with them. They will not eat the sacred prasada offered to them like a pig will not eat the pearls, but in addition, they will be trampled it in the mud not realizing its true value. And then we have a responsibility themselves. Simply but true.
Love

How Honesty is Attained

The sage has no fixed [personal] ideas.
He regards the people's ideas as his own.
I treat those who are good with goodness,
And I also treat those who are not good with goodness.
Thus goodness is attained.

I am honest with those who are honest,
And I am also honest with those who are dishonest.
Thus honesty is attained.

---Tao Te Ching 49

May Truth Triumph

May generosity triumph over niggardliness,
May love triumph over contempt,
May the true-spoken word triumph over the false-spoken word,
May truth triumph over falsehood.

---from the Yasna 60.5, 

the Zoroastrianism's principal act of worship

Help the Oppressor

According to Anas, after the Messenger of God said, "Help your brother whether he is oppressor or oppressed," Anas replied to him, "O Messenger of God, a man who is oppressed I am ready to help, but how does one help an oppressor?" "By hindering him doing wrong," he said.

---From "Hadith of Bukhari"

In The Air Tonight

Singer:Phil Collins
Song: In The Air Tonight

 I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord
And I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord
Can you feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord, oh Lord
Well if you told me you were drowning, I would not lend a hand
I've seen your face before my friend, but I don't know if you know who I am
Well I was there and I saw what you did, I saw it with my own two eyes
So you can wipe off that grin, I know where you've been
It's all been a pack of lies
And I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord
Well I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord
I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord
Well I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord, oh Lord
Well I remember, I remember, don't worry, how could I ever forget
It's the first time, the last time we ever met
But I know the reason why you keep your silence up, oh no you don't fool me
Well the hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows
It's no stranger to you and me
I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord
Well been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord
I can feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord, oh Lord
Well I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord
I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord
And I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord
I can feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord
Well I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord, oh Lord
I can feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord
Well I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord

Gajananam

Song: GAJANAN
Singer:Sukhwinder Singh

 HAPPY GANESH CHATURTHI!

Sankataharana Ganesha Ashtakam

om asya shree sankaTa haraNa stotra mantrasya
shree mahaa gaNapati devataa
sankaTa haraNaartha jape viniyogaha |
om om omkaara roopam tryahamiti cha param yatswaroopam tureeyam
traiguNyaateeta neelam kalayati manah teja sindoora moortim |
yogeendraih brahmarandhraih sakala guNamayam shree harendreNa sanga
gam gam gam gam gaNesham gajamukhamabhito
 vyaapakam chintayanti || 1 ||
vam vam vam vighnaraajam bhajati
nijabhuje dakShiNe nyasta shunDam
kram kram kram krodhamutaa dalita
ripubalam kalpavRukShasya moole |
dam dam dam dantamekam dadhati
munimukham kaamadhenvaa niShevyam
dham dham dham dhaarayantam dhanadam
atighiyam siddhi buddhi dviteeyam || 2 ||
tum tum tum tungaroopam gaganapathi
gatam vyaapnuvantam digantaan
kleem kleem kleem kaaranaatham galita
madamilallola mattaalimaalam |
hreem hreem hreem kaarapingam sakalamunivara
dhyeyamunDam cha shunDam
shreem shreem shreem shrayantam nikhila
nidhikulam naumi herambabimbam || 3 ||
laum laum laum kaaramaadyam praNavamida
padam mantramuktaavaleenaam
shuddham vighneshabeejam shashikara
sadRusham yoginaam dhyaanagamyam |
Dam Dam Dam Daamaroopam dalitabhavabhayam
sooryakoTi prakaasham
yam yam yam yagyanaatham japati munivaro
baahyam abhyantaram cha || 4 ||
hum hum hum hemavarNam shruti gaNita
guNam shoorpakaNam kRupaalum
dhyeya sooryasya bimbam hyurasi cha
vilasat sarpa yagyopaveetam |
svaahaa hum phaT namo antaiShTha
ThaThaTha sahitaih pallavaih sevyamaanam
mantraaNaam saptakoTi praguNita
mahimaadhaaram eesham prapadye || 5 ||
poorva peeTham trikoNam tadupari
ruchiram ShaTkapatram pavitram
yasyordhva shuddharekhaa vasudala
kamalam vaa svatejah chatusram |
madhye hunkaara beejam tadanu bhagavatah
svaangaShaTkam ShaDasre
aShTou shakteeshcha siddheeh bahula gaNapatih
viShTarashcha aShTakam cha || 6 ||
dharmaadyaShTou prasiddhaa dashadishi
viditaa vaa dhvajaalyah kapaalam
tasya kShetraadi naatham munikulam
akhilam mantra mudraa mahesham |
evam yo bhaktiyukto japati gaNapatim
puShpa dhoopa akShataadyaih
naivedyaih modakaanaam stutiyuta
vilasad geetavaaditra naadaih || 7 ||
raajaanastasya bhRutyaa iva
yuvatikulam daasavat sarvadaaste
lakShmeeh sarvaanga yuktaa shrayati cha
sadanam kinkaraah sarvalokaaha |
putraah putryah pavitraa raNabhuvi
vijayee dyootavaade api veero
yasyesho vighnaraajo nivasati hrudaye
bhakti bhaagyasya rudraha || 8 ||
|| iti sankaTa haraNam gaNesha aShTakam sampoorNam ||

OM SRI GANESHAYA NAMAHA

Vakratunda Stotram by Shankaracharya

om om omkaara roopam himakara ruchiram yatsvaroopam tureeyam
traiguNyaateeta leelam kalayati manasaa tejasodaara vruttihi |
yogeendraa brahmarandhre sahaja guNa
 mayam shreeharendram svasamgyam
gam gam gam gam gaNesham gajamukham
anisham vyaapakam chintayaami || 1 ||
vam vam vam vighnaraajam bhajati
nijabhaje dakshiNe paaNishunDam
krom krom krom krodhamudraa
dalitaripukulam kalpa vrukshasya moole |
dam dam dam dantamekam dadhatam
abhimukham kaamadhenvaadi sevyam
dham dham dham dhaarayantam
dadhatamatishayam siddhibuddhi dadantam || 2 ||
tum tum tum tumgaroopam gaganamapugatam
vyaapnuvantam digantam
kleem kleem kleem kaamanaatham
galitamadadalam lolamattaalimaalam |
hreem hreem hreem hreemkaara roopam
sakalammunijanaih dhyeya muddikshunDam
shreem shreem shreem samshrayantam nikhila
nidhi phalam naumi heramba lambam|| 3 ||
glaum glaum glaum glaumkaaram aadyam
praNavamaya mahaamantra muktaavaleenaam
siddham vighneshabeejam shashikara
sadrusham yoginaam dhyaanagamyam |
Daam Daam Daam Daamaroopam dalita
bhava bhayam sooryakoTi prakaasham
yam yam yam yaksharaajam japati
munijano baahyaamaabhyantaram cha || 4 ||
hum hum hum hemavarNam shrutigaNitaguNam
shoorpakarNam krupaalum
dhyeyam yam sooryabimbe urasi cha
vilasat sarpa yagyopaveetam |
svaahaa humphaT sametaiShTha Tha Tha Tha
sahitaih pallavaih sevyamaani
mantraaNaam saptakoTi praguNita mahi
madhyaanam eesham prapadye || 5 ||
uraga bhujaga bandham naaga yagyopaveetam
mrudula sarala naasam kubja hastaanghri jaanum |
vichita vividha ratnam baddha kaanchee nitambam
sakala bhuvana beejam vakratunDa prapadye || 6 ||
poorva peeTham trikoNam tadupari ruchiram
 shaDdalam soopapatram
tasyordhe baddharekhaa vasudala kamalam
baahyato adhashcha tasya |
madhye humkaara beejam tadanu bhagavato
bhagavatashchaangashaTkam
shaDastre ashTou shakyatyashcha siddhih
baTugaNapateh vakratunDasya yantram|| 7 ||
dharmaadyashTou-prasiddhaa dishi vidishi
gaNaa baahyato lokapaalaan
madhye kshetraadhinaatham munijana
tilakam mantra mudraapadesham |
evam yo bhakti yukto japati gaNapatim
pushpa dhoopa akshata aadyaih
naivedyaih modakaanaam stuti naTa
vilasad geetavaaditra naadaihi || 8 ||
raajaanah tasya bhrutyaa iva yuvati
kulam daasavat sarvadaa astre
lakshmeeh sarvaanga yuktaa tyajati na
sadanam kinkaraa sarvalokaaha |
putraah poutraah prapoutraah raNabhoovi
vijayo dyootavaade praveeNo
yasyaasho vighnaraajo nivasati hrudaye
bhaktibhaajaam sa devaha || 9 ||

|| iti shree shankaraachaarya virachitam vakratunDa stotram sampoorNam || 

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!!!

Thank God Bappa!!

"Thank God Bappa!" with Riteish Deshmukh 

Prasanna Vinaayakam

prasanna vinaayakam devam perivana pura samsthitham
sarva vigna haram nithyam vandhe sri kunjaraananam

Sri Varaha 108 Names (Vakaradi)

shrI hayagrIvAya namaH
hariH OM

OM varAhAya namaH |
OM varadAya namaH |
OM vandyAya namaH |
OM vareNyAya namaH |
OM vasudevajAya namaH |
OM vaShaTkArAya namaH |
OM vasunidhaye namaH |
OM vasudhoddharaNAya namaH |
OM vasave namaH |
OM vasudevAya namaH |
OM vasumatIdaMShTrAya namaH |
OM vasumatIpriyAya namaH |
OM vanadhistomaromAndhave namaH |
OM vajraromNe namaH |
OM vadAvadAya namaH |
OM valakShA~NgAya namaH |
OM vashyavishvAya namaH |
OM vasudhAdharasannibhAya namaH |
OM vanajodaradurvAraviShAdadhvaMsanodayAya namaH |
OM  valgatsaTAjAtavAtadhUtajImUtasaMhataye namaH |
OM vajradaMShTrAgravichChinnahiraNyAkShadharAdharAya namaH |
OM vashiShTAdyarShinikarastUyamAnAya namaH |
OM vanAyanAya namaH |
OM vanajAsanarudrendraprasAdita mahAshayAya namaH |
OM varadAnavinirdhUtabrahmabrAhmaNasaMshayAya namaH |
OM vallabhAya namaH | OM vasudhAhArirakShobalaniShUdanAya namaH |
OM vajrasArakhurAghAtadalitAbdhirasAhipAya namaH |
OM valadvAlotkaTATopadhvastabrahmANDakarparAya namaH |
OM vadanAntargatAyAtabrahmANDashvAsapaddhataye namaH |
OM varchasvine namaH | OM varadaMShTrAgrasamunmIlitadiktaTAya namaH |
OM vanajAsananAsAntarhaMsavAhAvarohitAya namaH |
OM vanajAsanadR^ikpadmavikAsAdbhutabhAskarAya namaH |
OM vasudhAbhramarArUDhadaMShTrApadmAgrakesarAya namaH |
OM vasudhAdhUmamaShikA ramyadaMShTrApradIpakAya namaH |
OM vasudhAsahasrapatramR^iNAlAyita daMShTrikAya namaH |
OM vasudhendIvarAkrAntadaMShTrAchandrakalA~nchitAya
namaH |
OM vasudhAbhAjanAlambadaMShTrArajatayaShTikAya namaH |
OM vasudhAbhUdharAvedhi daMShTrAsUchIkR^itAdbhutAya namaH |
OM vasudhAsAgarAhAryalokalokapadhR^idradAya namaH |
OM vasudhAvasudhAhArirakShodhR^ichChR^i~NgayugmakAya namaH |
OM vasudhAdhassamAlambinAlastambha prakampanAya namaH |
OM vasudhAchChatrarajatadaNDachChR^i~NgamanoharAya namaH |
OM vataMsIkR^itamandArAya namaH | OM valakShIkR^itabhUtalAya namaH |
OM varadIkR^itavR^ittAntAya namaH | OM vasudhIkR^itasAgarAya namaH |
OM vashyamAyAya namaH |
OM varaguNakriyAdhArAya namaH |
OM varAbhithAya namaH |
OM varuNAlayavAstavyajantuvidrAvighurghurAya namaH |
OM varuNAlayavichChetre namaH |
OM varuNAdidurAsadAya namaH |
OM vanajAsanasantAnAvanajAta mahAkR^ipAya namaH |
OM vatsalAya namaH |
OM vahnivadanAya namaH |
OM varAhavamayAya namaH |
OM vasave namaH |
OM vanamAline namaH |
OM vandivedAya namaH |
OM vayasthAya namaH |
OM vanajodarAya namaH |
OM vedatvache namaH |
OM vedavide namaH |
OM vedine namaH |
OM vedavAdine namaH |
OM vedavedA~NgatattvaGYAya namaH |
OM vedamUrtaye namaH |
OM vedavidvedya vibhavAya namaH |
OM vedeshAya namaH |
OM vedarakShaNAya namaH |
OM vedAntasindhusa~nchAriNe namaH |
OM vedadUrAya namaH |
OM vedAntasindhumadhyasthAchaloddhartre namaH |
OM vitAnakR^ite namaH | OM vitAneshAya namaH |
OM vitAnA~NgAya namaH |
OM vitAnaphaladAya namaH |
OM vibhave namaH |
OM vitAnabhAvanAya namaH |
OM vishvabhAvanAya namaH |
OM vishvarUpadhR^ite namaH |
OM vishvadaMShTrAya namaH |
OM vishvagarbhAya namaH |
OM vishvagAya namaH |
OM vishvasammatAya namaH |
OM vedAraNyacharAya namaH |
OM vAmadevAdimR^igasaMvR^itAya namaH |
OM vishvAtikrAntamahimne namaH |
OM vanyabhUpataye namaH |
OM vaikuNThakolAya namaH |
OM vikuNThalIlAya namaH |
OM vilayasindhugAya namaH |
OM vaptaHkabalitAjANDAya namaH |
OM vegavate namaH |
OM vishvapAvanAya namaH |
OM vipashchidAshayAraNyapuNyasphUrtaye namaH |
OM vishR^i~NkhalAya namaH |
OM vishvadrohikShayakarAya namaH |
OM vishvAdhikamahAbalAya namaH |
OM vIryasindhave namaH |
OM vivadbandhave namaH |
OM viyatsindhutara~NgitAya namaH |
OM vyAdattavidveShisattvamustAya namaH |
OM vishvaguNAmbudhaye namaH |
OM vishvama~NgalakAntArakR^ita lIlAvihArAya namaH |
OM vishvama~Ngaladottu~NgakaruNApA~NgAya namaH | 108
 || iti vakArAdi shrI varAhAShTottarashatanAmAvaliH parAbhava shrAvaNashuddha trayodashyAM likhitA rAmeNa samarpitA cha shrIhayagrIva charaNAra vindayorvijayatAM tarAm ||

OM VARAHAYA NAMAHA

What Should You Fear?

The hoopoe said: 'Your heart's congealed like ice;
When will you free yourself from cowardice?
Since you have such a short time to live here,
What difference does it make? What should you fear?
The world is filth and sin, and homeless men
Must enter it and homeless leave again.
They die, as worms, in squalid pain; if we
Must perish in this quest, that, certainly,
Is better than a life of filth and grief.
If this great search is vain, if my belief
Is groundless, it is right that I should die.
So many errors throng the world - then why
Should we not risk this quest? To suffer blame
For love is better than a life of shame.
No one has reached this goal, so why appeal
To those whose blindness claims it is unreal?
I'd rather die deceived by dreams than give
My heart to home and trade and never live.
We've been and heard so much - what have we learned?
Not for one moment has the self been spurned;
Fools gather round and hinder our release.
When will their stale, insistent whining cease?
We have no freedom to achieve our goal
Until from Self and fools we free the soul.
To be admitted past the veil you must
Be dead to all the crowd considers just.
Once past the veil you understand the Way
From which the crowd's glib courtiers blindly stray.
If you have any will, leave women's stories,
And even if this search for hidden glories
Proves blasphemy at last, be sure our quest
Is not mere talk but an exacting test.
The fruit of love's great tree is poverty;
Whoever knows this knows humility.
When love has pitched his tent in someone's breast,
That man despairs of life and knows no rest.
Love's pain will murder him and blandly ask
A surgeon's fee for managing the task -
The water that he drinks brings pain, his bread
Is turned to blood immediately shed;
Though he is weak, faint, feebler than an ant,
Love forces him to be her combatant;
He cannot take one mouthful unaware
That he is floundering in a sea of care.

― by Farid al-Din Attar, from "The Conference of the Birds"

Wisdom vs. Folly

The Temptation of St. Anthony, the painting by Hieronymus Bosch

From the Book of Solomon's Proverbs of the Hebrew Bible and a book of the Christian Old Testament, Ch.9.

1 Wisdom has built her house;
    she has set up its seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
    she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls
    from the highest point of the city,
4     “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense she says,
5     “Come, eat my food
    and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways and you will live;
    walk in the way of insight.”
7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
    whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;
    rebuke the wise and they will love you.
9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through wisdom your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
    if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.
13 Folly is an unruly woman;
    she is simple and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 calling out to those who pass by,
    who go straight on their way,
16     “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense she says,
17     “Stolen water is sweet;
    food eaten in secret is delicious!”
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
    that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.