Showing posts with label sacred text. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sacred text. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

By His Light

na tatra sūryo bhāti na candratārakaṃ nemā 
vidyuto bhānti kuto'yamagniḥ | 
tameva bhāntamanubhāti sarvaṃ tasya 
bhāsā sarvamidaṃ vibhāti || 15 ||

The sun does not shine there; nor do the moon and the stars, nor do these lightnings shine. How could this fire? Him shining, all shine after. All this shines by his light.

---the Katha Upanishad, Verse 2.2.15

HAPPY DIWALI!

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Ganapati Atharvashirsha Upanishad

gaNapati atharvasheersha upanishat

om bhadram karNebhih shruNuyaama devaaha | bhadram
pashyemaakshabhiryajatraaha | sthirairangai stushTuvaagm sastanoobhihi | vyashema devahitam yadaayuhu | svasti na indro vRuddhashravaaha | svasti nah pooshaa vishvavedaaha | svasti nastaarkshyo arishTanemihi | svasti no bRuhaspatirdadhaatu ||
om shaantih shaantih shaantihi ||
om lam namastey gaNapataye | tvameva pratyaksham tattvamasi | tvameva kevalam kartaa~si | tvameva kevalam dhartaa~si | tvameva kevalam hartaa~si | tvameva sarvam khalvidam brahmaasi | tvam saakshaadaatmaa~si nityam || 1 ||
rutam vachmi | satyam vachmi || 2 ||
ava tvam maam | ava vaktaaram | ava shrotaaram | ava daataaram | ava dhaataaram |
avaanoochaanamava shishyam | ava pashchaattaat | ava purastaat | avottaraattaat |
ava dakshiNaattaat | ava chordhvaattaat | avaadharaattaat | sarvato maam paahi paahi samantaat || 3 ||
tvam vaangmayastvam chinmayaha | tvamaananda mayastvam brahmamayaha | tvam sachchidaanandaa adviteeyo~si | tvam pratyaksham brahmaasi |
tvam jnaanamayo vijnaanamayo~si || 4 ||
sarvam jagadidam tvatto jaayatey | sarvam jagadidam tvattastishThati | sarvam jagadidam tvayi layameshyati | sarvam jagadidam tvayi pratyeti | tvam bhoomiraapo~nalo~nilo nabhaha | tvam chatvaari vaakpadaani || 5 ||
tvam guNatrayaateeta ha | tvam avasthaatrayaateetaha | tvam dehatrayaateetaha | tvam kaalatrayaateetaha | tvam moolaadhaarasthito~si nityam | tvam shaktitrayaatmakaha | tvaam yogino dhyaayanti nityam | tvam brahmaa tvam vishNustvam rudrastvam indrastvam agnistvam vaayustvam sooryastvam chandramaastvam
brahma bhoorbhuvah svarom || 6 ||
gaNaadim poorvam ucchaarya varNaadim stadanantaram | anusvaarah parataraha | ardhendulasitam | taareNa ruddham | etattava manusvaroopam | gakaarah poorvaroopam | akaaro madhyamaroopam | anusvaarashchaantyaroopam | binduruttararoopam | naadah sandhaanam |sagmhitaa sandhihi |saishaa gaNeshavidyaa |gaNaka rushihi |nichRudgaayatreecChandaha | gaNapatirdevataa |
om gam gaNapataye namaha || 7 ||
ekadantaaya vidmahey vakratunDaaya dheemahi |
tanno dantih prachodayaat || 8 ||
ekadantam chaturhastam paasham ankushadhaariNam |
radam cha varadam hastair bibhraaNam mooshaka dhvajam |
raktam lambodaram shoorpa karNakam rakta vaasasam |
rakta gandhaanu liptaangam rakta pushpaih supoojitam |
bhakta anukampinam devam jagat kaaraNam achyutam |
aavirbhootam cha srushTyaadau prakruteh purushaatparam |
evam dhyaayati yo nityam sa yogee yoginaam varaha || 9 ||
namo vraatapataye | namo gaNapataye |
namah pramathapataye |
namaste~stu lambodaraaya ekadantaaya vighnanaashiney shivasutaaya varadamoortaye namaha ||10 ||
phalashruti etad atharvasheersham yo~dheetey sa brahmabhooyaaya kalpatey | sa sarvavighnairna baadhyatey | sa sarvatah sukhamedhatey | sa panchamahaapaapaat pramuchyatey | saayamadheeyaano divasakrutam paapam naashayati |
praataradheeyaano raatrikrutam paapam naashayati | saayam praatah prayunjaano paapo~paapo bhavati | sarvatraadheeyaano~pavighno bhavati | dharma artha kaama moksham cha vindati | idam atharvasheersham ashishyaaya na deyam | yo yadi mohaad daasyati sa paapeeyaan bhavati | sahastraavartanaadyam yam kaamamadheetey tam tamanena saadhayet || 11 ||
anena gaNapatim abhishinchati sa vaagmee bhavati | chaturthyaamanashnan japati sa vidyaavaan bhavati | ityatharvaNa vaakyam | brahmaadyaavaraNam vidyaanna bibheti kadaachaneti || 12 ||
yo doorvaankurair yajati sa vaishravaNopamo bhavati | yo laajair yajati sa yashovaan bhavati | sa medhaavaan bhavati | yo modaka sahasreNa yajati sa vaanChita phalam avaapnoti | yah saajya samidbhir yajati sa sarvam labhatey sa sarvam labhatey || 13 ||
ashTau braahmaNaan samyag graahayitvaa soorya varchasvee bhavati | sooryagrahey mahaanadyaam pratimaa sannidhau vaa japtvaa siddha mantro bhavati |mahaa vighnaat pramuchyatey |mahaa doshaat pramuchyatey |mahaa pratyavaayaat pramuchyatey |sa sarva vidbhavati sa sarvav idbhavati |ya evam veda | ityupanishat ||14 ||

om shaantih shaantih shaantihi || 

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Divine Wheel

The Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Adhyaya One
The Divine Wheel

6. We understood Him as a wheel which has one felly with a triple tyre with sixteen end-parts, fifty spokes, twenty counter-spokes, with six sets of eights, which has one rope of various forms, which has three different roads or paths and which has one revolution for two causes.

7. God is meditated upon as the wheel of this universe, and circumference of this wheel is Maya.

8. The three tyres are the three qualities of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas or time, space and causation.

9. The sixteen end-parts are sixteen modifications or Vikritis, viz. the five organs of knowledge, the five organs of action and mind and the five gross elements.

10. The fifty spokes are (a) the five classes of ignorance viz., Tamas, Moha, Maha-Moha, Timira (darkness) and Andha-Timira (utter darkness); (b) The 28 disabilities; (c) the nine Tushtis or satisfactions; (d) the eight Siddhis or perfections viz., Tara, Sutara, Tarayanti, Pramoda, Pramodita, Pramodamana, Ramyaka and Satpramodita.

11. The twenty counter-spokes are the ten senses and their ten objects.

12. Six sets of eight: (1) the eight producers of the Sankhya eightfold Prakriti viz. the five elements, mind, intellect and egoism. (2) the eight constituent parts of the body or Dhatus viz. external skin, internal skin, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow and semen. (3) Ashtasiddhis or eight superhuman powers viz., Anima, Mahima etc. (4) Eight mental states (Bhava) viz., virtue, unrighteousness, knowledge, ignorance, dispassion, attachment, super- human power and want of superhuman power. (5) The eight deities viz., Brahma, Prajapati, Devas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rakshasas, Pitris and Pisachas. (6) The eight virtues of the soul, viz. compassion, forbearance, absence of jealousy, purity, freedom from fatigue, auspiciousness, freedom from poverty, and desirelessness. (7) Three different roads are virtue, vice and knowledge. (8) The rope is desire.

13. We understand Him as a river of five sources, impetuous and crooked, whose waves are the five Pranas or vital breaths, whose original source is the fivefold perception, which has five whirlpools, which is impelled by the velocity of the fivefold misery or pain, which is divided by the five kinds of misery, and which has five turnings or branches.

The five senses represent the five streams.

The five Pranas represent the waves.

The five objects of the senses viz., sound, touch etc. are called whirlpools, because the individual souls get drowned in them.

The five kinds of pain are the pain arising from existence in the womb, from birth, old age, disease and death.

14. In the infinite wheel of Brahman in which everything lives and rests, the pilgrim-soul, or the reincarnating self is whirled about when it thinks that it and the supreme Ruler are different or separate. It attains immortality when it is blessed or favoured by Him.

15. This is verily declared as the supreme Brahman. In that is the triad. It is the firm support. It is the indestructible. By knowing what is therein, the knowers of Brahman become devoted to Brahman, merge themselves in it and are liberated from birth.

16. The triad are the world, the individual soul and the supreme Soul. The triad are the enjoyer, the objects of enjoyment and the supreme Soul. It may mean also the waking state, dream and deep sleep.

Sunday, April 30, 2017

The Ear of The Ear

The Kena Upanishad, Part 1, Verse 3 with Shankara’s Commentary.

na tatra cakṣurgacchati na vāggacchati no mano na vidmo na vijānīmo yathaitadanuśiṣyādanyadeva tadviditādatho aviditādadhi | 
iti śuśruma pūrveṣāṃ ye nastadvyācacakṣire || 3 ||
The eye does not go there, nor speech, nor mind. We do not know That. We do not know how to instruct one about It. It is distinct from the known and above the unknown. We have heard it so stated by preceptors who taught us that. 
Shankara’s Commentary:
For the reason that the Brahman is the ear of the ear, i.e., the Atman of all. the eye cannot go to the Brahman; for it is not possible to go to one’s own self. Similarly speech does not go there. When a word spoken by the mouth enlightens the object denoted by it, then the word is said to go to that object. But the Atman of that word and of the organ that utters it is the Brahman. So the word does not go there. Just as fire that burns and enlightens things does not either enlighten or burn itself, so the mind, which wills and determines in respect of external objects, cannot will or determine in respect of its self, because its Atman is also the Brahman. A thing is cognised by the senses and the mind. We do not, therefore, know the Brahman, because it cannot be an object of perception to these; and we do not, therefore, know what the Brahman is like, so as to allow us to enlighten the disciple about the Brahman. Whatever can be perceived by the senses, it is possible to explain to others by epithets denoting its class, its attributes and modes of activity; but the Brahman has no attributes of class, etc. It, therefore, follows that it is not possible to make the disciple believe in the Brahman by instruction. The portion of the text beginning with ‘Navidmah’ (we do not know) shows the necessity of putting forth great exertion in the matter of giving instruction and understanding it, in respect of the Brahman. Considering that the previous portion of the text leads to the conclusion that it is impossible by any means to instruct one about the Atman, the following exceptional mode is pointed out. Indeed it is true that one cannot be persuaded to believe in the Brahman by the evidence of the senses and other inodes of proof; but it is possible to make him believe by the aid of Agamas (Scriptures). Therefore the preceptor recites Agamas for the purpose of teaching about the Brahman and says: ‘It is something distinct from the known and something beyond the unknown, etc.’ ‘Anyat,’ ‘something distinct’; ‘Tat,’ ‘the present theme i.e., that which has been defined to be the ear of the ear, etc., and beyond their (ear. eye, etc.,) reach. That is certainly distinct from the known. ‘The known,’ means ‘whatever is the object of special knowledge;’ and as all such objects can be known somewhere, to some extent and by some one and so forth, the whole (manifested universe) is meant by the term ‘the known;’ the drift is, that the Brahman is distinct from this. But lest the Brahnan should be confounded with the unknown, the text says: ‘It is beyond the Unknown.’ ‘Aviditat’ means ‘something opposed to the known;’ hence, unmanitested illusion (avidya) the seed of all manifestation. ‘Adhi’ literally means ‘above’ but is here used in the derivative sense of ‘something different from for, it is well known that one thing placed above another is something distinct from that other.



Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Guhyakali Mahavajra Kavacham

From Mahakala Samhita

om asya shree vishvamangala naamno guhyakaalee mahaavajra kavachasya
samvarta rushihi anushTup Chandaha ekavaktraadi shatavaktraantaa
guhyakaalee devataa
phrem beejam khphrem shaktih Chreem keelakam sarvaabheeshTa siddhipoorvaka
aatmarakshaNe jape viniyogaha |
om phrem paatu shirah siddhikaraalee kaalikaa mama |
hreem Chreem lalaaTam me siddhivikaraali sadaavatu || 1 ||
shreem kleem mukham chaNDayogeshvaree rakshatu sarvadaa |
hoom streem kNoum vajrakaapaalinee me kaalikaa avatu || 2 ||
aim kraum hanoo kaalasamkarshaNaa me paatu kaalikaa |
kreem kraum bhruvaavugrachaNDaa kaalikaa me sadaavatu ||
haam kshaum netre siddhilakshmeeravatu pratyaham mama |
hoom hraum naasaam chaNDakaapaalinee me sarvadaavatu ||
aam eem oshThaadharou paatu sadaa samayakubjikaa |
gloom glaum dantaan raajaraajeshvaree me
rakshataat sadaa ||
joom sah sadaa me rasanaam paatu shree jayabhairavee |
sphrem sphrem paatu svarNakooTeshvaree me
chibukam sadaa ||
bloom blaum kaNTham rakshatu me sarvadaa tumbureshvaree |
kshroo kshraum me raajamaatangee skandhou
rakshatu sarvadaa ||
phrom phraum bhujou vajrachaNDeshvaree rakshatu me sadaa |
sraim sraum vakshahsthalam paatu jayajhankeshvaree mama ||
phim phaam karou rakshatu me shivadootee cha sarvadaa |
Chraim Chraum me jaTharam paatu
phetkaaree ghoraraaviNee ||
straim straum guhyeshvaree naabhim mama rakshatu sarvadaa |
kshum kshaum paarshvaum sadaa paatu baabhravee ghoraroopiNee ||
groom graum kuleshvaree paatu mama
prushTham cha sarvadaa |
kloom klaum kaTim rakshatu me bheemaadevee bhayaanakaa ||
haim haum me rakshataadooru sarvadaa chaNDakhecharee |
sphrom sphraum me jaanunee paatu korangee bheeshaNaananaa || 12 ||
treem threem janghaayugam paatu taamasee sarvadaa mama |
jraim jraum paadou mahaavidyaa sarvadaa mama rakshatu||
Dreem Threem vaageeshvaree sarvaan
sandheen dehasya me avatu |
khraim khraum shareeradhaatoonme
kaamaakhyaa sarvadaavatu||
breem broom kaatyaayanee paatu dashavaayoomstanoodbhavaan |
jloom jlaum paatu mahaalakshmeeh
khaanyekaadasha sarvadaa ||
aim aum anoktam yatsthaanam shareere antarbahishcha me |
tatsarvam sarvadaa paatu harasiddhaa harapriyaa || 16 ||
phrem Chreem hreem streem hoom
shareerasakalam sarvadaa mama |
guhyakaalee divaaraatrou sandhyaasu parirakshatu || 17 ||
iti te kavacham proktam naamnaa cha vishvamangalam |
sarvebhyah kavachebhyastu shreshTham saarataram param ||
idam paThitvaa svam deham bhasma naiva avaguNThya cha |
tattat sthaaneshu vinyasya vaddhvaadah kavacham druDham ||
dashavaaraan manuh japtvaa yatra kutraapi gacChatu |
samare nipatacChastre araNye svaapada sankule || 20 ||
shmashaane pretabhootaaDhyakaantaare dasyusankule |
raajadvaare sapishune sindhou vaatormichanchale || 21 ||
girou daavaagni samdeepte gavhare sarpaveshTite |
tasya bheetarna kutraapi charatah pruthiveem imaam || 22 ||
na cha vyaadibhayam tasya naiva taskarajam bhayam |
bheetishcha grahajaa naasya vishajam cha bhayam nahi || 23 ||
na agni utpaato naiva bhootapretajah samkaTah tathaa |
vidyut varshopala bhayam na kadaapi prabhaadhate || 24 ||
na durbhikshabhayam chaasya na cha maaribhayam tathaa |
krutya abhichaarajaa doshaah sprushantyenam kadaapi na ||
sahasram japatashvaasya puraNashcharam uchyate |
tatkrutvaa tu prayanjeeta sarvasminnapi karmaNi || 26 ||
vashyakaarya mohane cha maaraNocchaaTane tathaa |
stambhane cha tathaa dveshe tathaa krutyaabhichaarayoh ||
durgabhamge tathaa yuddhe parachakra nivaaraNe |
etat prayogaat sarvaaNi kaaryaaNi parisaadhayet || 28 ||
bhootaavesham naashayati vivaade jayati dvishah |
samkaTam tarati kshipram kalahe jayam aapnuyaat || 29 ||
yadi icChet mahateem lakshmeem tanayaanaayureva cha |
vidyaam kaantim tathounnatyam yasha aarogyameva cha ||
bhogaan soukhyam vighna haanim aalasyam mahodayam |
adheehi kavacham nityamamunaamuncha cha priye || 31 ||
kavachenaam amunaa sarvam samsaadhayati saadhakah |
yadyad dhaayati chittena siddham tattapurah sthitam || 32 ||
durdhaTam ghaTayatyetat kavacham vishvamangalam |
vishvasya mangalam yasmaadato vai vishvamangalam || 33 ||
saannidhyakaarakam guhyakaalyaa etat prakeertitam |
likhitam ched gruhe tishThet tathaapi phalamashnute || 34 ||
yadeecChasi sureshaani sarvatra jayamangalam |
paTha bandhoon paaThayasva kavacham vishvamangalam ||
sampraapyasi paraam siddhim guhyaayaam bhaktimeva cha |
trisandhyam paThanaat devi sarvapaapaih pramuchyate || 36 ||
yasmai kasmai chidapyetanna dadyaadvai jijeevishuh |
dattvaa maraNam aapnoti sasuta gyaati baandhavah || 37 ||
shishyaaya bhaktiyuktaaya saadhakaaya hitaay cha |
vidhipoorvam pradaatavyam naabhaktaaya kadaachana || 38 ||
shaDaamnaaya sthitaa devyah sarvaa atra pratishThitaah |
atah sarvaatmaa gopyam satyam satyam sureshvari || 39 ||
yasmin kasminnapi manaavupadesho yadi priye |
tadaivaatraadhikaarah syaat kavache vishvamangale || 40 ||
guhyakaalyaam sadaa bhaktih shoDashaakshariko japah |
idam cha kavacham devi trayyeshaa kathitaa mayaa || 41 ||
abhyasyantah trayeemetaam chaturvarNaa dvijaatayah |
bhuktvaa bhogaanagham hatvaa dehaante
moksham aapnuyaat || 42 ||

|| iti mahaakaala samhitaayaam vishvamangala kavacham sampoorNam ||



Thursday, March 16, 2017

Renouncing the Fruits

From the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2

47.karmany evadhikaras te
ma phalesu kadacana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur
ma te sango 'stv akarmani
You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.
48.yoga-sthah kuru karmani
sangam tyaktva dhananjaya
siddhy-asiddhyoh samo bhutva
samatvam yoga ucyate
Be steadfast in yoga, O Arjuna. Perform your duty and abandon all attachment to success or failure. Such evenness of mind is called yoga.
49.durena hy avaram karma
buddhi-yogad dhananjaya
buddhau saranam anviccha
krpanah phala-hetavah
O Dhananjaya, rid yourself of all fruitive activities by devotional service, and surrender fully to that consciousness. Those who want to enjoy the fruits of their work are misers.
50.buddhi-yukto jahatiha
ubhe sukrta-duskrte
tasmad yogaya yujyasva
yogah karmasu kausalam
A man engaged in devotional service rids himself of both good and bad actions even in this life. Therefore strive for yoga, O Arjuna, which is the art of all work.
51.karma-jam buddhi-yukta hi
phalam tyaktva manisinah
janma-bandha-vinirmuktah
padam gacchanty anamayam
The wise, engaged in devotional service, take refuge in the Lord, and free themselves from the cycle of birth and death by renouncing the fruits of action in the material world. In this way they can attain that state beyond all miseries.



Thursday, March 2, 2017

Light to my Path

Psalm 119 from the Bible.

Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
    who walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
    who seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also do no wrong,
    but walk in his ways!
4 You have commanded your precepts
    to be kept diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast
    in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame,
    having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart,
    when I learn your righteous rules.
8 I will keep your statutes;
    do not utterly forsake me!
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
    By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
    let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
    teach me your statutes!
13 With my lips I declare
    all the rules of your mouth.
14 In the way of your testimonies I delight
    as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts
    and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
    I will not forget your word.
17 Deal bountifully with your servant,
    that I may live and keep your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
    wondrous things out of your law.
19 I am a sojourner on the earth;
    hide not your commandments from me!
20 My soul is consumed with longing
    for your rules at all times.
21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
    who wander from your commandments.
22 Take away from me scorn and contempt,
    for I have kept your testimonies.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me,
    your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24 Your testimonies are my delight;
    they are my counselors.
25 My soul clings to the dust;
    give me life according to your word!
26 When I told of my ways, you answered me;
    teach me your statutes!
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts,
    and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away for sorrow;
    strengthen me according to your word!
29 Put false ways far from me
    and graciously teach me your law!
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
    I set your rules before me.
31 I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
    let me not be put to shame!
32 I will run in the way of your commandments
    when you enlarge my heart!
33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;
    and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
    and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,
    for I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies,
    and not to selfish gain!
37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
    and give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise,
    that you may be feared.
39 Turn away the reproach that I dread,
    for your rules are good.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts;
    in your righteousness give me life!
41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
    your salvation according to your promise;
42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
    for I trust in your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
    for my hope is in your rules.
44 I will keep your law continually,
    forever and ever,
45 and I shall walk in a wide place,
    for I have sought your precepts.
46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
    and shall not be put to shame,
47 for I find my delight in your commandments,
    which I love.
48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
    and I will meditate on your statutes.
49 Remember your word to your servant,
    in which you have made me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction,
    that your promise gives me life.
51 The insolent utterly deride me,
    but I do not turn away from your law.
52 When I think of your rules from of old,
    I take comfort, O Lord.
53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
    who forsake your law.
54 Your statutes have been my songs
    in the house of my sojourning.
55 I remember your name in the night, O Lord,
    and keep your law.
56 This blessing has fallen to me,
    that I have kept your precepts.
57 The Lord is my portion;
    I promise to keep your words.
58 I entreat your favor with all my heart;
    be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 When I think on my ways,
    I turn my feet to your testimonies;
60 I hasten and do not delay
    to keep your commandments.
61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
    I do not forget your law.
62 At midnight I rise to praise you,
    because of your righteous rules.
63 I am a companion of all who fear you,
    of those who keep your precepts.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;
    teach me your statutes!
65 You have dealt well with your servant,
    O Lord, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
    for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
    but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good;
    teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies,
    but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat,
    but I delight in your law.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
    that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me
    than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
    give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
    because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,
    and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
    according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
    for your law is my delight.
78 Let the insolent be put to shame,
    because they have wronged me with falsehood;
    as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me,
    that they may know your testimonies.
80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
    that I may not be put to shame!
81 My soul longs for your salvation;
    I hope in your word.
82 My eyes long for your promise;
    I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
    yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84 How long must your servant endure?
    When will you judge those who persecute me?
85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me;
    they do not live according to your law.
86 All your commandments are sure;
    they persecute me with falsehood; help me!
87 They have almost made an end of me on earth,
    but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88 In your steadfast love give me life,
    that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.
89 Forever, O Lord, your word
    is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
    you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
91 By your appointment they stand this day,
    for all things are your servants.
92 If your law had not been my delight,
    I would have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget your precepts,
    for by them you have given me life.
94 I am yours; save me,
    for I have sought your precepts.
95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
    but I consider your testimonies.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,
    but your commandment is exceedingly broad.
97 Oh how I love your law!
    It is my meditation all the day.
98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
    for it is ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,
    for your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the aged,
    for I keep your precepts.
101 I hold back my feet from every evil way,
    in order to keep your word.
102 I do not turn aside from your rules,
    for you have taught me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through your precepts I get understanding;
    therefore I hate every false way.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.
106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
    to keep your righteous rules.
107 I am severely afflicted;
    give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
    and teach me your rules.
109 I hold my life in my hand continually,
    but I do not forget your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,
    but I do not stray from your precepts.
111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
    for they are the joy of my heart.
112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes
    forever, to the end.



Thursday, February 23, 2017

Shivena vachasa

Shivena vachasa tva giri schacchavadamasi,
Yatha nah sarvam ijjaga dayakshmam sumana asatthu ||
Lord of Mount Kailash of the Vedas! We pray to attract your attention by our auspicious words. We ask that for all our days, this entire world will be free from ills and discord, and that we may live in unending friendship and peace.
- Yajur Veda, Sri Rudram.


OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Hari Hara Bheda


From the Mahabharata

yudhiShThira    uvAcha  

devadevo jagannAtha praNatArtipraNAshanaH |
shivamUrtiH prasannAtmA loke pratyakShatAM gataH  ||  43-1
kathaM shaMbhuriti khyAtaH  pUjyate vidhivaddvijaiH  |
kathaM dadAti bhaktAnAM  prasannAtmA varaM paraM  ||  43-2
tasya devasya pUjAyAH phalaM kiM kena pUjitaH  |
kaH prApnoti  shubhA.NllokAnetAnsarvAnvadasva me  ||  43-3
devavrata mahAbhAga  kR^ipA mayi tavAsti chet  |
tasmAttvAM  prArthayAmyadya pAtuM dharmAmR^itaM prabho  ||  43-4

bhIShma uvAcha

aho vakShyAmi te pArtha bhUtanAthasya vaibhavam  |
yasya shravaNamAtrNa sarvapApaiH pramuchyate  ||  43-5
AdyantashUnyo deveshaH  sR^IShTisthityantakArakaH  |
brahmA rudrastathA viShNuH  kubero devarAT prabhuH  ||  43-6
indro.agniryamadharmesho nirR^itIrvaruNaH prabhuH  |
vAyuH suryaH  sahasrAkShaH sarvesho bhUrbhuvaHsuvaH  ||  43-7
kAlarUpasya dharmasya  lokanAthasya dharmaja  |
nAhaM vakttumashakto.asmi  tattvabhAvamasheShataH  ||  43-8

yudhiShThira    uvAcha  

teShAmIshvarabhaktAnAM viShNulokaH kathaM bhavet  |
etanme saMshayaM tAta ChettumarhatyasheShataH  ||  43-9

bhIShma uvAcha  

brahmAviShNumaheshAnAM bhedaH kutrApi na prabho  |
kartAro hyadya lokAnAM  sR^iShTisthitilayeShu cha  ||  43-10
tvayA dR^iShTaH purA kR^iShNo lokanAtho jaganmayaH  |
kailAsayAtrAmakarotputrArthaM bharatarShabha  ||  43-11
tatrArAdhya chiraM kAlaM  bhUtanAthamumApatim  |
IpsitaM prAptavAnputraM  tasmAdbhedo na vidyate  ||  43-12    
shaMkaro viShNumavyaktaM chiramArAdya bhaktimAn  |
ShaNmukhaM labhate putraM devatArthamariMdamam  ||  43-13
brahmA cha janayAmAsa viShNumArAdhya bhaktitaH  |
lokAnprajApatinsarvAMstasmAdbhedo na vidyate  ||  43-14
atraivodAharantImamitihAsaM purAtanam  |
shR^iNvatAM sarvapApaghnamAyurArogyavardhanam  ||  43-15
purA kR^itayuge rAjansushAnto nAma vai dvijaH  |
shAnto jitendriyo maunI sadA dhyAnaparAyaNaH  ||  43-16
vedeShu  dharmashAstreShu vedAnteShu vichakShaNaH  |
gArhastye saphalAnkAmAnanubhUya dvijottamaH  |
mokShakAmo hi rAjendra visheSheNa shivavrataH  ||  43-17
kiShkindhAM samupAgamya brahmadattena pAlitAm  |
pampAsarovare snAnaM  kRitvA tu shivamarchanam  |
tapastaptumanA rAjaMstatrAste shaMkaraM stuvan  ||  43-18
pampAnAthaM virUpAkShaM  nIlalohitamavyayam  |
mR^ityuMjayaM kR^ittivAsaM  pinAkinamariMdamam  ||  43-19
sahasrAkShaM sadAnandaM  nIlameghanibhaM  haram  |
shUlapANiM mahAdevaM  sR^iShTisthityantakariNam  ||  43-20
dhyAyanstuvannamasyaMshcha tatrAste  brAhmaNottamaH  |
traiyaMbakaM  mahAmantraM  rudrasUkTAdibhiH shivam  ||  43-21
snApayitvA tu tam pUjya trikAlaM snAnatatparaH  |
shAkamUlaphalAhAraH shAntaH paramabudhimAn  ||  43-22
atra tiShThati rAjendra tasminnAste dvijottamaH  |
shUdro vai dharmakushalo nAmataH saMgato budhaiH  |
shivabhakto jitakrodhaH shushrUShucha  dvijanmanAm  ||  43-23
virUpAkShasya devasya vandanArtham yayau cha saH  |
sushAntasya tadaA kurva~nshushrUShAM rAjasattama  |
tatrAste sarasastIre jitAhAraH shataM samAH  ||  43-24
tasminkAle virUpAkSho  bhUtanAtho jaganmayaH |
AvirbhabhUva rAjendra tato vAchamuvAcha ha  ||
sushAnta shR^iNu madvAkyaM  tapasA toShito.asmyahaM  |
varaM varaya bhadraM te  viddhi bhUtapatiM cha mAm  ||  43-25
eatadvachastadA shrutvA brAhmaNo vismayAnvitaH  |
natvA punaH punardevamastauShijjagatAM patim  ||  43-26
namaste pArvatIkAnta namaste chandrashekhara  |
namashchaitanyarUpAya pashUnAM pataye namaH ||  43-27
vishveshvara virUpAkSha  vishvarUpasadAshiva  |
sharaNaM bhava bhUtesha karuNAkara shaMkara  ||  43-28
namo dharmAya devAya  vishvarupAya shUline  |
bhUtanAthAya dharmAtmannamaste nAgabhUShaNa  |
bhasmoddhUlitasarvA~Nga jaTAdhara sadAshiva  ||   43-29
mR^iganAbhisugandhAya mR^igacharmadharAya cha  |
kapAlamAline tubhyamakShasUtradharAya cha  |
bhUyo bhUyo namastubhyaM purAntaka jaganmaya  ||  43-30

bhIShMa uvAcha  

evaM stutaH prasannAtmA  pArvatIvallabhaH prabhuH  |
aShTamUrtidharaH shrImAndevagandharvasevitaH  ||  43-31
varaM brUhiti taM choktvA shUdraM bhaktisamanvitam  |
atiShThattasya purataH  pUrvAndreraMshumAniva  ||  43-32
vareNyaM varayAmAsa brAhmaNo lokavishrutaH |
chaturtho.api cha me shreyo dadasveti varaM tadA ||  43-33
nIlakaNThastadAkarNya  smitapUrvamabhAShata  |
shR^INu vipravarashreShTha tava dAsye tadIpsitam  |
anyajanmAni shUdrasya dAsyAmi varamuttamam  ||  43-34
evaM shivavachaH shrutvA brAhmaNo hitakR^itsatAm  |
uvAcha shaMkaraM natvA mR^idvakSharasamanvitam  ||  43-35
vishvaMbara tathaivAstu mamApi na hi taM vinA  |
kathaM yasyAmi te lokaM shushrUShushcha sakhA mama  ||  43-36
ityuktvA maunamAstAya pAdau natvA shivasya cha  |
shubhaM pa~nchAkSharam mantraM  japannAste tapovane  ||  43-37
nIlakanThaH punashchedamuvAcha tapatAM varam  |
tathAhaM tu kariShyAmi  yuvayorbrAhmaNottama  ||  43-38
shUdrasya shatrubhAvaM tvameShyasi tvanyajanmani  |
darshanAchcha vadhAchchaiva yuvayormuktirastviti  ||  43-39

brAhmaNa uvAcha  

kathaM shatrutvamApnoti shUdro me hanyajanmani |
etadbhUtesha me brUhi  mama janma cha shaMkara  ||  43-40

Ishvara uvAcha  

mata~Ngo nAma viprarShirbhavitAsi dvijottama  |
indraputro hyayaM shUdro vAlIti khyAtimeShyati  ||  43-41

brAhmaNa uvAcha  

kiM cha te bhavatA rUpamIdR^ishaM  pAvanaM param  |
brUhyetatsarvabhUtesha bhUyo bhUyo namo.astu te  ||  43-42 

shaMkara uvAcha  

rAmo dAsharathirbhUtvA jaTAvalkalavAnraNe  |
haniShyati shareNAshu vidUre dR^iShTigochare  |
ityuktvA sahasA devaH sahasA tu tirodadhe  ||  43-43
kasyachittvatha kAlasya dvijashUdrau layaM gatau  |
tatra bhogAndivisthAnvai  yathAvadanubhUya cha  |
bhuvasthalaM prapannau tau tapobalasamanvitau  ||  43-44
mata~Ngo.abhUtsushAnto.atha  sarvadharmaparo nR^ipa  |
shUdro.asau bAlitvamApanno hyasaMkhyeyabalastadA  ||  43-45
kurvatastapa atyugraM  mata~Ngasya virodhakR^it  |
kiShkindhAM samupAgamya hariNAmadhipo.abhavat  ||  43-46
tapaH kurvati dharmiShThe mata~NgamunipuMgave  |
shaMkaraH sarvabhUtAnAM tadA rAmatvamAptavAt  |
prAptavAnvanamatyugraM  piturvachanagauravAt  ||  43-47
pampAsarovaraM gatvA rAmAkhyo bhagavAnharaH  |
AdityasUnorvyAjena hatvA vAlinamagrataH  |
svapadaM dattavAnrAjandarshanAtbrAhmaNasya cha  ||  43-48
dharmashIlasushAntau cha saMprAptau cha shivAlayam  |
pUjitau bhUtapatinA hyanubhUya sukhAnbahUn  |
yayaturviShNulokaM tau koTivaMshasamanvitau  ||  43-49
tasmAchChivArchanaM nityaM  bhuvi muktiphalapradam  |
harishaMkarayorbhedaM nAsti nAsti janAdhipa  ||  43-50
ya idaM puNyamAkhyAnam nAradena prabhAShitam  |
shR^iNuyAttasya vai nAko bhedabuddhirna jAyate  ||  43-51

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Give Me Your Offering

The Bhagavad Gita, Ch.9, 26-34

A leaf, a flower, a fruit, or even
Water, offered to me in devotion,
I will accept as the loving gift
Of a dedicated heart. Whatever you do,
Make it an offering to me –
The food you eat or worship you perform,
The help you give, even your suffering.
Thus will you be free from karma's bondage,
From the results of action, good and bad.

I am the same to all beings. My love
Is the same always. Nevertheless, those
Who meditate on me with devotion,
They dwell in me, and I shine forth in them.

Even the worst sinner becomes a saint
When he loves me with all his heart. This love
Will soon transform his personality
And fill his heart with peace profound.
O son of Kunti, this is my promise:
Those who love me, they shall never perish.
Even those who are handicapped by birth
Have reached the supreme goal in life
By taking refuge in me. How much more
The pure brahmins and royal sages who love me!
Give not your love to this transient world
Of suffering, but give all your love to me.
Give me your mind, your heart, all your worship.
Long for me always, live for me always,
And you shall be united with me.

Sunday, December 4, 2016

There is a Light

There is a light that shines beyond all things on earth,
beyond all of us, beyond the heavens,
beyond the highest, the very highest heavens.
This is the light that shines in our hearts.
--- from Chandogya Upanishad

Thursday, September 1, 2016

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.



Monday, August 22, 2016

Kurukshetra Today

Dear readers, you know, I do not intend to express my personal opinion here. I even carefully avoid it. I do that for so many reasons. Rarely, in cases of posts with tag philosophy, I break this rule. As the realized necessity only. That's enough preamble;)
As is known, the sacred texts are immeasurably more content than it seems. They have infinite different levels of interpretation: some were used to arrive at the plain meaning of the text, some expounded the law given in the text, and others found secret or mystical levels of understanding. As said the ancient Greeks:
Litera gesta docet, Quid credas allegoria, Moralis quid agas, Quo tendas anagogia.
It means:
The literal teaches what God and our ancestors did, 
The allegory is where our faith and belief is hid,
The moral meaning gives us the rule of daily life,
The anagogy [symbolic interpretation] shows us where we end our strife.
Mahabharata is the greatest text of this kind. And not only for Hindus but also for the whole of humanity, I think. In general, it is the outstanding Itihasa that tells about dharma, artha, kama, and moksha - all that make our life meaningful.  But it is also the biggest epic battle in world mythology. The battle between whom? It's clear that the main story line is the constant struggle between the human and the divine element in individuals. And Bhagavad-Gita, which is a discourse between the Divine and the human takes place in the battle field of Kurukshetra, which is known as Dharmakshetra. This scene of battle is between two dynasties symbolizing the Ego-self (Kurus) and the Divine-Self (Pandavas).
Kurukshetra, the battle-ground of the Mahabharata war, is inside us as well. At this level of understanding, there is absolutely no difference between the battle within and the battle without. In fact, the real battle is that which is waged within ourselves. It corresponds to the Greater inner jihad as the struggle of personal self-improvement against the self's base desires. But I was faced with the fact that the current internal battle is increasingly coming to the surface. It happens gradually but with increasing acceleration. 
It becomes a Kurukshetra battle on the world stage; and not only in allegory. This is not only a war between specific countries or religious organizations. Rather,  the different states are engaged in a battle on a par with individuals, with each of us. And the victory is not always on the side of those who have more weapons. The problem is that most people do not know what they are fighting.  They do not choose some side in this war, and then, the choice is made instead them. And then, unwittingly they become the pawns in this biggest chess game. In this sense, the fearsome words from the Bible are perfect: I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16)
So, we have to choose. Upholding the code of dharma or not. How can I determine the fighting forces -  i would argue it the next time. Although, the entire story the Mahabharata is about it!
There is the Truth and a lie. The lie as the perversion of dharma. Sometimes, in order not to be driven away from that Truth by fear, it must be actively defended in the outer world, by word or by deed. If not, how can we be sure that our inner faithfulness to God is anything more than lip service, or spiritual pride?
Some say that the Gita is no longer relevant or unsuitable today. Nonsense. I quoted this book to the soldiers who had to go into battle - not Indians, not Hindus, or remembered the words of Krishna to the stuck weak people. Always, those who can hear - hear. Even if they had never heard. Without exception. It is an eternal book and the battle is today. Until we know that the struggle is entirely up to us, and that the battle will never end, we will never know that, in reality, the struggle against it is God's business alone, and the battle is ended already. It was never necessary. It never began. When, as is predicted in the Hindu scriptures for the end of the cycle, "a hundred suns arise at once in the sky", no nothingness can be located; no shadow appears. When God Himself takes the field of battle, He encounters no resistance: because only God is.

Therefore, fight, O Arjuna! 

Monday, August 15, 2016

Enter the Door - 14

When shown the door,
take the door,
and put no trust in kings. 

-- Dhaumya to Yudhisthira
(Mahabharata, the Book of Virata)

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Manyu Sooktam

The Manyu suktam of the Rig Veda 10.6.15-16

harih om
yaste manyo ‘vidhadujra jayaka jaha ojah pushyati vishvamanupak
sahyama dasamaryam tvaya yuja sahaskritena sahasa sahasvata
O Manyu, the persons who worship You, Who is like a thunderbolt, the destroyer of enemies, enjoys all power and strength combined, may we overcome our enemies with You as our friend, invigorating and strong.
manyurindro manyurevasa devo manyurhota varuno jatavedaha
manyum visa ilate manusiryaha pahi no manyo tapasa sajoshaha
Manyu is Indra, He is Varuna and Agni. Those of human descent praise Manyu. Protect us Manyu, be pleased with our austerities.
abhihi manyo tapasastaviyan tapasa yuja vi jahi satrun
amitraha vritraha dasyuha cha vishva vasunya bhara tvam naha
Come to us Manyu, You who are the strongest of the strong. With austerity as your companion, overthrow our enemies. Give us spiritual wealth,
O slayer of enemies, adversaries and foes.
tvam hi manyo abhi bhutyojah svayam bhurbhamau abhimatishahah
vishva charshanih sahurih sahava-nasmasvoja pritanasu dhehi
Give us strength in battle, Manyu,
O you who posses overpowering strength. You are self-existent, furious, the overthrower of enemies, the beholder of all, enduring, and vigorous.
abhagah sannapa pareto asmi tava kratva tavishasya pracetaha
tam tva manyo akraturjihila-ham sva tanur-baladeyaya mahi
O Lord Manyu, not taking part in Your worship (not offering oblations at the ritual) I was forced to retreat before my enemies. I avoided and neglected your worship. Yet please be kind and give me strength.
ayam te asmyupa mehyarvan praticinah sahure vishvadhayaha
manyo vajrin-nabhi mama vavritsva hanava dasyugm ruta bodhyapehe
I am yours! Come to me, turn Your face towards me! O resister of the foes, sustainer of all, Manyu, the holder of a thunderbolt, come to me. Let us slay the demons, and help Your devotees.
abhi prehi dakshinato bhava me ‘dha vritrani janghanava muri
juhomi te dharunam madhvo agra mubha upamshu prathama pibava
Approach me by my right side and let us slay a multitude of foes. I offer you the best part of the Soma juice, let us drink it together in privacy.

Rig Veda 10.6.16
tvaya manyo sarathamarujanto harshamanaso dhrishita marutvaha
tigmeshava ayudha samsishana abhi prayantu naro agnirupaha
May the priests, who resemble Agni, ascend the same chariot as You. O Manyu, who is accompanied by the Maruts. May You proceed in battle, advancing, exulting, indignant, armed with sharp arrows, whetting Your weapons.
Agniriva manyo tvishitah sahasva senanirnah sahure huta edhi
Hatvaya shatrun vi bhajasva veda aujo mimano vi mridho nudasva
Blazing like fire, O Manyu, overcome our foes, come as our general, when invoked by us in battle. Having slain the enemies, divide their wealth. Granting us strength, scatter our foes.
Sahasva manyo abhimatimasme rujan mrinan pramrinan prehi shatrun
Ugram te pajo nanva rurudhre vasi vasham nayasa ekaja tvam
O Manyu, overthrow our enemies. Advance against our foes, wounding, killing, annihilating them. O You who depend on no-one, who can resist Your fierce might?
eko bahunamasi manyavilito vishamvisham yudhaye sam shishadhi
ekrittaruk tvaya yuja vayam dyumantam ghosham vijayaya krinmahe
You are praised, O Manyu, as the conqueror of all. Help us contend with all men.
With You as our friend, O radiant one, we cry out in victory.
vijeshakridindra ivanavabravo ‘smakam manyo adhipa bhaveha
priyam te nama sahure grinimasi vidma tamutsam yata ababhutha
O Manyu, giver of victory, You are irreproachable like Lord Indra. Please protect this ritual. O Enduring One, we sing to you appropriate praises. We know this to be the source where You have come from.
abhutya sahaja vajra sayaka saho bibharsya-bhibhuta uttaram
kratva no manyo saha medhyedi maha-dhanarya puruhuta samsriji
O Manyu, You are like a destructive thunderbolt, the overpowerer of foes, the twin brother of victory, and have extreme strength. Be favorable to us, Manyu, in our deeds,
O You Who are invoked by many in the shock of battle.
Samsristam dhanam ubhayam samakrita
Masmabhayam dattam varunashcha manyuh
Bhiyam dadhana hridayesu shatravaha
Parajitaso apa ni layantam
May Manyu and Varuna bestow upon us undivided spiritual and material wealth; may our enemies, fear within their hearts, be overcome and utterly destroyed.


Om Sri Narasimhaya Namaha

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

The Five Doorkeepers

From Chandogya Upanishad, Thirteenth Khanda.

The five door-keepers of the heavenly world:

1. Verily, indeed, this heart here has five openings for the gods.
As for its eastern opening—that is the Piāṇa breath, that is the eye, that is the sun. One should reverence that as glow and as food. He becomes glowing and an eater of food who knows this.

2. Now, as for its southern opening—that is the Vyāna breath, that is the ear, that is the moon. One should reverence that as prosperity and splendor. He becomes prosperous and splendid who knows this.

3. Now, as for its western opening—that is the Apāna breath, that is speech, that is fire. One should reverence that as eminence in sacred knowledge and as food. He becomes eminent in sacred knowledge and an eater of food who knows this.

4. Now, as for its northern opening—that is the Samāna breath, that is mind, that is the rain-god (Parjanya). One should reverence that as fame and beauty. He becomes famous and beauteous who knows this.

5. Now as for its upper opening—that is the Udāna breath, that is wind, that is space. One should reverence that as vigor and greatness. He becomes vigorous and great who knows this.

6. Verily, these same are five Brahma-men, door-keepers of the heavenly world. Who knows these thus as five Brahma-men, as door-keepers of the heavenly world, in his family a hero is born. He reaches the heavenly world who knows these thus as five Brahma-men, door-keepers of the heavenly world.



Thursday, April 21, 2016

Hanumat Kavacha from Ramayana

OM asya shree hanumatkavacha stotra mahaamantrasya
shree raamachandra rushihi, shree hanumaan paramaatmaa devataa, anushTup
Chandaha, maarutaatmajeti beejam, anjaneesoonuriti shaktihi,
lakshmaNapraaNadaateti keelakam, raamadootaayetyastram, hanumaan devataa iti
kavacham, pingaaksho amita vikrama iti mantraha
shree raamachandra preraNayaa raamachandra preetyartham mama sakala kaamanaa
siddhyartham jape viniyogaha ||
karanyaasaha -
om haam anjaneesutaaya angushThaabhyaam namaha
om heem rudra moortaye tarjaneebhyaam namaha
om hoom raamadootaaya madhyamaabhyaam namaha
om haim vaayuputraaya anaamikaabhyaam namaha
om haum agnigarbhaaya kanishThikaabhyaam namaha
om hah brahmaastra nivaaraNaaya karatala karaprushThaabhyaam namaha ||
anganyaasaha -
om haam anjaneesutaaya hrudayaaya namaha
om heem rudra moortaye shirase swaahaa
om hoom raamadootaaya shikhaayai vashaT
om haim vaayuputraaya kavachaaya hum
om haum agnigarbhaaya netratrayaaya voushaT
om hah brahmaastra nivaaraNaaya astraaya phaT
bhoorbhuvah suvaromiti digbandhaha ||
atha dhyaanam
dhyaayet baaladivaakaradyutinibham devaaridarpaapaham
devendra pramukham prashastayashasam dedeepyamaanam ruchaa |
sugreevaadi samastavaanarayutam suvyakta tattvapriyam
samraktaaruNa lochanam pavanajam peetaambaraalankrutam ||
udyan maartaanDakoTi prakaTa ruchiyutam chaaruveeraasanastham
maunjee yagyopaveetaabharaNa ruchishikham shobhitam kunDalaangam |
bhaktaanaamishTadam tam praNatamunijanam vedanaada pramodam
dhyaayedevam vidheyam plavaga kulapatim goshpadeebhoota vaardhim ||
vajraangam pingakeshaaDhyam svarNakunDala manDitam
nigooDhamupasangamya paaraavaara paraakramam || 3 ||
sphaTikaabham swarNakaantim dwibhujam cha krutaanjalim |
kunDaladvaya samshobhimukhaambhojam harim bhaje || 4 ||
savyahaste gadaayuktam vaamahaste kamanDalum |
udyad dakshiNa dordanDam hanumantam vichintayet || 5 ||
atha mantraha -
om namo hanumate shobhitaananaaya
yasholankrutaaya anjaneegarbha
sambhootaaya raama lakshmaNaanandakaaya
kapisainya prakaashana
parvatotpaaTanaaya sugreevasaahyakaraNa
parocchaaTana kumaara brahmacharya
gambheera shabdodaya om hreem
sarvadushTagraha niwaaraNaaya swaahaa ||
om namo hanumate ehi ehi ehi sarvagraha
bhootaanaam shaakinee Daakineenaam
vishamadushTaanaam sarweshaamaakarshayaakarshaya
mardaya mardaya Chedaya Chedaya
martyaan maaraya maaraya shoshaya shoshaya
prajvala prajvala bhootamanDala
pishaachamanDala niraasanaaya bhootajwara
pretajwara chaaturthikajwara
brahmaraakshasa pishaacha Chedanakriyaa
vishNujwarah maheshajwaraan Chindhi Chindhi
bhindhi bhindhi akshishoole shiro
abhyantare hyakshishoole gulmashoole pittashoole
brahmaraakshasakula prabala naagakulavisha nirvishajhaTitijhaTiti |
om hreem phaT ghe ghe swaahaa |
om namo hanumate pawanaputra vaishwaanaramukha
paapadrushTi hanumate ko aagyaaphure swaahaa |
swagruhe dwaare paTTake tishTha tishTheti tatra
rogabhaya raajakulabhayam naasti |
tasyocchaareNa maatreNa sarve jwaraa nashyanti |
om haam heem hoom phaT ghe ghe swaahaa |
shree raamachandra uvaacha -
hanumaan poorvatah paatu dakshiNe pawanaatmajaha |
paatu prateechyaam rakshoghnah paatu saagarapaaragaha ||
udeechyaamoordhvatah paatu kesareepriyanandanaha |
adhastu vishNu bhaktastu paatu madhyam cha paawaniha || 2 ||
lankaa vidaahakah paatu sarvaapadbhyo nirantaram |
sugreeva sachivah paatu mastakam vaayunandanaha || 3 ||
bhaalam paatu mahaaveero bhruvormadhye nirantaram |
netre Chaayaapahaaree cha paatuh nah plavageshwaraha || 4 ||
kapole karNamoole cha paatu shreeraamakinkarah |
naasaagram anjaneesoonuh paatu vaktram hareeshwaraha |
vaacham rudrapriyah paatu jihvaam pingaLa lochanaha || 5 ||
paatu devah phaalguneshTah chibukam daityadarpahaa |
paatu kanTham cha daityaarih skandhou paatu suraarchitaha ||
bhujou paatu mahaatejaah karou cha charaNaayudhaha |
nakhaannakhaayudhah paatu kukshou paatu kapeeshwaraha ||
vaksho mudraapahaaree cha paatu paarshwe bhujaayudhaha |
lankaa nibhanjanah paatu prushThadeshe nirantaram || 8 ||
naabhim cha raamadootastu kaTim paatvanilaatmajaha |
guhyam paatu mahaapraagyo lingam paatu shivapriyaha || 9 ||
ooru cha jaanunee paatu lankaapraasaada bhanjanaha |
janghe paatu kapishreshThoh gulphou paatu mahaabalaha |
achaloddhaarakah paatu paadou bhaaskara sannibhaha || 10 ||
angaanyamita satvaaDhyah paatu paadaranguleestathaa |
sarvaangaani mahaashoorah paatu romaaNi chaatmavit || 11 ||
hanumat kavacham yastu paThed vidwaan vichakshaNaha |
sa eva purushashreshTho bhuktim muktim cha vindati || 12 ||
trikaalamekakaalam vaa paThen maasatrayam naraha |
sarvaan ripoon kshaNaajjitvaa sa pumaan shriyamaapnuyaat ||
madhyaraatre jale sthitvaa saptavaaram paThedyadi |
kshayaapasmaarakushThaadi taapatraya nivaaraNam || 14 ||
ashvatthamoole arkavaare sthitvaa paThati yah pumaan |
achalaam shriyamaapnoti samgraame vijayam tathaa || 15 ||
buddhirbalam yasho dhairyam nirbhayatvamarogataam |
sudaaDhyam vaaksphuratvam cha hanumatsmaraNaadbhavet ||
maaraNam vairiNaam sadyah sharaNam sarvasampadaam |
shokasya haraNe daksham vande tam raNadaaruNam || 17 ||
likhitvaa poojayedyastu sarvatra vijayee bhavet |
yah kare dhaarayennityam sa pumaan shriyamaapnuyaat || 18 ||
sthitvaa tu bandhane yastu japam kaarayati dvijaihi |
tatkshaNaan bhuktimuktimaapnoti nigaDaattu tathaiva cha ||
iti shree shatakoTi raamacharitaantargata shreemadaananda raamaayaNe vaalmeekiye
manoharakaanDe shree hanumatkavacham sampoorNam ||

Om Hanumate Namah

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Through the Door of the Sun

From the Maitri Upanishad: Book VI, 30

Breaking through the door of the sun one goes up outward....

The one who, lamp-like, rests in the heart
Has endless rays,
White and black, brown and blue,
Tawny and faintly red.

A single one of these, set above,
Breaks through the circle of the sun,
And gains the world of Brahman.
By it folk go to the highest born.

It has another hundred rays
Arrayed above
By which one wins the very own homes
Of the troops of gods.

Below them, it has rays of many forms,
Faintly glowing.
By them here the powerless one
Wanders round to experience his actions.

So the blessed sun is the cause of creation, heaven, and release.



Friday, March 25, 2016

Chandika Hridayam Stotra

asya shrI chaNDikA hR^idaya stotra mahAmantrasya . mArkkaNDeya R^iShiH\, anuShTupchChandaH\,
shrI chaNDikA devatA . hrAM bIjaM\, hrIM shaktiH\, hrUM kIlakaM\,
asya shrI chaNDikA prasAda siddhyarthe jape viniyogaH .
hrAM ityAdi ShaDa.nga nyAsaH .
dhyAna.n .
sarvama.ngaLa mA.ngalye shive sarvArttha sAdhike . sharaNye tryambake gaurI nArAyaNI namostute
.. brahmovAcha .
athAtassaM pravakShyAmi vistareNa yathAtatha.n . chaNDikA hR^idayaM guhyaM shR^iNuShvaikAgramAnasaH . . AUM aiM hrIM kLIM\, hrAM\, hrIM\, hrUM jaya jaya chAmuNDe\, chaNDike\, tridasha\, maNimakuTakoTIra sa.nghaTTita charaNAravinde\, gAyatrI\, sAvitrI\, sarasvati\, mahAhikR^itAbharaNe\, bhairavarUpa dhAriNI\, prakaTita da.nShTrogravadane\,ghore\, ghorAnanejvala jvalajjvAlA sahasraparivR^ite\, mahATTahAsa badharIkR^ita digantare\, sarvAyudha paripUrNNe\, kapAlahaste\, gajAjinottarIye\, bhUtavetALabR^indaparivR^ite\, prakanpita dharAdhare\, madhukaiTamahiShAsura\, dhUmralochana chaNDamuNDaraktabIja shu.nbhanishu.nbhAdi daityaniShkaNDhake\, kALarAtri\, mahAmAye\, shive\, nitye\, indrAgniyamanirR^iti varuNavAyu someshAna pradhAna shakti bhUte\, brahmAviShNu shivastute\, tribhuvanAdhArAdhAre\, vAme\, jyeShThe\, raudrya.nbike\, brAhmI\, mAheshvari\, kaumAri\, vaiShNavI sha.nkhinI vArAhIndrANI chAmuNDA shivadUti mahAkALi mahAlakShmI\, mahAsarasvatItisthite\, nAdamadhyasthite\, mahograviShoragaphaNAmaNighaTita makuTakaTakAdiratna mahAjvAlAmaya pAdabAhudaNDottamA.nge\,
mahAmahiShopari gandharva vidyAdharArAdhite\,
navaratnanidhikoshe tattvasvarUpe
vAkpANipAdapAyUpasthAtmike\,
shabdasparsharUparasagandhAdi svarUpe\,
tvakchakShuH shrotrajihvAghrANamahAbuddhisthite\,
AUM aiMkAra hrIM kAra kLIM kArahaste AM kro.n AgneyanayanapAtre praveshaya\,
drAM shoShaya shoShaya\,
drIM sukumAraya sukumAraya\,
shrI.n sarva.n praveshaya praveshaya\,
trailokyavara varNNini samasta chittaM vashIkaru vashIkaru mama shatrUn\,
shIghra.n mAraya mAraya\,
jAgrat svapna suShuptya vasthAsu asmAn rAjachorAgnijala vAta viShabhUta-shatrumR^ityu-jvarAdi sphoTakAdi nAnArogebhyoH nAnAbhichArebhyo nAnApavAdebhyaH parakarmma mantra tantra yantrauShadha shalyashUnya kShudrebhyaH samya~NmA.n rakSha rakSha\,
AUM aiM hrAM hrIM hrUM hraiM hraH\,
sphrAM sphrIM sphraiM sphrauM sphraH \
- mama sarva kAryANi sAdhaya sAdhaya huM phaT svAhA \
- rAja dvAre shmashAne vA vivAde shatru sa~NkaTe . bhUtAgni chora maddhyasthe mayi kAryANi sAdhaya .. svAhA .
chaNDikA hR^idaya.n guhya.n trisandhya.n yaH paThennaraH . sarva kAma prada.n pu.nsA.n bhukti mukti.n priyachchati ..

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Aikamatya Suktam

This is the last hymn of the Rig Veda Samhita (dashamam manDalam, ekanavatyuttara-shatatamam sUktam). It is also called the samvada suktam. This prayer is very important to bring people together to work in unison for the common goal of peace.

1-4 chatur-ruchasyAsya sUktasyAngirasa samvanana rishihi
1 – prathamarcho-agnih
2-4 dvitIyAdit-Ruchasya cha sangyAnam devate
1-2, 4 – prathamA-dvitIyA-chaturthI-nAmRuchAnuShTup
3 - tRutIyAyAshcha triShTup ChandasI
samsamidyuvase vruShannagne vishvAnyarya A |
iLaspade samidhyase sa no vasUnyA bhara || 1 ||
sam gacChadhvam sam vadadhvam sam vo manAmsi jAnatAm |
devA bhAgam yathA pUrve sanjAnAnA upAsate ||2||
samAno mantrah samitih samAnI samAnam manah saha chittameShAm |
samAnam mantramabhi mantraye vah samAnena vo haviShA juhomi || 3 ||
samAnI va AkUtih samAnA hRudayAni vah |
samAnamastu vo mano yathA vah susahAsati || 4 || 
YOU, mighty Agni, gather up all that is precious for your friend.
Bring us all treasures as you art enkindled in libation's place
Assemble, speak together: let your minds be all of one accord,
As ancient Gods, unanimous sit down to their appointed share.
The place is common, common the assembly,
common the mind, so be their thought united.
A common purpose do I lay before you,
and worship with your general oblation.
One and the same be your resolve,
and be your minds of one accord.
United be the thoughts of all that all may happily agree.