Ganesha pancharatnam stotram

Mudakaraatha Modakam Sada Vimukti Saadhakam l 

Kalaadharaavatamsakam Vilasiloka Rakshakam l
Anaaya Kaika Naayakam Vinasitebha Daityakam l

Nataasubhasu Naashakam Namaami Tham 

Vinaayakam ll
Natetaraati Bheekaram Navoditaarka Bhaasvaram l

Namat Suraari Nirjanam Nataadhi Kaapa Duddharam l
Suresvaram Nidheesvaram Gajesvaram Ganeshvaram l

Mahesvaram Samaasraye Paraatparam Nirantaram ll
Samasta Loka Samkaram Nirasta Daitya Kunjaram l

Daredarodaram Varam Vare Bhavaktra Maksharam l
Krupaakaram Kshamaakaram Mudaakaram Yasaskaram l

Manaskaram Namaskrutaam Namaskaromi Bhaasvaram ll
Akimchanaarti Marjanam Chirantanokti Bhaajanam l

Puraari Poorva Nandanam Suraari Garva Charvanam l
Prapancha Naasha Bheeshanam Dhananjayaadi Bhushanam l

Kapola Daana Vaaranam Bhajaey Puraana Vaaranam ll
Nitaantikaanta Dantakaanti Mantakaanta Kaatmajam l

Achintya Rupa Mantaheena Mantaraaya Krintanam l
Hrudantarey Nirantaram Vasantameva Yoginam l

Tameka Danta Meva Tam Vichintayaami Santatamll

Phala Sruti
Maha Ganesa Pancha Rathna Maadharena Yo Anvaham l

Prajalpathi Prabhathake Hrudhi Smaran Ganeswaram l
Arogadhamadhosadham Susahitheem Suputhratham l

Samahithayurshta Bhoothi Mapyupaithi Sochiraath ll

I salute that remover of obstacles,

Who has modakas in his hand

Who always bestows salvation,

Who wears a part of moon on his head,

Who protects this world which is varied,

Who is the leader of those who cannot be lead,

Who is the cause of destruction of asuras,

And who destroys all things which are not good.
I bow before that great Lord permanently,

Who creates fear in the enemies of his devotees,

Who sparkles like the just risen Sun,

Who is saluted by Gods and Asuras,

Who destroys obstacles of his devotees,

Who is the God of all devas,

Who is the God of all wealth,

Who is the God of all elephants,

And who is the leader of the army of Lord Shiva.
I bow to that Ganapati who shines like the Sun,

Who bestows peace to all the worlds,

Who removed the Gajamukhasura from this world,

Who has a very big paunch,

Who has an elephant-face which blesses,

And who is the one who shows kindness

Who is tolerant,

Who is full of blessing,

And who showers great fame to those who salute Him.

I salute the very ancient elephant-god, 

Who destroys the wants of the have nots,

Who has been worshipped since ancient times,

Who is the eldest son of the lord who destroyed cities,

Who eats away the pride of the enemies of the gods,

Who is awesome at the time of final deluge,

Who wears serpents like Dananjaya as ornaments,

And who is fierce like the elephant in rut.
I always meditate only on that God with single tusk,

Who is ever lustrous tusk is very pretty,

Who is the son of Lord who killed the god of death,

Who has a form beyond ones imagination,Who is endless,

Who tears asunder all obstacles,And who dwells forever in the heart of Yogis ,

Like the season of spring.

Phala Sruti
He, who remembers with respect every morning,These five gems of the great Lord Ganapati,And who meditates in his heart the leader of ganas,Will soon be blessed with a healthy life,Free of all problems, endowed with great peaceGreat sons, longevity and spiritual and physical wealth

The Beauty

Fra Angelico's The Stigmatization of Saint Francis

This painting shows the moment when Saint Francis of Assisi twice repeats in his ecstasy after receiving the stigmata of Christ on the mountain of La Verna: “You are beauty... You are beauty!” It has found only this word when he contemplated the One who is supremely beautiful. As though "beauty" there was last word that he has dared to say.
You understand certainly - the Beauty is not only an aesthetic concept but a metaphysical also. We state it already then we speak about a beautiful soul, a beautiful life, a beautiful action and so on. It's not merely the enjoyment of beautiful objects, it refers to the discernment of beauty in thoughts, emotions, actions... I have no ability to state in words clearly but the perception of Beauty is close to touching Eternity. For me, a person who have a virtue to perceive beauty exceeds any wise man not seeing the beautiful. Real wisdom cannot offend the beauty, only ignorance is capable on it. As though this vision expresses a  gratitude to the Source of all beauty, but the insult of beauty strikes blow to something important and sacred. I can be mistaken in many things but not in it. Certainly, the ordinary person is not guilty in limitation of its vision and cannot get insights into reality but it does not excuse an insult of beauty also. Whoever sneers at her name can no longer pray sincerely and that can change this person irreparably.
When the invisible and the ineffable becomes accessible to your heart, this constitutes the transformation of the lower soul to the higher spirit of the self, from nafs into ruh.

 All our human history is movement to Beauty, an ascent towards a horizon that always surpasses us. We cannot reach it but we can aspire to it, to raise our gaze to this improbable horizon. If only we do not turn a back to it. The main thing is not to accept for real this illusion of beauty in our world, an illusion superficial and blinding which soon turns into its opposite.The distinction in a direction: downwards or aloft.
Authentic beauty touches us and unlocks the deep yearning of our hearts to grasping the profound meaning of our existence. It points us beyond ourselves, can become a path towards the transcendent, towards the Mystery of which we are part.
After all 
"Whichever way you turn, there is the Face of God" (al-Baqarah, 2:115).

Frederic Edwin Church, Rainy Season in the Tropics

Shani Dev

Śani (Shani) is one of the Navagraha (the nine primary celestial beings in Hindu astrology). Shani is embodied in the planet Saturn and is the Lord of Saturday. Shani is also known as Śanaiścara (शनैश्चर).
Shani is a deva and son of Surya and his wife Chhaya, hence also known as Chayyaputra. He is the elder brother of Yama, the Hindu god of death, who in some scriptures corresponds to the deliverance of justice.
It is said that when Shani opened his eyes as a baby for the very first time, the sun went into an eclipse, which clearly denotes the impact of Shani on astrological charts. He is known as the greatest teacher and well wisher for the righteous as well the greatest punisher for those who follow the path of evil, betrayal, backstabbing and unjust revenge. He is depicted dark in colour, clothed in black; holding a sword, arrows and two daggers and mounted on a crow, which is Shani's vāhana.
According to Vedic astrology, Shani is considered to be the strongest malefic and a stern teacher who represents patience, effort, endeavour, and endurance; and who brings restrictions and misfortunes. Shani is much feared by those Hindus who believe in astrology, as the “malefic” effects of his being unfavourably placed can be quite severe. However, Lord Shaniswara as Needhiman (Judge) is more known for his Blessings than his ill effects. No other graha is comparable with Lord Shani in terms of blessings. He showers with his blessings at the end of his dasha. His Adi-Devata is Prajapati and Pratyadi-Devata is Yama. Lord Shani tests the person patience, He tries to correct our immoral acts by creating frustations, and delays. In the end He makes one conscious enough to understand the mistakes. He removes ignorance from mind by punishment, the benefits that He matures the soul of being and person turns copper to gold from within i.e. he begins to understand the Truths of life, the futility of his actions done out of ignorance. One comes to understand after Lord Shani periods that not much is in control of human beings. It is all Divine acting on human beings through the agents of Gods. Lord Shani is the greatest purifier,everything false will perish and only Truth will shine, that is His message.

A common mantra for drawing the support of Lord Shani is:

Om Sham Shanaiscaryaye Namah

 The 108 names of Shani - Shani ashtottara shatanamavali

Om shanaescaraya namah
Om shantaya namah
Om sarvabhistapradayine namah
Om sharanyaya namah
Om vagenyaya namah
Om sarveshaya namah
Om saumyaya namah
Om suramvandhaya namah
Om suralokaviharine namah
Om sukhasonapavishtaya namah
Om sundaraya namah
Om ghanaya namah
Om ghanarupaya namah
Om ghanabharanadharine namah
Om ghanasaravilepaya namah
Om khadyotaya namah
Om mandaya namah
Om mandaceshtaya namah
Om mahaniyagunaatmane namah
Om martyapavanapadaya namah
Om maheshaya namah
Om dhayaputraya namah
Om sharvaya namah
Om shatatuniradharine namah
Om carasthirasvabhavaya namah
Om acamcalaya namah
Om nilavarnaya namah
Om nityaya namah
Om nilanjananibhaya namah
Om nilambaravibhushaya namah
Om nishcalaya namah
Om vedyaya namah
Om vidhirupaya namah
Om virodhadharabhumaye namah
Om bhedaspadasvabhavaya namah
Om vajradehaya namah
Om vairagyadaya namah
Om viraya namah
Om vitarogabhayaya namah
Om vipatparampareshaya namah
Om vishvavandyaya namah
Om gridhnavahaya namah
Om gudhaya namah
Om kurmangaya namah
Om kurupine namah
Om kutsitaya namah
Om gunadhyaya namah
Om gocaraya namah
Om avidhyamulanashaya namah
Om vidhyaavidhyasvarupine namah
Om ayushyakaranaya namah
Om apaduddhartre namah
Om vishnubhaktaya namah
Om vishine namah
Om vividhagamavedine namah
Om vidhistutyaya namah
Om vandhyaya namah
Om virupaakshaya namah
Om varishthaya namah
Om garishthaya namah
Om vajramkushagharaya namah
Om varada bhayahastaya namah
Om vamanaya namah
Om jyeshthapatnisametaya namah
Om shreshthaya namah
Om mitabhashine namah
Om kashtaughanashakartre namah
Om pushtidaya namah
Om stutyaya namah
Om stotragamyaya namah
Om bhaktivashyaya namah
Om bhanave namah
Om bhanuputraya namah
Om bhavyaya namah
Om pavanaya namah
Om dhanurmandalasamsthaya namah
Om dhanadaya namah
Om dhanushmate namah
Om tanuprakashadehaya namah
Om tamasaya namah
Om asheshajanavandyaya namah
Om visheshaphaladayine namah
Om vashikritajaneshaya namah
Om pashunam pataye namah
Om khecaraya namah
Om khageshaya namah
Om ghananilambaraya namah
Om kathinyamanasaya namah
Om aryaganastutyaya namah
Om nilacchatraya namah
Om nityaya namah
Om nirgunaya namah
Om gunatmane namah
Om niramayaya namah
Om nandyaya namah
Om vandaniyaya namah
Om dhiraya namah
Om divyadehaya namah
Om dinartiharanaya namah
Om dainyanashakaraya namah
Om aryajanaganyaya namah
Om kruraya namah
Om kruraceshtaya namah
Om kamakrodhakaraya namah
Om kalatraputrashatrutvakaranaya pariposhitabhaktaya namah
Om parabhitiharaya namah
Om bhaktasanghamanobhishtaphaladaya namah

Sani Vajra Panjarika Kavacham

Neelambaro, Nelavapu, kireeti,
Grdhra sthitha, sthrasakaro, dhanushman,
Chathurbhuja, suryasutha, prasanna,
Sada mama syadwaradha prasantha., 1
Oh god dressed in blue silk, who has a blue body,
Who wears a crown, who sits on vulture,
Who gives misfortunes, who is armed with a bow,
Who has four hands and who is son of Sun God,
Be pleased with me always and happily grant me boons.
Brahmo Uvacha:
Srunu dwam rishaya, Sarva sani peeda haram mahath,
Kavacham Sani Rajasya Soureridhamanuthamam., 2
Be pleased to hear oh sage, the great armour,
Which is a cure to all misery brought by king Sani,
Who is the incomparably great in the clan of the Sun.
Kavacham devatha vasam vajra panjara samgnakam,
SAnaishara preethikaram, sarva soubhagya dhayagam., 3
This armour called “thunderbolt shield” in which gods live,
Is very dear to the slow moving planet, and brings all luck.
Om Sri Sanaischara, pathu bhalam may Soorya nandana,
Nethre Chayathmaja pathu, pathu karnou Yamanuja., 4
Om, Oh God Saturn, let the son of Sun protect my forehead,
Let the darling son of Chaya protect my eyes,
Lat my ears be protected by the brother of Yama.
Nasam Vaivaswaswatha Pathu, mukham may Bhaskara sada,
Snigha kandashasch may kandaam, bhujou pathu Mahabhuja., 5
Let my nose be protected by Sun God,
Let the illuminator always protect my face,
Let he with a pleasant voice protect my voice,
And let the great armed God protect my arms.
Skandhou pathu sanischaiva, karou pathu shubha pradha,
Vaksha pathu Yama bhratha, kukshim paathvasitha sthadha., 6
Let my shoulders be protected by Shani,
Let my hands be protected by he who does good,
Let the brother of Yama protect my chest,
And the one who is dark in colour protect my navel.
Nabhim grahpathi pathu, manda pathu kateem thadha,
Ooru mamanthaka pathu, yamo januyugam thadha., 7
Let my stomach be protected by the lord of all planets,
Let the slow mover protect my hips,
Let he who makes end protect my thighs,
And let Yama protect my pair of knees.
Padou Manda gathi pathu, sarvangam pathu pippala,
Angopangani sarvani rakshen may Surya nandana., 8
Let my legs be protected by him with slow speed,
Let all my organs be protected by he who wears the coat,
And all my primary and secondary organs,
Be protected by the darling sin of the Sun God.
Ithyethath kavacham divyam padeth soorya suthasya ya,
Na thaasya jayathe peeda, preetho bhavathi sooryaja., 9
If this armour of the son of the Sun God is read,
No misery will come to him and,
The son of Sun God would be pleased with him.
Vyayay janma dwitheeyastho, mruthyu sthana gatrhopi va,
Kalathrastho gatho vapi supreethasthu sada sani., 10
Whether Saturn occupies the twelfth, first or second house,
Or even goes to the house of death or occupies the seventh star,
Saturn will always be pleased with him.
Ashtamastha soorya suthe vyaye, janma dwitheeyage,
Kavacham padathe nithyam, na peeda jayathe kwachith., 11
If the son of Sun God is in eighth, twelfth, first or second house,
Daily reading this Kavacham, no misery would ever be caused.
Ithyedath kavacham divyam saureya nirmitham pura,
Dwadasahtama janmastha doshan nasayathe sada.,
Janma lagna sthithaan doshan sarvan nasayathe Prabhu., 12
This holy divine armour composed by Sun in ancient times,
Would destroy the ills caused by eighth,twelfth, first and second house,
And also destroy the bad effects of Saturn occupying the Lagna rasi (Ascendent)
Ithi Sri Brahmanda Purane Brahma Narada Samvade,
Sani Vajra panjara kavacham sampoornam

Translated by P. R. Ramachander

Om Shreem Shanidevaya namo namaha

Om Shreem Shanidevaya shanty Bhavaha

Om Shreem Shanidevaya Subham Phalaha

Om Shreem Shanidevayapralaha prapti phalaha

My heart is burning

My heart is burning with love

All can see this flame

My heart is pulsing with passion

like waves on an ocean

my friends have become strangers

and I’m surrounded by enemies

But I’m free as the wind

no longer hurt by those who reproach me

I’m at home wherever I am

And in the room of lovers

I can see with closed eyes

the beauty that dances

Behind the veils

intoxicated with love

I too dance the rhythm

of this moving world

I have lost my senses

in my world of lovers

 --- by Jalalud’din Rumi,

transl. by Fereydoun Kia.

Aniketana - The Unhoused Consciousness

Poem "Aniketana" ( The Unhoused Consciousness) is written by a great poet of Kannada language, Kuvempu aka Kuppali Vekankatappa Puttappa (1904-1994). Usually, this poem is understood as reference to  Aparigraha or Vairāgya (non-attachment), the art of living in the world, but not being of the world. The tale of King Janaka and Shuka Deva exemplifies a little that concept. The story is as follows:

Janaka was looked upon as the ideal philosopher - king and became known as Rajarshi. This was resented by many people, including Shukadeva who, himself a great saint, could not understand how a person like Janaka, surrounded by courtiers and evidently engrossed in worldly pursuits, could deserve such a title.
He decided to test the king and one day, without notice, appeared at court carrying his only possession — a begging bowl or kamandala. The king, who was in the midst of managing the daily durbar, greeted him courteously and seated him by his side.

Kamandala

When the durbar was over, he invited Shukadeva to accompany him for a stroll. After the two had walked for over an hour, they found themselves in a great forest. Suddenly, there was the sound of a horse approaching at great speed. A messenger rode into view, jumped off his mount and breathlessly told the king, "Your majesty, a great fire has reduced the entire Palace to ashes!" On hearing this, king Janaka said, "nothing of mine is burning." Shukadeva said  "What about my kamandala?"" and started running back towards the Palace.
In this poem it is possible to see more. As everywhere.

Aniketana

The Unhoused Consciousness

Be unhoused , O my soul!

Only the Infinite be your goal.

Leave these myriad forms behind,

Leave the million names that bind,

A flash piercing your heart and mind,

Be unhoused , O my soul!

Only the Infinite be your goal.

Winnow the chaff of a hundred creeds

Beyond these systems .hollow as reeds,

Turn unhorizened to the Truth that leads;

Be unhoused, O my soul!

Only the Infinite be your goal.

Stop not on the unending way.

Never build a house of clay.

Endless the quest both night and day:

No end, no end to you play!

Be unhoused , O my soul!

Only the Infinite be your goal.

The Infinite cancels its end,-

Diurnal seer , to descent.

Endless the quest your apprehend

And so , Infinite, you ascend,

Be unhoused , O my soul !

Only the Infinite be your goal

--by Kuvempu,

Translation by Prof.V.K.Gokak.

The Subject Tonight

Max Ernst, Birth of a Galaxy

Leave the familiar for a while.
Let your senses and bodies stretch out

Like a welcomed season
Onto the meadows and shores and hills.

Open up to the Roof.
Make a new water-mark on your excitement
And love.

Like a blooming night flower,
Bestow your vital fragrance of happiness
And giving
Upon our intimate assembly.

Change rooms in your mind for a day.

All the hemispheres in existence
Lie beside an equator
In your heart.

Greet Yourself
In your thousand other forms
As you mount the hidden tide and travel
Back home.

All the hemispheres in heaven
Are sitting around a fire
Chatting

While stitching themselves together
Into the Great Circle inside of
You.

Hafiz – The Subject Tonight is Love

Love, Hate and Forgiveness

Can you saw how the deepest love turns into the most intense hatred? I hope not.
It is terrible not only because hate really destroys both the other person and yourself, but it first of all it is awful therefore the love can turn over thus. Hatred does not hold there where the love reigns. Actually, it is impossible if the love is real, but it not about it now. It's about us who love.
I do not want to get into psychologism now. Especially I do not want to concern themes of religious intolerance too. Because it is cruel nonsense for me. In global or in private wars the person really religious cannot be so self-immersed and self-absorbed, that he does not notice what pain puts to another. The person afflicted by black hatred can't forget about oneself and think about others.When a man wants to destroy someone , he wants to destroy himself, when he is unforgiving towards someone, then to him are rendered hateful and contrary both other people and all God's world. People, who take offense against others in that which they dislike about themselves. How to help such person? For me the most painful was that I could not help the person who kills me. Not because I am so "good". It not is someone's merit, may be it is simple because God does not want me to hate. In any way nothing can be done in this case except to love. Because hatred does not hold in that place which Love has occupied.
 Fear of something is at the root of hate for others, and hate within will eventually destroy the hater. It's intolerable to observe it not only because it destroys me but because it is impossible to see such torments of another. But the love is a forgiveness also. When a deep injury is done to us, we never recover until we forgive. Sometimes, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it.

I think that situation taught me how to forgive myself and others. I can't tell that I am the excellent in this matter. For me, it's very hard to recognize the fact that people, which can destroy us, exist. But we do not allow them to make us similar to they. And our tendencies to mercy and kindness should not transform us in prey. After all, only through forgiveness it is possible to be forgiven. Forgiving, we hope on the higher pardon for us also.Thanks to this hope, we can rise above dark clouds to see light behind them. Hate may really destroys us but there is That who always loves us and through us.  And we are only humans. How can we judge someone? Let’s break free of this intolerable weight. And fly high on the wings of Forgiveness and Love.

Pratha Smarana Shiva Stotra

Pattadakal, India

Pratha smarami bhava bheethi haram suresam,
Gangadharam vrushabha vahana mambikesam,
Gadwanga soola varadabhaya hastha meesam,
Samsara roga haram oushadha madwitheeyam. 1

Prathar bhajami Shiva meka manantha maadhyam,
Vedantha vedhya managham purusham mahantham,
Namadhi beda rahitham, shad bhava soonyam,
Samsara roga hara moushadha madwitheeyam.2

Prathar namami Gireesam Girijardha deham,
Sarga sthithi pralaya karana madhi devam,
Visweswaram vijitha viswamanobhiramam,
Samsara roga hara moushadha madwitheeyam.3

Pratha samuthaye Shivam vichinthya.
Sloka thrayam ye anudinam padanthi,
They dukhajatham bahu janma sachitham,
Hithwa padam yanthi thadeva shambho. 4

In the morning I think the Lord of Gods who removes fear of life,
Who carries the Ganges, who rides on a bull and is the consort of Parvathi,
Who carries sword, spear in two hands, shows protection and blessing with other two.
And who is the matchless medicine of the disease of domestic life. 1

In the morning I pray Lord Shiva who was the first and has no end,
Who is the great person studied by Vedantha and is invaluable,
Who does not have specific names or differences,
Who is not having the six states of existence,
And who is the matchless medicine of the disease of domestic life.2

In the morning I salute the lord of the mountain, who shares half body with Parvathi,
Who is the primeval God of cause upkeep and destruction,
Who is the lord of universe, conqueror of universe and stealer of mind,
And who is the matchless medicine of the disease of domestic life.3

He who gets up early morning thinking of Shiva,
And reads daily these three stanzas,
Gets rid of the sorrows collected over various births,
And reaches the feet of the great Lord Shiva.

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

Kala Bhairava Pancha Rathnam

1. Gadgam, kapalam, Damarugam, Trisoolam,
Hasthambhuje santhathum trinethram .
Digambaram basma Vibhooshithangam,
Namyaham Bhairavam Induchoodam.
1. I salute Bhairava who wears the crescent,
Who holds in his lotus like hand,
Sword, skull, drum and trident,
Who wears the directions as cloth,
And who has coated his body with ash.
2. Kavithvadham sath varameva modhaan,
Nathalye shambhu manobhiramam,
Namami yasee krutha sara meyam,
Namyaham Bhairavam Induchoodam.
2. I salute Bhairava who wears the crescent,
Who is poetic and grants good boons,
Who is Shambhu in the mind of his devotees,
Who is bewitching to the mind,
And Salutations to one who has made his dog famous.
3. Jaradhi dukhouga vibhedha daksham,
Viragi samsevya Padaravindam,
Narapathipathwa prathamasu nandre,
Namyaham Bhairavam Induchoodam.
3. I salute Bhairava who wears the crescent,
Who removes the sorrow of old age,
Whose lotus like feet is worshipped by saints,
And who is the Lord of men and great saints.
4. Samadhi sampatj prathamana thebhyo,
Rema thwad yachitha pada padmam,
Samadhi nishtai sthara sadhi gamyam,
Namyaham Bhairavam Induchoodam.
4. I salute Bhairava who wears the crescent,
Whose first wealth is Samadhi,
Whose lotus like feet is begged by Rema,
And who enters in to Samadhi easily.
5. Grama gamyam, manasabhi dhooram,
Characharasya prabhaavathi hethum,
Karaba soonya mathabhiramyam,
Namyaham Bhairavam Induchoodam.

5. I salute Bhairava who wears the crescent,

Who goes to the villages and is far away by his mind,

Who is the cause of dazzle of moving and unmoving things,

Who is produced from nothing and entertains his mother.

Om Bhairavaya Namah