Although the Wind

Although the wind
blows terribly here,
the moonlight
also leaks
between the roof planks
of this ruined house.

---by Izumi Shikibu (974-1034)

Translated by Jane Hirshfield and Mariko Aratani

Munājāt: The Intimate Prayers

In glory Thou art merciful, in perfection divine;
Neither need of space nor wish for time hast Thou;
No being is like Thee, nor art Thou like any.
Clearly Thou art within the soul,
and the soul lives by what Thou art...
Pir-i Ansari has drained a cup of the Wine of Love;
Like Majnun, he wanders drunken and bewildered over the world.

O God, by the mercy of the Name that Thou art,
And by the honor of those qualities which are Thine,
Come to my rescue, since Thou alone has the power.

O God let my eye see naught but how Thou dost nourish and sustain me,
And my heart choose naught but the way of Thy servitude.

O God, when I consider Thee, I am a king among kings,
   there is a crown upon my head,
But when I consider myself, I am one of the bereft,
   and upon my head is dust.

O God, I confess my weakness and my helplessness,
I am aware of Thy kindness and thy bounty.

O God, the pure must beseech Thy forgiveness;
What must the impure do?

O God, could I have forgiven sins from the beginning,
I would never have committed one.

O God, all fear Thee, but Thy Abdullah fears himself,
For from Thee comes all good and from him all evil.

O God, how can I avoid my fate?
And where shall I run from what shall be?

O God though my sins are inordinate,
Thy forgiveness is unlimited.

O God, with Thy favor there is no need for refuge at any threshold.
Ahead lies danger, and I have no way back.
Take my hand, for other than Thee I have no refuge.

O God, what virtue is this that accompanies Thy friends?
With what privilege hast thou brought them into the world,
That whosoever found Thee would know them,
And whosoever knew them would find Thee!

O God, whatever Thou hast offered I have bought;
From the two worlds I have chosen Thy friendship alone.

O God, beside Thy love all fires are cold;
Without Thy love all favor is pain.

O God, though the night of separation is dark,
  yet I am satisfied,
For the morning of union is near.

O God, though Satan misguided Adam,
Who gave him his daily bread?

O God, lift this veil from the Way
And abandon us not to ourselves.

O God, out of Mecca came Abu Jahl (an enemy of the religion),
And from a temple of idols Abraham,
It is a matter of grace, all else is pretext.

O God what Thou hast sewn I have worn,
And what Thou hast poured into my cup I have drunk;
Naught of this, for all my striving, was of me.

O God... my heart sings always of its longing for Thee,
The soul in my body breathes for Thee,
And if someday a plant grows upon my grave,
Each leaf will emanate the fragrance of Thee.

 --- from Munājāt: The Intimate Prayers of 

K̲h̲wājih ʻAbd Allāh Anṣārī.

Enter the Door - 17

One day Manjushri stood outside the gate when Buddha called to him: “Manjushri, Manjushri, why do you not enter?”

“I do not see a thing outside the gate. Why should I enter?” Manjushri answered.

--- Zen koan "Manjushri Enters the Gate" from
 "The Iron Flute"

RuNa Hartru Ganesha Stotram

From the Kṛṣṇa-yāmala-tantra

kailaase parvate ramye shambhum chandraartha shekharam |
shaDaamnaaya samaayuktam sapracCha naga kanyakaa ||
devesha parameshaana sarva shaastraartha paaraga |
upaayam ruNa naashasya krupayaa pada saampratam ||
samyakprushTam tvayaa bhadre lokaanaam hitakaamyayaa |
tatsarvam samprakshaami saavadhaana avadhaaraya ||
asya shree ruNa hartru gaNapati stotra mantrasya |
sadaa shiva rushihi | anushTup Chandaha |
shree ruNahartru gaNapati devataa ||
goum beejam | gam shaktihi | gom keelakam | sakala ruNanaashane viniyogaha |
shree gaNesha | ruNam Chindi | vareNyaM | hum | namaha | phaT
iti kara hrudayaadi vinyaasaha
sindooravarNam dvibhujam gaNesham lambodaram padmadaLe nivishTham |
brahmaadi daivaihi parisevyamaanam sidairyutam tam praNamaami devam ||
srushTyaadou brahmaNaa samyakpoojitah phalasiddhaye |
sadaiva paarvateeputrah ruNanaasham karotume ||
tripurasya vadhaatpoorvam shambhunaa samyagarchitaha |
sadaiva paarvateeputrah ruNanaasham karotume ||
hiraNyakashyapvaadeenaam vadhaarthe vishNunaarchitaha |
sadaiva paarvateeputrah ruNanaasham karotume ||
mahishasyavadhe devyaa gaNanaathah prapoojitaha |
sadaiva paarvateeputrah ruNanaasham karotume ||
taarakasya vadhaatpoorvam kumaareNa prapoojita |
sadaiva paarvateeputrah ruNanaasham karotume ||
bhaaskareNa gaNeshohi poojitashcha susiddhaye |
sadaiva paarvateeputrah ruNanaasham karotume ||
shashinaa kaantivruddhyartham poojito gaNanaayakaha |
sadaiva paarvateeputrah ruNanaasham karotume ||
paalanaayacha tapasaam vishvaamitreNa poojitaha
sadaiva paarvateeputrah ruNanaasham karotume ||
idam tvruNa haram stotram teevra daaridrya naashanam |
ekavaaram paThennityam varshamekam samaahitaha ||
daaridrya daaruNam tyaktvaa kubera samataam vrajet |
paTham to yam mahaa mantrah saartha
pancha dashaaksharaha ||
shree gaNesha ruNam Chindi vareNyam hum namah phaT |
imam mantram paThedante tatashcha shuchibhaavanaha ||
ekavimshati sankhyaabhihi purashcharaNa meeritam |
sahasraavartana samyak shaNmaasam priyataam vrajet ||
bruhaspati samo gyaane dhane dhanapatirbhavet |
asyai vaayuta sankhaabhih purashcharaNa meeritam ||
lakshamaavartana tsyamya gvaanChitam phalam aapnuyaat |
bhoota preta pishaachaanaam naashanam smruti maatrataha ||
iti shree krushNayaamala tantre umaamaheshvara samvaade ruNa hartru gaNesha stotram samaaptam|| 

I See

I consider the positions of kings and rulers as that of dust motes. I observe treasure of gold and gems as so many bricks and pebbles.
I look upon the finest silken robes as tattered rags.
I see myriad worlds of the universe as small seeds of fruit, and the greatest lake in India as a drop of oil on my foot.
I perceive the teachings of the world to be the illusion of magicians.
I discern the highest conception of emancipation as golden brocade in a dream, and view the holy path of the illuminated one as flowers appearing in one's eyes.
I see meditation as a pillar of a mountain, Nirvana as a nightmare of daytime.
I look upon the judgment of right and wrong as the serpentine dance of a dragon, and the rise and fall of beliefs as but traces left by the four seasons.

---by Gautama Buddha

Chinnamasta Hridayam

shrIgaNeshAya namaH |
shrIpArvatyuvAcha |
shrutaM pUjAdikaM samyagbhavadvak{}trAb{}janiHsR^itam |
hR^idayaM ChinnamastAyAH shrotumichChAmi sAmpratam ||1||
OM mahAdeva uvAcha |
nAdyAvadhi mayA proktaM kasyApi prANavallabhe |
yatvayA paripR^iShTo.ahaM vakShye prItyai tava priye ||2||
OM asya shrIChinnamastAhR^idayastotramantrasya bhairava R^iShiH,
samrAT ChandaH, ChinnamastA devatA, hUM bIjam,
OM shaktiH, hrIM kIlakaM, shatrukShayakaraNArthe pAThe viniyogaH ||
OM bhairavaR^iShaye namaH shirasi |
OM samrATChandase namo mukhe |
OM ChinnamastAdevatAyai namo hR^idi |
OM hUM bIjAya namo guhye |
OM OM shaktaye namaH pAdayoH |
OM hrIM kIlakAya namo nAbhau |
OM viniyogAya namaH sarvA~Nge |
iti R^iShyAdinyAsaH |
OM OM a~NguShThAbhyAM namaH |
OM hUM tarjanIbhyAM namaH |
OM hrIM madhyamAbhyAM namaH |
OM aiM anAmikAbhyAM namaH |
OM klIM kaniShThikAbhyAM namaH |
OM hUM karatalakarapR^iShThAbhyAM namaH |
iti karanyAsaH |
OM OM hR^idayAya namaH |
OM hUM shirase svAhA |
OM hrIM shikhAyai vaShaT |
OM aiM kavachAya hum |
OM klIM netratrayAya vauShaT |
OM hUM astrAya phaT |
iti hR^idayAdiShaDa~NganyAsaH |
raktAbhAM raktakeshIM karakamalalasatkartrikAM kAlakAntiM
vichChinnAtmIyamuNDAsR^igaruNabahulodagradhArAM pibantIm |
vighnAbhraughaprachaNDashvasanasamanibhAM sevitAM siddhasa~NghaiH
padmAkShIM ChinnamastAM ChalakaraditijachChedinIM sa.nsmarAmi ||
iti dhyAnam |
vande.ahaM ChinnamastAM tAM ChinnamuNDadharAM parAm |
ChinnagrIvochChaTAchChannAM kShaumavastraparichChadAm || 2||
sarvadA surasa~Nghena sevitA~NghrisaroruhAm |
seve sakalasampattyai ChinnamastAM shubhapradAm || 3||
yaj~nAnAM yogayaj~nAya yA tu jAtA yuge yuge |
dAnavAntakarIM devIM ChinnamastAM bhajAmi tAm || 4||
vairochanIM varArohAM vAmadevavivarddhitAm |
koTisUryyaprabhAM vande vidyudvarNAkShimaNDitAm || 5||
nijakaNThochChaladraktadhArayA yA muhurmuhuH |
yoginIstarpayantyugrA tasyAshcharaNamAshraye || 6||
hUmityekAkSharaM mantraM yadIyaM yuktamAnasaH |
yo japettasya vidveShI bhasmatAM yAti tAM bhaje || 7||
hUM svAheti manuM samyagyaH smaratyartimAnnaraH |
Chinatti chChinnamastAyA tasya bAdhAM namAmi tAm || 8||
yasyAH kaTAkShamAtreNa krUrabhUtAdayo drutam |
dUrataH sampalAyante chChinnamastAM bhajAmi tAm || 9||
kShititalaparirakShAkShAntaroShA sudakShA
ChalayutakhalakakShAchChedane kShAntilakShyA |
kShitiditijasupakShA kShoNipAkShayyashikShA
jayatu jayatu chAkShA chChinnamastAribhakShA || 10||
kalikaluShakalAnAM karttane kartrihastA
surakuvalayakAshA mandabhAnuprakAshA |
asurakulakalApatrAsikA.amlAnamUrti
jayatu jayatu kAlI chChinnamastA karAlI || 11||
bhuvanabharaNabhUribhrAjamAnAnubhAvA
bhavabhavavibhavAnAM bhAraNodbhAtabhUtiH |
dvijakulakamalAnAM bhAsinI bhAnumUrti
bhavatu bhavatu vANI chChinnamastA bhavAnI || 12||
mama ripugaNamAshu chChettumugraM kR^ipANaM
sapadi janani tIkShNaM ChinnamuNDaM gR^ihANa |
bhavatu tava yasho.alaM Chindhi shatrUnkhalAnme
mama cha paridisheShTaM Chinnamaste kShamasva || 13||
ChinnagrIvA ChinnamastA ChinnamuNDadharA.akShatA |
kShodakShemakarI svakShA kShoNIshAchChAdanakShamA ||
vairochanI varArohA balidAnapraharShitA |
balipUjitapAdAb{}jA vAsudevaprapUjitA || 15||
iti dvAdashanAmAni chChinnamastApriyANi yaH |
smaretprAtaH samutthAya tasya nashyanti shatravaH || 16||
yAM smR^itvA santi sadyaH sakalasuragaNAH sarvadA sampadADhyAH
shatrUNAM sa~NghamAhatya vishadavadanAH svasthachittAH shrayanti |
tasyAH sa~NkalpavantaH sarasijacharaNAM satataM sa.nshrayanti sA.a.adyA
shrIshAdisevyA suphalatu sutaraM ChinnamastA prashastA || 17||
idaM hR^idayamaj~nAtvA hantumichChati yo dviSham |
kathaM tasyAchiraM shatrurnAshameShyati pArvati || 18||
yadIchChennAshanaM shatroH shIghrametatpaThennaraH |
ChinnamastA prasannA hi dadAti phalamIpsitam || 19||
shatruprashamanaM puNyaM samIpsitaphalapradam |
AyurArogyadaM chaiva paThatAM puNyasAdhanam || 20||

|| iti shrInandyAvarte mahAdevapArvatIsa.nvAde
shrIChinnamastAhR^idayastotraM sampUrNam ||

Lakshmi Narasimha Karuna Rasa

Sri Lakshmi-Narasimha Karuna Rasa  stotra. By Adi Shankaracharya

1. Shrimat-pavo-nidhi-niketana chakra-pane
bhogindra-bhoga-mani-rajita punya-murte
yogisha shashvata sharanya bhavabdhi-pota
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Lord, Your form is all beautiful because you are the master of the goddess of fortune. You reside in the ocean of milk, and You carry the Sudarshana disc in Your hand. Your all-auspicious form is made even more resplendent by the jewel-like body of Anantadeva, the king of serpents upon whom You rest. You are the eternal deliverer from the ocean of birth and death for all those who seek Your shelter and You are the master of all mystics. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
2. Brahmendra rudra-marud arka-kirita-koti
sanghattitangri-kamalamala-kanti-kanta
lakshmi lasat-kucha saroruha-raja-hamsa
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Lord Brahma, Lord Indra, Lord Shiva, the Maruts and the sun-god all fall down with their tens and millions of helmets at Your lotus feet, which are most dear to the goddess of fortune, Lakshmi, who appears as beautiful as a royal swan enjoying the lotus flower of Your chest. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
3. Samsara-dava dahanakula bhishanoru
jvalavalibhih ati-daghda tanuru-hasya
tvat pada-padmasarasim sharanagatasya
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
The conditioned soul suffers on the path of repeated birth and death exactly like one caught in a forest fire. Being fearful, his body burnt by the licking flames, he cries most pitiably. Just as one tormented by a forest fire may take shelter in a pond. Your lotus feet are just like a pond giving refuge to the surrendered soul from the forest fire of samsara. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
4. Samsara-jala-patitasya jagan-nivasa
sarvendriyarta-badishagra-jhashopamasya
protkampita-prachurataluka-mastakasya
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
O abode of the universe, I have fallen into the net of repeated birth and death. Just like an aquatic animal, I eagerly accept the hook baited with the sense objects. And just as the fish is caught trembling, and his head is cut off, so my real consciousness is lost as I am punished by the material nature. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
5. Samsara-kupam ati-ghoram agadha-mulam
samprapya dukha-shata-sarpa-samakulasya
dinasya deva kripaya padam agatasya
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Having fallen into the horrible and bottomless well of repeated birth and death, I am tormented by the serpent of hundred fold miseries. In this fallen condition, O Lord, by Your mercy I am surrendered to Your lotus feet. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.  
6. Samsara-bhikara-karindra-karabhighata
nishpidyamana-vapushah sakalarti-nasa
prana-prayana bhava-bhiti-samakulasya
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
You slay the king of the demons, Hiranyakashipu, whose body is as strong as an elephant by squeezing him with your hands. In this way You destroy all miseries by breaking the fearful cycle of birth and death. You are the ultimate goal of life for those who are disturbed by fear of material existence. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
7. Samsara-sarpa-visha-digdha mahogra-tivra
damstragra-koti-paridashta vinashta-murte
nagari-vahana sudhabdhi-nivasa shaure
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
I have been bitten by the tens of millions of terrible sharp fangs of the snake of material existence. Having been injected with its powerful poison, I have lost my consciousness as the eternal servant of Krishna. The best remedy for snakebite is nectar, therefore O Lord Shauri, You reside in the ocean of nectar and Your carrier is Garuda the great enemy of snakes. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
8. Samsara-vriksha agha-bijam ananta-karma
shakha-yutam karana-patram ananga-pushpam
aruhya dukha-phalinam patitam dayalo
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
The tree of samsara, or material existence, is sprouted from the seed of sinful desire. The unlimited reactions to fruitive activities are its branches, the senses are its leaves and its flowers is Cupid’s attraction of sex desire. O merciful one, I climbed up this tree but I have only obtained the fruit of misery and am now fallen. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
9. Samsara-sagara-vishala-karala-kala
nakra-graha-grasita-nigraha-vigrahasya
vyadhasya raga-nichayormini piditasya
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
In the broad ocean of material existence I am broken and smashed again and again by the powerful waves of my accumulated attachments. Grasped in the jaws of the fearful crocodile of the external time factor, I am pierced, ripped apart, and swallowed. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
10. Samsara-sagara-nimajjana-muhyamanam
dinam vilokaya vibho karuna-nidhe mam
prahlada-kheda-parihara-kritavatara
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
O all-powerful, ocean of mercy, cast Your glance upon me. I am bewildered, helplessly sinking in the sea of samsara. You descended to remove the distress of your devotee Prahlada Maharaja. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
11. Samsara-ghora-gahane charato murare
marogra vbhikara mriga prachurarditasya
artasya matsara-nidagdha-suduhkhitasya
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
O Murari, I have fallen into the pit of material existence and I am wandering just like an animal greatly tormented by fear of horrible death that awaits him. Distressed and miserable, I am burnt by envy. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
12. Baddhva gale yama-bhata bahu taryajantaha
karshanti yatra bhava-pasha-shatair yutam mam
ekakinam para-vasha chakitam dayalo
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Binding me with ropes, the servants of Yamaraja drag me to his abode, beating me severely along the path. Bound by material existence in hundreds of ways, I stand alone, helpless and trembling, under the influence of the superior force of daiva maya. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
13. Lakshmi-pate kamala-nabha suresha vishno
yajnesha yajna madhusudana vishvarupa
brahmanya keshava janardana vasudeva
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
You are the Lord of Lakshmi and the master of the demigods. O Vishnu, Your navel is just like a lotus. You are the Lord of sacrifice and the embodiment of sacrificial performance. O Madhusudana, Vishvarupa, You are always favorably disposed to the brahmanas. O Keshava, Janardana, Vasudeva, O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
14. Ekena chakram aparena karena shankham
anyena sindhu-tanayam avalambya tishthan
vametarena varadabhaya-padma-chihnam
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
In one of Your four hands You hold the Sudarshana disc and in another a conch. With another You embrace Lakshmi, who was born from the milk ocean, and with another on the left You bestow fearlessness. The palm of that hand which is raised to give the benediction is marked with the lotus symbol. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
15. Andhasya me hrita-viveka-maha-dhanasya
corair mahabalibhir indriya-namadheyaiha
mohandhakara-kuhare vinipatitasya
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Although I was very wealthy, I am blind and without discrimination. I have been robbed of my great treasure (Krishna consciousness) by the thieves known as the senses. Despite all my attempts to appease them with different types of offerings, they have thrown me into the pit of illusion and darkness. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
16. Prahlada-narada-parasara-pundarika
vyasadi-bhagavata-pungava-hrin-nivasa
bhaktanurakta-paripalana-parijata
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
You reside in the hearts of the best devotees such as Prahlada Maharaja, Narada Muni, Parashara Muni, Pundarika, Vyasadeva and others. You are very fond of Your devotees and You are their parijata tree of protection. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
17. Lakshmi-nrisimha-charanabja-madhu-vratena
stotram kritam shubha-karam bhuvi shankarena
ye tatpathanti manuja hari-bhakti-yuktaha
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
This prayer, bestowing auspiciousness in this world, has been composed by Shankaracharya, who is a honeybee in the lotus flower of the feet of Sri-Sri Lakshmi-Nrisimha. Those who read this prayer with devotion to Lord Krishna attain the shelter of Sri Sri Lakshmi-Nrisimha’s lotus feet and also attain their eternal spiritual form, which is never annihilated.

Om Sri Narasimhaya Namaha

Born to Sing

WHEN THOU commandest me to sing it seems that my heart would break with pride; and I look to thy face, and tears come to my eyes.
All that is harsh and dissonant in my life melts into one sweet harmony-and my adoration spreads wings like a glad bird on its flight across the sea.
I know thou takest pleasure in my singing. I know that only as a singer I come before thy presence.
I touch by the edge of the far spreading wing of my song thy feet which I could never aspire to reach.
Drunk with the joy of singing I forget myself and call thee friend who art my lord.

---by Rabindranath Tagore (7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941)

Peonies

the flowers bend their bright bodies,
and tip their fragrance to the air,
and rise,
their red stems holding

all that dampness and recklessness
gladly and lightly,
and there it is again —
beauty the brave, the exemplary,

blazing open.

--- by Mary Oliver