Friday, August 2, 2024

Rishi's intuition in samadhi

 I watched a Youtube video of a foreigner who was trying to understand about Hinduism. And in course of this he expressed disbelief of how the Rishis in their samadhi or deep absorption could have revelations of the fundamental truths, principles of the universe.


Interestingly the very next day I was watching a video by Swami Sarvapriyananda of Swami Vivekananda's experiences at Almora. 

And just before that I was reading about Big Bang. 

And suddenly all these came together to enable me to make the following comment under that YouTube video which I am reproducing here.


"Regarding how the Rishis intuited the universal truths through their meditation - which Westerners find difficult to believe - I will give one relatively modern example to drive home the point.


Swami Vivekananda is a 19th century saint, teacher revered by many. His devotees consider him to be incarnation of a Rishi i.e. sage. 


And I am going to tell you of a well documented incident. At a place known as Kakrighat near Almora, India, in the Himalayan foothills he went into deep meditation which is called samadhi - and when he came out of it, he told his brother-disciple that he understood a mystery which he really wanted to know about - he saw the universe as a atom. Now this is late 1890s, much before Big Bang was proposed in the 1940s. And even as per Big Bang, the time from where we can measure things is from 10 to power -35 sec after Big Bang. By then the universe was the size of a pea, much bigger than an atom. 


So what Swami ji saw in his samadhi is much closer to origin of universe. And he said an atom - because in his time the smallest particle known was atom. Only a few years later were electrons, protons etc discovered. Maybe he had seen an even smaller particle than an atom, but there was no word for it then.


Here is a modern, recorded example of a person who intuited something, not through modern rational thinking and its mathematical or physical tools, but through the power of connecting to the One Consciousness that pervades everywhere.

Monday, July 22, 2024

Grace of Guru

Feeling high and mighty  we build castles in the air

Unaware that without the Guru's grace, it's just a pack of cards

Blown away by the gusts of wind or swept off by the floods

It's only in misery does 

This foolish mind remember of Guru n God


He who grants the light of knowledge dispelling ignorance and darkness once for all

Like the light streaming through the doorway of a just opened ancient vault


Established unshaken in wisdom, adorned with the essence of True Knowledge

Who provides for both material plenty n spiritual bliss, Salutations to that Teacher-Lord


Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Dakṣiṇa Kāli Dhyāna Shloka Translation

Karāla vadanām ghorām muktakeśīm caturbhujām
Kālikām dakṣiṇām divyām muṇḍaṁāla vibhuṣitām

Her mouth is gaping wide open, such terrifying sight, with braid free, and four hands
She is Daksina Kali, the Divine One, ornamented by a garland of human heads

Khaḍgābhaya varāmścinnam muṇḍam ca dadhatim karaiḥ
Mahāmeghaprabhām śyāmām tathā caiva digambarām

A scimitar, a blessing of fearlessness, and of boons, and of human head (signifying our arrogance) she holds in her hands
Of the hue of dark rain bearing clouds she is clad is the directions i.e. without clothes

Kaṇṭhāvasaktamunḍāli galad-rudhira-carcitām 
Karṇāvasaṁtānitaśavayugma virājitām

The human heads hanging from around her neck – blood from them dripping is anointing her throat. 
Her ears are adorned with twin dead bodies wrapped around

Ghoradaṁṣṭrām karālāsyām pinno-unnata-payodharām
Śavānām karasanghātaiḥ kr̥takāncim hasanmukhim

With terrible protruding teeth and gaping face, full and uplifted heavy breasts 
From her waist a skirt of human hands hangs as a girdle, as she smiles

Sr̥kkadvayagaladrakta dhāravisphuritānanām
Ghorarupām maharaudrim smaśānanilayavāsinīm

Blood is dripping from the corners of her mouth onto her neck
Giving her a terrific visage, She is the Great Raudri who resides in cremation grounds

Danturām dakśiṇām vyālīyuktalambikacoccayām
Śavarūpamahādeva hr̥dayoparisaṁsthitām

Her tongue lolls out through protruding teeth, her hair dense on the southern side
She is established (with her feet planted upon) the heart of Mahadeva who is lying in a lifeless form

Śivābhirghorarāvābhir-caturdikṣu samanvitam
Mahākālasamāyuktām śarvoparīratānvitām

Female jackals are howling in a heart rending manner which is reverberating in all four directions
She (Kali) is One with Mahākāla, in communion with śarva (a name of śiva)

Sukhaprasannavadanām smerānanasaroruhām 
Evam saṁcintayetkālīm smaśānalayavāsinīm

Radiating happiness and contentment with a lotus like smiling face
Thus we meditate upon the Kali who resides in cremation grounds

Kapilāratnasampūrṇapr̥thvidānasya yatphalam
Koṭihomasahasrasya devya dhyānena tatphalam

A brown cow, gems, entire earth – the fruit derived from donation of all of these 
And from a thousand crore homas, that much fruit is derived from meditating upon Devi (as mentioned above)

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Kancha Dalayatakshi Kamakshi

Partial translation of the famous krti Kancha dalayatakshi by Muthuswami Dikshitar

Kancha Dalaayataakshi Kaamakshi
Kamalaa Manohari Tripura Sundari

O Kamakshi, with eyes shaped like lotus petals full
O most beauteous of three worlds, Kamala*s delightful

Kunjara Gamane 
Manimanditha Manjula Charane


Your gait, having an elephant's ponderous majesty
With feet, adorned by jewelry gem studded, full of beauty

Maamava Shiva Panchara Sukhi Pankajamukhi
Guruguha Ranjani Duritha Bhanjani Niranjani 

She is verily like Siva, a parrot in (heart's) cage (refers to our atma in hrd chakra)
Blooming lotus like radiance
With mystical lore dalliance
Darkness removing brilliance.
Of spotless pure salience


Wednesday, January 31, 2024

JagadAnanda kAraka


In this panca ratna kRti ‘jagadAnanda kAraka’ composed in rAga nATa (tALa Adi), SrI tyAgarAja praises Lord Sri Rama

pallavi
jagad-Ananda kAraka
jaya jAnakI prANa nAyaka

anupallavi
gagan(A)dhipa sat-kulaja 
rAja rAj(E)Svara
suguN(A)kara sura sEvya 
bhavya dAyaka
sadA sakala

Hail the World's joy giving source
Hail the Lord of Janaki's life force

That Sun, king of the skies,
Whose lineage, much venerable
The Lord, king of kings, for
His incarnation deemed suitable

He, the fount of auspicious virtues
Worshipped by all the celestials
Who grants abundant fortunes
Which is complete and eternal















Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Sri Venkatesa Stotram - translation


(1) KamalA-kucha-chUchuka-kumkumathO
niyathAruNithaathula nIlatanO !
KamalAyatha-lochana !LOkapthE !
Vijayee bhava ! VenkatasailapathE ! 

From Shri's bosom the vermillion rubs red
Upon the body of the Lord of bluish hue
With eyes like lotus petals, to That 
Universal Lord of Venkata Hill, May victory be due

(2) sachathurmukha shaNmukha panchamukha
pramukAkhila dhaivatha mouLimaNE !
SaraNAgathavathsala ! SaaranidhE !
ParipAlaya maam VrushasailapathE ! 

Above the Gods - four, six and five headed  (Brahma, Kartikeya and Hanuman respectively), 
To That Head of all the Gods,that essence of opulence,
Who protects every seeker of refuge
May That Lord of Vrisha Hill, be my ultimate defence

(3) athivElatayA thava dhurvishai-ranuvEla kruthair-aparAdha sathai:
bharitham thvaritham VrushasailapathEparayaa krupayaa paripaahi HarE !

Having committed a hundred crimes
Trembling I come to the One difficult to approach
Carrying this burden I hasten to your feet
O Lord of Vrsha Hills, forgive me beyond all reproach.



Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Key purpose - Gita

 वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिता: । बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागता: ।। १० वीतरागभयक्रोधा: 

Freed from attachment, fear, and anger मन्मया: absorbed in Me माम् Me उपाश्रिता: taking refuge in ज्ञानतपसा by the fire of knowledge पूता: purified बहव: many मद्भावम् My Being आगता: have attained. 

10. Freed from attachment, fear, and anger, absorbed in Me, taking refuge in Me, purified by the fire of knowledge, many have attained My Being.

Chapter 4, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, translated by Swami Tapasyananda