Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Govindashtakam

Satyam gyanamanantam nityamanaakaasham paramaakaasham
Goshthapraanganaringanalolamanaayaasam paramaayaasam
Maayaakalpitanaanaakaaramanaakaaram bhuvanaakaaram
Kshmaayaa naathamanaatham pranamata govindam paramaanandam

Extol Govinda, Who is the eternal bliss, Who is the eternal truth, Who is knowledge, Who is eternal, Who is beyond the skies, Who is the final limit, Who roams in the courtyard of cowshed in Vraja, Who needs no effort, Who is the final effort, Who is assuming various forms in the form of Maya, Who is without form, Who is the form of the universe, Who is Lord [incarnated] on the earth, and Who has no Lord.

Mritsnaamatsiheti yasodaataadanashaishava santraasam
Vyaaditavaktraalokitalokaalokachaturdashalokaalim
Lokatrayapuramoolastambham lokaalokamanaalokam
Lokesham paramesham pranamata govindam paramaanandam

Extol Govinda, Who is the eternal bliss, Who ran away with the fear of caning from Yasoda who said thus ‘‘Were You eating soil here?’’, Who then showed the world, the world beyond and the swarm of fourteen planes of existence in His open mouth [to His mother], Who is the basis or pillar of the existence of the three worlds, Who is the light of the world, Who needs no world to in, Who is the Lord of the world, and Who is the supreme Lord.


Traivishtaparipuveeraghnam kshitibhaaraghnam bhavarogaghnam
kaivalyam navaneetaahaaramanaahaaram bhuvanaahaaram
Vaimalyasphutachetovrittivisheshaabhaasamanaabhaasam
Saivam kevalashaantam pranamata govindam paramaanandam

Extol Govinda, Who is the eternal bliss, Who destroys the strength of the enemies of demi-gods, Who destroys the weight present on the earth, Who destroys the disease of metempsychosis, Who is the only one, Who eats freshly prepared butter, Who requires no food, Who is the food of the universe, Who is observed in the special consciousness state of spotless blossmed mind, Who cannot be [fully] observed, Who adores Shiva, and Who is always at rest.


Gopaalam prabhuleelaa vigraha gopaalam kulagopaalam
Gopeekhelanagovardhanadhritileelaalaalitagopaalam
Gobhirnigadita govindasphutanaamaanam bahunaamaanam
Gopeegocharadooram pranamata govindam paramaanandam

Extol Govinda, Who is the eternal bliss, Who is known as Gopala, Who took the form of a cow-rearer for the sake of sport, Who incarnated in the lineage of a cow-rearer, Who did spectacular sport by playing with Gopis and lifting the Govardhana mountain, Who was given a stainless name of Govinda by the cows (Kamadhenu), Who has many names, and Who is beyond the scope of perception of the Gopis.


Gopeemandalagoshtheebhedam bhedaavasthamabhedaabham
Shashwadgokhuranirdhootoddhatadhuleedhoosarasaubhaagyam
Sraddhaabhaktigriheetaanandamachintyam chintitasadbhaavam
Chintaamanimahimaanam pranamata govindam paramaanandam

Extol Govinda, Who is the eternal bliss, Who enters the meeting place of the group of Gopis, Who remains like an un-entered enlightenment in the state of being present at the meeting place, Whose beauty is added by the continuous association with the dust risen from the striking of cow-hooves at the ground, Who accepts devotion with happiness, Who is beyond reason, Who is reasoned with nice emotions, and Who is as great as the jewel of thought.


Snanavyaakula yoshidwastra mupaadaayaagamupaarudham
Vyaditasanteeratha digvastraa hyupadaatumupaakarshantam
Nirdhootadwayashokavimoham buddham buddherantah-stham
Sattamatrashareeram pranamata govindam paramaanandam

Extol Govinda, Who is the eternal bliss, Who sits on a tree having collected the clothes of the Vraja maidens bathing in the river, Who asked the Gopis to come closer to get the clothes back, Who is bereft of both unhappiness and passion, Who is wise, Who is situated inside the hearts of wise, and Who body is mere existence.

kantam kaaranakaaranamaadimanaadim kaalamanabhaasam
kaalindeegatakaaliyashirasi muhunrityantam nrityantam
kaalam kaalakalaateetam kalitaashesham kalidoshaghnam
kaalatrayagatihetum pranamata govindam paramaanandam

Extol Govinda, Who is the eternal bliss, Who is resplendent, Who is the reason behind reason, Who is the beginning of the universe, Who is without a beginning, Who is the passage of time, Who is without luminosity, Who at once started dancing after entering the water of Kalindi, Who is death, Who is beyond the play of death, Who is made of nothing [formless], Who destroys the malice of Kaliyuga, and Who is the reason for the existence of past, present and future.|


Vrindaavanabhuvi vrindaarakagana vrindaaraadhyam vande'ham
kundaabhaamalamandasmerasudhaanandam suhridaanandam
Vandyaasheshamahaamunimaanasa vandyaanandapadadwandwam
Vandyaasheshagunaabdhima pranamata govindam paramaanandam

I adore Govinda, Who is prayed by the group of Vraja maidens in the territory of Vrindavana, Who is prayed by demi-gods and Vrinda (a maiden), Who has a beautiful spotless smile like jasmine which gives the pleasure of divine nectar, and Who is the pleasure of friends. Praise Govinda, Whose dual-feet is worth of reverence by the minds of great sages and rest alike. Praise Govinda, Who is the abode of all the qualities. Extol Govinda, Who is the eternal bliss.


Govindaashtakametadadheete govindaarpitachetaa yo
Govindaachyuta maadhavavishno gokulanaayaka krishneti
Govindaangaghri sarojadhyaanasudhaajaladhautasamastaagho
Govindam paramaanandaamritamantah-stham sa samabhyeti

That who submits his (or her) mind to Govinda, chants the name of Govinda, Acyuta, Madhava, Vishnu, Gokulanayaka, Krishna and thus, washes all the sins by meditating on the lotus-feet of Govinda, and sings this Govindashtakam — he (or she) internalizes the divine nectar like eternally blissful Govinda.


Jai Shree Krishna !
Blessed Be...! 

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Gopika Viraha Geetam

Ehi Murare kunjavihare ehi pranata-jana-bandho
Hey Madhava Madhumathana varenya Keshava karunasindho

O Murari! O the One Who roams in gardens! O Friend of hapless people! O Madhav! O slayer of Madhu! O desirable one! O Keshav! O Ocean of mercy! Come close to us (says the Gopika).



Raasnikunje gunjati niyatam bhramarshatam kila kanta Ehi nibhrit-patha-pantha
Twamiha yache darshanadanam hey Madhusudana shanta

Hundreds of shiny bumble-bees are continuously buzzing in the gardens of (our) Raas. O non-dual path follower! Come close. We all are craving for the sight of You, O Madhusudan, the quiet one!



Shunyam kusumasanamiha kunje shunyah kelikadambah Deenah kekikdambah
Mridu-kala-nadam kila savishadam roditi Yamunaswambhah

The throne of flowers made in the garden is empty [because You are not here]; the sport at the side of Kadamb³ tree is missing too. The river Yamuna is consistently flowing with the rhythm of her waves imitating a cry; even she is missing Your presence.



Nav-neeraj-dhar-Shyamala-sundara Chandra-kusuma-roochivesha Gopi-gana-hridayesha
Govardhana-dhara Vrindavana-chara vanshidhara Parmesha

O the One who holds a new lotus! O Shyam! O Beautiful! O Moon faced and
flower bodied! O the ruler of our (Gopis') hearts! O the One who held
Govardhan Mountain! O cow rearer of Vrindavan! O Flute holder! O Supreme
God!



Radharanjana kansa-nishudana prantistavaka-charane Nikhil-nirashraya-sharane
Ehi Janardana peetambara-dhara kunje manthar pawane.
O enticer of Radha! O Slayer of Kansa (a mighty demon)! O Complete one! I am bowing into Your feet which is the shelter of the unsheltered! O Janardan! O the One, who is adorned with yellow robes! Come close to me in this garden.


Jai Shree Krishna !
Blessed Be...!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Shravan - The Holiest Month

Shravan month is the fifth month of the Hindu calender beginning from Chaitra, and is the most auspicious month of the Chaturmas. On Purnima or fullmoon day, or during the course of the month the star 'Shravan' rules the sky, hence the month is called Shravan. This month is spread out with innumerably religious festivals and ceremonies and almost all the days of this month are auspicious.
Shravan is considered the holiest month of the year. Each monday of this month, known as Shravana Somvar, is a special day in Shiva temples where the dharanatra hangs over the linga or the idol to bathe it with holy water, day and night. Devotees pile the linga high with Bel leaves and flowers and fast till sunset. The nandadeep (24 hour lamp) burns steadily in the temples.


It is believed that when the churning of oceans - Samudra Manthan - took place in the month of Shravan, fourteen different types of rubies came out. Thirteen of these were distributed amongst the demons, except Halahal (poison). Lord Shiva drank the Halahal and stored it in his throat. Hence the name Neelkantha (meaning blue throat) is attributed to Shiva.To reduce the strong effect of poison, Lord Shiva wore the crescent moon on his head. All the Gods, thereafter started offering the Ganges water to Lord Shiva to make lessen the effect of poison.
Since, this happened in the month of Shravana, since then the Shiva devotees offer the Ganges water in this month. It is considered highly auspicious to wear a rudraksha in Shravan month. As, Mondays or Somvars of Shravan month are specially observed with austerity. All Mondays are devoted to the worship of Shiva as this day is sacred to Lord Shiva. No other Mondays of other months are so greatly honoured.The belief is that in Shravan month, offering milk to Lord Shiva earns a lot of punya.

Om Namah Shivaya
Blessed Be...!