Govind Damodara Madhaveti

I have found an extremely beautiful bhajan on Krishna by Pandit Jasraj. It was posted on Youtube by Dharmaraksha. This bhajan is my current favorite. I found it while trying to search for the meaning of Balam Mukdam in my previous post, Krishna Stuti. This bhajan starts with the Shloka but is followed by utterly wonderful lyrics. Below is the translation taken from the youtube video itself:

kararavindena padaravindam
mukharavinde viniveshayantam
vatasya patrasya pute shayanam
balam mukundam manasa smarami

Translation: The one who keeps his lotus like feet on his lotus like mouth with his lotus like hand, I think of Balamukundan who sleeps on the vata pathra leaf.

Mangalacharan

vikretukama kila gopa-kanya
murari-padarpita-citta-vrttih
dadhyadikam mohavasad avocad
govinda damodara madhaveti

Translation: Though desiring to sell milk, dahi, butter, etc., the mind of a young gopi was so absorbed in the lotus feet of Krsna that instead of calling out Milk for sale, she bewilderedly said, Govinda!, Damodara!, and Madhava!

grhe grhe gopa-vadhu-kadambah
sarve militva samavaya-yoge
punyani namani pathanti nityam
govinda damodara madhaveti

Translation: In house after house, groups of gopis gather on various occasions, and together they always chant the transcendental names of Krishna: Govinda, Damodara, and Madhava.

sukham sayanam nilaye ca visnum
devarsi-mukhya munayah prapannah
tenacyute tanmayatam vrajanti
govinda damodara madhaveti

Translation: Devarsi Narada and other munis are always surrendered to Lord Visnu, who happily rests upon His couch. They always chant the names of Govinda, Damodara, and Madhava, and thus they attain spiritual forms similar to His.

jihve sadaiva bhaja sundarani
namani krsnasya manoharani
samasta-bhaktarti-vinasanani
govinda damodara madhaveti

Translation: O my tongue, always worship these beautiful, enchanting names of Krsna, Govinda, Damodara, and Madhava, which destroy all the obstacles of the devotees.

sukhavasane tv idam eva saram
duhkhavasane tv idam eva geyam
dehavasane tv idam eva japyam
govinda damodara madhaveti

Translation: Indeed, this is the essence found upon ceasing the affairs of mundane happiness. And this too is to be sung after the cessation of all sufferings. This alone is to be chanted at the time of death of ones material bodyGovinda, Damodara, Madhava!

sri krsna radhavara gokulesa
gopala govardhana-natha visno
jihve pibasvamrtam etad eva
govinda damodara madhaveti

Translation: O tongue, utter only these nectarean names, Çri Krsna, dearmost of Çri Radha, Lord of Gokula, Gopala, Lord of Govardhana, Visnu, Govinda, Damodara, and Madhava.

tvam eva yace mama dehi jihve
samagate dandadhare krtante
vaktavyam evam madhuram su-bhaktya
govinda damodara madhaveti

Translation: O my tongue, I ask only this, that upon my meeting the bearer of the scepter of chastisement (Yamaraja), you will utter this sweet phrase with great devotion: Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!

jihve rasajne madhura-priya tvam
satyam hitam tvam paramam vadami
avarnayetha madhuraksarani
govinda damodara madhaveti

Translation: O my tongue, you are fond of sweet things and are of discriminating taste; I tell you the highest truth, which is also the most beneficial. Please just recite these sweet syllables: Govinda, Damodara, and Madhava.

This beautiful picture is trying to depict the state of Radha Rani and Gopis in the absence of Krishna. All of them think of only Krishna & sing ‘Govind, Damodara, Madhaveti’ !

Krishna Stuti

This Krishna Stuti is very powerful and effective.

Below is the translation:

Mukam karoti vachalam,
pangum langayati girim
Yatkrupa tamahm Vande,
Paramanand Madhawam

Translation: You make those who have lost speech, eloquent speakers, Make the weak/handicapped cross mountains. Bless me with your Mercy, Krishna. You are the supreme abode of happiness

Kararavinde-na padaravindam
mukharavinde viniveshayantam
vatasya patrasya pute shayanam
balam mukundam manasa smarami

Translation: The one who keeps his lotus like feet on his lotus like mouth with his lotus like hand, I think of Balamukundan who thinks of recreating the world while lying on the Banyan tree leaf

vasude-vasutum-devam kans-charuna-mardanam
Devki paramanandam krishanam vande jagadgurum

Translation: You are Vasudev’ son, who killed Kansa & Charuna (Kamsa was Krishna’s evil uncle and Charuna was Kamsa’s advisor)

You are Devaki’s son, Krishna, I worship you because you are the supreme master (guru)

Tulsidas (Miracles)

Tulsidas was the great author of Ramcharitmanas, a poetic composition on Ramayana. Valmiki had first authored Ramayana in the Sanskrit language. The common man could not understand this language at that time. Thus, Tulsidas decided to rewrite Ramayana in the simple language of Awadhi in the late sixteenth century.

Such was the power of Tulsidas’s bhakti that he performed various miracles unintentionally. Miracles lay a foundation for reinserting trust in God. Thus, knowing about these miracles helps us increase our faith on God. So, those of you who don’t know already, I want to describe some of these miracles via this post.

Once Tulsidas was walking by, where he came across a man being taken for cremation. Finding Tulsidas, the widow of the man fell on his feet. Tulsidas blessed her with the ashirwad  (blessing) of always remaining wedded. Hearing this the relatives protested. They said, how being such a great Brahmin, he could give this blessing to a widow. Tulsidas said that he just said what Lord Ram made him say. He asked everyone to chant Lord Ram and close his or her eyes. Upon doing so, the man came back to life.

Hearing about this miracle, the Emperor of Delhi, Akbar invited Tulsidas to his court. He asked Tulsidas to perform some miracle. Tulsidas denied saying he has never performed miracles, Lord Ram is the one who does so. Akbar became very angry and imprisoned Tulsidas.  It was then Tulsidas composed the powerful Hanuman Chalisa in jail.  It is said he recited the Hanuman Chalisa hundreds of times. Upon doing so, a large hoard of uncontrollable monkeys laid siege on the jail in which Tulsidas was imprisoned. Akbar’s forces failed to control the monkeys who had created havoc in the prison as well as in the royal palace.  Akbar’s advisors informed him that this was because of capturing the great Brahmin, Tulsidas and his bhakti towards Lord Hanuman.  Immediately, Akbar apologized to Tulsidas and released him. When this happened, monkeys stopped their chaos and went out of the city. Such is the power in Hanuman Chalisa.

I will talk about more of his miracles in some other blog post.  For now this is good! 🙂

Hope you enjoyed this post. More, later!

-Prachi

Dharma (धर्म):

I want my first post to be something useful, that which will lay out the purpose for this blog. Thus, I want to talk about Dharma (धर्म) which is the essence of Indian Spirituality.

The word Dharma is lost now, especially amongst the youth of our generation. Dharma has various meanings. The one that makes most sense to me is: It is a Law/ behavior required to maintain righteousness in the world. Only for the establishment of Dharma, Lord Vishnu has taken the various avatars on earth. Without righteous behavior, there seems to be extreme distrust amongst individuals these days. Because of lack of trust and honesty there is growing amount of corruption and insecurity amongst individuals, amongst nations.

At the pinnacle of Dharma is Yudhishthira, known to be the son of Dharma himself. There were many instances in the Mahabharta that describes Yudhishthira’s greatness and righteousness. One such incident took place during the end of the twelve year exile period of the Pandavas. Once, the Pandavas were carrying out a task for a Rishi(ऋषि). In the process Yudhishtira became extremely thirsty. When Sahadeva, the youngest of the Pandavas when to fetch water, he found a lake gaurded by a Yaksha (a spirit). The Yaksha warned Sahadeva that if he drank water without answering his questions, the water would be poisoned. Sahadeva ignored him. When he drank the water, he died. Nakula did the same after he came looking for Sahadeva and thus he dies as well. So did Arjuna and Bheema. When none of the brothers returned, Yudhishthira went looking for them and arrived at the lake where his brothers lay dead. Hearing the Yaksha, he realized that only the Yaksha held answers to his brothers’ death. Therefore, he decided to answer the eighteen questions on Dharma which the Yaksha asked. The answers that Yudhishthira provided were insightful and are take aways for each one  of us.

 

Source: Ether Media

Some of the answers to the questions were (Source: Wikipedia):

Yaksha : What is heavier than earth, higher than heavens, faster than the wind and more numerous than straws?
Yudhishthira: One’s mother (value) is heavier than the earth; one’s father (respect) is higher than the mountains. The mind is faster than wind and our worries are more numerous than straws.

Yaksha: What is that which, when renounced, makes one lovable? What is that which is renounced makes happy and wealthy?
Yudhishthira: Pride, if renounced makes one lovable; by renouncing desire one becomes wealthy; and to renounce avarice is to obtain happiness.

Yaksha: Who is truly happy?
Yudhishthira: He who has no debts is truly happy.

Yaksha:What is the greatest wonder?
Yudhishthira: Day after day countless people die. Yet the living do not realize that it can happen to them. O Lord, what can be a greater wonder?

Yaksha: What is the path?
Yudhishthira: Argument leads to no certain conclusion, the Srutis (ears/hearing) are different from one another; there is not even one Rishi whose opinion can be accepted by all; the truth about Dharma and duty is hid in caves of our heart: therefore, that alone is the path along which the great have trod.

Upon hearing the answers, the Yaksha was very pleased.  He said that he would give back life to one of the brothers. He asked Yudhisthira to choose. Yudhisthira, chose Nakula as he was the son of Madhuri, Yudhisthira’s second mother. He gave a reason that he wanted sons born out of both the mothers alive. Listening to this, the Yaksha granted life to all the four brothers. He revealed his true form to Yudhishthira. He was in reality, Dharma himself. He disguised himself as the Yaksha to test Yudhishthira’s merit and righteousness.

The answers to the questions given by Yudhishthira were extremely beautiful and meaningful. If understood properly, these questions can serve as a guide for us humans to lead a rightful life.

Let me know what you think of this post! 🙂

– Prachi