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| Saranagathi - Salutations to all the great men in the world |
Once upon a time….
Eh! Bansuri, what are you upto?
Hi Sankara, How are you? I am just starting to write my new story series…
Oh ! Not Again, We already had enough with your “Shri Rama Dhootham”, hehehe…!
How rude! I didn't expect that from you?
Oh!, you have still not given up your expectation? Well, leave it. How did you enjoy this year summer camp?
Marvelous! It was so good to see our Guruji back in action. I have decided, no matter what kind of work I may be held up with, I am never going to miss any of the camps organized by Sadhana Sangama.
Sounds good, I think you are indirectly telling me that I shouldn't miss the future camps, as I did this time, Isn't it Bansuri?
You got that right Sankara! We really missed you….
When Guruji is there with you, what is there to miss my friend?
I cannot argue with you. You know what! I am struggling to come up with a new story series. Didn't know what to write, how to write and even if I write something, if it would be of any purpose!
Did you think about all these when you started writing “Shri Rama Dhootham”?
No, it wasn't planned.
Then why you are worrying so much. It would come on its own, don’t’ worry. If something has to be shared through you, it would happen. Don’t break your head too much on this. Just surrender yourself completely…
Ah! How many times Guruji has said this, I wish I could do that wholeheartedly.
Gita Govinda says, “Surrender at the feet of your Master, He will show you the way to God “…
Sankara, Seems like I have heard about Gita Govinda somewhere. Who is the author of it?
Sri Jayadeva Gosvami!
I think there are still many great people about whom I don’t know much. If you are not in hurry, can you share few more information about Sri Jayadeva?
Are you trying to find some knot for your story in the blog Bansuri ?
I don’t know if I would do that. But still I am eager to know more about him Sankara.
Ok then let me share what I know & read about him:
About 500 years ago, in a village called Bilvagam, near the sacred city of Jagannath-Puri in the state of Orissa, lived a pious couple by name Narayana Sastri & Kamalabhai. They lead a very auspicious family life devoting their life into God’s worship & service to his worshipers. Even after married for twelve long years, the couple didn't have any child. Even though Narayana Sastri wasn't much worried about this due to his complete devotion into God’s service, his wife Kamalabhai had a great desire to have a child and she always accompanied her husband to the temple to put forth this request at the feet of Jagannath.
Swami Rama used to say “make your mind one-pointed with a desire that motivates you to pray; absorbed in your desire for prayer, the mind becomes calm. When the mind is calm, the Great Majesty reveals itself to the mind, and the purpose of prayer is accomplished”.
In same way, Kamalabhai’s one pointed prayer with pure devotion & love paid dividends.
One night , in the dream of Narayana Sastri, Sriman Narayanan appeared in his true form holding a lotus flower in the lower left hand, Kaumodaki gada in the lower right hand, Panchajanya Shanka (conch) in the upper left hand and Sudarshana Chakra in the upper right hand.
Spellbound by the appearance of the God, whom he was prostrating daily in the temple and whom’s prayers he was reciting throughout the day, Narayana Sastri did full prostration before Him.
“My dear bhakta, I am greatly moved & satisfied with the utmost devotion you and your wife Kamalabhai are showering. I bless you with the boon of what your wife is praying me all these days”. Lord vanished immediately after uttering this and it also made Narayana Sastri to wake up from his dream.
Immediately, he woke her wife Kamalabhai who was in deep sleep and shared his vision of Sriman Narayanan in the dream and what he had said to him. He then asked his wife:
“Did you ask for any particular boon from the Lord”?
She replied, “I am happy that our Lord has heard our prayers. What else can a woman ask for other than to get blessed with a child? I only prayed to bless us with a child who can carry on our work”
Hearing this Narayana Sastri felt saddened and his wife could notice it immediately. She then asked:
‘Did I say anything wrong? Why your face is frown suddenly’?
“Kamala, we both have surrendered at the feet of Krishna and I was praying all these years to give us the Moksha, the eternal bliss. Now you have prayed for a child which would lead us to commit more Karma and lead us to have birth again & again on this earth. I am not happy with what you did!
Saying this, with full of despair, Narayana Sastri lied down and after few hours of such helpless state, he slept without his notice.
Sriman Narayanan, not willing to trouble his true followers, appeared on Narayana Sastri’s dream again.
“My dear Bhakta, for Grihastha’s it is very important to lead a good family life and for that a child is very much required. How can you expect to seek that eternal bliss without leading a good family life? Without realizing this truth why did you hurt your wife who is also very dear to me”?, the lord said with pleasing voice & disappeared.
Waking up again from the dream, Narayana Sastri, much relieved now, shared about it with Kamalabhai who was also blessed this time with similar vision. The couple both thanked the lord for his mercy & love. Not willing to go to sleep after having such a delight dream, both spent rest of the night in singing the praise of the lord.
After few seasonal changes, the couple were blessed with a lovely child. The child looked vibrant with full of grace on its face. The couple believed that the child was born to give solace to the entire world and hence they named him ‘Jayadeva’.
Sri Jayadeva from his childhood was found very pious & deeply attached at the service of the lord. He helped his parents in all the activities of the lord’s worship and was grown in a very sacred manner.
When, Sri Jayadeva reached the age of marriage, his parents prayed to the lord to show them a good daughter in law who could understand & lead a similar virtuous family life as they did.
Since Sri Jayadeva was a blessed child, Lord Jaganath himself took this task at his hand to search a suitable alliance for his Bhakta.
Similar to Narayana Sastri & Kamalabhai, Sriman Narayanan had also blessed another couple who were childless for many years with a daughter by name ‘Padmavathi’. On her age of marriage, the lord himself appeared in her’s parents dream and asked them to get their daughter married to Jayadeva by providing reference about him.
When Guru or the Lord take charge of your life, things happen even before you plan for it. In same way, it didn't take much time for both the parents to meet & share their divine experiences with each other. All the arrangements for the marriage started unfolding.
Realizing the devotion & love of Padmavathi towards his parents & Lord, Sri Jayadeva too wholeheartedly accepted her as his beloved wife.
Bansuri!, Are you listening?
Hmm… yeah, why you ask so ?
You seem to be not so interested?
Hmm…! yeah, frankly I didn't find the story interesting. It’s OK so far without any twists & turns actually.
Hahaha.. Bansuri!, you have been spoiled by watching quick action movies & emotional TV saga’s. Great soul’s life needs to be listened patiently. Don’t’ expect any dramatic turns & events and don’t think it’s too difficult to believe though it may look fantasy sometimes. Just listen to it and take whatever you feel like.
OK Sankara!, I got your point, keep continuing…
That's good, then listen:
The newly wedded couple spent their married life together in the service of lord by praising his deeds & play through beautiful songs. Sri Jayadeva Gosvami had a long wish to bring a particular portion of Padma Purana (one of the eighteen purnas) which talks about Sri Radha Krishna’s divine love. He wanted to compose them in the form of devotional songs.
He wanted to sing Lord’s rasa play with full of devotion and spread the blissful ecstasy among lord's worshipers. If it’s the wish of the lord, who can stop it from happening.
One fine day, when Sri Jayadeva, worshipped whole-heartedly to bless him in his new endeavor at the sanctum sanatorium of famous Jagnnath Puri temple, suddenly he heard the temple bells striking on its own with divine light peeking from the temple windows.
Sri Jayadeva took it as Lord’s blessings & thus started writing his grand immortal poem “Gita Govinda”, which celebrates the glorious divine love of Radha and Krishna. Though outwardly it may look as if it’s all about rasa leela of Radha & Krishna’s divine love, inwardly, if one starts contemplating upon it, it reveals the great Advaita philosophy explaining Jeevatma & Pramatma.
One fine day, when Sri Jayadeva, worshipped whole-heartedly to bless him in his new endeavor at the sanctum sanatorium of famous Jagnnath Puri temple, suddenly he heard the temple bells striking on its own with divine light peeking from the temple windows.
Sri Jayadeva took it as Lord’s blessings & thus started writing his grand immortal poem “Gita Govinda”, which celebrates the glorious divine love of Radha and Krishna. Though outwardly it may look as if it’s all about rasa leela of Radha & Krishna’s divine love, inwardly, if one starts contemplating upon it, it reveals the great Advaita philosophy explaining Jeevatma & Pramatma.
The work started flowing in the hands of Sri Jayadeva with the grace of the lord. One fine day, when Jaya Deva was working on the composition of ‘Gita Govinda’ as usual, he suddenly got struck with the thought flow he got while composing it.
Jayadeva Gosvami was greatly perturbed. “How can I make these words come from the mouth of my Lord Krishna, the supreme controller of unlimited millions of universes?” Many times he asked himself, “Should I write such a thing?” and many times he decided, “Yes, I should.” But even though he wanted to do it, he could not bring himself to write this line.
Finally he felt he had done a great blunder with the way he wanted to write that particular Ashtapadi that came to his mind. He cursed himself stating he had committed a great sin by thinking the lord in that way.
Sankara, it’s quite interesting now. What was that he wanted to write which made him feel that he has committed a great sin?
Do you want me to say everything today itself Bansuri? It’s already dark, let me go home & take some rest. I don’t want to miss my Meditation that our Guruji has taught us. Let’s meet at the same point tomorrow & take it up from where we left today…
Oh No! Sankara, please don't go...
Forgot what our Guruji says, 'Come what may, never miss your Sadhana'...
Oh No! Sankara, please don't go...
Forgot what our Guruji says, 'Come what may, never miss your Sadhana'...
Hmm.. right! I agree, Let me also sit for meditation today...
That's sounds like a good sadhaka.... Good Bye Bansuri!
Good Bye Sankara! will be waiting for you…
That's sounds like a good sadhaka.... Good Bye Bansuri!
Good Bye Sankara! will be waiting for you…
('Saranagathi' will flow...)
Few glimpses from 'Gita Govinda':
Poet Sri Jayadeva starts his famous "Geeta Govinda' meditating upon the incarnations of Sri Maha Vishnu on the earth, to protect the righteous and punish the wicked from time to time.
yadi hari-smarane sarasam mano
yadi viläsa-kaläsu kutühalam
madhura-komala-känta-padävalim
srnu tadä jayadeva-sarasvatim
If your heart yearns to delight in remembrance of Sri Hari; if you are hankering to contemplate upon him with intense affection; if you are over whelmed with curiosity to know about his skill in amorous pastimes; then by all means read this book. You will find my lovely poetry to be extremely relishable. Although it is so emotive and mellifluous, if you are not possessed of the aforementioned qualifications then you must not read it. This literature is not for you.
praLaya payOdhi jalE dhruta vA nasi vEdam vihita vihitra charitra makhEdam kESava dhruta meena Sareera jaya jagadeeSa harE ||
temporary world in the form of a fish and save the Vedas from the ocean of
universal devastation, just as a ship effortlessly rescues a drowning man. May
you be victorious.
kshitirati vipulatarE tava tishTati prushThE dharaNi dharaNakina chakra garishTE kESava dhruta kachchapa roopa jaya jagadeeSa harE ||
O Kesi Nisudana! O Jagadisa ! O Hari! Assuming your tortoise form, you held the
earth upon one part of your expansive back. The fame of the impression made
by the earth on your back is ever-increasing. May you be victorious!
vasati daSana SikharE dharaNi tava lagna SaSini kaLanka kalEva nimagna kESavadhruta sookara roopa jaya jagadeeSa harE ||
O Jagadisa! O Kesava! O Hari! O you who have assumed the form of a boar!
As the moon appears to contain a blemish, similarly, the earth is situated upon
your tusks. May you be victorious!
tava kara kamalE nakha madbhuta Srungam daLita hiraNyakaSipu vara bhrungam kESavadhruta narahari roopa jaya jagadeeSa harE ||
O Jagadisa! O Hari! O Kesava! You have assumed the form of Nrsimha,
part man and part lion. With the wonderful, sharp nails of your excellent lotus
hands, you tear apart the body of Hiranyakasipu, just as a bumblebee tears a
flower. May you be victorious!
chalayasi vikramaNE balimadbhuta vAmana pada nakha neera janita jana pAvana kESavadhruta vAmana roopa jaya jagadeeSa harE ||
O master of the entire universe! O Sri Hari! O Kesava! Assuming the form of a
dwarf, you cheat King Bali on the pretext of begging for three paces of land.
The population of the universe has become purified by the water that touched
your toenails (the Ganges). O wonderful Vämanadeva, may you be victorious!
kshatriya rudhiramayE jagadapagata pApam snApayasi payasi Samita bhava tApam kESavadhruta bhrugu roopa jaya jagadeeSa harE ||
O Jagadisa! O Hari! O Kesi Nisudana! You have assumed the form of Bhrgupati
(Parasuräma). You have dispelled the anguish of the material world by
destroying the dynasty of the reigning military caste and purifying the universe
with the water of their blood. O you who have appeared as Bhrgupati, may you
be victorious!
vitarasi dikshuraNE dikpati kamaneeyam daSamukha mouLi balim ramaNeeyam kESavadhruta rAma Sareera jaya jagadeeSa harE ||
O master of the universe, Sri Hari! O killer of the Kesi demon! Assuming the
form of Sri Räma, you engage in battle with the ten-headed demon king,
Rävana, and distribute his extremely attractive and coveted crowned heads as
sacrificial offerings to the presiding demigods of the directions such as Indra.
May you be victorious!
vahasi vapushi viSadE vasanam jaladAbham halahati bheeti miLita yamunAbham
kESavadhruta haladhara roopa jaya jagadeeSa harE ||
O Jagat-svämi! O killer of the demon Kesi! O Hari! You have assumed a brilliant
white complexion in your form as Baladeva Prabhu. You wear blue clothes that
resemble the beauty of newly formed, fresh rainclouds. It seems that the River
Yamunä has hidden in your cloth, fearing the blow of your plough. O carrier of
the plough, may you be victorious!
nindasi yajna vidhE rahaha Sruti jAtam sadaya hrudaya darSita paSughAtam kESavadhruta buddha Sareera jaya jagadeeSaharE ||
O Jagadisvara! O Hari! O Kesi Nisudana! You have assumed the form of Buddha.
Being compassionate and sensitive, you decry the Vedas when you see the
violence inflicted upon animals in the course of sacrificial performances. May
you be victorious!
mlEchcha nivaha nidhanE kalayasi karavALam dhoomakEtumiva kimapi karAlam kESavadhruta kalki Sareera jaya jagadeeSa harE ||
O Sri Hari, controller of the universe! O Killer of Kesi! Assuming the form of
Kalki, you wield a fearsome sword that resembles a foreboding star as you
slaughter the barbarians. May you be victorious!
Sri jayadEva kavErida mudita mudAram SruNu Subhadam sukhadam bhava sAram kESavadhruta daSavidha roopa jaya jagadeeSa harE ||
O Jagadisvara! O Sri Hari! O Kesi-nisüdana! O you who appear in ten different
forms! May you be pleased to hear this magnanimous prayer of glorification
by Sri Jayadeva, which bestows both happiness and auspiciousness. It is the
extracted essence of all material existence.
(story of Sri Jayadev inspired from 'Maha Bhakta Vijaya'. Poem extracts are from the book 'Sri Gita Govinda')
1 comment:
Interesting and beautifully written
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