Reflections on Punya Shravana Keertana -Abhangs

ABHANGS 

Series 002

Our Vithal Shasti today at Sreemath Anantheshwra temple, and we take the lords name in Abhanga -with Bhaktajan Vatsale
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AV_dHIkBl4

Bhaktajan Vatsale -abhang from Sant Namdev is so simple and yet so rich in meaning and depth-Simple translation-
1) Ye hi ho Vittahale-bhaktajana vatsale -is the fervent Call of the Bhakta- the Seeker to Lord Vitthala, sung with devout faith to come and grant Moksha..Mukti
2) Karuna kallo re Pandurange- The bhakta-seeker calls to the Karuna Compassionate Vitthala.
2) Sajala jalada dhara pitambara paridana--is a brief Varnan (description) of Lord Vitthala's apparel cloth of pitamber colour and Varnan is a part of stotra & bhajan to describe the Lord as seen by a bhakta The figure of speech (metaphor) in the likening of complexion of Vitthala to a dark rain cloud is very often seen in descriptions of Shri Krishna in so many Bhakti lyrics across all of India by all poets and singers. -sajala jalada dhara pitambara paridana
3) Yehi hi uddharane,...KeshiRaje-4--You alone are the means -way "uddharane" addressed to Keshi Raje-To Keshava -is one of Lord VIshnu's names
4) Nama mhane- tu vishvasachI janani --Chanting the Nama (name) alone is precribed all Sants till date as a way to Mukti- The words now take us to the Divine Mother "Jagad Ambe” sought by Namadeva -
5) Kshirabdhi Vasinee-Jagad-ambe-lines to Divine Mother "JAGAD-AMBE" refers to Shri Mahalakshmi Devi-consort of in Shri Vishnu in ksheer-sagara and she is OM Shree Prakruti Namaah the first Name in the Ashtottara...-
Sant Namadevs words acknowledges the Divine Mother seen in Lord- as one. Prakruti & Purusha and as we say Lakshmi Narayan, Uma Maheswara and so on
FINALLY: Nama manhe -"Vishwasa tu Janani" totally acks the Divine Mother-and the Lord as same in complete faith. In our tradition Bhaktas see the Divine as Mother like a child seeks and so the Divine Mother worship of out great tradition .
The Universality of the divine in worship is thus seen.
Total, implict Faith –is Vishwas and can be understood as Vishwa-Swaas, the very breath of Life and addressed to "JAGAD AMBE". The Divine only created the Universe after all- (Shraddha -Bhakti-Vishwas is the core). See the ref to this word (name ) in Sri Vishnu Sahasranama &Gita.
And finally that the Chanting of Lords name with ----Namah - of Vithala (& Mahalakshmi ) takes us across samsara .This is to chant of the earnest Seeker-
 
So divine..--just listening and with words and meanings is even much better-
 
Bhajan Sampradaya integrates people and cultures.
 
RGDS
TR
 
(Bhaktajana vatsale in  raaga Vrindavani Saarangi)