Reflections on Punya Shravana Keertana series

8th Dec 2013.

Reflections on Punya Shravana Keertana,
 Margarish 2013.
8th Dec 2013- I  write this  from the sheer joy and happiness, but  have no training in  musicology  and only listen as a Rasika. Music has given me so much Peace that with time on hand, did a study of the lyrics in the songs especially, the bhajans and linked it to our shastra for  my  swadhyaya. Now, I share this in all humility  and am open to suggestions and corrections. .

MUSIC--VERSES

Whilst many traditional bhajan are purely bhakti rasa, many have an amazing inner meaning in lyrics, with usage of a lot of metaphors and similies and nature especially.They are some times a bit abstract and often needs some study. It  can some times call for much reflection to understand the inner meaning fully. Even an explanation from a scholar in the given language with vedantic knowledge too. 

A few examples are taken:

Krishna bhajans in hindi may be in Bhojpuri, Vraj (Braj basha) or even in Mithila or Avadhi which are dialects.

• Many Shree Krishna bhajans are of UP & Bihar area origin a very  popular bhajan like the  "Baje Muraliya Baaje" has many words of local origin,not the hindi we may have studied in school or college. The Shree Hanuman Chalisa is in Avadhi dialect.

• In the South, Shree Chakra Rajeshwari , one of the very popular bhakti kritis is in 'mani pravala' a  relatively old style and combination of tamil and sanskrit.

Bhakti sangeet sung or Stotra chanted  i.e.Pattan of verses is given special importance in shastra.:

a) Stotra  is a 6 part  composition on a deity, often covering a specific aspect of our shastra.

b) Bhajan is simpler, most popular and most enjoyable in listening joy. 

    Bhajan has Rasatha + Madhuriya +Laya and with Bhakti & Bhaava ( often a few verses  only)

   An example is taken:

My late Mothers favourite bhajan "Sunale mana, amrita bhara-tu, ---Ramachandra ka naam --has 3 verses & chorus -

Verse1.

Sunale mana, amrita bhara-tu,

Ramachandraka naama, manavaa,

Ramachandra-ka nama manavaa

Ramachandra, ka nam.

Verse2. 

Janama Janama bhara

Janama Janama bhara,

Rama Bhajana kara , Bhajale Hari ka Naam

CHORUS: Sitaaa- Ram, Sitaaa- Ram Sitaa- Ram.

Bolo Bolo Sita Rama manava,

Bola Bola Sita Rama manava

Bola Bola Sita Ram.

Verse 3 

Narayana nara vesha banaave,

Raja putra bana jagata mey aave,

Apaara leela, Jag ko dikhaye, Purata mana ka kaam

CHORUS: Sita Ram, Sita Ram Sita Ram.

Bola Bola Sita Rama manava,

Bola Bola Sita Rama manava

Thus the essence of Ramayana, a major purana on Shree Rama avatara is sung with absolute simplicity and utmost bhakti. 

What can be better than this ?

Bhakti & Bhava are two aspects of worship & prayer-

English language may not easily translate  these words- It does not alway convey all dimensions as Bhava it self has so many aspects -

Bhava as Bhava-sagara: In the Hindu Sanskrit Dictionary on Bhava is explained as

QUOTE

Bhava: Subjective state of being (existence); attitude of mind; mental attitude or feeling; state of realization in the heart or mind.

Sattvika-bhava - one of the five essential ingredients of rasa; eight symptoms of spiritual ecstasy arising exclusively from visuddhasattva, or in other words, when the heart is overwhelmed by emotions in connection with the five primary moods of affection for Krsna or the seven secondary emotions.
The eight symptoms that constitute sattvika-bhava are:
(1) stambha (becoming stunned) ,
(2) sveda (perspiration) ,
(3) romancha (standing of the hairs on end) ,
(4) svara-bhanga (faltering of the voice) ,
(5) kampa (trembling) , vaivarna (pallor or change of color) ,
(7) asru (tears) , and
(8) pralaya (loss of consciousness or fainting).
(See also: Sattvika-bhava, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Then we  have 9 forms of Worship and Shravana is the first -i.e Listening --to Keertans Pravachana Bhajans etc.

Rgds 

TR

Contd Part 2 on Abhangs

Home & Family series 003

Home Alone (not the Movie )

Relationships- Why do we feel Isolated today?

A query asked in many forums and now in many age groups today is:

This extends to even under 50-60 age groups (not just senior citizens) and was  taken up some time back in a Heritage Foundation. This emerged:

1.The scene now in India especially in Metros is of many simple routines altered;        they have vanished with work and priorities altered across all over in India.                  TV Serials and  Cricket daily,  infact almost throughout the year have taken over in India mainly. Overseas it is not so nor so many TV channels.

2.Traffic and crowds also affects social calls with distances and expenses.

3. Heart to heart talks esp neighbourly chats , meals together and simple chai meets have reduced in many places to almost nil. TV watching often discourages visitors.

4. Own bedrooms with attached  TV and all facilities for privacy has led to Detached Families was a major outcry....but is a part of affluence in life now.

5. IT. /Laptop/ Mobile, Social online sites etc with advanced  Technology is fine, but not quite a substitute, as just does not a replace personal touch.
( Cut paste fwds do not  not really help to bond-and today we have a flood of it). 

Nothing is really shared now with dispersal of families and timings -

Few will admit this, but Research has shown up with Isolation and Depression increasing -

BBC Medic survey in fact attributes Health setbacks due to this isolation amongst elders.

Meal times is seldom shared in India -altered work timings changed in a 9-9 rat race, sees home life disrupted and a Rush Rush -stress dominating.

NOTE

Go to UK or Europe or  Singapore, where Lunch hour is fixed and no compromise, sees a sharp out  and in on time.Try altering their recess hrs on overseas business tours and you will be left standing alone on the sidewalk.Only we in India seem to have changed  this. WHY?

So what can we do . 

What matters and 5 Tips I  may suggest.

1) Meet people -share anything inc a simple Chai a cutting chai even. Just  20 mts chai meets helps.

2) Write personally, with a gentle touch.

Today we can write a nice letter if we want to. This is not an english composition or grammar test as in school to score brownie points. It is a Personal Contact on Email. We can add in pics too. Use to max advantage IT facilities in communication and the host of facilities available.

3) Share your Blogs and pics with  Picassa ,Slideshare etc,

Some one-- make  new friends will join and we broaden our circle of interest.

4) Select common topics; search and find them.

5) Now onto on a simpler and lighter  note take those  songs, to share on communication--which says it all :

Dakhiya Dak Laya features a Rajesh Khanna scene in a film-http://ww.smashits.com/palkon-ki-chhaon-men/dakiya-daak-laya/song-76645.html

Dont forget that great favourite of 70s "Hey, Mr Postman do you have a letter for me, by Karen Carpenter; my all time fav in Carpenter series--listen in at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHfddvbKb4w

CHEERS

TR

 

“PRAKRUTI -Mother Nature” blog

Greetings 

Sharing on nature with Friends---

If you like Nature.. Trees. Also Weather, Climate etc.please visit  

“PRAKRUTI -Mother Nature” –blog was started on 25th Dec 2010

http://prakruti-mothernature.blogspot.com/

Note 

As Airtel ID -Google link split, the ID ceased. I was unable to post or edit new posts .So it is now Read Only.

It has a focus on "Sthala Vrikshas" i.e. Temple trees linked to Hindu shastra, Graam Devatas, Temple culture etc and Vedic teachings is a focus in this.

Please join and contribute ideas-

Many experiences have  inspired me to  has turn more to Prakruti and to write also in Facebook in a group titled "Pancha Mahabhoots -5 elements".

My experiences in Life  brought me to a steady shift towards Nature as in our Vedas. Call it go green, ecology, environment or  religion or what ever, as you like it but it is essentially on nature.

“PRAKRUTI -Mother Nature” –blog was started on 25th Dec 2010

http://prakruti-mothernature.blogspot.com/

Sthala Vrikshas means the special tree of the location, devata and the Temple. All trees are linked to Hindu shastra -Vedic teachings and some have an extra special place is a focus in respective temples is a focus in this blog. 

Vrikshaa naam Pataye namaha 

rgds 

TR 

Home and Family series 002

Home - 002

All humans seek a Shelter, a Home to rest in and recoup daily after all the work is done. It is not just a  "Concrete Space" but a loving, sacred space that we live & spend the best part of our Lives. It thus becomes the most special place on Earth for one's family like a little Oasis or Heaven really. 
As they say "Be it ever so humble, there is no place like Home".

Sharing this note on my experience in Family &  house construction really as the  Home Making are possibly two most important things that a couple viz. a husband & wife jointly take on in Grihasta ashram. 
Even nature flora and fauna all agree here. (LOL) and Birds and Bees.
It may possibly not quite realised in many circles, but Home Making  is without doubt, one of the keys to Happy Living and this is done by both husband and wife  and not just one partner. It is also an enjoyable and very special part of our adult life, that we share with a spouse.

Sharing Memories on our  our House:
"Mahalakshmi" with Plants & Trees  and Home for 32 years.

There is  old desi (seen in many regional languages too) which can be translated as: "Build a House and also marry off your Children nicely. 
Then you will have seen what Life is really" 
Yes, an absolute truth  . We came here in end 1978- saw these vacant, but desolate road end  Approved plots. With 5 other buyers it was settled together;Same seller  for the end of the road plots but the Catch 22 for a low price was these end plots were on a blind road and our ground  tapered  7 feet below main road level so we had  fill in earth , then construct a road and get a pucca road laid to get a building sanction and many other hurdles. After endless delays it was finally approved as we had a clear and concise building plan as per guidelines. We had run into red tape delays for a long time and finally took  Vrata ; We offered prayers, vowed to  name the house "  Mahalakshmi" ( Mangesh-Mahalakshmi means Shiv Shakti), after our family  Guardian Deity. 
 It was  finally approved / cleared in March 1980 and so a ground floor 2 BHK House was built in just about 7 months. Finally when the construction  was over, one last hurdle was left to also search for an electricity cable as the Dept said we have no supply ! Fortunately with some helpful links  managed to get our electricity connection; mind you in the heart of a city, such bureaucracy !. Some kind people had also  helped us and so it was finally ready on 22nd Sept 1980,  completed.So we moved in. Thank you God----That was 32 years ago!!   
Deepa my daughter was 4, Vikram my son was just 5 months old  when we moved in . Many years later, my Grandson Keshav was born on 22nd September 2000, which is remarkable coincidence. We were the only family here and lived in a desolate, lonely place with snakes &mongooses often crawling in from Adyar estaury, even into our compound. I had to avoid  trying out a grass lawn after a close encounter. This area is adjacent to protected open vacant eco spaces.
 It was bare open ground with a seperation wall,  where our approved govt sanctioned plot / house stands and adjacent to Adyar Estuary and Theosophical Society is on other side of the river. 

 Many felt I had been totally crazy to have purchased this lonely end plot.
However we managed peacefully and happily, despite setbacks.
God Protects

                               Our house "Mahalakshmi"

GARDENING

WE began with planting abt. Rs 600/- worth of  40 plants, inc. 2 Frangipani saplings and also 5 Bougainvillas, a Guava tree, a Pomegranate (later fell in a storm)  and 2 coconut saplings which perished. We replanted anew and now yield 150 coconuts every 4 months, which we gratefully distribute at local Temples, all on just a small patch of  2600 sqft of land on which our house was built

Around  1992, we planted 18 Saplings with EXXNORA on our road.

WE now have avenue trees lining this  road. 

Rgds 

TR  

                                 Scene we saw in 1978

                         House occupied. pic taken in 1982

                                     Yellow Gul mohar planted - some how maintained

Plant a Tree

From Sringeri Math

Trees are noble -they bear the brunt of the hot sun but yet  give others ...all anyone shade, fruits & flowers, prevent soil erosion (in floods control).

Even when cut it gives warmth and shelter as fuel or building material.

So our ancients call a tree  Vriksha Kalpa viz tree treasure.

The Peepul  & Neem tree are often planted side by side as Shiva -Shakti -they grow and branches entwine with one another-- Temples are builts beneath this in the South .

Definitions of home
Where you lived at a particular time; an environment offering affection and security, home is where the heart is, there's no place like home; but possibly this says it most-wher you come to rest in peace and quiet ina safe shelter after a days hard work and toil.

 

Home & Family series-001.

REFLECTIONS
Sharing on Marriage after  42 years as friends often ask and query on my life's experiences

A long journey, from engagement in 1971 till date. Travelled a lot, sailed and with my wife with me for few years then settled ashore when the kids and family became a main priority.

Me in a shipping job even after I left sailing when our first child arrived. Then working  7 x 24 x 365 and short breaks only  to keep home going but decent Life and conditions -no luxury or frills; but a good decent life and  was able to catch up with childrens matters, beaches parks and annual holidays and simple meals outside occasionally.Add in time spent on PTAS, Clinics, Hospitals. Also, much time in Hospitals -frequent and long treatment for my dear Sudha. God Protected always,through all the travails.

When both our children were grown up, I found more responsibility adding on each year .Our 2 kids grown up and their share of whatever.OMG !!! Some experience, with loads of ups and downs like on a Roller Coaster of Life.

Best relaxation was Music and Nature, garden to keep life going pleasantly.It helped the most and with a lot of Swadhyaya and Reflection as a personal study to cope .Add in Sabbaticals, Retreats and spiritual Camps which helped greatly.Many Teachers along the way -

Yes,  a veritable pot pourri of experiences -much learning too.Hmmm and we some how managed and in the introductory note pic of 2009 (previous post), I am literally dozing off. Maybe just a sign of being very tired, and age catches up too plus a few health limitations,but ok and quite content and Thankful.  

FINALLY: Some fun and laughter, but overall, mostly Work & Responsibility, I feel.

Marriage is not a glitzy event.It is a Life time journey of Companionship with care & share and most of all hard work, sacrifice and unselfishness by both partners, to keep the home running. As the saying goes 'Roti, Kapda, Makaan Chalana with some sunshine and laughter also. Life has its great happy loving fun side and in moments too is worth all of it.

                                                    With Sudha at Woodlands

                                                      Our house "Mahalakshmi"

                                                 With our children 1984-Deepa & Vikram

                                             Our Grandson Keshav

I am Thankful for  the wonderful companionship of a kind , understanding spouse Sudha, who shared and helped all along the way -- 

Thank You Dear God

TR

GREETINGS

 Introduction :

I took to journaling with our company newsletter in 1992 in my work area. Many years later shifted to blogs in 2003.  Blogging – however as a hobby for me, really began only in 2009. I found Google &  FB blogging was convenient.The main topics I took up were nature, marine experiences of my ship working days, social, cultural -festivals etc.Somewhere in between added Management and HR.

Slowly I went on to  include a bit on  the customs and traditions of our Saraswat Konkani culture, using whatever experience I had and  the resources I could muster. 

I have written on Family - Connecting Roots and Homes linking to albums which were salvaged from old piles left over from from family members.

The benefit of old age is that we have enough Time to do such retrieval, archiving of old photos and album making .I used Face book mostly for this, but  found that most of my family & friends and family are not on FB. So am now starting this google blog.   

It is said that a blog is like an open diary on line which can be shared with friends and family. A blog is actually an open Online diary that one can share of memories, experiences and  links which is an account of one's own thoughts and ideas.

 I hope to make this blog as interesting as possible. So, starting this on Margarish, which is considered a very special month on dt. 3rd, December 2013.

Best Regards

TR

PS When Airtel mail ID link with Google was stopped, my Nature Blog also became inoperative--Now it is on a Read only basis at at http://prakruti-mothernature.blogspot.in/.