'Sangeetha Kadal', Muththu Swamy Dikshithar.

Sri MuththuSwami Dikshithar was a great saint singer, one among the great Trinity of South India. The other 2 were, ThyAgarAja Srwamigal of Thiruvaiyaru and Shyama Shastri..The former was compared with .'Sangeetha Thenral' and the latter, with 'Isai Suravali'.                             
           Sri Dikshithar was a  very  good sishya of Chidambara Naadha yogi who was a Nadhopasaka, well versed in Mantra shastra and equally well versed in thanthra shastra. The guru taught all that he himself learnt and blessed his disciple to go to his native place and propogate Nadopasana. It means to teach 'Sangeetha Vidya totally drenched in absolute dedication to Almighty, The Supreme Being.
We should Love God Almighty, reducing to zero value every thing else.Almighty is ready to grant what all we require. He expects us to offer ourselves at the feet of Almighty.
       Many saints in India offered ' ananya' bhakti, single pointed bhakti to their heart's deity. My plan here is to try to give one adoration, (suththi) by Sri Dikshithar to Lord
Vinayaka.
      Sri MuththuSwami Dkeekshithar had composed sixteen kruthis on Vinayaka- Deity.  There are 16 different aspects of ' Sri Ganapathi  thathvam.  They are well identified 16 forms   of Lord Ganapathi, with different individual Dhyana forms. These details are available in the ' Vinayaka Puranam'. One among these ' Adorations of (Sthuthis) Shodasa Ganapathi, is presented here. What we try to learn and understand here is just a drop of the 'Sangeetha kadal' of Sri MuththuSwami Dkeekshithar.
    These are wonderfully important as an aspect of our unique and vast religion, closely knit with God realisation.
    P. Sri Mulaadhaara chakra   
             VinAyaka amoolya   vara pradhaayaka.....       (sri)         The human body is eqipped with 6 plexes or nerve centres called chackras. These are actually great spiritual potential energy centres. The spine extends from back of the neck to the 6th chackra. This 6th chackra is called Kundalini. Here rests the kinetic spiritual energy representing the shakthi of Devi. The God bearing the mame Shiva is actually the counterpart of Devi, the potential, spiritual energy.
     The 6 chackras/plexus, are MUlAdhAram, SwAdhishtAnam, MaNipUrakam,                            anAhatham,                                   vishudhdhi,                                   AgnA.        
       Each of these centres have 6000-nodes of nerves carrying informations to the brain. In the treatise on nAdopAsana the founders have revealed that these nerves are source-heads of 6thousand  Sangeetha-RAgas. The founders are great sages untouched by desire for material gains. With love and gratitude humbly we bow down our heads and learn the divine knowledge. So we learn that 72 Ragas are born in our nervous system and they have their divine role in God realisation.In 6 centres 72thousand nerves have their functions. Somewhere Swamy Shivananda writes, we human beings bring to use only a very meagre percentage of the natural divine capabilities of our brain.
    Coming back to our main stream, the six spiritually scientific nerve-centres along the spinal column have their parallel 6 swarasthanas in the Divine musical instrument, 'VeeNa'. Swarasthanas means, source of swaras for  Nadopasana in Sangeetha Vidya.
      A musician with spiritual knowledge about Godrealisation alone can help us in understanding what Sri Dkeekshithar has sung in this krithi.
     Six swara-sthanas are there in the 'Divine Music/Sangeetha instrument, VEENA', too. These 6 centres are the same as the 6 nerve centres already detailed, along the spinal cord in the human body.
     ' Mervum 24 seats -source points together make 25 Shiva thathvas'.
     In Mulaadhaara, Plex in our spine, lies the Kundalini the 'Divine Kinetic energy', in the form of a serpent. On this serpent, The the Deity bearing the name, 'Sri Muladhara chackra Vinayaka'  is standing on this serpent and dancing; He is doing classical- 'Divine dance.' An art form for which the Supreme Deity Nataraajan is the Source Artist and the    Supreme Being- the Creator'.

TavadAsOham, तव दासोहं: a translated offering

तवदासोहं तवदासोहं  तवदासोहं तवदासोहं तवदासोहं दाशरथे |

தவ தாஸோஹம் தவ தாஸோஹம்

தவ தாஸோஹம் தாசரதே                                                        (தவ தாஸோஹம் )

உனதடிமை நான் உனதடிமை நான்
உனதடிமை நான்  தசரதன் மைந்தனே                                 (உனதடிமை நான் )

वरमृदुभाष विरहितदोष
नरवरवेष दाशरथे ||
உயர்மென் மொழியோய் மாசில் மரகதமே
மாந்தருள் மாணிக்கமாய் வந்த தசரதன் மைந்தனே    (உனதடிமை நான் )

सरसिजनेत्र परमपवित्र
सुरपतिमित्र दाशरथे ||
தாமரைக்கண்ணா தூய்மையின் பொலிவே
இந்திரன் தோழா தசரதன் மைந்தனே                                   (உனதடிமை நான் )

निन्नुकोरितिरा निरुपमशूर
नन्नेलुकोरा दाशरथे ||
உனை வேண்டுகிறேன் உவமையில் வீரா
எனைக்காத்திடுவாய் தசரதன் மைந்தனே                          (உனதடிமை நான் )

मनविनि विनुमा मरुवसमयम
इनकुल धनमा दाशरथे ||
என் வேண்டுதல் கேளய்யா மறந்திடும் சமயமிதா
ஆதவன் குல ஒளியே தசரதன் மைந்தனே                       (உனதடிமை நான் )

घनसमनील मुनिजनपाल
कनकदुकूल दाशरथे ||

கருமுகில் வண்ணா முனிகணத்ராண
பொன்னுடையோய்  தசரதன் மைந்தனே                        (உனதடிமை நான் )

धरनि नीवंटि दैवमु लेदंटि
शरणनु कोंटि दाशरथे ||

மேதினியிலுனைப்போல் தெய்வமுமுண்டோ
சரணடைந்தேனுனை  தசரதன் மைந்தனே                     (உனதடிமை நான் )

आगमविनुत रागविरहित
त्यागराजनुत दाशरथे ||

வேதங்கள் தொழும் ஆசையில் அமுதே
த்யாகராஜன் தொழும் தசரதன் மைந்தனே                    (உனதடிமை நான் )

ThyAgarAja swAmigal's padaprayOgavaibhavam

ArAdhana.
Not a sangItagna, myself.
ArAdhana through my heartfelt adorations under the platforms of human media's of expressions.
 1.BhavAnjali.
 2.BhaktyAnjali.
 3.SAhityAnjali.
 4.GAnAnjali.
 5.MedhAnjali.
 6.DharmAnjali.
 7.TatvAnjali.
 8.Sarvagna-premAnjali.
 9.Mahura-sundara-bhAshA-PrayOgAnjali.
10.ShravaNAnjali.

TyAgarAja swAmy's padaprayOgavaibhavam
Kriti - Ela nI daya rAdu
rAgam - aTANa

1. This sAhityam is wonderfully woven by the combinations of akshara-dhwani, choice of rhyming words pulsating with the guNamAhAtmyam of Sri RAMA.

2. To understand and appreciate the divine grace itself flooding in the rAga necklace carrying the precious word-designs rich with 24-carat devotion of the great saint-singer.

3. One should try to go through the life of the saint-singer with special reference to the spirit of bhakti (devotion), which he inherited by birth, and through RAMA's grace.

The main point that i try to stress is that Sri tyAgarAja SwAmigaL  poured out the lore of his kritis through his soul, which stayed ever-immersed in Sri RAMA.

Sri SwAmigal did not labour through his intellect.

To express the same in a different choice of words, the output through the intellect can never gain the divine collaboration which the pining soul attracts, rather claims.

This is the formula of the TRUTH with the lore of all the saint-singers of our infinitely-blessed land.

Our land is blessed with a grand pavilion of saint singers like Mirabai, Surdas, Kabir, Sri Narayana Teerthar, Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar, Sri Syama Shastri, Sri Annamacharya, Sri Purandaradasa, Sri Swati Tirunal, Sri Oothukkadu Venkatakrishnan, Subramanya Bharati, and many many more.

5. At an interval of six akshara-kaalams, one long vowelwith a long consonant sound and the effect is a wonderful rhyme.

bA-la-ka-na-ka-ma-ya
chE-la-su-ja-na-pa-ri-
pA-la-sri-ra-mA
lO-la-vi-dhru-ta-sa-ra
jA-la-su-ba-da-ka-ru
nA-la-vA-la-ga-Na
nee-la-na-vya-va-na
mA-li-kA-bha-ra-Na                                          (Ela-ni-daya...)


Words that describe the form of RAMA's beauty (roopam)
sarasija lOchanaha
kandarpa-sundaraha
lAvaNya-rAmaha
jithAnanyaja
sAmajavara-gamana
mOhanakara
maragathAngana
neeraja nayana
sArasAksha
AjAnubAhu yuga
payOjAksha
manOhara
divya sundaruni
srivasudevar
sOmasooryalOchanuni
sarasIruhEkshaNa


Words that describe the RAMA's guna visesham.

suguNAlaya
kalyANarAma
sampathkara
srikara
Ananda kanda
sAdhujana prEma
sAdhu hridh
sArasAbja pAla
sAmanigamaja
sudhAmaya gAna vichakshaNa
guNa sheela
dayAlavALa
nAdachala deepa
muraLivAdana vinOda
mAna rakshaka
kAmita phala dAyaka
mridu subhAsha
tyAgarAja kula vibhUshaka
rAga rahita
sudhA nidhi
    There are 3 charanams in this kruthis with the wonderful choice of rhymes, presenting rupa lavanyam, guna visesham and exploits (Leela's). The ocean of Swamigal's vocabulary is immense. Rhyming words, beautifully tailored required in the context are waiting for his command. Design of the Kruthis takruthis embroidered in the suitable Ragas curve beautifully, purely ordained under the divine canopy of Sri Rama's grace.
   A great ocean of bliss is lying mostly untapped as the treasure, Divine bliss, for the citizens of Bharath. Many from abroad are enjoying the Karnataka 'Sangeetha concerts'. All that I want is to stress that the treasure of Divine bliss had been there for all of us to transcend enjoying with our hearing the Sangeetham; let the Sangeetham with rich spiritual content and Raga lead  the soul of each one of us into the world of Divine bliss. The final destination of  all human souls is, as planned by The Supreme Being is Divine bliss, The Spiritual realm. Sri ThyAgarAja Srwamigal pined for that Spiritual abode, where Sri Rama reigns as The Supreme Being. Swamigal did attain that realm. Swamigal refers to that realm as ' Apunaraavruththi Padam'. A Divine abode, after reaching which a human soul need not be born again.

Ganapati Muni

      Sri Ramana Maharshi is the well-known sage of Thiruvannamalai.  Ganapati Muni  was a scholar, devotee, and sishya of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. It was this Ganapati Muni who gave the name-Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. Ganapati Muni came to Thiruvannamalai and saw a yogi sitting in absolute silence on the Arunachala hill for quite a long time. He recognised  the Yogi as a great Rishi and named him Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. ''s the saying goes: an enlightened person only can recogniise another enlightened one."
     "An intense effort is called Tapas. A tapas performed for the fulfilment of a desire is not tapas.
Until we reach the ultimate knowledge of the Self we have to continue tapas and Ganapati Muni did just that."
    " In September 1903, during Navaratri festival, Ganapati Muni and his brother arrived at Arunachala. It was already dusk when they reached. It is the custom of southerners to visit the temple of that place as soon as they arrive even without washing themselves. Such a visit is called Dhuli Darshanam. They stayed at the temple till 8P.M. the town became silent. They begged at one or two Brahmin houses for food, but could not get any as it was Ekadasi day, when nobody would cook food. Ganapati and Sivarama were very much tired and hungry. They thought it better to settle down on the pial of a house and try to sleep. Accordingly they selected the pial of a house and settled themselves to sleep. Suddenly, a Brahmin with a shining face came running and said that he was performing Ekadasi and it cannot be fulfilled if he could not feed at least two Brahmins with good food immediately. He begged them to accept food at his house. It was 10P.M. and it looked ridiculous to talk of Dwadasi or Ekadasi at that time of the night. But as both the brothers were hungry, they accepted the invitation, had the feast and came back to the same pial and slept soundly till the morning.The Brahmin had given them betel in the end and they left the tops of the leaves on the pial while eating the nuts and leaves."
     "Early in the morning, Ganapati wokeup and wanted to wake up the brahmin host of the previous night and thank him before moving out. But when he looked at the house, to his surprise it was not a house, but temple of Vinayaka. Ganapati noticed the betel leaf remnants on the pial and so understood that as the brahmin or his wife were not to be seen anywhere and it was the outside of a temple it could be nothing other than a vision."
     "Ganapati awakened Sivarama and said, 'See, brother, how wonderful is God's grace! We did not even enquire the name of the brahmin who fed us last night. See there yonder the idol of Heramba. He is looking at us with a smiling face!"
     Mahatmyam nanu vaktum kassaktaha purushaste|
     Hastindranana bagyam sarvesham tava haste||
     'O'Lord Ganesha!Who can describe thy greatness! The prosperity of everybody rests in Thy hand.'
     "Ganapati and Sivarama saluted Ganesha. Ganesha looked as though he was blessing them."
     The event related above is taken from the biography of the great soul VAsishta Ganapati Muni who was an image of practical tapas which was practised only by Rishis in the past. It is for the benefit of the blog-viewers that I choose to present this event.

My best wishes for one and all. 

TRANSCENDENCE-Angel and Satan-3

     The de-adiction  campaigns conducted by BAPS children in India. Kalam records in 'Transcendence' thus 'the most noteworthy of all children's initiatives are the dedication Campaigns. I personally invited, to the Rshtrapaty Bhavan on 5th July 2007, the sadhus and child leaders who had helped to plan, manage and conduct this incredibly effective programme, and felicitated them. The statistics of this programme were staggering, and it's impact longlasting. In just 20 days , 23,000 BAPS children and 5,000 leaders contacted over 2.1 million addicts, of whom 630,000 pledged to give up their addictions to smoking, tobacco, alcohal, drugs, gambling and other vices. This amounted to saving for over 344 crore rupees, along with a priceless saving of human misery! The de-addiction campaign reinstilled my belief in the future of our nation through empowerment.
     Kalam asked the children, "How does one become great like Pramukh Swamiji?".The children looked at each other puzzled. I smiled and asked them to repeat after me,' If I have a beautiful mind, I will have beautiful thoughts; If I have beautiful thoughts, I will have a beautiful life; If I have a beautiful life, Iwill become a great soul like Pramukh Swamiji.' I should say all of us are to repeat what the children repeated. We all are children only so long as we do not know how to work out a beautiful life for us, along the lines taught by Kalam.
     Kalam further questioned the children,'Convincing people to leave their addictions is difficult. If somebody refusedd to leave his addiction, how did you deal with him?' The children were ready with their methodology, to deal. They explained to Kalam, 'President sir, we tried to convince them by showing them the specially printed photographic booklet and logically explaining the scientific basis of the harmful consequences of their habits.'
     Kalam says, 'I was delighted with the children's presentation and conviction., and further questioned, Why do people go back to their addictions? Even if you have freed them, why do they go back?' It was too difficult a question for those children. But they tried to reply and finally resigned, asking me to tell them. Now Kalam resorts to the story satan and angel or good and evil. Such stories are there in any religion to teach that if one always does good deeds he is helped by angels (divine helpers) and if one always does bad deeds he is ruled by satan who is rooted in evil.
     Kalam elaborates further'Remember there are two people sitting on everyone's shoulders. On the right sits the angel and on the left sits Satan.When Satan wins people go back to addictions, and when angel wins people are freed from addictions. Knowledge makes angel free and powerful. Ignorance makes Satan free and powerful.
   

"Transcendence": A few takeaways Part-2

     Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam met Pramukh Swamiji on 30th June 2001.'Resplendant in saffron robes, the gentle, fair complexioned Swamiji was radiating Divinity.' India had 1st vision, attainment of independence; that was achieved in 1947. The 2nd vision was Republic for India and that came to exist in 1950. 'The developing country India is to be transformed into a developed country within the next 30 years. How to bring such a transformation is the question in the minds of many great lovers of India'. This question was throbing in the mind of Kalam too. He presented it to Pramukh Swamiji.
     Now we will underastand about the great soul Pramukh Swamiji. Bochasanwasi Sri Akshar Purushotham Swaminarayan Sanstha(BAPS), social work in great dimension strengtghened by
many spiritually oriented, work force are serving in Africa, Europe, America, and the far east.Glory of India is taken to all these places in the form of Swaminarayan temples, strong fellowship of devotees and well wishers that encompasses millions worldwide. Now Kalam who met Pramukh Swamiji, the humble spiritual giant who is is leading them all, "finds a seed that could build a glorious crystal of a peaceful prosperous world, where all civilizations coexist harmoniously and accommodate each other. Let this now expand into public dealings-transparent governance and ethical business-based on truth".
     Kalam tells Swamiji, "we have identified five important areas to transform India; education and health care, agriculture,information and communication, infrastructure and technology. Swamiji, our problem is that we may present this to the government, But how do we create people with values to realise such a vision? What we need is a cadre of value-based citizens. For this you are an expert. We need your advice."
     Pramukh Swamiji replied,'Along with your five areas to transform India, add a sixth one-faith in God and developing people through spirituality. This is very important.' Kalam says "I was taken aback by the clarity, precision and force of his words." All of us who read this context must reflect about the anxiety and depth of Kalam's vision and what was the wonderful guidance offered by Swamiji. Only then we can absorb the guidance and turn into  value based citizens and have Kalam's vision and become part of the working force to realise that vision.
     Swamiji further elaborated, what he already said, "We need to first generate a moral and spiritual atmosphere. The present system is suffocating.The climate of crime and corruption is toxic to good thoughts and noble works. This must change. We need to raise people to live by the laws of the scriptures and bear faith in God. For this we need to rekindle faith in our scriptures and God. Without this there will be no transformation; nothing will be solved, and you shall not be able to achieve your dream." Further Swamiji stresses, "together with this worldly knowledge, knowledge given by God-spirituality-is equally necessary."
     "God's blessings are already upon you. I shall pray that your ideas are successfully realised. It was the wish of our Guru Yogiji Maharaj to produce spiritually enlightened, skilful and hard-working youths. Go and channel your efforts to ignite the minds of youths all over the world. Lead India!"
      The principle which all should try to understand, is that " the creative mind principle holds the secret of the power wielded by people who surround themselves with other brains. When a group of individual brains are coordinated and function in harmony, the increased energy created through that alliance becomes available to every individual brain in the group. Mutually supportive alliances, through which partners recognise their dependence on each other for the support and achievement of shared and private goals, makes the world go round."
     'Pramukh Swamiji collected best brains around him, and created harmony between them. By allying himself with great minds, whose vibrations of thought he absorbed into his own mind and by unifying the great minds around him, the sum and substance of the intelligence,experience, knowledge  and spiritual force of these enlightened people has been multiplied." Thus Kalam sums up the science behind the spiritual work-force behind the gigantic spiritual army of the 'BAPS'
     We have another great lesson from Pramukh Swamiji. Swamiji was answering around 700.000 letters from his devotees. They were all about family problems by devotees who await  guidance. He was patiently offering guidance for each devotee. Someone who was watching swamiji , answering letters enquired, "Swamiji, what can be done to prevent these problems and lessen these letters?" Swamiji gave an insightful answer,'If every family meets together, eats together and prays together daily, such problems  would not arise.' These words blossomed into one of the most successful BAPS initiatives: the ghar sabha. In this daily family gathering, the members pray, read scriptures, discuss values and amicably settle any differences.
  

Science and religion -Transcendence-6

     The  'big bang' occurred, causing expansion of energy and converting it to matter. Modern  calculations place this moment at approximately 13.82 billion years ago. God is a unique force; God caused the big bang and created the universe for some purpose. God is not a religious idea but is a Supreme force beyond all that exist. We are nothing but a part of dynamic universe beyond our comprehension, and there is a God even beyond the universe. These are the words of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam our 11th  president and Missile man. These are the first few lines of the chapter 'God is Source of the universe.'
     In this chapter, Kalam further gives details of formation of the solar system and other details. Later kalam says, 'Studying the universe is an awe-inspiring experience as profound as studying God.
For in studying the universe, we are contemplating God's work. And studying God is a balancing act.
A theologian is to suspend his sense of the sacred to understand deep truths. At the same time he should also spend time on his knees-perhaps both mentally and literally-revelling in the presence of God as he studies God's attributes. It is fascinating to look at the examples of fine tuning in the universe. We can see in every detail of the universe, the evidence for the existence of God. Logical analysis of the physical constants requires a good deal of spiritual breath holding.
     Then at one point Kalam identifies the the two fields, one the field of a rigorous scientist and the field of a person who believes in God. Here Kalam clarifies well. He says, 'There is no conflict in being a rigorous scientist and a person who believes in God who takes a personal interest in each one of us. Science's domain is in nature. God's domain is in the spiritual world, a realm inexplorable with the tools and language of science. It must be examined with the heart, mind and the soul-and the mind must find a way to embrace both.
     Last but not least we come to a most inportant point.when one recognises the desire to have a
reloationship with God,one also has to come face to face with one's own massive imperfections.
If you can see God in some way as a mirror to yourself, you realise just how far you fall short of
anything that you could be really proud of. And this can initially be a terribly distressing experience for anybody.
     God had a plan to create creatures with whom He could have fellowship: in whom he could inspire the moral law. in whose souls He could be infused, and whom He would give free will to make decisions about their own behaviour-a gift which is oftentimes misused. God is unique in giving His people ways for fellowship, to witness and to remember, what a mighty and merciful God He is.
     In the book-'Iswar kaun hai? Kahan hai? Kaisa Hai'. (Who is God? Where is He? How is He?) , the author  Sri Ram Pandit sharma, a great soul, advises us to take God as a partner in all our acivities, so that all our actions are successful. Another great soul propogates that one can talk with God like how one talks and discusses with one's friend.
     Were there not great souls like Meera, Kabir, Thulasi das, Thamiz saints 63 Nayanmars, 12 Azvars who spent their whole life contemplating and glorifying God. They realised God as a constant living force in their lives.