Monday, September 28, 2015

śloka to get a Guru

Anyone on the ādhyātmic path yearns for a sadguru. Not sure where i read this but reciting the 29th śloka from śri bhagavatpāda śankaracāryā's śivānandalahari is recommended to find one:

त्वत्पादांबुजमर्चयामि  परमंत्वां चिन्तयाम्यन्वहम्
त्वामीशं शरणंव्रजामि वचसात्वामेव याचे विभो |

वीक्षां मे दिश चाक्षुषीं सकरुणां दिव्यैश्चिरं प्रर्थितां
शम्भो लोकगुरो मदीयमनसः सौख्योपदेशं कुरु ||29||

(very rough) Meaning:

i worship your lotus feet and think about you everyday, O bhagavān!

i just have a request from you - please look towards me with your compassionate look - the look that the devā-s pray for too. O Guru of the universe, please give me the upadeśa (guidance) that is felicitous to my mind.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Sage aruṇagirinātha's tiruppugazh in 'Kaaviyathalaivan'

Lovely rendering. Hats off to A.R.Rahman and the director. [sage aruṇagirinātha and the divine tiruppugazh].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r484qPBbqg
This is #36 in tiruppugazh (EvinainErvizhi). A very helpful comment below the audio-only version of the video (which also has the ālāpane) also gives the meaning of these particular verses in English (slightly edited below):

Here I am - extremely lustful, chasing the 'arrow-shaped' eyes of women, characterless, unread, an impoverished soul afflicted by diseases due to my previous karma , lacking in truthfulness.

I've come to You to seek Your holy blessings. Please do not discard me.

Your holy bejewelled feet with anklets should give me eternal bliss....will you give me your feet to attain this bliss?

Once the sage Narada, who is praised by all Lords, informed you of the existence of a Kuruva girl (Goddess Valli) and you accompanied her in the deep forests and became a warrior.

O my Lord, mount the holy peacock, O, younger son of Manonmani, the mother of good speech,  abode in your favorite holiest city (Thiruchendur) where the shrubs and groves reaches the skies, O Perumal (Muruga)!

A word-for-word meaning and sAhitya is given here.

This is one of those songs that transport you to a different era, a different world - that doesn't care for your corporate/academic success - a world of sweet devotion and perfect simplicity and sincerity.