Sri Hanuman - Dhira Maruti Gambhira Maruti

Dhira Maruti Gambhira Maruti

        This beautiful Bhajan as usual, we had heard our revd. Gurudev, Swami Dayatmanandaji maharaj sing in Dallas. He is a great admirer of Sri Hanumanji and incidentally his pre-monastic name also happens to be RAMDAS.
        In his interpretations of Ramayana, we have often heard him state that in South India,  Hanumanji is considered "Mukhya Prana" or Guru. He is the go-between the jiva (embodied soul which is Sita of Ramayana) and the Paramatman (God, Lord Rama of Ramayan). Paramatman, sends Guru with his signature (the signet ring so that jiva recognizes him as the messenger from his beloved lord), assuring the jiva of his reunion with his beloved lord. In this interpretation of Ramayana, the jiva, Sita, has been caught by Ravana (representing Maya). Jiva pitiful cries reaches the lord who is also desperately looking for his disciple. However, Lord sends Guru, Hanuman, first to prepare the jiva. The Lord Himself comes and destroys the Maya and Jiva is reunited for ever with his beloved Lord.   

धीर मारुती, गम्भीर मारुती	dhīra mārutī, gambhīra mārutī
धीर मारुती,  गम्भीर मारुती। वीर मारुती,  समर शूर मारुती  ॥	dhīra mārutī,  gambhīra mārutī | vīra mārutī,  samara śūra mārutī   ||
शक्त मारुती,  राम-भक्त मारुती। गीत मारुती,  संगीत मारुती  ॥१॥	śakta mārutī,  rāma-bhakta mārutī | gīta mārutī,  saṁgīta mārutī   ||1||
योगी मारुती,  परम-त्यागी मारुती। त्यागी मारुती,  विरागी मारुती  ॥२॥	yogī mārutī,  parama-tyāgī mārutī | tyāgī mārutī,  virāgī mārutī   ||2||
पवन मरुती,  लङ्का-दहन मारुती मौनी मारुती,  महा-ज्ञानी मारुती  ॥३॥	pavana marutī,  laṅkā-dahana mārutī maūnī mārutī,  mahā-jñānī mārutī   ||3||
दक्ष मारुती,  भक्त-रक्ष मारुती सदय मारुती,  राम-ह्रदय मरुती ॥४॥	dakṣa mārutī,  bhakta-rakṣa mārutī sadaya mārutī,  rāma-hradaya marutī  ||4||
दूत मारुती,  राम-दूत मारुती। भक्त मारुती,  परम-भक्त मारुती ॥५॥	dūta mārutī,  rāma-dūta mārutī | bhakta mārutī,  parama-bhakta mārutī  ||5||

Jai Thakur Om Thakur - Daniel Maharaj - 2018

Jai Thakur, Om Thakur - Swami Nirakarananda

July 24, 2018

Here Thakur is referring to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
We heard this melodious bhajan in waning light of the setting sun in the silent shrine of UK Vedanta Center in 1998 onwards.
Original account of the event is available at:
https://drikags-stories.blogspot.com/2018/05/a-story-of-love-daniel-mj-to-sd-2018.html

This song is copyright of Daniel Maharaj; Swami Nirakarananda.

https://youtu.be/s5vA4Afipfc

Jai Thakur, Om Thakur

O Thakur, grant us true dispassion

For the fleeting things of this world.

This mad game which seems to have no end

Can never satisfy the yearning of our hearts.

Jai Thakur, Om Thakur.

Lone we came, lone shall we depart.

Alas ! To whom shall we cry for help ?

You are our only friend, our only guide and solace,

We are your helpless children, we take refuge in You.

Jai Thakur, Om Thakur.

O Thakur, this is our prayer,

That we may have pure love for You,

May our thoughts dwell on You alone,

May all our deeds be offered up to You.

Jai Thakur, Om Thakur.

 (c) Nandini Mitra Banerjee

Itani BInati Raghunandan Se - Daniel Maharaj - 2018

Itani Binati Raghunandan Se - Daniel Maharaj - 2018

July 24, 2018

     We first heard this beautiful bhajan by Tulasidas sung by Revd. Swami Dayatmanandaji Maharaj when he visited us in Dallas in the late 1998s. Subsequently we heard Daniel Maharaj sing this in the UK Vedanta centre shrine. After many years, we had had the great opportunity to hear Daniel Maharaj singing this again with his own beautiful twist in tune.

     Original account of the event is available at:
https://drikags-stories.blogspot.com/2018/05/a-story-of-love-daniel-mj-to-sd-2018.html

 

https://youtu.be/hfFeXVRDpqY

    The lyrics are as follows:

ईतनि बिनती रघुनन्दन से - सिन्धु खमाज -कावाली	ītani binatī raghunandana se - sindhu khamāja -kāvālī
ईतनि बिनती रघुनन्दन से दुःख-द्वन्द हमारा मिटाओ जी॥	ītani binatī raghunandana se duḥkha-dvanda hamārā miṭāo jī ||
अपने पदपंकज पिंजर में चित हंस हमारा बैठाओ जी॥	apane padapankaja pinjara mein cita haṁsa hamārā baiṭhāo jī ||
तुलसीदास कहे करजोड़ी भवसागर पार उतारो जी॥	tulasīdāsa kahe karajoṛī bhavasāgara pāra utāro jī ||
- तुलसीदास	- tulsīdāsa

Meaning of the above bhajan.

The famous ardent devotee of Lord Rama, Sant Tulsidas, here is beseeching (Binati) his beloved Lord, Sri Rama (Raghunandan) to
- eradicate (mitana) all his suffering and doubts (Dukha-dwanda).
- capture and seat the swan (hamsa) , which is the heart (chita) of Tulsidas, into the cage (pinjara) of lotus (pankaja) feet (pada) of Lord and
- with folded hands Tulsi prays "please ferry-across (para) the ocean (sagara) of this world (bhava)"! 

(c) Nandini Mitra Banerjee

Make Me a Channel of Thy Peace - Daniel Maharaj

Make Me a Channel of Thy Peace - Swami Nirakarananda

July 24, 2018

  This hymn is also popularly known as The Prayer of St. Francis though there is dispute on the authorship. Nevertheless, it is a heart touching peace prayer.
Found this beautiful image of St Francis preaching to the birds and another with his friend, brother wolf from Google search.

      Original account of the event is available at:
https://drikags-stories.blogspot.com/2018/05/a-story-of-love-daniel-mj-to-sd-2018.html
 

https://youtu.be/ttOFLpLKGHI

 The lyrics followed by Swami Nirakarananda ji is as follows:

Make me a channel of Thy Peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring Your love;
Where there is injury Your pardon Lord;
And where there is doubt, true faith in You.

Chorus:
Oh Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console -
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved, as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of Thy peace.
Where there is despair in Life, let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, only light;
And where there is sadness, ever joy.
Chorus:

Make me a channel of Thy peace.
It is in the pardoning that we are pardoned;
In giving to all men that we receive,
And in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Chorus:

                                                                                         (c) Nandini Mitra Banerjee

Shankari Charane Mono Magno Hoye Rao Re - Daniel Maharaj -2018

Shankari Charane Mono Magno Hoye Rao Re - Sw. Nirakarananda

July 14, 2018

                    

 

  

Shankari is another name of consort of Lord Shiva (Shankar) also known as Parvati, Durga, etc. Holy Mother, Sri Sarada Devi (consort of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa) is Divine Mother incarnate as perceived by others on numerous occasion, as declared by Sri Ramakrishna Himself, as vouchsafed by none other than Swami Vivekananda and His brother disciples and of course by Herself on a few occasion. 

After Sri Ramakrishna’s passing away, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, went on pilgrimages a number of times and visited Benaras. In Benaras, She stayed at Lakshmi Nivas while some of the direct disciples stayed at the current Ramakrishna Advaita Ashram. During Her stay, one incident is outlined below.

Swami Brahmananda (Rakhal or Raja Maharaj), in the course of his morning strolls, used to visit the Lakshmi-Nivas and inquire about the Mother's health from Golap-Ma. Sometimes he made fun also. One morning, as he arrived there, Master Mahashaya (M) came out of his room from the ground floor and from the upper verandah Golap-Ma said, "Rakhal, Mother is asking you: 'why Shakti (Divine Energy conceived as a woman) is worshipped first (before the male aspect)?'" 

Swami Brahmananda immediately replied: "It is because Mother has in her keeping the key to knowledge of Brahman. There is no other way unless Mother, out of compassion, unlocks the door with the key.”

With this reply he burst put into a song in the Baul (Bengal folk) tune – ‘ Shankari Charane Mon Magno Hoye Rao Re’ meaning:

O mind, remain immersed in meditating the feet of Shiva's wife;

Be immersed and avoid all misery.

All these three worlds (Jagrat-Waking world, Swapna-Dream World and Sushupti-Deep Sleep World) -are vain, and in vain you roam about.

Meditate within you the Coiled Energy (Kula-Kundalini) that's none other than Brahman.

This is Kamalakanta's (poet's) message,

'Sing the glory of Mother Kali.

This indeed is a stream of bliss; and paddle on slowly.'

As the song proceeded, he fell into the grip of a divine ecstasy and danced merrily. At the end he cried out, "Ho, ho, ho!" and dashed out of the place. The Mother enjoyed his dance and singing from above, and below were Master Mahashaya and a few other devotees who also felt stirred to their depths by it all.
(Ref: Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Gambhirananda, p.268,269)

           Original account of the event is available at: 

https://drikags-stories.blogspot.com/2018/05/a-story-of-love-daniel-mj-to-sd-2018.html

Here is the youtube video of the spirited rendering of this Baul song by Swami Nirakaranandaji Mj of Vedanta Society of St. Louis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN7lJ54K2-g

The Lyrics of this song are as follows:

शँकरी चरणे मन मग्नो होये र ओ रे -	śankarī caraṇe mana magno hoye ra-o re -
शँकरी चरणे मन मग्नो होये रओ रे - शँकरी चरणे मन मग्नो होये रओ रे -	śankarī caraṇe mana magno hoye ra-o re - śankarī caraṇe mana magno hoye ra-o re -
मग्नो होये र-ओ रे मोन (तुमि) मग्नो होये र-ओ रे मोन (भोला मोन) सब यन्त्रना एड़ाओ रे॥	magno hoye ra-o re mona (tumi) magno hoye ra-o re mona (bholā mona) saba yantranā eṛāo re ||
ए तीन संसार मिछे मिछे भ्रमिये बेड़ाओ रे॥ ए तीन संसार मिछे मिछे भ्रमिये बेड़ाओ रे॥	e tīn saṁsāra miche miche bhramiye beṛāo re || e tīn saṁsāra miche miche bhramiye beṛāo re ||
कुलकुन्डलिनी ब्रह्ममयी अन्तरे ध्याओ रे शँकरी चरणे मन मग्नो होये रओ रे ॥	kulakunḍalinī brahmamayī antare dhyāo re śankarī caraṇe mana magno hoye ra-o re ||
कमलाकान्तेरो बाणी श्यमा मायेर गुण-गाओ रे॥ कमलाकान्तेरो बाणी श्यमा मायेर गुण-गाओ रे॥	kamalākāntero bāṇī śyamā māyera guṇa-gāo re|| kamalākāntero bāṇī śyamā māyera guṇa-gāo re||
ए तो सुखेर नदि निरबधि धीरे धीरे बओ रे॥ शँकरी चरणे मन मग्नो होये रओ रे ॥	e to sukhera nadi nirabadhi dhīre dhīre bao re || śankarī caraṇe mana magno hoye ra-o re ||
कमलाकान्त चक्रबर्ति	kamalākānta cakrabarti

                

              

Naba Sajala Jaladhara Kaay - Daniel Maharaj -2018

Naba Sajala Jaladhara Kaay - Swami Nirakarananda

July 10, 2018

Mother ShyamaKali dancing in the battlefield of Life

         Naba Sajala Jaladhara Kaay is a famous Kali-Kirtan (Hymn to Divine Mother in form of Kali) in bengali language authored by the famous poet, Kamalakanta Chakravorti. In this hymn, the poet describes the beautiful form of Mother. Mother Kali (the black one), also known as Mother Shyama (the dark one) has complexion is that of heavy water-laden raincloud perceiving which one gets mesmerized. She sports sindoor (vermillion mark) on her forehead, on Her waist is tinkling girdle, Her feet is decorated in precious gem-encrusted anklets. Laughingly, in sport, She is destroying the demons, spurts of blood covers Her body. Her both feet resembling happily blooming lotus is very cooling and soothing. Hence the poet's (Kamalakanta) mind wants to be forever the bee at Her lotus feet.

Swami Nirakarananda

         The spirited singing of Naba Sajala Jaladhara Kaay by Swami Nirakaranandaji of Vedanta Society of St Louis occured on May 21, 2018 in cedar Rapids, IA when he drove to bid goodbye to revd. Swami Dayatmanandaji Maharaj of UK.
          Swami Nirakaranandaji aka Daniel Maharaj is a very gifted singer. when he was in his twenties he self-taught himself into a deft keyboard player. Coupled with his deep sonorous voice, the shrine of Ramakrishna Vedanta Center of UK used to reverberate with hymns to Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother, Mother Kali etc.
          I was fortunate enough to record his songs this time finally.

          Original account of the event is available at:
https://drikags-stories.blogspot.com/2018/05/a-story-of-love-daniel-mj-to-sd-2018.html

The Lyrics are as follows:

नब सजल-जलधर-काय।	naba sajala-jaladhara-kāya
नब सजल-जलधर-काय। श्यामारूप हेरिले,    कालीरूप हेरिले,    प्राण गले जाय॥	naba sajala-jaladhara-kāya | śyāmārūp herile,     kālīrūp herile, prāṇ gale jāya ||
कपाले सिन्दुर,       कटिते घुँगुर, रतन-नूपुर पाय (मायेर);	kapāle sindura, kaṭite ghungura,  ratana-nūpura pāye (māyer);
हासिते - हासिते,        दानव नाशिछे,  रुधिर लेगेछे गाय (मायेर)॥	Hāsite - hāsite,       dānava nāśiche, rudhira legeche gāye (māyer) ||
चरण युगल,          अति सुशीतल, प्रफ़ुल्ल कमल प्राय (आ मरि);	charaṇa yugala,       ati suśītala, prafulla kamala prāya (ā mari);
कमलाकन्तेर,     मन निरन्तर, भ्रमर होईते चाय (ओ पदे)॥	Kamalākantera,    mana nirantara, bhramara hoīate chāye (o pade)
कमलाकान्त चक्रबर्ती	kamalākānta cakrabartī

(c) Nandini Mitra Banerjee