JAYADEVA'S FIFTH ASHTAPADI- RADHA'S JEALOUSY

 Jayadeva's classic Gita Govinda is a glorification of the Divine Love between Radha and her beloved Krishna! In these Ashtapadis the poet describes the romantic and erotic love between the two and the severe pangs of separation when one is away from the other!  Radha is jealous as Krishna is friendly with all the Gopikas and playing with them! She is very unhappy that she has lost her importance for Krishna. She goes in a different direction  and seeks refuge in a bush resounding with the buzzing sound of the bees! She is all alone and addresses her mate explaining her agony at the separation from her darling Krishna! “ Mate! Sri Hari is dancing with the Gopikas in Brindavan in Rasakrida! He is playing on His flute Mohana and emanates  nectarine sweet music! He looks at the Gopikas with His side glances and shakes His head indicating his enjoyment!  Even as He does that, the flower on his ear dances! But He doesn’t care for me and plays freely! I wonder why my mind is yearning for Him despite His mistakes and transgressions! The bunch of beautiful peacock feathers are bound on His locks of hair in a circle. His dark black hair resembles the rainbow encircling the rain bearing “ nila Megha” or dark cloud!”

“ Dear sakhi! Krishna is very affectionate and kisses the faces of Gopikas! His lips are tender and delicate like the “bandhuka flower!” He is shining with His sweet smile! I am contemplating on such Krishna! Thousands of Gopikas are embracing Krishna overwhelmed with joy! The hair on their shoulders Stand straight as they lock Krishna in their warm embrace! The diamond studded ornaments on Krishna's feet and chest dispel darkness with their dazzling radiance! My mind still  contemplates on Krishna!!”

“Dear Sakhi! The sandal paste mark on Krishna's  forehead  resembles the mobile  Moon among the cluster of clouds! Krishna's chest is hard and rocky though it is subjected to the friction of the stone like breasts of Gopikas! I still contemplate on the Son of Nanda, Krishna!”

“Krishna is dressed in Pitambara and “ Makarakundalas” studded with diamonds! He is worshipped by  Narada and other saints, Bhishma and other men, Indra and other Devas, and Prahlada and other Asuras! I still contemplate on such radiant Yadunandana, Krishna!”

“We have mutually agreed upon this rendezvous, this tree, where I expect to meet Krishna! I wait for the arrival of my paramour! He drives away all sins in this Kaliyuga and augments the romantic and erotic feelings! His love, affection, and  compassion are indescribable! With such looks and mind  He pleases me. I contemplate on such Vasudeva, Krishna always!”

“The Divine Beauty of Sri Hari is such that it very easily enraptures all the worlds!  The ASHTAPADI of Jayadeva that describes the Divine form shall ward off all the sins of people who desire them to be destroyed in Kaliyuga!!”

ARROGANCE IS DANGEROUS

 Pride and arrogance lead to the downfall of man! But most people are oblivious of the enervating nature of  this quality! Adi Sankara aptly warns of this evil quality in his “ Bhajagovinda” stotra. “ Ma kuru dhana Jana youvana garvam harati nimeshath Kalam sarvam” Do not be arrogant that you have wealth, money and property, kith and kin, and youthfulness for all these are lost in a minute! They are all transient and cannot last for ever! History is full of people who have been undone by their pride and arrogance! One should understand his own limitations and conduct himself properly. Pride and arrogance are a part of our inner adversaries called “ Arishadvargas.” It is very difficult to repress our inner enemies. At one time or other, one of the six enemies will raise its ugly head and destroy the individual.

There was a great scholar, court poet in the Chola period by name Aakki Azvan. He had a mad ambition that he should defeat all the vidwans and scholars in the world. He wanted to demolish all of them by his debating prowess. He wanted to humiliate them and establish his superiority over them. When a person comes and declare himself as a great scholar, he would conduct a test for him before accepting him for an argument! The king didn’t approve of this mentality of Aakki Azvan. But he didn’t want to stand in his way. Accordingly the king sent out messages to different scholars and invited them for participating in the debate. He made arrangements for the arrival of these scholars. The message of the king reached a gurukulavasa- a residential school where the acharya was absent. There was a student by name Yamuneyan in the school who later became the famous Azhavandar! “ Why does the king invite me?” questioned the lad. “ You are required to debate with the patron scholar of the king” said the servant. “Why should my acharya come for this purpose?  I will come to debate” replied the boy.

The king and the Queen were stunned at the sight of the young lad! While the King said that the boy would lose, the queen maintained that the lad would surely win over the court scholar. Aakki Azvan was shocked to see such a young boy come to argue with him. He was sure that he will defeat the boy in no time. “What is my scholarship and what is the age and ignorance of the boy!” he thought. The boy declared that he is well read in all the shastras and challenged Aakki Azvan. Yamuneyan told AakkiAzvan that whatever he says should be disproved by AakkiAzvan. The boy was given the first chance to make a statement. 

In the king's court, in the presence of many courtiers, young Yamuneyan said, “ Your mother is not barren!” All were shocked! Now, according to the accepted conditions, Akki Azvan has to prove that his mother is a barren woman! How is it possible? He had no clue to disprove the statement made by the boy. He looked crestfallen and remained silent and stupefied. “ Shall I make the next statement?” continued Yamuneyan. “This King  is called “Sarvabhouma.” Akki Azvan has to argue and prove that the king is not “ Sarvabhouma.” It was very difficult to argue against the statement! Akki Azvan felt he was losing ground. Yamuneyan was at his best. He made the final statement which blew off Akki Azvan!  “The Queen is a great chaste woman.” AakkiAzvan's fate was sealed! He has to prove that the Queen is not a chaste woman! How can he establish this? His arrogance has now led him to his downfall! He could not argue against the three statements made by Yamuneyan! He accepted defeat  but wanted to know  how Yamuneyan's statements could be disproved or legitimized.

Yamuneyan was not without answers! The crow that lays a single egg and theplantain tree that flowers only once are considered barren by the sastras! Similarly being the only son of the mother she is clubbed with them and called barren! The king and the gathering accepted the explanation of Yamuneyan!  A king can be called an Emperor or “ Sarvabhouma” if he has conquered all the kingdoms nearby. But here the king is the ruler of Chola kingdom only! There are other kings ruling the Pandya and Chera kingdoms! As such how can this king be called “Sarvabhouma?” The third answer was very interesting.  According to Sastras, before the birth of the woman, her Soul resides with the Moon! Next it remains with the Gandharvas, a class of Devas! They hand over the woman to Agni God of Fire! Such a woman is married to a groom on Earth! How can a woman be called chaste if she had remained with three heavenly persons? Hence, the Queen, according to Sastras, cannot be called very chaste and pure!! The mantras during the marriage ritual stress on the state of the woman before her birth! The Queen was overwhelmed with joy and ran to receive Yamuneyan and said that he has come to rule them! She exclaimed in Tamil, “ Yemmai aazha vandiro!”  From that time onwards Yamuneyan came to be called  “Azhavandar!”

TRIPURASURA SAMHARA

 Tharakasura, after obtaining boons became the tormentor of all Devas! The Devas were driven out of Amaravati and had to seek help from either Brahma, Vishnu or Maheswara! It was found that the one capable of destroying the asura shall be the progeny of Maheswara! Seeing that Maheswara was in deep tapas, the Devas planned to bring together Parvati and Siva so that the child of the couple shall kill Tarakasura. They sought the help of Manmatha, God of Love. Reluctantly, Manmatha agreed), fully conscious of the danger involved in disturbing Siva's penance. As Parvati came to serve the Lord during His tapas, Manmatha shot his formidable flower arrows at the Lord! Emotionally shaken by the romantic arrows, Siva opened His third eye and Manmatha was reduced to ashes! But Siva and Parvati married and thus was born Lord Kumaraswami who later accomplished the great task of killing the terrible and invincible asura Tarakasura! Tripurasura's sons were Vidyunmali, Tarakaksha, and Kamalaksha. They decided to avenge the death of their father Tarakasura!

They performed severe penance standing on a single leg for a thousand years propitiating the Creator Brahma! Another thousand years they performed taking in air alone! Another thousand years were spent in a different posture! Their penance and meditation pleased the Creator and He presented Himself before the sons of Tarakasura! He appreciated their severe effort and asked why they performed such severe tapas. He directed them to ask for any boon from Him.The sons of Tarakasura requested that they should be made Immortal! Brahma was shocked and told them that it is impossible to grant them immortality. He asked them to ask for a different boon. The asuras then wanted the Creator to grant them three ‘Puras' one of Gold, the second of Silver and the third of copper capable of flying in the sky!! The three cities or Puras and the Asuras should meet once in a thousand years! If at such a moment, any person were to shoot them down with a single arrow, then only they would die!! The strange request of the asuras was promptly granted and Brahma vanished! The asuras got their ‘Puras' of gold, silver and copper and they flew about with their individual Cities!

The Devas were very unhappy at what has happened. They approached Brahma for help. He refused to intervene. Then they went to Lord Siva and requested Him to save them from the torments of the three Asuras! Siva too refused to intervene as the asuras followed dharmic and Vedic practices! Disappointed with the refusal of Brahma and Siva, Devas, finally went to Lord Vishnu and sought His help. Vishnu devised a plan to force the asuras reject the Vedas and follow unrighteous ways. He created a person called ‘Ariha' and taught him all ways of Maya. He directed him to reach Tripurasuras and start preaching this new religion of illusion or Maya. Ariha did as he was bid. He collected a few disciples and commenced teaching his new religion! He made people atheists and follow unrighteous ways. He derided and rejected the Vedas, Karma theories. Sage Narada recommended the religion to the Tripurasuras! They believed in the words of Sage Narada and became the disciples of Ariha!

Earlier, when the asuras were defeated by Devas, another asura by name Maya saved them from death by creating a well containing a rejuvenating elixir of life! Vishnu, took the form of a beautiful cow followed by Brahma as a calf and drank away the entire elixir of life! The asuras were shocked! That was the right time to kill the three Asuras! Siva was approached for the task and he agreed to destroy the Tripurasuras.

Viswakarma was entrusted with the work and he prepared a golden chariot for Siva with the power of all Devas! The Sun and Moon were the wheels of the chariot! Creator Brahma became the sarathi- driver of the chariot! ‘Mekhalachala' was fixed as the royal umbrella! Meru mountain was the bow ready to be used as the bow! Ananta became the bow string! Goddess Saraswati arranged herself as jinglng bells lining the bow! Vishnu became the deadly arrow to kill Tripurasuras! Agni, God of fire remained at the tip of the arrow to scorch and kill the asuras! The four Vedas formed themselves into four horses and Siva left with Parvati ready to finish off the terrible asuras!

It was a thousand years since the Tripurasuras were granted the boon! The time of their reunion had approached. Brahma, driving the chariot sensed the arrival of Tripurasuras and their meeting at a place! He alerted Siva that the exact time and moment of shooting the arrow had arrived! Siva, ready with the arrow (Vishnu) and Agni at the tip of the arrow took aim and released the arrow! It went with lightning speed and killed the Tripurasuras with all their following! Devas were overjoyed at this culmination. They heaved a sigh of relief and praised Lord Siva, Brahma and Vishnu. It is said this act of Tripurasura Samhara was performed on the Full Monday of the month of Karthika!

ADIVYADHIHARA ANJANEYA DASAKAM

  This Stotra is composed by Professor Krishna Murthy Yayavaram, in praise of Lord Anjaneya the embodiment of intellect, strength, renown, courage, fearlessness, sound health, wellness and good speech. The Stotra is dedicated to the Lord standing in 32 feet at Nanganallur, Chennai, India! Various other attributes of the Lord are also described in the stotra which is in the Sanskrit chandas” Sardhula Vikridita”. I have not given the meaning of the stanzas to cut short the length of the blog.

1  Aditvanvaya Rama Chandra Prabhu sevasaktha bhakthagranim

    Vedadhisa Virinchi Sakra sura samvedya prabha bhasuram

    Adityadbhuta sishyavarya kavirat audaryasilam Harim

    Adivyadhiharam Samiratanujam Sri Anjaneyam bhaje!

2 Sridam Sankararupa Teja vibhavam Sitasati pranadam

   Modatitavilina yoganiratam putatma samvardhanam

   Khedatita manoprayukta charitam Kridabhiramam ghanam

   Adivyadhiharam Prabhanjana sutam Sri Anjaneyam bhaje!

3. Sri Ramarchana namrahasthayugalam Sri Rama chintonmadam

    Sri Ramankita manasambujavaram Sri Rama dhyanotsukam

    Sri Ramanuja Mythili priyatamam Sri Rama praneswaram

    Adivyadhiharam Marutsutaharm Sri Rama dutam bhaje!

4  Vaidehi hitabhashanam Dasamukhas sampidanam bhishanam

    Chandoddanda subahudanda yugalam sakhamrugam bhikaram

    Sugrivadi hariswaragra sachivam susthairya sampathkaram

    Adivyadhiharam prapanna saranam Sri Anjaneyam bhaje!

5   Srimath Tharakanama mattha madhupam srungara rupojvalaam

     Hemadri pratibhasamana ruchiram hemambaralankrutam

     Kshemalokana Divya netra yugalam Srikanta murthim Prabhum

     Adivyadhiharam madarthiharanam Sri Anjaneyam bhaje!

6    Nanasastra visaradam sura nutam Mynaka sampujitam

      Nana vruksha phalanuraktha rasikam nanastra siddheswaram 

      Naanaadaanava darpanaasamanalam nanartha sampatpradaam

      Adivyadhiharam Marutsutaharim Sri Anjaneyam bhaje!

7    Sri Ramanuja pranadata manisam bhashpambu sikthananam

      Ghorakaravikara danava sati pranapaharoddhatam

      Aramadbhuta sundaronnatha Puri Lankapuri dwamsakam

      Adivyadhiharam Prabhanjana sutam Sri Anjaneyam bhaje!

8.   Sitanveshanatatparam manahitam langula sitanalam

       Ghosharbhata vibhedya satru hrudayam guhyam yatim kovidam

        Kalatita vichitra jivana dhanam Kanjaksha samsevakam

        Adivyadhiharam Samiratanujam Sri Anjaneyam bhaje!

9.     Srimath Panchmukha prabhasa vadanam mantrartha yantrarthakam

        Ugram vira vilasa sambhrama charam vyomolla samlanghanam

        Agrahyadbhuta yogatatwa niratam vaksatwa sandhayakam

        Adivyadhiharam Samiratanujam kirtipradayim bhaje!

10    Nanadukha nivaranam Kalimala pradhwamsanam nirmalam

         Nanabhaktha bhayarthinasa machalam nanartha siddhipradaam

         Nanabhutha pisacha sikshana gurum matpapa sokapaham

         Adivyadhiharam Samiratanujam Sri Anjaneyam bhaje!

                                                  ITI SRI ANJANEYA DASAKM SAMPURNAM

        

    This Stotra is composed by Professor Krishna Murthy Yayavaram, in praise of Lord Anjaneya the embodiment of intellect, strength, renown, courage, fearlessness, sound health, wellness and good speech. The Stotra is dedicated to the Lord standing in 32 feet at Nanganallur, Chennai, India! Various other attributes of the Lord are also described in the stotra which is in the Sanskrit chandas” Sardhula Vikridita”. I have not given the meaning of the stanzas to cut short the length of the blog.

1  Aditvanvaya Rama Chandra Prabhu sevasaktha bhakthagranim

    Vedadhisa Virinchi Sakra sura samvedya prabha bhasuram

    Adityadbhuta sishyavarya kavirat audaryasilam Harim

    Adivyadhiharam Samiratanujam Sri Anjaneyam bhaje!

2 Sridam Sankararupa Teja vibhavam Sitasati pranadam

   Modatitavilina yoganiratam putatma samvardhanam

   Khedatita manoprayukta charitam Kridabhiramam ghanam

   Adivyadhiharam Prabhanjana sutam Sri Anjaneyam bhaje!

3. Sri Ramarchana namrahasthayugalam Sri Rama chintonmadam

    Sri Ramankita manasambujavaram Sri Rama dhyanotsukam

    Sri Ramanuja Mythili priyatamam Sri Rama praneswaram

    Adivyadhiharam Marutsutaharm Sri Rama dutam bhaje!

4  Vaidehi hitabhashanam Dasamukhas sampidanam bhishanam

    Chandoddanda subahudanda yugalam sakhamrugam bhikaram

    Sugrivadi hariswaragra sachivam susthairya sampathkaram

    Adivyadhiharam prapanna saranam Sri Anjaneyam bhaje!

5   Srimath Tharakanama mattha madhupam srungara rupojvalaam

     Hemadri pratibhasamana ruchiram hemambaralankrutam

     Kshemalokana Divya netra yugalam Srikanta murthim Prabhum

     Adivyadhiharam madarthiharanam Sri Anjaneyam bhaje!

6    Nanasastra visaradam sura nutam Mynaka sampujitam

      Nana vruksha phalanuraktha rasikam nanastra siddheswaram 

      Naanaadaanava darpanaasamanalam nanartha sampatpradaam

      Adivyadhiharam Marutsutaharim Sri Anjaneyam bhaje!

7    Sri Ramanuja pranadata manisam bhashpambu sikthananam

      Ghorakaravikara danava sati pranapaharoddhatam

      Aramadbhuta sundaronnatha Puri Lankapuri dwamsakam

      Adivyadhiharam Prabhanjana sutam Sri Anjaneyam bhaje!

8.   Sitanveshanatatparam manahitam langula sitanalam

       Ghosharbhata vibhedya satru hrudayam guhyam yatim kovidam

        Kalatita vichitra jivana dhanam Kanjaksha samsevakam

        Adivyadhiharam Samiratanujam Sri Anjaneyam bhaje!

9.     Srimath Panchmukha prabhasa vadanam mantrartha yantrarthakam

        Ugram vira vilasa sambhrama charam vyomolla samlanghanam

        Agrahyadbhuta yogatatwa niratam vaksatwa sandhayakam

        Adivyadhiharam Samiratanujam kirtipradayim bhaje!

10    Nanadukha nivaranam Kalimala pradhwamsanam nirmalam

         Nanabhaktha bhayarthinasa machalam nanartha siddhipradaam

         Nanabhutha pisacha sikshana gurum matpapa sokapaham

         Adivyadhiharam Samiratanujam Sri Anjaneyam bhaje!

                                                  ITI SRI ANJANEYA DASAKM SAMPURNAM

        

   

     

     

SECOND ASHTAPADI--JAYADEVA

 Jayadeva the famous Bengali poet begins his classic GITA GOVINDA with his first ASHTAPADI on the ten incarnations of Mahavishnu! Once again in the second ASHTAPADI he describes the great and wonderful attributes of  Krishna and wishes Victory for the Lord!

1 Sritha Kamala kucha mandala dhrutha kundala E kalitha lalitha Vanamala

Jaya Jayadeva Hare!

O Krishna!  You are capable of embracing Goddess Mahalakshmi!  You wear  great ear studs! You wear on your chest the Vanamala up to your feet! Let Victory be to you!

2 Dinamani mandala mandana! Bhava khandana! E  munijana manasahamsa!

Jaya Jayadeva Hare!

O Krishna! You are within the disc of Surya! You are in the hearts of sages and saints floating like the royal Swans in the Manasa Sarovar! You are the Hamsa Swarupa! You release the ordinary mortal from the cycle of Samsara and Grant mukti!

3 Kaliya vishadhara ganjana! Jana ranjana E Yadukulanalina dinesa!

Jaya Jaya Deva Hare!

O Krishna! You killed the poisonous snake Kaliya and made the people very happy! You allowed the Yadu vamsa flower in the same way as the Sun inspires the lotus! You made them shine brilliantly!

4 Madhu Mura Naraka vinasana! Garudasana! E surakulakeli nidana!

Jaya Jaya Deva Hare!

O Krishna! You destroyed the demons Madhu, Mura, and Naraka! You travel on the Garuda and see that there are no impediments to the pleasures of Devas!

5 Amala Kamala dala lochna! Bhavamochana! E tribhuvana bhavana nidana!

Jaya Jaya Deva Hare!

O! Krishna! The lotus eyed! You save the people from the travails of Samsara and Grant them salvation! You are the chief cause for the creation of the three worlds! Be Victorious!

6 Janakasuta kuchabhusha! jitadushana! E Samara samitha Dasakanta!

Jaya Jaya Deva Hare!

You were the paramour of Sita during Ramavatara! You killed demons like Khara and Dushana and Ravana on the battlefield! Let there be Victory for you!

7 Abhnava jaladharasundara! Dhruta Mandara! E  Srimukha Chandra chakora!

Jaya Jaya Deva Hare!

O Krishna! You are exceptionally beautiful like the new rain bearing cloud!  You lifted up the Mandara mountain! You are full of Bliss when you see the face of Goddess Mahalakshmi similar to the happiness of the chakora bird as it sees the moon!

8 Tava charane pranatavaya miti bhavaya E kuru kusalam pranatheshu

Jaya Jaya Deva Hare!

O Yadunandana! Let us be safe as we enshrine your lotus feet in our hearts! Let there be Victory for you!

9 Sri Jayadeva kaveridamudita  kuruthe mudam E mangala mujjvala giti

Jaya Jaya Deva Hare!

O the spouse of Mahalakshmi! This lovely composition of Jayadeva shall certainly please you! Let there be Victory for you!!