Space-Time Order

Embodiments of Love! 

Two friends were going along the street, when they saw some people listening to a reading of the Bhagavata.

'Come, friend', said the one to the other. 'Let us hear the sacred book.' So saying he went in and sat down.

The second man peeped in and went away. He entered a house of ill fame. But very soon he felt disgusted with the place.

'Shame on me!' he said to himself. 'My friend has been listening to the sacred word of Hari; see where I am!'

 But the friend who had been listening to the Bhagavata also became disgusted.

'What a fool I am!' he said. 'I have been listening to this fellow's blah-blah, and my friend is having a grand time.'

In course of time they both died. The messenger of Death came for the soul of the one who had listened to the Bhagavata and dragged it off to hell.


The messenger of God came for the soul of the one who had been to the house of prostitution and led it up to heaven.

"Verily, the Lord looks into a man's heart and does not judge him by what he does or where he lives.’God accepts a devotee's inner feeling of love.'"….Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s Parables

Narada Bhakti Sutram 11

लोकवेदेषु तदनुकूलाचर​णं तद्विरोधिषूदासीनता                II११II

loka-vedeshu tad-anukulacaranam tad-virodhishudasinata…….11

Word by word meaning

लोकवेदेषु---in the rituals of the world

तद्—that

अनुकूल—favourable

अचरणम्—performance

तद्—for that

विरोधिषू—opposed to that

उदासीनता---indifference to

Simple meaning:

To perform the religious acts/things which are congenial to Him, and to show indifference to all acts which are hostile to Him

Explanation:

One question comes to my mind!

 When I have not seen my Almighty, how do I know things congenial to him and acts hostile to Him? He never told me or gave me any list of Do’s and Don’ts!

Let us see what Shri.Purandaradasa has to say:

(From the anupallavi of the Kannada song)

jagadOddhaaraNa maganendu tiLiyuta suguNaanta ranganaa adisidaLe yashOde

jagad : the world

uddharana : the one who saves it; ensures that it gets into the right path

maganendu tiliyuta = thinking that he is just her son 

sugunanta rangana = the one who is full of virtues, 'end of all suguna tatvas'

adisidalu yasode = yasode played with him  

The Lord is full of virtues. He is the embodiment of all good characters. He is the one who makes the world a good place to live. He ensures that the demons are killed and the sages are saved. But, Mother Yasoda is oblivious to all this. She is playing with him just as her son. 

You may wonder what Rajagopal is trying to convey!!!!

Please see what M.K.Gandhi has to say: 

All things in the universe including the Sun and the moon and the stars obey certain laws; without this restraining influence of these laws the world would not go on for a single moment                        …reference young india 23.1.30 page 25

So we assign all virtues the state of Godliness for the sustenance of Life on Earth!

The whole mission in life is to serve your fellow men like Sun and Moon, will go to pieces if we do not impose on ourselves some sort of discipline and Prayer is a necessary spiritual discipline!

धन्यवाद:

See you in the next episode

With lots of love

rajagopal

29.04.2012

A Day with A Monk

Embodiments of Love!

Rajagopal: “Are a Monk, Buddhist Monk?”

Monk:  “Yes, I am from Nagpur, Maharastra; Are you reading Sanskrit?”

Raj:  “Yes Guruji!”

Monk:  “Where are you going?”

Raj:  “Indore”

Monk:  “Are you from South?”

Raj:  “Yes Tamilnadu”

Monk:  “Eppadi erukkae?” (How are you?); I speak 13 languages including Pali, Rajastani Language in which many of the Buddhist scriptures are available!”

This was a portion of the conversation I had with a monk who boarded the Air India flight from Bhopal; I was on my way to Indore from Delhi after attending a meeting in our Gurgaon office on 23.4.2012, Monday.

if you believe in miracles you can read further; otherwise please do some other useful work

till Saturday 21 st evening I was not sure that on 23 rd Monday I would be going to Delhi for the meeting; Boss telephoned and suggested I should come; immediately I arranged the ticket for the morning flight on 23 rd to Delhi from Indore; after my prayer before leaving home I referred to the calendar; it was “ Krithigai” my fasting day with a focus on Lord Karthigeya, younger Brother of Ganesha.

I was upset that I would not be able to visit my regular temple as I would be landing at Indore at 8.30 pm by when the temple would have been closed.

in the morning flight I got seat 10 c in Jetconnect; after my settling down there was a small turbulence; a man in white( I am not making a film or story similar to Men in Black) with a saffron duppatta, sat on seat no 10 a ; later on I leant he was Shri.Kailash Vijayvargiya, Madhya Pradesh Industry Minister,

In the Hindu system seeing a minister is seeing a king an equivalence of God-Darshan, seeing God!

in the evening while returning, one on my colleagues who came by morning Air India flight got a seat in the row 22 for the return journey ( the boarding pass was issued in the morning only as his to and fro flights were the same) and wanted me and another colleague  to have a seat  in the same row next to him; we requested the issuing lady and she said she would try her best; but my another colleague got a seat in row 22 opposite to our side and I got 23 b;

I started reading “ Subhashitani” from my Sanskrit book; flight was from Delhi to Bhopal, then Bhopal to Indore, Then Indore to Mumbai.

Now I think you would have made out how I happened to meet the monk! At Raja Bhoj Airport ,Bhopal ( myself and Nandhini love that name as it is related the king associated with kalidasa who ruled this land with Ujjain as capital) some people from Delhi got down; from Bhopal this monk boarded the plane.

I have a flash back: it was 7.30 when it landed at Bhopal; thinking Karthigeya in my mind I just prayed telling him that he would miss me that day and started doing my circumambulations mentally; then this saffron monk came nearer me and occupied 23 a , seat just next to me. I saw my Karthigeya in HIM!

Conversation continues:

Raj: “when I visited Sabarmati Ashram last week, I purchased a book on Gandhi related to Prayer.

Monk: “Okay, good!”

Raj: There was an interview of one Dr Fabri, who was a Buddhist with M K Gandhi.

Monk: “Good”

Raj:  “Dr Claims that there is no God and Buddhism does not recommend any God, whereas Gandhi disagrees, stating that the posture of Buddha in the statues is one of deep prayer; who is correct?”

Monk: “Many Buddhists believed that Gandhi himself was a Buddha as he was good at meditation!”

Raj:  “Guruji, please answer my question”.

Monk:  “There is no God”

Raj:  “How do we attain “Nirvana?”

Monk: “By removing the desires and strengthening Vairagya( steadfastness)!”

Raj:  “Do you believe in Miracles Guruji?”

Monk: “YES I do, my son!”

Then Rajagopal narrated about his “Upavas” (fasting) and his desire to see God on that particular day, of course in the temple.

Raj:  “Guruji I have seen my God in you!”

Monk:  “Yes I agree, of all the people I happened to sit near you, and you had a conversation with me for 30 minutes from Bhopal to Indore; you are blessed”

Raj: “Then is it God’s wish Guruji that we should meet?”

Monk:   “Ha ha ha, type “vipassana” in Google and try meditation”

Then He placed his hand on my head and blessed me!

Is there God Friends?

Morning met a King and in the evening a Monk!

Should I derive some meaning from these things?

I am confused as ever

धन्यवाद:

See you in the next episode

With lots of love

rajagopal

24.4.2012

Endaro MAHANUBHAVULU-Anthariki Vandhanamulu

Embodiments of Love!

I was listening to the music concert by my daughters Gayathri and Nandhini on the Thyagaraja (Thyagaraja -a great composer of Carnatic Music) Aradhana Day along with the other Team members of Student’s Academy of Shrimathi. Subbalaxmi Balasubramanian

 Of the pancharatna Kirtans, Endaromahanubhavulu has a special place in my Life; when there was no TV, we had a Valve radio; before 7.15 am Tamil news from Delhi, AIR used to broadcast a few Carnatic songs; wonderful 15 minutes; and one favourite was John B Higgins known in India as Higgins Bhagavatar; he was an American musician, scholar, and teacher known principally for his rare skill as a non-Indian in the field of Carnatic music.

Higgins was much appreciated by Indian counterparts. His rendition of "Endaro Mahanubhavulu Andariki Vandanamu ("My salutations to all the great people"), was extraordinary considering the fact that it is a difficult kriti for even the people with knowledge of the Telugu in which the kriti is composed.

You should listen to this:

http://youtu.be/BEkmF4TY_Yw

I bet that you will cry while listening to John B Higgins, singing this even if you do not get the meaning!

Note: Other of Higgins' most famous renditions include "Siva Siva Anarada," "Krishna Nee Begane," and "Kaa Vaa Vaa."

That great person was killed by a drunken hit-and-run motorist on December 7, 1984

May Lord Rama bless the souls of John B Higgins and my Father Shri.Haran (,who introduced many things to me)

endarO mahAnubhavulu |
antareeki vandanamulu ||

There are so many Mahatmas. My salutations to all of them!

धन्यवाद:

See you in the next episode

With lots of love

rajagopal

22.4.2012

Death-Defying Acts

Embodiments of Love!

Can we live beyond Death?

Yes! One man is proving that every moment in my Life!

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shraddhavaal labhate jnanam,

One with shraddha, gains knowledge!

SHRADHDHA IS A BEAUTIFUL WORD WHICH HAS NO DIRECT EQUIVALENT IN ENGLISH! Roughly translated it could mean, faith, belief.

This faith is not a forced faith or blind belief; it is falling in Love with what we do after getting convinced satisfactorily after which stage there no further analysis or questioning of the thing we started believing!

sraddhaval labhate jnanam  tat-parah samyatendriyah
jnanam labdhva param santim  acirenadhigacchati

                                                                    —Bhagavad Gita  Chapter 2-slogam 39

At this moment when I talk about “ Sharddha” I remember my father, sharing the following Shubhashitani; this was recited by him when the secondary school inspector asked, if anybody could recite a slogam with “ Bhushanam”

Thus my Father recited the following slogam

ताराणां भूशणं चन्द्रॉ नारीणां भूशणं पति: |

प्रुथिव्या भूशणं राजा विद्या सर्वस्य भूशणं ||

Taaraa naam bhushanam chandro naareenaam bhushanam patihi |

pruthivyaa bhushanam raajaa vidyaa sarvasya bhushanam || 

Stars are moon's ornament.

Husband is the ornament for a woman

King is the ornament for earth.

Knowledge is the ornament for everyone

My father was such a brilliant person that he could quote from anything whether it is Alfred Tennyson from The Charge of the Light Brigade or from Kalidasa or from Valmiki with equal ease; I still remember the way he used to tell us:

Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;

He never had the luxury of owning up a Laptop, Radio etc…it’s all passion for “Shraddha” and “Vidya”!

So without any effort I learnt from my Father what “Shraddha” is.

धन्यवाद:

See you in the next episode

With lots of love

rajagopal

22.4.2012

Did you call me?

Embodiments of Love!

Rajagopal was given to the earth by his parents on 21st April; he seeks all your precious blessings so that he turns useful atleast now!

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Another poem in Sanskrit by Rajagopal

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on Wednesday 18 th April the standby  priest ( main priest is on leave) after performing the pooja fell down , his asses landing straight on the step; nothing serious; on Thursday I enquired about his health; he felt ok;

there are only 2 members in his family; he and his wife; his earnings are from Vaidheegam, means that he performs/guides individuals on the occasion of rites during death ceremonies, new moon day ceremonies that too just 15 clients; as of now many modern Hindus feel that they are not obliged to do anything to elders whether they are alive or dead

My worry was/is: what this standby priest’s wife will do for survival if this man is called back by Almighty? I had nightmarish night for 2 days; I have similar worries killing me every moment!

Again being a limited mortal, I turn to my Lady-Love Abhirami to protect this couple also!

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माम् आहतवती वा ?

मम  पादौ  तत्  तरङ्गे  भ्रमतः

यत् समुद्रकुक्षियस्य अनाज्ञातस्य च मध्ये दोलयते !

चिन्ताः परिधिस्थाः अतिपदन्ति !

ओहो! मम देवता !

अहं पश्यामि  तव  दिव्यम्   स्वरूपम् !

उर्वशि !  त्वमं  तरङ्गे  हस्तौ  अभितिष्टसि !

मम  दुरितार्णवाः  अनुप्रधावतुमं  दायसागरि  अभयवेति  वा ?

करुणां  करोषि  माम्  अनुयोजतुमं  तव  चरणयोः !

Transliteration

Maam aahatavati vaa?

Mama padau tat tarangae bhramataha

Yat  samudhkukshiyasya anaagnatasya cha dholayatae!

Chintaaha paridhistaaha adipadanti!

Oho ! mama devata!

Aham pasyaami tava divyam swaroopam!

Urvasi! Twam taragae hastau abhitistasi!

Mama duritaarnavaaha anupravaatum Dayasaagari abhayavaeti vaa?

Karunaam karoshi maam anuyojatum tawa charanayoho!

27 1 12

Translation

Did you call me?

My legs wander in that ocean, which

Oscillates between the sea shore and the unknown!

Thoughts spread beyond the horizon!

Oh! My Angel!

I see your divine form!

Lady with extended arms (Urvasi)! You extend your arms through the ocean!

Ocean of Mercy! Did you condescend to wash off my ocean of sins?

Have mercy to  enjoin me unto your feet!

धन्यवाद:

See you in the next episode

With lots of love

rajagopal

20.4.2012

Self Realization....A cocktail of Surdas and Adi Sankara

Embodiments of Love!

I dedicate this work to Shri T.K Seshadri, my Brother In Law who is more than a Father, Guru and God to us; this day being his Happy Birth Day I pray Bhavani Mata to bless this child!

Krishna: Oh fair beauty, who are you?
Where do you live? Whose daughter are you?
I have not yet seen you in the lanes of Braj.'

Radha : What need have I to come this way?
I keep playing by my door!
But I hear that someone, son of Nanda
is in the habit of stealing butter and curds!

Krishna: Look, why should I appropriate
anything that's yours? Come, let's play together!
                                                        -----Surdas

I was going through अपरोक्षानुभूतिः Aparokshanubhuti of Adi Sankara after a long time; slogam 141 attracts me somehow

अद्रृश्यं भाषरूपञ्च सर्वमेव चिदात्मकम्

सावधानतया नियं स्वात्यमानं भावयेद् बुधः

The wise should always think with great care of the invisible, the visible, and everything else, as his own Self which is consciousness itself.

why should we do this?

the answer comes from slogam 140

भावितं तीव्रवेगेन यद्वस्तु निचश्चयात्मनः

पुमास्तद्धि भवेच्छीग्रं ज्ञेयं भ्रमरकीटवत्

A person who meditates upon a thing with great assiduity and firm conviction, becomes that very thing. This may be understood from the illustration of the wasp and the worm.

the wasp continuously stings the worm till it learns to sting itself; the point I understand is that the troubles the wasp gives are to change the worm into its own form, that is wasp

if God gives tests/troubles, it is to make us God;

if we add both the stanzas and derive something, could it be like this?

yath bhavam thath bhavati---what you think you become

this being the case the worm should think of wasp only to become wasp itself and not think about the troubles!

Is this the reason that,  some continue to suffer as they focus on the trouble rather than the opportunities it throws?

also some people become hard as they see in the idol, only metal and stone rather than the God inherent?

धन्यवाद:

See you in the next episode

With lots of love

rajagopal

19.4.2012

स्मरलेखः—Love-Letter

Embodiments of Love!

 this is my Sanskrit poem!

on 16 th I was in Ahmedabad; I visited Sabarmati Ashram; standing near the river my love side made this poem at 44 degree centigrade temperature

सङ्गीत॑ श्रोतु॑ रमणीयम्

तव मुखमुद्रा तस्य​ कारण्म् I

सूर्यस्य मरीचिपायाः ज्ञानप्रभा

तत् उद्गाहते तव रदावल्याः II

हस्ताः अनेकाः  सर्वताः सन्ति

तेषु त्वमेव अनुरागः अस्ति I

Listening to music

is pleasing ( to the mind)

Your silence is its reason!

Sun’s rays of light,

are brilliant with knowledge,

That emerges  from the row of your teeth!

There are many hands around me,

In them you only are the Love!

धन्यवाद:

See you in the next episode

With lots of love

rajagopal

17.4.2012

Mission Impossible   sequel 2

Embodiments of Love!

Another tear story is still green in my mind; during the same mission of my in-law groom getting married, I happened to contact a mother over phone; she was from Tirunelveli; her daughter a young girl got tortured by her husband; as the hurts crossed the threshold limits that girl with a child born out of this marriage had come back; when I called this mother she was in a temple; when I said my mission, she started crying on phone and shared that I was her God; she was ready to retain the child with her if her daughter got married to a good family; I also cried…..even now when I write this I cry uncontrollably

Again my in-law relative was not ready for this marriage; every day I beg my Devi Bhavani to show a good path to that unknown mother and the unfortunate daughter!

Dear friends, girls are Gods personified…..

A small step of good-will measure will qualify you for stardom!

As I am a very limited mortal I turn to my Mother Meenakshi for support!

Mother Meenakshi, before taking me out from this earth let me do something to womanhood, as a mark of my respect!

Udyath bhanu sahasra koti sadrusam, Keyura harojjwalam,
Bimboshtim smitha danthapankthi ruchiram, peetambaralankrutham,
Vishnu brahma surendra sevitha patham, Thathwa swaroopam shivam,
Meenakshmi pranathosmi santhathamaham, karunya vara nithim.

                                           Meenakshi Pancharatnam—1

I always bow before that Meenakshi, who is the treasure house of mercy,
Who shines like billions of rising suns,
Who wears a shining crown,
Who has reddish lips like the Bimba fruits,
Who has shining rows of sparkling teeth,
Who decorates herself with reddish silk,
Whose feet are worshipped by Vishnu, Brahma and Indra,
Who is the consort Of Lord Shiva,
And who is the personification of sacred truth.

               

धन्यवाद:

See you in the next episode

With lots of love

rajagopal

15.4.2012