Principle.

Truly said principle.

Chapter 1 : Wrong thinking is the only problem in life.

Chapter 2 : Right Knowledge is the ultimate solution to all our problems.

Chapter 3 : Selflessness is the only way to progress & prosperity.

Chapter 4 : Every act can be an act of prayer.

Chapter 5: Renounce the ego of individuality & rejoice in the Bliss of Infinity.

Chapter 6: Connect the higher consciousness daily.

Chapter 7: Live what you learn.

Chapter 8: Never give up on yourself.

Chapter 9: Value your blessings.

Chapter10: See divinity all around.

Chapter 11: Have enough surrender to see the truth as it is.

Chapter 12: Absorb your mind in the higher.

Chapter 13:Detach from maya and attach to divine.

Chapter 14:Line a lifestyle that matches your vision.

Chapter 15:Give priority to divinity.

Chapter 16:Being good is a reward in itself.

Chapter 17:Choosing the right over the pleasant is a sign of power.

Chapter 18:Lets Go,

Lets move to Union with God.

By Maharishi Ved Vyas- Author of shreemad Bhagwat Gita

Vibes.

 Narayaneeyam begins with the words Sandaranandham, truly encapsulating the delight and spiritual merit one derives from stepping foot in Guruvayur. If Sandra signifies the purity of the ground, anandham denotes delights that is indescribable: it has to be experienced by each individual, much as Narayana Bhattathiri did, when he composed Narayaneeyam, said Damal S. Ramakrishnan in a discourse.

There are various kinds of anandham, but Sandaranandham is the highest form. Every morning before dawn at Guruvayur, devotees rush in, chanting His name in pure joy, eager for a first sight of Him. The ancient stone idol (pathala anjana kal) was fashioned by Vishnu Himself and handed over to Brahma who gave the idol to a couple. Vishnu informed the couple that he Himself would come to earth and conduct puja for the idol no less than three times and safeguard it so that devotees in Kali Yuga can reap spiritual benefit. Vishnu did so, first as Prasnigarban, son of Prashni and Suthapas; later as Vamanan (son of Aditi and Kashyap) and finally as Krishna, son of Devaki and Vasudevan. The new-born Krishna showered two leaves on the idol and asked that Vasudeva and Devaki be taken care of.

Later, as His sojourn on earth was nearing its end, Krishna asked Uddava to save the idol from the impending deluge. When Uddava struggled to hold aloft the idol, Varuna tempered the fury so that Guru and Vayu could spot the idol and preserve it. Since Guru and Vayu installed the idol, the town took on the name of Guruvayur and the deity came to be known as Guruvayurappan.

Bhattathiri, who obtained his guru’s affliction and later composed the epic running into 1,034 verses in Guruvayurappan’s presence for 100 days at a stretch, condensed the essence of Bhagavatham in his work and Guruvayurappan took delight in hearing his devotee compose it. 

Lineage

Lineage of Sri Rama

1. Changeless Brahma

2. Marichi begotten from Brahma

3. Kashyapa, the son of Marichi

4. Vivasvan or Sun-god, begotten from Kashyapa

5. Manu, the son of Vivasvan

6. Ikshvaku, the son of Manu and first king of Ayodhya

7. Kukshi, the son of Ikshvaku

8. Vikukshi, the son of Kukshi

9. Bana, son of Vikukshi

10. Anaranya, son of Bana

11. Prithu, son of Anaranya

12. Trishanku, son of Prithu

13. Dhundhumara, son of Trishanku

14. Yuvanashva, son of Dhundhumara and a charioteer

15. Mandhata, son of Yuvanashva

16. Susandhi, son of Mandhata

17. Dhruvasandhi, son of Susandhi

18. Bharata, son of Dhruvasandhi

19. Asita, son of Bharata

20. Sagara, son of Asita, whose birth is associated with poison

21. Asamanja, son of Sagara

22. Amshuman, son of Asamanja

23. Dilipa, son of Amshuman

24. Bhagiratha, son of Dilipa

25. Kakustha, son of Bhagiratha

26. Raghu, son of Kakustha

27. Pravriddha, son of Raghu

28. Shankhana, son of Pravriddha

29. Sudarshana, son of Shankhana

30. Agnivarna, son of Sudarshana

31. Shighragah, son of Agnivarna

32. Maru, son of Shighragah

33. Prashushruka, son of Maru

34. Ambarisha, son of Prashushruka

35. Nahusha, son of Ambarisha

36. Yayati, son of Nahusha

37. Nabhaga, son of Yayati

38. Aja, son of Nabhaga

39. Dasharatha, son of Aja

40. Sri Rama, son of Dasharatha

(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 70)

"Family of Sri Rama

• Kulaguru: Sage Vasishtha

Father: King Dasharatha --> (Son of king Aja)

Mother: Kaushalya --> (Queen of Dasharatha) (Mother of Rama)

Mother: Kaikeyi --> (Queen of Dasharatha) (Mother of Bharata)

Mother: Sumitra --> (Queen of Dasharatha) (Mother of Lakshmana and Shatrughna)

Father-in-law: King Janaka --> (Son of Hrasvaroma) (Elder brother of Kushadhvaja)

Father-in-law's brother: King Kushadhvaja --> (Younger Brother of Janaka)

Mother-in-law: Sunayana --> (Queen of Janaka) (Mother of Urmila)

Wife: Sita --> (Found and brought up by king Janaka)

Brother: Bharata --> (Son of Kaikeyi) (Married to Mandavi, daughter of king Kushadhvaja)

Brother: Lakshmana --> (Son of Sumitra) (Married to Urmila, daughter of king Janaka)

Brother: Shatrughna --> (Son of Sumitra) (Married to Shrutakirti, daughter of king Kushadhvaja)

Sister-in-law: Urmila --> (Daughter of king Janaka & Sunayana) (Wife of Lakshmana)

Sister-in-law: Mandavi --> (Daughter of king Kushadhvaja)

Sister-in-law: Shrutakirti --> (Daughter of king Kushadhvaja)

Sons: Lava and Kusha

para tattvam.

Entha maathramuna evvaru thalachina Antha maathrame neevu

Antharaantharamu lenchi chooda Endanthe ippati annatlu ||

Koluthuru mimu vaishnavulu koorimitho Vishnudani

Palukuduru mimu vendanthulu para brahmam banuchu |

Thalathuru mimu saivulu thagina bhakthulunoo shivudanuchu

Alari pogadudhuru kaapaalikulu aadi bhairavudanuchoo ||

Sarinennuduru shaaktheyulu shakti roopu neevanuchu

Darishanamulu mimu naanaa vidhulanu, Thalapula koladula bhajinthuru |

Sirula mimu alpa buddhi, Thalachina vaariki alpambaguduru

Darimala mimuye ghanamani thalachina, Ghana bhuddhulaku ghanudavu ||

Nee valana korathe ledu mari Neeru koladi thaamaramu

Aavala bhaageeradhi thari baavula Aa jalame oorinayatlu |

Sri Venkatapathi neevaithe Mamu chekoni yunna daivamu

Nee valenay nee sharananedanu Idiye para tatvamu naaku ||

Annamayya Keerthana – Enta Matramuna Meaning:

Oh Lord! Your devotees visualise You in many ways. They want to see You in different forms and ways. However, the deeper one’s heart envisions You, the more shallower is Your grace felt!

Vaishnavites assume and believe You profoundly to be Lord Vishnu;

Vedantas envisage You as the ‘Supreme Lord’ or ‘Parambrahma’;

Shivites and some others deem You as Lord Shiva;

Kaumalikas pray and revere You as Adi Bhairava;

Shaaktheyas presume You to be the incarnation of Shakthi;

You bless all of them in the form they desire You to be in !!

In this way, Your devotees revere and prostrate before You, giving you the form and shape they wish to see You in.

To those devotees who see You in the tiniest form, You are the tiniest to them;

Likewise, those who revere you with high esteem, You are the greatest and all-in-all for them.

There is no dearth of anything in this world if only You are beside me!

Just as a lotus plant creeps all over the span of water (in a pond/lake/river or wherever it is) leaving no space for anything else,

Just as the wells around the great Bhagirathi river never dry up (because the wells are always fed with water from this river beside);

(I pray to You, Oh Lord! Please be beside me!)

If YOU are the Lord incarnated on the Venkatadri mount, YOU are bound to be by my side!

It is You, Oh Lord, who have made me to become Your devotee;

It is You, Oh Lord, who have knocked my doors ~ only to grant me the Protective Asylum under Your Lotus Feet;

You are the ONE who enlightened me;

This is the eternal bliss for me!

This is the Para-Tattvam for me!

This is my moksha-marga (and salvation)!

In life.

 

The term stotra refers to praising one’s good qualities. God is called Stotra Priya — who can be easily pleased with praise and prayer. The grandsire Bhishma’s praise of God is called Bhishma Sthuthi. Sri Bhishma refers to Him as Sthavya Sthava Priya stotram in Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama. Similarly, Dhruva Sthuthi, Kunti Sthuthi, Utharai Sthuthi and Prahladha Sthuthi praise Him. Azhwars, Nayanmars and Acharyas have all sung in praise of Him. Vedas praise Him through various sukthas such as Purusha Suktham. He possesses infinite good qualities (Bahavo Nrupa Kalyana gunaa:)

Sri Kesava Vajapeyar Swamy said in a discourse that Lord Krishna Himself says to Arjuna that His qualities cannot be fully described. Still, only prominent ones can be narrated as His opulence is limitless —Hantha te Kathayishyami — chapter X, sloka 19.

We should maintain our status of ever remembering God as an unfortunate situation may arise for us at any time, and we may forget Him. The gatekeepers of Sri Vaikunta (dwara palakas), who were very close to God, were censured out of a curse to be born as demons. Born as Hiranya Kasipu, he was in search of God (forgetting Him) and asked his son Prahladha where God was.

Lord Nrusimha cooled down from his ferociousness on seeing His devotee Prahladha. The Lord told Prahladha that it was His duty to protect him. Prahladha praised the Lord in about 40 slokas, titled Parhladha Sthuthi, described in Srimad Bhagavatha’s seventh skandha (canto), Chapter IX 

Whenever a satsang happens, it is a great blessing for the attendees. Adi Sankara says, “satsangatve nissangatvam, nissangatve nirmohatvam, nirmohatve nischalatattvam, nischalatatve jivanmukti.” “(Through the company of the wise there comes non-attachment, freedom from delusion, resulting in self knowledge)“. Andal also emphasises this when she says, ‘Koodi irundhu kulirdhelor” (experiencing God). Listening to discourses on God is in itself a huge blessing, said Damal S. Ramakrishnan in a discourse.

Sage Suka informs King Parikshit, who is cursed with death in seven days’ time, that listening to the learned expositions on Bhagawan is a rare blessing, adding that only those whose ancestors in the last seven generations had performed dharmic deeds are likely to be blessed with being part of a satsang. Yudhishthira, the epitome of dharma, spent time with Krishna, but was not blessed enough to be in a satsang with Him. Similarly, Arjuna. However, Parikshit was blessed, says Suka, who proceeds to discourse on Bhagavatham, instructing the king on God, His approachability, His sporting test of bhaktas and His attainability. Do not the gopikas sing, “Sravana Mangalam sreemtaha hitam?” “(Krishna, you will give us darshan, you will come running to us when we listen to your history)“.

One may ask what benefit one can reap by listening to Bhagavata Puranam? What does the Ramayana teach? Does it not show that overnight fortunes will change in this world, but one should accept the same with fortitude and equanimity? The last verse in Rama Pattabishekham says wherever Ramayana is narrated, one’s ancestors will be present in that place, as it were, and bless their lineage. The Vedas say it is incumbent on a son to listen to satsang, perform shraddham once a year and visit Gaya at least once and offer pinda dhanam. Only with ancestors’ blessings can one progress in spiritual life.

We often face hindrances in material and spiritual progress. The supreme being is ever alert to the needs of those who repose faith in Him and reach out to Him for succour. The more gnana one develops, the better. One way to achieve this is to visit the Vasihnavite Divya Desams. Even the Pandavas visited a number of sthalams in south India in order to expiate their sins that they felt they had incurred due to the war, said Dushyanth Sridhar in a discourse.

Obstacles are a way of life and one should seek divine help to surmount them. The sthala puranam associated with the five abodes in Kancheepuram states that Brahma sought help from Perumal to conduct Ashvamedha Yagam without Saraswati. Each of the abodes testify to the various impediments she used to try and obstruct the yaga. When she sent eight women to stop the yaga, they were all stopped by Ashtabujanga Perumal, at Ashtapuyagaram. At Tirutannka, Saraswati hindered Brahma’s yaga by sending a demon to darken the world. On Brahma’s prayer, Perumal appeared bright as a light, holding a lamp in hand. Praying to the deity, Vilakkoli Perumal, will dispel one’s inner darkness. Tiruvaelukkai is another place where Saraswati despatched demons to obstruct Brahma’s work. Perumal took the form of Nrisimha to overpower them. A visit to this temple will help one conquer one’s inner demons of fear and cowardice.

At Tiruvetkka, Sarawathi Herself came in full force of river Vegavati to stop Brahma’s yagam. Perumal lay down like a bridge on the river, stopping Saraswati in Her tracks. It is also the temple where the deity left town with Tirumazhisai Azhwar, after injustice was meted out to his sishya Kani Kannan. Later, the deity returned to the sthalam after the king prayed to Him. The Supreme Being always heeds the prayer of His bhaktas.

The avataras of Lord Vishnu such as Matsya, Koorma and Varaha were for specific reasons and hence called Amsavathara. The manifestations of the Lord as Sri Rama and Sri Krishna were to establish dharma, protect righteous men and destroy unrighteous and impious (Parithranaya Sadhunam) and hence called Purnavathara (complete and total.)

the state of enjoying the divine bliss is called Paramanandham. The sloka Vasudeva Sutham devam says Sri Krishna’s mother Devaki derives Paramanandham. Usually, a mother would be happy when giving birth to a child. But Devaki, while in prison, was afraid towards her brother Kamsa, who was eager to kill her yet-to-be-born eighth baby. How could she derive Paramanandham under such a precarious situation?

Lord Krishna did not cry when He was born and showed His divine form to Devaki, holding a disc, conch, mace, and lotus in four hands. That moment was Devaki’s enjoyment of divine bliss.

By his conduct and behaviour, Lord Krishna portrayed Himself as the best Karmayogi. At the end of each day during the Mahabharatha war, Sri Krishna, as a charioteer, had done his duty of feeding, nursing and bathing the horses before leaving them in the stable and had not delegated to anyone.

Another name for Arjuna is Partha, the son of Pruthai (another name of Kunthi). Lord Krishna, the charioteer of Partha, is called Parathasarathy to protect Arjuna. We are also called Parthas, the children of Prithvi (Mother Earth), and the Lord will protect us.

Inspirational

 The birds aren’t singing to win a Grammy.

They’re not trying to go platinum

through their marketing or planning.

They’re just jamming.

I listen even without understanding.

The truth without agenda

is authentically astounding.

It makes me think of cheetahs.

They don’t run for our approval.

They don’t judge their spots

or contemplate laser hair removal.

It makes me think of wolves.

They don’t howl for validation.

They don’t have to get the perfect

pic to post on their vacation.

It makes me think of eagles.

They’re not soaring to impress me.

Although once I saw a dolphin backflip

over a jet ski, my point is neither one of them

will sell me on Etsy and I doubt a porcupine

would ever try to come off …

Humans are the only animals pretending

to be something they’re not.

Why are we ashamed of what we’ve got?

We should strut chest out, head up.

Let’s be proud of ourselves for once.

Isn’t it exhausting sticking out your butt

and sucking in your gut?

For what’s a waste of energy

I’m giving up 

In this moment I’m enough

In this moment you’re enough

In this moment we’re enough

I’m dismantling my image

We’re perfect in our flaws.

Birds don’t care whether we listen.

They don’t wait for our approval.

I have built a lovely prison

but I live behind the walls.

So if love is my religion, I’ll escape

when freedom calls.

You have to be willing not to be

liked in order to be loved.

Otherwise, it’s your representative.

They’re thinking of.

But to truly be yourself,

you have to let go what was.

The past is like a prison.

It’s an echo repeating.

Just because -cause -cause.

We are many people in our lives,

so I’m not one to judge.

But if they love one part of you,

It’s limited to what that does.

I want your whole soul

I have no goal.

Show me the unseen stuff.

Don’t invite me over

only after you have cleaned up.

Perfect makes me want to kick my feet up.

No one’s living in a catalog

IKEA dreamed up.

Have you ever seen a lion chase

a hundred Zebras?

Have you ever seen a turtle

hide inside a shell?

A caterpillar doesn’t know

that she’ll become a butterfly!

So if you go to heaven,

are you still aware of hell.

Usana

 

Usanas belonged to Kavya Gotra and in Tamil, the oldest poet Tolkappiyan is believed to be from this Gotra. 3] Usanas Kavya is an ancient seer, already a half mythical figure in the Rig Veda where he is often mentioned, especially as associated with Kutsa and Indra.

Of the Vrsnis I am Vasudeva; of the Pandavas I am Dhananjaya (winner of wealth); of the sages I am Vyasa and of the poets I am Usana”.

– Bhagavad Gita 10-37

Why did Krishna say that he was Usana Kavi, an ancient poet whom we did not know much? We know a lot of other Vedic seer poets, but not Usanas.

First of all let me give you some basic information:

1.Until this day we use the word ‘Kavi’ for a poet in all the major Indian languages including Tamil (Pulavar was old and Kavinjar is current). This shows that the Rig Vedic Sanskrit lives in all our hearts. Kavi is a poet and Kavitha is a poem in all Indian languages. ‘Kavi’ is in the Veda and in the Gita!

2.Usanas belonged to Kavya Gotra and in Tamil, the oldest poet Tolkappiyan is believed to be from this Gotra. And there is another poet Kappiyatru Kappiyanar of Patitru Pathu (Ten Decads) from the same Gotra.

3. This shows the antiquity of the Gita as well. Krishna mentioned one of the oldest poets of the Rig Veda! AA Macdonell and A B Keith say in their Vedic Index of Names and Subjects, “ Usanas Kavya is an ancient seer, already a half mythical figure in the Rig Veda where he is often mentioned, especially as associated with Kutsa and Indra”. Rig Veda itself is old; in fact the oldest book we know of. Usanas had become ancient to the seers of Rig Veda! But Krishna was able to appreciate it. That means Krishna lived before the collection of Rig Vedic hymns by Vyasa.

4.”Later on Usanas becomes the Purohita/Priest of the Asuras in their contests with the Gods. A Variant of his name is Kavi Usanas. He appears in the Brahmanas as a teacher also”, say the authors. This shows that there were more poets with the same name in later days. We know that Shukracharya was the Guru of Asuras. This reveals another fact that both Asuras and Suras had Brahmin teachers. Both Devas and Asuras were sons of the soil. In Tamil also we have famous names of Sangam period, Kapila, Parana, Nakkirar and Avvaiyar at various ages. All these poets have done some works in later ages in Tamil as well. So it is possible that we had other poets with the name of Usanas. But even their works are not available!!

5.Usana’s name figured as an author of Artha sastras (Books on Economics) earlier than Kautilya alias Chanakya.

References to Usanas in the Rig Veda

His name occurs in seven out of ten Mandalas of the Rig Veda. His name is missing in Mandalas 2,3 and 7. We are unfortunate to lose the poems of such a popular poet. This shows how much of old Sanskrit literature was lost.

The way all the people praise him give the impression that the words Kavi and Kavya (poet and classics)– all originated from Usanas Kavya!

The following references are considered important (from Vedic Index):

Rig Veda 1-51-10, 1-83-5, 1-121-12;

R V 4-16-2, 6-2011, 8-23-17

R V 9-87-3, 9-97-7, 10-40-7

Probably also 1-130-9, 5-31-8, 5-34-2

Also in A V 4-29-6 (A V = Atharva Veda)

Taittriya samhita, Panchavimsa Brahmana, Sakyayana Srauta Sutra mention the Purohit/priest Usanas (Sukracharya).

Kavi Usanas is found in RV 4-26-1.

He appears as a teacher in two of the Brahmanas.

Yajur Veda and Sama Veda also praise him as a great poet.

Usanas’ few compositions are available in the Rig Veda: 9-87 to 89 and 8-84. As usual, the foot notes say that it is difficult to understand certain lines. Ninth Mandala of Rig Veda deals with Soma Pavamana (Soma Plant and Juice).

Usana, the son of Kavi is well known for making Agni the ministrant priest and offerer of the sacrifice for Manu ( RV. 8-23-17)

He is referred to as a seer and leader of the people. By his poetic gift he is said to have discovered the secret milk of cows of Indra which was concealed ( RV. 9-87-3)

Usana is said to have increased the vigour of Indra ( RV. 1-51-10) and fashioned the thunderbolt for him for slaying Vritra( RV. 1-121-12; 5-34-2).

He is characteristically wise and soma is compared with him due to his wisdom ( RV. 9-97-7)

Indu, the well armed god, is flowing onward, who quells the curse and guards from treacherous onslaught,

Father, begetter of the gods, most skilful, the buttress of the heavens and earth’s supporter

Rsi and sage, the champion of the people, deft and sagacious, Usana in wisdom

He had discovered even their hidden nature, the cows concealed and most mysterious title (RV 9-87-2/3)