In the 18th century, Amritalinga Iyer of Thirukkadaiyur was blessed with a child who was named Subramaniam. Right from childhood, Subramaniam was a devotee of Goddess Abirami of the temple in that town. So steeped in devotion was he that his parents were afraid he might become an ascetic. So they got him married. But marriage did not diminish his bhakthi, said M.A. Manickavelu, in a discourse. One day, King Serfoji of Thanjavur visited the temple and an abhisheka was done for Amritakateswara, the presiding deity of the temple. When the king arrived at the shrine of Abirami, he asked Subramaniam who he was. But there was no reply from Subramaniam. The king was told that Subramaniam was a mad man and that was why he had ignored the king. The king then asked Subramaniam what day of the month it was. Still engaged in the worship of Abirami, Subramaniam said it was a full moon day. But it happened to be a new moon day! And the angry king said that if the moon did not appear that evening then Subramaniam would be punished.
As the day came to a close, a fire was lit, a wooden platform was erected above it, with hundred ropes tied to it. Subramaniam mounted the platform and began singing in praise of Abirami. At the completion of each verse, a rope was cut. Once all hundred ropes were cut, he would fall into the fire. But, when he finished singing the 78th verse, and began the 79th a miracle happened. Abirami appeared in the sky and flung her diamond earring which lit up the sky as a full moon! Subramaniam was saved! He sang more verses and stopped only when he had sung 100 verses. The world was shown what a great bhakta Subramaniam was. The king gave him the title Abirami Bhattar and gifted land to his family to be enjoyed by his descendants too.
If there is someone who can be credited with infusing classical Carnatic music into every layman’s life, it has to be the tamboori-wielding saint-poet from Karnataka, Shri Purandara Dasa.
Hailed as the ‘pitamaha’ of Carnatic music, whom Sri Tyagaraja himself considered his guru, Purandara Dasa was a ‘riches to rag’ story.
His countless keertanes (compositions) have spoken about every rasa, every bhava there is to human existence.
His metaphors make sense to a simpleton yet are profound enough to deliver one to the beyond.
From being a miser trader to a mendicant whose works were to form the greatest wealth of Bhakti tradition, Purandara Dasa’s life comes a full circle and his songs take one through all the nuances there in.
He was born Srinivasa Nayaka in Araga of Shimoga. Following his transformation, he was initiated into the Bhakti’s path and given the name, Purandara Dasa by Vyasa Rayaru, the royal guru of Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara.
On the day he left his mortal coil, which is celebrated as his Aradhana Mahotsava (although not at a scale that it should be — for a saint of his stature), we can only humbly look at five of his almost 5 lakh compositions that sum up the journey of human life, lessons, lures and liberation.
He taught and transformed all those who he touched with his 'pada’ (song). In the times of ritualistic grandeur, he redefined ‘seeking’ by steering a semantic shift in the cultural perception of society, quashing gently and subtly the demons of patriarchy, casteism, untouchability among others.
his definition of the seeker in :
Tamboori meetidava, bhavaabdhi datidava (The one who plucks the string of the tamboori, is the one who has crossed the ocean of worldly existence)
One would only sound frivolous to claim to have picked the best of his works or even the most popular ones for it is almost impossible to classify any of them as such. But all of us sure have our favourites.
Karuniso Ranga Karuniso’ is a digest of all forms of devotion and the exalted devotees that have set a benchmark, yet he says “I ain’t none of them, but you shall have to have mercy and grace".
And these words came from the one who chanted Narayana’s name all his life but until realisation happened was known as ‘Navakoti Narayana’ himself for all the wealth he held.
The one who pawned jewels, sat on wealth as a miserly rich trader transformed into an anklets sporting, cymbal clapping, barefoot mendicant who went around singing praise, abuse, tales of his ‘Vithala’.
When he was once hailed as being ‘bhagyashali’, Purandara Dasa remarked that the real bhagyashali is the one who cajoled and played with the ‘Purushothama’ himself.
This rendition both in verse by Balamuralikrishna as well as the one on saxophone by Kadri Gopalnath, take one on a journey of motherhood and the bond that Yashodha shared with the ‘Jagadodhara’.
From his music initiation lessons in raga mayamalavagaula that every student strikes literally the first chords with, the first geetes in Malahari that conjures up images of tiny tots naively and often not-so musically singing their ‘first’ songs with those tiny palms tapping the thighs, to the densest of emotions and thoughts he wove in his songs, there cannot be a work that matches his.
Not for nothing do we say "Daasarendare Purandara Daasarayya’.
As mentioned above, Basant Panchami is a day dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. She represents wisdom, enlightenment and serenity. Hence, devotees worship her to eliminate ignorance. In some regions, people initiate learning of their little children by performing a ritual known as Akshar Abhyasam or Vidya Arambham.
In some cultures, Basant Panchami marks the beginning of the spring season, consisting of 40 days before Holi. The colour yellow is traditionally associated with this festival. This colour represents energy, knowledge and enlightenment. Hence the significance. Moreover, the mustard fields get covered with yellow mustard blossoms, symbolising the spring season's glory.
1. Bija Mantra of Saraswati
Aum
Aing Saraswathye Namah
Aum
Meaning: Salutations to Goddess Saraswati
2. Vidya Mantra for students: This sloka is found to improve memory, power and concentration in studies.
Saraswati Namasthubhyam
Varade Kamarupini
Vidhyarambam Karishyami
Siddhir Bavathume Sadha
3. Saraswati Vandana
Yaa Kundendu tushaara haaradhavalaa,
Yaa shubhravastraavritha
Yaa veenavara dandamanditakara,
aa shwetha padmaasana
Yaa brahmaachyutha shankara
prabhritibhir Devaisadaa Vanditha
Saa Maam Paatu Saraswatee
Bhagavatee Nihshesha jaadyaapahaa
Meaning: May the Goddess Saraswati protect me. She is fair like the jasmine-colored moon, and whose pure white garland is like frosty dew drops. She is adorned in radiant white attire, on whose beautiful arm rests the veena, and whose throne is a white lotus. She is surrounded and respected by the Gods. Please remove my weariness, sluggishness and ignorance.
Meaning: I plead to Goddess Saraswati who is fair in color, the first and foremost divine energy, who is present in the world in the form of knowledge, who wields a Veena, Vedas, Sfatik rosary in her hands and one of whose hands is raised in blessing. She is the one who is capable of eliminating ignorance and bestow intelligence.
6. Maha Saraswati Mantra: This simple mantra is mainly used by students to make learning easy.
Meaning: O, Goddess Saraswati, my humble prostrations unto Thee. She is capable of fulfilling all my wishes. I request you to bestow thy blessings on me, before I start my studies.
8. Saraswati Mantra for Success in Education and Career
Om
Vageeshwaryae Vidmahe Vagwadeenyae
Dhimahe Tannah Saraswati Prachodayat
This mantra is also known as Gayathri of Saraswati
9. Saraswati Mantra
Saraswati Mahabhage
Vidye Kamalalochane
Vishwaroope Vishaalaakshi
Vidyam dehi namosthuthe
Meaning: Oh great Goddess Saraswati, the lotus-eyed personified knowledge. Oh, I request you to shower me with all the powers and glories of all knowledge that exist. She has large-eyes, taking the form of the whole universe.
13. Saraswati Ashtakshara Mantra: This mantra comprises of the 12 names of Goddess Saraswati and it is advised that all knowledge seekers should practice it, to gain high and pure knowledge.
Pratham Bharti naam
Dwitaya tu Saraswati
Trutiya Sharda Devi
Chaturth Hansavahini
Pancham Jagatikhayata
Shasth Maheshwari tatha
Saptham tu Kaumari
Astham Bhramacharini
Navam Vidhyadhatrini l Dasham Vardayini
Ekadasham Rudraghanta
Dwadasham Bhuneshwari
Atani Dwadsho Naamami
Y Patcchrnuyaadpi
Nach Vidhna Bhav Taysa Mantra Siddhiker Tatha
14. Mantra for Knowledge: Reciting this mantra will increase the mental capability and will considerably increase the knowledge gain.
Om
Namo Bhagwati Saraswati Parmeshwari
Vaagvaadini Mam Vidhya Dehi Bhagwati
Bhans Vaahini Hans Samarudha Buddhi
Dehi Dehi Pragya Dehi Dehi
Vidhya Parmeshwari Saraswati Swaha
15. Mantra for illumination: This mantra is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati to illuminate the minds of knowledge seekers.
Meaning: Madalasa says to her crying son: “You are pure, Enlightened, and spotless. Leave the illusion of the world and wake up from this deep slumber of delusion”
śuddho’si re tāta na te’sti nāma kṛtaɱ hi tatkalpanayādhunaiva| paccātmakaɱ dehaɱ idaɱ na te’sti naivāsya tvaɱ rodiṣi kasya heto||
Meaning: My Child, you are Ever Pure! You do not have a name. A name is only an imaginary superimposition on you. This body made of five elements is not you nor do you belong to it. This being so, what can be a reason for your crying ?
na vai bhavan roditi vikshvajanma shabdoyamayadhya mahisha sunum| vikalpayamano vividhairgunaiste gunascha bhautah sakalendiyeshu||
Meaning: The essence of the universe does not cry in reality. All is a maya of words, oh Prince! Please understand this. The various qualities you seem to have are are just your imaginations, they belong to the elements that make the senses (and have nothing to do with you).
bhutani bhutaih paridurbalani vriddhim samayati yatheha pumsah| annambupanadibhireva tasmat na testi vriddhir na cha testi hanih||
Meaning: The Elements [that make this body] grow with accumulation of more elements or reduce in size if some elements are taken away. This is what is seen in a body’s growing in size or becoming lean depending upon the consumption of food, water etc. You do not have growth or decay.
Meaning: You are in the body which is like a jacket that gets worn out day by day. Do not have the wrong notion that you are the body. This body is like a jacket that you are tied to, for the fructification of the good and bad karmas.
tateti kimchit tanayeti kimchit ambeti kimchiddhayiteti kimchit| mameti kimchit na mameti kimchit tvam bhutasamgham bahu ma nayethah||
Meaning: Some may refer to you are Father and some others may refer to you a Son or some may refer to you as mother and some one else may refer to you as wife. some say “you are mine” and some others say “you are not mine” These are all references to this “Combination of Physical Elements”, Do not identify with them.
Meaning: The deluded look at objects of enjoyments as giving happiness by removing the unhappiness. The wise clearly see that the same object which gives happiness now will become a source of unhappiness.
yanam chittau tatra gatascha deho dehopi chanyah purusho nivishthah| mamatvamuroya na yatha tathasmin deheti matram bata mudharausha|
Meaning: The vehicle that moves on the ground is different from the person in it similarly this body is also different from the person who is inside! The owner of the body is different from the body! Ah how foolish it is to think I am the body!
“... Oh Friends, see the superior birth of these trees. They provide support for all living creatures. Indeed they are like a great personality from whom those who are asking for something certainly not go away disappointed. They award desirable things by their leaves, flowers, fruits, shade, roots, bark, and wood and also with their fragrance, sap, ashes, pulp, and young shoots. For every living being in this world, to act practically with his life, wealth and intelligence for the eternal good fortune of others, that indeed is a perfect birth”.
Krishna, while observing the trees, addressed his friends - “Hey Krishna, Sudama, Subala just see! These trees live only for the benefit of others - they bear the wind, rain, heat of the sun and snow, and protect us!!
Bharavis Kiratarjuniyam , along with Kalidasas Kumarasambhavam and Raghuvamsam , Magha's Sishupalavadha , and Sri Harsha's Naisaditya Charitam constitute the five great epics ( Panchamahakavya )
This is a famous often quoted couplet that comes in Kiratarjuniyam of Bharavi . This is what Dharmaraja says to an impatient Bhima wanting to take revenge on Kauravas.
सहसा विअदधीतनः क्रियां अविवॆकः परमापदां पदं। वृणतॆ हि विमृश्यकारिणं गुणलुब्धाः स्वयमॆव संपदः॥
One should not do anything in a hurry, A person who does not deliberate ( avivekaha) faces great calamities . Fortunes which are always attached to merits, seek on their own one who acts with reflection .
Bharavi is one of the foremost poets of Sanskrit literature . and is rated as the one only next to Kalidasa .
There are interesting stories about the above Sloka.
Bharavi showed immense capabilities of a poet even from his childhood. While everybody around was delighted, his father would conceal his own joy and say ,”He is still a boy. What poetic talent he may possess? What will he know of the secret of Poetry?”. Angered Bharavi with wicked thoughts overtaking him wants to kill his father. As he secretly gets ready to kill his father , he hears his mother asking the same question to his father. His father tells his wife “ Beloved , do you think I do not know our son's abilities and talents? There is no doubt about his scholarship. But even though others praise him , we should not do so in front of him if we wish his well being”. Hearing this Bharavi felt ashamed and prostrated before his father and asked for forgiveness and a punishment.
Father tells him suitable punishment is to stay in his father in laws house for six months! The couple went back to his father in law's place. The father in law and mother in law were happy to see them initially. When there were no signs of returning, then the royal treatment turned to disrespect very quickly. One day his wife was unable to bear the insults and was crying. Bharavi consoled her and read her this poem. She sold the poem to a merchant who gave her hundred gold coins which sufficed till the end of her six month stay at her father's house.
Another story was that Bharavi was suffering from poverty and his wife was furious. So he set out to make money . On the way he stopped at a tank and wrote this Sloka on a lotus leaf with his nail . A king passing by saw the poem and liked it very much and wanted to honor the poet. He also had the poem etched in gold and hung it in his bed room. One day he came back home to find a stranger lying next to his wife. He took out his sword to kill the stranger and his wife. As he looked up saw the Sloka etched in gold. He restrained himself and woke up his wife. His wife was delighted to see him and told the king that the stranger is none other than their long lost son!! King realized that the Sloka saved him and located Bharavi and honored him.
