Sri Rama Navami Navaratri Special – Part 2

Dear All,

Hari Om. Om Sri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama ! Saints, Sages and Scriptures have proclaimed that the Divine Name is Sabda Brahma and superior to the Divine Form itself. All glories to the Divine Name ! Let us celebrate it during this auspicious Navaratri season with the fervor of Sri Hanuman ji.

1. Audio By Swami Chidananda ji Maharaj, Late President of Divine Life Society, Rishikesh)

Personally for me, Swamiji’s voice resonates with everything that is sublime and divine. His voice sounds with that brilliance that at once makes you alert and dive into sublime thoughts. Hear the introduction to the “Padhu Pothi Me Ram” song and you will know this for yourself. One of my greatest inspirers and healers is Swamiji’s voice. Though I have never seen Swami Chidananda ji, his voice is something that I cherish.

The below songs are the best and my most favourite songs.
Padhu Pothii mein Ram
Song of Immanence of Ram
Song of Salutations

2. Sampradaya Bhajans on Lord Rama: Vol-1 & Vol-2

I came across the very beautiful Sampradaya Kritis and Bhajans on Raaga 3-4 years back. Since then, this rendering of Sampradaya Kirtans on Lord Rama are one of my favorites.
Click below on the images of the albums to listen to the audio.

3. Bhajans by Sri PurushottamDas Jalota

Recently my friend Sripriya has sent me some links to melodious and devotional rendering of Bhajans by Sri Purushottamdas Jalota (Sri Anoop Jalota’s father). They are very soothing and devotional to hear.

Click below on the image of the album to listen to the audio. .

Hope you enjoy all the audio as I did !

Yours,
In Service of the Lord,
Aparna & Hari.

Sri Rama Navami Navaratri Special – Part 1

Dear All.

Hari Om ! Om Sri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama !

The Navaratri for Sri Rama Navami has begun on the first day of Chaitra – on Ugaadi day. During this special time, we want to provide for our Telugu readers two valuable E-Books which we found on archive.org and which are a treasure !

Sri Rama Manatranushthanam

by Sri Rama Saran

(Purvashram name is Sri Kundurti Venkata Narasayya)

Click to download:
This book was published by Rama Nama Kshetram, Guntur in 1958. At that time, the price of this book is: Rs:2.80. Can you imagine buying a diamond for Rs 2.00 ? Well, here you go ! I found this E-book three years back and recently when I went to India, I asked my father to get this book and many other books penned down by Sri Rama Saran for me from Rama Nama Kshetram. Rama Mantra Anushthanam book is an elaborate treasure trove of wisdom about Rama Tattwa. It also details about the methods of Purascarana and Anushthana for purification of mind and for cultivating devotion for the Divine Supreme. I find this book to be extremely valuable for spiritual seekers.

Sri Rama Navaratri Utsava Kalpah

by Sri Ramaka Rama Sarma

Click to download:

This book was published in 1993 and this is actually in Sanskrit but in Telugu script. It is not difficult Sanskrit at all. This book covers the 9-day worship of Lord Rama during Navaratri and Mantra Japa of Lord Rama’s Divine Name. It contains a detailed schedule of Parayana, Stotras for each day in this 9-day worship along with celebration procedures of Sri Rama’s Birth, Sri Rama’s wedding, Sri Rama’s crowning etc. It contains wonderful and powerful Stotras like Sri Rama Hrudayam.

I think these two books will be of great significance and help for spiritual seekers in their Sadhana.

We will post Special Part 2 tomorrow.

Yours,
In Service of the Lord,
Aparna Hari.

Divine Ambrosia E-Magazine – 2012 Spring Issue

Dear All,

Hari Om.

We are pleased to publish the Spring issue of the spiritual E-Magazine “Divine Ambrosia”. You will find interesting and insightful articles in this issue in addition to a light-hearted fun corner.

This issue of Divine Ambrosia E-Magazine can be read online by clicking the below :

You can also download the PDF version by clicking here.

Please feel free to leave a comment with your feedback about this magazine.

Happy Reading !

Yours,
In Service of the Lord,
Aparna & Hari.

“Upanishad Ganga” TV Serial to start on March 11, 2012

Hari Om !

I received an email from a correspondent affiliated with Chinmaya Mission about the launching of a tele-serial dedicated to the Upanishads called “Upanishad Ganga”. Please see the flier below for further details.

“Upanishad Ganga” shall be telecast on Doordarshan National (DD I) every Sunday, March 11 onwards from 10-10.30 am (India Time)

Yours,
In Service of the Lord & Gurudev,
Aparna & Hari

Today is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Jayanthi !

Hari Om !

Today is Full Moon Day (Pournami) and also happens to be the Jayanthi (birth anniversary) of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, one of the greatest saints of Bhakti path born in Bengal who has spread the Nama Sankirtan or devotional chanting of Lord’s glories and Divine Names. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has revived the fervor for chanting the Mahamantra:

“Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare,
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.”

Sri Chaitnya is considered to be the incarnation of Radha-Krishna according to many. He has made freely available the path of Nama Chanting and Devotion to Divine form as the way to Supreme Peace. An account of his life and his Leelas is compiled in the volume “Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam” which is recommended for spiritual seekers on the path of devotion. Sri Chaitanya is the ideal for the seekers to cultivate and pursue the path of Devotion.

Hari and I have watched a very inspiring Black & White movie on the life of Sri Chaitnya Mahaprabhu in Bengali at Ramakrishna Mission’s Ganges Monastery in Michigan. We both really liked it and felt it to be very elevating. Since then, we have been very fond of the line “Jagannatha Swami.. Nayana Patha Gaami.. Nayana Patha Gaami Bhavatu Me..” and sing it often.

Fortunately, I found the movie in Youtube !! Below is the link for the youtube movie. I am sure you will like it and enjoy it immensely. (If you cannot find play button on this video in your email, please go to original post on saranaagathi blog to click it).

“Shishtashtak” by Sri Chaitanya is 6 verses of instructions and it became very famous. One of the verses, which Swami Chidananda ji often recites in his talks is the following:

तृणादपि सुनीचेन तरोरपि सहिष्णुना ।

अमानिना मानदेन कीर्तनीयः सदा हरिः ।।

Oh, my mind,
Be humbler than a blade of grass,
Be patient and forbearing like a tree,
Take no honor to thyself,
Give honor to all,
Chant unceasingly the name of the Lord.

Click on the image below to download the Shishtashtakam:

Best wishes to all of you on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Jayanthi.

Yours,
In Service of the Lord & Gurudev,
Aparna & Hari.

A Song of Little Things…

Hari Om !

Today Priya reminded me of the song “Eat A Little, Drink A Little” by Swami Sivananda and mentioned she liked the song.

This little song is actually “Song of Yoga Synthesis” and it is a simple song focusing on simplicity and harmonizing different aspects in daily living and is actually instruction for spiritual practice:

Here are the lyrics of the little song of the Yoga of Synthesis, for your daily practice:

Eat a little, drink a little
Talk a little, sleep a little
Mix a little, move a little
Serve a little, rest a little
Work a little, relax a little
Study a little, worship a little
Do Asana a little, Pranayama a little
Reflect a little, meditate a little
Do Japa a little, do Kirtan a little
Write Mantra a little, have Satsang a little
Do all these, little, little. You will have time for all.

You can read “A Little of All” written by Swami Venkatesananda explaining the significance of these instructions.

Yours,
In Service of the Lord & Gurudev,
Aparna & Hari

Maha Sivaratri Wishes

Dear All,

Hari Om !
Jai Kailasavasa Sankara Bhagavan ki !

We convey to all our readers Mahasivaratri wishes. May Lord Siva bless us all with wisdom, spiritual strength and Self-knowledge.

(Image is courtesy of Hinduim Today Magazine)

The Divine Supreme in the form of Siva is easily pleased like a father pleased with even the smallest act of his child, and hence he is called Bhole Baba ! In all the temples in India and abroad, chanting of Rudram – Namakam & Chamakam is performed throughout day and night on the auspicious Maha Sivaratri day, and the devotees generally fast and do vigil in the night spending their time in worship, prayer and meditation.

Sivaratri is an auspicious occasion to please Lord Siva. He will be very pleased with Japa, Dhyana and Abhisheka today. Generally Upavas (fast) and Jaagaran (Night Vigil) are carried on today by devotees. Japa of Panchakshari mantra (Om Namah Sivaya) will benefit immensely. The worship of Lord Siva will remove all impurities and make our mind and hearts pure and clean.

The following can be done today according to the feasibility of the devotee:
1. Fast
2. Abhishekam (holy bath of Siva Linga) of Siva, with pure water, milk, honey, Ghee, Banana – Panchamruta Snanam
3. Decorate with flowers, Sandal paste and if available Bael leaves (Bilva or Maredu)
4. Offer Naivedyam and Arati
5. Recite Ligashtakam, Rudram, Purushasuktam, Rudrashtakam, Maha Mrutyunjaya Mantram
6. Engage in Kirtan of Lord Siva
7. Do Japa of Panchakshari or Mrutyunjaya Mantra
8. Perform Japa throughout night and do Japa with Dhyana of Lord Siva
9. Try praying only for Spiritual Upliftment, and not any material gains.
10. Offer all your worship and prayers unto Lord Siva.

We are presenting here a book by Swami Sivananda ji on ” Lord Siva and His Worship.” It is a wonderful source for understanding Siva Tattwa and for sadhana unto Lord Siva.

Also, please find the following links for a beautiful rendition of Rudrashtakam by Swami Tejomayananda ji.

Download Rudrashtakam Audio here !
(In the Voice of Param Pujya Swami Tejomayananda, President of Chinmaya Mission).
Dowload Rudrashtakam Text here !
(Author: Goswami Tulasidas in RamacharitManas)

Yours,
In Service of the Lord & Gurudev,
Aparna & Hari.

Horton Hears a Who !!

Hello All !

Hari Om.

You must be wondering what this post is about ! For those who are familiar with Dr Seuss – The Author of children books, you know that this is one of his stories/creations. Mainly kids are the entertained audience, but there is wisdom catered to adults also 🙂

Well, when Swami Prakashananda, Head of Chinmaya Mission, Trinidad & Tobago visited Milwaukee last year, we were chatting with him at our home and he mentioned about this movie called “Dr Horton Hears a Who !” and recommended us to watch it.

The crucial theme of this story is “Relativity of Space”, as you can understand after you watch it. The relativity of space and time have been repeatedly brought out and emphasized in the extraordinary treatise “Yoga Vasishtha” which is the dialogue between Sage Vasishtha and his student, the Prince Rama.

There is a particular story in Yoga Vasishtha, which I remember – “The Story of Lila“. In that the whole world and life of the Queen Lila, with all its splendor, occurs in a small corner of the mind of a holy man in a corner of a tiny hut in a corner of the mind of the creator in a corner of the existence !! It is a fascinating and mind-boggling exposition by Sage Vasishtha about the relativity of time and space, and of human existence.

There is another children’s story/movie series called “Chronicles of Narnia” highlighting the Relativity of Time .
According to Vedanta, Time and Space are evolutes (products) and appear because of the Self or Atman which is consciousness.

I really enjoyed watching this movie and I am sure you will too ! Click below to watch it ! Enjoy !

Yours,
In Service of the Lord & Gurudev,
Aparna & Hari

Audio of Vishnu Sahasra Namavali Uploaded !

Dear All,

Hari Om.

We had been getting many requests about audio of Vishnu Sahasra Namavali – Names of Lord Sri Vishnu with “Om” in the beginning and “Namah” at the end.

PDF of Vishnu Sahasra Namavali has been posted on this website in the Vishnu Sahasra Nama Page. Please click here to download the Vishnu Sahasra Nam PDF file:

We are happy to make the in-home recorded audio of Vishnu Sahasra Namavali available to you !

You can hear Namavali by clicking the play button below:

http://ia700805.us.archive.org/12/items/VishnuSahasraNamavaliAudio/Sri_Vishnu_Sahasra_Namavali_Audio.mp3%20

You can also listen to the audio on Archive.org here.

We are also working on putting audio of each Name recitation in the online pages of Vishnu Sahasra Namavali on this website.

Yours,
In Service of the Lord & Gurudev,
Aparna & Hari

New Year Message by Swami Tattvavidananda

Dear All,

Namaste. Hari Om.

We received a DVD three days back from Arsha Vidya Gurukulam which consisted of the New Year Worship in the DakshinaMurthy temple at the Ashram and message from Swami Dayananada and Swami Tattvavidanananda.

Swami Dayananda did not come to Pennsylvania this time for conducting the christmas retreat and was not in person here to deliver new year message. It was delivered remotely, short and powerful as usual.

Swami Tattvavidananda gave a motivating message and I felt it reveals the urgency for us to exert to Know oneself.

Please listen to the audio here:

http://avgsatsang.org/hhstvs/mp3/General%20lectures/New_Years_Message_2012.mp3%20

Yours,
In Service of the Lord & Gurudev,
Aparna & Hari.