Anandway: Blog

Sri Banke Bihari ji ke sawaiya, 19 of 144

anisha — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:04:16 -0500

१९.
मानस हों तो वही ‘रसखान’, मिलूँ पुनि गोकुल गाँव के ग्वारन ।
जो पसु होऊँ कहा वस मेरो, चरूँ पुनि नन्द के धेनु मझारन ॥
पाहन हों तो वही गिरि को, जो कियो जिमि छत्र पुरंदर कारन ।
जो खग हो‍ऊँ वसेरो करूँ, नित कालन्दी कूल कदम्ब की डारन ॥

Raskhan says in this sawaiya verse:

If one is a human, the best thing to be is a milkman in Gokul village. If one is a cow, the best place to be is in the herd of Nand’s cattle. If one is to be a stone, it is best to be a stone in Govardhan hill. If one is to be a bird, the best place to be is on a kadamb tree on the banks of river Yamuna in Vrindavan.

It is great fortune to have association with Krishna in Vrindavan :-)

More Braj sawaiya verses…

These are all natural treatments for diabetes

nitin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:19:28 -0500

‘Venkataramaniji, I wanted to teach you some Asans and Kriyas before you go.’ So saying, Siva got out of his seat and met Sri K.S.V. half-way. And, unceremoniously Siva sat on the ground where he thought fit! Then he started demonstrating Asans to the astonishment of Sri K.S.V. and Sri R.V. Sastriji. ‘This is Uddiyana Bandha. Pumping it quickly, it becomes Agnisara kriya. These two act as natural insulin. The pancreatic secretion is increased. This is Maha Mudra. Just bend and try to touch the knee with your nose. It is not necessary that you should actually do so,—a mere effort is sufficient. And, this is Paschimottanasan. These are all natural treatments for diabetes. You can do them just for a few minutes every day.’

~ Inspiring talks of Gurudev Sivananda by Swami Venkatesananda

A Mystic Journey in kathak dance by Padmashri Shovana Narayan and group

anisha — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:02:35 -0500

Join kathak dancer Shovana Narayan and group on November 12, 2009 at Stein Auditorium in India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, India at 7 pm for A Mystic Journey Mera Safar.

A Mystic Journey
by Padmashri Shovana Narayan and group

The works of Nikolas Roerich seem to symbolize the mysterious greatness of the Himalayas that is considered by poets and philosophers to be the meeting point of the earth and sky. Both radiate unimaginable colour palette of the rainbow. The infinite vastness inspires the self on to a mystical journey in pursuit of communion with consciousness or ultimate reality.

Mera Safar is based on a poem by the famous poet late Ali Sardar Jafri, in which he despairs at the thought of old age and death, but also realizes the continuity of life in various forms. It is a journey at a philosophical level, delving into the philosophy and metaphysical questions on life. The dilemma of every person facing death and the fear of not only of death but also of the consequential forgotten identity that envelops each one of us is interpreted from a dancers perspective who realizes the onset of old age but sees in her disciples, the carriers of her art and effectively a medium, which would make her eternal.

With Mera Safar, Shovana has commenced her journey at a philosophical level, delving into the philosophy and metaphysical questions on life.

Concept and lead dancer -(Padmashri) Shovana Narayan
Narration and Sutradhar Binay Jha
Music - Priyadarshan Pathak, Jwala Prasad
Lights Harish Jain & Nitin Jain
Dancers Shovana Narayan, Shivani Salhotra, Kartika Singh, Urvi Mishra, Jyoti Manral, Seema Malhotra
Musicians Shakeel Ahmed Khan, Jwala Prasad, Madho Prasad, Vijay Sharma

That is Siva’s stern advice to one and all.

nitin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:40:13 -0500

Put your heart and soul into any work you do: and when you have done it, detach yourself completely and identify yourself with the Atma who is Akarta, Abhokta, Sakshi—that is the golden advice he gives to all Sadhaks. These lessons are worth even the world leaders’ learning.

[Siva = Swami Sivananda]

Food for all

anisha — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:59:37 -0500

When the dinner was almost over, Siva sang a beautiful hymn. Others, too, followed. All had finished their meals. Some had left some vegetables, etc. on their leaf. Siva’s eyes fell on these.

‘Visweswaranandaji, please see that nothing is wasted. All that remains on the leaves should be collected and given to the cattle. Also, please send for the health officers (this is the only name by which Siva can refer to the scavenger) and feed them nicely.’

There is a wonderful philosophy and a lesson in psychology in this. Siva does not chastise those who have not consumed what they took nor those who served, nor does he instruct the management to reduce the quantity prepared—but goes straight to the core of the problem.

‘There is no waste: everything has its own use, in the cosmic sense. The animals and the fish in the Ganga get their share.’

What a great heart.

~ Inspiring talks of Gurudev Swami Sivananda

Sri Banke Bihari ji ke sawaiya, 18 of 144

anisha — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:42:55 -0500

१८.
राधिका कान्ह को ध्यान धरैं, तब कान्ह ह्वै राधिका के गुण गावैं ।
त्यों अँसुवा बरसैं बरसाने को पाती लिखैं लिखि राधे को ध्यावैं ॥
राधे ह्वै जायँ घरीक में ‘देव’ सु प्रेम की पाती लै छाती लगावैं ।
आपने आप ही में उरझैं सुरझैं , उरझैं, समुझैं समुझावैं ॥

This Braj sawaiya verse by poet Prem, says:

Radhika in her love for Krishna, begins to feel as Krishna and longs for Radhika. Tears of longing for Radha fill her eyes and she writes a letter for her and sends it to Barsana. Then quickly comes back to being Radhika and takes the letter and embraces it, close to her heart. The poet Prem says, this is how she engages in her love for Krishna. She meditates on him and becomes one with Him :-) and doesn’t know the difference between herself and Krishna when she thinks of Him.

More Braj sawaiya verses…

Forward march

anisha — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:49:03 -0500

"It is a law of life that in order to step forward, you have to leave behind the ground on which you are standing."

~ Swami Rama

Wise men only strengthen the faith

nitin — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 07:14:54 -0500

‘What is in this? A Christian comes, gives you a Bible and converts you into Christianity: a Mohamadan gives you a copy of the Quran and changes you into a
Mohamadan: a Hindu has his Gita for the same purpose.’
What a fund of wisdom.
‘Truth is one: all the scriptures expound this Truth though in different words.
What purpose can ever be served by these proselytisers? They only change man’s
external cloak, a few of his habits. Can they ever go near the Atman, the Eternal
Sakshi? Only dull-witted people engage themselves in such missions. Wise men
will only seek to strengthen the individual’s faith in his own religion.’

~ Inspired talks, Swami Sivananda

Sri Banke Bihari ji ke sawaiya, 17 of 144

anisha — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:11:59 -0500

१७.
कौन ठगौरी करी हरि आज बजाय के बाँसुरिया रँग भीनी ।
कान परी जिनके जिनके तिनकीं कुल लाज बिदा करि दीनी ॥
घूमैं घरी-घरी नंद के द्वार नवीनी कहा कहूँ वाल प्रवीनी ।
या ब्रजमण्डल में ‘रसखानि’ सो कौन भटू जो लटू नहिं कीनी ॥

Raskhan says in this sawaiya verse:

Hari is playing a mystic and charming tune on his flute. Whoever hears it comes looking for Him. He has charmed and attracted all Brajwasis. None is exempt.

More Braj sawaiya verses…

Devi bhajan by Master Saleem, Mauj lag gayi hai

anisha — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:57:27 -0500

This bhajan is a thanksgiving song, celebrating the abundance which has descended on the singer's life, showered by Devi Ma's blessings.

Painting your life

anisha — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:53:14 -0500

The thoughts we choose to think are the tools we use to paint the canvas of our lives.

~ Abhishek Goswami

Sri Radha Raman temple, Vrindavan

Make the circumstances you want

anisha — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:18:18 -0500

"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, they make them."

~ George Bernard Shaw

How to use your japa mantra, Swami Rama

anisha — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:47:27 -0500

You often close your eyes and sit down and you don’t know what to do next; then you start remembering your mantra. You can remember your mantra all the time, but that’s not very systematic. It will take a long time for you.

You’re doing japa, but you’re doing it halfheartedly. If you do the same thing with full concentration, it will definitely give you results.

When you remember your mantra, you should remember it with all your feeling. You should know about your mantra—understand what your mantra is.

Remember your mantra as silently as possible, and it will help you tremendously. Let your mind be led by your mantra and let it become a part of your life.

Remember your mantra—slowly, gently—and follow it. The sound will take you to the soundless state that is beyond body, breath, and mind. That is what meditation is.

~ Swami Rama

Walking on the path of Truth, Swami Rama

anisha — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:40:15 -0500

The path of Truth is narrower than the needle’s eye and as sharp as a razor’s edge.

When you start expanding your consciousness, you will come to know that on the path of spirituality there is always guidance from the unknown. We have come from the unknown and we will return to the unknown.

We remain in the known for only a short time, but the unknown is always with us. Therefore, we should rely on the unknown. If we are treading the path of light, and if by chance, by mistake, by ignorance, or even by bad habit, we commit mistakes, we will return to the path again, because of the guidance from the unknown.

When you study you will find many paths and many ways and methods. All roads lead to only one goal. If you practice and learn to follow one path for a few days, and after some time follow another path, and then after a month follow another one, that is not going to help you.

When you are searching and seeking, you should be doing it honestly with your full strength—not halfheartedly.

If your dearest one stands in the way of Self-realization, tread over him, forsake him, go beyond. If your beloved stands in the way of Self-realization, cast her aside. Your trusted friend is Truth and Truth alone.

~ Swami Rama

Who can give meaning to your life

anisha — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:03:38 -0500