25 April 2023

Shankaracharya Jayanti

Today is Shankaracharya Jayanti. Bhagwan Adi Shankaracharya's contribution to Hinduism remains unparalleled. His Bhashya (commentaries) on the Prasthanatrayi (i.e.: the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and Brahma Sutra) continue to guide us on the meaning and exposition of the texts. His Prakarna Grantha expound the various topics delved on in the Upanishads. He is, indeed, Lord Shiva Himself.

However, today, I would like to focus on the stotras composed by Bhagwan Adi Shankaracharya. It is my belief that of His works, the stotras are most popular. Knowingly or unknowingly, we have learnt them and sung them. My hypothesis is that through His stotras, He has reached the vast majority of Hindus, across the world.

In service to that, I am sharing a playlist of some of my favourite stotras by Bhagwan Adi Shankaracharya. The playlist is accessible on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0iJ8EHyITuOGGPNUB4FSUE?si=a0da7adbd43b4b26

I pray to Bhagwan that we may be able to hear, reflect and absorb His teachings and ultimately have the experience of Advaita.

26 January 2023

Ud Jayega Hans Akela

When I was a teenager, we used to go to Kamani Auditorium every year to hear discourses from Smt. Jaya Row ji. Her erudite explanations of the Bhagwad Gita exposed me to the wonderful world of Vedanta and for that I am forever indebted to Her. Before the discourses, a beautiful young woman would sing bhajans. She would come everyday, year after year. The bhajan that stuck with me was - Ud jaayega hans akela. I used to look forward to hearing it. Then, one fine year, the singer stopped coming. 

I frantically searched the internet for the singer's rendition of the song. I couldn't find her or the rendition. It didn't help that I didn't know her name. What I did find was a rendition by one Pt. Kumar Gandharva. Of course, back then, I didn't know who he was. There were no other renditions and so I had to make do with Kumar ji's rendition. With time, the bhajan grew on me.

Once in a while, I would search the internet for other renditions, but I would hardly find anything. However, one time, I found a recording in Marathi (back then on Soundcloud), which had a snippet of the bhajan, by a fellow called Rahul Deshpande.

Skip a few years, and my wife entered my life (then fiancé). As all of you know, she sings Hindustani classical. One day, she showed me a video of Pt. Madhup Mudgal, who everyone fondly calls Bhaiya ji and who is the principal of Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, where my wife was/is learning music. In the video, I saw the singer from Jaya ji's lectures!!! Immediately, I asked my wife - who is she? who is she? She told me that she was Sawani Mudgal, Bhaya ji's daughter.

I quickly searched Ud jayega hans akela on YouTube and selected Kumar ji's version, as I explained to my wife the intimate connection that I had with the composition. She, then, narrated the greatness of Kumar ji to me. I was spellbound. And then came the greatest revelation - Bhaiya ji was a disciple of Kumar ji and the rendition that Sawani sang all those years ago, which I heard in my teenage, was actually composed by Kumar ji. I heard Kumar ji's grand-disciple before I had heard him and it was the grand-disciple's singing that made me fall in love with the Guru -Kumar ji.

Incidentally, during the lockdown in 2020, my wife showed me a video of another wonderful singer. He was Rahul Deshpande - the same Marathi fellow, who I had heard many years ago. He was also from the same musical lineage as Pt. Kumar Gandharva.

Now coming to the words of the bhajan. I am not a lyrics person. People around me have a tough time correcting my singing words (and of course also my terrible notes). The meaning of the bhajan has been beautifully captured here. I will focus on the last few lines which talk of self-effort and it is our actions alone that will bear fruit. In the Vivekachudamani, which we are studying these days, Bhagwan Shankaracharya beautifully conveys this idea in the following verses:

ऋणमोचनकर्तारः पितुः सन्ति सुतादयः।
बन्धमोचनकर्ता तु स्वस्मादन्यो न कश्चन।।53।।

A father has his sons and others to save him from his financial debts, but to redeem himself from his delusions, there is none but himself

मस्तकन्यस्तभारादेर्दुःखमन्यैर्निवार्यते।
क्षुधादिकृतदुःखं तु विना स्वेन न केनचित्।।54।।

Exhaustion and fatigue caused by carrying a load on the head can be relieved by others coming to one's help. But none save one's own self can end the pangs caused by hunger etc.


पथ्यमौषधसेवा च क्रियते येन रोगिणा।
आरोग्यसिद्धिर्दृष्टाय नान्यानुष्ठितकर्मणा।।55।।

The patient who faithfully follows the right diet and takes the proper medicine alone is perceived to recover from his illness; no one recovers because another undergoes the treatment.

(Translation by Swami Chinmayananda ji)

It took nearly 15 years, but everything finally fit (many thanks to my wife for completing my life - in more ways than one). This one bhajan neatly captured my life in the last 15 years - my dedication to Vedanta, my attraction to classical music and the mysteries that bind us all. 

Today, we complete 15 years of this blog. In 2008, I was still in school and had started this blog because there was nothing to do on a national holiday. Back then, I didn't imagine that I would continue to write for 15 years! But, today, I am confident that I can never give up writing. 

I thought I should write about something that has also been part of this incredible journey. This bhajan has. I didn't know the bhajan's greatness back then. Slowly, but surely, it was revealed to me. I suppose that is also true for the path of Moksha. Slowly, but surely it is revealed. And when it is, we must make the effort and follow it.

Happy Republic Day! May the law forever protect you!
Happy Basant Panchmi! May Maa Saraswati forever bless you!

Thank you for being a part of this journey. For reading, for sharing and or giving feedback. 

It really means a lot.


31 December 2022

2022

Over the past few days, I have been trying to write this post. But something or the other (read- laziness) prevented me from starting it. 

2022 has been an incredible year. I can't believe the many things that happened this year.

We just heard this song and I thought it captured my feelings accurately. Despite the tough times, indeed, what a wonderful world! God is kind, we just need to attune ourselves to see His kindness. He is always smiling at us. His image instantly calms us. Even when He is mischievous, He continues to be adorable. 

Happy New Year!

May Krishna bless us all!