2018 12 11 Vivah Panchami - Marriage Anniversary of Sita and Ram

Info from Vivah Panchami website

It is believed that Lord Rama is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu who visited Janakpurdham in Nepal and in the Swayamvar of Goddess Sita, broke the bow (Dhanush) of Lord Shiva and got married to Goddess Sita.

Vivah Panchami is the day celebrated as the marriage anniversary of Goddess Sita and Lord Rama as it is believed that they got married on this day. Vivah Panchami falls on the fifth day of Hindu month of Margashirsha in the Shukla Paksha.

The celebrations of Vivah Panchami take place across India in almost all the regions at Ram-Sita temples. But the most pious and grand celebrations can be seen on the lands of Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama and also at Janakpur, in Nepal, the birthplace of Goddess Sita.

Vivah Panchami Puja is performed by the priest and the celebrations are concluded with the aarti of Lord Ram.

 Six videos play for 70 minutes


1 Ramayan song - Ram Sita marriage  13:42

2 Shri Ram Jaanki Baithe Hein Mere Seene Mein 8:30

3 Devi Sita Song | Ghar Mein Padharo Sita Maiya | New Devotional Song  4:08

4 Sita Ram Sita Ram Kahiye -Ram Bhajan-Anup Jalota  7:18

5 Seeta ram seeta ram by manoj tiwari  10:48

6 Group Lakshmi Narayan Puja on Vivah Panchami  25:28





Playlist URL:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACmwZPBGZMd35KCxqFNSKlTGOOrtNqT7

Ashtavakra Gita - a classical Advaita Vedanta scripture

If you happen to celebrate January 1st as the new year, Happy New Year to you!

Today's post is a bit different, not a playlist, but an audio book at the end.

Today you will find links to a writing I just learned about this morning, the Ashtavakra Gita. Gita means song (which I sometimes take to mean poem or other writing that may/may not be set to actual music), and Ashtavakra is a Sage who taught King Janaka about Oneness.

Here is a bit of background from Wikipedia:
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtavakra_Gita
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Identification of Ashtavakra

"Ashtavakra is probably identical to the holy sage with the same name who appears in Mahabharata, though the connection is not clearly stated in any of the texts. Mukherjee identifies Janaka as the father of Sita and disciple of the sage Yajnavalkya in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. Janaka is also depicted as a king who has attained perfection in the Bhagavad Gita (III,20,25).

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Overview

Janaka debating with Ashtavakra. Art from the epic Ashtavakra (2010).
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"Ashtavakra Gita is a dialogue between Ashtavakra and Janaka on the nature of soul, reality and bondage. It offers a radical version of non-dualistic philosophy. The Gita insists on complete unreality of external world and absolute oneness of existence. It does not mention any morality or duties, and therefore is seen by commentators as 'godless'. It also dismisses names and forms as unreal and a sign of ignorance.
In a conversation between Janaka and Ashtavakra, pertaining to the deformity of his crooked body, Ashtavakra explains that the size of a Temple is not affected by how it is shaped, and the shape of his own body does not affect himself (or Atman). The ignorant man's vision is shrouded by names and forms but a wise man sees only himself: <sup>"


There are a  number of resources listed at the end of the article. I liked these two in particular: 

Ashtavakra Gita in Devanagari with English translation side by side</sup>

 John Richards translation in pdf format

 

2015 12 21 Aarti for Solstice

Aarti is not necessarily a Solstice celebration; it's celebrated every evening in many temples and other sacred places around India.

What is aarti? 

From the Sanskrit dictionary at http://dictionary.tamilcube.com/sanskrit-dictionary.aspx
Aarti : form of worship
Aarti : Invocation ceremony or a welcoming ceremony . Normally involves waving a lamp gently in front of the deity.
Aarti : Worship of the deity using lit lamps.



From the Ram Aarti page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNYaXQXI6nY
Aarti - A Hindu religious ritual of worship, refers to the songs sung in praise of the deity when lamps are being offered. Devotees express their complete and unflinching love towards God by singing aartis with a deep sense of reverence and adoration.


Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aarti
Origin

Aarti is derived from the Sanskrit word Aratrika, which means something that removes Ratri, darkness (or light waved in darkness before an icon). Another word from which Arati is thought to be derived is the Sanskrit word Aaraartikyam (Sanskrit:आरार्तिक्यं). A Marathi language reference says it is also known as Mahaneeranjana (Sanskrit:महानीराञ्जना)

Aarti is said to have descended from the Vedic concept of fire rituals, or homa. In the traditional aarti ceremony, the flower represents the earth (solidity), the water and accompanying handkerchief correspond with the water element (liquidity), the lamp or candle represents the fire component (heat), the peacock fan conveys the precious quality of air (movement), and the yak-tail fan represents the subtle form of ether (space). The incense represents a purified state of mind, and one’s "intelligence" is offered through the adherence to rules of timing and order of offerings. Thus, one’s entire existence and all facets of material creation are symbolically offered to the Lord via the aarti ceremony. The word may also refer to the traditional Hindu devotional song that is sung during the ritual.
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Many of the aarti songs included here do follow a lyric pattern and song that seems traditional, and some do not....they may be newer songs or interpretations.

13 videos play for 75 minutes


1 - Aarti - Ganesha Aarti 7:42

2 - "Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh Deva" - Lord Ganesh Aarti 4:32

3 - Varanasi Ganga Aarti Holy River Hindu Worship Ritual *HD* 7:01
Brahma/Shiva

4 - Bhajan | Om Jai Saraswati Mata [Full Song] Aarti by Arpita Bobade 7:45

5 - Om Jai Jagdish Hare Aarti by Narendra Chanchal - Lord Vishnu Aarti 5:31

6 - Aarti - Mahalaxmi - Om Jai Laxmi Mata 4:28

7 - Om Jai Shiv Omkara full Aarti from Movie Aayee Milan Ki Raat  4:52

8 - Parvati Mataji Aarti 7:19

9 - Kali Arti 5:26

10 - Krishna Aarti (NEW) ( Beautiful Song ) 6:20

11 - Aarti Shri Raghuvar Ji Ki | Ram Aarti With Lyrics | Hindi Devotional Songs  4:00

12 - Sita Aarti With Lyrics | Sanjeevani Bhelande | Hindi Devotional Songs | Ram Navami Special  3:14

13 - Hanuman Chalisa & aarti by Ashwin Pathak 6:29






Playlist url
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACmwZPBGZMeAf4D-Aa_nswkCXQmuCvoE

2013 12 08 Gayatri Mantras for Meditation and Illumination

Gayatri Mantras for Meditation and Illumination: Sun, Ganesha, Brahma, Saraswati, Vishnu, L:akshmi, Shiva, Durga, Kali, Krishna, Radha, Ram, Sita, and Hanuman.

(Check out 10 Reasons to chant...the benefits of mantra meditation.)

Below you'll find information on the Gayatri Mantras as well as lyrics and translations.

Today's playlist includes 14 videos that play for 59 minutes.

Gayatri Mantra
http://www.sanskrit.org/www/Hindu%20Primer/gayatri.html

"Om bhur bhuvah svah
"tat-savitur varenyam
"bhargo devasya dhimahi
"dhiyo yo nah pracodayat

"Gayatri is actually the name for a Sanskrit poetical meter that contains three lines of eight syllables each. There are, therefore, many gayatri mantras, but this particular one is the oldest and most well known of all gayatri mantras. In Hinduism all Gods and Goddesses have a gayatri mantra associated with them. There is a gayatri for Ganesha, one for Shiva, one for Durga, one for Vishnu, one for Lakshmi, and so on. Most people are unaware of this fact and when Hindus talk about the gayatri mantra they mean thee gayatri mantra shown above, which is addressed to Savitri, the sun. The first line: om bhur bhuvah svah that you see above is not actually part of a gayatri mantra. It is a special utterance called vyahriti that has been added to the beginning of this famous gayatri .

"The Great Utterance

"The first part of the gayatri mantra, om bhur bhuvah svah, which we mentioned at the beginning as not part of the mantra, is called vyahriti or the "great utterance." This mantra is repeated not only in conjunction with the gayatri mantra, but also separately during havans or fire ceremonies. The word om is a auspicious sound made at the beginning of many prayers. The expression bhur bhuvah and svah is technical, but a simple way to think of it is as a “call to creation,” that the light of the sun (the light of God) shines on the earth (bhur), in the sky (bhuvah), and in space (svah), and therefore the implication is, "let that light also shine on me."

"The technical explanation vyahriti has to do with subtle practices of meditational yoga. This earth is simply one of many planes of existence. In fact, above this earth are six higher planes, heavens as it were. Including this earth, there are seven planes up (heavens) and seven planes down, or hells below this earth. The earth is in the middle. If you have ever heard the expression, “he is in seventh heaven” you should understand that this is a reference to the Hindu idea of heavens. The seventh heaven is the highest heaven. The first three of these planes starting with the earth are called bhur, bhuvah and svah. The utterance bhur bhuvah svah, therefore, refers to the first three subtle planes of existence that may be reached in meditation by a yogi."


Lyrics and translations for Brahma Gayatri, Hanuman Gayatri, Saraswati Gayatri,
Translations for Krishna Gayatri, Vishnu Gayatri, Radha Gayatri, came from:
Gayatri mantras of Several Gods
Translated by P. R. Ramachander
http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Gayatri_mantras_of_Several_Gods


The Gayatris Playlist:

1 Ravi Shankar Gayatri Chants#A3C23 3:30
Ravi Shankar and George Harrison
Om Bhur Bhuvah Svaha
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi
Dhiyo yonah Prachodayat

Om, in each of the 3 planes of existence
We worship That Ultimate Reality
the vivifying power within the Sun
We contemplate the Divine Radiance
May our intellect be so illumined, we pray.


2 Ganesha Gayathri Mantra  2:28
OM Ekadantaaya Viddhamahe,
VakratunDaaya DhImahi,
Tanno danti prachodayaat.

Translation: We pray to the one with the single-tusked elephant tooth (ekadantāya) who is omnipresent (viddhamahe).
We meditate upon and pray for greater intellect (dhīmahi) to the Lord with the curved, elephant-shaped trunk (vakratunḍāya).
We bow before the one with the single-tusked elephant tooth (tanno danti) to illuminate our minds with wisdom (pracodayāt).



3 Brahma Gayatri Mantra Gayathri Mantram of Lord Brahma Deva x264  1:14
Om Vedathmanaya vidmahe,
Hiranya Garbhaya Dheemahi,
Thanno Brahma prachodayath

Om, Let me meditate on The God who is the soul of Vedas,
Oh God, who holds the entire world within you, give me higher intellect,
And let the Lord Brahma illuminate my mind.



4 Vedic Mantras to Improve Education & Memory - Sri Saraswati Gayathri 4:14
Om Vakdeviyai cha Vidhmahe
Virinji Pathniyai cha Dheemahe
Thanno Vani Prachodayath.

Om, Let me meditate on the goddess of speech,
Oh, wife of Lord Brahma, give me higher intellect,
And let Goddess Vani illuminate my mind.



5 Vishnu Gayatri Mantra 5:09
om namoh namaha
om narayanaya vidmahe
vasudevaya dhimahi
tam no vishnu prachodayat

Om, Let me meditate on Lord Narayana,
Oh, Lord Vasudeva, give me higher intellect,
And let Lord Vishnu illuminate my mind.



6 Lakshmi (Laxmi) Gayatri for Spiritual Wealth and Luxuries 3:20
Om Mahalakshmyai cha vidmahe
Vishnu patnyai cha dhimahi
Tanno Lakshmihi prachodayat

Translation: "Om. Let us meditate on the Great Goddess Sri Lakshmi,
the consort of Sri Maha Vishnu.
May that effulgent Maha Lakshmi Devi inspire and illuminate our mind with understanding."



7 Shiva Gayatri 2:51
Om Tat Purushaya Vidmahe
Mahadevaya Deemahe
Thanno Rudra Prachodayath

"Aum. Let us invoke the superlative (-tad) male (-purusha) and omniscient lord (-vidvamahe).
Let us meditate and focus upon (-dheemahi) the supreme (-maha) lord (-devaaya).
Let us ask Shiva (-rudra) to provide us inspiration and guidance (-prachodayaat) in our spiritual journeys."



8 Durga Gayatri Mantra - with English lyrics 6:47
Om Girijayai Vidmahe,
Shiva Priyayai Dhimahi,
Tanno Durga Prachodaya



9 Remove+Fear+-+Kali+Gayatri+Mantra.flv 3:13
om kaalikaayai vidmahe
shmashaana vaasinyai dhimahi
tanno kaalee  prachodayat



10 Krishna Gayatri (Recite) 4:28
Om Dhamodharaya Vidhmahe
Rukmani Vallabhay Dheemahe
Thanno Krishna Prachodayath.

Om, Let me meditate on the god whose belly was tied by a rope,
Oh, consort of Rukhmani, give me higher intellect,
And let God Krishna illuminate my mind.


11 Radha Gayatri Mantra 8:50
Om Vrishbhaanujayei Vidmahe
Krishnpriyayei Dhimahi
Tanno Radha Prachodayat

Om, Let me meditate on the daughter of Vrishabhanu,
Oh, darling of Krishna, give me higher intellect,
And let Radha illuminate my mind.



12 Sri Rama Gayathri Mantra 5:59
Om Daserathaya Vidhmahe
Sita Vallabhaya Dheemahe
Thanno Rama Prachodayath.

Om, Let me meditate on the son of Dasaratha,
Oh, consort of Sita, give me higher intellect,
And let God Rama illuminate my mind.



13 Gayatri Mantra of Sita 2:52
Om Janaka Nandinye Vidmahe
Bhumijayai Dheemahe
Thanno Sita Prachodayath



14 Hanuman Gayathiri Mantram 4:25
This matches the chant:
Aum Aanjaneyaaya Vidmahe
Vayu-puthraaya Dhimahee
Thanno Hanuman Prachodayath

Middle line does not match the chant, but this goes with the translation:
Om Aanjaneya Vidhmahe
Maha balaya Dheemahe
Thanno Hanuman Prachodayath.

Om, Let me meditate on the son of Anjana,
Oh, Very strong one, give me higher intellect,
And let Hanuman illuminate my mind.

Playlist url:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACmwZPBGZMdX9M2ZGkYtUb2jYttDX1RS