Word-to-word meaning of the Bhajan --LANKAA SAANKARI PAALAYA MAAM

05-05-2005, 11:36 PM

Jai Guru Datta.
Reverential Pranams to the Lotus feet of our Sadguru Deva Sri Sri Ganapati
Sachchidaananda Swamiji.

Beseeching the divine blessings of HH Sri Swamiji, here is a humble attempt to
give word-to-word translation of the sacred Bhajan LANKAA SAANKARI PAALAYA MAAM.

May the divine grace of Sadguru Deva pardon me if there are any mistakes.

After the word to word translation effort, I also put together the story
narration pertinent to this Bhajan from the Audio CD/MP3 -- in TELUGU --
Ashtaadasa Sakti Peetha Kathalu with a humble intention that all devotees that
do not know Telugu can enjoy the divine ecstacy by following teh story narration
of HH Sri Swamiji.

TELUGU script of the Bhajan available at:
http://www.dattapeetham.com/india/fe.../lanka_tel.pdf
ENGLISH script of the Bhajan available at :
http://www.dattapeetham.com/india/fe.../lanka_eng.pdf

Word-to-word meaning of the sacred Bhajan LANKAASAANKARI PAALAYA MAAM
================================================== ====================

LANKAA SAANKARI = oH! Sankari Devi! who is residing in the Lanka
PAALAYA = (Please)Protect
MAAM = Me.
(Oh! the one who)
LAALITA = takes care of
KINKARI = (her) servants/sevakas/saranaagataas--those who seek blessings and
surrender
PAALAYA = (Please)Protect
MAAM = Me.

[1.1]
======
(Oh! the one who)
RATE = is sporting/dwelling
(in the)
Adbhuta = magnificient
Dweepa = island
(made of)
Ratna = precious gem stone
(which in turn is)
Gate = located
(in the)
MADHYA = center of
Maha = great
Aarnava = ocean of
AMRUTA = divine nectar

Meaning:
--------
Oh! the one who is sporting/dwelling in the magnificient island, made of
precious gem stone,that is in turn in the midst of
the great ocena of divine nectar,
(that Lanka Saankari, Please protect me. )
Manidweepa/Ratna Dweepa = the secret yogic pathway between Mooladhaara and
sahasraara chakras.
[1.2]
======
(Oh! the one who)
Kruta = did
Apahrute = steal/take away/destroy
Raavan = Raavanaasura's
Garva = ego
(And who)
kruta = (did)made
Tat = that
Lankaa = Lanka named
Pura = City
(as her)
Vasate = abode
Notes:
-----
[Tallanka = Tat + Lanka]
[Gravaapahrute = Garva + Apahrute]
Meaning:
--------
Oh! the one who stole/destroyed the ego of the demon Raavana and who made Lanka
city as her abode,
(that Lanka Saankari, Please protect me.)

Raavanaasura stands for the 6 evil qualities(arishadvargaa) in us:
Kama,Krodha,Lobha,Moha,Mada,Maatsarya
[2.1]
======
(Oh! the one who made)
Mahita = the greatest/(of best quality)
Kadamba = Kadamba(a type of flower, generally a yellow colour cornation of
today)
Vana = garden
Aavasadhe = an abode (of herself) [Aaavaasa -means- reside]
(And who)
Maanita = revered/respected
Manju = Komala = very delicate/nice/ beautiful
Kadhe = the story of [Katha = story]
Seetaa = Seta devi [consort of Lord Rama in Ramayana]

Meaning:
--------
Oh! the one who made the greatest Kadamba garden itself as her abode and who
respected the very delicate/nice story of Seeta
Devi,
(that Lanka Saankari, Please protect me. )
(i.e. In the Raamayana Seeta devi resides under the capture of demon Raavana and
the whole story revolves around the Lanka
City till lord Raama arrives and kills Raavana ina fierce and just battle. There
is mythological significance where
Saankari Devi arrives to lanka when prayed by Raavana and after a long period
leaves Lanka as Raavana does not obey the vow
taken by him at the time of her arrival to Lanka. Thus HH Sri Swamiji is
describing that Saankari devi witnessed the
Raamayana time story events.....as Iguess with my little knowledge )

[2.1]
======
(Oh! the one who)
chari = manoeuvers in
Jala = water
(who)
chari = manoeuvers in
Vana = the garden/forest
(and is known as )
vana Durge = Oh! godess of forests/gardens as another form of Durga

(oh! the one who is the)
Maarge = path/way/road leading to
Udaya = the dawn of
Sachchidaananda = Sat+Chit+Aaananda = Truth, wisdom and bliss

Meaning:
--------
Oh! the one who manoeuvers in water and forests and hence is called as Vana
Durga! and
Oh! the one who is the path way leading towards the dawn of
Sachchidaananda-Truth,wisdome and bliss,
that Lanka Saankari, Please protect me.

TELUGU script available at:
http://www.dattapeetham.com/india/fe.../lanka_tel.pdf
ENGLISH script available at :
http://www.dattapeetham.com/india/fe.../lanka_eng.pdf

********************************HH Sri Swamiji's
Vyakhya*************************************

HH Sri Swamiji's Telugu Explanation from the Audio MP3 CD-titled-"Ashtadasa
Sakti Peetha Kathalu".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
---------
Sri Swamiji's own true translation --sentance by sentance-- in TELUGU language.
================================================== ======================
Kinkarulanu[ante manandarini] Laalinche/Paalinche Lankaa Saankari! nannu
rakshinchu.
Amruta Samudram Madhyalo unde daana!
Adbhutamaina Manidweepam lo kreedinche daana!
Arishadvargaala roopamaina raavanaasuruni garvaanni harinchina daana!
Atti Raavanuni lankaa pattanam lo nivasinchina jaganmaata!
Mahaneeyamaina kadamba vaname illaina daana!
Setaa devi kathanu gowravinchina daana!
Jalam lo Sanchrinche daana!
Vanam lo Sancharinche daana!
Sachchidaananam udayinchenduku maargamaina mahaa amma nuvveene (i.e. ammavu
nuvve)!

Sri Swamiji's own additional explanation [translated from Telugu to English]
================================================== ==========================
"Lanka" means an island kind of place/ piece of land-- that is encircled and
surrounded by water, where in, the land is at a
higher plane than the water surface level.
Most of the people will be mistaken and confused that this Lanka is nothing but
today's Simhala or Silon country that is to
the south-east of India.
In actuality the "Lanka" referred to here in this Bhajan is **NOT** the Simhala.
According to the Jyotisha Saastra(astrology), if you imagine a perfect equator
line and be able to identify the exact
location of zero degrees on that line, that is the correct "Lanaka" mentioned in
this Bhajan.
Unfortunately that imaginary equator line as described by our ancient
Rishis(saints) is next to impossible to be identified
now. It is way different than today's equator line as proclaimed by the science.
The Sakti Peetham that is manifested at that zero degrees on that imaginary
equator line described by our ancient sages is
the abode of Saankari Devi.
In the "Siromani Grandham"(Book), the co-ordinates of this lanka are described
as:
Lankaa Ku Madhye Yama Koti Rasyaa'ha |
PrakPaschime Romaka Pattanam ch ||
{there could be mistakes in capturing the correct sanskrit words in the
sloka/stanza above}
According to the TANTRA saastra, Lalita Devi is described to be living in the
MANI DWEEPA-- which is in the midst of the
ocean of nectar.
Mani + Dweepa
[Precious crystal + island]
is described to be the secret pathway from Mooladhaara -to- Sahasraara Chakra.
Lalita Paraa Bhattarika is mentioned to be residding in that ManiDweepa, as
glorified in the Lalitaa Saahasra Naama etc.

JAI GURU DATTA!!
SRIGURUDATTA!!

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