bhakti_lata

when i realized this about surrendering, i had written a hindi poem which goes something like this....so u could say that its a poem that is written in the mood of surrendering

chanchal paagal manvaa re

dukh kaa dukh kyoN kartaa re

sukh aayaa jab bhii dwaare

too naam Hari kaa bisraa re

dukh hee teraa haath dhare

Hari ke sharaN le jaataa re

dukh usko hee miltaa re

jo hai Hari ko pyaaraa re

chanchal paagal manvaa re

dukh kaa dukh kyoN kartaa re

the english translation of the poem is

Oh restless and crazy mind of mine

why are you grieving over your grief

each time happiness came at your door

you never remembered to take the holy name of Lord

It is the grief that holds your hands

and leads you to the lotus feet of The Lord

suffering is given only to those

who are dearest to the Lord

(as He is too eager to burn their karmas)

So restless and crazy mind of mine

why are your grieving over your grief.

bhakti~lata

Thank you Prabhu for posting and sharing with us this quote. And yes...i too found it hard to grasp - what exactly does one do when surrenders until recently when i came face to face with very difficult situation in my life.

I was very distressed to the point that it began to affect my devotional practice. And in desperation I began to think of all the things that I had heard from my spiritual master and read in Srila Prabhupada's books. Some thought that would be put me back on the path of devotional practice.

I approached my spiritual master and asked what do i do when difficulties befall on you and crush you ....how do i keep firmly put on path of bhakti?

My spiritual master (All Glories to my spiritual master!!!!) quoted a beautiful verse (i cannot remember the exact words) which meant that

"just as when you fall on the ground, in order to rise up and to be back on your feet, you take the support of the same ground and stand up, in the path of bhakti when you stumble and fall, you use bhakti itself to restore your balance." In other words, simply continue however hard it may be....automatically u will be back on your feet.

And I did...i forced myself to sit and chant and as i chanted ..and chanted....things changed....and i was truly amazed to see how effortlessly i restored my balance. i became more attached to chanting...whenever more distressed i would get.

and as i began to restore my balance, i got into the frame of mind where i began to accept the calamity that had befallen on me ...and i thought to myself if it were not for this calamity i wouldnt have been so attached to the chanting...and that made the calamity even more acceptable....in fact i reached a point when i began to love the calamity as it had me more attached to Hari Naam...and it is at that point i realized that what i had effectively began to do was to surrender to the situation (and to the Lord under whose dictates and laws i was suffering). I was not reacting or analysing what happened to me but just chanting and chanting....that means i was surrendering.

So, i personally feel

"surrender" = chanting the holy name irrespective of what happens to us materially.

surrender = not analysing or blaming or reacting to anything that happens to us = accepting our suffering as results of our past karmas (law of the Lord) and chanting and dedicating every thing that we do to the service of the Lord so that we dont create more karmas in the present which will result in our future suffering.

Hope this helps.

bhakto~lata

wow! Avinash Prabhu that is indeed very kind and sweer of you ! I am touched. I am so pleased to know that there is someone in the forum who knows Hindi. You have done a splendid job of transcribing - no spelling mistake except one minor where u have spelt Hari as Harii (with long sound).

Here is another Hindi poem with translation....I hope you all like this.

<font color="blue">

<font color="violet">

din tau beetaa karat chaakree

raat bhii liyaa nahiiN naam Hari

pal pal yooNhee beetaa jaaye

jeevan kaa ghaT reetaa jaaye.</font color>

The day is gone serving some karmii

The night is gone without the name of Hari

Each moment is thus passing by

My life is thus receding by

<font color="violet">

dukh-chintaa kee aag prabal hai

Hari naam se har kaam saral hai

man abhimaanii samajh naa paaye

naahak aag meiN jaltaa jaaye.</font color>

Fire of troubles is hot and blazing

Hari Naam makes everything easy

My egotistical mind does not get this

And continues to burn un-necessarily

<font color="violet">bhool gayee jab rishtaa Hari se

dukh kaa praarambh huvaa tabhee se

Sri Guru jis par kripaa barsaaye

use bhoolaa rishtaa yaad aa jaaye</font color>

The day I forgot my relationship with Hari

Marked the eve of my sorrow and worry

On whom the blessings of Sri Guru pours

the forgotten ties with Hari is recalled.

<font color="violet">

smaraN Hari kaa rahe humeshaa

chaahe sukh ho yaa ho kaleshaa

dil darpan se jab dhool miT jaaye

Hari ke ras kaa aaswaad mil jaaye.</font color>

May I remember the Lord always

Be it happy times or unhappy days

When the mirror of heart is cleansed

The nectar of Hari is then relished

bhakti~lata

</font color>

All Glories to all you devotees who have been relating to my devotional outpourings. Each time i have a realization i feel like penning it down in the form of a poem and share it with everyone. You know how we get that ahhaaaa feeling when a realization dawns upon us....and we feel like telling the whole world ...that this is what bhakti is all about :-) ? In moments like that i compose my poems...but until now i didnt have an audience who could get what i was on about coz i was showing it to karmis. But the feeling of sharing these with devotees is just so powerful and reinforcing.

Once again all glories to you all for your notes ...it is heartening to know that devotees can relate to my words and thoughts.

Hare Krishna! Govinda!!!

bhakti~lata

Thank you Avinash Prabhu.

Here is a an addition to the list.

Govinda!!!!

bhakti~lata

<center>

<font color="blue">

Unique Equation of Devotion

Devotion

is an expression

of affection and adoration

to The Lord - the original Creator of all creation

He always reciprocates our love in proportion

not in direct proportion to the amount that is given

but rather in inverse proportion

to the amount that is held back and not given.

Such is the unique equation

of Devotion.

bhakti~lata

</font color>

</center>

Thank you, Avinash Prabhu

This is a good idea. By posting the poems under one thread I dont need to then keep looking for responses ;-) in several threads which keep moving down down and down :-( !

In the absence of comments, i am satisfied to see the number of views :-). I am happy to know that you liked them so much.

As i said in one of the threads, I have recently discovered this forum and i am thrilled to be associating with devotees , reading others and sharing my thoughts.

Once again, thank you very much.

bhakti~lata

ps - i will the poems here later when i have more time at hand. in the mean time, if the administrator of this forum can move the poems to this thread, that will be very much appreciated by me. thank you.

Here's another perpective that i originally wrote in Hindi. I present the same with translation.

"main kaun hooN?"

maiN = I

kaun = who

hooN = am

[who am I?]

<font color="blue">

boond aik saagar kii

jo maya ke greeshm se

hawaa ho gayii hai

a drop of an ocean

that by the heat of Maya

has been vaporized

kiran aik sooraj kii

jo agyaantaa ke baadaloN

meiN chhip gayii hai

a ray of a blazing sun

which has been covered over

by the cloud of ignorance

ansh aik sampoorN kaa

jis se sambandh apnaa

bhool gayii hai.

part of a whole

the connection with whom

is forgotten (by the part)

aik aisee dhoban

jo Hari naam ke jal se

apnaa mailaa aaNchal

mal mal kar

dho rahii hai

a washerwoman

who using the pure

water of Hari Naam

is vigorously

washing her

soiled saarii

bhakti~lata

</font color>

<center>

<font color="blue">

Who am I?

I am not my face that I see in the mirror

I am not my name that I always sign under

I am not my mood that keeps changing its colour

I am not my emotion that changes like weather

I am not my pain or sorrow or pleasure

I am not even the things that I often desire

I am not my hopes, dreams and ambitions either

I am.......I am.....hmmm...hey....now I remember!

No body I am, I've been and will be a spirit forever

That remains unchanged whatever be the matter.

bhakti~lata

</font color>

</center>

<center> <font color="red">

* Creeper Plant of Love *

<font color="green">

It all began with

discovering a few

seeds of faith

hidden deep inside

the soul that was

covered over with dust

from past so many ages ....

......few showers

of love

and some

sunshines of

guidance later.....

the seed began

to sprout....

.....and with

patient

nurturing and

watering of

devotion....

the seed

is beginning to grow.....

into a Creeper Plant

of Love....

a Creeper

that

grows and grows

in length

and creeps

and entangles

and aspires for

the Lotus feet

of The Supreme Lord...

the Love for

the Supreme Soul..

and...

..in the process

entangles and

winds around

everything

and everyone

that comes along

its way.........and

bears the

flowers of joy

that never shrivel up

and dry

and

fruits of happiness

that hide within

many more seeds

of the same

Creeper Plant of Love.

<font color="red">

bhakti~lata

</font color>

</center>

</font color>

i dont know where in the scripture it says but it does say somewhere

"atithi devo bhavah"

atithi = guest

dev = god

bhavah = becomes (is)

guest is god.

come to think of it, i wonder why?

and in the old indian tradition (even today in many cultured homes) guests are always treated with respect.

bhakti~lata

would like to know how the devotees on this forum observe ekadasi....especially those who do not live close to a temple or association of devotees.

Govinda!

bhakti~lata

Thank you Priitaa and guest for appreciating my poem. I am thrilled to find this wonderful forum to whom i can share my devotional expressions. Reading the discussions by others is like associating with the vaishnavas which i dont otherwise have under my current circumstances.

Govinda!

bhakti~lata

Haridham Prabhu

Thanks for your sweet comments. I couldnt help smiling to myself reading them.

The fact that you liked the poem is an indication that you certainly have devotion in you for Krishna. When I had posted this poem on another poetry site visited by Indians who certainly know Krishna, I did not get any response and it was partly because although they know Krishna, not many understand enough about Krishna consciousness or bhakti-yoga (in its truest sense) to possess devotion for Krishna.

So, if you were inspired by the poem, i am sure you too can write. C'mon give it a go....Krishna is pleased with all kinds of attempts to express devotion. Krishna does not discriminate. Devotion is devotion - however perfect or imperfect may be its expression. What matters is what is in our hearts.

In fact, my spiritual master always encourages us by saying that Krishna looks very fondly and amusingly at devotees who are taking baby steps on the path of bhakti and becomes very pleased. Therefore, I always have this image of Krishna looking upon me fondly.

Pls dont mind my preaching...just felt like sharing

:-)

bhakti~lata

for your kind attention...hope that's not illegal .

;-)

bhakti~lata

Govidnaram Prabhu

Please accept my humble obeisences. Thank you for appreciating the poem. And I loved the poem written by Junior Govindaram. It is the (devotional) expressions and thoughts that form the heart of a poem - so ur poem has a heart ...all it needs a nice body to wrap the beautiful thoughts :-) !

bhakti~lata

thank you for seeing the humor in my devotional expression :-).

have u read my other poem "oh bumble bee!" ...it's on Radha Rani's pining love for Krishna....it is not humorous but i have tried to veil in Radha Rani's pining - the desire for all devotees to unite their soul with the Supreme Lord Krishna.

Do read it and let me know if you liked it.

bhakti~lata

Hello Lover of Creeper of Love :-)

First of all thanks for appreciating and liking my name. If u were a female there are many more beautiful sounding names.

But for a male...let me think ...hmmmmm...how about

Kalpataru - desire tree

Prahlad - a model devotee of the Lord

Shyama Sundar - name of Lord Krishna

Madan Mohan - name of Krishna

Venu Gopal - name of Krishna

Bhakti Rasaamrita - the nectar of devotion

Satchidananda - Eternity-Knowledge-Bliss - constitutional position of the soul.

How about Abhaya Charan - which is His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada's original name - the name literally means Fearless Footed (i think!) - firm footed or determined on the path of devotion.

Hope that helps.

Happy name searching

bhakti~lata

Thank you all for appreciating the poem. It is such a pleasure to share the devotional outpourings with fellow Vaishnavas. I want to sincerely thank the people behind this web based forum. You are doing a wonderful service to Krishna in providing a platform for devotees to share our thoughts with each other.

My name - Bhakti Lata (as many of you may know) means Creeper Plant (lata) of Loving Devotion (bhakti) which we all devotees aspire to nurture and grow in our hearts.

Hare Krishna!

bhakti~lata

<center>

<font color="blue">

Prayer of the trapped and encaged...

Oh Lord! trapped and encaged in this world material,

i am the lowest of lowest of lowly creature.

Carrying with me so many tattered baggaages,

That i've been collecting past so many ages.

i want not wealth nor love as blessing,

i pray that I burn in the fire of suffering.

More baggages would be burnt, the more i suffer,

Each time i suffer, i come to You one step closer.

bhakti~lata

</font color>

</center>

<center>

another offering of my devotion to the ultimate heart stealer...Lord Krishna.

Picture is courtsey of art gallery at Krishna.com.

<font color="blue">

look at the

ultimate heart stealer!

sneaking and

stealing all that butter!

can u see beneath

His pranks n jokes

that He constantly

plays on us lost souls?

the Owner of everything

that one can own

the Lord of everything

that one can lord

as He pretends to be

the stealer and thief

He must be amused

at our tendencies

to claim ownership

and be the chief

of things

that we neither own

nor can lord.

the sparkle and twinkle

seem to beckon

through His eyes

"awaken you sleepyheads!

to the light of truth!

awaken from the slumber

of your lies!"

bhakti~lata

</font color>

</center>

<center>

a poem on Radha's pining love for Krishna which i have written as my humble devotional offering to Krishna. Picture is courtsey of the art gallery on the website krishna.com.

<font color="purple">

oh bumble-bee!

hear my plight

i pine for Him

day and night

my days seem

without a light

stars have also

lost their shine

barren is every

night of mine.

oh bumble-bee!

go to Him and

tell my plight

tell Him how

my soul untied

wanders about

like a lost kite

tell Him how

my teary eyes

yearn and thirst

for His sight.

oh bumble-bee!

wait to hear a

melodious tune

under shining stars

and smiling moon

look around and

stop please

once you find

joy and peace

look for the bees

and birds in bliss

these are the signs

you must not miss

of the place that

has won the

heart of His.

oh bumble-bee!

no sooner you find

His handsome sight

convey to Him my

sorrow and plight

go and give Him

my sad tiding

and return to me

with glad tiding.

bhakti~lata

</font color>

</center>

My dear fellow Vaishnavas,

Please accept my humble obeisences. I am new to this forum.

I would like to post on this forum some of my devotional poems which I write as my spiritual master has ordered me to dove-tail my writing skills in the service of Krishna.

Here's my humble attempt to express my devotional feelings in poetry.

<font color="blue">

* lost soul *

So lost i was in

worldly matters

I looked for diamonds

amidst the trashes.

So lost i was in

chasing illusion

I got entangled

in webs of confusion.

Entangled i was yet

thought i was free

I had chained my soul

only my senses were free.

When senses were pleased

i thought it was 'joy'

Little did i know that

it was all maya's ploy.

Obeisences to my guru

who opened my eyes

Who burnt my ignorance

and showed me light.

Now that i have found

my soul's lost place.

I'm no more in a rush,

and no more in a chase.

Tears of gratitude

wash down my face

As i realize oh Lord!

Your Infinite Grace.

bhakti~lata

8 Aug 2003

</font color>