Pyari ji....Gyan, karam, yog and bhakt (part- 7)

[Guest guest]

Namaste all.

 

Jagadguru Sri Kripaluji Maharaj often reminds the devotees reciting

glorious verses of the well known Jnanis of Kaliyuga, who also

happened to be great Rasik Saints.

 

Here is my favorite verse by the great Vedantist and advaita jnani,

the author of 'Gudaartha Dipika' as well as the treatise 'Bhakti

Rasayana', Sri Madhusudana Saraswati:

 

dhyAnAbhyAsa vazIkRtena manasA

tannirguNaM niSkriyaM

jyotiH kiMcana yogino yadi paraM

pazyanti pazyantu te

 

asmAkaM tu tadeva locana

camatkArAya bhUyAcciraM

kAlindI pulineSu yat kimapi

tannIlaM maho dhAvati!"

 

-Sri Mudhusudana Sarasvati- 'Gudhaartha Dipika'

 

Meaning:

 

If the yogis with their MINDS which have been brought UNDER CONTROL

through the practice of MEDITATION, SEE and REALIZE SOME such

TRANSCENDENTAL LIGHT that is WITHOUT DIVINE FORM, QUALITIES and

EXPLOITS, LET THEM SEE!!

BUT,

for FILLING OUR BLESSED EYES with STRANGE ASTONISHMENT and RAPTURE,

LET THERE BE FOREVER that INDESCRIBABLE BLUE FORM OF LIGHT ALONE,

WHICH RUNS about HITHER and THITHER on the SANDY BEACHES of the

KALINDI (YAMUNA) RIVER!!!

 

 

"vaMzI vibhUSita karAn nava nIradAbhAt

pItAMbarAd aruNabiMba phal AdharoSThAt,

pUrNendu sundara mukhAd aravinda netrAt

kRSNAt paraM kimapi tattvam ahaM na jAne!"

 

I DO NOT KNOW ANY ABSOLUTE REALITY BEYOND THAT OF LORD KRISHNA,

 

WHOSE Delicate Hands are adorned with Divine Flute,

WHOSE BLUE Bodily luster is that of a fresh rain-cloud,

WHOSE Silken Attire is the Golden yellow robe,

WHOSE Delicious Lips are like the red, ripened fruit,

WHOSE Charming Face is beautiful like the cool full moon, and

WHOSE Loving eyes are like the petals of blooming lotus flower!!!

 

 

-Sri Mudhusudana Sarasvati- 'Gudhaartha Dipika'

 

----------------------

 

Also listen to what the foremost Vedantist and Advaita acarya Adi

Jagadguru Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada said-

 

When one of his desciples questioned him:

 

"mumukSunNA kiM tvaritaM vidheyam?"

 

"What should the seeker who is desirous to attain Salvation do

immediately?

 

Acarya's reply:

 

"satsangatir nirmamateza bhaktiH"

 

Shakaracarya replied that the bonds of material attachment should be

broken, and the mind attached to God and the aspirants should seek

the Association of Saints.

 

The desciple again asked:

 

"kiM karma kRtvA na zocanIyaM?"

 

"What is that work which a wise man performs and does not repent?"

 

Sri Shankaracarya immediately said:

 

"kAmAri-kaMsAri- samarcanAkhyam"

 

"One who is devoted to God (Kamsaari- Lord Krishna) is carefree.

 

In fact Acarya Shankara, the unrivalled propounder of Advaita

Vedanta, advised his own mother practise Devotion to Lord Krishna,

and blessed her with the vision of the Lord.

 

Not only that, listen to his next proclamation -

 

kAmyopAsana yArthayanty anudinaM kincit phalaM svepsitam,

kecit svargam athApavargam apare yogAdi yajnAdibhiH,

asmAkaM yadunandanAMghri yugala dhyAnAvadhAnArthinAm,

kiM lokena damena kiM nRpatinA svargApavargaizca kiM?

 

"Those who waste their time for the attainment of celestial

joys or Liberation (mukti- apavarga) are FOOLS!

 

I DO NOT WANT any of THAT!

I only desire to remain engrossed in the

Sweet Remembrance of the Lotus Feet of Lord Krishna.

What is the need for heaven or Mukti to

Prema Bhaktas of the Lord?"

 

Thus Sri Shankara appears to consider all objects, including final

Liberation as insignificant in comparison to constant loving

meditation of the lotus feet of Lord Krishna.

 

The verses of meditation he used to describe the transcendental

beauty and attraction of Lord Krishna are exquisite and reveal how

great Rasik Bhakta (saintly devotee) he actually was.

 

yamunA nikaTa taTa sthita

vrindAvana kAnane mahAramye

kalpa druma talabhUmau

caraNaM caraNopari sthApya

tishTaMtaM ghana nIlaM

sva tejasA bhAsayanta miha vizvaM

pitAmbara paridhAnaM

candana karpUra lipta sarvAGgam

 

Lord Krishna is standing with one leg crossed

over the other, under the wish-yielding Kalpa tree,

in a most beautiful flowery bower in Vrindavana,

situated near the banks of the river Yamuna.

 

His complexion as a dark rain-ladden cloud,

illuminates the whole world with its Luster.

He is dressed in yellow silk Garments and all

parts of His transcendental body are anointed

with the paste of sandalwood and camphor.

 

Akarna pUrna netraM

kuNDala yuga maNDita zravaNaM

manda smita mukha kamalaM

sa kaustubho dAra maNi hAraM

valayAGgulIya kAdyA n

ujjvala yantaM svalankArAn

gala vilulita vana mAlaM

sva tejasApAsta kali kAlaM.

 

His large captivating eyes seem to reach almost to

His ears which areadorned with glittering earrings.

A sweet, gentle, enchanting smile blooms from

His lotus face. He is wearing jewelery made of precious

stones, pearls and the celestial jem, Kaustubha.

The radiance of His transcendental Body enhances

the splendour of the golden bracelets, rings

and the other ornaments present on Him.

As the vanamala (garland made of five

heavenly fragrant flowers) around His neck,

is gently swaying to and fro,

His very brilliance and beauty drives away

the sinful effects of the dark age of Kali.

 

gunjAravAli kalitaM

gunjA puGjAnvite zirasi

bhuGjAnaM saha gopaiH

kunjAn tar vartinaM hariM smarata.

 

mandAra puSpa vAsita

mandAnila sevita parAnandaM

mandAkinI yuta padaM namata

mahAnanda daM mahA puruSaM

 

The curly locks of His dark hair surrounded by

the vines and fragrant flowers of the Divine bower,

are attracting the intoxicated, noisy, bumble bees.

Fondly remember and contemplate upon Lord Hari

Who is frolicking in the bower along with His cowherd

playmates and eating His midday meal joyfully.

 

Offering worship and prayers,

meditate upon that Supreme Personality,

Sri Krishna, the Bestower of the highest Bliss!

He is fanned by the gentle breeze, scented with

the fragrance of heavenly 'mandAra' flowers,

and His lotus feet are attended by the

sacred celestial river, Ganges.

 

surabhIkRta digvalayaM

surabhi zatair AvritaH paritaH

surabhIti kSapaNa mahA

sura bhImaM yAdavaM namata

 

His Divine fragrance pervades all around

as He is encircled byhundreds of blessed cows

who are attracted by His captivating beauty and

soul-stirring ethereal music pouring from His Flute.

 

Let us offer our humble obeisance to Beloved Lord,

Sri Krishna, theDescendent of Yadu dynasty,

Who even drives away the fears of heavenly gods

by terrifying and conquering the demoniac forces

with His Supreme Valor.

 

-'Prabodha Sudhakara'- Adi Jagadguru Sri Shankaracarya Bhagavatpada

 

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!

[Guest guest]

Namaste. I recall a few more favorite verse from Bhagavatam often

melodiously chanted by Jagadguru Sri Kripaluji Maharaj.

 

Lord Krishna declares to devotee Uddhava:

 

kim vidhatte kim acashte

kim anudya vikalpayet

ity asya hridayam loke

nanyo mad veda kascana

 

SB 11.21.42

 

In the entire world no one but Me actually understands the

confidential purpose of Vedic knowledge.

Thus people do not know what the Vedas are actually prescribing

in the ritualistic injunctions of karma-kanda, or what object is

actually being indicated in the practices of worship found in the

upasana-kanda, or that which is elaborately discussed through various

sections in the jnana-kanda of the Vedas.

 

mam vidhatte 'bhidhatte mam

vikalpyapohyate tv aham

etavan sarva-vedarthah

sabda asthaya mam bhidam

maya-matram anudyante

pratishidhya prasidati

 

SB 11.21.43

 

I am the ritualistic sacrifice enjoined by the Vedas, and

I am the worshipable Deity.

It is I who am presented as various philosophical goals, and

it is I alone who am then refuted by philosophical analysis.

The transcendental sound vibration thus establishes Me

as the essential meaning of all Vedic knowledge.

The Vedas, elaborately analyzing all material duality as nothing but

My illusory potency, ultimately completely negate this duality and

achieve their happiness.

 

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!

 

> Jagadguru Sri Kripaluji Maharaj often reminds the devotees reciting

> glorious verses of the well known Jnanis of Kaliyuga, who also

> happened to be great Rasik Saints.