Chammakam (RE: My Interpretation of Tricky JP Verse (Vilagna..))

[Guest guest]

Dear Raghunath,

 

I am very glad. You start off with an advantage because you know a language that is closely related to Sanskrita. If key people at SJC like you, Visti, Freedom and SanjayP master Sanskrita, it will prove to be so beneficial to SJC's work!!

Dear Visti,

 

That's a very good point about Chamakam!

 

There is a sandhi: me + abhayam = mebhayam. The symbol of avagraha (looks like a stretched s) is inserted between me and bhayam to denote that a is missing after sandhi. One is supposed to pronounce these two words together. Old people like my father actually pronounce it with a gentle hint of a.

 

If one pronounces me, takes a small break, and then pronounces bhayam, definitely it is wrong. At the same time, if one breaks the sandhi and pronounces it as "me abhayam", that is not perfect either. That breaks the chhandas/rhythm. Also sandhi is actually forced in some situations and it is illegal to break sandhi. In such situations, try to read it without a small break for breath in between. If that is tough, I will advise breaking the sandhi and reading it. That may be imperfect, but atleast the meaning is not reversed! It's a good compromise.

 

In Mrityuanjaya mantra, "bandhanAnmR^ityormukShIya" is one word after multiple sandhis. You should say the whole thing without taking breath in between. When we were teaching it to our son, we figured he would not be able to say it continuously. He would anyway break after "bandhanAn". So we broke the sandhi for him and taught him "bandhanAt mR^ityormukShIya". It became more managable for him then.

 

Ideal thing is to try to say the compound words as one word, i.e. without a break. If that is tough, break the sandhi properly and say the correct words atleast.

 

Unfortunately, most modern transliterated texts write such things with breaks and people mistakenly think that what is actually one long word is two or three different words and pronounce with small breaks in between. That's too bad. Like in the example you gave, it sometimes alters the meaning.

 

Another example is shrI sUktam. There is a place where the intention is to ask for the destruction of one's "alakShmi". The a misses after sandhi. I've heard people pronounce it with a break and end up asking for the destruction of their "lakShmi" (instead of "alakShmi").

 

Of course, the thoughts and intentions matter too. Even if you make a mistake, God knows what you want. Most of us get results because of devotion and not because of the power of a mantra. But, when possible, it is a good idea to perfect the pronunciation also. When pronounced perfectly, Veda mantras are very powerful.

 

If you are learning Sanskrita, my advice is to read savitR^i gAyatrI mantra 108 times every morning. It keeps your intellect clean and makes it easier to learn Sanskrita.

 

 

May Jupiter's light shine on us,

 

Narasimha

-------------------------------Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org-------------------------------

> Dear Narasimha and others, Namaskar> > I think its a good idea, and i'm trying my best.> > On a similar note about grammar; in the Chammakam which is advised to> people, often people are having problems with the avagraha (apostrophe)> written infront of words begining with A and after the word ME. Example:> priya.mca me 'nukaamashca me. Here the word is anukaama, and people when> reading the transliteration are reciting; nukaama.> > This offcourse gives a big problem when instead of: "abhayam cha me", you> are reciting "bhayam cha me". The later means; "give me fear", whilst the> former asks for the opposite. There are more of such examples. > > > > For those who rely on transliteration, i have uploaded a pdf to this lists> file-section, correcting the transliteration to ensure the words are> pronounced correctly.> > Best wishes,> > ***> > Visti Larsen> > For services and articles visit: > > <http://srigaruda.com> http://srigaruda.com or <http://astrovisti.com>> http://astrovisti.com> > ***> > _____ > > sohamsa [sohamsa ] On Behalf Of> Narasimha P.V.R. Rao> 21 August 2005 21:10> sohamsa > Re: My Interpretation of Tricky JP Verse (Re: Vilagna..)> > > > Dear Voja,> > > > We need to groom a bunch of talented Jyotishis who are also excellent> Sanskrita scholars and have spiritual purity. Then only can the gems from> classics be refined.> > > > Sanjay ji has dedicated his life to this and shown the way. I am quite> comfortable with Sanskrita, but I have so little free time. In any case, a> couple of people like Sanjay ji and I can only do so much. We need more> people to take a plunge into Sanskrita and acquire more than a working> knowledge. Visti and SanjayP are already learning. Freedom said he was> learning Sanskrita too.> > > > I am very glad that several key people at SJC are getting seriously> interested in Sanskrita. I hope that many more can acquire serious> scholarship in Sanskrita and put it to use to benefit the Jyotisha> community!> > > > May Jupiter's light shine on us,> > Narasimha> > -------------------------------> Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net> Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org> Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org> -------------------------------