Post Aarathi Talk 28 on 3rd March 2018

Full Transcript(Not Corrected)

There is Hanuman. Hanuman is supposed to be one of the best singers. You know that? Narada, Thumbura, Hanuman, Ekajantam, Ramarameethi, Madhuram, Madhuraksharam, Aaruhya, Kavitashakham, Vande, Valmiki, Kokilam. Ujj, Kamvineth. You had a good time in India? Yeah. So, this is one of the stuthis of Tulasidas. You know he has written this Ramcharitmanas, and it is divinely inspired. Rama himself commanded it. Do you know the story of Tulasidas? It's a wonderful story in many ways. I'm only going to tell you very briefly. Tulasidas was a hen-pecked man. Not really hen-pecked, he was terribly attached to his wife. He could not stay away from his wife even for one day. So, such people alone will reach God. Why? Because when one's attachment becomes too strong, no object in this world can hold it. There is only one object which can hold it, and that's God. The limitation is a very interesting point. If anybody loves any one of us too much, we will be very unhappy. You know that? If somebody loves you too much, what happens to you now? You become obligated. You lose your space. A little love, that is called space. Each one must have his or her own space. But if it is too much, then it is terrible. And then no human being can hold it. Why? You know, every human being, everything in this world is changing. And therefore, the object also, please put it down, that belongs to any, that's yours. Human beings are changing, their power is very less. Okay, Charu? Sit comfortably. So, Kilvamangala, he was one who was attached to a woman. Tulasidas is one, St. Augustine one, so many examples are there. So that very attachment, if we can develop to a great extent, ultimately there is no option but it will have to turn to God, because the only being who can hold, supposing you go on pouring something, water, for example, if any vessel cannot hold it, then it will fall on the ground. God is the only ground on which this really falls. So this Tulasidas, he was a householder and he was living in a village. He was one of the greatest Sanskrit scholars, but he was wonderfully devoted to God. One day, when he was out, his wife's father sent a news, there was a ceremony, so his wife should come and attend. And that could not be stopped. So she left, even though she knew what was going to happen. So she went to her home, another village nearby, and that night she knew what her husband is going to do, because he can't live without her even for one day. So this Tulasidas came back and started seeing stars. You understand? Seeing star means his brain stopped functioning. When somebody is given a blow, you see the picture, stars will come. So immediately he understood, he ran to the village. By that time he reached, it was midnight, and then he knocked at the wife's door, and she was a very pious woman, Vidyastri, what Ramakrishna used to call. She was disgusted and said, if you had one hundredth of this love, which you have for this filthy human body, you would have become one of the devotees of God. For some reason, at that moment, his awakening came, transformation came, conversion came, and he saluted her, you are my mother, you are my guru, because you directed my mind to God. So that was all the result of his intense attachment. Now awaiting for the right moment, like an egg at the end of the brooding period, it has to break open. So he renounced the world, and he was staying at Kashi, and then he was praying, I want to have Ramadarshan. He had a habit, morning ablutions. He would take a small vessel, he would go outside, and there he answers the calls of nature, and there used to be a little bit of water left over, and he would come, there was a tree, he used to pour that water at the root of the tree. Many days passed, one day, as he was pouring the water, suddenly a spirit who used to live on that tree appeared. You know this story? Appeared, you know this Charu? Appeared to him and said, I am so grateful, and I am living by the water you are pouring every day, so I want to return in gratefulness. What can I do for you? Then Tulasidas said, I have only one desire in my life, that is accepting seeing Rama, I don't want anything else. The spirit said, what to speak of giving you Ramadarshan, even hearing Ramnama, I feel terribly frightened, but I know how you can have Ramadarshan. There is a temple here. Every day, Hanuman visits that temple in the form of an old Brahmin. He looks like this. He would be the last person to come, and first person to leave before Aarati. So catch hold of him. If anybody can give you Ramadarshan, only Hanuman can give. You understand the symbolism? If anybody can take us to God, only a devotee who has the Darshan of God, he can only take us there. So now Tulasidas got the clue, this is the biggest good anybody could do to us. So next day, he was waiting, he recognized, and as soon as this old Brahmin was going out, he went and caught hold of his feet. And that old man said, what is this, you are catching hold of my feet? He said, no, I know who you are. I am your devotee, you are Hanuman. Of course, you know what you have to understand. You think that unbeknown to Hanuman, you can catch hold of Hanuman? It is not possible. This is what we have to, we can only turn to God by God's grace and by nothing else. That is what Shankaracharya tells us in his Vivekachudamani. Beautiful. Three things in this world are extremely rare, and they can be obtained only by the grace of God, a human birth, a desire for God-realization, and Mahapurusha Samsrayaha means all the upakaranas needed for the realization of God, the company of holy people, guidance, inspiration, etc. And so, there is a story in Ramayana. Sita was living with Valmiki and Rama was performing Ashramedha Yajna. So, you know Ashramedha Yajna? They let one horse roam. And the idea is, wherever the horse goes, the soldiers of that person who is performing, and only a king can do that. He has to either lose the horse or defend by fighting with that particular kingdom. That means, if the horse comes back safely after roaming, he is the emperor of the whole world. That is the idea. So, Rama was performing, but Sita was living at Valmiki's place, and she had given birth to twins, Lava and Kusha. And one day, these Lava and Kusha were inseparables, twins. So, they were moving in the forest near the hermitage. Suddenly, they saw this beautiful horse. Simply, they caught hold of that horse, and then immediately Hanuman and others were there to protect, to see that the horse is not taken away, and if necessary, to fight. And then this Hanuman said, Hey, Chakra, let the horse go, otherwise you have to fight with me. He said, you are a monkey. What do you know about warfare and other things? Come on, you will fight with us. And in the fight, you know, Hanuman is lost. So, they bound Hanuman. And then they brought him, both the horse and Hanuman, to mother proudly, Ma, Ma, look what we have done. We have captured, this fellow called Rama was performing, and we not only caught the beautiful horse, we also caught the Hanuman. So, the story goes, it is not in Ramayana, Valmiki Ramayana, it is a local story, and in gospel, that is there. So, Hanuman, by that time, he gets rid of this. Nothing can bind Hanuman, because when he went to Ravana also, what happened, you know, Indrajith. So, he bound him by Brahmastra, only for one moment. After that, it is not possible to hold him. To honor Brahma, he let himself be bound, because Rama Bhakta cannot be bound by anything in this world, neither Brahma, nor Vishnu, nor Maheshwara. So, these people proudly showed this monkey, and then this horse. Of course, Sita, the purpose of Hanuman was, he wanted to see Sita, because he regarded her as even greater than Rama. And it is through her grace, that he obtained Rama. So, then Hanuman, it is said in the gospel, that he started, in the form of a song, the conversation. O Lava, O Kusha, is it ever possible to bind me, unless I allow myself to bind you? So, I voluntarily wanted to be bound by you, otherwise, there is no power on earth which can bind me. So, this was, Tulasidas has found out Hanuman by whose grace. So, Rama had to work, you know, indirectly, through the spirit, and through Hanuman. So, this devious method, you know, methodology. He never directly, you know why? Because Brahman is not an object you can directly see. So, Hanuman was pleased, and he asked, what do you want? And then Tulasidas, I have only one wish. I want to have Rama Darshan, the Darshan of Rama. Hanuman said, you go to Chitrakoot, there is a place called Chitrakoot, and wait. There you will have Rama Darshan. So, Tulasidas immediately went there. It was a small village, and he was living there, waiting eagerly, when Rama was going to show himself. Village, no entertainment. But he was very happy, repeating Ram Naam, and studying the scriptures, and praying to Rama. So, one evening, when he was in his home, it was about 7.30, 8 o'clock at night, there were no lights. Suddenly, he heard a lot of music, noise, people running in the streets. So, he came out and found out all the villagers were running towards a spot. Then he asked, what is happening here? And they said, don't you know? Today, Ram Leela is going to be performed here. Some troupe of actors and actresses have come. So, we are all running there. So, Tulasidas was very happy, because he was a Rama Bhakta. Anything about relating to Rama is most welcome, and also is a diversion, you know. So, he also went, and it was such a beautiful performance. This Hanuman had... Tulasidas had never seen such a Ram Leela in his whole life. So, practically, the whole night passed, and the Ram Leela came to an end, and Tulasidas came home, and he had a little bit of rest, but his mind was filled with extreme bliss. Next morning, he went to chat with the villagers, said, yesterday night's Ram Leela, so marvellous. They looked blank and said, Ram Leela, yesterday night, what are you talking about? Yesterday night, we all went, you also came. Who said that we all went? We were all sleeping here. You must have been deluded. No, no, no, the whole night we passed. Where did it take place? Here. There was a beautiful clearing, and there is a nice, what is called, stage. That is why it is called Ranga. Ranga Nayaka is the director of a stage. Ranga Natha Ananda. Ranga Natha Ananda. There is one Ranga Natha, Lord Ranga Natha. Brahman is his favourite in South India. Beautiful meaning. Ranga means the whole world is a stage. And who is managing the stage? And who is the writer? God. Who is the director? God. Who are the actors and actresses? God. Who is the audience? God. Who is the stage? Brahman, Brahman, Brahman. So, then, let us see where this Leela had taken place. And they came. It was completely jungle. No place has been cleared. Nothing was there. Some remnants will be there the next morning. Nothing was there. Then Tulsidas understood. This was what Hanuman had asked me. It is really, it was Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrughna, Hanuman, including Hanuman. The whole life of Rama was enacted. And it was so vivid. As though it was a drama, but as though it is complete. He was thinking, such a beautiful one. As though I am seeing Rama, Lakshmana, Sita in front of me. He had the darshan. Then after a few days, this Rama appeared to him and said, Many people, they cannot hear my story because it is in Sanskrit. And only pundits can expound it. But I wish you to write in local language. And then Tulsidas went back to Kashi. And then he started writing and that is called Rama Charita Manas. Now this word Manas, this word Manasa Sarovara. In Himalayas, near Kailash, there is one huge lake. It is called Sarovara. Sarovara means a lake. Its name is Manasa. Symbolic also. So it is said most sacred one. And there are so many wonderful things available only there. One Rajahamsa, pure white swan will be sporting only in that. But here it is more like the devotee's heart is the Sarovara. That is where Rama will be performing his Leelas. Krishna will be performing in Gopi's minds, Gopas' minds. And Vishnu Bhakta's minds, Vishnu Chitta means what? Vishnu Chitta means what? Whose Chitta means mind? He is totally filled with Lord Vishnu. This is the father of Anda. A South Indian, one of the twelve important Alwars in the world. So he started writing and he was a great Sanskrit scholar. And he also was a wonderful singer. So he used to write daytime. Because whole day, whole time he wants only to think about Rama. So slowly a few people came. And whoever came first day went and announced to other people, let us go, it is wonderful singing of Rama. As though Rama is Pratyaksha in front of you. Because it was devotional, not professional. So slowly the name and fame spread. Hundreds of villagers, they used to come from nearby. And Tulasidas joyfully used to sing practically whole night. Because that was his joy. And when a person is joyful, he doesn't need so much of sleep. Only a person who is unhappy, he wants sleep. Either by sleeping or drugs or alcohol or by entertainment, whatever it is, this is all another way to escape. So what happened, that the local pundits became very jealous. Because he was becoming much more popular than those fellows. So they came and said, Tulasi, he was a Brahmin. That's why he's called Goswami. Goswami is the lineage where people become gurus. Gurus. So the local priests, pandas and others, they were dead against. This is sacrilege. You are writing sacred story of Rama in local dialect. That too not chaste Hindi, but the village patwa, what we call. So Tulasidas said, I am not doing it. The person who commanded me is Rama. The person who gave me that knowledge is Rama. And the person who is really writing is Rama. And the person for whom he is writing is Rama. I am only just a pen, an instrument. So Rama is doing his own work. But they would not understand, they would not accept it. What is the test? As we said, you devise the test. So they said, Lord Vishwanatha's temple, we will keep Valmiki Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas in front of the Lord and lock up the room at equal distance from Lord Shiva's linga. And next morning, in front of everybody, we will open it. And if Shiva really approves this Ramcharitmanas, then it will be nearest to him. So that was the test. Tulasidas said, I have no problem. You do whatever you like. And they did it. Next morning when they went, they found out the Valmiki Ramayana was exactly where they kept it. But the Ramcharitmanas was on the head of Lord Shiva. Because Shiva was considered to be one of the greatest devotees of Rama. That is Vaishnava version. Shiva version is that Rama always repeats the name of Shiva. This is the fight, not between Rama and Shiva, but it is Vaishnavas and Shiva. This is always the fight. Godami we call it. What is called fanaticism. So that is how this Ramcharitmanas came. And it has got seven Kandas, Balakanda, Ayodhya Kanda, Aranya Kanda, Kishkindha Kanda, and Sundara Kanda, and Yuddha Kanda, and Uttar Kanda. So Tulasidas had composed this in local Awadhi language. It's called Awadhi. The language near Ayodhya is called Awadhi, local village Patwa. But before he started his actual Ramas story, there are Sanskrit verses. And those verses are so beautiful. So this I was mentioning is one of them. So what is it? This Valmiki is considered Kavita Kokila. Kokila means cuckoo. Kavita Kokila. So what happens, this Kokila, it climbs the branches of a beautiful mango tree and starts singing. And when it starts singing, Aruhya Kavita Shakam, Onde Valmiki Kokila. Valmike Munisimhasya, Kavita Vanacharina, Shunvan Rama Kathanatham, Konayati Paramgatin. In the first verse, Valmiki is considered as a Kokila, cuckoo. And everybody is charmed because the cuckoo's voice is supposed to be panchama swara, fifth swara. You know in the Sarigama Padani, if anybody will see, there is a beautiful Bengali humorous film. So one villager wanted to learn music, but he didn't have the sufficient money to purchase a harmonium and go to a guru. So he goes to a rich man and rich man asks, what is your desire? Why did you come? I want to become a musician. OK, what do you want? I want money. Are you really good in music? That fellow says, yes, I want to learn. Do you have some background? He says, I know all the swaras. What are the swaras? Seven, saptaswara. What are they? Sa, ri, rishabha, gandhara, daivata, nishadha. Seven only. So what is the third swara? He says, I want to test you. What is the third swara? What is it? Ga. Gandhara, ga. What is the sixth one? Dha. You are in ga, dha. Gada means donkey. It's a funny film like that, you know. So this Valmiki is compared to a Kokila. Aruhya kavita shakha, one day Valmiki salutes the cuckoo called Valmiki, oh, shunvan ramakathanatham. So he goes on singing. What does he sing? Only ramakatha. This is one verse. Another verse, it says, Valmiki is compared to a Simha. Simha is the king of the animals. So what does this Simha do? It is roaming in the forest of this world. And what does it do? It roars. And when other animals hear that roar, what happens to them? They just die. That is what it says, Valmiki munisimi. So what does he do when he's moving in the forest? And he roars. Whoever hears that roar will just give up their body and die. That means when Valmiki goes on roaring the beautiful name of Rama, anybody who hears it, he will attain moksha. Beautiful verses he gives. Anyway, so this Hanuman, he gave that boon. Hanuman was a great singer. So that's why he goes on singing always. And he is always at the place where others go on singing Rama Nama. Wherever there is Rama Nama, then Anjaneya will be there. So his eyes will be full of tears flowing like that. This is a beautiful story. So this is Manasa, Rama Charita Manasa. He only follows barely Valmiki's Ramayana. The rest of it is his own stories. And it is one of my favorite. If anybody wants devotion, read it every day. And you cannot but have devotion to God. It is such a beautiful, that's why it is so popular. In the North India, people will just become mesmerized just by hearing this Rama Charita Manasa. I'll give you just a glimpse. There is one scene in this Rama Charita Manasa. So Rama was banished to Dandakaranya for 14 years. And then he goes. And in this story, he meets Valmiki. He meets Valmiki. And then so many people, they were so attached to Rama. All the Ayodhya Vasins wanted to be with him. So he sends them away. But still, so many people were following. And that is not Dandakar and Dandakar Ekant Vasa. When everybody is with you, what is the solitude? There is no solitude. But the condition is he has to be living in the forest. Forest means accepting animals and holy people. Nobody will be there. So Rama wanted to go to a solitary place which is beautiful and where he can stay in peace and think of God. So he asks Valmiki, show me a place where I can dwell. And then Valmiki smiles and says, first you show me a place where you do not dwell. That is why this Rama Charita Manasa is like Adhyatma Ramayana. You know that Adhyatma Ramayana? There is a Ramayana called Adhyatma Ramayana. Ramayana interpreted in a purely spiritual way. That is why all these allegorical stories come only from there. So this Valmiki smiles. And this was the reply. Rama says that I dwell everywhere, but I want to dwell. Then Valmiki says, all right, I will show you. And then for three, four pages, he goes on telling. Those people who are never, ever satisfied, even after hearing your stories again and again, you dwell in their hearts. Meaning what? Those who read your stories, you are going to abide in their hearts forever. This is one way of sadhana. How do you get interested? They say, tinaga tinagavemu tiyanamu. Telugu there is one way. You go on eating these neem leaves, which are bitter. And after some time, they appear very sweet. Anything of the habit, alcohol is like that. Drug, any drug is like that. Anything, even unpleasant, becomes pleasant. By what? By habit. Some people, you know, they can't live without dry fish. Shuknamach, they call it, dry fish. I know a person, a devotee, apparent devotee. He cannot live. Every day, he must have dry fish. And one day, they invited me. And I was feeling like, you know, vomiting. Because the whole house is reeking of this, nothing but dry fish and alcohol. What a potent combination. Yeah. So this is the story of Tulsidas. He composed most marvelous songs. And any one of his bhajans is, ittani binati raghu nandana se, dukkha dvandvaha mara. You know that? Ittani binati raghu nandana se. Raghu nandana means Rama. Ittani binati. This much of what is called application, appeal. My appeal. Binati means humble request. What is it? Dukkha dvandvaha mara mitauji. You please destroy this dualities of sukha and dukkha, likes and dislikes. Apane pada pankaja pinjara me. Apane means your. Pada pankaja, lotus feet. Pinjara means cage. So chita hamsa hamara baitauji. I cannot do that. You please catch hold of my heart and put it in your lotus feet so that it will... But what type of mind? Any type of bird cannot be, it is useless. Chita hamsa. And what is hamsa? Hamsa, you understand? Usually it's translated as swan. But here, hamsa is got very... In sannyasins, there are hamsa sannyasins and paramahamsa sannyasins. Ramakrishna is called paramahamsa. And what is hamsa? Hamsa, it is said, has got the ability to separate water from milk. And when milk is separated, milk substance is separated from water, you know what is called? That is called chana vada. Pure cheese. And then only, when you look at camera and then he says cheese, rasagulla, then face will smile. The other cheese, smelly, full of worms. I don't know why that word has come. Cheese and then you don't feel like, even if you are smiling, you feel like clamping your face. So, that is the ability of a hamsa. Chita, means my mind, is compared to hamsa, which is capable of discriminating between what is God and what is atman, what is anatman. In Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, this atman and anatman is called atmaloka and anatmaloka. We are living in which loka? Anatmaloka. So, we have to desire a loka which is called atmaloka. Atmaloka means my own world. We are not living in our own world, we are living in some other world, paradesi, my paradesi. Two sardarjis in Punjab, they got drunk and they were in a mood to beat up somebody. So, one sardarji was going. These two sardarjis, they decided, we will beat him up. But how to beat him up? There must be some legal excuse. I said, we will stop him and ask him, Acha bhai, whether the sun is more powerful or the moon is more powerful? If he says sun is powerful, then I will beat him up. If he says moon is powerful, then you beat him up. So, they went and then asked him, Acha bhai, we have got a problem. You solve this dilemma. We have a controversy. Who is more powerful, the sun or the moon? They did not tell what they were going to do. So, the other fellow, equally intelligent, he understood their intention. He said, bhai, maitho paradesiyon, maitho... I don't live in this area. Coming from outside, I don't... So, he ran away. So, we are all videsis. So, chitahamsa, apane pada pankaja pinjarame, chitahamsa hamara baitha uji. Oh, lord, by your grace, let my mind dwell, because I am under your maya. Unless you remove your maya, I cannot wish you. Then, what is that? Tulasi das kahe kara jodi. Kaha kara jodi. Tulasi das with folded hands, he begs you. Kaha kara jodi. Bhava sagara para utaroji. You take me across this ocean of samsara. So, this is the beautiful song. It is beautifully sung. But he also has composed one of the most wonderful songs. Jana ki sakhi sakhi, kripa jagavati sujana jiva. Let me see. You heard that one, Charu? Yes, Maharajji. Okay. Where did you hear? I heard this Ram Ram CD, Maharajji. Ah. Jagi jagi mohana, anurag dhare. Jana ki sakhi sakhi. But this, before I go there, okay, this is also a wonderful song. This is also again Tulasi Das. When Mirabai was undergoing a lot of troubles, it seems she had written a letter to Tulasi Das that what shall I do, shall I abandon my family and go away or what is my duty because I am a married woman but my husband and others are giving a lot of trouble. Then he has composed this particular song. I told you that one earlier, you know. Ja ke priyana Rama vaidehi, so chadiye koti vairi sama, jadyapi parama sani. This was the bhajan he composed and sent to Mirabai, this giving what she should do under those circumstances. The essence of it is that if anybody is not a devotee of God, however close relative they are, you abandon, you renounce and then run away from them. This is the essence of this particular. Ja ke rama priyana rama vaidehi. Rama means Rama, vaidehi means Sita. Ja ke priyana, for whom Rama and Sita are not dear. So chadiye, give them up. Koti vairi sama, like millions of enemies. Jadyapi parama sanihi, even if they are very close to you, not only that, even if they happen to love you. Our problem is, we have no problem renouncing those who do not love us. Our problem is, there are people who love us but they are not interested in God. So what should be our duty? Then he gives lot of examples. Tajyo pitha prahlada. Hello. Okay, Pari. What do you want? You want some more? No, sure. Okay, I gave daddy something nice. Look into that bag. Go and look into that bag, what I gave you. See that. Beautiful smile, you know. So, Tajyo pitha prahlada. Prahlada had given up his father because he was not loving God. Vibhishana. Bandhu. Vibhishana bandhu. Vibhishana had given up his brother. Bharata mahatari. Mahatari means mother. Bharata has given up his mother, Kaikeyi, because Bali guru Tajyo. Bali had given up his guru because his Mahabali said, Vishnu is coming in the form of a Vamana and so he is asking you, Sarvanasabhe, he will take everything from you. Then you know what Bali said, everybody runs to God, give me this, give me that. And now I have the greatest opportunity in the whole world, nobody will get. He is coming to beg of me. Do you think I am going to give up this opportunity? And I will give whatever he wants. So, if you give something to God, do you think you will lose or you will get? You will get everything. Not only that, God has to come in the form of a dwarf. Why you know? He has to be smaller than you. A beggar would be smaller than the giver. That's why even if somebody is 7 feet tall, if he comes to you, he will be smaller than you. You look down upon him or he looks down upon you? Yeah. Unless he happens to be a mugger in New York City, at 7 o'clock one day one man was walking and suddenly he found the butt of a pistol and gave your wallet. So, this fellow had no option, he had given the wallet. That fellow went along and said, Ha ha ha, there is no bullet in that pistol. This fellow also said, Ha ha ha, there is nothing in that pistol. So, Bali Guru Tarju, Kanta Braja Banitani. Kanta means husbands and others. Braja Banitas, Gopis, their brothers, their husbands, their relatives. For the sake of Krishna. Bhaya mudha mangalakari. Bhaya means not bhaya here. Bhaya means hogaya. So, all of them were filled with the bliss of God by doing this so-called unworldly action of giving up parents, giving up friends, giving up brothers, giving up gurus. That means anything can be given up for the sake of God. Look anywhere. There is only one person. Who is to be? Naate neha means there is nobody else. Rama ke maniyata means accept only Rama. Suhruda, he is your only well-wisher. Susevya is the only one who is worthy of being served. I don't understand this but what it means is your eyes are covered with a kind of covering substance. You just see, then you will see that the real vastu is only God and nothing else. So, here is the signature of the composer. Tulasi so sabubhati paramahita, pujya pranate pyaru. Tulasi so sabubhati paramahita. Paramahita means the greatest well-wishers. Sabubhati, all those people who direct me only towards God. If I renounce all these people who do not love God, that means I will only cultivate the company of those who love God. They are all my paramahitas, greatest well-wishers. And Rama, pujya pranate pyaru, he is more loveable even than one's own life. Because by giving up this life for the sake of God, we get eternal life. That is what Jesus Christ says mysteriously, you know, cryptic statement. He who doesn't die for the sake of God loses his life and he who loses his life for the sake of God, he gains immortality. That's what he says. Jaso hoya saneha ramapada, jaisa thaisa, any boy, hook or crook, saneha ramapada, develop sneha for the lotus feet of Rama. Eto mato hamaru. This is my firm opinion. O mera bai, follow it. And immediately having received this one, she gave up everything and went away. So it is said when she left Chittor, then all sorts of disasters, you know, droughts and diseases, so many others, then the people rebelled. It's only because you have tortured Meera. So long she was here, everything was going on well. But the moment she left, these are all disasters coming. So it is said her husband also regretted because he was a good man. So he wanted to fetch, so he knew that she went to Vrindavan. He went to Vrindavan. By the time he reached Vrindavan, the news reached, she left for Dwaraka. So he went to Dwaraka. So the movie shows, just as she here, the Bhoja Raja, her husband reached Dwaraka temple, she just entered into the sanctum sanctorum and she disappeared. So these are like Andal also entered into the sanctum sanctorum and nobody found her out. But there is another one, this Janaki Sakhi Kripa Jagavati Sujana Jeeva. Let me see whether I can get it. It's a beautiful song, I tell you. It doesn't seem to be here. Oh, it's there, 1967. This is one of my favorite songs. But before I go there, Guru Nanak's beautiful song, Remana Ramaso Karupreet. Remana. Oh, we have got. Shall we leave today's reading? Okay. Yes, yes. How happy they are. Anyway. Remana Ramaso Karupreet. Oh, mine, interesting one said Guru Nanak. Develop love for Rama. Preeti means here, love for Rama. Shravana Govinda Gunasana. Shravana means, oh yes. Govinda Gunasana. Here the auspicious qualities of Govinda. Aru gau rasana geet. Rasana, oh my tongue. Sing the glories of, all about God. Kara sadhu sangata. Develop holy company. Sumira matho. Smaran. Remember always God. Hoya patita punita. By doing this one, even the most downtrodden also had become pure. Kala vyala jo pariyo dhulve. Oh my mind, don't you understand? This time, kala, has become a serpent. With open mouth, it is waiting to swallow you. Mokha pasare, meet. Meet means, oh friend. Kala vyala jo pariyo dhulve. Swallowing with an open mouth. When? To swallow you. It means to kill you. Death is awaiting you always. Therefore, remana. Ramaso, karo preet. Aaj kal puni, tau hi grashi hai. Samajh raakho chet. Aaj kal puni. Don't delay. Now itself. Aaj. Today, tomorrow. It is in your hand. But the future is totally unknown. Samajh raakho chet. Oh mind. Chet means addressing. Oh mind. One is mind, man. Another is chet. Oh my mind. Samajh raakho. So what is it? That your time is only very limited. So time has gripped you in its grip. Kahe nanak, Rama bhajale. Nanak says, worship Lord Rama. Jata avasara veet. Avasara means opportunity. Jata veet. It is passing away. So do not lose this. The same thing. Shiva paradakshama ayur nashyati prashyata. Pratidinam yatikshayam evanam. Pratyayanti divasa punanna gata. Kalo jagat bhakshaha. Lakshmi toye taranga bhanga chapala. Vidyutchalam jevana. Tasmanmam saranagatam. Karunayatvam raksha raksha aduna. Lord Shiva, please save me right now. Do not wait. Why? Ayur nashyati prashyata. As we go on seeing, ayu is getting less and less. By the time you came today here and now that much of ayu has become less, gone. Pratidinam yatikshayam. Every day, one day gone, gone. Yevanam, youth. How long will it last? By the time we understand it, youth is gone. Yatikshayam evanam. Kalo jagat bhakshaha. Time is the eater of the whole world. Everything. Because everything is becoming old. Lakshmi toya taranga bhanga chapala. How ephemeral is Lakshmi, it is like the dance of a wave when a huge wind is blowing on the ocean. How much time this wave stays there? It just comes up and then disappears. Vidyutchalam jevanam. Life, jevanam. Vidyut means lightning. How much time lightning? By the time you go, it is gone. Tasmat. O Lord Shiva, tvam raksha raksha adhuna. O Lord, please save me right now. Do not delay. Because if you are thinking, I will come tomorrow, by tomorrow I may be out. By today itself I may be out. We do not know. That's why Kulasekhar Alvar also, you know what he says, krishna tadiya pada pankaja pinjarastam adhyevame visatu manasa rajahamsaha prana prayahana samaye kafavata pittaye kanthava rodhana vidhau smaranam kutaste This Mukunda Mala, you know? He says, Krishna, tadiya pada pankaja pinjarastam Your lotus feet is compared to a cage. adhyevame visatu manasa rajahamsaha My mind is compared to a rajahamsa. adhyevame visatu By your grace, let it enter into the cage of your lotus feet right now. Why? Because if it is in the cage, then it is safe from all this, what is called the cat. Because cats eat the birds. If they catch, they eat the birds. prana prayahana samaye Because if I think, I will think of God just before the prana gets out. prana prayahana samaye kafavata pittaye When my whole body is occupied by kafavata and pitta, means disease. pranthavarodhanavidhau My throat gets constricted and is incapable of uttering your name. smaranam kutasthi Let alone uttering, even remembrance also is not possible. What a marvellous... So, now we will come to this one of my most favourite songs. janakishakikripa Kripa means grace. Whose grace? janakishaki means Rama's janakishaki Janakinatha ki kripa What does it do? jagavati It awakens. Whom does it awaken? sujana jiva Not everybody. Only those who have done lot of meritorious deeds, sujana, those who trod the path of dharma. Only such people. What does it do? jagi tyagi modhata Jagi, having awakened. Tyagi, having renounced. What? Modhata means foolishness, idiosity. What is foolishness? That this world is real, God is not real. That foolishness, ignorance. anuraga srihari Develop love for Sri Hari. kari vichara having discriminated vichara means not Tamil vichara Sanskrit vedanta vichara means thinking about what is real, what is unreal. taji vichara having given up all these infatuations vichara means attachments to this world. bhaja udara ramachandra bhaja, commandment taviya pratyaya you worshipped commandment Whom? Udara Ramachandra Rama means God here. Udara means he is the most generous. What is the generosity? If you give this much, he will give the whole ocean. How much you will give? Bindu One bindu. What does he give? Sindhu If you give bindu, he will give sindhu. What do we do if somebody gives us sindhu? That too with great reluctance. How do you know that God is so generous? Bhadrasindhu is the ocean of auspiciousness. Dhinabandhu Rama is also dhinabandhu. Everyday we say, you know, at the umarimritam what do we say? tasmatvameva sharanam mama dhinabandhu He is the friend of the distressed person. Dhinabandhu How do you know? Veda vadatare Vedas declare it categorically. Then he is describing this samsara. Mohamai This whole samsara is full of what? Mohamai Kuhu nisa It is like we are living like nisa means night. Kuhu means full of mist. Have you seen in November, December like that? You see very vaguely. Everything appears to be the same. Then what do we do? We sleep. You have slept in this world which is like a mist. 84 millions of births you have slept means you have not realized what is the truth. Khoyoso anuparupa Khoyoso means you have lost Khogaya What is anuparupa? This golden opportunity. Supana jupare Your whole janmas have been spent like what? As though in a dream. Supana jupare like dream. But then the night is coming to an end. Now the dawn is coming up slowly. That means you have become a little bit awakened. So when you wake up and you look at the eastern sky what do you see? You will see the beautiful the whole world lighted up by the light of the sun. What type of sun? The sun of knowledge. Discrimination has woken up. What does this light do? Destroy the darkness. Darkness in the form of vasana. Then raga attachment moha infatuation delusion dvesha dislike hatred aversion and this was like nibida tamas like dense darkness. But as soon as the light comes the whole thing everything becomes clear. You know what is what? Everything. Bhage madhamana chor bhora jani jatudhana Jatudhana means instantaneously. Immediately. When the light comes how long does it take for the darkness to disappear? Instantaneous. So what is bhoru jani? Bhor vela. The dawn has early morning has come. Having known. Who runs away? Bhage run away. Who? Chor thieves because they work only at night. What are these ones? Madha mana Madha pride mana abhimana I am the body etc. Kama moha lobha chobha Kama you know desire. Moha means delusion. Lobha means greediness. And chobha means you know kshobha the agitation of the mind restlessness of the mind. All these what do they do? They are like thieves which steal away our peace of mind. Nikara apadare They can never come nearer the light. As soon as the dawn comes the light of the jnana vanu they are all run away. Jnana removes agnana. All these chor the thieves belong to agnana. Dekhata Raghuvara Pratapa Look at the glory at the heroicness of Raghuvara Ramachandra Bite Santapa Papa Bite Everything disappears. What is Santapa? Papa Santapa means regrets. Papa means sinfulness. Everything runs away. Tapa Trivitha Tapa Trivitha There are three types of afflictions. Three causes of afflictions. Adhyatmika Adhidaivika and Adhibhautika There is no more. Only three. What are they? Bodily afflictions mental afflictions and spiritual afflictions. That is why Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Three times we say because one Shanti if you say only one Tapa will disappear the other will get it. So all the three Tapa Trivitha All these three Tapas they disappear. How do they disappear? Because Prema Aapa Durahi Kare When the love of God dawns that is the dawn knowledge brings light Light brings love and love removes destroys these three types. What is it? I belong to God I am God All these things is Anatma Loka They don't belong That knowledge itself as soon as you wake up from all the all the wicked people murderers and evil people are chasing you with drawn knives pistols and nukes in your dream you are gone that is what as soon as love comes you understand I am not the body I am not the mind I am divine and therefore all these things automatically disappear So what is the idea? That Jyagi Tyagi Modhata Anuraga Shri Hare These are all descriptions of Samsara Then but there is a time for Shravana Suni That words will come Uthau Jagau Uthishthata Jagrata Prapyavaraan Nibodhata Shravana Suni What do what does a real devotee discriminating person hear? Gira Gambhira Deep words it will not allow you to sleep Gambhira Gira means it comes to you Wake up How long are you going to sleep? And but if this one is coming all the time 24 hours 365 days from birth to death but will everybody hear? Nobody hear because everybody is merged in deep sleep or Agnana but very strong willed people Gira means whose buddhi has become awakened Dhiyo Yonaha Prachodayat By God's grace right understanding people with right understanding are called Giras Dhi means Dhi then Viras not only after waking up also they have to hold on ok one moment we are all devotees other times we should think only about God then what do they do after upon waking up this is the meaning of that Uthishtata Jagrata Praapya Varan Nibodhata Praapya Varan approach the realized souls saints and from them Nibodhata learn what to do what not to do Guru in other words Vara Viraga Vara means choose Viraga means dispassion then approach the Gurus what should we do Tosha Sakala Santa Adare you please Sakala Santa all the saintly people you please them how by serving them and by asking them that is what Bhagavad Gita says how to know Tad Vidhi Pranipatena Tad means about God Vidhi know how Pranipatena first surrender yourself Pranipata means Pranam Pariprashnena then you ask appropriate questions what is my duty how do I go about etc Sevaya Sevaya means what by serving them what happens when we serve we develop the capacity to receive they don't want anything but we have to develop that capacity to receive that receiving capacity is called Sevaya yeah so Vara Viraga that approach the people of God Tosha Sakala Padare try to serve try to please learn from them Santa Santa means devotees of God not Santa means another meaning market not market this is Santa Lo Santa Ka Seva Karein so approach them serve them please them ask questions learn from them and follow their footsteps this is the meaning Vara Viraga Tosha Sakala Santa Adare then what happens as a result Tulasi Dasa Prabhu Kripalu Prabhu the lord of Tulasi Dasa Kripalu very compassionate Niraki Jeeva Jana Vihalu Niraki having seen having understood this Jana this devotee is Vihalu means in distress he had approached me he is begging me he is praying for me then Banjo Banjo means hey hello nice chocolate for you waiting look see there yes do you want this this you want it ok oh so much of Vairagya hey Pari come come come you like this this is your favorite or cat is your favorite Tulasi Dasa Prabhu Kripalu Niraki having seen observed Jeeva Jana Vihalu Jeeva what type I don't want Samsara I want only you who will approach God only a person who understands this Samsara cannot really give me what I want until that time we think this object cannot give but the other object can give but when he says no object in this world can give he has no option but to turn towards God that is called Vairagya approaching what does God do out of his compassion Bhanjo Bhava Jala Bhava Jala Jala means net Bhava Jala means this whole universe is a net Mahamaya's net one of our swamis you know what he said New York is the headquarters of Mahamaya Times Square have you seen Times Square all flashing neon lights and all those things are headquarters of Mahamaya not London New York these fellows they think London is the headquarters of Mahamaya no this is only a small chutka office sub office that's all Bhanjo Bhava Jala he breaks because only by his grace Mahamaya can really be destroyed and then Parama Mangala Acharya he bestows the highest Mangala what is the highest Mangala auspicious thing Grace only no no what is that it is to let us know you are not a Jeeva you are Paramatma like me that is the greatest grace God can give and only God can give why because only light can destroy darkness and nothing else therefore first we have to practice Dharma so that we become good people Punyatmas and then only the grace of God awakens within us what does that grace do having woken up having given up ignorance Anuraga Sri Hari we develop love for God this is Tulsi Das's one of the most beautiful songs wonderful that is why whenever we hear songs or sing songs or listen to songs if we dwell upon this meaning that is one of the most profound meditations we can ever really have every song any song you know that song? you don't know I have heard it Tyagaraja is addressing his own mind to my mind you tell me Nidhi means worldly treasures are they really so valuable Nidhi means treasure Sannidhi means the presence the presence of Rama is more happy happiness or worldly treasures like that the whole song goes like that beautiful all great people they only sing out of the fullness of their heart their experience that is why never sing any songs composed however great by worldly people only sadhakas Ramakrishna used to sing only songs composed by Ramprasad Kamalakanta Premik etc but these Meerabai Tulsi Das Kabir Das Soura Das and then Tyagaraja Purandar Das Kanaka Das etc and Muthuswami Deeksita these are real devotees of God so every time we discuss you know even one song what how beautiful Narsimhaitha song did you hear that Mahatma Gandhi's favourite but do you know the meaning we will discuss some other day Vaishnava Janatham who is a real devotee Vaishnava means not simply who puts on this Nama there are Vaishnavas O Rama Ni Nama Mentha Rucha you know the song meaning story O Rama Ni Nama Mentha Rucha you know the meaning O Rama Ni Nama your name Mentha Rucha how tasty tasty not nice tasty this is the song by Bhadrachala Ramdas but there is a story there so in south India in winter season is there are a group of people Vaishnavas they are Vaishnavas and they sing the songs composed about Rama, Krishna and sing early morning 3 o'clock they come into the villages and then we all give some riksha there so south India is not too cold so one Haridasa like that one early morning little bit chilly and not chilly chilly so he went and he was singing in a village you know he got very little so he was travelling to the next village another one and a half miles or so so he was about to enter there he saw a small Rama's temple and it was open and he it was a bit chilly therefore he entered for a few minutes of relief and there he saw Rama's image is Rama means name Nama means also they put this Nama here this mark mark so somebody out of gratitude they made one silver Nama and put it on Rama's face so the Haridasa saw here and there early morning 3.30 nobody was there he picked it up went to the temple and he got the taste of Rama Nama you see wonderful stories you know so it is only by God's grace even the taste for God's name will come anyway I will stop for a beautiful story now I will stop one beautiful story I have to tell you holy mother was alive she was in holy mother's house in Kolkata it is called Maherbadi house of mother now it is called Udbodhan there was a devotee of Ramakrishna he was addicted to drink he became a drunkard so when he was a young man he used to you know the Sharath Maharaj Raja Maharaj they were all same age colleagues so they used to drink you know that story Charu wonderful story so everyday after drinking he used to pass by mother's house and you know when a person drinks he knows lot of things so he used to stay there so he this man at midnight he will come and bang the door hey Sharath open the door and he was opening because he knew him Thakur's devotee Thakur loved him but that was not allowed so next day that day in the night he was coming after drinking and then he started singing he banged the door but nobody opened it he became offended very pitiful song pathos full of pathos oh compassionate mother please wake up open the door of the kutira so I am wandering in this darkness I cannot see anything I am fumbling I am tumbling and how can you keep quiet and he started rolling singing this song on the ground outside the suddenly what did he see he saw the windows of holy mother's room suddenly opened and she was looking compassionately at him immediately he rolled on the darshana even in that stage when others have refused so then mother blessed him closed the windows then he started singing another song what is that jautane hridaye rekho jautane hridaye rekho keep with great care in your heart of the divine mother keep in your heart you see the mother and I will see the mother nobody else should be allowed to see because she is in my heart only I will see you you will see so he improvised a sharat janu nadiki let not this sharat see divine mother only I and you will see then he did a very very beautiful song he sang this one rolled and then he went away because he had the mother's affection the moment he joined the hospital he understood that I am not going to survive so he gave up all drinking and he only asked one thing somebody should come and read the gospel of Sriram Krishna kathamrita only I want so sharat Maharaj he was still having affection you know because the devotion was there inside because of some samskara this meanwhile came he gave up everything and then because of the nature of his sickness the doctor forbade him that he should not be given any water but he had a great desire to eat this grape fruit grapes I am so longing but the brahmachari out of his goodness he did not give because the doctor's strict orders that no liquid should be given to him except medication so this devotee padalachan he looked at the brahmachari and bhai even I cannot get one grape I know that these are my welfare I am going to die if you give also I am going to die I am not going to survive anyway I know you are only doing for my welfare but it is ok I accept it as thakur's will and within 2-3 days taking thakur's name he passed away this devotee of Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Ramakrishna thakur loved him so much the child was playing in the dust became dirty like a mother what will a mother do she will gather the child she will wash the child very good ok shallita last time I gave some advice remember you have to go to some exercise eat tell your brother also it's very important because without this physical strength you cannot sustain sustained for a long time and you have to do pranayama also so that your lungs you have a sweetness but there is not much strength in your voice you have to develop that strength you know some people like whether it is Bhimsen Joshi or Balamurali Krishna or when they see there is a tremendous strength in their voices it's very important not only to have musical knowledge but also the strength to sustain now you are young that's why you are able to do it but after some time the first what is called calamity that happens is we won't be able to sustain the breath how much breath I used to have 15 years back now every few seconds if I don't take so it breaks that is the problem anyway exercise nutritious food and strengthen the muscles in Western music that is the first thing they give Indians never do that they give voice exercises and for voice exercises the whole body should be strengthened this is a special exercise for the voice specially yeah it is good in every way try to do that okay all right so there are so many chocolates I don't want to