The Birth Of Christ - The Birth Of Consciousness

Mary was  bathed in glowing light,
Angel Gabriel in front she did sight.
Divine beauty he radiated,
Tender warmth from him emanated.

In a lilting voice which softly floated,
Across the wind it gently wafted...

"Joseph and Mary, you are the favoured ones,
Chosen to nurture God's very own son.
He in Bethlehem will be born,
Under the starlit sky before the break of dawn."

Joseph and Mary fell on their knees,
Blessed were they this messiah to see.
Towards the divine destination they then headed,
Towards Bethlehem after they were wedded.

From inn to inn they did tread,
No place could be found, not a single bed.
To a stable they were led by a kindly soul,
Dimly lit, warm with sheep and foal.

The silvery moon shone and shimmered,
The stars dotted the sky as they twinkled and glimmered.
Snowflakes nestled amongst the leaves and trees,
Pure and white and as fluffy as could be.

A hushed silence all around there was,
A sense of peace, a sense of awe.
Baby Jesus was to come forth soon,
A gift to the world, a miracle, a boon.

The shepherds kept vigil all night long,
The cattle lowed as if singing a song.
From the distant deep, angelic murmurs,
Cold, misty, an outline, a blur...

There appeared a vision clad in white,
An angel it was in luminous light...

"Go forth to Bethlehem, the saviour has been born,
In a stable, in a manger, all cosy and warm.
Go pay obeisance to the son of God,
To the King of Angels, to Christ the Lord."

Towards Bethlehem, the shepherds set foot eagerly,
Their eyes filled with wonder, their hearts full of glee.
God's very own had come to set mankind free,
A sight to behold, a sight to see!

The three wise men, the 'Magi' from the east,
On the 'Star Of Bethlehem' their eyes did feast.
Magical it was and glistening bright,
Like a jewel adorning the moonlit night.
 
It beamed like a lighthouse standing tall,
Seemed to convey a message, a clarion call...

This guiding star, the three wise men followed,
All the way to Bethlehem, the pathway glowed.
To the holy infant, to Baby Jesus as foretold,
On Him to shower frankincence, myrrh and gold.

In the manger, in his crib of soft hay,
In a cocoon of light, Baby Jesus lay.
Round his head, a golden halo,
Lit up the stable in a tranquil glow.

Deep reverence filled every heart space,
Peace and calm and infinite grace.
Infused with absolute love, spirits uplifted,
Blessings upon all, His presence gifted.

Soulful hymns were heard from afar,
They seemed to come from beyond the stars.
Cries of  'Hallelujah' faint at first,
Rose and exploded in a joyous outburst!

Heaven on earth reigned supreme,
Like the unfolding, the blossoming of a beautiful dream...
Hearts connected in pure love, in oneness,
Vibrations were raised in unified consciousness.

The cup, the chalice was filled to the brim,
The Holy Grail revealed the 'Christ Consciousness' within,
That all beings filled with divine love,
Are one with the Lord within, around, beyond and above.

The Story Behind Diwali - The Festival Of Lights

Demon Narakasura was blessed at birth,

Came forth he did from the womb of Mother Earth.

Lord Vishnu as Varaha, a boar and ' Bhooma Devi ' in communion,

Narakasura was born from this holy union.

No one could cause his death, his destruction,

Except if following Mother Earth's instructions.

Mighty powers were bestowed upon him,

He could use them to satisfy every desire, every whim.

He asserted himself when the Devas he assaulted,

They fled in distress, humiliated, exhausted.

He surveyed ' Devaloka ' with pleasure,

His gaze fell on a priceless treasure!

On the ears of Mother Aditi, on her earrings,

Glowing, sparkling, glittering.

Like the king's bejewelled crown,

Like a queen's shimmering gown.

Aditi, the Mother of the Devas and the Sun,

Aditi whose earrings could be equalled by none!

Narakasura's eyes gleamed with greed,

To his better counsel, he paid no heed.

He snatched the jewel from Mother Aditi's ears,

Callously ignoring her pain, her tears...

With women Narakasura could not be trusted,

He leered, he lured, after them he lusted.

Thousands of women from all over the world,

He captured and into a prison he hurled...

Mother Aditi did Satyabhama seek,

To Lord Krishna, her husband, she asked her to speak.

Heaven had been converted to hell,

Evil did reign, fear did dwell.

A bitter lesson Narakasura needed to be taught,

Goodness and virtues had been reduced to naught!

Lord Krishna and Satyabhama sat on Garuda, the eagle,

Hooked beak, golden, regal.

Off they went on this great adventure,

Dangerous, hazardous, perilous venture!

Narakasura had to be stopped from his cruel deeds,

Mammoth proportions they had assumed indeed!

In heaven, Sage Narada plucked the Tanpura strings,

As he witnessed the scene, he began to sing...

"Garuda Vaahanane,
Gaambhira Murthiye,

Unnai Sharanam Adainthein,

Karuna murthiye..."

"Lord Krishna On Garuda, His Vehicle, Rides,

Regal He Sits On Him Astride,

We Bow, We Surrender, We Seek Refuge,

From Him Infinite Compassion Flows, A Deluge..."

Demon Mura stood in Pragjyotishyapur, guarding the gate,

Monstrous he was, demon Narakasura's mate!

Bitter it was when the battle ensued,

Hatred and venom Mura spewed!

He snorted, he threatened, he rained blows,

Lord Krishna killed him in a trice with his feathered arrows!

Mura's life he thus claimed,

'Murari' became one of his numerous names.

To confront Narakasura, Lord Krishna needed,

Towards the battleground, he proceeded.

A spectacular sight met his eyes, one would say,

Elephants did trumpet, horses did neigh!

Like the crests of waves in high tide,

White elephants and horses did move and rise!

With outstretched wings, Garuda did fly,

Hiding the sun and blackening the sky.

Lord Krishna and Satyabhama, clad in blue light,

Like a beacon it pierced, luminous, bright!

Garuda lowered himself on his downward flight,

Gasps this drew, the sheer power, the sheer might !

The sound rose stentorious, the sound of the bugle,

It heralded the start of the historical duel !

A clash of the Titans in the battlefield,

Metallic armours with glinting shields!

Feathered arrows from Lord Krishna's bow,

Carpet of corpses lined up in rows.

Narakasura rubbed his eyes in disbelief,

To get rid of 'maya' and himself relieve.

By hundreds of Lord Krishnas surrounded he was,

His mind was playing tricks, he was at a loss!

Blindly all around his weapons flew,

To face Lord Krishna, he had not a clue!

With concern, her Lord, Satyabhama viewed,

On Him her eyes were firmly glued.

For hours and hours, he had been fighting with zest,

Time it was to stop, time to rest.

"Kill him at once this demon,

This appalling, abominable, atrocious heathen!"

Her voice rang out loud and clear,

It was heard both far and near!

Lord Krishna used the 'Sudarshan Chakra' and did as he was bid,

Narakasura fell, on the ground he slid...

"I acted as per your mother's decree,

Satyabhama is the incarnation of Mother Bhooma Devi."

Satyabhama looked at Narakasura with saddened eyes,

To stop him for the sake of the world had been wise.

Narakasura took in their divine light,

Despite the pain, despite his ailing plight.

Soothing, calming, healing..

Overcome he was by penitent feelings.

From such a divine womb, he had come forth,

Not realising the value, not realising its worth.

The boons that were given, he had carelessly tossed,

Their significance diluted, a colossal loss!

In a quagmire of evil, he waded deep,

Regret, remorse in his heart did seep.

His eyes leaked tears, he silently did weep...

His mother's compassionate hand stroked his head,

'Please give me one more boon!" he begged.

" In the twilight of my life, I see,

Fatal mistakes, misconduct and misdeeds.

I bask, am bathed by thy luminous light,

Through the darkness, I see a glimmer grow bright.

Let this bring hope to every soul,

Let my story to every child be told."

Lord Krishna dazzled and grew in size,

Blessings he showered on the world wide...

" On this day, rows of lamps will be lit,

Crackers will burst, a riot of colours they will emit.

Goddess Lakshmi will grace every home,

The world will erupt with joy on Lord Rama's return to his throne.

Most of all celebrations will be rife,

The triumph of light over darkness and strife.

This festival of lights as 'Diwali' will be known,

Great joy, devotion,and love will be shown,

In light, through darkness man will be borne."

Footnotes

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

Bhooma Devi - Mother Earth
Devaloka - The place where Gods And Demi-Gods Exist

Aditi - Name of the Heavenly Mother

Satyabhama - Name Of Lord Krishna's Wife

Narada - Name Of A Vedic Sage

Tanpura - A Long Necked String Instrument

Garuda - Name of An Eagle, Mount Of Lord Vishnu

Pragjyotishyapur - Name Of An Ancient City
Sudarshana Chakra - The Discus Weapon Of Lord Vishnu

Lakshmi - The Goddess Of Wealth

Lord Rama - The Seventh Avatar Of Lord Vishnu

Diwali - The Festival Of Lights.

Durga Devi - The Story Of Goddess Durga As Mahishasuramardini

Durga Devi - The Story Of Durga Devi As Mahishasuramardini

Over the three worlds, Mahishasura ruled,

The Devas were banished, their laws overruled.

A buffalo headed demon he was,

Evil, lethargic but blessed with invincibility he was.

No man, no beast, no God could him kill,

This wish of his, Lord Brahma had fulfilled.

The Devas invoked Lord Brahma and pleaded,

His help to destroy Mahishasura, they needed.

To Lord Shiva in Kailash, they appealed,

To Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntha, their woes they revealed.

The divine three began to meditate,

Swirling energy from their bodies did emanate,

Like a cloud of billowing smoke, it began to permeate,

A mighty feminine power they were about to create...

A medley of sounds reached a crescendo,

A choir of voices, the bass, the soprano...

'Ma Amba Lalita Devi,

Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati,

Namasthasye, Namasthasye, Namasthasye Namo Namaha...'

'To The Mother Goddess, Salutations,

The One Who Plays With Creation, Manifestation, Dissolution.

Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, The Three Aspects Of Energy She Is,

The Holy Divine Trinity She Is...'

The haze dispelled, a light effulgent,

Ma Durga Devi rose resplendent.

Flowing tresses with the darkness of night,

Scorching eyes, fiery bright.

Heaving chest, rising, falling,

Ten arms, radiating, spinning.

Sitting astride on a lion ferocious,

A flick of its mane, a roar acrimonious.

Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva combined their mighty forces,

Dipped into their vast resources.

The' trishul', the sword whizzed by from Lord Shiva's clasp,

The disc, the conch, spun from Lord Vishnu's grasp.

At a dizzying speed, all flew in a row,

The mace, the shield, the bow, the arrow.

Fists coiled round the weapons tight,

The 'Warrior Goddess', clad in blazing light.

Devastating it was when the assault began,

He wriggled, he slid, he ducked, he ran.

She unleashed her sizzling, raw energy,

A trembling,shaking demon became he.

Wily tactics, he tried to employ,

To field, to dodge the weapons she deployed.

From a beast to a man, he changed form,

 She controlled with disdain and with utmost scorn.

His boons, his powers and all else failed,

She pinned him down, she had him nailed.

A wild tornado,storming, raging,

A hapless victim, writhing, squirming.

The peace, the balance, he had disrupted,

Like a spitting volcano, her anger erupted.

Filled with 'Shakti', with intense energy, she vibrated,

Time for demonic tendencies to be annihilated.

She let fly the' trishul', it ripped across the sky,

She caught it deftly, her hand held high.
Clashing weapons, anklets jangling,

Clanging, piercing,deafening.

The trident pierced, the demon in anguish,

Evil from the seed, from the roots, the Goddess vanquished...

Darkness, ignorance needed to be erased,

Mankind becomes deluded when in 'inertia' encased.
 This' Mahishasura', this 'tamas Guna'. this inertia is in each of us,

With the Devi's grace, it can be transcended thus...

The Gods, the Devas, sang in praise,

Surrender and hope , their notes raised...

'Jaya Jaya He Mahishasura Mardini Ramyaka Pardini Shaila Sute.'

'Destroyer Of Mahishasura, Victory To Thee!

Cascading Hair, Wild, Free.

Daughter Of The Mountain, Thou Art,

Joy You Fill In All The World, In Every Heart.'

Footnotes

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

Mahishasura - Name of a demon, A symbol of lethargy, inertia

Devas - Demi Gods
Kailash - The abode of Lord Shiva
Vaikuntha - The abode of Lord Vishnu

Shakti - Energy

Trishul - The trident

Tamas - Lethargy, inertia

Guna - quality.

The Birth Of Lord Ganapati (Lord Ganesha)

Goddess Parvati from her body, she scraped,
Fragrant sandalwood and turmeric paste.
A special figure with her Lord's blessings, she was about to make...

She lovingly patted, she lovingly shaped,
A form emerged in yellow turmeric encased.
A face shining like a million suns,
A rounded belly weighing a tonne!

Wise eyes, dimpled arms,
His very countenance exuded charm.
Goddess Parvati's heart filled with love, with pride,
Her feelings for Lord Vinayaka, her son, her creation, she could not hide.

"Stand outside and take guard," she instructed,
"I want my privacy to be protected.
It has been a long time since I washed my tresses black,
Forbid entry to all, do not be lax."

"I will mother, do not fret,
Fear not, no one past me can get.
To strike me, your creation down would be hard..."
Lord Vinayaka outside then took guard.

Lord Shiva in Mount Kailash sat,
Having with his followers a leisurely chat.
"Go forth and announce to Parvati, my entry,
Inform that shortly, her, I will greet," he told his sentry.

"This entry is forbidden!" Lord Vinayaka announced,
"Put one step forward and on you I will pounce!"
Back to Lord Shiva, the sentry scuttled,
He was, one could see, visibly rattled.

"Forgive me Lord, I have failed in my duty,
A small child he was of dazzling beauty.
'My mother is not to be disturbed!' he firmly declared,
His wrath to face, I was not prepared!"

"What audacity from my son, a mere boy!"
Lord Shiva was no doubt greatly annoyed.
"Go my followers, my ' Ganas', teach him a lesson or two,
To mess with me, his father, he cannot afford to."

The 'Ganas' blew their trumpet and conch,
An attack they announced, they were about to launch.
Sparkling innocence, luminous shine,
Radiant, alluring, utterly divine!
Captivated were the 'Ganas' who stood in a line...

Glinting swords, flashing blades,
Lightning strikes, Lord Vinayaka stood unfazed.
Arrows darted, unerring, sharp,
Flew they did from his bow in an arc.

An unusual combat if ever there was,
A single child crushing an army vast.
The 'Ganas' fell and fell at an alarming pace,
The survivors staggered, utterly dazed.

Lord Shiva when he heard of the failed mission,
Took a quick, instant decision.
Reached his home in a trice,
Aghast when he heard the woeful cries.

With a closed eye, he took perfect aim,
Time to control. time to tame.
With equal precision, the arrow split into two,
The 'Ganas' in disbelief rubbed their eyes..was this an illusion, was this true?

Lord Shiva was a trifle bemused,
"I will humour him and keep myself amused!" he thought.
Menacingly, he circled around,
Louder and louder boomed the 'damaru' sound.

Closer and closer, he drew near,
Vinayaka's eyes danced, no signs of fear.
He did not flinch, he did not cower,
Raised fists, immense power.

Lord Shiva could not help but admire,
The child like defiance, the eyes flashing fire.
Deft, skilful, relentless,
Daunting, dogged, dauntless.

Flying arrows, arched bows,
Prowling, pouncing, dodging blows.
God and Child-God in sync with one another,
Absorbing it was this divine encounter.

Adrenaline through his veins coursed,
Lord Shiva let fly his trident, his 'trishul' with great force.
Lord Vinayaka's head was sliced and scattered,
Lord Shiva stood rooted, stunned, utterly shattered.

Goddess Parvati witnessed the scene with horror,
Raced to her son, filled with terror.
Flying locks, reddened eyes,
Poignant, heart wrenching cries.

What had he done to his son?
With his own hands he had destroyed, it could not be undone.
Filled with regret, with remorse Lord Shiva was,
This disaster he and only he had caused.

Somehow he had to set things right,
He could not bear to see Goddess Parvati's plight.
"Bring the first head you find facing north!"
The 'Ganas' to do as he bade set forth.

On an elephant head facing north, their eyes rested,
'Perfect' just as Lord Shiva had requested.
With great fanfare, they carried the head on their shoulders,
Goddess Parvati, inconsolable, continued to smoulder.

Lord Shiva placed the head on the body carefully,
The contours merged and fit perfectly.
The fan like ears flapped to and fro,
The beady eyes blinked and glowed.

The ivory tusks were pointed and honed,
The trunk, his nose curved in the shape of 'Om'.
A rounded paunch and plump knees,
A figure which did every eye please,
Gently on his lap, Lord Shiva did ease..

A little mouse was placed as a seat,
Lightly Lord Vinayaka sat and folded his feet.
The Child-God, the son to the earth had come,
The visual form of the origin, the sacred 'pranavam'.

'Modak' sweets were given as an offering,
Prayers were chanted to remove all suffering.
The 'Ganas' in chorus began to sing,
Gladness in every heart, it did bring...

'Mudakaraka modakam, sada vimukti sadhakam,
Kaladaravathamskam, vilasi loka rakshakam...'

'We bow to you, Lord Vinayaka,
The one who holds the 'modak' in his hand,
The one who bestows salvation upon every man.'

With happiness, her heart began to swell,
When on Lord Vinayaka, Goddess Parvati's gaze did dwell.
Smacking his lips, eating with relish,
The child like pleasure, this moment, she did cherish.

"Remover of all obstacles, he will be,
Man will pray to him , before he prays to me and thee!" she declared to Lord Shiva.

With humility, Lord Shiva assented,
Flowers began to rain, colourful, scented.
"Lord Ganapati , Lord Ganesha will be his name,
Far and wide will spread his fame," blessed Lord Shiva.

Representing Lord Shiva, his father, the 'Ganas', offered a token,
The three-eyed coconut was thrown to the ground and broken.
The chants of the 'Ganas' rose harmonious ,
Lyrical, pious,soothing, melodious...

'Om Gananam tvamganapatim havamahe,
Kavimkavinam upamasravastamam,
Jyestharajam brahmanam brahmanas pataanah,
Srnvannutibhi sida sadanam...'

'We pray to you, Lord Ganapati, Lord Ganesha...
The one who is the the Lord of the 'Ganas', the celestial one,
The one who is the wisdom of the wise, the intellectual one,
The one who is absolute consciousness, the universal one,
The one whe dwells in our hearts, the eternal one...'

Footnotes
-----------
Turmeric - Widely used yellow spice
Vinayaka - The first son , Child-God
Ganas - A body of attendants of Lord Shiva
Damaru - A small two- headed drum
Trishul - A long handled trident
Om - The first and original vibration manifesting as sound, vibration of the Supreme
Modak - A sweet dumpling
Pranavam - The origin of everything, of all life.

Janmashtami - The Birth Of Krishna - The Birth Of Love

Devaki leaned against the wall, she let out a sigh,
Six children from her womb...killed...born only to die...
The seventh child had been spirited out at night,
A 'still born' he was declared to save him from his plight.

The eighth child she now awaited with bated breath,
Hoping by some miracle, he would escape death.
Vasudeva, her husband , echoed her thoughts,
Some glimpse of light in the darkness he sought.

Kamsa, her cousin brother, lay awake in bed,
Fearful thoughts swam in his head.
"The eighth child will cause your doom,
When he comes forth from Devaki's womb!"
He shuddered when he heard the voice,
He clamped his ears to shut out the noise.

Each child of Devaki's before it opened its eyes,
Mercilessly he had killed , left with no choice .
'A mere baby...this eighth child...what can he do?
I must harden my heart or I will rue!'

Devaki glowed with an inner light,
Divine, radiant, luminous, bright.
Darkness dispelled, a shower of gold and white,
The jail seemed lit by a thousand lights!
It was 'Ashtami', the eighth day of 'Krishna Paksham',
The moon slid into the 'Rohini Nakshatram'.

Lo and behold! Lord Krishna arrived in their midst,
With four hands closed into four tiny fists.
The lotus, the conch, he held in one pair,
The 'chakra', the mace, he waved in the air.
Gurgling sounds filled the cell,
Accompanied by the flute and the tinkling of bells.

A chant was heard from the heavens above,
Poured forth it did from the realms of love...

"Vasudeva Sutam Devam,
Kamsa Chanura Mardanam,
Devaki Paramanandam,
Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum..."

"Son of the great Vasudeva,
The destroyer of evil Kamsa and Chanura,
He fills Devaki's heart with bliss,
'Guru', 'Master teacher' of the universe he is..."

"Take Lord Krishna to Gokul, to Nanda's house,
Exchange him for the baby lying next to Yashoda, his spouse.
'Maya', the divine Goddess who is the new born,
Will deal with Kamsa at the break of dawn," said a divine voice.

Vasudeva got ready to do as he was bid,
Carefully in a basket, baby Krishna he hid.
Pain wrenched Devaki's heart,
From Lord Krishna she knew she had to part.

The rain outside incessantly poured,
Flashes of lightning, thunder roared.
'Sleep', the guards subtly lured,
Heads nodded, they rhythmically snored.

The gates of their own accord opened wide,
The moon served as Vasudeva's guide.
River Yamuna gave way, rising in tide,
To a path, a soft river bed by parting to a side.

Adi Sesha, the snake, raised his hoods,
Protective, shielding as much as he could.
Lord Krishna surveyed with dancing eyes,
Casting a spell on all who spied.

The torrents, the floods,the swell, the spate,
In unison, in harmony did gradually abate.
The trees, the flowers, the plants were rooted,
the birds tweeted not, nor the owls hooted.

The dark moon, the stars gazed in awe,
Enchanted, mesmerised by Lord Krishna whom they saw.
Shared jubilation, shared elation,
In utter stillness, in silent communion...
Magical moment, timeless, suspended...
Pulsating joy towards the heavens ascended...

The 'Guru', the 'Saviour' was here on earth,
To fill every heart with happiness, with mirth,
With boundless love of which there was a dearth...
Divine plan, divine ploy,
With the Lord's birth, ecstatic joy...


Footnotes
-----------

Devaki - Name of Lord Krishna's mother
Vasudeva - Name of Lord Krishna's father
Kamsa - Name Of Lord Krishna's uncle
Ashtami - Eighth day of the Hindu Lunar calendar
Krishnapaksham - Period of the fading or waxing moon
Rohini - Name of a star
Nakshatram - Star
The Chakra - the discus
Gokul - A town in Uttar pradesh in India where Lord Krishna spent his childhood days
Nanda - Name of Lord Krishna's foster father
Yashoda - Name of Lord Krishna's foster mother
Maya - Divine goddess Durga
Adi Sesha - King of snakes
guru - Teacher, Master

The Story Of 'Pradosham' - An Auspicious Day Dedicated To The Worship Of Lord Shiva

 This poem is based on a particular incident which took place during the churning of the milky ocean by the Demi-gods and the Demons.



You all know that the 'Devas'  and the' Asuras' did gather,

And churned the milky ocean for nectar together;

You know how it was brought about,

And the wonderful things that all came out;

The nectar, the elephant, the cow, the tree,

Goddesses Lakshmi and Varuni from under the sea.

Before the above came to light,

An event took place, it instilled fright...

'Vasuki' the serpent was the churning rope,

Devas and Asuras pulled with excitement, with hope.

Till blue smoke began to swirl,

Began to rise and spiral in a curl;

Lethal poison, misty haze,

Glazed eyes, senses dazed.

The Devas ran without much ado,

The Asuras followed in a jiffy too!

Towards mount Kailash, they headed,

Devastated, bereft, their egos shredded;

The 'halahala', the poison, trailed their retreating backs,

Giant, enveloping, sooty, black...

Nandi, glowering, took a threatening stance,

Refused entry and watched them helplessly prance;

Round mount Kailash, they circumambulated,

Nandi, the bull ,snorted wildly and expostulated!

They fled from Nandi at one end,

Only to encounter the 'halahala' at the bend!

Lord Shiva took pity on the unfortunate ones,

Summoned Nandi to get the 'halahala' at once.

Shiva swallowed the poison fully,

It wound its way down slowly;

All of creation began to shiver,

As in Shiva, it coursed down, the poisonous river.

Goddess Parvati clutched tight,

Stemming its speedy downward flight;

The neck bruised and turned blue,

'Neelkanth' became his name new.

Shiva lay on Parvati's lap,

Closed his eyes as if taking a nap.

A trail of light from the sky descended,

The Gods, the Goddess and the sages ascended;

Shiva himself lay in a prone position,

Poisoned, for the world, of his own volition.

They viewed Lord Shiva with great concern,

Hoping that for the better, things would take a turn;

Swaying bodies in a trance, like'tantra',

Voices joined in a chorus, in a 'mantra'...

"Om Trayambakam Yajamahe

Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam

Urvaarukamiva Bandhanaan

Mrityor Muksheeya Ma Amritaat..."

"We worship you, Oh three eyed Lord,

Fragrant, nourishing, nurturing Lord.

We bow to you, who rejuvenates, who restores health,

You who liberates us from the fear of death..."

Nandi meanwhile inhaled the fumes,

Began to feel dizzy soon;

"I am able to hold the poison!" he thought...

"Much better than the battle that Lord Shiva, my Lord has fought."

His master, Lord Shiva was reeling under the effects,

But he himself was stronger, no weakness, no defects;

He moved his head to and fro,

Triumphantly through the nostrils, he did blow!

He swayed in delight and did a jig,

His ego bloated and grew monstrously big!

Lord Shiva opened his eyes slightly,

The third eye glowed, glittered brightly;

The pallor soon receded,

To throw a beatific smile, he proceeded.

A gloating Nandi he spied,

Puffed up and swelling with great pride!

To teach him a lesson, to subtly chide,

He decided between his horns to ride!

Lord Shiva jumped between the horns,

A dancing 'avatar', he did don;

Sage Narada began to sing and pray,

On the 'veena', Goddess Saraswati delicately played;

The beat of the 'damaru' and heavenly sounds descended,

Celestial, harmonious, smoothly blended.

The movements traced by the fading day,

Silhouette outlined by the twilight rays;

Nimble, fluid, graceful, flowing,

Waves of ecstasy, rippling, growing;

Gazes fixed on the illuminated pathway,

Feasting on the 'Ananda Tandava' in glorious display.

Overflowing with kindness and compassion was He,

Fulfilled were all who could this dance see;

Nandi, suitably chastised did not miss,

Partook in the dance in utter bliss!

On this day...

The thirteenth day from the New moon...

The thirteenth day from the Full moon...

The 'Tryodashi'...

When twilight nudges the day away,

'Pradosham' is observed, a special day.

On this day...

'Karma' is dissipated, it is believed,

Of all sins, one is relieved;

Good and Evil are both absorbed,

In oneness, opposites together dissolve.

On this day...

Some observe the 'vrat' the 'fast',

Until the sun sets, it lasts;

One little thought, one 'bilva' leaf, for the Lord if you spare,

Easily pleased, his form as 'Ashutosh', he bares;

Lord Shiva blesses, his mood propitious,

On this 'Pradosham' day auspicious.


Footnotes
---------------

Devas - Demi-Gods
Asuras - Demons
Goddess Lakshmi -  Goddess of wealth
Goddess Varuni - Goddess of alcohol
Halahala - Poison
Nandi - Bull on which Lord Shiva rides
avatar - form, manifestation
Narada - A Vedic sage
Veena - An Indian stringed instrument
Goddess Saraswati - Goddess of knowledge, music, arts
Damaru - A small two headed drum
Ananda Tandava - Dance of joy and bliss
Tryodashi - The thirteenth day after Full Moon or New Moon
Karma - deed or act
Bilva - Species of a tree native to India
Ashutosh - Easily pleased.

Savitri And Satyavan

Through several stages of initiation,
After years of intense meditation,
Pious king Ashvapathi saw a glimmer of light,
Though faint at first, it grew golden bright;
The wife of Brahma, Goddess Savitri she was,
The daughter of God Savitr, shining and dazzling she was.

"I am pleased with thee dear one,
You pray to be given a hundred sons?
A daughter beyond compare will be born,
Full of virtue and pure like the dawn.
Fiesty, fiery, full of zest,
With wisdom, strength and courage, she will be blessed!"

So Savitri was born, a gift, a boon,
Her beauty, her divinity spread all around soon.
It was time to give her hand in marriage,
To find a suitor, she was sent in a carriage.
She scoured the earth, the forests wide,
Till she reached a hut nestled inside.

The blind king Dyumetsena and his wife did reside,
With their virtuous son Satyavan beside;
Having lost his kingdom and blinded for life,
He had been banished to the forest with his son and wife.
Dedicated, devoted Satyavan was,
She chose to be his bride, she did not pause.

Satyavan the groom, the heir to the crown?
Sage Narada listened to this with a frown.
Ominous, foreboding, he declared at last,
Satyavan had been cursed in the past.
Full of virtue, no doubt he was,
But destined to die in a year he was...

Savitri stood firm in her resolve,
Ashvapathi tried hard this problem to solve.
"Satyavan I have chosen, he dwells in my heart,
With him I will be, with him I cannot part."

Savitri soon became Satyavan's wife,
In the forest she dwelt by his side.
She tended to his parents with great care,
Love and affection with each other they shared.

Filled with happiness, the days flew by,
When alone, Savitri suppressed a sigh...
Her heart in anguish did silently cry,
'Satyavan's days are numbered, he is destined to die...'

For three days and nights, she kept a 'vrat', a 'Trivarta vow', a 'fast',
Not a drop of water, nor a morsel alas!
"My father, my mother, my everything, my all!
'You' I seek, I plead, I call.
In your hands is my husband Satyavan's life,
Irrevocably entwined I am as his wife.

Three dark nights, my restless soul has lived,
Longevity, his 'life' in compassion ,you must give.
Hear my cries, to them pay heed,
Your shelter, your protection I truly need!"

On the dreaded day, she accompanied him to the woods,
As he chopped the trees, she silently stood.
Till beads of sweat on his brow did appear,
His strength seemed to drain and steadily disappear.

She tenderly lay his head on her lap,
Pale, weak, his energy sapped.
She cradled, she caressed his face, his head,
Her heart weighed heavy with a deep sense of dread.

A dark figure she noticed close,
Legs astride, a regal pose.
A noose in hand, red eyes like wine,
An involuntary shiver traced down her spine.
It was the 'Lord of Duty ', the 'Lord of Dharma',
In blackness, in beauty, the 'Death God Yama'!

A flick of his noose, from the core of his existence,
The Lord drew forth Satyavan's deep, inner essence.
The body lay lifeless, like the aftermath of a drought,
Lord Yama with majesty headed towards the south.

Savitri followed without hesitation,
With no shadow of doubt, with no trepidation.
The tinkling of anklets echoed steadily,
Her footsteps followed Lord Yama doggedly.

Lord Yama halted, an about turn he made,
"Walk no further, this path is forbidden!" he bade.

"With seven steps thy friendship,' Oh Righteous One', I have contracted,
This cannot be fruitless, cannot be detracted.
My mate, my husband, I will follow till the end,
Away from this path, 'me', thou cannot send.
In life, in death, we are one,
Oh Lord of Death! Oh son of the Sun!

"Ask for three boons, fair one, for I am pleased,
Save Satyavan's life, I will grant what you need!"

"May my father-in-law's eyesight and kingdom be restored,
May my father be blessed with a hundred sons more!"

"Your wish, 'I' with pleasure grant,
Fulfilled will be your every want!"

Lord Yama was enveloped in darkness soon,
Silhouette outlined by the silvery moon.
Dark, eerie, thick silence,
Steady footsteps followed at a distance.

"Stop at once, please desist,
To follow your heart, you must resist.
Do not fear, Satyavan's soul is sublime,
For you this 'secret' path, I must decline."

"Oh Lord! It is believed devotion counteracts 'karma',
Take pity on him who was 'devoted', Oh Lord of Dharma!
The righteous protect those who seek refuge,
Even enemies, foes and those who use subterfuge.

Thou art learned, fair and gracious,
Austere, just, pious and righteous.
On thee the past, the present and the future depend,
Show mercy Oh Lord! Satyavan's death knell suspend!"

"Your words with honey, with sweetness is filled,
May another wish of yours be fulfilled!"

"Then many sons I wish to beget,
A hundred with Satyavan is my target!
With folded hands, I bow to thee,
For my wish soon will fulfilled be."

"Thou hast wit, devotion and wisdom,
I return Satyavan's soul to the earthly kingdom!"
A globe of light from the noose rose,
Entered Satyavan's body which lay in a reclining pose.

Satyavan got up as if from sleep,
Tiredness coursing his veins deep.

"Savitri, I had the strangest dream,
My soul went on a journey it seemed.
From birth , through death, to rebirth,
Full of happiness, tears and mirth.
At each stage, in bliss, I was one with God,
The unchangeable, the absolute, the eternal Lord!"

He fell silent and a faint echo was heard,
Wafted across as if resting lightly on the wings of a bird...

'Asato ma sat gamaya,
Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya,
Mrityor ma amritam gamaya...'

Savitri whispered softly...

"Oh Supreme God! Oh limitless source of love! Lead us...
From the untruth to the truth of oneness,
To the 'light within' from the midst of darkness,
From mortality to the state of immortality,
For that is the ultimate reality..."

The Story Of Ganga

Bhagirath stood on one foot and prayed,

For years without moving, he had thus stayed.

Rigorous fasting, severe penance,

Unwavering, steadfast perseverance.

His ancestors, their souls needed release,

They had been cursed, sage Kapila they had displeased.

Incurring his wrath, his fury, his ire,

They turned to ashes, as if singed by fire.

Aimlessly their souls floated around,

No entry to the gates of heaven could be found.

Brahma with Bhagirath was greatly pleased,

His endeavours he wanted him to cease.

The souls wandered lonely, they were in need,

If he sent the mighty Ganga, they would be freed.

Ganga who had washed Lord Vishnu's feet when poured,

Ganga who in Brahma's 'kamandalam' was stored.

Ganga to earth would be sent,

In his 'kamandalam', Brahma made a vent.

Ganga the waters pure and white,

Tumbled from the heavens, from the very heights.

Turbulent, tempestuous, full of might,

Raw power almost blinding one's sight. 

Lord Shiva, Bhagirath did invoke,

Ganga unleashed he knew could provoke.

With increased fervour, he prayed more,

As Ganga fell with a deafening roar!

Shiva then his locks unfurled,

Round Ganga's watery sides he twirled.

A little pressure, a little squeeze,

Bemused, he controlled her with ease.

Gently he released her in three streams,

Watched her cascade, sparkle and gleam.

Bhagirath in his chariot led,

Earth with her waters was amply fed.

Down the Himalayas, she danced, she tripped,

Over jagged stones and narrow strips.

Fields turned fertile when she was seen,

Forests she turned lush and green.

All came to take a dip,

'Bhagirathi' they hailed, they worshipped.

Rishi Jahnu's ashram, she did see,

Lost in a trance, he seemed to be.

Full of caprice, she, the ashram did flood,

Mounds of debris, heaps of mud.

Seething with fury, the sage wise,

Opened his mouth, swallowed her in a trice!

Poor Bhagirath fell on his knees,

Extracted a promise, she would no more tease.

Out of his ears as 'Jahnavi', she spurted out,

It seemed with glee, she did shout.

Gurgling with melody, she wound her way,

Flutes and pipes she seemed to play.

Healing with her touch, feathery light,

Purifying all within her sight.

From the heavens, to the earth, to the netherworld,

She gushed and fell in a pool, in a swirl .

The ancestor souls at last came to rest,

With her waters sprinkled, they were blessed.

Mother ganges, sacred, divine,

Bestowing salvation, holy, sublime.

Footnotes

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

Kamandalam - An oblong water pot.
Bhagirathi - Name of the river Ganga who came down due to Bhagirath's penance.
Jahnavi - Name of the river Ganga who came out of sage Jahnu's ears.
Rishi - sage.

Samudra Manthan- The Churning Of The Milky Ocean

'Devas and 'Asuras' gathered around,
By a common vision they were bound.
Eyes scanned the milky ocean,
They watched the waters whirling in motion.
Buried deep in the womb they knew,
Was the 'elixir', the'amrit', the nectar, 'the giver of life anew'.

Mount' Mandara' in the centre stood firm,
Resting atop 'kurma' the tortoise they learnt.
'Vasuki', the snake coiled in the middle like a rope,
Devas and Asuras held either end trying to cope.
The head they pulled, the tail they turned,
The ocean to its depths they churned and churned...

Vasuki choked, gasped and exhaled soon,
Lethal,  potent , poisonous fumes.
The poison flowed, bubbled and seethed,
The Devas and Asuras in terror did breathe.
 
"Help us! What do we do?" they pleaded,
It was lord Vishnu to whom they alluded.
"Go to lord Shiva for him you have missed,
He and only he can deliver you from this!"

Lord Shiva opened his mouth without delay,
Consuming the poison was the only way.
The poison traced its lethal way down,
Goddess Parvati clutched his throat in alarm...
 
If the poison spread, mankind would be doomed,
The whole world would be plunged in deep gloom!
The throat changed its colours, its hues,
'Neelkanth' Shiva became when it reflected 'blue'.

Magic, mystique filled the air,
Breathtaking sights the ocean did bare...

Goddess Lakshmi rose resplendent in her finery,
With her glittering wealth, she lit up the scenery.
Nubile nymphs, 'apsaras' submerged,
Alluring, sensuous they now emerged.

Buffeted by the waves, 'Kamadhenu' was seen,
Bestowing wishes with 'Kalpataru' the tree evergreen.
Vishnu's 'conch' peeped and began to blow,
The 'Tulasi' plant drifted by with the flow.

Then came the 7 headed horse and the elephant white,
It was indeed a splendid sight!
On the waves they did ride,
Majestic, royal as they sat astride!

'Kaustubha' the precious gem sparkled and shone,
Lord Vishnu himself it was fit to adorn.
'Chandran' with his silvery sheen,
Rose to Shiva's crown, where he has since been.

A vision appeared  in divine splendour,
Breaths held, gasps of wonder...
It was the divine physician, the stately 'Dhanvantri',
Holding aloft the pitcher of' immortality'!

Eyes feasted overwhelmed by emotion,
Drinking in the 'amrit' the nectar, the divine, eternal potion...

Devas and asuras had put their differences aside,
Bridged the gap between them wide.
Unity and devotion had paved the way,
Divine immortality was here to stay.

Samudra manthan like a beacon, a ray,
Can be applied to the self, to life and its ways.
Journey to the self when it begins,
Churns and aligns the polarities within.
Balancing, integrating,
With the divine unifying,
Back to the primordial state of origin...

Life you view with a new awareness,
A stream of unified,pure consciousness,
Heady, intoxicating, universal,
An 'elixir', immortal, eternal .


Footnotes
-----------
Devas - demi gods.
Asuras - Demons.
Neelkanth - The blue throated one (Shiva).
Kamadhenu - Name of the divine, wish fulfilling cow.
Kalpataru - Name of the divine, wish fulfilling tree.
Tulasi - The holy basil plant.
Apsaras - Divine nymphs.
Airavata - Name of the divine white elephant.
Uchhaishravas - Name of the divine 7 headed horse.
Chandran - the crescent moon.

Lord Krishna And Kaliya The Serpent - Kaliya Narthanam

 

 This poem is based on the episode when Lord Krishna dances over Kaliya the serpent in the Yamuna River.


Kaliya exhaled poisonous fumes,
Deadly,dangerous proportions it assumed.
In the waters of river Yamuna it spread,
Creating fear, panic and dread.
Trees, plants shrivelled in size,
"This does not augur well!" said the wise.

Childish prattle rang out clear,
Lord Krishna and his cowherds drew near.
With his chubby legs, the' Kadamba tree' he climbed,
Made it to the top in no time!

Dancing eyes, mischief sparkling,
Radiating innocence, laughter tinkling.
'Pitambara vastra' shining like gold,
A beauteous sight for one to behold!

Before startled eyes he did leap,
Dived into the Yamuna deep.
Kaliya hissed and raised his hood,
Bared his fangs as much as he could.

This was a child, a mere mite,
He would consume him in one single bite!
Around Lord Krishna, he curled his tail,
The cowherds in panic began to wail!

The whole of 'Vrindavan' gathered soon,
Hearts filled with a sense of doom!
Balarama smiled a knowing smile,
Krishna he knew was biding his time...

Releasing himself from Kaliya's grasp,
Lord Krishna stood on his head, his tail he clasped.
Delicately with a thumb he held,
His foot hovered, its force withheld.

His hoods Kaliya reared, a hundred of them,
Flashing and glistening with precious gems.
This way and that, to and fro,
Venom he spewed more and more.

Lord Krishna stepped on the heads with grace,
Nimble, rhythmic on the vicious base.
He jumped, he turned, he flew all around,
Accompanied by divine, celestial sounds.

Kaliya felt his strength receding,
Shorn of his power, faltering, weakening.
He tried in vain to wriggle free,
Helpless, vulnerable he seemed to be.

This was no ordinary child,
It was the very lord by his side!
He meekly surrendered unto him,
The supreme lord of everything!

The 'Nagapatnis' prayed fervently,
Realisation dawned on them inwardly,
Touched by Lord Krishna, it was a blessing true,
Kaliya was one of the chosen few.

Life on the bank came to a standstill,
Eyes drank in the scene to their fill.
Every body, spirit and heart,
Of all desires was emptied out.

'Krishna' 'Krishna' and 'Krishna' only,
Filled their senses, their beings fully.
'Krishna consciousness' pervaded their minds,
Till no other thought a space could find.
They were with Lord Krishna in divine communion,
Revelling, blissful in ecstatic union!


Footnotes
-----------
Narthanam - Dance.
Pitambara vastra - yellow garments.
Kadamba tree - An evergreen, tropical tree with orange or yellow flowers.
Balarama - Name of Lord Krishna's brother.
Nagapatnis - Wives of serpent Kaliya.
Vrindavan - A town in Uttar Pradesh , India where Lord Krishna spent his childhood days.