unief

Het Centro de Estudos Indianos [Centrum voor India Studies] van de UFMG [Fed. Universiteit van Minas Gerais] organiseerde - op 28 en 29 mei - het seminarie "Spiritualiteit, Gezondheidszorg en Onderwijs: de Erfenis van India", en was daarmee meteen de allereerste universiteit [in Brazilië / wereldwijd?] die hiertoe ook een spirituele meester in haar midden uitnodigde, en wel mijn eigen satguru Parama-hamsa Sri Swami Vishwananda.

Het programma zag eruit als volgt:

28 mei

09:30u - Opening - Prof. Eduardo Bastianetto - CEI / DRI-coördinator
09:45u - Meditatie / Mantra's
10:00u - Rondetafelgesprek over gezondheid, met...

Dr.Ana Maria Rodrigues Araújo
Hoogleraar Antroposofische en Ayurvedische Geneeskunde aan de UFMG; Master Teacher of Ayurveda aan de Wise Earth School (WES) of Ayurveda; vrijwilliger medische zorg in gemeenschappen in India; technisch-wetenschappelijk adviseur van het Ministerie van Volksgezondheid en ANVISA m.b.t. niet-conventionele geneesmiddelen

Marcus Fonseca
Filosoof, ayurvedische therapeut, leraar yoga, meditatie en filosofie, mede-oprichter van het Instituto EntreSer. Docent en onderzoeker over vergelijkende religie, spiritualiteit en de bruggen tussen oosterse en westerse filosofische tradities. Studeerde Ayurveda aan verschillende internationaal gerenommeerde Indiase instellingen zoals de Gujarat Ayurved University en de International Academy of Ayurveda.

Gelza Nunes
Momenteel coördinator van de Complementaire en Integratieve Praktijken van MG. Master of Nursing van de University of Tennessee. Werkte als een klinische verpleegkundige en professor aan Johns Hopkins en Howard University. Deed onderzoek op het gebied van gezondheidsbevordering, geweldpreventie en complementaire en integratieve praktijken bij de Faculteit der Geneeskunde van de UFMG.

12:30 uur - LUNCH

14:00 - Rondetafelgesprek over onderwijs, met...

Valéria Diniz
Fysiotherapeut, yoga-instructeur, opgeleid door het Agni Yoga Center Sri Maitreya, vrijwilliger van het Sathya Sai-programma over het onderwijs in menselijke waarden sinds 2002.

Prof. Teca Xavier
Professor aan de Faculteit Onderwijs van de UFMG, met postdoctorale graden in complexiteit en transdisciplinariteit in het hoger onderwijs en in onderwijs en spiritualiteit. Het ontwikkelt studies en onderzoek op het thema van onderwijs en spiritualiteit. Momenteel coördinator van NEPPPCOM, een groep studies en onderzoek naar complex denken.

Prof. Emilio Rezende
Emeritus, Ph.D. en professor in yogalessen aan het Kaivalyadhama Institute in Lonavla, India. Hij geeft les in de Yoga Teacher Training Course aan het Aravinda Institute in Belo Horizonte.

14.30 uur - PAUZE

17.00 uur - Lezing (satsang!) door Paramahamsa Sri Swami Vishwananda

18.00 uur - Indisch muziekconcert - Helder Araújo

29 mei

09:30u - Meditatie / mantra's

10:00u - Toespraak Swami VishwaRevatikantaananda: "Het Hindoeïsme in het Heden Begrijpen"
Oorspronkelijk afkomstig uit Brazilië, ontmoette Swami Revatikaantananda Paramahamsa Vishwananda in Londen in de zomer van 2006. Hij is actief in veel delen van Bhakti Marga en leidt er nu het Bhakti Marga Academy-project.

12 uur - LUNCH

14u - Toespraak Swami VishwaRevatikantaananda: "Leringen van Bhakti Marga"

15.30 uur - PAUZE

16.00 uur - Darshan met Paramahansa Vishwananda

De coördinator van het seminar, Professor Heloisa Feichas, Escola de Música UFMG, verduidelijkte dat het voorstel van het evenement er kwam als een gevolg van de toenemende vraag van studenten Indiase muziek en spiritualiteit. "We leven in turbulente tijden, dus stelden we voor om te bespreken hoe de ontwikkeling van spiritualiteit ons meer bewust kan maken van onze persoonlijke en sociale relaties"...

Alle activiteiten van het evenement werden gehouden op CAD 1. 

Op de campus van Pampulha. 

~bron~

trailokya (v)

According to Helena Blavatsky's
posthumously published Theosophical Glossary (1892)...

Arupaloka / Arupadhatu) 
World of Formlessness

is a world that is again divided into seven Dhyanas

Still more abstract and formless. For this 'World' is without any form or desire whatever. It is the highest world of the post-mortem Trailokya. And as it is the abode of those who are almost ready for Nirvana, and is, in fact, the very threshold of the Nirvanic state, it stands to reason that in Anupadhatu (or Arupavachara) there can be neither form nor sensation, nor any feeling connected with our three-dimensional Universe.

trailokya (iv)

According to Helena Blavatsky's
posthumously published Theosophical Glossary (1892)...

Rupaloka / Rupadhatu
World of Form

is the celestial world of 'Rupa' (Form)
or what we call 'Devachan' (Dwelling of the Gods)

With the uninitiated Brahmans, Chinese and other Buddhists, the Rupadhatu is divided into eighteen Brahma or Devalokas.

The life of a soul therein lasts from half a Yuga up to 16,000 Yugas or Kalpas, and the height of the 'Shades' is from half a Yojana up to 16,000 Yojanas (where a Yojana measures from five and a half to ten miles).

Esoteric Philosophy teaches that, though for the Egos for the time being everything or everyone preserves its form (as in a dream), yet as Rupadhatu is a purely matter world, and a state, the Egos themselves have no form outside their own consciousness.

Esotericism divides this world into seven Dhyanas, 'regions', or states of contemplation, which are not localities but mental representations of these.

trailokya (iii)

According to Helena Blavatsky's
posthumously published Theosophical Glossary (1892)...

Kamaloka / Kamadhatu
World of Desire
is the world of Mara

Kamaloka has, like every other world, its seven divisions, the lowest of which begins on earth, or invisibly in its atmosphere. The six others ascend gradually, the highest being the abode of those who have died owing to accident, or suicide in a fit of temporary insanity, or were otherwise victims of external forces. It is a place where all those who have died before the end of the term allotted to them, - and whose higher principles do not, therefore, go at once into Devachanic state - sleep a dreamless sweet sleep of oblivion, at the termination of which they are either reborn immediately, or pass gradually into the Devachanic state.

trailokya (ii)

trailokya (i)

Trailoka...

In Buddhism, the 'three worlds' refer the following destinations for karmic rebirth:

Kāmaloka
World of Desire
typified by base desires
populated by hell beings, preta, animals, ghosts, humans and lower demi-gods

Rūpaloka
World of Form
predominately free of baser desires
populated by dhyāna-dwelling gods
possible rebirth destination for those well practiced in dhyāna

Arūpaloka
World of Formlessness
a non-corporeal realm
populated with four heavens
possible rebirth destination for practitioners of the four formlessness stages

nimi & de yogendras (1)

Canto 11 Chapter 2
of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam
/Bhāgavata-Purāṇa [Kṛṣṇa/Bhakti-bible]

I.
SHUKA ONDERRICHT KONING PARIKSHITH
EN VERTELT OVER SAGE NARADA'S VERBLIJF IN DWARAKA
VASUDEVA, DE VADER VAN KRISHNA, VROEG ER NARADA EENS:
WAT ZIJN RELIGIEUZE PLICHTEN OM MOKSHA TE BEKOMEN?

Sri Shuka said:

'Desirous to worship Krishna, oh best of the Kurus [King Parikshith], Narada continued to stay in Dvaraka, the capital protected by the arms of Govinda. Which sensible person, faced with death coming from all sides, oh King [Parikshith], would not be of worship for the lotus feet of Mukunda [Krishna], who is so worshipable for even the best of the immortals?

 

One day, Vasudeva [(father of) Krishna] said the following to the deva-rishi who came over to his house, and was respectfully greeted and worshiped with paraphernalia and a comfortable seat. He said:

'Oh great Lord, this visit of yours compares to the visit of a good father. For you, who are there for both the misers and everyone on the path of Uttamasloka, appear for the benefit of all embodied souls. What the gods do, means misery and happiness to the living beings. But what saints like you do, who accepted the Infallible One as their very soul, results in happiness only. The gods behave like one's shadow. They care for their worshipers depending the obeisances one makes, and the karma that one has. But the saints are of mercy for the fallen souls, irrespective of what they did.

Oh brahmin, I nevertheless would like to ask you about the religious duties to please the Supreme Lord, for the mortal soul who with faith hears about them, will be freed from all fear. A long time ago, in a previous life, I - bewildered by His maya - worshiped Ananta, the Lord who Awards Liberation, for begetting a child in this world and not for my liberation. Please instruct us therefore, oh you true to the vow, so that we - without much trouble - by your mercy may find liberation from this world full of dangers that frightens us at every step.'

nārāyaṇa kavaca 4

Translation (part II):

13
Oh mace [knots], the spark raising touches of yours
Are unbearable like the touch of Vajra,
And you are dear to the invincible Lord and his servant,
And so please, powder and powder again evil spirits
Yakshas, rakshasas and all my enemies.

14
Oh Conch, when Lord Krishna blows in you,
You create a huge and loud sound, and confuse my enemies,
And drive away ghouls, devils, ghosts, Pramadhas,
Brahmarakshas and other fearful beings.

15
Oh Holy Sword, be sent by the Lord himself,
And cut and cut my enemy army into pieces,
Oh Shield of the Lord, shining like hundred moons,
Please make my enemies with full of sins look blind.

16
The fear that we have due to planets, comets, Ketu and kings,
The fear that we had from teethed serpents, ghosts and from sin,
And the fear that prevents our well being may all be destroyed,
Oh God, by the praise of your names and weapons.

17
The Garuda, who is being praised by great musical stotras of the Vedas,
Who is a god and the Lord of the world, may protect me from all troubles,
By singing of His names, as well as that of the Lord Vishvaksena.

18
Let the names and forms of Vishnu, His steed [ros],
His weapons, and important assistants, may they protect
My mind, senses, and soul from all the dangers and sins.

19
The truth that God is all beings and things.
May He destroy all the troubles that we face.
Those great savants who think that God does not have any forms,
And his weapons and ornaments are only symbols without power...
Due to this truth, the God Hari is everywhere.
Let him protect me always and everywhere.

20
Let Lord Narasimha, who due to His power
Destroyed elephants, serpents and other beings
And saved Prahladha, and removed the fear of the world,
Protect me in all directions and non-directions,
Top and below, inside and outside, and in all places.

21
Oh Indra, thus I have told you, the great armour of Narayana,
And using this, you protect yourself and easily defeat
The commanders of the army of Rakshasas.

22
If he who wears his armour sees anyone by his eyes,
Or even touches him by his feet, that man,
Would be able to get rid of all his fears.
He who wears this armour will never have any fear
From king, enemies, planets, and animals like the tiger.

23
Long time ago, this knowledge was worn by a Brahmin
From Kaushika Gothra [clan] and he gave up his life in a desert.
A Gandharwa called Chithraradha was travelling in a plane
Along with his ladies, where the Brahmin's body was lying.

24
At that spot his plane stopped and he fell there along with his ladies,
And he was perplexed, and was advised by the sage called Balakhilya,
And obeying their advice, he took the bones of the Brahmin, and put it
In the river Saraswathi, took bath and went back to his home.

#

Sri Shuka said:

He who wears or hears this armour of Narayana,
Would be saluted by all beings and he would get rid of all fears.

Learning this knowledge from Viswaroopa,
Indra won in the battle over all asuras and got
The blessings of wealth of the three worlds.


~bron~

nārāyaṇa kavaca 3

Translation (part I):

1
May all the protection to me be given by Hari,
Who keeps his lotus feet on the back of the bird,
Who is armed with conch, wheel, sword, mace [strijdknots],
Bow and a rope and who has eight qualities and eight hands.

2
Let me be protected in the water by the Fish incarnation,
From the animals of the sea and rope of Varuna.
Let me be protected in the Land by Vamana, the illusory boy.
And in the sky Trivikrama and Viswaroopa forms.

3
In forts, forests, dangerous places and in war,
Let me be protected by Lord Narasimha,
Who by his mighty roar shook all directions,
Broke open the army formation of Asura,
And caused pregnant asura women to abort.

4
Let me be protected on my way by Lord Varaha,
Who is Yagna personified, and who by his protruding teeth
Lifted and carried the earth to safety.
Let me be protected on mountain top by Lord Parasurama.
Let me be protected when I am abroad by Lord Rama
Who is the elder brother of Bharatha and Lakshmana.

5
Let me be protected by Lord Narayana,
When I am transgressing Dharma or committing mistakes.
Let me be protected from my pride by Sage Nara.
Let me protected by Sage Dathathreya
For not engaging in Yoga, meditation and other activities.
And let sage Kapila protect me from the bondage of Karma.

6
Let sage Sanath Kumara protect me from the cupid.
Let Lord Hayagreeva protect me while I am on travel
As well as when I do action that insults the Devas.
Let Sage Narada protect me from sins of non-worship of devas.
And let Hari who took the form of a tortoise
Protect me from different types of hell.

7
Let Lord Dhavanthari [of medicine] protect me from unsuitable food.
Let Rishabha, the renounced soul, protect me
From fear of the contradictory dualities.
Let Sage Yajna protect me from gossip of society.
Let Lord Balarama protect me from problems created by men.
And let Adhisesha protect me from my anger.

8
Let Sage Vyasa protect me from lack of awakening.
Let Sage Budha protect me from hypocrisy and ignorance.
Let Lord Kalki, who would be born to salvage Dharma,
Protect me from the evil effects and thoughts of Kali age.

9
May I be protected in the morn by Kesava with his mace [knots].
May I be protected two hours later by Govinda by his flute.
Two more hours later let Lord Narayana protect me by his strength.
And at noon let Lord Vishnu protect me with His Holy Wheel.

10
Afternoon let me be protected by Madhu with his great bow.
In the evening let Madhwa in the form of trinity protect me.
Between dawn and midnight let Lord Hrishi Kesa protect me.
And at midnight let Lord Padmanabha alone protect me.

11
Let me be protected the remaining part of the night by the Lord in whom Srivathsa lives.
Let me be protected just before dawn by Lord Janardhana who holds the sword.
Let me be protected at sun rise by Lord Damodara.
And just before morn let Lord Visweshwara give me protection.

12
Oh holy Wheel, your edges are like the raging fire of deluge,
You are sent by the God and rotate and travel everywhere.
And so like the fire, with the help of wind, burns into ashes
The dried up wood of a forest, speedily and speedily
burn and burn all my enemies.


~bron~

nārāyaṇa kavaca 2

Preparation !

Sloka 4-11 of this great Stotra...

give us in detail about the preparations that we should take before reciting this kavacham.

Kavaca's should be learned by a Guru who is well versed in these procedures, and chanted under his guidance. If that is not possible, than the kavaca can be recited without performing the Kara and Anganyasa, or simply recite the last four lines.

Before commencing the recital, chant Om Namo Narayanaya, or your Guru Mantra, 12 times.

Visualize yourself and/or your loved ones, totally protected. You could ‘see’ them dressed in an armor. You could 'see' them immersed in white or violet light. You could 'see' them in a tube of Light. You could 'see' an impenetrable ring of white Light around them...

Raja Parikshith said:

Oh God please share with me that armour of Narayana,

By which the thousand eyed Indra was able to drive away,

The well armed soldiers of his enemy as if it is a play,

And gain control of the three worlds and wealth,

And also was safe in the battle field and became victorious.

Sri Shuka said:

Viswaroopa the son of Thwashtra, when he was made,

The priest Of Indra taught him this armour of Narayana,

And I will teach you that and please listen to it with concentration.

Viswaroopa has said:

When fear approaches you... 

After washing your feet and hand,

Do internal purification by achamana, 

Wear the holy ring made of Durba,

Face the north, 

Sit on a seat of Durba grass and do the hand Symbols,

And do holy chants and attain cleanliness of speech.

You should then become silent, become engrossed in Narayana,

And do suitable actions to tie yourself with the armour of Narayana,

And using the eight letters starting with Om, 

Touch the feet, knees, thighs, belly heart chest, face and head, 

Then after touching the eight parts of the body,

The feet, knees, thighs, belly heart chest, face and head, 

Chanting the eight letter Manthra “Om Namo Narayanaya”

Either in an ascending or descending order,

You have to perform the knowledge of the twelve letters,

Tell “Sha” and touch the middle of the eye brows,

Tell “Na” and touch the top of the hair on your head

Tell “Ve” and touch both your eyes,

Tell “Na” and touch all your joints,

Facing all directions and say “Ma Asthraya Phat”,

This would make even the dim witted into a wise one,

And thus you tie all the six directions as directed,

And chant “Om salutations to Lord Vishnu”

Afterwards meditate on Athma supported by the six strengths,

Of wealth, charity, fame, goddess of wealth, wisdom and renunciation,

And chant the following which has the form of knowledge, power and meditation.

~bron~

nārāyaṇa kavaca 1

The Nārāyaṇa Kavaca...

occurs in Canto 6 Chapter 8 of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam/Bhāgavata-Purāṇa [Kṛṣṇa/Bhakti-bible]

It is a Kavaca - an 'armour' - to protect ourselves from our enemies seen and unseen.

Raja Parikshith, the son of Abhimanyu [reincarnation of Chandra-son], asks his teacher Sage Shuka [son of Vyasa] for a means to protect himself from his enemies. Sage Shuka then teaches him the Narayana Kavacham, which was originally taught by the Vishnu priest Sage Viswaroopa, the son of Thwashtra, to Indra. [So it originally is a Vishnu shield to protect Indra!]

It is believed that the soul of the man who reads this Kavaca becomes extremely holy, and that any one who reads this would be protected by Lord Vishnu.


~bron~

though nature can take furious forms of destruction
God has provided us means to protect ourselves
and rebuild our lives

[Meerabai used the name
in her devotional poetry...]

giridhari

giri
berg

dhar
op z'n pink

~bron~

govinda prayer (deutsch)

govinda prayer (iii)

21
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
Brahma and other Lords of the mundane worlds
appearing from the pores of hair of Maha-Vishnu
remain alive as long as the duration of one exhalation of the latter

22
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
from whom the separated subjective portion Brahma
receives his power for the regulation of the mundane world
just as the sun manifests some portion of his own light
in all the effulgent gems that bear the names of suryakanta

23
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
whose lotus feet are always held by Ganesa
upon the pair of tumuli protruding from his elephant head
in order to obtain power for his function of destroying all the obstacles
on the path of progress of the three worlds

24
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
the three worlds are composed of the nine elements:
earth, fire, ether, air, water, direction, time, soul and mind
I adore the primeval Lord Govinda from whom they originate
in whom they exist and into whom they enter at the time of the universal cataclysm

25
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
the sun who is the king of all the planets, full of infinite effulgence, the image of the good soul
is as the eye of this world, in pursuance of Govinda's order it performs its journey
mounting the wheel of time

26
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
by whose conferred power are maintained the manifested potencies that are found to exist
of all virtues, all vices, the Vedas, the penances and all jivas
from Brahma to the meanest insect

27
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
who burns up to their roots
all fruitive activities of those who are imbued with devotion
and impartially ordains for each the due enjoyment of the fruits of one's activities
of all those who walk in the path of work, in accordance with the chain of their previously performed works, no less in the case of the tiny insect that bears the name of indragopa
than in that of Indra, king of the devas

28
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
the meditators of whom, by meditating upon Him
under the sway of wrath, amorous passion, natural friendly love, fear, parental affection, delusion, reverence and willing service, attain to bodily forms befitting the nature of their contemplation

29
I worship that transcendental seat, known as Svetadvipa...
where as loving consorts the Laksmis in their unalloyed spiritual essence
practice the amorous service of the Supreme Lord Krishna as their only lover
where every tree is a transcendental purpose tree
where the soil is the purpose gem, all water is nectar
every word is a song, every gait is a dance, the flute is the favorite attendant
effulgence is full of transcendental bliss, and the supreme spiritual entities are all enjoyable and tasty
where numberless milk cows always emit transcendental oceans of milk
where there is eternal existence of transcendental time
who is ever present and without past or future
and hence is not subject to the quality of passing away even for the space of half a moment
that realm is known as Goloka only to a very few self-realized souls in this world

30
on hearing these hymns containing the essence of the truth
the Supreme Lord Krishna said to Brahma:
"Brahma, if you experience the inclination to create offspring
by being endowed with the real knowledge of the glory of Godhead
listen, My beloved, from Me to this science set forth in the following five slokas...

31
"when the pure spiritual experience is excited
by means of cognition and service [bhakti]
superexcellent unalloyed devotion characterized by love for Godhead
is awakened towards Krishna, the beloved of all souls...

32
"the highest devotion is attained by slow degrees
by the method of constant endeavor for self-realization
with the help of scriptural evidence, theistic conduct and perseverance in practice...

33
"these preliminary practices of devotion [sadhana-bhakti]
are conducive to the realization of loving devotion [loving devotion]
than whom there is no superior well-being
who goes hand in hand with the attainment of the exclusive state
of supreme bliss and who can lead to Myself...

34
"abandoning all meritorious performances, serve Me with faith
the realization will correspond to the nature of one's faith
the people of the world act ceaselessly in pursuance of some ideal
by meditating on Me by means of those deeds one will obtain devotion
characterized by love in the shape of the supreme service...

35
"listen, O Vidhi, I am the seed, i.e. the fundamental principle
of this world of animate and inanimate objects
I am pradhana [the substance of matter]
I am prakriti [material cause]
and I am purusa [efficient cause]
this fiery energy that belongs specially to the Brahman, that inheres in you
has also been conferred by Me
it is by bearing this fiery energy that you regulate
this phenomenal world of animate and inanimate objects"

govinda prayer (ii)

11

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
who is Syamasundara/dark spledid beauty
Krishna Himself with inconceivable innumerable attributes
whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion
tinged with the salve of love

12

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
who manifested Himself personally as Krishna
and the different avataras in the world in the forms of Rama, Nrisimha, Vamana, etc.
as His subjective portions

13

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
whose effulgence is the source of the non-differentiated Brahman mentioned in the Upanishads
being differentiated from the infinity of glories of the mundane universe
appears as the indivisible, infinite, limitless, truth

14

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
who is the absolute substantive principle
being the ultimate entity in the form of the support of all existence
whose external potency embodies the threefold mundane qualities: sattva, rajas, and tamas
and diffuses the Vedic knowledge regarding the mundane world

15

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
whose glory ever triumphantly dominates the mundane world by the activity of His own pastimes
being reflected in the mind of recollecting souls as the transcendental entity
of ever-blissful cognitive rasa

16
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...

lowest of all realms is Devi-dhama [mundane/material world]
next above it is Mahesa-dhama [abode of Mahesa/Shiva]
above Mahesa-dhama is Hari-dhama [abode of Hari] 
and above them all is located Krishna's own realm named Goloka
Lord Govinda has allotted their respective authorities to the rulers of those graded realms

17
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...

the external potency Maya who is of the nature of the shadow of the cit potency
is worshiped by all people as Durga, the creating, preserving and destroying agency
of this mundane world, conducting herself in accordance with Govinda's will 

18
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...

just as milk is transformed into curd by the action of acids
but yet the effect curd is neither same as nor different from its cause, viz. milk
so I adore the primeval Lord Govinda of whom the state of Sambhu (Shiva)
is a transformation for the performance of the work of destruction

19
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...

the light of one candle being communicated to other candles
although it burns separately in them, is the same in its quality
Govinda exhibits Himself equally in the same mobile manner in His various manifestations

20

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
who assuming His own great subjective form, who bears the name of Sesha
replete with the all-accommodating potency, and reposing in the Causal Ocean
with the infinity of the world in the pores of His hair enjoys creative sleep/yoga-nidra

govinda prayer (i)

1
Krsna who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead/Ruler
He has an eternal (sat) full conscious (chit) and blissful (ananda) spiritual body
He is the prime origin of all, He himself having no other origin

2
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
who is tending the cows, yielding all desire, in abodes built with spiritual gems
surrounded by millions of purpose/wish trees, always served with great reverence
and affection by hundreds of thousands of lakshmis or gopis

3
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
who is adept in playing on His flute, with blooming eyes like lotus petals
with head decked with peacock's feather, with the figure of beauty
tinged with the hue of blue clouds, and His unique loveliness
charming millions of Cupids

4
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
round whose neck is swinging a garland of flowers beautified with the moon-locket
whose two hands are adorned with the flute and jeweled ornaments
who always revels in pastimes of love
whose graceful threefold-bending form of Syamasundara is eternally manifest

5
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
whose transcendental form is full of bliss, truth, reality, and thus full of the most dazzling splendor each of the limbs of that transcendental figure possesses the full-fledged functions of all the organs
and eternally sees, maintains and manifests the infinite universes, both spiritual and mundane

6
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
who is inaccessible to the Vedas, but obtainable by pure unalloyed devotion of the soul
who is without a second, who is not subject to decay, without a beginning, whose form is endless
who is the beginning and the eternal purusha, yet a person possessing the beauty of blooming youth

7
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
only the tip of the toe of whose lotus feet is approached by the yogis
who aspire after the transcendental and betake themselves to pranayama by drilling the respiration
or by the jnanis who try to find out the non-differentiated Brahman by the process of elimination of the mundane, extending over thousands of millions of years

8
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
who is an undifferentiated entity as there is no distinction between potency and the possessor thereof
in His work of creation of millions of worlds, His potency remains inseparable
all the universes exist in Him, and He is present in His fullness in every one of the atoms
that are scattered throughout the universe, at one and the same time


9
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
in whose praise men who are imbued with devotion sing the mantra-suktas told by the Vedas
by gaining their appropriate beauty, greatness, thrones, conveyances and ornaments

10
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord...
residing in His own realm, Goloka, with Radha, resembling His own spiritual figure
the embodiment of the ecstatic potency possessed of the sixty-four artistic activities
in the company of Her confidantes/sakhis, embodiments of the extensions of Her bodily form permeated and vitalized by His ever-blissful spiritual rasa

brahma saṁhitā

suprabhātam

suprabhātam
poem to awaken the deity

translation not found !

gaṇeśa !

गणेश
gaṇeśa
gaṇa-eśa
gana-Īśvara

divine leader
of the ganas - dwarfs

i n t e l l i g e n c e  !

immaculately
created son
of Parvati

!

gaṇeśa mantra

om vakratunda mahakaya 
suryakoti samaprabha
nirvighnam kurume deva 
sarva-karyesu sarvada


o Ganesha...

with Your curved trunk & large body
ten million suns equalling Your splendour
free from obstacles make me please, Deva
extending Your blessing in all my works, always

gāyatrī -3-

[1] oṁ bhūr bhuvaḥ suvaḥ 
[2] tat savitur vareṇyaṁ
[3] bhargo devasya dhīmahi
[4] dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt

Oh Divine Mother...
we meditate on Thee as the Supreme Light [3]
that illumines the earth, the sky and the heavens [1]

the adorable Sun of Divine Consciousness [2]
that illumines the Devas and dissipates all darkness and ignorance

through Thy Grace, may You enlighten our intellect [4]
and awaken the same brilliant Divine Light in us

Gayatri is more than the form that you see outside.

This is just a figure which has been given to the mantra itself.

The Gayatri mantra is a vibrational mantra, and 330 million mantras are infused into the Gayatri mantra. Devi Gayatri stands for the Ultimate power of God, that's why it makes this mantra one of the most powerful mantras, and the most universal mantra.

We should all pray to Divine Mother...

One way to do that is with the Gayatri Mantra.

Gayatri Mantra is one of the oldest and most universal mantras.

The first rays of the sun are very powerful... That’s why the sages used to chant the Gayatri Mantra in the morning, while looking at the rising sun. This used to be their morning prayer, because it is full of energy, and has a deep impact upon the mind. Utilising this energy from the sun, the yogis and the sages could transcend the mind.


~Paramahamsa Vishwananda~

gāyatrī -2-

the Gāyatrī Mantra
is dedicated to Savitr, a Vedic Sun deity
off-spring of mother goddess Aditi

oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ

tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ prachodayāt

[Rigveda 3.62.10]

translation of Vivekananda:

'we meditate on the glory
of that Being who has produced this universe
may He enlighten our minds'

bhur, bhuvah, svaha
stands for the three worlds:
- earth, heaven, inner space
- earth, planets/solar system, galaxy
- gross/physical, subtle/psychical, potential/causal
- existence, consciousness, bliss

tat savitur varenyam 
that sungod, supreme worshipable

bhargo devasya dheemahi 
divine light we meditate upon

dhiyo yo nah prachodayat 
the mind we all have, enlighten it


~bron~

gāyatrī -1-

Gayatri is een aspect van Sarasvati.

In een legende uit de Skanda Purana...
werd Gayatri Brahma's tweede vrouw.

Bij een offer kwam Savitri (Sarasvati) te laat opdagen, waarop Brahma aan Indra de opdracht gaf een andere vrouw voor hem te zoeken. Indra kwam terug met het melkmeisje Gayatri, en Rudra en Vishnoe trouwden hen.

Toen kwam Savitri, en Brahma probeerde zich te verontschuldigen, maar Savitri was woedend en vervloekte alle betrokkenen:
- Brahma zou niet meer worden vereerd, behalve één dag per jaar
- Indra zou door zijn vijanden in ketens worden geboeid en in een vreemd land worden opgesloten
- Vishnoe zou onder de mensen worden geboren en zijn vrouw Lakshmi zou hem worden ontstolen
-  Rudra zou zijn mannelijkheid verliezen
- Agni zou alle zuivere en onzuivere zaken verslinden
- Indrani, de vrouw van Indra, zou worden begeerd door Nahusha, de tijdelijke opvolger van Indra
- zelfs de priesters en brahmanen werden door haar vervloekt
- en de vrouwen van de goden zouden onvruchtbaar zijn.

Toen Savitri boos was weggegaan...

wist Gayatri de vloeken te verzachten.

-

De Padma Purana vertelt dat Savitri terugkwam.

En dat Brahma haar vroeg wat hij volgens haar met Gayatri zou moeten doen.

Gayatri wierp zich aan haar voeten, waarop Savitri zei, dat een echtgenote haar man diende te gehoorzamen en ze samen met Brahma verbonden zouden zijn.

viṣṇu sūktam (ii)

Vaisnava Mantra
ochtendgebed
tekst

7
ato devā avantu no 
yato viṣṇur vicakrame 
prathivyāḥ sapta dhāmabhiḥ

may the gods be gracious unto us
even from the place whence Vishnu strode
through the seven regions of the earth

8
idaṁ viṣṇur vicakrame 
tredha nidadhe padam 
samūḍham asya pāgum sure 

through all three worlds Vishnu strode
thrice he planted His foot and the whole
was gathered in His footsteps' dust

9
trīṇi padā vicakrame
viṣṇur gopā adābhyaḥ
ato dharmāṇi dhārayan 

three steps Vishnu strode
the Protector, He whom none deceives
thenceforth establishing His high ordinances

10
viṣṇoḥ karmāṇi paśyati yato 
vratāni paspaśe indrasya 
yujyasya sakhāḥ 

look upon the deeds of Vishnu
whereby the friend of Indra, close-allied
has let his pastimes to be seen

11
tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padagum 
sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ 
ivīva cakṣurātatam

that loftiest place where Vishnu is
placed as it were an eye in heaven
the Nitya Sūrīs evermore behold

12
tad viprāso vipanyavo 
jāgrvāgum saḥ samindhate
viṣṇor yat paramaṁ padam

that Vishnu station most sublime
the singers ever vigilant
lovers of holy song light up


~Rigveda 1:22:16-21~

viṣṇu sūktam (i)

sūktam
=hymn of Rigveda

1
I will declare the mighty deeds of Vishnu
of Him who measured out the earthly regions
who established the highest abode
thrice setting down His footstep
widely striding

2
may I attain
to His well-beloved realm
where the devotees rejoice
for there springs, close akin to the Wide-Strider
the source of immortality in Vishnu's highest footstep

3
for this His mighty deed is Vishnu praised
who like some wild lion, dread, prowling, roams the mountains
He within whose three wide-extending paces
all living creatures have their existence

4
humans cannot comprehend your greatness
who expands beyond all bound and measure with your body
both your two regions of the earth , O Vishnu, we know
you, O God, knows the highest

5
over this earth, with mighty step, strode Vishnu
ready to give it for a home to Manu
in Him the humble people trust for refuge
He, the Nobly Born, has made them spacious dwellings

6
three times God strode forth in all His grandeur
over this earth, bright with a hundred splendours
foremost is Vishnu, stronger than the strongest
for glorious is His name Who lives forever

guru stotram

स्तोत्र
stotra, (lof)psalm
aldus gezongen leerdicht
(vs. Śāstra, leer die gereciteerd wordt)

1
the unfragmented whole, infinite
the one pervading it, movable & unmovable
to that one who revealed to me that truth
to that Lord Guru, I offer my salutations

2
ignorant cataracted & blinded
knowing now as through anjana shalaka [ritual]
to that one who thus opened my eyes

to that Lord Guru, I offer my salutations

3
Guru being Brahma, Guru being Vishnu
Guru being Devo Maheshvarah [Shiva]
Guru who in truth is Param-Brahma
to that Lord Guru, I offer my salutations

4
the animate and inanimate pervading
being in every bit, movable and unmovable
that truth revealing to me, to Him, to that one
to that Lord Guru, I offer my salutations

5
Babaji pervading everything [sarva/all]
all three worlds, movable & immovable
that truth revealing to me, to Him, to that one
to that Lord Guru, I offer my salutations

6
of all vedas the crown jewel
I,abiding at His lotus feet,
to Him, who is the sun lotus of Vedanta,
to that Lord Guru, I offer my salutations

7
the eternal consciousness, peace itself
transcending space & time, taintless [smetteloos]
zero-primordial sound, parts transcending
to that Lord Guru, I offer my salutations

8
in both knowledge and power firmly rooted
adorned with the garland of knowledge
granting prosperity as well as liberation
to that Lord Guru, I offer my salutations

9
of many births accumulated
the bounds of karma burning down
Self-Knowledge imparting [verlenend]
to that Lord Guru, I offer my salutations

10
drying up the endless sea of seeking
enlightening me about the true wealth
the water left behind after washing Guru's feet
to that Lord Guru, I offer my salutations

11
there is no higher truth than the Guru
there is no higher penance than to the Guru
higher knowledge than imparted by the Guru doesn't exist
to that Lord Guru, I offer my salutations

12
my Lord is the Lord of all
my Guru is the Guru of all
my Self is the Self of all
to that Lord Guru, I offer my salutations

13
Guru beginning without beginning
Guru Param-Daivatam [transcendental deity]
higher than Guru doesn't exist
to that Lord Guru, I offer my salutations

14
You alone are mother and father, You alone
You alone are brother and friend, You alone
You alone are knowledge and wealth, You alone
You alone are everything to me, O my Ultimate God

negen

The nine forms of devotion are:

1 Sravanam
Hearing the names and glories of the Lord

2 Kirtanam
Chanting His glories

3 Smaranam
Remembering the Lord

4 Pada sevanam
Serving the Lord’s feet

5 Arcanam
Worshiping the Lord

6 Vandanam
Offering obeisance unto the Lord

7 Dasyam
Serving the Lord as His servant

8 Sakhyam
Developing friendship with the Lord

9 Atma Nivedanam
Total surrender of oneself to the Lord


~bron~

merge

These experiences of God-intoxication...

became so frequent that he was relieved of his duties as temple priest, but allowed to continue living within the temple compound. During the next twelve years, Ramakrishna journeyed even deeper into this passionate and absolute love for the divine.

His practice was to express such intense devotion to particular deities, that they would physically manifest to him, and then merge into his being.

Ramakrishna attained Samadhi in 1886 at the age of fifty, but his life, his intense spiritual practices, and the temple of Kali where many of his ecstatic trances occurred, continue to attract pilgrims from all over.

Ramakrishna fully realized the infinite and all-inclusive nature of the divine. He was a conduit for divinity, and the presence of that divinity can still be clearly experienced at the Kali temple of Dakshineswar.

It is said that knowledge without bhakti 

is useless tinsel [klatergoud].

Let us then know the nine forms of devotion

that would take us closer to the Supreme...

~bron~

bhava

Ramakrishna Paramahansa...

did not serve for long as head priest of the Kali temple at Dakshineshwar. From the first days of his service in the shrine of the goddess Kali, he was filled with a rare form of the love of God known in Hinduism as maha-bhava.

Worshipping in front of the statue of Mother Kali, Ramakrishna would be overwhelmed with such ecstatic love for the deity that he would fall to the ground and, immersed in spiritual trance, lose all consciousness of the external world.