Roll over eleventh

Damodara   Guna-mandira   Sundara wadana arawinda   Gowinda 

- Six feet verses, Sancara

Guna means attributes.

Guna-mandira literally translates as repository of attributes.

Guna - mandira also means cloaked or tethered by attributes - guna can also mean tether or rope.

When attribute-less, unmanifest  Brahman gets tethered by attributes, it manifests -  as sundara wadana arawinda Gowinda - charming lily faced cowherd.

- Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati, Kanchi 

Adya Kaali jayanti

Idellam awal puriyum maayai

awal yedum atra mei porulin Chhayai

- Subramania Bharati,     Caalamam Wanathil 


Varied experiences are merely, her illusions

She, but a shadow of empty truth

- Subramania Bharati      Caalamam Wanathil 

4 month slumber

Man is falling apart all over the world - because of the view, that one is just body, or just mind, or at most both.

A breakthrough is possible, if one earns more space - so one can put the mind aside, and still be.

Get going beyond the mind - Osho

Speaking Tree    June 30   Sunday  Bengaluru

Dhumawati Jayanti

To address boredom and depression, people are drawn to gambling, betting, prostitution, casinos. To add spice to their lives, couples seek extra marital affairs.

Every mind thirsts, at a very deep level.
And you never make an attempt to quench it.
Soon it becomes, lonely, neglected, depressed.

Depression is a dark cloud with a silver lining.
And if you miss the silver lining, it is just a dark cloud.
The silver lining is that, it might trigger a search for the unknown.

- Depression: a spiritual perspective 

Sancara Jayanti '19

Sancara knew that Non-dual treatises and Prakarana Granthas talk too tall, for the common man.

And he composed devotional pieces like the 'Six- feet  sonnet'.

In the opening verse, as a commoner, he pleads that demonic tendencies be driven away- awinayam apanaya;  and for retractions of senses and mind - damaya mana ha.

Thus, in the first two phrases, Sancara lists all that a devotee needs to earn - for his liberation.

Because, if one evolves into divine destiny and can wean one's attention away from five senses and mind - one  becomes established in oneself.

But then, he continues, about reaching out to all life - Bhuta dayam Wistaraya.
Which is what he did, for the world.  He tirelessly strived to awaken people.

He could have sat still, absorbed in beatitude of  self, for rest of his life.
But he  chose to write, travel, debate, consecrate, energise idols and yantras.
That is why we call him Sam cara - one who did good.

- Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati, Kanchi

Mahawir Jayanti '19

Influenced by Parshwanatha, Wardhamana gave up his Princedom and wandered as a monk - for over 12 years.

And became a personification of Ahimsa.

Severe and intense Chandkaushik was drawn to Mahawira. When his hiss and venomous taunts drew a blank, Chandkaushik struck him.

Mahavira looked upon him; initiated him saying, Shant ho Shant. The rumbling one became calm, retreated into himself.


-  from Speaking Tree,       
Times of India,     April 17,  2019

Ram Jayanti

Shurpanaka came to town, started a smear campaign. And public opinion lapped up fake news.

Rama had to relent.

But Sita never gave up on Rama - not even after she was abandoned, in the woods.

Later, when Rama was defeated by his own sons, as last resort, he drew out his deadly weapon. And Sita came upon the scene; asked whether he would kill own sons.

Rama after realising the situation, requests Sita to return with him.

It was then, that Sita gave up Rama.
She summoned a sinkhole, vanished into it.

Amrit Warsha      Winter 2019