October 9, 2010
Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji – speech on Day 2 of Navaratri Celebrations – October 9, 2010 - Mysore
Jaya Guru Datta
“Many saints have poured out their hearts in song with devotion and spirituality. Yet no recordings exist of those from the past. The songs have endured from one generation to the next by the singing and passing along by devotees. During this process, many changes occur, in the tune, the rhythm, and the feeling with which the songs are rendered. Many of Saint Thyagaraja’s compositions have been recorded and carefully preserved by his disciples, preserving the raga, the tala, and the lyrics. But for bhajans and names of God that have been chanted through the ages, no such definite records have been established. The meaning, the relationship between the devotee and God, the spirit with which it was sung, and the rhythm are all very important. The saints when they first sang them followed the appropriate scale, tune, and rhythm for their songs, during their lifetime. Of thousands of Sri Swamiji’s compositions, some have been left without the tune and rhythm being set. But for ninety percent of the songs, the emotion, the scale, the rhythm, and the pace have been set. His compositions have been divided into four categories.
- Nama Sankeertana, repetitions of God’s names.
- Details descriptions of the attributes of God.
- Spiritual teaching or Higher Philosophy
- Mani Pravalam – a rare science that renders a composition like a garland of nine precious gems, a Navaratna Mala containing a combination of different colors and energies. Each of the precious gems has a unique potency. The Navavarana Kirtanas (Tripura) are like that. The nine different ragas or scales depict nine different emotions. Amba Bhavani Sharade and Pahi Pahi Gajanana also fall into this category.
Pandit Bholanath Mishra’s concert this morning presented the Tripura (Navavarana songs on Devi) in the Hindustani style. I am very happy. In the beginning, I was afraid as to how this audience would react to this North Indian style of rendering. But, because they are their Swamiji’s songs, the devotees readily accepted. It gave a different experience. The CD has been released. Please collect it. It is a collector’s item.
I pray to Ganapati, the son of Gowri, who is pleased with the seed letter ‘Gam’. I worship the Mother Goddess who resides in Chintamani Island, who protects and lights my path, and shows my duty. I bow to Guru.
Today, the second form of Mother, as Sri Rajarajeswari has been worshipped. The mothers of world love their children who are born to them, and try to protect them, yet they do not have the power to protect them from the three types of difficulties that their children face in life. They do it as their duty (Kartavya), out of attachment (Moha), or out of compassion (Karuna).
But the Mother of all Mothers removes all difficulties of those worship her with devotion. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva have become worthy of worship by worshiping Her. Mother gives everything, as Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Parvati. All the celestials worship and praise Her. She is described in the 1000 names of Lalita as ‘Hara netraagni sandagdha kaama sanjeevanaushadhihi’, the one was the medicine, thar gave back life to Kamadeva, the God of Desire, who was burnt to ashes by the fire of the third eye of Shiva. Without Kamadeva, Creation cannot not be sustained. The Mother teaches restraint of Desire, so that Creation can continue. She leads all beings to salvation by holding our hand, and leading us carefully and lovingly. When beings stray from the path, she punishes like a mother, and brings back to the right path. She gives the Light of Knowledge, as the Guru. She resides on the tongue of Brahma, the Creator, as Saraswati. We speak and communicate only by Her grace. She resides in the heart of Vishnu. She shares half the body of Shiva, and also resides on the top of His head.
Song: Jaya jaya jaya jaya Jaya Devi
Sri Rajarajeswari is the Light of the Vedas. She destroys sins. She engages in the five types of actions, in the form of the Pancha Brahmas. She is ‘Pancha kritya paraayanaa’.
She creates, sustains, destroys, withdraws into Herself, and showers with compassion to protect us all, starting from an ant to Brahma Himself.
All the Celestial Lords, such as Manu, Indra, Chandra, and Kubera await Her command and guidance. She is the repository of all Light and Knowledge. She removes the fear of, and gives a mountain of strength to, those who remember Her name with devotion. ‘Sri Rajarajeswaryai Namaha’. ‘ Sri Rajyalakshmyai Namaha’. ‘Raajat Kripaayai Namaha’. “Raajya Vallabhaayai Namaha’. She gives all siddhis to those who refuge at Her feet. Whoever excels in any field does so only by Her grace. May she remove all misery and hatred from this world and may she bless us all with a friendly and noble nature. Let us pray to Her again and again.
The musical rendering of the 300 names of Lalita, the Trishati, is not a bhajan, it is not a song, it is not a keertan, it is not light music. We are singing these names during this Navaratri, distributing one section of names for each day. We are using different musical scales, ragas, and different rhythms, taalaas. Some words are difficult to enunciate. Please only repeat the refrain. Do not attempt to sing the whole thing. “
Refrain for today: ‘Eem pada vedye Namostute Eesha manojne Namostute’
Song: Rajeswareem Sambhavaye
Song: Sri Rajarajeswaree Devi Mam Pahi Guru Roopini
Song: concluding Mangalam song: Jaya Devi Durga
Sri Guru Datta
Courtesy: Smt. Hira Duvvuri