अहम् - २०२३

[atmaprana]

Connecting the dots

[atmaprana]

I was lucky to have fanstatic cousins growing up. This moment that Suri and Ashu had with Aradhya and Aranya was a great reminder of my own childhood.

Time will fly and things will change, but my life will be rooted in the memories I have shared with my cousins who have seen me through it all.

[atmaprana]

Happiness & Prosperity

“Shreyo Bhooyaath Sakala Janaanaam” is the last line of the song “Maithreem Bhajatha” which means, “May All People in this World be Happy and Prosperous”. Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam wrote this song.

The Queen of carnatic music Bharath Ratna Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi was invited to New York to sing on the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations Organization. The then Maha Periyava of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal wrote her this Sanskrit song when she mentioned the UNO invitation to Acharya. Her rendition of Maha Periyava composition for World peace and communal harmony, “ Maitreem Bhajatha” at the United Nations is one of the moments that will make every Indian proud.

Thala: Aadi Raga: Yamuna Kalyani

मैत्रीम् भजत अखिल हृज्जेत्रीम् (= हृत् जेत्रीम् ) आत्मवदेव परानपि पश्यत (= आत्मवत् एव परान् अपि पश्यत) युद्धम् त्यजत स्पर्धां त्यजत त्यजत परेषु परेष्वक्रममाक्रमणम् (=परेषु अक्रम आक्रमणम्) ||

Maithreem Bhajatha, Akhila Hruth Jethreem, Atmavat eva paraan api pashyatha Yuddham thyajatha, Spardhaam Tyajata, Thyajatha Pareshwa akrama a akramanam

Raga: Kapi

जननी पृथिवी काम दुघास्ते (=दुघा आस्ते) जनको देवः सकल दयालुः दाम्यत दत्त दयध्वं जनताः श्रेयो भूयात् सकल जनानाम् ||

Jananee Prthivee Kaamadughaastey Janako Deva: Sakala Dayaalu Daamyata Datta Dayathvam Janathaa Sreyo Bhooyaath Sakala Janaanaam

The lyrics and meaning of the song are as follows:

Maithreem Bhajatha Akila Hrith Jeththreem – Serve with Friendship and Humility, which will conquer the Hearts of Everyone.

Atmavat Eva Paraan Api Pashyata – Look upon others similar to yourself.

Yuddham Tyajata – Renounce War

Spardhaam Tyajata – Renounce unnecessary Competition for Power

Tyajata Pareshwa Akrama Aakramanam – Give up Aggression on others’ properties which is wrong Jananee Prithivee

Kaamadughaastey – Mother Earth is wide enough and ready to give us all we desire like a Kaamadenu

Janako Deva: Sakala Dayaalu: – God, Our Father, is very Compassionate to All

Daamyata – So, Restrain yourself

Datta – So, Donate your wealth to others

Dayathvam – So, Be Kind to others

Janathaa: – Oh People of the World

Shreyo Bhooyaath Sakala Janaanaam – May All People of this World be Happy and Prosperous.

We should listen to this song and contemplate on the meaning so that we can consciously follow the advice given by Acharya for World Peace. In respect of “ Maitreem Bhajata”, the three Da's (“Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata" represent qualities which humanity should nurture forever (Reference: https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/brdup/brhad_V-01.html).

On the day of the concert, she had a very bad throat and could hardly breathe. She panicked about the outcome of the concert. Even on stage, she was shivering with fear about how she was going to sing. She prayed to Maha Periyava to help her with the concert. When she sang the first word, she miraculously regained her voice, which sounded sweeter than ever!