On the Path of Devotion

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Ravaye namah ll

May Surya Narayan illuminate our lives and give us the light of spiritual knowledge.  

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Kapi se Urin Ham Nahi. 

The effulgent Lord of the Raghus thus spoke, "My dear brother Bharat, I will forever remain indebted to Hanumanji, from that debt I can never be free".

A wonderful bhajan to herald the oncoming festivities of Deepavali.

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Raas Panchadhyay.

Some shloks that shone through during paath of raas panchadhyay.

Having thus received loving attention and regard from the lofty minded Lord Sri Krsna, the gopis grew proud and thought themselves superior to women on earth. Perceiving their vanity produced by such rare good luck as well as their pride, Lord Sri Krsna, the ruler of even Brahm and Shiv, disappeared on that very spot with a view to curbing their pride in order to shower his grace on them.

Swaminis: Oh trickster, what man would abandon helpless innocent women in the darkest of night?

Is it not massacring here on your part, oh granter of boons, who kill us, your gratuitous slaves, o bestower of enjoyment, by your sidelong glance, that steal the splendour of even the full blown lotus in autumn?

Krsna: Indeed, in order to ensure thus your constant devotion to me, o fair ones, I remained out of your sight, for some time, though loving you invisibly (and listened to your professions of love with great delight)- You, who have for my sake ignored all worldly decorum as well as the injunction of the vedas and deserted your own people. Therefore o beloved ones, you ought to not find fault with me, your darling. As a matter of fact I cannot even through one kalpa (36000 years) repay you, whose connection with me is free from blemish, who have fixed your mind on me completely cutting asunder the fetters that bound you.

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Duravagraha - O stubborn one.

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ

maivaḿ vibho 'rhati bhavān gadituḿ nṛ-śaḿsaḿ

santyajya sarva-viṣayāḿs tava pāda-mūlam

bhaktā bhajasva duravagraha mā tyajāsmān

devo yathādi-puruṣo bhajate mumukṣūn

The beautiful gopīs said: O all-powerful one, You should not speak in this cruel way. Do not reject us, who have renounced all material enjoyment to render devotional service to Your lotus feet. Reciprocate with us, O stubborn one, just as the primeval Lord, Śrī Nārāyaṇa, reciprocates with His devotees in their endeavors for liberation.

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Rasaraj.

Whether you worship him with hate, envy, lust, He will purify it. That supreme truth will consume everything and purify it, just as fire consumes holy offerings as well as filth and corpses. The Lord of Ras. That is Sri Krsna. 

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Avi Sharad Poonam ni Raat.

Asha bharya ne ame aviya ne mara vhale ramadya raas re, avil asha bharya re... Mehta narsai na swami shyamalo amne sada rakho charan ni paas re avil asha bharya...

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Devi Apradh Kshamapana Stotram.

  na mantram no yantram tadapi ch na jane stutimaho

na chahvanam dhyanam tadapi ch a jane stutikatha:|

na jane mudraste tadapi ch na jane vilapanam

param jane maatstavdanusarnam kklesh harnam ||1||

Oh! Neither do I know chants nor do I know methods, nor do I know how to make prayer. I don't know how to invoke you nor how to meditate, I have no knowledge of any songs. I don't know any signs (mudras) and I don't know the method of imploring deep pleading. But I know one thing for sure, if I follow you (within the folds of your love) I will be released from all my troubles. .||1||

  vidheyrgyanen dravinvirahenalsataya

vidheyashakytvayva charanyorya chyutirbhut |

tadetatkshantvyam janani sakaloddharini shive

kuputro jayet kvachidapi kumata na bhavati ||2||

O, Kind Mother (the Liberator of all without discrimination), I don't know the method of doing puja and I am also lazy by nature. I also do not have the capacity to do the right kind of prayer, With all these shortcomings, if there have been any mistakes, please overlook them.Because a son can be bad, however, it is not in the Mother's nature to be bad.||2||

prathivyam putraste janani bahvah: santi sarala:

param tesham madhye viraltaraloham tav sut:|

madiyoayam tyagah samuchitmidam no tav shive

kuputro jayet kvachidapi kumata na bhavati ||3||

O Mother! , on this earth you have many good sons and daughters but out of all these I am the most bad child of yours 0, Goddess, you have forsaken me because I have not concentrated on you, this is not reasonable, Because a son can be bad, however, it is not in the Mother's nature to be bad.||3||

jaganmaatrmatstav charansewa na rachita

na va dattam devi dravinmapi bhuyastav mya|

tathapi tvam sneham mayee nirupam yatprakurushe

kuputro jayet kvachidapi kumata na bhavati ||4||

O Mother! O, Mother of the Universe, I have never rubbed your feet or done any sort of service, I have not given you wealth, but even strangely enough, you are bestowing your grace on undeserving me Because a son can be bad, however, it is not in the Mother's nature to be bad.||4||

parityakta deva vividh vidhi sewa kultaya

mya panchshiterdhikampanite tu vayasi|

idanim chenmatstav yadi krupa napi bhavita

niralambo lambodarjanani kum yami sharanam ||5||

O, Paravati Ma, Mother who has given birth to Ganesh, while I do prayers to other gods, I remain busy with different kinds of works, all gods have left me because I 'm eighty-five years, and I can not give them all the prayers. I am despaired and I can not expect any help from them. If you also leave me at this time where shall I go for support except to you?||5||

shvapako jalpako bhavati madhupakopamgira

niratanko ranko viharati chiram kotikankaii: |

tvaparne karne vishati manuvarne falmidam

janah: ko jaanita janani japniyam japvidhau ||6||

O Aparna! O, Mother! If anybody hears even a word of your chant, the result is-even the meanest man can utter the sweet pronunciation of this chant like honey and he becomes a very proficient speaker, The poorest man,you will find suitable work for him (The poorest man enjoys millions of pieces gold ) When even a word of your chant has such a result, the ones who are doing it regularly and methodically, we can not fathom what the result will be, and who is that mortal who can know it?|6||

chitabhasmlepo garalmashanam dekapatdharo

jatadhari kanthe bhujagpatihaari pashupati:|

kapali bhutesho bhajati jagdishaikpadvim

bhavani tvatpaanigrahanparipaatifalmidam ||7||

O, Goddess, Bhavani, the Adi-Goddess, the one who rubs his body with ashes and whose fool is poison, and the one whose body is nude, and has matted hair and a necklace of cobras and a hung skull in his hands as an alms bowl, gets that name of Jagadeesh (the Lord of the World) what is the reason for this? How did he get such an immanent position? It is only because of the union with you, and by this his importance has increased.||7||

na mokshsyakanksha bhav vibhav vanchapi ch na me

na vigyanapeksha sashimukhi sukhechchapi na punah:|

atastvam sanyache janani yaatu mum vai

mrudani rudrani shiv shiv bhavaniti japatah:||8||

I don't have the desire to attain Moksha, neither I have the desire to attain luxuries and resplendence in the world. I don't have expectations of sciences, and O the Moon-faced Goddess! I don't even desire for luxuries and comfort. O Mother! Thus, I beg You, that whenever I am born, give me the chanting of these names to me — Mridani, Rudrani, Shiv, Bhavani.||8||

naradhitasi vidhina vividhopcharau:

kim rukshchintanparaiirn krutam vachobhi:|

shyame tvamev yadi kinchin mayynathe

dhatse krupamuchitmbam param tavaiv ||9||

O, Mother! Shayam, (the blue-bodied one), I could not do methodically your puja or prayer with various religious articles (demeaning oneself before the Godgess). Always my meditation was not crystal clear because it had the hurdness. What fault did I have with all these shortcomings? You bestow on me the greatest grace which is only deserving of you. such a merciful mother can give shelter to such an undeserving son.!.||9||

aapatsu magnah: smarnam tvadiyam

karomi durge karunarnaveshi|

naiitatchthatvam mum bhaavyetha:

kshudhatrusharta janani smaranti ||10||

O, Mother! Durga! The ocean of mercy! I am remembering you because I have got all around me the difficulties. I did not pray before this. Kindly don't consider this prayer of mine as my wickedness, because the child who is suffering from hunger and thirst, only remembers the Mother.||10||

jagdamb vichitra kim, paripurna karunasti chenmayee|

aparadhparamparavrutam, na he mata samupekshte sutam ||11||

O, Mother of the universe!. I am not surprised, because of your complete grace. A son may do fault after fault, but the mother never ignores him..||11||

matsamah paataki nasti paapaghni tvatsma na he |

evam gyatva mahadevi yatha yogyam tatha kuru ||12||

O Mahadevi!, Great Goddess, there is no sinner like me on the earth and there is no other person condoning the sins except you. Knowing all this, you do whatever you think is reasonable.||12||

iti shrimachshankaracharyavirachitam devyapradhkshamapanstotram sampurnam

Another immortal appeal to the mother Goddess. 

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Bhavani Ashtakam.

Bhavani Ashtakam is a hymn composed by Adi Shankaracharya, who seeks refuge in Goddess Bhavani.

Na tato, na mata, na bandu na data, Na putro, na putri , na brutyo , na barta, Na jayaa na Vidhya, na Vrutir mamaiva, Gatisthwam, Gatisthwam Tvam ekaa Bhavani. Neither the mother nor the father, Neither the relation nor the friend, Neither the son nor the daughter, Neither the servant nor the husband, Neither the wife nor the knowledge, And neither my sole occupation, Are my refuges that I can depend, Oh, Bhavani, So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani. Bhavabdhava pare , Maha dhukha Bheeru, Papaatha prakami , pralobhi pramatha, Kusamsara pasa prabadha sadaham, Gathisthwam, Gathisthwam thwam ekaa Bhavani. I am in this ocean of birth and death, I am a coward, who dare not face sorrow, I am filled with lust and sin, I am filled with greed and desire, And tied I am, by the this useless life that I lead, So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani. Na Janaami Dhanam, Na cha dhyana yogam, Na janami thanthram, na cha sthothra manthram, Na janami poojam, na cha nyasa yogam, Gatisthwam, Gatisthwam thwam ekaa Bhavani Neither do I know how to give, Nor do I know how to meditate, Neither do I know Thanthra*, Nor do I know stanzas of prayer, Neither do I know how to worship, Nor do I know the art of yoga, So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani Na janami Punyam, Na janami theertham, Na janami muktim, layam vaa kadachit, Na janami bhaktim, vrutam vaapi maata, Gatistwam, Gatistwam, tvam ekaa Bhavani. Know I not how to be righteous, Know I not the way to the places sacred, Know I not methods of salvation, Know I not how to merge my mind with God, Know I not the art of devotion, Know I not how to practice austerities, Oh, mother, So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani Kukarmi, kusangi, kubudhi, kudhasa, Kulachaara heena, kadhachaara leena, Kudrushti, kuvakya prabandha, sadaham, Gathisthwam, Gathisthwam, thwam ekaa Bhavani. Perform I bad actions, Keep I company of bad ones, Think I bad and sinful thoughts, Serve I Bad masters, Belong I to a bad family, Immersed I am in sinful acts, See I with bad intentions, Write I collection of bad words, Always and always, So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani. Prajesam, Ramesam, Mahesam, Suresam, Dhinesam, Nisidheswaram vaa kadachit, Na janami chanyath sadaham saranye, Gatistwam, Gatistwam tvam ekaa Bhavani Neither Do I know the creator, Nor the Lord of Lakshmi, Neither do I know the lord of all, Nor do I know the lord of devas, Neither do I know the God who makes the day, Nor the God who rules at night, Neither do I know any other Gods, Oh, Goddess to whom I bow always, So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani Vivadhe, Vishadhe, pramadhe, pravase, Jale cha anale parvathe shatru madhye, Aranye, saranye sada maam prapahi, Gatistwam, Gatistwam tvam ekaa Bhavani. While I am in a heated argument, While I am immersed in sorrow, While I am suffering an accident, While I am travelling far off, While I am in water or fire, While I am on the top of a mountain, While I am surrounded by enemies, And while I am in a deep forest, Oh Goddess, I always bow before thee, So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani Anadho, dharidro, jara roga yukto, Maha Ksheena dheena, sada jaadya vaktra, Vipatou pravishta, pranshata sadhaham, Gatistwam, Gatistwam tvam ekaa Bhavani. While being an orphan, While being extremely poor, While affected by disease of old age, While I am terribly tired, While I am in a pitiable state, While I am being swallowed by problems, And While I suffer serious dangers, I always bow before thee, So you are my refuge and only refuge, Bhavani

Words fail me whenever I read this famed ashtakam. May Bhavani grant me refuge.  * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI3e409wZHE

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United Way of Baroda Garba Mahotsav.

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Vibrant Gujarat Navratri Garba Mahotsav.

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Jagadambika.

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Ambaji.

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Jagadamba Bhavani.

Goddess of the universe. 

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sone ki chadi, rupe ki mashal, jariyan na jama vali, motiyan na mala vali, chanchar na chowk vali, chuval na gokh vali, arasur na gabbar na gokh vali, pavagadh na pahar vali, patay raja ni pat purnar, markand muni ni pujeli, surat vaishya ni sambhal leynari, saptadvip ni saptchandika, navkhand narayani navdurga, amba adishvari, bholi bhavani, tentris koti devta ni devi, yogio ni yogmata, chaudlok ni bhuvaneshwari, riddhi siddhi ni data, go brhaman ni pratipalak, jagadmba maa ne ghani khamma, ghani khamma, ghani khamma l

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Bahuchar Stavan. Kukade chadi ne aavjo...

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Ambaji Stavan. Sinhe chadi ne avjo..

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Falguni Pathak at Babulnath Mandir.

Since Navratri is fast approaching, some classic Gujarati dakla/garbas in praise of Bhagavati. Jai ambe. 

- Dammar vagya ne maa na dakal vagya - Tu toh rajapara pujani ho maa, khamma tamne khodiyar maa - Motide vadhavu maa ne phulde vadhavu,  chandi re chamunda maa ne phulde vadhavu - Khel khel re bhavani maa, jai jai ambe maa - Rangatali rangatali rangatali ke rang ma rangatali - Ghor andhari re raataladi maa nisarya char asvaa.