Bed time story in Chennai after a long time...

After a long time (6 months gap), I arrived in Chennai yesterday for vacation at around 11.30 pm. All my people in home were happy and were awake in welcoming me back. After lengthy discussions, we went to bed at around 2.30 AM IST. I was a happy man in Brussels but still thought something was missing though I spoke with my family on a daily basis for long hours over phone..

I realized it when I went to bed. It was the favorite bed time stories narrated by my dad. Yes, he still narrates some spiritual stories and yesterday was his day as he narrated a story of a Panduranga bhaktan Eknaath and his guru seva:

Here goes the story: excuses for the tamil font.

ஏகநாத் என்ற ஒருவர் பாட சாலையில் சேர்ந்தார். அவர் ஒரு அபார குரு பக்தர். மற்ற சீடர்கள் பாடம் படிக்கும் சமயத்தில் இவர் குருவிற்கு தேவையான பனி விடைகள் மட்டுமே செய்வாராம். எல்லா பாடமும் அவருக்கு தானே அத்து பிடி ஆகிவிடுமாம். குரு தேவருக்கே இதை கண்டு கடும் வியப்பு. ஏக்நாத் அவர்களின் குரு சேவையை பார்த்து மனமும் மெய்யும் சிலிர்த்து, ததாத்றேயரிடம் சென்று ஏகனாதருக்கு காட்சி கொடுக்கு மாறு வேண்டி கொண்டார் ! குருவின் வேண்டுகோளுக்கு இணங்கி தத்தாத்ரேயர் குருவிடம் ஏகனாதருக்கு ஆத்தங்கரையில் காட்சி தர ஒப்புக் கொண்டார். அடுத்த நாள் குருவின் கட்டளைக்கு இணங்கி ஏகநாதர் தண்ணீர் எடுக்க ஆதங்கரைகுச் சென்றார். வரும் வழியில் தத்தாத்ரேயர் காட்சி தந்தார். அவரை பார்த்தும் பார்க்காமல் சென்று கொண்டு இருந்தார் நம் ஏகநாதர். இதை பார்த்து வியந்த தத்தாத்ரேயர் அடுத்த முறை அவருக்கு முன்னால் வந்து நின்றார். அப்பொழுதும் கூட அவரை கண்டும் காணாதது போல் சென்றார் ஏகநாதர். இதை பார்த்து மறு படியும் வியந்து போன தத்தாத்ரேயர், அவரை அழைத்து, தன்னை அறிமுக படுத்தி கொண்டார். ஏகநாதர் அவரை வணங்கி விட்டு "மிக்க மகிழ்ச்சி, நான் எனது குருவிற்கு சேவை செய்து கொண்டு இருகின்றேன், செல்ல வேண்டி இருக்கறது" என்று சொல்லி குரு தேவர் வீட்டிற்குச் சென்றார். திரும்பி வந்த சீடனை பார்த்த குரு தேவர் ஆசிர்யதொடு வரும் வழியில் நடந்த சம்பவத்தை பற்றி கேட்டார். அதற்கு ஏகநாதர், குரு தான் முதல் கடவுள் என்று பதில் அழித்தார். குரு தான் எல்லாருக்கும் முதல் கடவுள் என்பதை இந்த கதையின் மூலம் நம்மால் நன்றாக உணர முடிகிறது.

After the story I had a nice peaceful sleep.

Who else will get a bed time story like this from your dad? :-) I am blessed to have these people around me!

Swamy Saranam!

Harivarasanam

Since this is the month of Kaarthighai and famous for my Lord Ayappan, I thought of sharing the meaning of Harivarasanam

I have given this in terms of stanza by stanza followed by its corresponding meaning.

“'Harivarasanam' was written by Kumbakudi Kulathur Iyer. Harivarasanam is recited just prior to closing of the temple doors at night. As the final verses are being sung, all the assistant Santhis leave the Sanctum Sanctorum one by one. As the song ends, only the Mel Santhi is inside the Sreekoil. He extinguishes the lamps one by one and closes the doors for the night after the last lamp is extinguished.

Harivarasanam Viswamohanam
Haridadhiswaram Aaradhyapadhukam
Arivimardhanam Nithyanarthanam
Hariharathmajam Devamashraye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Repository of Hari’s boons,
Enchanter of universe,
Essence of Hari’s grace,
He whose holy feet is worshipped,
He who kills enemies of good thought,
He who daily dances the cosmic dance,
Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God.
My refuge is in you Ayyappa,My refuge is in you Ayyappa.

Saranakirtanam Bakhtamanasam
Bharanalolupam Narthanalasam
Arunabhasuram Bhoothanayakam
Hariharathmajam Devamashraye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

He who likes song of refuge,
He who is in the mind of devotees,
He who is the great ruler,
He who loves to dance,
He who shines like the rising sun,
He who is king of all beings,
Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God.
My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa.

Pranayasathyakam Praananayakam
Pranathakalpakam Suprabhanjitham
Pranavamanidram Keerthanapriyam
Hariharathmajam Devamashraye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

He whose soul is truth,
He who is the darling of all souls,
He who created universe,
He who shines with a glittering Halo,
He who is the temple of “OM”,
He who loves songs,
Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God.
My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa.

Thuragavahanam Sundarananam
Varagadhayudham Vedavavarnitham
Gurukrupakaram Keerthanapriyam
Hariharathmajam Devamashraye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

He who rides a horse,
He who has a pretty face,
He who has the blessed mace as weapon,
He who bestows grace like a teacher,
He who loves songs,
Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God.
My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa.

Tribuvanarchitam Devathathmakam
Trinayanam Prabhum Divyadeshikam
Tridashapoojitham Chinthithapradam
Hariharathmajam Devamashraye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

He who is worshiped by the three worlds,
He who is the soul of all gods,
He who is the lord of Shiva,
He who is worshipped by devas,
He who is who is worshipped three times a day,
He whose thought is fulfilling,
Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God.
My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa.

Bhavabhayapaham Bhavukavaham
Bhuvanamohanam Bhoothibhooshanam
Dhavalavahanam Divyavaranam
Hariharathmajam Devamashraye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

He who destroys fear,
He who brings prosperity,
He who is enchanter of universe,
He who wears holy ash as ornament,
He who rides a white elephant,
Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God.
My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa.

Kalamrudusmitham Sundarananam
Kalabhakomalam Gathramohanam
Kalabhakesari Vajivahanam
Hariharathmajam Devamashraye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

He who blesses with enchanting smile,
He who is very pretty,
He who is adorned by sandal paste,
He who has a pretty mien,
He who is a like a lion to the elephants,
He who rides on a tiger,
Son of Hari and Hara,I take refuge in thee God.
My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa.

Srithajanapriyam Chinthithapradam
Sruthivibhushanam Sadhujeevanam
Sruthimanoharam Geethalalasam
Hariharathmajam Devamashraye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

He who is dear to his devotees,
He who fulfills wishes,
He who is praised by Vedas,
He who blesses life of ascetics,
He who is the essence of Vedas,
He who enjoys divine music,
Son of Hari and Hara,I take refuge in thee God.
My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa.

Swamiye Saranam Ayappa!

Good Personal Lesson

This blog is just to convey my true feelings and nothing else.

In terms of personal life, I am still enjoying one of the safest lives ever without any risks, committments and problems by GOD's grace, but my career in 2009 suffered a bit, only a bit. I was so frustrated that at one point of time I started to feel really depressed in such a way that I mentally prepared myself to move out.

Sometimes we got to beleive that GOD exists. As it happened, one fine day one acquaintance came to me for help. I don't wish to disclose his name. His age is the same as mine and he is a MS 2009 passed out. He doesn't have both his parents :-( GOD must be really cruel, as I write this with tears in my eyes. He finished his 10th and 12th standard thanks to his elder brother. After that he has worked as server in Hotel for around 2 years and after that he somehow managed to do some branch in BSc and passed out in 2006. In 2006 again he fell short of funds and he worked again for one more year and did an MS degree for the next 2 years and passed out in the year 2009. Also He was in coma for 5 months because of a road accident :-(
He is just months senior to me in terms of age, but when it comes to mental strength he is ages senior even to our previous generation. "What a man" - this famous dialogue should ideally suit him.
I realized that my problem is nothing compared to the herculean challenge that this guy had.

Sometimes even I get the feeling whether GOD is really there... :-( GOD sent this man at the right time to me to teach a lesson.

Now, I dont have a reason to worry, or crib.

Is GOD really there?

Now, don't ask me why I am writing this. Even though a very strong and true God beleiver, I get this feel when I see some miserable happenings around me.....
one such incident happened last monday - may 12.

I had left office early and went to Nungambakkam ... Sun was pouring all the heat on me and I was drenched in sweat when I reached Nungambakkam for meeting educational consultants.... I decided to drink some cold drink in a tea stall when I noticed a very old lady begging to people. She almost seemed to count her days but not even a single soul responded to her begging...

Suddenly she came to me and asked 'Thambi, Enaku oru tea vangi tha pa'. I was shocked. I had seen many people begging and most of the times I have never bothered since I thought those ppl were very young. But her appearance made me to almost cry.

Without thinking for a moment, I ordered one tea and I could see her satisfaction once she drank it fully. She blessed me when I asked 'Do you need any thing else'.

I am not rising my collar in pride for this incident as I spent a mere 5 rupees for a tea and there are lot of ppl who spend much larger amount for charity. What I am trying to convey is - I saw GODliness in her blessings...

As they say, "Helping hands are better than praying lips", I was somewhat satisfied with my act.

Hope GOD blesses her and hope I don't see such people again...