Some Famous Stotras on Mahadev in the auspicious Shravan Month

As the auspicious Shravan month is going on, I thought to post some of my favourite stotras on Mahadev today. Devotees conduct special prayer to Shivji during this month, Kanwariyas travel to Haridwar to bring the holy water of Ma Ganga and offer it to their local temples. This month is very conducive to spiritual progress. Devotees are advised to perform special pujas throughout this month. 

The first stotra I want to refer today is Rudrashtakam, from Ramcharitmanas, composed by Tulsidasji. I really love the past life story of Kaakbhushundi and the way Rudrashtakam is narrated by him. All India Radio airs Ramcharitamanas everyday morning. Their version of Rudrashtakam is filled with devotion. If possible, do try to listen to it. I have made a separate post on the Ramcharitmanas gaayan of All India Radio previously. You can check it out here . You can listen to any other version of the stotra from YouTube or any other Audio App, or you can read it from any book or any online source.

The next stotra I want to mention is the Kaalbhairavashtakam, it is composed by Adi Shankaracharya to worship Kaalbhairav, a manifestation of Shivji. One of the oldest temple of Kaalbhairav is located in Varanasi. I like the version of Kaalbhairavashtakam by Agam Aggarwal from YouTube. Rahul Vellal has also sung Kaalbhairavashtakam very nicely, it is available in the Youtube channel of Strumm Spiritual. Do chreck that out. 

Next in the list is Shiavashtakam, sung by Rahul Vellal, in the YouTube channel of Kuldeep M Pai. So devotionally sung by such a young boy that it will amaze all of us. 

Along with these three, you can also listen to Shiva Panchakshara Stotra composed by Adi Shankaracharya.

There is an website- Green Meesege (greenmesg.org), it has many famous stotras on Mahadev at one place. you can visit that website and have a look at it. 

I have written a few posts on Mahadev previously. here I am giving the links of  those posts, in case you are interested, do check them out. 

Songs on the Occasion of Shivaratri

Bilkeshwar Mahadev Mandir at Haridwar

Happy 'Maha Shivaraatri' - Karpur Gauram', 'Shankar Shiv Bhole', and Some Other Songs on Mahadev...

Jageshwar Mahadev Mandir in Kumaon

Happy Maha Shivaratri

Prakaasheshwar Mahadev Mandir at Dehradun

12 Jyotirlingas

Shivaraatri 2013

Aum Namah Shivay!

Telecast of Mythological Serials during Lockdown, 2020 on Doordarshan

 In 2020, Lockdown was announced by the Government because of Corona. During that time people were having a challenging time adjusting to the new routine at home as well as worrying about Corona. Doordarshan came up with this idea of airing Ramayan, Mahabharat, Shri Krishna, Chanakya, Upaanishad Ganga and many more old serials. That idea was very successful. Those legendary serials gave people the  moral and spiritual courage which was the need of the hour. People showered their love again to all those unforgettable serials. Doordarshan set new records of viewership during those days, such a moment of joy and pride for all of us!! Children who watched all those shows for the first time, had a great fun as well as received lessons about ethics from all the characters. We all had memorable time in our house, immersing again in these timeless shows. Thanks to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for this novel decision.

Jai Shri Krishna.

Prinsep Ghat (Kolkata) Visit

 Prinsep Ghat was build in 1841, in the memory of James Prinsep who was a scholar and contributed towards Indic studies.

Visitors to the Ghat enjoy the riverbank walk beside the Hoogly river/ Ganga. 

There is an arrangement of a boat ride on Ganga, for half an hour. Many people enjoy evening breeze during this boat ride. 

Also there is a Circular Rail Station in the Prinsep Ghat. People travel through Circular Rail to this place. 

We have Howrah on the other bank of the Ganga. The buildings of Howrah looks beautiful during evening.

Moreover, who can forget the second Hooghly Bridge or the Vidyasagar Setu behind the Ghat? All these combine to a visual treat for all the visitors.

It is always a place for a nice evening spent with gentle wind from Ganga and watching the river flowing endlessly. 

Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti- 2022

The name which reverberates in our heart whenever we talk about Adwait Vedanta is the prolific saint and devotee Adi Shankaracharya. His presence in around 9th century filled the country with new vigour about Sanatan Dharma. He has written explanations on almost all the renowned texts of Hinduism. Most of us know about his life and contributions.

 

The Sanskrit film - 'Adi Shankaracharya'- about the saint is a poignant one, where Sarvadaman Banerjee played the role of Shankaracharya. It is directed by G V Iyer. With each viewing, the film offers more and more depth to the viewers. If you haven't watched it till now, do watch the film on YouTube. It is made in Sanskrit and have English subtitles.

Among his canon of compositions I have enjoyed reading Vivekachudamani, Aporoksha Anubhuti, Bhaja Govindam and many many stotras, which are part of my daily life. 

On his birthday let us pay our respects to him by chanting or reading from his writings and trying to realise the Truth embedded in them. Do try to read about him and his life from different books or online sources.

Our reverence to His Lotus Feet 

Hari Aum.

Akshay Tritiya, Parashuram Jayanti- 2022

Today is an auspicious day. It is Akshay Tritiya. It is said that any action we start on this day would have a high chance of success. Business owners do special puja on this day. At home we also celebrate this day with puja, alpona and special food. 

Today is Parashuram Jayanti. He is the avataar of Shri Hari who destroyed adharmi Kshatriyas and established the rule of Dharma in the world.

I have been reading the book Parashuram by Shri KM Munshi since last few months. Have not finished it yet. We come to know about Parashuram as well as the great sage Vishwamitra from this novel. Will write about it in detail after finishing. 

Recently I came to know about the writer Vinit Aggarwal who has also written a novel on Parashuram. Will try to read that also in future.

Today on this auspicious day the Char dham yatra is also commenced. Thousands of pilgrims visit the great four pilgrimage spots- Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedar and Badri each year. So it is a day of great joy for all of us that devotees will be able to enjoy Char Dham Yatra starting from today. 

Do try to do special puja at home or celebrate the day in any special way. Do try to know more about this day from internet or from books.

With lots of best wishes for all

Hai Aum.

Remembering Dadathakur- Sarat Chandra Pandit

 

   Most of us know about Dadathakur Sarat Chandra Pandit, who was a great literary master. His wit is remembered by all. Many of his compositions are popular till now. 

We all have watched the famous Black and White film- Dadathakur (1962), where the legendary actor Chhabi Biswas played the role of Dadathakur. 

As today is the birthday of this great composer as well as the day he passed away, I am trying to watch the film again. Do try to watch it or try to read about him from internet or from books. 

I also came across a documentary on Dadathakur on YouTube recently, where the narration is done by Satinath Mukhopadhyay. I will try to watch that too. 

There are also many videos about Dadathaur on YouTube- about his wit, about his songs, and yes now I remember that the great artist Ramkumar Chattopadhyay sang many of his famous songs during his musical performances.. 

These are some of the ways through which we can pay respect to great genius. 

With best wishes for all.

Jai Shri Krishna.

Shri Vallabhacharya Jayanti

 

  Today is the birthday of the famous devotee and saint Shri Vallabhacharya. He is the founder of Pushtimarg  of Vaishnavism. I know very little about his theories but will try to know more about it in future from my friends who are followers of this philosophy.

One of his popular composition is the Madhurashtakam (Adharam Madhuram). I really love it. The poem is filled with devotion. 

Today on his birthday, I will listen to it again and feel the devotion. 

Do listen to Madhurashtakam whenever you find time. 

This way we can remember and pay respect to one of the most prominent devotees of Shri Krishna (Shrinathji).

With lots of wishes.

Jai Shri Krishna. 

Shri Hanuman Jayanti- 2022

Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated with great vigour in our country. Hanumaanji is the epitome of all the paths of Saadhna, that is Gyan, Karm and Bhakti. In Him, we find all these qualities. He is the remover of all obstacles as we find in the Sankatmochan Hanumaan Ashtak. He is the Ansh Avtaar of Mahadev. We also witness the respect for each other by Shri Vishnu and Mahadev through the interactions of Shri Ram and Bajrangbali in Ramayan.

Do listen to the famous Hanumaan chalisa and Sankatmochan Hanumaan Ashtak on this day.

With lots of wishes to all of you

Jai Bajrangbali!

Bangla Nav Varsh 1429 Wishes

Lots of wishes to all of you on this occasion of Bangla Nav Varsh 1429. A time to look at life from a new perspective. Finding new purposes. A new beginning. Special puja for Lakshmi, Ganesh and Hal khata puja- these are some of the activities done on Poila Boishakh. Also people use Alpona to decorate their house, Mango leaves and various flowers to decorate the main door of the house. Special Bengali items are made for meals on this auspicious day.  And also without music, literature, Bengali culture is incomplete. So, 

--> play Nav Varsh songs Playlist and also Nobo Borsher Adda/ Boithok from YouTube

--> Read some classic Bengali literature or any recent/ old Pujabarshiki 

--> Watch any classic or recent Bengali Film.

Thus have a great day with all of these.

 May the blessings of the Lord shower upon all of us.

Jai Shri Krishna.

Ram Navmi 2022

  

   On this auspicious day when we meditate on Shri Ram, I am sharing the names of some beautiful bhajans by the students of the famous master Shri Kuldeep M Pai. He is delivering soulful music through his students for many years. Today I am sharing four songs by his little students-

Ram Ram Bhajan

Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram naam tarakam

Ramchandraye Mangalam

Pibare Ram Rasam

And also two stotra by Sooryagayatri in the direction of Mr Pai-

Shri Ram Raksha Stotra

Rama Ashtakam

All these songs are there in the YouTube channel of Shri Kuldeep M Pai. He is doing amazing work in preserving as well as spreading the traditional Bhakti ras of our country.

And if you want to listen to some Bengali songs then the song -Mon jop naam, Shri Raghupati Ram- writeen by Kazi Nazrul Islam comes to mind for the peace it generates along with devotion. I like the rendition of this song by Shri Anup Jalota.

May Ramji's blessings shower on all of us

Jai Shri Ram!

Navratri Thoughts- April 2022

    Wishes to all of you on this auspicious time of Navratri. This time is filled with great power of the Divine Mother. Doing any sadhana during Navratri benefits the saadhak in so many ways. In our society, we are having Keertan of Ma Aadi Shakti almost every day, where all the ladies sing bhajans of Ma together. Thus praying to the Mother and expressing their love and respect for the Mother. This process has a purifying effect on the minds of all who participate in the Keertan. Also, chanting the name of the Almighty purifies the whole environmental of the society. Truly blessed days we are experiencing.

With lots of best with to all of you

Jai Shri Maa.