Abhishek.Nair

Gurupavanapureshan

about my passion for Lord guruvayoorappan.
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA.......
"shanthakaram bhujakashayanam
padmanabham suresham
vishwadharam Gaganasadrushyam
Meghavarnam Subhangam
Lakshmikantham kamalanayanam
yogibhirdhyanagamyam
vande vishnum bhavabhaya haram sarvalokeikanatham"
May be since a native of Changanasherry (Madhya thiruvathankoor) I was spaced apart from Guruvayoor Kshetram for about a decade.. But our land is blessed by krishna bhagavan present here at VEZHAKKATTU SREEKRISHNA TEMPLE indeed.As circumstances made me to settle in Trichur dist. I tried to explore all the temples in and around counting Guruvayoor.I had an obscure idea regarding the temple as an impact of my childhood visits.And the first visit gave me an impression rather than devotion for Lord Krishna...but as time passed I got addicted to SreeGUruvayoorappan and believe me I will still feel a difference in atmosphere as soon as i enter the temple.
I feel lil what to say nostalgic or like that after that darshan.
This feeling constantly kept hurting me esp. during journey back to hostel..Lord Krishna devotion is of special kind that it attracts one closer and closer once you get to go anywhere near."Namariyathe ee naavil vannal pinne vittu piriyatha Narayana" oorthu pokum!!!
Guruvayoor temple is certainly an outstanding Kshetra in Kerala.Naturally many controversial issues are tagged to this temple,let Lord Guruvayoorappan solve all these issues.
The kshetra is associated with lots off AITIHYAS including Vilwamangalam swamiar,Manavedan Samoothiri,MAnjula,Adi Shankaracharyar, poonthanam,Kurooramma etc. The idol was once worshipped by Sri Krishna himself In (MAHAVISHNU sankalpa) dwaraka and through Arjunan and Udhavar reached hands of Vayu who with the help of Devaguru Brihaspati found a spot for prathista.kshetra was constructed by Vishwakarama with a distinct measure code.

SWARNACHEMPAZHUKKAMANDAPAM.....
"agrE pashyAmi thEjO nibidathara klAyAvale lObhaneeyam piyushAplAvithOham thadanu thadudarE divyakAishOravEsham thArunyA rambharamyam paramasukha rasAsvAda rOmAnchithAngai rAveetham nAradhAdhyair vilasat upanishath sundaree mandalaishcha"
I see before my eyes a glowing light like the KAyambu pushpam. Because of that I am filled with great amruthAnandam. In the midst of that light I see a beautiful lad whose childhood has just finished and youth begun. This lad is surrounded by Naradar who is enjoying paramAnandam and is rOmAnjitham, other sages. The Upanisads which have taken the form of beautiful damsels surround the lad in a circle.
photographs from
Sri.Sreehari,SRi.Krishnakumar

Deekshithar

As a part of Navaratri festival i would like to do a writeup roaming round Muthuswamy deekshitar...Listening to a kriti of Deekshitar (well rendered of course) is a great experience - even without raga alapana or Sangatis. A musical analysis of the kritis would greatly extend the scope of this article and hence I am restricting this feature to the relevance of Deekshitar's Navavarna kritis.The analysis of nine avaranas are done beautifully through these keertanas.The musician should have digested core vedantic concepts inorder to get complete understanding and Bhava of the lyrics..
These songs are set in praise of the Goddess Kamalamba who is enshrined in Tiruvarur in the Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu in South India.The lyrics and the descriptive details are loaded with the mystical symbolism of the Vedantic (advaita) tradition and the chakras of the human system are closely linked to the evolutionary aspects described in the compsitions that reflect the scholarly reach, musical depth and mystical significance of the composer.Its worth mentioning that Deekshitar lived in the latter part of the 18th century and in early 19th century (1775 - 1835 CE), when India was being ruled by the British.
The details of Chakras covered are as follows:
(1) The first Avaranam is Bhoopuram and the Chakram is Trailokyamohana chakra ‘enchants the three worlds’;The yogini is Prakata, the mental state of the aspirant is Jagrata, Chakra Iswari is Tripura and the Saktis are 28 that include the ten starting with Anima, the eight starting with Brahmya and the ten Mudra Saktis. [ANANDABHAIRAVI: Kamalamba Samrakshatu]
(2) The second Avaranam is Shodasa Dalam, and the Chakram is Sarvasaparipuraka chakra, ‘fulfills all expectations’; The yogini is Gupta Yogini. The mental state is Swapna, the Chakra Iswari is Tripurasi and the Saktis are the sixteen starting with Kamakarshini. [KALYANI: Kamalambam Bhajare]
(3) The third Avaranam is Ashtha Dalam; The Chakram is Sarvasamkshobana chakra, ‘agitates all’; the Yogini is Gupta Tara Yogini. The mental state is Sushupti, the Chakra Iswari is Tripura Sundari and the Saktis are the eight starting with Ananga Kusuma. [SHANKARABHARANAM: Sri Kamalambikayaa Katakshitoham]
(4) The fourth Avaranam is Chaturdasaram; the Chakram is Sarvasaubhagyadayaka chakra, ‘grants excellence’; the Yogini is Sampradaya Yogini. The mental state is Iswara Vicharam, Chakra Iswari is Tripura Vasini and the Saktis are the fourteen starting with Samkshobhini. [KAMBHOJI: Kamalambikaayai Kanakamshukayai]
(5) The fifth Avaranam is Bahirdasaram; the Chakram is Sarvarthasadhakachakra, is the ‘accomplisher of all’; the Yogini is Kulotteerna yogini. The mental state is Guroopa Sadanam; the Chakra Iswari is Tripura Sri and the Saktis are the ten starting with Sarva Siddhi Prada. [BHAIRAVI: Sri Kamalambikayaha Param Nahi re re chitta]
(6) The sixth Avaranam is Antardasaram; the Chakram is Sarvaraksakara chakra, ‘protects all’; the Yogini is Nigarbha Yogini. The mental state is Upadesam; the Chakra Iswari is Tripura Malini and the Saktis are the ten starting with Sarvagnya. [PUNNAGAVARALI: Kamalambikayastava Bhaktoham]
(7) The Seventh Avaranam is Asthakonam; the Chakram is Sarvarogahara chakra, ‘cures all ills’; the Yogini is Rahasya Yogini. The mental state is Mananam; the chakra Iswari is Tripura Siddhaa and the Saktis are the eight, starting with Vashini. [SAHANA: Sri Kamalambikayam Bhaktim Karomi]
(8) The eighth Avaranam is Trikonam; the Chakram is Sarvasiddhiprada chakra, ‘grants all perfection’; the Yogini is Ati Rahasya Yogini. The mental state is Nitidhyasanam; the Chakra Iswari is Tripuramba and the Saktis are the three starting with Kameshwari. [GHANTA: Sri Kamalambike Avaava]
(9) The ninth Avaranam is the Bindu and the highest Chakram is Sarvanandamaya chakra , ‘replete with bliss’. The mental state is Savikalpa Samadhi; the Chakra Iswari is Maha Tripura Sundari and the Shakti is Maha Tripura Sundai, the very personification of Para Brahman. [AHIRI: Sri Kamalamba Jayati]
ikE caNDikE - tODi/rUpakaM (2 kaLai)
1: kamalAmbA saMrakSatu mAM hRt - *Anandabhairavi/mishra cApu
2: kamalAmbAM bhajarE rE mAnasa - kalyANi/Adi (2 kaLai)
3: shrI kamalAmbikayA kaTAkSitOhaM - shaHNkarAbharaNaM/rUpakaM (2 kaLai)
4: kamalAmbikAyai kanakAMshukAyai - *kAmbhOji/khaNDa aTa
5: shrI kamalAmbikAyAh paraM nahirE rE citta - *bhairavi/mishra jhaMpa (2 kaLai)
6: kamalAmbikAyAstava bhaktOhaM - *punnAgavarALi/tishra EkaM
7: shrI kamalAmbikAyAM bhaktiM karOmi - sahAna/tishra tripuTa
8: shrI kamalAmbikE avAva - *ghaNTa/Adi (2 kaLai)
9: shrI kamalAmbA jayati ambA - Ahiri/rUpakaM (2 kaLai)
maHNgaLa: shrI kamalAmbikE shivE pAhimAM lalitE - shrI/khaNDa EkaM (2 kaLai)
Now listen to one of Deekshitar's Navagraha kriti in surati raga

Trigunas;IISH

There are three gunas in each and every living and non living beings. This has been explained in detail by Lord Krishna in Bhagavath Geetha. These Gunas are Satwa (SATWIC) Guna, Rajo (RAJASIC) Guna and Thamo (THAMASIC) Guna. Each and every individual and animal has these three gunas in their behavior. I.e. they will be demonstrted In all the process of talking, watching, thinking, analyzing, evaluating, understanding, communicating and so on. For those who have predominant level of Satwa Guna, they are known as people of satwic nature ( it does not mean that they do not have other gunas. It only means that the other gunas are not predominant). Rajo guna people have those characters prominent . Similarly people of thamo guna have those characters predominating in them always. There are satwic, rajasic and thamasic food, personality, work, music, dance, worship, knowledge, etc. E.g. Satwic food, Rajasic food and thamasic food which are respectively, good vegetarian food , milk, curd etc are sativic food, meat and animal products + highly pungent food, etc are rajasic and alcohol, fermented food etc are thamasic food.
Even for a satwic man, depending upon the environment the rajasic and thamasic feeling can arise. Even for a thamasic individual at instances, the satwic feeling can rise up. Hence the upsurge of the gunas depend mainly on ‘what you hear-see-talk-feel-think and experience’. Hence for controlling ourselves the best method is to control our ears-eyes-tongue and mind. Remember even the great Rishies with all their satwic nature can suddenly change to other nature. You know Kumbakarna is the thamasic man. But he advised Ravana in a satwic way against all the latter's misdeeds. When a satwic man takes thamasci food/drinks that influences him. The terrorism is nothing but injecting rajasic and thamasic feelings in satwic people. Bribe/murder/fight, sex, theft are combination of rajasic & thamasic qualities(generally) created by circumstances and which is based on what you hear/see/talk/experience
Some people are compelled to do Rajasic work by profession. Kings, soldiers and police fall under this category. They may even need Rajasic food . Some people are expected to do thamasic job, as butchers and security personnel. Raising satwic feelings in them may even prevent them doing their job efficiently.
Generally what an ordinary man like us to do ? If we are the inheritors of the thamasic qualities, get ourself elevated into Rajasic first and then to satwic. Try to maintain the satwic character wherever possible. If you get suddenly changed into other try to retain the satwic nature by continuous mental training. Keep a good friend or guru for getting good advice to retain the satwic character and temperament. Wherever you have to do Rajasic work/job as profession, do not keep yourself away from that. Undertaking any challenge has to have the Rajasic qualities, if it is our swadharma. Knowledge and experience can make you more and more satwic. Mental aberrations can take you to rajasic. Circumstances can take you to thamasic. But you yourself can take you back to satwic. That is what the Vedas, puranas, itihasas tell you. Take good from everywhere, do good, speak good, think good, see good, and become good and that is satwic. Whenever you realize the mistake of doing opposite of what is expected from you, immediately apologize. ‘Satwic’ does not mean over polite, over humble, over patient, over obedient, over devotion, coward’s behavior…… Satwic only means living with self respect, dignity, credibility, dedication, devotion, and so on. In general one has to maintain satwic qualities. For patriotism and self respect follow Rajasic qualities. For suppressing and preventing the anti national activities and terrorism follow the Thamasic outlook.
Now please listen to the talk given by Dr.N.Gopalakrishnan.a scientist with CSIR, He has and post doctorate in Bio chemistry, D.lit in Sanskrit, Post graduation in Journalism and another PG in Sociology.

Ottakambinadam

A tribute to Late musical mastero Raveendran.
I'm incited to write up on this genius since it was his songs which made me listen
to music and got rid off my hatred towards malayalam film songs during my adoloscence.
I still remember how i heeded to the song 'Aarattukadavingal arakkoppam'...from the movie 'Venkalam'.There began my passion for Raveendran which always kept leaping.The raagas he chose for the songs made it more easy to listen than to sing.He has given life to over 450 songs including his musical albums.Ravi,the popularly known "Raveendran Master" was born in 1943 at Kulathupuzha;Kollam Dist.He had his musical education from Swatithirunal sangeeta college Trivandrum and later tested his vocal cord under various noted music directors including Baburaj.But unfortunately or fortunately due to lack of opportunities he ended up as a music director,with the support from Dr.K.J.Yesudas. He in between had to play roles of,a dubbing artist and singer in Ganamela.As a music director he made a majestic entry through the film "choola"
in 1979 directed by I.V.Sasi,the fresher rose beyond Mr.sasi's expectations and created the tune for 'Tharakamizhiyithalil kannerumaye'
The song "Pramadavanam" set in Jog,a hindustani variant of natta made people to become his ardent fans.Vaarmukile from the movie mazha gives me a feeling of mohana raga.The Ottakambi nadam,vikaranaukayumayee(Amaram) etc: are excellent works giving feel of madhyamavati.mesmerising song
chandanamanivathil paathi chari(hindolam) by Venugopal and'Cheerapoovukal' from the movie dhanam are still hummed commonly.The wizard gave his charming touch to songs in his last film Vadakkunnathan.
I remember one programme in Tv in which Raveendran Mash sang his famous 'Mamankam palavuru'.. and the song along with his gigantic figure still lay imprinted in my memories.Raveendran mash-dasettan-Lalettan trio is the best combination i've yet seen.Aaramthamburan,devasuram,Bharatham,His highness Abdulla,etc are notable movies by the all in all without any film in parallel.
" he could sing his composition and singer did not have to produce a rabbit out of thin air at any time" says mere-awaz-suno fame pradip somasundaran.The personal life of Raveendran still remains under cover for me even after a good search through google!Any way his loss has created a wedge in the bridge connecting the classical and film-folk music."Pulare poonthoniyil Ethonidrathan chempaneerpovaye eerakkombinmele vazhuthi veena ee saptaswaropasakan brahmakamalam sreelakamakunnaA devasabhathalathil ezhuswarangalum meetti sangeetha sreelavasantham pakarukayavum".A salute to the master of music who indeed sounded unique as Ottakambinadam.