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Post by Nitaidas on Oct 18, 2019 20:34:53 GMT -6
Thanks to Nilamadhava Dasji we now have a copy of a missing book of Siddha Manoharadas Babaji Maharaja, Sri Gaura-govinda-nama-kirtana-ratna-mala. I am starting to work on it, transcribing it and translating it. The first part is called Vaisnava-vandanA and the second is called simply Ratna-mala, but it is the missing Gopi-nama-ratna-mala, I am relatively certain. This is great news.
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Post by Nitaidas on Oct 18, 2019 20:43:03 GMT -6
Siddha Baba spoke highly of this text in his introduction to his lila-text, Vaidagdha-vilasa. There he says this:
"By the communal singing of the names (nāma-saṅkīrtana) of the
bhaktas as well as of Śrī Bhagavān and his companions, the
forms, qualities, and divine play of Bhagavān gradually appear in the
heart of a practitioner. When that happens, aspects of suffering in
the form of sins, aspects of offenses which inhibit divine love, and
aspects of a subtle dullness taking the form of bonds of ignorance are
gradually uprooted, in that order. Then pure delight in Bhagavān,
which is the fifth goal of human life, the substantial elixir of
divine love (prema-rasa), arises. For this reason in this age
of Kali the holy name in particular is the primary form of
practice. That practice is divided into two types: rule-initiated
(vaidhi-bhakti) and passion-initiated (rāgānuga-bhakti). In the more praiseworthy of those practices, that
is, in passion-initiated, feelings like those of the Vraja girls are
to be held in the heart of the practitioner. In that case, singing
(kīrtana) the names of the Vraja girls is the main way of
bestowing divine love.
"Through a tiny particle of the compassion of the girls of Vraja a book
called Jewel Necklace of the Cowherd Girls' Names (Śrī
Gopīnāma-ratna-mālā) was previously published. In that book, Rādhā
and Kṛṣṇa are represented in the center of a flower. Beginning from
the northern direction and moving around to the right in a clockwise
manner through the eight directions on the filaments are located the
eight primary flower-bud girls (mañjarī), headed by Śrī Rūpa,
and on the eight petals beyond them are the eight primary girlfriends
(sakhī) of Rādhā, headed by Lalitā. On the major sub-petals are
the eight flower-bud girls, headed by Anaṅga-mañjarī, and after that,
on the lower sub-petals are the lower flower-bud girls, headed by
Saṃpurṇā. One sings the names of all of them. In their proper places
in the great seat of union (yoga-pīṭha) are the overseer of this
divine play (Yogamāyā), the goddess of the forest (Vanadevī), the
messengers, and the servants. The names of all of the cowherd girls
along with information about their skin color and clothes is
given. Finally, the book is complete with the name of Śrī Rādhā."
This seems to describe the book perfectly. We have the key to our salvation here, a great tool for the cultivation passion for Krsna following after that of the cowherd girls. This was specially created by Siddha Baba for the benefit of slow learners like us (well me, I don't know about the rest of you). I will begin presenting this here with original text and translation for the benefit of all the members of this forum, at least those who still visit it. The process is like the one initiated in another thread here, memorize the verses and sing them regularly either with others or alone. That is the process of this age and these are the most powerful names to sing.
I will begin with the names of the great Vaisnavas, since that is how Siddha Baba began his work. Then I will provide the text to be sung of the names of the gopis. It is possible if not likely that our vocal chords and minds need first to be purified by singing the names of the great Vaisnavas before singing the names of the gopis. Thus, I begin with the Vaisnava-vandanA text.
There are three mangala verses at the beginning of the text. They express the philosophy behind the practice and set the auspicious mood and expectations. The first verse is by Siddha Baba himself (I think). The second is from Sanatana Goswami's Brhad-bhagavatamrta and the third is from Raghunath Das Goswami's Manah-zikSA. Then the text itself begins. The first verse is coming soon. I will also link the pdf that is being created as I work to this thread.
Gook luck!
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Post by Nitaidas on Oct 18, 2019 22:12:10 GMT -6
Here is the first verse of this text: advaitaprakaṭīkṛto naraharipreṣṭhaḥ svarūpapriyo nityānandasakhaḥ sanātanagatiḥ śrīrūpahṛtketanaḥ | lakṣmīprāṇapatirgadādhararasollāsī jagannāthabhūḥ sāṅgopāṅgasapārṣadaḥ sa dayatāṃ devaḥ śacīnandanaḥ ||1|| advaita-prakaṭīkṛto narahari-preṣṭhaḥ svarūpa-priyoManifested by Advaita, most loved of Narahari, dear to Svarūpa, nityānanda-sakhaḥ sanātana-gatiḥ śrīrūpa-hṛt-ketanaḥ|Friend of Nityānanda, Goal of Sanātana, home of Rūpa's heart, lakṣmī-prāṇa-patir gadādhara-rasollāsī jagannātha-bhūḥLord of Lakṣmī's life, Delighter in rasa with Gadādhara, Born of Jagannātha, sāṅgopāṅgasapārṣadaḥ sa dayatāṃ devaḥ śacīnandanaḥwith his limbs, sub-limbs, and companions, may he show compassion [towards us], the Lord, Son of Śacī. (1) May that Lord, Son of Śacī, manifested by Advaita, beloved of Narahari, dear to Svarūpa, friend of Nityānanda, goal of Sanātana, home of Rūpa's heart, lord of Lakṣmī's life, delighter in rasa with Gadādhara, born of Jagannātha, with his limbs, sub-limbs and companions, have compassion on us. (1) Hear the verse chanted here.
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Post by Ed on Oct 19, 2019 15:21:46 GMT -6
Radhe Radhe!
Wonderful and very happy news, Nitai. The verse itself is very sweet and enchanting, and I'm really liking these interlinear translations. I'll see if hopefully I can commit it to memory.
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Post by Nitaidas on Oct 24, 2019 20:13:39 GMT -6
Here is the second mangala verse in the text: bhaume cāsmin sapadi mathurāmaṇḍale yātamātrāt siddheyustā sakalasamaye yasya kasyāpi naiva | kintvetasya priyajana-kṛpāpūrataḥ kasyacit syu- stadbho! mātaścinu padarajastatpadaikapriyāṇām ||2|| bhaume cāsmin sapadi mathurā-maṇḍale yāta-mātrātInto earthly and this instantly Mathurā circle from mere entry siddheyus tā sakala-samaye yasya kasyāpi naiva |may those be acquired all the time for some not. kintv etasya priyajana-kṛpā-pūrataḥ kasyacit syusBut to this one, from the grace of one dear, for some they may happen. tad bho! mātaś cinu padarajas tat-padaika-priyāṇām || 2||Thus, O Mother, gather the foot-dust of those whose only dear thing his feet. And from mere entry into this earthly Mathurā region those treasures* may not always, instantly appear for everyone. But by the grace of this one's** dear ones, for some it may happen. Thus, O Mother, gather the foot-dust of those for whom the only dear thing is his lotus feet.*** (2) * Sanātana's comm.: tena sākaṃ vividha-ratayaḥ, various kinds of love for him. ** Kṛṣṇa's *** Sanātana Gosvāmin, Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta, 2.7.76. I am out of K-ville at present, but I will post a recording of this verse as soon as I can. If any one else wants to post one, please don't hesitate. Here is the verse chanted.
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Post by Nitaidas on Oct 29, 2019 12:16:14 GMT -6
Here is the third mangala verse taken from Raghunatha Dasa Gosvamin's ManaH-zikSA (verse 5). I have added Madanmohandasji's translation to my own. asacceṣṭākaṣṭapradavikaṭapāśālibhiriha\\ prakāmaṃ kāmādiprakaṭapathapātivyatikaraiḥ |\\ gale baddhvā hanye'hamiti bakabhidvartmapagaṇe\\ kuru tvaṃ phutkārānavati sa yathā tvāṃ mana itaḥ ||3|| asac-ceṣṭā-kaṣṭa-prada-vikaṭa-pāśālibhir ihaWicked acts, causing pain, like frightening ropes, here prakāmaṃ kāmādi-prakaṭa-patha-pāti-vyatikaraiḥ |excessively wielded by lust and the rest, brazen fallen thieves, gale baddhvā hanye'ham iti baka-bhid-vartma-pa-gaṇeabout the throat, having been bound, I die. Of the path of the Killer of Baka, to a protector kuru tvaṃ phut-kārān avati sa yathā tvāṃ mana itaḥ ||3||you cry out in distress, so that he protects you, o mind, from this. Wicked acts, causing pain, are like terrifying ropes here wielded by lust and the rest, brazen thieving highwaymen. Bound by those about my neck, I am about to die. O Mind! Cry out in distress to a protector of the path of Kṛṣṇa, killer of Baka. He will save you from this. (3) The wayside thieves, Desire and his train, The noose of vain endeavours, causing pain, Have flung about my neck, and so I die; O mind, to save us you must loudly cry For succor to the guardians of the way, The devotees of Baka’s enemy, And they will surely rescue you from grief, And enlarge you, affording swift relief. (Madanmohan Dasji's translation of this verse.) Here is the verse chanted.
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Post by Ed on Nov 6, 2019 20:29:57 GMT -6
These last couple of verses are heavy, thinking about why he selected them in particular is an intense exercise. If possible, let us hear how they would sound like, I’ll try to make a recording of the first one, but I feel I would really mess up the pronunciation of these last ones if I try to recite them.
By the way, are there any notes or indications in the text about what ragas and talas to use for its musical interpretation?
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Post by Nitaidas on Nov 7, 2019 11:14:29 GMT -6
These last couple of verses are heavy, thinking about why he selected them in particular is an intense exercise. If possible, let us hear how they would sound like, I’ll try to make a recording of the first one, but I feel I would really mess up the pronunciation of these last ones if I try to recite them. By the way, are there any notes or indications in the text about what ragas and talas to use for its musical interpretation? Yes, those verses were carefully chosen. The first tells us not to expect to get Krsna-prema just by entering Vraja. Instead, we need the blessing of someone dear to Krsna. This, therefore, justifies the coming kirtana of the names of the bhaktas. kintv etasya priyajana-kṛpā-pūrataḥ kasyacit syus. Even, then it is not certain. Nevertheless, that is our best chance of success. I will post some recordings. Those are difficult verses, very complex with tricky meters. There is no indication of ragas for singing the verses. We will have to come up with our own adaptations. The rhythms are dictated by the combination of short and long syllables in the verses themselves. The later verses containing the names of bhaktas are much more simple and easy to recited/sing.
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Post by Nitaidas on Nov 7, 2019 11:19:38 GMT -6
Here is the first verse of the Vaisnava-vandana itself:
śrīviṣṇorvaiṣṇavānāṃ ca vandanaṃ paramaṃ śubhaṃ | vaiṣṇavavandanaṃ tatra kṛṣṇatoṣaparaṃ smṛtaṃ ||1||
śrīviṣṇor vaiṣṇavānāṃ ca of Viṣṇu, of Vaiṣṇavas and vandanaṃ paramaṃ śubhaṃ | praising, highest good fortune vaiṣṇava-vandanaṃ tatra praising Vaiṣṇavas, in that kṛṣṇa-toṣa-paraṃ smṛtaṃ || most pleasing to Kṛṣṇa, s said.
Praising Viṣṇu and Vaiṣṇavas is the most auspicious act. Between them, praising Vaiṣṇavas is what most pleases Kṛṣṇa. (1)
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Post by Nitaidas on Nov 7, 2019 23:05:47 GMT -6
I've added links to my rendition of the first three verses of this work. They are linked to the posts that present the verse being chanted. More tomorrow.
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Post by Nitaidas on Nov 8, 2019 11:10:21 GMT -6
Next verse:
śrīkṛṣṇapriyavastūnāṃ vaiṣṇavaḥ paramapriyaḥ | tasmāt priyatamaṃ jñeyaṃ tadīyānāṃ ca vandanaṃ ||2||
śrī-kṛṣṇa-priya-vastūnāṃ to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, dear, of things vaiṣṇavaḥ parama-priyaḥ the Vaiṣṇava most dear. tasmāt priyatamaṃ jñeyaṃ Therefore, most dear should be known tadīyānāṃ ca vandanaṃ of his own and the praising.
Of things that are dear to Kṛṣṇa a Vaiṣṇava is the most dear; and thus, the dearest thing to him should be known as praise of those who are his. (2)
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Post by Nitaidas on Nov 10, 2019 13:24:00 GMT -6
Next verse:
sa eṣa vaiṣṇavo mayā mūḍhenātattvavedinā | vandāya yatyate tatra tadguṇalobhanaṃ paraṃ ||3||
sa eṣa vaiṣṇavo mayā This Vaiṣṇava, by me mūḍhenātattvavedinā | by a fool not knowing the truth vandāya yatyate tatra for praise, is tried, in that tadguṇalobhanaṃ paraṃ his merits, enticing, the most
This Vaiṣṇava I try to praise, me a fool who knows not the truth. In that the enticement of his merits draws me the most. (3)
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Post by Nitaidas on Nov 10, 2019 22:44:35 GMT -6
I just sang the whole first work of Siddha Baba's, Vaisnava-vandanA, the Praise of the Vaisnavas, all 83 verses. It seems to have been completed in 1957 at Govindakunda. It took about 25 minutes, but it is fairly simple. I think it is well within the abilities of the members of this forum to learn it and sing it. We need to do some research on some of the bhaktas mentioned. I did not recognize many of them and Siddha Baba in addition to praising and bowing to all the bhaktas of Mahaprabhu's time, bows to all the future bhaktas, especially mentioning those who live in other towns in other countries. It would be nice to track all the old bhaktas down. They must be mentioned in the various lives of Mahaprabhu. Each should have a footnote if we can track them down. I will post the file I am creating with all the verses and translations once I get a little further along. I will also try to post an audio version of it. I am practicing it. It is sweet.
The second half of the work is dedicated to the Gopis. I suspect that Siddha Baba wanted us to master the first work before taking up the second. It is has 143 verses. This work was completed in 1956 at Govindakunda, before the VandanA.
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Post by Nitaidas on Nov 11, 2019 15:31:39 GMT -6
Verse 4 of Vaisnava-vandanA:
śaraṇaṃ vaiṣṇavaścātra dayārdraḥ karuṇāmayaḥ |\\ āvirbhūya manobuddhau jihvāratiṃ prayacchatu || 4||
śaraṇaṃ vaiṣṇavaścātra Shelter, Vaiṣṇava, and here dayārdraḥ karuṇāmayaḥ compassionate, kind āvirbhūya manobuddhau appearing in mind and intellect jihvāratiṃ prayacchatu tongue-love may he restrict.
And here shelter is a Vaiṣṇava, compassionate and kind; may one, appearing in my mind and intellect, control my tongue's love. (4)
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Post by Nitaidas on Nov 11, 2019 15:38:15 GMT -6
Verse 5:
vande gurupadadvandvaṃ vaiṣṇavapadapaṅkajam |\\ kṣantvā cāgaṇitaṃ doṣamātmasānmāṃ karotu vai || 5||
vande guru-pada-dvandvaṃ I praise the two feet of my guru vaiṣṇava-pada-paṅkajam lotus feet of a Vaiṣṇava kṣantvā cāgaṇitaṃ doṣam forgiving and countless faults ātmasān māṃ karotu vai may he make me his own.
I praise the two feet of my guru, which are the lotus-like feet of a Vaiṣṇava. May he forgive my countless faults and make me his own. (5)
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