Post by Jagannāth Miśra Dās on Mar 10, 2022 6:41:53 GMT -6
ଲକ୍ମୀ ପୁରାଣ
The Laksmī Purāṇa.
A very short sample taken from the Laksmī Purāna, written by Balarāma Das, in Oriya, sometime in the early 1500’s.
The Laxsmī Purāna is the inventive genius and spirit of Balarāma Dās. The līlā is set in Puri. One day Laxsmī leaves the Śrī Jagannāth temple, gently pacing around Puri and its neighbouring villages in the modest guise of an elderly looking brāhman widow; she strays, her lotus feet now devoid of anklets, into the house of a brāhman lady, but only accepts an invitation to dine at the house of a candālinī. On her return to the Śrī Mandira, Lord Jagannāth asks Lord Balarāma to banish her from the temple for her transgression of dining at the home of a candālinī. Laxsmī deserts the temple; and as a result all the cooking stops. Eventually hunger compels Lord Jagannāth and Lord Balarāma to leave the temple in search of Laxsmī; and near starvation forces them to eat at the house of a candālinī, who is none other than Laxsmī herself in disguise; and this brings about the reconciliation of Laxsmī, who is received back into the temple with decent reverence.
Some say the Laxsmī Purāna is unique by fashioning the goddess into the main protagonist of the narrative, rather than the accustomed heroic male protagonists who dominate most Purānic accounts; and perhaps engendered and augmented more respect for women in the social climate of his age. As Laxsmī initially went for her “walk around līlā” on a Thursday, this day is reserved exclusively for Laxsmī pujā; and it is still believed that Laxsmī wanders around in disguise on Thursdays, and the Thursdays that fall in the month of Mārgaśira are considered particularly sacred for Laxsmī-pujā in Orissa. The Laxsmī Purāna also advocates many rules and observances strongly recommended for propitiating and securing the favour of Laxmī; and likewise habits to be given up if her grace is to successfully gained. If one loses her grace, one will be forced to wander without food, just like Lord Jagannāth and Lord Balarāma had to; and everyone is familiar with, and has no doubt read, the Laxsmī Purāna in Orissa, which remains one of Balarāma’s unique contributions.
ଲକ୍ମୀ ପୁରାଣ
namaste kamalā māgo sāgara dullaṇī
namaste namste laksmī viṣnuanka gharanī (1)
Respects unto Kamalā, the lotus she!
Most fair bright daughter of the milky sea.
Respects again and yet again most sweet Laksmī
You are Lord Visnu’s precious gharanī (1)
namaste kamalāmāgo ati dayavatī
sthāvara jangama kīṭa ādi pālu niti (2)
tora dayābale māgo daridra janara
huai acala bitta jaṇai kuvera (3)
Greetings Kamalā, full of sweet mercy,
The still and moving beings that we see,
Including even insects you maintain.
By strength of your good grace the poor may gain,
The treasures and riches Kuvera enjoys. (2-3)
tora drohījane māgo anna na milai
jete arjile kebhen peta na pūrai (4)
Those averse to you, despite all their ploys,
And high worship, unfed remain always. (4)
tohara carita mana dei je śuṇai
kiabā bhakati bhābe sarvadā guṇai (5)
tāhāra daridrapaṇa jāe dūra hoi
sarvadā tāku prasanna heu mahāmāyī (6)
Who hears this tale of you will spend their days,
In bhakti bhāva and with all virtue will be crowned.
And far from poverty will now be found,
And Mahāmayī’s grace forever find. (5-6)
eṇu to caraṇe māgo aśeṣa praṇām
karichi pūrāa ghare mora manaskāma (7)
to carita kichite muin karibi racana
jagata jananī bāre dia divyajñāna (8)
Countless pranāms to your feet mother kind,
Just one time please grant my heartfelt desire,
To write of your tale I now do aspire,
Universal mother grant me wisdom. (7-8)
dineka nārada parāśara muni dui
bhrami bhrami eka grāme praveṣile jāi (9)
Once, Nārada and Parāśara did come
And enter a village as they did stray,(9)
sehidina mārgaśīra māsa gurubāra
parva paḍithilā sarva puravāsīnkara (10)
It was Thursday, Mārgaśira, a day
In Puri for festive rites and fun. (10)
prati gharadwāra gomayare lipā hoi
laksmī pādapadma cita padithilā tahin (11)
nārīmāne snānasāri pindi jhīnbāsa
laksmīnka pūjare sarve hoichanti baṣa (12)
Everyone’s doorway was spread with cow dung
And Laksmī’s lotus footprints are drawn there,
Completing their bath the women with care
Dress in silk robes and all sit together. (11-12)
brāhmaṇankṭhāru je candāla parijante
laksmīnka pūjāre rata achanti samaste (13)
hulahuli ṣabadare pūrichi gagana
dekhi e utsavarīṭi bidhātā nandana (14)
From Candālas to the Brāhmanas clever,
All are now busy with Laksmī’s homage.
Hula-huli fills the sky and village,
As Brahma’s son sees the festive fever. (13-14)
pacāranta parāśara muninku udanata
kaha kaha tapīvara e kisa carita (15)
Nārada asked Parāśara, “O say,
Best of Tapasvī’s, what is this fine day? (15)
brāhmana candāla ādi samasta jātire
karuchānti ki utsava ananda matire (16)
What festival makes busy every caste,
From Candālas and Brāhmanas with deep joy?”(16)
keun vrata ki upasa aṭe ehā nāma
kahaku karanti pūjā tāra ki niyama (17)
eha śuṇi parāṣara hoi hasa hasa
kahanta vacana dhīre ṣuṇa vidhiśiṣya (18)
“What kind of vow is this? And just who
Is their worship being offered unto?
And what is the name of this vow?” This heard,
Parāśara smiled and gently said,
“Now listen, O student of lord Brahmā”. (17-18)
e dhāmāṇikā gurubāra je aṭai
laksmī devīnkara pūjā e vrata aṭai (19)
In this Dhāma, Thursdays have been reserved,
Just for Laksmī Devī’s pujā and rites (19)
sabumāsamānankre mārgaśira sāra
tahire paḍai jeuṅ jeuṅ gurubāra (20)
Of all the months Mārgaśira is best,
And all the Thursdays that fall in that month. (20)
laksmīnkara priya sehi bāramāna jāṇa
sabuṭhāru ādya gurubāraṭi pradhāna (21)
Know that these days are dear unto Laksmī,
Especially the first Thursday is best. (21)
eka dine śukala daśmī gurubāra
paḍile sudaśāvrata hue se dinara (22)
On a Thursday on śukla daśamī,
The sudaśā vrata begins from this day. (22)
laksmīnkara atipriya aṭai se vrata
ehākahī parāśara hele maunavrata (23)
Know this vow is dear to Laksmī herself.”
Saying this Parāśara fell silent. (23)
puṇi tāhānku puchile brahmānka kumara
laksmīvrata karithile marttye keun nara (24)
tahhinru se keun śubhaphala labhiachi
laksmīdrohī hoikari ke dukha pāichi (25)
Then Nārada asked of the blessed good fruit,
Attained on earth by those who keep this vow,
And to tell just what misery awaits
Those adverse unto goddess Laksmī? (24-25)
eha sabu mo āgare kahata gosāin
śuṇibāku tāhā citte śradhhā upujai (26)
Then tell me, master, all such fine details,
Faith arises within to hear you speak. (26)
nārada vacana śuṇi paraśara muni
kahanta haraṣa citte sumadhura vāṇī (27)
Hearing Nārada talk, Parāśara
In joy these sweet words now said unto him. (27)
(….TO BE CONTINUED.)
Balarāma Dās, or Matta (mad) Balarama Das, as he is also referred to, was the eldest of the Pañca-Sakhās. Acyutānanda, in his Uḍaya-Kahāni, gives the actual date for his birth in 1480. He was a sudra. His father’s name was Somanāth, who was a Purāna-Paṇdā, (proficient in the study and teaching of the Purānas, and this was his main occupation), and his Mother was Manomaya Devī. In his Catusa-Gupta, Balarāma Dās writes that his father was a mantri-patra (minister) of Gajapati Pratāprudra Deva; and according to some Pañca-Sakhā scholars, this suggests he may have frequented the court of the Gajapati with his father as a child. He was born in a village just outside of Konark, yet Acyutānanda writes that he was born in Jajpur, in Orissa, and moved to a village outside of Puri later. He apparently left home at the age of thirteen.
The following 36 works were written by Balarāma Dās.
(1) jagamohana-dandi-ramayana (2) brahma-purana (3) mahabharata (4) candi-purana (5) laxsmi-purana (6) kurala-purana (7) namaratna-gita (8) mrugini-stuti (9) durga-stuti (10) kanta-koili (11) kamala-locana-cautisa (12) bara-masi (13) bhava-samudra (14) bata-avakasha (15) bhakti-rasamrita-sindu (16) sabha-vinode (17) rama-bibha (18) krusna-lila (19) rasa-keli (20) brahmanda-bhugola (21) sarira-bhugola (22) beda-parikrama (23) arjuna-gita (24) gana-nistarana-gita (25) bhagavad-gita (26) amarakosha-gita (27) gupta-gita (28) chatisa-gupta-gita (29) garuda-gita (30) birata-gita (31) ganesh-vibhuti-gita (32) gita-sara (33) nila-sundara-gita (34) kali-bharata (35) baula-adhyaya (36) panasa-chori-grantha-samudra-pradhana.
Matta Balarāma Dās: (1480-1534). Oriya Poet.