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Katyayani A soothing Begada keeps me occupied as I travel through stressful city traffic. Tyagarajaya namaste, a composition of Muthuswamy Deeksh*tar plays in my mind, rent-free throughout the day. The Vagge…

Notes to self
-Carthik Shankar

Other than developing affinity towards the language and enjoying poetic elements, I believe that chanting stotras help in strengthening faith and devotion towards the Almighty and help us try imbibe divine qualities.

Kshetras and the intense powerful vibrations emanating from sacred spots play a major part in realising knowledge stored in the form of stotras (undoubtedly with the grace of the Guru).

It's been a long time desire to visit Kollur and have darshan of Bhagavati as Mookambika. As we drove through thick forests and winding roads, spotting lots of fauna , I had moist eyes, awestruck, imaging the glory of Devi through nature- She being the sole creator of such immaculate Brahmandas, suitable, wonderful
creatures, as the sole protector , giving nourishment, comforting shelter and comforts and the sole end unto which all this is going to retract.

How could such glorious Jagadamba 's glory be boxed into words? Even if we try to, will it be doing justice to Her Karuna?

I was immediately reminded of 3 instances from Devi Mahatmya as a fitting answer to "know" Jagan-mata's resplendence.

1. Markandeya Rishi's answer for Suratha's questions about Mahamaya

ऋषिरुवाच ॥ 60 ॥
नित्यैव सा जगन्मूर्तिस्तया सर्वमिदं ततम् ॥ 61 ॥
तथापि तत्समुत्पत्तिर्बहुधा श्रूयतां ममः ॥ 62 ॥
देवानां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थम् आविर्भवति सा यदा।
उत्पन्नेति तदा लोके सा नित्याप्यभिधीयते ॥ 63 ॥
योगनिद्रां यदा विष्णुर्जगत्येकार्णवीकृते।
आस्तीर्य शेषमभजत् कल्पान्ते भगवान् प्रभुः ॥ 64 ॥
तदा द्वावसुरौ घोरौ विख्यातौ मधुकैटभौ।
विष्णुकर्णमलोद्भूतौ हन्तुं ब्रह्माणमुद्यतौ ॥ 65 ॥
स नाभि कमले विष्णोः स्थितो ब्रह्मा प्रजापतिः
दृष्ट्वा तावसुरौ चोग्रौ प्रसुप्तं च जनार्दनम् ॥ 66 ॥
तुष्टाव योगनिद्रां तामेकाग्रहृदयः स्थितः
विबोधनार्धाय हरेर्हरिनेत्रकृतालयाम् ॥ 67 ॥
विश्वेश्वरीं जगद्धात्रीं स्थितिसंहारकारिणीम्।
निद्रां भगवतीं विष्णोरतुलां तेजसः प्रभुः ॥ 68 ॥

Rishi said:
She is eternal, embodied as the universe. By her all this is pervaded. Nevertheless she incarnates in manifold ways; hear it from me. When she manifests herself in order to accomplish the purposes of the devas, she is said to be born in the world, though she is eternal. At the end of a kalpa when the universe was one ocean( with the waters of the deluge) and the adorable Lord Vishnu stretched out on Sesa and took the mystic slumber, tow terrible asuras, the well-known Madhu and Kaitabha, sprung into being from the dirt of Vishnu's ears, sought to slay Brahma; Brahma, the father of beings, was sitting in the lotus( that came out) from Vishnu's navel. Seeing these two fierce asuras and Janardhana asleep, and with a view to awakening Hari, (Brahma) with concentrated mind extolled Yoganidra, dwelling in Hari's eyes. The resplendent Lord Brahma extolled the incomparable Goddess of Vishnu, Yoganidra, the queen of cosmos, the supporter of the worlds, the cause of the sustentation and dissolution alike (of the universe).

2. Brahma stuti
यया त्वया जगत् स्रष्टा जगत्पातात्ति यो जगत्।
सो‌Sपि निद्रावशं नीतः कस्त्वां स्तोतुमिहेश्वरः ॥ 80 ॥
विष्णुः शरीरग्रहणम् अहमीशान एव च
कारितास्ते यतो‌Sतस्त्वां कः स्तोतुं शक्तिमान् भवेत् ॥ 81 ॥

Oh you who are the soul of everything, how can I extol you (I have extolled you with my little capacity)? By you, even he who creates, sustains and devours the world, is put to sleep. Who is here capable of extolling you? Who is capable of praising you, who have made all of us- Vishnu, myself and Shiva- take our embodied forms.

3. Narayani Stuti

The Narayani Stuti - the part I enjoy the most in the entire text has a beautiful text that really moves and reassures me whenever I feel troubled.

देव्युवाच॥36॥
वरदाहं सुरगणा परं यन्मनसेच्चथ।
तं वृणुध्वं प्रयच्छामि जगतामुपकारकम्॥37॥

The Devi said:
'O Devas, I am prepared to bestow a boon. Choose whatever boon you desire in your mind, for the welfare of the world. I shall grant it.'

The word जगतामुपकारकम् touches me everytime I chant this sloka, reminding me to be less selfish and pray to Devi for the well being and upliftment of all- materialistically and spiritually.

On a deeper level, I understand the Devas to be our senses, conquering which the Atman(Chandika) can be gradually realised. The "वर" that Devi is ready to give here is Mukti/ realisation of Jiva-Brahma aikya!

शङ्खं चक्रगदाऽभयं च दधतीं सारस्वतार्थप्रदां
तां बालां त्रिपुरां शिवेनसहितां ध्यायामि मूकाम्बिकाम्!!

May Goddess Mookambika's incessant shower of grace fill each one of us! 🌸🙏

Why are you riding the Bull?
🐂
Out of various vahana-s Jaganmata rides over in her various forms, the Bull or Nandi has been very dear to me for quite sometime and this day being the one She boards the divine Bull in Madurai as a part of the ongoing Chitirai tiruvizha, here are possible reasons given by great Devotess of the Indian soil.
Adi Shankaracharya in his poetic masterpiece Anandalahari says:
वृषो वृद्धो यानं विषमशनमाशा निवसनं
श्मशानं क्रीडाभूर्भुजगनिवहो भूषणविधिः
समग्रा सामग्री जगति विदितैव स्मररिपोः
यदेतस्यैश्वर्यं तव जननि सौभाग्यमहिमा ॥ १६॥
Parameshwara is famed as the destroyer of Manmatha, the God of Love. His vehicle is an old bull. Poison is his food. He wears directions as his clothes.The cremation ground is his playground. He wears snakes as ornaments. These facts are well known to the whole world.
Oh Divine Mother, there is no doubt that in spite of all these, his Aiswarya or overlordship is solely attributable to your Soubhagya or great auspiciousness.
Lord Shiva is usually regarded as a fearful wrathful God and even remembering his attributes makes even a strong willed person tremble. In spite of these attributes, He is considered as the embodiment of auspiciousness and prosperity- Shañkara!
The devotee in Adi Shankaracharya concludes that this is attributable to the grandeur and greatness
the Soubhagya of the Divine Mother, who is the consort of Shiva.

The 33rd Peethadhipati of Sringeri Sharada Peetam, Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati Mahaswami asks Jagadamba in the following verse in his Sharannavaratri Sharadastotram.

शार्दूलचर्म परिवीक्ष्य भवाङ्गसंस्थ
भीतः पलाय्य तव सन्निधिमागतः किम् ।
उक्षाधिपः सरसिजासनधर्मपत्नि
ब्रह्मद्य संशयनिमग्नमतेर्ममाशु ||
Consort of Brahma! Has this bull, rushed to your sannidhi, frightened by the tiger skin covering Śiva? To a doubtful person like me, can you explain it soon?

What do you think is the reason for Jagadamba to board a Bull ? 🌸

With Maha Shivaratri around the corner, sharing my humble offering at the lotus feet of Parameshwara! 🙏❤️🧿

Chandramoulisha Stotram based on Shiva Panchakshari Mantra. 🙏

Chandramoulisha Stotram | Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswami A prayer to Lord Shiva/ Chandramouleshwara by Sringeri Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswami with the letters of the Shiva Panc...

https://youtube.com/shorts/QKY1VqGnjtQ?si=nCj683rcEAPBV5Ep

Sri Kamalambike | Ghanta | Sumitra Vasudev #shots #carnaticmusic #muthuswamidiksh*tar #srividya