Krishnam Vande Jagatgurum: 01/04/2009

Whats the Use of Performing a Bhajan, whats in it for me....the eternal question???

The following code of conduct is ideal for those who are aspiring to sing Bhajans. This is not an intention to slight someone or demean anyone at all. Radhe Krishna!

Way to Sing Bhajans

Bhajans and the River Cauvery

FOR THOSE who perhaps know the river Cauvery as a mere subject of dispute between politicians and farmers, water is important only in it's most mundane sustaining power. The waters of the Cauvery has for more than a thousand years fed

Nama Kowmudhi

One day, Sri Sri Sri Bodendral asked the boys playing on the dry river bed of Veerasozhan to bury him in the sand. As usual, the boys thought that he will come out of thesand pit. This time, he wanted Jeeva Samadhi and did not come back. He reached the Lord"s feet. Floods came and no one knew whether he was washed away or was alive. Three hundred Years went by. Marathanallur Sathguru wanted to know as to what happened to this revered Acharya. On one hot summer day, Sathguru did Anga Prathkshinam on the hot, dry river bed. As his body hit one location, he heard the loud chantings of Rama Naamam. Sathguru Venkataramana Sastrigal stopped there and dug up this area . Lo and Behold! He found the missing volume of Nama Kowmudhi, which was considered lost until then. He brought it back with Koil Maryadai and placed it in the Maruthanallur Bhajana Matam and offered Puja to the sacred Grantham and thru that to Sri Ramachandra worshipped by BhodendraaL..He continued the Bhajanais in front of the Sacred book of Nama Kowmudhi from then on.

Story of the Nama Mahamantram

Once Sri Sri Sri Bodendral Swamigal was going from village to village to bless the people with spiritual gains by initiating them into the continuous chanting ofthe Divine Names. Sri Sri Sri Bodendral Swamigal was clad in saffron and was wearing a long oordvapundra tilak on his forehead. He had a calm and pleasant smile on his countenance, and was wearing a rosary of Tulasi beads, holding the staff of a saint and was filled with compassion for all beings. He was chanting ceaselessly `Shri Rama, Rama, Rama' with his eyes drenched with tears of spiritual joy. He was seen in a state of ecstasy, hairs standing on end. Seeing Sri Sri Sri Bodendral Swamigal in this state, a brahmana paid his respects to him and humbly invited him to have a meal in his house. Shri Bhagavannama Bodhendra accepted the request of the large-hearted brahmana and went to his house. That blessed brahmana bathed the feet of the yati and offered him worship, with tears of joy drenching his face. That brahmana fed Sri Sri Sri Bodendral Swamigal with all earnestness and respect. While the sage was having his meal, he was sitting near him reciting the Upanishads. In the meantime the five-year old dumb son of that brahmana sought various dishes by gestures. The compassionate yatishwara became very sad to see that dumb child and he shed tears of sympathy. `Alas! How will this child be able to do kirtan of the Divine Names of Shripati (the Lord of Devi Lakshmi), the Ocean of Mercy? Is not the chanting of the Divine Names the only panacea for men in this Kaliyuga who engage in varied sinful activities? Oh! This dumb boy will not be able to sing the Divine Names of Shri Hari. How will he attain spiritual well-being here and now? Thus becoming sad, Sri Sri Sri Bodendral Swamigal got up from his seat, washed his hand and went to the verandah of the house. At that time, the brahmana prostrated himself before the Swamigal with ardent devotion and tried to console him, saying that all the beings of the world reap what they have sown in their previous births. After the ascetic left that place, without delay that dumb boy eagerly took the remnants of his prasad. Immediately that boy gained divine knowledge and started dancing, singing the Divine Names, `Rama' and `Krishna' with abiding devotion. Finding that young boy chanting the Divine Names thus, the brahmana was surprised and he became immensely happy. From that day, approaching the preceptor Sri Sri Sri Bodendral, that boy rendered him all possible service with affection and became blessed with spiritual well-being.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Nama Siddhanta

Sri Bhagavannama Bodhendra Saraswati was born in Mandana Misra Agraharam at Kanchi as the son of one Kesava Panduranga. Bhoddendra's former name was Purushottama. It was he who stressed the efficacy of devotion as a means to liberation in Kali. He therefore undertook the great task of Nama Siddhanta, or establishing the supreme efficacy of reciting the names of Bhagavan in many of his writings, chiefly in Namamrta Rasayana and Namamrta Rasodaya. His mission of Nama Siddhanta was pursued with equal vigor by Sridhara Venkatesa, or Ayyaval of Tiruvisainallur and by Sadguru Swami of Marudanallur. It was the Nama Siddhanta of Bodhendra that was ultimately responsible for the evolution of Bhajana Sampradaya as an institution in the religious life of the Hindu community in South India. Sri Bodhendra performed Tatanka Pratistha at Jambukeswaram and while returning to Kanchi he attained videha mukti at Govindapuram on Full Moon day in the month of Proshtapada of the cyclic year Prajotpatti (1692 AD). It is said the spiritual presence of Bodhendra still abides at his Adhisthana at Govindapuram. It is said that in the calm silence of the night a melodious voice uttering Rama Nama is heard rising from subdued tones to a crescendo, and then fading into silence again. Sri Sri Sri Marudhanallur Sadguru Swamigal actually codified the Dakshina Sampradaya Bhajans by collecting from various sources, places and formed the paddathi. Later on many Great Bhagavathas from Thanjavur and Pudukottai district gave better shape to it. The Most important among many others who were responsible for this was Pudukottai Sri Gopalakrishna Satguru Swamigal.

Naamasankeerthanam

Radhe Krishna!!!

Naama Sankeerthana is simply to chant the name of Lord Hari. Music is the simplest and surest possible way to be able to stir the bhakthi within the soul which otherwise is unfathomable and intangible. The name of the Bhagavan when sung is like honey mixed with milk and the feeling of exhilaration that is felt within the depths of our soul

Saying Rama Nama even once would do! not thrice!

Sri Viswadhikendra Saraswati Swamigal (Athma Bodendral) one day called Sri Bhagavan Nama Bodendra Saraswati Swamigal and asked him to go out to the world and spread the greatness of the Divine Name of God. He said, ‘the Scholars (Vidwans) are well learned and would question the statement that mere Divine Name can lead to liberation. You are to properly argue with them based on Scriptures and establish the greatness of Divine Name.”
He instructed his disciple to go to Puri Kshetra and meet a Mahan by the name Lakshmidhara Kavi in order to obtain the book “Bhagavan Nama Kaumudi” which dealt with the greatness of Bhagavan Nama. The Guru asked him to write Granthas based on this Text.
Adhering to his guru’s words, Bodendra Saraswati set out to Puri. It was about midnight when he reached Lakshmidhara Kavi’s home. Not willing to disturb the household at night, the ascetic rested in the pyol outside the house.
That night, a strange incident happened. A Brahmin accompanied by a woman, whose form and features does not resemble a Brahmin lady in those days, knocked the door of Sri Lakshmidhara Kavi. A young man came out of the house and enquired what they wanted. The visitor said that he had a doubt that he wanted clarified from Lakshmidhara Kavi. The young man said that he was Lakshmidhara Kavi ‘s son, Jagannatha Kavi. He said that his father was out of town. However he had taught him all the Shastras and that he could clarify the visitor’s doubt. The Brahmin said, ‘I hail from South India . I went on a pilgrimage to the north and when I returned, could not find my wife. She was abducted. It is just now that I found her. However, she does not have the form and features of a Brahmin anymore. I wanted to know if I could lead a family life with this lady again.”
Jagannatha Kavi immediately said, ‘Tomorrow morning, take her to the pond adjoining the Jagannath Temple . Dip her in the pond chanting the “Rama” Nama thrice. When she emerges, she will be purified and you can lead family life with her again. His mother, who peeped from the house, corrected him saying that, uttering Rama Nama once would do!
Sri Bodendra was taken aback witnessing this incident. He immediately introduced himself to them and requested them for the book and studied it thoroughly.
The next morning, the whole city was gathered around the pond adjoining the temple. The Brahmin brought the lady and dipped her in the pond chanting the Taraka Mantra. To everyone’s surprise, when the woman emerged out of water, she had shed her current form, and had exactly the same form and features when she lived with the Brahmin earlier, clearly illustrating the power of the Rama Nama. To prove that she had been purified by the Rama Nama, Sri Bodendra Swamigal asked her to cook the meals for the day, and he himself partook of it.
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare