Miscellaneous Facebook posts & comments in October 2020

When author of post or comment is not mentioned, it should be assumed that it is me (Ravi S. Iyer).

To save time, I am usually not providing my FB post links but only contents. I am also not hyperlinking links. So readers will have to copy-paste links from this post onto a browser link box and then browse to that link.

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Interesting to see how Ramana ashramam top management (President) succession has worked over the decades with latest President taking over in June 2020!

Shared FB post: https://www.facebook.com/RamanaMaharshi/posts/10158585885684631

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This July 2020 Ramanashramam newsletter has more details: https://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/saranagati/Saranagathi_eNewsletter_July_2020.pdf

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Lata Mangeshkar singing (audio only with still pic of Lata) the famous Sri Ramachandra Kripalu bhajaman bhajan. Lataji is just awesome!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_xQ0ur9i24, 5 min. 6 secs.

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Anup Jalota singing it (audio): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlShDehRhQU

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Sung in a Carnatic music style: Sri Ramachandra - Goswami Tulasidas Bhajan - Prince Rama Varma, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9a7pS3yqwI, 10 min. 37 secs.

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A young girl singing it: Sri Ramachandra Kripalu | Vande Guru Paramparaam | Sooryagayathri, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyNSOu-Fl-k, 5 min. 23 secs.

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In the Hindi belt of India, it seems to me that Dassera is celebrated mainly as the day of Lord Ram's victory over evil demon king Ravana.

So in those parts, the bhajans on Dassera day are about Lord Ram.

Here's one that I enjoyed today (has quite a few ads that come up at times, and interrupt the video, which one has skip after mandatory viewing of 5 seconds or so): शुभ दशहरा स्पेशल भजन - राम जी के नॉनस्टॉप भजन - Nonstop Ram ji Ke Bhajan - Lord Ram Bhajan, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEyyMjeaD88, around half an hour.

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Today is Vijayadashami! Dashami means tenth (day of a month in Hindu calendar) and Vijaya means victory. As per Hindu solar calendar it is the tenth day of Kartik month. [Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijayadashami .]

There are two major Hindu festivals associated with this day. The Devi (mother goddess) worshippers view it as the day when Goddess Durga defeated the evil demon Mahishasura and worshippers of Lord Ram view it as the day Lord Ram (Avatar of Vishnu) defeated the evil demon king Ravana. [Note that many Hindus, like me, are very happy to worship both Goddess Durga and Lord Ram 🙂 .] In both cases, the great task of Avatars and divine beings (gods & goddesses) of restoration and protection of Dharma (ethical life) were achieved.

The wikipedia page of Vijyadashami is pretty informative. I have given below extracts from its introduction section:

Vijayadashami (IAST: Vijayadaśamī) also known as Dussehra, Dasara or Dashain is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin or Kartik, the sixth and seventh month of the Hindu Luni-Solar Calendar respectively, which typically falls in the Gregorian months of September and October.[4][5][6]

Vijayadashami is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of the Indian subcontinent.[7][1][8][4] In the southern, eastern, northeastern, and some northern states of India, Vijayadashami marks the end of Durga Puja, remembering goddess Durga's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura to restore and protect dharma.[4][9] In the northern, central and western states, the festival is synonymously called Dussehra (also spelled Dasara, Dashahara). In these regions, it marks the end of "Ramlila" and remembers god Rama's victory over the Ravan.

[Wiki References]

1. Fuller, Christopher John (2004). The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India. Princeton University Press. pp. 108–109. ISBN 978-0-69112-04-85.

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4. Encyclopedia Britannica 2015.

5. James G. Lochtefeld 2002, pp. 212–213, 468–469.

6. Encyclopedia Britannica Dussehra 2015.

7.  "Happy Dashain 2074". Lumbini Media. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.

8. James G. Lochtefeld 2002, p. 751.

9. James G. Lochtefeld 2002, pp. 468–469.

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[I thank Wikipedia and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above extract(s) from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]

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Devi Stotram: Mahishasura Mardini | K S Chithra | Traditional | 14:04, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDAdHblByBA, 14 min. 8 secs.

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[Durga Devi Stotram] Aigiri Nandini With Lyrics | Mahishasura Mardini | Rajalakshmee Sanjay | महिषासुर मर्दिनी स्तोत्र, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=442ewPgXHQ0

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Meaning of the stotram is given here (note that mouse-click on Sanskrit word shows the meaning of that word): https://www.greenmesg.org/stotras/durga/mahishasura_mardini_stotram.php

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Worship of Divine power in the form of the courageous and brave mother who protects, through song: Tune Mujhe Bulaya Sherawaliye | Mohammed Rafi | Aasha 1980 Songs| Jeetendra| Reena Roy, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK7eTIyJoOE, 6 min. 46 secs.

I just love this song-video for how beautifully it captures this mode of worship. I felt it appropriate to play it and share it on Navaratri.

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Another great Mata (Mother Goddess) song from Hindi filmworld: Chalo Bulawa Aaya Hai (HD) | Avtaar Song | Rajesh Khanna | Shabana Azmi | Hindi Song, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANyQiYlEkmk

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One of the things that I greatly admired, and continue to admire, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba for, was that, when it came to deep spiritual truths, in his public discourses itself, he would tell it like it is.

I had a look today at the back cover of this month's Sanathana Sarathi print magazine where I saw an example of such 'tell it like it is' message from Bhagavan. The attached pic shows the back cover.

The message heading is: Always Contemplate on God

The message text is: Many people think of God only when grief overtakes them; of course, it is good to do so; it is better than seeking the help of those who are equally liable to grief. But it is infinitely better to think of God in grief and joy, in peace and strife, in all weathers. The proof of the rain is in the wetness of the ground; the proof of Bhakti is the Santhi the Bhakta has - Santhi that protects him against the onslaughts of success and failure, fame and dishonour, gain and loss. - Baba

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The proof of Bhakti is in Santhi (peace/contentment) the Bhakta has! Not material wealth of the Bhakta or fame or power of the Bhakta! Bhakti leads (or should lead) to Santhi (peace/contentment). That's the (expected) outcome. 

What ultimately matters, is whether the Bhakta (devotee) has Santhi (peace/contentment) or not, and perhaps that's the only thing that really matters!

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In response to a comment received privately, I wrote (slightly edited):

Yes, famous doha! But that is different. It implies that sorrow will not afflict the Bhakta who prays to God when he/she is happy.

Bhagavan's words that I shared above do not say that. Bhagavan does not promise that there will be no sorrow for the Bhakta! That's what I really like about this message.

Even in loss, failure and sorrow, the Bhakta has to have Santhi through his Bhakti. That's the achievement. That's the proof. That's the accomplishment of the accomplished Bhakta.

Of course, I am not in that class of Bhaktas.

But India has had many such great Bhaktas.

Maharashtra's Tukaram is an example of such great Bhakti giving Santhi even when he faced huge financial and other challenges like family challenges.

Associated FB post has a pic: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2974166206133270

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I think that is an important part of Sannyasa Dharma - to not stay with one family for long as then he/she becomes a burden on that family. ... Not easy to become a sannyasi ***who follows*** such sannyasa dharma.

Shared post: https://www.facebook.com/HinduRuss/posts/1233510810369150 which says, "A sannyasi is not supposed to stay in one place for long.

He has to preach continuously without being a burden on one family you accepts him as guest."

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Masterful rendition of Marathi bhajan Majhe Maher Pandhari by the great Bhimsen Joshi, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT-HB67NVLE. I felt that he has sung with a lot of devotion towards Vitthal Rakhumayi, besides his awesome Hindustani classical music vocalist expertise. And I have seen how much devotion there is in Maharashtra for Vitthal Rakhumayi. All of that makes this song & rendition an absolutely wonderful combination for me.

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What enchants vast numbers of people and keeps them on the path of God is devotional songs. There is just no contest between spiritual philosophy and devotional songs when it comes to mass following. Devotional songs are far, far more popular than spiritual philosophy.

As an Indian Hindu, I am fascinated to see how Hindu devotional songs (bhajans) have attracted Westerners in large numbers, and some other foreigners including from Africa but in smaller numbers. It is just great to see some of them be accomplished lead singers. Here's one such bhajan by Westerners that I enjoyed today.

Bhaja Govindam | Kirtan Live, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gvy46ySYfM, around 10 mins.

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