Tag: Ram

Who is Hanuman?

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Recently we enjoyed celebrating Hanuman Jayanti, the birthday of Hanumanji. In preparing for this very special day, I took some time to clarify in my mind what Hanuman – the superhero of the Ramayan epic – meant to me. After continuing to reflect on this during the 108 Hanuman Chalisas that we sang that day, I noted the following:

That force that roars silently from within, urging you, pushing you, to achieve absolute perfection in life – to love unconditionally, to serve without expectation, to surrender and offer every action to a higher noble Ideal.

That flame that, in the depths of your assumed despair, or at the heights of your alleged joy, will illuminate the path back home and irradicate the folly of your mind.

That strength that seeks to protect the good and wise that will nurture your vision, and crush all others that will distract you.

That form that meditates only upon the Truth, and is none other than that Truth.

That is Hanuman.

That Ideal is Ram.

Radhe Govinda Ram

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Radhe Govinda Ram, Radhe Govinda Ram

Bolo mara hari jano, Radhe Govinda Ram
Sing, my fellow seekers, Radhe Govinda Ram

—–

Pal pal ayoush onchu thay che
Second by second, this life shortens,

Hari bhajavano a samay vayo jay che
As it does, our time to sing Hari’s glories disappears

Hari bhajan vina nathin aram,
Without singing His glory there is no peace

Bolo mara hari jano Radhe Govinda Ram

—–

Sara natthara karamo kariya
We have done good deeds and bad deeds

Anhkar koti ma sarve bharya
In the body of the ego, these impressions have been contained

Anhkar chori thame bhajo Sita Ram
Throw away this ego and sing “Sita Ram”!

Bolo mara hari jano Radhe Govinda Ram

—–

Chare yug ma avatar dharia
In each of the four Yugas (eras) we have worshipped His avatars

Lakhsh chorasi fera faria
We’ve travelled through the cycle of 84 lakh births (to reach here)

Ram bhajan vina nathin aram,
Without singing the glory of Ram there is no peace

Bolo mara hari jano Radhe Govinda Ram

—–

Vo nahin karta, vo nahin bhogta
You reap what you sow

Karma taran far savne marta
We all receive the fruits of our actions according to karma

Das Vijay kahe Sita Ram,
Das Vijay sings “Sita Ram”

Bolo mara hari jano Radhe Govinda Ram

————–
About this Bhajan
This bhajan, composed by Vijay Das is probably one of my favourite and was sung regularly by my grandfather, Shree Damji Devji Pattni. I find its words are entirely self-expanatory and so powerful in making one take a step backwards and “see the bigger picture”, both in terms of the nature and limitations of our own ego and from the perspective from karma. Lovingly surrender all to the Lord in an instant though just reciting His name. Shree Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram!!

Achyutam Keshavam

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Achyutam Keshavam Krishna Damodaram,
Rama naraynam Janaki-vallabham,

(praising the Lord Krishna, with different names of Vishnu)
Kaun kehta hai Bhagvan aate nahi
Tum Meera ke jaise bulate nahi, … Achyutam …

Who says God does not come? You don’t call Him with the devotion of Meera


Kaun kehta hai Bhagvan khaate nahi,
Ber Shabri ke jaise khilate nahi, … Achyutam …

Who says God does not eat? You don’t feed him like how Shabari fed him


Kaun kehta hai Bhagvan Sote nahi,
Maa Yashoda ke jaise sulate nahin, … Achyutam …

Who says God does not sleep? You don’t make him sleep like how Mother Yashoda did


Kaun kehta hai Bhagvan naachte nahi,
Tum Gopi ke jaise nachaate nahin, Achyutam…

Who says God does not dance? You don’t make him dance like how Gopis did

_

About this Bhajan
This wonderful bhajan is so simple and yet conveys such a beautiful message. We often expect the Lord to come running at our beck and call, but how often do we show Him the same unconditional love He shows us? If we show and live with the kind of love shown by these saints, surely we will see only His love any every word, every thought and every action. Their love did not ask for anything in return, but was simply expressed for what it was – whether it was the devotion of Meerabai, or the dance of the Gopis, this love was so intense that nothing else could possibly remain besides this love, and all other desires and impressions were eliminated. Through just their bhakti, they became one with Him.

Kya Sunder Tera Naam

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Nārāyan….. Nārāyan…..
Nārāyan, Nārāyan, kyā sunder térā nāam

Narayan, Narayan, how sweet is your name

Svāsé svāsé sumiran karilé, vrath svās math khoi
Kyā bharosā svāsa kā, yā phir āvan hoi na hoi

Breath by breath remember his name, waste not a single breath
What trust is there in breath, that another breath will come


Vrindāvan mé gopio, gāyun, vyuksh bolé nāam
Krishnā Krishnā, Rādhā vallabh, murli manohar Shyām

In Vrindavan, gopis, cows, and trees whisper his name
Krishna Krishna, Radha’s love, Shyam to whose flute the mind is lost


Draupadi né jab tumhé pukārā sāari āane badāi
Nāam ke lekar vish bi piy gaya, dekho Mirā bāi

When Drapuadi remembered your name, her saari become eternally long
Taking your name she even drank poison, our beloved Mirabai


Rām bolun yā Shyām bolun, ék vinanthi hé
Janam janam mé térā sunder nāam ratthé rahengé

Whether I sing Ram or I sing Shyam, I have only one wish
(that) For every life I am reborn, your sweet name stays on my lips


About this bhajan
This is a bhajan I have written, or should really say assembled as I have borrowed many of the words from some beautiful written works or bhajans. The first verse is taken from a book called Hari Ras (as sung by Shree Navin Pattni). The third verse is also from a bhajan written by Narsi Metha – “Shree Radhe Govinda”.

[EDIT] Listen to the track
You can hear a recording of this track that was done in 2017: