MS Subbulakshmi - Music woman

 MS. Subbulakshmi is a very popular name of Indian Music.. Bharata Ratna Subbulakshmi (Kunjamma to her family) was born in Madurai, Madras Presidency, India to veena player Shanmukavadiver Ammal and Subramania Iyer. Her grandmother Akkammal was a violinist.
She started learning Carnatic music at an early age and trained in Carnatic music under the tutelage of Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and subsequently in Hindustani music under Pandit Narayanrao Vyas. She also learned Sanskrit and Telugu under Dr. Nedunuri Krishnamurthy.
Her mother, from the devadasi community, was a music exponent and a regular stage performer, and Subbulakshmi grew up in an environment very conducive to musical learning. Her musical interests were also shaped by regular interactions with Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer, Mazhavarayanendal Subbarama Bhavathar and Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar.
 F. G. Natesa Iyer, an Indian National Congress leader from Tiruchirappalli during the Indian independence movement, organised the first ever public concert of M.S. Subbulakshmi.This was apparently in 1927, when Subbulaxmi was eleven years old. The performance was arranged in the 100 pillar hall inside theRockfort Temple, Tiruchirappalli; with Mysore Chowdiah on the violin and Dakshinamurthy Pillai on the mridangam.
 Subbulakshmi gave her first performance in 1929, at the prestigious Madras Music Academy when she was 13 years old . The performance consisted of singing bhajans (Hindu hymns)
The academy was known for its discriminating selection process, and they broke tradition by inviting a young girl as a key performer. Her performance was described as spellbinding and earned her many admirers and the moniker of musical genius from critics. Soon after her début performances, Subbulakshmi became one the leading Carnatic vocalists. In 1936 Subbulakshmi moved to Madras (now Chennai).[9] She also made her film debut in Sevasadan in 1938.

She began her Carnatic classical music training under her mother Shanmugavadivu; and later in Hindustani classical training under Pandit Narayan Rao Vyas. Subbulakshmi first recording was released when she was 10 years old. She gave her first public performance, at the age of eleven, in the 100 pillar hall inside the Rockfort Temple, Tiruchirappalli; with Mysore Chowdiah on the violin and Dakshinamurthy Pillai on the mriganga.
By the age of 17, Subbulakshmi was giving concerts on her own, including major performances at the Madras Music Academy, a prestigious centre for the study and promotion of Carnatic music. Performance in Carnatic music concerts, was until then, a domain, traditionally reserved for men. She performed a vast variety of devotional musical forms in different languages including Tamil, Kannada, Sanskrit, Panjabi, Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati and Marathi.
When the governor of Madras wanted the famous spiritual leader, Mata Sri Anandamayi Ma, to reside in his residence, Anandamayi Ma replied, "I will stay in the house of Subbulakshmi. She is Meera to me." Within two days, Sadasivam had special quarters built in their garden for Mata to give darshan and arranged for a new well to be dug nearby for fresh drinking water. Every evening thousands of people gathered there.
She travelled to London, New York, Canada, the Far East, and other places as India's cultural ambassador. Her concerts at Edinburgh International Festival of Music and Drama in 1963,Carnegie Hall, New York; the UN General Assembly on UN day in 1966, Royal Albert Hall, London in 1982. Festival of India in Moscow in 1987. were significant landmarks in her career.[

Yuktimallika of Sri Vadiraja Swamiji - Contents

Sri Vadirajaru was a great Yogi &a genius, who brought Madhva Shastra to commoners. See his Yuktimallika, at a glance. It proves in 5 Sourabhas, the Greatness of Sri Hari by Yuktis (Maxims )., Logic and  common sense. It is Philosophy of Common sense.

I am overwhelmed with these two Padyas from Yukti Mallika , which each sensible Madhva should read. I recite these two shlokas each day.

भक्त्या स्तुत्या विरक्त्या भजदमलजनौन्यत्यभूत्यर्पकाय

क्षित्यामत्यल्पभ्रुत्येश्वापि कुजन कुतौद्धत्यभूत्याजकाय ॥

कर्त्रे धर्त्रे च हर्त्रे हयमुखहरयेमुत्र पात्रे नमस्ते

तस्मै कस्मैचिदस्मन्मनसि धृतकथाविस्मृतौ स्मारकाय ॥१॥

A wonderful Mangalacharana by Prasangabharana teertharu ( Swamiji was given a title of an extempore poet of high order),  indeed. He prays Lord Hayagreeva with all devotion to remind him, what he might forget to write in this Book of Yuktis, to help Hari Bhaktas & Shut the mouth of Stupid Mayavadins. He is the Creator, Protector, and  Dissolves this Universe, and takes very important role in composing this work, Yukti Mallika, a Garland of Yuktis, compared to Jasmine flowers.

पारं भवाख्य्जलधे: भुवनैकसारं
 स्वैरं कृतोरुविधवेदपथप्रचारं ।

आरन्जितामरगणं सुखचिछरीरम्
 धीरं स्मरामि हृदि सत्यवतीकुमारम् ॥
 - युक्तिमल्लिका.

- I pray Lord Vedavyasa, who made Vedas available to us, can keep Gods & Humans happy by his grace, and has a form of Jnana, Ananda ( Sacchidananda) .

यत्पूर्वं त्वमपूर्वसिन्धुमतरत:
 मध्वाचलातदुद्यातस्शतयोजनं
 परमदससंशन्ति संत: क्शितौ ॥

चित्रं जैत्र ! भवच्छरित्रमधुना यद वेदवार्धिं
तरन्नित्यं कोटि सहस्रयोजनमपि त्वं राजवद्राजसे ॥॥

He Acharya! in all your three Avataras you have crossed th
e ocean. AS Hanuma, you had crossed the Ocean of Waters, as Bhimasena, the Ocean of Kourava army, as Madhva, you have indeed climbed up & down the Himalayas. You are the real Emperor of Vedanta Samrajya.

न वित्तैरुन्मत्ता न च कुहक दुर्मन्त्रबलिनो 

न वा मिश्रैर्मिश्रा न च कुजन साचिव्य सहिता: ॥

न दुस्शास्त्रं शस्त्रं विरसमुपजीव्योद्धतधियो 

हयग्रीवं देवं वयमिममुपास्येव कृतिन : ॥

- Sri Rajaru proclaims: We( I am ) are not attracted by money to write this, or inspired by wicked mantra Shakti, not for misleading public, with bad advisers, not based on any wicked Shastra learning, but know you all that we are composing this only by the grace of Lord Hayavadana & could write this work.

व्यासाय भवनाशाय श्रीषया गुनराशये ॥

ह्रुद्य्य शुद्धविद्याय माधवाय च नमो नाम : ॥॥

श्रीशस्ते सुश्रियं दद्यात् आयुर्वयुसुतप्रिय: : ॥

भूमिं ते वामनो दद्यात् हरीन्हन्तु नृकेसरी ॥॥

Yuktimallika has 5 Sourabhas:

1. Guna Sourabha 2. Shuddhi Sourabha 3. Bheda Sourabha 4. Vishva Sourabha 5. Phala Sourabha.

Contents : 

1. Guna Sourabha - Sarva gunapoornatva of Sri Hari,

 2. Shuddhi Sourabha - Dosha Dooratva,

 3. Jeeveshvara Bheda in Bheda Sourabha, 

4. jagat Janmadi Karanatva in 5. Vishva Sourabha  and  finally 5. Phala Sourabha details on Veda Apourusheyatva and Summary of Phaladhyaya of Brahma Sutra.

Yuktimallika has a commentary by Sri Surottama Tirtha, purvashrama brother of Vadiraja. 

about 2 weeks ago · Bangalore

Comment

Human Life is Precious

• 
  

  
  

  There are innumerable Stories in Mahabharata, the greatest Epic of the World. They are narrated by several Rishis who visited Pandavas during their exile in the forest. Some of them have a message. They are relevant even for the day. Prof. Narasimha Shastry, from the University of Mysore, has rewritten these shlokas in prose version, Kahashtakam, 8 stories of Mahabharatam. one such story is here. 

  This is a Story from Mahabharata. It was a remote village, with dry land and with very less opportunities for Agriculture. People suffered  from poverty and they had to get out of their town for a living. In this Village, there was a Brahmana by name Kashyapa. He went to a  Gurukulam, had formal Education, but he had no land to till, no Students to teach.  He was forced to live by begging alms as he had a large family to feed and support.  Every day he set out early in the morning for begging and returned in the noon.

  One noon, while he was on his begging rounds, slowly walking on a road, a rich man’s horse carriage was following him at a great speed. On some reason, the horse was distracted and the wheel of the chariot ran over the Brahmin’s left leg. He fell unconscious. Bleeding profusely, with pain and great difficulty, he crossed the road and sat on a rock. He was brooding over his misfortune. He could no longer beg. His children were very young. Cursing himself, he decided to commit suicide, as he felt he was useless to his family and  was a burden to them. Kashyapa crawled across and reached slowly to a lonely place to end his Life. Gods wanted to teach him a Lesson.

  Suddenly a Jackal appeared before him and spoke to him  like a human being! In great pain, he did not realize it must be an Angel. The Jackal said, “Oh the learned one, why are you into this heinous crime? You are learned, capable of advising Fools who do such things. What are you  achieving  by ending your precious human form gifted by God? You will again be born as an animal like me or even worser.  Instead, cure your pain by Patience and resume your work and look after your Family. The Jackal gave him an option.

  
  

  ‘If you can’t bear this pain, you can enter into my Form and I shall take your painful one. Kashyapa readily agreed. ‘Be it so ‘, he said and with the help of Jackal, took over the animal form and the Jackal took the painful, bleeding human form.

  In fact, Angel  Indra wanted to test the Brahmana’s  love for Life. Soon after the Brahmana had a moment’s joy, free from pain and walked freely in the forest. His happiness did not last long. A herd of Jackals arrived to greet the newcomer. Some of them licked his body with their foul smelling tongue, some sniffed him, others kissed him. Kashyapa was unable to live among Jackals. He felt the painful human form was better than this foul smelling animal form. Now he realized Gods might have put him to test.

  Kashyapa honestly prayed God to get back his earlier form, though painful and wanted to get rid of this Jackal’s body. The Gods were pleased and he was made to take over his wounded human form. In a few months, he was fit to work. He started a new Life, worked hard, cleared all his debts, and soon became a respectable Man of the Town. 

  He now  realized how precious the human form is!

  This Story has a message to all ages. 
• Make your lives happy than expecting happiness to come from somewhere. It lies within us. Explore it.  You will surely be happy.
• 29 March 2012

Shiva Stuti by Vyasa Tirtharu

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Madhwa & Aitareyayopanishad.

Madhwa Thought.

Sreemadacharya gave utmost importance to commenting on Aitareya a part of Mahairaeyopanishat & his Bhasya is lagest in volume among  his Bhashyas. In fact while teaching Aitareya he is believed to have disappeard among heavenly flowrs  by Gods showerd on him at Anateshvara Temple, where he wa teaching his diciples.
.
It starts fron Atmaa vaaare drashtavya: shrotavya: nidhidhyasitavya: Acharya takes special attention to Elucidate Vshnu Sarvottamatva here. He has literally interpreted the text unlke his style ofother commentaries.
It was presumed that  it was Acharya's own concoction. But when Ms of Shankara & Anandagiri were found it was doubly convinced the pains taken by Acharya to interporet the whole Upanishad is meaningful.
Etam hyeva mahatyukthe meemaamsante, This Uktha is identified with Brahman, Vishnu. Utthaapnaadukha naamaa sa eva prithiveesthita: - This 5 fold Uktha ( hymn) is explained  as 5 forms of Vishnu.  Vishnu, Narayana, SamkarshaNa, & Pradymna, Aniruddha
 Na kaaro balam SHa kaara: praaNa atmaa
Yevam RiShishabdena cha
vyavahriyamaaNaani naamaani VishNoREva |
Names of Rishis ultimately mean only Vishnu- Naamaanisarvaani Vchtya dheerO ( Bhaallaveya Shruti) Taittireeya Brahmana: Yamidramaahu: ....
He show us the way to Sarva shabda samanvaya. All words mean Brahman,  Vishnu in the Ultimate Sense. THe whole iof the Upanishad is nothing but extension of this thought;

सर्वैश्च वैदिकपदैरपि लोकशब्दै: मेधादि वारिधितलादि रवैस्च सर्वै: ।
एकोभिधेयपरिपूर्णगुण; प्रियोलं नारयणो मम सदैव स तुष्टिमेतु ॥

He concudes this Upanishad with this: Names of Gods, Rishis, even the roaring of ocean, thunder of cloud, noise of falling trees, Voice the Majesty of Vishnu.
the texts like Chakshurmitrsya Varunasyaagne: ... or   soorya aatmaa
jagatatshtuShashascha, show clearly that Vihnu, the inner rler is the Guiding principle of the Universe & shows  no Identitybetween Jeeva & Brahman.  whatsoever. There is highest Mysticism in this Upanishad, only understood by those who believe Aham -  Asu, the vitalforce in us, Aheya, unblemished & Atmaa= Brahman, the inner ruler. 

Madhva's Thought.

Sri    Madhvacharya gave utmost importance to commenting on Aitareya Upanishad,  a part of Mahaitaraeyopanisha,  his Bhashya is largest in volume among  his other Bhashyas. In fact , while teaching Aitareya he is believed to have disappeared amidst  heavenly flowers  showered  by Gods s on him at Anantheshvara Temple, Udupi, where he was teaching his disciples.

It begins: 
Atmaa vaaare drashtavya: shrotavya: nidhidhyasitavyah

 Acharya takes special attention to elucidate Vshnu Sarvottamatva here. He has literally interpreted the text unlike his style of other commentaries.
It was presumed  by some scholars, that  it was Acharya's own concoction. But when Ms of Shankara and  Anandagiri were found it was doubly convinced the pains taken by Acharya to interpret the whole Upanishad is meaningful.
Etam hyeva mahatyukthe meemaamsante, This Uktha is identified with Brahman, Vishnu. Utthaapnaadukha naamaa sa eva prithiveesthita: - This 5 fold Uktha ( hymn) is explained  as 5 forms of Vishnu.  Vishnu, Narayana, SamkarshaNa, & Pradymna, Aniruddha
 Na kaaro balam sha kaarah praaNa atmaa
Yevam RiShishabdena cha
vyavahriyamaaNaani naamaani VishNoREva |
Names of Rishis ultimately mean only Vishnu- Naamaanisarvaani Vchtya dheerO
 ( Bhaallaveya Shruti) Taittireeya Brahmana: Yamidramaahu: ....
He shows us the way to Sarva shabda samanvaya. All words ultimately mean Brahman, the whole idea of the Upanishad is nothing but extension of this thought;

सर्वैश्च वैदिकपदैरपि लोकशब्दै: मेधादि वारिधितलादि रवैस्च सर्वै: ।
एकोभिधेयपरिपूर्णगुण; प्रियोलं नारयणो मम सदैव स तुष्टिमेतु ॥

He concludes this Upanishad with this: Names of Gods, Rishis, even the roaring of ocean, thunder of cloud, noise of falling trees, Voice the Majesty of Vishnu.
the texts like Chakshurmitrsya Varunasyaagne: ... or   soorya aatmaa

jagatatshtuShashascha, show clearly that Vihnu, the inner rler is the Guiding principle of the Universe & shows  no Identity between Jeeva and Brahman.  whatsoever. There is highest Mysticism in this Upanishad, only understood by those who believe Aham -  Asu, the vital force in us, Aheya, unblemished and ; Atmaa= Brahman, the inner ruler. 

Jada Bharatopakhyanam - Bhagavatam.

Jada Bharata Upakhyanam

 

Bharata was the son of Vrishabha Deva,  an avatar of Sri Hari, in this Manvantara. . He was a great Jnani from childhood. he ruled his province well, passed away peacefully after donating all his wealth to the needy. While on his death bed, he remembered a young deer, whom he had rescued from a forest while he was on hunting spree, some time ago. The deer had lost its mother, and Bharata brought it to the Palace, took care of this innocent creature. He eventually died and after death, he took birth as a deer. Since he was a Jnani of highest order,  had the memories of his previous life.

As a deer, Bharata was roaming in the forest amidst the places where great Yogis & Rishis had their Ashramas, regularly heard their discourses and felt happy. One day he as a  deer,  died on the  banks of river Ganga. 

In his next Birth, he was born as son of a brahmana.  named again as Bharata. This time, he did not   show his wisdom,  and behaved like a foolish boy. People made fun of him, street boys pelted stones at him, some even   spit on him, which he never bothered. He lived in Sidhu desha, where he was born and started roaming wherever he liked. People  called him Jada Bharata. No one had time or interest to identify his depth of Spiritual knowledge looking at   his  external appearance. 

One day   it so happened that the King  of Sindhu Province, Rahugana,  was being carried  in a raoyal  Palanqin by four men. He saw Bharata, sitting idle in front of a house. The King's men pulled him, asked him to carry the King's carrier. As he was well built they felt happy that  they got a strong young man as servant.  Bharata joined others and carried the king’s palanquin with them. After some time, the palanqin lost its balance. The King was about to fall. As the carrier tilted.

The angry king  shouted at Bharata: 'Oh! I made a mistake in asking  an idiot like you to carry me, you eat and  sleep well, strong though old, why not you carry me properly?' Bharata heard all his abuses for a while and then spoke to the King:

Tvayoditam vyaktamavipralabdham – You are speaking nonsense.

Bhartuh sa me syat yadi Veera bhaarah - If I carry you, then the question of me feeling heavy arises. I am not carrying you.

Ganturyadi syat adhigamyamadhvaa-  If I wanted to go, then the question,   where to go arises. I am neither carrying you nor walking on my own, my limbs are taking me ahead on this   way. Neither I am well built nor skinny. Who are you speaking Sir? 

Ayam Jano naama chalan Prithivyaam - 

yah Parthivah paarthiva kasya hetoh ? 

tasyaapi changhryoradhigulpha janghaa

janooru madhyorashirondharaamsaah ||

- “You are telling me that you are the King, King for  whom? You  think you sit, and  I carry you, which is not true. My legs are supporting me, Above that, there are many organs which balance me like Stomach, waist, hips... shoulders, and palanqin above all this. I am not in fact carrying you at all!  Don’t speak like a fool, you are supposed to be a wise king. You think that I am the King of Souveera Desha.Is it true? It is a designation - Roodha Nama. It might go away any time from you. Rajasmi Sindhushviti Durmadhandhah - You feel that I am the King and hence   you are made blind with   your arrogance.”

The King now realised his mistake. He got down the carrier and  bowed to Bharata, and sought wisdom from him. He said: Forget that you are the King. The Supreme King is Him, Sri Hari, think of him. Today you rule, you might be killed any time in a war with an enemy, your son or enemy succedes you. This goes on and  on... Where is your Kingship? Instead think of Him, and surrender to Him for good. When you were in your mother's womb, were you a King then? After your death, does anyone calls you by that designation? Bharata enlightened the king by teaching him real Bhagavata dharma, the royal path for a meaningful life. King Rahoogana, realised  his mistakes and lived a better life thereof .

The KIng realised hismistake. He gotdown the carrier & bowed to BHarata, and sought wisdom from him. He sad: Forget that you are the KIng. . THe Supreme King is HIm, Sri Hari, think of him. Today you rule, you might br killed, your son or enemy sucedes you. THis goes on & on... Where is your Kingship? Instead think of Him, and surrender to Him forgood. You were in your mother's womb, were you KIng then? After your death, any one calls you by that designation?

King Rahoogana, . realised all his mistakes and lived a better life.