Guest guest Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 That is so profoundly beautiful poem Michael. I will pass it on to advaitin list. Thank you Love to all Harsha Michael Bowes wrote: > > Eve of Sri Devi Durga Puja -- > > Jai Ma > > > > Dear Harsha and everyOne, > > > The Goddess, or Shakti, or Sri Yantra seem to be eminent in the lives > of many Mahatmas, no matter how "non-dual" their tendencies. > > > Sri Shankaracharya, the foremost propounder of Advaita, initiated the > worship of Shakti or the Divine Mother at His monasteries. Sri Ramana > worshipped Sri Yantra, a representation of Shakti, the same Sri Yantra > is still worshipped at Ramana Ashrama. > > It is also well known that Shankaracharya composed many devotional > poems. The Goddess and/or Shiva were usually the subjects. > > Once while departing on a journey to worship the divine mother, as I > was packing, I included a copy of Atma Bodha (Self Knowledge) > attributed to Adi Sankara. After arriving and on the first morning of > the Shakti Puja, just before leaving my room for the hall, I randomly > opened the book and my finger fell upon the very beginning of the > following poem written by Shankaracharya and translated by Swami > Nikhilananda. > > I offer the following on the eve of Durga Puja 2006. > > > > Pranam > > > > Hymn to the Divine Mother for Forgiveness of Transgressions > > Attributed to Adi Sankara > > I > > I know, alas! No hymn, no mantra, > > Neither prayer nor meditation; > > Not even how to give Thee praise. > > The proper ritual of the worship, > > The placement of the hands, I know not, > > Nor how to make Thee supplication. > > But Mother, this at least I know: > > Whoever comes to Thee for shelter > > Reaches the end of all his woe. > > > > > > II > > Ignorant of the commands of scripture, > > Utterly devoid of wealth, > > Shiftless, indolent, am I, > > Unable to do as I ought to do. > > Numerous, therefore, are the offences > > I have committed at Thy feet. > > Mother! Saviour of all mankind! > > Auspicious One! Forgive my sins. > > A wicked son is sometimes born, > > But an unkind mother there cannot be. > > > > > > III > > Here in this world of Thine, O Mother! > > Many are Thy guileless children; > > But restless am I among them all, > > And so it is nothing very strange > > That I should turn myself from Thee. > > Yet surely it were impossible > > That Thou shouldst ever turn from me: > > A wicked son is sometimes born, > > But an unkind mother there cannot be. > > > > > > IV > > Mother of the world! Thou, my own Mother! > > Never have I served Thee, never yet > > Offered Thee gold or precious gems; > > And still Thy love is beyond compare. > > A wicked son is sometimes born, > > But an unkind mother there cannot be. > > > > > > V > > Bewildered by the rules of conduct, > > By the injunctions of the scriptures, > > I have abandoned, one by one, > > The shining gods; and now my life > > Has passed beyond the meridian. > > Mother, shouldst Thou withhold Thy mercy, > > Where, then, shall I fly for shelter, > > Weak and helpless as I am? > > > > > > VI > > If one who feeds on the flesh of dogs > > Can learn to speak with honeyed words, > > A beggar gain uncounted wealth > > And so live long and fearlessly, > > Simply hearing Thy magic name-- > > Who can describe what must befall > > One who repeats it night and day? > > > > > > VII > > Only by taking Thee for Spouse > > Did Siva become the unrivalled Lord-- > > He who is naked and uncouth, > > Besmeared with ash from the funeral pyre; > > Whose hair is matted on His head, > > About whose neck are venomous snakes-- > > The Lord of every living thing. > > > > > > VIII > > I do not ask of Thee, O Mother! > > Riches, good fortune, or salvation; > > I seek no happiness, no knowledge. > > This is my only prayer to Thee: > > That, as the breath of life forsakes me, > > Still I may chant Thy holy name. > > > > > > IX > > Mother, I have not worshipped Thee > > With proper rituals and the prescribed > > Ingredients of sacrifice. > > Many are my sinful deeds! > > Day and night I have spent myself > > In idle talk, forgetting Thee. > > O Divine Mother! If Thou canst show > > The slightest mercy to one so frail, > > It will befit Thy majesty. > > > > > > X > > Durga! Goddess of Mercy's Ocean! > > Stricken with grief, to Thee I pray: > > Do not believe me insincere; > > A child who is seized with thirst or hunger > > Thinks of his mother constantly. > > > > > > XI > > Mother of all the universe! > > If Thou shouldst show Thy fullest mercy, > > Would even that be a cause for wonder? > > A mother cannot refuse her son, > > Though he have done a million wrongs. > > > > > > XII > > Nowhere exists, in all the world, > > Another sinner to equal me, > > Nowhere, a Power like Thyself > > For overcoming sinfulness: > > O Goddess! Keeping this in mind, > > Do Thou as it pleases Thee. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 The original in Sanskrit is : http://www.sanskritdocuments.org/doc_devii/dapradh.itx .. atha devyaparaadhakshamaapanastotram.h .. na mantra.n no yantra.n tadapi cha na jaane stutimaho na chaahvaana.n dhyaana.n tadapi cha na jaane stutikathaaH . na jaane mudraaste tadapi cha na jaane vilapana.n para.n jaane maatastvadanusaraNa.n kleshaharaNam.h .. 1.. vidheraGYaanena draviNaviraheNaalasatayaa vidheyaashakyatvaattava charaNayoryaa chyutirabhuut.h . tadetat.h kshantavya.n janani sakaloddhaariNi shive kuputro jaayeta kvachidapi kumaataa na bhavati .. 2.. pR^ithivyaa.n putraaste janani bahavaH santi saralaaH para.n teshhaa.n madhye viralataralo.aha.n tava sutaH . madiiyo.aya.n tyaagaH samuchitamida.n no tava shive kuputro jaayeta kvachidapi kumaataa na bhavati .. 3.. jaganmaatarmaatastava charaNasevaa na rachitaa na vaa datta.n devi draviNamapi bhuuyastava mayaa . tathaapi tva.n sneha.n mayi nirupama.n yatprakurushhe kuputro jaayeta kvachidapi kumaataa na bhavati .. 4.. parityaktaa devaa vividhavidhasevaakulatayaa mayaa paJNchaa shiiteradhikamapaniite tu vayasi . idaanii.n chenmaatastava yadi kR^ipaa naapi bhavitaa niraalambo lambodarajanani ka.n yaami sharaNam.h .. 5.. shvapaako jalpaako bhavati madhupaakopamagiraa niraataN^ko raN^ko viharati chira.n koTikanakaiH . tavaaparNe karNe vishati manu varNe phalamida.n janaH ko jaaniite janani jananiiya.n japavidhau .. 6.. chitaabhasmaalepo garalamashana.n dikpaTadharo jaTaadhaarii kaNThe bhujagapatihaarii pashupatiH . kapaalii bhuutesho bhajati jagadiishaikapadavii.n bhavaani tvatpaaNigrahaNaparipaaTiiphalamidam.h .. 7.. na mokshasyaakaa.nkshaa bhavavibhavavaaJNchhaapi cha na me na viGYaanaapekshaa shashimukhi sukhechchhaapi na punaH . atastvaa.n sa.nyaache janani janana.n yaatu mama vai mR^iDaanii rudraaNii shiva shiva bhavaaniiti japataH .. 8.. naaraadhitaasi vidhinaa vividhopachaaraiH ki.n rukshachintanaparairna kR^ita.n vachobhiH . shyaame tvameva yadi kiJNchana mayyanaathe dhatse kR^ipaamuchitamamba para.n tavaiva .. 9.. aapatsu magnaH smaraNa.n tvadiiya.n karomi durge karuNaarNaveshi . naitachchhaThatva.n mama bhaavayethaaH kshudhaatR^ishhaartaa jananii.n smaranti .. 10.. jagadamba vichitra matra ki.n paripuurNaa karuNaasti chenmayi . aparaadhaparamparaapara.n na hi maataa samupekshate sutam.h .. 11.. matsamaH paatakii naasti paapaghnii tvatsamaa na hi . eva.n GYaatvaa mahaadevi yathaayogya.n tathaa kuru .. 12.. AUM.. advaitin, Harsha wrote: > > That is so profoundly beautiful poem Michael. I will pass it on to > advaitin list. > > Michael Bowes wrote: > > > > Eve of Sri Devi Durga Puja -- > > > > The Goddess, or Shakti, or Sri Yantra seem to be eminent in the lives > > of many Mahatmas, no matter how "non-dual" their tendencies. > > > > > > Sri Shankaracharya, the foremost propounder of Advaita, initiated the > > worship of Shakti or the Divine Mother at His monasteries. Sri Ramana > > worshipped Sri Yantra, a representation of Shakti, the same Sri Yantra > > is still worshipped at Ramana Ashrama. > > > > It is also well known that Shankaracharya composed many devotional > > poems. The Goddess and/or Shiva were usually the subjects. > > > > > > I offer the following on the eve of Durga Puja 2006. > > > > > > > > > > Hymn to the Divine Mother for Forgiveness of Transgressions > > > > Attributed to Adi Sankara > > > > I > > > > I know, alas! No hymn, no mantra, > > > > Neither prayer nor meditation; > > > > Not even how to give Thee praise. > > > > The proper ritual of the worship, > > > > The placement of the hands, I know not, > > > > Nor how to make Thee supplication. > > > > But Mother, this at least I know: > > > > Whoever comes to Thee for shelter > > > > Reaches the end of all his woe. > > > > > > > > > > > > II > > > > Ignorant of the commands of scripture, > > > > Utterly devoid of wealth, > > > > Shiftless, indolent, am I, > > > > Unable to do as I ought to do. > > > > Numerous, therefore, are the offences > > > > I have committed at Thy feet. > > > > Mother! Saviour of all mankind! > > > > Auspicious One! Forgive my sins. > > > > A wicked son is sometimes born, > > > > But an unkind mother there cannot be. > > > > > > > > > > > > III > > > > Here in this world of Thine, O Mother! > > > > Many are Thy guileless children; > > > > But restless am I among them all, > > > > And so it is nothing very strange > > > > That I should turn myself from Thee. > > > > Yet surely it were impossible > > > > That Thou shouldst ever turn from me: > > > > A wicked son is sometimes born, > > > > But an unkind mother there cannot be. > > > > > > > > > > > > IV > > > > Mother of the world! Thou, my own Mother! > > > > Never have I served Thee, never yet > > > > Offered Thee gold or precious gems; > > > > And still Thy love is beyond compare. > > > > A wicked son is sometimes born, > > > > But an unkind mother there cannot be. > > > > > > > > > > > > V > > > > Bewildered by the rules of conduct, > > > > By the injunctions of the scriptures, > > > > I have abandoned, one by one, > > > > The shining gods; and now my life > > > > Has passed beyond the meridian. > > > > Mother, shouldst Thou withhold Thy mercy, > > > > Where, then, shall I fly for shelter, > > > > Weak and helpless as I am? > > > > > > > > > > > > VI > > > > If one who feeds on the flesh of dogs > > > > Can learn to speak with honeyed words, > > > > A beggar gain uncounted wealth > > > > And so live long and fearlessly, > > > > Simply hearing Thy magic name-- > > > > Who can describe what must befall > > > > One who repeats it night and day? > > > > > > > > > > > > VII > > > > Only by taking Thee for Spouse > > > > Did Siva become the unrivalled Lord-- > > > > He who is naked and uncouth, > > > > Besmeared with ash from the funeral pyre; > > > > Whose hair is matted on His head, > > > > About whose neck are venomous snakes-- > > > > The Lord of every living thing. > > > > > > > > > > > > VIII > > > > I do not ask of Thee, O Mother! > > > > Riches, good fortune, or salvation; > > > > I seek no happiness, no knowledge. > > > > This is my only prayer to Thee: > > > > That, as the breath of life forsakes me, > > > > Still I may chant Thy holy name. > > > > > > > > > > > > IX > > > > Mother, I have not worshipped Thee > > > > With proper rituals and the prescribed > > > > Ingredients of sacrifice. > > > > Many are my sinful deeds! > > > > Day and night I have spent myself > > > > In idle talk, forgetting Thee. > > > > O Divine Mother! If Thou canst show > > > > The slightest mercy to one so frail, > > > > It will befit Thy majesty. > > > > > > > > > > > > X > > > > Durga! Goddess of Mercy's Ocean! > > > > Stricken with grief, to Thee I pray: > > > > Do not believe me insincere; > > > > A child who is seized with thirst or hunger > > > > Thinks of his mother constantly. > > > > > > > > > > > > XI > > > > Mother of all the universe! > > > > If Thou shouldst show Thy fullest mercy, > > > > Would even that be a cause for wonder? > > > > A mother cannot refuse her son, > > > > Though he have done a million wrongs. > > > > > > > > > > > > XII > > > > Nowhere exists, in all the world, > > > > Another sinner to equal me, > > > > Nowhere, a Power like Thyself > > > > For overcoming sinfulness: > > > > O Goddess! Keeping this in mind, > > > > Do Thou as it pleases Thee. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 30, 2006 Report Share Posted September 30, 2006 Thank you. I only know Hindi but can make out some of it myself due to similarity If I read slowly and carefully. It is very beautiful. kuputro jaayeta kvachidapi kumaataa na bhavati Love to all Harsha advaitins wrote: > > The original in Sanskrit is : > > http://www.sanskritdocuments.org/doc_devii/dapradh.itx > <http://www.sanskritdocuments.org/doc_devii/dapradh.itx> > > .. atha devyaparaadhakshamaapanastotram.h .. > > na mantra.n no yantra.n tadapi cha na jaane stutimaho > na chaahvaana.n dhyaana.n tadapi cha na jaane stutikathaaH . > na jaane mudraaste tadapi cha na jaane vilapana.n > para.n jaane maatastvadanusaraNa.n kleshaharaNam.h .. 1.. > > vidheraGYaanena draviNaviraheNaalasatayaa > vidheyaashakyatvaattava charaNayoryaa chyutirabhuut.h . > tadetat.h kshantavya.n janani sakaloddhaariNi shive > kuputro jaayeta kvachidapi kumaataa na bhavati .. 2.. > > pR^ithivyaa.n putraaste janani bahavaH santi saralaaH > para.n teshhaa.n madhye viralataralo.aha.n tava sutaH . > madiiyo.aya.n tyaagaH samuchitamida.n no tava shive > kuputro jaayeta kvachidapi kumaataa na bhavati .. 3.. > > jaganmaatarmaatastava charaNasevaa na rachitaa > na vaa datta.n devi draviNamapi bhuuyastava mayaa . > tathaapi tva.n sneha.n mayi nirupama.n yatprakurushhe > kuputro jaayeta kvachidapi kumaataa na bhavati .. 4.. > > parityaktaa devaa vividhavidhasevaakulatayaa > mayaa paJNchaa shiiteradhikamapaniite tu vayasi . > idaanii.n chenmaatastava yadi kR^ipaa naapi bhavitaa > niraalambo lambodarajanani ka.n yaami sharaNam.h .. 5.. > > shvapaako jalpaako bhavati madhupaakopamagiraa > niraataN^ko raN^ko viharati chira.n koTikanakaiH . > tavaaparNe karNe vishati manu varNe phalamida.n > janaH ko jaaniite janani jananiiya.n japavidhau .. 6.. > > chitaabhasmaalepo garalamashana.n dikpaTadharo > jaTaadhaarii kaNThe bhujagapatihaarii pashupatiH . > kapaalii bhuutesho bhajati jagadiishaikapadavii.n > bhavaani tvatpaaNigrahaNaparipaaTiiphalamidam.h .. 7.. > > na mokshasyaakaa.nkshaa bhavavibhavavaaJNchhaapi cha na me > na viGYaanaapekshaa shashimukhi sukhechchhaapi na punaH . > atastvaa.n sa.nyaache janani janana.n yaatu mama vai > mR^iDaanii rudraaNii shiva shiva bhavaaniiti japataH .. 8.. > > naaraadhitaasi vidhinaa vividhopachaaraiH > ki.n rukshachintanaparairna kR^ita.n vachobhiH . > shyaame tvameva yadi kiJNchana mayyanaathe > dhatse kR^ipaamuchitamamba para.n tavaiva .. 9.. > > aapatsu magnaH smaraNa.n tvadiiya.n > karomi durge karuNaarNaveshi . > naitachchhaThatva.n mama bhaavayethaaH > kshudhaatR^ishhaartaa jananii.n smaranti .. 10.. > > jagadamba vichitra matra ki.n > paripuurNaa karuNaasti chenmayi . > aparaadhaparamparaapara.n > na hi maataa samupekshate sutam.h .. 11.. > > matsamaH paatakii naasti paapaghnii tvatsamaa na hi . > eva.n GYaatvaa mahaadevi yathaayogya.n tathaa kuru .. 12.. AUM.. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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