Category: Vedanta

Pibare Rama Rasam | Sadasiva Brahmendra | Sooryagayathri

The goal of human life is to realize the divine within us. This is called self-realization, and it is the birthright of every human being. All scriptures, including the Bhagavad Gita, are meant to guide us towards realizing the self. You can achieve this by engaging in proper sadhana with the right guidance, regardless of whether you are a man or a woman, married or unmarried.

Self-inquiry, or Atma Vichara, is considered a direct path to realizing the truth. This was emphasized by Ramana Maharshi, and many individuals have attained truth through this method. One such person is Sadasiva Brahmendra, who lived in the 15th to 16th century near Thiruvenkadu, Tamil Nadu. Originally named Shiva Ramakrishna, he left his home in search of truth and became a disciple of Sri Paramasivendra Saraswati. Under his guidance, he immersed himself in self-inquiry and received profound teachings. Adopting the life of a renunciant, he wandered, often in a trance-like state and dressed minimally. Described as deeply absorbed in meditation, he was said to be in a state of supreme intoxication.

Throughout his life, Sadasiva was associated with numerous miracles. His final resting place, his jiva samadhi, is briefly mentioned in ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’, Chapter 41, authored by Paramahamsa Yogananda.

Sadasiva Brahmendra composed many Carnatic compositions to share the advaita philosophy with ordinary people. These songs are renowned for their profound meaning and concise expression. His compositions are widely cherished and frequently performed in Carnatic music concerts. One such composition is ‘Pibare Rama Rasam’. The lyrics were written by Sadasiva Brahmendra and the music was composed by Balamurali Krishna.

The song encourages us to drink the essence or Rasa of Rama. This essence is powerful enough to cleanse our sins and grief, protect us, help us break the cycle of birth and death, and attain self-realization and liberation. The song also conveys that great rishis like Shuka, Shaunaka, and Kaushika have consumed this essence of Rama.

I love the version sung by Sooryagayathri. I discovered this song through her, as she released it on the day before Rama Navami in 2022. I sent a superchat during the live premiere, and she responded to it.

(Since the playback on other websites has been disabled, click on the link to watch this on Youtube. I recommend Sooryagayathri team to change this setting because allowing playback on other websites have a lot of advantages. )

Here are the lyrics and word-to-word translation. Credits: Suja Music, a blogger on WordPress.Note: It is common to sing only lines 1,3 and 5.

पिबरे राम रसं रसने पिबरे राम रसम्
दूरीकृत पातक  संसर्गं पूरित नानाविध फल वर्गम्
जनन मरण भय शोक विदूरं सकल शास्त्र निगमागम सारम्
परिपालित सरसिज गर्भाण्डं  परम पवित्री कृत पाषाण्डम्
शुद्ध परमहम्स आश्रम / आश्रित गीतं शुक शौनक कौशिक मुख पीतम्

Transliteration

pibarE rAma rasam rasanE pibarE rAmarasam
dUrIkrta pAtaka samsargam pUrita nAnAvidha phala vargam
janana maraNa bhaya shOka vidUram sakala shAstra nigamAgama sAram
paripAlita sarasija garbhANDam parama pavitrI krta pAshANDam
shuddha paramahamsa Ashrama gItam shuka shaunaka kaushika mukha pItam

Translation

Drink (verb piban) (implied: absorb) the essence (rasam) of the name of Rama, o tongue (rasana).
It will help you (implied) remove or be distant (doori krta) from association with sin(pAtaka) (or be distant from those who cause you to sin) and you will be fulfilled (poorita) with many kinds (nAnAvidha) and types (varga) of rewards/gains (phala).

It will help you be far removed (vidUram) from the grief (shOka) of the cycle of birth and death (janana–maraNa), it is the essence (sAram) of all (sakala) the religious treatises (shAstra), the Vedas (nigama) and sciences (Agama).

It protects (paripAlita) all creation. Brahma was born of a lotus (sarasija) from a golden egg (garbha anda, womb & egg) and then he created the whole universe. So this phrase implies that Rama nama protects the whole universe.  It will purify (pavitrI) even the most (parama) impious or heretic (pAshANDam).

It is the pure (shuddha) song (gItam) that paramahamsa (signature of poet) has taken refuge in (Ashrama/Ashrita), it is the same which has been drunk (pItam) sages like Shuka, Shaunaka and Kaushika.

Shiva Panchakshara Stotram | Nagendra Haaraaya | Sooryagayathri| Lyrics and Meaning

After leaving the holy Parayakadavu village and Amritapuri ashram in Kerala, I decided to take a rest in Karunagappally and make some plans. I went to Padanayarkulangara Mahadeva Temple there, which is a beautiful temple near the KSRTC bus stand.

After learning about the temple’s myth, I realized that my choice to rest there wasn’t a coincidence. Even Lord Krishna had chosen it as a resting place.

The temple’s myth goes like this: Shiva and Krishna were walking along a narrow path. They were tired and reached Karunagappally, which used to be a forest. Krishna was asked to find a good place to rest. He found a nice spot and decided to stay there. After waiting for a long time, Shiva went to look for Krishna. Finally, Shiva found Krishna sitting in a beautiful place and wanted to sit beside him.

The temple was very beautiful. On a board, I saw the Shiva Panchakshara Stotram written in Malayalam. It is a beautiful stotram written by Adi Shankaracharya. I immediately remembered the rendition of this stotram by Soooryagayathri. She sang this when she was very young, and it is very addictive if you listen to it. I love this song very much.

Lyrics and Translation (credits:  Green Message website):

नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय

भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय ।

नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय

तस्मै न_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥१॥

Naagendra-Haaraaya Tri-Locanaaya

Bhasma-Angga-Raagaaya Mahe[a-Ii]shvaraaya |

Nityaaya Shuddhaaya Dig-Ambaraaya

Tasmai Na_Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya ||1||

Meaning:

1.1: (Salutations to Lord Shiva) Who has the most excellent of Snakes as His Garland, and Who has Three Eyes,

1.2: Whose Body is Coloured (i.e. Smeared) with Sacred Ashes and Who is the Great Lord,

1.3: Who is Eternal, Who is ever Pure and Who has the Four Directions as His Clothes (signifying that He is ever Free),

1.4: Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable “Na”,

The first syllable of the Panchakshara Mantra “Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya”.

मन्दाकिनीसलिलचन्दनचर्चिताय

नन्दीश्वरप्रमथनाथमहेश्वराय ।

मन्दारपुष्पबहुपुष्पसुपूजिताय

तस्मै म_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥२॥

Mandaakinii-Salila-Candana-Carcitaaya

Nandi-Iishvara-Pramatha-Naatha-Mahe[a-Ii]shvaraaya |

Mandaara-Pusspa-Bahu-Pusspa-Su-Puujitaaya

Tasmai Ma_Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya ||2||

Meaning:

2.1: (Salutations to Lord Shiva) Who is Worshipped with Waters of River Mandakini and Smeared with Sandal Paste,

2.2: Who is the Lord of Nandi and of the Ghosts and Goblins; and Who is the Great Lord,

2.3: Who is deeply Worshipped with Mandara (Arka) and many other Flowers,

2.4: Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable “Ma”,

The second syllable of the Panchakshara Mantra “Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya”.

शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्जवृन्द_

सूर्याय दक्षाध्वरनाशकाय ।

श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय

तस्मै शि_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥३॥

Shivaaya Gaurii-Vadana-Abja-Vrnda-

Suuryaaya Dakssa-Adhvara-Naashakaaya |

Shrii-Niila-Kanntthaaya Vrssa-Dhvajaaya

Tasmai Shi_Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya ||3||

Meaning:

3.1: (Salutations to Lord Shiva) Who is Auspicious and Who is like the Sun causing the Lotus-Face of Gauri (Devi Parvati) to Blossom,

3.2: Who is the Destroyer of the Sacrifice (Yagna) of Daksha (Sacrifice of Daksha),

3.3: Who has a Blue Throat and has a Bull as His Emblem,

3.4: Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable “Shi”,

The third syllable of the Panchakshara Mantra “Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya”.

वशिष्ठकुम्भोद्भवगौतमार्य_

मूनीन्द्रदेवार्चितशेखराय ।

चन्द्रार्कवैश्वानरलोचनाय

तस्मै व_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥४॥

Vashissttha-Kumbhodbhava-Gautama-Aarya-

Muuni-Indra-Deva-Aarcita-Shekharaaya |

Candra-Aarka-Vaishvaanara-Locanaaya

Tasmai Va_Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya ||4||

Meaning:

4.1: (Salutations to Lord Shiva) Who is Worshipped by the Best and most Respected Sages like Vashistha, Pot-Born sage Agastya and Gautama …

4.2: … and also by the Devas, and Who is the Crown of the Universe,

4.3: Who has the Moon (Chandra), Sun (Arka) and Fire (Vaisvanara) as His Three Eyes,

4.4: Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable “Va”,

The fourth syllable of the Panchakshara Mantra “Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya”.

यज्ञस्वरूपाय {यक्षस्वरूपाय} जटाधराय

पिनाकहस्ताय सनातनाय ।

दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय

तस्मै य_काराय नमः शिवाय ॥५॥

Yajnya-Svaruupaaya {Yakssa-Svaruupaaya} Jattaa-Dharaaya

Pinaaka-Hastaaya Sanaatanaaya |

Divyaaya Devaaya Dig-Ambaraaya

Tasmai Ya_Kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya ||5||

Meaning:

5.1: (Salutations to Lord Shiva) Who is the embodiment of Yagna {or Who assumed the incarnation of Yaksha} and Who bears the Matted Hairs,

5.2: Who has the Trident in His Hand and Who is Eternal,

5.3: Who is Divine, Who is the Shining One and Who has the Four Directions as His Clothes (signifying that He is ever Free),

5.4: Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable “Ya”,

The fifth syllable of the Panchakshara Mantra “Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya”.

पञ्चाक्षरमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसंनिधौ ।

शिवलोकमावाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥६॥

Pan.caakssaram-Idam Punnyam Yah Patthe-Shiva-Samnidhau |

Shivalokam-Aavaapnoti Shivena Saha Modate ||6||

Meaning:

6.1: Whoever Recites this Panchakshara Stotram (Hymn in praise of the five syllables of Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya) near Shiva (Lingam),

6.2: Will Attain the Abode of Shiva and enjoy His Bliss.

#sooryagayathri #sooryasangeetham #sooryagayathribhajans  #sooryagayathribhajan #sooryagayathriofficial #sooryagayathrisongs 

Amritapuri – A Homeless Guy’s Visit To A Hidden Oasis

Hello readers,

I am in Amritapuri Ashram in Kerala and I want to share my experiences so far.

I arrived here on April 5th. They usually provide accommodation for only two or three days. It costs Rs. 50 per day in a dormitory. The food is free for the first three days, and then it is Rs. 100 per day. I booked accommodation for five days. The person in the accommodation office asked, “Why so long?” I explained that I want to seek approval for permanent or long-term accommodation from Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi) and for now, I want to immerse myself in ashram activities, do seva, listen to bhajans, etc.

This is an amazing place. I witnessed the embodiment of love and compassion on the very first day. I can perceive the genuineness in Amma’s teachings, her smile, her carefully chosen bhajans, which are either about bhakti or jnana, the satsangs by her disciples, and the darshan, the most important part.

When I approached her, she hugged me, whispered “amma kuttu” a few times in my ears, and gave me a candy. I expressed my interest in spirituality and wanting to permanently stay here. She smiled and asked, “You? Interested in spirituality?” I affirmed, explaining my divorced status and lack of other commitments. She chuckled and asked, “So you also left your wife?” She spoke very good Tamil. I then shared that I had been practicing sakshi bhavana meditation for many years, that I am homeless, and I really want to live here. She acknowledged my meditation practice and invited me to sit with a few devotees.

I anticipated she would discuss something with me after the darshan. She usually gives darshan until everyone who came to see her has had their chance. That day, it lasted until 12:30 am midnight. I’ve read that Amma has continuously given darshan for 20 hours, involving speaking, hugging, whispering in ears, and giving candy.

Since she didn’t express approval, I wondered what to do next. I learned that once you’ve had a darshan, you can have the next one only after 30 days.

Now, I intend to extend the accommodation for the next 30 days just to have another darshan and seek her approval. I have nowhere else to go, and I am deeply impressed to have discovered this hidden oasis,  a place where you can find a genuine guru in Amma.

I conversed with many Western devotees here, and they shared interesting stories. My sandals broke on the first day, and a guy from the US directed me to the Indian supermarket. After darshan, I spoke with a guy from Denmark who was also new here. In a coffee shop near the beach, I conversed with a young French lady who shared her story.

The next morning, I mistook a young Brahmacharini called Chandrika from the US for the French lady and asked her if she was her. She smiled and clarified, and we continued walking and talking. She imparted wisdom, saying, “Many people want to come to Amritapuri, but they keep delaying it. But some people accidentally end up here and find the home they were searching for. Unless you have the grace of Amma, you can’t come here!”

In an Indian cafe, I met an Italian lady who inquired if Amma said anything regarding my accommodation issue. When I said “no,” she burst into uncontrollable laughter, explaining that even Amma didn’t say anything, yet people here are quick to offer advice upon hearing others’ problems.

I resonate with the quote “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” from the Maha Upanishad, meaning “the world is one family.” Amritapuri embodies this quote by accommodating people from different countries in one place.

There is also a Kali temple, the house where Amma lived, and an elephant called Lakshmi in the ashram campus. I will delve into more detail about them in a separate article.

Every day brings surprises here, and the village is a beautiful coastal one. I definitely want to live here and engage in seva for as long as possible, maybe for a year or two until life presents another task.

I have some money left to cover one month’s accommodation and food, which is about Rs. 4500 if calculated. But I am unsure if they will extend the stay. If not, I’ll have to stay in lodges and eat outside until May 5th, which will be expensive.

I am now convinced that meeting Amma and learning more about her is part of my prarabdha. It has been a blessing.

For now, as long as I can stay in the ashram, I don’t need immediate financial assistance. However, I’m unsure about what will happen next. Nevertheless, I am in a total state of surrender regarding that.

I have been here for four days now, and I could write a book about what I’ve seen, heard, and experienced. I believe this is a new chapter in my life.

Finally, I want to emphasize that when you meet someone genuinely at a saintly level, you can easily recognize the fake ones. I will keep you updated about my experiences in the upcoming posts.

Hanuman Jayanthi 2024 | Significance of Anchaneya | Ayodhya Ram Mandir Updates And Miracles

Greetings, dear readers!

I registered this blog in WordPress on January 10, 2014. Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of this blog. First, I want to take this time to thank everyone who supported my blog and work for the last decade. Having said that, I want to extend my heartfelt wishes for Hanuman Jayanthi to you all.

Join me in this enlightening video where I delve into the profound significance of Hanuman, the revered deity known for his unwavering devotion and incredible strength. This video aims to not only educate but also inspire a deeper connection with the divine, fostering a sense of positivity and strength in your life. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to gain insights into the spiritual realm and embrace the blessings that Hanuman Jayanthi brings. Hit play and embark on a journey of enlightenment and joy! Wishing you all a blessed and Happy Hanuman Jayanthi! 🙏✨

As I mentioned in the video, on this auspicious day, our honorable Prime Minister tweeted Sooryagayathri’s music video.

Singing Along With Sooryagayathri – Nirvana Shatkam

Join me in this heartfelt rendition of Nirvana Shatkam, a profound poem composed by Adhi Shankaracharya, skillfully composed by the talented SooryaGayathri.

In this video, I humbly share my attempt to sing this beautiful composition alongside SooryaGayathri’s enchanting rendition. Let the soothing melodies and profound verses guide you on a contemplative journey towards inner peace and self-discovery.

#NirvanaShatkam #SooryaGayathri #SoulfulJourney #AdhiShankaracharya #InnerHarmony #SpiritualMusic #SelfDiscovery #MusicalOdyssey

A Gift for Every Seeker: Exploring the Timeless Teachings of Bhoothanatha Geetha

Concealed within the ancient Sanskrit tales lies a precious script known as Bhoothanatha Geetha. This brief yet profound text, attributed to Prince Manikanta, unfolds the fundamental ideas of Advaita Vedanta in a conversation with King Rajasekharan.

Back in 2018, I penned a detailed commentary on this book. However, given its length, I’m offering you a condensed introduction.

Simplified Sanskrit:

In contrast to its older counterpart, the Bhagavad Gita, Bhoothanatha Geetha imparts its teachings in simpler Sanskrit, making it accessible to a broader audience. Even with basic knowledge, one can grasp the profound verses. Take, for instance, the opening sloka:

“janma mrtyAdi duhkhAnAm nAzAya mahIpate karmano nAzanam mukhyam tadupAyam nizamyatAm”

Translation: “Oh King, destroying one’s karmas is important for the destruction of the suffering that arises from the cycle of birth and death. You can hear the way for it from me.”

A Conversation about Truth:

Much like the Bhagavad Gita, Bhoothanatha Geetha unfurls through a captivating dialogue. Prince Manikanta, embodying both spiritual wisdom and princely grace, guides King Rajasekharan towards self-realization. Their exchange delves into crucial Advaita Vedanta concepts:

  • The nature of Brahman: The ultimate reality, Brahman, transcends form and attributes. The text beautifully illustrates this using the analogy of gold and ornaments, explaining that just as all ornaments are essentially gold, so too are all names and forms manifestations of the one, indivisible Brahman.
  • Maya’s illusion: This subtle veil of misconception obscures our true nature. Manikanta skillfully dispels this illusion, revealing the “I” and “mine” as mere concepts superimposed on the ever-present Brahman.
  • The path to liberation: Bhoothanatha Geetha emphasizes the importance of a true teacher (satguru) and warns against the pitfalls of mere intellectual pursuits, advocating for sincere devotion and self-inquiry.

Beyond the Similarities:

While drawing inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita, Bhoothanatha Geetha offers unique insights into Siddha wisdom and practical spirituality:

  • Siddha wisdom: Manikanta’s possible connection to the Siddhas shines through in his detailed discussions of tattvas (elements of consciousness) and the purification of the mind.
  • Practical spirituality: Acknowledging worldly responsibilities and desires, the text encourages a balanced approach, urging not to neglect the body but to utilize it as a vehicle for liberation.

A Gift for Every Seeker:

Whether you’re a long time seeker or a curious newcomer, Bhoothanatha Geetha offers a wealth of wisdom. Its simple language, engaging dialogue, and practical guidance make it a valuable resource for those seeking self-realization. Delve into its verses, contemplate its teachings, and embark on your transformative journey towards eternal truth.

Visit this link for a detailed commentary on Bhoothanatha Geetha.

Sooryagayathri’s Bhairavi Shatakam – A failure

First of all, I am sorry about this post. I am a huge fan of Sooryagayathri. But I am not a fan of the modern society which has no clue on how to deal with life. They fall for fake gurus; And sometimes fake gurus and ignorant babas like Jaggi Vasudev create a lot of negative influence in the society. And this negative influence affects great divine artists like Soorya.

I want to ask a question to the Sooryagayathri’s team on the new release ‘Bhairavi Shatakam’.. Who gave this stupid idea? Calm down.. I will explain why this idea is ignorant and stupid.

Another question.. For every video of yours, you have promptly mentioned the author of the lyrics. But you didn’t mention the author of the lyrics for Bhairavi Shatakam. Why? Because, you don’t know.

Let me clarify.. There is nothing called ‘shatakam’ in the first place. Shatkam is a poem that has 6 stanzas. And ashtakam has a poem that has 8 stanzas. Is this clear enough?

Adhi Shankaracharya composed a poem called Rajarajeshwari Ashtakam. It has 8 stanzas. The verses are given below:

अम्बा शाम्भवि चन्द्रमौलिरबलाऽपर्णा उमा पार्वती

        काली हैमवती शिवा त्रिनयनी कात्यायनी भैरवी  .

सावित्री नवयौवना शुभकरी साम्राज्यलक्ष्मीप्रदा

        चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी  .. १..

अम्बा मोहिनि देवता त्रिभुवनी आनन्दसंदायिनी

        वाणी पल्लवपाणिवेणुमुरलीगानप्रिया लोलिनी  .

कल्याणी उडुराजबिम्ब वदना धूम्राक्षसंहारिणी

        चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी  .. २..

अम्बा नूपुररत्नकङ्कणधरी केयूरहारावली

        जातीचम्पकवैजयंतिलहरी ग्रैवेयकैराजिता  .

वीणावेणु विनोदमण्डितकरा वीरासने संस्थिता

        चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी  .. ३..

अम्बा रौद्रिणि भद्रकालि बगला ज्वालामुखी वैष्णवी

        ब्रह्माणी त्रिपुरान्तकी सुरनुता देदीप्यमानोज्वला  .

चामुण्डा श्रितरक्षपोषजननी दाक्षायणी वल्लवी

        चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी  .. ४..

अम्बा शूलधनुः कशाङ्कुशधरी अर्धेन्दुबिम्बाधरी

        वाराहीमधुकैटभप्रशमनी वाणी रमासेविता  .

मल्लद्यासुरमूकदैत्यमथनी माहेश्वरी चाम्बिका

        चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी  .. ५..

अम्बा सृष्टविनाशपालनकरी आर्या विसंशोभिता

        गायत्री प्रणवाक्षरामृतरसः पूर्णानुसंधी कृता  .

ओङ्कारी विनतासुतार्चितपदा उद्दण्ड दैत्यापहा

        चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी  .. ६..

अम्बा शाश्वत आगमादिविनुता आर्या महादेवता

        या ब्रह्मादिपिपीलिकान्तजननी या वै जगन्मोहिनी  .

या पञ्चप्रणवादिरेफजननी या चित्कला मालिनी

        चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी  .. ७..

अम्बापालितभक्तराजदनिशं अम्बाष्टकं यः पठेत्

        अम्बालोलकटाक्षवीक्ष ललितं चैश्वर्यमव्याहतम्  .

अम्बा पावनमन्त्रराजपठनादन्ते च मोक्षप्रदा

        चिद्रूपी परदेवता भगवती श्रीराजराजेश्वरी  .. ८.

Isha foundation, a dangerous cult organization that I have been writing about many years in this blog did something interesting.

Linga Bhairavi, is a so called consecrated structure in Isha foundation and in the name of donation for this consecration they collected millions.

They wanted a verse for this Linga Bhairavi, a commercial goddess who can stay in your house if you pay lakhs of rupees for the so called Linga Bhairavi Yantra.

First they removed the 3rd verse and 8th verse from the original Rajarajeshwari Ashtakam composed by Sooryagayathri’s beloved Adhi Shankaracharya. And they changed the verses in the rest of the poem.

In the beginning of each stanza of the original composition, they replaced the word ‘amba’ with the word ‘bhairavi’. Then they replaced the last word ‘Sri Raja rajeshwari’ with ‘Sri Linga Bhairavi’.. How clever?

Dear Sooryagayathri and team,

One question to you. Is it fair to alter the original verse composed by Adhi Shankaracharya for an organization’s commercial purpose? And it is fair to sing this commercial version instead of the original version?

I have not asked an illegal question. So I hope you take this post positively.

Sooryagayathri’s Rendition of Nirvana Shatkam: Illuminating Spiritual Depth Through Melodic Brilliance

Among the treasures of spirituality, a favorite gem of mine is the Sanskrit masterpiece Nirvana shatkam (also known as atma shatkam). This profound composition, attributed to Adi Shankara, distills the essence of non-dualistic (advaita) philosophy into six verses. In the hands of Adi Shankara, the Nirvanashatkam becomes a radiant tapestry of ancient wisdom, illuminating the path from duality to profound oneness.

A popular version was sung and released by Sounds of Isha, but they made a mistake while using the verses. They sang the line ‘madhoa naiva mae naiva maathsarya Bhavah’ as ‘na me vai mado naiva matsarya bhavaha’ which renders the whole sentence meaningless.This observation kindled a persistent wish within me—a desire for someone else to compose a fresh melody and correctly render the verses.

Imagine my delight when I learned of Sooryagayathri, a young and gifted devotional and Carnatic singer, who not only composed a new melody but also rendered the verses correctly. It felt like a long-awaited boon, a reward for my patience. The intersection of her talent and this profound composition was nothing short of a divine convergence, answering my wish and renewing the timeless allure of Nirvana Shatkam.

The subtitles have translations. Here is a translation of Nirvanashatkam available online, featuring the original verses: https://shlokam.org/nirvanashatakam/

Sooryagayathri’s rendition of Nirvanashatkam presents an auditory delight and a spiritual treasure for seekers yearning for a musical masterpiece that nurtures their inner growth. Composed by Sooryagayathri in the Ragam – Guhamanohari, also known as Pulindika, her rendition is a harmonious blend of soul-stirring sounds and profound spirituality.

 Prasanth Sankar skillfully orchestrated, mixed, and mastered the composition, ensuring a seamless sonic experience. The melodic tapestry is further adorned by the resonant tones of the veena, skillfully played by Sounder Rajan, while the ethereal notes of the flute, caressed by Nikhil Ram Kozhikode, add an enchanting layer. The rhythmic heartbeat of Lal M.P’s tabla infuses the composition with rhythmic depth, a synergy expertly captured by Milky Way Audio Productions in Perambra. Prasad Sankar’s adept camera work and editing craft a captivating visual and auditory journey, complemented by Dinesh Janouti’s thoughtful design.

This harmonious creation is a testament to the dedicated efforts of SG Production, bringing forth a musical and spiritual experience that resonates deeply with the souls of those who seek.

Emotions, Pain and Suffering After Spiritual Enlightenment

I am writing this post since I am seeing a great deal of misunderstanding among some of my readers who are misled by the modern new age spirituality and the so called teachers who show a clean and calm professional image to the public.

I am coming from the land of avadhutas. They were fully awakened people who roamed in the streets with torn and dirty clothes, drank liquor, threw stones at people, cursed them and showed an image of a lunatic. And they were fully awakened. Their existence served a purpose. It was their prarabhdha karma to live their life this way and they still helped people in ways which were uncommon and controversial.

Trust me, spiritual path is a long journey full of adventure, unexpected turns and falls, and converts your whole life as a suspense thriller. The joy of living your life without knowing what happens next is something no Hollywood movie can give you.

So I want to give you a new perspective of this unending adventure. Many people stop somewhere in the path and make it their home; they find a secure spot, settle there and start teaching people. Soon, they fall for the fame they get and their further progress in the spirituality is completely stopped.

In the last four years, I have been very honest in documenting what has happened to me in the spiritual journey. If there is one thing that my beloved readers like about me, then it is nothing but honesty. I am not interested in making claims and attach a specific word to what happened to me. I have made that clear in my first book The Truth About Spiritual Enlightenment: Bridging Science, Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta, which is now with 62 ratings and an average rating of 4.5 out of 5. But many people do not know that your reading is not complete until you read my second book Discovering God: Bridging Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. Because I have said so much about spiritual awakening which I have not covered in my first book.

The quotes about Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in my second book on those vasanas that remain after enlightenment and my clarification on bandha vasanas and bhoga vasanas will clarify a lot of misunderstandings. Because, people think that a person is completely out of all desires after enlightenment, which is not true. Some desires and some small amount of raga and dvesha should exist to keep an awakened person in the survival mode. Otherwise, life will not last in his body after 21 days. This is coming from ancient wisdom and it makes sense to me with my current way of experiencing life.

My post titled ‘My Life after Spiritual Enlightenment – The Untold side of Self-Realization‘ will further explain the untold side which has never been covered by any spiritual teacher. The reason is obvious. They didn’t get to face the society as a common man just like I did. I am not a spiritual teacher, which I have told you people several times. I am a common man who is living an awakened life while stepping on the thorns and stones of a raw simple social life. And that life is different. It is this life which you all will get to live after a complete spiritual awakening.

Before I talk about the subject matter you see in the title of the post, let me remind you of something that I have been telling you often. There is something called spiritual rebirth. You have to completely destroy yourself and reconstruct yourself. And this reconstructing yourself involves doing things which are totally opposite of what you did in the destructive phase.

Sadly, many people do not even get to this complete destruction because it is very scary. It is losing yourself completely. You have to go beyond pride and shame. This means, you dont even care to show the lunatic side of yourself. You can appear unenlightened to the majority and you still dont care. Santatagamana’s book on Turiya talks about this. To go through this Turiya, you have to stop teaching. Teachers can’t reach it.. Period. And I am not a teacher.

Once you are completely reborn, you have to reconstruct yourself by building intentions, a new self image, vasanas etc. Because, your spouse can’t tolerate someone who is devoid of emotions and desires. You would be too enlightened to be in a relationship. I have been through this and it is my personal experience. If you are too enlightened to live a social life, you are good for nothing except teaching spirituality. You might have millions of followers but no one would want to marry you. Without marriage and having children, you dont get to pass your genes to the next generation. And your enlightened genetics goes as a waste without giving it a chance to produce an offspring who will inherit some of those qualities. Only a few people know this secret.

Many people are familiar with the quote “die before you die”… Yes, you have to, if you want to progress on the spiritual path. But you can become a deva (twice born) or avatar if you know how to be reborn after you die before you die. No book can teach you that. Just facing the society by living as a common man will push you back into survival mode. You will retain the fulfillment of enlightenment while fully engaging with the world and the society by expressing all kinds of emotions including anger, tears etc. Emotions and pain can exist without suffering.

Suffering is personal. Buddha said, ‘There are two kinds of pain. The wise person stops with the first one’. That is what I am talking about. Some people might have gone beyond pain. But it is dangerous for the survival of the body.

Because each pain gives a message. Pain helps you to take care of the body. Pain tells you that something is wrong and you have to act. You may ask, ‘who cares.. After all I am not the body’. But why should you miss this potential and leave this area unexplored? Body will disappear one day anyway. Why shouldn’t you take care of the body and let it run as long as it can? It will allow you to fully swim through everything that this life has to offer.

The bottom line is this. Emotions, pain and vasanas can exist even after enlightenment. But the suffering is gone. Suffering is completely optional. You dont have to suffer; and you wont once you know how to go beyond it.

I feel that there is too much of a gap between the west and the east. The spiritual literature in the east is so vast and each book addresses different periods of a seeker’s journey. You will find huge differences between Bhagavad Gita, Ashtavakra Gita and Yoga Vasistha for example, and each book addresses the things that other books have missed out. A seeker’s journey is so long and has lots of ups and downs, surprises etc. Above all, books can only teach a little bit and it is the duty of the seeker to discover those things which are not addressed just using words. Also, having basic knowledge in Sanskrit helps to understand the true meaning of these texts, which I do. A lot of clarity is lost in translations.

Ramana himself kept reading spiritual literature for his entire life in order to assist seekers in a better way. 

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Right now I am struggling financially and my wordpress subscription is ending this month. In order to keep my domain name and hosting, I need to pay them immediately. I would at least need about $150 USD to keep what I have and manage other expenses. I do have a donate option in my blog: https://shanmugamp.org/donate/ . If you can contribute it will be great. I live my life as a common man and I dont even have a job. Any help you can do will help me to continue assisting seekers.

Spiritual Awakening – A Losing Game

We are conditioned to accumulate stuff. We accumulate both abstract and concrete things – objects, wealth, acquaintances, information, ideas, concepts etc. We associate everything that we accumulate with an idea of a ‘self’.

When people are in the process of getting the next thing listed in their to do list, some of them suddenly come across the concept of spiritual enlightenment or a complete spiritual awakening. It is advertised as the best thing that can happen to a human being and sounds incredibly cool. They just grab this idea and add it in their shopping list.

Spiritual Awakening - A Losing Game

Spirituality is a business today. So before one gets the true spiritual thirst as the result of an inner calling, spirituality is advertised at their door step with exciting offers and discounts. A lot of these deals are full of bullshit sandwiched with statements of some mind-blowing truths picked up from the literature of some of the most popular gurus of the last century.

Some of them are from people who have been having short or long glimpses of non-duality in their daily life, but are convinced that this is what spiritual enlightenment is all about and this is how the rest of their lives are going to be. They usually give up and come to premature conclusions.

I have addressed the above points many times in my recent Youtube videos. But in this blog post I want to explain why spiritual enlightenment is all about losing and what exactly you lose.

Spiritual enlightenment has various definitions in general. There are people who say that spiritual enlightenment is about being omnipotent and omniscient. But when I talk about spiritual enlightenment, I am talking about what is practically possible to anyone who is truly seeking it; it is something that has happened to millions of people before and something that is happening in more numbers in today’s world.

It is not about achieving or accumulating anything; it is about returning to the source; it is about going back to your natural state; it is about untying the knots or undoing all the complications that your mind has created while growing up; it is about going home. So it is all about losing.

You lose many things. You lose all the reifications. You lose your false ideas, beliefs and illusions. You lose the cravings to do many things you had been doing before. You lose 98% of your mental chatter and lose all self-referential thoughts. You lose your conflicts and your mind loses a lot of its weight.

But I can list three primary things which you lose, which is usually regarded as the symptoms of atma jnana or self-realization. It is only after self-realization and abiding permanently in non-duality, your awakening is complete.

Here are these three things:

Sense of a separate self – At self-realization, you permanently lose the sense that you are an entity separate from the existence. Your experience of life changes completely. You no longer feel like you are trapped in a body and limited. There is no difference between you, the blue sky, the blowing wind and the rest of the nature. It is like a wave realizing that it doesn’t have a separate existence but it is the ocean itself. It is not intellectual understanding or understanding gained by temporary glimpses; it is dying completely before you physically die.

Sense of agency – You no longer feel you are doing your actions; actions simply arise from the inner stillness without any sense of agency. You see life as if everything is unfolding all by itself. Ahankara or the sense of agency is lost.

Psychological time – Everyone has a to-do list or agenda. Everyone is looking forward to future to get a sense of completion. Everyone feels like something that is in the future is waiting to complete them. A religious person hopes that he will reach heaven in the future and a spiritual person thinks that he will reach spiritual enlightenment in the future. This craving and seeking, whether it is for a material goal or a spiritual state is completely absent after self-realization. You will feel full and complete already and you are not looking forward to future to get something that will give you a sense of completion which is missing now.

Spiritual enlightenment is the end of duality and the life that is confined to the rat race of humanity. But it is not the end of everything. It is a new beginning.

In the following video, I have made some important clarifications: