Mananam

This Essay is directly imported from Mahabharata - Drona Parva. Context This is Day-13 of the war. Arjuna had sworn to kill Jayadhrata, after knowing of the cause of death of Abhimanyu.  During the course of 13th day battle, while piercing various vyuhas (battle formations), Arjuna was fighting thrilling battle against Kauravas, led by Acharya Drona. At the time of mid-day, during the battle, the horses became tired and Sri Krishna & Arjuna both noticed this. Then and there, he requested Arjuna to give the horses some rest and water to thirst. It is then Arjuna performed a miracle, reserved for the best among archers. He created a lake, right in the middle of the battle-field - which surprisingly was filled with lotus flowers, Rishis and Charanas were seen on the lake shore. Even Rishi Narada came to witness the lake. Despite this miraculous feat of Arjuna, the thing that caught my attention the most was the description of the ultra coolness of Sri Krishna,...

Teachings given to His mother Devahooti by Bhagavan Sri Kapila III rd Skandham of Bhagavatham - Select Verses from Chapters 29, 32, 33, focusing  primarily on Nirguna Bhakti, which is a precursor to Advaita JnAnodayam.  Select phrases and verses are highlighted and bold-faced. These phrases/verses underscore both Nirguna Bhakti and Advaitam.  3.29.11-12 mad-gu ṇ a- ś ruti-m ā tre ṇ a mayi sarva-guhāśaye mano-gatir avicchinnā yathā ga ṅ g ā mbhaso ’ mbudhau lak ṣ a ṇ a ṁ bhakti-yogasya nirgu ṇ asya hy ud ā h ṛ tam ahaituky avyavahitā yā bhakti ḥ puru ṣ ottame Just as the waters of the Ganga continuously flow into the sea, similarly by merely listening to (the description of) my qualities the mind incessantly flows to me who reside in the hearts of all (beings). This close and intimate devotion to the Lord (Purushottama), without any ulterior motive, is definitely regarded as the characteristic of the Nirguna Bhakti. 3.29.13 ...

1.       Let’s start with Vivekachudamani mokṣakāraṇasāmagryāṃ bhaktireva garīyasī | svasvarūpānusandhānaṃ bhaktirityabhidhīyate – Vivekachudamani verse 31 Among things conducive to Liberation, devotion ( Bhakti ) holds the supreme place. The constant turning of one’s attention to one’s real nature ( as Pure consciousness ) is designated as devotion. 2.       Next let’s take up a sloka in Nirguna Maanasa Puja Sri Sankara Bhagavatpaada in Nirguna Maanasa Puja beautifully elucidates this expression of Bhakti: - ārādhayāmi maṇisaṃnibha ātmaliṅgam māyāpurī hṛdaya paṅkaja saṃniviṣṭam । śraddhā nadī vimalacitta jalābhiṣekair- nityaṃ samādhi kusumairna punarbhavāya *Free Translation*: - I worship (my) precious (True) Self ( i.e. Atman which is nothing but pure consciousness ) within the lotus of the heart, situated in māyāpurī ( i.e. body, mind complex + universe of names & forms ), with the waters f...