Lyrics of "venkatachala ramana" Song

వేంకటాచల రమణ

సామజా ప్రియ కరుణ

మకర కుండలాభరణ

మారీచు మద హరణ

హరచాప కరఖండ అఖిలాండ రక్షకుండ

కృపజూడు నను నిండ కోదండ దోర్దండ

 

వాల్మికి భక్తపోష వైకుంఠ పురవాస

ఇనకోటి సంకాస ఇందిర హృదయేశ

శ్రీ రుక్మిణీ లోల ఆశ్రిత జనపాల

నమ్మితి నిను చాల దయజూడు గోపాల

దశరధ వరపుత్ర శంకరప్రియ మిత్ర

రాజీవ దళనేత్ర రఘువంశ కులగాత్ర

రాతి నాతిగ చేసి రవిసుతుని పగదీర్చి

కైవారాధిపుడైన శ్రి అమరనారాయణ

vEnkaTaachala ramaNa

saamajaa priya karuNa

makara kunDalaabharaNa

maariichu mada haraNa

harachaapa karaKhanDa akhilaanDa rakshakunDa

kRpajuuDu nanu ninDa kOdanDa dOrdanDa

vaalmiki bhaktapOsha vaikunTha puravaasa

inakOTi sankaasa indira hRdayESa

Srii rukmiNii lOla aaSrita janapaala

nammiti ninu chaala dayajuuDu gOpaala

daSaradha varaputra Sankarapriya mitra

raajiiva daLanEtra raghuvamSa kulagaatra

raati naatiga chEsi ravisutuni pagadiirchi

kaivaaraadhipuDaina Sri amaranaaraayaNa

(Originally I wanted to post this song on the eve of Vaikuntha Ekadasi. Sri Amara Narayana composed it - the song encapsulates the story of Ramayana. He was a bangle seller. I heard this song from a cassette recorded by S V Temple in Pittsburgh. Of course it was Dr. Balamuralikrishna's extempore live recording. Dr. Balamuralikrishna's scholarship is vast. It is almost impossible to find any errors in diction or lyrics. Most of the words are easy to understand. This is a nice easy song for beginners.)

Comments on "oka pilupulo" Song

As I have recounted somewhere, my formative years were spent in listening to lots of songs daily – this intense musical immersion happened for at least six years. The movie theater across the road used to play songs before every show, starting with the devotional songs by Ghantasala. There was no radio at home but occasionally I would to listen to AIR station from Vijayawada across a neighbor’s house. I remember listening to Dr. Balamuralikrishna, Smt. Gopalaratnam, and other vocalists in the morning. Of course, I liked the lady vocalist’s rendition – particularly her sensitive touch with bhakti feeling; her recordings of Annamayya’s compositions are superb. This song exquisitely captures the urgency of a desperate call to the Lord of Seven Hills.

I do not know the author of this lyric. But it has been in circulation widely and the record has been played at events for many decades. The Lord of Seven Hills (we call him endearingly as “Venkanna (వెంకన్న) ” or “Peda Venkanna (పెద వెంకన్న)” is our favorite Lord in the family. Whenever mother made a pledge to the hilly Lord, she would fulfill her vows with utmost fidelity. Even in the midst of a heavy storm with flooded train tracks,  

I made a road trip (via Markapuram and Kadapa) to Tirupati to keep father’s word. This song very delicately condenses the feelings of every devotee. It says: “We come to You with our meager savings (and limited energies) to honor our vows. You demand interest, even compound interest from us. But we are hapless people; we have no principal with us. You have to remove our troubles and help us.” Often we overestimate our value, worth, or possessions. Money, health, intelligence, or even family can all be lost in a moment. It could be due to events beyond our control. When we come face to face with life and some of its hard realities, then we realize our utter helplessness. This writer watched at least two terminal patients: One slowly slipping away due to consumption and another succumbing to cancer. Even with ample money, family, and name (prestige) there are times when one is tragically left (abandoned) in a hospital bed or bare hallway. Lucky are those who can recall and surrender to Lord Srinivasa. It is not easy to remember Him when the body is crippled and mind on the verge of losing all its faculties (memory, speech, thought, and imagination).

The Lord of Seven Hills does not need our monies or jewels. He gently instructs us to keep our word and follow at least one moral in life: “Be truthful”. The same message is conveyed repeatedly in the Satyanarayana (of Annavaram) Vrata story.

“You are the majestic steadfast Lord like a mountain. I come to You with high hopes. Give us Your firm support and rescue (protect) us.” Sri Balaji never failed His devotees. Once we reached the top without any prior arrangements. I was in the long queue muttering unpleasant words and hastily finding fault with the clerks at the counter. It was unbecoming of me to complain. Others too were there in the hot sun for hours waiting patiently. I hold no special claim on His grace. Yet, suddenly out of nowhere a gentleman came to us handing a “special quota slip” for a slot in a nice cottage. Srinivasa’s concern for the struggling devotee cannot be explained; you’ve to directly experience it and feel it inside (heart). 

“You extend an assuring right hand. You are the Lord of protection and remover of fear. Please shower Your protection on us and (help us maneuver this life boat) show us this precious boat of birth - to cross the difficult currents of life.” Srinivasa’s left hand gestures us this: Seek the refuge of my feet and you do not have to worry about the deep waters of life. The Seven Hills, the surrounding towns and hamlets are very sacred to the faithful. Numerous poets, saints, and gurus treaded on these roads and wandered in the gardens here. I conclude with a very humble experience on these hills. On one of the visits I was thinking about the great composer Tallapaka Annamacharya. A flickering thought crossed my mind: “These roads, brick laden paths, and steps – they are holy. How can I move around with footwear here? Perhaps I should walk on the hill bare feet. But my feet are not as strong as before. Now I get planter warts.” That evening I lost my chappals while returning from dinner at Vengamamba! That night I felt exhilarated at the incident. Left to my own devices I would not have dared to walk with naked feet. Next twenty-four hours I was there on the Hill, limping and walking like a cat on a hot tin roof - remembering Sri Hari at every pebble at my bare feet. I felt so happy at Srinivasa’s intervention and grace. He let me fulfill a small wish. Copyright 2020 by the author

తరణి = boat

Lyrics of "Oka pilupulo" Song on Srinivasa

ఒక పిలుపులో పిలిచితే పలుకుతావట
ఒక పిలుపులో పిలిచితే పలుకుతావట
నా పలుకులో కులుకుతావట
ఓ
ఆపద మ్రొక్కుల సామీ నీ సన్నిధి నా పెన్నిధి
నీ సన్నిధి నా పెన్నిధి

కొండంత దేవుడవని కొండంత ఆశెతో
నీ కొండ చేర వచ్చితిని
అండ  జేర్చి కాపాడర
ఒక పిలుపులో పిలిచితే పలుకుతావట

అభయ (హస్త) మున్నదట అభయ మూర్తి వీవేయట
అభయ దాన మిచ్చి మాకు భవ తరణపు సొమ్ము చూపు
ఒక పిలుపులో పిలిచితే పలుకుతావట

వడ్డికాసు వాడవట వడ్డీ వడ్డీ గుంజుదు వట
అసలు లేని వారమయ్య వెసలు బాపి కావ వయ్య
ఒక పిలుపులో పిలిచితే పలుకుతావట
నా పలుకులో కులుకుతావట
ఓ
ఆపద మ్రొక్కుల సామీ నీ సన్నిధి నా పెన్నిధి
నీ సన్నిధి నా పెన్నిధి

oka pilupulO pilichitae palukutaavaTa

oka pilupulO pilichitae palukutaavaTa

naa palukulO kulukutaavaTa

O

aapada mrokkula saamee nee sannidhi naa pennidhi

nee sannidhi naa pennidhi

koMDaMta daevuDavani koMDaMta aaSetO

nee koMDa chaera vachchitini

aMDa  jaerchi kaapaaDara

oka pilupulO pilichitae palukutaavaTa

abhaya munnadaTa abhaya moorti veevaeyaTa

abhaya daana michchi maaku bhava taraNapu sommu choopu

oka pilupulO pilichitae palukutaavaTa

vaDDikaasu vaaDavaTa vaDDee vaDDee guMjudu vaTa

asalu laeni vaaramayya vesalu baapi kaava vayya

oka pilupulO pilichitae palukutaavaTa

naa palukulO kulukutaavaTa

O

aapada mrokkula saamee nee sannidhi naa pennidhi

nee sannidhi naa pennidhi

(English transliteration follows the scheme of Lekhini)

Lyrics of "mata Saraswati Sarada" in Telugu script

మాతా సరస్వతి శారదా

హే మాతా సరస్వతి శారదా

విద్యాదాని దయాని దుఃఖహరిణి

జగత జనని జ్వాలాముఖి మాతా

కీజే సదృష్టి సేవక జాన్

అపనా ఇతనా వరదాన్ దీజె

తాన్, తాల్, ఔర్ ఆలాప్ బుద్ధి అలంకార్

Vidyadani Dayani Dukh-harini 

Jagat Janani Jwalamukhi Mata

Saraswati Sharda

Hey Mata Saraswati Sharda

Keeje Sudrishti – 2

Sewak Jaan Apna

Itna Vardaan Dije

Taan Taan Aur Alaap Budhdhi Alankaar

Shaarda

Hey Mata Saraswati Sharda

(I learnt this song after watching the Hindi movie. The Hindi lyrics are available on the Internet. I post the lyrics in Telugu script for the benefit of Telugu community. It is an exquisite devotional song combining both meaning and feeling. I could not find the name of original composer. In Sanskrit (and Telugu also) we have three letters स, श, and ष. While singing we should be extra careful in uttering the words Saraswati and Sarada. The Devi (Mother) is implicitly present in all the letters of Sanskrit alphabet (from अ to क्ष). This I am quoting from Sri Paramacharya. Perhaps I'll give all the slokas (and poems) on Sarada in one post.) 

English Translation of "nii pada pankaja" Song

Translation of "nii pada pankaja" Song 

(I dwell and meditate on)

On Your lotus-like feet's dust (sand)

On Your compassionate mascara filled

Moonlight dripping eyes

(Perhaps You are to be found)

In the comforting words of poets like Potana

In the imaginations and thoughts of Kalidasa

(You are dispersed)

In sweet melodies, feelings filled with love,

In the lilting waves of caring thoughts

In the sweet harmonies of vina

In the lotus-like hearts of rishis like Narada

(Perhaps You're)

The exuding smile with the light of moonlight

In the autumn (Sarad-ritu)

Seated on a spotless white swan

You are the love of Brahma

You are the all encompassing

Knowledge shining like a Milky Way

(Our mothers and teachers taught us a few “gems” of poems to help us in learning. Learning, that is the ‘operative’ word here. Not just mugging up some facts, stories, or even theorems and vomiting up dry bits of knowledge in the final (Board) examinations. Learning involves understanding, getting to the essence of a poem, and applying the information in real life situations. For example, you learn the Newton’s laws of motion and apply to the making of a ‘toy rocket’. Or, learn the phenomenon of buoyancy and use it to measure the density of milk (Lactometer). To facilitate learning and impart us with necessary discipline and confidence, we invoke Ganesa, Sarada, and Lord Siva. And, how do we do it? We recite one or two Telugu poems (or Sanskrit Slokas) at the beginning. During our high school final year preparations, my friend and I would recite poems on Sarada before sitting for a late night study session. Luckily our distractions in those were few and far away: The film songs blaring from local movie theaters’ loudspeakers or marriage events. Or we would be awakened at 4:00 a.m. with a cabaret song from a neighboring café. There was a time in the distant past when the modern TV and social media were non-existent, leaving pupils with ample opportunity to concentrate on studies. To get a glimpse of Saraswati Devi, we rely on Vedas and Puranas. Here I paraphrase the words of Sri Paramacharya: As Dakshinamurti, Siva holds (rather He is the embodiment of) the qualities of pure wisdom (symbolized by white crystal-like color), peace, meditation, and jnana (the higher intellect). He is also covered with white ash (similar to the glistening soft fresh snow flakes), long tresses, and wears the crescent moon. Sarada is considered as the sister of Lord Siva similar to Parvati being the sister of Narayana. She has the same qualities of pure knowledge, soft smiling demeanor, and white dress (sari).  She always exudes the happiness (joy) of the sparse clouded moonlit nights of “autumn” (sarad-ritu శరదృతువు). Hence we refer the goddess of learning as Sarada.) Audio and Telugu lyric links:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62L32NiJsIEhttp://pattri-pulu.blogspot.com/2020/12/original-song-on-sarada-ni-pada-pankaja.html
Copyright 2020 by the author

Original Song on Sarada "nI pada pankaja"

నీ పద పంకజ సైకతలో

నీ కరుణారస కాటుక చంద్రికలో

పోతనాది సత్కవుల ఊరడిలో

కాళిదాస కల్పన ఊహలలో

రాగములో అనురాగములో

మధురిమ భావన లాహరిలో

మంజుల వీణా వినాదములో

నారదాది ముని హృత్కమలములో 

శరదిందుల కాంతి సుహాసినివో

విమల స్వేత హంసారూఢివో

చతురానన ప్రియ సఖివో

నిఖిల విజ్ఞాన విశాల పాల పుంతవో

nii pada pankaja saikatalO

nii karunaarasa kaaTuka candrikalO

pOtanaadi satkavula uuraDilO

kaaLidaasa kalpana uuhalalO

raagamulO anuraagamulO

madhurima bhaavana laaharilO

manjula viiNaa vinaadamulO

naradaadi muni hRutkamalamulO

Saradindula kaanti suhaasinivO

vimala svEta hamsaaruuDhivO

caturaanana priya sakhivO

nikhila vijnaana viSaala paala puntavO

(Some time back I composed this original song on Mata Sarada Devi. I uploaded the audio to YouTube with my own voice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62L32NiJsIE  The Telugu lyrics were also posted at my blog at Sulekha but I cannot find it now. So I give the Telugu lyrics here. I'll post the English translation in the next post here. Much of my musical repertoire (particularly devotional songs) is limited to Ramadasu, Tyagaraja, and Annamayya. Only a few songs related to the Mother are in my tool box. Music as well as bhakti is very wide and limitless.) Copyright 2020 by the author

English Translation of "E peruto ninu" Song

By what name

Will I beckon you? (O Sai)

How will I

Pray to you, in what form?

Your threshold -

Always shines with

(Shines everyday with) 

(Garlands of)

Newly bloomed white lotuses

(Our persistent)

Small small wishes,

Sundry demands

Endless are our anguishes

If we ever get a respite

Even for a minute

It’s only due to your grace

Burdensome and difficult 

Are our lives

Filled with wants and riches

(We’re encumbered with)

A long life with daily crises

(I don’t know)

Whether it is due to a curse

Or, accrued (bad) karma

Ravaged are our bodies 

With disease

Innumerable crores of living beings

Struggling 

And

Dispersed thro’ the continents

Do not, do not forget us

Please do not ignore us –

We are your faithful servers

All my chants and penances -

Are they all fruitless?

Will only a pure heart

Can discover you?

Why pine to reach you?

Why make a fruitless (useless) effort?

Aren’t all my endeavors, music, and poems

(Are) due to the mist

Out of your flower-like miracles!  Copyright 2020 by the author

(This is an English translation of the Telugu lyric "ఏ పేరుతొ నిను" on Sri Sai. The original Telugu song came out spontaneously without my deliberate effort. The Guru came to me in a very strange circumstance ( as if to rescue a lost child). Faith is not easy for most (bookish) learned people because they are burdened with too much knowledge – both useful and useless. This writer too had a very trying and testing set of incidents; they attempted to teach me gently the value of “true and time tested original Sanatana dharma”. Though I could have edited and modified some of the phrases – I deliberately refrained from doing so. I let the original inspiration be my infallible guide. I hope the Telugu song will help others in their path to spiritual progress.)

Lyrics of "e peruto ninu" - Original Devotional Song

ఏ పేరుతో నిను పిలిచెదనో
ఏ రూపమున నిను కొలిచెదనో, సాయి
తెల తెల్లని నవ తామరలతో
నిత్యము వెలిగే నీ ద్వారములు  |ఏ పేరుతొ| 

1. చిన్ని చిన్ని వరములు, చిల్లర కోర్కెలు
అంతములేని మా ఆవేదనలు
నిమిసమైనా మది నిలకడ నొసగే
చల్లని నీ కృపయే కాదా 

2. కలిమిలేముల కష్టపు బ్రతుకులు
దినదిన గండపు దీర్ఘాయువు
ప్రారబ్ధమో లేక పరుల శాపమో యిది
రోగ పీడిత తనువులు మావి
ఖండ ఖండములలో తల్లడిపోయే
అగణిత కోటి ఈ జీవరాసులు
మరువకు మరువకు మరి మమ్ములను
మరువకు సుమా నీ దాసులము 

3. (నా) జపములు తపములు వ్యర్ధములా
స్వచ్ఛపు హృదయమె నిను కనుగొనునా
నిను చేరుటకై తపనేల
నిష్ఫల యత్నము సేయనేల
(నా) సాధన సంగీత కవితలెల్ల
నీ మహిమల సుమ నిహారమె కాదా

ae paerutO ninu pilichedanO

ae roopamuna ninu kolichedanO, saayi

tela tellani nava taamaralatO

nityamu veligae nee dvaaramulu  |ae paeruto| 

1. chinni chinni varamulu, chillara kOrkelu

aMtamulaeni maa aavaedanalu

nimisamainaa madi nilakaDa nosagae

challani nee kRpayae kaadaa 

2. kalimilaemula kashTapu bratukulu

dinadina gaMDapu deerghaayuvu

praarabdhamO laeka parula SaapamO yidi

rOga peeDita tanuvulu maavi

khaMDa khaMDamulalO tallaDipOyae

agaNita kOTi ee jeevaraasulu

maruvaku maruvaku mari mammulanu

maruvaku sumaa nee daasulamu 

3. (naa) japamulu tapamulu vyardhamulaa

svachChapu hRdayame ninu kanugonunaa

ninu chaeruTakai tapanaela

nishphala yatnamu saeyanaela

(naa) saadhana saMgeeta kavitalella

nee mahimala suma nihaarame kaadaa

(When I get a chance I will record the song and upload it to my YouTube channel. Still, people can add their own tune and utilize it as a bhajan song. It suddenly came to me out of a sudden inspiration. Obviously there are many beautiful, moving, and profound devotional songs on the Guru. Hope people will add this to their repertoire of devotional songs. Years ago I posted the lyrics at Sulekha, if I remember correctly. English translation will be given in the next post here. Copyright 2020 by the author.) 

Meditations on Life III

Meditations on Life (Contd.)

We study history and listen to grand parents’ stories for a reason. Such readings help us develop character and give us a broad perspective on life and the world. Often we tend to confine our thoughts and analyses to our own limited circumstances; and thus unknowingly we dwell too much on our own situation, at times bordering on self-pity. But even in the best of conditions, “life is a predicament (George Santayana)” – you might say it, the essence of “modern diagnosis”.  When we are young, everything and everybody influences us; mostly such an influence acts to our detriment. The Sanskrit quote warns us thus: “Your own intellect will give happiness. The guru’s advice (intellect) will lead to a better path in life. But other’s advice (cf. peer pressure in modern societies) can lead to disaster.” We should keep such ancient words of wisdom close to our hearts and carefully examine (evaluate) them in real life. At least much of the teenage angst (or call it the youth’s crisis/alienation) can be avoided if one has a ‘holistic view’ of the individual experience in the larger context.

I was then in the rural upper elementary school (here it would be middle school). The day started like any other normal day with the morning classes of Telugu, science, and math. But right after the Morning Prayer (or Pledge), the normal routine got suspended for small pox vaccine shot. As per the district health officer’s orders, the entire school need to be inoculated – all the kids with no exception. So, there were peons, teachers, and senior students watching every exit, bathroom, and compound (border) wall. The visiting male nurse rapidly set up his operation on the table in front of us. It was a very sparse setting – a small alcohol lamp, few clean ceramic-coated pots for sterilizing, a pair of rotary lancets, and the vials of vaccine. Some of the children were a bit apprehensive, scared of the vaccination. In those days many children never got any shots (injections) and were protected from doctors, nurses, the accompanying needles, lotions, gauges, and Dettol smelling dressings, etc. Suddenly I was the sacrificial goat from the front row with my outstretched hand for the puncture. He started to ease my fears by asking about breakfast. I sheepishly replied, “Nothing much, just mango pickle, rice, and a little curd.” “That must be yummy!” Before I knew it, he gently scratched the forearm skin with the sharp lancet and administered the vaccine. We’re all advised to keep the two spots dry, away from water. But children are children! And of all the things, itching and scratching are involuntary natural reactions to “dermatological injury”.

Then the painful saga ensued. Some how a crazy idea got into my little mind. It was not mother’s advice. Either one of my classmates or the neighbor’s child planted a strange thought: “Put a bit of cow dung on the spot, rub it, and then wipe it off with top soil. Then wash it thoroughly with soap and water. Then you won’t get any bad reaction like fever or topical scar due to the vaccine.” Of course, who wants fevers or pus filled wounds? Besides children are very keen not to miss school or games with fellow kids. For happy children, there are more things to play than twenty-four hours in a day. So, immediately after coming home I did exactly that and washed the wound after putting all the muck on the spot. Within a day or two I was awfully sick with high fever and sore lesions and blisters on my arm. We’d never know whether I could’ve avoided the serious reaction by adhering to proper hygiene. The subcutaneous injection of small pox vaccine did produce serious adverse reactions in children. Mother did all the prayers, penance, vows, and care. But it took almost two weeks. I was in the bed with fever during the pleasant rainy season, barely surviving on milk. Certainly the divine help came through to pull me out. Even after several weeks I used to apply a coconut paste (made from baby coconut fruit acorns) on the quarter-sized pockmarks to relieve the pain and itching. Many years later I learnt to handle the skin. In most cases the skin heals itself. It needs no medicine other than pure petroleum jelly or oil (coconut, sesame, castor, mustard, or olive). Most interventions (on skin growths) with scalpel, needle, or abrasion will lead to disastrous results. Even the herbal doctor (Tata/Grandfather) of Sri Ramana shed tears at the horrible surgeries done to the great rishi. At least most of the (Maharishi’s) pain and discomfort could have been avoided – so it appears now. 

Why me? Why did I get all the childhood ailments? There is no answer. Perhaps, those were some precious lessons, lessons to instruct me in faith and discover my own “Swa-dharma”. Maybe, it was all part of the search for the Guru.

Our life in the village was hard but our loving parents acted as shock absorbers. They provided us with plenty amidst extreme penury. They hid all the troubles from our eyes. During Diwali festivals father helped us in making firecrackers. At home we fabricated our own stuff with raw ingredients. I still remember storing all the materials under the bed and drying them in the open sun in the front yard. There was one terrible accident involving my eyes. On the new moon day, we put on clean clothes, and gorged on mother’s sweet dishes. In the evening we lighted all our firecracker collection. That means two or three dozens of sparklers, half a dozen spinning wheels, handful of tiny bombs, several flowerpots, and we lit the dark star-studded sky with many rockets. Ideally, that should have satisfied most children. Mother secretly hid some firecrackers for future use, for the coming festivals. 

Next morning when I looked at the street I noticed lots of unexploded firecrackers (ordnance). There was one Lakshmi brand 4-inch bomb looking pitiably at me, telling me, “They did not play with me. See, I got left out!” Immediately after returning from school I hurriedly finished lunch and rushed out into the garden. Daily I used to volunteer for making hot water for the family on wood stove outdoors. The embers were still there hot and I inserted the firecracker (explosive) into the fireplace. As there was no bamboo blower pipe around, I went on blowing air with mouth puffs. Then suddenly, there was a big explosion and my eyes went totally dark. Somehow I walked blindly towards the front porch, crying for mother. We rushed immediately to our local doctor’s (Dr. P. V. Rao) clinic. His quick diagnosis and tight gauge bandage saved my vision. The topical ophthalmic gel cream eventually cleared the aluminum oxide smoke; but I had to anxiously wait till the evening, about four hours counting every minute. By then my tuition master (word had spread at lightning speed in the village) came around to see me. He tested my sight from six feet distance with three out-stretched fingers, teasingly asking me, “How many digits?” 

Now looking back I again humbly pay my gratitude to mother and Lord Subrahmanya Swamy. She was a regular devotee of Lord Kumara Swamy and every year she would observe a fast for Him. After several decades I got a chance to visit Lord Skanda at two sacred hill temples. Grace is like the gravitational pull - always keeping its children close to its bosom.