Lyrics of "pata paduma" Song

పాట పాడుమా కృష్ణా

పలుకు తేనెలొలుకునటుల

మాటలాడు మా ముకుంద మనసు తీరగా

శృతి లయాలు అన్ని చేసి (చేర్చి) 

యతులు నిన్ను మదిని తలచే ఏ ఏ 

సదమల హృదయా నిన్ను

సన్నుతించు వర నామము  || పాట ||

సామవేద సారము సంగీతము

సాహిత్యమెగా ఆ ఆ 

దానికింత (కంత)  మధుగానము పాట కూర్చి

పాడుమా

paaTa paaDumaa kRshNaa

paluku tEnelolukunaTula

maaTalaaDumaa mukunda manasu tiiragaa

SRti layaalu anni cEsi

yatulu ninnu madini talacE E E 

sadamala hRdayaa ninnu

sannutincu vara naamamu  || paaTa ||

saamavEda saarame sangiitamu

saahityamegaa aa aa 

daanikinta madhugaanamu paaTa kuurchi

paaDumaa

(This is a classic song composed by Sri Sanyasi Raju, father of the famed Telugu music director Sri Saluri Rajeswara Rao. The beauty of this simple melodious composition is this - in just two stanzas the composer has encapsulated the essence of Lord Krishna. His sweet music and His superb attractive power to all devotees. 

Though I must have heard this song many times either on AIR radio or private functions, after coming here I lost touch with it for many years. Then suddenly I found the TLCA website and there I came across an Internet site solely devoted to old Telugu songs. There I happened to hear a live program by Sri S. Rajeswara Rao and this song. It is a cliche to say, "old is gold". But where will you encounter such musical geniuses? Now we don't hear good analog sound, distinct instrumental sounds, and an amalgam of spontaneous live performance. This may be a caustic criticism but most if not all the modern music heavily depends on endless cut/paste editing, synthetic computer generated sounds, and faulty diction. Luckily we sat through many first rate live performances with world class artists. This song makes my heart long for great original compositions. It is a treat to hear the fine vocals. I pay my gratitude to the son and father duo.) Copyright 2021 by the author

Essential Math Skills - I

Essential Math Skills

In the modern world one ought to know a bit of language, arts, science, and most importantly some basic math. Language skills are needed for communication with the people in the street, vendors, neighbors, and (alluring) hospital nurses. Arts appear to be a useless subject in the modern technical world but without arts we cannot enjoy a fictional book or song; good aesthetic wholesome art acts like a soothing balm when the soul is in distress. Science may seem to be a hard subject but we all need a bit of scientific knowledge; otherwise we would be fooled by all the TV commentators or taken for a ride by all the misleading information floating around on social media. This is particularly dangerous in this age of Covid and other pandemics.  

Now why we need math? Sure, at the local Farmers Market the sellers are fully conversant with the money changes and numbers. Normally I do not see anyone using a calculator or abacus in the local Farmers market or flea markets here in the US. That used to be the norm in the Indian villages when I did the weekly shopping during high school days. Not anymore now there. I see frequently in cities like Hyderabad the street vegetal vendors resort to calculators for the routine simple miscellaneous additions and subtractions. If a checkout clerk at the supermarket (with power OFF) or the retail street vendor cannot work with numbers – that ought to speak volumes about the fall in school standards and fluency with numbers. The recent remote learning (via Zoom video, etc.), however great it may be for the (educational IT) technology companies it will not ease the pain of learning particularly in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) areas. Now only the reality is sinking in and its effects will linger for years to come.

Say we look at a number like 15, what do we mean or what do we understand when we say ‘fifteen’?

15 = 10 + 5

15 = 1 x 10¹ + 5 x 10⁰

10 = (10¹) + (0x10⁰)

(10^x) is read as ten to the power of x. The reader needs a bit of patience here. The concept of “power” or “index” will be come clear as we plough along further. For now, suffice to understand ten cubed (or ten to the power of 3) means

(10³) = 10 x 10 x 10 = 1,000 (thousand).

When we write the number 10 actually we mean 10 represents “one in 10’s place and zero in unit’s place”. We implicitly are using a system with 10 (ten) as the base. Of course, the selection of 10 as the base is arbitrary – but it is quite convenient for our computations and day-to-day transactions. And let’s pay our respects and gratitude to those persons who brought this very convenient decimal number system.  For the base we could’ve chosen 2, 16 (hexa-decimal), or some other large number. In the computers, software programming, and even in some semiconductor chips (not potato chips!) we use the hexa-decimal or 2 as the base or sometimes even both. 

A historical note: We do not know how the ancient Hindu number system got started with the “base of 10”. Maybe, humans got started counting with their hand fingers (digits). Looks like the Mayans used a base of 20 (ten fingers and ten toes).

So, to cut short, we must understand when we put down numbers like 32, 678, or 10,425 or even 318,678 what each number in the ones, tens’, hundreds’ or thousandth place means. If we understand the basics well and if we develop precision in our thinking – then simple math becomes very easy. No big deal, if we’ve to add two large numbers or multiply some odd set of numbers. No need to get scared unnecessarily. The numbers won’t swallow us! And with more knowledge we get skills to verify subtraction and division and any other operation (multiplication X, division ÷, or square root). That means, even without a calculator we can and must be able to check and cross check our own computations. And that (such hand calculations) will build confidence and soon we become self-reliant. I think Jiddu Krishnamurti once commented about fear and mental issues like this: “We must face the fear head on. Suppose the car has a problem. Let us just open the engine and put it back. We learn in breaking things too. Then the fear of the engine trouble and other unfamiliar auto issues (like leaking master cylinder in brake lines) slowly get resolved. We get confidence and try to learn things. Same way we may know about fear too.” You get such ideas while reading books like The Grapes of Wrath or Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Similarly the math phobia is also a man (person) made problem. Some students have a wrong opinion about math teachers; they quickly jump to conclusion saying, “He is not a good teacher.” And then the student stops learning math altogether. The student drops the subject from her curriculum. Sadly movies like 'Vajram' (K. Viswanath and Nagarjuna) do not help either. They give a wrong picture of math and math teachers. One day the same student may find the value (necessity) of interest calculations, budgeting, mortgage, and car payments – but it will be too late. 

As a sidebar (note) I may comment on the history of zero. In the classic book by Hogben, the author suggests perhaps the Indian (Hindu) accountants might have just used a dot to indicate  “nothing”. Interestingly we find the name (word) “sunya” (సున్న, శూన్య) in Vishnu sahasra-nama. For tracing the sahasra-nama’s chronological roots we have to refer to samhita or Maha-bharata. Either way its origins in the Indian subcontinent could be very antiquated. One may quibble the actual dates but serious historians should also look into this angle for ascertaining the origin of zero. Only people like Sri Paramacharya (Kanchi) or Tilak would pore over classical texts and Sanskrit treatises to ascertain the dates of such important matters. They were sincere, honest, and scholarly explorers. (to be Continued) Copyright 2021 by the author

Beckoning the Snow (Nature Poem)

Beckoning the Snow

 

A dreary day

So I thought, on my way to the park

I always liked to stroll through the woods

Next to the Limestone Creek

There in the fall I would see the

Colorful reflections of the sugar maples

And sweet gum flaming foliage

There in the waters I could see the red roots

Yes even the roots are dark red

 

But today I am late

Now the trees are totally nude

Now these benevolent trees

With luxurious crowns have no castes,

No names, they all coalesced into

One single community: a cluster of gray

Tall standing meditating monks

Except the evergreens

The entire park looked forlorn

There are no children on the swings

Nor any adults in the ballpark

And of course, the irksome pesky mosquitoes

Are absent too

Suddenly the sun shone briefly

Again it all turned cloudy

But the soil under my feet

Whispered a different tale

The earth has been longing

For the arrival of winter snow –

“Now I have discorded all my jewels

And dresses, don’t remind me about

The long tresses of willows

The luxurious silky golden crowns of honey locusts

And the soft pastel colors of sumac tops

Oh, the last colored dress or was it some

Intricate motif designed by the Benarasi silk weavers

I had the most gorgeous sari draped over me

With the cool clear eyes of blue lake looking at

The heavens

I have worked hard over the summer

To provide all my children and grand children

Now I want only your tight heavy embrace

Cover me totally and take me into your cool hands

I am weary with overwork and now I want to lie

Idly, with my own internal thoughts and feelings

Now I have to rejuvenate myself – for my own hidden roots

Lakes and streams

I have to keep all my little children

The rabbits, chipmunks, bears, and beavers

All snug, warm, and dry

Now everyone listen carefully

Be quiet, the lights are out

Rest and sleep happily

You need to conserve energies and food

For the long drawn winter

The fury winds from the North

Will be here any moment

Hide, hurry up, and put on

Insulation, all of you

 

Dear darling, come soon, with glowing symmetrical

Soft snowflakes

When you come, be careful and gentle

There will be a tender dianthus

A late blooming mum

The still green common mullein

And the fresh fronds of spotted fern

Be gentle to them

Also you’ll find glossy smooth mossy patches

On the lime stones and mounds

Do not be rough and tread carelessly

On those bare breasts of mine” Copyright 2021 by the author

Essential Works of Hinduism - III

We got introduced to some Hindu canonical works in earlier posts here. I’ve averred to share humbly a few things like bhakti, ecstasy, and devotional singing in lots of posts scattered here and in Sulekha. Currently the weeks through November and February are filled with lots of important festival days in the Hindu calendar. The cool Dhanurmasam (ధనుర్మాసము) starts with early morning recitals of devotional songs and decorating the front yards with flowers, colored powder, intricate patterns, and go-mayam (గొబ్బిళ్ళు), etc. Though every instant, week, month, and season is the ideal time for meditating and journeying inwardly towards Narayana, many Gurus suggest the cool winter months are uniquely suited for concentrating on religious matters and focused reflection. I still remember vividly some scenes from childhood: Listening to Tiruppavai hymns from neighbor’s compound in the wee hours before dawn. Weeks before the big festival (Samkranti) our street would be decorated with varied complex geometric patterns with white lime powder and seasonal flowers.

 

Now we’ll focus on just two small slim books, both in Telugu. There are equivalent English translations and details are provided in the footnotes. For the discussion we will focus on the essence of these books and I’ll confine to my reading of the Telugu versions as they are authentically close to the original (intent and import).

 

Apparently one devotee (bhakta) earnestly requested Sri Ramana (Maharshi)  to condense the essence of all the eighteen chapters of Bhagavad-Gita. In our home library we are lucky to have access to the following: 1. Very concise Telugu poetic translation 2. Sri Prabhupada’s English translation with commentary. 3. Swami Chidbhavananda’s commentary with original Sanskrit slokas. 4. Sri Ramana’s essence condensed to 42 slokas.

 

I find Sri Ramana’s condensation very straight and direct to the point. We can certainly spend more time on the Gita and go through each chapter leisurely. But for many adults time and energy are very limited and precious. Saddened to note that our skills with languages generally are very limited and often filled with ambiguities and imprecision. Here, in this slender book we see Sri Ramana explaining to the lowest common denominator (i.e., the least ill-equipped student unfamiliar with Upanishads and other hoary Hindu texts) with occasional reference to the statements by our Rishis (in Vedas and other scriptures). The estimable Guru graciously comes down to our level and tries to explain everything in simple terms.

 

For us all, the beginners (of Hindu faith) there are several questions: a) Can someone show us the Eswara (Devi) now? How am I to proceed in this mundane world with routine daily activities and still keep my focus on “the other” intact? What should be my food habits? What are my prescribed duties? Who will initiate me with a mantra, if needed? How many texts should I read? When one is in a desperate situation (financial trouble, loss of spouse, terrible disease, or dire family circumstances) is it possible to get help from the faith? And there may be a few more additional burning questions. But you (the reader) get my flow.

 

In these series of posts on “Essential Works of Hinduism” we will try to get to the answers or at least suggest pathways for finding reasonable solutions. The serious reader has to procure appropriate sources (texts) and study them. If you want to find out why turmeric can act as a pH indicator, you have to mix lime with turmeric and see the color change. Similarly if a reader is serious about “rebirth”, then she has to go and dig up original texts and evaluate the evidence herself. I can give you many instances but you may not accept them due to “prejudice” (forming an opinion without assessing the evidence carefully).

 

Now, let us come to the second text. This is a biography of Sri Ganapati Muni born near Vijayanagarm, AP. Here the great seer (Muni) demonstrates many times the efficacy of Vedas, mantras (Vedic Sanskrit chants), and the power of “tapas” (= burning quest with devotion). Many lingering doubts are cleared. No cheating or mesmerism involved here. I am very grateful to G.B. for kindling interest in this great extempore poet-healer-teacher, Sri Kavyakantha Ganapati Muni. He is also known as Vasistha Ganapathi Muni. The historical fact that two of the most unique Gurus hailed from Vizianagaram (about 180 miles from my native place) area is very touching and endearing to all Telugu people (It should exhilarate all Indians and real followers of Hindu faith). Incidentally Vizianagaram also produced extraordinary musicians like Ghantasala, P. Susheela, and Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu, etc.

 

Finally I may offer one or two suggestions to the earnest reader. In general a student can advance swiftly in any field by the hand of a Guru. The Guru can appear on the scene as a classic book, suggestion, in a dream or in human form. This is the core reason why we often turn to the commentaries of Adi Sankara on Upanishads, Brahma-Sutras, and Bhagavad-Gita. The second point I want to emphasize is “the context”. Sri Ramana answers questions with the questioner in mind; a particular answer is aimed at a particular person in a specific context. Thus we should be careful not to distort the words of Sri Ramana (Guru) or for that matter any one else.     

 

1. The Bhagavad-Gita, English Book published from Ramana Asram, Annamalai, available at Archive.Org on Internet

2. “Bhagavadgitasaramu” by Sri Poluri Hanumajjanakirama Sarma (Telugu)

3. “Nayana”, a Biography of Kavyakantha Ganapathi Muni by G. Krishna and Gunuturu Lakshmikantham, 1978, 186 pp (English)

4. “Nayana” by Sri Poluri Hanumajjanakirama Sarma (Telugu)

Lyrics of "abhimana mennadu" Song

రాగము వివర్ధని 

తాళము ఆది

అభిమాన మెన్నడు గల్గురా 

అనాధుడైన నాదుపై 

అపరాధములన్ని మన్నించుమయ్యా 

అభిరామ పట్టాభిరామ నాయందు 

కన్న తల్లియు ఘన తండ్రియు 

అన్నియును నీవే యని నమ్మలేదా 

నిను విన గతి నాకెవ్వరు లేరే 

నను బ్రోవ త్యాగరాజ వినుత  

raagamu vivardhani taaLamu aadi abhimaana mennaDu galguraa anaadhuDaina naadupai aparaadhamulanni manniMchumayyaa abhiraama paTTaabhiraama naayaMdu

kanna talliyu ghana taMDriyu anniyunu neevae yani nammalaedaa ninu vina gati naakevvaru laerae nanu brOva tyaagaraaja vinuta

[When will Your affection (grace) fall on me? When will it befall on an orphan like me? Please forgive all my infractions (misdeeds, improper conduct), excuse my sins. O handsome Emperor (Crown King), when will Your compassionate love touch me? You are my birth mother and You are my great father. Did I not believe that You are everything for me? I do not have anybody else except You (Sri Rama). I have no other way. No body else cares for me. Please rescue me, Rama (the Lord who is praised by Tyagaraja). The birth parents may not be there for us at every moment and in every place. So, even if one is the offspring of very noble and loving parents, one cannot count on the help of parents at critical junctures. The other scenario is like Prahlada’s situation. His father was very hurtful and wicked to the little kid. The father (Hiranyakasipu) tried everything to change and even annihilate the devout Prahlada. This tells us Narayana (Sri Rama) is the only protector for the bhaktas. I must have heard this song in a cassette by

Maharajapuram Santanam. On the Internet there is a YouTube recording by Yesudas. This is a short lyric with profound meaning.

Abhiraama = captivating, pleasing, agreeable, a rare beauty with physical and mental attributes; vina (vinaa) = without, absent; gati = a way out, means, some solution] Copyright 2021 by the author

Emani pogaDudume - Annamayya Kirtana

ఏమని పొగడుదుమే యిక నిన్నును 

ఆమని సొబగుల అలమేల్మంగ ||

తెలి కన్నుల నీ తేటలే కదవే

వెలయగ విభునికి వెన్నెలలు

పులకల మొలకల ఒరు(పొదు)లివి గదవే

పలుమరు(ఱు)  పూవుల పానుపులు ||

తీయని  నీమోవి తేనెలే కదవే

వియ్యపు రమణుని విందులివి

ముయ్యక మూసిన మొలక నవ్వు గదె

నెయ్యపు గ(క)ప్పురపు (గప్రపు) నెరి బాగాలు ||

కైవసమగు నీ కాగిలే (కౌగిలి?) కదవే

శ్రీ వేంకటేశ్వరు సిరి నగవు(రు)  

తావు కొన్న మీ తమకములే కదే

కావించిన మీ కల్యాణములు ||

aemani pogaduDumae yika ninnunu aamani sobagula alamaelmaMga || teli kannula nee taeTalae kadavae velayaga vibhuniki vennelalu pulakala molakala oru(podu)livi gadavae palumaru(~ru) poovula paanupulu || teeyani neemOvi taenelae kadavae viyyapu ramaNuni viMdulivi muyyaka moosina molaka navvu gade neyyapu ga(ka)ppurapu (gaprapu) neri baagaalu || kaivasamagu nee kaagilae (kaugili?) kadavae Sree vaeMkaTaeSvaru siri nagavu(ru) taavu konna mee tamakamulae kadae kaaviMchina mee kalyaaNamulu ||

(I first listened this indescribable Annamayya's extraordinary beauty in a cassette with Dr. Balamuralikrishna's ringing voice. Here is a link to Sri Balakrishnaprasad's rendering: Sri Balakrishnaprasad's rendition

How can we translate and communicate Annamayya's celestial sringara? It is purely out of this mundane conflict ridden world. Who saw the beauty of Alamelumanga other than Annamayya? Sri Anantacharyulu? We'll explore and look into the meaning of this song in a future post. Any praise or encomiums heaped on this Telugu composer are too little and too futile. When I listen to this song it transports me to the Seven Hills and I am lost in the misty beautiful gardens on the Hills. I simply submit to the grace of the divine Mother.)

Lyrics of "Sobhillu sapta swara" Kirtana

జగన్మోహిని రాగము    రూపక తాళము 

శోభిల్లు (సప్త స్వర శోభిల్లు) 

సప్త స్వర సుందరుల భజింపవే మనసా 

నాభి హృత్కంఠ రసన నాసాదుల యందు 

ధర ఋక్సామాదులలో వర గాయత్రీ  హృదయమున 

సుర భూసుర మానసమున శుభ త్యాగరాజాదులలో 

jaganmOhini raagamu roopaka taaLamu SObhillu (sapta svara SObhillu) sapta svara suMdarula bhajiMpavae manasaa naabhi hRtkaMTha rasana naasaadula yaMdu dhara RksaamaadulalO vara gaayatree hRdayamuna sura bhoosura maanasamuna Subha tyaagaraajaadulalO

(“Look at the radiating damsels of seven notes. Look at the seven beauties and focus on them. Keep them in your mind, praise, and meditate on the seven exquisite ladies of music – O mind. Where do you think you’ll find them? You might ask. They dwell in the tummy (belly button), heart, neck, tongue, nose, etc., in the human body. On the earth, you’ll find them in the Vedas (Rik, Sama, +), in the esteemed heart of Gayantri (mantra), in the Devas, and in the gentle hearts of ‘bhu-sura’ విప్రుడు. And of course in the minds (and hearts) of good natured (auspicious) people like Tyagaraja too.” I first learned this kirtana from Dr. Balamurali’s rendition in a cassette tape. On the Internet we find Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi’s recording also. Obviously there is a reference to Yoga and the Chakras here in the first stanza. There is more to it than what is indicated in a very concise translation. Really a beautiful song worth learning and pondering on its inner beauty.)