(rendered into English by Dr. Sista Shanta)
(continued from the previous issue)
Song: 54
“They have descended” is a song that was composed between 14-11-1984 and 18-11-1984. I took 5 days to complete it.
That year Hyma’s birthday fell in the month of Karthika (approx.in the month of November) on the 6th day in the second half of the month (Karthika Bahula Shashti) 18th November 84. Sri Racherla Lakshminarayana had taken a vow (Deeksha) to observe only fruit diet before the installation of the Kalasa (A brass vessel of a particular shape sanctified by holy waters, chants and worship) on top of the Hymalayam (where Hyma’s Samadhi is placed). Mother too went up by the steps (specially constructed for this purpose) to the top of the temple and sprinkled vermilion and turmeric powders on the Kalasam and broke coconuts and pumpkins. This was the last time that mother went up to the top of the temple.
In June 1985 mother herself entered the temple which was specifically meant to be mother’s temple. The happy crowds that came to witness the event and mother conducting the act of sanctifying the omate, monumental temple tower (Gopuram) inspired me to compose this song.
They have descended
‘They came down in all humility
Celestial beings from heaven
They have descended,
To receive the blessings of
The divine mother
They descended’
This is the burden of the song.
The celestial beings who descended on the earth have mingled with the crowds. Have they come to watch this great event performed by mother for the universal wellbeing? I felt that even the people in the crowd are not the ordinary people made of flesh and blood but glowing ethereal beings.
Have the Demi gods come down to mix and move with the local people here! Or are the local people Demi gods! That is how they made me feel. That is how they appeared to me.
Do the celestial beings really exist? Did they come down because their existence is real? What is the purpose of their visit?
Did they come to see the Annapoornaalayam (Kitchen and Dining hall)
Where ceaselessly food is served to people (anytime of the day or night)
The place where auspicious events and
celebrations takes place forever
it is the vessel of Ambrosia (Amrutha Kalasam)
Or
to see a divine temple of Hyma
place where wishes are fulfilled
negativity and pollution is eliminated
where compassion overflows (Daakshinya Devalayam)
have they come to see the future abode of love
Or
the temple of Arthanareeswara, Anasuyeswaralayam
the temple that makes the earth holy filled with miracles.
Bestowing the boon of fearlessness
Or
Have they come to see Bhageswaralayam?
Thus I questioned myself.
Naannagaru (Brahmandam Nageswararao garu) Mother’s life partner attained Samadhi. When his body was consecrated into the temple it was called Nageswaralayam. Mother and Nannagaru together they form a unit. They are partners symbolizing the concept of Arthanaareeswara. When mother attained Samadhi and her body was placed in the second half of the temple, Nageswaralayam became Anasuyeswaralayam. i.e Mother’s Eswara or Lord is Naannagaru and mother is Anasuyeswara. It also suggests that mother Anasuya is Eswara or Shakthi and Sakthi or energy has no gender. It is neither male nor female.
I addressed Annapoornalayam as Amrutha Kalasam. What one receives in the form of food from the kitchen is nothing but a hallowed wonderful place where Ambrosial food is served as Prasadam of Mother. It is the source/vessel of inexhaustible food (Akshayapathra). Till today lacks of people come unannounced and partake of the food the Prasad.
I said the celestial sanctorium Hymalayam is the nest of compassion on earth is what I said.
A compassionate heart is the abode of God and Hyma is the personification of compassion.
Song 55
“Thy name itself is Holy.”
On 8-2-1985 I composed this song in Jillellamudi.
‘Mother sacred is thy name
Thy form is a perception.’
This is the burden of the song.
There is no difference between the name of the deity and the idol of the deity worshiped (Nama and Nami). While chanting the name visualising the form of the deity… the mind gets absorbed while singing the glorious attributes of the deity and merges into that all absorbing state.
‘A child calls Thy name
An animal articulates Thy name
The sages meditate on Thy auspicious form
The common man worships Thy glorious form’
This is the first stanza.
“Gunah pujasthanam.” The attributes are to be worshipped.
We worship Mother’s invaluable auspicious attributes. The cows make the sound “Amba”, the infants address her as “Amma” whenever they are hungry or tired. They cry out to the universal Mother and she responds and protects.
The sages who are Satvic in nature worship the supreme power for attaining Brahma Jnana (the supreme knowledge) or liberation. The common man who is Tamasic worship the same power for fulfillment of worldly prosperity.
With these naked eyes(charma chakshus) we cannot see the divine form.
Dr. Prasadaraya Kulapathi (The present Kurtralam Peetadhipathi) in a verse states that he is able to see the Mahadevi whose form is elusive because of the Divine Vision acquired through penance, which created the knowledge of fire –
‘Tapo labdhena divyena Jnanagni maya chakshusa
Pasyamitvaam mahadeveem mayaam manusha vigrahaam’
Therefore we require the celestial vision (divya drushti) bestowed by Mother.
Actually that is the real/true darshan.
‘Thy name has manifested in the creation
The name that implies troubles and also
creates an auspicious form.
But one should have the right frame of mind
To see the divine Neerajanam (waving of lights or lighted camphor before the deity) – 2
This is the second stanza.
This stanza has been inspired by an incident.
On 8-2-1985 Mother was staying with Ravi. Ravi and Vaidehi performed the Pada Abhisheka for Mother with panchamrutha (i.e five ingredients; Milk, curd, honey, sugar and ghee) and worshipped her with a variety of flowers. The worship was watched by the college staff and some of other visitors who were in the hall. After the flower offering, other rituals which are part of traditional worship like offering food (Naivedyam), waving of lights (Neerajanam) etc., followed. The camphor light was waved while the bell was ringing. Through the glow of the lighted camphor Mother was watching everyone with a steady gaze. But each one present there felt that Mother was looking at her/him alone and blessing.
I felt that this scene was something magnificent. In the black pupils of Mother’s eyes the light of the camphor was reflected and they were glowing – that was an ecstatic moment for me. Therefore I worte –
‘To see the auspicious form
One should have the right frame of mind
To behold the divine Neerajanam.’
This experience is exclusively mine. Others may not have had a similar experience. Whatever happens in Mother’s presence is beyond the ken of human thought and imagination. Sometimes Mother would be talking to a particular person. But this dialogue and message would be meant for another individual who is present in that very room. Even if he/she does not ask question his/her doubts will be cleared.
Sometimes anticipating our doubts she of her own accord questions us and blesses us with the right answers.
- (to be continued)