Rama Rama Rama Neeli Megha Syama...

 

Dhom dhom tana.. dhomtana dhomtana.. dheem dheem.. aa

Dhom dhom tana.. dhomtana dhomtana.. dheem dheem.. aa

Rama rama rama.. neeli megha syama..

Rama, O dark Blue coloured divine being,

Sa.. sa ni pa ni sa

Rama rama rama.. neeli megha syama..

Rama, O dark Blue coloured divine being,

Rava raghukula soma.. bhadrachala srirama

Please come, O best of Raghukula, O Rama of Bhadrachala,

Maa manasu viraboose.. prati sumagaanam neekele

Our mind blossomed and the fragrant song is dedicated to you,

Karununchi kuripinche.. nee prati deevena maakele

On feeling compassion, all your blessings are for us

Niratam poojinche.. maaku.. daagudu mootalu neekelaa

Why do you play hide and seek with your eternal worshippers

Reppalu mooyaka kolichaamu.. kannula edutaku raavelaa

We seek without blinking, when will we be able to see a glimpse of you

Rama.. rama

Rama rama rama.. neeli megha syama..

Rama, O dark Blue coloured divine being,

Rava raghukula soma.. bhadrachala srirama

Please come, O best of Raghukula, O Rama of Bhadrachala,

Lyric acknowledgements: Here.

Venkateshwara Suprabhatam - first 4 stanzas.

Om

Kausalya supraja Rama purva sandhya pravartate
O auspicious son of Kausalya, Rama, the twilight is approaching from the East

utthista narasardhula kartavyam daivamahnikam
wake up so the divine daily karmas can be performed



utthista utthista govinda utthista garuda dhwaja
Wake up, wake up O Govinda, one who has Garuda on his flag wake up

 
utthista kamala kanta trilokyam mangalam kurum
wake up, O husband of Sri Lakshmi, render the three worlds auspicious



Matassamasta jagatam madhukaita bhare
O mother of all the worlds, Sri Lakshmi, the enemy of Madhu and Kaitabha

vaksho viharini manohara divya murte
one who dwells inside the chest of the beautiful divine personality

sriswamini sritajana priya dhanasheele
One who bestows whatever is desired by seekers of refuge

Sri Venkatesa dayate tavasuprabhatam
O divine Venkateshwara, this wake up hymn is dedicated to you.


Acknowledgements : http://www.hindu-blog.com/2008/05/english-translation-of-sri-venkateswara.html


Though it seems ridiculous that the verse tries to wake up the One who wills any happening any time, the subtle meaning is only to awaken the inner self within humans, which is a part of the Super soul.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill for the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

Acknowledgements : here
Here are a few Kabir's Dohas (Couplets) with translated meaning.

Evariki evaru ee lokam lo evariki eruka

Evarikevaru ee lokam lo evariki eruka
Who really knows who is going to support whom in this world?
ae daretupotundo evarini adagaka
Which path leads where, unless you ask someone, how will you know?
Evarikevaru ee lokam lo evariki eruka
ae daretupotundo evarini adagakaEvarikevaru ee lokam lo evariki eruka

Evarikevaru ee lokam lo evariki eruka
ae daretupotundo evarini adagakaEvarikevaru ee lokam lo evariki eruka
ae daretupotundo evarini adagakaEvarikevaru ee lokam lo evariki eruka


Vana kurisi kalisedi vagulo
The rain showers on Earth and collects into rivulets
vagu vanka kalisedi nadilo
rivulets and streams in turn collect into rivers
Vana kurisi kalisedi vagulo
vagu vanka kalisedi nadilo

Kadili kadili nadulanni kalisedi kadalilo
After flowing through land, the rivers collect into oceans
Kadili kadili nadulanni kalisedi kadalilo
kani...aa kadali kalisedi...endulo?
but, where in turn does the collected ocean water evaporate into?

Evarikevaru ee lokam lo evariki eruka
ae daretupotundo evarini adagaka
Evarikevaru ee lokam loooo...

Song vocals : S.P. Balasubramanyam, P.Suseela

Acknowledgements : http://divyakshar.blogspot.com.au/2010/05/evarikevaru.html

This song picturesquely describes the state of complete loss in the event of a personal catastrophe when you absolutely do not know what is happening around you, when your senses are benumbed  to the extent that you do not know, do not care where the next step is going to lead you.

The other stanza portrays a beautiful silver lining, which shows the cyclic nature of cosmos, where rain drops are described to collect themselves into streams, in turn collecting themselves into rivers, then collecting into ocean after a lot of flowing (likened to problems) after which, the droplets again evaporate to become rain.

Nuances from the Indian Epics

Mainstream renditions of the epics mostly deal with the essence and skim over a lot of nuances that are awe-inspiring and interesting. I will attempt to add a them as I come across them.

Karna, on his deathbed on the battlefield of Mahabharata :
Life Of Sacrifice

Karna's Generosity

Karna's story in comparison with Arjuna Also, do not miss Karna's story by 'The Chronicler'.


Draupadi's confession of her secret love to a talking tree :
Draupadi's confession


Astras and Shastras

Brahma kadigina padamu

M.S. Subbalakshmi's rendition of Annamayya keertana, its lyrics and meaning.




For lyrics and meaning, visit: This site.

Shankara nada sharira para - Song, lyric, meaning

Sankaraa naadha shareeraa paraa
veda vihaaraharaa jeeveshwara (2 times)
[Sankara! O wonderful embodied form of the unmanifest cosmic vibration, Om! (you are the universe). Hara(Shiva), You are the very abode of the sacred Vedas, and the Lord of all life forms.]

Praanamu neevani gaaname needani
praaname gaanamani
mouna vichakshana dhyana vilakshana
raagame yogamani (2 times)
[You are the life on earth. Songs are Your creation. Life is like a song. Silent introspection enlightens us to the truth that singing divine songs is a way to reach the higher spiritual elevation.]

Naadhopaasana chesina vaadanu
nee vaadanu nenaithe (2 times)
[I will sing Your glories forever, I would like to be called Your faithful servant.]

Dhikkarendajita himagirinda sita
kantha ra neelakanta raa
kshudhrulerugani rudraveena
nirnidhra gaanamidi avatarinchara vini tarinchara (Sankaraa)
[O Lord Sankara, the lord of all directions, the one who resides on the lofty peaks of the Himalayas! O Lord, who is handsome because of a beautiful Blue coloured throat (because he swallowed the most dangerous poison to save this universe)! My song is like the eternal music from Rudraveena about which demons would not know, please come here, listen and enjoy the song.]

Merise merupulu murise pedavula
chiru chiru navvulu kavolu
urimey urumulu sari sari natanala
siri siri muvvalu kavolu
[The dazzling lightning is, perhaps the smile of response (of my praise) on Your lips. The roaring thunders are perhaps the chimes from Your golden anklets while You dance in tune (to my song).]

Paravashaana sira suvuganga
dharaku jaarenaa shiva gangaa (2 times)
Naa gaanala harinu munugangaa
Aananda vrishtine tadavangaa
[Mesmerized by my song, You nodded Your head blissfully, and the holy river Ganga, bound in Your dreadlocks slipped to Your forehead (and therefore onto the Earth, in the form of torrent). While You were immersing yourself in my song, I soaked in the happy rain (your blessings) which showered onto the Earth.]


Acknowledgements to C Sri Vidya Rajagopalan here. And some commentors at the Youtube video -source link now broken- (rchitela, AVailan).
Movie Name : Sankarabharanam
Singer (S) : SP Balasubhramanyam
Lyricist : Veturi Sundara Rama Murthy
Music Composer: KV Mahadevan
Director : K Vishwanath

Perseverance and hard work

Bhadra is the son of Mount Meru and Menaka. Bhadra was born after long penances by his parents, with the boon of Brahma. He was a great devotee of Sri Maha Vishnu.

In Tretayuga, Sri Rama was in search of Sita devi along with Lakshmana. His search in Dandakaranya brought him to the current geographical location called Bhadrachalam. Bhadra saw Rama, and was overjoyed. He approaches Sri Rama, and asks Him to be seated on him along with Sita devi, so that others can benefit by visiting this place.

Rama agrees, but tells him that He is in search of Sita devi and He would return later accompanied by Sita devi to fulfill his wish. Overjoyed, Bhadra sought blessings of Sri Rama. As it turned out, Sri Rama goes to Lanka, kills Ravana, rescues Sita devi, but does not stop at Bhadrachalam on His way to Ayodhya.

Bhadra awaits the fulfillment of his boon. Time passes, and lord Sri Rama returns to His celestial abode, Vaikuntham. Aghast that the lord did not keep up His promise, he undertakes penances to please Lord Vishnu. Years turn into eons, and yugas. Dwapara yuga comes and passes, Kali yuga sets in. Bhadra remains steadfast in his arduous resolve to have his boon fulfilled.

It is due to this perseverance, steadfastness and devotion that Sri Maha Vishnu takes form of Sri Vaikuntha Rama along with Lakshmi devi in the form of Sita devi, and Adi Seshu, in the form of Lakshmana to fulfill Bhadra's boon. This is why Bhadrachalam is a pious site, and visiting this place removes all sins (Hindi and Telugu : paaps). For that reason, the mountains surrounding Bhadrachalam are called the Paapikonda Range, where people have been able to get rid of their paapas.

Moral of the story is this : just attaining the boon from the lord was not enough for Bhadra. He has put in a lot of years of effort in order for his boon to be fulfilled. Things only happen to deserving people, and they do not happen until one proves himself to be deserving what he is getting.

If - Rudyard Kipling

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!





source

Click on images to enlarge.



Acknowledgements : Here.




Acknowledgements : Here.

Masters Of War - Bob Dylan

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand o'er your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead

Acknowledgements : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2mabTnMHe8

Merry Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas 2009!

Pththwellow

Reamonn - Tonight 2009

She never took the train alone
She hated being on her own
She always took me by the hands
And say she needs me
She never wanted love to fail
She always hoped that it was real
She'd look me in the eyes
and sayed believe me.

And then the night becomes the day
And theres nothing left to say
If there's nothing left to say
Then somethings wrong.

Oh tonight, you killed me with your smile.
So beautiful and wild, so beautiful.
Oh tonight, you killed me with your smile.
So beautiful and wild, so beautiful and wild.

And as the hands would turn with time
She'd always say that she was my mine
She'd turn and lend a smile,
To say that she's gone.
But in a whisper she'd arrive
And dance into my life.
Like a music melody,
Like a lovers song.

Oh tonight, you killed me with your smile.
So beautiful and wild, so beautiful.
Oh tonight, you killed me with your smile.
So beautiful and wild, so beautiful

Oh tonight, you killed me with your smile.
So beautiful and wild, so beautiful, beautiful
Oh tonight, you killed me with your smile.
So beautiful and wild, so beautiful and wild.

So beautiful and wild.
So beautiful and wild.

International Children's day.

Roadsigns in 'my' journey

Happy Birthday.

Acknowledgements : http://dreambrother89.livejournal.com/

Smile, please.

Keep smiling, regardless of your dental makeup. Do not let anything hold you back, and beam a bright smile. :)

Jaane kaise

Hindi Song Title: Jaane Kaise Shab Dhali, Jaane Kaise Dil Khila
Hindi Movie/Album Name: RAQEEB
Singer(s): K.K

Hindi Lyrics:

jaane kaise shab dhali, jaane kaise dil khila
jaane kaise kab kahaan, chal pada yeh silsila
meri aankhon ko yeh kaisa manjar mila
tere har naksh mein bas khuda hi khuda
(tera chehra sanam ik rubaayi si hai
mere dil jism-o-jaan pe tu chaayi si hai) - 2

betaabiyo ki shaamo sehar se
na tha main waakib dard-e-jigar se
gujra nahi tha main toh kabhi bhi
pyaar li dilkash raahegujar se
deewaanagi ki yeh intehaan hai
har chehre mein chehra tera hai
saari duniya teri parchaayi si hai
mere dil jism-o-jaan pe tu chaayi si hai
tera chehra sanam ik rubaayi si hai
mere dil jism-o-jaan pe tu chaayi si hai
jaane kaise shab dhali, jaane kaise dil khila
jaane kaise kab kahaan, chal pada yeh silsila

teri kashish ka jaadu ajab hai
har waqt mujhko teri talab hai
yuun hi nahi main besudh huva hoon
iss pyaas ka toh koi sabab hai
tere siva na abb koi armaan
abb jindagi hai tujhse meri
bin tere har jagah tanhaayi si hai
mere dil jism-o-jaan pe tu chaayi si hai
tera chehra sanam ik rubaayi si hai
mere dil jism-o-jaan pe tu chaayi si hai
jaane kaise shab dhali, jaane kaise dil khila
jaane kaise kab kahaan, chal pada yeh silsila
meri aankhon ko yeh kaisa manjar mila
tere har naksh mein bas khuda hi khuda
(tera chehra sanam ik rubaayi si hai
mere dil jism-o-jaan pe tu chaayi si hai) - 2

http://hindilyrics.go4bollywood.com/jaane-kaise-shab-dhali,-jaane-kaise-dil-khila_19642.html

http://www.bollywoodlyrics.com/cs/forums/p/2777/40532.aspx

Do baatein ho sakti hai

Click here for the lyric.

I might have heard this song before, but it never struck to me as SO relevant before, nor did it relate and connect to me as it does now.