Glimpses from Indian spirituality, mythology and way of life.

Shyaamala Dandakam

Kalidasa is one of the well-known and famous poets of Sanskrit Literature and this hymn is composed by him. A Dandakam is a form of poetry where there are more than twenty six syllables in a sentence and it resembles a prose form.

This hymn by Kalidasa is in praise of Goddess Parvathi.

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Gayatri Ramayanam

It appears from the title as though this is the story of Rama. Actually, it is no so. But all the twenty four slokas of this stotram have been taken from the Valmiki Ramayana. They are not taken in an order but they are taken in such a way that the first letters of the 24 slokas form the Gayathri mantra. Therefore it is called as Gayatri Ramayanam. It signifies that Ramayana is the essence of the entire Vedas and that Sri Rama is the representation of the Almighty God. Listening and chanting of Sri Gayathri Ramayanam bestows peace and happiness.

Daridraya Dahana Shiva Stotram

This Stotram is composed by sage Vasishta. This is meant to remove adversity, poverty, and related problems.

Achyutashtakam

This is a hymn composed by Adi Sankara on the Almighty in the form of Lord Vishnu. Here Vishnu is praised both as Sri Rama and Sri Krishna. The phalasruti says that Lord Vishnu will himself get attached with all those who recite this stotram daily.

This talk gives a brief overview of Hinduism.

Minakshi Pancharatnam

This stotram is composed by Adi Sankara in praise of Goddess Parvathi.

I have also brought about an audio book titled ‘A few hymns on Devi’ which you may like to hear. It is available with leading audio book-sellers like Google’s play books.

https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/479468221/A-few-hymns-on-Devi

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https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/VENKATARAMAN_M_A_few_hymns_on_Devi?id=AQAAAECcbkguxM

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Bala Mukundashtakam

We do not know who the author of this stotram is. This devotional hymn on Lord Krishna follows the approach of loving him as if he is a baby. Lord Krishna is picturised as if he is sleeping on a leaf of a banyan tree which is floating on the waters. He is holding his feet by his hand and putting his toe in to his mouth. This hymn in its first stanza brings this image of Lord Krishna and then goes on to describe the adventures of this God Child as a baby.

Madurashtakam

This hymn is a popular devotional song composed by Sri Vallabhacharya, the saint who propounded the Shuddha-advaita philosophy. Composed in eight stanzas, the Madhurashtakam explains about the appearance, qualities, symbols and motifs related to the life of Lord Krishna saying that everything related to Lord Krishna is sweet.

Naming each of them separately and one by one, he says that Krishna’s lips, face, eyes, laughter, heart are all sweet. In fact, everything associated with his nature, walking, speech, garments, his bent posture, his creation of confusion, the flute, the flowers, his hands, his feet, his dance, his friendship,singing, drinking, eating, sleeping, form, his mark on the forehead, stealing, divine love play, the exuberance, the humming, the garland, his association with river Yamuna, the Gopis, the Gopas are all sweet. To sum it all, he is the lord of sweetness.

Lingashtakam

This is a highly revered prayer to Lord Shiva. This stotra features eight stanzas on the glory of the Shivalingam. The Shivalingam is a sacred symbol of the Hindus whom they revere as the manifestation of the Universal Self. This prayer is a declaration of faith, obedience, love and devotion to Lord Shiva in his aspect as Shivalingam.

This stotra pays obeisance to the Lord Shiva in the form of Lingam, which is adored by Brahma, Vishnu and other gods, which is praised by pure and holy speeches and which destroys the cycle of births and deaths. The various aspects of Lord Shiva like the one who is the destroyer of desires, one who elevates the power of thought, one who kindles the light of discrimination, one who wipes out all accumulated sins and one who destroys all poverty and misery in its eight aspects are all brought out in the stotra. It also praises Lord Shiva as the one who subdued the pride of Raavana and whose splendour is like that of a million suns.

The phalasruti says that any devotee who chants this stotra with great devotion would in the end get moksha (which is liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth) and will reach the Shiva Loka (which is the world of God Shiva).

I have also brought about an audio book titled ‘A few hymns on Lord Shiva’ which you may like to hear. It is available with leading audio book-sellers like Google’s play books.

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Navagraha Stotram

This stotram is a hymn to all the Nine Planets. This is authored by Sage Vyasa and is for the removal of all the negative vibrations of the nine planets. By chanting or listening to this stotram the effect of bad dreams of all people will be destroyed. Everyone will remain with good health, wealth and energy.

The phalsruti which lists the benefits of chanting or listening to this stotram says that a person who chants or listens to this stotram-whether it is day or night-becomes free from the troubles created by planets, constellations, thieves, fire etc. They would earn wealth, and they would lead disease free healthy life. Sage Vyasa assures that that there is no doubt about the result of chanting this stotram.