Chapter 10. The Lord of Vraja.

“It's what Krishna taught, what he represents, that matters, not whether these beautiful lessons came from a real man who lived long ago in the past, a man whose life story has become mostly the work of myth, or someone who is entirely a fictitious creation.

Vishnu decided to take on this avatar for the same reason he always decides to take on a human (or earlier, animal) avatar-not to try to save the world and to redeem humanity from sinning, but to help people, to teach them, to be a hero when a very horrible time is upon the world and they need someone to get rid of that evil (in this instance, Krishna's evil uncle Kamsa, and in the incarnation just prior to Krishna, the horrible demon king Ravana).

I find it really beautiful, touching, and true what Krishna says to his dear friend Arjuna during the course of the sermon which has come to be known as the Bhagavad Gita. He, Krishna, Vishnu, has many names and forms to many different people; one need not be a Hindu to properly worship him or to find enlightenment. However one sees the Divine, be it Krishna, Jesus, the Tao, Great Spirit, the Goddess, the traditional Western view of God, kanji, local spirits, a special rock, even the broader realms of Nature or Science, is how he will come to that person, and in that guise he is being worshipped. Krishna acknowledges that there are many paths to him, none of them incorrect if approached with a pure and devout heart.

If only more people would care to learn this beautiful ancient story, there might be less religious intolerance and bigotry in the world and more love and understanding. If God can understand that all of these different religions ultimately lead up to the same Divinity, then why can't ordinary human beings?”

The many faces of the Divine, April 25, 2004, Anyechka (Rensselaer, NY United States)

Sri Krishna Lila Chapter 9. The Divine Lover...

Vanamali Mataji sings her original love poems...

Vanamali Krishna Muraree

Vanamali, Krishna Muraree,

Krishna Muraree,

Krishna Muraree.

O Vanamali! Krishna! Muraree!

Reveal thyself to me.

O flute-bearer with the entrancing dark blue complexion,

Let me hear the music of thy flute.

Thou art the ocean and I am the wave,

Thou art Krishna and I thy vanamala (garland of wild flowers).

Thou alone art my lover,

My beloved Vanamali.

Vanamali! Krishna! Muraree!

VANAMALI KRISHNA MURAREE

(Raga – Chakravakam)

Vanamali Krishna Muraree,

Darshana dedo mere pyaara…Vanamali.(repeat)

Ghanashyama Sundara, Muralidhara,

Sunare mujuko bansuria…….Vanamali.

Tum ho sagara me hum taranga,

Tum ho kaanha me vanamala.

Tum ho saavaria mere pyaara…..Vanamali.

Sri Krishna Lila 8. Krishna Lifts The Mountain...

Vanamali Mataji Sings her original love poems...

ENGINE VARUM NEE

O Beloved Vanamali! How will you come to me?

Will you come on a raft or on a cloud or in the chariot of my mind?

How should I welcome the King of kings?

What can I offer the God of gods?

I have only my tears, caught in the cup of my heart

In the bridal hall of life, I have wandered far and wide

Holding the wedding garland in my hand,

Searching for a suitable groom,

Many births have I taken and many times died,

Countless are the garbs I have donned.

Searching desperately for my lover.

But never did I find the perfect person. (Uttama Purusha)

O Help of the Helpless!,

Sole support of the abandoned!

Wilt thou not accept my wedding garland?

Wilt thou not wed this jeevatma (embodied soul)

And place the garland round her neck.?

O beloved Vanamali!

How will you come to me?

ENGINE VARUM NEE

(Raga—Charukesi)

Engine varum nee, priya Vanamali,

Odathilo, carmekhathilo,

Athava en manorathathilo.

Vanamali….Vanamali…..

Athava en manorathathilo.

Rajathirajane engine sweekarikkum,

Devathidevane entu jaan kazhchavekkum

Kannunir maatram hridaya thalikayil.

Vanamali…Vanamali,

Kannunir maatram hridaya thalikayil

Jeevithamayoru swayamvara pandalil,

Varane thedi jaan vanamala kai pidichum,

Palavattam janichum, palavattam marichum,

Pala vesham dharichum thiranju nadannu jaan,

Uttama purushane kandethiyilla jaan,.

Uttama purushane kandethiyilla jaan,

Vanamali…Vanamali,

Uttama purushane kandethiyilla jaan,

Aashritha valsala, anaatha rakshaka,

Ivalude vanamala sweekarikille nee,

Jeevatmavine swayamvarikille nee,

Vanamali…Vanamali,

Ee jeevatmavine swayavarikille nee.

Vanamali…Vanamali

Engine varum nee?

Chapter 7. The Enchanting Flute...

Mataji sings her original love poems...

ORU MUKHAM MATRAM

One face alone do I see,

One melody alone do I hear.

O Vanamali! Thy beauteous form alone

do I nurse in my heart.

O thou enchanting blue baby,

Wilt thou come and be rocked in the cradle of my heart?

Wilt thou remove the darkness of my ignorance?

Wilt thou come and play in the courtyard of my mind?

One face alone do I see,

One song alone do I hear.

ORU MUKHAM MATRAM

(Raga – Bairav)

Oru mukham maatram kaanunnu jaan,

Oru swaram maatram kekkunnu jaan.

Vanamali ninte prema swarupam,

Eppozhum hridayathil laallikkum jan.

Oru mukham maatram…..

Shyamala komala unni kanna,

En mana thotilil chanchatumo,

En andhakarathe neekidumo,

En nadumittathil vilayadumo.

Chapter 6 ...

Brahma Bemused...

Mataji Vanamali sings her original love poem...

NEELOTPALA NAYANA

(Raga- Yemen Kalyan)

O Kanna (Krishna) with eyes like the petals of the blue lotus!

Wilt thou not reveal thyself to me?

Wilt thou not appear before me?

I am drowning in a sea of sorrow,

O remover of all sorrows!

Wilt thou not rescue me?

O lotus-eyed dweller of Ambadi (Vrindavan),

O Thou who sleeps on a peepul leaf!

O Thou of blissful countenance!

O Krishna!

Thy name alone,

Thy abode alone,

Thy feet alone!

Are my sole recourse!

O Thou with eyes like the petals of the blue lotus.

Neelotpala nayana Kanna,

Darshanam nee tharille,

Kanna, kanmubil nee varille,

Vanamali Kanna, kanmubil nee varille?

Dhukharnavathil mungikulikkunnu,

Dhukhavinashaka karakayatille,

Ambuja nayana,

Ambadi kanna,

Aalila shayana

Aananda vadana,

Neelotpala nayana Kanna

Darshanam nee tharille, Kanna,

Kanmubil nee varille.

Kanna…

Nin naamam maatram,

Nin dhaamam maatram

Nin paadam maatram

Ashrayame deva,

Neelotpala…

The Bondage of the Boundless...

Mataji sings her original love poem...

KETTU JAN MURALI GAANAM

(Raga – Tilang)

I heard, I heard the sound of the flute,

I saw, I saw the form of Vanamali,

I even touched his soft hands

O Kanna (Krishna)

I even touched his soft hands.

I saw the beauteous dark blue form of my beloved,

I heard him play the melody known as Mohana,

I kissed his beloved lotus feet.

I heard, I heard the sound of the flute.

Kettu jaan murali gaanam,

Kandu jaan Vanamali rupam,

Thottu jaan mriduvaaya hastham

Kanna! Kanna,! Kanna!

Thottu jaan mriduvaaya hastham.

Sundara Ghanashyama rupam,

Kandu jaan vanamali vesham

Kettu jaan mohana raagam

Chumbichu priya paada padmam,

Kettu jaan murali gaanam…

Sri Krishna Lila Chapter 4. The Butter Thief...

Vanamali Mataji sings her original love poem...

VARUMO THOZHI VARUMO

(Raga – Bhim Plas)

O Friend! Will my beloved ever come?

Will the lotus-eyed one come?

Will he come in the chariot of my heart?

I will garland him with a Vanamala made of Tulasi, jasmine and white flowers.

I will garland my love with a Vanamala (garland of wild flowers).

O beautiful dark Kanna (Krishna)

Will thou not come to me in the form of my beloved Vanamali?

I will prepare a sweet of milk and bananas,

And grape juice mixed with honey,

I will scatter lotus buds on his path,

And sprinkle sandalwood oil.

O Friend! Will my Vanamali ever come?

I have waited so long that my legs are giving way,

I have gazed for such a long time that my eyes are brimming with tears.

The oil in the evening lamp is coming to an end,

The flowers in the Vanamala (garland) are fading and falling.

O friend! Will my Vanamali ever come to me?

Varumo thozhi varumo prema swaroopan varumo,

Thamara kannan varumo, en manorathathil varumo,

Varumo….

Tulasi kunda mandaram cherthu, vanamala jaan charthum thozhi,

Kannanu vanamala charthum,

Sundara shyamala kanna nee ente vanamali roopathil varumo,

Varumo…

Panchamritavum paalum, mundiri charum thenum,

Thamara mottukal vitharum vazhiyil,

Chandana tailavum thalikkum

Varumo…

Kaathu katthente kaalukal thalarnu,

Nokki nokki ente kannukal niranju,

Sandhya deepathil enna kazhinju

Vanamala poovukal vadi kozhinju

Varumo…

Chapter 3. The Divine Infant...

Vanamali Mataji Sings her original love poem...

KETTU JAN MURALI GAANAM

(Raga – Tilang)

I heard, I heard the sound of the flute,

I saw, I saw the form of Vanamali,

I even touched his soft hands

O Kanna (Krishna)

I even touched his soft hands.

I saw the beauteous dark blue form of my beloved,

I heard him play the melody known as Mohana,

I kissed his beloved lotus feet.

I heard, I heard the sound of the flute.

KETTU JAN MURALI GAANAM

(Raga – Tilang)

Kettu jaan murali gaanam,

Kandu jaan Vanamali rupam,

Thottu jaan mriduvaaya hastham

Kanna! Kanna,! Kanna!

Thottu jaan mriduvaaya hastham.

Sundara Ghanashyama rupam,

Kandu jaan vanamali vesham

Kettu jaan mohana raagam

Chumbichu priya paada padmam,

Kettu jaan murali gaanam…

Sri Krishna Lila 2. The Birth of the Unborn...

Vanamali Mataji sings her original love poem...

PARTHASARATHI

(Raga Bhim plas)

This is a song to the universal Guru, Krishna, who was also the charioteer of Partha or Arjuna, who has given us the immortal teaching of the Bhagavad Gita.

Hail to Lord Krishna, the preceptor of the world,

Whose broad chest is adorned with the mark called the srivatsa.

Who carries the conch and discus in his hands,

And who is resplendent with a vanamala (garland of wild flowers), round his neck.

O Parthasarathy, You are the Lord of Guruvayoor,

The Lord of Vanamali,

The Lord of the temple of winds (the human body).

You saved the sons of Pandu in the mighty war,

You saved Draupadi, the princess of Panchala,

O charioteer of Arjuna, teacher of the Gita ,

O Krishna! You are the supreme Guru and I am your disciple.

Hail to the Guru,

Hail to the true Guru,

Hail to the beloved Guru,

Hail to my own Guru,

Hail to Krishna, the preceptor of the world!

Ref. Guruvayoor is a town in Kerala, which has a famous temple of Krishna.

PARTHASARATHI

(Raga Bhim plas)

Parthasarathe, Pavanapuresha,

Vanamaleeswara vaathalayesha,

Pandu putraanam rana sampaalaya,

Paanchala raajakumari rakshaka,

Arjuna saarathe geethacharya,

Parama guro Krishna shishyastheham.

Vande Sri guro, vande sad Guro,

Vande priya Guro, vande mama Guro,

Krishnam vande jagat Guro

Krishnam vande jagat Guro

Krishnam vande jagat Guro

Sri Krishna Lila Chapter 1.

The Advent....

Mataji Vanamali sings her original love poem...

VANAMALI KRISHNA MURAREE

(Raga – Chakravakam)

O Vanamali! Krishna! Muraree!

Reveal thyself to me.

O flute-bearer with the entrancing dark blue complexion,

Let me hear the music of thy flute.

Thou art the ocean and I am the wave,

Thou art Krishna and I thy vanamala (garland of wild flowers).

Thou alone art my lover,

My beloved Vanamali.

Vanamali! Krishna! Muraree!

VANAMALI KRISHNA MURAREE

(Raga – Chakravakam)

Vanamali Krishna Muraree,

Darshana dedo mere pyaara…Vanamali.(repeat)

Ghanashyama Sundara, Muralidhara,

Sunare mujuko bansuria…….Vanamali.

Tum ho sagara me hum taranga,

Tum ho kaanha me vanamala.

Tum ho saavaria mere pyaara…..Vanamali.

Vanamali, Krishna Muraree,

Krishna Muraree,

Krishna Muraree.