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Lalitā Navaratna Mālai (லலிதா நவரத்ன மாலை) literally means “The Garland of Nine Gems in Praise of Goddess Lalitā.”

The name can be understood word by word:

• Lalitā (ललिता / லலிதா) — “the graceful one,” “the charming/playful one.” Here it refers to Śrī Lalitā Tripurasundarī, the Supreme Goddess of the Śrīvidyā tradition.
• Nava (नव / நவ) — nine.
• Ratna (रत्न / ரத்ன) — jewel or precious gem.
• Mālā / Mālai (माला / மாலை) — garland.

So Navaratna Mālai = “a garland of nine precious gems.”

In the title, the “gems” are the nine verses/stanzas themselves. The poet metaphorically strings nine beautiful verses together like nine jewels and offers this poetic garland to Lalitā Devī.

There is also a deeper significance to navaratna. The nine gems traditionally correspond to the Navagrahas—ruby (Sun), pearl (Moon), coral (Mars), emerald (Mercury), yellow sapphire (Jupiter), diamond (Venus), blue sapphire (Saturn), hessonite (Rāhu), and cat's-eye (Ketu).

Its structure is traditional: It starts with the Kāppu (invocatory protection) addressed to Shri. Ganapathy, followed by nine stanzas conceived as nine jewels, and concludes with the phala-stuti (benefits of recitation).

Vel Maral is a rhythmic powerful composition on Muruga Peruman(Karthikeya). Composed on a core set of 16 verses repeated to form 64, this is a stotram praising the Vel, the spear of Murugan, which destroys enemies and difficulties and protects and heals us. This composition is called a Maha manthram and I have explained how the Interesting use of maths generates rhythms and power in the verses to achieve the status of a mantra.

Ram Raksha' literally means 'Lord Sri Rama's protection.' Sri Ram Raksha Stotra is also called Rama-Kavacham, a shield of Protection by Lord Sri Ram. It is Sri Ram's armour called Vajrapanjarnamedam (वज्रपंजरनामेदं). Shri Rama Raksha Stotram is a hymn of praise dedicated to Lord Rama and used as a prayer for protection. The composer of the Rama Raksha Stotra was Budha Kaushika, which is said to be another name of Rishi Vishvamitra. Lord Shiva ordered Sage Budha Kausika to write this powerful protecting shield or kavach/kavacham for devotees. Sage Budha Kausika thus under the advice of Lord Shiva wrote Sri Ram Raksha Stotra. There is a reference to this divine hymn in Rig-Veda. This Rama Raksha stotram along with Sri Hanuman Chalisa are considered as the two most powerful protective shields in the form of mantra. It is said that nothing affects a devotee who is protected by the kavacham (armour) of Sri Rama.The first few Shlokas are the introductory and Dhyana (meditation) shlokas. From the 2nd line of the 4th Shloka (śirome rāghavaḥ pātu bhālaṃ daśarathātmajaḥ) to the 9th Shloka is the actual Stotram. 10th - 15th Shlokas are the Phala Shruthi (benefit of reciting Rama Raksha Stotram). Sholkas 16 - 38 have been appended from other epics like Ramayana, Mantra Shastra and so on.

Samskrta consonants can be pure forms- vyanjanam, or sounded forms- gunitaksharam. Understanding their roles can help one read samskrtam without errors.Not everyone is adept at Samskrta pronunciation. So, this series is an attempt to clarify pronunciation and help everyone learn the right way to pronounce any alphabet. The videos are meant to help not only those who read Devanagari, but also those who use transliterations in other languages.Chanting in Samskrta is very popular because of the benefits these chants offer us on various levels. Mantra chants, stotra chants and reading of important texts like the Bhagavat gita or Upanishads need clarity of pronunciation.0:00 Introduction0:11 Meaning of Gunitaksharam0:35 Vyanjanam1:07 Identifying vyanjanams1:27 Place of Vyanjanams in words1:36 Popular pronunciation of vyanjanam2:25 Definition of Vyanjanam2:54 Forms of Vyanjanams-gunitaksharam4:23 Word break up exampleConsonants: Vyanjanam:Samskrta consonants are divided by their pronunciations. I have explained them in earlier episodes. Check out the episodes of season 11.

Tamizhs all around the world celbrated Adi chevvai and Adi Velli as important days to worship Devi. Why?I like to question our traditional practices, not because I do not believe in them, but because I know that there are reasons and I would like to bring them forth to everyone. It is not enough to just follow them, we need to know why, and then follow customs and traditions correctly. Otherwise it becomes distorted over time and we forget the real reason why we stated observing them. So join me in understanding this simple fact of Adi masam.0:00 Introduction0:28 Adi Perukku01:01 Days of Significance2:04 Adi Chevvai2:42 Adi Velli3:49 Secret of Adi5:13 Importance of Sandhya kalam6:10 Summary

Today is Guru purnima, the full moon day of Ashada month. It is celebrated as Vyasa Jayanti.

What is the connection between them ? Who is Vyasa ? Do we know the significance of this day ?

Aditya Hrdayam stotram is a chant in praise of the SUn God. It was taught to Shri Ram just before he went to battle Ravana. Chanting this stotram will ensure success in all endeavours. It also bestows, health and intellignece.

Each form, each name, each vehicle or weapon of Hindu Gods are ways to symbolicaaly convey some information. Ganesha is a universlly popular God with a form combining animal and human parts. Listen on to understnad why.

Every letter and word in Sanskrit has a meaning. Names can teel a story when it comes to the names of Gods. Learn about these names.

Chanting in Samskrta is very popular because of the benefits these chants offer us on various levels. Mantra chants, stotra chants and reading of important texts like the Bhagavat gita or Upanishads need clarity of pronunciation. Not everyone is adept at Samskrta pronunciation. So, this is an attempt to clarify pronunciation and help learn the right way to sa any alphabet. The videos are meant to help no only those who read Devanagari, but also those who use transliterations in other languages.

0:00  Introduction

0:30 Classifications of Vyanjanams

0:41 Uchharasthanam

0:52 Karanam

1:15 Pranah

1:35 4th classification intro

3:03 SprshTam- vargiya vyanjanani

3:36 Eeshatsprshtam- Antasthah

6:29 Eeshadvivrta- UShmaNAh (sibilants)

8:54 UshmaNAh (aspirant)

9:33 Samyukta aksharAni- intro

10:42 Summary