Kali Mandir Satsang

Class by Rev Dr. Mahant Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Book X of Srimad Bhagavatam given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 14 June 2025.  Brahma said: ज्ञाने प्रयासम् उदपास्य नमन्त एव  जीवन्ति सन्मुखरितां भवदीयवार्ताम् | स्थाने स्थिताह्̣ श्रुतिगतां तनुवाङ्मनोभिर् ये प्रायशोऽजित जितोऽप्य् असि तैस् त्रिलोक्याम् || ३ || jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta eva jjīvanti sanmukharitāṃ bhavadīyavārtām | sthāne sthitāḥ śrutigatāṃ tanuvāṅmanobhir ye prāyaśo'jita jito'py asi tais trilokyām || 3 || 3. "Those who give up the path of knowledge (jñāne prayāsam udapāsya) and simple bow to You (namantaḥ eva), spending their lives hearing about You from the lips of saints (jīvanti sat-mukharitām bhavadīya-vārtām), in whatever condition they are (sthāne sthitāḥ), meditate on what they heard with their body, speech, and mind (śruti-gatām tanu vāk manobhiḥ ye prāyaśaḥ)-- Oh Unconquerable One (ajita), You are conquered by them in the three worlds (jitaḥ api asi taiḥ  tri-lokyām). श्रेयह्̣स्र्̣तिं भक्तिम् उदस्य ते विभो क्लिश्यन्ति ये केवलबोधलब्धये | तेस्̣आम् असौ क्लेशल एव शिस्̣यते नान्यद् यथा स्थूलतुस्̣आवघातिनाम् || ४ || śreyaḥ-sṛtiṃ bhaktim udasya te vibho kliśyanti ye kevala-bodha-labdhaye | teṣām asau kleśala eva śiṣyate nānyad yathā sthūla-tuṣāvaghātinām || 4 || 4. "There are some who reject the auspicious path of bhakti (śreyaḥ sṛtim bhaktim udasya). They struggle to know You, Oh Lord, with their minds alone (te vibho kliśyanti ye kevala bodha). The only thing they achieve is that struggle (labdhaye teṣām asau kleśalaḥ eva) and nothing more (na anyat). It is just like beating empty husks (yathā sthūla-tuṣa avaghātinām)." पुरेह भूमन् बहवोऽपि योगिनस् त्वदर्पितेहा निजकर्मलब्धया | विबुध्य भक्त्यैव कथोपनीतया प्रपेदिरेऽञ्जोऽच्युत ते गतिम्́ पराम् || ५ || pureha bhūman bahavo'pi yoginas tvad-arpitehā nija-karma-labdhayā | vibudhya bhaktyaiva kathopanītayā prapedire'ñjo'cyuta te gatiḿ parām || 5 || 5. "In the past, O Infinite One (purā iha bhūman), many yogis (bahavaḥ api yoginaḥ) offered whatever they did to You (tvat arpita īhāḥ nija-karma), and through bhakti cultivated by hearing about You (labdhayā vibudhya bhaktyā eva kathā-upanītayā), easily surrendered to You, Oh Infalliable One (prapedire añjaḥ acyuta) and attained You, the supreme goal (te gatim parām)."    

Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 2, verses 27-34, given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 18 June 2025. The Goddess said: तस्मादाकाश उत्पन्नः शब्दतन्मात्ररूपकः | भवेत् स्पर्शात्मको वायुस्तेजोरूपात्मकं पुनः || २७ || tasmādākāśa utpannaḥ śabda-tanmātra-rūpakaḥ | bhavet sparśātmako vāyus-tejo-rūpātmakaṃ punaḥ || 27 || 27. "Out of that primal substance arose ether,  endowed with the subtle quality of sound. Then arose air, characterized by the quality of touch, followed by fire, characterized by visible form." जलं रसात्मकं पशात् ततो गन्धात्मिका धरा | शब्दैकगुण आकासो वायुः स्पर्शरवानितः || २८ || jalaṃ rasātmakaṃ paśāt tato gandhātmikā dharā | śabdaika-guṇa ākāso vāyuḥ sparśa-ravānitaḥ || 28 || 28. "Next arose water, characterized by taste; then earth, characterized by smell. Ether has the single quality of sound; air is endowed with touch and sound." शब्दस्पर्शरूपगुणं तेज ईत्युच्यते बुधैः | शब्दस्पर्शरूपरसैरापो वेदगुणाः स्मृताः || २९ || śabda-sparśa-rūpa-guṇaṃ teja ītyucyate budhaiḥ | śabda-sparśa-rūpa-rasairāpo veda-guṇāḥ smṛtāḥ || 29 || 29. "Fire has the qualities of sound, touch, and visible form, according to the wise; water has the four qualities of sound, touch, visible form, and taste, so they say." शब्दस्पर्शरूपरसगन्धैः पञ्चगुणा धरा | तेभ्योऽभवन् महत्सूत्रं यल्लिण्गं परिचक्षते || ३० || śabda-sparśa-rūpa-rasa-gandhaiḥ pañca-guṇā dharā | tebhyo'bhavan mahat-sūtraṃ yal-liṇgaṃ paricakṣate || 30 || 30. "Earth has the five qualities of sound, touch, visible form, taste, and smell. From those subtle elements came into being the great cosmic thread which is called the Subtle Body." सर्वात्मकं तत्सम्प्रोक्तं सूक्ष्मदेहोऽयमात्मनः | अव्यत्क्तं कारणो देहः स चोक्तः पूर्वमेव हि || ३१ || sarvātmakaṃ tat-samproktaṃ sūkṣma-deho'yamātmanaḥ | avyatktaṃ kāraṇo dehaḥ sa coktaḥ pūrvameva hi || 31 || 31. "It is proclaimed as all-pervading; this is the Subtle Body of the Self.The Unmanifest is the Causal Body, which I mentioned earlier." यस्मिन् जगद्बीजरूपं स्थितं लिङ्गोद्भवो यथः | ततः स्थूलानि भूतानिपञ्चिकरणमागतः || ३२ || yasmin jagad-bīja-rūpaṃ sthitaṃ liṅgodbhavo yathaḥ | tataḥ sthūlāni bhūtāni-pañcikaraṇa-māgataḥ || 32 || 32. "In that lies the world seed, from which evolves the Subtle Body. From that, by the process of fivefold generation, the gross elements," पञ्चसङ्ख्यानि जायन्ते तत्प्रकारस्त्वथोच्यते | पूर्वोक्तानि च भूतानि प्रत्यकं विभजेद् द्विधा || ३३ || pañca-saṅkhyāni jāyante tat-prakāra-stvathocyate | pūrvoktāni ca bhūtāni pratyakaṃ vibhajed dvidhā || 33 || 33. "Five in number, arise. I shall now describe this process. Each of those elements previously mentioned shall be divided in half." एकैकं भागमेकस्य चतुर्धा विभजेद् गिरे | स्वस्वतरद्वितीयांशे योजनात् पञ्च ते || ३४ || ekaikaṃ bhāgamekasya caturdhā vibhajed gire | svasvataradvitīyāṃśe yojanāt pañca te || 34 || 34. "One half-part of each element shall be divided into four, O Mountain. By joining the undivided half of each element with one of the quartered fractions from each of the other four, each element becomes five-fold." तत्कार्यं च विराड्देहः स्थूलदेहोऽयमात्मनः |  tat-kāryaṃ ca virāḍ-dehaḥ sthūla-deho'yamātmanaḥ | 34. "And they produce the Cosmic Body, or Gross Body, of the Self."

Class by Rev Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Book X, Chapter 14 of Srimad Bhagavatam, given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 7 June 2025.  श्रीब्रह्मोवाच नौमीद्̣य तेऽभ्रवपुस्̣ए तद्̣इदम्बराय गुञ्जावतम्́सपरिपिच्छलसन्मुखाय वन्यस्रजे कवलवेत्रविस्̣आन्̣अवेन्̣उलक्स्̣मश्रिये म्र्̣दुपदे पशुपाńगजाय śrī-brahmovāca 1. naumīḍya te 'bhra-vapuṣe taḍid-ambarāya guñjāvataḿsa-paripiccha-lasan-mukhāya vanya-sraje kavala-vetra-viṣāṇa-veṇu- lakṣma-śriye mṛdu-pade paśu-pāńgajāya Sri Brahma said: "I worship You, the primordial Lord (naumi īḍya te), whose body is like a dark cloud (abhra vapuṣe); whose garment is like lightning (taḍit ambarāya); wearing a garland of guñjā berries (guñjā avataḿsa) and peacock feather (paripiccha); whose face shines (lasat mukhāya); a garlands of forest flowers (vanya-sraje); holding a morsel of food, stick, buffalo horn, and flute (kavala vetra viṣāṇa veṇu lakṣma), and whose beautiful feet are soft (śriye mṛdu pade), the son of a  cow herder (paśu-pa ańga-jāya)." अस्यापि देव वपुस्̣ओ मदनुग्रहस्य स्वेच्छामयस्य न तु भूत-मयस्य कोऽपि नेशे महि त्व् अवसितुम्ऽमनसान्तरेन्̣अ साक्स्̣आत् तवैव किम् उतात्मसुखानुभूतेह्̣ asyāpi deva vapuṣo mad-anugrahasya svecchā-mayasya na tu bhūta-mayasya ko 'pi neśe mahi tv avasituḿ manasāntareṇa sākṣāt tavaiva kim utātma-sukhānubhūteḥ 2. "Lord, Your body (asya api deva vapuṣaḥ), which is the instrument of grace to me (mat-anugrahasya), appears by Your will (sva-icchā-mayasya), and not by the power of the material elements (na tu bhūta-mayasya). Even with my mind withdrawn in meditation (manasā antareṇa sākṣāt) I cannot grasp its glory (kaḥ api na īśe mahi tu avasitum).  What to speak then of understanding Your blissful Self (ava eva kim uta ātma sukha anubhūteḥ)."  

Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 2, verses 22-26, given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 28 May 2025. स पुनः कामकर्मादियुक्तया स्रीयमायया | पूर्वानुभूतसंस्कारात् कालकर्मविपाकतः || २२ || sa punaḥ kāma-karmādi-yuktayā srīyamāyayā | pūrvānubhūta-saṃskārāt kāla-karma-vipākataḥ || 22 || 22. "This Self, however, by its own power of Maya conjoined with desires, actions, and the like, through the influence of prior experience ripening in time in accord with the law of karma, ..."   अविवेकाच्च तत्त्वस्य सिसृक्षावान् प्रजायते | अबुद्धिपूर्वः सर्गोऽयं कथितस्ते नगाधिप || २३ || avivekāc-ca tattvasya sisṛkṣāvān prajāyate | abuddhi-pūrvaḥ sargo'yaṃ kathitaste nagādhipa || 23 || 23. "And by confounding the primal elements, being desirous to create, begins to bring forth. The resulting creation, devoid of intelligence, will be further described to you, O Mountain King."   एतद्धि यन्मया प्रोक्तं मम रूपमलौकिकम् | अव्याकृतं तदव्यक्तं मायाशबलमित्यपि || २४ || etaddhi yanmayā proktaṃ mama rūpa-malaukikam | avyākṛtaṃ tadavyaktaṃ māyāśabalamityapi || 24 || 24. "This extraordinary form of mine which I have mentioned is unevolved and unmanifest, yet becomes segmented through the power of Maya."   प्रोच्यते सवशास्त्रेषु सर्वकारणकारणम् | तत्त्वानामादिस्भूतं च सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहम् || २५ || procyate sava-śāstreṣu sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam | tattvā-nāmādis-bhūtaṃ ca sac-cid-ānanda-vigraham || 25 || 25. "All the religious treatises declare it to be the cause of all causes, The primal substance behind the elements, and as having the form of being, consciousness, bliss."   सर्वकर्मघनीभूतमिच्छाज्ञानक्रियाश्रयम् | ह्रीङ्कारमन्त्रवाचयं तदादितत्त्वं तदुच्यते || २६ || sarva-karma-ghanī-bhūtam-icchā-jñāna-kriyā-śrayam | hrīṇ-kāra-mantra-vācayaṃ tadādi-tattvaṃ taducyate || 26 || 26. "It is the condensation of all karma; it is the seat of will, knowledge, and action; it is expressed in the mantra Hrim; it is the primal principle—so it is said."

Class by Rev Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Book X of Srimad Bhagavatam introducing the story of Brahma stealing the cows and cowherd boya given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 19 May 2025.

Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 2, verses 19-21, given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 16 April 2025.   अपरिच्छन्नताऽप्येवमत एव मता मम | तच्चज्ञानं नात्मधर्मो धर्मत्वे जडताऽत्मनः || १९ || aparicchannatā'pyevamata eva matā mama | taccajñānaṃ nātma-dharmo dharmatve jaḍatā'tmanaḥ || 19 || 19. "Therefore I am regarded truly as an undivided whole, and that consciousness is not an attribute of the Self, for then the Self would be like an object."   ज्ञानस्य जडशेषत्वं म दृष्टं न च सम्भवै | चिद्धर्मत्वं तथा नास्ति चितश्चिन्न हि विद्यते || २० || jñānasya jaḍaśeṣatvaṃ ma dṛṣṭaṃ na ca sambhavai | cid-dharma-tvaṃ tathā nāsti citaścinna hi vidyate || 20 || 20. "In consciousness no possible trace of the object state can be found. And so consciousness also has no attributes: consciousness is not a quality separable from consciousness itself."   तस्मादात्मज्ञानरूपः सुखरूपश्च सर्वदा | सत्यः पूर्णोऽप्यसङ्गश्च द्वैतज्जालविवर्जितः || २१ || tasmād-ātma-jñāna-rūpaḥ sukha-rūpaśca sarvadā | satyaḥ pūrṇo'pyasaṅgaśca dvaitajjālavivarjitaḥ || 21 || 21. "Therefore the Self in essence is consciousness, and bliss as well, always, it is the real and complete, beyond all relation, and free from the illusion of duality."

Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 2, verse18, given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 9 April 2025. मा न भूवं हि भूयासमिति प्रेमात्मनि स्थितम् | सर्वस्याऽन्यस्य मिथ्यात्वादसङ्गत्वं स्फुटं मम || १८ || mā na bhūvaṃ hi bhūyāsamiti premātmani sthitam | sarvasyā'nyasya mithyātvādasaṅgatvaṃ sphuṭaṃ mama || 18 || 18. "The feeling "Let me not cease to be; let me exist forever," is rooted in love for the Self. Certainly there is no actual relations between me and all else, since all else is false."

Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 2, verses 15 through 17 given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 2 April 2025. जाग्रत्स्वप्नसुषुप्त्यादौ दृश्यस्य व्यभिचारतः | संविदो व्यभिचारश्च नाऽनुभूतोऽस्ति कर्हिछित् || १५ || jāgrat-svapna-suṣuptyādau dṛśyasya vyabhicārataḥ | saṃvido vyabhicāraśca nā'nubhūto'sti karhichit || 15 || 15. "The visible world appears and disappears constantly in the various states of waking, dream, and deep sleep." यदि तस्याऽप्यनुभवस्तर्ह्ययं येन साक्शिणा | अनुभूतः स एवाऽत्र शिष्टः संविद्वपुः पुरा || १६ || yadi tasyā'pyanubhavastarhyayaṃ yena sākśiṇā | anubhūtaḥ sa evā'tra śiṣṭaḥ saṃvidvapuḥ purā || 16 || 16. "Even if this consciousness itself became an object of perception, then the witness of that perception would abide as the real pure consciousness, as before." अत एव नित्यत्वं प्रोक्तं सछास्त्रकोविदैः | आनन्दरूपता चऽस्याः परप्रेमास्पदत्वतह् || १७ || ata eva nitya-tvaṃ proktaṃ sachāstra-kovidaiḥ | ānanda-rūpatā ca'syāḥ para-premāspadatvatah || 17 || 17. "And so those versed in religious treaties regarding the real declare consciousness to be eternal. Its nature is bliss, for it is the object of supreme love."

Discourse by Revered Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati, on names 340 through 344 of verses 42 of the "Thousand Names of Kali", given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 29 March 2025. ऋक्सामाथर्वनिलया रागिणी शोभनस्वरा | कलकण्ठी कम्बुकण्ठी वेणुवीणापरायणा || ४२ || ṛk-sāmātharva-nilayā rāgiṇī śobhana-svarā | kala-kaṇṭhī kambu-kaṇṭhī veṇu-vīṇā-parāyaṇā || 42 || 340. रागिणी rāgiṇī 341. शोभनस्वरा śobhana-svarā  342. कलकण्ठी kala-kaṇṭhī 343. कम्बुकण्ठी kambu-kaṇṭhī 344. वेणुवीणापरायणा veṇu-vīṇā-parāyaṇā

Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 2, verses 9 & 10 given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 26 March 2025. एवं नानाविधानि स्युर्नामानि निगमादिषु | तस्या जडत्वं दृश्यत्वाज्ज्ञाननाशात् ततोऽसती ||११|| evaṃ nānāvidhāni syurnāmāni nigamādiṣu | tasyā jaḍa-tvaṃ dṛśya-tvāj-jñāna-nāśāt tato'satī ||11|| 11. Such are its various names found in the Vedic and other sacred texts. Since Māya is something we can perceive, it has the nature of non-conscious matter; since knowledge destroys it, it is not truly existent.  चैतन्यस्य न दृश्यत्वं दृश्यत्वे जडमेव तत् | स्वप्रकाशं च चैतन्यं न परेण प्रकाशितम् || १२ || caitanyasya na dṛśyatvaṃ dṛśyatve jaḍameva tat | svaprakāśaṃ ca caitanyaṃ na pareṇa prakāśitam || 12 ||= 12. "Consciousness is not something we can perceive; what we perceive is indeed non-conscious. Consciousness is self-luminous; nothing else illuminates it." अनवस्थादोषसत्त्वान्न स्वेनाऽपि प्रकाशितम् | कर्मकर्तृविरोधः स्यात् तस्मात् तद्दीपवत् स्वयम् || १३ || anavasthā-doṣa-sattvānna svenā'pi prakāśitam | karma-kartṛ-virodhaḥ syāt tasmāt tad-dīpavat svayam || 13 || 13. It does not even illuminate itself, for that would lead to the fallacy of infinite regress. As an agent and the object acted upon are distinct entities, so consciousness itself, like a lamp... प्रकाशमानमन्येषां भासकं विद्धि पर्वत | अत एव च नित्यत्वं सिद्धसंवित् तनोर्मम || १४ || prakāśa-mānamanyeṣāṃ bhāsakaṃ viddhi parvata | ata eva ca nityatvaṃ siddha-saṃvit tanormama || 14 || 14. While shining brightly, illuminates what is other than itself. Know, this, O Mountain, for thus have I demonstrated that consciousness, belonging to My own nature, is eternal. 

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati, on names 337 through 339 of verses 41 & 52of the "Thousand Names of Kali", given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 22 March 2025. 337. यज्ञकर्त्री yajña-kartrī   338. यजुःप्रिया yajuḥ-priyā 339. ऋक्सामाथर्वनिलया ṛk-sāmātharva-nilayā   भीमा भयानका भीमनादिनी भीः प्रभावती | वागीश्वरी श्रीर्यमुना यज्ञकर्त्री यजुःप्रिया || ४१ || bhīmā bhayānakā bhīma-nādinī bhīḥ prabhāvatī | vāgīśvarī śrīr-yamunā yajña-kartrī yajuḥ-priyā || 41 || ऋक्सामाथर्वनिलया रागिणी शोभनस्वरा | कलकण्ठी कम्बुकण्ठी वेणुवीणापरायणा || ४२ || ṛk-sāmātharva-nilayā rāgiṇī śobhana-svarā | kala-kaṇṭhī kambu-kaṇṭhī veṇu-vīṇā-parāyaṇā || 42 ||

Discourse by Revered Swami Chetananandaji Mahara, senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math and spiritual head of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis, given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 25 January 2025.

Discourse by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati, on names 334 through 336 of verse 41 of the "Thousand Names of Kali", given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 15 March 2025. भीमा भयानका भीमनादिनी भीः प्रभावती | वागीश्वरी श्रीर्यमुना यज्ञकर्त्री यजुःप्रिया |४१| bhīmā bhayānakā bhīma-nādinī bhīḥ prabhāvatī | vāgīśvarī śrīr-yamunā yajña-kartrī yajuḥ-priyā |41|  vāgīśvarī– She Who is the Supreme Ruler of All Vibrations |334  śrīḥ - She Who is Respect |335  yamunā– She Who Manifests Complete Control |336

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati, on names 327 through 332 of verses 40 & 41 of the "Thousand Names of Kali", given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 9 March 2025.   सत्यवती धर्मनिष्ठा श्रेष्था निष्ठुरनादिनी | गरिष्ठा दुष्टसṁहर्ती विशिष्टा श्रेयसी घृणा |४०| भीमा भयानका भीमनादिनी भीः प्रभावती | वागीश्वरी श्रीर्यमुना यज्ञकर्त्री यजुःप्रिया |४१| satyavatī dharma-niṣṭhā śreṣthā niṣṭhura-nādinī | gariṣṭhā duṣṭa-saṁhartī viśiṣṭā śreyasī ghṛṇā |40| bhīmā bhayānakā bhīma-nādinī bhīḥ prabhāvatī | vāgīśvarī śrīr-yamunā yajña-kartrī yajuḥ-priyā |41|   śreyasī |327 ghṛṇā |328 bhīmā |329 bhayānakā |330 bhīma-nādinī |331 bhīḥ |332

Discourse by Revered Swami Chetananandaji Mahara, senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math and spiritual head of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis, given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 18 January 2025.

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati, on names 320 through 325 of veres 40 of the "Thousand Names of Kali", given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 28 December 2024. सत्यवती धर्मनिष्ठा श्रेष्ठा निष्ठुरवादिनी ।  गरिष्ठा दुष्टसंहर्त्री विशिष्टा श्रेयसी घृणा ॥ ४०॥ satyavatī dharma-niṣṭhā śreṣṭhā niṣṭhura-vādinī ।  gariṣṭhā duṣṭa-saṃhartrī viśiṣṭā śreyasī ghṛṇā ॥ 40॥ satyavatī |320 dharma-niṣṭhā |321 śreṣthā |322 niṣṭhura-vādinī |323 gariṣṭhā |324 duṣa-saṁhartī |325 viśiṣṭā |326

Discourse by Pujya Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati, given on Dattatreya Jayanti at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 14 December 2024.

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati, on names 310 through 313 of the "Thousand Names of Kali", given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 23 November 2024. चार्वङ्गी चञ्चला लोलजिह्वा चारुचरित्रिणी | त्रपा त्रपावती लज्जा विलज्जा ह्रीः रजोवती |३९| cārvaṅgī cañcalā lola-jihvā cāru-caritriṇī | trapā trapāvatī lajjā vilajjā hrīḥ rajovatī |39|   310. cārvaṅgī 311. cañcalā 312. lola-jihvā 313. cāru-caritriṇī

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati, on names 314 through 319 of verese 39 of the "Thousand Names of Kali", given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 7 December 2024. चार्वङ्गी चञ्चला लोलजिह्वा चारुचरित्रिणी | त्रपा त्रपावती लज्जा विलज्जा ह्रीः रजोवती |३९| cārvaṅgī cañcalā lola-jihvā cāru-caritriṇī | trapā trapāvatī lajjā vilajjā hrīḥ rajovatī |39| 314. trapā 315. trapāvatī 316.lajjā 317. vilajjā 318. hrīḥ 319. rajovatī

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Swami Chetananandaji Maharaj, senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math and spiritual head of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis, given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 17 February 2024.

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati, on names 298 through 309 of the "Thousand Names of Kali", given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 15 June 2024, followed by arati and kirtan.  कर्त्री हर्त्री पालयित्री शर्वरी तामसी दया | तमिस्रा तामसी स्थाणुः स्थिरा धीरा तपस्विनी || ३८ || kartrī hartrī pālayitrī śarvarī tāmasī dayā | tamisrā tāmasī sthāṇuḥ sthirā dhīrā tapasvinī || 38 || 298. कर्त्री kartrī 299. हर्त्री hartrī 300. पालयित्री pālayitrī 301. शर्वरी śarvarī 302. तामसी tāmasī 303. दया dayā 304. तमिस्रा tamisrā 305. तामसी tāmasī 306. स्थाणुः sthāṇuḥ 307. स्थिरा sthirā 308. धीरा dhīrā 309. तपस्विनी tapasvinī ________________________ https://www.kalimandir.org/https:// www.ramakrishnaseminary.org/   Support the work of Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati, on names 293 and 294 from verse 37 of the "Thousand Names of Kali", given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 18 May 2023. 293. siddhidā 294. siddhā सर्वेश्वरी सर्वमाता शर्वाणी हरवल्लभा | सर्वज्ञा सिद्धिदा सिद्धा भव्या भाव्या भयापहा || ३७ || sarveśvarī sarva-mātā śarvāṇī hara-vallabhā | sarva-jñā siddhidā siddhā bhavyā bhāvyā bhayāpahā || 37 ||

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on name 293 from verse 37 of the "Thousand Names of Kali", given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 11 May 2023, followed by arati and kirtan.    293. siddhidā    सर्वेश्वरी सर्वमाता शर्वाणी हरवल्लभा | सर्वज्ञा सिद्धिदा सिद्धा भव्या भाव्या भयापहा || ३७ || sarveśvarī sarva-mātā śarvāṇī hara-vallabhā | sarva-jñā siddhidā siddhā bhavyā bhāvyā bhayāpahā || 37 ||

New moon worship of Ma Dakshineswari Kali.

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on names 290 through 292 from verse 37 of the "Thousand Names of Kali", given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 4 May 2023, followed by arati and kirtan.  290. śarvāṇī  291. hara-vallabhā  292. sarva-jñā सर्वेश्वरी सर्वमाता शर्वाणी हरवल्लभा | सर्वज्ञा सिद्धिदा सिद्ध भव्या भाव्या भयापहा || ३७ || sarveśvarī sarva-mātā śarvāṇī hara-vallabhā | sarva-jñā siddhidā siddha bhavyā bhāvyā bhayāpahā || 37 ||

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on names 287 through 289 the "Thousand Names of Kali" given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 27 April 2023, followed by arati and kirtan.  287. pati-vratā  288. sarveśvarī  289. sarva-mātā  सूर्यात्मिका रुद्रपत्नी रौद्री स्त्री प्रकृइः पुमान् |
 शक्तिः सूक्तिर्मतिर्माता भुक्तिर्मुक्तिः पतिव्रता || ३६ || sūryātmikā rudra-patnī raudrī strī prakṛiḥ pumān |
 śaktiḥ sūktir-matir-mātā bhuktir-muktiḥ pati-vratā || 36 || सर्वेश्वरी सर्वमाता शर्वाणी हरवल्लभा |
 सर्वज्ञा सिद्धिदा सिद्ध भव्या भाव्या भयापहा || ३७ || sarveśvarī sarva-mātā śarvāṇī hara-vallabhā |
 sarva-jñā siddhidā siddha bhavyā bhāvyā bhayāpahā || 37 ||

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Swami Sarvadevananda Puri Maharaj, senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math and spiritual head of the Vedanta Society of Southern California and is associated centers, given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 20 April 2024.

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on names 272 through 280 of verse 36 of the "Thousand Names of Kali" given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 13 April 2023, followed by arati and kirtan.   सूर्यात्मिका रुद्रपत्नी रौद्री स्त्री प्रकृइः पुमान् | शक्तिः सूक्तिर्मतिर्माता भुक्तिर्मुक्तिः पतिव्रता |३६| sūryātmikā rudra-patnī raudrī strī prakṛiḥ pumān | śaktiḥ sūktir-matir-mātā bhuktir-muktiḥ pati-vratā || 36 ||   śaktiḥ | 281 sūktiḥ | 282 matiḥ | 283 mātā | 284 bhuktiḥ | 285 muktiḥ | 286

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on names 272 & 280 of verses 35 & 36 of the "Thousand Names of Kali" given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 6 April 2023, followed by arati and kirtan.  भ्रान्तिर्भवानी रुद्राणी मृडानी शत्रुमर्दिनी ।
 उपेन्द्राणी महेन्द्राणी ज्योत्स्ना चन्द्रस्वरूपिणी ॥

 bhrāntir-bhavānī rudrāṇī mṛḍānī śatru-mardinī |
 upendrāṇī mahendrāṇī jyotsnā candra-svarūpiṇī || 35 || सूर्यात्मिका रुद्रपत्नी रौद्री स्त्री प्रकृइः पुमान् |
 शक्तिः सूक्तिर्मतिर्माता भुक्तिर्मुक्तिः पतिव्रता |३६| sūryātmikā rudra-patnī raudrī strī prakṛiḥ pumān |
 śaktiḥ sūktir-matir-mātā bhuktir-muktiḥ pati-vratā ||
 36 ||
 272. upendrāṇī 
 273. mahendrāṇī 
 274. jyotsnā  275. candra-svarūpiṇī  276. sūryātmikā 
 277. rudra-patnī 
 278. raudrī  279. strī prakṛiḥ 
 280. pumān  _________________________ To support the work of Kali Mandir and Ramakrishna Seminary through PayPal or BluePay, please see: https://kalimandir.org/donations/   https://kalimandir.org/​​​​​​​​ https://www.ramakrishnaseminary.org/​... https://cyberdhuni.org/bhajanananda​​​​​  

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on names 263 & 267 of verse 34 of the "Thousand Names of Kali" given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 30 March 2023, followed by arati and kirtan. भ्रान्तिर्भवानी रुद्राणी मृडानी शत्रुमर्दिनी । उपेन्द्राणी महेन्द्राणी ज्योत्स्ना चन्द्रस्वरूपिणी ॥ bhrāntir-bhavānī rudrāṇī mṛḍānī śatru-mardinī | upendrāṇī mahendrāṇī jyotsnā candra-svarūpiṇī || 52 ||   267. bhrāntiḥ 268. bhavānī 269. rudrāṇī 270. mṛdānī 271. śatru-mardinī

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on names 263 & 267 of verse 34 of the "Thousand Names of Kali" given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 23 March 2023, followed by arati and kirtan.  पद्मा पद्मालया पद्ममुखी पद्मविभूषणा ।  डाकिनी शाकिनी क्षान्ता राकिणी रुधिरप्रिया ॥ ३४॥ padmā padmā-layā padma-mukhī padma-vibhūṣaṇā ।  ḍākinī śākinī kṣāntā rākiṇī rudhira-priyā ॥ 34॥2 63. ḍākinī  264. śākinī 265. kṣāntā 266. rākiṇī  267. rudhira-priyā 

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on names 258 & 261 of verse 34 of the "Thousand Names of Kali" given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 30 December 2023, followed by arati and kirtan.  पद्मा पमालया पममखी पमवभषणा ।  डाकिनी शाकिनी क्षान्ता राकिणी रुधिर-प्रिया ॥ ३४॥ padmā padmā-layā padma-mukhī padma-vibhūṣaṇā ।  ḍākinī śākinī kṣāntā rākiṇī rudhira-priyā ॥ 34॥ 258. padmā  259. padmā-layā  260. padma-mukhī  261. padma-vibhūṣaṇā 

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on names 251 & 257 of verse 33 of the "Thousand Names of Kali" given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 16 December 2023, followed by arati and kirtan.  सुनन्दा नन्दिनी स्तुत्या स्तवनीयस्वभाविनी |  रण्किणी भण्किनी चित्रा विचित्रा चित्ररूपिणी |३३| sunandā nandinī stutyā stavanīya-svabhāvinī |  raṇkiṇī bhaṇkinī citrā vicitrā citra-rūpiṇī |33| 251. स्तुत्या  stutyā 252. स्तवनीयस्वभाविनी  stavanīya-svabhāvinī  253. रण्किणी  raṇkiṇī 254. भण्किनी  bhaṇkinī 255. चित्रा  citrā 256. विचित्रा  vicitrā 257. चित्ररूपिणी  citra-rūpiṇī

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Swami Sarvadevananda Puri Maharaj, senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math and spiritual head of the Vedanta Society of Southern California given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 9 December 2023. Pujya Swamiji speaks spontaneously on Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, spiritual consort of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. 

Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on names 249 & 250 of verse 33 of the "Thousand Names of Kali" given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 2 December 2023, followed by arati and kirtan. सुनन्दा नन्दिनी स्तुत्या स्तवनीयस्वभाविनी |
  रण्किणी भण्किनी चित्रा विचित्रा चित्ररूपिणी |३३| sunandā nandinī stutyā stavanīya-svabhāvinī |
  raṇkiṇī bhaṇkinī citrā vicitrā citra-rūpiṇī |33| 249. सुनन्दा sunandā  250. नन्दिनी nandinī  

Discourse by Revered Swami Chetanananda Puri Maharaj, senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math and Minister of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis, given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 16 September 2023.  Swamiji reads from his new book "Stories of Vedanta Monks, Vol. 2" as he remembers the life and message Revered Swami Muktananda, a disciple and Mahapurush Maharaj and Revered Swami Yogadananda, a disciple of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi.

New moon worship of Ma Dakshineswari Kali performed by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati

Discourse by Revered Swami Chetanananda Puri Maharaj, senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math and Minister of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis, given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 26 August 2023.   Swamiji reads from his new book "Stories of Vedanta Monks, Vol. 2" as he remembers the life and message Revered Swami Muktananda, a disciple and Mahapurush Maharaj.  _____________________ https://kalimandir.org/ https://vedantastl.org/

Reposted scripture class on Devi Gita, chapter 1, verse 44, given by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati to students of Ramakrishna Seminary via Zoom on 7 September 2022. नमो देव्यै महादेव्यै शिवायै सत्तं नमः | नमः प्रकृत्यै भद्रायै नियताः प्रणताः स्म ताम् || ४४ || namo devyai mahā-devyai śivāyai sattaṃ namaḥ | namaḥ prakṛtyai bhadrāyai niyatāḥ praṇatāḥ sma tām || 44 || 44. "Hail to the Goddess, to the Great Goddess; to the Auspicious One always hail! Hail to Nature, to the Propitious One; we humble ourselves attentively before Her." ____________ https://kalimandir.org/ https://www.ramakrishnaseminary.org/ Support the work of Kali Mandir>>

Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 1, verse 27 & 28 given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir on 15 June 2022 on Zoom. चतुर्दिक्षु चतुर्वेदैर्मूर्तिमद्भिरभिष्टुतम् | कोटिसूर्याप्रतीकाशं चन्द्रकोटिसुशीतलम् || २७ || catur-dikṣu catur-vedair-mūrtimadbhir-abhiṣṭutam | koṭi-sūryā-pratīkāśaṃ candra-koṭi-suśītalam || 27 || "Praised on all sides by the four Vedas incarnate, It blazed like ten million suns, yet soothed like ten million moons." विद्युत्कोटिसमानाभमरुणं तत्परं महः | नैव चोर्ध्वं न तिर्यक्च न मध्ये परिजग्रभत् || २८ || vidyut-koṭi-samānā-bhamaruṇaṃ tat-paraṃ mahaḥ | naiva cordhvaṃ na tiryak-ca na madhye pari-jagrabhat || 28 || "Flashing like ten million streaks of lightning tinged with red, that supreme lustrous power, shone forth encompassed above, across, and in the middle." _____________________ https://kalimandir.org/ https://www.ramakrishnaseminary.org/ Support the work of Kali Mandir>>  

Discourse by Revered Swami Chetanananda Puri Maharaj, senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math and Minister of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis, given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 12 August 2023.  Swamiji reads from his new book "Stories of Vedanta Monks, Vol. 2" as he remembers the life and message of the great ascetic Most Revered Swami Saradeshananda, a disciple and attendant of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi.  _____________________ https://kalimandir.org/ https://vedantastl.org/    

Discourse by Revered Swami Chetananandaji Maharaj, senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math and Minister of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis, given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 27 August  2022.  Swamiji reads from his new book "Stories of Vedanta Monks" as he remembers the life and message of the great ascetic Most Revered Swami Saradeshananda, a disciple and attendant of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi.  _____________________ https://kalimandir.org/ https://vedantastl.org/  

Discourse by Rev. Swami Chetanananda Puri, senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, and Minister of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis, given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 29 July 2023.

Two Poems by His Holiness Guruji Swami Vishnudevanand Saraswati of Prayagraj~Allahabad (1904-1997), read by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati. Guruji wrote these poems in 1978 sitting on a bench in Central Park in response to a devotee's question: "What is vairagya?"   ADMONITION I Oh Son of Immortality! You are the Divine Dweller You have come here as a stranger and a traveler   It is a domain of diversity and endless dilemma Life is perpetually puzzling in its phenomena and panorama   Here there is always attractive and repulsive illusion You may play or struggle but be detached from delusion   The life of sensuality is confused, deviated, and fallacious slavery The habit of mundane greediness is temptation and bad beggary   Be free from this changing farce and absurdity of duality Don't be blindly absorbed in this transitory sensuality   This mysterious dramatic stage is not your final goal Play dispassionately and finish your ordained role   Go to the background of plurality, quality, and quantity Know that Unity, Self-identity, and Inconceivable Divinity   There is neither darkness or light or nothingness But Plenum, Superconsciousness, and Full Awareness   It is not a mental conception, imagination or hallucination But Supersensuous Perception and Self-Realization   It is the culmination of culture and the consummation of wisdom It is the life of emancipation and the Divine Freedom   ADMONITION II Oh Dearest Soul, Rise from animality; cross the realm of humanity Taste the Immortality and realize the Eternal Divinity   Refrain from ignorant sensuality; know your Self-Identity Dance in ecstasy in the the innermost field of felicity   Go beyond the changing pleasure and pain, timidity, and knavery Control the stubborn mind and be free from empirical slavery   Through the inner senses enjoy the innermost Light and Sound Transcend this profane world; recognize the Provident Profound   Internal Existence is the embodiment of Peach, Bliss, and Wisdom External perception is hallucination, delusion, and bad boredom   The external force is the field of mysterious phantasmagoria It is a tantalizing puzzle spreading like infectious bacteria   How wonderful is the Perennial Peace of Celestial Scenery Is the fruit of Yogic Meditation and Spiritual Discovery   Be heedful and free from the live of corruption and pollution Realize the Self and attain Everlasting Joy of Blissful Liberation   Go beyond good and evil, mind and speech, and the sensual bound Dive deep into the River of Rapture; reach the Divine Ground   If you be desireless, in the nothingness you may find The Ubiquitous, All-knowing, the Superconscious mind   The Self knows no anger, hate, nor enmity Self remains unchanged from infancy to maturity   He is beyond space and time; He has no form or hue He is you whom you seek; He seeks all of you   He is the Creator, Destroyer, and Inner Ruler He is the All-sustainer and Cosmic Controller              

Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati is joined by special guest scholar George Barselaar, a disciple and attendant of the great master of Kashmiri Shaivism His Holiness Swami Lakshmanjoo, live from Swamiji's ashram in Srinagar, Kashmir. We are continuing the discussion we started last week on verse 2.10: विमर्श इति तां प्राहुः शैवशास्त्रविशारदाः | अविद्यामितरे प्राहुर्वेदतत्त्वार्थचिन्तकाः || १० || 10. vimarśa iti tāṃ prāhuḥ śaiva-śāstra-viśāradāḥ | avidyāmitare prāhur-veda-tattvārtha-cintakāḥ || 10 || "Those versed in Shaiva scriptures (Shaivites) declare Her to be vimarśa (reflective awareness), while those who contemplate the doctrines of the Vedas (Vedantins) declare Her to be powerful avidya (ignorance).”    

A short exert from "Advice for Spiritual Living" by His Holiness Gurudev Swami Chidananda Saraswati (1916-2008), read by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati.  "Blessed Immortal Atman! "It is now the holy period of Navaratri as I write this. The atmosphere is surcharged with deep devotion to Maha-Devi and vibrant with the fervor of worshipfulness, adoration and prayer. Our thoughts are filled with the glorious Divine Mother, and Her Blessed and wondrous manifestation as Durga-Lakshmi-Saraswati. She is the great Mystery, the inscrutable Power of the Supreme Brahman, who holds in Her Hands both bondage and Liberation. "The grace of the Divine Mother it is, that enables you to walk the path of Divine Life. Through Her benign blessings you are able to shine as a sincere spiritual seeker and a man of dharma. To worship the Mother with devotion is to be immediately uplifted by Her strength and power. She works within your inner being as the triple force of destruction, evolution and illumination. Destroying the impure and vicious aspects of one's lower nature, the unworthy, base, and bestial in the individual personality, and helping evolve the human nature into sublime heights of goodness, nobility and the purity of beauteous virtue. She illumines the jiva with supreme divine wisdom. Thus the Divine Mother is the very life and support of the aspirant's spiritual sadhana. She makes your quest fruitful with attainment. The Divine Mother grants kaivalya moksha or eternal release and immortality. "To worship and to adore the Blessed Mother is to welcome Her divine help in working out your highest good and everlasting welfare. When you thus seek Her divine aid, Her compassionate response is immediate. She sets to redeem you in Her own way. She sends experiences both pleasant and painful, through trials and difficulties. She molds and strengthens you, through sorrow and suffering, She refines and purifies your nature. She enriches and blesses you with spiritual experience and raises you to exalted heights. She makes use of your very life and its experiences to make you perfect and bestow upon you divine peace and joy and the Illimitable splendor of Self-realization. Therefore, O beloved seeker! learn to accept the joys and sorrows, the temptations and the trials of your life with wisdom and understanding. Seek to recognize their hidden meaning and purpose for your own evolution and supreme good. Find Her divine hand behind all occurrences and see the Mother's will working through them. Then will you behold your entire life as the expression of the Mother's immeasurable love for you. "Resolutely overcome all defects, faults and wrong tendencies in your nature and behavior. Develop noble character. Grow in virtue. Ever walk upon the path of perfect righteousness. Seek the immortal, Be thou an embodiment of Divine Life. Let the sacred name of Gurudev Sivananda be glorified by thy true discipleship into him. Personify his ethical and spiritual teachings. May the world find in you a source of inspiration. Let thy presence elevate all. May the Divine Mother shower Blessings upon you! Jai Sivananda!

A short exert from "Sadhana, a Textbook of the Psychology and Practice of the Techniques to Spiritual Perfection" (pg 365-367) by His Holiness Swami Sivananda Saraswati, read by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati.  "Why should you prolong your bondage unnecessarily? Why should you not claim your birthright right now? Do it now. Stand up. Gird your loins. Do rigorous and vigorous sadhana and attain freedom, immortality and eternal bliss. Make the lower nature the servant of the higher through discipline, tapas, self-restraint and meditation. This is the beginning of your freedom. Build your character. Purify the heart. Develop divine virtues. Eradicate evil traits. Conquer all that is base within you. Endeavor to attain all that is worthy and noble. Only when you have purified the heart, silenced the mind, stilled the thoughts and surging emotions, withdrawn the outgoing senses, thinned out the vasanas, can you behold the glorious Atman during deep meditation. Even a ray of inner light during meditation will lighten your path. It will give you you encouragement and inner strength. It will goad you to do more sadhana. You will experience this ray of light when the meditation becomes deeper and when you rise above body-consciousness. Meditation and worship are the means of evolving your potentialities and seeking a higher level of consciousness. Life is the unfolding of the latent capacities of the soul. Lead the divine life. Generate sublime divine thoughts through meditation, japa, kirtan and study of sacred scriptures. Bask the body in physical sunlight. Bask the soul in the sunlight of the Eternal. You will have good health and everlasting life. Sit down with a compose mind. Assert your mastery over body and mind. Plunge deep into the chambers of the heart and enter into the stupendous ocean of silence. Listen to the voice which is soundless. Build your spiritual life upon a sure foundation, upon the rock of divine grace and strength of character. Take refuge in the Lord and His law. There is no power in heaven or on earth that can bar your march now. Success in Self-realization is certain. There is light on your path. All is brilliant."

Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati is joined by special guest scholar George Barselaar, a disciple and attendant of the great master of Kashmiri Shaivism His Holiness Swami Lakshmanjoo, live from Swamiji's ashram in Srinagar, Kashmir. We are continuing the discussion we started last week on verse 2.10: विमर्श इति तां प्राहुः शैवशास्त्रविशारदाः | अविद्यामितरे प्राहुर्वेदतत्त्वार्थचिन्तकाः || १० || 10. vimarśa iti tāṃ prāhuḥ śaiva-śāstra-viśāradāḥ | avidyāmitare prāhur-veda-tattvārtha-cintakāḥ || 10 || "Those versed in Shaiva scriptures (Shaivites) declare Her to be vimarśa (reflective awareness), while those who contemplate the doctrines of the Vedas (Vedantins) declare Her to be powerful avidya (ignorance).”    

Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 2, verses 9 & 10 given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 14 June 2023. केचित् तां तप इत्याहुस्तमः केचिज्जडं परे | ज्ञानं मायां प्रधानं च प्रकृतिं शक्तिमप्यजाम् || ९ || kecit tāṃ tapa ityāhus-tamaḥ kecij-jaḍaṃ pare | jñānaṃ māyāṃ pradhānaṃ ca prakṛtiṃ śakti-mapyajām || 9 || 9. "Some call this Maya the power of austerity; others call it darkness; still others, dullness, or knowledge, illusion, matter, nature, energy, or the unborn." विमर्श इति तां प्राहुः शैवशास्त्रविशारदाः | अविद्यामितरे प्राहुर्वेदतत्त्वार्थचिन्तकाः || १० || vimarśa iti tāṃ prāhuḥ śaiva-śāstra-viśāradāḥ | avidyāmitare prāhur-veda-tattvārtha-cintakāḥ || 10 || 10. "Those versed in Shaiva works call it intelligence (vimarśa), while the Vedantins call it ignorance (avidya)."

A short selection from "Ramdas Speaks, Vol. V" by His Holiness Swami Ramdas (Beloved Papa), read by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati

Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 2, verses 7 & 8 given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 7 June 2023. स्वाशक्तेश्च समायोगादहं बीजात्मतां गता | स्वाधारावरणात् तस्या दोषत्वं च समागतम् || ७ || svāśakteśca samā-yogād-ahaṃ bījātmatāṃ gatā | svādhārā-varaṇāt tasyā doṣatvaṃ ca samāgatam || 7 || 7. "By uniting with this inherent power of mine, I become the cosmic seed. By obscuring Me, its own basis, this power is prone to defects." चैतन्यस्य समायोगान्निमित्तत्वं च कथ्यते | प्रपञ्चपरिणामाच्च समवायित्वमुच्यते || ८ || caitanyasya samāyogān-nimittatvaṃ ca kathyate | prapañca-pariṇāmāc-ca sama-vāyitvam-ucyate || 8 || 8. "Through its association with consciousness, Maya is called the efficient cause of the world. Through its evolution into the visible realm, it is said to be the material cause."