Sri Ram Charit Manas And Other Texts Readings

Srimad Bhagwat Mahatmya is a preface to Srimad Bhagwat Purana by Ved Vyas ji. This gives the background to the serene thread of events detailed in Srimad Bhagwat Purana. This is the why of the epic, explains the benefits and reason for it being composed by Maharshi Ved Vyas ji. Celebrating Chaitra Navratri Day 3 today!

Srimad Bhagwat Purana is also known as Vangmay Swaroop of Sri Krishna. Vangmay Swaroop is a Sanskrit phrase that means that the words, the sound of chanting/reading of this ancient Sanskrit by Ved Vyas ji, just listening to it, one can experience the full blossoming of Divinity within oneself. Sri Krishna, the most playful, joyful, loved and wise incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the intelligence that sustains and is present in every anu/atom of the universe becomes available to a devotee through the reading/listening of Srimad Bhagwat Mahapurana. The Mangalacharan is just a brief preface to it that a devotee sings in joy! Read the text on the link below as you sing along too... http://www.anandway.com/article/598/Read-Along-Srimad-Bhagwatam-Mangalacharan-Sri-Krishna-Stuti-Sanskrit-Chanting-Podcast-Audio-and-Lyrics

It is a part of the soulful Mangalacharan before Srimad Bhagwat Purana reading

This song/bhajan from Vrindavan comes from the rich Indian oral tradition. Grateful to receive a part of it :) It is written by Suradas ji, disciple of Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya ji. Surdas ji was an Ashtsakha (one of Krishna's 8 friends, who sang for him) of Sri Govardhan Nath ji. Sri Govardhan Nath ji is another name for Sri Krishna, who spoke Srimad Bhagwad Gita. Sreeji was earlier at Govardhan, and then moved to Nathadwara in Rajasthan. This song is from about 500 years ago and it is written in Brajbhasha.

Jhoolan songs are sung in Awadh or Ayodhya ji during the rainy season in North India. This song is a priceless piece of Indian heritage. Heard it from Smt. Shalini Chandra ji, a dear friend and mentor. This song depicts the young couple, Sri Sita Ram, swinging on the banks of River Saryu ji in the rainy season. The singer advises to not disturb the Divine couple.

This is a beautiful prayer in Hindi to the Mother Divine, and I don't have it written anywhere. Heard it from my great grandmpther, grandmother and mother at the beginning of Devi KIrtan/satsang, a gathering of family and friends at home to sing praises and thank the Mother Divine, Devi Shakti, especially during the biennial Navratri festival, an ancient Indian festival that marks the Hindu New Year and transition of seasons. Chaitra Navrati and Ashwin Navrati, named after the Hindu months the festival is celebrated in. These songs, prayers and chants for the Divine cleanse the body and mind, improve immunity and resilience.

An offering of a three-Bel leaf set, which is a symbol of the three Gunas (Satva, Rajas, Tamas) in creation/the universe, to Lord Shiva. An ancient Sanskrit song/poem in the oral tradition.

A reading of the beautiful Sri Lalita Sahastranam, from Brahmand Puran, Uttarkhand, a conversation between Rishi Agastya and Lord Hayagriva. For more details, good to get a copy of the book, 'Parashakti' by Bhanumathi Narasimhan ji.

Random readings from the beautiful text Sri Ram Charit Manas, in Awadhi dialect of Hindi from Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India, composed about 500 years ago, by Goswami Tulsidas ji, one of my favourite poets. Sri Ram has inspired many writers, including his contemporary, about 7500 years ago, Maharshi Valmiki. He wrote Valmiki Ramayan in Sanskrit. It is one of the two 'Itihasa' texts in Indian literature. Itihas means, this is how it happened, or factual documentation. The other Itihasa text is Mahabharat or Jaygranth by Maharshi Ved Vyas ji, a contemporary of the protagonists in that text.