With prostrations to Nara, Narayana, Devi Saraswati and Vyasa, may the Mahabharata be narrated.
Happy to share with you, my narration of the first parva of the greatest of epics… The Adi Parva of Mahabharata.
31 Audio recordings, of around 50 minutes each..
Pl check the YouTube link to the Adi-Parva playlist below.
Also sharing a pdf that contains all the links, in one file…
May the Force of Bheema be with you ! Enjoy the epic.
Jaya!
I am happy to announce my new book ‘Atma Vidya in Adhyatma Ramayana: Selections on Self-Knowledge from Adhyatma Ramayana’.
The book is a translation of narratives on Self-Knowledge, selected from the Sanskrit treatise ‘Adhyatma Ramayana’.
The context is this…
As a spiritual epic, Ramayana is perhaps unparalleled in the history of the world. So deep is its impact across the people of India and Asia, so many are its tellings in so many different languages, that the tale of Rama endures across time, as a voice of consciousness, a quest of righteousness, a seed of cultures, a mirror of mankind…
Contemporary researchers have recorded existence of at least three hundred different Ramayana-s , with at least twenty five in Sanskrit language alone. And among these stars in the cosmos of Ramayana-s. there is ‘One’ treatise that shines as the pole star of ‘Atma Vidya’ – Self-Knowledge. That is the ‘Adhyatma Ramayana’ – literally, the ‘Ramayana of the Self’.
Like all good things in Indian experience, there is no consensus regarding it’s origin. While the treatise is traditionally attributed to be a part of ‘Brahmanda Purana’, authored by Vyasa, there are other views. However, there is a consensus that ‘Adhyatma Ramayana’ is the treatise on which is based the Ramacharitamaanasa of Goswami Tulasidas. That by itself should give an indication of the power and influence of this treatise on Indian Rama consciousness, across time.
The ‘Adhyatma Ramayana’ contains ever so many discourses on spirituality, covering all paths – Karma, Bhakti and Jnana. But the core aim and emphasis is Jnana – ‘Self Knowledge’.
As one more humble offering in the endless garden of this Ramayana, I have attempted to translate into free verse in English, all those parts of this Ramayana wherever there appears any narrative on Self-Knowledge, whichever be the path – Karma, Bhakti or Jnana. The galaxy of narrators is a beauty in itself, which includes Gods, sages, men, women, animals, even, Rakshasa-s…
Titled as ‘Atma Vidya in Adhyatma Ramayana: Selections on Self-Knowledge from Adhyatma Ramayana’, the book has been published by Ramana Maharshi Centre of Learning, Bengaluru. It is my great good fortune that the book has been blessed with a Srimukha by the Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. By the Grace of Rama, the book has come out in the ‘Ramayana month’ of Karkidakam / Aadi.
Those who are interested in buying the book can get it from Amazon India.
Click https://www.amazon.in/dp/8188261602/
Or write to ‘Rasa Experience of Art’ at the email id: rasa.experience@yahoo.in .
Glory to Rama!
Athato…
Hanuman lands on top of Lambaa mountain in Lanka, crashing through the forest tree carpet, and as he lands, he is covered with flowers, so much so that he looks like an ape made of flowers.
More…
Watch. A ustream recording of the katha narration….
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Siyaavar Ramachandra ki Jai… Pawan-sut Hanuman ki Jai…
Dear You,
A tidbit, if I may
Sharing a surprise I came across… Some factual goachies but heck, so what…
It was most probably in the month of Karthik, Vikram samvat 1965 (corresponding to Oct-Nov 1908 AD).
The young Sanyasi, Swami Svatah Prakash came by train and got down at Rajghat station near the bank of Ganga, not far from Narora in District Bulandshehr. Then he walked along the Ganga, northwards, and arrived at the village of Bheriya, which is some three miles south of Anupshehr. And as destiny would have it, the great Brahmanishtta sage Udiya Baba ji (Swami Poornananda Teertha) came walking to this place from the East, at the same time. This was a momentous meeting in spiritual timelessness.
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Udiya Baba, like Ramana Maharshi, was a spiritual colossus. Ever established in Non-dual Brahman, he was like the Sun of Jnana. And Swami Svatah Prakash, when he became Hari Baba, was the full-moon of Bhakti. It was a meeting of Ganga and Yamuna. There struck a relationship between these two sages, which was to last all their lives. Such was the love they had for each other, that Hari Baba has said of Udiya Baba that “No one in the world has loved anyone so much, ever, as much as Udiya Baba loved me.” And Udiya Baba on his part, had the greatest respect for Hari Baba. No festival of Hari Baba was complete without the presence of Udiya Baba. It is incredible to read that in all the decades of their acquaintance, Hari Baba never once spoke directly to Udiya Baba. He would have his face down, and speak through a second person. So great was his respect for Udiya Baba… To give an example of how much respect Udiya Baba had for Hari baba, consider this… Udiya Baba, like Jagadguru Kanchi Paramacharya, had taken a vow to only walk. He would never ride on any vehicle – car, bus, train etc. He walked hundreds of miles, month after month, all his life. While he stayed largely in the banks of Ganga, towards the end of his life he settled in Brindavan. In 1947, when Hari Baba was planning to celebrate the Sivaratri festival in the Baandh, he found that Udiya Baba would not be able to come, as he was very ill. But Hari Baba could not dream of having any utsav without Udiya Baba being present. So he and Anandamayi Ma came to Brindavan. Hari Baba tried to convince Udiya Baba to come with him in his car. But Udiya Baba has his vow, and he was in no condition to walk the distance from Brindavan to the Baandh (around 150 kms). So while Hari Baba went on pleading, Udiya Baba kept Mauna (silence), and it became midnight. Seeing how disappointed Hari Baba was feeling, Ma told him – “Pitaji! Now you may please take rest. Whatever is to happen tomorrow, shall happen by itself.” On this advise, Hari Baba retired for the night.
In the morning, when Hari Baba awoke to find that Udiya Baba had already left during the night. Ma laughed and told him – “See Pitaaji! I told you that whatever is to happen will happen by itself!”
What had happened was that Udiya Baba could not bear seeing the disappointment of Hari Baba. So, at 2 O’clock in the night, he started off in another devotee’s car, and left for the Baandh. He broke his lifelong vow of never riding a vehicle, just to keep Baba’s heart. Who can understand this love! Needless to say, that Sivaratri festival in the Baandh was observed with all joyousness, and this was followed by the festival of Holi, which too was attended by Udiya Baba.
Coming back to Bheriya, the first meeting place of Ganga (Udiya Baba) and Yamuna (Hari Baba)…
This meeting in Bheriya was at the place where a venerable sadhu from Bengal had his hermitage. Known as Bengali Baba, his sanyasi name was Sri Ramananda Giri. He was an aged monk, who was held in great reverence by all Sadhu-s in the region. The young Hari Baba came to his hermitage and sat down under a tree, absorbed in inner contemplation. Bengali baba recognized the spiritual fire in young Hari Baba, and asked one of his sanyasi disciples to discreetly care for this young Baba.
Bengali Baba was a great ascetic, who laid great store by Madhukari Bhiksha. He would say:
भिक्षाहारो फलाहारो भिख्सा नैव परिग्रहः |
सदन्नं वा कदन्नं वा सोमपानं दिने दिने ||
Bhikshaa (food got as alms), is equivalent to a meal of fruits. It is never an acquisition (bondage). Whether the Bhikshaa food is pure/good or impure/stale, eating that is like having a quaff of the nectar of Gods, day after day!
Bengali Baba’s asrama was a confluence where many Sadhu-s would gather. One of them was Swami Achyuta Muni. He used to stay in a boat anchored near Deeppur Ghat, a few miles from Gavaan (where the Hari Baba baandh is now). Swami Achyuta Muni was a highly respected sage, well known in the Ganga region. His blissful countenance, deep scholarship, and childlike simplicity attracted many a devotee to him, scholar and lay. The Muni was holding classes on Vedanta treatises like Brahma Sutra, Panchadashi, Vritti Prabhakara etc. Young Hari Baba, who would go to Ganga for his morning bath, joined these classes.
After some time, Achyuta Muni was to leave this place and go to Wardha. He extended an invitation to Hari Baba to come there, and continue his Vedanta tutelage. Hari Baba agreed, and came away to Wardha.
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Achyuta Muni was a man of discipline. His rule was that his Vedanta class would commence exactly at Sunrise. Interested students would have to be there punctually. Hari Baba was as sincere as anyone could ever be. He would be up at 2 AM, walk six miles to the river to have his bath etc, do his morning exercises, meditate and be ready for the class at dawn. After the class, he would contemplate on the subject being studied. After lunch, he would take some rest, do some svadhyaya and then again attend Achyuta Muni’s class from 3 to 5 PM. After that, in the evenings, he had no fixed program. He came to know that in a place called Hanumangadi, which was nearby, there was a Satsangha where akhand (non-stop) chanting of “Shree Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama” mantra was going on, for last few hundred years. This place had been associated with Satguru Samarth Ramdas (saint of 16th-17th century, Guru of Chatrapati Shivaji).
Hari Baba went for this Satsangh, and his life changed.
Feeling great joy after his first Satsangha, he started going there regulary. He was being helplessly drawn into Hari Bhakti. His Guru (Swami Sacchidananda Giri) too is supposed to have had a vision of Radha-Krishna in Brindavan, but his outward leaning had been towards Jnana. Hari Baba too had, therefore, been devoted to the path of Knowledge. But now, in Hanumangadi, he was being turned over completely. He started experiencing Bhava Samadhi during the sankeertan (music and chanting). He lost control over himself. At one stage, he started exhibiting all eight Sattvik Bhava-s of pure Bhakti together. These are Ashru (tears), Pulaka (horripilation), stabdhataa (stunned stiffness), svedha (excessive sweating), kampa (trembling of body), svarabhanga (choking of voice), vaivarnya (discoloration) and, finally, moorccha (fainting).
Sri Paranjape, who was in-charge of the Satsangha there, was amazed at this sight. He, along with other devotees there, lifted him and made him lie down on a mat there. Soon, Hari Baba started making Humkaar thunder-like sounds, got up, and went and sat on the altar of the Lord. He became possessed by the Lord. Sitting there, he ordered the devotees to offer Bhog, and then asked them to seek whatever boon they desired. The assembled devotees were all immersed in waves of devotion seeing this unique happening. The singing was charged now. Soon Hari Baba got up and started dancing. The crowd was in bliss. Some fell at his feet, some were laughing or crying uncontrollably – all were lost in the mood. This went on the whole night, and when the Sun rose next morning, Hari Baba fell unconscious.
Upon regaining consciousness, he felt extremely embarrassed. But Paranjape ji consoled him.
Thereafter, he started attending this satsangha every evening. Soon, these happenings reached the ears of Achyuta Muni. When Hari Baba went for his Vedanta class, the Muni asked him about it, whether it was true that he had been going to a Mutt and engaging himself in singing and dancing. Hari Baba remained silent. Taking his silence as affirmation, the Muni asked him to express his view. Hari Baba then conveyed, in all humility, his views. Paraphrasing what he conveyed, Hari Baba’s view was that there is no distinction between Nirguna and Saguna. In sum – ‘The One reality, is worshipped with many names. He said that if we examine the views of all our ancient Acharya-s, there too we will find that there is no distinction between Jnana and Bhakti. There can be no Jnana without Bhakti, and no Bhakti without Jnana. It is only when Brahmanishtta becomes ripe, does one find the right way to contemplate Saguna Brahman. “ In his own case, he conveyed that the bliss he had experienced in Bhakta Mandali was beyond expression. And that experience had only strengthened his Ahamgraha upaasana, Brahmanishtta.
Achyuta Muni ji conveyed that he had no complaints against that path, and that he too had done Japa of Lord’s name one lakh times every day. By that practice, even now the Japa of the name was going on automatically. But the path of practice of pure Vedanta was divergent from the path chosen by Hari Baba, and so he was free to pursue his path. Hari Baba, then took his permission to leave, and went back to Hanumangadi.
There, Paranjape ji gave him a book about Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It was a book titled “Lord Gauranga”, written by Sri Shishir Kumar Ghose….
** To be continued **
Happy Rama Navami!
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On this Rama Navami day of 2015, I am sharing an audio clip of Rajajai (C Rajagopalachari), speaking in Tamil, on the greatness of Ramayana.
This audio clip is from a Ramayana discourse of Sengalipuram Anantharama Deekshitar, narrated perhaps in the 1950s. Rajaji was a regular listener in Deekshitar’s discourses, and Deekshitar would often ask Rajaji to speak a few words.
In this particular clip, Rajaji speaks of Ramayana as an epic that inspires us to lead a virtuous life. He says that if one were to explain what one should do to lead a life of virtue, then it would not be an easy task. On the other hand, if one were to say just one word – “Rama” – then all would be understood. Likewise, if one were to say “Sita” or “Hanuman”, then one need say no further. The virtues and characteristics of these characters of Ramayana would shine instantly in our minds. Such is the power of the epic.
Rajaji says, that as a person of modern times, he has often wondered about this.. Ramayana is a story after all.. Can one not extract the qualities of the main characters, and just elaborate on these and write a book, explaining that ‘these and such’ are the qualities of Rama, Sita, Hanuman etc… He himself responds to this thought saying that such a book would not serve a paisa of purpose. Rama has to be known through Ramayana. Likewise, Sita or Hanuman or Bharata has to be known through Ramayana. Then alone would their character impress upon our hearts.
He ends by exhorting one and all to listen to and study Ramayana in whatever language one is comfortable with, for Ramayana has been written in almost all major languages of our ancient land…
Signing off this post… Got to prepare for the weekly narration of Ramayana… This afternoon one shares Valmiki’s narration about the aftermath of Vali’s death….
Sri Rama Jayam!
Folks!
How about bringing in the New Year, listening to some Rama Katha… Here is a recording from the Soota archive…
The setting: Mithila
The occasion: The wedding of Rama and Sita
The epic: Valmiki Ramayana
Have posted the narration in the ‘Rasa Culture’ channel in Youtube… A week or two ago, a narration about the ‘Beautiful Kanda” (Sundara Kandam) of Ramayana was uploaded as well… There are some other recordings too in the channel…
Now for the epic wedding… The Baraat has arrived from Ayodhya….
Let’s join the party, shall we….
Click here to go to the Youtube audio link of Rama Sita Wedding
May Sita Devi bless all of us with all Glory and Prosperity!
Jai Siya Ram! Jai Jai Hanuman!
For some years now, one has been traversing with Valmiki, sharing the story of Ramayana as seen by that first among poets.
Thought of sharing some of these on youtube.
Here’s a link to a playlist that has links to some videos of narrations from Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana.
Commencing from Rama returning after slaying Maricha.. carrying on through the search for Sita, the death and liberation of Jatayu, the killing of kabanda, the meeting with great Yogi Shabari…
Click here to access the youtube playlist.
Jai Siya Ram! Jai Jai Hanuman!
Freedom is a high.
Publishing the e-book way is like the ‘Berlin wall and Sentries’ of brick and mortar world of publication and distribution just going up in smoke – the veil of Maya suddenly lifting, and matter ceasing to matter…
Well, not exactly that, but to Soota (‘yours truly’), the feeling is good, anyway.
Two of this-I’s books are now available as ebooks on Amazon… Ready to buy 🙂 and read….
The first is a short work of fiction, called “The Night the Moon Disappeared”.
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The story is about a family that sets out on a full moon night, doing circumambulation around the holy mountain of Arunachala… And what happens when the moon disappears, death-style… A book meant for people of all ages, it starts off as a children’s story and grows up at every step of the way to reach the summit of the holy mountain, Arunachala… It is a search in prose-poetry of mystic ways to find one’s own Self.
Click here for the Amazon-Kindle link to the e-book.
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The second one is a book of poems – titled “Seahorse in the Sky”. This was earlier published in print version by Writers Workshop. Now, it takes an e-avatar…
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Divya Kumar, blogger-writer, blogging about different book launches in Chennai, mentioned that the book was “Not a work of fiction, but an excellent collection of poetry by an unlikely poet“.
She linked to her article in The Hindu, Metro Plus section (“The Art of Juggling” Click here to read ), where she wrote:
“Seahorse in the Sky is truly good poetry in the old-fashioned sense, filled with deftly-drawn word sketches, gently ironic observances of human nature, and sometimes poignant, sometimes funny stories, crafted out of the fabric of our daily lives”
Click here for the Amazon-Kindle link to this book of poems
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For new ebook explorers… You can download and read these books on a Kindle book reader. But you don’t necessarily need a Kindle device. You can download the Kindle App on your Laptop, Desktop, Tablet or Smartphone – and you are ready-to-read…. The App is free and the link is available on the Amazon book-links above…
Interest kindled?
On your mouse… Ready, steady, click…
नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् |
देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत् ||
Bowing to Narayana (Krishna), to the greatest of men Nara (Arjuna), to Goddess Saraswati, and to Vyasa, let Mahabharata be told thereafter.
Some of you may know that Soota has the joy of narrating Mahabharata… Few years back there was a write-up in The Hindu ( Click here to access)
This Soota’s narrations commenced sometime in 2001 and went on for ten years… The whole of Mahabharata… Narrated once a week, around 40 plus weeks every year.. And these were recorded in audio, as home recordings, live, while the narrations were done…
One part of the recordings was available briefly through an online channel that was later discontinued. These were a subset of episodes related to the great war of Mahabharata… (A blogger wrote a post about her experience in listening the stories. Click here to read that post )…
That version had 18 episodes, which were a part of the overall 50 episodes War set…
Now the whole set of 50 is available..
Folks in India who are interested in the recordings can now buy it, MP3 in Audio CD form, marketed by “Rasa – Experience of Art…”
In addition to the “Great War of Mahabharata” set, two other sets are available.
So: Overall: The following are available now…
– The great War of Mahabharata ( a series of 50 episodes )
– The story of Nala and Damayanti ( a series of 11 episodes )
– The story of Savitri and Satyavan ( a series of 8 episodes )
Each episode is around 50 minutes of audio….
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I had earlier blogged about the first set of 18 recordings.. You can see the post by clicking here.
To quote from that post:
In my experience over these years, I have seen the Mahabharata stories deeply touch people of all ages. From teenagers, to regular adults, to senior citizens….
Such is its sweep and appeal, that Soota Ugrashrava says in Mahabharata:
श्रुत्वा त्विदमाख्यानं श्राव्यमन्यन्न रोचते |
पुम्सकोकिलरुतं श्रुत्वा रूक्षा ध्वाङ्क्षस्य वागिव ||
Having heard this story, one does not relish listening to any other. After hearing the song of the Koel (cuckoo), who would be interested to listen to the caw-caw of a crow?
न तां स्वर्गगतिं प्राप्य तुष्टिं प्राप्नोति मानवा: |
यं श्रुत्वैव महापुण्यं इतिहासमुपाश्नुते ||
Not by attaining heaven do men achieve satisfaction, happiness, as much as they do after listening to this great PuNyA, The Mahabharata!
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Welcome to Dharmakshetra! Where there is Dharma, there is Krishna! Where there is Krishna, there is Victory!
Listen to the day-by-day unraveling of the greatest war ever written about…So welcome to Kurukshetra! And experience the sky filled with the sound of Sri Krishna’s great conch, Paancajanya!
Listen to the story about Nala – the great King, horseman, gambler, connoisseur of food… Who lost his all in a great bout of gambling… Who too was exiled to the forest and suffered even more than Yudhisttira did… Who is known as Punyashloka – one who is so holy, that hearing his name is gives Punya…
Listen to the story of Pativrata Savitri… Which Maharshi Markandeya relates to Yudhisttira, in reply to his question on whether there has ever been any lady as great in virtues as Draupadi… The story of Savitri, who dialogues with Yama to get her husband back from the land of the dead…
Once more:
Or the related link on the blogroll of this blogsite.
Right now it is available for sale only in India… As mentioned, these were recorded in non-studio, home conditions, live. The recording quality would vary here and there… Requesting listeners in advance to forgive any deficiencies, and enjoy the great words of the greatest of epics – Mahabharata…
Jaya!
athato 
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