Garuda Vahana

 

Gopika Geetham

 

Manmatha - Udupi Krishna

 

Nigama Kalpataru

 Nigamakalpatarorgalitam phalam shukamukhadamrtadravasamyutam|

Pibata bhagavatam rasamalayam muhuraho rasika bhuvi bhavukah ||3||

 

The Kalpataru, the wish fulfilling tree, represents the Vedic knowledge. Srimad Bhagavatam is the delicious, ripened fruit of this tree. The teachings flow like nectar, easy to digest and full of life.  For a devotee, this is the culmination of all spiritual seeking—it's the essence of the Vedas, delivered in its most palatable and nourishing form. It's the ultimate wish fulfilled - a direct connection to the divine.

 
This idea focuses on the role of the Guru in disseminating the knowledge which is made even sweeter as it is touched by the beak of a parrot (the shuka), the Guru par excellence. The parrot here represents the great sage Sri Shuka, who narrated the Srimad Bhagavatam. For a devotee, this signifies that the Bhagavatam is a blessing, sweetened by the grace of a perfect master. 

The shloka encourages devotees to drink the nectar again and again – a never-ending feast. Every time a devotee reads or hears the Bhagavatam, a new layer of meaning, a new wish, is fulfilled. It is an endless source of joy, wisdom, and divine love, satisfying the heart's deepest longings.

Gitamrita

सर्वोपनिषदो गावो

दोग्धा गोपालनन्दनः

पार्थो वत्सः सुधीर्भोक्ता

दुग्धं गीतामृतं महत्

sarvopaniṣado gāvo

dogdhā gopālanandanaḥ

pārtho vatsaḥ sudhīrbhoktā

dugdhaṃ gītāmṛtaṃ mahat

This depicts Shloka 4 of the Gita Dhyana, which begins with "Sarvopanishado gavo…”, encapsulates the essence of the Bhagavad Gita by likening it to a cow. In this metaphor, all the Upanishads, the ancient philosophical texts, are envisioned as cows. The cowherd boy, Krishna Himself, takes on the role of the milker, drawing forth the nourishing milk. Arjuna, is depicted as the calf, eagerly waiting to drink.

The milk that is yielded is the Gitamrita – the nectar of the Bhagavad Gita. This is the distilled wisdom of all the Upanishads, for the benefit of all Jeevatmas. It offers insights into Karma (action), Jnana (knowledge) and Bhakti (devotion). It’s guides devotees towards Ananda - eternal bliss.

Trivikrama

 

Navaneetha Krishna

 

Amukthamalyada

 

Today is the reincarnation day of Bhoodevi, who manifested herself in the Tulasivana of Periyazhvar as Andal. Amongst the Azhwars, (those who drowned themselves in Bhakti) she was the only female. In her village of Srivilliputtur, Andal emulated the Gopikas performing the katyayani vrata. Her austerities for a month to reach Krishna is described in 30 verses as Tiruppavai.

Ananya

 

Sriniketana

 

Eternally Yours