HYMN TO RUDRA

Steatite seal found at Mohenjodaro

 

                 

        Queer, weird and unique Lord!

         Most powerful and terrific God !

         From all other gods you do stand apart;

         Purest divinity! None equals Thee not;

         Not robed in costly silks and muslins thin

         You strangely dress yourself in tiger’s skin;

         No diamond coronet with sparkling shine

         You surpass all with cool moon-crown divine;

         No craze for fragrant flowers like jasmine and rose

        Cool hissing coiled soft serpent-wreaths you chose;

         No perfumed oils and scented sandal splash

         You smear your body with white holy ash;

         Not hankering after worlds with heavenly glow

         You are content to dwell in hills covered with snow;

         No craze for bright-lit pleasure gardens trim

         You chose to stay with ghosts in graveyards grim;

         While others dance with celestial dames with cheer

         You sport with weird fiends and ghouls sans fear;

         You don’t require costly gifts and rituals grand

          A little water enough, no precious things you demand;

         While others enjoy tasty ambrosial dish

         You beg with a bowl to grant devotees, their wish;

         While others flaunt themselves with diamonds and gold

         A garland of grinning skulls around your neck you hold

        While others craved for gifts from milky ocean white

         You drank dire poison to save worlds from plight;

         No royal elephant or steed as mount you decide

         A sturdy snow-white bull you prefer to ride;

         While others worship Thy mysterious phallic form

        On whom you meditate so deep and calm?

         Your dreamy eyes show depths of bliss supreme

         Beyond all powers divine as sages deem;

         Thy ineffable mystic origin none can trace

         Though gods tried to explore in many ways;

         To grace Thy devotees you took Linga form

         Quelling all fears appearing  serene and calm      

         Brahma’s pride subdued by Thy trident keen

         When he considered Thee as worthless and mean;

         Thy flaming eye reduced the God of love to dust

          You rise above all gross passions and lust;

          You purged him of his egoistic pride and charm

          Resurrecting him with a more graceful form;

          The daughter of Himavanth did penance great

           Facing ordeals to win Thy love and be Thy mate;

           All saints and gods admired her penance intense

           Her unprecedented dedication immense.

           Your matted locks restrained Ganga’s turbulent force

           By Thy holy touch, subdued to earth she flows;      

           Though demons deified Thee with selfish greed

           They perished in pride and destructive deeds;

            What awful weapons Lord! You bravely wield

           To slay dreadful demons, defiant and bold

           Along with their worlds of silver, iron and gold

           Burnt to ashes by Thy mountain-bow with serpent- string

           As gods and sages Thy glory with joy did sing;

           Too liberal and fount of boundless grace thou art

           With simple things devotees gratify Thy heart;

           A speck of selfless pure devotion will suffice

           To please Thee, Lord of gods and Yoga wise;

           Even brutes and birds got Thy spontaneous grace

           Even a hunter unlettered by his faithful ways;    

           Death incarnate! Conqueror of death!

           Soul-animating force of vital breath!   

           God of music and dire, dynamic dance!

           God of benign visage and Yogic trance!

           Thy rhythmic raging dance with vigorous speed

           Will make all worlds shudder like feeble reeds;

           Lord of infinite space, planets and starry spheres

           Lord of all herbs, weapons and forces far and near;

           Lord of Vedas, mantras and sacred sacrifice;

           Lord of all arts, sciences and vibrating skies

           Beyond our mortal dividing illusions

           Beyond Maya’s restless ruffling delusions;

           Restrain Thy powerful majestic bow and darts

           With benign peace dwell within our hearts;

           Hail Rudra! Unstring Thy bow, reveal Thy charm

          Withdraw Thy dreadful, terrific form.

          Hail Rudra! Guardian of holy places and streams

          Hail Rudra! Lord of immense wealth supreme

          Hail Rudra! Lord of metals, deserts and forests green

          Hail Rudra! Lord of weapons with keen-edged sheen;

          Hail Rudra! Thy name enough to fill our lives with bliss

          Hail Rudra! Bless us with good health, wealth and peace. 

                  ******************************

               22nd April, 2021                                     Somaseshu Gutala                    

 A Note on Rudra: Rudra is a minor deity along with Vishnu (a solar deity) in Vedic period. He was depicted as a fierce god who shoots arrows of death and disease. He was implored in Rigvedic hymns not to slay or injure in his wrath. He is identified with powerful storms, fire, lightning and wind. He is also depicted as great healer of maladies and as a lord of many remedies. Rudra gained prominence at the end of the Rigvedic period. In Svetswaropanishad Rudra is called Shiva who bestows auspicious things on devotees. He is the eliminator of evil forces and miseries. In Rudra Suktam, the various manifestations of Rudra are described in a very detailed way. He is called “Jagatham Pataye Namah” (Lord of all worlds). Pashunam Pataye Namah (Lord of all living beings), “Oushadinam Pataye Namah(Lord of all medicines) and as “Devaanaam Hridayebhyho Namah” (who dwells in the hearts of all gods). The phrase “salutations to Lord” (Pathaye Namaha) is repeatedly used to emphasize Rudra as the sole controller and ruling supreme power over all gods, worlds, creation and dissolution.

The chanting of Mahamrithyunjaya mantra gives spiritual wisdom and liberation from the cycle of birth and death. The Rudra Suktam is found in Krishna Yajurveda’s Taittiriya Samhita. It is a hymn to Lord Rudra giving a very detailed description about the universal presence of God and his vast powers and divine qualities. It comprises two parts; Namakam and Chamakam. The Namakam describes the names and qualities of Rudra and prays to Rudra to withdraw His terrific aspect and invokes for His benevolent form asking for the forgiveness of sins. The Chamakam is a prayer to Rudra requesting Him to grant both material and spiritual desires of the devotee. The earliest hymns to Rudra is the Shatarudriya found in the Yajurveda. 

Rudra Suktam is chanted while performing Abhishekam (pouring water) to Shiva Lingam. The cosmic dance of Shiva (called Tandava) shows both overwhelming spiritual ecstasy and also the wrath of destruction of evil forces leading rejuvenation.

 At Mohenjodaro the discovery of the steatite seal dating back to (2350 BC. -2000 B.C) with the figure of an ascetic in yogic pose was discovered. The figure has three heads with a horned head dress and is surrounded by animals. This figure is named as “Pashupati” and bears resemblance to Vedic Rudra regarded as the lord of animals, asceticism and yoga. Thus the worship of Rudra is seen right from very ancient civilizations.  

Ref :

 You drank dire poison --- during churning of milky sea by Gods and demons to procure amrit (nectar which gives immortality) and other precious things, poison emanated suddenly from the Vasuki serpent who was used as churning rope. All gods and demons ran away with fear dreading the destruction of the whole universe. Shiva came forward to drink the dreadful poison in order to save the all worlds from destruction. He did not swallow the poison but retained it in his throat as a result of which his throat became blue. This blue mark on his throat is a mark of his boundless mercy and supreme sacrifice.

 Brahma’s pride subdued – When Brahma arrogantly declared Himself as the supreme God and insulted Shiva, Lord Shiva cut off his head as a punishment.    

Thy flaming eye reduced the God of love to dust – Kamadev, god of sensual pleasures and love, was sent by gods to disturb Shiva’s penance so that he would be tempted by the beauty of Parvati (Sati reborn as Himavanth’s daughter) and marry her. When Kamadev shot arrows of love and disturbed Shiva, he became very angry and opened his third eye and Kamdev was reduced to ashes. After sometime he was resurrected by Shiva and Parvati when Rati (wife of Kamdev) did penance to please the Lord.

The daughter of Himavanth did penance great – Parvati, the daughter of the Himavanth, wished to please Lord Shiva by her austerities and penance and win his love. Though her parents tried dissuade her, she left her home and went to Tapovan to do severe penance for thousands of years without taking any food and water. The gods and sages were moved very much by her devotion and dedication. Shiva came in the guise of an old man and spoke harshly about Shiva’s ascetic way of life and his uncouth dress and way of life. But she became very angry and ordered him to leave the place. Shiva pleased by her unswerving faith at last accepted her as his spouse.

Your matted locks restrained Ganga’s pride--Baghirath did severe penance to bring Ganga from heaven to earth to get salvation for his ancestors who were burnt to ashes by Kapila’s fury. They disturbed Kapila’s penance thinking that he stole the sacrificial horse of their father, King Sagara. Sagara’s great-great grandson Baghirath pleased Ganga and asked her to come down to earth. But her turbulent flow would devastate the whole earth. Hence, he prayed to Lord Shiva to restrain her speed. Lord Shiva pleased with his devotion caught her in his matted locks to check her rapid flow.

To slay the dreadful demons defiant and bold – Tripuras (three cities) made of iron, silver and gold were constructed by the Asura architect, Mayasura. The three powerful demons and sons of Tarakasura, ( Tarakaksha,Vidyunamali, and Kamalksha) did great penance and got a boon from Brahma that their three cities made of iron, silver and gold should have the ability to move anywhere in the universe, and death should happen to them only when all their cities would come in conjunction only once in a thousand years, and when only a single arrow should be capable of destroying their worlds. With this wish granted, the three demons moved freely tormenting devas. When the gods prayed to Shiva and Vishnu, they assured them protection. Shiva asked the divine architect, Vishwakarma, to prepare a chariot made of gold. The earth became the chariot; the sun and moon became the wheels of the chariot; brahma was the charioteer; Mount Meru was the bow and Vishnu was the powerful arrow; and the divine serpent Vasuki became the bow-string. When the three forts conjoined after a gap of one thousand years, Shiva installed a powerful dart and burnt the three forts along with the three powerful demons.

Even brutes and birds got Thy boundless grace -- A spider (Sri), a snake(Kala) and an elephant(Hasti) worshipped Lord Shiva and attained salvation. A hunter (called Kannappa) worshipped Shiva and attained the grace of Kalahastiswara. The temple of Srikalahastiswara was built during the Pallava period in 5^th century and  the outer temple was constructed in 11^th century Rajendra Chola and later by Vijayanagara kings.

Death incarnate --- As the lord of dissolution, Shiva liberates souls from worldly cares in the guise of death. He is also the Lord of life and immortality.

Conqueror of Death – Shiva became angry when Yama, the lord of death, threw his noose around the neck of Markandeya who hugged the Linga tightly and prayed to Shiva. Shiva emerged from the Linga and killed Yama with his trident. He gave immortal life to Markandeya and revived Yama back to life who asked Shiva to pardon his faults.

Thy ineffable origin none can trace -- When Brahma and Vishnu argued about their superiority status, Shiva appeared before them in the form of a blazing pillar of fire. Brahma assumed the form of a swan to find out the topmost end of the Shiva Lingam. Vishnu went down the earth in the form of a boar to find out the bottom of the Shiva Lingam. Both failed in finding out the starting point and the top of the Shiva Lingam. Then they realized Shiva as the supreme godhead of the whole creation.

                                           #########################

 

  

    

    

 

     

      

      

  

    

    

 

     

      

     

STASIS

 

                            

                                                            

              

                                            

 1)  The reckless rushing stream with gushing speed

      Wandered jig-jag losing his own control

      Through ups and downs with selfish pride and greed

      Losing himself in wayward ways with no clear goal

      Through many curves and twists with rapid speed

      Through marshy ground infested with mossy weeds

      At last, with all his force drained out to fill

      A stagnant pool exhausted and death-still.

 

2)  Proud of his tall majestic height and size

     Covered with dense green branches and leaves

     With gigantic height into the sky the tree doth rise

     Gloating with pride to touch the stars he perceives

     Blind to the source of strength he sucks from the ground

     The coolest nourishing springs that make no sound

     Buffeted by winds, lightning and battering rain

     Struck by lightning fell like Goliath by David slain.

 

3) That holy shrine which once seemed like heaven in sight

    Which once with sculptures and frescoes did shine

    With dazzling gems, flowers and twinkling lights

    With rhythmic sounds of music and dance divine   

    With columns and friezes fraught with intricate art

    With surging devotion filling every heart

    Now seen with broken idols and faded paintings pale

    Time-battered sculptures convey a tragic tale.

 

4) The lofty castles and palaces of royal pride and lust

    With many halls and chambers in so many rows

    With rich designs embossed with gold and marble busts

    Now lie in dust with weeds and nobody knows;

    Their tombs too lie untraced ruined by the foes

    On their graves no laurels, but wild grass grows;

    Their hope of eternalizing their status great

    Now lies inert, frozen in static state.

 

5) Youth and beauty vanish like dew on grass

    Even the wealth of Croesus melts like snow

    The craze for name and fame breaks up like glass

    Swelling power bursts like bubbles in ocean’s flow;      

    Though men strive to grasp at whatever cost    

    All their achievements will not forever last;

    Whatever we struggle to seize by selfish will

    At last ends in nothing; static and death-still.

 

6)  Our proud beginnings flourish forever not

     The flowers that blossom today will have to fade

     A grassy glade one day will be a desert hot;

     Our lives, a mixed fabric of light and shade;

     Though many bragged about their skills sublime

      They vanish soon in the torrential tide of time.

      Never build airy castles with egoistic thrill

      The stream of life turns silent and death-still.

                    *********************

      7th April, 2021                         Somaseshu Gutala  

  

Ref : Goliath by David slain – Goliath, a philistine giant was killed by David, a shepherd boy just by hurling a stone from  a sling.       

The wealth of Croesus -- King of Lydia renowned for his wealth.

 Stasis --- inactive or inert state. A stage in the cycle of creation.

 All worldly possessions flourish for some time and finally dissolve into passive state.

          

          

        

   

 

        

 

 

Our Hearty wishes

                      

                                                

          

  Though time moves on you ever remain the same

    Same gentle nature with same liberal mind

    Ever encouraging others, helpful and kind

    Working for others, not for wealth or fame

    Others’ faults you never try to find or blame

     In making others happy true joy you find;

     In fulfilling your duties, you never lag behind;

     To blend life with art seems your noble aim.

     Our hearty wishes to you we earnestly convey

     Be happy and peaceful wherever you stay.

                                   *************************

(wishing you many happy returns of the day)

   24th March,  2021                         Somaseshu Gutala

THE TALE OF MR. HITLER

   

         

                                                                       

                                                            

                             ( I )

            

He is better known as Hitler than by his name

A rigid strict taskmaster, he earned much fame;

He maintained time as precise as a clock

He is too bold and defiant as a solid rock

To keep his dignity, he did not smile

Dressed in brown coat with tie in style

Not a moment of leisure did he permit

He did not tolerate any humor or wit

He earned name as a man of merit and grit

A terror and terrific scourge he seemed to lazy staff;

He treated them with scorn as worthless chaff;

No pitiful excuses did he entertain

He spurned them away with royal disdain;

No political pressure made him yield

He ruled his domain like Achilles in the field;

Though he moved in career like a rolling stone

He never lost his mettle or felt helpless lone;                     

Well-versed in rules and procedures due

He bluntly refused any deviations new;

Ever dedicated to his office routine

He maintained his office tidy and clean;

                         ( I I )

In spite of his firm stringent attitude

At heart he is not so unkind and crude;

To save his staff he strove as far as he could

To set right their flaws by their side he stood

He never acted foul or hit below their belt

In his bosom a lot of concern for them he felt

He reprimanded them with stinging style

He curbed their greedy acts with suppressed smile

He estimated his office prestige and name with care

Negligence and laxity, he did not spare;

                     ( I I I )

Yet power like riches at one place will not stay

One has to vacate one’s chair on one day;

Same thing happened to our officer wise

He has to retire from his seat—no surprise;

And once he left his esteemed seat

None greeted him; none came to meet;

Like a fish out of water he felt alone

He felt neglected like a wayside stone;

And yet to get his post-service gains

The fruits of his long career he had to strain

From pillar to post he moved many a time

So many hurdles without reason or rhyme

Came in his way his patience to test;

No more is he the lord, but a casual guest;

A wandering ex-officer hanging around

No sympathy or support he has found;

Like an old king he felt his kingdom lost

A ranting Lear caught in the stormy blast;

The place where he did reign like a mighty king

Now he limps like a bird with broken wing;

No stringent command could he roar

None bowed before him and opened the door;

With a sense of shame and gloom and sweating brow

He waited long with dragging steps too slow;

No more his powers can he exercise

His present feeble state he did realize;

He can’t impose his rigid rules and laws

He had to bear with others’ whims and flaws;

He had to satisfy their wishes and needs;

Who would defend him and defy their lawless deeds?

He had to move alone to get his pending dues

He had to find a way through puzzling clues.

                  *********************

       15th March, 2021                 Somaseshu Gutala

 Ref : Achilles in the field - A brave Greek warrior in Trojan war.

 Ranting Lear --- A legendary British king who was cheated

 by his flattering daughters and lost his kingdom.

 

 

 

 

 

I AM HERE !

 

                                      

1)       When my journey seems too weary and long

When problems in plenty seem to throng

When future seems too misty and bleak

When I feel exhausted, vexed and weak

Thy voice whispers, “I am here, why fear?”

 

2)       When my path is not so clear and sure

When my thoughts seem too hazy and obscure

When life’s puzzles seem too complex to solve

When and what way to take I can’t resolve

Thy voice whispers,” I am here, why fear?”

 

3)       When doubts assail my feeble, wavering mind

When earnest help and support I fail to find

When hurdles rise in life’s uncertain way

When gleaming hopes appear too far and grey

Thy voice whispers, “I am here, why fear?

 

4)       When my distracting mind leads me astray

Yielding to selfish ego and passions’ sway

Going out of the way with notions false

A victim to every tempting chance

Thy voice whispers, “I am here, why fear?” 

 

5)       When dearest bonds of kinship are lost

When life’s vessel tosses in oceans vast

When relationships turn sour and loose

When I find my way too difficult to choose

Thy voice whispers,” I am here, why fear?”

 

6)        When loads of praises and insults I got

When swollen with pride Thy help I forgot

When with dismal despair my heart is fraught

When I faltered in brutal passions caught

Thy voice whispers, “I am here, why fear?”

 

7)         When I struggle to be free from worldly hold

 When I struggle with ailments as I grow old

 When I struggle to seek thy holy feet

 When I struggle to feel Thy mercy sweet

 Thy voice whispers, “I am here, why fear?”

 

     8)           Whatever we deserve you give indeed

       All lives Thy mighty powers feed and lead

       In our joys and woes, you alone never leave

      Though your omnipresence we can’t perceive

      Thy voice whispers, “I am here, why fear?”

             *************************

  2nd March, 2021                                     Somaseshu Gutala

 

 

Where are they now?

     

 

                                                      (  I  )

                    Where are they now? I mused in vain;

                    My friends with whom I talked so many days

                    With whom I chatted in a casual way

                    With whom I rocked with laughter at their teasing vibes

                    With whom I exchanged subtle witty words

                    With whom I shared my feelings though few

                    From whom I got help unsought in a friendly way

                    From whom I learnt much from their wisdom profound

                    From whom I got guidance and inspiring advice

                    Whose up rise made my heart rise with mirthful sprite

                    Whose soaring fame added wings to my humble flight;

                                             ( I I )

                 Where are they now? I mused in vain;

                 Some blew hot and cold to keep themselves safe

                 Some played double to get rid of their troubles

                 Some vanished too early like sinking stars

                 Though their witty remarks and laughs still ring

                 Within my bosom and in my dreamy world;

                                     ( I I I )

                Where are they now? I mused in vain

                Some stayed far away out of contact

                Some busy with their own personal affairs

                Some thought maybe not of much use

               To revive long lost relationships;

               Some chose paths different from my own ways

               Some quite forgot my name in their long list

               Of many chance acquaintances just like we meet

               During our trips to spend our idle hours;

               Like scattered leaves in a stormy gale

               Or people washed away in glacier burst at once

               In torrential floods of flowing time;

               Like a flight of birds they are no more seen;

              We are lost to one another or confined

              To our own daily routine and growing age:

              No more can we regain such dynamic touch

              To play brisk role in socializing ways; 

                                  ( I  V )

            Where are they now? I mused in vain;

            Their wise sayings and ideals still inspire

            Their benevolent and liberal views

            Still guide me through my life’s winding ways

            Their artistic and creative accomplishments

            Their sudden dramatic rise still shines like lofty stars

            Beyond my reach, gives me immense delight;

            All these memories gleam like distant flecks of light

            In my dreamy world back to those days again.

                         *********************

      19th February, 2021                                  Somaseshu Gutala

Hell And Heaven

                     

                         

1)        I found myself in the darkest hell

   Where brutal violence asserts its power supreme

   Where power and wealth wield their evil spell

   Where corruption reaches its level supreme

   No sense of morality there one can find

   Only crooked vile thoughts and acts unkind.

 

2)        Where innocents are victimized by might

    Where murders and rapes a common sight

    Where people struggle for bread day and night

    In cruel pastimes where people find delight

    Where vices rule people without any restraint

    Where deceit dons the mask of holy saint.

 

3)        Where suffering lot in silence remain

    Where none cares to assuage others in pain

    Where victims are treated with callous disdain

    Where none against injustice dares to complain

    Where weakest justice drags at slowest pace

    Where people’s woes are met with callous disgrace.

 

4)         Where power conspires with greed and narrow creeds

     Where nature is despoiled for selfish gains

     Where industries pollution rampant breed

     Where people struggle in slums with stress and strain

     Where cities grew like weeds with no control

     Encroaching every inch with no vision or goal.

 

5.)      Where women are tortured by drunken brutes

          Where poor persons are deprived of their rights

          Where tradition turns men blind and mute

          Where men by wayside spend miserable nights;

          Where wars are fought with devastation vast

          Where dire diseases rage and lives are lost.

 

6)         A glimpse of heaven I find in baby’s sleeping smiles 

    A glimpse of heaven in lover’s welcoming gaze

    A glimpse of heaven in shining sylvan isle  

    A glimpse of heaven in poet’s inspiring page;

    A glimpse of heaven in and God’s guiding grace

    A glimpse of heaven in dawn’s blooming rays.

 

7)        A glimpse of heaven in men that strive with zeal

    To comfort people in distress with selfless service

    A glimpse of heaven in mother’s affection I feel

    A glimpse of heaven in lakes, vales and trees

    A glimpse of heaven in farmers who work in farms

    A glimpse of heaven in soldiers' patriotic arms.

 

8)        Where people serve with love and liberal mind

    Where people move free with no sense of fear

    Where birds and beasts are cared with feelings kind

    Where lakes and rivers are made clean and crystal clear

    Where trees and plants are nourished with loving care.

    Where rulers strive selfless for social welfare.

 

9)         Where men live with no prejudice and pride

     With no barriers of sex, colour, creed and race

     Where morals are deemed as esteemed guide

     Where people live in peace, and not in crazy race

     Where people are not enslaved to lifeless tools

     Wasting their lives in idle pursuits like fools. 

 

10       Where due value is given to humanizing arts

     Where people waste not wealth and precious days

     Where people respect time-honoured rural crafts

     Where people choose to live in simple, natural days

     Where people try to live in harmonious state

      Without envy and mutual destructive hate.

 

11        Where religions teach universal love

     Where nations realize wars as waste and vile

     Where all live like multi-coloured rain-bow;

     Where all support victims and make them smile

     Where all prefer to live with contented glee

     Where all keep nature pure and pollution-free.

 

  12)    A glimpse of hell and heaven here we see

      In our own lives and world around  

      The pangs of violence, tensions and jealousy   

      Revenge, destruction and anger profound

      Far worse than hellish fires of mythical lore

      Pure love and mercy make us feel the heavenly core. 

               *************************

    8th February, 2021                     Somaseshu Gutala