Wednesday 4 April 2007

Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya

At the last kirtan we chanted an ancient and famous mantra: om namo bhagavate vasudevaya.

One interesting story in relation to this mantra is found in the Bhagavat Purana (also known as the Shrimad Bhagavatam). Once upon a time, Druva Maharaja, a young prince of five years, got so hurt and angry that he left his father's palace to seek God. He had heard that whatever he desired could be fulfilled by worshipping God in the forest. As he went away he met a sage, Narada Muni, who instructed him in the process of meditation, giving him the mantra: om namo bhagavate vasudevaya.

After several months of practice, Druva stood steadily on only one leg during his meditation. He then finally captured the Supreme within his heart, who then revealed himself in full.

He had gone to meditate in the forest to get an even greater kingdom than his father, but realised he had received the greatest of all gifts: 'I was searching after a piece of glass, but instead I have found a most valuable jewel. Therefore I am so satisfied that I do not wish to ask any benediction from You.’

At the last kirtan, we did not stand on one leg (promise!), but we did chant this mantra. One way of approaching this chant is by viewing it as way of acknowledging a power greater than us. This simple act of acknowledgement can be a great relief, for it allows us to let go a bit of our tendency to control. This will further help us feel at peace with ourselves.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

thank you for wonderful info on kirtan. keep it up.

Kirtaniya said...

Thank you!

Liv said...

Magnificent. I am in the process of doing a post that loosely relates to this with a backlink to you. I hope you don't mind!

namaste, liv

Kirtaniya said...

Thank you! I'm glad you like it. Yes, of course, just go ahead. Link away.

Namaste

Anonymous said...

hi there kitanyia i am contacting you with regards to the kirtan in oxford i am keen to join in with my energy as a tabla player been playing for 5 yrs now and have expierience in western and eastern kirtan past chants k das, peru, and a few other chant groups please email me andytabla@hotmail.co.uk or call me 07899 783124 OM & BLESSINGS ANDY

Kirtaniya said...

Hi Andy! I'm happy that you'll join us all (with your tablas) for our next kirtan. Looking forward to meeting up with you.

Hari Om

katiesilcox said...

Hello, just a yogini passerby researching this rad mantra. This version you guys created is amazing! Any chance I could get an email with a copy of the mp3. Would love to use it! I would be more than happy to exchange it for another great version of the mantra which I have. jesseespain@yahoo.com

Best,
Katie

Kirtaniya said...

Hi Katie,

Thank you passing by and for your kind words. You can of course have the kirtan and the easiest way is to download it directly from our podcast: http://podserve.biggu.com/podcasts/show/kirtans

You'll find other ones there too.

I'd love to have your version and I'll send you my email address. Thanks.

Best,
Meru

Shrey said...

JAI SHRI KRISHNA , THIS ASHTKRA MANTRA WAS INOVATED BY SHRI MAHAPRABHUJI , SHRI MAHAPRABHUJI HAVE DIRCET CONTACT WITH SHRI KRISHNA IN SWROOP OF LORD SHREENATHJI. WHEN YOU CHANT "SHRI KRISHNA SHARNANAM MAM" ALL THE EIGHT WORDS OF THIS MANTRA TAKE A SWROOPP OF DEVOTEE BY JONIG HAND AND GO BRFORE SHREEJI AND SAY THAT PRABHU YOUR THIS BHAKTA REMEMBERS YOU . LIKE YOU CHANT THSI MANTRA FOR 108 TIMES TOTAL 864 SHOW WILL YOUR WORSHIP TO SHREE TAHKURJI... SO CHAT WITH MUCH MORE DEVOTION

MAY LORD SHREENATHJI BLESS ALL

pls visit my blog
http://shreenathjibava.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Hi,
The version of story about Dhruva I have heard goes like this:

Dhruva was hurt by the his attitude of his step-mother who did not allow any affection to be shown by his father towards him. His own mother advised him to pray to Vishnu "the savior".

Link: http://members.rediff.com/saivani/Dhruva.htm

Jennifer said...

Beautiful posting with great feeling and sentiment

Blessings
Jennifer

pravin kumar said...

great article