Sunday, August 30, 2009

92000 Blogs at Flickr

Thanks to Each One and All ..

Firoze Shakir
Photographerno1

My Collections at Flickr as on 30 Aug 2009



Maryamma Feast 6 sets


Firoze Shakir Family 14 sets


Firoze Shakir Poet 5 sets


Christian Ethos 12 sets


Best Of Firoze Shakir 90 sets


Hope and Hindutva 67 sets


Sufism Dargahs Rafaees Ajmer 24 sets


Shiasm in India 83 sets



Ganesh Festival in India 29 sets


Eunuch trans gender Hijdas Gay Parade 10 sets

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Lord Ganesha at Shaheen Building Bandra

The formal inauguration will be tomorrow..and in a few hours I begin my first fast of the Holy month of Ramadhan..dogs are barking outside awaiting the Awakeners who will come to wake you up for the fast with sing song words..

Tomorrow the loudspeakers will begin in hymns to Lord Ganesha..

Ganesh Chaturthi
Main article: Ganesh Chaturthi


An annual festival honours Ganesha for ten days, starting on Ganesh Chaturthi, which typically falls in late August or early September.[129] The festival culminates on the day of Ananta Chaturdashi, when images (murtis) of Ganesha are immersed in the most convenient body of water.[130] In 1893, Lokmanya Tilak transformed this annual Ganesha festival from private family celebrations into a grand public event.[131] He did so "to bridge the gap between the Brahmins and the non-Brahmins and find an appropriate context in which to build a new grassroots unity between them" in his nationalistic strivings against the British in Maharashtra.[132] Because of Ganesha's wide appeal as "the god for Everyman", Tilak chose him as a rallying point for Indian protest against British rule.[133] Tilak was the first to install large public images of Ganesha in pavilions, and he established the practice of submerging all the public images on the tenth day.[134] Today, Hindus across India celebrate the Ganapati festival with great fervour, though it is most popular in the state of Maharashtra.[135][136] The festival also assumes huge proportions in Mumbai and in the surrounding belt of Ashtavinayaka temples.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha

Ganesh Mantras

www.ganesh.us/mantara/lord-ganesh-mantra.html

Ganesha mantras are siddhi mantras . Each mantra contains certain specific powers of Lord Ganesha. When chanted with the proper pranayama (rhythmic breathing) and sincere devotion, they will yield good results. In general, Ganesha mantras will ward off all evil and bless the devotee with abundance, prudence and success. Evil spirits dare not enter the home or the mind of the devotee where Ganesha mantras are recited. Those so mystically inclined and knowledgeable of the seven chakras below the muladhara use these powerful incantantions under the direction of the guru to close off these regions of the mind one by one and free consciousness from deep depression, confusion, jealousy, rage, lingering anger and fear. Some such mantras are given below for the spiritual benefit of the readers.


Important Note :
One more point to remember is that one should bathe or wash the limbs before sitting for repetition of the mantra. Also, one should do three or more pranayama before beginning the mantra. The minimum repetition of the mantra should be one full mala, or 108 times. When this is done at a fixed hour and place regularly for 48 days, it becomes an upasana, which means intense meditation, that will yield siddhis, or spiritual powers. Another warning to bear in mind is that one should use those powers only for healing the sick and other such selfless actions for the benefit of mankind. These powers should not be misused. Misuse of power may bring the curse of the asuras.



(1)

One always starts any prayer, ritual and/or occasion by worshipping our Beloved Elephant God. One of the famous mantras dedicated to Ganpati follows:

"Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Suryakotee Sama Prabha
Nirvighnam kuru mey Deva, Sarva kaaryeshu Sarvadaa"

Vakratunda


curved trunk

Mahakaaya


large bodied

Surya kotee


million suns

Sama Prabha


with the brilliance of

Nirvighnam


free of obstacles

Kuru


make

mey


my

Deva


Lord

Sarva Kaaryeshu


in all work

Sarvada


always

O Lord Ganesha of Large body, curved trunk, with the brilliance of a million suns, please make all my work free of obstacles, always.

(2)
"Aum gam ganapataye namah"

This is a mantra from Ganapati Upanishad. One may always use it before beginning a journey, a new course in school, new career or job, or before entering into any new contract or business so that impediments are removed and your endeavor may be crowned with success.

(3)
Aum shri ganeshaya namah

This mantra is usually taught to children for their good education. It increases their memory power, and they become successful in their examinations. Of course, people of any age may use this mantra when taking courses in a school or university, and for success in attaining their degree.

(4)
Aum vakratundaya hum

This is a very powerful mantra, as discussed in the Ganesha Purana. When something is not working properly, individually or universally, nationally or internationally, or when the minds of the people turn crooked, negative, depressed or discouraged, the attention of Ganesha may be drawn by this mantra to straighten their ways. The HUM symbolizes "Delay no more, my Lord, in straightening the paths of the crooked-minded ones." This mantra is used many times in the Ganesha Purana to curb the atrocities of cruel demons. In addition, this mantra could also be used for healing any spinal deficiency, such as curvature of the spine or curved limbs. Dedicate 1,008 repetitions of this holy word to straighten and heal such deficiencies.

(5)
Aum kshipra prasadaya namah

Kshipra means instantaneous. If some danger or negative energy is coming your way and you don't know how to get rid of that trouble, with true devotion, practice this mantra for quick blessing and purification of one's aura.

(6)
Aum shrim hrim klim glaum gam
ganapataye vara varada sarva
janamme vashamanaya svaha

There are several bija (seed) mantras in this mantra . Among other things, it signals, "Shower Your blessings, O Lord. I offer my ego as an oblation."

(7)
Aum sumukhaya namah

This mantra has a lot of meaning, but to make it simple, it means you will be always very beautiful in soul, in spirit, in face, everything. By meditating on this mantra, very pleasing manners and a beauty comes on you. Along with that comes peace, which constantly dances in your eyes; and the words you speak are all filled with that power of love.

(8)
Aum ekadantaya namah

Ekadanta refers to one tusk in the elephant face, which means God broke the duality and made you to have a one-pointed mind. Whoever has that oneness of mind and single-minded devotion will achieve everything.

(9)
Aum kapilaya namah

Kapila (red) means that you are able to give color therapy. You are able to create colors around yourself and around others, bathe them in that color and heal them. As per the mantra you create, so will you create the colors. Another meaning is "wish cow," the "cow of plenty." It means that whatever you wish, that comes true. There is a wish-cow inside you. Whatever you wish, especially for healing others, comes true immediately.

(10)
Aum gajakarnikaya namah

The ears of Ganesha, the elephant, are constant fanning, which means people may talk a lot, but you are not receiving inside anything other than that which is important. It also means that you can sit anywhere and tune this cosmic television (the body) with seven channels (chakras) and all 72,000 nadis, to any loka and be able to hear ancestors, angels, the voice of God or the voice of prophets. That kind of inner ear you will develop through this mantra.

(11)
Aum lambodaraya namah

This means you feel that you are this universe. It means that all the universes are within you. Like an entire tree is in the seed, the whole universe is in the sound of creation, which is Aum, and that Aum consciousness in you makes you feel that you are the universe. Therefore, if you say, realizing the oneness with the universe, "shanti to the world" every day, then the grace of God will come and there will be world peace, universal peace. It is the universes within Aum and Aum within you.

(12)
Aum vikataya namah

This means realizing this world as a dream or a drama. When you are in that high consciousness, this whole world looks like a dream. All of us have taken a role. We have to play our role in life as wife or husband or children or citizens, all consistent with the role we have taken. When an actor bitten by a sponge cobra that is brought on the stage falls, the entire audience cries; but that boy who has fallen knows it was not a real cobra and he is not dead. Life is a drama -- definitely life in this material world, this physical world of ego, is a drama. But inside, like the boy on the stage who is quite happy knowing that he didn't die by the bite of the sponge cobra, like that, the truth never dies in us; it is immortal. So everything else you consider as drama. That consciousness comes to you by knowing this mantra.

(13)
Aum vighna nashanaya namah

This mantra invokes the Lord Ganesha to remove every impediment in your life and in your works. By constant meditation on this mantra, all obstacles and blocked energy in your physical and astral bodies are released.

(14)
Aum vinayakaya namah

Vinayaka is the name of Ganesha in the golden age. So by realizing this mantra, your life will have a golden age. In your office, in your work, you'll be the boss. Vinayaka means something under control. Vinayaka means the Lord of problems.

(15)
Aum ganadhyakshaya namah

This mantra is so important. Suppose you have a group, a country, neighbors, or any kind of group therapy, group healing or a whole country needing healing, then you have to bring that entire group to your mind's arena and say this mantra. A group healing takes place by this mantra.

(16)
Aum bhalachandraya namah

In Sanskrit, bhala means the forehead center. Chandra means the crescent moon. Bhalachandra means that chakra from where the nectar drips. That is the secret of all healing. It is to feel yourself as Siva, identifying yourself with the Truth and feeling constantly that you are carrying the crescent moon, the symbol of growth and nectar and peace.



(17)
Gaṇeśadhyānam

I bow to Gajānana, Whose lotus-feet destroy the obstacles, Who is served by the Gaṇa of Śiva, Who eats delicious rose-apple and mangoes, Who is the son of Umā (Pārvatī), and Who is the destroyer of grief and obstacles.||1||

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

II हनुमान मंत्र II

photo courtesy
www.flickr.com/photos/shankargallery/3781675498/

Photography & Art by Richard Lazzara, shankargallery,
Boulder, CO. USA.
Art for the Soul

86,891 items / 525,741 views


"Maarutatulyavegam Jitendriyam
Buddhimataam Varistham,
Vaataatmajam Vaanarayoothmukhyam
Sriramdootam Saranam Prapadhye"

Meaning: Lord Hanuman is the messenger of Lord Rama. His pace is as rapid as the wind and as quick as the mind. Hanuman has constrained his sense organs. He is the most intelligent among the intelligent ones. Hanuman is the son of Vayu (Pawan) and the chief of the monkey tribe. We surrender ourselves to Lord Hanuman

ripping open his chest
he showed
divinity
in his breast
a slave of god
the very best
Lord Hanuman
loved in the east and the west
he welcomes all to his nest
friends relatives and guest
those that have lost hope
completely depressed
those over stressed
under his shadow recover
get back their life and zest
his mantra his chant
you are blessed
close your eyes for a moment
from hope to humanity
peace love and harmony
your soul has progressed
humility tolerance
you have passed the ultimate test


dedicated to Richard Lazarra ..my very good friend and guide..

12 August 2009 6.54 am

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Ganesha Workshops Ganesh Gully Lalbagh 2009

I start a new series at Flickr as tribute to Hoipe and Hindutva a message of global peace beyond frontiers of the mind and its timelessness.

I took a bus from Bandra and came to Ganesh Gully Lalbagh where the Ganeshas are spiritually created by artisans - call it the magic hands of Faith..

Out of clay they create Divinity..that touches thousands of people during the Ganesha Chaturthi festival.

I have shot the workshops only to show the Western mind the power of Faith , clay molded by human clay, bringing forth Lord Ganesha.

The Ganeshas are later decorated by the pandal owners or devotees.

I show you Ganesha as a form as a sculptors spiritual dream , a poet shooting poetry created by poets.

I was barefeet and from the workshops I walked to Prabhadevi to attend the Loculus 2009 photo exhibition put up by Girish Mistry's students ..

I could not meet Mr Rawle the sculptor at his workshop at Ganesh Gully but I met the famous sculptor Khatu Bhai.


These are pictures in total raw form, so see them as sculptures but dont take the divinity await from a subject that I shoot with passion and devotion of my cultural inheritance,.

A Muslim shooting the aura of Hinduism, and Lord Ganesha as one of the most precious jewel in its crowns..


Om Gum Ganapataye Namo Namaha.

Shri Siddhivinayaka Namo Namaha.

Ashtavinayaka Namo Namaha.

Ganapati Bappa Moraya.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Lord Hanuman

dedicated to a lover of hanuman randall der joel

www.eaglespace.com/spirit/hanuman.php


Lord Hanuman or Hanumanji (हनुमान जी) is known by many names as Anjaneya, Anjani Putra, Bajarangabali, Hanuman, Mahaveer, Maruti, Pavanputra etc. Hanuman, the monkey god, is the son of Vayu or Marut, the wind god. Hanuman's mother is Anjani. Hanuman was the chief of the armies of Sri Ramachandra and took a prominent part in the war against Ravana, the king of Lanka, in the Indian epic poem Ramayana. Hanuman helped restore Sri Sitadevi back to Sri Rama.

Hanuman, worshipped for his strength, valor, agility, is a man of great learning. He is considered to be an avatar (incarnation) of Lord Shiva. Hanuman, a great devotee of Sri Rama, is the symbol of devotion and dedication. Hanuman carried Sri Rama and Lakshmana on his shoulder when they were in search of Sugreeva, the king of Vanarav in Kishkindha and helped them to find Sita. Prior to the war between Sri Rama and Ravana, Anjaneya visited Lanka, met Ravana, created havoc and burnt down the city of Lanka (Lanka Dahan). During the war, when Lakshmana was injured seriously, Sushena, the surgeon/physician of the monkey army, despatched Maruti to bring herbal medicine, Jadi Buti, from the far-off Sanjeevini mountain in the Himalayas, before sunrise. Flying over the Himalayas and unable to identify the particular herb fast, Hanuman uprooted and carried the entire Sanjivini mountain in time to save the life of Lakshmana. Hanuman was blessed by Sri Rama with immortality (chiranjeevi).

Hanuman was a bachelor and is worshipped in all the temples of India. Every temple of Sri Rama contains an icon of Hanuman. Worship of Sri Rama is complete only with the worship of Hanuman. Sant Tulsidas composed the 40 stanzas of Hanuman Chalisa in praise of Hanuman. Hanuman Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman. One cannot understand Hindu Dharma unless one knows Hanuman - the embodiment of servitude.


ॐ अईम भ्रीम हनुमते, श्री राम दूताय नम:
Aum aeem bhreem hanumate, shree ram dootaaya namaha.
We pray to the Lord Hanuman, who is the greatest server and messenger of the Lord incarnate, Shree Rama.
Chant the prayer for Lord Hanuman हनुमान मंत्र (mp3 170K)
hanuman mantra in sanskrit
hanuman mantra in sanskrit
मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगम् जितेन्द्रियं बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठम् ।
वातात्मजं वानरयूथमुख्यं श्रीरामदूतं शरणं प्रपद्ये ।।
Manojavam maruta tulya vegam, jitendriyam buddhi mataam varishtham
vaataatmajam vaanara yooth mukhyam, shree raama dootam sharnam prapadye.
Let me pray to the one who is swift as thought (manojavam-), the one who is more powerful than the wind (marut.tulya.vegam-), the one who has conquered his senses (jitendriyam-), the one who is supreme among all intelligent beings, the son of the wind-god (vaataatmajam-), the commander of the army of forest creatures (vaanar.yooth.mukhyam-), Let me find refuge in Lord Rama's Messenger, the incomparable Lord Hanuman. Please accept me and my prayers at your feet.
Listen to another Invocation of Lord Hanuman (mp3 204K)
hanuman doha in sanskrit
hanuman doha in sanskrit
लाल देह लालीलसे, अरुधरिलाल लँगूर ।
बज्र देह दानव दलण, जय जय जय कपिसूर ।।
Laal deha laaleel-se, arudhari-laal langoor
vajra deha daanava dalan, jai jai jai kapi-soor
We pray to the red-colored one, whose entire body is red, and who is decorated with red colored sindoor. We pray to the one draped with a red colored loin-cloth. We pray to the one whose body is firm and strong like the vajra (Lord Indra's weapon). We pray to the destroyer of demons. We bow in praise again and again to the supreme among Gods, Lord Hanuman.

अाञ्जणेय गायत्री
Lord Hanuman Gayatri

ॐ अाञ्जणेयाय विद्महे वायुपुत्राय धीमहि ।
तन्नो हनुमत् प्रचोदयात् ।।
hanuman gayatri in sanskrit

AUM aanjaneyaaya vid-mahe vaayu-putraayaya dheemahi
tanno hanumatah prachodayaat

We pray to the son of Goddess Anjani and the son of the "Wind"...
May Lord Hanuman lead our intellect towards intelligence and "knowing".

We now present three different mantras or prayers of Lord Hanuman.