Update on the Vishnu Sahasranama Portal work

Its been 15 days since the portal became available. Some updates to the website have been made.

A facility to read the stotra online in Kannada, English and Devanagiri
An amateur attempt at providing a Vishnu Sahasranama screensaver!
The English translation of the specific portion of the Mahabharata where the Vishnu Sahasranama appears

With regard to the development of the portal, we have decided to split up the work into four phases. In the first phase, we will just add the names and their meanings. About 400 names are complete so far.

In the second phase, we will add individual pages for each name. This will contain name, pronunciation aid, meaning and namavali but no detailed notes.

In the third phase, we will add detailed notes for each name, based on several references we are accumulating.

In the fourth phase, we will upload short audio clips which will help one learn pronunciation and namavali. For example, refer to pages corresponding to the first two names in the portal.

My friend Madhusimha has joined in this effort to build the portal. Thanks to him, I am hoping the portal will shape up much faster!

Musical Instruments of Tulu Nadu

Just like any other part of India, music is a very integral part of the culture of Tulu Nadu. The music of Tulu Nadu has its own stamp. In fact, the music of the entire Parashurama Kshetra (Kerala + Dakshina Kannada + Udupi) is unique. The main focus of the music here is on instruments, which form a core component in the temples here. The music is more rhythm and beat based, which has naturally led to the importance being given to instruments over vocals.

One can find a variety of musical instruments being used in Tulu Nadu. Be it temple festivals, Yakshagana, Bhoota Kola, Dakke Bali or Naga Mandala, the musical instruments play a vital role in the event. Chande, Maddale, Uduku, Vadya, Kolu and Dollu are some of the commonly used musical instruments found in Tulu Nadu.

Here is a collection of photos of some of the musical instruments of Tulu Nadu.

Chande

Sri Vadiraja Jayanthi

Today, Magha Masa – Shukla Paksha – Dwadashi, is the auspicious ocassion of Sri Vadiraja Jayanthi – the day when the great Dvaita saint was born. I have written a couple of times earlier about some of the great incidents associated with him so I won’t repeat the same again. He was a great saint, philosopher, poet, social reformer and administrator.

Sri Vadiraja Swamy performed the Paryaya at Udupi 5 times (the last time was through his Shishya – while he stayed back at Sode), changed the system of Paryaya from 2 months to 2 years, introduced the elaborate Paryaya festival ritual, introduced the chariot festivals at Udupi, mandated that Porridge and Rotti be offered as Naivedya to Lord Krishna at Udupi in recognition of the great Haridasa Sri Kanaka Dasa, included the Koteshwara Brahmins under the Madhva fold, established the Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Temple, and numerous other social activities and reforms.

On the literary front, Sri Vadiraja Swamy composed tens of works covering various fields such as philosophy, devotion and poetry. Here is a list of his works.

Vedantic works

Yukti Mallika – his magnum opus
Sri Mannyayasudhatippani Gurvarthadipika
Tattvaprakashatippani Gurvarthadipika
Adhikarana Namavali
Haribhaktilata
Ishavasyopanishadbhashya Tikatippani
Talavakaropanishadbhashya Tippani
Katakopanishadbhashya Tippani
Atharvanopanishadbhashya Tippani
Mandukyopanishadbhashya Tippani
Shatprashnopanishadbhashya Tippani
Taittariyopanishadbhashya Tippani
Upanyasa Mala
Vivaranavranam
Shrutitattva Prakashika
Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya Tippani
Theertha Prabandha
Nyayaratnavali
Pashandamata Khandana
Ekadashi Nirnaya
Kalpalata
Sarasa Bharati Vilasa
Bhugola Vivarana
Mahabharata Lakshalankara
Rukminisha Vijaya
Srimatsanutsu Jatiya Bhashya

Kannada works

Sri Manmahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya
Vaikunta Varnane
Gundakriye
Lakshmi Shobhane
Swapna Gadya
Kalki Suladi
Keechaka Vadhe
Sri Harisarvottama Sara
Bhramara Geethe
Numerous songs and poems

Stotras

Sri Srishagunadarpana Stotram
Vishnu Stuti
Haryashtakam
Shlokatraya Stotram
Durgastavam
Dashavatara Stotram
Ramesha Stuti
Krishna Stuti
Dashavatara Stuti
Apada Stotram
Hayagriva Sampada Stotram
Vyasa Stuti
Avatara Traya Stotram
Numerous other stotras

It is definitely our duty to remember this great Saint on the auspicious ocassion of his Jayanthi.

On this day, I am uploading the transliteration of the famous Sri Vadiraja Kavacha.

The stotra can be downloaded from the Mantras page as well.

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Kamadhenuryatha Purvam Sarvabheeshtaphalaprada |

Tathakalou Vadirajah Sripado Bheeshtadassatam ||

Vishnu Sahasranama Portal

Today is the auspicious day of Madhva Navami, the day when Sri Madhvacharya left Udupi for Badari in order to stay with, and serve, Sri Veda Vyasa. It is believed that he is in Badari even to this day. It is a very important festival for Madhvas and grand programs are held in Udupi, Pajaka and other places.

According to some sources, this day occurred in 1317 A.D. Others attribute it to Magha Masa – Shukla Paksha- Navami – Pingala Samvatsara. This occurs on Sunday, January 19, 1318 A.D (and not 1317). In either case, it has been nearly 700 years now since Sri Madhvacharya proceeded to Badari.

On this auspicious ocassion, I am happy to let people know of a small project that I have undertaken during the past two months. It has been a while since I have been dreaming of building a comprehensive portal on Vishnu Sahasra Nama – the thousand glorious names of Lord Vishnu. Finally, I was able to get started with the work and the result is

http://vishnusahasranama.wordpress.com/

The goal of this portal is to build a comprehensive site on the great Stotra. It will have a separate page (and possibly more than one page) for each of the thousand names. In addition, it will have various resources connected with the stotra such as downloadable texts, audio files and so on. The portal will also give the meanings of the various names. The eventual aim is to provide multiple meanings to each of the names, as explained by the various Acharyas. In fact, Sri Madhvacharya has made it clear that there at the least, 100 meanings for every single name in the Vishnu Sahasranama!

I have managed to complete the pages for the first 100 names and thought it would be a good enough milestone to let people know. I have also put together some “meta data” pages which explain the idea behind the project, the to-do list items, pointers to resources on the net, some guides and so on. There is also a “random post” link on the portal. Clicking this will take you to a random page on the portal. I think this is a very good way of reading about a particular name – whenever one has time. “One Nama a day – keeps all evil away” 🙂

Please go through the portal and let me know your feedback and suggestions. Since the work is very much in initial stages, it becomes easy to incorporate feedback and implement the same for all pages.

Best wishes to all on Madhva Navami.

|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||