Rituals and Customs of Janmashtami

Janmashtami festival witnesses many interesting customs and rituals in various states and cities of India. While some rituals are common to all, others are unique and restricted to a particular region or city. These customs and rituals are followed religiously by all the Lord Krishna devotees year after year.

Rituals and Customs Observed during Janmashtami

Fasting: The most common ritual observed all over during Janmashtami is fasting by devotees on the day of the festival. Devotees fast for the entire day and break it after the birth of Lord Krishna at midnight. People prefer to have only milk and milk products as they were the favourite of Lord Krishna. Some devotees of Lord Krishna go to the extent of keeping 'Nirjal' fast- It involves fasting without having a single drop of water. There are other ardent followers , who keep the fast for two days in the honour of Lord Krishna.

Chanting: Devotees indulge in continuous chanting all day long. They chant mantras and shlokas to please the lord. Religious atmosphere prevails everywhere. Devotees highlight his feats and his divine characteristics. Chanting of 108 names of Lord Krishna is another ritual that takes place in various temples. Chanting of names is accompanied by showering of flowers on the idol of Lord Krishna.

Devotional Songs and dances

Another popular ritual is singing of songs (bhajans) in the praise of Lord Krishna. Bhajans are an important custom of the midnight celebration during the festival. Dances are also performed by devotees depicting the various events of Lord Krishna.

Staging of Plays or Dramas of Lord Krishna

Plays depicting various events and accomplishments of Lord Krishna during his lifetime is another important custom during the festival. Both professional artists as well as amateurs stage plays at various places that are widely attended by devotees.

Preparation of Sweets

According to legend, Lord Krishna was very fond of milk and milk products like butter and buttermilk. He was also fond of Sweets like Kheer, Pedhas etc. Therefore devotees all over make sweets during the festival to please the Lord.

Rituals in South India during Janmashtami

The houses in South India are beautifully decorated by women on Janmashtami. Various sweet meals are prepared and offered to the Lord. Butter, one of the favourite dishes of Lord Krishna is offered to please him in almost every house. The entire house right from the door to the temple is marked with the footprints of a child. Mixture of water and flour is used to make footprints. This custom creates a feeling of joy among the people as they feel Lord himself has blessed them by entering their homes. The day is marked with the ritual of chanting of the holy Bhagavatam, accompanied by singing of devotional songs and dances.

Ritual in Gujarat

Gujarat witnesses a very peculiar as well as an interesting ritual by the womenfolk during Janmashtami. Women give up all the household chores like cooking and cleaning etc. to play cards. This is an age old tradition. Women doing mind placing bets during the card session. The exact history of this peculiar tradition during Janmashtami is unknown but according to sociologists, this custom may have begun as a pass-time for women in the joint family system. Fasting all day long, the women played cards to kill time as well as keep them awake the entire night. It is said that women eat cold food prepared two days in advance.

Legend of Putana The legend Of Janmashtami- Birth of Bhagwan Krishna, has it that Lord Vishnu took birth as a human to annihilate demons and rid Mother Earth of their monstrosity. Reliable Aide of King Kansa A heavenly prediction forewarned King Kansa that the eighth child of his sister Devki will be responsible for his death. So he decided to get rid of the child and entrusted the work to one of his reliable aides, Putana- A Demoness. Demoness Disguised as Human As per the instructions of King Kansa, Demoness Putana disguised herself as a beautiful woman. Having applied poison on her chest she went from house to house in various towns and villages, feeding all the one day old male infants and killing them. Suckling Life of The Demoness Demoness Putana entered the house of Baba Nand and saw the divine child,lying in the cradle. She took the child outside and started to feed him in the vain hope of killing him. Lord Krishna sucked her Breast embalmed with poison. Putana was happy the child was sucking poison and will die soon; little did she realise that God was sucking her life. The Lord, pressed her breasts with his hands and sucked her last breath. The demoness shrieked in pain,met her fate with her eyes popping out simultaneously.

Legend of King Kansa

Kansa was the king of Mathura city and maternal uncle of Sri Krishna. According to legend, Janmashtami is celebrated as the birth of Bhagwan Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu to slay the cruel king . Kansa was a self-proclaimed King of the city of Mathura (A City in Northern India). He overthrew his father, King Ugrasen and forcefully became the king. He was very wicked and evil in thinking. His subjects feared him, the cowherds of not only Mathura but also other neighbouring villages like Gokul, Barsana, Nandgaon were the victims of his wickedness. They had no option but to surrender to his tyrannical ways.

Army of Demons
King Kansa had an army of demons who helped him spread fear and accomplish his evil tasks. Putana, Bakasura, Aghasura were his close aides.

Loving Brother
Kansa loved his younger sister Devki and fulfilled all her wishes. He married her to Vasudev, one of his cousins and a high-ranking officer in the army with great pomp and show. However, during the wedding ceremony of his sister, Devki, the love for his sister turned to hatred when a heavenly prediction warned him, that the eighth child of Devki will be the annihilator Of Kansa. On being assured of getting all the new born children of Devki and Vasudev, Kansa decided to imprison them under close supervision and let them live.

Killing of Infants
Kansa managed to kill all the new born of his sister Devki and brother-In-Law, Vasudev. His elder brother Balram, seventh child of the couple, was saved by being transferred to Rohini's womb. Similarly Lord Krishna, the eighth child, born to kill evil Kansa was saved after being miraculously shifted to Gokul on the night of his birth and replaced with a female child. However, Kansa got to know that his destroyer had been born and was being brought up by an unknown family in a neighboring village.

Ongoing Efforts to Kill the Child
Soon, after getting to know that the eighth child of his sister was born and safely growing in another village, Kansa ordered his soldiers to kill all the one-day old male infants in and around Mathura. He made quite a few unsuccessful attempts to kill the child.

Episode of Putana-The Demoness
King Kansa, sent one of his reliable servants to kill on the infants in the village by feeding them poisonous milk. She killed many infants but in the end she was killed by baby Krishna who sucked her life while being fed poisonous milk.

Killing of Demon Trinivarta
On hearing the death of Putana, King Kansa, sent his another servant- demon Trinivarta to kill Sri Krishna. Trinivarta took the form of a whirlwind, and carried the young Krishna away with itself, in the hope of throwing him away. Lord Krishna increased his weight which made the demon unable to move any further. After some time, the weight of Lord Krishna became too heavy for the demon to handle, so he fell on Ground and died.

End of Bakasura
At the instigation of Kansa, his friend Bakasura, changed his form to that of a crane,and went to kill Young Krishna, He hit him with his beak but Lord caught hold of his beak and tore it apart, killing him instantly.

Slaying of King Kansa
King Kansa, tired of the killing of all his servants, invited both his nephews, Balram and Krishna for a wrestling match in Mathura. He made use of elephant Kuvalyapeeda to kill Krishna at the entrance of the arena, Krishna killed him followed by killings of Charuna and Toshalaka- chosen atheletes of Kansa. Krishna went to Kansa, took him by hair and threw him on the ground; finally killing him. The slaying Of Kansa ended his tyrannical rule and people rejoiced and celebrated his death.

Legend of Janmashtami

Janmashtami, one of the most popular festivals of Hindus celebrates the birth of their beloved God, Sri Krishna. Detailed story of Janmashtami or Lord Krishna's birth has been narrated in Puranas. Please read on to know more about the various fascinating aspects of the legend of Janmashtami as stated in Puranas.

Mathura, a prominent town of Northern India and the birth city of Sri Krishna was ruled by King Ugrasen, a Yaduvanshi ( Belonging to the Community of Yadavs). He was a great king loved by his subjects. He had two children, a son Kansa and a daughter Devki. Kansa was quite cruel by nature, his wickedness knew no bounds when he jailed his father and forcefully became the king of Mathura.

Love for sister Devki and Brother in law Vasudev
Though Kansa was hard hearted but he loved his sister immensely and married her off to Vasudev, one the high ranking officers in his army. However on the day of wedding, as a result of a heavenly prediction that Devki’s eighth child will be born to kill him, Kansa decided to kill his sister. On Vasudev's pleading, he put both of them in dungeons and let them live but with a promise that they will handover all their children to Kansa, only to be killed by him.

Birth of Balram
Kansa succeeded in killing all the six new born babies of Devki and Vasudev, however the seventh child was saved by divine intervention as the child was transferred from Devki’s womb to that of Rohini's, Vasudev's other wife. Thus Balram, the elder brother of Krishna was born but Kansa thought that Devki had a miscarriage.

Birth of Krishna
The birth of the eighth child of Devki, Lord Krishna was followed by a chain of dramatic events. Soon after the birth of the child, as if by a sheer miracle, all the soldiers guarding the couple fell asleep and the gates of the dungeon flew open themselves. Vasudev decided to smuggle the child safely in a basket to his friend Nand in Gokul. Since it was raining heavily, River Yamuna was all swollen and Vasudev feared that both he as well as his child will drown if he tried to cross it, however, as soon as the feet of the infant touched the river, the flow of water became normal and Vasudev was able to cross it easily. Sheshnag, the five headed serpent of Lord Vishnu protected the child with its fangs. Vasudev knew that his was not an ordinary child but a divine being. After handing his child, to his dear friend, Nand, Vasudev returned back safely with a girl child and no one got to know about it.

Yogmaya’s prediction
On hearing the news of the eighth born child, Kansa rushed to kill the girl. He paid no heed to Devki’s plead of sparing the girl. He held the child by her legs and just as he was about to bang her against the wall, the girl vanished into thin air and told Kansa that his slayer had been born and was safe in Gokul. The girl child was none other than Yogmaya (divine illusion). The eighth child grew up as Yashoda and Nand’s son in Gokul and later killed his maternal uncle Kansa, freeing all the people of Mathura from his tyranny.

Birth of Lord Krishna

Janmashtami is celebrated to welcome and enjoy Lord Krishna's birth. The birth of Lord Krishna took place when the various planets were in auspicious places. It is said that God chooses a particular time, as to when he will take birth as a human and the planetary systems are adjusted accordingly.

Auspicious Nakshatra (Constellation)
Around the time of Bhagwan Krishna's birth, Rohini Nakshatra was predominant as it is considered to be quite auspicious. This is so because it is under the supervision of Brahma, the creator of Universe. Sri Krishna was born in the month Of Sravana more than 5000 years ago.

Born in Dwapur Yug (Iron Age)
According to some scholars, Krishna was born on Wednesday,the eighth day of second fortnight in Sravana month in the year of Visvavasu around 3227 BC, also known as Dwapur Yug. July 19th 3228 BC to be more accurate. He lived for 125 years and disappeared on February 18th 3102 BC on the new moon night of Phalguna. His death was the onset of the current corrupt age known as Kaliyug.

Universal Happiness of all Forms of Life
From the time, Devki conceived Sri Krishna, she began to glow and exude divine light. The prison walls glowed with the aura of the new born infant. Atmosphere of peace and happiness prevailed all over, Forests were all green and full of trees with all kinds of beautiful flowers, rivers were all swollen due to joy, peacocks began to dance in sheer joy, people in all villages started being happy.

Objective of Krishna's Birth
The main objective of Lord Krishna's birth was to free Mother Earth from the wickedness of demons. Playing an important part in Mahabharata (legendary battle in Kurukshetra) and propagating the theory of bhakti and good karma were other important objectives.

Events Before The Birth of Sri Krishna
The people of Mathura were extremely unhappy with the wicked king Kansa who put his father, king Ugrasen in prison and declared himself the king of Mathura. It was to put an end to his evil ways and other demons that Lord Vishnu decided to take birth on Earth in human form. According to Akashvani (heavenly voice) at the wedding of his beloved sister Devki, Kansa got to know that the eighth child of his sister will take birth to kill him. So, in turn he rushed to kill his sister. Kansa gave up the idea of killing after being assured by Vasudev that he will handover all his children to him. He put them in Prison. Kansa killed all the six infants as soon as they were born. The seventh child (Balram) was saved due to divine intervention, when he was transferred from Devki's womb to that of Rohini's (other wife of Vasudev).

Events During the Birth of Lord Krishna
Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell in the captivity of King Kansa. He took birth in divine form with lotus like eyes,his palms bearing the signs of a lotus and discus. He had a swastika sign on his sole. Wearing a yellow colored silk cloth, adorned with precious diamond earrings and a crown made of emeralds. Soon after the birth, a chain of events astonished Vasudev,when he saw the gates of the cell flow open and all the guards fast asleep. He immediately thought of Nand ,his close friend in Gokul and decided to handover his child to him in order to save him from the clutch of Kansa.

River Yamuna Bows To The Feet of Sri Krishna
The night of birth was witnessed by heavy rains which led to River Yamuna being in floods. As soon as the feet of Lord immersed in the river, the flow became normal and Yamuna made way for the Lord. Sheshnag, the serpent formed an umbrella to save the new born baby from rain.

Exchange of the Babies
Vasudev kept his child next to fast asleep Yashoda and took the baby girl lying with him back to Mathura. The baby girl is believed to be the sister of Lord Vishnu.

Disappearance of The Divine Child
On hearing the news of birth of the eighth child of Devki and Vasudev, Kansa rushed to the prison-cell and lifted the baby girl to kill her despite pleadings from Devki. However, instead of hitting the stone, the child flew up in the air and announced that the annihilator of Kansa was born and in safe hands.

Krishna later grew in Gokul and finally killed his maternal uncle, King Kansa.

it Srivastava

1) vishvam: He who is the universe, the virat-purusha
2) vishnuh: He who pervades everywhere
3) vashatkaarah: He who is invoked for oblations
4) bhoota-bhavya-bhavat-prabhuh: The Lord of past, present and future
5) bhoota-krit: The creator of all creatures
6) bhoota-bhrit: He who nourishes all creatures
7) bhaavo: He w...ho becomes all moving and nonmoving things
8) bhootaatmaa: The aatman of all beings
9) bhoota-bhaavanah: The cause of the growth and birth of all creatures
10) pootaatmaa: He with an extremely pure essence
11) paramaatmaa: The Supersoul
12) muktaanaam paramaa gatih: The final goal, reached by liberated souls
13) avyayah: Without destruction
14) purushah: He who dwells in the city of nine gates
15) saakshee: The witness
16) kshetrajnah: The knower of the field
17) akshara: Indestructible
18) yogah: He who is realized through yoga
19) yoga-vidaam netaa: The guide of those who know yoga
20) pradhaana-purusheshvarah: Lord of pradhaana and purusha
21) naarasimha-vapuh: He whose form is man-lion
22) shreemaan: He who is always with shree
23) keshavah: He who has beautiful locks of hair
24) purushottamah: The Supreme Controller
25) sarvah: He who is everything
26) sharvas: The auspicious
27) shivah: He who is eternally pure
28) sthaanuh: The pillar, the immovable truth
29) bhootaadih: The cause of the five great elements
30) nidhir-avyayah: The imperishable treasure
31) sambhavah: He who descends of His own free will
32) bhaavanah: He who gives everything to his devotees
33) bhartaa: He who governs the entire living world
34) prabhavah: The womb of the five great elements
35) prabhuh: The Almighty Lord
36) eeshvarah: He who can do anything without any help
37) svayambhooh: He who manifests from Himself
38) shambhuh: He who brings auspiciousness
39) aadityah: The son of Aditi (Vaamana)
40) pushkaraakshah: He who has eyes like the lotus
41) mahaasvanah: He who has a thundering voice
42) anaadi-nidhanah: He without origin or end
43) dhaataa: He who supports all fields of experience
44) vidhaataa: The dispenser of fruits of action
45) dhaaturuttamah: The subtlest atom
46) aprameyah: He who cannot be perceived
47) hrisheekeshah: The Lord of the senses
48) padmanaabhah: He from whose navel comes the lotus
49) amaraprabhuh: The Lord of the devas
50) vishvakarmaa: The creator of the universe
51) manuh: He who has manifested as the Vedic mantras
52) tvashtaa: He who makes huge things small
53) sthavishtah: The supremely gross
54) sthaviro dhruvah: The ancient, motionless one
55) agraahyah: He who is not perceived sensually
56) shaashvatah: He who always remains the same
57) krishno: He whose complexion is dark
58) lohitaakshah: Red-eyed
59) pratardanah: The Supreme destruction
60) prabhootas: Ever-full
61) trikakub-dhaama: The support of the three quarters
62) pavitram: He who gives purity to the heart
63) mangalam param: The Supreme auspiciousness
64) eeshanah: The controller of the five great elements
65) praanadah: He who gives life
66) praano: He who ever lives
67) jyeshthah: Older than all
68) shreshthah: The most glorious
69) prajaapatih: The Lord of all creatures
70) hiranyagarbhah: He who dwells in the womb of the world
71) bhoogarbhah: He who is the womb of the world
72) maadhavah: Husband of Lakshmi
73) madhusoodanah: Destroyer of the Madhu demon
74) eeshvarah: The contoller
75) vikramee: He who is full of prowess
76) dhanvee: He who always has a divine bow
77) medhaavee: Supremely intelligent
78) vikramah: He who stepped (Vaamana)
79) kramah: All-pervading
80) anuttamah: Incomparably great
81) duraadharshah: He who cannot be attacked successfully
82) kritajnah: He who knows all that is
83) kritih: He who rewards all our actions
84) aatmavaan: The self in all beings
85) sureshah: The Lord of the demigods
86) sharanam: The refuge
87) sharma: He who is Himself infinite bliss
88) visva-retaah: The seed of the universe
89) prajaa-bhavah: He from whom all praja comes
90) ahah: He who is the nature of time
91) samvatsarah: He from whom the concept of time comes
92) vyaalah: The serpent (vyaalah) to athiests
93) pratyayah: He whose nature is knowledge
94) sarvadarshanah: All-seeing
95) ajah: Unborn
96) sarveshvarah: Controller of all
97) siddhah: The most famous
98) siddhih: He who gives moksha
99) sarvaadih: The beginning of all
100) achyutah: Infallible
101) vrishaakapih: He who lifts the world to dharma
102) ameyaatmaa: He who manifests in infinite varieties
103) sarva-yoga-vinissritah: He who is free from all attachments
104) vasuh: The support of all elements
105) vasumanaah: He whose mind is supremely pure
106) satyah: The truth
107) samaatmaa: He who is the same in all
108) sammitah: He who has been accepted by authorities
109) samah: Equal
110) amoghah: Ever useful
111) pundareekaakshah: He who dwells in the heart
112) vrishakarmaa: He whose every act is righteous
113) vrishaakritih: The form of dharma
114) rudrah: He who makes all people weep
115) bahu-shiraah: He who has many heads
116) babhrur: He who rules over all the worlds
117) vishvayonih: The womb of the universe
118) shuchi-shravaah: He who has beautiful, sacred names
119) amritah: Immortal
120) shaashvatah-sthaanur: Permanent and immovable
121) varaaroho: The most glorious destination
122) mahaatapaah: He of great tapas
123) sarvagah: All-pervading
124) sarvavid-bhaanuh: All-knowing and effulgent
125) vishvaksenah: He against whom no army can stand
126) janaardanah: He who gives joy to good people
127) vedah: He who is the Vedas
128) vedavid: The knower of the Vedas
129) avyangah: Without imperfections
130) vedaangah: He whose limbs are the Vedas
131) vedavit: He who contemplates upon the Vedas
132) kavih: The seer
133) lokaadhyakshah: He who presides over all lokas
134) suraadhyaksho: He who presides over all devas
135) dharmaadhyakshah: He who presides over dharma
136) krita-akritah: All that is created and not created
137) chaturaatmaa: The four-fold self
138) chaturvyoohah: Vasudeva, Sankarshan etc
139) chaturdamstrah: He who has four canines (Nrsimha)
140) chaturbhujah: Four-handed
141) bhraajishnur: Self-effulgent consciousness
142) bhojanam: He who is the sense-objects
143) bhoktaa: The enjoyer
144) sahishnuh: He who can suffer patiently
145) jagadaadijah: Born at the beginning of the world
146) anaghah: Sinless
147) vijayah: Victorious
148) jetaa: Ever-successful
149) vishvayonih: He who incarnates because of the world 150) punarvasuh: He who lives repeatedly in different bodies
151) upendrah: The younger brother of Indra (vaamana)
152) vaamanah: He with a dwarf body
153) praamshuh: He with a huge body
154) amoghah: He whose acts are for a great purpose
155) shuchih: He who is spotlessly clean
156) oorjitah: He who has infinite vitality
157) ateendrah: He who surpasses Indra
158) samgrahah: He who holds everything together
159) sargah: He who creates the world from Himself
160) dhritaatmaa: Established in Himself
161) niyamo: The appointing authority
162) yamah: The administrator
163) vedyah: That which is to be known
164) vaidyah: The Supreme doctor
165) sadaa-yogee: Always in yoga
166) veerahaa: He who destroys the mighty heroes
167) maadhavo: The Lord of all knowledge
168) madhuh: Sweet
169) ateendriyo: Beyond the sense organs
170) mahaamayo: The Supreme Master of all Maayaa
171) mahotsaaho: The great enthusiast
172) mahaabalah: He who has supreme strength
173) mahaabuddhir: He who has supreme intelligence
174) mahaa-veeryah: The supreme essence
175) mahaa-shaktih: All-powerful
176) mahaa-dyutih: Greatly luminous
177) anirdeshya-vapuh: He whose form is indescribable
178) shreemaan: He who is always courted by glories
179) ameyaatmaa: He whose essence is immeasurable
180) mahaadri-dhrik: He who supports the great mountain
181) maheshvaasah: He who wields shaarnga
182) maheebhartaa: The husband of mother earth
183) shreenivaasah: The permanent abode of Shree
184) sataam gatih: The goal for all virtuous people
185) aniruddhah: He who cannot be obstructed
186) suraanando: He who gives out happiness
187) govindah: The protector of the cows
188) govidaam-patih: The Lord of all men of wisdom
189) mareechih: Effulgence
190) damanah: He who controls rakshasas
191) hamsah: The swan
192) suparnah: Beautiful-winged (Two birds analogy)
193) bhujagottamah: The serpent Ananta
194) hiranyanaabhah: He who has a golden navel
195) sutapaah: He who has glorious tapas
196) padmanaabhah: He whose navel is like a lotus
197) prajaapatih: He from whom all creatures emerge
198) amrityuh: He who knows no death
199) sarva-drik: The seer of everything
200) simhah: He who destroys
201) sandhaataa: The regulator
202) sandhimaan: He who seems to be conditioned
203) sthirah: Steady
204) ajah: He who takes the form of Aja, Brahma
205) durmarshanah: He who cannot be vanquished
206) shaastaa: He who rules over the universe
207) visrutaatmaa: He who is called atma in the Vedas
208) suraarihaa: Destroyer of the enemies of the devas
209) guruh: The teacher
210) gurutamah: The greatest teacher
211) dhaama: The goal
212) satyah: He who is Himself the truth
213) satya-paraakramah: Dynamic Truth
214) nimishah: He who has closed eyes in contemplation
215) animishah: He who remains unwinking; ever knowing
216) sragvee: He who always wears a garland of undecaying flowers
217) vaachaspatir-udaara-dheeh: He who is eloquent in championing the Supreme law of life; He with a large-hearted intelligence
218) agraneeh: He who guides us to the peak
219) graamaneeh: He who leads the flock
220) shreemaan: The possessor of light, effulgence, glory
221) nyaayah: Justice
222) netaa: The leader
223) sameeranah: He who sufficiently administers all movements of all living creatures
224) sahasra-moordhaa: He who has endless heads
225) vishvaatmaa: The soul of the universe
226) sahasraakshah: Thousands of eyes
227) sahasrapaat: Thousand-footed
228) aavartanah: The unseen dynamism
229) nivritaatmaa: The soul retreated from matter
230) samvritah: He who is vieled from the jiva
231) sam-pramardanah: He who persecutes evil men
232) ahassamvartakah: He who thrills the day and makes it function vigorously
233) vahnih: Fire
234) anilah: Air
235) dharaneedharah: He who supports the earth
236) suprasaadah: Fully satisfied
237) prasanaatmaa: Ever pure and all-blissful self
238) vishva-dhrik: Supporter of the world
239) vishvabhuk: He who enjoys all experiences
240) vibhuh: He who manifests in endless forms
241) satkartaa: He who adores good and wise people
242) satkritah: He who is adored by all good people
243) saadhur: He who lives by the righteous codes
244) jahnuh: Leader of men
245) naaraayanah: He who resides on the waters
246) narah: The guide
247) asankhyeyah: He who has numberlesss names and forms
248) aprameyaatmaa: A soul not known through the pramanas
249) vishishtah: He who transcends all in His glory
250) shishta-krit: The law-maker
251) shuchih: He who is pure
252) siddhaarthah: He who has all arthas
253) siddhasankalpah: He who gets all He wishes for
254) siddhidah: The giver of benedictions
255) siddhisaadhanah: The power behind our sadhana
256) vrishaahee: Controller of all actions
257) vrishabhah: He who showers all dharmas
258) vishnuh: Long-striding
259) vrishaparvaa: The ladder leading to dharma (As well as dharma itself)
260) vrishodarah: He from whose belly life showers forth
261) vardhanah: The nurturer and nourisher
262) vardhamaanah: He who can grow into any dimension
263) viviktah: Separate
264) shruti-saagarah: The ocean for all scripture
265) subhujah: He who has graceful arms
266) durdurdharah: He who cannot be known by great yogis 267) vaagmee: He who is eloquent in speech
268) mahendrah: The lord of Indra
269) vasudah: He who gives all wealth
270) vasuh: He who is Wealth
271) naika-roopo: He who has unlimited forms
272) brihad-roopah: Vast, of infinite dimensions
273) shipivishtah: The presiding deity of the sun
274) prakaashanah: He who illuminates
275) ojas-tejo-dyutidharah: The possessor of vitality, effulgence and beauty
276) prakaashaatmaa: The effulgent self
277) prataapanah: Thermal energy; one who heats
278) riddhah: Full of prosperity
279) spashtaaksharo: One who is indicated by OM
280) mantrah: The nature of the Vedic mantras
281) chandraamshuh: The rays of the moon
282) bhaaskara-dyutih: The effulgence of the sun
283) amritaamsoodbhavo: The moon who gives flavor to vegetables
284) bhaanuh: Self-effulgent
285) shashabindhuh: The moon who has a rabbit-like spot 286) sureshvarah: A person of extreme charity
287) aushadham: Medicine
288) jagatas-setuh: A bridge across the material energy
289) satya-dharma-paraakramah: One who champions heroically for truth and righteousness
290) bhoota-bhavya-bhavan-naathah: The Lord of past, present and future
291) pavanah: The air that fills the universe
292) paavanah: He who gives life-sustaining power to air
293) analah: Fire
294) kaamahaa: He who destroys all desires
295) kaamakrit: He who fulfills all desires
296) kaantah: He who is of enchanting form
297) kaamah: The beloved
298) kaamapradah: He who supplies desired objects
299) prabhuh: The Lord
300) yugaadi-krit: The creator of the yugas
301) yugaavartah The law behind time
302) naikamaayah: He whose forms are endless and varied 303) mahaashanah: He who eats up everything
304) adrishyah: Imperceptible
305) vyaktaroopah: He who is perceptible to the yogi
306) sahasrajit: He who vanquishes thousands
307) anantajit: Ever-victorious
308) ishtah: He who is invoked through Vedic rituals
309) visishtah: The noblest and most sacred
310) sishteshtah: The greatest beloved
311) shikhandee: He who wears a peacock feather
312) nahushah: He who binds all with maya
313) vrishah: He who is dharma
314) krodhahaa: He who destroys anger
315) krodhakrit-kartaa: He who generates anger against the lower tendency
316) visvabaahuh: He whose hand is in everything
317) maheedharah: The support of the earth
318) achyutah: He who undergoes no changes
319) prathitah: He who exists pervading all
320) praanah: The prana in all living creatures
321) praanadah: He who gives prana
322) vaasavaanujah: The brother of Indra
323) apaam-nidhih: Treasure of waters (the ocean)
324) adhishthaanam: The substratum of the entire universe
325) apramattah: He who never makes a wrong judgement 326) pratishthitah: He who has no cause
327) skandah: He whose glory is expressed through Subrahmanya
328) skanda-dharah: Upholder of withering righteousness
329) dhuryah: Who carries out creation etc without hitch
330) varadah: He who fulfills boons
331) vaayuvaahanah: Controller of winds
332) vaasudevah: Dwelling in all creatures although not affected by that condition
333) brihat-bhaanuh: He who illumines the world with the rays of the sun and moon
334) aadidevah: The primary source of everything
335) purandarah: Destroyer of cities
336) ashokah: He who has no sorrow
337) taaranah: He who enables others to cross
338) taarah: He who saves
339) shoorah: The valiant
340) shaurih: He who incarnated in the dynasty of Shoora
341) janeshvarah: The Lord of the people
342) anukoolah: Well-wisher of everyone
343) sataavarttah: He who takes infinite forms
344) padmee: He who holds a lotus
345) padmanibhekshanah: Lotus-eyed
346) padmanaabhah: He who has a lotus-navel
347) aravindaakshah: He who has eyes as beautiful as the lotus
348) padmagarbhah: He who is being meditated upon in the lotus of the heart
349) shareerabhrit: He who sustains all bodies
350) maharddhi: One who has great prosperity
351) riddhah: He who has expanded Himself as the universe
352) Vriddhaatmaa: The ancient self
353) mahaakshah: The great-eyed
354) garudadhvajah: One who has Garuda on His flag
355) atulah: Incomparable
356) sharabhah: One who dwells and shines forth through the bodies
357) bheemah: The terrible
358) samayajnah: One whose worship is nothing more than keeping an equal vision of the mind by the devotee
359) havirharih: The receiver of all oblation
360) sarva-lakshana-lakshanyah: Known through all proofs
361) lakshmeevaan: The consort of Laksmi
362) samitinjayah: Ever-victorious
363) viksharah: Imperishable
364) rohitah: The fish incarnation
365) maargah: The path
366) hetuh: The cause
367) daamodarah: Whose stomach is marked with three lines
368) sahah: All-enduring
369) maheedharah: The bearer of the earth
370) mahaabhaago: He who gets the greates share in every Yajna
371) vegavaan: He who is swift
372) amitaashanah: Of endless appetite
373) udbhavah: The originator
374) kshobhanah: The agitator
375) devah: He who revels
376) shreegarbhah: He in whom are all glories
377) parameshvarah: The Supreme Lord
378) karanam: The instrument
379) kaaranam: The cause
380) kartaa: The doer
381) vikartaa: Creator of the endless varieties that make up the universe
382) gahanah: The unknowable
383) guhah: He who dwells in the cave of the heart
384) vyavasaayah: Resolute
385) vyavasthaanah: The substratum
386) samsthaanah: The ultimate authority
387) sthaanadah: He who confers the right abode
388) dhruvah: The changeless in the midst of changes
389) pararddhih: He who has supreme manifestations
390) paramaspashtah: The extremely vivid
391) tushtah: One who is contented with a very simple offering
392) pushtah: One who is ever-full
393) shubhekshanah: All-auspicious gaze
394) raamah: One who is most handsome
395) viraamah: The abode of perfect-rest
396) virajo: Passionless
397) maargah: The path
398) neyah: The guide
399) nayah: One who leads
400) anayah: One who has no leader
401) veerah: The valiant
402) shaktimataam-shresthah: The best among the powerful
403) dharmah: The law of being
404) dharmaviduttamah: The highest among men of realisation
405) vaikunthah: One who prevents men from straying on wrong paths
406) purushah: One who dwells in all bodies
407) praanah: Life
408) praanadah: Giver of life
409) pranavah: He who is praised by the gods
410) prituh: The expanded
411) hiranyagarbhah: The creator
412) shatrughnah: The destroyer of enemies
413) vyaaptah: The pervader
414) vaayuh: The air
415) adhokshajah: One whose vitality never flows downwards
416) rituh: The seasons
417) sudarshanah: He whose meeting is auspicious
418) kaalah: He who judges and punishes beings
419) parameshthee: One who is readily available for experience within the heart
420) parigrahah: The receiver
421) ugrah: The terrible
422) samvatsarah: The year
423) dakshah: The smart
424) vishraamah: The resting place
425) vishva-dakshinah: The most skilful and efficient
426) vistaarah: The extension
427) sthaavarah-sthaanuh: The firm and motionless
428) pramaanam: The proof
429) beejamavyayam: The Immutable Seed
430) arthah: He who is worshiped by all
431) anarthah: One to whom there is nothing yet to be fulfilled
432) mahaakoshah: He who has got around him great sheaths
433) mahaabhogah: He who is of the nature of enjoyment
434) mahaadhanah: He who is supremely rich
435) anirvinnah: He who has no discontent
436) sthavishthah: One who is supremely huge
437) a-bhooh: One who has no birth
438) dharma-yoopah: The post to which all dharma is tied
439) mahaa-makhah: The great sacrificer
440) nakshatranemir: The nave of the stars
441) nakshatree: The Lord of the stars (the moon)
442) kshamah: He who is supremely efficient in all undertakings
443) kshaamah: He who ever remains without any scarcity
444) sameehanah: One whose desires are auspicious
445) yajnah: One who is of the nature of yajna
446) ijyah: He who is fit to be invoked through yajna
447) mahejyah: One who is to be most worshiped
448) kratuh: The animal-sacrifice
449) satram: Protector of the good
450) sataam-gatih: Refuge of the good
451) sarvadarshee: All-knower
452) vimuktaatmaa: The ever-liberated self
453) sarvajno: Omniscient
454) jnaanamuttamam: The Supreme Knowledge
455) suvratah: He who ever-perfoeming the pure vow
456) sumukhah: One who has a charming face
457) sookshmah: The subtlest
458) sughoshah: Of auspicious sound
459) sukhadah: Giver of happiness
460) suhrit: Friend of all creatures
461) manoharah: The stealer of the mind
462) jita-krodhah: One who has conquered anger
463) veerabaahur: Having mighty arms
464) vidaaranah: One who splits asunder
465) svaapanah: One who puts people to sleep
466) svavashah: He who has everything under His control
467) vyaapee: All-pervading
468) naikaatmaa: Many souled
469) naikakarmakrit: One who does many actions
470) vatsarah: The abode
471) vatsalah: The supremely affectionate
472) vatsee: The father
473) ratnagarbhah: The jewel-wombed
474) dhaneshvarah: The Lord of wealth
475) dharmagub: One who protects dharma
476) dharmakrit: One who acts according to dharma
477) dharmee: The supporter of dharma
478) sat: existence
479) asat: illusion
480) ksharam: He who appears to perish
481) aksharam: Imperishable
482) avijnaataa: The non-knower (The knower being the conditioned soul within the body)
483) sahasraamshur: The thousand-rayed
484) vidhaataa: All supporter
485) kritalakshanah: One who is famous for His qualities
486) gabhastinemih: The hub of the universal wheel
487) sattvasthah: Situated in sattva
488) simhah: The lion
489) bhoota-maheshvarah: The great lord of beings
490) aadidevah: The first deity
491) mahaadevah: The great deity
492) deveshah: The Lord of all devas
493) devabhrit-guruh: Advisor of Indra
494) uttarah: He who lifts us from the ocean of samsara
495) gopatih: The shepherd
496) goptaa: The protector
497) jnaanagamyah: One who is experienced through pure knowledge
498) puraatanah: He who was even before time
499) shareera-bhootabhrit: One who nourishes the nature from which the bodies came
500) bhoktaa: The enjoyer
501) kapeendrah: Lord of the monkeys (Rama)
502) bhooridakshinah: He who gives away large gifts
503) somapah: One who takes Soma in the yajnas
504) amritapah: One who drinks the nectar
505) somah: One who as the moon nourishes plants
506) purujit: One who has conquered numerous enemies
507) purusattamah: The greatest of the great
508) vinayah: He who humiliates those who are unrighteous
509) jayah: The victorious
510) satyasandhah: Of truthful resolution
511) daashaarhah: One who was born in the Dasarha race
512) saatvataam-patih: The Lord of the Satvatas
513) jeevah: One who functions as the ksetrajna
514) vinayitaa-saakshee: The witness of modesty
515) mukundah: The giver of liberation
516) amitavikramah: Of immeasurable prowess
517) ambho-nidhir: The substratum of the four types of beings
518) anantaatmaa: The infinite self
519) mahodadhishayah: One who rests on the great ocean
520) antakah: The death
521) ajah: Unborn
522) mahaarhah: One who deserves the highest worship
523) svaabhaavyah: Ever rooted in the nature of His own self
524) jitaamitrah: One who has conquered all enemies
525) pramodanah: Ever-blissful
526) aanandah: A mass of pure bliss
527) nandanah: One who makes others blissful
528) nandah: Free from all worldly pleasures
529) satyadharmaa: One who has in Himself all true dharmas
530) trivikramah: One who took three steps
531) maharshih kapilaachaaryah: He who incarnated as Kapila, the great sage
532) kritajnah: The knower of the creation
533) medineepatih: The Lord of the earth
534) tripadah: One who has taken three steps
535) tridashaadhyaksho: The Lord of the three states of consciousness
536) mahaashringah: Great-horned (Matsya)
537) kritaantakrit: Destroyer of the creation
538) mahaavaraaho: The great boar
539) govindah: One who is known through Vedanta
540) sushenah: He who has a charming army
541) kanakaangadee: Wearer of bright-as-gold armlets
542) guhyo: The mysterious
543) gabheerah: The unfathomable
544) gahano: Impenetrable
545) guptah: The well-concealed
546) chakra-gadaadharah: Bearer of the disc and mace
547) vedhaah: Creator of the universe
548) svaangah: One with well-proportioned limbs
549) ajitah: Vanquished by none
550) krishnah: Dark-complexioned
551) dridhah: The firm
552) sankarshanochyutah: He who absorbs the whole creation into His nature and never falls away from that nature
553) varunah: One who sets on the horizon (Sun)
554) vaarunah: The son of Varuna (Vasistha or Agastya)
555) vrikshah: The tree
556) pushkaraakshah: Lotus eyed
557) mahaamanaah: Great-minded
558) bhagavaan: One who possesses six opulences
559) bhagahaa: One who destroys the six opulences during pralaya
560) aanandee: One who gives delight
561) vanamaalee: One who wears a garland of forest flowers
562) halaayudhah: One who has a plough as His weapon
563) aadityah: Son of Aditi
564) jyotiraadityah: The resplendence of the sun
565) sahishnuh: One who calmly endures duality
566) gatisattamah: The ultimate refuge for all devotees
567) sudhanvaa: One who has Shaarnga
568) khanda-parashur: One who holds an axe
569) daarunah: Merciless towards the unrighteous
570) dravinapradah: One who lavishly gives wealth
571) divah-sprik: Sky-reaching
572) sarvadrik-vyaaso: One who creates many men of wisdom
573) vaachaspatir-ayonijah: One who is the master of all vidyas and who is unborn through a womb
574) trisaamaa: One who is glorified by Devas, Vratas and Saamans
575) saamagah: The singer of the sama songs
576) saama: The Sama Veda
577) nirvaanam: All-bliss
578) bheshajam: Medicine
579) bhishak: Physician
580) samnyaasa-krit: Institutor of sannyasa
581) samah: Calm
582) shaantah: Peaceful within
583) nishthaa: Abode of all beings
584) shaantih: One whose very nature is peace
585) paraayanam: The way to liberation
586) shubhaangah: One who has the most beautiful form
587) shaantidah: Giver of peace
588) shrashtaa: Creator of all beings
589) kumudah: He who delights in the earth
590) kuvaleshayah: He who reclines in the waters
591) gohitah: One who does welfare for cows
592) gopatih: Husband of the earth
593) goptaa: Protector of the universe
594) vrishabhaaksho: One whose eyes rain fulfilment of desires
595) vrishapriyah: One who delights in dharma
596) anivartee: One who never retreats
597) nivrittaatmaa: One who is fully restrained from all sense indulgences
598) samksheptaa: The involver
599) kshemakrit: Doer of good
600) shivah: Auspiciousness
601) shreevatsa-vakshaah: One who has sreevatsa on His chest
602) shrevaasah: Abode of Sree
603) shreepatih: Lord of Laksmi
604) shreemataam varah: The best among glorious
605) shreedah: Giver of opulence
606) shreeshah: The Lord of Sree
607) shreenivaasah: One who dwells in the good people
608) shreenidhih: The treasure of Sree
609) shreevibhaavanah: Distributor of Sree
610) shreedharah: Holder of Sree
611) shreekarah: One who gives Sree
612) shreyah: Liberation
613) shreemaan: Possessor of Sree
614) loka-trayaashrayah: Shelter of the three worlds
615) svakshah: Beautiful-eyed
616) svangah: Beautiful-limbed
617) shataanandah: Of infinite varieties and joys
618) nandih: Infinite bliss
619) jyotir-ganeshvarah: Lord of the luminaries in the cosmos
620) vijitaatmaa: One who has conquered the sense organs
621) vidheyaatmaa: One who is ever available for the devotees to command in love
622) sat-keertih: One of pure fame
623) chinnasamshayah: One whose doubts are ever at rest
624) udeernah: The great transcendent
625) sarvatah-chakshuh: One who has eyes everywhere
626) aneeshah: One who has none to Lord over Him
627) shaashvata-sthirah: One who is eternal and stable
628) bhooshayah: One who rested on the ocean shore (Rama)
629) bhooshanah: One who adorns the world
630) bhootih: One who is pure existence
631) vishokah: Sorrowless
632) shoka-naashanah: Destroyer of sorrows
633) archishmaan: The effulgent
634) architah: One who is constantly worshipped by His devotees
635) kumbhah: The pot within whom everything is contained
636) vishuddhaatmaa: One who has the purest soul
637) vishodhanah: The great purifier
638) anniruddhah: He who is invincible by any enemy
639) apratirathah: One who has no enemies to threaten Him
640) pradyumnah: Very rich
641) amitavikramah: Of immeasurable prowess
642) kaalanemi-nihaa: Slayer of Kalanemi
643) veerah: The heroic victor
644) shauri: One who always has invincible prowess
645) shoora-janeshvarah: Lord of the valiant
646) trilokaatmaa: The self of the three worlds
647) trilokeshah: The Lord of the three worlds
648) keshavah: One whose rays illumine the cosmos
649) keshihaa: Killer of Kesi
650) harih: The destroyer
651) kaamadevah: The beloved Lord
652) kaamapaalah: The fulfiller of desires
653) kaamee: One who has fulfilled all His desires
654) kaantah: Of enchanting form
655) kritaagamah: The author of the agama scriptures
656) anirdeshya-vapuh: Of Indescribable form
657) vishnuh: All-pervading
658) veerah: The courageous
659) anantah: Endless
660) dhananjayah: One who gained wealth through conquest
661) brahmanyah: Protector of Brahman (anything related to Narayana)
662) brahmakrit: One who acts in Brahman
663) brahmaa: Creator
664) brahma: Biggest
665) brahma-vivardhanah: One who increases the Brahman
666) brahmavid: One who knows Brahman
667) braahmanah: One who has realised Brahman
668) brahmee: One who is with Brahma
669) brahmajno: One who knows the nature of Brahman
670) braahmana-priyah: Dear to the brahmanas
671) mahaakramo: Of great step
672) mahaakarmaa: One who performs great deeds
673) mahaatejaah: One of great resplendence
674) mahoragah: The great serpent
675) mahaakratuh: The great sacrifice
676) mahaayajvaa: One who performed great yajnas
677) mahaayajnah: The great yajna
678) mahaahavih: The great offering
679) stavyah: One who is the object of all praise
680) stavapriyah: One who is invoked through prayer
681) stotram: The hymn
682) stutih: The act of praise
683) stotaa: One who adores or praises
684) ranapriyah: Lover of battles
685) poornah: The complete
686) poorayitaa: The fulfiller
687) punyah: The truly holy
688) punya-keertir: Of Holy fame
689) anaamayah: One who has no diseases
690) manojavah: Swift as the mind
691) teerthakaro: The teacher of the tirthas
692) vasuretaah: He whose essence is golden
693) vasupradah: The free-giver of wealth
694) vasupradah: The giver of salvation, the greatest wealth
695) vaasudevo: The son of Vasudeva
696) vasuh: The refuge for all
697) vasumanaah: One who is attentive to everything
698) havih: The oblation
699) sadgatih: The goal of good people
700) satkritih: One who is full of Good actions
701) satta: One without a second
702) sadbhootih: One who has rich glories
703) satparaayanah: The Supreme goal for the good
704) shoorasenah: One who has heroic and valiant armies
705) yadu-shresthah: The best among the Yadava clan
706) sannivaasah: The abode of the good
707) suyaamunah: One who attended by the people who dwell on the banks of Yamuna
708) bhootaavaaso: The dwelling place of the elements
709) vaasudevah: One who envelops the world with Maya
710) sarvaasunilayah: The abode of all life energies
711) analah: One of unlimited wealth, power and glory
712) darpahaa: The destroyer of pride in evil-minded people
713) darpadah: One who creates pride, or an urge to be the best, among the righteous
714) driptah: One whio is drunk with Infinite bliss
715) durdharah: The object of contemplation
716) athaaparaajitah: The unvanquished
717) vishvamoortih: Of the form of the entire Universe
718) mahaamortir: The great form
719) deeptamoortir: Of resplendent form
720) a-moortirmaan: Having no form
721) anekamoortih: Multi-formed
722) avyaktah: Unmanifeset
723) shatamoortih: Of many forms
724) shataananah: Many-faced
725) ekah: The one
726) naikah: The many
727) savah: The nature of the sacrifice
728) kah: One who is of the nature of bliss
729) kim: What (the one to be inquired into)
730) yat: Which
731) tat: That
732) padam-anuttamam: The unequalled state of perfection
733) lokabandhur: Friend of the world
734) lokanaathah: Lord of the world
735) maadhavah: Born in the family of Madhu
736) bhaktavatsalah: One who loves His devotees
737) suvarna-varnah: Golden-coloured
738) hemaangah: One who has limbs of gold
739) varaangah: With beautiful limbs
740) chandanaangadee: One who has attractive armlets
741) veerahaa: Destroyer of valiant heroes
742) vishama: Unequalled
743) shoonyah: The void
744) ghritaaseeh: One who has no need for good wishes
745) acalah: Non-moving
746) chalah: Moving
747) amaanee: Without false vanity
748) maanadah: One who causes, by His maya, false identification with the body
749) maanyah: One who is to be honoured
750) lokasvaamee: Lord of the universe
751) trilokadhrik: One who is the support of all the three worlds
752) sumedhaa: One who has pure intelligence
753) medhajah: Born out of sacrifices
754) dhanyah: Fortunate
755) satyamedhah: One whose intelligence never fails
756) dharaadharah: The sole support of the earth
757) tejovrisho: One who showers radiance
758) dyutidharah: One who bears an effulgent form
759) sarva-shastra-bhritaam-varah: The best among those who wield weapons
760) pragrahah: Receiver of worship
761) nigrahah: The killer
762) vyagrah: One who is ever engaged in fulfilling the devotee's desires
763) naikashringah: One who has many horns
764) gadaagrajah: One who is invoked through mantra
765) chaturmoortih: Four-formed
766) chaturbaahuh: Four-handed
767) chaturvyoohah: One who expresses Himself as the dynamic centre in the four vyoohas
768) chaturgatih: The ultimate goal of all four varnas and asramas
769) chaturaatmaa: Clear-minded
770) chaturbhaavas: The source of the four
771) chatur-vedavid: Knower of all four vedas
772) ekapaat: One-footed (BG 10.42)
773) samaavartah: The efficient turner
774) nivrittaatmaa: One whose mind is turned away from sense indulgence
775) durjayah: The invincible
776) duratikramah: One who is difficult to be disobeyed
777) durlabhah: One who obtained with effort
778) durgamah: One who is realised with great effort
779) durgah: Not easy to storm into
780) duraavaasah: Not easy to lodge
781) duraarihaa: Slayer of the asuras
782) shubhaangah: One with enchanting limbs
783) lokasaarangah: One who understands the universe
784) sutantuh: Beautifully expanded
785) tantu-vardhanah: One who sustains the continuity of the drive for the family
786) indrakarmaa: One who always performs gloriously auspicious actions
787) mahaakarmaa: One who accomplishes great acts
788) kritakarmaa: One who has fulfilled his acts
789) kritaagamah: Author of the Vedas
790) udbhavah: The ultimate source
791) sundarah: Of unrivalled beauty
792) sundah: Of great mercy
793) ratna-naabhah: Of beautiful navel
794) sulochanah: One who has the most enchanting eyes
795) arkah: One who is in the form of the sun
796) vaajasanah: The giver of food
797) shringee: The horned one
798) jayantah: The conquerer of all enemies
799) sarvavij-jayee: One who is at once omniscient and victorious
800) suvarna-binduh: With limbs radiant like gold
801) akshobhyah: One who is ever unruffled
802) sarva-vaageeshvareshvarah: Lord of the Lord of speech
803) mahaahradah: One who is like a great refreshing swimming pool
804) mahaagartah: The great chasm
805) mahaabhootah: The great being
806) mahaanidhih: The great abode
807) kumudah: One who gladdens the earth
808) kundarah: The one who lifted the earth
809) kundah: One who is as attractive as Kunda flowers
810) parjanyah: He who is similar to rain-bearing clouds
811) paavanah: One who ever purifies
812) anilah: One who never slips
813) amritaashah: One whose desires are never fruitless
814) amritavapuh: He whose form is immortal
815) sarvajna: Omniscient
816) sarvato-mukhah: One who has His face turned everywhere
817) sulabhah: One who is readily available
818) suvratah: One who has taken the most auspicious forms
819) siddhah: One who is perfection
820) shatrujit: One who is ever victorious over His hosts of enemies
821) shatrutaapanah: The scorcher of enemies
822) nyagrodhah: The one who veils Himself with Maya
823) udumbarah: Nourishment of all living creatures
824) ashvattas: Tree of life
825) chaanooraandhra-nishoodanah: The slayer of Canura
826) sahasraarchih: He who has thousands of rays
827) saptajihvah: He who expresses himself as the seven tongues of fire (Types of agni)
828) saptaidhaah: The seven effulgences in the flames
829) saptavaahanah: One who has a vehicle of seven horses (sun)
830) amoortih: Formless
831) anaghah: Sinless
832) acintyo: Inconceivable
833) bhayakrit: Giver of fear
834) bhayanaashanah: Destroyer of fear
835) anuh: The subtlest
836) brihat: The greatest
837) krishah: Delicate, lean
838) sthoolah: One who is the fattest
839) gunabhrit: One who supports
840) nirgunah: Without any properties
841) mahaan: The mighty
842) adhritah: Without support
843) svadhritah: Self-supported
844) svaasyah: One who has an effulgent face
845) praagvamshah: One who has the most ancient ancestry
846) vamshavardhanah: He who multiplies His family of descendents
847) bhaarabhrit: One who carries the load of the universe
848) kathitah: One who is glorified in all scriptures
849) yogee: One who can be realised through yoga
850) yogeeshah: The king of yogis
851) sarvakaamadah: One who fulfils all desires of true devotees
852) aashramah: Haven
853) shramanah: One who persecutes the worldly people
854) kshaamah: One who destroys everything
855) suparnah: The golden leaf (Vedas) BG 15.1
856) vaayuvaahanah: The mover of the winds
857) dhanurdharah: The wielder of the bow
858) dhanurvedah: One who declared the science of archery
859) dandah: One who punishes the wicked
860) damayitaa: The controller
861) damah: Beautitude in the self
862) aparaajitah: One who cannot be defeated
863) sarvasahah: One who carries the entire Universe
864) aniyantaa: One who has no controller
865) niyamah: One who is not under anyone's laws
866) ayamah: One who knows no death
867) sattvavaan: One who is full of exploits and courage
868) saattvikah: One who is full of sattvic qualities
869) satyah: Truth
870) satya-dharma-paraayanah: One who is the very abode of truth and dharma
871) abhipraayah: One who is faced by all seekers marching to the infinite
872) priyaarhah: One who deserves all our love
873) arhah: One who deserves to be worshiped
874) priyakrit: One who is ever-obliging in fulfilling our wishes
875) preetivardhanah: One who increases joy in the devotee's heart
876) vihaayasa-gatih: One who travels in space
877) jyotih: Self-effulgent
878) suruchih: Whose desire manifests as the universe
879) hutabhuk: One who enjoys all that is offered in yajna
880) vibhuh: All-pervading
881) ravih: One who dries up everything
882) virochanah: One who shines in different forms
883) sooryah: The one source from where everything is born
884) savitaa: The one who brings forth the Universe from Himself
885) ravilochanah: One whose eye is the sun
886) anantah: Endless
887) hutabhuk: One who accepts oblations
888) bhoktaaA: One who enjoys
889) sukhadah: Giver of bliss to those who are liberated
890) naikajah: One who is born many times
891) agrajah: The first-born
892) anirvinnah: One who feels no disappointment
893) sadaamarshee: One who forgives the trespasses of His devotees
894) lokaadhishthaanam: The substratum of the universe
895) adbhutah: Wonderful
896) sanaat: The beginningless and endless factor
897) sanaatanatamah: The most ancient
898) kapilah: The great sage Kapila
899) kapih: One who drinks water
900) apyayah: The one in whom the universe merges
901) svastidah: Giver of Svasti
902) svastikrit: One who robs all auspiciousness
903) svasti: One who is the source of all auspiciouness
904) svastibhuk: One who constantly enjoys auspiciousness
905) svastidakshinah: Distributor of auspiciousness
906) araudrah: One who has no negative emotions or urges
907) kundalee: One who wears shark earrings
908) chakree: Holder of the chakra
909) vikramee: The most daring
910) oorjita-shaasanah: One who commands with His hand
911) shabdaatigah: One who transcends all words
912) shabdasahah: One who allows Himself to be invoked by Vedic declarations
913) shishirah: The cold season, winter
914) sharvaree-karah: Creator of darkness
915) akroorah: Never cruel
916) peshalah: One who is supremely soft
917) dakshah: Prompt
918) dakshinah: The most liberal
919) kshaminaam-varah: One who has the greatest amount of patience with sinners
920) vidvattamah: One who has the greatest wisdom
921) veetabhayah: One with no fear
922) punya-shravana-keertanah: The hearing of whose glory causes holiness to grow
923) uttaaranah: One who lifts us out of the ocean of change
924) dushkritihaa: Destroyer of bad actions
925) punyah: Supremely pure
926) duh-svapna-naashanah: One who destroys all bad dreams
927) veerahaa: One who ends the passage from womb to womb
928) rakshanah: Protector of the universe
929) santah: One who is expressed through saintly men
930) jeevanah: The life spark in all creatures
931) paryavasthitah: One who dwells everywhere
932) anantaroopah: One of infinite forms
933) anantashreeh: Full of infinite glories
934) jitamanyuh: One who has no anger
935) bhayapahah: One who destroys all fears
936) chaturashrah: One who deals squarely
937) gabheeraatmaa: Too deep to be fathomed
938) vidishah: One who is unique in His giving
939) vyaadishah: One who is unique in His commanding power
940) dishah: One who advises and gives knowledge
941) anaadih: One who is the first cause
942) bhoor-bhuvo: The substratum of the earth
943) lakshmeeh: The glory of the universe
944) suveerah: One who moves through various ways
945) ruchiraangadah: One who wears resplendent shoulder caps
946) jananah: He who delivers all living creatures
947) jana-janmaadir: The cause of the birth of all creatures
948) bheemah: Terrible form
949) bheema-paraakramah: One whose prowess is fearful to His enemies
950) aadhaaranilayah: The fundamental sustainer
951) adhaataa: Above whom there is no other to command
952) pushpahaasah: He who shines like an opening flower
953) prajaagarah: Ever-awakened
954) oordhvagah: One who is on top of everything
955) satpathaachaarah: One who walks the path of truth
956) praanadah: Giver of life
957) pranavah: Omkara
958) panah: The supreme universal manager
959) pramaanam: He whose form is the Vedas
960) praananilayah: He in whom all prana is established
961) praanibhrit: He who rules over all pranas
962) praanajeevanah: He who maintains the life-breath in all living creatures
963) tattvam: The reality
964) tattvavit: One who has realised the reality
965) ekaatmaa: The one self
966) janma-mrityu-jaraatigah: One who knows no birth, death or old age in Himself
967) bhoor-bhuvah svas-taruh: The tree of bhur, bhuvah and svah
968) taarah: One who helps all to cross over
969) savitaa: The father of all
970) prapitaamahah: The father of the father of beings (Brahma)
971) yajnah: One whose very nature is yajna
972) yajnapatih: The Lord of all yajnas
973) yajvaa: The one who performs yajna
974) yajnaangah: One whose limbs are the things employed in yajna
975) yajnavaahanah: One who fulfils yajnas in complete
976) yajnabhrid: The ruler of the yajanas
977) yajnakrit: One who performs yajna
978) yajnee: Enjoyer of yajnas
979) yajnabhuk: Receiver of all that is offered
980) yajnasaadhanah: One who fulfils all yajnas
981) yajnaantakrit: One who performs the concluding act of the yajna
982) yajnaguhyam: The person to be realised by yajna
983) annam: One who is food
984) annaadah: One who eats the food
985) aatmayonih: The uncaused cause
986) svayamjaatah: Self-born
987) vaikhaanah: The one who cut through the earth
988) saamagaayanah: One who sings the sama songs
989) devakee-nandanah: Son of Devaki
990) srashtaa: Creator
991) kshiteeshah: The Lord of the earth
992) paapa-naashanah: Destroyer of sin
993) samkha-bhrit: One who has the divine Pancajanya
994) nandakee: One who holds the Nandaka sword
995) chakree: Carrier of Sudarsana
996) shaarnga-dhanvaa: One who aims His shaarnga bow
997) gadaadharah: Carrier of Kaumodakee club
998) rathaanga-paanih: One who has the wheel of a chariot as His weapon
999) akshobhyah: One who cannot be annoyed by anyone
1000) sarva-praharanaayudhah: He who has all implements for all kinds of assault and figh

When is Janmashtami?

Janmashtami is on 2nd September 2010

Janmashtami celebrates the birth of one of the most famous Gods of Hindu religion, Bhagwan Krishna, on the eighth day (Ashtami) in the month of Sravana or Savana. Lord Sri Krishna was born on the 'Rohini' nakshatram (star). It is generally celebrated in the month of August-September according to the Christian Calendar. Legend has it that Sri Krishna was born on a dark, stormy and windy night to end the rule and atrocities of his maternal uncle, Kansa.

Position of Stars at the time of Birth
It was only on the eighth day of the second fortnight, in the month of Sravana when, the moon entered the house of Vrishabha in Rohini Nakshatra (star) that Lord appeared. According to Barhapatyamana, the month of Sravana corresponds to the month of Bhadrapada Krishnapaksha. Lord was born in the year of Visvavasu, appx. 5,227 years ago.

Celebrated for over Two Days
Janmashtami is celebrated for over two days as “Rohini” nakshatra and Ashtami may not fall on the same day. The first day known as Krishnashtami, as the birth of Bhagwan Krishna falls on the eighth day after Raksha Bandhan, which generally falls in the month of August. The second day is known as Kalashtami.

Welcome the Lord at Midnight
It is only at midnight between the first and the second day that birth of Sri Krishna took place. The actual festivities begin during midnight in this 48 hour period. The celebration reaches its peak at midnight, with the birth of Lord Krishna, with lot of hymns, arti taking place and blowing of the Conch (shankh), rocking the cradle of Lord. The idol of lord is bathed with Panchamrit (A mixture of milk, ghee, oil, honey and Gangajal). The Panchamrit is later distributed as Prasad to the devotees along with other sweets. While some Fast on the first day and break it at midnight for others the fasting continues for both days. The period coincides with rainy season.

dhapaleli..pan atishay sundar kavita…..Published on August 9th, 2007 Posted by Yogesh in कविताNo Comments प्रेम करणं सोपं नसतं…सर्व करतात, म्हणून करायच नसतं..चित्रपटा

प्रेम करणं सोपं नसतं…सर्व करतात, म्हणून करायच नसतं..चित्रपटात बघीतलं, म्हणून करायच नसतं…पुस्तकात वाचलं , म्हणून करायच नसतं….तर कुणाकडून ऐकलं, म्हणून करायच नसतं…कारण प्रेम करणं सोपं नसतं…शाळा कॉलेजांत असच घडतं…एकमेकांना बघीतलं की मन प्रेमात पडतं…अभ्यासाच्या पुस्तकात मग तिचच रुप दिसतं…जागेपणी ही मग प्रेमाचं स्वप्नं पडतं…ज्या वयात शिकायचं असतं त्यावेळी भलतचं घडतं… करीयरचं सत्यानाश तर आयुष्याचं वाटोळं […]

read more from this search....
.

Bharat ko kab jag aayegi

every want education for his future but in our this country there the no value to education and every want education only for job and there for nothing doing for our contry . The most of the people of maharashtra think about the education is only for job and only job there for only humans of skills like machine are made in day-to-day life.

the meaning of education is to make human most and more intelligent and make flexible in our life .we are living in a society and every one must knows about there society.

the parents of the student , they must care about there future and there physical and mental status
.

प्रेम म्हणजे काय ?

प्रेम करण्या
पूर्वी किंवा प्रेमात
पडलेल्यानी, हा लेख अवश्य वाचावा. आपली प्रतिक्रिया अवश्य कळवा.

खुसरो रैन सुहाग की जागी पी
के संग,

तन मेरो मन पिऊ को दोउ भए इक रंग.

लैला मजनूच्या प्रेमाच्या गोष्टी ऐकल्या होत्या. मजनूच्या पाठीवर पडणार्या

कोड्यांचे व्रण लैलाच्या पाठीवर उमटायचे. कारण शरीराने अलग-अलग असले तरी त्यांचे ह्रदय एक होते. लैला मजनूच प्रेम हे खरं प्रेम होत.आजच्या
तरुण पीढ़ीच्या प्रेमाच्या कल्पना काय?

तो स्मार्ट - ती सुन्दर, त्याला ती आवडली आणि तिलाही तो आवडला. त्यानी
एकत्र सिनेमा पाहिला, एकमेकांच्या गळ्यात हात
घालून फिरले आणि बहरलेल्या यौवनाचा आनंद घेतला.
त्याना वाटले ते प्रेमात पडले. त्यानी प्रेम विवाह केला. एकत्र एकाच
घरात राहण सुरु झाल. एकमेकांच्या आवडी-निवडी
वादाचे विषय होऊ लागले. शुल्लक गोष्टींवरून भांडणे सुरु झाले. दोघांचाही
अहंकार मोठा होता. परिणाम -

” देहाचा
आकर्षणाने दोघ जवळ आले
प्रेमा अभावी ते शीघ्र
डायवोर्सि झाले”

’ती’ - मी प्रेमात आंधळी झाली होती, ‘तो’ -मी मूर्ख होतो म्हणून हिच्या
प्रेमात पडलो. पडनारच! कारण
याना प्रेमाचा अर्थ कळलेला नव्हता.

काहींची प्रेमाची गाड़ी विवाहा पर्यंत ही पोहचत
नाही. कारण

देहाचे आकर्षण क्षणभंगुर असते व ते संपल्यावर प्रेम
ही
संपते. तो किंवा ती कोणी तरी एक प्रेमभंगाला
कारणीभूत ठरतो. आपण वर्तमानपत्रांत रोज वाचतो प्रेमभंग झाल्याने कोणी
आत्महत्या करतो तर कोणी खून सुद्धा. कारण यानाही प्रेमाचा अर्थ कळलेला नसतो.

काही आपापला स्वार्थ सिद्ध करण्यासाठी प्रेमाचा देखावा करतात. मी ही डॉक्टर -ती
ही डॉक्टर, आपण एकत्र आलो तर चैनित आयुष्य जाईल. किंवा दोघही नौकरी करणारे
- स्वार्थ मनात ठेउन प्रेम करतात. याला काय म्हणायच
-

प्रेमाचा देखावा
आज
फायद्याचा सौदा आहे,
विवाह सुध्दा आज

देह भोगण्याचा करार आहे .

स्वार्थापोटी केलेल प्रेम भंग पावणारच. मग घटस्फोट हा होणारच
यात आश्चर्य नाही. कारण यानाही प्रेमाचा अर्थ कळलेला नाही.
मग
प्रेम म्हणजे काय?

आपल्या सोंदार्याचा अभिमान बाळगून पर्वतराज
हिमालयाची कन्या पार्वती
कामदेवाच्या मदतीने शंकराचे प्रेम जिंकायला निघाली.
परिणाम काय झाला - शंकराने आपले तीसरे नेत्र उघडले व कामदेव भस्म झाला.
पार्वतीला आपली चूक कळली. तिने तपस्येचा मार्ग
धरला. आपला अहंकार, अभिमान इत्यादि तपस्येच्या अग्नित भस्म केले.
अखेर शंकर प्रसन्न झाले. पार्वतीलाही प्रेमाचा अर्थ
कळला. आपण पहातोच, वसंतात बहरलेल्या कच्च्या कैरीला ही ग्रीष्माच्या उन्हात तपावे
लागते, मगच रसाळ-मधुर असा आम्बा आपल्याला खायला मिळतो. आपल्या मनातिल विकाराना अग्नित भस्म केल्या शिवाय
प्रेमाचा अर्थ कळणे अशक्य म्हणूनच एका उर्दू शायरने प्रेमाबद्धल म्हंटले आहे “इक
आग का दरिया है तैर के जाना है“ आणि आगीचा दरिया पार करण्यासाठी डोळे उघडे असायला पाहिजे. आंधळ्या
माणसाचे हे काम नव्हे.

एकदा शेजारच्या एका आजीला विचारले -तुम्ही कधी प्रेम केले आहे का?
पेमाचा अर्थ काय? आजी म्हणाली प्रेमाच तर सोडा त्या काळी लग्नाआधी मुलाला मुलगी दाखविण्याची
पद्धत ही नव्हती. बायको म्हणजे - आईच्या मदतीला घरकामासाठी आणलेली
हक्काची बाई. ती आपल्याला देह सुख ही देते व घराला वारस ही. त्या काळी बायकाना कष्ट हे करावे लगायचेच. कधी - कधी मार ही
खायला मिळा sans-serif">यचा. आपले माहेरचे अस्तित्व विसरून नवर्या साठीच आपल
आयुष्य आहे हे मनात ठरवून सासरी संसार सुरु केला. काही वर्षात चित्र
बदलले. एका दुसर्याची सवय लागली. त्यांच्या मनात जिव्हाळा निर्माण
झाला. माझ्यासाठी त्यानी आपला स्वभाव ही बदलला.
माझ्या आवडी -निवडीकड़े ते जातीने लक्ष देऊ लागले. मला काय हवे त्याना न
सांगताच समजू लागले
होते. आज एका दुसर्याच्या मनात काय आहे हे न
बोलताच आम्ही समजू शकतो . आताही त्यांच्या मनात काय विचार चालला आहे, हे
मी सांगू शकते. त्यागाशिवाय प्रेम सम्पादित करता येत नाही हेच खरं. संसाराचे चटके बसल्या शिवाय प्रेमाचा अर्थ कळने अशक्यच. आजीचे
बोलणे मला पटले. आजीने खरोखरच तपस्या केली होती म्हणून तिला प्रेमाचा अर्थ
कळला होता. असे प्रेम पाहूनच अमीर खुसरो ने म्हंटले आहे-

खुसरो रैन सुहाग की जागी पी के संग,
तन
मेरो मन पिऊ को दोउ भए इक रंग.

शरीराने अलग-अलग असले तरी प्रेम रंगात भिजुन दोघांचे ह्रदय एक झाले होते. कारण प्रेमात द्वैत नाही. सूफी संतांच्या मते लौकिक प्रेम ही
अलौकिक प्रेमाची
पायरी आहे. कारण ज्याच्या हृदयात प्रेम आहे तोच ईश्वराला प्राप्त करू शकतो.

याचा अर्थ लग्ना आधी
प्रेम नाही केले पाहिजे असा नाही. प्रेम अवश्य करा, पण आपण प्रेमात पड़त
आहो असे वाटत असेल तर आपले डोळे उघडा - स्वत:लाच प्रश्न विचारा- हे देहाचे आकर्षण तर नाही ना? यात आपला स्वार्थ तर नाही ना?
कुठल्याही परिस्थितीत आपण त्याचा/ तिचा साथ देऊ शकतो का? त्याच्या/ तिच्या साठी आपण आपल्या सर्वस्वाचा अर्थात आपला अहंकार,
अभिमान इत्यादींचा त्याग करू
शकतो का? याचे उत्तर होय असेल तरच पुढे पाऊल उचला.
अन्यथा प्रेमात पड़नारच. खर्या प्रेमाच्या प्राप्ति साठी तपस्या ही
करावीच लागते. दोघाना शरीराने आणि मनानी एक व्हावे
लागते. तेंव्हाच पेमाची प्राप्ति होते, म्हणूनच कवीरदासानी म्हंटले आहे -

जब मै था तब हरि नाही,
जब हरि है मै नाही,

प्रेम गली अति सांकरी, ज्यामे दो न समाई.
*******

आय पी एल

सध्या मोबाईल जगतात एक एस एम एस फिरतो आहे. त्यात असे म्हटले आहे की, न जिंकलेल्या टी-२० वर्ल्ड कप च्या खेळाडूंना भारत सरकारने ३ कोटी रुपये दिले. आणि नक्षलवाद्यांशी लढताना शहिद झालेल्या भारतपुत्रांना फक्त १ लाख रुपये देण्याचे फक्त आश्वासन दिले आहे.

खरंच या गोष्टीवर ख-या भारतीयांनी एकदा तरी विचार करणे गरजेचे आहे.

शिवाजी महाराज-एक धीरोदात्त राजा

छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज हे तीन शब्द नुसते उच्चारले की सर्रकन अंगावर काटा उभा रहातो.महाराष्ट्रातच नाही,भारत देशातच नाही तर संपुर्ण विश्वात अतुलनीय्,अद्वितीय्,अलौकीक असा दुसरा शिवाजी राजा सापडण अवघड आहे.जगातल्या साहसी,पराक्रमी आणि सफल अशा राजांमध्ये शिवाजी महाराजांचा समावेश करावाच लागेल.अलेक्सांडर्,नेपोलियन बोनापार्ट्,ज्युलियस सीझर वगैरे योद्ध्यांइतकेच महाराजांचे कर्तुत्व होते,नव्हे काही प्रमाणात यांच्यापेक्षा जास्तच महाराजांचे कर्तुत्व होते. कारण या राजांकडे तयार सैन्य,भुभाग होता.तर महाराजांना सर्व शुन्यातुन उभे करावयाचे होते. हे राजे आपल्या आयुष्यातील शेवटची निर्णायक लढाई हरले तसेच त्यांचा त्याच पराजीत अवस्थेत अंत झाला त्याचबरोबर त्यांच्या मृत्युनंतर त्यांचे साम्राज्य लोप पावले. पण महाराजांनंतर त्यांचे साम्राज्य टिकले आणि वाढलेही.

शिवाजी महाराज युगपुरुष होते. त्यांनी अनेक नव्या गोष्टी सुरु केल्या . देशातलेपल्हीले ‘खडे सैन्य’ त्यांनी उभे केले. त्यांनी देशातल पहील नौदल उभ केल,जलदुर्ग उभारले. शिवरायांनी वतनदारी पध्दती बंद सैनिकांना,अधिकार्‍यांना पगार सुरु केले.शेतकर्‍यांच शोषण करणारी जमिनदारी पध्दत बंद करुन शेतकर्‍यांचा फायदा असणारी रयतवारी पध्दत आणली.

शिवाजी महाराज ‘रयतेचा जाणता राजा’ होते हे खरच.शिवराज्याभिषेकापुर्वी एक महीना आधी लिहिलेल्या एका पत्रातुन त्यांना रयतेची किती काळजी होती हे कळते. महाराज लिहितात,’कोण्ही कुणब्याचे येथील दाणे आणील्,कोण्ही भाकर्,कोण्ही गवत्,कोण्ही फाटे,कोण्ही भाजी,कोण्ही पाले.ऐसे करु लागलेत म्हणजे जे कुणबी घर धरुन जीवमात्र घेउन राहीले आहेत तेही जाउं लागतील.कितेक उपाशी मराया लागतील.म्हणजे ऐसे होईल की ,मोगल मुलकात आहे त्याहुन अधिक तळतळाट होईल.तेंव्हा रयतेची सारी बदनामी तुम्हावर येईल.हे तुम्ही बरे जाणोन बहुत यादी धरुन वर्तणुक करणे.कोण्ही….रयतेस काडीचा आजार द्यावयास गरज नाही.ज्याला जे पाहीजे,दाणा हो अगर गवत हो,अगर फाटे,भाजीपाले व वरकड विकाया येईल ते रास्त घ्यावे.बाजारात जावे रास विकत आणावे.कोण्हावरही जुलुम अगर कोण्हासी कलागती कराया गरज नाही…’यावरुनच शस्त्राच्या जोरावर सैन्य जनतेवर अत्याचार तर करणार नाही ना याची महाराजांना काळजी होती .वरील पत्राच्या उपदेशाच्या बरोबर विरुध्द वर्तन आजचे राजकारणी करतात. जनतेचा पैसा,साधनसामग्री आपलीच आहे या थाटात आजचे राजकारणी आहेत.इतकेच काय तर सामर्थ्याच्या बळावर मोक्याच्या ठीकाणी असलेल्या जमिनीही हे राजकारणी लोक बळकावतात. जनतेच्या भाजीच्या देठालाही हात लावु नका सांगणारे महाराज कुठे आणि जनतेच्या भाजीच्या देठाला सोडुन बाकी सर्वावर आपलाच हक्क आहे या थाटात वावरणारे आजचे नेते कुठे!पण आपल्या प्रत्येक सभेच्या सुरुवातीला महाराजांच्या प्रतिमेला हे लोक हार न चुकता घालतात !

एखाद्या भागातुन सैन्य जात असताना शेतापासुन दुरवरुन न्यावे कारण शेतांमधुन नेल्यास शेताची नासाडी होईल व तसे झाल्यास शेतकर्‍याने जगायचे कसे याचाही विचार महाराजांचा होता. राज्यौभारणीसाठी काय आवश्यक आहे याबाबत महाराजांचा खोलवर विचार होता.व्यापार राज्यासाठी खुप महत्वाचा आहे हे महाराज जाणुन होते.’साहुकार हे तो राज्याचे भुषण’ असे महाराज म्हणत. आजच्या,२१व्या शतकाच्या जागतिकीकरणाच्या काळातही हे वाक्य फार महत्वाचे आहे.स्वातंत्र्योत्तर काळात जर आपल्या राज्यकर्त्यांना या वाक्याचा विसर पडला नसता तर आज कदाचित भारत हे विकसित राष्ट्र असते. आपल्या काळाच्या भरपुर पुढे पहाण्याची महाराजांची दुरदृष्टी हे महाराजांच्या यशाचे फार मोठे रहस्य आहे.महाराजांनी जलदुर्ग बांधले कारण व्यापाराच्या नावाखाली येणारे ब्रिटीश्,पौर्तुगिज्,फ्रेंच यांचा मुळ हेतु काय आहे हे महाराज जाणुन असावेत. आणि त्यांच्यावर जरब ठेवण्यासाठी महाराजांनी जलदुर्ग उभारले ,नौदल उभे केले.

महाराज धार्मिक होते पण अंधश्रध्दाळु नव्हते.महाराजांचा तुकाराम महाराज्,समर्थ रामदास्,मौनी बाबा व इतर अनेक संतमहात्म्यांशी संबंध आला.महाराजांनी त्यांना सढळ हस्ते मदत केली.महाराजांची तुळजाभवानीवरील निस्सिम भक्ती तर आपण जाणतोच.स्वराज्यनिर्मिती करण्याची शपथही महाराजांनी रायरेश्वराच्या साक्षीने घेतली. ‘हे राज्य व्हावे ही तों श्रींचीच इच्छा आहे’ असेही महाराज म्हणत.पण धार्मिक असुनही महाराज अंधश्रध्दाळु नव्हते.महाराजांनी सिंधुबंदीची प्रथा मोडुन काढली.ज्या काळात समुद्रात काही मिटर जाणही पाप होत त्या काळात महाराजांची जहाजं मस्कटपर्यंत जाउन पोहोचली होती.अजुन एक उदाहरण म्हणजे राजाराम हा महाराजांचा पुत्र पालथा जन्मला तेंव्हा महाराज म्हणाले होते ‘मुलगा पालथा जन्मला,बहुत उत्तम.आता तो दिल्ली पालथी घालेल.’

युध्दनिती,कुटनितीमध्ये तर महाराजांचा हात पकडण त्या काळात कुणालाही शक्य नव्हत.एक परदेशी इतिहासकार म्हणतो ‘कुटनितीमध्ये महाराजांच्या करंगळीत जितक होतं तितक औरंगजेबाच्या पुर्ण शरीरात नव्हत.’आदिलशहाच्या तावडीतुन शहाजी राजांच्या सुटकेसाठी केलेले राजकारण्,जयसिंघाशी झालेल्या तहानंतर एकाच किल्ल्याला विविध नावे देउन २१ ऐवजी प्रत्यक्षात १७च किल्ले देण्याचे राजकारण्,अफजलखानाला मैदानी प्रदेश सोडुन दुर्गम्,जंगली,पर्वती प्रदेशात आणन्यासाठी केलेली कुटनिती,आग्र्याहुन सुटका करवुन घेण्यासाठी आजारी पडण्याचे केलेले नाटक्,औरंगजेबाने जिझिया कर लागु केल्यावर ‘तुमच्यावर इतके दारीद्र्य आले आहे का?’ असे म्हणुन त्याला हिणवण्यासाठी लिहिलेले पत्र ही महाराजांच्या कुशल बुध्दिमत्तेची ओळख करुन देणारी काही उदाहरणे! महाराजांना स्वभाषेचा अभिमान होता.म्हणुन त्यांनी रघुनाथ पंडीतांकरवी ‘राज्यव्यवहारकोषा’ची निर्मिती केली.अरबी,फारसी भाषेच्या गुलामगिरीतुन मराठी भाषेची सुटका करण्यासाठी महाराजांनी तसे केले.पण आजही इंग्रजी,हिंदी भाषेच्या आक्रमणातुन आपली भाषा वाचेल का नाही याची आपल्याला चिंता वाटते.

शिवाजी महाराजांची रहाणी साधी होती पण विचारसरणी उच्च होती.स्त्रीयांचा,परधर्माचा,परधर्मग्रंथाचा,परधर्मस्थळांचा आदर ही त्याचीच उदाहरणे. पण त्याचबरोबर स्वधर्म्,स्वजन्,स्वभाषा यांच्याबद्दल सार्थ अभिमानही त्यांना होता.आपल्या धर्माच्या लोकांचे ,आपल्या रयतेचे रक्षण करण्यासाठी आवश्यक त्या गोष्टी महाराजांनी केल्या.छत्रसालच्या राजाला त्यांनी त्याच हेतुने मदत केली,त्याचबरोबर गोव्यामधे सक्तीने धर्मांतर करवणार्‍या ख्रिस्ती धर्मप्रसारकांनाही महाराजांनी खंबीरपणे रोखले.

आजही सुरक्षादलांनी महाराजांकडुन खुप काही शिकण्यासारखे आहे.महाराजांनी स्वतःची ताकद ओळखुन ‘गनिमी काव्या’चा योग्य वापर करुन साम्राज्य उभारले.भावनेच्या भरात जाउन आमने-सामने युध्द न करता शत्रु बेसावध असताना त्याच्यावर छापा टाकुन शत्रूची दाणादाण उडवण्याचे तंत्र अवलंबले.महाराजांचे हेरखाते अतिशय सक्षम होते.आजच्या आपल्या देशात हेरखाते अस्तित्वात आहे का नाही असा प्रश्न कधीकधी उभा रहातो.आपन आपल्या शत्रुला बेसावध कधीच गाठु शकत नाही उलट शत्रुच आपल्याला बेसावध गाठुन वेचुन वेचुन मारतो हे दंतेवाडा,२६/११ वरुन दिसुन येते.शिवाजी महाराजांचे आपल्या शत्रुवर नेहमी लक्ष असायचे. गाफील रहाणे तिथे चालत नसे.म्हणुनच शिवाजी महाराज एकाच वेळी विविध आघाड्यांवर लढत मुघल,आदिलशाही,ब्रिटीश्,पौर्तुगिज इत्यादींशी महाराज एकाच वेळी सामना करत.पण आजच्या परीस्थितीत भारत याबाबत कमालीचा गाफील दिसतो.आपला शत्रु चीन आपल्याला घेरण्यासाठी पुर्ण प्रयत्न करतो आहे.त्यांच्या राजधानीपासुन आपल्या सीमेपर्यंत लवकरात लवकर सैन्य घेउन येण्यासाठी महामार्ग बांधतो आहे.त्याचबरोबर आपल्या भागात घुसखोरी पण करतो आहे तरीही आपल्याकडे याबाबत फारच उदासीनता आहे. आपले सैन्य ‘जो सर्वात उचापती करणारा शेजारी आहे(पाकीस्तान) त्याच्याविरुध्द जिंकण्याची आपली क्षमता असली पाहिजे’ या थिअरीनुसार चालतो असे दिसुन येते.म्हणुनच चीनसारख्या देशाकडे दुर्लक्ष केले जाते. महाराज अशा विचारसरणिचे नव्हते असे वाटते.कारण तसे असते तर मुघल हे सर्वात महत्वाचे शत्रु होते आणि त्यांच्याकडे नौसेनाही नव्हती तरीही महाराजांनी नौसेना ,जलदुर्ग,उभारले.थोडक्यात म्हणजे आपले जे कोणी शत्रु विविध आघाड्यांवर आहेत त्यांच्याविरुध्द जिंकण्यासाठी जे जे आवश्यक आहे ते ते करण्याची महाराजांची पध्दत होती.

तर अशा शिवरायांच्या महाराष्ट्रात आपण जन्मलो हे आपण आपले भाग्य मानले पाहीजे. पण एव्हढ्यावरच थांबुन उपयोग नाही.फक्त भावना,फक्त जयजयकार, फक्त मिरवणुका पुरेसे नाही. शिवाजी महाराजांना अपेक्षित असलेले गुण आपण आपल्यात अंगिकारण्याचा प्रयत्न केला पाहीजे. आपला समाज्,आपले राष्ट्र यांच्या भल्यासाठी आपण झटले पाहीजे. आपली शिवभक्ती फक्त भावना भडकवल्यावरच जागी होता कामा नये. शिवभक्ती आपल्या रक्ताचा भाग बनल्यावर भ्रष्टाचार्,नीतीमुल्यांचे हनन आपोआपच थांबेल. शिवरायांच्या ठायी असलेली चिकाटी जर आपण आपापल्या क्षेत्रात दाखवु शकलो तर सर्व क्षेत्रात आपला समाज पुढे जाईल.याबाबत समर्थांच्या काही ओळी लिहुन शेवट करतो.

• शिवरायांस आठवावे | जिवित्व तृणवत मानावे |
• इहलोकी परलोकी रहावे | किर्तीरुपे ||
• शिवरायांचे कैसे चालणे | शिवरायांचे कैसे बोलणें |
• शिवरायांचे सलगी देणें | कैसे असे||
• शिवरायांचे आठवावे रुप | शिवरायांचा आठवावा प्रताप |
• शिवरायांचा आठवावा साक्षेप | भुमंडळी ||