Tattva-viveka

Prayers before lecture?

Mathura-natha Das - February 27, 2014 7:24 pm

Dear devotees,



During Nityananda trayodashi I attended the festivities at the local Paramadvaiti Maharajas place,The Nimaihouse. A bit surprised I was asked to give a lecture, which I did. And I think it went ok. But now afterwards I have been thinking that if I´m asked to give a lecture again, I would like to recite a prayer; a prayer that addresses some concerns. Something like:



"I´m about to speak about topics that I´m not really qualified to speak about. But because I know that Guru and Gauranga would be pleased if I did, I pray for their mercy to help me in this task. And I pray for their forgiveness for any misstakes I might make in presenting the conclusions of the knowledge of devotion."



So, do we have any gems that touches the above?



/ Mathuranatha


Bhakti-rasa - February 27, 2014 7:37 pm

sounds like a pretty nice gem right there.

Madan Gopal Das - February 28, 2014 2:11 pm

Guru Maharaj has explained a couple of times how he thinks when he recites his common mangalacarana verses before speaking, but I can't recall the class that it would be in. His mangalacarana verses are a wonderful reference to one's gurus, to authors and deities of books, etc. I don't hear GM recite it, but a common verse recited before classes which matches the mood you are expressing is cited in CC, originally from Sridhar Swami the ancient commentator on Bhagavatam:

 

mūkaḿ karoti vācālaḿ

pańguḿ lańghayate girim

yat-kṛpā tam ahaḿ vande

paramānanda-mādhavam

 

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead has the form of sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha — transcendental bliss, knowledge and eternity. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Him, who turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains. Such is the mercy of the Lord."

 

you will often see the last line changed, or added to:

 

shri-gurum dina-taranam

 

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of the fallen souls. His mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains."

Mathura-natha Das - March 2, 2014 8:21 am

Yes, I like that one. Thank you Madan!

 

Thank you Bhakti-Rasa for your kind words.

 

If anyone knows the lecture Madan mentions, please inform me.

Shyamananda Das - March 4, 2014 1:49 am

Gurumaharaj answered a question about it last year. "Q&A: Invoking Auspiciousness"