The Gopi- In Conversation

O dear know-it-all! What do i say?
To You-my beloved Lord-show me the way.
You are the Goal, and You are the Guide-
O Dear Lord! Monarch of this mind!

O Lord who makes this poor heart chime-
What am i capable of but ordinary rhyme?
But my dear all-powerful Lord! O Controller of Time!
Let me forever in Your service joy find!

My Love! i fling myself at Your feet!
And Your kind grace beseech:
In my mind, adorn Your royal seat-
For the dust of Your feet it seeks!

Forgive me if this be rash
Even as my feelings are herein stashed.
O Sweet Lord! O beloved Krishna!
Be kind unto me as You always have!

From the Heart, Strangled in Doubt...

Dearest Krishna,
In this journey called life,
In this battlefield, to work and strive,
You are the only Support, forever beside-
In this quagmire-the best guide!

You steal the heart with Your charming glances,
For You alone, in joy, it dances,
Sometimes, lost in love, i fail to see
That You are the Lord of the worlds three!

When in suffering, on the heart's shoulder,
A hand that prompts me to cross every boulder:
But oh! the heart is Yours, dear Master!
Unto You am surrendered!

You are the oasis of the desert,
Forever present, You never desert,
O Lord of Everything!
Without You, how is there anything?

Thirupaavai

Hi Everyone!
This is a break from my usual post format, but i felt i had to share this with the people who happen to read my blog.
This is a playlist of Thirupaavai by Shri Aandal with English meanings included.
If you can't click the link, pls copy-paste it:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=2ECB33DBDAD86E69

It is indeed a treat for anyone devoted to the Lord.
For the unacquainted, these 30 songs were sung by Aandal, when she kept the fast that the Gopis did to attain Krishna. In the end, she did too, as the Lord married her in her dreams, and the great periyazhwar, her father, dressed her up in bridal finery and took her to Shri Ranganathar, where she finally united with her Lord.

The songs embody true love and devotion, and it is even more a treat if you understand Tamil, because the pun and word-play in each of the songs is exotically wonderful!
'Kothai' was called Aandal, or the 'One Who Ruled Over the Lord Himself'.
She is the incarnation of Shri Bhumadevi. In the process of calling to Krishna for herself, she also engaged her friends, and actually, the whole world, and urged them to surrender unto His beautiful feet.

Aandal Thiruvadigale Sharanam!!

The Gopi Appeases Krishna's Anger...

Dearest Krishna:
The demon lies dead,
All evil has now fled;
Your might struck him down-
Oh! Please do not save that frown!

All the light of the world in Your eyes-
Why do You crown it with a sigh?
All the worlds began from Your smile-
Why then with Your anger, our minds derail?

You rescued us when it (really) mattered,
But now, the mind, by despair, is scattered-
Then, in trouble, i called for Your intervention,
Now, am pained by Your expression!

You always protected Your devotees:
Today's demon, (for You) was but a breeze!
Come now, let bygones be-
The silver lining reaching Your eyes-kindly let us see!

These are the feet that tread on the dust-
Let me wash them first!
These legs that kicked that monster-
Unto them, my humble service i render!

One glance of Yours does everything bestow-
But oh! You have forced Your eyes close!
Accept this request, from a slave of Yours-
Grant me one glance, and my life restore!

O Sweetheart! There comes Your mother,
Her mind worried, the locks asunder!
O Dear Lord! Your father comes yonder,
The people running, with all the speed they can muster!

By Your grace, we are safe-
Now do grant our minds solace!
Lord! Surrendered unto Your lotus feet-
For Your one caress, this heart beats!

The Words of a Gopi...

Dearest Krishna,
You go off into the wild,
(To You it's just a while):
But oh! Measure not in seconds or miles,
There are hearts that for You pine!

The thorns in the forest may prick Your feet,
The wild shrubs may Your skin feel;
The tireless sun scorches ruthlessly:
Why, then, for that, You abandon me sweetly?

Truth be told, Your absence is wilderness-
It inspires only madness!
Dear Lord! Save the mind from its abyss-
Let it find You in its midst!

Come here, to this dwelling, for its master adorned,
Crush them under Your feet, if any mistakes You fathom;
Come now, for the flowers (adorned) may lose their water-
Come quick- don't let my rash hopes stutter!

Unto You are my humble requests,
My patience, and also my impatience;
Unto You, i address my thoughts,
Unto You am surrendered!

O Sweet Krishna!
This garden is beautiful-
But only because it holds Your memories;
Come, sow the seeds and enrich its blossoms new-
They eagerly await Your lessons anew!