Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi

 

My last post regarding the New Year’s message from Mr Torsekar generated a bit of a controversy when I shared it with the saree group.

First of all, it was his message, not mine. I did find it inspiring because at the heart of the message he is urging people to think deeper than perform an automated lip service of saying “ Happy New Year” or even “ Happy Birthday “ to anyone, even if there is good intention of spreading cheer or striking communication. It is never wasteful to think deeper and let our words become more meaningful by transforming them into action instead of staying at the level of wishful thinking.

Having said that, for me personally, there is something about this time of the year that inspires and energizes from within and renews faith in goodness as well as re-affirms the connection we have with the creation and elements around us. Is it a conditioning or is it truly the effect of time, I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter. The positivity that it brings is unmistakable.

The end of December incidentally occurs in the month of Margasheersha, the holiest of all months in the Hindu calendar. Lord Shri Krishna has attested to this month being synonymous with Himself. The other sign of auspiciousness comes from the beginning of Uttarayan, the northward movement of the Sun with respect to the Earth’s axis. The day will start getting bigger in the Northern Hemisphere from now until June 21. I guess in the southern hemisphere the equivalent auspiciousness coincides with the month of Shraavan when the days there begin to get longer. 

Just like the sun influences our lives so do other members of our solar system. And which other member would be dearer to us than the Earth? 

It was one coincidence after another that within the past week as I was talking to some family members and later with a friend, the conversations made me recall some beautiful Sanskrit verses (shlokas) I had learned in my childhood. Then I found an old diary in which I had these verses in my handwriting. How beautiful were the thoughts contained in these verses! Was it a coincidence I was drawn to these on occasion of New Year’s? May be it was! Or may be not ! The auspicious time was bringing forth auspicious thoughts and recollections? 

The very first verse we were taught to recite upon waking up was:

Karaagre vasate Lakshmi

Karamadhye Saraswati

Karamoole tu Govindah

Prabhaate karadarshanam 🙏🏼

Darshan is such a special word in Sanskrit. No English word comes anywhere close to express the meaning contained in this word. To see, catch a glimpse of, would be the usual phrases to stand for Darshan. But they don’t convey the emotion contained in Darshan. There is reverence, adoration, recognition of divinity and a subtle suggestion of submission along with the act of “seeing” that the word Darshan conveys. 

Prabhaat means dawn. The beginning of daylight. At that beautiful moment when you are starting your day what should you first see? Not an image of your favorite deity! Not the face of your beloved parents or spouse or kids! Not even the sun! But see your two hands! Kara = hand(s) karadarshanam = Darshan of the hands!

These hands contain the universe! 

Karaagre vasate Lakshmi!

The tips of your hands. Karaagre. That’s where Lakshmi resides! Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, prosperity! You don’t have to travel to Vishnuloka to find her, woo her! 

She is at your fingertips! 

Reminds me of Bahinabai’s verse in Khopyaa mandi khopaa ( refer to my old posts where I have described this poem in details). She tells us that the little bird sugran achieves so much with just her tiny beak, imagine what humans can achieve with their ten fingers on two hands !

We have the capacity to be industrious with our hands and generate the wealth that we need in our lives through our own efforts. The blessings of Lakshmi will manifest if we learn to revere and put our hands to work. 

Karamadhye Saraswati!

Saraswati is the Goddess of learning and creativity. 

This verse proclaims that She resides in the mid part of our hands. 

If you are looking for inspiration, creativity and knowledge to carry out your work, that too is contained within you. It will manifest if you lend yourself to it. Meditate upon it. Commit yourself to education and growing your knowledge. 

Karamoole tu Govindah!

Govind, the Lord of this entire creation, the sustainer of all life, He resides at the root( base) of your hands! The very life principle you need to sustain rightful thinking, knowledge, creativity and action is underlying your hands. You couldn’t have moved your hands if it wasn’t in them. 

Thus everything you will need to achieve success is in your two hands. When you wake up, take “ darshan” of your both hands! Understand the powers that these hands hold. And you will not have to look elsewhere. 

Two verses from the Bhagwad Gita come to mind in the present context. 

First is verse 5 from the sixth chapter:

Uddharedaatmanaatmaanam 

Naatmaanamavasaadayet I

Aatmaiva hyaatmano 

bandhuraatmaiva ripuraatmanaahaa II

This is probably my most favorite of all the verses from this text and also one that often kept me going when I was losing hope or inspiration. 

In this verse Krishna advised his dearest disciple Arjun that a man should help himself. He should never pull himself down. Every man is his own friend/ brother and his own foe/ adversary. Always choose to be your own friend, your own support! 

The other verse pertinent to the present discussion is verse 37 from the second chapter.

Hato vaa praapyasi swargam 

Jitvaa bhokshyase mahim I

Tasmaat uttishtha Kaunteya

Yudhdhaaya kruta nischayaahaa II

If you die fighting your battle you will attain heaven and enjoy that domain. If you win the war you will rule the earth and enjoy the comforts here. Either way you will be a winner. So get up and get to your duty with conviction. 

Karaagre vasate Lakshmi

Karamadhye Saraswati

Karamoole tu Govindah

Prabhaate karadarshanam 🙏🏼

Such a small verse but isn’t it powerful? 

In my next post I will continue with the verse that traditionally is the second we were taught to chant upon waking up. 

Saree is third out of my collection of Odisha ikats. This exquisite piece of art earned the national award for its weaver Smt Snehalata Meher. It is called the Mahalakshmi Saree. Has all auspicious motifs including Lakshmi pads woven with double ikat tie dye technique to make this beautiful saree. There are rudraksh rows in its borders flanking ikat motifs. It employs classic colors of black and maroon with such profound impact. I love this one the most out of all my Ikat collection.