Sri Rama Lila Ramayana: Recent Episodes
Vanamali Mataji
This is the story of the Lord’s descent on earth as Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, scion of the race of Raghu, pinnacle of human perfection.
Place the name RAMA as a jeweled lamp at the door of your lips and there will be light both inside and out...
Sri Tulsi Dass.
The seventeenth of July Dakshinayanam starts, the 6 months of the year when the sun starts its northward journey. This is a very important month spiritually.The first 7 days are normally given to reading the Ramayana. Vanamali Ashram is grateful to carry on this ancient tradition and offer this reading of Sri Rama Lila, Vanamali’s translation of this timeless legend.--
This is the story of the Lord’s descent on earth as Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, scion of the race of Raghu, pinnacle of human perfection.--
Anyone who reads this wonderful book cannot help but be moved to tears. It will make him or her ecstatic. The beauty of this book is that it is written by one who has great love and devotion for Sri Rama. It touches some subtle chords in the readers heart... The more we read it, the more devotion we develop. --Sri Swami Satchidanandaji Maharaj, Anandashram, Kanhanghad.--
With prose as verdant as the Indian forest, Vanamali lovingly renders the timeless epic, the Ramayana... Prepare to be transported! -- Richard Schiffman, Author of Mother of All. --
At the conclusion of each Canto, Vanamali Mataji recites a verse from the The Yoga Vasishta , traditionally attributed to Valmiki, the author of the Ramayana. The Yoga Vasishta is a dialogue between Sage Vasishta and Sri Rama, during which Advaita (the doctrine of non-duality) is expounded.
Vanamali is a contemporary Hindu contemplative, teacher, and author. She lives in a small ashram in Rishikesh, an ancient place of pilgrimage in the foothills of India's holy Himalayas.--
Vanamali Mataji is the author of The Lila Hindu World Heritage Library. Her books include: a translation of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Nitya Yoga, a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna Lila, Sri Rama Lila, Sri Shiva Lila, Sri Devi Lila, Sri Hanuman Lila, Lilas of the Sons of Shiva, Gurudeva and The Taste Divine. Sri Devi Lila is published in the U.S. as Shakti: Realm of The Divine Mother , Sri Hanuman Lila as Hanuman: The Devotion and Power of The Monkey God. We invite you to visit www.Vanamaliashram.org
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Sri Rama Lila
Book 4 Kishkinda Kanda- The book of Kishkinda
Canto 1- The Famous Encounter
Sr Rama Lila
Book 3 - Aranya Kanda- Book of the Forest--
Canto 1 -The Forest Dwellers--
Canto 2- Panchavati
Sri Ram Lila-
Book 2 Canto 3 - The Banishment -
Mataji Vanamali sings her originallove poem...
ANAATHAYAKKARUTE IVALE
(Raga – Bhim Plas)
Annatheyakkarute ivale, annatha rakshakane
Shoure, anaatha rakshakane!
Ee marubhumiyil ninne thedi
Janma janmangalayi jaan alayunnu,
Vadi kozhinjoru ajnatha pushpam jaan
Nin sannidanathil vannu chernu,
Ninte poojayil engine cherkkum,
Nin thirumumbil jaan engine nilkkum
Annatheyakkarute ivale…
Jeevitha melayil vazhi thetti vannu jaan,
Bheekara swapnathil, samvatsarangalai,
Kai neeti enne karakayattan nee,
Arukil varille karunanithe,
Odi varille Lakshmi pathe,
Annatheyakkarute ivale…
Mata Pathi bandu enikku nee maatram,
Putra poutratikal neethan kanmani,
Chorabandangale samthyajichittu jaan,
Nin paadam maatram aashrayichu,
Sweekarikille nee priya Vanamali,
Odi varu Kanna! Priya Vanamali!
Annatheyakkarute ivale…
O Shoure (Krishna)! Please don’t make me an orphan!
O thou who art the sole support of the abandoned!
Please don’t make me an orphan!
Birth after birth have I wandered through the desert of life,
Searching for Thee,
I’m but an unknown flower, faded and worn,
Unknowingly I have reached thy doorstep,
How can I offer myself to thee?
How can I be used in they puja?
O Shoure! (Krishna)! Help of the helpless!
Please don’t abandon me!
In the carnival of life I missed my way
And fell into a nightmare that lasted for eons!
O Lord of Lakshmi! Wilt thou not stretch thy hand and haul me to the shore?
O Ocean of compassion! Wilt thou not come running to save me?
O thou delight of my eyes!
Thou alone art my mother, husband, friend and relation,
No sons or grandsons do I have other than thee!
Having given up all my blood relations,
I have sought refuge at thy feet alone,
Will thou not accept me O Beloved Vanamali,
Wilt thou not come running to me, my darling Vanamali!
Sri Rama Lila: Ramayana...
Book 2: Ayodhya Kanda - Book of Ayodhya...
Canto 1: Impending Coronation...
Canto 2: Kaikeyi Contrives...
Vanamali Mataji sings her original love poems...
ANAATHAYAKKARUTE IVALE
(Raga – Bhim Plas)
Annatheyakkarute ivale, annatha rakshakane
Shoure, anaatha rakshakane!
Ee marubhumiyil ninne thedi
Janma janmangalayi jaan alayunnu,
Vadi kozhinjoru ajnatha pushpam jaan
Nin sannidanathil vannu chernu,
Ninte poojayil engine cherkkum,
Nin thirumumbil jaan engine nilkkum
Annatheyakkarute ivale…
Jeevitha melayil vazhi thetti vannu jaan,
Bheekara swapnathil, samvatsarangalai,
Kai neeti enne karakayattan nee,
Arukil varille karunanithe,
Odi varille Lakshmi pathe,
Annatheyakkarute ivale…
Mata Pathi bandu enikku nee maatram,
Putra poutratikal neethan kanmani,
Chorabandangale samthyajichittu jaan,
Nin paadam maatram aashrayichu,
Sweekarikille nee priya Vanamali,
Odi varu Kanna! Priya Vanamali!
Annatheyakkarute ivale…
O Shoure (Krishna)! Please don’t make me an orphan!
O thou who art the sole support of the abandoned!
Please don’t make me an orphan!
Birth after birth have I wandered through the desert of life,
Searching for Thee,
I’m but an unknown flower, faded and worn,
Unknowingly I have reached thy doorstep,
How can I offer myself to thee?
How can I be used in they puja?
O Shoure! (Krishna)! Help of the helpless!
Please don’t abandon me!
In the carnival of life I missed my way
And fell into a nightmare that lasted for eons!
O Lord of Lakshmi! Wilt thou not stretch thy hand and haul me to the shore?
O Ocean of compassion! Wilt thou not come running to save me?
O thou delight of my eyes!
Thou alone art my mother, husband, friend and relation,
No sons or grandsons do I have other than thee!
Having given up all my blood relations,
I have sought refuge at thy feet alone,
Will thou not accept me O Beloved Vanamali,
Wilt thou not come running to me, my darling Vanamali!
Sri Rama Lila
Book 2- Ayodhya Kanda- Book of Ayodhya--
Canto 2 - The Avatara...
Rama had the glory of the moon and Sita its beauty.
Rama had the gait of an elephant and Sita a Swan.
Vanamali Mataji sings her original love poem...
PRIYE EVIDE THEDUNNI
(Raga – Poorvi)
O Love! Where have you been searching for Me?
I do not dwell in the temple or ashram,
I dwell in your heart.
I cannot be found in rituals and flowers,
Nor in chants and austerities.
I don’t live in houses nor do I live in forests.
My residence is your heart alone!
O Love! Where have you been searching for me?
From the temple of Guruvayoor up to the temple of Badrinath you have been looking for me,
Don’t you know that I am not to be found in temples or holy rivers?
All through your journey, I was walking beside you.
In fact I have always lived in the temple of your heart
In the form of Vanamali!
O Love! Where have you been searching for Me?
Priye evide thedunni, evide thedunnni,
Ambalathilla jaan ashramathilla jaan,
Jan ninte hridayathil vasikkunnu,
Poojayil illa jaan,
Pushpathil illa jaan,
Japathil illa jaan,
Tapasil illa jaan,
Grihathil illa jaan,
Vanathil illa jaan,
Jaan ninte hridayathil vasikunnu
Priye! Krishna priye! Krishna priye!
Guruvayoor ambalathil, Badarikashramam vare,
Nee enne thedi nadannuvallo,
Kshetrathil alla jaan, theerthathil alla jaan,
Jaan ninte koode nadannirunnu.
Nin mano mandirathil vasikkunnu,
Vanamali rupathil thilangunnu
Priye evide thedunni, evide thedunnni, evide thedduni!
“Place the name RAMA as a jeweled lamp at the door of your lips
and there will be light both inside and out..."
Sri Tulsi Dass
The seventeenth of July Dakshinayanam starts, the 6 months of the year when the sun starts its northward journey. This is a very important month spiritually.The first 7 days are normally given to reading the Ramayana. Vanamali Ashram is grateful to carry on this ancient tradition and offer this reading of Sri Rama Lila, Vanamali’s translation of this timeless legend.
Sri Rama Lila
Book 1- Bala Kanda- Book of Boyhood--
Canto 1 -Valmiki
This is the story of the Lord’s descent on earth as Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, scion of the race of Raghu, pinnacle of human perfection.
"Anyone who reads this wonderful book cannot help but be moved to tears. It will make him or her ecstatic. The beauty of this book is that it is written by one who has great love and devotion for Sri Rama. It touches some subtle chords in the readers heart... The more we read it, the more devotion we develop". --Sri Swami Satchidanandaji Maharaj, Anandashram, Kanhanghad
"With prose as verdant as the Indian forest, Vanamali lovingly renders the timeless epic, the Ramayana... Prepare to be transported!" -- Richard Schiffman, Author of Mother of All
Vanamali is a contemporary Hindu contemplative, teacher, and author. She lives in a small ashram in Rishikesh, an ancient place of pilgrimage in the foothills of India's holy Himalayas.
Vanamali Mataji is the author of The Lila Hindu World Heritage Library. Her books include: a translation of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Nitya Yoga, a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna Lila, Sri Rama Lila, Sri Shiva Lila, Sri Devi Lila, Sri Hanuman Lila, Lilas of the Sons of Shiva, Gurudeva and The Taste Divine. Sri Devi Lila is published in the U.S. as Shakti: Realm of The Divine Mother , Sri Hanuman Lila as Hanuman: The Devotion and Power of The Monkey God.
Vanamali Mataji sings her original love poem...
ANAATHAYAKKARUTE IVALE
(Raga – Bhim Plas)
O Shoure! Please don’t make me an orphan!
O thou who art the sole support of the abandoned!
Please don’t make me an orphan!
Birth after birth have I wandered through the desert of life,
Searching for Thee,
I’m but an unknown flower, faded and worn,
Unknowingly I have reached thy doorstep,
How can I offer myself to thee?
How can I be used in they puja?
O Shoure! Help of the helpless!
Please don’t abandon me!
In the carnival of life I missed my way
And fell into a nightmare that lasted for eons!
O Lord of Lakshmi! Wilt thou not stretch thy hand and haul me to the shore?
O Ocean of compassion! Wilt thou not come running to save me?
O thou delight of my eyes!
Thou alone art my mother, husband, friend and relation,
No sons or grandsons do I have other than thee!
Having given up all my blood relations,
I have sought refuge at thy feet alone,
Will thou not accept me O Beloved Vanamali,
Wilt thou not come running to me, my darling Vanamali!
Annatheyakkarute ivale, annatha rakshakane
Shoure, anaatha rakshakane!
Ee marubhumiyil ninne thedi
Janma janmangalayi jaan alayunnu,
Vadi kozhinjoru ajnatha pushpam jaan
Nin sannidanathil vannu chernu,
Ninte poojayil engine cherkkum,
Nin thirumumbil jaan engine nilkkum
Annatheyakkarute ivale…
Jeevitha melayil vazhi thetti vannu jaan,
Bheekara swapnathil, samvatsarangalai,
Kai neeti enne karakayattan nee,
Arukil varille karunanithe,
Odi varille Lakshmi pathe,
Annatheyakkarute ivale…
Mata Pathi bandu enikku nee maatram,
Putra poutratikal neethan kanmani,
Chorabandangale samthyajichittu jaan,
Nin paadam maatram aashrayichu,
Sweekarikille nee priya Vanamali,
Odi varu Kanna! Priya Vanamali!
Annatheyakkarute ivale…
This is the story of the Lord’s descent on earth as Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, scion of the race of Raghu, pinnacle of human perfection.
"Anyone who reads this wonderful book cannot help but be moved to tears. It will make him or her ecstatic. The beauty of this book is that it is written by one who has great love and devotion for Sri Rama. It touches some subtle chords in the readers heart... The more we read it, the more devotion we develop". --Sri Swami Satchidanandaji Maharaj, Anandashram, Kanhanghad
"With prose as verdant as the Indian forest, Vanamali lovingly renders the timeless epic, the Ramayana... Prepare to be transported!" -- Richard Schiffman, Author of Mother of All
Vanamali is a contemporary Hindu contemplative, teacher, and author. She lives in a small ashram in Rishikesh, an ancient place of pilgrimage in the foothills of India's holy Himalayas.
Vanamali Mataji is the author of The Lila Hindu World Heritage Library. Her books include: a translation of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Nitya Yoga, a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna Lila, Sri Rama Lila, Sri Shiva Lila, Sri Devi Lila, Sri Hanuman Lila, Lilas of the Sons of Shiva, Gurudeva and The Taste Divine. Sri Devi Lila is published in the U.S. as Shakti: Realm of The Divine Mother , Sri Hanuman Lila as Hanuman: The Devotion and Power of The Monkey God.