SRILA SRIPADA MAHARAJA VYASA-PUJA OFFERING 2009

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

namah om vishnupadaya krishna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktisvarupa damodara svamin iti namine

namah sad-bhakta-manaye manipura-udbhavaya ca
prabhupada lasad-vani pracara niratayate

babhruvahana-vamsadbhi somaya subha drstye
sunyavadi madebhendra singhaya bhagavata namah

abhayadi gunadaya sad-vijnana ghanaya ca
navya vaijnana tamas suryaya te namah

hareh katha-yata-samasta-yamo
romanca-kampasru mudabhiramah
srimad-radha-kunda-vasa-yatnah
pasyema kim tam srimad sripada-padam?

Srila Sripada Maharaja
would spend all eight yamas (divisions of the day)
glorifying topics of Sri Hari,
and thus he would become overwhelmed
by the manifestation of asta-sattvika transformations
headed by hairs standing erect, trembling, and tears of joy.
He would become extremely happy
when he resided in the most beautiful Sri Radha Kunda.
Will I ever again have darsana
of the most beautiful lotus feet of that Srila Sripada Maharaja?

We always pray to Srimati Radhika’s lotus feet by chanting Sri Radha-kripa-kataksa Stavaraja, for Her Divine Glance upon us. But now we have to fully grateful since our prayers have been fulfilled by the auspicious presence of our beloved Om Vishnupad Ashtottara-sata Tridandi-yativara Parampujyapadapadma Paramahamsa Parivrajakacaryavarya Sri Srimad Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami Srila Sripada Maharaja in the midst of our lives. He is the crest-jewel of The Lord’s pure devotees (sad-bhakta siromani) descend to this planet out of his causeless mercy, took birth in The Land of Jewel, Manipura, for the welfare of the whole world. Therefore I pay my most respectful obeisance unto him, the nayantara, shining stars of the lotus eyes of Srimati Radha, who is everything for Lord Sri Krishna. Let me bow to him, which is a magnificent eternal intimate associate of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Sri Sri Radha Krishna, and the only friend, shelter, and the life of the fallen souls. All glories to Srila Sripada Maharaja, our Gurudeva, adore eternally in our heart, as the only shelter of all suffering souls, the most graceful, the limitless ocean of love and compassion. All glories unto the very embodiment of wish-fulfilling gem that meet all the desires (cintamani svarupa), the intimate associate of Sri Radhika and Sri Gaura (gaura radhika nija-jana), which is decorated by all glorious spotless nature of a Vaishnava, never take into consideration any discrepancy in other (adosa -darsi), and the best friend of the fallen (dina-bandhu). May he bestow his merciful glance toward us. By greatness of his glorious nature, he was willingly gave atonement for so much sins of a degraded being such as myself, and allowed me to have some opportunity to take part in his eternal glorification. This is my only desire and prayer that I always submit unto his divine lotus feet.

I do not know, nor seek to know, whether the righteous and not righteous, auspicious and inauspicious. However, Srila Sripada Maharaja had come from Goloka to help me. His soft hearts moved by seeing the resistance of this jiva in samsaric world. He came to me, though I have abandoned his presence. Mercifully, he has lifted me up from the worst place, gave me shelter under his beloved companions, and then after that he returned to his divine eternal abode in The Kingdom of Love of Srimati Radhika. He is full of compassionate nature for making a hard-hearted person like me could humbly recognize that there is nothing that is worth more than sadhu-sanga throughout the universe. There is no way to get Sri Bhagavan’s prasada, and the loving devotional service other than through sadhu-seva and sadhu-kripa. His Divine Grace himself has also come and bestowed his most sweet association unto me, in very valuable times that physically ended so quickly.

Only that great personality who fully surrendered themselves to Sri Bhagavan (bhagavad-anugat) and serves Sri Krishna and His beloved Srimati Radhika is truly a sadhu. Association with such a sadhu is the only most desirable thing for us, because only by such a divine association we can attain our supreme wealth and goal (pum-artho mahan). This wealth of Divine Love is our very lives. So in other words, such a pure sadhu is the life for all. No well-wisher greater than sadhu-guru-vaishnava, or the beloved associate of Sri Gaurasundara. It is only out of Srila Sripada Maharaja’s krupai I could hear and understand the messages of greatest value such as this. I didn’t only get the opportunity to hear from His Divine Grace, but also get his personal sangam, rarely achieve even by the devas. Similarly, I have the opportunity to enter the close association of his companions, his nija-jana, who love and fully serve him. This untouchable considers his self very fortunate, for without any proper adhikaras, still His Divine Grace bestowed such a great success. There is no other reason for this other than the greatness of his nirhetuka-krupai, causeless mercy. If so, how could I find protection and support other than to pray to Srila Sripada Maharaja’s lotus feet? Now, let me humbled myself down before him, clasp my hands and pray, as Srila Das Gosvami prayed to Srila Rupa Gosvami, the same prayer also rendered by my heart before Srila Sripada Maharaja.

"adadanas trunam dantair idam yace punah punah srimad-rupa-padambhoja-dhulih syam janma janmani, This fallen jivatma, standing here with a sheet of grass on his teeth and praying again and again so he may be able to get a particle of dust from Srimad Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada’s lotus feet, in every birth." (Dana-keli-cintamani 175)

As Sri Bhagavata (11.26.26) states that no other way for a fallen one that allows him to get welfare, than through sadhu-sanga, "tato duhsangam utsrjya satsu sajjeta buddhiman santa evasya chindanti mano-vyasangam uktibhih, really intelligent person should reject all kind of bad association and should instead always in the association of pure devotee of the Lord, whose words are able to cut bondage of over attachment in his mind”. Someone should conduct sat-sanga, and reject all types of asat-sanga, in other words, by the sharp words emanating from the lips of pure devotee of Sri Govinda, delusive mind in the form of lusty desires for worldly enjoyment were destroyed from the heart, without any rest. Thus, it is not possible to have any way to get mangalatva and bhagavat-priti, when someone abandoned such sadhu-sanga and sadhu-seva. In spite it is true that such sadhu-sanga is so extremely rare, but it may not be for someone who prays for it without hypocrisy, with full sincerity, and with the knowledge that it's very difficult to accept the association of a pure sadhu in this world of asadhu.

By His unlimited love and compassion, Sri Bhagavan came to this world in order to give His sanga, and He also sends His beloved devotees into the world. As we see in Sri Caitanya-caritamrita. Knowing that is really difficult for a jiva could come across a sadhu, Krishna Himself appears as a sadhu and spiritual master in Nadiya. The presence of Sri Krishna Caitanya and Nityananda Prabhu has filled this world with the greatest bliss. This Two Brothers dispel the darkness in the depth of our hearts, and thus they help one to find two types of Bhagavata. One of the Bhagavata is the immaculate literature Srimad Bhagavatam, and the other is the Living Bhagavata, pure devotee absorbed entirely in loving devotional service. Through the magnificent activities of this Two Bhagavata, The Supreme Lord instill spiritual loving mood in the heart of a jiva, and so The Lord, resides in the heart of His devotees, being controlled by their love." (See Cc. Adi 1.87, Cc. Adi 1.98-100)

There are two types of Bhagavata, Holy Scripture (shastra) and the bhakta (devotee). They do kirtana, both glorify and praise the topics about Sri Bhagavan and his bhakta. Bhakta and Shastra, both of them is the only dear friend who expects welfare of jiva, so they are truly our life and soul. Those really intelligent ones always in search of truth and pure way of eternal goodness will not be able to live without the association of literature and sadhu. By taking firm vow they execute sadacara, deeds that lead to the truth, in the form of a rejection of the asat-sanga and vigorously seek sat-sanga. They are truly excited to be able to get the direct association bhakta-bhagavata. When such sadhu-sanga is not available then they associate with literature, shastriya-sanga. Only Hari-katha emanates from the lips of sadhu, his shastra-katha, was able to attach us to the divine lotus feet of Sri Hari, Guru and Vaishnava. His words, messages, and instructions, is the sacred literature itself.

The conscious jivatmas, living human beings, cannot live without association twenty-four hours a day. When someone does not get sadhu-sanga, both externally and internally, then surely he will be forced to accept asat-sanga. So whenever we couldn’t get personal or direct sadhu-sanga with the bhagavata, then we should accept the association through shastra, shastriya sadhu-sanga. Only with such thoughts we will continuously fixed in Krishna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur had said, "You should learn spiritual magazines with full attention. Whenever you have time, you should discuss Kalyana Kalpataru, Prarthana, Caitanya-caritamrita, and so forth. You will be able to achieve all perfections by chanting the holy name of God without offences. Sri Nama Prabhu only revealed to them who listen, learn, and discuss scripture. Your present anartha will not so strong when you are diligently performing sravana and kirtana."

We are totally blind about Krishna. Therefore, at the ancient time Srila Vedavyasa compiled Srimad Bhagavatam out of His love and compassion to all beings, only for their welfare. By discussing this paramahamsa-samhita, Sri Grantharaja Bhagavata, bhakti toward Purusottama Krishna will grow and soon will drive out all types of mourning, delusion, and fear. For all jivas’ well being, the noble bhakta bhagavata was struggling with the difficulties of writing a very large body of literatures. They who really have Priti toward Sri Hari, Guru, and Vaishnava, certainly also have Priti toward the Holy Scriptures; they must be automatically have Priti to shastras.

Our beloved Guru-pada-padma, Srila Sripada Maharaja has given these two types of sat-sanga to all of us. We do not always get the association of the living Bhagavata. It is a very great fortune for us to get the sweet direct physical association of Srila Sripada Maharaja, in really very short period during his prakrutha-lila. Indeed, it is only his mercy that makes everything possible, even if we do not have the proper qualification to attain it. In so many ways His Divine Grace has brought much happiness for us living in darkness. Heard his sweet voice, saw his spiritual form, and thought about his visit to Bali and the joy when we wait him at the airport. So he also allowed us to do different types of services and listen to his kirtana during the day he is still in our midst. Once again only out of his mercy alone, we can have that beautiful and blissful time together.

Many of us, charmed by his spiritual personality and spotless vaishnavatva, finally came to him. Some officially get initiation and some still live as followers, who always enthrone him in the core of their heart as their eternal spiritual master, since he was leaving them to enter into his aprakrutha-lila. There is no time the spiritual master doesn’t present for his dear disciples. Since our physical material eyes couldn’t get his darshan anymore, we shouldn’t think our beloved Srila Sripada Maharaja has left us abandoned. He is ever present. The Omnipresent Supreme Lord is ananta-kalyanaika-gunanidhi. The same Supreme Personality of Godhead is taking His abode eternally in Srila Sripada Maharaja’s lotus heart. So, our beloved Srila Sripada Maharaja is the divine abode of The Absolute Divinity, ananta-kalyana-guna-sad-dhama. Our Srila Sripada Maharaja is also omnipresent. He renders all services in unlimited divine forms in limitless transcendental pastimes of Srimati Radhika and Sri Gopaladeva.

He bestowed his short darshan to our eyes only to enter and resides in our heart eternally. Streams of tear from our cry of separation will manifest as the river of our love. Then the boat of our praying words will sail in its water by the wind of his unlimited divine mercy and compassion. Undoubtedly, it will end its voyage at Srila Sripada Maharaja’s lotus feet and his beloved Srimati Radhika and Sri Gopaladeva. This is my sole prayer. May when these eyes closed forever and can’t see anything anymore, when these ears will become deaf, when time will pound over this worthless body and it can’t stand anymore. When the end of this wretch person approaching. There is still just one drop of grace upon him. May I could hear Srila Sripada Maharaja’s voice of sweet kirtana of the glories of Sri Gaurangadeva and Srimati Radhika. May I could feel on my skin, the soothing breeze of wind emanates from Srila Sripada Maharaja’s eternal abode on the bank of Sri Radhakunda. May I could shed tears of joy out of my remembrance to my dear most Guru-pada-padma for the last time.

ha kvasi mat-prana-prabho kva gupto
ati dina-dasas tava duhkha-taptah
prapanna-bhaktartti-haras tvam eva
draksyami kim candra-mukham sakrt te?

O master of my life, where are you?
Where have you suddenly hidden?
Your most fallen servant is afflicted
by pangs of separation from you.
Only you can remove the sufferings
of your surrendered devotees.
Will I ever be able to look upon
your moonlike face again?

he dina-bandho! karunaika-sindho!
kuru prasadam mayi manda-mudhe
laksaparadhe bahu-papa-gadhe
tat-pada-padme 'stu matis ca krsne

O friend of the lowly, O Gurudeva,
you are the vast ocean of mercy.
I am a dull fool and have committed
hundreds of thousands of offenses.
I have fallen into a dense myriad of sins;
therefore grace me with your mercy
so that my mind may be fixed
on your lotus feet and on Sri Krishna.

sri-bhakti-svarupa-damodaraya pujitam sarvam

rangaraja-dasa-kulena ati-vilapatmika-gadyam

viraha-soka-samudram sloka-candra-avirbhavam
srimad sripadad carana-kamala-dvandvarpanam

These glorifying words in combination of extremely sorrowful prose and moonlike stanzas arises from the miserable ocean of separation, was spoken by a member of Rangarajadasakulan, family lineage of servants of The Lord of Enchanting Stage, King of Palatial Aranga-mandiram, dedicated unto His Divine Grace Parampujyapadapadma Om Vishnupad Ashtottara-sata Paramahamsa Parivrajakacaryavarya Sri Srimad Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Svami Srila Sripada Maharaja, as a humble offering to His Two Lotus like Divine Feet.

Even in his non-physical presence, he continued to bestow his mercy upon all of us. He still allows us to associate with his words, with the books he has written, his recorded voice of sweet kirtana and the mission he has left in this place for us to serve. He has given us everything. We inherit all these big things from him, and we are forever indebted to him. Thus, in this most blessed day of Srila Sripada Maharaja Vyasa Puja Mahotsava, we pray together in order to obtain his mercy again. May all of us, his disciples and his devotees, initiated or not, can be strengthened and made his instructions as our very life and soul and united together to serve his mission.

Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacaryavarya Ashtottar-sata
Sri Srimad Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Svami Maharaja Srila Sripada ki Jay!
Sad-bhakta Siromani Srila Sripada Maharaja ki Jay!

Denpasar, Bali 2009
Viraha-aksepa satata-vilapam
para-dina-hina-dasanudasam
sri guru-vaishnava karunya-bhiksum
Bhakta P.B. Rangarajan

Invocations in The Treatise of Leadership and Morality

In Kawi literature, we also have a book called Niti Sastra, the book of leadership. We have no historical proves about its real compiler. In India, the same Niti Sastra was authored by Chanakya, a Brahmins with extraordinary political knowledge. It was him, who took the power of Nanda Dynasty by intelligent tactic and enthroned the Mauryas. And he was the same person prophesied 5000 years ago by Lord Vedavyasa as a certain Brahmana who will put to end the reign of the Nandas. But the Javanese Niti Sastra was silent about its authorship though it was seem base on Indian-Sanskrit Niti Sastra of Chanakya. Some persons believe the book was translated by Dvijendra, the greatest Saivite high priest of Majapahit who came to Bali after the fall of the said Empire.

Niti Sastra was a book of leadership. But actually it wasn’t about political leadership. It was “personal leadership”, how to shape our own personality to become morally cultured human. The Javanese Niti Sastra manuscript begin with these prayers,

The Shining Lord. As brilliant as thousands suns

Sembahninghulun ing bhatara Hari
sarwajnatmabhuh nityasa
Sang tanseng hridayanta tikta
tulisengke supratisthe namer
Ring wahyastuti sembahinghulun
i jong sang hyang sahasrangsuman
Dadya prakrita niti sastra
hiniket lambing winakteng praja
“I am worshiping the essence of omniscience eternity The Supreme Lord Hari. Externally I offered my obeisance to The Lord Who Shining with Thousands Rays (the Sun). I will write this work by bind Him first, tightly in the core of my heart. Thus a work called Niti Sastra was manifested, for distribute the knowledge to the people.”

Suryadeva, the sun god on his chariot

Awighnam astu.
Nihan ri telasning slokakatha wahyanya,
Sang Hyang Sarasamuscaya Niti Sara Sanghita.
Sembahninghulun ring Sri Bhatara Hari,
sira kang wisesa ring sarwa loka.
Iswaraning sarwa dewa,
ndoninghulun semembahing sira.
Mangajarakena ikang Niti Sara,
kajaran ikang sarwa sastra.
Rengawakena tikeng wuwus mami
kamung sisyaka dadi
sarwa dharma juga winuwuska.
Uwus pwa kita rumenge
alapen pwekang taya.
Makaphala panutang atma mareng hayu.
Ndatan hana juga kahyunya mwah.
“May there be no obstacle! This is the conclusion of the book of Sarasamuscaya, the essence of all teachings on morality. I offered my obeisance unto the Supreme Lord Hari, the Master of all worlds. God of all gods, thus I worshipped You. Now I shall describe this Niti Sastra, as taught by all scriptures. After you heard these from me O my dear disciples, may you also practicing them. May you could take the essence of all my teachings. These you should follow personally for your welfare. Never change your minds from these ideals.”

Here we also found a certain book called Sarasamuscaya was mentioned by the author. This is a very famous book for Balinese Hindus. A certain sage called Vararuci (Katyayana?) compiled the Sanskrit version as a resume of the teachings of moralities in Lord Vedavyasa’s Mahabharata. Its Kawi version considered as an authorized work on Indonesian Hindus’ moralistic values.

Prayers to Lord Krishna in Bhaumantaka-carita of Barada

Bhaumasura in Kathakali performance

Although we did not have any historical evidence, but the Balinese elders believed Barada Rishi was compiled a Javanese Bhaumantaka-carita. This is also a rare palm leaf manuscript and not so widely read by people as The Yogisvara Ramayana and The Parvas. Bhaumantaka was about the death of Bhaumasura (or Narakasura) but described more elaborately than the same story we found in Bhagavata. Many unknown scenes were told in this work such as the defeat of Arjuna in his battle with Bhaumasura.

Bhaumantaka became interesting literary work for me when I found the prayer of Brahma and other Devas and Rishis to Lord Krishna, after The Lord killed Bhaumasura.

Hyang Brahma sira sighra dhateng
anembaha rarem i Bhatara Kesava.
Bhaktyangastuti ling niran,
Prabhu wisesa kita wasawasitwang bhupati.
Utpati sthiti linaning bhuwana
karana nika kita dadi dewata.
Bhokteng bhogya kitatma suddha
purusottama kita paramartha kewala.
”Lord Brahma came quickly to Lord Kesava’s presence and worships Him. With prayers full of devotion he said, My Lord You are the omnipotent, The Lord whose will never be unfulfilled. You are The Supreme God, the very cause of creation, maintenance, and destruction of the whole cosmic manifestation. The pure blemish-less Supreme Personality. Your very Self was bliss and pleasure personified. There is no other higher destination or goal other than You!”

Yan ring sandhi katattwaning pranawa
dewa kita maka sarirang aksara.
Litning sutra subaddha bandhana binandha
kita paramatattwa durlabha.
Yan ring jyotishatantra tan hana waneh
kita sipati katemwaning pinet.
Sangksepanya wisesa ri tiga
bhatara parama siwa nisti dewata.
“You are the most secret truth of syllable OM (pranava) among all alphabet. You are the thread, the resting place of all beings. The tightest unbreakable rope. The Supreme Absolute Truth uneasily reached. You are the only One who propitiated by all Jyotishas and Tantras to attain their perfection. Conclusively, among these Three Divine Features, certainly You are the Paramasiva.” (Jyotishas are astrological knowledge, consulted for decide good or bad time to perform any activity by mastering the path and movement of star, planet, etc. Tantras are the knowledge of skillful means to attain the goal. Both Jyotishas and Tantras help us to manifest our aspiration. But that was Lord Krishna who sanctioned everything. Without His permission nothing could be gain although we take the injunction of Jyotishas and Tantras very strictly. And with His mere will alone, all success came even without following the Jyotishas and Tantras. The term ri tiga bhatara ~ among Three Divine Manifestation as found in Saiva-agama and the theological concept of the Saiva i.e. Siva or Sivatma, Sadasiva or Isvara, and Paramasiva or Parabrahman, conclusively proclaimed that Lord Krishna is the same Paramasiva of the Saivites or Paravasudeva of Vaishnavas).

Nyang loka hyuni tattwaning hyang
ingapan wruha ri gati bhatara yang wibhuh.
Prajna yan pamasang samahita tathapi wisayanika
tan teke kita Sang Yogiswara towi tan wenang
atarka ri kita umeneng kurang idep
Puja dhyana Samadhi dharma
pitutur pinalimura ring kapanditan
“The lords of worlds (devas) eager to know the truth about You, but they can’t reach Your glorious prowess. Because You are the knowledge and wisdom Himself, so they approached You only by worship. The masters of yogis have no qualification to know You, so they remain in solitary silent. By following the Eternal Law, they took the way of priesthood or penance and performed worship (puja), meditation (dhyana), and unified their consciousness only with You (samadhi).”

After these prayers offered by Lord Brahma, all Prajapatis, Devas, headed by Indra on his elephant vehicle the Airavata, twelve sons of Aditi headed by the Sun God Surya on his chariot, Kuvera the celestial treasurer on his air plane palanquin (vimana) with all his Yakshas and Yamaraja, the lord of death came on his buffalo carrier and holding his Danda (staff of justice) to worship The Supreme Lord Krishna. Then Mahesvara or Siva, famous as Pretaraja, the lord of ghostly beings, also came with his families such as his consort Uma and his son Lord Sena and Lord Ganapati, and many followers such as the Bhutas, Ganas, and Pramathas (kinds of malign supernatural beings). They glorified Lord Hari with thunderous voices and showered the rain of flower and other fragrances.

Supreme Lord of all lords worships by Devas, Rishis, Siddhas, and Humans

The Great Lord then said to all of them,
Nahan lingira,
he Virinchi kita masiheng rat kabeh
Watek hyang iki raksanen
ta nguniweh tika sang rishi
Apan kita bapebuning sakala loka kita
Matangnya hayuning jagat
jagaya tan ya tan linggara.
”Thus The Great Lord said, O my dear Virinchi (Brahma), you are affectionately always protecting the whole creation. So let you continued to protect the gods and the sages as before. Since you are considered as the father and also mother of all universes. Because of your sacrifice the whole world wouldn’t fall to disorder and always in peace.”

Telas mara ilang si Bhauma ya kalengkaning rat kabeh Tewek nika kahawyaning bhuwana dengku tanpopama Kitekana nimittaning tehera tang jagat saswata Marapwaniki tusta sang rishi lawan watek dewata
“The disaster of universe, Bhauma, just already destroyed. By My blessing the indescribable peace has prevailed everywhere. Now it is your turn to keep this condition forever, so the sages and gods could live peacefully ever after.”

Sadrewya nikanang watek hyang
inalap nikang Bhumija
Yateka muliheka dengku
meneher tut karma
Kitatikana ngengeta kramanika
kitaningkaha apan mapiwika
swabhawa nikanghyuni drewya len
“Anything took by force from the gods by this Bhumija (Bhaumasura) has been under My protection. Now I gave them to you. Let you returned them to all devas according to the lawful means. That was not honourable act and very degraded to take what not belong to us.”

Nahan wuwusinghulun
ri sira watek hyang kabeh
Kitatika nimittaning sakala
warna tan sangkara
Teher kita matuta nitya gawayen
tikangarcana marapwanika
tusta tang bhuwana loka bhakti kita
”Thus I spoke to you, O all gods. It was known to everyone, that Lord Brahma was the very creator of this material world. Please never cease to perform your Puja, so everyone in this universe will happily worship you with devotion.”

Wuwusku depenta
aywa ta kita pramadeng ayu
Yananya kita pagwanapageha
ring kadewabratan
Tumema phalaning kasiddhyana
teher musuh tan hana
Nghulun muwahajanma
manusa rikang jagat raksana
“Please remember my message, never abandoned your duty to universal welfare. If all of you performed your duty honestly, by austerities all success will be attained, and there is no more endangering enemy. But whenever the world needs Me, I certainly will descend in My Human Form, and give you protection.”

The Dharmavansha Project

The famous king of Ishanavansha, Sri Dharmavansha Anantavikramottungadeva (991 – 1007 ce) was the next king who further patronized the translation of Hindu-Vedic literatures, Puranas and Itihasas, to Kawi language. His sister was married to Udayana (Sri Dharmodayana Varmadeva), the Varmadeva king of neighbouring island of Bali. Her maiden name was Mahendradatta, but after her marriage she was designated as Sri Maharani Gunapriya Dharmapatni, whose memorial shrine was still maintained nicely in Burwan hill, Bali. She was unified with her Istadevi in the form of Mahisamardhini Durga. This historical marriage brought deep influence in the continuity of Javanese Hindu civilization and also supposed to legitimize the ruling Varmadeva dynasty’s authority and rights to rules Bali in the future.

Mahisamardhinidurga of Kutri Burwan. The Deity of Sri Mahendradatta

One inscription told us, “.... sira ta Sri Dharmavansha Anantavikramottungadeva ngaranira, umilwa manggalaning mangjawakna Byasamata... mwang parampara karengo tekeng anagatakala..., His Majesty named Sri Dharmavansha Anantavikramottungadeva, gave the order to bring auspiciousness by translating the sacred works of Vyasadeva to Javanese (mangjawaken Byasamata), ... so the valuable wealth of the divine disciplic succession (parampara) will continued to unlimited time in the future (anagatakala)”

Among 18 parvas of original Mahabharata, today we found Javanese (Kawi) translations of Adi Parva, Sabha Parva, Virata Parva, Udyoga Parva, Bhisma Parva, Ashramavasa Parva, Mausala Parva, Prasthanika Parva, Svargarohana Parva and some said the Vana Parva also available in Kawi. Other literary works also happened to be translated and compiled under patronage of Sri Dharmavansha, such as Uttara Kanda (from Valmiki Ramayana), Arjuna Vijaya, Astika-asraya (the story of how Astika Rishi saved the serpentine race from total annihilation by Maharaja Janamejaya’s sacrificial rites), Parthayana or Subhadra Vivaha (the marriage of Subhadra and Arjuna), Rama Kanda (summary of Ramayana), Hari-asraya, and Hari Vijaya (both about pastimes of Lord Krishna such as Kamsavadha, etc.).

The Indian Manuscript of Mahabharata in Sanskrit and Nagari script

We find no deviation or any significant difference between the stories of original Mahabharata with their Javanese translation of these several Parvas. This could be a little surprising if we read the older Yogisvara Ramayana. There are some differences with the original Valmiki Ramayana, though they are not so important. But when we read Javanese Ramayana, there is a strange feeling that The Lord’s pastimes were happened in Java itself rather than in India. We find the same case with Ramakien (Ramakhyan) of Siam or Thai Ramayana which said by some scholars was based on Javanese Yogisvara Ramayana. Both the Siamese and Javanese feel Ramayana was a part of their own mythological history. We don’t find such idea in the original translations of Mahabharata’s Parvas of Sri Dharmavansha’s reign. The deviations we find in today’s presentation of shadow puppet show (the Wayang) or its life drama was came from more recent interpolation and differentiated from the original translation of the Parvas by name Wayang Purwa.

Balinese shadow puppet show (wayang). The scene of Gita, when Lord Krishna taught Arjuna the Dharma

Here we present some passages from Javanese Parvas (or let we called it Dharmavansha’s project) which glorified The Lord.

In Udyoga Parva, Duryodhana asked Sanjaya to reveal the true identities of Lord Krishna and Arjuna. Lord Vedavyasa appeared and told Sanjaya to say the truth, “aywa gigu mujarakena satuhunya (don’t hesitate, tell the truth)” Sanjaya then said, “Sajna haji, kadi ling patik haji nguni, tar keneng upalaksana kamahatmyan i sang Pandava, apan hana Maharaja Krishna ri sira. Maharaja Krishna ngaranira saksat Hari-murti, wenang sakala jagat wyapaka, siddha gawe wigraha. Icca nira ngkana ktang Triloka Mandala, mwang manahanakna. Sira humyang ing Bhur Bhuwah Swah. Sira suming ing catur yuga. Paramarthanya, sira wasitwa pramana ring sarwajanma, ndya ta marga sang Pandava tan lewiha? ~ Alright my lord, as my master said previously, actually I couldn’t describe properly the greatness (kamahatmyan) of the sons of Pandu. Since The King of all kings Lord Krishna was in their side. Verily, Lord Krishna was the Form of Godhead Himself (saksat hari-murti), He is omnipresent (wyapaka), and everything happened only out of His sanction. By His mere will, He created the whole three worlds and also destroys them. The Supreme Lord, worshiped by the inhabitants of Bhur, Bhuvah, and Suvah (upper, middle, and lower planetary system). He was the only Person glorified in four Yugas. He is the highest goal (parama-artha), by Whose will (wasitwa) all beings were born. So who could be better then the Pandavas?”

We also find the crying of Draupadi, “trahi mam pundarikaksah, tatan hana sarana-asrayaning hulun waneh, tabeda sangke Parameswara ~ Protect me o My Lotus Eyed Lord, since I have no other place to surrender (sarana) and shelter (asraya), indeed You are The Supreme Godhead Himself.” In other place we have Kunti’s prayer, “Aum kaki Maharaja Krishna, kadina waneh mahanubhawaka, bheda saka ri tanayanku laki. Tvam dharma tvam tapo mahat. Kita marika dharma kita marika tapa. Tvam trata tvat parabrahma. Kita rakwasih satata. Kita nitya pinakatma mantra. Kalingannya tulusaken ta asih ta laki ri sanghulun kabeh. ~ Aum Maharaja Krishna my Son, there is no one more benevolent than You. (actually) You are different with my other sons (bheda saka ri tanayanku). You are dharma and the greatest tapa (the Cosmic Law and Penance). You are the maintainer of the whole creation and The Ultimate Truth. You always love us. Though You are the Eternal One (nitya) and the soul of all mantras. Please never cease to bestowing your love and affection toward all of us.”

The Blessed Lord as Arjuna's charioter

In Bhisma Parva we have the teachings of Dronacharya, when Yudhistira approached him at the beginning of the Great War. Drona said, “apa yan wibhrama dateng kari bapa? Tan enget karika kita? Yato dharmas tatha krishnas, yatah krishnas tatho jayah. Gengning punyantamarika an hana Maharaja Krishna iri kita. Hana ta Maharaja Krishna byakta hana ring kawijayan ri kita ~ What confusion (wibhrama) take you to approached me my son? Did you forget this? How great your virtue (punya) by having Lord Krishna in your side. Wherever the Truth (dharma) prevailed, then The Lord would be there. Wherever The Lord would be, then the supreme victory was assured.” At other place when Bhismadeva forced The Lord to take weapon and broke His vow to not involve at all in this war, except for gave advices and became Arjuna’s chariot-driver. For protection of His dear Arjuna, The Lord rushed to Bhismadeva and going to attacked him with a broken wheel of a chariot. In blissful mood Bhismadeva accepted his fatal fate by offering glorification unto The Lord, “tan wyabhicara keta sembahku ri kita, apan kita dewaning dewa, kita parameya… ~ I told You without any hesitation, please accept my obeisance Dear Lord, You O God of all gods, The Supreme…”

Bhisma blissfully accept his fate, to be killed by the angry Lord

Under patronage of Sri Dharmavansha the Srimad Ramayana part of Uttara Kanda also translated once again to Javanese Kawi and highly elaborated the path of surrender (Saranagati), the core of Vaishnavite teachings. It was said as, “umilwa manggalya sarana-asrayaning ma sangkatha Sri Ramayana carita.”

Sri Sri Sita Rama Laksmana Hanuman.
Bharata, Satrughna and Their Vanara devotees

Prayers to Lord Ramacandra in The Javanese Yogisvara Ramayana

Lord Rama killed Vali and Dasamukha or Ravana
Relief panel of Prambanan

Devas (gods of celestial realm), siddhas (accomplished mystic beings with supernatural power), and rishis (revered sages) were offered their prayer to Lord Ramacandra in Yogisvara Ramayana or Javanese Ramayana. The language used here was archaic Javanese called Kawi, the language of the poets (Kavi). Yogisvara Ramayana might be the oldest of all Itihasa ever translated to Javanese Kawi language. You can see many Sanskrit words still used in these Ramayana’s slokas. This translation of Srimad Ramayana was considered by many scholars as the most beautiful among all Javanese ancient Hindu literary works. As I said in previous posts, these Ramayana truly presenting Vaishnavite tenets by establishing the supremacy of Lord Vishnu in His Form as Lord Ramacandra.

Na ta prakara ni awakta bhineda-bheda,
kintu pwa tan hana palenan ika awakta.
Tunggal kitekana penuh rikanang triloka,
atma nikang dadi cara-acara ucca-nicca.
“Lord, You have assumed these various forms, but actually They were non-different from Your very Self. You are the sole shelter of the three worlds; You are the life and soul of everything, moving and non moving, the highest and the lowest.”

Tatan dadi ng dadi kabeh yadiyat tayatah,
apan kitekana ta jiwa kiteka sangkan.
Brahmadi ning sakalabhuta trenanta towi,
tuntuni jiwita nika cetanannya.
“There is no creation without You. Since You are the very cause and life of everything. You are the origin of the highest Brahma and all other beings, even the tip of a blade of grass. That is You, the supreme consciousness of all living beings.”

Anghing samangkana hidep mami he mahatma,
gambhira-bhara ta awakta atita-suksma.
De sang maharishi maha simpen ika awakta,
sang sipta matra pangujar mami mantra-matra.
“Our mind only could grasp You that far O Great Self. Your divine qualities are very deep and fathomless. You are subtler than the subtlest. Even for the great rishis, You are remain a deep secret. Whatever we could say were just a few words full of limitation and nothing more than a little bit mantras to glorify Your Self.”

Sangke iweh nika awakta acintyagamya,
sangksepa sang rishi n usi tang ujar masimpen.
Yawat mahardhika mahabala maprabhawa
tawat bhatara purusottama ling maharishi.
“Since Your Divine Form is inconceivable, all rishis cannot speak anything more about You. As the limit of the unlimited independence, unlimited power, and unlimited prowess, such the limitless nature of Your Self, The Supreme Person. Thus speak all rishis in one voice.”

Ndan don ikojara ni tattwa bhatara tan len,
swasta nikang bhuwana durjana ya dahanya.
Sang sadhu mangguhakena ng suka tar pakala,
anghing basantatilakadi sekar makala.
“Thus we pour our heart only to reveal Your Truth. So the whole world may gain all goodness and the wicked will vanish. Let all holy personages become ever blissful as fully blossoming flowers, as the rain of jewel in the autumn.”

Na ta ujar rishi kabeh mangastuti humung mwang
sura siddha carana mangunyaken jaya jaya.
Utkata puspawarsa sumawur lawan jenu marum
ring gaganantarala i ruhur nirang Raghusuta.
“Thus all rishis glorify and worship The Lord. All devas, siddhas, caranas, etc. in thunderous voices proclaim all victory (jaya jaya) to the Son of Raghu Dynasty (Lord Ramacandra). The rain of flowers and fragrant powder were showering from the sky and outer space.”


This Ramayana was the masterpiece of literary work of Central Java Mataram civilization and the Trinatha temple of Prambanan (Parambrahman) was the masterpiece of sacred architectural work. Both were constructed under the patronage of pious Javanese Hindu King, probably Raka i Pikatan and continued by his descendant, Raka i Kayuwangi (Sri Maharaja Sajjanotsavottungadeva or Dyah Lokapala (856 – 886 ce). The acts of Ramayana were sculpted on Prambanan temple's wall.

After the reign of Raka i Wawa – Sri Vijayalokanathottunga (924 – 929 ce), the capital of Javanese Hindu Kingdom and the centre of civilization was removed to East Java from Central Java. This was the beginning of the reign of Ishanavansa established by mPu Sindok or Sri Maharaja Ishanottungadeva, the heir of Central Java’s Sanjayavansha. The growing power of Srivijaya in Sumatra and natural disasters supposed to be the cause of this resettlement of Javanese Hindu Kingdom. Srivijaya was the greatest kingdom at that time, with powerful maritime domination in South East Asia region. Even the name Suvarnabhumi, the greater India, land of golden lustre became the sole name of Sumatra under Srivijaya.