Deva Di Deva

Deva Di Deva Prabhu Vasudeva

Manuni Seva Dasanchi Seva

Aparadha Kela Zari balakane

Kshama Karale Jagat balakane

Krishnar Panamastu

Saraswathi Namastubhyam

My mom and us kids used to always sing this song in the morning after getting ready for school.

Saraswathi Namastubhyam
Varade Kama Rupini
Vidya Rambham Karishyami
Siddhir Bavatu Mahaesada
Vakratunda Mahakaya
Koti Surya Samaprabha
Avidnyam Kurme Devo
Sarvakari Shu Sarvada
Krishnar Panamastu

Shanta Karam Bhujaga Shayanam
Padmanabham Suresham
Vishvadaharam Gagana Sadrusham
Megha Varnam Shubhangam
Lakshmi Kantham Kamala Nayanam
Yoghi Vradhayana Gamyam
Vande Vishnu Bhava Bhaya Haram
Sarva Lokhay Kanamtham

Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu
Guru Devo Maheshwara
Guru Shakshath Parabrahma
Tasmai Shri Guravenama

Matha Raman Mat Pita Rama Chandra
Swami Rama Mat Sakaramachandra
Sarvasva Ramachandrodayalo

Vishweshawaya Virupaksha Vishwarupa Sadhashiv
Sharamam Bahabuteshu Karunakara
Shankar

Krishnar Panamastu

Karagre Vasathi Lakshmi

This bhajan is usually sung in the morning and is aimed towards the devis of hindu mythology. It is explaining where the devis are located on our palms - Lakshmi on the front part of the hand, Saraswathi in the middle and Gowri/Parvathi towards the back of the hand.

Karagre Vasathi Lakshmi
Karamadde Saraswathi
Karamule Stithe Gowri
Prabhathe Kara Darshanum

Raghupathi Raghava Rajaram

This is a very popular bhajan sung all over india. It was also a favorite of Mahatma Gandhi.

Raghupathi raghava rajaram
Pathitha pavana seetharam
Eshwar allah tero naam
Sabko Sanmathi de Bhagwan {2}

Jay raghunandana jai siyaram
Janaki vallabh seetha ram

Duda Piyo re

This is one of the first prayers my mother taught me. When little kids don't have their milk, the moms teach them this song and say Krishnaji also used to have is milk everytime.

Duda piyo re sitarama
Mana mohan megha shama
Bilini che ushte bhore
Shevile tu itya dhare
Dina Jana chi prema seva
Kari re tu Jaganivasa

Story of Shakuntala

Once upon a time, there was a sage called Rishi Viswamitra. He was a very devout brahmin and wanted to be a maharishi. He was meditating in the forest one day when a celestial being called Menaka is sent by the king of gods to test him. He falls in love with Menaka and his meditation is disturbed. Menaka and Vishwamitra have a daughter. Vishwamitra realizes that he has failed in his prayers so he gets angry and abandons Menaka for disturbing him. Menaka is distraught and leaves her daughter in the middle of the forest and goes to her home in the heavens.
The baby is found in the forest surrounded by wild animals by another sage Rishi Kanwa. She is called Shakuntala. Rishi Kanwa brings her to his home and takes care of her. Shakuntala grows into a very beautiful woman.

Once King Dushyanta is hunting in the forest and shots a deer. The deer is Shakuntala's and she runs to it and nurses it. King Dushyanta sees Shakuntala and falls in love with her. He goes to Rishi Kanwa and asks him for his daughter's hand in marriage. Shakuntala also falls in love with the king and they are married in the forest. Dushyant has to go back to his kingdom to welcome Shakuntala there. So he gives his ring Shakuntala and asks her to keep it with her. He promises to come and bring her to the palace as soon as he has readied his palace for her.

Shakuntala is always lost in her new husband's memories. On one such day, Rishi Durvasa comes to Rishi Kanwa's house. Shakuntala who is distracted does not welcome him properly. So Rishi Durvasa gets angry and curses Shakuntala that the person she is thinking of will forget her. Shakuntala is very sorry and begs his forgiveness. He forgives her but he cannot take back his curse. He amends the curse and tells Shakuntala that if she shows her beloved his ring then he will recognize her.

Many months pass by and Shakuntala becomes pregnant. She wonders why her husband hasn't come back for her. She decides to go to his palace to meet him with her father Sage Kanwa. She has to cross a river to get there. In the boat she puts her hand in the water and the ring slips off her hand. She looks for the ring but cannot find it. A fish swallows the ring and it is lost.

Shakuntala and her father reach the palace of King Dushyanta. But he does not recognize her. So disheartened Shakuntala goes back to the forest and make a new home for herself and gives birth to her son Bharat. Her son grows up to be strong and brave boy who loves playing with all the wild animals.

One day, a fisherman catches the fish that swallowed the ring and find the royal ring. He is surprised to see the ring and brings it to King Dushyanta's palace. As soon as he sees the ring Dushyanta remembers Shakuntala and rushes to Rishi Kanwa's house. Rishi Kanwa informs him that Shakuntala doesn't live there anymore. Dushyanta is distraught. He starts looking for her all over the forest. Suddenly he sees a small boy playing with a lion. The boy has opened the lion's mouth and is counting its teeth. Dushyanta is surprised and asks the boy who he is. He says that he is Bharat, the great king Dushyanta's son. Dushyanta realizes that it is his son with Shakuntala and asks him to take him to his mother.

Thus, Shakuntala and Dushyanta are united together.