January 16th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
आकाशात्पतितं तोयं यथा गच्छति सागरम् ।
सर्वदेव नमस्कारः केशवं प्रति गच्छति ॥
Transliteration:
ākāśātpatitaṃ toyaṃ yathā gacchati sāgaram ।
sarvadeva namaskāraḥ keśavaṃ prati gacchati ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:

All the waters falling from the sky (eventually) go to the ocean.  Similarly, all prostrations to all the Gods, go to केशव (Keshava).

Commentary:

Whether rain occurs on land or water, it will all eventually reach the ocean! The streams on the hills run down to join the rivulets. The little rivulets flow to join the river.  The river, in turn, joins a bigger river. The big river, at the end of its journey, spills into the ocean!

Similarly, all the prayers and prostrations to any deity, in any way or form, reach केशव (Keshava). Although 'Keshava' is a name for Kṛṣṇa, who is a form of Viṣṇu, the name Keshava has a special meaning. The word can be expanded as क + ईश + व (ka + Īśa + va ) = केशव (Keshava). 'ka' is the Brahma tatva (Lord of creation); 'Īśa' is the Īśvara tatva (Lord of dissolution) and 'va' is the Viṣṇu tatva (Lord of preservation). Hence, this name 'Keshava' encompasses all the entities of the Lord. This was also अर्जुन's (Arjuna's) most favorite way of addressing Lord Krishna, who was his friend and charioteer in time of need.

It does not matter who we worship or how we pray.  All the prayers are eventually heeded by one Lord, the one Supreme power, who is much more powerful than anything we can imagine! When we accomplish something, we are so proud of our own prowess. We even claim ownership of the endeavor with a lot of pride. The reason is: for us, 'I' the achiever, is better than the achieved task itself! If such is the case, isn't the creator of this amazing, wonderful, and splendid world, much greater than the creation itself?!  

He is the one fueling every element of the creation.  Without Him, not a blade of grass shall move.  All other demigods and deities function with His power.  Hence, whoever we pray to, we are essentially praying to Him alone!! 

केशवाय नमो नमः (keshavāya namo namaḥ)—prostrations to Lord Keshava.

pada vigrahaH:

आकाशात् पतितं तोयं यथा गच्छति सागरम् ।
ākāśāt patitaṃ toyaṃ yathā gacchati sāgaram ।

सर्व-देव नमस्कारः केशवं प्रति गच्छति ॥
sarva-deva namaskāraḥ keśavaṃ prati gacchati ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
aakaashaatpatitaM toyaM yathaa gachChati saagaram ।
sarvadeva namaskaaraH keshavaM prati gachChati ॥

aakaashaat patitaM toyaM yathaa gachChati saagaram ।

sarva-deva namaskaaraH keshavaM prati gachChati ॥