West is west.

The EB was supposed to cut current from 9 am to 5 pm for maintenance work. Chiding the day of their choice , I resigned to catch up with my readings.But the current continued to flow, which meant that I could watch the wedding of the British royals.

Wedding ceremony of any couple seen leisurely on the small screen interests me . And this was no ordinary couple!
I could feel my palm go damp with sweat as I waited expectantly to have the first glimpse of the bride in her bridal finery after spending two hours watching all the guests and others file into a richly ornamented church.

As the bride walked into the church , I felt completely let down. Her gown was like a skin tight shift ,into which she seemed to have somehow managed to wriggle in and I couldn't for the life of me make out why the guest at the bbc studio's was getting so choked with emotions ,on viewing her favourite designers creation! Except for a thin head band and ear drops , the bride wore no other jewels! No necklace or bracelet or bangles! She looked wickedly plain , poor thing, the heroine of the entire episode , next to her groom and his best man and even the bishop , who were all dressed colourfully and richly in brilliant red, natty navy blue and shining brocade!

The EB did cut the current , exactly the moment the couples were to exchange the vows. It had me fuming and I ran next door to confirm whether they had also a cut.They did, but the boy and his dad were not unduly perturbed . Naturally , it wasn't a cricket match only a marriage.The current came a few minutes later but the main event was over by then.I got to see it later , in the evening news.

The procession on the horse carriage after the wedding was truly majestic , the stuff royalty is actually made of. As I watched on , try as i might , I couldn't push away an unwanted thought that kept surfacing and niggling and playing the spoilt sport,viz that all this glitter and glamour that was so awe inspiring was nothing but the fruits of our ancestors ceaseless toil and sweat , purloined away to fill the royalties coffers .

In this procession also, the future queen was overshadowed by the finery of her guards!

In our marriages the bride is draped in dashing colours and glittering jewellery, out shining every one else.I was looking forward to seeing ornaments made of rare sapphires, rubies, emeralds and diamonds,adorning the bride and was sorely disappointed.
The emphasis it seems is more on accentuating and revealing the contours of female royalties than on any thing else.

Well, West is West. I for one am leaving it at that.

Rain song of damsels.---Penghalin mazhai pattu--Thirupavai...4

The fourth song of 30 songs spun splendidly by Andal in the collection of verses dedicated to Govindan[vishnu] --'The Thiruppavai' describes rain as seen and experienced by her.It is as follows---

Rain god ! As majestic as the ocean! Do not keep any thing for yourself.

After you entered the ocean , inhaling water and then ascending the skies with great fanfare,

Assuming the dark hue similar to the colour of the first sacred cause of every thing including Time,

Then becoming even more darker and then flashing like the disc in the hands of my god, the one bearing broad shoulders,

And then vibrating and thundering like the conch in Padmanabans, hands ,

And then if you pierce the earth like a shaft of lakhs of arrows unleashed from the bow held in His hand,

Then all living beings will prosper.

We , who have taken this month [ marghazhi] long vow to bathe in the river early in the morning will be delighted!

Delay not!Start raining!


The verse in Tamil:

Penn galin Mazhai pattu:
**********************
Aazhi mazhai kanna ! ondrum nee kaikaravel,
Aaliyul pukku mugundu kodaarar theri

Oozhi mudalvan uruvam pol meikaruithu,
Pazhiyan tholudaya parpannaban kaiyil ,

Aazi pol minni valamburipol nindrathirndu,
Thazhade sarangam udhaithu saramazhai pol,

Vaazha ulaginil peidhidai , nangalum,
Marghazhi neerada magizhinde lorembavai.

Obstacle race.

'O' CD are you seedy or seedhi [ straight]?
Are you the need of the greedy ?
Or are you the greed of the needy?
Are you a bawdy comedy?
Or a tawdry tragedy?

Whatever,

You weren't that hardy or had the buddhi,
To dislodge the sturdy and the ziddhi [stubborn]!


'O' CD,I am no buddy of any busybody or of any one in the political body or of any one in the ghaddi!
Only a pal of a strong, independent and constitutionally amenable, Lokpal!

Some snaps.

The Pamban bridge across the sea connecting Rameshwaram with the mainland.
Fishing boats on the sea near Pamban bridge at Rameshwaram


The corridor at Rameshwaram temple.




Sculptures at Thirumaiyam temple.
The view from Ramar's padam.
The Rameshwaram temple as viewed from a hillock that enshrinesRama's padam
that was engraved when he stood surveying the layout, to find a way to Lanka.

The corridor filled with sprighty sparrows at the Jaganathar temple at Thirupullani.

The sacred tree at Jaganathar temple at Thirupullani,that grants progeny to the childless when worshipped in due manner.

White rose.

Yesterday, that is on 17 th evening , a little after 6 pm ,whilst I was taking a walk on the terrace a full white moon rose in the eastern sky , above a mobile tower, whilst the orange red sun was setting , in the same line just opposite , on the western sky between two coconut palms!

The sun seemed to have delayed a little bit in its daily duty in order to to greet and bid adieu to the silver white moon with its hare mark fully visible . The moon also seemed to have risen eagerly earlier than its normal time in order to see the sun before it dipped into the horizon.

There was something ethereal and eternal in this strange meeting,that made me stop on my tracks and hold my breath !

The following verse from the Gita expresses more clearly the divinity of that moment

Adityam aham Visnur,
Jyotisam ravir amsuman,
Maricir Marutam asmi
naksatranam aham sai||........................ [ Divine glories-- chapter 10 verse 21]


Of the twelve Adityas I am Vishnu,
Among the luminaries I am the radiant Sun,
Among the seven Maruts[ wind] I am Marici,
And of the nakshatras I am the Moon!

To day I came to know that the celestial spectacle that so touched me deeply was a rare one indeed!And that 1000's had thronged at Kanyakumari on this 'Chitra Pournami' day to have a glimpse of this rare sight , only to be disappointed by clouds eclipsing the setting sun.

Chitra Pournami ,the full moon day on the month of Chitrai that is April is regarded as the day when Chitra gupta the assistant of Yama opens his accounts on the deeds ,both good and bad of all humans,noting them for future reference to enable Yama to decide on each individuals seat in heaven or hell.The only temple dedicated to Chitra gupta is in Kancheepuram.

I remembered the moon light picnics with my family in my childhood days on our terrace . Al l our neighbours in their's. But now there wasn't a single human being on my terrace or in the neighbouring one's except for a row of restless crows flying in circles , flapping their wings furiously, before retiring for the night!

Time and the fast pace of life has gobbled up customs and traditions that strengthens family bonds.How ever the temple functions associated with this day are still followed meticulously. As was done in Madurai . The immersing of the processional deity of Khal Azhagar [ Vishnu] in river Vaigai with traditional pomp , pageantry and devotion ,amidst lakhs of devotees at the culmination of Khal Azhagar's sister's marriage ---Meenakshi [ Parvathi] with Sundereshwar [ Siva] !

Indulgence.

The motions towards passing Women's reservation Bill and currently the Lokpal Bill is like a mother comforting and cajoling her wailing child and then ignoring it and even spanking it and confining it to a corner , when the child stops crying!

It is still early days.I 'll wait a while before taking a decision whether or not to add it, to my list of the perennial dilemmas [unresolved] haunting India ,since before I was born and may persist even after I am gone!


PS.The draft ain't all that daft.It could well become the raft to craft a way out of graft.

Varanam aayiram By Andal .Hymns on marriage between Andal and Narayana.In Tamil and English.Meanings in English.

Andal at Srivalliputhur temple

Andal and Vadabadrasai swamy at Srivalliputhur temple

Andal the poetess and saint of 9 th cent AD is the only woman to be recognised as Azhwaar --mystic Vaishnavite saints of Tamil nadu.

Nachchiar Thirumozhi is a compilation of 143 verses of Sri Andal that detail her attempts to join Govindan.

Varanam Aiyiram , consisting of 10 verses is a renowned Thir mozhi written at the age of 15!It relates the sequences of her dream of getting married to Narayana or Vishnu, to her friend.

The beauty of these verses lies in the fact that any young woman, on the threshold of marriage of this present times, can identify herself with Anda,l transcending time , class ,caste and other barriers.Though it goes without saying that Andal's dream was on a higher plane!

Apart from the astonishing literary merit of these verses , that are dripping with Bhakthi, what is amazing is that the rituals of marriage mentioned 1200 years earlier are still followed with the same enthusiasm even today!

                ஆழ்வார் திருடுவடிகளே சரணம்

                Azhwar Thiruvadigale saranam

                [ I surrender at the sacred feet of Aazhwar]

    சீரார் தூப்புல் திரு வேங்கடமுடையன் திருவடிகளே சரணம்

   Seerar Tupul ThiruVengadamudaiyan Thiruvadigale saranam

[I surrender at the sacred feet of Tupul Thiruvengadamudaiyan-Sri Desikan]

              ஆண்டாள்  அருளிச்செய்த

               Andal'aruliseidha

               [Andal bestowed ]

        நாச்சியார் திருமொழி --ஆறாம் திருமொழி

           Nachiyar Thirumozhi--Aaraam (6th)Thirumozhi .

                              வாரணமாயிரம் .

                         Varanamaiyiram

                          [1000 elephants]

                                      தனியன்

                              Thaniyan

அல்லி நாள் தாமரைமே  லாரணங்கிநின் துணைவி
மல்லி நாடாண்ட மடமயில் -மெல்லியலாள்
ஆயர் குலவேந்தனாகத்தாள் தென்புதுவை
வேயர் பயந்தவிளக்கு .

                               Thaniyan.

Alli naall tamaraime larananginin thunaivi

Malli nadanda madmayil meliyalal

Aayar kulavendhanagathal then puduvai

Veyar payandhavilakku

Meaning -Andal is the sweet friend of Devi who is seated on a lotus .

Andal is as enchanting as a peacock and She ruled over Malli Nadu ,

She is compatible with the sacred form of leader of Yadavas--Sri Krishna,

This bright light was the daughter of  Periazhwar who belonged to Veyar clan and who hailed from the beautiful place known as Sri Valli Puthur

   

                         _______

                               
1*.வாரணமாயிரம்  சூழவலஞ்  செய்து
நாரணா நம்பி நடக்கின்றான்  என்றெதிர்
பூரண பொற்குடம் வைத்துப் புறமெங்கும்
தோரணம் நாட்ட கனாக்கண்டேன்  தோழீ !நான் .

1. Varanam ayiram choozhvalan seidu,

Narana nambi nadakindran yentredhir,

Poorana porkudam vaithu puramengum,

Thoranam natta' kana kanden' thozhi ! naan .

Sriman Narayana the personification of perfection,

Strode majestically ,surrounded by 1000 elephants,

In the town decorated with festooned poles

And golden pots!

Friend! So I saw in my dream!

2.நாளை  வதுவை  மணமென்று நாளிட்டு
  பாளைகமுகு  பரிசுடைப்பந்தற்கீழ்
  கோளரி  மாதவன் கோவிந்தனென்பான் ஓர்
காளைபுகுதக் கனாக்கண்டேன்  தோழீ !நான் .

2.Naalai vadhuvai mannamyendru  naalittu,

Pallai kamugu parisudai pandarkeezh,

Kollari Madhavan Govindan yenbhaan vor ,

Kallai pughuthak kanakanden thozhi! naan.

 Tomorrow is the Muhurtam,It has been thus decided

The tender leaves sheathing arcenuts have been weaved ,

to form a canopy over the marriage pandal,

Into this entered a strong youth bearing the names,

Narsimhan, Madhavan and Govindan,

Friend ! So I saw in my dream!

3.  இந்திரனுள்ளிட  தேவர் குழாமெல்லாம்
     வந்திருந்  தென்னை   மகட்பேசி  மந்திரித்து
     மந்திரக்  கோடி உடுத்தி மணமாலை
    அந்தரி  சூட்டக்  கனாக்கண்டேன் தோழீ !நான் .

3.Indiranullitta Devar kuzhaamyellam ,

Vandhirundhu yennai magatpesi mandirithu,

Mandhira kodiyuduthi mannamalai ,

Andhari soota kannakanden thozhi !naan.

.Indra came along with other Devas and sought my hand for Krishna,

They discussed the details of the marriage ,

Durga ,my sister in law,

Draped me in the bridal saree and decked my hair with scented flowers.

Friend ! So I saw in my dream!

4.  நாற்றிசை தீர்த்தம் கொணர்ந்து  நனிநல்கிப்
     பார்ப்பனச்  சிட்டர்கள் பல்லா  ரெடுத்தேத்திப்
    பூப்புனை கண்ணிப் புனிதனோ டென்றன்னைக்
    காப்புநாணன்  கட்டக் கனாக்கண்டேன் தோழீ !நான் .
.

4.Naatrisai theerthang konnarindhu nun nalgi,

Parpanna chittargal pallaryeduthu yethi,

Poopunai kanni punidhanodu endrannai ,Kkaappu naann katta kanakanden thozhi! naan.

.From all four directions Brahmins brought sacred water,

Sprinkled it all over the place, Chanting the Vedas loudly and clearly,

And bound me with a sacred thread to the Pure One wearing a garland of flowers,

Friend! So I saw in my dream!

5.கதிரொளி  தீபம் கலச முடனேந்திச்
   சதிரிள  மங்கையர்  தாம்  வந்தெதிர்  கொள்ள
   மதுரையார் மன்னன் அடிநிலை தொட்டெங்கும்
  அதிரப் புகுதக் கனாக்கண்டேன் தோழீ !நான்

5.Kadirolli deepam kalasamudanyendhi ,

Sadhirilla mangaiyar tham vandhu yedhir kolla ,

Maduraiyar mannan adinillai thottu yengum ,

Adhira puguthak kannakanden thozhi !naan 

.There were beautiful young damsels who held in their hands,

lamps, that dazzled like streams of sunlight, they were also holding several golden vessels and greeting,

the ruler of all the inhabitants of Mathura,

Who came striding with firm footsteps that shook the earth,

My dear friend! so I saw in my dream!

6.மத்தளம்  கொட்ட  வரிசங்கம் நின்றூத
   முத்துடைத் தாமம்  நிரைதாழ்ந்த பந்தற்கீழ்
   மைத்துனன்  நம்பி மதுசூதன் வந்தென்னைக்
   கைத்தலம் பற்றக்  கனாக்கண்டேன் தோழீ ! நான் .

6.Matthalam kotta varisangam nindrudha,

Muthudai  thaamam nirai thazhindhu pandar keezh,

Maithunan nambi Madhusudhanan vandu yennai,                                                     

 Kaithalam patra kana kandein Thozhi!Naan!

Mridhangam was beaten,

Conches having two stripes were blown for a long time,

My would be husband the handsome Madhusudhanan came to the pandal,

That was decorated with strings of pearls,

And took my hands in his!

My dear friend! So I saw in my dream!

7.வாய்  நல்லார் நல்ல  மறையோதி  மந்திரத்தால்
   பாசிலை  நாணல்  படுத்துப்  பரிதி  வைத்து
   காய்சின  மாகளி  ற்ன்னான் என்  கைப்பற்றி
   தீவலஞ்  செய்யக் கனாக் கண்டேன் , தோழீ ! நான் .

7.Vaai nallaar nalla marai odhimandhirathaal ,

Pasilai naannal paduthu parithee  vaithu ,

Kaichina maagalirannaan yen kaipatri ,

Thee vallam seiyaa kannakanden, thozhi! naan.

.Mantras were chanted by priests,

Who recited them clearly with good wishes in their hearts,.

The sacred grass with green leaves were spread and sacred twigs [used in hommam] were laid on them

One who is as proud as a angry elephant clasped my hands tightly and strode majestically around the sacrificial fire with me in tow,

My dear friend ! So I saw in my dream!

8. இம்மைக்கும்  ஏழேழ்  பிறவிக்கும்  பற்றாவான்
    நம்மை  யுடையவன் நாராயணன் நம்பி
    செம்மை யுடைய திருக்கையால் தாள்பற்றி
    அம்மி  மிதிக்கக்  கனாக்கண்டேன் ,தோழீ !நான் .

8.Immaikum yezhyezh piraviikkum patraavaan,

Nammai udaiyavan Narayana nambhi,

Semmai udaiya thiru kaiall thal patri,

Ammi midhika kanna kanden , Thozhi ,! Naan!

In this birth as well as in all succeeding seven into seven births,

The protector in all such births,

Our leader the one with noble qualities! Perfect and whole!

The handsome Narayana ,

With his reddened hands held and placed my toe on the grinding stone!

Friend ! So I saw in my dream!

9.வரிசிலை வாள்முகத்து  என்னைமார்  தாம்வந்திட்டு
   எரிமுகம்  பாரித்து என்னை முன்னே நிறுத்தி
   அரிமுகன்  அச்சுதன் கைம்மேல் என்  கைவைத்து
   பொரி முகந்து  அட்டக் கனாக்கண்டேன்,தோழீநான் .

9.Varisilai vaalmugathu yennaimaar thaamvandhittu ,

Yerimugam paarithu yennai munne niruthi ,

Arimugan Achudhan kaimel yen kaivaithu ,

Pori mugan thatta kanakanden thozhi naan

 My brothers bearing bright countenance, eyebrows, arched and bent like a bow,

Kindled the sacrificial fire making it to leap into flames,

And brought me in front of that fire ,

And placed my hands in the hands of Achchutha,

Who has the bearing ,that of a majestic lion !

And they [ brothers] showered puffed rice over our clasped hands!

Friend ! So I saw in my dream!

10. குங்குமம் அப்பி குளிர்சாந்தம் மட்டித்து
மங்கல வீதி வலஞ்செய்து மணநீர்
அங்கவ னோடும்  உடன்சென்றங்கு ஆனைமேல்
மஞ்சன மாட்டக்   கனாக்கண்டேன் ,தோழீ !நான் .

10.Kungumam appi kulirchandam matithu,

Mangala veedhi valan seidhu manna neer,

Angavanodum udan sendru angu annai mel,

Manjana mattak kanna kanden Thozhi! naan!

Smearing the pastes of kungumam and fragrant and cool chandan all over our bodies ,

Relishing the sprinkling of perfumed water on us, by all those gathered around

I went around the decorated town on a elephant along with him seated by my side!

Friend! So I saw in my dream!

11. ஆயனுக் காகத்தான்  கண்ட கனாவினை
    வேயர் புகழ்வில்லி  புத்தூர்க்கோன்  கோதைசொல்
   தூய தமிழ்மாலை  ஈரைந்தும் வல்லவர்
  வாயுநன் மக்களை பெற்று  மகிழ்வரே .

11.Aayinukaga thaan kanda kanavinai ,

Veyar pughzvilli puthurkonekodhaisol

Thooya tamizhmalai yeeraindhum vallavar,

Vaayu nun makkalai petru magizhvarve

Kodhai the daughter of Periaazhwar who is praised by veyyar clan and is the leader of Srivalliputhur, has written her dream about her marriage in a garland of pure tamil,

Those who recite all the 10 verses will lead a happy life as they will be  blessed by children of good  qualities  .

                                      ___________

                       ஆழ்வார் திருவடிகளே சரணம்

                        Aazhwar  Thiruvadigale saranam

                [I surrender at the sacred feet of Aazhwar]

  சீரார் தூப்புல் திருவேங்கடமுடையான் திருவடிகளே சரணம்

  Seerar Tupul Thiru Vengadamudaiyan Thiruvadigale saranam

[ I surrender at the sacred feet of Tupul ThiruVengadamudaiyan--SriDesikan]

                        

                               **********************************
3000 views.till 20.12.24

Acknowledgment.  Dr Kamala kannan's  'Naalayira Divya prabhandham' with original pasurams and its explanation in Tamil. 

Art of giving.

The 'art of giving is much in news these days.Billionaires from abroad are pledging a sizable share of their wealth towards charity with a lot of fanfare.So are politicians within , though not of, their own wealth.

Giving in charity is not new to Bharat's society.The epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are replete with stories of the enormous amounts of gold,food, cattle's and various other materials distributed to poor and needy by kings and people of wealth .

Mahabharat gives a list of 16 persons in Drona parva, who gave away their tremendous wealth and riches to the needy, with a full heart! An shining example is that of a ancient ruler Sivi. He had conquered the entire world . He performed 1000's of sacrifices in which he gave away as presents the number equal to rain drops showered on earth or equal to the number of stars in the sky or equal to sand grains in the bed of Ganga or equal to the rocks that constitute the mountain called Meru or = to the number of gems or = to the number of animals in the ocean. Milk and curds was collected in large lakes and rivers of drink and honey and white hills of food were ever present to give away, in his compound. 'Bathe , eat and drink' were the only words heard in the 1000's of sacrifices and rites he performed!

The creator himself has not met and will not meet within past ,present or future another king capable of bearing the burden Sivi bore!--------------- So states sec.lxxi of Drona parva of Mahabharat.

Bhagwad Gita has the following to say---On charity.


Yajna dana tapah karma,
na tyajyam karyam eva tat|
yajno danam tapasc aiva,
pavanani manisinam|| chapter 18 ....5

Work like sacrifice , charity and austerity ,
should not be abandoned ,
they should be performed ,
As sacrifice,charity and austerity are indeed purifying for the wise!



Gita delineates the nature of man into 3 groups viz Sattvic, Rajas and Tamas.

Noble , intermediary and indolent respectively.That is being calm and controlled is Satvic, being ambitious and aggressive is Rajas ,being lethargic and mean is Tamas.

Chapter 17 verse 20, 21, and22 explain the 3 types of charities associated with the 3 types of nature inherited by all.These three verses observe in concise and lucid form and set the parameter as to that which constitutes' giving' in the truest sense.

The first and best form of charity, Sattvic, is as follows.

Datavyam iti yad danam,
diyate nupakarine,
dese kale ca patre ca ,
tad danam sattvikam smrtam||

The gift which is made out of a sheer sense of duty,
without expectation of any kind of return,
At the proper time and place ,
To a fit recipient,
Is said to be of nature of Sattva.


Next down the line is the Rajas type of giving

Yet tu pratyupakar artham,
Phalam uddisya va punah,
Diyate ca pariklistam,
Tad danam rajasm smrtam

The gift which is given in consideration of some gift in return,
Or with some fruit to be reaped in future,
In a grudging mood ,
Is considered to be of nature of Rajas.

Finally right at the bottom , is the TAmasic type of giving

Adesa kale yad danam,
apatrebhyas ca diyate,
astkrtam avajnatam,
tat tamasam udhrtam||

The gift that is made at an improper time and place,
To a unworthy recipient,
Unceremoniously and in a slighting manner
Is said to be of Tamasic in nature.

Who is he?

My handbook on self improvement advises me not to get provoked by other's words or deeds with the admonishment 'You are not their toy'.If I were to follow this sage advise in its truest spirit I would have become a Gyani. I wouldn't be blogging then ,would I ?

O.k the source of my latest provocation, that has become quite the norm these days, is from the chattering class on the English news channels on TV.

I am not a aficionado of cricket, though all my life I have witnessed its magical grip on the young and old[ male populace] alike.The ecstatic reaction of youngsters around me to the victory at the world cup finals , has induced me to follow the debates pertaining to the world cup matches and its aftermath , on TV.Naturally youngsters , the true full blooded fans are all too busy , slogging long hours at IT companies --[slave driver's, our generation had it easier with lesser competition] and then de-stress at Gym , to watch such Tamasha's on TV. It is left to us, grey heads with plenty of time at hand and no other diversion ,to grin and bear other grey heads --[whose voice is guaranteed to be drowned elsewhere], voicing their opinions .

The discussion centered around granting Bharat Ratna to Sachin . Whether he deserves one or not.

I suppose that he does deserve to be decorated with one . The unflinching loyalty that Sachin commands from the youth is such that if I were to suggest otherwise I may even be packed of to a old age home at the earliest.Jokes apart, he does represent the sporting and patriotic aspirations of all youth of India. To be of 'world class' consistently .He has never let them down and has united all the youth in a manner that is seen only in times of war!

A shining example of Karma yogi!

Ok back to the source of my provocation . The socialite with shaggy hairdo and blasphemous views.His brushing aside two recipients of Bharat ratna ---Sri MGR and Sri V.V.Giri as non entities unworthy of the title bestowed, with a flippant question 'Who are they?' that had my hackles rising . It also brought to my mind a Western philosophers observation,

'If you do not know it does not mean, that it does not exist'.

MGR is the first leader to introduce a systematic and regular noon meal scheme in govt schools , that attracted the poor , who sent their wards to school so that they may get at least one full meal a day. The attendance increased and consequently the employability of large sections of people from the lower strata of society. MGR was the role model for other leaders across India to introduce this noble scheme in their states.

Sri V.V Giri belongs to my grand fathers era and there fore I haven't much information regarding his contributions . What I am aware is that he was a freedom fighter as well as union leader who strove hard for the upliftment of labourers.

Then this jack of all trades or rather hack of all trades questions the wisdom behind the request to grant Bharat ratna to Sri Vajpayee.What did Vajpai do?Was his question.

All along I was of the opinion that Sri Vajpai represented a party that primarily promoted the interests of the well to do business community, till I interacted with poor blind students in the age group 21 to 28, hailing from far flung corners of Tamilnadu , as a reader. Every one of them possessed a mobile phone , which according to them was their life line , the only means of quick communication and there fore the greatest source of security in their visionless world.And that though they were poor , thanks to Vajpai 's policies they could afford to own one and use it at will![Second hand one's being available at Rs 200 ]

That unanimous gratitude of handicapped poor young people from the depths of 'Dravidian' nadu to a leader of far off alien 'Aryavarta' ,speaks volumes in favour of the deep respect Sri Vajpai commands in present day India.

Now back to this loud mouth with a permanent seat in all TV studios.

I have often been nettled by his omnipresence in all these channels and the question on my mind is

'Yeh Mauclay putra TV wallahas ne inhe kahan se uttakhar apne studio's me bitaliya?'

Who is he?

For all his high flown language and widely trumpeted high levels of GK and IQ he sounded as superciliously ignorant, as some, small time traders , uneducated house wives, ill informed persons and adolescents , I ran into, up North.

"Ugh ! These Madrasis are all blackies and have become more dark by consuming tamarind daily[imli kha khakar kale hogaye].They are all cunning, mean and money minded . They speak rapidly --'kit bit kit bit' like as if they are fighting one another and for ever exclaiming loudly 'Aiyaiyo' . They are all good at only one thing that is ,making tasty masala dosa and sambhur!"




Ps : I neither hold any brief to any political leader nor am I antognistic towards N.Indians nor am I a 'Tamizh' fundamentalist. This hack, who was given a free rein by his 'amiable anchor'only when politicians from the south and the opposition were in his firing range ,simply irked me and I had to let off.

A good middle classer.

After creating me as a conscientious middle classer and making me pay all the taxes ,

Is it fair to kick me and dump me in the dust?

Tell me Shiva ! Tell me Shakthi!

I only ask for broad roads and urban spaces free of encroachments,

I only ask for garbage, mosquito and muck free , sweet smelling green neighbourhoods,

I only ask for accident free, flow of traffic,

I only ask for streets and crowded places , free off eve teasing,

I only ask for food, clothes, shelter and fuel, free of rise in price.

Tell me Shiva ,Tell me Shakthi ,

What prevents you from granting me , this?




PS.I donot ask to be free of power, water or public transport cut. There are no such cuts in here.

Powers of nature.

Of late there is a tendency to deride distastefully or unduly sympathise the havoc and devastation caused by natural calamities,at the click of a mouse, as the working of Karma!

According to my understanding, the principle of Karma is a highly individualistic one . It affects an Individual and not entire communities. I rely upon the following verse from chapter 3 of Gita in my support.


Prakteh kriyamanani,

gunaih karmani sarvash,

aham vimudh atma,

karta ham iti manyate|


Every where the dispositions of Nature ,

Performs all works,

But deluded by egoism man thinks,

I am the doer.

Makaras.

A blue coloured board on the serene and sedate beach of Thirupullani the place of' Darbha sayanam',declares the entire area---sea and sands as a protected area . Fishing , joyrides on boats, under water tourism involving snorkeling and scuba diving ,etc is banned.It also requests visitors not to litter the place with plastic covers and ends with the following quote from Bhagwad Gita,

Pavanah pavatam asmi,

Ramah sastra- bhrtam aham|

Jhasanam makaras casmi,

Strotsam asmi Jahnavi|| ----------chapter 10...divine glories.


Among purifying agents I am the wind,

Among warriors I am 'Rama',

Among the fish I am the shark,

Among rivers I am the Ganga.


Those of you who think that Gita deals only with gods and incarnations , pertaining to north India, you are in for a surprise.Chapter 10 hymn 24 of Divine glories of Gita states the following,

Purodhasam ca mukhyam mam,

Viddi Partha Brhaspatin|

Senaninam aham Skanda,

Sarasam asmi sagarah ||


Among the priests know me to be the chief of them ---Brihaspati,

The priest of devas,O Arjuna,

Among the war lords I am' Skanda' [Murugan]

Among the water reservoirs I am the ocean.