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Das Navmi
त्याचा संसार समाचार पुसत जावा विस्तार
उदंड सांगता तत्पर होऊनि ऐकावे
दुःख ऐकता दुःख जाते, त्याचे दुःख हळू होते
मग ते सवेचि धरिते मित्रभावे
निकट मैत्री बरी होता मग त्यासी न्यावे एकांता
म्हणावे रे भगवंता काही तरी भजावे
Read and try to understand what the great saint from Maharashtra Swami Samarth Ramdas is trying to tell us.
Ask him about his family and life (sansaar) ; and when the person starts to elaborate listen to him with all ears…
Sorrow when shared lessens (goes away) for the listener and the one who shares , and helps build a friendship…
Once this friendship strengthens and the person is in solace; ask him why don’t you pray to God?…
The simple way to befriend a person and make him your own. We need to understand it as well as implement it. Samarth Ramdas Swami was a saint rooted strongly among the masses. The extent of work he has done in the rural areas of Maharashtra by establishing Hanuman Maths and preparing the youth in their childhood days for physical fitness and in warfare which in turned help Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj establish his own army, is just astonishing!
Today is Das Navmi, the day when this great Soul decided to wrap up his life and leave for eternal abode to meet his Swami.
On this day, would request my readers to ponder upon the lines which I have quoted at the beginning of the blog and try to lead a life as expounded in it. This will surely lead us to be a good human being.
🙏Jay Jay Raghuveer Samarth🙏
🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
7th July – Capt. Vikram Batra Shaheed Din
24 years ago, when Pakistan invaded the Kargil area of Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian army under the able guidance of its Generals liberated it from the clutches of the enemies. It was a tough and a daunting task. The enemy was on top of the mountain and our army was below them, in their direct line of fire. Losses were imminent but our soldiers fought the battle very courageously and triumphed.
Let’s go back a little into history a few months back, precisely February 1999. The then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had travelled to Lahore by a bus via Wagah Border to meet his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharief. The atmosphere was of friendship and brotherhood. The Lahore declaration was signed. Peace was in the air. But, little did we know that we were being stabbed in the back.
During the winter of 1998 -1999, elements of the Pakistani Armed Forces were covertly and sheepishly training and sending Pakistani troops and paramilitary forces, some in the guise of mujahideen, into territory on the Indian side of the line of control (LOC). The infiltration was given the name “Operation Badr.” Their aim was to sever the link between Kashmir and Ladakh and cause Indian forces to withdraw from the Siachen Glacier, thus forcing India to negotiating table and get a permanent settlement of the Kashmir dispute. Pakistan also was of the belief that any such tension in Kashmir would internationalize it, helping to secure a speedy and permanent resolution. At the same time their other goal was to boost the morale of the decade-long rebellion in Jammu and Kashmir by playing a pro-active role.
Initially, with little knowledge of the nature or extent of the infiltration, the Indian troops in the area assumed that the infiltrators were jihadis and claimed that they would evict them within a few days. Subsequent discovery of infiltration elsewhere along the LOC and the difference in tactics employed by the infiltrators, caused the Indian army to realize that the plan of attack was on a much bigger scale. The total area seized by the ingress was expected to be between 130 km² – 200 km². Now this called for a full scale war. Every inch of our motherland is divine and pious and this was not in inches but in km. We had to get it back.
By Grace of God, the political class as a whole and bureaucracy this time were of the people filled with patriotism and they all shared the same feeling, to fight for our motherland and to show the enemy it’s rightful place. About 200000 (2 lac) troops were mobilised. We gave our best fight and lost many of our brave and courageous Jawans. But we got every inch of our motherland back. We did not let the enemy succeed to break Her into pieces. We liberated the last piece on this day of 26th July and so we celebrate it as Kargil Vijay Diwas.
Many of my young readers must not even be born on this day, but i still remember how we were glued to the television sets for each and every news, however small it may be. For my generation born after 1971 war, this was the first all out war that we were witnessing. The air in the schools and colleges was filled with the chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jay” and “Vande Mataram”. Tension was in the air but so was hope and confidence in our Army.
For my young readers sake, am writing the story of Captain Vikram Batra who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest and most prestigious award for valour and bravery, posthumously for his actions during the Kargil war in 1999. He had participated in the Republic Day parade on the Rajpath in 1994. He had joined Indian Military Academy (IMA) at Dehradun in 1996 and passed out from there in December 1997. He was Commissioned (asked to join) into the 13th battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. He loved to be on the frontline always and as a Captain lead his men from the front
July 7, 1999…
He was assigned the task of taking point 5140. (My readers also need to know that not all mountains are named like the Everest or Kailash or Kanchenjunga, but rather they are given numbers related to coordinates of their position). It was a hill top. The enemy was on the top and it was one of the important hills which needed to be taken for our successful defence and driving the enemy out. The warfare was going to be tough but Captain Vikram, decided to go ahead. Captain Vikram started moving through the rough terrain slowly but steadily and within hours the point 5140 was ours. ‘Yeh Dil maange more’ the code word was transmitted. His commanders were happy about his success when they received the radio message.
Mission accomplished. Vikram and his troops now had to return. But the son of the soil decided to move ahead and take point 4875. There had been casualties in his troop but the spirits were high. So on they went, with the permission from their superiors. Maybe Netaji’s words to his INA “Ab Delhi mein milenge” must be ringing in his ears by now. The task was impossible according to his seniors. But he and his troops tread on.
The enemy was anticipating the attack and was fully prepared. The attack was mounted but the Indian side suffered heavy casualties. One of the soldier was grievously injured and was in the path of the enemy bullets. The soldier was lying near the enemy lines. Captain Batra without even thinking for a moment lept out out from his position and ran towards to soldier. He was fired upon and he took five bullets in his chest and head. The enemy soldiers pounced upon him and in this combat he killed five enemy soldiers. But this assault was lethal. Captain Vikram Batra attained Martyrdom.
Captain Vikram Batra, who led the toughest mountain warfare, was often referred as Sher Shah in the messages intercepted by the Pakistani Army.
He could have had a good and peaceful life in the Merchant Navy, which he had initially joined. But being in the front, to fight for Bharat was his dream, which he fulfilled.
Bharat and Bharatiya’s indeed should be grateful to such soldiers who give up their lives for our peace. People will commemorate this day by wishing each other and changing their DP’s and updating their status, (which I am not against as I myself will also put up one once am done writing this blog) but hope they remember people like Captain Vikram Batra and the other 566 soldiers who attained martyrdom to liberate our Motherland from the enemy.
Lastly let’s end with two lines from the famous song sung by the soldiers of INA
“Kadam kadam badhaye jaa, khushike geet gaayeja,
Yeh zindagi hai kaum ki, tu kaum pe lutaaye jaa”…Jai Hind
Kerala Travel Diaries – Day 8 and 9
This will be the last blog of these series. The last 2 days, the 8th and 9th day will be in train. The travels till now have been hassle free, full of fun and excitement. Full of frolic and learning about a new state.
I feel that I should also share about the train journey. We travelled by Nethravati Express both the times while travelling from Mumbai to Ernakulam and Thiruvananthpuram to Mumbai. We travelled by 3rd AC coach. The services and the cleanlnessis is worth a mention. There are dustbin bags between two coaches for this long journey. The toilets are all bio toilets with both western and eastern seats. Except for the food in the pantry all the things would be a thumbs up. The food is edible but not upto the mark. Whereas the cleanup guys did turn up the 2nd day morning and were very good with their work. Overall the train is a worthy experience for people who like to explore the area and have time. Nethravati is a leisure train which has a stop after every half hour when in Kerala.
Am sharing a few snaps of our trip which are just for fun.
The journey on the first day was smooth. People are so understanding and accommodating the even with different seats in the same coach we could manage to be together and spent the whole day together. Made friends with the seat partners who were strict Jains (Rahul Jain and family) and carried dehydrated food with them. Also found out that he had studied with Neeraj Sir (the proprietor of the class where I teach. ). We started talking about his career graph and then discussed about education of kids in general. The four of them kept us good company.
Also met Mr Chintan, a practising Chartered Accountant, whom we got acquainted with in our Mumbai – Kerala journey and they had visited Munnar and Thekadi and were now returning back home via the same train. Our kids befriended their kids and we played the game Mafia all through the evening. We all parted with a promise to continue the games in the morning and after our dinner went to sleep.
Woke up early morning at Karwar. Have been hearing about it for a long time now but seeing the station for the first time. The train is running an hour late but hoping it will catch up by the time we reach Lokmanya Tilak Terminus.
Watching the lush green paddy fields on both the sides of the railway track as we enter Maharashtra. The Konkan strip along which lies Sindhudurg also known as Malvan, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Mumbai and Palghar is a beautiful strip worth a visit. Have travelled to many villages in Raigad and Ratnagiri during my youth days. The area is abundant with greenery on one side and the ocean on its other. Ratnagiri is also known as Shree Parshuram Kshetra as it said that Bhagwaan Parshuraam after giving up all that He had to His Guru, Rishi Kashyap, crossed the Sahyadri mountains and came and stayed here. Worked very hard to civilise the people living here.
The last day Morning was the last morning we will all be together for this trip. So we all played cards together once again; Bluff and Mongoose played with a lots of laughter and fun. Actually “Dhammal” is the right word which I shoukd use here. And we didnt realise that we reached Chiplun. We all had Vada pav for our lunch. The hot and crunchy Vada wth a soft pav and garlic powder chutney brought us all back to the memories of home. Now on this last leg of our journey, I am reminded of the first day when we boarded the train and the excitement we all had.
As we prepare to get down from the train and head back home, I wish all my readers a very happy journey and would like to express my gratitude for being with us throughout this journey with their messages . Hope to catch up with you all in person and till my next travel diary, ciao!
Till then live long, live healthy…
Keep Smiling 😎🎊🎉🥳
Kerala Travel Diaries – Day 7
The day began a bit late than the others with a thought of travel the next 2 days. Also it is last day of the travel. And today is the day to pay our obeisances to the Triveni Sangam and Padmanabha Swamy.
Then we walked towards the Triveni Sangam. A meeting of the three oceans. The Arabian Sea – in green / blue, The Indian Ocean – in blue / green and The Bay of Bengal – in rust. The 3 oceans converge and one can see the 3 different colours. Also the reason for writing green / blue for Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean is that they both swap colours after 13 hours daily.
A beautiful sight to behold and again an overwhelming moment. We have heard about the Triveni Sangam of Ganga Jamuna Saraswati at Prayagraj in the North and this is the Triveni of the South. People do perform rituals to pay their adulations to their ancestors.
There is a pole at the point of convergence of the oceans to signify the convergence. The feeling is a bit different than one has at the convergence of the 3 rivers. This convergence evokes grandeur, depth and divinity. It does evoke the spirit of oneness too.
The photo above is of none other than Swami Swami Vivekanand installed on the mainland by some devotees. As one can see it is very serene and evokes pious feelings.
Then we moved towards our restaurant of lunch. The Sarvannan chain of restaurants serves good North Indian food as well. I wanted to taste the local food so went to a local hotel and had a meal. The meal was sumptuous and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Post lunch we started travelling towards Trivandrum our last destination. The excitement of visiting the Padmanabha Swamy Temple was at its hilt. The journey was a short one as we all slept throughout the 3 hour journey so never realised when we reached Trivandrum. On the way to the Hotel we bought banana chips fried in coconut oil. Kerala is famous for these chips.
We reached our hotel and after checking in we changed to dhoti’s and women into shares. There is a dress code to enter the temple here. They strictly adhere to it. Also mobile phones are not allowed inside the temple premises . The security does their work perfectly. Well. As one enters the temple premises it one is engulfed by a divine feeling.
The ‘Darshan’ of the Padmanabha Swamy is itself very difficult. The God here is in a sleeping position. We have to see Him through three doors. Through the first door one can see His face and His outstretched had. Through the second door, the beautifully decorated “Nabhi” (torso) is seen. And through the last door one sees the feet of the Bhagwaan. The atmosphere inside the sanctum santorum is very divine in presence of oil lit lamps especially the tall ones (called ‘Samayee’ in Marathi). The overall feeling is of trying to get Darshan and on seeing the Bhagwaan Hinself one forgets everything. One is lost!!
The day ended with dinner at another chain of restaurant, Aaryaa’s. And we returned back to our hotel with memories of the Darshan and with dreams of the travel back home.
Kerala / Tamil Nadu Travel Diaries – Day 6
The 6th day of our travel was also my dream come true day. From the time I read Swami Vivekanand and came to know about his rock memorial, I wanted to visit it. Today was the day of fulfillment of that dream.
We began our travel from Varkala with great memories. Am sharing a few snaps of the night life on the Varkala Beach.
The morning is beautiful too. Early morning snaps of the beach and the sunrise is what I share here
We left from Varkala around 9.30am as we had to travel for 4 hours to reach Kanyakumari. Also we had to take a permit as we would be moving from one state to another. Kanyakumari is in Tamil Nadu and we are in Kerala.
Atlast we reached our Kanyakumari hotel at 3pm. We all have had our brunch so we were most excited to visit the Vivekanand Memorial rock and to add to our excitement the receptionist told us that the Memorial is open till 4pm so we need to rush if we want to go the same day.
We all just rushed towards the place from where we had to take a ferry to cross over to the rock. Even at this time of the day and a hot afternoon there was a huge rush for the tickets. After waiting in the queue for 10/12 minutes we got our tickets and were onto the ferry in very little time. The company managing the ferry services very well manages the to and fro motion of the passengers.
The time and the moment had arrived. The moment we stepped on the rock our hearts were filled with joy and were overwhelmed with emotions. A Sanyasi from Bengal travelled all the way to the rock in Kanyakumari and the path ahead was revealed to him here. It itself is the epitome of the unity of Bharat and its civilisation.
There are 2 temples on the rock. One is of Devi Parvati. It is said that She performed her penance to get Shiva as her consort for life. There is a foot impression inside the temple signifying Mata standing on her one leg to appease Bhagwaan Shiv. A very small but beautiful temple and is very serene.
Just opposite the Devi Temple stands the temple which houses the statue of Swami Vivekanand. One is overwhelmed by the height of the temple and towards the left and right are placed images of Sharda Devi amd Sri Ramkrishna Paramhamsa. I was in tears to see Sri Ramkrishna placed there. It was a moment if reckoning for me.
As we move across the temple, we see a grand statue of Swami Vivekanand. The monk who crossed oceans to spread the word of Sanatan and could impress upon the westerners its importance.
25th, 26th and 27th December 1892, Swamiji sat on this rock and contemplated on India since Vedic age. The past glory of India brought tears in his eyes. Here he had a “vision of one India” and came up with a solution in the form of resolution, which is popularly known as the “Kanyakumari resolve of 1892”. The purpose of the ‘resolve’ was to organize sannyasins for social service. On the 27th Swamiji left the rock, enlightened with a vision to rejuvenate the Sanatan order. He spread his thoughts in the name of Ramkrishna Mission and not his own.
There is a meditation room there too for people who want to meditate. A very cool room made out of rock with a constant chanting of Om relaxes one’s mind and helps to meditate. It’s a must visit for people wanting to meditate and attain self consciousnesss.
We left via the last boat at 6.30pm and returned to the mainland. Then we all decided to visit the Bhagwati Amman temple (Devi Parvati Temple). The temple itself is grand and as everywhere the males are expected to enter bare chested. Before I forget we did ask one of the temple attendants earlier about the reason for the same. He replied that we believe that the idols resonate energy and this energy should be taken directly on the body. So the compulsion.
From there we did want to visit the Triveni Sangam. But it was too late so we decided to have our dinner and return back to our hotel. We all slept with the dreams of the Triven Sangam and waiting for the morning sun to rise.
Kerala Travel Diaries – Day 5
The day 5 was exciting for me personally as I was going to fulfill one of my wish to visit the Jatayu statue built at the Jatayu Earth Centre.
We moved from our stay around 8.30am as it was a long 3 hour drive from Allepey to the Jatayu Earth Centre. But the journey was a smooth ride. Our driver knew the roads very well so drew us through the town roads instead of the national highway. He shared that the highways from Allepey are under construction and are all jammed with traffic. So he took this inner road.
I would like to share a few observations about the roads and the people of Kerala. The roads wherever we travelled till now though two lanes were neat, clean and well maintained. Also the people were very well educated about their safety. The bike/ scooter rider and the pillion both wore helmets. Upon inquiry it was revealed that a few things even the youth here does not like but they know it’s for their safety, they follow them. Even if they did not understand Hindi or some even English, they were very helpful and kind.
Let’s move back to our trip. As we closed towards Jatayu centre, the weather took a turn and became cloudy. The summer heat cooled a bit. This excited us as we, the boys, were all very eager to visit the adventure park there. As we reached, we were dismayed to learn that it had closed during the Covid times due to non usage and they havent started it yet as it called for repairs.
But adventurous as we are, we decided to walk the 862 steps upto the top. A few preferred the cable car ride. We got to know that the senior citizens get a discount on their entry fees and the cable car ride. As we walked up the steps it was a beautiful and scenic walk to the top and was a bit astonished when I could complete it. Astonished as havent climbed any such mountains after crossing my age of 35 years and this was going to be my first attempt after so many years.
The statue itself is a spectacle. The importance of the place is that Jatayu gave up his life here on these hills in the laps of Bhagwaan Ram. After a tough yet rough fight, Jatayu fell down on the hills here and waited for Shree Ram to arrive so that he can narrate the ordeal. His wish was fulfilled when Shree Ram did arrive and after the narration, Jatayu gave up his life. Shree Ram performed the last rites of this great bird just like he would do for his father, Dasrath.
There is a Ram Mandir on the top as well and while going around the statue we came to know that it is not a government initiative but a few locals who teamed up to make it possible. Major contributions are from these villagers. A person (I dont recall his name now) built the stairs with stones and cements and took him 3 years to make them. One also gets to see the foot of Shree Ram on the top behind the temple.
We all took a cable car ride back to the bottom of the mountain. And we moved towards or next destination Varkala.
The trip was short as it was just 28km from Jatayu Earth Centre. So we drove nonstop as were excited to see the sunset at the beach too.
As we reached our destination, my nephew and myself were a bit excited as we had books a hotel just opposite the beach. But as we reached closer we were in for a surprise. Not only were we close to the beach but also on the famous promenade which came to life after 8pm.
We went down to the beach where the kids again enjoyed their bath in the ocean. This time they made friends with a few kids playing football and played with them for some time.
Then we took a walk along the street and found many shops selling wares and there were Ayurvedic spas and yes the restaurants selling sea food. Actually I would not recommend this street for families, though a nice place for people who love seafood. My readers mostly vegetarians would not like it here so would suggest to avoid staying across the beach. But the youth will like it here and can spend a night or so.
Waiting for the night to become lazy and help me go to sleep. Till then Good Night!
Kerala Travel Diaries – Day 4
The day 4 began with watching the inauguration of the newly built Parliament. Being a sunday we too wanted to relax so had decided to begin a bit late. So we all hot ready by 12.00 noon and moved towards our restaurant for lunch.
We then moved towards to back waters for our shikara ride. We booked our ride for Rs.6pp0 for 10 people for 2 hours, but friends we later realised that we could have booked through KTDC at 20% price of what we paid. So a lesson leant.
We just enjoyed the backwaters of Allepy. We also learnt that Alleppey and Netherlands are the only two places in the world who do low level paddy farming. Also the backwaters are famous for their house boats run by both the Government and the private firms as well.
The shikara ride was a different experience itself. We learnt the backwaters are because of rain water. Sea water rushes in the land just for two months, whereas all other months it is the rainfall water which flows as backwaters.
We also tasted the coconut water on an island there where we all clicked pictures with a pet eagle.
The ride continued where we saw all the house boats returning after their day long journey. It was a beautiful sight. The lines of house boats reminds one of the Dal Lake in Srinagar. And looking at these long line of house boats we returned back to the shore.
From there we went to the Allapuzha beach. Being the last sunday of the week before the school starts the beach was full of people. Yet there was space for everyone. The kids enjoyed at the beach as they bathe in the waters of the Arabian sea. The waves we witnessed were bigger than the waves that we get to see at Mumbai. At the same time the road of the waves was frightening as well as they reminded me of the way ocean must have moved forward and how Rishi Agatsya must have stopped it from claiming more land.
We returned after dinner to our hotel with memories from the Shikara ride and the beach. One thing we missed was the sun set here. But with a hope of getting to see it at the Varkala beach we all slept in our cosy beds.
Poem #42
यह बादल मुझे मेरा लगता है,
सूरज छिपा इन बादलों में भी मेरा,
यह समंदर भी मेरा लगता है,
पर नजदीक इन सब में है किनारा,
जिसमें है सारा संसार समाया।
मुझमें भी है सूरज की तपन,
बालकों में बादल सी गडगडाहट,
पत्नी की आँखों में समंदर की गहराई,
और इन तीनों में है संसार समाहित,
लो, ली आज मेरे जगत ने अंगड़ाई।
Kerala Travel Diaries – Day 3
The third day is a day of relaxation as we have planned to travel to Allepy (Allapuzha) in the morning.
The day began with a photo session on the railway tracks close to our hotel. It is our second day I Kerala and te heat has still not tormented us in any way. The temperature here was 31 degrees with 70% humidity. It might have rained before we arrived here the day before.
Our travel began roughly at 11am. Our destination was Allapuzha. We had to reach the Ripple Land hotel rin by Kerala Tourism Development Centre (KTDC) by 12noon. And according to our driver it was a 2 hour drive from our starting point that day.
As we all had woken up late we skipped the breakfast and planned for a lunch. The meals at the Ottupura (it’s a chain if restaurants) here are stupendofabulous. One needs to try the local delicacies like dosa and uttapam. The Idli has eluded us till now because most of the restaurants serve Idli only uptil 10am in the morning. I have opted for the vegetable meal the two days we are here.
One more thing which one will find is the drinking water served in restaurants. They serve lukewarm water boiled with the bark of the Pathimugam tree. The water which is colourless takes a pink colour. The bark has its medicinal value. It is good for digestion as well acts as an anti toxin. It is also a good antibiotic as the locals told us. At other places but around Kerala, water is boiled in clove, ginger or other spices too.
After lunch, the driver suggested us to buy spices from the Munnar spices shop as it is said to sell good quality of spices. So we agreed.
But the twist lay here. He slowly passed on a n advertisement paper of Zidu Jewellery to our wives and suggested to have a look. Let my readers know that Kerala is famous for its 1 gm gold jewellery. And what would the women folk want! They were excited after the suggestion and we all had to agree to visit the shop.
After the jewellery shopping came time for spices shopping which was just on the other side of the street. The person who attended is was well versed with Hindi and Allopathy medicines. During our conversation, he told us that he too hailed from Kalyan, a suburb of Mumbai. He explained to us many things about the spices and the Ayurvedic medicines that were there for sale.
As we resumed our trip to Allapuzha we witnessed a lot of churches lined up on both the sides of the road. One thing I marked that they belonged to different dioceses of the different churches present around the world. I forgot to mention that in the morning I did visit the Jacobite church which was close to our hotel. The grandness of the church was spectacular and awe invoking. The simplicity and the silence for the prayer was something struck a chord with me.
Atlast we reached Allapuza and our hotel Ripple Land. The rooms were premium and could accommodate 3 people at ease. The services house keeping were excellent. Would recommend people travelling to Kerala to book in KTDC hotels if ppossible. They have a very cordial staff as well restaurants. Though the restaurants serve bot vegetarian and non vegetarian food but there are many pure vegetarian hotels as well.
We were lucky to find a hotel serving Marwadi food. They also served Jain food for those who prefer the same. And so it was a delight to savour the north Indian food in the southern part of India.
The day ended with the family playing “The Mafia” and deciding to sleep well and rise late in the morning dreaming about the beach and the shikara ride.
Kerala Travel Diaries – Day 2
The early morning of the second day started with a masala / ginger tea and now a long awaited journey to Ernakulam. As the destination drew closer, the train started becoming empty. Passengers started alighting at their respective destinations and we too were excited to reach ours.
We reached Ernakulam at 1pm and the sight at the station was very elegant. A very simple station with very clean platforms and people waiting in the chairs for their trains to arrive. The smile on the unknown face and the unknown language on their lips, looked and sounded very sweet , enhancing the elegance of the place.
Our driver with his tempo traveller was waiting for us at the station and to our surprise he spoke both English and Hindi. The air conditioned traveller was very cosy within its seating arrangement. We all settled down in our seats for the exciting journey ahead of us.
We went to our hotel to freshen up. Tbe hotel we had booked was called Base9 Airport Hotel. A very small and simple but very beautifully made 2 storey building in a residential complex in the town of Angamali.
Then came the highlight of the day. Our visit to one of the most venerated places in India, Birth place of Bhagwaan Shankaracharya, Kalady.
The Janmastthan managed by Shringeri Mutt is one of the most serene and and most peaceful Mutts I have ever visited. It brought all the memories of the stories of Aadi Shankarcharya’s childhood. My nephew at the very first instance within entering mentioned that the place bought good vibes to him. And the truth is the place is so vast and the atmosphere so pious that anyone entering would feel the same.
On entry inside the mutt, one is guided towards the Darshan of the Goddess duly consecrated. Six deities of different Goddess Kunari to Varahi to Indrani in their different forms adorn the left side of the mutt. Then one walks onto a platform which is for the students studying in the mutt here. On the far left, one walks down the steps besides the samadhi sthan of Aryamba, the mother of Aadi Shankaracharya.
At the samadhi sthaan, as one bows down, one is reminded of the instance of how Shankarachrya promised his mother that he will perform her last rites. The day when she passes away, though a Sanyasi, Shankarcharya does perform her funeral rites. The Nambooodri Brahmins who did not come for her funeral as Shankaracharya had broken the varna-ashram code and become a Sanyasi without being a Grihastha and Vanprashtha. One can imagine how difficult it must have been for him to perform all the rituals and it is said that Shankaracharya had to cut his mother’s body into 3 pieces to carry it to the funeral pyre. The samadhi reminds us of the unconditional love for the son and the Mother.
As we move ahead and enter the second hall towards our right, the walls of which are adorned with paintings and murals depicting the important facets of Shankaracharya’s life, leaves an onlooker in awe about the work done by the Acharya in his life time. The momumnetal works and the Acharya circumnavigating India to spread the word and philosophy of Advait Siddhant to uplift mankind is mind blowing.
Lastly on the right hand side is seated the Lord incarnate. Bhagwaan Shankaracharya, himself, consecrated as kind and full of knowledge. My younger son and myself recited the Totakashtkam before him to the delight of the priest performing pooja there. It gave me a sense of fulfillment to recite the divine stotra explaining the ‘mahatmya’ of the Acharya sung by one of his disciples.
Then we moved onto the temple of Shri Krishna who is the ‘Kuldevtaa’ of Aadi Shankarcharya and consecrated there by the Acharya himself when he was 7 years old. The custom of males removing their shirt (being barechested in the presence of the Lord) is followed mostly in all temples of Kerala. We recited the Shree Krishnashtakam there. It was beautiful sight with Darshan of the Lord possible only in presence of earthen lamps. An observstion also came to my mind which I leave for you, my reader to ponder over. The incarnation of Shiva considers the incarnation of Vishna as His kuldevtaa!
From there we moved to the banks of Poorna river. By this time, the sun had set and so we could not wait for a long time at the banks. This is the same Poorna river whose flow was changed by the Acharya. His mother had an illness and she was finding it difficult to walk to the river to fetch water. So Acharya is said to have changed the course of the river so that it passed by his house and mother did not have to toil hard to fetch water.
There is another major event which has taken place in this river. Shankaracharya wanted to take Sanyas at the age of 8 but his mother was vehemently opposed to the idea. So once when he went to take a bath in the river, a crocodile caught him by his foot and was not letting it go. Aryamba too rushed to the scene and cries her heart out. The child Shankar told her to give him permission to take sanyas and only after that will the crocodile leave his foot. Aryamba reluctantly agreed and gave the child the permission and the crocodile left Shankar’s foot. (It is said that Shankar had created this illusion just to get the permission from his mother).
Then we all sat down and recited the stotra “Bhaj Govindam” and left for our hotel. Mid way we had our dinner and came back to our sweet soft beds waiting for us. And slept with the dreams of the childhood of Aadi Shankaracharya and his love for his mother.
Bhav Shankar Desike me Sharanam…
Kerala Travel Diaries – Day 1
Atlast our trip to Kerala began on the 25th of May. An eventful day with lots of fun and laughter.
We all gathered at the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 10.30am for our 11.40 train. And we were lucky to reach early as one cab missed the bridge and went ahead on the eastern expressway and had to travel atleast 3 to 4 kilometers before it reached the terminus. Yet we were at the terminus well before time.
The journey was going to a long one as it would take atleast 25 hours for us to reach our destination Ernakulam station. The journey via train was one of the first long distance journeys we all undertook as a family. The excitement of being together and spending time togther will be the best part of this journey.
It all began when the train left the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and picked up place as it exited the platform. With prayers for a safe journey, our journey began with theplas and sandwiches. The mouth watering jam sandwiches were devoured the most.
As the journey progresses and we passed through Panvel and Chiplun, it brought back many memories from the past. The days of youth and when we as youth would travel to Chiplun for meetings and work.
The B6 coach was slowly erupting into loud laughter now and then. The best part of the day was when we all played Dumb Sherards. The three generations, the grandfather, the father and the grandson, roughly from 1950’s to the current times were all competing to prove that they can express themselves the best. The movies from Bees Saal Baad to Jay Santoshi Mata to Aastha were all acted out and tried to be recognised by the fellow team mates. It was an exhilarating experience.
Well the evening concluded with a spicy dinner and at 10pm sharp the lights were switched off with dreams of reaching our first destination, Ernakluam…
Morning Musings… 14
If intellect can encompass Him, then how can He be limitless?
If mind can grasp Him, then how can He be God?
Was listening to this Qawaali the other night and these two lines were just absorbing and though provoking for me. The poet Naz Khialvi has so beautifully woven the verses of his sufi poem “Tum ik gorakh dhandha ho” about proving the existence of God. Composed and sung by none other then the legend himself Nusrat Fateh Ali Khansahab it leads us to another dimension itself.
The Upanishads too talk and explain about the limitless God and the Rishi’s when it comes to describing God or proving His existence say ‘नेति नेति‘ (Neti Neti) – that I dont know or His existence.
Sometimes I wonder even after the wonderful experience of seeing / understanding God, they say the know not. Why? As I believe to each his own experience. And our Rishis are the most democratic in a way that they want each one of us to experience Him in our own way.
There are many ways of attaining Him or experiencing the fullness of life, but to each his own. No description so no bias or expectation and so to each his own. Our Rishi’s want us to walk on the path but are not ready to describe the details.
Let us all tread on our paths.
Let us all get to see Him.
Let us all experience the Fullness.
Om Tat Sat.
Morning Musings… 13 (Makar Sankranti)
The vastness of the sky and the kites fly high,
The boys shouting “lapet” and see the girls sigh;
“Kaipo chhe” and wishes of Tirmoori and Lohri,
Fills our lives with fun and reveal our ancient glory;
The whole of India celebrates the movement of the Sun,
From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, khichadi in the ton;
The sweetness of Jaggery, the sesame seeds aliphatic,
Makes our body ready for summer and pragmatic;
So wishing you the best of Sankranti celebrations,
A time to build nurture and care for relations…
Wishing you all my readers a very Happy Lohri, Bihu, Bhogi, Pongal, Tirmuri, Makar Sankranti and Uttarayan.
Am sharing links to my previous blogs if anyone from you intd in reading:
https://ameetkothari.wordpress.com/2019/01/14/makar-sankranti/
https://ameetkothari.wordpress.com/2020/01/14/makar-sankranti-2/
https://ameetkothari.wordpress.com/2021/01/14/makar-sankranti-3/
Glossary: Aliphatic – स्निग्धता; Pragmatic – व्यावहारिक
Morning Musings… 12
The birth of a child is the Hope that God has upon His creation…
Yesterday spoke to a friend who is studying medicine and had just helped deliver a child some hours back. He described his experience as an adrenaline rush. But his excitement conveyed that he was very happy to be a part of that process.
Actually Birth is life. And giving a life to someone is a beautiful experience which everyone needs to experience. The woman is blessed to have this experience naturally but for the man it is something either he needs very perfect emotions to feel and understand or he has to be born a woman in his next birth to experience that.
Or one needs to have a Guru (a spiritual guide) to make one experience that feeling. The Guru by his thoughts moulds the student and gives a new birth that of understanding and emotions of the student. But this is difficult topic to dwell in short so will leave it for some next time.
But would tell my readers that let us all learn to celebrate birth and death as a part of life.
Let us understand the purpose of our life and live upto it.
Morning Musings… 11 (Vivekanand Jayanti)
Am sharing a thought and a poem written by my brother, friend and an excellent teacher Narendrabhai Vasani. He considers himself as a student of Indian Philosophy and tries to awaken the spirit of Indianness through his poems. Today on the day of Vivekanand Jayanti, wishing you all a very Happy National Youth Day.
दुर्लभं त्रयमेवैतत् देवानुग्रहहेतुकम्।
मनुष्यत्वं मुमुक्षुत्वं महापुरुष संश्रयः॥
1) मनुष्यत्व,
2) मुमुक्षत्व, और
3) सत्पुरुषों का सहवास–
(ईश्वरानुग्रह करानेवाले महापुरुष)
ये तीन मिलना, अति दुर्लभ है ।
🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅
‘भाई-बहन’ का संबोधन जब जग ने पहली बार सुना;
अमरीका की धर्म-सभा का गूँज उठा कोना-कोना।
सोया भारत पुनः जगाया स्वाभिमान लहराया;
जगतगुरु भारत के सुत को सबने शीश नवाया।
भोग विलास न जिसको भाया, सेवा का व्रत धारा;
संन्यासी योगी बन जिसने जीवन खूब सँवारा।
दीन हीन जन की सेवा को जिसने पूजा माना;
उन्हें ‘विवेकानंद’ नाम से सारे जग ने जाना।
- नरेन
स्वामी विवेकानंद जयंती की अनेकानेक बधाई…
💐😊🙏
Morning Musings… 10
It is not that I didnt have any thoughts or didnt get time during these days but refrained from writing what was going on in my mind. It might be a trifle for you all as it was more with me and myself. Someday will share the same too.
Well today began on a different note. It is related to Mathematics. Last few years I have seen that the subject most kids dread the most is Mathematics. You talk to them and the way they react is surprising for me atleast!
And to some extent I know that people from my fraternity try to frighten the kids saying that it is the most difficult subject particularly at the college level. Whatever reason they must be having but to imbibe a fear about their own subject is shameful. Then what are we there for? Rather our presence should make the subject easy and enjoyable. At the same time I know many teachers who try to do it so simple that kids love to learn the subject and become masters later.
Also I feel that Basic Mathematics begins at home. Our parents used to get us to learn the tables and repeat them every evening lest we loose touch. My grandpa and many of his age used to recite the tables of 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75 and 2.25. We learned from them.
I should point out that there is a difference between learning and rotte learning. Learning is for life and rotte leaning is for exams. After exams it’s ok if you forget. That’s a different topic which I will write on someday later.
Let’s come back to Mathematics and let us resolve to make it easy for the kids and for ourselves.
Morning Musings… 9
The early morning thought about the importance of education in life. Lately have been meeting parents of my students and sometimes I am in a situation where I don’t know how to react!😀
Some parents want their kids to do still better than they have done. You can imagine a student scoring 39 on 40 in Science and the mom asking where have you lost that 1 mark? The other type is that chill relax you have bored 20 on 40 and bettered your score than last time. Dont take pressure, it’s ok. There is a third type which is disinterested as they do not understand even a bit of Educatiin but want their child to educated as they didnt get that oppurtunity in their childhood.
It might be intriguing for you my reader but I have got used to this. Every parent is caring and thinks for betterment of their child. But in the race for excelling, do we, as parents not over burden our child? Don’t we sometimes dump our expectations, which we couldn’t fulfill, on the child? The fear of my child losing out in the world is the greatest and that has led is to a dangerous crossroads where there is a possibility that the relations with my child can be strained!
Being a teacher, I don’t undermine the value and place of education in our lives but at the same time I want to say that it is not the only thing. I always like this saying
जब दंत न थे, तो दुध दिए, अब दंत दिए तो अन्न न दे?
When we didnt have the teeth, He gave us milk and now when we have teeth, will we not trust Him to give us food?
Education is not for a career or earning money but it is for character development. Education means to draw out. To draw out the values hidden within. So let us, as parents, be a bit more patient with our kids.
Let us create a dialogue between each member of the family to create harmony in life, family, society, nation and the world as a whole.
Morning Musings… 8
Should one wake up early or late in the mornings? Must be a topic of debate in many households in India. Or it may be a way of life for many. I always had this question during my school days but now my mornings begin at 6am.
Many parents feel that waking up early is a trait which Humans should exhibit and force their kids to follow the same. Am not against parents forcing but the method of forcing. Cant we make a grown up child understand about what and how we feel? Why do we have to impose a few things? I have always felt that a kid does what his or her parents force to do but what about later when they grow old? Do they listen to parents? Do they follow those imposititions?
Another school of thought believes in letting do whatever the kids want to and so do not impose nor try to make them understand. I do not agree here too. Giving kids a free hand in their age is a bit too much but a little bit of prodding always helps. So push your kid but to an extent that the kid has the freedom to make his or her own decision. That will turn out the best for both.
This is just a thought going on in my mind. So do share your views about this!
Morning Musings… 7
Today morning received a message from my friend regarding him flying to some place outside India for his business purpose. I wished him Happy Journey. And have been doing so from last many years now. He too always calls me as he arrives at the airport to fly back to India.
I always wish him in different languages like Spanish, French, English, Gujarati, Hindi and Sanskrit. I love the Sanskrit wish of “Shubhaste Pantha:”. It always makes me wonder the importance of words in our life.
Let your path be favourable
Let your path lead you to good fortune
Let your path be auspicious
Let your path lead you to providence
From materialistic gains to the path of God. To the path of truth. To the path of Divine. One word itself means so many different things and it will depend on the listener what meaning he or she derives.
I respect all the languages but adore Sanskrit not only for its Grammar but also its thesaurus. Actually making a thesaurus is a daunting task and people like Hemchandracharya have tried to compile it.
I can just bow down to all these people who have worked for Sanskrit and getting people educated about the language.
Shubhaste Pantha:
Morning Musings… 6
Began my day with listening to Kabir sung by Abida Parveenji. So soothing voice and such great writing. And introduction to both the stalwarts by Gulzaarsahab. A combination unbeatable.
Came across the following doha (verse):
सब धरती कागद करूँ,
लेखन सब बनराई,
सात समुंद्र की मश करूँ,
गुरु गुण लिखा ना जाय।
Sab Dharti Kagad karu,
Lekhan karu banraai,
Saat Samundra ki mash karu,
Guru “gun” likha na jaay.
Kabir says that if I make the land the paper and all its plants a pen, and if I make the ink from from the waters of the seven seas, then too will not be able to write the characteristic values of my Guru – Teacher.
Now this is such a beautiful thought. The verse itself explains the importance of a teacher, a mentor in our lives. The trust for our teacher has to be 100% then and only then will the teachers teachings have an effect on our lives.
Am reminded of the shlok from Shiv Mahimna Stotra written by Pushpadant in praise of Lord Shiva where he writes
असित-गिरि-समं स्यात् कज्जलं सिन्धु-पात्रे।
सुर-तरुवर-शाखा लेखनी पत्रमुर्वी।।
लिखति यदि गृहीत्वा शारदा सर्वकालं।
तदपि तव गुणानामीश पारं न याति।। ३२।। Here Pushpadant talks about God and says that he cannot write all the values imbibed in God.
Now I will not be drawn into the discussion of who copied from whom or any such sort of debate cause I believe that 2 people living at 2 different places and maybe in different times can have the same experience as each other. Isn’t it?…
Morning Musings… 5
A new year. A new beginning. A new morning.
People generally tell us to make or share their resolutions today. But sometimes I wonder whether the resolutions are to be lived or told. Secondly when I ask some is it out of learning from it or to judge that person later in the year. Actually what is the need to know about what others have planned.
Indian culture talks about “Swadhyay” – self introspection. Inspect yourself. Keep a check on yourself. Change yourself. Think about the development of self. But here we are interested in what others do.
So friends on the new year day let us try to find yourself. Look after our words and deeds. Let’s try not to judge others. Let’s judge ourselves.
Educate ourselves. Let us try to draw out our capabilities and try to improve for a better self and tommorrow.
Wishing you all a very Happy and a Prosperous New Year.
Morning Musings…4
The morning starts a bit late today as have rested a bit more. Enjoyed the cool breeze on the last day of December. The year comes to an end and people start talking about the past year.
I always had this question why to remember all that what happened during the past year instead of thinking and planning for the coming year. But over the years my thinking evolved that we should remember and express gratefulness to all who taught, entertained Humanity and passed away this year. Gratefulness is the most important trait of human being.
Also we should recall and remember all the mistakes we have made a part of self, family and Society and decide to try not to repeat it again in the new year. The scribes are a mirror to the society but they are busy celebrating the marriages and business deals that happened this year. Its nothing wrong but who will show the mirror to the society? And in the same breath I say will the writers or editors be able to do so as most of them are corrupt and self centered or leaning towards a particular ideology.
And the most important part is to plan for the future. Accept and learn from mistakes and move ahead in life. Isn’t it what the new year is about? Change is the only thing constant in this world and so we need to keep evolving and move on.
Keep brooding over this thought the whole day today and wishing you all a very happy end to the year…
Morning Musings… 3
The day began on a sombre note for me with the news of the great Pele being no more. The people of my generation and before would surely recall the way he played, the way he commanded the game and the way he was followed. To add to the woes, another piece of bad news that the mother of the Indian PM passed away too. The visuals of the PM paying his last respects are disturbing and makes one sad.
To the life born, death is imminent.
As Shreemad Bhagwad Geeta says:
वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय
नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि।
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा
न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही।।2.22।।
That death is merely like changing of old clothes for new. As the body deteriorates the soul leaves the old body to take up a new one.
Yet the acceptance of death is very difficult for common people like us. It is the bond of oneness, the bond of love,warmth and care that incites the feeling of losing our loved ones and makes us feel sad. A thought of Mother leaving for a pilgrimage or going for a picnic makes the child feel insecure, we can imagine the state of person when you know that now you are not going to see her in person anymore is very terrifying and painful.
My dear readers let us all learn to respect life and accept death in our own little ways. The journey doesnt stop at death but continues in a different terrain…
Morning Musings… 2
Yesterday night slept with a thought that how grateful should we be to ungrateful people in our life? It seems I slept through tha thought as I woke up today morning with different answers to it.
One thought “Shatham prati shathyam”, (शठं प्रति शाठ्यम – do evil unto evil) which is the easiest way to react to any such situation. The whole world follows it. Cause it is natural to us Humans. Is this our instinct is a big question to brood upon?
The other thought is “Shatham prati Satyam”, (शठं प्रति सत्यम् – do good unto evil) which is a very difficult task to take upon. We can’t even imagine this in a competitive world of ours. Where a kid in his childhood is taught not to trust even his parents or the basis of a marriage is money or some tacit understanding about husband and wife. Even parents bring up the children with an expectation.
But when we see the lives of all great man like Bhagwaan Ram, Bhagwaan Krishna, Bhagwaan Mahaveer or Tathagat Buddha, we see a compassion in their lives for evil. Though all have devised and taken up their own ways to address the thought, we have a few we can emulate in our lives.
Atlast what about being original? Why copy someone? Why have an ideal in life? Even they are mortals and made so many mistakes in their lives. Well, who doesn’t? People become great when they learn from their mistakes. We have the independence of having an ideal in life or not but do we have any independence from our action whether right or wrong? This is what I feel Karma is.
Morning Musings… 1
I am thinking for a few days about what to write and what not. There are so many thoughts going on simultaneously about friends family, relations, society as a whole. But at last I have decided to write about my thoughts.
I always talk to the God within me and try to find a solution to my understanding. I think and then try to change or clear it too. It is a tough process but introspecting is not easy.
People think that introspecting means looking inside and seeing the good and the bad of the past or the thought process going on in mind. But I go a step forward to say that it also incorporates action. Just looking inside isnt going to help me change. It is action on my part which will. So introspecting = thinking + action. This will help us all in our lives.
Now if I introspect and dont make changes then am a “mudha” (goof head in todays language). It is just a thought which is not put in action and so of no use. I wouldn’t go to the level of calling it a hypocrisy but it’s more a buffoonery with oneself. So in the end action is what is necessary for change. Thought is our path and action is walking on that path.
Just share your thoughts on the above topic and if you can share your line of action on the same pls share it too.
Vitthalnathji Prakatyadin – Jalebi Utsav
श्री विट्ठलनाथजी (गुसांईजी) के प्राकट्य दिन की मंगल बधाई।
Have purposely taken up this writing today as people outside the Pushtimarg rarely know the life and works of Vitthalnathji, fondly called as Gusainji.
He too, like Mahaprabhuji, has moved around India to spread the idea of Pushtimarg and taken efforts to build and shape the Sampradaay. His 28 ‘Baithakji’ (a seat of learning and propagating the Pushti thought) are very well known and respected amongst the Shree Vallabh Sampradaay.
The second son of Shree Mahaprabhuji and Shree Mahalaxmiji was born on the 9th day of dark moon phase of the Hindu month of Margshirsh. Having hobbies like music, dance, painting and Horse riding, Vitthalnath completed the studies of the scriptures at the age of 10.
Being the son of Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya, the task of building and shaping is not easy. Vallabhacharya had his work well defined that is to promulgate the Pushti thought, leaving the work of shaping it to the next of his kin. Vitthalnathji lived upto the expectations and not only built up the thought but also gave it a shape. His work of making the followers of Vallabhacharya understand the Pushti thoughts and imbibing them in life is unparalleled in history.
The story behind the Jalebi Utsav is also interesting. One evening the Mukhiyaji (head priest) of the Gopalpur temple is said to have got a divine call to celebrate Vitthalnathji’s birthday. It is said that it was Shrinathji himself who told the Mukhiyaji to make Jalebi’s. Bhagwaan explained, that life of Vitthalnathji is filled with “Ras” (full of savoury thoughts) and what a better way to celebrate than to savour the “Ras purna” (full of sweet juices) Jalebis. So the Mukhiyaji followed the diktat. The next day morning, when Vitthalnathji arrived at the Gopalpur temple, he was a bit perplexed and so he enquired about the Jalebis. That is when he came to know that it is the diktat of Bhagwaan Shrinathji, Himself, to celebrate his birthday. And from that day onwards, the birthday of Vitthalthji is celebrated as Jalebi Utsav.
Sometimes I wonder, like many of you must also be, that is it truly possible? But faith can move mountains. Bhagwaan through his devotees can get things done as He wishes. Maybe the Pushti Sampradaay started celebrating Gusaiji’s birthday in such a way as it was Vitthalnathji who filled their lives with the right devotion towards Bhagwaan. And then as it is our Sanatan Parampara, we say that it was Bhagwaan’s wish to celebrate in the same way.
Vitthalnathji and his works like Shreesarvottam Stotra and Vidnyapti are treasures of the Pushti Sampradaay and need to be read to understand Mahaprabhuji’s thought.
It is his Vrat of leading atleast 2 persons onto the path of Bhagwaan and then partake any morsel of food during a day is something which we all, modern day devotees, should emulate. This can be our true Namaskaars to Gusainji.
Jay Jay Shree Gokulesh!
Kanha, Tu kahaan!
Shaam bhayi, godhuli mein nirakhta raha,
Tera swaroop! Teri baatein! bus aur kahaan!
Shyam Tujhe Gokul main gopiyon ne paaya,
Vrindavan ki galiyon mein har pal tera saaya;
Samandar tat par Dwarika tune basayi,
Wahin par Yadavone sadgati hai payi;
Kanha par aaj tu dikha us insaan mein,
Lad raha zindagi ki taklifo tufaano mein;
Hai bhitar tu basa, khoj raha main kahaan?
Yaaron ka yaar tu, ek sirf tu, is pure jahaan…
Datta Jayanti
Greetings on the occasion of Datta Jayanti…
The embodiment of Trinity itself,
For work of God, He toiled himself,
Atri – Anusuya so named Him Datta,
Meaning the one who surrendered self..
The pain for propagating Godly thought,
The efforts for good work He did ought,
Culture, Civilisation in His area thrived,
As He traversed untying the social knots…
So He is the Brahma, the Generator,
And the consort of Laxmi, the Operator,
Very rarely does one find all three in one,
Also incarnation of Shiva, , the Destroyer,
Reverence for Nature and Youth…
The rains have begun. And so has the month of Asadh (Hindu month for July). The nature will now bloom with all its greenery and the atmosphere will be cool but rainy.
Today on the 12th of July, Swadhyay Parivaar celebrates this day as Vrushmandir (Tree Temple) Day and Madhav Vrund Day. The Great Human and the propounder of the thought of Human Dignity, Pujaniya Pandurang Shashtriji Athavale, the founder of the Swadhyay Parivaar, has given the above experiments to the world to learn and understand the importance of nature in one’s own life as well as social life.
I need not tell my reader the importance of nature conservation. The newspapers, the social activists, the NGO’s are trying to do so in their own way. But the motive behind the conservation is nothing but utilitarian. There might be nothing wrong in it, but it does not motivate the society to participate. It has it’s own limitations.
Many objectify nature. It is one of the worst attitudes mankind can ever have. Nature is not an object that can be degraded. We need to remove this from our minds and thoughts. But then how do we look towards nature.
This is where Pandurang Shashtriji’s thoughts, which are based on the Vedic way of life, help us. He says that we need to look towards nature with devotion. As God resides in everything, God resides in nature too. We need to identify and develop an attitude. The way we look after God and take care of him, we need to do the same for nature.
And with this understanding which He inculcated in common people living in villages , He came up with the experiment of Vrukshamandir – the Temple of Trees. People from 20 villages gather and plant trees one barren land with an understanding of devotion. These trees, or saplings rather, which they plant are not only plants but God Himself so they take care of these saplings and today we see the grand trees taking their place.
This all may sound like a miracle but it is not. One needs to see it to believe it. And it has taken long years for this to take a form. Shashtriji waited for the common man to understand the thought and imbibe it in their life. And later to give some action to this thought he established Vrukshmandirs. Today there are 27 such Vrukshmandirs in states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana.
My reader, by now, you must have a question regarding reverence for the youth and its significance today. Well, Pandurang Shashtriji always says “I confide in the triad of God , Shruti (Vedas) and the Youth”. In the times of turmoil and unrest, of which youth is a part and his energy is being used for destructive abilities, Shashtriji, has channelised this energy into constructive activities. He has given them the platform to air their views, discuss about them and come to conclusions based on logical reasoning and Vedic way of life.
The platform, He has called it Yuva Kendra (formerly known as Divine Brain Trust), turns 50 this year. The youth between the age group of 16 to 30 have been meeting regularly every week to discuss various values and characters as well as debate upon topics which help mould their lives. They perform street plays during Janmashatami and conduct elocution competitions during Geeta Jayanti. They also have an annual sports day and 4 yearly sports conclave called “Charam Samkridan”. This has led to drawing out the creative energies amongst the youth and inculcated the value of devotion towards parents, teachers, society and above all God.
This transformation taking place around the world is not visible but has a great effect in personal and family lives. And in all this, their guiding force during the last two decades, has been none other than Shashtriji’s daughter, Jayshree – Athavale Talwalkar, better known as Didi Talwalkar. The pains She has taken to nurture these youth is unparallel in history and to celebrate Her efforts, the Parivaar celebrates Her birthday, that is on 12th July, as Yuva Din.
The youth as envisioned by the Vedas: युवा स्यात्साधुयुवाऽध्यायकः।
O Human! Be youthful; be a well mannered youth; be studious.
आशिष्ठो दृढिष्ठो बलिष्ठः।
Optimistic, Determined and strong.
तस्येयं पृथिवी सर्वा वित्तस्य पूर्णा स्यात्।
O Yearnful Youth! This Earth is filled with wealth and it is all yours…
स एको मानुषःआनन्दः। …
And all this in youth is bliss of Being Human…
We get to see an effort on the part of the youth in moving towards this goal.
On this day, I can only offer my Pranaams to both Shashtriji and His daughter and take pride in being moulded by Her.
Wishing you all a very Happy Vrukshmandir Din and Yuva Din.
Shankaracharya Jayanti
श्रुति स्मृति पुराणानां आलयं करूणालयं ।
नमामि भगवत्पाद शंऽकरं लोकशंऽकरं ।।
Namaskaars all my readers a very Happy Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti.
We bow down to the great Avtaar who came to earth out of Universal necessity and showed Human beings the path of enlightenment and led them onto it.
Shankaracharya, in his life span of 32 years has led a life, which even people his age cannot even think of. He reached out to the four corners of India, on foot. Leading a difficult ascetic life, He propounded the philosophy of Adwait Vedanta (non dualism). His guru Bhagwatpaad Gaudpadacharya initiated him into a monastic life at Omkareshwar, on the banks of river Narmada.
During his life, he had many debates with scholars belonging to different thoughts and won them over. Chief among them is Mandan Mishra who later became his disciple and was called Sureshwara.
Totakacharya was also one of his disciples, who has given the music world a new meter called the ‘Taka’ or ‘Totaka’ meter.
Shankaracharya established 4 mathas in the four directions of India to establish Vedic supremacy and gave these mathas to his disciples the responsibility to learn, teach and preach and also research on the Vedas. Totakacharya was given the responsibility of the Northern Matha of Jyotirmath. Sureshvara was installed on the southern Sringeri Sharada Peetha; Padmapada, the eastern Govardhan Peetha and Hastamalakcharya the western Dwarka Peetha.
Not only this, He also gave a structure to the monastic fold of India. He formed 10 different subdivisions wherein all the monks were place which was called the Dashnaami Sampradaay.
All of them gathered every 12 years at Prayagraaj for the Kumbh. It was here that the theories and experiments about the Vedic thought, culture and civilisation were discussed and the future course of action of coming 12 years was decided. Adi Shankaracharya took all these pains to see that things take place as decided. He called it the “Aamnaay” (systems) and the 4 Shankaracharya Peethas were given this responsibility to take care to see that it is followed.
My salutations again to the Acharya today and May God give us the strength to read, learn and understand Him.
Tretayug – Akshay Tritiya
One of the 3 and half Mahurats (auspicious time)…
A day when Treta Yug began…
A day when Bhagwaan Rishabhdev broke His year long fast by drinking sugarcane juice through his cupped hands (Varshi Tap Paarna)…
The day when Bhagwaan Vyas started dictating Mahabharat to Bhagwaan Ganesha…
The day when farmers in India start the farming work for the monsoon season by decorating their cattle and worshipping their fields (Bhoomi Pujan)…
A day when Maa Ganga descended on Mother Earth…
The day when Lord Parshuram was born…
At the beginning, I mentioned that its is one of the 3 and half mahurats, auspicious time to begin anything new. Akshay Tritaya alongwith Dusshara, Gudhi Padwa and Kartik Poornima (half day) are considered as the most auspicious days to begin a new venture. Akshay Tritiya day falls on the 3rd day of the bright half (shukla paksha) of Vaishakha of the lunar month. (It falls in later half of April or first half of may according to western calendar). The whole day is a day to acquire wisdom, think and begin anew.
“Akshay’ means one which never diminishes. Tritiya means the third day. So it is believed that anything that we acquire or begin on this day, will never be diminished.
It is also considered as the birthday of Goddess Annapurna (the Goddess of Food). She too is worshipped today.
The Bengalis worship Lord Ganesha and Laxmiji and begin their new audit year, this day. It is called “Halkhata” in the local language.
Bhagwaan Rishabhdev, the first Tirthankar of the Jains, broke his fast on this day. A year long fast! I always wondered how they could do it. But this is “Tap”, ( the readiness to bear both pain and happiness, not to be delighted in one’s happiness and not to be bogged down in distress). Also, they (24 Tirthankara’s) in their pursuit of finding the truth about oneself, sometimes got lost in themselves and forgot to partake food. The fire within, for this pursuit was so hot that it engulfed all other worldly desires. This pursuit of truth has always been, is and will always be “Akshay”.
Mahabharat, the great epic, was started to be written today. It has covered all relations and all topics under the Sun. There is an episode before the Mahabharata was started to be written. When Bhagwaan Vyas asked Ganesha, the God of wisdom, to write his dictation, Ganesha said that it would be possible only on one condition that Vyas would not stop once he starts dictating. Bhagwaan Vyas readily agreed and put forth his condition that Ganesha will understand what is being told and then write it down. And so it is said that Vyas would speak a few sentences which were difficult to interpret for Ganesha and would take a break. The truthulness behind the episode is difficult to be adjudged, but this conveys to us the greatness of Bhagwaan Vyas. The Mahabharat in it’s true sense is a book of undiminished “akshay” wisdom.
Mother Ganga descending upon the earth is one of the most beautiful glacial phenomenon, an human can envisage and see happening in his own lifetime. Bhagirath, the great King, was able to do this. It’s an engineering marvel. Even today, people go upto ‘Gomukh’, the caves from where Ganga appears, but the exact place of Her origin is still unknown. The flow of Ganga is continuous and divine. The divinity within Her waters is something which will never be diminished “Akshay”.
On this most auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya, I wish all my readers a very Happy Akshay Tritiya.
May Goddess Annapurna bless every field with lots of crops and every kitchen with unlimited and delicious meals.
May Bhagwaan Rishabhdev bless us all with the zeal and enthusiasm in our unending pursuit of eternal truth.
May Bhagwan Vyas and Ganeshji bless everyone with undiminishing wisdom.
May the ever flowing Ganga cleanse our bodies and minds and fill them with divine thoughts.
1st May
1st May…
Happy May Day!
Happy Workers Day!
Happy Maharashtra Day!
Many of you might have felt that why begin with wishes for May Day first and Maharashtra Day the last! Cause that answer lies in its history.
My kid, a few years back, on 1st May morning asked me, “Pappa what is the importance of this day? Why is it celebrated as international workers day and Maharashtra day?”
An unexpected question from a 7 year old made me think. I did explain to him about the socialist revolution and their fight for the cause of workers. A lot of workers blood was shed while fighting for their rights. How 1 May was chosen to be International Workers’ Day to commemorate the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago. In that year beginning on 1 May, there was a general strike for the eight hour work day. On 4 May, the police acted to disperse a public assembly in support of the strike when an unidentified person threw a bomb. The police responded by firing on the workers. The event lead to the death of eight and injury of sixty police officers as well as an unknown number of civilian killed or wounded. Hundreds of labour leaders and sympathizers were later rounded-up and four were executed by hanging, after a trial that was seen as a miscarriage of justice.
And also how India after independence was divided into linguistic states. How Maharashtra and Gujarat were born! How there was bloodshed for the same! Some politicians just for their own selfish motives dividing India on basis of language. India after being divided on basis of caste, class, kingdoms (small and large), religion; now was Her turn to be divided on basis of language. And as I write today, do not know how many times more will She be divided and on what basis and in which context…
While explaining all this I was lead to think that, is this the only reason to celebrate / commemorate 1st May? Or is there some other reason too? Can our human history be so narrow-minded? So took to the internet to find my answers. And I was proved right. History is always broad minded, not like humans who write it.
Sharing a few excerpts of what I found on the internet…
“The earliest May Day celebrations appeared with the Floralia, festival of Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, held on April 27 during the Roman Republic era, and with theWalpurgis Nightcelebrations of theGermanic countries.
The day was a traditional summer holiday in many Europeanpagan cultures.
While February 1 was the first day ofspring, May 1 was the first day ofsummer; hence, thesummer solstice on June 25 (now June 21) wasMidsummer.
As Europe becameChristianised, the pagan holidays lost their religious character and May Day changed into a popular secular celebration.
A significant celebration of May Day occurs in Germany where it is one of several days on whichSt. Walburga, credited with bringing Christianity to Germany, is celebrated.
The secular versions of May Day, observed in Europe and North America, may be best known for their traditions of dancing around themaypoleand crowning the Queen of May.
Fading in popularity since the late 20th century is the giving of “May baskets,” small baskets of sweets or flowers, usually left anonymously on neighbours’ doorsteps”.
(Source – Wikipedia).
I hope my justification for wishing May Day first and Maharashtra Day last will be understood by you all now.
Humans have been naturalists from the very beginning. The last few hundred years have made them more aggressive towards nature and environment. On this very day, let us all pledge to take care of our environment and love the nature.
Let’s save Mother Earth not out of necessity.
She is our mother and takes care of Her Children without any expectations.
Let us coexist and thrive to achieve what the Creator has made us for.
Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya Prakatyaotsav
Proponent of the Shuddhadvaita (Pure Nondualism).
Founder of the Pushtimarg.
Devotional Philosopher.
One of the five main acharyas in India, the other being Aadi Shankaracharya, Madhvacharya, Nimbakacharya and Ramanujacharya.
Vallabha means “dear one“.
Born today, that is the 11th day of the dark half of lunar month of Chaitra at Champaranya.
Son of Illamma and Lakshman Bhatta.
People say that His was a still birth so his parents left Him under a tree wrapped in white clothes. Later Shree Krishna appeared in their dreams to tell them that it is He who has arrived in this form and is well alive. The bewildered parents rushed back to the place to find the kid alive.
Studied Vedas at a very young age and earned the title of “Baal Saraswati“. Participated in many debates and earned the titles of “Acharya” and “Jagadguru” at the age of 12.
Later travelled throughout India, not once, not twice but thrice to explain Krishna bhakti and spread Vaishnavism.
He gave discourses on Bhagwat at 84 different places known as “Baithakji” (seats of learning) today. These “Baithakji’s” still have a relevance for all the practising Vaishnavas even today and a visit to any Baithakji is a divine experience. Every Vaishnava wishes to visit all the 84 places once in his life time.
Later, in Gokul he initiated his first disciple and laid the foundations of what we know today as Pushtimarg (Path of Grace). He made the first Vaishnava by giving / teaching him the important “Brahma Sambandh” (Realisation of a person’s relation with the Almighty).
He gave the mantra, “Shree Krishna Sharanam Mamah” (श्री कृष्ण शरणं ममः) to Surdasji and initiated him to the Vaishnavaite fold. We all know Surdas through his devotional songs which he has sung for the Lord Incarnate. The mantra itself explains complete devotion to Lord Krishna.
“SHARANAM” means to offer oneself to the wish of God. To believe that it is only Krishna who can take care of oneself. To believe that He operates our life and full submit oneself to Him and become His instrument.
He took Samaadhi at a very young age of 52 into the waters of the Ganges at Kashi.
His work “Madhurashtakam” is a lucid yet romantic version for Shrinathji, the deity at Nathdwara. In it, He glorifies Shrinathji and all His activities, ending every verse with the line “Madhuradhipate Akhilam Madhuram” (every act of the Lord is madhur). Madhur as a noun means sweet, tender, full; as an adjective means melodious, beautiful, sweet.
Many of His works are still being read and His followers are still trying to understand what the Acharya has written.
He talks about God being in the form of a child. He has hence asked Vaishnavas to worship the “Baal Krishna” (Krishna in child form). And treat the Lord as a child. As we fulfill all the wishes of the children, we should fulfill all the wishes of the Lord. The devotees express their love for the Lord by acts of giving Him a bath and feeding Him and making Him sleep. The tradition of 8 Darshans, from Mangala (Rising) to Shayan (Sleeping) are started by Vallabhacharyaji. The significance of these 8 darshans is that the Lord is just like us. He is no different and so we need not be afraid of Him, rather as He is a child, shower Him with all the love we can.Such a personality is called the Mahaprabhu.
Our seer’s called him so meaning He is the greatest amongst the Gods. Revered Pandurang Shastriji Athavale explains it in his own simple way that “Jo Bhagwaan ko milne bulaaye aur Bhagwaan ko aana pade, aise jo log hain unhe Mahaprabhu kehte hain”, (the Lord upon being called, is compelled to come to meet, such is a Mahaprabhu)
On this day of Varuthini Ekadashi, I bow down to this anshavataar and during these days hope that we all will chant the mantra he gave to this world “Shree Krishna Sharanam
Batch of 2021-22
You all have been outstanding students
You all have acted, lived with prudence,
You all have worked both online offline,
But have never with us crossed the line...
You will make proud your parents one day,
With your efforts their fears will allay,
Hard work now is nothing new to you,
As you all have slogged the year through…
Remember your life has just begun,
Spread your wings and fly to the Sun,
It is going to be tough, stressful and hard,
Your accolades, will be a poem for a bard…
So kids today I wish you a fare well,
Your honesty, your simplicity, don’t sell,
A request, my words you should dwell
Am proud of you all, only time will tell…
Gudhi Padwa (Reblog)
Wishing all my friends, students, fellow bloggers and their families a very Happy New Year on occasion of Gudhi Padwa, Ugadi, Yugadi, Navreh (Kashmir) and Cheti Chaand.
The day, when :
Brahma (The Creator) created the world. It is believed that after the deluge, Brahma, recreated the world. The time restarted.
Shalivahan defeated the Huns and returned to Paithan, his capital.
As it is considered an auspicious day, (one mauhurat amongst the 3 and a half auspicious mahurats), it is said that Shivaji along with his Mavlas began his conquest for a Hindavi Swaraj on this day.
Today, I want to talk about Shalivahan, the great Satvahan King. A few thousand years back, after Gazni had invaded and looted and plundered India, the Huns entered India. They were just interested in two things. Women and Gold. They were considered amongst the most uncivilized people, then. They faced no or little resistance when they entered India and so entered deeper and deeper and reached Central India.Here they faced the first big resistance. It was from none other than the Satvahan King Shalivahan. He invigorated his soldiers and forced the Huns back to their country. He emerged victorious and returned back to Paithan. People welcomed him by hoisting Gudi’s outside their houses.
(There is another version of historical events, wherein it is said that Shalivahan defeated the mighty Vikramaditya and returned to Paithan. I leave upto my reader to decide his/her own version)
But the question which comes to everyone’s mind is that every king, to expand his kingdom attacks another kingdom, and one of them would surely emerge victorious. So what is so big that an entire calendar was started in Shalivahan’s name?
As I said above, that Shalivahan defeated the Huns. The folklore says that the people of his kingdom had heard about the exploits of the Huns and were not ready to fight them, fearing their ferocity. Shalivahan, then made these mud doll soldiers (mud dolls made into soldiers) and brought them to life and led them into the war to defeat the Huns.
Now this sounds mythological and against scientific temperament. And I agree.We need to understand our history with a right perspective. The people were not ready to fight. They were mentally not prepared to fight. They had become doll like, just did their routine work and tried to live happily. They didn’t want any problems in their lives. Shalivahan toured his Kingdom, talked to his people and motivated them to lift up arms to defend their motherland. The people trusted their King and his will to defeat the enemies. So they with this new found vigour fought against the Huns and emerged victorious. The citizens of Paithan welcomed their brave King by hoisting Gudhi’s outside their houses.
The Gudhi signifies Brahmadwaj. Sometimes it is also referred to as Indradhwaj. Gudhi is a bright colorful silk scarf-like cloth tied at the top of a long bamboo. On top of it, one or more boughs ofneemleaves and mango leaves are attached along with a garland of flowers. This arrangement is capped with a silver, bronze or copper pot (handiorkalash) signifying victory or achievement. The whole arrangement is hoisted outside each household, typically to the right, or through a window or terrace and will be visible to everyone passing by. Gudhi is believed to ward off evil, invite prosperity and good luck into the house.
The delicacies cooked at home on this day is just the one which blends with the season of Spring. And we all wait to just get back him to nourish them.
On this day,
Let us all decide to give up all wrong in our lives and start anew and afresh.
Let us fill our lives with the sweetness of talks, ripeness of thoughts and remove the bitterness of our jealousy and hatred.
Let us all learn to live like one big family “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam”.
Thoughts… (4)
EMPATHY
Yesterday the world celebrated Women’s Day.
Talks about gender equality, women empowerment and what not. But friends frankly it is thorough western concept. Cause women here in India are already empowered.
Even today, it is the man who earns his salary,comes back home and puts all his salary in his wife’s hand and let’s her decide and run the house. She single handedly manages everything at every time. The man stands by her strongly and advocates to follow all her decisions.
Yesterday was another day for me to see the emotional side of a women.
Just sharing what my wife did for women’s day. She is a working women and manages the household too. Her friends had suggested to go out for a party but She and our neighbour decided otherwise. Instead they called up our house help today evening for dinner. She was told to come for help as guests were invited for dinner and my wife will not be able to manage. Then my wife and our neighbour bought a cake and cooked a surprise dinner for her. When she came, she was in for a surprise!
She was requested to cut the cake and then we all shared dinner together. Its was an overwhelming experience for us all. Even our house help shared that it is the first time that someone has treated her in this way.
She has been a widow from a very small age with kids to take care of. She has performed all her duties well and today her kids are settled and living on their own. Isn’t it great?
Well am never against celebrating anyone and especially women, but always would like an indian perspective to it.
Am really proud of my wife. Lucky to have her in my life.
Happy Woman’s Day
Marathi Bhasha Diwas (मराठी भाषा दिवस)
Today is the Birthday of a great Marathi poet, “Kusumagraj”. His contribution to the language as well as the literature has been so big, that his birthday is celebrated as “Marathi Language Day”. As a tribute to this towering personality of his field, I dedicate my post to him, and next what you all read is the language itself, Marathi.
आज मराठी भाषा दिवस आहे. कविश्रेष्ठ कुसुमाग्रज यांचा आज वाढदिवस. त्यांना 1987 सालाचा ज्ञानपीठ पुरस्कार देण्यात आला. त्यांचा गौरव करण्यासाठी, सरकार ने त्यांचा वाढदिवस ‘मराठी भाषा दिन’ म्हणून साजरा करायचे ठरवलं. त्यांचीच एक कविता आज तुम्हा सर्व वाचकां पुढे मांडतो. तुम्हाला ती नक्कीच आवडेल.
सागर
आवडतो मज अफ़ाट सागर, अथांग पाणी निळे
निळ्या जांभळ्या जळात केशर सायंकाळी मिळे
फेस फुलांचे सफेत शिंपित, वाटेवरती सडे
हजार लाटा नाचत येती, गात किनाऱ्याकडे
मऊ मऊ रेतीत रे कधी मी, खेळ खेळतो किती
दंगल दर्यावार करणाऱ्या वाऱ्याच्या संगती
ऊन सावळी विणते जेंव्हा क्षितिजावर गलबते
देश दूरचे बघावयाला जावेसे वाटते
तुफान केव्हा भांडत येतो, सागरही गरजतो,
त्या वेळी मी चतुर पणाने दूर जरा राहतो.
खडका वरुनी कधी पाहतो, मावळणारा रवी
धागा धागा ला फुटते तेव्हा, सोनेरी पालवी
प्रकाशदाता जातो जेव्हा जाला खालच्या घरी
नकळत माझे हात जुळोनी येती छातीवरी.
दूर टेकडी वारी पेटती निळे , तांबडे दिवे
सांगतात ते मजला आता घरी जायला हवे
किती समकालीन वाटते ना ही कविता! अनेकानेक कृति मराठी भाषेला देणारे कवि कुसुमाग्रज ह्यांना फक्त आपण नमस्कार करू शकतो.
आज सर्व माय मराठीला जीवंत ठेवण्याचा प्रयत्न करणारे जे कोणी जाणते – अजाणते व्यक्ती आहेत त्यांना नमस्कार करतो.
नमस्कार.
Punyasmaran Diwas (4)
मला देवाचे दर्शन घेउ द्या
डोळे भरून देवास मला पाहुं द्या II धृ II
जो तुम्हिच करा दिनरात
मळ काढित मळले हात
म्हणुनीच विमल हृदयात-
हृदय त्या वाहु द्या !
मी तहान जल तो जाण
मी कुडि माझा तो प्राण
मी भक्त नि तो भगवान-
चरण त्याचे शिवु द्या
तो हिंदु-देव मी हिंदु
मी दीन तो दया-सिंधू
तुम्ही माझे धर्माचे बंधू-
अडवु नका जाउ द्या…
Allow me to see my God… is the meaning of the first sentence of this poem. It might sound a bit childish or maybe a more saint like but the context to this poem is completely different.
Veer Savarkar, when he was not allowed to participate in Politics, took up many social causes during his stay in Ratnagiri. One of them was opening up temples for the so called “untouchables” at that time. He waged a very bitter struggle for the temple entry. He was instrumental in founding the Patit Pavan Mandir (Temple) at Ratnagiri in 1931. This was the first temple in India to open up to all Hindus irrespective of their caste.
To mark this occasion, Savarkar composed his poem and it was sung by two boys of the Untouchable (Valmiki) caste. This was a revolutionary step. And Savarkar has aptly described the situation which the downtrodden went through during tha last 2000 years. He must have been in tears while writing this poem, knowing his integrity.
Such an emotional Savarkarji, on 1st February, 1966 decided to give up his body as he felt that the task assigned to him for this world was over. He gave up food medicines and prepared himself to face the imminent fact of life, death…
He called it “Atmarpan” (a fast unto death). He even justified it in a article which he wrote; “Atmahatya Nahi Atmaarpan” in which he argued that when one’s life mission is over and the ability to serve society is left no more, it is better to end the life at will rather than waiting for death. His body ended this worldly journey on 26th February, 1966…
We bow down to this rational but a nationalist leader whom the people gave a lot of love and affection though the Nehruvian Congress has never acknowledged his contribution to Indian Independence and Indian Socity at large.
Das Navmi – Karunashtak
अनुदिन अनुतापें तापलों रामराया ।
परमदिनदयाळा नीरसी मोहमाया ॥
अचपळ मन माझें नावरे आवरीता ।
तुजविण शिण होतो धांव रे धांव आता ॥ १ ॥
भजनरहित रामा सर्वही जन्म गेला ।
स्वजनजनधनाचा व्यर्थ म्यां स्वार्थ केला ॥
रघुपति मति माझी आपुलीशी करावी ।
सकळ त्यजुनि भावें कांस तूझी धरावी ॥ २ ॥
विषयजनित सूखें सौख्य होणार नाहीं ।
तुजविण रघुनाथा वोखटें सर्व कांहीं ॥
रघुकुळटिळका रे हीत माझें करावें ।
दुरित दुरि हरावें सस्वरूपीं भरावें ॥ ३ ॥
तनु-मन-धन माझें राघवा रूप तुझें ।
तुजविण मज वाटे सर्व संसार वोझें ॥
प्रचलित न करावी सर्वथा बुद्धि माझी ।
अचल भजनलीला लागली आस तूझी ॥ ४ ॥
चपळपण मनाचें मोडितां मोडवेना ।
सकळ स्वजनमाया तोडितां तोडवेना ॥
घडि घडि विघडे हा निश्चयो अंतरीचा ।
म्हणवुनि करूणा हे बोलतो दीनवाचा ॥ ५ ॥
जळत ह्रदय माझें जन्म कोट्यानुकोटी ।
मजवरि करुणेचा राघवा पूर लोटीं ॥
तळमळ निववीं रे राम कारुण्यसिंधू ।
षड्रिपुकुळ माझें तोडि याचा समंधू ॥ ६ ॥
तुजविण करुणा हे कोण जाणेल माझी ।
शिणत शिणत पोटीं लागली आस तुझी ॥
झडकरि झड घालीं धांव पंचानना रे ।
तुजविण मज नेती जंबुकी वासना रे ॥ ७ ॥
सबळ जनक माझा राम लावण्यकोटी ।
म्हणवुनि मज पोटीं लागली आस मोठी ॥
दिवस गणित बोटीं ठेवूनि प्राण कंठीं ।
अवचट मज भेटी होत घालीन मीठी ॥ ८ ॥
जननिजनकमाया लेंकरूं काय जाणे ।
पय न लगत मूखीं हाणिता वत्स नेणे ॥
जळधरकण आशा लागली चातकासी ।
हिमकर अवलोकी पक्षिया भूमिवासी ॥ ९ ॥
तुजविण मज तैंसे जाहलें देवराया ।
विलग विषमकाळीं तूटली सर्व माया ॥
सकळजनसखा तूं स्वामि आणीक नाहीं ।
वमकवमन जैसें त्यागिलें सर्व कांहीं ॥ १० ॥
स्वजनजनधनाचा कोण संतोष आहे ।
रघुपतिविण आतां चित्त कोठें न राहे ॥
जिवलग जिव घेती प्रेत सांडूनि जाती ।
विषय सकळ नेती मागुता जन्म देती ॥ ११ ॥
सकळ जन भवाचे आथिले वैभवाचे ।
जिवलग मग कैंचे चालतें हेंचि साचें ॥
विलग विषमकाळीं सांडिती सर्व माळीं ।
रघुविर सुखदाता सोडवी अंतकाळीं ॥ १२ ॥
सुख सुख म्हणतां हें दु:ख ठाकूनि आलें ।
भजन सकळ गेलें चित्त दुश्र्चीत जाले ॥
भ्रमित मन कळेना हीत तें आकळेना ।
परम कठिण देहीं देहबुद्धि वळेना ॥ १३ ॥
उपरति मज रामीं जाहली पूर्णकामीं ।
सकळभ्रमविरामीं राम विश्रामधामीं ॥
घंडिघडि मन आतां रामरूपीं भरावें ।
रघुकुळटिळका रे आपुलेंसें करावें ॥ १४ ॥
Today is Magh Krishna Navmi, Samarth Ramdas left this world for to meet his spiritual mentor.
Maharashtra and in all extent, India, too will remain indebted forever to this great teacher. He is the one who started establising Hanuman temples (matths) all over the Maval region and training kids from their childhood for warfare and also to spread the Vedic religion and culture. The temples became a ready place for practising and training of the Mavlas who were ready to help Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in fulfilling his dream for Swaraj.
He is considered to be the spiritual guide to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and later to his son and descendant Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
His last resting place is Sajjangad. A fort built by Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Though initially reluctant, Ramdas Swami finally accepted to stay there and passed his last few years on the fort. Even today the fort houses the “samadhi” of this great teacher.
On this day we bow down to this most pious soul and pray to Him to grant us the understanding of the word Hindavi Swaraj.
🙏Jay Jay Raghuveer Samarth🙏
Vasant Panchami – 2
The days of cold are in the wean,
Plants have shed, and are lean,
Nature is taking a turn today,
Who all want to see it, are keen…
As the trees turn brown to green,
And flowers bloom adding to sheen,
Nature is the place of learning,
So is the time not to vent our spleen…
The days of learning, the days of respite,
The days of understanding to make our brains bright,
The time to unlearn, to make things right,
And reach the skies in a single flight…
Glossary:
Sheen – lustre
Vent one’s spleen – to shed ones anger
Respite – a short period of rest from something unpleasant
Wishing you all a very Happy Vasant Panchami (the advent of spring according to Hindu calendar).
Haiku – Series 2 #7
The sun and the moon
Are related by their light
The hot and the cold
Just a thought that aren’t the opposites a part and parcel of our lives too? Or as the Chinese call it Yin and Yang. Or the dialectic method of Socrates.
It is seen and observed in nature too. So why refute it. Let’s learn to love with it.
Think about it during the weekend…
Thoughts… 3
Well you all might be a little surprised to see the cover page of a book. But this is a book which inspires me. Just love this book.
Allwyn Toffler was way ahead of his time. He had predicted the futility of school education and people working like machines. The books deals with many thoughts which I would not like to hand out now as I want you, my reader, to read.
But yes I can share that it is this book which strengthened my conviction to become a teacher. I wanted to be one from childhood days but this book gave me a reason.
In the same breath I should say that will be ever grateful to my mentor, teacher, philosopher, guide, Pujaniya Pandurang Shashtriji Athavale for introducing this book to me. I started attending His Divine Brain Trust (a weekly gathering of youth to discuss various characters, values and debate upon various topics which affect our day to day life and thinking) when in college and later His live discourses at the Shreemad Bhagwad Geeta Pathshaala, Madhavbaug, Chatni Road, Mumbai.
The book deals with the circumstances we are living in today and Toffler in his own meticulous way talks about finding solutions to them. But he wrote this more than 50 years ago but was no soothsayer. He cared for mankind and its development. And that was the basis of his study and writings.
Today when my friend lent me the book to read, the thoughts all filled my mind and am elated as well eager to go through it once again.
You all must also have been through books and thoughts which inspire. Will request you to think about the past and share them with all.
Till then…
Ciao…
Republic Day… 4
Jai Hind!
Bharat Mata ki Jay!
Wishing you all a very happy 73rd Republic Day.
We are a Republic with a federal structure. But lest our leaders feel that they are the rulers then beware!
You become leaders because we choose you.
You become leaders because we decide to give the reins of the country in your hands.
You become leaders because we trust you and put our future in your hands.
Remember
We are a people waiting to be led but we are not followers.
We are a people waiting to be guided but we are not students.
We are a people waiting to listen to your thoughts but we have our own thoughts too.
So if by any chance you are under an impression that we are your “Praja” and you are the “Raja” then you are mistaken.
We are Shiva’s “gan” and so we are a “Gantantra”, it is Shiva who leads guides and motivates us and no one else.
So hear ye all Leaders! Teachers! Motivators! Planners! Developers! Moulders!
This is our country and we are free to choose…
At the same time,
We know the importance of humility and service to country.
We know the importance of gratitude and being grateful.
We know the importance of a God centric life.
So let’s together build this country, develop this country, mould this country as we all would like it to be…
Wishing you all a very Happy Republic Day…
Links to my previous blog…
Matrubhumi – Republic Day (Reblog with changes)
Thoughts…(2)
The post yesterday has revived me, my thought process and the way my readers have responded is overwhelming for me
Will share another incident which touched me today. Though not an incident but a thought by one of my friends daughter regarding schools run in Mother tongue.
She has been brought up in a very humble background and went to a Gujarati medium school. She is now studying in college. Joined NCC and pursuing it sincerely. Just last year on occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, the Mumbai Gujarati Sangathan had organised a thought provoking competition on the topic, “Who is responsible for the state I am in today?”, ask the Vernacular schools run in the respective mother tongues. She participated and wrote a poem on it. The jury was very impressed with her entry and was adjudged as one of the few good entries. It was printed in the leading newspaper in Mumbai.
Today the girl is doing fine with her studies and loves her studies and is doing just excellent even after coming from a vernacular school.
I have many friends who come from vernacular medium schools and doing very good in life, economically as well as socially.
But She has lead me to think. To think whether a child should be educated in his mother tongue or English?
Where would the child grow?
Where would his/her natural abilities find a creative outreach and help the child attain the freedom of thought?
I dont want to share what I think and make you biased with my thoughts. But atleast I can urge you, my readers, to ponder over it.
So keep thinking and keep sharing!…
Ciao…
Thoughts…
Am writing after a long time…
So many thoughts looming in my mind…
Should I write about Uttarayan? Or Parakram Diwas? Or the upcoming Republic day?
Or should I continue my series about my Seacation?
Should I write about the Yadnya (यज्ञ) a thought being playing on my mind for a past few months?
Or should I write poetry? A haiku?
I got my answer today that I should write what I observe around me. These little instances help us build life. These acts of kindness and gratefulness makes us human. These help us mould our lives.
Today while walking on the Borivali station I saw a middle aged person buy oranges. We both boarded the same train compartment. The compartment had 2 kids trying to sell their wares for their living. The man called the kids to himself and asked about their education. The kids replied we go to night school. Mummy is alone so we help her during the daytime. And they asked the man of he would like to but their wares? The man did buy and pay. But in addition he gave each kid an orange and asked them to eat it. The kids asked if he was ok that they took the oranges home and share with their mom. Now these 2 siblings sat back talking on the same seat as the man. They wanted to get down at the next station. As the station approached the man gave all the oranges to the kids and asked them to take them home. The kids eyes twinkled. The elder sister at the same instant got the 2 oranges out of the bag and gave them back to the man. She asked him to take them and eat them and asked if he wanted more. The man took the 2 oranges and said that he wanted the kids to share them with their mom. The station arrived and all 3 got down. Heard the younger brother saying that today was their Uttaraynan
Now this incident is so beautiful.
Such childlike innocence is what we miss in our lives.
Such gratitude to the giver is the Indianness imbibed in all of us.
Such compassion for fellow beings is the tradition to which we belong.
Would surely like you all, my readers to sit back, observe and pen down your thoughts like these.
Till then, ciao…
Sea Cruise – 2 (Sail ahoy!)
The blaring horn
With the sweet corn
Thus was reborn
Permanent sojourn….
The anchor was lifted and the cruise was guided out of the Mumbai docks by the guide boats towards the sea. The thrill to watch the water being churned is quite a different one from the chills one gets from the blaring noise of the horn of the cruise. The initial fear of drowning was addressed very well before the cruise sailed.
Every person on the ship was called to the lower deck where the muster ships are kept for the safety drill. We are demonstrated how to use a life jacket in case of any eventuality and later also told that the muster we are standing beneath can carry 150 passengers in it. The “abandon ship” signal was played and explained too. The way the crew demonstrated and explained made one feel relaxed and any anxiety of drowning was driven out.
The ship sailed on the chords of guitar being played in the atria of the ship. A combination of oldies and newbies lifted up our spirits. We all were not only excited but also curious about the journey. High tea was served on the deck.
Within an hour of sailing, we were guided to the auditorium for some Bollywood show with songs. Though I was not excited to watch it as I wanted to spend time watching the sea, calm and serene, went with all to watch it. And I tell you it was treat.
The show was named “Oye Balle Balle”. The story line was familiar but the songs chosen to be performed were beautiful. A mixture of old and new. We were coaxed to sing along. The costumes, the sets and the actors were all Bollywood like. What I really appreciate is that the lead actors and actresses were saying their dialogues and were also part of the choreography. To act and to dance for 2 hours non stop is itself a feat to achieve. Having acted and danced in stage one can understand how draining must it have been. Yet they performed with smiles all the time. The show ended with the whole audience up on their feet and dancing.
After a quite but sumptuous dinner, we were again on the upper deck enjoying the sea and the dark night. The moon was visible but that night it was cloudy so could not get to see the stars. The breeze opened up our hearts and minds and we stood there gazing into the night. We also remembered the Titanic and talked about it a bit.
Later in the evening, we attended a live music concert. The theme was “Music of the 90’s”. There was quite a crowd. The singers and their accompanying artists on guitar and drums were just mind blowing. Was relay happy to listen to the songs and a very surprising thing was that we remembered each of them and we all sung along. We were so enchanted by the singing that we didnt realise as time flew away and it was time to sleep.
So before heading back to the bunk beds we played a game of table tennis, made a few new acquaintances and then retired back to the room with memories to cherish and a resolve to get up early in the morning to watch the sun rise….
To be continued….
Cruise Day 1 – (Pre-sailing experience)
An unknown vacation
Called as a seacation…
Cordellia Cruises is known to us for all the wrong reasons from last few days. But today I sot back to write my beautiful and mesmerising reminiscences about my cruise travel.
It all began in the month of September, when my brother in law called us to ask us whether we would like to join them on a cruise trip back and forth to Goa. Ours was an immediate yes. The immediate reason being that we had promised my elder son for a trip once he finishes his 10th standard. The Covid situation had not allowed us to go anywhere but as soon as the restrictions were a bit loosened and we got an oppurtunity, we didn’t want to let go.
So we booked our cabins for a travel just a day after the New Year day ie. 6th November. In the meanwhile a controversy regarding the Cruise came up and it was all over the media. We were anxious about what would happen but at the same time a bit excited too as it was going to be our first maiden sea voyage anywhere.
On the day, we reached the International Cruise Terminal at 11am with a thought to spend maximum time on the Cruise and learn from the experience. The staff was very cordial. They made everyone very comfortable. The check-ins were quick and smooth and we all were given individual card keys to our cabins. My younger kid was very excited as he had not expected such a responsibility. We boarded the cruise by 12 noon and were asked to proceed for lunch first. Now this was a mesmerising affair with one sitting near the sea with a plateful of food. I had green salads and pastries with Indian sweets. The food was good and tasty.
Then we were guided to our rooms. Ours was a sea view. We first had our room help describe the various amenities in the room. Again as it was 3 of us in a room, the room had bunk beds for our accommodation. The beds are quite spacious and cosy. The amenities provided also were a locker in the one of the wardrobes and a hair dryer too. The luxury of this cruise is an adaptor which are in lesser amounts to charge ones mobiles. Actually lesser amounts as people travelling before us were tempted to take them home with themselves.
The trip around the cruise was mind blowing. A first hand experience at the deck and the roaring of the machines when the cruise sails still linger in my mind.
We took around 3 hours to go to each md every level of the cruise to view it from inside. The ambience is superlike. They have a library and card game space with lots of game. Also there are activities like a swimming pool and rock climbing. They host nice eateries too.
The cruise sailed around 5.30pm into the vast ocean and thus our journey on the waters began… Will be writing about our journey in the next blog… Till then, ciao…
Deepawali Wishes
Deepawali – the Festival of Lights. Literally meaning a line of Lights.
Let the light fill our lives with happiness, virtues, wealth and knowledge.
Let the light remove all the vices, sadness and darkness from our lives.
Let the light shine our path we are treading on and guide us onto the right path.
On Dhanteras, we pray to Goddess Laxmi to bless each and every household with the different wealths asked by the great Seers in Shree Suktam and remove the ‘alakshmi’ from our homes.
On Narak Chaturdashi, pray to Goddess Kali to kill the asura within us and liberate us from the selfish motives and lifestyle. Let Krishna liberate our 16108 nerves from the worldly pleasures and guide them on the path of good.
On Deepawali, pray to Goddess Saraswati to guide us unto the path of God. Let Ram be born in every heart. Let us pray for a long and lasting peace in the world. Let us all walk on the path to attain nirvana as attained by Mahaveerswami. It is also the Day when our Avtaar’s left this world for their Abode.
On the New Year, let us start anew and have an auspicious beginning in our lives. Let us enlighten ourself like Gautamswami.
On the Day of Bhai Beej, learn to respect every woman in this world like a sister and nurture these relationship.
On the Day of Panchami, let us learn to understand the importance of knowledge and try to imbibe it in our lives.
Wishing you all and everyone at home a very Happy and Auspicious Deepawali and a Prosperous New Year.
Manushya Gaurav Din – 3
“If you do not get Him here, then I will break the jail sentence and go out to meet Him” – Sarman Munja. A don of yester years spending his life sentence in jail talking to the Superintendent of the jail. His life had transformed. He had repented for his crimes and given himself up to the law of the land and accepted the punishment. He is talking and longing to meet that person whose thoughts have transformed his life, Pandurang Shashtriji Athavale, fondly called as Dadaji.
The world today knows Dadaji as the receipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership and the most coveted Templeton Prize for Innovation in Religion. He has been awarded the second highest civilian honour Padma Vibhushan, given by the Government of India and many more awards.
His thoughts have transformed life of many a people, from a commoner to the most notorious. The superintendent approached Dadaji through his seniors and Dadaji agreed to visit the jail to meet Sarman Munja.
The city of Porbandar, the city where Mahatma Gandhi was born, after independence had become a city of crime. It was a witness to the most dreadful crimes. The animosity between the Kharwas and the Mehers was bearing its brunt on the city. The state government and the local administration had resigned to this fact and accepted this was of life instead of finding a way out.
At this juncture, Param Pujaniya Pandurang Shashtriji Athavale and His Swadhyay thoughts and work reached the common people of Porbandar. With the thought of God residing in the every Heart and Divine Brotherhood under the Fatherhood of God, Dadaji’s thoughts and love resonated with the local communities in Porbandar and slowly but surely brought about a transformation. As the people changed, so did their leaders and Dadaji was able to remove the animosity between the two warring communities. Slowly they gained confidence in one another that they sat side by side to perform the Satnarayan Pooja as envisaged by Dadaji.
Pandurang Dada has brought about a revolutionary change in more than 10000 villages in India through his thought of Swadhyay (self introspection). He has put the philosophy of Shreemad Bhagwad Geeta into action and throught it brought about a change in a person’s life. Through it, we can see the changes in the social fabric of the society.
The crux of all this is the transformation of Humanity with God at it’s centre. The change in the individual. The change not through beheading but through the changing of the thoughts in ones minds and brain. This is true revolution. And so Swadhyayee’s celebrate Dadaji’s birthday as Human Dignity Day. His human centric life is always like a lighhouse in the vast ocean.
Today I bow down upon this Modern Rishi on his 101th birthday.
Wishing you all a very Happy Human Dignity Day.
Dusshara – 3
Let us burn the vices of Ravan and embed values of Ram within us…
Let the Ram within, win today and from today onwards forever…
Let us all prepare to welcome Ram into our lives and accept our limitations as Good Humans…
The day of “Seemolanghan” (सीम्मोलंघन). It literally means to cross the barriers / borders. Not the borders drawn on the maps but the borders drawn in our society and in our minds.
Biggest barrier / border in our life is
“I Can’t Do“.
Next is
“I Can’t Accept“.
And the last is
“I Cannot Change“.
We have set these limitations in our lives and live with them. Today is the day to remember that “I CAN”. Let us all recall, remember and understand that Bhagwaan Ram had Vaanar’s to fight on his behalf. Vaanar means the one who is not sure about being Human. Ram took them together, revived their spirit and fought with their help to win the war. We all are like the Vaanars. Let us recognise the Ram within. The day we shed our inhibitions, we too will win the war.
Let us all remember, recite and learn the Shlok given below. It talks about the Surya. The problems he has and yet how He keeps on working.
रथस्येकं चक्रं भुजगयमित सप्ततुरङ्गः
निरालम्बो मार्गह चरनरहितह् सारथिरपि।
रविर्यर्तेवन्त्यं प्रतिदिनंमुपरस्य नरभस्यः
क्रियसिद्धि सत्वे भवति महतां नोपकरणे ।।
(The sun in the sky travels everyday with all odds against him, like a chariot with one wheel, seven horses trod by serpents and the driver without legs. Great people don’t depend on their accessories. They achieve their goal by their spirit and determination)
Let us all remember that it is the spirit within which keeps us going. So on this Dusshara, let us pray to God that He removes this vice of “I Can’t Do” from our lives and lead us to the light of “I Can Do“.
Second I cannot accept. Can we imagine ourselves accepting our own enemy? No we dont. We dont even accept our own, if they do wrong to us. But when we study Ram’s life, we learn to accept. He not only accepted the self doubting Vanars but also the brother of his enemy, Vibhishan. He accepted him with full faith and crowned him the King of Lanka, the day He accepted him. If He can, can we not?
I would say let us begin with accepting our small mistakes in life. Let us begin by accepting the vices within us. Let us accept the people as they are and not what we like them to be. I know it’s difficult but it’s a border which we need to cross in our lives. We need to crossover from I cannot accept to I can accept. Let us keep Bhagwaan Ram as our ideal.
Last is I cannot change. But change is something which is only permanent in life. One needs to accept that one needs to change. Cause change is for good. Change also leads to development and helps us move ahead in life.
Nowadays we see people not ready to change and being rigid. Let us recall the story of the oak and willow which we studied in our younger days. The large gust of wind could not harm the willow but it over rooted the oak tree which was unable to bend. So change is what we need to be ready for.
On this day of Seemolanghan let us decide to overcome these barriers.
On this day let us decide that I can and will do, I can and will accept and I can and will change.
Let Ram be our Idol and let us follow Ram.
Wishing you and everyone in your family and friends a very Happy Dusshara…
सोनं घ्या आणि सोण्यासारखे व्हा व रहा…
शुभ दशहरा।
Krishna ki chetaavni – Ramdhari Singh “Dinkar”
Am sharing my favourite poem by Shree Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, whose birthday is today. It’s in Hindi and one of his classics.
Ramdhari Singh known by his pen name Dinkar, was a poet, essayist, patriot and academic, who is considered one of the most important modern Hindi poets. He remerged as a poet of rebellion as a consequence of his nationalist poetry written in the days before Indian Independence. His poetry exuded veer rasa (poetry which arouses bravery) and he has been hailed as a Rashtrakvi (‘national poet’) on account of his inspiring patriotic compositions. He is hailed to be a popular and connected to poetry lovers for Hindi speakers.
वर्षों तक वन में घूम-घूम,
बाधा-विघ्नों को चूम-चूम,
सह धूप-घाम, पानी-पत्थर,
पांडव आये कुछ और निखर।
सौभाग्य न सब दिन सोता है,
देखें, आगे क्या होता है।
मैत्री की राह बताने को,
सबको सुमार्ग पर लाने को,
दुर्योधन को समझाने को,
भीषण विध्वंस बचाने को,
भगवान हस्तिनापुर आये,
पांडव का संदेशा लाये।
दो न्याय अगर तो आधा दो,
पर, इसमें भी यदि बाधा हो,
तो दे दो केवल पाँच ग्राम,
रक्खो अपनी धरती तमाम।
हम वहीं खुशी से खायेंगे,
परिजन पर असि न उठायेंगे!
दुर्योधन वह भी दे ना सका,
आशीष समाज की ले न सका,
उलटे, हरि को बाँधने चला,
जो था असाध्य, साधने चला।
जब नाश मनुज पर छाता है,
पहले विवेक मर जाता है।
हरि ने भीषण हुंकार किया,
अपना स्वरूप-विस्तार किया,
डगमग-डगमग दिग्गज डोले,
भगवान कुपित होकर बोले-
‘जंजीर बढ़ा कर साध मुझे,
हाँ, हाँ दुर्योधन! बाँध मुझे।
यह देख, गगन मुझमें लय है,
यह देख, पवन मुझमें लय है,
मुझमें विलीन झंकार सकल,
मुझमें लय है संसार सकल।
अमरत्व फूलता है मुझमें,
संहार झूलता है मुझमें।
उदयाचल मेरा दीप्त भाल,
भूमंडल वक्षस्थल विशाल,
भुज परिधि-बन्ध को घेरे हैं,
मैनाक-मेरु पग मेरे हैं।
दिपते जो ग्रह नक्षत्र निकर,
सब हैं मेरे मुख के अन्दर।
दृग हों तो दृश्य अकाण्ड देख,
मुझमें सारा ब्रह्माण्ड देख,
चर-अचर जीव, जग, क्षर-अक्षर,
नश्वर मनुष्य सुरजाति अमर।
शत कोटि सूर्य, शत कोटि चन्द्र,
शत कोटि सरित, सर, सिन्धु मन्द्र।
शत कोटि विष्णु, ब्रह्मा, महेश,
शत कोटि जिष्णु, जलपति, धनेश,
शत कोटि रुद्र, शत कोटि काल,
शत कोटि दण्डधर लोकपाल।
जंजीर बढ़ाकर साध इन्हें,
हाँ-हाँ दुर्योधन! बाँध इन्हें।
भूलोक, अतल, पाताल देख,
गत और अनागत काल देख,
यह देख जगत का आदि-सृजन,
यह देख, महाभारत का रण,
मृतकों से पटी हुई भू है,
पहचान, इसमें कहाँ तू है।
अम्बर में कुन्तल-जाल देख,
पद के नीचे पाताल देख,
मुट्ठी में तीनों काल देख,
मेरा स्वरूप विकराल देख।
सब जन्म मुझी से पाते हैं,
फिर लौट मुझी में आते हैं।
जिह्वा से कढ़ती ज्वाल सघन,
साँसों में पाता जन्म पवन,
पड़ जाती मेरी दृष्टि जिधर,
हँसने लगती है सृष्टि उधर!
मैं जभी मूँदता हूँ लोचन,
छा जाता चारों ओर मरण।
बाँधने मुझे तू आया है,
जंजीर बड़ी क्या लाया है?
यदि मुझे बाँधना चाहे मन,
पहले तो बाँध अनन्त गगन।
सूने को साध न सकता है,
वह मुझे बाँध कब सकता है?
हित-वचन नहीं तूने माना,
मैत्री का मूल्य न पहचाना,
तो ले, मैं भी अब जाता हूँ,
अन्तिम संकल्प सुनाता हूँ।
याचना नहीं, अब रण होगा,
जीवन-जय या कि मरण होगा।
टकरायेंगे नक्षत्र-निकर,
बरसेगी भू पर वह्नि प्रखर,
फण शेषनाग का डोलेगा,
विकराल काल मुँह खोलेगा।
दुर्योधन! रण ऐसा होगा।
फिर कभी नहीं जैसा होगा।
भाई पर भाई टूटेंगे,
विष-बाण बूँद-से छूटेंगे,
वायस-श्रृगाल सुख लूटेंगे,
सौभाग्य मनुज के फूटेंगे।
आखिर तू भूशायी होगा,
हिंसा का पर, दायी होगा।’
थी सभा सन्न, सब लोग डरे,
चुप थे या थे बेहोश पड़े।
केवल दो नर ना अघाते थे,
धृतराष्ट्र-विदुर सुख पाते थे।
कर जोड़ खड़े प्रमुदित,
निर्भय, दोनों पुकारते थे ‘जय-जय’!
Pitrupaksh
The days of expressing gratitude to our elders who passed away,
Remembering them and their deeds lest our mind sway,
The things they have done and their work for us to complete,
Let us not sit back, relax but work and not look to others to compete…
Their work a big task is to spread civilisation and safegauard humanity,
We run after religions and their race for supremacy has lead to insanity,
Many have forgotten and just live in their self interest or ego or vanity,
These days are to live, love, give warmth to others and regain sanity…
Let us be open to new thoughts as founding fathers said Aano Bhadraha,
Let us go within, deep inside, realise our goal and self as in Tena twam Asi,
Let us meet as brothers as He said Sarvasya Chaham Hradisannivishta,
And thank our forefathers for leading us on this path of Tat Twam Asi…
Some from the new generation shun this very idea of Pitrupaksh calling themselves atheist (trending word amongst the youngsters nowadays) or non believers. Our Rishis have been humble and open enough to accept this as our way of life. But then my request to them is that please live with the same thought life long. And if not, please do not call yourselves atheist or anything, but try to find answers. “Quest about knowing is a sign of being Human”.
Let me begin by saying that these are the most auspicious days of human life as these days are of remembrance. Remembering the Love and warmth of our parents, grand parents and great parents. Days of remembering the Rishis, Acharyas and all those who worked for our upliftment and social upliftment. And if we have to do all this, then how can we have social functions? Social gatherings? And so the practise or the the social custom of not doing any other work except our routines and remembering our ancestors. But then people consider these days inauspicious.. How can the days when we think about our ancestors be inauspicious? Just that we don’t want to do anything else and interfere in our remembrance is what it is.
It’s such a beautiful concept and belief given to us by Rishi Atri. It is said that it is he who explained Shraddha to Rishi Nimi, who started practising the ritual. Rishi Nimi started offering to various Gods through Agni and so the ‘Havan’ finds its place in the rituals. Agni is considered the mouth of God’s. Also it tells us that we need to cook our food before eating it. The presence of Agni in every Vedic ritual is also out of gratedulness about the people who first found the use of fire. This led to the strengthening of the civilisation which we all call as Humanity, now.
The ritual also has a practise called the Pind Daan. Westerners call the Pind as balls of rice, due to the literal translation of the word. But atleast we Indians should know that they are not balls of rice, but signify our ancestors. (Will write someday about the rituals dine on the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th day of a person’s death in some other blog). The process of Pind Daan is so tremendous and has such a deep psychological meaning hidden in it. But we all just do it out of routine and are not interested in listening to the mantras being recited. It’s a matter of pride that our ancestors find a place with the great Rishis and Munis on these days. And when we realise this, we become satiated about our ancestors and we feel their presence with us through the great Seers.
Another myth which needs to be clarified that it is the son only who can do Pind Daan. Maybe we have become a patriarchal society after the coming of Moghuls and British, but originally we are not so. A daughter too can perform the Pind Daan of her parents in absence of a brother or if the brother is not interested. After all, these rituals are for each and everyone. Nowadays the daughter’s even give Mukhagni to their parents. And it was and is never banned in our society. A daughter is treated equally as a son in our society.
The last day, 16th day, the first day of Navratri, is the day of Matamaha Shraddh. It is for the married daughter’s who are at their in-laws and want to perform Shraddh of her parents. One needs to do Namaskaars to our Rishi’s who gave this right to the daughter’s as well. Always had this question in my mind about parents who have no sons. A few years back I got the answer. My elder sister ( Dhanashree Talwalkar – Athavale), Didi, performed the last rites of her father, Param Poojaniya Pandurang Shashtriji Athavale and till date performs Her duties towards Her ancestors every year. She brought this outlook to my knowledge.
Let us remember our ancestors during these days and offer them our tarpan.
Let us try to understand the meaning of these days and many such days given to us by our Rishis.
Let us make their sankalp, ours and try to be a good son or daughter.
Let us all try to pass on the right things to our next generation.That would be the true Shraddh of our Rishi’s and Acharya’s.
Ganeshotsav – 3
On this 10th day of the festival, the thought and feeling of seeing off a near and dear one very painful. It is always difficult to see off a dear one, and remember this is God. He is just not only our family member, but our Guide, who guides through various difficulties. The stay of the God at our place has broken many a shackles in our personal lives, family lives and social lives. It uplifts our feelings towards our nation too. But anything that comes has to go, is the basic education from Visarjan.
It is a teaching to us, that every Srijan ( creation) has to move towards Visarjan (destruction). It’s a part and process of the cycle of evolution of the Universe. If we think, we will know that it is because of Visarjan that we are able to enjoy life. Can we imagine an infinite life? (the scientists have been trying to find the elixir of life, but it has evaded us till now.) If we knew that we are going to have an infinite life, will we be able to enjoy life? So, the seers, wanted us to understand the finiteness of life and so they introduced us to this process of Srijan – Visarjan through celebration of Ganeshotsav.
Also let us look at it in our everyday life. Visarjan is a part of our daily life. We have to immerse many of our thoughts, beliefs and emotions, otherwise our very existence will become very difficult, living with them. Let’s understand it with an example. Say we had a fight and now we hold a grudge for the person with whom we fought. Now if we keep living with this grudge, we cannot move ahead in life. So as soon as that person goes away, we have to forget it and move on. Yes we might remember it again when we see or meet that person. But it does not or cannot stay with us for every moment of our life. Otherwise our lives will become miserable. So better immerse the feeling.
Visarjan also signifies to develop an outlook from “looking outside” to “looking inside”. Everything is destructible, but not the Love of God, the Soul. We need to understand that the flow of the river of love is within out body and keeps us going. We need to immerse the Ganesh into it. Leave our bodily desires and immerse ourselves into our souls.
Yet another way to look at it can be that death (visarjan) is going back to where we came from. Going back to our mother. Our mother will remould the Soul, and we will get a new life. We can also understand the importance and necessity and conviction about Life after Death. Why fear Death?, when we are going to come back again and again, till our Karma makes us do this. Death is only a changing of bodies, as we change our clothes, is what Shreemad Bhagwad Geeta describes. As I mentioned in my last blog, it is the Parthiv Ganesh which we bring home. Parthiv means made from earth. “From dust thou art, to dust thou shalt be, was said of the body” it comes from earth and returns back to earth.
I would request my readers to sit back and think over what we are doing. Are we doing it the way our Rishis have told us too? Is the social responsibility that Lokmanya Tilak envisaged being fulfilled? If not, then we need to ho backto our roots and correct our course as well.
May Ganesh give us all the necessary understanding and intellect to do it.
Ganpati Bappa Morya!
Mangalmurti Morya!
Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar ya!
Ganeshotsav -2
नमो व्रातपतये नमो गणपतये।। नम: प्रमथपतये।।
नमस्तेऽस्तु लंबोदारायैकदंताय विघ्ननाशिने शिव सुताय।
श्री वरदमूर्तये नमोनम:।।
(Namo Vraātpataye Namo Ganpataye. Namah Pramathpataye. Namaste astu Lambodaray Ekdantaay Vighnanashine Shiv Sutaay Shree Varadmurtaye Namo Namah.)
Today I want to talk about Ganpati as the Devi of Buddhi. What can we as students of life learn from Her? What does the Idol of Ganpati wants to convey? Does the concept of the Elephant headed God have any meaning?
My readers, our seers have done everything which has some logic and wanted to convey some understanding by celebrating a festival. They want us to ponder over many qualities and try to imbibe them into our lives. The festival celebration always has a learning part hidden in it.
Today we just want to dance to the tunes of music and pass our time. At the same time I see people being emotionally attached with Ganpati as the countdown of arrival begins many months before actual arrival, or even in some cases, from the day he leaves. People await the arrival as it liberates us from worries and sorrow and keeps us happy. But will we be stuck in this. Will we not move ahead in our understanding and let ourselves grow. Or just go on doing it the ritualistic way? At the same time, am not against rituals. We all do the parayan of Atharvashirsh every year. Many of my friends do get the Parthiv Ganesh Murti at home. But let’s try to understand it today from a student’s perspective.
The Ganpati word itself has a meaning, the leader of the masses. Ganesh means the Eshwar of the Ganas (leader of the masses). So the Lord exhibits the characteristics of a leader. And to be a good leader, we need to educate ourselves (to draw out the qualities within us).
1. The Ganpati has an elephant head. Elephant signifies wisdom. So we all need to be gaining wisdom through what we study.
2. He has narrow and small eyes. It is not so that the eyes are small, but the face is so big, that the eyes look small. But the best part about the eyes is that they can see even the smallest needle in their path. As students when we study, we need to understand the smallest of the nuances of the topic which we are learning. We need to be alert for each and every information, and in whichever corner it may be, however small it may be.
3. His ears are like the “Sup” (grain whinning plate). The Sup keeps the grain intact and at the same time removes the dirt from them. The enormity of ears suggest us to be open to listen to all but decide what to discard while we listen. As a student, one needs to be focussed on studies. We may be exposed to various things around us, but we have to decide what to keep and which to blow off. Also at the same time keep our ears open for good thoughts however far they maybe or however faint they may be. Amongst the different thoughts/informayion, we need to find out the most important one for us, as students.
4. A crooked trunk signifies the length and the reach of oneself. The knowledge we get must be kept in such a way (folded) that it does not interfere in someone’s life. At the same time it should unfold at the right time and be used for the rightful thing.
5. Ganpati is Mahakaay. A huge body. A big belly. Big belly is for keeping all things in the stomach. It is a storing place. Similarly we have to gain such huge knowledge that we need a big belly to keep it.
6. He has a small mouth. It signifies to talk less. A student needs to talk less and listen more. Keeping ones mouth shut means concentrating on what is being spoken and taught. At the same time, it also means that open up at the right time, ask questions, discuss, argue and draw conclusions.
7. The modak in his hand has its own significance. It is sweet inside even if tasteless outside. It reminds us, students, that go into the depth of every topic ones learns. Any topic is always sweet and interesting from within. Outside it is always bookish and boring.
8. He rides a mouse. It signifies a control over worldly desires. Similarly a student needs to have his own control over his desires and concentrate on his/ her studies. He needs to ride his wishes and will.
We can go on and on with lots of things about the Lord. But somewhere we need to leave the things for next time. Many thoughts still lie in my mind which need to be emphasized and talk about. But leave to it Ganesha to give me an opportunity to pen them down some other day.
Wishing you all again, a very grand Ganeshotsav.
MAY GANESHA BLESS US ALL WITH LOTS OF INTELLECT AND WISDOM
Rishi Panchami
Dedicated to all our Rishi’s. A very humble namaskaar to them and their efforts to make us civilised. Am reproducing the poem which I had written 2 years ago.
You lived and worked hard to make us civilised,
You loved and touched every heart to become humanized,
The extent of understanding that you all have sowed,
Grateful will we always be, with our heads bowed…
The father of Indian soil, Kashyap, got the Vaishyas together,
To keep the whole human race from running helter skelter,
Mother Earth prospered and bloomed and thrived,
“Kashyapi” or “Urvi” as what to call Her, you decide…
The father of Democracy is none other than the Atri,
With Anusuya by his side, Dattatrey belongs to this tree,
The upliftment of Humanity is the goal of their lives,
To find God within is what every being now strives…
Vashishtha is the proponent of Anarchism, (self rule )
To unearth His work and learn the methodism,
He is not the slave of a king, but an epoch king maker,
The clan of Ikshvaku would be indebted for their raker…
Vishwamitra the king, who overcomes his vices,
To compete with oneself is the process he realises,
The one who gave “Gayatri” to one and all
And gracefully saved himself from the fall…
Next is the ever angry Jamadagni divine,
Who fought his life to save the bovine,
Renuka, his consort, is an epitome of justice,
The footwear and umbrella are at their service…
Parashar is the one who spoke Vedas in the womb,
Gave his “Smriti” to live in Kaliyug (modern world) and doom,
If a person learns to live by his ten commandments,
He will prosper as they will be a man’s adornments…
Bharadwaj is known as the Father of Medicine,
He delivered the mankind from physical sin, (not taking care of ones body)
Father of Dronacharya and a guide to Lord Ram,
“Bringing about nourishment” is a work for the calm…
Thus the Saptrishis do tread on Mother Earth,
To spread the faith and remove our dirth,
“Rishi Panchami” is the day to remember them,
And gratefully keep them at our lives helm…
Let us bow down to these Rishi’s, all stalwarts in their fields who have tried to charter a path for Human upliftment.
Ganeshotsav – 1
Ganesh – the Eashwar (God) for his followers
Ganpati – the caretaker of his followers
Ganadhish – the head amongst the followers
Gananath – the saviour of his followers
Gananayak – the leader of his followers
Frankly even after writing all the meanings I still feel that the names mean the leader of the masses. Also the different meanings convey the same thought that the one who leads.
The idea itself is so heart warming that the God himself comes to reside with us. We all go to the temples to get a regular Darshan. But today is the day when He comes to our place to meet us, to stay with us, to eat with us, to bless us. This itself is such a beautiful thought.
I always wondered who must have thought of this idea of getting the God home. How that idea must have percolated to the masses! The amount of time and energy spent on this idea is something beyond the pages of history, date and time.
Such thoughts always keep me trying to find answers to my questions. And I know Ganesh, the Goddess of Intellect helps and satisfies the curious with an answer.
There is a story that when Ved Vyas, decided to write the Mahabharata, he was trying to find a writer who would wite his story. It was a humongous task and the writer too has to be of the same iintellect as the story teller. So Muni Narad suggested that Ganpati, the son of Shiva, can write it.
Ved Vyas did approach Ganpati who readily agreed. They both had an understanding that once the writing of the book was started, it would not stop till the end. Also the writer would just not write down the book as a dictation but understand every word being spoken before writing it down.
Two great personalities, and, one great epic.
Ganpati had decided not to stand up while writing, so sitting in one place would increase the heat within his body and make him uncomfortable. So Ved Vyas came up with an idea of applying mud packs on Ganpati’s body to keep him cool. Ved Vyas served Ganpati food that he loved to eat the most, Modaks.
As the mud packs were applied, Ganpati’s murti, even today, is made from mud (Shadhumaati). Yet, even after these 10 days when the wrting of the book was completed, the heat had increased inside Ganpati’s body. The mud packs too had dried and stuck to his body. So it is said that Ved Vyas took Ganpati to a nearby river to bathe him to soothe his body as well as remove the dried packs from his body.
Thus began the culture of getting Ganpati in the idol form at one’s house for 10 days and immersing them in water on the 10th day. Later, as it was found that it is difficult to get and look after such a big personality at home for 10 days, Rishis must have come up with the idea of keeping Him for 1 and half day or 5 days.
Some may disagree with this story, but it’s a start of the quest to find the reason behind it. Its going to be long journey, but will tread on it slowly and steadily. I trust that Ganpatiji will help me.
Wishing you all a very Happy Ganesh Chaturthi and a zestful Ganeshotsav.
Paryushan – A few thoughts (3)
If knowing or unknowingly, have caused “Dukh” (rough translation “pain”) to any one, living or non living, by my thoughts, words or deed, thenfrom the bottom of my heart, I bow down to you and ask for your forgiveness.
“MICCHAMI DUKKADDAM”
The 8th day also known as Samvatsari. It is a Day to ask for forgiveness from the creatures of the world and the creation itself.
In my last two blogs, we are talking about the ten fold path or the ten virtues we need to imbibe in our lives to be a good Jain, follower of Jin (The Teerthankar). We have talked about 7 virtues till now. Will briefly recap them before moving on to the last three.
Kshama, the virtue of forgiveness. Mardav, to be modest in all situations. And the straightforwardness, Aarjav. Satya to accept one’s existence and the journey of life is to find the truth. Sauch, the purity of body and our thoughts. Sanyam, restraining ourselves and our Panch Indriya. Tap, the art of practising non food intake. These seven if implemented on would help us in our quest to find ourselves. Now, we move onto the last three.
TYAGA (Renunciation) – To leave things behind. Here Tyaga also means keeping the bare minimum and slowly giving away that minimum too. That is what the Jain Sadhu does. Bhagwaan Mahaveer too had a loin cloth when he left the kingdom, and slowly that too wore off. It happened naturally.
Internally renuncing the attachments and emotions is like removing a big hurdle from the path of development.And this is possible by realising the true nature of the soul.
AKINCHANYA (Non-attachment) – This assists the person in detaching from external possessions. Historically ten possessions are listed in Jain scriptures: ‘land, house, silver, gold, wealth, grain, female servants, male servants, garments and utensils’. Being unattached from these, helps control our desires and leads to an influx of meritorious karmas.
Also akinchanya assists us in being unattached from our internal attachments of false belief, anger, pride, deceit, greed, laughter, liking, disliking, lamentation, fear, disgust, sexual desires. The more we are unattached, the more we purify our soul.
BRAHMACHARYA (Celibacy) – It might have been talked about at last but it is equally important as the others. It’s only sexual context needs to be clarified. It means staying away from desires and our wishes. To the extent of staying away from our senses. Not even being led off by the scent of a rose or a cool breeze.
Brahmacharya has two words in it. Brahma + Charya. Brahma here means the soul and Charya means to dwell. It simple means to dwell in one’s soul. When we reside in our soul, we can become the master of the Universe. To reside outside means to become a slave of desires.
All the above ten virtues make us a good Jain or the follower of Jin. Many of you may wonder that we never heard anything like what you have written. But dear readers, we are followers of Jin. Let’s go back to our roots. Follow what Jin Prabhu has said. Our Sadhu and Sadhviji’s are our teachers. They can show us the path and lead us unto it. It is we who need to walk on it.
“Paryushan introduces one to oneself. It reminds us of souls ultimate goal. पर्यूषण is actually made of two words. परि + उष्ण. परि means from outside and उषण means to come home stay. It means to come out of all materialistic things and stay in oneself ie आत्मा मा वास करवो.“
Now if you read all the three blogs together than my writing would make sense. Fasting is good, but at the same time the person who is fasting is thinking about these 10 virtues and is in the thought process of how to imbibe them into our lives. So let us all who fast, pray or ask for forgiveness celebrate the greatness of these days, try and live in the divine and pure atmosphere and immerse ourselves in it.
At the end of this series, I beg for forgiveness if I have hurt any one by my words or thoughts or deeds. I ask for forgiveness from all Guru Bhagwan for any mistakes in these blogs.
“Micchami Dukkaddam”.
Paryushan – A few thoughts (2)
Happy Mahaveer Jayanti to all my readers.
My readers may ask me how is it that you Jains celebrate Mahaveer Jayanti twice in a year? Actually I too had the same question few years ago. But the fact is a little different. It is during the days of Paryushan, the Holy Book “Kalpsutra” is read. The life of the 24 Teerthankars is read and understood. On the 5th Day, the story of Mata Trishala’s 14 dreams (16 according to Digambar sect) and birth of Bhagwaan Mahaveer is read out. So it is called the Mahaveer Janma Vachan. And people celebrate with pomp as Mahaveer Jayanti.
We continue from my last blog about the ten fold path or ten virtues to be imbibed into our lives during these days of Paryushan. Last time, we gave a thought about 3 virtues. Kshama, the virtue of forgiveness. Mardav, to be modest in all situations. And the straightforwardness, Aarjav.
Today we talk about SATYA, SAUCH, SANYAM and TAP.
SATYA (TRUTH) – The only truth in this world is the existence of Self. Every other truth is relative. Excepting our own existence is the one and final step towards self realisation. Being in self denial, living in self denial is not going to help anyone. The first thing in life is to except oneself as one is and then move ahead in life.
At the same time, we can begin with small steps of speaking the truth and living that truth. At the same time being truthful does not mean to hurt others with our truthfulness. In our quest of the truth, we have to see to it that we do not hurt others with our truth. सत्यं ब्रूयात्, प्रियं ब्रूयात् . (Speak the truth, speak it with love). Any truth needs to be spoken with love and care. It also means that unless we share a good relation, we should not speak the truth. We need to develop relationships and let them thrive, for the truth to be told or spoken.
Also when we lie, we need to speak a hundred new lies to justify one lie. Which in turn hampers the process of imbibing Satya in our lives. So at the end, I will say one needs to realise the truth hidden within oneself.
SAUCH (Purity/Contentment) – Here the word means purity of body to purity of thoughts to purity of mind/brain. We all are aware about the external purity of our body due to the education, we receive in our schools. But we need to slowly go inwards, towards oneself. Getting contentment from material desires is not the only goal of life, but leading a contented, pure life so that it can be an ideal for generations, constitutes Sauch.
The characteristic of the soul is purity. So it is within us, which we need to find and not get stuck in material gains only. We need to go deep inside oneself and dig out this hidden virtue within us. And for this we need to practise restraint.
SANYAM (Self restraint) – I feel this is one of the virtues with whom Jains are largely identified today. Yes, we believe in restraint, not killing anyone outwardly as well as inwardly. But that is not only Jainism. Not harming anyone, not even the smallest of the creatures, is evident in all thoughts originating from Bharat. But here SANYAM means restraining oneself from desires. It is painful when our desires take over us. These 8 days constantly remind us to be away from desires. So to remember and learn this thought, we need to read the Kalpasutra. Learn from Teerthankar’s life. They never showed off. So should we?
It is also through SANYAM that we can win our desires and tread on the path of Moksh. Lesser we are attached to material things, nearer we are to ourselves and our goals of attaining Moksh. That is the reason Jains take up Sadhu dharm. The road to find one’s true self.
TAP (Austerity) – TAP means fasting, control over food. Restricting the intake of food. But after that do we gain control over our habit of eating food. Are we able to control our desires? Why is there a queue outside restaurants a Day before Paryushan and a Day after Samvatsari ie Dnyan Panchami? Restricting food also means restricting desires. Do we think about it? Are the celebrations of TAP justified?
Do we meditate during Tap. Do we sit back and introspect? Do we feel the nearness with our self? Our God? Cause after abstinence of food we need to move onto the next step of going towards one self.
I hope, my readers, you will give a thought about what we have read today. I just want to point out that we are becoming too ritualistic. Am not against rituals but we cannot get stuck in the rituals. Jain philosophy is loosing it’s sheen due to this. It is like eating the coconut from outside instead of enjoying the original tender coconut inside. So my friends, let’s think.
Still have 3 more virtues to go through. But ours is a journey long and slow, so let’s tread on it.
Listen to the Kalpasutra carefully.
Listen to what the learned Sadhu-Sadhviji’s have to tell us.
Listen to the voice within and learn to live by it.
Paryushan – A few thoughts
Ichchämi Khamäsamano,
Vandium Jävanijjäe;
Niseehiäe,
Matthaena Vandämi.
Oh! Forgiving Gurudev, I am giving up all my wrongful acts with all my strength and bow down to you with my head near to your feet.
Parvadhiraj Paryushan.
The festival for asking forgiveness and to forgive.
The festival of celebrating life with a different perspective.
The festival of coming together and abiding.
The festival to follow and uphold the ten-fold path of
1. KSHAMA (Forbearance)
2. MARDAV (Modesty)
3. AARJAV (Straightforwardness)
4. SATYA (Truth)
5. SHAUCH (Purity)
6. SANYAM (Restraint)
7. TAP (Austerity)
8. TYAGA (Renunciation)
9. AKINCHANYA (Non-attachment)
10. BRAHMACHARYA (Celibacy)
Before treading on this Ten-fold path, let me share with my non- Jain readers, that Jainism is one of the most scientific way of living and thinking. The way of worship is the same, except for the Sthanakvasi fold of the Shwetambar sect, that is everyone follows Idol worship.
Jainism, itself is divided into two big sects, the Shwetambar’s (the ones whose sadhus clad in white) and Digambar’s (the ones whose clothes are the sky, ie their sadhus accept and live a life without clothes). Shwetambar’s are further divided into 2 folds, the Deravasis (one who go to temples ie follow Idol worship) and the Sthanakvasis, as already mentioned before (one who do not go to temples and do not believe in Idol worship). Even with these outward differences, the thought of Jainism is followed uniformly in any part of the world. It is the uniqueness of the thought process in India, that even after having different ways of worship, we all are one.
Secondly, my readers might know Lord Mahaveer as the one who established Jainism. Again that’s not the complete information. Mahaveer is the 24th Teerthankar belonging to lineage of Rishabhdev or Adinath, as He is called, being the first. A Teerthankar is the one whose soul is sublime and one who has compassion towards all living beings. He is the realised one. And Jainism believes that anyone and everyone can transform his life to become the sublime self. All the 24 Teerthankars command the same devotion as any one of them.
I have decided not to go into the historical part of Jainism nor it’s cultural impact. I want to talk about the Ten-fold path propagated by these 24 men, for which the following eight days/ten days are to be celebrated. I said it’s a celebration of life because during these days one needs to sit back and brood over the above virtues and think about how to imbibe them into our life. All the 10 virtues mentioned above are equal with none more important or less important. All are equally important. We will talk about the first three today and during the course of coming days, will talk about others, as and when the Lord permits.
1. KSHAMA (Forbearance) – My readers must have read the small prayer at the starting of the blog. It asks for forgiveness. Forgiveness is asked by bowing one’s head onto the feet of the person who is expected to forgive. As a mortal with lots of ego it is difficult for a person to bow down onto the feet of the person whom we have wronged. So we begin by bowing down to our Guru, the Teacher. If this becomes our routine, the person sheds all his inhibitions and attachment to self and will be brave enough to ask for forgiveness from the person whom he has wronged. And slowly we all can ask for forgiveness from all the creatures in the world. He is Mahaveer. This is what is Samyak Darshan. (Right Belief).
Forgiveness is like the oil to the machine, it helps us live in harmony with our fellow beings. Forgiveness begins with self. One should learn to forgive oneself. We all are sometimes too tough with ourselves. It is necessary in today’s world, but at the same time we need to be forgiving ourselves for our own spiritual development. We may be wrong in our way of living and thinking, but the day we realise we have been wrong, we need to forgive ourselves and move ahead in life. Do learn from our mistakes so that we do not repeat them, but forgive oneself too.
Forgiveness is the pain we inflict upon ourselves so that we may learn from it and brighten our lives with better karma. People have a wrong notion about forgiveness. They feel that it means to forgive others. But here the Jain darshan guides us to forgive oneself. It is only then, one can realise his true self. Forgiveness (Kshama Dharm) teaches ones soul to correct one’s identify oneself by encouraging to contemplate its true nature and hence achieve state of right belief (Samyak Darshan).
2. MARDAV (Modesty) – Humility is the diamond amongst the virtues. It is humility that makes great people, great. They never boast of their greatness nor talk about it or even give a hint about it. Sometimes our looks, money, social status, the virtue of forgiveness may make us a little / lot self-centered. Hence Kshama is followed by Mardav. There should be modesty in life after forgiveness. People believe in themselves being superior to others. We all come across such people in our lives. We might be like them too. We measure everything by temporary material objects. But this dents our life in the most dangerous way and makes our penance full of ‘Rajas’ gun. So we need to be very alert about this. The Paryushan days remind us of Humility.
All souls are born equal. No one is superior nor inferior. This is the true nature of our soul, every soul. Each soul is born divine. And the most important aspect is that every soul has a potential within to liberate itself. This belief will lead us to Mardav.
3. AARJAV (Straightforwardness) – People are deceitful. They deceive others and think that they are something great. But in doing so, they are deceiving themselves. One thinks different, speaks different and acts different. Our scriptures tells us to stay away from such people. Deceitful people loose the trust of others and they are considered less credible. Such people are a curse to the society as a whole. Whereas straightforwardness makes a person trustworthy. Such straightforward people are considered to be reliable and slowly they win the hearts of the people around them.
A straightforward person realises that the countless qualities with a being are an instrument to attain his final destination. Again the thoughts, the karma, are different from the realisation of self. So Arjav helps the person to tread on the path of realisation.
My dear readers, it’s a path we have got due to our karma’s of last lives and we need to make everything of this opportunity that we have got. We are on the path of Jin. On the path of Arihant. On the path of Siddh and Upadhyay. Let us all together decide to stick to this path and abide to live by the teachings of the Teerthankars. Then we can become true Jains.
Jainam Jayatu Shashnam!
JAI MAHAVEER!
JAY RISHABHDEV!
Matrudin (Reblog)
नास्ति मातृसमा छाया:
नास्ति मातृसमा गति:।
नास्ति मातृसमं त्राणं
नास्ति मातृसमा प्रपा।।
There is no shade like a mother,
No resort like her,
No Security like a mother,
No other ever-giving fountain of life…
Today is the New Moon Day (Amaavasya) of the Shraavan month. The last day of the month. Month of Bhadrapad begins tomm. Today is celebrated as “Pola” in Maharashtra and South India. Cattles are worshipped today.
And today is Mother’s Day. A day to remember all the great mothers like Jijabai, Kaushalya, Devaki and many more and their contribution towards parenting their kids. Also a day to express our gratitude to the “Gaumata”, “Tulsimata” and “Bharatmata”. By naming them, I just want to convey that every person and every substance which has help us nurture our life, is like our Mother, and today is the day to remember them all.
And overall our own Mother, who has not only given us birth but also took care of us and help us grow.Someone can ask me that shouldn’t we remember our Mother everyday? I agree with them. But today is the day to not only remember them but also express our gratitude towards them.
1. Mother, a shade : I still remember my mother standing right by my side with a ruler in hand and hitting me when I erred, while learning Gujarati. Coming from a convent school, again her decision to educate me in an English Medium School, she took the pains that I learn my mother tongue Gujarati, when I was in 8th std. She made me do it the whole vacation. Today, I say with pride, that if my language and my grammar are good, it is just because of Her. I thank her today for her efforts.
Secondly my English teacher. Can never forget her. Ms A Coutinho. The effports she has taken for my Grammar, rather for the whole class, is showing its effect with our communications today. Every free period of our 9th standard was taken up by Her for grammar. We used to tease her and dislike her for this, but today we all are very grateful to her for her efforts. She treated every child as hers and put in equal efforts towards each one of us.
2. Mother, the last resort : I still remember that whenever we siblings wanted to get our things done, my mother was our last resort. Rather when it came to dealings with my father, it was always Her, who stood strongly for us.
I, am a father today, and see the same trait in my wife today. The way she prods our kids, the way She pushes them to exceed their limits and excel in their doings is mind blowing. The way She always stand by them and is always there to help them is something we fathers rarely do. And after all this, if the kids feel that She is their last resort, they are right.
3. Mother, a security-giver : Mom is the best security a child can ever get. The way she takes care of her child can only be compared to a lioness taking care of her cubs. She will go to the extent of fighting and killing the enemy. She will protect and teach the kid to protect himself.
Am reminded of Jijabai who took Shivaji under her care and nurtured him to grow up to become a great king. In the initial years of growing up, she has played not only the role of a mother but also protected Shivaji from all the evils of the society.
4. Mother, the ever giving : A child growing up without a mother is a difficult job for a father, but the mother can also fill in for the loss of a father and bring up the child. A mother showers all her love and warmth and affection on her child and does not leave anything for next time.
There is no great personality who wouldn’t acknowledge the contribution by his/her mother into their lives. Satyakaam Jabaal is known by his mother and so are many. Even today, a childs good mannerisms and characters are attributed to its mother more.
In the end, would just request all my readers to give a thought for what their mothers have done for them and always remember to be grateful to them.
Also that our great culture and civilisation has already given us a Mother’s day, centuries back, so we have been, foremost, in acknowledging the role and contribution of a mother towards building a home, society and country, which the West is acknowledging from last few decades ot maybe a century or two. Let’s not forget that and educate our next generation about it too…
मातृदिनस्य शुभ आशयः।
Happy Matrudin to all my readers.
An ode to my students
My Students…
I dont why but I always wanted to be Teacher,
My parents despised this decision in worry of my future,
The idea of learning, all negativity to withstand,
Is the driving force of my passion, hope all understand…
The smiling face of my kids with questions ready,
Thir opening up with their likes, though slow and steady,
Their dislikes too need to be understood and heard,
So that they do not become the part of the herd…
I just love the days that I spend with my students,
Kids they are, facile, not a hint of fraudulence,
They make me noble and drive out my aggresion
For that’s the reason, that am a teacher by profession…
Naag Panchami to Shitala Saptami…
The month of Shravan.
Every day of this month is a festival.
It is the time of reiterating our commitment towards nature and Her living as well as non-living forms
Gratitude is the core philosophy of Vedic way of life. To be grateful is to be Human. This month makes us express our gratitude to whosoever, who has been a help to us to lead a beautiful and healthy life, socially and humanely.
So today we would be talking about the festivals which enlighten our way and are the Vedic way of expressing ones gratitude to Nature.
We believe that God resides in everything. Rather it is the will and wish of God, that He created us, the non living and the living. We both co-exist. We believe (even science today believes) that we have come from the non-living. Science believes that there is ‘chetan’ (atoms) in everything and we believe that there is ‘chaitanya'(God) in everything. The Theory of evolution as suggested by Darwin has already been proposed many thousand years back by us in the form of 10 avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu. (I have written a few independent blogs on the incarnation of Shri Vishnu.)
So with this broad outlook we will look into 3 festivals which we are celebrating during these 3 days. Nag Panchami (नाग पंचमी) and Shitala Saptami (शीतला सप्तमी). In between these two days, we celebrate Randhan Chhath (रांधण छठ्ठ). Let us understand them one by one.
Nag Panchami is a festival celebrated to worship the Serpents. The serpents are representatives of the reptile world. As human civilisation thrived, we had to cut down forests to make big towns and cities to accommodate more and more people. We knowingly had to drive out the reptiles from their natural habitats. As these reptiles cannot speak and express their emotions to us, they just left. For a few time they must have resisted but after finding their fight futile, they sacrificed their homes and went deeper into the jungles. Our Sages had a great intellect and an emotional heart. They felt that we need to express our gratitude to this class of animals who are sacrificing their abode for Humans. So they inculcated this practise of celebrating Nag Panchami.
My readers, our festivals have a divine but human outlook, which we need to understand and not laugh upon. The westerners may call us the land of magic and serpents, but we are far more ahead in our understanding about nature than them. We need to develop our own attitude and understandings about all our festivals.
Also there have been many studies about the Nag people. They are considered as the sons of Sage Kashyap, the father of Indian soil, from whom Kashmir has got its name. We also need to study those Nag people, who some say were Brahmins but were driven out of Kashmir. This part of our history has been deliberately kept out of the reach of common people so that the connect between India and Kashmir cannot be established and we keep on believing that it has been a Muslim majority state. But readers many a new research is shedding light on the work of Sage Kashyap in today what is called Kashmir. But again will leave it upto you, my readers, those interested to look further and research and read.
The next day is Randhan Chaatth. A day of cooking. A day of putting all the culinary skills to work and cook the best food possible. A day when one cooks from Morning to Evening. It is the day of cooking the best delicacies possible and yeah at the same time in away that one can savour the next day. The women of the household start the preparations early morning itself. In some villages of Saurashtra, Gujarat, the women get together to cook. They sing devotional and folk songs and enjoy this whole process. The households offer this food as Prasad to Devi Annapoorna – the Goddess of Nutrition.
Also the diet of Indian people has been very simple. Being an agrarian economy, people are always on their fields working hard to survive, and for the survival of the human civilisation. Their diet is simple, of jowar, bajra chappati with jaggery or green chillies or rice with curry. This may be incorporated so that people may atleast for one day savour the various delicacies available in their homeland.
Also Ayurveda does not allow to eat food cooked the day before. Rather our households are such that we do not even eat food cooked in the morning. So eating it the next day is a dream. Man is more attracted towards things he cannot do or is not allowed. So our Sages must have kept a day to eat food cooked a day before. In the modern world, it’s a holiday in the kitchen for the womenfolk. Whatever may be the reason, but frankly many people wait for this day.
The next day is Shitla Saptami. It is the day of non cooking. Food prepared the day before is savoured on this day. Some of my readers may feel it is unhygenic to do so. But frankly we all love cold food. Especially many foods like Khichadi and foods made from spices tastes great when eaten, the next day after preparation. But it is unhygenic and unhealthy to eat it everyday. So our Sages have kept one day in the whole year when we can satisfy our urge to eat food cooked overnight through this festival. At the same time, people who regularly eat canned foods need to understand the quotient of healthiness inherent in daily cooked food.
In the morning, the lady of the household, wakes up early and worships the stove. They pray to the Agni (Fire) and Annapoorna Devi. They make a swastik with red vermilion and put a twig of a mango tree over it as an offering. The mango signifies sweetness and it is said that it imparts coolness. She prays to the stove to help her cook food which will be healthy to eat and impart health to the one who eats it. Apart from this, it is also a way of expressing our gratitude to the stove who burns the whole year for giving us cooked food. This whole day, the stove is not lit. In our way, we would say that’s it’s a holiday for the stove.
Also, it is day to worship Goddess Shitala, the Goddess of cleanliness and health. Goddess Shitala is represented as a young maiden crowned with a winnowing-fan, riding a donkey, holding a short broom (either to spread out or dust off germs) and a pot full of pulses (the viruses) or cold water (a healing tool). Sometimes, she is shown to be carrying a bunch of neem leaves, a herb used throughout India since ancient times that is believed by some to be an effective remedy to most of the skin diseases to this day. Even today in India, we keep neem leaves around the patient suffering from Chicken pox. And after 5/7 days, parents take their kids for a darshan of Shitala Mata and worship Her and thank Her for curing the child of the disease. (Medicines are administered regularly, but at the same time it is a matter of faith and gratitude towards nature).
On this day, we are expected to offer our gratitude to the broom and every other object which helps to keep our food and surroundings clean. Some people do worship the broom and the winnow on this day.
These days are of showers. Showers heavy and light keep the atmosphere clean and cool. The combination of the showers and these festivals are like a combination of lime and jaggery. They are good for health and taste both.
On these days,
Let us learn to inculcate a feeling of gratitude towards even the smallest of the things which make out lives healthy and better.
Let us learn to keep our surroundings clean and keep ourselves clean and healthy, free from diseases.
Let us know our ancestors and their vision and their efforts to keep us civilised.
Jayatu Bharat!
Raksha Bandhan – 2
रक्षासूत्र मंत्र :-
येन बद्धो बलि राजा, दानवेन्द्रो महाबल।
तेन त्वाम् प्रतिबद्ध्नामि रक्षे मा चल मा चल ॥
(O Brother! I tie you (towards your responsibilities) in the same way the King Bali was tied to, by his sister, Goddess Lakshmi. And pray that you may not waver from your path of responsibilities).
The day of celebrating relations with our siblings. It is celebrated on the Poornima (Full Moon Day) of the Hindu month of Shravan. The beauty of this day is just not in the celebration or tying a rakhi around the wrist or the give and take of money or things; but it lies in developing the understanding of staying together and understanding each other. Actually this festival has its importance for the sister as well who is married. She gets an oppurtunity to visit her brother’s place and spend time together.
Then what is the importance of tying a Raksha (thread) around Brothers wrist? The understanding today is that the sister asks for her brothers protective covering. The brother would help and protect his sister in times of need. I feel this thought become the line of thinking during the last 1000 years of foreign rule. Our women needed to be protected from the foreigners and so who would do that; but her brother. Question that arises to my mind is that in case of married man, what will he do for his wife? And a larger picture today is that woman today is herself quite qualified to take care of herself. And keeping this fact in mind, this festival will loose it’s sheen slowly and fade into memories in the coming years. Or it will become just a ritual or a formality.
This festival is basically not for protection of women, but to develop an understanding amongst men on how to look towards women. Rather what should be a man’s attitude towards a woman. ‘Every other women, other than my mother and wife is like a sister to me,’ is what the festival wants to convey. The sister applying tilak on brothers forehead is giving him this understanding. It’s a third eye (tilak) for the brother through whose lens he learns to see every other woman as his sister. The thread around his hand conveys that the brother promises the same and promises not to deviate from this outlook or path (मा चल मा चल). It’s a Bandhan (commitment) that he is accepting. Hope, my readers atleast will understand this and try to inculcate this understanding in their lives, and this year would share with their siblings too.
I know am talking to a generation which asks “Can a boy and girl just not be friends?”, “My sister is my best friend.” I truly sometimes wonder whether todays generation thinks beyond friends and about the relations they have got. I personally have no such problems with their questions but do they think before they ask?; is what I ponder over. My dear readers, let us all learn to enjoy every relation that we have got. Try to understand them and live in that way. And my question is if you both can be friends, then what’s the problem in accepting the girl as your sister or the boy as your brother. I leave this thought for you, my reader, to think, discuss and debate.
On this day, I pray to God to help me strengthen my bond with my sister/s and at the same time grant us both the understanding behind celebrating this festival.
Give the siblings the strength to stay in the best of their conditions at home and away.
Matrubhumi – Swatantrata Diwas
Am purposely writing my blog today in Hindi as it is my national language. The translation in English to the same is below the Hindi part
भारतवासीयोंको भारत के 75 स्वतंत्रता दिन की शुभकामनाएं।
आज के दिन सब से पहले भगवान को कृतज्ञतापूर्वक नमस्कार करता हुं क्यों कि उन्होंने हमें आजादी दिलाई। आप कहेंगे ऐसा क्यों? भगवान ने कौनसी भूमिका निभाई स्वतंत्रता-संग्राम में? किसीको ऐसा भी लगेगा की आप भारतीय लोग हर बात में भगवान को क्यों बीच में ले आते हो? इसलिए इस बात की स्पष्टता पहले कर लें। हां, हम भगवान को हर बात में ले आते हैं क्यों कि उनके बगैर मेरा या आपका या हमारा अस्तित्व ही नहीं! हमारा क्या, इस सृष्टि का अस्तित्व नहीं! और मैं बौद्धिक तौर पर भी इस बात को कह सकता हुं की भगवान ने हमें स्वतंत्रता दिलाई। यद्यपि यह मेरी जो सोच है, वह पांडुरंग शास्त्रीजी आठवले ने बनाई। द्वितीय महायुद्ध में ब्रिटन और उसके साथी देश विजयी हुए। विन्स्टन चर्चिल, जो उस समय ब्रिटन के प्रधान मंत्री थे, उन्होंने अपने जवानों तथा नागरिकों का मनोबल खुब टिकाया एवं बढ़ाया भी। युद्ध के बाद ब्रिटन में तुरंत चुनाव हुए। स्वाभाविक है जिस व्यक्ति ने आपको जीताया है, वही चुनाव में जीत कर आना चाहिए। अपितु हुआ ऐसा की चर्चिल चुनाव हार गए। एटली की लेबर पार्टी सत्ता में आई। वह भारत तथा अन्य देश, जिन पर ब्रिटीश साम्राज्य था, उन्हें स्वतंत्रता देने के पक्षधर थे। जबकि चर्चिल का दृष्टिकोण भारत के बारे में सर्वविदित है। अब ऐसा क्यों हुआ? लोगों का दिमाग किसने घुमाया? तब मैं मानता हुं की भगवान ने घुमाया। कारण समय अब आ गया था जब भारत स्वतंत्र हो तथा दुनिया का मार्गदर्शन करे। (अब कितना किया? यह एक दुसरा प्रश्न है।) इसलिए प्रथम भगवान को कृतज्ञतापूर्वक नमस्कार।
दुसरा नमस्कार उन सभी लोगों को जिन्होंने इस देश की स्वतंत्रता के लिए अपना सबकुछ, यहां तक की अपना जीवन भी, दांव पर लगा दिया। जिन लोगों ने यह नहीं सोचा की उनका खुदका और उनके परिवार का क्या होगा! वाचक मित्रों, आप जरा सोचिए। लड़ाई किसके साथ थी? एक ऐसे साम्राज्य के साथ जिसके क्षितीज पर सूर्य कभी अस्त नहीं होता था। सफलता मिलेगी या नहीं, कोई हमारे बलिदान को याद करेगा या नहीं, कोई प्रकार की अपेक्षा नहीं। बस, स्वतंत्रता के इस महायज्ञ में झोंक दिया अपने आप को। एक १६/१७ साल का लड़का, खुदिराम बोस, हंसते हंसते सूली पर चढ गया। एक ६५/७० साल के महामानव, लाला लाजपत राय ने हंसते हंसते अंग्रेजों की लाठी झेली और अपनी जान न्यौछावर कर दी। एक ३०/३५ साल का युवा, स्वातंत्र्यवीर विनायक दामोदर सावरकर, परिवार की परवाह किए बगैर आंदामानमें ५० साल की एक नहीं अपितु दो-दो सजा मुस्कराकर स्वीकार लेता है। आज भी भगतसिंह, राजगुरु तथा सुखदेव के बलिदान को याद कर सर ऊंचा उठता है। तात्या टोपे, मंगल पांडे, वसुदेव बलवंत फड़के, चंद्रशेखर आजाद, रामप्रसाद बिस्मिल, असफाकउल्लाह खान, लोकमान्य बाल गंगाधर तिलक, बिपीनचंद्र पाल यह सारे नाम सुनकर सीना अभिमान से फुल जाता है। इस सारी लड़ाई में हमारी माताएं-बहनें कहीं पीछे नहीं थी। रानी लक्ष्मीबाई, कित्तुर रानी चेन्नम्मा, कल्पना दत्त, अरूणा आसफ अली और उन जैसी कई महिलाओं ने भी सक्रिय भूमिका निभाई। कितने नाम याद करें और कितने लिखें, इसलिए यहीं रूक कर सभी को कृतज्ञतापूर्वक नमस्कार करता हूं।
तीसरा नमस्कार उस व्यक्तिमत्त्व को जिसने सारे भारत को एक करने हेतु सारे भारत का भ्रमण कीया। उन्हें लोग आधुनिक भारत का चाणक्य कहते हैं। ५०० से ज्यादा रजवाड़ों को समझाकर, प्यार से भारत में सम्मिलित कर लिया। जो समझाने पर नहीं माने, उनको उनकी ही भाषा में समझाकर सम्मिलित किया। यह व्यक्ति ओर कोई नहीं अपितु महात्मा गांधी की बातों पर अडिग तथा अविचल श्रद्धा रखनेवाले सरदार वल्लभभाई पटेल। उस समय की कांग्रेस का संगठन अगर मजबूती से खड़ा था, गांधीजी की कही हर बात को उठाने तैयार था, तो उसमें इस एक व्यक्ति का बड़ा कर्त्तृत्व रहा है। इस महामानव को हम भारत रत्न से नवाजे या नहीं, वह भारत मां के सच्चा रत्न है। आज हम उनको श्रद्धा सुमन अर्पित कर सके ऐसा कोई स्थान या समाधि नहीं है, यह बात मन को दुखी कर देती है। आज की पीढ़ी उस व्यक्ति के बलिदान को समझ भी पाएगी या नहीं यह सवाल मन को सताता है। क्या उनके परिवार को आज कोई पहचानता है, यह यक्ष प्रश्न है। उनके परिवार के साथ किया गया बर्ताव किसी भी सभ्य समाज को सोचने पर मजबूर करेगा कि क्या इसलिए आजादी के लिए वह सब लड़े होंगे? उनको अपेक्षा भले ही न रही हो, पर हम देशवासियों का उनके प्रति कुछ कर्तव्य है या नहीं?
आज का दिन जैसे खुशी मनाने का है, वैसे सोचने का भी है। भारत आज 75 साल बाद कहां खड़ा है? भारत विश्वगुरु तो ठीक अपने गली (आशिया खंड) का भी गुरु कहलाने लायक है? तकनीकी विकास एवं आर्थिक सुदृढ़ीकरण से ही क्या हम यह कर पायेंगे? एक समय था जब विश्व भारत से आध्यात्मिक चेतना पाता था। स्वामी विवेकानंद तथा गुरू अरविंदो उसकी चेतना थे। विनोबाजी तथा रविशंकर महाराज (गुजरात) जैसै समाज की भावनाओं को टिकाने और बढ़ाने वाले निस्वार्थ समाजसेवी थे। भारत की चेतना हमेशा से भावनिक एवं आध्यात्मिक रही है। आज हम कहां हैं? इसका मतलब कोई यह न समझे की मैं तकनीकी विकास के खिलाफ हुं। पर सिर्फ उसी एक अंग की तरफ ध्यान देकर भी नहीं चलेगा। भारत का तथा भारतीयोंका विकास सर्वांगीण होना होगा। तभी वह फिर से सोने की चिड़िया कहलायेगा। और इस दिशा में पूरे समाज ने काम करना होगा। व्यक्ति की सोच में परिवर्तन लाना होगा। शिक्षा में से भारत के लिए प्यार और संवेदना जगानी होगी। तभी जाकर उसका परिणाम थोड़े सालों बाद दिखेगा।
हमारे जीवन में राष्ट्रप्रेम और राष्ट्रिय अस्मिता यह दोनों को जगाने की अत्यावश्यकता है। सही इतिहास पढ़ाना होगा। वामपंथी तथा दक्षिणपंथी विचारधाराओं से ऊपर उठकर सोचना होगा, लिखना होगा तथा जीना होगा।
त्यजेदेकं कुलस्यार्थे ग्रामस्यार्थे कुलं त्यजेत् ।
ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थे आत्मार्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत् ॥
(कुल के हितार्थ एक का त्याग करना, गाँव के हितार्थ कुल का, देश के हितार्थ गाँव का और आत्म कल्याण के लिए पृथ्वी का त्याग करना चाहिए ।) हमने सभी ने अपने कुल, गांव, राज्य से ऊपर उठकर सोचना होगा। अपने मान-सम्मान, जय-पराजय, बड़ा-छोटा इन बातों में से निकलकर हर एक व्यक्ति की बात सुननी होगी। किसके मुंह से कौनसी अच्छी बात कब भगवान बुलवा दे, क्या मालूम!
मां भारती के हित को सर्वोपरि मान सब ने साथ मिलकर निर्णय लेने होंगे।हमारी संविधान सभा ने, हम सब अपने मतभेदों के बावजूद, साथ काम कर सकते हैं, इसका उत्तम उदाहरण हमारे सामने रखा है। हर एक व्यक्ति को जब लगेगा की यह देश मेरा है और इसको सही ढंग से चलाना, संभालना, आगे ले जाना यह मेरी जिम्मेदारी है तभी भारत जनतंत्र होगा। जब हरेक व्यक्ति अपनी राष्ट्र के प्रति जिम्मेदारी समझेगा तभी हमें सच्चे अर्थ में स्वतंत्रता प्राप्त होगी।
इसे करने के लिए हमने भारत भ्रमण करना होगा। भारत के कोने-कोने में जाना होगा। लोगों से यत्किंचीत स्वार्थ के बगैर जुड़ना होगा। लोगों में सोयी भावनिकता तथा आध्यात्मिकता को प्यार से जगाना होगा। तभी राष्ट्रीय चेतना का उदय होगा। तभी भारत महान बनेगा।हम यह सब न कर सकें तो कम से कम जो यह काम कर रहे हैं, उनके प्रयत्नों में उपयोगी बनें। वह भी न कर पायें तो कम से कम उन प्रयत्नों की सराहना करें। और कुछ नहीं तो उनके काम में रोड़े तो न डालें।
आज के दिन सिर्फ इतना ही। बाकी की बातें कभी दूसरे समय पर करेंगे।
जय हिंद। जय भारत।
The English Translation:
Wishing all the Indians a very Happy 75th Independence Day.
On this day, I first bow down to God as He is the one who got India, Her independence. You, my reader, may ask me, How come God gave India independence? What was His role in it? How come you Indians always get God involved in everything? On the onset let us clarify this point as such. Yes, God is always a part of my writings and our Indian thought cause we believe that we exist because of him. Not only us but the whole creation exists because of Him. And yes we can logically prove that India got independence according to His wishes. Also at this point I should clarify that this thought has been imbibed in me by Pandurang Shashtriji Athavale. The World War II ended on a victorious note for Great Britain and it’s allies. Winston Churchill, the then prime minister, had led his country to victory through one of the toughest wars. It was he who has given the world the sign of Victory as “V”. He had kept up the high morale of the British troops and citizens during the war. The elections were due that same year and after this victory Churchill coming back to power was a foregone conclusion. But the results were surprising. Labour party with Clement Atlee as its head came to power. Labour was of the view of granting independence to British colonies including India. Winston Churchill’s idea and arrogance about India and Indians is well known to us by now. Now how did this happen? How did the electorate change its mind? I feel that God must have changed their minds. God had his own expectations from India, that let Her be free and guide the world over. (Have we been successful in living upto His expectations? is another question). Thus I first bow down to God.
I secondly bow down to the people who left their careers, families and laid down their lives for the independence of our country. My young readers in today’s times, it is difficult for us to imagine the situation or the battle at that time. Whom were we fighting against? A nation on whom the sun never set. Yet these people (freedom fighters) just selflessly offered themselves to the country without expecting. anything in return. Neither success, nor an expectation from Indians to remember their sacrifice. They just jumped into the burning fire of the independence struggle. A 16/17 year kid, Khudiram Bose, went to the gallows with a smile on his face. One 65/70 year man, Lala Lajpat Rai accepted the brunt of the English batons and gave up his life. A youth of an age of 30/35, Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Sawarkar, accepted a two 50 year sentence in jail with a question “Will British Raj rule India for that much time?”. Our heads are held high even today while taking the names of Bhagatsingh, Rajguru and Sukhdev for their supreme sacrifice. Tatya Tope, Mangalore Pandey, Vasudeo Balwant Phadke, Chandrasekhar Azad, Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipinchandra Pal, these and many other names make us feel a sense of pride. Let us also not forget the women power of India. Their participation too was to the fullest. Rani Laxmibai, Kittur Rani Chenamma, Kalpana Dutt, Aruna Asaf Ali and many such brave women participated actively in this fight. We can go on and on with these names, but we will just pause here and now bow down to all the known and unknown freedom fighters.
Thirdly I bow down to the person who unified India, as it exists now, and for that he travelled to every nook and corner of India. He is called the Chanakya of Modern India. He integrated more than 500 big and small kingdoms into India with love and understanding and persuasion. Those which could not be pursuaded through understanding and love were then integrated in the way and language they understood well. The person is none other than, the most ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. If Congress was strong then, ready to listen to and follow the Gandhian way, it was because of Vallabhbhai Patel who went around meeting person to person, village to village, city to city to propogate the ideas and ideals of Congress then. It does not matter whether we honour this great man with Bharat Ratna (the highest civilian honour in India), but he is truly a gem produced by Mother India. It is with utmost sadness, I have to say that we do not have a place or samadhi where we can pay our respects to this great son of India. Will we be able to understand the sacrifices this man has made? is a question that I leave to my reader to ponder over. Does India know the living generations of his family? The behaviour / treatment with the family of this great martyr makes one think, that did we fight for this? He did not have any expectations, agreed. But the question is that do we have any responsibility towards people like Sardar?
As the day is of celebrations, so is the day to sit back and think about a few things. Where do we stand? Where does Bharat stand today in the world? Are we the torch bearers of humanity for the world? Will only technological development and strong economic policy make us one? There was a time when the world recognised Bharat for its spiritual doctrines and borrowed from them. Swami Vivekanand and Gurudev Aurobindo were it’s guiding light. We had selfless social workers in Vinoba Bhave and Ravishankar Maharaj (Gujarat) who tirelessly worked towards the betterment of the society as a whole. Where are we today? Lest someone understand am against technological development, let me clarify that am not. But only technological development is not going us to lead unto overall development. Don’t we feel that we are taking care of just one part of the developmental process and ignoring others? We, Bharatiya will have to think holistically. That will help us regain our prosperity and respect. We will have to change the way we think. Will have to imbibe love and emotions for our country through our education system. If we do this today, then we will be able to see it’s fruits a few years later, cause change is slow.
Today we need to inculcate one’s love for his country and the pride of being an Bharatiya amongst all of us. We will have to study our true history for this. We will have to come out of the dogmas of left wingers and right wingers and think; write in that manner and live what we write and demonstrate. . त्यजेदेकं कुलस्यार्थे ग्रामस्यार्थे कुलं त्यजेत् ।
ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थे आत्मार्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत् ॥ (For the good of many, we will have to leave out one. For the good of the village we will have to leave out many. For the good of our country we will have to leave our village. And for self development and realisation, leave this worldly pleasures) We all have to rise above the narrow mindedness of selfishness, victory and listen to each and every citizen of India. We do not know, who will be guided by the God’s to suggest or speak the truth!
We will have to take all our decisions keeping Bharat and Her greatness in mind. We have done this before. The best example is our constituent assembly consisting of people coming from different areas, thoughts and leanings. Yet, for India, they all discussed, argued, debated and made unanimous decisions. Every person should know that it is his responsibility, our responsibility to run this country in a proper manner. To take care of it and to carry it forward on the path of progress is my responsibility, our responsibility. The day realise this and able to do this, will be the day when we will be democratic and independent in its true sense.
And for this, we will have to reach out to every nook and corner of Bharat. Reach out selflessly to each and every Bharatiya and develop a relationship based on love for our country. Will have to rekindle the fire of Spirituality with love and affection. That will be the rise of true nationalism. From that day onwards, India will again be a true torch bearer of humanity.My readers, if we are unable to do this, let us all be helpful to people who are into it. If not helpful, let us appreciate the people who are doing it. Atleast let us not be thorn in their paths.
That’s all for today. Let’s keep a few things for some other time.
Jay Hind! Jay Bharat!
Deep Amavasya (Reblog with additions)
Today is the last day of Asadh as celebrated here in Western India. It is the last day of the month. But for the Northern India it is the 15th day of the 2nd month of Chaturmaas ie Shraāvan. (Why so? is another topic of research and study). In Western India, a month begins after Amaāvasya whereas in Northern India, Amaāvasya is in the middle of the month. So it is Amaāvasya (No / New Moon Day) today all around India.
Today is Deep Amaāvasya. The day to clean all the Diyas (earthern lamps) made of copper, steel, silver and gold. (Or any other metal) All the used and the unused Diyas are thoroughly cleaned today. And then in the evening time, they all are lit with rangolis (geometrical design with different colours) drawn around it. The Diyas are then worshipped and offered flowers. And the family members then share sweets with each other.
The worship has its own significance. It is spreading light in our lives and the lives of others too. Light is considered auspicious. It removes the darkness from the outer world and at the same time enlightens the inner self. We, Indians, light a Diya everyday and say the following shlokas invoking the blessings of the Gods :
शुभं करोति कल्याणं आरोग्यं धनसंपदः ।
शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिनमोऽस्तु ते ॥
दीपज्योतिः परब्रह्म दीपज्योति जनार्दनः ।
दीपो हरतु मे पापं दीपज्योतिनमोऽस्तु ते ॥
(I bow to the Light, which brings abundance and prosperity of Health, and wealth and which destroys the intelligent enemy [darkness]…
It is you O Light! That is the creator and the operator and you will lead me to light away from sins, so I bow down unto you…)
The Mother Goddess (Shakti) is also symbolised by a burning flame of a diya. Fire helps the mother cook the food. At the same time, they both symbolise energy. And so one of the names of the mother is “Shakti”. Will deal upon it in some later blog.
Lastly am reminded of a short story (or maybe it’s a poem). The Sun is ready to set. The Sun asks everyone in the Universe that who will take his place and give light to the world in his absence? No one answers. A small earthen lamp moves upto him and humbly says, that it might not be as large as the Sun and may not have enough energy to lighten up the world but it will try to lighten up the area around, in which it is kept. This makes the Sun very happy. It signifies the importance of small things in life. However small may one be, with determination one can do the work done by the great ones.
Also I understand the Sun as God and the earthern lamp as Humanity. The Human being promises to be His representation in this Universe and it is his/her responsibility to lighten up the world. So let us all try to be small and humble Diya’s and try to enlighten our lives and the lives of the people around us.
Also would like to draw my readers attention to the fact that many people consider Amavasya as inauspicious. But see the far sightedness of the Rishis. Today is Amavasya of Asadh which is celebrated as Deep Amavasya. The next Amavasya of the month of Shravan is Matrudin. The Amavasya of the month of Bhadrapad is Sarv Pitri Amavasya. And the next Amavasya of the month of Ashwin is celebrated as Diwali. So now the question arises is Amvasya auspicious or inauspicious?
Wishing you all a Shubh Deep Amaavasya.
Mitra – 3
पापान्निवारयति योजयते हिताय
गुह्यं निगूहति गुणान् प्रकटीकरोति |
आपद्गतं च न जहाति ददाति काले
सन्मित्रलक्षणमिदं प्रवदन्ति सन्ताः ||
-भर्तृहरि (नीतिशतक)
Meaning – Wise and noble persons have pronounced that the symptoms
of a true friend are that he prevents us from committing sinful deeds and urges us to do things that are advantageous to us, keeps our secrets and brings out our virtues and qualities, does not desert us when we face misfortune, and helps us whenever we are in need of any help.
Dear readers, after reading the above shlok I do not want to start writing long commentaries on it as it us self explanatory. But yes surely will like to raise questions and try to answer them. I expect that you will answer them to yourself too.
Do I have a friend with whom I can talk freely, without any inhibitions?
Do I have a friend who accepts me as I am and never tries to mould me?
Do I have a friend who tells me what is good for me and what is bad?
Do I have a friend what are the good qualities in me which I need to work upon?
Do I have a friend who tells me my vices in private and urges me to give them away?
Do I have a friend with whom I would be very comfortable talking about any thing in this world?
Do I have a friend who shares his secrets too?
Do I have a friend who never runs away in difficult situations?
Do I have a friend whom I can rely upon for everything in life?
Do I have a friend who fights for me and stands by me?
Do I have a friend who never lies to me and for me?
Dear Readers, there can be many more questions which one can ask and try to answer. The questions even might sound repetitive but we need to think and answer.
If the answer to even one of the above questions is “YES“, then we need to keep this friend forever like how we would keep a precuious thing forever.
Will end with a Hindi poem written by Maithilisharan Gupta about friendship:
तप्त हृदय को, सरस स्नेह से,
जो सहला दे, मित्र वही है।
रूखे मन को, सराबोर कर,
जो नहला दे, मित्र वही है।
प्रिय वियोग, संतप्त चित्त को ,
जो बहला दे, मित्र वही है।
अश्रु बूँद की, एक झलक से ,
जो दहला दे, मित्र वही है।
Wishing you all a very Happy Friendship Day.
Link to the previous blogs:
Kargil Diwas
26th July 1999…
Kargil Vijay Diwas…
A day to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice of our soldiers…
My ode to the slain soldier :
When the neighbour back stabbed us in the name of peace,
Let us be prepared to break his house piece by piece,
Let him not forget that he has messed up really bad,
We still remember our jawan bodies being ice clad,
We cannot forget the teary Mother or the widow or the kid,
For the enemy, who killed her son or husband or father, sordid…
Still remember those days when the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vaypayee went on a peace mission to our neighbour, in a bus. A bus from Amritsar to Lahore. Never did he realise that the neighbouring army was plotting against India. They just crossed over and occupied our peaks and on the Line of Control at many places especially in the Kargil – Leh sector.
We already were at a disadvantage as the hills were occupied by the forces of our enemy and we had to climb up and fight back. But the Indian Army was not to be laid back. The enemy never realised that they had made a big mistake of challenging one of the best and bravest armies of the world, the Indian Army. We fought back and within 30-40 odd days captured back the area which was occupied. Let us remember we had never lost it, it was occupied, by the most meanest of the methods.
The Kargil war is still etched very well in my memory. We used to be glued to the TV sets for every update we could get. As the fight progressed and our brave soldiers started recapturing our positions, we used to be elated and our proud chest would pump out of pride for our Army. Later, as the feeling of victory sunk in, it also made us proud to hear about the individual efforts of a soldier or a company under an able leader.
There are many instances or events which can be narrated. Of these many, I today choose to narrate the fight for Chorbat La.
Chorbat La is an important piece of land, a strategic mountain pass in Ladakh, if not won back would have let the enemy push in its army and arms into India, unopposed. It could have then blocked the very important Leh-Khalsi road used for the movement of troops and supplies and practically made it impossible to access the Leh-Srinagar road.
Major Wangchuk and his men from the Ladakh scouts took upon them, the mission of recapturing Chorbat La and accomplished this mission between 31st May and 1st June 1999. An impossible but a daring mission taken up by them as they very well knew the landscape. This was one of the first victories on the Indian side. My readers can very well understand its importance, by learning the fact that Major Wangchuk was recommended for the Mahavir Chakra even before the war was over and 6 soldiers from his unit won the gallantry awards.
These 6 soldiers had climbed a vertical mountain of ice 18000 feet high in a single line with the help of ropes and ice picks in – 6 degrees temperature. A single step put wrong would have killed all of them. If they would be detected, as they could have been as they were on the ridge, an enemy bullet could have easily killed them.
The unit climbed up the same route. They had to trek through 2 feet of snow. Later they attacked the 135 men strong company of the enemy and made them run for their lives. Taken by surprise, the enemy had to retreat to their base camp, into their side of their line of control. The 40 odd boys with their Major took over the pass and stayed back to defend it, till the regular army arrived to take over, which happened after 14 days when the 14th Sikh regiment took over.
I share the details of the Major’s experiences in his own words. He describes it in his conversation with one of the news reporters a few years back.
“When we actually went for the operation and were in contact with the enemy, I had just about 40 boys because 60% of the strength was taken away for other missions.
On May 30, a part of my unit climbed up and saw 12 to 13 (Pakistani) tents just beyond the LoC. They were housing almost a company (135 odd men). They also saw two to three chaps climbing up the ridge from the other side. My JCO shot them dead, confirming that they were Pakistanis, But there were other Pakistanis up on the ridge some distance away, too far to fire upon. This was around noon.
My JCO informed me over the radio, and I in turn sought permission from my headquarters to move ahead with a party. Then I immediately took my remaining 25 men and literally ran in the two feet deep snow up the mountainside. It was a distance of eight kilometres and I covered it in two-and-a-half hours.
I was in the middle of the ravine, about to climb up to the OP (Operation Post) when a burst of fire greeted us.
The effect was devastating! We scattered for cover, but in the bare mountain, this was difficult. We found one boulder behind which all of us huddled together, simply unable to move because bullets were flying all around us. Also, in the snow, movement is very difficult and slow.
One NCO who came along with me had his arm shattered; he died later due to excessive bleeding. With all of us hiding behind the boulder, there was nothing we could do.
To be honest, it was a scary situation and for the first 10 minutes, my heart was pounding, my head was throbbing and I just could not think. But then I calmed down and realised that we were in danger.
Also, more of my men were following and since I had no radio, I could not even inform them. So I immediately sent one person back to the remaining unit, with the information that they should start climbing up the ridge and go to the height on the right of the Pakistanis.
Then, my men and I ran to Adam base, located below our OP, and luckily there was no Pakistani firing. I don’t know why, but we all reached safe. This was around 1630 hours.
We waited for nightfall to launch another attack, but the moon light was so bright that we could have been easily spotted by the enemy.
But the blessings of the Dalai Lama, whom we had met a day before the mission, seemed to be with us and a blanket of mist came to our rescue.
Taking our chance and with the sacred thread given by the Dalai Lama around our necks, we started the steep climb up the mountain.
At dawn we reached the height and launched a surprise attack on the Pakistanis.
We killed 10 enemy troops. The Pakistanis ran helter-skelter down the slope and withdrew, dragging down some of their dead and leaving three behind. We took control of the entire ridge.
Thereafter, we took stock of all forces along the Chorbatla axis in the Batalik sector and cleared it of all enemy intrusions up to the Line of Control.
It was a difficult mission, but I couldn’t have done it without the boys. By virtue of being sons of the soil, the Ladakhi boys are mountaineers and conversant in negotiating the mountains.
Many troops get intimidated with lofty mountains and snow covered terrain, but the Ladakhi soldiers don’t fear the mountains.
I think the gallantry award came my way because it was the first success of the Indian Army, and secondly, Chorbat La pass was tactically very important.
It was a grand success for the Indian Army and the nation — that’s why I got the honour. Otherwise, there were lots of units who did much better than me,”
There are many such instances which can be and need to be described as well and shared in maximum. I plan to do so whenever I get an opportunity. I urge upon my readers to share any such events they know or have read about during the coming days.
The way our Jawans fight for us, fight for India is not only brave and courageous, it ignites a sense of patriotism amongst us too.
Today on this day, I bow down to the soldiers of the Indian Army and express my gratefulness to guard our borders. They keep vigil so that we can sleep well in our homes. My Namaskaars once again.
VANDE MATARAM.
JAI HIND.
Asadh Poornima – Guru Poornima (Vyas Poornima)
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुःगुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।
गुरुःसाक्षात् परब्रह्मतस्मै श्रीगुरवे नम: ॥
Guru is Brahma, Guru is Vishnu,Guru is Maheshwar (Shiv) Himself, I bow down to The Guru.
GURU is the one who uplifts his disciple and guides him nearer to God.
GURU is the one who shows the right path and leads us unto it.
GURU is like the light house in the sea, which keeps the disciples away from the obstacles (rocks) of life.
GURU is the one who instills self confidence and self esteem in the disciple.
GURU is the other Mother of the child who cares, shares warmth and showers love on.
The basis of the Indian Civilisation is to find a Guru, who will help to find oneself. A road traced upon by many but it is upto the individual whether to follow or charter his or her own path. But the Guru is a must for self realisation.
The Guru – Shishya parampara has it’s own place in Vedic culture. It can be seen in the lives of
Krishna – Arjun,
Aruni – Shvetketu ,
Haridrumata Gautam – Satyakaam Jabal ,
Mahaveerswami – Gautamswami
Buddha – Anand and many more.
We can find it even in the life of the Acharyas, Narad – Nimbarkacharya, Godpadacharya – Shankaracharya, Chyutrapreksha – Madhavacharya and many more. They take pride in citing their Guru’s name even after getting so much fame and following.
Even more recently,
Ramdas Swami – Shivaji and
Ramkrishna Paramhans – Vivekanand too.
Even the Jain Sanghs have a Guru of the Sangh whom the Shravaks and Shravikas look for guidance. (Whether Mahaveer or other Tirthankars would approve of this is another question to be dwell upon).
From the above examples, my readers, I just want to point out the importance a Guru plays in human life.
Can a man not attain self realisation without a Guru? He can, but it’s very difficult. Only one in crore can become a Mahaveer or Buddha. Otherwise it is the guidance of the true guru which can lead us to God and realising the God within.
On the day of Guru Poornima, bow down to the Aadiguru Shankar, all the Rishis who took the pains to see Human become civilised and all the Acharyas and the Saints who showed the Humanity the right path.
गुकारस्त्वन्धकारस्तु रुकार स्तेज उच्यते ।
अन्धकार निरोधत्वात् गुरुरित्यभिधीयते ॥
“Gu” means darkness and “Ru” means light, so a Guru is one who leads us from darkness to light.
It is the birthday of Maharshi Ved Vyas, the writer of the Brahmasutra, Shreemad Bhagwad Geeta, the one who divided the Vedas into 4 parts, who wrote the Puranas and the Mahabharat. Have already written a blog on Him last. The link to the blog is attached herewith.
https://ameetkothari.wordpress.com/2018/07/27/maharshi-ved-vyas-bhagwaan-badrayan/
I once again bow down to my Guru and ask for His blessings that my faith in Him would and should never waiver.
Jay Shree Krishna
Devshayani Ekadashi – Day when the Gods are put to sleep
On the 11th day of the month of Asaadh, the Gods are put to sleep. This day is widely celebrated across India as Devshayani Ekadashi. (Do they sleep? Can we exist without them? is another question) But it is such a beautiful concept of “Sagun Bhakti” (Idol worship). As I sleep, so does my God.
Our rishi’s have given a thought about people’s pshycology. The agrarian people will be busy with their work in the fields and will not be able to take care of the rituals associated with God’s. So the best way is to put Them to sleep. In this way, people can just concentrate on their work and give it 100% and at the same time do not feel bad or gulity about not doing their regular rituals and religious practises.
It is being celebrated today on 19th of July, this year, without any fanfare, in every simple manner, at Pandharpur, the residing place of Lord Vitthal or Pandurang.
The saints Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram, Namdeo, Eknath, Gora Kumbhar, Chokha Mela, Muktabai and many others have done a tremendous work through this Bhakti movement in Maharashtra during the Mughal rule. They have visited hut to hut and touched the hearts of many a people and taken their Pandurang unto the last person of the society.
Who is this Pandurang?
Who is this Vitthal?
Why does He stand with Hands onto his waist?
He is none other than Krishna who has travelled all the way from Dwarka to meet His Devotee Pundalik. Pundalik is the only son of two parents who have taken utmost care in his upbringing. Pundalik is a “ananya bhakt” of Krishna. He is spreading the word of Krishna to the people around him. His karmayog (work) is very big, but sadly lost today to history. When Shree Krishna hears about Pundalik and his work, He feels an urge to meet him. He rushes to Pandharpur in His chariot. The dusty roads make the dust stick to the skin of Shree Krishna. The already ‘Shyam’ (black) Krishna gets a new skin colour due to this dust. Hence He is called “Pandurang”.
When Krishna reaches the doors of Pundalik, He calls him out. It is said that Pundalik is busy with taking care of his parents, so throws a brick (eint) towards Him and asks him to wait. So Lord Pandurang puts His hands on His waist and waits for Pundalik to come out to meet him. Now this sounds a little weird to us. A devotee would never make his God to wait. Even the parents of Pundalik would have rushed out to meet Him. But due to poverty, there was no proper place to make Him sit, so they must have offered Him the brick shaped stone to sit on or stand on. We see Pandurang still standing on that stone at Pandharpur.
Jagadguru Shakaracharya gives us the meaning of this whole episode in his stotra “Pandurangashtkam.”
प्रमाणं भवाब्धेरिदं मामकानां
नितंबः कराभ्यां धृतो येन तस्मात् ।
विधातुर्वसत्यै धृतो नाभिकोशः
परब्रह्मलिङ्गं भजे पाण्डुरङ्गम् ॥ ३॥
Pramanam bhavabderidam mamkanaam,
Nitamb: karabhyaam dhruto yen tasmaat,
Vidhaturvasatyay dhruto nabhikosh:
Parabrahmalingam bhaje Panduranagam. ।।3।।
The God through this form of Pandurang wants to explain to His devotee thus:
“For those who are mine and reside in my heart, the waters of the Sansaar sagar, the Bhav sagar, are only upto the waist. So there is no question of drowning. One just needs to walk through these waist deep waters to meet me“
My dear readers, isn’t it big thing? It is generally, the devotee who goes to meet his God. Here it is the God, Himself, coming dow to meet His devotee. Namakaars to Pundalik and his karmayog. And so Bhagwan Shankaracharya calls this place the “Mahayogpeeth“.
Let us all today promise our Bhagwaan that we will do your work and spread your message hut to hut and heart to heart so that you may sleep at ease for the next 4 months.
Let us all read the lives of the saints, understand what they have taught us and try to imbibe those things in our lives.
Let us pledge to see God in everyone, living or non-living and slowly develop an out of reverence for the same.
Will end with an ovi which is one of my favourite written by Sant Dnyaneshwar…
देवाचिये द्वारीं उभा क्षणभरी । तेणें मुक्ति चारी साधियेल्या, हरि मुखें म्हणा हरि मुखें म्हणा । पुण्याची गणना कोण करी, असोनि संसारीं जिव्हे वेगु करी । वेदशास्त्र उभारी बाह्या सदा , ज्ञानदेव म्हणे व्यासाचिया खुणें । द्वारकेचा राणा पांडवां घरीं,
Asadhi Beej – Rath Yatra
At the beginning of my blog itself, wishing all my Kutchhi brothers and sisters a very Happy New Year
असां जे कच्छी माडुओ के नव वर्ष की लख लख वधाई।
मेठो पांजो कच्छडो, मेठा पांजा माडु,
मेठी पांजी गालीयुं, ने मेठी पांजी प्रीत,
हलो हलो रे… आवई अषाढी बीज ।
The 2nd day of the month of Asaadh is a day celebrated as the onset of monsoons in Gujarat and Kutchh. The monsoons bring a smile on everyone’s face and people rejoice and celebrate as if it’s a new year.This day is celebrated all over India, especially Odisha, as the Rathyatra, “the procession of Chariots”. Lord Jagannath alongwith his elder brother Balbhadra and sister Devi Subhadra moves in their chariots around the Odia town of Jagannath Puri. This annual rath yatra attracts tourists from around the world. People get to touch their Lord and pull his chariot which is a once in a lifetime experience.
Jagannath Swami rides in the rath which is majorly decorated in yellow and called the “Nandi Ghosh.” Lord Balbhadra rides in “Tala dhwaj” decorated in green. And Devi Subhadra rides in her “Padma Dhwaj” black chariot. It’s the time when the siblings move out of their temples to meet the people, common folk, of their town. From their temple, they go to Gundicha temple, 3km away. Hence this yatra is also called as the Gundicha Yatra.
The names of the chariots and the colours too have their own significance. The chariots have their own charioteers. Daruka is on the Nandighosh, Matali on Taladhwaj and Arjun on Padmadwaj.
First the Deities are brought out from the temple in a very typical way. The deities do not have full body, but just a the face. So they need to be lifted and got out. This ritual is called the “Pahandi“. When one sees the deities being taken out, it seems as if they are being dragged. The multitudes of people try to catch a glimpse of the Lord and touch Him.
As soon as the Lord settles on His rath with His siblings (note that each deity has His or Her own individual rath), the erstwhile King of the Gajapati clan, arrives in a dress of a sweeper and cleans the rath and the roads with a broom in hand. This ritual is called “Chera Pahara“. It signifies that in the presence of the Lord, everyone is equal. The Kings, too through the years, have been very humble andgrateful to the Lord, to let them serve Him.
Then begins the journey.
The journey of the Lord to see His own people
The journey where the people can see their Lord
The journey of life to eternity.
The common man gets an opportunity to pull the three Raths and carry their Lord to His destination. The millions who have assembled, all, just try to touch the ropes attached to the Rath and feel grateful. The idea of a mere Human pulling the Rath of the Lord is in itself such a beautiful thought. It is He who pulls our lives throughout, but this day we get an opportunity not only to see Him, but pull his Rath as well.
Being elder, Balbhadra leads the triad. Followed by Subhadra and lastly comes Lord Jagannath himself. The idea of the brothers taking care of their sister is so divine. At the same time, it also signifies that Strength (Balbhadra) and Power (Jagannath), need to be balanced in Life. It would be possible only when one has the “bhadra” outlook (Subhadra).
Once the deities reach the Gundicha temple, they stay there for 9 days and will return back to their house after that, in the same manner as today. These 9 days are of Nagar Yatra and Darshan. The people get to see their Lords amongst themselves. The Lord too through this Yatra demonstrates that people in power need to keep their feet firmly on the ground and also keep in touch with the masses living in his or her kingdom.
The Yatra lasts for 6-7 hours and sometimes even takes 15-16 hours depending upon the wish of the deity. It is truly a very divine atmosphere in itself to be witnessed. I would request my readers to atleast visit Jagannath Puri once in a life time and if possible during the Yatra time.
A stotra written by Jagadguru Shankaracharya called Jagannathashtak is worth reciting. Quoting a shlok from it for Lord Jagannath.
रथारूढो गच्छन् पथि मिलित भूदेव पटलैः
स्तुति प्रादुर्भावम् प्रतिपदमुपाकर्ण्य सदयः ।
दया सिन्धुर्बन्धुः सकल जगतां सिन्धु सुतया
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥५॥(“When Lord Jagannatha is on His Ratha-yatra cart and is moving along the road, at every step there is a loud presentation of prayers and songs chanted by large assemblies of brahmanas. Hearing their hymns Lord Jagannatha is very favorably disposed towards them. He is the ocean of mercy and the true friend of all the worlds. May that Jagannatha Swami, along with His consort Lakshmi, who was born from the ocean of nectar, be the object of my vision.”)
On this day, let’s pray to Jagannath, Balbhadra and Subhadraji to bless all us and our siblings and bless us that we live like they lived together.
Let’s pray to the siblings that may the bonds among our families become stronger day by day.
Let’s pray that our families always stay together happily and merrily.
Reverence for Nature – Vrikshamandir Din, Madhavvrund Din…
Wish you all, my readers, a very Happy Vruskshmandir Din, Madhav Vrund Din and Yuva Din.
All 3 festivals celebrated by the Swadhyay Pariwaar, across the globe, on the same day, ie today, 12th of July.
These 3 days also coincide with the birthday of the current head or the Elder Sister of Swadhyay Pariwaar, Revered Dhanashree Athavale – Talwalkar. She happens to be my mentor and guide too. Will write about the parivaar and its founder Revered Pandurang Shashtriji Athavale (Dadaji – elder brother in Marathi) in another blog some day.
Today wanna talk about the outlook that they both have inculcated into thousands of lives in India and abroad.
The Vedic philosophy believes in the 4 basic principles
–Reverence for self, -Reverence for others,
–Reverence for Nature; and
–Reverence for the Creator.
The Creator himself resides within me as He, Himself said so in Shreemad Bhagwad Geeta.
“सर्वस्यचाहं हृदि सन्निविष्टो ।”
sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto श्री मद्भग्वदगीता – अध्याय 15 श्लोक 15 (I reside in every heart)
So am divine.
In the same way, He resides in every heart. So there is no question of looking down upon others too.
And goes a step forward to say,
“अश्वत्थ: सर्ववृक्षाणाम् ।”
Ashwathaha sarva vrukshaanaam
श्री मद्भग्वदगीता – अध्याय 10 श्लोक 26
(Am the Peepal (Ficus religiosa) among the trees)
So if the Creator Himself says so, the Nature is divine too. Then how can I even think of harming it!
But Human mind based on reasoning and scientific attitude talks about the need of tree or a cow once it loses it sheen as an object of utility. And slowly loses the feeling of reverence for everything, that has been inculcated in his or her childhood. I need to clarify that am not against the usage of things and objects in our lives, but at the same time it is distressing to see Humans become so emotionless towards fellow human beings, fellow living creatures and nature.
At such a time of distress, comes a Great Man (Human history is full of such great people) who takes us back to our roots and makes us understand to water them, and not bereave them from water. They come out of Law of Universal Necessity, and not out of Law of Attraction and Repulsion or Law of Karma. They teach the Universe about the morals and ethics of life and show the right path to tread on.
Param Pujaniya Pandurang Shashtriji Athavale, Dadaji, is one such person. He explains that people, that is we, look towards nature with a sense of Utility or a sense of Objectivity (being beautiful). But He further explains that we Humans who can think and reason and feel, should move a step ahead and try to find and see the divinity within everything. It is based on this thought that He has given an experiment called Vrukhsmandir (A temple of forests).
Swadhyayees from 20 villages around plant trees in a barren land. Take care of them as family members and grow them. As it is a community work, no one is the owner of the produce. It’s rightful owner is God, Himself. It may sound like some social experiment, but my readers I should draw your attention to the fact that it is purely divine. Everyone who participates here is learning to see God, even in the trees. Through this, I feel, that Shashtriji has revived the feeling of Reverence towards Nature. There are 27 such Vrukshmandirs in the state of Gujarat and Maharashtra.
And for this novel experiment of Vrikshmandirs, Shashtriji has been awarded the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshmitra Award too.
It is an experiment which does have social impact, but Shashtriji explains and propounds that, we do plant trees and take care of them, but we are not environmentalist, we are ‘Bhakts’ (devotees). There are so many instances where lives of people going to Vruskhmandirs have changed and this is the basic idea of what Shashtriji wants to do. He further explains, that if we see changes in the mindset of the society or a positive attitude develops towards nature, for society as a whole, then it is the ‘side effect’ of this experiment. The Vrukshmandir is basically for a human to look into himself and change. This is Swadhyay.
Similarly, the people living in metro cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru or Kolkatta and Delhi and in town and cities have been encouraged to plant a small shrub at home to develop a healthy and a divine attitude towards Nature. Everyday morning, the family members get together and water the plant and utter the ‘Narayanopanishad’ while watering. Two small changes can happen. One is that the family comes closer and their bonding collectively with nature too increases. Singing the Narayanopanishad helps develop the understanding of seeing Narayan, ie God in the tree or sapling planted at home.
This understanding based on the thoughts of Bhakti has transformed lives of people and families. Created a sense of unity amongst society. And yes, indirectly helped in environment conservation too.
This year too the Swadhyayees have contacted their friends and family who do not know about Swadhyay and talked to them about the concept of Madhavvrund and have gifted them a flowering plant and requested them to nurture them in their respective houses.
Shastriji has also asked upon Swadhyayees to conserve water at home, in fields and in lakes around their villages. Swadhyay parivaar has built thousands of lakes and check dams across many states in India. They call them ‘Nirmal Neer’. Also many Swadhyayees have taken upto rain water harvesting in their individual houses and many villagers have started helping in recharging the ground water levels through an experiment of “Shosh Khadda” (a pit that helps absorb kitchen water into the ground).
My readers might have a question that even after doing all this, we have never heard about it. Because both, Shashtriji and His daughter are of the firm belief that we have to go and share such ideas with people personally. First develop a relationship and then share. It is not a system but their conviction that changes are desirable in the minds of the people. The moment they realise and develop a bond with their God within, then a small Human can do big things. It is this firm belief that has kept the Parivaar together. And so they keep away from Media. There has been no such media propaganda of the ground work that they have done.
Today, also happens to be the birthday of Dhanashree Didi (Didi – elder sister). She has been nurturing the Parivaar with lots of love, warmth and affection. The way She connects with people through Her talks and action is just unbelievable. For people who dont know Her, they would feel that am just exaggerating. Then I would say that Seeing is believing. I have seen it and I believe it.
She has taken a lot of efforts to gather all the different pearls (people of different states, linguistic preferences, castes, creed, nationaities) into a single thread. The youth, in particular, will remain indebted to Her for generations to come. According to the wishes of Dadaji, She has organised the youth and given them dynamic activities through which the generation of today understand the morals, ethics and more importantly, the nearness of God. So the youth on Her birthday, celebrate Yuva Din (Youth Day). It is a way of expressing their Gratitude to both these ‘ Mahamaanavs.’
At the end, I pray to God that
May He, help us to develop strong bondings amongst Humans that these binds transcend faith and uplift Humanity.
May He, help us develop the understanding of oneness with Nature and the Universe as a whole.
May He, take us closer to Himself and bless us with understanding of oneness with God.
The month of Ashaadh
अषाढ़ उच्चारं, मेघ मल्हारं, बनी बहारं, जलधारं,
दादुर दकारं, मयूर पुकारं, तडीतातारं, विस्तारं…
The advent of the month of Asaadh (June/July of English calendar) reminds every Gujarati literature lover the above ‘chhand’ (a type of poetry with particular number of letters and maatras) (in music we call it the ‘metre’) which he/she has been hearing from his childhood. It says thus,”With the advent of the month of Asaadh, it is the thundering of the clouds, the clouds condensing and falling down as rain which is witnessed. The frog and the peocock start calling out their mates, and the thin wires of lightening covers all the sky.”
Rains signify new growth.
Rains signify germination.
Rains signify toil.
Rains signify coolness.
Rains signify energy, enthusiasm and verve.
Today is also the day of Kavi Kalidas, the great poet and writer. His treatise Kumarsambhav, AbhidnyanShakuntal, Meghdoot and many more are not only worth a read but are to be understood and savoured. I bow down to this great poet and writer, today. Even he has described rains in his poems.
Am always fascinated by rains and who isn’t? Atleast during the rains, every person turns a poet or a singer during these watery times. And my readers will have no different experience than this. The songs of the Hindi movies start resonating in our ears.
“ओ सजना बरखा बहार आयी”
“बरसात में हमसे मिले तुम सजन, तुमसे मिले हम”
“प्यार हुआ, इकरार हुआ, प्यार से क्यों डरता है दिल”
“टिप टिप टिप टिप बारिश शुरू हो गयी”
And many more which drive in us the urge to dance and sing to their tunes.Am equally fascinated by the 12 types of clouds/rains which are mentioned in the Gujarati literature as follows:
1. ફરફર – फरफर (Farfar) Rain which just stimulates and wettens our hair on the skin. Very Romantic and mind boggling.
2. છાંટા – छांटा ( Chhanta) Rain drops which is a little more then described above, yet less.
3. ફોરા – फोरा (Fora) Rain having drops of size that can wet an area of radius 1 inch on the ground.
4. કરા – करा (Karaa) Rain falling down as ice. We call them hail. Better to stay indoors when it hails.
5. પછેડીયો / પછેડીવા – पछेडियो / पछेडीवा (Pacchediyo – Pacchediva) – Rain from which we can protect ourselves only if we have an umbrella or a covering.
6. નેવાધાર – नेवाधार (Nevadhaar) Rain which will not only wetten the clay roof tiles, but also drip through it.
7. મોલીયો – मोलीयो (Moliyo) Rain which is beneficial to the crops to be grown. This rain is absolutely essential for a farmer.
8. ઢેફા ભાંગ – ढेफा भांग (Dhefaa Bhaang) Rain which will break the pieces of soil formed during the year so that the soil becomes ready for sowing.
9. મુશળધાર – मुशळधार (Musaldhaar) Rain which falls in form of torrents. It prickles us like a pin, when it falls.
10. અનરાધાર – अनराधार (Anaraadhaar) Rain which falls continuously. Drops cannot be seen. It seems as if water is falling like that from a tap.
11. સાંબેલાધાર – सांबेलाधार (Saambeladhaar) Raining cats and dogs. Very heavy rains.
12. હેલી – हेली (Hely) It is a mixture of any of the above mentioned rains which goes on continuously for a week.
Wishing you all a very Happy Monsoon Season.
Quote #55
Today is Yogini Ekadashi. Ekadashi is a day when our 11 body organs ie 5 knowledge organs, 5 sensory organs and Mind should be used for the work of God.
Let’s begin our day by saying Thank You.
International Yoga Day (Reblog)
The day of Dakshinayan, the sun will now move from North to South, the day will start becoming smaller and the nights will increase.
Science calls it the Summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. The word ‘Sol’ means the sun and ‘stice’ means stood still, the day the sun stood still. Today the duration of day and night is roughly the same.
Tomorrow the monsoons formally set in India according to the Indian calendar. The sun will enter the “Aardra” constellation and the atmosphere will see changes accordingly. It is considered to be a wet constellation also signifying that it is monsoon time.
From last 7 years now the day of Summer Solstice is being celebrated as International Yoga Day. It is the call of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the efforts of our then ambassador to the United Nation, that out of the 192 or 196 member countries more than 180 countries supported and adopted to celebrate this day as International Yoga Day. The support for this day all over the world is overwhelming and transcends religion and faiths. It is heartening to see people performing Yoga irrespective of gender, caste and creed.
The ancient science of Yoga propounded by Bhagwaan Patanjali is now being recognised in its truest sense. Also let me clarify, our seers have never given a school of thought or method of maintaining good health out of gaining name and fame. They had their own experiences which they shared with world and left it upto the human race to decide and adopt. The “Yoga” that Bhagwaan Patanjali has explained has a deep meaning and if followed in its purest sense, will not only benefit humanity physically but also spiritually. The ‘Aasanas’ being performed everyday are the basic step towards attaining bliss in life. A lot of research has and is being done on this and available on the net for my readers to read.
“Yoga” means “to join.”
A union with self and God within oneself.
A union of self and God within others.
A union of Self and God Himself.
Tell me one prevalent faith or thought which does not try to find the truth within and without. Every faith does. So Yoga transcends faith.
At the same time, Yoga is just not ”Aasanas”. It is just 1/8th part of the Ashtaang Yoga as explained by Bhagwaan Patanjali. The 8 parts are as follows:
1. Yama (Satya, Ahimsa, Asteya, Brahmacharya and Aparigraha)
2. Niyama (Shouch, Santosh, Tap, Swadhyay and Ishwarpranidhan)
3. Aasan
4. Pranayaam
5. Pratyaahaar
6. Dhyaan
7. Dharanaa
8. Samadhi
Will dwell upon these 8 some other day.
The “Dhyaan Mudra’s” that we find Lord Mahaveera and Lord Buddha are nothing but Yoga Mudras. They help us find the peace within. Just a few years back, I visited a few caves near Mumbai and they all had Lord Buddha sitting in Padmasana and smiling. The sculptures itself were so serene and peaceful, it just helps us understand the actual emotions when we do Yoga sincerely. And they both have found their self through these postures. So if practised properly, Yoga will slowly lead us to Self realisation.
So today,
Let us all dwell upon such gems given to us by our civilisation.
Let us learn to treasure them. Let us practise them.
Let us imbibe such practises into our lives.
Let the world follow.
Wishing you all and your families a very Happy International Yoga Day
Pray to Bhagwaan Patanjali to bless us all with good personal, social and spiritual health.
Ganga Dusshara – 10
As we end the series today, am thinking about the journey when we began as a rivulet and now entering the ocean today. The narrow mindedness turning to broad mindedness. The art of looking at the world outside to the world within. It may be a complex process but we all have to undergo it one day. So let’s begin the last leg of our journey today.
परद्रव्येष्वभिध्यानं मनसानिष्टचिंतनम्।
वितथाभिनिवेशश्र्व मानसं त्रिविधं स्मृतम्।।
10. To wrongly insist / persist
“Vitathabhivniveshashva” – to wrongly insist. Try to impose things on others which may not work for them. We all have this habit of insisting for things which have worked for us forgetting that different people have different solutions for the same problem. And that is how the Universe works.
Maa Ganga treads Her own path. She does not depend on others at the same time She does not expect others to follow Her. She goes Her own way. If people follow, fine. If they dont, then too She has no problems. She is “Nisang“
At this stage of development we too need to learn this quality of being selfless. No attraction, no repulsion. No submission, no justification. This leads to the feet of Bhagwan Vishnu. This is the ultimate goal of life.
As we take the 10th and the last dip in Maa Ganga today, we pray to Her to bless us with the quality of being “Nisang” and attain the lotus feet of Bhagwaan Vishnu.
एतानि दश पापानि हर त्वमथ जाह्नवी।
दशपापहरा यस्मात्तस्माद् दशहरा स्मृता।।
O Ganga ! you are the one who will deliver me from the above said 10 sins and so I remember you (bow down to you) on the Dusshara day as “Duspaaphara”.
We bow down to Maa Ganga today and thank Her for guiding us all through this journey.
We thank Her for being there for us from eternity to eternity.
We bow down to Her and plead Her to keep us on this path of development and growth.
My dear friends / readers I thank you too for being a part of my quest to find answers to the questions which torments the Humans and trying to find an answer to them. Have we been able to find the answers? Have we learnt something? Have we grown during these 10 days? I leave these questions for you to answer.
Pray to Maa Ganga to keep writing about Her and get closer to Her through my writings…
Namami Gange…
Ganga Dusshara – 9
As we go closer to our destination, the form of the river becomes a delta and grows bigger but slower so as to smoothly enter the ocean. That is the purpose of our lives too. We began with the physical sins and moved on to the mental sins and we try to understand how to remove them from our lives. We move on to the second but last stop of our journey.
परद्रव्येष्वभिध्यानं मनसानिष्टचिंतनम्।
वितथाभिनिवेशश्र्व मानसं त्रिविधं स्मृतम्।।
9. To think that bad happen to others
“Manasanishtchintanam” – to think bad about others. We think bad not only about others but also whom we consider close to us. Thinking about the loss of a close one is also a sin which we do without even understanding that it creates a negative feeling in our minds.
Negativity is the biggest hurdle in our growth and development. It hurts us badly without us even realising that it is hurting us. Negativity is slow poison – kills us slowly. From thinking negative about others we slowly move towards thinking negative about ourselves.
Maa Ganga is full of positivity. Her flow through all the obstacles is never hindered nor slowed down. She guides us to live and lead our life through every good and bad situation and reach our destination, the feet of Lord Vishnu, who resides in the ocean. Our destination will be reached when our lives be filled with “Positivity“
Positivity not only help us move ahead in life but also accelerates us towards our goal. Being positive in all things is a big step in our development. Am reminded of the story we all have heard or studied in our childhood days – “It’s all for the Best”, where a king by mistake cuts his finger and the minister says its for the best. This angers the king and he sends the minister to prison. Later when he goes for hunting and attached by a wild animal, the wild animal leaves the king due to the smell of the blood from the cut finger. The king realises his folly, comes back and releases his Minister. But he asks how was the cut finger best for the minister. Then the witty minister replies that hadnt he been in prison he would have accompanied the Kind on the hunting trip and got killed himself.
So as we take our second but last dip in the Holy Ganga, we pray to Her to help us inculcate positivity in our lives and lead us to our development.
Tommorrow we will reach our destination and also celebrate the festival of Ganga Dusshara. See you all tommorrow…
Ganga Dusshara – 8
As we move onwards our journey from the Ganga ghats of Kashi towards Ganga Sagar, we have come to that node where we have to think beyond physical sins and sins expressed by our thoughts. Today onwards we think about the last 3 sins for which we need to be very careful and sensitive about. The first 7 can be seen by others too and they can help us correct them. But the last 3 are “mansik” – within our minds and no one except us can correct them. So let’s gear up ourselves and introspect.
परद्रव्येष्वभिध्यानं मनसानिष्टचिंतनम्।
वितथाभिनिवेशश्र्व मानसं त्रिविधं स्मृतम्।।
8. To think about snatching others wealth
9. To think that bad happen to others
10. To wrongly insist / persist
These are the 3, and the last of 10, sins committed in our minds
“Pardravyeshvabhidhyanam” – to think about snatching others wealth. To think about taking something which does not belong to us. How many of us have thought of this? I without any doubt would say everyone of us. Just imagine the guilt now while reading about what we have been doing.
I very well understand that first we have to come to terms with what I am trying to say. Secondly we need to accept it. Thirdly we need to decide to work on it. Fourthly we need to work on it and change it. We are at the first step today.
Also I was thinking that if we think about snatching wealth of others then wouldn’t they be thinking the same. What chaos would be created if the thought would be implemented! Just imagine the society then.
Maa Ganga never snatches. She rather deposits the silt which She has been carrying with it on the plains which She flows through. She has been giving to Human kind for time immemorial. And the thought of snatching never crosses Her mind. She just gives and teaches us to give “Datum“
This is a situation exactly opposite of what we have been thinking. Instead of snatching we think about giving. And give, we have. When we think about Emperor Harsh and the way has has given or Emporer Raghu, the ancestor of Ram, has given away all his wealth to his citizens. We have a great tradition of giving.
So as we take our 8th dip in Maa Ganga let us inculcate the value of giving and start with sharing atleast.
As we move towards our destination let us keep sharing the various stops of our journey. See you all tommorrow…
Ganga Dusshara – 6
Being arrogant and the art of lying is what were thinking about in our last two blogs. It tells us the importance of what we speak and how we speak. And we speak what we think. And these sins we are commiting are not helping us grow, rather they deter our growth.
पारूष्यमनृतं चैन पैशुन्यं चापि सर्वतः।
असंबद्धप्रलापश्र्व वाङ्मयं स्याच्चतुर्विधम्।।
6. To backbite about others
The best time pass of Humanity is to back bite. To gossip is Human is what my teacher always used to tell us. At that age I didnt understand its meaning but today as I grow in age, I fully understand what she meant then. Who doesn’t back bite? Everyone does and no one is an exception to it.
Well was thinking about the different instances to write about but one thing which is striking with this “Paap” is that one cannot see the other human being good or gain popularity or grow big. It has become Human tendency to judge the other person’s growth with suspicion and caste a doubt on his / her growth.
It is a vice which has infected all ages. We all have at some time or the other being a part of it and helped in spreading it. This attitude of not being able to accept other person’s growth needs to worked upon and moulded into better understanding.
Maa Ganga through Her flow demonstrates not to be bothered by anyone’s growth and keep on doing the good work one has been doing. From the time Bhagirath got Her down to Mother Earth, She has been doing Her own work and working towards Her own growth. She isn’t selfish or self centered but at the same time She is “Inclusive“.
We need to be inclusive about people’s growth and development. Accept others as they are and at the same time accept how we ourselves are. Stop being suspicious about others and stop judging others. This will slowly make us inclusive and start accepting others.
While taking the 6th dip let us learn to be inclusive about others and ourselves in particular and remove this vice of back biting about others.
Tommorrow we will be talking about the senseless talks or as we call it chatter in our day to day language…
Ganga Dusshara – 5
Let us continue with our understanding of the sins we commit with our thoughts and express through our mouth. Yesterday we were trying to understand about being arrogant and how Maa Ganga teaches us to be humble.
पारूष्यमनृतं चैन पैशुन्यं चापि सर्वतः।
असंबद्धप्रलापश्र्व वाङ्मयं स्याच्चतुर्विधम्।।
5. To lie (To spread falsehood)
Today we talk about lying. “Anrutan” as they call it in Sanskrit. Lying is an art which we all have mastered in our lives. We have been seeing, observing and learning how to lie from our early childhood days. Will not like to state instances how we learn.
We lie to come out of an awkward situation, to save oneself from embarrassment, to save oneself from harm, to win admiration from others, to avoid being punished, to obtain an reward not otherwise really obtainable, to maintain privacy and many more reasons one can think of.
People will share instances and quote shlokas from the scriptures explaining that lying is allowed. But the thing is that it is allowed in certain extreme circumstances. And now where is it said that spread the lie. So there is avery fine line between spreading a lie and allowed to lie, which we all need to understand.
Also there will always be a justification for lying as the person who lies thinks that he or she is doing it for his or her own good. It might be as well, but the amount of harm it causes to the person’s integrity and character building and the society as a whole is something which people do not think about while lying.
Maa Ganga is always flowing and in now way does She ever stop Her flow in any situations. She may be facing Her problems of extinction or being made dirty, not once does She stop. She keeps flowing removing the dirt within Her. She has been flowing from the day She has arrived on Earth till date. She is always “TRUTHFUL“.
Being Truthful has it’s own problems. It can lead us to problems but they will be solved without causing any difficulties and in due time. It might not yield quick and easy results but in the long run it does help. Truthfulnees is a virtue adored even by the Gods.
Let us plead to Maa Ganga to help us be truthful, as we take our 5th dip in Her today.
Let us continue with our journey tommorrow. We have reached half way and should reach our destination in the next half…
Ganga Dusshara – 4
The last 3 days we have been talking about the different physical sins which we commit as humans and how Maa Ganga delivers us from them. Today we try to understand the different sins in words by us. These are such sins that we do not even realise that we are doing them.
पारूष्यमनृतं चैन पैशुन्यं चापि सर्वतः।
असंबद्धप्रलापश्र्व वाङ्मयं स्याच्चतुर्विधम्।।
4. To speak arrogantly,
5. To lie (To spread falsehood)
6. To backbite about others
7. To talk without any reason and what make no sense ie senseless talk.
The above mentioned 4 sins are committed through tongue (thoughts)
This is a topic which is the most sensitive to all our relations which we try to make and sustain. A small word here and there can break the relations. The bonds of relations are very delicate and they can be broken easily with even a single wrong word.
May a people have a habit of speaking very arrogantly. Their arrogance arises either from their intellect, wealth or the position they have in the society. Sometimes it comes very naturally to all of us and makes such a dent that it becomes difficult to repair.
Let us begin with an example of a person scoring good marks or ranks in the exams they appear for. After such consistent effort and performance, it happens that the person develops a feeling of knowing everything under the Sun and starts looking down towards people not scoring good mark’s or ranks. Now this alienates them from their surroundings and creates another problem of aloofness.
Sometimes the wealth plays a big factor in how we speak. A wealthy person starts feeling that he or she owns everything due to their wealth and they start treating people very arrogantly and by belittling them. People start staying away from such people thus creating the class war in the society.
And for people with power, there is need of any description about this for people in India. How power is abused by people in power is no secret! Even the smallest of people in power (for example – the hawaldaar); their tone is very arrogant.
Maa Ganga, through Her flow guides us with a soft and melancholy sound. Even after helping a civilisation to grow on Her banks, She has been very humble. She doesnt make any arrogant noises of helping someone grow or being the most important person around. She is very “HUMBLE“.
Humility after attaining power is the most important value which one needs to imbibe in life. A humble person is not only loved by everyone but also wanted by everyone, in case of need. A person who is humble can help the society to its fullest and can be a shining armour in the otherwise dull and arrogant world.
While taking this fourth dip today, let us pledge to be humble in life even when we reach the highest echelons of life.
We continue tommorrow…
Ganga Dusshara – 7
We come to the last of the ‘Vaachik’ paaps we are trying to understand from last 3 blogs. I know they can be elaborated a lot and a lot more can be written but want to keep them short so that everyone with whom I share finds time to read them. Yesterday we talked about back biting about others.
पारूष्यमनृतं चैन पैशुन्यं चापि सर्वतः।
असंबद्धप्रलापश्र्व वाङ्मयं स्याच्चतुर्विधम्।।
7. To talk without any reason and what make no sense ie senseless talk.
Chatterbox, Badbad (in Hindi), are the terms we use oftenly nowadays. These words are used for people who keep on talking which make no sense or have no reason to talk about. These people just have a habit of going on and on and on. And the best part is that they are made a thing to be showcased by their parents and the peer group.
To talk is to use energy. It takes up a lot of energy to keep on talking. Ask the teachers and the professors. But here we are talking about people who talk for no reason as such. They just want some attention and so they just chatter. Kids especially nowadays due to over exposure have become chatterboxes and this has become an object of showcasing.
It is a common misconception that women talk endlessly, but the men do too. Rather men do it more!
There may be many reasons of keeping on talking continuously but is it right? Does the person talking endlessly take into consideration the person who is listening? Is there a need to go on talking endlessly?
Maa Ganga has demonstrated through Her flow that She knows when to make her presence known and when not. While flowing through the ghats of Varanasi and through Bhar towards Kolkatta, She flows while making minimum or no sound. Her flow is so smooth that people truly are awed with what they have seen Her at Rishikesh. She does teach us the value of “Balance” in life.
It is not that one should not talk. But one shoukd know when to talk! What to talk! And how much to talk!. This fine balance is a must for every person to grow in life. The world always likes “a man of few words”. But these few words have to be gentle, humble, truthful and balanced.
As we take our 7th dip, and the way we are moving, am sure that we will in our lives try to think over what we have spoken and shared during this discussion and try to live the way.
See you all tommorrow…
Ganga Dusshara – 3
We are trying to understand the “Paap” which Maa Ganga removes from our lives. We are now at a node where we need to think about the third “Kaayik” paap.
अदत्तानामुपादानं हिंसा चैवाविधानतः।
परदारोपसेवा च कायिकं त्रिविधं स्मृतम्।।
ADATTANAMUPADANAM – To take away even if not offered ie to steal.
HIMSA CHAIVAVIDHANATA – To commit violence for no reason.
The third sin “Pardaropaseva ch” – To commit adultery or To have adulterous relationships. With the growing influence of “Being open minded” and “It’s a free world” we, humans have transgressed a path from “Shame” to being “Shameless”. Commiting adultery has become so common that it has become a topic of discussion from a topic of gossip.
The way, we, the society is behaving and opening up is just not distasteful but a disgrace. The way a man looks towards a woman, as an object of lust and propriety is something which one cannot even imagine. The mental state of the youth of our country in this regards, though still under wraps, is disillusioning. The days ahead will be of utter chaos and disbelief regarding relationships.
At this juncture, when we see Maa Ganga and Her pious flow, it leads us to a divine outlook of Motherhood. She holds us in Her bosoms very gently and awakens a emotion of reverence for the creation. She gently carries us on Her back and nurtures the quality of “Brahmacharya” within us.
Brahmacharya not only means abstinence from physical relations but it also means to walk on the path of God. To keep on walking continuously to spread His name far and wide. It also means to become one with God.
Maa Ganga too from Her emergence to Her submission is a Brahmacharini, spreading the message of God to every part of land and to every living being encountered in Her path.
Today as we take out third dip, let us today rise above the petty thoughts of adultery and pledge to live a life of Brahmachari and make efforts to spread the word of God far and wide.
Now as we discussed about the Kaayik (physical) paap, we shall move to the next mantra and try and understand the four “Vaachik” (Spoken) paap…
Ganga Dusshara – 2
We started yesterday with the aim to develop an understanding about how Maa Ganga is Das (10) “Paap” Haarini. And we began with the 3 “Kaayik” paap.
अदत्तानामुपादानं हिंसा चैवाविधानतः।
परदारोपसेवा च कायिकं त्रिविधं स्मृतम्।।
We tried to understand the first one yesterday : ADATTANAMUPADANAM – To take away even if not offered ie to steal
Today we talk about Himsa Chaivavidhanata – To commit violence with no reason.
I think Himsa or Violence is the most spoken and thought after word or “paap” in today’s world. We all understand that Himsa means violence and it is done with no reason. From assaulting kids to wives to friends and today even countrymen, the word Himsa needs no description. The morning newspapers carry only the news of violence all over the world.
The word Himsa includes all acts of violence and destruction. All the types of activities that lead to violence should also be termed as Himsa.
Even when one starts to think negatively about oneself and demotivates oneself is also a type of Himsa – destroying one’s esteem, self confidence. The biggest Himsa we do to ourselves is when we say “I can’t do.”
When one sits at the banks of Maa Ganga, in Her lap, Her flow removes all these negative thoughts of demeaning and demotivating oneself and rejuvenates, recharges us with positive thoughts and motivates us for action. This is the true “Ahimsa“
Friends, when one talks of Ahimsa it means Non Violence. And people take it as way of not doing anything – Nivrutti. To that extent that one should take care while walking too as it may kill the ants and the microbes around. Cover the mouth while talking so that the sound waves do not kill. And so walk less or talk less. Am not against this understanding but we need to move a step ahead. Ahimsa – means to spread the love all over. To love every part of the creation selflessly. And this is what all the Avatar’s born anywhere on Earth have propagated.
Similarly Maa Ganga too loves Her children. Maa Ganga and Her flow have always been non destructive. She flows so smoothly and elegantly from the Gomukh to Ganga Sagar. She just cleanses all the lands and their people and leads them to prosperity.
Today when we take a dip at the confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini, let us pledge to understand the right meaning of Ahimsa and spread the love of Maa Ganga and through Her, the work of the Avatars and the greatness of this Holy land unto the last person on Mother Earth.
With the dip, let us leave the thought of Himsa behind and give prominence to the phrase ‘I can do’ in our lives.
We will take our third dip at the confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi tomm…
Ganga Dusshara – 1
On the auspicious occasion of Ganga Dusshara falling on 20th June this year, am planning a series of blogs explaining the meaning of the word “Dusshara”
GANGA DUSSHARA means the one who takes away our 10 sins (Duss + Hara) from our lives.
These 10 sins are ‘Kaayik’, ‘Vachik’ and ‘Mansik’ (physical, speech (thoughts) and pshycological).
We begin with the first of three physical sins today. But first what are they? A shlok describes them as thus:
अदत्तानामुपादानं हिंसा चैवाविधानतः।
परदारोपसेवा च कायिकं त्रिविधं स्मृतम्।।
ADATTANAMUPADANAM – To take away even if not offered ie to steal
I think it is the biggest problem we all are facing today, STEALING. Steal things, Steal the process, steal the thought to Steal someone’s peace. The question which comes to my mind is that how can one think of getting something which is not theirs. Isn’t it uncivilized?
Let us also understand that there is nothing wrong in copying someone’s method or process or experiment, but calling it, one’s own is stealing. We see many such people who behave in this manner. Also calling someone’s idea or thought one’s own is also stealing.
Again accumulating thoughts or amassing wealth and also not sharing with anyone is stealing. So in itself the word stealing has a huge or a very broad meaning which we all need to think about.
Maa Ganga takes away this sin from our lives. When we see Her flow and hear Her soft and tinkling sound, the thought to steal just goes away. Rather looking at Her flow, just removes the thought of belongingness towards things, processess and thoughts. The soft sound of the flow instills harmony in our thoughts and strikes a balance of “Aparigraha“.
What does Maa Ganga take from us? Nothing. Rather She gives us everything from life, water and alluvial soil which in turn helps us grow crops for our food. Learning from Her, we too can remove the vice of stealing from our life. We can live our life like Her sharing our most prized possessions with others.
Today when we take our first dip in Maa Ganga let us all pledge to give up this sin of Adattanamupadanam (stealing).
We continue our journey along the banks of Maa Ganga tommorrow…
World Environment Day
E – Earth
N – Never
V – Vilifies,
I – Instead
R – Radiates
O – Openmindedness and
N – Nourishment,
M – Mentors
E – Empathy and
N – Nobility
T – Till eternity
The mankind celebrating environment day is the way of expressing gratefulness towards the environment. Today, the importance of the environment need not be told or explained as Mankind understands its mistakes and is trying to correct them. The way we have tried to disturb the ecological balance has brought us to the brink of self destruction, but we have woken up from our slumber. Better late than never.
Let us learn to not only preserve the environment but also revere it. It’s the Vedic way to revere everything animate or inanimate as we see God in everything. God in Bhagwad Geeta Chapter 11 has called the Sacred Fig as one of its divine forms. “अश्वत्थ सर्व वृक्षाणां”.
We will get to see the reverence in many of the ways of Vedic culture. From worshipping a broom to worshipping different forms of animals as in cow and others. Vedic outlook is not only utilitarian, it is of reverence. At the same time reverence also does not mean that it can only be worshipped and not used. It simply means be grateful towards the thing one uses.
So on this Environment Day, let us learn to live in harmony with nature.
Let us learn to not only utilise nature for our own development but also let it develop with our help.
Let us learn the Vedic way of reverence for Nature and imbibe it in our lives to live and enjoy the life to the fullest.
Bharat Ratna Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
अनादि मी अनंत मी, अवध्य मी भला मारिल रिपु जगतिं असा कवण जन्मला ।। धृ ।।
अट्टाहास करित जईं धर्मधारणीं
मृत्युसीच गाठ घालु मी घुसे रणीं
अग्नि जाळि मजसी ना खड्ग छेदितो
भिउनि मला भ्याड मृत्यु पळत सूटतो
खुळा रिपू । तया स्वयेंमृत्युच्याचि भीतिने भिववु मजसि ये ।। १ ।।
लोटि हिंस्र सिंहाच्या पंजरी मला
नम्र दाससम चाटिल तो पदांगुला
कल्लोळीं ज्वालांच्या फेकिशी जरी
हटुनि भंवति रचिल शीत सुप्रभावली
आण तुझ्या तोफांना क्रूर सैंन्य तें
यंत्र तंत्र शस्र अस्र आग ओकते
हलाहल । त्रिनेत्र तो
मी तुम्हांसि तैसाची गिळुनि जिरवितो ।। २ ।।
(Do exist from existence, and will exist till the existence, Cannot be killed,Do you know of such enemy who has been born anywhere, who can get me killed…।।)
The poet talks about his own existence for eternity and describes the beautiful understanding of death and soul as described by Lord Yogeshwar in Shreemad Bhagwad Geeta, in the later verses.
The Poet is none other than
– The only freedom fighter in the world who got 2 life sentences for fighting against the British Raj, and yet continued his socio – politico life for his country
– The only writer in the world whose book, 1857, The first war of Independence, was banned by 2 countries before even it went for publication
– The first graduate whose degree was taken back because of participating in the freedom struggle
– The first Indian student who refused to take the oath of allegiance towards the British Crown and the reigning Monarch and so could not practice law even after successfully completing his degree
– The first Indian freedom fighter to burn the British clothes to stake
– The first Indian freedom fighter to call for, “Purna Swarajya”, complete independence from the British rule
– The first jailed politico-revolutionary whose case was heard at International Court if Justice, Hague and the British Government had to apologise to the French for commuting such an act.
– A person who suggested that the Dharma Chakra should find it’s rightful place, in the centre of the Indian Flag, to which our first President of India, Shri Rajendra Prasad, responded positively.
– A person amongst the few, who thought about the development of India, even before it’s independence and started working for it, just as he was released from Andaman Jail.
– The first poet who wrote his poems on the walls of the Cellular Jail in Andaman with the help of Iron nails and coal, sometime even with his own nails. After gaining freedom from the jail, remembered and wrote all those poems, roughly 10,000 lines, all over again.
Such a great personality, an intellectual, an unparalleled leader, a visionary and a man who could look into the future, unknown to the masses, is none other than Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, also known as “Tatyarao”, to those who know him.
A strong proponent of Hindu Philosophy, yet Savarkar was a pragmatic practitioner of the Philosophy. He insisted for validating religious myths/blind faith against the test of modern science. In that sense he was a rationalist and a reformer. While in prison, Savarkar wrote the work describing Hindutva, espousing what it means to be a Hindu, and Hindu pride, in which he defined as all the people descended of Hindu culture as being part of Hindutva, including Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs. In 1921, under restrictions after signing a plea for clemency (today the narrow minded make fun of him for writing it, but he had a bigger goal in mind and a better work to do than to churn oil everyday in the cellular jail). He was released on the condition that he renounce all his revolutionary and political activities. Travelling widely, Savarkar became a forceful orator and writer, advocating Hindu political and social unity. Serving as the president of the Hindu Mahasabha, a political party, Savarkar endorsed the idea of India as a Hindu Rashtra (Hindu Nation). He even started a temple for the so called untouchables of that time and anointed them as the “pujaris” of the deity of that temple.
Yes, he had his differences with the Congress and its way of working, but he was never personal. He would criticise Nehru and his government’s policies, but never did he personally attack Nehru or any other Congress leader. Yet, he never got pension as a freedom fighter till Nehru was alive. He received it only in the Government of Lal Bahadur Shashtri.
The Congress and particularly, the Gandhi clan hated / hate him to the core and have not left even a single chance to criticise him or politically oppose his thoughts for their own personal gains. He was named in the FIR for plotting to kill Mahatma Gandhi, but acquitted by the Highest Court of our country, the Supreme Court. Yet even today, the so called Gandhi’s blame him for that dastardly act. They even went to the extent of spying on him for years after independence.
He has written many books too. A few but famous amongst them are worth a read. 1857, The First War of Independence, Maajhi Janmathep, The Six Glorious Pages of Indian History, and Hindu-Pad-Patshahi. His poems are still sung by the young and the old with the same fervour and love for country. “Sagara Pran Talmalla” and “Jayostute” imbibe a spirit of Nationalism and love for one’s own country. Am citing one of the poems and the way it expresses the love for one’s Motherland is unparallel.
ने मजसी ने परत मातृभूमीला सागरा प्राण तळमळला ॥धृ॥
भूमातेच्या चरणतला तुज धूता मी नित्य पाहिला होता
मज वदलासी अन्य देशि चल जाऊ सृष्टिची विविधता पाहू
तैं जननीहृद् विरहशंकितहि झाले परि तुवां वचन तिज दिधले
मार्गज्ञ स्वये मीच पृष्ठि वाहीन त्वरित या परत आणीन
विश्वसलो या तव वचनी मी जगद्नुभवयोगे बनुनी मी
तव अधिक शक्ती उद्धरणी मी येईन त्वरे कथुनि सोडिले तिजला ॥
सागरा प्राण तळमळला
शुक पंजरि वा हरिण शिरावा पाशी ही फसगत झाली तैशी
भूविरह कसा सतत साहु या पुढती दशदिशा तमोमय होती
गुणसुमने मी वेचियली या भावे की तिने सुगंधा घ्यावे
जरि उद्धरणी व्यय न तिच्या हो साचा हा व्यर्थ भार विद्येचा
ती आम्रवृक्षवत्सलता रे नवकुसुमयुता त्या सुलता रे
तो बाल गुलाबहि आता रे फुलबाग मला हाय पारखा झाला ॥
सागरा प्राण तळमळला
नभि नक्षत्रे बहुत एक परि प्यारा मज भरतभूमिचा तारा
प्रासाद इथे भव्य परी मज भारी आईची झोपडी प्यारी
तिजवीण नको राज्य मज प्रिया साचा वनवास तिच्या जरि वनिचा
भुलविणे व्यर्थ हे आता रे बहु जिवलग गमते चित्ता रे
तुज सरित्पते जी सरिता रे त्वदविरहाची शपथ घालितो तुजला ॥
सागरा प्राण तळमळला
या फेनमिषें हससि निर्दया कैसा का वचन भंगिसी ऐसा
त्वत्स्वामित्वा सांप्रत जी मिरवीते भिनि का आंग्लभूमीते
मन्मातेला अबला म्हणुनि फसवीसी मज विवासनाते देशी
तरि आंग्लभूमी भयभीता रे अबला न माझि ही माता रे
कथिल हे अगस्तिस आता रे जो आचमनी एक क्षणी तुज प्याला ॥
सागरा प्राण तळमळला
Son of Damodar and Radhabhai Savarkar (Tatyarao) had three siblings, Ganesh (Babarao), Narayan and a sister, Maina. All dedicated their lives to India.
The relationship Tatyarao shared with Babarao is a guiding light to all the siblings around India today. Babarao, himself, is a freedom fighter and is caught for organising the youth against the British and sent to Kalaa Paani at the Andaman and Nicobar cellular jail. Vinayak also reaches the same jail in a few years for plotting against the British. After a few months, Vinayak finds out that Babarao is in the same jail, he longs to meet him. My readers may think, if they are in the same jail, how come they didn’t meet? Well, the interns of the jail are not allowed to meet each other. Even during lunch time, they are not allowed to talk to each other. But Vinayak, finds out a way and meets his brother during lunch. A conversation takes place with the help of the eyes, and the two brothers are united after a gap of many years.Narayan, the youngest sibling, has taken upon himself, the responsibility of the family, when both his elder brothers are in jail. He has been through many hardships too. It was during the time when Tatyarao was in jail, that his young son passes away. It is then, that Narayan takes care of his sister-in-law and looks after the family.
Tatyarao is married to Yamunabai, through whom he has a child, a baby boy. When he hears about the child’s demise, he is pained and it is said that it is during one of these days, he penned the poem “Ne Majshi Ne Parat Matrubhumila” which I have cited above.
The bond shared by this couple is itself divine. When Tatyarao was jailed, Yamunabai visits him. Tatyarao, at that time too, emphatically explains to her, that his service to the motherland comes first. The lady, not only understands, but also promises to help him in his fight.
Will cite an incident about the bonding between the two. When Tatyarao was in jail at Andaman, he was made to extract oil from the coconuts in a very traditional way, manually. He has to shred the coconuts with bare hands. And then using the manual machine, which he had to pull with all his might, (say so as he is very frail by then), extract oil. A work of bullocks is got done from humans. Truly inhumane! When Yamunabai comes to know of this, she is ready to go through the same pain. She herself everyday goes down on her knees and walks towards the Tulsi plant to water it and circumnavigate around it. Now imagine a lady (cannot imagine a man even) enduting this pain, just to be close to her husband. Hats off to the lady!
We can go and on and on like this for many a time. But let us remember that it is only through such dedication towards family, literature and country; that Savarkar is what Savarkar is today.
Let us all try to understand the dedication of Savarkar for the Motherland and try to imbibe it in our lives.
Let us all try to develop a scientific temperament that Savarkar had in his times.
Let us all devote our time to quality literature in whichever way we can – as a listener, reader or writer.
On his birthday, I bow to this great personality and pray to God to give us the intellect and emotions to understand him better and better!
Jai Hind!
Avatar – Kurm
The Avatars come to Earth to maintain a balance between Optimism and Pessimism, Action and Non- Action, Pravritti and Nivrutti. The world moves like a pendulum from one end of “Action – Pravrutti” to the other end of “Non Action – Nivrutti”. Mankind always loves extremes but does not understand that both are detrimental to its growth and development. A balance needs to struck between the two and the Avatar comes to strike that balance. An Avatar demonstrates how to lead a balanced life.
Today we talk about Kurm Avatar. The form of Tortoise. The story goes as such:
One day the Devas and the Asuras decide to come together to churn the ocean and obtain the nectar – an elixir of life. Asuras are humans like you and me. Just that they have decided to spend their life in Eat, Drink and Be Merry, lead a life involved only in sensual happiness. “असुषु इन्द्रियेषु रमन्ते इति असुराः। So they are not considered bad by humans.
Now the ocean is big body of water and we need a big churner so they approach the Mandrachal Parvat (mountain) to be their churner and the King of Snakes; Vasuki to be the thread bare to move the churner. They both readily agreed and so began the churning of the ocean.
The churning with Devas on one side and the Asuras on the other side was a sight to see. But the Mandrachal Parvat began sinking as the ocean was deep and the mountain had no base to rest upon. At that time it is said that Vishnu took the form of a tortoise (kurm) and gave a base to the mountain and took it upon it’s back with which the process of churning took place. Many a things came up during churning like Kalpvriksh, Laxmi, a bowl of poison and lastly the Nectar. Naturally there were discussions on who should have what.
Amongst the things that came out during the churning, the most wanted by both the parties was the Nectar and the most unwanted was the bowl of poison. Poison was taken by Bhagwaan Shiv and it is said that He drank it and stopped it in his neck, did not let it go down below His neck. So His neck turned blue and He is called Neelkanth.
Next was the discussion and fight for Nectar as the one who drinks it will become immortal. What is the secret to immortality? Something which Kurmavtaar has explained to Humanity.
Now let us look at it with a perspective that will help us understand better. A society is always made up of people with good thoughts and work and people with lots of wealth and a little lax about life. Now there is always a fight amongst the two about who is better? Both shun each other, one the other for their wealth and the other, the one for its intellect. Can they coexist? This is an eternal question which the Human race has tried to find an answer to. Here Kurmavtaar shows us the right direction.
When the fight reached its pinnacle and it started hurting the development of mankind, people from the above groups came together at the foot of the Mandrachal hills to find out a solution. At that time, the people who had developed and understood the importance of both intellect and wealth mediated and made both the groups understand the importance of each other. At that time different questions were discussed and the poison of accepting wealth as an important proposition of life was accepted by the group who considered it lowly. Thus balance was struck. The people realised the nectar of accepting both wealth and intellect as well as each other and living with each other.
The person / s who mediated showed great skills and adaptability during the discussion and demonstrated the skills of withdrawing and appearing at the right time. The way a tortoise does in different situations. So all of them started calling him / them “Kurm” (tortoise). We can find these descendants of Kurm, known as Kurmis, even found today in and around the state of Bihar. This is the Kurmavataar.
Bow down to this person / s on his / their birthday.
Let us all decide to strike a balance between wealth and intellect and accept them both as a part of peaceful living.
Let us all decide to be ready to drink the poison of our egos and wishes and whims for the betterment of Humanity as whole.
Let us all decide to be slow but firm like a “Kurm” as well as learn the art of adaptability in life.
Avatar – Buddha
Sangham Sharanam Gacchami!
Dhammam Sharanam Gacchami!
Buddham Sharanam Gacchami!
I bow down and go to the Sangh, Dhamm (Religion) and Buddha for enlightenment.
Buddha means the enlightened one.
Buddha means unattached.
Buddha means the great leader.
An individual who guides lacs and crores of people to lead a simple and an austere life should be accepted as an Incarnation of God. And Buddha is no different. From the days of His sermons till today, He guides Humanity onto the path of peace and tranquillity. And till date and many years in future will He be the guiding light for Humanity.
Son of Mayadevi, Gautama is said to become either a great King or a great Monk. The parents are worried and are said to have kept him in the four walls of the grand palace built for him. Got him married at the age of 16 and had a son Rahul. But Gautama is inclined towards finding the way or the path of renunciation from miseries. His chatioteer Channa might have led him to those famous night trips around the city where he is said to have discovered old age, disease and death. And so he leaves his wife, kid and palace to find the path of greater good.
Sometimes I wonder can a prince be kept away from the truth of life? Can any person be kept away from it rather? I feel that Gautama always knew all the misery and he was continuously trying to find a path to come out of all this. And one fine day, he decided that enough is enough and left the palace with due permission from his wife. How can a Mahatma who leads an austere life forget his duty towards his consort? And Yashoda must also have consented to let him go and find his goal. I say so, cause once when Gautama became Buddha and He visited His father’s kingdom, it was Yashoda who urges her son Rahul to take up the life of a monk with the Sangh and a few days later, with due discharge of duties and permission of elders, herself joins the Sangh.
Also those who have come to guide the world, can they be stuck in all the worldly matters? Is a question which I always have. He got married and fulfilled his duties towards his wife, son and parents and left to find his own self.
The tree, under which He is said to have attained enlightenment, the Bodhi tree, still stands there with it’s full grandeur as a witness to the divine phenomenon. People all over the world today visit the place, to find peace and solace.
His philosophy, “Sarvam Dukham, Sarvam Kshanikam” explains to us the basic principle of Science, that the world is continuously fleeting and changing. And it is fact that everyone needs to acknowledge that there needs to be rationality behind any and every thought one propagates.
He talks about ‘Shunyatva (nothingness)’, not even emotions. Was there any reason for an enlightened soul to live on Mother Earth. But He not only did live but went around meeting people across villages, janpadas and kingdoms. Its was selfless love in action. His action is not out of pitiness towards our lives, but out of pure selfless love towards us, his brethren. People today have belittled Him and His philosophy and mould it according to their whims and wishes.
Another question which people frequently ask; Why are the followers of Buddha, a proponent of Ahimsa (non – violence), fish eating or meat eating? Has He allowed this? Friends, let us go back to the era when He lived. To propagate His thought, he approached the intellectual class at that time. This class did not respond to His call. So He accepted whosoever responded to His call. He accepted them as they are and yes believed that slowly they would change their ways of eating. And change, they did. But if it is translated as meat eating is allowed by Buddha, then it’s our misconception about Him. He cannot be blamed for the misinterpretation.
I purposely began with Sangham Sharanam Gacchami as opposite to what people say. Cause I believe that even He, The Enlightened One, will agree with it. Go the the Sangh first. Follow your “Dharma” second. And then come to me.
Buddha, as history tell us, is the first to establish a Sangh, for propagation of religion. He gave a very well designed way to spread religion through the Sangh. India will always be indebted to Him for this. And as a result, we see that Buddhist thought and philosophy has not only spread all over Asia, but also dominates the thinking process of Asia in a way.
On His Birthday, bow down to Him and may we be blessed to be accepted in the Sangh, He established.
Let us all set upon the path to find ourselves, answer our questions and attain Enlightenment
Let us all learn to understand in the right perspective, the work of the Buddhavtar.
Let us all together wake up and arise and keep on working for the upliftment of the Human race as a whole.
Buddham Sharanam Gacchami.
Avatar – Narsimha Jayanti
Today is the Vaishakh Sud Chaturdashi, Narsimha Jayanti.
The day Hiranyakashyap was killed by the Avatar of Vishnu known as Narsimha, half lion, half man.
The day Prahlad was saved from the wrong ways of his father.
The day people realised the strength within them and banished / killed an autocratic King.
Let us take ourselves back to a time, more than 15000, maybe 17000 years back, (a time I leave upto historians and archaeologists to decide) when Man had learnt agriculture and started settling down. The Varah Avtaar had started a civilisation. The Avtaar of Vishnu had just killed Hiranyaksh (the one whose eyes see Gold everywhere and in every thing). People were moving from an only materialistic outlook to a spiritual one. From looking outside to looking inside. For that they needed to settle down, and not move from one place to another like nomads in search of food. Vishnu, the Operator, had taught his people to sow and cultivate and this led to their settling down at a place. Once the problem of basic necessities was solved, people started looking inwards. Now it is very easy to write the whole transformation in a few sentences, but it must have taken years of toil to do this. Imagine how much time we take when we want to change one habit! But, the road to civilisation is always filled with obstacles.
There were many people who just loved the life of a Nomad and just loved accumulating wealth. Their leader at that time was Hiranyakashyap, the brother of Hiranyaksh. He did not believe in the ways of Vishnu and did not want a civilisation to thrive. He believed that action is the highest good and sitting back, looking inside oneself, would make people, lazy and overdependent on a God who is never seen nor heard. So he simply didn’t believe in God and tormented and tortured people who believed. He had built his empire on the basis of Action, Action and only Action to earn Gold, Gold and only Gold.
Many people despised him and his ways but did not have the courage and strength to fight Hiranyakashyap. Such people like Hiranyakashyap have been called “Rakshas”, the one who believes that one can take care of oneself. They did not have any horns on their head or have any long teeth like the ones shown in serials or as articulated in books and by “kathakaars”. They were normal people like you and me, dressed in their best attire and ornaments. Only difference was they believed only in today and worked for today. They did not believe in the authority of the Vedas. They did not believe in Life after Death. They believed in “Aham Rakshyami” ( I can take care of myself)
But Nature has its own ways.
Hiranyakashyap had a son “Prahlad”. He was an ardent devotee of Shree Vishnu. He believed in civilisation and used to go house to house to spread His thought. He was a small kid so used to share his thoughts with his friends. Some elders found this irritating so they complained to Hiranyakashyap.
The King tried many methods of changing Prahlad’s way of thinking. The first being through education. He sent Prahlad to the best teachers in town. Prahlad would question and counter question them, leading to the other kids gathering around Him and slowly they started doing what Prahlad said. The teachers tried to drive sense in this boy! But he was very firm with his thoughts. The kids in turn would go home and share these thoughts with their parents. The thoughts spread like wild fire and slowly the tide started changing. The believers of Vishnu started gaining strength. Now all this must have taken some years to happen. At last the teachers became completely frustrated and sent back Prahlad to Hiranyakashyap citing their inabilities to teach him.This enraged Hiranyakashyap.
It was like the whole world listened to him and did his biding, except his son. He tried various methods to kill him. Throwing him down a cliff and setting the most poisonous of the snakes onto him. He also planned to get Him killed by intoxicating an elephant, which failed. The people who were given the tasks loved Prahlad so much that they either refrained from performing the tasks or went underground to escape the wrath of Hiranyakashyap. This torture by Hiranyakashyap slowly started increasing the already growing love, of the people, for Prahlad. Cause even in all difficulties Prahlad stood firm in his belief. The anger against Hiranyakashyap started brewing inside the hearts of the people.
The torment reached its pinnacle when Hiranyakashyap with his sister Holika planned to burn Prahlad to ashes on a pyre. It is said that Holika had some kind of technology (maybe what the fire fighters wear today, a coat of asbestos which does not burn) with which she could stay alive in fire and not get burnt. They both decided to make a spectacle of this. So, in midst of the town, Prahlad was asked to sit on the lap of Holika on a wooden pyre and the pyre was lit. But the winds that day were so forceful that the coat which Holika wore to save herself from fire, blew off and killed her before she could even get Prahlad on her lap. The people rejoiced. But the anger witihin had reached its peak.
One day, Hiranyakshyap was sitting in his palace courtyard with Prahlad bound in chains. The people had gathered at the palace. He shouted at Prahlad to show him his God. Prahlad said that He is everywhere. Hiranyakashyap took his mace in hand and pointing to the people standing there asked whether God existed in those people who stood in front of him like dead pillars? And Prahlad replied in positive. This enraged Hiranyakashyap who lifted his mace to kill Prahlad. But this time, the people had seen and heard enough. They just lost all their senses and in a bid to save Prahlad, pounced upon Hiranyakashyap and killed him. The “nar” (people) had turned to “simha” (lion). Thus Narsimha was born.
After killing Hiranyakashyap, they just went on a rampage. Prahlad approached them and asked them to come back to their senses. People realised that it was only Hiranyakashyap who was to be blamed and not others, accepted their folly and apologised. They lifted Prahlad on their shoulders and crowned him their King. And they celebrated the Day with colours and ashes left from the pyre lit to kill Prahlad. From that day, Holi is lit to remember the trouncing of evil and the advent of the good.
Let us all awaken the lion within us and fight to defend ourselves, our country, our Dharma.
Let us all understand the importance of the strength within us and learn to grow it day by day.
Let us all become the hidden Narsimhas and devour the bad found in the society with our sharp minds (claws) and establish a Dharm Rajya in our country.
Avatar – Parshuram Jayanti
अग्रत: चतुरो वेदा: पृष्ठत: सशरं धनु: ।
इदं ब्राह्मं इदं क्षात्रं शापादपि शरादपि ।।
Meaning : Parshuram who is well-versed with the four Vedas and sports the bow and arrow upon his back, that is the one who has the radiance of both the Brahman and the Kshatriya, will destroy the evil doers either with a curse or with an arrow.
Today we talk about his birth. There is a long history about his birth and many people have this question that why born a Brahmin did he hold weapons? Why did he have the qualities of Kshatriya (warriors) being from a class of intellectuals (Brahmins).
We begin this story with Parshuram’s Grandfather Rishi RUCHIK. During his times the warrior class (Kshatriyas) had both wealth and power. They had become very arrogant and led a money – centered life and they gave these Rishis a hell of a time. Ruchik felt very bad about this and felt that the Brahmins need to make these Kshatriyas understand the importance of a God-centered life. So he started moving around amongst the masses educating them about the same. He was very fearless in his approach and this earned him a lot of respect. While moving around the Aryavrat he reached Rishi Vishwamitra’s Ashram. There he met Satyavati, daughter of a powerful king – Gadhiraj. They both met and felt the need to get married.
Now Gadhiraj even though a Kshatriya had lots of respect for Rishi’s and was delighted when he came to know that Rishi Ruchik wanted to marry his daughter. And Ruchik too readily agreed to this as he felt this may lead to smothering of his work of making the other Kshatriyas understand the importance of God centric life.
Now as their family life progressed, Rishi Ruchik got more and more engrossed with his work so Satyavati one day told him that she wanted a son. It is said that Rishi Ruchik prepared a potion with magical powers to give the potion born kid the characteristics of a Brahmin and asked Satyavati to drink it. Satyavati kept it aside saying she will drink it when she will need the son. A few days passed and she again told Rishi Ruchi that as I dont have a son so I dont have a brother. So Rishi Ruchi made a potion for Satyavati’s mother whic would give the option born child the characteristics of a Kshatriya.
Now as destiny would have it, Satyavati took both the options to her mother and told her the whole story. The mother felt that the potion made for Satyavati would be stronger as Rishi Ruchik would certainly want his son to be better and stronger. So she coaxed Satyavati to exchange the potions and they did. They drank their potions.
Satyvati was a very transparent and noble lady.She came and told Rishi Ruchik the whole episode to which the Rishi replied that she will now have a son with Kshatriya qualities.
Satyavati realised he mistake and begged of Rishi Ruchik for forgiveness. And asked to transfer those characteristics into her grandson and not her son. The simple logic was that she believed that she is not going to live that long to see her grandson. And so was born Jamadagni, her son. He is well known for his anger but lived a Rishi’s life.
And this Jamadgni is the father of Parshuram.
So goes this story. Now people might doubt the story and ask intriguing questions too about the same. But I would just point out that today the spread at which genetical science is developing something liked what is told above in the story might be possible in next few decades. We need to learn more about Gene’s, Genetical Sciences and Genetical Engineering. Maybe Rishi Richik did study the Human Genime and knew how to handle it with care.
Let us remember that all this powers with God in center are very beneficial to the society but if they fall in wrong hands can be very evil. And then to destroy such an evil, an avatar called Parshuram will have to take birth.
There are still many stories surrounding Parshuram regarding beheading of his mother and his cleansing of the Kshatriya Clan 21 times. But leave it for next time.
On this day of His birth, we not only bow down to the Great Parshuram but also need to acknowledge the work done by His ancestors in the upliftment of the society.
Let us all pledge to study these characters in the right way so that the Science hidden behind the stories is revealed to us and we understand them better.
Let Bhagwan Parshuram deliver us all from untruth and lead us to truth.
PS : Those who would love to know the details can read the discourses of Param Pujaniya Pandurang Shashtriji Athavale on Avatar in his book “Dashavataar” based on which my thinking and this blog has taken shape.
Link to my old blog on Parshuramavtaar : https://ameetkothari.wordpress.com/2020/04/25/parshuramavtaar/
Akshay Tritiya – An auspicious day
One of the 3 and half Mahurats (auspicious time)…
A day when Treta Yug began…
A day when Bhagwaan Rishabhdev broke His year long fast by drinking sugarcane juice through his cupped hands (Varshi Tap Paarna)…
The day when Bhagwaan Vyas started dictating Mahabharat to Bhagwaan Ganesha… day when farmers in India start the farming work for the monsoon season by decorating their cattle and worshipping their fields (Bhoomi Pujan)…
A day when Maa Ganga descended on Mother Earth…
The day when Lord Parshuram was born…
At the beginning, I mentioned that its is one of the 3 and half mahurats, auspicious time to begin anything new. Akshay Tritaya alongwith Dusshara, Gudhi Padwa and Kartik Poornima (half day) are considered as the most auspicious days to begin a new venture. Akshay Tritiya day falls on the 3rd day of the bright half (shukla paksha) of Vaishakha of the lunar month. (It falls in later half of April or first half of may according to western calendar). The whole day is a day to acquire wisdom, think and begin anew.
“Akshay’ means one which never diminishes. Tritiya means the third day. So it is believed that anything that we acquire or begin on this day, will never be diminished.
It is also considered as the birthday of Goddess Annapurna (the Goddess of Food). She too is worshipped today.
The Bengalis worship Lord Ganesha and Laxmiji and begin their new audit year, this day. It is called “Halkhata” in the local language.
Bhagwaan Rishabhdev, the first Tirthankar of the Jains, broke his fast on this day. A year long fast! I always wondered how they could do it. But this is “Tap”, ( the readiness to bear both pain and happiness, not to be delighted in one’s happiness and not to be bogged down in distress). Also, they (24 Tirthankara’s) in their pursuit of finding the truth about oneself, sometimes got lost in themselves and forgot to partake food. The fire within, for this pursuit was so hot that it engulfed all other worldly desires. This pursuit of truth has always been, is and will always be “Akshay”.
Mahabharat, the great epic, was started to be written today. It has covered all relations and all topics under the Sun. There is an episode before the Mahabharata was started to be written. When Bhagwaan Vyas asked Ganesha, the God of wisdom, to write his dictation, Ganesha said that it would be possible only on one condition that Vyas would not stop once he starts dictating. Bhagwaan Vyas readily agreed and put forth his condition that Ganesha will understand what is being told and then write it down. And so it is said that Vyas would speak a few sentences which were difficult to interpret for Ganesha and would take a break. The truthulness behind the episode is difficult to be adjudged, but this conveys to us the greatness of Bhagwaan Vyas. The Mahabharat in it’s true sense is a book of undiminished “akshay” wisdom.
Mother Ganga descending upon the earth is one of the most beautiful glacial phenomenon, an human can envisage and see happening in his own lifetime. Bhagirath, the great King, was able to do this. It’s an engineering marvel. Even today, people go upto ‘Gomukh’, the caves from where Ganga appears, but the exact place of Her origin is still unknown. The flow of Ganga is continuous and divine. The divinity within Her waters is something which will never be diminished “Akshay”.
I have decided to write on Bhagwaan Parshuram, the 6th incarnate of Lord Vishnu, today in my series on Avataar. But later in the day.
On this most auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya, I wish all my readers a very Happy Akshay Tritiya.
May Goddess Annapurna bless every field with lots of crops and every kitchen with unlimited and delicious meals.
May Bhagwaan Rishabhdev bless us all with the zeal and enthusiasm in our unending pursuit of eternal truth.
May Bhagwan Vyas and Ganeshji bless everyone with undiminishing wisdom.
May the ever flowing Ganga cleanse our bodies and minds and fill them with divine thoughts.
BUDDHA SMILES AGAIN…
We know Pokhran-II was the series of five nuclear bomb test explosions conducted by India at the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range in May 1998.It was the second Indian nuclear test; the first test, code-named Smiling Buddha, was conducted in May 1974.
Pokhran-II consisted of five detonations, of which the first was a fusion bomb and the remaining four were fission bombs. These nuclear tests resulted in a variety of sanctions against India by a number of major states, including Japan and the United States.
On 11 May 1998, Operation Shakti (Pokhran-II) was initiated with the detonation of one fusion and two fission bombs. On 13 May 1998, two additional fission devices were detonated, and the Indian government led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee shortly convened a press conference to declare India a full-fledged nuclear state.
Would surely recall the contribution of the great son of India, renowned scientist and Bharat Ratna President A P J Abdul Kalam and the then Defence Minister, George Fernandes, too.
The young readers of today would surely love to know how the global detective USA was tricked into not knowing about the tests and how they were conducted. They can watch the movie “Parmaanu” to understand the nitty gritties of the same.
Wishing you all a very Happy National Technology Day.
Maharana Pratap (Reblog with changes)
He stayed in Jungles,
Slept on floor, ate simple food
To get Mewad back…
Rana Pratap fought Akbar and his army and built his own army from the tribals, “Bhils”, whom he met in the Aravalli ranges, when his relatives and the other Rajput Kings did not help him.
The Charan Durshaji Aadha has written 72 Duha’s (verses) on the greatness of Rana Pratap and has sung them in presence of Akbar, which everyone needs to read.
Will share a few of them here for you all to read and understand them…
अलख धणी आदेश, धरमाधार दया निधे,
बरणो सुजस बेस, पालक धरम प्रतापरो. (१)
गिर उंचो गिरनार, आबु गिर ओछो नही ;
अकबर अघ अंबार, पुण्य अंबार प्रतापसीं. (२)
वुहा वडेरा वाट, वाट तिकण वेहणो विसद ;
खाग, त्याग, खत्र वाट, पाले राण प्रतापसीं. (३)
अकबर गर्व न आण, हिन्दु सब चाकर हुआ ;
दिठो कोय दहिवाण, करतो लटकां कठहडे. (४)
मन अकबर मजबूत, फुट हिन्दुआ बेफिकर ;
काफर कोम कपूत, पकडो राण प्रतापसीं. (५)
अकबर किना याद, हिन्दु नॄप हाजर हुआ ;
मेद पाट मरजाद, पोहो न आव्यो प्रतापसीं. (६)
मलेच्छां आगळ माथ, नमे नही नर नाथरो,
सो करतब समराथ, पाले राण प्रतापसी. (७)
कलजुग चले न कार, अकबर मन आंजस युंही ;
सतजुग सम संसार, प्रगट राण प्रतापसीं. (८)
कदे न नमावे कंध, अकबर ढिग आवेने ओ ;
सुरज वंश संबंध, पाले राण प्रतापसी. (९)
चितवे चित चितोड, चित चिंता चिता जले ;
मेवाडो जग मोड, पुण्य घन प्रतापसीं. (१०)
Totally there are 76 verses which the Charan, without any fear, has sung them in from of Akbar.
Will urge all my readers to find these verses and learn and appreciate the poetry of the Charan. We come to know the true history of our great Kings and our ancestors.
Rana Pratap had defeated Akbar’s forces many a times but it is not known to us as the history we study does not tell us. Historians call Akbar the Great and as a saviour of all, then why did Rana have to live in the jungles of Aravalli? Had he gone there for a picnic? Modern history is quiet about this. Why? Can we not tell the truth about Maharana Pratap and stop glorifying the Moghuls? The FACT is that Rana had taken a pledge to live in the jungles and sleep on the floor and eat simple food till He drives Akbar and his forces out of India.
And our modern day historians, the Nehruvians and the Communists tell us that we have to keep some portions of history out of reach of common man to stop the hatred spreading between two communities. Nonsense, does fighting for Motherland lead to hatred? Does fighting for ones freedom lead to hatred? Does not accepting slavery of the so called Masters lead to hatred? But they will follow their own set agenda.
So readers we need to find our history on our own. And we all will learn from history. Maharana Pratap has never hated anyone but at the same time not spared anyone who comes in between him and his freedom, him and his motherland. And no thinking and rational person would deny that.
Today on the birthday of Maharana Pratap, I bow down before him that we Hindus survived because of him and many great kings like who did not get into serving their masters over their Motherland.
Jay Mewad!!!
Jay Eklingji!!!
Har Har Mahadev!!!
Mother’s Day
Today will share a few poems written by some of the poets about Mothers.
Mother o’ Mine
If I were hanged on the highest hill,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
I know whose love would follow me still,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
If I were drowned in the deepest sea,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
I know whose tears would come down to me,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
If I were damned of body and soul,
I know whose prayers would make me whole,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
– Rudyard Kipling.
Gods Special Creation
The hand that rocks the cradle
also makes the house a home.
It is the prayers of the mother
that keeps the family strong.
Mother rises early in the morning
and bathes her day in prayer.
She talks to God about her family
and places them in His care.
Mother communicates her love
in a thousand different ways.
When there’s a need, she is there,
whether it is night or day.
Mother seasons life with love
and gives so much of herself.
God placed in her the best He had
and made her unlike anyone else.
When challenges come our way
and when trials block our view,
Mother kneels down beside her bed
and prays the family through.
Mother is God’s special creation.
She is a light shining in the dark,
illuminating the path for her family
and pointing them toward God.
– Lenora McWhorter
Thank You MOM
You tell me that you love me when I don’t love myself.
You’re the one who holds my hand when I need the most help.
You smile when you’re sad to make me smile too.
You make my life so much better by everything you do.
The first time you held me, I knew I was safe.
Being in your arms is still my favorite place.
Every second of my life I know that I will be loved,
Because God sent his most loving angel from above.
Your heart is so pure, your smile is so genuine.
You taught me how to love and how to be a gentleman.
You’re the only girl in the world that I will ever need.
Thank you for teaching me how to love and believe.
You make my life so easy by making your life tough.
I could give you the world for that, but that wouldn’t be enough.
Every day of my life I try to be like you,
Because the world would be a better place with someone else like you.
– Miller Motla
Friends I reiterate myself that Everyday is a Mother’s Day.
Wishing all the mothers a very Happy Mother’s Day
Mahaprabuji Pragatya Din
Proponent of the Shuddhadvaita (Pure Nondualism).
Founder of the Pushtimarg.
Devotional Philosopher.
One of the five main acharyas in India, the other being Aadi Shankaracharya, Madhvacharya, Nimbakacharya and Ramanujacharya.
Vallabha means “dear one“.
Born today, that is the 11th day of the dark half of lunar month of Chaitra at Champaranya.
Son of Illamma and Lakshman Bhatta.
People say that His was a still birth so his parents left Him under a tree wrapped in white clothes. Later Shree Krishna appeared in their dreams to tell them that it is He who has arrived in this form and is well alive. The bewildered parents rushed back to the place to find the kid alive.
Studied Vedas at a very young age and earned the title of “Baal Saraswati“. Participated in many debates and earned the titles of “Acharya” and “Jagadguru” at the age of 12.
Later travelled throughout India, not once, not twice but thrice to explain Krishna bhakti and spread Vaishnavism.
He gave discourses on Bhagwat at 84 different places known as “Baithakji” (seats of learning) today. These “Baithakji’s” still have a relevance for all the practising Vaishnavas even today and a visit to any Baithakji is a divine experience. Every Vaishnava wishes to visit all the 84 places once in his life time.
Later, in Gokul he initiated his first disciple and laid the foundations of what we know today as Pushtimarg (Path of Grace). He made the first Vaishnava by giving / teaching him the important “Brahma Sambandh” (Realisation of a person’s relation with the Almighty).
He gave the mantra, “Shree Krishna Sharanam Mamah” (श्री कृष्ण शरणं ममः) to Surdasji and initiated him to the Vaishnavaite fold. We all know Surdas through his devotional songs which he has sung for the Lord Incarnate. The mantra itself explains complete devotion to Lord Krishna.
“SHARANAM” means to offer oneself to the wish of God. To believe that it is only Krishna who can take care of oneself. To believe that He operates our life and full submit oneself to Him and become His instrument.
He took Samaadhi at a very young age of 52 into the waters of the Ganges at Kashi.
His work “Madhurashtakam” is a lucid yet romantic version for Shrinathji, the deity at Nathdwara. In it, He glorifies Shrinathji and all His activities, ending every verse with the line “Madhuradhipate Akhilam Madhuram” (every act of the Lord is madhur). Madhur as a noun means sweet, tender, full; as an adjective means melodious, beautiful, sweet.
Many of His works are still being read and His followers are still trying to understand what the Acharya has written.
He talks about God being in the form of a child. He has hence asked Vaishnavas to worship the “Baal Krishna” (Krishna in child form). And treat the Lord as a child. As we fulfill all the wishes of the children, we should fulfill all the wishes of the Lord. The devotees express their love for the Lord by acts of giving Him a bath and feeding Him and making Him sleep. The tradition of 8 Darshans, from Mangala (Rising) to Shayan (Sleeping) are started by Vallabhacharyaji. The significance of these 8 darshans is that the Lord is just like us. He is no different and so we need not be afraid of Him, rather as He is a child, shower Him with all the love we can.Such a personality is called the Mahaprabhu.
Our seer’s called him so meaning He is the greatest amongst the Gods. Revered Pandurang Shastriji Athavale explains it in his own simple way that “Jo Bhagwaan ko milne bulaaye aur Bhagwaan ko aana pade, aise jo log hain unhe Mahaprabhu kehte hain”, (the Lord upon being called, is compelled to come to meet, such is a Mahaprabhu)
On this day of Varuthini Ekadashi, I bow down to this anshavataar and during these days hope that we all will chant the mantra he gave to this world “Shree Krishna Sharanam Mamah”.
A lady called Golda…
Today I write about one of my favourite political characters Golda Meir, the only female Prime Minister of the Holy land of Israel.
A devout Jew
A committed Nationalist
A strong leader
The iron lady of Israeli Politics
She is often portrayed as the “strong-willed, straight-talking, grey-bunned grandmother of the Jewish people.”
Golda was born today, in 1898, in Kyiv, Russia Kingdom (present day Ukraine). Her father Moshe Mabovitch left to find work in New York Coty in 1903. In his absence, the rest of the family moved to Pinsk to join her mother’s family. In 1905, Moshe moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in search of higher-paying work, and found employment in the workshops of the local local railroad yard. The following year, he had saved up enough money to bring his family to the United States.
Golda’s mother Blume Mabovitch ran a grocery store on Milwaukee’s north side, where by the age of eight Golda had been put in charge of watching the store when her mother went to the market for supplies. Golda attended the Fourth Street Grade School (now Golda Meir School) from 1906 to 1912. A leader early on, she organized a fundraiser to pay for her classmates’ textbooks. After forming the American Young Sisters Society, she rented a hall and scheduled a public meeting for the event.
At 14, Golda studied and worked part time too. Her mother wanted her to get married but she declined. She bought a train ticket of train to Denver and went to live with her married sister, Sheyna, whom she was very close too. Here she was exposed to the Zionist philosophy, literature, woman suffrage, trade unionism and many more things.
In Denver, she also met Morris Meyerson, a sign painter, whom she later married on December 24, 1917.
When Golda and Morris married in 1917, settling in Palestine was her precondition for the marriage. So they moved to Palestine, after the First World War. In Palestine, Meir and her husband joined a kibbutz. Their first application to kibbutz Merhavia in the Jezreel Valley was rejected, but later they were accepted. Her duties included picking almonds, planting trees, working in the chicken coops, and running the kitchen. Recognizing her leadership abilities, the kibbutz chose her as its representative to the Histadrut, the General Federation of Labour.
In 1924, the couple left the kibbutz and lived briefly in Tel Aviv before settling in Jerusalem. There they had two children, a son Menachem (1924) and a daughter Sarah (1926)
In 1928, Meir was elected secretary of Moetzet HaPoalot (Working Women’s Council), which required her to spend two years (1932–34) as an emissary in the United States. The children went with her, but Morris stayed in Jerusalem. Morris and Golda grew apart, but never divorced
In 1934, when Meir returned from the United States, she joined the Executive Committee of the Histadrut and moved up the ranks to become the head of its Political Department. This appointment was important training for her future role in Israeli leadership.
The next two events of her life fill each woman on Mother Earth with pride and made the world realise the potential of Golda. One was her fundraising trip to America and second was her trip to Amman, Jordan.
In January 1948, the treasurer of the Jewish Agency was convinced that Israel would not be able to raise more than seven to eight million dollars from the American Jewish community. Golda traveled to the United States, and she raised $50,000,000, which was used to purchase arms in Europe for the young country. Israel’s first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion wrote that Golda’s role as the “Jewish woman who got the money which made the state possible” would go down one day in the history books
On May 10, 1948, four days before the official establishment of Israel, Golda traveled to Amman, disguised as an Arab woman, for a secret meeting with King Abdullah I of Transjordan, at which she urged him not to join the other Arab countries in attacking the Jews. Abdullah asked her not to hurry to proclaim a state. To which Golda replied: “We’ve been waiting for 2,000 years. Is that hurrying?”
Can go on and on and on writing about Golda about She became the PM, how she became Golda Meir from Golda Meyerson, what work she did for Israel. And many more things. But this blog has become to long and I leave those memories from history for some other time.
Happy Birthday Golda!!!
May 1st (Reblog with changes)
1st May…
Happy May Day!
Happy Workers Day!
Happy Maharashtra Day!
Many of you might have felt that why begin with wishes for May Day first and Maharashtra Day the last! Cause that answer lies in its history.
My kid that day morning asked me, “Pappa what is the importance of this day? Why is it celebrated as international workers day and Maharashtra day?”
An unexpected question from a 10 year old made me think. I did explain to him about the socialist revolution and their fight for the cause of workers. A lot of workers blood was shed while fighting for their rights. How 1 May was chosen to be International Workers’ Day to commemorate the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago. In that year beginning on 1 May, there was a general strike for the eight hour work day. On 4 May, the police acted to disperse a public assembly in support of the strike when an unidentified person threw a bomb. The police responded by firing on the workers. The event lead to the death of eight and injury of sixty police officers as well as an unknown number of civilian killed or wounded. Hundreds of labour leaders and sympathizers were later rounded-up and four were executed by hanging, after a trial that was seen as a miscarriage of justice.
And also how India after independence was divided into linguistic states. How Maharashtra and Gujarat were born! How there was bloodshed for the same! Some politicians just for their own selfish motives dividing India on basis of language. India after being divided on basis of caste, class, kingdoms (small and large); now was Her turn to be divided on basis of language. The founding fathers of India never have envisaged India divided on language and history will never forgive the leaders who fought for such petty political gains. Yet we citizens accept this division and will wish each other Jay Maharashtra and Jay Gujarat as if we are different. It is a day to think that are we different? Aren’t we all Indians? Having an identity with language is not a problem, but dividing people on basis of language is. Indians need to get out of this mentality, respect each other’s language and rise above the narrow minded borders that have been created. Yes let the borders exist for administration and better working of a country and now after all the carnage lectures accept these borders. As trying to draw new borders will come up with new problems.
While explaining all this I was lead to think that, is this the only reason to celebrate / commemorate 1st May? Or is there some other reason too? Can our human history be so narrow-minded? So took to the internet to find my answers. And I was proved right. History is always broad minded, not like humans who write it.
Sharing a few excerpts of what I found on the internet…
“The earliest May Day celebrations appeared with the Floralia, festival of Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, held on April 27 during the Roman Republic era, and with theWalpurgis Night celebrations of the Germanic countries.
The day was a traditional summer holiday in many European pagan cultures.
While February 1 was the first day of spring, May 1 was the first day of summer; hence, the summer solstice on June 25 (now June 21) wasMidsummer.
As Europe became Christianised, the pagan holidays lost their religious character and May Day changed into a popular secular celebration.
A significant celebration of May Day occurs in Germany where it is one of several days on which St. Walburga, credited with bringing Christianity to Germany, is celebrated.
The secular versions of May Day, observed in Europe and North America, may be best known for their traditions of dancing around the may pole and crowning the Queen of May.
Fading in popularity since the late 20th century is the giving of “May baskets,” small baskets of sweets or flowers, usually left anonymously on neighbours’ doorsteps”.
(Source – Wikipedia).
Humans have been naturalists from the very beginning. The last few hundred years have made them more aggressive towards nature and environment. Human wants to control nature. But the last 14 months have proved otherwise. Let us accept our limitations and not try to ride nature. So, on this very day, let us all pledge to take care of our environment and love the nature.
Let’s save Mother Earth not out of necessity but love for her.
She is our mother and takes care of Her Children without any expectations.
Let us coexist and thrive to achieve what the Creator has made us for.
Maruti – (Reblog)
Last 4 years the one character whom I am continuously writing upon is Hanuman, Maruti.
An embodiment of strength and valour
An epitome of devotion and dedication
An unbiased and transparent intellectual
An observant messenger and conveyor
Bow down to such a servant of Ram – Shree Hanuman.
Today on His Birthday, am at a loss of words and thoughts when I realise that I need to imbibe in my life what I write about Shree Hanuman. And so am just sharing the links to my last 4 blogs on Maruti. Would request my readers to go through them again and together let’s pray to Ram to help us imbibe the qualities of Hanuman discussed in them, into our lives.
Jay Hanuman
Jay Shree Ram…
https://ameetkothari.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/maruti/?preview=true
https://ameetkothari.wordpress.com/2018/03/31/maruti-2/?preview=true
https://ameetkothari.wordpress.com/2019/04/19/maruti-3-good-friday/
Mahaveer Janma Kalyanak (Reblog)
The one who is brave and kills is called a Veer
But the one who is brave, can kill yet forgives is Mahaveer.
I wish all my readers a very Happy Mahaveer Jayanti.
Mahaveer
– an apostle of Non Violence (Ahimsa)
– an apostle of Non attachment (Aparigraha)
– an apostle of Non stealing (Asteya)
– a proponent of Truthfulness (Satya)
– a proponent of Chastity (Brahmacharya)
A great soul born to King Siddhartha and Queen Trishaladevi of the Ikshvaku dynasty. He was called Vardhamaan, as his birth brought lots of wealth and name to his father’s kingdom.
He lived a prince’s life. He married Yashodhara and had a daughter from her, Priyadrashana.
He renounced life at an early age of around 30 and left all the attachments, even clothes. It is said that he took just a piece of cloth on renunciation and that too during the journey through the woods tore of and was entangled in the thorny bushes. He became “Digambara” (one whose clothes are the directions of the sky).
He performed severe penance for 12 years and attained Keval Gnan (blissful knowledge) before he gave his first Deshna. In total it is said that he gave total 55 pravachans in his life as an ascetic and He travelled the breadth and width of India. His final teachings (sermons given on the last 6 days of his life) are still studied by the munis of the Jain order.
At the age of 72, he attained Nirvana (liberation of the soul from the law of karma and life after death). A Jal Mandir exists even today in Pawapuri, in Bihar where he attained Nirvana. It is a very revered place of pilgrimage for Jains.
Let us also understand that Mahaveer did not start the Jain Dharma. He just carry forward the legacy of the 23 Teerthankara’s before him, from Adinath also known as Rishabhdev to Parshvanath. But it seems that He reached out to the masses and Jain thought came to be established as a Dharma.
Mahaveer’ s legacy was carried forward by the word of mouth by his 11 disciples called the Gandhara’s. They spread His thought far and wide. Many of His works are lost and a few which remain are a part of the Jain Agamas, which were compiled later.
It is difficult to write everything all that Bhagwaan Mahaveer did in his life in a single blog, so today will just bow down before Him.
Jainam Jayati Shashanam.
World Book Day
Today is World Book Day. The books shape us and our thinking. They help us grow and learn.
First and foremost let me state emphatically that am an avid reader. Was exposed to books at a very small age as was a loner in my childhood days. Loved to live with myself and so my best friends at that time were books. Read a lot of Champak and Chandamama, which people of my genre will recall. The early 80’s were the beginning of Tinkle and Amar Chitra Katha for me. Shikari Sambhu was my favourite at that time. So was Supandi. The characters portrayed by Amar Chitra Katha were the guiding force at that time. I still remember reading Sons of the Pandavas with Abhimanyu and Ghatotkacha covered in them. There were small libraries being run at every nook and corner of the main roads of Mumbai and I very vividly remember kids thronging them to borrow books.
I frequently visited the school library after Standard 6th. Our School Librarian was very helpful. Our library had a vast collection of books covering topics that my generation would need, from Study books to novels to fiction to mythology and philosophy. Out teachers used to coax us to read a book a week and I am grateful to them. The books I read in those years includes the Hardy boys, Famous Five, Agatha Christie and Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Lest I forget I should also mention Noddy, which we read in School in our library period in Standard 3. The Adventures of Tintin also played a very important part in my life. Still recall Snowy, his dog, the absent minded Professor Calculas, the twin policemen Thompson and Thomson and the bold and courageous Captain Haddock and his phrases like Ten Thousand Thundering Typhoons and Blistering Barnacles.
As age passed by I was more inclined towards history. Reading Indian History of Indian Independence and learning from the people who fought for our independence is what attracted me the most. Subhashchandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad, Vasudeo Balwant Phadke, Chaphekar brothers, Lokmanya Tilak, Veer Savarkar, Senapati Bapat, Sardar Patel, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan and Mahatma Gandhi are still the bright lights of my life. Very little was available about the revolutionaries then or maybe I knew little but tried and still try to gather from wherever and whomsoever I could and read.
Then when I came in contact with Swadhyay, my reading took another turn. Took to reading philosophy and trying to understand the meaning of life. It attracted me the most as the way Dadaji (Pandurang Shashtriji Athavale) expounds the concepts of Vedas and Upanishads logically and based on reason. The best thing about Him is that He made me learn to look at both the sides of the coin. That slowly broadened my way of looking at the world. And through His lectures was tempted to read more and more books related to History, Philosophy and Psychology and different studies. And so it continues till today.
Today am making a list of books which I have read. The list is quite huge but am sharing the books which made impressions on my life… Am just sharing their titles with you all..
1. Geetamritam – A treatise on the Shreemad Bhagwadgeeta by Pandurang Shashtriji Athavale
1.a. Bilvapatra, Pandurangashtakam, Madhurashtakam, Shree Krishnashtakam, Homage to Saints Part 1/2, Shree Krishna Jeevan Darshan, Valmiki Ramayan Darshan, Rishi Smaran, Dashavataar, Divine manifestations of Lord Shiva, Murtipuja, Ganga Lahiri, Vedsaarshivastav, Anandlahiri, Thoughts on Ancient Indian Heritage, Geeta Simhaavalokan, Sanskruti Pujan – all by Pandurang Shashtriji Athavale.
2. Geeta Pravachane – Shri Vinoba Bhave
3. Geeta Rahasya – Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak
3.a. Orion, The Arctic Home of the Vedas – Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak
4. Raj Yoga and Bhakti Yoga – Swami Vivekanand
5. Manache Shlok – Swami Ramdas
6. Future Shock, Paradigm Shift, The Third Wave – Allwyn Toffler
7. The Tao of Physics – Fritjof Capra
8. Raja Shivchhatrapati – Lokshahir Babasaheb Purandare
9. Shakuntaleya Bharat – Babubhai Vaidya
10. Gujarat no Nath, Patan ni Prabhuta, Jay Somnath, Prithvi Vallabh, Krishnaavtaar Vol 1–8, Bhagna Paduka, Lopamudra, Lomharshini, Bhagwaan Parshuraam – Kanhaiyalal Munshi
11. Parth ne kaho chadhave baan – Pannalal Patel
12. 1857- the first war of Independence, Mazzini, Majhi Janmathep, 6 golden pages of Indian History, Hindu Rashtra – Swatantryaveer Savarkar
13. Yugandhar, Mrityunjay, Chaava – Shivaji Sawant
14. Yayati – V.S.Khandekar
15. Shreeman Yogi – Ranjeet Desai
16. Das Dongari Rahato – G.N.Dandekar
17. Bhedile Suryamandala – Ravindra Bhatt
18. The Fourth Way – Pyotr Ouspenskii (based on lectures by Gurdjieff)
19. The Prophet – Khalil Gibran
20. Emotional Intelligence – Daniel Goleman
21. Deh Jhala Chandanacha – Rajendra Kher
22. My Experiments with Truth – M.K.Gandhi
23. Swami Vivekanand – through his eastern and western disciples volume 1–2
24. Mahaveer meri drishti se – Osho Rajneesh
25. Education and the significance of life – J.Krishnamurti
26. Animal Farm, Nineteen Eighty-four – George Orwell
27. Madhav kyay nathi Madhuvanma – Harindra Dave
28. Saraswatichandra – Govardhanram Tripathi
29. 12209 BCE Ram – Ravan Yuddh and When did the Mahabharat War happen – Nilesh Oak
30. Homo Deus – A Brief History of Tomorrow – Yuval Noah Harari
There are many more but these are a few books which have left an imprint on my life… At the same time do try and keep in touch with the new writers.
Friends on the World Book Day, would be happy if you all can sit back and brood over the books that you all have read. Covid-19 has given all of us a chance to sit back, relax and think.
Wish you all a very Happy Reading Time today.
Indian first 
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