An Empty page

Bibliophiles wouldn't have missed an Empty page betwixt the end of one chapter and the beginning of the succeeding one.

I consciously left yesterday, 13th July 2025 without sharing. May be I should confess it was because of the packed back to back sessions at KNBA - Karnataka Nagarathar Business Alliance - sponsored event of alternate year event, IBCN - International Business Conference, IBCN 2025 at Hilton Manyata, Namma Bengaluru. Thank you KNBA, super charged arrangements, sumptuous breakfast, lunch, dinner and of course gallons of tea, coffee and for those who loved going high, the spirit. Good to see, you ensured spirituality is the anchor and roots of Nagarathar. Grand gala concluded with the blessings of SwamiJis from Maths of Koviloor and Rajarajeswari Temple Bengaluru.

Well coming back to topic, a dynamic CA friend from Coimbatore, during lunch session shot a missile, "Anna, why are you not sending Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi's quotes these days?".

I said, "you have become too busy, I just completed sharing stanzas of Bhagavan's Akshara Manamalai, one stanza a day. And began on sharing a sloga from Shrimad Bhagavad Gita."

Talking of Empty page, yes I used to wonder why publishers or writers leave one full page blank between two chapters. Perhaps, I'm afraid they do it deliberately, so that the readers pause, reflect and prepare to read ahead.

As anything has to start with prayers to Almighty, we began Gita with Gita Dhyan. We, in Nagarthar community begin any good, auspicious project by writing உ , not the Tamil உயிர் எழுத்து, but to signify invoking the blessings of Lord Vinayaka. Many would wonder why Maha Bharath, especially the Bhagavad Gita incorporated into Maha Bharath didn't start with the prayer to Lord Vinayaka. It could be because, my wild guess, Ved Vyasa requested Lord Vinayaka Himself to script it.

Now we will be moving over to Chapter 1 on our Gita Mission to carry the Divine upadesa of Lord Krsna not just to Arjun, but to all. Not in an evangelical sense. Gita isn't just to one sect, it is universal. 

May all derive courage, confidence from this long journey through 700 slogans, one sloga a day from tomorrow.

Cool Climes

See

The Aura -

The energy field 

Engulfing the tree.

Yes,

Population ever

Ballooning,

True,

Needs for

Infra developments.

But should it 

Cost our 🌲 trees?

Shouldn't developments 

And planting go 

Paralelly?

Is it just State's 

Responsibility?

What about our -

Citizens' role?

Just as are rights -

Rights in expecting

State, Nation,

Those in helm

To care -

So are our duties,

Every individual's.

Duty to care for

Trees,

Lest global warming 

Bake, burn us.

Grow tree 🌲,

Don't run for scarce oxygen.

Have cool climes.

Be happy.

Painless Now - the Present Moment

When we seek

To be

Free of

Pain and suffering,

We aren't recluse

Forgetting our

Near and dear,

And our beloved

Souls that departed

Departed heavenward,

When we seek

To be

Free of 

Pain and suffering,

We feel, experience 

Souls aren't different 

And far away

From us,

But we are 

Soulfully one.

Remember your

Beloved one wouldn't 

Like to see you

Writhing in pain.

Honour the feel

Of beloved souls

Souls near or far.

What surrender, surrendering to means?

There's a 

Sukshuma here.

Sukshuma in

Bhagavan's saying,

"Surrender and leave 

Everything to me".

It doesn't mean 

You should refrain 

From doing your

'swadarma',

Wont duty.

What all Bhagavan meant

Is

Let everything of yours,

Your feelings, emotions,

The activities

Be of soulful - atmapurva

Offering at 

The feet of the Lord.

What entails is

No duality.

You experience 

God Himself,

That 

God and you

Aren't twin entities.

तत् त्वम् असि -Tatvamasi

The Main Dwara at Darma Sastha Temple, Erumeli carries the above Maha Vagya, "TatvaMasi", Thou Art That.

It's natural, a question would hesitantly raise its head.

If Thou Art That, why is human not his self?

Why all suffering?

To draw the answer, a visit to popular English version of Brahadaranyak Upanishad would help.

Here's that version:

"You are what your deep driving desire is;

As is your desire, so is your will;

As is your will, so is Deed,

And 

As is your Deed, so is your Destiny".

Oh!

If Thou Art That, where is Destiny?

Brahadaranyak Upanisd version seems going beyond and pointing to Karmic effect - Effect of what we, as human do, human activity.

If one does good, to reap the benefits, one has to take birth again.

On the other side, again to face the consequences of wrong doings, yet another.

Well,

When will we end this cycle - punarabi janana, punarabi marana?

The answer is TatvaMasi - Meditate,

Be your Self - Blissful one.

A rushing soujourn....to Iyappa Temple, Trichy...

Way back from my native,

To catch 19:55 VB to Chennai.

As I put my fist step into the Shrine, in a big campus, it was 5.15 in the evening. My memories took me back to early and mid 80s. Just then this Temple was established.

It's now the Temple is celebrating its 40th year in June 2025.

It's not just Temple. A treasure trove - ஞானச் சுரங்கம். Although, I had gone number of times to this Shrine, every other time when you walk into this Shrine, I'm sure you get new energy, a fresh dimension.

The sanctum sanctorum is deep inside with separate sannithis for all Deities. As you walk in, your ஞான வேள்வி starts. The gardens either side welcome you. A dedicated herbal garden is also there as a tribute to People's President Dr APJ Kalam.

On the side walls, you will see plenty of nice inspirational quotes, real life stories told in briefs, etc., . This you will keep reading as you slowly proceed to the Lord Iyyappa's sanctum. Truely not just a short rush would do to get the vibe.

A few take aways from these pearls:

The Management also put up alert every few yards, alerting devotees not to use mobile, take pictures and videos. But thankfully, as we proceed to exit way, you could see a message so encouraging you to visit their website 

trichyayyappa.com and view all these pearls of wisdom under the prompt, 'e book'.

Well here are a few takeaways in words so appealing to my humble self and not verbatim.

The very first striking one:

One gentle man in a winter time saw on the street a little girl shivering in utter cold. The man felt deeply pained and got wild with the Almighty, he asked God, " Don't you have any mercy? Don't you see this girl shivering? Why didn't you do anything?".

God: "Gentleman, who said I didn't do anything. I made you."

Moral: " Manava Seva, Madhava Seva".

Story 2:

One devotee prayed before Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi.

Devotee: " Bhagavan, I was so long indulging in all bad deeds. Now I realize all my wrong doings, would like to turn good. What shankalp should I take Bhagavan, please tell me."

Bhavan: "Take a vow that you won't tell lie any longer."

Story 3, story of vairagya, determination:

Power of Mom's words pushed and empowered Wilma Rudolf to overcome her pneumonia and win gold medals in Olympics. Every time she struggled, her mother motivated every inch to glorious victory.  

Many more inspiring tales, quotes. You may visit the site 

Before I wrap,

I wold like to end with a prayer, also a take away from the Temple, prayer to Tulsi.:

ஓம் துளசீதேவ்யை ச வித்மஹே, விஷ்ணுப்ரியாயை ச தீமஹி, தன்னோ விருந்தா பிரச்சோதயாத்॥

Birth, death, birth death, cycle of birth-death...

ஒரு நாள் குடும்பத்துடன் ECR ல் அக்கரை இல் அமைந்திருக்கும் iskcon ஶ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணர் கோவிலில் தரிசனம் செய்யச் சென்றோம்.

பிரதக்ஷிணம் வருகையில் சந்நிதியின் பின்புறச் சுவற்றில் பல வண்ண ஓவியங்கள் வரையப்பட்டிருந்தன. The pictures depicted various stages, characteristics in human life - from being born as a child till the time of death.

ஒவ்வொரு சித்திரமாக ஒவ்வொன்றையும் நின்று நிதானமாய் நான் பார்த்து வந்ததை அங்கிருந்த இளம் துறவி ஒருவர் கவனித்தபடி இருந்தார். ஒரு கட்டத்தில் என் அருகே வந்து, in flawless English he asked me, "what happens when you do good and pass away?".

I was wonderstruck and looking baffled as to what to answer him.

He himself continued, 'have you heard of punya, papa?".

This I immediately answered in affirmative.

Our conversation elongated.

His turn: " then don't you see you have to be born, die, born again, again to square off your papa-punya?".

It seemed a gentle nudge on my head, grey cells.  Suddenly I recalled about my daughter telling me about root cause analysis that she learnt in her Management studies at her B School.

His next missile: " do you want to suffer this cycle, cycle of birth-death eternally? Don't you see need for birthless, deathless state?".

His wrapping was it was possible when you go God-conscious.

Can you go God-conscious?

Just be,

Do nothing, yes literally no thing.

The eyes closed.

Complete silence.

Oh!

You have gone God-conscious.