The purpose.... of language

தமிழிலே 

அப்பர்,  சுந்தரரை விடத்

தேர்ந்து விட்டவர்கள் போன்றும்,

தாங்களே தமிழ் வளர்ச்சிக்காக -

யாதொன்றும் செய்யாமலேயே -

அவதரித்தவர்கள் போலவும்

பிற பாஷைகளிடம் துவேஷம்

ஏற்படுத்தி வளரும் பருவத்தினரின்

வாய்ப்புகளைப் பாழ்படுத்தி வரும்

சுய நல அரசியல் வாதிகளை

இளம் பருவத்தினர் தெரிந்து அறிந்து,

தங்களின் வாழ்க்கையை வளம் பெறச் செய்தல் நலம். 

அவர்களுக்காக,  பாஷைகள் குறித்து மஹாபெரியவர் :

"எல்லா பாஷையும் எல்லாருக்கும் பொதுதான் என்ற மனப்பான்மை வரவேண்டும். 

பரஸ்பரம் அபிப்ராய பரிவர்த்தனைக்காக ஏற்பட்டதே பாஷை என்ற அடிப்படையான உண்மையை மறந்து விட்டதால்தான்,  இப்போது தாய் பாஷை ஒன்றிடமே வெறிமாதிரியான பற்றுதல்,  பிற பாஷைகளிடம் துவேஷம் எல்லாம் ஏற்பட்டிருக்கின்றன. 

மற்ற எல்லா விஷயங்களிலும் பரந்த மனப்பான்மை,  இன்டர்நேஷனல் அவுட்லுக் (ஸர்வ தேச நோக்கு) என்று சொல்லிவிட்டு இந்த பாஷை விஷயத்தில் மட்டும் இத்தனை குறுகின புத்தி வந்து விட்டதைப் பார்க்கிற போது பரிதாபமாக இருக்கிறது. "

From nothing...

Sufism :

You are not,

God is. 

Atheist :

I am, 

And

Where is God? 

I don't see 

God anywhere.

Tat tvam Asi

You are That 

- Chandogya Upanishad

You are That 

That,  if you want to name it, 

You can very well 

Name it God. 

The ever living spirit. 

That spirit permeates all. 

- 

Purpose

Purpose.... 

The word splits

The word divides

It spells duality. 

Visualizes means and ends. 

Before lockdown 

My venue for walk was

Jeeva Park on GN Chetty Road. 

It has an exclusive space earmarked for Yog sadan. 

At the end of the Yog session, the practitioners laugh out loud. 

About 100 young and old

Walk around even as practitioners do Asans. 

Some mischief mongers make comments,

"hey, why these guys laugh so loudly?".

It has become 

Commercial 

Scientific 

And a search for 

Sense and 

Logic 

To look for Purpose.

Purpose in everything. 

Questions:

Why meditate 

Why laugh 

Do hanker.

Once somebody asked Pablo Picasso,

"what's the purpose of your paintings?"

Pat came his answer :

"why don't you go in the garden and ask the rose flower, "what is your purpose? "

Why don't you go to a bird singing,  'what is the purpose?'

Why don't you ask the sun and the moon? 

Why do you bother me? 

If the rose can bloom without any purpose,  why can't I paint a picture? 

I enjoy painting,  and that's all."

Can SOUL speak?

Can SOUL speak? 

Yes. 

It'll at apt time. 

Right time when you 

Are left stranded 

And only 

Providence can help out. 

What's the media

That's soul's communication tool? 

The beauty is

You can understand your Soul. 

Not in any particular language. 

It doesn't have language phobia. 

Even without metaphor. 

It could be symbolically as well. 

You can hear it speaking. 

If you don't listen, 

It can just not speak

But command too. 

What's it that holds you back 

And you don't listen to Soul?

It's the inner and incessant 

Noise of the brain-mind.

How can you listen to Soul-speak? 

Turn inwards

Remain silent 

Maintain Antar mauna.

And there you are. 

Are you listening to Soul-speak?! 

God bless. 

வேதம் நிறைந்த தமிழ் நாடு.

வேதம் நிறைந்த தமிழ் நாடு. 

சொன்னது மஹாகவி பாரதியார். 

நமது ஆதி வேத முன்னோர்களின் சிறப்பு - இன்னின்னார் என்றில்லாமல் 

ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः

सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।

सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु

मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ।

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah

Sarve Santu Nir-Aamayaah |

Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu

Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet |

Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

 உலகத்தில் அனைவரும், அனைத்து தாவர, ஜுவராசிகளும் நலமும்,  மன ஸாந்தியுடனும் இருக்க வேண்டும் என்பது தான். 

இந்த மஹோன்னதம் ஏனைய மதங்களின் மறைகளை மறுதளிப்பதல்ல. 

வருவோம் விஷயத்துக்கு. 

You  may blame me, I'm sounding philosophical and impractical. 

Doesn't matter. 

I feel it's duty to share what I read this morning. 

இந்தக் கடமை யாவருக்குமானது என்கிறார் மஹா பெரியவர், தெய்வத்தின் குரல்,  பகுதி 2,  32nd edition, May 2019, பக்கம் 391 para 1 - publisher வானதி பதிப்பகம். 

Here is the extract. 

"வேதமிருந்தால்தான் லோகம் நன்றாக இருக்கும்.  ஆத்மாவும் க்ஷேமமடையும் என்பது என் அபிப்பிராயம்.  இந்த பெரிய மூலதனம் இப்போது வீணாகப் போயிருக்கிற நிலை மாறி,  இதை மறுபடி தழைக்கும்படியாகப் பண்ண வேண்டுமென்பதே எனக்கு ஸதா விசாரமாக  இருக்கிறது.  அதற்காகத்தான் என்னாலானதை ஏதோ திட்டம் கிட்டம் போட்டு வேத ரக்ஷ்ணம்,  ஸ்டைபெண்ட் என்று பல இடங்களில் ஏற்பாடு செய்திருக்கிறது.  ஆனால் இது இந்த மடம்,  அல்லது சில ஸ்தாபனங்களின் கடமை மட்டுமல்ல ;  இது நம் எல்லோர் கடமையுமாகும; உங்கள் எல்லோருடைய ட்யூட்டியும் ஆகும்.  நிர்ப்பந்தத்துக்காகக இல்லாமல்,  ஆசையோடு ஆர்வத்தோடு நீங்கள் எல்லாரும் சேர்ந்து இது வேத பூமி என்பதை மறுபடி நிஜமாக்கப் பிரயாஸைப் படவேண்டும்.  தமிழ் நாட்டுக்கு இதை நான் முக்கியமாகச் சொல்கிறேன்."

Of late, it just feels like - for some odds -  consuming sweet halwa to tease the Holy Hindu scriptures. 

And slowly or even almost,  reciting Veda Mantras is turning as thing of the past. 

Rajas were there to maintain and look after Veda Patasalas, Veda Pandits. 

You know who came next? 

It was Nagarathars. 

They earmarked a portion of their earnings for  righteous, religious noble deeds.  One such besides building temples in every geography where they first set their foot in is  they never failed to give due importance to establishing Veda Patasalas. 

As a small boy every time I was toeing Iyyah - my paternal grandfather -during his daily Darsn visit to our Theena Pillayarkoil, I could see four Veda Pandits sitting few pillars away from the sanctorum of  Kasi Viswanathar and chanting Veda mantras. 

Now there is neither Odhuvar nor a Pandit to recite Veda Mantras.

Isn't it time we,  especially Pangaligal of each Nagarathar Temple,   think of reviving these practices?

Om Namah Shivaya.

சொற்பதம் கடந்த துரியமெய்ஞ் ஞான........

சொற்பதம் கடந்த துரியமெய்ஞ் ஞான

அற்புதம் நின்ற கற்பகக் களிறே!

10ம் நூற்றாண்டு. 

சோழர் காலத்தில் ஒளவைப் பிராட்டியாரின்

அற்புத வரிகள். 

அனைத்து பிரையாசயும் செய்து 

யாதொரு நிலையையும் எட்டிய பின்பும்

நிழல் போல் பின் தொடரும் 

இனமறியாத void. 

 Why? 

We tend to forget. 

Eckhart reminds:

"The source of all abundance is not outside you. It's part of who you are."

"சொற்பதம் கடந்த துரியமெய்ஞ் ஞான....."

What that துரிய மெய் ஞானம் is? 

Is it expensive? 

You may find it hard to believe.  But it's absolute fact,  hard truth. Want to try. 

The skeptic mind always looks forward to experiment. 

By all means you can. 

When? 

Right here. 

Right now. 

How? 

Just relax. 

Sit comfortably, in sukhasan. 

It's not mandatory to have legs crossed if you find it difficult. 

Close eyes. 

Not thoughts. 

At the same time just observe. 

Notice. 

They say corona wave one,

Wave two. 

Let there be

any number be waves. 

Remember,

All bubbles are destined to burst. 

Huge bubbles on top. 

As these meander down,

The bubbles gradually dwindle 

In size

And when they reach

Their ultimate,

The zero line... 

That's துரிய மெய் ஞானம். 

The state Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi,

Gautam Buddha reached. 

To reach there do you have to traverse to Bodh Gaya, some remote cave in Himalayas?

Certainly not. 

You may try 

Right here 

Right now.

Despite challenges,  pressures, constraints, dhyan helps you keep the chin up and navigate with all dexterity. 

And want to hear MS Amma sing, 

" குறை ஒன்றும் இல்லை ......"

வேத ஒலி தழைத்தோங்க...

तेजस्विनावधीतमस्तु

Meaning 'let our study be enlightening '

லோக க்ஷேமத்திற்காக வேத அத்யயனம் இடையறாது ஸதா ஒலித்துக் கொண்டே இருக்க வேண்டும் என்பது மஹா பெரியவரின் விருப்பம். 

வேத பாடசாலைகள் நிர்மாணம் செய்து பரிபாலனம் காலம் காலமாக செய்து வந்ததில் நகரத்தார் ஆற்றிய பெரும் பணியை மஹா பெரியவர் நினைவு கூறாதிருந்தில்லை. 

அண்மையில் அதிகாலையில் நம் தேவகோட்டை திருப்பத்தூர் சாலையில் St Mary's  வரை நடைப் பயிற்சி செய்து திரும்பியதைப் பற்றி எழுதியிருந்தேன்.  

நான் பதிவிட மறந்த மூன்று நிகழ்வுகள் :

1 மிகச் சரியாக 5 மணிக்கு ஒலித்த 'அல்லாஹு அக்பர்' பிரார்த்தனை 

2 சற்று தூரத்தில் இடது புறம் இருந்த, கிஷ்கிந்தா பேக்கரி எதிரில், spic and span ஆக இருந்த church ல் அதிகாலைப் பிரார்த்தனை. 

3 மனம் மேற்படியார்களின் கர்ம ஸ்ரத்தையை உணர்ந்த வேலையிலையே,  சற்றே கணமாக இருந்தது.  ஏன் நாம்,  ஹிந்துக்கள் மாத்திரம் அதே அதி ஸ்ரத்தையாய் இல்லை என்று.   சிறிது தூரம் தான். 

சற்றே ஆற்றுப் படுத்திய காட்சி. 

லக்ஷ்மி திரையரங்கிற்கு சற்று முன் அழகாய்,  மிகச்சிறிதாக ஆனால் நேர்த்தியாக மஹாகணபதி ஆலயம். பிரார்த்தனைப் பாடல் ஒலித்துக் கொண்டிருந்து.  இந்த அளவில் சிறிய கோவிலை அமைத்து நித்ய பரிபாலனம் செய்பவர்கள் பெருந் தனக்காரர்களாக இல்லாதிருக்கலாம்.  ஆனாலும் பெரும் மனதுடையவர்கள்.   அன்றாடம் சிறிய அளவிலே வருமானம் ஈட்டும் கைவண்டித் தொழிலாளிகள். 

மீண்டும் வேதத்திற்கு வருவோம். 

பாடசாலைகள் இருந்ததாக நினைவுண்டு.

இருந்த இடங்கள் இல்லாதிருப்பது மிகுந்த வேதனை அளிப்பது. 

சரி கவலைப் பட்டுக் கொண்டே இருக்கலாகுமா? 

நல்ல உள்ளங்கள் இதற்கான முயற்சிகள் செய்யலாம். 

'ஆவஹந்தி ஹோமம்' செய்து குற்றுயிரும் குலையுயிருமாய் இருந்த நிலையிலிருந்து வேத பாடசாலைகள் புத்துயிர் பெற்று மீண்டும் வித்யார்த்திகளுடன் சிறப்பாக நடைபெறுவதைக் கண்டிருக்கிறோம் என மஹா பெரியவர் குறிப்பிட்டிருக்கிறார். 

வேத மந்திரங்கள் ஓங்கி ஒலிக்க வேண்டும். 

உலகமெல்லாம் நலம் யாவும் பெற வேண்டும். 

Trying a new asan

Trying a new asan

"ஐந்தில் வளையாதது ஐம்பதில் வளையாது"

Whilst there may be subtle and finer translation,  I go for the easy literal interpretation. That is what doesn't bend at age five will not at 50. But that isn't my take on it. 

My take:

A sound YES

And

An emphatic NO. 

Why YES? 

For, I believe that an early bird,  sure catches its worm. 

And Why NO? 

Rather I would invoke Sadhguru to do the reasoning :

"மிகத் தவறான நம்பிக்கை.

வயது ஏற ஏற, பாறைகள்போல் இறுகிப் போகிற மனிதர்களுக்கு வேண்டுமானால், இது உண்மையாக இருக்கலாம். ஒரு மலர்போல் வாழ்க்கையில் உயிர்ப்புடன் இருப்பவருக்கு இது பொருந்தாது."

Yes. 

Ever since Maharishi's American sishya Daniel initiated me into TM, transcendental meditation even at a time I struggled to catch up English, let alone knowing what meditation meant,  the fascination to do it grew.  Dhyan,  yoga weren't even in my vocabulary then. I'm bankrupt of words to elucidate what fascinated me to do it. Doing TM could certainly make me feel better - healthwise, academically and much more. 

Whenever some friends got interested to learn TM,  I used to take them to the Maharishi's centre.  On my later visits, learnt that they devised 14 postures,  asanas conducive to do TM.   That's the first time my journey into yoga began. 

Slowly, very very slowly,  the curiosity to try certain other postures started bugging me. 

Thanks to Sadhguru's words,  I tried vruksha asana a couple of times.  Each time  I could do it just on one side only. Like an young boy learns to balance without side wheels,  I kept my focus on balancing.  And finally for the first time I got to do both sides today. 

This trials turns me travel back by 10 years.  My niece Vaishali, very young kid then,  used to observe me during my daily yog session. She would also try a few postures.  The padma asan was daunting.   She could get one foot easily on the other leg.  But crossing with the other was a big task.  Relentless she was,  kept on her trying to do Padma Asan perfect.  And one fine day she could succeed doing Padma asan perfectly. 

Roll out Your 

Yoga Mat

Do as little as 

At least three four 

Postures for as less as

10 minutes daily. 

You will have great day. 

the soul is neither born nor ceasing to be..

3.15 A. M

Devakottai 

Though had sound sleep over last night and into very early this morning , woke up at this hour.  I was sleeping in Pattalai.

Courtesy : an invasion by a bunch, not a battalion of course of ubiquitous mosquitoes through a Milli micro tiny hole in one corner of the net. Did lay in bed till 3.45 slowly inching towards getting fully awake.  Did stretch a little and a slight twisting.

Thought it apt to begin day's walking right away after bowel emptying and brushing. 

Yes,  

Didn't want to disturb mother and sister for a morning must caffeine. 

4.23 a. m

Started walking. 

Dogs enroute,  a few still in dead sleep and a few didn't bother to scare.  Road lights were fully on.  From our home at V Oorani till Arch,  there was hardly any one except me on the road at this hour. It took me 7 minutes to reach the famous Sankar café opposite to Bus station.  Already about half a dozen were already enjoying sipping steamy caffeine in close cluster. Notwithstanding corona era.  

Well, 

Done with quintessential coffee, - task 3 of the day's to do -, continued my stroll till a little further from St Mary's.  On my way back,  just glanced on the walls of either sides. 

On one side was written Biblical versions in translated vernacular. 

One such was  Matthew 28:20. The New International Version Matthew 28:20 verbatim is:

"and teaching(A) them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you(B) always, to the very end of the age.”

I'm afraid and don't dare fathom that any negativity could be there at all in any firmament of Christ. 

We need to  read the way it has been translated in Tamil, to have reasonably near appreciation of the above perspective. 

Here is the translation,

"இதோ,  இந்த உலக முடிவு வரை நான் உன்னோடு இருக்கிறேன்." 

In our Hindu anthology, the soul is neither born nor ceasing to be. 

On the other side of the wall:

Let's be back on track. 

We are discussing walking.  Let religions be pushed to the courts of God's. 

Aerobic activity suggested by WHO for a week is of a duration of 150 minutes.  Aerobic includes walking, running and cycling. Spoilt for choices. 

Keep walking and be fit like a fiddle.  

………………..From Other’s shoes

 

………………..From Other’s  shoes

The last Saturday, 15^th August, the Independence Day.

I woke up late and was late for walking also.  I set out at 7.30 .

I love walking in this new style Pondy Bazaar.

Just do 2 and a half round. That makes 5 km and 6650 steps. Park my two wheeler in front of Balaji  Bhavan.

My walk track starts anti clockwise.  I begin from Balaji Bhavan, and en route walk up till Ramakrihsna School opposite to Panagal Park, take a u turn, walk back the full stretch till Boag Road Junction, cross over to Hotel Presidency and complete the walk back to Balaji Bhavan.

I’ve seen quite a few alms-seekers, mostly aged and some physically challenged on the Pondy Bazaar stretch.  That day on my round two, when I came near Thanikachalam Road Junction, the old lady was sitting on the platform.  Sometimes I used to give her just about Rs.5 coin.  Strangely this time, this frail looking lady asked very feebly “Can you get me some idly?.”   I just walked past not knowing clearly what she was asking.  But I could hear her utter the word ‘idly’.   I felt an uneasiness, the word ‘idly’ lingered.   After a few yards, I walked back to where the lady was sitting and asked her, “Do you want idli?”.   “Yes”, she said and her countenance reflected her hunger.  I promised her that on the way back I’d get her “idlis” and continued my walk.

There was a food seller supplying food from his cart near Boag Road Junction.  Bought 4 idlis and crossed over to the stretch back from Hotel Presidency.   As I was coming along Holy Angels, a physically challenged middle aged man came pushing his cart wheel with his hand from the other side.  Seeing my carrying the idly and sensing somehow that I intended to give the food in the pocket to someone, he asked, “Sir, could you give me some food?”    I didn’t know what to say.   Still told him that I bought it for an old lady, it’s okay.

Immediately he said, “Sir, no Sir, please give it to the lady.  Sorry Sir.  No problem.”

I just gave him instead some money to buy food for his breakfast.  He happily accepted.

What a vision!?

He himself was hungry.  He could not do like normally abled persons to earn his livelihood.  Yet he was so big hearted in asking me to give the idlis to the old lady.

In life you come across, read from scriptures.  Many a time, what these convey we can’t even fathom.  But like Godsend, all of a sudden you get the wisdom hidden in such scriptures, slogans, gospels.

The above incident threw light on the following verse of Isha Upanishad:

“Those who see all

Things in themselves,

And themselves in all

Beings, relinquish

Hatred.  How can the

Seeming diversity of

Life delude the one

Who has seen its

Unity?”

 

WHO AM I...

"The Guru does not bring about self realization. He simply removes the obstacles to it.  The Self is always realized."

Who better can say it in so simple a manner than Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi? He goes to the level and capacity to grasp of a sincerely seeking Bhakth. 

Pranams to Maha Guru on this eve of Guru Poornima. 

Recall the first time I stepped into the Ashram. It's about two decades ago.  My first time ever to Tiruvannamalai itself.  Except for knowing the name of this holy temple town, I didn't know more about it.  Nor did I know of Ramanashram.  Girivalam,  though it might have been there for long time,  it wasn't as popular as it has been since about past 15 years. 

The first shrine is Mathrubhutheswar temple. It's prathishta sthan where Bhagavan's mother  Mata Alagammal attained Almighty's lotus feet. The inside of shrine is divided into two portions.  As you enter the first of it,  you have  Bhagavan's idol on your right.  You have got to  cross Bhagavan to be before Sanctum Sanctorum of Mathrubhutheswar.   

You will see even today.  The Ashram kept a big cloth screen on outside wall of Mathrubhutheswar shrine portion. They have printed on it in detail, in English,  - for,  the Ashram is visited by just not the Tamil devotees but also by Bhakthas from other parts of the globe - the experience of how Bhagavan felt He was none other than the Self itself.  

Bhagavan was all hale and hearty.  All of a sudden a fear of death gripped. He didn't hasten to anybody and express His fear.  But He decided to face it head on.  The atma vichara started.  He enquired what is it that was dying.  Is it the body?  When the body dies have I died once and for all?  Am I my body?  As He tried to experiment what it would be like to die,  He felt a force beyond motionless,  breathless physical body.  That's how we have His popular series of questions that goes with an apt title,  "Who am I? "

Venue where He did this experiment :

Chockkappa Naiacker Street,  a small lane just opposite to Southern Tower of Goddess Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai. At His uncle's house.  This house is now turned into a kshetra for devotees to visit and meditate.

Year: July 1896.

Though I read the lengthy piece word by word,  I didn't get it at first shot as the same was beyond comprehension to me. 

It  required repeated reading of Bhagavan's experience of Self.   During my Girivalam trips, trust with Bhagavan's blessings,  hope I could get to know of it. 

To a sincere seeker,

Bhagavan's guide is direct path,  viz., atma vichara - in English to enquire oneself 'who am I? ".

THE THOUGHT, 

'WHO AM I?'

WILL DESTROY ALL OTHER

THOUGHTS, AND LIKE THE STICK

USED FOR STIRRING THE BURNING PYRE, 

IT WILL ITSELF

IN THE END GET DESTROYED.

THEN THERE WILL ARISE

SELF-REALISATION. 

- Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi. 

Pranams to Bhagavan. 

Lalithambike

A Godly conversation with a cabwala.... 

On a short professional sojourn to Kumbakonam,  suddenly a thought flashed. In Hindu mythology, there are 27 zodiac signs, popularly known as Nakshatras in vernacular. Everyone born is associated with a very particular Nakshatra of the day on which one is born.  

Astrology, i. e., Joshya sastra also identifies the Hindu temples so specifically related to these Nakshatras.  Mine is Anusha.

Kumbakonam is so spiritually charged that it has about, hold your breath, not just one but nearly 150 temples, small and big, in and around this temple town. 

The cabwala, engaged by the client took me from Station to Hotel. In my sleepy mood in that chilly dawn,  my mood was to reach the hotel, continue my sleep for an hour,  freshen up,  break fast - what a long one between previous night and this morning! - of course with a steamy, aromatic filter, my adjective will be incomplete if I don't add Kumbakonam, with all reverence,  the Kumbakonam filter coffee and rush to the client's office to do the day's to-do. 

The cabwala, it seemed, ought to have been informed of my return by late night train. Looked like a jolly chatterbox.  In that morning as we were traversing to the hotel, he pierced into my sleepy mode. 

His first shot : Sir, in the office I was told your work would be over by 4 in the evening. 

Surprised at his getting my itinerary, I answered in Monosyllabic : Yes. 

Relentless as he was : How do you plan the evening Sir,  as your return train is only in the late night? 

He was assessing my persona. 

Time didn't matter. I can go on with my reading stuff,  roam around, again come back to dinner, pack up and dash to station. 

But the chauffeur politely reminded : Sir you haven't told what you plan to do in the evening. 

My turn : Nothing particular. 

He suggested : you can visit a few temples here. 

It struck me I read somewhere that a temple for my star, Anusha is nearby Kumbakonam. 

I narrated to him about Nakshatras and their relevant temples. 

Thank God.  He was just short of knowing my itinerary only and not my Nakshatra. 

His missile rained again : Sir what's your Janma Nakshatra? 

My monosyllabic : Anusham. 

His torrential continued : Sir, you must visit Nachiar Kovil.  Lord Shiva temple there is meant for your star Anusham.  In your life time at the least once you must visit your Nakshatra relevant temple. You have Kal Garuda temple, there in Nachiarkoil. 

Thus the plan for the evening was cast. 

When we set out for Nachiarkoil, he began his wont conversation. 

"Sir,  have you heard of Thirumeeyachur? "

Me : Yes.  The famous temple where Adi Sankara sang Lalitha Sahasranamam. 

His next question startled me : "Do you believe in God? ".  

What a question?! 

This despite his carrying me to my Nakshatra relevant temple. 

Baffled not knowing what to answer,  I was still stuck at his question. The question that stunned stalwarts like Swamy Vivekananda!  Who am I, a poor fellow? 

He didn't wait for the answer. He went ahead to narrate a real incident. 

Here goes his narration without any questions. 

In Karnataka, about 30 Years ago, a devout lady has been singing Lalitha Sahasranamam from her childhood.  She's about sixty.  She didn't know at that time where did Adi Sankara sing this first. 

On one night while she was fast asleep, in her  dream a well jewelled beautiful deity appeared and asked, " you sang in my praise everyday.  I love to have a silver anklet.  Can you get me one? ".  Shaken from the dream,  the lady went restless. She went about, asking everyone where did Bhagavan Adi Sankara sing Lalitha Sahasranamam first.

For,  there was no way she could google up or turn to Wikipedia to gather Info. It's Pre google, Wikipedia era.  So she went from temple to temple. 

And must be some good soul should have informed her about Thirumeeyachur and how to reach there and all. 

The lady landed in Thirumeeyachur finally with a beautiful pair of silver anklets. Overwhelmed with the spiritual vibration,  she requested the priest to adorn Lalithambike with the anklets. Taken aback the priest said there was no way he could adorn the anklets.  Dismayed the lady said with firm conviction it  could certainly be adorned as Ambike Herself came in the lady's dream and asked for the anklets. 

The priest patiently explained to the lady,  : "Amma,  I am the one who have been doing Puja,  abhishekam here.  Ambike's idol was carved in such a way that She sits folding one leg under her."

Disappointed, halfheartedly the lady left the temple. 

A few days later while doing abhishekam to the surprise of the priest abhishekam water was still trickling from the ankle of the folded leg.  The priest keenly watched the place.  Over the years all the abhishekam particles clogged the hole in the ankle and didn't let the water through.  The particles should have loosened and given way for the water to freely flow. 

And the priest called the lady back and informed her that how her dream came true. With joyful tears the Lady came all the way again from Karnataka and offered her anklets to Lalitambike. 

This miracle is not anything that happened 1000s of years ago.   It's quite recent. 

More miracle awaited me. 

I offered a tip when the chauffeur left me in station. He politely declined. 

I asked for his name. 

He said  Dass. He never misses Sunday mass and reading Bible.

I not only took a leave off him but a leaf too. God is one and He/She is in different roopams,  various Avatars. 

Eashwara Allah there naam

Sabko sanmathi De Bhagavan.

YOGA DAY June, 21

தபஸ்,  த்யான யோக நிலைகள்

வெகு நாட்களாக எனக்கோர் ஐயமுண்டு. 

மஹா பெரியவர் யோகா குறித்து யாதேனும் சொல்லியிருக்கிறாரா என்று. 

கூடவே என்னையே நிந்தனையும் செய்து கொண்டேன். மஹா யோகி,  சொல்லாமல் சொல்லும் ஞானிக்குத் தெரியாதது ஏதும் உண்டோ! 

வாருங்கள் தபோ நிலை யாதென்பதற்கு,  அருணகிரிநாதரை மேற்கோள் காட்டுகிறார். 

அருமையான பாடல் :

நான் வேறு எனாதிருக்க,  நீ வேறு எனாதிருக்க 

ஏகபோகமாய் நீயு நானுமாய்

இறுகு வகை பரம் சுகமருள் 

யானாகிய என்னை விழுங்கி வெறும்

தானாய் நிலை நின்றது தற்பரமே. 

யோக நிலை குறித்து மஹா பெரியவர்:

"இது பிராண மூலத்தைக் கண்டுபிடித்து,  அதோடு சேர்கிற வழி.  பிராண சக்தி என்பது சரீரத்தில் மூலாதாரம் என்கிற இடத்தில், குண்டலினீ என்கிற ஸர்ப்ப ரூபத்திலேயே இருக்கிறது.  நமக்கெல்லாம் அதன் மகா சக்தி தெரியவேயில்லை. அது குண்டலாகாரமாகச் சுருட்டிக்கொண்டு தூங்குகிற பாம்பாகவே இருக்கிறது.  தூங்கும் பாம்பைத் தட்டி எழுப்புவதற்குத்தான் யோக சாதனைகள் இருக்கின்றன.'

'Dhyan', the meditation is thought away from Yoga.

The word Yoga itself is to connect.
Connect inwards.
Postures, asanas lead you through your body to mind and subtle prana, the divine spiritual forces in you.

In this covid time, enhancing immune system is the best way to erect a firewall against any virus.

The one superb asana, posture to boost your immune system is the Chakra Asana, the wheel posture.

Benefits of Chakrasana or the Wheel Pose

• The chest expands and the lungs get more oxygen - this makes the pose especially beneficial for asthma patients.
• It reduces the stress and tension in the body.
• Sharpens eyesight.
• This asana helps to strengthen the back and increases the elasticity of the spine.

Please make sure you learn it from a Guru.

வாழ்க வளமுடன்.
Happy Yoga Day.

Yoga............for World Peace

YOGA……….for world peace.

You know

What starts the day?

Will you believe?

It’s Yoga.

Yes,

It’s Yoga.

Right in your bed.

When you feel

You had good rest

Over the night’s sleep,

It just not suffices to

Kick start the day

Right away.

You just stretch

From head to toe

Right in the bed.

The problem is we

Let it at that

And we head into

Humdrum of the day straight.

Sort of mechanics sets in,

Rather than enjoyment

Of life

From

Moment to moment.

Even as a novice

In Yoga learning,

Am dead sure

Practice of yoga

Through and throughout

The day

Can keep you

Alive and agile.

You may laugh,

If I may say so.

From the moment you

Stretch to get

Out of bed

And slowly stride

To open the front

Door to fetch your milk,

Your bowel begins its

Process.

We, Indians when we

Lived in

Villages and small towns,

We squatted.

As we migrated to cities,

We aped the westerner.

The irony is that 

The commode traverses

Now to 

Nooks and corners of

Every small habitats. 

So graduation to sitting

From squatting.

Squat or sit

You can do asans.

Squat in itself is a work out.

Gives the push in the bowel

To gush out,

Overnight’s digested stuff.

Come to sitting.

While the process to gush out

Is still on, and you are a

Bit sure of complete

Cleansing of bowel,

Don’t rush.

Just lift up both arms,

Without getting up

Do a slight stretch

From waist skywards,

Sorry

Your bath-room ceiling-wards,

Do a gentle few centimeter twist to

Your body

Both sides – right and left.

Come out of bath-room,

You can do veerbhadra asan itself.

And then go for

Padahasthasana,

Trikonasana,

tadasana

and

posture after

posture.

But all you need

To keep in mind

Is

Not to overstrain.

For strain has no

Space in Yoga.

Stretch only

As much as

Your body allows.

Not to worry,

As your practice progresses,

You’ll be able to stretch more.

The benefit of Yoga

Is

It just doesn’t bring in

Rhythm and alignment in

Your physicality

And

Fine frame of mind,

But the same

Rhyme and rhythm

Extend to your every

Single activity.

Rigor mortis set in

When Bhagavan did His

Atma Vichara and

Enacted how was

It to feel death,

“Who am I?”.

Yet He could feel

The pulsating

Prana despite

He controlled breath

And felt like a corpse.

To rest after a few posture,

Your Yog Guru tells you

To do

‘saavasan’ and relax.

You completely dissolve

And feel a

Magical Oneness

That Bhagavan felt in

His Atma Vichara.

For the world

To be

In Peace,

Get fast into Yoga

And bring the

Magical healing process,

Which the whole world

Is in dire need right now.

Yoga is not just a repetition of a few postures – it is more about the exploration and discovery of the subtle energies of life.
Amit Ray

10000 steps, ... a Magic or a myth.....

“Now shall I walk or shall I ride? 'Ride,' Pleasure said; 'Walk,' Joy replied.” ― W.H. Davies

It was about a decade + back.

One relative, about 70 years old walked in one day.   Conversation comprised all under Sun and above earth.  That slowly meandered into my asking him, "Do you walk daily?".

His answer:   "In my long life, I've seen people as young as 50, who do walk, die faster."

His answer hardly surprised me.  His character is to make fun of, on everything and everybody.

Two years passed by.  In between, he, who till then had no major health complaints, had to undergo a bypass surgery.  We dropped in at his house to wish him speedy recovery and good health.  Time is the best evaporator.  He didn't seem to recall our conversation two years ago.  Narrating how he had the pain, later the surgery and his post surgery physical activity.

The Doctor mandated walking.  Now the man is very religious and does not miss walking. 

Fine, another friend, an adjunct and a visiting Professor of  Computer science in Institutions of good repute all over India.  Whenever he drops in, I was used to be astounded by his fitness.  I asked him the magic.

The Professor of Computer Science's answer : "10000 STEPS".

The God's bad habit is endow man with probing mind.  It doesn't matter if the man uses it only where it is necessary and much needed.  I have got to confess I couldn't help contain my curiosity.  I ventured further and asked him, "What do you mean?   Are you so stronger walker to walk daily 10000 steps?"

His reply :  "I'm not a sort to do walking as a routine exercise,  but I see to it that I make 10000 steps in a day,  while going about my daily activities, be it at home, institutions etc."  Reply compounded my confusion.

Well,
I'm one to clock 6650 steps a day, i.e., 5 times 1330 steps. 1330 are the steps that take for me to walk 1 kilo meter.  So you can do the math and I see to it that I make 5 kilometers walk my daily routine.  If I walk nonstop, it takes 1 complete hour to finish this target of 5 Kilometers.  However, ever since the Professor said about 10000 steps, it somehow sank into my subconsciousness.  Then on dreamt of this desire.  I could make more steps whenever I go on Girivalam at Tiruvannamalai or during walk to Kuntrakudi during Thaipoosam.  But on daily routine, I just end up walking 5 kms only.

But this day, I felt I must somehow make it.  And the bull's eye was hit.

After making it, there was a sudden flash.  What is this magic about 10000 steps?  Is it really making any value addition?  Handy these days,  To do some net research.

As is well known, I'm not a fitness expert. 

I just share my experience, feelings and what I perceive.

My annual health routine involves consulting the cardiologist once in six months.  To ensure I'm on right healthy track .  Thank God.  For the past two years, he had given clean chit.

And I thank him, he saved me from going for stent sans any warrant.  He cut down and slimmed the long list of prescription just to two medicines.  More than the minimal medicines he prescribed, his prescription invariably and more religiously emphasized WALKING  for at least 45 minutes a day.

In 45 minutes I would have walked only 3.75 kilo meters at my pace.

The undercurrent is don't strain yourself and push yourself to such benchmark as your physician prescribes.

The pitfalls in overdoing are, it may drain your energy, tracking your pedometer may become addictive, mechanism saps in and you may lose joy of walking.

If you love yoga, I would vouch walking + yoga would make a wonderful combo.  I prefer not doing it immediately one after the other.  You may take a break and do it.  Morning or evening as it suits you.

Mind or don't mind.
Don't miss to walk.
Enjoy your walk and
Be healthy,
Be fit and
Be happy.

Janatha curfew

Janatha curfew

19 March 2020.

The whole nation was eagerly and anxiously looking forward to listen to Honorable PM's address to the citizens. 

As you know the TV channels have to discuss , debate immediately on this address.  Panelists were drawn from different strata. 

One of them was a Dr from a leading corporate Hospital group. 

It's interesting to listen to her. 

Every one in the panel was full of praise for our beloved PM and emphatic on the need to observe No-out on Sunday,  the 22nd March, between 7 am and 9 in the night,  practically the whole day.  And show our sincerity, solidarity to fight dreaded corona. 

Already with schools,  malls and cinemas shut,  there are memes on social media about how people struggle to manage kids' energies indoor. 

Well this Dr said it's time to do meditation. 

It kindled the writer in me to put forth and share what I hear people feel about,  I feel and the positives which experts feel about practice of meditation, in Indian languages dhyan. 

First let's explode the myth that it's for seers, Rishis and those who are in the evening of their life. And not for Grahasthas in the prime of their life and shouldering like Herculean the responsibility to maintain and upbring the family. 

In fact this is the time  when you would need it,  that's dhyan,  more.  Considering the stress and pressures under which you try to hold yourself together in the sea of multifarious responsibilities.

On one Sunday suddenly a client visited my home.  To my surprise he was clad in dhoti, khadhi half sleeve and sporting abundant vibuthi.  Whenever he visited,  he used to come in coat,  suit only. 

Sensing and reading my mind he began to clear, "Sir,  today we have Gurupuja for our great grandfather.  He attained Sanyas around 65 years of age."

He went on further, "I would also follow my great grandfather and plan to attain sanyas at my 55th year."

He was about 45.

I said,  "my dear friend, you can't have it like any business plan.  You don't know when and where the Buddha in you would wake up. "

Well any good thing has to come to its grand gala finale.. This piece too. 

Let me end it on a healthy note,  how dhyan helps you stay healthy despite any any environmental dread. 

Dhyan releases tension on the nuclie of the hypothalamus due to peaceful thoughts and the state of withdrawal from the body and influences it through continuous feedback of slow, rhythmic impulses. It also activates the functions of various endocrine glands and set up a useful homeostatic balance between various hormones,  thereby leading to good health and much more. 

No Duality

No Duality 

The physical frame rejoices pleasures

And

Suffers all pains. 

Man tries to avert suffering. 

Yes. 

Man succeeds. Overcomes the pain. 

But,  has pain gone once and for all? 

No. 

When one pain goes off another elsewhere crops up. 

What's the way out? 

The one and the only way is to be aware that it's only the physical body and mind that suffer the pain. Then are we just body and mind? 

No. 

Transcend these two and know that the knower and the known are one and the same. 

From the stage of our unquiet and wandering mind and the body,  how do we transcend? 

The Saints show the path:

Maha Periyava:

இந்த நிலைக்கு வருவதற்கு ஸுலபமான ஸாதனம் பக்தி உபாஸனை என்று அப்பைய தீக்ஷிதர் சொல்லியிருக்கிறார். அதை எல்லோரும் அநுஸரித்து அத்வைத ஸித்தியை அடைய வேண்டும். 

Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi:

சாதரணமாக அனுஷ்டிக்கப்படும் த்யானம் ஒரு கால எல்லைக்கு உட்பட்டது. ஒர் உருவத்தோடு தொடர்புடையது. இதயத்தில் ஒரு கடவுளின் உருவத்தையோ, புனித ஒலியையோ அல்லது இரண்டையுமோ த்யானிக்கிறோம். எனவே அதில் தியானிப்பவன்,  த்யானிக்கப்படும் பொருள் என்று சிலருக்கு சில காலம் பயன்படலாம். இவ்வாறு பிரிப்பது தவறு. பரம்பொருளோடு தொடர்ச்சியான உறவுக்குத் தடையாக இருப்பது மனம். அது தன் வலிமையைக் காட்டிக் கொண்டே இருக்கும்.  தான் செய்வது சரி என்று நம்மை நம்பச் செய்யும். 

மனத்தின் மூலத்தை நாடும் போது இந்தத் தவறு புலனாகிறது. மனத்தின் மூலம் ஆத்மிக இதயத்தை அடைவதே முடிவான தீர்வைத்தரும். 

Shri Krsna :

When we perform work in devotion, it purifies the mind and deepens our spiritual realization. Then when the mind becomes tranquil, meditation becomes the primary means of elevation. Through meditation, yogis strive to conquer their mind, for while the untrained mind is the worst enemy, the trained mind is the best friend. Shree Krishna cautions Arjun that one cannot attain success on the spiritual path by engaging in severe austerities, and hence one must be temperate in eating, work, recreation, and sleep. He then explains the sādhanā for uniting the mind with God. Just as a lamp in a windless place does not flicker, likewise the sādhak must hold the mind steady in meditation. The mind is indeed difficult to restrain, but by practice and detachment, it can be controlled. So, wherever it wanders, one should bring it back and continually focus it upon God. When the mind gets purified, it becomes established in transcendence. In that joyous state called samādhi, one experiences boundless divine bliss.

the quest...

The eternal quest..... 

Barbiturate. 

It's a new word popping up on my reading. 

Though I could get the sense of the word from the context,  couldn't help the craziness to find out the meaning.

Thanks to myriads of dictionaries,  here is what the word conveys:

barbiturate

/bɑːˈbɪtjʊrət,bɑːˈbɪtjʊreɪt/

Learn to pronounce

noun

any of a class of sedative and sleep-inducing drugs derived from barbituric acid.

CHEMISTRY

a salt or ester of barbituric acid.

Is it time we should go for drugs especially allopathic ones sparingly? 

No. I'm not an expert to deal at length on it. 

Yet can't help instinctively feel that frequency to pop up a tablet like lollipops somehow psychologically kills the natural healing system.  This in spite of world scaring corona. 

For your curiosity sake you may check it up with your doctor,  the family doctor. 

They won't spill the bean. 

My best half complained to my cardiologist that I'm not regular in taking medicines. 

He stared at me and posed, "why?".

I said, "sorry Dr.  Somehow I have an apprehension.  That these pollute our anatomy with chronic side effects."

He shot back, "hurrey, that's just very negligible not even about 2%.  I warn you please don't skip your medicines."

Do I mean never to follow prescriptions? 

Never ever. 

I feel like sharing my hide and seek tryst with prescribed drugs. 

In my sojourn of 4 days to Kashi I had not taken pressure and heart medicines. I was feeling absolutely fine. Of course I didn't check the BP.  There was walking,  walking and climbing stairs all the four days morning till night.  Though the body craved for rest,  we didn't feel unhearty or kind of any restlessness. Even as Kashi was wintry. Perhaps the body temperature due to lot of walking kept us warm. 

Back then to Chennai at its tropical best. 

Cough, strain to breathe and Eosinophilic asthma kept me on hook for a whole week.  I managed without drugs for about initial two days.  Third day couldn't manage any longer.  Dashed off that night to Doctor. His stethoscope intimated BP was normal - mind you even while skipping pressure medicine. But to ease off cough,  eosinophil he started scripting his prescription of 5 days course. 

This time I obeyed like tamed pet. 

Though the strain seemed to decline very slowly, it didn't go off fully even after I completed the full course of prescription. 

But couple of days later I just felt normal. 

The dhyan, accepting that you are not doing well, I'm afraid plays magical role in restoring normal health. Acknowledge medicine may play a complementary role but not full role. 

Even in the case of corona!