ஞானஸ்ணானம் புதிய கண்டு பிடிப்பு

விழிப்புத் தட்டிற்று. 

கைபேசியைத் துழாவி மணியைப் பார்த்தால் 

அதிகாலை 3.39.

உடல் உழைப்பு அதிகம் இல்லாத நிலையிலும், அதிகாலை வேலையில் அபார உடல் அயர்வு. 

Bath room போய்விட்டு, 

மீண்டும் சற்று அயர வேண்டும் போல் இருந்தது. 

YouTube  ல் லலிதா ஸஹஸ்ரநாமம் 

மெல்லியதாக ஒலிக்க வைத்துவிட்டு 

கண்ணயர்ந்தேன். 

முழுக்க முழுக்க 

ஸமஸ்க்ருதம். 

அந்த மஹா ஸமுத்ரத்தில் - ஸமஸ்க்ருதத்தில் -

ஒரு துளியின் சிறு துளியளவாவது

பரீகக்ஷ்யம் இல்லை. 

இல்லையென்றாலும் இது குறை ஒன்றும் இல்லை. 

 Eventually you will get to know the meaning as you keep listening to it. And

நீங்கள் சொல்வீர்கள்,

சொல்லிய பொருளுணர்ந்து. 

ஸஹஸ்ரநாமம் ஒலித்துக் கோண்டிருக்கிறது. நன்கு அயர்கிறேன். 

அயர்ந்த நிலையிலும் 

அக்ஷ்ரங்கள் தேன் போல்

ஆராட்டிக் கொண்டிருக்கின்றன. 

கிட்டத்தட்ட 50  நிமிடங்கள். 

உடல் உயர்வு முழுமையாக நீங்கி

புத்துணர்வோடு எழுகிறேன். 

There is a new discovery. 

That திருவள்ளுவர் got baptized   - ஞானஸ்ணானம் - by St.  Thomas. 

Endorsing this theory :  மெத்தப் படித்த மேதாவிகள். 

போகட்டும் விடுங்கள். 

இரண்டு மூன்று வருடங்கள் முன்பு

பணி நிமித்தம் கும்பகோணம் பகுதிக்கு சென்று வந்ததும்,  cab driver உடன் உரையாடியதை blog  ல் எழுதியிருந்ததும் நினை விற்கு வந்தது. 

Cab Driver's name: தாஸ்

அநேகமாக converted  ஆக இருக்க வேண்டும். 

அவர் விவரித்த லலிதாம்பிகைத் தாயார், திருமீயச்சூர் ஆலய சம்பவமே  blog ல் எழுதியிருப்பது. 

வாழ்க வளமுடன். 

in the pink of health

In the pink of health 

One thing 

One ought not 

To compromise 

On is 

One's own self 

Care and health. 

Perhaps the

Health has to be

Priority one. 

Everything else 

Should just follow... 

The ever striking 

Touching Tamil saying 

Is.... 

சுவர் இருந்தால் தானே 

சித்திரம் வரைய முடியும். 

The canvas

Has to be Pucca 

And clean for 

You to show your 

Artistry 

And 

Bring your 

Master piece,

Magnum opus 

On. 

These new age days

We rush to 

From one health expert, 

Specialist medicos to 

Multiple 

For myriads of 

Health issues. 

Can't help 

Especially when 

Some maniacs, Shylocks

And cannibals spread

All over 

Even in

This modern world 

And never shy away 

From playing 

With precious 

Human lives. 

Our ears are 

Damn tired 

Hearing 

Deadly variants 

Raising their ugly heads/hoods.

I keep reading 

This nutritionist's 

Article almost regularly.

Her this piece is on

Having early dinner 

On or around sunset. 

So that your 

Digestion is superb

And sleep is healthy 

And sound. 

Have a good  health 

And 

Always 

Be in

The pink of health. 

God bless 

KARMA

 KARMA

 I believe in karma,

and I believe

if you put out positive vibes

to everybody,

that’s all you’re going to get back.”

 – Kesha

 

No it’s not a new attempt on a discourse.

The bug, ‘crossword’ bit me and I tend to do it on and off.

Many a time, it’s google-search of cross word solver that helps.

Well,

One Across clue today read:

22. Theory of inevitable consequences (5).

Thanks to clues 17 and 7 down. These led me to find out missing letters in between.

The clues respectively for 17 and 7 were:

17. Chemist’s deep glass (6);

And

7. Luggage over weight carried free (6,7).

Answers to 17 and 7 down respectively were the words,

Beaker;

And

Excess Baggage.

The ‘k’ in Beaker was letter first for clue 22. Across and 5^th letter, ‘a’ in Baggage was the last.

The word, ‘Karma’ struck my mind instantly.

But before filling in, had a doubt is this word in English too?

What a wonder!

The word, “Karma” is very much there.

The dictionary I turn to whenever I need to refer for meaning is the ever young,….yes….just 193 years …..1828 Merriam-webster.

The dictionary has an entry for “Karma”, with the description of meanings:

1: the force created by a person's actions that is believed in Hinduism and Buddhism to determine what that person's next life will be like

2: informal : the force created by a person's actions that some people believe causes good or bad things to happen to that person

 

Well,

It’s no wonder English is an ever evolving and growing lingua franca. 

I surmise English language in a way cognizes our Rig Veda, as the Veda goes to say:

“LET NOBLE THOUGHTS COME FROM EVERYWHERE”.

‘m not an expert to comment on Vedas.  I remember my teacher Mr TS Srinivasan, fondly remembered by boys then as TSS. He wrote this Rigvedic quote in my autograph at the time of my school leaving.

The language has an openness, it adopts and grows, no bias for any foreign languages.

 

Ironically,

Or unfortunately

Or by DESIGN, SCHEME, etc.,

We have a class or bunch of language hate mongers.

Recently,

A relative shared with me some of one atheist leader’s sayings.

One such read in Tamil,

மதம் மனிதனை மிருகமாக்கும் .

ஜாதி மனிதனை சாக்கடையாக்கும்.

To mean:

Religion makes man a beast.

Caste will sew man.

 I replied to him in Tamil.  My reply consisted of 24 lines including just 4 words of transliteration in Tamil of the Sanskrit slogan,

लोकः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु)

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

 Meaning:

May all beings everywhere be happy and free.

Pat came his reply advising me that no one here understands Sanskrit and why you have a deep desire, மோகம் for the same.

 

Absolutely clueless how they go judgmental and conclude just because one loves languages beyond one’s mother tongue, that one neglects one’s own language.

 

At times I wonder if we live in a democracy.

Who should determine which language, or which one only, one should love, learn and do transact in?  A learner himself/herself, or a class or bunch of fanatics?

Yes.

Wayne W. Dyer is right:

“How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.”

And there is no, yes, no escapade.

Sounds true, the Brahadharanyak Upanishad:

“You are what your deep, driving desire is.

 As is your desire, so is your will.

 As is your will, so is your deed.

 As is your deed, so is your destiny.”

உணவே மருந்து மருந்தே உணவு

உணவே மருந்து 

மருந்தே உணவு 

உணவே மருந்து 

மருந்தே உணவு 

இது

ஆரோக்யம் விரும்பிகளின்,

இயற்கை மருத்துவர்களின்

தாரக மந்திரம். 

நல்லது 

பூங்காக்களில் நடக்கிறார்கள்.

கடற்கரையில் நடக்கிறார்கள். 

நடைப் பயிற்சி 

நல்ல பயிற்சி. 

நடப்பவர்களெல்லாம்

நல் ஆகுதியுடன்

ராஜாக்கள் போலிருப்பீர்கள். 

நாம் உட்கொள்கிற

உணவு 

உட்கிறகிக்கப் பட்டு 

சக்தி நிலை எய்துகிறோம். 

பயிற்சி சிறிதேனும் இல்லையா?

சற்றே உற்று நோக்குஙகள். 

ஒரு சராசரி மனிதன் 

ஒரு நாளில் உட்கொள்கிற

உணவின் அளவு 

ஏறத்தாழ இரண்டு கிலோ. 

ஒரு மாதத்திற்கு 60 கிலோ. 

ஒரு வருடத்தில் ஒரு டன். 

ஒரு டன் என்பது 

ஒரு giraffe ன் எடை. 

இதே விகிதத்தில் 

அரை நூற்றாண்டு 

உட்கொண்டால், 

எடை எவ்வளவு இருக்கும்?

கிட்டத்தட்ட பத்து 

African வளர்ந்த யானைகளின் 

எடைக்குச் சமமாக. 

ஆக

உணவு கிரஹிக்கப் பட

வேண்டும் என்பது 

யாவரும் அறிந்ததே. 

சாலச் சிறந்த திருமந்திரத்துடன்

நிறைவு செய்வோம்.

உள்ளம் பெருங்கோயில், ஊன் உடம்பு ஆலயம்,

வள்ளல் பிரானார்க்கு வாய் கோபுர வாசல்,

தெள்ளத் தெளிந்தார்க்குச் சீவன் சிவலிங்கம்

கள்ளப் புலன் ஐந்தும் காளா மணிவிளக்கு.

வாழ்க வளமுடன்.

Bourses : Are they casinos?

           Bourses : Are they casinos?

                 -  Soma Valliappan 

Is stock market a casino?

Yes.

Is it a huge trading platform?

Yes.

Can we make gain investing through Bourses?

Yes.

What?!  Is 'yes' the sole answer to all the three questions?

For the fourth question also, the answer is same.  Yes.

For,  the stock markets do offer all opportunities - trading, investment and to make gains ......-.  Crores and crores do participate in stock market and do trade,  invest and make gains for quite long. Some successfully,  some chasing the success..

Five blind men trying to figure out what an elephant is a well known story. The first touched the leg and said it was like a pillar.  The second felt the big ear to  be like a sift.  The others touched yet other parts and described the way what they felt like.

In a similar fashion people participating in stock market operations conclude how the market is by attributing to their myriad experiences.

In a casino one either wins or loses. It happens in stock market too. It can't be refuted. Yet one can't generalize a particular experience and conclude there are no alternative,  smart moves to do well.

Using technical analysis is one approach.  There are people who adopt this and make profit by doing either or both of the following types of trading. :

I buy first and sell later

II sell first and cover it up buying later, in stock market parlance this is called going short.

There is a risk of incurring loss also here.

Another approach is to buy stocks after doing fundamental analysis or on the expert advice. Hold.  And when the prices go up to a reasonable or expected level,  make gain by selling them.

To cite an instance,  if one had bought Wipro shares worth of Rs. 10000/- in 1980, its current market value would have been Rs.806 crores.  There are many other good blue chip stocks as well. There are those successful investors still.

Thus Bourses can't be concluded as a gambling den. True there are speculators who use the platform as an arena for gambling.  These scare away small and benign investors from the stock markets. If one doesn't look for any short term gain but would adopt a balanced long term approach and invest in good scripts,  one can get far better Return on investment in stocks than in any other investments.

             -*-*-*-*-

It's a humble attempt to get an English version of Annan Soma Valliappan's article in community magazine,  'ஆச்சி வந்தாச்சு ',  October 2021 edn and கல்கி

Subramanian Ramanathan 

 

Belief in God

Belief ...... a beginning

A man's conversation with Shri Aurobindo:

Let's name the man Mr.Query.

Here is the conversation:

Mr Q: Do you believe in God?

Shri A: No...

Confused,

Mr Q: What are you saying? Are you an atheist?

Shri A: No

Bewildered,

Mr Q: Why are you creating a puzzle?

Your answer to both is No. You are contradicting yourself.

Shri A:

​

Wait a little.  You aren't  allowing me to say anything more than no.  As soon as I say no,  you start asking other things.  Wait a little.  I was saying that I don't believe in God because I know Him.  Because I know him I don't believe in him. 

He is. 

This is not a belief 

This is my knowledge.

My knowing. 

TM

If I can do some good,  it's to tell you to do 'dhyan',  the meditation. 

There has been a lurking question is it - dhyan - meant only for Rishis,  Sanyasis like Sankaracharyas,  Ramana Maharishi, Gautam Buddha and not for Grahasthas. 

It's no surprise if I tell you it's all the more for Grahasthas. 

Why? 

As the breadwinner of the family, as the lead lady or man of the family - no gender bias -, or anyone in family including children,  in this pacy world every one is subject to some stress or other.  And owing to ever evolving lifestyle dynamics, parallel to advancing health care systems, technologies,  the decease,  sickness of myriad hues Vie with each other and challenge the mankind. 

What does meditation do? 

Despite stress,  it keeps you on command and enables you to do your best in a coherent, creative and aesthetic manner. 

Meditation tries its best to keep your health in good shape,  even if  not shipshape. 

How do I learn dhyan? 

Perfect question. 

Especially when fake Gurus are aplenty. 

Choosing the right Guru in itself is a daunting task. 

And not everyone is a Buddha to get an enlightenment dawning under a Bodhi tree. 

The TM,  Transcendental Meditation is the one which I have personal experience about and is

○simple and easy to learn 

○not complicated 

○easy to practice and benefit 

○not very expensive to learn 

○just takes 20 minutes a day to do it one time,  but the TM teachers advise to do it twice a day. 

Well. 

You are right if you would ask what benefit I derive. Yes it's listless, yet I attempt to tell you  a few:

○almost every one in our household suffers from excessive easonophil levels,  experience severe wheezing.  Ever since I started practising, even inconsistently, I can say the wheezing gradually faded away. 

○during hectic work schedules,  you can keep holding yourself and perform to your best. 

○good control over excessive eating 

○good sleep 

○above all the Supreme bliss moment, the ecstasy where you are completely one with the soul. That moment, no words,  no thoughts.  You can't elucidate it.  Words pale as perfect conveyor. You can only experience. 

May God bless you 

Be in Bliss. 

The way in

The way in

To 

Garba Graha...

The Sanctum Sanctorum

Wherefrom Lord

Mathrubhutheswar showers

His benign blessings 

On all the 

Bhakthas, 

- by the grace of 

Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi. 

If you have nagging questions like 

How do I abide in the inherent self and be free from the idea of birth or the fear of death, who   else could better elucidate than Sakshat Bhagavan Himself?

Please listen to Bhagavan Himself summing up the whole process... Process of atma vichara,  the way dhyan graces upon an earnest seeker:

"No matter how many thoughts thus occur to you, if you would with acute vigilance enquire immediately as and when each individual thought arises to whom it has occurred, you would find it is to ‘me’. If then you enquire ‘Who am I?’ the mind gets introverted and the rising thought also subsides"

Maha Periyava on Astrology

Maha Periyava on Astrology,  ஜ்யோதிஷம். 

Pages 557 to 587,

Edn 32, May 19

Volume 2

தெய்வத்தின் குரல். 

He dedicates a whole chapter on the above subject. 

He traces the origin of the word,  'Man' to மனு. Man gets the capability to accomplish what he thinks, aims at.  நினைக்கிற காரியத்தைச் செய்கிற அங்கம்தான் மனம். Hence the name  மநு.

Cites Blavatsky, co-founder of Theosophical Society and the scientist Oliver Lodge. They laid more emphasis on studying the world of spirits and Deities, தேவதாலோக விஷயங்கள் than on science in their later years. 

Refers to Oliver Lodge that....  இவை - spirits,  தேவதைகள் - நிச்சயமாக இருக்கின்றன; இவைகளைக் கொண்டு மனிதன் அநுகூலங்களை அடையலாம். '

If questioned,  after referring to  ஜ்யோதிஷம் sastras on one hand stressing on science like astronomy,  it on the hand refers to spiritualism too,  He answers according to a scientist, there is no contradiction between both. 

 

It boils down to the ubiquitous Karma theory. 

So simple. 

Do good. 

And

Live well. 

Who is the Guru?

Why you need a Guru? 

To 

Tell you to 

Do this

Or that?

Certainly not. 

Guru is not the one

Who mesmerizes you 

To see beyond your Ken. 

Jnana Guru is one

Whose mere presence,

Nay,  not even 

The presence,

Mere glimpse -

A flashing glimpse in you -,

Silence,  the mouna,

Just suffice. 

Suffice to kindle

To enable you feel 

That the Self  is

Sakshat You

In You. 

And Not anywhere. 

Apt to recall a conversation 

Some Bhakth had with 

Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi. 

Bhakth :

Although I understand it, 

I cannot realize the Self. 

Bhagavan:

Why should this thought 

Disturb your present 

State of REALISATION? 

Revel in 

Bliss, 

Peace

And abundant 

Blessings of Bhagavan. 

The wrap up quote :

I am not a teacher, but an awakener.
– Robert Frost

Time, You supercharge...

தமிழில் பொருள் பொதிந்த சொல் வழக்கு ஒன்று உண்டு. 

'சுவர் இருந்தால் தானே சித்திரம் வரைய முடியும்."

உடல் நல் ஆரோக்ய நிலையில் இருந்தால் தானே செவ்வனே பணியாற்ற இயலும். 

அவ்வுடலை ஆராதிக்கும் திருமந்திரப் பாடல் இதோ:

உடம்பார் அழியில் உயிரார் அழிவர்

திடம்பட மெய்ஞ்ஞானம் சேரவும் மாட்டார்

உடம்பை வளர்க்கும் உபாயம் அறிந்தே

உடம்பை வளர்த்தேன், உயிர் வளர்த்தேனே...' 

(பாடல் 724).

Life is a gift. 

Its mission:

To realize

To get enlightened. 

When a loved one passes away,

We say He/She reached

Almighty's Lotus feet. 

When do we attain the realization?! 

Certainly not after leaving our mortal coils. 

So, 

It's right away, 

Even while we are alive and kicking. 

How to do it? 

Care your physical health. 

Mental health. 

Emotions.

And above all 

Your wholistic spirituality.

Are you asking, 

"With all constraints, barriers,  stumbling blocks, uncertainty, .....ooh.. Deadly 

pandemic?".

Answer is yes, 

Yes

Amidst 

All challenges,

Anxieties 

And fear. 

When all else 

In existence fall apart 

What holds you steadfastly 

And on command of all

Is your 

Consciousness. 

On con side

What hampers it? 

We stress more than enough of 

Taking good care of our physical health. 

It goes Parallely with the 

Responsibility in the sense 

We should never abuse our physical self. 

Also we need to be on guard and alert 

24x7

We leave no leeway for even slightest trace of any negativity to harm us,  pull us away by force,  tricks and tantrums. 

Be on command. Even at toughest of times and challenges. 

There was an inspiring real life story. Published in தினமணி - வெள்ளிமணி  dt 19 June,  2020.

Years ago there was a lady who was so terminally sick that doctors expressed their helplessness. It's horrible to lead a life when it comes to the knowledge of the patient that her days are very close to death. 

With heavy heart she returned home. 

At that time there was an orphanage which trained young and willing inmates in nursing. The lady who returned from hospital couldn't do anything on her own. So decided to take the help of one of the inmates from the orphanage. 

The story of inmates moved her.  So now she gave out of her savings some money for the welfare of the inmates in the orphanage. 

The nurse who helped the lady and the orphanage thanked the lady profusely. The lady slowly forgot the severity of her illness. 

She was a Hindi Teacher too.  She felt why not she teach Hindi freely to children in the neighborhood.  She gradually began to get occupied in a productive way.  Her preoccupation literally saved her.  She no longer felt sick. Turned healthy lady to the surprise of all the doctors.

So get, set on your march.... 

Turn the stronger you are. 

God bless. 

Your inner strength is your outer foundation

- Allan Rufus

Power of Mantra

Power of Mantra

Daniel 

Years... Early 80s.

He just flashes my mind as I read Tiruppur Krishnan's writing about Maha Periyava's emphasis on significance of Mantras. 

Back to Daniel,  Maha Guru.

A disciple of Maharsi Mahesh Yogi,  Maha Guru who initiated the celebrities,  pop stars,  the western world into learning and benefiting from ancient India's gift to the world, 'dhyan', the Meditation. They call it Transcendental Meditation,  the popular acronym,  TM. 

Daniel and couple of his other colleagues from USA were on their mission to carry back and enable us,  the Indians to be aware of our own wisdom,  rich treasure,  the dhyan. 

I was into college,  may be fag end of 4th Semester. Though had a little familiarity to English,  thanks to Prof AJ Mariadoss,  my English Teacher and the mega Library at St. Joseph's vast campus, still speaking in English was a herculean task,  almost literally nil,  having studied from standard 1 to 11 in Tamil medium. 

We were used to break for a cup of tea at a tea stall opposite to the college.  Around the same time,  Daniel and his team too were used to visit there for tea. 

I was wondering what these foreign guys were doing here. Also,  it was just wondering and it didn't occur to me to get to know. 

Paul Coelho's magic worked one day. 

He used to say when you have even the slightest tinge of desire,  nature sees to it that everything falls into place to turn dream into reality.  Even when you weren't  desperate about or even aware of your desire. In fact desire would have been just at its conceptional stage. 

One day, I felt someone tabbing on my shoulder.  I turned to look at. It was Daniel. 

He asked,  "Can you speak some English?".

Very difficult to decipher his American accent. 

Mustered myself and said,  "yes,  a very little."

Next he dropped a bombshell,  "where do you have your haircut?"

Hare,  gathered my guts to ask him,  "could you repeat? "

He looked strangely at me and for my poor sake,  he said it again. 

How could I answer?  First looked around for some saloon nearby. Found out one on the opposite side. I pointed the direction where the saloon was and told Daniel,  "there".

This was how befriending happened between  different desis. Language, accents need not be a deterrent to making friends. 

Well slowly inched towards my exploring and taking my curiosity forward,  I asked for their purpose of being in India. 

Daniel,  " to help you learn Transcendental meditation and benefit from it, your own wisdom. "

Meditation!  It was a big word and not definitely not there in my vocabulary till then. 

Transcendental... surely a bigger word. 

Slowly progressed to pick up and catch up with a little English and a trial to conversate in English.   Looking back at decades,  though the peak and perfection are still miles away and eluding,  it's awesome, "yeah, we have come across at least a few milestones."

Back to what Daniel taught and what we have learnt. ...about TM,  Transcendental Meditation. 

Yes. 

He explained how easy,  simple to learn and practice TM,  how it helps us in leading a healthy,  blissful, creative and productive life. 

The gateway to this beautiful experience... Of learning and practicing TM is just a tiny tool,  a mantra, not a complicated one,  just a single syllable. Once you are on that,  you are set on the whole journey of joy,  bliss. 

That's the Power of Mantra. 

Remember reading in தெய்வத்தின் குரல்,  mantra,  Veda is just a sabda, a sound and not even a letter.  No scripts. Traditionally these Ved mantras have been taught orally from Maharishis' period. 

These Mantras are energetic and powerful. 

One devotee asked Maha Periyava, "what use is there in just chanting  simple mantra syllables?"

To elucidate to this Bhaktha, Maha Periyava didn't draw from puranic evidence but cited a historic evidence from a recent century. 

During World War,  when oppressions were mounted on Britain,  British Minister gave a single letter Mantra to British soldiers.  That single syllable mantra is to chant the letter 'V'.  V standing for Victory. Everywhere in Britain the letter V was written in a bigger and bold type. The Minister propagated the letter V in a massive scale all across the nation. 

The Letter V caught the attention of people and energized their emotions and thoughts. 

No need to say.  They succeeded a big battle.

When you chant a mantra,  you don't do it mechanically. It purifies and energizes your thoughts, emotions. Heart becomes peaceful and you succeed. 

In Hindu sects,  Vaishnavites chant, "Narayanaya" and Saivaites,  "Namasivaya".

I remember listening to a soulful Sai Bhajan.  The lyrics go like this,  "sab Ka Malik Ek hai". Meaning God is one and He is the Supreme of all. So pick "Ra" from Narayanaya and "Ma" from Nanasivaya,  combine them.  You have "RaMa". This way you pray and be blessed by both Lords Narayana and Shiva. 

Single shot solution to the devotee by Maha Periyava : chant "RaMa", "RaMa".

May God bless all. 

The Yog Divas

Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat any time and be yourself. ” ― Hermann Hesse

Pranams to 

Yog Maharishi.

For granting us 

The boon:

Yoga. 

Thanks to 

Pradan Mantriji. 

For making the world 

Celebrate

The Yog दिवस.

The World Yoga Day. 

Yog, as it stands 

To mean,

'to unite'. 

The World unites. 

Just not on the day, 

The World Yoga Day. 

But shankalp happens

That every day is

Day for sadan, practice. 

Try 

Do just an Asan. 

Just a single Asan. 

You are on the path. 

An unbreakable continuity. 

A ceaseless celebration. 

Celebration of 

Bliss

Peace

Health 

And 

Godliness. 

Om Shanthi. 

The inspiring Alchemist

The Alchemist. 

It didn't occur to me to look into dictionary to know what it means to be Alchemist, even beyond reading the whole masterpiece. 

There are more takeaways from the Author's interview to beliefnet.com than from his fable itself. 

It feels like breathing in fresh unpolluted air at the dawn when you hear him say,  'let's distinguish religion from spirituality.'

He quotes William Blake -

"God is in a grain of sand and in a flower.  This energy is everywhere."

There are certain things which God chooses to keep to His chest.  No way to know it.  The only certain way is to respect and reconcile to this fact. 

In the same breath, in the fable,  the author never fails to repeat, 

"When you want something,  the whole universe conspires in order for you to achieve it."

Every creation is God's unique piece, 

For a purpose, an obligation... Call it whatever. 

And set out full force to achieve it come what may. 

For,  the whole universe conspires in order for you to achieve it. 

In search of GOD.....

Scare

Or no scare

Corona 

Or no corona 

Vaccines 

Or no vaccines 

Scarcity 

Or abundance 

What needs to be intact, 

Intact 24x7 is your

Immunity. 

It's in your Hands. 

Yeah

Wash your hands,

Maintain distance,

Wear clean mask. 

Above all don't let

The increase,

Rise, 

Spike

Obsess your mind. 

You be the Master, 

You be the Lord. 

Lord?!

Yes!!

Are you searching Him elsewhere? 

Do you need a guide,  Guru to show Him? 

No you are your own Guru, 

For,  it's never 

God and You

You are the God, 

As He is inside you,

Beautifully 

Blissfully 

In  தமிழ்,  கட வுள். 

கட    ....... உள். 

"திருக்கோயில் உள்ளிருக்கும் 

திருமேனி தன்னைச் 

சிவன்எனவே கண்டவர்க்குச் 

சிவன்உறைவன் அங்கே.." 

-- சிவஞானசித்தியார்

Puja for Thirumurai

Puja for திருமுறைகள்

 Four,  five years ago,  on one evening my wife and I reached Tirukkaravasal.  There was a special Puja that day for Lord Nataraja, the occasion being ஆனித் திருமஞ்சனம். 

The first time in life it was such a divine blessing. We didn't have an idea it was this special day. 

You can see even today a glass case outside sanctorum of the Lord. In that the திருமுறை  books are kept. 

After abhishekam, Aarti to the Lord,  the priest 

did offer Aarti to these books also. 

The above visit to Tirukkaravasal struck me,  just when I read the end of one part in தெய்வத்தின் குரல்.

If we all think just only Ayodhya was under siege, we are all mistaken. 

Maha Periyavar refers to an incidence in Madhya Pradesh. The place is Dhar city. It was ruled by King Bhoja, nearly about thousand years ago. He was great supporter of Indian Arts,  literature, poetry, Sanskrit, architecture etc. People came to learn that a few people saw some Sanskrit letters inside a cave there in a Mosque. Only after independence, the Epigraphical department could manage to obtain permission from the custodians and see inside the cave. There was a chakra inscripted within which lot of slokas in Sanskrit was written. 

The same was Saraswathy Devi Temple during King Bhoja's era. Maha Periyava says it was proof that those days Kings preserved  and worshipped Sastras, Vedas. 

Elsewhere read that it was King Raja Raja Chozhan who retrieved திருமுறைகள் at Chidambaram Temple. That's how we all could have access to the divine songs. 

எல்லை வீரர்கள்

எல்லை வீரர்கள்

எல்லை வீரர்கள்

2021 ல் நான் படித்த மூன்றாவது புத்தகம் இறையன்பு IAS அவர்களின், 'எல்லை வீரர்கள்'.

புத்தகத்தின் விலை ரூபாய் 20 தான். 

பக்கங்கள் 32.

அலுவலக அறையில் குளிர் சாதனம் தற்காலிகமாக சற்றே சிறிது க்ஷணம் சரியாக இயங்கவில்லை என விசனப்படுவோமே. 

இறையன்பு அவர்கள் எல்லை வீரர்களின் பணிச்சூழலை நம் முன்னே காட்சியில் விவரிக்கிறார். 

சியாச்சின். 

பனிபடர்ந்த இமய மலை உச்சி. 

சமதளத்திலிருந்து ஏறத்தாழ 19000 அடிகளுக்கு மேலே. 

Oxygen supply  குறைவு. 

 - 50 degrees. 

Ice scooter பயன்படுத்த இயலாது.  பயன் படுத்தினால் ஏற்படும் சப்தத்தில் எதிரிகள் விழித்தெழக்கூடும்.  குண்டு மாரி பொழியலாம். 

நாட்டு மக்கள் எல்லோரும் நல்ல பாதுகாப்புடனும்,  நலமாகவும் இருக்கும் பொருட்டு, தன் நலன் கருதாது,  குடும்பம் தவிர்த்து,  மறு க்ஷணம் உத்தரவாதமானது தானா என்கிற உறுதியற்ற நிலையில் பணியாற்றுகிறார்கள் நாட்டின் எல்லையில் நம் வீரர்கள். 

சில வருடங்களுக்கு முன் நண்பர் ஒருவர் தன் மனைவி மற்றும் மகனுடன் லடாக் சுற்றுலா சென்று வந்ததை, லடாக்கின் லயமான சூழலை விவரித்தார். 

நண்பர் போன சமயம் கோடையின் இறுதி,  மற்றும் குளிர் காலத் துவக்கத்தில்.  உள்ளூர், சுற்றுப் புற பகுதிகளை சுற்றிக் காட்ட நண்பர் தங்கியிருந்த விடுதி ஓர் உள்ளூர் வாடகைக் கார் ஓட்டுனரை ஏற்பாடு செய்து இருந்தது. 

சுற்றுலா தருணத்தில்,  கோடையில் தங்கும் விடுதிகளில் பணிபுரிபவர்கள்,  வாகன ஓட்டுனர்கள் போன்றோர்க்கு வேலை வாய்ப்பு இருக்கும்.  பிற காலங்கள் எல்லாம் பனி சூழ்ந்து பணியாற்ற ஏதுவாக இல்லாத நிலை.   

புலம் பெயர்ந்து வேலை செய்பவர்கள், குறிப்பாக நேப்பாளிகள் பனிகாலத் துவக்கத்தில் லடாக்கிலிருந்து கோவா போன்ற பிற சுற்றுலா மையங்களை நோக்கி சென்று விடுவார்கள்.  உள்ளூர்ப் பணியாளர்கள் பெரும்பாலும் லடாக்கிலேயே தங்கி விடுவார்கள். 

ஆயினும் உள்ளூர் பணியாளர்களுக்கு இராணுவத்துக்கு உதவியாளர்களாக பணியாற்ற வாய்ப்பு உண்டு.   உடல், மனோ திடம் உள்ளவர்கள், தகுதி பெற்றிருந்தால்.  இவர்களின் பணி ஹெலிகாப்டரிலிருந்து பனி படர்ந்த மலை உச்சிகளில் போடப்படும் இராணுவ வீரர்களுக்கு வேண்டிய உணவு மற்றும் இதர அத்யாவசிய பொருட்களை சேகரித்து முகாம்களுக்கு கொண்டு சேர்ப்பது தான் .

இந்தப் பணிகளுக்கு ஏன் கழுதைகள், குதிரைகள் பயன்படுத்தப்படுவதில்லை என்ற நண்பரின் வினாவிற்கு ஓட்டுநர் அளித்த பதில்:

மைனஸ் 50 டிகிரி சீதோஷ்ன நிலையில் கழுதைகள், குதிரைகளால தாக்குப்பிடிக்க இயலாது.

"சரி, ஒரு நாளைக்கு எவ்வளவு நேரம் பணியாற்றுவார்கள்?" நண்பரின் கேள்வி.

ஓட்டுநர்: "இரண்டே மணி நேரங்கள் தான்.  ஆக்சிஜன் குறைவால் அவ்வளவு நேரமே மூச்சுப்பிடித்து வேலை செய்ய இயலும். மீதி நேரங்களெல்லாம் ஆசுவாசப்படுத்திக்கொள்ளவே சரியாக இருக்கும். இப்பணியையும் அதிகாலை இரண்டு மணிக்கே துவங்க வேண்டும். டார்ச் விளக்குகள் உபயோகிக்காமலேயே.  டார்ச் உபயோகித்தால் எதிரிக்குத்தெரிந்து குண்டு பொழியத்துவங்கிவிடுவார்கள்.இந்தப் பணியை அதிகாலை இரண்டு மணி இருளில் செய்கிறபோது அதீத கவனத்துடன் செய்யவேண்டும். சற்றே கவனம் பிசகினாலும், கீழே விழுந்தால் அதல பாதாளம் தான். எலும்பு கூட கிடைக்காது. "

இப்படியெல்லாம் நம்மையெல்லாம் காக்க குடும்பம், மனைவி, மக்கள் எல்லாம் துறந்து நமக்காக அல்லும் பகலும் பணியாற்றுகின்ற நமது இராணுவ சகோதரர்களுக்கு யாது கைமாறு செய்யப்போகிறோம்.

கொடி தினத்தன்று வெறும் ஸம்ப்ரதாயமாக இன்றி மனப்பூர்வமாக, மனதார நம்மால் இயன்ற வகையில் நன்றியுடன் நமது பங்கை அளிப்போம்.

Salutes to our Jawans.

Mind Facts

A world of difference is there between minding facts and mindsets. 

He refers to an instance to explain this dichotomy - betwixt mindset and minding facts.

One of his friends  used to be very enthusiastic and energetic.  Strangely when he last saw him, the friend was very dull.  The author took him for a cup of tea and asked why this sudden change.   As if waiting to pour down, the friend went on and narrated, "The boss who used to be very affectionate to me suddenly starts finding fault with my work and shouts at me."

The author quietly listened to him.  The friend went further, "all this sudden change is due to a new Consultant that the company has engaged recently. And I plan to tender my resignation papers"

Just as they were sipping their cup of tea, in the next table a customer gave his order with high decibels.  The waiter was not so far that he could not hear the customer's order.

The author wondered, "The waiter is close by. Then what's the need for the customer to use high decibels?"

The friend replied, "May be the waiter is short of hearing. Hence the customer had to use high decibels to convey his order."

The author keenly observed and noticed that the customer had plugged an earphone in his ears and was listening to some songs while giving the order.  The customer's mind was so obsessed with listening to the songs through the earphone that he thought that the bearer could not listen if he spoke softly.  Therefore he used the high decibels to place his order.

The friend got the lesson instantly. He learnt to analyze why there was sudden change in the boss's interaction with him, learnt to sift the facts.

After a few days when the author and the friend met for a cup of tea again, the author noticed that the friend turned to his normal self with full of energy.  He asked the friend, "what happened, what did you do with the resignation papers?"

The friend pointed to a corner in that cafeteria.  In the corner was.........................yes, your guess is right,  a big trashcan.

Another instance, once the great leader and former CM of Madras Presidency, Shri Rajaji was travelling in a train.  The passenger sitting near the window in the opposite seat suddenly slipped his expensive wrist watch while the train was running at super speed.  The passenger who lost the watch and his fellow passengers were worried and making a hue and cry.  All this while, Rajaji remained unperturbed.  Even when a few passengers commented on his remaining silent when the fellow passenger was deeply worried over loss of his watch.    After a while the train stopped at the next Station.  Then quietly, Rajaji said, "From this station, go back on track, your watch fell at the place where  n th number of lamp post was there."  While all were making hue and cry, he kept quiet and started counting the number of lamp posts on the way.

Lesson:  No point in making a hue and cry.  Keep Observing and try to see what best you can do.

The author refers to many such stories with practical lessons.

He quotes at right places many legends.

Here is who's who of those legendaries:

Swami Vivekananda

Maha Kavi Bharathi,

Mahatma Gandhi

Albert Einstein

Thomas A Edison

Somerset Maugham

And the book is very motivating one to all young aspiring minds.

Maha Shivrathri 2021

If every 8-year old in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation. –

 Dalai Lama

Maha Shivrathri 

11 March, 2021

My mind goes back to Maha Shivrathri 2019, 5th March. The above sagely words,  nay pearls of Dalai Lama were wrapping up the post in my blog :  asiwritemypage. 

This auspicious day a Sindhi friend rang up. 

To tell me what magic did Pranayama do in his life. What inspired him towards Pranayama was a book in English on Pranayama, its scientific validation. Inputs for the book were from Baba Ram Dev.

The energy of two baffles me. 

Who are they? 

Sadhguru Vasudev

And

The Yog Guru Baba Ram Dev.

I wonder whether tiredness is in their dictionary. Both have gone miles,  been going miles and will blaze many more trails. 

Beyond personalities I feel to derive the message.  Message on Yog, asans, candid,  crystal clear views that these two carry,  convey.  They don't have to compel their perception on any one.  Rather people venture to take good things like bees hop from flower to flower to gather the honey. 

Well, 

When I started to learn yoga,  my initiation was to do Asans.  I didn't know  nor rather have heard of Pranayama.  Even after years of doing Asans,  my focus isn't still on Pranayama part.  Or maybe I'm not aware in doing Asans,  dhyan that Pranayama is inbuilt, intertwined. 

In dhyan and saavasan a.k.a., corpse posture,  oh I'm failing in words to convey the superb bliss you experience that particular time.  The beauty is it lingers through the day and even beyond.  Reason why regular practice without any breaks is emphasized upon. 

I'm just in rudiments of Pranayama. Between an inhale and exhale cycle,  howsoever minimal,  you will vouch you experience the glimpse of the bliss.

As you go deeper and deeper into something like Asans,  the dhyan process, or anything for that matter, you  sure would experence that new vistas,  dimensions open up. 

Just had done a brief spell of inhale, exhale - Pranayama.  Long way to go in learning it the proper way,  from right Masters.

Don't risk trying it without a proper Guru's guidance. 

Schedule to read, Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi's,  'Who am I?' yet another round this Maha Shivrathri.  It runs edition into edition year after year.  

Wish you Superb Maha Shivrathri. 

Har Har Maha Dev dispel all darkness and enlighten, bestow peace.

Book Affair

Book Affair 

Did I misspell the title? 

No. 

A couple of weeks back casually turned on TV during dinner time. 

Kajol Devgan was on conversation with a media person.   The interviewer asked Kajol about her reading habit,  her personal library and all. 

We all have heard of bathroom singers. 

You know there is a new tribe growing.  The name,  rest room readers.  Unlike bathroom singers, this tribe of bookworms are die hard sorts,  deep into reading. 

Well

Kajol too reads there.   And her bookshelves have nearly दो हसार about 2000 books. 

Here's a shortie on who's who of prominent readers. :

Former CM Jayalalitha

Cricketer Virat Kohli

Kamalahasan

Jayalalitha had a personal library. 

Kamal has one. 

Recently read. Someone wanted a particular info.  He couldn't get it.  When he casually referred it to versatile actor,  voracious reader Kamal,  he immediately drew out the book from his shelves containing the data that the gentleman was in need of. 

For many a reader a day is not a day when he/she hasn't read on that day at least a little. 

Why read? 

It saves you from dementia. Opens up a wider canvas.  Ignites your imagination, kindles creativity. Keeps you abreast of current affairs. Ha, it's a tapas!.

By the way, the book on the picture by the title வாசிப்பது எப்படி by Mr Selvendran was among the books recommended by Kamalahasan at his Mayyam stall in Chennai South Indian Book Publishers' Annual book fair.  Currently on at YMCA grounds, Nandanam. 

Mr Selvendran just doesn't stop with encouraging to read.  He encorages you on to write as well.  Write what and how?   He explains the subtle difference between just jotting in your daily diary what happened on the day and what he calls as journalising.  The latter requires adding your perception to what you diarize.

Incidentally I remember a brief interaction with historian and senior journalist late Shri Muthiah, yes, the Man from Madras Musings, a fortnightly,  years ago.  One long time reader wrote a front page article. It was about his little grandson achieving some laurels in US.   Had he stopped at being proud about young grandson, no issues.  But he went on to compare two nations and how things were far better there and we can't imagine the same system,  discipline etc.,  here.   Being young,  this tailpiece enraged me.  I lost no time shooting up a rejoinder.   Mr Muthiah published it in the next issue. Coincidentally at that a former President chose to delay his journey by abruptly having his haircut right in the tarmac. I wrote -  Like former PM Mrs Gandhi said corruption is a universal phenomenon,  that there being a crack,  mad everywhere, anywhere was also another phenomenon. 

Mr Muthiah advised to keep up writing,  and write at least 500 words a day. 

Wrapping it up with,

"If there is a book that you want to read,  but it hasn't been written yet,  you must be the one to write it."

- Toni Morrison 

Imperative and Not Choice

Happy. 

Covid19 graph seems declining. 

Or

Is it just an optic?! 

Beware. 

Time not for complacency.

No. 

I'm not pessimistic.

There is a world of difference 

Between 

Worrying 

And 

Being concerned. 

So says Dale Carnegie,

Whose popular seller

'How to stop worrying 

And start living'

Was my earliest to

Attempt to read a book 

In English as I 

Journeyed into college campuses 

After eleven years of

Schooling. 

Being concerned leads one

To turn pro active, 

Aware, 

Conscious. 

It really makes one concern

To note:

○chances of transmission is likely if one happens to sit next to someone asymptomatically affected even for 15 minutes. 

○reason why 100% occupancy is not advisable yet in closed spaces like theatres,  auditoriums etc. 

○masks can protect you to a certain extent,  but cannot completely.

○vaccine may save, reduce fatality, but it cannot prevent the virus transmission. 

It's IMPERATIVE

And 

Not yet a CHOICE

To

○stay safe 

○be responsible 

○wear mask 

○maintain social distancing 

○keep hygiene 

And it's collective combat 

And war on the deadly killer, 

'COVID19'.

A global mission

And collective Responsibility. 

Prasadam

Prasadam.

Who wouldn't love it?! 

Especially when it

Reaches the plates

And palates of

All

Sans 

Any bias

Any discrimination 

Whatsoever -

After due offering to 

The Deity,

The God. 

Naivedhyam is its

Name when it's offered to 

God first. 

With God's blessings 

It's re-christened as

Prasad when it gets 

Shared with devotees. 

OK. 

Are you a travel lover? 

Tired not being able to 

Venture out 

The whole last year of

Pandemic. 

Relax. 

Vaccines have seen 

The light of the day. 

Strong war is already on

Mutation. 

Mutation is evidently 

Getting mutilated. 

So

Get ready your backpack. 

Set your itinerary 

This post pandemic. 

India is rich with Temples 

Even centuries after 

Invaders tried their bits

Trampling them. 

The speciality is

The unique Naivedhyam 

Prepared in

Madappallis - God's 

Exclusive kitchen -

And offered to the presiding Deity .

Some samples here. 

The aromatic Rasam sadam at

Shringeri Saradamba Temple. 

Incidentally Rasam is the healer

Food your grandma would 

Make you consume 

When you 

Sneeze 

Caugh out

And 

You have running nose. 

What makes you get relief 

Faster is this Rasam 

Before your 

Supplementary pill

Your doctor 

Scribbles in

His prescription. 

OK your next jaunt

Can be to

Ambalapuzha. 

And you get

Sweet Paal Payasam there. 

From God's own country - Kerala, 

Trip down to the Temple City, 

Madurai which never sleeps. 

Visit Azhagar Koil. 

And get Dosai.

When you go to 

Ramanujarchya's, 

Tirukozhtiyur, 

You'll see the vendor 

At Prasad stall

Tell you,

"the laddu here 

Tastes same as the 

One from Tirumala."

Teasers enough. 

For more Prasads

Do Google Search. 

If Google fails

Read sthala Puranam. 

God bless. 

More Prasads.

Are you too busy to exercise?

Never make excuses. Your friends don’t need them and your foes won’t believe them.” ―John Wooden

The lame excuse 

Straight away from 

RAM -

Random access Memories. 

No scarcity of 

It at all. 

For God's sake 

And your 

Health's sake

At least 

Do spare time 

And do

Some workout. 

Even if it's 

Bite-sized. 

Are you couched 

In your work chair

Uninterruptedly? 

For hours together 

Staring at monitor? 

One may appreciate 

Your duty consciousness. 

But beware 

All the time you sit

The side effect is

You will see 

Girth line keeps burgeoning. 

Having an overload on

Heart functioning. 

Every hour pause for a

Few Minutes.

Do one asan,

A little jog,

Squat about 5 to 10 counts, 

Stroll a few steps or

Do whatever legitimate 

Physical activity you 

Enjoy doing. 

உடம்பினை முன்னம் இழுக்கென்று இருந்தேன்
உடம்புக்குள்ளே உறு பொருள் கண்டேன்
உடம்புளே உத்தமன் கோவில் கொண்டானென்று
உடம்பினை யான் இருந்து ஓம்புகின்றேனே.

- திருமூலர் 

WHO -

World Health Organization -

Issues guidelines. 

Physical activity guidelines. 

At least about once in a decade.

Recognizing the 

Dynamics of 

Life styles,

Work culture 

In the interugnam,

It keeps issuing Guidelines. 

Till recently 

Its recommendation was

To do

Aerobic -

Walking 

Running and

Cycling - 

For at least 150 minutes 

A week. 

150 minutes of

Moderate-intensity

Excersice or

75 minutes of

Vigorous intense activity. 

The new Guidelines doubled

it up to 

150 to 300 minutes - moderate intensity 

Or

75 to 150 minutes vigorous intensity 

Per week. 

Do 

At least bite-sized activity 

Through the day 

Through the week 

Meet target Guideline. 

Enjoy life. 

God bless. 

Thank you Maharishi

Reach out 

Inward

At the least 

Twice a day. 

20 minutes 

Each session. 

Be still 

That's what 

Is doing dhyan is. 

When being still

You're not 

Shirking responsibilities. 

Contrast

You will find yourself 

More concerned 

More peaceful 

And 

Completely 

Blissful. 

Your turnout will 

Be more,

Quality aesthetic 

And your 

Efficiency at the best. 

Not just work. 

You turn healthier too. 

Skepticism may stretch 

And raise its head. 

But certain thing like 

Dhyan is experience

To feel it. 

Words may fail

To draw on

Canvas what it

Feels like to do 

Dhyan. 

Try. 

I vouch

It's worth 

Trying. 

All the best 

God be with you 

Every single stride. 

Thank you Maharishi

For such lovely boon, 

Shortly TM - Transcendental 

Meditation - simple 

And easiest dhyan tool.