Food and Vasthu

I was searching for a jpeg of Indian thaali which had all the naivedhya items placed as per paak vidhi. But could not find any such pic even after hours of search. Hence this pic.

This being food Vasthu, mom adds the following effects of eating facing various directions:

1. East – Spiritual Growth
2. West – All round prosperity
3. North – Gives Diseases
4. South – Increases material wealth

Order of serving:

1. To start with little payasam on right bottom – EESANYA
2. Cucumber or any pacchadi on top right – VAYU
3. Three types of veg curries; mostly with Okra since it is balancing for all 3 dosas and 6 tastes to the left of pachaddi – spread over VAYU TO VARUN
4. One two kootu or aviyal to the left of pachadis - VARUN TO NAIRUTHI
5. Vaddai or other bakshanam at leftmost bottom – AGNI
6. Pickles at topmost left with salt under it - NAIRUTHI
7. Paruppu served in the middle bottom of the leaf
8. Rice in center
9. Sambar
10. Rasam
11. Payasam
12. Thick flavoured buttermilk
13. Betel nut

For paakviddhi:

http://chiraan.blogspot.com/2011/03/paak-vidhi.html

Water Tank and Himalayas

This was the water tank, N (Rose), Narmada and I tried to scale when we were kids.

Our new quarters is very near the water tank we climbed more than two decades earlier. We three started to climb after our exams got over. We had still worn our KV school uniforms since we had not yet gone home. There are so many mango trees all around the water tank. I was almost stepping over the tank roof, when a nearby school authorities came, bid us to come down, noted down our names and class standard. We were not smart enough to lie at that age and gave our real names. That school authorities called our school principal, the principal informed all the teachers, parents were summoned. So every teacher gave us a round of scolding before they started every class and one ma’m even made me and N write imposition longer than ‘I will not go to another school and climb water tank’ 500 times within one night. The truth was that we had not actually gone to another school, the tank was just in the middle of quarters.

I simply love viewing things from the top. Trekking or flying, doing anything that takes me to the top of the mountain. The bird’s eye view. Of course, once you climb a mountain, there is always another mountain to climb. I want to see the Himalayas, especially the Trishul Peaks in Himalayas, Nainital, Uttarakhand sometime.

source

This peak beckons me because it is picture perfect for the swarajathi Shaambashivayanve raajita giri in kamaas.

Nila Kaihirathu Niram Theihirathu

I was just sitting under the tree waiting for music teacher to come. All around me, girls in whitish green kurti and phthalo green pajamas were dancing bharatnatyam.


And suddenly this song floated in the air. In RSK HSS school, this was the song, we sang for a group singing competition. We missed 1st prize and had to be content with 2nd prize. Lovely lilting song from ManiRatnam's Indira.

From Wiki

"As a boy, Clive is reputed to have climbed the tower of St Mary's Parish Church in Market Drayton and perched on a gargoyle, frightening those down below........ on 22 November 1774 he committed suicide......Though Clive's suicide has been linked to his history of depression and to opium addiction, the likely immediate impetus was excruciating pain resulting from illness which he had been attempting to abate with opium."

I vaguely remember one of the English lessons in NCERT textbooks, where some small boy climbs a church and amuses people. "Michael Goes Climbing" was the name of the lesson.

Home Alone

Mom had been summoned to Chennai for final discussions regarding sister’s marriage. So I was home alone after a long time. My sleep had been snatched thanks to strange midnight UK call to which I finally managed to put a full stop in the evening. So I was asleep most of the day, waking up to read, and then sleeping, reading and sleeping taking turns.

I went as usual for vocal classes after watering the vegetable patch and partly collecting the fallen tamarind pods. After classes I made a trip to local temple and was just returning, when periyamma called me. She told me that she was waiting at the locked door entrance. Only then I realized how much mom had been feeding me. I feel hungry only if mom is there. Left to myself, I didn’t even feel like stretching my hands to drink water placed next to bed. I didn't feel thirsty even after 2 hours of singing. I wonder why people precisely give me what I don’t need – making so much hoopla about food. I didn’t even roll my tongue up (my attempts with kecchari mudhra). I just did nothing. I simply had no appetite today. And my periyamma was thinking that I was starving, when I was actually not.

Permaculture update

Pasalai Keerai

We planted the stems after making saag. This one has survived the daily treadings of cows. :-) I wonder if we would ever get to pluck any of its leaves for cooking. Either mom has to put up the fence or the cows and goats have to spare few leaves for us. :-)

Ponnakanni Keerai

Supposed to be good for eyes.

Pudhina

Curry Leaves (Karuvepu illai)

These ones are simply growing wildly all over. I have to walk carefully, so that i don't step on them accidentally. Very good for hair and eyes.

Ara Nellika (Amla)

Ascorbic acid. This along with the lemon tree nearby gives me my daily dose of vitamin C. After drinking lukewarm water of lemon juice with honey on empty stomach, rubbing the left over lemon on skin purifies the skin and makes it glow.

The voice of the silence

Am yet to read The voice of the silence. Panguni Uthiram is a grand fasting and feasting day for Lord Muruga near our place. The full moon on that day was the closest to earth after many years. It was spell bounding to see the full moon that night. Many a full moons, I would just put up a chair on the terrace or balcony and sit simply gazing at the full moon till kingdom comes. There was a line in a contemporary biographical story on Buddha’s life, where it was mentioned that his mother MahaMaya bared her breasts to the full moon to obtain its full grace for her son. There was this Mecano’s song Hijo De La Luna which was on my loop for many a days.

That was the day, I sent a facebook friend request to my teacher who transformed my life. I thought about nothing else in sending my friend request to my teacher, that I uploaded my mobile number also in facebook to quicken his response.

You can guess what happened, folks from all over the world started calling me at all unearthly times. My god, to receive calls with unknown country codes at 00:44 a.m. that woke me and my sleeping family members with a jolt yet with an agreeable nimitham made me wonder. Folks would just speak without coming to the point. To receive greetings sms’ from foreign numbers was unnerving. So I had to remove my number.

My policy is everyone in this world is a friend of mine. Silence and good thoughts are more efficient than alarming phone calls at odd hours. Silence is golden. Friendly and positive thoughts and feelings are more sublime than words and languages, internet and mobile signals.

My useless yet meaningful Pasam trip to Kodaikanal

Man Without Feet - There once was a man who complained of having no shoes – until he met another man with no feet.

My friend and I don’t need words to speak with each other – we simply trust each other and can continue our conversation as if we had just spoken seconds earlier even after years of silence. (If you are curious, he married the same girl written by agasthiyar naadi jyoshiyam 7th kandam, he shares my brother’s dob and his nakshathra is my favourite, aspirational revathi). So his sms about Kodaikanal Pasam Hospital triggered my unresearched trip there right after my discharge on March 15th, to find a free way to remove my surgical scars.

It was written in my horoscope 2 decades before i met with any of my accidents, that lagna lord mars in scorpio (incidentally lord of 6th as well) would result in body scars. I had thought that my 9 surgeries and the resultant scars were the worst thing to happen to a girl before my Kodai Paasam trip.

My mother and I had to fight hard to keep the caring smile on our faces with compassion in our hearts and stop our tears from spilling out, as we saw the close to hundred, various - usually 3rd degree burn victims, (earless Goan girl, etc) – prioritized for free scar removal from amongst mostly young girls out of the 900 patients who had registered for the annual free plastic surgery by German doctors in Paasam hospital.

Catch Me if You Can

So next year at least, I will register in time and see if at least my lower lips can get efficient and humane treatment in Paasam. Consultations had closed just the day before and patient prioritization had been done and surgeries had started by the time we reached there. So our only option was to catch the German doctors as they emerged in between surgeries, explain our case and see, if we coax them to operate on us as well. There were many worse cases than mine. I was thankful to god, for sparing my face from glass pieces in my vehicle accidents. It was an exact reflection of the thought that portrays the meaning, that when I complained to god that I didn’t have good shoes to wear, God showed me people who had no feet.

Beautiful Kodai

Chithappa’s spiritual contacts worked here as well. My host (descendant of Pudukottai royal family) had a spacious villa, right in the neighbourhood of Dhayanidhimaran. He picked us up, bought us lunch and snacks, provided Green tea in his home, took us for a lake view ride in his car, time was up, else we could have gone for a boat ride, let me trot wildly on a docile whitish mare to my heart’s content and helped me find a Christian samaritan who could command the attention of anyone for actually getting the doctors to even speak to me in the first place. I figured out that my case comes under cosmetic surgery and not plastic surgery, which is not done in Pasam incidentally. He showed us the Shruthi place where Sai Baba stays, when he comes there every year.

We returned home the same day, thankful to God. Our host came home today all the way from Kodaikanal to return the discharge summaries and snap on horse that I had forgotten at his residence. Strange boding. :-)

Music Teacher’s Gift

My ma’m has this habit of giving something or the other to us for every occasion. Last time for Vijayadashami, I got a plate. This time for the Thyagarajar Aradhana that I missed, this is what she gave me this evening. A pink serving tray with a golden rim. My childhood’s favourite colour. Those were the days, I viewed the world through baby pink glasses, every dress that dad bought me, right down to slippers were all baby pink. Later my dress shades changed to earthish biegish shades. Am no longer wondering, why girls are obsessed with pink. :-)

With my cleansing Karpuravallis and mini oranges for Tuesday



My experiments with music

I had always wanted to learn carnatic music after struggling with the pronunciation and song form of LalithaSahasranama in 2006 when I bought my yellow sapphire (Kanaka Pushparagam) and had to do its associated sanctification pooja. Somehow only last year, I got a chance to enroll for formal carnatic music classes. So I researched net and I was surprised to see that the 7 swaras and chakras had the link. So I used to close my eyes for the sarali, mel sthayi, janda, dhatu etc and visualize the corresponding chakra region. Somehow, to synchronize thalam, chakra visualization and to sing was tasking. To top it all, talams for geethams, swarajathis and varnams etc varied making it difficult for me to practice swaras and the corresponding pallavi charanams keeping in mind the chakras region. All this because I have not still memorized most of the songs. Finally I let go, forgetting the chakras, forgetting the talams, just swaying and moving my hands and finger tips, just following and flowing with the nerve sensations in my body as I sang.

Thalams and Mudhras

I had put a list of 6 vedic areas for my study plan and mudhras was one of them. The most efficient form of exercise without any strain. No gymming, no swimming, no straining yoga asanas and pranayams. Suits the lazy me. Karagre vasathe gives layers and layers of meanings each time it comes in mind. Now all I have to do is 8 minutes surya mudhra per day in summers for my weight, various other mudhras for digestion, relaxation, concentration and other health aspects all lying down on bed or sitting in one place after setting the timer. Amazing. Tested, Surya Mudhra works for sure. :-) Hats off to the teachers who figured this out in the first place. 72000 naadis?

Dasa mudhra samaradhya - She who is worshipped by ten postures
Karanguli nakhothpanna narayana dasakrithi - She who created the ten avatharas of Narayana from the tip of her nails (when Bandasura sent the Sarvasura asthra (arrow), she destroyed it by creating the ten avatharas of Vishnu)
Nakadhi dhithi samchanna namajjana thamoguna - She who removes the darkness in the minds of her devotees by the sparkle of nails

For more details:
http://complete-education.blogspot.com/2008/12/prithvi-shaamak-or-surya-mudra.html
http://www.healthandsoul.com/hasta-mudra-beneficial-for-age-groups-part-1.html
http://thetaoofgoodhealth.com/6-awesome-health-benefits-of-bananas-9/

OMANDUR TEMPLE

Kural-236 "Thontir pugazhodu thontuga…"
Meaning : If you are born (in this world), be born with qualities conductive to fame. From those who are destitute of them it will be better not to be born.
This was the kural meaning written on the government bus which my mom and I boarded.

Amazing Vanni tree that supported me gave me shade from the hot sand and sun.



Why this temple?

My soothsayer asked us to go this temple so my mom dragged me to this temple. This temple is indeed miraculous. Even few minutes of meditation here, gives abundant blessings, that I was forced to do shanthi thavam just after 5 minutes, for peace, to stop my headache. I could not do it the way Vethathri Maharishi had asked us to, focusing on spinal cord. Thankfully, I remembered yesterday’s Ambal shop's mantra just in time to get rid of headache. I wanted some space ‘Far from The Madding Crowd’ and was sitting after taking the temple snaps near the madapalli. Water spilling out from the pipe at distance came near my feet where I was sitting and I playfully splashed in the water, taking care not to wet my sari. It was fun.

There are such evolved souls in this temple who can withstand all the arul (blessings) but at this stage, I cannot. I actually saw the very old poojari (> 60 years) roll on the blazing hot scorching noon ground with lightening speed, jump, bend and spring like doll thrice or more times, saliva came out, people were scared he would hit the hard granite stones nearby. He quickly went to the heavy vel (spear), uprooted it from the ground and went around the Masi Periyanna Swamy temple and finally put it back in its place after circumambulating it once.

Temple History



Annai Kaamakshi, Ekambareshwarar in Jyothi forms

This is my attempt at literal translation of the tamizh booklet by Thiru E.Ganeshan as my mom read the poem form of history which is recited beating Udukku (small hand drum). Know the temple history of Big Temple in 12th century with pride. Think with mind (manas) Annai Kamakshi and divine (arul) Masi Periyanna.

There was a child named Karalan, who herded cattle at the base of Kollimalai. Masi and Arabali were two Malayali friends. The malayalis conducted a big pooja, where outsiders were not allowed. With the help of friends, our son Karalan, went inside temple to see the pooja. In the malayali crowd, he hid in the attic to see it. He incurred sin, since he saw it hiding.

There is one outsider amongst us, bring him, revealed the blessed voice. He listened to us being one amongst us in spite of being an anniyan (outsider). The next day the poojari ordered Karalan to be beheaded. Karalan was scared to death and prayed to God. Kamakshi came in Karalan’s dream, only for one second you would be with cows, she said. Whereever the herd of cows stops, we will be there and you can construct a beautiful temple, she said.

Balagan (the kid) woke up and looked at his cows. At dawn he herded his cows. He stayed at night in Vaithychetty palayam. The next day, he stayed in VeeraMacchanPatti. The third day, MuthiyamPalayam. 4th day he followed his cows.

At a place, where Vanni tree and Kunni tree were present, the cows started moving in circles. There was a loud sound like O due to tree branches shaking and Ma sound of cows. Cows bent on their knees and mooed in joy. Karalan raised his hands above and prayed to God. O and Ma joined in this place, sinless Maasi Periyannan’s soil. Hence the name Ommandur.

Trivia

Sweet Pongal is given as prasad. Pooja is done with mud and jyothi only on Mondays and Fridays. All deities are in the form on jyothis, and no statues are there, making it even more divine and sublime. Special poojas are done on Chithirai 1st, Thai 1st, Jan 1st. Aadi 18th and 28th. Maasi month (march) mahashivarathiri day – festival is celebrated with gusto. This temple reiterates the importance of kula devatha prayers, before starting anything. Practical modern day blessed poojaris. There is no archana sheet and no compulsion that arathi will be done only if you put money (like in Kukke Subrahmanya). On Mondays and Fridays, the present poojari (grandson) finishes his pooja to deities and answers all devotees questions freely and practically the whole day. Invigourating temple.

Parts of temple that caught my attention

There are 12 pillars by the south and north side. 2 center pillars.



Devi Mahima



Ekabareswarar, MaasiPeriyanna, Shakthi



Omrishi – reminded me of the short story – The man without the face



Baba Ramdev connection

I was amused to see this poster reporting that Baba Ramdev was coming nearby on 26th.


Finally could not help remembering the soul melting swarajathi, Kamakshi ni padayugame sthiramani ne nammi by Syama Sastri in Yadukulakambhoji. I am still struggling with mishra chaapu talam though. :-)

Thakkali Bhai

He has supplied us vegetables for more than 3 decades. There is no such strategic CRM with jargons, frameworks and all that here. Just plain simple trust and honesty. We were just finishing off our dinner when he came home lifting a huge heavy bag of vegetables. He told us that he saw mom lifting the bag with difficulty and hence he came home.

He started reeling off his stories for 30 minutes, didn’t accept dinner and had just one banana. One Tulasi thailam went to soothsayer and one went to him for his toe wound. Now the other two are missing. It came and now it is all gone in just one day. When he got wounded, one airport police guy gave him bandages, HAPP guy got him medicines, one malayali lady quickly washed her hands and tied the bandage to arrest the blood flow.

I can sense the marked difference in his attitude though his appearance was still the same. People change so much in a few decades and become so philosophical. One of his daughter had developed breast lump it seems which she did not tell before her marriage. He spent 5k for that surgery and paid Rs.50/- interest per day for that loan. He was relating about his daughters lives. How even in this old age, he had to work till the last day for a living, since they could not stay in of his daughter’s home for more than 2 days. He related with joy how angelic his grand daughters were unlike him, taking after their mothers. He recollected the affection those tiny tots showered on him, mentioning with pride each words of love. He promised to buy me more fresh and natural vanilla from market on Monday. Eggless cakes as well. I told him, it does not matter. Still he persisted, describing the cake with gusto.

I was still dressed in my shorts after permaculture and dinner preparation. He saw my oedema, enquired about my job and said, look after it, since during pregnancy, legs get swollen even more naturally. Need to research on oedema now. If it comes for just 100 kms bus travel, it is bad. Would Charukesi (beautiful hair??) raga help in this?

It was written that i would have Thulukiyar friends. But two (Rose and Thakkali bhai) dropping home in one day was amusing.


Thakkali Bhai’s History

He is a pathani. As a kid he worked near Pudukottai assisting in selling vegetables. Once the shop owner in his anger over some issue, threw the measuring stone on bhai. Our bleeding bhai got a ride in a passing lorry and alighted in a place where his future father-in-law took over his life.

Inititally, bhai sold only tomatoes (thakkali), onion and potatoes, carrying them to his customers quarters in his cycle. Once he realized that vendors were buying vegetables in market for Rs 6/- and selling it for Rs.14/- in OFT, he started selling other vegetables also, sitting in one place instead of cooing in streets pedaling his cycle.

Bhai's Customer Relationship Management Strategy

He does not do Rs.10/- business. 99% of his dealings are in Rs.100s. For making his well deserved profits, he sells all vegetables at a uniform rate. Hence, once the factory gets over, there is a huge queue in his shop and the waiting time is at least 30-40 minutes, while other vegetable vendors get only the impatient customers. He has a sweet way of speaking with everyone. Knows everyone by name, where they live, their kids, their jobs, their personal problems, speaks their languages.

He adds extra vegetables, or adds few fruits if the total cost of the vegetables and fresh fruits bought is less than Rs.100/- to make up. He gives kind of smashed tomatoes or otherwise slightly damaged vegetables, coriander curry leaves for free over and above the vegetables cost. Thus avoiding his wastage and improving customer satisfaction (giving more than expected). It is a win-win situation for both the customers and bhai. While other customers are selling green leafy vegetable for Rs 8/- bhai sells it for Rs. 2/-, stating that was the cost in market and that everyone should benefit by eating healthily. If some customer starts complaining about price or the way bhai weighs, bhai swiftly throws extra vegetables and the weighing scale balance which goes down with his swift force remains down and the customer is also satisfied. Bhai seldom gets angry, always sweetly reasoning out his prices, stating how much profit he makes for each vegetable he sells.

Quick Fix

We four had polished off half the water melon and I had parceled the remaining half for them. Curd for making lassi was over. Only a little milk was left along with vanilla payasam I had made earlier in fridge. So when my niece came home unexpectedly, I was in a fix. I could not ask my guests to return the half water melon to serve my niece. Luckily, some bit of water melon was still left sticking to the rind. I mixed vanilla payasam, milk in the lassi mixie and wow vanilla milkshake was ready in a jiffy to refresh my niece.

Only 3 grapes were still fresh left out of the 1 kg my BIL had got us. That along with a mini spoonful of Palani panchamrutham.



I liked the name Laura after the character in Eric Sehgal's Doctors. I named myself Laura Stevenson during my first stop gap call center job in 2003. My niece’s name is Preethi. I like the name Preethi. And now even more after realizing the truth in being born to pursue fame as in Thirukural.

I made cauliflower kuruma and chappathis with a liberal dose of ghee for dinner. And later we had sweet vanilla milk before hitting bed.

Shanivaar - Rest and Service

Permaculture Update

I was so glad to see the ponnakanni keerai and pasala keerai sporting new budding leaves this morning. Smart plants. :-) Even cows walking all over them, didn't deter them from fighting back. I watered them in sheer glee. Had a hearty breakfast of ghee dosas, moong dal sambar and coconut chutney flavoured with fresh curry leaves from backyard.

Today’s Lessons

Today Swamy came home again. I offered him sweet lassi and chopped watermelons. When you know only a little you go yap yap, else you just keep your trap shut in sheer silent ecstasy. When you realize this simple truth – as in Gita, you can’t help rejoicing again and again in pristine joy. Am still the blind girl exploring by feeling, bits and pieces of this big elephant universe. And hence this blogging.



Today’s Lessons:

Few boys were eating cucumber slices after applying red chilli powder and salt to it. An old man close to 80 years old asked them – why are you eating cucumber? The guys replied for cooling the body, for quenching thirst. The old man then retorted – why are you then adding chilli powder and salt to the cucumber slices. If you apply salt and chilli to your eyes, how does it feel? The sliced cucumber pieces feel the same pain, but they bear it in silence to quench your thirst.


After this gyan, I was so scared of cooking with fire – cutting vegetables. Oh man, I recollected the Zen thought that you can’t pluck a flower without disturbing a star above. Whatever, the sea is unaware of its own waves. Sarvam God or good force arpanamastu.

These people might not have the physical traits of a true guru. But these are practical people with vaaksiddhi. They stood by me and took care of me, even when all my friends and my whole family forsake me during my toughest period.

For years, they feed anyone rich or poor beggar, any creature whoever comes to their home with all they have for any number of days, their guests choose to stay. Christians, muslims, hindu devotees come there and get healed. Mini church and mosque is set up there. He prays in a temple under construction, which was a famous temple hundreds of centuries earlier. That soil SithuOonaVayal (Gyaan Vayal) has such healing powers. Incidentally, the new IIM Trichy is going to be set up around its periphery.

Jasmine – Madurai Kattu – Finger Scratching Back

I was just returning from Dabbias tailor shop that I saw this guy tying jasmines the way I had seen only in Madurai. I stood there rooted and enchanted, slowly learning from him. Finally I asked his permission to take a snap. He quickly got up, arranged the stand for the snap. I left to go after taking the snap, but the granny in the nearby flowers stand asked me to buy it. I told her how much can I buy, and then quickly realizing my mistake, I bought it. The guy asked only Rs.10/- for this. It would have cost others Rs. 15/-. I paid the remaining Rs.5/- with my heartfelt thankful smile.

My New Teacher



My Fruits



I cut half the flower strand for myself and offered the remaining half to god. Guess, rather than letting these flowers dry in samy shelf, this day, I would wrap them for Selvi in JMJ Convent. She is a born fighter. Once I read in Readers’s Digest about a girl whose legs were struck by lightning in a rocky forest. She dragged herself using only her hands for miles to reach for help. Even Selvi does the same thing from the day she was born. Her physical legs are as thick as drumsticks. She drags herself to Indian toilets using her hands, she spins baskets when her hands are not infected. She fights back everyday. Am glad, even when her family forsake her, God arranged a caring convent to adopt her.

My lessons – Jai Guru Datta

29. Do Not Feel That *You* Are Helping Others
“The feeling, 'I am helping others and going to help others' is wrong. It is mixed with Ahamkara (the feeling of I.) The feeling to possess must be, 'the Lord who is the entire universe of which I am only a minute particle.' It is like the finger being only a part of the body and it cannot be the body. The Lord, wishing to conduct acts of welfare, uses the medium He chooses best. It is like using the finger to scratch an itchy spot on the back. 'He' decides to choose the individual. The individual will know about the will of the Lord through his Guru and then only the feeling sprouts inside the heart of the individual to assist others. Again, it is like the finger and the back. It is not the power in the finger to get the finger to scratch the back, the finger can never do the function of the body totally."


Rose and blessings - Later this day

I was collecting tamarind that had fallen on ground dressed in my shorts in the backyard after having lunch. Nothing worked as I had planned. I didn’t cross the front door today. In a way it was good, my left leg oedema was still persisting after yesterday’s Omandur trip. I wanted to give the jasmine strand to JMJ convent Selvi. But it is fine, it went to N. Her name means wild rose, her daughter’s name means God’s Blessings. She is living separate after delivery, always carrying her daughter A on her hips. She shares her b’day with Britney Spears. I took them to the jhoola and swayed with A on my lap. It was fun. Need to fix the ropes firmly on the mango tree branch though. It is so slippery. Am praying her Singapore husband should call her back soon. Hoping jasmine’s aphrodisiac properties should bring back the lost love between the couple.

A was up on the tea-poy emptying everything, serving with ladle nonexistent food on my mom’s plate. Throwing away cheese balls, emptying idli podi, playing with cell-phone with hand washing water bowl nearby. In order to distract her from throwing away the medals and small decoration items in disarray, and creating further melee in the quarters, I switched on the TV, watching her actions as I changed the channels in parallel. She stopped still, stopped her destruction, came near TV and started waving her hands only for Sun music songs. Glad, music works, gladder still it was a soothing music being played in the channel right when it was needed.

Dabbias Hi-Look tailors

After buying a Banjara’s wheat germ gel for Rs. 150/- (moisturizing and I can feel that my skin is indeed soft as butter silk) we boarded an auto to reach Karim’s for scarves. But Karim bhai was dead and a black and white poster was pasted on the shop.

I moved on to JJ cut piece, went to Dabbias to give my scarves for stitching.

I used to hate caste system, when I didn’t understand the quintessential spirit that everyone is equal, when I didn’t understand it’s application: it’s use for efficiency in work, till I heard Subramanian Swamy speak in college on 2G scam. Like he quoted about Indira Gandhi, even am mesmerized by him. I now know which party to vote for during elections. I am still trying to get my voter’s id card though even after all formalities from my side got over years ago.

Message Inside



The essence of the message is the same as the mantra my yoga teacher taught me to recite before doing Surya Namaskars everyday. Websites give it as vimalam achalam:

Brahmaanandam paramasukham kevalam jnaanamurthim
Dvandvaateetam gaganasadrusham tatvamasyaadi lakshyam
Ekam nityam vimalavachanam sarvadeesaakshibhootam
Bhaavaateetam trigunarahitam sadgurum tam namaami.

I salute to that Sadguru who is the source of eternal bliss, supreme happiness, who has true wisdom, who is beyond the dualities, who is infinite, whose attention is always on the divine, who is unique, eternal, pure, steady, and who sees with the eyes of wisdom who is beyond thoughts and beyond three gunas - Jai Guru datta.

The Shop

This shop is located just near Chathram busstand upstairs two shops after Ambal shop. The tailors wash their tea tumblers and cups with such care and leave it dry outside. Only ladies are allowed inside the shop. Soothing songs are being played in the background. One does not have to carry stitched blouse for measurements. She knows the art and science of tailoring. The ma’m didn’t accept my mother’s torn kanchivaram sari on Friday, instead she said, bring it on a Saturday after April. The same vedic wisdom. She quickly got my three scarves stitched, and it was ready by the time she finished my measurements. All this efficiency, with an infectious smile on her face.

My experiments with Tulasi

From wiki: The name "Tulasi" in Sanskrit means "the incomparable one". The Tulasi plant is known in India in two forms – dark or Shyama (Krishna) Tulasi and light or Rama Tulasi. The former possesses greater medicinal value and is commonly used for worship.

Tulasi has also been used for thousands of years as a prime herb in Ayurvedic treatment, for its diverse healing properties. It is mentioned by Charaka in the Charaka Samhita, the central teaching of Ayurvedic medicine, and in the Rigveda. Tulasi is considered to be an adaptogen, balancing different processes in the body, and helpful for adapting to stress. [Marked by its strong aroma and astringent taste, it is regarded as a kind of “elixir of life” and believed to promote longevity.

Tulasi and Basil flowers

source

Medical Benefits of Tulasi thailam



1. Headache
Apply 2 drops of thailam on the two sides of forehead. Apply one drop of thailam on a piece of cloth, wring the cloth and inhale the fume. Children need not inhale the thailam fume.

2. Phlegm in chest
Adults could apply 5 drops of thailam on the chest pit for 5 continuous days before sleeping. For children it is 3 drops with coconut oil.

3. Tooth ache
Apply 2 drops of thailam on a piece of cotton and bite this cotton between the painful tooth. After 5 minutes, spit out and gargle with hot salt water. Germs will get killed and get pushed out and teeth will be strong.

4. Swelling
For bee sting, wasp sting, poisonous sting, take 10 drops of thailam and gently apply on the swollen area without any application of slightest pressure. After half and hour wash the swollen area with a sheekakai powder.

5. Joint Pain
For knee pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, hip pain and swelling due to accident take 10 drops and rub vigourously till the area gets slightly warmed with rubbing. If there is excess pain, after 30 minutes, give hot salt water othadam (cloth pressing). For external use only.



My experiments with Tulasi

I always used to wonder why this hoopla about praying to Tulasi. When I shifted to my new room in hostel, there was a barren pot left by previous student. So I wanted to plant roses in it, but the sweeping lady Jayamma got me Tulasi instead. I watered it with so much care, and flowers blossomed on it, but I was scared to pluck even a single leaf from it, when I or my friends developed common cold. Now thanks to thailam, I can use and derive the benefits of Tulasi without compunctions.

How I got the thailam

Yesterday, I was seated in the bus that was supposed to start at 10:15 am. It was 10:20, the Trichy heat was simmering and the sweating was profuse, aggravated by my silkish sari. One guy boarded the bus and explained the benefits of this thailam in a clear voice. Each box contains 2 vials. And it works. I tested it for my headache and it disappeared. Whenever I meditate knowingly or unknowingly, I get intense headache. Unless I quickly practice shanthi thavam as Vethathri Mahrishi has instructed us to, my head just splits out with pain. This one is indeed miraculous and that too only Rs.10/-. And the bus started immediately after everyone pocketed their Tulasi thailams. Wow, even delays are so meaningful.

Update 6 months later

Well, the tulsi smell, remained for the first few days, slowly the thailam was no longer thailam. It ceased to be effective. The initial effect was definitely a placebo. I slowly realized that the guy was fake. People sell spurious stuff all around. :-) How did I forget the maxim of caveat emptor? Recently after visiting my friend's newborn, we boarded a bus at Aranthangi. And lo, some other guy was selling this tulsi thailam, again, advertising like Surya in Pithamagan. One has no doubts about Tulsi benefits, it is the fake thailam and sellers that makes me wonder. The other day, mom ended up buying 1 kg honey that turned out to be syrup used in road side sherbet stalls with 2 crushed bees floating inside. I don't quite remember, where amongst Chanakya's shastras punishment for institutions that sell inappropriate food is specified.

Lavender – Lilac – Mauve – Purple – Violet

Some background

One of my favourite flowers is orchid. What a wonderful colour combo it has. Starting with eggwhite bramhaanda base to rainbow’s horizon lavender –lilac-mauve to dark violet –purple, some flowers sporting a reverse order. The idea of earth meeting the sky. I believe orchids can heal the world.



I loved painting. My dad got me water colours and oil paint when I was 3 years old. Yet he was the same person who put a pause to it when it was time to concentrate on academics. So, I painted only for competitions and in a fair number of inter-college competitions I used to get first prizes.

Existing collection

Leo Tolstoy occasionally refers to soft satin lilac coloured dresses of his characters in his War and Peace. It is my favourite colour as well. I have a lavender coloured stretchable material jeans top (Rs.400/-) which I bought for diwali in 2001, it is more than a decade old, but it is my soothing colour and I still wear it on days when it calls me. I have a soft mild violet stole I got for Rs.267/- near Hotel Monarch shopping center in Bangy which I bought on Feb 26th. I have a fascination for things that come to me on Saturn days. Those are the things I deserve – god’s gift. I have a mild electric white lavender plain khadi kurta to go with my white pants, which my sister got for me. She also bought me a light lilac formal shirt to go with my black pant. I have a sticky dark-purple jeans top as well which I bought in Saravana stores in early 2000.

New binge collection



Hair band: Rs. 6/-
Thick steel bracelet: Rs. 85/-
Steel with white stones nakshathra bracelet: Rs. 145/-
Border steel bangles: Rs. 110/-
1 dozen lavender painted glass bangles: Rs. 15/-
Lilac Purple neck piece +earring set: Rs. 225/-
Total worth of this mix and match collection is Rs. Rs. 586/-.

P.S. Owners of the lovely zygo orchid pictures kindly excuse any blatant and inadvertent copyright violations.

Corporate Strategy and Environment – Playing with Mother Earth

Permaculture

We had recently shifted quarters. It is ground floor with spacious wild garden. We have two trees each of tamarind and mango, one each of lemon, nellika, guava and marudhani tree already planted by someone decades ago. Wild curry leaves are growing everywhere. Yes’day, I was exhausted after watering without pipe, this permaculture patch of ponnakanni, pasalai and pudhina and all these trees and plants. I thought, I would rather sit and pray to varuna bhagawan for rains to fall on earth than straining and watering all these trees and plants.

Mom has arranged for a jhoola on this mango tree branch as well.

It is a wild wild garden without any fence. Cows, dogs, cats and other creatures tread freely on this wild garden, each eating whatever it wants, each resting and playing wherever it wants. I just had to wish and hiss once to keep the dogs from digging out and hurting my newly planted vegetable patch.

Am going to plant roses, jasmine, nandhiyavattai, tulsi, plantain tree sometime soon when my body permits me.

I had always loved organic farming. My inspiration is Mother Pondicherry for flowers. Guess, half my yoga asanas would be done spending some time with soil. I simply love jasmine flowers. We have 2 akash malligai trees surrounding our quarters at a walkable distance, one on the main road, and one just opposite to the entrance. This world is always a beautiful place, I only have to keep myself from doing any stupid thing and spoil it in the name of beautification and gardening, agriculture - that and this culture.

Pearls of Wisdom: Management Lessons From My Mother

We had just finished our breakfast this morning, and I was arranging few paper records in bookshelf, when mom said about learning from nature. My mother is a bookworm. There is nothing she has not read. She has so many diaries, where she writes down, all pearls of wisdom from what she reads. No wonder her name is Saraswathi.

My mom when she was 24 years old:

Dattatreya’s Management lessons to King Yaddhu, reported by Krishna to Uttavar

From sushmajee
In the Bhaagvat Puraan, 11/6, Dattaatreya enumerates a list of his 24 Guru: earth, air, sky or ether, water, fire, sun, moon, python, pigeons, sea, moth, bee, bull elephant, bear, deer, fish, osprey, a child, a maiden, a courtesan, a blacksmith, serpent, spider, and wasp. The 24 Guru of Dattaatreya come from the 24 Guru of Avadhoot described in the Puraan.

See this for Avadhoot

Earth – patience, firmness, being firm as rock

(I have a doubt: If earth is indeed firm, then why do man swallowing quicksands, dessert sands, slippery clay soil exist. If earth is indeed patient, why do earthquakes occur and why do volcanoes erupt? So earth has say 90% of its attributed properties)
Water – cleansing every sin, service – to remove man’s sins
Moths – desires are the reason for destruction – for they go towards the candle light and die
Python – contentment – it eats if it gets some food, else it just remains, it does not wander for food all over.
Honeybee – Without hurting the flowers, the honeybee just extracts a drop or two of honey. The sadhus, monks ought to obtain only such material favours from householders.
Kurari in tamizh – If one leaves attachment, one gets peace of mind. The creature had a piece of meat in its hands and other birds started fighting with the kurari for the piece of meat. Once the kurari left the piece of meat, the birds stopped attacking it and the creature got peace of mind.

Elephant and Lion
Once my mom, started telling about lion and elephant after we switched off lights to sleep, when I questioned about Ganesha having elephant head. She told me that elephant was the true king of jungle for it was large, never hurt other creatures while the lion roared and ate smaller creatures for its food.

Ramayana
My mother is my nature earth and father is universe. How simple is Ramayana after realizing this simple truth. Sometimes, i wonder why did i spend 12 lakhs for a 2 year PGP management course in iimb. I could have just listened to mom and got married first instead of pursuing only career neglecting my health and family.

Draupadi in Mahabharatha
Draupadi in Ramayana was the most efficient lady manager. When she reports Stree dharma to Sathyabama. Work life management, maternity, caring for mother-in-law, managing 5 husbands (pancha bhoothas), managing so many workers, dasis (giving what they need to get what she wants), managing and controlling expenses of Pandavas to maximize profit, what not duties, all this with a loving smile and without any stress. She was the pativrata of the highest kind. Can Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Carly Fiorina, Indira Nooyi, Margaret Thatcher (comes close), Indira Gandhi or any other woman leader come anywhere near Draupadi?

Snake
I have always been fascinated by snakes and recently i was surprised to learn that my sister's nature was snake. How true :-) Snakes tread gently on earth, not hurting anyone in that process. She just senses other's desires and gives them what they want their asking, be it bed for vishnu, protection from rain for krishna etc.

I respected snakes intelligence, but was agonized with cockroaches and lesser intelligent biting creatures. What management lessons can i learn from these creatures? - i have to keep away from them and create an environment where they won't harm my near and dear ones.

Why this hoopla over borders?

Yesterday (14 june) after a long time, I saw NDTV and saw a top officer Jaiswal saying their code of book is like the bible or another holy grail which cannot be changed. And I happened to remember my talks with one Mr. BB an ex service man who claimed he had braved all ravages of nature in JK border.

I had met him once next to library, when it was raining and had lent him my umbrella. Later we met once on the way to computer center and we spoke for a long time. I listened standing, ignoring even my leg pain. He had the airs of these army men, a solid physique, attractive in general for his age (he had 2 daughters). He had folded his hand behind and was telling me that JK issue could be easily solved. It was these higher authorities who wanted even higher sinecures like ambassador post to some country, who tried to prolong it. He alleged that an army man was already forced to work with one hand tied behind his back, but due to the higher authorities one was forced to work with both the hands and legs also tied.

Forget religion, which normal human body would like to brave the JK cold and ice to fight for their state for so many years. Acquire state and do what? What is the use of having external rights and rituals if one does not accept the inner harmony and brotherhood that unites all religions be it Hinduism, Christianity or any other ism.

In vipassana, they gave us a wonderful anecdote:
Father says to the child, please go there, do this, do that, so that you will be happy. The son does not do any of this and in the evening, prays to the father using candles or lamps and sandal paste, or simply prays after doing ablutions. How will the father feel? The same is the case with religions. Why are we blindly following the external rites and rituals, fighting and killing each other?

My Biocon friend used to say that 'Religion' is something that does not hurt the person next to you. We are all united by the common breath that we share. What is the use if hindus merely pour milk over idols while their poor neigbour is starving. What is the use if Christians light candles have so many sects, each claiming its supremacy? What is the use if muslims merely do the ablutions and pray and fail to follow universal brotherhood? Unity is strength. Of course, variety is the spice of life as long as one enjoys it, not when one feels pained by it. If one could observe the underlying universal unity in peace and respect the variety as it is, nothing like it. How simple it is to observe life as it is, yet how difficult is this complete awareness in everything one does.

Vellore-Walaja - At the Feet of the Master

The Trip
While travelling, I always carry something either to memorize in acads without straining my eyes or just casually read when the bus stops moving. This time for my weekend Vellore-Wallaja trip, i took a very tiny pocket booklet 'At The Feet of The Master' by Alcyone better known as JK (theosophical society). It was given to me by my pranic healers in April 2008, and i could completely read it only yes'day night. Hardly takes 20 minutes to read it. I am in the process of getting rid of all my excessive luggage (mental to physical - jewels to silk clothes to everything), and so am wary of even buying books, frequently resorting to libraries or borrowing from friends and getting rid of the book once i finish it. In fact most of the only special books i am having difficulties giving up are those that came to me without my asking for them, gifted by pisceans-acquarians decades ago. I need to stop my astro bucketing of people, even though it helps me interact with them better.

This pocket book was inspiring and it has re-iterated, what i always tried to follow in day to day life. 4 qualifications JK calls for in the path of evolution -

1. Discrimination (between real and unreal, see goodness-god in everything and every being) - way of life for folks with Hamsa MahapurushYoga
2. Desireless-ness (not even freedom from rebirth)
3. Good conduct (a) Cheerfulness - being thankful to lords of karma, rather than lamenting b) non interference in others affairs - let people lead their lives, c) tolerance, d) one pointedness, e) confidence - trust in good force above f) Self control as to mind and action (Now Ramana Mahrishi and my pranayam instructor - Sridhar Deshmukh sir say - just BE, for any form of control is nonsense, for it fuels vanity of self) Love (don't hurt others, no gossip, see only the goodness in others, speak out - only if what you say is true, kind and helpful)

Desirelessness has always been a bone of contention for me. For once i set - write down any mundane goal, i have always attained it, no matter what - be it a promotion, IIMB seat (in fact i had actually set my goal for IIMK seat for the love of Kerala), Au medal or a CG or any possession. But i have never had any sense of satisfaction once i reached any goal, and would always think in terms of the having used my time and efforts for something else. After I got my As, when my friends feel bad that he/she didn't get it, it does not give me happiness, after my promo, when my friend cried on my shoulders on her appraisal rating, it didn't give me happiness.

Everything loses its charm the moment its yours. For instance, many married guys, would realize what am speaking about. I can't imagine stepping out my posh Villa with a swimming pool, in yellow sapphires and satin, in a red Ferrari, fly internationally and feel elated, when images flash - of that poor old toothless leper shriveled granny crushing a beeda with a stone with the only 2 fingers left in her hand by the road side). I used to wonder between Goal Setting and Gita's right only to action and not fruits of action. For I always find, my goal - i.e. end results guide my action. I find it difficult to do, just for the sake of doing, not for the end result.

I had actually given up all my actions all these months, waiting for apple to fall on my lap, like Newton. I find cheerfully working for that job, that designation-title, that salary, that location, those perks, that exit option, that retirement corpus, that XXX too mundane. I don't want to base my life's happiness on having that job, working for self or others, owning this or that, knowing this or that. I was just taking life as it comes, giving up all action. Now to work, without bothering about end result, is something i need to work on. I will work, for the sake of work, nothing else - probably now, for making my employers life simpler and happier. My taurean-piscean IPS mentor who has malavya yoga would always counter me - Thinking small is a crime, if a person says, he does not want money, he will lie for everything else as well.

Why I took this trip?
I travelled 700 kms just to see the smile on my CMC Vellore Dr Isaac Jebaraj's face when I gave him the bouquet of roses carefully packed from Koramangala. I agreed to attend my juniors wedding in Walaja that evening just because, my 60+ yrs old doctor was retiring and it has his b'day as well on Feb 20. I always need to see everyone around me healthy, happy and peaceful. To even give up that desire, and just give (As vivekananda says - the law of nature is to give) is something i need to practice. My family folks, always scold me for my thoughtless giving whenever anyone comes to my place.To be an emotional jhadam and just be eternally cheerful is something i need to work on.

I am going to cut off all manthras and just do plain surya namaskars, am going to give up mugging Gita and VishnuSahsraNamam. Because I felt superior since i had memorized Lalitha. Your mental body wishes to think itself proudly separate, to think much of itself and little of others. Jesus, Allah, Buddha, Shiva Vishnu, my saviour saint Ramana, all have always been the same to me. This body is your animal - horse, JK says - treat it well, and don't over task it. Horse or whatever. :-)

If you go to ortho department of CMC Vellore, any day, there will be at least a 100 cruelly amputated limbs and tortured souls - young and old. When i read Garuda puranam, which gave the cause of each disease and disability, (take stroke/paralysis in many biz men, mental issues/cerebral palsy in brahmin kids, cancer in those hurt their own blood relations etc.) I always used to wonder, why do accidents happen? I got the answer long before, right during my 10 day vipassana meditation. It was our own THOUGHTS. Thoughts are indeed so powerful. Fate or kundli/jadhagam is not responsible, but thoughts are for every fortune, misfortune, disease and accident on this earth. In my case, my trimsamsha (1/30th div just like navamsha is 1/9th div) says, it was anger accumulated over many lives and now that is what i need to watch out for. An idea can indeed change the whole world. I have learnt the importance of morality, purity of thoughts, for that guides my words and actions. I am 100% confident, after these 6 RTAs and 9 surgeries, no matter what, i won't ever have another RTA or any form of accident for that matter without my explicit invitation. For I have learnt, am still learning to analyse my thoughts and chop off the root of originating thought whenever i catch myself meandering. (Thanks to Vethathri Maharishi's Kaya Kalpa yoga program - folks please visit Aliyar's Temple of Consciousness at least once in your life)

We talk about that pollution, this pollution. It is high time, we thought about purity of thoughts. No more thought pollution with the 6 internal enemies - kama,krodha,Loba, moha, mada and mathsarya.

Back to IIMB
I could not get to cancel my Sunday morning interview session. So i had to travel back right after my junior's reception on Saturday night. Thanks to God's grace, within minutes, a direct bus to Bangalore came at Walaja which dropped me right at Diary circle. Jolly good reception it was and nice food, comfortable AC room to take rest. Had a great time. :-)