Probably no other vegetable has been belittled as much as our humble podalangai. One dismisses off something trivial as ‘periya podalangai samachaaram.’
Chithappa listens to vegetable cure programs early morning in TV. Recently he listened to the benefits of snake gourd and ridge gourd. So you can imagine, how many times, this week we had podalangai. I even ended up having to taste podalangai chutney for idlis, for the first time in my life history.
Of course, I like it as a convenience vegetable, easy on hands to chop, cooks in 3 minutes and a podalangai kootu, podalangai poriyal, or podalangai paruppu usili should be ready in 5 mins. But any day, variety is the spice of life. And ya, spices to be added occasionally.
What was surprising was the medical benefits:
It is useful apart from treating jaundice, diabetes, helping intestinal movements, it also helps in obesity. The leaner the vegetable that we eat, the leaner we get. :-
Snakegourd is a good source of minerals like magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus.
It has a cooling effect on body, so most suited for pitta.
Philosophical Vegetable
Probably snake gourd is the only vegetable, that can join the league of typical snake-rope erroneous attribution of adhyāsa. A reverse one probably, since once the veil of ignorance is removed, the end state is not all that pleasant. Most of us would remember Rajini, his son-in-law, janakaraj’s movie comedy scenes with the snake around the neck mistaken to be podalangai.
I prefer podalangai poriyal crunchy and fresh light green with bright yellow channa dal with a liberal dose of shredded coconut.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
What is ātman?
From the second chapter “The eternal reality of soul’s immortality” - सांख्ये बुद्धिर्योग
य एनं वेत्ति हन्तारं यश्चैनं मन्यते हतम्
उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते (2.19)
yaḥ enaṁ vetti hantāram yaś cainaṁ manyate hatam
ubhau tau na vijānīto nāyaṁ hanti na hanyate (2.19)
yaḥ - Anyone who; enaṁ - the soul; vetti – thinks; hantāram-is the slayer; yaś cainaṁ manyate - anyone who thinks the soul; hatam – slain;
tau ubhau – both of them; na vijānīto – are in ignorance; nāyaṁ - the soul never; hanti na hanyate – slays or is slain
He holds the Atman as slayer and he considers it as slain, both of them are ignorant. It slays not, nor is it slain.
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न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचित् नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः
अजो नित्य: शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे (2.20)
na jāyate mriyate vā kadāchit nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ‘yaṁ purāṇo na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (2.20)
na jāyate – is never born; mriyate vā kadāchit – neither never dies; āyaṁ - soul; bhūtvā – nor does it come into being; bhavitā vā – when the body is created; na bhūyaḥ - again
ajo –birthless; nityaḥ-eternal; śāśvato‘yaṁ - imperishable; purāṇo- timeless; na hanyate – is never destroyed; hanyamāne śarīre – when the body is destroyed
The soul (atman) is neither born nor does it die. Nor does it come into being again when the body is created. The soul is birthless, eternal, imperishable and ancient. It is not killed when the body is slain.
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वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णानि अन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही (2.22)
vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya navāni gṛhṇāti naro ‘ parāṇi
tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāni anyāni saṁyāti navāni dehī (2.22)
vāsāṁsi – garments; jīrṇāni – old worn out; yathā – just as; vihāya – giving up; navāni – new; gṛhṇāti – accepts; naro – man; ‘ parāṇi – other
tathā – similarly; śarīrāṇi – bodies; vihāya – giving up; jīrṇāni –old worn out; anyāni – other; saṁyāti – accepts; navāni – new; dehī – embodied soul
Just as man giving up old worn out clothes accepts other new garment; similarly the embodied soul giving up old worn out bodies very accepts new body
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नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापः न शोषयति मारुतः (2.23)
nainaṁ chindanti śastrāṇi nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ
na cainaṁ kledayantyāpaḥ na śoṣyati mārutaḥ (2.23)
na + enaṁ - the soul never; chindanti – harm; śastrāṇi – weapons; nainaṁ; dahati – burn; pāvakaḥ - fire;
na cainaṁ; kledayantyāpaḥ - wet by water; na; śoṣyati – dry; mārutaḥ - air
Weapons do not cleave the atma; fire burns it not, water wets it not, wind dries it not.
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अच्छेद्योऽयमदाह्योयं अक्लेद्योऽशोष्य एव च |
नित्यः सर्वगतः स्थाणुः अचलोऽयं सनातनः|| (2.24)
acchedyo ‘yam adāhyo ‘yam akledyo ‘śoṣya eva ca
nityaḥ sarvagataḥ sthāṇur acalo ‘yam sanātanaḥ (2.24)
acchedyo ‘yam – soul is uncleavable; adāhyo ‘yam –soul can’t be burn; akledyo – insoluble; ‘śoṣya eva ca - unwitherable
nityaḥ - eternal; sarvagataḥ - all pervading; sthāṇur – stable; acalo - immovable ‘yam sanātanaḥ - everlasting
The soul is indestructible, the soul is incombustible, neither wetted, nor dried. The soul is eternal, all pervading, unmodified, immovable and everlasting.
---------------------------------------------------
अवक्तोयमचिन्त्योऽयं अविकार्योऽयमुच्यते (2.25)
avakto ‘yam acintyo‘yam avikāryo‘yam ucyate (2.25)
avakto - imperceptible; ‘yam; acintyo‘yam – soul is inconceivable; avikāryo ‘yam – soul is immutable; ucyate – it is declared that the soul;
The atman is said to be imperceptible, inconceivable, immutable.
---------------------------------------------------
TBD
What is the difference
1. Between jiva and atma?
2. Between jivatma and paramatma?
3. Between Atma and brahman?
4. Between Brahman and Paramatma?
5. Between God and Brahman?
य एनं वेत्ति हन्तारं यश्चैनं मन्यते हतम्
उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते (2.19)
yaḥ enaṁ vetti hantāram yaś cainaṁ manyate hatam
ubhau tau na vijānīto nāyaṁ hanti na hanyate (2.19)
yaḥ - Anyone who; enaṁ - the soul; vetti – thinks; hantāram-is the slayer; yaś cainaṁ manyate - anyone who thinks the soul; hatam – slain;
tau ubhau – both of them; na vijānīto – are in ignorance; nāyaṁ - the soul never; hanti na hanyate – slays or is slain
He holds the Atman as slayer and he considers it as slain, both of them are ignorant. It slays not, nor is it slain.
---------------------------------------------------
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचित् नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः
अजो नित्य: शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे (2.20)
na jāyate mriyate vā kadāchit nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ‘yaṁ purāṇo na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (2.20)
na jāyate – is never born; mriyate vā kadāchit – neither never dies; āyaṁ - soul; bhūtvā – nor does it come into being; bhavitā vā – when the body is created; na bhūyaḥ - again
ajo –birthless; nityaḥ-eternal; śāśvato‘yaṁ - imperishable; purāṇo- timeless; na hanyate – is never destroyed; hanyamāne śarīre – when the body is destroyed
The soul (atman) is neither born nor does it die. Nor does it come into being again when the body is created. The soul is birthless, eternal, imperishable and ancient. It is not killed when the body is slain.
---------------------------------------------------
वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णानि अन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही (2.22)
vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya navāni gṛhṇāti naro ‘ parāṇi
tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāni anyāni saṁyāti navāni dehī (2.22)
vāsāṁsi – garments; jīrṇāni – old worn out; yathā – just as; vihāya – giving up; navāni – new; gṛhṇāti – accepts; naro – man; ‘ parāṇi – other
tathā – similarly; śarīrāṇi – bodies; vihāya – giving up; jīrṇāni –old worn out; anyāni – other; saṁyāti – accepts; navāni – new; dehī – embodied soul
Just as man giving up old worn out clothes accepts other new garment; similarly the embodied soul giving up old worn out bodies very accepts new body
---------------------------------------------------
नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापः न शोषयति मारुतः (2.23)
nainaṁ chindanti śastrāṇi nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ
na cainaṁ kledayantyāpaḥ na śoṣyati mārutaḥ (2.23)
na + enaṁ - the soul never; chindanti – harm; śastrāṇi – weapons; nainaṁ; dahati – burn; pāvakaḥ - fire;
na cainaṁ; kledayantyāpaḥ - wet by water; na; śoṣyati – dry; mārutaḥ - air
Weapons do not cleave the atma; fire burns it not, water wets it not, wind dries it not.
---------------------------------------------------
अच्छेद्योऽयमदाह्योयं अक्लेद्योऽशोष्य एव च |
नित्यः सर्वगतः स्थाणुः अचलोऽयं सनातनः|| (2.24)
acchedyo ‘yam adāhyo ‘yam akledyo ‘śoṣya eva ca
nityaḥ sarvagataḥ sthāṇur acalo ‘yam sanātanaḥ (2.24)
acchedyo ‘yam – soul is uncleavable; adāhyo ‘yam –soul can’t be burn; akledyo – insoluble; ‘śoṣya eva ca - unwitherable
nityaḥ - eternal; sarvagataḥ - all pervading; sthāṇur – stable; acalo - immovable ‘yam sanātanaḥ - everlasting
The soul is indestructible, the soul is incombustible, neither wetted, nor dried. The soul is eternal, all pervading, unmodified, immovable and everlasting.
---------------------------------------------------
अवक्तोयमचिन्त्योऽयं अविकार्योऽयमुच्यते (2.25)
avakto ‘yam acintyo‘yam avikāryo‘yam ucyate (2.25)
avakto - imperceptible; ‘yam; acintyo‘yam – soul is inconceivable; avikāryo ‘yam – soul is immutable; ucyate – it is declared that the soul;
The atman is said to be imperceptible, inconceivable, immutable.
---------------------------------------------------
TBD
What is the difference
1. Between jiva and atma?
2. Between jivatma and paramatma?
3. Between Atma and brahman?
4. Between Brahman and Paramatma?
5. Between God and Brahman?
Monday, September 26, 2011
Couple of enthralling songs this moment
On few occasions, after wasting whole day on a non planned activity like now, kind of husky breezy songs soothe me. Like Saindhavi’s “vizhigalil oru vaanavil” I equally enjoyed the stylish spirit in her beau’s “yathe yathe” I have still not deleted the deiva thirumagal from my system, only because of this song, till I get the mp3. I just listen to the songs, seldom watching the videos.
Few of Bombay Jayashree’s number, I love to listen in loop are -"Naramughaiye Naramughaiye", "Vaseegara", "Unakkul Naane", “Malargale”, "Uyire En Uyire", "Paartha Mudhal", "Ninnai charan"
src
Different songs appeal to me at different times. There were days, when MS’ sriman narayana, jo acyutananda were on my loop for days, or lata’s vaishnav jan to. Most of the times, same old chithra’s ninukori varnam or Alka’s “Hai re mera dil”, Sadhana’s ‘Aao na’ allure me. Once upon a time Kavita Krishnamurthy’s ‘Pyar hua chupke se’, ‘Jaagte hain hai hum’ were my favs.
Of the previous janma songs "ajeeb daastaan hai yeh", Madhumati’s “Dil tadap tadap ke …”, “Bichua” are still my favourite that have not listened even once this year. Those were the DD days, when on any Sunday afternoon, other language movies would be shown. Decades ago, the whole extended family was, and only 3 of us knew hindi, yet, only due to this one song, all of us watched Madhumati.
Once in Bangalore, Shivaji nagar, I was hunting for a cotton sari for chithi. This shop was in first floor with steep narrow steps. I found no saree matching Chithi’s specifications of a bangalore cotton without border for daily office wear. Every saree there had a border. Still, could not step out from that shop – for “Adharam Madhuram” was being played, with the fragrance of freshly lit agarbathis to mesmerize me. That song still beckons me. Though till date, I could not find the same audio mp3 that zombied me in that shop in 2008.
Ya, I go by popular choice, I don’t run behind singers or collections. I merely savour few mp3s that come to me without any effort, few songs, I would never consider deleting from my system.
As a school kid, I grew on a staple dose of
Our school teacher used to teach us "nayi dagar naya safar kadam mila ke chal". There was this cute school senior, who had missed her music test and she sang it in our class. Lively tune it was.
These are just few songs on top of my mind right now. There are many other numbers that have haunted me, which i play so many times over loop, that my bro and sis start running away, hearing the same song even after few days.
There was this (Apr 30, 1979) Harini's 'Yaaridamamum thondravilai" from thottijaya, that i have not seen even once, but this song was the one that i played on loop in my ipod held by belt, for almost a week, while i practiced walking on terrace after my ilizarov. My brother deleted the song after a week, unable to bear it being played all the time for days together. Only now I learnt that Nila kaikirathu was hers.
My professor says, tell me the songs you like, and I will tell you, the kind of person you are, your innermost feelings. Few souls with moon in 12th have such impervious sharing boundaries, but I don’t have one.
In agathaivu we were told that you can't enjoy anything without spending your vital energy life force. One enjoys a painting, or a natural scenery, by spending the vital energy of the eyes. One supposedly ends up wearing a soda butti if they had abused eyes, excessively desiring everything they saw in the last janma. Gone are the days, when i was engrossed assailing my ears with ipod ear plugs. I listened to my favourite songs all night even during sleeping, 24 hours, all places. Now I take care to listen to songs, without earphones and spare my ears. Thanks to 16 hours laptop's burning effect on my eyes, rather than gazing without blinking my eyes at some exquisite visual treat, i capture it in my inner eye and close my eyes and enjoy it in my mind in sheer bliss.
Few of Bombay Jayashree’s number, I love to listen in loop are -"Naramughaiye Naramughaiye", "Vaseegara", "Unakkul Naane", “Malargale”, "Uyire En Uyire", "Paartha Mudhal", "Ninnai charan"
srcDifferent songs appeal to me at different times. There were days, when MS’ sriman narayana, jo acyutananda were on my loop for days, or lata’s vaishnav jan to. Most of the times, same old chithra’s ninukori varnam or Alka’s “Hai re mera dil”, Sadhana’s ‘Aao na’ allure me. Once upon a time Kavita Krishnamurthy’s ‘Pyar hua chupke se’, ‘Jaagte hain hai hum’ were my favs.
I first realized those were her songs, only the year she died.
Of the previous janma songs "ajeeb daastaan hai yeh", Madhumati’s “Dil tadap tadap ke …”, “Bichua” are still my favourite that have not listened even once this year. Those were the DD days, when on any Sunday afternoon, other language movies would be shown. Decades ago, the whole extended family was, and only 3 of us knew hindi, yet, only due to this one song, all of us watched Madhumati.
Once in Bangalore, Shivaji nagar, I was hunting for a cotton sari for chithi. This shop was in first floor with steep narrow steps. I found no saree matching Chithi’s specifications of a bangalore cotton without border for daily office wear. Every saree there had a border. Still, could not step out from that shop – for “Adharam Madhuram” was being played, with the fragrance of freshly lit agarbathis to mesmerize me. That song still beckons me. Though till date, I could not find the same audio mp3 that zombied me in that shop in 2008.
Ya, I go by popular choice, I don’t run behind singers or collections. I merely savour few mp3s that come to me without any effort, few songs, I would never consider deleting from my system.
As a school kid, I grew on a staple dose of
Our school teacher used to teach us "nayi dagar naya safar kadam mila ke chal". There was this cute school senior, who had missed her music test and she sang it in our class. Lively tune it was.
These are just few songs on top of my mind right now. There are many other numbers that have haunted me, which i play so many times over loop, that my bro and sis start running away, hearing the same song even after few days.
There was this (Apr 30, 1979) Harini's 'Yaaridamamum thondravilai" from thottijaya, that i have not seen even once, but this song was the one that i played on loop in my ipod held by belt, for almost a week, while i practiced walking on terrace after my ilizarov. My brother deleted the song after a week, unable to bear it being played all the time for days together. Only now I learnt that Nila kaikirathu was hers.
My professor says, tell me the songs you like, and I will tell you, the kind of person you are, your innermost feelings. Few souls with moon in 12th have such impervious sharing boundaries, but I don’t have one.
In agathaivu we were told that you can't enjoy anything without spending your vital energy life force. One enjoys a painting, or a natural scenery, by spending the vital energy of the eyes. One supposedly ends up wearing a soda butti if they had abused eyes, excessively desiring everything they saw in the last janma. Gone are the days, when i was engrossed assailing my ears with ipod ear plugs. I listened to my favourite songs all night even during sleeping, 24 hours, all places. Now I take care to listen to songs, without earphones and spare my ears. Thanks to 16 hours laptop's burning effect on my eyes, rather than gazing without blinking my eyes at some exquisite visual treat, i capture it in my inner eye and close my eyes and enjoy it in my mind in sheer bliss.
Friday, August 12, 2011
I adore my Sanskrit Teacher
She starts and ends each class with prayers. She always includes 1-2 SubhAShitas towards the end. She also includes Sanskrit riddles to solve. She makes it fun all the way.
Some of the moral verses, that I really love from her collection are:
In forests, in battles, amongst enemies, amidst water or fire, in vast oceans or on the mountain peaks, while asleep, awake or in danger – dharma (good acts) protect you.
In school, all my teachers were so personal and affectionate. In engineering college, except for few rest were close. In PG college, it got reversed, it was only with few professors, with whom went on for hours without noticing time. In the last class, ma’m gave 2 wonderful SubhAshitas.
In 2006, I had to buy a new shelf to accommodate my sis’s 5 years of dental books pertaining only to UG degree. Her PG books and zerox copies are even more voluminous. And she still has 2 cartons of her dental books at home. Yes’day as she was packing, she said, yes, you right. Look at this tome, it is so fresh even after years. I had quoted madam’s verse few days before to her. I used to accumulate books. However, realized practical difficulties of hoarding when you live out suitcases for years. At times, it is better to be like Paulo Coelho’s character who reads a book at a time and exchanges it to get a new one to peruse.
A student acquires quarter knowledge from the teacher, a quarter from his own intelligence, a quarter over time, a quarter from classmates.
Some of the moral verses, that I really love from her collection are:
वने रणे शत्रुजलाग्नि मध्ये महार्णवे पर्वतमस्तके वा
सुप्तं प्रमत्तं विषमस्थितं वा रक्षन्ति पुण्यानि पुराकृतानि
- नीतिशतक
सुप्तं प्रमत्तं विषमस्थितं वा रक्षन्ति पुण्यानि पुराकृतानि
- नीतिशतक
In forests, in battles, amongst enemies, amidst water or fire, in vast oceans or on the mountain peaks, while asleep, awake or in danger – dharma (good acts) protect you.
In school, all my teachers were so personal and affectionate. In engineering college, except for few rest were close. In PG college, it got reversed, it was only with few professors, with whom went on for hours without noticing time. In the last class, ma’m gave 2 wonderful SubhAshitas.
In 2006, I had to buy a new shelf to accommodate my sis’s 5 years of dental books pertaining only to UG degree. Her PG books and zerox copies are even more voluminous. And she still has 2 cartons of her dental books at home. Yes’day as she was packing, she said, yes, you right. Look at this tome, it is so fresh even after years. I had quoted madam’s verse few days before to her. I used to accumulate books. However, realized practical difficulties of hoarding when you live out suitcases for years. At times, it is better to be like Paulo Coelho’s character who reads a book at a time and exchanges it to get a new one to peruse.
पुस्तकस्था तु या विद्या परहस्तगतं धनम् |
कार्यकाले समुत्पन्ने न सा विद्या न तद्धनम् ||
Knowledge which is in the book, money which has passed on to another hand - in times of need, they are neither your knowledge nor money.
कार्यकाले समुत्पन्ने न सा विद्या न तद्धनम् ||
आचार्यात् पादमादत्ते पादं शिष्य: स्वमेधया |
कालेन पादमादत्ते पादं सब्रह्मचारिभि: ||
- महाभारत, उद्योगपर्व
कालेन पादमादत्ते पादं सब्रह्मचारिभि: ||
- महाभारत, उद्योगपर्व
A student acquires quarter knowledge from the teacher, a quarter from his own intelligence, a quarter over time, a quarter from classmates.
Eventful Varalakshmi Vratham
My sis had been on her feet for the past 2-3 days, so much cleaning, thanks to estate wide outer white washing yes’day. And special house cleaning for varalakshmi vratham.
Special Pooja Lunch
Mom usually comes home for lunch around 12:35-45 pm. On a typical day, we start preparing a lunch of sambar kootu a little after 12 pm and lunch would be ready piping hot just as she steps in. Today, however sis took charge of shopping for vegetables and cooking for the goddess and I just did helping around. I opted to fry the humble ulundu vadais and ended up with a hot oil drop on my instep. My pranic healing teachers mentioned how they had healed the hot oil spill burn during diwali murukku preparation. Tomorrow will tell whether my self-healing was effective.
After puja, it was nice virundhu on verdant banana leaves complete with vada, payasam, poriyal, sambar, rasam, curd. Married ladies came home luckily during lunch hour, so that we could serve them something. We would talk about having agreement with African nations for buying minerals and transferring technology and do nothing (so far) about Somalian famine. India and China would go on talking about double digit food inflation. With impending lorry strike and rotting grains in godowns, supply chain bottlenecks (wonder how effective Mega Food Parks are), our home minister would say food inflation is because of ‘sustained demand'. Demand for food is basic, fundamental, not everyone is a sanyasi to live on air for a lifetime without food or water. Am not able to recollect the name of the old lady in ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ who went without food and water rest of her life, since her MIL scolded her for eating too much, when she was still a child bride. Wondering, if Food security bill would ever come out of paper clutter. Funny world, when our ministers interchange nationality of octogenarian prisoner, prioritize commerce over health. Some tamasha indeed.
Earthquake
Around 11:30 a.m., I was sprawled on the sofa and my sister was standing and for a split second, I felt a swoosh, as if the sofa was shoved. I asked my sister, if she felt it and she replied no. I just left it at that. During lunch, calls started pouring in from my bil and sil from Sriperumbudur, asking about earthquake. Wonder what happened to our home that is still under finishing patchups, which does not have any earthquake resistant structural support.
This is the second time, I have felt tremors. The first time was early morning during December 26, 2004 tsunami. I was too lazy to even get up from my sleep, in spite of the floor shaking. If just 3+ can crack buildings like this, my thoughts ran back to 8.9 in Japan on March 11 and the 5.9 one yesterday. And how Tagore and others reprimanded Gandhiji for his statement that ‘earthquake was providential retribution for India’s failure to eradicate untouchability’ during 1934 Bihar earthquake.
Special Pooja Lunch
Mom usually comes home for lunch around 12:35-45 pm. On a typical day, we start preparing a lunch of sambar kootu a little after 12 pm and lunch would be ready piping hot just as she steps in. Today, however sis took charge of shopping for vegetables and cooking for the goddess and I just did helping around. I opted to fry the humble ulundu vadais and ended up with a hot oil drop on my instep. My pranic healing teachers mentioned how they had healed the hot oil spill burn during diwali murukku preparation. Tomorrow will tell whether my self-healing was effective.
After puja, it was nice virundhu on verdant banana leaves complete with vada, payasam, poriyal, sambar, rasam, curd. Married ladies came home luckily during lunch hour, so that we could serve them something. We would talk about having agreement with African nations for buying minerals and transferring technology and do nothing (so far) about Somalian famine. India and China would go on talking about double digit food inflation. With impending lorry strike and rotting grains in godowns, supply chain bottlenecks (wonder how effective Mega Food Parks are), our home minister would say food inflation is because of ‘sustained demand'. Demand for food is basic, fundamental, not everyone is a sanyasi to live on air for a lifetime without food or water. Am not able to recollect the name of the old lady in ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ who went without food and water rest of her life, since her MIL scolded her for eating too much, when she was still a child bride. Wondering, if Food security bill would ever come out of paper clutter. Funny world, when our ministers interchange nationality of octogenarian prisoner, prioritize commerce over health. Some tamasha indeed.
Earthquake
Around 11:30 a.m., I was sprawled on the sofa and my sister was standing and for a split second, I felt a swoosh, as if the sofa was shoved. I asked my sister, if she felt it and she replied no. I just left it at that. During lunch, calls started pouring in from my bil and sil from Sriperumbudur, asking about earthquake. Wonder what happened to our home that is still under finishing patchups, which does not have any earthquake resistant structural support.
This is the second time, I have felt tremors. The first time was early morning during December 26, 2004 tsunami. I was too lazy to even get up from my sleep, in spite of the floor shaking. If just 3+ can crack buildings like this, my thoughts ran back to 8.9 in Japan on March 11 and the 5.9 one yesterday. And how Tagore and others reprimanded Gandhiji for his statement that ‘earthquake was providential retribution for India’s failure to eradicate untouchability’ during 1934 Bihar earthquake.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Effects of lover-spouse on vegetarianism
Yesterday, our whole family was shocked to the core. My sister apparently ate a slice of pomfret after 2 decades of vegetarianism (ok, she ate eggs once in a while). She said, her in-laws and husband were not comfortable seeing her have only rasamsadham, while they devoured all other creatures. So my bil specially cooked and prepared the slice and made her eat it seems. Incidentally, my bil is a thiruvathirai. My sister’s mil called my mom to announce her accomplishment.
The first instance I learnt, in engg college, was a Christian mrigasirisham (also sun Gemini) girl making her vegetarian boyfriend (scorpio – revathi) eat non-veg, because, she did not want to give up eating non veg. They are now married for many years.
Another instance in PG institute, was another mrigasirisham girl (again also sun Gemini) as well, who married a vegetarian cancerian thayirsadham. The guy has opted to remain vegetarian and the girl continues to be a non-veg freak. Separate cooking apparently.
My Gemini uncle is a vegetarian and my Aquarian aunt is a non-veg. She gave up eating non-veg for the sake of my uncle and adopted stringent vegetarian kitchen madis.
And people still insist that non-veg diet is healthier. No amount of explanation of decreasing energy flow or increasing accumulation of toxins up in the food chain would be of any use to non-veg eaters. Taste buds enslave folks to be blind and impervious to the bloodshed and merciless killing in a butcher shop. Why is that partners want the better half to prove their love by insisting on changing vegetarian/non-veg preferences? Ok, why bring in the cooking pot in love. All’s well, as long as couples are happy and loving.
P.S. Am trying to find a value for money course on ayurvedic cooking. AOL offers one, but am not quite sure, if it also explains the planetary effects on dhaanya in addition to health, nutrition, spiritual and emotional effects of food and cooking.
The first instance I learnt, in engg college, was a Christian mrigasirisham (also sun Gemini) girl making her vegetarian boyfriend (scorpio – revathi) eat non-veg, because, she did not want to give up eating non veg. They are now married for many years.
Another instance in PG institute, was another mrigasirisham girl (again also sun Gemini) as well, who married a vegetarian cancerian thayirsadham. The guy has opted to remain vegetarian and the girl continues to be a non-veg freak. Separate cooking apparently.
My Gemini uncle is a vegetarian and my Aquarian aunt is a non-veg. She gave up eating non-veg for the sake of my uncle and adopted stringent vegetarian kitchen madis.
And people still insist that non-veg diet is healthier. No amount of explanation of decreasing energy flow or increasing accumulation of toxins up in the food chain would be of any use to non-veg eaters. Taste buds enslave folks to be blind and impervious to the bloodshed and merciless killing in a butcher shop. Why is that partners want the better half to prove their love by insisting on changing vegetarian/non-veg preferences? Ok, why bring in the cooking pot in love. All’s well, as long as couples are happy and loving.
P.S. Am trying to find a value for money course on ayurvedic cooking. AOL offers one, but am not quite sure, if it also explains the planetary effects on dhaanya in addition to health, nutrition, spiritual and emotional effects of food and cooking.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
I am the master of my Fate: I am the captain of my Soul
This morning, I happened to read about Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, how he lanced his boil unflinchingly, how he unified the country and I remembered having read how he continued cross questioning a witness, even after having received the news of his wife’s death. To give up the presidency for Nehru, to give up his pass and ticket to study in England for his elder brother, spoke volumes about the strength of his character.
Of course, one should not watch TV during meals, and with the kind of news being broadcasted, one would not be able to eat even a morsel of food. And while surfing, I found Invictus was being telecast yet again. I knew I would not be able to see the whole movie, so I did a wiki and found the source of the oft heard lines: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.“ As I read the full poem, I was wondering WHY? And then it dawned.
When I was in CMC there was a 10th standard boy Arun, my dad’s colleague’s only son who had a tumour in his right shoulder which necessitated whole arm amputation. We painfully learnt that he died few months later. William Ernest Henley, Kahlil Gibran, many polio afflicted people, amputees have such high levels of infectious energy and enthusiasm despite all odds. Am thankful to God, my limbs are not amputated. I admire these folks for the kind of resilience, courage and fighting attitude. I have been inspired by many young men with one leg, with half hands. But most young girls and old ladies with amputated limbs, simply lose heart, starve to death and die, except one Revathy Menon I read about in RD.
Coming to fighting and throwing a challenge, 3 years ago, I was fascinated to see the youtube video that my MSP (Managing Software Project) professor showed in class. So many virile sturdy men, with intimidating gestures, giving a war cry in unison was simply awesome. I eagerly devoured the haka performance the All Blacks gave in the movie Invictus. To the give the best, to put the best foot first under all circumstances!
Of course, one should not watch TV during meals, and with the kind of news being broadcasted, one would not be able to eat even a morsel of food. And while surfing, I found Invictus was being telecast yet again. I knew I would not be able to see the whole movie, so I did a wiki and found the source of the oft heard lines: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.“ As I read the full poem, I was wondering WHY? And then it dawned.
When I was in CMC there was a 10th standard boy Arun, my dad’s colleague’s only son who had a tumour in his right shoulder which necessitated whole arm amputation. We painfully learnt that he died few months later. William Ernest Henley, Kahlil Gibran, many polio afflicted people, amputees have such high levels of infectious energy and enthusiasm despite all odds. Am thankful to God, my limbs are not amputated. I admire these folks for the kind of resilience, courage and fighting attitude. I have been inspired by many young men with one leg, with half hands. But most young girls and old ladies with amputated limbs, simply lose heart, starve to death and die, except one Revathy Menon I read about in RD.
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
I am wondering about many saying that without God’s wish, not even an atom moves. Stoicism, fatalism as compared to fighting back. There are times to fight back, and there are times, when it is better to accept and let go. The question is of discrimination and discernment.Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
Coming to fighting and throwing a challenge, 3 years ago, I was fascinated to see the youtube video that my MSP (Managing Software Project) professor showed in class. So many virile sturdy men, with intimidating gestures, giving a war cry in unison was simply awesome. I eagerly devoured the haka performance the All Blacks gave in the movie Invictus. To the give the best, to put the best foot first under all circumstances!
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