Well, a few things seem to have triggered this mega frenzy that I call Opulence in Obituary advertising in Chennai, namely - low cost of digital printing, high court order banning hoardings and the ruling government/party politics. Thanks to all this, I now know the enormous contributions made by one Mr. Dasarathan, party functionary of the ruling party, the everlasting heroics of Dhanu, a local socially challenged individual, and the loving sons of Mrs. Muniyamma. How do I know them? Well, everyday I see all these people brought to life by colorfully printed digital obituary ads standing on causaurina legs :) Each of these posters are mini resumes, like the ones by Raja Raja Chozha in the Thanjavur temple. It talks about the legendary social contributions that these people made and also enumerates the photos of people who are ever grateful for these contributions. The template of these ads are well designed. Each banner has a section with a significant portion dedicated to the party or gang that the person is affiliated. It has a section that has a poetry (oh good, I hate to insult the word poetry), depicted in a scroll and the bottom half dedicated to well wishers. It is mandatory that all these well wishers have a photo with a cell phone in their ears :) All these ads are strategically erected in the directions of flowing traffic to attract maximum attention. Most of these public obituary ads are in politically well endowed, socially less sophisticated neighbourhoods.
Ok, now before you dismiss this as a "bottom of the pyramid" phenomenon, I would like to draw your attention to the annals of "The Hindu" newspaper. This is the realm of pseudo sophisticated people like me and my family :) Wonder if you studied the obituary section carefully. Again, there is a neat pattern of pompous self promotion of the dead and the soon-to-be-dead. So, what is the pattern? Every obituary ad will essentially contain 3 neat sections. First the photo. The second section right below the photo will contain the name of the person, the office he worked in, the position, the degrees, the certifications, the medals, the achievements, and if possible bank balance and account numbers :) For rama's sake, the dude is dead and all these don't matter. All I need to know is the name and work place at best. Does it matter if he was post master general (retd.), BTW you cannot miss the retired part, lest the people think that the person died in harness :) You need to mention which country the person did his M.S. If the person has any long lost connection with the US, it is a must :) So, that is about the dead person. The section on not-yet-dead people is more interesting. So, the list starts with the name of the person, relation with the dead person, his/her academic qualifications, his/her work experience profile,his/her location (very very important if they are anyway outside India, even if its Papua New Guinea, please mention it). Each obituary ad is a mini resume for the family of the dead :)
Adi Shankara said," Maa kuru dhana jana yauvana garvam" - Don't be proud of your wealth, people or youth as the Lord can take it away anytime. The obituary opulence defies all logic :) but then, that is why the cut-off is so low in Kali Yuga :)
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Swamiji's last few days on earth (nishthatmananda of muzaffarpur)
We came to this earth with cries, but while leaving we have to smile and express joy in our face.
“During our life time, if we are blessed to smile, that it self is a great achievement and how can we guarantee our smiling while we leave this earth, the time which is not under our control?” – That’s a genuine question.
We have the life of Swami Vivekananda that gives us the necessary guidance to prepare for ourselves for the joyful journey. All through his life, Swamiji tuned every event as preparation for his ultimate journey.
In the year 1898, Swami Vivekananda during his pilgrimage to Amarnath, had received a boon from Lord Shiva not to die until he himself should choose to do so.
Sri Ramakrishna had said about Narendranath that ‘when he realizes who and what he is, he will no longer remain in the body’.
Hence, as a village boy, who had never seen an aero plane on the earth and who had been told that he would be taken in an air travel next week, would eagerly await for the golden day of his air travel, so also Swamiji was waiting to take up his eternal flight to be boarded by him on July 4, 1902 the day which was chosen by himself. Here below are a few events on his last day of physical existence.
· On July 4, 1902 during his 2 hours morning meditation in the shrine of Ramakrishna, he had the doors and windows closed, while he was accustomed to meditate only in a well-ventilated room. Coming down from the shrine, he had a walk in the courtyard. While walking he spoke to himself in a half-audible tone: “If there were another Vivekananda, he would have understood what (this) Vivekananda has done! And yet,-how many Vivekanandas shall be born in time!”
· He had his noon lunch along with all, which was again quite unusual, since owing to his ill health he used to take his meals in his own room. On that day he ate full meal and remarked humorously,” two days before, owing to my fast for ekadasi on Wednesday, my hunger has greatly increased. I ate full meal but left the cups and plate (without eating them up) with great difficulty.”
· After a short rest, Swamiji took class on Sanskrit grammar to young brahmacharins for three hours and made the class so interesting that no one felt any monotony.
· During his evening walk along with Swami Premananda he expressed his desire of founding a Vedic college at Belur Math. Premananda asked him,”What, Swamiji, will be the good of studying the Vedas?” for which Swamiji replied, ”It will kill out superstitions”.
· In the evening after the prayers, he sat for meditation. After an hour’s meditation he called his attendant, lying down on his bed with the rosary in his hand. He asked him to fan his head. After another hour or so, his attendant noticed that Swamiji’s hand shook slightly; then he took two deep breaths; the gaze became fixed at the eye brows and the face lit up by an extra ordinary radiance and smile. His head rolled to one side and then all was silent. It was seen in the next morning that the eyes were bloodshot and that a little bleeding had occurred through the nostrils and mouth.
Lord Krishna says in the 8th chapter of Gita, “At the time of passing away whoever fixes his prana between his brows and meditates on the Ruler of the world, reaches the Supreme Truth.” Swamiji’s physical death is a yogic Samadhi as stated by Lord Krishna. Swamiji raised his coiled – up spiritual power and made it to pierce through the mystic centres in the spinal column and the head and thrown away the body like a worn-out-garment.
When one is attached to the body and his possessions, death is terrible, but to one who had disciplined his body, death has no threats or no secrets.
Normally, we relate death with sadness, inauspiciousness and fear.
But, it is quite possible to make the event filled with joy, auspiciousness, hope and strength.
God-men like Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and others had thus shown the way to us.
It was Swamiji’s last message to the world – “Welcome the death calmly and boldly.” For Swamiji, death means just getting out of the physical body. As a spiritual force he continues to live and work with us and that is why he said, “I shall inspire men everywhere, until the world shall know that it is one with God.”
July 4th is thus a day of great joy, hope and strength to all followers
of Swamiji. His Master chose to leave His mortal coils on 15th August in the year 1886, knowing well that after 61 years that India would get freedom from foreign rulers. And our Swamiji chose July 4, the day of America's Independence. Though these are occasions for rejoicing country's political freedom, these God-men have chosen to leave the physical frame thus symbolising that death is not a sad event but a step towards eternal freedom and bliss.
Let us prepare ourselves from now on to face that great moment filled with happiness, strength and absolute freedom.
“During our life time, if we are blessed to smile, that it self is a great achievement and how can we guarantee our smiling while we leave this earth, the time which is not under our control?” – That’s a genuine question.
We have the life of Swami Vivekananda that gives us the necessary guidance to prepare for ourselves for the joyful journey. All through his life, Swamiji tuned every event as preparation for his ultimate journey.
In the year 1898, Swami Vivekananda during his pilgrimage to Amarnath, had received a boon from Lord Shiva not to die until he himself should choose to do so.
Sri Ramakrishna had said about Narendranath that ‘when he realizes who and what he is, he will no longer remain in the body’.
Hence, as a village boy, who had never seen an aero plane on the earth and who had been told that he would be taken in an air travel next week, would eagerly await for the golden day of his air travel, so also Swamiji was waiting to take up his eternal flight to be boarded by him on July 4, 1902 the day which was chosen by himself. Here below are a few events on his last day of physical existence.
· On July 4, 1902 during his 2 hours morning meditation in the shrine of Ramakrishna, he had the doors and windows closed, while he was accustomed to meditate only in a well-ventilated room. Coming down from the shrine, he had a walk in the courtyard. While walking he spoke to himself in a half-audible tone: “If there were another Vivekananda, he would have understood what (this) Vivekananda has done! And yet,-how many Vivekanandas shall be born in time!”
· He had his noon lunch along with all, which was again quite unusual, since owing to his ill health he used to take his meals in his own room. On that day he ate full meal and remarked humorously,” two days before, owing to my fast for ekadasi on Wednesday, my hunger has greatly increased. I ate full meal but left the cups and plate (without eating them up) with great difficulty.”
· After a short rest, Swamiji took class on Sanskrit grammar to young brahmacharins for three hours and made the class so interesting that no one felt any monotony.
· During his evening walk along with Swami Premananda he expressed his desire of founding a Vedic college at Belur Math. Premananda asked him,”What, Swamiji, will be the good of studying the Vedas?” for which Swamiji replied, ”It will kill out superstitions”.
· In the evening after the prayers, he sat for meditation. After an hour’s meditation he called his attendant, lying down on his bed with the rosary in his hand. He asked him to fan his head. After another hour or so, his attendant noticed that Swamiji’s hand shook slightly; then he took two deep breaths; the gaze became fixed at the eye brows and the face lit up by an extra ordinary radiance and smile. His head rolled to one side and then all was silent. It was seen in the next morning that the eyes were bloodshot and that a little bleeding had occurred through the nostrils and mouth.
Lord Krishna says in the 8th chapter of Gita, “At the time of passing away whoever fixes his prana between his brows and meditates on the Ruler of the world, reaches the Supreme Truth.” Swamiji’s physical death is a yogic Samadhi as stated by Lord Krishna. Swamiji raised his coiled – up spiritual power and made it to pierce through the mystic centres in the spinal column and the head and thrown away the body like a worn-out-garment.
When one is attached to the body and his possessions, death is terrible, but to one who had disciplined his body, death has no threats or no secrets.
Normally, we relate death with sadness, inauspiciousness and fear.
But, it is quite possible to make the event filled with joy, auspiciousness, hope and strength.
God-men like Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and others had thus shown the way to us.
It was Swamiji’s last message to the world – “Welcome the death calmly and boldly.” For Swamiji, death means just getting out of the physical body. As a spiritual force he continues to live and work with us and that is why he said, “I shall inspire men everywhere, until the world shall know that it is one with God.”
July 4th is thus a day of great joy, hope and strength to all followers
of Swamiji. His Master chose to leave His mortal coils on 15th August in the year 1886, knowing well that after 61 years that India would get freedom from foreign rulers. And our Swamiji chose July 4, the day of America's Independence. Though these are occasions for rejoicing country's political freedom, these God-men have chosen to leave the physical frame thus symbolising that death is not a sad event but a step towards eternal freedom and bliss.
Let us prepare ourselves from now on to face that great moment filled with happiness, strength and absolute freedom.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Fix-All (www.fix-all.biz) - Chennai .. here we come :)
So, its finally off the ground. Fix-All (www.fix-all.biz) , with the blessings of the Lord of Thillai, was finally in the service of all chennai people :) What did not have? For us, it was disappointment, action, drama, high emotions, and finally joy :)And what a co-incidence, Chennai Super Kings win the IPL and we gift Chennai with Fix-All (For us, it almost rivaled the IPL season). We need to thank our team, who have worked with us to kick start Fix-All. Also, we need to mention Vinod, who created our identity on the web. We will assure all our customers. Our services and our effort have only one way to go :) GET BIGGER AND GET BETTER.
It was a great show of support from friends and family :) We finally launched Fix-All. We are getting queries related to A/Cs, inverters, low voltage issues and general support. We are following a simple process right now.
Step 1) Request registration : As soon as we get a request, on phone, SMS or through the internet, we take the request after informing the customers about our service.
Step 2) Acknowledgment and Appointment : We inform our electricians about the customer details and ensure that they acknowledge the customer request and fix an appointment according to customers requirements.
Step 3) Customer Service delivery : Ensure that our electricians to ensure that they have visited the customer. Also, make sure that they explain the billing, the work done and give you a bill for the service rendered.
Step 4) Customer feedback : We call up/e-mail the customer to check if our service was up to their expectations.
We will need your support and feedback to deliver good service to you. Please send us feedback on our website/phone :)
Chennai, here we come :)
It was a great show of support from friends and family :) We finally launched Fix-All. We are getting queries related to A/Cs, inverters, low voltage issues and general support. We are following a simple process right now.
Step 1) Request registration : As soon as we get a request, on phone, SMS or through the internet, we take the request after informing the customers about our service.
Step 2) Acknowledgment and Appointment : We inform our electricians about the customer details and ensure that they acknowledge the customer request and fix an appointment according to customers requirements.
Step 3) Customer Service delivery : Ensure that our electricians to ensure that they have visited the customer. Also, make sure that they explain the billing, the work done and give you a bill for the service rendered.
Step 4) Customer feedback : We call up/e-mail the customer to check if our service was up to their expectations.
We will need your support and feedback to deliver good service to you. Please send us feedback on our website/phone :)
Chennai, here we come :)
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Kaal Taxi - New age Yama vahaanam
Even wondered that how does Mr. Yamraja operate in Indian cities these days, given that his favourite agent, the buffalo is off the roads? A 2008 statistic shows that 50% of all vehicles seized for dangerous driving were "Kaal-Taxis". And there is your answer.
Be afraid, be very afraid. Just when you thought you had rendered Mr.Yamaraja vahan-less with the removal of buffaloes from the street, he has outsourced the service to Kaal-Taxis (Kaal- as in MahaKaal, the lord of death and destruction).Look at the name is its obvious. Most of these taxis as Tata Indicab, indicating, TATA, time to go.
Precautions to take when you encounter a Kaal-Taxi.
1) Always take refuge in cephal-ishwar - the helmet. Just as Markandeya swami was protected by Kapaaleshwar, when confronted by Yama, the helmet is your only savior here.
2) Avoid looking into the eyes of the driver of Kaal taxi. Its often taken as a challenge. Many of you would not know that these drivers have never used the vehicle brakes in their lifetime. Its below their dignity to touch the brake, and so do not challenge these guys for a race by looking into their eyes.
3) These Kaal-taxi guys always have their FM channels blaring. It doubles up as a warning to people who are around that, death is very close to them. In case, you want to please him, you can call up the radio station and dedicate a song to them. They might be pleased and forgive you.
4) There is always a sticker on the back of these Kaal-Taxis asking people to inform them if you see the driver driving harshly. You will never ever be able to reach those numbers. Heck, have you ever heard of anyone calling Yamaraja. He does not take orders/feedback. He comes at his will.
5)Worldy rules do not apply to Mr. Yama or his Kaal-taxis. So, do not expect them to follow any traffic rules.
So, remember to thank you lord for giving you one more lease of life after every encounter with the deadly - Kaal taxis.
Be afraid, be very afraid. Just when you thought you had rendered Mr.Yamaraja vahan-less with the removal of buffaloes from the street, he has outsourced the service to Kaal-Taxis (Kaal- as in MahaKaal, the lord of death and destruction).Look at the name is its obvious. Most of these taxis as Tata Indicab, indicating, TATA, time to go.
Precautions to take when you encounter a Kaal-Taxi.
1) Always take refuge in cephal-ishwar - the helmet. Just as Markandeya swami was protected by Kapaaleshwar, when confronted by Yama, the helmet is your only savior here.
2) Avoid looking into the eyes of the driver of Kaal taxi. Its often taken as a challenge. Many of you would not know that these drivers have never used the vehicle brakes in their lifetime. Its below their dignity to touch the brake, and so do not challenge these guys for a race by looking into their eyes.
3) These Kaal-taxi guys always have their FM channels blaring. It doubles up as a warning to people who are around that, death is very close to them. In case, you want to please him, you can call up the radio station and dedicate a song to them. They might be pleased and forgive you.
4) There is always a sticker on the back of these Kaal-Taxis asking people to inform them if you see the driver driving harshly. You will never ever be able to reach those numbers. Heck, have you ever heard of anyone calling Yamaraja. He does not take orders/feedback. He comes at his will.
5)Worldy rules do not apply to Mr. Yama or his Kaal-taxis. So, do not expect them to follow any traffic rules.
So, remember to thank you lord for giving you one more lease of life after every encounter with the deadly - Kaal taxis.
Friday, October 9, 2009
The Nobell Knight :)
Naturally, i was overjoyed by announcement of Nobell peace prize. What comes to my mind are the memorable dialogs from the The Dark Knight (2008). What I tried is to replay the dialog in the various scenes with the protagonist,Mr. Bhama, (a recent Nobell Prize Winner for peace) and rest of the characters being the same. Before you jump to conclusion about my protagonist, let me declare that Mr. Bhama is a figment of my imagination. Bhama apparently means light in Samskritam and I thought the name suite the Hero, who seems to be the only ray of hope in the world of "The Jokers". Please refer to the original dialogs (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/quotes).
*********************************************************************************
Scene 1: Mr. Bhama is rudely (yet respectfully) woken up by Alfred Pennyworth. He announces that Mr. Bhama has won the Nobell peace prize and how there are some skeptics were howling out there.
Mr. Bhama: Targeting me won't get them the prize back. They crossed the line. They are blaming me for paucity of hope.
Alfred Pennyworth: You crossed the line first, sir. You squeezed them, you talked and lectured the world to the point of desperation. And in their desperation they they did something that they didn't fully understand.
Mr. Bhama: Yeah, the prize committee members aren't complicated, Alfred. Just have to figure out what they're after.
Alfred Pennyworth: With respect, sir, perhaps this is a prize that *you* don't fully understand.
************************************************************************************
Scene 2 : but Why ????
Mr. Bhama: Then why give the Nobell prizes in the first place?
Alfred Pennyworth: Because the committee thought it was good sport. Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world get confused.
************************************************************************************
Scene 3: Conversation between Mr. Bhama and The Joker
The Joker: Oh, you. You just couldn't let the prize nomination go, could you? This is what happens when an unstoppable speaker meets an immovable (read dumb) committee. You are truly incorruptible, aren't you? Huh? You won't let go of this prize out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness. And I won't stop poking you because you're just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever.
Mr. Bhama: You'll be in this illusion forever.
The Joker: Maybe we can share one. You know, they'll be doubling up, the rate this committee's members are losing their minds.
Mr. Bhama: This prize committee just showed you that it's full of people ready to believe in good humor.
The Joker: Until their spirit breaks completely. Until they get a good look at the real heroic Tibetan monk and all the heroic things he's done. You didn't think I'd risk losing the battle for World's peace in a fistfight with you? No. You need an ace in the hole. Mine's monk.
Mr. Bhama: What did you do?
The Joker: I invited him over to our country and I brought him down to our level. I made you run scared in that funny costume to avoid a monk :) It wasn't hard. You see, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little push!
[the Joker laughs hysterically as Mr.Bhama races off and the cops come to take the Joker into custody]
************************************************************************************
Scene 4: Mr. Bhama meets Joker
Mr. Bhama: Then why do you want the peace prize?
The Joker: [laughs] I don't want the peace prize! What would I do the prize? Go back to supplying arms to rogue countries? No, no, NO! No. I just want to play with You... you... complete me.
Mr. Bhama: You're garbage who buys nobell prizes for money.
The Joker: Don't talk like one of them. You're not! Even if you'd like to be. To them, you're just a freak, like me! They need you right now, but when they don't, they'll cast you out, like a leper! You see, their morals, their code, it's a bad joke. Dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these... these civilized people, they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve.
Mr. Bhama: Where's Monk, I want to show him the prize?
The Joker: You have all these prizes, and you think they'll save you? Bad Karma always catches up dude :)
************************************************************************************
*********************************************************************************
Scene 1: Mr. Bhama is rudely (yet respectfully) woken up by Alfred Pennyworth. He announces that Mr. Bhama has won the Nobell peace prize and how there are some skeptics were howling out there.
Mr. Bhama: Targeting me won't get them the prize back. They crossed the line. They are blaming me for paucity of hope.
Alfred Pennyworth: You crossed the line first, sir. You squeezed them, you talked and lectured the world to the point of desperation. And in their desperation they they did something that they didn't fully understand.
Mr. Bhama: Yeah, the prize committee members aren't complicated, Alfred. Just have to figure out what they're after.
Alfred Pennyworth: With respect, sir, perhaps this is a prize that *you* don't fully understand.
************************************************************************************
Scene 2 : but Why ????
Mr. Bhama: Then why give the Nobell prizes in the first place?
Alfred Pennyworth: Because the committee thought it was good sport. Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world get confused.
************************************************************************************
Scene 3: Conversation between Mr. Bhama and The Joker
The Joker: Oh, you. You just couldn't let the prize nomination go, could you? This is what happens when an unstoppable speaker meets an immovable (read dumb) committee. You are truly incorruptible, aren't you? Huh? You won't let go of this prize out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness. And I won't stop poking you because you're just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever.
Mr. Bhama: You'll be in this illusion forever.
The Joker: Maybe we can share one. You know, they'll be doubling up, the rate this committee's members are losing their minds.
Mr. Bhama: This prize committee just showed you that it's full of people ready to believe in good humor.
The Joker: Until their spirit breaks completely. Until they get a good look at the real heroic Tibetan monk and all the heroic things he's done. You didn't think I'd risk losing the battle for World's peace in a fistfight with you? No. You need an ace in the hole. Mine's monk.
Mr. Bhama: What did you do?
The Joker: I invited him over to our country and I brought him down to our level. I made you run scared in that funny costume to avoid a monk :) It wasn't hard. You see, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little push!
[the Joker laughs hysterically as Mr.Bhama races off and the cops come to take the Joker into custody]
************************************************************************************
Scene 4: Mr. Bhama meets Joker
Mr. Bhama: Then why do you want the peace prize?
The Joker: [laughs] I don't want the peace prize! What would I do the prize? Go back to supplying arms to rogue countries? No, no, NO! No. I just want to play with You... you... complete me.
Mr. Bhama: You're garbage who buys nobell prizes for money.
The Joker: Don't talk like one of them. You're not! Even if you'd like to be. To them, you're just a freak, like me! They need you right now, but when they don't, they'll cast you out, like a leper! You see, their morals, their code, it's a bad joke. Dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these... these civilized people, they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve.
Mr. Bhama: Where's Monk, I want to show him the prize?
The Joker: You have all these prizes, and you think they'll save you? Bad Karma always catches up dude :)
************************************************************************************
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Vyasa on Vices
It is not very difficult for us to imagine how difficult life in Kaliyuga is going to be. I was always wondering what our rishis had to say about Kali Yuga and what foresight they had about the iron age (Kali yiga).
I happened to read Vidyeshwara Samhita from Shiva Mahapuranam and that was very interesting. It seems Vyasa had visions into how much life would be degraded (well... its again perception .. some would say .. depending on our faith in scriptures, our history and willingness to open up to ancient wisdom). So, Suta, disciple of Vyasa, describes the following as significant indicators of Kali Yuga.
People in Kali Yuga would engage earning pleasure by usurping wealth and wives of others. They would not be able to differentiate between the body and self (brahman). They would invariably be atheists, be passionate by nature and denounce their parents.
Those who are responsible to learn the vedas, will be greedy by nature, earn living by selling knowledge(vedas) and get intoxicated by learning worldly knowledge (devoid of knowledge of brahman). They would indulge in cheating others, not perform sandhya vandanam (how can Vyasa come so close) and be foolish. They would be merciless and consider themselves very learned by learning worldly knowledge. They would not have knowledge about shastras. They would have very harsh temperament and be deceitful (how close).
Those who are supposed to be protectors of people, will never take side of noble people (if any). They would be engaged in corrupt,sinful activities. They would be cowards by nature and fear the battle field when it comes to defending their people. They would earn their living by stealing from people that they are supposed to protect. They would always be engaged in passionate activities. They would not have knowledge of weapons. They would indulge in destruction of their own people and kill creatures without any reason.
Those who are supposed to do business, would be engaged in earning wealth by evil tricks of trade. They would not engage in charity or support vedic learning. There would be complete loss of ideals and business people would derive pleasure by snatching wealth and wives of others.
Those who are engaged in providing labour support, would benefit from the degradation of all other sections of society. They would find ways of evading work and behave as protectors of vedic knowledge. They would become wealthy, engage in evil deeds, become learned, incite controversies, give lectures on dharma and destroy dharma. They would act as kings, project themselves are donors and protectors of society, be extremely proud and punish/denounce vedic learning. They would derive pleasure in oppressing people pursuing vedic ideals.
Like men of this age, women would also indulge in misconduct. At home,they would engage in cooking of prohibited/non-sattvic food. Children from such households would not be interested in service of their parents. They would learn un-holy knowledge and be extremely proud and arrogant. They would suffer from various physical ailments right from childhood.
From here, the sivapuranam goes on with how the defects of Kali Yuga can be addressed. Now, what is interesting is Veda Vyasa's ability to perceive the social unrest several thousands of years in advance.
Reading this also gives me a sense of relief. I always had this sense of unrest in my mind. Why is everyone (including me) behaving in such a way that seems to so chaotic. There seems to be a feeling of discontent and mismatch in everything that is around me. Now, reading this section of SivaPuranam shows that this was not unexpected. People, have foreseen this problem, several thousands of years in advance, to such a granular level. So, the good thing is there might be an antidote to this unrest in our minds. I am sure other scriptures and puranas would also have some mention of the ailment and its cure. Now, all I need to do is find the cure and implement it on myself to see if it works :)
Friday, August 21, 2009
Taskaranaam Pataye Namo Namo - Salutations to the lord of thieves (Rudram)
My salutations to the lotus feet of the Lord who steals unholy thoughts from the hearts and minds of his devotees.
I found a rather interesting article on how an dacoit from UP decided to erect a statue for himself (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/UPs-ex-dacoit-to-put-up-own-statue-/articleshow/4913201.cms). The 59 year old dacoit did not have a fairly tale rise in the field of politics after an rather dull career as a dacoit. To quote the ex-dacoit (sounds fancy like ex-MP, ex-MLA, though the JD is rather similar), Jagannath Bind, "If people can erect statues of themselves, why not me?".
What attracted my attention was a slightly different point in his reasoning. Jagannath Bind was inspired by Valmiki to turn a new leaf. Now, I am not sure how much of this is true, but that is certainly inspiring. How many of us actually look upto inspiration from the history to turn a new leaf in life? I cannot talk on behalf of anyone else, but personally, I have a long way to go to reach my own personal ethical/moral benchmarks and have never corrected myself inspite of having read about many of these mahapurushas. My biases are intact; my mind is wavering and deceitful; my senses are not under control; lack of discipline; superficial bhakti; and the list is unending.
How inspiring the story of TulsiDas (http://www.ramcharitmanas.iitk.ac.in/manas1/html/tulsim.htm), whose love of worldly life was switched into love of Rama in a second. Yogi Vemana (http://www.manmaking.com/Chastity/Stories.html#_Toc441557047) saw the dawn of intense vairagya by the blessings of Lord Shiva. I can only hope that the Lord shows his mercy on my fickle mind.
Now on the point on how I can make an effort to develop Bhakti, I want to highlight a lecture by Periyava (Voice of God, "The third way"), in which he talks about 3 ways in which we can approach the Love of Lord based on our mental capabilities. 2 of them are मर्कट किशोर न्याय (Markata Kishore Nyaya) and मार्जार किशोर न्याय (Maarjara Kishora Nyaya).
The cat family (including the tiger) have very sharp teeth. Inspite of their ferocious teeth, they are able to carry their kittens with utmost care, holding them by the same sharp teeth that can shread the toughest of their prey. Hence, the kitten (मार्जार किशोर) are effortlessly carried by their mothers without the slightest harm. Such an approach to, Bhakti in which devotees the Lord in their hearts and leave it to AmmaiAppan (the lord who is their father and mother) to carry them safely in this tumultuous world, is called Markata Kishora Nyaya.
Another approach to Bhakti is like that of a baby monkey (मर्कट किशोर), which clings to its mother's abdomen. The mother monkey does not have to bother about the baby monkey even when it jumps across branches.
Adi Shankara has the antidote for our minds in the Kali Yuga. He says in the SivanandaLahiri
"Me hridayakapim athyanatha chapalam
Dhridham bhaktya bhadhva Shiva, bhavadh aadhinam kuru Vibho"
Which translates to, "O Lord, my mind/heart, which is like a monkey, is very fickle. Please bind it firmly by the rope of bhakti and make it subservient to you.
Reflecting on it, these are days of scientific temper. We do not have the capacity to "let go" and leave ourselves to the flow of affection from the Lord. We also do not have the determination to "cling on" to the bhakti marga. Adi Shankara BhagavatPada seems to have understood our inability to follow wither of these. Hence, suggested that we pray to the Lord and request him to take control our our lives, putting the responsibility on our beloved Lord to take control of our mind and lives. A classic example in this case is how Sundarar asked the Lord that he take control of his life just when he is likely to get carried by the waves of Maya.
What I take solace is the world is full of instances of people reforming by looking at examples from our glorious spiritual past. I pray that, just as the decoit changed his ways by seeking inspiration in Valmiki, let me be inspired, by all these saints, to tread the sweet path of Bhatkti.
I found a rather interesting article on how an dacoit from UP decided to erect a statue for himself (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/UPs-ex-dacoit-to-put-up-own-statue-/articleshow/4913201.cms). The 59 year old dacoit did not have a fairly tale rise in the field of politics after an rather dull career as a dacoit. To quote the ex-dacoit (sounds fancy like ex-MP, ex-MLA, though the JD is rather similar), Jagannath Bind, "If people can erect statues of themselves, why not me?".
What attracted my attention was a slightly different point in his reasoning. Jagannath Bind was inspired by Valmiki to turn a new leaf. Now, I am not sure how much of this is true, but that is certainly inspiring. How many of us actually look upto inspiration from the history to turn a new leaf in life? I cannot talk on behalf of anyone else, but personally, I have a long way to go to reach my own personal ethical/moral benchmarks and have never corrected myself inspite of having read about many of these mahapurushas. My biases are intact; my mind is wavering and deceitful; my senses are not under control; lack of discipline; superficial bhakti; and the list is unending.
How inspiring the story of TulsiDas (http://www.ramcharitmanas.iitk.ac.in/manas1/html/tulsim.htm), whose love of worldly life was switched into love of Rama in a second. Yogi Vemana (http://www.manmaking.com/Chastity/Stories.html#_Toc441557047) saw the dawn of intense vairagya by the blessings of Lord Shiva. I can only hope that the Lord shows his mercy on my fickle mind.
Now on the point on how I can make an effort to develop Bhakti, I want to highlight a lecture by Periyava (Voice of God, "The third way"), in which he talks about 3 ways in which we can approach the Love of Lord based on our mental capabilities. 2 of them are मर्कट किशोर न्याय (Markata Kishore Nyaya) and मार्जार किशोर न्याय (Maarjara Kishora Nyaya).
The cat family (including the tiger) have very sharp teeth. Inspite of their ferocious teeth, they are able to carry their kittens with utmost care, holding them by the same sharp teeth that can shread the toughest of their prey. Hence, the kitten (मार्जार किशोर) are effortlessly carried by their mothers without the slightest harm. Such an approach to, Bhakti in which devotees the Lord in their hearts and leave it to AmmaiAppan (the lord who is their father and mother) to carry them safely in this tumultuous world, is called Markata Kishora Nyaya.
Another approach to Bhakti is like that of a baby monkey (मर्कट किशोर), which clings to its mother's abdomen. The mother monkey does not have to bother about the baby monkey even when it jumps across branches.
Adi Shankara has the antidote for our minds in the Kali Yuga. He says in the SivanandaLahiri
"Me hridayakapim athyanatha chapalam
Dhridham bhaktya bhadhva Shiva, bhavadh aadhinam kuru Vibho"
Which translates to, "O Lord, my mind/heart, which is like a monkey, is very fickle. Please bind it firmly by the rope of bhakti and make it subservient to you.
Reflecting on it, these are days of scientific temper. We do not have the capacity to "let go" and leave ourselves to the flow of affection from the Lord. We also do not have the determination to "cling on" to the bhakti marga. Adi Shankara BhagavatPada seems to have understood our inability to follow wither of these. Hence, suggested that we pray to the Lord and request him to take control our our lives, putting the responsibility on our beloved Lord to take control of our mind and lives. A classic example in this case is how Sundarar asked the Lord that he take control of his life just when he is likely to get carried by the waves of Maya.
What I take solace is the world is full of instances of people reforming by looking at examples from our glorious spiritual past. I pray that, just as the decoit changed his ways by seeking inspiration in Valmiki, let me be inspired, by all these saints, to tread the sweet path of Bhatkti.
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