வாழ்க்கையில் குறிக்கோள்

உணவகத்தில் நுழைந்திட்டேன்
ஊணருந்தி   ஓய்வெடுக்க
"பசிக்கு எதைப் புசித்திடலாம்?"
பட்சணப் பட்டியல் பார்த்திட்டேன்

பார்த்ததெல்லாம் ரசிக்கவில்லை
ரசித்ததெல்லாம் காணவில்லை
ருசிக்கவொரு  பண்டமிதில்
விசித்திரமாய் விசனங்கள்.

அடுத்த மேசை அன்பருக்கோ
அடுக்கு பூரி கொடுத்திடவே
மிடுக்குக் குரலில் நானுமதையே
முன்மொழிந்து பசியார்ந்தேன்.

வாழ்க்கையிலும் குறிக்கோளில்
ஆழ்ந்த பல ஐயங்கள்
ஏழ்மை நிறைந்த எண்ணங்கள்
தாழ்ந்த மனத் திண்ணங்கள்.

மாற்றானை  மறந்து நான்
ஏற்றம் காணுவ தெப்போது?
தனக்கென ஒரு குறிக்கோள்
தேர்ந்தடுப்ப தெப்போது?
❤D❤

மையல்

விழிப்புலகம் கனவுலகம் இரண்டு
விடாமல் மையல் வயங்கொண்டு
வழிபடுதல் ஜீவனுக்கு உண்டு
வதங்கியது மதியுறக்கங்கண்டு.

விழிப்பிழந்து தூங்குகையில் விண்டு
விழித்திருக்கும் ஆன்மாவோ நின்று
கழித்திருக்கும்  அறிவீனம் என்று
காட்டியது சாட்சி என நன்று

प्यार का नशा

कठिनाईयों से भागना आसान होता है - पर
प्यार का हर पन्ना एक इम्तिहान होता है।
क़ायरों को कुछ मिलता नहीं जिंदगी में -पर
आशिकों के क़दमों में सारा जहाँ  होता है।

प्यार के नशे में दर्द का एहसास कहाँ होता है - बस
प्यार का दर्द से प्यार का जूनून ज़्यादा होता है।
न कोई उमंगें, न कोई नयी दुआओं की ज़रूरत है- बस
आँखों में उम्मीदें  लेकर आशिक़ का इंतज़ार होता है।

❤D❤

आशिक

जीना तो हमें हें नहीं पर
यूँ ही हम जी तो लेते हें
शायर तो बनना नहीं हमें पर
थोडा शायरी तो कर लेते हें

चोर तो नहीं बन्ना है हमें पर
दिल की चोरी तो कर लेते हें
आशिक तो हम है नहीं पर
आशिकी थोडा कर लेते हें

तेरी मुस्कुराहट

फरिश्तों से मेरा मन्नत यही है कि
तुम्हारी दिल ज़ख़्मी न हो जाए
चाहे तुमको ज़ख़्म से बचाने के लिए
हम तुम्हारी दिल से हट भी जाए

खुदा से हमेशा यही दुआ है मेरा
तेरे चेहरे से मुसकुराहट मिठ न जाए
चाहे उस को कायम रखने के लिए
इस धरती से  हम मिठ भी जाए

❤

D❤

Recipe for making home made sambar, Rasam

Procedure for making Sambar powder:

Required:

துவரம் பருப்பு 100 gm (Toor Dal)
கடலைப்பருப்பு 100 gm (Channa Dal)
மல்லி  4 times 800 gm (Coriander seeds)
கடுகு 50 gm (mustard)
மிளகு 50 gm (black pepper)
பெருங்காயம் 50 gm ( Asafoetida, in block form)
விரலி மஞ்சள் 100 gm (curcumin turmeric)
வெந்தயம் 50 gm ( methi seeds)
வத்தல் 1/2 kg ( Dry red chillis)

Dry the above either in natural sunlight for a day or two, or in the oven, enough for it feel dry and be given to a machine for powdering it. Make sure that the turmeric is broken down tino much smaller pieces ebfore powdering. Same with Asafoetida. Block Asaofetida is advisable as opposed to powedered asafoetida, since that gives much better flavour.

If you are in India, then mills that help you powder rice or wheat into Atta, can do the powring job. Alternatively, you an get it done in at home in a mixie, but make sure that you use the right size sieve, to completely sieve off, to avoid any lumps in the sambar. Store this powder in a dry jar ( preferable to leave the jar in the sunlight ebfore storing). Youa re good to go, for a few months with this.

Rasam Powder : essentially the same as sambar powder above, except that about 75 gm of Jeera is powdered and added to the above.


Procedure for making sambar for two people:

Required:

2 to 3 handfuls of Toor Dal
Tamarind - 1 lime size - sokaed and nicely juiced up. be sure to remove the seeds and other fibres, and use only the paste/ puree.
1 1/2 tea spoons of sambar powder.
Enough salt, to suit your profile.
Vegetables.
Turmeric powder - one pinch
Rice flour - 1/2 teaspoon ( if you wish to make the sambar thick. I normally dont)
Mustard seeds - one teaspoon.
2 green chillis - if you like the sambar spicy. I normally skip.
Asafoetida powder - one pinch
Gingely Oil - one teaspon
Curry leaves - about 20.
Coriander leaves - for garnishing.

Make Tamarind pureee/ paste first. Side by side, cook the toor dal in a pressure cooker, by adding enough water on top, and the turmeric in the water). The resultant dal should be masheable by hand. Typically, the dal is cooked along with the rice, in the cooker ( about 6 whistles in a Presitege pressure cooker).

Add the tamarind puree, sambar powder and salt in a vessel, with about 2 cups of water. Taste it for appropriate salt, tamarind or sambar poweder , and add as approriate to correct the proportion. The concoction should be just hot for the tongue to ebar the "spice", and enough tamarind to feel the sourness, plus, of course, enough salt.

Bring this concoction to a boil. Add the cut vegtables, and cook for about 5 to 10 minutes ( depending upon the veggie) for it to be cooked enough. Add 1/2 teaspoon of rice flour, if you like the sambar very thick, and allow it to cook. Then add the mashed and cooked dal into this concoction. Switch off the stove immediately after this comes back to a boil. Over-boiling will give a foul smell of the dal, so be careful to switch off at the right time.

Add a tadka of mustard, asaofetida, freen chillis ( if you want), curry leaves to this sambar. Add fresh coriander leaves as garnish.

Delicious home-made sambar is now ready to be served.


HOME MADE RASAM for two:

Required:

1 to 1 handfuls of Toor Dal
Tamarind - 1/1 lime size - soaked and nicely juiced up. be sure to remove the seeds and other fibres, and use only the paste/ puree.
3/4 tea spoons of sambar powder.
Enough salt, to suit your profile.
One cut tomato (large).
Turmeric powder - one pinch
Mustard seeds - one teaspoon.
2 green chillis - if you like the rasam spicy. I normally skip.
Asafoetida powder - one pinch
Gingely Oil - one teaspon
Coriander leaves - for garnishing.

Cook dal in a cooker as above. Make a more watery concotion of rasam/ sambar power, tamarind and salt, as above. Less spicy than sambar, and definitely less sour, since the tomato will add to the sourness.

Bring this to a boil for about 5 to 10 minutes until raw smell of the sambar poweder goes away, Then add the tomato and cook for a couple fo minutes. Add the mashed dal, bring to a boil, and switch off. Complete the tadka as above, and garnishing of corander. You are now ready to serve rasam either as a soup or with hot rice and a spoon of ghee...

तेरी जादू में

तेरी हातों में मेरी लकीरों कि निशानी होना है
तेरी गुस्ताखि में मेरी बचपना ज़ाहिर होना है
तेरी होटों में मेरी मुस्कराहट को खिलना है
तेरी अंगडाई में मेरी आलिशानी दिखना है

तेरी राह में मेरी सफर जारी रहना है
तेरी आँखों में मेरी निगाहें रौशनी करना है
तेरी जान में मेरी सांस कि मिलन होना है
तेरी जादू में मुझे तुममें समा होना है.

❤D❤

களி

திருவா திரை ஒருவாய்க் களி
பெறுவாய் என படைத் திட்டேன்
மருவா மலே அருள்வாய்  என
திருவா யுற  துதித் திட்டேன்

வருவாய் உன தருளால் எனை
குருவாய் மன தாட் கொள்ள.
தருவாய் இனி பிறவா வரம்
உருவாய் உன துள்ளே.

❤D❤

அய்யா உன் துணை

அறியாப் பருவத்தில் அறிய வைத்து
எரியா விளக்கை ஏற்றி வைத்தாய்
புரியாப் புதிர் பல புரிந்தது
விரியா வாழ்க்கை விரிந்த பொது!!

பரிமேல் அழகன் துணையுடனே
குறியாய் நின்றேன் திசை நோக்கி
தறிகெட் டோடாமல் துணிவுடனே
புரிந்தேன் செய்கைப் பலவும்.
❣D❣

प्यार की रंगोली

दिल में प्यार कि रंगोली लग गये
वह अब मिटाया जा नहीं सकते।

उसकी  यादें जो दिल में शोर मचाते हैं
वह अब चुप किया नहीं जा सकते।

वक्त की पाबन्दी उससे दूर कर दी मगर
याददाश्त  की बरात को रोका नहीं सकते।

मुझे मुझसे दूर चाहे कर लो मगर
उसकी छाया से कभी हटा नहीं सकते।
❣D❣

Sachin

His walk to the crease
Was cheered by
A billion claps.

His stint at the crease
Held together by
A billion prayers.

The Sound of his willow
Got muted away
In a billion heart beats.

History pages will
Soon be visited by
A billion eyes.

His Godly presence
Will sorely be missed by
A billion bated breaths.

❤D❤

नामुमकिन है

अब तन्हाई में मुस्कुराना तो नामुमकिन है
अब यह राज़ सबसे छुपाना नामुमकिन है

तुम्हारी यादें रात की नींद को चुरा लेते हैं - मगर
सोते सोते जाग्रण करना बिलकुल नामुमकिन है

यह मुहबत्त को दिल से हटाना नामुमकिन है
यह जज़्बात को अब पलकों से रोकना नामुमकिन है

तुम्हारी सुनहरी यादों के संगत मर भी जाऊं- मगर
तुम्हें भूलकर एक पल भी जीना नामुमकिन है

❣D❣

मेरी चाँद मुझे छोड़ी

छोटी सी बात पर मेरी चाँद मुझसे खफ़ा हुयी है - तो
एक दीया जलाकर मेरे आँगन में रख लिया हूँ

ऐसा लगा कि मुझे छोडकर वह दूर चल रही है -तो
गम का सागर को अश्खों के पीछे रोक लिया हूँ

महफ़िल में सैकड़ों हैं तो क्या फर्क पड़ी है - अब
तन्हाई का दर्द को मुस्कुराहट से छुपा लिया हूँ

मुहब्बत मिचली है यह उसने दिखाकर गयी है- तो
आंसूओं को दवा बनाकर पीना सीख लिया हूँ

❣D❣

मिचली=illness

வித்தாய் விதைத்தாய்

இத்தாய் மண்ணின் மைந்தன் ஆயினும்
சத்தாய்ச் சாய்ந்தாய் பணத்தின் தோளில்
மத்தாய் ஆகியே வெண்ணை திரட்ட
முத்தாய்ப் பொன்றை முன்மொழின் திட்டாய்

எத்தாய் உன்னை உய்வித் தாளோ
பித்தாய்த் திரிந்தாய் பதராய்ப் போனாய்
முத்தாய்க் கிட்டிய மானிடப் பிறவி
வெத்தாய் வெஃகல் அழிக்க விட்டாய்

வித்தாய் விதைத்தாய் நஞ்சை நிலத்தில்
கொத்தாய் அறுத்தாய் குறுவை அதனில்
சொத்தாய்ச் சேர்த்தாய்ச் சொந்தம் புகழ
செத்தாய் உரமாய் ஆனாய் விதைக்கு.

❣D❣


வெஃகல் = Greed, avarice

நான்மறை

நான்மறையில் நான் மறைந்தேன்
ஊணுறக்கம் தான் மறந்தேன்
தாநென்கிற  ஊழ்த்  துறந்தேன்
ஆணவனில் "நான்" மறைந்தேன்.
❣D❣

India's win today

ऑस्ट्रेलिया बनी आज ईद की बकरी
मैदान में हुयी टिकेट की पूरी बिक्री
ऐसा लगा दीवाली तोड़ा जल्दी में है
क्रिकेट के दीवानों आज जन्नत में हैं

The significance of Durga

There are a lot of explanations about the significance of Durga, the Protector, that are already available. I am giving the name Durga and what it means, a human psychology twist, in this article.

Generally accepted meaning is "all invincible". Reference to this can be had in the Srimad Bahgawatham.

 durgām—all invincible . In Srimad Bhagawatham Navamskandam   (Canto 9.10.19)

tāṁ yātudhāna-pṛtanām asi-śūla-cāpa-
prāsarṣṭi-śaktiśara-tomara-khaḍga-durgām
sugrīva-lakṣmaṇa-marutsuta-gandhamāda-
nīlāṅgadarkṣa-panasādibhir anvito ’gāt

"Lord Rāmacandra, surrounded by Lakṣmaṇa and monkey soldiers like Sugrīva, Hanumān, Gandhamāda, Nīla, Aṅgada, Jāmbavān and Panasa, attacked the soldiers of the Rākṣasas, who were fully equipped with various invincible weapons like swords, lances, bows, prāsas, ṛṣṭis, śakti arrows, khaḍgas and tomaras".

In Sanskrit language, Durga also means "impregnable" or super-steadfast, as in moats that are used to guard fortresses. Various puranas make reference to various moats - Jala Gurga ( moat with crocodiles in the water), Vayu Durga and Agni Durga etc..

The Lalitha Sahasranamam, part of the Brahmanda Purana ("The history of the universe") (Sanskrit: ब्रह्माण्ड पुराण,Brahmāṇḑa Purāņa) refers to the name of Durga or Devi, of interest for this dicussion - Manonmani . Literally, it means, Durga would grant you what your heart of mind wants.

This explanation of Manonmani appears rather superficial, right? How does one know that she grants what one wishes in the mind? Isn't it hypothetical, or even speculative? 

Therein lies the beauty of the concept of Durga, and, by extension, the significance of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswasti as a concept. 

If you observe carefully, Durga stamps her feet over Mahishasura, that buffalo-headed demon,right? Why is depicted this way? Is Durga a killer, rather than a protector? Does the buffalo not have a right to live as well?

Well, the answer to that, clearly, is that this symbolic slaying of the buffalo-headed demon has a deeper human psychological element. Buffalo, as an animal, similar to the Sloth bear, is known for it's laziness, lethargy, nonchalance etc... in words, it represents the innate tendency of humans to procrastinate, not do one's duty, and, well, just not "being in the mood" to do things. We saw earlier that "Durga" symbolizes invincibility, but also represents the doggedness, that will power to act, that is required to achieve what we want to, in this materialistic and spiritual life. I include both the materialistic and spiritual aspects of humans here - you can choose whichever path you want to, and the concept very much relevant to both.

Only by destroying the inner lethargy, can humans hope to achieve what they aim for. If you don't even resolve to act, you will never get anywhere, especially on the materialistic front, as applicable to the ordinary mortal. Thus, Durga represents the Ichaa Shakti ( the will power to act), which emanates from the mind. So, in order to achieve you end, slay and get over that lethargy first, resolve to act, and then the next steps follow, as represented by Lakshmi, the Kriya Shakti ( Kriya literally means "the act of doing" on Sanskrit). 

Lakshmi is manifest in the form of  purposeful action. This is the execution phase required to get to where you want to. This comes from the body. The power that activates the inert body and makes it vibrant is will power, represented by Durga. The power that induces the vibrations of will power is the power of discernment (jnaana shakthi), which causes radiation of energy that is required to perform the act. Jnaana shakti is represented by Sarawati, that Goddess of knowledge or discernment, and comes from the Aatma ( or soul).

Thus, to me, the concept of Durga, Lakshmi and Sarawati have a psycho-spiritual angle to it. Durga extols me to get the will power to act, Lakshmi gets me the purposeful actions required to achieve my goals, and Saraswati taps my soul to harness the power of knowledge to discern and go after the rightful. 

Another practical way to look at it, as applicable to all of us, is that without the will power to succeed (Durga), it is impossible to get the wealth and prosperity (Lakshmi) -both materialistic and spiritual-, and without Lakshmi, it is impossible to get knowledge (Saraswati) . Metaphorically speaking,  an empty stomach will not get anyone towards knowledge, something that has been recognized for thousands of years.

Thus, to me, Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati transcend mere symbolism, and signify a deeper meaning, something that is applicable to our day-to-day lives.

என்னவளே

அதரங்களின் சிவப்பழகை அள்ளிக் கொள்ளவோ?

உதிரம் சிந்தாமல் உனை எனதாக்கிக் கொள்ளவோ?

பஞ்சணையில் புரளுகின்றேன் தூக்கம் நீக்கி

வஞ்சியையே தலையணையாய் ஆக்கிக் கொள்ளவோ?

கடைக்கண் பார்வையால் சைகை காட்டிவிடு

மடைதிறந்த வெள்ளத்தை மனத்தில் பாய்ச்சிவிடு

உடைக்கத் துணிந்தேன் உலகின் தடைகளை

படைப்போம் புதுப்பண் பார்வையால் ஆணையிடு

என்னுடன் இருந்துவிடு மையல் உய்யட்டும்

பொன்னுடன் மேனியும் ஜொலித்துப் போகட்டும்

பாரா முகமாய் எனை வாட்டிட வேண்டாம் 

தேரா உயிரோ துளிர்விட்டுப் விட்டுப் போகட்டும்

तुम मेरी हो

तुम्हारी चेहरे से लाल चुरा लूं
तुम्हें लूटकर अपना बना लूं।
मेरी सेज सूनी  है जिसको
तुम्हारी अंगडाई से खूब सजा लूं।

तुम्हारी आँखों की  एक ही इशारा करो
मेरे जीने का मक्सत ज़रूर दिखाया करो।
तोड़ दूंगा में इस दुनिया के हर रस्म को
सिर्फ  एक बार  मेरे दिल को पुकारा करो।

या तुम पास में आओ जब उल्फत हो जाय
या तस्वीर दो तुम्हारी जो दीदार किये जाय।
कौनसा गम है जो तुमने मुझे दी हो
न कुछ किया जाय, न तुम बिन रहा जाय।
❣D❣

சீவன்

வாழ்ந்திருக்கும் காலம் மனதில் நீ

ஆழ்ந்திருக்கும் சித்தக் கருத்தில் நீ

விழித்திருக்கும் போதும் கனவில் நீ

வீழ்ந்திருக்கும் போதும் சீவனில் நீ.

இதமாய்ப் பல  இன்சொல் பேசியும்

நிதமாய் அமைதி நிலைக்கா ததேன்?

பனித்த கண்கள் பரிபாஷைப் பகிர்ந்தும்

கனிந்த மனமோ கிட்டாததேன்?

❣D❣

Energy

The oodles of

Energy in me

May get capped.

For now.

Transient times, these.

Cumulus clouds

Cannot contain

The radiance

Of Ra

Beyond the

Advent of dawn.

-D-

Ra=Sun God (Egyptian)
❣D❣

A Unique way of governance

Shrimad Bhagavatham is a fascinating work, indeed, talking both of God and God's devotees.

One of them is Ambarisha, who ruled a big chunk of the world for a long time.

I was reading this Ambarisha Charitram today. The story set me thinking about a very unique way of governance that was employed by him. First, here are the excerpts from the Bhagavatham (SB) pertaining to this story ( Canto 9).

SB 9.4.15-16: Sukadeva Gosvami said: Maharaja Ambarisha, the most fortunate personality, achieved the rule of the entire world, consisting of seven islands, and achieved inexhaustible, unlimited opulence and prosperity on earth. Although such a position is rarely obtained, Maharaja Ambarisha did not care for it at all, for he knew very well that all such opulence is material. Like that which is imagined in a dream, such opulence will ultimately be destroyed. The King knew that any nondevotee who attains such opulence merges increasingly into material nature's mode of darkness.

SB 9.4.17: Maharaja Ambarisha was a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, and of the saintly persons who are the Lord's devotees. Because of this devotion, he thought of the entire universe as being as insignificant as a piece of stone.

SB 9.4.18-20: Maharaja Ambarisha always engaged his mind in meditating upon the lotus feet of Krishna, his words in describing the glories of the Lord, his hands in cleansing the Lord's temple, and his ears in hearing the words spoken by Krishna or about Krishna. He engaged his eyes in seeing the Deity of Krishna, Krishna's temples and Krishna's places like Mathura and Vrindavana, he engaged his sense of touch in touching the bodies of the Lord's devotees, he engaged his sense of smell in smelling the fragrance of tulasi offered to the Lord, and he engaged his tongue in tasting the Lord's prasada. He engaged his legs in walking to the holy places and temples of the Lord, his head in bowing down before the Lord, and all his desires in serving the Lord, twenty-four hours a day. Indeed, Maharaja Ambarisha never desired anything for his own sense gratification. He engaged all his senses in devotional service, in various engagements related to the Lord. This is the way to increase attachment for the Lord and be completely free from all material desires.

SB 9.4.21: In performing his prescribed duties as king, Maharaja Ambarisha always offered the results of his royal activities to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, who is the enjoyer of everything and is beyond the perception of material senses. He certainly took advice from brahmanas who were faithful devotees of the Lord, and thus he ruled the planet earth without difficulty.

SB 9.4.22: In desert countries where there flowed the River Sarasvati, Maharaja Ambarisha performed great sacrifices like the asvamedha-yajna and thus satisfied the master of all yajnas, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such sacrifices were performed with great opulence and suitable paraphernalia and with contributions of dakshina to the brahmanas, who were supervised by great personalities like Vasishtha, Asita and Gautama, representing the king, the performer of the sacrifices.

SB 9.4.23: In the sacrifice arranged by Maharaja Ambarisha, the members of the assembly and the priests [especially hota, udgata, brahma and adhvaryu] were gorgeously dressed, and they all looked exactly like demigods. They eagerly saw to the proper performance of the yajna.

SB 9.4.24: The citizens of the state of Maharaja Ambarisha were accustomed to chanting and hearing about the glorious activities of the Personality of Godhead. Thus they never aspired to be elevated to the heavenly planets, which are extremely dear even to the demigods.

SB 9.4.25: Those who are saturated with the transcendental happiness of rendering service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead are uninterested even in the achievements of great mystics, for such achievements do not enhance the transcendental bliss felt by a devotee who always thinks of Krishna within the core of his heart.

SB 9.4.26: The king of this planet, Maharaja Ambarisha, thus performed devotional service to the Lord and in this endeavor practiced severe austerity. Always satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead by his constitutional activities, he gradually gave up all material desires.

SB 9.4.27: Maharaja Ambarisha gave up all attachment to household affairs, wives, children, friends and relatives, to the best of powerful elephants, to beautiful chariots, carts, horses and inexhaustible jewels, and to ornaments, garments and an inexhaustible treasury. He gave up attachment to all of them, regarding them as temporary and material.

What set me thinking was the way he ruled. He was unlike the archetypal Kshatriya King that you would imagine - fighting wars, levying taxes, punishing the guilty etc etc...   doing whatever it took, to rule the country. Instead, not only did he devote his entire resources and time on Bhakti and religion, but he was also influencing, an successfully so, his wards to do the same. This rather Utopian environment resulted in the perfect governance that possibly could not have been achieved by the "regular way" of ruling. 

The question that arose in my mind is - was Ambarisha verring away from Kshatriya Dharma, and indulged in activities that could be construed as "unbecoming" of a Kshatriya? Was he failing to do his duty, in the name of being a devotee of Narayana?


Perhaps not. Let me explain why.

What really is the objective of any ruler? To keep the country safe ( protect), to keep his subjects happy and prosperous. Is there any prescription of HOW one to govern? Absolutely not! As long as the goals are met, it does not matter which methodology was employed. 

Ambarisha's country was certainly well protected and safe. The people indeed were happy and prosperous, and crime was non-existent. And all of this was achieved by Bhakti, not through manifest "Rajoguna". So then, is this wrong? I most certainly do not think so. Do you?

Guest

I know well, that
The Soul is a guest
Of the host
called The Body-
For a few decades,
At best.

Why am I then
Obsessed with
The Host,
instead of
Caring for the Guest?

Does not
"Athiti Devo Bhava"
Apply to the sublime?
❣D❣

My brother

The stone-washed jeans

That you bought me with

Your first pay

Still hangs in my closet-

As a reminder of 

Your selflessness.

" You need that now

More than I do, for,

You are now in college"

Still rings in my ears-

As a reminder of 

Your care.

"Don't bother about others-

Join the college you really wish"

Still echoes in my mind-

As a reminder of

Your vision.

"Study whatever you feel

Passionate about- leave the

Finances to me"

Still reverberates in me-

As a reminder of your 

immense motivation.

"Let no woman come

In between our 

Brotherly ways".

Still emotes me-

As a reminder of your

Sibling bonding.

"Will I ever be able to

repay, at least in part,

All that you have given me,

At your own cost?"

Always pinches me-

As a reminder of your 

Towering influence.

"Should I belittle all

Your sibling showers on me

By a simple Thank You?"

Still bothers me-

As a reminder of your

Unflinching affection.

"Did God send you

ahead of me on this earth

Just to take be my guardian angel?"

Still lingers in me-

As a reminder of your

Soothing presence.

"Will I ever get 

Such a  wonderful brother 

Like you, in my next birth?"

Still rankles me-

As a reminder of 

the Most Amazing Sibling.

❣D❣

The climb

After every arduous climb
Lies a window
Of opportunity
That opens up
A vista of the world-
All over again.

Never be
Acrophobic.
Never tire of climbing.

❣D❣

The Secret

As you went away
By the evening train
Forever, to fade away
Did I see a gleam
In your moist eyes?
Did I feel a
Petulant platitude?

What did play
In your melancholic mind?
I muse, with a
Heavy heart.
Did you attempt
To convey something?

What really was it
That you never revealed?
Did that secret get drowned
In the cacophony
Of the Railway station?
Or was it a
Seminal Secret
Saved for the
Next birth?
❣D❣

इरादें

ऐसा लगा जिंदगी में उछल आई
जब तुम प्यार दी ताबीर बनके
रास्ते में उम्मीद मिला था मगर
चला गया  प्यास की फरिश्ता बनके

मुहब्बत का जिहादी की शौक हुयी
खुद की बस्ती को वीराना बनाके
अब यादों का वर पाया है हमने
भूल जाने का ही  इरादे बनाके
❣D❣

மொழி

மொழி
=========
பன்மொழி கொண்ட இந்நாட்டில்
செம்மொழி பல இருப்பினும்
எம்மொழியும் எம் மொழி என
இன்மொழி பரப்புவோமாக.

கனிமொழியாம் தமிழ்மொழியை
முதன்மொழியும் போதெல்லாம்
பிரமொழியையும் போற்றுவோமே
வழிமொழிந்து வரவேற்போமே!!
❣D❣

तेरी याद में

ऐसा लगा कि मिल गया  दो गुना  मुनाफ़ा

ऐसा लगा मैं बन गया उल्फत का खलीफ़ा।

मेरी जिंदगी मैं तुम बनी  प्यार का  लिफाफा

तेरी यादों में खुद को भूल जाता हूँ कई दफ़ा।

                                                                                     ❣D❣

என் மனதுள் நீ

மதியும்  மனதும் பிணியாய் இழுக்க

நித்தமும் நீயென கதியாய்க் கிடக்க

சித்தமோ சிதறிச் சமநிலைத் தவறிட

பித்தம் தெளியப் பிரம்மப் பிரயத்தனம்.

ஆன்மா தன்னில் ஐக்கியம் ஆனாய்

ஆனால் தூரதேசம் விட்டுப் போனாய்

எழுமனது நிலைநிறுத்தி உயரும்போதும்

என் மனதுள்ளேயே நீ எட்டாக் கனியாய்.

❣D❣

Tiger

Chanakya said:

" A snake may not 

be poisonous-

but should pretend

to be so".

I follow him.

I may not be

A tiger.......

❣D❣

दिया

दिल तो दिल क्या है जो

तुम्हें मिलने की दुआ न करें

तुम्हें भूलकर जीना भी

सज़ा होगा, खुदा न करें

तकदीर ने भुजा दिया है

मेरी उल्फत की चिराग को

मेरी अरमानों की खब्र में

अब कोई दिया जला न करें

❣D❣

I live on hopes

I know not

whether my love 

would blossom.

Yet, my weary eyes

Look for you 

everywhere

In fond, wishful gazes.

My mind delves

Into the silence

Inside my heart

Hoping to

Ferret you

From out of that

Very silence.

My foolish heart

Launches into

A sea of hope,

of whose end 

it does not know.

Yes, I live

On hopes

That, one day,

Those dreary gazes

Those muted musings

Those hopeful voyages

Would indeed

Turn fruitful.
❣D❣

The supreme

What is apparent

to the naked senses

is not real.

And the Only Real

is simply

Out of bounds

of the senses

Nice way to organize the day

Workers in a construction site are seen to be together early in the morning, in a meeting to plan for the rest of the day. This is a very innovative concept. I did not know if this has been iimplemented  in India or not. However I believe this is a great way to start the day. The manager can give instructions to worker's in a structured manner. The workers can voice their grievances and ask for help as required. This is a great way to act as a team.

My eternal companion

My heart,
My eternal companion,
My shadow
Let us go
Go away
To Netherworld
Where
It is you and I
And no one else.

You have been
The replica of
My feelings-
My pall-bearer
Of my pains
Of broken promises
Of utter disappointments
Of the occasional whiff
Of unlikely joy.

Those rare moments
Of happiness
That you were
Witness to
Have been few
And far in between.

My melancholy
Can be contagious.
Let know my sea of sorrow
Drown you into delusion.

Take me.
Take me away.
To a far distant Utopia.
Where it is you and I
And no one else.
❣D❣

தியானம்

ஒரு எண்ணம் ஓய்ந்தது பின்
மறு எண்ணம் ஜனித்தது
இரண்டுக்கும் இடைப்பட்ட
இடைவெளியில் ஆன்மஜோதி!

கண்டெடுக்கக் கடினப்பட்டேன்
புரவுலகைப் புரட்டிப்பார்தேன்
தேடியபோது கிடைக்கவில்லை
உணர்ந்தபோதோ திகட்டவில்லை!
❣D❣

சங்க காலம்

நாமின்று
இருப்பதும்
சங்க காலமே!

வங்கிகளின் முதற்பணத்தை
வகையருக்கவொரு
"முதற்ச்"சங்கம்.


நடிகையின் ரசிகர்கள்
இட்டதொரு
"இடைச்"சங்கம்

வியாபாரிகள்
ஒன்று சேர்ந்து
கட்டுவித்ததோ
"கடைச்"சங்கம்!

ஆம்! நாம்
இன்றிருப்பதும்
"சங்க" காலமே!
❣D❣

Window-shopping

I love window-shopping.
I love spending
Hours on end,
Taking stock.

Taking stock of
Things I
Don't possess
Yet am still
Happy without!
❣D❣

கவிஞனின் ஜீவநதி

ஒர்நிலையும் நிலைத்திராமல்
மனவுளைச்சல் வாட்டிவிடும்
நேர்மதியோ வேலைசெய்து
நின்றுபல நாளிருக்கும்.

உடைத்துணரும் பகுத்தறிவும்
உண்டோ என வியக்கவைக்கும்
மடைதிறந்த வெள்ளமென
மனப்புனலில் நீர்ச்சொரியும்

மையலுக்குக்  கோயில்கட்ட
ஆகமமோ அடுத்துவரும்
அய்யனவன் அருளுக்காக
பாக்கள்பல எடுத்துத்தரும்

உலகமிதை மடமையென
ஒதுக்கிவிடத் துணிந்துவிடும்
உலகமொதுக்கிய மையலெனைக்
கவிஞனாக  ஆக்கிவிடும்
❣D❣

You live through Maths

You demonstrated that the
Thorniest paradoxes in Pythagoras
And Euclid were no demons,
But in fact, beautiful theories.

Made me realize that
Matrices mean no strife-
A Determinant of marks alone
But, of tenacity in life.

To you, Null Hypothesis was
Not just a tool to question status quo
You taught me not to fear
the unknown, and thus grow.

Of Calculus and Trigonometry
You did do your best to impart
And left an indelible impression
Of reverence, deep in my heart.

You attempted to instil, in each student
The will power to reach his goal
So that to the future generations
He can become a model role.

These four decades did see you
Become the object of many an ire
But still, there is many a student
In whom you have sparked a fire.

You have left in the Maths class
The eternal lamp of knowledge burn
And in the process, made the school
A much better place to learn.

You not only taught how to
Deal with numbers for a goal
But in real life to able to
Count our blessings as a whole.

Now, the mere sight of numbers
Sends down an known thrill.
The vacuum that you have left
In the classroom is difficult to fill

Some of us have gone on
To make a mark for themselves,
And the other still have enough wares
Stocked up in their shelves

I hope your wards gave you the reason
To hold your head high in pride
Fortunate that we all have been
To have had you as our inspirational guide.
❣D❣

Chaturmasya

Chaturmasya-
The four month period

Where the body halts
In one place
To prevent getting
drenched in monsoon.

And where the mind halts
In one place
To get drenched
In the Eternal Spirit.

The paddy field

Yonder in the paddy field
The sun and shadow
play hide and seek
The drone sets the tone
For  another day's toil.

The white rafts of cloud
Set sail in the skies
To carry raindrops
from the faraway ocean,
for watering the plants.

The love-birds set
the landscape abuzz
with their constant chirping
as background beat to
the bullocks' fuzz.

Time for father and son to
Toil in the field
Till away to the sunset
When light gives darkness the yield.

Their toil feeds
A million hungry stomachs
Without any expectation
of favour or fervour.

The selfless travail
On black cotton soil
Passes on,
from generation to generation-
Of change, there is no avail.

The young feet have to trudge
The fallows and the sludge
At a time when he should plod
his way to the village school.

Destiny has not smiled on him, yet
The smile on him has not gone away
He churns out his karmic duties
Much like a faithful soldier
Marching, on and on, in the clay.
❣D❣

यादें

शाम ढलते ही तुम्हारी याद आई
नगमा-ए-इश्क से साँसों में सांस आई
तुम्हारे साथ बीती मीठी लम्हें याद आई
तो मेरी सूनी फलक में शहाबा आई

वही विरही उसी ख़ामोशी
यह झोंका तुम्हारी खुशबू  लायी
मैं यूँ ही तुम्हें यद् कर रहा था
तो आँखों पर अशकों का दामन लायी

the Story of a tea-picker

The story of a tea-picker
===============
My story is
made in the
mountains.

The valleys
The tropical lands
The sun-kissed slopes
the rain-drenched forests

The manicured gardens
The dishelved bushes
The rich forests
The denuded rivers
mean the same to me.

I enjoy
The strong scent of
the first monsoon drops
on the soil.

I get caressed by
the gentle breeze
along the slopes
on a misty evening.

I may wear tattered
clothes, but
I do wear bright colours
To complement
the greenery.

The fruit of my sweat
reaches many a tea-cup
in far-away lands.

Though I continue
my humble beginnings-
probably towards
an humble end.

I take in the soil,
The fresh breath of
the misty mountains
The dewdrops early morn
And the shrill
Of the early morning peacocks.

Until the soil takes me in.
And gives me rest
Right next
to the very bushes
I grew
and grew up with.

तुम्हारी ख़ामोशी

चाँद की मुस्कराहट, कोयल की पुकार
गगन के रोने से दिल बहला जाता है

मगर तुम चुप क्यूँ हो यह सोचेके
मन में तूफान आ जाता है

उल्फत में गम के फ़साने बहुत है
ताखिर से आशिक़ पहचान जाता है

तुम्हारी ख़ामोशी की हर पल
दिल शीशे की तरह टूट जाता है
❣D❣

கைலாய நாதனே!

கைலாய நாதனே!

வடக்கிந்திய
வெய்யில் உன்னையே
வெகுவாக
வாட்டி
விட்டதோ?

அபிமானிகளின்
அபிஷேக
அளவுகள்
அனலை
அடக்கவில்லையோ?
அதனால்தான்

கங்கையையே
கரைபுரண்டோடச் செய்து
கனலைக்
குறைத்துக்
கொண்டாயோ?

❣D❣

Oh, ruler of the Himalayas!

Was the
Northerly heatwave
too much to handle,
even for you?

Were the libations
of devotees
insufficient to
douse the
burning air?

Was the Ganga
requisitioned
summarily,
to help you
cool off?

हे पर्वत के नाथ, क्या आप भी
उत्तरी ग्रीश्म लहर से हैरान हो गये?

गर्म हवा से राहत कब मिलेगा
इस सोच में डूबे-डूबे, दुबले हो गये?

क्या यही वजह था गंग्गा मैया को भुलाए
और उसकी आक्रोशि बाढ़ में खुद डूब गये?

தொய்வு

கூட்டத்தின் நடுவிலும்
தனிமையாய் உணர்கிறேன்

ரணமாயுள்ள இதயத்திற்கு
கண்ணீர் மருந்து போடுகின்றேன்

தலையணையில் நட்சத்திரங்கள்
கண்ணீரால் புனைகின்றேன்

உன்னை அடையும் முயற்சியில்
என்னையே நான் இழக்கின்றேன்

पूछो ना

मेरी आंसू की गर्मी जानना है तो
मेरी तकिये से पूछो

मेरी "ललित" राग में गायकी
कैसी थी सितारों से पूछो

बारिश का असर क्या है यह
रेगिस्तान को पूछो

विरह का भोज क्या है यह
बिछड़ी दिलों को पूछो

मेरी काजल धब्बा क्यूं डाला
अश्कों की बून्धों से पूछो

मेरी सूनी दिल को खुशी कब लौटाओगे
तुम्हारी ही दिल से पूछो

❣D❣

तकिया = Pillow
 "ललित" राग= A late night Raag, sung between 2 am and 4 am, when lover separate after Raas Leela
धब्बा डाला= smudged

तावीज़

नाक के दोनों ओ़र गीले
लकीरों की निशानी
तुम्हारी मिलन से आंसू की बूंद
ओस का मोती बनी

मुंह में समा हुयी तो
प्यार का शरबत लगा
खुदा से बिचडी दिलों को
मुहब्बत का तावीज़ लगा

Meditation

As I embarked
On an inner quest
In quite contemplation

Searching for nothingness
Among a barrage of tribulations

To find that needle of bliss
In a haystack of thoughts
Seemed virtually impossible
Not humanly plausible.

Slowly, but surely,
I slipped into
Internal oblivion.

Was it sleep?
Was it meditation?
Did I transcend worlds?
Was it abject abyss?
Or utter bliss?
❣D❣

A surreal experience

A surreal experience

---------------------------------
Something incredible happened today. I headed to the gymnasium at the Shangri-La hotel, Jakarta, where I am staying, to do my morning walk. On this bright and sunny morning, as soon as I hit the treadmill:

The panoramic view
from the treadmill
got me to focus
On this place of worship.

My feet were in motion
My body was
Pumping adrenalin steadily.
My mind, though,
was trying to search-
Search for the unseen
For the unknown,
For the unfelt.

In my mind,
The minaret instinctively
Gave way to
The Tower of a
Temple-
Right in front of me
Right in the same frame.

Almost involuntarily
My lips started muttering
"Om Namo bhagavathe Rudraya
Namasthe Rudra Manyava Uthotha ishavae Namah..."

It was as if
The treadmill waited for my
Chanting of the SriRudram
to be completed.

The treadmill did stop.
So did my chanting, eventually.
It felt
Like coming back to the Earth
from Orbit.

For a moment,
I wondered,
"Is this blasphemy
in any manner?"

Maybe? Maybe not?
All I knew was-
I had surrendered
To the supreme being
In the only manner
I know of (The Vedas).

At the very moment
I looked at the beautiful
White Minaret,
The Formless
had formed in my mind-
And drove the Rudram
on my lips.

Transcending religions
Traversing structures
Trampling upon symbolisms.

To me then,
Trying to frame
The Limitless
Into one stereo-typed
Symbolism or regimen
seemed
but an exercise
in futility.

-D-

हार

चमेली कलियों को
इकट्ठा किया मैंने, ध्यान से
और समर्पण किया
तुम्हारी चरणों में, प्यार से.

मेरे गुजरने के बाद
उसको हार बनाके पहन लेना
उन कलियों के बीच में
मेरा दिल छोड़ा हूँ,  डूढ़ लेना

बहती हुयी आंसूओं को
हो सके तो काबू में रख लेना
बिछड़ी हुयी इस आत्मा को
कभी कभी याद भी कर लेना

The relevance of local culture

A couple of weeks back, I was in a taxi, on my way to my customer, just outside of Kuala Lumpur.
I had no clue of where the customer office is. I simply handed down a piece of paper with the address, to the Bell Captain at the Sheraton, where I was staying, and he obediently ushered in a taxi, and soon I was on one of the many beautiful expressways that Malaysia boasts of.  Surprisingly, there was no traffic snarl that day.

The catch was- it was a hazy day, and I could not quite locate the sun, on the move. Eager as I was, to know the direction we were heading, I asked the taxi driver which direction we were headed. He did not quite understand my question.

The wise-crack in me woke up. I then asked him which direction the Sun is (so, I thought, I could figure out myself which direction we were headed towards). I drew a blank again from the poor cabbie. He did not quite make out what I was driving at. The scholar in me got a frustrated.

Then, something struck me. I asked the cabbie " which direction is Makkah( Mecca)?" . Without thinking for a moment, he showed me the precise direction! And I was quick to turn my calculations on, and figured that I was headed North!!

This simple incident taught me two things:

1. I was stunned by the cabbie's awareness of Kiblat ( the direction of the Kabah in Makkah) at any given point of time, even while in motion. It showed me his reverence for the holy place, and the fact that God is on top of his mind all the time. I felt humbled by his steadfast belief. In my eyes, the cabbie immediately went a couple of notches higher.

2. I realized the futility of scholarly approach to simple problems, and the importance of understanding the living the local culture. I come from India, where the Sun is the index. For most people in the Islamic World, the direction of Makkah is the index. I realized that it is better to be a Roman in Rome.

The humble Lotus

A life lesson

Floats on the water.

The stem of the lotus

Grows just enough-

To beat the water level.

For, it knows

That anything lower

could spell doom.

Rise- thou soul.

Always.

Just enough

To beat the problems

At hand.

तेरी यादें

तेरी मुस्कुराहट को मेरे यहाँ छोड़ गये हो
और मेरी दिल को सात में ले चले हो
मेरी ज़िन्दगी में हवा का झोंका बनके आये हो
पर दिल में प्यार का ज़ख्म देखे लौट गये हो

गुलशन अधूरा है बहारों के बिना
सूरजमुखी अधूरा है आदित्य के बिना
में न रह सकती हूँ तुम्हारे नज़दीकी के बिना
जैसे शरीर न रहे सांस के बिना.

ख़ुशी का दौर आया था मांगे बगैर
ऐसा लगा नशा आया था पैमाने के बगैर
मुझे क्या पता था, कि जीवन की दो रंग हैं
और ग़म भी सात में आयेगा तमन्ना के बगैर

मेरी बाहों को मैंखाना समझके आ लो
मेरी आंसूं को शराब समझके पी लो
मेरी महफ़िल में जल्दी लौट आ लो
सेज सूनी है उसे फिर जीवन से सजा लो 

மாய மோகம்

ஆழ்ந்திருக்கும் உறக்கத்தில்

தாழ்ந்திருக்கும் உத்வேகம்

விழித்திருக்கும் காமத்தில்

வீழ்ந்திருக்கும் விவேகம்.

நெகிழ்ந்திருக்கும் உணர்ச்சிகளோ

உமிழ்ந்திருக்கும் ஊழ்வினையை

வாழ்ந்திருக்கும் தர்மநெறியோ

உழண்டிருக்கும்  சங்கடத்தில்

மகிழ்ந்திருக்கும் மதியினிலே

சேர்ந்திருக்கும் சிற்றின்பம்

புகழ்ந்திருக்கும் திருநாமத்தால்

திகழ்ந்தோங்கும் பேரின்பம்.