Beef Festival in Kerala; We can degrade further!

So much ruckus about Beef Ban!

A student mob in Kerala has even conducted Beef Festival in protest of this issue. During medieval period, in order to break Hindu conscience, Muslim invaders used to butcher a cow in Hindu temples before destroying the structures and desecrating the idols. I see no difference. Well,We can even degrade further.

A chine of events starting from the cow theft of Kartyaveerarjuna from sage Jamadagni's ashram led to the extermination of entire Kshatriya clan;only a few righteous kings were left unharmed on mother earth at the hands of Lord Parasurama in Tretayuga.

A similar cow theft at sage Vasista's ashram by one of the Asta Vasus led to the birth of Bhishma, who saved and nurtured the Kuru clan which in turn resulted in the epic battle Kurukshetra in which most of the evil forces had been swept off the face of mother earth in Dwaparayuga.

The trigger point behind the emergence of Brahmarshi Viswamitra is also a cow theft. His entire army was decimated at the hands of the legendary Kamadhenu.

The rumor of cow's fat(and pig's also) being used in the cartridges of Royal-enfield rifles is the trigger point for first Indian National Revolution(1857) which instilled a sense of urgency to drive away foreign forces from our country. So much blood had been spilled.

Cow in India, seems like a pretty controversial animal.

Dear mother cow, this time also, an issue has been raked up because of you. I hope it would serve the purpose well and exterminate some evil from this sacred land.

Cow is considered as a mother and as a symbol of prosperity in this land. we are forever indebted to a creature which takes nothing of value form us but provides for our sustenance at every stage of our life. Butchering such an animal just for the sake of our taste buds is a gross ingratitude and amounts to be a conspicuous deviation from Dharma. Dharma is something which benefits all. Cow protection and worship is the Dharma of our culture. A culture/race which deviates from its Dharma sets forth on a course of self destruction.

One might wonder 'why only cow?". Well, the actual idea might be the achievement of the ideal "Ahimso paramo dharmaha" in both word, deed and thought. Since a Gestalt Shift is not possible and a good start has to be made towards that direction, cow might have become a natural choice due to its utility value. The ultimate goal is to extend the scope of this ideal on a universal scale.

Dear Amruta Putras lets grow up. If hunger is a cause of eating, it is the conscience to exercise a choice between cause and effect that makes us different from the rest of the creation. Lets exercise our choice and hold up the Dharma of our land.

Light

Are you aware of this beautiful fact that a light particle which touches you during daylight is generated eight seconds before in a nuclear reaction between two Hydrogen Deuterium particles on the Sun and travels fifteen crore kilometers straight away to reach the Earth?

For me and for those who share my perception, light is not a mere wave length ranging from 300-700 nano-meters in Electromagnetic Radiation. 
Light is a miracle!

From the dim old oil lamps to the modern flashing LEDs; from the contradicting theories arguing about its particle and wave nature to the modern Electromagnetic and Photon theories, light alone is constant. And I contemplate that how many mysteries about light are there which still have not seen the light of day.
Light is mysterious.

From amateur dabbling with the light’s straight travel practical and a failed projector attempt during my lower studies to a matured amateur dabbling with prisms and other lab equipment during my higher studies, light has remained an unrealized fascination and also an unbreakable frustration with its complex intrigues like refraction, polarization etc. 
Light can be taxing.

When the light is too much, I fail to notice the light as I become a part of the light. I’m the light. While I’m accustomed to see the light in a flickering oil lamp in a dark room (probably the sanctums of temples); the incandescence of a smouldering wood pile on a winter night; blinking lights of passing vehicles; the fluorescence of neon bulbs and celebrating its sacredness, I am also advised to see the Light in the eyes of a human. So far, I don’t think that I’m much accustomed to notice that Light in the eyes.
Light is fascinating. 

And light can be many things. Light is many things. I’m light. I’m a light warrior.

How Hindu our Hindu temples are?

Recently I've visited a famous temple. The temple was not much crowded on the day of my visit. It was past mid noon and the temple gates had just been opened. As I had entered the temple I observed three passages leading to the sanctum where the main deity presided. The first two passages would give access to the sanctum whereas the third passage would give only a glimpse of it. Well this is not uncommon in all major Hindu temples especially if they are generating good revenues;leave alone their spiritual importance and historical significance. Despite being a famous temple, the devotees were not more than 30 on that day and there were no persons at the ticket counter. So we proceeded through the passage which gave access to the sanctum so that we could darshan our deity from a close distance. Just as we had reached the sanctum we heard a man from the temple entrance shouting "Who allowed them in that passage? That is paid passage. If they want free darshan they should go through the free passage. Get them out." I felt bad. I felt helpless.
I'm desperate because our Endowments Department has degraded our sacred places to the level of cinema theaters where every body is seated according to their paying capacity. Where exclusive galleries are reserved for VIPs. And we don't see such kind of practice in churches and mosques. Is it because they are not under government control?
By simply saying "Namastey", a Hindu conveys a profound message that "I bow to the divinity in you and you and I are the same". Whatever is being practiced in our major temples is certainly not Hindu in spirit.

Age

I was reading a random book bought from an old book store and suddenly realized that the book was actually 10 years older than me. How beautiful! Every tissue of it must be at least 10 years older than my physical body. But wait, May be that is not true. It is because both the book and I are of same organic compounds containing Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and some other minor elements. These elements existed in almost the same quantity and proportion ever since the formation of the earth . We both have merely borrowed these elements in different combinations and physical structures where I ended up with consciousness. So strictly speaking, there is no question of something being older than another in our world. And this fact leads me to a tentative guess that some of the elements in my physical body(and yours and everybody's) might actually have been a part of some other conscious being (human or any other creature) in the endless cycles of births and deaths since the manifestation of the consciousness on our earth. This is even more beautiful!

Time

Woke up to yesterday's tomorrow. Tried to contemplate about experiencing hours between seconds. Then heard the melodious call of a cuckoo. Then spotted a green bee eater with its breakfast holding with its beak. Then came a lone bulbul. Then arrived a pair of sparrows. A plump black dove flew past me. A melodious song is being played in my laptop. I wanted that moment to extend beyond ordinary physics principals, so that I can experience  seconds at the rate of hours. Most of my hours are pledged any way.

Sati and Siva

Sati was the daughter of Daksha Prajapati, the son of Brahma. Since childhood she was so much attached to Siva and despite her royal life and the possibility of marrying royal princes she chose to marry Siva out of pure love. On the other hand Siva was a staunch ascetic, unconcerned with the worldly affairs. However, moved by the perseverance of Sati, he came to her and offered to marry her. Daksha Prajapati despised Siva for everything;his life style, his garments, his abode and what not everything. But he could not deny his daughters wish and performed their marriage rather reluctantly. Sati went to Siva's abode and they spent a few years cherishing their love. Meanwhile there were anger and disgust fomenting in the heart of Daksha and he was waiting for a time to insult Siva.

A few years later, Daksha proposed to perform a great yagna and for that purpose he had invited all gods, deities, rishis, kings and relatives but he purposefully ignored to invite Sati and Siva. However,Siva was immersed in his usual meditation and ascetic life without minding such worldly issues. But for Sati, who was after all the very loved daughter of Daksha, could not stay aloof when her father was performing such a great yagna and asked her husband to go and attend the yagna. For which Siva replied that it was not wise to attend a ceremony uninvited. Sati, shrouded by her affection towards her father, argued that her father's intention in not sending for any invitation to them was because they were almost like family members and didn't need any invitation and there was no other intention. At last Siva slackened his resolve a bit and allowed Sati to attend the yagna without him if she wished but warned her about the possibility of receiving insults from her father. Sati felt elated and started for the yagna with Nandi as escort, unmindful of the upcoming tragedy.
Daksha had made grand arrangements like now are never for the yagna and his palace is replete with enormous riches. All invitees were being received with warmth and the yagna started with hubris and pomp. Soon, Sati had arrived at the yagna, but to her dismay nobody welcomed her in her own home. Even gods and other acquaintances were mum and didn't wish Sati, for they know that Daksha intently ignored her and they didn't want to displease Daksha at such a moment. Sati recovered from her initial shock and went straight to her father Daksha who was performing the yagna and greeted him. Daksha pretended that he didn't see his daughter and continued his yagna. This was too much to bear for a tender soul like Sati;her beloved father betrayed her for no fault of her, that too in the presence of all of the world. Her heart sank with humility and she slowly moved away to a desolated place to sit in the yagnasala. Sati was panting out of grief and repented for not listening to her husband's advise. In a moment of time Sati invoked Agni and self immolated herself in the yagnasala to the horror of all those who attended the yagna. Daksha continued his yagna, unmoved.

Nandi, with inconsolable grief returned to Kailas and informed Siva about the whole incident. The death of his beloved wife made Siva forget his years of practice of asceticism and calmness. He plunged out of his yoga posture, shaking with fury and vengeance, he plucked a strand of hair from his head and threw it to the ground. Form that hair emerged the powerful and menacing Siva incarnate Veera Bhadra. Siva ordered Veera Bhadra to destroy the yagna and bring Daksha's head. Veera Bhadra along with Sivagana(Siva's army) entered and Daksha Yagna and started destroying the arrangements. All gods and deities came in defense of Daksha but could not stand a chance against Veera Bhadra. A severe battle ensued and all invitees fled away from the yagna. At last Veera Bhadra caught Daksha and severed his head from his body. Meanwhile, aggrieved Siva arrived at the yagna and took the charred body of his beloved Sati. The death of Sati completely overpowered Siva and he was in a state of boundless pain. By carrying his wife's body, Siva wandered off the world doing Pralaya Tandavam-A gesture which was supposed to be performed at the end of the creation-disturbing the balance of the creation. Sensing this catastrophe, Vishnu, the preserver of the creation, with the help of his Sudarsana Chakra, severed the body of Sati into several parts and all those body parts were scattered and fell over several places in India.Some say there are 18 such places and some say 51 and others say they are 108. After this, Siva came to his senses, took to the reality and forgave Daksha. Since the head of Daksha had been destroyed at the yagna, a goat's head had been fixed to his body. The world balance had been restored. Sati would reborn in further incarnation as Parvati and would become left half of Siva making him Arthananeshwara, so that they would never ever be apart. Thus ends the story of Sati and Siva.

Above all its puranic and dharmic dimensions, this story, in essence is a great love story.The places where Sati's body fragments fell were called Sakthipeetas. There are 18 prominent Sakthipeetas in the Indian subcontinent and they are referred as Astadasa Sakthi Peetas. They are very sacred places of worship for Hindus. Whenever if you happen to visit one of these places, remember this great story and pay your silent respects to the eternal love of Siva and Sati. Our ancestors had honored their story by building temples at all Sakthi Peetas with reverence and devotion.

To my mind it is not Tajmahal in India that represents love but these Sakti Peetas all over Inida.

Warrior's Reminiscence

I'm responsible for what I'm now. There were times which compelled me to make decisions amid uncertainty. Though that was like a crap-shoot, I'm glad that I had made the most logical choices according to my understanding.
May be God had prescribed me a detour, so that I wouldn't miss the signs of life in my journey. Now I'm here,unsure and unaware of what is coming next. Whatever, I'm a warrior by spirit and I must go on scouting for.....

My tribute to those hills

They are a long stretch of Eastern Ghats, which are located six kilometers north to our village. They are huge and daunting figures, arising curiosity and instilling a streak of confidence in their admiring watchers. I used to ask myself sometimes this persisting question that what might be lying behind those mighty hills. My surmises would go on imagining a dense forest consisting of an assortment of flora and fauna, a tribal dwelling, a river valley, a long cline of hills, a big lake, giants, remains of the alien and the extinct creatures or remains of an ancient fort or something like that. At first my desire was to climb those hills and to see for myself what’s behind there. Of course that never happened but one day I had an opportunity to unravel my curiosity and that brought the curtains down on my fantasies. But I was not disappointed because, though what I had seen behind those hills was different from my crazy imagination, what I had experienced there was an ecstatic immersion in pure bucolic tribal beauty. The birds, trees, streams, huts encircled with little gardens, loughs, and small bridges all combined and presented an all-pervading serenity, silence and freshness to my existence.

Great hills they are, and I am forever in debt of them, for they stayed there.

City

Three years ago may be..... I visited a city. I had walked along its roads. I had seen its children playing and going to school. And I had also seen its local transportation being crammed with students and majestic display of its educational institutions. Oh!...how nice it could have been if I too....Too vital...too vivacious. I had felt its calmness. That city has charming contradictions. And still...for a life time... I'm content to say that I've missed that city.

Colors

Colors mingle and form new variations. Lets cherish them.
Colors fade and vanish. Lets perish with them.
I woke up from my dream and found the charms of world in Black and White.
And I liked it so much.

Dynamics of Nature

For a while, some things in life seem transient. Everyday I used to enjoy that loud chattering made by those little Mynas nested on a nearby coconut tree. And I would stand staring and wondering at the wonderful display of flight formation performed by a flight of Cranes in my village. Now all of a sudden they all have disappeared. And I am too late to recognize this subtle change. Perhaps I am very much preoccupied with my eccentric incongruous existence. I can't remember exactly when I have last seen a chirruping sparrow and have spotted a wild duck followed by its ducklings. The sight of gray fox which once was prevalent in my village has become a rarity now. And there are lot of such remarkable changes which I forgot to notice. However I find solace everyday in watching the newly arrived rackety parrots and noisy stripped squirrels which have become so frequent in my neighborhood. Occasionally I go out to have a look at those fork tailed birds guarding our fields as usual and that shrieking blue bird with its wagging tail, those grey birds which I'd like to call ground birds because they, unlike other winged bipeds, prefer ground for foraging and that rare yellow bird well noun for its gentleness and shyness. Every night an owl is perching on a nearby lamp post. Recently I've spotted a white plump bird while it was drinking water from a lough in our village, of its name I have no idea. Our house is occasionally visited by two doves...Hmm...May be this transience doesn't apply to our attitude and feelings towards nature. The nature around me is dynamic and I'm trying to adapt myself to its dynamism.

Birds!

The bird population at our place has grown significantly of late. Everyday I'm watching busy birds:Crows,Pigeons,Black Drongos, Yellow Finches, Parrots, Mynas, Kukoos, Hawk-kukoos, Baya Weavers, Owls, Cranes, Finches and some unknown ones. Though everyday offers me something for the first time, I have begun realising it more frequently of late. Those first things are like watching a flock of pigeons, parrots and finches foraging side by side on a ploughed field, watching a yellow finch brooding in its intricately woven nest, spotting a baya weaver giving finishing touches to its hanging nest, crows,cranes and mynas carrying dry twigs and soft fibrous material for building their nests, getting a distant view of a wild duck along with its fragile looking ducklings, witnessing a black drongo attacking a crow which came near its nest, a female kukoo followed by its companion, a parrot pair and many more.... These experiences often fill me with deep gratitude for my brother trees, birds and the people who taught me how to appreciate the wonders around me and there are many more which/who deserve my gratitude...

"The wood is lovely,dark and deep;
but I have promises to keep,
and miles to cross before I go to sleep"
-Robert Frost