Story of Brahma's four heads - Tripura Rahasya

Brahma is originally said to have five heads. The story goes that Brahma and Vishnu were competing for superiority when a column of light appeared in front of them. They decided that whoever reached either end of the column of light is to be accepted as superior. Vishnu assumed the form of a boar and dived down to the bottom whereas Brahma sought to reach the top of the ray of light. Neither could find the end of the ray.

Brahma, desperate at not finding the end of the ray, found a flower and asked the flower from where it was coming. The flower answered that it was just falling in the space. Brahma presented the flower as a false witness to claim that he had reached the top of the column of light. Shiva, upon learning this destroyed Brahma's one head that spoke this lie, and hence Brahma is left with four heads. Legend has that it was indeed Shiva who appeared before them as the ray of light.

Purpose of life

Many times in life, I wondered why I am here. Associated with this big question is another, Who am I after all? Am I here just to wake up, work, eat, sleep or is there something else ? Am I just this body and mind complex, the one that is always changing, sometimes ill, sometimes well, sometimes happy, sometimes sad ?

These questions I am sure do not have simple answers, they need determination and focus. I do not know how strong the seeker in me is, but I do hope the answers dawn on me sometime. A Guru is supposed to be the one who strenghtens the seeker and makes him/her eligible to get these answers. To be with the Guru, one needs to conquer the skeptic within. Certainly not easy. 

At the moment, I fall back on my intellect and intuition and try to get my answers one by one. I am not in a hurry. Each one needs a different 'path' and it is up to the individual to select the method best suited to him/her.

More as I gather...

What to write....

Writing has becoming habitual thanks to this blog. However, I have temporarily run out of topics. Hence this topic :)

Writing about anything requires a set of ideas, opinions or thoughts about the subject matter. Then putting them together in a proper order so they make sense to the reader. And then finally review it and hit 'Publish'. But when you don't have any ideas, thoughts, opinions, then you are saved of the entire process. It does not mean expression stops.

We are constantly expressing ourselves. Those around us know it. But there isn't yet a tool on the net that facilitates this kind of expression. Emoticons do justice to some extent.So, until one such tool comes up where you let the world know that you are there still, the blog journey has to continue.

More when I have something to say, hopefully soon :)

Height of it

Tall structures can be an observer's delight. Once you are in them, you can be a potential acrophobic. Is a fear of heights inherent in every person as a form of fear of death ? Or are only some vulnerable to it ? Still wondering...

Weather and mood

Strange and interesting how weather can impact one's moods. Why does one feel bored when its gloomy outside ? Guess our connection with this world is deeper than we think or know. Anything and everything has the power to impact us in varying degrees. And weather is an important and instant impact. If you're down, take a walk in a green area where its breezy, and see how your mood lifts up. No wonder people in this part of the world savor summer.

When it comes to weather, it seems that hot is better than cold, though some might argue otherwise. Warm weather propels activity, you can't sleep for long if the morning sun is shining right into your bedroom. And activity causes exhaustion, so you sleep better and deeper. The reverse happens in cold weather and it may not be a coincidence that people in countries where there is extreme cold, are more depression prone than those in warmer countries.

Another interesting fact about the weather-mood connection is that constant exposure to same weather dilutes the impact of that weather. Thats what we experience in 'seasons'. So nature keeps you entertained by changing seasons every few months. In countries close to the Equator, one does not get to experience a variety of seasons though, as it tends to remain warm throughout.

So, the next time you feel happy for no reason, the real reason could be the season!

Street food

Thousands of people in busy metros depend on street food, its affordable, fast and easily available. In big metros, there's wide variety too. Not just the food, the ambience also makes street food an attractive option. No etiquette need be practiced nor any table manners are required. You are welcome to be yourself. The bigger your group, the better.

I remember seeing some street food joints as a child. One particular joint always had a group of people around it. I wondered how the one vendor managed to service all of them together. When I looked closer, I realized he applied the 'round robin' technique and managed to service everyone without too much delay, very CPU-like :)

How about the hygiene factor in the food ? A recent incident brought to light the pathetic level of cleanliness of the storage vessels in which the food is prepared. Well, this was not the first time such an incident has been reported, there have been several in the past. And they have not deterred people from resorting to their favorite street food. Looks like the street food is here to stay.

Sisters in Concert

Finally saw one of my all-time fav Carnatic singers, the Priya Sisters. We attended their concert yesterday at the Balaji temple. What can I say ? If you closed your eyes and heard them, you'd think its just one voice. They are so well co-ordinated. Attired traditionally, they humbly walked on to the stage and bowed to the audience before taking their seat on the stage. And at the end of the concert, it was the audience that bowed to their amazing singing ability, their co-ordination and their talent.

I will not go into the intricate details of the raagas here, some popular Annamacharya Kritis they sang were 'Chaalada Hari nama', 'Jagadapu', 'Jo Achyutananda' and 'Brahma Kadigina'. To the audience's surprise, they rendered a couple of poems from vemana satakam musically. It was the first time many of us heard such a rendition.

The concert ended with a 'Mangalam'. But, one did not have the 'Oh its over' feeling, 'cos the mood created by the Kritis stays on. And you can hear them anytime on youtube too :)

Thanks to cultural groups such as the Balaji temple group that are working to keep these masterpieces alive, else its so easy to fall prey to some of the mediocre tunes available today.

A Buddhist Tale

Buddha was/is an epitome of silence. His silence was said to be more powerful than his words. Here's another of my fav stories from Buddhist folklore. The incident happened at that time when Buddha became very popular among people for his powerful presence and his ability to make people meditate. In the time of the Buddha, there was a rich businessman whose wife and children were ardent Buddhists. The businessman hated the Buddha for drawing his family away from materialism.

One day, as usual, when Buddhists had assembled to meditate in the presence of the Buddha, the businessman arrived to teach the Buddha a lesson. He walked up to the Buddha in full public view and abused him. Buddha remained calm and composed, this angered the businessman even more. He increased his volley of words and to the shock of everyone present, spat at the Buddha in his face. Buddha still did not react, but remained smiling. The businessman, unable to bear Buddha's calm and composure, left the scene.

That night, the businessman was filled with remorse. He realized that there was indeed something great about the Buddha's presence, his acceptance and his composure. The next morning, he decided to ask the Buddha for forgiveness. When he went to the
Buddha this time, he was received with great love and respect. The businessman was shocked. There was no sign of anger. He asked the Buddha to forgive him, Buddha smiled and told the businessman that the person that abused him the previous day is different from the person that he is today. So, in reality, there is no one to be forgiven.
This struck a chord in the businessman who became an ardent Buddhist later.

For me, the message here is that we are all changing everyday. If someone has not been good at some point of time, its foolish to brand them that way. Likewise, those who have been good at sometime might turn out differently another time. Its best to accept this fact when we are dealing with people, so our relationships remain healthy.

To eat or Not to eat

It can be an important decision, a life changing one at that! For a vegetarian 'thinking' about trying meat, it almost amounts to changing one's religion. Several factors influence this decision, the first being habit. For someone who always went the veggie way, consciously changing food choice to meat (though willingly) is an effort. Its such an effort to study meat items, determine where they must be purchased, stored and how they must be cooked. One can eat out alright, even then a bit of study is inevitable.

Another thing is the guilt of breaking the family habit. If you decide to disclose your decision of eating meat to your family, better be ready for some puritanical discourses that might make you tilt back to your old food choices.

Third is the current trend of people turning vegan. When the world is converting back to 'the healthy way', why do you want to go in the opposite direction ? Why give in to the temptation caused due to many of our 'world food' shows, when their hosts are certainly not the most healthy looking people on the planet ?

Points to ponder carefully, worth the effort though. After all, you are what you eat!

To the 'Tea'

Here comes the post finally! This one's special, its my tribute to my dear old 'chai'. I first had it when I was maybe 8 and instantly liked its sugary flavor. After that, every time I was offered a cup of steaming hot tea, I found it difficult to refuse. One sip and one experiences a sudden rush of energy. Whether you are on a 'night-out' studying for exams or have just woken up from a good night's sleep, the chai has the same effect on you, it renews you and prepares you for activity.

While the traditionally made Indian tea still remains my favorite, I do not occasionally mind the flavored teas, black tea, herbal tea etc etc. In North India, you get tea in small mud cups called 'matka' chai. The 'matka' is said to enhance the taste of the chai that it contains. According to me, its a good idea to have tonics and medicinal drinks served in the form of flavored teas. Just enhances their appeal and results in instant acceptance.

The chai has several fans all over the world. And there is no specific time to have a cup of tea. It defies time zones, maybe has transcended time too. Am I exaggerating too much ? Not really, it just means I need to reach out to my next cup of tea..slluurrp !!

Imagining India

Its an absolute pleasure reading this book. One understands why current India is, what it is. India's pre-British prosperity, British rule, freedom movement, finally independence and post independence have been stages of metamorphosis of our thought and action as a nation. This book gives key perspectives to present day issues facing India and helps build the bridge to its past, portions of which have been misunderstood or misinterpreted. Its important to connect with the past, so appropriate solutions to current problems can be arrived at and consequently the future is taken care of.

This book has inspired me to think about my country with awareness than with emotion. It has inspired me to take every opportunity to make my small contribution to nation-building.

According to the author, following key aspects have shaped India that it is today:

1. Caste system still dominates despite the changed society structure that the information age has brought in. Caste system originally existed for smooth functioning of the society in the olden days, when monarchy still prevailed. This system of administration that persisted over the years has now become a divisive factor in the society in this age of democracy. Caste/community based political groups still continue to influence voters.

2. Restricted access to opportunities and resources in India are what are barricading innovation and entrepreneurship. Hence, progressive thinking only remains a subject of drawing room discussions.

3. Relegation of education to the back seat and poor facilities in govt schools have denied the poorer sections of society even the basic education. In turn, they have become more vulnerable to social atrocities and crime . It is noteworthy that some of India's famous criminals all come from an extremely impoverished background.

4. Our cities have been focal points of growth and this has restricted economic and social growth of smaller towns and villages. As a result, masses of people from smaller towns are making their way to the cities, in want of better livelihood and quality of life, thus putting the city infrastructure under stress.

5. 'In today's economy, trade is a fast train that stops only at certain stations-the one with infrastructure and the factor advantages that support it'. Explains why some states have progressed and have gone ahead of others, whereas the BIMARU states have been left behind in terms of progress and continue to be in the grip of poverty, illiteracy, crime and exploitation.

Wild cobra scare!

'Cobra missing' is as worrisome a news as a person missing. Recently in news was a deadly Egyptian cobra that went missing from a New york zoo. The zoo had to be shut down for few days until the snake was spotted in a dark corner of the zoo.

Reminded me of a cobra that slithered in front of our home at Bangalore. When I informed this to the watchman of the community, he gave me the phone number of a snake catcher. "Please keep the snake ready madam, I will come and pick it up", said Mr Snake catcher when I called him.Keep the snake ready ? As in, dress it up and get it ready for an outing ? I told him to come down and search for the snake and take it, as its not safe especially with so many children in the community. "Separate charges for searching madam", he said. He sounded so professional, that I wondered how he just manages to do snake-catching as a normal job.

Guess it comes naturally to some people. There was a recent incident in India where a snake-catcher had written to the Prime Minister that he had about 200 snakes in his possession and he badly needs funds to manage them, else..... he would have to let go of them !!

There is something about this animal, that it always makes it to the news, whether missing or found. No one reports a missing monkey or a missing zebra. And the people who work with snakes are no ordinary either. What say? Hissss...

A nail-biting cricket match

Today was the day, India clashed with Pakistan in the world cup semi-final. The world (atleast for the fan) came to a standstill. And the match was totally worth the wait!

One could see politicians, celebrities, ex-sportsmen in the audience along with scores of enthusiastic fans at Mohali. In retrospect, everything seemed to have gone in favor of the Indian team. Winning the toss was important. If Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat, they would have been able to set a huge target for India, and the Indian batsmen would have to chase the target while combatting the sound Pakistani bowlers.

When India won the toss and elected to bat, everyone knew that was the best decision to make. The crowd energy seemed to be with the Indian team as they played some fabulous strokes. Sachin Tendulkar was awarded several lives, thanks to Pak fielders who dropped few catches. Yuvraj Singh, the son of the soil, was sadly dismissed as soon as he came in. With some good finishing by Suresh Raina, we ended up at 260 in the first innings.

At this stage, it looked like Pakistan had a definite chance of winning, unless Indians contain them very well. In fact, several facebook messages by Indian fans showed that they lost hope and did not really see a good chance of India winning.

Anyway, the second innings started. Overs were bowled and runs scored. It looked like the Indian fielding had become tighter and there weren't too many extras being given. The bat-ball volley continued until the first wicket fell at 44. Good start! However, whats important is that we need these kind of wickets at every stage, and not let partnerships stabilize.

Bat-ball volley continued once again until Pak reached the 70 mark, when the second wicket fell. This is where fans celebrated, and faint hopes of a possible victory began to rise. But again, we still have 9 wickets left and anything can happen.

As the match progressed, Indian bowlers and fielders worked together to either contain the runs or break partnerships that seem to be stabilizing. However, hope for Pak still remained as the captain came in to bat. It seemed like Afridi and Misbah can see the runs through, and this was a partnership that seemed a tough nut to crack....until....another son of the soil, Bhajji got Afridi caught out! Indian fans celebrated as a disgruntled Afridi made his way back.

It now seemed like Indians are going to make it, provided they continue to contain the batsmen and take regular wickets. However, its still not time to feel safe. With Misbah still batting and the batting power play due, anything could happen! These guys are known to turn situations around.

But, it seemed like destiny already chose the Indian team to be the winner of the day. With Nehra coming in and sending back two batsmen, hope for the Pakistani team almost finished. All that was required now is to not let any boundaries in the last two overs. The second last over was quite a useless one for the Pak team. Two balls down in the last over and 30 runs requiring off 4 balls, Gary Kirsten was seen smiling, Rahul and Sonia Gandhi almost dancing and fans celebrating. Mohali was electrified! icing on the cake, Misbah is caught out in the last over.

Bravo India! We are sooo proud and happy! It was a dream day for the Indian cricket fan, I doubt if anyone was able to sleep.

A major milestone reached, all roads now seem to go to Mumbai!