Fire

I am fascinated by the fire in the pit. Not any pit. But the yaga pit - or the yagna kundam. I had the great fortune of participating in a 9 day long Vasudeva Yagam conducted within the precincts of the 350+ year old Batchupeta Sivalayam. Since Usha and I are the 'young couple' amongst the participants - we were 'offered' to lead the yagas almost every day - except for a couple of days when other yaga kartas (one who offers the aajyam - ghee - into the yaga kundam with the Sruvam - the wooden ladle) performed at both the yagna kundas.

I've never heard of Vasudeva Yaga before. It was on November 15th - in a Kartika Masa function in the Sivalayam - that the Brahma (one who has powerful jaws so one can chant mantras clearly and loudly so everybody can hear - we were told in the thanksgiving function by a sanskrit scholar) proposed this Yaga for January right after Pongal. At that time, I thought he was just proposing and it may or may not happen - depending on how serious the organisers will be; and how much money they can get pledged from donors.

By the first week of January, the main organiser came to me and asked if I wanted to be one of the Yaga kartas. I was non committal at first. Am I ready to do such yagas? Can I commit myself for 9 days? Is my body ready to sit for long periods of time every day for 9 days? so on and on... Usha was cautious as well. But we decided to take the plunge - as this is not an opportunity that comes often. Yagas like these are not performed regularly. After many such Q and A sessions in the mind, we informed the organisers we will participate. Of course, it involved monetary support as well and we pledged accordingly.

It all started on the 19th - when we took the pledge to perform the yaga for 7 days starting from the 20th. That evening the brahmanas generated fire from the 'arani' wood. It was a spectacle in itself. Two brahmanas sit opposite to each other holding one long rectangular piece of wood which has concave shapes in it. Another brahmana holds a second piece of wood with one end resting in one of the concave shapes. They churn the second piece of wood with the help of a rope - and they do that while chanting 'agni prajwalana mantras'. A good amount of smoke starts emanating from the concave shape - and after much effort one of them said the fire is here. I was expecting to see a good amount of fire coming out of that. But that was not to be. They showed us all a spark of fire (almost like the red hot fire we see at the end of a lighted incense stick). They then put that spark into some dried sacred grass - and blew air into it. Fire came out with many tongues - and they then put it into the yaga kundas. There was no stopping the fire for the next 9 days... It was all an interesting episode for me.

From then on, I am fascinated at the fire in the yaga kundas - and the purity of that fire. After all, it's one of the five basic elements - and by far the most unadulterated element so far.

I will write more on the yagas shortly.
Swasti!!

My favorite quote

Be the change you want to see

This quote

- epitomizes HIS character and life

- sums up all his words, talks and deeds

- is the most powerful of all the words thus far spoken

- embeds profound meaning for everyone

- guides many with clear and concise mantra

- reaches all humanity with great relevance to their own situation

- when put into practice, would change the world for better

for ever

There have been many other quotes, spoken by many many worthy stalwarts in history. But none so potent, simple and self-guiding than this - I believe.

Let's rededicate ourselves to remembering this every day, and follow it with sincerity.

Mahatma! NamastE!

Swasti!!

R I P Y S R

Setting aside political and ideological differences, my heart goes out to the sudden and tragic demise of the Chief Minister of A.P. - Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy. Here is another avoidable tragedy that could have been easily averted, if only politics is simplified and power is decentralized in India; and political leaders are not looked upon as demi gods beyond questioning. My heart also goes out to the pilot, co-pilot, Chief Security Officer and YSR's Secretary (IAS officer) who went with Dr. YSR.

I can't help but think at this juncture that had the various govt. departments been allowed to work independently, with authority, the meteorologists/security personnel/pilots could/would have forewarned and refused to fly the chopper taking into consideration the grave weather conditions. But given the power structure in India, nobody can dare dictate what a CM can or cannot do, despite clear evidence/facts available otherwise.

In any case, that argument aside - it pains me deeply at the circumstances in which Dr. YSR met his end - untraced, unattended and un-covered - in that hostile weather in the open for more than 24 hours. For someone who transformed himself into a people's person over the course of the past 6-7 years, leaving his radical/violent past behind, he deserved a lot better. However, destiny is so powerful and its ways so mysterious, one cannot fathom any rhyme or reason.

Despite the political differences, I appreciate some of his good qualities - thinking big, dynamic leadership, going after what he thought is right - being a few.

May his soul rest in peace. May the others' souls rest in peace. May their families find strength in God in this hour of sorrow.

Swasti!!

Nature - The greatest leveler

In this day and age of great seismologists, -graphs, technology and communication media - it is sad that the Italian government was not able to evacuate its subjects from the affected areas in advance. I didn't read the news items in detail but gather from the radio (NPR is my news source) that over 200 people and several centuries old/historical/heritage sites are among the casualties.

When I heard that, I couldn't help but think of what a great leveler nature is. Loss of life is very sad, but that's not what I was reflecting on. The greatly preserved heritage sites. Governments and private institutions shell out millions and millions to restore, preserve and promote such sites. But all that counts for nought, when Nature comes calling.

Isn't there a profound lesson to be learnt?!

Swasti!!

Corruption: Bigger than it sounds

As we observe today as Non-Corruption Day, the main focus is on raising awareness in the public, and not taking part in any bribing for getting things done. Some of my friends have been working hard to get the message out to the masses in India. On my part, I started big with grand plans, as always, reached out to tens of media outlets, could talk to a few of them and finally convinced a couple or so of them to run an ad/news item about today (see note below). I also sent out emails to many groups I subscribe to and tried to reach as many as I could. Although the result is not in line with the start - I take solace in the saying - Shoot for the moon... 'cause even if you miss, you'll end up in the stars.

For the past few days, as I stayed home to take care of my little daughter who can't go to day care due to fever and gagging reflux - I have been thinking of what to write next on my blog. With Dec 18th coming up, I didn't want anything else to take over the front page of my blog - so I left the previous article to stay on top. Of course, that thought also played into my natural state of inertia. Nevertheless, when I think of corruption in depth - it looked bigger than it sounds to me. We only talk of financial corruption, most of the time. And that's what we see (and think is) affecting people, directly. However when we think of cultural and moral corruption; and add thought corruption to it - the scale of impact grows beyond comprehension. Bribes, I think, are but an outward expression by some, of internal corruption in these forms.

The basic principle of life is to be happy. Towards this end, we try and do anything and everything we think will make and keep us happy. In the process, we are inflicting great misery on others and in turn on ourselves. Hence, we feel happy for a moment but we cannot keep that state of mind for long. We then go on perpetrating more of the same to gain those intermittent happy moments - and thus falling into the unending cycle of unhappiness. Well - there you go - I made it even more abstract :)

trikaraNa Sudhdhi - is the term used by our elders, when they ask us to think, say and act good. The three faculties here are: mind (thoughts), voice (words) and body (deeds). If all three are in unison and strive for the same, nothing is impossible - per the scriptures and our elders. That's how an uncorrupt mind and body is developed and sustained - which makes us happy and keeps us happy. If we think something but don't say it; if we say something but don't do it - then we are always in conflict with ourselves; and to mask the inner conflict we raise the curtains to the great drama of self-deception and run after the ever evading fruit of happiness. After all, the fruit is not outside but within - but we look for it everywhere else. What a futile attempt?!

I would like to delve deeper into this subject and address many of my own thoughts - but let me use this as a lead in to subsequent posts in the future (and spare you all for now :) ).

Here's my earnest appeal - to one and all (myself included, of course) on this Non-Corruption Day. Let's give this trikaraNa Sudhdhi concept a deep thought; contemplate on it and see how we can make some small changes to accommodate this great ideal in our lives. I am sure practising this will have a profound, transformational affect on us. This, I think, will be the greatest tribute to observing Non-Corruption in our lives.

Swasti !!

NOTE (on Dec 19th): When enquired about the news item/ad - I am told that UN already declared Dec 9th as International Anti-Corruption Day. Hence they were not able to run any item about Dec 18th. I should have checked about it online. I was a little embarassed when I was told of Dec 9th. However, I told myself that it's been a good effort - and although we were not able to do it on a scale we envisioned - we did learn some good lessons in the process. Thanks to all who supported the cause.

Thank you

I am always thankful to my firends, family, colleagues and acquaintances - who help me all along my life - in various capacities. But most of all, on this unfortunate day, when Mumbai is under siege, I would like to thank the security forces battling bravely and laying down their lives for saving others'. They are offering the ultimate sacrifice and my heartfelt thanks to them and their families - for going through this suffering, so we don't have to suffer.

May the departed souls rest in peace - and may The Almighty shower his blessings on those left behind.

This past weekend, one of my friends passed away in sleep. She is just in her mid thirties - and left behind her husband and three little girls - including twins who are hardly 1 1/2 years old. I am very shocked to hear the news. We pray for the family and their well being.

Life seems so fleeting at times like these. And all the scriptures talk about it. But still, we try to fool ourselves into thinking we still have a long way to go. And make plans for 5 years from now, 10 years from now and after retirement. Of course, if we don't do that, and don't hope for the best - we can't live on. One thought crosses my mind often, though - if this were my last moment, am I prepared? Will my family be safe and have a secure future? And every time the answer is the same: I should be more watchful in what I do and say. Because, there may not be another opportunity for me to make amends before I leave for good.

And I am always thankful for The One for all that's given to me. I pray for good things for one and all.

Swasti !!