Finding Nemo

A few years ago when Ramanand Sagar directed “Ramayana” and then “Uttar Ramayana”, all of us suddenly became aware of the stories and the knowledge imbibed in the great epic. While Ramayana focused on the life and character of Sri Ramchandra as growing into a great king or ruler, the Uttara Ramayana focuses on the life of Sri Ramchandra as a ruler of Ayodhya. Along with the faces of Arun Govil as Ram and Deepika Chikhliya as Sita, Ramanand Sagar also became a face in every family. Ramanand ji touched upon the topic of Sita and Ram’s end very carefully and delicately so as not to hurt the public sentiments. While reading through the Valmiki Ramayan, when Ram finds out about Luv and Kush, he offers them to come to their kingdom as princes. When asked about Sita, Ram responds that he had never exiled or left his wife but the queen of Ayodhya. Ram had always upheld his principles. Knowing it all, Sita chose to return back to Mother Earth. Later Ram requested for solitary time in his cha...

आओ खेलें रंग, गुलाल और अबीर संग, भर भर मारें पिचकारी क्यों की आज फिर होली है। खेलो रंग, पियो भंग, मचाओ हुड़दंग, नाचो एक संग, क्यों की आज फिर होली है। जाली थी जा होलिका, हार बुराई की हो ली थी। मन में भर उमंग , खेली सबने होली थी। बापू ने जो दिखाई राह अहिंसा की हो ली थी। भगत सिंह ने हो लाचार, खेली खून से होली थी। दंगों में जो जली वह सभ्यता की होली थी, पाश्विक  कृत्यों में उलझ मानवता की धज्जियाँ भी तो हो लीं थीं। होलिका संग गन्ने जलाओ घर का पुराना कूड़ा जलाओ। साथ ही जलाओ मन का अंतर्मन जो दुर्भावना में ग्रसित हो चुका है। क्यों की आज फिर होली है रंग संग खेलें हम आज फिर होली है मन में फिर क्यों है मुटाव जबकि आज फिर होली है। खेलो जी भर कर क्यों की आज फिर होली है। करो नाश पाश्विकता का, अमानवीयता का लगाओ रंग मेल का, हमदर्दी का, क्यों की आज फिर होली है।

It’s been a long time since my last post. One can say that I was running out of ideas or possibly thinking less. Well, looks like all the assumptions are going true at this time. But once again, thanks to an old mate who reminded me of the “Beating Retreat” ceremony performed by the Indian Armed Forces at Raisina Hills, better known as the front of the Rashtrapati Bhawan (President’s house). “Beating Retreat” ceremony was initially instituted by the King James II of England (James VII of Scotland) ordering the patrolling troops to return to their base castle with drum rolls, parading through the streets. This order was later improvised over the years to suit the need of the times. Yet, the central idea of the ceremony remained – return of the patrolling troops to base camp and deployment of new unit in its place. Though an English ceremony, this is now practiced by most of the commonwealth countries today. The ceremonial celebrations may have changed due to the place, people or time. I...

Today - January 15th, Indian Army is celebrating the Army Day. Its a great day and a proud moment for India. For many, who just like me who do not know the importance of this day - you are in luck! A refresher course is here. Today is the day when, in 1949, the outgoing British commander-in-chief General Sir Francis Butcher passed on the strings of the Indian Army to Lt General Kodandera Madappa Kariappa. Today, this day is marked by parades and other military shows in Army headquarters. Similar to the Army Day, the Navy celebrates Navy Day on December 4th and the Air force celebrates Air Force Day on October 8th. A friend of mine jolted me to read and think about this day and urged me to write about the significance. However, knowing the slight bent in my thinking, I acknowledge this day to be of great significance in understanding the most important event of our life - planning for our successor. We have all understood that nature changes itself continuously. And so are we. Many lear...

Now that we understand Kali in terms of her looks and her companions, lets try to know the different forms of Kali. As we have seen in our scriptures, Kali has been celebrated as a goddess but she has secured the highest pedestal not in the Puranic scriptures but the Tantric scriptures. The tantra knowledge and the followers of the Tantric school of thought consider Kali as source of immeasurable, never-ending power that goes beyond any imagination. Hence the Tantric school celebrates Kali in similar way as the Puranic school celebrated Gauri. Just like Gauri or Lalita is worshipped on the nights of waxing moon, Kali is worshipped on the nights of waning moon. In other words, Kali puja starts after purnima and culminates on amavasya. A mention of Kali puja is seen in Ramayana when Meghnaad or Indrajit goes into a hidden cave. Later when Indrajit was killed, Ravana invoked Mahiravana - this king of subterranean world and a devotee of Kali to offer Ram and Lakshmana as sacrific...

In my last post we saw how the classification of the females depended upon their measurement against the social periphery or the “Lakshman Rekha”.  We saw how the society called the fearless, strong and self-willed women as Kali. However, do we even know who is Kali?  Many or all from the region of Bengal and North-East India have worshipped Kali and have known her for ages. Almost every region of India has known Kali in different forms and in different descript. Most of us though know Kali for being a naked goddess instilling fear in the hearts of those who do wrong. Kali is the ultimate power of destruction, destroying every last bit of attachment and thus marks a new beginning. Known for her endless powers and a fearful form, Kali is thus more popular in the Tantric approach of Hinduism.  I shall try my level best in understanding her and describing her for you and myself.  Kali’s form needs no description, as we all must have seen her as a dark skin...

For the last couple of weeks, I have been tied down to a corner due to my broken foot. I am unable to move and unable to do anything. On top of it all, the painkiller keeps me drowsy and throws me off-balance when concentrating on something important. Yet we are doing well. My family is well taken care of and the kids are happy. All thanks to my wife who stood up as a pillar on whom the household stands. True, everyone has cracked jokes at her for her being busy with her community work. I am sure that they do realize the load she carries on her shoulders of taking care of her two daughters and a grown up kid. Last evening I was watching one of the soap-operas on the television, where the lady of the house takes it on herself to expose the bad guys all around the work place playing with the lives of their co-workers slyly. Despite of her solid plan, she failed in her attempt as the evil guys got to know of her plan somehow. The situation was then turned in such a way that the lady be...