All things spiritual, mythological & gastronomical

Writing a Story

2008-08-07T21:31:00.001+08:00

So a colleague came across my blog writing and suggested that I have the flair for casual writing. Why dont I write a story or a book or a novella? I had never seriously thought about that until now. So I figured why not? I am not a technical writer in a literary sense. I write the way I think in my mind. I do not use any fancy techniques in writing other than casual style. I like to believe my words on paper or in this case electronic media is very casual and conversation like rather than a more structured grammar. I prefer simpler words and flowing expression rather than a more "structured grammar" approach. The question is would I succeed? I am not sure. I hope to put a story together that will make an interesting read.

The only question remains is that should I do this on-line and publish chapter to chapter or write the whole thing and then do a formal publishing. Well, I will let you know.

Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles

2008-01-30T21:07:00.001+08:00

One of the things I did in my US journeys was to catch some awesome new shows despite the WGA strike. One of the new shows is this awesome one called Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Oh! Blimey, I tell you I have never seen such an intense show of action in my TV watching entertainment.

Trinity - Brahma The Creator!

2007-11-28T00:12:00.001+08:00

Brahma is the god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. He is not to be confused with the Supreme Cosmic Spirit in Hindu Vedanta philosophy known as Brahman. Also, in Sanskrit grammar, Brahma is nominative singular of generic word Brahman, as Aatma is nominative singular for Aatman. Brahman and Aatman are same in Vedanta philosophy, the Para-Aatma (Supersoul) and Jeeva Aatma (Individual Soul) are Brahman. His consort is Saraswati, the goddess of learning.

Referred to as the creator, he is traditionally depicted with four heads and four faces and four arms. With each head he continually recites one of the four Vedas. He is often depicted with a white beard (especially in North India), indicating the near eternal nature of his existence. He is shown as having four arms, with none holding a weapon, unlike most other Hindu Gods. One of his hands is shown holding a sceptre in the form of a spoon, which is associated with the pouring of holy ghee or oil into a sacrificial pyre - indicating the fact that Brahma is the lord of sacrifices. Another of his hands holds a water-pot (sometimes depicted as a coconut shell containing water). The significance of the water is that it is the initial, all-encompassing ether in which the first element of creation evolved. Brahma also holds a string of rosary beads that he uses to keep track of the Universe's time. He also is shown holding the Vedas, and sometimes, a lotus flower.

Another story in connection with Brahma's four heads is that when Brahma was creating the universe, he made a female deity known as Shatarupā (one with a hundred beautiful forms). Brahma became immediately infatuated. Shatarupā moved in various directions to avoid the gaze of Brahma. But wherever she went, Brahmā developed a head. Thus, Brahma developed five heads, one on each side and one above the others. In order to control Brahmā, Shiva cut off the top head. Also, Shiva felt that Shatarupa was Brahma's daughter/son, being created by him. Therefore, Shiva determined, it was wrong for Brahma to become obsessed with her. He directed that there be no proper worship in India for the "unholy" Brahma. Thus, only Vishnu and Shiva continue to be worshipped, while Brahma is almost totally ignored. Ever since the incident, Brahmā has been reciting the four Vedas in his attempt at repentance.

But there are plenty of references to him in scriptures and prayers. In fact the most popular prayer, Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheswara! Guru Sakshaat Para Brahma Tasmai Sree Guru vey namaha has multiple references to Brahma.

Mobile Gundam Seed 00

2007-11-26T21:04:00.001+08:00

I had the chance to see one episode of the Mobile Gundam Seed 00. To begin with, I am not a anime fan. I like anime movies, Ghost in the Shell and Akira being my favourites but I have never sought actively to watch any of the anime series developed in Japan. I have heard plenty of good stuff about them, in regards to musical styles, storylines, interspersed cultural references to our world and a future or past and not mention a sense of unusual style which eludes even the best Western animation adventures. I was always wondering what Gundam Seed means and the name did not appeal to me to make me want to watch. So before I saw the second episode of this series, I went to my trusty Wikepedia, did a search and read up on the history and development of the Gundam series. Boy! was I fascinated. The series, the settings, and their references to our current state of the world, our history are truly amazing. When I read the premise of Gundam Seed 00, I was amazed at how these story developers were able to create a world in future as chaotic as it could be. The concept of destroying for the sake of achieving peace was truly disturbing and echoes the current Iraq conflict that we are seeing. It is always the decision of a few which puts the rest at danger or face the wrath and brunt of the reaction.

The second episode portrays a group of well meaning warriors armed with the most advanced battle suit called Mobile Gundam have declared that they will be intervening in the current conflicts and destroy both sides unless they make a path to peace and reconciliation. On one side, the warriors have to face a terrible choice of being labelled as mass murderers and on the other is the forces that are bent to destroy these suits or capture them to take advantage of the advanced technology. And on a yet another side is the need to keep the identity of the warriors a secret and hope that one of them wont have a remorseful meltdown.

What caught me by a total surprise was the premise in this episode that the conflict between the Tamil's and Singhalese in Sri Lanka has been used. Being Indian and a Tamil Brahmin to the boot, I abhor violence of any kind. Our forefathers taught her better. Gandhi gave us independence without firing a shot. I always thought that the world could use that as an example but then if only life was that simple. Politicians like George Bush do not understand the cultural ethos of the world as they remain cloistered in their blinkered existence that one rule applies to all and one glove fits all.

Any way, back to Gundam Seed. So the remedy by the "Celestial Beings", as the warriors with the Mobile Gundam suit are called, take the matters into their hands and decimate both sides of the conflict. And one of the warriors expresses regret that he will always be remembered as a mass murderer as he proceeds to drop bombs to wipe out a whole military base with people inside. Wow! What twisted mind thought of this episode. Should we give him a medal for creative and brilliant writing or take him to the nearest nut house and lock him up. I am sure there are two sides of the fence which is fully occupied by the respective supporters. And for the record, I am right now on the fence and I will give the writer the benefit of doubt.

So are we also headed there? In 30 years, would our civilization reach a point where we will start bombing ourselves out of existence? At the rate we are going with wars, pollution, depleting resources, over population, and disease, I am not sure how long will human race survive. Praying to our respective God's will give us strength to live and service, but the dude upstairs is basically telling us that he wont help those who do not deserve and right now, our human race is not in a position to ask for sympathy.

If there is one thing I wont deny is that watching this single episode has now made me crave for getting my hands on the entire series and I am in touch with some friends who can procure older season DVD's if and when they become available.

View from the top!

2007-11-20T20:33:00.001+08:00

Many of my friends and family know the location of my office. Downtown Singapore. Right in the heart of the Financial District. According to the GPS Monitor, my office is exactly 842 Feet above MSL. That is one heck of a height to be working every day. I have seen planes practice during the Singapore National Day Parade. A Chinook which was carrying a gigantic Singapore National Flag, flanked by two awesome AH-64D Longbow Apache attack helicopters below the window level and I could see the pilots of the gun ships. It was an awesome sight. By the time I ran and got my camera, the aircrafts had moved on. Bummer! During my early gaming days, I have played the Apache simulator where you get to fire Hell Fire missiles also known as fire and forget missiles.

But I have been observing the construction of the new Sands Exhibition and Convention Centre (Including the Casino) from a high vantage point. What used to be a green patch of land is now filled with cranes, trucks, huge holes which look so tiny that its unfathomable how large they are when you actually pass the construction site.

It is an impressive view of what would become a marvel in construction as I have seen the artist design that was published in the local newspaper after the project was awarded. It will be a sight to behold and admire. I am looking forward to the opening of this monument to entertainment. Maybe I will visit the casino and try my luck at the black jack tables. Martini's anyone?

Not to be outdone, there is giant wheel or the Singapore Flyer. Its the Asian version of the London Eye. The panoramic view offered by the Singapore Flyer will be far superior to the London Eye considering the location. Its 165 Meters (30 meters bigger than London Eye). Already its sold out way before its launch. I think I have to wait a long time before I am able to get my turn. But its still shorter than my vista from 842 Feet.

The Esplanade or "Durian" has always been my favourite hotspot. Great theatre venue. Top notch shows and a very pretentious crowd (life is too short not to be pretentious). So I join them in the preening and applauding the shows which fortunately are of excellent quality. For those who are not familiar, Durian is a local fruit (a very stinky smelly fruit) and it has prickly skin which is sort of resembling the dome structure of the Esplanade. Smart move done by the people behind the Esplanade was not to deny the comparison. The taxi drivers are more apt to take you to the Durian rather than Esplanade. I have been there and done that. The sounds system here is AWESOME and I cannot fault the technical aspects of the sound engineering at these theatres. My cousin's and his wife gave a performance early this year and the sound quality even for a very intimate performance was outstanding.

The Padang is a open ground shared by two clubs (Singapore Cricket Club and one other). A great venue to run around the grounds. Linking Park performed on these grounds. Rugby 7 tournaments were held here. Cricket matches are played regularly. Flanking the Padang is the historical Supreme Court.

Bali! Magical, Fun and Exciting

2007-11-13T20:24:00.001+08:00

So after 12 years of living in Singapore, I finally had the opportunity to go to Bali. Everyone who became aware that this was my first trip expressed total shock and surprise considering I have an extensive travel resume. I had my reasons. Most of which stemmed from the past Indonesian policy of applying for visa in Singapore. Due to heavy travels and severe conditions put by the Consular office, I figured the hassle is not going to be worth it if for a short visit, I have to endure a popped blood vessel. Until close to 2 years ago, when my passport was included in the Visa on arrival list. Hooray! So last week, I finally got the chance to go. It was a stag night. One of the boys is getting married this weekend and hence we decided to have a party. But of course, we realized, a bit later, that the bride and her party were heading to Bali for their hens night. The girls have squarely blamed the boys for changing the destination from Macao to Bali. Well, we agree but in the end it was all good. We celebrated all November babies birthday dinner in style at Cafe Warisan. It was hot, sweltering and I was melting. Seriously! I think I lost 2 kilos just sitting there. But later there was some clubbing at Hu Bar.

So where are the pictures? Sad to say that I lost my camera. It fell off the bicycle at 3AM in the morning when I wanted to get some food. So I lost about 400 pictures. River rafting, dinner, party pictures, and lots of interesting shots! All gone! I will wait for the other who have their pictures and post them here.

What do you know! The damn thing works including upload of Photo

2007-11-07T16:26:00.001+08:00

Well, Well, Well! I am impressed. This actually works. Well, it made me go to Picasa and create a new account link to my blog account, but all in all, I have no complaints. It looks really good and easy! I guess I will be able to finish my Travel journal after all.

Time just flies and you feel that it was just yesterday that I wanted to update my blog. With travels, work, weddings, babies, holidays and trying to determine if an MBA would help me out, has taken its toll. But I am seeing a way to manage all this. Hopefully, I will have more of my travels here than wait for 6 months before I say whatever it is to say next.

Microsoft has created a new utility called Live Writer!

2007-11-07T16:23:00.001+08:00

While I am a Windows user and an occasional critic of Microsoft's products, I believe they actually have this right. I figured let me give it a shot by writing a new entry from the new Live Writer and see how it works. I cannot comment if it works or not right now as this is my first entry. My second entry would contain a report card. And to see if the images are uploaded properly.

Eurostar! My favorite mode of transport!

2007-06-06T19:48:00.001+08:00

I have always had a thing for trains. Even as a kid, I used to run to the balcony at the mere sound of a train horn. And my grandparents and my uncles used to live right across where the tracks used to pass in the city. And it was a constant stream of trains. Suburban transports, freight, shunting trains, broken down trains, all sorts of engines. It was a thrill to catalog the different styles of engines and I had my own code to define each of them. So much so that I could actually decipher the train codes and their destination sequence. Yeah! I was a whack job. Get this! When I used to visit my grandparents as a kid, they had a balcony which had a utility ladder that had 4 legs and a top. Like an oversized coffee table except it was a ladder. I remember taking pen and drawing dials in the little gap and pretend it was a engine window. Har-di-har! Laugh as much as you will, but that was my fantasy as a 5 year old. And trust me, although I got out of the whole ladder business, trains still fascinate me. And when Microsoft released Train Simulator, it was a dream come true. I could not ever hope to drive one in the real world. But I could do it in a virtual world. And boy! Did Microsoft hit a jackpot.

Enough of that. So I reach Waterloo after a long 14 hour flight to Heathrow, 40 minute immigration, 40 minutes to Waterloo and then 1 hour wait for my train. The journey to Paris was smooth, comfortable and fast.

Close to 300 KM was the speed and it was fun. They have improved since the last time I traveled. More comfortable and less noise. Since I had done an Internet booking, I got a sweet deal for a very reasonable price. I was served Champagne and wine with some nice cheese, breakfast on route to Paris. How cool! 9:30 AM and I am already getting tanked.

Paris, je t'aime .........

2007-04-04T11:27:00.000+08:00

What a glorious weekend! I spent 4 great days and nights in Paris and I realized once again why I love the place. Its just an amazing pot pouri of people, sights, scenes, food, museums, art, music, clubs, bistros. I had the good fortune of hanging with some gorgeous friends who were kind enough to let me wine, dine and club with them. And what a time it was!

The next few postings will cover my trip to Paris and of course, London.

50 Years of Atlas Shrugged

2007-03-08T16:38:00.001+08:00

Do I have to even ask if you know what "Atlas Shrugged" is? Ayn Rand's prolific novel introduced a culture of raw capitalism unbridled in its depiction of greed, and the argument that greed is good. You also remember Gordon Gecko in the Wall Street. Today I read an article commemorating this book and its influence in the capitalistic ideas. In addition to founding her own philosophical system, objectivism, Rand is honored as the modern fountainhead of laissez-faire capitalism, and as an impassioned, uncompromising, and unapologetic proponent of reason, liberty, individualism, and rational self-interest. We all remember the phrase Who is John Galt? This phrase has been quoted time and again in other books. Heck! Even Calvin and Hobbes made a parody of the phrase (not in its entirety) in one Calvin's diatribe against restrictive policies in his home (meaning being forced to go to school or gulag as he calls it, being made to eat greens and food and not able to meet the national average of TV viewing by being forced to go to bed by 9 PM).

I first read Ayn Rand when I was 14. It was not because I was into reading "heavy" books. Mostly there was nothing else to read and I found this in my father's book shelf and I read it. When I started I nearly cried. Not because I felt the impact of the book. It was more to do with the fact that I thought I had the most boring and heavy duty book and I could not believe I was reading it. And my head nearly exploded and was quite close to shedding tears of frustration. It took a few more years to venture back to read the book. Growing up in a socialist and closed world (India opened its economy only in 1990's), it was fascinating to read the idea of a society bereft of its genius and the downward spiral of civilization. Well, we do now know we are going to hell in a handcart considering all we now know are wars, famine, strife and global warming. Its time to start looking for a new planet to destroy.

For those who have heard of Warcraft III (a million copy selling game), the cheat code to speed up research technologies is WhoisJohnGalt.

99 Problems and a B***h ain’t one?

2007-03-02T14:19:00.001+08:00

This morning on the way to work, I was listening to tunes and one of the numbers was Jay-Z's 99 problems from his excellent record called The Black Album. Although, I have listened to this rap number many times, today I paid more attention to the lyrics. The entire context just was mind blowing. I have respected and liked Jay-Z as an artist and his rap numbers were very good to listen to. His collaborations with Pharrell Williams (of NERD fame), Beyonce (his gal), his mash up with Linkin Park (which I think is a brilliant mix of two distinct styles of music). But never have I paid attention to the lyrics.

Back to 99 problems. The lyrics presented a side of the problems faced by disillusioned youth growing up in disfranchised or poor areas with limited education, opportunities and slide into drugs, depression and violence. You would expect this from a third world country but this situation from a so-called first world country just boggles your mind. Some very potent lyrics went like this:-

"And I heard Son do you know why I'm stopping you for? Cause I'm young and I'm black and my hats real low Do I look like a mind reader sir, I don't know Am I under arrest or should I guess some MO? Well you was doing fifty five in a fifty four.
License and registration and step out of the car, are you carrying a weapon, I know a lot of you are! "

WOW! That's harsh stereotyping. And we thought our version of stereotyping was bad. But it's interesting how Jay-Z decided to focus on a road stop and arrest as a scenario for his song and a brilliant music video (all in B & W).

"I ain't stepping out of shit all my papers legit "Do you mind if I look round the car a little bit?" Well my glove compartment is locked so is the trunk and the back And I know my rights so you gon' need a warrant for that "Aren't you sharp as a tack are some type of lawyer or something?" "Or somebody important or something?"

Great writing. So just because you are able to say that you need a warrant, the impression is that either you are a lawyer or someone important. But you are not a ordinary person. The next sentence is absolutely mind blowing

Nah I ain't pass the bar but I know a little bit enough that you won't illegally search my shit

This sentence was also use in one of CSI: New York episodes (Tanglewood boys) where the protagonist states the same. But of course, the shit part was smoothed over by a dialog interruption.

I am not sure how to interpret the thoughts behind the next phrases. Our roots do not give us the same nature of problems faced. Racism, profiling has always existing in Indian culture but its more inward. Affirmative action is given to lower castes to bring them to the main stream of the population.

And there I go trapped in the kit kat again Back through the system with the riff raff again Fiends on the floor scratching again Paparazzi's with they cameras snapping them D.A. tried to give the nigga the shaft again Half-a-mil for bail cause I'm African All because this fool was harassing them Trying to play the boy like he's saccharin But ain't nothing sweet 'bout how I hold my gun. I got 99 problems and a bitch ain't one, Hit ME!

I wonder if Britney Spears would ever make such powerful verses in her songs. Well, she did shave her head like Persis Khambatta (she played the role of Lt. Ilia in the first Star Trek movie. She is a former Miss India, of Parsi ethnicity).

I can see several similarities in applying Indian mythology to most of the lyrics as our ancestors have definitely encountered similar profiling. There is a saying My friend's enemy is my enemy, my enemies enemy is my friend. Indian mythology has several stories that reflect the sense of being trapped, judged and prosecuted with no opportunity to explain or even redemption.

Oh! Well! Just thought I will share this online.

Posting Using New Technology!

2007-02-27T10:33:00.001+08:00

Obviously, blogging now become more simplified and easier. With the right tools, it can become as simple as writing a letter. Of course, pictures make a lot of difference.

Its certainly been a while since I have last updated. Lots have happened and I am going to spend some time to write more on what's going on.

My niece is growing fast and furious!!!

2006-11-23T23:06:00.000+08:00

Folks, time to buy that double barrel, double action shotgun to ward off all unsavoury suitors. This is the first pictures of my niece in 4 months since I last saw her. She is so cute (touch wood). She is going to one handful to her parents! Good luck to them! She looks bewildered.

More later! Its been a hard 2 months what with a very busy project and many weddings to attend to. In two different continents. But all in all it was really fun! And I enjoyed my first ever visit to Perth and Margaret River! I purchased a lot of wine and I had a taste of biltong. My teeth will never be the same again.

Have a week ahead! And to my American friends, Happy Thanksgiving!

Been A While!!!

2006-10-31T22:28:00.000+08:00

Its been a while since my last update on the joyous occasion of my nieces birth and her naming ceremony. And the progress so far is that the kiddo is settling in and giving less waking hours to her parents. Information from back home suggests that life is back to normal (from whatever new definition of normal).

The next few weeks are going to be extremely busy travelling. Good friends are walking the aisle. And being a good friend, I will be going for sure.

Surely upon my return, I will post pictures of my journey's and of course food.

Here's wishing all a very Happy Deepavali (belated)!!!!

The Party - Evening Celebration

2006-08-25T12:47:00.000+08:00

So you think the ceremony is complete. Well, my friends hardly! The evening party was for a more casual settings. Of course, there is no meat or alcohol. After all its a baby's naming ceremony we are celebrating and not mine. So we have a cradle which was borrowed from some family friends. The history is that this particular cradle has been in existance for about 100 years. Yep! Can you believe that? These family friends have kept it and used for all newborns in their family and their friends family. It was one heck of a engineering marvel contains catches and levers which I am quite sure was made by hand measures that computers. So once again, the ladies of the house are dressed to their nines. Resplendant sarees, jewellery etc.

Luckily the weather was a bit chill and hence Amolika is well covered up. And yet she has this beginnings of "I am going to start bawling any second" expression. And she did! The next instant the "The Priceless Siren" started wailing at the top of her lungs. Quick, get help! And it came in the form of grandmother, my sister's mother-in-law. A very gracious, charming and extremely nice person. My sister is very lucky is to have in-laws as proud, doting and loving. Heck! they even like me.

Which is more than you can say about me.They do keep hammering about the fact that I should get married and make babies. Hooray! Can you all imagine? Guru with a few kids! One day it will be there. For now, the focus is on my niece and my dear friends for whom I only wish they will have pictures like these posted on their own blogs. In fact, I think its time to visit a temple and pray for good luck and fortune to all the friends and family I know. After WOMAD!

Proud grandfather and grandmother. My brother-in-law's parents. The father is also a very charming, and knowledgeable with a penchant for enjoying life to the fullest extent. A very relaxed gentleman of old school. A perfect sammandhi (term used to describe the father-in-law's of both the bride and groom).

My brother-in-law's family (his siter, his BIL and his nephews). Those nephews are bigger, brainier than I am. They tower over me. I am usually called as Big Guy by the mexican queen mother of nearly two (Alvaro, I am referring to your wifey Patsy). But these dudes are really big guys.

The last picture is of one of my sister's friends who delivered a boy a few months ago and my niece. Aaaw! her first boyfriend and she cant even seen him because he is trussed up secure in blankets and looks thouroughly disinterested. Damn! you mean we men are already born with the whole "I should be vary of women" attitude or just the bad attitude that many women complain we male homosapien species seem to exhibit. Oh! well, he is just a kid.

Well, folks! I hope you enjoyed reading and viewing as much I did when I wrote and published these pictures. Watch out for the next installments of some sights and scenes of Hyderabad. I also have some foody pictures of Bombay which I must put up soon.

The Naming Ceremony - How the rest went

2006-08-24T19:34:00.000+08:00

At this point is where I, as the uncle am supposed to whisper her name in the year. At this time, she had just stopped wailing her guts out. Oh! Joy! I have to whisper her full name Amolika Anathalakshmi Ajoy. I kinda forget the second name. The kid has to get a series of names to honor the anscestors. So sod on me for forgetting it. Sorry, baby! When you are old enough to read this blog, dont blame your poor uncle.

Amolika's Naming Ceremony - Some Pictures

2006-08-06T17:30:00.000+08:00

A few friends were wondering what's the deal about the naming ceremony. Its a cultural thing. In my culture, naming a baby is very important. And there is an elaborate ceremony for this. The new parents have to perform some religious rites, write the baby's name in wheat and whisper the new name into the baby's ears. The father, mother, uncle (that's me), grandfather, cousins, well wishers all do this. Oh! And you ought to give cash gifts. I am telling you, my neice is a rich kid and she is hardly 5 weeks only. I guess pampering a new born especially the first in the line is always given.

The day starts very early. My BIL (Brother-in-law) gets ready, wears his veshti (silk sarong equivalent used in important religions functions). The priest walks my BIL through the initial phases where there is lot of invocations a whole caboodle of gods. From experience, you all know of my constant reference to 9000 gods in my culture. And the ladies of the house are dressed to the nines. My sister, looking radiant as ever, was even more resplendent with the glow of new motherhood. And my BIL is a star and champ for embarking on this chapter of life. Good luck, bro!

From the left, my mom's youngest sister from Kuwait, my cousin's wife, my mom's second sister, my sister and my BIL's older sister

As usual my sister is giving some inputs to the entire proceedings.

Some ceremonial items. The copper pot contains water which will be "holified" and then sprinkled on all people as blessings. Coconuts play a very important role in ceremonial events. I am not sure of significance except that it is cosidered holy and auspicious to use coconuts as part of offerings.

More ceremonial duties being performed.

This is me holding Amolika before I give her back to her parents. You have no idea of the people hovering around me considering I do not have experience of holding small babies. She has not yet started WAILING! And man! the kid can be vocal about it. You will see a couple of pictures soon with her vocal chords in action.

Mom checking out her darling daughter before taking possession.

Comfortably perched on her mom's lap!

Proud parents and grandfather. My dad is so happy to have a granddaughter. I tell you the old man has now focus attention on her. Hooray for me!

Kiddo is getting theerthum. Its sacred water.

Hyderabad - The City of Biryani and Bangles

2006-08-06T17:06:00.000+08:00

Hyderabad. A City that is 400 years old. Historical, monumental and caught in a frenzy of upward development. Good roads, brutal traffic, 1230 PM curfew for pubs, 24 hour biryani joints, "I know someone so dont mess with me" works, sky rocketing real estate and irani tea.

I had gone home for couple of weeks to celebrate the arrival and naming ceremony of my niece. I think you will all agree that she is a cutie. Noisy! but cute. I hung out with my friends, got a taste of great food (both at home and outside), hads lots of alcohol at pubs, homes, clubs (like Orchid Country Club types not a night club). The weather was perfect. A cool 26-27 during the day and a very nice 21 in the evening. It was the beginning of monsoon season and hence the weather was not hot. I have not been to Hyderabad in July in over 10 years. So I was initially apprehensive about going in July. I was mistaken. I did not roast and die. In fact, I enjoyed the weather.

Hyderabadi Biryani is unlike any that you would have had outside of Hyderabad. Its famous for the way its cooked and the side dishes that accompany it. A truly gastronimical feast that cannot be verbally described. Its a stimulant for all the taste buds one which will keep you burping with satisfaction. By the way, burping is perfectly acceptable method of providing complement to the host. Its a true sign that the food was really tasty and you ate your hearts fill with happiness. It may be disgusting from a courtesey point of view, but its a very strong expression of satisfaction.

Hyderbad is also well know for its bangles. As like biryani, the citi is also popular for its bangle bazaar or chudi (bangle) bazaar. Not a place I would want to go. I mean can you imagine a street full of bangle shops and a million gaggle of women. No thank you! I will wait in the car.

Irani tea is tea made iranian style. Thick and creamy, its not for the faint hearted. Its laced with sugar and has the mixed taste of tea and sweetness. Many a snack ends with a irani chai (tea). As students we used "cut" the tea. Basically, instead of drinking one whole cup, you share the tea. So you will order "by 2" means one cup of tea split into two. Or "2 by 3". You get the picture.

Folks! Presenting my niece - Amolika - The Priceless One

2006-07-22T17:47:00.000+08:00

After two weeks of eating, drinking and listening to my cute little niece's wails every two hours, I am back in Singapore. I will put up the ceremonial pictures in a few days. But this is the photo of my cutie niece. More later.

She is a precocious little thing who has a penchant for doing a mean siren every 2 hours. I have to really admire my sister, my aunt's, my brother in law and my dad! This kid can sure keep them all up all night and still gurgle away likes its all fun!

Tragedy and Hope!

2006-07-13T00:01:00.000+08:00

By now all of you would have seen and heard about the train blasts in Bombay. Bombay trains are the lifeline of work and activity and its with sadness and horror that such a mode of transport has been hit with bombs! The people who did this are not people but parasites to any society who find the need to indiscriminately kill. My fervent hope is that the police catch them and deep six them! I have no sympathy for mass murderers, rapists and child molestors. There is only place for them. Deep fried in hell!

I have travelled those trains for years when I was in my teens. I have had so many memories of my journeys! I have seen romances and fights erupt in the train! I have seen people making use of any implement and turning it into a musical intrument and enjoying a gusto rendition of popular songs! I have seen people squeezed chock a block and yet find a way to play poker when you cannot even see your partners and yet your game is a success! I have seen young people without proper ticket try all sorts of excuses to get out of the clutches of the ticket inspector! Its amazing what you could see and learn and observe in a journey and every day is something new!

But Bombay is a resilient city! Take away the lousy politicians and you have a variety of people who make it worth while. Nothing like a tragedy to bring people together! And that's what Bombay is all about!

My family and friends are safe! And I was shocked because I remember just last November making the journey in the same trains during my holidays!

Here's wishing my fellow citizens in Bombay - Strength, Courage and Hope!

I am an Uncle!

2006-06-23T20:05:00.000+08:00

Fantastic news! My sister gave birth to a girl this morning in India. She and the kid are doing fine. And I am excited to be an uncle. I am off to India soon and I will post the pictures of my newborn niece quite soon!

Strange Co-incidence

2006-06-17T11:29:00.000+08:00

I had asked about articles where the changing world and effect on men. Its as if someone heard me and in yesterday's edition of "Today" paper, there was a write up on the same subject. Basically the writer states that he is happy being single but is now finding joys of taking care hanging out with his friends 7 year old. Interesting read, if someone managed to catch that.

For the Railay gang, the photos are up and running. Sorry for the delay. Time has really passed.

Lull in postings

2006-06-15T21:28:00.000+08:00

For the past few months, things have been a bit busy at work front. There were some weddings, some travel, some lazing around, partying which kept me away from my computer. But now that I am on my sabbatical, I believe I will be able to do justice and start where I left off.

I was reading a blog/article by Julie Delpi (british actress in Before Sunset and After Sunset movies with Ethan Hawke). She was going on about women's role in modern society. But I could not find anyone writing about men's role in modern society. What with the changes, the advancements, the empowerment, the knowledge with which the inequality between men and women have reduced, there is a shift in what is the role of a man in today's world. I am only referring to the educated, and enlightened sorts. Lets leave out conservatives and those who believe that women are production factories and pleasure machines.

My question is has anyone come across something. It can be negative or positive or downright chauvanistic. The point of the question is "is there an article" and not debate upon the merits of the article.

V For Vendetta

2006-03-16T17:39:00.000+08:00

I had to digress for one post in order to talk about this movie "V for Vendetta". Natalie Portman (Queen Amidala) and Hugo Weaving (Mr. Smith) star in it. So much for the actors.

What amazed me was the absolute brutal representation of todays world which seems to resonate in every frame. Although most of us have not seen the horrors or the unpleasant realities of life, I must say this movie disturbed me to a large extent. When does a Freedom Fighter become a terrorist? When does a well meaning goverment become a dictatorial regime? When does hope for better days turn to despair? This movie is going to rile the Neo Conservatives (George Bush and Co) to no end. Its as if the writers took pains to draw parallels not by using images in todays context but employing powerful metaphorical comparisons which the audience has no choice but to look around the real world. Talk about putting a gun to your head and force you to nod your head. Phew!

Why am I even bothering to write about this? The ones who know me find me quite non political except for some loose comments about Dick Cheney, Rumsfeld and George W. Other than that I dont give a rats ass. Its not like I come from a country where politicians are so fucking great. And hence I really dont bother. Its is quite possible because of where I live. A secure shielded enviroment where your only concern is how do make it on time to the next party. Or lets try and get the cheapest ticket to Bali or some place where we can enjoy a cool drink. A life that easy must have some consequences sometime down the road. But you know, I am too scared to think about it. I raise my hat to those who spend time to do charity work, building house, going to unimaginable places because you feel you need to give back to the world. Selflessness has never been a trait in me and I would hardly think it would come so easily.

If I take an example of North Korea and transplant the movie in its realm, what would be the outcome? We know the dude is a whacko! I mean do we really know he's whacko! Well, people starving while he is taking long distance train rides only shows that. Why is that ONE man is able to paralyze an entire nation. Our parents always taught us that there is strength in numbers. So are we saying that if there is a tyrannical army of million, I need 3 million to march against them? Is the result that simple? We have hordes of nations saying that democracy is the way to go. Its the only form of governance where rulers are elected and the government is "For, By and of" the people. So when Hamas (you know them, dudes are experts in getting gullible youngsters and women to blow themselves to paradise or to bits. I will not even go there) actually gets elected not by threat of violance and intimidation but by democratic means, it just stopped all brain activity in all those people. They must have gone "What were people thinking?". And then you cant even shout foul because its exactly what you asked for. A democratic election. And if you say foul then you become a bare faced hypocrite. Essensce of democracy is that it does not elect someone based on the fact that if they are good or bad. Take India. I swear to god some of the politicians have a horde of murder and kidnap cases and they even contest while serving their sentence. They actually get elected. So do we invalidate the election. You cant! By rule of law, its right. By rule of life, its right.

My countries history bears the truth that independence and freedome can be achieved without blood shed and violence. But are those same idealogies and principles valid and workable today. Would Gandhi have been able to mobilise massess the way he mobilised 60 years ago? Or we would be more concerned on where to make the next buck to realize that freedom is not given or granted but its a birthright.

One thing I am sure is this. This movie is going to kick a lot of people in thier collective balls. I can already envision all those talk show gas bags going nuts on the air either dissing or praising this movie. Throw in a few bawdy jokes by Jay Leno and David Letterman, we come to a complete circle.

I dont know about you, folks! But this is one movie that really got my goat and hence my "4 seconds" of raving and ranting. And I feel quite gratified I wrote this. Now, let me get on with my continuation of what I am supposed to do.

More Coming Soon

2006-03-08T23:39:00.000+08:00

Its been a long while since I updated the blog. I have been really busy with work and life in general. My new passion is now to play scrabble and enjoy idle chit chat with two gorgeous women on a lazy Sunday afternoon. And then a game of intense badminton on Sunday evening with some very wonderful people. Fun and intense! What a perfect Sunday to have! Workout for the brain and the body! And nothing in between!

So what have I been upto? Well, for one there has been a change in my job profile and getting the new role into my system is taking time. I had a short overseas trip and there were numerous birthday parties, dinner parties, and there was this visit to Attica a couple of times. Despite swearing that I would not go to that place, I still get dragged there. I have very loving and well meaning friends who insist that coming to Attica is a medicine to the soul.

Then there was this fantastic dinner party organized by a wonderful couple! I only wish I could cook as good as the dude and look as good as the girl! Next thing I knew I was actually singing "Chori Chori Chupke Chupke" as a testimonial to my childhood talent for singing. Honest! I used to learn Carnatic classical music under the tutelage of a venerable master called Neti Srirama Sarma! and my mother made me practise daily. Then there was the guitar lessons with Jayshankar who was the local hippy wannabe except he was just a confused dude who could not decide what he wanted to be. At least at that time! I have no idea where he is today.

Then there was more dinner parties of more wonderful people.

I cherish and value my life in Singapore. I have so many wonderful friends who I adore. Life would certainly be unbearable without the presence of such people. And then sometimes some people leave. Like this absolutely fabulous woman who I shall refer to as the Kling-2 girl! An Aussie to the boot, extremely dedicated, talented and a wonderful person too. She has left these shores back to her homeland to make her future. I wish her all the very best in life and have promised her that if at all she needs anything, I can guarantee that I will be there.

My sister is pregnant ** HOORAY** And I am going to be an uncle. Yep! You can see her picture in these blogs. Drop me a note to wish her! They do not know whether its a boy or a girl! And they do not wish to know. My sister is over the moon, my brother-in-law is having a silly goofy grin. And my father is orbiting this planet in anticipation of the first grandchild. You think it was difficult to talk to him before? Ha! Listen to him now! The plans for the ceremonies for 8th month, the birth etc. are immense and I also know he has invited like a few hundred people for a very important ceremony in May. Once I get pictures of those, I will post them here and explain what that ceremony is for.

As you can see, there's quite a few things happening and I lacked the time to my blog. So I will update more frequently but with fortnightly gaps in between.

Journey From Hyderabad to Bombay - Part 3 - The Ghat Section

2006-01-10T16:08:00.000+08:00

The Khandala ghats are situated right between Bombay and all routes going outside of Bombay in the eastern direction. The train service has been running as long as I can remember. Right from 1970's. The older route which still exists today contains 26 tunnels through which the trains pass. The newer track built to accomodate the traffic covers sections outside of those tunnels but neverthless more often than not in parallel. The journey is a up-down. Meaning to a certain extent we go up hill from Pune and then its all downhill. You can actually see the extreme suburban edge of Bombay which still boggles my mind. The entire set of pictures here reflect the Khandala ghats. Oh! there are people who actually live here. And you will find some shots of goats running around near the tracks.

We are approaching a station called Lonavala. Lonavala is a beautiful place. Its usually touted as the summer resort for the people in Mumbai. Being high up on the hills, it has cool temperature and fantastic homes which the rich and famous have built for themselves. Many companies have their corporate retreat houses here. I myself have been a guest of Siemens Medical Systems in 1995 as my team was given a getaway gift from them.

I could only manage to get a sneak shot of this home quite near the tracks. Most of the track sections are between rocks and hence difficult to capture any pictures. There was a time where having a summer home in Lonavala was the ultimate thing to do. Now, I presume everyone has one and the prices are through the roof.

From the sign board, you can see some information regarding the ghats. A total of 24 kilometers from the start point which is coming ahead after a small station called Khandala.

And here's my trusty motor man pulling the train into the far end track which will then commence our descent to Bombay. Of course, we still have not reached the station yet. It is a difficult task to maintain these heavily used track sections. When we were leaving Pune station, there was already another train pulled into the adjacent platform which was the Chennai Mumbai express. The thumb rule is that if your train is delayed then you get lower priority on the route as they will not delay the other trains which were on time. So we were suckered into following the train that left just 10 minutes before we did.

The far end ofthe train as it chugs behind.

You can see that there is a near parallell road highway that goes from Pune to Lonavala to Bombay. Technically, its a much shorter journey. But in terms of comfort and scenary nothing beats the train.

And from this point onwards the fun begins! My train halted for a few minutes to get the green flag from the dude on the station. Despite the electronic signal, there is always a dude with a flag to cut you loose. Right now this is a shot of the train at stop. Can you make out some people sitting by the door? You can see a few legs perched. Travelling on roof is not allowed in sections where the tracks are electrified. We dont want someone to get 20K volts of raw power to vapourise the fool!

From the clock you can see it was close to 1 PM. By actual schedule we should have been at this point by 10 AM. Talk about dumb luck.

The lenght of the train which I am still not able to capture fully.

Dude who waves us off holding the green flag. During nights he has a lantern! He just gave us the kick off and we started moving.
If you have been to India, then you know how we love honking our car horns! Well, these engines are equipped with air horns! Boy! when they blow, its amazing. The entire ghats will echo the sound of the horn!

This image here on the left shows the elevation statistics for the ghat section. This is the gradient chart for the ghat section.

And this is the first tunnel we enter. You can see railway workers doing some work on the tracks and tunnels. All the tunnels are cool and sometimes you have water trickling down the walls! Dont ask me, but I do believe thats fresh water that trickels down. It actually cools down the tunnel so much that you can feel the chill! From here on there are a few more tunnels which weave in and out. The train curves at every given opportunity making the scenary wonderful.

And there is light at the end of the tunnel! Pity I did not have a fancy camera and a foot hold so that I could lean further out to take a better picture. I think I lost the art of leaning out of a train which I used to do so well during my college years.

And like a trusty sidekick the highway still continues to run through the ghat's. To be really honest with you all, I have never taken the road from Bombay to Pune. I have always taken the train. As a kid, I had this fascination to trains. I used to recruit couple of cronies and we used to pretend to play train. Our imaginations ran amok. I mean we took an ordinary ladder and came up with ideas to convert it into a engine cabin and honk ourselves hoarse! Until of course, the elders used to chase us off to play cricket.

As the train continues it passes through more tunnels. Note the inscription on the pole to the left of the picture. Its says "120-23" vertical. This indicates that Bombay is 120 KM's and 230 meters away. Yep! Each electric pole is 100 meters apart and each have the distance charted on them. Easy to know how far your destination is. Although this rule is generic, they sectionalise the distance. Meaning, you wont find 7000/430 inscribed on the electric pole.

And the first shot of the scenary below. The train really winds itself down to the othe side of the ghat section.

Journey From Hyderabad to Bombay - Part 2

2006-01-02T16:13:00.000+08:00

The silly train was delayed by two hours at Pune Junction due to some track work. So instead of leaving Pune at 8:50 AM, the train left only by 10:00 AM. And all that while we were sitting in the airconditioned comfort. Some of my fellow passengers decided to get off and rent a cab and take off via road to Bombay. Its just a couple of hours and I am sure these people made it much before me. I was not keen on doing it because I really wanted to experience the "Khandala Ghats" section which is a very beautiful and scenic mountain passes with tunnels and a great view.
This is a typical Indian Railways Diesel powered engine.

And this is a typicall Electric powered locomotive.
This part of the journey is the best as it covers some spectacular scenary. You wont believe that this is actually just outside of Bombay. I mean! Bombay equates to a chaotic madness and now this is actually that same city or at least the outskirts.

As the engine pulled out of Pune junctions 3 hours beyond its scheduled time, I had already wolfed down "egg sandwiches", and "wada pau". The "wada pau" being a very typical snack mean in this region. The first thing you notice is the total calm with which these canine creatures are chilling on the tracks. This is one of the busiest sections of the route and yet these dogs are just lazing in the sun. Only one bothered to look up because I whistled. The other did not even give a rats ass as to what's going on.

As we continued we passed the yard where the trains were getting bathed. Now, you see those coaches are called Sleeper Class 3 tier. Meaning non airconditioned and triple bunk bed system. Apart from the train, you can also see clothes left out to dry. Not unusual! Dryers are not exactly a common commodity for the ordinary people. More pictures of the city side of Pune. Pune is now a upcoming city with lots of companies setting up shop as Bombay gets over crowded. Pune has always had the very colonial english charm combined with refined people, a strong cultural identity. It is also the home for the NDA or National Defence Academy. I can compare this to the Annapolis or Sandhurst Academy. This is where our cream of armed forces are trained right after thier A levels. Its a tough entrance exam which also includes physical abilities. After 2 years of NDA, you would branch out to the appropriate service like Army, Navy, Air Force.

The long distance trains are quite lengthy. This train had 18 coaches and one engine pulling it. These next pictures will show the train taking a lazy curve at 50 KMPH. We were actually slowing down for track works just ahead. And hence you will find some people near the tracks.

From this picture you can make out that the train indeed is quite lenghty. There are other pictures in this journey which would show the length of these trains. In Singapore our MRT contain 6 coaches. Now there are certain classification of trains in India that pull 24 coaches. Each coach is slightly longer than the ones made in Singapore. So if you are in a station, the platform is built to accomodate 24 coaches. Can you imagine the size of just one platform. Bombay has 24 platforms lined up parallel to each other. Go do the math on the size of the station.

Journey From Hyderabad to Bombay - Part 1

2006-01-02T12:25:00.000+08:00

Travelling in India is an experience that can be both good, bad or even downright painful. But most of the time its a fun experience. India has one of the largest networks of rail system in the world and it is backbone of long distance travels. It is still today the cheapest mode of transport for the common man! Although with the advent of low cost carriers the upper class travellers (First Class, AC Two/Three Tier) are now using planes. But then this is a very small percentage of the population. For a common man, to travel from Hyderabad to Bombay by second class sleeper compartment would be around Rs. 300 (or less) which is 10 SGD. The distance is 790 KM and takes 17 hours. Not because the train is slow. Its because there are many stops in between and also a wonderful stretch of mountain pass just before Bombay.

My journey started from Hyderbad railway station. I boarded 10 minutes before departure. The train aptly labelled Mumbai Express N0 7032 Down left Hyderbad station at 8:40 PM. I had a seat in the AC Three tier compartment. The train has 17 compartments and a diesel engine pulling it. From Hyderabad to Pune, its diesel powered. From Pune to Bombay its electric powered. So there is a change of engine at Pune. The next few pictures show the train approaching Pune Junction. As you can see the electrical wires or Overhead Transmission cables but the engine lugging my train is still diesel.

Indian railway stations are a hub of activity. And you get the local food depending on which part of the country the station is located. The busier the stations the frenzier the action. Believe me when I say that train stations are a source of immense fascination. They are not exactly like Singapore stations. Clean, neat etc. Here, its more of managed chaos. But damn! what a great chaos. You will have vendors selling so much type of food and drinks, that you will want to eat ALL of them. You can see from the picture the hustle bustle of activity. Over the years the train livery colours have changed. Now they seem to prefer this ugly blue on blue color which sometimes makes me wonder how much money was wasted to pick this. You can see the train name in three languages. Typically, it will be in Hindi, English and third language is either the originating station language of destination.

What do I eat at home on a typical day?

2005-11-25T16:29:00.000+08:00

Most often I have referred to the fact that the Indian cuisine available in Singapore is not really up to the par. There is more to food than the North Indian and South Indian. For instance, dosai (not Thosai), Idli, Wada are had for breakfast along with a cup of filter coffee, never instant. Its always in steel tumblers (cups) and piping hot. Every state has its own unique cuisine which do not any similarity. Predominantly southern states are more vegetarian than the north. South is more rice eaters whereas north are more wheat and meat eaters (chappathi). Its not a rule but more of an observation. Due to heavy migrant population, these statistics have a way of changing every 20 years or so.

I am a South Indian. My food at home is always strictly vegetarian. Not vegan, not some funny terms used but simply vegetarian. No eggs and no meat. We use lots of ghee, spices, and so many different types of vegetables, it boggles ones mind. Every meal is classified as a rice with one gravy with vegetables, then rice with yoghurt. Hyderabadi cuisine is unique. It has its own version of meat eaters who are not muslims. The muslims make it different. If you would like to sample some of the Andhra (the parent state of Hyderabad) then visit Andhra Curry in Little India. Make sure you take a tissue because the food is so fucking spicy, that your eyeballs may just pop off and roll on the floor.

So what do we eat at home? You have the usual daily food and you have wedding feast. I attended a wedding feast (two: one in Hyderabad and another is Mumbai). A banana leaf with 5 vegetable curries, 3 spicy pickles, 3 sweet condiment dishes, tons of rice and 2 gravy to mix the rice with and yoghurt. Of course, we have the sweet dish called “paaysam” which is milk thickened naturally over high heat, lots of sugar, rice, saffron, cashew nuts. Intensive Care! Hold the bed!

The picture on the left is a bottle of GHEE. Ghee is melted butter/cream. Pure ghee is made by taking the cream layer from boiled milk and dumping it in a frying pan to melt it until it comes while liquid. Forget dieting! This is the most tasty companion for any dish. This is poured on rice and then the vegetable gravy poured on top. Mix it and HEAVEN!

The dish on the right is the vegetable gravy. Contains some vegetables, lentils, coriander leaves, fried cumin seeds (fried in ghee, of course).

There are many types of gravies. They have lentils as their base. Some have yoghurt as their base. There has always been a rule. If you are using yoghurt as your base, then ghee is never used. Traditionally, it is said that ghee and yoghurt at the same time can cause stomach upsets. Well, I am not the one to break the tradition.

The next item is a simple fried vegetable as an accompanyment for the rice and gravy along with the ever popular papadam (not poppadom). Finally you will have rice and yoghurt mixed with a selection of pickles (big mango, small mango, lime, chillies, mixed vegetables etc.) Pick one and mix up and enjoy.

This is what a typical simple home made food looks like. No wonder with all the ghee we are heading towards tipping the scales. We dont tend to think of ourselves as organic creatures barreling towards oblivion. At least we get to eat well and tumble into oblivion.

If anyone is keen on a food trip to Andhra Curry, you know where to find me.

First evening in Hyderabad

2005-11-24T16:53:00.000+08:00

The city of Hyderabad is 560 KM from Bangalore. It’s on a plateau called the Deccan Plateau. Formerly a colony of the Nizam of Hyderabad prior to independence, it was annexed to the Republic of India after independence. The city is more than 400 years old and has some of the most intricate Islam architecture with mosques, tombs etc. spread in and around the city.

Hyderabad is a twin city. Its twin being Secunderabad. They are separated by a lake known as the Hussain Sagar Lake. I live on the Hyderabad side of the lake. Usually it does not make much of a difference except traditionally snoot heads tend to come from Secunderabad (or at lease used to be the case many years ago). Its an unusually mixed city. A mix of modern fly overs and bullock carts on the street. Subsequent posts will tell you more on what I am talking about. Smaller than Bombay, but far nicer in terms of quality of life due to a more slower rate of growth although at the rate its going it may become another Bombay in a few years. Bad traffic, bad roads! But at least great people and great food.

The airport is also located bang in the middle of the city. Today Hyderabad is a bustling metropolis of close to 5 million residents. Information Technology has boomed and lots of jobs are being created in that sector. Hyderabad is very famous for its Biryani. Note its spelt as BIRYANI or BRIYANI or BIRAYANI or some other lame ass way. There are only two types. Lamb/Mutton or Chicken. Its made on coal fire. Its made in pots for community cooking because that's how the muslims eat and it tasks like heaven on earth. That's 4 kilos of excess weight talking.

10 Downing Street

The same evening when I landed my brother-in-law, my sister, cousin and wife decided to hit the town. We went to a very popular pub called 10 Downing Street. Now, get this! Unlike Singapore, pubs in India are very selective in allowing stags (single guys) into a pub. Unlike Singapore where the national ratio of women to men is approximately 2:1, in India its more like 1:1000 or even higher. Hence, arguments, fights are pretty much common over women. Trust me! I know how it used to be. I am sure that is still the same. Guys are still hot heads.

Of course, in a popular joint like 10DS it is a rarity and the bouncers are quite good to yank the fellows away. But then it is also not unusual to see a huge clump of guys dancing on their own because no one finds it odd or unusual.

Pubs like 10DS close at 1:00 AM (12:30 is the last call). Then depending on how much you have greased the local cops, you can open your establishment. And hence Outswinger. It’s a pub with a cricket theme. Waiters dressed in cricket outfits, bartenders like umpires, photographs of cricket legends, paraphernalia etc. It also has a restaurant which is very popular for the 3:00 AM crowd (think Boon Tong Kee chicken rice or Bencoolen roti prata).
It was a very nice night as I met a few more people I had not seen in years. In the end it all worked out fine and I had my first hangover the next day which was a Sunday.

The crowd was very different from what I have seen before. Lots of expatriates now that many multi nationals are setup in the city. Lots of people of dance floor when it was really tough to get people on the floor. Some things never change. For e.g. the service which is top notch. It does not matter if you go to a small hole in the wall wine shop or snack joint or go to a fancy restaurant. They will treat you with respect because you are the customer and hence the king. In pubs, they will not pre-mix drinks for you. When you order rum and coke. You get rum and a small carafe with coke. And a separate ice box. The waiter will ask you how many ice cubes you need and then pour the coke till you say stop. This is done for every drink every time and for everyone. And typically people buy bottles to save the hassle of getting 30 ml and 60 ml drinks every time you need a refill. You will always the waiters hovering around you for assistance. You truly feel like a king. And despite being packed out its brains, you still get the same service. Make sure you tip them well every time because they will not just remember you, but your drinks, likes and dislikes. These pictures were taken at 10DS and it was certainly a fun night. Lots of alcohol, loud music, good DJ and excellent company. Not a bad start for my holidays. And to think I was meant to go for peace and tranquility. I got those too towards the end of my holiday.

So back to Outswinger. We went there met some more people drank some more rum and then went to eat. For some reason during my entire trip in India I was having rum. The most popular rum is the Old Monk XXX. Yep! That's what it is called. In college, we used to buy a 250 Ml bottle with 2 Thumbs Up (Coke was banned from 1977 to 1997), mix them in the bottle and drink like a soft drink. Handy trick to avoid hanging on to a rum bottle. Lots of Bollywood music (Hindi and Telegu music) by the DJ's kept the crowd happy as campers. That was just the first night in Hyderabad.

Family!

2005-10-31T18:43:00.000+08:00

So finally, I landed and began making notes (mental) of what all I did and am meant to do. First on my agenda was FOOD. I mean real lip smacking, tasty food which is very localized and is not exported.

I landed at 4:00 PM local Hyderabad time directly from Singapore. I was collected at the airport by my brother in law. My sister came from work (she works Saturdays). And it was just an impromptu suggestion to hit the town for the night with my cousin and his wife. So off we headed to a placed called "10 Downing Street". 10D as it is popularly known is a pub that has the in crowd coming for the weekends. This weekend it was a good crowd and we were fortunate to get a table (Although I suspect my brother in law used his strings to get the seating for us).

But first let me introduce my family.

This is my dad. My father is semi retired although he is supposed to be fully retired. Try telling that to my father. He likes travelling and he is the most social person. He makes the effort of keeping in touch with relatives, people, friends etc. He spends his time going to cultural events, organizing cultural events, doing some consulting work for the federation chamber of commerce. Hence keeping busy.

From left is my cousin's wife Sridevi, my cousin Raghu, my sister Ranjani and my brother-in-law Ajoy. They are all hard working, hard partying and the best family one could ever have. They are all in finance industry. Banks, Multinational and Insurance company.

Home for the Holidays

2005-10-25T12:40:00.000+08:00

After 10 months of working hard or hardly working, I finally got to take my holidays. And therefore, I am HOME! I am in Hyderabad. I left on October 22nd by a Indian Airlines flight that comes direct in 4 hours and 15 minutes. 20 minutes of immigration and customs, I find my brother in law waiting to pick me up. 20 more minutes later, I am REALLY HOME. I am here in the middle of the two most important festivals. The fasting month and deepavali. I will describe this in detail in the next posts.

The first thing I decided was to play tourist in the place where I grew up. Oddly enough, I realize that there are so many things that have changed. The next few postings will be the memories and images of Hyderabad and Bombay.

When I left, I had promised to be careful in watching what I eat and ensure I dont balloon up with the food here. The promise disappeared the same evening.

So keep an eye on the next posts for the culture, the food, the life and my holiday adventure.

Taipei!

2005-10-20T14:53:00.000+08:00

After my Manila trip, the same weekend I was off to Taipei. Like Manila, they drive on the wrong side of the road (thanks to the yanks!). First thing that hits you in Taipei. LEARN SIGN LANGUAGE! because very few people actually speak English. The taxi guys! oh! boy! you may very well be speaking klingon and its still the same.

The icon in Taipei is the Taipei 101 Financial Center. Known to mankind as the tallest building in the world today. It looks quite awesome during the day but during night, its quite a sight. I met some English dudes at a pub and they told me that it is located at the outskirts of the city and it used to be a marshland. The whole area nearby has big shopping malls and couple of nice places to hang out. There are two really nice places to go to.

A pub called Tavern and a club called Room 18. Room 18 is a hip joint where lots of people come to be seen and to see. Of course, I was the "to be seen" since I was the only chocolate coloured dude out there with couple of friends I met earlier at dinner. It was happening. Finally, I saw some really hot looking babes. But sadly all of them need LOTS OF INDIAN FOOD because damn! they are skinny as hell.

I must say this. Unfortunately, I could not spot many a cute looking girls around. They are all nice but no one struck out where I had to turn my head. I did a mental diagnostics to see if any of my systems were malfunctioning. I realised after living in Singapore for such a long time I have come to admire the beauty in asian women. Even though I come from a land where beauty is defined everyday, it still takes some time to get used to it. Sounds stupid! I dont think so. You have to been in my shoes to empathise with that. Anyways, it was with much disappointment that I did not spot many pretty babes. Just a few here and there. I mean if I go down to Raffles place for lunch, its a parade of pulchritude of women! phew! down boy down is the reaction.

Sadly, I did not venture to eat of the local food for the fear of unknown. So I wisely stuck to eating western meals (Salads, sandwiches etc.). But one evening we did venture to a Shanghai restaurant which served great food. I just ate and did not ask unless I was told what it was. One of the things I liked about Taipei and surroundings were the expanse of space, the width of the expressways (or freeways as they call them).
One afternoon I travelled for quite a distance which spanned multiple tunnels on the freeways and the view was fantastic. Houses nestled on hillsides. Reminded me of Lonavala near Bombay where houses are on hillsides and hills. From a location perspective, Taipei is unique. I was speaking to the VP of the company I was visiting and he said that he lives on a hillside house that he had built many years ago. There is a trekking patch which takes to the top of the hill. And there is a lake somewhere near by where they allow swimming. Wow! imagine swimming in MacRitchie.

The most amazing thing I found was that Taiwanese practise the art of "Siesta". Yes, my friends! During lunch time, the lights are switched off and people doze off. 20 minutes for lunch and a 30 minute nap. Heck! one place I went for a meeting, I walked in at 1:30 to setup the presentation in the conference room. There were people who had lined up chairs, and had blankets and pillows. Holy Crap! And this was everywhere I went. I am a big subscriber to the siesta practise. A power nap of 20 minutes does give you the recharge of batteries that you need. As long as you dont start snoring.

In many ways, I was able to compare Taipei to India. There are tons of 2 wheelers especially scooters. That is also a major mode of transportation in India. Tons of street food which is like Bombay. Chaotic traffic which is also like any major indian metropolis.

One Week In Manila

2005-10-20T14:30:00.000+08:00

Its been exactly a month since my last posting and I do have a good reason. I was travelling and was preparing for my travels. Although my job does require me to travel, it sometimes intrudes in somethings that you feel like doing. Like taking a girl out for dinner, or hang out with friends. But then the wisdom of the age is "No work, no pay, no play". Therefore, you have no choice but to endure the trails and tribulations of working.

I have been to Manila on a fairly regular basis. Its such a contrasting place. The people are warm, and friendly. The girls are gorgeous and friendly. The service at restaurants are superb and the best part! A beer in a fancy joint is just 6 SGD. And a regular place! I can get 3 beers for 10 dollars and this not even happy hour.

Filipino food is very unusual. They are rice eaters. But they have lots of sea food in the cuisine. Not for me, as I am extremely allergic to shell fish. But some of the fish dishes looked and smelt great. Imagine to my surprise, I found an Indian restuarant that was so good, that I dont think I could find a match in Singapore. Honest to god! I am not joking. I was wandering around Greenbelt and I came across this restaurant called Bollywood. Ok! My mind into a series of curses generally berating mankind for making a mockery of Bollywood. Do you know that the people in the Bollywood hate to be called that? But then who the fuck cares! right! RIGHT!

So back to Bollywood restaurant. I walk in to blazing plasma TV's with Indian MTV songs and dances. The staff dressed up in traditional indian kurta and salwar's. With a sing-song "namaste" in their filipino accent. I proceeded to get a seat right in front of the plasma TV with hindi songs. The channel was the MTV Indian broadcast feed. The patrons of the restaurant! I was the only Indian there. HA!HA!HA! I know it cracked me up too. There was a huge contigent of Japanese girls (tourists). Some koreans, lots of local filipinos, a few ang-moh's scattered around. Bottom line! I was the only Indian out there.

I kept my dinner simple. naans, chiken tikka, paneer (cottage cheese) masala. I swear to god. The chicken was tender and the right DONE factor for a chicken tikka and the paneer. Instant flashback to Bombay! Same taste and texture. A very thoroughly enjoyable meal. A must go for anyone who goes there.

I found that they actually make menus catering for atkin's diet. WOW! I found sections on the steak or beef with a comment (can prepare for Atkins type 2 or 1). No wonder the babes look pretty good there.

Cafe Havana in Greenbelt always reminds of Brannigan's (the place before Brix). Great band, great atmosphere, and a major pickup joint. 2 out of 3 is perfectly acceptable in my books. If you are a whiskey & wine drinker, then I strongly recommend the Kipling's bar at the Mandarin Oriental. They have the best cigar and wine collection. But its their single malts that take the top spot. You can get a 1812 single malt which is like 50 SGD for a snifter. Phew! but worth it as it will last you for a while.

Vamana - The 5th Incarnation (Final Part)

2005-09-20T14:47:00.000+08:00

HERMITAGE OF ADITI AND KASHYAPA

Dispossessed of his heavenly kingdom, Indra came to the hermitage of Aditi Devi situated at the bottom of the Meru Mountain. Aditi was the mother of Indra. Aditi took pity on her children. Kashyapa, the father of the Devas, was also moved by their condition. All of them together came to Brahma. Brahma said, “Devas, worship Vishnu. Let Kashyapa and Aditi also worship Vishnu and please Vishnu by their tapas and pray to Vishnu that he is born as their son. Only Vishnu can vanquish Bali and bless you.”

Kashyapa and Aditi went to perform tapas to please Vishnu. Aditi’s tapas were extraordinary. Lord Narayana appeared before her and said, “Mother of the Devas, I shall grant your request. Ask what you want.” Aditi said, “O Lord of Gods, there is nothing that you do not know. The Danavas have occupied the kingdom of my son Indra with the help of Bali. They have taken away all the powers from my children. You gave my son Indra his position as the Lord of the Devas. I grieve that my children have lost their kingdom and power. But I grieve more because the Danavas have transgressed your law and have been behaving with pride and insolence. It pains me to see that you too are doing nothing to set matters right. You should be born as my son and defeat Bali. Go to the assistance of the defeated Devas and help restore the heavenly kingdom to the Devas.”

Vishnu said, “What you ask is right and proper. But Bali is righteous and truthful. We fought against his wicked predecessors in war and used force to defeat them. It is not possible to do so with Bali. Therefore we have to use some indirect method. I shall take my birth as Vamana and your son.” This comforted Aditi. The Devas were satisfied now and bided time engaged in tapas.

Years had rolled after Bali started performing the ‘Ashwamedha’ horse sacrifices. Ninety-nine sacrifices had been successfully completed one after another. They were preparing for the hundredth sacrifice, which they had planned on a grand scale. On completion of this sacrifice Bali would earn the merit to be permanently installed as Indra. The Danavas who were righteous in the beginning had become vain and insolent. They threatened people who were still worshipping Devas, saying, “Our king Bali is now Indra. We Danavas are the rulers and lords over the three worlds. None need worship Devas now.”

There were unexpected calamities on the earth now. There were earthquakes at some places. At some other places rivers overflowed and swept away villages. At yet other places fires broke out and caused great damage. Unable to understand why such things took place, Bali came to Prahlada and asked, “What is the cause for these eruptions and calamities? Are they caused by the magical powers of the Devas ?”.

Prahlada who was a devotee of Vishnu was capable of seeing into the past and future with his divine wisdom. He entered into a deep trance and understood the cause of it all. He said, “Vishnu has taken birth in the world in order to defeat and humble the insolent Danavas who are drunk with power. These calamities betoken greater calamities awaiting the Danavas.” Hearing these words, Bali became angry. With blood-shot eyes he turned to Prahlada and said, “Are we to be afraid of the Devas? Each warrior among us is capable of carrying the whole earth on his shoulders. When that is our strength, what can one Vishnu do to us?”.

Prahlada also became angry and chastised Bali thus, “You fool, you are too bold to speak ill of Sri Hari, the eternal lawgiver and protector. You have spoken thus knowing well that I am a devotee of Sri Hari. Very soon you will lose your kingdom and will be banished from earth.”

King Bali realized his error. in fact Bali was not an enemy of Sri Hari. He had lost control over his tongue on account of his pride of valor. Regretting his conduct, he became humble. Tears of sorrow appeared in his eyes and he was unable to speak. He fell at the feet of Prahlada and begging forgiveness he said, “Be kind and merciful. You have rightly cursed me for my insolent words. I do not feel sorry if I lose my kingdom. I may get it back some how. But where can I get a guru like you? I am more in sorrow because my speech has hurt your feelings.”

Prahlada was moved to pity. He lifted his grandson and said, “Child, I spoke in anger and cursed you. Who can avoid Fate? Do not regret. Place full faith in Sri Hari and complete the Ashwamedha sacrifice. Let your fame be eternal.”

ASHWAMEDA YAGA - THE SACRIFICE HALL

In Bali’s extensive hall of sacrifice, there were the recitation of Vedas, and the auspicious sounds of music of the instruments. Shukracharya was officiating as the head-priest at the hundredth horse sacrifice. The saints, Gandharvas and the subjects from the three worlds had come in large numbers to witness the sacrifice. At one place there were heaps of pearls and precious stones from which gifts were given. At another place cows and jewelry were distributed as gifts.
Adorned with clothes made of goldthread, Bali sat with his wife Vindhyavali before the holy fire and performed the rituals. Shukracharya approached Bali and whispered, “O Bali, It is time now to complete the sacrifice. You have to be very careful now. Who can guess the deceitful ways of the Devas? They may send Vishnu to this hall of sacrifice.” Bali said, “O preceptor, is that so? Then advise me how I should conduct myself if Vishnu himself comes here.” Shukracharya said, “Listen, this is my advice, O Bali. If Vishnu comes and asks for any gift, deny it cleverly. Plead your inability to give anything to the Almighty and All-powerful and send him away.”
Bali was not pleased with this advice and did not heed him since he had vowed to give charity.

Even as they were talking thus, the hall of sacrifice filled with murmurs of ‘Make way, make way.’ Every one moved aside and made way for the new guest. Bali and his queen stood up eagerly and looked towards the entrance gate.

AN ASCETIC ARRIVING A THE RITUAL PLACE

A little ascetic of about eight years was making his way towards them. His face was shining with a smile. He held an umbrella over his head. A plait of hair was hanging at the back of his head. He wore the sacred thread on his bare body the lower part of which was covered with cloth made of fiber. His hands held the staff of an ascetic and a water jug. There was deerskin under his armpit. He wore the mark of sandal wood paste on his forehead. It looked as though he had combined all branches of knowledge in his young body. He was taking his steps towards Bali.

The young ascetic addressed Bali and said, “O King Bali, let auspicious things happen to you.” Bali, his queen Vindhyavali, their son Bana and the rest were struck with wonder and went on admiring his stature for a time. The young ascetic continued speaking and said, “King of the Daityas, this is a splendid sacrifice. I can judge what a righteous man you are from the flames rising to the skies from the place of sacrifice; from the kind of eatables served to people at this festivity; from the gifts of pearls and precious stones given in charity; from lakhs and lakhs of admiring subjects who have gathered here out of love and from the chanting of the Vedas. You must give me a gift suitable to this superb sacrifice.”

Bali felt elated and proud. He turned to his queen and said,”Vindhyavali, how pleasant and meaningful are the words of this little ascetic ! We are indeed fortunate to set our eyes on this jewel of learning. Bring holy water in a golden jug. Let us wash his feet and earn merit.” Vindhyavali brought a jug full of water. Bali and his queen washed the feet of the young ascetic, offered flowers and sandalwood paste and worshipped him. Then Bali made him sit on a precious seat and spoke to him, “Great man, though you are young and short, your learning has made you shine above all others. Who are you? Your handsome body is a feast to the eyes. Your words are sweet like honey. What can I do for you? What can I give you? Ask whatever you desire or everything that I have. I shall give anything that you ask.”

VAMANA ASKING FOR THREE PACES OF LAND

The young ascetic said “O king of Danavas I came here to ask you for a gift only because I know you will give all I ask, as you are the lord of the three worlds. I am the son of Kashyapa and my name is Vamanamurthy. I am a bachelor and so I do not need either kingdom or wealth. I have been just initiated into the knowledge of Brahman and started wearing the sacred thread. I am yet to give my gurudakshina to my preceptor.” Vamana continued, “My preceptor Bharadwaja needs a few paces of land to perform the religious rites of ‘Agnihotra’. Therefore I ask you to give me only three paces of land to be measured by my feet. That will satisfy me.”Bali burst with laughter on hearing Vamana’s request. He said, “One who asks me for anything should not feel the need to ask for gifts from any one else later. Even if you ask for one of the kingdoms under my authority, I shall grant it. I feel ashamed to give you this little bit of land. What do you gain from this? At least ask for more land.”

Vamanamurthy said, “O king, my work will be fulfilled with the grant of my request. Therefore make me the gift of the three paces of land that I ask.” Bali replied, ‘Well, let me fulfil your desire. Wait till I bring the golden jug containing water from the hermitage” and went inside the hermitage. At once Shukracharya followed Bali into the hermitage and said, ‘What is this foolishness, O king? Without consulting any one you have promised to give charity to the young ascetic. Do you know who this boy really is ? He is the friend of the Devas. It is Vishnu in the form of Vamana who has come here as your enemy !”

Bali said calmly, “Is that so, gurudeva? Has Narayana, to please whom saints and wise men perform austerities for years, come on his own, to ask for charity from me? Has he become Vamana only to take gift from me? I am indeed fortunate that Narayana has come to my place to take a gift from me. This could only be due to the merit earned by me in my previous life.”
But Shukracharya said, “King Bali, you feel proud only because of your ignorance. At least now, be wise and take my advice. It is not a sin to go back on one’s word in self-defense. So do not give what he asks. If you do not take my advice, it will bring about the ruin of yourself and the Danavas. As soon as he takes the gift from you, Sri Hari will undo you just as he undid Hiranyakashipu.”

Bali replied, “Gurudeva, charity given regardless of the hardships is the best. If Sri Hari asks, I am prepared to give even my head. Can there be greater glory for me than giving when Sri Hari’s hand is spread out to receive the gift? Please do not stop me from giving.” Having spoken thus, Bali walked straight to Vamana with the golden jug full of water. He addressed Vamanamurthy and said, “Devadeva, I am ready to give; extend your hand and receive it.” Vamana stretched his hands under the hand of Bali. Bali placed his hand with tulasi leaves upon Vamana’s hands, while Vindhyavali poured water from the golden jug as the priest’s chanted verses symbolic of the act of giving.

At once the heavenly drums began to sound from all directions of the earth. Heavens rained petals of flowers on Bali and Vamana. Vamanamurthy was not short now. He grew from height to height. People wondered at the sudden growth. Vamana smilingly measured from his first foot all the empire of Bali on earth and the under-world. He then measured Bali’s empire in Heaven with his second step and asked Bali where he should take his third measure.

Danavas who witnessed this could not be silent spectators. They had aspired to occupy the other worlds and rule them under the over lordship of Bali. They became mad with anger. With uplifted weapons they came to attack Vamana. There were frightening sounds everywhere. Bali who stood with folded hands stopped them and said, “Danavas, get back, Vamana is Vishnu, Lord of the World. You defeated Devas once with His blessing. He is now with Devas. Therefore it is natural that they should win against you.” Hearing these words, Danavas stepped back.

BANASURA PLEADING FOR HIS FATHER

Banasura became unhappy seeing his father’s condition. He addressed Vamanamurthy and said, “Lord of the World, my father gave you what you asked in charity. He has not offended you in any way. You asked for three paces of land in the guise of a short ascetic. Is it fair for you to measure the land with your extra-ordinary feet now? My father has given away the whole of his empire to you. What is left with him now to give you further? You who should have been impartial, have taken sides with the Devas and have done injustice to us.” Vamana replied, “Banasura, it is I who received the gift and I have measured the land only with my feet and not with any one else’s. Hear my argument against your charge of my partiality to Devas. I gave Shaker, the husband of Shachidevi, the status and power of Indra and arranged for proper functioning of the system of worlds. Bali had to be punished for removing Indra from his position before the expiry of his tenure.”

Then Vamana turned to Bali and said, “O King Bali, this is only a test of your vow to give charity. You did not hesitate to give what I asked even in the middle of your difficulties. You never regretted your charity even though I claimed all your empire. You never felt unhappy when you were bound to your vow. You did not feel sorry even though your kith and kin deserted you. Though Shukracharya cursed you, you did not give up your truthfulness. Who has your patience? You have earned a higher place than the Devas by your fame. Be immortal. Now ask me for any boon that you want.”

VAMANA PLACING THE FINAL STEP ON THE HEAD OF BALI

Bali said, “O Lord of the World, I am not pained at being defeated by you. The pride of insolence is bad. You have taught Danavas swollen with insolence a good lesson. I can tolerate all this but not the disgrace of having to eat my words as one, who could not fulfill his vow to give charity. Please place your third step on my head and be pleased to accept it in fulfillment of my promised gift.” Vamana agreed to Bali’s request. Having received Sri Hari’s foot on his head, Bali was discharged of his debt. People who witnessed this shouted, “King of devotees, soldier of charity, emperor Bali, honored the world.” Tears of joy flowed down their eyes.
Vamana gave the three worlds he had received as gift to Indra. The Devas praised Vamana in their happiness and Bali for his charity. Vamana addressed Bali in the presence of all and said, “Danavendra, I give you the Kingdom of Sutala in the underworld. I shall give you one more boon. I shall protect your fort as Janardana and keep watch over your fort and defeat your enemies. You may ask one more boon.” Bali said, “O Lord, as the protector of my fort you have given me the privilege of seeing you every day. For such a privilege even Rudra, Brahma and Lakshmi are not entitled. What else is there for me to ask? But since you want me to ask for a boon, I do so. Though I go to Sutala in the underworld, I cannot forget the subjects of my erstwhile kingdom on earth. Therefore let me be blessed to see the happiness of my subjects at least once a year.” Vamana granted his request and said, “The auspicious day on which you gave me charity will be celebrated as a festival on earth every year in future. On that day the whole earth will be the kingdom of Bali. People will worship you during day and light lamps at night as a symbol of their ideals and joy.”

Having spoken thus, Vamana departed with Brahma. Pious Bali went to Sutala along with Prahalad and other kith and kin. He constructed a beautiful temple there for Janardana. Sri Hari took his stand as Janardana, as the guardian and protector of Bali’s fort and palace.
The pious king Bali pleased the Lord of the World by his act of charity and became endeared to the world by that act and his kingdom on earth became a land of plenty on account of his charity. God was pleased by his act and became the guardian and protector of Bali’s palace.

The day on which Bali gave charity to Vamanamurthy fell on the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartika, the month during which the Festival of Lights is celebrated. The next day after the Festival of Lights, celebrated on the New Moon day in the month of Ashwayuja is called Balipadyami’. Hindus celebrate the day as a sacred festival. It is believed that gifts given on that day are dear to Bali and God. Men and women smear their bodies with oil and bathe, and wear new clothes on that day. In the central hall of every home, they draw beautiful figures with powder of rice in different colors and worship Bali and his wife Vindhyavali. They build seven forts out of clay or cow dung and worship king Bali. At night the thresholds of every home and temple are lighted with lamps in rows. Bali’s kingdom is remembered and people shout with joy, “Let the ideal kingdom of Bali dawn at the earliest on earth.”

My own birthstar in the Hindu calender is Kartika. When I am asked to present myself in a temple, I tell them my name, my star and gothra (I have not been able to translate the last word well).

Vamana - The 5th Incarnation (Part 1)

2005-09-07T10:39:00.000+08:00

The writing for this incarnation turned to be the hardest. Not just due to lack of time but the variations from what I learnt from my childhood and remember from what the books state. In the end, I used the law of averages. The winner was the depiction of this story that had some common denominators.

This incarnation is unique because it is represented by a dwarf. The incarnations of Vishnu has always been unique taking forms which do not conform to usual perceptions. Even the most perfect incarnation has its inherent flaws (as you would see in subsequent incarnations). The first four incarnations were all of animal forms. From this point onwards, all incarnations are human forms. The incarnation as a dwarf signifies one thing. It symbolizes the underdeveloped stage of mankind.

The fifth incarnation of Vishnu as a dwarf (Vamana) holding a water-pot in one hand and an umbrella in the other. He wears a ring of grass on his third finger and occasionally carries a book. He has long hair. He wears ear ornaments and covers his body with a deerskin or loincloth.

The Beginnings

After the death of Hiranyakashipu, the king of Danavas (Asuras), Prahalad became the king over the earthly kingdom. He had a son, Virochana. Devamba was the wife of Virochana. Bali was the son of Virochana and Devamba. Since Bali grew up as a child often playing on the lap of Prahalad, he was very loving and respectable towards his grandfather. Prahalad taught him all the virtues and made him an adept in the Vedas and the art of warfare. He became the foremost among the Danava warriors; and appropriate to the name ‘Bali’, he was the strongest among them. Bali married Vindhyavali, the daughter of a saint. Prahalad made him the crown Prince (‘Yuvaraja’). After he became the yuvaraja, Bali thought, “Devas have caused fright among the Danavas by constantly hating them and fighting them. I must earn merit and proficiency in all respects, equal to that of Devas. Then we can get rid of fear. To attain this I shall perform tapas (austerities) and win the blessings of Brahma.” He resolved to put his idea into action and went to forest to perform austerity.

Bali settled for his tapas at a suitable place in the forest where none lived. Till Brahma appeared before him, Bali gave up food and drink; neither did wind nor rain scare him. Pleased by Bali’s rigorous tapas, Brahma appeared before him. Bali pleaded thus: “O Lord, I do not ask anything for my personal benefit. But the Danavas have been rendered weak because of their fear of Devas. Grant me the boon of immortality and the strength of Indra.” Brahma granted his prayer. Armed with the gifts he got from Brahma, Bali returned to the capital.

BALI - THE ASURA KING

Soon after Bali returned from the forest after his tapas, which had given him great power, Prahalad wanted to install him as king. But Bali wanted his grandfather to rule over the world for some more time. But after a few years Prahalad convinced Bali to accept the responsibility of kingship. Bali however, agreed to this only on condition that his grandfather should stay in the capital. On the day of Bali’s coronation, many kings came to the capital with previous gifts. It was celebrated with grandeur and joy. The Gandharva, Yaksha, Siddha and Daitya kings gave Bali gifts and expressed their desire to have him as their friend.

Prahalad, Shukracharya (guru of the Asuras), Shambara and other elderly wise men helped Bali to improve the state of affairs in his empire by making necessary laws for the administration of the empire. Bali implemented the laws framed by his advisers to provide enough food and shelter and to give necessary facilities to ensure happiness of his subjects. The ascetics (rishis) who had gone to forests and mountains to practice austerities returned to their way of life and to perform sacrifices in hermitages without the fear of Danavas. Every one was able to devote him to the performance of religious rites without fear. Peace and plenty prevailed everywhere.

Bali traveled to the nooks and corners of his empire and saw for himself the happiness of his subjects. He was delighted to see green crops everywhere. Every one was heard saying, “Bali is righteous, truth loving, charitable. He is born on earth to make it a heaven.” There was no one who prayed to Devas (gods) for the grant of wealth and happiness. Happiness and peace were firmly established on the earth now. Having got rid of poverty, the subjects enjoyed life with happiness.

Meanwhile there was discussion in the court of Bali on earth. His ministers and generals as well as Danavas urged, “O king, all the earthly kingdoms are now ours. Indra cannot hope to match your valor and strength. We must defeat the Devas and annex their kingdom of heaven to our empire. Brahma has granted you immortality and lordship. This is the time to get the full benefit of the boons you have secured from Brahma.”At an auspicious moment decided by Shukracharya, the Danava army got ready to invade heaven. The war trumpets and drums frightened Amaravati, Capital of Heaven.
Indra met his foes boldly riding his white elephant Airavat, marching at the head of the united Devas army. Aditya, Varuna, Kubera, Yama and other Devas fought for many days against Bali and his army. But they began to flee from the battlefield one by one unable to face Bali. Having been wounded by Bali’s arms, Indra ran for his life and sought the advice of Brihaspati, his preceptor.

Brihaspati told Indra, “Devendra, it is futile to fight Bali. You cannot defeat him. Justice righteousness and truthfulness have made him resplendent and invincible. Therefore it is better that you go underground for some time.” Accordingly Indra and the other Devas left Heaven. After establishing victory over Heaven, the Danavas installed Bali on the heavenly throne as Daityendra and celebrated the occasion as a coronation. Bali appointed his own men in place of the guardian angels of the eight directions, the Sun, the Moon and other positions to represent him in heaven, and returned to his capital on the earth.

The next day Shukracharya said to Bali, “O king of the Danavas, the Heaven also is yours now because of your twin virtues of charity and valor. Since the Under-world is also under your sway, the three worlds, the Earth, the Under-world and the Heaven are yours. But you have appointed Danavas in place of Devas. You have taken away their powers who enjoyed the power to rule over all these worlds which the Creator Brahma and Vishnu the Protector had given them. They may not take it lying low. They are sure to take revenge. If you desire to retain this over-lordship of the three worlds permanently you should perform one hundred ‘Ashwamedhas’ (horse sacrifices). Get ready to perform them from today.”

Bhrugukachha situated to the north of Narmada was selected as the site for the performance of the sacrifices. A large open area in the grounds of the hermitage was chosen as the place to keep the sacred fire burning. Bali took the vow of sacrifice along with his queen Vindhyavali.

Narasimha - The 4th Avatar

2005-08-16T15:54:00.000+08:00

Narasimha, the fourth incarnation of god Vishnu, is half-lion half-human and provides a very fascinating study of Vishnu’s incarnation in order to alleviate the sufferings of devotees.
Among descendants of Daksha, the first man that Brahma created, there was one Kashyap, a sage, who had four wives, Diti, Aditi, Vinita and Kudroo. Diti gave birth to demons and from Aditi were born gods, while from Vinita was born Garud, the carrier of Vishnu and the last one Kudroo created the hydras.
Out of the demons born of Diti, two were with terrific powers. These two brothers were named Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu. Both of them performed so many religious practices and austerities that in course of time they gained limitless powers. Hirayanyaksha proud with his powers attacked Vishnu who was in his Varaha form and was killed. Talk of being an arrogant prick!

HIRANYAKASHIPU - THE ASURA KING

At the death of Hiranyaksha his wife Vrishadbhanu and her children were overpowered with grief. His mother Dithidevi was heart-broken. Hiranyakashipu also was filled with sorrow. But he tried to console the others. He said, "everyone has to die. So do not weep. My brother fought and died like a hero. So why weep for his death?". Although Hiranyakashipu tried to console others his sorrow burnt his own heart like fire. Even, before this, Hiranyakashipu hated Vishnu. Now Vishnu’s very name was like poison to him. His blood was boiling with the hatred of Vishnu.

HIRANYAKASHIPU’S PENANCE

He called the generals of his army Illyala, Namuchi and others. He said, ‘Give the devotees of Vishnu as much trouble as you can.’ They burnt the cities; razed temples to the ground and destroyed the crops.

Hiranyakashipu King of the Rakshasas retired to the mountain Mandara and began Tapas (meditation and not spanish snacks). He stood on the toe so as to throw the whole weight of the body on it, held the arms raised straight and the eyes looking up at the sky. Thus he offered a severe prayer. Many years passed. But he did not move even an inch. Flame rose from his body and enveloped the entire universe. Rivers and oceans boiled. The earth shook. Fire spread on all sides. The very gods were filled with fear. They went to Satyaloka and prayed to Brahma to save them. Brahma appeared to Hiranyakashipu and said, ‘Hiranyakashipu, arise. I am pleased with your devotion. I never saw before such a severe meditation. Ask for whatever you desire.’

BRAHMA GRANTING THE BOON TO HIRANYAKASHIPU

Brahma sprinkled holy water over the body of the king. At once it shone like gold. Tears of gratitude filled with his eyes. He was so full of joy that at first he could not speak. Then he spoke with much effort, ‘Lord, you bestow light on the dark world; you are the creator of all, the protector of all, and, finally, you are the destroyer of all. You are all powerful; you know everything. You are free from defects. No god is easily moved like you to take pity on his devotees and to grant them boons. I bow to you humbly.’ Brahma was pleased with his devotion. He said ‘Why have you undertaken such a severe Tapas’. Hiranyakashipu replied, “Great Lord, if you will grant my prayer, this is what I seek: Let not death come to me from any creature created by you; let me not meet with death either in the house or outside it; let not my death occur either during the day or at night; no weapon should cause my death; I should not die either on land or in the sky.” Note that this king was asking immortality but in a different form. The trinity cannot grant outright immortality to a mortal. Upsets the balance of proportion, I guess. You wonder why even grant a wish to an evil man.

After this blessing the demon crossed all bounds in oppression and dethroned Indra, the king of heavens. Indra in the company of all the gods appeared before Brahma and prayed for deliverance. Brahma was very much worried and replied that the demon had become powerful due to the blessings bestowed by him and he could not destroy him. He also advised Indra to go to Vishnu, which they did. The gods went to Vishnu and retold their story of sufferings and said that due to boons given by Brahma the demon had been indulging in all sorts of oppression. Vishnu promised to destroy him in due course of time.

Hiranyakashipu had a son named Prahalad. This boy right from his very childhood was attracted towards Vishnu and other gods. Prahalad had not obeyed the orders of his father not to worship Vishnu.
His father tried to destroy his son in fits of anger; tying a stone to Prahalad’s body he was thrown in the river but Vishnu himself came and stopped him from drowning and dying. Hiranyakashipu later tried to get Prahalad trampled under the feet of an elephant but the elephant lifted Prahalad lovingly by the help of his trunk and put him on its back. He then built a house and putting Prahalad into it set the same to fire; even this could not harm Prahalad. The father even tried to poison the son but to no avail.

At last the king thundered at the boy, “You curse of the family! Have you not yet given up your evil thoughts? The three worlds tremble at my glance. But you, my son, how did you dare to disobey me? You are very young; some one must have misled you and encouraged you. Otherwise you would not have had such evil ideas and such courage. Speak the true who has shown you such an evil path.”

The earth shook as the king roared at the boy. But Prahalada calmly replied, “Dear father, it was Hari who gave me this courage. He is stronger than any one else. You and I, the universe, even Brahma is as nothing before his strength. He is the real Lord of the Universe.”

NARASIMHA - THE MAN-LION BURSTING OUT OF THE
PILLAR
All the gods were under the thumb of the mighty Hiranyakasipu; and here was a mere boy of five giving him advice. The king of the Rakshasas was mad with anger. He shouted in rage: “Unlucky fool, your death is near. I am the Lord of all the worlds, the only master. Is there another ? Where is he? Show him to me.” “He is everywhere,” young Prahlada’s answer came without a moment’s delay. The king could no longer control himself through anger.
“Wicked fellow, is he everywhere? You mad boy, why should he not appear to me in this pillar? I am, going to kill you this very moment. You have been praising Hari as the Lord of the Universe. Let him come to your help if he can.” So saying he drew out his sword and pounced upon the little boy. Then there was a terrible deafening noise as if the universe itself split into two. Even the very brave Hiranyakashipu started from his place at the terrible noise. The courtiers shook with fear and stood like statues of stone. As the stunned men watched, the pillar split into two. There was Sri Hari, in the form of Narasimha. He had the head of a lion and the body of a man. The eyes of this terrible figure were dazzling they looked like molten gold. The hair on the head and the moustache and the beard stood straight and erect. The sharp and pointed jaws chattered harshly; the tongue quivered like a sword and was sharp as a dagger. His eyebrows were close knit. The ears were raised and stood erect. The mouth gaped like a mountain cave. The two nostrils looked like wells turned upside down. The body was huge and mountain - like. It seemed to touch the skies and to stop the very clouds. It had countless arms. The body was covered with white like silver. The very sight of the sharp claws made one tremble.

HIRANYAKASHIPU ATTACKING NARASIMHA

This terrible form split the pillar and came out. Hiranyakashipu’s courtiers had crowded the hall; but not one dared to look at him, not to speak of approaching him. And yet, Hiranyakashipu steadily looked him in the face. His was extraordinary courage. He understood what was going to happen. “Oh, this is Mahavishnu. This is the very god who killed my brother assuming the form of a wild pig. If I kill him all the gods will be helpless; they will be like the branches of a tree whose trunk has been cut and removed. Well, I shall test his strength.” So thinking he raised his mace and fell upon Narasimha. Without doubt, Hiranyakashipu was a man of extraordinary strength and courage. But what could he do against Lord Narasimha? He was like a little sparrow dashing against a mountain. That god of immense power seized the Rakshasa as easily as Garuda seizes a snake. But the Rakshasa slipped from his grip like a snake.

NARASIMHA LIFTING THE ASURA TO THE THRESHOLD AND TEARING HIS BODY WITH HIS NAILS

Narasimha caught him again like a snake seizing a mouse; with a loud roar he carried Hiranyakashipu to the threshold of the hall. He sat on the threshold with the Rakshasa in his lap. Then he dug his nails deep into his body and tore it open. He took out the entrails and wore them round his neck. Thus the wicked Asura was finally killed by the hands of the man-lion, Vishnu.
All this while the bodyguards and the other courtiers had stood speechless and motionless in paralyzing fear. But at the death of their king they sprang to action. In fierce rage, they fell on Narasimha in a body. But all were crushed into a lump of flesh in the winking of an eye.

After the enemies were all destroyed, Narahari (Vishnu) sat on the throne of the Rakshasa King, glaring at those around him. The gods showered flowers from heaven. The Gandharva sang divine music and the Apsaras, the dancers of heaven, danced in joy. All earth rejoiced. But the terrible anger of Narasimha did not diminish. Even Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu’s wife, was afraid to go near him. The little boy Prahalad touched the feet of Narasimha with his head, in deep devotion. At the tender touch of Prahalad the Lord was pleased. He grew calm. Anger gave way to kindness. Narasimha kissed the boy softly and raised him gently. The gods praised Vishnu’s ways. “Hiranyakashipu got boons from Lord Brahma; and Narasimha has respected all the promises. For it is now twilight, which is neither day nor night; the place is neither outside the house nor inside it, it is the threshold. Again he was killed neither on land nor in the sky, but on the lap of the god; he was killed neither by weapons nor by missiles but torn by nails; no one created by Brahma has killed him nor was he born in the wombs by ordinary course; it is Vishnu, in the form of Narasimha, who slew him. O wonder of wonders!” so they sang the praise of the Lord. Prahalad was in tears and asked Narasimha about the fate of his father in the after-life. Vishnu assured the devotee that as He, the Lord himself had killed the father; the latter would surely go to heaven. Vishnu also gave a blessing to Prahalad that now onwards none of his race would die by the hands of Vishnu.

Varaha - The Boar - 3rd Incarnation

2005-08-13T12:49:00.000+08:00

Varaha (the boar) is the third incarnation of Vishnu. Its images are divided into two main groups - those entirely in animal form and those having an animal’s head on a human body with four arms. As is with most of the Vishnu incarnations, two hands hold the wheel and the conch-shell and the other two may hold a sword, a mace or a lotus, or they may be in the protection and boon giving modes.
Vishnu turned himself into a boar (Varaha) and descended to the bottom of the ocean to rescue the earth, which had been abducted and hidden there by HIRYANYAKSA a demon. After a long struggle Vishnu (as the boar) slew the demon, rescued the earth and brought it to the surface and made it ready to support life by modeling the mountains and shaping the continents. In this way the world was brought into being once again to begin another KALPA or cycle. The extrication of the world from the deluge of sin is symbolized by this legend and is a creation myth.

Among descendants of Daksha, the first man that Brahma created at the beginning of the new KALPA (era or age), there was one Kashyap, a sage, who had four wives, Diti, Aditi, Vinita and Kudroo. Diti gave birth to demons and from Aditi were born gods, while from Vinita was born Garuda, the carrier of Vishnu and the last one Kudroo created the hydras. Out of the demons born of Diti, two were with terrific powers. These two brothers were named Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashyapu. Both of them performed so many religious practices and austerities that in course of time they gained limitless powers.

HIRANYAKSHA fueled with his limitless power of attacked Heaven, the kingdom of the gods. At his very sight the gods were struck so much with fear that they hid themselves. Hiranyaksha challenged Varuna, the Lord of the Ocean, to a fight. But Varuna answered, “O great hero, I live like a hermit. I do not wish to fight. Besides, who can fight with you! Only God can do it.” Then Hiranyaksha went in search of Vishnu.

At the end of the PRALAYA earth (PRITVI or BHOOMIDEVI) remained submerged in the waters. At that moment, through one of the nostrils of PARABRAHMA a pig shot out. He was very small in size - just an inch tall. But even as the onlookers were gazing, he began to grow. He grew and grew and became huge like a mountain. The Earth had fallen into the ocean and was lying under the water. The pig lifted it on his tusks. He was now rising above the water in order to offer the Earth to Brahma.

HIRANYAKSHA saw this mountain like pig and was astounded. Still in limitless pride he cried, ‘Foolish pig, leave the earth where it is and go away. Yes, I now know who you are; you are no other than Vishnu in the form of a pig. I have come to break your head.’ So saying he stopped the pig. The Earth - Goddess trembled at the fearful appearance of the demon. But Varaha (the huge pig) did not take notice of these things. He was rising from the ocean.

VARAHA STRIKING HIRANYAKSHA

Hiranyaksha grew impatient and called loudly, ‘Coward! You have no shame.’ Varaha heard these insulting words and put aside the Earth. His eyes were red with anger. He said, ‘These words of empty pride will only lead you to the jaws of death.’ ‘Well, then, fight’, said Hiryanyaksha. A dreadful fight followed between them. The gods witnessed this terrible fight. It went on from morning till evening.

Brahma was very anxious to see the fight finished, before darkness fell, by Adivaraha (the first pig), for, as darkness approaches, the strength of Rakshasas, too, grows. As though he read Brahma’s thoughts, the divine pig smiled and sent his disc (the Chakra) whirling towards Hiranyaksha. This mighty weapon destroyed all weapons of Hiranyaksha.

Seeing all his weapons destroyed by the pig, Hiranyaksha’s anger rose high and he rushed forward roaring with anger to crush Hari in his arms. Then the divine pig struck a stunning blow on Hiranyaksha’s cheek. The blow was so terrible. That Hiranyaksha fell to the ground and died.

Thus the evil was outdone and also mother earth was safely restored in her place.

What about the other brother? He did not go away quitely. He seethed in anger over his brother's death and performed terrible penance and prayer. So much so that the Creator granted him near immortality. This is where the legend of Prahalad is born. And the 4th incarnation of Vishnu will be his undoing.

Basis of Hindu Trinity

2005-08-13T12:27:00.000+08:00

As I continue researching and writing, I have to pull away from the main topics to evaluate and explain a certain pertinent point to make it easier for everyone to understand. I have recieved feedback that the stories are too long and they are difficult to read due to the various characters and difficulty in keeping track. This is mythology. We are talking of 1000's of names, gods, kings, teachers/sages, disciples, saints etc. Not to mention animals, re-incarnations which also form the structure of the mythical stories. Everything has to start some place and I have explored on that aspect. Unlike traditional story telling, Indian mythology evolved over periods of time.

The late Vedic age saw the compilation of the two great ITHIHASAS (epics), the RAMAYANA and the MAHABHARATA. The legends of both which Ramayana and Mahabharata consist have come down, by tradition, from the earliest period of the Vedic age. The stories of these epics are secular in nature but they not only describe the feats of their heroes but also refer to the influence that the gods had on their exploits. Thus the stories of the gods were supplemented and expanded as they were woven into the narratives and the heroes themselves got assimilated into Indian popular religion and became more defined.

BRAHMA - VISHNU – MAHESHA - THE HINDU TRINITY

Further development of the Indian society brought about changes in religious concepts and an increase in the size of the pantheon. This grew by a process of absorption and combination, adopting popular deities into a sophisticated and well-developed assembly and merging several deities into one. Thus the minor Vedic deity Vishnu was identified with Vasudeva and another epic hero Krishna (blue god). Later, Krishna himself got assimilated with a pastoral flute-playing deity and became the subjects of many poems and legends. At the same time, an ancient fertility god, Shiva, was elevated to the higher ranks of the pantheon and became an important deity with a variety of forms that gave him popularity equal to that of Vishnu. Shiva and Vishnu were visualized as forming a triad with Brahma.

Eventually the traditional legends, myths and tales were incorporated into the PURANAS summing up all that was to be known about the gods. The word PURANA means “old” and the Puranas wove same historical legends and mythological fictions as the VEDAS and ITHIHASAS. But they give a more definite and connected representation of the cosmogony and mysticism of these poems, and they expand and systematize their chronological computations and genealogies. They reduce the formless and fleeting religious conceptions of the Vedas and the popular family traditions of the Ithihasas to a fixed body of definite mythology.

The popular heroes of the Vedic age were transformed into Gods and the shadowy gods of the Vedas gradually took the positive forms under which they appear in the Puranas and have been worshipped since. In the Puranas the gods assumed a substantial shape and individual character. The sacrificial rites and observances of the worship of the gods, for the first time were given a paramount place.

The concept of TRIMURTI - the PURANIC GODS - emerged and gained importance over the centuries. BRAHMA the Creator, VISHNU the preserver and SHIVA or MAHESHA the destroyer came to denote the three characteristics of GOD - Generator, Operator and Destructor and the basis of the HINDU TRINITY.

KURMA - The Tortoise (Second Avatar)

2005-08-12T14:49:00.000+08:00

Vishnu, in his second incarnation, is in the form of half-man half-tortoise (Kurma), the lower half being the tortoise. He is normally shown as having four arms. In the upper two he carries the conch-shell and the wheel while the lower two are in the protection and the boon giving postures or carrying a mace and a lotus. Kurma, the Tortoise, was used for support to mount MANDARA, as a churn dasher, when the Devas and the Asuras churned the ocean (SAMUDRAMATHANA).

After the Deluge at the beginning of the present era the Gods lost the immortality. When the gods were in danger of losing their authority over the demons they decided to go to Vishnu, who preserves the order of the universe, to beg help. Vishnu advised them to churn the ocean so that they might procure amrita (ambrosia), which would make them strong and immortal. He promised to become a tortoise on which would rest the mountain Mandara, which was used as the churning stick.

The legend of the Kurma avatar goes as follows:

Sage Durvasa was a great ascetic. Once he was walking along holding in his hand a garland of flowers called SANTANAKA. Lord Indra (also known as Devendra) who was coming from the opposite direction riding his elephant Airavata ignored him. He threw the garland given by Durvasa on Airavata, which threw it on the ground and trampled it. Durvasa lost his temper and cursed: “Devendra, The pride of wealth has entered your head. Let Lakshmi forsake you.” Oops! That’s when Indra realized his folly. He bowed to Durvasa and sought his pardon. Durvasa said, “Sri Vishnu will do you good,” and left.

On account of Durvasa’s curse, Lakshmi left Indra and went away. Because Lakshmi the goddess of power, bravery, enthusiasm and radiance left, Devendra’s life became miserable. The demons that were waiting for such an opportunity invaded heaven, defeated Indra and gods in war and occupied heaven. Indra lost his kingdom and hid out of sight of the demons. The Gods in due course lost their immortality and valor.

A number of years passed. Indra’s teacher Brihaspati thought of finding a way out for Indra’s troubles. He went with the gods to Brahma, who went to Vishnu with all of them and put forth the appeal of the gods. Then Vishnu said, “Don’t fear; I will show you a way out. The sea of milk must be churned. It is a very difficult job. Therefore, gain the friendship of the demons and get their assistance. Use MANDARA Mountain as a churning rod and VASUKI, the king of the serpents, as a rope.
I will come to your assistance at the proper time. When the sea is churned ambrosia will be produced. Let the gods drink it and become immortal. They will then attain superb strength. It will then be possible for you to defeat the demons. When the sea is churned, Lakshmi who has disappeared will appear again. Her grace will be bestowed on you.” He consoled the gods and arranged for the churning of the sea.

Brihaspati was very clever. He met the demons, managed cleverly to bring about friendship between them and the gods and arranged to make them churn the milky sea. The demons agreed in the hope of getting ambrosia and wealth. Thus having gained the consent of the Asuras of their help the Devas began the offerings and worship of the ocean of milk. The Devas and Asuras cast all kinds of plants and herbs into ocean of milk. The Asuras and the Devas all gathered together to accomplish the feat of getting the Mandara Mountain. They reached the plain where the majestic mount sat and after great deal of digging managed to uproot it from its spot. They then tried to carry the Mandara Mountain, but the weight of the mountain crushed them down. Many perished and some were injured.

Just then Vishnu came there and with a glance revived everyone and ordered Garuda to carry Mandara to the ocean. Garuda carried on his back the mount MANDARA and leaded it to seashore and dipped it in the sea of milk. They tied Vasuki, the king of snakes, as a rope. The demons at one end and gods at the other end held Vasuki and commenced churning the sea.

The churning continued for a time without any hitch, when the mount Mandara began sliding into the ocean bed. The Devas as well as the Asuras where at loss, they could not continue the churning of the ocean without Mandara. They pleaded with Vishnu for mercy. Vishnu hearing the cries once gain came to the rescue. Vishnu then took the body of a KURMA tortoise and brought to the surface the Mountain, which was at the bottom of the sea. Mandara was hoisted on the back of the tortoise and was floating. The Devas and the Asuras breathed a sigh of relief, now they could continue with the churning of the ocean. The Devas and the Asuras with the renewed zest and with the encouragement from Vishnu began the churning of ocean once again.

The churning of the ocean of milk continued with vigor. Then suddenly arose from the ocean bed a cloud which choked the Devas and the Asuras. The Devas and Asuras began shouting for help. They were at loss as to the reason for the suffocation. Then they realized that the ocean had thrown up the ‘KALAKUTA,’ the dreadful poison. Everybody was frightened by its fierceness. The Devas fervently prayed to Shiva and hoped that he would come to their rescue for the poison was the most effective fiery substance, which no one except Shiva could swallow. Shiva hearing the cries immediately came to the rescue. Then, as requested by the gods, Shiva agreed to drink the poison.

Shiva held this poison in his throat and saved mankind. The poison was so powerful that it turned Shiva’s throat blue, giving him the name ‘NEELAKANTHA’ or the ‘blue-throated one’. The poison was thus consumed by Shiva. The Devas and Asuras were once again revived and with enthusiasm began the churning once more. The Devas and Asuras continued with the churning.

As the churning continued many celestial articles took shape. The churning brought to the surface the precious objects that had been lost in the deluge. SURA (goddess of wine), CHANDRA (the moon), APSARAS (celestial nymphs), KAUSTABHA (the precious gem for Vishnu’s body), UCHCHAIHSHRAVAS (the divine horse), PARIJATA (the wish granting coral tree), SURABHI (the cow that grants all desires), DHANWANTRI, the celestial physician with his vessels containing medicines, AIRAVATA(the four-tusked elephant), PANCHAJANYA (conch-shell) and SHARANGA (the invincible bow) emerged one by one as the churning continued. After that a surprising spectacle appeared.

In the midst of the waves of the sea of milk, a goddess with heavenly looks came into view. She was standing on a fully blossomed lotus. Wearing a lotus garland in the neck, she was holding a lotus in her hand. Her appearance was most attractive. She, who was radiantly smiling, was Lakshmi herself.

The sages began reciting hymns in praise of Lakshmi. Gandharvas sang. Apsaras danced. The elephants on either side sprinkled sacred holy Ganga water on the goddess and bathed her. Because the elephants sprinkled holy water on her, she acquired the name of GAJALAKSHMI. Because she was born in the sea of milk, she was called SAMUDRATANAYA. The king of the sea appeared in his natural form and comforted Lakshmi as a daughter. He presented her with attractive clothes and jewels. He handed to her a garland of lotus flowers. While everybody was looking in surprise, Lakshmi put the garland around the neck of Vishnu and occupied his chest. When she looked at Indra kindly, he acquired an extraordinary radiance.

The Devas and the Asuras continued the churning and finally Dhanvantari emerged from the sea. Dhanvantari is the doctor of gods. He had a sacred pot in his hand. The pot contained the celestial nectar, which when consumed would result immortality. When it became known the demons ran forward and snatched the pot. Suddenly the Asuras, forgetting their agreement, took possession of the jar all for themselves. Then there was fighting between the gods and the demons. Again it was Vishnu who came to the rescue. Vishnu appeared disguised as Mohini. Mohini arose from the ocean with all charm and grace. As she was handsome, the demons looked at her in surprise. Mohini came near them and said, “May I know the reason for the quarrel.” The Asuras immediately replied that the fight was for the nectar of immortality. Smilingly Mohini said, “Do not quarrel for ambrosia. If you agree, I will myself serve ambrosia. You sit in two rows.”
The Asuras thought that a lady with such beguiling beauty and charm would not cheat and since she was a female there was no harm in handing her the pot. So it was agreed that Mohini would serve the nectar. The demons sat in one row and the gods in another. By sleight-of-hand Mohini served intoxicating drinks to the demons and ambrosia to the gods. The demons were enamored of her charm did not notice the trick played on them. The gods drank ambrosia and became immortal. They became free from fear of death. The demons came to know afterwards that they had been deceived. They started a war. The gods who had gained strength by consuming ambrosia defeated the demons and drove them away.

In his second incarnation Vishnu as Kurma saved the Devas from mortality and loosing their authority to the wicked Asuras, thus saving the mankind.

So once again a man was beaten by the beauty of a woman. Women hold a very important position in Indian mythology. Goddesses like Lakshmi, Saraswathi, and Kali are very important as they are not just consorts to various gods but hold a position of power on their own.

Indian Poetry 05 - Dont Miss this event!

2005-08-10T09:59:00.000+08:00

I think this is an event not to be missed.

Matsya Avatar - Fish

2005-08-09T10:28:00.000+08:00

The first incarnation or avatar taken by Vishnu was that of a fish. I have to digress slightly from this story to bring together another popular mythological story from the Biblical times.

All over the world there exist stories of a universal flood--so devastating that practically every species of life was threatened with utter annihilation. In order to save the living entities, a hero arose just in time to protect the seeds of all species for their future perpetuation. Most popularly known as Noah (in the Biblical tradition) and Gilgamesh (in the Middle Eastern traditions), this divinely inspired hero carefully protected all types of creatures in a huge boat until the end of the flood, after which he allowed them to multiply and recreate life as it existed before. To be sure, this story known as "the Flood myth" is found with various embellishments in all cultures throughout the world.

Indian mythology has a similar story which is represented in the Matsya avatar incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is amazing that three different cultures have similar beginnings and end but the means to the end were different. The Sanskrit word avatara is composed of the two words- ava (downwards) and tara (passage)-and usually refers to the descent of a divinity.

There are two stories of Matsya. One is that the Veda's were stolen by a demon kind Haragriva. This demon swallowed the vedas and hid deep inside the ocean. Without the veda's the world was enveloped in darkness. Matsya had killed the demon Hayagriva, who had stolen the Vedas and, and reinstated Brahma with the Vedic mantras.

The second story is that Manu was practicing penance for gaining objects of enjoyment and for release from mundane existence. Once when he was offering waters of libation in the river, a small fish came in the waters in his folded palms. As he desired to throw it into the waters, it said, "O excellent man! Do not throw Me away! Now I have fear of crocodiles (and others)."
Having heard this, Vaivasvata Manu put it into a vessel. When it had grown in size, it requested him, "Get me a bigger vessel." Having heard these words, the king put the fish in a bigger vessel. Growing there again in size it requested the king, "O Manu! Get Me a bigger place." When it was put into a tank, it soon grew in size as big as the tank and said, "Get Me a bigger place." Then Manu put it into the ocean. In a moment, it grew in size extending hundreds of thousand of miles. Seeing that wonderful fish, Manu got surprised and realised that it was Lord Vishnu himself. He questioned the motives of the fish and Matsya replied to Manu who had been engaged in the protection of the world, "I have manifested for the protection of this universe and for the destrction of the wicked. On the seventh day, the ocean will flood the earth. Having put the seeds (of creation) etc. in the boat that would approach you, you should spend the night of Brahma on it being encircled by the seven sages. You should bind this boat to My horn with the big serpent."

Saying thus, Matsya dissappeared. Manu, who was waiting for the appointed hour, boarded the boat as the ocean commenced to a swell. Matsya now appeared with a single golden horn of one million miles in length. Manu tied the boat to its horn. Matsya then disappeared from sight and left the boat on a mountain top. When the flood waters receded and the next yuga (loosely translated as era of life) began, the king Manu and sages stepped ashore and recreated everything as it had been before.

I get sketchy here but it is my belief that the floods were caused due to the battle between Haragriva the demon and Matsya. With the destruction of the demon, came destruction of everything and hence Manu with his boat was able to restore life as it was. I am going to check with my family on this.

Dashavatar - 10 incarnations

2005-08-05T11:03:00.000+08:00

There are three principle Hindu gods. What we call as the Trinity of Gods. They are the Brahmã (Creator), Vishnu (Keeper) and Mahesh (Destroyer).

Vishnu who is known as the Preserver of the Universe , seeks from time to time to redeem the world and as an Avatãr (Incarnation) manifests his Divine Being into the life of man, whenever evil threatens it. Each of these Avatar's have significant impact on the timeline of occurance.

Till date there are 10 avatar's that Vishnu has taken or Dashavatar. They are as follows:-

Matsya - The Fish

Kurma - The Tortoise

Varaha - The Boar

Narasimha - The Man-Lion

Vamana - The Dwarf

Parashuram

Ram - The Epic Ramayana is another chapter of loss, suffering, loyalty, friendship, triumph of good over evil. You will also find that in this story Rama along with an army of monkey's invades Lanka (Sri Lanka as its known today). To cross the ocean, the monkey army created a stone bridge. The amazing fact is that this stone bridge actually exists (at least in parts).

Krishna - The blue god. The Bhagavad Gita are his preachings during the great war in Mahabharatha.

Balarama

Buddha

Kalki

Buddhã Avatãr was added later . Some texts replace Balarãma to add Buddhã, believing that Balarãma was the incarnation of the serpent (Ananta) on which Vishnu reclined.

Does it come as a surprise that Buddha is considered to be an incarnation of Vishnu? Buddha or King Sidhartha renounced his worldly life to achieve nirvana under the Bodhi tree in Gaya (Bihar, India).

Indian gods go by many names and our names are incarnations or variations of God's names.
For example take my name. Guru Vishwanath. Guru was given to me by my maternal grandfather because he wanted to me take the name of Guruvayoorappan. Guruvayoor is a very famous temple in Kerala (God's own country). It is the home of Lord Krishna. My second name although is passed to me by heritage & tradition as it is my paternal grandfather's name who died when my father was very young. Vishwanath means Master of the Universe. But it is also the another name for Lord Shiva. My point of describing my name was to share how many variations of the same Trinity are there. Hence, if you meet a chap called Shankar (it is another name for Shiva or Mahesh the Trinity or the God with the third eye), dont piss him off.

In the next set of chapters, I will describe each Avatar and their significance.

Draupadi, the Woman : Epitome of Feminity and Feminism - FINAL CHAPTER

2005-08-05T10:44:00.000+08:00

This is a very long chapter. I had to condense this entire part from 5 different sources. One particular source was my trusty little Mahabharatha book.

Draupadi succeeded in winning back freedom for her enslaved husbands. Karna paid her a remarkable tribute, saying that none of the world's renowned beautiful women have accomplished such a feat: like a boat she has rescued her husbands who were drowning in a sea of sorrows. With striking dignity she refuses to take the third boon Dhritarashtra offered, because with her husbands free and in possession of their weapons, she did not need a boon from anyone. No twenty first century feminist can surpass her in being in charge of her. Can we even imagine any woman having to suffer attempted disrobing with her husbands sitting mute; then facing abduction in the forest and having to countenance her husband forgiving the abductor; be molested again in court and be admonished by her husband for creating a scene; then be carried off to be burnt alive; thereafter, when war is imminent, witness her husbands asking Krishna to pursue peace; and finally find all her kith and kin and her sons slain - and still remain sane?

When Dhritarashtra returned their kingdom also and tried to console the Pandavas, the Kauravas were angry. They decided to play the dice again with Pandavas and whoever was defeated would have to give up the whole Kingdom and remain in the forest for twelve years, and then for another year live incognito (that is, without being recognized by others). If they were recognized by anybody during that period, then they had to repeat the twelve years' stay in the forests and spend a year incognito. This was the condition of the match. Yudhishthira was defeated again. The Pandavas gave up their royal robes and put on clothes made of bark of trees. Draupadi followed her husbands, giving up her life of luxury in palaces. So the forest life of the Pandavas began. Lord Krishna was the beloved God of Draupadi. He did not forget his devotees in the forest, but visited them now and again. Many sages also visited the Pandavas now and then and guided them. The Sun-God gave Yudhishthira an Akshaya Patra (magic vessel). This vessel would not become empty until Draupadi's meal was over. During the exile when Pandavas were in Kamyaka Forest, Duryodhana sent the short-tempered but highly knowledgeable sage Durvasha and his thousand disciples to visit Yudhishthira. His intention was to get the Pandavas cursed by the sage Durvasha. Yudhishtir invited the sage and his disciples to dine, for he was sure that by the virtue of the Akshaya Patra, he had received from the Sun, they would be able to feed the sage and his disciples. Everybody at that time, even Draupadi and Kunti had taken their meal and the Akshaya Patra was empty. Sage Durvasha went to take a bath in the Ganges. Draupadi got worried and she again prayed to Krishna to save her and her husbands from the wrath of Durvasha when he would find out that the Pandavas had nothing to offer him and his disciples as a meal. Lord Krishna reached the hut of Draupadi and ate the single grain of rice in the Akshaya Patra. There at the river bank, sage Durvasha and his disciples felt as if they had a sumptuous meal with many delicacies. Durvasha rishi blessed the Pandavas and they decided to change their course silently.

Draupadi's troubles were not yet over. Jayadrath was the king of Sindhudesha and was married to Dusshala, the daughter of Dhritarashtra. He too had gone to Draupadi's Swayamvara but had lost the contest. He could not get her by valour. During the days of the banishment to jungle of the Pandavas, one day Draupadi was leaning against a kadamba tree, holding on to a branch with an upraised hand when Jayadrath seized her. She repulsed him so hard that he fell to the ground. Retaining full control of her faculties, she mounted his chariot on finding him bent on forcing her, calmly asked the family priest to report to her husbands. No Sita-like lamentation here, nor shrill outcries for succor! As her husbands closed up on Jayadrath, she taunted him with an elaborate description of the prowess of each and the inevitable trouncing that would follow.

Draupadi was fully conscious of her beauty and its power, for she used it in getting her way with Bheema in Virata's kitchen. After the twelve years of exile in the forest was over, Pandavas had to spend a year incognito. How could five famous heroes, with a very beautiful wife, remain unknown for one full year anywhere? Would the Kauravas keep quiet? And it would be most difficult for Draupadi because she was a woman. Then they took a secret decision. Yudhishthira disguised himself as a pious Brahmin. He assumed the name of Kanaka Bhatta and entered the place of Virata, the king of Matsya country. Bheema joined service in the kitchen of Virata, taking the name of Ballav, Arjuna, to be known as Brihannala (disguised as a eunuch) taught the art of dancing to the princesses at Virata’s palace. Nakula joined the royal stables as a supervisor taking the name Granthi and Sahadeva to be known as Tantri Pal began to look after the palace dairy. Draupadi as Sairindhri went to Queen Sudeshna and begged to be taken as one of her attendants. The queen was more than surprised at the great beauty of Draupadi. When Sudeshna asked about her she introduced herself as the wife of five Gandharvas who are divine musicians. Queen Sudeshna was pleased and engaged her. Draupadi, daughter of the powerful King Drupad, wife of Pandavas who could conquer the whole world, she who sat on the throne as an empress and was accepted by Lord Krishna himself as his sister, was now a servant to Queen Sudeshna. Yet she could at least see her husbands who were at the same palace; and this was consolation.

Keechak was queen Sudeshna's younger brother, and a very strong man. Once he saw Draupadi and was moved by her great beauty. Sudeshna could make out the evil thoughts of her brother and was afraid. Without the knowledge of the Queen, begged Draupadi to be his Queen. Draupadi warned him and ran away from him. But Keechaka followed her like an evil spirit. Once he actually chased her and Draupadi ran away with fear and entered the royal court where King Virata, Kanaka Bhatta (Yudhishthira), and Ballav (Bheema) were present. Keechaka angrily pushed her and walked away. His eyes were burning. Ravaged by the insulting incident Draupadi accused the three of them of being mere onlookers while a woman was being insulted in front of them. The cook Ballav (Bheema) was hissing in anger. Yudhishthira stopped Bheema from precipitating a fight with Keechak. He also consoled Draupadi and sent her back. But Draupadi could not control her anger and agony. That night she went to Bheema and the manner in which Draupadi manipulated Bheema to destroy Keechaka is a fascinating lesson in the art and craft of sexual power. She does not turn to Arjuna, knowing him to be a true disciple of Yudhishthira as seen in the dice-game. Then Bheema alone had roared out his outrage. Draupadi enticed Keechak into a lonely place by making him follow her, while she carried a vessel of milk for him. At an opportune moment, Bheema pounced on Keechak while Draupadi watched. When Keechaka had been pounded to death by Bheema, instead of hiding in safety she recklessly flaunts the corpse before his kin, reveling in her revenge. They abduct her and she has again to be saved by Bheema from being burnt to death.

This fiery heroine Draupadi was not without kindness and affection. She was insulted, taunted and driven to the forest by the sons of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. When, Dusshasana pulled at her saree, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari would not help her. But after the war of Mahabharata, Draupadi looked after Gandhari with respect and affection; she treated her in the same way as she treated Kunti. She had a resolve that would not cool off after thirteen long years of suffering, and also sympathy for Gandhari after all was over.

When Aswathama (son of Dronacharya) who killed the sons of Draupadi, in spite of her great grief at the loss of her children, came to Pandavas, she moved forward and touched his feet and paid him his due respect. Bheema was unable to bear such sorrow and because of this, he was in great emotions which drove him to the point of exhibiting his physical prowess to the world. In fact he was looking at this quality of forbearance of Draupadi as a laughing matter. Bheema was greatly surprised at the peaceful attitude of Draupadi. He thought that the suffering of having lost all her children had driven her to insanity, for, otherwise he was not able to understand how a true mother could show such forbearance when the person who had killed all her children was standing before her. Draupadi was a great woman with exemplary character. When the strong Bheema was preparing to kill Aswathama with his bare hands, would it be possible for a weakling like Draupadi to go and stop Bheema? It was only the purity of her thought that was her strength. Draupadi was such a great woman that in order to protect right conduct, she would even oppose her husbands. But even now, it was Bheema who tried to avenge the death of her sons by uprooting the Shiromani (divine diamond) off the forehead of Aswathama and thus ending his powers of invincibility.

Draupadi maintained the reputation of her husbands, her parents and parents-in-law. She wanted her parents to be proud of her, she wanted her children to feel that they are the children of a great mother, she wanted her husbands to feel that they were married to a great woman and she wanted her parents-in-law to be proud of her and she wanted to please them. Draupadi herself was always behaving in a manner in which she maintained the reputation of her family and her kingdom.

Ultimately, the fact that Draupadi stands quite apart from her five husbands is brought tellingly home when not even Sahadeva of whom she took care with maternal solicitude, nor her favorite Arjuna - tarries by her side when she falls and lies dying husbanded yet unprotected, on the Himalayan slopes during their journey to heaven - the Mahaprasthana. It is said, however, in some analyses of the Mahabharata that only Bheema, at such a juncture tried to save her from her fall from the cliffs by extending an unsuccessful hand to catch her. He failed and Draupadi fell to the ground below and was dying a painful death when Bheema came to her side, consoled her and remained by her side till she eventually died. During these last moments, it is said, Draupadi realized the futility of her undying love for Arjuna and felt the selfless and unconditional love and support that Bheema had provided her at each moment in her life and repented the fact that she could never reciprocate the love of Bheema in equal terms.

Draupadi appears from the flames with a divine announcement from the heavens that she would be the cause of destruction of evil-warriors. Draupadi is always subjected to violence: her Swayamvara ends in strife; a fivefold marriage is imposed upon her; she is outraged in the royal court twice over; Jayadrath and Keechaka attempted to rape her. Draupadi is also veritably a virgin goddess of war. The birth of Draupadi was unnatural without having a mother. If Draupadi had hoped to find her missing mother in her mother-in-law, she was tragically deceived as Kunti thrusts her into a polyandrous marriage that exposes her to a salacious gossip reaching a horrendous climax in Karna calling her a public woman whose being clothed or naked immaterial. No other woman has had to face this peculiar predicament of dealing with five husbands now as spouse, then as elder or younger brother-in-law (to be treated like a father or as a son respectively) in an unending cycle.

Draupadi is 'Krishna Sakhi'. 'Sakhi' means friend. She was a courageous queen with a dynamic personality. Even Duryodhana grudgingly admitted to her greatness. She was in a way, the revolving kingpin of the Mahabharata war. Draupadi does not rest till the revenge for which her father had invoked her manifestation is complete and the insult she suffered has been wiped out in blood. Through the thirteen years of exile, she never allowed her husbands and her sakha to forget how she was outraged and they were deceitfully deprived of their kingdom. When she finds all her husbands, except Sahadeva, in favor of peace, she brings to bear all her feminine charm to turn the course of events inexorably towards war. Pouring out a litany of her injuries, she takes up her serpent-like thick glossy hair and with tearful eyes urges Lord Krishna to recall these tresses when He asks for peace. Sobbing, she declares that her five sons led by Abhimanyu and her old father and brothers will avenge her if her husbands will not.

Draupadi was used by everybody. Draupadi was used first by King Drupad to take revenge on Drona by securing the alliance of the Pandavas and then by Kunti and the Pandavas to win their kingdom thrice over (first through marriage, then in the first dice game when she wins them their freedom; finally as their incessant goal on the path to victory). Unknown to her, even sakha Krishna throws her in as the ultimate temptation in Karna's way when seeking to win him over to the Pandavas before the war, assuring that Draupadi will come to him in the sixth part of the day. Karna was also borne by Kunti's womb, albeit before her marriage to Pandu. These efforts of Krishna are followed by Kunti urging Karna to enjoy Yudhishthira's Shri (another name of Draupadi) which was acquired by Arjuna. There is an unmistakable harking back to her command to her sons to enjoy what they had brought together when Bheema and Arjuna had announced their arrival with Draupadi as alms. No wonder Draupadi laments that she has none to call her own, when even her sakha unhesitatingly uses her as bait! Draupadi, despite having husbands and children, remains alone to the last.

This remarkable "virgin" never asked anything for herself. Born unwanted, thrust abruptly into a polyandrous marriage, she seems to have had a profound awareness of being an instrument in bringing about the extinction of an effete epoch so that a new age could take birth. And being so aware, Draupadi offered her entire being as a flaming sacrifice in that holocaust of which Krishna was the presiding deity.

Draupadi is the most complex and controversial female character in Hindu literature. On one hand, she could be womanly, compassionate and generous and on the other, she could wreak havoc on those who did her wrong. She was never ready to compromise on either her rights as a daughter-in-law or even on the rights of the Pandavas and remained ever ready to fight back or avenge high-handedness and injustice meted out to her modesty. She secretly vowed that one day she would definitely seek vendetta on the injustice meted out to her. She did it by igniting the spark of revenge in the hearts of the Pandavas. If the Mahabharata is an intricately woven saga of hatred and love, bloodshed and noble thoughts, courage and cowardice, beauty and gentleness, victory and defeat, then Draupadi is its shining jewel, casting the shadow of her towering personality over the epic poem and the all-destroying war it describes.

Draupadi, the Woman : Epitome of Feminity and Feminism - Part 4

2005-08-04T09:52:00.000+08:00

Draupadi Vastraharan

Duryodhan ordered Dusshasana to drag Draupadi by her hair to the royal court before the great assembly of people and then to disrobe her completely. Karna calling her a public woman whose being clothed or naked is immaterial. Draupadi looked at all elders in the court - Dhritarashtra, Bheeshma, Drona, Kripa and Vidura - with her eyes shouting for help. But all elders were silent. The subjects were stunned. Her husbands sat with their heads bowed. Draupadi had a marvelous blend of intensity that suits kshatriyas and forgiveness that fits devotees. She was very intelligent and knowledgeable. She had a brilliant mind, was utterly "one-in-herself" and did not hesitate in reprimanding the Kuru elders for countenancing wickedness. When Dusshasana was dragging her by the hair to the court, she ridiculed him to show his prowess against her husbands. She also boldly reprimanded the elders present in the court and appealed to them to do justice. She cried out to her silent husbands. But nobody came for help. Finding no response, with quicksilver presence of mind she seizes upon a social ritual to wrest some moments of respite from pillaging hands.

Her speech drips with sarcasm. The elders whom she ceremoniously salutes, deliberately using the word "duty", have remained silent in the face of Vidura's exhortation to do their duty and protect the royal daughter-in-law. At last Duryodhan's brother Vikarna supported Draupadi but Karna derided him and questioned his support for her. Thus, despite being humiliated, Draupadi won morally. Nobody could refute her logic. She said "where righteousness and justice do not exist, it ceases to be a court; it is a gang of robbers". In response to Draupadi's volley of harsh words, Dusshsana grinned and uttered wicked words. Bheema (the third Pandava) exploded like a volcano now. He thundered in anger, and promised to burn the hands of Dusshasana. Dusshasana should have respected Draupadi, his sister-in-law, like his own mother. But instead, the wicked Dusshasana began to pull at her saree. Draupadi's weeping and wailing would have moved a stone to mercy. Draupadi turned to Lord Krishna as her husbands bowed their heads in shame. She threw out both hands and with both hands in salutation she cried to Krishna, and miraculously the more Dusshasana pulled her robe, the more it was still there on her person. Several meters of the robes he pulled, yet it was still there. Dusshasana was tired drawing her saree but he could not find the end of it. This shows us the bond between a brother and sister or the promise of security. Draupadi gave to Lord Krishna one small strand from her saree to tie on his injured finger, during a duel with the cruel Shishupala. At that moment, Krishna had promised Draupadi of constant security. Lord Krishna kept his promise during this trying moments of Draupadi and gave her an endless saree, one which could never be removed and thus protected her honour.

The injury of Lord Krishna's finger has another popular origin in mythology: During the celebrations associated with the Sankranthi festival, Krishna was partaking the freshly harvested sugarcane offered to him by Gopis in accordance with the customs of the festival. To squeeze the juice out of the sugarcanes, Krishna had to cut them. While doing so, he inadvertently cut his little finger. Seeing blood on his finger, Satyabhama - Krishna's wife - with her characteristic pride, ordered the Gopis to go inside the house to fetch some cloth to bandage the finger. Draupadi who was also there, however, out of her love and concern for Krishna, immediately tore off a piece of cloth from the end of her new saree and bandaged the Lord's finger. For Lord Krishna this signified Raksha bandhan and he immediately took Draupadi as his sister. Draupadi was a great devotee of Lord Krishna, who is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-pervading.
Having failed in his efforts to disrobe Draupadi, Duryodhana's patted his thighs and ordered Draupadi to sit on his lap, since she was supposed to obey his orders as she was now a slave to him after her husband, Yudhishtira had lost him in the game of dice. On hearing this, Draupadi cursed Duryodhana of a death with a broken thigh. Draupadi also took a vow that she would not oil or tie her hair until she could wash her hair with the blood of Dusshasana, after he was killed. At such a moment, Bheema, the third Pandava, lashed out and vowed to avenge the insult that Draupadi was subjected to. Bheema killed Dusshasana in the war of Kurukshetra and Draupadi eventually washed her hair with the blood of Dusshasana. Bheema also broke the thigh of Duryodhana in the final battle of Kurukshetra. Eventually convinced by Vidur, Dhritharashtra scoffed at Duryodhana and asked Draupadi for any three boons. But Draupadi simply sought that her husbands should at once be freed from slavery and as the second boon she asked for their weapons. When Dhritharashtra asked her to ask for more. She replied that her husbands were strong and capable to win all the rest that they had lost by themselves.

Draupadi, the Woman : Epitome of Feminity and Feminism - Part 3

2005-08-03T20:24:00.000+08:00

Draupadi - Lost in a game of Dice

The five Pandavas were regarded as handsome and gallant and they definitely would not have had a problem wedding women of high birth and beauty, yet they all chose to be the husband to the fair Draupadi. She was a victim of circumstances and had no control over the situation when she was told that she had to marry five men at the same time. She was expected to love all her husbands equally, which indeed is a difficult thing to do. She was afraid of the kind of sexual commitment she was being asked to make. She placed her worry in a less explicit manner before Krishna. "How am I to divide myself physically and emotionally between five husbands?" Lord Krishna told Draupadi to spend one year with each husband. During that period the rest of her husbands will not have any sexual contact with her. They will be forbidden to enter the chamber in which Draupadi and the husband-of-the-year are spending intimate moments. If one does so, even accidentally, he would be exiled for twelve years. Thus Draupadi became the common consort of the five Pandavas.

Her conjugal life was strictly regimented, requiring tremendous self-control. All her sentiments and emotions needed a great deal of adjustment when she changed her lifestyle for each husband accordingly. It would not be too difficult to realize the tremendous responsibility that she had to bear as a wife of the five heroes who led a stormy life. Despite the difficulties she emerged as one of the most respected women in the epic story. She bravely accepted this challenge to her womanhood, shouldered the task and brought it to a fruitful conclusion. In due course Draupadi had five sons, one from each of her husbands. Prativindhya was the son of Yudhishtir, Srutasoma of Bhima, Srutakirti of Arjun, Satanika of Nakul, and Srutakarma of Sahadev.

Draupadi was living not only in a polyandrous relationship, but a polygamous one as well because the Pandava brothers had other wives. Bhima was already married to the demoness Hidimba. Arjun married several princesses after his marriage to Draupadi, including Lord Krishna's sister Subhadra. Whereas the other princesses stayed in their fathers' kingdoms, Subhadra came to Indraprastha to live with him. After the deaths of Shishupala and Jarasandha, Nakul and Sahadev married their daughters as a token of friendship. Draupadi managed this delicate relationship harmoniously. But she had not forgotten the reason of her birth and was biding her time.

Draupadi's unparalleled beauty and intelligence becomes the cause of her misery. She is charmed by Arjuna, the winner of the archery contest, set for her hand but she is bundled off by her father as the bride of all the five Pandavas on the advice of sage Vyasa. Her cruel fate divides her as a possession among five husbands and cuts up her personality.
Draupadi spends a year with each of her husbands in turn. She is denied fullness of married life with Arjuna whom she loves with all her heart. She is born out of the sacrificial fire (yajna) and called "Yajnaseni"; true to this appellation she burns with men's ill-treatment and she is also the reason of others burning on account of her reactions. She is in the open assembly-hall provoked retaliatory oaths and vows.

In ancient India, women occupied a very important position, in fact a superior position to men. It is a culture whose only words for strength and power are feminine - "Shakti" means "power" and "strength". All male power comes from the feminine. Literary evidence suggests that kings and towns were destroyed because a single woman was wronged by the state. For example, Valmiki's Ramayana teaches us that Ravana and his entire clan was wiped out because he abducted Sita. Ved Vyasa's Mahabharatha teaches us that all the Kauravas were killed because they humiliated Draupadi in public. Draupadi is presented as having a very impressive brilliant and strong personality and is projected as the primary cause of the battle of Kurukshetra.
After Draupadi married the five princes, the Pandavas, their mother Kunti and Draupadi returned to their kingdom, being then ruled by their uncle, Dhritarashtra. The kingdom was split into two, Indrapastha and Hastinapur, to avoid conflicts between the Pandavas and Kauravas. The Pandavas made the city of Indraprastha their capital. The palace at Indrapastha was constructed by the architect demon, Moy. The palace was heavenly and was replete with all kinds of wonderful illusory architecture.

Once they thought of performing the great sacrifice (yagna) of Rajsuya. A huge and wonderful hall was constructed The beauty, grandeur and decoration of the assembly hall for the Yagna made a visitor speechless with wonder. Lord Krishna personally supervised the performance of the Rajsuya Sacrifice. The Kauravas has no mind to see the splendour of their cousins. Still they also attended. Unfortunately Duryodhana was put to shame there. In the new palace he took a pond for polished floor and fell into the water. Draupadi laughed at this. Further on he saw the floor shining wih high polish and thought it was a pond; so he lifted up his clothing that it may not get wet. Again there were waves of laughter. At that moment, Draupadi laughed at Duryodhana, saying "son of a blind would be blind himself". Some versions of Mahabharata do not support this, though it does mention the hearty laugh. These insulting moments pierced Duryodhana deep within him. Nevertheless, because of this insult and the envy within him, of the Pandavas' luxury, Duryodhana decided to humble them and hence proposed them to play a game of dice.

Yudhishthira was very fond of gambling (game of dice). But he was no expert. Shakuni, maternal uncle of Kauravas, was a very experienced player. Yudhishthira went on losing. He offered his chariots, horses and elephants as stakes and lost them; and eventually he lost his kingdom, Indraprastha, as well. Finally he and his four brothers became the slaves of the Kaurava king. He lost Draupadi also in this gamble. The Kauravas having won, Duryodhana ordered that Draupadi be dragged into the court. The Pandavas bent their heads in shame. Yudhishthira now knew what an unjust action he was guilty of. But it was now too late and regret was of no use. When Draupadi heard this news she was dazed. But instead of meekly obeying her husband Yudhishthira , she sent back a query which none could answer. She questioned her husband Yudhishthira, if he had pledged her before or after he had lost himself in the gamble. She argued that if he had pledged himself first, he had no right over her as he was already a slave. She later challenged the game as illegal as she argued, that Duryodhan, a Kaurava, had not placed his brothers and wife as a matching stake. Mahabharata tells us how the assembly started to hiss loudly when Yudhishthira staked Draupadi. Plausibly the ownership of the wife by the husband was recognized but not respected in society. The Ramayana (another important mythology in my culture) preaches that there is no greater gift for a man than his wife. But the phrase gift to a man gives the impression that the wife is merely an object to provide happiness for the man.

Sati: A woman's sacrifice!

2005-08-02T15:48:00.000+08:00

Warning: This section deals with the controversial topic of suicide. It merely is a study of a social practice and it does not mean I endorse the Sati system. In fact, I think of this practice abhorring and inhuman. I digressed from continuing writing about Draupadi to share this ancient practise as it is referred to in the Mahabharatha. I want to share with you the origins of this practise. I have also related a personal experience with regards to violence towards women at the end of this piece.

A Woman Goes Sati

The Sati (Su-thi , a.k.a. suttee) is the traditional Hindu practice of a widow immolating herself on her husband's funeral pyre. Sati was prevalent among certain sects of the society in ancient India, who either took the vow or deemed it a great honor to die on the funeral pyres of their husbands. I have found some interesting illustrations on the web which I thought would add more relevance to this practise.

The Mahasati (the great Sati) or the Sahagamana (joint departure) system of cremating the woman alive on the death of her husband is an ancient custom in India. Scholars of Puranas(ancient hindu vedic scripts) trace the origins to the suicide of Satidevi in the Yajnakunda (sacrificial fireplace) of Lord Brahma (Three headed god or The Creator), while a few attribute it to the pre-caste Vedic system of Indian society. In Mahabharatha, there is the instance of Madri dying on the funeral pyre of husband Pandu, leaving the children to the care of the first wife Kunti. The feminists proclaim the Sati system as a cruel institution established by men against the womankind, while the lower-caste in India have felt it as another means of torture taxed on them by the upper-caste Brahmins (a fact I entirely agree).

The answer to the complex question of how Sati system originated is perhaps all of them:

Burning the wife along with the attendants, horses and carriages of the the dead dignitary was a common practice among come Central Asian tribes. India being the melting pot of good and bad social systems of its constituent cultures, the custom of Sati was absorbed.
In a time which believed that a woman's path to heaven is though Sheela and Pativritya -- her character, and devotion to her husband, it was perhaps thought that a woman's life served no purpose after the death of her husband.
It might have come into practice as an evil family conspiracy against the widow to benefit from her assets and gold.
The life of a widow was so bad (this has continued to this day in India), the women perhaps favored death to humiliation.
The women who went Sati were glorified to no avail. The entice of instant fame and immortality cannot be ruled out on why women committed Sati.
There is another suicide tradition in the Jain religion called Sallekhana, where one dedicated one's soul in prayer. Despite of this tradition, numerous instances in Indian history illustrate when a Jain woman has preferred Sati over Sallekhana -- especially in the cases of untimely deaths of the husband.
Some women believed that those who died with the love of their life, were united with the man in heaven in an eternal marriage. Numerous women believed that they have married the same man in several of their lives. There is an interesting instance of a wife who went Sati with another man (not her husband), because of her belief that he was the one.
In Bengal, a system called Däyabhaga prevailed entitling a woman equal property along with male members of the departed husband. This may be the reason for the Sati system being more popular in that region, wherein the woman was driven to commit Sati by force.
There are numerous occasions when the woman experiences a divine calling and decided to commit Sati.

In Modern India, the practise of Sati was abolished. Re-marriage amongst women is still a taboo and in the past 40 years, widows were treated very badly. The emergence of dowry system could also be a side effect of Sati where families plot to take the worldly possessions of the bride and her family. In the end, the poor bride has to pay with her life. Hence the term "Dowry Deaths".

As late as 1950's, in post-independence India, this practise was prevelant. The rational being that a widow has nothing left for her in this world. There was no scope of re-marriage, she has to wear white all her life, she cant enter temples, she has to live as a begger to her family because her own parents used to think she was a curse and a burden. Imagine, with that kind of pressure for the rest of your life, you would think jumping into a burning fire seems like a painful end.

These attitudes exist in the lower strata of the society where education is not prevalent. Education is the key to eradicate such ancient and inhuman practises.

Draupadi, the Woman : Epitome of Feminity and Feminism - Part 2

2005-07-30T10:52:00.000+08:00

Draupadi is the only instance we come across in epic mythology of a sati becoming a kanya. It is stated that in an earlier birth as Nalayani (also named Indrasena), she was married to Maudgalya, an irascible sage afflicted with leprosy. She was so utterly devoted to her abusive husband that when a finger of his, dropped into their meal, she took it out and calmly ate the rice without revulsion. Pleased by this, Maudgalya offered her a boon, and she asked him to make love to her in five lovely forms. As she was insatiable, Maudgalya got fed up and became an ascetic. When she remonstrated and insisted that he continue their love-life, he cursed her to be reborn and have five husbands to satisfy her lust. Thereupon she practiced severe penance and pleased Lord Shiva with her prayers. He granted a boon to her. Nalayani said that she wanted a husband and to ensure that her request was heard, she repeated it five times in all. Shiva then said that in her next life she would have five husbands. She obtained the boon of regaining virginity after being with each husband. Thus, by asserting her womanhood and refusing to accept a life of blind subservience to her husband, Nalayani, the sati, was transformed into Yajnaseni, the kanya. Some sources have a slightly different narration. Draupadi made her request only once but she added a long list of qualities that she wanted in her husband. Lord Shiva said that it would be impossible to find one man with all these qualities. Hence she would have five husbands in her next life. All of them together would posses the qualities she had enumerated. (According to Brahmavaivarta Purana, she is the reincarnation of the maya Sita (shadow Sita - wife of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and hero of Ramayana) who, in turn, was Vedavati, reborn after molestation at Ravana's hands, and would become the "Lakshmi of the Indras" ] (one of the forms of Goddess Lakshmi, eternal consort of Lord Vishnu) in heaven.

Draupadi and Lord Krishna shared a very special relationship. As is known to admirers of the great epic poem Mahabharata, Draupadi always considered Lord Krishna as her Sakha or beloved friend and Krishna addressed her as Sakhi, this as symbolic of the platonic love existing between the fiery Draupadi and the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Krishna. Draupadi is the instrument of Lord Krishna. Using her, he realized his mega-plan of annihilating the evil Kauravas. The choice of Draupadi as the instrument, which caused his actions, explains the special place she had in his scheme of things, Draupadi was put through severe tests in her life. The only true friend, who validated her persona and came to her rescue each time she found herself in dire circumstances, was Krishna, whose divine presence she experienced constantly in her life.

It was the Swayamvara (a ritual in which the princess was allowed to choose her groom from amongst a group of contenders) of Draupadi, the princess of unequalled beauty, where the Kings and Princes gathered in hundreds, each eager to marry the princess. King Drupad, father of Draupadi arranged a contest. At the center of the hall a mechanical device was erected; on it was placed a revolving object in the shape of a fish. The reflection of this revolving fish could be seen in the water below. A very heavy bow was kept nearby. Any one who desired the hand of Draupadi in marriage had to lift the huge bow, bend it and tie the bowstring, then, looking at the reflection, he had to take aim with five arrows and bring down the rotating fish. Such a one would be a hero worthy of Draupadi's hand. Many of the assembled kings retreated, as soon as they heard of this contest. The hundreds of princes who had come to marry Draupadi were all beaten.

Both Krishna and Draupadi appear for the first time together in the Swayamvara Sabha and make decisive interventions. It is Panchali's categorical refusal - wholly unexpected - to accept Karna as a suitor that alters the entire complexion of that assembly, and indeed, the course of the epic itself. The affront to Karna sows the seeds of the assault on her in the dice-game. Pandavas in disguise of brahmins came to the Swayambhara Sabha, and Arjuna won Draupadi by piercing with arrow, the eye of a moving fish on a high pole. Other than Pandavas, kings and princes became very angry and it is her Sakha-to-be, Krishna, who steps in to put an end to the skirmish between the furious kings and the disguised Pandavas.

The Pandavas and Draupadi returned home from the Swayamvara hall. The princess who had not seen the midday sun, had to walk miles in the sweltering heat to reach her new home. Arjuna announced to his mother that he had brought home a prize that he so skillfully won. When Kunti (mother of Pandavas) heard this without seeing them, she asked them to share whatever they had brought among themselves. This was how she daily greeted them in order to ensure they remain united. Keeping their mother's word, they divided Draupadi amongst themselves as if she were an object. It is true that Arjuna was able to receive Draupadi's hand by completing a difficult and skillful task, but she was not a prize that he won because it was Draupadi's Swayamvara; she had the right to choose her husband. Arjuna proved himself worthy, Draupadi herself made the true decision. She could have married Karna who could have also performed the same task, but she denied him permission to participate. In certain ways therefore, Arjuna degraded Draupadi by claiming her as a prize and his elder brother, Yudhishtira, further insulted her by carrying out their mother's wish by treating her as if she were an object won in a contest.

Indian English - It vill be wery helpful, Yaar!

2005-07-30T10:33:00.000+08:00

In the midst of the heavy Mahabharatha writings, I thought a bit of humour to catch your breath would be nice.

This is an editorial written in New Yawrk Times in the year 2050. Its called "Indian English - It vill be wery helpful, Yaar!"

It is the year 2050 and call centers are opening all over the West, as the new economic power India out-sources work to the countries where many jobs originated. Millions of Americans, still struggling to adapt to a global economy, are willing to accept jobs that pay them in a new currency sweeping much of the world: EuRupees. Some of them, eager to land one of the customer service jobs from India, are attending special training sessions in New Yawrk City, led by language specialist Dave Ramsey, who goes by a simpler name for his Indian clients: Devendra Ramaswaminathan.

On this warm afternoon, the professor is teaching three ambitious students how to communicate with Indian customers.Professor: "Okay, Gary, Randy and Jane, first we need to give you Indian names. Gary, from now on, you'll be known to your customers as Gaurav. Randy, you'll be Ranjit. And Jane, you'll be Jagadamba.

Now imagine you just received a call from Delhi. What do you say?"

Gary: "Name as tea?"
Professor: "I think you mean 'namaste. Very good. But what do you say after that?"

Gary: "How can I help you?"
Professor: "You're on the right track. Anyone else?"
Jane: "How can I be helping you?"
Professor: "Good try! You're using the correct tense, but it's not quite right. Anyone else?"
Randy: "How I can be helping you?"
Professor: "Wonderful! Word order is very important. Okay, let's try some small talk. Give me a comment that would help you make a connection with your Indian customers."

Randy: "It's really hot, isn't it?"
Professor: "The heat is always a good topic, but you haven't phrased it correctly. Try again."
Randy: "It's deadly hot, isn't it?"
Professor: "That's better. But your tag question can be greatly improved."
Randy: "It's deadly hot, no?"
Professor: "Wonderful! You can put 'no?' at the end of almost any statement. You are understanding me, no?"
Jane: "Yes, we are understanding you, no?"

Professor (smiles): "We may need to review this later. But let's move on to other things. Have you ever heard Indians use the word 'yaar'?"
Randy: "Yes, my Indian friends use it all the time. Just last night, one of them said to me, 'Randy, give me yaar password. I am needing it to fix yaar computer."
Professor (laughs): "That's a different 'yaar,' yaar. The 'yaar' that I'm talking about means friend or buddy. You can use it if you've developed a camaraderie with a customer.For example, you can say, 'Come on, yaar. I am offering you the best deal.' Do you understand, Jagadamba?"

Jane: "Yaar, I do."
Professor (smiles): "Okay, let's talk about accents. If your client says 'I yam wery vorried about vat I bought for my vife,' how would you respond?"
Randy: "Please don't be vorrying, yaar. She vill be wery happy and vill give you a vild time tonight."
Professor: "Vunderful! I mean, wonderful. You have a bright future, Ranjit. And so do you, Jagadamba. But Gaurav, you haven't said anything in a while. Do you have any questions about what we've just learned?"

Gary: "Yes, Professor, I do have one question: Wouldn't it be simpler to learn to speak Hindi?"

Draupadi, the Woman : Epitome of Feminity and Feminism - Part 1

2005-07-29T17:26:00.000+08:00

Draupadi's Birth

Although I am not starting at the beginning, I felt that the introduction of Draupadi as appropriate as she epitomizes the strength, inner and outer, of a woman. A woman, not just sensual, but with an uncharacteristic strength that only comes with hardship and immense sacrifices. Draupadi was a heroic queen of the Hindu epic of Mahabharata. One who was firm and a woman with an unbending will. The Proud and angry heroine of the epic Mahabharata, Draupadi has remained an enigmatic woman of substance.

A long poem “Kurukshetra”, written by Amreeta Syam, conveys the angst of Panchali (Draupadi), born unasked for by her father, bereft of brothers and sons and her beloved sakha (friend) Krishna. Krishna is the Blue God. More about this person later.

I will begin with this translated snippet of poem.

Draupadi has five husbands - but she has none

-She had five sons - and was never a mother …

The pandavas have given Draupadi... No joy, no sense of victory No honor as wife No respect as mother

-Only the status of a Queen …But they all have gone

And I'm left with a lifeless jewelAnd an empty crown … My baffled motherhood wrings its hands and strives to weep

Draupadi was the daughter of Drupad, the king of Panchala, and the wife and queen of the five great Pandavas, renowned alike for her loveliness and her granite will. Volcanic, she reduced her enemies to the ashes. This fiery princess bent on vengeance could be compassionate and generous, too. Draupadi had developed the strength to bear the trials of life. She had resolved firmly not to harm the good people, and not to bend before the wicked. Draupadi was a woman, but she became as famous as the heroic Pandavas because of such determination. Her personality was one of lightning and thunder. This unforgettable heroine is in no way less than Bheema or Arjuna in strength and spirit, valor and virtue. Her story is a saga of suffering and disgrace but she took everything in her stride and vanquished each one of the perpetrators of her humiliation and agony.

Draupadi finds her five husbands discarding her repeatedly: each takes at least one more wife; she never gets Arjuna to herself for he marries Ulupi, Chitrangada and has Subhadra as his favorite. Yudhishthira pledges her like chattel at a game of dice; and finally, they leave her to die alone on the roadside like a pauper, utterly rikta - drained in every sense. Draupadi, meaning daughter of Drupad, was known by several other names as well. As the princess of the kingdom of Panchal she was known as Panchali. As the grand daughter of Prushata she was known as Parsati. Draupadi is ayonija, not born of woman. Draupadi is born of fire and therefore, often referred to as Yagnyaseni. She is also called Krishnaa because she was copper skinned, fiery eyed and had long, black hair. She was gifted with blue-lotus fragrance wafting for a full krosha (2 miles) and hence was called Yojanagandha (she whose fragrance can be felt for miles). Draupadi alone enjoys the unique relationship of sakhi (female-friend) with her sakha (male-friend) Krishna. She was a true virgin, and has a mind of her very own.

For many years Drupad, king of Panchal, had no children. So, to have children he performed tapas (rigorous rituals); he thought only of God day and night and prayed to Him. God blessed him, and two children were born out of the haven fire lit by Drupad to fulfill his determination of vengeance against Dronacharya, his enemy, through his death. The first to emerge out of the holy pyre was a son, called Dhrishtadyumna, and the second, a daughter called Draupadi. Thus Draupadi was born from the fire of vengefulness, anger and passion. Actually she arrives as a bonus because Drupad was performing the yajna for obtaining a son who would take revenge on Drona and had not asked for a daughter at all. Draupadi springs from the fire full grown, in the bloom of her youth, from the yajna vedi - the holy pyre - not requiring a human womb, ignoring the absence of Drupad's queen who was unable to respond to the priest's summons.

Draupadi was extremely beautiful, intelligent and virtuous woman, with her body smelling like a fresh bloom lotus. There are few women in Hindu mythology who were aggressive and who spoke their mind in a world of men. Draupadi was one of them. She is considered by many as the first feminist of Indian mythology. At the time of her birth, a celestial voice had proclaimed: "This unparalleled beauty has taken birth to uproot the Kauravas and establish the rule of religion". The circumstances leading to her birth began to take shape while her father was yet young.

Drupad was the prince of Panchal. His father King Prushta sent him to the hermitage of sage Agnivesh for his education. There Drupad got acquainted with a Brahmin, Drona the son of sage Bharadwaj. In a moment of camaraderie Drupad swore that they would equally share whatever the two owned. Both went their different ways after completing their education. In due course Drupad became the king of Panchal. But life was not good to Drona and he was steeped in poverty. In despair he turned to Drupad, in hope for help, based on the promise once made by Drupad. However, Drupad insulted Drona and told him that friendship took place only between equals and he could help Drona only if he came begging for alms, instead of quoting the promise of Drupad based on friendship. Drona left but the insult festered in his soul, waiting for an appropriate time to burst out.

In time, Drona was appointed the instructor in warfare to the royal princes of Hastinapur, the sons of Pandu and Dhritarashtra. However, time could not douse the flames of revenge still burning within him. As gurudakshina (fees that were due to an instructor, after the students' education was complete) he asked the princes to get Drupad to him as a prisoner. The princes being skilled in the art of warfare successfully brought King Drupad bound in chains to Drona. The brahmin laughingly said to the king, "Once you had promised me half your wealth, but had refused to redeem the pledge. Today I own all your wealth, but I will honor our childhood bond, I will give half to you and let bygones be bygones."

But Drupad was not willing to let bygones to bygones. It was now his turn to nurse the insult. He was too old himself to take revenge. None of his three sons, Shikhandi, Satyajit and Vikra, were skilled enough to defeat Drona. In order to obtain such an offspring he requested sage Yaja to conduct a sacrifice. Yaja was assisted by his younger brother Upayaja (some text say that Yaja assisted Upayaja) and hence two offerings were prepared. From his first offspring to the sacrificial fire a full-grown son emerged, armed with a sword and a bow. He was Dhrishtadyumna, destined to slay Drona. From the second offering a full-grown daughter emerged, whose dazzle blinded the eye. She was Draupadi. When Draupadi emerged from the fire there was an oracle that she would side with God against the evil Kauravas.

The Mahabharatha!

2005-07-29T16:55:00.000+08:00

I had started writing this blog with the intent of covering the most important epic in the Hindu culture, The Mahabharatha. This is a story that tells us, Hindu's, the way to live. It may come as a surprise that Hinduism is not really a religion but it’s a way of life. Hinduism recognizes many gods ranging from the sky to the earth. The story of Mahabharata gave us the most important teachings. The Bhagavad-Gita. As explained before, this is the book we use to swear when we are in court.

I would like to have some feedback if you find the writing too confusing especially with the names which I will be dropping. Once I get comfortable with a certain structure in the writings, I will create a glossary of all names and their places in the story and what is their relation. I am going to split this post into multiple pieces so that it will not be overwhelming.

Over the past few weeks, I have been thinking on how to start with regards to the epic that spans generations and has so many plots and sub-plots. It has been a daunting task to identify how to structure the writing without making it boring or mundane. Hence, I ask you to review and give me a feedback so that I can adjust the writing style to make it readable.

I have also decided to cover only the most important parts of the Mahabharatha. Again, initially I may not follow a sequence. So to begin, I will introduce some of the principle characters and then proceed with the beginning. I understand that this is going to be a daunting reading due to the sheer number of characters and I would appreciate your patience. There is one thing I can absolutely gaurentee. This is one story that has everything that you ask for.

Once again, your feedback is HIGHLY appreciated. And I would also love it if you can share this with your friends, family and anyone who may be interested.

Situational Awareness!

2005-07-25T17:09:00.000+08:00

We live in a world full of incidents that just seem to get worse everyday. We are being bombarded by news of death and destruction everywhere. And there is not a day goes by when I thank my lucky stars that I am here and not there. These days we have constant warnings issued to us to be wary, careful, aware and watchful. Since when did we reach a point where we are not able to trust our own shadows. Times sure have changed. Even travelling by MRT here in Singapore, you are constantly reminded to be aware of your surroundings and watchful. Surely you find the fact that you are being scrutinised by a stranger is quite unnerving. The worse will be if you are pulled up and hauled off in front of a 1000 people is even more frightening. Luckily, gulags have long gone (except for Guantanamo Bay).

This little writing is about situational awareness. I have found it very important to be constantly aware of your surroudings. It should become a sub-conscious effort which will make you more alert. The best thing is this alertness is available in your day to day work. There is an unexpected bonus by having such an awareness. A sharp mind is able to tackle your work with more focus. Sherlock Holmes was my inspiration as his powers of observation and level of awareness are legendary. Of course, forming a deduction or conclusion may be beyond us as we normally do not engage in doing detective work (unless you are chasing your boy/girl friend to nail their two-timing ways). Sherlock Holmes had the capacity to dissect objects to their finest detail and form an hypothesis. The irony that he was a cocaine user was not lost on me. In his own words, ""My mind," he said, "rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation."

I would hardly think doing drugs is going to help. Unless you want your ass in jail for 15 years or worse a noose around your neck.

I started my adventure into this by a simple test a few years back. Standing in the middle of my living, I did a 360 with my eyes open. After that I closed my eyes and made a oral list of all the things I could remember to seeing during my spin. I swear when I say that I made only 20% grade. I missed so many things that I never noticed. I tried it over and over again and still was unable to reach beyond 60%. But I realised that as I practised, I was able to spot things obvious to miss. Like the pen cap not properly inserted, the post-it torn slightly in the corner, the LED light on the charger not fully lit etc. I am still learning how to be more aware of my surroundings.

For e.g. I am fairly certain given a few moments of thinking, that most of the time I can remember or recollect when I met my friends and what they were wearing. Not all the time, but I do manage to recollect most of the facts. This is not an invitation to test my powers of observation! You must have heard of the term "out of the corner of the eye". Our peripheral vision is very sensitive to sudden changes or movement not just in the peripheral vision but also around us. This is how sometimes you realise that someone is checking you out. When I was visiting London, there was this Science Center near Kensington which had a machine to test your peripheral vision. It was fun because you are trying to look straight and the at the same time look to both the sides at the same time.

Hindu Stone Gods! - Part 2

2005-07-23T10:47:00.000+08:00

Many in the western culture when they come to India, have a difficulty in understanding the way the Hindu’s adore Gods in the forms of statues. How in heaven can there be any form, any divine presence in a piece of stone or even more so in a Lingam? (Ask me what it is) You must have noticed how uneasy some of the tourists look when they are in a temple. It reminds them of their childhood memories of stories of how Christian Missionaries had to battle these superstitious beliefs in idols (the word idolatry implies that which is worshipped blindly, in a certain un-Cartesian manner).

Yet, a few westerners instead of rejecting outright this “pagan” ritual that the Hindus have for millenniums of adoring stone gods, have tried to analyze it, using this very Cartesian reason and logic with which we are endowed, thanks to our education. One such person was Alexandra Davi-Neel, famous writer explorer, spiritualist and the first woman to have penetrated Tibet. In her book, “India as I saw it” (1951), she remarks “The energy which the Hindu’s project on the idol is not totally immaterial. It could be assimilated to a subtle substance which is impregnated with the thoughts, desires and images of the seekers”. And she elaborates further “The existence, real or not, of the deity represented has no importance, what matters is the accumulation of the psychic forces in the statue”. Thus, she continues “Images of Gods are fulfilling a function similar to what electricity does to a car battery. In this particular case, it is the adoration of the devotees, which charges the statues. And once fully charged, one can draw energy out of it, because like a battery, the status will not get empty if one continues to charge it with energy through concentration, prayer and aspirations of the faithful. And Mrs. Neel concludes “It is thus that an idol which has been adored for centuries by believers is now charged with a considerable sum of energy due to the repetition of the incalculable acts of devotion, during which the faith, imagination, aspirations, desires of untold crowds of believers that have been directed to ward the image of their divinity”. Her wrapping up of the subject is very simple: Gods are thus created by the energy emitted by the faith in their existence.

I go to temples quite regularly (once a month). I go early because I have grown up with the knowledge that going early is considered to be the best time. I have no idea what is the real reason behind it. Before entering a temple, you must be clean. So a shower and wearing fresh clothes or in some cases fresh sarong (we call it “veshti” – way-shh-tee). Until I was reading about the logical premise of a Hindu God, I had never questioned about what makes a temple such a peaceful place. I get the feeling that there is something in the air that makes you relax, gets you to put your thoughts in order and an untold aura that seems to be present. I get a similar feeling in a church or a mosque and I have to many a mass and Friday prayers to know this. I would think no one would consciously think ill thoughts in the house of god and hence you are giving out positive vibes which probably is what it is all about.

There is a temple in South India in a place called Tirupati. This houses a god by the name of Venkateswara. This is probably the richest temple in the world. On an average, they collect daily 30K to 100K $ of donations a day. There have been instances where devotees have left gold bars (10 or 20), diamonds, and briefcase full of cash. This money is used for maintenance and development of the region, and to feed the millions who make a visit. As a ritual, once you go, you have to shave your head off. I have done it once when I was 8 years old. Believe me, I was crying my eyes out. And for my troubles, I got my head whacked by my classmates. And for 2 months I wore a cap even to bed. Next time someone you know wears a wig then the chances are the hair comes from Tirupati.

Definition of Nation!

2005-07-21T15:40:00.000+08:00

I was having lunch with a gorgeous girl yesterday who was so kind enough to remember that my Asterix and Obelix collection was incomplete during her holidays and she brought them for me. I was really touched and ecstatic because it is quite difficult to get them. And I am really grateful to her. She is a cutie, believe me.

We were talking of lots of things and the topic veered towards definition of nation, national identity and patriotism. It was quite an interesting & insightful chat. Before you read further, do note that I am not here to label a particular group or country or citizens as un-patriotic or less connected. I ask you to keep an open mind.

What is a nation? Are all countries nations? How does one define nation and national identity? How does a reasonable person become a raging patriot to defend his or her nation? To provide an example, I put myself the same questions. For those who know me, I think it’s safe to say that I am quite patriotic and well connected to my roots and secure in my identity. Therefore, I believe as a test subject, I would be qualified to answer the queries.

A nation is not just a country with its current economic indicators, GDP and how many internet connections per 1000 it has, and how it ranks in the World chart of economic freedoms. A nation is defined by its history, its past troubled and otherwise, its contribution to humankind and finally the acceptance of its people as to who they are. A nation is when its people would define themselves as being a citizen of the nation and honoring the pledge especially when it comes to crunch time.

I am an Indian. I was born, and bred in India. I grew up learning about the sacrifices my forefather’s made. I learnt from a young age the battles fought by freedom fighters both violent and non-violent. In the end, it was the non-violent action that eventually gained us our freedom. The history of my nation begins from the Indus valley civilization, to the great Mughal rulers like Babur, Akbar, Shah Jahan, the battles of Panipat, Kalinga and in modern history, the sepoy mutiny, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and finally the most painful period in our history, the partition and loss of millions of lives was taught in pain staking details. Looking back, the objective as a kid was just to get through the history tests and not look sad. But as I grew up I realized the importance of small things. Like the national anthem, the pledge of allegiance which sounded silly when we were young but started to make sense as you grew older. I admit the fact that we have given rise to some strange rituals like throwing a widow in the funeral pyre of her husband (thankfully outlawed today) to some fantastic rituals like the Kamasutra, yoga, and great food like dosa and butter chicken masala just to name a few.

I loath our politicians. Most of them scum of earth. Money will get you everywhere and the richer you are the easier to get away with blue murder. The gap between the rich and poor is so wide that you can fill an ocean in between. The population is exploding. Cities are fucked up. Traffic is out of control as there are no traffic rules. You have to ensure your insurance is up to date before you venture out in your car or motorcycle. Public transportation is non existent. You have people pissing & crapping anywhere. Spitting is actually cool. We have religious conflicts. We have Hindu right wing monsters gunning for the heads of Muslims, trying their best to stifle freedom of expression, limiting tolerance to others. Students taking part in violent strikes are a norm. Burning buses is actually a sport. Today’s youth are misguided with visions of MTV and Mallika Sherawat (a bollywood sex siren who is so hot when partially clothed, its unbelievable). The ballooning Call Center industry is making the current generation gain fake accents to attend to calls from world over. Did I make my country’s description sad & pathetic enough? I hope so.

Because despite all the above, I am never going to abandon it. I WILL still stand on the roof and say “Mera Bharath Mahaan” translation “My India is the greatest”. My national identity is forged in me in my growing years. My economic needs have made me seek my fortunes outside of my country, but I am damn sure one day I will return. The one’s who know me well enough know of my plans for a beach bar in India. A frivolous pursuit but yet meaningful to me. I have not forgotten that despite its flaws, it’s a place which has given me a purpose in life, an identity, a rich history that will take a millennia to figure out, and where cricket is not a sport but a religion.

One day if there is a conflict, will I abandon everything that I have and built to fulfill my duty as a citizen to my nation? YES. Do you think I am stupid, irrational and blowing smoke? Maybe. But it would not change my reaction.

Of course, I am quite secure in the knowledge that we are not going to look for a fight. To some extent I still believe the wisdom of my forefather’s still prevails in some sensible heads.

Offering Prayers to your teachers/Mentors or Guru's

2005-07-20T11:19:00.000+08:00

"Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Guru Devo Maheswara
Gurur Sakshat Para Brahma Thasmai Sri Gurave Namaha"

In my home city of Hyderabad, the city temples are now bustling with activity. The excitement and preparations are for Guru Purnima, more popularly known as Vyasa Purnima, which falls on July 21. This day celebrates the birth anniversary of sage Vyasa, who is considered to be the kalayuga’s guru. It is the time when all shishyas (students) offer prayers to their gurus (teachers). The Indian culture has always given the guru (teacher) a place of high honour. So, on Guru Purnima, people all over pray to guru Vyasa. Most of them, also offer prayers to their personal gurus.

There is no particular pooja that is followed but throughout the day bhajans and aartis are sung. In Shirdi, the celebration spreads across three days, starting from July 20 to July 22. A rath yatra is also taken out here with Sai Baba’s followers singing and walking along, beating drums. Some of the temples in the city also follow this but on a smaller scale.

Some people believe that from the day of Guru Purnima till the completion of two months, the sages should not move out of the particular city’s boundaries, where they are presently based. This is considered to be the period of meditation for all the dharm pracharaks. The sages read chapters from the Upanishads or the Bhagvad Gita. Prayers to 49 devatas starting with guru Vyasa are offered.

It is believed that giving respect to the gurus by performing pooja on this auspicious day is a step taken towards following the path traced by the Bhagvad Gita.

Hindu Stone Gods! - Part 1

2005-07-17T11:06:00.000+08:00

Many of you would recollect that sometimes I refer or swear up "9,999 Hindu gods" and the presence of one too many for every occasion, tree, animal etc. It always boggles my mind as to how we worship an inanimate object like a stone or a carving or a statue with such deep devotion and fervor, I always wondered if it is the same intrigue for others. To classify others for ease of my writing, I will refer to them as Westerners. Now, don’t go slamming me for labeling all into one category.

There was a writer Francois Gautier, who said "We westerners are brought up on the good old values of Logic and Cartesian Reason - from Descartes, French philosopher, mathematician and physicist, who in his Discourse of the Method elaborates a system whereby doubt is methodically used to analyze any unknown phenomenon. He is also the man who said "I think, therefore I am". Francois also said that we are taught right from childhood to believe, like St. Thomas, only what we can see and to have faith only in what we experience ourselves. A few of us, whose parents have Marxist leanings, are also injected with a good dose of atheism - that is to disbelieve in the unnatural, the supernatural, the religious, and generally what is invisible to the eye.

In the next installment, I will explore the writings of people who visited India and who have experienced this phenomenon of admiration, adulation with the gods and their presence in day to day life and activities.

Yoga is Technology to Find Your Self - Part 2

2005-07-17T10:55:00.000+08:00

Continuing from Part 1 -

Modifications of the mind are not only undesirable but are also detrimental to higher spiritual pursuits. Through the unwholesome activities of the mindstuff, the soul is obstructed from revealing itself in its original illumination. But the very moment it is restrained from taking various modifications, the Self, as it were, gets a chance to centre and abide in its own nature.

Patanjali explains the soul not merely as Spirit or as Conscious Intelligence but calls it "Seer", that is the real Cogniser and not the instrumental agents of perception such as the mindstuff and the senses - Physical and others. So what happens to the Soul when the mindstuff is not restrained and when it is in its active condition? In such a case the Soul begins to identify itself with the modifications created by the mind. When the mindstuff keeps modifying, the Self is dragged into the identification of these forms which do not actually belong to it. In reality, it is not the soul which enjoys any action performed by us but the mindstuff. The Soul is well beyond this. Hence the identification of the soul with the mindstuff is undoubtedly a wrong notion. And this false notion remains as long as the mindstuff is not restrained within us. Just as one says that the crystal is red only because it happens to be in contact with a red rose. This is how we usually mix up the real self with the changeable variations of the mindstuff. We say “I enjoyed the scene, I hated the man", so on and so forth only because we identify ourselves with our body and not the real self.

Excerpts of the above come from the Living Tree, musings of Shri Yogendraji and my own interpretation of other book forms and old newspaper cuttings.

Last 7 days have been hectic!

2005-07-12T17:06:00.000+08:00

Since last wednesday, things are even more exciting @ work front. My company acquired another listed company for a total payout of 1 Billion USD (stocks etc.). Phew! With this the total turnover of my firm, Concerto Software, touches a little more than 500 million $. To think when I joined in July 2003, it was just a 50 million company. With this acquisition, we enter the big leagues making the company numero uno for the industry we are in. Exciting times for all. Of course, there will be "adjustment" of staff. So start praying to whatever god's you believe in.

And I am also labelled as a "trouble maker" when I asked one too many questions during the worldwide conference call announcing this acquistion. Me and my big mouth! always gets me into trouble especially when not required.

I had lunch with Manish and we were swapping war stories (hey! even geeks have war stories). I was never a big fan of vietenamese noodle food. But this small place in Circular street did justice. Especially since they used breast meat for the chicken noodle soup. A healthy dose of hoisin sause, chillies, squeezed lime, bean sprouts, mint leaves completed the nice effect. Thanks, Manish! I had never been to that place before.

Food! Before and After Yoga.... Classic PBM

2005-07-12T10:51:00.000+08:00

Once again after a heavy workout, I took a detour to Little India. I only had one mission. To pick up paneer (cottage cheese). I had a sudden craving for Paneer Butter Masala but I wanted to cook at home. So instead of gobbling it in a restuarant, I decided to give it a shot at home. I remembered most of the ingredients from memory (my dearest departed mother taught the rudimentaries of masala quite well). And I was not dissappointed at the end results. It was a fast dish to cook (20 min). And it went well with a regular gardenia bread. Yum! Yum! Unfortunately, I did not have my camera handy as I was too hungry and just gobbled the whole thing before I could say BURRPP!

There are only two ingredients that may sound very wierd. coconut and yoghurt. By now you would have realised that all the gravy in the North Indian dishes contain either cream or yoghurt. Home made yoghurt is hard to get here. Hence I use either Farmer's Greek style natural yoghurt or Paul's Natural set yoghurt. I prefer Paul's because its lighter in texture and is nearest to a home made yoghurt.

Quantity for the paneer is depending on how many are going to eat. I would say 500 gms would be fine. You cannot store paneer. To digress, I just want to share how paneer is really made. My mom used to take 5 litres of fresh milk (we used to get it straight from the animal). Put the milk to boil. While its boiling, you add a mixture of lemon and water (maybe 2 table spoons) while stirring the boiling milk. You can see the milk curdling (sounds yucky). When the milk curdles completely, turn off the heat. A fully curdled milk looks like broken iceberg submerged (I cant think of a better metaphorical comparison). Use a muslin cloth to drain the milk so that the paneer remains in the cloth and the rest of the milk is hasta-la-vista'ed. Now make a pouch of the cloth with paneer and hold it in running water. squeeze out the excess water. Voila! Paneer for you.

Back to PBM (Paneer Butter Masala). Get the following.

2 finely chopped onions (For gods sakes, dont use the electrical chopper), couple of chopped cloves of garlic or if you have no time like me, use a bottled chopped garlic, Small piece root ginger, peeled & chopped, couple of finely chopped tomatoes from one of the cans you get, a spoon of coriander seeds, few peppercorns, couple of cardamom pods, couple of cloves (hey, if you feel the urge to smoke, then pop a clove and see the results), a cinnamon stick, 1/2 tsp red chilli powder, 1 Tbsp desiccated coconut, 2 Tbsp of yogurt, 1 tsp. of vinegar, A pinch of dried fenugreek or methi as it is called, a pinch of Salt, and Vegetable oil

Now, my mom used to make it the traditional way, which I did and that is why the end result was gastronomic orgasm.

Heat skillet without oil. When hot, roast the coriander, peppercorns, cloves and cinnamon for a few seconds then grind them. I used the kitchen board and rolling pin since i dont have a pestle and mortar.

Place small amount of oil in skillet; add the onion and stir. Dump the chopped ginger to the spices in mortar and crushed together. Now throw in the cardamom pods and chilli powder and give the mixture a light bash (not like a jilted lover. Its more like "give it me, baby").

Add the spice mixture into the skillet with cooked onions; stir and cook for couple of minutes.
Put the tomato and vinegar. stir and continue to cook until the oil starts to separate out from the sauce. You can see the oil getting to the edge of the skillet. Add a small amount of water to thin sauce; add coconut, yogurt, salt and methi. Return to the boil. Grate a bit of the paneer and cut the remainder into cubes. Simmer gently until the paneer cubes are heated right through. If you think (from visual inspection) to thin the sauce again then do so and then add the paneer. Remember, this is a gravy dish. So keep a close watch on it.

For the entire cooking time, use your nose because there is no other way of knowing if its done or not. The best part is that paneer need not be really cooked. Raw paneer is also edible but a boiled or cooked paneer is awesome.

Burrrrppppp!

Yoga is Technology to Find Your Self - Part 1

2005-07-10T19:04:00.000+08:00

Yoga has generally come to be understood only as a fitness regimen that is helpful in maintaining a healthy body. Few appreciate the huge promise that yoga holds for benefiting the mind and its capability to aid man in his endeavor to unfold his higher consciousness till he ultimately realizes his Self.

Of all the systems of psychology that we know of today, Patanjali’s system of yoga stands the highest because of the ease of its practice, and its scientific approach to spirituality. Yoga is a scientific process of restraining the mindstuff from taking on various modifications. It imparts to the student the technology which helps him to systematically unfold his higher consciousness by controlling his external as well as internal activities. The student is gradually taken through physical, moral, mental and spiritual exercises before he reaches the ultimate state of realization. There he establishes himself as a free soul never to be born again and again, as defined by the state of Nirvana (eternal salvation).

The word mindstuff is used for the Sanskrit word Chitta which is not only mind but all that goes to form perception. The western psychologists misinterpret mind as the instrumental side of consciousness that is characterized by reason, felling or emotion, sensation and so forth.

The truth is that it is the mindstuff that is a composition of all such instrumental objects:

Brain, as a psycho physical medium, for receiving and sending all sensations
Mind, as an agent of consciousness with its constantly active condition
Egoism, which makes a distinction in the knowledge of the individual as apart from the others.

However, intellect, discriminative knowledge, reason, etc. also form the other half or the positive side of this mindstuff. So in reality Chitta is not merely the mind as we k now it but the whole instrumental outfit of direct and indirect perception. The mindstuff changes its forms every moment of its existence. Anger, hatred or love is nothing else but a variety of such mental modifications. It has to be understood that the mind is the same. However, it takes on different colors or qualities.

What really happens when a man’s temperament changes from loving to happy to jealous is that his mindstuff undergoes modifications. Not his mind. It is the same mindstuff in him that changes merely its forms: once there is a mental modification known as anger, the second time as love and third as jealousy and so on. Our whole life is merely as continuous series of these modifications. As a psychologist puts it, “Life is but a constant expression of our inner activities”.

What has Yoga to do with this mindstuff? Patanjali’s says that the restraint of such mental modifications is the key air of Yoga. Thus Yoga in its real sense is not the process of throwing a rope in air and climbing it, or any such ridiculous notions that we harbor about it.

What a Coincidence!

2005-07-08T12:06:00.000+08:00

Sitting in the office I was looking at my friends Patrizia and Alvaro's and their son Marco's pictures and my mobile rings and its Pat from Mexico. For a minute, I was stunned and I did not have any words to say. In fact, I stumbled to start because I just could not believe the coincidence of this. They wanted to find out when I am coming there. Of course, my plans are still up in the air what with my detox, art of living coming into play. Apparently, the little kid is doing well and they are moving house. His 1st birthday is in August.

A man with just a saucepan

2005-07-06T10:05:00.000+08:00

Last night after a heavy work out, I went home. Rummaging through my fridge, I found nothing at a first glance. I was too lazy and tired to step out again for food. I had two options. Drink water and apple juice and listen to my stomach grumble or.... I took the "or else" option. A more thorough investigation of the fridge produced the following results. Hash browns, a tomato, quarter of a cucumber, a small onion, some coriander sprigs and a few slices of cheddar cheese. Also half a loaf of wholemeal bread. Viola! the perfect ingredients for a quicky. First, i chopped up the hash brown's into small pieces and lightly fried them in a pinch of olive oil. At the tail end of frying, i added the onion and the tomato into the pan. Between the slices of bread went the cucumber, the hash brown fry and laid the cheese on top. Finally, topped it off with coriander and shoved the whole thing into a sandwich maker. Coated the top with margerine and closed the lid.

What do you know! It was a nice toasted sandwich.

The Art of Living!

2005-07-05T11:27:00.000+08:00

There is a course called Vipassana (Art of Living) in India and other places in the world. I have been here once many years ago and I found it very enriching. I have decided to do it again this year. For all who know me, keeping dead silent for 10 days is going to be a torture but I am sure I will prevail. For those who wish to know more, go to http://www.dhamma.org/index.htm They also have a 10 days course which is held at St John's island. Imagine 10 days of no phone, no email, no radio, no TV, simple veg food, wake up call at 4:30 AM and bed time call @ 9:30 PM. Sounds like a perfect de-stress time.

The below text is based upon a talk given by Mr. S.N. Goenka in Berne, Switzerland

Everyone seeks peace and harmony, because these are what we lack in our lives. From time to time we all experience agitation, irritation, disharmony, suffering; and when one suffers from agitation, one does not keep this misery limited to oneself. One keeps distributing it to others as well. The agitation permeates the atmosphere around the miserable person. Everyone who comes into contact with him also becomes irritated, agitated. Certainly this is not the proper way to live. One ought to live at peace with oneself, and at peace with all others. After all, a human being is a social being. He has to live in society--to live and deal with others. How are we to live peacefully? How are we to remain harmonious with ourselves, and to maintain peace and harmony around us, so that others can also live peacefully and harmoniously?

One is agitated. To come out of the agitation, one has to know the basic reason for it, the cause of the suffering. If one investigates the problem, it will become clear that whenever one starts generating any negativity or defilement in the mind, one is bound to become agitated. A negativity in the mind, a mental defilement or impurity, cannot exist with peace and harmony.
How does one start generating negativity? Again, by investigating, it becomes clear. I become very unhappy when I find someone behaving in a way which I don't like, when I find something happening which I don't like. Unwanted things happen and I create tension within myself. Wanted things do not happen, some obstacles come in the way, and again I create tension within myself; I start tying knots within myself. And throughout life, unwanted things keep on happening, wanted things may or may not happen, and this process or reaction, of tying knots--Gordian knots--makes the entire mental and physical structure so tense, so full of negativity, that life becomes miserable.

Now one way to solve the problem is to arrange that nothing unwanted happens in my life and that everything keeps on happening exactly as I desire. i must develop such power, or somebody else must have the power and must come to my aid when I request him, that unwanted things do not happen and that everything I want happens. But this is not possible. There is no one in the world whose desires are always fulfilled, in whose life everything happens according to his wishes, without anything unwanted happening. Things keep on occurring that are contrary to our desires and wishes. So the question arises, how am I not to react blindly in the face of these things which I don't like? How not to create tension? How to remain peaceful and harmonious?

In India as well as in other countries, wise saintly persons of the past studied this problem--the problem of human suffering--and found a solution: if something unwanted happens and one starts to react by generating anger, fear or any negativity, then as soon as possible one should divert one's attention to something else. For example, get up, take a glass of water, start drinking--your anger will not multiply and you'll be coming out of anger. Or start counting: one, two, three, four. Or start repeating a word, or a phrase, or some mantra, perhaps the name of a deity or saintly person in whom you have devotion; the mind is diverted, and to some extent, you'll be out of the negativity, out of anger.

This solution was helpful: it worked. It still works. Practicing this, the mind feels free from agitation. In fact, however, the solution works only at the conscious level. Actually, by diverting the attention, one pushes the negativity deep into the unconscious, and on this level one continues to generate and multiply the same defilements. At the surface level there is a layer of peace and harmony, but in the depths of the mind there is a sleeping volcano of suppressed negativity which sooner or later will explode in violent eruption.

Other explorers of inner truth went still further in their search; and by experiencing the reality of mind and matter within themselves they recognized that diverting the attention is only running away from the problem. Escape is no solution: one must face the problem. Whenever a negativity arises in the mind, just observe it, face it. As soon as one starts observing any mental defilement, it begins to lose strength. Slowly it withers away and is uprooted.
A good solution: it avoids both extremes--suppression and free license. Keeping the negativity in the unconscious will not eradicate it; and allowing it to manifest in physical or vocal action will only create more problems. But if one just observes, then the defilement passes away, and one has eradicated that negativity, one is freed from the defilement.

This sounds wonderful, but is it really practical? For an average person, is it easy to face the defilement? When anger arises, it overpowers us so quickly that we don't even notice. Then overpowered by anger, we commit certain actions physically or vocally which are harmful to us and to others. Later, when the anger has passed, we start crying and repenting, begging pardon from this or that person or from God: 'Oh, I made a mistake, please excuse me!' But the next time we are in a similar situation, we again react in the same way. All that repenting does not help at all.

The difficulty is that I am not aware when a defilement starts. It begins deep in the unconscious level of the mind, and by the time it reaches the conscious level, it has gained so much strength that it overwhelms me, and I cannot observe it.

Then I must keep a private secretary with me, so that whenever anger starts, he says, 'Look master, anger is starting!' Since I cannot know when this anger will start, I must have three private secretaries for three shifts, around the clock! Suppose I can afford that, and the anger starts to arise. At once my secretary tells me, 'Oh, master, look--anger has started!' The first thing I will do is slap and abuse him: 'You fool! Do you think you are paid to teach me?' I am so overpowered by anger that no good advise will help.

Even supposing wisdom prevails and I do not slap him. Instead I say, 'Thank you very much. Now I must sit down and observe my anger.' Yet it is possible? As soon as I close my eyes and try to observe the anger, immediately the object of anger come into my mind--the person or incident because of which I become angry. Then I am not observing the anger itself. I am merely observing the external stimulus of the emotion. This will only serve to multiply the anger; this is no solution. It is very difficult to observe any abstract negativity, abstract emotion, divorced from the external object which aroused it.

However, one who reached the ultimate truth found a real solution. He discovered that whenever any defilement arises in the mind, simultaneously two things start happening at the physical level. One is that the breath loses its normal rhythm. We start breathing hard whenever a negativity comes into the mind. This is easy to observe. At subtler level, some kind of biochemical reaction starts within the body--some sensation. Every defilement will generate one sensation or another inside, in one part of the body or another.

This is a practical solution. An ordinary person cannot observe abstract defilements of the mind--abstract fear, anger, or passion. But with proper training and practice, it is very easy to observe respiration and bodily sensations--both of which are directly related to the mental defilements.
Respiration and sensation will help me in two ways. Firstly, they will be like my private secretaries. As soon as a defilement starts in my mind, my breath will lose its normality; it will start shouting, 'Look, something has gone wrong!' I cannot slap my breath; I have to accept the warning. Similarly the sensations tell me that something has gone wrong. Then having been warned, I start observing my respiration, my sensation, and I find very quickly that the defilement passes away.

This mental-physical phenomenon is like a coin with two sides. On the one side are whatever thoughts or emotions are arising in the mind. One the other side are the respiration and sensations in the body. Any thought or emotion, any mental defilement, manifests itself in the breath and the sensation of that moment. Thus, by observing the respiration or the sensation, I am in fact observing the mental defilement. Instead of running away from the problem, I am facing reality as it is. Then I shall find that the defilement loses its strength: it can no longer overpower me as it did in the past. If I persist, the defilement eventually disappears altogether, and I remain peaceful and happy.

In this way, the techniques of self-observation shows us reality in its two aspects, inner and outer. Previously, one always looked with open eyes, missing the inner truth. I always looked outside for the cause of my unhappiness; I always blamed and tried to change the reality outside. Being ignorant of the inner reality, I never understood that the cause of suffering lies within, in my own blind reactions toward pleasant and unpleasant sensations.

Now, with training, I can see the other side of the coin. I can be aware of my breathing and also of what is happening inside me. Whatever it is, breath or sensation, I learn just to observe it, without losing the balance of the mind. I stop reacting, stop multiplying my misery. Instead, I allow the defilement to manifest and pass away.

The more one practices this technique, the more quickly one will find one will come out of negativity. Gradually the mind becomes freed of the defilements; it becomes pure. A pure mind is always full of love--selfless love for all others; full of compassion for the failings and sufferings of others; full of joy at their success and happiness; full of equanimity in the face of any situation.
When one reaches this stage, the entire pattern of one's life starts changing. It is no longer possible to do anything vocally or physically which will disturb the peace and happiness of others. Instead, the balanced mind not only becomes peaceful in itself, but it helps others also to become peaceful. The atmosphere surrounding such a person will become permeated with peace and harmony, and this will start affecting others too.

By learning to remain balanced in the face of everything one experiences inside, one develops detachment towards all that one encounters in external situations as well. However, this detachment is not escapism or indifference to the problems of the world. A Vipassana meditator becomes more sensitive to the sufferings of others, and does his utmost to relieve their suffering in whatever way he can--not with any agitation but with a mind full of love, compassion and equanimity. He learns holy indifference--how to be fully committed, fully involved in helping others, while at the same time maintaining the balance of his mind. In this way he remains peaceful and happy, while working for the peace and happiness of others.

This is what the Buddha taught; an art of living. He never established or taught any religion, any 'ism'. He never instructed his followers to practice any rites or rituals, any blind or empty formalities. Instead, he taught just to observe nature as it is, by observing reality inside. Out of ignorance, one keeps reacting in a way which is harmful to oneself and to others. But when wisdom arises--the wisdom of observing the reality as it is--one come out of this habit of reaction. When one ceases to react blindly, then one is capable of real action--action proceeding from a balanced mind, a mind which sees and understands the truth. Such action can only be positive, creative, helpful to oneself and to others.

What is necessary, then, is to 'know thyself'--advice which every wise person has given. One must know oneself not just at the intellectual level, the level of ideas and theories. Nor does this mean to know just at the emotional or devotional level, simply accepting blindly what one has heard or read. Such knowledge is not enough. Rather one must know reality at the actual level.

One must experience directly the reality of this mental-physical phenomenon. This alone is what will help us to come out of defilements, out of suffering.

This direct experience of one's own reality, this techniques of self-observation, is what is called 'Vipassana' meditation. In the language of India in the time of the Buddha, passana meant seeing with open eyes, in the ordinary way; but Vipassana is observing things as they really are, not just as they seem to be. Apparent truth has to be penetrated, until one reaches the ultimate truth of the entire mental and physical structure. When one experiences this truth, then one learns to stop reacting blindly, to stop creating defilements--and naturally the old defilements gradually are eradicated. One come out of all the misery and experiences happiness.

There are three steps to the training which is given in a Vipassana meditation course Firstly, one must abstain from any action, physical or vocal, which disturbs the peace and harmony of others. One cannot work to liberate oneself from defilements in the mind while at the same time one continues to perform deeds of body and speech which only multiply those defilements. Therefore, a code of morality is the essential first step of the practice. One undertakes not to kill, not to steal, not to commit sexual misconduct, not to tell lies, and not to use intoxicants. By abstaining from such action, one allows the mind to quiet down sufficiently so that it can proceed with the task at hand.

The next step is to develop some mastery over this wild mind, by training it to remain fixed on a single object: the breath. One tries to keep one's attention for as long as possible on the respiration. This is not a breathing exercise: one does not regulate the breath. Instead one observes natural respiration as it is, as it comes in, as it goes out. In this way one further calms the mind so that it is no longer overpowered by violent negativities. At the same time, one is concentrating the mind, making it sharp and penetrating, capable of the work of insight.

These first two steps of living a moral life and controlling the mind are very necessary and beneficial in themselves; but they will lead to self-repression, unless one takes the third step - purifying the mind of defilements by developing insight into one's own nature. This is Vipassana: experiencing one's own reality, by the systematic and dispassionate observation of the ever-changing mind-matter phenomenon manifesting itself as sensation within oneself. This is the culmination of the teaching of the Buddha: self-purification by self-observation.

This can be practiced by one and all. Everyone faces the problem of suffering. it is a universal disease which requires a universal remedy--not a sectarian one. When one suffers from anger, it is not a Buddhist anger, Hindu anger, or Christian anger. Anger is anger. When one become agitated as a result of this anger, this agitation is not Christian, or Hindu, or Buddhist. The malady is universal. The remedy must also be universal.

Vipassana is such a remedy. No one will object to a code of living which respects the peace and harmony of others. No one will object to developing control over the mind. No one will object to developing insight into one's own reality, by which it is possible to free the mind of negativities. Vipassana is a universal path.

Observing reality as it is by observing the truth inside--this is knowing oneself at the actual, experiential level. As one practices, one keeps coming out of the misery of defilements. From the gross, external, apparent truth, one penetrates to the ultimate truth of mind and matter. Then one transcends that, and experiences a truth which is beyond mind and matter, beyond time and space, beyond the conditioned field of relativity: the truth of total liberation from all defilements, all impurities, all suffering. Whatever name one gives this ultimate truth, is irrelevant; it is the final goal of everyone.

May you all experience this ultimate truth. May all people come out of their defilements, their misery. May they enjoy real happiness, real peace, real harmony.
MAY ALL BEINGS BE HAPPY

Joey and Ian's - Wedding Dinner

2005-07-04T15:34:00.000+08:00

Last Saturday I attended a wedding dinner. Although Ian and Joey have been ROM'd for a while, this was the traditional wedding dinner in style. Champagne, wine, great food and a nice after wedding party at Thumper. I managed to take some pictures before the heady mix of cocktails got to my head. Yep! I broke my fast the second day of starting for which I am going to pay dearly. But I would think I will prevail. Some people thought I was cute when I am plastered to the wall, but many think otherwise. Hence forgive me for being the otherwise. Life is strange.

It was also lovely to see the ever charming Su San visiting from Beijing. Connie and Shane also made it for this event from Hong Kong. They have been quite vociferously complaining that no one is visiting them. Well, time to get those tickets ready and make a weekend getaway to HK land. Shane had his supply of excellent cigars which I had the good fortune of "mooching" from him. Bernice and mum were also there in all finery. It has been a while since I heard her sing-song "Gurrru Ji".

Without mentioning names, some dude walks up to me and asks me the age of one my gorgeous friends. I gave him a look reserved for situations where you find your self naked in front of a stadium. My theory is:- either he was interested in her or he wants to embark on a strict discipline to get her skin tone or he was interested in her and realized too late that something that good was let go by him.

In the end it was a very good wedding, lots of toasts and a great speech by Ian's dad. Ian's description of how he vied for Joey's attention was a hoot.

The Beginning!

2005-06-30T11:08:00.000+08:00

Hello, my dear friends. I have decided to use this blogging forum to write about the ethos of Indian mythology (apart from the wild party pictures). This is also giving me an opportunity to study more about what it is all about while writing my thoughts and answering queries (if any ever come up).

The Bhagavad-gita is universally renowned as the jewel of India's spiritual wisdom. Spoken by Lord Krishna (the blue god) his intimate disciple Arjuna (one of the 5 brothers and possibly the greatest archer), the Gita's seven hundred concise verses provide a definitive guide to the science of self realization. No other philosophical or religious work reveals, in such a lucid and profound way, the nature of consciousness, the self, the universe and the Supreme.

In the Indian judicial system when you are in the courts the oath is taken by placing your right hand on The Gita. The Gita is an epic that contains lessons of truth, justice, morality and spirituality on how one must lead life. The book is a story of a family that is torn apart by greed, obsession with power and in the end destroyed. Essentially its the triumph of good over evil. The principle characters of the movie are The Pandava's. 5 brothers and one wife. Yep! Its bigamy in reverse. Draupadi (the wife) was married to all the 5 brothers. For those about to start snickering or rolling your eyes there is an explanation for that :-)

The saga of the 5 brothers exiled from thier kingdom was due to pride. Pride has always been the downfall of man and here too. What makes the story even more interesting is the blind devotion to the oldest brothers shown by the younger siblings who could have stopped him from going down the path of destruction. So much so that when he put his wife on the betting table, it was not stopped. The brother's had utmost faith, and trust.