Meandering thoughts - Sita Sreeraman

 Isn't that why we get hurt? Hurts, disappointments, anger and other emotions are part of life and happen because we didn't expect it from that someone. We expected them to behave better, handle things more maturely. They have an education, are sophisticated, cultured, well-read talented  and so on and so forth. We have this expectation somewhere that they are better than us . But it is a myth, isn't it - why we expect this from others. Is it because we think they are better than us and can count on them to behave well?  I have come to believe though that there is no one better or worse.  No one is perfect. No one is better or should know better.  Everyone has strengths and in equal measure, weaknesses. Everyone has their own insecurities and things not working out. No matter what one achieves, there is also a hunger for more.  After all, we are all human. And  we all have our days.  Somedays we cope well, somedays not that well. So the choice boils down to expectation &

Navaratri . the nine nights of worship culminating in Vijaya Dashami. Navaratri is celebrated across India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Gujarat to Bengal in various different ways. Rama Krishna Paramahamsa, is one of the first names that comes to mind as a Devi devotee - Kali Bhakta,  and of couse we have Kalidasa of the yore, who was blessed by the Goddess. Bengal and Kashmir have been the home of Sree Vidya and Devi Tantra(Kaula and Shakta),  along with Bengal.  Coming South, of the musical trinity,  Muthusawmi Deekshitar and Shyama Shastry were Devi devotees and have many compositions on the Goddess. (Thayagaraja's Ishta Daiva being Lord Rama). Shyama Shastri devoted his many Kritis to the the Goddess. Kamakshi and used the mudra Shyama Krishna(think Shyamala). An anecdote devoted to Deekshitar says as he neared his end, he called one of his disciples and asked him to sing the composition "Meenakshi Memudaham", as the disciple sang Meenalochani Pashamochani, he asked h

I have come to believe GRATITUDE makes a huge impact in one's attitude in life, to one's happiness and to the others around us. Instead of wallowing in Why me when something unfair happens, why not me especially when God/Life has been kind enough to give me so so much - good family, education, decent lifestyle, good house and city to live in, food, clothes, places, books, friends, good air, quality life and health, so so so much. If I were to start making a list, it would run into millions of items for which I could be grateful. I sometimes hear myself, my family members, friends complaining about the unfairness of life in general. I have been through this many times as well - a late marriage (and the inevitable condemnation and comments from family members about looks, skills etc when this happens), struggling to conceive, health issues, not being able to contribute where I want to, not valued enough(there will always be a few).  Yet, when I choose to really see life through G

I was reading the Sai Tapovanam today when one sentence caught my attention and stayed - Some people cannot understand the love of one mother, how can they understand the love of a thousand mothers?  This sentence has been in my thoughts. And I kept wondering what it means - mother's love. I spoke with my mother and the conversation stayed with me. I realised a mother is the only person who asks the question - How are you, are you happy? Santoshama iru, Santhosham ka undu - this benediction comes from her heart, genuinely asking for our happiness and well being. Before she talks about herself, it is always about her children, are they ok, are they happy? Always the children first. When we ask her, how are you - we do hear her problems, but somehow she brushes them away as insignificant and is all ears for our words and our well being.  There is never  - you didn't do this for me, you behaved badly, you are this , that, you didn't buy this for me or that, you did'nt supp

While in Chennai, I had the opportunity to visit Tantuja and Mrignayanee in Luz Corner, Maylapore, my visit coming after a good 17 years, the last time I visited these were in 2005. Gurjari (Gujarat Govt. run) and Mrignayanee (Madhya Pradesh Govt. run) in Brigade Road, Bangalore were one of my favourite places to shop for dress materials, pre-2005. The showrooms are not fancy or well decked. But they are functional and full of beautiful print, hand-crafted, handloom, authentic fabrics and hand made artefacts. These are Government run and provide employment to cottage industries and support artists at the ground level. The sarees, dress materials etc are natural fibres, last well and are super comfortable to wear and what I called breathing fabrics. Pocket and environment friendly at the same time. Tantuja is the Govt. Of Bengal showroom and it showcases beautifully crafted sarees from all of West Bengal. If you love Bengal cotton sarees, this is the place to visit. https://tantuja.in

 On one hand, I witnessed selfless compassion in action for students at the Ramakrishna Student's Residential School in Mylapore. A couple of days later, I saw the same extended by volunteers to sea turtles on the beaches of Chennai. Kalpana took me on a themed turtle walk led by Yuvan Aves, a teacher and expert in Marine Biology. We met at Besant Nagar beach on a Saturday afternoon. The sea breeze and waves washed away the afternoon heat and thoughts, making it a wonderful walk along the beach through the fishermen's village. We strolled in a leisurely fashion by their catamarans, looking for clues and treasures of the ocean - with child like joy when we found a special shell or foot prints, markings. We reached the turtle hatchery and waited with barely contained excitement to see the turtle hatchlings as they were dug up from their nests and gently released to crawl to the sea. It was emotional to see the tiny turtle hatchlings touch sea and swim in.  "Kadalora Kavithai

The Ramakrishna Mission Student's Home in Mylapore, Chennai, adjacent to the Vivekananda College was established about a hundred years ago to provide education to boys who are eager for education but cannot afford it.  The school has a history of serving the community selflessly for more than a century, becoming a friend in need, providing quality education and vocational training to the poor and destitute. The institution affiliated with the Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math is a proud landmark of Mylapore. The monks of Sri Ramakrishna Math offer selfless services. My brother Jayaraman, one of the many volunteers of the Mission, took me around the Student Home premises on my recent trip to Madras. He first took me to the prayer hall housing huge photos of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sharada Devi and an idol of Goddess Saraswati - more than 100 years old, a serene hall ideal for contemplation and meditation and quietening the thoughts. He then took me to the room where Swami Bramhan

There is a Mahaswamy Padhuka Mandapam near CIT colony, Mylapore in Chennai, located at: Old #124, New #6, P.S.Sivaswamy Salai, Chennai.  A new temple for Maha Swamy or Periyava, Sri Chandra Sekara Saraswati, the 68th pontiff of the Kanchi Kamkoti Mutt is being planned in Mylapore. For more info, please visit:  https://www.mylaimahaperiyavatemple.com/

Gam Ganapathaye Namaha,  Sree Saraswathyay Namaha Today is Karadaya Nombu, a day celebrated in remembrance of Savitri Satyavan, a highly devoted wife. The story goes about how Savitri followed her dead husband, and Lord Yama seeing her devotion and steadfastness granted her three boons. She used the boons wisely asking for children and grand-children and Lord Yama was outwitted and he granted her husband's life back. The day is celebrated by women in South India(similar to Karva Chauth in the North of India), by observing a fast and praying for the wellness and long life of their husbands.  A steamed sweet called Nombu is made out of rice powder, jaggery and karamani(white coloured peas). The nombu is done at the time when Tamil month ‘Masi’ ends and the next month ‘Panguni’ starts, this in between few minutes are considered highly auspicious ( the Meena Sankranthi) and the women offer the Nombu with butter and offer it to the Goddess praying: "Urugatha Vennayum Oraduyum Vaith

Some words say it all, a simple word yet they mean so much. One such words for me is sangfroid, the pronunciation is a struggle for me, as is embodying it. The word means being unflappable, having composure in dangerous or trying situations. Angela Merkel, the ex-Chancellor of Germany, had it in plenty. She was not easily excited or excitable, it was so remarkable how calm and collected she was, the poise.  Same with Queen Elizabeth. They hold it all together even in the most trying of situations, and under constant media glare. Closer home, my Amma has it in plenty. I have never seen Amma say anything out of turn or anything harsh or something she would regret later, ever in public. Tears and emotions, insults and quarrels, Amma is a witness to all. Yet, Amma always has a smiling, gentle demeanour and is soft-spoken.  A big joint family: with many people, conflicting interests, shifting inter-group dynamics, dilemmas; needs tact and diplomacy, sacrifices done quietly and a fair deal o

Of the 4 Navaratris in the Hindu festival calendar, two are widely celebrated, the first one being Vasantha Navarathri that comes in spring and SriRama Navami is the 9th day of this Navaratri.  Sharada Navaratri, the autumn Navaratri culminates in Vijaya Dashami. The Sharada Navaratri is devoted to the three Goddesses - MahaKali (Parvati) MahaLakshmi and MahaSaraswati, the first three days as Parvathi, the next three days as Mahalakshmi and the last three days as Saraswati. The tenth day of Sharada Navaratri is called Vijayadashami to signify the victory on the day of Dashami, this day being especially auspicious to commence new ventures, activities.  For most of us, Navaratri brings memories of Golu (Bommal Koluvu), Sundal (chickpeas savoury), Kolams(Rangoli), social visits and kutcheries. Though the Navaratri has morphed into a social bonding festival, it is more an important spiritual undertaking with fasting, austerities and chanting. Golus or Bommala Koluvu (telugu) are an import

I was gifted the book –  The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up – Marie Kondo , by a friend who said it changed her way of organizing/de-cluttering for ever. My chosen method of both cleaning, de-cluttering(can’t call it organizing) is to tidy up one cupboard a time or one room at a time. Well, I start with gusto but mid-way energy dries and well the last few things just go. The  KonMari Method : Go through your entire house,  category  by  category  and purge.  Kondo  recommends doing this in the following order: clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous things ranging from cleaning products to cooking spices), and then sentimental items. (source: the internet) – Marie KONDO When I started reading the book,  my first take-away  was the difference between cleaning and organizing. Cleaning is about hygiene and cleanliness. Organizing is where you decide to store/put something. Somewhere my definitions overlapped and I had added words like de-cluttering, minimalism to this mix. With t

Experience With Maha Periyava By : HH Mettur Swamigal : (about Gopu Mama) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hkx6SPJsoyA ************************************************** Experience With Maha Periyava By : by T.P. Sriraman (Appa) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvWyv5kPQ7I ************************************************** Experience With Maha Periyava By : by Ramian Chitappa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJXWhqhthao

Thai Poosam or Thai Pooyam: The word Thaipusam is a combination of the name of the Tamil month -Thai, and the star - Pusam (Pushya;or Pooyam). It is a festival for Lord Murgan and commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a spear or Vel to vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman and his brothers. Neivedhyam : Paal Payasam and Panakkam My grandfather was a great Pazhani Murugan devotee, so we had Unchi vruthi the previous day to collect rice and grains from our neighbours and on Thai Poosam, the whole village got together in our home to worship Lord Murugan with Bhajans, Kavadi and had lunch(Prasadam) together. Hara haro hara

Om Surya Narayana Swamine Namaha. PONGAL: the festival worshipping the Sun God, usually 14th or 15 th January Mango leaves for decoration, Betel leaves and areca nut for vethalai pakku, Coconut, Bananas, Sugarcane, Turmeric plants with leaves and root, Banana leaves For Sweet Pongal: Rice, Pasi paruppu(split mung dal, optional), jaggery, ghee When: Pongal is celebrated on the first day of the Tamil month Thai, according to the Tamil calendar. Thai masam or month comes after Margazhi, the month of music and devotion and the festival marks the end of winter solstice - Dakshinayanam, and the start of the sun's six-month-long journey northwards, Uttarayanam. Why: In ancient India, the Sun God is considered Pratyaksham Bramha or the God that can be seen. Look up to the skies and you can see the life giving, nourishing God. One need look no further. Life in India revolves around the Sun God. Surya Namaskaram, daily prayers are centered around dawn, noon, dusk to coincide with sunrise

Many of our tasks are mundane and boring. And yes, routine - be it washing dishes, picking after oneself, laundry, cleaning, putting things away once done. Or office work like records, accounts. Or exercise and meditation, music practice etc. And at home the tiny arguments continue. And we see it around us, especially the younger gen eagerly gearing up for the next great project on the career front and working for hours on their fav project but unwilling to take their coffee mugs to the kitchen or sort their laundry or keep their room clean or lend a hand even when the parents are sick. This is rarely the case with greats like Gandhiji who had no problem cleaning toilets himself every day. We  also see this when working in voluntary service teams and get-togethers (informal settings, where structure is poorly defined), there are the exemplary few who choose the boring over the shiny, the few who do what needs to be done rather than the high-visibility tasks. I have been reading somewhe

Indian epics and Puranaas are tales of good vs evil and so thoroughly enjoyable(Amar Chitra Kathas of our younger days for example or Chandamama) and also have such hidden gems/nuggets. My son is especially fond of the story of Bhasmasura. He finds it hilarious. We often talk of the Law of Karma, what we sow we reap if not in this life, in the next. And he asks why did Gods grant boons to the asuras who were wicked by nature. And I often say(with my limited knowledge) it is Law of Karma, if you meditate with single point focus whoever you are, the Gods have to grant boons.  Action begets response. But the difference lies in the choices made once the Gods appear. Asuras invariably chose boons that granted them great power - and they used it to destroy the world and themselves in the process, be it Bhasmasura or Ravana or others.  The saintly, wise chose closeness to God on the other hand. And this automatically led to enlightenment and greatness without their seeking. They served the wo

We just finished celebrating Navarathri, 2021. I received many forwards about Navarathri - the significance, dress colour code, stories and more! The energy during Navarathri is generally high - it is a festival where women tend to dress in rich bright colours, the music slokas, pujas all add to a general lift in energies. Meeting friends, singing/chanting together, sharing prasadam, subtly we are all uplifted and in higher spirits, more smiles, more laughter, more singing, it is an uplift of energies. When we feel good about ourselves and our spiritual energies are high, we can handle any setback with greater dignity and grace. We can handle successes also with a greater balance and grace, both ways. Either success or challenges, we handle them with a grace. Vice versa, when our energies are low, even a tiny challenge can shake us more than it should. We do go through cycles. When my 12 year old asked about the three Goddesses - Parvati, Lakshmi and Saraswati, and asked me if they are

My Appa, Sri T.P. Sreeraman composed many slokas on Trikkurappan, the Shiva deity of our temple Trikkur, a cave temple in Trichur district.  Appa also taught Rudram to many after his retirement. Appa chanted Rudram daily as part of his prayers.  From left, Appa, Vaidyanatha Vadhyar, Ramachandran Mama Drukpuresha or Trikkurappan temple is a temple on top of a small mount in Trikkur, a picturesque village with the Manali River flowing through it. Legend has it that the small mount fell off as Hanuman carried the mountain with Sanjeevani to Lanka. There is a small Hanuman carving on the walls of our temple. The temple is a cave temple with a Lingam and worshipped as Soma (Shiva + Uma). Appa said there is a carving of Ganapathi on the cave walls.  One can climb the mount and the scenic beauty of the area is revealed in complete from this elevation, the green tapestry of coconut trees, paddy fields, the Western Ghats in the distance, the cool breezes, the feeling so serene and complete.  Th

 After many years, Zurich saw about a feet or two of heavy snowfall in day. In a few hours, Zurich and around were transformed from a desolate gray in to a luminous winter wonderland. Some makeover! The beauty both breathless and serene, the air so fresh.. the trees bending under the weight of snowfall like a heavy fruit laden branch.. the white of the snow so bright, so luminous.. what magic! Such a pristine, pure sight to behold! Just seeing the snow, feeling it in the hands and just being with it.. a silent communion with Nature and God! The stillness so poignant! There are times when I think God or the higher intellect shows his/her hand in overt ways (usually this is subtle like a bud blooming) and snow is always one such experience! I feel God is playing with his sieve, dusting icing sugar on planet earth, one of his play times.. We humans can at best capture these moments and bow in humility to the creator above, the artist who with a few strokes can create such magic! For the l

Periyava Thunai My esteemed Appa Sri. T.P. Sreeraman and my Chitappa Sri T.P. Gopalakrishnan participated in many Soma Yagams and were directly involved in the 1990 Athirathram at Kundur and in 2004 Apthoryagam at Mulangunathukavu, both in Kerala.    Maha Periyava gave Appa two duties when Appa visted Periyava after his retirement in April, 1988. One was to take care of my grandfather and the second was to work on the rejuvenation of Yagams in Kerala. Appa thus became an instrument of Periyava in this lofty endeavour and devoted his energies completely to this. My Chitappa was like Lakshmana to Rama, accompanying Appa and assisting Appa in every way he could. Together, they went to Sengalipuram, Koneru Rajapuram and other villages in TamilNadu which in the early 1990s saw many yagams.  In the software and manufacturing world, we have Lean, Six Sigma, TQM, ISI and other standards which layout processes and methods for measuring quality. When it came to our daily life and prayers, we had