Meandering thoughts - Sita Sreeraman

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