Meandering thoughts - Sita Sreeraman

This post is courtesy my Athai - Mrs. Rukmini Ganesan. Trikkur aathu vazhakkangal  Aadimasam Ganapathi Homam - Evening Baghavathi Sevai  Ganapathi Homam Koottu recipe: 1 kg vellam for 5 coconuts  1 pidi Aval  1 pidi Pori  1 pidi Ellu Varathathu  1 Nenthranpazham  1 Lemon  Karimbu a small piece  Ghee 100 mg  Honey 50 gm   Varatha Arisi Podi Break the coconut and cut into strips of 1-2 inches. Boil  Vellam in 2 litres water,  then filter it. Add coconut to this filtered vellam water, let it boil for sometime. Wash and add avil, mix well.  then add karimbu, pazham, lemon and mix well for 5 minutes. then mix ellu. Switch off the stove and then add pori, boiled ghee, *chor* sound must come. After some time mix honey. Finally add varathaarisi podi. The Kootu for Ganapathy Homam is ready.

  Along with Ganapathi Homam and Bhagavathy Sevai, Maavilakku is a cherished family tradition in our Trikkur home, observed during the Tamil month of Aadi, usually on the last Velli (Friday).  The word Maavilakku comes from two Tamil words: "Maa", meaning rice flour, and "Vilakku", meaning lamp. It is a unique lamp made from rice flour, jaggery, and ghee, with a cotton wick placed in the center and lit as an offering to God. To prepare the Maavilakku, raw rice is washed, dried, and ground into a fine flour. Jaggery is then mixed with the rice flour in the proportion of 1 cup rice flour to ¾ cup jaggery. A little water is added (only if needed) to make a firm dough, which is shaped into a small mound with an indentation in the center to hold the ghee and cotton wick. We make 2 lamps.  Before the lamp is lit, all the cooking for the day is completed. Molagootal, Rasam, and Nellikai Pachadi, (prepared either with fresh nellikai or dried Nelli Mulli, ground with coconut...

It was not easy understanding my Appa. Even when Appa was provoked, he chose to remain non judgemental. He would say it is the sitauation, not the person. So, sometimes it felt like Appa was aloof. I would often argue saying he had to say something. But he would just say - Saramillai (doesn't matter), the sky has not fallen. And smile it away. People collect money or houses or sarees or jewelry. Appa collected spiritual wealth the same way - be it through his regular Sandhyavandanam and Nitya Kriya, his Guru Bhakthi to Maha Periyava and following the Vedic tenets and way of life. Convenience was not the factor, nor was it done for popularity or name. Appa's value system and integrity were also iron-clad, no lying, cheating, saying rude or inappropraite words, treating all with respect, no slights, no power play, taking advantage of others etc. He was very very careful about what he accepted from others , be it as gifts. Runanu Bhandam - I may have to take birth once more he wou...

Sree Ramajayam We, in the south use Sree Rama Jayam, the Hindi equivalent being Jai Sreeram! Sree Navami is fast approaching, as is summer in Rama Janma Bhoomi or Bharat while it is spring in Swiss .i.e Vasantha Rithu.  Sree Navami brings memories of Sree Rama's birthday celebrations on Navami with oonajl or Uyyala songs, Ma Sita's birthday, Sita Rama Kalyanam in the temples, Radham or Ther on the streets, Malli poo, Panakam, Neer-moor and Vadapappu(Kosambari), discourses and kutcherys in the temple premises .Thyagaraja Swami's Utsava Sampradaya Krithis esp Uyaalalooga vayya, Sita Kalyana Vaibhogame, Mamava Sree Pattabhirama by Dikshitar, Jaya Jaya Janaki Kantha - Purandaradasa and Bhadhrachala Ramadas melodies fill the air. People read Ramayana and also do Likhita japam - writing Rama Nama.  Rama Nama is in the air - on people's lips and in their hearts. Rama's name evokes such wonderful emotions - the great son, warrior, husband, brother, friend, master, His digni...

I came across Shonda Rhimes' book "Year of Yes",  a few years ago.  The blurb introduced the author as the creator of Grey's Anatomy and other series. I am not familiar with the series but nonetheless was curious enough to flip through the pages though not the entire book. I told myself good idea, I should also try and say Yes when I can and try to do more diverse things, attempt new things especially ones that I am bit scared of or am uncomfortable doing. Anyways, that was that. I left it at that, I do remember my trying new things and then Covid struck and that was such a closed phase for the entire world.  Many years later today, I got a summary of the book via The Four Minute books. You can read the sumamry here -  https://fourminutebooks.com/year-of-yes-summary/ .   Here is a quote from the book: “I'm not merely lucky. No one who succeeds is merely lucky. Lucky implies I didn't do anything. Lucky implies something was given to me. Lucky implies that I ...

Sometimes things happen unplanned - spontaneously and effortlessly.  The unexpected Darshan of Guruvayoorappan after a dozen years was one such. And the December 2024 Margazhi at the MAA, TTK Road was another, days of beautiful concerts by the best of the best in a Concert Hall known for its acoustics, ambience and renown and where only the best get to perform. The MAA awards the Sangeetha Kalanidhi every year to the best Carnatic musician - vocalist or Instrument vidwans. More info @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangita_Kalanidhi  The Academy set at the end of TTK road in Madras evokes so many emotions in me - nostalgia, reverence and awe; the level of expertise, dedication it demands of its artistes is the highest in the country. Artistes are aware of this honour too; they perform at their best here. And in the traditional format as laid out for the concert, starting with Varnam and then Krithis in familair and unfamiliar ragas with Alaapana, including heavy weight ragams...

Well, love or arranged marriages? This has been a topic of discussion for ever. We all love to see understanding couples and their families, it is one of the most beautiful things to see. No wonder it has been praised in literature, in movies, in music and art and in architecture. Love and relationships make the world go around as has always.  So, in Bharata Desam in Sanatana Dharmam, this relationship between a man and woman was held the most sacred and it was one of the longest of rituals performed in a person's life. Every varnam developed their particular customs and their rules, with good genes and health predominating along with character and priciples. Money was needed to live a decent life and in fact many chose not to marry their children into wealth, since wealth does not equal health, happiness or progeny. The common man until the previous generations chose to marry within their same Varnam, so it was easier for the couples to adjust, family skills are passed on. For eg....

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 as...

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 fa...

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 ...

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 l...

Experience With Maha Periyava By : by T.P. Sriraman (Appa) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvWyv5kPQ7I ************************************************** Experience With Maha Periyava By : HH Mettur Swamigal : (about Gopu Mama) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hkx6SPJsoyA ************************************************** Experience With Maha Periyava By : by Ramian Chitappa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJXWhqhthao ************************************************** Dr. T.I. Radhakrishnan videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUwAW56JHnw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CgP-SpWe-k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGc_VzZGcP0

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...