Meandering thoughts - Sita Sreeraman

Hinduism, pre-independence and a couple of decades after, was mostly a religion of subtraction. From material wealth to the reduction/subtraction of the six evil tendencies, it was about subtraction.  --- Lust or desire ( Kama), Anger (Krodha), Greed ( Lobha), Attachment (Moha) , Arrogance (Mada), Jealousy (Matsarya)  The four Ashramas/life-stages in life was about subtraction   --- Brahmacharya (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (retired) and Sannyasa (renunciate)  A way of life to move from outer experiences to inner! Ostentation was eschewed. Appa used to jokingly remark that silk sarees were worn to create jealousy and want in other women. And how his mother had only 2 silk sarees and she was content with it, though she had the resources to buy more.  Wise words, jokingly said, but so true!  On a serious note, Kanchi Maha Periyava, Jagadguru Chandra Sekara Sarawati and also Sringeri Maha Periyava Chandra Sekara Bharati, Ramana Maharishi are...

Ah Spring! Nothing like the fresh greens and explosion of flowers in spring! Mother Earth's bounty, after a few months of winter, the change in landscape is special! Every year, I wait with bated breath as first the snow-drops make their appearance, followed by daffodils, primulas, magnolias, hyacinths and cherry blossoms and then the magic happens - the leaves appear, the green so fresh, so heart-touchingly green, I pause, I keep taking pictures but then they never ever match what the human eye and heart can see and feel! There is something so special about this green against the backdrop of the blue blue skies, probably after months of gray scapes, it fills me with such optimism and joy!

I grew up in my hometown of Trichur, Kerala. Vadukkunathan temple, Kuttangulangara, Sankarangulangara, Paramekavu, Thiruvambady, Punkunnum Shiva Kshetram, Ponganam Ramaswamy temples and the temples in my ancestral village Trikkur were some of the temples we visited quite often. Early in the morning on any monsoon day, with the rain and the accompanying gentle breeze, visiting a temple was something special, something I treasure, especially some of my visits to Vadukkunathan temple and Trikkur temples during this season. Kerala temples with their conical tile structures, burning oil and ghee lamps, the smell of sandal paste, turmeric paste, home grown local flowers and leaves as adornments are special - very earthy and powerful. No artifice is allowed here. One mandatorily has a hair bath before entering the temple. There is such an emphasis on purity(hence local flowers and ingredients) and cleanliness, that one can't help but feel pure and serene. The electric lighting within ...

A beautiful poem that I found in the book - "'Nonviolent Communication" by Marshall Rosenberg Words are Windows (Or They’re Walls) by Ruth Bebermeyer I feel so sentenced by your words I feel so judged and sent away Before I go I got to know Is that what you mean to say? Before I rise to my defense, Before I speak in hurt or fear, Before I build that wall of words, Tell me, did I really hear? Words are windows, or they’re walls, They sentence us, or set us free. When I speak and when I hear, Let the love light shine through me. There are things I need to say, Things that mean so much to me, If my words don’t make me clear, Will you help me to be free? If I seemed to put you down, If you felt I didn’t care, Try to listen through my words To the feelings that we share.

This year, autumn has been spectacular! The harsh summer has given way to a extended autumn this year and the colour changes to scarlet, yellow, gold, orange have been the most vivid I have seen thus far. I came across this quote from Gretchen Rubin 's blog, whose newsletters I subscribe to and have read her books. "Oh! Old rubbish! Old letters, old clothes, old objects that one does not want to throw away. How well nature has understood that, every year, she must change her leaves, her flowers, her fruit and her vegetables, and make manure out of the mementos of her year!" – The Journal of Jules Renard This quote fits in so neatly with the current themes of my life -  autumn leaves wherever I walk and themes of decluttering/minimalism that are running through me (Marie Kondo books, Mimimalist sites etc).

A tree stays put, it grows roots and stays in one place. Unlike a bird or animal it can't move. In summer, it bears the heat. In winters, it bears the cold. During rains, it welcomes the showers and also bears the thunder and lightning. It has no refuge, no shelter for it cannot move.  Yet, it offers sanctuary, be it heat or cold or rain to many. It's flowers and fruits are a source of joy and nourishment to many! It might not be a traveler yet many a traveler seek refuge under its shade! Whatever happens, it takes it all in - serenely, solemnly, quietly, without judgement.  How like a woman/mother is the tree - nourishing, nurturing, a refuge from the storms of life!

With Amma being here, it is time for Malayalam and Telugu movies with a carnatic/dance theme... making a list to watch. We are partial to Mohanlan and K.Vishwanath, the movies below being mostly either the actor's or the director's... ************ Malayalam movies ***************** Bharatham Pavithram Kamaladalam Kutumba Sametham Thenmavin Kombathu His Highness Abdullah Soorya Gaythri Vanaprastham Agni Sakshi (Shobana, Rajit Kapur) Pranayam Balettan Madambi Mithunam Vadakkumnadhan ************ Telugu movies ***************** Swati Kiranam Sirivennala Saptapadi Shrutilayalu Sankarabharanam Ananda Bhairavi