"Lead kindly light "

An extract from my Radio broadcast on the theme of Spiritual Dimensions of Deepavali:

"In Dwapar Yuga, on Naraka Chaturdashi, Lord Krishna was said to have slain the demon king Narakasur to rescue the 16,108 gopikas of Brindavan from captivity. In current times, evil can enter our lives, not necessarily in the form and shape of legendary asuras! When we slay all that is negative in our mind, we get to free the 16108 nadis in our body from demonic influences ~ anger, frustration, jealousy and the like. Freeing our mind from disorder and demonic influence is the true Narakasura vadam."

Happy Deepavali to all readers.

Vanathukul Tiruppur

Lyrics of Dr. Arunji's song and meaning.

வனத்துக்குள்  திருப்பூர்  சுந்தர திருப்பூர்  

In the green, is the adorable Tiruppur

நடுவது வெற்றுச் செடியல்ல, இதுவே எங்கள் எதிர்காலம் 

What we plant is not a mere sapling, but our very future

காண்பது பகல் கனவல்ல, திருப்பூர் நினைத்தால் நிஜமாகும் 

Not a day dream, a vision of Tiruppur soon to become a reality 

செடிகள் வளர்ந்து மரங்களாகும், இலைகள் விழுந்து உரங்களாகும்

The little sprouts will grow into lush greenery; their leaves shall manure the offsprings

மலர்கள் காலடி தடங்களாகும் பறவைகள் தங்கும் வனங்களாகும்

Pathways strewn with flowers, a veritable  haven for birds

இணைந்திட வேண்டும் லட்சம் கரங்கள், வளர்த்திட வேண்டும் லட்சம் மரங்கள்//

Let thousands of hands  join together and  nurture a massive green force

பெரியவர் சிறியவர் பேதமில்லாமல் பெண்களும் ஆண்களும் சேர்ந்துழைத்தால்

When this community of ceaseless crusaders rise above age and gender differences

சிந்திடும் வியர்வையின் ஒவ் வொருமுத்தும் மலராய் கனியாய் மரங்களில் சிரிக்கும்// 

Each ounce of our effort will beam with bliss in the flowers and fruits of elegant trees.

மழை வளம் ஓங்க  நீர்வளம் ஓங்க,  சுவாசக் காற்றில் மலர்மணம் கூட

When we ask for a raise in rain and reserves of water

When we ask for fragrant flowers to fill the air with aroma

அன்னை நம்மை கேட்கின்றாள், நெய்து தருவோம் பசுமைப் போர்வை

Mother Nature is asking us the resource for the same: a green blanket

Let’s weave it for her.  

Listen to the song sung by Dr. Arunji

Sampradaya - Festivity farsighted

Be it Ganesh Utsav, Dussera Durga Puja, Bombe Habba - Navaratri Kolu, display of idols and dolls occupy pride of place. When we explore the origin of these festivities, we cannot but admire the wisdom and farsightedness of our forebears. Traditionally ours being a strong pastoral, agrarian society, it became imperative to encourage dredging and de-silting of irrigation canals and riverbeds. To this end, idol-centric festivals provided strong fillip in demand for eco -friendly clay,sourced from such dredging operations.

Navaratri brings forth creative art & craft skills of family members on themes inspired by legends -Itihasas and Puranas. Pujas, rendition of sacred hymns and bhajans add to the flavour. In many locations, Garba is performed in honour of Devi followed by Dandiya in merriment with energy and enthusiasm. Yet another dimension of the festivity that brings people closer in joyful, interactive ambience.

Our Dussera greetings to all!

Art of Silence Retreat at Gobichettipalayam - Dec 24-27, 2015

Early enrollment requested via email mentioned below:

Doing seva with wisdom.

27th September 2015

                         

                           
It was a pleasant Sunday morning when exuberant leaders engaged in community service turned up at a City auditorium, to listen to, among others, our capsule on Leadership in Not- for -Profit, Charitable Institutions.

It was opportune to share with them wisdom from Dharma Shastras, especially aspects like When, What, How and Whom to Give. Whilst rendering personal charity or service, essential to keep out barter; making no conditions and giving out of one’s own bounty.

Uttisthata Jagrata

Gokulashtami surprise - 2015

 Sometimes the best moments in life are the spontaneous ones. The ones that just happen in the middle of the day when you're least expecting it!

The setting was rural. As we were driving towards the venue of Janmashtami satsang, we got a call from the hosts to halt at a spot some distance away. When we did, we spotted an assembly of devotees - men, women and children from the village headed by their temple Priest. After brief traditional honours, the assembly commenced a surprise march towards the venue singing folk style, graceful kolattam (dandiya) included. In a resonant voice,  the lead singer could introduce our profile in his artfully chosen lyrics! 

By the time a three- hour session of nectarine Krishna bhajans ended, the venue transformed into a veritable Gokul aayarpadi itself!

We availed the occasion to present saplings and to ask the locals to take a pledge to plant trees in large numbers.

Dedicated service in uplifting human spirit

Life of plants revolves around worship of light. They awaken with the aspiration to experience the descending rays of the morning sun. White Jasmine – mallige, for its quality of purity, the five petals of Champaka for the five noble qualities: Sincerity, Faith, Aspiration, Devotion and Surrender.  Contemporary research has established that the presence of flowers elevate human minds and uplift the human spirit.

When Lord Krishna came to Mathura to vanquish Kamsa, he saw a poor florist carrying garlands for the King.  Krishna asked him for one. The startled florist gladly gave a beautiful garland saying “How blessed am I to see your divine form which is elusive even to sages and great men. What more grace do I need”?

Centuries later, this story left a deep impression on the mind of Vishnu Chitta, father of Sri Andal. He realised that preparing and offering flower garlands to the Lord daily was indeed a noble service in the path of bhakti and mukti. He bought a small piece of land, converted it into a garden with a variety of flowers and tulsi. His daughter she too developed a love for flower garlands.

Said to be an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, Sri Andal occupies a unique place in the pantheon of 12 Alwars, the outstanding poet-mystics of Southern India. Images from our Divya satsang at Sri Andal Jayanthi- August 2015.

To have a larger view of the image please click on the image.

Memories from Venice of the East:

31 July 2015

Being a City of Lakes,Udaipur has rightly earned the stripes in being hailed as the Venice of the East. Who can forget Kipling’s celebrated Bagheera of Oodeypore in The Jungle Book and the Indian sequences shot here for the Bond film Octopussy!

One cannot step into this place without being touched by its rich history as the capital of Mewar Kingdom. To-date the residents here rejoice and revere the name of their brave heart Rana Pratap Singh who underwent immense hardship to preserve the name of his family and his Motherland from facing defeat – a life so bright that the other name for freedom could have been Maharana Pratap.

Guru Purnima 2015 was dedicated to the Environment with a successful Tree Planting drive in the District. Seva Angels took the pledge to sustain and nourish the plants well beyond the Day.

It was a delight to be part of these celebrations and to lead a vibrant satsang held in the evening.

When comes such another?

“President with a difference” said Sri Sri in his tribute to Dr.Kalam.

Was reminiscing the moments with him at the grand finale of AOL Silver Jubilee Celebrations in 2006.   An extraordinary turnout of people from across the world was electrified by Dr.Kalam’s address.

Knowing his passion for Tirukkural, my thanksgiving address contained reference to a popular couplet “Vellathanaythu Malar neetam Mandartham Ullathanayatu Uyarvu” - The height of the water in a pond determines the height to which a lily would grow; likewise it is the height of one’s thoughts that determines the heights to which one can aspire for!

It was time for the President to leave. As he was stepping out across the magnificent stage secured on both flanks, he suddenly stopped to greet and ask: “Those lines were apt and touched my heart. Which college did you go to?”  I replied “Ji interestingly I am an alumnus of St.Josephs, Tiruchy,  a decade and a half behind you!”  He   beamed his trademark smile and parted with an invite to meet him sometime at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Several posts posthumously confirm that he never failed to strike such endearing chords of love and humility with people.

When comes such another?

Guru Purnima Utsav at Udaipur and Thaen Amudham Satsang at Srivilliputtur