Sakthidharan N
Musings from a beginner
November 05, 2024
Mystery of Chanakys's death
November 04, 2024
Return to roots- a reflection for a new journey of peaceful life.
Tottathil Tamarakshan Pillai, often called TTP, has had a hectic week filled with meetings, interviews, and challenges related to production targets, leaving him exhausted. He yearns for a weekend of complete rest. After more than 15 years in various senior positions across different corporations in the Gulf, he feels that he has had enough of this strenuous lifestyle.
He suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to transfer money to both his mother and wife separately this month. Feeling nostalgic for his family, friends, and hometown, he began to look through the emails and letters that had been left unattended for some time. He particularly considered the idea of settling down in his native town. His close friend, who had organized the correspondence in alphabetical order for no particular reason, had left it neatly arranged on the bedside table as Pillai scanned through it.
What is a viable business idea to start in my hometown to promote a peaceful life after returning from expatriation?
Aleena Thomas: Sales of Kerala State Lottery Tickets.
Babu Kallingal: Try to become a Panchayat President; everything else will follow.
Charles Korea: Brandy trade is increasing in demand, and many people are buying brandy from beverage sub-agencies where you have applied to the government.
Damu Poriyath: Join CPM and experience a life of ease without the need to work.
Epen Varughese: A recruitment agency specializing in hiring foreign workers, assisting with visa and travel document arrangements, and more.
Fathima Moidu: Spiritual business. No Investment. Canvass people for
Govindan Nair: When you return, try to keep the money you have. First, buy a cane chair and place it in a sit-out area. Sit on it, buy a few newspapers, and spend your time reading. Food will be provided from time to time.
Hariharan Potti: Don’t wait to start your work or business as soon as you arrive. Delaying too long may lead to running out of cash and having to return home. Make sure to deposit your money in a Co-operative Bank so you can earn good interest.
Indira Korath: Start a beauty parlor and hire two or three young beauticians. The ambiance should be excellent, and your income will be assured.
Jamaludeen: Fish trading requires less investment and offers the potential for greater profits throughout the year.
Kunhikannan: A small tea stall offers native snacks like parippu vada, pazhampori, and Bajji, and boasts a thriving business.
Lazer Pothiyil: My opinion is that it would be very, very good if shoe, bag, and umbrella shops were started on the part of any school and near the town area.
Moideen Mamprath: If you have the cash, consider purchasing an affordable small plot of land nearby that has access to water. On that land or your current property, you can take out a loan to secure government benefits and insurance. Use the funds to build a stable and acquire five or six buffaloes. These buffaloes can be used on the farm during the growing season and can also be sold for meat at local markets.
Nanu S. Pillai: If your current work is going smoothly, consider postponing your plans to go home for now and focus on settling in. Instead of using the company ticket, buy your own ticket and enjoy your time with your family.
Obaidullah Kareem: Start a travel agency as a broker, earning commission on bus tickets between minor and major stations in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, or Karnataka. This can be a lucrative business.
Parvathy Puranthoppil: Consider starting a business in Tamil Nadu instead of Kerala to live happily.
Quttabuddin Hyder Ali: Open a bakery goods and refreshing beverages shop.
Ramesh R.: Select a suitable location for a small shop selling newspapers, magazines, books, and writing materials. Aim for a relaxed atmosphere with less business stress.
Sadashivan Kuruppath: A distribution agency for paints and related activities can be profitable.
Tomy George: Be cautious; starting a business in a country with communist influences can be challenging.
Ubaid Hasan: Stick to your current profession; this minimizes risks associated with starting anew.
Viswanathan Iyer: Affordable meal delivery services are essential for senior citizens in Kerala who face age-related health issues and cannot manage household tasks, including cooking.
Wilson James: Sports equipment is in high demand. Stores that stock these items can sell them for significant profits.
Xavier Johnson: Cattle, chicken, and pig farms offer significant business opportunities, especially when supplying college hostels, hospital canteens, and military camps.
Yasodharan Thambi: Consider obtaining a franchise for Ayurvedic and homeopathic products. This option offers low risk and the potential for steady income.
Zakaria Kurien: A mini supermarket offering stationery, provision items, and vegetables is rapidly growing, leading to reasonable and consistent profit.
The mobile phone rang persistently, interrupting his sleep and dreams. It was a call from the Chief General Manager, requesting an immediate meeting with His Highness the Sheik. TTP was to personally collect the promotion order and take on the role of Salala Project Head. Without hesitation, TTP left to meet the Sheik, setting his dreams aside for later.
October 31, 2024
Deepavali and Kashi Sri Annapoorani
Deepavali, the festival of lights, also celebrates delicious food, especially in Kasi, where the golden deity of Annapoorani, the goddess of nourishment, takes center stage, attracting countless devotees to the temple.
According to the Puranas, Parvati once playfully closed Paramasivan's eyes, which resulted in devastating darkness enveloping the earth and affecting all living beings. To rectify this, Sivan opened his third eye. Feeling remorseful for her playful act, Parvati decided to perform penance on earth. She took residence in Kasi, adopting the name Annapoorani, and was depicted holding a rice bowl in one hand and a serving ladle in the other.
The once-prosperous town fell into the grip of famine, and the King prayed to Annapoorani to relieve their suffering. She answered his prayers and eased the famine. In gratitude, the King asked her to stay in Kasi for eternity to ensure the prosperity of his subjects, and she graciously agreed.
According to the Kasi Kandam, Brahma originally had five heads, and Shiva removed the fifth head, which symbolized ego. To atone for this act, Shiva traveled to Kasi and prayed to Annapoorani to relieve him of the consequences. The Purana states that she offered him a ladle of rice as alms. Since she fed Lord Shiva Himself, devotees pray to her with complete faith and fervor.
The Annakoot festival is celebrated in India each year after Deepavali. On this occasion, the Sri Annapoorna temple attracts a large crowd of devotees. Mountains of fruits, sweets, and cereals are presented before the Goddess and then distributed to the poor as Prasad. Coins are also given to the devotees, and it is believed that anyone who worships these coins will be blessed with a successful and prosperous life.
A highlight of the temple is that every year, on the day before Deepavali, the golden idol of Sri Annapoorna is opened for darshan (viewing). This idol can only be seen on that day, making it a truly remarkable sight. Goddess Annapoorna is seated in the center, holding her bowl and ladle. On her left is Goddess Lakshmi, and on her right is Sri Bhudevi. All of these idols are made of pure gold and are stunning to behold. In front of them stands Shiva, made of silver, asking for alms. A grand procession accompanies the event of Annapoorani in a chariot, adorned with laddoos, which is another highlight during the celebrations.
Sri Annapoorna Temple is located on Dashaswamedh Road, Viswanath Gali, near the Kashi Viswanath Temple in Varanasi.
There is a legend from southern India that tells how Lord Shiva was cured of a curse known as bharamahatya dosha. This curse resulted from Shiva removing one of Lord Brahma's five heads. According to the legend, Brahma's skull became attached to Shiva's hand, earning him the name Kapalieeshwara. The curse was lifted when Shiva was offered food by Annapurna Devi. Consequently, all the tri-devi goddesses are referred to as Annapurna Devi.
O Mother Annapoorna, You Who are always Full (with the gift of Food and Blessings), You Who are the Beloved of Shankara, O Mother Parvati, Please grant me the Alms of Your Grace, to awaken within me Spiritual Knowledge and Freedom from all Worldly Desires.
(**Reposted an article: 'Faith' - The Hindu, dated 28/10/2024, and Nangia Blogs, dated 28/10/2016, with minor modifications)
October 28, 2024
The Legend of Sudarshana Chakra
October 25, 2024
Musings- 5
Guruji
Many people gathered to listen to Guruji's speech. After listening to his motivational speech, I was inspired for a while. I decided to accept his servitude. So, after the speech, I conveyed my request to him backstage. After hearing that, he laughed and said thus.
"Do you think I am a good man? But you don't want that. You have a hundred thousand ways to be like me. But you only have one way to be like yourself and live for yourself. Shouldn't you know that better than me? In that case, you should be enslaved to yourself."
🙏
Typo-error
October 21, 2024
Understanding Mukhalinga of Lord Shiva
The linga is a divine image of Shiva. A linga with one or more human faces is known as Mukhalinga.
As per Linga Purana, Panchanana Shiva represents the five faces of Lord Shiva. It also narrates the significance of Shiva. Each of these faces is assigned a specific aspect.
The names of the five faces of Lord Shiva are: Isana, Tatpurusha, Aghora, Vamadeva, and Sadjyota.
The significance of Five Faces, according to Linga Purana are:-
The upper face is Ishana or Sadashiva, who oversees the sky and is rarely represented. Sadyojata or Mahadeva, the Earth’s protector, is shown on the East face. The West face is Tatpurusha or Nandi, which means “wind” in Sanskrit. Aghora or Bhairava (fire, Agni) faces South, whereas Vamadeva, Uma, or Tamreshvara faces North. In certain writings, the East face is called Tatpurusha, whereas the Western face is called Sadyojata. The five-aspect icon represents the entire universe.
To make it easier for individual Souls to adore him, the almighty, infinite, and eternal God Shiva has shown himself in various forms. “Nishkala” is the name given to the formless shape of Shivalinga. Mukhalingas, on the other hand, are Shivalingas with Shiva’s head on their faces and are classed as “Sakala Nishkala” form.
Five holds a deep significance in Hinduism, especially about Lord Shiva. One of the most venerated mantras of Lord Shiva, Namah-Shivaya, also consists of five syllables.
It must be
noted that Lord Shiva is said to be the supreme lord for the following five
functions:
1. Creation – Srishti:
He creates all the worlds and beings.
2 Preservation –
Sthithi: He is responsible for the continuation of all the worlds and beings.
He is the sustaining power of breath (praneswara) and the digestive power of
fire (jatharagni).
3 Concealment – Tirobhava: He is the one who casts the net of delusion or maya, upon the whole creation. He does it so that the order and regularity of the worlds are not disrupted.
4. Revelation – Anugraha: He is the master of liberation. No one can achieve liberation without his grace and blessings.
5. Destruction – Laya or Samhara: He is the one responsible for death and destruction. However, with this aspect, he is also responsible for the renewal of life and rebirth.
Lord Shiva, revered among Hindus, is believed to exhibit five essential forms of existence, continuation, transformation, purification, and liberation. Consequently, we must recognize Shiva’s five faces and worship him accordingly.
Extension of Mukhalingas:-
Mukhalingas are found throughout India and Nepal. They are also found in the former Champa kingdom, which is now in Vietnam, as well as Cambodia and Borneo in Southeast Asia, and Afghanistan in western India. Similar images of phalluses with carved faces from Greece and Celtic Europe resemble Mukhalingas of Shiva. A five-faced Mukhalinga from Bhita, dated to the second century BCE, is one of the earliest examples of the Mukhalinga.
Om Namah Shivaya 🙏🏻
October 18, 2024
Shani Dev: The Powerful Deity of Karma and Justice
|| नीलांजनसमाभासं रविपुत्रं यमाग्रजम्।
छायामार्तण्डसम्भूतं
तं नमामि शनैश्चरम् ||
Meaning: ‘Looking like a blue cloud, the sun of the Sun, he is the foremost of those who control. He can even put his shadow over the glorious sun. To that Saturn, the emblem of control, we bow down in devotion.’
This mantra is a lovely
description of Shani Dev's distinctive traits and pleasantries, and this evokes
his blessings on anybody who recites them with dedication and perseverance. The
lines are rather simple to comprehend and recite
It is believed that Shani Dev never bothers others unnecessarily. We don't get anything we don't deserve. This maha mantra thus helps reduce the Karmic liabilities that can cause suffering in a person’s life. Nobody is immune to the karmic cycle's grip. This mantra helps reduce troubles in life.
Shani Bhagwan (also known as Sani, Shani Dev, Sani Maharaj, and Chayyaputra) is one of the most powerful deities in the traditional Hindu religion. Shani is the harbinger of bad luck and retribution, and practicing Hindus pray to Shani to ward off evil and remove personal obstacles.
The name Shani comes from the root Sanaischara, meaning slow mover (in
Sanskrit, "Shani" means "the planet Saturn" and
"chara" means "movement"); and Shanivara is the Hindu name
for Saturday, which is dedicated to Shani Baghwan.
Shani is the son of Surya, the Hindu Sun god, and Chaya ("Shade"), a servant of Surya who acted as the surrogate mother for Surya's wife Swarna. While Shani was in Chaya's womb, she fasted and sat under the hot sun to impress Shiva, who intervened and nurtured Shani. As a result, Shani turned black in the womb, which is said to have enraged his father, Surya.
When Shani opened his eyes for the first time as a baby, the sun went into an eclipse. In a rage of his own, Shani temporarily turned his father black.
The elder brother of the Hindu god of death, Yama, Shani delivers justice while a person is alive, and Yama serves justice after a person's death. Shani's other relatives are his sisters—the goddess Kali, destroyer of evil forces, and the goddess of the hunt Putri Bhadra. Shiva, married to Kali, is both his brother-in-law and his guru.
According to Vedic astrology, Shani is one of the nine planetary deities called the Navagraha. Each deity (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn) represents a different face of destiny. Shani's destiny is karmic, making individuals pay for or benefit from the good or evil they do during their lifetime.
Saturn is the slowest of the planets in astrology, staying in a particular sign for about two and a half years. Saturn is most influential in the seventh house of the Zodiac and is considered beneficial for Taurus and Libra ascendants.
In Hindu astrology, an individual is believed to be most susceptible to bad luck when Saturn is positioned in their house or in the signs before and after their home. Consequently, once every 27 to 29 years, a believer can anticipate 7.5 years of misfortune, occurring in intervals of 2.5 years (3 times).
Shani Baghwan is often considered cruel and easily enraged, but he is also the greatest troublemaker and well-wisher, a strict but beneficent god. He is the god of justice who oversees the 'dungeons of the human heart and the dangers that lurk there.'
Temples dedicated to Lord Shani are spread across India, each with unique traditions and rituals.
Among the most revered is the Shani Shingnapur
Temple in Maharashtra. Here an ancient, self-emerged black stone idol of Lord
Shani stands unguarded in an open space. It symbolizes the deity’s omnipresence
and invincibility.
The Shani Dham temple in the capital city of Delhi has the world's tallest statue of Lord Shani. The idol was installed in 2003, and since then, the temple has become a major attraction for all devotees of Lord Shani.
Thirunallar is a small town in
Karaikal, Puducherry. It is best known for its temple dedicated to Lord Saturn
or Shani, Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple. It is believed that King Nala got
relief from his disease caused by the influence of Saturn after worshipping at
this temple. The place has been called the Nala Theertam ever since then. Devotees
from all over the world come here to bathe and get rid of any problems or
diseases caused by the past karmas.
Another revered temple
dedicated to Lord Shani, the Shanichara temple, Morena, near Gwalior is visited by devotees from all
over the world. According to the legend, when Lord Shani was thrown by Lord
Hanuman from Lanka, he came and fell at this place.
The legend of Lord
Shani continues to resonate with believers and scholars alike. It symbolizes
the eternal principles of justice and righteousness. In every phase of life,
his presence acts as a guiding force. It reminds us to embrace virtue and lead
a life free of deceit.
As the embodiment of justice and the celestial
magistrate, he stands unwavering, guiding humanity toward the path of
righteousness and karma.
October 16, 2024
"Chembarathi" ( Hibiscus )
No one knows my troubles. Everyone loves roses. What did I do wrong to leave me like this? Everyone is driving me crazy.
What people used to like about me?. When I went to the temple in the morning, I was taken for the deity's puja. The women of your house needed me to anoint and oil their heads. Now all of you have killed my distant relatives. I am lucky to be alive.
But now, this new generation only allows me to grow in the courtyard of this old family home. In the past, when my grandmother was in the family, medicine, and oil were made from me. All the children who came when the grandmother died last month are going to turn this family home into a resort. Yesterday, a lorry filled with new flower pots and unknown plants arrived here. It was the wind that came from the south side of the palace that told me. He is the only one I have here to talk about. I smiled at the plant in the pot in the distance, but she was terribly serious,... the flowers didn't laugh either. I am trying to remember the name the wind said. They even sit in the living room of the big house. They seem to dislike the sun, rain, and light.
In the morning, I heard the sound of a car and looked up to see a yellow machine with a trunk like an elephant approaching me. Later, I was uprooted and thrown into the nearby river along with other debris. Despite this, I still held onto the hope of survival if I could settle down somewhere with a bit of soil. However, as I tried to take root in the soil, the rain and wind came, and the river water carried me away to a different place through a wild path.
I opened my eyes and looked around. No, I am not hurt. I am completely safe. This is a jungle. I don't know if I can live here without fearing anyone. It is good to try to root myself in this unknown jungle. In any case, even if I have to die in a country that sees me as crazy, I am not.
Or why should I go back? I think everyone in a country who has been likening me to madness and imagining me to be just a flower for the madman will feel at peace when I am gone.
=========================================
October 12, 2024
Wayside view
An old man in dirty clothes, smoking a beedi, sitting on the corner bench was a daily sight for me as I waited at the bus stand. It became a habit for me to keep looking at him until the bus arrived. Some days, I would see a young man getting out of a car and giving him money. I thought of the young man as a well-dressed gentleman. However, I couldn't understand why the old man would murmur or scold him when the money was being paid.
One day, the young boy talked to him longer than usual and gave him more money. Then he got into the car and left the place. I never saw the young man near the old man again.
That day, there was a lightning bus strike. Then, everyone went back home without going to work. I walked to the old man's usual place. He was sitting there as usual with a beedi and smoke around.
I asked, "Doesn't it take a lot of money to smoke beedi like this all the time? Isn't it because the young man used to give you money and you scold him that he doesn't come nowadays?"
The old man slowly looked at me and then said in a dry voice, "He is my son. Now that he has sold the house and land and moved to a new flat, will I not be his father? How long will he leave me here alone in this rented house behind the bus stand and not share the money he got from selling the land where his mother sleeps? He came to give her share of the money to me last time. I know he will come to call me one day. He is my only son.
I stood there for a while, not knowing what to say, and then I walked away as if I were his only son...
Is this not sufficient to break the spirits of young people? Sometimes, a few words can reveal a lifetime of pain. Be kind, always.
October 10, 2024
To lie or not to lie, that is the question?
Many of us have noticed how small babies are given small balls of food, with the caregiver showing them the moon in the bright sky while coaxing the baby to eat the full quantity. Some mischievous children who do not finish their food will see another side of the mother. She may scare them by saying that a big demon with horns and teeth is in the sky and will take away the whole food and the baby while they sleep, or she may share some other fearful incident or story to force them to eat and obey.
Stories become ingrained in our minds during childhood. Don't mention if you grew up in old family houses with grandparents. Nowadays, fewer grandmothers used to tell numerous mythological stories and folk tales. Many of the things presented to us as stories in childhood are simply lies. So, why don't we begin lying?
We have another story from the Epic Mahabharata: When it was certain that Dronacharya, the mighty warrior, couldn't be defeated and killed, Lord Krishna found a way and suggested to Bhima to kill an elephant named Ashwatama, and then claimed to Drona that he had killed Drona's son Ashwathama. However, Drona did not believe Bhima's words and approached Yudhisthira.
Drona was aware of Yudhisthira's unwavering commitment to truth. When Drona asked Yudhisthira if his son was truly killed in battle by Bhima, Yudhisthira responded with the cryptic Sanskrit phrase "Ashwathama hathaha iti, narova kunjarova", which means "Ashwathama is dead. But, I am not certain whether it was a human or an elephant."
Krishna also knew that Yudhisthira couldn't lie outright. Following Krishna's instructions, the other warriors blew trumpets and conches, creating a tumultuous noise in such a way that Drona only heard "Ashwathama is dead." Eventually, Drona, disarmed out of grief, was killed through trickery and deceit.
That's how we, who were innocent, begin telling small lies. Is it such a serious offense? Parents attempt to discourage such 'harmless' habits in children with corporal punishment.
Many believe lying is a bad thing and that those who lie will be punished by God. Who on earth has not lied? Why would people have started telling lies? Is lying such a big sin? Isn't lying an art in a sense?
In today's language, a "lie" is the act of knowingly providing false information to another person. There are various types of lies, such as innocent lies, dangerous lies, circumstantial lies, coercive lies, stonewalled lies, etc.
Many heroes in our society share their experiences in the form of stories. These stories are often exaggerated but generally accepted as valid. This is why most people enjoy listening to these storytellers. In some situations, it is acceptable to bend the truth, and it should not be considered a crime. When we think about the stories created by writers, they are essentially lies, but we appreciate them as products of imagination. In this light, it could be argued that not all lies should be considered crimes.
Sometimes, the tranquility of society is disrupted by false propaganda spread by individuals who are willing to harm others or themselves. It is important to oppose only those falsehoods that are harmful or distressing to others.
"Lying is a unique ability given to humans by God, unlike other animals. Humans had to learn to use this ability wisely. But, one might wonder, did God forget that the same man who dared to eat the forbidden fruit should also show wisdom in using this ability?"
In any case, healthy and enjoyable lies can be beneficial. Judging whether a lie is a crime should be based on the intention behind the lie.
Do you agree?. I will leave it to your better judgment.
October 07, 2024
Witness to a Comedy of Devotion and Drama
Much later, after Maharshi Valmiki, Tulsidas, Kambar, and many others had written the Ramayana, Sri Ramananda Sagar dared to adapt the epic into a television serial for the multitude of devotees and non-believers.
Its waves rippled in every
corner of India. In Madhya Bharat, Gwalior is no different from the evolution
of visual culture in India.
The changes that the Ramayana
serial made at that time in all areas of life are not small. The contribution
of the Ramayana serial in starting the trend of people squatting in front of
the TV is worth mentioning. People refused to travel. Weddings and other
special events on Sundays are not attended. Even the buses and local trains were
less crowded at that time. The elders at home started making some small changes
in their prayer times. It was heard that nearby temples were getting petitions
addressed to their favorite God to deny Yama, the God of death permission to
land on earth every Saturday from noon to Sunday evening. Behind it was the
concern about the availability of people to take care of the dead body and
perform cremation rather than their appetite to watch the Ramayana.
Back in those days, television wasn't as common in every household as it is today. As a result, people would flock to houses with TVs to watch popular shows like Chitrageet and Ramayana, similar to how people gather to watch a cricket or football match. Over time, fans of Ramayana gained the privilege to watch the show in any house with a TV during its broadcast, much like how anyone can visit a temple to pray without needing to be acquainted with the deity. No one needs to teach a drunkard how to find a bar in an unfamiliar place! Similarly, they had a particular determination to reach homes with televisions, no matter how far they seemed from the tall antennas. So, even when unfamiliar faces appeared in the audience, the television owners closed their eyes.
Its waves rippled in every corner of India. In Madhya Bharat, Gwalior is no different from the evolution of visual culture in India. I was stationed in Gwalior as part of my service career.
Just because we have a television at home, we have become involuntary participants in this social service. As it was once said, "Mata Pita Guru Daivam," people have turned it into one of our duties. The number of viewers, which was originally four or five, gradually grew to twenty and thirty. Since there was not enough space in the hall, both young and old people watched this great event from the balcony and above the window in our home. Some of them, finding sitting quietly and watching Ramayana to be a boring event, chose this place and occasion as a platform to display their adventures and personal tastes. The sponge started oozing through the cuts in the clean sofa in our house. The walls were covered with handprints, footprints, and dried noses up to three feet high, and over time, the place began to feel like a Treta Yuga setting.
After the show, the hall was empty of spectators. It resembled a festival field after a ballet, scattered with paper chits, shells, dirt, and dust. Meanwhile, during the show, there were wedding invitations, profanity, food exchanges for midday meals using a barter system, and other small romances. I used to interrupt and discourage all such romantic gestures, as I was not very interested in finding a place for love outside of my own family, which provided so many comforts.
As the Ramayana serial progressed, people's devotion gradually increased. Their rivalry was more about displaying one’s devotion than real piety. Their leader was Suman, our next-door neighbor, who was an ardent devotee of Sri Ram. We, who put our pride first, could only watch helplessly as everything slipped out of our hands.
Their belief was that Lord Ram and his companions were actually manifesting for these devotees every week. Suman and her team will arrive half an hour before the start of the show. Then there will be a performance of Bhajan, Akhandanama Japam, etc. After a few days, they started to offer Poha, misri, nuts, and jaggery according to their artistic taste. To accompany this, they selected a presentation song to be played before the start of the show. I was hesitant to object because the event was organized by our neighbors and my wife had agreed to participate in the exchange of mythological and devotional events. I was also worried that Suman, who was known for being outspoken, might spread rumors about us if we took a different stance, especially because we are from the far south.
The serial and related art programs continued to progress. The sofa was completely stripped down, leaving only the springs and cover. The murals on the walls reached a height of about five feet. Each week, we grew more eager to see the serial end as soon as possible, while Ramananda Sagar was determined to drag it out as long as possible.
Amid prayers, chanting, and counting, Suman would interject with dialogues to convey the depth of her devotion. Concerned that others might doubt their sincerity, they intensified their counting and chanting. The situation escalated when a couple more devoted disciples arrived to offer support. All the neighbors, drawn by the commotion, were already present at the scene.
It was when our landlord, Lakmi Chand Jain, intervened as the situation started to escalate. He abruptly turned off the power supply, switched off the TV, rang the bell, and dismissed the Ramayana school. He then addressed the disgusted and angry audience, explaining that the dreaded dacoit, Lakkan Singh Tomar, had escaped from the Central jail the previous night. The police had information suggesting that he was hiding near the Hanuman Temple in the Moti Nagar area, close to our vicinity. The Superintendent of Police had ordered utmost vigilance and silence until the dacoit was apprehended.
Anyway, due to these developments and with the support of some tough police decisions, the locals excluded us from this social service sector. With that, our Sundays slowly returned to normal and our house issued a notice of giving up its position as Serial Theatre. But not before LC Jain forfeited our lease rent caution deposit for damaging his walls and corridors, dirty and filthy.
Note:
I am compelled to inform my loyal readers about these challenging truths that have been hidden for so long. The TV series aired from 1985 to 1987.
October 03, 2024
Becoming a Fakir .
Becoming a Fakir: Mahatma Gandhi’s Iconic Loincloth Attire
Nearly a century ago, Winston Churchill was overwhelmed by Mahatma Gandhi’s attire. In a moment of anger, he called Gandhi, a ‘half-naked seditious fakir’!
“It is alarming and
also nauseating to see Mr Gandhi, an Inner Temple lawyer, now become a
seditious fakir of a type well known in the East, striding half-naked up the
steps of the Viceregal Palace, while he is still organizing and conducting a
defiant campaign of civil disobedience, to parley on equal terms with the
representative of the King-Emperor.”
His humble clothing was in non-violent defiance of the British Rule–a message that he wore on himself for the rest of his life. Yet, the choice of clothing has a deeper story set in the ancient city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
‘Fakir’ is a term derived from the Arabic word
‘faqr’ which means poverty and depicts a person who has renounced his worldly
possessions for a humble, spiritual life. Mahatma Gandhi’s life also took a turn during his South India tour in September 1921.
While crusading for the
civil disobedience movement by boycotting British goods and promoting Khadi, he
was suddenly hit with a practical reality when someone asked- “If the laborers
burn their foreign clothing, where are they to get Khadi from?”
He wrote, “On the way (from Madras – now Chennai – to Madurai by
train) I saw crowds wholly unconcerned with what had happened in our compartment. Almost without exception, they were bedecked in foreign fineries.
I entered into conversation with some of them and pleaded for Khadi. They shook
their heads as they said, ‘We are too poor to buy Khadi and it is so dear.’ I
realized the substratum of truth behind the remark. I had my vest, cap, and full
dhoti on. When these uttered only partial truth, the millions of compulsorily
naked men, save for their langoti four inches wide and nearly as many feet
long, gave through their limbs the naked truth. What effective answer could I
give them, if it was not to divest myself of every inch of clothing I decently
could and thus, to a greater extent, bring myself in line with ill-clad
masses? And this I did the very next morning after the Madura meeting.”
After a few days, this doubt finally translated into concrete action when he reached Madurai to
stay at Sri Ramji Kalyanji’s residence on 175-A, West Masi Street.
He arrived in silence,
with a cloud of doubt about his head, the silent indication of the storm of
revolution awaiting the nation.
On September 22, 1921,
he abandoned his usual attire of a shirt and hat, donning just a simple
white loincloth.
Two issues were worrying Gandhiji. He had been struck by the poverty he had seen around him as far back as during the Champaran satyagraha days. But this visit to South India made it all the more starker to him. The sight of poor peasants working in the fields in their loin clothes and their struggle for food and livelihood troubled him.
This act, not
only highlighted and strengthened the fight to boycott British goods but also
created the everlasting symbol of a common man and his spiritual strength,
reaching out to the hearts of fellow Indians.
“I do not want either my co-workers or readers
to adopt the loincloth. But I do wish that they would thoroughly realize the
meaning of the boycott of foreign cloth and put forth their best effort to get
it boycotted, and to get khadi manufactured. I do wish that they may understand
that swadeshi means everything,” Gandhi clarified, in Navajivan.
“The adoption of a
dhoti and a shawl in the place of an elaborate Gujarati attire is a symbolic
external manifestation of an internal revolution. The dress of liberty turned
into the Mahatma’s identity".( Gurusamy, secretary, Gandhi Museum)
From a simple piece of
cloth to a mass movement, he directed the nation to a path of freedom, not just
from the British, but from its innermost evils that separated its people from
one another.
Much like the khadi
cloth weaved into existence with numerous strands of thread, his journey
embraced the nation in unison!
He may have been mocked as a 'half-naked seditious fakir', but his iconic makeover became the quintessential symbol of the common man and his spiritual strength.
*(Adapted from an article in Navrang, October 2019)
Mystery of Chanakys's death
In ancient India, Acharya Chanakya was highly regarded as a great philosopher, thinker, and politician who extensively influenced economi...
-
A lesser known story from the Ramayana The long and arduous journey, far and wide through the jungles of Kishkinda, in the search f...
-
The Pran Pratishta , or consecration , of the idol of Lord Ram at Ram Temple in Ayodhya took place on 22-01- 2024, amid chanting of hymns...
-
Remains from the past It may look strange but Ordinary mortals like me have (can afford ?) the luxury of " Doing Nothing ", an...