HANUMAN CHALISA

Hanuman Chalisa is a beautiful prayer (hymn)  written by Indian poet saint Tulsidas dedicated to Lord Hanuman.

Lord Hanuman is a vanar (monkey) and one of the central characters of the Indian epic Ramayan. He was a disciple and a great devotee of Lord Rama. He had immense powers. Strength ,courage, wisdom ,bravery ,devotion were some of the qualities of Lord Hanuman.

This Chalisa recited daily keeps one stable and free from all sorrows and fear.

SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL

Small is beautiful. .If little things had no meaning, they would not have existed. Scientists too, have told us the power,  mystery & glory a tiny atom has.  Without grains of sand,  even the loftiest monuments cannot be built .In fact,  the ultimate brick of the greatest monuments is the sand particle.

There are some people who think too highly of themselves. They have what is called a superiority complex.  This is not good for themselves nor for others.

Then there are again those who think too lowly of themselves.  They have an inferiority complex. .This is , in fact worse than superiority complex . They think they are good for nothing . By continuously thinking that way,  they really become so.  When problems are discussed,  they throw their hands up & declare that small persons like them cannot do anything . They take shelter behind their so called smallness .

But,  we should understand that even a small lamp has the capacity & privilege to give light .When we light a small earthen lamp, it sheds it’s humble light without any hesitation . It does not look around to see if any other lamp is burning in its vicinity or not.  It is content to shed it’s own light .  It does not even ponder for a second to think how much darkness can be dispelled by its light. For it only thinks that its  light can bring a lot of difference, however small it is.

So let us not be dejected about our smallness…Each one of us is unique in our own way.  As they say , drops of water make up an ocean,  so even small good deeds can make a lot of difference.

Small changes lead to big ones.. So,  am I not right in saying that small is beautiful .

 

Trip to Haridwar.

Our fourth trip to Haridwar was in the month of December. An unexpected short visit but cherishable ,you can say.  The Ayyappa Mandir which lies in a small by lane very close to the railway station is our favourite place ( more so my husband’s) where we usually stay in Haridwar . It has neat rooms sufficient for a comfortable week stay and the serene atmosphere in the premises with the hymns of Lord Ayyappa always playing in the background at dawn and dusk fills one with devotion.

Haridwar is one of the holy places in India situated on the banks of the river Ganges. As it was almost 6pm the day we reached, we just moved around the vicinity of the temple, had a look at all the bhojnalayas (dining places) around (as we relish eating at these food outlets) and returned back after having a cup of strong tea from the vendor situated just on the other side of the road. His stall open  from 5 in the morning to 11 at night even in the chilly weather is something worth  mentioning. Every Saturday evening, the people from the vicinity gather in the temple and sing bhajans (hymns)  in praise of the Lord  ,and following it, prasad is served to whomsoever  who come to or stay in the temple.  We decided to sit with the group and the devotion with which they sang literally transported us to another world.

We had decided that we would mainly visit the nearby temples,  Mansa Devi ,Chandi Devi and the Ganga Aarti  at Har ki Pauri (All the places were covered during the last three trips but as we had a day’s time we decided to do these again).

The next morning as we took the darshan of Lord Ayyappa, the temple priest informed us that breakfast was ready and we could go in for it. That was quite a relief as the weather was too chilly and searching for hotels at such times is terrible. After savouring the sumptuous idlis with chutney and sambar and a steaming cup of coffee, we started  for Mansa Devi.

Mansa Devi temple is dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi (who fulfils one’s wishes) and it is situated on the sivalik hills. One can reach there by trek or by ropeway. Due to time constraints,we preferred the ropeway and ,honestly, it was an enchanting experience. The panoramic view of Haridwar and the river Ganges as we go up was very captivating. As it was a Sunday,the crowd was surging in every minute yet the darshan (view of the Goddess) was quicker than expected.  Unfortunately,we could not  visit the  Chandi Devi temple nearby as it was closed for repairs.

As it was almost 11.30 am ,we took a cycle rickshaw (they charge a meagre amount of Rs 15 per head) back . It sometimes pains to see them riding us through the crowded places, sometimes getting down and manually doing the job.   There were umpteen hotels in the vicinity of Lord Ayyappa temple who serve sumptuous meals, unlimited for a reasonable amount showering all the love and care that leaves us craving for more. We had a good filling lunch at one of these.

Back to our room we had a short nap (quite obvious with such full stomachs and the cold weathers) as we had to leave for the ganga aarti (worship of the river Ganges) in the evening. As getting a place to witness the aarti was difficult ,we had to reach there well before time but as usual we were a bit late and just managed a seat on the slightly wet steps of the ghat diagonally opposite the place where the aarti takes place. Thousands of worshippers (locals as well as tourists) gather every evening to witness this aarti at Har ki Pauri (steps of the Lord), the ghat where this ritual is performed. The way to Har ki Pauri is lined with innumerable shops selling everything under the sky and a real visual treat for the visitors . The huge crowds thronging the place to witness this famous ritual was overwhelming . We could anticipate the restlessness in them with  men in blue uniforms moving around asking for donations which supposedly  goes towards the ganga aarti .

Some having a dip in the water ,some adjusting the cameras, some floating diyas in the river, some chanting “Ganga mata ki jai” and some in a meditative position with folded hands and closed eyes . The river ,glittering with the rays of the setting sun ,an indicator that it was time for the aarti to begin. The temple bells start ringing, the chants filling the air, the priests with large fire bowls performing the aarti ( though we could not see this at close quarters), the river twinkling with the flickering diyas set afloat by the worshippers  was all  divine, a thing to be experienced.

My husband busy clicking photos ,I spent a few quiet peaceful moments, drenched in the magical ambience that surrounded me. On our return ,as we climbed the stairs of the ghat, we were confronted  by many shopkeepers to serve food to the less fortunate. Without any second thoughts, we agreed as we always had an intense desire to do this .Here ,this system is widely practised and many shopkeepers do this for an earning and we do it for our satisfaction.So, in a way it benefits both sides.

On our way back to our rooms , we had two large glasses of lassi and samosas at one of the shops that lined the way to Har ki pauri, the last dinner of our trip as we had an early train to Delhi the next morning.

Our each trip to Haridwar gives us varied experiences and this trip ,too left us craving for more. 

The ghat

floating diya

Har ki Pauri

floating diya

 

 

Sabdam—-A Bharatanatyam dance recital—Indian classical…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw_Zs5AQXAk&feature=youtu.be

This is called as Sabdam, usually the third item performed in any Bharata Natya dance recital.
The meaning of the dance goes as such…..

O God, I think about you each moment,
You are always in my heart and I bow to you,
Why are you then angry with me, O Lord….

You are everything to me,
If you are angry ,then what will happen to me ?
What will I do, where will I go ?
Your anger is piercing my heart like an arrow,
Why do you do this to me ?
I cannot bear it ,my Lord..

Please do not do this to me…
My head is spinning, I am grieving,
Please Lord , speak to me.

Please remember our old times,
The happy times..
Please give me back those days,
Please keep your anger aside and come to me ,
O Lord, I am waiting for you…

O Lord, I bow to you…
I bow to you, I bow to you….

Enjoy every moment….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUHlxzdHU5Q

Happiness lies within us….
It is entirely our choice to be happy or not.
Good and bad days co exist.So be positive.
There is always light at the end of the tunnel.
So enjoy every moment of your life.

BE HAPPY…..

M S Dhone….The Indian cricket skipper.

“ Hold your heads high”.

This what what captain M S Dhoni said to his young team after the World Cup semi final loss.

This positive quality of the captain is worth admiring. Losing the world cup semifinal is definitely not a good feeling. It hurts a lot after coming such a long way. But, wins and losses do happen and instead of dwelling on the loss, being positive and moving on is much more important, and who better than M S  Dhoni can teach us this.

He didn’t choke for words in the post match interview. His confident answers to the questions posed to him showed his maturity  and stability. On being asked about the loss, he replied,

“We took it from someone ,so somebody took it from us. It’s as simple as that. The best team takes it for four years. If we would have played better, we would have got into the finals. In any international sport, you have to be at your best. Or else, the cup gets shared.”

A very apt reply. The Indiam team has played well throughout,and the loss is nothing to be ashamed of. Any one team had to win and yes, they had lost to a side which was much superior to them on that day. The Aussies performed with confidence, fearlessness, full of energy and they displayed some skilful bowling, aggressive batting and fielding. On the other hand,everything failed for the Indian team on that crucial day. The last overs gave away unnecessary runs, and the batting order ,too was not upto the mark. But ,it is unfair to label a team ‘bad’  just because they had everything going wrong on a particular day. It is a sport and such things are bound to happen.

The Indian team has come a long way and to reach the semi finals itself is something credible and one cannot expect the same country to always be at the top. Looking at the brighter side of things, we can say,that the young players have only gained through this tournament. They have learned a lot and this experience will definitely make them better players when they tour abroad in future.

M S Dhoni had absolutely no regrets. He had only appreciation for his team.

“ You guys have played well. You have done the country and me proud.”

This quality of his, will take him a long way in life. Appreciating and encouraging others is something which only the strong can do. These encouraging words coming  from the captain will definitely boost the confidence of the young players. His reply when asked about his immediate plans was really impressive.

“I play for the enjoyment of the game and the day I decide to go, I will pack my bags and happily go away.”

What a realistic reply. You have to enjoy and be fully involved in whatever you do, whether it be sports or any other profession. Once the feeling of enjoyment is lost,then there is no point in continuing.

The Indian team is lucky to have M S Dhoni as the captain. In many cases , he has set an example to his team by being confident, and scoring runs even in crisis. His cool temperament on and off field is laudable. He has been India’s most successful skipper and the team has played some good cricket under his captaincy and will continue doing so in the future, too.

Winning and losing is part of life but having the qualities of a good human being is much more important  and that is where M S Dhoni scores the highest points. 

That helpless night….

I had never felt so helpless in my life.  Mamma gets those vertigo spells occasionally and yesterday was one of those days . Unfortunately, I was alone as my husband had gone for some meeting and was not expected for at least three to four hours. The maid who usually comes to help Mamma do her daily chores had some guests to attend at her place. Panic stricken I took out the contact list from my diary. The friend list was long but whom could I call at this hour of the night and it was very essential that I had to change Mamma’s diaper and the wet bedsheets and that required to make her stand. I tried my level best to lift her up but as she was in a semi conscious state she could not co-operate with me. For how long could I make her sit on the wet bedsheet. I drew the chair closer to the bed and just dragged her for that was the only way to bring her out of the bed .It must have hurt her but I had no other option left. Finally, on the chair , she looked at me. I kissed her and asked God for forgiveness. I hurriedly put on the new bedsheets and as she was seated ,gave her some porridge to have.

My tired body urged me to have some rest but the medicines ,too had to be brought . I rushed to the doctor leaving Mamma alone for some time ,continuosly praying that she should not attempt getting up on her own. My warm body gave an indication of my risen blood pressure level and the doctor ,too confirmed this and advised me to remain calm lest I become a victim of hypertension. But at such times, nothing works and everything seems to fall on deaf ears.

After giving the first dose of medicine to Mamma, I rang up my friend whose parlour was close by but my luck didn’t seem to work. She was already on her way back home. Desperately , I rang up my husband but he was not reachable. There were tears in my eyes. I tried to divert my attention by putting on the television. It didn’t work out .I tried having my dinner but everything seemed so tasteless. When all things failed, I cried out ,‘Oh God, please help me’ , ‘Now it is only You who can give strength to Mamma . Please help her stand at least for a short while till I pull up her diapers. ‘

I sat next to Mamma ,hugged her tight and wept like a child.  As the drops fell on her gown, she looked up and tried to hold my hand. She was a strong willed woman and she seemed to understand the dilemma I was in.  She gave me a nod ,a sort of hope for me. An hour and half had passed after the administration of medicines and the effect was slowly manifesting itself. She was returning back to a semi normal state. ‘ Can you try getting up ?’ I asked her. She nodded. I was quite elated by her positive reply.

With great effort from both sides (her side and my side) ,I lifted and seated her on the bed. The walker helped her stand for a few seconds,but exhausted she sat down .After many stand ups and sit downs with much difficulty, I finally succeeded in tightening the diaper . My joy knew no bounds as ninety nine percent of the work was done. I thanked her a thousand times and the person above who had given both of us the strength and will power and without whose help, it was an impossible task.

Deep down I knew that God could never let me down. He was always by my side and I had to just remind myself that He was there. The whole world can be busy but He always has some time reserved for me .With folded hands , I gave Him a huge thank you.

POSITIVE THINKING….

Just start the day with a smile & a positive thought….

“Yes, this day is going to be the best day of my life…Whatever happens this day is for my well being & happiness”….

This has worked for me & I m sure it will work for all of you out there…Usually, we get depressed & low if things don’t work out our way….It so happens sometimes that however hard we try , we don’t achieve what we aim for….Whereas for some, things fall into place rather easily…..

Why does this happen ? Yes, this is what I used to ask myself a thousand times but never ever got a convincing answer…..That is when , I tried to change my way of thinking….So what ,if I don’t get what I wished for, ….maybe that was not meant for me at all….That is not the end of the road ,there is so much more to life….

To bring about this change in my way of thinking was also not an easy cup of tea…At each stage , I felt I was just pacifying myself…..It was like substituting my failure with such thoughts…

Yes, I read many beautiful quotes on life and many books on positive thinking….Initially, I hated reading these quotes …I felt those who churned out these innumerable quotes had nothing else to do in life…..but I ve to admit that it definitely influenced me to a certain extent …And after a lot of pondering, I came to the conclusion  that the transformation can happen only if I take a call on my thoughts….

That was the turning point…It was a slow change but believe me,it did happen…It made me realize the importance of the present moment & the beautiful things that has been bestowed on us….

Definitely, this does not imply that one should not have any goal in life….One should have ambitions as that is what keeps us moving forward…I started believing in putting all my efforts and doing my best in whatever I attempt with a positive attitude…..

Taking each day as it comes by, as a wonderful day, I tried to breathe in all the good things it brought along with it…. It was a bit difficult but not impossible….Wherever there is good, there has to be the evil lurking around somewhere …Here, the evil was the negativity within me….It had to be flushed out and that could only be possible by weighing it down with positive thinking..

And the positive attitude that I developed was…..

“Yes, this day is the best day of my life…no matter whatever happens, this will my happiest day”…

Half century mark….

I m not a frequent blogger ….though, as far as possible, I make it a point  to read other blogs & give my likes and comments.

Today I was surprised to see that I ve reached the half century mark ….Yes, 50 followers …It is really a proud moment ….I thank each and every one for liking all the crap that I post…..To be very honest ,this is very encouraging….

I find it very difficult to blog everyday….Not the time constraint but its the topic …What topic shoud I blog on ? It is easier to write on our experiences or of others which we have heard of and which we feel strongly about….But ,here too ,there are hesitations…Should everything be put on paper or should it be twisted a bit ,to be palatable to the readers ?What will be the comments ? Will the readers like it or not ? So many things cross the mind….But, finally ,it is .those that come straight from the heart that wins the hearts of all……

A special thanks to all for the valuable time spent in reading my blogs…:):):).Sorry , if the blogs ve given any of you any stress or health scare…Hahahahahahaha…..If so, will keep that in mind the next time I blog…Hahahahahaha….