the journey continues...

God's smile

Butterflies are pretty things !

This is a photograph I took recently- of a butterfly in flight.

When I look into this I remember a poem of Kumaran Asan ( great Malayalam Poet of yesteryear)

Eee valliyil ninnu chemme...

pookkal pokunnitha parannamme ..

Roughly translated ..

Look Mom, flowers have taken to flight slowly,

from our beautiful garden, is n't it lovely ?

You understood... this poem is a dialogue between mother and child.

Perhaps this was a poem written for Children..may be for that reason..and this was taught in schools..

I also learned it in class II or III when I was in our Village Primary School. Way back...

During those days it was a normal practice to enact some poem or skit that is to be learned as a lesson.

This poem was also enacted. I learned the poem easily and could recite without mistakes..So I became the child in this enactment and the mother was an older girl from a higher class. My friends started teasing me because she was 'the lady' in the school ..and we all pretended to be eligible bachelors then !

So when the teacher asked me to sit in her lap I was a bit reluctant and I sat in an awkward position. She had to hold me tight. As if, if she did not, I will run away. So sitting in that position and singing this harmless poem will not match at all. What then happened is .. I was in the corner of room and looking at the wall singing the last lines. The enactment was not only a total failure but an opposite action of the meaning of the lines. Every one wondered who in the world proposed these two persons as mother and son.

After sooo.. many years...

Recently I happened to see that 'affectionate Mother'- all silver hair - round spectacles..a thin frail figure. She must be around 60. She looked at me held my hand and after some enquiries she looked into my eyes .. and there was a complete silence. Suddenly we both burst into laughter.. we laughed and laughed ..until our eyes got wet.

In between the laughs she said she recently saw the Emperor Ashoka.. I remembered she had acted as Ashoka's queen.. We both again burst into laughter thinking about the current status of that Emperor! We laughed and laughed and laughed..

until we met with a staring look of a bald - bespectacled man - that was her husband.!

Time flies .. but not slowly like this butterfly.

Ormayil Oru Onam kooti...

.

:)

Mushrooms in my Garden !

Is it n't amazing ?
Ever since I placed this mushroom in my garden so many real mushrooms have sprung up.
It seems nature needs stimulation to emulate! After all nature is also like us.
It copies. It cheats. It surprises. It enthralls us.
I remeber having seen Pappayas in the form birds. Have n't you seen mountains in animal forms? Talking of clouds.... it is endless...

Sarvajna's Poem

അധ:സ്തിതന്‍ തന്‍ ഗൃഹ ദീപ മശുഭലക്ഷ്ണ മാകുമോ ?

അരുത് ജാതി ചൊല്ലി കലഹ മൊരിക്കലും

ആരാണീശ്വര സ്നേഹത്തിന്നതീവ പ്രാപ്തന്‍

അവനാണുന്നതകുലജാതന്‍ !!



സര്‍വജ്ഞ



( സ്വതന്ത്ര തര്‍ജമ )



The light of the home of a man of despised caste
Is it despicable? Speak not of this caste or that.
He whom God loves alone is of a noble caste.

Poet saint Parivrajaka Sarvajna.
The great 16th Centaury Karnataka poet,
Whose statue is to be unveiled today, 13- Aug-2009 at Chennai, TN.

Ayyappan Vilakku Mandir !

This posting I prepared in last December some how I missed to post.

This photograph is of the Ayyappan Vilakku temple.

The temples are miniature replicas Shabari Mala temple made of 'Trunk of Banana tree' and tender co-conut leaves. Nothing else. It is a marvelous piece indeed. Look at the PathinettamPadi ( Eighteen steps that leads to Sanctum sanctorum. ) How beautiful they do this.. After several years I had an opportunity to see an Ayyappan Vilakku at my native place and I understood it has developed leaps and bounds! The photograph is from that.

Now read on..

Ayyappan Vilakku is a small ritual or festival conducted during the Mandala Kaalam ( 41 days in November-December of every year ). It is related to diety ( Lord Ayyappan) in Shabari Mala. The ceremony or vilakku ( literally Vilakku means Lamp) is celebrated in different proportions. Meaning there are Full Vilakku - which goes on to 2 days to ¼ Vilakku which end in half a day. These Vilakks are popular in Malabar. Wherever people from Malabar ( northern Keralites) reside they try to celebrate this Vilakku there So you may see a Vilakku in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore etc. – This is funny because Ayyappa temple is in south of Kerala and you do not see anything like this there. The reason may be that in olden days it was not possible for every one from Malabar to go ShabariMala. So they must have celebrated in their own way. The artists - all come from Palghat district. That is also strange.

The ceremony includes creation of three temple replica ( Main temple , Bhagavathy temple and Vavar temple ( a Mosque – Vavar considered to be brother Ayyappa and is a Muslim! Son of Lord Shiva !!!) North Indians would laugh at this concoction of mythology and history. However generally secular Hindus of Kerala do not have any qualm in going around a Mosque or putting some money in a Mosque!. Sarvam Khalidam Bhrahmam! ( Everything is HIM !)

Coming back to Vilakku.. There are 3 dancers ( Oracles) for the ceremony – Ayyappa himself in Black Shawl ( Uttareeyam) attire, Bhagavathy in Red and Vavar of course in Green Shawl (or sometimes white). Several drummers!.The steps are very unique and each hold a sword of different kind that suits the character. The swift movement of sword along with the drum beat and Thiri uzhichil ( typical dance with a fire torch to torture the body) are worth seeing. Late night there will be song with Thudikottu (typical shiva drum ( thudi ) is used for this ). And the songs are about the Ayyappa’s history – but these songs are also knows as Poli ppaattu – ( Poli here means donation and Pattu means song - so it is Donation song ! )

Polippattu is really funny as it is instantly crafted by the singer. They look at the person who donates and create a line that is suitable for him or her. It is a continuous process intermingled with the song of the history.. They never stop singing .. So people are very attentive because they want to hear what the singer makes out about a person. Suppose a person with slight cock-eye donates – then they will sing that “ even if your eye is a little bit bend on one side God will bless you if you donate !” The joke is that some people will think that they are perfect and have no visible deformity or characteristic to note But the singer identifies his specialty and will sing to the much amazement of public and the person himself. For example if he is a youth the Singer would have already noticed him looking at a girl or two. So the song will be about that ‘Manokaamana’ ( whats in his mind ) may come true with the blessing of God provided he donates ! The program ends with fireworks! Because it is in Kerala and If you can add as many elephants for this that much grand it can be! J

Onth ! - the Garden Lizard

I am fascinated by the Garden Lizard !
Recently I caught one in camera. But when I reached near it showed its fury by changing its color of the head to RED ! – Ummm.. you will drink my blood eh ! I asked .. after some time he understood that I am not going to hurt it and I am only a friend – an amateur photographer shooting with a stupid Kodak digital camera! .. Slowly I was noticing its changed color … and did he smile too ??

Now Read on...
We have 2 common kinds in Kerala – One we call in Malyaalam ‘Arana’ ( sharp mouthed garden Lizard) 2nd one “Onth” ( common Oriental garden Lizard ). Let me use Malayaalam names here they are pretty easy.
A bigger Arana will be mistaken for a snake. Arana Katichaal Utane Maranam is a saying in Malayalam – meaning If bitten by Arana death is sure ! – But in my whole life - more than 50 years - I have never come across anyone who is bitten by an Arana. It is the poorest of the poor creature on the face of the earth. Poorer than the cousin Onth !
But the ONTH is more fascinating as it has more action display features and tantrums. Poor fellow ! because of this it attracts more attention.

Some people call it chameleon for it changes color. This fellow is perhaps a distant relative of the original chameleon you see in Nat Geo. I used to observe this guy from childhood. It is a miniature dinosaur. It turns it's head and looks at people - nods - changes color - runs faster hides faster - makes sound and as I noticed perhaps smiles !. It is indeed a fascinating creature. There are several types and as a Tropical Rain country we have abundant of them.

During my childhood we had heard that this Onth drinks blood by looking at us Especially if we show our belly button. So we raised our trousers hurriedly whenever we saw an Onth. In those days we roamed outside with only a half trouser. Shirts were out of norms those days!. This Onth always nodded when it saw us or perhaps it was nodding for some other reason– may be it saw its partner somewhere near. But I remember we did not hurt it in anyway. For that matter we did not hurt any creature except for small dragon flies ! ( There are no traditional Mallus who have not used dragon flies to lift stones ! - Thumbiye kondu kalleduppikkuka ! is the saying - meaning use the dragon fly to lift stone ! - real meaning: use some innocent dumb person to serve your purpose !)

But when we grew up in a railway colony in a near by town we saw many children mercilessly killing it. They used to catch it by fishing hook tied with a small plastic rope. When the Onth nods they will put the knot on its head and pull !. With in second the Onth is in their custody. Then they used to put a milk taken from a fencing plant ( plant known as ‘Kampi Pala’ in Malayalam ) When this milk is poured on its head the poor chap will become mad – will loose control of itself and will run helter-skelter and soon will die or some birds will pick it up. These children will clap and laugh. We could not understand why they are doing it – luckily we did not take part in the merry-making.

Years later when I visited my Uncle’s place in Bangalore I saw similar incidents.
My Aunt has a good garden in front of their house and many Onth’s visit the garden. Many children who passes their house especially after Friday Prayers catch and kill these Lizards. My Aunt used to become furious at them. I can only hope and pray that whatever is the reason for their killing this wanton act should be stopped and the elders in Mosque and the teachers in Madrasas should advice these kids to abstain from such acts.

Hey ! I am not accusing any religion here. I just love animals. They are our fellow beings. Our living space may be reducing but theirs is rapidly reducing at an alarming rate ! I am really concerned. Are n't you ?

അമ്മാവിനെന്തിത്ര തീവ്രാ ഭിലാഷം

അത്തെങ്ങോടെന്തിത്ര ഗാഡാ നുരാഗം !

അമ്മാവനോടോന്നു ചോദിച്ചു നോക്കാം

അത്തരം പ്രേമ മമ്മായിയോടുണ്ടോ

Election and Politics !

I thought of writing politics .. but then so much to write .. I do not find time to write ..
Every day there is something to write about ... things change so fast
Politics too changes it's colors so fast that even calling politician a chameleon has become an old fashion nowadays.

sometimes I think Indian democracy is a farse. When in some states just 45% people votes and some one win geting a total of 10% votes in what way the person represents the people. Once the election is over nobody discuss this anomaly. You can't force people. You can't make it compuslory as Advani suggested either. But then what is the way out? I think making it more fun or making it an attractive festival people will come and vote. That way the animosity between political parties can be reduced and the whole thing can be an enjoyable affair.

The war cries and the violence must stop. Lets be friends and enjoy the fun!.
I think my readers will agree with me.

kakkakkuyil

കാരസ്കരം കയ്പെന്നറിഞു ഞാനെ-
ങ്കിലീ കാക്കക്കുയിലിന്നതു പഞ്ചാമ്രുതം
കര്‍ണ കഠൊരമാ കളകൂജനത്തിന്‍
കാരണം കട്ടക്കയപ്പിന്‍ ഭോജനമോ ?

(photgraph from my Terrace)

Amazing number of coconuts!

This coco-nut tree is just in front of my house. This time around amazing number of co-conuts have come up on this. I used to fondle and talk to it. Now since I have come back to home it seems it has started to like my presence. Also I am not leaving in a week or two as usually I used to do. In Malayalam there is a saying " For trees and plants, there is no mannure greater than the owner's glance". May be it is right! This co-conut is Laxdweep variety and the water is very sweet. We suffer because of that - almost all birds and animals, nocturnal or otherwise including crow attack it and drink the juice !

Raadhe...

Satyam and after effect.

It is a sad story. That such a prominent IT company has been hit with fraud case. My mind is with Satyam employees and I wonder what passes through their mind !

My thoughts go on the opposite side of the events. I only admonish Raju for his overdoing the accepted norms of the system. His percentage increase was a bit too much (1433 %) to consume that’s all. I do not support his wrong doings. The law should take its on course and he should be punished. But… I do not believe in making him an embodiment of all the sins.

We who cry foul - all are hypocrites. Every company in the corporate world jacks up their figures in the balance sheet. If Price Water House can be ‘duped’ (? Or connived?) What about the hundred thousands other spurious auditors?. If you look at the balance sheets of many famous Indian companies you will definitely raise your eyebrows. If I have seen it with my very limited knowledge – it is unlikely that SEBI has not seen it. The thing is that Percentage is less. So SEBI, IT dept and all other honchos overlook it.

I am sure if somebody says ‘throw stones if you have not sinned' no stone will ever hit Raju.
What about our very federal government? How did it win the vote of confidence?
How many Crores ? Have you forgotten Harshad Mehta? Telgi case? Bofors ? how many thousand crores?

We all report wrong figures..to cheat the government. That is the norm in this country.
The very people police / CBI who want to catch him – how do they fill their LTC bills? Rent receipts ? How do YOU fill your Rent receipt ?
When I was in Trivandrum I must have jacked it up 185% and produced a Rent Receipt. Every body in the IT industry or for that matter any Industry or government dept. jack it up by at least 200 – 300 % . All fill the LTA form with fictious figures –wrongly acquired bills to support. Produce spurious Medicine bills. I hold government responsible for it. People will voluntarily pay the tax - if it is affordable - that they can pay. If it is exorbitant they will try all false methods to circumvent. This happens in every country.

When you know that the whole system is standing on untruth how can we get shocked?

So this episode raises a very fundamental question that when are we going to honestly start saying SATYAM? : )

A change should start from Micro –level. From our day to day life. This is a good opportunity. Come join that micro-revolution. – SATYA MEVA JAPATE , SATYA MEVA JAYATE!