Yam Flower !

It was only recently I noticed this Yam flower. I don't remember having seen the flower which was a common site in our native village garden. All my relatives say that they have seen it and tasted it. Recently we got one in our backyard. I ran to see when my wife said .."hey..we got a chenappoo..!"

The Elephant foot yam is called "Chena" in Malyalam and "poo" of course is for flower.. I went and inspected the flower..it was a funny thing ..like ..you know ..:).. "shape can't be defined " thing !! Botanical guys may be able to show each part what is what ..I have no idea.. I like the silky maroon violet outer skin..

But the most interesting thing is my wife made a beautiful Masala curry out of it. It was indeed fingerlicking good and after having it I said let all poo..s become chenappooos.. !! :)

Anchithal Poo

Butterflies in Embrace !

They have been there for long time. I could n't resist from grabbing my camera. Lost in love embracing each other they just sat on my Lychee tree forgetting the world.

I wondered who is male ? May be the black spotted one is. It is more beautiful when it spreads its wings so it could be the male. In animals and birds male is more beautiful. Perhaps in human beings too.. who knows.. With beard and hairy body the nature has decorated the male. Umm.. we cover our beauty and think ladies are more beautiful.. what a contrast !

A plant with semen smelling flower ! :)

Around this time - from October to December a creeper plant in our place blossoms and it smells like semen. But people are just put up with it and don't openly discuss about it. I have been searching for this plant for quite sometime. This time I caught it. It was right on top of our Temple peepal tree. It is a creeper plant going heights till the top .. So the smell spreads a kilometer away!. Yet I don't know local name or Botanical name. If I find I will update this.If any of you know please put it as a comment.

While searching over the net I saw many plants have this sort of smell. Somebody wrote that Bradford pears have this smell when in bloom. No idea about that. There was no picture of any plant so I thought it would help if I put it up. Surprisingly its flowers looked like sperm ! :)

Anti corruption Movement

While writing about Baba Ramdev's agitation and the way the Govt. suppressed it, I wrote that I will write about politics. But I did not. Many things happened. Anti-corruption crusader and Gandhian Anna Hazare went ahead with his fast. I thought just by blogging and supporting him through my blog I am not doing justice to the movement. So I joined the India Against corruption movement and became the City contact.

Action speaks louder than words. We conducted many programs. When Anna got arrested we protested. When Anna successfully concluded the fast after assurances from Govt. we took out a Victory March.

Now the Team Anna is being accused of silly faults and they are so trivial compared to the normal crimes people do. I think there is a deliberate attempt by some parties and Media is playing to the galleries for them. If one has to be very clean - an 100 % perfect person - to point out corruption in the govt. , then I am afraid there will not be single person left in India to raise his finger. We live in a corrupt society. We all know where all we falter. So in my opinion the General good is to be looked into. The Janlokpal Bill is one such thing. Passing of it will eliminate corruption in Govt. to certain extent. Then slowly all other things should come into the stream. Somewhere we need a start.

We have formed an "Azhimathi Virudha Janakeeya Samithi" ( People's forum to fight against corruption) in Calicut city. We have now many enthusiastic supporters. Lets see how far it goes.

The Picture shows one of our agitation program in front of S.K. pottekkat statue on S.M.Street, City centre.

Anna smiles

A®m Nncnç¶q...

A`ni]vX aÑI hrµ§Ä hndçì..

`mcX `qhn X³ tNmcbpw \oêaqän æSns¨mcm

aÑI hrµ§Ä hndçì..

Nn´bnemണ്ടു t]mæì..

D¶X `cW htcWy hÀ¤§Ä..

Nn´bnem­ണ്ടു t]mæì..

D]Pm]I æSne kwL§Ä..

Nn´bnemണ്ടു t]mæì..

D¯pwK tkm]m\ `{Z ]oT§Ä ..

B«ntbmSn¡tWm ?

ASn¨Sn¨s§mXp¡tWm ?

AIse I¯pdp¦neS¡tWm ?

AtXm X§Ä X³ an{X§fmamþ

¡m«pam¡·mÀ¡nSbn sIm­ ണ്ടി t«¨p t]mctWm ?

ചിന്തയിലാണ്ടു t]mæì..

D¶X `cW htcWy hÀ¤§Ä..

( A®m.. Nncnçì..)

ssI¸nSn Abbpì , ssI¸nSn Abbpì..

tIgps¶mtcgIÄ kzmX{´yw ëWbpì.. (2)

I­ണ്ടുshm ?

_lpP\ akvXnjv¡ sam¯ hym]mcnIÄ X³

Icmf lkvX§Ä ISbpì..

(A®m.. Nncnçì.. )

Fallen Tree

Kaallane KaaNmaanilla

Trampling on Human rights!

4th June 2011 Midnight - Ramlila grounds - New Delhi.

Baba Ramdev the Yoga Guru was holding protest satyagraha cum Yog shibira. Baba's followers were sleeping. Suddenly police came woke them up, bundled them into waiting police vehecles those who resisted were beaten up. Baba also was waken up and told that he is under arrest.His followers tried to resist but was pushed aside beaten up. Within minutes the whole area looked like a riot-ridden place. Many got injured some very critically.

What was the urgency ? for this midnight raid ? when in the morning they gave a red-carpet welcome to Baba and held discussions with him. Why did the government take stern action? Why did the PM Man mohan Sing say "unfortunate but unavoidable action" afterwards.

The answer lies in the demands, the group raised. They were fighting against corruption. And Government at these times are facing a billions of dollars of corruption allegations. The money is stashed in Swiss bank accounts. One of the demands is to declare it as national asset and bring it back to the country. There lies the point. Government do not want to do that. It is protecting some higher ups.

Earlier I thought I will not write any politics in my Blog. But with this incident I am changing my ways. I do not agree with all the points raised by Baba. But I can not sit idle when I see injustice and when democratic rights of Indians trampled upon. Our freedom is hard won. Some politicians who get elected with votes from illiterate villagers - often fooling or giving money - can not be allowed to become our masters. It is time all Indians stood up - got awakened.

I me mine - ഞാനെന്ന ഭാവം

ഞാനെന്ന ഭാവം

=================

വണ്ടിയോടുന്ന തെന്തുകൊണ്ടെന്നാല്‍

വണ്ടിയില്‍ ഞാനിരിപ്പതു കൊണ്ട്

പാര്‍ട്ടി ജയിപ്പതെ ന്തുകൊണ്ടെന്നാല്‍

പാര്‍ട്ടി ക്കകത്ത് ഞാനുള്ളത് കൊണ്ട്

ഭാഗിച്ചു കിട്ടി സ്വത്തുക്കളെല്ലാം

ഞാനതില്‍ കേറി ക്കളിച്ചത് കൊണ്ട്

രാമന്റെ ചെക്കന് ജോലി ലഭിച്ചതും

ഞാനന്ന് മന്ത്രിയെ കണ്ടത് കൊണ്ട്

നാട്ടിലെ യുത്സവം നന്നായ് നടപ്പതും

വീട്ടിലെ കാര്യങ്ങള്‍ ഭംഗിയായ്‌ പ്പോവതും

ആപ്പീസില്‍ ചിട്ടകള്‍ മുറയായ് നടപ്പതും

ഞാന്‍ - ഈ 'ഞാന'വിടൊക്കെയും ഉള്ളതുകൊണ്ട്

'കാണായിരുന്നു ഞാനില്ലെങ്കിലെ' ന്നെന്‍

കാരണവന്മാര്‍ ചൊല്ലി ഫലിപ്പിച്ചു

കാണാതെ യായവര്‍ എത്രയോ മുന്‍പേ

കണ്ടില്ല യാപത്തു തെല്ലു മശേഷം !

എങ്കിലും കണ്ടു ഞാനോരോരോ കാഴ്ചകള്‍

കണ്ടെത്തി ഞാനാ 'ഞാനി' നെ എന്നില്‍

ഞാനുള്ളത് കൊണ്ടീ ഭൂമി കറങ്ങവെ -

ഞാനെന്ന ഭാവ മതെങ്ങു കളയുവാന്‍ ?

:)

========

ഞാനെന്ന ഭാവമത് തോന്നായ്ക വേണമിഹ തോന്നുന്നതാകിലഖിലം

ഞാനിതെന്ന വഴി തോന്നേണമേ ഹരി നാരായണായ നമ:

( ഹരിനാമകീര്‍ത്തനം - തുഞ്ചത്ത് ആചാര്യന്‍ )

പൂവിന്‍റെ പാട്ട് - Khalil Gibran's Song of flower translation

പൂവിന്‍റെ പാട്ട്

****************

( ഖലീല്‍ ജിബ്രാന്‍റെ 'Song of flower' എന്ന കവിതയുടെ സ്വതന്ത്ര പരിഭാഷ )

ഞാനത്രെ പ്രകൃതിതന്‍

കനിവാര്‍ന്ന ശബ്ദം.

ഞാനത്രെ ഭൂമിയില്‍ വീണൊരു

സൌവര്‍ണ താരകം.

ഞാനത്രെ യോമനപ്പുത്രി

പഞ്ചഭൂതങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് ശൈത്യത്തിലുണ്ടായ

പിഞ്ചു കുഞ്ഞോമന പ്പുത്രി

വസന്ത് ര്‍ത്തു വെന്നമ്മ ; വള ര്‍ ത്തമ്മ വേനലും

വേനലിന്‍ കോലായിലോടി ക്കളിച്ചു ഞാന്‍

ശിശിരത്തിന്‍ ശയ്യയില്‍ വീണുറങ്ങി .

പുലരി തന്‍ വെട്ടത്തെ സ്വീകരിക്കാന്‍

പുത്തനു ണര്‍ വ്വുമാ യെത്തുന്ന കാറ്റുമായ്‌

പുലര്‍ കാല ത്തെന്നും ഞാന്‍ കൂട്ട് കൂടി

ചന്തത്തില്‍ പകലിന്നു യാത്ര ചൊല്ലാന്‍

അന്തിക്കണയും കിളി കളുമായ്

സന്ധ്യക്ക്‌ ഞാനെന്നും കൂട്ട് കൂടി .

ഭൂമിക്കു ഞാനേകി യെന്‍റെ വര്‍ണം

കാറ്റിന്നു ഞാനേകി യെന്‍ സുഗന്ധം

മൌനത്തിന്‍ താളത്തില്‍ നിദ്രയെ പുല്‍കവേ

രാവിന്‍ കറുപ്പെന്നെ നോക്കി നിന്നു.

പുലരി വന്നെന്നെ ഇക്കിളി കൂട്ടവേ

പകലിന്റെ കണ്ണില്‍ ഞാനു റ്റു നോക്കി

മധുര സ്സംഗീതമായ് മാറീ കിളിക്കൊഞ്ചല്‍

മദിരയായ് മാറി മഞ്ഞു തുള്ളി

മന്ദമുലയുന്ന പുല്‍ നാമ്പിനെ ചുറ്റി

മന്ദ മന്ദം ഞാന്‍ നൃത്തമാടി

ഞാനത്രെ കമിതാവിന്‍ സ്നേഹോപഹാരം

ഞാനത്രെ മംഗല്യ വരണ മാല്യം

ഓര്‍മ തന്‍ ചെപ്പി ലൊളിച്ച ങ്ങിരിക്കുന്ന

സന്തോഷ സമ്മാന നിധി യത്രെ ഞാന്‍

അന്ത്യോപചാരത്തില്‍ മാറിനെ ചുംബിക്കു -

മന്ത്യാന്ജലി പുഷ്പ ചക്രവും ഞാനത്രെ

ഇല്ല ഞാന്‍ താഴോ ട്ടെക്കെന്‍ നിഴല്‍ നോക്കുവാന്‍

എന്നുമെ ന്നുള്‍ത്തുടി പ്പര്‍ക്ക തേജസ്സിനായ്

അന്ധകാരം വിട്ടു ജ്യോതിസ്സിലേക്കുള്ള

നിത്യ പ്രയാണം ഈ കൊച്ചു ജീവിതം !

* * * * * * * *

ആശിപ്പൂ ഞാനെന്നും മര്‍ത്ത്യ ന്നൊരു നല്ല

പാഠമായ് ത്തീര്‍ന്നെങ്കിലെന്‍റെയീ ജീവിതം !

===========================

Menstruating Jack fruit tree

Menstruating Jack Fruit tree !

A red liquid oozes out from this funny shaped cavity.

I had seen this phenomenon on some jack fruit trees before but this happened just in my backyard and I could not stop taking a pic. Surprisingly after taking the photo in just a couple of days this 'pullichembu' ( I don't know English or botanical name) plant grew just in front of it - as if to hide the scene !

I don't know why it is happening. May be it is a decease or a natural phenomenon. May be a botanist can shed some light.

Can the jack fruit tree a female?. No idea. So far it has not given fruits. We used to scold it for that.

Mashithandu - a small plant of Kerala with potential of a poem

Mashithandu

Mashithandu or Vellathandu (literal meaning water stem) is a small plant which arouses lot of nostalgia among Malayalees.

This small plant's stem is full of water. In Malabar we call it Vellathandu ( which is more appropriate I think) but in southern kerala they call Mashi thandu ( which means ink stem - Mashi means ink) . But in literature of Kerala Mashithandu is popularly used.

In olden days when slate was used in schools this was used to rub out the writing. Young boys and girls used to exchange the mashithandu and become friends ! The stem cut into small pieces is saved in small pencil boxes.

There is yet another use - a small stem piece is taken and the water is emptied from half portion of the stem and air is blown into it. That portion then expands like balloon. Then that balloon is hit on the forehead and explodes with a sound. Children enjoy it. !

Mashithandu grows anywhere where water is abundant. As it is a weed plant I find it a nuisance in my lawn. But every time I pluck one I smile and think of my childhood. How amazing ! this small plant can make your heart soft and weak and can bring tears into your eyes!

Through the tears I see a small hand with bangles that lends me her mashithandu!.

Simple Kerala Weddings !

I have been observing many Kerala Hindu marriages and found that some confusion always prevails.

Except Brahmin marriages I have not seen any vast difference in the rituals among various caste marriages and one thing is common “confusion”. Because it is simple people do not care for details or the sequence. In many cases some elderly person comes forward voluntarily and takes control. Then what he orders is considered to be the custom. Often the sequence is at his whims. So when another elder watches it ( who has not cared to come forward and lead ) interferes then the confusion starts. One Mr. S.R. Nair in his blog has put it as Karayogam rivalry. But I do not think so. Because in Malabar the NSS Karayogam or SNDP has no big role in people's lives. But the confusion still prevails.

I think the reason for this confusion is sheer ignorance and attitude. We do not learn from the past mistakes. People forget the event so soon and do not care until another marriage comes across. They overlook the lack of perfection and clarity in what they do.

The most important thing is that until the real marriage ceremony nothing is explained to anyone because it is always considered to be the most simple. Its so simple so what to learn? That’s the attitude. The Parents of the couple and the couple themselves have no clue of what’s going to happen or what’s going on.

Ever since my niece’s marriage in Nov.2009 I have been pondering on this problem. For my niece’s marriage I had prepared a Managalpatrika ( a poem to be read on the occasion ) Even that recital got buried in the confusion that preceded. So even when all other things were meticulously planned when the real moment came everything got fuzzy.

Recently I had a conversation with writer P.R.Nathan about this. According to him during the marriage FIVE things are done in the ritual and these have direct connection to Panchabhootas ( Five elements) .

Agni : ( FIRE ) The marriage performed in front of an agni kund ( fire pit) or Lamp

Jal : ( WATER ) The exchange of Ring ( anguleeyam or Ring has a relation with water )

Vayu : (AIR) Mangalasutra or Tali represents the Vayu

Akaash : (SPACE) Mala or garland represents akash – Pushpam ( flower ) has a relation with sky ( akaash)

Prithvi : (BHOOMI) Vastram – Pudava in Kerala

These are all present or exchanged as per various traditions. This denotes that we all belong to the panchbhootas. The body and the Kriyas et all.

Now I am not sure of each tradition. Having done some research on the matter (J) I wish to list out the procedure of a simple Kerala marriage as follows ( E & OE – pls. comment):

- The bridegroom dressed up in traditional Kerala attire arrives with near and dear ones and is welcomed by girl’s relatives.

- The bridegroom’s feet is washed by girl’s brother before entering the hall. ( Be prepared with a Kindi & Thorth- Traditional water vessel & towel.)

- The bridegroom is now showered with flowers and rosewater ( with Pananeerveeshi) and welcomed by young charming girls with Taalam. The mother of girl has a bigger taalam with ‘Ashtamangalyam’ in it ( enquire with a pooja stores for more details) – a Thookku vilakku holding person an elderly lady should walk in front followed by Ashatamangalyam holding person, and then the girls. With the nadaswaram accompanied the boy enters the hall and go around the Manatap once. Then comes towards the centre of the stage and bows to the audience and gets seated in the Mantap.

- Next the procession goes to bring the bride. The bride in traditional attire and bedecked with flowers is brought into the hall accompanied by Talam & Nadaswaram. She goes around the Manatap once, bows to the audience and gets seated on the left side of the bridegroom.

- The Poojari performs Tali pooja gives Prsadam to the couple.The groom & bride apply it, on self and on each other. ( If the poojari is not on Manatap the Tali pooja can be done in a Temple prior to arriving at the Hall.). The rest of the rituals can be done on their own or instructed by an elderly person, parent or a relative.

- Next the Poojari gives the Tali to the groom. He ties it. He is being helped by the girl’s relatives.

- Next the Ring is exchanged if it is not already exchanged. Some people exchange the Ring at engagement time and then for marriage it is avoided.

- Now the couple stands up and the Dakshina is given to poojari and the poojari blesses the couple.

- Next Pudava is given by the groom to the bride. The bride hands over the Pudava to her relatives.

- Next the garlands and the bouquet are exchanged.

- At this time the relative of both parties shower the couples with flowers and blesses them.

- Next the Kanyadanam is performed. The bride's father gives her hand and places it on the groom's hand symbolically transferring her responsibility to the bridegroom. ( in the Vedic times the boy has to recite Mameya mastu poshya: - She will be looked after by me alone. )

- Holding the hands the groom & bride rounds the the Mantap three times.

- Now the couple are blessed by relatives by sprinkling rice & flower on their head.

- The marriage ceremony with this is over.

- Now the relatives can give ‘Paalum Pazhavum’ ( Milk & fruit ) to couple.

- Photo session follows and the crowd moves for dinner.

I have just narrated the sequence as I have traced it and after some discussions. Please suggest/Comment if you know any better way.