AUTISM - A World of His Own

AUTISM - A World of His Own

It's been a month long time since I wrote here..... But This child made me to write. Like many children with autism, I saw a Boy of 14, during my travel to a short distance, day before yesterday, concerned with this order. Often He hits my mind that I  couldnot  forget his Calm face living in “His own World”. Even as a young child, he was neat enough, relaxed and talked very clearly as we do. His mother says, But most of the time, He ignored other people. He seemed to live inside his own head. When things became noisy or confusing in the real world, He would bite himself till he bleed.  When He started school, he was put in a special class where things were calm and his activities were carefully planned.  He would talk to others if they talked to him first. He was also taking medicines that helped him control.

I am always surprised by how many parents of not-yet and newly diagnosed children seem fearful of the autism label. Many keep the diagnosis a secret to try to avoid a certain stigma being attached to their child. Others avoid an evaluation and/or diagnosis at all costs, because they think as long as it is not written down on an official piece of paper they can somehow avoid the reality that their child has autism. 

I don't fault these parents. I think they are trying to do what they think is best for their children. We ourselves had some hesitation about being open about our child's diagnosis. For us, it was never a matter of being fearful of getting a diagnosis, but more so a concern for his privacy and the matter of whether or not it was our story to tell. When we sat down and had that talk after the diagnosis, we agreed that being open about his autism and proud of who he is was our best way forward.

The label for them has always been more about getting their child access to the services and education He needs than anything else. A diagnosis, in a way, was a relief. It gives them a plan. It gives them a way forward and it gives them insight into the best ways to help Him achieve his highest potential.

I use both phrases when talking about a child’s autism. I sometimes say He is autistic. I sometimes say He has autism. Both to me are labels. Labels that do not scare Him. Labels, I hope, that one day make Him feel proud, and not ashamed.

Clearly, I don't mind that  child is labeled. But I do mind when people can't see beyond that label. There are so many areas of our lives that have become all about that diagnosis. I fear that the doctors, and teachers, and therapists working with Him will not always understand He is an individual, not a diagnosis.  He is a person, not a statistic. He is autistic, but He is also just a boy. He is funny. He is strong. He likes to snuggle. He likes to jump. Autism may be part of him, but it is not all of him.

Parents across the country asked our autistic children to describe themselves.  And even in houses where autism is talked about openly, all of our kids found a lot of other words to tell the world how they see themselves.  In fact, most of our kids didn't even mention autism; proving that they know they are so much more than any label.  They are individuals; each one with unique characteristics and strengths.  

Autistic may describe them, but autism does not define them. This is them. They are boys. They are girls. They are more than a label. 

Lord Hanuman not a Bachelor but a Brahmachari

Is Hanuman Married To Lord Surya's Daughter? The most popular folklore says that Lord Hanuman was married to the daughter of Surya Dev. However, two different stories are told about his marriage.

Firstly, we all know that Hanuman took his training of the Vedas from Lord Surya. He was a brilliant student and mastered the Vedas easily. However, to learn the Nine Vyakarnas, he needed the status of a householder.He completed Five Vyakaranas and the remaining four should be taught only if he is married. In order to facilitate the completion of his education, the Trimurtis approached Surya Bhagavan and created a beautiful Kanya, Suvarchala Devi, an Aajanma Brahmacharini, from the Sun’s Kiranas (rays) and arranged a marriage with Hanumanji to make him a Grihastha without Brahmacharya being affected.

The second reason stated for Lord Hanuman's marriage to Surya Dev's daughter Suvarchala is slightly different.They got married and immediately she went for meditation as she was a great Tapaswini.Hence Sri Hanuman could maintain his Brahmacharyam and could complete remainingfour Vyakaranas and could gain the Shakthi. This marriage is considered as Guru Dhakshina to Lord Surya as apparently, Devi Suvarchala had inherited her father's brilliance and no man could withstand her bright glow. That is why, Lord Surya requested Hanuman to marry his daughter for 'the greater good of the Universe'. However, Hanuman continued his pledge as a Bal Brahmachari and maintained celibacy all his life. He also continued to serve Lord Rama.

 

There is also a sloka called ‘Hanuman Mangalashtakam’ depicts the Lord thus and runs as follows:

suvarchalaa kalathraaya chaturbhuja dharaaya cha

ushtraa roodhaya veeraya mangalam sri hanumathe

The meaning of the above sloka is: “Salutations to Lord Hanuman, having four arms, accompanied by His consort Suvarchala Devi, seated on a camel and exhibiting extraordinary valour.”

The text further describes Suvarchala as the daughter of Sun-God, Surya, from whom Anjaneya learnt the Vedas.

 

 

Chaitra Poornima – Hanuman Jayanthi

This is the story of Pawanputra Hanuman, the mighty monkey-god. Do you know how he was born? The story of his birth is as fascinating as his mighty deeds. 

One story says that :

Anjani, wife of monkey king Kesari, is the mother of Hindu God Hanuman. Anjani is also known as Anjana. There is an interesting story mentioned in Puranas which suggest how Anjani became the mother of Hanuman. Anjani in her previous birth was a beautiful woman and served Goddess Parvati.

One day Anjani was frightened by a huge thunder storm and she ran into the arms of Shiva.Goddess Parvati who happened to see this became jealous and cursed her to be born as monkey.

Shiva did not agree to this act of Goddess Parvati and gave Anjani the boon that she will give birth to a son in her monkey form who will be a manifestation Shiva himself.

Years later, Shiva requested Vishnu to see his Mohini form. Pleased with the form, Shiva asked Vishnu to ask for a gift.Vishnu asked for the essence of Shiva’s strength and spirituality. Shiva created a seed which contained the spirit of his strength and spirituality.Vishnu then gave this seed to the Sapta Rishis and asked them to save it till he took the Avatar of Sri Ram.

When it was time for the avatar of Sri Ram, Sapta Rishis gave the seed to Vayu who secretly placed it in the womb of Anjani on Chaithra Poornima..

Anjani then gave birth to Hanuman. This is the reason why Rudra (another name for Hanuman) is also known as Pavan Putra, the son of Vayu.

The another story says that :

Let us go to the palace of Lord Brahma where it all started.

Lord Brahma is the Hindu god of creation. He is believed to live in a beautiful divine palace in his heavenly abode. Such was the beauty of the palace that it was a constant source of amazement for even the deities.

There were a number of attendants in the celestial palace-courts of Lord Brahma. Among them was a beautiful attendant named Anjana. Once, happy with her service, Lord Brahma decided to reward her. He called her and asked what she wanted.

Anjana hesitated at first. Then she replied "Lord, I wish you could remove a curse pronounced on me by a sage,"

"Tell me about it. Maybe I can help you" said Lord Brahma.

Hopeful that her curse may be removed, Anjana continued "When I was playing as a child on earth, once I saw a monkey meditating with its legs folded in a lotus pose, like a human sage. It was a funny sight; so I threw some fruits at it."

"But here I made a mistake. For it was no ordinary monkey. A powerful sage had taken the form of a monkey to do his tapasya (spiritual practice). My fruits disturbed his penance and he opened his eyes in great indignation."




"As soon as he saw me, he cursed me that I would become a monkey when I fall in love with anyone. I begged him to forgive me."

"The sage said that as he had already uttered it, he couldn't change the curse. But he assured me that the man I fall in love with will love me in spite of my monkey face."

"Lord Brahma, I was born and brought up here. How can I live with a monkey face among my beautiful sisters? If you kindly grant me a boon to become my usual self, I will be very much obliged," she said anxiously.

Brahma felt sorry for the unfortunate apsara. He thought for a moment. Then he lifted his eyes towards the anxious Anjana.

"I see a way for removing your curse, Anjana," he said kindly. "Go to earth and live there for a while. You will meet your husband on earth and your curse will be removed if you - give birth to an incarnation of Lord Shiva," said Lord Brahma.

Anjana accepted Brahma's advice. She was born in the earth shortly afterwards. She lived in a forest as a young huntress.

One day she saw a strong man fighting with a lion. "What a brave man!" she thought in wonder. "How I wish he will look at me!"

As Anjana looked at the warrior in admiration, the man turned and saw her. As soon as his eyes fell on her, she turned into a monkey!

With a pathetic cry, Anjana sank to the ground and covered her face with her hands. Seeing her fall to the ground, the man came running towards her.

"Who are you fair maiden? Why do you cry? Uncover your face. Let me see you," he asked her.

"I cannot, brave man," Anjana answered gloomily. "I am Anjana, an apsara cursed to become a monkey when I fall in love. I request you to please leave me alone in my sorrow," she wailed and peeked at the handsome man through her fingers.

To her great astonishment she found a big monkey-faced man standing before her! If she didn't see his face at first, it was because she couldn't and because till now she saw him from a distance.

The monkey-faced man understood her surprise. He spoke. "I am not human, though I can take the human form if I want. I am Kesari, the king of Monkeys, blessed by Lord Shiva with magical powers. If you become my wife, I will be honoured. Would you honour me by becoming my wife, dear Anjana?".

Anjana became very happy. She accepted his proposal.

"Then the sage's word was indeed true," thought Anjana, "Kesari didn't mind my appearance because he himself is a monkey!"

Anjana and Kesari were married in the forests. Being a pious devotee, Anjana performed intense tapasya, worshipping Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva was pleased with her. He appeared before her and asked her what she wanted.

"Lord Shiva, I wish you to be born as my son, so that I can be freed from the sage's curse," requested Anjana.

"So be it!". Lord Shiva gave his consent and disappeared.

Soon after this, one day, as Anjana was worshipping Lord Shiva, in another part of the country, Dasaratha, the king of Ayodhya, was performing a yagna (religious rite) to have children. It was the Putrakama Yagna. As a result, Agni, the Fire-God gave him some sacred payasa (pudding) and asked him to share the payasa among his wives so that they may have divine children.

Here, Lord Shiva's boon to Anjana started to work. While Dasaratha gave payasa to his elder wife Kausalya, by divine ordinance a kite snatched a portion of that pudding.

Holding the pudding in its tails, the kite-bird flew away from Ayodhya towards the forests Anjana lived. It flew over the dense trees and dropped the payasa where Anjana was engaged in tapasya.

Vayu, the ever-present Wind-God, saw this event. "Go, Vayu!" he heard a silent command in his mind from Lord Shiva. Vayu immediately caught that portion of pudding and placed onto the outstretched hands of Anjana.

Anjana felt something drop in her hand. She opened her eyes and looked at the payasa in her hand. "Is this offering from Lord Shiva?" she wondered and swallowed it.

As the divine pudding went inside her throat, Anjana immediately felt the blessings of Lord Shiva. In due course, she gave birth to a little monkey-faced boy. Kesari was very happy to see his son. The child was called as Anjaneya or the son of Anjana.

Having given birth to Lord Shiva's incarnation, Anjana was released from the curse of the sage. She began to express her wish to return to Heaven.

When Anjaneya came to know about her mother's wish, he became sad. "Mother, without you what will be my future? How can I feed myself? How will I live?" he asked.

"Don't worry, Anjaneya," said Anjana. "Your father is the brave Kesari. Your guardian spirit is the life-giving Vayu. They'll always protect you. When you feel hungry, fruits as red and ripe as a rising sun would be your nourishment."

Saying so, Anjana kissed her son and left her alone. She went back to her heavenly abode.

"Fruits as red and ripe as the sun?" thought Anjaneya. "Is sun such a ripe fruit? Let's see!"

Thinking that the sun was actually some delicious fruit, the baby Anjaneya wanted to taste the sun. Now, Anjaneya was a divine child. His mother was an apsara and his father was a Monkey-King, so it was natural that little Anjaneya should inherit some magical powers. He was, after all, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. So reaching for the sun was not a tough task for him. He made a giant leap to catch the glowing ball on the sky.

Suryadeva, the Sun-God was glowing peacefully in the sky when he suddenly saw a monkey coming towards him. The monkey grew bigger and bigger as he neared the sun. But the terribly hot rays which made any mortal presence impossible near the sun, had no effect on the creature.




Seeing that, Suryadeva got scared and started calling out for help. "Indra! Indra! Help me!" he shouted.

Indra, king of the gods in heaven, was resting nearby in his heavenly abode. He was surprised to hear the Sun-God pleading for his help.

"Why is Suryadeva yelling for my help?" Indra wondered. "Is he not powerful enough to burn everything that comes near him? Or is it something beyond his control? I have to see what's happening!"

Indradeva promptly climbed on Airavatha the white elephant, his mount, and left his abode to find the cause of Suryadeva's fear. Soon he found that a flying monster was trying to catch hold of the sun. "Little wonder then that Suryadeva was so scared!" thought Indra, who had never seen such a creature.

Nearing the sun, Indra was surprised to see that the monster was actually a giant monkey.

"Stop!" he ordered. "Who are you? Why are you trying to catch the sun?"

"I'm Anjaneya, son of Kesari and Anjana." replied the giant child. "My mother told me that fruits as ripe as the red sun will be my food so I'm going to catch the sun and eat it."

At first, Indra was amused by the child's innocence, so he advised him to return to earth. "This is not a fruit, Anjaneya, this is the sun- the source of all light and life." said he and commanded, "Return whence you came".

But naughty Anjaneya ignored his commands and continued on his journey to capture the sun.

Now Indra became angry at the child's impertinence. He warned him several times not to go near the sun, but Anjaneya did not listen to him.

Finally, the King of Devas became so enraged that he struck Anjaneya with his thunderbolt "vajra".

The thunderbolt hit the child, wounding his chin and causing him to fall down to earth. The "vajra" hit Anjaneya's face. So his cheeks were swollen twice its size. As the boy fell, his body became smaller and smaller. Finally he became the child-sized monkey he really was and hit the ground.

Vayu, the Wind God, was roaming here and there when he heard a big "thud". Curious, he went towards the direction of the noise to investigate.

What he saw shocked Vayu. He couldn't believe his eyes. Anjaneya was lying unconscious on the ground. Who had dared to injure his god-son?

"Who has done this?" he roared but no one answered. Indra had already left for his abode and the sun was once again peacefully glowing in the sky.

The Wind God was terribly angry. "Why should I bother to do my duty when no one answers my question?" he thought.

With great affection, he lifted his godson in his hands and went to the Patalloka, the world below the grounds of the earth.

As Vayu left the earth, there was no air in the world. People, animals and trees struggled to breathe and started to die.

The Sun-God was shocked at the turn of the events and he ran to Brahma, telling Him about the calamity on earth.

Brahma became worried about the situation on Earth. He called Indra and accused him.

"Look what your silly anger has caused!" he thundered. "You have hurt a divine child and now the people on earth are suffering because of your mistake. This is all because of you!".

Indra hung his head in shame. "I am sorry for my actions" he murmured.

Brahma took him and the other gods to Patalloka and begged Vayu to return to earth.

"I beg pardon on behalf of all men, all creatures and divine beings. Please return to the earth, o gentle Vayu."

"I'll not come anywhere without my Anjaneya", Vayu said firmly. Then, using his powers, Brahma magically cured Anjaneya's wounds. He also gave him a boon saying, "No weapon will be ever able to have an effect on Anjaneya again."

To please Vayu further, Indra said to the boy, "You will be a 'Chiranjeevi' (immortal). I had taken my aim in your hanu (cheek). So from now, you will be called as the valiant Hanuman!"

Thus Anjaneya came to be known as Hanuman and had many more adventures during his childhood. With the blessings of all the gods,Hanuman became a great warrior later and had helped Lord Rama in his quest to bring back the latter's wife, Sita. This incident is known to everyone and is recorded in the great epic called Ramyana.

Manojavam maaruta tulya vegam
         Jitendriyam budhimataam varishtam | 
Vaataatmajam Vaanarayootha mukhyam
        Sri Rama dootam s'irasa namaami ||

Anjanaanandanam veeram
        Jaanaki s'oka naas'anam | 
Kapees'am Aksha hanthaaram
        Vande Lanka bhayankaram ||

Ullangya sindhoh salilam saleelam
        yah s'oka vanhim janakatmajaayaah | 
Aadhaya tenaiva dhadaaha lankaam
        Namaami tam praanjaliraanjaneyam ||

budhdirbalam yaso' dhairyam nirbhayatva-maro'gata |
ajadatyam vakpatutvam ca hanumatsmaranadbhavet ||

asaadhya sadhaka swamin
        asaadhyam thavakim vadha ||
ramadootha krupasindho
        mathkaryam sadhaya prabho || 

MISSING YOU - KRG !!!!

At 01:30 early in the morning on April 18,2008, as I was in the bed with a dream where we both are together inspite of all our worries, holding hands tightly .... but there in his room, my precious man breathed his last.  And a moment later took his first breath on the other side.I’ve just been a ball of nothing for the past few days, and I need to write, because what else can I do.

The sobbing has been non-stop. It just comes on. Then again. Then some more. Then I eat something. Or I dont. I keep forgetting to drink water. I’m having trouble getting out of bed. I’m going to work and keeping my plans and doing all the things I need to do and have to do in life that are responsibilities and obligations.

But I’m a mess.
I can’t think.
I can’t sleep.
I can’t exist.

I’m at a crossroads. I feel like everything and nothing is about to happen.
I can’t explain what I mean.
Nothing makes any sense to me right now.

On Monday, it will be April 18th.
Eight years  since my beloved’s  death.
On Monday, it will be April 18th
Nineteen  years and eleven months that we were married.
On Monday, it will be April 18th, I will have been a widow longer than I was a wife.
This is maybe the saddest thing I have ever typed.

It feels so wrong to have to type that.
Or to have to live that.
And yet here I am.
With no choice, really,
but to try and live.
Somehow.

I’ve been trying.
And failing.

I opened myself up to the idea of living.
I thought it was going well.
But then it wasn’t.
I don’t know what to do.

I have reached the point where I no longer want to be alone.
I no longer want to be lonely.

Am happy with a gorgeous daughter

And she is everything to me...

Both my parents are my precious

And made my life for them....

And my friends and relatives join hands with me.....

Enjoying every second with them.....

And I loved it.
I still love it.
But it was just a taste.
It’s not the right time.
And that’s okay.
Really.

I know I’m not making any sense.
Nothing makes any sense.
Except me and my beloved
We made sense.
We made so much sense.
And then he was gone.
Why?

I just miss you so very, very much, my KRG.
I miss you every day.
I want to go back,
to when I didnt have to think about things such as this,
because I was your wife,
and I had a beautiful husband.
And we were so happy.
But now,
soon,
I will have been a widow,
longer than my entire marriage.
I just can’t wrap my head around it.

Time to go cry again.

But I know, he’s greeted on the other side by loved ones who have crossed over before him.  He goes back to the light of Divine Love.  To say he’s in a better place is an understatement.  He’s happy, blissful even.  It’s as exciting as winning the lottery.  He goes through his life review, understanding and comprehending the lessons and experiences he had in life.  He makes peace with himself, and crosses right on over into bliss.

I felt he is still there, I can still talk to them, and He still see me and care about myself.  He know am sad, but he know life is an amazing gift and experience, and he want me to enjoy mine to the fullest extent possible.  I still see my beloved  again.

Missing You

I sit alone now in the darkness of despair.
I cry my silent tears,
My heart is broken into a million tiny pieces.
The silence is deafening to my ears.
The darkness frightens me,
The shadows climb the wall.
I hear footsteps walking,
Passing through the hall.
The loneliness surrounds me,
It takes my breath away,
This is the pattern of my life,
Since that awful, dreadful day.
Without a clue
Without a hint
Of what was yet to be,
God called you home
To be with him
And took you away from me.
I walk, I talk. I carry on
When the sun pokes out its head
But when darkness falls
And evening comes
I cannot go to bed.
For this is when I miss you most of all
When I curl into a little ball
And cry those silent tears.
Watching the shadows,
And missing you.

  

Thanks to the Chartered Accountant Association, Cannanore who kept my beloved at the height.

Ugadi is first day of Chaitra

Ugadi is first day of Chaitra - the first month - according to the Hindu calendar

Ugadi is an important festival for people from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It is the New Year according to the Hindu calendar. The first month of the year is called Chaitra and Ugadi is the first day of Chaitra. The festival is called Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra.

The festival usually falls in March or April. This year, the festival falls on April 8 which is Friday. The pratipada tithi begins on April 7 at 4:53 PM and ends on April 8 at 1:05 PM.

The festival is celebrated with much fervour and people usually clean their houses, buy new clothes and on the day of Ugadi and put torans of raw mango leaves on their doors. They also take a bath at dawn and apply hair oil. They also make a dish called Ugadi Pachadi which is prepared this day with ingredients like raw mango, neem, tamarind and jiggery.

The celebrations end in the evening when people gather to listen to the religious panchangam or alamanac of the New Year.

Ugadi – The  New Year:

The people of Karnataka and Andhra consider Ugadi to be an auspicious time for commencing new ventures. This is the time when New Year’s Day is also celebrated in the states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab, West Bengal and Assam.

While it is called Ugadi in A.P. and Karnataka, in Maharashtra it is known as Gudipadawa.

Origin of Ugadi

The term “Ugadi” has its origin in the Sanskrit word “Yugadi”, that means ‘starting of a new Yuga or period’. This traditional festival is usually celebrated in the second half of March or in early April. People from all over Karnataka celebrate this festival with much enthusiasm and gaiety. Yugadi specifically refers to the start of the age we are living in now, the Kali Yuga. The Kali Yuga began when Lord Krishna left the world. Maharshi Vedavyasa describes this event with the words "Yesmin Krishno divamvyataha, Tasmat eeva pratipannam Kaliyugam". Kali Yuga began on February 17 or 18, at midnight, in 3102 BCE

This calendar reckons dates based on the Shalivahana era (Shalivahana Shaka), which begins its count from the supposed date of the founding of the Empire by the legendary hero Shalivahana. The Satavahana king Shalivahana (also identified as Gautamiputra Satakarni) is credited with the initiation of this era known as Shalivahana. The Salivahana era begins its count of years from the year corresponding to 78 CE of the Gregorian calendar. Thus, the year 2000 CE corresponds to the year 1922 of the Salivahana Era. In the terminology used by this lunar calendar (also each year is identified as per Indian calendar, Yugadi falls on "Chaitra Shudhdha Paadyami" or the first day of the bright half of the Indian month of Chaitra. This generally falls in the months of March or April of the Gregorian calendar. In 2013, Ugadi falls on April 11. In 2014, Ugadi falls on 31 March. In 2016, Ugadi falls on April 8th.

Lunar calendars have a 60-year cycle and starts the new year on Yugadi i.e., on "Chaitra Sudhdha Paadyami" (Chaitram is the name of the first month, Suddha Padyami is the first day in the 15 days lunar cycle). After the completion of 60 years,the calendar starts a new with the first year.

The Yugadi is based on Bhāskara II lunar calculations in the 12th century. It starts on the sunrise immediately after the first new moon after Sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north on the spring equinox and enters the First Point of Aries. However, people celebrate Yugadi on the next morning as Indian day starts from sun rise. Many Indians in America also celebrate Yugadi.

Legend Associated with Ugadi:

The popular legend associated with the festival is that the Lord Brahma startedcreation of the vast universe on the auspicious day of Ugadi or Chaitra suddha padhyami.Lord Brahma created the days, weeks, months and years in order to count time and then created all other elements present in the universe.

Significance of Ugadi:

Ugadi marks a change in the lunar orbit as well as the beginning of the new Hindu lunar calendar. It also heralds the advent of spring. Mother Nature awakes from her deep slumber to give birth to new plants and cover earth in a blanket of green.

As spring accompanies new life on earth, this festival of New Year accompanies a feeling of joy, growth and prosperity. The nine day long spring festival of Vasanta Navratri begins on this day and concludes on Ramnavami.

Ugadi marks the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar. It is a day whenmantras are chanted and predictions made for the new year. The most important thing in the festival is Panchanga Shravanam – hearing of the Panchanga.

The Panchanga Shravanam is done at the temples by the priests. Before reading out the annual forecasts as predicted in the Panchanga, the officiating priest reminds the participants of the creator – Brahma, and the span of creation of the universe.

The reading of the Panchanga then involves reading of other Tidhis (wealth and prosperity) during the year and ends with h a forecast for various sectors of the social life and the strengths and effects of various constellations and their transitions.

The scriptures state that the benefits reaped by the listener as well as the reader, are equivalent to having a dip in the holy river Ganges. The individuals hearing the Panchanga should respectfully ‘thank’ the reader and offer him new clothes and seek his blessings.

Preparations for Ugadi:

Preparations for the festival start a week in advance. Houses are thoroughly cleaned and washed. People buy new clothes for themselves and their family members to enjoy the spirit of Ugadi. They also purchase several other things needed for the festival.

On Ugadi day, people wake up before the break of dawn and take a head bath. The bath is supposedly to be taken after massaging the entire using sesame oil.

Celebrations of Ugadi:

Ugadi is celebrated by decorating the temples with fresh flowers and fresh mango leaves. Among the flowers mainly the sweet smelling jasmine is used for the decorations. Most people also decorate their homes and puja rooms with flowers and mango leaves. There is an interesting legend behind the practice of decorating with mango leaves.

The legend goes that Subramanya and Ganesha, the sons of Lord Shiva and Parvati loved eating mangoes. Kartik urged people to tie fresh leaves of mango tree to thedoorway in order to indicate a good yields.

All the members of the family gather and pray together and seek blessings from the Almighty during Ugadi celebrations. Food, as is the normal trend in all festivals, occupies an important place in this festival too. Special dishes are prepared and enjoyed by the people to mark the festival.

The next step is offer prayers to Sun, before accepting Vepapoota Pachadi (Neem Flower Pickle) on an empty stomach. Entrance of the houses are decorated with fresh mango leaves. It is noteworthy that we use mango leaves and coconuts (as in a Kalasam, to initiate any pooja) only on auspicious occasions to propitiate gods.

People also splash fresh cow dung water on the ground in front of their house and draw colorful floral designs. This is a common sight in every household. People perform the ritualistic worship to God invoking his blessings before they start off with the new year.

Rituals Followed On Ugadi:

The festival is wrapped in traditions. The ceremonial day starts early, with theelderly ladies of the family getting up at around 4.30 a.m. while chanting mantras.  Several rituals are followed during the day to mark the celebration. The common rituals are:

1.      Reflection in Ghee: Watching one’s reflection in a bowl of molten ghee.

2.      Enne (Oil) Shastra: Elderly women of the family applying kumkum to the younger members and performing arathi.

3.      Abhyang: Taking of oil bath by all members of the family.

4.      New Dresses: Wearing of new clothes by all family members.

5.      Abhyang for Gods: Giving oil bath to the idols of Gods.

6.      Offering flowers: Offering flowers of neem, mango and tamarind to the Gods.

7.      Offering Puja: Puja is offered following the steps of Abhisheka, Alankara, Naivedya and Mangalarathi.

8.      Panchanga Pooje: After worshipping God, Panchanga for the new Samvathsara or Year is worshipped.

9.      Gudi or Indra Dhwaja Pooje: Indra Dhwaja Pooje is done next.

10.   Front door decoration: Decorating the front door with Kemmannu (red earth), Rangoli and Mango leaves. Sometimes neem leaves are also used.

11.   Bevu Bella: Eating of jaggery  and neem together in this festival to mark the presence of sweet and sour events in life’s journey.

12.   Oota: Offering meals to God and then eating Oota or meals as Prasada.

13.   Visiting temples: Visiting temples and seeking blessings of the Almighty.

Cuisine for Ugadi:

The main item prepared during the festival of is Bevu Bella. It is actually a paste made from jaggery, neem buds, tamarind juice and raw mango. All the ingredientsare ground together to make a fine paste. The significance of this item is that it denotes all the tastes of life.

The bitter, sweet and sour tastes each remind us the basic fact that life is a mixture of happy and sad events and we must remain ready to accept everything in life.

During Ugadi festival, all members of the family taste this paste and try to remain conscious of the fact that everything in life is temporary.

Apart from Bevu Bella, several other dishes are also prepared to celebrate the festival. Among the famous dishes cooked in Karnataka during this occasion are puliogure and holige (obbattu).

In Andhra Pradesh, eatables such as pulihora, bobbatlu and preparations made with raw mango go well with the occasion. In Karnataka too, similar preparations are made but called puliogure and holige.

தர்மம் தலை காக்கும்!!!

மகாபாரதப் போர் முடிந்த பல ஆண்டுகள் ஆகிவிட்டன. காந்தாரி கொடுத்த சாபத்தின் விளைவாக யாதவர்களுக்குள் சண்டை நடந்து யாதவ குலம் முற்றிலும் அழிந்துபோனது. கிருஷ்ணரால் அதைத் தடுக்க முடியவில்லை. தனது அவதாரம் முடிவுக்கு வர வேண்டிய காலம் வந்துவிட்டதை அவர் உணர்ந்தார். அடர்ந்த புதர்கள் நிறைந்த ஒரு மரத்தடியில் கால்களை நீட்டி ஓய்வெடுத்துக்கொண்டிருந்தார்.

அப்போது ஒரு வேடன் எய்த அம்பு அவர் பாதத்தில் நுழைந்து உயிரைக் குடித்தது.

யாதவர்களும் கிருஷ்ணனும் இறந்த செய்தி ஹஸ்தினாபுரத்தை எட்டியது. தங்களுக்கும் முடிவு காலம் வந்துவிட்டதை தருமன் உணர்ந்தான். உலக வாழ்வைத் துறந்து செல்லலாம் என்று நினைத்தான். அவரது தம்பிகளும் திரௌபதியும் இதை ஒப்புக்கொண்டார்கள். எல்லா உறவினர்களையும் இழந்த அவர்களுக்கு இனியும் உயிர் வாழப் பிடிக்கவில்லை. அதுவும் தங்களுக்கு ஆருயிர் நண்பனாக இருந்த கிருஷ்ணனின் மறைவு அவர்களை மிகவும் பாதித்துவிட்டது.

அர்ச்சுனனின் மகன் அபிமன்யுவின் மகன் பரீட்சித்துக்குப் பட்டம் சூட்டிவிட்டுப் பாண்டவர்கள் பாஞ்சாலியுடன் நாட்டை விட்டுக் கிளம்பினார்கள். வடக்கில் இமயமலைக்கு அப்பால் இருக்கும் மேரு மலையை நோக்கிச் சென்றார்கள். உலக இன்பங்களையும் ஆசைகளையும் பந்த பாசங்களையும் அறவே துறந்து மேருமலையைக் கடப்பவர்கள் மனித உடலுடன் சொர்க்கத்துக்குச் செல்ல முடியும் எனச் சான்றோர்கள் சொல்லியிருக்கிறார்கள். அத்தகைய பயணத்துக்குத் தேவையான மனநிலையுடன் பாண்டவர்கள் துறவறம் பூண்டார்கள். மரவுரி தரித்துக்கொண்டு புறப்பட்டார்கள். அரச பதவியையும் அரண்மனைச் சுகங்களையும் துறந்து வாழ்க்கையின் மீதான ஆசையை விடுத்து, மோட்சம் நாடிச் சென்றார்கள்.

லட்சக்கணக்கான வீரர்களின் இறுதி யாத்திரையைத் தீர்மானித்த அந்த வீரர்கள் தங்களது இறுதி யாத்திரையைத் தாங்களே முடிவுசெய்தபடி கிளம்பினார்கள். அவர்களுடன் தருமபுத்திரன் வளர்த்துவந்த நாயும் உடன் சென்றது.

பின்தொடர்ந்த நாய் மேரு மலைக்கு யாத்திரை செல்பவர்கள் திரும்பிப் பார்க்கக் கூடாது என்பது நியதி. தருமன், பீமன், அர்ச்சுனன், நகுலன், சகாதேவன், திரௌபதி ஆகியோர் ஒருவர் பின் ஒருவராகச் சென்றனர். அவர்களைத் தொடர்ந்து நாயும் சென்றது.பாண்டவர்கள் பல நாட்கள் பயணம்செய்து இமயமலையை அடைந்தார்கள். அதைக் கடந்து சென்று மேரு மலையைத் தரிசித்தனர். மேரு மலையில் பயணம் சென்றபோது திரௌபதி சோர்ந்து விழுந்து இறந்து விட்டாள்.

அதைக் கண்டு அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்த பீமன், “திரௌபதி ஏன் வீழ்ந்துவிட்டாள்?” எனத் தன் அண்ணனிடம் கேட்டான். தருமன் திரும்பிப் பார்க்காமல் பதில் சொன்னான்: “ஐவரிடமும் சமமான அன்பு வைக்க வேண்டியவள், அர்ச்சுனனிடம் கூடுதல் அன்பைக் காட்டினாள். அதனால்தான் அவளால் இந்தப் பயணத்தில் தாக்குப்பிடிக்க முடியவில்லை.”

சிறிது நேரத்தில் சகாதேவன் மயங்கி வீழ்ந்தான் “சகாதேவன் ஏன் விழுந்தான்? என்று கேட்டான் பீமன். “தன்னிடம் உள்ள சாஸ்திர அறிவு வேறு யாரிடமும் இல்லை என்ற கர்வம்தான் காரணம்” என்றபடியே தருமன் திரும்பிப் பார்க்காமல் போய்க்கொண்டிருந்தான்.அர்ச்சுனன் வீழ்ந்தான்.சிறிது நேரத்தில் நகுலன் சாய்ந்தான். பீமன் மீண்டும் காரணம் கேட்டான். தன்னை மிஞ்சிய அழகன் யாருமில்லை என்ற கர்வம்தான் காரணம் என்றான் தருமன். இப்போதும் திரும்பிப் பார்க்கவில்லை.

அடுத்து அர்ச்சுனன் விழுந்தான். “தனது வில்லாண்மை குறித்த கர்வம்தான் அவனை இந்தப் பயணத்தில் வீழ்த்தியது” என்றவாறு தருமன் போய்க்கொண்டிருந்தான்.

தனக்கும் தலை சுற்றுவதை பீமன் உணர்ந்தான். தள்ளாடி விழும் சமயத்தில் “என்னால் ஏன் தொடர்ந்து வர முடியவில்லை?” என்று கேட்டான். “உன்னைவிட பலமுள்ளவர்கள் யாருமில்லை என்னும் கர்வம்” என்று தருமன் சொல்லி முடிப்பதற்குள் பீமன் தன் கடைசி மூச்சை விட்டான்.

ஆசாபாசங்களையும் உலகியல் உணர்ச்சிகளையும் அறவே துறந்த தருமன் திரும்பிப் பார்க்காமல் போய்க்கொண்டே இருந்தான். நாய் மட்டும் அவனைத் தொடர்ந்தது.மேரு மலையின் உச்சியை அடைந்தான். அப்போது அவரை சொர்க்கத்திற்கு அழைத்துச் செல்லத் தேவேந்திரனே விமானத்துடன் வந்தான். தருமன் விமானத்தில் ஏற முற்பட்டபோது அவனுடன் வந்த நாயும் ஏற முயன்றது. “நாய்க்குச் சொர்க்கத்தில் இடமில்லை” என்று கூறித் தடுத்தான் இந்திரன்.

விமானத்தினுள் வைத்த காலைப் பின்னுக்கு இழுத்துக்கொண்டான் தருமன். “என்னை நம்பி இத்தனை தூரம் வந்த நாயை விட்டுவிட்டு நான் மட்டும் எப்படி வர முடியும்? நான் இங்கேயே இருந்துவிடுகிறேன்” என்றான்.

அப்போது நாய் மறைந்தது. அங்கே தரும தேவன் நின்றார். “சொர்க்கமே கிடைக்கிறது என்றாலும் உன்னை நம்பி வந்த நாயைக்கூடக் கைவிடாத உன் குணத்தைப் பாராட்டுகிறேன். எத்தகைய சூழ்நிலையிலும் தரும நெறியிலிருந்து நீ பிறழவில்லை. இது நான் உனக்கு வைத்த சோதனை. முன்பு யட்சன் வடிவில் வந்து உன்னைச் சோதித்தேன். இப்போது நாய் வடிவில் வந்து சோதித்தேன். இந்தச் சோதனைகளில் நீ தேறிவிட்டாய். மகிழ்ச்சியோடு சொர்க்கத்துக்குச் செல்” என்று கூறி தரும தேவன் மறைந்தார்.      

     

        நீதியானது;       எந்தச் சூழ்நிலையிலும் நீதி வழுவாது இருந்தால் சொர்க்கம் நிச்சயம்