It is a life-time record ... especially for me, to listen to a song for at least 50 times in the last 24 hours. Mind you, that is an average of 2 times every hour in the last 1 day. Count in the sleep hours, driving hours and office work hours. That makes it at least 6 times an hour in the remaining hours.
I should admit am addicted to the song! Without humming "pookkal pookkum tharunam", my mind seems to become restless. Oh, wow .. didn't really realize that it is still running in my mind as I type these words. What is it that attracts me so much to this song?
Almost every review I had read of Madrasapattinam in the last 2 days has praised Amy Jackson - her beauty, grace and acting skills. Of course, what do you expect from a Miss World Teen whose father works for BBC!? I for one have gotten enamored by the sharpness in her gaze during most of this song and the way certain dialogues happen through the eyes of the pair alone in this song is just brilliant.
Then there is the lyrical play itself which is as beautiful as the score by G V Prakash. The way it is sung .. hmm .. what can I say? After Ilayaraja departed from the music direction world of Tamil Cinema, very few songs have attracted me so much as this one. I think that speaks for itself.
Listen to it and am sure you will also fall in love :)
Monday, August 9, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
At last ... a good movie
At last, my blog silence is being broken. And it is very very rare that Abi and I write about or read the same thing on the same day!! Usually such joint ventures happen only for the events at Isha but not for a movie. It does today at least for a movie that made me feel pensive and happy at the same time. By the time it ended, there were so many nice memories that it is hard for me to pin-point what I felt was right about the movie.
This is about "madrasapattinam". The writer/director Vijay has taken the art of taking a tried-and-tested story adapted from different movies (I can immediately recall Lagaan and Titanic) with a kaleidoscope of emotions, brilliant screenplay and exemplary acting to new heights! Arya and Amy certainly steal the hearts of audience, their romance palpable but so decent that it puts all the signing-in-the-rain-dancing-around-trees directors to shame. I knew Arya was a very good actor from 'Naan Kadavul' itself and he has proven himself again now.
The kind of art direction that has gone in deserves the best awards if not at the international level, definitely at national level. To reproduce the Madras or Madrasa pattinam (current Chennai) in such brilliance is a stupendous effort indeed. No wonder the audience were glued to their seats watching images of the erstwhile Madras and current Chennai 'after' the movie was over and the names were scrolling on screen.
GV Prakash deserves a special mention for sure. The BGM was the closest somebody could get me to remember the maestro himself. It is as good as it gets. Though Udit Narayan's nosy song was funny for me, there was an earthy feeling about the music and the song lyrics too were cool. One that strikes a chord: "will turn into the breeze and enter your breath, I refuse to come out though" - nice creativity! (pardon my crude translation)
Abi has already touched upon the goose-bump-scenes of this movie in her blog entry:
http://abi-passion.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-am-hungry.html
I should mention this - by the 'intermission' time, I was wondering what more is left in the movie. By the time it ended, I was surprised that there was not a single moment where I felt it is dragging in the second half!
Yes, the puritans may say the storyline is predictable and even claim it is a copy-cat reproduction from other movies. Who cares? Not me. I thoroughly enjoyed this roller-coaster ride into the past of Chennai or Madras as I fondly remember the city am born in.
I am absolutely surprised that none of my friends recommended the movie to me! Well, may be our audience has gotten so used to the hit-n-run action kind of movies that such good ones slip out unnoticed. I certainly would recommend this to anybody on any given day, if not for the story, just for the 'fexy' action :-)
This is about "madrasapattinam". The writer/director Vijay has taken the art of taking a tried-and-tested story adapted from different movies (I can immediately recall Lagaan and Titanic) with a kaleidoscope of emotions, brilliant screenplay and exemplary acting to new heights! Arya and Amy certainly steal the hearts of audience, their romance palpable but so decent that it puts all the signing-in-the-rain-dancing-around-trees directors to shame. I knew Arya was a very good actor from 'Naan Kadavul' itself and he has proven himself again now.
The kind of art direction that has gone in deserves the best awards if not at the international level, definitely at national level. To reproduce the Madras or Madrasa pattinam (current Chennai) in such brilliance is a stupendous effort indeed. No wonder the audience were glued to their seats watching images of the erstwhile Madras and current Chennai 'after' the movie was over and the names were scrolling on screen.
GV Prakash deserves a special mention for sure. The BGM was the closest somebody could get me to remember the maestro himself. It is as good as it gets. Though Udit Narayan's nosy song was funny for me, there was an earthy feeling about the music and the song lyrics too were cool. One that strikes a chord: "will turn into the breeze and enter your breath, I refuse to come out though" - nice creativity! (pardon my crude translation)
Abi has already touched upon the goose-bump-scenes of this movie in her blog entry:
http://abi-passion.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-am-hungry.html
I should mention this - by the 'intermission' time, I was wondering what more is left in the movie. By the time it ended, I was surprised that there was not a single moment where I felt it is dragging in the second half!
Yes, the puritans may say the storyline is predictable and even claim it is a copy-cat reproduction from other movies. Who cares? Not me. I thoroughly enjoyed this roller-coaster ride into the past of Chennai or Madras as I fondly remember the city am born in.
I am absolutely surprised that none of my friends recommended the movie to me! Well, may be our audience has gotten so used to the hit-n-run action kind of movies that such good ones slip out unnoticed. I certainly would recommend this to anybody on any given day, if not for the story, just for the 'fexy' action :-)
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Jai Bhairavi devi
For more phonetically accurate lyrics, please approach the Isha Yoga Foundation at Coimbatore (http://www.ishafoundation.org)
Jai bhairavi devi Gurubhyo Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Swayambho Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Swadharini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi MahaKalyani Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi MahaBhadrani Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Maheswari Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Nageswari Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Visveswari Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Someswari Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi DuhkhaSamhaari Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi HiranyaGarbhini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi AmrutaVarshini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi BhaktaRakshini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi SowbhagyaDayini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi SarvaJanani Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi GarbhaDayini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi ShoonyaVaasini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Mahanandini Namahree
Jai bhairavi devi Vameshwari Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Karmapalini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Yoneeswari Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi LingaRoopini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi ShyamaSundari Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Trinetrini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi SarvaMangali Namahsree
Jai bhairav devi Mahayogini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi KleshaNaasini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi UgraRoopini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi DivyaKaamini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Kalaroopini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi TrishoolaDhaarini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi YakshaKaamini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi MuktiDaayini Namahsree
Aum Mahadevi LingaBhairavi Namahsree
Aum SreeShambhavi LingaBhairavi Namahsree
Aum MahaShakti LingaBhairavi Namahsree
Namahsree Namahsree Devi Namahsree!!
Jai bhairavi devi Gurubhyo Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Swayambho Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Swadharini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi MahaKalyani Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi MahaBhadrani Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Maheswari Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Nageswari Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Visveswari Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Someswari Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi DuhkhaSamhaari Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi HiranyaGarbhini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi AmrutaVarshini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi BhaktaRakshini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi SowbhagyaDayini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi SarvaJanani Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi GarbhaDayini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi ShoonyaVaasini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Mahanandini Namahree
Jai bhairavi devi Vameshwari Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Karmapalini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Yoneeswari Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi LingaRoopini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi ShyamaSundari Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Trinetrini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi SarvaMangali Namahsree
Jai bhairav devi Mahayogini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi KleshaNaasini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi UgraRoopini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi DivyaKaamini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi Kalaroopini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi TrishoolaDhaarini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi YakshaKaamini Namahsree
Jai bhairavi devi MuktiDaayini Namahsree
Aum Mahadevi LingaBhairavi Namahsree
Aum SreeShambhavi LingaBhairavi Namahsree
Aum MahaShakti LingaBhairavi Namahsree
Namahsree Namahsree Devi Namahsree!!
Brushing & chess!
This should not probably come as a complete surprise but it does for most people including me that we do gazillions of things daily but rarely do we think of improving doing any of those! I am talking about everything we do from the very mundane things like brushing your teeth, taking bath, etc. to much bigger ones like our work at office, travel, etc.
Improvement could be looked at from many different angles and the first thing to come to mind is speed of execution. For example, if I could bathe in 3 minutes with same efficiency as I do in 10 minutes, that would be a fantastic improvement for me, isn't it!? Another angle to look at is how much more efficiently can it be done? Any dentist would tell you that rotatory strokes are the more efficient in cleaning your teeth. Yet how many of us know and practice rotation strokes during brushing.
If it is 10 or 15 people who are in the negligence cadre, I can understand. But it is the overwhelming majority of humanity that we are talking about here that does not think in lines of getting better at doing their daily tasks!
The first thing I did was a little introspection on why I am so and realized that I do most things to the point of convenience only. So, it seems that even if inefficient, if something satisfies us or lets us enjoy the process or in other words gets us to the point of convenience, we rarely tend to get beyond that. If we do, there is probably an overwhelming urge to do so for some reason.
Taking a real example from my own life, I decided to play better chess than I used to two years back reading about Bobby Fischer and beign intrigued by all of the hype about the game. So, it is the curiosity factor in this case. I am sure most people have their own reasons or inspirations for the activities in which they excel.
If only we get that inspiration into all walks of our life, could you imagine how life would be? We would simply be curious, just like kids, to find out everything about different things in life and enjoy life a lot more! I am not talking about 1 person or 2 people doing it, although that is also wonderful. Am talking about the vast majority of humanity thinking along those lines. I have seen it happen in a couple of places like the Isha Yoga ashram in Coimbatore, but mostly in individuals belonging to different spheres of life.
Some mysteries keep us wondering the magnificence of life ... :)
Improvement could be looked at from many different angles and the first thing to come to mind is speed of execution. For example, if I could bathe in 3 minutes with same efficiency as I do in 10 minutes, that would be a fantastic improvement for me, isn't it!? Another angle to look at is how much more efficiently can it be done? Any dentist would tell you that rotatory strokes are the more efficient in cleaning your teeth. Yet how many of us know and practice rotation strokes during brushing.
If it is 10 or 15 people who are in the negligence cadre, I can understand. But it is the overwhelming majority of humanity that we are talking about here that does not think in lines of getting better at doing their daily tasks!
The first thing I did was a little introspection on why I am so and realized that I do most things to the point of convenience only. So, it seems that even if inefficient, if something satisfies us or lets us enjoy the process or in other words gets us to the point of convenience, we rarely tend to get beyond that. If we do, there is probably an overwhelming urge to do so for some reason.
Taking a real example from my own life, I decided to play better chess than I used to two years back reading about Bobby Fischer and beign intrigued by all of the hype about the game. So, it is the curiosity factor in this case. I am sure most people have their own reasons or inspirations for the activities in which they excel.
If only we get that inspiration into all walks of our life, could you imagine how life would be? We would simply be curious, just like kids, to find out everything about different things in life and enjoy life a lot more! I am not talking about 1 person or 2 people doing it, although that is also wonderful. Am talking about the vast majority of humanity thinking along those lines. I have seen it happen in a couple of places like the Isha Yoga ashram in Coimbatore, but mostly in individuals belonging to different spheres of life.
Some mysteries keep us wondering the magnificence of life ... :)
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
A warm welcome
It was not even 7 AM. Huffing and puffing I kept walking. It was almost as if people were laughing at how profusely I was sweating. I did not mind that because, well .. that is true anyways. I was like sweating to my core anyway!
Oh no! I am not on any weight reduction program. On the contrary, it is more like a weight gaining program (i.e.) my walk to catch office bus :))
At 7 AM, it is so hot daily that all the energy just gets sapped out of me. I realize this is the hottest I have ever felt Chennai to be and am beginning to wonder about all the people who work in this sweltering heat. The sales executives, the small-scale shop vendors and even the beggars draw pity just thinking about this heat.
Unfortunately we do not have authentic Indian agencies making such news. So, I take the quote from NASA this has been the hottest quarter of an year recorded so far
Despite many cries from so many visionaries regarding the global warming and impending disasters of it, our governments are choosing to simply ignore the cries of common people and the scientific community. It feels bitter to say this, but after all, it is not the children of those in power that are suffering due to these heat waves. It is only the common public - the you and me.
Too much hype and hoopla over the recent oil spill, but not enough to the cancer that is the warming eating away our apple of a planet from inside.
I am ashamed to even say this - I really wish to do something about this. Why being ashamed for this? It is because I feel am also responsible in a way for this disaster directly or indirectly as part of the society. If anyone could help me figure out what could be done at grass roots level, I would be glad to extend my help.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Green (err...) life
Why should life be all gloomy? This article provoked such thoughts in me immediately:
http://www.livescience.com/environment/earth-temp-may-exceed-livable-limits-100504.html
Why not we humans learn to see opportunity in the midst of calamity and look for alternatives?
Just a single alternative that I could think of - Is it not possible to plant a few million trees by then that could bring down the overall warming levels to a normal stage? If each of us can think of such ways by which this calamity could be avoided, we certainly can avoid it. After all, what is a society or civilization if not individuals!
Take a look at the Project Green Hands effort by Isha Foundation (http://www.projectgreenhands.org/). As Sadhguru says, to plant and nurture a tree to grow is one of the noblest things to do (amidst all other nonsense) towards the future generations. If of the 6 billion people, only 10% decide to plant just 1 tree and see it grow in their life time, we would still end up with 600 million trees making the earth greener by a big percentage!! And this is just assuming 1 person cares for only 1 tree in their entire life time.
If we teach our children in schools to plant / nurture trees, I am sure that will be one of the best things to happen to them too. The joy in seeing something grow, especially if it is out of your efforts, is to be experienced by everyone.
Let us make it happen ... Let us strive for a positive thinking happy world.
http://www.livescience.com/environment/earth-temp-may-exceed-livable-limits-100504.html
Why not we humans learn to see opportunity in the midst of calamity and look for alternatives?
Just a single alternative that I could think of - Is it not possible to plant a few million trees by then that could bring down the overall warming levels to a normal stage? If each of us can think of such ways by which this calamity could be avoided, we certainly can avoid it. After all, what is a society or civilization if not individuals!
Take a look at the Project Green Hands effort by Isha Foundation (http://www.projectgreenhands.org/). As Sadhguru says, to plant and nurture a tree to grow is one of the noblest things to do (amidst all other nonsense) towards the future generations. If of the 6 billion people, only 10% decide to plant just 1 tree and see it grow in their life time, we would still end up with 600 million trees making the earth greener by a big percentage!! And this is just assuming 1 person cares for only 1 tree in their entire life time.
If we teach our children in schools to plant / nurture trees, I am sure that will be one of the best things to happen to them too. The joy in seeing something grow, especially if it is out of your efforts, is to be experienced by everyone.
Let us make it happen ... Let us strive for a positive thinking happy world.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Damn the ride ...
It was a grueling 2 and half hours sitting session today. No, I am not talking about any training session am attending, although that would be grueling as well :)) This is about my travel from office to home.
I take the office bus daily. Morning trips are usually ok even considering the sweltering Chennai heat that makes me sweat all over at 7 am itself. At least I get to reach my office in an hour's time.
It is the evening trip that starts at 6:20 or so and seemingly goes on forever till I reach my destination. It is usually bad enough filling your ears with the incessant honks of all anxious drivers starting home & your nostrils with all the smoke. Most Chennaiites can immediately identify with what am talking about. Today was an exceptionally bad day as I reached 30 more minutes later than the usual 2 hour return journey.
If you think "What? only 30 minutes and this idiot is going cranky about it", I would love to invite you to sit with me through the silence for entire period and then you will realize it ... the pain.
I tried listening to music, reading a book, chatting with my friends, playing games on my mobile and finally even resigning to silence. None of it worked to my satisfaction, at least not today. But endure I did and when I stepped out, ufff ... what a relief it was. It was such a relief that having to stand for 5 minutes to cross the road as pedestrian really did not matter that much nor did bargaining with the fruits vendor. I guess I was more grateful than anything to have finished the damn ride.
Those moments of gratefulness during the walk back home had me realize that when I look at life events from a grateful perspective, even the seemingly trivial & irritating stuff is not really so. You just need to have gone through a more drilling experience prior to it :))
Signing off now with the hope that such grueling trips don't become frequent and are more an exception. Wish me luck :)
I take the office bus daily. Morning trips are usually ok even considering the sweltering Chennai heat that makes me sweat all over at 7 am itself. At least I get to reach my office in an hour's time.
It is the evening trip that starts at 6:20 or so and seemingly goes on forever till I reach my destination. It is usually bad enough filling your ears with the incessant honks of all anxious drivers starting home & your nostrils with all the smoke. Most Chennaiites can immediately identify with what am talking about. Today was an exceptionally bad day as I reached 30 more minutes later than the usual 2 hour return journey.
If you think "What? only 30 minutes and this idiot is going cranky about it", I would love to invite you to sit with me through the silence for entire period and then you will realize it ... the pain.
I tried listening to music, reading a book, chatting with my friends, playing games on my mobile and finally even resigning to silence. None of it worked to my satisfaction, at least not today. But endure I did and when I stepped out, ufff ... what a relief it was. It was such a relief that having to stand for 5 minutes to cross the road as pedestrian really did not matter that much nor did bargaining with the fruits vendor. I guess I was more grateful than anything to have finished the damn ride.
Those moments of gratefulness during the walk back home had me realize that when I look at life events from a grateful perspective, even the seemingly trivial & irritating stuff is not really so. You just need to have gone through a more drilling experience prior to it :))
Signing off now with the hope that such grueling trips don't become frequent and are more an exception. Wish me luck :)
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Smoke Smoke all over
I had been thinking about blogging this for a very long time now.
I don't like smoking and cigarette smoke in fact but not necessarily smokers. Of late though, I have begun to hate some of these smokers, the ones who do it irresponsibly. I give a damn for people who want to smoke their lives away but those who do it in front of non-smokers blatantly especially in front of children, get onto my nerves and that is what I mean by smoking irresponsibly.
Those people seem to obviously not care smoking right onto the faces of their own children! I have seen it scores of times during my daily drive to office and back home. They might say 'who the hell are you to ask about this?' ... I don't have a proper answer but I do care!
Children are the future generation and nipping those buds with smoke is the most horrible thing I can imagine being done to them. These same people would crib tomorrow if their son or daughter takes money from their own purses to smoke right in front of them. At that time, they will cry that the youth is all spoilt not realizing the seeds have been theirs!
If anybody might be doing such things themselves inadvertently, I request such people to stop and look at what they are doing to themselves and to our future generation. If even 2 people change themselves for the better and cascade that among people they know, we can leave the world a much better place to live.
I don't like smoking and cigarette smoke in fact but not necessarily smokers. Of late though, I have begun to hate some of these smokers, the ones who do it irresponsibly. I give a damn for people who want to smoke their lives away but those who do it in front of non-smokers blatantly especially in front of children, get onto my nerves and that is what I mean by smoking irresponsibly.
Those people seem to obviously not care smoking right onto the faces of their own children! I have seen it scores of times during my daily drive to office and back home. They might say 'who the hell are you to ask about this?' ... I don't have a proper answer but I do care!
Children are the future generation and nipping those buds with smoke is the most horrible thing I can imagine being done to them. These same people would crib tomorrow if their son or daughter takes money from their own purses to smoke right in front of them. At that time, they will cry that the youth is all spoilt not realizing the seeds have been theirs!
If anybody might be doing such things themselves inadvertently, I request such people to stop and look at what they are doing to themselves and to our future generation. If even 2 people change themselves for the better and cascade that among people they know, we can leave the world a much better place to live.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Blog operations ... no tech
I am doing a "Blogeperation" ... basically separation of my blog into two. This one (http://mrrajasekhar.blogspot.com) is going to retain all my personal stuff while my new blog (http://bigfundutech.blogspot.com) is going to contain all the tech stuff. Over the next week or so, I will be moving all my tech stuff from this one.So, I request a bit of patience from all those following my blog(s) :-)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Soundarya Lahari (Short version)
These are the Soundarya Lahari lyrics, again taken from a web site (http://www.sankaracharya.org/soundarya_lahari.php) but modified as sung on the Ye Devi CD from Isha foundation. Another brilliant composition from Isha :)
Mahim muladhare kamapi manipure huthavaham
Sthitham svadhistane hridi marutamakasam upari;
Mano'pi bhruu-madhye sakalamapi bhittva kula-patham
Sahasrare padme saha rahasi patyaa viharase.
Sudha-dhara-sarais carana-yugalanta vigalitaih
Prapancham sinchanti punarapi ras'amnaya-mahasah;
Avapya svam bhumim bhujaga-nibham adhyusta-valayam
Svam atmanam krtva svapishi kulakunde kuharini.
Jagat suthe dhata harir avati rudrah kshapayate
Tiraskurvan etat svam api vapurisastirayati;
Sada-purvah sarvam tad idamanugrhnati cha Shiva-
Stavajnam aalambya kshana-chalitayor bhru-latikayoh.
Japo jalpah shilpam sakalam api mudra-virachana
Gatih pradaksinya-kramanam asanady'ahuti-vidhih;
Pranamah samvesah sukham akilam atmarpana-drsa
Saparya-paryayas tava bhavatu yan me vilasitam.
Thava swadhishtane huthavahamadhishtaya niratham
Thameede sarvatha janani mahathim tham cha samayam
Yadhaloke lokan dhahathi mahasi krodha kalithe
Dhayardhra ya drushti sishiramupacharam rachayathi.
Thavadhare mole saha samayaya lasyaparaya
Navathmanam manye navarasa maha thandava natam;
Ubhabhya Methabhyamudaya vidhi muddhisya dhayaya
Sanadhabyam jagne janaka jananimatha jagathidam.
Vibhaktha-traivarnyam vyatikaritha-lila'njanathaya
Vibhati tvan-netra-trithayam idam Isana-dayite;
Punah strashtum devan Druhina-Hari-Rudran uparatan
Rajah sattvam vibhrat thama ithi gunanam trayam iva.
Mahim muladhare kamapi manipure huthavaham!
Mahim muladhare kamapi manipure huthavaham
Sthitham svadhistane hridi marutamakasam upari;
Mano'pi bhruu-madhye sakalamapi bhittva kula-patham
Sahasrare padme saha rahasi patyaa viharase.
Sudha-dhara-sarais carana-yugalanta vigalitaih
Prapancham sinchanti punarapi ras'amnaya-mahasah;
Avapya svam bhumim bhujaga-nibham adhyusta-valayam
Svam atmanam krtva svapishi kulakunde kuharini.
Jagat suthe dhata harir avati rudrah kshapayate
Tiraskurvan etat svam api vapurisastirayati;
Sada-purvah sarvam tad idamanugrhnati cha Shiva-
Stavajnam aalambya kshana-chalitayor bhru-latikayoh.
Japo jalpah shilpam sakalam api mudra-virachana
Gatih pradaksinya-kramanam asanady'ahuti-vidhih;
Pranamah samvesah sukham akilam atmarpana-drsa
Saparya-paryayas tava bhavatu yan me vilasitam.
Thava swadhishtane huthavahamadhishtaya niratham
Thameede sarvatha janani mahathim tham cha samayam
Yadhaloke lokan dhahathi mahasi krodha kalithe
Dhayardhra ya drushti sishiramupacharam rachayathi.
Thavadhare mole saha samayaya lasyaparaya
Navathmanam manye navarasa maha thandava natam;
Ubhabhya Methabhyamudaya vidhi muddhisya dhayaya
Sanadhabyam jagne janaka jananimatha jagathidam.
Vibhaktha-traivarnyam vyatikaritha-lila'njanathaya
Vibhati tvan-netra-trithayam idam Isana-dayite;
Punah strashtum devan Druhina-Hari-Rudran uparatan
Rajah sattvam vibhrat thama ithi gunanam trayam iva.
Mahim muladhare kamapi manipure huthavaham!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Devi Sthuthi
This is the DEVI STUTHI as taken from a web site (http://www.eaisai.com/baba/docs/sldevi.html) but modified as sung on the Ye Devi CD from Isha foundation. The way it is sung is simply amazing with the pitch and beats picking up every 4 stanzas. It just melts me everytime I listen to it. :)
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Chetanetyaabhi Dheeyate!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Buddhi Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Nidraa Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Kshudhaa Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Chaayaa Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Thrishnaa Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Kshaanthi Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Jaati Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Lajja Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Shaanthi Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Shradha Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Kaanthi Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Vritti Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Smrithi Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Tushti Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Braanthi Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Matru Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Dayaa Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Shakthi Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Shakthi Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Shakthi Roopena Samsthita!
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha!!
Namo Namaha! Namo Namaha!!
Bhairavi Ashtakam
Bhairavi Ashtakam as sung on the Ye Devi CD of Isha...
Na thatho, na matha, na bandur na datha,
Na puthro, na puthri, na bruthyo, na bartha!
Na jayaa na Vidhya, na Vruthir mamaiva,
Gathisthwam, Gathisthwam Thwam ekaa Bhairavi!!
Na Janaami Dhaanam, Na cha dhyana yogam,
Na janami tanthram, na cha sthothra manthram!
Na janami poojam, na cha nyasa yogam,
Gathisthwam, Gathisthwam thwam ekaa Bhairavi!!
Prajesam, Ramesam, Mahesam, Suresam,
Dhinesam, Nisidheswaram vaa kadachit!
Na janami chaanyath sadaham saranye,
Gathisthwam, Gathisthwam thwam ekaa Bhairavi!!
Bhavaabdhava pare, Maha dhukha Bheeru,
Papaatha prakaami, pralobhi pramathah!
Kusamsara paasa prabadha sadaham,
Gathisthwam, Gathisthwam thwam ekaa Bhairavi!!
Na janami Punyam, Na janami theertham,
Na janami mukthim, layam vaa kadachit!
Na janami bhakthim, vratham vaapi maatha,
Gathisthwam, Gathisthwam, thwam ekaa Bhairavi!!
Vivadhe, Vishadhe, pramadhe, pravase,
Jale chaanale parvathe shatru madhye!
Aranye, saranye sada maam prapaahi,
Gathisthwam, Gathisthwam, thwam ekaa Bhairavi!!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Space car!
I have been visiting the Isha Yoga center at Coimbatore and the Dhyanalinga quite a few times in the last few years. Every time I go there, the very atmosphere is so different and energized that it feels like I am stepping into a totally different world while coming out from the Ashram.
But I never imagined a space that I constantly live / move in could also begin to feel like that and of all places, my car!! Almost every day after attending the consecration I have travelled in the car, I keep chanting the Bhairavi Satakam, Sthuthi, Naga Mantra. It has not been many days. But of late, I have begun to notice that it feels so different to be in the car!
This could be nothing, in my opinion, but the Devi's grace and am sure I am not imagining things. It is just a pleasure nowadays to drive, even amidst heavy Chennai traffic. I am sure people from Chennai would be surprised to know that I am now looking out for staying in traffic because I get more time in the car for my chanting!You probably think am plain crazy :)
But I never imagined a space that I constantly live / move in could also begin to feel like that and of all places, my car!! Almost every day after attending the consecration I have travelled in the car, I keep chanting the Bhairavi Satakam, Sthuthi, Naga Mantra. It has not been many days. But of late, I have begun to notice that it feels so different to be in the car!
This could be nothing, in my opinion, but the Devi's grace and am sure I am not imagining things. It is just a pleasure nowadays to drive, even amidst heavy Chennai traffic. I am sure people from Chennai would be surprised to know that I am now looking out for staying in traffic because I get more time in the car for my chanting!You probably think am plain crazy :)
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Nirvana Shatkam
This is the Nirvana Shatkam by Adi Sankara. One of the most intense expressions of the Sivatva (since when is my blog turning like this!). Am not sure of the authenticity of the lyrics though, but seems to be correct as recollected from my memory. Completely and originally taken from the Wikipedia link :)
Mano budhyahankara chithaa ninaham,
Na cha srothra jihwe na cha graana nethrer,
Na cha vyoma bhoomir na thejo na vayu,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham.
Na cha praana sangno na vai pancha vaayuh,
Na vaa saptha dhathur na va pancha kosa,
Na vak pani padam na chopastha payu,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham.
Na me dwesha raghou na me lobha mohou,
Madho naiva me naiva matsarya bhava,
Na dharmo na cha artha na kamo na moksha,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham.
Na punyam na paapam na soukhyam na dukham,
Na manthro na theertham na veda na yagna,
Aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhoktha,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham.
Na mruthyur na sankha na me jathi bhedha,
Pitha naiva me naiva matha na janma,
Na bhandhur na mithram gurur naiva sishyah,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham.
Aham nirvi kalpo nirakara roopo,
Vibhuthwascha sarvathra sarvendriyanaam,
Na chaa sangatham naiva mukthir na meyah
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham.
Mano budhyahankara chithaa ninaham,
Na cha srothra jihwe na cha graana nethrer,
Na cha vyoma bhoomir na thejo na vayu,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham.
Na cha praana sangno na vai pancha vaayuh,
Na vaa saptha dhathur na va pancha kosa,
Na vak pani padam na chopastha payu,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham.
Na me dwesha raghou na me lobha mohou,
Madho naiva me naiva matsarya bhava,
Na dharmo na cha artha na kamo na moksha,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham.
Na punyam na paapam na soukhyam na dukham,
Na manthro na theertham na veda na yagna,
Aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhoktha,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham.
Na mruthyur na sankha na me jathi bhedha,
Pitha naiva me naiva matha na janma,
Na bhandhur na mithram gurur naiva sishyah,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham.
Aham nirvi kalpo nirakara roopo,
Vibhuthwascha sarvathra sarvendriyanaam,
Na chaa sangatham naiva mukthir na meyah
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Fiercely Beautiful!
Do I feel good to be back at home? Not really .. For the first time ever in my life, I feel like I have left some part of me at the place of visit. In case you are wondering what the heck am talking about, you should have been there at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore for Linga Bhairavi Devi consecration.
As Sadhguru said, it is certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity or probably a once in several lifetimes opportunity. I am sure pretty much everyone who was part of it should be feeling the same way. Linga Bhairavi devi is supposed to be fiercely and wonderfully feminine at the same time. I do not know about the fierce part of her really because all I could see was the beauty and she has certainly taken my mind & heart. Still cannot forget the first sight of her!
She is "the most beautiful" among the goddesses I have seen so far in my life - so glorious and so full of life, you could feel it quite tangibly just by looking at her! This consecration was a prana prathista unlike the mantra prathista that happens usually at temples (even that does not happen properly in most places). But when "the man himself" is leading it, you could be sure it would be the most fantastic consecration that could take place. And it was. :)
If anybody does not get to see the devi in their life, they would not know what they have missed. But when they do come to know, it would be so painful to have missed out on something so fabulous and spectacular. I am not a great Bhakta or one who prays even irregularly (used to be so as a child but left that looong back), but I certainly am praying for Sadhguru's & Linga Bhairavi Devi's blessings, so a part of her at least will stay forever with me.
As Sadhguru said, it is certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity or probably a once in several lifetimes opportunity. I am sure pretty much everyone who was part of it should be feeling the same way. Linga Bhairavi devi is supposed to be fiercely and wonderfully feminine at the same time. I do not know about the fierce part of her really because all I could see was the beauty and she has certainly taken my mind & heart. Still cannot forget the first sight of her!
She is "the most beautiful" among the goddesses I have seen so far in my life - so glorious and so full of life, you could feel it quite tangibly just by looking at her! This consecration was a prana prathista unlike the mantra prathista that happens usually at temples (even that does not happen properly in most places). But when "the man himself" is leading it, you could be sure it would be the most fantastic consecration that could take place. And it was. :)
If anybody does not get to see the devi in their life, they would not know what they have missed. But when they do come to know, it would be so painful to have missed out on something so fabulous and spectacular. I am not a great Bhakta or one who prays even irregularly (used to be so as a child but left that looong back), but I certainly am praying for Sadhguru's & Linga Bhairavi Devi's blessings, so a part of her at least will stay forever with me.
Friday, January 15, 2010
A Filmy Creation!
It is rather funny that I have decided to write about this. I know this movie has been getting a lot of media attention of late and I decided to watch it for the heck of it. It was actually just to see what the hype was about. But when I start watching movies now-a-days, I get too involved - I laugh with the characters and cry with them. And to say the truth, I loved this movie [as Abi says I do every movie!]. OK, the suspense is over - it is about '3 idiots'.
First off, my kudos to the script writers to bring a nice touch of novelty and idealism which is probably needed now to bring even a tiny change in people's hearts. Though I do not consider myself to have been victimised to parents' expectations, I have seen scores of kids of my age (even in my relatives) getting under it. Very few have been able to come up and swim through the tide against them. But that is only one aspect of the movie, the other one being about doing the job that one really loves to. Now, that would be wonderful, isn't it!? :-)
Aamir and Madhavan lived up to their billing with extra ordinary performances. Call it 'bias' for my name (he carries part of it after all), but for me, the 'Raju Rastogi' character did a brilliant job of bringing out right emotions at the right time. I would definitely love to exude that kind of confidence he gets to towards the end of the movie.
I was watching an interview of the film's director on CNN-IBN a few days back. The anchor asked him questions like why the 'key throwing' scene in the climax was made very "filmy" while the rest of it was pure "creative" work. When I watched the movie, I could not but reflect to her statement. I felt there were a ton of "filmy" scenes in the movie and lots of IQ quips like using-the-pencil-in-space one that most IT people should by now be familiar of through the email chains. Don't mistake me, it is nice that the director did a sincere attempt to bring in the so-called intellectual jokes to common public. I, for one, would be happy if such thoughts provoke some thinking in the common man who otherwise would just "live-on"! In my opinion, the "mootra visarjan" scene ;-) in the beginning was a damn creative one and so were the switch roles by changing uniform to study in school, proving that suhas cares only for money by hiding the costly watch, etc.
In the end, movies are as much about entertainment as it is about conveying a message. And I thoroughly enjoyed this one and will cherish it. Hats off to the entire film's team for their brilliant combination of entertainment and message delivery!
First off, my kudos to the script writers to bring a nice touch of novelty and idealism which is probably needed now to bring even a tiny change in people's hearts. Though I do not consider myself to have been victimised to parents' expectations, I have seen scores of kids of my age (even in my relatives) getting under it. Very few have been able to come up and swim through the tide against them. But that is only one aspect of the movie, the other one being about doing the job that one really loves to. Now, that would be wonderful, isn't it!? :-)
Aamir and Madhavan lived up to their billing with extra ordinary performances. Call it 'bias' for my name (he carries part of it after all), but for me, the 'Raju Rastogi' character did a brilliant job of bringing out right emotions at the right time. I would definitely love to exude that kind of confidence he gets to towards the end of the movie.
I was watching an interview of the film's director on CNN-IBN a few days back. The anchor asked him questions like why the 'key throwing' scene in the climax was made very "filmy" while the rest of it was pure "creative" work. When I watched the movie, I could not but reflect to her statement. I felt there were a ton of "filmy" scenes in the movie and lots of IQ quips like using-the-pencil-in-space one that most IT people should by now be familiar of through the email chains. Don't mistake me, it is nice that the director did a sincere attempt to bring in the so-called intellectual jokes to common public. I, for one, would be happy if such thoughts provoke some thinking in the common man who otherwise would just "live-on"! In my opinion, the "mootra visarjan" scene ;-) in the beginning was a damn creative one and so were the switch roles by changing uniform to study in school, proving that suhas cares only for money by hiding the costly watch, etc.
In the end, movies are as much about entertainment as it is about conveying a message. And I thoroughly enjoyed this one and will cherish it. Hats off to the entire film's team for their brilliant combination of entertainment and message delivery!
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