Given another chance to live my life over again, I only wish I would find Aparna sooner, so that I could live with her even longer. Hey Kali! Happy Anniversary to us!
Dearest Aparna, When I tell you you mean a lot I don’t say it out of habit. I say it to remind you that you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. As some wise man said, Love is not gazing into each other’s eyes but both looking out in the same direction – I have to agree that defines what we both are to each other.
Clicked by Vishnu 20 minutes before 31st March 2015 (He ordered this to be used in this Tribute Blog)
As we enter into the 25th year of this amazing journey of togetherness, I can’t but help feeling that it just happened yesterday. 24 years flew past as if it were a mere 24 hours. I hope you recall my promise that day, “Feels great to have found a special person whom I wanted to annoy rest of my life” – You laughed it away then, and now for every moment of 24 years that went past, you realized that I was dead serious 😛
When we keep hearing marriages and relationships breaking down, we always wondered if that is an option at all in the world. Where a year of wedded bliss is considered a humongous achievement, four over a score seem century to many. And reasons for that travels and rests squarely at your door. While many congratulate me on our anniversary, they always credit you Aparna (rightly so) for it.
Why you? As the saying goes MEN ULTIMATELY fall in love with those women who bring out their best qualities and yeah you did that commendably indeed, for me to think beyond you. With the benefit of hindsight, I took a great call considering the grit and determination you displayed, the shoulder of support you lent that made this journey looks so easy. Being of extremely opposite nature where I sometime suspected your inability to express as sign of detachment, and on the other extreme, me a motor mouth and overtly expressing types – We just went on to prove that Opposites Attract.
And the biggest gift – the two lovelies that we begot. What better blessings could anyone imaginably ask for? Jewels that Divya and Vishnu are, adorn the crown of our lives. I have to agree and be thankful to the Divine that took after their mother. Those bed time stories – even when you weren’t keeping very well – the values that you instilled in them, constant bugging and egging them towards perfection; I am sure I would have failed miserably on all the counts there. Thanks for being a great Mother too.
Unforgettable Moments – That defines every moment of our lives
Ever grateful to Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar whose blessings made every mountain that we encountered looked like a grain of sand. Thank you Dearest Gurudev for giving us the strength and wisdom to look beyond the obvious and ensuring a smooth sailing even on the roughest seas. Jai Gurudev!!!
Finally! You have come a long long way from the cook who asked if Pressure Cooking rice needs water. Foodies that you are surrounded with acknowledge that today you give Sanjeev Kapoor a run for his money.
Thanks for being you, Grateful for being in our lives. May we travel in this blissful journey for eternity.
For old times sake – In Chintamani 8th Feb 2015
Loads of Love to the one who defined Love by her deed.
ॐ नमः शिवाय भीमाशंकराय। सह्याद्रिवासिने डाकिनीविनाशनाय॥
Bheemana Amavasye is the Amavasya or New Moon Day of Ashada month in the Hindu calendar, marking the final day of the month. Believers hold that on this sacred day Bhagwan Shiva was deeply moved by the devotion of Devi Parvati and accepted Her as His wife. The festival is widely celebrated as Bhimana Amavasya in Karnataka and many other states. It is also known as Pati Sanjeevini Vrata or Jyothi Bhimeshwara Vrata. People observe this festival for the well being and prosperity of all male members in a family.
The festival is dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva and Devi Parvati. Unmarried women pray for the good health and well being of their brothers, father, and all male relatives. Married women observe this vrata for the long life of their husbands. Married women carry out this ritual for nine consecutive years after marriage. In the ninth year, they gift a pair of sacred lamps to their brothers or a Brahmin.
Preparations and Puja Setup
Traditionally, women make two sacred lamps using Red Clay, believed to represent Kalikamba, or Thambittu wheat flour paste. One lamp symbolizes Bhagwan Shiva and the other represents Devi Parvati, who is worshiped as the Supreme Mother and the source of every other Devi. Devotees install these lamps on a bed of grains, typically Rice, facing east.
Traditional Red Clay Lamps replaced with Silver ones
Puja begins by tying a Turmeric Root to the right lamp of the Deity picture, which is the lamp on our left as we face it, signifying Devi Parvati. The altar installation also incorporates representations of Surya Dev, Chandra Dev, and a sacred water pot called Kumbha.
Women light the lamps and offer a nine stranded thread called Gejje Vastra along with Sandal paste or Gandha, which is an essential offering for this puja. The sacred Tambula offering includes nine Betel leaves, nine Betel Nuts or Bettada Adike, and a fresh coconut.
Gowri Dhara
Women also place Gowri Dara or Rakshe, which is a thread smeared with Turmeric paste, alongside the Puja Samagri. Married women use a nine stranded thread with nine knots, while unmarried women use a five stranded thread with five knots. During Granthi Puja, women perform a specific puja for each strand with offerings, and female family members later tie these sacred threads around their wrists.
Please note that variations exist in these practices depending on regional traditions and family customs.
Puja and Rituals
After the mandatory Ashtottara Puja of Bhagwan Ganesh to remove all obstacles, devotees worship Bhagwan Shiva and Devi Parvati. Uma Maheshwara Ashtottara Puja is performed with devotion, and the Gowri Dara is tied around the wrists. At this stage the main part of the Puja is complete, and everyone pays respect to the lady performing the rituals.
All set. The main part of Puja done. Respects to this Lady
Daughter gets her Rakshe tied. Along with Blessings that None else can give her
Naivedya offerings include Karjura or Dates, Cosambari, and usual seasonal fruits. Families prepare traditional Kadubu filled with coins, staple food grains, and dry fruits, which is called Bandhara or Treasure Chest to symbolize abundance. Post puja, this Bandhara is placed on either side of the house threshold or Hosilu. Male family members crush these sweet cakes using their elbows, signifying an abundant flow of material and spiritual wealth into the home. Afterwards, the wife performs an Arati to her husband praying for his health and long life.
I get an Arti today 🙂
Traditional Festive Feast
After the rituals comes the much awaited part of the festival, which is the grand feast. Typical items served at home include Chitranna or Lemon Rice, Cosambari, Groundnut Chutney Pudi, Midi Uppinakayi or Tender Mango Pickles, Appala or Pappad, Majjige Menasinakayi or Fried Curded Chilly, Hoorna Saaru or Rasam, and sweet Kaayi Holige or Obbattu.
Traditional Fare, (except Pappad & Fried Curded Chillies) which is usually not made on this festival
The Batting Begins 🙂
Legend of Susheela and Dead Prince
A pious Brahmin couple living in Saurashtra decided to undertake a pilgrimage to Kashi, as praying to Mahadeva there was considered a crucial lifetime duty. In those days, traveling to Kashi was a perilous journey, and people were never sure if they would return safely. Therefore, they decided not to take their young daughter Susheela along. They placed Susheela under the care of their married son and asked him to get her married and well settled in case they did not return from Kashi.
Years rolled by with no news or sign of the parents returning. The son and his wife were greedy to possess the family property and did not want to spend any money on getting Susheela married. In those times, it was a moral obligation and societal norm that the son inheriting property must shoulder the responsibility of marrying off his sisters.
During this period, Saurashtra was ruled by an able and righteous king named Vajrabahu. He had a son named Prince Jayasheela, who suddenly died due to a strange illness. King Vajrabahu was deeply worried about who would fulfill the ritualistic requirements of Tilodaka for his forefathers. The palace astrologer discovered a remedy and suggested marrying the dead prince off before cremation to keep the Pitrus satisfied.
King Vajrabahu made a royal proclamation across his kingdom that whoever agreed to marry the deceased prince would receive vast rewards including gold coins, a palatial home, agricultural land, and enough food grains to last three generations.
The greedy brother and his wife had no concern for Susheela and convinced her to accept the offer, arguing that she would become a Princess even if widowed right after marriage. They also emphasized that it would help the family financially and raise their status in society. Though Susheela resisted and pleaded desperately with her brother, he forced her to agree and took her to the King. The marriage was solemnized between the helpless Susheela and the dead Prince Jayasheela. The brother collected all royal rewards from the King and left.
Divine Appearance on the Bhagirathi Riverbank
Immediately after the wedding, King Vajrabahu, the newly wed Susheela, the army, and all courtiers took the prince body to the banks of River Bhagirathi for cremation. Susheela, decked in full bridal glory with Haridra Kumkuma or Turmeric and Vermillion, was asked to perform Agni sparsha and light the funeral pyre. Praying fervently to Maa Parvati and Bhagwan Parameshwara, she set fire to the pyre.
Providentially, torrential rain began to fall as soon as the pyre was lit. It rained incessantly and turned pitch dark with no signs of the storm subsiding. King Vajrabahu asked Susheela to return to the palace since she was now the princess, but Susheela refused, stating her place was with her husband, and she stayed back beside the body.
The King and the rest of the gathering left the young bride all by herself and returned to the palace. Susheela sat grieving beside her husband body in the dark forest. As fear set in, she began praying to Shiva Parvati, cursing her fate and thinking this tragedy would not have happened if her parents were present.
Susheela beseeched with tears, asking O Parameshwara, You have blessed Markandeya with immortality, restored life to Agni Manmatha, and blessed Shwetavahana and Brighu Putra Chyavana Rishi with long life. What sin have I committed to undergo this terrible situation. Please show some compassion towards me.
Bhagwan Shiva, who is always on the side of His devotees, appeared before her along with Maa Parvati. Susheela immediately sought the blessings of Sowbhagya, Sumangali, and Wealth.
Bhagwan Shiva Directives on Jyotirbhimeshwara Vrata
Bhagwan Shiva then told her that They would teach her a vrata to observe diligently with utmost sincerity. On the Amavasya Tithi of Ashada month, one must take a ritualistic bath, clean the Puja sthala, and install Uma Maheshwara on a Peetha or pedestal. On a heap of rice, one should install two Ghee Lamps to worship Him. Bhagwan Shiva explained that in such a lamp He resides as Ashtamurti.
As described in the Shiva Purana, Ashtamurti represents eight distinct attributes of Bhagwan Shiva. Sharva represents Earth holding the entire universe of mobile and immobile beings. Bhava represents Water which is the lifeline of the world. Rudra represents Fire symbolizing perfection and destroying all imperfections. Ugra represents Air holding the outer and inner universe and throbbing by itself. Bhima represents Ether pervading everything and affording space to all, whose decomposition results in groups of elements. Pashupati represents Soul supporting individual souls and breaking the bondage that encircles them. Ishana represents Sun brightening the entire universe and moving in the heavens. Mahadeva represents Moon whose nectar like rays strengthen and fatten the universe to satiety.
Bhagwan Shiva continued explaining that He exists in the lamp in its unbiased purest form. He added that alongside this lamp, another lamp must be kept with a Turmeric Stick attached to represent His consort, Shakti or Parvati. Because His favorite moon exists as part of Ashtamurti, His luminous form is also known as Bhimeshwara.
Bhagwan Shiva instructed her to assume the lamp as Himself and worship with utmost sincerity for nine years, offering Kadubu rice cakes, Sandalwood, and flowers, along with doing charity for Brahmins. He promised that after nine years her husband would certainly return to life and she would become Sowbhagyavati.
Miracle and Awakening of the Prince
Susheela had to manage with whatever was available around her in the wilderness. Instead of real rice cakes, she made Kadubu out of mud, created lamps from clay, used Banyan leaves as Betel leaves, and Banyan fruits as Betel nuts. She gathered wild grass to use as flowers and sincerely began her vrata vows.
While she was performing worship, a young couple arrived and expressed curiosity about her actions. Susheela explained her plight and misfortune. Since she was alone, there was no male member present to break the mud Kadubu. The young man offered to break the mud cake for her, and as he broke it he blessed her saying Dheegha Sumangali Bhava, meaning may you be a happily married woman for a long time and may your husband stay alive for your entire lifetime.
With a sad face Susheela smirked and asked how that was possible when her husband lay dead on the pyre. The young couple pointed toward the prince and told her that he was merely in deep sleep and asked her to wake him up. When Susheela looked at the prince, she was shocked to see him opening his eyes slowly as if waking from sleep. She could not believe her eyes, and when she turned around to thank the young couple, they had vanished.
Her puja bore fruit and the Prince was brought back to life. Susheela offered her heart felt gratitude to Uma and Maheshwara mentally and explained everything to her husband. Upon learning the news, King Vajrabahu was elated and rushed to the banks of Bhagirathi to see his son alive. He embraced the couple heartily and expressed immense gratitude to Uma Maheshwara. The King ensured that the glory of observing this vrata on Ashada Amavasya, known as Jyotirbhimeshwara Vrata or Bheemana Amavasye, was spread far and wide.
Continuing Traditions and Modern Observances
To this day, married and unmarried women worship Uma and Maheshwara on this day for the happiness, prosperity, and health of the men in their family. Married women also pray for a deep marital bond like that of Parvati and Shiva.
Another central tradition is preparing sweet Kadubu or Tambittu, made out of rice, peanuts, and chickpea flour with coins or jewels hidden inside. In the evening at the end of the vrata, male members break these cakes to retrieve the coins, a process known as breaking of Bhandara or treasure chest.
Bhandhara (Treasure Chest) – Tambittu with coins inside
May the blessings of Bhagwan Shiva be showered in abundance on everyone. This festival also launches month long Shravan Maasa Rudra Pujas and Satsangs conducted by the Art of Living Pundits, founded by His Holiness Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, across various locations. A friend named Sindhu under the handle agnyaa on Twitter has also written blog posts detailing Bhimana Amavasya.
The traditional sacred chant associated with this day is
Mrityunjaya Rudraya Neelakanthaya Sambhave Amriteshaya Sharvaya Mahadevaya Te Namaha.
Significance of Tilodaka and Tarpana
The sacred invocation chanted during this ritual is Vasurudraditya swaroopanam asmat Pitru Pitamaha Prappitamaha aavahayami.
Forefathers are believed to reside in Pitru Loka for some time after their death until they take rebirth, reach Deva Loka, or attain Mukti. Pitru Loka is inhabited by three generations of ancestors, namely Vasu representing Father, Rudra representing Grandfather, and Aditya representing Great Grandfather.
Pitru Loka is situated on the other side of the moon, which gets exposed to the sun only on Amavasya or New Moon day. This day marks the official meal time for Pitrus. All offerings made through Tarpana by descendants serve as the only source of nourishment to feed the Pitrus. If ancestors are left displeased, their curse is believed to affect the family line by preventing future male progeny.
This is dedicated to everyone who are friendly (“Friendship Day” is a redundant concept generally in my life anyway because I celebrate friendship and friends every day of the year and every year) I go as usual with a nice story which is topical. Incidentally my friends in the media, have found more important things on this day,
While at it, food for thought – Should I look out for a friend or be friendly to people. A deep hard thought and I guess it is always better to be friendly rather than be a friend. A friend is always a deal, you do this, I return the favour by doing that. But being friendly doesnt involve a trade-off. More than that, having friends limits our capability (after all how many can you physically reach out) but you can be friendly to the world, even with a rank stranger anywhere in the world, cant we? For me personally, I have a living example in the form of His Holiness Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar of Art of Living. The ultimate sense of belongingness that HE displays anywhere on this planet is a sight to behold. He “may not” be friend to everyone (in the context I mentioned earlier) but is friendly with everyone indeed. Jai Gurudev from depth of my hearts.
Chew on this and let me have you views.
In the meanwhile, read a wonderful story that someone shared with me, lest we become the mountain missing to see a friend right under our nose.
Friendly-ly yours Suresh
Once upon a time there lived a mountain, which was so high that it might have been the very tallest mountain in the whole world – and so he had very few friends. Only the big fluffy clouds could reach all the way to the peak. But what fun it was to poke his pointed summit into their fluffy, snowy whiteness! How it tickled! The clouds would burst into laughter, and sometimes they would even laugh so hard they would cry, and then it would rain on the earth below.
One hot summer the sun shone down so relentlessly that for several days there wasn’t a single little cloud in the sky, and the mountain felt very sad. Finally, when he couldn’t bear being lonely any longer, he asked the great wide sky, “Why won’t you let the little ones run and play in your big bright blueness?”
The sky replied, “All my children have gone to the kingdom of winter, which is very far from here. They won’t come back until the end of summer.”
“But I miss them so much!” the mountain said with a sigh. “Maybe I should go to the winter kingdom too, and visit my friends?”
“You are a mountain, and mountains are heavy and can’t fly like the clouds. Mountains always stay in the same place,” the sky stated firmly.
From that day the mountain became even sadder. “Everyone else moves around and finds exciting new things and I have to sit still, nobody and nothing needs me,” he wailed. Tears began to flow down the mountain face as, for the first time in his life, the mountain cried. Even as he cried, the dried and cracked soil in the plain below heaved a sigh of relief and started to thirstily drink in the long-awaited water. Even before the end of the day the plain was covered with fresh green growth.
The plain called out to the mountain, “O, kind mountain! Thank you for saving me from a terrible fate! Your water is so pure it has healed all my wounds. Look at how much it has changed me!”
The mountain was so surprised that he stopped crying. Until then nobody had even spoken to him from down below. He was, after all, so very high, and the plain so far below, that the mountain had forgotten that it even existed. The mountain looked down and gasped in surprise as he saw the flourishing green carpet, shining and fresh. The plain was so beautiful that the mountain felt like kissing it, and tingled with delight at the thought. At that the wise old sky whispered to him, “Now, mountain, you see that you can find friends anywhere. You just have to notice them!”
The picture above is Shivanasamudra – the Gaganachukki Falls near Mysore about 110 kms from Bangalore, in its resplendent best what with heavy rainfall in the area, it was a sight to behold.
True indeed is the nature’s ways to keep us happy. But then how long do we let it enthrall us with the beauty- not for long the way we are raping the nature 🙁 It remains in pictures for our future generation. and a nice folk tale – Once upon a time…there existed…. but living happily ever after is a remote possibility. Long live Man’s Greed!!!
Should I look out for a 