For the last two weeks, the road in which we live is in an unspeakable state…see picture.
Indian middle class is used to road digging, BBMP, BSNL, BWSSB, BESCOM…one or the other is usually digging the roads, what’s extraordinary here is the car parked in front of the JCB…again see picture
I am the Government! You can go to hell Attitude
The tipping point for the residents came when the Cauvery water line was broken in the process and the water tankers refused to supply water in our lane as actually the road was not commutable.
Drink Coke if you don’t have water – Marie Antoinette
All our requests fell on deaf ears, shouting residents got back to children, school & office, that’s when with an extraordinary courage, Hema parked her car right in front of the working JCB and challenged them “let me see how you will move another inch”
The Brave One – Who made a difference
And, actually that’s all it took, for them to respond, in less than 3 hrs, arrangements for water and 4 wheel passage was made for our commute.
Volunteer for A better India (VBI) , it doesn’t take much, … to Make.A.Difference
(Hema is a Senior Faculty of The Art of Living and an ardent disciple of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji)
Story Credits : Madhubala who share this inspirational story on Facebook originally.
Dedicated to friends, Blinded by their “Sense of Service”
There is this popular story of a Sadhu who with a disciple on one of their trips in Himalayas, get stuck in a snowstorm. During a period when it lulls, the Sadhu looks down from the edge of slope and finds a body lying there, apparently with some signs of life. His disciple’s exhortation to save themselves before the storm resumes first fell on deaf ear of this Sadhu. He climbed down towards the victim while the disciple walked away towards safety.
This Sadhu reaches the man who had a broken leg and was totally movement impaired. Sadhu wraps him up with a blanket, carries him and treks up the slippery path with this load. After trekking for hours with incessant snowfall with this heavy load, and perspiring profusely, he finally reaches a village and stumbles upon a body on the ice covered road and to his despair finds that it was this disciple, who he realized froze to a horrible death unable to withstand the cold. The Sadhu was saved due to this exertion of carrying heavy load, sweating and the body heat of the victim.
When you serve or perform, remember you are doing none any favor – you are doing a favor to yourself. It is no service if you seek rewards for it. Divine keeps providing you so many opportunities in order to enrich you with experience or save you from disaster.
“I would not have you declare yourself to the world until you have proved your worthiness. Do not yourself proclaim your name, but wait until the world proclaims it.”
So said Queen Guinevere to Lancelot, considered the bravest amongst the Knight in the story of King Arthur. So relevant! It is for the world to judge you seva, not for us to wear up our sleeve and flaunt it 🙂
And there are some who seek a Quid Pro Quo relationship with a Guru. For the opportunity they get to serve, they seek an anointment into some Symbol of Power! That for me is what a “Coolie” does – Expecting a payback for the services rendered. No way it is Seva!!! And such people in moments of conflict (our small mind) with a Guru, go “Far” from Guru where a true disciple goes “For” Guru. Creating a portal here, volunteering at one’s convenience there doesn’t make anyone a Disciple of a Master. Just Remember! No outsourcing of Devotion or Commitment! Guru’s Grace is not for sale 🙂
It is also relevant to remember Crutch is required only for Lame (applied to both Physical or Intellectually lame). S You resort to usage of crutches when your argument becomes lame. When you lose out on argument, you bring in God, Guru, Gyan… blah blah just to obfuscate. Debate ends there, because winner or loser gets decided by spectators at that moment 🙂 In their eagerness to prove right they grab the wrong Crutch.
As His Holiness Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of The Art of Living says, Seva for Seva’s sake. Real seva is when you feel you haven’t done enough.
PS: Nothing official about this post 😉
(My next blog is also on the same topic, Nothing Official About it)
Onam 2013 has turned out to be significantly different compared to the earlier ones that I have celebrated with friends and families in the past. A new insight as I was discussing with a lot of my friends who have contributed to my understanding of the festivities and rituals. A personal thanks.
Upfront a personal note
This may not be the traditional belief, but purely my take and hence pardon my ignorance in case of conflicts with my understanding – a word on what caused it would be highly appreciated.
Our Chennai Days – With Sri Sukumaran and Family
While discussing with those who celebrate Thiruvonam (or simply Onam as it is popularly known) in a traditional way I could not help be awestruck realizing of the deeper significance of this Harvest Festival and the legend behind it.
Onam is celebrated over 10 days starting Attham (Hasta) Nakshatra in the month of Chingam (Solar Calendar followed in Kerala) and ends on Thiruvonam (Shravana) Nakshatra (the 10th day) . It is also celebrated by some in the Coastal Karnataka with equal gaiety and pomp.
Mahabali was the King of Asuras, grandson of Prahlada, who despite being born as an asura was known as paragon of devotion to Lord Vishnu. Mahabali was brought up under the tutelage and guidance of Prahlada from whom he imbibed the qualities of devotion and governance.
Mahabali Visits Art of Living Ashram 🙂 Panchakarma Centre
During Mahabali’s reign, the kingdom never saw poverty, crime or any societal ills and hence revered by his subjects. But Asura that he was, was not considered trustworthy and his ambition made him expand his kingdom and becomes Ruler of all the 3 worlds – an Asura ruler was against the laws of nature. Devas approach Lord Vishnu for a solution and when Mahabali was performing Ashwameda Yaga, Lord Vishnu appears in the form of a small brahmin boy (Vamana Avatara) and seeks to fulfill his desire as promised by the King during the Yaga. Upon which the righteous Mahabali offers to fulfill any demand that was placed by the boy who demands land covered by 3 steps. Despite warnings from his Guru who foresaw disaster and had a vision that it indeed was Lord Vishnu who appeared in this form to deprive Mahabali of all his belongings. But Mahabali who valued Maana (Honor) even at the cost of his life told his Guru: “I should be the most fortunate one as the Lord, who gives everything to mankind, is seeking something from me.” So saying he offered to donate the Three steps that the brahmin boy sought. Vamana then grew in size so mammoth that one step covered the entire earth, the next the whole of Heaven and there was nothing left to claim for the 3rd step. Mahabali the man of honor did not hesitate to offer his own head in lieu of land. Vamana steps on his head and sends him to Sutala, the heaven of Patala (the netherworld). It is believed that spot in which Vamana had sent Mahabali to Sutala is at Thrikkakara. The place where the holy feet (Trikkal) of Vishnu touched came to be known as Thrikkakara (Pictures of the Thrikkakara Vamana Moorthi Temple below)
Lord Vishnu also appoints him as the King of Netherworld and also position of Indra for one Manvantara. Mahabali who loved his subjects very dearly also seeks Lord Vishnu to allow him to visit them once every year. And it is this visit that is celebrated as Onam.
The festivities includes ceremonial welcome of Mahabali on the first day. Clay idols painted red (called Trikkakarappan, also called Onathappan) to which all the harvests are offered first thanking him for the Gift of abundance showered.
Trikkakarappan-Representing Vamana
Maveli nadu vaneedum kalam, manusharellarum onnupole amodhathode vasikkum kalam apathangarkkumottillathanum
(When Maveli ruled the land, All the people were equal. And people were joyful and merry; They were all free from harm.). On the last day of Onam (Thiruvonam), the clay idols are immersed in sea/river with a prayer to Mahabali to return next year.
An essential part of the fesitiviy is laying out of the now famous & renowned flower rangoli called Pookalam. Some pictures below, the way we celebrated with friends
In Nasik (Anything Non-Hindu here?)In Chennai – With Sri Sukumaran & Family
Traditionally each day the Pookalam gets bigger and the 10th day was the grandest one. And this in itself was an enjoyable ritual for children, thanks to friends who celebrated it traditionally.
And then business part (for me) of any festival the famous, Onam Sadhya (Onam Feast)
Enjoying the Feast – With Sri SukumaranFeast Next Year – With Sri Sukumaran & family in ChennaiThe Sadhya… More items to come This are just the sidies 😉
Other associated rituals and fesitivities include Pulikali (Tiger Dance), Thiruvathirakali (Women dancing in honor of Lord Shiva), Kummattikali
Now that the fun part is done, for some deeper significance (May not be politically or even religiously correct but this is what the festival held out as learnings for me)
This festival is the best example of Sanatana Dharma tradition – Even an Asura who is a true Bhakta (devotee) is venerated – Goes to show that it is not the “Who” that matters but the “What”. Being an Asura did not preclude him from being worshipped, his virtues were recognized and aspired for. Which by extension also means there is no concept of Sinners – only people who commit acts of sin. Love or hate the “Act” not the “Actor” It is a value that I alway cherished & forms part of my introduction in the “About” page
Secularism (in true sense, it just means being a Hindu) was an essential part of our Festivals. It was all about revering and honoring the nature. Even the Mahabali song (in red above) indicates the Secular (Hindu way) character. Bharateeya Sanskriti never talks in terms of “Tolerance” but in terms of “Acceptance” (A bane these days? I tend to think so). I celebrated Onam with Mr. Thomas and family in 1993 while living in Nasik (though it did not include the rituals that accompanies the celebrations, Sadhya was the motive). Not sure if the radicalized society that the state has become, still allows him such niceties
Idols made of clay (I was told it is traditionally made from the soil for the fields that sustains their livelihood) is honoring the land that gives us everything and the immersion of the clay idol finally is to signify whatever we take has to be restored back to nature.
WISHING EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY ONAM
PS: In the Mahabali picture is Sri Praseed an ashramite and an ardent follower of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji of The Art of Living
