Month: July 2023

The four levels of closeness…

The Tamil word ‘anbu’ doesn’t translate well into English. Love is a small word for a feeling that describes the melting of a heart in the presence of the one you love – can be your spouse, your lover, your parents, your children, even nature, or as in Bhakti Yoga – in the presence of God. Love …

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Of being the best in class…

विभूति: (vibhutih)- mighty, powerful, great power आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्ज्योतिषां रविरंश‍ुमान् ।मरीचिर्मरुतामस्मि नक्षत्राणामहं शशी ॥ २१ ॥ ādityānām ahaṁ viṣṇurjyotiṣāṁ ravir aṁśumānmarīcir marutām asminakṣatrāṇām ahaṁ śaśī Of the Ādityas I am Viṣṇu, of lights I am the radiant sun, of the Maruts I am Marīci, and among the stars I am the moon. वेदानां सामवेदोऽस्मि देवानामस्मि वासव: ।इन्द्रियाणां …

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Of dolls three…

Today, let me tell you a story. The great emperor Kṛṣṇadevarāya (Krishnadevaraya) had a lot of wise ministers in his court. The wisest of them was Tenali Ramakrishna. One day, a merchant came to the king’s court from a foreign kingdom. He saluted the king and then said, “Your Majesty, I have heard from many people that …

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Of ashes and lives…

On the banks of the river Yamunā, lies a place named Brahmasthala (the abode of Brahmins). There lived a Brahmin named Agnisvāmin (the lord of Agni), and he had spent his whole life mastering the Vedas. He had a beautiful daughter named Mandāravatī. They say that when she was born, Brahma himself felt that the apsaras in swarga were nothing …

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On food and mindfulness…

आहार  शुद्धौ   सत्त्व  शुद्धिः सत्त्व शुद्धौ  ध्रुवा स्मृतिः     स्मृति लम्भे   सर्व ग्रन्थीनांविप्र  मोक्षः ||  āhāra-śuddhau sattva-śuddhiḥ sattva-śuddhau dhruvāsmṛtiḥ smṛtilambhe sarva-granthīnām vipramokṣaḥ If one eats pure food, one’s mind becomes pure. If the mind is pure, one’s memory becomes strong and steady. If the memory is good, one becomes free from all bondages.  Chandogya …

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Mission possible…again

I was never a hardcore Mission Impossible fan, but I always liked these movies. The franchise grew on me and soon enough, it became a ritual to watch the MI movies when they came out. And so today, after long, I trudged down to the theatre to watch the latest installment – Dead Reckoning Part …

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Chandrayaan 3

The third mission. 45 days to go. If successful, the fourth only country to land on the moon. Yes, I am excited! Those who know me, know that I hate this phrase – but truly, this time around, I CAN’T WAIT! Jai hind!