Life

Gāyantam trayati gāyatrī

गायन्तं त्रायते यस्मात् गायत्री प्रोच्यते बुधै: That which protects the person who recites it with full consciousness… The Gāyatri mantra is one of the most well-known mantras. From yoga schools to evening bhajans, the Gāyatri has been heard in various forms and recitations. People say that this is the most powerful mantra, and if one …

Gāyantam trayati gāyatrī Read More »

Navrātri – Day 9

श्रियं दिशतु वः शंभोः श्यामः कण्ठो मनोभुवा ।अङ्कस्थपार्वतीदृष्टिपाशैरिव विवेष्टितः ॥ १ ॥ śriyaṃ diśatu vaḥ śaṃbhoḥ śyāmaḥ kaṇṭho manobhuvā |aṅkasthapārvatīdṛṣṭipāśairiva viveṣṭitaḥ || 1 || May Śiva, Neelakantha, the one with the dark neck, whom Kamadeva has captivated through Pārvatī who lies in his embrace…may Śiva give you prosperity. संध्यानुत्तोत्सवे ताराः करेणोद्धूय विघ्नजित् ।सीत्कारसीकरैरन्याः कल्पयन्निव पातु वः ॥ …

Navrātri – Day 9 Read More »

Navrātri – Day 1

The first day is also the easiest. Some people think otherwise, but in my experience, the first day is the easiest to get by. You are fresh, well-fed the previous day, and eager to get going. The middle part of any fast is the worst, relatively speaking. You are only halfway from where you started, …

Navrātri – Day 1 Read More »

Of seekers and believers…

“In the Middle Ages people believed that the earth was flat, for which they had at least the evidence of their senses: we believe it to be round, not because as many as one per cent of us could give the physical reasons for so quaint a belief, but because modern science has convinced us …

Of seekers and believers… Read More »

Of kanyas and daans…

Ok, the Alia ad has set a lot of tongues wagging. One side applauds, denouncing “regressive” practices and questioning why women are demeaned and equated to “dhan”. Why should a girl be given away, why not the boy as well? Another side questions the intent of the advertisement. Who are they to interfere with age-old …

Of kanyas and daans… Read More »

Of servers and ironies…

गणानां त्वा गणपतिं हवामहेकविं कवीनामुपमश्रवस्तमम् ।ज्येष्ठराजं ब्रह्मणां ब्रह्मणस्पतआ नः शृण्वन्नूतिभिः सीद सादनम् ॥ Gannaanaam Tvaa Ganna-Patim HavaamaheKavim Kaviinaam-Upama-Shravastamam |Jyessttha-Raajam Brahmannaam BrahmannaspataAa Nah Shrnnvan-Uutibhih Siida Saadanam || Among the Ganas (Group of Prayers), to you who is the Ganapati (Deva of Prayers), we offer this havan (ritual fire), You are the wisdom of the wise and the most glorious of all, You are the foremost in prayer, presiding as the Deva of the Prayers (Brahmanaspati), Please come to us by listening to our humble …

Of servers and ironies… Read More »

Of teachers, and teachers…

A famous line from Casino Royale – there are dinner jackets and there are DINNER JACKETS – this, is the latter… In the same vein, there are teachers, and there are TEACHERS…the level of learning that you reach in life largely depends on which one taught you. Sanskrit has levels of teachers – depending on …

Of teachers, and teachers… Read More »

Of discipline and dedication

I am a martial artist, and so two traits that come naturally to me are discipline and dedication. Almost like second nature. I guess thirty plus years of training help as well. However, there are times when I too take it easy. When I say times, I really mean days, sometimes months. I too subscribe …

Of discipline and dedication Read More »

Of cricket and patience

I remember growing up on a healthy dose of India-Pakistan cricket encounters and five-day test matches that mostly ended in a draw. The one-dayers were more interesting, but the five-day matches had a charm of their own. One didn’t have to sit through each ball, but a general session-by-session update was a given. But that …

Of cricket and patience Read More »

ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਨਾਲ ਵਾਅਦਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਮੈਂ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਿੱਖਾਂਗਾ

You didn’t understand the title right? It’s in Punjabi. Even if you are a Punjabi, and it is your mother tongue, there is a high chance are you were not able to read it. Being a Punjabi myself, I feel ashamed that I still haven’t managed to learn the language. Learning your native language is …

ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਨਾਲ ਵਾਅਦਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਮੈਂ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਿੱਖਾਂਗਾ Read More »